President’s office spreads holiday joy Community by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 FORT LAUDERDALE — President Mitchell Cypress, his office staff and the Seminole Hard Rock kick-started the giving season Nov. 18 with a donation to Essie "Big Mama" Reed’s Team of Life organization, which donates food to the needy for Thanksgiving and toys for children at Christmas. A $5,000 check was presented
AIVMI begins push for memorial funds Community by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — American Indian Veterans Memorial Inc. (AIVMI) President Stephen Bowers and his wife, Elizabeth Bates, kicked off a major effort Nov. 12 to raise $10 million toward building a Native American veterans’ exhibit at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The AIVMI initiative began in 2010 as an effort
Bowers says farewell to Gaming Commission Community by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — Truman Bowers, who served on the Seminole Tribe’s Gaming Commission from 2007 to July 2015, commemorated his service surrounded by family and friends Nov. 4 during a celebratory dinner at the Chef’s Table at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Bowers’ term recently ended with the
Leaders tackle Indian Country issues at White House conference Community by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 WASHINGTON — The challenges facing Native American youth and strengthening government-to-government relationships between Indian Country and the U.S. government were among the focal points Nov. 5 at the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. For the seventh consecutive year, President Barack Obama hosted the conference, which drew representatives
Seniors show skills at military-themed Trike Fest Health by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Eight days after Veterans Day, military pride remained on display Nov. 19 as the theme of the 11th annual Senior Trike Fest. Forty-seven seniors from Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood and Immokalee showed their patriotism while competing for glory and trophies in Big Cypress. "It’s an annual social gathering,
PECS students send taste of home to troops overseas Education by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 BRIGHTON — Traci Mendez’s eighth-grade reading class at Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School recently learned how much magazines, letters and snacks mean to troops serving overseas when Gina Buhlmaier visited Nov. 13 to tell them about Loving Our Heroes. Buhlmaier founded the nonprofit organization several months after her son Kory was deployed
Red Ribbon Week filled with camaraderie Education by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 Across reservations, in keeping with the Red Ribbon mission, communities gathered to present a unified and visible commitment to a drug-free future. From color runs, poster contests, marches against drugs, pledges and promises, the Seminole Tribe stood strong against drugs and celebrated the week’s theme, "Respect Yourself, Be Drug Free." The Red
Parents schooled on drugs, social media Education by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — The Education Department’s Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting in Hollywood Nov. 17 educated parents about the dangers of social media and synthetic drugs. "Broward County is exploding with flakka," said Seminole Police Department Capt. Kevin Tyrie. "It would be naïve to think it’s not here on the reservation." Synthetic drugs
Police Explorers double as paramedics, investigators Education by Beverly Bidney - November 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — Hollywood Police Explorers became paramedics and detectives for an evening as they learned how to check for vital signs and uncover important clues at crime scenes. Seminole Fire Rescue and Police departments teamed up Nov. 17 to offer Explorers hands-on experience in their areas of expertise. Paramedics brought equipment so
Jessica Osceola featured in major Native exhibition Community by Beverly Bidney - October 30, 2015 NAPLES — A 75-mile walk to protest the possible construction of a bicycle path through the Everglades inspired Jessica Osceola to create a work of art currently part of a Native American contemporary art exhibit. "Return from Exile: Contemporary Southeastern Indian Art," which features Osceola and 17 other Native American artists