Florida Agenda

by Dale Madison

CONCERT FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

The Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School Lightning Singers will combine efforts with the South Florida Lambda Chorale to present “Sing for the Cure: A Proclamation of Hope,” in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Susan B. Komen for the Cure South Florida. The concert will take place on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School Auditorium, 1410 County Line Road, Miami.

Tickets for this one-night concert are $15 and available from the Lambda Chorale members and the students beginning Monday, October 11 or at the door.

For more information contact Gary Keating Lambdagary@aol.com or (954) 650-0143.

COME JOIN A LONG-AGO ERA

Slick back your hair or put on an amazing flapper dress because the Poverello Center is transporting you back to the ‘20s — a time before the Great Depression when modernization, economic growth as well as social progression seemed all encompassing and radio became prolific and with that the sweet jazz music and the Charleston.

Part of that transformation happens as you walk into the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum where 35 beautifully restored Packards, which were considered the Rolls Royce automobiles from America in their day, along with literally a plethora of early automotive memorabilia will be on display to further your “Roaring 20’s” experience. Not only that, our very own jazz songtress, Kimona with be performing jazz standards from Cole Porter, Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald and Shirley Bassey for your dancing and listening pleasure.

But it doesn’t stop there. The Great Gatsby Gala is pulling out all the stops with an open bar (no Prohibition here) and delicious cuisine provided by Fort Lauderdale’s own Chef Ron Kerr. The menu consists of such items as Miso Glazed Scallops, Stuffed Risotto Croquettes, Braised Short Ribs and ending with such things as Double-Dipped Chocolate Truffle Lollipops.

Finally, Poverello presents a live, as well as a silent auction with items as varied as a sightseeing helicopter ride to Miami and back, lunch with the Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick, and an authentic guitar signed by the famed rock band, Styxx. There is much, much more offered and for a complete listing please go to www.poverello.org

FLORIDA AGENDA TOY DRIVE EXPANDING

A few weeks ago I announced that Florida Agenda would be sponsoring a Holiday Toy Drive kicking off on November 1st. I am very happy to announce our first drop off site: Island City Health and Fitness in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors! In addition to toys, we are also expanding the toy drive to include items for the Broward County Humane Society. Items can be droppedoff during regular business hours. We will also have brightly decorated drop boxes available and any business who would like to help with the collection, we’ll be happy to bring a box to their location. We will periodically pick up the deposited items and bring them to our central collection area. Please contact me at dalemadison1@aol.com or call my cell at (954) 478-2415.

Have an event you’d like to see in this column?

Please email me at dalemadison1@ aol.com

Helping Children Have their Holiday Dreams Come True

By DALE MADISON

Several years ago while writing for another publication, I saw an opportunity with the holidays rapidly approaching and the economy faltering, that there were probably going to be a lot of kids that wouldn’t have the best of times during that holiday season. I went to my boss and asked about doing a “toy drive” to ensure that those children would have a good holiday. To my surprise he grabbed the idea and over the next six weeks, thanks to the generosity of the members of the old Main Street Gym, we gathered so many bicycles, dolls, games and other toys that we were able to generate enough items that we included three local charities in the distribution of items. Those groups were Broward House, GLCC/Pride Center and Poverello.
A couple of weeks ago when I accepted this position as a Features Editor for The Florida Agenda, I mentioned that a friend of mine had approached me about doing another such toy drive. As bad as the economy was back then, it’s certain- ly no better today. The powers that be at The Florida Agenda, Mark magazine and Jump on Mark’s List jumped at the opportunity to participate in such a toy drive for this year.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the first annual Florida Agenda Toy Drive which this year will benefit four local charities: Broward House, GLCC/Pride Center, Kids in Distress and The Poverello Center. Assisting me will be long time friend and local bartender Jason Balsimico. Together we’ll be contacting local businesses to act as drop-off center for the Drive.
As Jason put it, “the holidays are about kids. To watch their eyes on Christmas morning after Santa has been there is just amazing. To think that there would be any child in Broward County that doesn’t have something to open is heart breaking.”
Donation boxes are now in the process of being wrapped and thanks to the courtesy of CopyThis, posters are being printed to go on the boxes and donations will start soon in various locations throughout the county. A couple of things that we are in need of are: a major staging area to display the toys as they are collected, a storage unit where items can be held until distribution just before Christmas, lots of locations for collection boxes to be placed, and volunteers to help with the distribution. When we put this together four years ago, Poverello, along with other organiza- tions, reached out to their volunteers and we made it a huge success. This year, Jason, Florida Agenda and I hope that the generosity of the community, along with the fact that we are starting so early, will lead to an outpouring of toys and gifts so that’s why we decided to open the opportunities to more individuals. Anyone wishing to volunteer or wanting to help as a collection point can do so by contacting me through my email at dalemadison1@aol.com or on my direct line at (954) 478- 2415.