If you are a person with a low or moderate income who is planning to buy a house in Coral Springs, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to visit City Hall South on Monday.

Starting Feb. 2, the city will give applications for those seeking financial help for the purchase and rehabilitation of foreclosed homes in Coral Springs. Applicants will be prioritized on a first-qualified, first-served basis. The last date to receive an application is March 6. The city has contracted with Community Redevelopment Associates of Florida, Inc. to implement the program.

The city has been allocated $3,378,142 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement the neighborhood stabilization program. The money will be used to assist qualified buyers in purchasing a foreclosed property that comes under the program. Eligible properties include single-family detached homes, condos, town homes, and villas that have been foreclosed for at least 90 days.

The city hopes to help 60 families through the program, said Susan Hess, Coral Springs director of community development. “We will focus on homes that fall within the 33065 zip code area. However, it is a city wide program, and if there is a home outside the area, we will consider it. We are working to put together a list of eligible properties. We are hoping to get the first family into a home in May.”

Twenty-five percent of the funds have to be set aside for low-income households, said Shekeria Brown, CRA community and economic development manager. “A person who qualifies will get up to $25,000 for purchase assistance and up to $25,000 for minor repairs. You can live anywhere and still apply for the program.”

Call Community Redevelopment Associates of Florida, Inc. at 954-431-7866. City Hall South, 9530 W. Sample Road, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.coralsprings.org.

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Residents and visitors alike will be greeted by a new public art piece when driving through Coral Springs. The artwork was recently installed at the northeast corner of Riverside and University drives.

Italian artist Marialuisa Tadei hand-sculpted the mosaic piece titled “Donna Dal Futuro,” or “Woman of the Future.” The sculpture stands over 16-feet high, 7-feet wide and 2-feet in depth and is made of steel, fiberglass and approximately 18,000 hand-cut and hand-mounted glass mosaic tiles.

Tadei has displayed her work in Italy, Germany, Slovenia, the Netherlands and the United States. The city’s public art committee selected her as the qualified artist for the entranceway project in 2006.

For details on the artwork or the public art program, call Jim Hickey, chief planner, at 954-344-1158 or e-mail jhickey@coralsprings.org.

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The recent vandalism of the Sept. 11 monument in front of the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs has caused concern among city and library staff, besides hurting the sentiments of people who lost their dear ones in the attack.

Gina Orlando, Coral Springs police and fire pension administrator, was among the first ones to notice the memorial site had been vandalized. “It wasn’t there one day. The next day, it was. I also received an e-mail from the library. It's really sad people do such things.”

“This is a sacred place for families of the victims,” Orlando said. “It is the only place they can go to mourn their loss. We have people right here in Coral Springs who lost their family members in the attack. We deal with 12 families but every year, someone new comes to the service. Countless visitors also stop by, leaving flowers and notes for the victims.”

Coral Springs Commissioner Tom Powers said he was saddened by the incident. “It’s unfortunate," he said. "Whoever did it clearly does not know what it represents and how much it means to so many people. It is insensitive and hurtful. It might be a kid, but these things don’t happen if you raise your kids the right way.”

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PHOTO: The Sept. 11 monument in front of the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs was vandalized. The words “Kenny was here” were scribbled on the monument.
Submitted photo
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Brandon Soliz wanted to be a firefighter ever since he was 6 years old.

“He wanted to save lives,” said Deborah Brake, his mother. “He graduated from the Coral Springs Fire Academy in May 2007 and then completed his emergency medical technician course. He was going to start looking for a job as a firefighter.”

On Oct. 30 last year, a careless driver driving east on the westbound lanes of the Sawgrass Expressway crashed into the pickup truck of the Coral Springs resident. Soliz died instantly, as did the other driver. For Brake, it is now all about keeping her son’s dream alive.

“He never got to actually save lives,” Brake said. “Now, I want to help someone else become a firefighter. The Brandon Soliz Future Fire Fighters Scholarship Fund, the nonprofit organization that I have formed, will raise money to help members of low-income families in the community join the Coral Springs Fire Academy. If I can send one person to the academy for the rest of my life, I will be happy.”

