Coral Springs Forum | Sun-Sentinel.com

Stan and Merrily Cundiff weren't alone when they went house hunting in Coral Springs last week. The couple had a 10-member Home & Garden Television crew following them around as they looked at homes that were big enough for them and their four children. Their successful search for a house will be featured in one of the future episodes of the Canada-based HGTV show “Property Virgins.”

“We were nervous when we started out, but the television crew made us feel comfortable,” Merrily Cundiff said. “It was a lot of fun. What made the whole thing worthwhile was the fact that we got the house we wanted. I’m anxious to see how they present the whole thing.”

The couple has since left for Mexico, but will come back in June with their children to live in their new four-bedroom house in the Westchester area near the city's aquatic center.

“Stan’s job took us to Brazil and Mexico. We have been away for 10 years. We are all really excited to be able to come back,” Merrily Cundiff said.

The good things he heard about Coral Springs influenced his decision to buy a house in the city, Stan Cundiff said. “We were looking for a good family community. I know this city has a lot of great schools and excellent facilities for after-school activities. The place is really beautiful as well.”

With the rate of foreclosures in the city growing at the rate of 10 percent every month, Coral Springs officials recently mulled ways of reducing its impact on property values in the community.

At a workshop to discuss the issue, staff recommended using city funds to maintain single-family homes located on public streets to prevent neighborhood decay. An accelerated code enforcement process and additional special magistrate hearing are needed. Homeowners should maintain properties within their legal right while new processes or codes should be introduced for vacant and abandoned properties, they said.

Apart from using its own funds, the city should look at potential federal, state and local grants, in addition to Community Development Block Grants, to fund maintenance of foreclosed properties. Educating residents about foreclosures was important, staff said.

In 2006, the city saw 2,531 sales, of which just 1.3 percent were foreclosure sales. In 2007, the number of sales fell to 1,961. As many as 14.4 percent of these were some form of foreclosures. In 2007, real estate ownership totaled 183 units. The corresponding number, in just four months this year, is already 211.

As many as 80 percent of the foreclosures are primary residences, Donmez said.

Dogs on chains could soon be a thing of the past in Coral Springs.

Scores of Forest Glen Middle School children, led by their teacher Lisa DosSantos, thronged City Hall in a bid to get the commission members to enact an ordinance that would ban tethering of dogs in the city.

"A chained dog can only watch as life goes by," DosSantos said. "It's inhuman to chain dogs out in extreme temperatures 24 hours a day. Other cities have introduced such an ordinance and we expect Coral Springs to do so too."

Although four students had signed up to speak, commissioner Ted Mena intervened after only one of them did. "The dog will have to wait no more," he said.

"We had someone fatally bitten by a dog some time ago," Mayor Scott Brook said. "We introduced an ordinance to address that issue. But a few people told us later that it was not the most appropriate one. This sounds like something to consider."

The commission later decided to study the issue before taking a decision.

DosSantos, who has two rescued dogs and cats in her house, said she was confident of the commission deciding favorably on the issue. "The parents that were at the commission meeting were as intent on having an ordinance as the students were," she said. "The commission will surely take that into consideration."

Out of the box thinking often works wonders. Instead of waiting for children to visit the museum, Coral Springs Museum of Art staff members are taking art to classrooms in the community these days.

Recently, museum’s director of education Barry Treu and a few of his co-workers spent time at Maplewood Elementary School in Coral Springs, talking art and stoking the artistic talents of students. The main topic of discussion was artist George Rodrigue and his popular “Blue Dog” paintings that are now being exhibited at the museum.

“We had four to five staff members at the school for an hour from 9 a.m. every day last week,” Treu said. “We used pictures of the Blue Dog exhibit, which is very popular with kids and parents, on a digital projector and asked the students to be creative.”

“The whole idea was to make the kids think like artists. They were terrific. We plan to do more of this in the future," Treu said.

The art outreach program involved students in first through fifth grades, said Sherry Bees, school principal.

Parent volunteer Sonja Friedbauer said she hoped the program would bring more visitors to the museum.

“My kids have enjoyed going there. Unfortunately, many people in the city don’t know about the museum,” she said. “It’s a great place, but we will lose it if we don’t support it.”

For information about the Coral Springs Museum of Art, call 954-340-5000. Arun can be reached at 954-574-5339.

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PHOTO: From left, Thomas Gallerani and Cristian Rodriguez, both 9 of Coral Springs, are assisted by parent volunteer Tammy Valvano during the "Art Outreach to Maplewood" program. Staff photo/Kimberli DiMare
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Residents of St. Andrew’s Towers in Coral Springs are coming to terms with life without Patricia Knapp, or Sister Pat as she is better known.

Knapp recently retired after 20 years at the retirement facility. Residents say it will mark the end of an era.

The residents threw a party for Knapp to celebrate her retirement. They tried keeping it a surprise from the 87-year old nun, but failed.

“They certainly tried their best, but you see certain things happen,” Knapp said. “After all, I have been here long enough to know when people are up to something...I will miss this place, but then, it is not just about St. Andrews Towers. It’s the parish, it’s Coral Springs.”

Knapp is a remarkable person in every sense of the term, said Louise Ames, president of the residents association at the retirement facility. “This is her 68th year of service as a nun. She is very kind and giving. She had quite a following here."

At the party, May Kerry, a resident, recited a poem she wrote for Knapp. “I wanted her to know how much she means to all of us,” Kerry said. “I wanted to give her something that she could take to the Mother House. We will miss her, but I am happy she is going to be with her own group.”

Cindy Heafy, who has known Knapp for more than 20 years, read an article she wrote about the nun’s life. Kim Sanecki, volunteer coordinator with the Coral Springs Police Department, presented a certificate of appreciation for her 14 years of service with the department.

“I am leaving with happy memories,” Knapp said. “I was interested in every one of them here. They felt I really cared for them. And I did.”

St. Andrew Catholic School students and teachers dedicated the school's new basketball court. The court was a present to the school from the graduating eighth grade class.

Parent Charlene El-Hage spearheaded the drive for the basketball court, and the eighth grade students raised the funds through fundraisers. St. Andrew Catholic Church Men’s Club helped make the court a reality when the club donated $15,000 they raised from a rained-out golf tournament.

The dedication ceremony began with Father George Puthusseril, pastor of St. Andrew Church in Coral Springs, blessing the court with holy water. Puthusseril then donned his shorts and joined the faculty team in a game against the eighth-graders. The students won the game, 29-20.

Officials in Coral Springs and nearby cities have realized it makes sense to join hands for common good.

The Coral Springs City Commission approved an agreement with Margate, Parkland and Coconut Creek for regionalizing fire and rescue operations. When there's a problem, the closest unit will automatically respond.

The cooperative fire protection deal - in effect through September - provides aid for putting out fires, dive-rescue operations, vehicle extrication, communication and training for the four cities.

”The arrangement will eliminate duplication of services and allow for the sharing of resources and enhance emergency response times," a commission memo said. "Each party agrees that this agreement is an equitable exchange of services that shall not require monetary exchange for services."

With the city seeing more than 1,800 foreclosures this year alone, Coral Springs officials last week discussed a law to accelerate the code enforcement process for vacant and abandoned properties. The proposed law also would establish minimum maintenance standards for properties owned by lenders.

The purpose of the ordinance is to prevent foreclosures from affecting property prices in the city. According to studies, every foreclosure affects property values in the neighborhood by 10 percent. Foreclosures also increase crime.

Besides accelerating the code enforcement process, the ordinance will create a new code section for vacant and abandoned properties. Lenders will be required to register with the city. The city will maintain single family homes on public rights of way to prevent neighborhood decay.

“The code enforcement process can take more than six months in the case of abandoned properties,” said Erdal Donmez, assistant city manager. “With the ordinance, we are trying to reduce the process to three months. Three months may sound like a long time, but we have to follow state statutes.

Senator Jeremy Ring, who represents people in Coral Springs and Parkland, chooses his words carefully every time he is asked to comment on the University Drive extension issue. This was no different Wednesday night, when the topic came up at a town hall meeting in Coral Springs.

"I won't take a stand," he said. "I represent people in both cities. But I believe [University Drive] will go through because of the proposed expansion of the casino in Coconut Creek."

The issue is close to a solution, Ring said. "I know people in Coral Springs want the road to go through, while people in Parkland and West Boca are opposed to it," he said. "Right now, Coral Springs does not have a tremendous amount of standing on the issue. I know various options are being looked at. They are talking about expanding State Road 7/U.S. 441."

Representative Ari Porth, who was also present at the meeting, was more vocal about his preference. "I represent Coral Springs, and I want to road to go through," he said.

Parkland officials are vehemently opposed to the idea of the road being extended to Palm Beach County. Members of the West Boca Community Council, too, are against the idea as they feel it will result in thousands of vehicles driving through residential areas dotted with schools.

Parkland has a lot to lose if the road is extended. The city's proposed annexation of nearly 2,000 acres of Palm Beach County land will take place only if the road extension idea is dropped permanently.

Tears welled up in Migdalia Acevedo’s eyes as she spoke of the day when the school bus refused to take her physically and mentally challenged daughter, Abigail Acevedo, in because the brakes of her wheelchair were not working.

“I drove her to school and told [her teacher] about it,” Migdalia Acevedo said, as Abigail, a seventh-grader at Coral Springs Middle School, sat in the new wheelchair gifted to her by teachers and students of the school Friday. “It’s wonderful that you have people in the world who see a need and do not close their eyes to it.”

Students and teachers raised $1,900 in the the last three months, through a fundraiser the school’s National Junior Honor Society organized for Abigail. An anonymous donor pitched in the rest of the money for the wheelchair that cost $4,900.

Roxanne Rubiano, Abigail’s teacher, said it was a joint effort. “The students were so wonderful in their generosity towards my little girl," Rubiano said. "Sean Flignor, a seventh-grader, donated $200, his birthday money. A parent donated a bike to raffle off. A girl I met in the hallway told me she bought beads so that Abigail could get a new wheelchair. This is the perfect end to a perfect year."

Read the detailed story in the June 5 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

From foster child to someone working for foster children, life has come full circle for Tammy Workman, much to the delight of a Coral Springs resident who has been her guide for much of the journey.

Commissioner Claudette Bruck walked into Workman’s life as her Guardian Ad Litem when she was a teenager struggling to come to terms with life as a foster child. The Pompano Beach resident, who now works with Florida's Children First, a nonprofit organization based in Coral Springs, credits Bruck for much of her success.

“My two little brothers, my sister and I used to fight a lot," Workman said. "Claudette taught us how to be a good family. My mom, grandmother, aunt -- I don’t know what to call her. She was there anytime we wanted her. She is really about the best interests of the child."

Bruck, who has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for more than 20 years, currently represents seven children. “It’s something I enjoy doing," she said. "When you are passionate about something, you find time for it.”

Read the detailed story in the June 5 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

Parents of autistic children should be thankful to State Rep. Ari Porth

Porth, who represents Coral Springs, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Sunrise and North Lauderdale, was the House sponsor of the “Window of Opportunity Act,” which mandates insurance companies to provide coverage for children with autism. Studies show one in every 150 children develops an autism spectrum disorder, with the number jumping to one in every 94 for boys.

“Dealing with autism can be extremely costly," he said at a recent town hall meeting. "Some families go bankrupt. There is a very high divorce rate among those who have autistic children. This bill will help so many families. It will provide an annual coverage of $36,000 and lifetime coverage up to $200,000."

Porth also talked about the Jack Davis Lending a Helping Hand Act, legislation he helped introduce that allows food establishments to donate leftover food to shelters without liability.

“You can get bill ideas from anywhere," he said. "I got the idea for this bill from Jack Davis, who is 11."

Coral Springs Commissioner Ted Mena was an angry man as he came out of a joint meeting of the Broward and Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization last Friday. The meeting discussed the proposed extension of University Drive.

Much of his anger was directed at Florida Department of Transport District 4 Secretary James Wolfe. "We were given seven proposals to consider," he said after a city commission meeting Tuesday night. "Wolfe then told the meeting that he did not think that the extension of University Drive is politically viable. He should have kept his opinion to himself and let us take the decision."

Mena believes the extension of the road is the only solution to the longstanding problem. "They are now talking about a 10 or 12 lane State Road 7/U.S. 441," he said. "Where is the land going to come from? They will have to take parking lots of businesses. Tell me, is that viable?"

Mena said he did, however, enjoy what Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs said at the meeting.

"She literally told Palm Beach County officials that they can keep the wedge," Mena said. "Palm Beach is trying to get rid of the land. I'm sure what Kristin said has them worried."

Mayor Scott Brook believes the Coral Springs City Commission ought to do more in its role as Coral Springs Charter School board.

Commissioner Claudette Bruck is one of the members of the school advisory council, which includes parents, teachers and the school principal. Brook said he was looking for something more.

"Meeting for 30 minutes two times a year is not enough," Brook said at Tuesday's commission meeting. "We have to blossom as a board. There is input that we have missed giving."

City Manager Mike Levinson's comment that staff would come up with an exciting plan for the commission to review at a workshop later this month did not meet with approval from Brook. "I won't accept strategic planning coming to the board from staff. It should be the other way around," he said.

Commissioner Roy Gold thought workshopping the issue was a good start. "I know the mayor will not forget to bring this issue up again," he said.

Bruck said she is open to Brook's idea. "I hope the mayor accepts the invitation to attend the advisory council meeting," she said. "It's a very, very active group."

John Sommerer, former Coral Springs mayor, was given a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to charges of molesting a 5-year-old girl.

Sommerer, 60, must also serve 30 years of sexual-offender probation after his release. State law requires registered sex offenders to live at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks, bus stops and places where children congregate.

Sommerer, who faced a maximum life sentence if convicted at trial, pleaded no contest to nine counts, ranging from lewd and lascivious molestation to exhibition. The incidents happened from April 1, 2006, to Oct. 31, 2007.

Sommerer served as mayor of the city for 10 years. Term limits forced him from office in 2004. He did not succeed when he tried to make a political comeback in 2006.

Read the detailed story here.

Great schools are one reason young families flock to Coral Springs and Parkland. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and J.P. Taravella High School have been named two of the best high schools in the country.

The two high schools are on a list of eight Broward County Public Schools that were recognized by Newsweek magazine as the top high schools in the nation. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland was ranked 25th in Florida and 136th in the nation, while J. P. Taravella High was ranked 80th in the state and 656th in the country.

The achievement was recognized by the Coral Springs City Commission at a recent meeting.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Principal Ann Andersen-Kowalski thanked the community and the parents for the award. “We’re very fortunate to have such a supportive community and parents who actually enable us to have the kind of programs, rigor and relevance that we do,” she said.

