OCW March 2014 by Our City Media

w Vi w si w. t ou us rc o it y n we lin st e on a .cot m

delivers real estate results see feature property pg. 45

Your local communitY news magazine!

march 2014

w Vi w si w. t ou us rc o it y n we lin st e on a .cot m

HR Harry Rosen Law

feature storY:

International Dance Academy is simply the Best!

Your LocaL communitY news magazine! august 2013

New Office iN westON

Personal Injury (Accidents, Slip & Fall) Wrongful Death • Medical Malpractice

SUMMER CAMP

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• Ballet, Technique, Pointe, Repertoire • Contemporary, Jazz, Stretch

2645 Executive Park Drive Weston, FL 33331

954.640.0259 | 954.895.7925 Your Legal Eagle Harry M. rosen

Board Certified Trial Lawyer for 30 Years First Mayor of Weston Former Mayor of Miramar

Board Certified Lawyers are:

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Dancing… Learning… Performing!! Simply the Best Dance

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

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International Dance Academy Call Now To Confirm Your Booking

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March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

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March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Samira Alempour, DMD

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WESTON

Absolutely stunning home! Recently remodeled. Lots of upgrades! Offered at $ 1,099,000 Call Lisa Meyers- Archer - 954-732-3775

DAVIE

Custom built equestrian home in one of Davie’s most desirable communities. 8 Bedrooms, 7 ½ baths, 4 car garage, 8400 sq.ft. on builders acre. Resort style pool with waterfall Offered at $ 2,699,000 Call Stan Rosen - 305-510-8032

WESTON

4 bedroom, plus library/office with over 4700 sq ft of living space. Home sits on 1 acre + lot. Huge 3000 sq ft pool deck. Accordion shutters. Offered at $ 1,195,498 Call Stan Rosen - 305-510-8032

ale rt S Sho

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

This is a gem in Lighthouse Point. Beautiful luxury home with 5 Bedrooms 5 ½ baths, magnificent custom pool with raised spa and 90 feet of deep water dockage. A must see!! Offered at $ 1,020,000 Call Indra Ragbir - 954-818-1475

WESTON

Stunning custom 5 bedroom 4 ½ bath golf course estate located in the premier neighborhood of Poinciana in Weston Hills Country Club. Home boasts over 5000 sq ft. Resort style pool and spa. Offered at $ 1,480,000 Call Annette Lewandowski – 954-275-9204

HOLLY WOOD

One of a kind home sits on the most prestigious point in Hollywood Oaks. 1 acre of SHEER paradise. Scenic lake views. Offered at $ 1,250,000 Call Lizabeth Rafaeli – 954-993-4760

D Sol

DAVIE

Unique & sleek completely renovated contemporary home in Davie. 35,000 sq ft lot with a pond. Offered at $ 895,000 Call Lourdes Maestres - 786-385-8422

DAVIE

Magnificent 5 bedroom 4 bath with an addition of 1,540 sq. ft. with rock climbing wall, all impact glass or shutters overlooking the serene lake. Gorgeous heated pool/spa with lighted rock waterfall. Sold for $ 1,050,000 Call Jean Kachik - 954-646-0777

SW RANCHES

Unbelievable value in this private gated, 5,900 sq ft 6 bedroom, 5 full bath home situated on 3 manicured acres plus 1700 sq ft guest house/barn. Offered at $ 1,695,000 Call Jean Kachik - 954-646-0777

HOLLY WOOD

Beautifully restored and recently renovated historic home by the Hollywood Beach and Boardwalk. Offered at $ 849,000 Call Robert Mallek - 561-906-7008

WESTON

Carefree Condo living In Legends At Weston Hills Country Club 4 bed 3 bath on golf course and water. Elevator, accordion hurricane shutters Remodeled with beautiful upgrades A must see. Magnificent!! Offered at $ 639,188 Call Stanley Rosen – 305-510-8032

WESTON

Elegant 5 bedroom, waterfront pool home. Close to shopping and A- rated schools. Offered at $ 567,900 Call Priscilla Gonsalves - 305-343-3191

e Sal rt Sho

WESTON

Impeccable and spacious 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath. Decorator designed. Offered at $ 505,000 Call Flor Blanchett – 305-439-3320

WESTON

Beautiful, spacious 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath Home in GREAT community in Weston. Priced to sell! Offered at $ 499,188 Call Stanley Rosen – 305-510-8032

