David Volz, Author at The Parklander Magazine - Connecting you to our community

April 2, 2017March 24, 2017

Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go?

April 15^th… that dreaded date is rapidly approaching. As we scramble to pay “our fair share,” one question seems to get lost in the shuffle: What did I just pay for? Well, a lot of things. Some of which are going to surprise you. Perhaps you thought you were paying thousands for assistance to countries whose citizens seem to like to stomp around and burn our flag? No … it’s about $40 a year. Keep in mind now that if interest rates rise so will interest on the debt—and that could get nasty. Then again, if a major war breaks out, we’re all going to have to ante up.

The average household paid about $13,000 in income taxes to Uncle Sam for 2015. (We haven’t paid for 2016 yet remember.) Of that $13,000, the federal government spent:

$3,728.92 (28.7 percent) on health programs

$3,299.13 (25.4 percent) on the military

$1,776.06 (3.7 percent) on interest on the debt

$1,040.93 (8 percent) on unemployment compensation and labor programs

$771.26 (5 percent) on veterans’ benefits

$598.74 (4.6 percent) on food and agriculture programs

$461.59 (3.6 percent) on education programs

$377.50 (2.9 percent) on general government expenses

$250.03 (1.9 percent) on housing and community programs

$207.68 (1.6 percent) on energy and environmental programs

$194.29 (1.5 percent) on international affairs programs

$150.68 (1.2 percent) on transportation funding

$143.20 (1.1 percent) on scientific funding

Next question….Who’s actually paying most of the taxes? Do the wealthy pay less taxes than the middle class and the poor?

The study, from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, found that “virtually every state’s tax system is fundamentally unfair, taking a much greater share of income from low- and middle-income families than from wealthy families.” The report added that state and local tax systems are “indirectly contributing to growing income inequality by taxing low- and middle-income households at significantly higher rates than wealthy taxpayers.” In other words, it said that the tax systems are “upside down,” with the poor paying more and the rich paying less. Overall, the poorest 20 percent of Americans paid an average of 10.9 percent of their income in state and local taxes and the middle 20 percent of Americans paid 9.4 percent. The top one percent, meanwhile, pay only 5.4 percent of their income to state and local taxes.

But numbers like these can be misleading, and there are two sides to every coin. Drawing a far different conclusion, the more conservative Tax Policy Center has concluded that the “top one percent of Americans paid 33.4 percent of their expanded cash income (a broad measure of pretax income) in federal taxes. Middle class Americans—or those in the middle 20 percent —pay 13.7 percent of their income to federal taxes, while the poorest pay 3.1 percent.

Up to now, it doesn’t appear that any study has looked at the combined federal, state, and local tax burdens as a share of certain income groups. But Roberton Williams of the Tax Policy Center said that combining all taxes would almost certainly show that the wealthy pay more than the rest.

In other words, we’re probably not going to be able to give you a final answer on that one any time soon. So I guess, as Einstein would have said, “Everything is relative”…even taxes.

December 9, 2016November 16, 2016

Flu Season Means Flu Vaccines

62662-flu-myths-vs-facts-color Flu season is here and health professionals recommend that you get a flu vaccine. The flu shot can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refers to a study published in 2016 that showed that people 50 years and older who got a flu vaccine reduced their risk of being hospitalized by 57 percent.

The flu vaccine is an important preventative for people with chronic health conditions. The CDC has found that the vaccine has reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease. It reduces the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection by about half. The vaccination helps protect women during and after pregnancy and protects the developing baby during pregnancy and for several months after birth.

The flu vaccine can lessen your symptoms if you do get sick. A vaccination protects not only you but the people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies, young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions. The CDC studies show that the vaccine reduces the risk of flu illness by 50 to 60 percent. The effectiveness of the vaccine can range from season to season. Age and health are factors that play an important role in determining the likelihood that the vaccine will provide protection.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines known as “trivalent” vaccines are made to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. There are also flu vaccines made to protect against four flu viruses called “quadrivalent” vaccines. These vaccines protect against the same viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.