Schools in Coral Springs feel the support of the City Commission throughout the year, said Shawn Cerra, principal at J.P. Taravella High. "We are blessed to have outstanding students and a great faculty. The award is about their hard work and effort,” he said.

For details, visit www.browardschools.com.

Last year, Coral Springs city staff had fliers all over the city advising people not to use illegal fireworks during the July Fourth celebrations. Whether that deterred residents from using illegal fireworks is a matter of debate.

Carl Prescott, a Coral Springs resident who has been in the forefront of the fight against illegal fireworks in the city, is waiting to see what it will do this time. “They need to educate residents on legal and illegal fireworks. Last year, they had fliers and also messages on signboards. I hope they do something similar this year,” he said.

Prescott cannot understand why police have to first warn residents using illegal fireworks before confiscating them.

“There is nothing in the law that says you need to give a warning,” Prescott said. “I think there is a possibility of people taking advantage of that. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot more illegal fireworks this year than in previous years.”

The issue came up for discussion at a recent City Commission meeting. Mayor Scott Brook, who heads the customer involved government committee studying the issue, said it was a real problem.

Brook wanted police to look into confiscation of illegal fireworks. He also appealed to the people to inform the city if they came across people setting off illegal fireworks. “Let us make our celebrations safe,” he said.

Local governments have no legal right to regulate fireworks, City Manager Mike Levinson said. “The legislature set up a task force in 2007 to study the issue," he said. "Local bodies will have to wait until the task force submits its report. We don’t allow sale of illegal fireworks in the city.”

The primary goal of the police on July Fourth would be to ensure that people use legal fireworks safely, said Police Chief Duncan Foster. “If we find people in possession of illegal fireworks, they will be confiscated," he said. "We will warn them once and confiscate the fireworks the second time. We did that last year, too.”

It’s not every day that someone kisses a pig and still retains a smile, but Maplewood Elementary School principal Sherry Bees managed to do just that.

Dressed in pajamas and with the entire school watching her in action, Bees kissed Lola the pig twice on its head and once on its snout.

“It was fun. She was very cute and well trained," Bees said. "The kids enjoyed it. I don’t know if the pig liked it though."

Bees was keeping her promise to students after their collective success in the school’s Accelerated Reader program. The students went past the 20,000-point mark that had been set and ended the year with 21,500 points.

“The kids enjoy reading, but we wanted to motivate them as there are so many distractions like movies and video games,” Bees said. “From August to December, they got only about 4,000 points. From January to March, they added another 6,000 points. After that, they started reading like crazy to make sure I kissed the pig.”

It was the students who decided what the principal would do if they reached the target, said Judy Slade, reading resource specialist. “We wanted to ensure they would reach the mark," she said. "All the students were part of the program, but kindergarten students did not start until January. The deadline was May 16. We allowed students to wear pajamas to school the day Lola came.”

Joyce Sweeney still remembers the 8-year-old girl who looked out of a window at the Museum of Natural History in Ohio spellbound.

“I saw birds, wildlife and nature. Sitting down right there, I began writing. I don’t remember much, but that is the first poem I wrote,” said the Coral Springs resident.

Much has happened in her life since, including success as a fiction writer for young adults, but Sweeney has now let her first love reclaim her. “Impermanence,” her first collection of poems, was released recently.

Sweeney felt poems “coming to her,” when her mother developed Alzheimer’s Disease in 2005. “That put me in a much more serious frame of mind," she said. "I had much more serious emotions. I couldn’t write fiction. It did not come to me, but poems did.”

Kathy Macdonald, who is a member of the writing group that Sweeney teaches Thursday nights in Fort Lauderdale, praised her mentor. “The poems are beautiful," she said. "She has a strong narrative voice completed with a lyrical sensitivity. Of the poems in the collection, 'Mother’s Day,' and 'Lost Horizon' are my favorites.”

Read the complete article in the June 19 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

If you are a fan of the most popular game on earth and live in Coral Springs, here is something for you. The national soccer team is in your city and training hard for its next game as they attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

The team made a perfect start to its campaign last Sunday in Carson, Calif., demolishing Barbados 8-0. Before the victory, the team had failed to score in 287 minutes of play, since a 3-0 win over Poland in March this year.

It will now take on the same team at the Kensington Oval in Barbados Sunday, in the second leg of the contest. The World Cup will be in South Africa in 2010.

The team landed in Coral Springs Monday night and has plans to have a couple of practice sessions at a soccer ground in the heart of the city. Yes, I know the place where you can catch a glimpse of the players, but I am not telling you. The team members, as you will understand, are not really looking forward to signing autographs when they have an important game to play in three days.

Commissioner Ted Mena was among those who welcomed the team members Monday night.

"They initally had plans to go to Miami but then decided to come here. I think it is great for the city. They want to get used to the heat here as they will experience similar conditions in Barbados," he said.

There was just one case related to the confiscation of illegal fireworks in Coral Springs last year. Is that because people stayed away from fireworks or because police officers did not do their job?

The committee formed by the Coral Springs customer involved government committee to study the issue of illegal fireworks said they felt police did not do enough. City staff said they had different feelings.

"Most of the study circle members felt the city's enforcement of current laws is lax," said study circle president Gordon Boast at a city workshop. "We don't do any confiscation. We should replace threats of action with actual action. We should more aggressively enforce what is enforceable."

Police Chief Duncan Foster said he felt the statistics on confiscation did not do justice to the efforts his staff had put in. "Once we confiscate something from a resident, we need to give a property receipt," he said. "We don't give property receipts when we confiscate illegal fireworks as they have no value. We do confiscate illegal fireworks and destroy them."

The city needs to measure confiscation better, Mayor Scott Brook said. "There is a lot of confiscation happening that is not measured," he said. "The perception is that we can do a better job."

City Manager Mike Levinson defended the police strategy of warning residents who use illegal fireworks first and confiscating if the warning is not heeded. "Measuring confiscation does not tell us the measure of compliance. Confiscation may be less because compliance may be greater due to police warning," he said.

At the workshop, the commission rejected the proposal put forward by the study circle to confiscate illegal fireworks without giving a warning. There will no longer be a study circle on the issue.

Some of the members of the study circle who were pushing for immediate confiscation went home disappointed. Resident Jerry Modell said the city would have trouble getting any member of the study circle in future projects. "I thought Ted and Scott really tried," he said. "Claudette wanted something done as well. I am very disappointed in Vince and Gold. I don't think what the city has planned to do is going to work."

Read a longer version of the article in the June 26 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

The only city in the country to win the Baldridge Award is not treating bicyclists the way it should. At least, that is what Coral Springs resident Mark Gendal, doctor and avid cyclist, says.

Gendal spoke at the City Commission meeting Tuesday night about the "deplorable conditions" in the city for those who use bicycles. "I'm aware of what other cities do for their cyclists," he said. "They do much more. Here, we do not have bike lanes. None of the shopping centers in the city have bike racks."

There is a Florida law that states cars must give at least three feet of clearance when passing bicyclists, Gendal said. "Here, even police officers are not obeying this law. Not many people are aware of the law. People scream in your face and blow their horn," he said.

"You are going to see a lot of people on bicycles with the way the prices of gas is," Gendal said. "I hope the city will take note of the situation."

Mayor Scott Brook said he wanted the city to be more bike-friendly. "I would like to see what options we have. I want to see some measure of success in the coming days."

Anyone who has been following the University Drive extension issue knows officials in Coral Springs and Parkland do not see eye-to-eye on the topic.

Coral Springs wants the road to be extended to connect Broward and Palm Beach counties, while Parkland is happy to leave the road as it is. Let me share a few technical details about the various options the two cities are supporting.

While every other party involved in the issue, from Broward and Palm Beach counties to cities like Parkland and Coconut Creek are backing five options each, Coral Springs has just four alternatives on the table - 1g, 1a, if, and ib.

Alternative 1g, Coral Springs' preferred alternative, includes a six-lane University Drive connection between Lox Road and Palmetto Park Road and a eight-lane State Road 7 that has six lanes for automatic traffic and two lanes exclusively for transit.

Alternative 1a is similar to 1g, but has no exclusive transit lanes on State Road 7. Under this alternative, State Road 7 will be a six-lane facility between Sawgrass Expressway and County Line and as an eight-lane arterial between County Line Road and Glades Road.

Alternative 1f also has a six-lane University Drive connection between Lox Road and Palmetto Park Road. This alternative includes eight lanes for automatic traffic on State Road 7 between Sawgrass Expressway and Glades Road.

Alternative 1b includes a four-lane University Drive between Lox Road and Palmetto Park Road. State Road 7 will be six lanes between Sawgrass Expressway and County Line and a eight-lane arterial between County Line Road and Glades Road.

Parkland backs options 1d, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3d. Its preferred option, 3d, has a six-lane State Road 7 from Sawgrass Expressway to Glades Road and two exclusive transit lanes. Importantly, this option takes University Drive extension out of the equation. The common factor in the other four options chosen by the city is the absence of the University Drive extension element.

Parkland believes an east-west roadway is needed to address traffic concerns rather than a north-south roadway, said Commissioner Dave Rosenof, the city's representative in the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization. "Extending University Drive will cause destruction of existing neighborhoods. There are also safety issues due to the number of schools that are located along University Drive.”

It is imperative to extend University Drive to link the two counties, Coral Springs assistant city manager Erdal Donmez said. “It’s not a choice or a convenience," he said. "University Drive has to be open to address future traffic needs of this area. It is the shortest and least costly connection as FDOT owns the right of way. All the data available validates our position. How much more proof do we need?”

Coral Springs residents have one extra reason to follow the Beijing Olympics in August: Adler Volmar.

Volmar, a Coral Springs resident, will represent the United States in the heavyweight division for judo (100 kg). It will be his second Olympics, after having represented Haiti at the 1996 games in Atlanta at the age of 19.

Volmar's is a story of courage and heart that refuses to accept defeat. He had a really good chance of being a part of the 2004 Olympics team, but tore two ligaments in his right knee during a training camp in Poland. He recovered in time for the Olympic trials, but couldn't make it any further.

Things were going according to plan for Volmar as he tried to make it to the team for Beijing, but disaster struck in January this year when he suffered an injury to his left knee during a workout with another member of the national team. With two shattered ligaments and a torn cartilage, the dream seemed over.

Volmar said it was his refusal to accept defeat that helped him recover quickly. "I did not recover until a couple of weeks before the trials," he said. "I am not 100 percent even now, but it is getting better. Everything is going well. The aim is to be ready for the big day."

Friends and supporters of the judo champ are organizing an event to raise funds for Volmar as he prepares for Beijing. A "Going for the Gold" party will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight July 12 at 24 Hour Fitness, 9800 W. Atlantic Blvd. in Coral Springs to raise funds for Volmar. The cost of admission is $20.

For more information, call 24 Hour Fitness at 954-755-1550 or e-mail Jane at jeds62@aol.com.

After more than 20 years, the Coral Square Mall is seeing a reinvention. The new look was outlined in a special kickoff ceremony.

Seeking a more modern and comfortable motif, Simon Malls is spending $1 billion on revitalization and expansion of their properties over the next four to five years. The Coral Springs mall will begin to see development in as soon as eight to nine months, with project completion scheduled for 2009, said Les Morris, manager of Corporate Public Relations.

The mall's color scheme will change, as will seating throughout the mall and in the food court. Some of the mall’s historic elements will remain, such as the aquarium, though it may be moved.

Coming to the mall will be more like being at home, said John Baker, manager of Coral Square Mall.

Read the complete article in the July 10 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

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PHOTO: From left, John Baker, manager for Coral Square Mall, Lydia Gilmore, Simon Property Group Florida portfolio vice president, Les Morris, Simon Property Group corporate public relations manager, and Coral Springs Mayor Scott J. Brook stand with an artist's rendering of the Coral Square Mall. The mall is scheduled to undergo improvements. Submitted photo
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Coral Springs has launched a hotline to help with problems related to foreclosures. Anyone facing foreclosure can call 954-344-1055 for tips and local resources.

The city also is offering a free seminar that will provide foreclosure solutions on Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. It will be presented by the city, Broward Housing and Community Development Task Force, HUD and Freddie Mac.

For other foreclosure prevention tips, visit coralsprings.org.

Jennifer Senn, was one of three students who received scholarships from the Coral Springs Craft Guild. Senn is the daughter of Lisette and Leon Senn of Coral Springs. She plans to attend the University of Florida in the fall where she wants to study psychology.

Other scholarship winners included Alexandra Lytle, who will major in fine arts with interest in fashion design and painting at St. Andrews Presbyterian in North Carolina, and Edgaryn Abreu, who will major in fine arts with an interest in web design at Florida International University.

PHOTO: Jennifer Senn, left, and Ginger Miller, scholarship committee chair, hold photographs Senn submitted to the competition. Submitted photo
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Congregation Kol Tikvah is forming a Bowling League. The league will meet the first Saturday of each month at 8 p.m., October through May at SpareZ, 8034 W. Sample Road.

Temple membership is not required to join. The cost is $25 per person and includes bowling, two slices of pizza, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

Space is limited. Call Bruce Hofert 954-344-4497 or e-mail redwagontoystore@yahoo.com.

Christmas is coming to Coral Springs early this year.

On July 29, The Coral Springs Jaycees will sponsor a Christmas in July fundraiser at the Tijuana Taxi Company, 901 N. University Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will include food, karaoke, a psychic, tarot readers and raffles each hour.

The money collected will go to Jaycees’ The Joy Program, which provides Thanksgiving baskets to needy families in Coral Springs and a holiday shopping spree to underprivileged children.

The beneficiary of the money collected will go to Jaycees’ The Joy Program, which provides Thanksgiving baskets to needy families in Coral Springs and a holiday shopping spree to underprivileged children.

To donate prizes for Christmas in July, call Jonathan Lederman at 561-367-9281.

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

Coral Springs officials are exploring the possibilities of the city having an international partnership that will help its economic development.

City commissioners mulled over the issue at a recent workshop and directed city staff to come back with at least two examples of cities that have benefited from such a tie-up. The discussion came in the wake of the Coral Springs International Partnership, a volunteer organization, not achieving results and virtually ceasing to exist.

The options before the city is to have an official “sister city” relationship or to have a volunteer-run organization raise funds and interact with another city. The city will have to spend money from its budget if it chooses the first option.

City Manager Mike Levinson wanted officials to decide what they want from an international partnership. “What is it that we want to accomplish? Simply changing the name from Coral Springs International Partnership (CSIP) to Coral Springs Sister City Program won’t work. We now have Baldrige. It’s a competitive advantage. We will be able to create an interest among other cities.”

Mayor Scott Brook said having an international partnership would help Coral Springs makes a difference internationally. “This is not for international acclaim. We have reinvented government successfully and have been acknowledged for it. I want us to have at least one successful international partnership.”

