Mayor Michelle J. Gomez
From: Mayor Michelle J. Gomez
Welcome to April! This month, we celebrate nature’s rebirth and observe some of our most sacred holidays. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this special time of year to slow down and appreciate how precious life is. Life is beautiful!
Wine and food lovers will be excited to hear that Tamarac’s newest restaurant, Cork & Barrel, 10052 W McNab Road, recently celebrated its grand opening on March 28. The new eatery boasts an extensive wine menu and delicious, internationally-inspired tapas (small plates). This restaurant is sure to become a hometown favorite for local foodies.
Applications for the First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Purchase Assistance Program will be available this Spring. The program helps residents with the purchase of their first home to be used as their primary residence with a maximum award of $40,000. The funds can be used to assist with closing costs and to lower the mortgage amount. Applications will be processed on a first-ready, first-served basis. A virtual Purchase Assistance Information Session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30. The free session is from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and registration is available at https://bit.ly/3IIGfq0. For more information, visit Tamarac.me/DownPaymentAssistance.
What better way to take in the outdoors than with fabulous music and company? You won’t want to miss this month’s Groove on the Grass concert on Friday, April 1, at the Tamarac Sports Complex, 9901 NW 77th Street. Join us for a night of sizzling Latin sounds by Musix Groove from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and grab a bite to eat from a local food truck. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and dancing shoes! (Actually, take the shoes off and dance barefoot in the grass with me!)
Also, on Friday, April 1, we will welcome Curaleaf, Tamarac’s newest dispensary, to our small business community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6899 N University Drive. The celebration is from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the ribbon-cutting is at 11:30 a.m., so be sure to get there early!
On Saturday, April 2, the City’s annual Wet & Wild Egg Splash returns to the Caporella Aquatic Center, 9300 NW 58th Street. Bring your bathing suits for a splashing good time full of games, prizes, and music. Peter Cottontail will be there to hang out and take pictures with everyone. Egg hunt start times are as follows: 10:15 a.m. for ages 2-4, 10:30 a.m. for ages 5-7, and 10:45 a.m. for ages 8-10. The cost is $5.00 per person. For more information, visit www.tamarac.org/specialevents.
Another event taking place Saturday, April 2, is the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Retro Fitness Tamarac, 8129 N Pine Island Rd. I’ll be there along with the Tamarac North Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the official launch of this new business. The event is from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will feature a live DJ, music, food, raffles, and giveaways. Come on by and check out the new facility and its state-of-the-art amenities. Proceeds will benefit the Tamarac North Lauderdale Foundation’s local school programs and scholarships.
Join us for the next film in our Movie in the Park series, “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway,” on Friday, April 8. Your family will enjoy this screening! Bring along your favorite snacks, blankets, and lawn chairs. Showtime begins at 8:00 p.m. at the Tamarac Sports Complex. For more information, visit tamarac.org/specialevents or call (954) 597-3620. No pets, please!
The Peter Cottontail theme continues at our Springfest event on Saturday, April 9, at Tamarac Sports Complex. This free event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and features bounce houses, games, and an egg hunt for kids ages ten and under. I look forward to seeing you there!
Also, on April 9, Honor Flight South Florida will fly its next group of veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Honor Flight South Florida is a volunteer organization that provides all-expenses-paid trips for veterans in Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties. While I usually send off our veterans from City Hall, this time, I am extremely honored to serve as a guardian, a trained, traveling companion for Honor Flight participants. If you wish to join in the send-off, please arrive at City Hall by 3:30 a.m., as the shuttle boards at 3:45 a.m. sharp.
If you need a smoke alarm and cannot afford to purchase one due to financial reasons or need assistance installing one due to physical limitations, please call Tamarac Fire Rescue (TFR) at (954) 597-3800. TFR, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will install smoke alarms for residents on Saturday, April 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Contact TFR directly to schedule an appointment.
I’m excited to partner with CareMax for the Let’s Move Tamarac event on Saturday, April 23, at Waters Edge Park, 7508 NW 61st Street. Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a fun and healthy morning filled with activities, food, and entertainment. We’ll warm up with Wendy from Pinkberry Boost, enjoy a Zumba class led by Maria, and walk laps together along the trail. We’ll have a wonderful cool-down session by Justin from Bod Mod and music by DJ Raul Vargas sponsored by Oscar health insurance company. Our amazing Parks and Recreation team will be onsite with fun and games, and there will be yummy food trucks to enjoy! The OneBlood Big Red Bus will be there collecting blood donations, and the CareMax Vitals Mobile Van will offer free wellness and vital checks! Thank you to everyone who helped coordinate this event and The Hispanic Star Miami for their support. To register for this event, visit letsmovetamarac.eventbrite.com.
I hope you’ll also join me for a free Zumba class at our next Move with the Mayor event on Friday, April 29. Our workout begins at 6:00 p.m., led by instructor Maria at the Tamarac Sports Complex, Field 5. Thank you to everyone who has come out to join us for this series that kicked off last year. It’s been a really great time working out and getting to know each of you.
You won’t want to miss the Tip-A-Cop fundraising event on Saturday, April 30. Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Special Olympics athletes will volunteer as celebrity waiters to raise money for Special Olympics Florida. It’s all happening between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at Rob’s Bageland, 8217 N. Pine Island Road. Stop by and get some delicious food and support this wonderful cause!
Local Reminders
- Construction on the Hiatus/McNab Road Roundabout is scheduled to start on April 4 and will extend through the Fall of 2022. This project includes general demolition, a roundabout traffic control system, new asphalt surface, sidewalks, crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps, and much more. Please be mindful of the road workers when passing through the area. We appreciate your patience as we make these improvements.
Happy Ramadan, Palm Sunday, Passover, and Easter to all those who celebrate!
Warm regards,
🎗️ Michelle
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