The CDC recommends use of injectable influenza vaccines including inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines during 2016-2017. To find the nearest place that is offering flu shots, visit flu.gov.

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016

Schools Excel in Cross-Country Sport

Cross Country is a popular sport in Parkland and Coral Springs. High school teams are performing well in local and regional competitions. The coaches and student-athletes agree that dedication, discipline, and the right attitude is what propels these teams to winning meets.

The Stoneman Douglas Cross Country program has been very successful over the years. Team members are expected to put in long hours of training and be dedicated to the sport. This year the girl’s team has performed well in all its regular meets and invitational meets.

Emilia Thom, a senior and team captain, recently finished first in a large meet featuring Coral Springs schools. “It takes a lot of dedication and discipline to be a good cross-country runner. I train six days a week. It is something I like to do. It is therapy for the brain,” she said. “The feeling of winning is awesome,” Emilia said. Her goal is to make it to the state championship. Emilia is also in the top 10 percent of her class academically.

Angela Chambers, a coach for the team, believes that dedication is important to winning. “A runner needs to be motivated. We do speed workouts and we train on hills. We also do long distance runs of as much as ten miles. You need to have a good attitude to be a good cross country runner,” she said.

Amanda Taylor, one of the top runners on the Stoneman Douglas team, believes the right mindset is what helps her achieve her goals. “It takes discipline and hard work. We do a lot of speed workouts,” she said.

Karel Klos, a senior and team captain for the Stoneman Douglas boy’s team agrees. “It takes a lot of mental strength and discipline to do well in cross country,” he said.

Each day, the athletes participate in demanding running workouts to improve their time over a 3.1-mile course. They may run ten miles in a single workout, or complete shorter runs at a higher speed.

“It takes mental toughness and a lot of commitment. We do cross fit training and long distance runs,” said Kate Hearn, the coach of the Coral Springs Charter Cross Country team.

Austin Shook, a top runner on the Coral Springs Charter boy’s team said, “We run a lot of miles every day. I do a lot of training on my own. It relaxes me and relieves stress.”

Jodi Medina, the captain of the Coral Springs Charter Girls team, sees a dual side to training. “This is a good way to stay in shape. I have been running all four years of high school. I like being a part of the team,” she said. Medina also plays on the school’s soccer team.

Irwin Goldberg has been a cross-country coach at J.P. Taravella for many years. He is nearly 90 years old and has been coaching cross country for about 65 years. He enjoys being with young people who have an interest in distance running. Goldberg has found that distance runners tend to be high-quality students and are well behaved.

“I love the kids who come out and run cross-country. They are very nice and they are committed to doing better every day. Distance runners don’t fail in school. They are very dedicated to doing well in every area of life. They will go all out to achieve a goal,” Goldberg said.

Michel Normal, the top runner on the J.P. Taravella Boy’s Cross Country team knows the value of hard work., “It takes discipline and hard work to be successful in the cross country. You have to work hard to be successful,” he said.

“It takes commitment and dedication to do well in cross country. These are athletes who want to have better times and accomplish all they can,” Goldberg said.

Brantley Barr has been coaching cross-country for 37 years at Coral Springs High School. He believes it is important to encourage the sport. “I try to develop a lot of young athletes. After a few years of dedicated work, some of the runners will become very successful,” he said.

Tyler Brunton, the captain of the Coral Springs High School Cross Country team, was among teammates who participated in the Coral Springs Championship meet. “Running and being on the team is fun. I have been on the team since my freshman year,” he said.

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016

Amphitheater Named for Michael Udine

The Amphitheater at Pine Trails Park was renamed the Michael Udine Amphitheater at Pine Trails Park in Parkland. Udine was elected the 11th mayor of Parkland in 2006 and his last day of mayor was November 2. The announcement to rename the amphitheater was made at that meeting. Udine was elected to the District Three Seat on the Broward County Commission. He was the second longest serving mayor in Parkland history. Sal Pagliara was served the most years from 1988 to 2003 and the Parkland City Hall is named after him.

