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The City of Coral Springs has partnered with Broward County to provide sale and affordable housing as part of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP). This local partnership provides assistance to home buyers and home owners who meet eligibility criteria. The program offers low-interest mortgages, down payment and closing costs assistance for home buyers.

The SHIP program also includes a home repair program which can be used for a variety of repairs.

Eligibility is based on family size and income. For further information or to apply for assistance, please contact the Coral Springs Community Development Department at 954 344-1114.

(Citizen Magazine 4/00)

The Coral Springs City Centre grounds, home for the Coral Springs Museum and venue for groups like the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra and B.B.King, have been certified as a "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). The Backyard Wildlife Habitat program encourages property owners to nurture wildlife and improve the overall quality of the environment by providing the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and protection, and places to rear young.

Utilizing the criteria in the NWF application, staff enhanced the City Centre landscape by including native plants that provide food for birds and butterflies. A pond and canal currently on the site already provided the water requirement. New shrubs and ground covers provide protection and woodpecker and screech owl nest boxes were strategically placed for nesting birds.

Anyone can have their backyard certified as long as it contains the four basic habitat elements. If you are interested in certifying your grounds or want more information, call 703 790-4434 or visit NWF's website at www.nwf.org/habitats.

Coral Springs Citizen (4/00)

The Coral Springs Charter School is using input from parents, students and faculty to enhance its academic and administrative programs. The Charter School, which serves 1,100 middle and high school students, has adopted a new "School within a School" concept to further nurture its learning center environment.

The new approach to educational achievement has been used successfully throughout the nation. The concept is designed to give students a greater sense of support and involvement by creating a small school feeling in a large school setting.

Dr. Edwin Fredie, Chief Education Officer for CHarter Schools USA, said, "One of the advantages of being a charter school is the ability to make immediate improvements. The 'School within a School' concept is one of the best methods to address each student's achievement and developmental needs. It falls in line with the wishes expressed by our parents and students. We are working very hard to develop this concept because we care about our kids and we want them to have th best educational experience we can offer."

The new concept will be used to establish three distinct "houses": one for 6th grade, one for 7th and 8th grades, and one for 9th and 10th grades. Each house will include approximately 300 students and have its own principal, guidance councilor and staff of 15 - 20 teachers.

With its emphasis on team building, the new house structure will help students establish a sense of belonging and build school spirit. This team emphasis and the low ratio of one adult for every 13 students will also enable teachers and administrators to give each student more individual attention and work more effectively with parents to address each student's individual needs.

Both the School Advisory Board and members of Parent Focus Groups have embraced the concept. Mark Halpert, Chairman of the Coral Springs Charter School Advisory Board, said, "Our parents represent a very strong dedicated group of individuals, who really want to see academic regor in the students."

For more information about the Coral Springs Charter School, visit their website at www.coralspgscharterschool.net

Citizen Magazine (4/00)

The Coral Springs Museum will display "Sentiments of Art," an exhibit by Alexandra Nechita, until April 23. The World Federation of United Nations selected Nechita, a world-reknown artist prodigy, to lead a Global Arts Initiative involving more than 100 nations.

The exhibit features paintings of vibrant colors dealing with youthful to sophisticated issues that have inspired the mind of the 14-year old Romanian native, who was also the official artist of the 1997 Grammy Awards and past guest on both the Rosie O"Donnell and Oprah Winfrey shows.

Citizen Magazine (4/00)