Margate incumbent for State Senator Speaks to Stand Your Ground
Come November, Margate voters living south of Atlantic Blvd will see Florida Senator Chris Smith on the ballot. Smith’s new District 31 is one of five Senatorial Districts redrawn by the state Senate last month and approved by the Florida Supreme Court last week.
Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said is new District is a game changer. After being the voice of South Florida’s coastal urban core for more than a decade, his new District takes him west and expands his representation of condominium communities.
“The new map dramatically changes my District. You can just imagine the different mind sets of people living in condos in western Broward versus those living in urban communities to the east. But I’m a representative of the people. If I’ll be representing residents in condos and community associations then I’ll just have to learn more about condo issues and law and what they need from their Senator,” Smith told MargateNews.net.
Smith speaks to Florida's Stand Your Ground Law
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Proposed Redistricting Map Divides Margate into two Senate Districts
After Florida Senators failed to get the state Supreme Court to pass their 2012 Redistricting Map in March, a revised map was submitted by the Senate late in the month that effectively undid what justices ruled a violation of state anti-gerrymandering standards in the Senate's first map.
Twenty-four Districts were redrawn by the Senate, including District 32 in Margate, which if approved by the high court within the next 60 days means some Margate voters might be casting ballots in a new Senate District come November.
“The maps, no matter what you read out there, are going to really help us,” Senator Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland, told Margate Democrats at their March meeting.
Read more…
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New Lobbying Law Promotes Transparency
A new county ordinance that requires lobbyists to register with Broward cities prior to meeting with city staff or elected officials regarding special interests has improved transparency in the process.
A lobbyist registration system now in place in Margate makes it easy for taxpayers to learn who's lobbying who in the city, for what reason and when.
Learn who the lobbyists are…
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Python Adoption Center Won’t Be Opening on Banks Road
In response to a news report announcing the March opening of a python adoption center in a warehouse off Banks Road in Margate, the city’s building department investigated and ceased construction on the project.
Not only does the structural remodeling of a commercial space in Margate require building permits, which owners did not have, the Banks Road industrial district is not zoned for pet stores, Margate Economic Development Director, Ben Ziskal told MargateNews.net.
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Margate Vice Mayor McLean: Unregistered Vehicle, No Sale List, Abusing City Credit Card?
The license plate tag on Margate Vice Mayor, David McLean’s PT Cruiser had been expired for more than two months when his car was photographed at Margate City Hall in his personal parking space on Saturday February 18th during the Margate Street Festival. Police were notified.
Since, MargateNews.net has received an unsubstantiated report that McLean’s driver’s license has been suspended.
Photographed outside McLean’s Tiki Bar on Sunday March 4, the Vice Mayor's car appears backed into a parking space and with no vehicle tag.
UPDATE: March 6, 2012 1:49 PM. There is a pending criminal traffic case in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Citations were filed against David McLean by the Wilton Manors Police Department for 'Driving License Suspended' and an 'Expired Tag/Infraction.' Arraignment is set for 03/27/2012 at 1:30 PM in front of Judge Mardi Levey Cohen.
Read about No Sale list and McLean's city charges…
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Margate Homeowner Asks for Help with Speeders
“I don’t want a memorial on my property because a child got killed at the bust stop,” Deborah Moore told commissioners at a January city meeting.
Moore lives on the corner of SW 7th Place and 55th Avenue in Margate and said speeding is big problem on 55th. She said ducks, cats and dogs are being killed by speeders and at one point a car turned over onto a neighbor’s yard because the driver lost control.
They’re going like speeds that there is no way they are going to stop,” she said.
Read more...
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Margate Launches Department of Economic Development
Opening a business in any city can be intimidating, frustrating and downright confusing. Between local building codes, permitting and county and state regulations; being an entrepreneur means more than just expertise in your field. It requires patience, business savvy and lots of due diligence.
To make things easier for business startups looking to set up shop in Margate, the city unveiled the Department of Economic Development earlier in the month, headed by Margate City Planner, Ben Ziskal.