Having a tie-up with another city will help Coral Springs’ economic development, Brook said. “A successful partnership will take our economic development to another level. We will also be able to share culturally and educationally.”

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

Lianne Epstein’s love of tennis is rivaled only by her passion for helping the needy.

“I love being on a tennis court, but nothing can beat the feeling that you get when you lend a helping hand to people who really need it,” said the Coral Springs resident.

It was a trip to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis with her dad that kindled her desire to help others, Epstein said. “The camp looks after children with chronic or life-threatening diseases. Going there with Dad really opened my eyes. I’m glad I went with him.”

The camp, which opened in 1996, is run completely by donations from corporations, individuals and foundations. “The place has almost everything for children but I noticed that it did not have a tennis court,” said Epstein, who won the Silver Knight award this year in the athletic category. “I began thinking of what I needed to do to make that happen.”

After she came back to Coral Springs, Epstein started working toward her goal. “As I love tennis, organizing tennis tournaments to raise money seemed like the right thing to do,” she said. “I went to businesses in the community and sought their help. Tennis companies Prince and Tail donated racquets and clothing that were auctioned off to raise money.”

After the success of the first tournament, Epstein organized two more. “People were incredibly generous. With all the support we got, we were able to raise $13,500 for the camp. Some day, the tennis courts will be built.”

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

The First United Methodist Church of Coral Springs is looking for vendors to participate in the Mission Team Craft Fair. The 34th annual event will take place Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8650 W. Sample Road in Coral Springs.

The Mission Team is seeking vendors for artwork, candles, woodworking, jewelry, quilts and handcrafts.

Space fees vary according to location. Booths will be on the grounds, as well as inside the church buildings. Net proceeds will support charitable organizations and causes in Northwest Broward County and in several overseas efforts.

Call Michelle Musselman at 954-752-0333, ext. 290 or e-mail fumccraftfair@bellsouth.net.

Sawgrass Springs Middle School’s Save What’s Left Club and the Sutton children from Coral Springs recently visited Acqua Liana in Manalapan, which is the world’s largest certified green mansion.

While on the tour, students learned different methods employed to make the $29 million home environmentally friendly. They also learned about different green programs, such as the LEED program and the Certified Green program by the U.S. Green Building Council.

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PHOTO: Craft lovers Karen Small, right, and Nina Coghlan, both of Tamarac, cut fabric during the Coral Springs Craft Guild meeting at Cypress Hammock Park Cypress Hall in Coral Springs. The fabric was being used to make bed jackets.
Staff photo/Jason Arnold

See more photos in the July 24 Coral Springs Forum.
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With the rate of foreclosures growing at 12 percent a month in Coral Springs, the city has adopted a series of measures to help residents preserve their homes.

Prominent among them is a foreclosure hotline. Residents facing a crisis can call 954-344-1055 to receive advice from city staff on how to go about receiving financial assistance or how to avoid foreclosure.

The city also is presenting a free seminar offering foreclosure solutions, in association with Broward Housing and Community Development Task Force, HUD and Freddie Mac. The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive.

The city has seen more than 1,800 foreclosures this year alone. Officials recently discussed a law to accelerate the code enforcement process for vacant and abandoned properties. The law also would establish minimum maintenance standards for properties owned by lenders.

The purpose of the ordinance is to prevent foreclosures from affecting property prices in the city. According to studies, every foreclosure affects property values in the neighborhood by 10 percent. Foreclosures also tends to increase crime.

If you are planning to get into a community bus in Coral Springs anytime after October, take a quarter along with you.

City officials recently decided unanimously to introduce a $.25 bus fare for community buses. The fare will be effective Oct. 1. The city has provided the service for free since it was introduced in September 2002, but the recent increase in gas prices forced them to rethink it.

As per the terms of the interlocal agreement between Broward County and Coral Springs, the city has the option of charging a ridership fee that is not more than 50 percent of what the county charges for bus fare. With the county bus fare at $1.25, the city could have charged as much as $.62 a trip but decided on $.25.

The introduction of the bus fare is an "unfortunate necessity," Mayor Scott Brook said. "Some other cities have also done the same or increased bus fare. I hope the community will continue to use the service. I haven't received any complaints from any resident. We feel very confident that we have a great business plan."

City staff anticipate an initial dip in ridership, but the numbers are expected to go up in time. Children, who ride the buses mainly for fun, are expected to stop using them with the introduction of the bus fare, but city staff are confident people who use the service for shopping, work and school will continue to ride.

Patriotic Indians living in Coral Springs, Parkland and other cities in South Florida will get together on a Sunday, two days after Indian Independence Day to celebrate.

The event, in Coconut Creek, is organized by the Association of Indians in America.

The menu will include cultural programs and a variety of tasty Indian food. Helping the association organize the event are local Indian organizations like Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Muslim Council, Kerala Samajam, Marathi Mandal and Kannada Koota.

Joyce Campos, Coral Springs community relations coordinator and association vice president, is working to make the event a success. “We have had this for the last four years," she said. "It is a great occasion to meet other Indians and make new friends.”

“This has everything to do with patriotism,” said Hovi Shroff, association executive committee member. “None of the cultural items will be based on Bollywood. We usually have about 1,500 people at the event, many of them Americans. We expect it to be no different this year.”

The free event will take place at Omni Auditorium at BCC, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd. in Coconut Creek. Call Hovi at 561-703-1878, Kitty at 954-610-9438 or Pradeep at 561- 715-9676.

If you are one of those who likes shelling money out for a good cause and enjoys good food and fun in return, this one is for you.

Parkland resident Lisa Beggs and Ellen Tacher of Coral Springs, two women whose lives have been affected by blood cancer, will organize an event on Oct. 3 at the Parkland Golf and Country Club. The event will raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of South Florida. The fundraiser and cocktail party will feature dancing, live entertainment, food and music.

“Our special guest, Tito Puente Jr., will pay a musical tribute to his father, Tito Puente Sr. We will also have a very popular band from the Bahamas playing,” Tacher said.

Tacher said she hopes the event raises more than $100,000. "We need all the help we can get to battle blood cancer,” she said.

The event will go from 7 p.m. to midnight.

For more information, call Lisa Beggs at 754-245-0029 or e-mail her at lisagbeggs@aol.com. Ellen Tacher is available at 954-709-9606 or by e-mailing ellentacher@hotmail.com.

Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs will organize a "Perfect Party – Perfect Home Showcase," a program that will bring together great ideas for party planning and home improvements.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 19. Rhonda Weiss of MTV’s “The Paper” will be the celebrity guest.

It will be the temple’s first showcase in 10 years. Clients planning a party or sprucing up their homes will be able to receive help from professional vendors. People from Parkland, Coral Springs, Weston, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Lake Worth are expected to attend. Admission is $3 per person, while children under 12 are free.

The temple is inviting applications from specialists in the party planning, home décor and renovation fields. The vendor application, worksheet, and contract are available at www.templebethorr.org/community/sisterhood/.

Temple Beth Orr is at 2151 Riverside Drive. For more information, call the Temple office at 954-753-3232.

The Coral Springs Center for the Arts has announced entertainers and acts for its 2008-2009 season.

The line-up for the upcoming season boasts many evergreen entertainers and some upcoming stars. Debbie Reynolds, David Copperfield, The Irish Tenors, Josh Blue, Last Comic Standing, and finalists from American Idols in Concert are just a few of the performances you can expect.

The season will kick off on Dec. 23 with the Billy Joel, Twyla Tharp musical sensation, "Movin’ Out." On Direct from Broadway, Luis Bravo’s "Forever Tango" is scheduled for Feb. 10, while Jake Ehrenreich’s "A Jew Grows in Brooklyn" will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 15.

The “School Days Series,” the theater’s annual education program that offers $6 tickets to more than 20,000 school children across the county each year, will feature productions by some of the top children’s theater companies in the country. “Many children will experience live theater for the very first time,” said education director Linda Hanson. “The price of our tickets is only $6 but the look of joy and amazement on their faces is priceless.”

Tickets are already on sale and can be had from the center box office by calling 954-344-5990. For a full list of performances, visit www.coralspringscenterforthearts.com.

Hilary Barr likes to keep it simple – her goal in life is to touch the life of at least one person every day.

“My favorite thing in the world is making a difference to other people,” said Barr, a Coral Springs resident and Silver Knight award winner. “There are so many out there who need help. You just cannot stop yourself from lending a helping hand.”

It was a trip to a nursing home when in middle school that ignited her passion for community service, said Barr, who graduated from North Broward Preparatory High School this year. “It felt so incredibly good to be there. Just being there and seeing the smile on people’s faces made my day. Since then, I always look for a chance to help others. I think it is the easiest thing to do.”

Barr, who is getting ready to join Yale University, wants to become a neurosurgeon surgeon. "I will be majoring in cognitive science. I am already researching which clubs I should be a part of. I know I will be involved with community service all my life.”

See Barr's profile in the Sun-Sentinel database of 2008 valedictorians and salutatorians.

Read the full story in the Aug. 7 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

Smiling and exchanging pleasantries with nearly everyone inside the restaurant, even going inside the kitchen to meet surprised staff, Governor Charlie Crist created quite an impression at Wings Plus in Coral Springs Thursday afternoon.

The governor, who attended an event in Pompano Beach earlier during the day, seemed happy to be among friends, and seemed to know many by their first names. In the midst of happily posing for pictures during his less-than-an-hour sojourn, the governor also talked about “always fighting for the people.”

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook, Vice Mayor Vince Boccard, commissioner Ted Mena, City Manager Mike Levinson, and Assistant City Manager Erdal Donmez were among those who greeted Crist. The governor had a ready smile for all those he met, and a warm hug for Brian Walsh, Wings Plus owner.

"He has been here a couple of times before,” Walsh said. “He likes our food and the family atmosphere. It was hastily arranged, but I’m glad that he came.”

Here is good news for parents in and around Coral Springs who have children with moderate to severe disabilities.

Abi’s Place, a new school in Coral Springs for special needs children, opened Monday. The school is currently registering for the 2008-2009 school year. The fall semester at the school will begin on Aug. 25.

Abi’s Place is named after Abigail Zimmerman, daughter of Brett and Danielle Zimmerman who founded the school after feeling there was a need for a school devoted to children with similar special needs. The school is located at 10168 West Sample Road in Coral Springs and can serve up to 20 students, ages 3 to 10.

“Abi, and children like her, deserve a loving, caring place to learn and fulfill their potential,” said Danielle Zimmerman, the school’s executive officer. “We are thrilled to be able to expand on our efforts and help more local children through the creation of Abi’s Place.”

The new school will offer aftercare and camps for spring, summer and winter breaks. Visit www.abisplace.com.

The Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the Leadership Class of 2008–2009.

The mission of Leadership Coral Springs is to provide an opportunity for growing leaders in businesses and organizations throughout the area. It is designed for business owners, managers, career-minded individuals, as well as community volunteers and individuals from the public sector.

The program has two facilitators: Wendy King of Wellness with Wendy, who won the small business leader of the year award in 2007, and Ray Zentis from Zentis Associates Inc, who is the leadership coach.

Chamber of Commerce president Cindy Brief, who graduated from the leadership class in 2003, said it was one of the best experiences she has ever had. “I was able to meet a lot of people in the community," she said. "I still maintain a relationship with the people I met then. The program basically develops leaders in the community.”

There are usually about 25 people in the class. "Acceptance into the program is on a first-come, first-served basis," brief said. "Classes are held one a month, beginning Oct. 17. It is a chance to learn about the inner workings of the city. You go on field trips and meet city officials and staff.”

Class members will graduate at the Coral Springs business awards gala on April 24. The cost of the entire class is $650 for chamber members, and $950 for others.

Call the Coral Springs Chamber at 954-752-4242, ext. 12, or e-mail info@cschamber.com. The application can also be downloaded at www.cschamber.com.

Patience is a virtue, but James Flaig did not want to wait. Not when he knew he and his friends had it in them to make a real difference in the lives of others.

The 16-year-old Coral Springs resident, who is a student at American Heritage School in Plantation, is the inspiration behind Can-Teens, an organization that is dedicated to providing hunger relief by supporting food banks in America. Over the last few months, Can-Teen members have assisted food banks in organizing pantries and making food boxes. They also gathered donations through food drives and bake sales, and spent time helping food banks in the county.

“It’s not just me. Teenagers, in general, are looking for a good cause to be involved in,” said James, or Joey to his friends. “The goal of Can-Teens is to let teens know how bad the hunger problem is across America. The more you know about the situation, the more you want to help.”

Last year alone, Can-Teens collected 1,783 cans and collectively volunteered more than 600 hours to food banks in the community. “Next year, we are shooting for 5,000 cans and over 1,000 volunteer hours. I know we can do it,” Joey said.

Read more in the Coral Springs Forum on Aug. 21. Reach Arun at 954-574-5339.

Alain Conesa, a Coral Springs resident, does a lot before heading to school each morning, and not all of it has to do with studies.

For more than a year, Conesa, 18, has donned the businessman’s hat in addition to being a student at Boca Prep International School. Amazing Animalz, the company he owns, offers pet sitting, dog walking and cage cleaning services. Dogs, cats, birds, small animals, reptiles, amphibians, fish: the business covers them all.

“I start my day at 5 a.m.,” the teenager said. “By 8 a.m., I am done with work and ready for school. If I need to go to another client’s house, I do it after I come back from school. It works out pretty well.”

The teenager provides service in Coral Springs, Parkland and Tamarac. “Right now, I do all the work. When I start making enough money, I will be able to expand to other cities as well. I don’t earn much now, but when I do, I plan to hire someone to help me,” he said.

Read the full version of the article in the Coral Springs Forum on Aug. 21. Reach Arun at 954-574-5339.

Even as I write this, Diane Kolhagen, Jose Castellanos and Joe Luff would have left Memphis in their wake.

The three Coral Springs residents left the city Saturday morning on their Harley-Davidsons, and plan to return in 30 days, after having traveled a little over 8,000 miles. None of them have ever done anything remotely similar to what they are attempting to do now, but that is not one of their worries.

"We've been thinking about this trip for more than a year," Luff said. "I've been half away around the world as part of the military, but I have not see my own backyard. This is the best way to do it," he said.

Kolhagen has been riding motorcycles since she was 12. "I have six brothers, and all of them are motorsport people," she said. "Many years ago, my parents also took a road trip similar to ours. I don't need to look anywhere else for inspiration."

Read a bigger version of the article in the Coral Springs Forum on Aug. 28.

Combining suspense with satire and making it work may not be the easiest thing for a writer to do, but Rich Wickliffe did not want to shy away from the challenge.

