South Florida Charity of the Month 2021 - SOAR - Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief honored,...

VOL.4 NO. 3

GYORGY LAKATOS The Guitar King Surives Reception of Dignitaries

Silver Lining Awards

Prior 2 IPO Opens Office in South Florida

Cars on Fifth 17th Annual Car Show w/ Columnist Joe Freer

The Downtowner Roger Craft Interview

Marrying Millions Party a r OpeSouth

Florida OperaSouthFlorida.com LIVE Opera 2021

Networking at The Ritz March 15th, 2021

CLUB TV

MARCH 2021

FOUNDER | Jay Shapiro Luxury Chamber Media Group jay@southflorida.in Assistant to the Editor | Kolleen Poirier kolleen@southflorida.in Fashion Editor | Juliana LaBonte juliana@southflorida.in Travel Editor | Christina Ricci Business Editor | Cindy Ragan Real Estate Editor | Venus Proffer

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Woodward, Pires & Lombardo Announces 50th Anniversary Southwest Florida law firm, Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. announces the celebration of its 50th anniversary this year. The law firm serves clients throughout Collier County with two offices, Naples and Marco Island. Woodward, Pires & Lombardo is known as being one of the oldest law firms in Collier County. As part of the celebration, the firm will hold events throughout the year and is expanding its office space to two floors in Naples to include a state-of-the-art conference center with enhanced virtual and audio-visual capabilities to better serve its clients.

Managing Partner, Mark Woodward speaks about this landmark and what the future holds for the firm:"Having the honor of being a part of this community for the past 50 years has impacted virtually every facet of our firm. We're not just working with clients, we're working with friends, residents, business owners and organizations. We're not just providing a service; we're impacting the lives of our community members. To have this kind of opportunity is not just an honor, it is truly a privilege and we thank you, Southwest Florida, for entrusting your legal representation to our skilled legal professionals. We're looking toward a bright future for our firm, our clients and our community."Since 1971, when founding attorney Arthur V. Woodward first opened the doors of Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., the firm has been making it a priority to serve clients to the highest degree of excellence. In the past five decades, not only did the law firm continue to expand its offices and services, but the attorneys also sought out on a mission to both represent its clients and to enhance the community dynamic as well. The attorneys are involved and serve on various charitable boards and organizations in leadership roles and strive to contribute to the spirit and continued growth of Southwest Florida.

Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P. A. assists individuals and businesses with a variety of legal matters, including Litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Business Law, Family Law, Community Association Law and Local Government Law. The law firm has two offices in Southwest Florida, Naples and Marco Island, and has been serving clients since 1971 when Arthur V. Woodward founded one of the first law firms on Marco Island.

Visit www.wpl-legal.com.

South Florida Charity of the Month - March 2021 SOAR - Society for Armenian Orphan Relief

Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale was generous enough to allow us to use some of their space for our March event honoring SOAR- Society for Armenian Orphan Relief. Guests and members of Luxury Chamber of Commerce were able to meet the board members: Marina Rakopyan, Shannon Tamburi and Tanya Raccobian.

Exclusive Interview with RC - Roger Craft How did you land in Ft. Lauderdale?

It was chance that brought me to Ft. Lauderdale. Although I had visited the city on numerous occasions, circumstances in 2012 led me to become a resident, and official Florida citizen. Urban legend has it that I purchased the Downtowner because of the great chicken tenders that I was served during my first visit to the restaurant. That legend is fact…to a degree. As a southerner, I do love friend chicken, especially fresh, scratch-made tenders. Finding the tenders delicious at my first visit, I told the server that they were so good, I will buy the Downtowner. He laughed and informed me that it was not for sale. Upon a subsequent visit couple months later, I again ordered those delicious chicken tenders, and as luck would have it, from the same server. He asked me if I was serious about buying the Downtowner. I said absolutely, due diligence ensued, and the rest is history! Although I maintain other residences, the energy and allure of Ft. Lauderdale, along with business interests, keeps me grounded here for most of the year.

What is the most rewarding part of being in the restaurant industry?

For me, it is the opportunity to meet, literally, thousands of folks, many of whom become friends.

With the diverse personalities of all the locals and tourists, it’s almost guaranteed that boring days do not occur. The restaurant/service industry is vibrant and always challenging. For existing restaurants, there is always the notion of what can be done better, how is relevance maintained, and how do you continually improve the working environment for all the associates. When considering new restaurants, there are many different concepts to consider given the various geographical locations, community demographics, and cultural interests. As a private company, I am proud to support the local economy, and give back to the community whenever the opportunity presents.

