Officials in Parkland have asked Miami-Dade County leaders to reconsider naming their newest city "Parkland."

A resolution recently passed by the City Commission said that while the city has no desire to interfere with the home rule authority of Miami-Dade County, it believes it would be confusing and unfair to create a city with the same name as one in a neighboring county. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Miami-Dade County Commission, the county administrator and the Department of Community Affairs.

“Some residents have contacted me on the matter. We want to protect the name 'Parkland',” Mayor Michael Udine said. “We have worked hard to develop a brand which represents high quality semi-rural living and a family atmosphere.”

As soon as local leaders became aware of the issue, letters were sent to the Miami-Dade County mayor and the Florida League of Cities. Staff asked the city attorney to investigate the legality of two Florida municipalities having the same name. Inquiries revealed that there are two cities named Midway in Florida, one south of Sanford and the other northwest of Tallahassee.

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Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook wants the city to use the services of residents who want to help people avoid foreclosures.

“There are people in the community who have come to me saying they would like to help,” Brook said. “It is a great thing that people are looking to help others; we should be thinking of forming a Foreclosure Avoidance Team. We don’t have the staff to form such a committee, but we can put together a booklet to help residents avoid foreclosure. A lot of residents do not know about the different ways to avoid foreclosure; the booklet will help them.”

Brook said heis excited about the neighborhood stabilization program that is aimed at helping cities affected by foreclosures. "We are building a list of potential customers that can take advantage of the program. I am really looking forward to seeing the program implemented. We are committed to spending every dollar," he said.

“It is a great program,” Commissioner Roy Gold said. “We should let residents know the details of the program. Lots of people have been contacting me; it is a very popular program across the nation.”

City Manager Mike Levinson said the city will set up a separate phone number for people to call and get details about the program. “We have an innovative strategy. We are anxious to get rolling," he said.

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Vince Boccard will continue to be vice mayor of Coral Springs.

At a recent commission meeting, Mayor Scott Brook decided in favor of giving an extended run for Boccard as vice mayor. "Vince has done a great job as vice mayor. He is a great presence for us in the community. Commissioner Gold held the position for a year and eight months."

Boccard, who has been a resident of Coral Springs for more than a decade, was elected as city commissioner Seat 2 in March 2006 and succeeded Gold as vice mayor in 2007. He is a general contractor/developer, and co-owner of Boccard Homes and Kessler Construction. He also has the experience of serving as vice mayor and village commissioner of El Portal in Miami Dade County.

Boccard founded the Lisa Boccard Coral Springs Breast Cancer Foundation for woman without health care and is a founding director of the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition. He is also the chairman of the Coral Springs Youth & Family Committee.

In neighboring Parkland, Mark Weissman recently took over for Jared Moskowitz as the vice mayor. The city also has a deputy vice mayor position, currently occupied by Jay Smith.

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In the midst of the celebrations, family reunions and all that holiday food, anyone can forget how many drinks they've had.

The AAA Auto Club South and Budweiser will be protecting drivers on the road this Thanksgiving weekend through a program called Tow to Go, which provides a confidential ride home and tow, free of charge, to anyone who may have had too much to drink simply by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP.

‘Tow to Go’ services will be offered throughout the state of Florida and will be available from Nov. 27 to Jan. 1.

Rather than allowing anyone whose sobriety is in question drive, call 1-800-AAA-HELP this weekend.

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In the end, the dream finish to the season eluded the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagle Regiment Marching Band, but there were plenty of high points for the band members to cherish.

The band, which was looking to win the state championship in the Class 3A division for the second year in a row, came second to Gainesville at the championship last Saturday in St. Petersburg. Eleven schools competed in Class 3A.

The Eagle Regiment, under the direction of John Rusnak and led by drum majors Dale Tuason and Mark Stein, captured honors for best percussion and best visual effect during the semifinal round. The school's show, “In the Shadow of Dragons,” came in for much praise at the championship.

The band began working on this year’s performance as early as May this year, said Rusnak, who has been working at the school for 19 years. “We had a design meeting and then had a camp in June. This was followed by a camp two weeks before school started. We practiced twice a week. We have a lot of talent here.”

