Contents 3D Printed Organs 32| Are The Future Of America?
3D Printed
A biotech firm is on the cutting edge of creating organ tissue outside the human body. Organovo uses 3D printing technology that could one day build made-to-order human organs. The 3D “bioprinters” are loaded with different types human cells used to print living organ tissue.
04| 10| 18|
Big Changes Coming In ATM Upgrades Big changes may be coming to a bank near you. Upgrades being made to ATMs across the country will allows users to do everything from apply for a loan to plan for their retirement.
Young Eyes Growing Old From Digital Eye Strain Neck-aches, back-aches, red-eyes, dry-eyes, headaches, migraines, even blurry or double vision! Are your eyes crying out for help? Probably! According to a recent report put out by the Vision Council nearly 70-percent of U.S. adults are experiencing digital eye strain due to electronic devices.
53|
Special Sections
26 Eye On Coral Gables Latest News & events in your neighborhood
38
Real Estate Properties Sold in your area
Sponsored By
68 Home Improvement SPONSORED BY:
Beware: Doctors Warn Of Potentially Deadly Form Of Nail Cancer Most people know it’s important to get freckles and moles checked out by a doctor, but a small spot under your nail could be just as dangerous.
54|
Organs
Inside Miami-Dade County’s State Of The Art 911 Call Center It can often be a thankless job but it’s a critical job. Public safety dispatchers and call takers are the people you will rely on, if you have emergency and now Miami-Dade County has a new state-of-the-art 911 call center.
Coral Gables May 2014
Is Your Smartphone a Fake: Beware of The Dangers Of Counterfeit Electronics Did you get a real bargain on your smartphone, laptop, TV or even your dishwasher? Do realize it may be a fake. Counterfeit electronics have flooded the market. While the items might be more affordable, they can also be dangerous and their sales could help fund terrorism and gangs.
[ 4 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
76
Marketplace
PRINTED IN THE USA, COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY MARCO G, INC. All rights reserved. The CBS4 News Magazine, a free publication, is published monthly by MARCO G, Inc. Material in this publication must not be stored or reproduced in any form without permission from Marco G. Inc. or WFOR CBS4. Requests for permission should be directed to: info@cbs4newsmagazine.com. CBS4 and/or Marco G. Inc do not assume any liability for products and/or services claimed in advertisements herein. CBS4 and its logo (s) are protected through trademark registration. The use of logos, content and/or artwork in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. For more information please contact 305.477.1699.
Inside Miami-Dade County’s State Of The Art
911 by Summer Knowles
It
Call Center
can often be a thankless job but it’s a critical job. Public safety dispatchers and call takers are the people you will rely on, if you have emergency. Miami-Dade County has a new state-of-the-art 911 call center which officials showed off during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a week aimed at honoring the work of our public safety call takers and dispatchers. Those who work in the call center say their job is very important but often thankless and misunderstood. In emergency situations, when every second counts, the professionals on the other side of your 911 calls are there around the clock, whether it is a problem with a python, a plane crash or a shooting. “My job is to take incoming 911 calls and disseminate the priority of the calls,” said MiamiDade Police Complaint Officer Ali Riaz. As a complaint officer, or call taker, Riaz’s main tasks include assessing and prioritizing the situation and keeping the caller calm, which he said can be challenging when he needs vital information. “I know a lot of times they think we are just asking questions and it’s a waste of time but that is not the case,” according to Riaz.
Riaz said the majority of times while asking questions, help is already on the way. But when the help isn’t quite there yet, he’s able to walk them through medical procedures for injuries, or pregnancy. “I’ve [helped] deliver two babies in my 5 years here,” Riaz proudly boasted. Call takers, like Riaz, are the first line of help. They sit on one side of the call center and then pass the vital information they’ve collected along to dispatchers who then make sure police officers, fire rescue units and/or animal control units are quickly sent to the right place. “If there was a delay in me dispatching a call that maybe I didn’t think it was that important, it could be life or death, or if I don’t dispatch enough officers to a call it could be a matter of that officer’s safety,” said Miami-Dade Police Dispatcher Angel Wilson. The 911 call center both Riaz and Wilson work in is the largest in the state of Florida. Just last year it took in 2.2 million calls, an average of 6,000 per day. The majority of those calls were in Spanish, but CBS4 News is told thanks to a contract with a private interpreting service, they are able to take calls in 27 different languages.
CBSMIAMI.COM
“Those who work in the call center say their job is very important but often thankless and misunderstood� May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 7 ]
CBSMIAMI.COM
GOOD NEWS! There’s An Easier Way To Get Rid Of
Junk Mail by Summer Knowles
It’s one of those daily annoyances: a mailbox filled with a bunch of worthless stuff. Advertisers call it direct mail but most people call it junk. If you hate getting all that junk mail, you’re not alone and now there’s something you can do about it.
A
my Blythe-Whipkey and her husband said they received a ridiculous amount of junk mail at their new house, including unwanted catalogs, credit card offer and other solicitations. “It is frustrating because you can’t keep up with it,” said her husband, David Whipkey. More than 250 million pieces of direct mail are delivered by the US Postal Service every day. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, half of all that advertising mail gets tossed right in the trash without being read. That’s frustrating, according to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). “Certainly marketers and fundraisers don’t want to send a marketing offer or a fundraising offer to a consumer who doesn’t want to receive that,” said Xenia (Senny) Boone, DMA’s Senior Vice President for Corporate & Social Responsibility.
The DMA advises consumers who want to opt out of junk mail to go to www.dmachoice.org to register. They receive between 10,000-15,000 requests a month. “What we have cited in the past is an 80 percent reduction in marketing mailed offers,” said Boone. Initially, Blythe-Whipkey opted for a shredder to tackle her stack of unwanted mail. “Then, it was like I’ve had enough. I need to figure out a way to deal with this massive amount of mail,” said Bythe-Whipkey. Now she is using a free app called ‘PaperKarma’. A user takes a picture of the mail with the name and address showing. The app then contacts the company with the information to stop the mailings. Blythe-Whipkey has seen a reduction in the amount of unwanted mail since using PaperKarma. Direct mail is big business for the US Postal Service, which made about $16 billion of it last year.
“Then, it was like I’ve had enough. I need to figure out a way to deal with this massive amount of mail”
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 9 ]
CBSMIAMI.COM
No More Dreading the Dentist! A New Way To Treat A Common Problem At The Dentist No more dreading the dentist, now there’s a new quick and easy way to treat a common problem which is being called an important breakthrough. Brushing your teeth is a routine we do several times a day, but if you brush your teeth too aggressively it can cause receding gums. Improper brushing can expose the root which causes sensitivity, decay and tooth loss.
“I
’ve learned the hard way. I saw the roots were definitely being more exposed,” said Jeff Weiner. The 39-year-old salesman is among millions who suffer with the common gum problem. It can also be caused by age, genetics and not flossing. Gum recession affects 22-percent of people under the age of 30 and 75-percent over the age of 60. “I heard some horror stories about getting cut multiple places,” Jeff said. Traditional gum restoration involves painful and difficult tissue grafting. To avoid that Jeff turned to dentist Tom George “It’s an amazing technique that is going to revolutionize the way that we as dentists approach gum recession,” Dr. George explained. He uses specially made instruments to do the minimally invasive procedure called pinhole gum rejuvenation. The instruments allow him to make just a pinhole into the gum, which is numb from Novocaine. Then the tissue is pulled back into
normal position and strips of collagen hold the gums in place to facilitate healing. Dr. George said, “There is minimal pain, no down time, there’s no grafting, there are no suturing and there’s no cutting with a scalpel.” Jeff said, “It was simple, it was easy.” And he said he was able to get back to work and eating normally right away. “It was really a great experience.” The procedure can cost up to a thousand dollars a tooth, but it’s sometimes covered by insurance. Not all dentists perform the procedure but there are several in South Florida that do. Check with your dentist if you think you might be interested.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 11 ]
“You can start to use it for bill pay. You can start to use it for peer-to-peer transfers, and any number of things�
CBSMIAMI.COM
Get Ready!