Will all your future restaurants be pet friendly?

To me, the joy of seeing pet lovers and their furry friends together is immense, so the short answer is yes…whenever the opportunity presents, and it is feasible to do so. I would like to have every single restaurant be pet friendly; however, there are various regulations that govern how the policy is enacted. So, we do all that we can to welcome pet visitors while following the rules and safety guidelines. I have a passion for animal welfare, and appreciate all the local support organizations that share that passion.

17th Annual "Cars on Fifth" Auto Show

By Joe Freer The 17th Annual Cars on Fifth Auto show was held Saturday February 6th 2021 in Naples Fl. It’s a longstanding tradition organized by the Naples chapter of the Ferrari Club of America. The proceeds from the event go to St Matthew House and all the work they do to provide for the homeless and those in need in the South West Florida area. This years event did not disappoint. It was a gorgeous day with the bright Florida sun shining down, the atmosphere was hot and the cars were even hotter. The event featured over 650 cars which stretched up and down Fifth Avenue. On any other day the shops and boutiques would be the main attraction on this strip, but not today, today was all about the cars! More than one hundred and fifty Ferrari’s and other exotic, vintage muscle cars would be showcased along Fifth Avenue. The show attracts car enthusiasts from all across the country. fans traveled from as far away as Chicago and New York City for this amazing event. The show exhibited a wide variety of fine sports cars and vintage automobiles. The mood of the crowd was cheerful as attendees enjoyed the outdoors, listened to a live classic rock band, enjoyed Italian Ice and admired Italian sports cars. It doesn’t get much better than this. A highlight for the crowd was enjoying the sounds of Alex Fox, a Flamenco guitarist who entertained the crowd with his spirited rendition of “Barcelona Nights”. There was a little something for everyone at Cars on Fifth, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it and enjoy the experience!

Over 150 Ferrari's Were on Display

Contributing Columnist Joe Freer with 427 Super Sport

Continued from previous page:

MEDITATE (the easy way!): We live in stressful and uncertain times, and no part of the world seems to be exempt. Stress is inevitable. We cannot control a lot of things that happen around us. Stress is one of the most damaging things to our body and our immune system. When we are stressed out, our immune system takes a hit and it’s ability to fight off antigens is lowered. That’s why we become more susceptible to infections. As we cannot control things in the outside world most of the time, we need to focus on controlling our internal world, our thought processes and our reaction to stressful situations.

A,B,C,D,E,F, G…Fundamental Vitamin Intake: Vitamin C is a great example of a vitamin involved in many parts of our immune system.

Vitamin C helps the production of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, it helps our body fight infections. Vitamin C is also a very powerful antioxidant, which means it helps protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals. Being deficient in vitamin C has been linked to poor health outcomes for example with people who had pneumonia. Unfortunately in our current world, the quality of our food still lacks vital nutrients we need everyday. Even when you are meaning well and eating a well-rounded diet you are still bound to have a deficiency or two. I constantly see it in my patients. It’s very rare to have someone not deficient in anything. I usually suggest starting with a few fundamentals, like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc, multivitamins, omega 3’s, and probiotics daily.

SLEEP IN : Find ways to get to sleep and stay asleep! (nutrition, herbs, stress and inflammation control) Our body needs to regenerate regularly to build up our immune system, and grow new cells while getting rid of the old . We accomplish this by getting a good deep rest.

Sleep is an essential part of our lifecycle and must be regulated in order to gain optimum results. Making sure you have a daily routine that accounts for your individual sleep needs as well as making sure to eat foods that are not inflammatory goes a long way.

SUGAR=SICK: Find healthier substitutions, decrease simple carbs and even fruit with high glycemic index. (skip halloween candy!) Stick with berries and healthier sugar substitutes such as organic stevia. Yes, it’s extremely difficult to withstand the delicious aroma of freshly baked goods that are served at holiday dinners. You can try making or buying and bringing your own desserts. Sugar feeds yeast and “bad” bacteria in our gut which in turn increases inflammation, food sensitivities and decreases our immune system function. CONNECT: Stay socially connected (while isolating). We are not just a sum of body parts, we are whole and complete human beings. Our physical health is very closely correlated with all other areas of our lives. We are social creatures and being in isolation for very long periods of time is very taxing for our emotional state and thus causes stress and disturbance to our physical body. If you have to stay isolated physically, brainstorm some ways to connect emotionally in a fun way.

