Parkland City Commission: Michael Udine, Mayor; Mark Weissman, Vice Mayor; David Rosenof, Commissioner. City Manager: Caryn Gardner-Young

City News

City Offices will be closed for Martin Luther King Holiday
City of Parkland offices will be closed Monday, January 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Here's how city services are affected:
City Hall: Will be closed
Solid Waste and Recyclables: Will not be affected by the holiday. Operating under regular schedule.
Library: Will be closed.
Parks: Will be not be affected by the holiday. Operating under regular schedule.

City will have an election in March.
The City of Parkland has two City Commission seats vacant. The District 2 seat was vacant due to the election of Jared Moskowitz to the State Legislature in November and the District 1 seat was vacant in December due to John Willis moving out of the District. The qualifying period for the District 1 and District 2 seat ended noon on Wednesday. The District 1 seat will be filled by Stacy Kagan who ran unopposed. The District 2 seat has two contenders - Nancy Robeson and Christine Hunschofsky. The election for the District 2 seat will be held on March 12th.

City of Parkland To Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Please join the City of Parkland and the Parkland YMCA Family Center in a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Parkland Amphitheater located at 10561 Trails End on January 18, 2013 from 4:00pm until 5:30pm. All Parkland parents, students, teachers and community members are cordially invited to attend. The keynote speaker will be Pastor Cecelia D. Armstrong from Grace Presbyterian Church. Students within the City of Parkland had been invited to participate in an essay/poetry contest. Students were asked to respond to the question, “What was Dr. King’s dream for America? If he were alive today, do you think he would feel that his dream had been realized?” The winners will read their submissions during the event. For additional information please contact Michele Smith, Recreation Specialist at 954-757-4142 or msmith@cityofparkland.org.

Recycling Awareness Month in Parkland
January is Parkland’s Recycling Awareness Month. Let’s start 2013 off the right way and remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and make environmentally conscious decisions. An observable display of our throwaway society is the use of plastic bags which are linked to a range of environmental impacts. The life of a plastic bag at times can be minutes; from store to car and from car to home.

In an effort to increase awareness, on January 19th between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM the City will have a table set up near Publix at the Parkland Commons shopping plaza and will be collecting brown plastic bags and handing out information on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.

We are asking residents to participate in this event by bringing their brown plastic bags to be recycled. The first 20 residents to attend will receive a free reusable shopping bag.

Remember to recycle whenever possible and do your part in keeping Parkland green.

Parks and Recreation Events

Adult Open Lawn Croquet
Wednesday January 16
10:00 – 11:30AM
Pine Trails Park; 10561 Trails End
Join other adults in this fun game. Participants need to wear flat soled shoes. Activity is limited to 15 participants. Register on WebTrac. No fee, Parkland residents only. For more information, contact Michele Smith msmith@cityofparkland.org 954-757-4142.

Movies in the Park – Madagascar 3
Friday, January 18, 2013
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Pine Trails Park Amphitheater; 10561 Trails End
The City of Parkland, North Broward Preparatory School, Paragon Theater, Marrecau & Rodriguez Orthodontics and WCI announces its Movies in the Park program, where a new movie will be shown for your family's viewing pleasure. There is no better place to be than your neighborhood park. Grab a picnic basket and a blanket and enjoy the show! You bring the snacks, we'll bring the stars. Popcorn will be available at the event free of charge. For more information, contact the Main Parks and Recreation phone number at 954-757-4105.

Dueling Piano Show
January 19, 2013
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Pine Trails Park Amphitheater; 10561 Trails End
The City of Parkland is proud to announce Dueling Piano Show on January 19, 2013 from 7:00pm-8:30pm Presented by the Law Offices of McFarlane & Dolan . Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to join your neighbors for this spectacular FREE family event and performance. No tents, pets or alcoholic beverages are allowed within the park. Please contact Caitlin Crossin, Program Specialist for more information at 954-757-4113 or ccrossin@cityofparkland.org.

City of Parkland Farmer’s Market
Sunday January 20, 2013
9:00am to 1:00pm
Equestrian Center; 8350 Ranch Road
Join the City of Parkland for our next Farmer’s Market on January 20th from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Equestrian Center. Activities will include a free bounce house and face painting for the kids, a cash raffle and a free shopping big thanks to our Sponsor Mercantil Commercebank and so much more. Over 100 vendors will be selling everything from fresh produce, plants and delicious gourmet foods. For more information please contact Melissa Soto, Program Specialist, at 954-757-4120 or msoto@cityofparkland.org.

