Explorers program kicks off school year with new twist Education by Eileen Soler - September 30, 2015 Something newfangled took children and teens by surprise during the first Police Explorers Program meetings of the school year at Big Cypress, Brighton, Fort Pierce, Immokalee, Hollywood and Tampa reservations. "We are evolving," said Seminole Police Department Officer Michele Harbin at the Sept. 9 meeting at Big Cypress Community Center. "And
Music room adds Hard Rock ‘stepping stones’ Education by Eileen Soler - September 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — Robert North sees rock ‘n’ roll possibilities inside the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club music studio. Two top-notch, complete drum sets fill the floor; a row of electric and acoustic guitars, including two Fender Stratocasters, line a wall. Among the periphery: two keyboards, a xylophone, several amps, yards of
BC pool tourneys cue friends for fun Sports by Eileen Soler - September 30, 2015September 30, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — When it comes to playing pool, Big Cypress seniors are serious about winning, but mostly interested in hanging with friends and having fun. "It’s about friendly competition," Laura Clay said. "And bragging rights," David Cypress added. A group of nearly 20 seniors meets about twice per month at the Big
Tribe travels intercontinental for Hard Rock Rising Barcelona Community by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 Chairman James E. Billie reveled in the electrifying sounds of rock-and-roll during a five-stop European business visit of Hard Rock cafes and hotels that began with a two-day seaside concert in Spain. "I thought, ‘Here we are. This is the avenue for getting out our music.’ Rock-and-roll is in the hands
Historic preservation moves forward by sign-ifying past Community by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 By winter, four more heritage markers will likely be added to the Big Cypress and Brighton reservation landscapes to designate some of the Tribe’s most significant historic locations. The brown and white 3-by-4-foot embossed signs will herald sites added this year to the Tribal Register of Historic Places by the Tribal
PECS school year kicks off with new gym, media center Education by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 BRIGHTON — Open house for students and families of Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School featured a doubleheader celebration for the Brighton community and the entire Tribe. "It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen so many good things open up out here in our cow pasture," said Chairman James E. Billie before
Teens taste campus life Education by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 TALLAHASSEE — Two weeks of cramped quarters, strict schedules and cold pizza gave 56 Florida teens a genuine taste of college life at some of Florida’s leading institutes of higher learning. "The dorm was good. The food was not so good. Being without parents? No problem," said Kyle Alvarado, 17, of
Ahfachkee School new principal to bring big changes Education by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Students at Ahfachkee School weren’t the only ones to start the 2015-16 school year at new desks. New principal Guy Cooper, uniformed on opening day Aug. 17 in khaki pants and blue polo shirt, greeted students with fresh optimism and a pleasant but firm attitude. One by one and
A Native American in Paris Education by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 When Braudie Blais-Billie refers to home it begs the question "which one?" Blais-Billie, 22, can call "home" a few miles from the Hollywood Reservation, a flat in New York City where she attends Columbia University and an apartment in Paris where seven recent months of academic immersion added up to an
Education incentives awarded to Brighton, Big Cypress students Education by Eileen Soler - September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 McKayla Snow, of Brighton Reservation, always looks forward to a guaranteed rush of personal pride she receives every summer thanks to the Tribe’s Education Department incentive awards. "It’s not just me who feels it. It’s every student who hears their name called and then hears everyone cheering for them because they