Business Connection

10 SMALL BUSINESSES WE LOVE >

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IS STONEWALL PRIDE HAPPENING? >

BUSINESS

FREE!

Q1 2021 Mar

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| Apr | May 2021

CONNECTION

WILTON MANORS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Serving Wilton Manors | Oakland Park

Q&A Exclusive

MEET THE

MAYORS

What they say about Density and Growth SCOTT NEWTON Mayor of Wilton Manors PAGE 8

NEWSMAKERS

Castelli among four honored with Leadership Awards

JANE BOLIN Mayor of Oakland Park PAGE 10

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

14

How Lynn Lawrence became the Queen of Wilton Manors

22

CUSTOM & CONCIERGE

Personal Branding Photography

For the Discerning Entrepreneur 954.790.7576 gracielavaldes.com graciela@gracielavaldes.com

m ABOUT US W I LTO N M A N O R S B U S I N E S S A S S O C I AT I O N

Board of Directors 32nd Year of Community Service President JULIETTA WENZEL Owner, Body & Soul Physical Therapy

Vice President PETER JACKSON President & Publisher WMEG Community Marketing & Events; Hotspots Media

What is the WMBA? The Wilton Manors Business Association, established in 1989, is a Florida non-profit organization comprising business owners and professionals in and around Wilton Manors, Florida. Everyone is welcome to join!

What does the WMBA do?

Past President & Membership Chair TIM MOFFITT President Umbrella Credit Services

Secretary Dr. Vanessa Koutalidis Co-Owner Island City Chiropractic

The primary objectives of the WMBA are to: • Help members to connect and grow their businesses through our networking mixers, Lunch & Learn events, business luncheons, annual Business Expo and other events and activities; • Promote member businesses; • Promote the City of Wilton Manors; • Promote trade between member businesses outside of Wilton Manors; • Encourage communication and interaction between City officials and business leaders.

What’s the cost of membership?

Director RON FALK REALTOR REMAX/Experience

Treasurer TIM HART Senior Partner/CEO R3 Accounting

Annual memberships are: • $125 for businesses • $75 for Associate (Individual) Memberships, and • $62.50 for Non-Profit entities Prospective members can easily apply online.

(See page 31)

How do I become a member?

You can register and pay for membership online 24/7 at WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

Networking Chair JUSTIN ROMANO Owner/CEO Bayview Payroll Services

Events Chair JEFF STERLING CEO, Sterling Tax & Accounting; WMEG Community Marketing & Events; Hotspots Media PHOTOGRAPHY by Graciela Valdes | GracielaValdes.com

4 | Business Connection | Q1 2021

Chancellor JEFFREY SELZER Principal Selzer Law

Ex-Officio Member LEIGH ANN HENDERSON City Manager City of Wilton Manors

Any membership perks?

• Free admission to our monthly networking mixers (non-members pay $10); • A free business listing (valued at $75) in the official Wilton Manors Business Directory & City Guide publishing mid-year 2021; • Marketing/referral opportunities in Business Connection; • Free or discounted admission to the WMBA Business Expo, Holiday Spectacular In The Park and other events.

HOW TO REACH US E-MAIL PHONE MAIL WEB

Info@ WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com 954-358-4567 P.O. Box 24332, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

10 SMALL BUSINESSES WE LOVE >

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IS STONEWALL PRIDE HAPPENING? >

BUSINESS

FREE!

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Mar | Apr | May 2021

m NEWSWATCH

CONNECTION

WILTON MANORS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Serving Wilton Manors | Oakland Park

Q&A Exclusive

MEET THE

A ROUND-UP OF COMMUNITY NEWS

MAYORS

What they say about Density and Growth SCOTT NEWTON Mayor of Wilton Manors PAGE 8

NEWSMAKERS

WILL THERE BE STONEWALL PRIDE?

JANE BOLIN Mayor of Oakland Park PAGE 10

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Castelli among four honored with Leadership Awards

14

How Lynn Lawrence became the Queen of Wilton Manors

22

About this Publication BUSINESS CONNECTION is published quarterly by the Wilton Manors Business Association and produced by WMEG Community Marketing and Events in Wilton Manors, Florida.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

Business Connection is published in the interests of promoting local commerce, community affairs and non-profit organizations.

It is distributed via e-mail to a database of 5,000+ WMBA members and area business owners.

Another 2,000 print copies are available for pick-up by the community at locations throughout Wilton Manors as well as Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale.

ADVERTISING To advertise and/or join the Business Card Referral Directory, you must first be a member of the Wilton Manors Business Association.

SEND ALL INQUIRIES TO: Info@WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com Publisher & Editor Peter Jackson Editor-At-Large Jameer Baptiste Contributing Writer Katina Caraganis Distribution J.R. Davis SPECIAL THANKS TO Frank Mendez

Plans are moving ahead for Stonewall Pride on June 19, but organizers say the final decision on whether the annual parade and street festival will take place on that date (or rescheduled to later in the year) won’t be made until the first week of April.

That’s when officials from various departments of the cities of Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale and organizers will meet to assess whether it will be safe in June to hold a scaled-down version of the annual parade and street festival that typically attracts more than 30,000 visitors to the city.

“We are going to do what’s safe for our community, but with the increased pace of COVID vaccinations we are seeing now, there’s hope that a scaled-down version of Stonewall Pride will happen,” said Jeff Sterling, CEO of WMEG Community Marketing and Events, the non-profit that produces the milliondollar event.

OAKLAND PARK OPENS ITS ARMS Everyone is welcomed in the City of Oakland Park — and now there are 14 signs around the City to remind you.

The signs read: “Oakland Park welcomes all races, all genders, all ages, all abilities, all sexual orientations, all countries of origin.”

“It’s really our pledge as a city and community to really stand together as one community and welcome everyone,” said Oakland Park May Jane Bolin at a ceremony marking the unveiling of the first sign at the entrance to City Hall.

THE ‘PEOPLE’S MAYOR’ FLIPPEN WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

WMEG.org

Jaycee Park, located off Wilton Drive and NE 21st Court, will now be known as Flippen Park in honor of the late Mayor Justin Flippen who passed away suddenly a year ago.

City commissioners approved the name change and unanimously approved a memorial marker to be placed on the site at a cost of $10,815.