Big Changes Coming In ATM Upgrades Big changes may be coming to a bank near you. Upgrades being made to ATMs across the country will allows users to do everything from apply for a loan to plan for their retirement.
W
hen Bill Dietzler goes to his local ATM, he can do a whole lot more than just make a deposit or withdrawal. “I found it to be fascinating. You get more done and it’s just, it’s simpler,” Dietzler said. Dietzler said he has a question he no longer has go inside the bank and speak with a teller. Instead, at his ATM, he can video-conference with a banking expert who can address all sorts of questions about transactions, even after-hours. “Now that expert, whether that be a loan consultant or a financial planning consultant, that person can be available across a wide, disperse geography,” explained Frank Natoli, chief innovation officer at Diebold, Inc. The feature is just one innovation coming to an ATM near you, DuBois said. “When you think of an ATM, maybe you think of something from like the 90′s. That sort of experience is something people don’t want anymore, because it seems stale,” said Mary Wisniewski, of American Banker. Now, banks are branching out and offering
a wide variety of tech tools, including ATMs with touch screens that can sync up with your smartphone, and apps that can get you cash in a snap. “(The idea is) to be able to take your mobile phone and pre-stage a transaction on mobile, then be able to go up to the ATM and very, very quickly finish that transaction,” Natoli explained. Banks are also installing tools at ATMs that will enable customers to perform a variety of money transfers. “You can start to use it for bill pay. You can start to use it for peer-to-peer transfers, and any number of things,” Natoli said. You can also forget the traditional $20 and $50 bills only in the machines. Banks are starting to load ATMs with $1, $5 and $10 bills, another change that might help you avoid standing in line for a teller. So does all of this new technology mean the end to the traditional teller? Experts said tellers are not going anywhere anytime soon. There are some transactions you still need to complete face-to-face inside a bank.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 13 ]
Special Advertisement
Are You Using Your
Personal Phone For Work? Be Careful!
It Could Cost You! If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like the thought of having to carry two cell phones around in your pocket, your company’s “bring your own device” program may sound like a good idea. But before you sign up to use your personal cell phone at work, you may want to consider what it could cost you in money and memories.
CBSMIAMI.COM
H
ealth care consultants Michael Irvin said he was just going about his day when his phone suddenly reset all by itself. When he turned it back on, he was in for a surprise. “I saw just a blank screen, just like I got it originally. It had no emails. It had no text messages, no apps, nothing. It was just completely wiped,” said Irvin. At first he thought it was just a glitch. Then realized his personal phone, which he had also used for work, had been wiped clean by his former employer. “There were photos of my mother with my kids, a lot of new phone numbers, contact information that I had gathered,” said Irvin. The number of so-called “bring your own device” programs has skyrocketed in the U.S. More than a third of companies surveyed said they planned to require employees to supply their own phones and tablets within the next two years. While the programs can save companies money, and be more convenient for employees, they are not without their drawbacks, according to Lewis Maltby, founder of the National Workrights Institute, especially when the employee leaves the company. “You can understand why the company would want to wipe the cell phone. You’ve got a lot of communications on there that are business oriented maybe company data. But unfortunately what happens is that the whole cell phone
gets wiped, and now you lose everything,” said Maltby. Irvin was not alone. Maltby said cell phone wiping has become their number one workplacecomplaint. Labor attorney Mark Terman agrees it can be a problem. He said companies need to do a better job of disclosing the privacy and access issues surrounding “bring your own device” policies. “There’s a fair amount of confusion among both employees and employers, and this is a situation where both the company and the employees need to know the ground rules,” said Terman. Terman suggests companies provide a disclosure of their policy and get written consent from their employees. They should also consider investing in new “sandboxing” tools which allow for a more selective wipe. “Systems that operate in one sandbox on a device could be accessed and wiped out while not disturbing the sandbox where the personal information of the individual is on,” said Terman. Meanwhile, Maltby had this message for anyone who uses a personal device for work. “If you leave your job tomorrow, download anything on your cell phone you don’t want to lose,” said Maltby. Wiping isn’t only an issue when an employee leaves the company. If they lose their phone or tablet, even temporarily, a company may decide to wipe it immediately to ensure that their data isn’t accessed by anyone else.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 17 ]
By Michele Gillen
Tracey Dominique
Takes Aim At Changing The World With the voice of an angel, a 16-year-old girl named Tracey Dominique sings of love and dreams of a world where children feel safe and are cared for—especially the children of Haiti. “I see myself as them,” said Dominique. “They are over there and they have to drink dirty water, got to work and sometimes they have no school, no clothes, no food and that’s sad.”
CBSMIAMI.COM
B
orn in Haiti, French is Tracey’s first language but it is her second chance at life, and the opportunity she’s been given in America, that fills her with gratitude, she shared with CBS4’s Chief Investigator Michele Gillen. The images of what Haitians living in the country post-earthquake haunt Tracey, giving her an undeniable urge to help. Tracey’s former home on the island was destroyed in the earthquake. “It was devastating,” said Tracey. “Our old neighborhood, everything was broken and our old house went down to the ground. So I lost everything that I had left behind. I thank God that he brought me here in 2005.” While it was destiny that spared her life, shortly after leaving Haiti she faced the deep loss of losing her father. “To wake up and not see my dad anymore is a big
proud. “To follow my dreams and be successful and be a pediatrician,” said Tracey. She also shared that she hopes to return to Haiti someday as a doctor to help children. When Tracey was asked where in that moment she wanted to visit, the answer was quick and paired perfectly with her dreams of becoming a pediatrician. “Miami Children’s Hospital. I have always wanted to go there and play with the children, pray with them, help make them happy,” said Tracey. Tracey’s wish was granted and she, along with Gillen, visited the hospital to meet Dr. Mario Reyes, Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Miami Children’s. He welcomed Tracey with open arms. Tracey was amazed to have Dr. Reyes include her in a conference on the needs of children in Haiti, joined by Carline Toussaint, a third-year resident of Haiti University and Educational Hospital.
“Tracey’s wish was granted and she, along with Gillen, visited the hospital to meet Dr. Mario Reyes, Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Miami Children’s Hospital” challenge. It is sad,” Tracey said. Tracey worries about her mother working two jobs a day to support the family but focuses her attention on her studies and on building an extended family of children who are facing hardships in Haiti. In an effort to help the children of Haiti, Tracey created a foundation to help them attend summer camp where for at least a week they can be free of adult worries and feel like a kid. So far, Tracey has raised $6,000. Her efforts attracted the attention of the Archdiocese of Miami. Archbishop Thomas Wenski is a fan to Tracey’s devotion to others that he helped her get a scholarship into the high school of her dreams— Archbishop Curley, where she has excelled and is achieved honor roll status. Tracey is delighted to share that she loves and finds solace in praying and that Pope Francis is her hero. “He chose the same name, Francis—as my father. They are both humble men. I love him,” Tracey told Gillen. Gillen asked Tracey what accomplishments does she believe would make in her make her late-father
“Congratulations. It’s an honor to have you join us. You are on the right track. You are welcome here and we look forward to bringing you on one of our missions to Haiti,” Dr. Reyes said to Tracey. Tracey was then welcomed into the children’s playroom where she did not arrive empty-handed. She handed each child a teddy bear from the Neighbor4Neighbors Adopt-A-Bear program. Joining Tracey during her hospital visit were her loving aunt and uncle, thrilled and moved to see their niece fulfill her dream of visiting the hospital that they said she spoke of so often. While CBS4 wasn’t able to introduce Tracey to her number one hero, Pope Francis, Gillen shared with her a rosary that came from St. Peters Cathedral bearing a photo of the Pope. Gillen gifted the rosary to Tracey so that she could take it with her for her travels and dreams along with the children of Haiti she carries in her heart. When Gillen asked Tracey if she had a prayer, she responded, “I would thank you, God, for letting me have that moment to share what I have done for these kids and I hope I can keep doing it. I would like to make a difference in the world.” May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 19 ]
Young Eyes
Growing Old From Digital Eye Strain By Eliott Rodriguez
Neck-aches, back-aches, red-eyes, dry-eyes, headaches, migraines, even blurry or double vision! Are your eyes crying out for help? Probably! According to a recent report put out by the Vision Council… nearly 70-percent of U.S. adults are experiencing digital eye strain due to electronic devices.
