WEST
PARK
CITY
OFFICIALS
JUNE 2013
www.communitynewspapers.com
WHO’S WHO In City Government Mayor Eric H. Jones, Jr.
305-669-7355
WE DESPERATELY NEED OUR FATHERS By Mayor Eric H. Jones Jr.
A little boy and his father visited the country store; upon leaving the store the owner of the store offered the little boy some free candy. "Get a hand full of candy,” the merVice Mayor chant said to the boy. The boy just stood Felicia M. there looking up at his father. The owner Brunson repeated himself, "Son, get a hand full of candy, it’s free." Again the boy did not move continuing to look up in the face of his father. Finally, the father reached into the candy jar and got a hand full of candy and gave it to his son. Commissioner Thomas Dorsett As they walked back home, the father stopped and asked his son why he did not grab a hand full of the free candy. The boy with a big smile on his face looked into the face of his father and said "Because I know that your hand is bigger than mine. Commissioner Almost 75% of American children livSharon Fyffe ing in fatherless households will experience poverty before the age of 11, compared to only 20% of those raised by two parents. Children living in homes where fathers are absent are far more likely to be expelled from or drop out of Commissioner school, develop emotional or behavioral Rita “Peaches” problems, commit suicide, and fall vicMack tim to child abuse or neglect. The males are also far more likely to become violent criminals. In fact, men who grew up without dads currently represent 70% of the prison population serving long-term sentences. City Manager A June issue of Family Circle W. Ajibola Magazine contained results from a Balogun recent national survey of fathers. It had some interesting results:
94% believe that building a family is the hardest and most important thing a man can do. 71% say fatherhood is more demanding than they expected, while 88% say fatherhood is more rewarding. 87% say the rewards of fatherhood trump those of career, and 89% approve of men leaving fast-track careers to spend more time with family. 90% say becoming a father made them want to be a better person and role model for their children, while, 75% feel a weight of responsibility since they did not before.
Tonight, 40% of all American children will go to sleep in a house in which their fathers do not live. Before the age of 18, more than 50% of our children will spend a significant portion of their childhood living apart from their fathers. A generation ago, an American child reasonably could expect to grow up with a dad. Today, an American child can expect reasonably not to. Fatherlessness is the most harmful demographic trend in this generation. “The most urgent domestic chal-
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An Open Letter to West Park’s Graduating Class of 2013 from Vice Mayor Felicia M. Brunson By Vice Mayor Felicia M. Brunson
Someone once said that change is inevitable - except from a vending machine. As you stand on the brink of moving into life beyond high school or college, change will be inevitable! It is inevitable and indeed gratifying to see that you are matured and have become skills proficient ready to tackle and further your life-long education. It is inevitable that structures and processes and relationships will change in your day-to-day lives. It is inevitable that you will face new challenges and it is inevitable that things may seem a little different in the year ahead. Yes, life is definitely going to become a little 'shaken up and stirred'. I’m sure you will have some apprehension and fear for the future while acknowledging that you are going to miss some of your old friends and classmates. Today you also face the bittersweet combination of nostalgia and excitement that comes when you turn off one road in your life and onto another. The difference this time is that instead of simply turning onto the road, you are finally merging onto the highway. For some of you, this is the end of our official scholastic journey. While some of you will further your educational development in college or graduate school. Today also marks a turning point for many of you that we can't ignore: you are headed out there into the real world. Should you be nervous? Not after decades of experience in school. But a little apprehension is understandable. What does the future have in store for you? If you knew that, the future wouldn't be any fun. But you can only hope that the hard work you have put in during your high school or college years and the relationships you have formed have helped shaped you into capable adults, people who are ready to face the challenges ahead with a healthy attitude and just a little bit of irreverence in the face of obstacles. The rest of your life, you will be adults who have been given every opportunity to succeed. It's now time to capitalize on that opportunity. Top of Form You are now joining the ranks of educated individuals of the present and the
