Jazwares, a top five global toy manufacturer, is preparing to move its headquarters to Plantation early next year. 

While you may not be familiar with the name Jazwares, you likely know some of their wholly owned and licensed brands, including Squishmallows, Pokémon, Star Wars, CoComelon, Fortnite and AEW.

CAO Jason Nunemaker and I paid a visit to their current headquarters, located in the Sunrise corporate park, south of I-595 and just east of I-75. 

Company founder and CEO Judd Zebersky stated that hundreds of Jazwares employees will move to the vacated IRS building, 7850 SW 6th Court, near the 24-Hour Fitness on South Pine Island Road, after completion of an extensive renovation. Zebersky noted that his law office was based in Plantation before he began pursuing the toy business in 1997.

The City Council approved North Acres Park, 11831 NW 21st Court. Features on the 14.8-acre site include expanding the parking to 41 parking spaces, a half a mile walking path, a 2.5 acre lake with a fountain, a playground, benches and trash receptacles.

Plantation voters in 2016 approved a $60 million bond, with $17 million of that in a silo for parks. Among the amenities listed as possibilities for the use was the assignment of $500,000 for a park in north Plantation Acres.

City Engineer Samira Shalan has been especially active in the project, making presentations to residents and gathering their input. Some Plantation Acres residents hugged her after the approval Wednesday night.

Matt Thompson, who had been the city’s Superintendent of Parks, was named the city’s new Public Works director at Wednesday’s meeting. He had been doing the job on an interim basis since January.

Thompson had a large crowd of family, friends and supportive city workers as the Council approved my recommendation that he be awarded the job full-time. He started working for the city in 2009.

Plantation employees, dignitaries and the public attended a 70^th birthday cake-cutting (and eating) before Wednesday’s City Council meeting. The Parks department had asked all involved to wear the city-issued dark green shirt, which made for a (hopefully) memorable photo.

Guests included Property Appraiser Marty Kiar and County Commissioner Steve Geller. The Plantation Acres Homeowners Association provided the cake.

Ms. Josette Burns graduated from Plantation High and returned to the school as a teacher in 1996 to make a difference in young people’s lives. She is retiring after a career that inspired several other Plantation High alumni to join the profession and contribute to their alma matter. She was a National Board-Certified Teacher, a Broward County Social Studies Teacher of the Year, a Plantation High student government advisor, and a tennis coach.

Former Plantation High principal and City Councilmember Pete Tingom read the proclamation.

Jason Zembuch Young, who produced more than 40 musicals and plays at South Plantation High, is leaving after 18 years to teach at a new performing arts school near his home in Wellington. South Plantation plays and musicals have won seven South Florida CAPPIE awards during his tenure, and he has especially included deaf and hard of hearing students. He and his husband, Michael Young, have been foster parents to 34 children. Councilmember Denise Horland read the proclamation.