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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Parkland’s decision to increase property taxes to make up for the revenue shortfall caused by plunging real estate prices has not gone down too well with a section of its residents.

The city commission adopted a millage rate of 4.0198, which is 3.2 percent less than the rolled back rate of 4.1532, and decided to limit the increase in fire assessment fees to $10 instead of the proposed $44, but not everyone was satisfied. Budget meetings in Parkland have a history of attracting les than a handful of people, but with many homeowners in the city having to deal with a tax increase of about 20 percent, it was different this time.

Keats Soder, a resident, said he did not believe that 50 percent of the people in Parkland were in favor of property taxes being raised by 20 percent. “Majority of people are going to have a 20 percent tax increase. You got to cut your expenses more; simple as that. Why not lower salaries of city employees?”

Cliff Kaufman, another resident, also spoke against the increase in taxes. “We understand revenue going down but these rate increases seem unusually large. You have raised taxes to cover the shortfall in revenue. You need to take even more of the budget so that you have to raise taxes. We should look at whether we need the added services.”

Mayor Michael Udine defended the city’s $22 million budget and the decision to raise taxes. “It is not easy to cut everything. We are one of the few cities that have let go of employees….Most of our residents are paying less in tax dollars this year compared to last year because property taxes have gone down.”

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Texting while driving within Parkland limits could soon leave you with $100 less.

Parkland officials are getting ready to introduce an ordinance that bans texting while driving within the city. The ordinance passed on first reading recently and will become law after it comes up for discussion again in the next few weeks.

There is a state law that limits the ability of municipalities to regulate the use of commercial mobile radio services and other electronic communications devices while driving, but city officials and staff are hopeful the city will be able to enforce the ban on texting.

The inspiration for the proposed law is TTYL, Inc., a group of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sophomores. Commissioner Jared Moskowitz brought the idea before the commission after Michael Ross, Max Spiegelman, Joshua Feinzig, Adam Feinzig, Danielle Levy, and Justin Levy met him to discuss their efforts to create awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.

“Back in July, I met with these students,” Moskowitz said. “I believe the issue has merit. Parkland has led on a lot of issues. I believe Parkland should take a lead on this issue… I believe the march has begun.”

“Seventeen states already have banned texting while driving; Miami-Dade has already passed a ban against texting while driving in a school zone. Let us see how they are enforcing the law,” Moskowitz said. “The ordinance calls for a fine of $250 for an offence but I think the fine should be $100. The law won’t be enforced until we get the AG’s opinion.”

Mayor Michael Udine wanted the city to put the students’ presentation on its website. “We want to help you move the ball forward. This is not an issue that will be solved by the city. It’s important that we pass this.”

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After initially ruffling feathers of Coral Springs officials and city staff by asking the city to provide fire and paramedic services next year at the same price as the current year, the Parkland City Commission voted last week to pay its neighboring city more. It, however, threatened to look elsewhere for the services when the contract ends in September next year.

After Parkland officials voted to pay Coral Springs the additional money, they discussed whether to continue ties with Coral Springs after the five-year contract runs its course by October 2010.

Mayor Michael Udine said he would like his city to continue working with Coral Springs. “I just want to see it is a fair contract. I see that there are other options. For the life of me, I can’t see why Coral Springs is not coming to the table to discuss the contract. If they do want the contract, let them meet with our city staff. It’s not complicated.”

Steven Savia of Sage Group, the consult appointed by Parkland to look at other options said It would be "very viable" for Parkland to contract with Palm Beach County. "Palm Beach actually has the three closest locations outside of Coral Springs. Parkland can also get together with Margate and Coconut Creek for a joint department serviving the three cities. Another option is to have a new contract with Coral Springs; one that is not an extension of the existing contract,” he said.

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The Parkland City Commission recently approved new fees for the coming fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

Two years ago, the commission adopted an administrative and use fee schedule which is reviewed annually for any modifications. Based upon economic times, various charges will be increased in the parks and recreation and building departments as well as the library. Summer and year-round camp fees will increase as well as pavilion rentals. In addition, the non-resident sports card will increase by $13.

Existing library fees were included in the schedule and there is a new charge for lost Library cards. Also different from last year is the addition of a family DVD membership. For a fee of $10 per year, members can rent movies at the library.

Last year, residents needed to pay for notary services unless they were related to city documents. The City Commission agreed to delete this charge. For the full fee schedule, visit www.cityofparkland.org. Contact the city at 954 753-5040.

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Face to face with a 17 percent decline in gross taxable property value, Parkland city officials are contemplating increasing the property tax rate during fiscal year 2010. City staffers are proposing a rollback rate of 4.15; the millage rate was 3.40 in 2009.

The city’s taxable property value fell from a little over $3.7 billion to a little under $3.1 billion, a direct result of the recession and the face that some of the homes in the city had Chinese drywall; no other city in the county has had to face such a drastic drop. Property taxes form a big chunk of the city’s sources of revenue – 63 percent. The loss in ad valorem revenue is $2,254,474. Unlike neighboring cities like Coral Springs, the city is not touching its reserve funds.

The city has $19,317, 770 in the general fund, compared to $19,525.539 in 2009. The city proposes to spend 52 percent on public safety and fire, 9 percent for culture and recreation, 17 percent for public works, and 6 percent for development services. The city’s library gets just 3 percent. Since 2007, the city’s budget has decreased by $2.7m, or 12.3 percent.

For additional revenue, the city is also increasing fire assessment fee to $195, from $151. The increase in special assessment revenue will be $258,759. The budget includes $4,000 for the Council for Aging, $4,000 for the city’s lobbyist, $3,500 for the education advisory board and $800 for Family Central. There is money in the budget to fund school resource officers in all schools within the city.

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The Parkland City Commission, which recently conducted its annual review of City Manager Caryn Gardner-Young, praised her for doing a great job despite the hard financial times.

Gardner-Young has been handling the day-to-day operations of the city since early 2007. Commissioner Jay Smith noted she attends the numerous city special events. Mayor Michael Udine said she is an extremely hard worker who has saved the city dollars since she has been city Mmanager. Vice Mayor Weissman indicated that she has a difficult job dealing with five different personalities but she does a great job.

The City Commission felt that the city manager deserved a raise but decided a raise not appropriate in the trying economic times. Gardner-Young supported the Commission’s decision and said even if a raise was offered, she would not accept since other city workers are not budgeted to receive merit raises.

