Coral Springs Forum | Sun-Sentinel.com

Coral Springs officials, spurred into action by a group of high school students who are discussing possible ways to stop texting while driving, are contemplating bringing in an ordinance to deal with the issue.

Mayor Scott Brook said he would like the city to do something by January as the state laws may not pass until July. “[An ordinance] might help the movement [for a ban on texting while driving] across the state. I had brought up this issue a year ago. I am hopeful that we will have support.”

Earlier, Laura Glicksman, a member of the city’s high school student advisory committee, informed city officials the group wanted to create awareness among people in the community about the dangers of texting.

“Texting while driving is a great concern among many people in the community," Glicksman said. “It is one of the main reasons for accidents. People aren’t aware how dangerous it is. Teens do it more than anyone else. We want to focus on them. We have plans to have presentations on the subject at all the high schools in the city.”

Nedra Lyons, city parks and recreation coordinator, said the students on the committee had discussed doing something similar to Hands Across America to focus attention on the issue. “They talked about doing it around Coral Springs, but that was not feasible. They want to do something like that in high schools.”

Parkland recently passed an ordinance banning texting while driving within the city. Broward Sheriff's Office, however, can only warn erring drivers because the city is yet to get the Attorney General’s opinion on the issue.

The Coral Springs Police Department is investigating hateful symbols and words that where spray painted on a Jewish Community Center wall.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. Monday, police were called to the Soref Jewish Community Center, 5601 Coral Ridge Drive, in reference to vandalism that occurred overnight. The vandalism consists of Swastika symbols and hateful words directed against the Jewish faith.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or detective Edward DeRosa of the Coral Springs Police Department at 954-346-1214.

The reward for the arrest of the individual responsible for vandalizing the Soref Jewish Center in Coral Springs with Swastika symbols and hateful words directed against the Jewish faith has gone up to $2,500.

The Anti Defamation League is offering $1,000, Coral Springs Police Department is offering $500 and Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for the arrest of the suspect.

The anti-semitic messages were found by authorities Monday. The center is at 5601 Coral Ridge Drive.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or Det. Edward DeRosa of the Coral Springs Police Department at 954-346-1214.

Want a better insight into the life of Haitians in the community and their contributions to South Florida?

At 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Cypress Hall in Cypress Hammock Park, Tekla Nicholas will present The Haitains Among Us, a program based on her experiences with the Haitians residing in the region. The event is organized as part of the monthly general membership meeting of the Coral Springs Woman's Club.

Nicholas is a published author on this topic and volunteers within the Haitian community. She is presently an adjunct professor at Florida International University, where she teaches anthropology and is completing her doctorate.

This program is open to all women in the community. Call Dee at 954-968-8567 or e-mail deesachar@bellsouth.net. Cypress Hammock Park is at 1300 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs.

The League of Women Voters of Broward County is organizing a discussion on the the realities of Health Care Reform. The event will be at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, at Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive in Coral Springs. Registration and coffee will begin at noon.

Speakers include Dr. Arthur Palamara, a noted vascular surgeon and past president of the Broward County Medical Association; Jack McRay, advocacy manager for state and federal policy for Florida AARP, and Charlotte Mather, vice president for government relations, and community affairs for Broward Health/Coral Springs Medical Center.

The speakers will discuss the current legislation and the effects of passage on doctors, hospitals, and the general population. Refreshments will be provided by The Lenox on the Lake, Assisted Living and Memory Care Residence.

Call 954-341-9221 or e-mail cssmith@att.net.

Rabbi Mitch Feld has a simple reason for supporting Harvest Drive, a community driven fight against hunger going on in the county.

“Food is a basic right. I believe hunger anywhere in the community is unacceptable,” Feld said. “I have food on the table. I have food in my fridge. I am lucky, but there are so many people out there who are not. I am glad there are people willing to help them.”

For 17 years, Harvest Drive has helped make Thanksgiving a memorable time for families in need in Broward. The goal this year is to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner and a week’s worth of groceries, new or gently used clothing, books, shoes and toys to 1,000 families who need a helping hand.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland is one of the six distribution sites in the county; the others are Western High School in Davie, Glades Middle School in Miramar, Plantation High School in Plantation, South Broward High in Hollywood, and Pompano High School in Pompano Beach. From 6 top 9 p.m. on Nov. 18, individuals, schools and businesses can drop off items at the school.

The Parkland site fed 76 families last year, said Jodi Samson, who is one of the chief organizers of the event. “Out goal this year is 125 families. School social workers select families who will be given food and other items. Almost all the schools in Parkland and Coral Springs are donating good and other items. Most of the packing and sorting are done by students.”

The highlight of this year’s event will be the community night on Nov. 18, said Liliana Pardo, chief worker bee for the Parkland site. “We are having that for the first time. People, groups, or businesses wishing to donate can drop off items at the school. All the items will benefit needy people in the community.”

To volunteer, make a donation or for information, call Liliana Pardo at 954-536-6294 or Jodi Samson at 954-605-2914. Visit www.harvestdriveflorida.com.

Coral Springs is moving ahead with its plans for a community garden at the Sportsplex in the heart of the city, with the promise of more if the pilot project is a success.

