Coral Springs' three-pronged financial strategy to deal with its budget deficit was largely welcomed by city residents but the adoption of the property tax rolled-back rate and the subsequent 16 percent increase in the operating millage rate decision did not go down well with a few.

George Rahael, founder and CEO of Amera Companies, wondered if homeowners and business owners would be able to afford the tax increase. “There are people out there hurting; there are people out there who have lost jobs. The tax increase will affect residents who have been here for a long time. For some, it will be an increase of $90; for some, it will be more.”

This may pose additional hardships to some people,” he said.

“Businesses will be affected too,’ Rahael said. “We have lost quite a few businesses; many can’t even pay rent. A 16 percent added tax on businesses might cause additional hardships.”

Dave Hulett, resident, sought the enhancement of community policing activities in the city and supported the city’s decision to adopt the property tax rolled-back rate. “We are talking about $90; that would be about $7.50 per month. You don’t even get a meal at Wendy’s for that. I live in Coral Springs because of the quality of life. We can’t let that deteriorate.”

Coral Springs plans to adopt a property tax rolled-back rate that will allow it to collect the same property tax revenue next fiscal year as the current one, freeze wages of all city employees for a year, and strategically deploy $14 million of reserve funds over the next three years.

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Sawgrass Springs Middle School, 12500 W. Sample Road in Coral Springs, will be open for new student registration for the 2009 - 2010 school year, beginning in July.

The school will be open for registration, from 8 a.m. to noon, and from 2 to 4 p.m., from July 29 through Aug. 14. The school will be closed July 31, Aug. 7, and Aug. 14. Registration will be open from Aug. 17 through Aug. 21 as well. The timings are from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 1 to 3 p.m.

Parents are advised to call the Broward County Schools office of pupil placement at 754-321- 3035 to validate the proper school to attend. Registration requirements can be found at www.browardschools.com by clicking on the parent Information link and opening the “How to register” link. The information is also available on the school website, www.ssms.org, by clicking on the Guidance link and then registration requirements.

The school year for students begins Aug. 24. Call the school at 754-322-4500.

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Rescued a dog? It's time to be rewarded.

To promote animal rescue, Whole Foods Market of Coral Springs is offering anyone who adopts a dog from an animal shelter a complimentary “Rescue Me Doggy Bag” full of pet products. The offer will stand till supplies last.

Each bag includes an organic cotton dog collar, one-pound bag of wild salmon dog food, sample sizes of dog treats, herbal pet shampoo and herbal healing salve in addition to a $5 coupon valid towards the $25 purchase of any pet products available at the store, 810 University Drive.

Customers should show written proof of dog adoption dated June 15, 2009 or later to the store’s customer service desk to redeem their free gift. There is a limit of one Rescue Me Doggy Bag per household.

Contact Jonny Rose at jonny.rose@wholefoods.com or call 954-753-8000 ext. 241.

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

The first event in Coral Springs will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 8 at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive in Coral Springs. The second one will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Sartory Hall, 10000 NW 29th St. in Coral Springs.

Deputy Appraisers will be available to assist with homestead, senior and other property tax exemption applications, as well as answer questions on property taxes. Applications for portability will be accepted too. 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 additional senior exemption. Eligible seniors must have a total household adjusted gross income not to exceed $25,873. Documents required for senior exemption include a 2008 income tax return or, if one does not file income taxes, a copy of the 2008 Social Security 1099 Form.

Contact community outreach coordinator Kelly Brown at 954-35706035 or by e-mail at kbrown@bcpa.net.

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Daniel Stern, who has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheel chair, thought the worst was behind him after he had scoliosis surgery in November last year.

After a month spent in the intensive care unit, Stern came back home and began working hard to make up for the days he had missed at school. He was getting back on track when fate threw him another wicked curveball.

There is unmistakable pride in Gloria Stern’s voice as she talks about her son’s never-say-die attitude. “He was doing well when on Feb. 8, his lungs suddenly collapsed. We rushed him to the Coral Springs Medical Center from where he was taken to Broward General Medical Center. He was there for nearly two months. But not once did I hear him complain. My son is a fighter.”

On June 1, Stern received a standing ovation as he graduated, among friends and other students at J.P. Taravella High School. “That will be one of the enduring memories of my life,” Gloria said. “To miss so many months of school and still be an honor student is amazing. The applause that he received made me realize just how popular my son is among his peers.”

Stern is busy these days getting ready to move to Tallahassee where he will attend Florida State University. “I will miss my family and friends. The whole lifestyle will be different, but I am excited. I will be taking political science as my major. As for the future, I haven’t focused yet on what I want to do.”

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs have been recognized by Newsweek magazine among the top high schools in the nation for the second year in a row.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High is ranked the highest among the high schools in Broward. The school is ranked 38th in Florida and 208th among schools in the nation. J.P. Taravella High was ranked 108th in the state and 861th in the country. Of the 133 high schools recognized in the state, ten are Broward county public schools. One charter high school in the county also made it to the list.

Both schools are ranked lower than they were last year. While the Parkland school has seen its ranking come down 68 spots, Taravella High slipped down the list more than 180 spots, having been ranked 673 last year. This year’s list is based on data from the 2007/08 school year.

Newsweek came up with rankings after adding up the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests taken by students at a school and dividing it by the number of seniors graduating the same year. All of the schools on the list are in the top six percent of public schools in the country.

Shawn Cerra, J.P. Taravella High School principal, said he was proud of the school’s achievement. “This is the second consecutive year that we have been ranked among the best. We have great staff, wonderful students and we get tremendous amount of support from the community. When that happens, you get results. Being on the list helps with how we are perceived by the general public.”

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If you are a Coral Springs resident and were worried about service cuts, here is the good news -all the services you enjoy today will be there next fiscal year as well.

At a financial strategy forum organized by the city Tuesday evening, city staff presented a three-pronged approach to cutting the $10.5 million budget deficit while retaining services at the current level. The city will cut the deficit through a one-year wage freeze for all city employees, strategic deployment of $14 million of reserve funds over the next three years, and the adoption of a rolled-back property tax rate .