Known as the People’s Mayor, Flippen will also be remembered by an annual school children’s coloring contest of Mack the Manatee, the city’s mascot, both of which he created.

• See page 29 for a related story

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

SMART RIDE ORGANIZERS DISTRIBUTE $700,000; PLANS FOR NOV. RETURN Plans are moving ahead for Smart Ride 18 this Nov. 19 and 20, organizers say.

The two-day, 165-mile bicycle ride from the University of Miami to Key West is the largest HIV/AIDS ride in the eastern United States and second largest in the nation with over 500 cyclists. It has raised more than $12 million dollars to support programs and services for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in its 17-year history.

A “re-imagined” event during the pandemic in 2020 — which saw people ride in their own back yards or do their version of a 165 metric — raised over $700,000. The 2019 event raised more than $1.4 million.

The direct beneficiaries of Smart Ride 17 and 18 are: • Miracle of Love, Inc., the oldest and largest non-profit minority AIDS Service Organization in Central Florida.

• Metro Wellness Community Centers, a multi-faceted agency in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties serving the HIV+ community via medical case management, eligibility, minority AIDS initiative, mental health, substance abuse and prevention/testing/outreach services.

• Compass Community Center, Palm Beach County’s LGBTQ center, which aims to diminish stereotypes by challenging longstanding misconceptions about the character of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

• Broward House, improving the quality of life for individuals impacted with chronic health challenges, including HIV, by providing pathways to wellness.

• Pridelines, Miami-Dade County’s LGBTQ Community Center which has provided safe space, social support, skills-building, leadership development, HIV testing and support services, referrals to competent mental health, health care and support for LGBTQ youth, their straight allies, and the community for more than 30 years.

• AIDS Help, Florida’s oldest continuously-operating AIDS service organization and the only agency in Monroe County that serves individuals with HIV and AIDS. SMART Ride is the only HIV/AIDS ride in the country that gives back 100% of the funds raised.

To volunteer...

SMART Ride 18 is scheduled for November 19 and 20, 2021.

If you are looking to register to ride, crew or volunteer please visit The SMART Ride website, thesmartride.org. If you would like to become a sponsor or become more involved, please contact the organizers directly from the website.

Business Connection | Q1 2021 | 5

BIG DONATION TO STONEWALL MUSEUM WILL HELP DIGITIZE LGBTQ HISTORY The Stonewall National Museum & Archives (SNMA) has been awarded a $50,000 donation by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to begin digitizing its archival collection.

“This is a big step for Stonewall,” said Executive Director Hunter O'Hanian.

“Our archive is over 2,700 linear feet, totaling more than 6 million pages of LGBTQ history, from the 1950s to the present day. With the help of The Mellon Foundation, we will begin the process of digitizing the collection and making it available to researchers, writers and artists around the world.

Accessibility to our collection has long been a strategic goal of the organization.”

For more info visit stonewall-museum.org

WHAT LGBTQ TRAVELERS SAY...

A reader survey by Passport magazine, the award-winning international LGBTQ travel magazine and the IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) has found that 79% of travelers plan to get vaccinated before the summer and 58% plan to make their first trips before the fall of 2021.

That’s good news for tourism in South Florida, a premier LGBTQ travel destination that has been decimated by the pandemic.

More than 94,000 subscribers to both organizations were asked when they plan to travel and where they plan to go.

Sculpture Walk adds to the flavor of Wilton Manors Have you been admiring the sculptures popping up around Wilton Manors?

What is known as the Sculpture Walk was envisioned by local real estate agent Mike Sansevero. To bring his idea to life, Sansevero approached the nonprofit responsible for community marketing and events in Wilton Manors, WMEG, to help in his endeavor. As a newly-minted alliance, WMEG and Sansevero went to work in 2020 to populate the city with artistic sculptures on every corner.

The sculptures provide an interactive activity for locals and tourists alike. Sculpture Walk serves as an outdoor museum where individuals, couples, families, or groups can mosey the grounds of Wilton Manors on a Florida sun-filled day exploring the sites. Throughout the sculpture journey, spectators

• To read the full results, visit passportmagazine.com/vaccinesurvey-results

6 | Business Connection | Q1 2021

can pop into the many businesses along the way to grab a bite to eat, a refreshing ice cream cone, clothes shopping (new and recycled), or perhaps pick up a novelty gift at the candy store – there’s just so much to do!

To date, there are nine sculptures included in the Sculpture Walk journey. Three of the nine sculptures already existed in Wilton Manors prior to the initiative. The remaining six, however, are all due to WMEG and its Sculpture Walk team. It’s an accomplishment that Sansevero was hoping for and one that Sculpture Walk was able to achieve despite the upset caused by the COVID-19 pandemic of that year.

The project isn’t over. There are already plans to add more sculptures in 2021.

— Jameer Baptiste

Look up...

The next time you’re on Wilton Drive, look up. The sometimes funny, sometimes advocating, and sometimes inspirational Wilton Drive art installation “up in the air” by Wire Sculptor Spenser is getting attention thanks to the local non-profit Wilton Art. Check out Wilton Art’s website to see their other great fun and engaging art projects like their Wilton Pride and Stonewall Ribbons installations.

For more info visit wiltonart.org

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

m QUESTION TIME

“ If you want

10-story buildings everywhere you look, then move to Fort Lauderdale...”

MEET

THE MAYOR

Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton

5 questions for The Mayor of Wilton Manors

SCOTT NEWTON

By Katina Caraganis

W

ilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton is a 62-year

resident of Broward County who has lived, worked and raised his family in Wilton Manors. He has owned and operated an upholstery business, Quality Interiors, in Fort Lauderdale for over 34 years.

Mayor Newton has extensive experience working in municipal government, including serving on the Charter Review Board in 2019, as a city commissioner from 2008-2019, as mayor from 2004-2008, as vice-mayor from 2002-2004 and as a city commissioner from 2000-2002.

Where do you stand on density/growth in the city?

I know we need more density in our city in some areas that can handle it without disturbing the nature of the single family neighborhoods. Right now, we are at 25 acres per unit. If we go to 50, that would double the size of Wilton Station and the Metropolitan. If you double that, that’s pretty darn big! We got development when Oakland Park wasn’t doing it at all. Now they’re picking up some of it.

I wish my taxes were lower, but you pay for the quality of life you get. If you want 10-story buildings everywhere you look, then move to Fort Lauderdale.