The goal of new agency is to streamline city processes and allow businesses to open up faster and with fewer unknowns.
Read more…
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Road Closing Derails Holiday Business for Downtown Margate Tenants
Though Margate’s Winter Solstice was a great success this year, attended by thousands of Margate residents and visitors, area businesses in the Ace Hardware Plaza were not happy with the closing of Margate Boulevard earlier in the day.
Ace Hardware owner, Frank Tropepe, said his business died when the city closed the street around 2 pm. the day of the event. The closing strangled access to his store and the phone rang off the hook with regular customers having no idea how to get around various road blocks to the Plaza.
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Reader Email
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Margate Winter Solstice Brings Good Tidings to City
A few thousand residents showed up Friday night to play in the snow, eat, drink, shop and be merry at Margate’s Winter Solstice, the city’s premier family event. Parks and Recreation had 32 tons of snow delivered to Margate City Hall and a utility basket high in the sky sprayed faux snow down on the crowd after dark.
“I’ve never seen snow before,” 8-year-old Margate resident Mindy King told MargateNews.net
Read more about the Solstice…
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Grin and Bear Construction for another Month
Margate residents need to be patient for another month as construction at the intersection of Rock Island Road and Atlantic Blvd won’t be completed until the end of January, said acting City Manager, Yolanda Rodriguez.
Rodriguez didn’t divulge specific details for the delay at the December 7 city meeting, but only that construction was part of a larger Broward County project that included construction on Hillsboro Blvd and Military Trail and which was experiencing delays.
"I apologize to the residents of Margate. I’ve gotten a lot of calls from a lot of frustrated drivers on the road construction,” she said.
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Atlantic West Kids Save Pets with Oxygen Masks
Back in September when kids and teachers at Margate’s Atlantic West Elementary School (AWE) raised $7,000 to provide more than 100 pet oxygen kits to 20 fire departments across South Florida, firefighters in the City of Greenacres said they haven’t had to use the masks yet and hope they never have to.
All that changed when firefighters responded to a house fire in that city last month, when five people were transported to the hospital and two dogs removed from the house with smoke inhalation. After treating the dogs with the pet resuscitation masks, said Fire Division Chief, Mark Pure, the animals made a full recovery.
“Thank the kids for us,” he wrote to AWE teacher, Joanne Simone.
Read more…
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Circus Protest at City Hall: Send in the Clowns
A crying six-year old. A man who mimicked an elephant and an activist who spoke to the deviant exploits of Smiley the Clown.* Another activist quoted Martin Luther King and Edmund Burke and an 8-year-old from Boca Raton addressed commissioners from a script crafted by parents. An almost perfectly executed peaceful Margate sit-in, ala TV coverage.
About sixty animal rights activists crowded into City Hall last week to ask Margate commissioners to ban the Cole Bros Circus in Margate appearing under the ‘Big Top’ on the old Swap Shop grounds November 9-12. They say circus animals are treated inhumanely and the elephants forced to perform an “array of confusing and sometimes painful tricks,” said Ghazal Tajalli, a Coral Springs activist.
Read more...
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Greenway Residents Want Trees Moved
Carlos Gerhardt owns a home abutting the Margate Greenway, a 12-foot wide pedestrian walkway running along the County’s C-14 Canal. For twenty years, Gerhardt and his SW 1st Street neighbors have been using a dirt road along the canal to park boats, RVs, trucks, trailers and off-road vehicles in their back yards - a long-time privilege Greenway construction has eliminated.
Now, Gerhardt said, the County is planting trees that will block his community’s efforts to build a private access road of their own.
“Trees have been located in a way that will be impossible for us to gain access,” he told Commissioners at the October city meeting.
Read more…
Reader Email
For background info read:
Margate neighborhood resists “Greenway” connection to Everglades, beaches and Broward cities
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Margate CERT First Annual Family Fun Day a Massive Success
As a means of raising awareness to Margate’s all volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the city’s Fire Department, along with volunteers from CERT, held their 1st Annual Family Fun Day at Firefighters Park last week.