Adopting the property tax rolled-back rate will allow the city to collect the same property tax revenue next fiscal year as this fiscal year; the operating millage will be back to roughly the 2007 rate. Many residents will however actually pay less than in the previous year because their property values will have decreased. Even by adopting the rolled-back rate, which will result in a 16 percent increase in the operating millage rate, the city will still have the lowest operating millage rate among surrounding municipalities with greater than 70,000 residents.

“The city took this good faith preventive measure to maintain municipal service levels for our customers during these trying times. A long-term view has always been at the core of the city’s financial planning process. We are acting today to ensure continued financial viability, helping us to sustain high levels of service to our community well into the future,” City Manager Mike Levinson said.

The city will hold its first business planning workshop on June 23, and a second business planning workshop on July 28. These will be followed by two public budget hearings on Sept. 14 and Sept. 21. Visit www.coralsprings.org for more information.

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Christopher Pilotte thought his dream of becoming a homeowner was on the verge of fruition when he got a letter saying he had been approved for Coral Springs’ neighborhood stabilization program.

After putting offers on four foreclosed homes and seeing all of them go to investors who have reappeared on the scene in the last few months, he is not so sure.

“I saw one single-family home between Riverside and Woodside Drive. The asking price was $89,000,” Pilotte said. “I offered $110,000. I thought I had a good shot at it. Two days later, my real estate agent tells me the house has been sold.”

Coral Springs received $3,378,142 from the union department of housing and urban development (HUD) for purchase and rehabilitation of foreclosed and abandoned properties. The program is being implemented in areas that fall within the 33065 zip code as the area has the maximum number of foreclosed homes. The deadline for completion of the program is September 2010.

“I qualified for full assistance. I will get $25,000 for purchase of the house and $25,000 for repairs,” Pilotte said. “I’ve been looking at homes just about every day. I would love to get a single family home, but a town home would also be good.”

Pilotte is not the only one facing such a situation. Coral Springs, through Community Redevelopment Associates of Florida Inc. (CRA), has identified 51 prospective homeowners who would get financial assistance as part of the program; none of them have been successful in closing a home.

“We have 51 applicants that are actively looking for homes,” said Susan Hess, Coral Springs director of community development. “Some of them have found houses they like, but the next thing they know, the house has been sold. We hope to help 60 families as part of the program.”

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As part of Coral Springs' Buy Coral Springs initiative, the city is encouraging local businesses to be part of a citywide retail sidewalk sale on June 27.

Businesses do not have to be participating retailers in the Buy Coral Springs program to take advantage of this opportunity. Retailers who do not wish to be part of the sidewalk sale can still offer residents special discounts inside the store on the day.

Interested businesses should sign up by visiting www.buycs.org and filling out a brief form. The list of participants and their discounts offered will then be available on the web site for shoppers to see in advance of the event. Registration deadline is June 26 by noon. Businesses must continue to comply with the city’s codes and sign ordinances during this special event.

Buy Coral Springs, which is Mayor Scott Brook's brainchild, 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.

Local businesses interested in offering discounts on an ongoing basis can still sign up by visiting www.buycs.org and clicking on “Register Your Business.” Once registered, participating retailers can also download 'Buy Coral Springs' materials that will help them get started in the program.

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If you think the lack of activity until now is a sure sign of a smooth hurricane season, think again.

“People are commenting about the lack of activity,” said Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV hurricane specialist and former director of the National Hurricane Center at the Coral Springs hurricane expo organized last weekend. “Don’t get too comfortable with that. In 2004; we didn’t get our first hurricane until August. Hurricane Katrina happened on Aug. 27, 2005.”

“Peak of the hurricane season is mid August to end of October,” Mayfield said. “That is when we have most of the activity. We have got plenty of time to prepare but we cannot afford to wait till the last minute to get prepared.”

“We are lucky in Broward and Miami Dade that the building codes are as good as they are,” Mayfield said. “The building really makes a difference. If it is a well-built home, you should be fine. Coral Springs is a low-risk area but it would still be a good idea to have flood insurance.”

The event, organized by Coral Springs and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attracted a sizable crowd from the city and surrounding areas. The exhibits at the expo included the Red Cross, CERT, and the Broward county health department.

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Coral Springs officials and staff want input from residents as they go about trying to maintain service levels even as the current economic recession continues to take its toll on local bodies. .

The city will hold a public "financial strategy forum" and special meeting at 6:30 p.m.on Tuesday, June 16, at Parkside Elementary School, 10257 NW 29th Street. The forum, which replaces the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting, will give residents a chance to provide input that will be taken into account as the city prepares its budget for fiscal year 2010.

This is the first year that the city is having such an event. Like most other cities, Coral Springs normally organizes two business planning workshops in June and July and two public budget hearings in September.

“The city is developing a financial strategy to counter the impact of this recession on our business plan and budgets for the next fiscal year. Our main objective is to preserve service levels throughout our community during the remainder of this recession while ensuring continued long-term financial solvency for the benefit of our residents and businesses,” Mayor Scott J. Brook said.

Recent data from the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office about 2009 home sales and title transfers to date—including a record number of local foreclosures and short sales—indicate the slump in real estate values will continue this year and will also contribute to a significant additional tax roll decline next year.

Following the event on June 16, the city will hold its first business planning workshop on Tuesday, June 23. The second one will be held July 21. These will be followed by two public budget hearings in Sept.

Residents can visit www.coralsprings.org for more details.

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Coral Springs police officer Paul Kempinski is recovering well from multiple surgeries he had after being shot multiple times by a robber with an assault rifle, but the incident has left its scars, and not just on the officer’s body.

Kempinski is the first Coral Springs police officer to be shot and wounded by a suspect; residents and city officials nurse the fear he might not be the last. At a recent City Commission meeting, city officials and residents talked about growing crime in South Florida and the key role played by the Broward Sheriff’s Office in ensuring public safety in the county.

Brian Walsh, who recently had a fundraiser for Kempinski, said the response from Broward Sheriff's Office when Kempinski was shot was “unbelievable.” “Paul was shot four times. We are so very fortunate to have him around now....If we don’t have [Broward Sheriff's Office], who will we call on? The City Commission should send a letter thanking the County Commission."