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If you are living in Parkland or any nearby city and have a heart that beats for needy children, here is one for you.

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Parkland, is supporting the foster children of SOS Children’s Village by hosting a Household Drive, Sept. 12 – Oct. 5. The store will be collecting donations of household cleaning supplies and paper goods from shoppers throughout the month. The donations will help provide for the 72 boys and girls who reside in Village of twelve homes.

Included on the village wish list is laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, dishwasher detergent, tin foil, and plastic bags, sandwich and quart size). For more information about SOS, visit www.sosflorida.com

BJ’s Wholesale Club is located at 5901 W Hillsboro Blvd., Parkland. Contact Vickie Walter at 954.420.5030 or e-mail vwalter@sosflorida.com.

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You cannot leave vehicles abandoned in Parkland and get away with it anymore.

The City Commission recently adopted an ordinance that establishes new regulations relating to the placement of abandoned vehicles.

Since the storage of abandoned vehicles outside residences and businesses adversely affects neighborhoods, the City Commission adopted regulations which allow the city to proceed with a code enforcement action if an abandoned vehicle is stored for more than three days after notice is posted. A fine up to the amount of $250 per day can be imposed.

Call Broward County Sheriff’s Office Parkland District at 954 753-5050.

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After blitzing all opponents in the state under-11 basketball championships and performing creditably at the national level despite injuries to many key players, Broward Warriors, a team of players mainly from Parkland, is looking ahead to an even stronger season next year.

Head coach Steve Israel is confident that next year would bring even better results. “The goal for next year is to repeat as state champions and to win the nationals. Many of our players fell sick when we were playing the nationals; if everyone was fit, we would have won the whole thing or at least finished in the top three.”

Broward Warriors started strongly at the national level, winning its first three games in the Amateur Athletic Union National Tournament in Cocoa Beach, Israel said. “We beat state champs from Louisiana, Alabama and Maryland; it was a great start. We also defeated the team from New York and ended the competition with a 4-2 record. We finished 11 in the nation.”

The team got a chance to compete in the nationals after getting the number 1 ranking in division II of the United States Specialty Sports Association by winning the state championship with a 5–0 record in Lakeland, Florida. Broward Warriors was the only team from the county to compete at the national level.

Hank Hunter, one of the players on the team, said he was happy with his performance. “I played all the six games at the nationals; it was a great experience. We want to do better next year. I love basketball and enjoy being a team member. We are all friends; most of us go the same school.”

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Parkland and Waste Management have found a way around the problem caused by a section of residents not paying their garbage bills.

Parkland city officials responded to a request from Waste Management by showing unanimous support for including residents’ waste management bill on their tax bill. They also expressed in trying out, at a later date, Waste Management’s proposal for automating waste collection.

Many cities and counties are now putting bills for garbage on the residents’ tax bill, Mayor Michael Udine said. “There are 6,500 homes in Parkland and 6 percent are not paying their garbage bill. There will be a reduction in everybody’s fee if we do this (billing for trash collection on the tax bill.) It is just a different method of billing.”

City Commissioner Jared Moskowitz also supported the move. “Putting the waste management bill on the tax bill makes sense. If someone is not paying their garbage bill and their neighbor pays, the neighbor won’t want to pay. With the garbage bill now on the tax bill, it’s tougher to get out of it and residents who are paying will save some money.”

“I don’t see any negatives,” Vice Mayor Mark Weissman said. “At some point of time, some communities may want to try out automated garbage collection.”

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Parkland officials recently discussed the option of looking beyond Coral Springs for fire and emergency services. The city’s five-year contract with Coral Springs expires in 2010; a decision on whether to extend the contract or not has to be taken by Sept. this year.

City officials and residents are pleased with the quality of service the Coral Springs fire department provides. The department received a 96.2 percent quality rating in the city’s annual citizen survey this year. City Commission members are, however, concerned about the increasing costs for services. At least one among them believes the city should be putting the contract out to bid.

Parkland has experienced double digit increases in cost every year of the contract, said Vice Mayor Mark Weissman. “We can anticipate the same in the future. This is our single largest contract; generally we are at their mercy as we are this year. I believe it is in the best interests if the city to look for those who can provide alternative services.”

Parkland officials are also peeved by the fact that Coral Springs is yet to provide all the details the city sought regarding the contract. The delay on part of the city in providing numbers has happened “year after year,” said Weissman.

Parkland should send a letter terminating its contract with Coral Springs if the existing issues are not sorted out, Mayor Michael Udine said. “I’ve no problem with going out to bid. Margate, Coconut Creek, Broward Sheriff's Office and our own fire department; those are our four other options.“

“Coral Springs is giving us good service,” Udine said. “Residents are overwhelmingly satisfied with the service. Our residents demand a high level of service and are willing to pay for it. We have three fully staffed fire stations. That is the level of service I would like to keep.”

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A year after the Trotters Lane oil spill in Parkland, residents in the area say things haven’t returned to normal.

Parkland officials and staff say the city has been doing all it can even though the problem is not of its making, but Mark Squillace, who was the first person complain about the oil slick near the Northwest 84th Avenue culvert, says it is not doing enough.

Squillace, who is involved in a legal battle with the city on an unrelated issue, believes Parkland was slow to react. “They (city officials) didn’t do anything; they ignored the problem because I was the one complaining. They are trying to get it fixed now because the [Environmental Protection Agency] is involved. They are on set deadlines now.”

“There are at least 10 affected families,” said Squillace, who appeared before the City Commission last week to talk about the issue. “I saw the tar and oil ooze out of the road like maple syrup. My drinking water is polluted. These things that I am talking about are not a figment of my imagination. They are going to have to rip off the whole road.”

The road was paved by Florida Highway Products last summer. The city has since filed a lawsuit against the firm for causing the oil spill. The city is currently working on state-mandated remediation and removal of the toxic materials. After completing the cleanup, Parkland will implement an 18-month long monitoring program.

Commissioner Jared Moskowitz defended the city’s response. “Mike may believe the city was slow. But ever since we realized what was going on, our response has been more than adequate. There is a problem with that road; it’s defective. The city didn’t lay the road. This is the first time something like this has happened.”

Public safety and the health of residents are of paramount importance to the city, Mayor Michael Udine said. “We have a lawsuit pending against the road contractor (Florida Highway Products.) Ever since we became aware of the magnitude of the problem, the city has been doing all it can to clean up the area.”