According to Todd DeAngelis, Parkland spokesman. Udine said he was surprised by the announcement and gave a heartfelt thanks to the city commission, city staff, his family and Parkland residents. He thanked all the people who he worked with and learned from over the years,.

Caryn Gardner-Young, the former city manager of Parkland reached a separation agreement with the City of Parkland. Her last day was November 30. She will stay on with the City an outside consultant.

In part of a statement she read during a recent Commission meeting, Gardner-Young said: “During my tenure, the City has accomplished so much. We built a new and rebuilt an existing fire station, stations 109 and 42, we completed the last 30 acres at Pine Trails Park, we built a new dog park, Barkland, we created the largest farmer’s market in Broward County, we moved the county line from Palm Beach County to Broward County bringing 1,900 acres into Broward and potentially all into the City, and we opened and took over operations of the City’s Community Center just to name a few. The residents feel the City is going in the right direction by the high scores we have received in our citizen surveys, the City is in great financial condition having survived the 2008-2009 recession without a loss in level of service and we are preparing financially for the future.”

Parkland earned a national reputation for being a leader in many areas. The City was designated as a Playful City since 2007, issued the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the GFOA since 2007, Top Rated Small Towns and City in 2010, Best Intergenerational Community in 2014, Top Ten Places to Live in Florida in 2015, 14th Best City for Young Families in 2015, Best Small City in the Nation for Families in 2015, fourth most Successful City in Florida in 2016, and lowest or second lowest crime rate in Broward County since 2009.

December 6, 2016November 15, 2016

Reaching for the Sky

As a young girl, Rachel Martinez considered different career options. She thought about being a doctor or an architect. Then she had the opportunity to take an airplane ride with a program known as Young Eagles through the Experimental Aircraft Association in Homestead. pilot

“I went up in a Cessna. It was my first flight, and I loved it. Then I saw an older Navy plane with an open cockpit. My mom talked to the pilot and he gave me a ride. When we were airborne, he allowed me to fly the plane. It was the best feeling and I fell in love with flying,” she said.

Martinez went to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach where she majored in aeronautical science, and minored in aviation safety. Martinez earned a bachelor of science degree in three and a half years. She earned her pilots license there, and become certified to fly multi-engine aircraft. She completed a training program at American Flyers in Pompano Beach so she could teach people to fly planes.

While Martinez loves flying, she does not consider herself an airplane fanatic. Her family was not involved in aviation. Her mother encouraged her to follow the dream to be a pilot. “I love flying. The views are beautiful and I am at peace when I am flying,” she said. “It is such an adventure to fly.”

Eventually, Martinez would like to get hired by a major airline. If she realizes this dream, Martinez hopes to continue giving flying lessons on a part-time basis. “I enjoy teaching others to fly,” she said. “I want to volunteer with Young Eagles. That would my way of giving back to the aviation community. I would volunteer with the program that I went through.”

For now, Martinez is working on building her flight time hours. She needs 1,000 hours to be considered for an airline position. She also will have to earn her airline transport certificate to work for an airline. Once she has these qualifications, she hopes to get hired by a regional airline, often a first step to getting hired by a larger airline. If an airline offers her a position, the organization will provide her training on flying jet aircraft. Much of this training will take place in a flight simulator.

Martinez is a confident and articulate young woman. She likes to help others, and being a pilot allows her to do so. “I enjoy seeing families and individuals reach their destination. Everyone has a reason to travel whether to see family or to visit a new place,” she said.

December 4, 2016November 15, 2016

Amphitheater named for Michael Udine

Caryn Gardner-Young, the former city manager of Parkland reached a separation agreement with the City of Parkland. Her last day was November 30. She will stay on with the City an outside consultant.

