Your Coral Springs
City Commission and Charter Officers
Samuel S.
Goren
City Attorney
Vincent M.
Boccard
Vice Mayor
Roy
Gold
Commissioner
Scott J.
Brook
Mayor
Claudette
Bruck
Commissioner
Ted
Mena
Michael S.
Levinson
Commissioner
City Manager
Coral Springs keeps its promise to families
For the third year in a row, America’s Promise
named the City of Coral Springs one of the
100 Best Communities for Young People.
In 2005, former Secretary of State
Colin Powell founded America’s
Promise to increase the health
and success of young people
from birth to 21 years of age.
This year, more than 300 communities throughout the
nation applied for this honor.
Coral Springs was judged
on criteria regarding our City’s
commitment to fulfill five
essential promises critical to
the well-being of young people:
caring adults who are actively
involved in their lives; safe places in
which to learn and grow; a healthy start
toward adulthood; an effective education
that builds marketable skills; and opportunities
to help others.
“When a community provides all that its young people
need to be healthy and secure, they deserve to be honored
and showcased as an outstanding example of what it takes
to successfully nurture this nation’s young
people,” America’s Promise Founding
Chairman General Colin L. Powell said.
Coral Springs was once again
recognized in large part because
of the City’s Youth Services
Committee, which pulls together
community stakeholders from
public and private organizations, local businesses, the
Chamber of Commerce and
local government to empower
youth to pursue City leadership
opportunities and develop
solutions to youth problems.
The Family Success Center also
provides underserved families
with human services such as child
and family therapy, financial assistance
resources, job search training for teens, and
referrals to social services.
“Coral Springs, being a family community, has always
given the City reasons to explore opportunities to reach out
to families and provide for their needs, especially our young
people,” Commissioner Claudette Bruck said.
Coral Springs • Spring 2008
Visit coralsprings.org
The Magazine for the Premier Community
in Which to Live, Work and Raise a Family
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A Day in the Life: City forester.................................................................................Page 2
25
Building our business Channel
community
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25
Police Communications Center receives accreditationChannel
. ...........Page
5
Fire Academy named best in Florida...............................................................Page 5
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Building workshops available..................................................................................Page 6
City prepared for hurricane season..................................................................Page 7
1670AM
Crocheting with a cause..................................................................................................Page
8
community
i Radio
i Radio
1670AM
My Coral Springs: Photos submitted by our readers...................Page 9
Courses available through University Partnership........................Page 9
Family Success Center offers financialPodcast
classes.................................. Page 10
i ToGo
i Web
Maintaining
our canals:
Coral Springs
water control
districts
Museum of Art
goes to the dogs
... and other animals
Page 13
Page 12
City of Coral Springs
9551 West Sample Road
Coral Springs, Florida 33065
954-344-1000
Want to know more
about Coral Springs?
Visit our web site at coralsprings.org
Call Citizens’ Services at 954-344-1001.
TTY for the hearing impaired: 954-344-1022.
Watch In the Loop on CityTV 25
at 7 am and 7 pm daily, and visit
coralsprings.org/citytv25 to view
the program guide and to link to streaming
video and podcasts of the channel.
Register at coralsprings.org
for the CityeNews monthly newsletter.
recreation
City partners to assist local businesses..................................................... Page 11
coralsprings.org
Commercial Street Tree program .................................................................... Page 11
What’s Going Up?................................................................................................................. Page 11
culture
business
environment
city
features
Spring 2008
Page 17
What’s Happening?
Page 17
i Blog
T13C makes
tour stop in
Coral Springs
coralsprings.org/blog
Page 14
i Page
i eNews
is produced quarterly by the City of Coral Springs
Communications and Marketing Department.
If you have questions or comments regarding this publication,
e-mail [email protected], call 954-344-1197, or write to
Coral Springs magazine at the address to the left.
Interim Communications & Marketing Director
Liz Kolodney
Creative Services Coordinator
Christine Parkinson Jahrsdoerfer
Writer/Media Relations Coordinator
Maria Fuentes-Archilla
Writer
Staci Zavattaro
Photography
Maria Fuentes-Archilla • George Miller
Christine Parkinson Jahrsdoerfer • Alex Rodriguez
Watch CityTV Channel 25
Around the Town
On the cover:
The Blue Dog exhibit
by George Rodrigue, in addition
to more animal-themed works,
will be on display at the Coral Springs
Museum of Art through May 24.
See page 13 for details.
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 1
features
A
Day
in
theLife
City forester committed to
environmental conservation
If you’re ever looking for City Forester and Environmental
Coordinator Mark Westfall, your best bet is to look underground in a tortoise burrow or in a forest surrounded by
spiders and poison ivy.
Today, he meets a group of third graders from The
Day School at Coral Springs bright and early at Sandy
Ridge Sanctuary for a tour. He takes them deep in the
woods and shows them plants and animals that are
native to Florida. He also speaks to them about how
things have changed for these flora and fauna during
the years as a result of the surrounding human activity.
For the most part, he gets down and dirty with
nature. It might not sound appealing to the general
public, but Westfall can’t imagine doing anything else.
His maternal grandfather was a forester himself in
Germany half a century ago. You might say it’s in his
genes.
“I remember him showing me of a patch of land
that was destroyed during
World War II that he helped
replenish,” Westfall said.
Much like his grandfather,
Westfall can now drive around
Coral Springs and point out the
trees he’s saved throughout the
years. On the way to the new
Super Target construction site
at Turtle Run, he drives past
PetSmart and proudly points
to a large native Strangler Fig
that gives a lovely shade on the
parking lot.
“That tree would have been
removed from the construction
site if the City hadn’t insisted
that it stay,” Westfall said. “It’s
nice to know I helped save that tree.”
Once he arrives at the Super Target site, he starts
inspecting the quality of the Live Oaks.
“The trunk diameter is appropriate for the height of the
tree, the branches are evenly distributed along the trunk,
the root ball is intact and the planting depth is appropriate,”
Westfall says. “In other words, these are some nice trees.”
He also verifies the number
of trees that were saved prior
to construction starting. A large
number of Live Oaks, Gumbo
Limbos, Crepe Myrtles and
various palms continue to thrive
as they wait to be relocated
back onto the site.
He leaves confident in the
quality of the trees at the future
Super Target site and drives
out to Forest Hills to inspect six
Gumbo Limbos near Lake Forest
Condominiums. Since Hurricane
Wilma, our City’s Street Tree
Subsidy Program has served as
an incentive for replacing more
than 2,000 trees after our tree
canopy was reduced by about
one-third. As part of his daily duties, Westfall also does
quality inspections on all street tree subsidy applications. He digs his fingers in the dirt and checks to
make sure there are no circling roots that might need
to be cut or lead to a rejection of the tree. They all
look good and meet the Florida Grade #1 standard, so
he happily signs off to ensure that this homeowner’s
association receives a $200 reimbursement per tree.