Exceptional value!! Large 5 bedroom home in Savanna. Walking distance to excellent schools and community center & park. Offered at $ 450,000 Call Paul Tremblay - 954-243-8894

e Sal rt o h S

PEMBROKE PINES

Beautiful well kept 4 bedroom 2 ½ bath home in mint condition located in a quiet neighborhood. Offered at $ 400,000 Call Minerva Strum - 754-366-3072

WESTON

Looking to upgrade to a wonderful home? This is it! Stunning custom home In Savanna has amazing water views, 6 large bedrooms and 4 full baths, large backyard, the best views in Savanna. Offered at $ 712,000 Call Angie Guerrero - 954-815-0671

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Enjoy your quiet lake and preserve back yard while relaxing on your screened patio. This 4 bedroom 2 bath home is located in a resort style gated community. Offered at $ 440,000 Call Minerva Strum - 754-366-3072

THE KEYES COMPANY 1535 Three Village Rd, Weston, FL 33326

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Contents

Mayor’s Message

publisher's page

Real Estate

calendar

Legislative Look

24 Weston Welcomes Bikes, Trikes and Construction Cranes

30 2014: South Florida Real Estate Shoots Out of the Cannon

12 Here We Grow, Again!

32 An Attempt to Repeal an Archaic Law

14 March 2014

Camp News

36 Exciting Changes in Store at Camp Sagemont this Summer

School News

Community News 16 17 18 20 20 22 23 25 26 26 28 29 33 34

Family Fun Ride and Bike Rodeo to Feature BMX Stunt Show Symphony of the Americas to Perform Pops Concert Community Gets Creative at Celebrate the Arts International Women’s Day Celebrates Women’s Volunteer Services AAUW Weston Hosts Human Trafficking Awareness Program Weston University Students are Armed and Educated Weston is Snowbound at Winter Safety Expo Weston Ranked as Second Safest City in Florida Weston Launches Massive Parks Improvement Project Construction to Begin on Administrative Services Building Smoke Alarms Save Lives Community Shows its Colors to Support B’nai Aviv Preschool YMCA Volunteers Clean-up Children’s Harbor Expert Health Advice is Only a Click Away

38 Tequesta Trace Middle School Kicks Off County’s “Think B4U Post” Initiative 38 Country Isles Elementary Schools Parents on Cyber-Bullying and Internet Safety 40 Everglades Elementary Class Celebrates Storybook Characters 40 Gator Run Principal Shows School Pride During Spirit Week 50 Weston Christian Academy Unveils State-of-the-Art Science Lab 50 Falcon Cove Middle School Expanding Computer Science Curriculum 52 Gator Run’s Multi-Age Classroom Benefits Students and School 54 Tequesta Trace Peer Tutoring Program Promotes Learning for All Involved 54 Career Day Speaker Inspires Eagle Point Students 55 Cypress Bay Hosting Program on Transition to College 56 Spotlight Shines on Indian Trace Elementary Choral Students 56 Falcon Cove Band Performs for Parents, Passengers and Professionals 58 Essay Contest Encourages Seventh Graders to Speak Up 63 Cypress Bay Student’s Hockey Shot Selected as ESPN Play of the Day

Health and Wellness 43 61 74 78 84

Fatigue – Is It Your Adrenal Glands? Fast, Pain-Free Laser Hair Removal Upper Back Pain Easing the Pain of Divorce for Your Child Could My Computer Be Giving Me a Syndrome?

feature story

44 The Martinez Coalla Group Has Been Delivering Real Estate Results For Over 10 Years

ask the expert 46 69 76 86

Are You Considering A New Look? Timing of Tooth Eruption Plastic Surgery: What We Can Learn From Justin Bieber Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in the Young Athlete

Fitness Forum

62 Yoga for Injury Prevention and Healing

Legally Speaking

64 What Homeowners Need to Know about Florida’s New Speedy Foreclosure Law 70 Dissolution and Financial Disclosure

Tee to green

65 Club Selection When Chipping Around the Green

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Tax Talk

66 Five Secrets to Winning Your Audit

Positive Parenting 68 Protecting the Gift: Keeping Our Children Safe

pet of the Month 80 “Champion and Valentina”

Pet Care 82 Pet Safety

chamber news

87 Weston Area Chamber Networks at Floor & Décor

Rotary News 88 Why Rotary?

