Broward Schools to Celebrate Choose Peace, Hollywood development, and Coral Springs Appointments

Broward Schools to celebrate Choose Peace/Stop Violence Week

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) celebrates the 12th annual Choose Peace/Stop Violence Week, September 20 – 24, 2021. This year’s theme “Recovering and Working Together in Peace for a Better World” is a call to action to spread compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. The District is proud to partner with the United Way of Broward County and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County on this initiative.   As part of Choose Peace Week/Stop Violence Week, participating District schools have the chance to win a Peace Pole. Peace Poles are reminders for students and community members to think, speak and act in the spirit of peace and harmony throughout the year. The Broward Peace Pole was established in 2010. Since then, Peace Poles have been awarded to 49 schools and community organizations in Broward County. 
A few of the many activities taking place across the District celebrating Choose Peace Week/Stop Violence Week:

International Peace Day and Choose Peace Across Broward Day will be observed on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Students and staff are encouraged to wear white to promote a safe, peaceful and non-violent community. 

Beachside Montessori Village students celebrate International Peace Day with a schoolwide candle lighting ceremony of student-made luminaries, collectively singing “Light a candle for peace” and waving an array of flags Tuesday, September 21, 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. 

Peace Pole Ceremony at New Renaissance Middle School  10701 Miramar Blvd., Miramar, FL 33025 Friday, September 24, at 3 p.m.  Local Starbucks locations provided thousands of coffee cup sleeves for students to decorate with peace symbols, slogans and messages. Starbucks Corporation has supported this effort over the years and the locations will hand out the sleeves to customers during Peace Week. 

Chalk4Peace allows students to express messages of inspiration and visions using sidewalk chalk art. Students will create peaceful wishes for their “Imagine Peace Wish Tree.”    

“Pinwheels 4Peace” provides opportunities for students to create a visual and public statement about peace. 

Three BCPS students are being honored for their winning “Choose Peace/Stop Violence” poster contest. Congratulations to
Gizelle Siguenza, Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School;
Dunia Castro, Driftwood Middle School; and
Yaire Castro, Hollywood Hills High School.
Hollywood to participate on Operation Clear Track

On Tuesday September 21, 2021, Hollywood Police Officers will be joining Amtrak Police and more than 600 local, state, federal and railroad law enforcement departments for Operation Clear Track. This enforcement initiative is part of Rail Safety Week and raises awareness and enforces railroad grade crossing and trespassing laws. During “Operation Clear Track,” officers will be stationed at targeted railroad grade crossings, handing out railroad safety cards to motorists and pedestrians and issuing warnings and citations to violators. The goal of Rail Safety Week’s Operation Clear Track is to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks through increased public awareness.

Hollywood Company is developing new products and growing  

Lime Design, a product development company dedicated to turning people’s ideas into real life products, is relocating and expanding to a new home at 1918 Harrison Street in Downtown Hollywood.

Lime Design is a full-service product development company which specializes in all aspects of product and invention development, from initial concept to manufacturing, including graphic design, marketing and 3D printing. Working with individual inventors, startups, manufacturers and corporations, Lime Design has helped develop over 2000 designs and patents.

“My first job out of school was in Hollywood,” said Rodrigo Lima, Lime Design Founder and CEO. “I loved the city and never left.”

Lima recently purchased and upgraded 1918 Harrison Street in the core of Downtown Hollywood, which will also be home to the new South Florida Innovation and Design Center (SFID). The SFID will be a technical hub in Hollywood for all types of creative and supporting businesses, from app developers to patent attorneys.

“We will have both individual and co-working spaces available for rent on the second floor, and a ton of machines and technical devices — a complete makers’ workshop — available on the first, all with the goal of creating growth opportunities for both our clients and our tenants,” he said.

Lima, who has lived in Hollywood for over 20 years, is thrilled to be developing this new side of his business in the heart of Downtown.

“I’ve always loved Downtown Hollywood,” he said. “It has a lot of untapped potential. With everything here in Florida being so spread apart, it’s so nice to be able not to have to drive everywhere. I wanted a highly walkable area for myself and my team. There’s entertainment, restaurants, the whole metropolitan lifestyle, all right here!”


Coral Springs Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons receives appointment

Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons was recently appointed to serve on the Florida League of Cities (FLC) 2021-2022 Advocacy Committee. FLC is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments.

Simmons will help develop ideas and activities that will strengthen the Florida League of City’s influence with state officials, help determine the impacts of legislative proposals on municipal operations and functions and keep FLC staff informed on communications and activities with legislators.

Simmons said, “I recognize that one of the best ways to advocate for the 133,000 residents of Coral Springs is to be actively engaged and informed about policies and decisions being made on the state and federal level. From protecting Home Rule to building key relationships throughout the state, our city’s work with FLC is a benefit to our residents now and in the future.”