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

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

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

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

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

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The first session of the YMCA girls lacrosse camp, organized by the Parkland YMCA Family Center, will be from June 15 to 19 at the center. The camp will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. The camp is open to all elementary and middle school girls.

The second session will be at the same venue from July 6 to 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $95 for YMCA members and $120 for others. Campers need to bring stick, goggles, mouth guard, lunch, and plenty of water.

Those who are interested should register at the YMCA, 10559 Trails End, Parkland. Call 954-384-9622.

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Parkland Mayor Michael Udine believes the coming budget year will be more difficult than the current one.

"Property values in Parkland, like all other communities in South Florida, went way down," Udine said at a City Commission meeting on Tuesday. "This is going to be a very tough budget year, even more so than last year...we may have to look at cuts that are going to be a little more painful."

"The goal is to continue providing the same kind of services with less revenue," Udine said. "We have reduced spending in every department during the last three years."

According to the Broward property appraiser's office, property values in the county dropped 10.7 percent last year. In 2007 decline, Broward's tax base had gone down by 4.8 percent. Parkland, which has had to deal with the Chinese drywall issue, was the worst hit city, with with the city's tax base falling 16.8 percent.

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Parkland YMCA is inviting applications for its summer teen membership program.

The program involves a $50 joiner’s fee a monthly fee of $25. members will be able to relax in the activity center as well as play football, ping pong or pool. Other activities include boot camp and teen body madness.

Contact Wendy Milordis, interim senior program director, at 954-384-9622. The center is at 10559 Trails End Road in Parkland.

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It’s still not official, but Parkland's third and newest elementary school has a name – Heron Heights Elementary.

The school, built to relieve overcrowding at Park Trails and Riverglades elementaries will have a total of 620 students from Kindergarten through fifth grade. Kenneth King, formerly assistant principal at Park Trails, is the principal. The school will open in time for the next academic year.

"The name was picked by students and parents," King said. "It now needs to be approved by the school board.”

“The school will have about 40 teachers,” King said. “They are all coming along with the students from Park Trails. We have had our first faculty meeting. The school will primarily serve students who live in the Heron Bay area. Stacy Udine is the PTA president.”

City Commission members recently toured the school site to get an update. “It’s an extremely impressive facility,” Udine said. “The students will love it. It will be a completely green school. Skanska was very professional and easy to work with.”

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For parents worried about the threat posed by sexual offenders and predators to their children, here is good news.

The Florida Legislature has passed a piece of legislation that seeks to protect the state's children from sexual offenders and predators. House Bill 115, which has State Rep. Martin David Kiar (D-Parkland) as the primary sponsor, unanimously passed the Florida Senate and the Florida House and is on its way to Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature.

“Keeping our children safe and helping our children to become successful adults is the most important thing we can do in the Legislature. Whether it’s protecting them from assault or providing them with an excellent education, investing in their future is critical," Kiar said.

Sexual offenders and predators currently do not have to provide Florida Department of Law Enforcement with a home or cellular telephone number as part of the registration process, thus making it difficult for law enforcement to keep track of these individuals. This bill fixes that loophole by requiring sexual offenders and predators to provide their phone numbers to law enforcement.

The bill also encourages public libraries to adopt an Internet safety program to promote prudent Internet use and broaden awareness of online predators. In addition, the bill closes another critical loophole. Prior to this bill, if a person in Florida sent pornography to a child in another state they could not be prosecuted. Once this bill is signed by Crist, it will be a third-degree felony.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Parkland YMCA Family Center is offering 11 one-week sports camps, for children ages 5 to 12, from June 8 to Aug. 21.

Y World of Sports will offer basketball, flag football, hockey, soccer, volleyball, baseball, kickball, capture the flag, group exercise, playground fun and more.

The camp time is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended care is available from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. at no additional charge. The fee for YMCA members is $145 per week, while it is $175 per week for others.

The Leaders in Training camp is for teens entering eighth, ninth, or 10th grade. It teaches them how to be future camp counselors. The 10-week program is offered in one-week sessions. The camp, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will start June 8 and end Aug. 14. The fee for YMCA members is $125 per week and $150 for others.

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Last year, Parkland officials asked seven building department employees to leave, with construction activity coming to a virtual standstill in the city due to the housing slump. They then prayed for the market to turn around.

As it turned out, it only got worse.

Last week, the City Commission decided on a second round of layoffs, sacking four employees and cutting back weekly hours of the seven who will hold on to their jobs. The panel voted 4-1 in favor of the proposal with Dave Rosenof, a builder by profession, supporting the idea of outsourcing the department to a private firm.

The city expected $1.3 million in building department revenue for the year but had to adjust it to $750,000, City Manager Caryn Gardner-Young said. “This is not just Parkland. All municipalities in the county are dealing with the same situation. They are letting people go and reducing hours, too. Parkland was the fastest growing city in Broward. It is only natural that you are seeing the impact more here.”

Parkland cannot operate its building department at a $550,000 deficit, Mayor Michael Udine said. “As much as we'd like to make sure everybody keeps a job, it isn't feasible. It’s unfortunate but we have to deal with reality. The status quo cannot remain. There has been no turnaround to date.”

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Registration for Parkland’s kids camp and teen camp has begun for city residents. Registration will begin for nonresidents on March 23.

Completed registrations must be mailed to the city by regular mail. Space is limited. The camp program is set up in two four-week sessions, starting June 15 and ending Aug. 7. Both programs include field trips in an air-conditioned motor coach bus, as well as special on-site activities.

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.cityofparkland.org or picked up at the Parkland Amphitheater in Pine Trails Park, 10561 Trails End. Contact GerriAnn Dougherty at gdougherty@cityofparkland.org or call 954-757-4129.

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A celebration for the new 126,376-square-foot elementary school “Z” in Parkland was held recently. The school, which will be formally named at a later date, is expected to hold 960 students.

The school will be the first one in the county to have a photovoltaic roof system, which collects solar energy as a source of electricity and will support the main electrical grid to offset Florida Power and Light demand charges. Special energy efficient transformers have also been included in the design.

“The ceremony marks a significant goal in the construction of Parkland’s third elementary school, which began in August of 2008,” said Sam Doggart, Skanska USA senior vice president, South Florida.

Visit www.browardschools.org.

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

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

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

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Erica Turret, a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and a Parkland resident, has won State Rep. Martin David Kiar’s essay contest. The contest asked for essays on why the student wanted to go to Tallahassee to participate in the legislative process.