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A Coral Springs resident appeared before the City Commission last week and complained that his firm had been denied a chance to bid for the $13.5 million project that involves renovation of the public safety complex and construction of a new fire station.

Todd Nezwek, president of Bluewater Builders Inc. and a Coral Springs resident for 13 years, filed a formal protest with the city after his firm was not among the three companies prequalified for the project. City staff did not respond when he tried to find out from them why his firm was denied a chance to bid, Nezwek said.

“I own a business here. I am committed to the community,” Nezwek said. “This is a major project in our community. And here I have been denied an opportunity to at least bid for the project even though we are qualified to do it. Never once was the bid publicized. It is almost as if the process is being rushed through.”

Pirtle Construction Co., which has been awarded the contract for the project, did not present facts in a truthful manner, Nezwek said. “Every firm that wanted to bid for the project had to provide details of its legal history. Pirtle said it had no legal history. To me, that is fraud. Yet, they were allowed to bid for the project.”

Bluewater Builders Inc. did not meet the criteria that were established to prequalify builders, said Angelo Salomone, Coral Springs purchasing administrator. “We received 11 proposals and five were called in for interviews. The companies had to show they had completed a public safety building project of $5 million within the last seven years. They also needed to have experience with the LEED process.”

“Bluewater Builders constructed a community center in Coconut Creek. It does not house the fire or police department, Salomone said. “The center is operated by the Parks and Recreation Department. Nobody on the evaluation committee thought it was a public safety building.”

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Coral Springs is getting ready for an ambitious $13.5 million project that involves renovation of the public safety complex and construction of a new fire station.

"The public safety building we now have is antiquated," Vice Mayor Vince Boccard said. "It was built before the changes to the South Florida Building Code. We would be in dire straits if we had to deal with a bad hurricane; we need the renovation. Our residents are very much in favor of the new project."

Construction is scheduled to begin in the first week of January 2009, Larry Staneart, director of development services, said. “It is a complex project, as the facility will not close during renovation. The contract allows 480 calendar days for all construction of the project, which would mean a final completion date of March 30, 2010. The new fire station-80 will officially open in April that year.”

The renovated public safety building will have a new emergency operating center, which will serve as the command center for northwest Broward County during emergencies, Staneart said. “The facility will be hardened to withstand hurricane winds up to 145 mph. The building will have a new two-story 10,000 square foot addition constructed on the west face of the building. The bond for the project is $13.5m. Cost of construction is $8,874,819.”

“We are using recycled building materials throughout the building,” Staneart said. “The building will have reflective roofing while day lighting will be provided in all occupied spaces. High efficiency air-conditioning systems will be used while native landscaping will eliminate the need for irrigation. The new fire station will be an official LEEDS-certified green building.”

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Samantha Weix, a senior at J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, is not very fond of dancing. However, she happily danced the night away on Nov. 14.

“I was up on my feet all night; even lost my voice,” the Coral Springs resident said. “But it felt awesome. The thought that we were doing it to help kids who were sick and couldn’t dance made the whole night special.”

Weix was among those who helped Brian Zakarin, a fellow student, organize the first annual dance marathon at the school to benefit the Miami Children's Hospital. About 65 students from the school danced for 12 hours from 8 p.m. to raise money for the hospital that is part of the Children's Miracle Network. The event was organized through the key club at the school.

The night was not all about dancing though. Three-year old Shannon Walsh, who was born without an esophagus, came to the event with her father who spoke about how the hospital helped correct the congenital condition. Brittany Lundi and Christina Bukata, who were also treated at the hospital, also talked about their experiences.

Students had to donate $50 to attend the event, Zakarin said. “We were hoping to raise $5,000; we ended up with $4624.23. I got the idea for the event when my sister told me about the dance marathon they have at FIU. I then contacted the hospital and told them about our plan. Local businesses helped us too.”

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More than thirty one years after he went missing, family members of Jeffrey Klee know that he was killed. They also believe David Cusanelli, his best friend, was responsible for his death. Investigators even have Cusanelli admitting that he may have put Jeff's body in his car, with the help of his brother Carl, and pushed it into a canal.