More than a thousand adults and kids turned-out for the event October 15, ala sno-cones, hotdogs, inflatable amusements, games, rescue demonstrations and good old fashion community building.
Read more…
Watch CERT Event Video
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Flags for a Fallen Hero
Sandy Becker and daughter Beth Agami stood watching their three Field of Honor flags billow in the wind with distant, glossy, looks in their eyes. The flags were in remembrance of not only what had happened ten years ago on 911, but to honor their beloved son and grandson, Specialist (SPC) Daniel Agami.
SPC Agami, 25, was deployed in Iraq in June of 2007 when his tank was struck by a roadside bomb killing him and four others. While in Iraq, Agami earned a Purple Star, a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal for his service, bravery, and dedication to the military.
Read more...
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This Week in the Margate Community
City Proclaims National School Lunch Week
“Margate does not forget those people who feed our children, especially with the healthy menus you prepare every single day while they’re in school,” announced Commissioner Joe Varsallone as the City joined the National School Lunch Week movement October 4-11.
“Whereas the national school lunch program has served our nation admirably for over sixty years through advanced practices and nutrition education and whereas the national school lunch program is dedicated to the health and well being of our nation’s children and whereas the National School Lunch Program has been joined through the years by many other excellent child feeding programs and there is evidence of continued need for nutrition and education and awareness for the value of school nutrition programs,” reads the city proclamation.
More news...
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Roll-Out Recycling Carts Proposed for Single Family Homes in Margate
As part of renewing the city’s waste disposal contract with hauler Waste Management (WM) through to 2015, 65-gallon roll-out, lidded recycling carts on wheels may be in the works. Moreover, the company said its introducing ‘at your door’ household hazardous waste pick-up next year and will fund two $2,500 scholarships for students in the city.
Government affairs head for WM, Tony Spadaccia, said his company employs 30 full-time Margate residents. City Manager, Frank Porcella, said WM has acted as a good partner in the city.
“We participate, we give back to the community, we employ residents, we’re here, we deliver for you,” Spadaccia told commissioners at the Monday special meeting.
Read more…
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Margate City Manager Retires
Excerpt from 2009 Margate News.net Article:
Margate City Manager Frank Porcella started working for the city the same year Sonny & Cher aired their last show. Gasoline was around $0.65 a gallon and, facing impeachment, Richard Nixon resigned as America’s 37th President. Films released the year Frank signed on as a Margate firefighter include The Lords of Flatbush, The Godfather Part II and wouldn’t you know it, The Towering Inferno. The year was 1974. The City of Margate was 19 years old.
Thirty-seven years later, Frank is retiring from the City of Margate.
Read more…
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Margate Firefighters Work to Cure Sick Leave Overtime
Each year for several years now the Margate Fire Department (MFD) has been granted an overtime budget. In this year’s pending contract with the fire union, the overtime cap offered by the city amounts to $350,000. Three years ago in 2008, overtime reached almost half a million dollars.
To the surprise of Margate city officials attending fire union negotiations last week, union heads said they would prefer to eliminate the overtime cap altogether in exchange for having enough workers to adequately cover shifts.
Read more…
Article Updated 9-18-2011
According to Margate Fire Union negotiator, Captain Adam Sitman, the union has agreed to a 3-year contract with the city.
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Youth Football Game turns Adult Rumble. Margate Revokes Park Privileges for Raiders
The result of an “unsportsmanlike conduct call on a football player,” reads a Margate Police Report, an estimated 75 fans and parents rushed the field at Margate’s Oriole park in a frenzy August 27th, “pushing, punching and fighting each other” during a game between the Northwest Broward Raiders and Lauderhill Lions 80-pound class South Florida Youth Football teams.
