Coral Springs Forum | Sun-Sentinel.com

Joseph Espinal thought he was doing the right thing when he moved into his Parkland home late in 2006. He still loves the neighborhood and his neighbors, but the father of two wants to move out as soon as he can.

Espinal is one of the many homeowners in Heron Bay whose life has been thrown off the rails due to the use of Chinese drywall in their houses. The drywall, imported during the building boom of 2002 to 2006, emits sulfur causing an unpleasant odor and corroding wiring and air-conditioning coils. People living in such houses have also complained of health problems like sinus infections, headaches and sore throats.

“I don’t want to stay here. This home is not worth anything to me,” Espinal told Mayor Michael Udine, who visited the community after hearing about the issue. “Two years of breathing this toxic air; I’ve had enough. If I have to live in a trailer, I will.”

It’s not just homeowners in Heron Bay that have been affected. Similar complaints have been pouring in from homes in Sable Point, Creekside and the Parkland Golf and Country Club. Many residents packed City Hall at a commission meeting last week to seek help.

City officials responded to the problem by forming a three-member task force that will report to them on the number of houses that have been affected by Chinese drywall.

Earlier, Udine joined residents in a trip to Tallahassee where they met with the offices of the governor and the attorney general.

Udine wants federal assistance for the affected residents. “This is a silent hurricane. No one knows what to do. It’s a nationwide issue. Things need to be done. They can’t wait 10 years for a class action lawsuit. There are serious health issues.”

The residents’ outcry seems to have the desired effect with Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) writing to Gov. Charlie Crist urging him to declare a state of emergency in Florida. If Crist obliges, it would help state and local officials in their attempt to get funding, from the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA), for repair of the affected homes.

The Covered Bridge, a home with a natural coral fence, the iron walking bridge, the fire academy. These are just a few things Coral Springs has to offer, and city officials are urging residents to explore them all.

The Coral Springs Experience, a program that grew out of an idea mooted by City Commissioner Roy Gold, is an attempt by the city to makes its residents aware of its riches.

Residents can take part in the program by visiting www.CSExperience.org to download the tour brochure or by obtaining one at City Hall in the Mall in Coral Square Mall. The brochure lists the number of locations a resident should visit in each category. Once participants have visited the required locales, they have to write a 200-word essay and submit three photos - one of them framed by the front doors of City Hall.

Gold is hoping the program will help residents build a strong sense of community. “It will also increase their knowledge of what is available in Coral Springs. It’s an opportunity to have a new civic engagement within the city. I think it will work for people of all ages.”

RuthAnn Gillooly, a cancer survivor, is expecting to see hundreds of people at the Coral Springs Relay for Life later this month.

“There is no one that has not been touched by cancer in some form or the other,” Gillooly said.

Gillooly said she knows there will be a good turn out for the event's 25th year.

Though they are looking for all types of participants, Gillooly said they are especially seeking cancer survivors. "We want to honor them at the event," she said. "We will celebrate their courage, remember those who we have lost, and fight back against the disease.”

Teresa Basilone, a Coral Springs resident and office manager at Silver Lakes Middle School, has not missed a Relay for Life event in the last six years. “It’s a wonderful event. Everyone has a good time for a great cause. I got involved after the disease affected a friend’s granddaughter. My husband has cancer now. I hope we will find a cure soon.”

Coral Springs' Relay for Life will be from 6 p.m. April 17 to 10 a.m. April 18 at Coral Springs High School, 7201 W. Sample Road. Visit www.relayforlife.org/coralspringsfl .

Coral Springs residents interested in seeking guidance in a complicated job market should attend the Coral Springs’ free Career Counseling Seminar from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 29 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, Room E, 2855 Coral Springs Drive.

The workshop is free to city residents, but interested participants must register in advance.

Ron Daratany, president and founder of DMR Global, Inc., will provide tips on how to create an impressive resume, how to handle an interview and more. Daratany is an executive career consultant and is recognized as an expert in the employment industry.

This is the latest in the list of initiatives the city has taken to help the community and small businesses. The city, together with the Economic Development Foundation, recently launched CSBizAssist.org to support local businesses and also kicked off the Buy Coral Springs campaign to encourage local spending with help from the Chamber of Commerce.

For information or to sign up, call 954-344-1148.

Sisterhood of Temple Beth Torah in Tamarac will have a Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon Sunday, April 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Parkland Golf & Country Club,
10001 Old Club Road.

The event will kick off with a boutique featuring vendors offering everything from jewelry, handbags and clothing to gifts and toys. A three-course lunch will be served at noon, followed by the fashion show. Fashions will be provided by Chico’s of Promenade of Coconut Creek and She’s The One, of Coral Springs. There will also be a raffle of a series of lavish gift baskets filled with items donated by local stores.