However, David remains free, as does Carl, thanks to the statutory limitations in affect at the time of Klee's death. Prior to Oct. 1, 1996, prosecutions for manslaughter in Florida had to be initiated within three years of the offence. Klee’s family members cannot seek justice in a court of law, a fact they are yet to come to terms with.

“Today is a sad day for our family,” said Laurel Steele, Klee’s sister, as she read a prepared statement at a press conference held Thursday afternoon at the Coral Springs police department headquarters. Standing beside her were Florence Klee, Jeffrey’s mother, and Cynthia Klee, his other sister.

“Instead of experiencing complete closure surrounding the disappearance and death of our brother Jeff 31 years ago, we are burdened by knowing that someone who we believe put our brother in his van and pushed him into a canal to be left for dead will not be legally accountable for the crime they committed,” Steele said. “It tests my family’s faith to its very core.”

Coral Springs police department detectives, who investigated the case and even obtained a statement from David and Carl, are equally frustrated. “It is unfortunate and highly frustrating,” police chief Duncan Foster said. “We have identified the suspects but we know they will never see the insides of a courtroom. Klee’s family members will not get the closure necessary in this case.”

The case, which was opened several times over the years, came to life after Jeffrey’s van, containing his remains, was located March 26 this year during a routine police search for stolen cars. Detectives were then able to obtain a statement from David, the suspect in the case, and Carl, who admitted to helping his brother push the van into the canal.

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Officials in Coral Springs and Parkland are busy finalizing strategy on the University Drive extension issue, following reports that political considerations might play a key role in the outcome that has the two cities taking different stands.

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook, who is a member of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, is banking on the committee supporting his city’s stand. “I’ve asked the council to do a study on University Drive. The plan is to get their support, “he said.

“We also need to speak to Broward County commissioners to get support for extension of University Drive,” Brook said. “That way, we will have two other things for the other side to consider before a final decision is taken.”

Parkland Mayor Michael Udine wanted the commission to stay vigilant. “Things are moving in our favor due to the stand take by Palm Beach County. I don’t think the road is going to be built. Annexation will be complete and we will get the wedge.”

“Palm Beach County has removed the right of way for the road and submitted it to the [Department of Community Affairs]. We recently had a meeting with developers of the wedge. They want us to get more involved. The rest of [Broward County] wants the road to go through. They don’t care. I don’t think they have the money to build the road. But we want to make sure the road stays off the map.”

Commissioner Jared Moskowitz wanted members of the City Commission to attend future meetings of the Broward MPO. “If we attend the meetings and start showing our faces, it will make it difficult for them to push their agenda.”

As decided by the commission, Udine and Mark Weissman, the new Parkland Vice Mayor, will attend the next meeting of the Broward MPO.

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It has been 10 years, but Carol Miller still remembers the moment her life changed forever, leaving her to face a mountain of challenges.

Ten years after the accident, life has almost come full circle for Miller. Last month, she took part in the Livestrong Challenge of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) in Austin, an event that raises funds for cancer research. She is now in town, after successfully covering 65 miles on her bike in 5 hours and 13 minutes.

“It was a very worthwhile cause," she said. "I recently lost a family member to cancer. I have had some friends win the battle against cancer. I, myself, had a melanoma removed two years ago. It is also the 10th anniversary of my accident and I wanted to do something special. I was also able to raise $8,289 for the foundation.”

Her accident took place a few yards from her home when she was hit by a car while riding her bicycle with her husband on Westview Drive in Coral Springs.

“I was thrown off 140 feet. I was told that when paramedics reached the site, I had no pulse,” Miller said. “My helmet saved me. Ever since the accident, I get angry whenever I see someone riding a bike without a helmet.”

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The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Eagle Regiment marching band has been in roaring form this season, winning three grand championship titles. None of the members are taking success for granted, however, as they prepare for the state championship at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg this Saturday.

Kristen Berman, captain of the woodwind section of the band, is hoping all the hard work will pay off. “Practice is running the way it is supposed to run,” she said. “It feels really great this year. We have been able to get the results we wanted to so far.”

The Eagle Regiment is the defending Class 3A state champion.

"We feel pretty confident about retaining the title,” said Berman, a 12th-grader. “We have something else on our minds, too. We want to achieve the record high score for the school this time. We will be creating history that way.”