“W
e hardly watch TV… everything’s on the computer, everythings on our phones, the social media. It’s killing our eyes,” said Natalie Castellano. Natalie Castellano should know. Her work has her on the computer almost all day. At 29, she started experiencing dibilitating eye strain two years ago. “Headaches, the computer would start getting blurry in and out. Really tired at the end of the day, migraines,” explained Castellano. Fortunately, Castellano happened to work at Gould Vision on Miami Beach, where Dr. Adina Gould diagnosed her with digital eye strain. “We have six muscles here and six here (pointing to the area around the eyes) and you feel a lot of pain around the eyes, behind the eyes, it can even radiate down the neck from this strain of our muscles turning in,” explained
[ 20 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
Dr. Gould. “If you can imagine being on a thigh master all day and pulling in your thigh muscles… you’d be pretty sore in the morining. That’s happening to our eyes.” Eye problems and diseases are happening at startlingly younger ages. Said Castellano, “I’m wearing lenses normally patients would start wearing in their 40’s!” Ed Greene is CEO of the Vision Council. “You know the other thing that we don’t really think about is we aren’t used to looking at little tiny dots all day long. That’s another thing, everything we’re looking at is pixels.” And there’s more bad news for digital device addicts, it’s called High Energy Visible Light. “And it’s an area of blue light that has through studies, shown to cause and contribute to such things as age related macular degeneration,” said Michael Vitale, an optician with the Vision Council.
CBSMIAMI.COM
Bascially, if you are using electronic devices for more than 2 hours a day… you need to be aware of what is now being called “EYEGONOMICS” and use the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20-minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20-feet away. Other tips to reduce digital eye strain… Enlarge your computer and cell phone text Remember to blink every 10 seconds Position desktop screens at arm’s length without any tilt and use anti-glare protectors on screens “We can’t get by without technology. So due to the technology, we really need to start wearing computer glasses,” said Dr. Gould. Digital eye strain is now the leading cause of work environment complaints. If you begin to experience eye strain symptoms, the first thing you need to do is see an eye doctor so he or she can help you determine the proper eyewear that will help relax your eyes.
“Every 20-minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20-feet away”
before you LOSE YOUR HEAD, Talk To Your Doctor About
Stress Management by Vanessa Borge
A study has found 10 percent of adults do nothing to manage their stress, but doctors are now incorporating stress management into their practices to help their patients.
F
or Leah Grossman, living in a new town was stressful before she got help. “I was feeling like I was being strangled and drowning, “said Grossman. To get back above water, Grossman went to see a physician who specializes in stress management. “She did some meditation with me in the office the first visit. She suggested I attend a Tai Chi class,” said Grossman. Like Grossman, 42 percent of adults said their stress level has gone up in the past five years,
[ 24 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
and doctors are taking notice. “Stress is implicated and can exacerbate a number of medical conditions all the way from a common cold to a heart attack,” said Dr. Aditi Nerurkar of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Nerurkar, who has a stress management practice, said her goal, when she sees an ailing patient, is to, “take a step back and zoom out and look at the patient as a whole and address their stress as it affects their entire being, rather than a particular body system.”
CBSMIAMI.COM
CBSMIAMI.COM
D
r. Adam Perlman also works with people to reduce the pressures they feel in everyday life. Necia Gooch came in with headaches and back and stomach pain. “There was a good focus on the details that fill my life and, and what stresses are there,” said Gooch. Dr. Perlman said the practice of looking at the whole picture is catching on. “Stress in our current society is really an epidemic if you think about it. So, more doctors do seem to be incorporating stress management into their practices. There is a growing demand also from patients,” said Dr. Perlman. Why the push to bring stress reduction to primary care? “It can raise blood pressure. It can certainly raise your heart rate. It can give you stomach problems. The challenge of stress is it impacts everything. It truly is a primary care issue on the front lines for our patient,” said Dr. Reid Blackwelder of the American Academy of Family Physicians President. Doctors agree there is no one anti-stress solution for all patients and when you see a doctor for stress, they treat your body as well as your mind. Dr. Nerurkar gives each patient she sees a stress score. When Grossman first came in, hers was 22. She is now down to 15. “I feel more grounded, I feel more in charge. I feel like I’m back on the road to being myself,” said Grossman. Dr. Nerurkar said the five elements of stress reduction she addresses with patients are: sleep, diet, exercise, social support and meditation. She points out having some stress in your life, at healthy levels, can be a good thing. It can motivate you to be productive and take on challenges.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 27 ]
Eye On Coral Gables
Content provided by The City of Coral Gables
The Return of the Orchids
The cowhorn orchid is one of three native species that will return to Coral Gables streets. (Photo courtesy of Fairchild Botanic Garden.)
Years ago, before urbanization swept through South Florida, much of Dade County was a lush oasis where orchids grew wild in the trees. In April, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the City of Coral Gables will begin bringing back the fragrant, flowering
blooms with the “Million Orchid Project.� Based on a similar effort in Singapore, the project will reintroduce native species of orchids into trees across Miami-Dade County, including 250,000 in the City Beautiful, divided equally among Encyclia tampensis (Florida Butterfly
City of Coral Gables Commission:
“It’s almost impossible to create the perfect conditions (in nature), the right light, the right fungus, so we have to create those conditions in the lab.”
Jim Cason Mayor
William Kerdyk. Jr. Vice Mayor Orchid), Cytropodium punctatum (Cowhorn Orchid), and Prosthechea cochleata (Cockleshell Orchid). At its meeting March 18, the City Commission voted unanimously to budget $30,000 a year for the next five years to reintroduce the orchids that were once plucked from the trees to be shipped north as potted plants. Vice Mayor Bill Kerdyk, Jr., who brought the project to the City’s attention when he heard about it early last year, obtained a commitment from the Parknership, an alliance he co-created with the Coral Gables Foundation to provide $5,000 a year for the five years towards the City’s contribution. Next month, Fairchild will begin reintroducing the Florida Butterfly, Cowhorn and Cockleshell orchids to the City’s tree canopy.
Patricia Keon Commissioner
Vince Lago Commissioner
Every day for the past year, the world-renowned botanical garden’s scientists, along with graduate students and hundreds of volunteers, have been busy growing hundreds of thousands of native orchids in the lab. “It’s almost impossible to create the perfect conditions (in nature), the right light, the right fungus,” said Nannette Zapata, Fairchild’s Chief Operating Officer. “So we have to create those conditions in the lab.” Once placed in the trees, the orchid species will bloom at various times of the year, furthering Coral Gables founder George Merrick’s dream of creating “a City that is a garden.”