*Jan 1-8 In part of a statement she read during a recent Commission meeting, Gardner-Young said: “During my tenure, the City has accomplished so much. We built a new and rebuilt an existing fire station, stations 109 and 42, we completed the last 30 acres at Pine Trails Park, we built a new dog park, Barkland, we created the largest farmer’s market in Broward County, we moved the county line from Palm Beach County to Broward County bringing 1,900 acres into Broward and potentially all into the City, and we opened and took over operations of the City’s Community Center just to name a few. The residents feel the City is going in the right direction by the high scores we have received in our citizen surveys, the City is in great financial condition having survived the 2008-2009 recession without a loss in level of service and we are preparing financially for the future.”

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November 3, 2016December 13, 2016

November is Curing Stomach Cancer Month

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In April 2008, Debbie Zelman was enjoying a successful life. At age 40, she was an attorney with a law firm, married to a physician, and had three children. Then she was hit with calamity. Zelman found out she had Stage IV stomach cancer. This cancer was considered incurable, and Zelman was told she had little time to live. She was told that about four percent of people with stomach cancer survived longer than five years.

Debbie began a long and difficult treatment process. She educated herself about stomach cancer and sought the best treatment possible. She has survived but has had eight recurrences and continues with treatment for this difficult disease. November is Curing Stomach Cancer Month and Debbie is working hard to fight this terrible disease.

In 2009, she founded the Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer based in Plantation and is working to help others with stomach cancer. The goals of the Foundation include raising funds for research into innovative, progressive and innovative treatments for this disease; to raise awareness about stomach cancer; and to provide information and assistance to stomach cancer patients and their families and caregivers. In January 2012, Debbie appeared on the Dr. Oz show in a segment on stomach cancer.

“We offer peer to peer support programs where we match patients and caregivers using disease specific criteria,” said Mary-Margaret Killmeyer, program director for the Foundation. “We offer educational opportunities such as symposiums and webinars. We encourage patients with stomach cancer to educate themselves about treatments. We want them to find supportive people who have gone through this disease and can help them by sharing their own experiences.”

Killmeyer said that 26,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year in the U.S. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide, and the fourth form of cancer death for women worldwide.

There are things people should be aware of regarding stomach cancer.

Gastric cancers – those that begin in the stomach, esophagus or the junctions of these two organs, result in about 37,600 new cancer cases in the U.S. each year and about 25,150 deaths.

Some primary risk factors for stomach cancer include: infection with a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), which is associated with gastric and duodenal ulcers, and chronic indigestion.

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease in which the stomach does not produce the protein necessary for Vitamin B-12 absorption. This condition has been linked to stomach cancer.

Those who have diets heavy in salt, smoked or preserved foods, or low in fruits and vegetables may be at higher risk of stomach cancer. Those who smoke may be at higher risk. Older people are also at greater risk.

The Foundation is encouraging to people to participate in Denim for Debbie on November 2nd. People can speak to their boss, co-workers, friends, etc. to get permission to wear denim/jeans for $5 per person. You collect the proceeds and send them to Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer at Two South University Drive Suite 326, Plantation, Florida 33324.

November 1, 2016November 10, 2016

A Perfect Game

by David Volz

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Crystal Singh is the first Broward County high school bowler to bowl a perfect game. She recently bowled a 300, or perfect game, and then followed this performance with a 237 score. Her bowling average is 232. Cyrstal is junior at Coral Springs Charter School, and hopes to earn a college scholarship in the sport. She has received interest from Vanderbilt, Tulane, and Notre Dame. Her academic performance is also very strong, she has a straight A average. Math is one of her favorite subjects.

“It is not easy to be a good bowler,” Cyrstal said. She was also a two time national champion in the under 15 age category in Germany. “It takes a lot of dedication. You have to practice every day. If you work hard at bowling, you can be good at it,” she said.

Her father Joseph Singh is proud of her achievements. “Crystal is very dedicated to bowling and has done well. She has put a lot of time and effort into bowling,” Joseph said.