Walkabouts Health Workshop
Thursday, January 24
1:00- 2:00 PM
Parkland City Hall
“Osteoporosis: NOT Just a Woman’s Disease"
Get important information; learn about critical risk factors for men and women; understand your bone density (bring a copy if you have it); and learn exercise options. Guest Speaker - Shari Kalkstein, B.A., PTA, HFS, CSCS, CPT, AHFS. Open to Parkland residents only. Advance registration is required. Class size is limited. Contact Michele Smith at 954-757-4142 or email msmith@cityofparkland.org.

Parkland Walkabouts Walking Program
Friday, January 25
Terramar Park –6575 NW 75th Drive
9:00am
Walk the parks with us! The Parks and Recreation Department will be offering a five-month guided and self-guided walking program. This five-month program will aid participants in walking their way to an overall positive fitness level and quality of life. Program participants will meet twice a month at 9am on Friday mornings at one of the beautiful and unique parks located throughout our town. Participants will also be encouraged to walk on their own on other days and will be rewarded for participation. The program is free of charge and is open to residents of Parkland ages 50 and older. Registration is required; however, you may join at any time. (Next meeting time will be at 6 Acre Wood Park on Friday February 1 at 9:00am). For More information contact Michele Smith 954-757-4142 msmith@cityofparkland.org.

Hayride and Bonfire
February 8, 2013
Registrations – on-going
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Equestrian Center; 8350 Ranch Road
Presented by TD Bank & Marrecau & Rodriguez Orthodontics
The City of Parkland is excited to bring back the 4th Annual Hayride and Bonfire. This event is open to Parkland residents only and space is limited and pre-registration is required. You can register online through Web Trac on the City of Parkland website www.cityofparkland.org or in person at the Parkland Amphitheater. Enjoy the Hayride, Bonfire and more with the family! Please contact Caitlin Crossin, Program Specialist for more information at 954-757-4113 or ccrossin@cityofparkland.org.

Snowfest
February 24, 2013
Registration begins January 14th.
10:00am – 1:00pm
Terramar Park; 6575 NW 75th Drive
Presented by Marrecau & Rodriguez Orthodontics
Back by popular demand, the City of Parkland and Marrecau & Rodriguez Orthodontics is proud to present Snowfest! 20 tons of real snow, bounce houses, an ice skating rink and much more! Registration begins on Monday, January 14, 2013. Registration may be done through WebTrac or at the Parkland Amphitheater. Preregistration will end on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 2:00pm. This event is for Parkland residents only. Pre-registration tickets are $7 and pre-registration ends on February 22, 2013. For more information, please contact Caitlin Crossin, Program Specialist, at 954-757-4113 or ccrossin@cityofparkland.org.

Teen Advisory Group Meeting
Thursday, January 24
City Hall – 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Join the City of Parkland’s Teen Advisory Group (TAG) presented by Marrecau & Rodriguez Orthodontics. Become a leader in your community! Create the programs and experiences you would like to see offered in Parkland for teens. The Teen Advisory Group is geared for students ages 13- 18 years old. TAG meetings meet one Thursday a month at City Hall. For more information please contact Caitlin Crossin, Program Specialist, at 954-757-4113 or ccrossin@cityofparkland.org.

Parkland Library Events

Learn Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel on Saturday January 19: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
In this course you will edit data in worksheets, perform calculations on the data, and display, format and print your spreadsheets for a professional and easy to read appearance. It is not necessary to pre-register. Students will be seated in the order they arrive at the City Hall Training Room which will open 10 minutes prior to start of class. Space is limited. Visit the Library website for more information.

Tales to Tails
Thursday, January 24th 4:15pm
Come to the Parkland Library and read to Leyna or Daisy, therapy dogs from Progressive Paws. This program is developed to encourage independent reading and increase reading fluency. Each child can read for about 5 minutes. This program is for children 5 to12 years old. Register here or call (954)757-4207.

Chess Club (age 8 and up)
Wednesday, January 23rd 4:15pm
Parkland Library Chess Club is for children, ages 8 and up. Beginners can learn to play and players meet your match! You must be a Parkland Library card holder to join. Children must be 8 years or older. Registration is required for each game date. Parkland Library card required to register. Register here or call (954)757-4207.

Spain Today!
Thursday, January 24th 6:30pm
A presentation on Spain’s rich culture and heritage. The diversity, the landscape, music, food, and its place in the world today will be presented by a member of the Consulate of Spain. Come enrich yourself. Register here or call (954)757-4207.