Miami-Dade County Mayor Alvarez, Chairman Bruno A. Barreiro and Commissioners recently honored Wesley Frater, a Jamaican national, who founded Tournament of Champions Inc. in 1992. The mission was to educate and prepare high school student-athletes for their transition to college and the collegiate experience through educational and social seminars prior to elite athletic events.

According to the officials, Frater’s commitment to investing in our youth is evident in his founding of various sporting activities “which exemplifies his steadfast dedication towards providing youngsters with sporting events that can showcase their talents for college scholarships. It is fitting and proper that official acknowledgement be given to Mr. Frater for positively rendering indelible effects towards the betterment of our society.”

Thursday, January 25, 2007 was proclaimed as Wesley Frater and Tournament of Champions, INC. Day.

Miami-Dade County takes the opportunity to honor individuals and initiatives, whose various accomplishments have contributed greatly to the enhancement and betterment of the community and who have made a lasting difference in the society.

New Visions Community Development Corporation celebrates 10 years servicing the community by “developing safe, attractive and affordable homes for low and moderate-income persons” within the Broward County Communities. To celebrate their success New Visions CDC

will host their “Annual Community Empowerment Banquet” honoring special persons who have demonstrated corporate, civic, church & community support for the communities served. This banquet will be held on Friday May 4th, 2007 at the luxurious Westin Hotel (Cypress Creek) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

New Visions CDC committee members have nominated several outstanding individuals who have surpassed all expectations in supporting the initiative to revitalize communities through creating a reality of homeownership needs and disparities found within the Broward County communities. The nominees range from City Commissioners and Church Pastors to Corporate Presidents.

Recently, parents (mothers in particular) all over the nation have been in a frenzy over the possibility of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) becoming a mandated vaccine for their young girls. The vaccine, Gardasil, is the first and currently the only vaccine that is meant to prevent certain strands of HPV and diseases caused by these strands. HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, has been linked to causing cervical cancer.

The HPV vaccine is recommended especially for girls 11 to 12 years old, but some doctors recommend it even for 9-year-olds. However, the problem is that many people believe the administration of the vaccine is a ticket to promiscuity for young girls. On the other hand, doctors think the vaccine should be given to young girls as a preventative measure.

“If you want to give the vaccine to someone who can benefit fully, give it to them before they even become sexually active because you never know when [they may start having sex],” said Dr. Jassett Maragh, board certified pediatrician of Kool Kids Pediatrics. “A parent is never there when a girl has her first sexual experience.”

South Florida Underwater Restrictions

The extended dry spell in South Florida has resulted in restrictions in the use of water to become effective Thursday, March 22. The announcement of the restrictions was made by the South Florida Water Management District’s governing board in a consensual 9-0 vote. The restrictions apply to Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and eastern Palm Beach counties.

With these restrictions, homeowners are limited to watering their lawns only three times per week, cars to be washed less frequently, and golf courses and plant-nurseries to cut back on watering by 15 percent. However, if the dry spell continues the restrictions could be stepped up, reducing the watering of lawns and washing of cars to two or even one day weekly.