The Gazette 2/16/23 V10iss4

GAZETTE

WILTON MANORS

PATRICK CANN, DIRECTOR OF LEISURE SERVICES, LEAVES WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

Wilton Manors’ slogan is, “Life’s just better here.” One of the people who elevated that from slogan to reality was Patrick Cann. He’s moving on after nearly 19 years as the city’s Director of Leisure Services, and leaves behind a department that’s bigger and more inclusive than he found it.

“It was the hardest decision I feel like I’ve ever made,” he said. “I didn’t even know I could make the decision until the day I drafted a letter I’d be leaving.”

Since taking the job in 2004, he’s guided the department through a major recession and a pandemic. But he’s done more than guide it — he’s grown it to levels unthinkable even in the best of times. When Cann took over, growth has included more than doubling facilities, square footage, boat ramps, and dog parks.

What makes those accomplishments even more impressive is that his budget has only risen about 16% and the staffing levels have remained stagnant. During an interview with SFGN, Cann took little credit for himself and instead heaped it on others.

“You can’t achieve all those things without a great team. Being able to visualize the future, organize the operation, and engage the team.”

Despite very visible and popular accomplishments, like the pickleball courts at Hagen Park, Cann says growing the department is his greatest achievement.

“I call it the MVP approach: mission, vision, and plan. That’s the catalyst to starting your organization. Implementing the leadership

team. Recruiting, retaining, and growing top talent. Establishing a culture where people love to be here. They don’t have to be here, they want to be here.”

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

If you spend over two minutes with Cann, it becomes obvious his job is his passion. His stoic humility is pierced when he talks about how citizens are impacted by his work.

“It was great that we could help families and parents in our community during COVID by opening our parks safely and still doing outdoor events like Taste of the Island.”

Cann also is proud of his work to include the most vulnerable people in the community: youth and seniors. “How do we reduce seniors being isolated? How do we teach our youth life-affirming skills? How do we educate our community and value and commit to it by reducing school dropout rate? Parks and recreation play a vital role in helping our culture in so many ways.”

He says the department succeeds because he gave his team room to make big decisions and then stood by them.

“You can’t achieve all those things without a great team. Being able to visualize the future, organize the operation, and engage the team. Not taking a risk is not an option. Not growing is not an option. You grow a lot by taking risks. Our failures will lead to more knowledge and wisdom and greater efficiency.”

MOVING ON

Cann is leaving to become the director of Parks and Recreation in North Lauderdale.

“It’s about the big picture. I’ve been given an opportunity to serve in a larger community with unique challenges.”

This is his third job as leader of a parks department, and that’s not an accident.

“We all are called to do something, and this was my call. There’s nothing more I’d rather do.”

Though he won’t be an official part of Wilton Manors, the city will remain in his heart.

“When I come to Stonewall, I’ll still act like I work here. I’ll look for things that need support and be that volunteer to help.”

He’s also proud of the department he leaves behind.

“We’re changing society. We’re improving the quality of life and making it as world-class as possible. “I love the community. It’s been an honor to be here.”

Patrick Cann. Photo via LinkedIn.

MISSING WILTON MANORS MAN FOUND

By John McDonald

A Wilton Manors man, who was missing for almost a week, has been reunited with his family.

The Wilton Manors Police Department issued the following news release: “Missing Person Mr. James Doan has been safely located. He is in good health and reunited with his family. Thank you to our community partners-community members and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for assisting us with locating him.”

Doan, a humanities professor at Nova Southeastern University, went missing from his Wilton Manors home on the evening of Jan. 30. His husband, Brad Zuckerman, said the 69-year-old Doan

was suffering from mental health issues.

“JIM HAS BEEN FOUND!” Zuckerman posted on Facebook at 3:16 p.m., Feb. 4.

“He’s tired, and dirty but fine! Thank you for all your prayers and all the help. We love you all.”

During the search, SFGN reached out to the Stonewall National Museum Archives and Library, where Doan had recently served on the board of directors. Executive Director Robert Kesten described Doan as a “nice, kind, gentle and intelligent man.” Doan, Kesten said, had been helpful in preparation for the museum’s upcoming 50th anniversary gala on Feb. 25.

BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING PEDESTRIAN’S ‘DELAYED FATALITY’

By John McDonald

Detectives at the Broward Sheriff’s Office have launched an investigation into the “delayed” death of an Oakland Park woman.

In a news release, BSO announced its traffic homicide unit is conducting an investigation into the delayed fatality of Annie St. Gerard. The 50-year-old woman was attempting to cross North Andrews Ave. in the middle of the block on the morning of Jan. 10, when she was struck by a vehicle, police said.

St. Gerard was transported to Broward Health Medical Center. Two weeks later, on Jan. 28, she died from injuries afflicted by the crash.

Miranda Grossman, a BSO spokesperson, declined to comment if Broward Health Medical Center’s care and treatment of St. Gerard is the focus of the investigation.

The crash took place in the 100 block of W. Oakland Park Blvd. The driver, a 38-year-old Fort Lauderdale woman, was traveling east on W. Oakland Blvd. when her 2009 Nissan

Altima hit St. Gerard, police said. The driver stayed on the scene and detectives have ruled out excessive speed as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been six fatalities in Broward County resulting from crashes this year.

February 16, 2023 • Volume 10 • Issue 4 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher•Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com

Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

Editorial Graphic Designers

Julie Palmer•Kyle Willis•Craig Tuggle artwork@sfgn.com

Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor •John Hayden john.jmhcreative@gmail.com

Correspondents

Sal Torre • James Oaksun • John McDonald

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing

For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com

Co-founders• Norm Kent & Piero Guidugli

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Associated Press

South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

Copyright © 2023 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

HAVE YOU JOINED THE GAZETTE’S FACEBOOK GROUP?

Come join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback. Email Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com with comments, suggestions, etc.

Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette

Photo via Pixabay.

James Doan. Courtesy of Brad Zuckerman.