September 2008 - The Parklander Magazine

COMMUNITY NEWScontinued from page 18
Premier Networking Alliance’s Festival of
the Flutes “Taste of the Tropics” Charity Event
Festival of the Flutes will once again dazzle guests at the Marriott
Heron Bay, Thursday, October 16, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds
of this fun event will benefit the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer
Foundation, The Coral Springs Community Chest and The Florida
Initiative for Prevention. To date, the Festival of the Flutes has
raised approximately $60,000 toward various local charities.
$40 advance ($60 at the
door) and VIP tickets
are $75. The VIP reception
features exclusive
wine tasting, entertainment and gourmet foods. All guests will
receive a custom imprinted collectable wine glass.
This year’s theme, “The Taste of the Tropics”, will feature a wonderful
array of tropical style food, wine and entertainment. Tickets are
Coral Springs Woman’s Club
Begins New Season
The Coral Springs Woman’s Club will begin their new club year with a
Membership Tea at the home of Membership Chairman, Sandy Novak.
There will be games, refreshments and informative chats outlining some
of the club’s philanthropic and social events. All women interested in
finding out more about this organization are invited to attend.
Please join us on Sunday, September 7, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at Sandy’s home and bring a friend. Call Sandy at 954-753-4317 for
directions or more information.
Parkland’s 45th Birthday
Party Celebration
Parkland residents are invited to join the City of Parkland as it celebrates its
45th Birthday on September 6, from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Equestrian
Center at Temple Park, 8350 Ranch Road. The City will provide free
hamburgers,hot dogs,drinks and birthday cake to all Parkland residents.The
company Innovative Leisure will host an assortment of old-fashioned and
family-friendly games and activities including three-legged races,potato sack
relays and more. During this event,The Parkland Historical Society and the
Parkland City Commission will present the Parkland Time Capsule. Bring
the whole family as this will be a celebration to remember! Admission is
FREE. Please contact Colleen O’Dea, Special Events Coordinator, for more
information at codea@cityofparkland.org or 954-757-4120.
Historical Society Buries Its Past
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the birth of the City of Parkland. The City plans
to celebrate the occasion on September 6 with a renewal of Parkland Days at the
Equestrian Center. For detailed information on the event schedule, visit the city website at
cityofparkland.org.
In conjunction with the celebration, the Historical Society of Parkland will present plaques
honoring two women who were the prime movers in establishing equestrian activities in
the City. In addition, the Society will donate a time capsule to the citizens of Parkland. This
time capsule will contain information and artifacts relevant to Parkland’s past and present.
It will bear instructions to be opened in the year 2063, which will be Parkland’s 100th
anniversary year.
The Historical Society of Parkland has been working to accumulate the materials for the
time capsule, and welcomes donations from the community. Special thanks goes to Jeff
and Judy Schwartz and Mike and Darlene Squillace for donations of the time capsule and
the crypt which will be used to preserve it. Thanks also to Dr. Leo and Marie Gosser for their
monetary contribution, and to Ira Goldman, Pierre Hodot and Jim Weiss for their great input.
Former Mayor and President of the Historical Society, Harold Bockhold, gets credit for the
inception of the project and seeing it through all the planning stages.
For information on the Historical Society of Parkland Florida, visit their website at
www.parklandhistory.com. For questions regarding the upcoming events, contact Dr. Leo A.
Gosser at gosser@bellsouth.net or call 954-344-1493.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.festivaloftheflutes.org or
by calling PNA at 954-757-2108.
Parkland Teens Help
Chronically ill Children
Ben Gajus and Bill Strode of Parkland decided that they wanted to do
something worthwhile with their summer. The two Stoneman Douglas
High sophomores were busy afternoons working out, preparing for the
upcoming Junior Varsity football season. “We had our mornings open and
we wanted to spend the time helping in a way that would make a true
difference,” said Gajus.
Parkland residents
Ben Gajus
(left) and Bill
Strode (center)
giving gently
used items to
Stephanie
Claville,
Community
Relations
Coordinator at
the Children’s
Diagnostic &
Treatment Center.
The two boys spent the summer collecting gently used items for the
patients at the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Ft.
Lauderdale, a medical facility that provides care for uninsured and underinsured
children with chronic illnesses — HIV, diabetes, cancer and others.
“We picked this center, because we truly liked their approach,” said Strode.
The Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center takes a total child/family
approach. They recognize that in order to “get better”, children need more
than just medicine.They need clothes, beds, food and toys.
Each week over the summer, Gajus and Strode passed out flyers to their
neighbors, soliciting gently used clothing, shoes, toys, games, books,
sporting equipment and baby items for the center. They then returned the
next week to pick up the donations. The boys sorted the items before
delivering them. Their mothers, Audrey Gajus and Jodi Strode, provided
the transportation, since the two boys, who are both age 15, don’t yet have
their driver’s licenses.
“We absolutely loved that Ben and Bill helped us,” said Stephanie
Claville, Community Relations & Development Coordinator for the
Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center. We were thrilled with the
thousands of items the boys collected. Our children and families truly
needed the items.The boys’ efforts are truly appreciated.”
For more information about how you can help, please call Audrey Gajus at
954-536-6803.
COMMUNITY NEWS continues on page 107
20
SEPTEMBER 2008