This Saturday, Brake will be joined by her family members, friends, city officials, Fire Academy staff and students, as well as many of Soliz’s friends, at a tree planting ceremony. A plaque in his memory is also to be displayed in front of the academy.

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Rep. Martin Kiar will have an essay contest to offer a student in District 97, or within one of District 97’s schools, the chance to serve as a messenger in the Florida House of Representatives.

A messenger serves for one week during the regular legislative session, which runs from March 3 to May 4 this year. While performing the duties of a messenger, the student will watch members, constituents and lobbyists work together to pass laws that govern the state.

Messengers receive a small stipend but are responsible for their own expenses during the week. Interested students should complete the application and write a one-page essay on why they want to go to Tallahassee to participate in the legislative session.

Applications and essays must be received in Kiar’s office by Feb. 4. The winner will be announced on Feb. 9. Call 954-346-2813, or e-mail beth.lerner@myfloridahouse.gov. Applications should be emailed to beth.lerner@myfloridahouse.gov, faxed to 954-346-2815 or mailed to Kiar’s Parkland office at the Parkland City Hall.

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The gloom over foreclosures refuses to lift in Coral Springs, as in others parts of South Florida.

“We have about 520 homes owned by banks in Coral Springs,” said Erdal Donmez, assistant manager. “It’s a fluid number. It’s a reflection of the South Florida market.”

Vice Mayor Vince Boccard believes the worst is not yet over. “We have not bottomed out. There is some way to go yet. When the residential market collapses, the commercial sector takes a hard hit, too. That is what is going to happen in the near future. It will take 18 months to three years before we climb out of this.”

The measures the city has taken to prevent foreclosures from affecting property values have proved very effective, Donmez said. “We passed an ordinance that made it mandatory for lenders to register with the city. We have [more than] 250 lenders registered now.”

“The code enforcement process was speeded up for maintenance of foreclosed properties,” Donmez said. “We have had staff from other cities come and ask us for a copy of our ordinance.”

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If you're looking to compete and make some friends along the way, the 19th annual South Florida Senior Games is the answer.

The Olympic-style competition begins Jan. 28 and runs through Feb. 10. Events include swimming, track, basketball, shuffleboard and tennis.

Events take place at various locations throughout Broward County and at different times. Registration can be done by mail or in person at the Beach Community Center, 3351 NE 33rd Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration can also be done online.

The cost is $15 for the first competition and $4 for each additional competition. For more information and a schedule, visit the event's Web site or call 954-828-4600.

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The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County is accepting nominations for the Dr. Nan S. Hutchison Broward Senior Hall of Fame.

The award recognizes senior volunteers, 60 and older, for their exemplary work in Broward County for five or more years.

Those nominated and elected will be inducted into the Broward Senior Hall of Fame during a breakfast in May, when Older American’s Month is celebrated.

Nominations must contain the nominee’s name, address, telephone number, age, and a description of their volunteer activities in 200 words or fewer.

The deadline for nominations is March 6. All materials should be mailed to: Broward Senior Hall of Fame; c/o Aging & Disability Resource Center of Broward County, 5300 Hiatus Road, Sunrise, FL 33351.

Any questions regarding the event or nomination can be directed to Christopher Miller, public relations coordinator, at 954-745-9567.

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Danielle Power, a second grade teacher at St. Andrew Catholic School in Coral Springs, does not spend all her class time teaching these days.

With the school organizing a yard sale competition among different grades on Jan. 31, Power takes at least a few minutes each day to get her students keyed up for the contest. “There is plenty of excitement in the classroom," she said. "I remind the kids every day. The kids want to do well. We are also working very closely with the parents.”

The grade that raises the most money through the yard sale will win a free lunch, and teachers will get a monetary gift.

The money raised through the yard sale will be used to improve facilities at the school, said principal Lois Lawlor. “We want to make Catholic education affordable. The money will be used for our computer lab, our sports programs and for funding scholarships.”

The yard sale will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the parish hall, 9950 NW 29th St. in Coral Springs. Call Eleanor at 954-501-4985 or Palma at 954 328-8379.

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Mary Help of Christians Catholic School’s Boat Show art exhibition will be at the Parkland Library, 6620 University Drive, Feb. 11 through March 11.