New Business Spotlight 90 AMP Tax Consulting, PA, Specializes in Individual and Small Business Tax Services

photo of the month 91 The World’s Favorite Newspaper™

it’s their business

92 Bellissimo Medical Helps Clients Look and Feel Their Best 94 Brinkley Morgan Is Committed to Serving Clients and the Community

snapshots from school 96,98,100 Class Acts

seen on scene 102 Community Snapshots

2014 best of weston 103 Vote Form

Come for your child’s first dental visit! Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Academy of Pediatrics recommends first visit no later than 6 months after first tooth erupts. First children visits stresses the importance of prevention of decay by having the preventive information of taking care of children’s teeth: • Brushing with a soft brush as soon as first tooth comes in. • Importance of good oral health on all family members since cavities are a multifactorial familial disease. • Information on cessation of nonnutritive habits and how they affect developing teeth. • How to be ready for a dental emergency (traumas). • Determination of caries predisposition based on many factors (oral hygiene, diet, genetic predisposition, etc). • When to use fluoride and monitoring it’s ingestion. • And much more...

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• Oral Exam (0150) • X-Rays (0272) • Cleaning (0112) • Orthodontic Exam (8660)

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Orthodontic Services • Braces for children, teens, and adults • Cosmetic braces • Invisalign® clear orthodontic aligners

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The Patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for any other service, examination, or treatment which is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement or the free, discounted fee or reduced fee, service, examination, or treatment

TAG USA Camps – Ready to Rumble and Tumble

Olympian Aly Raism

an visits.

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The award winning TAG USA Spring and Summer Camps is the place to be for SPORTS. TAG USA’s camps have over 200 daily campers, ages 4-15. Boys Sports Camp includes indoor basketball, indoor soccer, trampoline training, and a ton of time flipping into the foam pit. Girls Gymnastic and Tumbling Camp has beginners to advanced to team groups trained by certified counselors and team coaches. The highlight of each themed week

Cheechee

is the FAMOUS GUESTS who just happen to drop by TAG USA to hang out with the campers. Last year, campers met Olympic Gold Medalist Aly Raisman, CheeChee from Disney’s Teen Beach Movie, and Billy the Marlin. This year’s guests and themed weeks promises even more excitement.

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Be A CAmper for jUST A dAy (5+ yrs) $45, A week for $195 or get a SpeCiAl diSCoUnT 3 week pACkAGe for $540 to be used throughout the ten weeks of camp!

This Year ...

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Spring Break

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march 24-28 $45/day $195/wk

1951 N. Commerce Pkwy, Weston

954.384.9393 Register by Phone

publisher's page

Here We Grow, Again!

ith the start of spring this month , we wel-

come the new growth that comes with this season. The flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and we are introducing a new magazine. I’m thrilled to announce that with this issue we are expanding our local community news coverage to the City of Sunrise. Sunrise Town Times is the newest addition to our family of publications which have been serving readers in West Broward for over ten years. Each month Our City Weston and our Town Times magazines deliver award-winning, family-related, local news editorials to keep you informed on everything that is going on in your hometown. The pages are packed with interesting and informative articles about community events, school programs, new businesses and much more. Sunrise Town Times reaches 20,000 homes and businesses located between the Sawgrass Expressway and University Drive. This expands our overall coverage area from the Broward/Dade County line in the south all the way to Commercial Boulevard in the north. Combined with our other five monthly community news magazines serving the cities of Weston, Davie/Cooper City/ Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Miramar and Plantation, we now provide locally focused news to 120,000 households throughout West Broward, reaching an estimated 400,000-plus readers each and every month. All of our publications are available online on our interactive website at www.ourcityweston.com. I invite you to check it out and read about what’s going on in your neighboring communities. Please join me in welcoming Sunrise Town Times to the family and I thank you all for your continued readership. Sincerely,

Publisher/Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SVEN BUDZISCH Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stacey Bomser sales manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Koval Account Representatives . . . . . . . . . . Garry Isabelle, Joyce Bak,

Vanessa da Rocha, Kim Mills, Mariem Garcia, Ada Rivera Office manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gabriela Moscoso Graphic Design & photographY . . . . . . . Barry Stock, Grace Umlauf Web Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grace Umlauf

Visit us online: www.OurCityWeston.com 1960 N Commerce Parkway, Suite 3, Weston, FL 33326

