A Brush with History - City of Coral Springs

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ecreation Learning to Defend Yourself I t’s dark. The parking lot is empty, except for one flickering light. You walk quickly toward your car. Are those footsteps you hear over your pounding heart? Is someone else here? Suddenly, a figure rushes behind you. Now what? The Coral Springs Police Department offers a Rape Aggression Defense class that teaches women how to answer that question while empowering them to avoid becoming a target of violence. Officers began teaching the RAD curriculum two years ago after people who participated in the Department’s successful SAFE defense program wanted additional training. Five officers are certified RAD instructors, with three more expected to join the team. “It really is about empowering women to use their body as a tool to survive an attack,” Training Officer Karla Hines said. The Department offers the program free, which is unusual, because Police Chief Duncan Foster champions the course and what it teaches female Coral Springs residents. Women must be 12 or older to participate. Courses are offered in four-week sessions from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Northwest Regional Library, 3151 N. University Drive, as follows: April 3, 10, 17 and 24; June 5, 12, 19, and 26; and August 7, 14, 21 and 28. Families with younger children are encouraged to travel to Parkland for the Broward Sheriff’s Office-sponsored RAD Kids program. For information, call 954-753-5050. Even though the RAD course offers many opportunities for hands-on training, no previous self-defense experience is required. Courses are tailored to meet each individual participant’s needs and fitness level. For more information, visit coralsprings.org/police/rad.cfm, or call 954-346-1227. Pre-registration is required. Experience EarthFest at Sandy Ridge Sanctuary Come experience one of the City’s hidden treasures firsthand during this year’s EarthFest. Each year, Coral Springs celebrates Earth Day by hosting EarthFest, a community event putting residents in touch with the nature at Sandy Ridge Sanctuary, 8501 N.W. 40 Street, which is just east of University Drive between Sample and Wiles roads. EarthFest features wildlife exhibits, guided tours of the sanctuary, plant giveaways and refreshments. Also returning this year is Master Falconer Ray Pena. Pena runs Flight of the Raptor, a private organization that strives to raise awareness about birds of prey in our environment. Pena will bring birds for a demonstration, as well as offer educational information about the birds’ history, nesting habits, wildlife adaptations and more. The program kicks off at 9am April 21 at Sandy Ridge and lasts until 1pm. For more details, call 954-344-1117. 1 • Coral Springs • Spring 2007 Visit coralsprings.org
The Unitown experience Jessica Klein’s best friend just moved away and she had never felt so alone, but after attending Unitown, she now has made some great new friends. In February, more than 50 high school students decided to go along for the ride, but Unitown turned out to be more than just a weekend getaway. Now that it is over, they wish they could go back because they all feel it was a lifechanging experience. All of them admit that during the bus ride to the camp, each high school stuck together and thought there would be conflict. Within two hours, the students quickly got to know each other. Now, they are inseparable. “I would have never talked to some of these people, but we turned into a family,” Matthew Lumpkins, a junior at Nova High School, said. At Unitown, the teens participated in bonding exercises to help them open up to one another, share their experiences and discuss diversity. The teens came clean and admitted that they used to laugh at discriminating jokes and gossiped about their classmates, but now they are more open-minded. “We may not share the color of our skin, but now I look at the inside and I don’t judge people automatically,” Cassandra Booker, a junior at J.P. Taravella High School, said. Unitown also changed their perspective on their parents. “I have so much more respect for my parents because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” Saul Sanchez, a freshman at Coral Springs Charter School, said. At a Unitown reunion, the teens jumped into each other’s arms and said a heartfelt “I’ve missed you,” although they all keep in touch through MySpace.com. They all can’t wait for next year and this time they’re telling everyone they know that they shouldn’t miss it. “I thought it was going to be some boring weekend, but it turned out to be more than I expected,” Gardimy “Dimy” Jospitre, a sophomore at Stoneman Douglas High, said. The Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee sponsors the program, which is available to local high school students and other participating schools from Lauderhill. Coral Springs is the only city in Broward that hosts this event and offers it at no cost to the students. Keep your ears open for details on next year’s Unitown. Keep your family safe this upcoming Fourth of July The personal use of fireworks in our neighborhoods has prompted the Coral Springs Police Department to take a firmer stance in addressing illegal fireworks. Last year alone, fireworks caused four brush fires and one injury in Coral Springs. Anyone caught possessing illegal fireworks will have them confiscated. Setting off illegal fireworks could result in criminal charges against the user. Please keep in mind that any firework that explodes or flies in the air is illegal. As for the legal fireworks, please follow these tips to ensure the safety of your loved ones: • Never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass. • Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby. • Do not wear loose clothing while using fireworks. • Stand several feet away from lighted fireworks. • If fireworks do not go off, do not stand over them. • Supervise children around fireworks at all times. Police recommend attending a professional fireworks display instead, such as the one scheduled at the Fourth of July Celebration at the Sportsplex Athletic Complex. For details as the event nears, visit coralsprings.org/events. Ready to Rock? The City is looking for performers to showcase at upcoming teen concerts. All genres are welcome. Show us what you’ve got! Send your demo to: Jacqueline Gouge, Parks and Recreation, 2501 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33065. Get wild this summer at Sawgrass Nature Center The Sawgrass Nature Center is sponsoring its Camp Wild summer program focusing on science, nature and the environment. The camp, for children ages 6 to 12, provides a hands-on learning experience where campers interact with plants and animals, while also participating in outdoor exploration and nature craft projects. Camp sessions are in June and July and cost $200 per week or $180 per week for Sawgrass Nature Center members. Camp fees include all activities and supplies. Certified science teachers and environmental educators make up the camp’s staff. For registration or further information, call the Center at 954-752-WILD or visit the new Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital in the Sportsplex, at 3000 Sportsplex Drive. Space is limited. Watch CityTV Channel 25 Spring 2007 • Coral Springs • 15 recreation
Page 1 and 2: The Magazine for the Premier Commun
Page 3 and 4: features city business The Magazine
Page 5 and 6: Garcia, worked nearby. When he saw
Page 7 and 8: Support Our Troops event honors loc
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Page 11 and 12: Dr. Paul’s memory lives on at dog
Page 13 and 14: Guide to Doing Business Are you doi
Page 15: Our Water How can you help the envi
Page 19 and 20: WorldFest 2007 What’s Happening?

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