BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America. Much has happened in Florida since then, and to commemorate and mark our state’s rich history, March 15 through April 15 has been designated “Florida Heritage Month” by the Florida Department of State. During Florida Heritage Month, Broward County Libraries (BCL) Division will host a slate of exhibits, programs and more to honor Florida’s rich history and raise awareness of its cultural heritage.

Additionally, Broward County Library will publish a Bibliography of Select Local History Holdings, which includes books and other resources on the history of Broward County and many of its cities and towns. The free booklet will be available at Broward County Library locations in mid-March.

Florida Heritage Month Events at Broward County Libraries:

April 4 – Film: Flagler’s Train – The Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Flagler’s Florida Keys Railroad, 2 p.m., West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation (954-382-5860)

April 14 – Their Story is Our Story, musical/historical production about the founding of Carver Ranches, 2 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at door. Seniors/students $10 in advance, $15 at door. Call 954-357-6210 for tickets and information. African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954-357-6282)

April 16 – Civil War Monuments and Sites in Florida Book Talk and PowerPoint Presentation with travel writer Roberta Sandler, 1 to 2 p.m., Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954-357-7444)

April 24 – Everglades Artist-in-Residence 2011 Brian Trainor discusses his photography and experiences in the Everglades, 1 p.m., North Regional/Broward College Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek (954-201-2600)

May 12 – The Florida East Coast Railway: For More Than 110 Years, America’s Speedway to Sunshine, an enlightening and enjoyable talk by historian Seth Bramson, 3:30 p.m., Hallandale Beach Library, 300 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale (954-457-1750)

Florida Heritage Month Exhibits at Broward County Libraries:

• Fabulous Forties on the Avenue Exhibit: See a replica of Fort Lauderdale’s historic Northwest Fifth Avenue (April-October), African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954-357-6282)

• Florida Mystery Writers Book Display, Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center, 3403 Galt Ocean Mile, Fort Lauderdale (954-537-2877)

• Book Display in Honor of Florida Heritage Month (April 1-15), Imperial Point Library, 5985 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale (954-492-1881)

• Broward Historical Society Sailboat Bend Photographic Exhibit (April 1-May 31), North Lauderdale Saraniero Library, 6901 Kimberly Blvd., North Lauderdale (954-968-3840)

• Book Display “Florida’s Past” (April 1-30), North Regional/Broward College Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek (954-201-2600)

• Everglades Photography by Everglades Artist-in-Residence 2011 Brian Trainor (April-May), North Regional/Broward College Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek (954-201-2600)

• Poster Display – Florida Humanities Council Educational Posters on Culture of Native Americans/Early Florida Settlers (April-May), Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Dr., Coral Springs (954-341-3900)

• Florida Heritage Month Materials Display (April 1-15), Riverland Library, 2710 W. Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954-791-1085)

• Model Train Exhibit, courtesy of Florida Citrus Model Train Society, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Flagler’s Florida Keys Railroad. See the exhibit, watch train films and enjoy musical performances. Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri. and Sat.: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (April 21-May 5), West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation (954-382-5860).

The award-winning Broward County Libraries Division, founded in 1974, is the ninth largest library system in the nation by population served and one of the busiest, with more than 9 million walk-in customers visiting its 37 locations annually. The library has more than 3.4 million items and 2,000 computers for public use and offers hundreds of events and programs to meet the needs of the Broward County’s diverse community. The library continues its strong emphasis on literacy, after-school programs and electronic access. In addition to our comprehensive Web site, www.broward.org/library, which provides information about library activities, links to online catalogs, reference information and databases, customers can visit BCL WoW – Broward County Library Without Walls – for free eBooks, music, audiobooks, apps and more. Customers may also follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter. Libraries Division also administers the services, programs, collections and exhibits of the Historical Commission.

MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine McElrath
PHONE: 954-357-7402
EMAIL: cmcelrath@browardlibrary.org

Why should we learn about black history? Well, it’s because we know so little of it. Ignorance is not bliss–it’s just ignorance.

Black history is the least well-documented and well-known of the histories we know today, and that is precisely why it is absolutely necessary that we make every effort to collect more of what we can about it, piece it together, and share what we know about it.