The contest was held to offer a student in District 97, or within one of District 97’s schools, the opportunity to serve as a messenger in the Florida House of Representatives during the 2009 Legislative session.

“Erica’s essay showed much creativity and passion,” Kiar said. “She used airplane pilots as an analogy to the political process by comparing pilots flying the plane to politicians steering the state they govern in the right direction. Erica understands the art of compromise through her participation in the model United Nations club.”

Students ranging in age from 15 to 18 submitted essay and were from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Boyd Anderson High School, American Heritage School, and Cooper City High School.

Visit www.myfloridahouse.gov.

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Parkland officials agree that most of the windows and doors at City Hall need to be replaced, but there is no consensus on the best way to go about doing it.

Despite opposition from Commissioner Dave Rosenof and Vice Mayor Mark Weissman, the commission recently decided 3-2 in favor of replacing only the 41 “critical” windows and two doors using the $137,000 the city received from the insurance company. The $200,000 the city had budgeted for the purpose won’t be used.

Mayor Michael Udine said he had a problem with spending in excess of $320,000 for replacing the windows in the current budget situation. “Not all of the windows need to be replaced. Let us replace the critical windows using the money we got from the insurance. [About] $320,000 is a lot of money to spend on City Hall windows now.”

Commissioner Jared Moskowitz agreed with Udine. “I don’t know why the prices have gone up dramatically. There was an increase of 33 percent from the original quote we were given. I don’t want to use the word ‘extortion’ but it is getting real close. I am not happy with the numbers that came in on the project. I understand there are some critical windows, but I wouldn’t be upset if we threw the bids out.”

Commissioner Rosenof said he wouldn’t support only doing a portion of the windows. “I agree with Jared regarding prices but we have to put that aside. If we don’t replace all the windows now and go through another storm season, we will have to spend much more than 300,000.”

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Parkland, which has implemented many environmentally-friendly programs over the last 18 months, is getting ready to take its energy incentive reward program to the next level.

City commissioners recently discussed the program and decided to bring five new initiatives under the purview of the program. Florida Power and Light's Sunshine Energy Program, which was among the 12 programs that were part of the original plan, has been scrapped.

According to the new proposal, people will be rewarded for sustainable landscape design, as well as installation of photovoltaic solar pool heaters, automatic sprinkler rain sensors, and programmable thermostats. City staff will find out of there are other initiatives that fall within the framework of the program and give periodic updates to the commission.

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Parkland has made automated external defibrillators mandatory for all pharmacies within the city. There are two pharmacies in the city, with a third slated to open soon.

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses potentially life threatening cardiac issues and treats them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy that allows the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

Commissioner Jay Smith wanted the commission to consider not mandating it for small, independent businesses. “What is a small amount for a large chain will be a large amount for a small business,” he said.

“We don’t have any independent pharmacies in Parkland,” Mayor Michael Udine said. “It is highly unlikely we are going to. Two years ago, we didn’t have AEDs anywhere. Now we have them in parks and other big facilities.”

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Parkland officials are exploring the possibility of allowing private businesses to utilize the city’s amphitheater at Pine Trails Park for concerts and other special events.

At a recent City Commission meeting, officials asked Parks and Recreation director Scott Davodoff to continue discussions with private parties who have evinced interest in the city facility. Staff is expected to get back to the commission with a concrete proposal within the next few weeks.

“Driven Productions wants to hold a series of super Saturday events. They are looking to bring carnival-type events to Parkland,” Davidoff said. “Casey Gunther, owner of Gunther Volkswagen in Coconut Creek, wants to hold free concerts at the amphitheater as promotion for his business. There is also a Parkland resident who is a promoter of a national production company. He wants to bring events to the city.”

Mayor Michael Udine said he was in favor of exploring the idea further. “Let us try it without being locked in," he said. "Our residents are used to free concerts, but a ticketed event will be fine.”

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Rep. Martin Kiar will have an essay contest to offer a student in District 97, or within one of District 97’s schools, the chance to serve as a messenger in the Florida House of Representatives.

A messenger serves for one week during the regular legislative session, which runs from March 3 to May 4 this year. While performing the duties of a messenger, the student will watch members, constituents and lobbyists work together to pass laws that govern the state.

Messengers receive a small stipend but are responsible for their own expenses during the week. Interested students should complete the application and write a one-page essay on why they want to go to Tallahassee to participate in the legislative session.

Applications and essays must be received in Kiar’s office by Feb. 4. The winner will be announced on Feb. 9. Call 954-346-2813, or e-mail beth.lerner@myfloridahouse.gov. Applications should be emailed to beth.lerner@myfloridahouse.gov, faxed to 954-346-2815 or mailed to Kiar’s Parkland office at the Parkland City Hall.

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Mary Help of Christians Catholic School’s Boat Show art exhibition will be at the Parkland Library, 6620 University Drive, Feb. 11 through March 11.

The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students in kindergarten through the eighth grade have been assembling their boat creations out of various mediums including recycled materials, copper foil, watercolor, and glitter. The students have designed and named the boats after their favorite movie. It was Barbara Freiberg, the art teacher at the school, who came up with the idea for the exhibition.

There will be more than 60 boats on display. Contact Suzi Hayes at 954 757-4203 or shayes@cityofparkland.org.

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Parkland has introduced a program aimed at promoting fishing as a hobby among its residents, with staff expecting many to take the bait.

The program involves loaning out fishing rods and tackle for a maximum period of a week. Residents can check out up to four fishing rods and tackle Monday through Friday. The fishing equipment was donated recently to the city by Fish Florida, a nonprofit organization that teaches people about the state’s fish and aquatic habitats.

The city received 30 fishing rods and tackle from Fish Florida, said Scott Davidoff, Parks and Recreation director. “We were researching different ways of getting our residents interested in fishing. It is something you can do alone or with a family. I hope the new program will introduce more people to fishing.”

Call Lara Kramer at 954-927-8361 or visit www.fishfloridatag.org.

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With foreclosures in Broward increasing almost by the day, the number of pets being abandoned by owners keeps growing. Delcie Cullin, founder of K94URescue, sees it happening daily.

“When people lose their homes, they think about themselves first,” Cullin said. “Most of them cannot take their pets along with them. The economy is not doing well at all and the problem with abandoned pets is growing worse.”