Unlike a similar brawl in Sarasota taking place the same day and involving four arrests, no charges were filed in Margate. The Raiders have, however, lost their privileges to play and practice in the city.
Read more…
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Margate Lifeguard Saves Child’s Life. Receives Commendation from City
It’s why they’re called Lifeguards. They guard life, which is exactly what Sebastian Mila and Adam Renneisen were doing on July 20th at 2 pm – guarding the life of a 7-year-old girl when she suddenly had problems swimming and sank to the bottom of the pool at Margate's Calypso Cove.
Mila noticed first, blew the whistle and went in after her. Upon Mila pulling the girl from the pool, Renneisen found no pulse or heartbeat and started to administer life-saving CPR. When city firefighters arrived, the girl was breathing on her own.
Read more…
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DON’T Give your Bank Account Number to your Community Association Silly!
With scams and identity theft running rampant, safeguarding personal information is high priority. In Margate, some Community Associations (Condominiums and Homeowners Associations) have asked homeowners to supply them with personal bank account and routing numbers so that monthly or quarterly community assessments can be withdrawn automatically from a homeowner’s bank account.
One ‘55 and older’ homeowner’s association attached a “Direct Debit Authorization Form” to their monthly newsletter, which they put in more than 200 doors around the community asking homeowners to write down their banking information and mail it to a bookkeeper in Boca. No conditions, no warranties - just mail the one-page form with the information.
If you reside in one of these associations where you’re offered this opportunity, the answer should be an emphatic “NO!”
Here are 3 GOOD REASONS why.
Read more...
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Downsizing Margate Inner City Transit saves taxpayers more than 100K
Margate Inner City Transit (MIT) presents a double-edged sword. On one hand it eases traffic and for some provides a valued means of transportation to work, shopping and school.
On the other hand, it doesn’t make money or even pay for itself. Of the more than $468,886 budgeted to outsource MIT to a third party in Fiscal Year 2012 only about $90,000 would come from rider fees. The remaining $375,000+ would be paid from city and county taxes.
But that’s not going to happen.
Too few riders on MIT’s Bus Route B has eliminated the route, along with Saturday runs for routes A, C and D. Monday through Friday service on these routes will be scaled back from 12 hours a day to nine, running from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Read more…
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Margate asking for $763,000 back from County for ‘un-dispatched’ Dispatch Services
Despite maintaining and paying for its own police and fire dispatch services, Margate is one of eight cities in Broward where taxpayers may have been paying ‘double’ for dispatch services for the past 40 years, according a 2009 county audit that showed cities who weren’t receiving dispatch services from the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) were paying for them anyway.
Similar to Pembroke Pines, a city already asking the county for an almost $3 million refund, Margate isn’t looking to get back the full 40 years…yet. Just to be reimbursed for the 36,636 911 calls dispatched in Fiscal Year 2010, and for calls dispatched during FY 2011 and in the future if BSO continues to unfairly and inequitably charge Margate taxpayers for emergency dispatch.
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Margate approves licensing agreement with amateur stadium company
City commissioners approved a $450,000 licensing agreement Monday with California-based Big League Dreams LLC. The company transforms amateur sports venues into replicas of popular major league stadiums for youth and adult slow and fast-pitch baseball/softball play. In Margate, this would impact the three baseball fields at the Banks Road Sports Complex.
“I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve seen things pass this city by,” said Commissioner David McLean, who along with other commissioners see Big League Dreams (BLD) as a one-of-a-kind attraction for Margate and the county.
Read more…
Reader emails
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Amateur Stadium in Margate has potential to put city on map
City officials Monday night will discuss retrofitting Margate’s three Banks Road baseball fields into a ‘Big League Dreams’ stadium for youth and adult fast and slow pitch baseball/softball, soccer, community events, concerts and fundraisers.
The project has the potential to bring thousands of visitors to the area on a weekly basis, said City Planner, Ben Ziskal, boost the small business economy, generate new revenues for the city and offer the community a one-of-a-kind amateur stadium experience unlike anything in Palm Beach, Broward or Miami Dade counties.