Ph: 954-306-1007 • Fax 954-306-1008 editor@OurCityWeston.com • graphics@OurCityWeston.com Total circulation is 20,000. Quantum International Corporation, DBA (OCW), is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in the city of Weston verifiable by US Postal statements. Additional free copies are available at locations throughout the city of Weston and upon request by contacting this newspaper. Opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Quantum International Corporation, DBA OCW reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. OCW is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyrighted 2010 by OCW, Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

Sven Budzisch, Publisher/Owner

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calendar March 2014

1 2

1st

Free Car Wash – The youth at St. Paul Lutheran Church are holding a community carwash from 9am to 4pm; absolutely no donations will be accepted. Youth are sponsored by pledges from family and congregation members based on the number of cars they wash. Last year they washed over 300 cars and raised $10,000 to pay for youth mission trips. St. Paul Lutheran Church is at 580 Indian Trace. For more information call (954) 384-9096.

4 5 6 7 8 9

Puppet Show – The Weston Branch Library presents a puppet show by David Goboff from 11-11:45 am. The show is free and all ages are welcome.

9th

15th “The Tortoise and The Hare” – Professional puppeteers perform this modernized version of the Aesop’s fable. Two performances are scheduled at the Weston Community Center, at 1:30pm and 3pm. The puppet show is free and best suited for children ages pre-K through second grade. For more information call (954) 389-4321.

Free Concert in the Park – The City of Weston and the Rotary Club of Weston present the legendary Charlie Daniels Band with special guest Wet Willie. The concert begins at 7pm at the Event Stage in Weston Regional Park. Guests should bring their own blankets and lawn chairs. For more information call (954) 389-4321 or visit www.westonfl.org.

10 11 12 13

16 17 18 19

7th

Kids In Distress Auxiliary Comedy Night – Join the Weston-based Kids In Distress Auxiliary for a night of laughs. The fundraiser features cocktails, silent auction and raffles, followed by a delicious dinner and sidesplitting laughs watching Laffing Matterz’ With a Vengeance at the Broward Center for Performing Arts. To purchase tickets or for more information go to www.kidaux.org.

21 22 23 24 25

8th

26 27

International Women’s Day Celebration – The American Association of University Women – Weston Branch and Mujeres Latinas IML present this free conference celebrating the accomplishments of women in our community. It takes place from 2-4pm at Broward Health Weston. For more information contact aauwweston@gmail.com.

28 29 30 31

19th French Café – The “Bonjour Weston” French Club meets from 9:30-11am at Paul Bakery at Sawgrass Mills Mall. Join them for French conversation (all levels) and to meet new friends who share an interest in French language and culture. Email BonjourWeston@ gmail.com for more information.

23rd

14 15

and helmet safety checks. It’s from 2-5pm. For more information call (954) 389-4321.

Pops Concert – Enjoy a free, outdoor twilight concert of pops and light classics performed by the full Symphony of the Americas orchestra under the baton of Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese. The concert takes place from 6-7:30pm at Weston Town Center; limited seating is available. It is presented by the City of Weston, the Arts Council of Greater Weston and the Weston Town Center, in partnership with the Weston Philharmonic Society.

10th

“Smurfs 2” – Bring the blankets, lawn chairs and plenty of popcorn, it’s time for Moonlight Movies in the Park. All ages will enjoy this animated comedy about the evil wizard Gargamel’s attempt to harness the all-powerful, magical Smurf-essence. The free, family event takes place at the Event Stage in Weston Regional Park at 7:30pm.

16th

“Yoga Unveiled” – Weston Yoga will present a free screening of this movie, along with a question and answer session with Producer Gita Desai. The program takes place from 4-7pm at Weston Yoga, 2600 Glades Circle, Suite 400. Please call (954) 349-6868 to reserve a spot.

Weston Art Guild Meeting – At this month’s meeting, portrait artist Barbara Burk will demonstrate how to paint a head and shoulders portrait from a photograph. She will discuss the materials and various stages of developing a finished painting. The meeting is free and open to the public. It is at 7pm at Rick Case Hyundai. Call (954) 382-6397 for more information.

14th

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

30th

31st

“Gloomy Sunday” – The Weston Foreign Film Series concludes with this movie, set in pre-war Hungary, about a love triangle between a beautiful woman and two handsome, talented young men. Showtimes are at 5pm and 7:15pm at Weston 8 Cinema. Tickets are $7. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www. ArtsCouncilWeston.com or call (954) 389-4321.