The third of the band’s three titles of the season came at the latest success for the band came first in percussion, color guard, music, visual performance, and general effect. The band was also given an overall superior rating.

The band’s performance this year is based on the theme "In the Shadow of Dragons,” said John Rusnak, band director.

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Today and Saturday, J.P. Taravella High School will have its first dance marathon.

The event will start at 8 p.m. today in the school's cafeteria, 10600 Riverside Drive, and it will continue until 8 a.m. Saturday.

The money from the 12-hour event goes entirely to Miami Children's Hospital, which is part of the Children's Miracle Network. One hundred percent of the The program started at Penn State University and more than 80 percent of the nation's leading universities now participate.

About 150 dancers are expected to participate in the Taravella event. There will be a variety of music and entertainment while each dancer is on his or her feet for 12 hours.

The public is welcome to stop by to encourage participants.

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A variety of tennis activities are available in Coral Springs in the upcoming months.

This Saturday, the Coral Springs Tennis Center will organize the Winterfest charity Pro-Am tournament from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All proceeds will benefit the Coral Springs Community Chest. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a hit-for-prizes contest, followed by a fast serve contest. The cost is $15 and includes lunch. Spectators are welcome and anyone may have lunch for $10.

Registration is also open for group tennis lessons this fall at the center and Cypress Park. Sessions begin the week of Nov. 17 and go through Dec. 13, with no class on Thanksgiving Day.

Group classes will be offered for all ages and skill levels. USPTA certified tennis professionals instruct all classes. Junior classes are offered weekdays after school and on Saturdays, while adult classes are scheduled weekday mornings and evenings.

Holiday break camp also is offered for children, ages 4 to 16, from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 22 to 24 and again Dec. 29 to 31. Participants will be grouped by age and ability. Advanced registration is required.

For more advanced junior players, the city offers its Junior Tennis Academy for three levels – advanced, competitive and elite training. An evaluation from one of the tennis professionals is required to enter the academy.

Call 954-344-1840.

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Coral Springs has come up with a novel idea to further increase its tree canopy.

The city’s new program, “Growing Together,” will allow families to watch their child and tree grow together. Residents can celebrate a child’s birth by planting a tree in his or her honor.

Anyone interested in the program can purchase trees from the city. Trees available are the Pink tabebuia ($288), live oak ($272), royal poinciana ($264.50), bald cypress ($236), mahogany ($207.50), gumbo limbo ($210), red maple ($185.50), and golden shower tree ($275).

Checks for trees should be made out to the "City of Coral Springs." City staff will plant and maintain the tree. Parents can also provide a 5-foot by 7-foot plaque to identify the tree. The plaque must be metal, bronze in color with a black background. The city will install the plaque, but residents are responsible for the maintenance.

All trees will be planted along the pathway at Oakwood Park, 10284 SW First Court. Trees will be planted quarterly throughout the year. Call 954-345-2200.

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Coral Springs Museum of Art will begin its next five-week program of “Art classes in an art museum” on Nov. 17.

To make the classes interesting and interactive, instructors will incorporate discussions of the current exhibits. All classes are age appropriate.

The classes attract art lovers in the community, said Sheri Adanti, museum associate director. “We get a good response, both from kids and adults," she said. "Some of the kids who have attended our classes have gone on to pursue art careers. Some come back as teen volunteers, while a few even become paid teachers at our summer camps.”

Children’s classes include acrylic painting, drawing techniques, ceramic hand-building, cartoon art, comic book design, exploring sculpture, photography, drawing for the young, “Kreative Kids”, and “Ready, Set Van Gogh!” Adult classes include oil and acrylic painting, abstract painting, wheel techniques for clay, watercolor, techniques of drawing, and figure drawing.

“Ceramics is one of the favorites. There are many people interested in painting and drawing as well,” Adanti said. “Comic book design is big with the kids. We have 17 teachers. All of them are either professional artists or have degrees in art, or both.”

Children’s classes are held after school and on Saturdays. Classes for middle school students begin at 4:15 p.m. Adult classes are held mornings, evenings and on Saturdays. All supplies are included for children’s art classes, but adults will need to bring their own supplies, except for clay classes.

