Coral Springs Forum | Sun-Sentinel.com

Random tests by narcotic detection canines in local high schools, more public awareness through public safety announcements and addition of material on prescription drug abuse education in the GRADE program for schools, local media coverage - the Coral Springs police department is planning to pull out all stops to prevent the illegal use and distribution of prescription narcotics within the community.

Police Chief Duncan Foster recently told city officials his department had already stepped up enforcement efforts over the last few months. Since June, the department has made 14 arrests - 13 of them related to trafficking of prescription narcotics.

“We have been very busy since June,” Foster said. “Illegal prescription narcotics are some of the most abused drugs in the nation. We are dealing with a substance that is legal by itself. It is the use that makes it illegal. It is very hard to get off the pill; it really is an issue.”

As part of its enforcement efforts, the police department will gather intelligence on possible problem areas within the city, and advertise tip line for residents. It will also build relationships with local pharmacies and certify that they are complying with legal procedures that are in place to combat abuse of prescription narcotics.

“We have three officers doing narcotics enforcement; they work with federal agencies like the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force),” said Foster. “We intend to have parents who have lost their loved ones through illegal use of prescription drugs speak in local high schools; the issue will also be raised at the principal education committee meeting.”

“We also plan to organize two drug destruction day events in the community in the coming year where old and unused prescription drugs will be destroyed,” the police chief said. “Enforcement efforts to stop illegal distribution of prescription drugs will continue.”

Mayor Scott Brook said teens had too easy access to illegal drugs. “The city manager and I had a discussion with a federal officer recently on the issue. That led to a discussion of children misusing prescription drugs. It is important to get the word out to parents. They should be told not to leave pills in medicine cabinets. I am glad this is one of our initiatives.”

A Parkland spa owner, who recently saw her request to place a sign on her business being rejected by city officials, is now weighing the options before her.

“No business of this nature should have the extra burden of being without a sign,” Susan Richards said after the commission tabled her request. “I am looking at what my options are. I cannot conduct business the way I want to without a sign.”

“Being without a sign has affected my business significantly. I have consistently had people tell me that they didn’t know that we existed,” Richards said. “Word of mouth publicity is very important, but our industry relies heavily on visibility.”

Richards said she did not know why the commission rejected her request. “We are not asking for monument signs, and we are not asking for any code change. All I ask is for the signage plan to be updated for this one building. The sign plan for the building was created in 2002. The world changes in seven years. All I am asking for is to put up a sign, similar to what other business in Parkland have, above the door in front of the shop.”

Vice Mayor Mark Weissman, who represents people in the area, said residents do not want any more signage. ““It is my district. I represent 2,000 people and they don’t want that Fifth Avenue look at the entrance way to their homes. That’s not Parkland. There are more than enough signs on that building.”

The Coral Springs Sports Commission is now accepting applications for 2010 events funding.

The commission was established by the City Commission to identify, attract and retain quality sporting events, which will have a substantial positive economic impact on the community. A selection committee will review the applications and make recommendations to the Sports Commission, and the City Commission will make the final decision for events to be funded in November.

Sports Commission Event Funding applications may be obtained at the Tennis Center, 2575 Sportsplex Drive; City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road; City Hall in the Mall, at the Coral Square Mall; or at www.coralsprings.org.

For more information, call 954-344-1841. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m. Oct. 16.

Coral Springs has asked residents to become park moms, thereby helping the city ensure the safety and overall enjoyment of its parks.

Saundra Tanne initiated the program in 2007 with hopes of getting one volunteer mother, father or grandparent for each of the city’s 48 parks. The city is encouraging residents to join this effort as many parks are still awaiting a park mom.

Volunteers are required to visit a park twice a week and attend two meetings a year at the Coral Springs Gymnasium. While at a park, volunteers will scope the area for any apparent necessary repairs, graffiti or other issues. All volunteers will receive training on what to look for on playground equipment and toddler play areas.

To become a park mom, call 954-345-2200. Betti Stradling Park is at 10301 Wiles Road.

The Coral Springs Fire Academy is on its way to becoming a world-renowned facility.

Last year, six members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade trained at the facility. They plan to come back next year. Another batch of six brigade instructors will participate in a weeklong training in January 2010.

Deputy Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Errol Mowatt met with Fire Chief Mark Curran, City Manager Michael S. Levinson and Vice Mayor Vince Boccard recently to explore a partnership in the near future.

Since last year, the brigade instructors who trained at the Coral Springs facility have worked toward implementing some of the academy’s best practices, and Mowatt was excited about the positive attitude his instructors brought back to the island.

North Lauderdale Firefighter/Paramedic Owen Wallace, who graduated from the Coral Springs Fire Academy, wanted to bring some of the skills he learned back to Jamaica and was instrumental in creating this partnership. North Lauderdale and Margate have also provided training to the members of the brigade.

Coral Springs officials are excited to explore the possibility of a partnership. “The brigade is fairly young and it has reached a stage where they want to move the next level,” Chief Robert Bertone said. “Fire services traditionally help one another and it’s our responsibility to share our knowledge and learn from each other.”