Frank C. Quesada Commissioner
www.CoralGables.com
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 29 ]
Eye On Coral Gables
Make a Splash this Summer at One of the Country’s Coolest Pools Since its opening in 1924, Coral Gables’ Venetian Pool has achieved celebrity status. Movie stars have dipped in its natural spring waters, music and TV celebrities have used it as a film backdrop and visitors from around the world have been lured by its charm. But for residents of the City Beautiful, it’s their very own community pool. Now, with spring underway and summer on the horizon, locals can cool off from South Florida’s blazing heat in its cool aquifer-fed water or engage in fun programs to teach kids and teens water safety. Starting the week of June 9, the “Fun in the Sun Half Day Camp” offers plenty of games and fun times in the pool with trained staff. A snack will be provided. The program ends the week of July 28. Also starting the week of June 9, “Junior Lifeguard Full Day Summer Camp” offers an inside look at what lifeguarding is all about. The program is geared towards teaching children ages 5 to 12 water safety through the eyes of a lifeguard. Participants will have the opportunity to learn CPR, First Aid management and water rescue skills in a fun yet challenging way. The final week is August 15, but with 20 slots open per session, staff encourages registering early. Those from the ages of 13 to 15 can take an “advanced” Lifeguard Aide Course the week of August 4. Graduates 15 years and older who successfully complete the course can volunteer and earn community service hours by assisting camp counselors during the Jr. Lifeguard Camp. Participants for all three programs must bring a towel, sunscreen and a change of clothes. Created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry used to build the City’s early structures, Venetian Pool is the largest freshwater pool in the country, recycling 820,000 gallons of fresh water a day. The water is filtered through natural
Food Network show films at Venetian Pool
limestone that cleans it with significantly fewer chemicals than a public pool normally requires. Venetian Pool is also the only pool to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was voted one of the nation’s coolest pools by Travel & Leisure Magazine. The pool is open from February 1 to October 31. Entrance for Coral Gables residents 12 and under is $4.15 and $5.25 for those 13 and older. Rates for non-residents are higher and vary depending on the season. Seasonal packages are also available. Venetian Pool is located at 2701 de Soto Boulevard. For more information call 305-460-5306 or visit www.venetianpool.com
Content provided by The City of Coral Gables
This Month In Coral Gables History
(Photo courtesy of the City of Coral Gables Historical Resources Department)
It’s May 1962, and the City’s parking facility behind Miracle Mile is going high tech. “Don’t think you’re going batty if you hear voices while entering,” warns an article in the May 17 edition of the Coral Gables Times. The “small voice isn’t your conscience.” In fact, it’s a new intercom system installed to remind drivers to take their parking stubs. That same week, the City Commission and the Chamber of Commerce convinced Metro to reduce fines for overtime parking to $1 – if the ticket is paid within 48 hours. That dollar is no chump change. At the Polly Davis cafeteria at the corner of Galiano and Valencia, it can buy you a “complete meal” for 89 cents, and cover the tip.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 31 ]
Eye On Coral Gables
May 2014 City Of Coral Gables Events Calendar Mother’s Day Tea at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden May 11, 2014 - 3 p.M. FairChild TropiCal BoTaniC Garden, 10901 old CuTler road Celebrate Mother’s Day amidst a beautiful tropical setting at the Mother’s Day Tea at Fairchild. Afternoon tea is held on the veranda and in the ballroom of the Visitor Center overlooking the tropical garden. Sweet and savory snacks will be served on fine china with an assortment of delicious and unique tea. Live music by local guitarist Rob Friedman will create an ambiance of relaxation. Please RSVP with Marnie Valent at 305-663-8059. The cost per person is $27 for members, $37 for non-members, and $17 for children 12 and under.
Scott and Hem at Actors’ Playhouse May 14 – June 8, 2014 - aCTors’ playhouse, 280 MiraCle Mile F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway wrestle with the sparks of art and the perils of creativity. This combative new play is set in 1937 Hollywood, at the infamous Garden of Allah celebrity filled apartment complex. Fueled by friendship and rivalry, these two literary heavyweights reunite for one final night in this smart and powerful new drama exploring the cost of love, friendship and the personal and professional price of being a writer. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 305-444-9293.
Mobile Driver License Services May 12, 2014 - 10:30 a.M. – 3 p.M., Coral GaBles BranCh liBrary, 3443 seGoVia sTreeT Every second Monday of the month, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will offer driver license services at the Coral Gables Branch Library. Among the services being offered, residents and employees can renew a driver license, get a replacement driver license, change a name or address on a driver license, get an identification card and order specialty license plates. Driving or written tests will not be available at this location. Customers can also renew vehicle tags and get a vehicle plate when a replacement is needed. No appointments.
Lecture: Butterflies, Bugs, and Plants: Up Close and Personal May 15, 2014 - 7 – 9 p.M., FairChild TropiCal BoTaniC Garden, 10901 old CuTler road Hank Poor, microscopy and imaging lab volunteer at Fairchild, will lecture on the capability of macrophotography to produce images of butterflies, bugs and plants that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up, $12 for children 6-17, and free for Fairchild members and children 5 and under.
Content provided by The City of Coral Gables
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at GableStage May 17 – June 15, 2014 Thursdays – saTurdays aT 8 p.M., sundays aT 2 and 7 p.M., GaBlesTaGe, 1200 anasTasia aVenue This riotous comedy depicts a family gathering for an impromptu reunion. Set in present day, the play takes characters and themes from Chekhov’s plays, pours them into a blender and mixes them up. By the end of their unforgettable weekend, this family won’t ever be the same! For more information or to purchase tickets, call 305-445-1119.
Gables Bike Tours May 18- 11 a.M., Coral GaBles MuseuM, 285 araGon aVenue Start with a guided tour of the Museum’s newest exhibit “Marking the Millennium: 21st Century Miami Architecture,” which highlights the most fascinating Miami buildings post 2000. Then, embark on a city bike tour of the newest additions to our cityscape and witness the latest architectural trends in Coral Gables. Most bike tours are recommended for riders over 10 and those who can maintain a speed of 10 mph. Please see that your bicycle is in good operating condition and bring plenty of fluids. Bike rentals and helmets (required for children 16 and under) are available at No Boundaries (305.444.3206), conveniently located across the street from the Museum. Gables Bike Tours are presented by Coral Gables Museum and Bike Walk Coral Gables and powered by Voss Water. $10; $5 for Museum members and children under 12 (not all tours are suitable for children under 10). Space is limited. Please RSVP to 305-603-8067.
Photography Downtown Walking Tour with Leica Cameras May 31 - 11 a.M., Coral GaBles MuseuM, 285 araGon aVenue The next Downtown Walking Tour will be hosted by Leica Store Miami and the Coral Gables Museum. The first 12 tour registrants will be provided with Leica compact cameras to “capture” the energy and architecture of Coral Gables’ historic business district during this 1.5-hour history and architecture tour. This event repeats on the last Saturday of every month. RSVP at 305-603-8067. $10; $5 museum members.
E-News
Get connected, and we’ll keep you current! Coral Gables E-News is a fast and easy way to stay in the know about the important news and events that affect our City, you and your pocketbook. Be among the first to know what’s going on. Receive information bi-weekly on City services, programs for you or your family, and free tickets to sporting, cultural and other events.
It’s simple, join now: Visit www.coralgables.com and click on E-News. May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 33 ]
“The prospect of made-to-order organs would help thousands of future patients who find themselves on organ transplant waiting lists�
Are 3D Printed
ORGANS The Future of America?
CBSMIAMI.COM
A biotech firm is on the cutting edge of creating organ tissue outside the human body. Organovo uses 3D printing technology that could one day build made-to-order human organs. The 3D “bioprinters” are loaded with different types human cells used to print living organ tissue.
“W
hat the bioprinter does is it actually positions cells and puts them in the right place and we can make an entire structure that turns into a living tissue,” said Organovo CEO Keith Murphy. Think of it like an ink-jet printer but instead of ink, scientist use cells taken from a patient’s own body and print small tissue clusters. “One of the more complex things that we’ve built is a blood vessel, an artery structure, that is a multi-layer structure,” said Murphy. “That’s about a little bit larger than a spaghetti noodle, but we can make these up to five centimeters long.” Right now, the tiny tissues can be kept alive outside the body for about 40 days and can be used to test drugs, according to Murphy. “So, you might have a biopsy of someone’s tumor and you use that to build a tumor model outside the body to test different drug regimens that might benefit that patient,” Murphy said. Drug testing is one thing but the most exciting aspect of Organovo’s 3D bioprinting technology is the company’s long-term goal of creating organs for eventual implant. “Over time, we hope to build something that’s larger and larger. One of the challenges to doing that is going to be able to build blood vessels inside of these larger tissues,” said Murphy. The prospect of made-to-order organs would help thousands of future patients who find themselves on organ transplant waiting lists. For example, 3-month-old Nancy Magana had to wait seven weeks at a hospital before she could get a lung transplant.