Next Thursday, the Parkland unit of Premier Networking Alliance will do its best to help K94URescue move closer to its goal of building a facility for homeless pets. That day, Wine for K9, the organization’s first fundraiser for the year, will be at A Frame to Remember art and frame gallery in the Waterway Shoppes of Parkland, on the southwest corner of Loxahatchee Road and 441.

Jennifer Marcus, Parkland PNA member and a dog lover, is hoping to see many people turn out for the event. “We have two fundraisers every year for different charities. Last year, we raised funds for the S.O.S. Children’s Village. This is another worthy cause; we hope to have at least 150 people. There will be a variety of fine wines to choose from.”

The organization is yet to decide where the proposed facility would be built, said Cullins, who is also a Parkland PNA member. “We are raising funds. We need $250,000. The facility will come up either in Coral Springs or Boca Raton.”

Wine for K9 will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is $15. Call 954-755-9777 for tickets and information.

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When Florida Friendship Circle was formed four years ago, it helped two families with special needs children. The program now serves 80 special needs families from North Broward and South Palm Beach, with the number going up practically every week.

Sarah Biston, program director, said the popularity of the program has not taken her by surprise.

“When we started out, there were not many programs for special needs children. I think what we are doing is very important,” Biston said. “Apart from 80 special needs families, the program also has over 100 volunteers who help special needs children take part in activities. All our programs are free.”

The Chabad of Parkland-based program, which is a joint effort involving children with special needs, their parents, staff, volunteers and supporters of the program, offers three main programs - Sunday Circle, Friends at Home, and holiday activities. Among the three, Biston picks “Friends at Home” is the most important one.

“We send two volunteers to the home of a special needs child as part of the program,” Biston said. “They spend an hour each week with the child. The child thus gets a buddy. The program also gives parents some much-needed time to relax."

Call Sarah Biston at 954-255-6922 or e-mail floridafriendshipcircle@gmail.com.

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PHOTO: The Kosher Cuisine Club of Temple Chabad in Parkland is selling its recent cookbook to raise money for several building projects at the temple. Visit www.chabadofparkland.com and click on kosher cuisine for more information. Above, from left, are chairperson of the committee Sharon Phillips, and members Ronit Pollack, Eileen Fruithandler, Marie Muna Gosser and Linda Versil.
Staff photo/Jackie Genera
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City of Parkland offices will be closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 in observance of Christmas. The offices will also be closed Jan. 1 in observance of New Year's Day.

This will affect City Hall and libraries. Parks will close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Solid Waste and Recyclables will operate under the regular schedule.

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While Coral Springs will get more than $3.4 million from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Parkland’s share of the pie will be only $35,000.

The money is to be used to offset the effect of foreclosed homes within the city. While six cities in Broward County will get the money directly, the amount set aside for smaller cities such as Parkland will be distributed throughout the county.

The Parkland City Commission recently discussed the issue.

“The amount for each municipality is decided based on population and the number of foreclosed homes in the area,” said City Manager Caryn Gardner-Young. “Some of the municipalities have said they want direct control of the money, but that carries considerable administrative costs.”

Mayor Michael Udine said he is in favor of the city getting the money through the county. “Since our city is so small, it doesn’t pay for us to hire an administrator [to implement the program]. The money will still be spent in Parkland; they will listen to our ideas.”

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Officials in Parkland have asked Miami-Dade County leaders to reconsider naming their newest city "Parkland."

A resolution recently passed by the City Commission said that while the city has no desire to interfere with the home rule authority of Miami-Dade County, it believes it would be confusing and unfair to create a city with the same name as one in a neighboring county. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Miami-Dade County Commission, the county administrator and the Department of Community Affairs.

“Some residents have contacted me on the matter. We want to protect the name 'Parkland',” Mayor Michael Udine said. “We have worked hard to develop a brand which represents high quality semi-rural living and a family atmosphere.”

As soon as local leaders became aware of the issue, letters were sent to the Miami-Dade County mayor and the Florida League of Cities. Staff asked the city attorney to investigate the legality of two Florida municipalities having the same name. Inquiries revealed that there are two cities named Midway in Florida, one south of Sanford and the other northwest of Tallahassee.

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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.

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In the end, the dream finish to the season eluded the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagle Regiment Marching Band, but there were plenty of high points for the band members to cherish.

The band, which was looking to win the state championship in the Class 3A division for the second year in a row, came second to Gainesville at the championship last Saturday in St. Petersburg. Eleven schools competed in Class 3A.

The Eagle Regiment, under the direction of John Rusnak and led by drum majors Dale Tuason and Mark Stein, captured honors for best percussion and best visual effect during the semifinal round. The school's show, “In the Shadow of Dragons,” came in for much praise at the championship.

The band began working on this year’s performance as early as May this year, said Rusnak, who has been working at the school for 19 years. “We had a design meeting and then had a camp in June. This was followed by a camp two weeks before school started. We practiced twice a week. We have a lot of talent here.”

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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.

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It has been 10 years, but Carol Miller still remembers the moment her life changed forever, leaving her to face a mountain of challenges.

Ten years after the accident, life has almost come full circle for Miller. Last month, she took part in the Livestrong Challenge of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) in Austin, an event that raises funds for cancer research. She is now in town, after successfully covering 65 miles on her bike in 5 hours and 13 minutes.

“It was a very worthwhile cause," she said. "I recently lost a family member to cancer. I have had some friends win the battle against cancer. I, myself, had a melanoma removed two years ago. It is also the 10th anniversary of my accident and I wanted to do something special. I was also able to raise $8,289 for the foundation.”

Her accident took place a few yards from her home when she was hit by a car while riding her bicycle with her husband on Westview Drive in Coral Springs.

“I was thrown off 140 feet. I was told that when paramedics reached the site, I had no pulse,” Miller said. “My helmet saved me. Ever since the accident, I get angry whenever I see someone riding a bike without a helmet.”

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The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Eagle Regiment marching band has been in roaring form this season, winning three grand championship titles. None of the members are taking success for granted, however, as they prepare for the state championship at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg this Saturday.

Kristen Berman, captain of the woodwind section of the band, is hoping all the hard work will pay off. “Practice is running the way it is supposed to run,” she said. “It feels really great this year. We have been able to get the results we wanted to so far.”

The Eagle Regiment is the defending Class 3A state champion.