past, becoming another unique patch in the large quilt of those who have given up time and effort to become further educated than a portion of their peers so that they may contribute greatly to academia and the world at large for years to come. That giant quilt has been growing upon itself for decades, centuries, and even eons before our modern higher institution system was in place because there have always been those who have the desire to learn more, to know more, and to think more than traditional and basic education allowed them. You are now a part of that quilt, that large mosaic of different people from different times and different places, which covers not only our land but other nations around the world with knowledge and light. You are a piece of the fabric which holds human society together in its endeavors to progress the universal body of information and truth. You are now in league with the other professionals who gave up their own time, travail, and treasury to be as you are. This achievement of graduating today puts you in a fellowship, a family of sorts, with the others who did as you and were neither happy with the limits of their personal education nor pleased with the limited opportunities their basic training allotted them. You are now a member of the family of the higher educated. Whether you use your diploma or degree to enter the professional realm or to continue your education to even greater heights, you are now respected and linked to others who possess a yearning to be life-long learners. You have worked tirelessly to gain this honor and privilege. Therefore, enjoy it. Respect the others of your educated family as your own brothers and sisters, use your knowledge to encourage and help those who chose to not enter an institute of higher education, and enjoy the position in which your esteemed diploma or degree now places you. Top of Form No matter where you go or what you do, there are challenges ahead of you. What I'm asking from each of you, and from myself, is to meet those challenges straight on with your head held high and your heart wide open. It's not enough to simply try to get by in life. That doesn't move the world forward. You must try to excel in everything you do; strive for excellence in every task,
large or small. Although it may not be easy to see, every accomplishment you achieve is added to the world's accomplishments. Your individual successes benefit society as a whole because when you succeed, you lighten the burden on your fellow man. When you succeed, you are in a position to give rather than take. Imagine if every individual lived up to his or her own potential. Think about how amazing that would be, and how much better off the world would be. Now imagine if just half of those individuals lived up to their potential. The world would still be an awesome place. If even 1/4 of those individuals worked to make their lives successful, they could still make some amazing contributions to society. Well, we may not have the power to
inspire the entire world to strive for success, but we do have the power to try to achieve it for ourselves. My challenge to each of you, and to myself, is to do all that you can do to reach your full potential educationally and professionally. If each of you- members of the Graduate class of 2013 is able to do that, just imagine the effect that would have. The future is truly in your hands, so make the most of it. Congratulations West Park 2013 Graduates! Remember to contact me at City Hall with your ideas, suggestions or concerns. I represent you and appreciate your input into the continued success of our beloved city. I can be reached at (954) 889-4164 or email fbrunson@cityofwestpark.org.
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A Tribute to Fathers By Vice Mayor Felicia M. Brunson
There are often situations and times, when children forget to hug their dad, kiss and tell him that they love him like they do to their mothers. Most of us would agree that we assume our father to be the provider for the family. From the time, when we worship our beloved pops for all that he knew and all that he could, we move on to become a rebellious teenager, when we make it a point to argue about everything and anything that he advises to us. A father plays a very special role in the life of his children. He is the protector, a caretaker, the financial and moral support and most importantly, the support pillar of their life. He would not hesitate to sacrifice his desires in order to fulfill the wishes of his family. He dedicates a significant period of his life in nurturing his kids, unless they become self-sufficient in all respects. When he is working, he would burden himself with all his family's responsibilities and after retirement from work, he would ensure that he is no more a burden for his grown up kids.