The Coral Springs 2009 Fall Fun Guide, which has information on dance, etiquette, sport and special needs camps to swimming and tennis programs, is now available.

The Fall Fun Guide and applications are available at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive; City Hall in the Mall, Coral Square Mall; the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, Tennis Center of Coral Springs, 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 Fall Fun Guide, visit www.CoralSprings.org/fallfun. Call 954-345-2200.

The Coral Springs Police Department and the Broward Sheriff’s Office are investigating a kidnapping and shooting that occurred approximately at 5:40 p.m. on Sunday in the 11400 block of Lakeview Drive.

Coral Springs police responded to a report of a female in her early 20’s being forced into a vehicle. When police arrived, the victim and the suspect vehicle were no longer on scene.

At approximately 5:58 p.m., the Broward Sheriff’s Office received a call that a female was found shot in the 10100 block of Northwest 67th Street in Tamarac. The female that was found shot is the woman that was kidnapped in Coral Springs. The victim was air lifted to Broward General Medical Center in critical condition.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Randy Rosenberg of the Coral Springs Police Department at 954-346-1262 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

The Coral Springs Police Department is investigating the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy that occurred in the 1700 block of Nothwest 92nd Way at approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Matthew Gorzynski, 14, and William Gorzynski, 15, were having an argument over the sound of the speakers on the computer when it escalated into a physical altercation. William armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed his brother Matthew in the chest.

Matthew was air lifted to Broward General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:34 p.m. William was arrested and charged with second degree murder. He was later transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

“Although this is the second violent incident that we have had recently between teenagers, this appears to be a isolated domestic violence altercation and it is completely unrelated to any other incident,” said Police Chief Duncan Foster.

BJ’s Wholesale Club in Parkland is asking residents of Parkland and nearby cities to donate groceries for hunger relief.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the store wants Parkland, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, and Margate residents to collect non-perishable food items to help meet its nationwide goal of 25 tons of groceries. Groceries can be donated until Nov. 8. They should be placed in the “25-Ton Challenge” bins in front of the club at 5901 Hillsboro Blvd. in Parkland.

In turn, BJ’s Charitable Foundation will donate the financial equivalent of one million meals to local network partners of Feeding America’s Food Bank. In Broward, he collected food items will be donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank. A fire recently destroyed much of the food bank's stored food.

Contact Tricia Maddrey Baker at pbaker1@bjs.com or 954-249-7979.

Business owners in Coral Springs have generally given the city a high customer satisfaction rating but there are at least a few among them who feel the city’s sign code is adding to their woes, even as they try to cope with the ongoing recession.

Two business owners came to the City Commission meeting last week and complained of being warned by city code enforcement as they tried to promote their businesses. Unless the city toned down its rules on signage, businesses would continue to suffer, they said.

Aman Sappal, who has owned Sheridan Eye Care in the city since June 2008, said he was recently reprimanded for hiring a street advertiser to hold up a sign promoting his business. He said the city’s code was “draconian” and “antiquated” and sought a moratorium of six months on enforcing signage rules.

Susanne Wolfe, who owns Nordic Interiors in the city, said she was cited by code enforcement when she tried to draw customers in by putting a piece of furniture in front of her shop.

“My business is located on Wiles and University and you can’t see it because of the landscaping,” Wolfe said. “Business owners feel they are not being seen or heard. There are ways of having nice signs that are not tacky.”

While Mayor Scott Brook was in favor of finding out if another round of signage reforms or tweaking of existing laws were needed, other city officials and City Manager Mike Levinson said the city’s rules contributed much in making the city different from others. The city is planning to organize a meeting, in the next few weeks, to hear all sides of the issue.

Distraught over the recent stabbing death of a local teenager by his older brother, Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook made an emotionally-charged plea to other city officials to support his idea for a community forum to discuss teen violence in the community.

There wasn’t much support coming his way.

Brook wanted the city to organize a community forum or a town hall meeting “as soon as possible,” preferably in November. “Addressing mental health issues will be helpful to combat teen violence,’ he said.

“I want to see what we can do as a community to address the issue. We can invite students, leaders in the community and guidance counselors to the meeting. I spoke with Shawn Cerra, J.P. Taravella High School principal, and he would also like to do something,” the mayor added.

The city should “let some healing occur” before it did anything, said Commissioner Tom Powers. “This is a tragedy. Tragedies are first dealt with emotionally. We should let the emotional side of it to take its course. Let us let some healing occur. When we have data, let us see how we can address it. We have the potential to do more harm than good by not letting the healing take place.”

Commissioner Claudette Bruck said there wasn’t much city officials or the city could offer. “We are ill equipped to address the situation. Therapists have talents; we certainly do not. I have a hard time understanding what we have to offer in terms of telling parents how to look after their children.”

Brook is going ahead with his plans to talk to the community on teen violence and ways to address it. He has invited residents to come to his Coffee with the Mayor event from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Nov. 2 at Cafe Creme Brulee, 1263 University Drive.