FROM THE VICE MAYOR PARKLAND UPDATE

By Vice Mayor Simeon Brier

he month of March represents several worthy causes that are near and dear to all of our hearts. While there are too many to list, for me personally, this month is about how community pride can put a smile on our faces, and how the support of those around us can help keep us safe, informed, and healthy. Parkland Day—March 11—marks the City’s 60th birthday, when we will come together to celebrate the vibrant history and small-town character that anchors us as a community. One of my favorite childhood memories is the Parkland Day parades, and I can recall attending the parade as a child as Parkland’s ninth Mayor, Sal Pagliara, drove by wearing his signature cowboy hat. As friends waved from parade floats and horses trotted by, you could just feel everyone collectively set aside their cares for that moment and come together as a community. While Parkland has certainly grown since then, I am so happy that the city is bringing Parkland Day back.

While the Parkland Day Parade starts at 10:00 a.m., the day will be filled with a Kid Zone with rides and games, a Car Show, a Business Expo,

Ta Food Court, a Concert, opportunities to learn about Parkland’s history, and announcement of the winners of an essay contest. I can’t help but smile from ear to ear to know that the children, families and residents in our community will have the opportunity to experience the same level of anticipation and hometown pride I felt years ago during our upcoming celebration.

More recently, that same sense of warmth and community I experienced as a child growing up in Parkland also served as a comfort when I was diagnosed with cancer in December of 2020. With early screening and proper treatment, I was able to beat the diagnosis. And because March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, I want to encourage residents to consider their screening options as well.

I think back on the wealth of support from friends, family, and community members, and I reflect on how grateful I was, and still am, to know that people not only cared, but also went out of their way to show it.

At the time, I didn’t know that colorectal cancer, while very treatable if caught early, is the third most common cancer in the world and the second most deadly. I didn’t know that in 2020, 2 million people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and that in that same year, 1 million people lost their lives because of the disease. I also didn’t know that colorectal cancer was and is on the rise among younger people. The recommended screening age was 50 and now it is 45. Ironically, I was diagnosed at 45.

As Parkland residents, we take caring for others seriously. We are a community of Dads, Moms, daughters and sons, grandparents, coaches and mentors. We are teachers and guides. Entrepreneurs and healers. Caretakers and artists. And when we all come together to let others know we care, those in need receive the assurance of support and love at a time when they need it the most.

This March, remember to take care of yourselves and others. Even if you are in your 40s, it might be a good time to ask your doctor about colorectal cancer screening. I took the step to get screened in 2020 because someone who loved me encouraged me to do so.

Early detection, my family, faith, excellent doctors and this community’s support helped saved my life.

If you have questions or comments you would like to share, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached via e-mail at sbrier@cityofparkland. org. I encourage you to visit the City’s website, cityofparkland.org and click on the social media icon that you prefer, to ensure that you stay informed on events and helpful information.