In the afternoon, Westfall heads out to Red Lichen
Sanctuary to examine for any vandalism and invasive
plants. He does this regularly to make sure that
Brazilian Pepper, along with other unwanted plants,
don’t take over the native foliage. Everything looks
good, but if it didn’t he’d put a call into the contractor to
correct the problem.
Before heading back to the office, he visits the endangered
2 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
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Gopher Tortoise Preserve at Sawgrass Springs Middle School.
“That is one of my most satisfying projects,” Westfall said.
He pitched the idea to the school four years ago, and as an
environmental magnet school, they loved the suggestion.
“Look, there is Speedy,” says a group of students walking to
the portable classrooms. At the burrow entrance is Speedy, a
female gopher tortoise. The students also recognize Westfall,
as he often gives educational presentations at local schools
about wildlife.
“The students love the preserve, and it sparks conversation
about nature and wildlife,” Westfall said.
His work here is done, so he heads back to the office.
When he arrives, his phone’s voice mail light is on as usual.
Residents often call Westfall directly to find out about proper
tree removal, the Street Tree Subsidy Program, or other Land
Development Code requirements.
After calling back to speak to residents one-on-one, he
dedicates the last couple of hours of the day to plan the
annual EarthFest, which will take place Saturday, April 19 at
Sandy Ridge Sanctuary. He coordinates with the area schools
to assign local experts on topics, such as gopher tortoises,
cabbage palms, fire ecology and other environmental questions. He also contacts local nurseries for plant giveaways to
all Coral Springs residents, as well as educational sessions on
wildlife.
Westfall, an “army brat,” grew up in the United States and
Germany. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biology,
and he took part in the green movement in West Germany in
the early 1980s.
“I’ve always had a love for nature and wildlife,” he says.
Aside from working at the City for the past seven years,
Westfall, along with is wife Dawn Thomason, enjoys training
his two Shetland Sheepdogs.
To schedule a tour of one of the City’s Environmentally
Sensitive Lands or to speak to Mark Westfall directly, call
954-344-1117. For more information about trees and
environmental issues in Coral Springs, visit coralsprings.org/
environment.
Watch CityTV Channel 25
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 3
features
“The students love
the preserve, and it
sparks conversation
about nature and
wildlife,” City Forester
and Environmental
Coordinator
Mark Westfall said.
features
Building
our
business
community
For the past 15 years, the Coral Springs Economic
Development Foundation, Inc., has pursued its mission of
attracting business enterprises to the City to better diversify
the tax base. Since then, this “unsung hero” of the business
community has helped more than 117 corporations locate to
the Coral Springs, raising the non-residential tax base to $1.5
billion for Fiscal Year 2007.
“Commercial development is important because it generates a positive fiscal impact upon the City’s budget,” EDF
Executive Director Paul Cawley said.
The EDF’s efforts allow the City to keep residential
property taxes the lowest in Broward County for full-service
cities with more than 70,000 people by bolstering the commercial tax base with each new business in the community.
In fact, the City hasn’t raised its operating millage rate since
the EDF began 15 years ago.
“The more successful we are in economic development,
the less we need to rely upon our residential community to
foot the bill for the rising cost of providing City services,” City
Manager Michael S. Levinson said.
The Foundation is a private, non-profit company working
in conjunction with the City. When Cawley isn’t recruiting
companies to Coral Springs, he acts as a liaison between
businesses and the City, helping the companies navigate
the development and permitting processes, “because time is
money,” Cawley said.
“The involvement never stops,” Cawley said, adding that he
maintains relationships with the businesses even after they’re
settled, offering guidance on ways to get involved in the
community.
Cawley has a knack for attracting large companies to
Coral Springs. As a leading provider of electronic commerce
and payment solutions for businesses worldwide, First Data
operates on a sprawling campus in the Corporate Park, and
Alliance Entertainment is the world’s largest independent
distributor of music and music-related products. Both companies call Coral Springs home.
The EDF caters to companies of all sizes and does more
than attract businesses to Coral Springs. The Foundation
had a hand in the development of the Heron Bay Golf Club.
They also facilitate the Coral Springs College and University
Partnership, a unique program offering college and continuing education courses at several locations throughout
the City. Businesses can also take advantage of a service
offering on-site classes so employees can learn during lunch.
There also is the Charter School Academic and Career
Excellence Academy, better known as ACE. This program
offers students executive internships and a chance to put
their classroom skills to work in the business world.
Another groundbreaking project is the Business Needs
Assessment, a survey distributed to businesses of all sizes
in Coral Springs to help the City better understand what
they really need. Once results are in, the City will launch
the Academy for Best Business Practices to offer specialized
training for businesses to improve their bottom line performance and customer satisfaction.
Right now, the EDF is working on redevelopment in the
Corporate Park and assisting the Community Redevelopment
Agency and The Amera Corporation in attracting top-notch
companies to Downtown Coral Springs.
Looking toward the future, the EDF intends to capitalize
on the City’s receipt of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality
Award when recruiting new businesses to Coral Springs.
“Companies want to be associated with a community that
runs like a high-performing business,” Cawley said.
For more information, visit coralspringsedf.com.
Broward League of Cities
honors Coral Springs
The Broward League of Cities recently recognized the City
of Coral Springs for receiving the Malcolm Baldrige National
Quality Award. Past and present members of the City commission accepted the honor in front of a large group of
elected officials representing many Broward cities.
Present were (from left) former Commissioner Bill Stradling,
former Commissioner Rhonda Calhoun, Commissioner Ted
Mena, City Manager Michael S. Levinson, Commissioner Roy
Gold, former Commissioner Maureen Berk, and Vice Mayor
Vincent M. Boccard.
4 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
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features
Only
one call away
Police Communications Center
receives national accreditation
On a visit to the Coral Springs Police Department’s
Communications Center, the phone rarely stops buzzing.
Big screens monitor different sectors of the City. The activity
never ends. But callers can rest assured that they are in
capable hands when calling 911 or needing non-emergency
help from the police department.
That’s because on November 17, the Communications
Center became the first in the state and only fourth municipality in the country to receive national accreditation from
the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies. In other words, the Center follows firmly established industry standards to deliver premier customer service
to all callers, officers and firefighters.
“We’re excited to be the first local agency in Florida to
have its Communications Center receive national accreditation,” Police Chief Duncan Foster said. “The accreditation
process allows us to systemically review and internally assess
our operations and procedures in our ongoing quest for performance excellence.”
Thirty-eight staff members work different shifts in the
Communications Center around the clock. In 2007, they
fielded 170,000 non-emergency calls and 70,000 911 calls.
Maria Marcoux, a communications shift supervisor, led the
initial application process, which began almost two years
ago. The Communications Center had to meet more than
215 criteria toward CALEA certification, which encompasses
six broad areas: organization; direction and supervision;
human resources; recruitment, selection and promotion;
training; operations; and critical incidents, special operations,
and homeland security.