“I want to be the first writer to successfully combine suspense with satire,” the Coral Springs resident said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do in ‘Tropical Windfall.’ There are a lot of clichés that I’ve turned upside down. I hope I got it right.”

“Tropical Windfall,” Wickliffe’s first novel, is set in South Florida and takes the reader on a journey that starts from Key West and moves through Miami Beach, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach. “I’ve been here for 32 years," he said. "I know the many nuances of South Florida. It’s beautiful, bizarre, romantic and sometimes scary.”

It was a news story that inspired the novel, Wickliffe said. “I heard about a couple who found a fortune and reported it to the authorities. As no one came to claim it, they were allowed to keep it. It made me think what would happen if the bad guys came back to claim the money. ‘Tropical Windfall’ tells the story of a couple who gets a fortune but reports only half of it to the authorities.”

Read the full article in today's issue of the Coral Springs Forum. Arun can be reached at 954-574-5339.

Eight years after he started learning karate and two years after he started competing, Coral Springs resident Kyle Montagna knows how it feels to be a champion.

Kyle, a ninth-grader at J.P. Taravella High School, recently won the 14 to 15 year old boy’s creative weapons division in the US Open Karate Championship. Competing against him were black belts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South Africa.

“I just wanted to do well. Winning was not on my mind at all,” said Kyle, a black belt since 2005. “I’ll never be able to explain what I felt when I won. Now that I know how great it feels to win, I want more.

Read the full article in the Sept. 4 issue of the Coral Springs Forum. Arun can be reached at 954-574-5339.

Reported discussions between Palm Beach County officials and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on the University Drive extension issue have made Coral Springs officials and staff sit up and take notice.

While the city is confident that all the data available vindicates the stand, the city has taken in support of extending University Drive to link Broward and Palm Beach counties, it remains wary of political considerations swaying the decision on the matter. Officials and staff, however, believe the department of community affairs will not endorse any proposal that is not good for the entire region.

The issue came up for discussion at a City Commission meeting last week, with City Attorney Sam Goran informing officials about the parleys between FDOT and Palm Beach officials. “If Palm Beach strikes a deal with FDOT, DCA (department of community affairs) will have to subscribe to it,” Goran said. “We have a problem then. But there are other strategies we will seek to employ.”

Opening University Drive is the only feasible solution,City Manager Mike Levinson said. “Whatever compromise they reach will have to be better or at least as good as the University Drive extension option. If they come up with something that is good for the entire region, we won’t oppose it. But the reality is that there is no alternative that is as viable as the one we are backing.”

Mayor Scott Brook wanted the city’s stand to be heard on the issue. “Let’s play a part, be active. Let’s be vocal. It’s important that the Broward MPO weighs in,” he said.

Coral Springs and Coconut Creek are in favor of extending the road, Parkland and Palm Beach oppose the plan vehemently. Parkland officials say extending University Drive will cause destruction of existing neighborhoods.

If being a successful artist means being a part of every worthwhile art lover’s collection, Yuri Gevorgian is in an enviably comfortable position.

Gevorgian, or Yuroz to lovers of art, is a much sought after artist, with his paintings, charcoals, ceramics, sculpture and jewelry a part of private and corporate collections in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. Some of his murals, including “Respect for Refugees” have been reproduced by the United Nations as commemorative stamps. Some have even seen traces of Picasso in Yuroz’s neo-cubist style.

Fame has wrecked many artists before him, but Yuroz has a foolproof way of preventing it from standing in the way of creativity. “Fame is a jacket. Put it in a closet and go to work. That’s what I do,” he said at a recent trip to the Coral Springs Museum of Art where an exhibition of his works will be on till Nov. 15.

Yuroz’s works have been exhibited at the museum earlier, museum executive director Barbara O’Keefe said. “His works deal with people and life. He is a tireless worker for peace as well. We thought it would be a good idea to celebrate peace month by holding a retrospective of his works.”

The museum is located at 2855 Coral Springs Drive. Call 954-340-5000.

Brookwood Florida-East, a home for teen girls that have been abused, neglected and abandoned in Coral Springs, is offering people in the community an opportunity to sweat for a worthy cause.

The non-profit will organize its 4th annual 5K "Steps to Independence" walk/run on Oct. 18 at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. For the group home, much hinges on the success of the event as state funding has come down substantially following budget cuts.

Brookwood site director Stacy Constantine is hoping for a good turnout at the event. “Last year, we raised about $13,000. This year, we are hoping to raise at least $20,000. We hope to get sponsors as well. All the money raised from the event goes directly to the 14 girls that we have here.”

“The deficit per day per child is between $30 to $40 after the money that we get from the State was reduced,” Constantine said. “We give the girls everything they need; it takes a lot of money. Any help that we can get from the community is great."

The girls in the group home have been abused mentally or physically, neglected or abandoned. “They are all in the 13-18 age group; some of them stay here for years,” Constantine said. “This becomes home for them; you can see their behavior changing with time. We teach them social skills, job skills, education sills; the idea is to get them ready for independent living.”

Register for the 5K "Steps to Independence" walk/run by calling (954) 757-3833, visiting www.nwbrr.com or by turning up at Quiet Waters Park at 7 a.m. on Oct. 18.

Esther Wolfer, mother of Major Stuart Wolfer who was killed in Iraq this April, often thinks she and her family members are part of a movie and that someone will soon say, “cut.”

“Stuart was in the green zone; we believed he was safe,” Esther said. “We try not to be sad, but our lives have changed. We now fly the American flag with greater pride.”

Esther was speaking at an event organized by J.P. Taravella High School Thursday to pay tribute to its fallen heroes, as well as the police and fire personnel serving the community, on the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 twin attacks. Stuart died April 6, leaving behind his wife Lee, three daughters Lillian, Melissa, and Isadora, parents, and sister.

The school has lost four of its graduates -- two in the attacks and two in the war against terror that followed. The high point of the ceremony came when their parents set butterflies free in memory of their children.

School principal Shawn Cerra said he was proud of the planning committee and the students who had put the event together. “We felt it was important for the parents of our fallen heroes to understand that they play an important role in our lives and the community. We will make this an annual affair; however I hope and pray we won’t have to pay special tributes to anyone else. We don’t want to lose any of our children.”

Later during the day, both Coral Springs and Parkland organized their own events to mark the day and to remember those who had lost their lives.

Vera Sacken, 101, has a simple piece of advice for anyone wanting to reach the three-figure mark in life.

"When you want to live long, you live long. Remember that. I also don't smoke or drink," the Coral Springs resident told city residents at a recent City Commission where she, along with other centurions in the city, were honored.

Catherine Goldsmith, 101, was born in Cincinnati and got married 56 years ago to Ferdinand Goldsmith. She was always active in sports and credits her long life to "no stress and healthy genes."

Jeanette Natt, 103, was born in Brooklyn. Her marriage to Jules Natt produced two children, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Age has played havoc with her sight and hearing, but she said she is grateful to God for leaving her mind.

Grace DuBois, born in Rolla, North Carolina, got married in 1927 to Lester DuBois. The couple has a son. She said she credits her longevity to "the good Lord who continues to be kind," while Leah Forman, 101, "just cannot figure out why I've lived so long."

Commissioner Claudette Bruck said she hoped honoring centurions would become an annual tradition in the city. “On behalf of the commission and our residents, I want to thank our senior citizens for all they have contributed and for all of the wisdom that they bring to our community.”

Frieda Mark and Sarah Panella were the other residents who were honored.

Just how good can you be in golf at 13? Incredibly good, as Coral Springs resident Carly Ray Goldstein keeps proving.

The 13-year old won her 55th, 56th and 57th championship golf titles respectively at the nationally recognized Pompano Beach Junior Golf Classic, the South Florida Professional Golf Association Season-Opening Championship, and the Palm Beach Gardens Tournament. At the rate she has been winning tournaments, she might run out of shelf space for her trophies.

Carly was swinging a cut-down club when she was 2 and hasn't looked back since. Inspiration, as she readily admits, came from her father. “My dad is a big part of my success,” Carly said. “I just work hard, and I love the game. That always leads to good things.”

Carly recently reached a small milestone in what promises to be a great career with the Coral Springs City Commission recognizing her recent achievements.

“We're always looking to recognize young people who are doing something incredible in our community, and so we take this opportunity to congratulate you,” Mayor Scott Brook said.

College students in Coral Springs now have an official platform to air their views on the improvements they would like to see in the city.

The City Commission recently decided in favor of including college students in the city’s student advisory council. The committee, which now includes 20 members representing the five high schools in the community, encourages young citizens to become involved in community affairs.

It was Mayor Scott Brook who broached the idea. “Many college students live in the community," he said. "They don’t get an opportunity to speak out on issues close to their heart. I want to invite them to be a part of our council. Let’s see what happens at the next meeting of the council,” he said.

Not everyone on the commission thought it was a good idea. Commissioner Roy Gold said he was not in favor of having 14 year olds mix with those who are 22.”

“The city can think of having a separate college advisory council," Gold said. "If we include college students in the existing council, they may not like it at all.”

Commissioner Claudette Bruck said she preferred college students in the city joining the customer involved government committee. “I don’t know if college students will like to be part of a council comprising teens. I like them going with an older group,” she said.

Commissioner Ted Mena voted in favor of including college students to the council but said he believed Gold had a point. “When you are 20, you don’t want to be called a teen. The issues of teens in high school and college students are entirely different. There is a big difference in maturity levels.”

The student advisory council will be working on a teen survey this year and will expand the city’s "What to Do Guide." The next meeting of the council, which is open to college students as well, will be at 4 p.m. on Sept. 23 at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive.

Whole Foods Market in Coral Springs will turn 10 this Saturday, and it wants the community to be a part of its celebrations.

Among the events planned as part of a free arts and music festival that day are natural and organic food sampling, cubism and cartooning workshops for kids, and champagne tasting and toasting. The Coral Springs Craft Guild will organize craft workshops, with lessons on weaving, decorative painting, wire-wrapping jewelry, stamping and decorative plant pots. The Coral Springs Museum of Art, and the Coral Springs Artist Guild will also be part of the celebrations.

Coral Springs residents and other customers can expect a fun, interactive afternoon, said Jonny Rose, Whole Foods marketing & community relations specialist. “We have been planning this for several months now," he said. "We thought entertaining our customers with music and arts would be a good way to mark the day. We expect a large turnout.”

The activities and performances will begin at 3 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. The Drum Circle, led by the Broward Drum Circle, will begin at 5:30 p.m. The store will allow customers who bring a musical instrument to join in. The celebrations will end with customers sampling varieties of champagne between 8 and 9 p.m.

Whole Foods Market is located at 810 University Drive in Coral Springs. Call 954-753-8000.

Candidates in most local elections within Broward County are pulling out all stops to ensure they end up winners, but their counterparts in Coral Springs and Parkland have made it without even facing the voters.

All three candidates in Coral Springs, Mayor Scott Brook, Commissioner Roy Gold (seat 3), and Tom Powers (seat 5), won’t be on the ballot in November. The same goes for Parkland commissioners Dave Rosenof (district 3), and Mark Weissman (district 4). Since no one qualified to run against them, all five automatically won seats.

Brook said he was elated at having another chance to serve the city. “I am happy the residents have confidence in me, and I will work hard to see the city progress," he said. "My primary focus will be economic development and phase two of the downtown area."

Brook said next year's budget will be a challenge because of the economy and the legislature. “We will meet the challenge head on," he said. "Over the course of this year, we will work creatively so that we will be able to reduce the amount of cutbacks in future.”

Tom Powers, who will replace Ted Mena on the Coral Springs City Commission in November, does not intend to wait for residents to come to him with complaints.

"There is nothing better than meeting residents and talking to them about issues that are close to their heart," Powers said. "I intend to continue walking neighborhoods and talking to people even after becoming a commissioner. I will randomly knock on people’s doors and ask them if there is something I can do to help them.”

Powers said he was happy to get the chance to make a difference in the lives of people in the city. “I know this position requires you to put in many hours and the pay is nothing compared to the effort you put in, but this is a great time to help people," he said. "I want to help stimulate the economy, attract businesses to the city and help existing businesses stay afloat.”

Powers, who lost a close election last time, was not taking any chances this time. "We got a lot of endorsements," Powers said. "After a while, we knew there wasn't anyone else in the race, but you still have to go through the motions. This one surely felt a lot different from last year."

Powers said Mena has done a wonderful job. “He played a significant role in the improvements the city has been in recent years. I look forward to working with the other commissioners and our staff. There is incredible dedication here.”

Roy Gold, who was re-elected unopposed to the Coral Springs City Commission, wants to focus on green initiatives and improving the quality of life in the city.

“The city’s new public safety building at Mullins Park will be green," Gold said. "We have a number of issues with downtown. I want to work with schools and for increasing public safety. I am satisfied with the support I got from the commission on environmental initiatives and sustainability issues.”

Gold said he felt pretty relaxed while on the campaign trail. “You never know until the end. I assembled a nice group of people and had [more than] 100 signs all over the city," he said.

Residents are concerned about increasing foreclosures in the city and about foreclosed homes not being cared for, Gold said.

“That’s one thing I heard from many people," he said. "They really value the appearance of the city and property values. The city is coming out with a new plan to tackle the problem. We want residents to inform us when they see a home in a bad state. We want them to help us do a better job.”

If you come across baby changing stations in Coral Springs restaurants some time in the future, thank Vice Mayor Vince Boccard.

Boccard, whose daughter Sophia was born in April, recently spoke of his travails as he went to a restaurant in the city with his wife and child. "You know what babies do; they eat, sleep and do something else. We wanted to change her diaper but there wasn't any baby changing station in the restroom, " he told the City Commission.

Boccard also suggested the city look into the possibility of an ordinance that makes baby changing stations mandatory in new and remodeled restaurants. Staff took a look around and came back with good news.

"There is an ordinance in Miami-Dade that we have looked at," City Attorney Sam Goran said.

The Baby Diaper-Changing Accommodations Ordinance (Section 8A - 114 of Miami Dade County Code) requires certain new and remodeled business establishments to have baby changing stations accessible to men and women.

Apart from restaurants in the county with a seating capacity of at least 50, theaters and movie houses, stadiums, sports arenas, libraries, passenger terminals, and shopping centers of more than 25,000 square feet are also required to have baby changing stations.

Coral Springs resident Bob Gillan hates it every time the postman comes to drop certified mail and he is not home.

For most city residents, it would mean a trip to the nearest post office. For Gillan and others in the city who live in areas falling under the 33076 zip code, it involves going to a post office in Coconut Creek Parkway, east of 441.

“For me, it is a 22-mile round trip,” said Gillan. “It has happened to me three times in the last 60 days. It is really annoying, and it is not happening to me alone. I estimate that there are about 2,000 families who are affected.”

