FLORIDA DIGEST - September 24, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

COMMUNITY FORUM ON HATE CRIMES Tonight! Wednesday - 7pm
GLCC - 1717 N. Andrews Ave. - Ft. Lauderdale
FEATURES SHERIFF AL LAMBERTI, JUDGE ROBERT LEE
Broward Sheriff, State Attorney's Office, Broward Leaders to Participate


=
There is a concerted effort to go into heavy Democratic areas and do a final push for
Voter Registrations before the approaching deadline. Will you choose to help????
"Sex and The City" Star, Cynthia Nixon will be joining us for a Talk To Your Neighbors For Barack (Canvass)
We will meet at the GLBT GOTV Center to knock some doors for Barack! We will be targeting unregistered folks in the neighborhood, so come on down, get trained and get to walking! It is the 2 story building in the back left, enter through the door on the north side. Follow the signs.
Date:Sunday, September 28 at 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM
Host:Andy Saxon
954-802-2202
GLBT GOTV Center (Wilton Manors, FL)
2040 N. Dixie Hwy
Wilton Manors, FL 33305


=
Wilton Manors: Come Watch Barack Debate His Way To The White House (Debate Watch Party)
Join us for the first of many wonderful Pot Lucks To The Presidency! Bring something scrumptious, register to vote, chat with other BO supporters, pledge to early vote, sign up for Volunteer shifts and learn our plan to win Barack the White House from right here in Broward County! It is the 2 story building in the back left, enter through the door on the north side. Follow the signs.
Friday, September 26 at 8:15 PM
Andy Saxon - Phone:954-802-2202
GLBT GOTV Center (Wilton Manors, FL)
2040 N. Dixie Hwy
Wilton Manors, FL 33305


=
Debate Night in Delray Beach
Join us this coming Friday evening and watch Barack Obama go up against John McCain in the first debate of this Presidential election. Sure, you could watch it on CNN at home, but, when you are in a large comfortable, air conditioned room with your fellow Democrats with the debate being projected on a large movie screen and as many of your friends as you can bring along with you... the comments, cheers and gasps from the audience will help to make this the most exciting political event you've been to in a long time. As always the freshly popped pop corn is free and there are plenty of snacks and beverages available...
LET'S TURN AMERICA BLUE!!!
Rick Neuhoff
www.RickNeuhoff2008.com
Phone 561.358.0830
Email DishNetTV@aol.com


=
From ArtsUnited - Coming Events
http://www.artsunitedonline.org/

-This Saturday, September 27, 2008, from 1-3pm, The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale is hosting a special wine reception for ArtsUnited and their friends, in conjunction with the exhibit 13/08 featuring local gay artist, and former Stonewall Library President, Rob Nathans. The event includes wine reception with Nathans, a guided tour by Museum Director Irvin Lippman and access to the entire museum the rest of the afternoon. Also on display is the exhibit Selections From the Museum's Contemporary Collection, including work by Stella, Warhol, and Mapplethorpe. $10 admission by RSVP only to Keith Clark by Thursday, 9/25, at keith@artsunitedonline.org or 954.568.1154. Don't miss this great opportunity to experience the Museum of Art through this private tour just for a GLBT audience. For more information about this event and other Arts NightOUT events go to:
http://www.artsunitedonline.org/gpage6.html
Click here to RSVP now: keith@artsunitedonline.org

-Sunday, September 28, 2008, Noon-5:00pm
Over The Rainbow Bookfest and Expo
Broward County Main Library
100 South Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Prominent national and local authors will be discussing their books and holding book signings at the event which recognizes the contributions made by GLBT authors. The program will also include other guest speakers, panels and workshops and entertainment by the Flamingo Freedom Band.
Admission is free.

-Friday, October 3, 2008 from 6-8pm, The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood hosts a private closed reception for ArtsUnited and their friends, with gay photographer Alex Heria in conjunction with his exhibition on display in the main room, Alex Heria: Photographs 2000-2008". Also on display is new work by acclaimed Miami artist Julie Davidow. The event includes complimentary beer and wine bar and a special signature cocktail, light hors d'oeuvres, and guided tour of the exhibit with Heria. $10 with RSVP by 10/1 to keith@artsunitedonline.org or 954.568.1154; $12 at door.

-Saturday, October 4, 2008, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Ribbons For The Children Art Submissions
Stonewall Library & Archives 717 N Andrews Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311
ArtsUnited is accepting applications for the third annual Ribbons for the Children Art Program. The program is a benefit for the Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) in Fort Lauderdale. The CDTC treats pediatric AIDS patients as well as many other illnesses effecting children.