CONNECT: Stay socially connected (while isolating). We are not just a sum of body parts, we are whole and complete human beings. Our physical health is very closely correlated with all other areas of our lives. We are social creatures and being in isolation for very long periods of time is very taxing for our emotional state and thus causes stress and disturbance to our physical body. If you have to stay isolated physically, brainstorm some ways to connect emotionally in a fun way. As tired of Zoom as you might feel, there are ways to add some fun to your virtual interactions. Have digital movie night, where you watch the same movie at the same time as your friend and discuss it over the phone as it happens. Play charades or other fun games over zoom. Have a meetup with your closest friends somewhere in nature where you sit at a comfortable distance from each other but still enjoy each other’s companionship.

CANNACURIOUS? Support your endocannabinoid system. As research done by Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam showed, we all have endocannabinoid receptors in most of our organ systems. Those receptors have immune modulating properties as well as anti-inflammatory effects on our body. CBD, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis or hemp has been shown to have incredible effects on our body. Anything from reducing our response to stress, to improving our sleep and decreasing pain and inflammation, some of my patients use it as an integral part of their wellness protocol and see quicker recovery times, improved overall wellbeing and decrease in flare ups of their chronic issues. Stress and lack of sleep has a significant negative impact on our immune system function. More research is still needed on the cannabinoid therapy and it’s effect on Covid -19 and Flu viruses.

One of the things I do with my clients and patients is work on establishing easy to follow, daily habits that could be incorporated into a long term lifestyle. Short term extreme habit changes just don’t work. If I tell you to start eating completely differently tomorrow you might be able to do it for a few days or a few weeks based on pure willpower, but then you are most likely to slide into your old automatic habits. It’s by establishing new habits, systems and routines that we can guarantee success with our lifestyle changes. Finding healthier substitutions as opposed to completely eliminating things you love, is the way to create a lifestyle change that will truly be there for a lifetime!

For more wellness tips, and support to dig into the root cause of your health issues, please visit www.totalholisticcenter.com IG: @total.holistic.center

BOCA LAGO COUNTRY CLUB RENAMED, REINVENTED, REBRANDED TO FILL VOID IN PRIVATE GOLF AND CLUB INDUSTRIES Transitioning to a Non-equity Platform, Investing $11 Million, and Adding Golf to Its Name Positions Boca Lago Golf & Country Club as “The New Way to Club”

Capping off an $11 million transformation to advance a vibrant, active next-generation private club experience for today’s social and economic lifecycles, the privately-owned Boca Lago Country Club has been renamed, reinvented, rebranded and strategically priced for the mid-market.Now known as Boca Lago Golf & Country Club, its individual, family and corporate members enjoy “the new way to club” with all the prestige and enjoyment of golf and country club living without the deep-pocket initiation fees, excessive monthly dues and capital assessments traditionally associated with resort and gated community equity clubs. To grow access to a private country club lifestyle, BLG&CC membership no longer requires a home purchase.

“Before Covid the golf and club industries were experiencing declines with some forced to close for redevelopment because equity club initiation fees were so prohibitive and there was little or no control over pricey member assessments for facility renovations,” said BLG&CC Managing Director of Membership & Golf Operations John Stampfl.

The New Non-equity Club Model Offers Moderate-Priced Membership Categories “Our new ownership was driven to reverse that trend to better serve the needs, desires and economic realities of today’s individuals, couples, families and businesses who thought club membership may be something totally ‘out of their reach.’ Stampfl continued. "Fully transitioning to a non-equity model last year and the Covid situation this year only validated the strength of that vision and mission. ”Stampfl added that “offering moderately priced social and golf memberships and dues structures while delivering an upscale, engaging experience, makes everyone smile, builds an intimate community, establishes value, increases club usage and engagement and attracts new members.” He also reports that Club members say they feel safer in a private club setting, more so than open-to-the-public restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. They prefer socializing with those they know supported by Club management who strictly adheres to CDC, state and county guidelines.

“Covid’s personal and business disruption has made us all keenly aware of what and who is most important to us, how we want to engage and socialize –albeit safely and confidently – as well as how we want to spend our days, nights and vacations,” he adds. “The new ‘year ‘round vacay’ vibe at BLG&CC has led to an upswing in golf memberships and a younger demographic who want to get out to enjoy expansive outdoor spaces and venues. While to some BLG&CC is their primary golf membership, many join who have memberships at other clubs so they can enjoy the varied experiences and challenges of playing secondary or tertiary private courses.”