Gillan, who was a member of the city’s planning and zoning board, appeared before the commission recently to take up the issue. “I speak for a number of my neighbors,” he said. “I know it is not a city issue, but it needs to be addressed again. The city has addressed the issue and tried to solve the problem but it has slipped off the radar now.” The postmaster general has “significant powers” that are difficult to touch, City Attorney Sam Goran said. “He is answerable only to the Congress.”

The city has been trying to get the issue resolved for at least 12 years, Commissioner Roy Gold said. “There have been group efforts and individual efforts as well. When I joined the commission, I sent letters to three Congress people. I was told there is nothing we can do."

What do you think about Coral Springs and Parkland coming together to observe national day of prayer? How about the two cities joining Tamarac, Parkland, Lauderhill, Coconut Creek and North Lauderdale in one big July 4 celebration?

It just might happen.

Coral Springs and neighboring cities have started discussions on the possibility of coming together to organize events jointly, sharing financial resources, staff and volunteers.

Officials and staff from Tamarac, Parkland, Lauderhill, Coconut Creek and North Lauderdale attended a meeting held in Coral Springs last week to discuss the idea that was mooted by the city’s multi-cultural advisory committee. The idea is to save money in the current difficult economic climate.

Staff from each city who are in charge of organizing special events are likely to get together soon to discuss the feasibility of the proposal and work out the logistics.

Following that meeting, the idea will be discussed by the city officials of each city before a decision is taken.

Coral Springs Commissioner Ted Mena, who heads the committee, said everyone who attended the meeting was “very receptive” of the idea. “They all agreed the idea has some merit and were willing to look at it. Unfortunately, we did not have anyone representing Margate, but we want them to be a part of this too.”

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said he favored the idea of cities working together and combining events to save some money. “We observe national day of prayer; Parkland don’t have something like that now. We can ask it to join us in organizing the event. By joining Tamarac for Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day Celebrations, we can be a part of a larger community gathering.”

“It was just an introductory meeting,” Udine said. “I want to discuss the idea with the City Commission and staff.

I was recently at the Dr. Paul's Memorial Dog Park in Coral Springs and came back impressed. Mightily impressed.

It is not just the facilities, the ambiance or the manner in which most of the dogs were on their best behavior; there is more to the place. There is plenty of quality in the humans out there too. People smile at each other quite a lot and seem to take genuine interest in others' pets.

Bill Garrett, a retired pilot who comes to the park almost every day with Pilot, a Doberman Pinscher, and two Standard Poodles - Pika and Shadow, likes the time he spends at the park. "This is perhaps the only place in Coral Springs where people smile and say 'hi' as they walk past. The dogs love being here too; there is plenty of place for them to run about."

Rob Lacey, another man I met at the park, knows more about dogs than many. His dog, Alex, is a rat terrier. Smaller than most of the dogs at the park, he moves around like a king. The other dogs seem to treat him that way too. He throws his weight around sometimes, but his companions don't seem to complain too much.

Rottweilers, said Lacey, were used by the Roman army. "They accompanied the troops to battle. They are really good at guarding things. I once had one, and if I had him in my car, I was never worried if I left stuff behind. He wouldn't let anyone else even come near."

Lacey also corrected a misconception I had. "The Great Dane is not the biggest dog; Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest dog breed. Some of them are as big as a pony. They are nice; sweet-tempered, and patient."

I also bumped into Mark Schult, who was at the park with Baby, his 18-month-old Pitbull. "They say Pitbulls are nasty, but Baby plays with the two kittens that I have. She treats them like they are her children."

I don't have a dog, but I've a feeling I will go back.

PHOTO: Pilot, a Doberman Pinscher, spends a quiet moment at Dr. Paul's Memorial Dog Park in Coral Springs.
Photo/Arun Sivasankaran
_____________________________________

Life is easier these days for Lori Danielson.

After countless phone calls, meetings with representatives of the school board, hours of worrying and finally, getting a lawyer to fight for her, the Coral Springs resident can sit back and relax when her daughter, a Type 1 diabetic, is in school.

With a nurse around for four hours a day at the school to monitor her blood sugar and give her insulin shots, she knows Ali, a fifth-grader at Eagle Ridge Elementary, is safe.

For more than a month, that wasn’t the case.

“There was a full-time nurse last year, but on Aug. 6, the school principal told me that the nurse would be in school only for two hours due to Broward County school district budget cuts,” Danielson said. “There are other students with health issues in the school, but no one needs constant monitoring as Ali does. I feared for her life; without a nurse, there wouldn’t be anyone qualified to help her if her blood sugar level was to drop to a major low.”

Calls to at least three school board members did not bear any result, Danielson said. “The school authorities tried to help but their hands were tied. I had a meeting with health services. There wasn’t any help coming my way. That’s when I decided to seek legal help. On Sept. 3, we filed an emergency injunction against the School Board of Broward County. That was the only option I had.”

When the case came up before Broward County Judge Cheryl Aleman, the school district of Broward County was initially in a mood to fight. It took the position that the Circuit Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case. But with the two parties having arrived at a compromise, Danielson can breathe again.

Coral Springs officials and staff believe spreading the good word about the city is a great way to attract new businesses and ensure economic development.

At a recent workshop, Christine Verdi-Sarwar, Director of Communications and Marketing, presented a status report on the city’s branding effort to the commission. The idea is to sell the city’s strong points, with an eye on attracting new businesses and maintaining a strong sense of community pride.

The city’s branding efforts are paying off, City Manager Mike Levinson said. “We’ve come a long way. This is not about balloons, t-shirts or coffee cups. This is about using the Baldrige award to validate our community of excellence approach. This is all about return on investment.”

Mayor Scott Brook was convinced that the city had the right strategy. “We want to have successful development of business so that we can diversify our tax base. We have to use Baldrige to promote our city as the location of first resort for both residents and businesses.”

Commissioner Ted Mena did not like the idea.

“It looks like we are blowing our horns a bit too much," Mena said. “The more we do that, the more people hate us. They think we are too elite. Why do we have to brand our city? Shouldn’t we be humble? Are we going a little overboard with how great we are?”

In the coming weeks, city staff, in partnership with the Economic Development Foundation, will develop prospectus materials as part of the branding efforts. Although the branding efforts will hinge on the Baldrige award, the city’s low crime rate, AAA credit rating, A-rated schools, the presence of Olympians in the community, and performance awards will also be used to create a buzz.

If you love books and live in and around Coral Springs, now would be a good time to support the only library in the city.

The Northwest Regional Library has had its hours and number of staff reduced following the budget cuts, Mimi Hershenson, Regional Library manager said. “Prior to August this year, we were open 70 hours a week. That has been cut back to 58. We have lost positions too. Five positions that fell vacant last year were eliminated this year. Four of our staff members were reassigned to other libraries.”

While many of the other libraries in the county get adequate support from their respective Friends of the Library group, the Friends in Coral Springs could do with a bit of help themselves.

The Friends of the Coral Springs Libraries has only about 40 active volunteers, president Mary Riley said. “Most of the other libraries have many more. A lot of our members have died or either grown old. We need more support from the community.”

Libraries in the county are counting a lot on the Friends in the current economic climate, Friends vice president Brad Roth said. “We fund a lot of programs. The number of active volunteers that we have has begun to drop. We would also like to have younger members who are willing to spend time for the library.”

To know more about the library or to become a member of the Friends of the Coral Springs Libraries, call 954-341-3900.

What’s the lesser evil if you have a young child at home, a PlayStation or a computer?

Eric Ackerman, Nova Southeastern University professor, believes gifting the child a PlayStation would be a better idea than letting them use the computer at home. “There are people out there who want to prey on your children. PlayStation is good. Predators don’t get into them,” he said at a “safety night” organized by Riverside Elementary PTO last Friday.

Computers should be kept only in an open and common space at home, Ackerman said. “Don’t shelter your children from the fact that there are bad people in the world. Second or third grade is a good time to tell them a bit about the dangers out there. Educating children early about Internet safety is important.”

“There are many social networking sites on the Internet," Ackerman said. "Children from 8 to 16 dominate such sites as they like to make friends online. Create an account and see how it works. Talk to your children about the information they can share with others online. Using parental control software is a good idea, but don’t rely on that alone.”

Sixty five percent of the content on the Internet is sex, Ackerman said. “That is what makes money. Sex offenders on the Internet, on average, are white males in the 25 to 55 age group. They belong to the middle to upper class and are often professional employees. Many are involved in children’s activities,” he said.

Riverside Elementary is implementing many programs to combat bullying, school assistant principal Sherry Rosen said. “We don’t have a problem with bullying but we teach children how to be nice towards each other and how to stand up for themselves. It’s all about having respect for each other.”

Grace Stambaugh, PTO secretary, said the event was organized to empower parents. “We wanted to give them as much information as we can to keep their kids safe. This year, we have focused our efforts on parental participation in our activities.”

The League of Women Voters of Broward County and the Coral Springs "Customer Involved Government Committee" is offering you a chance to listen live to the incumbents and challengers in two Broward congressional districts.

The "Congressional Candidate Forum" will be held 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs. Interest in the event has increased following the absence of Democratic incumbents at a Palm Beach County forum last week. The incumbents remained in Washington to vote on the Wall Street bailout.

U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, Republican challenger Ed Lynch and independent Ben Graber are running in the 19th Congressional District. They will be joined at the "Congressional Candidate Forum" by U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, and his Republican challenger, Allen West, who will contest the 22nd District.

Wexler's district covers parts of Coral Springs, Margate, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, and Coconut Creek mostly west of I95. District #22, Klein's district, covers parts of Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek, Oakland Park, Cooper City, Boca Raton, Parkland, Coral Springs, Davie, Plantation and Ft. Lauderdale, mostly along the coast but inland in certain communities.

The event is just one of the activities of the League of Women Voters during election time, said Stephanie Pearson. "We have a very active speakers bureau. Our speaking engagements address the 16 ballot amendments - both state and county. We do take positions on issues but only after studying them and arriving at a consensus. We have earned a name for being thoughtful and non partisan."

"We do a lot of work during election time; we encourage informed and active participation of citizens in government,," Pearson said. "Our members are interested in politics, no question about that, but none of the leaders are allowed to work for political parties."

For information about the Forum, call Stephanie Pearson at 954-752-2713.

Here is some news you can use.

Deputy Appraisers will assist with homestead, senior and other property tax exemption applications, as well as answer questions on property taxes, from 3 to 5 p.m., on Oct. 8 at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Dr, Coral Springs. The event is open to the public.

Applications for Portability will be entertained at the program. The outreach program is designed to provide convenient and accessible service to the residents of Broward County. 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 January 1 this year can apply for the additional senior exemption. Eligible seniors must have a total household adjusted gross income not to exceed $24,916. Documents required for the Senior Exemption include a 2007 income tax return or, if one does not file income taxes, a copy of the 2007 Social Security 1099 Form.

Visit www.bcpa.net, call 954.357.5579, or e-mail kbrown@bcpa.net to find out details.

A passionately involved audience listened intently as candidates running in the 19th and 22nd congressional districts took aim and directed barbs at each other at a candidates' forum in Coral Springs Monday night.

The event was jointly organized by the League of Women Voters of Broward County and the Coral Springs Customer Involved Government Committee. There was palpable excitement in the air, and the moderator did not have much success in her attempts to get the audience to be quiet as the candidates spoke.

With approval ratings at an all time low, it is not the best of times to be a Congressman. And so it proved for U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, seeking to retain the 19th district, and U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D- Boca Raton, who is seeking re-election in the 22nd district. Their challengers seemed to enjoy plenty of crowd support.

"People are hurting; foreclosure rates in Florida are too high," said Wexler, kicking off the debate. "It is time to pass universal health care. It is time to bring troops home responsibly from Iraq. We need to focus on our true enemies in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Ben Graber, an independent, spoke of the "culture of corruption in the congress" and "Wexler's friends in Wall Street." Criticizing politicians in Washington for the bailout, he said, "They created the problem themselves. Anyone who voted for the bill last week is irresponsible. Lobbyists control both parties. Special interests are in control. The economy is in shambles but Wexler voted to support the war in Iraq."

It is "absolutely horrendous" that the congress has an approval rating of 9 percent, Republican challenger Ed Lynch said. "The financial crisis was caused by politicians in Washington. Too many people have no clue what the problem is. A party has been going on too long in Washington at taxpayers' expense. Bipartisanship is twice as bad as partisanship. Wasteful spending needs to stop."

Wexler was quick to counter. "It's baloney to say some of us are part of the problem. The economy we have is an economy engineered by President Bush."

Responding to questions on stability in the Middle East and the Iraq war, Graber said it was important to realize who the enemy is. "The enemies have been smarter than us so far. They are playing chess and we are playing checkers. We are allowing Iran to dictate policy. We should negotiate with Iran but with pre-conditions. War is the failure of diplomacy."

Lynch had a different view on the issue. "We need to win in Iraq and Afghanistan. We had a good reason to go to Iraq. We need to take care of business there. We need to set the tone. Then, we need to address Iran."

Wexler spoke about the benefits of "direct diplomacy." "America works best when it engages from a position of strength. I'm against pre-emptive war. We need to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan; we have not won the war against Al-Qaeda. Let us get Osama Bin Laden."

Wexler said he was in favor of a new nuclear non-proliferation treaty "as the current treaty had not served as well as it should." "We had to sanction India, a partner and ally. We must not put our head in the sand."

There are a lot of rogue nations in the world these days, Graber said. "We cannot negotiate with these kind of people. We need a new kind of diplomacy; we need out of the box thinking." America needs to be forceful, Lynch said."Rules are for people who are willing to follow rules. We need to be America, the strongest nation in the world."

The Klein-Allen West debate, that followed, also saw some interesting moments. Judging by the reaction, West had more supporters in the audience.

Klein said he would keep voting for common sense solutions that will bring the country back on track. "We got here because of eight years of greed. A lot of mistakes have been made in the last eight years. It was a very difficult vote (on the Wall Street bailout) but I did what I thought was right."

West said he would not have supported the bailout plan. "There are other things they could have done. They showed they are not leaders. Washington is a place so infested with corruption, incompetence and irresponsibility."

The candidates also answered questions on Israel, energy, the Iraq war, illegal immigrants and the economy.

Wexler's district covers parts of Coral Springs, Margate, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, and Coconut Creek mostly west of I95. District #22, Klein's district, covers parts of Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek, Oakland Park, Cooper City, Boca Raton, Parkland, Coral Springs, Davie, Plantation and Ft. Lauderdale.

Brookwood Florida-East, a home for teen girls that have been abused, neglected and abandoned in Coral Springs, is offering people in the community an opportunity to sweat for a worthy cause.

The non-profit will organize its fourth annual 5K "Steps to Independence" walk/run on Oct. 18 at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. For the group home, much hinges on the success of the event as state funding has come down substantially following budget cuts.

