Coral Springs residents can take advantage of local discounts by picking up “Buy Coral Springs” coupons at City Hall and City Hall in the Mall. Residents can also print out coupons at www.buycs.org.

Buy Coral Springs is a partnership between the city and the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce that encourages residents to keep their dollars local by shopping at Coral Springs businesses.

It was Mayor Scott Brook who initiated the program.

By presenting the coupon at participating retailers, residents will enjoy a variety of discounts. A list of participating retailers with existing discounts is available on this site and at www.cschamber.com. Local businesses interested in participating can also sign up by visiting www.buycs.org.

Participating retailers will receive Buy Coral Springs kits, when available, to help businesses get started in the program.

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The Coral Springs City Commission recently recognized Lt. Joseph Russoniello for his selection as 2008 Firefighter of the Year by the fire department. Carol Kalin was named 2008 Civilian Employee of the Year, and assistant chief Eduardo Lopez was awarded 2008 Supervisor of the Year.

The commission also recognized Coral Springs police detective Brad McKeone as 2008 Officer of the Year. Joann Brown was named 2008 Supervisor of the Year, and Tony Minutoli was awarded 2008 Civilian Employee of the Year.

Autoworks Collision and Paint was recognized by the commission for its continued support of Project CS Teen Car Club and for helping the teens finish the Blazer in time for the Teen Car Show in February.

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Jack O’Connell knew he was taking a big chance when he opened Runyon’s Restaurant in Coral Springs on October 1984.

“Back then, the city did not look anything like it does now. We are talking of a time when Sample Road was just two lanes,” Connell said. “The city had a population of about 30,000. There were no fine dining restaurants in the city. All we had were pizza joints. I did not know if we would succeed, but I sure hoped we would.”

After 25 years of seeing Runyon's grow with the city, O'Connell says he is happy with the way things have turned out. “We took it from a nothing place to a $4 million a year business. We never advertised. It was always word of mouth. One thing we get to hear often is how consistent the quality of food is.”

O'Connell attributes much of the success of the restaurant to the fact that many of the staff members have been working at the restaurant for more than two decades.

“We had the same chef for 21 years. He moved to Indiana, but that did not affect us as he had trained the chef we now have,” he said. “The bartender who opened the bar all those years ago, he is still with us. We have original waitresses, original dishwashers. It’s a very close-knit group. It’s a kind of a unique place. ”

Visit www.runyonsofcoralsprings.com to try out the restaurant's 25th anniversary special menu.

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The Parkland YMCA Family Center is offering 11 one-week sports camps, for children ages 5 to 12, from June 8 to Aug. 21.

Y World of Sports will offer basketball, flag football, hockey, soccer, volleyball, baseball, kickball, capture the flag, group exercise, playground fun and more.

The camp time is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended care is available from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. at no additional charge. The fee for YMCA members is $145 per week, while it is $175 per week for others.

The Leaders in Training camp is for teens entering eighth, ninth, or 10th grade. It teaches them how to be future camp counselors. The 10-week program is offered in one-week sessions. The camp, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will start June 8 and end Aug. 14. The fee for YMCA members is $125 per week and $150 for others.

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Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter has appointed Coral Springs City Historian Wendy Wangberg to the County Historical Commission.

The commission’s mission is to recognize, protect and support the historical interests of the county and to serve as the advisory board to the County Commissioners.

In 2004, Wangberg was awarded the Broward County Historian’s Award, and in 2005, she was presented with the Judge L. Clayton Vance Memorial Award for the Museum of Coral Springs History.

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The Coral Springs city championship golf tournament, sponsored by the Country Club of Coral Springs, will be April 18 and 19. The tournament is a 36-hole, stroke play. Times will vary, as participants will receive assigned tee times.

The cost is $125 per person before April 11, or $150 thereafter. No entries will be accepted after 5 p.m. April 14. Checks must be payable to the Country Club of Coral Springs. Entry fee includes green fees, cart, range balls, players’ bag, lunch for both days and awards. A portion of every entry fee will be donated to the Coral Springs Community Chest.

Players must be at least 18 years old and a Coral Springs resident. Players must have a verifiable handicap index. The first 160 entries will be entered into the championship.

Call 954-753-2930 to register. The Country Club of Coral Springs is at 10800 W. Sample Road, just west of Coral Springs Drive.

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Coral Springs officials and staff have taken steps to ensure that the increasing number of foreclosed homes in the city does not take a toll on property values in the city, but there are some who want them to do even more.

Dennis Gogonas, a real estate agent who does business in the city, appeared before the city commission recently and asked them for permission to place “open house” signs at strategic points to draw in prospective customers to the house up for sale. It was something the city needed to do as it is losing money with houses remaining unsold, he said.