“Over time, we hope to build something that’s larger and larger. One of the challenges to doing that is going to be able to build blood vessels inside of these larger tissues”
“It is hard to wait because you can see your baby is getting worse every day and you don’t want them to pass away,” said the child’s mother, Fernanda Magana. Transplant patients also have to take antirejection drugs for the rest of their lives, but if the organ can be made from the patient’s own cells, rejection would not be a problem. “It’s very hard to find donors for these organs. There are waiting lists because there’s not enough sources,” said Murphy. “So being able to make something from one’s own cells opens up the number of patients we can get organs to over time.” It could be years or even decades before companies like Organovo will be able to create entire organs outside the body. Initially, the company will focus on drug testing and eventually end up printing small patches of tissue that can repair damaged kidneys or livers.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 35 ]
Special Advertisement
CBSMIAMI.COM
Welcome To
Soya e Pomodoro
by Lisa Petrillo
There’s an Italian eatery in downtown Miami with a huge fan base of local customers because of its simple, delicious food. Soya e Pomodoro is downtown Miami’s hidden gem just off First street It’s Old World Italian at its best.
“T
his is the best eggplant I’ve ever had,” exclaimed CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo as she bit into one of the many delicious dishes served at the eatery. Ten years ago, friends Armando Alfano and Chef Christina Doria were looking for a space that was off the crowded beach. They found a very old former bank building reminiscent of the ancient ruins from their homeland. “The building is from 1925, when I first came and saw the building I fell in love,” said owner Alfando. “I’m from Pompeii. For me, this was as close as it gets to Italy.” Business started off slow at first, but it’s not slow anymore. “Thank God,” said Alfano laughing. The sign on the front door says it all: “Simple food made with love.”
“Just simple Italian food, the logo says, ‘Simple food made with love’ that is what Mama always says,” explained Alfano. “Now life is so complicated and people can make it more complicated, So we try to go backwards and find simplicity,” said Chef Christian. “Nothing complicated.” The dish that knocked Petrillo out was the Eggplant Parmigiana with baked layers of eggplant, fresh mozzarella, parmesan cheese and chef’s secret homemade tomato sauce. “It just dissolves in your math, so delicious,” said Petrillo while enjoying her meal. She also tasted, happily, a Papardelle pasta with shrimp and pistachio pesto. “No cream, no dairy, you don’t need it,” said Petrillo. Soya e Pomodoro is located at 120 NE 1st Street. For more info: www.soyaepomodoro.com.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 37 ]
CBSMIAMI.COM
New Device Offers a Better Chance for a Baby R hi a nnon Al ly
Seeing their first baby is a miracle for Toni and Ryan Carlson. The road to get to this point had been tough. The couple had been trying to get pregnant since their wedding three years ago. “It’s a combination of amazement and relief,” Ryan Carlson told CBS4’s Rhiannon Ally. “I’m gonna cry! It’s not real yet,” said Toni Carlson. And this is the machine that helped. This new incubator is called an embryoscope. It’s a device that doctors say dramatically increases the success of fertility treatment.
“A
ll of us have seen an increase in pregnancy rate,” explained Dr. David I. Hoffman. A traditional embryoscope still works for many women. But scientists have to remove the embryo to monitor it, which can compromise it. With the embryoscope, they can monitor it inside this machine the entire time. “To observe them we have to put them on a microscope, which is not a controlled environment. Conditions in the room might stress the embryo,” Dr. Hoffman said. Instead, timelapse cameras inside the embryoscope allows the embryologists such as Kathleen Miller at IVF Florida, to monitor every single step. This way only the strongest embryos will be implanted. This is the Carlson’s baby. The first cell from the moment of fertilization. The embryo is photographed as it multiplies for five days before it’s transferred. “Now I can look at every moment of an embryos development,” said Miller. This “mom to be” Olga Salgadl is her second round of I-V-F. The first, using a traditional incubator, was unsuccessful. “It’s very emotional. You get your hopes up. You keep praying and hoping,” said Salgadl. This second round, her embryos were monitored through the embryoscope. She’s now expecting her baby in the Spring. “I’m very happy that I was finally able to conceive a baby,” Salgadl told Rhiannon.
Dr. Hoffman said Salgadl is one of 26 successful pregnancies at IVF Florida since last March. He said the embryoscope has the potential to be a game-changer. He says the ability to choose better embryos also helps cut down on the risks of having multiples. “Anything we can do to make IVF more efficient and make healthy babies and really the desired result is one kid at a time,” said Dr. Hoffman. We’re in the business of creating families with one child at a time optimally, not a litter.” And for the Carlson’s, it offers new hope for the future of fertility it offers new hope for the future of fertility treatment and the future of their family. “I just hope he’s healthy…and we’re good parents,” said the Carlson’s.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 39 ]
Real Estate Sponsored By
Listings in this section are based on properties sold in previous months and retrieved from zillow.com. Not all properties sold are listed. Not responsible for typographical errors and/or omissions. Photographs are for illustration purposes only.
Content provided by www.Zillow.com
How to Fight
High Property Taxes Death and taxes. Benjamin Franklin espoused their certainty, but it’s doubtful even he knew how difficult it would be to avoid the latter – especially property taxes.
N
o matter where you live in the United States, if you own real estate, you must pay property taxes. According to a recent study by Zillow, a U.S. property owner pays an average of around $2,800, or approximately 1.4 percent of their home’s value each year in property taxes. Of course, that “average” figure indicates some homeowners pay more while others pay less. The counties with the highest averages are Westchester County, NY ($14,829 per year); Essex County, NY ($12,051 per year) and Bergen County, NJ ($11,172 per year). Tax BillDo you know how much you pay in property taxes? Look up your home on Zillow – the information is there on your home details page. Deciphering how property tax rates are set is not easy. There is no single formula used by states and counties to calculate property taxes. In fact, more than 13,500 local governments have the authority to assess property taxes; all states allow local governments to set their own tax rates even though many states place limits on
their rates. Still, understanding the process is your first step toward knowing whether or not you’re paying too much in property taxes. Start by visiting your local assessor’s office to find out how they assess properties. Ask how you might go about appealing your assessment. Most municipalities require property owners to lodge their appeal within 60 days of when annual assessments are mailed; check with local authorities for details regarding your city or county and get copies of the forms you’ll need to complete. Homeowners cannot contest their property tax rates, but they may be able to lower the assessed value of their home by filing an appeal. Once you have a basic understanding of the assessment process, you’ll want to do your due diligence to determine whether you’re being overtaxed:
Fact check Get your property card from your local assessor’s office; in some municipalities, these
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 41 ]
Real Estate
Content provided by www.Zillow.com
“Most cities and counties assess homes on a one to three-year cycle. It’s natural, then, that a home’s assessed value will fail to keep up with changes in local real estate prices” documents can be accessed online. Your property card – also known as a property’s “working papers” or “worksheet” – includes factors used to determine your home’s assessed value: square footage, lot size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc. If, for example, the assessor’s office believes your home includes a three-car garage but no such feature exists, it’s likely your assessment is incorrect.
Know your neighborhood Most cities and counties assess homes on a one- to three-year cycle. It’s natural, then, that a home’s assessed value will fail to keep up with changes in local real estate prices. A local decline in home prices could leave you paying more than your fair share of property taxes. When determining whether your home has been properly assessed, you’ll need to know the assessment of comparable homes – same size, same location, same amenities. Using information
available from your assessor or on Zillow, search for at least five comparable homes that have sold in your neighborhood within the past year. If you discover that your home is valued at least 5 percent to 10 percent higher than comparable properties, you may be able to file a successful appeal.