Call 954-340-5000 or fax the registration form to 954-346-4424. Visit www.csmart.org.

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Coral Springs Swim Club members and other people in the community are coming together to support head coach Michael Lohberg who suffers from aplastic anemia.

A 3K Family Fun Run-Walk-Stroll to benefit Lohberg will take place from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Nov. 16. The event will begin and end at the Coral Springs aquatic complex.

Lohberg was diagnosed with the serious blood disorder just days before he was to leave for Beijing to join Dara Torres, Kazakhstani Olympian Vlad Polyakov, and six more international swimmers who trained under him. Lohberg was sent to the National Institute of Health for treatment. He is now better and back home with his family and team.

"I am very grateful for all that they are doing for me," said Lohberg. "It shows what kind of a team we have. A lot of other teams are also helping out. All I can say is that i am very thankful."

Luz Campo, who is among the core team organizing the event, is expecting at least 250 to 300 participants. "The city is supporting us; there are a lot of people who are involved. We hope to raise at least $5,000."

Registration will be at 6:30 a.m. Food, drinks, and a raffle drawing for an athlete's basket will be provided for participants. Registration forms can be found on www.csscswim.com. Registration fees are $15 for adults, and $11 for children 2 and under. Same day registration is $18 for everyone.

Donations for Coach Michael's Fight should be sent to Bank Atlantic, FBO Michael Lohberg, 4695 N. University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33076, with checks payable to Michael Lohberg Account number 006066580.

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The Coral Springs Museum of Art is giving art lovers in the community an opportunity to have fun, with family members in tow.

The museum organizes a Family Fun Day at 3:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The theme for today's event is "2D into 3D." Participants will be able to create 3D sculptures from a variety of 2D (flat) objects. Cardboard, wire, wood, paint and glue will be some of the supplies used for the project.

"Family fun days are very popular; we get more than 60 people every month,' said Jan Riznikove at the museum. "We have different themes for each month. The event will be held again on Dec. 13 and Jan. 10. The Dec 13 event will have Dale Chihuly's sculptures as the theme."

The program is appropriate for children ages 3 and up with a parent(s) or guardian(s). Participation fee is $4 per person. Call 954.340.5000 for reservations.

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Santa Claus is coming to town, and early.

Coral Springs residents and people living in nearby cities will be able to catch an early glimpse of Santa this event at the Coral Square mall. Families can join the parade.

Santa will be perched atop Coral Springs fire department’s shiny red fire truck and will be accompanied by the Coral Springs Police Department’s motorcycle division. The Taravella High School Drum Line will herald Santa’s arrival in the mall parking lot. The parade will follow.

“We are expecting hundreds of families,” said Elisha Sova of the Coral Square Mall marketing department. “We always do a Santa arrival but this is the first time in a while that we are working with the police and fire departments.”

“We will provide bells for the kids to ring as they welcome Santa,” said Sova. “Santa will be here for the entire season. Families can come and have photos taken with Santa. Those who have pets can have photos taken of their pet with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 and Dec. 8.”

The event will begin at 6 p.m. today at Coral Square Mall, 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd. The holiday parade will be at 6:30 p.m. Call 954-755-5552.

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News about the development of a new suburb in another county normally shouldn't cause concern to those in Broward County, but Parkland city commissioners are worried. Big time.

The reason: The new suburb that is being planned on Miami-Dade County's western fringe is named Parkland. The West Kendall Community Council recently voted 5-1 recommending the massive residential project be transmitted to state regulators for review.

Mayor Michael Udine believes having another community with the same name will hurt his city. "It will affect us," he said. "We have put lot of resources into establishing the Parkland brand. We need to protect the name of our city."

"Some residents have contacted me," Udine said. "We have sent a letter to the mayor of Miami Dade County explaining our stand on the issue. I don't know what the rules are, but I do not want another community sharing our city's name."

"We are researching," City Attorney Andy Maurodis said. "We will decide by the end of the week what we need to do next."

The community, west of Kendall-Tamiami executive airport, near the Everglades, is expected to have a population of nearly 19,000. The plan is to put nearly 7,000 homes, shops, offices, a hospital and schools on the 961 acres of land.