“The signs need not be anything elaborate; they can be small,” Gogonas said. “A few years ago, we didn’t need these signs as we had multiple offers for a house. The market has changed. We pay $120 a year for our license. We are doing all we can to sell these houses and we need your help. We don’t want ten signs in one location. We just want to lead prospective customers to the house.”

The city commission did not warm up to the idea.

“One sign is allowed in front of the house now,” Commissioner Roy Gold said. “If there are 500 homes in foreclosure, what you are asking for is to have 1,500 or more signs in our city. I am very hesitant’ I have my reservations about the idea.”

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The Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee recently met with Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter to review and discuss the county’s initiatives to assist small businesses.

The purchasing division of Broward County has rolled out a new “How to do Business with Broward County” publication. Currently, the purchasing division contracts for more than $600 million in goods, services and construction each year. As a result of the stimulus package, the amount is expected to increase.

Some other opportunities for small businesses include the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program designed to encourage local small businesses to do business with the county. The program promotes small business growth and works to ensure small businesses receive an adequate share of contracts from the county government.

Additionally, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is a federal program designed for business owners deemed socially & economically disadvantaged, based on guidelines established by the federal government.

Visit www.broward.org/smallbusiness and www.broward.org/purchasing, or call the small business development division at 954-357-6400.

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Coral Glades High School principal Michael Ramirez is not one of those who believe education is just about students, teachers and the school.

“We need to get everyone involved: the school, the community, and the parents,” Ramirez said. “The stronger the triangle is, the better it is for students. That is what we try to do at our school.”

This Saturday, the school will organize Springs into Respect, a workshop that focuses on educating parents in understanding the social and educational issues facing students today. There will be 11 breakout sessions, with each parent allowed to attend three of his or her choice. Middle and high school students in the Coral Glades Innovation Zone can attend with their parents.

“Involving parents in the educational process is one of the goals of the innovation zone,” Ramirez said. “I attended a program similar to what we are organizing and presented the idea to the innovation zone. From there, it kind of grew. The focus at this workshop is on respect. We also want to inform parents about a variety of programs available within Coral Springs to help with their school-aged children.”

Joe Melita, executive director for Broward County Public Schools special investigative unit, will be the keynote speaker at the event, said Paul Satty, school assistant principal and co-chairman of the workshop organizing committee.

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Coral Springs is offering a variety of programs for people in the community, like “Kamp Kool,” dance, etiquette, sport and special needs camps, as well as swimming and tennis programs.

Residents can get the city’s 2009 Summer Fun Guide and applications at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive; City Hall in the Mall, Coral Square Mall; the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex and Tennis Center of Coral Springs, 2575 Sportsplex Drive; and the Cypress Park Tennis Center, 1301 Coral Springs Drive. Guides are also available at City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road.

To view and download the guide and application forms, visit www.CoralSprings.org/summerfun. Call 954-345-2200.

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J.P. Taravella High School's DECA members recently returned from a state marketing competition in Orlando with 11 trophy winners.

Forty-seven members of the school's club competed against 1,200 students from around the state at Disney World. They were judged in business role-play situations and tested in various occupational areas.

Stefan Hansen won first place in hotel and lodging, while Luis Espinosa and Danika Miroshnichenko came second, in marketing management and general marketing written respectively.

Andy Hucke and Mike Wallach came in fourth in the financial analysis team category, while Tom Cavanagh took fifth place in marketing management. Mike Brenner and Kyle Bloom came in fifth among business law and ethics teams. Jamie Simmons, Laurie Acosta, Lisa Webster, and Sue Lathbury are the school's DECA club advisers.

The students now move on to the international competition in Anaheim, CA in April. They will host a Mock ACT Test for high school students in May at J P Taravella High to help raise funds for the trip.

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Coral Springs residents interested in improving their community are encouraged to apply for the city’s neighborhood matching grant program. The city will provide matching funds up to $5,000 for single-family neighborhoods and up to $2,000 for townhouse/condominium neighborhoods.

The city has completed 100 formal partnerships during the past 12 years and past recipients have made various improvements such as enhanced lighting, neighborhood signage, landscaping and improving neighborhoods parks. All projects must be visible from the public roadway and benefit the all residents in the city.

To be eligible, neighborhoods must have either a homeowner’s association or neighborhood association, be established as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to Florida Statute, Chapter 617.301-312 and complete the neighborhood registration form online at www.CoralSprings.org/community.

Applications are also available at City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road, and at City Hall in the Mall, located within Coral Square Mall. Applications must be submitted by March 31. Contact the Community Development Department at 954-344-1114 or visit www.coralsprings.org/partnerships.

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Boy Scouts Troop 397 in Coral Springs has done better than most other troops in the region, if awards and recognition are the yardsticks for success.