To create the best strategic plan for the Center, staff
not only aligned it with the City’s overall Strategic Plan,
but benchmarked from other accredited communications
centers throughout the nation, taking best practices and
incorporating them into their operations.
Once the application was submitted, the Center
underwent a comprehensive review from third-party CALEA
examiners, who inspected more than 145 files during their
five-day stay last year.
The examiners’ findings stated the Center is one with “a
true customer focus whose mission is to deliver the vital
link between the community and emergency services while
maintaining professionalism and quality.”
The Police Department as a whole has been CALEA
accredited since 1988, and Communications Administrator
Joann Brown, said her division applied because they “felt that
it was time for our Communications Center personnel to be
recognized as the professionals that they truly are.”
Fire Academy named best training center in Florida
If you’re looking to train to become a firefighter in Florida,
Coral Springs is definitely the place to be.
The Florida Fire Training Directors Association named the
Coral Springs Fire Academy as “Fire Training Center of the
Year” in Florida for 2007. The competition for this annual
award is always intense.
This is quite an accomplishment for the Coral Springs
Fire Department, which began its own Fire and EMT
academy a few years ago.
The selection committee chose the Coral Springs Fire
Academy for its outstanding performance in training future
firefighters of this state, as well as its contributions to the
development of innovative training programs and procedures that have become new standards for the training of
firefighters across the state.
“This award showcases the importance of operating an
academy that is built on a Commitment to Excellence, the
Academy motto,” Chief of Training Robert Bertone said.
This recognition closely follows the City’s recent receipt of
the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
“Our academy has had some of the highest passing rates
in the state for several years now, and this award confirms our
commitment to the quality of our graduates,” Bertone added.
The Academy has trained more than 1,000 career firefighters in Flashover Awareness in the last two years and
continues to serve as a major training resource for 12 local fire
departments and four local law enforcement agencies.
“The award validates our commitment to excellence in
preparing firefighters for the challenges associated with this
most demanding and dangerous profession,” City Manager
Michael S. Levinson said. “The beneficiaries of this award are
the people we serve.”
Watch CityTV Channel 25
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 5
city
Building workshops
to be offered this summer
If you are planning to replace your roof in the near
future, don’t miss the City’s Building Workshop at the
Northwest Regional Library on Tuesday, June 17 from
9 to 11 am, where officials will give insider tips on how
to go about the roof permit application, plan review and
inspection process.
Ask the 100 architects, contractors and homeowners
who attended the first two workshops earlier this year,
and they’ll tell you first-hand how helpful these workshops
turned out to be. The first workshop on windows, doors
and shutters was very successful with a 95 percent satisfaction rating.
“Our goal in presenting these workshops is to educate
our customers on the procedure for submitting complete
and accurate information to ensure their permits are issued
in a timely manner,” Building Official Tom Schubert said.
The final building workshop on expired permits will take
place on Tuesday, September 16. The workshop location is
still to be determined, but all registered participants will be
notified ahead of time.
Anyone interested in attending these workshops can
sign up by e-mailing [email protected] or by
calling 954-344-1199 or 954-344-1041. When registering,
make sure to include your name, contact phone number,
number of attendees and business name if applicable.
Voice your opinion, shape
policy on illegal fireworks
Do you know which fireworks are illegal? Do you believe
illegal fireworks are dangerous? Is the use of illegal fireworks a problem in our City?
Residents often get upset about illegal fireworks. Now,
you can have your voice heard on this issue and help
shape City policy.
A citizen’s open forum, sponsored by a sub-committee
of the City’s Customer-Involved Government Committee,
will begin at the end of April and will give residents a
chance to discuss and deliberate illegal fireworks issues.
The forum will formulate and propose action strategies
that will be presented to the City Commission in June.
The City is looking for people who are passionate on
the subject, whether for or against illegal fireworks, to join
these open forums. Participants will be split into small
groups, and different locations and meeting times will be
available for their convenience.
Please visit coralsprings.org/fireworks to fill out a brief
survey on fireworks. For more information or to participate,
call 954-344-1148 or e-mail [email protected].
Celebrate Earth Day
Tucked in behind lush trees and home to native flora and
fauna is Sandy Ridge Sanctuary. Drive by on 40th Street and
you could miss this hidden treasure. But come celebrate
Earth Day with a tour of Sandy Ridge Sanctuary as the City
hosts its annual EarthFest celebration, a community event
putting residents in touch with nature at the Sanctuary.
In addition to the guided tour, EarthFest features wildlife
exhibits, plant giveaways to Coral Springs residents, and light
refreshments. The free event begins at 9 am on April 18 until
1 pm at Sandy Ridge, 8501 N.W. 40th St., just east of University
Drive between Sample and Wiles roads. For more information, call 954-344-1117.
Residents urged to be
cautious of urban coyotes
While we may be familiar with seeing the occasional
raccoon or even a red fox in Coral Springs, most residents
would be surprised to learn that the City is also home to
some urban coyotes.
There is no need to fret – coyotes are usually shy and tend
to stay away from humans – but there are some things to be
aware of when it comes to these creatures. Coyotes are one
of the most adaptable animals in the world. They are known
for morphing their breeding habits, diet and social dynamics
to survive.
To ensure the safety of you and your pets, do not feed
coyotes. They can become dependant on humans and over
time, they realize that we are a reliable source of food. In
turn, coyotes could lose their fear of humans and become
bolder in their approach.
To date, no incidents have been reported in Coral Springs,
but because coyotes do sometimes hunt cats and small
dogs, animal officials suggest feeding pets indoors and
bringing in small animals around dusk and at night, which is
their prime hunting time. Also, remember to close garbage
can lids tightly. If you spot a coyote in your neighborhood,
inform your neighbors and encourage them to be cautious.
If you are aware of coyotes in your area, take a stick or loud
sound-making device with you when walking outdoors or
with your pets. Larger dogs of 35 lbs. or more are generally
not at risk of a coyote attack.
If a coyote or other wild animal bites or scratches you or
your dog, please get proper medical treatment. For questions
or if you have concerns about coyotes in your neighborhood,
call the Coral Springs Humane Unit at 954-346-4422.
6 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
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city
i
City ready for upcoming
hurricane season
i
Channel 25
Channel 25
The City is prepared to handle disasters of all types, be
they man-made or natural. With hurricane season soon
approaching, there are some new information avenues residents should know about.
Last year, the City
launched 1670
CityRadio
1670 am,
AM
1670AM
which in the event of a storm
will provide constant, local updates about boil water alerts,
curfews, shelter openings, points of distribution for ice, water
and food, status of City facility openings, and more.
The City pursued obtaining its own dedicated AM radio
station after 34 percent ofPodcast
respondents to the annual
Residential Satisfaction Survey relied on the radio for emergency information after Hurricane Wilma. Further, most information our residents had access to was not specific to Coral
Springs but instead covered all of Broward and Miami-Dade
counties. With CityRadio, City residents can hear real-time
coralsprings.org
information that pertains
directly to them.
