Patriotic Indians living in Coral Springs, Parkland and other cities in South Florida will get together on a Sunday, two days after Indian Independence Day to celebrate.

The event, in Coconut Creek, is organized by the Association of Indians in America.

The menu will include cultural programs and a variety of tasty Indian food. Helping the association organize the event are local Indian organizations like Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Muslim Council, Kerala Samajam, Marathi Mandal and Kannada Koota.

Joyce Campos, Coral Springs community relations coordinator and association vice president, is working to make the event a success. “We have had this for the last four years," she said. "It is a great occasion to meet other Indians and make new friends.”

“This has everything to do with patriotism,” said Hovi Shroff, association executive committee member. “None of the cultural items will be based on Bollywood. We usually have about 1,500 people at the event, many of them Americans. We expect it to be no different this year.”

The free event will take place at Omni Auditorium at BCC, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd. in Coconut Creek. Call Hovi at 561-703-1878, Kitty at 954-610-9438 or Pradeep at 561- 715-9676.

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If you are planning to get into a community bus in Coral Springs anytime after October, take a quarter along with you.

City officials recently decided unanimously to introduce a $.25 bus fare for community buses. The fare will be effective Oct. 1. The city has provided the service for free since it was introduced in September 2002, but the recent increase in gas prices forced them to rethink it.

As per the terms of the interlocal agreement between Broward County and Coral Springs, the city has the option of charging a ridership fee that is not more than 50 percent of what the county charges for bus fare. With the county bus fare at $1.25, the city could have charged as much as $.62 a trip but decided on $.25.

The introduction of the bus fare is an "unfortunate necessity," Mayor Scott Brook said. "Some other cities have also done the same or increased bus fare. I hope the community will continue to use the service. I haven't received any complaints from any resident. We feel very confident that we have a great business plan."

City staff anticipate an initial dip in ridership, but the numbers are expected to go up in time. Children, who ride the buses mainly for fun, are expected to stop using them with the introduction of the bus fare, but city staff are confident people who use the service for shopping, work and school will continue to ride.

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With the rate of foreclosures growing at 12 percent a month in Coral Springs, the city has adopted a series of measures to help residents preserve their homes.

Prominent among them is a foreclosure hotline. Residents facing a crisis can call 954-344-1055 to receive advice from city staff on how to go about receiving financial assistance or how to avoid foreclosure.

The city also is presenting a free seminar offering foreclosure solutions, in association with Broward Housing and Community Development Task Force, HUD and Freddie Mac. The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive.

The city has seen more than 1,800 foreclosures this year alone. Officials recently discussed a law to accelerate the code enforcement process for vacant and abandoned properties. The law also would establish minimum maintenance standards for properties owned by lenders.

The purpose of the ordinance is to prevent foreclosures from affecting property prices in the city. According to studies, every foreclosure affects property values in the neighborhood by 10 percent. Foreclosures also tends to increase crime.

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The Parkland YMCA is starting a Kidz Club after school program.

The program provides transportation from various schools in Parkland and Coral Springs. Between 2 and 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, students participate in homework time, fun and fitness activities, youth sports and arts and crafts. They also get a healthy daily snack.

The cost for members is $240 a month per child. Non-members pay a month per child. There also is a $55 registration fee per family.

Call 954-384-9622.

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PHOTO: Craft lovers Karen Small, right, and Nina Coghlan, both of Tamarac, cut fabric during the Coral Springs Craft Guild meeting at Cypress Hammock Park Cypress Hall in Coral Springs. The fabric was being used to make bed jackets.
Staff photo/Jason Arnold

See more photos in the July 24 Coral Springs Forum.
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Sawgrass Springs Middle School’s Save What’s Left Club and the Sutton children from Coral Springs recently visited Acqua Liana in Manalapan, which is the world’s largest certified green mansion.

While on the tour, students learned different methods employed to make the $29 million home environmentally friendly. They also learned about different green programs, such as the LEED program and the Certified Green program by the U.S. Green Building Council.

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The First United Methodist Church of Coral Springs is looking for vendors to participate in the Mission Team Craft Fair. The 34th annual event will take place Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8650 W. Sample Road in Coral Springs.

The Mission Team is seeking vendors for artwork, candles, woodworking, jewelry, quilts and handcrafts.

Space fees vary according to location. Booths will be on the grounds, as well as inside the church buildings. Net proceeds will support charitable organizations and causes in Northwest Broward County and in several overseas efforts.

Call Michelle Musselman at 954-752-0333, ext. 290 or e-mail fumccraftfair@bellsouth.net.

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Lianne Epstein’s love of tennis is rivaled only by her passion for helping the needy.

“I love being on a tennis court, but nothing can beat the feeling that you get when you lend a helping hand to people who really need it,” said the Coral Springs resident.

It was a trip to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis with her dad that kindled her desire to help others, Epstein said. “The camp looks after children with chronic or life-threatening diseases. Going there with Dad really opened my eyes. I’m glad I went with him.”

The camp, which opened in 1996, is run completely by donations from corporations, individuals and foundations. “The place has almost everything for children but I noticed that it did not have a tennis court,” said Epstein, who won the Silver Knight award this year in the athletic category. “I began thinking of what I needed to do to make that happen.”