When the Singh family lived in Germany, Crystal won the national bowling tournament for girls under age 15 twice. Right now, her goal is to advance to the state championship. “I have a strong drive to win. I just want to be the best bowler I can be. I want to bowl in college, and I am thinking of trying to bowl professionally,” she said.

The Coral Springs Charter girl’s bowling team has won three straight district championships and is now undefeated. Harmony Ramano, considered the eighth best high school bowler in the nation, is also hoping for success this year. She bowled a 299 at a national competition. “We have a good team this year. It takes hard work to be good at bowling,” Romano said.

Julia Galang is also a top bowler for the Coral Springs Charter Girls team. She has bowled a 278. “I want to get to the state championship this year,” she said.

Nelson Martin, the Coral Springs Charter bowling coach is impressed with the work ethic and performance of the team. “To be a good bowler takes a lot of practice and dedication. It takes repetition and a strong desire to get better,” he said.

The J.P. Taravella Bowling Team is also showing promise as an excellent team. Wendy Moskowitz runs the overall program. The boy’s team is undefeated, and the girls are developing their team.“We have a good team this year and hope to advance to state tournament,” she said.

Jennifer Oxman is a leading bowler on the J.P. Taravella girl’s team. Her best game is 269. “I have been bowling for eight years.” Oxman said.

Alanna Thompson, a leader of the girl’s team has bowled a 275. “I love bowling. It takes a lot of practice to be good,” she said.

Joey Watynski, captain of the J.P. Taravella boy’s team has bowled a 298. “It takes hard work and dedication to do well,” he said. Joey is among a group of good bowlers, which include Vinnie Fedora, Tyler Mason, Zach Gavin, and Conrad McCarthy.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas girls bowling team is undefeated and hoping to advance to the state playoffs. “We are working hard to be successful,” said Kaitlin Carbocci, captain of the girls team.

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October 3, 2016October 17, 2018

A haunting We Will Go

A haunting we will go

by David Volz

Halloween is a popular fall holiday, one that many people look forward to. Children often dress up as ghosts, and go trick or treating. The City of Coral Springs will host a Halloween Party at the Coral Springs Gymnasium on Friday, October 28 from 5 to 7:30pm, and Saturday, October 29 from 2 to 7pm. The cost is $5 per child, and $2 per adult. There will be some activities for children including a haunted house, bounce houses, and inflatable slides. Children are encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes, and they will receive candy. It is a safe and fun environment to enjoy Halloween.

If you want to see a real haunted house there are opportunities to do so in Broward County. There are a number of houses and buildings in the area that are said to be inhabited by spirit beings.

At Broward Health Coral Springs, there is a deceased nurse who haunts the area just outside the main elevators. Visitors often find that the elevator doors open for them just before they are about to hit the request button, and no one is inside.

At the Coral Square Mall, there have been sightings of the ghost of a small boy roaming the premises. There have been strange sounds, and things moved in the mall.

At the Sunset Point Park in Tamarac, there have been sightings of dark figures with red eyes. Orbs have been seen. Some people have said a dark figure with white glowing eyes appears in front of them and vanishes.

Many spirits are said to reside in the Boca Raton Cemetery. Some of the most well-known are the screaming man, and Mary. The screaming man begins by crying, and then builds to screaming, shouting and cursing. People have seen the shadowy figure of a man running, and flailing his arms. The spirit of a teenage girl named Mary who offers condolences to grieving families has also been seen at the cemetery.

The Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum is also haunted. The 1926 museum was once Boca Raton Town Hall. Staff and visitors have said there are strange noises, vanishing objects, and the sound of a telephone ringing when there is no one around.

At Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, a ghostly spirit haunts the Arts and Humanities Building. She has been seen in the amphitheater, and at other times noises were heard in the hallways of someone running and slamming doors.

In Fort Lauderdale, there are two ghosts that have been seen at the Henry E. Kinney underwater tunnel. There is the ghost of a man wearing a brown suit and derby hat, and the ghost of a Native American man running through the tunnel.

