aviewfrom thetop
City’s 50th Anniversary Events Continue
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CORAL SPRINGS MAYOR VINCENT BOCCARD
ur new fiscal year has just begun and we have many new initiatives ahead of us. For example, the city will offer white fly remediation grants to aid condos and rental properties along major roadways in replacing hedge material damaged by the white fly. Other initiatives include renovating Cypress Hall, replacing the Three Mountains Park playground equipment, and improving the medians in our major roadways. To learn more go to Coralsprings. org. I hope you enjoy the improvements and quality of life opportunities Coral Springs has to offer. Mark your calendars for our biggest 50th Anniversary concert to date Saturday, November 2 at the Sportsplex Athletic Complex featuring Bruce In The USA: The World’s #1 Tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Gates open at 5 p.m. , so come early to enjoy opening act Albert Castiglia and find a good spot for your blankets and chairs! Tickets are free for Coral Springs residents and will be available at City Hall, City Hall in the Mall and the Coral
Springs Gymnasium. Limit four tickets per person. Food vendors and parking will be available for a nominal fee. More information is available at CoralSprings50.org. The holidays will be here before we know it and the city is asking residents to donate items for Thanksgiving baskets that go to families in need. Non-perishable items needed include: canned yams, mashed or flaked potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, canned corn and green beans, canned fruit and cookies. You may also give monetary contributions. Donations can be dropped off at City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road and City Hall in the Mall, 9239 W. Atlantic Blvd. by November 8. Items will be placed in baskets, along with a gift certificate for turkey, ham or main dish and distributed through local religious institutions to pre-selected families. For more information call 954.346.1746. The city has some exciting events planned, including our Community Garage Sale, free Family Movies at the Park and a haunted house for children. To learn more visit www.CoralSprings.org/events or tune in to CityTV, channel 25 on Advanced Cable or channel 99 on U-Verse. If you would like to meet with me to discuss any city issues, view my scheduled monthly hours at www. CoralSprings.org/events. Don’t forget to ‘Like’ the city on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CityofCoralSprings. ●
Public Safety, Local Real Estate & Top Teens
P PARKLAND MAYOR MICHAEL UDINE
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arkland had one of the lowest crime rates in Broward County again this year. Nevertheless, it’s important to remain aware of your surroundings and remain on guard. We are doing everything possible to make sure the construction companies and developers are providing additional security for their construction areas as well. This year’s budget saw us add an additional police zone. The Broward Sheriff’s Office does a fantastic job protecting our residents and we look forward to this additional zone and expanded relationship. Remember, never leave your valuables exposed in your vehicles and always lock your doors. At home be careful of strangers pretending to be contractors, utility providers and the like as they may be staking out your home. Report any suspicious behavior to BSO. Better to be safe than sorry! On the local real estate front, sales are very brisk throughout Parkland. Older homes in established neighborhoods are turning over at higher prices and some of the new communities are ramping up their sales programs. To plan for the strong real estate recovery, we have demanded
that landowners in the Wedge area dedicate land to the Broward School Board for schools. We secured two parcels which are approximately 20 acres each. Both have been “given/donated” to the Broward School Board for a future elementary school and future middle school. The “Mayor’s Top Teens” program is returning after great success last year. The program aims to recognize a diverse group of high school teens, collaborate with youth-service organizations and business that are advocates for youth, achieve prominent exposure for promising teens in the community and to send a strong message to our teens that they are important to our community. This program is open to Parkland resident teens completing 9th, 10th or 11th grades that attend a public or private school, or are being home schooled within Broward County. Teens may be nominated in the fall by teachers, counselors, friends, clergy or family (but not by their parents or themselves). The program seeks nominees who have overcome a significant obstacle in their lives, perform community service, demonstrate scholastic achievement, set good examples and are positive role models. The Parkland Education Advisory Board will review all nominations and select the winners. I value your questions or comments. Friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ michaeludine). If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at MUdine@cityofparkland.org.● PARKLAND/CORAL SPRINGS LIFE • OCTOBER 2013
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