David Chen, scoutmaster of the troop, however, does not look at it that way.

“We expect our troops to do a good job every day,” Chen said. “In 2008, we logged more than 1,100 community hours. Those are hours contributed by the boys alone. The numbers would be much higher if we take into account the work the adults put in.”

The troup, the oldest continuously active troop in Coral Springs, has been around since 1976. “Our troop has been doing great things for the community. I think we have been successful in our efforts to train our boys to be good citizens. We teach them the value of service to others in the community.”

Chen, who was recently awarded the 2008 Scoutmaster of the Year award for the Lighthouse District of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and other members of the troop were honored by the Coral Springs City Commission this week for their contributions to the community.

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Last year, Parkland officials asked seven building department employees to leave, with construction activity coming to a virtual standstill in the city due to the housing slump. They then prayed for the market to turn around.

As it turned out, it only got worse.

Last week, the City Commission decided on a second round of layoffs, sacking four employees and cutting back weekly hours of the seven who will hold on to their jobs. The panel voted 4-1 in favor of the proposal with Dave Rosenof, a builder by profession, supporting the idea of outsourcing the department to a private firm.

The city expected $1.3 million in building department revenue for the year but had to adjust it to $750,000, City Manager Caryn Gardner-Young said. “This is not just Parkland. All municipalities in the county are dealing with the same situation. They are letting people go and reducing hours, too. Parkland was the fastest growing city in Broward. It is only natural that you are seeing the impact more here.”

Parkland cannot operate its building department at a $550,000 deficit, Mayor Michael Udine said. “As much as we'd like to make sure everybody keeps a job, it isn't feasible. It’s unfortunate but we have to deal with reality. The status quo cannot remain. There has been no turnaround to date.”

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Broward County Library's Each-One-Teach-One program needs volunteers throughout the county to teach illiterate adults to read and write at local libraries.

A volunteer basic tutor training workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 14 at the Tyrone Bryant Library, 2230 NW 21st Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.

There are currently 42 students waiting for tutors at libraries throughout the county.

To register or find out more information, call 954-625-2820 or e-mail the learning services organization at learningservices@browardlibrary.org.

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Nearly two months since it made news by becoming the first high school band from Florida to take part in the Presidential inauguration, the J.P. Taravella High School marching band is still able to attract people in the community who want to help out financially.

In the last month, Meg Laudicina, a Coral Springs resident, has been busy putting together a rock concert featuring three bands that will play at the school auditorium Friday to raise funds for the marching band.

“We wanted to do this before they went for the inauguration, but it did not quite work out. They had so many fundraisers going on then,” Laudicina said. “The band members had to spend money from their own pockets. They still need the money. My two kids went to the school. That gives me another reason to make this a success.”

Laudicina’s son, Steve, is a member of the Coral Springs-based “Beauty to the Moon,” one of the bands playing at the concert. “He and his friends want to help the marching band. They know it is a worthy cause. They have a big fan base at the school. We also have ‘Horde’ and ‘In the Hands of a Tyrant,’ two bands comprising Taravella students. I am sure we will have a big crowd.”

The concert will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on March 13 at J.P. Taravella High School, 10600 Riverside Drive. Tickets cost $5 each. Call Meg Laudicina at 954-718-9903.

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Scott Brook answers questions from residents every day in his capacity as Coral Springs Mayor, but this one certainly wasn’t usual.

“How many girlfriends did you have before you married your wife,” Brook was asked in the quick fire round of the second annual Teen Political Forum, an event organized by the city last week with the help of high school students living in Coral Springs or attending local high schools.

If Brook was taken aback, he did not show it. “Seven,” he said.

Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter had a tricky one coming her way as well, with students wanting to know how old she was when she had her first kiss. “I was 19, but I more than made up for it later in life,” Ritter said.

“Why does the school care if students skip,” Commissioner Roy Gold was asked. “They probably feel you can learn more in school than off it," he said. “Perhaps, they don’t trust your judgment. I skipped class when I was in high school, but I am not proud of it. I do not support students skipping classes.”

It was not all about the tricky queries though. The majority of questions at the event focused on education, with students wanting to know how the recession and reduced funding for education would affect them.

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Coral Springs Woman’s Club is offering a $1,000 scholarship to either a high school graduate in North Broward who has been accepted to a Florida college or university or to a woman returning to a college, a technical or a vocational school for the 2009 fall term.

High school applicants will be evaluated on a non-discriminatory basis for financial need, grades and volunteer work. Women returning to school will be evaluated on a non-discriminatory basis for financial need, work experience and references.

A high schooler must graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA or have received a general equivalency diploma. A candidate for the college, technical or vocational school must have graduated with a minimum 2.5 GPA from high school or have received a general equivalency diploma.