The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students in kindergarten through the eighth grade have been assembling their boat creations out of various mediums including recycled materials, copper foil, watercolor, and glitter. The students have designed and named the boats after their favorite movie. It was Barbara Freiberg, the art teacher at the school, who came up with the idea for the exhibition.

There will be more than 60 boats on display. Contact Suzi Hayes at 954 757-4203 or shayes@cityofparkland.org.

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Betty Haft may be 96, but she's not as old as the family society she is a member of.

Last Saturday, Haft joined about 150 other descendants of seven brothers and a sister in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Family Pernick Society. The society, formed on Dec. 25, 1908 by eight siblings who came from Bresk Litovsk, Poland to the U.S., is the oldest continuously functioning chartered family society in New York.

“My father, Joseph Pernick, was the third oldest of the seven brothers," said Haft, the oldest living member of the family. "He was about 20 when he came here, but he had already been to Germany, Paris and England. He got a really good job with Westinghouse and gradually brought all his brothers and his sister here. He was the one who got the society registered."

Membership is limited to blood descendants, said Heshie Pernick, a Coral Springs resident and society president.

The club has about 250 members in different parts of the country, said Ira Robbins, society treasurer, who resides in Coral Springs. “There are so many families that don’t keep in touch,” Robbins said. “We are lucky. I believe the society is the glue that keeps us together. We have been through a major depression and two world wars and we are still in existence. Hopefully, this will continue forever."

Visit www.familypernicksociety.org.
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PHOTO: The Pernick family celebrated their family reunion at Brooks restaurant in Deerfield Beach. Pictured above are six generations of family members.
Staff photo/Marta Mikulan Martin
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Long before America chose Barack Obama over John McCain, Jessica Gottsleben, a junior at Coral Glades High School, knew she was going to attend the presidential inauguration.

Gottsleben was among the few youth congressional presidential scholars from Broward County invited to view the inauguration and the parade. She also participated in the presidential ball and met political dignitaries like Colin Powell, Al Gore, and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu.

“I got the news that I would be attending the presidential inauguration 18 months ago,” Gottsleben said, a few days before she left for five busy days in Washington D.C. “My friends freaked out when I told them. The teachers were ecstatic too when they heard of it. The whole school was kind of discussing it.”

Gottsleben, who is president of the Spanish Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society, has represented the United States at the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations, and the global leadership summit. She is also a Mu Alpha Theta officer and a member of the Science Honor Society.

Gottsleben, who spent two weeks last summer in Washington D.C. and New York with students from 100 countries around the world, enjoys politics. “It is definitely something that I am looking into. I think I have what it needs to do a good job.”

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PHOTO: Jessica Gottsleben, a junior at Coral Glades High School, was chosen to attend the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C.
Submitted photo
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The Coral Springs Tennis Center will offer residents free tennis lessons in February. This follows Coral Springs becoming a “Commit 2B Fit” community.

“Play Tennis Coral Springs” is also a joint effort with the United States Professional Tennis Association. Classes are geared to children and adults who'd like to give tennis a try and for those who’d like to get back in the game.

Adult classes will be at the tennis center from 10 to 11 a.m. on Feb. 2, 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 3, and from 11 a.m. to noon on Feb. 7. Children, 6 to 18, can sign up for classes from 5 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 or from 9 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 7 The lessons will be offered at Cypress Park, 1300 Coral Springs Drive. Registration is required.

Tennis rackets and balls will be provided. The Tennis Center is at 2575 Sportsplex Drive. Call 954-344-1840.

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The Broward County School Board has approved the 2009-2010 school calendar. Classes for the new school year will start on Aug. 24 and conclude on June 9, 2010.

Winter Break starts on Dec. 21, with classes resuming on Jan. 4. Spring Break begins March 29, with classes resuming on April 6.

Additional holidays and days off in 2009 include Sept. 7, Sept. 28, Nov. 11, Nov. 26 and Nov. 27. In 2010, days off include Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and May 31.

Employee planning days during the school year are Oct. 23, Jan. 19, March 26 and May 28. The district also has six early release days scheduled for Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Jan. 15, March 25, April 22 and June 9.