Have you ever heard anything about the Harlem Renaissance? If you’re white or black, chances are, you’ve never read a word about it. Yet it was one of the most significant periods of American history in the early decades of the 20th century when black culture blossomed in the arts, music, and literature, to name just a few outstanding areas of achievement. I know some of your readers know a great deal about it. But not enough.

Segregation was a hurtful time for many, as were the years of anti-Semitism.. But it is the task of history to tell the whole story, and a truthful one. A history is no history at all unless it tells the truth. It’s long past time to begin the task of learning all we can about each other. In 1917, as many African-Americans as whites in Broward County registered for the draft during World War I, along with Hong Lee, a Chinese farmer, and Tony Tommie, a Seminole Indian.

In the 1920s, Jewish retailers dominated the downtown Fort Lauderdale business district until anti-Semitism reared its ugly head. Members of the Haft family, formerly engaged in the textile business in New York City in the 1950s, developed large sections of northeastern Fort Lauderdale despite anti-Semitism prevailing as late as the mid-1960s.

Ignoring the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown decision and other court rulings for nearly a decade, the City of Fort Lauderdale refused to desegregate its beaches until Eula Mae Johnson and Von Mizell led the wade-ins in 1961, and it even closed a city-owned golf course to evade integration. The Broward County School Board refused to integrate the schools until W. George Allen brought a federal lawsuit in 1969, fifteen years after Brown. Women’s history is no less a neglected area of historical study.

History done well helps us to learn more about each other. It’s not too late. If we do it right, if we collect, interpret and share an inclusive history, we can build community. To be sure, learning the truth about the past can be a hurtful process – for blacks and for whites – but it is a necessary one, if we are to move forward together. If you think Henry Flagler built the railroad into south Florida, think again. Flagler paid for it. But four hundred blacks cleared the right-of-way before the first train arrived at Fort Lauderdale on February 22, 1896. It’s part of our history.

A police officer directs Black youth during the wade-ins not to use the beach. Courtesy, Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society, Hyde Collection.

Submitted by

William G. Crawford, Jr., Esq.
McDonald & Crawford, P.A.
315 Southeast 7th Street
Suite 303
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 462-2717

Enterprising lawyers beware: using Facebook as an investigative tool may get you into trouble with the bar, says an ethics opinion from the San Diego County Bar Association. Lawyers across the country may want to take notice.

Read the full story from the Daily Business Review on Law.com here.

Thanks to Robin Moselle of Jacobson, Sobo & Moselle for bringing this to BCBA attention.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has “tentatively” picked a site in Southwest Ranches in western Broward County as the place to build one of the country’s largest immigrant detention centers, ICE announced Friday.

On May 10th and 11th, the students from the Seminole Middle School DECAL Program had the opportunity to spend the day at the Broward County Courthouse to see how the judicial system works. The class was broken into two different groups with 88 students attending on the 10th and 66 students attending on the 11th.

The excursion was arranged with the assistance of the students’ teacher, Mell Rupp, Andrea R. Gundersen, Esq., liaison for the Broward County Bar Association, and Judge Towbin Singer who took an enormous amount of time out of her schedule to coordinate and participate in the activities for the students during their visit, which included observations of hearings, a presentation by the crime lab and a visit from the K-9 unit bomb squad.

With the cooperation of her fellow jurists including, Judge Bidwell, Judge Imperato, Judge Kaplan, Judge Orlando and Judge Siegal, the students were able to observe various phases of court hearings ranging from arraignment and plea hearings, direct and cross examination of witnesses during trial, injunction hearings and legal arguments on motions. After their courtroom observations, the students had the opportunity to listen to a presentation from the crime lab and then the K-9 unit of the bomb squad.

The judges who participated were gracious enough to take the time to answer questions and explain the process of what was occurring in their respective courtrooms. One teacher commented to me that he was impressed at how accommodating the judges were to take the time to welcome and acknowledge the students and answer their questions during their docket.

Along with volunteers from the courthouse staff, there were also attorneys from the West Broward County Bar Association such as Robin Moselle, Michael Rajitar, Michael Vines and Andrea R. Gundersen who volunteered their time to escort the students during the courtroom hearing observations and answer any questions.