Brookwood site director Stacy Constantine is hoping for a good turnout at the event. “Last year, we raised about $13,000. This year, we are hoping to raise at least $20,000. We hope to get sponsors as well. All the money raised from the event goes directly to the 14 girls that we have here.”

“The deficit per day per child is between $30 to $40 after the money that we get from the State was reduced,” Constantine said. “We give the girls everything they need; it takes a lot of money. Any help that we can get from the community is great. We look for small grants too.”

The girls in the group home have been abused mentally or physically, neglected or abandoned. “They are all in the 13 to 18 age group; some of them stay here for years,” Constantine said. “This becomes home for them; you can see their behavior changing with time. We teach them social skills, job skills, education sills. The idea is to get them ready for independent living.”

Register for the event by calling 954-757-3833, visiting www.nwbrr.com or by turning up at Quiet Waters Park at 7 a.m. on Oct. 18.

Coral Springs is one City Commission decision away from entering the housing business.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has offered the city a chance to enter the housing business. Mayor Scott Brook believes it is an idea worth pursuing, but his colleagues on the commission think differently.

The city has been allocated $3,378,142 by the department through its neighborhood stabilization program (NSP). The money is to be used to address the effects of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The funds can be used in five ways, including purchase and rehabilitation of such homes and residential properties.

“I’m OK with the city being in the housing business," Brook said. "We already have real estate in Coral Springs. I like the idea of selective purchase of abandoned homes. We will have to spend some money to maintain them, but the market will turn around.”

The city should stay out of the housing business, City Manager Mike Levinson said. “We are not a housing authority; we are not in that business. We can acquire and renovate foreclosed homes but where are the buyers going to come from? There isn’t a market out there. There are carrying costs associated with the properties.”

Vice Mayor Vince Boccard agreed with Levinson. “This is not something I want Coral Springs to be doing. If we are buying houses, we might end up not being able to sell them. I think it is going to be at least two years before the housing market turns around. “It will be good if we can use the money to maintain foreclosed homes in the city.”

It is not the role of a city to be a landlord, Commissioner Roy Gold said. “In the market we are in now, I wouldn’t recommend being in the housing market. I think it would be a great negative. But $3.3 million is a lot of money. We should get as many dollars as we can without putting Coral Springs at risk.”

The last date to apply for the program is Dec. 1.

Coral Springs residents will get a chance tomorrow to indulge their philanthropic instincts while enjoying a wide variety of wine and food.

Proceeds from the fifth annual Festival of the Flutes will benefit the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Foundation, the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention and Community Chest. All three are charities that help the needy in the community.

The event is being organized by Premier Networking Alliance, Inc. Coral Mayor Scott Brook, who heads the organization, is hoping for another successful year. “Suicide prevention is something very close to my heart. I lost my mother to suicide many years ago,” Brook said. “The Community Chest supports 25 to 28 organizations. Vince (Boccard) is very much involved with the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Foundation.”

The event will have wine tasting, food from popular local restaurants, live music, as well as silent and Chinese auctions. Auction items will include reserve wines, themed gift baskets, restaurant gift certificates, spa days, and fine art. The theme of this year’s event - taste of the tropics – offers ample scope for lots of color and fun.

Terry Boccard, who is the chairwoman of the event, said the event has raised plenty of interest in the community. “It is tough for anyone to get sponsorships in today’s economy but things are going well. We hope to have about 300 people at the event. The goal is to raise at least $15,000.”

Festival of the Flutes will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the Coral Springs Marriott Resort & Convention Center, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd in Coral Springs. Visit www.festivaloftheflutes.org. For tickets, call Carol Warner at 954-757-2108 or Pat Mirabello at 954-344-5907. Tickets are $40 in advance and $60 at the door.

It has taken a while, but Coral Springs Commissioner Roy Gold has finally been granted his wish.

Gold, who was recently re-elected unopposed to the commission, will replace Commissioner Ted Mena as the city's representative in the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The organization, established in 1977 by the State Legislature, has 19 members and is responsible for transportation planning in the county.

"I've wanted this position for four and a half years now," Gold said. "One of issues I will be fighting for is the extension of University Drive. It's not an easy fight, but it is an important one for the city.I will fight to do the right thing."

"University Drive was always planned to go through," Gold said. "Extending the road will benefit the region a great deal. But recently, we have heard reports of Palm Beach County officials holding talks with Florida Department of Transportation and trying to prevent the road from going through. That is disheartening. All of us had agreed to a process and now, the issue is being discussed without Broward MPO being on the table."

Gold will represent the city well in the MPO, Mena said. "He has been very active in pushing for extension of University Drive. He has the time, ability and the knowledge to do a great job. However, he will have to watch out for the politicking that goes on behind the scenes."

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook wants Barack Obama to be the next president of the country, and he is doing his best to ensure it happens.

Brook said will tell reporters on Monday why "Obama is better for cities, citizens and Florida." He won't be alone; with him, making a statement in favor of the Democratic Party candidate will be other mayors and elected officials.

The coming together of mayors and elected officials to support Obama is Brook's idea. "I've not done this before, but that is how passionate I am about this candidate. Parkland Mayor Michael Udine and Tamarac Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco will be with me. I am talking with other elected officials, too."

Watch this blog for more information.

Hooman Rafiee, coordinator of the Baha’i Faith Youth Group, says he cannot put into words the emotions he feels every time the group performs at One Planet United's annual interfaith music concert.

“The experience is unimaginable,” Rafiee said. “There is nothing but unity all around you. Every moment is about love. The event is all about what the society and the world needs.”

This Sunday, Rafiee will relive the experience.

The two-hour long fourth annual Faith in Music concert at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts is expected to feature over 270 performers representing 10 different choirs from Coral Springs and other cities in Broward County. Making a statement for unity in diversity will be five different world religions.

Non-perishable food items will be collected and distributed to local food pantries, said Jack Bloomfield, director of One Planet United. “We have asked performers to bring food, and we are hoping everyone in the audience, too, will support what we are trying to do. If that happens, it will be huge. A lot of people in the community are in rough shape.”

The concert will be at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. Tickets cost $10 and are on sale at the center box office and all participating congregations. Call 954-340-2115.

Andrea MacVicar, children’s book writer and a retired pastor, was in college when she rescued Zoftic, a black Labrador pup, from behind her yard.

“It was 1977; I was in my thirties and we were living in Michigan,” the Coral Springs resident said. “There was a large field behind our house. One day, I heard puppies crying and walked out to see five Labrador pups; someone had abandoned them. Four of them were male; I adopted the female.”

Zoftic more than returned the favor, in life and even after her death.

“Tales of Zoftic,” a book that has the Labrador as the central character, has not only won MacVicar praise but also helped her raise more than $5,000 for charity. The money will help the Humane Society, Friends of Greyhounds, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Christian Aid Mission.

“The book is about two love stories – in one, Zoftic helps her master find a life partner. In the second story, she falls in love with a German shepherd, a police dog,” MacVicar said. “I wrote it for third and fourth grade students. Many adults have told me they enjoyed the book as well. I have had nothing but positive reviews; a literary agent said the rhyme is impeccable while a teacher said the vocabulary is very rich.”

MacVicar is back to writing these days. “It’s a mystery science fiction for middle school children. This is prose, a different book entirely. Any writing is a matter of skill, craft and inspiration. I like the challenge of doing something new.”

Tales of Zoftic is available at http://inspirationpress.org for $21.45, including shipping.

Barack Obama is getting a lot of love from elected officials in Northwest Broward.

Led by Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook, officials supporting Barack Obama came together at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts Monday in a show of support for the Democratic Party candidate. Most of them plan to work overtime over the next few days to get undecided voters to support Obama.

Sen. Jeremy Ring, State Representative Ari Porth, Broward County Vice Mayor Stacy Ritter, Parkland Mayor Michael Udine, Tamarac Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Coral Springs Commissioner Roy Gold, Coconut Creek commissioners Marilyn Gerber and Lisa Aronson, and Pembroke Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo were among those who joined Brook in supporting Obama.

Although the group that heard the officials speak was not the largest, there was plenty of spirit among the speakers and those who were in attendance. Adding to the spice was the presence of a sizable number of Republicans, wearing McCain-Palin T-shirts and waving placards, near the venue.

The country needs Obama’s vision, Brook said. “He will rally the nation. Post-Bush, we will need to do things differently. Our federal debt has nearly doubled during the last eight years. Obama wants to run government from the bottom up. That is the way we do business in Coral Springs.”

Udine said he was in favor of extending early voting hours. “We should not be limiting the ability of the voters to vote," he said. "We, in the city, are holding an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. If budgetary constraints are the reason for not extending voting hours, we will see what we can do about it.”

The economy has never been as bad as it is now, Gold said. “I am glad to be here representing Obama. In my family, everyone is voting for him. Two terms of Bush have been devastating for the country. If you are going to vote, vote for Obama.”

Shari Black, a Republican supporter who heard Brook and the other officials speak, said people in the country would feel shortchanged if they voted for Obama. “American people need a savior now. A lot of people are hurting. I think Obama is charismatic, intelligent and bold, But I won’t vote for him as I don’t agree with his philosophy.”

Coral Springs City Manager Mike Levinson got a raise and plenty of praise from City Commission members at last week’s meeting.

After an annual performance review, city officials unanimously decided to give Levinson a 6 percent raise on his existing salary of $205,635, taking into account his performance that substantially above expectations.” His new annual base salary will be $214,374 – 4.25 percent of the raise will be added to the base salary, while Levinson will take the rest home in cash.

Pembroke Pines spends $754,941 every year on its city manager and deputy city manager, while the Fort Lauderdale city manager takes home an annual base salary of $230,090. The corresponding figure for city managers in Boca Raton, Hollywood, Sunrise, and Coconut Creek are $211,576, $201,115, $187,335, and $192,800.

Although Levinson’s contract was originally from Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2009, he has agreed to stay on for another year.

The decision of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to summarily dismiss a proposal to widen State Road 7 to better link Broward and Palm Beach counties has pleased Coral Springs City commission members.

The decision means that the chances of the city’s preferred option – extension of University Drive to link Broward and Palm Beach – becoming a reality remain bright. City officials believe the MPO’s decision vindicates their stand on the issue.

Commissioner Ted Mena, who is the city representative on the MPO, asked his successor Roy Gold to keep his eyes open at all times. “We thought the proposal had to do with University Drive, but it concerned nothing but SR-7. This is not the first time they have tried to sneak in a proposal and get us to approve it. I want to thank Tamarac and Coconut Creek. They stood up for us.”

Commissioner Roy Gold said he was happy at the stand taken by the MPO against the study. “But there is a feeling that there are mixed signals coming from the county. The MPO wants the county to take an official stand on the issue.”

Mayor Scott Brook wanted Gold to meet MPO director Roger Del Rio and share the city’s sentiment on the issue. “Don’t be bullied. We need to be as aggressive as possible. A lot of times, I have had the feeling that he is not vocalizing our sentiment on the issue.”

Coral Springs and Coconut Creek are in favor of extending University Drive, but Parkland and Palm Beach oppose the plan. Parkland officials say extending University Drive will cause destruction of existing neighborhoods. The issue is of added importance to the city as it will get the wedge - nearly 2,000 acres of Palm Beach County land - only if plans for extending the road are permanently dropped.

Coral Springs City Commissioners have rejected the idea of the city entering the housing business.

Instead, the city will use the $3,378,142 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide financial assistance for very low, low, or moderate-income residents seeking to buy a home. The money will be used for down payment assistance and repairs.

The city has entered into a partnership with Community Redevelopment Associates of Florida Inc. for implementation of the neighborhood stabilization program. The agency will prepare an action plan within two weeks. The program has to be in place by December, while the funds have to be used within 18 months. The focus of the program will be on foreclosed properties in the 33065 zip code area.

The arrangement with CRA helps the city accomplish more with less risk, said the City Manager Mike Levinson. “The neighborhood stabilization program goes hand in hand with the foreclosure prevention program that we have implementing. We are doing the proactive stuff; this is reactive.”

“We will work with CRA for pre-qualification of buyers,” Levinson said. “We will also pre-qualify homes as well. The money will be given on a first come first serve basis.”

Housing counseling for prospective buyers is an integral part of the program, said assistant city manager Erdal Donmez. “Ten percent of the grant will be used for administrative expenses, with CRA getting 6.8 percent. There are 485 foreclosed homes owned by banks in Coral Springs while 462 are in the final stages of foreclosure."

Coral Springs is expanding its recycling program in parks following the success of a pilot project at Betti Stradling Park.

The pilot program began in July last year, said Rick Engle, director of parks and recreation. “We average [more than] 96 gallons per week in the park," he said. "We also have 20 recycling cans each in Mullins Park, Cypress Park and North Community Park now. We also put recycling bins inside the gym.”

The city will continue educating residents about recycling, Engle said. “We get more compliance from children than adults. People tend to use the closest garbage can and also contaminate recycling bins, but we are moving forward and hope to get better compliance,” Engle said.

Vice Mayor Vince Boccard suggested involving as many students as possible in the city’s recycling efforts. “Why not have a slogan contest involving school students? Working with the student advisory council will be a good idea, too,” he said.

Working with sports teams was important for the success of the program, Commissioner Roy Gold said. “We should tell teams how important recycling is to us. We should think of entering into a contract with the teams.”

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PHOTO: Coral Springs High School Band members, from left, Stephen Dryden, 14, Shane Nerenberg, 15, and Courtney St. Hilaire, 15, all of Coral Springs, wait to play percussion at the largest marching band festival in South Florida this weekend at Coral Springs High School.
Staff photo/Eric Bojanowski
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Weekends in Coral Springs are set to get more interesting.

Coral Springs Center for the Arts has a double delight ready for residents in and around Coral Springs. While Dancing Under the Stars, an outdoor nightclub that will open on Fridays and Saturdays, will debut tomorrow, the Comedy Club will makes its appearance next week.

“These ideas have been kicking around in my head for quite a while,” said Kevin Barrett, Coral Springs Center for the Arts general manager. “We want to give people in Coral Springs and nearby cities the type of entertainment they want. This will be a one-stop shop for people looking for entertainment.”

The two new clubs will be a success, Barrett said. “We are giving people multiple options now, all at the same place. People can see a Broadway show, enjoy a comedy club performance, and then dance the night away.”

“There is little to no nightlife currently in Coral Springs,” said Christine Fuchs, a Coral Springs resident. "My husband and I love outdoor venues and music. We love the city center; it's close to home. We also love to gather with friends. This seems like a great idea.”

The outdoor nightclub will feature a 120-person dance floor, a variety of special seating, including cocktail tables and VIP cabana areas, as well as state-of-the-art lighting and special effects. Smoking is permitted.