Present your case The National Taxpayers Union estimates that up to 60 percent of U.S. properties are overassessed. If you believe yours has been, gather documents that support your case and ask for an informal meeting with a representative from your local assessor’s office. If the assessor won’t agree to a meeting, or if your assessment isn’t adjusted as a result of the meeting, you may want to file a formal appeal. The appeals process varies greatly, but most municipalities require appeals to be submitted in writing along with evidence that supports the request for a reassessment. Once a formal appeal has been filed, a decision generally is handed down within two to four weeks. If you aren’t successful, you may be able to take your appeal to a state review board. If you’re still not getting the answer you want, you may be able to take your case to court – at which time you need to consider whether court fees outweigh any potential reduction in property taxes.
Content provided by www.Zillow.com
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 43 ]
Real Estate
Recently Sold Properties in Coral Gables
so
ld
so
ld
so
ld
1205 Mariposa Ave, Apt 429, Coral Gables, FL 33146
50 Menores Ave, Apt 728, Coral Gables, FL 33134
114 Florida Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33133
1 Beds / 1.5 Bath | 887 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1970 Sold: 3/31/2014 | $165,100
1 Beds / 1 Bath | 776 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2002 Sold: 3/28/2014 | $195,000
3 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,017 sq. ft. | 4,500 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1939 Sold: 4/1/2014 | $220,000
so
ld
so
ld
so
ld
423 Blue Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33146
431 Alminar Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146
100 Andalusia Ave, Apt 611, Coral Gables, FL 33134
2 Beds / 1 Bath | 1,050 sq. ft. | 6,000 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1946 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $299,900
2 Beds / 1 Bath | 971 sq. ft. | 6,660 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1946 Sold: 3/25/2014 | $381,000
2 Beds / 2.5 Bath | 1,241 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2005 Sold: 3/28/2014 | $385,000
so
ld
so
ld
so
ld
745 Navarre Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
1248 Venetia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
1230 Milan Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
3 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,522 sq. ft. | 5,662 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1959 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $401,100
2 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,403 sq. ft. | 5,000 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1963 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $475,000
2 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,535 sq. ft. | 5,250 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1954 Sold: 4/3/2014 | $483,000
Listings provided by www.Zillow.com
so
ld
so
ld
so
ld
1249 Aguila Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
521 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
3720 Harlano St, Coral Gables, FL 33134
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 1,877 sq. ft. | 10018 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1951 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $540,000
4 Beds / 3 Bath | 1,928 sq. ft. | 5,000 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1925 Sold: 4/18/2014 | $555,000
3 Beds / 2.5 Bath | 1,941 sq. ft. | 0.42 acre Lot | Built in: 1938 Sold: 3/27/2014 | $698,000
so
ld
so
ld
so
ld
1533 Palermo Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
815 Catalonia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
915 Bayamo Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146
3 Beds / 2.5 Bath | 1,968 sq. ft. | 0.25 acre Lot | Built in: 1951 Sold: 4/15/2014 | $780,000
4 Beds / 3 Bath | 3,140 sq. ft. | 0.3 acre Lot | Built in: 1949 Sold: 3/31/2014 | $890,000
3 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,266 sq. ft. | 0.37 acre Lot | Built in: 1954 Sold: 4/4/2014 | $1,013,700
so
ld
so
ld
so
ld
950 Hardee Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33146
1524 Garcia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146
2616 Country Club Prado, Coral Gables, FL 33134
3 Beds / 4 Bath | 2,964 sq. ft. | 0.25 acre Lot | Built in: 1951 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $1,210,000
4 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 3,952 sq. ft. | 0.39 acre Lot | Built in: 1926 Sold: 4/1/2014 | $1,365,000
5 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 6,136 sq. ft. | 0.46 acre Lot | Built in: 1925 Sold: 3/28/2014 | $1,600,000
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 45 ]
Real Estate
L ux u ry P roPerties
so
Miami-Dade County
ld
so
4750 N Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33140
50 S Pointe Dr, Apt 2601, Miami Beach, FL 33139
6 Beds / 7 Bath | 6,837 sq. ft. | n/a Lot | Built in: 1932 Sold: 4/2/2014 | $10,500,000
3 Beds / 4.5 Bath | 3,017 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2008 Sold: 3/31/2014 | $8,500,000
so
ld
so
100 S Pointe Dr, Apt 3307, Miami, FL 33139
9705 Collins Ave, Unit 1901N, Bal Harbour, FL 33154
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 2,954 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2003 Sold: 3/25/2014 | $8,400,000
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 3,524 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2012 Sold: 3/27/2014 | $6,500,000
so
ld
so
803 E Dilido Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
4305 Lake Rd, Miami, FL 33137
3 Beds / 3 Bath | 3,346 sq. ft. | 10,500 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1938 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $4,615,500
6 Beds / 7.5 Bath | 6,635 sq. ft. | 0.56 acre Lot | Built in: 1948 Sold: 3/31/2014 | $4,600,000
ld
ld
ld
Listings provided by www.Zillow.com
so
ld
so
6301 Pinetree Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33141
270 S Hibiscus Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
8 Beds / 9.5 Bath | 6,911 sq. ft. | 0.48 acre Lot | Built in: 1938 Sold: 3/28/2014 | $4,300,000
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 4,256 sq. ft. | 10,500 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1956 Sold: 4/3/2014 | $4,050,000
so
ld
so
3737 Collins Ave, # S-1502, Miami Beach, FL 33140
7861 Fisher Island Dr, # 7861, Miami Beach, FL 33109
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 2,326 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2008 Sold: 4/3/2014 | $3,950,000
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 3,140 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1990 Sold: 4/4/2014 | $3,750,000
so
ld
so
16051 Collins Ave, Apt 3304, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
10295 Collins Ave, Unit 1703, Bal Harbour, FL 33154
4 Beds / 6 Bath | 3,735 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2006 Sold: 3/26/2014 | $3,750,000
3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 3,105 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2007 Sold: 4/4/2014 | $3,500,000
ld
ld
ld
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 47 ]
www.neighbors4neighbors.org
Keep Your Children Safe This Summer! Summer is just weeks away and Neighbors 4 Neighbors wants you and your family to have a Safe Summer! We’re launching several Safe Summer awareness campaigns which include Summer Camps, Drowning Prevention/Swim Safety and Look Before You Lock.
CBSMIAMI.COM
SUMMER CAMPS
it reduces the risk of drowning by 88 percent.”
Spring Break is over and while most children are looking forward to their next big vacation, summer break, parents across South Florida are already doing the “Summer Scramble” and looking for the right Summer Camp for their kids.
For more tips and Swim Safety programs visit www.neighbors4neighbors.org
From art camp to drama camp and everything in between, we've compiled a list of useful resources to help parents find the right fit for their kids. Go to www.neighbors4neighbors.org/ pages/2014Summercamps to find a listing of camps in Miami-Dade and Broward County.
DROWNING PREVENTION SWIM SAFETY Drowning is the leading cause of the death for young children in South Florida. “Literally one minute time and our daughter was taken from us” Cassie McGovern tells us about her tragic loss. Her daughter Edna Mae was just a year and a half old when she wandered outside. “I looked around the house and she wasn’t there and I proceeded to go outside, went past the pool, when I caught the reflection of Em floating in our pool.” All family members were home, but at the time no door alarms were installed and the pool fence was left open. “In our situation, it was a matter of life and death” said McGovern. With pools, lakes and canals all around South Florida, it is essential for parents take precaution. The good news is that drowning can be prevented. Neighbors 4 Neighbors wants to help keep your family safe through our Drowning Prevention and Swim Safety campaign in partnership with the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. Kim Burgess of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance advises you to “Identify the risk, minimize the risk for safer waters, safer kids, safer response." Karen King of the US Swim Academy urges parents to put their kids in swim lessons. She says that “by having a child in swimming lessons,
LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK As summer approaches, South Florida heats up! Imagine the temperatures reached in a locked-up car. Neighbors 4 Neighbors wants you to make sure you “Look Before You Lock!” On a sunny day, it only takes 20 minutes for the temperature inside your car to become deadly. Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle. On a busy morning this is easy to forget. Taking a look in the front and back seats before you lock the car can save a life. The Neighbors 4 Neighbors Look Before You Lock campaign provides tips and resources to help keep your family safe this summer. Visit www.neighbors4neighbors.org for all of the information you need.
