DRWMAG.COM 32 #357 • JANUARY 2019 • 30TH ANNIVERSARY I’d like to wish everyone a happy, safe and healthy New Year. I’d also like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the residents of Cooper City who cast their votes on November 6th, 2018, placing me in the District 2 seat on the Commission. It is my honor to serve our residents and I take this responsibility very seriously. I will continue to work hard to prove myself wor- thy of the confidence our residents have placed in me. Every vote I cast as a commissioner will be with only the best interest of our residents in mind. I look forward to working with Mayor Ross and Commissioners Curran, Green, and Pulcini, to ensure that our city remains a place where people feel safe; and where municipal services are provided with an emphasis on excellence and fiscal responsibility. Finance Advisory Board To further ensure that your money is spent prudently, your Com- mission will be establishing a Finance Advisory Board.The board will be made up of 10 Cooper City residents. It is imperative that municipalities provide a balanced budget with transparency and accountability, for the benefit of its residents. Budget oversight helps to ensure that government spending is prioritized, based upon need, and that all expenditures are transparent. It is my goal to provide a budget to our residents that is balanced, based on operations; not by fund appropriation, tax increases, or sale of capital assets. I look forward to working closely with the Finance Advisory Board and city administration to ensure that our fiscal policies provide for a stable and balanced municipal budget. Congratulations I’d like to congratulate Jared Blaut and DRW Magazine on their 30- year anniversary. I am grateful to be a part of this milestone issue. Jared and DRW are assets to our community.The magazine has a presence at all of the major city events and ceremonies and repre- sents the municipalities that it serves in the best possible light.We are fortunate to have such a fine, professional publication support- ing us and showcasing our services, programs, local businesses and city events. Light Up Cooper City December’s “Light Up Cooper City” event attracted over 4500 people. Everyone enjoyed the children’s choral and dance presen- tations, and Santa Claus’ dramatic entry was one of the highlights of the evening. Kudos to our PublicWorks and Recreation Depart- ments for all of their hard work in creating a winter wonderland in Cooper City.Watching those lights come on when Mayor Ross and Isaac from Embassy Creek Elementary School pulled the le- ver, observing the kids line up to sit on Santa’s lap, and announc- ing the winners of the Holiday Home Decorating Contest were heartwarming reminders of what makes Cooper City Someplace Special. I am looking forward to seeing all of my Cooper City friends and family at our upcoming community events. Senior Lifestyle Expo I am proud to be part of a community that values its most senior residents and continually strives to provide them with opportuni- ties to enhance their lifestyle.The Senior Lifestyle Expo is a com- plimentary showcase for businesses and service providers who cater to our senior community through programs, product distri- bution, and health services. Vendors are on hand to feature their goods,services,and resources and to learn how to better serve the senior members of our city.This is an ideal opportunity to edu- cate our seniors regarding the resources and programs available to them, and an opportunity for city staff to learn what programs or services our residents would like to see the City offer.Service pro- viders and merchants offer health screenings, refreshments, and door prizes. Our 5thAnnual Senior Lifestyle Expo will be held on Saturday, January 12th at Cooper City High School’s cafeteria, lo- cated at 9401 Stirling Road in Cooper City, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there! BY COMMISSIONER HOWARD MELTZER The new year brings new fiscal oversight & community events CC CORNER, TOO