Call the Coral Springs Center for the Arts administration office at 954-344-5999 or visit www.coralspringscenterforthearts.com.

Four Russian visitors are now in Coral Springs and other cities in Broward County, making the most of an opportunity to learn about elections in the U.S and experience American life and culture.

Karp Didenko, Oxana Kurovskaya, Olga Kuznetsova, and Andrey Starkov – political and civic leaders in Russia and Siberia - have been busy since Friday meeting local and county officials, observing elections processes, meeting with social agencies, and visiting various tourist spots. While Didenko owns retail stores, Starkov owns a movie theater. Kuznetsova is a professor at an university with a Ph.D. in economics, while Kurovskaya is a public relations manager.

They are in the county as part of the Open World program that seeks to enhance understanding between the United States and the countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States. Taking care of the visitors and ensuring their visit is a success is the League of Women Voters of Broward County.

Didenko, who is from the city of Kaluga, near Moscow, is amazed by the similarities between his country and the U.S. “There are a quite a lot of things in common; probably more in common than differences. Except the climate of course,” he said.

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Vince Boccard, commissioners Roy Gold and Ted Mena, league member and Open World leadership chairwoman Cynthia Hollar, league president Marcia Barham, Zaida Arguedas, League senior director in charge of global democracy programs, and league member Madeline Urbanski were also at the meeting.

“They have been really busy from the time they got here,” Hollar said. “The high point was of course Election Day. They visited the Supervisor of Elections command center, precincts, and BECON for election result televised reporting. They also went to early voting sites, met with county commissioners and Coral Springs city officials.”

The league was chosen from a list of applications to host the Russian leaders, Carol Smith, former president of the league, said. “They are here mainly to see the election process and to see civic involvement. And we have a lot of that in Coral Springs."

Santa Claus is coming to town, and early.

Coral Springs residents and people living in nearby cities will be able to catch an early glimpse of Santa this event at the Coral Square mall. Families can join the parade.

Santa will be perched atop Coral Springs fire department’s shiny red fire truck and will be accompanied by the Coral Springs Police Department’s motorcycle division. The Taravella High School Drum Line will herald Santa’s arrival in the mall parking lot. The parade will follow.

“We are expecting hundreds of families,” said Elisha Sova of the Coral Square Mall marketing department. “We always do a Santa arrival but this is the first time in a while that we are working with the police and fire departments.”

“We will provide bells for the kids to ring as they welcome Santa,” said Sova. “Santa will be here for the entire season. Families can come and have photos taken with Santa. Those who have pets can have photos taken of their pet with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 and Dec. 8.”

The event will begin at 6 p.m. today at Coral Square Mall, 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd. The holiday parade will be at 6:30 p.m. Call 954-755-5552.

The Coral Springs Museum of Art is giving art lovers in the community an opportunity to have fun, with family members in tow.

The museum organizes a Family Fun Day at 3:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The theme for today's event is "2D into 3D." Participants will be able to create 3D sculptures from a variety of 2D (flat) objects. Cardboard, wire, wood, paint and glue will be some of the supplies used for the project.

"Family fun days are very popular; we get more than 60 people every month,' said Jan Riznikove at the museum. "We have different themes for each month. The event will be held again on Dec. 13 and Jan. 10. The Dec 13 event will have Dale Chihuly's sculptures as the theme."

The program is appropriate for children ages 3 and up with a parent(s) or guardian(s). Participation fee is $4 per person. Call 954.340.5000 for reservations.

Coral Springs Swim Club members and other people in the community are coming together to support head coach Michael Lohberg who suffers from aplastic anemia.

A 3K Family Fun Run-Walk-Stroll to benefit Lohberg will take place from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Nov. 16. The event will begin and end at the Coral Springs aquatic complex.

Lohberg was diagnosed with the serious blood disorder just days before he was to leave for Beijing to join Dara Torres, Kazakhstani Olympian Vlad Polyakov, and six more international swimmers who trained under him. Lohberg was sent to the National Institute of Health for treatment. He is now better and back home with his family and team.

"I am very grateful for all that they are doing for me," said Lohberg. "It shows what kind of a team we have. A lot of other teams are also helping out. All I can say is that i am very thankful."

Luz Campo, who is among the core team organizing the event, is expecting at least 250 to 300 participants. "The city is supporting us; there are a lot of people who are involved. We hope to raise at least $5,000."

Registration will be at 6:30 a.m. Food, drinks, and a raffle drawing for an athlete's basket will be provided for participants. Registration forms can be found on www.csscswim.com. Registration fees are $15 for adults, and $11 for children 2 and under. Same day registration is $18 for everyone.

Donations for Coach Michael's Fight should be sent to Bank Atlantic, FBO Michael Lohberg, 4695 N. University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33076, with checks payable to Michael Lohberg Account number 006066580.

Coral Springs Museum of Art will begin its next five-week program of “Art classes in an art museum” on Nov. 17.

To make the classes interesting and interactive, instructors will incorporate discussions of the current exhibits. All classes are age appropriate.

The classes attract art lovers in the community, said Sheri Adanti, museum associate director. “We get a good response, both from kids and adults," she said. "Some of the kids who have attended our classes have gone on to pursue art careers. Some come back as teen volunteers, while a few even become paid teachers at our summer camps.”

Children’s classes include acrylic painting, drawing techniques, ceramic hand-building, cartoon art, comic book design, exploring sculpture, photography, drawing for the young, “Kreative Kids”, and “Ready, Set Van Gogh!” Adult classes include oil and acrylic painting, abstract painting, wheel techniques for clay, watercolor, techniques of drawing, and figure drawing.

“Ceramics is one of the favorites. There are many people interested in painting and drawing as well,” Adanti said. “Comic book design is big with the kids. We have 17 teachers. All of them are either professional artists or have degrees in art, or both.”

Children’s classes are held after school and on Saturdays. Classes for middle school students begin at 4:15 p.m. Adult classes are held mornings, evenings and on Saturdays. All supplies are included for children’s art classes, but adults will need to bring their own supplies, except for clay classes.

Call 954-340-5000 or fax the registration form to 954-346-4424. Visit www.csmart.org.

Coral Springs has come up with a novel idea to further increase its tree canopy.

The city’s new program, “Growing Together,” will allow families to watch their child and tree grow together. Residents can celebrate a child’s birth by planting a tree in his or her honor.

Anyone interested in the program can purchase trees from the city. Trees available are the Pink tabebuia ($288), live oak ($272), royal poinciana ($264.50), bald cypress ($236), mahogany ($207.50), gumbo limbo ($210), red maple ($185.50), and golden shower tree ($275).

Checks for trees should be made out to the "City of Coral Springs." City staff will plant and maintain the tree. Parents can also provide a 5-foot by 7-foot plaque to identify the tree. The plaque must be metal, bronze in color with a black background. The city will install the plaque, but residents are responsible for the maintenance.

All trees will be planted along the pathway at Oakwood Park, 10284 SW First Court. Trees will be planted quarterly throughout the year. Call 954-345-2200.

A variety of tennis activities are available in Coral Springs in the upcoming months.

This Saturday, the Coral Springs Tennis Center will organize the Winterfest charity Pro-Am tournament from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All proceeds will benefit the Coral Springs Community Chest. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a hit-for-prizes contest, followed by a fast serve contest. The cost is $15 and includes lunch. Spectators are welcome and anyone may have lunch for $10.

Registration is also open for group tennis lessons this fall at the center and Cypress Park. Sessions begin the week of Nov. 17 and go through Dec. 13, with no class on Thanksgiving Day.

Group classes will be offered for all ages and skill levels. USPTA certified tennis professionals instruct all classes. Junior classes are offered weekdays after school and on Saturdays, while adult classes are scheduled weekday mornings and evenings.

Holiday break camp also is offered for children, ages 4 to 16, from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 22 to 24 and again Dec. 29 to 31. Participants will be grouped by age and ability. Advanced registration is required.

For more advanced junior players, the city offers its Junior Tennis Academy for three levels – advanced, competitive and elite training. An evaluation from one of the tennis professionals is required to enter the academy.

Call 954-344-1840.

Today and Saturday, J.P. Taravella High School will have its first dance marathon.

The event will start at 8 p.m. today in the school's cafeteria, 10600 Riverside Drive, and it will continue until 8 a.m. Saturday.

The money from the 12-hour event goes entirely to Miami Children's Hospital, which is part of the Children's Miracle Network. One hundred percent of the The program started at Penn State University and more than 80 percent of the nation's leading universities now participate.

About 150 dancers are expected to participate in the Taravella event. There will be a variety of music and entertainment while each dancer is on his or her feet for 12 hours.

The public is welcome to stop by to encourage participants.

Officials in Coral Springs and Parkland are busy finalizing strategy on the University Drive extension issue, following reports that political considerations might play a key role in the outcome that has the two cities taking different stands.

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook, who is a member of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, is banking on the committee supporting his city’s stand. “I’ve asked the council to do a study on University Drive. The plan is to get their support, “he said.

“We also need to speak to Broward County commissioners to get support for extension of University Drive,” Brook said. “That way, we will have two other things for the other side to consider before a final decision is taken.”

Parkland Mayor Michael Udine wanted the commission to stay vigilant. “Things are moving in our favor due to the stand take by Palm Beach County. I don’t think the road is going to be built. Annexation will be complete and we will get the wedge.”

“Palm Beach County has removed the right of way for the road and submitted it to the [Department of Community Affairs]. We recently had a meeting with developers of the wedge. They want us to get more involved. The rest of [Broward County] wants the road to go through. They don’t care. I don’t think they have the money to build the road. But we want to make sure the road stays off the map.”

Commissioner Jared Moskowitz wanted members of the City Commission to attend future meetings of the Broward MPO. “If we attend the meetings and start showing our faces, it will make it difficult for them to push their agenda.”

As decided by the commission, Udine and Mark Weissman, the new Parkland Vice Mayor, will attend the next meeting of the Broward MPO.

More than thirty one years after he went missing, family members of Jeffrey Klee know that he was killed. They also believe David Cusanelli, his best friend, was responsible for his death. Investigators even have Cusanelli admitting that he may have put Jeff's body in his car, with the help of his brother Carl, and pushed it into a canal.

However, David remains free, as does Carl, thanks to the statutory limitations in affect at the time of Klee's death. Prior to Oct. 1, 1996, prosecutions for manslaughter in Florida had to be initiated within three years of the offence. Klee’s family members cannot seek justice in a court of law, a fact they are yet to come to terms with.

“Today is a sad day for our family,” said Laurel Steele, Klee’s sister, as she read a prepared statement at a press conference held Thursday afternoon at the Coral Springs police department headquarters. Standing beside her were Florence Klee, Jeffrey’s mother, and Cynthia Klee, his other sister.

“Instead of experiencing complete closure surrounding the disappearance and death of our brother Jeff 31 years ago, we are burdened by knowing that someone who we believe put our brother in his van and pushed him into a canal to be left for dead will not be legally accountable for the crime they committed,” Steele said. “It tests my family’s faith to its very core.”

Coral Springs police department detectives, who investigated the case and even obtained a statement from David and Carl, are equally frustrated. “It is unfortunate and highly frustrating,” police chief Duncan Foster said. “We have identified the suspects but we know they will never see the insides of a courtroom. Klee’s family members will not get the closure necessary in this case.”

The case, which was opened several times over the years, came to life after Jeffrey’s van, containing his remains, was located March 26 this year during a routine police search for stolen cars. Detectives were then able to obtain a statement from David, the suspect in the case, and Carl, who admitted to helping his brother push the van into the canal.

Samantha Weix, a senior at J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, is not very fond of dancing. However, she happily danced the night away on Nov. 14.

“I was up on my feet all night; even lost my voice,” the Coral Springs resident said. “But it felt awesome. The thought that we were doing it to help kids who were sick and couldn’t dance made the whole night special.”

Weix was among those who helped Brian Zakarin, a fellow student, organize the first annual dance marathon at the school to benefit the Miami Children's Hospital. About 65 students from the school danced for 12 hours from 8 p.m. to raise money for the hospital that is part of the Children's Miracle Network. The event was organized through the key club at the school.

The night was not all about dancing though. Three-year old Shannon Walsh, who was born without an esophagus, came to the event with her father who spoke about how the hospital helped correct the congenital condition. Brittany Lundi and Christina Bukata, who were also treated at the hospital, also talked about their experiences.

Students had to donate $50 to attend the event, Zakarin said. “We were hoping to raise $5,000; we ended up with $4624.23. I got the idea for the event when my sister told me about the dance marathon they have at FIU. I then contacted the hospital and told them about our plan. Local businesses helped us too.”

Coral Springs is getting ready for an ambitious $13.5 million project that involves renovation of the public safety complex and construction of a new fire station.

"The public safety building we now have is antiquated," Vice Mayor Vince Boccard said. "It was built before the changes to the South Florida Building Code. We would be in dire straits if we had to deal with a bad hurricane; we need the renovation. Our residents are very much in favor of the new project."

Construction is scheduled to begin in the first week of January 2009, Larry Staneart, director of development services, said. “It is a complex project, as the facility will not close during renovation. The contract allows 480 calendar days for all construction of the project, which would mean a final completion date of March 30, 2010. The new fire station-80 will officially open in April that year.”

The renovated public safety building will have a new emergency operating center, which will serve as the command center for northwest Broward County during emergencies, Staneart said. “The facility will be hardened to withstand hurricane winds up to 145 mph. The building will have a new two-story 10,000 square foot addition constructed on the west face of the building. The bond for the project is $13.5m. Cost of construction is $8,874,819.”

“We are using recycled building materials throughout the building,” Staneart said. “The building will have reflective roofing while day lighting will be provided in all occupied spaces. High efficiency air-conditioning systems will be used while native landscaping will eliminate the need for irrigation. The new fire station will be an official LEEDS-certified green building.”

A Coral Springs resident appeared before the City Commission last week and complained that his firm had been denied a chance to bid for the $13.5 million project that involves renovation of the public safety complex and construction of a new fire station.

Todd Nezwek, president of Bluewater Builders Inc. and a Coral Springs resident for 13 years, filed a formal protest with the city after his firm was not among the three companies prequalified for the project. City staff did not respond when he tried to find out from them why his firm was denied a chance to bid, Nezwek said.

“I own a business here. I am committed to the community,” Nezwek said. “This is a major project in our community. And here I have been denied an opportunity to at least bid for the project even though we are qualified to do it. Never once was the bid publicized. It is almost as if the process is being rushed through.”

Pirtle Construction Co., which has been awarded the contract for the project, did not present facts in a truthful manner, Nezwek said. “Every firm that wanted to bid for the project had to provide details of its legal history. Pirtle said it had no legal history. To me, that is fraud. Yet, they were allowed to bid for the project.”