Literature and the Law – After viewing the movie, attorney Andy Kassier will lead a discussion on the legal issues raised in the film. The program begins at 12:30pm at the Bonaventure Town Center. The cost is $7, payable at the door. For more information call (954) 384-9428.

Many Cultures, One People – Weston band Fondo Blanco will perform in this evening of multi-cultural entertainment presented by JFS of Broward County. Other performers include Japanese Taiko drummers, a steel drum band, a Klezmer band, and Indian dancers. The show takes place from 5:30-8pm at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. For more information call (954) 370-2140.

April 3rd Family Fun Ride & Bike Rodeo – Pedal over to Weston Regional Park for an afternoon of fun biking activities including a kids bike rodeo, family recreational ride, and new teen bike challenge. The event also promotes bike safety and BSO will provide bike

Weston Friends Club Lunch Bunch – This group meets the first Thursday of the month at different local restaurants. For more information about this activity or about Weston Friends Club, please contact President Claire Jargiello at (954) 384-2722.

Center for the treatment of the foot, ankle & sport related injuries We treat adults, Children & teens

Ankle/foot InjurIes • nerve/tendon problems • WArts • sports medIcIne • frActures • sprAIns • Heel pAIn • bunIons HAmmertoes • flAt feet • toe WAlkers • plAntAr fAscIItIs • lAser treAtment for nAIl funGus noW AvAIlAble

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Community News

Family Fun Ride and Bike Rodeo to Feature BMX Stunt Show By Stacey Bomser

uckle up your helmet

and pedal over to Regional Park for the Weston Family Fun Ride and Bike Rodeo on Sunday, March 16th. This action packed afternoon will feature fun activities, important safety information, and a spectacular BMX bike stunt show. “The City has made a concerted effort to promote bicycle safety over the past several years and this event, now in its third year, is an outgrowth of that campaign and an offshoot of how popular city roadways have become for this recreational sport,” explains City Manager John Flint. “The Family Fun Ride and Bike Rodeo is an effort to instill good riding skills and safety habits at an early age and provide an educational and fun-filled event with something for every age level.” The Family Fun Ride is the perfect opportunity for children to get used to roadway biking. A portion of South Post Road will be closed to traffic to provide cyclists with a safe, fun recreational riding experience. The course, which begins in Regional Park, will be marked with one-, two- and up to three-mile loop options. The ride is open to anyone with a bike. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet. The Broward Sheriff’s Office will host a Bike Rodeo on

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

the basketball courts at Regional Park. This clinic will teach children the importance of riding safely and what skills and precautions they need to develop in order to have a safe and fun time while riding their bikes. The Bike Rodeo will be divided into three age groups, toddlers to age twelve. New this year will be a Teen Bike Challenge, where older riders can show off their skills. All participants in the Bike Rodeo or Teen Bike Challenge must have their own bicycle, tricycle or big wheel and wear a helmet. At 3:30pm, professional riders from Perfection on Wheels BMX Pro Trick Team will show off their skills with an incredible BMX bike stunt show. The afternoon also includes bike safety checks, entertainment, great give-aways and goodies. The Family Fun Ride and Bike Rodeo is presented by the City of Weston in partnership with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Rotary Club of Weston. The third annual Family Fun Ride and Bike Rodeo takes place on Sunday, March 16th from 2-5pm at Regional Park. For more information visit www.westonfl.org and click on “2014 Weston Family Fun Ride” under the Spotlight section, or check out the promotional video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F7dCGZ63xw&featur e=youtu.be.

Community News

Symphony of the Americas to Perform Pops Concert By Stacey Bomser

ou ’ ve probably heard of “movies under the stars,” but on Sunday, March 9th it will be “music under the stars” when the Symphony of the Americas performs at Weston Town Center. Presented by the City of Weston, Weston Philharmonic Society and Weston Town Center, in cooperation with the Arts Council of Greater Weston, this free concert will feature a selection of pops and light classics performed by the full Symphony of the Americas orchestra, under the baton of Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese. Guests can sing and hum along to beloved tunes from stage, screen and history. “The pops concert at Town Center provides a great opportunity to introduce well known classical music in a terrific setting,” states Don Decker, Weston’s Director of Parks and Recreation and city liaison to the Arts Council. “Everyone will enjoy the energy that accompanies an outdoor concert and it is especially great for families with children who may not be ready for the theater environment.” Joy Rodenberg, president of the Arts Council of Greater Weston, says last year’s inaugural Pops Concert was so popular, they are expecting an even bigger turnout this time. “We anticipate that word of mouth will at least double last year’s