I hear from a lot of people they want the tranquility of the quietness and the open space. People like they can look out their backyards and can see far. I live five blocks from Wilton Station, and I don’t see it from my backyard. It’s a mixed bag. I want to bring more density and add more to the tax base, but I don’t mind paying a little more to keep the tranquility.

What are you looking to accomplish with the city’s continued partnership with neighboring Oakland Park?

I’ve talked to Mayor Bolin already and we’re going to get together soon. We have some initiatives. This pandemic has had a large impact on people. We’ve talked about having some sort of event for people who are struggling during the pandemic and may be suffering from mental health issues. We have some things in the fire about having a bus service just going through Oakland Park and Wilton Manors. That’s something we can do to help each other. Sometimes the bars and restaurants complain there’s too many bars and restaurants in the area, but you can’t always eat at the same restaurant. You should support other local businesses.

Why not help each other out? That’s how you work together.

What is your vision for the city during your term as mayor?

I want to make sure that our infrastructure is as sound as it can be so we’re not always working be-

hind. I think fixing our storm drains, or at least redeveloping them, to prevent against King Tides is important. It won’t be cheap. I’m hoping we can get some funding from the state. Down here in South Florida, we’re a big revenue generating area for the state. We’re one of the communities here where a big portion of our city is impacted by that. We are not in as bad of shape as two-thirds of the cities in Broward County. Some of the newer cities have the plastic pipes but this is something we’ve been working on for years. That’s why our water bills are a little bit higher because we’ve been putting money aside for years for upgrades. We can do 100 percent on our side but if Ft. Lauderdale’s side isn’t [providing funding], there isn’t a lot we can do.

What are the biggest issues facing the city in the coming months/years?

I think crime is up right now. We expect it to go up again because of COVID-19 and people losing their jobs. How the city looks at that is going to be important. Part of it is I want to get more of a neighborhood watch. I’m talking to the chief and the assistant chief about doing some stuff. NextDoor and Ring have been helpful. I’d like to be able to offer some incentives to residents to install Ring.

You are the only heterosexual person on the Wilton Manors City Commission. Do you think you are the best person to be running a city that is predominantly LGBTQ?

According to the 2010 Census, only 36 percent of the city is gay. The city where we were 30 years ago is not the same as it was. Gay and straight is not what defines a city. What you can do to work together to make it a better place to live is what you need. I don’t care if the next 25 people who are on the Commission are gay or straight. As long as you’re looking out for everyone in the city, I don’t care how you identify. I could care less who you are or what you are. If you come here and just want to complain, find another city to live in. I believe most of our residents don’t care if you’re gay or straight as long as they’re good neighbors. | BC

Business Connection | Q1 2021 | 9

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

Business Connection | Q1 2021 | 9

m QUESTION TIME

MEET

THE MAYOR Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin

5 questions for The Mayor of Oakland Park

JANE BOLIN J

ane Bolin is a leader and entrepreneur.

She was elected to the City Commission of the City of Oakland, Park,

Florida in 2018 and currently serves as Mayor. With a passion for governance, she also serves as the global Governance Chair for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and supports local non-profits, The Pride Center at Equality Park, and the World Aids Museum in this capacity.

Jane is a published author and speaks on a variety of subjects that reflect her diverse life. She played linebacker in the first season of the Women’s Professional Football league.

She has been a culinary producer for both Master Chef and Top Chef. Add on that she is an accomplished attorney and advocate; Jane has taken on many unique challenges and continues to create new possibilities.

Jane has been recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as a 40 under 40, 100 Outstanding Women of Broward County, a six-time winner of the Reader’s Choice for Legal Services by the Florida Community Association Journal. She has severed as Vice Chair of the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, board member of The Pride Center at Equality Park, The World AIDS Museum, Girl Choir of South Florida, and is active with Oakland Park Kiwanis and Rotary of Oakland Park.

By Katina Caraganis

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

Where do you stand on density and growth in the City of Oakland Park?

Growth is critical for Oakland Park and all cities. If we are not growing and transforming, we are not adapting to the changes in our community and culture. Density is an urban planning term that refers to the number of inhabitants in a specific area and is attributed to more walkability and transportation options in many cities. Often density is singled out as a bad “thing” but that ignores the fact that density must be discussed and considered if we want to build sustainable, walkable cities.

What are you looking to accomplish with the city’s continued partnership with Wilton Manors?

Working together, we can combine efforts and economies of scale to provide more services to our residents. There is a natural connection between our cities from our Culinary Arts District to the Drive on Dixie. I would like to see our cities work together to provide mobility options between the two downtown destinations and increase access to our shared waterways.

What is your vision for the city during your term as mayor?

I have asked for a strategic vision workshop for our Commission and residents to reassess what the vision for the city will be in the next five years. This process takes place annually in most businesses and it is time for Oakland Park to revisit the mission and vision for our future.

“ If we are not

growing and transforming, we are not adapting to the changes in our community and culture...”

What are the biggest issues facing the city in the coming months/years?

The impact of COVID impacts many facets of our community and we need to help fill the gaps for our residents. No doubt the city budget has been impacted and all cities will continue to struggle with balancing a budget that is robust enough to maintain and expand services.

What does the city plan to do to help small businesses remain afloat in the aftermath of COVID10?

We have partnered with the County to administer small business grants and launched a local business campaign #livelikealOAKl to provide awareness and additional marketing for our businesses. We are always open to more ideas. It takes a village. | BC

Business Connection | Q1 2021 | 11

mWilton ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Manors/Oakland Park Fact Page

By Jameer Baptiste

Wilton Manors’ first Economic Development Manager begins task of implementing city’s Strategic Plan

Kimberley Allonce

“

Wilton Manors is very unique because of what it represents — not only in the South Florida region but around the world...”

KIMBERLEY ALLONCE is Wilton Manors’ first Economic Development Manager. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and has worked as an economic development coordinator for the City of Orlando.

“With the anticipated changes to our land use and zoning regulations, an important part of Kim’s role will be acting as the city salesman, marketing our city to bring in those developers to take advantage of the new land use and zoning regulations so that we can attract that high-quality development that we know is critically important to maintaining vital, resilient, sustainable community,” said City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson.