With the Broward County Commission asking Broward Sheriff's Office to cut its budget, there is concern that public safety in cities within the county could be compromised. The city should send a letter to the county asking them not to cut back on public safety, said Vice Mayor Vince Boccard.

"In times when the economy is down, crime goes up, and this is not the time to cut the budget on public safety. We need outside agencies to help us in times of need. Every city in Broward needs [Broward Sheriff's Office],” Boccard said.

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Coral Springs is on Facebook.

After receiving parameters in an opinion from State Attorney General Bill McCollum, the city launched a Facebook page on Monday. Staff will post press releases, events, photos, and general information about city business on the page daily.

The primary objective of the page is to provide information and real-time updates about the city. Posts will be allowed for a trial period for 30 days. The city will rely on Facebook’s content policy as it applies to user comments.

Mayor Scott Brook, whose idea it is, hopes residents will react positively. "I hope we get tremendous feedback from our citizens and really elevate the interaction between us to help us do business that much more efficiently. I’m very excited about the opportunity to engage with citizens, especially our young people, through this method. I think we’ll be able to build on the 25 other modes of communication that we currently have with citizens, and this additional tool will help us greatly.”

To view the page, users must have a Facebook account and search for “City of Coral Springs.” Once the page has been accessed and a friend request submitted, users will receive updates and wall feeds from the city.

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One Planet United will observe national Flag Day with an event in Coral Springs that will discuss the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the qualities that make the United States the country that it is.

What makes America, America is part of the organization’s “dialogue in diversity” series. Speakers at the event are expected to talk about how important it is to respect the rights, individuals and minorities.

Frank Shooster, civil rights lawyer and business executive, is looking forward to what he hopes is a lively interaction between the speakers and the audience. “Diversity is one of our great strengths,” said Shooster, who is also executive director for Global Impact Volunteer Expeditions (GIVE), an organization dedicated to helping children living in poverty.

“America is the ultimate melting pot; this is a nation where ethnicity and heritage don’t matter. It is significant that the meeting is to be held in Broward [since] there are more minorities in the county than there is a majority,” Shooster said.

Everyone benefits from diversity, said Laura Finley, of the Center for Living and Teaching Peace. “When we are with people who are different from us, we tend to learn from them. It is great to live in a diverse community. Among the things we will talk at the meeting is how we can balance our personal freedom with the collective good of society,” Finley said.

The dialogue in diversity series has been going on for three years now, said Piero Falci, One Planet United program director. “We discuss various topics that are important to everyone. People like the fact that there is an opportunity to listen to issues that are important for the community.”

The event will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m. June 14 at Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive in Coral Springs. Admission is free. Visit www.opunited.org or e-mail piero@opunited.org.

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Coral Springs is set to implement a two-year pilot program that will reduce cost of grand-opening ground signs and give new businesses a chance to have the signs up for a longer period of time.

According to the decision made at a recent City Commission meeting, new businesses will also be allowed to put up grand opening signs, for a maximum period of 30 days, at any time until six months of obtaining a license. Earlier, the window of opportunity for businesses was 60 days.

The city decided on implementing the program by itself after the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce sought a reduction in costs from the $1,290 each that new businesses had to pay for putting up a grand-opening sign. The program will reduce the cost to $800 for 14 days, $1,000 for 21 days and $1,200 for 30 days.

Under the new arrangement, businesses will contact the city’s community development department. The department will then work with the city’s communication division for the design and production of the signs. Public works will install the signs and remove them. The signs will be put up within seven days from approval.

Bruce Weinberg, Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce co-chair of government affairs, said the chamber approved the city’s decision. “We are very much in favor. The fee schedule is very fair and will also help the city recover its costs.”

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The First United Methodist Church of Coral Springs is looking for vendors to participate in its mission team craft fair. The church’s 35th annual event will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 24. The church is at 8650 W. Sample Road in Coral Springs.

The mission team is seeking vendors for candles, woodworking, quilts, and other handcrafted items. The products should be handmade and not commercially mass produced. Booths will be located on the grounds as well as inside church buildings.

Space fees vary according to location. Net proceeds are used to support charitable organizations and causes in Broward County and for several efforts overseas. Call Cheryl Price at 954/752-0333 or e-mail craftfair09@msn.com.

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Can-Teens, a Coral Springs-based student service organization, has partnered with Million Meals Committee to help struggling low-income Broward residents and to help raise awareness of the resources available to those who are in need of food assistance.

The Broward County Commission has proclaimed June 1 to 7 Broward Hunger Awareness Week. According to the Children’s Services Council of Broward’s communications specialist Andrew Leone, recent statistics show that one in six Broward residents are food insecure and go hungry every day.

Can-Teens is asking residents to skip one meal for the week to better understand the plight of those in need and the discomfort of hunger. The organization is also asking residents to donate $5, the average amount of money spent on that “skipped meal,” to help people who need food. Hundred percent of all money raised will go buying food for Broward food banks and pantries.

Go to www.browardhungerawareness.com or www.millionmeals.org.

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City officials recently decided, after hearing from a Riverside Elementary School parent representative, that it wouldn’t be wise to go with staff’s recommendation to have the field at Riverside Park that is near the school. The city will now look at the possibility of having a field at Corporate Park even though it is not now zoned for such kind of activities.

The meeting was held two days after Paul Kempinski, a Coral Springs police officer, was shot while he tried to stop a robbery suspect who was wielding an AK-47. The incident seemed to weigh on Mayor Scott Brook’s mind.

"I would love to have a paintball field somewhere in the city,” Brook said. “The timing of a park opening in the near future would be awkward for me, if not inappropriate for the community. We have one of our own down by a gun, for the first time in our city," he said.

City staff zeroed in on Riverside Park after considering various other sites in the city like Sportsplex, north of the dog park parking lot, the southwest lot at Sportsplex, and Broken Woods. A public hearing on the proposal to have the field at Riverside Park was held April 2. Sixty to 70 people attended; 23 people were in favor of the park, while 10 were against it.