Other ways to get information include the Hurricane Call
Center, coralsprings.org and CityTV 25.
Residents can reach the Hurricane Call Center before and
after a storm by calling 954-344-1001. Staff is on hand to
answer City-specific questions and cannot address issues
such as canals, cable television signals or electricity.
CityTV, on Advanced Cable Communications channel 25,
will air the latest community information that also is available
on the radio and online. On coralsprings.org, residents can
register for several electronic newsletters to get the latest
storm information. On the site, scroll to the e-Coral Springs
section and click “Sign up for e-News.” Residents also can
sign up for Community Awareness e-mails, which provide
information about domestic security and tropical updates, by
e-mailing [email protected].
There are many other resources the City makes available,
including CodeRED, help for seniors and vulnerable populations, evacuation maps, a Community Emergency Response
Team, pet shelters, and more. Visit coralsprings.org/hurricane
for more information about preparing for storms and keep
informed if one unfortunately comes our way.
i Radio
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coralsprings.org/blog
i Page
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coralsprings.org/hurricane
Watch CityTV Channel 25
A
Bridge
to the
Past
Back in the City’s early days, before the population
growth and planned development, there was a place
where cultural organizations in Coral Springs could gather
and share their creations with the community.
It was called the Cultural Society, Inc. and it was simply
a building that Coral Ridge Properties, the City’s original
developers, donated to civic organizations in Coral
Springs. The building sat on the property that is now the
Barrington Club apartments on Sample Road.
Sue Kirchoff was active in the Society as a member of
the Coral Springs Craft Guild, an organization that still
exists today and hosts craft shows throughout the year.
The Society, she said, gave residents in the newly formed
City a sense of place and togetherness.
“It gave you a place to go and have your meetings, to
bring everyone together,” Kirchoff said.
Emily Heafy, wife of former Coral Springs Mayor Ed
Heafy, also was active in the Society clubs and even helped
produce the newsletter Savoir Fare, a magazine the size of
today’s Playbill to inform the public of Society happenings.
One activity popular with residents was Opus 30, a
community playhouse putting on shows for children and
adults alike. They produced many shows including Hello
Dolly, Damn Yankees and A Funny Thing Happened on the
Way to the Forum.
“We had some spectacular music, piano players, cellists
and plays,” Heafy said.
As part of the Garden Club, Heafy participated in juried
shows at the old Coral Springs Mall, now home to the
Coral Springs Charter School. There were judges and
entries from throughout the country, making the show a
big draw for the City.
“It was a great bunch of people,” Heafy said. “We rose
from nothing.”
For more on City history, visit coralsprings.org/history or
contact the Museum of History inside Mullins Park, 10000
N.W. 29th St., 954-752-7535.
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 7
city
Crocheting
with a
cause
Stitchers craft pieces
to ‘Warm Up America’
Jean Holmes always knew how to stitch, sew and knit.
But learning crochet eluded her until she joined a free club
at the Sartory Senior Center where like-minded adults get
together each week to trade lessons and secrets about
crochet.
And learning to crochet in only a few short months
helped Holmes participate in the group’s first charity project
– donating hand-made rectangles to art store Michael’s that
will get stitched into blankets for those most in need.
“I like the charity project,” Holmes said. “It makes me feel as
if I’m useful by doing something for the community.”
Michael’s knitting instructor Pat Robbins will take the
80-plus fabric rectangles the City’s stitchers crafted and sew
them into about five or six blankets that will be donated to
Warm Up America, a non-profit organization dedicated to
giving warmth to those in need, be they adults, children or
even animals.
Robbins said it is her job to arrange that crocheted creations into similar color patterns before creating the blankets.
Those leftover color blocs that don’t exactly mesh well with
others are stitched together and donated to the Humane
Society.
The club’s next charity project will be crafting hats for premature babies in hospitals.
The City’s crochet club is free for City and non-City residents and takes place every Thursday at 10:30 am at Sartory
Senior Center, 10150 N.W. 29th St. in Mullins Park. Participants
must bring their own supplies, including a size G aluminum
crochet hook and one skein of worsted-weight yarn, either
acrylic or cotton.
To donate materials or creations to the club for its charity
projects, or for more information, call 954-345-2209. For more
details on other upcoming activities at Sartory Senior Center,
visit coralsprings.org/seniors.
Volunteer Spotlight
unteers recuperated a total of $156,000 in actual
It was an 11 year-old television set, but that
dollars and valuables.
didn’t stop Fay Staub from going after the company
Volunteer staff will take a case from a person of
who wronged a fellow peer. A cable guy dropped
a senior’s television and the cable company was
any age who believes they have been wronged.
refusing to reimburse her. They offered her a measly
“We’re honest with people. If we can’t help them,
$100, but Staub and the rest of the team knew the
we will head them in the right direction,” Staub
senior deserved more. In the end, the senior was
added. “Sometimes people just need someone to
reimbursed $300 and was ecstatic with the deditalk to.”
cated work of Seniors vs. Crime volunteers.
Staub recently trained volunteers for a new
Fay Staub
“It’s rewarding to know that I made someone
Seniors vs. Crime office in Hollywood that will be
happy and gave them peace of mind,” Staub said.
modeled after the Coral Springs agency.
When you first walk in to the Turtle Run office of Seniors
Staub, a former paralegal, feels her expertise helps her
vs. Crime, you might be inclined to think that Staub is there
in her daily quest for justice. When she is not volunteering,
getting help. But this 79-year old senior, who can relate to
Staub enjoys bowling, crocheting and is president of the
the people who walk though her doors, is there to lend
homeowners association of the community in which she
a hand. Seniors vs. Crime, a special project of the Florida
lives. She is also a member of the Newcomers Club and
Attorney General’s Office, operated in conjunction with the
chairs the International Culture Club.
Coral Springs Police Department, has a high reputation of
For information on receiving assistance from Seniors vs.
successfully providing services to seniors who feel they have
Crime, call 954-340-4168. The Seniors vs. Crime office is open
been victimized or taken advantage of by a business or
Monday through Friday, 10 am to 2 pm at the Coral Springs
service provider.
Police Department, 2801 Coral Springs Dr.
The native New Yorker, who was recently promoted to
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering
office manager, has been part of the program for the past
with the City of Coral Springs, contact Volunteer Services at
two years. In Fiscal Year 2007, Staub and the other eight vol954-346-4430.
8 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
Visit coralsprings.org
community
My
Coral Springs
Photos submitted
by our readers
Coral Springs invites residents to submit their best photos
of life in Coral Springs. Submitted photos may be featured in
an upcoming issue of this magazine, on CityTV 25 or on the
City’s web site. Please e-mail your full-resolution photographs
to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include your name,
description of the people or places pictured, as well as why your
photo signifies what Coral Springs means to you.
“There is always
something for
everybody in
Coral Springs.
Great events, fairs,
shows, festivals.