Call Joan McDevitt at 954-725-4022. The deadline for completed applications is May 1.

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Registration for Parkland’s kids camp and teen camp has begun for city residents. Registration will begin for nonresidents on March 23.

Completed registrations must be mailed to the city by regular mail. Space is limited. The camp program is set up in two four-week sessions, starting June 15 and ending Aug. 7. Both programs include field trips in an air-conditioned motor coach bus, as well as special on-site activities.

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.cityofparkland.org or picked up at the Parkland Amphitheater in Pine Trails Park, 10561 Trails End. Contact GerriAnn Dougherty at gdougherty@cityofparkland.org or call 954-757-4129.

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Coral Springs saw a drop in its crime rate in 2008.

Mark Haydu, deputy police chief, said at a “Slice of the Springs” meeting involving the southeast and southwest slices, that the crime rate in the city was down 3 percent compared to 2007. “Coral Springs is one of the few cities with a decrease,” he said.

The number of residential burglaries in the city increased 13 percent, from 373 in 2007 to 423 in 2008. “In the southeast part of the city, the figure went up 36 percent, from 67 to 91. In the southwest areas, the figure went up 19 percent, from 54 to 64,” Haydu said.

The number of auto thefts in the city decreased 19 percent last year over the corresponding figure in 2007. In the southeast areas, the number dropped 18 percent while in the southwest area. The figure went up four percent.

Fewer vehicles were burglarized in 2008 compared to 2007. City wide, the figure decreased 12 percent while in the southwest areas, it dropped 21 percent.

Fire service personnel in the city were busier in 2008 compared to the previous year. While there were 709 fire-related calls last year compared to 530 in 2007, there were 1728 EMS calls in 2008. The corresponding figure in 2007 was 1103, deputy fire chief Larry Archacki said.

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Last year, about 450 volunteers turned up at Riverside Park, the Coral Springs site of the annual Broward Waterway Cleanup, one of the county’s largest environmental cleanup efforts.

This Saturday, site leader and Coral Springs commissioner Roy Gold is hoping to see even more.

“We consistently have the largest volunteer base out of all 32 sites. We get plenty of support from local businesses, as well,” Gold said. “We send people to about 60 sites with the city. By the end of the day, we have a 30-yard dumpster full of trash. The waterways are very important. We want them clean.”

The 32nd annual Broward Waterway Cleanup 2009 will be from 9 a.m. to noon on March 7 at Riverside Park, 205 Coral Ridge Drive. Call Rick Engle, Coral Springs parks and recreation director, at 954-345-2110.

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Coral Springs Vice Mayor Vince Boccard is pursuing an idea that could make life easier for young parents in the city, and he has daughter, Sophia, to thank for it.

Boccard was speaking from personal experience when he suggested, last year, the city bring in an ordinance to make baby-changing stations mandatory for new or newly-remodeled restaurants.

“I was with my wife and daughter at a brand new restaurant,” Boccard said. “We had to change our daughter’s diaper, but there was no changing station. I couldn't believe a brand new restaurant wouldn't have it. I had to change her in the hot car. I don’t want other parents to go through what we did.”

The Coral Springs Chamber is not too pleased with the proposal. “It would cost anything between $180 to $750 to install a baby changing station,” said Bruce Weinberg, chamber spokesman. “Now is not the time to introduce such an ordinance. It does not help small business owners in these difficult times. We need to cut costs. We need to find a way to attract new businesses."

The proposal will come up at a City Commission workshop this month.

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The Coral Square Mall will unveil its renovated look with a ribbon cutting “Book Blast!” and a host of free family activities at noon on March 7 in the east wing of the mall, in front of Dillard’s.

The opening ceremony will feature remarks by Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook, Simon Property Group management, and entertainment from the Taravella High School marching band and a local Girl Scout troop.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, shoppers can enjoy free activities, including giveaways, aquatic-themed arts and crafts, make-up stations for moms, hand massages in the new soft seating area and photo opportunities with Bearemy from Build-A-Bear Workshop. Face painters, balloon artists and a bounce house will be available. Attendees can also register for the “Av-Med Stress Free $1,000 Shopping Spree.”

The event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Renovations for Coral Square Mall began last June.

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A celebration for the new 126,376-square-foot elementary school “Z” in Parkland was held recently. The school, which will be formally named at a later date, is expected to hold 960 students.

The school will be the first one in the county to have a photovoltaic roof system, which collects solar energy as a source of electricity and will support the main electrical grid to offset Florida Power and Light demand charges. Special energy efficient transformers have also been included in the design.

“The ceremony marks a significant goal in the construction of Parkland’s third elementary school, which began in August of 2008,” said Sam Doggart, Skanska USA senior vice president, South Florida.

Visit www.browardschools.org.

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