Riverside Park may not be the ultimate site, but this “is the best we have to offer,” said Rick Engle, director of parks.

“We have looked everywhere; we have exhausted our search,” said City Manager Mike Levinson. "It is far from ideal, but Riverside Park is the best site available.”

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How many writers would deliberately include grammatical errors in a book and have an extremely skinny and conscientious person, one who even thinks of turning his back on life, as the hero?

Not many, but Coral Springs resident William J Brower Jr. did not lose much sleep thinking about that as he wrote "Chronicles of the Dragons Bane." The first volume in the series came out recently and judging from the feedback that he has received, his readers are not complaining. The writer is currently in talks with a local animator for an animated series based on the book.

“I have been a busy person this year,” Brower said. “'Chronicles of the Dragons Bane' is my attempt at writing an epic poem. The first volume in the series came out this year. 'The Essays and Wit of W E Brower Jr.' came out in February. 'The Artwork and Origins of the Dragons Bane' series came out recently. It was written and published in three weeks.”

Brower started the "Chronicles of Dragons Bane" 20 years ago when he was a student at J.P. Taravella High School. “Many classmates and teachers supported and motivated me to write it.

“Dragons Bane is for young adults,” Brower said. “There are a lot of grammatical errors in the book. You can discuss the subject matter within the book as well as break it down into a grammar lesson. It's a formula I developed while running the lecture circuits among various schools. I want students to read the book and show me where the "mistakes" were made. I don’t think any other book has been done this way.”

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Want to learn swimming from some of the best?

Children, ages 8 to 15, will have the opportunity to do just that at the at the Coral Springs Swim Club camp at the Coral Springs aquatic complex. The camp will be from June 8 through July 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Camp director Josh Laban is a two-time Olympian for the US Virgin Islands. Five-time Olympic superstar Dara Torres, two-time Olympian and World Champion Vlad Polyakov and six-time Olympic Coach Michael Lohberg will be available for questions. They will also serve as speakers and be available for photos.

Cost per week is $400. The cost for the five-week session is $2,000. Lunch is available for an additional $30 a week. Participants will receive a personal CD with above and underwater video, a cap, and camp T-shirt.

Space is limited to 30 campers per week. Swimmers may choose a specific week to perfect a particular stroke or attend all five weeks. Swimmers must be able to swim the stroke for the week they sign up for as they will be learning to perfect these strokes.

Call 954-340-5032 or visit www.csscswim.com. To sign up, download the 2009 camp registration available at that site. The Coral Springs Aquatic Complex is at 12441 Royal Palm Blvd.

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Whole Foods Market of Coral Springs is now accepting applications for its next 5 Percent Day, a community event that provides 5 percent of the store’s net sales to one nonprofit organization on a designated date.

To be considered, each group must complete an application and provide the store marketing and community relations specialist a copy of their 501(c)(3) letter verifying tax exempt status by June 7.

The store is at 810 University Drive in Coral Springs. To request an application, e-mail Jonny Rose at jonny.rose@wholefoods.com or call 954-753-8000 ext. 241.

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People in Coral Springs and Parkland have a chance to nominate a local military hometown hero through country singer Laura Bryna's Web site, www.laurabyrna.com. The contest runs through June 15 with winners announced on July 4.

By logging on to www.southernbeautymag.com or www.laurabryna.com, men and women, 21 and older, can nominate the hero of their choice by filling out a brief questionnaire or creating a short video that can be uploaded to a central site where fans can weigh in with their own comments.

Five winners will receive a roundtrip flight to L.A. along with hotel accommodations and invitation to a special ‘Hometown Heroes’ event and Laura Bryna concert Aug. 10 at the famous House of Blues in Hollywood.

Call Mickey Figueroa at 954-918-3033.

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The Coral Springs building division has enlisted eight volunteers consisting of local architects, contractors and developers who currently do business with the city for participation in a building focus group. The process began in March this year.

The group of volunteers provides the building division with input to help improve the way it does business, including permitting, plan review and the inspections process. The building department has already begun to implement recommendations of the focus group.

The building department has conducted multiple workshops, surveys, and participated in Slice of the Springs meetings in an effort to receive feedback from customers, said development services director Larry Staneart. The building focus group is another great way to stay customer focused and continually improve services, he added.

Commercial builders planning to build in Coral Springs are encouraged to contact the building division and set up a meeting so staff can review the building division requirements and set expectations concerning their project ahead of time. Call 954-344-1025 or visit www.CoralSprings.org/building.

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Two Coral Springs High School students were among the 11 students from Broward County Public Schools who won Silver Knight Awards, presented by the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Award winners are selected for their excellence in academics and contributions to the community.

Sarah Benckenstein won in the athletics category, while Megan Barron was picked in the general scholarship category. Steven Ira Lerner of Coral Springs Charter High School won an honorable mention honor in the business category, and Beatriz Oliveira of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School won an honorable mention in the foreign language category. In the speech category, Brian Zakarin of J.P. Taravella High School won an honorable mention.

District students also earned 30 of 45 honorable mention recognitions, claiming 41 of 60 awards overall. Last year, district students had earned top recognition in 10 Silver Knight categories and received 30 honorable mention honors. Over the past four years, district students have combined to win 42 Silver Knight awards and 122 honorable mentions.

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Stacy Kagan, an Allstate agency owner, believes there is one statistic that every teenager who drives a car should be aware of.

“Five thousand teens are killed on the road every year in the U.S.,” Kagan said. “Vehicle accidents are the number one cause of teen deaths here. As many as 300,000 kids are severely injured in car crashes every year. It is sad, because accidents are very preventable.”

Kagan, who has spoken at local high schools and appeared on news channels advocating safe driving by teens, will appear in a program on the topic for “Designing Spaces,” a television show that is to be aired on the Learning Channel. Shooting took place recently at her office in Coral Springs. The program will be aired sometime during summer.