Report card will be issued on Nov. 12, Feb. 4, April 13 and June 25.

In case of hurricanes, there are also four hurricane make-up days: Jan. 15, Oct. 22, April 22 and March 25.

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Syed Raza, a senior at Coral Glades High School in Coral Springs and founder of the school’s Save Africa Club, thanks his history lessons for waking up his conscience.

“Last year, I took a lot of history courses. That opened my eyes,” Raza said. “I became a lot more global. I became a lot more aware of things happening in other parts of the world. I knew I had to act.”

Carrying an idea to form a club that would support efforts to make life easier for sick and homeless people in Africa, Raza met Roxanne Brisset, his advanced placement world history teacher in 10th grade.

“She told me it wouldn’t be easy to make a club work, but she had faith in me,” Raza said. “I was determined to make it work. The club was formed last year. Initially it was difficult to get members, but attendance at our meetings has picked up of late.”

On Jan. 23, the club will organize a walk-a-thon around the school track to raise funds for Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. The event will take place during their seventh period class. Students who purchase a $3 ticket will be allowed to take part.

“It is not just about raising funds,” Raza said. “It is about creating awareness among fellow students about a pressing global problem. We hope to have at least 400 students at the walk-a-thon. We have only 15 members now, but that does not discourage me at all. We have another fundraiser planned this year.”

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Parkland has introduced a program aimed at promoting fishing as a hobby among its residents, with staff expecting many to take the bait.

The program involves loaning out fishing rods and tackle for a maximum period of a week. Residents can check out up to four fishing rods and tackle Monday through Friday. The fishing equipment was donated recently to the city by Fish Florida, a nonprofit organization that teaches people about the state’s fish and aquatic habitats.

The city received 30 fishing rods and tackle from Fish Florida, said Scott Davidoff, Parks and Recreation director. “We were researching different ways of getting our residents interested in fishing. It is something you can do alone or with a family. I hope the new program will introduce more people to fishing.”

Call Lara Kramer at 954-927-8361 or visit www.fishfloridatag.org.

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Valerie Christine Arena, teacher at Coral Springs High School, did not know she was exploring uncharted waters when she contacted Mensa, the oldest and best known high-IQ society in the world, to see if she could arrange for a group of students in her school to take the test.

“When I contacted them, I was told that a group test had never been done anywhere in the world,” Arena said. “I was really surprised because Mensa started in 1946 and is in every English speaking country. It feels nice to know our school has made history.”

In October last year, 50 students took the test. The results, Arena said, surprised her.

“It’s a very hard test. Less than one percent of the people who take the test pass,” said Arena, who teaches advanced placement literature and art history. “You need to be highly intelligent, almost a genius. Seventeen of our students received letters of acceptance from Mensa. Such a high pass percentage is remarkable.”

Julia Smith, one of the students who passed the test, said she wasn’t sure she had done well. “I had heard of Mensa but did not know much about it. I did not know if I wanted to take the test, but my mom didn’t give me a choice. When I finished the test, I thought it was 50/50. It is really cool that our school has done so well.”

The school will organize another group Mensa test in spring, Arena said. “We intend to make this a tradition. I am sure we will be able to continue producing great results.”

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John Drag, Broward Community Charter School West principal, expected to get a warm reception Monday when he rejoined the school after a year’s stint in Iraq, but what lay in store for him was something else altogether.

Greeting him as he entered the school campus was the sight of more than 700 students waving mini-American flags, with cheerleaders, Coral Springs policemen on motorcycles, and the color guard from Coral Springs American Legion adding to the splendor. Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook and Maj. Kenrick Herrmann, who worked with Drag in Iraq, spoke. School staff members and members of the school PTO also wore their best smiles as they welcomed Drag.

The Parent Teacher Organization and staff had worked hard to keep the celebration a surprise for Drag, said Leslie Adams, PTO president. “He reached Coral Springs on Dec. 29 and visited the school a couple of times. We told everyone that it is a very big secret and luckily, they cooperated.”

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Indian Religious and Cultural Center (IRCC), one of the oldest Indian organizations in South Florida, will showcase India in Coral Springs, on the eve of the nation’s Republic Day.