Boca Raton, BLG&CC features: Active monthly calendar of members-only events Expansive 58,800-square-foot Clubhouse Various indoor and outdoor entertainment venues Extensive Outdoor Deck Resort-style Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi State-of-the-Art Fitness Center Men’s & Women’s Locker Rooms Men’s & Women’s Card Rooms Full-service Pro Shop 7,700-square-foot Contemporary-styled Ballroom Boca Lago Golf & Country Club is located at 8665 Juego Way, Boca Raton, FL 33433. ffi: bocalago.com or John Stampfl, at (561) 869-8880

https://soflmag.com/investing.php

December Notable of the Month - Dr. Anya Temer Q.) How did you get started in the medical business?

A.) After going through a strenuous and intense physician training I graduated as a medical doctor. While I was in residency I saw that unfortunately as amazing as our western medicine advances are, a lot of people with chronic illness keep coming back with the same or worse issues time and time again. They were not getting truly healthy, they were not recovering, their symptoms were merely managed and no one looked for the root cause of the issue or asked why the health issue happened in the first place, what were the deeper more underlying reasons for a health condition.

I started educating myself in complimentary, holistic healing modalities as well as mind/body connection and health coaching.

Q.) Did you have any role models, peers, or celebrity influences that motivated you along the way?

A.) One of my role models is Dr. Andrew Weil. I studied with him in Arizona while in medical school and that inspired me to seek out educational resources that were outside of the box of regular western medicine. Since then it was very tough for me to find mentors as there are very few doctors who practice medicine with the same truly holistic philosophy as I have. I consider the physical body, energy and psychology behind person's health condition as well as their lifestyle and daily habits and routines.

Q.) Which licenses do you currently hold?

A.) Doctor of Osteopathy Q.) Of the services you provide which ones are the most popular?

A.) Total Wellness consultations where we dig deeper into underlying root causes of chronic health issues.

Stem Cell injections provide regenerative and anti aging options to our clients. Medical Marijuana / Cannabinoid evaluations that help you balance your unique endocannabinoid system.

Q.) How does your holistic approach to healthcare differ from that of conventional medicine?

A.) The biggest difference is that I have developed a systematic 360 approach that is focused on looking for the root cause and working on that as opposed to just "labeling" a myriad of symptoms under an umbrella of a diagnosis and then finding an appropriate medication to decrease those symptoms only while taking the meds.

Our team sends your blood to a specialized laboratory to test your specific individualized biomarkers. Based on the results, we customize a specific 360 Protocol that is customized just for you and your needs.For example, unfortunately as a physician, I and my colleagues get very little if at all any education on nutrition, daily habits and sustaining lasting change in med school. But in my practice time and time again I see that those things make the most difference in people's health. What we eat is so closely correlated with how our body functions, what we do with our body and our thoughts daily also affects our wellbeing so much, and those things are unfortunately left out from the med school curriculum.

Q.) How can our readers reach you and schedule a consultation?

A.) Visit us at: www.totalholisticcenter.com or call (561)323-4994

Joelle Eckstein Turns Her Pain Into Purpose Joelle Eckstein faithfully worked alongside her late husband, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, for 15 years as he built an organization that raises $100 million a year to help Jewish widows and orphans. He dedicated his life to building bridges between Christians and Jews.

In February 2019, she lost everything she held dear. In a tragic moment, her husband and her purpose were both gone.

Their life was intertwined not only in a beautiful marriage but in a unified charitable and spiritual mission. She led a vital arm of his organization, a crisis hotline giving Israelis in need a place to call for help. In a moment, she was alone, left behind. The organization that had been their mutual love no longer wanted her help. Depressed, Joelle struggled to get out of bed every day, reliving the horrific moment of finding her husband's lifeless body. Joelle Eckstein turned that unbearable pain into a new purpose to launch her organization, The Eckstein Fund, "Keren Eckstein," in memory of her late husband, with a single focus of relaunching the hotline that was getting an average of 350 calls a day. *9779 was the number people called to get help until the sudden shutdown and termination of 25 employees working at the project. Fortunately, within a year, Joelle was able to reacquire the *9779 number and rebuild the network of over 500 social service partners who assist those calling in need. Today, the phones are answered by two staff members and Joelle, who speaks five languages (Hebrew, French, Spanish, English, and Catalan).