It was a pleasure to see the enthusiasm from the students. They were able to see how the curriculum they have been learning in class is applied in practice and to highlight the work that the judiciary and the staff of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit are involved with on a day to day basis. At the end of the two days, Seminole Middle School presented Judge Towbin Singer with a plaque acknowledging their appreciation for the efforts she put in to arrange their visit.

About the Author: Andrea R. Gundersen serves on the board of the Broward County Bar Association. She concentrates her practice in family law and family mediation. She can be reached at arg@gundersenlaw.com or 954-362-0313.

Florida Attorney General’s Prescription Pill Abuse Chief to talk about the State’s New Offensive on Pill Mills

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE Fla. —- Former state Senator Dave Aronberg, who was recently appointed by state Attorney General Pam Bondi to head her office’s efforts to combat so called “Pill Mills”, will be speaking at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Session coordinator: Raymond G. Ferrero III

Open to all NSU faculty members, staff, students, alumni, and community members interested in public health.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
HPD Assembly Building, Melnick Auditorium (2109), on the Davie campus of NSU
For driving directions, call Dr. Jon Dodds at 954-262-1609

The talk is free and opened to the public. The title of Mr. Aronberg’s presentation is “Florida’s New Offense against Pill Mills.”

The Attorney General’s Office said it will likely push for legislation that will strengthen state rules regulating pain clinics.

“It is unacceptable that Florida has become the nation’s pill mill capital” Bondi said.   Statistics show that seven Floridians die per day as a result of prescription drug overdose.

South Florida has been nationally recognized as ground zero for prescription drug abuse and diversion, where unscrupulous doctors and other health care professionals run “Pill Mills”.

Pill Mills are doctor’s offices, clinics, and associated pharmacies, where large quantities of controlled substances, such as painkillers, are routinely over-prescribed  or dispensed to patients, far exceeding any therapeutic purpose. These establishments often operate without insurance and on a cash-only basis. They run robust businesses, selling high concentration of pills.

Their patients, who are often “doctor shopping”, travel to Florida from states as far away as Tennessee, Kentucky and Maine by the busloads to visit these Pill Mills. These patients fill their prescriptions from one Pill Mill to the next until they end up with a myriad of pills that they use themselves or sell for top dollar on the black market.

“Pill Mills are turning their patients into addicts by over-prescribing highly addictive painkillers such as OxyContin, Oxycodone, Roxicodone, Xanax, Soma, Valium, you name it.” said Raymond G. Ferrero III, J.D., partner with Addiction Recovery Legal Services law firm, the executive director of health affairs for NSU’s Health Professions Division, and chair of NSU’s Council for Addiction Studies.

According to the Florida Office of Drug Control, the nation’s top 50 prescribers of the painkiller known as oxycodone operate in Florida. Not surprisingly, the data shows that the top 24 prescribers of oxycodone reside and work in Broward County.

Pill Mills sit in stark contrast to physicians and pharmacies practicing legitimate pain management —- a system where physicians operate legally and legitimately to treat patients with chronic physical pain.

About Nova Southeastern University:  Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University is a dynamic fully accredited institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels.  NSU has more than 29,000 students and is the seventh largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally.  The university awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of field’s, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences. For more information visit  www.nova.edu.

Contact:
Ken Ma
NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5408 Office
954-830-4177 Cell
ken.ma@nova.edu

Here is the summary sheet (in Excel format) of the proposed budget for the court system. Click on the link below.

Florida Court System Proposed Budget

Patrick A. Barry, long active in South Florida’s legal community, died peacefully at home on August 5, 2010, at the age of 71.

Among his achievements, Barry served as City Prosecutor of Coral Springs, President of the Broward Federal Bar, was active throughout his career on the Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Committee of the Florida Bar and was lauded by peers and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers as a distinguished and respected attorney. Barry retired from Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., in 2005.

Visitation from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Babione Funeral Home, 1100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton with a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9th at St. Jude Catholic Church, 21689 Toledo Rd., Boca Raton. Interment at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth.

Read the full obituary on the Sun-Sentinel site. Comments to this blog post in remembrance of Pat are welcome.