CONNECT WITH US Neighbors 4 Neighbors provides many ways for you to help our mission to connect those in need with those who can help. One way is through our volunteer registration site at www.helpingfeelsgood.org. Helping Feels Good uses technology to create human connections across the South Florida community. The website is also a venue to share stories, inspire action and ultimately create change for our neighbors in need. Our vision is to empower every person in South Florida with the knowledge that they have something of value to share with a neighbor in need. Another way to help is to go shopping with AmazonSmile! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Neighbors 4 Neighbors every time you shop at no cost to you. AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Neighbors 4 Neighbors. Get started by going to smile.amazon.com and choosing Neighbors 4 Neighbors as your charity of choice. It can't get any easier or more rewarding than that!!
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 51 ]
Shigellosis On The Rise Hey kids – wash your hands. State health workers in Miami-Dade are urging parents, schools and day care centers to take precautionary measures after they noted an increase in the number of Shigellosis cases recently.
“Parents of children with symptoms of Shigellosis should contact their doctor for a diagnosis. Sometimes Shigellosis goes away on its own; in other cases antibiotics can shorten the course of the illness.”
CBSMIAMI.COM
S
ince January 1, 2014, the Florida Department of Health in MiamiDade County has investigated over 100 confirmed cases of shigellosis surpassing the last three year average of 100 cases. The majority of the reported cases are in children aged 1 through 9. The Shigella bacteria can infect the digestive tract and cause a wide range of symptoms from cramping and nausea to vomiting and diarrhea
(which may be bloody or watery). It’s highly contagious and spreads through person to person contact. Symptoms may last from 48 to 72 hours. School-aged children and children in daycare should be taken out of school until symptoms have ceased and laboratory cultures test negative. Shigellosis has a cyclic pattern with large community outbreaks, frequently associated with
“The Shigella bacteria can infect the digestive tract and cause a wide range of symptoms from cramping and nausea to vomiting and diarrhea”
child care settings. In the last decade, MiamiDade County has experienced increased activity in 2003 and 2005. Parents of children with symptoms of Shigellosis should contact their doctor for a diagnosis. Sometimes Shigellosis goes away on its own; in other cases antibiotics can shorten the course of the illness. Careful attention to hand washing is the single most important measure to stop the spread of the Shigella bacteria.
Hand washing among children should be frequent and supervised by an adult, especially in child care centers and homes with children who have not been fully toilet-trained. Everyone who changes a child’s diaper should immediately wash the hands of both the changer and the child carefully with soap and warm water Proper hand washing consists of lathering hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to rinse the palms, backs of hands, between fingers, under fingernails and around wrists.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 53 ]
CBSMIAMI.COM
beware Doctors Warn of Potentially Deadly Form Of
Nail Cancer
Most people know it’s important to get freckles and moles checked out by a doctor, but a small spot under your nail could be just as dangerous. Dr. Dana Stern, a nail specialist, is warning of a potentially deadly nail cancer. Not technically the nail itself, but malignant melanoma of the nail bed, the skin under the nail.
“T
here was a brown line across my finger nail for I would say maybe a few years,” patient Julie told Gomez. “Just like you have moles on your skin you can have a mole on your nail matrix which is where the nail grows from,” said Stern. Julie sought out Dr. Stern when the stripe in her nail began to change. “It started as a light line and then it eventually started getting wider and the middle of it started to get really black,” said Julie. Her cancer was caught early, but Stern warns that you need to be vigilant if you see something unusual under your nail. “People will sometimes develop an early melanoma and think it’s an injury and they don’t even really realize they’re supposed to go to their dermatologist,” said Stern. The thumb, big toe, and index finger nail are the most common nails to be affected. Some of the warning signs include: If the stripe is very dark If there are blurred borders If there are changes in a stripe that’s been there A patient’s medical history is a factor as well Treatment depends on the stage of cancer, ranging from removing the melanoma and tissue around it, to amputation of the fingertip. Julie used to wear a Bandaid to hide her finger for a long time after her surgery, but she said she feels differently now. “Just be proud that you’re a survivor,” said Julie. Nail cancer is more common in AfricanAmericans, Gomez reported. It’s what reggae legend Bob Marley died of. While most discolored nails or nail stripes are not cancer, it is something that you should have checked out by a dermatologist because like most cancers, early detection and treatment increases your chances for a cure. Dr. Stern said there is no evidence linking cosmetic nail treatments and nail melanoma.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 55 ]
“High levels of lead, high levels of cadmium, high levels of chlorine”
“if the price is too good to be true, it’s more than likely a fake”
CBSMIAMI.COM
Is Your Smartphone a
fake? Beware of The Dangers Of Counterfeit Electronics
Did you get a real bargain on your smartphone, laptop, TV or even your dishwasher? Do realize it may be a fake. Counterfeit electronics have flooded the market. While the items might be more affordable, they can also be dangerous and their sales could help fund terrorism and gangs. The phony items are also hard to spot. A counterfeit iPhone might have the Apple logo, work like a real iPhone and have the same icons.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 57 ]
CBSMIAMI.COM
“Gang members are now selling fake electronics instead of drugs because the margin is so high. It supports child labor, it supports terrorism”
“C
an you imagine buying an iPhone for $100,” said Stanley Salot, president and CEO of the Center for Counterfeit Avoidance. But experts warn the devices are so poorly made that some stop working almost immediately and, even worse, may contain toxic parts. “You’re risking high levels of lead, high levels of cadmium, high levels of chlorine,” said Salot. Valerie Salembier, president and CEO of The Authentics Foundation, said from fashion to electronics, the counterfeit business is booming. “It is not just handbags and wallets that can be faked,” said Salembier. “Gang members are now selling fake electronics instead of drugs because the margin is so high. It supports child labor, it supports terrorism.” According to the United Nations, groups such as al Qaeda are partially funded by such counterfeiters. Salot said counterfeiters mine dumps throughout the world for discarded electronics and use a little bit from each of them with no safety testing. Many of the devices catch fire, some even explode. “Houses actually burn down from counterfeit toasters,” said Salot. U.S. Customs seized more than $20 million in fake electronics last year, but many more end up in the hands of consumers who believe they’re getting the real deal. Matt Nathanson, who repairs smartphones and laptops, is often the one to break the news to customers that their device is a fake.
“I’m like ‘This is not an iPhone. You got ripped off’,” said Nathanson. “To the person that doesn’t see this every single day, they can really get you.” It’s not just consumers who are being duped. Todd Kramer, CEO of Secure Components, makes sure the electronics being bought by the U.S. military and corporate America are the real deal. He said there’s only one way to be safe: only buy from authorized dealers. “You need to know who you’re buying from,” said Kramer. When it comes to buying electronics, experts agree that if the price is too good to be true, it’s more than likely a fake.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 59 ]
Before you start to worry:
Get A Second Medical Opinion Online by Brian Andrews
Jo Anne Giordano just wanted some peace of mind. “They thought I had lymphoma,” said Giordano. After seeing what they thought was a tumor the size of tennis ball on her lung, her doctors ordered a PET scan to firm up their diagnosis. “The hospital had told me it could be 5-7 days,” Giordano explained. Because her father died of lung cancer, Giordano was in a full panic. “I was a wreck. My husband was a wreck,” Giordano confessed. Instead of agonizing over a potential deadly diagnosis for a week, Giordano uploaded her PET scan to secondopinions.com.