“It was a great experience, probably one of the best experiences of my life. I had earlier done two commercials for Allstate on safe driving. I was selected based on that,” the Coral Springs resident said. “More importantly, it is on a very important issue. I am a big advocate of safe driving and this program will help me reach out to more people. This is something I am very passionate about.”

“It is not just speeding. Accidents happen due to a combination of many things,” Kagan said. “Teens text, talk on the cell phone and sometimes don’t wear the seatbelt. According to a recent survey, 55 percent of teens said they go 10 mph over the speed limit. Twenty-seven percent said they speed 20 mph over the limit. That needs to stop.”

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Coral Springs, the first city in Florida to ask the State Attorney’s opinion about joining Facebook, is set to join the growing list of cities in the country that have joined the social networking site to better communicate with residents.

City staff hope to have the Facebook page up and running by next Monday. Commissioners will become fans but won’t post comments as doing that would amount to violation of the state’s Sunshine Law. There will be a one-month trial period; the city commission will take a final decision on the issue after seeing the kind of response the page gets from residents.

The city will use the page as another tool in its communications toolbox to publicize events, activities and important issues. It would allow wall posts for up to two weeks on hot topics. All posts will remain on the page for a minimum period of 30 days after the two-week period to comply with the state’s public records retention law.

All comments – positive or negative – will remain on the page as the city as decided to stay away from censorship and let the site decide on “inappropriate” comments.

His fellow commissioners were not as enthusiastic as he was, but Mayor Scott Brook, who championed the idea, succeeded in winning them over. “Forty two percent of our population are 25 and under. A great percentage of our population; we are missing. Young people in the city want us to communicate with them; this is how they love communicating, through Facebook,” he said at a recent workshop.

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Coral Springs wants its residents to provide input on programming ideas for CityTV Channel 25, on Advanced Cable Communications.

CityTV currently offers a variety of programming, including a monthly news show called In the Loop, a more in-depth news program titled Get Connected, live Commission Meetings, live broadcasts and rebroadcasts of events and other educational programs.

To submit ideas, send an e-mail to citytv25@coralsprings.org. There is no guarantee that ideas will be accepted or produced, but all suggestions will be taken into consideration.

To see all of the programming available on CityTV, check out www.coralsprings.org/vod.

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Finance expert Marc Ellis,associate finance professionals, and First Church United Methodist of Coral Springs will organize a “Save our Homes" workshop in Coral Springs this Tuesday.

Ellis will lead an open discussion about ways to proactively avoid foreclosure in many instances. He is expected to talk about practical experiences of some people and will also offer tips on how to negotiate with lenders and credit card companies to get payment plans modified. Tips, techniques, checklists and examples of hardship letters and other correspondence will also be made available.

The mortgage loan modification and credit information workshop is free and open to the public. it will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on May 19 at First Church United Methodist of Coral Springs, 8650 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs.

Those who are interested can reserve seats by calling Wil Malara toll free at 877-752-4715.

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Burger King is poised to join the list of businesses in Coral Springs that have gone green.

At a recent City Commission meeting, officials approved a petition for Burger King Corp. to build its first LEED certified restaurant in the city. Located at the intersection of Sample Road and Coral Springs Drive, the Burger King was built in 1977. The existing building will be demolished and a smaller and ‘greener’ restaurant will come up in it place.

The proposed Burger King drive-thru restaurant will be approximately 2,700 square feet. The existing one is more than 3,000 square feet.

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For J.P. Taravella High School band captain, Ethan Morrison, the enduring memory of Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration is that of first lady Michelle Obama dancing as the band performed the Stevie Wonder song “You are the Sunshine of my Life.”

“We were like 25 feet away from Obama and his family,” Morrison said. “Both Obama and his wife are big Stevie Wonder fans. He is their favorite entertainer. It was awesome to see her dancing; Obama was waving all the time.”

Kristen Albert, junior at the school and among the 172 band members that took part in the inauguration, still remembers the moment the enormity and significance of the occasion hit her.

“It was about 6:15 p.m. when we marched, and it was really dark,” Albert said. “As we turned the corner to where the reviewing stand was, it was so bright that it looked like it was still day. There was such a big contingent of photographers and television crew waiting there. I got chills; that is one moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

For drum major Yeji Kim, the day didn’t look anything near perfect until the band started marching.

“It was really cold; I was frozen for much of the parade,” Kim said. “We had frozen bread with stuffed cheese for lunch; I didn’t feel too good going into the parade. But all that changed when we marched past Obama with the light shining down on us. I like him; I made up my mind after I saw some of the debates. He inspires me.”

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Coral Springs Commissioner Roy Gold has announced his candidacy for mayor, nearly 18 months before the elections. He hopes to replace Scott Brook, who will be termed out.

Gold, who currently occupies seat number 3, turned his papers and later addressed a small but enthusiastic group of supporters that included family members and friends.

“It is a little bit away,” Gold said. “ When I ran for the post of commissioner in 2004, I signed up in October of 2002. I’m giving myself an extra month this time as I am running for mayor. I want to win. I want to win bad.”

Mark Gendal, who has announced he wants to run for the post of commissioner, wished Gold luck. “I’m new to politic. He is a great role model for someone like me. I’m sure he will serve the city well if he is elected mayor.”

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Coral Springs is set to amend some of its corporate park rules to attract new investment and to encourage sustainable redevelopment of vacant and underutilized parcels within the park. The 450-acre park currently has 345 businesses with active licenses.

The idea is to give property owners incentives to go for development that is designed to achieve LEED certification. The city won’t insist on the certification but the zoning incentives would be subject to third party review, at the developer’s expense, by a LEED professional designated by the city. The incentives will allow developers to maximize square footage and make their projects economically viable.

The changes, made after many rounds of discussions with park property owners, include allowing hotels to increase the maximum height from 50 feet to 75 feet; limiting new self-storage development to the interior of the park and grandfathering existing development, and identifying specific employee-based offices in the code. Service-based uses like beauty shop, barber shop, nail salon, printing/copying, courier service, dry cleaning/laundry, florist, and book store have also been proposed along the perimeter of the park. The park has 88 vacant acres.