The Stranahan House is probably the most famous haunted structure in South Florida. The house is one of the oldest buildings in the area, and served as a trading post on the New River. Staff and visitors to house say they have seen the ghost of Frank Stranahan, the home’s original owner jumping to his death in the New River. He committed suicide after a number of setbacks, including being diagnosed with terminal cancer. His wife Ivy has also been sensed at the House. People have reported other apparitions there as well. Some are friendly, others obnoxious.

The New River Inn, which now houses the Old Fort Lauderdale History Museum, is believed to be haunted. There is the ghost of a man who pace the first floor and front porch, and wears ranching attire. The ghost of the former owner is seen looking down at people from the second floor. There is also the ghost of a young girl who talks to people, and can be seen playing.

September 6, 2016July 3, 2019

Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

by David Volz

As you walk into the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum you’ll hear music playing from the early to mid-twentieth century. As you look around you’ll see a replica of a service station, one from a time when an attendant pumped your gas and serviced your car. But the main attraction of this unique museum is the showroom of expertly restored Packards.

The museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Packard Motor Car Company. There are 39 Packard cars on display, the oldest a 1909 model and the latest, a 1958 model. Most of the cars can still be driven. One can learn about each car on display and its unique features. You can see advertisements for the cars, and gain a sense of how the automobile industry developed.

When Packards were being produced, they were considered high-end luxury cars that were known for high quality workmanship. The cars were expensive and owned by wealthy and famous people. There is a gallery dedicated to the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The late President Calvin Coolidge owned one of the Packards. The museum display includes Roadsters with compartments for golf clubs, a doctor’s coupe with a compartment for a medical bag, and a 1929 645 Dual Cowl Phaeton that can self-lubricate its chassis as it drives. The oldest car on display was built in 1909 at a time when headlights were considered an innovation. The museum also includes a large red truck and a police vehicle, along with thousands of automobile memorabilia items. There are hundreds of dashboard clocks that are hand wound, hood ornaments from all makes of cars, rare carburetors, side lamps, custom gear shift knobs, and many other items.

The Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum is the work of the late Arthur and Shirley Stone. They had a love for Packard cars and a passion for collecting them. They actually began collecting Packards in the mid-1940s at a time when these cars were considered the top luxury car in production in the U.S.

Arthur Stone, 90, died in 2010, and Shirley, 97, passed in 2016.

In a quote left by Arthur Stone he said, “It’s the great American love story! Americans have had an incredible love affair with their cars. This museum is a place for everyone to revisit that.”

As you spend time learning automotive history, you may begin to feel part of a bygone era, a time when cars were new and people were excited by the latest innovations. It was a time when going for a drive was an important family activity, and getting a new car was a big event.

The Packard was a luxury car built by Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana. The first Packard cars were produced in 1899 and the last in 1958. One of the last concept cars was built in 1956, the Packard Predictor. The brothers James Ward Packard and William Packard and their partner George Lewis Weiss founded Packard in Warren, Ohio. They produced 400 cars there from 1899 to 1903. Investors were brought in and the operation was moved to Detroit where it was named the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902.

The Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum is located at 1527 SW First Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 3pm. Saturday and Sunday, call for hours. For information, call 954-779-7300.

The Museum is available for corporate functions, private parties, weddings, special events, group tours, and school field trips. There is even an antique style bar for events.

September 3, 2016July 3, 2019

Remembering 9/11

by David Volz

It has been 15 years since the terrorist attacks took place on September 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania; the vivid memories of that day still live on. The 9/11 attacks were the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history. Nineteen men hijacked four U.S. commercial airplanes heading for west coast destinations. Two of the airplanes were crashed into the World Trade Center, in New York; one was crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and one was taken over by passengers and crew and crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks and about 6,000 were injured.

