FLORIDA DIGEST November 25, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Miami judge rules against Florida gay adoption ban
A Miami Dade Cirucut judge ruled today that a gay man and his partner should be able to adopt the two foster children they have raised for four years. Circuit Judge Cindy S. Lederman "these children are thriving. These words we don't often hear within these walls. That's uncontroverted," said Circuit Judge Cindy S. Lederman.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-1125-adoption-ban,0,2041136.story

-Swim coach waives bond on child porn charges, will remain in jail while awaiting trial
A Pine Crest School swim coach facing a federal charge of possession of child pornography won't immediately seek to be released from jail on bond while awaiting trial. In a six-minute hearing in a Miami courtroom, Roberto Caragol told U.S. Magistrate Judge Chris McAliley he was waiving his right to seek bond.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbcaragol1125sbnov25,0,1854859.story


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The Sunshine Cathedral
http://www.sunshinecathedral.org/
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A message from Rev. Durrell Watkins
Senior Pastor - Sunshine Cathedral, Ft. Lauderdale
I want to remind you of just some of the exciting things going on at Sunshine Cathedral this season, beginning with a service of Thanksgiving. I hope to see you during this eason of grace and gratitude.

-Join Us For a Thanksgiving Worship Service & Holiday Meal - Nov. 27th
At noon, on Thursday, November 27th in the Graham/Fasana Chapel, we will be offerng our annual Thanksgiving Service. Following the service, there will be a pot luck holiday meal in the Social Hall. Turkeys are being provided. Just bring a side dish or dessert and let's be thankful together.

-Join Us For Our Mass Wedding Ceremony - Nov. 30th
At 11:30 AM, on November 30th following the 2nd worship service, Sunshine Cathedral will offer a "Mass Wedding" ceremony in protest of Florida's Amendment 2. If you and your life-partner would like to be part of this event, simply stand with us on the front lawn at 11:30 AM on Sunday, November 30th. During our "Mass Wedding" ceremony, we will affirm the holiness of mutual affection. I will then confer the Rite of Blessing on all couples in attendance. All couples, gay, lesbian, and straight who believe in marriage equality are invited to participate. Those who wish to have a certificate commemorating the Rite of Blessing can click here to register. There will be a $5 administrative fee for those who wish to obtain a certificate. Certificates will be mailed to those who register; however, one need not register or ask for a certificate in order to participate in the Mass Wedding ceremony. Finally, it should be noted that this ceremony does not confer the legal rights of matrimony or civil union; but it will send a clear message to the world that at least one church recognizes the sanctity of love and commitment regardless of the genders involved.

-Join Us For a Holiday Concert - Dec. 7th
The Sunshine Cathedral Choir & Orchestra will be performing "tonight, heaven touches earth" in the Walt Lawrence & Stephen Lewis Center for Performing Arts on Sunday, December 7th at 7:30 PM. Admission is $20. You can buy tickets at the door or online here. There will also be a live Nativity scene on the front lawn of the Cathedral at 6 PM that night.

-Join Us For Christmas Eve at the Cathedral - Dec. 24th
Our Christmas Eve services will be at the Sunshine Cathedral this year. Our services will be at 7:30 PM, 9:00 PM, and 10:30 PM. We have so much going on here at Sunshine Cathedral this holiday season. I hope you will spend the holidays with us. If you are traveling, remember that you can watch us online at
www.sunshinecathedral.org.


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Bargains drive up home sales in Broward County
With foreclosure glut, more price drops likely
Bargain hunters continue to respond to plunging prices, with October sales of existing homes in Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports rising 46 percent, to 625 from 428 a year ago, the Florida Association of Realtors said Monday. The median price plummeted 29 percent, to $252,500 from $354,000 last October.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/sfl-flzhousingbr1125sbnov25,0,6508022.story


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

-Florida shows unprecedented student-enrollment drop
In another sign of an economy gone sour, Florida schools lost nearly 24,000 students this year in an unprecedented enrollment drop. The exodus has forced districts to eliminate teachers and make other cuts because fewer students mean less money from the state.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-school-enrollment-drop-112408,0,3385126.story?track=rss

-Two Florida cities among most dangerous in U.S.
How do Orlando's crime statistics compare to cities across the nation? Right behind Compton, Calif., according to a study to be released today. The "City Crime Rankings 2008-2009" puts Orlando No. 18 among 385 cities across the nation. That's an improvement from last year, when The City Beautiful ranked No. 11 on the list of the most-dangerous cities.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-orl1124most-dangerous-cities,0,6140157.story

-Crist eyeing holiday-ban on foreclosures
Gov. Charlie Crist said today he is considering a holiday-season moratorium on foreclosures in Florida, a move similar to a 90-day foreclosure ban sought by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this month. "I think it would be a good thing to be able to do," Crist told reporters at the Capitol. "I want to work with the banking industry and do it in a way that's not harmful to them. We want them to continue to succeed, to continue to loan money. But we want to stop foreclosures, especially during the holidays."
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/11/crist-eyeing-ho.html

-FOSTER CARE
Florida spends big to fight foster children's rape claims
Lawyers for the state have spent more than $1.6 million -- and counting -- to fight two foster kids who claim they were repeatedly raped in a Broward foster home.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/786351.html


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