Seminoles, Santa deliver holiday cheer to hospital Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — President Mitchell Cypress, with help from Santa Claus, brought much-needed Christmas cheer to young patients Dec. 8 at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. After collecting more than 900 toys during a three-day toy drive, President Cypress distributed gifts to children who might not be home for the holidays. "What most children
Chairman, governor reach compact agreement Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 Chairman James E. Billie and Gov. Rick Scott signed a gaming compact Dec. 7 that will give the Tribe the exclusive right to operate blackjack and add craps and roulette at its seven Florida casinos. In exchange, the Tribe will pay $3 billion to the state over a seven-year period beginning
Brighton casino marks milestone birthday Community by Eileen Soler - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 BRIGHTON — Thirty-five years ago Josiah Johns took a gamble when he added bingo tables to the combined hardware store and beauty parlor he owned and managed out of a modest red barn on Brighton Reservation. "At the same time, high stakes bingo was already popular at Classic Casino in Hollywood
Florida Seminole history explored at annual Tallahassee celebration Community by Peter B. Gallagher - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 TALLAHASSEE — Seminole Tribe members and historians gathered at the Florida capital Dec. 12-13 to defend the aboriginal ancestry of today’s Seminole Indians during the annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Hosted by the Florida Department of State, the celebration was held at the Mission San Luis de Apalachee, a restored 1633 Spanish
Native Relief keeps on truckin’ Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 Hoping to bring Christmas cheer to a community in need, members of the Native Relief Foundation (NRF) ignored unrelenting rain Dec. 5 to load a 26-foot rental truck with boxes of donated clothing, blankets and food earmarked for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Designated driver and NRF member Bobbie "BJ" Billie
Edward Aguilar graduates from TCD program Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — Surrounded by about 70 friends, family members and colleagues, Edward Aguilar celebrated his graduation from Seminole Gaming’s Tribal Career Development (TCD) program in style Dec. 17 during the annual Christmas party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Sharply dressed in a suit and tie, Aguilar proudly
Billie Swamp growth spurt includes baby critters, views Community by Eileen Soler - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Immersion into a world of wildlife beckons visitors at Billie Swamp Safari. From the minute guests arrive at the tourist destination they are greeted by a cacophony of squawks, grunts, tweets and tribbles that welcome them to pop over and peek into animal pens that surround the parking
Everglades history, culture displayed at annual Swamp Heritage Festival Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 OCHOPEE, Fla. — More than 500 people gathered at the Big Cypress National Preserve Dec. 5 to celebrate the history and culture of the Everglades during the Swamp Heritage Festival in Ochopee, about 35 miles east of Naples. The fifth annual event featured nearly two dozen organizations dedicated to safeguarding the
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki reception to celebrate historic exhibit Community by Eileen Soler - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — A public reception for what is deemed a landmark exhibit at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Big Cypress is planned for mid-January. High-ranking officials in fields of anthropology, history, government and education are expected to attend. "It is probably our most ambitious installation to date," said Museum Director and
Museum reception to shine light on two more exhibits Community by The Seminole Tribune - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s public reception, set for 2 p.m. Jan. 16 to celebrate the Museum’s newest exhibit "Struggle for Survival, 1817-1850," will also herald two additional exhibits that opened in November. "Conversations" by award-winning Seminole Tribune photographers, showing through February 2016 in the Museum’s Mosaic Gallery, consists of 14