I'm always looking
forward to finding
out what's coming
up every week.”
– Anahelena Natera
“This photograph of the Heron Bay Golf Club reflects three
of my favorite things about Coral Springs: the beautiful
landscape and the dedication to both the arts and athletics.”
– Anahelena Natera
Additional courses available through University Partnership
The opportunity to finally earn that college degree or
take Spanish lessons is now easier than ever with the Coral
Springs College and University Partnership, which offers
degree and non-degree classes right in the City.
Founded in 2005, CSCUP consisted of Broward Community
College North Campus and Barry University. Today, it
has expanded to include BCC’s Institute for Economic
Development and Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne
Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The partnership is creative, innovative and quickly able to
respond to community and business needs. For example, the
partnership offers a customized program of business classes
to employees at First Data Corporation in the Corporate
Park of Coral Springs, allowing students to earn a bachelor’s degree in business management during work hours.
Local businesses also can benefit from customized delivery
systems such as this.
CSCUP offers computer courses from beginner training
to honing skills on specific programs such as Dreamweaver
and Photoshop. They also have Spanish, SAT prep, substitute
teacher training, human resources certification, associates,
bachelor’s and master’s degree courses in business and
public administration, and much more.
Classes are offered in the evenings and weekends at the
Coral Springs Charter School and at the offices of the Coral
Springs Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development
Foundation at 11805 Heron Bay Boulevard. Plans are
underway to offer additional classes at the Coral Springs
Center for the Arts. For a complete course listing or more
information, visit csup.org or call 954-796-9922.
Watch CityTV Channel 25
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 9
community
City Hall in the Mall offers new
passport card for land travel
Planning a road trip to Canada or Mexico? If you don’t
already have a passport book, you can now get a passport
card for land and sea travel to cross these borders, as well as
to travel in the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be
used to travel by air. This new form of identification will have the same validity
period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, and five for
children 15 and younger. Passports book prices are $100 for adults and $85 for
children 15 years old or younger. The wallet-sized card
costs $35 for children and $45 for adults. Please note that
these fees must be paid in two separate checks, with $25
to the City of Coral Springs and the remainder to the U.S.
Department of State.
So if you plan on traveling this summer, pick up a passport
card or book depending on your travel needs at City Hall in
the Mall, located inside Coral Square Mall at 9239 W. Atlantic
Boulevard. Passport service hours are Monday through
Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Passport photos are available for $8. For more information,
call 954-344-1828.
City Hall in the Mall’s
passport services include
application submittal and
identification photos.
Applications for the new
passport card for land and
sea travel is also available.
Passport applications may also be turned in at Citizens’
Service in City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road, weekdays from
8 am to noon and 2 to 4 pm. This location does not take
passport photos. For details, call 954-344-1001.
For passport application details and requirements, visit
coralsprings.org/chm.
Phone book recycling available until May 31
Single-family residents can recycle old phone books
curbside until May 31 by placing them on top of newspapers or other recycling material. Multi-family residents
should place phone books in their newspaper recycling cart.
Businesses, and others who do not have access to phone
book recycling, may drop off used directories at the City
recycling drop off in the parking lot behind City Hall South,
located at 9530 W. Sample Road.
Family Success Center offers help to citizens in financial need
The Northwest Family Success Center is now offering
financial classes in an effort to help halt the trend of
increasing foreclosures in Broward County and throughout
the nation. While foreclosures actually affect only a small
percentage of the Coral Springs population, City and County
officials are doing what they can to help residents overcome
this avoidable situation and hopefully prevent others from
finding themselves in the same circumstance.
Angie Washington, the Center’s regional manager, had
been waiting for the day when she could offer financial
literacy classes since the facility opened in June 2005. She
anticipated this growing trend and is excited that her plans
to offer classes are now coming to fruition.
Washington’s staff works with people in need of foreclosure prevention and can make referrals to local non-profit
credit counseling organizations. With the financial classes
now available, residents from northwest Broward – including
Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Margate, Parkland, Coral Springs
and Coconut Creek – will be able to get additional help right
at the Center.
“It’s not about giving clients a quick fix but to help them
establish a foundation so that they won’t fall into this situation again,” Washington said.
The Northwest Coral Springs Family Success Center,
located at 10077 N.W. 29th St., is run by the Broward County
Human Services Department’s Family Success Administration
Division. For more information about upcoming financial
classes, including one on April 17 from 6 to 7 pm called “Learn
to Live Debt Free and Within Your Means,” call 954-761-2121
or visit coralsprings.org/events.
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage, contact
your lender immediately upon missed mortgage payments.
You might be able to refinance or work out a repayment
plan. Be wary of rescue firms that offer deals that sound too
good to be true. To seek the help of a local HUD-approved
housing counseling agency, call 1-800-569-4287.
10 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
Visit coralsprings.org
It’s part of the City’s culture to reach out to its customers
through surveys, focus groups, workshops and other
mediums to better understand their needs. From these
results, the City has implemented numerous initiatives to
effectively address these needs, such as the Police Bike Patrol,
the intra-city bus system, customer service training, the
Building Department’s Customer Care Center and the “Doing
Business in Coral Springs” manual.
Year after year, our residents and customers consistently
give the City a high customer service rating, but this year, the
business community reached an ultimate high awarding us a
97 percent rating. “The City is not content to rest on its laurels,” City Manager
Michael S. Levinson said. “We want to take business services
to the next level with the help of Enterprise Coral Springs.” So to raise the bar, the City has formalized a new
partnership program with Enterprise Coral Springs, the
City’s private, non-profit agent for economic development. ECS serves as the “holding company” for the Chamber of
Commerce, Economic Development Foundation, Council
of Executive Officers and the College and University
Partnership. The new program, called the Academy for Best
Business Practices, will offer counseling and training on best
practices to help improve local businesses’ bottom line performance and customer satisfaction.
A survey is now underway to determine business needs,
including budgeting, borrowing, workforce training, and
developing a business plan. It will also pinpoint how to
work with businesses to improve performance, whether
through the Internet, workshops, classroom training, or
mentoring. After the results are in, ECS will assemble a team
of professional organizations, including Workforce One,
Small Business Administration, Score, college and university
partners, and the Chamber of Commerce, to serve as the
first responders who will engineer and implement a comprehensive program in response to the needs assessment. “A sound business community is essential to our mission
to be the nation’s premier community in which to live,
work and raise a family,” Vice Mayor Vincent M. Boccard said. “Lending a helping hand to businesses is good business.” The Academy for Best Business Practices plans to be fully
operational by May. For more information, e-mail Program
Coordinator Paul Cawley at [email protected] or call
954-796-9922.
City offers Commercial
Street Tree program
After successfully helping homeowners replace Coderequired street trees, the City is expanding that program
to commercial, non-profit and apartment properties to
continue restoring the tree canopy.
The program, which began January 2, provides a $200
reimbursement up to $5,000 to property owners replanting
Code-required street trees on their commercial property.