The task is a big one, to say the least. At the ripe age of 30, Allonce’s main responsibility as Economic Development Manager is “to stimulate economic growth in a community by planning, designing, and implementing different economic strategies,” as he explains it. It’s a tall order, but Kim’s backstory proves he has the skills, education and passion to take on the task. Allonce is married to wife, Marthe.

We hear that you were born in Haiti!

How did that experience shape who you are today?

Growing up in a developing country, I learned how to become resilient and how to embrace every challenge that life throws at me. I approach my professional career in the same manner.

When and why did you move to the United States?

I was born and raised in Haiti and moved to the U.S. in 2011. It pains me to even write about it. I am a survivor of the 2010 earthquake. The earthquake completely changed my life.

Prior to this cataclysm, my goal was to finish law school in Haiti and go to Paris to get a graduate degree in Constitutional Law. I remember walking

12 | Business Connection | Q1 2021

for more than five hours from my law school in the heart of Port-au-Prince to my house in the suburbs immediately. I got to see firsthand the damage caused by the earthquake and quickly realized that public administration was my calling. I suffered from PTSD and it became very difficult for me to focus on school. Coming to the U.S. was my opportunity to start over and focus my energy on becoming a good public servant.

What life decisions led you to Florida and thus to your current position?

My journey in the U.S. started in Stone Mountain, Georgia back in May of 2011. I lived there with my dad and my stepmom before moving to Athens, Georgia to attend the University of Georgia to complete my studies in political science. While working on my graduate degree in public administration at the university, I landed an internship with the State of Georgia in Atlanta and commuted back and forth for about a year. My internship ultimately turned into a fulltime position.

I moved back to Atlanta, and stayed there for one year before accepting an offer to move to Orlando in October 2017 to work for the City of Orlando.

What intrigued you about the Wilton Manors Economic Development Manager position?

Wilton Manors is very unique because of what it represents — not only in the South Florida region but around the world. The city is poised for economic growth and sustainable development, and [the opportunity to be] the person to help steer the ship, with the guidance of the City Commission and the support of City staff, was very attractive to me.

What are your goals as the Wilton Manors Economic Development Manager?

I look to collaborate with residents, businesses, and community stake-

holders to foster economic growth, strengthen neighborhood commercial districts, encourage sustainable redevelopment, and enhance the overall quality of life in the City of Wilton Manors. My primary role is to implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan that was developed a few years ago.

What is the Wilton Manors Economic Development Strategic Plan?

The Strategic Plan identifies specific goals for the city. These goals include promoting the city as an attractive place for businesses to relocate; improving infrastructure to encourage business retention, growth, and expansion; collaborating with all city departments to further streamline the development process; encouraging mixed-use redevelopment strategies to enhance economic development/ redevelopment along commercial corridors; and maintaining the quality of life in the city.

What do you envision for the City of Wilton Manors?

I am dreaming of a thriving urban village anchored by its fast-growing companies, award-winning businesses, high-impact community organizations, and a vibrant Arts and Entertainment cluster.

How do you think you’ll fit in with the City of Wilton Manors?

Diversity and inclusion are two core values that are really important to me.

As an immigrant of Haiti and an African-American male in the United States, being in a community that is welcoming to all means the world to me. | BC

For More Info...

To learn more about Wilton Manors Economic Development Strategic Plan, go to wiltonmanors.com/743/Economic-Development-Division

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

m NEWSMAKERS WM B A

Marcos Darosa

Maria Medina

L E A D E R S H I P

AWA R D S

John Castelli

Tim Moffitt

Four receive Leadership Awards Business Association calls honorees ‘fine examples of leadership’

R

eal Estate industry giant John Castelli, entrepreneurs Marcos Darosa and Marina Medina and business advocate Tim Moffitt were honored with prestigious Leadership Awards by the Wilton Manors Business Association (WMBA) at a luncheon held Dec. 10.

Among those attending the event at Holy Mackerel were Wilton Manors Commissioner Chris Caputo and Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin.

“Leadership has been defined in many ways,” said Master of Ceremonies Peter Jackson, vice president of the association, who was joined on stage by President Julietta Wenzel. Quoting John C. Maxwell (“Leadership is influence”), Jack Welch (“Leadership is about growing others”) and General Douglas MacArthur (“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the com-

14 | Business Connection | Q1 2021

passion to listen to the needs of others”), Jackson introduced the honorees whose actions, he said, “inspire others and serve as fine examples of leadership.”

MARCOS DAROSA Marcos Darosa, owner of Alpha Glass and Mirror, learned entrepreneurship at a young age when he sold pastries on the streets of southern Brazil and earned enough to buy his first bicycle, a watch and a pair of tennis shoes. After an honorable discharge from the Brazilian Navy in 1986, he emigrated to the United States in search of, in his words, “the American Dream”.

In 1994, his wife and he started Alpha Glass and Mirror “with very little money but lots of courage and hard work,” Darosa said.

“Twenty-six years later, the business on NE 2nd Avenue is going strong and a great example of a well-managed small business that markets itself well, has built a strong team and gives back to

the community,” said Jackson.

Darosa has been a resident of Wilton Manors since 1990. He and his wife have four boys.

MARINA MEDINA Maria Medina, owner of Minuteman Press on N.E. 4th Avenue, is originally from Colombia but has also lived in Egypt, Spain and the United Kingdom. She began training to play professional soccer at the age of 5, but after a careerending soccer injury in 2006, she was forced to reevaluate her options and chose to pursue a career in business and marketing.

In 2014, her wife and she decided to fulfill a lifetime dream by moving to Florida and buying a Minuteman Press franchise.

Medina soon joined the Wilton Manors Business Association and other business networking organizations and was recognized as a “Rising Leader of the Year” in 2018 by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

The honorees posed with executives of the Wilton Manors Business Association: (From left) Maria Medina, WMBA President Julietta Wenzel, Tim Moffitt, John Castelli, WMBA Vice President Peter Jackson and Marcos Medina.

Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin

PHOTOGRAPHY by Stephen R. Lang, SRL Media

--The awards luncheon was held at the spacious Holy Mackerel restaurant which allowed COVID-safe practices to be observed.

More photos on page 16 -->

Her Minuteman Press shop has been awarded “Best in Fort Lauderdale for Design, Print and Promotional Products” for five years in a row.