Sports league officials, organizers, players and parents from Margate and surrounding cities are encouraged to attend Monday's meeting scheduled for 6:30 pm. at Margate City Hall to learn more.
Read more…
Article updated 7 am. July 11.
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Community Building in Margate fueled by Volunteer Band Effort
When Brian Donahue ran for city commissioner in the January special election in Margate, it wasn’t about winning, he said. It was about his willingness to serve his community.
A music instructor and musician for more than 20 years, Donahue suggested to commissioners at a June city meeting that forming a volunteer band might be a good way to get the musically inclined in Margate out of the house and into some local playing. Two weeks later, the project is underway.
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Mosque Protest: Out-of-towners converge on Margate for Witch Hunt
The protest in front of the Masjid Jamaat al-Mumineen (MJAM) mosque Tuesday night in Margate had the underpinnings of an 18th Century inquisition. Better yet, 1950s McCarthyism. Social mishaps grounded in unsubstantiated fears.
“If it acts like a duck and smells like a duck…,” was the threshold for terrorism used by AM radio talk show host “Joe Citizen” to persuade demonstrators Tuesday into believing everyone attending MJAM was complicit in terrorism.
The MJAM Sunni mosque is located at 3222 Holiday Springs Boulevard Margate.
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Reader Email
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Protest at Margate Mosque Tuesday calls for closing Islamic house of worship
In light of the recent arrest of 24-year-old Imam, Izhar Khan of the Masjid Jamaat al-Mumineen (MJAM) mosque in Margate in connection with funding Taliban militants in Pakistan, leaders from Fort Lauderdale’s Tea Party and civil rights organization, Americans Against Hate (AAH), are calling on the government to shut MJAM down.
“After this mosque’s imam was found to be involved in financing a terrorist group, how can this mosque be allowed to remain open? Local citizens are outraged,” said Tea Party Director, Danita Kilcullen.
In conjunction with Boca Raton’s Church of all Nations, the two groups will be holding a protest outside the mosque at 3222 Holiday Springs Boulevard Margate on Tuesday, June 7 at 7 pm.
Read more...
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Analysis of FDLE Crime Stats shows Margate Cops better than most at clearing crimes
A city’s crime rate can make or break a move for families, professionals and retired persons looking to relocate or purchase a second home. It’s the stuff economic growth is made of. And though it’s nice to hear that crime is down in your city, it’s even nicer to know the home team is doing a good job when compared to neighboring police agencies.
Margate enjoys the second highest UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) Part I crime clearance rate in Broward County for 2010 and the sixth lowest UCR Part I Crime rate per 100,000 residents, according to crime statistics released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
“We are certainly proud of both,” Margate Police Chief, Jerry Blough, told MargateNews.net.
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July 4th Fireworks to light up Margate Skies this year
Despite perceptions of economic recovery, many cities like Margate continue to struggle to make ends meet while avoiding layoffs, service reductions and tax increases. Though 2011 will be no fiscal ‘walk in the park’ for any Broward city, the Margate City Commission decided two years ago that fireworks on July 4th are a matter of patriotic pride and should be bullet proof when looking to cut services to residents.
Due to the city’s $4.5 million budget deficit last year, Margate officials passed funding of the fireworks off to the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA). The same will happen this year with a maximum commitment of $25,000 from the agency to be reduced as donations for the event come into the city.
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Former Margate Commissioner / State Representative, Jack Tobin, succumbs to cancer
Known for pioneering the Margate Chamber of Commerce and his dedication to improving Margate’s business climate, former Margate City Commissioner / Florida State Representative, Jack Tobin, succumbed to cancer Tuesday, April 19 between 5 and 6 pm. The champion of economic development worked closely with local charities Family Central and Kiwanis among others, and was employed as a lobbyist by the city to represent taxpayer interests at the state level in Tallahassee.
“He will be sorely missed,” said Margate City Commissioner, Joe Varsallone in a call to MargateNews.net early Wednesday morning.