There are four easy steps before applying for the reimbursement. First, if necessary, the rest of the landscaping
and irrigation on the property must be brought up to Code.
When bringing properties into compliance, owners are
encouraged to use native plants that need less water.
Second, hire a licensed and insured contractor to install
Code-approved street trees at least 12 feet tall on public
rights-of-way. Staff can work with commercial property
owners to assist in properly locating or selecting trees if there
are power lines over the public rights-of-way.
Next, after trees are installed, submit an application –
found online at coralsprings.org – with a copy of your receipt
for reimbursement. Finally, 30 days later, the City will inspect
the trees for quality and proper maintenance. After meeting
approval, property owners are eligible to receive the reimbursement.
This program covers all types of businesses, large and
small. There is no fee to apply. For more information, visit
coralsprings.org or call 954-344-1061.
Watch CityTV Channel 25
What’s Going Up?
The Florida Panthers professional hockey team practices
at Incredible Ice, and they will soon have a more permanent presence in Coral Springs when the building adds
on a 50,000-square-foot expansion to include another professional-sized ice rink, on-site training facilities, meeting
rooms and more.
The new rink will be available for public use when the
Florida Panthers hockey team is not practicing, bringing
the total rinks inside Incredible Ice up to three and making
it one of the only triple-rink facilities south of Washington,
D.C. Construction is expected to begin this summer and
finish later this year.
The additional rink also will allow Incredible Ice to offer
more youth and adult hockey and figure skating programs.
“We will now be one of the premier ice facilities in the
country, with the added ability to comfortably host every
aspect of Panthers hockey in our new building,” said
Jeff Campol, vice president and general manager of
Incredible Ice.
Incredible Ice – named one of the “Coolest” rinks in
America by American Hockey Magazine – is located inside
Sportsplex at 3299 Sportsplex Drive. Florida Panthers
hockey practices are free and open to the public. For
information on hockey leagues or skating programs, call
954-341-9956 or visit incredibleice.com.
For more about the latest construction projects in Coral
Springs, visit coralsprings.org/goingup.
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 11
business
City partners to launch program to assist local businesses
environment
Maintaining
our
canals
History and importance of water control districts
The canals throughout our City provide a home to native
wildlife, beauty and a sense of tranquility. These waterways
not only enhance our environment but also play an
important role for water management and flood control.
This wouldn’t have been the case without founder Henry
Lyons. In the early 1900s, Lyons bought western Broward
County and eventually dug canals to drain the swamps. Part
of his bean farm is now Coral Springs, and it was the canals
that he and other pioneers built that made this land suitable
for development.
Back in the early 1960s, ownership and maintenance of
the local canal systems were incorporated into special taxing
districts by statute to manage local water levels through
pumping stations to ensure the safety of residents in the
event of a storm. Another important function of water
control is to properly channel runoff and rainwater, allowing
it to seep into underground aquifers.
Water district employees maintain the canals by removing
excess aquatic vegetation and debris that impede water
flow. District staff also operate and service the pump station
engines that are used when discharging excess water. These
water control districts, chartered by the state, have elected
commissions and are funded through a non-ad valorem tax
on property owner’s county tax bill.
Homeowners who live adjacent to a canal should know
that their responsibility is to maintain the canal bank to the
water’s edge even though their property line, in almost all
cases, does not extend to the water’s edge. Keeping this area
clear is extremely important to facilitate storm restoration.
For more details and contact information for the water
control districts in Coral Springs, visit coralsprings.org/
publicworks/canals.cfm.
Sunshine Water Control District
prepares for capital improvements
The Sunshine Water Control District was the first chartered
special taxing district in Coral Springs and has been in operation for 44 years. It covers the central area of the City, from
Royal Palm Blvd. north to Wiles Road and from Rock Island
Road west to the Sawgrass Expressway. This district alone
has 22 miles of canals and basins that provide water management for 19,600 commercial, residential, and industrial
property owners.
Employees of the Sunshine District maintain the canals
and culverts by controlling excessive aquatic growth,
removing debris and keeping pumping equipment
operational.
The Board of Supervisors also employ engineering, legal
and management support to meet the regulatory and operational needs of the district.
The Sunshine Water Control District system is currently
preparing to undertake a major capital improvement
program to meet future water control requirements. A
key component will be the reclamation of canal depths
by removing significant silt build up. This will restore
canals to their original system design and flow capability.
Simultaneously, energy efficient motors will be installed at
the pump stations to enable the district to release storm
water at a faster rate.
The Board of Supervisors of the Sunshine Water Control
District meet the second Wednesday of every month at
City Hall, located at 9551 West Sample Road. The public is
encouraged to attend these meetings.
To learn more about the Sunshine Water Control District,
visit sunshinewcd.net or call 954-426-2105.
12 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
Visit coralsprings.org
least, Sid Kweller takes a spin on Blue Dog and
George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog is the inspifeatures prints titled Beware the Green Dog!
ration for the 9th Annual Great Art Affair on
Saturday, April 12 at 6 pm at the Coral Springs
Museum of Art.
Second Annual Art à la Carte
Whether an established art collector or just
Come join us at the Coral Springs Museum
starting a collection, this event is an excellent
of Art on Saturday, May 10 from 1 to 4 pm, for
opportunity to purchase affordable, original
the second annual Art à la Carte. This special
art pieces from internationally renowned
Family Funday activity will allow families to
and upcoming regional and local artists.
explore and experience the art and culture
In addition to the live and silent auctions,
of five major continents, including Africa,
patrons can also try their luck at winning items
Asia, Europe, and North & South America.
from local establishments by participating
Entertainment will be included. This event is
in the Chinese auction. Local restaurants will
geared for children ages three and up, along
I Am an Artist
be at the event with delicious specialties to
with a parent or guardian. Art à la Carte is $4
by George Rodrigue
sample, and there will be entertainment in the
per person. Call 954-340-5000 for reservations.
Museum and theater.
Tickets for the Vista BMW and Parkland Life Blue Dog Night
Summer Camp
are $65 in advance and $75 at the door.
The Coral Springs Museum of Art is offering Art Camp for
children and teens ages 6 to 15. Art Camp begins June 9 and
Current Exhibits
runs for 10 weeks. Children may sign up for one, two or more
From now until Saturday, May 24, art and animal lovers
weeks.
alike won’t want to miss the exciting exhibits featuring
Summer ArtShops consist of either a three-hour morning
paintings, sculptures and photo essays.
or afternoon ArtShop. Children may attend both sessions
Dog lovers will love Blue Dog by George Rodrigue.
and must bring their own lunch. The Museum offers
Louisiana artist Rodrigue originally painted this werewolflunchtime supervision for $5 a day. ArtShop fees are $110
like dog for a book of ghost stories in 1984. The form later
and up.
became a means through which the artist conveyed his own
Workshops are divided by age groups and subject, some
feelings of loss, both for his lost terrier companion and for
of the workshops offered are Ceramic Hand-building (2 week
the fast-fading Cajun culture.
course), Exploring Sculpture, Art of the Animal, Drawing,
Ann Beebe, who works in the corporate world, has
Acrylic Painting, Cartooning, Comic Book Design, Papierdedicated her spare time to raising puppies for Canine
mâché, Green Art Explorations, ArtShops and much more.
