Community Family Archives

July 2, 2020July 13, 2020

FROM THE EXPERT: ASK DR. RENAE

Dear Dr. Renae,

COVID-19 has had an impact on my personal training schedule and my college plans. My passion has always been the team sport I have dedicated large portions of my life to and I was hoping to continue to play on a team in college. As an athlete, the change in my training schedule and future planning has been overwhelming and confusing. If I do not get a sports scholarship to college, I need to reconsider my options. All athletes need a backup plan and I have been a good student with a competitive GPA so I can still get into a good college. I just don’t know how to focus my life on a different college experience since team sports will likely change.

Worried Junior, Rising Senior

Dear Worried Junior, Rising Senior,

I suggest that you sit down and create a Pros and Cons
list or a chart with your family or people who you are close with. By doing so, you will be able to figure out viable options for your future whether that includes getting a sports scholarship or not. Since times are very uncertain right now, it is likely that colleges and universities will be more lenient next year when it comes to admissions and scholarships. As long as you keep up a good GPA, you will be able to ensure a good place at a university whether or not your sport is in the picture. I wish you the best of luck!

A Caring Friend

Dear Worried Junior, Rising Senior,

This uncertain time with the coronavirus has caught a lot of the world off guard and has created such a dramatic shift in all of our lives. It’s ok to be uncertain about what the future holds, as I’m sure many are in the same position as you are right now. Even with all of the uncertainty, I would not give up your dreams. Of course, it is important to always have a back-up plan for college, but if you wish to play team sports in college and go on a sports scholarship, I would say to keep striving for that goal. You never know, in one year a lot can change and the circumstances may be entirely different. As someone who has been through the college admissions process, my advice is to continue to work hard and you will end up exactly where you are supposed to be!

An Understanding Friend

Dear Worried Junior, Rising Senior,

The current response to the pandemic has resulted in almost every person needing to reconsider how aspects of their future will unfold. As an athlete, you have been accustomed to relying on your ability to make highly successful split-second decisions on changing your course of action on the field. This inherent and learned resilience will serve you in realigning your future plans. Think about the decision-making process you automatically go through on the field and slow it down, step by step, to evaluate options for your future. The alternative opportunities you have are endless. You’ve got this!

Dr. Renae

ASK DR. RENAE is currently recruiting high school students interested in volunteering to be a Peer Counseling Writer for the Parklander’s ASK DR. RENAE teen to teen advice column. Please email Dr. Renae at askdrrenae@att.net to request an application for this exciting opportunity!

PARENTS OF TEENS: Would you like to anonymously and confidentially ask the panel of teen Peer Counseling Writers to comment on a parenting issue you are struggling with? If you are ready for a variety of honest opinions from real teens, please address your questions to askdrrenae@att.net.

Dr. Renae Lapin, a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years experience currently maintains a private practice in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information about Dr. Renae and her practice, visit her website: www.askdrrenae.com

July 2, 2020July 28, 2020

CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION

When we started the year, no one knew what 2020 would bring to our nation, our state, or our city. One thing is for certain – this has been an unprecedented year, and the challenges we face are not over yet.

This year, we struggled with the global impacts COVID-19 has had on our health and economy, we have experienced the disappointment of missed milestone celebrations and the grief of losing so many lives as a result of the Coronavirus. We then saw a nation in turmoil, with anger and frustration turning to protest against police brutality as a result of the death of George Floyd, while being placed under arrest in Minnesota.

While this year has been challenging, we also saw our community come together to assist others. Through weekly food distribution events, we provided groceries to nearly 6,000 families. We launched a Give Where You Live Campaign in partnership with the Coral Springs Community Chest to assist struggling families. And, our Economic Development Office launched a grant program, connecting businesses to grants and loans totaling more than $1 million.

When faced with adversity, as citizens we need to remember the very foundation our nation was built upon, freedom. Freedom of speech and the freedom to exercise your right to vote! We urge our residents, especially our young adults, to register to vote and cast their ballots in the upcoming elections in August and November. Also, we remind residents that much of the federal funding we receive for hospitals and schools are a result of the numbers provided by the census. So remember, Coral Springs Counts, please complete your 2020 Census.

All of us who work for the City of Coral Springs are public servants who strive to find solutions to our problems. One of those is the reimagining of events during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Memorial Day, we proudly hosted a virtual ceremony to honor the men and women who lost their lives in service to our nation. As we approach July 4th, one of our greatest traditions is the fireworks display at Mullins Park. Due to social distancing, that event is not possible, so we came up with a new way to honor our nation’s independence, while promoting community spirit.

We invite our residents and businesses to join our Wave & Drive By Parade on July 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festively decorated city vehicles representing each department will visit all of our Coral Springs communities. We will be providing a timeline of arrival so residents can enjoy the parade from their driveways and front lawns. Remember to wave your flags as we pass by. Visit our website for more details and route information, www.coralsprings.org/events.

Stay tuned and up to date by visiting www.coralsprings.org, following our social media accounts and make sure to text the keyword CORALSPRINGS to 888-777 for important updates.

July 2, 2020July 28, 2020

Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL, 22nd District)

Dear Friends!

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a tremendous impact on our daily lives. The public health and economic toll of the virus has been devastating to many residents of South Florida – some even more than others. As we move toward a sense of normalcy, we must remember to look out for one another.

This unprecedented moment in history has renewed our focus on helping one another and solidified our sense of community. Throughout this crisis, I have seen many members of our community answer the call to help others. These heroes, including frontline workers, non-profits, local businesses, and everyday citizens, have displayed tremendous amounts of selflessness and devotion to our community during difficult times. While we must continue to be cautious of renewed outbreaks and be prepared for future challenges, we must continue to stand united as a community to protect the safety and livelihood of our neighbors and friends.

During challenging times, we have shown the potential to unite for a greater cause. As we celebrate the 244th anniversary of our country, let us reflect on the promise of a united nation that strives for freedom and equality.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if we can be of assistance.

Warm Regards

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.