Tickets are $50 per person. Ten percent of each ticket will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Reservations should be made by April 10. Call 954-721-7660, ext. #110.

Coral Springs is encouraging residents to take part in two local mentoring programs – Take Stock in Children and 100 Black Men.

Take Stock in Children is a nonprofit organization that pairs low-income middle and high school students with caring adults who serve as guides. By mentoring them, these students will receive a college scholarship to a Florida state school. Mentors are asked to only donate 30 minutes a week.

The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. also offer a program called Mentoring the 100 Way, which addresses the social, emotional and cultural needs of children between the ages of 8 and 18. Participants will be trained and certified as mentors.

To find out more about these programs, stop by the west wing conference room at City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road, on Friday, May 15 at 11 a.m. Interested residents may also call Jenny Rebour at 954-346-1289.

If you are a Coral Springs resident, learn how to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle for you and your family by taking part in the Commit 2B Fit kickoff event on April 25 at Coral Springs High School, 7201 W. Sample Road.

Come out to the track field from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and enjoy fun-filled activities and music from Kiss FM. Raffle participants may win a bike, a gym membership, signed Panthers memorabilia and more.

Coral Springs residents are invited to bring their bicycles to register them with the city's police department. Members of the city’s bike unit will be handing out cycling safety information, as well as rewarding youth 16 and under "caught" wearing helmets with a free lunch to Chick-fil-A.

Commit 2B fit is a nonprofit organization offering youth education programs in elementary schools in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. City Commissioners recently proclaimed Coral Springs a Commit 2B Fit community, encouraging the entire family to get healthy through exercise and smart eating habits.

The event will be held in the Coral Springs High School gymnasium in case of inclement weather. For more information, call 954-344-1147 or visit www.icommit2bfit.com.

Did you know that if every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels with a 100 percent recycled roll, it could save 544,000 trees every year?

Coral Springs is giving residents an opportunity to bring green initiative ideas to an open forum discussion starting in May.

If you are a resident and have innovative ideas and are looking for a place to discuss environmental solutions with your neighbors, bring them to the city’s upcoming open forums sponsored and hosted by the Coral Springs Customer Involved Government Committee (CIGC). These forums will give Coral Springs’ residents and business owners a chance to discuss action strategies for developing more environmentally friendly habits.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.coralsprings.org/gogreen or call Toni Hawkins at 954-344-1148.

Coral Springs commissioners want city residents to lose those extra pounds.

City officials recently proclaimed Coral Springs a Commit 2B Fit community, encouraging the entire family to get healthy through exercise and smart eating habits. Close on the heels of that, the officials are now encouraging residents to join the national 50 Million Pound Challenge.

“The 50 Million Pound Challenge is one way that we can join together to be a healthy community,” Mayor Scott Brook said. “ I am imploring all community organizations to join our lead and challenge our citizens to lose weight and get fit.”

According to nationwide statistics, two out of every three adults are considered to be overweight or obese. Seventeen percent of all children in the U.S. are overweight. By joining this challenge for free, residents can commit to leading healthier lifestyles and update their weight loss progress online, record their daily activities, and view a list of healthier meals.

To sign up for the challenge, visit www.50millionpounds.com.

The Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital’s Camp Wild, for children from ages 6 to 12, will be held in June and July.

The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended hours available if needed. The cost is $200 a week or $180 for center members. The cost includes all activities, supplies and a T-shirt.

Children will have the opportunity to interact with many live animals, explore a wetland, do science experiments, gardening projects, nature crafts and participate in many hands on activities at the nature center and wildlife hospital located at Sportsplex Park in Coral Springs.

Call the Sawgrass Nature Center at 954-752-9453.

There are at least 137 families in Parkland who believe they have been affected by the Chinese drywall issue.

John Willis, member of the task force created by the city to look into the issue, informed city officials that 137 people had responded to the survey on the Web site that contains information on the issue. The task force will send letters to residents in the coming days to find out the actual number of people who have homes built using Chinese drywall.

The Web site created by the city includes links to various agencies that have been involved with the Chinese Drywall issue, letters from elected officials expressing their position and how they can assist with the problem, and frequently asked questions regarding Chinese drywall.

It can be accessed at www.cityofparkland.org. Contact the task force or Paul Wise at 954 753-5447.

Coral Springs and the city’s customer-involved government committee will honor three local volunteers in June for their committed efforts to enriching the city.

Volunteers and residents are encouraged to fill out a nomination form, available at www.coralsprings.org. The submission deadline is April 30. Volunteers will help the city bridge the gap by providing important services and programs that might not normally receive funding.

The Coral Springs Bridging the Gap awards will be presented to volunteers in the following categories: work with senior citizens, work with youth, and work with mentoring.

Call 954-344-1148.

