This week in Pembroke Pines: Commission meeting, St. Patrick’s Day photos & more
They say it’s spring.
The year’s shortest month, best known for love notes and roses, has bowed out. In its place comes March, dressed in green and carrying promises of renewal.
Meteorological spring arrives right on cue on March 1. Astronomical spring, however, starts on March 20.
With this shift, days become longer and even the most-stubborn gardens begin to hint at color and rebirth.
While we wait for the holidays March will bring, such as St. Patrick’s Day and International Women’s Day and the return of daylight saving time, there’s no shortage of reasons to get out and about in Pembroke Pines.
Here’s what’s happening around town from Monday, March 2, through Thursday, March 5:
City Commission meeting
The Pembroke Pines City Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday in the commission chambers at 601 City Center Way.
The meeting starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. and begins with several ceremonial presentations to honor community members such as local students from West Broward High School and business owners.
Slated to be voted on are several motions such as infrastructure contracts, an emergency notification agreement with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and a public improvement item regarding an existing speed hump within the trails community.
The commission is also set to discuss and take possible action regarding the City Manager Charles F. Dodge’s Feb. 25 memorandum about a canceled town hall meeting promoted and organized by District 2 Commissioner Jay D. Schwartz following the Feb. 18 city commission meeting.
Dodge’s memo states that Schwartz abruptly shifted requests for the town hall’s date, citing concerns over unnecessary public expenditures, a lack of clear purpose, and the inappropriate timing of a citywide meeting just before elections. Dodge suspended all town hall scheduling after Schwartz walked out of a previous meeting and broke quorum.
Schwartz published a “modified version” of the town hall meeting through Facebook instead.
“The city administration has decided to not allow me to have use of the chambers, this was after the last city commission meeting to my disappointment,” Schwartz said in a Facebook video. “This is not the Pembroke Pines I love.”
“It has never been my position to restrict the use of City buildings by any elected official who requests the use of a City facility for a legitimate public purpose.,” Dodge writes in the memo. “Historically, the City has accommodated such requests in support of transparency, accessibility, and community engagement.”
St. Patrick’s Day photo opportunity
For residents looking to get in the St. Patrick’s Day mood early in the month, you’ve got the luck of the Irish.
From 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, the South Regional/Broward College Library is lending its green screen and visual equipment for the opportunity to create themed St. Patrick’s Day photos.
Guests can take up to three photos each and will recieve the finished pictures with their selected background within one to three business days via email.
You can choose from three different backgrounds. Library staff can also email guests their photos with a blank background if requested. Registration is required.
Florida Fresh Market
Every Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., the Pembroke Lakes Mall hosts a “Night Market,” organized by the Florida Fresh Markets organization.
The market features local food vendors from across South Florida. The event is free and open to the public.