JOHN CASTELLI Real Estate icon John Castelli has served the real estate industry at a local and national level for decades. He is a former president and board member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors and has served and chaired “just about every committee of that organization,” he laughed.

He is a director of the 1.3 million membership National Association of Realtors and participates in numerous work groups and committees.

Castelli gives selflessly to the less fortunate as a board member of the Broward Partnership for the Homeless where he serves as the Housing Committee Chairman.

He is a past president and current Trustee of the Realtors Charitable Foundation, an organization that helps those in immediate crisis.

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

“Real estate is a community-based business and John Castelli is clearly dedicated to enriching the lives of our community through strong business ethics and a willingness to volunteer to improve the lives of others,” said Jackson as he introduced the honoree. “We simply can’t say enough about him other than he is an inspiration to us all.”

TIM MOFFITT Tim Moffitt received an award for his leadership of the Wilton Manors Business Association.

“As president for almost three years until January 2020, he brought energy and vision to our group, assembled a talented board of business owners to move the organization forward and helped to grow WMBA’s membership to a level previously unimaginable,” said current WMBA president Wenzel.

A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Moffitt spent two decades in the banking

industry in the Midwest before moving to Fort Lauderdale eight years ago.

He is a senior relationship manager with electronic payments giant Flashbanc, and the owner of a new business, Umbrella Credit Services.

Moffitt is a member of Proud Speakers, a Toastmasters Group as well as Team Scandalous, South Florida’s LGBT line dance group.

Since this event, the City of Wilton Manors issued a proclamation observing Tim Moffitt Day in appreciation of his contributions. | BC

Nominations Invited

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2021 WMBA Leadership Awards. Do you know someone whose business leadership has impacted others and deserves to be recognized?

Send your nominations with your contact info to Info@WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

Business Connection | Q1 2021 | 15

WMBA

LEADERSHIP

PHOTOGRAPHY by Stephen R. Lang, SRL Media

16 | Business Connection | Q1 2021

AWA RDS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Michael Murphy of Michael Murphy Photography hams it up for the camera wearing stylish headgear with Wilton Manors City Commissioner Chris Caputo; Leadership Award recipient Maria Media (left) with WMBA President Julietta Wenzel; Leadership Award recipient Tm Moffitt with Corinne Becker of Self Discovery Life Mastery (left) and Anja Weinberg of A Place For Healing; Steven Lazarus of Promotional Breezes is served by Holy Mackerel hostess Kimberley; and [inset] Ron Falk of RE/MAX Experience brought a healthy appetite.

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

m BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

⑩

By Jameer Baptiste

BUSINESSES WE LOVE

There are many unique small businesses and community organizations to be found in Wilton Manors, Oakland Park and the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. From antique stores to gift shops, you can literally find anything you need right here in our lovely neighborhood communities. With so much to see and experience, the list of these gems can be endless, so we narrowed it down to give you just a few of our favorites...

1

2 Lips Floral Design 12 East Oakland Park Blvd.

Oakland Park, FL 33334 954-224-5565 www.2lipsfloraldesign.com

A flower shop like no other — that’s how we would describe 2 Lips Floral Design. The boutique flower shop can prepare floral designs for all occasions. You name it and they can do it. Like their website says, “there’s no job too small or too big.” It’s a passion project for owner Juamel, who’s been working on “floral and silk designs since the age of 10.” It’s a perfect place to get your flower arrangements for any occasion, and they deliver!

2

211 Broward 250 NE 33rd Street Oakland Park, FL 33334 954-390-0493 www.211-Broward.org

211 Broward is a 24-hour, 7 days-a-week live helpline that connects callers in crisis with the right resources. The nonprofit’s degree-holding helpline counselors also aid in suicide prevention, empathetic listening, emotional support, and needs assessment. As they mention on their website, the service is free, confidential and anonymous. Plus, it’s available in any language. Visit their website to learn more or donate.

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7 Inika Foods 2410 N Dixie Hwy. Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-444-8176 www.inikafoods.com

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Bowtie Kids 1881 NE 26th St. Ste. 70 Wilton Manors, FL 33305 888-884-9195 www.bowtiekids.org

Bowtie Kids is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on providing support for kids that deal with any type of chronic pain. The aid comes in the form of education and support programming. Their vision is “to create a network of support for all children impacted by the effects of chronic pain through

5 personal development and empowerment, so they feel supported to establish a fully expressed, sustainable quality of life.” Their unwavering support for kids in need puts them at the top of our list of businesses we should all support. Take the time to visit their website to learn more about the organization, view their events, and donate to their cause.

Holy Angels National Catholic Church 2917 NE 6th Ave. Wilton Manors, FL 33304 954-637-2987 www.holyangelsfl.org Going to church can be intimidating for some, but thankfully Holy Angels National Catholic Church is accepting to all. The church pastor, Rev. Jamie Forsythe, is an openly proud gay man with a congregation that is equally proud to have him as their reverend. The church’s model is “we will lead by example here at our Spiritual ‘home’ and in our community showing that living the Good News of Jesus Christ is living in Love without judgment.”

The taste of vegan. At Inikia Foods, a quaint boutique style café off of Five Points, the cuisine is transformative. The bold taste from quality ingredients and exotic spices will have your mind playing tricks on you – “wait, is this really vegan?” It sure is!

Everything from their baked goods to their breakfast bagels to their delectable burgers are vegan.

Not to mention, they are reasonably priced — you can’t beat that!

The innovative, new-world café also provides corporate and event catering.

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Club Z! 1225 NE 16th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-947-4166 www.clubztutoring.com/nefortlauderdale Club Z is far from a nightclub.

The uniquely named company is actually a tutoring and test prep service available in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale with a Wilton Manors specific location. Their personalized tutoring program allows for a one-on-one, in-home, on-

line, or small group interactions. They claim to have certified tutors who can help improve a student in any subject up to “two letter grades in sixty days.” They assist students from Pre-K to collegelevel testing. Visit their website for a free online assessment.

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Indelible Art+Tattoo 2416 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 383-8933 www.indelibleartandtattoo.com

There’s a new tattoo shop that’s offering up more than just body ink. Indelible Art+Tattoo is a unique concept that intertwines an art gallery with a professional tattoo parlor. As if the art aspect that features purchasable pieces from local South Florida artists isn’t interesting enough, the tattoo studio specializes in multiple forms of inking. 20-year tattooing veteran Antonio can customize “design styles including American traditional, lettering (artisanal fonts), Japanese style, Maori, tribal, realistic portraits, old and new school styles,” his online bio says. Free consultations, walk-ins, and appointments are available.

