General News about South Florida
EditorCDC recommends updated Covid shot for everyone ages 6 months and up
Everyone ages 6 months and older should get the updated Covid vaccine this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
The move follows a vote from the CDC’s advisory committee earlier in the day in favor of the recommendation.
A statement released on his website and social media late Friday read, “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
No cause of death was disclosed.
Jimmy’s Instagram account
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwrcNoxOSmW/
Jimmy Buffett – 60 minutes Special Documentary
Margaritaville · Jimmy Buffett
Son Of A Son Of A Sailor – Jimmy Buffett
Come Monday
Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes
Dangerous heat waves will hit the Southwest and Florida over the next week
A long and intense heat wave is about to bake parts of Arizona, New Mexico and interior California. Meanwhile, a separate broiling front is causing life-threatening temperatures in South Florida.
Read more: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/2023-07-08/dangerous-heat-waves-will-hit-the-southwest-and-florida-over-the-next-week
Underwater music show in Florida Keys promotes awareness of coral reef protection
The Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, which also spotlighted eco-conscious diving, took place at Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.
Widow’s dream of homeownership comes true on the heels of Mother’s Day as Habitat Broward celebrates the dedication of four WOMENBuild sponsored homes at ‘A Rick Case Habitat Community’
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (May 22, 2023) – It was a bittersweet celebration for widow, Assitan Niangadou-Sidibe, as she received the keys to her new home at the dedication ceremony hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Broward on Saturday, May 20, for four WOMENBuild sponsored homes at “A Rick Case Habitat Community.”
The four new homeowners, including the Marieffe Ferrera, Takira Lundy, and Niangadou-Sidibe families are thankful for their generous home sponsors CITY Furniture, Sharon Gustofson-Floresque, J.R. Dunn and WSVN 7.
“This is a blessing I could never have hoped for without Habitat Broward and my sponsor Sharon Gustofson-Floresque. She gave my family a future filled with hope and security,” said Niangadou-Sidibe.
Niangadou-Sidibe was born and raised in West Africa, and like most immigrants, she came to the United States in search of the “American Dream.” New York was her welcoming State but after getting married, she moved to sunny South Florida and had two wonderful children.
Sadly, Niangadou-Sidibe’s husband passed away suddenly in 2021 and that’s when she turned to Habitat Broward as she could no longer afford a decent place to live for her family on her own. One of her coworkers, at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport told her about the Habitat Broward homeownership program and Sidibe applied and was accepted into the program.
Now Niangadou-Sidibe can rest assured in her new haven with children 13 years old, 8th grader Assan Sidibe and 5th grader Kadijatu Sidibe who also celebrated her 11th birthday on dedication day.
“This day shows what can be accomplished when we all work together to provide homeownership to hard-working families,” said Nancy Robin, CEO and Executive Director of Habitat Broward. “These four families with your help, are building homes, community and hope.”
Robin continued “A house is not just a house, it’s a home that nurtures families. It offers children the chance to do better at school, it leads to healthier families, a home improves safety, and it economically empowers like no other force…homeownership should be valued and also celebrated.”
Affordable housing uplifts residents, encourages social connection, increases adjacent property values, attracts businesses, jobs, and lowers crime rates.
Launched in 2023, “The Rita Case WOMENBuild” exhibited real girl power by raising a towering $800,000 in sponsorship for eight new homes including these four at “A Rick Case Habitat Community.” When complete, the Pompano Beach community of 76 homes will be the largest affordable homeownership community in the County’s history.
Spearheaded by business leader and philanthropist, Rita Case, “The Rita Case WOMENBuild” engages other extraordinary South Florida women in leadership to unite in their commitment to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing to the underserved in the area.
Since its launch in 2002, Habitat Broward’s “Women Build” program has engaged, equipped, and empowered more than 1,000 women to fund and build 52 homes throughout Broward County.
Women Build is a global movement that seeks to empower women to support women and families in need of affordable housing. The need is great in Broward, the nation’s most cost prohibitive community for affordable workforce housing.
About Habitat for Humanity of Broward
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Broward brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat Broward offers a “hand up” not a “hand out” to families who are unable to qualify for conventional home financing but are willing to work hard to improve their family’s lives and achieve the economic empowerment of homeownership. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Broward please call (954) 396-3030 or visit habitatbroward.org or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HabitatBroward.
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Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, formed Friday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said.
Forecasts from the hurricane center said the storm is expected to remain offshore and have only minimal impact in Florida or any land area as it meanders south in the Gulf.
The Miami Heat advanced to the Finals on Monday after a 103-84 series-clinching win over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 in Boston.
Habitat for Humanity of Broward hosts historic dedication ceremony for 15 new two-story homes at ‘A Rick Case Habitat Community’ in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (April 3, 2023) – Habitat for Humanity of Broward recently celebrated the completion of 15 new two-story homes with a dedication ceremony at its historic “A Rick Case Habitat Community” in Pompano Beach. This is a record high, as this is the most homes Habitat Broward has ever dedicated in one event.