"We feel pretty confident about retaining the title,” said Berman, a 12th-grader. “We have something else on our minds, too. We want to achieve the record high score for the school this time. We will be creating history that way.”

The third of the band’s three titles of the season came at the latest success for the band came first in percussion, color guard, music, visual performance, and general effect. The band was also given an overall superior rating.

The band’s performance this year is based on the theme "In the Shadow of Dragons,” said John Rusnak, band director.

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News about the development of a new suburb in another county normally shouldn't cause concern to those in Broward County, but Parkland city commissioners are worried. Big time.

The reason: The new suburb that is being planned on Miami-Dade County's western fringe is named Parkland. The West Kendall Community Council recently voted 5-1 recommending the massive residential project be transmitted to state regulators for review.

Mayor Michael Udine believes having another community with the same name will hurt his city. "It will affect us," he said. "We have put lot of resources into establishing the Parkland brand. We need to protect the name of our city."

"Some residents have contacted me," Udine said. "We have sent a letter to the mayor of Miami Dade County explaining our stand on the issue. I don't know what the rules are, but I do not want another community sharing our city's name."

"We are researching," City Attorney Andy Maurodis said. "We will decide by the end of the week what we need to do next."

The community, west of Kendall-Tamiami executive airport, near the Everglades, is expected to have a population of nearly 19,000. The plan is to put nearly 7,000 homes, shops, offices, a hospital and schools on the 961 acres of land.

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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.

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Parkland has joined a growing list of cities that have put laws into place to decrease the effects of foreclosed or abandoned homes on the neighborhood.

The move comes in the wake of an increase in the number of foreclosures in the city over the last year. An ordinance that city officials discussed recently focuses on registration of abandoned homes. This places the burden of maintaining the property on the mortgagee.
The city will be able to impose fines if the mortgagee fails to keep the homes in proper shape.

The city should step in only if there were life, health, and safety issues, Mayor Udine said. “I like the registration provision but what I am not ok with is mowing the lawn. It will never end and we won’t have the dollars to do it. I wouldn’t want to live next to a house with a green pool, but if we intervene once, there would be demands to do others. We will need to go in once in a while, but this is a slippery slope.”

The main thrust of the Ordinance is to have abandoned properties registered, City Attorney Andrew Maurodis said. “There is nothing in the ordinance that obligates us to go in and do a thing. This is not aimed at making us step in and do the work. This is just to ensure that the mortgagee takes care of the property when foreclosure proceedings happen.”

Coral Springs, which has to deal with the problem on a much larger scale, passed a law a few months ago.

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It has had a not-so-great first year, but Young at Art Children’s Museum is trying hard to make a success of its alliance with Parkland.

Mindy Shrago, Young at Art executive director, appeared before the City Commission recently seeking a change to the original contract by which the museum would get 90 percent of the gross revenue as compensation for services.

The City Commission was willing to go a step further.

Mayor Michael Udine said he was in favor of the city waiving the recovery of fees from the beginning of the contract to May 2009. The others agreed.

“Let us give them a chance to try and succeed,” Udine said. We are all in tough times. "We want Young at Art to stay. It will cost us much more to run a similar program on our own.”

Young at Art, which was ranked the number one children’s museum in the state this year, will work to market its programs better, Shrago said. “We do want to make this work, to give it our all. We haven’t been able to reach out audience. We are thinking of ways to reach the kids in the community. We need to at least break even.”

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Shortly after he returned from a disability convention in Orlando, Garrett Mayersohn, a wheelchair bound eighth-grader at Westglades Middle School in Parkland, wrote a letter to his school principal.

Gov. Charlie Crist, Garrett wrote, had signed a bill asking Florida public schools to recognize the first two weeks of October as disability history and awareness weeks. During that period, the school should offer programs that create awareness about disability among its students, he said.

Christine Flynn, the principal, and staff were only too willing to oblige.

“These are exciting times for us,” Flynn said. “All through this week, we have programs that create disability awareness. A lot of our clubs have embraced the idea. We are doing this for the first time but I’m sure this will become an annual tradition here. In the coming years, the scope will broaden further, too.”

Garrett, understandably, is a happy young boy. “I’m glad they are doing so much. People sometimes make fun of those with disabilities. Creating awareness will prevent that from happening. My friends treat me like a regular kid, but not every child with a disability is as lucky as I am.”

The commission has tried to bring in as many programs as it can for special needs children, Mayor Michael Udine said. “I am not surprised that Garrett took the lead in making this happen. He is an unbelievable kid and a very good friend. He is going to be a leader.”

Disability history has been largely ignored in curricula at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, said Robert Mayersohn, Garrett’s father. “This is a step in the right direction. Twenty-five years ago, there was a lot of segregation between kids with disabilities and mainstream children. Some schools even used to hide children with disabilities.”

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The Parkland pumpkin patch is returning to its original location - Old City Hall.

Debra Rowars, a resident who is organizing the event this year after the Parkland Woman’s Club decided it no longer had the resources to make a success of it, had earlier picked the field next to the city’s Equestrian Center as the venue. However, her appearance before the City Commission last week led to a change of plan.

“The Parkland Woman’s Club lost $10,000 last year because the event was moved to Liberty Park,” Rowars said. “If we moved to the field next to the city’s Equestrian Center, it would have been the third location in three years. I’m glad we have Old City Hall. I’m a resident since 1983. I hope we can always enjoy fun family times in the shade of some of our older country settings.”

“We are still accepting applications for vendors to join us on our second weekend, Oct 18th and Oct 19th, for our harvest festival. We also hope to get adult volunteers for unloading the pumpkins at 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 11 and Oct. 18,” Rowars said.

The Parkland Pumpkin Patch will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 11 to 26 at Old City Hall, 6500 Parkside Drive, Parkland. E-mail bewitched96@mac.com.

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Parkland Mayor Michael Udine has had enough of residents not turning up at public workshops on the budget.

“I don’t want to deny anyone the right to participate, but no one goes to them,” said Udine. “And I don’t think it’s fair to staff to stay extra nights. For citizen’s meetings instead of 2 or 3 we should have 1 or 2 to save money. Every time staff stays here it costs more money.”

Udine certainly has a point. At two public workshops on the budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 that the city held, one man - Bob Meyersohn - turned up.

Last week, the City Commission adopted the budget with no increase in the fire assessment fee or the millage rate. Like most other cities, Parkland also had to make cuts in all its departments due to the increasing costs of providing services to its residents and the slowing economy that has impacted all cities across Florida.