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J. Cohen’s Day Spa 3045 North Federal Hwy. Ste. 42 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 754-206-4687 jimmycohensdayspa.com

Men need self-care too, and that’s why Jimmy Cohen has created a day spa that caters specifically to men. “We want our men to feel confident in themselves and receive the highest quality of skincare options otherwise unknown to men for what is available in today’s market,” reads Cohen’s website. The “accomplished Paramedical Aesthetician’s” spa offers everything from anti-aging facials, chemical peels for face and body, advanced micro-needling, and microdermabrasion to nail care, body exfoliations, massages, full-body waxing, and shaving. It’s all customizable too.

To The Moon 2205 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-2987 www.tothemoonmarketplace.com Sweet, delectable treats are what you’re sure to find at our local neighborhood candy shop. To The Moon has been a primary fixture on the Drive of Wilton Manors for over 15 years. What’s great about the local sugar den is that they have a variety of candy from all around the world. They even have sugar-free and low-carb selections as well. “Many items have won the N.A.S.F.T. award (National Association Specialty Food Trade), which is like winning an Oscar,” says Antonio, the owner of the store. It’s much more than just candy, they have a gift shop with novelty and everyday items – face masks too.

Check them out, you’ll see.

9 Red Pearl Yoga 2449 NE 13th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-828-1651 www.redpearlyoga.com Start the year off right with yoga. At Red Pearl Yoga, guests can select a full range of meditation services. “We offer Vinyasa, Power Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Meditation, Pre Natal, Alignment, Yin, Restorative, [and] Ashtanga,” their website mentions. The studio conducts classes online, “practice at home with our LIVESTREAM classes,” and on-location. So that you maintain your calm while there, Red Pearl Yoga has taken proper measures to keep their facility COVID safe. “We have prepared the studio and defined policies and procedures to keep everyone safer and healthier.”

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I worked 10 times “ harder. Generally,

that’s the main theme of being a minority in America, whether that be in regard to race or gender. You often have to work harder to attain what you aspire [to]...”

LYNN LAWRENCE

Q

m WOMEN IN BUSINESS

The

ueen

of Wilton Manors

21 years ago, LYNN LAWRENCE quit a job she hated and applied for a loan to buy the Dairy Queen on Wilton Drive. She’s been turning frowns upside down ever since...

T

By Jameer Baptiste

here may be many queens in Wilton Manors but there’s only one “Miss Wilton DQ Queen” title holder — and that’s Lynn Lawrence, the owner of the Island City’s longstanding Dairy Queen located at 1905 Wilton Drive.

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Ice cream coupled with history is her game and Lynn Lawrence is her name.

This Wilton DQ Queen has been dishing out the honored American dessert to Wilton locals and all others who frequent the iconic ice cream shop for 21 years now — and she has no plans of stopping!

“It makes me feel good, people come here depressed and [leave] happy,” a cheerful Lawrence told us. “Ice cream [equals] comfort.”

Originally from North Carolina, Lawrence moved to Florida in 1990. However, she didn’t get her start in the sweet-delectable business of ice cream right away. It actually took her close to a decade to find her way to the Wilton Manors Dairy Queen.

CONTINUED-->

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m WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Lynn Lawrence: The DQ Queen of Wilton Manors CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE And what an interesting story she has to tell! It’s one of her needing to turn her “frown upside down”, which ice cream since the dawn of its existence has been sure to do.

Hanging on to a job with a miserable boss who just couldn’t see her potential no matter how hard she tried, an unhappy Lawrence finally got fed up one day and handed in her resignation not knowing what she would be doing next. Despite the insistent pleas from her ungrateful boss to stay at the job (he even added money to the pot to help persuade her), the headstrong Lawrence stuck to her guns and walked away.

Lawrence’s departure from her job happened to fall on the same day of her routine visit to Wilton Manors’ Dairy Queen.

While there getting her weekly ice cream fix “to help turn her frown upside down”, an opportunity she could

not resist fell into her lap.

Interestingly, it wasn’t the ice cream she bought that day but a random conversation she had with the then Dairy Queen owners that hit her sweet-spot and tickled her fancy.

“The owners at the DQ said they were selling,” recalled Lawrence. “I spontaneously said I would buy it.

[Thereafter] I went to the bank and got approved for the loan! I was very lucky as it is more difficult to do that today, with the lengthy loan processes.”

Now, Lawrence had no experience whatsoever in owning an ice cream shop. Add to that, the fact that she represents two marginalized communities as a black woman, and you can only imagine what it was like for her to build a successful business that spans over two decades.

But she said she’s been a go-getter since her childhood, which most certainly helped in her success as one of the few black and female business

24 | Business Connection | Q1 2021

owners in Wilton Manors.

“As a woman, you often aren’t viewed as having the same capability to accomplish certain goals. That flows into being black as well,” articulated Lawrence — clearly a proud black woman and successful business owner.

“This led me to further push myself to attain the goals I sought out. I worked 10 times harder. Generally, that’s the main theme of being a minority in America, whether that be in regard to race or gender. You often have to work harder to attain what you aspire [to].”

Lawrence has surely taken lemons and turned them into a long and prosperous delicious ice cream treat!

“Being in Wilton Manors has been a blessing,” the humble Lawrence said.

“I’m truly blessed to be in such a wonderful community and be surrounded with the overwhelming support of our local customers.” | BC

WOMEN MAKING NEWS n CARVELLE ESTRIPLET, a black trans and small business owner, was appointed to the Wilton Manors Community Affairs and Advisory Board by City Commissioners in January, one of five board appointments. nMONICA MALDONADO has become Oakland Park’s first female Battalion Chief.

Maldonado, who is Latina, was promoted in a formal ceremony at the Jaco Community Center in October at a ceremony attended by then Oakland Park Mayor Matt Sparks and Broward County Mayor Dale Holness.

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

m COMMUNITY NEWS

Equality Garden Club plans Fall Plant Fair Gary Hensley

James Hipps

Terry Dyer

SunServe is rebranding, names new leadership

S

unServe, the leading social service agency serving South Florida’s LGBTQ+ community, has announced new executive leadership as well as plans to enhance its programs and strengthen relationships both with supporters and those it serves in 2021.