Developers who go for LEED-silver designed buildings will be given reductions in setbacks and landscaping. The front building setback for LEED buildings will be reducing from 50 to 25 feet for properties fronting on streets that have a width of 60’ or less. There is no minimum required percentage for landscape area for such buildings, compared to the 30 percent requirement for non-LEED buildings.

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Three seventh grade students from Coral Springs Middle School received an Innovation, Originality and Creativity criteria award in this year’s national eCYBERMISSION competition. Each team member will receive a $2,000 U.S. EE Savings Bond and a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Army.

The Electros team, comprised of students Carlos Tallard, Ancil Ganishlal and George Zhuang, was led by team adviser Kim Norton. It was recognized by judges for its investigation into alternative energy sources. The team conducted various experiments with solar panels, fuel cell chambers, windmills and other alternative energy options using a small model home.

eCYBERMISSION is a U.S. Army-sponsored, free, web-based science, math and technology competition that allows students in grades six through nine to compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their communities. In the past seven years, Coral Springs Middle School has won $69,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds by students competing in eCYBERMISSION.

“We are extremely proud of these Coral Springs Middle School winners for their use of outstanding research, experimentation and analysis during this year’s eCYBERMISSION competition,” said Mike Doyle, U.S. Army eCYBERMISSION program manager. “These students were selected out of thousands of their peers, not only for their potential as future leaders in science, math and technology, but for their work to make their communities a better place to live.”

This year, more than 12,000 students registered for eCYBERMISSION and 2,005 teams submitted their research for scoring. Since its inception seven years ago, more than 58,000 students from across the country, in U.S. territories and Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide have participated in the competition.

Registration for next year’s competition opens Aug. 1. For a complete listing of the 2008-2009 winners or for more information, please visit www.ecybermission.com.

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It's a win-win situation when local businesses work with local schools. And that has been the case for Westchester Elementary School in Coral Springs, which has reaped benefits from its business relationships in a program called Partners in Education.

Annie's Pizza, a local pizza restaurant, is one of the businesses helping the school. Through the school year, students are encouraged to order from the pizza joint on what is known as Annie's Pizza Night. For every $10 order, $1 is given back to Westchester Elementary at the end of the school year. Plus, each month, the class that orders the most on Annie's Pizza nights wins a pizza party.

This year, the money from Annie's Pizza was used by the kindergarten team to purchase computer software that focuses on reading skills.

The school, at 12405 Royal Palm Blvd. in Coral Springs, is a winner of the Five Star School Award, and is FCAT "A" rated. Contact the school at 754-322-8900.

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The Coral Springs Police Department is currently accepting applications for its Leadership Mentoring Program, which will have four separate sessions this summer. The group is for high school students.

The first session will be from 8 a.m. to noon., June 29 through July 2. The other sessions run from Monday through Thursday starting July 13, July 20 or Aug. 10. This program is for high school students who live in Coral Springs.

The program will facilitate community service worksites that will enhance the leadership skills of students through mentoring and community projects. Acceptance to the program is based on the students’ application, academics and school behavior. Students will receive a program certificate with the number of community hours earned.

Applications are available at www.coralsprings.org/police/programs.cfm. Call Youth Services Coordinator Jenny Rebour at 954-346-1289.

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Coral Springs City Manager Michael S. Levinson was recently recognized by the League of Women Voters at the league’s annual meeting. President Marcia Barham presented Levinson with the Civics in Action Award for enacting best practices within local government.

“The League of Women Voters couldn’t think of another city more worthy, and Michael Levinson is truly the architect behind the city’s success,” said Madeline Urbanski, vice president of programming for the League of Women Voters.

Levinson shared five of the city’s key strategies, which include employing powerful models for maximum efficiency; running government like a business; using “innovative imagination” to unlock radically new creativity; creating networks with residents, civic leaders and businesses; and rewarding residents’ feedback with highly effective attention.

"I accept this recognition on behalf of our community of excellence. Special thanks to our City Commission members, past and present, our employees and corporate council for their support in turning our dream of reinventing government into a reality for the betterment of our community," Levinson said.

Levinson is serving in his 14th year as Coral Springs city manager. In 2007, th city became the first local government to be awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s most prestigious award for performance excellence.

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Carrie Greenspan has been appointed chief of staff of Coral Springs Medical Center. She is the first female physician to serve as chief of one of Broward Health’s four hospitals.

During her two-year term, Greenspan will take on the responsibilities of chairing the medical council meetings, handling quality issues with physicians, and working with CSMC’s administration to improve hospital facilities and services.

Board certified by both the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Coral Springs resident received her medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her residency at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, holding the position of chief resident and instructor her final year.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 .

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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.”

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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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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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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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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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The Museum of Discovery and Science, in cooperation with Broward County Waste and Recycling Services and Partner Cities, is presenting a free, hands-on exhibit at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive in Coral Springs. The exhibition, which demonstrates the ways common household waste is transformed into useful electricity, will end March 30.

The exhibit, titled Wonderful World of Waste and Energy, is specially designed for children to help them learn how they can recycle and reduce trash amounts while helping the environment. In addition to interactive displays, the exhibit will also comprise a 13-minute video, “All About Garbage,” as well as recycling commercials, on a continuous loop.

The exhibit will be presented at three other Broward County Library locations; North Regional/BC Library, Main Library, and North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch.

For information about the exhibit in Coral Springs, call 954-341-3900.

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

If you live in Coral Springs and are looking for a place to discuss environmental solutions with your neighbors, attend 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. The CIGC is looking for people who are passionate about the subject and are interested in becoming more active in the community.

Visit www.coralsprings.org/gogreen or call Toni Hawkins at 954-344-1148 for information or to sign up.

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Money is hard to come by with sponsors playing hard to get, but a 29-year-old Coral Springs tradition will remain unbroken for at least another year.

Our Town America, the city’s longest running festival, will begin March 6 at the Coral Springs Sportsplex. The event, organized by OurTownAmerica,Inc., will provide fun for the entire family and last three days.

Proceeds will go back to the community, said Fran Cunningham, event coordinator.

Visit www.ourtownamerica.org.