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Four Russian visitors are now in Coral Springs and other cities in Broward County, making the most of an opportunity to learn about elections in the U.S and experience American life and culture.

Karp Didenko, Oxana Kurovskaya, Olga Kuznetsova, and Andrey Starkov – political and civic leaders in Russia and Siberia - have been busy since Friday meeting local and county officials, observing elections processes, meeting with social agencies, and visiting various tourist spots. While Didenko owns retail stores, Starkov owns a movie theater. Kuznetsova is a professor at an university with a Ph.D. in economics, while Kurovskaya is a public relations manager.

They are in the county as part of the Open World program that seeks to enhance understanding between the United States and the countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States. Taking care of the visitors and ensuring their visit is a success is the League of Women Voters of Broward County.

Didenko, who is from the city of Kaluga, near Moscow, is amazed by the similarities between his country and the U.S. “There are a quite a lot of things in common; probably more in common than differences. Except the climate of course,” he said.

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Vince Boccard, commissioners Roy Gold and Ted Mena, league member and Open World leadership chairwoman Cynthia Hollar, league president Marcia Barham, Zaida Arguedas, League senior director in charge of global democracy programs, and league member Madeline Urbanski were also at the meeting.

“They have been really busy from the time they got here,” Hollar said. “The high point was of course Election Day. They visited the Supervisor of Elections command center, precincts, and BECON for election result televised reporting. They also went to early voting sites, met with county commissioners and Coral Springs city officials.”

The league was chosen from a list of applications to host the Russian leaders, Carol Smith, former president of the league, said. “They are here mainly to see the election process and to see civic involvement. And we have a lot of that in Coral Springs."

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Weekends in Coral Springs are set to get more interesting.

Coral Springs Center for the Arts has a double delight ready for residents in and around Coral Springs. While Dancing Under the Stars, an outdoor nightclub that will open on Fridays and Saturdays, will debut tomorrow, the Comedy Club will makes its appearance next week.

“These ideas have been kicking around in my head for quite a while,” said Kevin Barrett, Coral Springs Center for the Arts general manager. “We want to give people in Coral Springs and nearby cities the type of entertainment they want. This will be a one-stop shop for people looking for entertainment.”

The two new clubs will be a success, Barrett said. “We are giving people multiple options now, all at the same place. People can see a Broadway show, enjoy a comedy club performance, and then dance the night away.”

“There is little to no nightlife currently in Coral Springs,” said Christine Fuchs, a Coral Springs resident. "My husband and I love outdoor venues and music. We love the city center; it's close to home. We also love to gather with friends. This seems like a great idea.”

The outdoor nightclub will feature a 120-person dance floor, a variety of special seating, including cocktail tables and VIP cabana areas, as well as state-of-the-art lighting and special effects. Smoking is permitted.

Call the Coral Springs Center for the Arts administration office at 954-344-5999 or visit www.coralspringscenterforthearts.com.

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PHOTO: Coral Springs High School Band members, from left, Stephen Dryden, 14, Shane Nerenberg, 15, and Courtney St. Hilaire, 15, all of Coral Springs, wait to play percussion at the largest marching band festival in South Florida this weekend at Coral Springs High School.
Staff photo/Eric Bojanowski
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Coral Springs is expanding its recycling program in parks following the success of a pilot project at Betti Stradling Park.

The pilot program began in July last year, said Rick Engle, director of parks and recreation. “We average [more than] 96 gallons per week in the park," he said. "We also have 20 recycling cans each in Mullins Park, Cypress Park and North Community Park now. We also put recycling bins inside the gym.”

The city will continue educating residents about recycling, Engle said. “We get more compliance from children than adults. People tend to use the closest garbage can and also contaminate recycling bins, but we are moving forward and hope to get better compliance,” Engle said.

Vice Mayor Vince Boccard suggested involving as many students as possible in the city’s recycling efforts. “Why not have a slogan contest involving school students? Working with the student advisory council will be a good idea, too,” he said.

Working with sports teams was important for the success of the program, Commissioner Roy Gold said. “We should tell teams how important recycling is to us. We should think of entering into a contract with the teams.”

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