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Condolences
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Korea War Veteran, John Siple, receives Purple Heart from Congressmen Ted Deutch at Margate Town Hall Meeting
Surviving one of the bloodiest, most intense ground assaults of the Korea War, John "Jack" Siple was shot in the arm while fighting from a foxhole during the battle of Heartbreak Ridge. As an infantryman for the Army’s 2nd Division, Siple saved the lives of fellow soldiers under heavy artillery fire and with brothers in arms finally took “The Ridge” from the Korean People’s Army on October 15, 1951 after a month of combat.
“If they weren’t such a bad shot, I guess I wouldn’t be here today,” the 82-year-old Siple said wittingly. “I guess it just wasn’t my time to go.”
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City takes steps to save funding for Margate Inner City Transit (MIT) Bus Route-B
In an effort to get ridership levels back to the minimum 7.1 riders per service hour required to receive funding from Broward County in support of MIT Bus Route-B, Margate city staff enlisted the help of Margate commissioners in appealing to county officials for a 90-day extension on amending the city's funding contract with the county.
“All we’re asking is to give our residents a chance to enjoy this new route and if they don’t use it then get rid of it,” said Assistant City Manager, Yolanda Rodriguez at an emergency workshop held Monday at City Hall to address the matter.
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Slaughter of Fogel Family touches Margate hearts 6,000 miles away
In celebration of the Purim holiday hundreds of students aged four to fourteen paraded in costume at the Jewish Academy in Margate on Friday.
Dancing and singing to classic Chassidic and Israeli songs, students carried signs in remembrance of the Fogels, a Jewish family murdered in their sleep in the West Bank settlement of Itamar on March 11.
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New Margate Fire Chief gets accolades from former city employer
When Tony Stravino - Margate’s new Fire Chief effective February 28 - arrived in Longwood Florida a year ago, Longwood’s chief administrator, Katrina Powell, said though her city employed dedicated fire rescue workers; organization and infrastructure was lacking in the Longwood Fire Department.
Powell conducted a global search for a Longwood Fire Chief, she said. After culling through a pile of resumes, an independent panel of 10 formed specifically to review top candidates for the Chief’s position selected Stravino in the end. “I can’t even remember how many resumes we got,” she said.
Article ammended 3-4-11
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3rd Annual Margate Street Festival this weekend February 26 & 27!
All who have ever attended either or both of the first two Margate Street Festivals will tell you they had a blast - and left with a full belly too. Finger-lickin’ comfort foods ala car show, dance performances, arts and crafts, magicians, musical acts and motorcycle daredevils.
The annual event attracted 5,000 festival goers in year one and nearly 8,000 in year two, prompting a two-day affair in it's third season, featuring kids games, bounce houses, Motown, Blues, Jazz and Doo Wop performances, salute to local troops, karate demos and food vendors selling fried delicacies and grilled delights.
Read more…
Click for Schedule of Events.
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Last Call for Girl Scout Cookies February 8
It happens about the same time every year and for just a few short weeks. The chewy, gooey, creamy goodness of Girl Scout cookies. This year, Margate Liberty Elementary Troop 10481 is selling all your favorites at locations in Margate and Coconut Creek through February 8th in an effort not only to raise money for their dolphin trip to Orlando, but to ensure that American troops overseas get their share of Somoas, Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Do-Si-Dos like the rest of us.
“For a lot of these men and women, Girl Scout cookies are an emotional connection to home,” said Jorja Tutwiler, cookie sales co-coordinator for the troop.
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Facebook assassination threat taken seriously by newly-elected Margate Commissioner
All will agree that using the words “sniper rifle” and “assassinate” in the same sentence on Facebook will draw some attention. It did for 25-year-old Markus Popovic, son of Margate Special Election Candidate, Rich Popovic, who got the attention of the Margate cops and the FBI when consoling his father on Facebook for not winning the election.