After she came back to Coral Springs, Epstein started working toward her goal. “As I love tennis, organizing tennis tournaments to raise money seemed like the right thing to do,” she said. “I went to businesses in the community and sought their help. Tennis companies Prince and Tail donated racquets and clothing that were auctioned off to raise money.”

After the success of the first tournament, Epstein organized two more. “People were incredibly generous. With all the support we got, we were able to raise $13,500 for the camp. Some day, the tennis courts will be built.”

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

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Coral Springs officials are exploring the possibilities of the city having an international partnership that will help its economic development.

City commissioners mulled over the issue at a recent workshop and directed city staff to come back with at least two examples of cities that have benefited from such a tie-up. The discussion came in the wake of the Coral Springs International Partnership, a volunteer organization, not achieving results and virtually ceasing to exist.

The options before the city is to have an official “sister city” relationship or to have a volunteer-run organization raise funds and interact with another city. The city will have to spend money from its budget if it chooses the first option.

City Manager Mike Levinson wanted officials to decide what they want from an international partnership. “What is it that we want to accomplish? Simply changing the name from Coral Springs International Partnership (CSIP) to Coral Springs Sister City Program won’t work. We now have Baldrige. It’s a competitive advantage. We will be able to create an interest among other cities.”

Mayor Scott Brook said having an international partnership would help Coral Springs makes a difference internationally. “This is not for international acclaim. We have reinvented government successfully and have been acknowledged for it. I want us to have at least one successful international partnership.”

Having a tie-up with another city will help Coral Springs’ economic development, Brook said. “A successful partnership will take our economic development to another level. We will also be able to share culturally and educationally.”

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

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Christmas is coming to Coral Springs early this year.

On July 29, The Coral Springs Jaycees will sponsor a Christmas in July fundraiser at the Tijuana Taxi Company, 901 N. University Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will include food, karaoke, a psychic, tarot readers and raffles each hour.

The money collected will go to Jaycees’ The Joy Program, which provides Thanksgiving baskets to needy families in Coral Springs and a holiday shopping spree to underprivileged children.

The beneficiary of the money collected will go to Jaycees’ The Joy Program, which provides Thanksgiving baskets to needy families in Coral Springs and a holiday shopping spree to underprivileged children.

To donate prizes for Christmas in July, call Jonathan Lederman at 561-367-9281.

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

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The Parkland Women's Club is looking for vendors to participate in Parkland Promenade, formerly known as Arts and Crafts in the Country.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 5901 Pine Island Road in Parkland.

The club is looking for vendor items that include artwork, crafts, embellished, buy-to-sell or "green market" items.

Space fees range from $60 to $100. Net proceeds go to charitable organizations supported by the Parkland Women's Club.

Call Pat Mirabello at 954-662-5770 or visit www.parklandwc.com.

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Congregation Kol Tikvah is forming a Bowling League. The league will meet the first Saturday of each month at 8 p.m., October through May at SpareZ, 8034 W. Sample Road.

Temple membership is not required to join. The cost is $25 per person and includes bowling, two slices of pizza, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

Space is limited. Call Bruce Hofert 954-344-4497 or e-mail redwagontoystore@yahoo.com.

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Jennifer Senn, was one of three students who received scholarships from the Coral Springs Craft Guild. Senn is the daughter of Lisette and Leon Senn of Coral Springs. She plans to attend the University of Florida in the fall where she wants to study psychology.

Other scholarship winners included Alexandra Lytle, who will major in fine arts with interest in fashion design and painting at St. Andrews Presbyterian in North Carolina, and Edgaryn Abreu, who will major in fine arts with an interest in web design at Florida International University.

PHOTO: Jennifer Senn, left, and Ginger Miller, scholarship committee chair, hold photographs Senn submitted to the competition. Submitted photo
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Coral Springs has launched a hotline to help with problems related to foreclosures. Anyone facing foreclosure can call 954-344-1055 for tips and local resources.

The city also is offering a free seminar that will provide foreclosure solutions on Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. It will be presented by the city, Broward Housing and Community Development Task Force, HUD and Freddie Mac.

For other foreclosure prevention tips, visit coralsprings.org.

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The Parkland Library got hit with budget cuts this year and faces more of the same next year, but the news is not all bad. The library has managed to rope in a sponsor for its popular summer reading program.

The program, which features segments for children, teens and adults, is based on the book, “The Wizard of Oz” and will continue until mid-August. “Oz” memorabilia, on loan from city residents and the Cornell Museum in Delray Beach, has been displayed to create a museum-type atmosphere.

“We have never had a sponsor before,” said Michele Andrews, library program coordinator. “We are happy National City Bank has come forward to help us. We’ve really transformed the entire place.”

The library is offering prizes to readers this time, Andrews said.

It also encourages people to read and bring new members to the library, said Kathy Buchko, a Parkland resident. “Things are in jeopardy after the budget cuts and the library needs all the help it can get,” she said. “I have been a member since the beginning. It is a great place. I love the hometown atmosphere.”

Read the complete article and see more photos in the July 10 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

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PHOTO: The Parkland Library recently had a "Wizard of Oz"-themed show. Library Staff Michelle Andrews, library program coordinator, greeted visitors. Staff photo/Marta Mikulan Martin
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