The Coral Springs Police Department is offering free advanced self defense classes. Women, ages 13 and older, interested in developing the strength, mental focus, and physical skills to help them survive a criminal attack should attend the Rape Aggression Defense classes.

The RAD System is a national program that teaches women empowering skills to avoid becoming a target and to fend off an attacker. Through repetition and practice, this course promotes muscle memory, and helps women to train in a realistic environment so they learn to survive a struggle.

The RAD System is taught in four classes over the course of one month on either a weeknight or a Saturday. Each class is three hours, and the final class includes a physically active, hands-on scenario and graduation ceremony.

Class sessions are from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Northwest Regional Library, at the southeast corner of University Drive and Sample Road, 3151 N. University Drive.

While the course will be physically involved, no prior self defense training is necessary. Women must register in advance, and be able to attend each of the four sessions. The next sessions are scheduled to begin in June and September.

A release form must also be filled out and submitted prior to taking the first class. To download the course forms, visit www.coralsprings.org/police/safe.cfm. Call 954-346-1227 or e-mail pdjil@coralsprings.org.

Sawgrass Springs Middle School in Coral Springs has taken yet another step toward its goal of making environmentally-friendly activities part of its students’ daily lives.

The green team at the environmental science magnet school has implemented an initiative called “Green Days,” intended to teach environmental issues, not just to students interested in them, but campus-wide. The program, which began April 14, concludes May 8.

All the activities on a green day will be centered on major environmental issues impacting the nation, said JoAnn Cantlupe, environmental science magnet coordinator at the school. “We were already doing this on a smaller scale, but the green team, which is a collaborative group of teachers, wanted to offer the opportunity to all kids. The lessons are fun and hands on. All the activities have an environmental message.”

The school is a pilot for the school district’s “Go Green” initiative, Cantlupe said. “The school board has entered into a partnership with the Broward county environmental protection department; they are looking at how they can use the open green spaces left in school campuses to create habitat spaces. In October last year, 100 native trees were planted on our campus. Our school was selected as we already have so many gardens.”

Coral Springs is looking for ways to go more green.

The city now wants to hear from residents and businesses about what they have been doing to protect the environment. The green study circle that the Customer Involved Government Committee (CIGC) has formed will meet in May to seek inputs from the community on environmentally friendly habits.

Lorraine Campbell, chairperson of the CIGC green sub-committee, is hoping to get enthusiastic support from the community. “This is not just for residents and businesses; it is also for people who work within the city. We need everyone to work together to create a much more greener environment for our children and grandchildren.”

“We are in partnership with boys scouts and girl scouts in Coral Springs,” Campbell said. “High school students taking part in the study circle will get community service hours. This is a chance for residents to impact the city they live in. You don’t get such an opportunity everywhere.”

About 50 residents have signed up to take part in the study circle, said Pat Mirabello, who is helping to organize the meetings. “We would like to have more. We want their input on what they think is important. We will first have small groups meet and then have one large session to prioritize the ideas that come up at the meetings. We will then present the top three to five ideas to the City Commission.”

For 15 months since she sustained a severe traumatic brain injury while driving a car in September 2007, Alicia Fallon remained in coma, oblivious to the world around her.

Doctors told Donna Fallon her daughter would remain in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. “They told me that I should put her in a nursing home. How could I do that? I lived with her in the hospital for 10 months. I kept hoping and praying,” she said.

Over the last three months, Alicia has defied her original prognosis, giving her mother, as well as the rest of her family and friends, reasons to believe a miracle might be down the road. She cannot talk or walk, but the former Coral Springs High School student can use head movements to respond to questions.

On May 3, the Fabulons will lend Donna a helping hand in her quest to raise money for Alicia’s treatment and therapies. The fundraiser, to benefit the Alicia Fallon T.B.I. (Traumatic Brain Injury) Fund, will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Coral Springs High School auditorium.

“I take her for eye therapy two times a week,” Donna said. “She also has speech occupational therapy and physical therapy three days a week. She needs hyperbaric oxygen therapy now. It helps blood flow through the brain. It’s expensive. She will need 40 sessions."

Tickets are $10 per person and will be on sale at the Coral Springs High School auditorium’s box office. Tickets can also be purchased at Laspada’s Original Hoagies, 7893 W. Sample Road. Contributions can be made to the Alicia Fallon T.B.I. Fund by visiting www.aliciafallontbifund.com or at any Bank of America location. Contact Donna Fallon at 954-205-9981.

Al Hendrickson Sr. of Al Hendrickson Toyota has won the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce’s coveted Covered Bridge award.

The award was presented at the chamber’s 2009 Coral Springs awards luncheon April 24. The event was presented by Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center. Forum Publishing Group was one of the three platinum sponsors, the others being Al Hendrickson Toyota and Enterprise Coral Springs Partners. The gold sponsors were the city of Coral Springs, Walmart, and Lawrence of Florida Entertainment and Events.