Taste of India will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 25 and will showcase the country’s cultural and festival heritage of India. Besides Indian food, a cultural show and sale of Indian artifacts, there will be kite flying on a mass scale by participants as the event is being organized immediately after Uttarayan, a kite flying day.

The event is being funded partially by the city of Coral Springs, said Rema Deo, IRCC vice president. “We want to use the event to spread knowledge about the Indian Republic Day and also our rich festival heritage. We have partnered with the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce. We see this as a good opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the city.”

The event will take place at the city's Sportsplex, 2575 Sportsplex Drive. Admission is free. Call 954-464-4612 or visit www.irccflorida.com.

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Broward County Parks and Recreation, Broward County Animal Care and Regulation, and the Pegasus Foundation’s Caring Fields Education Center will present a workshop about managing feral cats through trapping and neutering from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Anne Kolb Nature Center, Mangrove Hall, 751 Sheridan St. in Hollywood.

Cats are abandoned more frequently than any companion animal in the United States. The workshop will discuss what is being done to remedy the situation for South Florida’s felines and how people can improve the lives of feral cats.

The $15 suggested donation includes a vegan lunch. Registration is required before Feb. 1. For more information, or to register, call Susan Hargreaves at 561-676-0633.

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With foreclosures in Broward increasing almost by the day, the number of pets being abandoned by owners keeps growing. Delcie Cullin, founder of K94URescue, sees it happening daily.

“When people lose their homes, they think about themselves first,” Cullin said. “Most of them cannot take their pets along with them. The economy is not doing well at all and the problem with abandoned pets is growing worse.”

Next Thursday, the Parkland unit of Premier Networking Alliance will do its best to help K94URescue move closer to its goal of building a facility for homeless pets. That day, Wine for K9, the organization’s first fundraiser for the year, will be at A Frame to Remember art and frame gallery in the Waterway Shoppes of Parkland, on the southwest corner of Loxahatchee Road and 441.

Jennifer Marcus, Parkland PNA member and a dog lover, is hoping to see many people turn out for the event. “We have two fundraisers every year for different charities. Last year, we raised funds for the S.O.S. Children’s Village. This is another worthy cause; we hope to have at least 150 people. There will be a variety of fine wines to choose from.”

The organization is yet to decide where the proposed facility would be built, said Cullins, who is also a Parkland PNA member. “We are raising funds. We need $250,000. The facility will come up either in Coral Springs or Boca Raton.”

Wine for K9 will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is $15. Call 954-755-9777 for tickets and information.

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When Florida Friendship Circle was formed four years ago, it helped two families with special needs children. The program now serves 80 special needs families from North Broward and South Palm Beach, with the number going up practically every week.

Sarah Biston, program director, said the popularity of the program has not taken her by surprise.

“When we started out, there were not many programs for special needs children. I think what we are doing is very important,” Biston said. “Apart from 80 special needs families, the program also has over 100 volunteers who help special needs children take part in activities. All our programs are free.”

The Chabad of Parkland-based program, which is a joint effort involving children with special needs, their parents, staff, volunteers and supporters of the program, offers three main programs - Sunday Circle, Friends at Home, and holiday activities. Among the three, Biston picks “Friends at Home” is the most important one.

“We send two volunteers to the home of a special needs child as part of the program,” Biston said. “They spend an hour each week with the child. The child thus gets a buddy. The program also gives parents some much-needed time to relax."

Call Sarah Biston at 954-255-6922 or e-mail floridafriendshipcircle@gmail.com.

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When his father Jeff Marks was diagnosed with kidney cancer, David Marks looked around for a group that would provide the emotional and psychological support his father required.

“There wasn’t anything close to Coral Springs where we live. People here had to go to Margate, Pompano or Fort Lauderdale,” Marks said. “I had to carry him to my car and take him to Boca Raton. He did not want to go. People with cancer generally don’t like traveling much.”

His father died after a short struggle with the disease, but David knew there were others who would benefit from a cancer support group in Coral Springs.

The group he formed four and a half years ago was initially named the Jeff Marks Cancer Support Group but is now known as the Cancer Survivor Group. Recognized by the American Cancer Society, the group meets every third Wednesday of the month at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Coral Springs.