Classes are taught by professional artists.
Companions for Independence while photographing them
at different stages in a Journey of Love.
For more information about the Coral Springs Museum of
Keeping with the animal theme, Sue Hanssen will exhibit
Art, visit csmart.org or call 954-340-5000.
her watercolor pieces On the Subject of Sheep. Last but not
Public helps select permanent art pieces
More than 750 comments came into the City regarding
the latest Sculpture on Sample installation. And with this
input, the Public Art Committee selected two pieces for permanent display in Coral Springs – Reclining Nude by Micajah
Bienvenu and Laura’s Ego by James Burnes.
Of the feedback, one person said about the flowing and
reflective Reclining Nude, currently situated in front of One
Charter Place: “The display is gorgeous. It is very free spirited.
[It] leaves me with a calm feeling every time I drive by it.”
Another had this to say about Laura’s Ego, a tall horse
sculpture: “This piece is beautiful. It looks so majestic and
almost lifelike from a distance.”
The Public Art Commission will suggest permanent spots
for these pieces, which the City Commission must then
approve. With the purchase of these
two pieces, the total amount of
artworks in Coral Springs will be 12
by the end of 2008, with new installations expected at the Coral Springs
Gymnasium and soon-to-be-open
Whispering Woods Park.
As always, no tax dollars go
toward the City’s Public Art program;
Laura’s Ego
all financing comes from a fee
by James Burnes
charged to developers who choose
not to install public art on their projects greater than 12,500
square feet.
For more information, visit coralsprings.org/publicart.
Watch CityTV Channel 25
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 13
culture
Museum of Art goes to the dogs ... and other animals
recreation
Road
to
Stardom
Thriving punk band makes Coral Springs tour stop April 18
When T13C started jamming in their
apartment at the University of Central
Florida almost seven years ago, they never
thought they’d get to this level. Not even
in their wildest dreams did they think
that they would compete in the semi-final
round of NBC’s America’s Got Talent or sell
3,000 records in only three weeks on Warped
Tour 2007.
Now, the band decided to return to South
Florida during their national tour and will rock out right
here in Coral Springs. On Friday, April 18 at 6 pm, T13C will
entertain people of all ages at the Sportsplex Special Event
Field.
Drummer Richie Moyle of Fort Lauderdale and lead guitarist and vocalist Chris Torres from Pembroke Pines are
ecstatic to be playing so close to home.
“We’re anxious to see what the scene is like down there,”
Synthesizer and trombone player Mike Loffredo said.
Although their music is soaring and they hope to make it
big in the music industry, T13C serves as a great role model
to teens.
“We all know and understand that education is important
and between the five of us, we hold five college degrees and
a master’s degree from in-state universities,” Loffredo added.
Due to this commitment toward education, they believe it
is extremely worthwhile to extend their talents and time to
play at and for Florida schools for free.
Melanie Lyon, a Coral Springs High School
senior and class president, decided to take
up T13C on their offer to play in town.
The band’s pop punk style grabbed Lyon’s
attention and she took the lead in making
this concert a reality.
“Coral Springs doesn’t have many teen
events like this, and I think it’s a good opportunity to bring everyone together,” Lyon said.
Presale tickets are $7 at the Coral Springs
Gymnasium, and will be $10 at the door the day of the
concert. Gates open at 6 pm, and More than Words will start
off the show at 6:30 pm, followed by Robots and Butterflies.
T13C will begin at 8 pm. Please refrain from bringing coolers,
food, and beverages. Refreshments will be available for
purchase inside the gate. There is a $2 parking fee. The
concert will take place rain or shine.
T13C’s new EP, We’ve Created a Monster, will debut on April
17 and will be available for purchase along with shirts and
other merchandise at the event. Tickets are limited, so don’t
miss your chance to see this band live.
Punk Globe said T13C is “both refreshing and outstanding
… They seem destined for huge success.”
To see and hear a glimpse of what T13C is all about, visit
their MySpace page at myspace.com/t13c.
The Coral Springs Sportsplex is located just east of the
Sawgrass Expressway between Sample Road and Royal Palm
Boulevard. For more information, call 954-345-2209.
14 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
Visit coralsprings.org
Help make a difference by joining the Coral Springs Police
Department at its Annual Car Show. The Special Olympics
has received Car Show funds for the past 12 years. This
annual event will be Sunday, April 13 from noon to 4 pm at
the Magnolia Shoppes, located on the northwest corner of
University and Westview drives.
Those interested in participating can register for $20 at
the time of the show. Interested vendors and craft exhibitors
may also register for $20.
The Car Show will feature a DJ, magic show with the great
“Jim Rook” and a fire truck pull contest.
For more information or to register as a participant, vendor
or sponsor, please call Cindy Heafy at 954-344-1833.
Self defense classes available
It isn’t often that
you get permission
to yell in a library,
but participants
in the upcoming
Rape Aggression
Defense classes use
the shouting as an
empowerment tool
to fend off a possible
attack.
The RAD system is
a national program
teaching women
ages 13 and older
skills to avoid
becoming a target
and fend off an attacker. Repetition of these vital skills leads
to muscle memory, making participants more comfortable
with their bodies and better equipped to handle an attack.
Coral Springs Police officers began teaching the RAD curriculum two years ago after people who participated in the
Department’s successful SAFE defense program wanted
additional training. Ten officers are certified RAD instructors,
doubling the amount of certified instructors from last year.
“It really is about empowering women to use their body as
a tool to survive an attack,” Training Officer Karla Hines said.
Classes are free and no prior self-defense experience is
needed. Courses are offered in four-week sessions from
5:30 to 8:30 pm at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 N.
University Drive, as follows: April 22, 29, May 6, 13; June 24,
July 1, 8, 15; and September 16, 23, 30, October 7.
For more information, visit coralsprings.org/police/rad.cfm,
or call 954-346-1227. Pre-registration is required.
Watch CityTV Channel 25
recreation
Annual Police Car Show
to benefit Special Olympics
Safety Town offers
advice for children
Would your child know how to dial 911 in an emergency? Who exactly is a stranger? How do you properly
cross a street?
Children ages 4 to 6 in the City can get answers to these
basic safety questions and more when they enroll in Safety
Town, a comprehensive early childhood, hands-on safety
education program. Now in its 22nd year in Coral Springs,
Safety Town is available during the summer and to more
than 3,000 kindergarten students in Coral Springs schools
throughout the year.
“It’s an interactive safety education program that is nonthreatening,” Safety Town coordinator Mary Boast said. “We
don’t do anything to scare the children.”