Connie Carberg of Al Hendrickson Toyota won the Corporate Chamber Leader award while Ron Daratany of DMR Global was selected for the Small Business Leader award. The Rookie Small Business Leader award went to Eric Johnson of Century Badge and Engraving.

Travis Nelson of Coral Springs High School, Syed Raza of Coral Glades High School, Steven Learner of Coral Springs Charter School, Lindsay Wuest of Taravella High School, and Scott Schwartz of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School won the Bridge to Leadership awards.

The cultural and ethnic diversity of Coral Springs will be on display at the Sportsplex this Saturday at the third annual WorldFest, a festival that is expected to feature a rich variety of entertainment, cuisine and culture.

Former City Commissioner Ted Mena, who heads the festival organizing committee, is hoping for a large turnout. “Normally, we get about 5,000 to 6,000 people. This year, we are hoping to have more.”

“We have an array of entertainers,” Mena said. “It’s a family event, with something in it for everybody. There will be live music, arts and crafts, educational activities, and activities for children. Coral Springs has a diverse population and we want to showcase it.”

The event will feature an hour-long Paso Fino horse exhibition at 1 p.m. “It’s the first time we are having something like that. I’m sure people are going to love what they see.”

Worldfest will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 2 at the Sportsplex, 2575 Sportsplex Drive. Admission is free, but there will be a parking fee of $3 per car. Call Joyce Campos at 954-344-1005.

Is Coral Springs’ sign code a little too strict?

George Chandras, a resident who owns a mobile advertising business, believes it is. Chandras appeared before city officials last week to complain that one of his vehicles had been unfairly pulled over by city staff for violating the sign code. That, he said, amounted to infringing upon his “inherent legal right” to operate vehicles on state roads.

“We understand code and the city’s perspective,” said Chandras, owner of FlexAdz. “But we want to offer our services to businesses in Coral Springs. Our vehicles keep moving. It won’t be an eyesore.”

“We want to operate like any other normal business. We feel discriminated against,” the Coral Springs resident said. “Bus lines and taxi cabs carry ads for other entities. They are not restricted. We are not breaking any traffic law. It’s a legal business. In Broward, there are four companies operating six or seven such trucks.”

Mayor Scott Brook wanted the commission to discuss the issue at a workshop. “What you are asking for is a law change,” he told Chandras. “We are in a different economy than we were two years ago. We are committed to small businesses, but we have a strong sign code.”

Coral Springs will soon have another park.

The city will have the ribbon cutting ceremony at at 5:15 p.m. May 19 at Whispering Woods Park.

The park includes two walking/jogging paths, one of which meets the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act and another that’s made from a softer material ideal for joggers and runners. There is a fitness playground and exercise equipment inside the park, allowing parents and children to exercise together. Residents can also make use of two pavilions, one of which will be used as an interpretive learning classroom.

The 10 acres of land was initially slated for commercial development, but the city, with assistance from Whispering Woods Homeowners Association, went about preserving the land.

Visit www.coralsprings.org/parks or call 954-345-2200.

The Broward County Property Appraiser's Office will organize a series of community outreach events throughout the county in May, including two in Coral Springs.

The first meeting in Coral Springs will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 13 at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive in Coral Springs. The second one will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on May 28 at Sartory Hall, 10000 NW 29 St.

Deputy appraisers will assist with homestead, senior and other property tax exemption applications, as well as answer questions on property taxes. Applications for portability will also be accepted. All outreach events are open to the public.

Documents required to file a homestead exemption include a current Florida driver's license or Florida identification card, and a current voter registration card or declaration of domicile. Non-US citizens must also provide proof of permanent residency.

Qualified residents 65 years of age or older as of Jan. 1, 2009 can apply for the additional senior exemption.

The theme of Parkland Library’s summer reading program this year is Be Creative.

The theme will involve reading, art and music. Children, teens and adults will have an opportunity to read books and to earn prizes. Each registered participant will receive a reading log and a goody bag.

Participants will be required to record the books they read. When the logs are submitted to the library, prizes from various treasure boxes will be awarded. The summer schedule will feature programs that include an interactive rock and roll puppet concert, a literary tea with an author, and dress up themes of pirates and princesses.

Older kids can participate in the Creative Kids program which will involve books along with arts and crafts. The summer will end with an end of summer ice cream social that will be held in a music room, in an art room and in a create-your-own-ice-cream-sundae room.

Teens will have an opportunity to enter their reading logs for a grand prize drawing. Adults will have the opportunity to complete the program with a popular event called Best-Summer-Book Brunch, when each participant will discuss a favorite book of the summer.

Call the library at 954 757-4200 or visit the library for dates.