“There are not enough words to describe how grateful we are. It has always been a dream of ours to become homeowners, and today Habitat’s supporters made this dream a reality,” said new homeowner, Lashicia Harris.
“This is the result of so much hard work and heart,” Habitat Broward CEO and Executive Director Nancy Robin said in a statement. “I’m immensely proud of each and every one of our families for making today happen, and I’m so very thankful for our sponsor the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, volunteers, construction team and other employees who made the completion of these homes possible.”
All 15 family homes were sponsored by The Fredrick A. DeLuca Foundation through a transformational grant to Habitat Broward.
South Florida is the nation’s most cost-burdened housing market in the nation with high home prices and low wages making homeownership out of reach for 94 percent of Broward residents.
The benefits are clear, Habitat homeowners are healthier, safer, more likely to go to college and have 44 times the net worth of those families renting.
With assistance from Habitat Broward, families are able to acquire modest homes with mortgages kept to 30 percent of household income. To qualify, individuals must start off by providing 300 hours of sweat equity to construct their homes and the other houses in the neighborhood. Families must also attend a year of homeownership classes and make a small down payment.
“The journey to homeownership isn’t easy,” said Habitat Board Chair, Lily Pardo. “But these families understand the long-term impact of owning a safe, stable and affordable home. It’s a testament to how hard they are willing to work to create better opportunities for themselves and their families for generations to come.”
“A Rick Case Habitat Community” was made possible by Ed Ansin of Sunbeam/WSVN Channel 7, and Rita and Rick Case of Rick Case Automotive Group who stepped forward with a leadership gift to name this historic new community and provided much of the funding for the infrastructure.
The project is also made possible by the Mary N. Porter Legacy Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward, the City of Pompano Beach, the Hudson Family Foundation, Burdette Beckmann, Inc., the Robert Taylor Family, the Wadsworth Family Foundation, the Elizabeth Peters Estate, the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, the Estate of Renate Wylie, the Robert L. Elmore Estate, JM Family Enterprises and other contributors and volunteers.
The community will feature 76 affordable homes consisting of 42 one-story and 35 two-story units with sizes ranging from 1,200 to 1,300 sq. ft. homes. All homes feature sustainable, energy-efficient materials, including impact windows, to minimize environmental impact, improve indoor air quality, and reduce utility and maintenance costs. Additional features include a park and children’s playground that will be accessible to residents of the community and the surrounding area.
The total project is estimated to cost over $18 million in funds that will be raised and leveraged through partnerships with corporations, foundations, government agencies, the faith community and generous individuals.
About Habitat for Humanity of Broward
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Broward brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat Broward offers a “hand up” not a “hand out” to families who are unable to qualify for conventional home financing but are willing to work hard to improve their family’s lives and achieve the economic empowerment of homeownership. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Broward please call (954) 396-3030 or visit habitatbroward.org or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HabitatBroward.
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Habitat for Humanity of Broward Raises Awareness and More Than $300,000 during 4th Annual CEO Build at ‘A Rick Case Habitat Community’ in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (March 6, 2023) – More than 50 CEOs and C-suite leaders from many of South Florida’s largest companies came together to raise awareness and over $300,000 in support of affordable workforce housing in Broward County during Habitat for Humanity of Broward’s 4th annual CEO Build on Saturday, March 4. The task at hand for the event included top executives dedicating time and effort to help roof four homes at “A Rick Case Habitat Community,” a historic 76-home community in Pompano Beach.
Event co-chairs Brent Burns, President and CEO of JM Family Enterprises, Inc. and Keith Koenig, Chairman of City Furniture, led the task force to support affordable workforce housing in Broward County, the most cost-burdened housing market in the country.
“These CEO Build participants understand the critical need for affordable workforce housing in our community and chose to be a force for change and be a part of the solution,” said Nancy Robin CEO and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Broward. “They collectively lead hundreds of thousands of employees.”
By June of this year, 58 homes will be completed in “A Rick Case Habitat Community.”
Additionally, Habitat Broward has acquired land and plans to build 20 townhomes in the “BBI Village” community in Fort Lauderdale and 13 townhomes in Coral Springs. Open enrollment for these energy-efficient, affordable townhomes closes on March 31, 2023. This is a great opportunity for qualified applicants to start their journey to homeownership.
This year’s event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship from JM Family Enterprise Inc., CITY Furniture, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Law Offices of Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell PLLC, South Florida Business Journal and Exquisite Catering by Robert.
2023 CEO Build Participating Companies:
Advanced Roofing
Amerant Bank
ANF Group
Ansin Foundation/WSVN Channel 7
Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell PLLC.