Bluewater Builders Inc. did not meet the criteria that were established to prequalify builders, said Angelo Salomone, Coral Springs purchasing administrator. “We received 11 proposals and five were called in for interviews. The companies had to show they had completed a public safety building project of $5 million within the last seven years. They also needed to have experience with the LEED process.”

“Bluewater Builders constructed a community center in Coconut Creek. It does not house the fire or police department, Salomone said. “The center is operated by the Parks and Recreation Department. Nobody on the evaluation committee thought it was a public safety building.”

Vince Boccard will continue to be vice mayor of Coral Springs.

At a recent commission meeting, Mayor Scott Brook decided in favor of giving an extended run for Boccard as vice mayor. "Vince has done a great job as vice mayor. He is a great presence for us in the community. Commissioner Gold held the position for a year and eight months."

Boccard, who has been a resident of Coral Springs for more than a decade, was elected as city commissioner Seat 2 in March 2006 and succeeded Gold as vice mayor in 2007. He is a general contractor/developer, and co-owner of Boccard Homes and Kessler Construction. He also has the experience of serving as vice mayor and village commissioner of El Portal in Miami Dade County.

Boccard founded the Lisa Boccard Coral Springs Breast Cancer Foundation for woman without health care and is a founding director of the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition. He is also the chairman of the Coral Springs Youth & Family Committee.

In neighboring Parkland, Mark Weissman recently took over for Jared Moskowitz as the vice mayor. The city also has a deputy vice mayor position, currently occupied by Jay Smith.

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook wants the city to use the services of residents who want to help people avoid foreclosures.

“There are people in the community who have come to me saying they would like to help,” Brook said. “It is a great thing that people are looking to help others; we should be thinking of forming a Foreclosure Avoidance Team. We don’t have the staff to form such a committee, but we can put together a booklet to help residents avoid foreclosure. A lot of residents do not know about the different ways to avoid foreclosure; the booklet will help them.”

Brook said heis excited about the neighborhood stabilization program that is aimed at helping cities affected by foreclosures. "We are building a list of potential customers that can take advantage of the program. I am really looking forward to seeing the program implemented. We are committed to spending every dollar," he said.

“It is a great program,” Commissioner Roy Gold said. “We should let residents know the details of the program. Lots of people have been contacting me; it is a very popular program across the nation.”

City Manager Mike Levinson said the city will set up a separate phone number for people to call and get details about the program. “We have an innovative strategy. We are anxious to get rolling," he said.

Coral Springs officials are making a concerted effort to make sure residents spend their money within the city.

Mayor Scott Brook recently kicked off the city’s Buy Coral Springs campaign at the Coral Square Mall. “The more you spend here, the more small businesses will be supported. Let us keep the businesses and money local. It will help us diversify our tax base. The economy is hurting; we want to make a positive impact. We don’t want you to go to Boca, Margate or other cites for your purchases.”

Brook is also in favor of giving local businesses “an iota of extra weight” when it comes to awarding work on city projects. “We shouldn’t choose somebody just because they are local, but I do want us to look a little bit harder at local businesses.”

Commissioner Tom Powers said he liked the concept.

Brook also advocated including a member of the City Commission on the city’s construction review committee. Commissioner Roy Gold, however, said he was against the idea.

“We are five different people,” Gold said. “I like the independence of the process we now have. I will be hesitant to support the idea.”

Coral Springs Police Department will recognize local teenagers who go without a traffic citation or an “at-fault” accident during the school year as part of its Safe Teen Driving initiative.

Students are eligible to apply for recognition if they live in Coral Springs and attend Coral Glades High School, Coral Springs Charter School, Coral Springs Christian Academy, Coral Springs High School, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School or J.P. Taravella High School.

Teenagers must submit driving records from August 2008 to April 2009 to their School Resource Office by April 20. Douglas High School students may submit their driving records to the Coral Springs Police Department Youth Liaison Unit. Copies of driving records are available online at www.hsmv.state.fl.us or through one of the Broward County courthouses.

Students who meet the criteria will receive gift certificates to a local cinema and video rental store, along with a certificate of recognition from Police Chief Duncan Foster and a cord for seniors to wear during graduation. For more information, call 954-346-1200.

The Coral Springs Police Department reminds residents to remove all personal belongings from your car – leaving items in plain sight could attract a thief.

With the holiday season here, it’s easy to get too busy to notice you left the video game box in the back seat or that bag of clothes on the front seat.

For more information, call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 954-344-1800.

Don't leave the tap open this Christmas.

The South Florida Water Management District has issued a list of five tips to save water during the holidays.

A typical holiday turkey dinner for eight needs more than 42,000 gallons of water in food growth and preparation, the report states. That is enough to fill a 30-foot by 50-foot swimming pool.

These are the five tips to conserve water:

1-Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator the night before and not under running water.

2-Rinse vegetables and fruits in a pan filled with water instead of under running water.

3-Select the proper size pans for cooking.

4-Scrape food scraps into the garbage can instead of rinsing them into the sink's garbage disposal.

5-Run the dishwasher only when it's fully loaded.

Visit the South Florida Water Management District for more information.

Coral Springs recently became a Commit 2B Fit community. As part of this commitment, the Tennis Center will be offering residents free tennis lessons at the center in February. “Play Tennis Coral Springs” is a joint effort with the United States Professional Tennis Association. Classes are geared to children and adults who would like to give tennis a try, and for those who’d like to get back in the game.

Adult classes will be offered on Feb. 2 from 10 to 11 a.m., Feb. 3 from 7 to 8 p.m., and Feb. 7 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Children between the ages of six to 18 can sign up for classes on Feb. 2 from 5 to 6 p.m. or Feb. 7 from 9 to 10 a.m.

These lessons will only be offered at Cypress Park, located at 1300 Coral Springs Drive.
Registration is requested. Tennis rackets and balls will be provided. The Tennis Center is located at 2575 Sportsplex Drive. Call 954-344-1840.

Waste Management will not provide garbage or recycling pick-up on Christmas Day in Coral Springs.

For residents with Monday and Thursday garbage service, the next pick-up day will be Monday, Dec. 29. For residents with Thursday recycling collection, recycling will be picked up on Thursday, Jan.1. Waste Management will resume its normal work schedule on Dec. 26, including New Years Day.

Call 954-974-7500.

The Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce Ambassador committee recently raised over $1,000 to fulfill the “holiday wish list” of two families: a single mom with three children and a disabled single mom with six children. Both families reside in Coral Springs. It is the third year in a row that the committee has given back to the community by adopting working families in need.

The committee helped in the purchase of bicycles with helmets for children. Other gifts included educational games and books, a DVD player, cars, dolls, blocks, diapers, pots and pans, and gift cards.

The adoptive families were chosen for the chamber by Family Central, a nonprofit organization that serves children and families from all socioeconomic backgrounds and provides technical assistance and training to nearly 1,200 child care facilities in Broward, Palm Beach and Dade counties.

Looking for a job? The US Census Bureau is looking for part-time workers for the 2010 Census.

The local office has started giving application tests at local senior centers to fill the hundreds of positions that will be available in Broward County.

Those hired will work for up to two years for a $15/ hour minimum salary.

To be considered, applicants must first pass a 30-minute test consisting of multiple-choice questions that test number and organizational skills, clerical skills and reading skills.

Available positions include census takers, crew leaders, crew leader assistants, recruiting assistants and census clerks. They will help examine the nation’s population and demographics.

Visit the 2010 US Census site to find testing locations and for additional information, such as test examples.

You can also call the local US Census Bureau office at 954-302-3960.

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PHOTO: Chaya Denburg, 17, of Coral Springs, right, works on a project while Akiva Schulman, 8, of Coral Springs looks on at the Chabad of Coral Springs' Hanukkah festival. The event included the lighting of a menorah, food, music and activities for the family.
Staff photo/Marta Mikulan Martin
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Ron Catronio, Coral Springs resident and founder of the Big Bike Riders Association of South Florida, loves one thing even more than riding his two Harley-Davidson motorcycles – helping less fortunate children.

“Nothing beats the feeling of doing all I can to help needy children in the community, Catronio said. “Although our association is five years old, we have formed alliances with various children’s charities. All our efforts are focused on raising funds to help children.”

The association now has two projects underway in Coral Springs, Catronio said. “We also have Christmas Trees for sale at Sample and University Drive; it is one of the five locations we have in west Broward. We also have a toy drive, with boxes at Coral Springs Auto mall. The toys will be given to children at SOS Children's Village and Children's Home Society.”

The club was able to raise about $25,000 a year the last two years. “This October, we did a charity event and raised $10,000; the money was given to five charities. We have recently formed the Big Bike Riders Children's Foundation of Florida and hope to step up our efforts for children even more.”

The association hopes to raise anywhere between $6,000 and 10,000 from the sale of Christmas trees, said Bill George, who is in charge of fundraiser. “We plan to really get into high gear next year. The foundation we have formed will help us. We also have ‘smile miles,’ a program that allows bikers to raise money just by logging miles. Bikers donate a per mile amount for every mile they ride.”

Visit www.bbrafla.com for details.

It has been thirteen years, but Ryan Gebauer vividly remembers the day life changed for him.

“It was June 19, 1995. I had completed my sophomore year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We were into the summer and I was in my friend’s backyard, having fun with my friends,” Gebauer said. “I climbed up a tree and jumped down from a 36-foot high branch into a lake. I landed head first, injured my spinal cord, and spent the next six months in hospital.”

The accident left Gebauer paralyzed from the neck down, unable to even turn a page in a book. The teenager who had no intention to pursue college needed to have a change of plans.

“I came home just before Christmas,” recalled Gebauer, now 30. “I did not want to go back to school, but my mother encouraged me. I finished high school and then joined Broward Community College. Until then, I did not think I was college material. A year into BCC, I started focusing more on studies. I was able to see life differently; it wasn’t fun and games anymore.”

Early this month, Gebauer graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a master's degree in business administration. He now thanks the accident for helping him “stay out of trouble”.

These days, Gebauer uses his time to speak to middle and high school students about disabilities and how it is to live with a spinal cord injury. “It is something I really enjoy. I am involved with a couple of city committees. I am also on the County Consumer Protection Board. Mayor Stacy Ritter appointed me. I do a lot of civic stuff for fun.”

The J.P. Taravella High School band is hoping that the community will come forward to help collect the $150,000 needed to make the trip to Washington D.C. for the Presidential inaugural parade. No other band in Florida has ever participated in the parade.

“About 160 band members will be going. All those who make the trip will need to pay for themselves,” said Neil Jenkins, band director. “We are trying to get donations. We need the money by Jan. 6 at least.”

More than 100 high schools in Florida applied to take part in the parade, Jenkins said. “We were looking at the possibility of applying for the parade since March. There were 1,400 schools from all over the country. One high school band was each state was picked.”

Band captain Ethan Morrison said he was happy the band’s hard work had been recognized. “We have been working really hard. I’m sure we will put in extra hours in the coming days. I’ve never seen snow. It’s something I am looking forward to. Seeing Obama will be an awesome experience, too.”

School principal Shawn Cerra said he hoped the band would be able to reach its target. “Luckily, we have a nice wave of momentum now. Ever since the news spread, we have lots of people donating very generously. Every dollar will be appreciated.”

To donate, visit www.jptmusic.org or call 754-322-2359.

Coral Springs is getting ready to reward people in the community who purchase green vehicles.

The city attorney is now putting together an ordinance that will give drivers of eco-friendly vehicles preferred parking spaces in buildings within the city. It is the first such initiative among cities in Broward, although neighboring Parkland provides cash incentives for hybrid vehicles.

Vice Mayor Vince Boccard, who brought the idea forward, is scheduled to have a meeting with city staff in the next few weeks. “This is something new and goes well with the other green initiatives that we have in the city. The idea is to reserve parking spaces for owners of eco-friendly vehicles, like what we have for the handicapped. It might come up at the next commission meeting.”

Buildings would benefit by reserving parking spaces for green vehicles, Boccard said. “We have the LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) program in the city and setting aside parking spaces for such vehicles will give the building extra points that go toward getting certification” criteria, he said.

Mayor Scott Brook said he supports the idea. “It makes a lot of sense. We are trying to go as green as we can. We have a lot of initiatives that encourage people to take care of the environment.”

Salt Lake City, San Antonio, and New Haven, Conn., are among the American cities that offer free parking at meters to hybrids and other eco-friendly cars.

Patients in the cardiology ward of the Fort Lauderdale-based Florida Medical Center had a few surprise visitors recently.

When the members of the Coral Springs Woman’s Club left the hospital, they took home heartfelt words of gratitude in exchange for the heart shaped pillows they had given the patients.

Joann Black, leader of the heart pillow project, said it felt wonderful to be at the hospital. “We delivered 48 pillows," she said. "The hospital authorities allowed us to go to the ward and present a pillow to one patient. It is a great feeling to know that we are helping make someone’s recovery just a little bit better.”

Club members have been working to make life better for patients at the Coral Springs Medical Center and the Northwest Regional Medical Center in Margate, said Ruth Ann Gillooly, club vice president. “We gave stuffed teddy bears to patients in the children’s ward of the Coral Springs Medical Center and pillows to patients in the cardiology wing of the regional medical center. Another batch of pillows will be ready to go out by March.”

The club also donates books to two elementary schools in the county and the library in Coral Springs, said Bert Alberti, president. “Our club was honored by ‘Heart of America’ for the donation of books to schools in deprived areas. We partnered with Broward College to donate clothing, toys and supplies to hurricane-hit Haiti.”

Mervyn Hurwitz, president of the Coral Springs Camera Club and a member for 18 years, says he can give solid reasons why photography buffs in and around Coral Springs should give joining the club a thought.

“You get news tips from fellow members and experts; you are always learning,” Hurwitz said. “The people you meet are very friendly, too. A new member invariably feels welcome.”

Hurwitz, who is from South Africa, loves nature and photography, not necessarily in that order. “I have been interested in photography since I was a kid. I love photographing birds; there are a lot of opportunities for that in Florida. We have a very diverse membership. My wife, Melanie, for instance, specializes in taking photos of flowers.”

Besides Coral Springs, the club has members from cities like Parkland, Tamarac, Margate, Delray Beach and Boca Raton. “The annual membership fee is just $30. We meet twice a month."

The club, which is always looking to do something different, recently had an exhibition of our works at the Coral Springs Museum of Art. On Jan. 20, the club will have its annual banquet and the end-of-the-year contest.

The club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of ever month at the Sartory Hall in Mullins Park, NW 29th Street in Coral Springs. Visit www.cscc.us or call 954-510-1323.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

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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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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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.

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.

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.”

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.

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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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.

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.

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,