However, the city is increasing public safety personnel. The city will pay for an additional School Resource Deputy and overtime pay will be provided for additional police presence within the city.

“It was a difficult budget year," Udine said. I’d like to say that I hope it gets better next year, but I doubt that.”

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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.

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The Parkland pumpkin patch, which was in danger of fading into history, will stay at least one more year, thanks to the efforts of a resident and a few of her friends.

Debra Rowars took it upon herself to organize the community event after the Parkland Woman’s Club decided it no longer had the resources to make a success of it. Budgetary constraints have forced the city, which had in earlier years lent a helping hand, to stay away this time.

Rowars said she couldn’t bear to see one of the city’s true community events disappear. “I’ve been involved with the event for 12 years now. Over the years, it has taken on a life of its own. We have people coming in from other cities, sometimes even from places as far off as Jenson Beach. I must be crazy to take this on, but I want to try.”

The success of the 16-day event will depend on the number of volunteers, Rowars said. “We will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. We will need many volunteers to get the pumpkins off the truck on Oct. 11 and 18. We are looking for vendors to rent booth space during the weekend and for sponsors to underwrite the cost of the event.”

The Parkland Pumpkin Patch will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 11 to 26 at 8500 Holmberg Rd, the field next to the city’s Equestrian Center. E-mail bewitched96@mac.com.

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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.”

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Parkland wants to make its playgrounds and fields a safer place for children.

Next month, the city will soon join the growing list of cities that have instituted mandatory criminal background checks for all volunteers involved in city-recognized sports leagues. The city’s decision comes in the wake of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and the National Alliance for Youth Sports recommending a comprehensive screening process for all volunteers.

The mandatory background check will apply to all adult managers, coaches, and other person 16 years or older who have supervisory or coaching responsibilities. League board members will also have to go through the process that will cover the whole gamut from sex offenses, felonies and misdemeanors. Volunteers will be screened on an annual basis.

Once the City Commission adopts the ordinance at its next meeting, sports organizations utilizing city space will have to provide the names of all volunteers to the city and pay $20 for each volunteer for the background checks. Southeastern Security Consultants Inc. (SSCI) will be in charge of the comprehensive screening process. SSCI has an impressive track record, performing background checks for the U.S. Army, national governing bodies, law enforcement agencies and churches.

“This is exactly what we were looking for,’ said Commissioner Dave Rosenof. “I would like the city to see of volunteers can be given ID cards. Parents need some affirmation that the person coaching their children has passed a background check. In Fort Lauderdale, they have ID cards for volunteers.”

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The burial of a time capsule containing a slice of the city’s past and present, a birthday cake big enough to feed 2,000 people, and old fashioned family-oriented games will be the main attractions when Parkland celebrates its 45 birthday this Saturday.

While the city will ring in the day with a renewal of Parkland Days at the Equestrian Center, the Parkland Historical Society will give a time capsule to the city.

The time capsule is to be opened in 2063, when the city turns 100. Although most of the items inside it will remain a secret, it will contain the city seal, a printed copy of the city's Web page, a message from the mayor, and photos of various historical landmarks.

The 45th birthday bash will be at the Equestrian Center, 8350 Ranch Road in Parkland. The event is free and open to all city residents.

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

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Some cities in Florida have voted in favor of a four-day workweek, primarily as a cost-savings measure, but Parkland officials do not think the idea suits the city.

“Switching over to a four-day week will have a positive effect on the environment,” said Barbara Hastings, city finance and administrative services director. “It will decrease the city’s electric bill by $12,000. It will also increase employee productivity. There will be less absenteeism.”

Vice Mayor Jared Moskowitz said a savings of $12,000 was not sufficient to justify changing over to a four-day week. “I was willing to let economics dictate my decision, but we are not saving much. I don’t see it as a good policy.”

Mayor Michael Udine said Parkland did not have the employee base to warrant a change. “It’s a good concept," he said. "I can understand bigger cities doing it. Coconut Creek has a significant number of employees. I don’t think we should be doing it.”

Margate city administrative offices will work only four days a week starting Sept. 29 while Coconut Creek switched over about a year ago.

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

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All schools in Parkland will have their own school resource officers during the current academic year.

The two elementary schools, middle school and high school in the city had their own SROs last year as well, but city officials had recently discussed the feasibility of making the two elementary schools share a SRO. The other officer was to add to BSO’s presence on city roads.

At a recent budget workshop, Mayor Michael Udine said, “This year, every school will have SROs. It’s paid for; it is budgeted. The issue is pretty much resolved.”

Udine’s comment came in the wake of the safety sub-committee of the city’s education advisory board asking the commission to ensure all schools in Parkland have an SRO each.

Becki Eikevik, EAB chairperson, expressed happiness at the commission’s decision. “We have been told that the new elementary school that is coming up will also have an SRO," she said. "Many parents were upset when they heard the commission might make the existing elementary schools share an SRO."

Read the full article in the Coral Springs Forum on Aug. 28. Arun can be reached at 954-574-5339.

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The Parkland building department has not seen much activity over the last year with the real estate market being what it is, but the city is not planning to outsource its operations. At least, not yet.

"The city does not need to outsource the department, but it needs to operate better," City Manager Caryn Gardner-Young said at a budget workshop Wednesday. "We will be implementing uniforms for staff. Jeans, shorts or sneakers won't be permitted. Internal coordination and customer contact will be improved. We will have an ombudsman and also shorten the time period for processing permits."

Vice Mayor Jared Moskowitz said he would let the economy dictate his decision. "Last year, we had 5,400 permits. This year, it is 2,300. If the number goes down further, the department will become a significant expense to the city. Let us see where we are in January," he said.

Mayor Michael Udine also wanted to see what the situation would be in January. "I would like to see how it works out," he said. "I also like the idea of an ombudsman."

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With constraints in the 2007-2008 budget, the Parkland Library was forced to reduce its hours from 57 per week to 46. This year will be better for the library, which will operate 52 hours a week.

The increase in number of hours is due a $21,000 grant to the city by Friends of the Parkland Library, an organization that has worked for the expansion of the library since 1992. The money will be used to pay salaries until September 2009. The library has 10 employees, six of which are part time staff.