-Sunday, October 12, 2008 6:00-8:00pm
ArtsUnited Annual Erotic Art Exhibit
Mannys On The Drive 2426 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors FL 33305
Martinis and Erotic Art come together at ArtsUnited's Annual Erotic Art Exhibit in an evening that includes music, martinis, and munchies. Visual artists who wish to complete and bring this application along with their artwork to the Drop Off locationon October 4, 2008, noon to 2:00pm at Stonewall Library & Archives.
http://www.artsunitedonline.org/


=
Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Community and Business EXPO
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Place: Miami Mart Airport Hotel
711 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33126
Time: 9:00 am - 3:15 pm
Cocktail Reception to Follow Explore Expo
"Expo Explore is an open exhibition to the entire South Florida community, gay and allied, where companies can communicate their business attributes to other exhibitors and attendees. We are expecting 500 exhibitors and attendees for this first year event..." For more information: mdglcc@bellsouth.net
Ph. 305-573-4000


=
Equality Florida Broward Reception
We're planning an amazing party and I hope you can come. On behalf of our entire host committee, I'm writing to invite you to become a Sponsor of one of our most important community events of the year:
The 2008 Equality Florida Broward Gala
Sunday, November 16th, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Museum of Art - Fort Lauderdale
I hope you will join me as a Sponsor of this incredible evening - 100% of the money we raise will support Equality Florida's work to overturn Florida's shameful adoption ban, win domestic partnership and marriage rights for our families, end anti-gay discrimination, and make our schools safe for our students. We're very proud that the Equality Florida Broward Gala has become one of their most successful events in the state that will bring together over 250 of our city's political, business, and civic leaders. This year we have added a very special event just for our sponsors - a fabulous cocktail party at the beautiful new home of John Evans, a long time Equality Florida Council Member. Thank you for supporting our 2008 Equality Florida Broward Gala - I look forward to seeing you at our big event!
Sincerely,
Philip Dearborn, Chair
2008 Equality Florida Broward Reception
http://www.eqfl.org/pdfs/gala08Page2.pdf


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Bottled water in demand after contamination
Fort Lauderdale water customers were warned not to drink or cook with tap water.
Gear oil spills into supply; city to decide if it's safe later today The warning is aimed at all customers of the city's water system, which includes Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Sea Ranch Lakes, Port Everglades, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, and parts of Davie, Tamarac and unincorporated Broward.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbwater0924sbsep24,0,4605052.story

-COMMENTARY: Living with Rules: Homeowner association boards want more power
Should it be easier for your association board to use liens and foreclosure proceedings against you to collect assessments?
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbcondocol0924sbsep24,0,484422.story

-With congregants split, synagogue plans to watch, then debate the
presidential debate
With one of the most important voting blocs in South Florida up for grabs, John McCain and Barack Obama are competing for support in the Jewish community.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdebate0924sbsep24,0,5015503.story

-Court: Candidate shouldn't have been dropped in Broward judge race
The legal fight over a judicial race threatens to cause even more problems for the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office after an appellate court ruled today that one of the candidates should not have been dropped from the ballot last week.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-924browardjudge,0,6314889.story

-Palm Beach County commissioners postpone plan to appoint supervisor of elections
Palm Beach County commissioners agreed Tuesday to postpone a proposal to make the supervisor of elections an appointed - rather than elected - position.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpcounty0924pnsep24,0,3937107.story


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Florida third in high-tech exports
The economy may be faltering, but Florida's high-tech exports are growing. Florida exported $13.4 billion in high-tech products in 2007, making it the third-largest exporter in the nation, according to the "Trade in the Cyberstates 2008" report released Tuesday by the American Electronics Association.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/BUSINESS/809240313/1006/news01

-Florida loses 76,400 construction jobs in one year
If you doubted the economic slump was other than real-estate-related, guess again. Almost half the state's job losses the past year were in construction, most of that housing-related. Between August 2007 and August 2008, 76,400 construction jobs melted away.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/realestate/2008/09/florida-loses-7.html

-ADMINISTRATOR: Bertha Henry named Broward County administrator
On an 8-1 vote, Bertha Henry became the first African-American woman hired to be Broward's top administrator. Nearly a year after showing their last top administrator the door, Broward commissioners Tuesday replaced her permanently with veteran South Florida bureaucrat Bertha Henry.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/698913.html

-Abramson finally certified as winner
After four weeks, three recounts and thousands of lost and found ballots, Palm Beach County elections officials on Tuesday certified that attorney William Abramson defeated veteran Circuit Judge Richard Wennet by 61 votes. Although he wasn't at the tabulating center when the results were announced, Abramson said he was pleased he had prevailed over his longtime nemesis, capturing 45,531 votes to Wennet's 45,470.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/09/23/0923recount.html

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####