September 11^th is on a Sunday this year, and Parkland will have a ceremony open to the public, beginning at 8:30am, for about 30 minutes at Parkland City Hall. The ceremony will include lowering the flags to half-staff, a moment of silent reflection, the playing of bagpipes, the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department Honor Guard, and some remarks from the Mayor. Then at 8:46am a siren will sound marking the moment the first airplane crashed into the World Trade Center.

Coral Springs will honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 with a Remembrance 5K Run/Walk that will begin on Saturday, September 10th at 7:00am, at the Northwest Regional Library. Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for students 19 and younger, and $20 for emergency service personnel. Participant will receive a finisher medal and T-shirt.

Coral Springs will have a ceremony outside the Northwest Regional Library on September 11^th at 2:00pm, followed by a program inside the Charter School Auditorium.

If you happen to be in New York City, you can participate in a ceremony at Ground Zero. It will be marked with four minutes of silence to observe the times when each plane hit and each tower fell, beginning at 8:46am. At the nearby St. Paul’s Chapel, there will be morning bell services followed by Prayers for Peace and the ringing of the Bell of Hope in memory of 9/11.

The National 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 11^th, 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the attacks in a ceremony for the victim’s families. This memorial includes the nation’s largest man-made waterfalls cascading into two sunken pools. These pools mark the footprints of the Twin Towers. The names of 2,980 victims have been carved in granite around the edges of the memorial. The 9/11 Memorial Museum includes artifacts from 9/11 events including personal items from survivors and the deceased donated by their families.

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June 29, 2016July 3, 2019

Veterans’ Honor Wall in Coral Springs

By David Volz

Military veterans and their families in Tamarac now have a Veterans’ Honor Wall.

On Memorial Day Weekend, the City of Tamarac had a special ceremony to dedicate the Veterans’ Honor Wall. The wall includes six panels each with 100 names of military veterans from Tamarac both living and deceased. There are 600 names in total on the Memorial. There are two additional glass panels showing uniformed military personnel.

The Wall represents a two year effort among the City of Tamarac, the Tamarac Parks and Recreation Department, the Tamarac Public Art Committee and the Tamarac Historical Society. It is at Tamarac Veterans’ Memorial Park, 7825 Southgate Boulevard.

“We decided it would be good to have a tribute to veterans in Veterans’ Park,” said Barbara Tarnove, president of the Tamarac Historical Society. “We got the approval to collect names and we were able to collect 600 names of Tamarac residents who had been in the military. We are continuing to collect the names of veterans in Tamarac.”

Tarnove had the opportunity to talk with military veterans and listen to their stories. “We became friends. It was a heartwarming experience. We have created a data base of the names and we want to collect more names,” she said. “We will commission a new panel for every 100 names we get.”

Zachary Knudson, the owner of the Glass Artist in Coral Springs, was the artist who completed the Veterans’ Honor Wall. He considered it a privileged to do this project. “The veterans have put their lives on the line and sacrificed a whole lot. I dedicated it to them. I feel good about this project and I am glad to give back to the community,” he said.

Knudson said he hopes this project will encourage more young people to appreciate and become interested in art. “There are a lot of kids who will walk by this work on their way to school. I hope when they see it they will be inspired to appreciate art,” he said.

He is looking forward to continuing work on the Veterans’ Honor Wall as more names are added. It took about seven months to complete the project. Knudson also completed an aluminum and glass pyramid structure at the ArtWalk in Coral Springs.

The dedication ceremony on Memorial Day was very well attended and many veterans and their families participated. Members of the Tamarac City Commission spoke on the importance of honoring veterans for their service.

Captain A.J. Tolbert, U.S. Air Force retired, was the keynote speaker. He spoke of the challenges of military service and the importance of honoring veterans. Tolbert remembers how military personnel were not treated well during the Vietnam War era. As an ROTC cadet at the University of South Carolina, he remembered students heckling the cadets as they drilled. He emphasized the contribution the military makes in keeping the United States free.

Elise Boston, spokesperson for the City of Tamarac, said she is pleased that the city’s veterans are being honored. “We want to honor those who have served their nation. We will continue adding names,” she said.