FATHERS, from page 1 ––––––––– lenge facing the United States is the recreation of fatherhood as a social role for men.” A good father does these basic things: provides for his family, protects his family, and gives spiritual and moral guidance. In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Derek Redmond of Great Britain was considered a favorite contender for a medal. It was the evening of August 3, 1992 as Redmond was pitted against seven others in a semi-final in the 400 meters. Redmond knelt poised, waiting for the race to start. As the gun went off, his body was translated into a human locomotion, feverishly charging against the other runners. As Redmond
prepared to round the curve after the halfway mark; however, he suddenly heard a pop. It was his right hamstring. Redmond soon found himself trapped by the searing pain of his leg. The other runners finished the race as he desperately continued his painful trek to the finish line. He waved off the stretchers; however, determined to finish the race. From the stands, his father had been watching. He pushed his way past security guards to meet his son on the track. He reached his weeping son. “Look, you don’t have to do this.” Redmond replied: “Yes I do.” His father said: “Well, if you’re going to finish this race, we’ll finish it together.” With his arm locked around his son, Jim Redmond helped his son to the
finish line to the sounds of a cheering stadium. We have to remember that fathers are like that in the race we are running. Sometimes we may get injured in the race, but a good father is always there ready to come out of the stands, put His arm around us, and help us to the finish line. On another note, let us not forget that June 1 is the beginning of Hurricane season, and encourage you to check out the Cities web page for some preparation tips. I read an article, which says that during a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a rescue device used on the oil rigs. In case of fire or a hurricane, rig workers scramble into the bullet-shaped "bus" and strap themselves into their seats. When the entry port is
Since there is great significance of a father in everybody's life, he deserves a day specially dedicated to him. In the life of a man, Father's Day proves to be one of the most important occasions. On this day, he is made to feel special by his children. They undertake efforts to let him know the important place he holds in their life. At the same time, it is also a significant day for the children, who want to thank their dad for undergoing so many hardships in bringing them up. Father's Day salutes every man, who has been bestowed with innumerable responsibilities, right from the day when he becomes a father. It is a day to commemorate fatherhood, which is incomparable. West Park, this Father's Day, show your Dad that how much you love and respect him and how much you care for him. Happy Father’s Day! Remember to contact me at City Hall with your ideas, suggestions or concerns. I represent you and appreciate your input into the continued success of our beloved city. I can be reached at (954) 889-4164 or email fbrunson@cityofwestpark.org.
shut, the vehicle is released down a chute and projected away from the rig. The seat belts protect the occupants from the impact with the water. The capsule bobs in the sea until the rescuers come to pick it up. The moral is that those in the right place are saved from the ultimate consequences of the storm. The storm will take its course. The welfare of the workers depends on whether they are in the rescue device. You have a better chance of surviving a hurricane if you are prepared. Be safe and remember dad on Father’s day. God bless you, bless our city, and God bless America.
May God Bless our nation and continue to prosper our city.
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From the Desk of Commissioner Fyffe
By Commissioner Sharon Fyffe
HELLO NEIGHBORS, This month I want to introduce you to our City Administrator, Mr. Ajibola Balogun. We are celebrating Mr. Balogun’s third year anniversary as City Administrator with the City of West Park. A City Administrator is
the person in charge of the daily business of the City. He hires and supervises employees, he prepares and submits an annual budget to the Commission and, along with the Mayor, he executes contracts and important documents for the City. Mr. Balogun is a native of Lagos, Nigeria. He attended school in the United States and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and
also a Master’s Degree in Professional Studies. He served as City Manager for the City of South Miami before coming to West Park. If you would like to meet Mr. Balogun and shake his hand, come on over to City Hall. Call ahead before you come. Do express to him any concerns, criticisms or compliments you have regarding our City.
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From the Desk of Commissioner Mack Volunteers Needed for the Broward Sheriff's Office Citizen Observer Patrol (BSO - COP) BY COMMISSIONER RITA “PEACHES� MACK
As a resident, together with BSO we can be a great team. Our BSO believes that with residents helping the officers spot suspicious activities, they can stop crimes before they are committed. BSO is asking residents to volunteer for the COP Program. BSO's COP Program is a volunteer group sponsored by the Sheriff's Office that uses a simple approach to safeguarding neighborhoods through residents' involvement. COP volunteers are local residents who help BSO fight crime by patrolling their community, looking out for suspicious activity or potential hazards and offering assistance to local residents. Typical assignments in addition to patrol activities include performing checks on unoccupied residences (at the owner's request), checking on elderly or homebound residents (as requested) and reporting potential problems and neighborhood hazards to BSO. COP volunteers wear uniforms and drive specially marked vehicles, adding to the crimefighting presence in the community. I'm asking residents of West Park to volunteer for the COP program. Volunteers must be 18 years of age, pass a background check, possess a valid Florida driver's license, complete at least four hours of the training program and comply with all program policies and procedures. To apply, you may cut-out the application provided in this newspaper or you may call BSO at 954.321.4100. As always, if you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to call me at 954.889.4156.
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Honesty • Integrity • Values • Respect • Knowledge • Ethics
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2013 Hurricane Preparedness Guide Continued
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2013 Hurricane Preparedness Guide Continued
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2013 Hurricane Preparedness Guide Continued
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