crowd. The Arts Council is delighted to once again collaborate with the Weston Philharmonic Society in bringing a world-class symphony orchestra to Weston Town Center to enthrall us all with Broadway selections. What better way to build the community through the arts!” “The outdoor pops concert exhibits the wide scope of programs supported by the Weston Philharmonic Society,” states Roger Lander, WPS Co-President, Operations. “Prior programs have included Opera to Broadway, Cirque de la Symphonie, Broadway Goes to the Movies, the Dallas Brass with the Cypress Bay High School Band, Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon, and last month’s Celebrating Romance concert featuring piano and cello soloists.” Exposing the community to fine music is just one of the Weston Philharmonic Society’s many goals. It also supports educational music programs in Weston elementary schools and provides annual music scholarships to Cypress Bay and Western High School students. The Symphony of the Americas’ Pops Concert will take place on Sunday, March 9th from 6-7:30pm behind the clock tower at Weston Town Center. The outdoor twilight concert is free. Seating is limited; feel free to bring your own chair to enjoy this fabulous performance. For more information contact (954) 389-4321.

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Community News

Community Gets Creative at Celebrate the Arts By Stacey Bomser

eston ’ s arts and cultural community has a lot to cel-

ebrate. The second annual Celebrate the Arts event was a huge success. It is presented by the Arts Council of Greater Weston in cooperation with the City of Weston and Weston Town Center. Arts Council President Joy Rodenberg says the event grew both in terms of participants and especially attendees, with well over 1,000 guests attending the afternoon celebration. “The addition of a face painter and caricature artist were both big hits, with lines at both booths all day long. Attendees enjoyed the hands-on art and musical activities, performances by the Sagemont and Cypress Bay performing arts departments, and browsed and shopped the Mujeres Latinas art show,” notes Rodenberg. “Of course, one of the most popular attractions was our graffiti wall, where everyone had a chance to discover their inner artist and leave their mark. It was covered with everyone’s creativity by the end of the day.” Creative expression is what Celebrate the Arts is all about. Children were encouraged to exhibit their artistic talent at the Young At Art Museum’s open air studio. It featured painting on canvas, sculpting on a pottery wheel, and other arts and crafts. Music Tech Studios presented the hands-on “playing patch” where aspiring

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

musicians of all ages could try out trombones, violins, drums, guitars and other instruments. Members of Mujeres Latinas Impulsando Mujeres Latinas exhibited at this year’s event. These wonderfully talented ladies presented their artwork, jewelry and craft items to admire and purchase. Celebrate the Arts also promoted the performing arts programs in our local schools. Drama, band and chorus students from both Cypress Bay High School and The Sagemont School performed throughout the afternoon. “Sagemont’s rock band ‘Sagemont Synergy’ made its Weston debut at this event and they rocked the house!” declared Jami Rahn, event co-chair and Arts Council vice president. “Sagemont sixth grader Zachary Dishinger came straight off the plane from Orlando where he was awarded Critics Choice for Solo Musical in the Junior Thespian competition. He wowed the crowd with his performance.” Rahn says the Cypress Bay Jazz Band also impressed the audience with its performance, especially the incredible sax solo by Shelbie Rassler. The afternoon concluded with a dance party led by Jimmy Jam Productions. The DJ taught hip hop moves to kids of all ages and engaged children in a variety of fun games.

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Community News

International Women’s Day Celebrates Women’s Volunteer Services By Stacey Bomser

mpowering . I nspirational .