I
t’s a new website started by South Florida Radiologist Dr. Mike Yuz. “And within 24-hours he called me to give me some peace of mind and tell me that it wasn’t as serious as maybe the doctors had led me to believe.” Yuz diagnosed a treatable, pneumonia-like infection versus a tumor, and he was right. “Most of second opinion requests are related to patients having serious diseases such as if they’re diagnosed with cancer or they require surgery,” Dr. Yuz told CBS4. Second opinions are now more important than previously believed. Last year, Johns Hopkins reported that
diagnostic errors were the number one most common, harmful and costly medical mistake, higher than surgical or medication mess ups. But insurance often doesn’t pay for second opinions. Also, the wait to get an appointment and consultation consumes valuable and possible life-saving time. “The whole point of our service is to have patients affordable access to some of the top expert physicians,” said Dr. Yuz. “It’s not about people self-diagnosing themselves online. It’s about actually a live physician providing an expert opinion.” Although Florida law doesn’t require a telemedicine doctor to be licensed
It’s not about people selfdiagnosing themselves online. It’s about actually a live physician providing an expert opinion”
CBSMIAMI.COM
“The whole point of our service is to have patients affordable access to some of the top expert physicians” in the state of Florida, Dr. Yuz has a different opinion for secondopinions.com. “The doctor who provides consultations must be licensed in the state where patient is located and the doctor himself is located,” insisted Yuz. So a thousand board certified doctors are on board in all 50 states, ready to read a mammogram, MRI, X-ray, CT or PET scan 24/7, all for $29 to $99. “His services are so reasonable. My copayments are more than what he charges,” exclaimed Giordano. If you want to find out your risk of specific health problems or diseases, there’s an APP for that! It’s called “Health Genius” and it’s free on Apple or Android.
“Love it! Now I’m addicted,” declared Giordano. “As you know, healthcare spending in the U.S. is completely out of control and telemedicine certainly can provide that critical efficiency that we currently need,” said Yuz. “Telemedicine is the future of medicine and the future is already today.” Although 10-million people regularly use telemedicine today, Florida is one state that hasn’t set guidelines and standards for telemedicine. Several legislative committees are currently considering bills that would do just that, although the House and Senate versions differ on the amount and type of regulation.
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 61 ]
Reboot Your Health With
Juice By Vanessa Borge
Joe Cross loves his fruits and vegetables so much so he’s made a career out of it. He wrote a book called Reboot, which is all about juicing. Cross uses a juicer to extract all the juice from his produce. His personal story of transformation was chronicled in the documentary “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead,” which has been seen by more than five million people worldwide. However, Cross wasn’t always so fruit friendly.
CBSMIAMI.COM
“I
use to get a cucumber or a pickle on my burger and that was it,” said Cross. “I was really bad.” Cross got up to 320 pounds and was loaded on medication for a chronic disease; he then made a choice to juice. For two months he juiced fruits and vegetables and documented his journey in the documentary. In the book, he covers what a juicing diet does to your body, but Cross is human. He eats like us – sometimes. “The diet I live on is pretty much like the average American. I eat processed food. I eat animal product, but I eat lots of plant food,” said Cross. “It’s the plant food that so many of us aren’t getting enough of.” Cross is right. Only 32 percent of people eat enough fruits a day and 26 percent eat enough vegetables. “The average American is only getting seven percent of their energy from plants, and 93 percent from animal products and processed food,” said Cross. So why juice instead of just eating veggies? To have the amount of fruit and vegetables you get in just one juice, you’d be sitting at your breakfast table for a while trying to chow down on all of that so instead you just drink it up. There’s a three-day, five-day, 15-day and 30-day juicing plan. The question is which plan is good for you? “It really does depend on your individual body,” said Cross. “You’ll feel better, you’ll look better, mentally you’re clearer. You’re happier and we are going to live longer and be more productive.” For more information go to www. rebootwithjoe.com
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 63 ]
Sex
&
Intimacy At Every Age
by Cynthia Demos
CBSMIAMI.COM
“How you can actually improve sex during pregnancy?” asked a Miami woman. “You know sometimes you want, sometimes you don’t,” said her friend. “How would I find someone to have sex with?” another Miami woman demanded to know. “Sex is happening!” Iris Krasnow should know. After interviewing over 150 women of all ages, doctors and sex therapists, this journalist has written a book titled “Sex After…”
“T
his book is called Sex After. But the sub-head is really the most important part of the book, how intimacy changes as life changes,” explained Krasnow. “And I just think it’s perfect. It’s great. Because sex is what moves us,” Miami resident Edwin Cano said. “I think that the women over 70 who have told me… and the majority of them are from Florida, I gotta tell ya, that they’re having the best sex of their lives,” Krasnow declared. Krasnow is busting myths. Myth #1: Teens and twenty-somethings are part of today’s “hook up” generation having what Krasnow said many adults fear is random, loveless sex. But she discovered something else. “Yes they want sexual pleasure but you know what? They want emotional commitment and love,” Myth #2: Motherhood is blissful. “You’ve got a squalling baby,” Krasnow pointed out. “I’m not sleeping. I don’t want to have sex. I’m 50-pounds overweight and I have postpartum depression.” But the doctor has said you can resume sex after six weeks and your man is counting the days! “I’ve had women tell me they wish they’d said six-years! I’m so tired,” she explained. Myth #3: In the 50s and 60s, after women have had the babies and raised the kids, they close the shop to sex. Krasnow is adamant. ”OMG! The shop is so
not closed! Yes I’ve talked to people over the age of 50 who have very low libido and who aren’t interested in sex any more. It’s not that women wither up and dry up after menopause. Sometimes guys don’t want it either.” “Another myth is that people want… and I don’t know how else to put this… but rock hard, whammo sex! I’d like to release everyone from feeling like someone else is having better sex, more sex or more perfect sex,” said Krasnow. In fact, Krasnow has a whole chapter devoted to Adventures in Outercourse. “And outercourse is everything but! Even if it’s just holding hands or a kiss or a nuzzle it’s so life affirming,” Krasnow pointed out. “You know one of my women, septuagenarian women,” Krasnow relayed. “You know there’s a sweetness to sex after 70, and really connecting soul to soul not organs to organs.” In fact, like everything the Baby Boomers have transformed, Krasnow insisted that boomer women are re-inventing sex after 60. “We’re the generation who is watching Mick Jagger writhing on stage in his 70s and he looks pretty good,” Krasnow maintained. “So we’re not going to grow old knitting in our rockers. We’re going to be rocking grannies!” Krasnow said her biggest surprise was that women over the age of 60 were more confident, fulfilled and relaxed about their bodies, their self-esteem, sex and sexuality, than women in their 20s and 30s. They were also more open to experimentation and adventure.
“You know there’s a sweetness to sex after 70, and really connecting soul to soul not organs to organs”
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 67 ]
Home Improvement
Content provided by habify.com
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 71 ]
Home Improvement
[ 72 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
To Advertise Call 305.477.1699
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 73 ]
Home Improvement
[ 74 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
To Advertise Call 305.477.1699
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 75 ]
Home Improvement
[ 76 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
To Advertise Call 305.477.1699
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 77 ]
Marketplace
To Advertise Call 305.477.1699
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 79 ]
Marketplace
Who’s got your back– and your back pocket? C Martinez Ins Agcy Inc Carlos Martinez, Agent 878 South Dixie Highway www.carmartinez.com Bus: 305-663-4921
Just ask our 40 million State Farm customers. ®
With State Farm behind you, you can look forward to what’s ahead. Like 97% customer satisfaction with claims — plus discounts up to 40%.* GET TO A BETTER STATE.™ CALL ME TODAY.
*Discounts may vary state to state. Based on a 2008 internal State Farm claims department national study. 1103158.1 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL
[ 80 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
To Advertise Call 305.477.1699
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 81 ]
Marketplace
[ 82 ] May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables
To Advertise Call 305.477.1699
May 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Coral Gables [ 83 ]