Helping between 2,500 and 5,000 community members each week, SunServe provides critical life assistance and professional mental health services with an emphasis on economically disadvantaged, marginalized youth, adults and seniors in the greater South Florida area.

The newly-formed executive leadership team consists of Director of Development Terry Dyer, Executive Director of Operations Gary Hensley, and Chief Human Resources Officer James Hipps.

Their action plan includes strategies and tactics to better connect with donors and community partners, as well as team-building, refreshing workspaces and rebranding.

As Director of Development, Dyer will build on current relationships and create new ones, while pursuing grant and funding opportunities which account for the majority of SunServe’s budget.

“I am focused on building our collaborative partnerships with individuals and agencies to ensure that this valuable community resource has the strong financial foundation necessary to meet the unique needs of South

Florida’s LGBTQ+ community,” said Dyer.

In 2019 SunServe was awarded accreditation as a service provider by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities to offer mental health outpatient treatment services and case management coordination for children, adolescents and adults as well as outpatient substance abuse counseling for alcohol and other addictive drugs for adults. Programs include housing and case management assistance for those living with HIV, a senior day care center, online support groups, parent support, case management and services for the transgender community, women’s services, with an emphasis on health in lesbian community, and extensive outreach and resources for youth.

“We are devoted to developing cutting edge programs and providing services of the highest quality which improve the health, well-being and quality of life for our valued community members, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Gary Hensley, Executive Director of Operations.

Founded in 2002, SunServe employs a full-time staff of 37 LGBTQ+-competent therapists, life coaches, and case managers who help people who, in many cases, would have nowhere else to turn. Programs are reinforced by skilled staff who host educational and cultural competence trainings throughout the community.

T

he Equality Garden Club (EGC) has rescheduled its annual March event until November 13 and 14, 2021.

The annual “A Tropical Plant Fair” weekend transforms Wilton Manor’s historic Richardson Park into a colorful bazaar, supported by over 60 selected exhibitors and thousands of patrons.

“We are excited about hosting a Fall event as it complements the holidays and great weather. As well, it prepares us for our upcoming event first weekend in March beginning in 2022 and thereafter,” said Carl Shearer, A Tropical

Plant Fair chairman.

EGC President Van Gosselin added, “We take the well-being and safety of our patrons, vendors and volunteers seriously and this is our top priority.

With that being said, we elected to delay our 2021 event to November.”

The EGC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, based in Wilton Manors.

The club meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Wilton Manors Hagen Park Community Center, providing world-class monthly speakers to educate and entertain its members and guests.

For more information visit EqualityGardenClub.com

“A Tropical Plant Fair” has been rescheduled for Nov. 13-14, 2021

For more information visit SunServe.org or call 954-764-5150.

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m COMMUNITY NEWS

WMEG expands, appoints first president

W

ilton Manors Entertainment Group (WMEG) has announced an expansion of its programs as well as the appointment of its first president.

Leading a new era of growth as the first president of the non-profit is Peter Jackson, a veteran marketer and business strategist whose background is in Publishing.

He has been charged with the responsibility to create a print and digital marketing division for WMEG, improve its current programs, and introduce new events. He will also Peter Jackson serve as Publisher of Hotspots Media, Florida’s largest LGBTQ media network, which WMEG acquired in December.

WMEG is being rebranded as WMEG Community Marketing and Events and boasts a new logo as well as a new mission statement which reads: “WMEG is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit dedicated to promoting Wilton Manors and South Florida as a welcoming LGBTQ destination through marketing and events. All funds are

dedicated to the social, cultural and educational benefit of our community.”

“We desperately need to promote Wilton Manors as the prime LGBTQ destination that it is,” said Jeff Sterling, CEO of WMEG. “The way to do that is through events that give people a reason to visit as well as through strategic local and national marketing of the people and businesses that make our Island City so welcoming and special,” he said.

WMEG was originally set up six years ago as a partnership between the City of Wilton Manors and the Wilton Manors Development Alliance to save the city’s annual Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival. Since then, the nonprofit and Sterling, especially, have been credited with saving the city’s largest event which, an independent study has shown, injects more than a million dollars into the Wilton Manors economy.

Today, WMEG Community Marketing and Events produces close to 50 events a year including three monthly events: Art Walk on Wilton Drive, Vibes On The Drive and Pride Skate at Xtreme Action Park. It also produces events for the Wilton Manors Business Association including the Health and Wellness Expo,

Small Business Expo and Holiday Spectacular in the Park.

“I am excited by this opportunity,” said Jackson. “Working to promote Wilton Manors to the LGBTQ community far and wide is a great objective and benefits every resident and business owner. Doing so through multiplatform marketing and fun events that allow our community to come together makes the job even sweeter,” he said.

He added: “This is a challenging time for nonprofits as traditional funding sources evaporate — but we see this as a time to innovate and grow in new and exciting ways and benefit the Wilton Manors and South Florida community.”

Jackson’s experience includes serving as vice president of sales and marketing at one of the country’s largest private media conglomerates and as a consultant to dozens of media groups.

He retired from media in 2009 and moved to Fort Lauderdale where he opened three successful fitness businesses in succession: Push Fitness, Club One Crossfit and InnerG Yoga, all of which he sold in 2015. He has been an active board member of the Wilton Manors Business Association since 2017 and is currently vice president.

COMING THIS JUNE...

The 32nd annual edition of the Wilton Manors Business Directory & City Guide, the official guide to Wilton Manors, will be published in June 2021. Ad reservations are now being accepted. For rates, e-mail Info@WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

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WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

Celebrate Diversity James Senior

MKD-10514B-A

Financial Advisor 3471 N Federal Hwy Ste 601 Ft Lauderdale, FL 33306 954-565-5882

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

m COMMUNITY NEWS

The newly-opened Residences at Equality Park.

A shining moment for the Pride Center PHOTO: THE PRIDE CENTER

The Residences at Equality Park open its doors to LGBT seniors

I

n what is nothing short of a shining moment for the Pride Center, the first residents have moved into The Residences at Equality Park.

This means one of South Florida’s most overlooked populations, aging members of the LGBTQ+ community, now have a new affordable housing option in Broward County.