“Sorry Dad about not getting the position…guess I will have to assassinate whoever won…guess I will grab the sniper rifle…” reads the Margate police report regarding the January 14th post.
Read more…
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Special Election Candidate Campaign Contributions and Expenditures
One week prior to Margate’s Special Election on January 11, the combined campaign contributions of all 13 candidates running for Seat 3 fall just short of $30,000. Total expenditures amount to almost $20,000, according to candidate’s Campaign Treasurer Report Summaries filed as of January 4, 2011.
A total 16 percent of campaign contributions have come from businesses, 19 percent from individuals and a total 65 percent from candidates themselves or their companies.
Filing fees, billed at $392 per candidate and a thorn in the side of candidate campaign accounts, say candidates, amounts to almost 25 percent of total campaign expenditures.
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How far will a union endorsement take a Margate Special Election Candidate?
Typically, labor unions interview candidates running for political office. Not necessarily to endorse a candidate’s qualifications for public service, but instead, as a silent agreement with a candidate that if he or she receives a union endorsement, that candidate, if elected, will support union efforts in contract negotiations and labor legislation moving forward.
In turn, the union will back the candidate, whether with campaign financing, voter support or both.
Read more…
Margate union leader opinion.
Candidate opinion.
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Fallen Soldier Honored with Room Dedication at Alma Mater
On Tuesday, November 30th, at 10:00 AM, the Hebrew Academy Community School, will remember its student, Spc. Daniel J. Agami (o.b.m.) as it dedicates its new office complex in his memory.
Daniel, a graduate of the Margate school, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007 in the service of our nation. Posthumously decorated with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation for saving lives, Spc. Agami serves as a role model and icon to the school’s 400 students.
Read more...
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Call Center to bring 500 Jobs to Margate
A moving broker has begun to upgrade the old PRC building on the SE corner of Copans Road and State Road 7 in Margate. Representatives for VICJ Corporate Plaza, Scott Osofsky and Dennis McGuire, told Margate Redevelopment Agency officials and the public earlier in the month that they would be employing about 500 people, 300 of which they plan on hiring locally.
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Margate City Manager Announces Retirement
Cutting the length of his contract short eight months by enrolling in Margate’s retirement option program, Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella, announced his retirement effective January 3, 2012 through a resolution at Wednesday's city meeting.
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Margate Jewish Academy Student selling camouflage skullcaps to Honor Fallen Brother
Eleven-year-old Shaina Agami, preparing to celebrate her bat mitzvah next year, could have chosen any number of fun things to do to infuse meaning into the special day. Instead, the South Florida girl is working to ensure that people will always remember her brother Danny, a vibrant 25-year-old cut down in the prime of life in the middle of Iraq by an insurgent’s bomb.
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Margate first Broward city to join Resource Recovery Interlocal Agreement
Earlier in the month, Margate City Commissioners unanimously agreed to be Broward County's first city to sign a resource recovery agreement with Waste Management’s Wheelabrator.
The services agreement includes a potential signing bonus of $400,000 or more for the city, along with a 10-year plan to reduce waste disposal rates. Currently, Wheelabrator burns trash at incinerators in Pompano and Fort Lauderdale to generate electricity.
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Kick Now For Autism Speaks
Students from United Martial Arts Center will host their 2nd annual Kick-A-Thon charity event at 10 a.m. at UMAC, 7962 W. Sample Rd, Margate, on October 16th.
Last year, UMAC students raise almost $1,500 for 4kids of South Florida. This year, the martial arts participants have gathered pledges based on their intent of completing 5,000 karate kicks during a one-hour timeframe.
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Margate Unions At 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.
Union leaders have agreed to let Margate City Commissioners decide the fate of their contracts in special hearings to be scheduled in coming weeks. FPE will appear before commissioners on September 14, while Fire Union officials will first seek a ruling from a Special Magistrate.
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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.
Click here to read more.
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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.
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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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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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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.
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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).
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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.
Read more…
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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.
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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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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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