The Weston Way

In this episode of The Weston Way, we sit down with Weston Racquet Club Director of Racquets Albert Fernandez and Director of Tennis Adam Maddock for an inside look at one of the community’s premier destinations for racquet sports.From youth development to adult leagues and social play, Albert and Adam share how the club’s diverse programming serves players of all ages and skill levels. We also dive into how the Weston Racquet Club goes beyond the courts—creating a strong sense of community and connection among residents.And be sure to stay through the end for a special announcement about a can’t-miss celebration of the sport and our city’s vibrant tennis community.

What does property tax reform really mean for Weston residents? In this episode of The Weston Way, City of Weston CFO Darrel Thomas joins us to unpack Florida’s proposed changes. From funding public safety to maintaining parks and infrastructure, Darrel explains how property taxes play a critical role in daily life. We discuss potential impacts, challenges, and what residents should be paying attention to moving forward.Tune in to learn how statewide decisions could shape Weston’s future.

E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular with kids and teens—but do families know the rules and risks that come with them?In this episode of The Weston Way, Deputy Kirby joins us for an important conversation about how these devices should be used safely in Weston. From local laws and age requirements to helmet use and where riders are allowed to operate, we cover what every parent should know. Learn how to help your child enjoy these devices responsibly while keeping themselves—and others—safe. This is a must-listen for Weston families navigating the fast-growing world of micro-mobility devices.

And we're back! Pam and Austin open the second season of The Weston Way with a brief overview of all of the amazing upcoming events in Weston.First, though, they look back on an incredible first season of guests. All of those episodes remain available in the feed.Then, we look forward to 2026 in Weston - a huge year in our city's history because it marks 30 years of Weston.We've got a lot in store this year, and we're excited to offer a little sneak peek in our first episode of season 2 of The Weston Way!

We know that there's nothing more important to you than the health and safety of your family and loved ones. That's why our friends at BSO Weston Fire Rescue take a proactive approach to life safety education.Spearheading their efforts is Life Safety Educator Melanie Brocato. On this episode we learn more about Melanie's background in education, her efforts to provide life safety training to Weston students, how you can enroll in local life safety trainings, and more.

Imagine the organization of the City of Weston like the human anatomy. Public Works is the skeletal system holding the city together. The City Manager and Commission offer the vision, leading the city into the future. Our communications team are the voice, speaking for and to our community. The technology services department, then, is the nervous system connecting everything together.That's how Technology Services Department Director Ryan Fernandes thinks of his team and their mission. On this episode, Ryan explains how his department supports every department in the city, utilizes innovative tools to provide better services for residents, and safeguards sensitive city data.

Thomas Jefferson said, “The finances of government should be clear and intelligible…so that every [person] should be able to comprehend them to investigate abuses and consequently to correct them.” It’s a motto that the City of Weston’s Chief Financial Officer, Darrel Thomas, lives by.Tasked with overseeing the City’s financial operations, Darrel has maintained Weston’s credit-rating, safeguarded the City’s financial future, and developed industry-standard fraud prevention standards.Hear all about Darrel and the finance team’s work on the latest episode of The Weston Way Podcast.

A budget is more than a collection of numbers, it's a reflection of your values.City Manager Don Decker and Budget Director Bryan Cahen joined The Weston Way to go over the City Manager's Proposed Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026. Learn about how the budget comes together, the Florida constitutionally-mandated timeline, and what it all means for Weston residents.The City Commission will hold their public hearings on the Fiscal Year 2026 budgets on Monday, September 15, and Monday, September 29, at 7:00 p.m. in Weston City Hall, located at 17200 Royal Palm Boulevard. The public is encouraged to attend.

The Weston Way Podcast is just the latest in a long-line of Communications projects and we're grateful to host the person who makes it all happen - our Communications family leader, Denise Barrett-Miller. As one of Weston's longest-tenured employees, Denise was here before the third traffic light was installed. Throughout the years, she has worked tirelessly to build and maintain the City's reputation, image, and brand.On this episode Denise shares how she has helped Weston grow, the evolving duties of a Communications professional, and some of her favorite projects and initiatives.

This week, thousands of Weston families will celebrate Independence Day with a City of Weston Fireworks Celebration, July 4th 5K, and Hometown Parade. It takes a community coming together to produce these events, and no one knows that more than Special Events Manager Annalisa Walker.Go behind-the-scenes of event production in this episode and learn how we're able to plan and manage three unique events over the course of less than 24 hours. 

Coming from a family of athletes, Kara Petty knows the value of a strong parks system. As the City of Weston Parks Director, she oversees our system of parks, events, Community Center programming, staff, and much more. Kara stopped by The Weston Way to share how she and her team are leading the City of Weston's parks into the future by using forward-thinking to anticipate and respond to the needs of the community.

There have been just two City Managers in the entirety of the City of Weston’s history. We were honored to have been joined by Weston’s second and current City Manager, Don Decker, for an in-depth conversation on the latest episode of The Weston Way. Just months into his new role as the City Manager, Don was challenged with navigating the city through a global pandemic. Years later, Don has helped lead the city through various other challenges and obstacles to maintain the high quality of life offered here in Weston. Our conversation touched on everything from Don’s journey to Weston and public service, to the unique Contract City form of government employed in Weston. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Don and we thank him for his years of service to our community.

BSO Fire Chief Todd Draizin stopped by The Weston Way Podcast to share his journey to the fire service and useful tips for homeowners and home cooks to prevent fires. Chief Draizin's passion for service is inspiring and we're proud to have him leading the amazing men and women of BSO Weston Fire Rescue and EMS.

We're honored to welcome BSO Police Chief Sam Cavalieri as the first guest on the official City of Weston Podcast - The Weston Way. Here, Chief Cavalieri gives a brief overview of his career in law enforcement before he shares his unique perspective on crime in Weston, protecting students from viral online trends and sharing the roads. We hope you enjoy the conversation with one of Weston's most indispensable leaders.

We're so excited to announce and share the inaugural episode of The Weston Way.On this first show, your Communications team shares some quick updates on city services and initiatives before they talk about all the upcoming April events. This season will feature in-depth conversations with city leaders about the city operations that matter most to you. The Weston Way podcast is coming soon to your preferred podcasting app.Follow us on social media to share your thoughts on the podcast and what you want to hear this season.