Bank of America
BBi
BDO
Brandstar
Brody & Associates
Broward College
Campbell Property Management/Campbell
& Rosemurgy Real Estate
Castle Group
Celebrity Cruise
CITY Furniture
City of Deerfield Beach
Community Foundation of Broward
Denison Yachting
Falcone & Associates
Festus and Helen Stacy Foundation
Florida Panthers
Florida Power & Light
Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation
GL Homes
Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
Gulf Building
Gunster
Health Business Solutions
HEICO
Holy Cross Health
Hudson Family Foundation
JM Family Enterprises, Inc.
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Joe Rose
Katz Barron
Kaufman Lynn Construction
Memorial Healthcare System
Mesirow Financial
Miller Construction
Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation
PNC Bank
Representative Chip LaMarca
Rick Case Automotive Group
Rogers, Morris & Ziegler LLP
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Seminole Classic Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Support Services
SIXT
South Florida Business Journal
South Florida Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab
Sunshine Health
Tripp Scott
About Habitat for Humanity of Broward
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Broward brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat Broward offers a “hand up” not a “hand out” to families who are unable to qualify for conventional home financing but are willing to work hard to improve their family’s lives and achieve the economic empowerment of homeownership. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Broward please call (954) 396-3030 or visit habitatbroward.org or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HabitatBroward.
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Ruling Finds Florida Health Plans No Longer Have to Cover All Preventive Care for Free. Here’s What to Know.
A record 3.2 million Floridians signed up for health insurance plans for 2023 and could be potentially be affected by the change
Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill to Allow Carrying Concealed Guns Without a Permit
The bill allows anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit. It means training and a background check will not be needed for people to carry concealed guns in public.
Habitat for Humanity of Broward hosts historic dedication ceremony for 15 new two-story homes at ‘A Rick Case Habitat Community’ in Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (April 3, 2023) – Habitat for Humanity of Broward recently celebrated the completion of 15 new two-story homes with a dedication ceremony at its historic “A Rick Case Habitat Community” in Pompano Beach. This is a record high, as this is the most homes Habitat Broward has ever dedicated in one event.
“There are not enough words to describe how grateful we are. It has always been a dream of ours to become homeowners, and today Habitat’s supporters made this dream a reality,” said new homeowner, Lashicia Harris.
“This is the result of so much hard work and heart,” Habitat Broward CEO and Executive Director Nancy Robin said in a statement. “I’m immensely proud of each and every one of our families for making today happen, and I’m so very thankful for our sponsor the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, volunteers, construction team and other employees who made the completion of these homes possible.”
All 15 family homes were sponsored by The Fredrick A. DeLuca Foundation through a transformational grant to Habitat Broward.
South Florida is the nation’s most cost-burdened housing market in the nation with high home prices and low wages making homeownership out of reach for 94 percent of Broward residents.
The benefits are clear, Habitat homeowners are healthier, safer, more likely to go to college and have 44 times the net worth of those families renting.
With assistance from Habitat Broward, families are able to acquire modest homes with mortgages kept to 30 percent of household income. To qualify, individuals must start off by providing 300 hours of sweat equity to construct their homes and the other houses in the neighborhood. Families must also attend a year of homeownership classes and make a small down payment.
“The journey to homeownership isn’t easy,” said Habitat Board Chair, Lily Pardo. “But these families understand the long-term impact of owning a safe, stable and affordable home. It’s a testament to how hard they are willing to work to create better opportunities for themselves and their families for generations to come.”
“A Rick Case Habitat Community” was made possible by Ed Ansin of Sunbeam/WSVN Channel 7, and Rita and Rick Case of Rick Case Automotive Group who stepped forward with a leadership gift to name this historic new community and provided much of the funding for the infrastructure.
The project is also made possible by the Mary N. Porter Legacy Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward, the City of Pompano Beach, the Hudson Family Foundation, Burdette Beckmann, Inc., the Robert Taylor Family, the Wadsworth Family Foundation, the Elizabeth Peters Estate, the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, the Estate of Renate Wylie, the Robert L. Elmore Estate, JM Family Enterprises and other contributors and volunteers.
The community will feature 76 affordable homes consisting of 42 one-story and 35 two-story units with sizes ranging from 1,200 to 1,300 sq. ft. homes. All homes feature sustainable, energy-efficient materials, including impact windows, to minimize environmental impact, improve indoor air quality, and reduce utility and maintenance costs. Additional features include a park and children’s playground that will be accessible to residents of the community and the surrounding area.
The total project is estimated to cost over $18 million in funds that will be raised and leveraged through partnerships with corporations, foundations, government agencies, the faith community and generous individuals.
About Habitat for Humanity of Broward
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Broward brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat Broward offers a “hand up” not a “hand out” to families who are unable to qualify for conventional home financing but are willing to work hard to improve their family’s lives and achieve the economic empowerment of homeownership. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Broward please call (954) 396-3030 or visit habitatbroward.org or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HabitatBroward.
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