The major undertaking at Equality Park includes 48 units ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom apartments – 34 of which are set aside as permanent supportive housing for low-income seniors ages 55 and older with a disabling condition who need on-site supportive services in order to maintain their housing.

The facility offers supportive services for senior adults living with disabling conditions such as physical illnesses or disabilities due to complications from diseases including HIV/AIDS – with a special focus on members of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning) community.

The residential community is managed by Carrfour Supportive Housing, Florida’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developer. Car-

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rfour partnered with The Pride Center at Equality Park, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit LGBTQ+ community centers, to develop The Residences at Equality Park.

Located at 2040 North Dixie Highway on The Pride Center’s Equality Park campus, The Residences represents Florida’s very first affordable housing community with customized support services for LGBTQ+ Active Agers.

Groundbreaking on the project took place in the summer of 2019, and construction progressed quickly over the following year. As development neared completion, Carrfour Supportive Housing and The Pride Center hosted a virtual lottery drawing in July 2020 with Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich and then Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green to select applicants from the more than 1,500 applications received from individuals eager to live at The Residences at Equality Park.

Nearly half of LGBTQ seniors in the United States live with a disabling condition, according to the Institute for Multigenerational Health.

Of the 48 units, 43 were available to resi-

dents earning 60% or less of Broward County’s Area Median Income (AMI) – which would equate to a maximum annual income of about $35,400 per year for a one-person household, and about $40,400 per year for a two-person household. The remaining five units were available to those earning 33% or less of the AMI – which would equate to a maximum annual income of about $17,700 per year for a one-person household, and about $20,200 per year for a two-person household.

Situated on The Pride Center’s five-acre Equality Park campus in Wilton Manors, the four-story apartment building offers amenities such as a fitness center, library, computer room and community room.

AIDS WALK SET FOR APRIL 24 The Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival has been rescheduled for April 24, 2021 with a goal of raising $1 million to fight AIDS. Some $716,000 has been raised so far. For more info, visit floridaaidswalk.org

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m EDUCATION

Winners of the Wilton Manors Manatee Decorating Contest pose with their prizes at Wilton Manors Elementary (left) and Somerset Academy (above).

THE MANY COLORS OF MACK

Kids’ Manatee Coloring Contest memorializes Mayor Flippen

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The contest was a success and partiche Wilton Manors Manatee Decoipating students were recognized and rating Contest has become a new awarded prizes at the city’s 2019 Holiday annual tradition in memory of its Tree Lighting Ceremony. beloved creator, the late Mayor Justin In its second year, a significant presFlippen. ence of the contest was missed. Mayor The children’s coloring contest was an initiative started by the late Mayor FlipFlippen passed away in February 2020 pen in 2019. His love for children birthed due to a brain aneurysm on his way to a the idea as an interactive concept comcity commission meeting. The tragedy bining students and community with left the community, his friends, and his the unveiling of Wilton Manors City’s family devastated. But his spirit now new mascot, Mack the Manatee. lives on in many of his accomplishArmed with the great idea, Mayor Flipments and initiatives like the Justin pen reached out to his two friends, ClauFlippen Annual Kids Manatee Decoratdia Castillo of Claudia Castillo ART ing Contest. studio and Realtor Ron “This contest will forFalk, to bring the contest ever be a memorial to “His love for children to life.

Mayor Justin Flippen, By late 2019, the first who was such a special and this community Manatee Decorating Conperson and my good will be honored and test was in full swing friend,” a passionate celebrated each year as Claudia Castillo told us. with grade school children from Wilton Manors we remember his legacy “Justin’s life was dediElementary as the desigcated to public service as with this contest...” nated creative artists. All the People’s Mayor. His —Claudia Castillo students from each grade love for children and this (first through fifth) were community will be honencouraged to participate. The outline of ored and celebrated each year as we rea manatee was given to all the contestmember his legacy with this contest.” ants so that they could decorate it using The annual kid’s contest takes place any type of medium, from paint to markCONTINUED--> ers and crayons.

WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com

Mack the Manatee, the mascot of Wilton Manors, is now the subject of an annual coloring contest. The mascot is seen with its creator, the late Mayor Justin Flippen.

Business Connection | Q1 2021 | 29

Kids’ Manatee Coloring Contest memorializes Mayor Flippen

The winning entries were displayed at Claudio Castillo Art Gallery.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE every year during the Fall. For 2020, the elementary school Somerset Academy Village joined in on the fun with the students of Wilton Manors Elementary. As the contest dictates, students from first to fifth grade are encouraged to print out a provided PDF of the manatee and color or paint it with their artistic flair. The contest started on October 26, 2020, and by the due date of November 20, 2020. More than 170 entries were submitted.

Castillo and Falk were judges along with the seven other individuals: the late mayor’s father and mother Jim and Stephanie Flippen; Wilton Manors City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson; Michael d’Oliveira and Clark Rogers of the Pelican newspaper, Peter Kiplinger of Rosie’s Bar & Grille and Peter Jackson, representing the Wilton Manors Business Association.

First, second, and third place winners were selected from each grade level in both schools. Top winners each re-

ceived a $20 gift card graciously provided by one of the contest’s sponsors, the Wilton Manors Business Association (WMBA).

More than 20 community partners joined the 2020 Sponsor List. With such an abundant array of donors, the contest was able to award the top winners from each school 36 prizes in total and an additional 70 remaining gift cards were available to be raffled off to the other contestants. The top winners’ manatee designs were also displayed on location at the Claudia Castillo Art studio on Wilton Drive and on the studio’s website (www.claudiacastilloARTstudio.com) for the month of December.

Winners were announced at the December City of Wilton Manors commission meeting.

• To become a sponsor and/or for any other questions regarding the contest, reach out to Claudia Castillo at claudiacastilloartist@gmail.com.

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S PORTER , SPEND YOUR MONEY WITH OUR SUP

Are you a business that opens its doors to the LGBTQ community with non-discrimination policies? We want to highlight you through our Open Doors/Puertas Abiertas online bilingual directory of friendly and inclusive businesses.

As a member of the Wilton Manors Business Association, your listing is complimentary. For the special promotional link, please email rene@equalityflorida.org

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BUSINESS REFERRAL NETWORK DIRECTORY

Always Refer a WMBA Business Member Professional!

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MAIL TO:

P.O. Box 24332 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307

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2020

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