Sixty years of “Someplace Special”: Cooper City residents gather to celebrate the founding of their city

BY EMMA FRANZ

Each year, friends, family and residents gather to celebrate the founding of Cooper City. This year’s festivities took place on Saturday, March 9, with locals lined alongside 90th Ave. awaiting the annual Founder’s Day parade. There was a train of entertainment as the parade consisted of a performance from the CCHS Sound of Pride (SOP) and was followed by floats.

The city’s 60th birthday commemoration continued at Brian Piccolo Park. Shortly after opening at 1 p.m., the park was filled with lawn chairs, tents and residents. Children released their energy as they scattered around the fields and sprung into the bounce houses while adults seemed to relax and appreciate the live entertainment.

“We actually met a few parents whose sons and daughters are SOP alumni,” Lefebre said. “It is always nice receiving their continuous support throughout the years.”

While this day allows for new Cooper City residents to familiarize themselves with the town, for established residents, Founder’s Day takes them on a trip down memory lane.

“It’s been really nice to go with the friends that I went with as a child,” Cooper City resident Alisa Katzman said. “It is really special because now we all bring our kids to enjoy [it] just like we did.”

It wouldn’t be a Cooper City Founder’s Day without the support of Cooper City High School clubs. The annual event is accompanied by fundraisers from CCHS SOP and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC).

Throughout the year, the CCHS SOP participates in many fundraisers to pay for costly trips, new music to play and materials needed throughout the year, but the revenue from those fundraisers doesn’t compare to that of their Founder’s Day bake sale.

“The bake sale is most successful because whatever we make is 100 percent profit,” Band Captain Juseliz Lefebre said. “Most of the baked goods that we sell are homemade by members of the SOP and [are] donated to the program.”

Instead of just reaching out to CCHS students through various fundraisers in school, the SOP bake sale allows for a greater reach and profit.

“We host pizza sales throughout the year, chocolate sales similar to other clubs and pretzels as well to raise money,” NJROTC member Samuel Testa said. “But the hot dog and sausage sales are definitely where we earn the largest profit.”

“We actually met a few parents whose sons and daughters are SOP alumni,” Lefebre said. “It is always nice receiving their continuous support throughout the years.”

For those craving a meal before a sweet treat, CCHS NJROTC had them covered. NJROTC members and volunteers sold hot dogs and sausages to raise money for their awards ceremony at the end of the year. Similar to the SOP, NJROTC holds many fundraisers to pay for equipment, uniforms and competitions.

“We host pizza sales throughout the year, chocolate sales similar to other clubs and pretzels as well to raise money,” NJROTC member Samuel Testa said. “But the hot dog and sausage sales are definitely where we earn the largest profit.”

As the sun began to set, the end of Founder’s Day approached. Once the live entertainment had finished, and the time reached 8:30 p.m., the birthday melody that had all attendees singing was followed by an extra firework performance on the stage. Shortly after the sparks of color roared through the sky, the 60th honoring of “Someplace Special” had concluded.

Photo by Genna Nordling