Children will go inside a fire safety house with fake
smoke and a buzzing smoke alarm to learn how to
properly stop, drop and roll, and other fire safety lessons.
They also will have a chance to walk and bike through a
miniature city when learning pedestrian and bicycle safety.
And because it’s Florida law, all riders must wear helmets at
Safety Town.
“The City’s police and fire departments have been proactive in teaching children about safety,” Boast said, noting
that it was through City support that Safety Town grew to
have indoor facilities.
Upcoming summer Safety Town sessions are tentatively
scheduled as follows: June 16 to 27, 9:30 to 11:30 am; June
16 to 27, 12:30 to 2:30 pm; July 7 to 18, 9:30 to 11:30 am; July
21 to August 1, 9:30 to 11: 30 am; and July 21 to August 1,
12:30 to 2:30 pm.
Registration is set for Saturday, April 26, from 9 am to
1 pm at Safety Town. Children must be 4 years old by Dec.
31, 2007 to register. The cost is $45. Parents must register
their own child or children. No more than two children,
either siblings or friends, can be grouped together.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For further
information, call 954-344-1811.
Safety Town, sponsored by the City and Kiwanis Club
of Coral Springs-Parkland, is located at Kiwanis Park, 520
Ramblewood Drive, north of Ramblewood Middle School.
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 15
recreation
Make a pledge to keep your children safe from drowning
It only takes a second to lose track of your child, but that
second could lead to a lifetime of regret.
In the couple minutes it takes you to pick up the phone,
or take the home-cooked meal out of the oven, your child
might have fallen in the pool, bathtub or backyard canal.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for
young children in the state of Florida, and in 2007 there were
a total of 21 drowning deaths of children ages 5 and under
in Broward County.
Sixty-nine percent of the time, one or both parents are
in the immediate area. And, in more than 77 percent of
drowning deaths, the child had been seen five minutes or
less before being missed and found in the pool. If your child
is missing, check the pool immediately.
Please keep in mind that children under age 1 can drown
in just inches of water; any amount of water that can cover
their mouth and nose is potentially dangerous. Toddlers
often follow their natural curiosity and can be out the door
and in the pool within minutes.
“Drowning is not caused by a lack of supervision, but by a
lapse in supervision,” Coral Springs Aquatic Services Director
Mike McGoun said.
Aside from alarms, fences, pool covers, etc., the best
security is constant adult supervision. Be sure your kids know
how to swim and as a parent, learn CPR.
The Coral Springs Medical Center, the City of Coral Springs
and the American Red Cross have joined together to create
the Pediatric Drowning Prevention Task Force to help prevent
pediatric drowning. CPR classes are also offered on a regular
basis.
For more information, discounts and to make a pledge,
visit watersafekids.org or call the Coral Springs Medical
Center at 954-344-3344. You can also visit the American Red
Cross at arcbcc.org, or call 954-797-3800.
Waterway cleanup has
another successful turnout
Christmas still lingered – of all places – in a Coral Springs
canal in March when volunteers retrieved a five-foot-tall
plastic Santa Claus figurine from one of the City’s waterways.
This was just one of the many unusual pieces of debris
more than 430 volunteers pulled from Coral Springs
waterways during the 31st Annual Broward County Waterway
Cleanup, which took place March 8.
They also found a big-screen television, propane tanks,
luggage still filled with clothing, 10 bicycles, office chairs, a
bed frame and even a canoe.
For the 13th consecutive year, Commissioner Roy Gold
supervised the site at Riverside Park, which this year drew 23
percent of the 2,000 total event volunteers.
“Our main goals are to create volunteer opportunities for
the City and help keep our waterways in the best, clean condition we can,” Gold said.
A new addition this year was two City Public Works
employees collecting and testing samples from more than
30 waterways throughout the City to raise awareness of
water conservation not only in Coral Springs but surrounding
areas as well.
Overall, volunteers fished about 35 tons of garbage from
Broward County waterways, and City volunteers found
enough to fill a 30-cubic-yard trash bin on site.
Site sponsors this year included Kilwin’s, giving away
coupons for free ice cream; Target supplying more than 100
pairs of gloves; and the Coral Springs and North Springs
Improvement Districts providing money and staff to assist
the cleanup effort. The Sunshine Water District also sent volunteers to the waterways.
“I’m really proud of my team, this team that comes out
there year after year and helps run the site,” Gold said. “It
wouldn’t be possible without these 10 people and our dedicated volunteers.”
16 • Coral Springs • Spring 2008
Visit coralsprings.org
around the town
Around
the Town
Visioning
Summit
Update
South Florida International Water Polo
Tournament at the Aquatic Complex
MLK, Jr.
Visual Arts
Competition
What’s
Happening?
Slice of the Springs Neighborhood Meeting
Northeast and Northside slices
Thursday, April 10 • 7 pm
Coral Springs Charter School Auditorium
3205 N. University Dr. • 954-344-1114
Family Concert featuring
Jimmy Stowe and the Stoweaways
Saturday, April 12 • 7 pm • Free
Betti Stradling Park • 954-345-2200
EarthFest 2008
Saturday, April 21 • 9 am to 1 pm • Free
Sandy Ridge Sanctuary • 954-344-1117
Always visit coralsprings.org/events for the latest
updates and additions to this list of events happening
in Coral Springs in the coming months.
National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 1 • 7 pm • Free
City Hall • 9551 West Sample Road • 954-344-1063
Masters Basketball National Championships
Monday, May 12 to Saturday, May 17 • Free
Coral Springs Gymnasiium • 2501 Coral Springs Dr.
954-753-7485 • mastersbasketball.org
Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 26 • 9 am • Free
Veterans Park • 8601 Royal Palm Blvd. • 954-345-2200
CommuniTea
Date and location to be announced.
Call 954-344-1063 for details.
Watch CityTV Channel 25
Spring 2008 • Coral Springs • 17
calendar
Project CS
Car Show
Spend the summer at the
Center for the Arts’ theater camp
The Coral Springs Institute for the Performing Arts is
currently accepting registrations for the exciting 2008
summer session of Next Stop Broadway Summer Camp.
Our first-rate youth theater program has its permanent
home at one of South Florida’s finest performing arts centers
– the Coral Springs Center for the Arts.
Campers attend a variety of classes including acting,
music, dance, and stagecraft. All staff members are selected
for their talent and experience and ability to teach with
compassion and patience.
Youth Camp (ages 6–13)
Session I: June 9–27 • Disney’s Alice in Wonderland
Session II: June 30–July 25 • Seussical
Session III: July 28–August 15 • The Little Mermaid
Teen Camp (ages 14 & up)
June 23–August 1 • Sweeney Todd
Coral Springs Center for the Arts
2855 Coral Springs Drive
www.coralspringscenterforthearts.com
For more information
call the Box Office
at 954-344-5990.
City of Coral Springs
9551 West Sample Road
Coral Springs, FL 33065
www.coralsprings.org
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