Spirit Airlines to lay off employees

On the heels of American Airline’s announcement that they could cut flights to the Caribbean, the fallout from the economic challenges facing the South Florida regions continues with Miramar-based airline, Spirit, indicating earlier this week that it could lay off 60 percent of its flight attendants and 45 percent of its pilots within the next two months. The company has sent letters regarding the lay-offs, which come as a result of rising fuel prices, to its union leaders last week.

The airline, which has gained popularity with South Floridians because of its low budget fares, may displace up to 448 flight attendants of the airlines 750, and 242 of its 540 pilots on August 1. On this date the airline will also close its LaGuardia, NY, San Jose and Detroit bases, and reduce its base in Fort Lauderdale. It is understood that up to 240 flight attendants will be affected in Fort Lauderdale, but it is uncertain how many pilots are at risk.

Mae Golding, a Spirit flight attendant residing in Plantation, says she was shocked to learn of the pending displacements. She was unsure of her tenure, but was not optimistic as she has only been with the airlines under two years. “I think the newer attendants will be affected first, and I am among that group. If I am displaced, this will be very bad for my family as my husband just received a notice from his job that he will be laid off on July 1.” Golding says she was not surprised by the company’s decision because of the negative news in the airline industry related to the constantly rising fuel. Plus, she says, “It seems to me that less people are traveling over recent weeks.”

It was only last year that Spirit Airlines expanded its services to Latin America and the Caribbean from the Fort Lauderdale airport, making the airline the largest carrier from that airport. However, according to reports the airline lost $16.7 million in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Jamaican patties cit from South Florida school menus

Lunches to be served in schools in South Florida have just become quite boring. With rising food prices affecting the budget of school districts in the regions, this is forcing the school’s cafeteria mangers to substitute fresh produce for canned, fresh eggs for processed and tasty dishes for bland ones. One food item to go is Jamaican beef patties, which although tasty and popular with students is found to be too expensive to continue on the menu.

The manufactures of Jamaica beef patties, like Charlie’s Pastries of Lauderhill benefited significantly from selling patties to school districts in the tri-county region. The cut is certain to have a negative effect on these businesses.

The problems faced by South Florida schools is not peculiar to them as reports are that at least 100 school districts across the nation have approved increasing their meal prices next school year, and changing to more economical menus. In the Broward School District, breakfast prices were raised by 50 cents and lunches by 70 cents in 2006, while lunches in Miami-Dade rose by 50 cents.

Although The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides funding to school districts for each meal provided, the rising cost of food has made the department’s subsidy inadequate. It is understood the USDA gives $2.40 to school districts for each meal they give to students who cannot afford it, and a subsidy of 23 cents for meals that are paid in full. However reports indicate that it costs the districts between $2,70 and $3.10 to make a lunch, leaving the districts with a deficit, and with food prices rising they will be forced to raise meal prices, as well as scarp the more costly foods from their menus.

South Florida teens pledge sexual abstinence

A South Florida social support group that emphasizes sexual purity until marriage among young people is expanding its membership. The group called Pure Reality includes members ranging in ages 12 to 26 from some 20 South Florida churches, and was actually founded in 2005 by Haitian American, Dominique Diambosis and Lauldi Nedd.

According to the group’s website (purereality.org) Pure Reality is a biblically sound, character based campaign that educates, defines and explores God's design for sex and a lifestyle of purity, whose motto is “Set Apart by Divine Right.” This campaign is fun filled with highly interactive activities and conferences that go beyond the promotion of abstinence to reveal strategies for living a life of sexual integrity and teaches the keys to the process of purity. It focuses on the realization that God's master plan is obtained by a living vibrant relationship with Jesus, Christ and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.

The Pure Reality campaign brings hope and a support structure to those who may have fallen into any category of sexual indiscretion or addiction teaching that a life of renewed abstinence is possible. A healthy line of communication and accountability between children, pre-teens, teens, young adults, peers, and parents is emphasized.

Last week the group held its annual Treasure Key Ceremony at Miami Edison Middle School in Little Haiti. At this ceremony over 60 newly inducted young women called “Ladies of Virtue” and 24 young men called “Gentlemen of Virtue” joined 500 previous inductees in the group and affirmed their commitment to the group’s message of abstinence. Each new inductee was given a golden key which read, “By God’s grace I hereby lock my heart, my body, my desires, my love for you with this Treasure Key, and I promise to remain sexually pure and abstain from all forms of sexual immoral behaviors until the day we say ‘I do.’ The keys are supposed to be given to the inductee’s future spouse.

Older adults in the group mentor the younger ones, and the group enjoys supervised activities like field trips, prayer meetings, socials and annual retreats.

Pure Reality will utilize peer, parental and community recognition awards and techniques to,

• Enforce the oath of purity
• Mentor other teens
• Educate teens and young adults in churches and schools for community hours
• Promote life skills, self worth and confidence