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Plantation Resident is Broward County Pioneer
Happy New Year 2013
By Julie Levin
W
hen Helen Ackerman and her husband Ross moved to South
Florida in 1968, they moved for job opportunities, the weather and Plantation’s then rural atmosphere. It would have been hard to imagine back then that more than 40 years later, Helen would be honored for her ongoing commitment to the city. “I never planned to be a pioneer,” laughed Helen.”We just loved Plantation.”
(l-r) Sydney Corbin, Plantation Historical Society; Shirley Schuler, Plantation Historical Society; Dr. Helen Ackerman, Broward County Pioneer; Ruth France and Dr. John D. Bloom, Jr., Broward County Historical Commission.
Ackerman was one of 29 residents honored as Broward County Pioneers recently. The group joined a distinguished group of more than 2,000 Pioneers honored over the past four decades for their dedication and growth to the county by the Broward County Historical Commission. The event was held October 12 at the historic Oakland Park Elementary School, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest operating school in Broward County. “I was very excited and very proud,” said Ackerman. “It was quite nice.” Ackerman was nominated for the honor by the Plantation Historical Society. “She has done so much for the city while she has been here,” said Shirley Schuler, Curator of the Plantation Historical Museum. “It’s an honor for not only people who have lived here for awhile, but what they have done to make this a better city.” Ackerman was noted for a laundry list of civic and educational achievements that has kept her busy for the past 40 years. Among the first, helping to establish a preschool in early Plantation. “There were just not enough preschools in the area, you had to go east to Fort Lauderdale back then,” she said. Her efforts would eventually also be a part of the founding of the Plantation Jewish Congregation, which is now Temple Kol Ami Emanu-Etl. Ackerman was also an active volunteer in Plantation schools for many years. Currently, she is the publicity and legislative chair for the GFWC Plantation Woman’s Club, maintains her practice as a psychologist, and is involved in the arts, displaying her own paintings and graphic design at local art shows. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners and the Broward County Historical Commission joined the City of Oakland Park and the Oakland Park Historical Society in co-sponsoring the event, which drew more than 250 people. The Master of Ceremonies was the Chair of the Broward County Historical Commission, Betty Cobb. Speakers included Robert E. Cannon, Director of the Broward County Libraries Division, Anne E. Sallee, Mayor of Oakland Park, Helen Landers, Broward County Historian, and Marcia Norris, President of the Oakland Park Historical Society.
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19 1/2/13 10:17 AM