A couple of Parkland communities are lighting up the night with luminaries on February 14.
By Sharon Aron Baron
Parkland Golf & Country Club HOA President David Gott wanted to do something to commemorate the third anniversary of the school shooting and reached out to their communications director Bonnie Hirschel to look into doing something.
She reached out to Melissa Sackman, the Sports Club Committee Chair. Together, they came up with the idea of placing luminary bags at the end of the resident’s driveways on the evening of February 14.
“In addition to this being a Parkland tragedy, it hit our community especially hard because the Hoyer family lives here,” said Hirschel, who added that their goal was to hold an event where they could honor the victims safely without attracting crowds.
Parkland Golf & Country Club reached out to other communities to do the same, and now Heron Bay Cypress Head, MiraLago, Meadow Run, Ternbridge, Cascata, Watercrest, Fox Ridge, Parkland Isles, and Four Seasons are participating.
The Four Seasons at Parkland are advised to come to the Clubhouse to pick up the luminaries.
MiraLago residents interested in receiving a free luminary can email Sarah Sharek. They ask participating residents to come out and light the luminaries at the end of their driveways on February 14 at 8 p.m. and stand in silence for 6 minutes and 20 seconds to remember the 17 victims.
Luminaries are available at no charge to Cypress Head residents and will be available for pickup at the main office starting on Friday, February 5, during regular office hours, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. They will also be there on Saturday, February 6, and February 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participating residents are asked to place their luminary outside of their home at the end of their driveway on Sunday, February 14, and step outside at 8 p.m. and stand in silence for 6 minutes and 20 seconds to honor each of the 17 victims.
Heron Bay residents can register for their free luminaries on the email bulletin sent out to them and pick them up at The Plaza Del Lago between February 10-12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participating residents are asked to come outside their homes at 8 p.m. on February 14 as well.
Parkland Golf & Country Club seeks resident volunteers to help assemble, distribute, and light the bags on Sunday, February 14. MSD students living in that community can earn service hours for volunteering. Please send an email here for more details.
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