Martha Chamberlain

When you hear the letters "Y-M-C-A," you automatically think of kids and swimming and summer camps.

I remember as a kid that the "Y" was a place anyone could swim or play sports when there wasn't a park or school nearby. I never gave much thought as to how the YMCA was run. I just always knew the YMCA never turned anyone away because of inability to pay.

My family has been a member of the Weston YMCA, located in Regional Park, since it opened two years ago. Classes in all areas of fitness are offered -- from Spinning to yoga to Zumba. There is something for everyone - including plenty of equipment which allow you to do your workout in a reasonable period of time. There are basketball courts, rock climbing, a brand new outdoor pool. and a daycare.

I'm always looking for a way to give back to the community. Since I have lived in Weston since 1989, what better place to start than my own backyard. I was invited to have lunch at the Weston YMCA where I was informed about volunteer help. I never realized how many families benefit in some way from the YMCA. There are over 80,000 people of all ages who use these facilities on a daily basis.

Every day the staff receives applications from hurting parents requesting assistance for a particular program for their children. These families have experienced some type of hardship, such as loss of a job, health concerns, divorce or any other type of financial difficultles. The Y provides a place for their families to participate in exercise which helps alleviate their immediate stresses -- and in return, the families often "give back" or "in the spirit of cooperation" volunteer their time by performing duties or tasks to assist the organization.

Over $500,000.00 was raised in 2008 for the Y-Partners Annual Scholarship Campaign. This campaign helps to provide programs and services to those who need it most. The after-school program is one of the largest in the Broward area. Over 8,000 children use this program monthly.

As a volunteer-driven organization the YMCA is committed to serving everyone, regardless of his or her ability to pay.

For your help and or contributions to this great organization that has been around for more than 65 years and has helped thousands of families, click on the website www.ymcabroward.org

Locations of Membership Family Centers are:

Greater Hollywood Family Center, 3161 Taft Street, Hollywood, FL 33021

L.A.Lee Family Center, 408 N.W. 14th Terrace, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311

Parkland Family Center, 10559 Trails End, Parkland, FL 33067

Sheinberg Family, YMCA of Weston ( new name-2009), 20201 Saddle Club Road, Weston, FL 33327.

"See you at the Y!"

Leave it to Weston to keep up with technolgy. The city is planning to take Library Park and Weston Regional Park into the 21st century with the installation of wireless Internet service by this spring. This will be the first of two city parks in Weston to offer Wi-Fi Internet access. The new service will open so many new options for the residence of Weston. With everyone juggling work and their childrens sports and activities they will have the choice to stay at the parks with their children and still get their work done.

Why were these two parks selected. Regional Park, with over 100 acres is the largest park in the city. This park has the most sports activites on a day to day basis. The YMCA is also located in the Regional Park.

The Library Park which just opened this past October is located next to the Cypress High School and Falcon Cove Middle School. Just one block over is the Weston Library which also has a Broward college Center on the second floor. To have access to this Wi-Fi internet gives reason to be outside in this beautiful Florida weather instead of inside.

Weston has always put family first. It's just another reason buyers make Weston their number one choice when finding a home.

WHAT A RIDE!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon, my family and I were invited to the signing ceremony at Saint Thomas Aquinas. A signing ceremony is where the athletes from the area high schools sign with the colleges where they will attend and be a part of the sports program.

Every school has its own form of signing, but my son had the privilege of being a part of the signing at Broward County's Saint Thomas Aquinas High School -- the same school that won the state championship football game two years in a row.

Twenty-on students were honored for scholarships. Even though the football players get a lot of media attention, there were other sports represented. What made this even more exciting was seeing ESPN filming live.

STA had 11 students signing for football scholarships. The universities who were interested in the top players were:

• Penn State
• Bucknell University
• Savannah College
• United States Naval Academy
• Yale University
• Notre Dame
• Purdue University
• Stillman University
• University of Wisconsin
• University of Massachusetts and
• University of Connecticut.

STA had

-- four softball players going to Penn State, Bucknell, and Savannah College;

-- one female volleyball player; two basketball students.

-- A Lacrosse player and a wrestler are both going to the United States Naval Academy.

-- BEST OF ALL -- one baseball player -- my son Patrick.

That parental, pride-filled moment is like no other. My husband Tom donned an ear-to-ear grin, and I was bursting at the seams with absolute delight at all of Patrick's fine academic and athletic accomplishments.

Raising a family is not always a bowl of cherries. However, in moments like this, it makes all the rough times worthwhile. It is the tough times that shape the character of our children. Patrick will carry our message: Never give up, never lose your dreams, work hard, respect others, and good things will come to you.

It is such an honor for our family to be a part of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Family and to experience this wonderful event with our Patrick. We are truly blessed.

Patrick, thank you for the ride! Life with you has been more exciting than any ride at Disney World -- even Space Mountain! Keep up the great work. Mom and Dad love you.

As with horse racing you never know the results till the end of the race. We have just ended our first month in this New Year and the results are in for the City of Weston's Single Family Homes. Like the horse races we have just left the gate so we can't predict the winner yet. But Weston is off to a good start.

One month into the New Year 2009, We have 615 single family homes for sale. Here are the " Price Analysis Report" and the " Weston Market Analysis".

With today being the last day in January we can see that "2009" is off to a good start. Weston's Single Family Homes had 25 closings in the month of January. Weston's Pending Sales are at 97. With the grand total of 737 for Actives, Pendings, and Closed Sales.

We can't tell anybody what to beat or to buy, but it looks like it's going to be a good race or rather

a Great Year!

"Information as per MLS warranted but not guaranteed."

PPTOPA is at it again! Weston residents have been known to venture southward to Susan B. Katz Theater at the River of Grass ArtsPark. Currently, this local theater group is rehearsing for the famous musical, HELLO, DOLLY!

Susan B. Katz Theater at the River of Grass ArtsPark

17195 Sheridan Street

Pembroke Pines, Florida 33029

Located 1 Mile WEST of I-75 in the Academic Village by FIU Corner of 172nd and Sheridan Street

Weekend Performances: Friday & Saturday March 13,14,20,21,27,28 April 3,4

8:00pm Evening Performance

Saturday & Sunday March 14,15,21,22,28,29 April 4,5 2:00pm Performances

TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS ONLINE, CHECK OUT THE PPTOPA OFFICIAL WEBSITE.