The idea has generated plenty of interest among residents, said Rick Engle, Coral Springs Parks and Recreation director. “The idea first came up at a meeting of the city’s neighborhood and environmental committee," he said. "The city will provide land and whatever support is needed. The project will be run by residents. We would like to get started by January.”

The plan is to start with 20 plots, said Louis Goldstein, superintendent for Coral Springs parks. “We are thinking of six by 10 meter plots that can be leased out for a year for a small fee. We have a lot of space; we can have more than 100 plots if people are interested. What we have heard from residents at the meetings is that they want a green sustainable garden. If the pilot is successful, we will expand it to some neighboring parks as well.”

The Rotary Club of Coral Springs is interested in running the garden, said Howard Ehrlich, club member and avid gardener. “Club members voted on the proposal recently; we are very excited. It’s a community garden; it fits the goal of the goal of the rotary. We will get involved in fundraising, if necessary. We will have a plot in the garden as well.”

Whole Foods Market in the city has also expressed support for the garden. “We will be donating organic seeds and other materials for the garden,” said Jonny Rose. “We look forward to being a sponsor. Supporting the community is one of our core values; we have many team members who want to be a part of the project.”

The next meeting to discuss the garden will be at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Sawgrass Nature Center, 3000 Sportsplex Drive.

Coral Springs, which received $3.8 million under phase one of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, expects to get additional funding under phase two of the program in December.

Under the second phase of the program, the department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated $1.93 billion on a competitive basis to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. If its application is approved, the city will get $8.5 million. The money will be used, as in phase one of the program, to provide low and middle income families assistance for purchase and repair of foreclosed single family homes and condos.

Vice Mayor Claudette Bruck believes the city stands a good chance of getting the money.
“We anticipate getting additional dollars down the road, much more than what we have now,” Bruck said.

“It’s not a definite, but it is looking very good. Right now, our focus is on phase one of the program. We may receive additional funding in December,” Bruck said recently.

Shekeria Brown, CRA community and economic development manager, said five applicants had purchased properties in Coral Springs as part of the NSP program. “We issued notices of eligibility to 61 applicants. There are five scheduled closings. Program activity increased with the federal government making changes to the program at the end of June.”

“Twenty-five percent of the city’s funding should go to people in the very low income and low income category,” Brown said. “We are assessing the program and will see if changes are needed. The maximum rehab assistance amount for low income applicants is $50,000. They get a maximum of $50,000 for purchase as well.”

Brown did not rule out the possibility of reopening phase one of the program. “We plan to assist 40 homebuyers; we may not be able to find them. In some cities, we have had to reopen the program just to get more applicants.”

With 66 percent of businesses in Coral Springs expressing dissatisfaction with the city’s current signage code, Coral Springs officials are veering toward allowing more monuments signs and temporary signs. The commission is also in favor of allowing names of businesses on monument signs.

At a public forum on the city’s land development code held last week, business owners and residents spoke about the pros and cons of allowing more signs in the city. After hearing from the public, City Manager Mike Levinson said the changes approved by the City Commission would be in effect by February.

Although not everyone on the commission is sold on the idea of allowing more temporary signs, there was consensus on allowing more monument signs. Currently, monument signs are only allowed in shopping centers that are spread over at least 3.5 acres. Coral Springs Mayor Brook said he was in favor of bringing the size specification down to two acres.

“We made changes to our signage code in 2005. Since then, no one has come forward to say it was too drastic,” said Brook. “We should do what we can as soon as we can…I think temporary signs are big; they will give the “Buy Coral Springs” campaign greater identity and visibility.”

George Rahael, founder and CEO of Amera Corporation, said the city should find a way to give smaller tenants in buildings visibility. “Monument signs only help major businesses. Smaller tenants who are not visible are challenged. The city should think of allowing these businesses to have banners along the main street. The banners should have a common design and should be tastefully done.”

Signs are not going to cure all the ills of businesses, Vice Mayor Claudette Bruck said. “We have to educate property owners and businesses on signage opportunities that are already available. I like the idea of having names of businesses on monument signs.”

Commissioner Roy Gold said he did not want to see names of more than six businesses on monument signs. “I am concerned about the enforcement difficulties for our code officers if we allow temporary signage," he added.

Debbie Berger’s classroom at Riverside Elementary in Coral Springs was noisier than usual, but no one was complaining.

Berger and her students in the fourth grade gifted class were celebrating the return of “Flat Stanley,” the character in Jeff Brown’s book who had been sent by the students to different parts of the country and even beyond. Excitement was thick in the air. There were smiles all around.

Even as the students eagerly opened individual packets that would tell them about the experiences that their “Flat Stanley” had, Berger explained how the literacy and community building project works.

“We read the book. It is about a young boy called Stanley Lambchop who becomes as flat as a pancake when a bulletin board falls on him,” Berger said. “Flat Stanley can slip under doors and travel in envelopes. I thought doing this project would help the kids. It is fun, and they also learn about other places and different cultures.”

Chelsey Gerena sent the fictional character to her grandmother in Michigan. “My grandma took him to work. He worked on her laptop; grandma also took him to the pumpkin patch,” she said.

Seth Horowitz’s Flat Stanley traveled to Plain City in Ohio. “He went fishing with my uncle and also drove his air plane; my uncle has a four-seater. He also operated on somebody as my uncle is a doctor.”