February is Black History Month, which is especially important to Tamarac as a minority-majority community. Black History Month is a time to “bring to the public’s attention important developments that merit emphasis,” according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). This year’s theme for the month focuses on black migrations. 

As a City, Tamarac has benefited from this migration. We started as a sleepy retirement community for people from the northeast, and yes, most were white. But we've become a vibrant community with a diverse population that includes many people from across the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. People from all over are choosing to call Tamarac home.
 
We’ve benefited from new businesses, restaurants and stores offering a variety of goods, foods and services from all over the globe. Our Sports Complex is busy with teams playing everything from baseball to football, basketball, lacrosse and soccer. The African American Club at Kings Point has grown to over 300 members, and at their meeting in January, they celebrated the Caribbean diaspora with a speaker who explained the financial benefit of the diaspora to the United States and their home countries.
 
This month we will celebrate the diversity of our community in several ways. The first will be by recognizing several Tamarac residents who have made significant contributions to our community and have made a difference. This will happen during our City Commission meeting on February 13^th at 7 pm at City Hall. The State of the City address will be presented on that same night, making it a great meeting to attend. If you can’t make it, you can watch it live or on demand (starting the next day) by visiting www.tamarac.org and clicking the Commission Meetings icon. 

Happy Birthday to Seniors vs. Crime!

The Tamarac office of Seniors vs. Crime has been up and running since February of 2017. It’s one of 38 offices located throughout Florida. All are staffed with well-trained volunteers. The mission is twofold. They are here to help those who feel victimized, whether in a contractual dispute or when work is either unsatisfactory or incomplete. Their job is to intercede and resolve issues or mediate the dispute. There is no cost for this service.
 
The second part of their mission is to educate residents through presentations at HOA and COA meetings. They discuss scams currently working in the area and give tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
 
If you’d like them to make a presentation to your association or club, please give them a call at Seniors vs. Crime, A Special Project of the State Attorney General’s Office (954) 597-3959.

Free Income Tax Services

Hispanic Unity and the City of Tamarac are partnering to provide FREE tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to working families who made $55,000 or less last year, as well as persons with disabilities, veterans, the elderly and taxpayers who speak limited English. Services are offered at Tamarac Community Center by appointment only. Walk-in services are available at Tamarac Recreation Center during limited times: Tuesday and Thursdays, 6 - 8 pm and Saturdays 1 - 4 pm. Call (954) 597-3642. Mon. - Fri., from 8 am - 3 pm to schedule appointments or to receive more information.