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Coral Springs Commissioner Roy Gold does not hide the fact that the city’s teen political forum is one of his favorite events.

“It is a great opportunity to reach out to the high school population in the community,” Gold said. “This is a chance to let them know that elected officials are normal people; that they can become one if they want to. It’s nice to have young people working for the community."

On March 5 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, Gold will get another chance to be in the hot seat along with other elected city and state elected officials at the second edition of the event. Like they did last year, they will attempt to answer questions thrown at them by high school students who live in the city or who attend local high schools, public or private.

“This is a city event but it is student-driven,” Gold said. “I want them to have a sense of belonging. It’s awesome working with the students. They are very qualified, talented, and capable people.”

The event will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 5 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. Call 954-344-1005.

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Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook will be the new representative of the City Commission on the board of directors of the city’s Economic Development Foundation. He replaces Claudette Bruck, who held the post ever since she became a commissioner in March 2006.

The decision was made at last week’s City Commission meeting after Brook expressed his desire to be on the board. Brook would serve on the board for a year, as a non-voting ex-officio member, before passing the baton back to Bruck.

There are opportunities the city might be missing because the mayor is not on the EDF, Brook said, explaining why he wanted to serve on the board. “As mayor, I am viewed as the figurehead of the city. I have an MBA. I have a good understanding of business. There is nothing more important in my agenda than economic development of the city.”

Earlier, Bruck made it clear that she wanted to continue serving on the committee. “I believe I have been very well received. I have attended almost every meeting. It is one of my favorite committees. I believe my professional experience makes a difference.”

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Coral Springs is all set for Taste of Coral Springs.

The event, which gives city residents a chance to spend an evening with a Mardi Gras-theme and samplings of food and spirits, will benefit local children’s charities. It will be 6:30 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive.

Tickets are available online at www.tasteofcoralsprings.org as part of the sponsorship packages starting at $250.

Visit www.tasteofcoralsprings.org or call 954-341-7191.

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State Rep. Martin David Kiar, District 97, will organize a series of town hall meetings throughout his district prior to the 2009 Legislative Session. Among the topics to be discussed are the recently concluded special session, property taxes, the budget and windstorm insurance, as well as any other issues of importance to the citizens of South Florida.

There will be a meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the commission chambers of Parkland City Hall, 6600 University Drive. State Sen. Jeremy Ring will also be present. In Coral Springs, the meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Coral Springs Commission Chambers in City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road. State Sen. Jeremy Ring, and State Rep. Ari Porth and Jim Waldman will also speak.

The Davie/Cooper City meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Davie Town Hall council chambers, 6591 Orange Drive.

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Broward Health and the Florida Panthers recently recognized the Boccard Family as Broward Health Cancer Heroes of the Game.

Broward Health Heroes of the Game is a new initiative between the Florida Panthers and Broward Health designed to recognize community members who have been impacted by cancer and gone on to make a difference to the lives of others or the community.

The Boccard Family was the first to be recognized as Cancer Heroes of the Game. Lisa Boccard was 29 when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She has been in ongoing treatment again since 2003 for metastatic breast cancer and is presently undergoing chemotherapy. Throughout her long fight against cancer, her brother, Coral Spring Vice-Mayor Vince Boccard, and his wife, Terry, have been by her side.

Together they are working to make sure that women without insurance have access to mammograms through the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund and their partner, Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center. In 2008, over 200 women received free mammograms. Of those, 10 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Students, teachers and staff officially marked the inaugural year of Imagine Charter School at Broward in Coral Springs recently with a special ribbon cutting ceremony. School Principal Kevin Sawyer and guests from Imagine Schools, the city of Coral Springs, and Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce were present.

Imagine Charter School at Broward, 9001 Westview Drive, is in its inaugural year as a public charter school for children in grades Kindergarten through 5. Charter application has been presented for the addition of middle school in 2010. Enrollment for the 2009-2010 academic year is underway.

The school is the first in Broward County to use the “Project CHILD” model of learning. Children are taught by teachers who are specialists in their fields and rotated through their cluster for instruction in math, reading, writing, social studies and science in addition to daily specials such as media, art, music and physical education.

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When the Garden Club of Coral Springs organized the inaugural Gardenfest Coral Springs last year, club president Marcy DiMare wasn’t expecting a miracle.

“We were to be a part of the city’s green market, but the city canceled it,” DiMare said. “We didn’t have much time to put the event together, but everything worked well. The vendors made money.”

Buoyed by last year’s success, club members are preparing for the second edition of the event on Feb. 21 and 22 at Riverside Park. Besides a variety of orchids, native plants, unusual ferns, roses, palms, succulents, herbs and other plants that will be up for sale, the event will also have others features, including a plant clinic.

“It is a lot of work, but it is very rewarding,” said DiMare, who has been a master gardener for seven years. “We hope to have about 30 vendors. This event will be more than twice the size of what we had last year."

Gardenfest Coral Springs will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 22. Admission is free. Visit http://www.gardenfestcoralsprings.com/.

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Jaemi Levine, founder of the Coral Springs-based Mothers Against Predators, has taken her five-year fight against Internet predators to the next level.

“I want the world now. We are now on Facebook,” said Levine, who started her crusade against child predators on the Internet after her daughter was lured by one. “We are less than two weeks old and we already have more than 260 members. We have members from London, Turkey, and other countries. I am fighting against these people by using the same medium that I am protecting children from and educating their parents about.”

On Feb. 22, Levine will talk about Internet safety at an event to be organized by Temple Beth Orr as part of its Judy and Phil Averbuch Life Long Learning Program. State Rep. Ari Porth and a representative from the Broward Sheriff’s Office will also speak.

“Internet Predators: How to Protect Your Children from Internet Dangers” will be at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 22 at Temple Beth Orr, 2151 Riverside Drive in Coral Springs. Call 954-753-3232.

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A group of students at Coral Springs Charter School is seeking help from the community to make life a little easier for the increasing number of pets that are being abandoned due to foreclosures.

From March 2 to 6, members of the school human relations council will collect towels, dog/cat treats, toys, food and other items for the Humane Society of Broward County. The collected items will be donated to the society later in the month.