Existing part-time employees will get some of the hours they had lost, said library director Suzi Hayes. “Most libraries are reducing hours. In the current climate, it’s unusual for a library to be expanding its hours. It’s wonderful to have such a great support group. Last year, they spent $50,000 for the construction of the library patio.” Natalie Bigio, Friends of the Parkland Library president, said the organization did not want the library to suffer due to budget cuts. “We had the money because we have no administrative expenses. When this need came, we had to act, and we did."

The library will now be open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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Schools in Parkland will have more space to accommodate students by 2009-2010.

When school reopens sometime in September 2009, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will have 30 additional classrooms and six new science labs. Westglades Middle School will grow too, adding 24 classrooms. The new elementary school that will open in time for the next academic year is expected to provide relief to Riverglades and Park Trails, the existing two elementary schools in the city.

The addition of classrooms at the high school is part of the plan for class size reduction, school board member Stephanie Kraft said. “School enrollment, in general, has gone down in the area as people are moving out of South Florida. Our goal is to have a class size of 25 students in a high school, 22 in middle school and 18 in elementary schools.”

Douglas High principal Ann Kowalskis said she was excited by the classroom addition. “The classrooms will be ready at the end of this year or the beginning of the next academic year. We’ve needed this ever since we had critical overcrowded status. We have 38 portables on campus now; we may end up keeping them. We are continuously growing; enrolment continues to increase.”

Parkland School Advisory Board chairwoman Becky Eikevik welcomed the classroom addition at the high school and middle school. “It’s something we have needed for quite a while. There is growth in Parkland and our schools needed to grow too. If the city gets the wedge, we will need new schools.”

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

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It's a long time coming, but Parkland will finally have its third elementary school.

Elementary School “Z,” to be located on 12 acres of land, will open in time for the 2009-2010 school year and will have space for 960 students. The new school will be the first one in the county to have a photovoltaic roof system that collects solar energy as a source of electricity. Special energy efficient transformers have also been included in the school’s design.

Skanska USA Building Inc. will be the construction manager for the project.

The opening of the 126,376-square-foot school is expected to provide relief to Riverglades Elementary School and Park Trails Elementary, both of which have experienced overcrowding in recent years. The new school had been a part of the school board’s plans for the last few years and would have opened earlier if not for a decision to switch sites.

The new school would be great for Parkland, Mayor Michael Udine said. “It is a big, big benefit for the city. The schools in our area are so good that they are getting overcrowded. Anything that can be done to provide relief is a big win for Parkland. The building will use solar energy; that fits right in with what we are trying to do.”

Read a longer version of the story in the Aug. 14 issue of the Forum. Reach Arun at 954-574-5339.

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Two Parkland teenagers are giving the city a good name while making life better for those at the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale.

It all began with Ben Gajus deciding to put his summer to a worthwhile use. After a few years of going to the Coral Springs Medical Center with his mother during Christmas time to donate toys, the teenager wanted to take the next step. Bill Strode, his friend and teammate on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School football team, was excited to become involved.

Over the last few weeks, Ben and Bill have been collecting gently used items for the children at the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center. The medical facility provides care for uninsured and under-insured children with chronic illnesses like HIV, diabetes and cancer.

“The economy is so bad that they need all the help they can get,” Ben said. “We are trying to get as much stuff as we can. We have fliers that we have put all over our neighborhood. Every week, we solicit soliciting used clothes, shoes, toys, games, books, sporting equipment, and baby items. We have had some really great days and some so-so ones.”

The two teenagers have already collected about 6,000 toys and clothes items after visiting about 250 houses in the neighborhood. Bill is hoping the school football team will make it a tradition in the coming years.

Read the full story in the August 7 issue of the Coral Springs Forum. Arun can be contacted at 954-574-5339.

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Top Priority, a South Florida classic rock band, will enthrall music lovers in Parkland Aug. 9 at Pine Trails Park Amphitheater, 10561 Trails End. The concert, which starts at 7 p.m., is free and open to Parkland residents only.

The concert is the latest in a series presented by JM Lexus. Until this year, such events were organized by the city, but following a decision by the City Commission, staff has been trying to rope in sponsors for as many events as possible.

Top Priority has Brian Beauvais (lead vocals, guitar and keyboards), Ben Robinson (lead guitar and vocals), Danny Kelley (bass and vocals), and Greg Sherman (drums and vocals.) The band members have played together for about 20 years, making it one of the longest surviving bands in South Florida.

Residents can bring lawn chairs and blankets to the event, but tents, pets and alcohol are not allowed.

For more information, call Colleen O’Dea at 954-757-4120 or e-mail codea@cityofparkland.org.

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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.

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The Parkland YMCA is starting a Kidz Club after school program.

The program provides transportation from various schools in Parkland and Coral Springs. Between 2 and 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, students participate in homework time, fun and fitness activities, youth sports and arts and crafts. They also get a healthy daily snack.

The cost for members is $240 a month per child. Non-members pay a month per child. There also is a $55 registration fee per family.

Call 954-384-9622.

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The Parkland Women's Club is looking for vendors to participate in Parkland Promenade, formerly known as Arts and Crafts in the Country.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 5901 Pine Island Road in Parkland.

The club is looking for vendor items that include artwork, crafts, embellished, buy-to-sell or "green market" items.

Space fees range from $60 to $100. Net proceeds go to charitable organizations supported by the Parkland Women's Club.

Call Pat Mirabello at 954-662-5770 or visit www.parklandwc.com.

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The Parkland Library got hit with budget cuts this year and faces more of the same next year, but the news is not all bad. The library has managed to rope in a sponsor for its popular summer reading program.

The program, which features segments for children, teens and adults, is based on the book, “The Wizard of Oz” and will continue until mid-August. “Oz” memorabilia, on loan from city residents and the Cornell Museum in Delray Beach, has been displayed to create a museum-type atmosphere.

“We have never had a sponsor before,” said Michele Andrews, library program coordinator. “We are happy National City Bank has come forward to help us. We’ve really transformed the entire place.”

The library is offering prizes to readers this time, Andrews said.

It also encourages people to read and bring new members to the library, said Kathy Buchko, a Parkland resident. “Things are in jeopardy after the budget cuts and the library needs all the help it can get,” she said. “I have been a member since the beginning. It is a great place. I love the hometown atmosphere.”

Read the complete article and see more photos in the July 10 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.

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PHOTO: The Parkland Library recently had a "Wizard of Oz"-themed show. Library Staff Michelle Andrews, library program coordinator, greeted visitors. Staff photo/Marta Mikulan Martin
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