The group is looking to grow in the next few months, said Michael Marks, another member of the support group. “We plan to get in touch with oncologists in the area. Sometimes people are too sick to attend meetings. We would therefore like to go to homes and sit with patients or the caregiver. We are always looking to help.”

St. Mary Magdalene Church is at 1400 Riverside Drive in Coral Springs. Call 954-242-4207.

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The first commercial building in Coral Springs to be solar powered is set to open in January.

Roofing Concepts Unlimited’s new building integrated photovoltaic thin film solar system absorbs the rays of the sun and converts it into AC power that is used to provide electricity for the building. The system size is 26,112 kilowatts, equal to a large commercial generator.

Power consumption has gone down since the system was installed a little over a month ago, company president and CEO Michael Jacobazzi said. “On a sunny day, the building uses solar power. We won’t be generating enough to fulfill our entire power requirement, but we save considerable energy. It’s cutting edge technology.”

Although the technology is on the relatively expensive side, the state offers substantial solar energy rebates, Jacobazzi said. “The rebate is $4 for a kW, up to a maximum of $100,000. There are federal tax incentives as well. Thirty percent of the system’s installed value will come back in the form of tax reductions. That makes it affordable for corporations. After five years, the system will be paying you back.”

Coral Springs Commissioner Roy Gold, who heads the green initiatives committee of the Broward League of Cities, said he was happy to see businesses take the initiative to go green. “The city is working toward going green. Our new fire station will be a LEED silver certified building. The public safety building will also have a number of green features. It’s nice to hear about a business doing its bit for the environment.”

Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York are some of the leading states when it comes to state solar power rebates, incentives, and tax credits.

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Fernando Medina, co-coordinator of the food pantry at the Royal Palm Christian Church in Coral Springs, has been grappling with a problem over the last few months – a sharp decrease in supplies coinciding with a substantial increase in the number of families looking for support.

“It’s the same throughout the county, and for that matter, in other parts of the country too,” Medina said. “Most food pantries are going through a tough time. Some weeks, the shelves are pretty bare. A few months ago, the number of families that we were helping was in the twenties. Now, it is in the forties.”

“There are quite a few families who are on fixed incomes,” Medina said. “But right now we are seeing a lot of people who have lost jobs. When we opened about seven years ago, we had only about 15 families coming in. The number increased to abut 50 at one point but then fell. Since last year, the number has been going up steadily.”

Donations from church members and other people in the community have helped immensely, said Craig Watts, pastor at the church. “When we go to the Gateway Community Outreach warehouse, we don’t get as much as we used to do. We have run out of soups, peanut butter and jelly on some occasions. Local donations help a lot.”

Betsy Medina, co-coordinator of the food pantry, said she hoped to get the support of people in and around Coral Springs “who want to help.” “What we do is something very important. It touches me deeply. It is nice to know that what I do makes some difference to the lives of other people.”

To donate food items and to know about the activities of the church, call 954-753-2383.

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After becoming the first special needs color guard to take part in the in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 2006, the First Special Needs Color Guard of America went back this year to New York, wowing the audience another time.

There is never a dry eye in the audience whenever the group performs, said Ellen Kleinert-Cohn, director of the group. “It was an amazing performance. The acceptance and applause were thunderous. We have got so many positive e-mails after the performance. The performers brought tears to the eyes of nearly everyone out there.”

The First Special Needs Color Guard of America, formerly called Florida Special Needs Color Guard, is a 9-year-old program of the Florida Special Arts Center in Sunrise. The group comprises members from Coral Springs, Tamarac, Sunrise, Parkland and Weston. The participants, between 13 and 41, with an average age of 21, have disabilities ranging from Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.

“We don’t compete. These kids are just trying to be the best they can be,” said Kleinert-Cohn. “We are America's first special needs color guard and dance program. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the general and special populations. We want to show the world that individuals with developmental disabilities are talented, unique and productive members of our society. We also want to give hope to parents of children newly diagnosed with disabilities.”

Visit www.flsac.org or e-mail flspecialneedscolorguard@yahoo.com.

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