The students themselves came up with the idea, said Michelle Gunning, eighth grade language arts teacher and sponsor of the club. “They wanted to do something different. It is nice that they are thinking about animal shelters and the welfare of pets. Often, we are busy worrying about ourselves.”

It is the first service project of the council for the year, said Cory Alonso, council president. “I expect students in our school to support us because many of them are into People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and vegetarianism. I have two dogs and a cat at home; this is something very close to my heart.”

Coral Springs Charter School is at 3205 N University Drive in Coral Springs. Items can be dropped off at the school between 7:30 a.m. and 2:35 p.m. Call Michelle Gunning at 954-340-4100.

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Most of Coral Springs’ green initiatives have been met with the wholehearted approval of the community, but not everyone is pleased with the city’s proposal to introduce preferred parking for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles.

Frank Maluda, a former member of the city’s customer involved government committee, appeared before city officials at a recent City Commission meeting and asked them to drop the idea. The proposal, even if introduced with good intentions, will adversely affect the city, he said.

“Look at the number of codes we have. I don’t think we need new ones,” Maluda said. “Introducing preferred parking for green vehicles will cost the city at a time when it is trying to cut costs. Think of all the parking spaces involved. Who is going to pay for that? Will it be the city or places of business? Is sign pollution being considered? Who will enforce it – the police or code enforcement?”

The city has more than 130,000 residents, but 95 percent of them won’t get any benefit from it, Maluda said.

Vice Mayor Vince Boccard, who introduced the idea at a commission meeting late last year, said the city was not rushing into anything. “We are not here to create any financial burden on anyone. We are thinking out of the box. This is something that I think will benefit the city. We are looking at the issue. There is still a long way to go.”

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An event that will take place later this month in Coral Springs will focus attention on housing discrimination that still goes on in Broward County and other parts of the country.

Four million incidents of housing discrimination are reported every year in the country, said Keenya Robertson, president and CEO of Hope Inc. The organization fights to ensure equal housing opportunities in Broward and Miami-Dade.

“We receive [more than] 100 complaints every year in Broward,” Robertson said. “Discrimination could be on the basis of issues like race, national origin, and disability. These days, we receive a lot of complaints of people being denied housing due to their race. We are the only fair housing organization in Miami Dade and Broward.”

Robertson will be among those speaking at Diversity: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, an event that will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs. Besides offering free housing counseling, there will be story-telling and a video on tolerance for children. Coral Springs Police Department will offer fingerprinting services and safety information.

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When Coral Springs Medical Center opened 22 years ago, Coral Springs was a young city of 47,000 people. The city has nearly tripled in size since then, but the size of the emergency department at the hospital has not changed.

That, however, is soon going to be a thing of the past.

In the first major expansion since the hospital’s inception, the size of the emergency room will go up from a little more than 12,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet. The expanded facility will have 40 beds. Work on the project, expected to begin this month, will be completed by December 2010. The groundbreaking ceremony took place Jan. 28.

Patrick Maloney, Medical Center CEO, said the expanded emergency room would be a tremendous asset for the community. “Every patient will have a private room. We will be able to take care of more patients as well. This will be an emergency room that the community deserves.”

“The number of beds in the emergency room will go up from 23 to 40,” said Drew Grossman, chief operating officer of the medical center. “We will have 26 adult, eight pediatric and six fast track beds. Due to the expansion, we will lose 50 parking spots. The expanded emergency room will have a new entrance.”

The expanded facility will be the best in Florida, said Daniel Stone, emergency room medical director. “We are very excited. We will now be able to help more people not only from Coral Springs but also places like Tamarac, Coconut Creek, Margate and Parkland. We see 48,000 patients every year now. We will be able to take care of at least 60,000 after expansion.”

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There will be no reduction in the number of police officers or firefighters in Coral Springs this year, and all parks and recreational facilities will remain open, said City Manager Mike Levinson .

“2008 was a difficult year to get by,’” Levinson said, presenting the State of the City 2008 report at Coral Springs Center for the Arts last week. The city’s volunteers and members of different committees were recognized at the event that also featured performances by saxophonist Markus Howell and the Ramblewood Middle School jazz band.

“We managed to cope with the harsh realities last year,” Levinson said. “The city managed to lower your tax rate by 13 percent. We were able to do more with less. 2009 is shaping up to be an even more challenging year but we will maintain our central services.”

Mayor Scott Brook was also gung-ho about the city’s future. “We have some challenges ahead of us, but we also have a team like no other city has. We have volunteers like no other city has. In terms of success and level of commitment, this year will be no different from last year when we faced challenges but came through with flying colors.”

According to the state of the city report, the city will undertake 35 new initiatives this fiscal year. Since 2002, the city has decreased its tax rate by 21 percent; the average tax bill for a homesteaded property owner has decreased by $153 in the last two years. The city’s fire assessment fee is among the lowest in the county at $104.25 while it has the lowest solid waste rate of large cities in the county.

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Coral Springs and Broward County are partnering to have a household hazardous waste collection day on Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be in the parking lot at City Hall South, 9530 W. Sample Road.

City and county residents are encouraged to bring their old paint, used motor oil, batteries, household cleaning supplies and other hazardous wastes to the collection site for proper disposal. Disposing of harsh chemicals and household wastes by professionals helps protect the environment.

Past household hazardous waste collection events in Coral Springs have resulted in the disposal of 4,700 gallons of old paint, 500 gallons of used motor oil, 4,500 pounds of flammables, and 2,400 pounds of pesticides and poisons. Almost 1,000 Broward residents participated in previous collection days, 793 of which resided within a five-mile radius of the city.

Other items accepted include: solvents, pesticides, lawn and pool chemicals, propane tanks, compact fluorescent light bulbs, tires (a maximum of four per person), fire extinguishers, car batteries, flares, mercury thermometers, televisions, computers, monitors, keyboards, mouses, printers, fax machines, cell phones, and rechargeable batteries. Business generated waste is not accepted at this event.

Call Broward County Waste and Recycling Services at 954-765-4999.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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