The hotline can help many of the working poor in Israel who live from paycheck to paycheck. One unfortunate event, like the loss of a job, an eviction notice, or a medical emergency, can push them into debt or homelessness.

Immigrants and the elderly make up the majority of the callers. They typically have no idea where to turn or how to access the assistance available to them.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein would often say, "Kol Israel Arevim Zeh Bazeh," meaning "All people of Israel are responsible for one another," is the heart of the new organization created in his honor. You can join The Eckstein Fund in making a life-saving difference for Israelis in need. https://k-eckstein.org.il/

Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast Region's Top Cardiac Surgeon Joins Jupiter Medical Center Jupiter Medical Center, ranked number one for safety, quality and patient satisfaction in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast region, welcomes Arthur Katz, M.D., as the medical director of cardiac surgery at the Robson Heart & Vascular Institute and Timothy and Jayne Donahue Cardiac Surgery Program at Jupiter Medical Center. A board-certified adult cardiac surgeon, Dr. Katz is highly regarded as a national leader in offpump coronary artery bypass surgery. With more than 26 years of experience as a practicing surgeon, he specializes in reconstructive surgery of the mitral valve, surgery of the aortic and tricuspid valves, off pump bypass surgery, ablative surgery for atrial fibrillation, left ventricular reconstruction, and surgery of the aorta.

"Dr. Katz is a gifted surgeon with an impressive track record of outstanding surgical outcomes and we are honored to have him join us as the medical director of cardiac surgery," said Dr. Amit Rastogi, president and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. "His tireless patient-oriented work ethic and commitment to quality process with meticulous pre-, intraand post-operative care is aligned with the first-in-class care we strive to provide our patients in every capacity."Dr. Katz has earned a highly respected name among his peers and patients and is considered the pulse of the new cardiac surgery program at Jupiter Medical Center. Earlier this year, he was recognized by his peers as a "Top Doctor" in Palm Beach County.Jupiter Medical Center recently expanded the depth and range of its cardiac resources, with three state-of-the-art cardiac catherization labs to employ the most advanced techniques to detect anomalies and provide catheter-based treatment for compromised coronary arteries and valves, heart attacks and vascular problems. The cardiac surgery program attracts patients from communities throughout the state of Florida for its unique combination of services designed to deliver premier cardiac care and optimal results.Dr. Katz has earned the nickname "Rock Doc" from patients for his knowledge and extensive collection of minerals, rocks, fossils, and gemstones. Each open-heart surgical patient is gifted one of his heart-shaped stones in the color or mineral of their choice as a symbol of their new heart.Dr. Katz graduated with honors from New York Medical College and completed his residency in general surgery at NYU Medical Center. Following his residency, he remained at NYU Medical Center for a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Katz is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.Prior to joining Jupiter Medical Center, Dr. Katz worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

About Jupiter Medical CenterRated number one for safety, quality and patient satisfaction, Jupiter Medical Center is the leading destination for world-class health care in Palm Beach County and across the Treasure Coast region. Recognized as the region's only independent, not-for-profit hospital, Jupiter Medical Center offers a comprehensive continuum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, expertise and specialties, including orthopedics and spine care, cancer care, cardiac and vascular care, comprehensive stroke, obstetrics & maternity care, pediatrics, emergency care as well as diagnostic imaging, screening, testing and urgent care. For more information about Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2234 or visit www.jupitermed.com.

Ft. Lauderdale has seen changes. How has your experience been? Do you have plans for the area?

While I do not have a long history in Ft. Lauderdale, almost nine years, there are many observable changes…some that present opportunities, other that present challenges. The city has a much more cosmopolitan feel today with all the residential development downtown—thousands of new residences that will create more demand on the infrastructure, but also present greater business activity. The Historic Downtowner is an iconic spot surrounded by many new high rises, yet retains that old-school, “Key Westy” feel to it. Other than a few cosmetic enhancements here and there, I do not see that changing. Tropical and casual attire, including tees, shorts, and flops will always have a place in Ft. Lauderdale. Historic Dockers is right next door to the airport, so for many visitors it is their first taste of Florida. On the other hand, the growing cosmopolitan aspects of Las Olas and downtown Ft. Lauderdale, has tremendous appeal for cultural and business development. I am looking at several options to enter that market.

If you had to sum up the south Florida area in five words, what would they be?

Fun, great climate, diverse, sexy, opportunity