Enlightening. International Women’s Day, presented by the Weston Branch of the American Association of University Women and Mujeres Latinas IML, promises to be all that and much more as it recognizes women who are making a difference in our community and the world. Everyone is invited to join the celebration on Saturday, March 8th. International Women’s Day was established by the United Nations in 1975 as “a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.” Since 2007, AAUW Weston has honored local women and women’s groups. Three years ago they invited Mujeres Latinas to partner with them. “AAUW Weston tries to reach out to other groups to work together on topics or issues of importance to both groups,” explains Dr. Kamala Anandam, AAUW Weston President. “Mujeres Latinas had also been celebrating International Women’s Day, so we decided to combine our efforts.” Ana Valladares, President of Mujeres Latinas, and Nicole Castater, Member AAUW Weston, serve on the planning committee. This year’s Keynote Speaker will certainly appeal to both groups. Myriam Marquez is the Executive Editor of el Nuevo Herald, the largest Spanish-language daily newspaper in the country. Prior to this position, she had been Opinions Editor at the Miami Herald. She was the first woman and Hispanic to lead the Herald’s opinion pages. The Cuban-born journalist, who grew up in Miami, has always used her writing to expose wrongs and advocate for the rights of all citizens. Two local activists will be honored during the International Women’s Day program. Josie Ashton is founder of “Bridal Walk,” which raises awareness about

domestic violence. After learning about the brutal murder of a Dominican woman who was killed by an abusive ex-boyfriend in front of her family on her wedding day, Ashton organized a walk in her honor. Wearing her own wedding dress, Ashton walked from the New Jersey home where the woman was murdered all the way to Miami, visiting 22 cities and staying in 14 domestic violence shelters along the way. Today, Bridal Walks are held in Florida, New York, Wisconsin, Washington DC, and the Dominican Republic. The other honoree works on behalf of the United Nations, which established International Women’s Day. Blanca Moore-Velez, PhD, has been President of the Broward County Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United State of America for the past 13 years. During that period, the UNA-USA has introduced the Broward community to over 100 scholars and renowned artists, officials and dignitaries at the annual U.N. Day celebration. The chapter also presents scholarships and awards to local high school students and helped raise funds to build the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Dr. Moore-Velez’s other accomplishments include organizing the Fort Lauderdale Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Inc. and mentoring ten young men, two of whom are in medical school, two are lawyers, one is a professional businessman and another an Elder in his church. The Weston Branch of the American Association of University Women and Mujeres Latinas host the annual International Women’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 8th from 2-4pm at Broward Health Weston, 2300 North Commerce Parkway. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://weston-fl.aauw.net.

AAUW Weston Hosts Human Trafficking Awareness Program By Stacey Bomser

he Weston B ranch of the American A ssociation of U niversity Women recently hosted a program addressing a very real issue here in South Florida – human trafficking. AAUW President Dr. Kamala Anandam says she was prompted to organize this educational forum after hearing a speech by the president of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition. “I became aware of how extensive human trafficking is in South Florida and the lack of awareness of the problem among the general public. Since women and girls are being trafficked for sex, it became natural for AAUW Weston to organize an event to increase the awareness of the public about this issue.” Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. The Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking defines it as, “the commercial exchange and exploitation of humans including forced prostitution and pornography, involuntary labor, servitude and debt bondage.” It is the second most common criminal activity behind illegal drug trade.

Weston Mayor Dan Stermer, President of the Broward County League of Cities Susan Starkey, and AAUW Community Relations Director Renee Smoley.

Dr. Kamala Anandam, President of AAUW Weston, accepts a proclamation from Weston City Commissioner Toby Feuer.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

During his opening address, Weston Mayor Daniel Stermer complimented AAUW Weston for organizing the event while reiterating the severity of the problem. City Commissioner Toby Feuer and Broward County Commissioner Martin Kiar both presented proclamations to AAUW Weston. According to Dr. Anandam, “Both commissioners highlighted that human trafficking, and more specifically sex trafficking is a $20 billion global and national enterprise, and in its totality may affect as many as 27 million people worldwide, two million of whom are children.” Attendees then heard from a panel of speakers on the subject including Adriana Reesey, President of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition, Patricia Vazquez, SE Region Criminal Justice Coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families, BSO Detective Nick Masters, Deputy Statewide Prosecutor Julie Chaikin Hogan, and Susan Starkey, President of the Broward County League of Cities. Trina Robinson of NBC 6 News served as moderator. Dr. Anandam says the program was so successful the AAUW Weston plans to host an event on this topic each January, in recognition of human trafficking awareness month. In addition, she says the group will be looking to see if any bill is being proposed to punish traffickers and their clients; members will lobby legislators to pass it.

AAUW Weston President Dr. Kamala Anandam welcomes guests to the human trafficking awareness program. Seated are moderator Trina Robinson and panelists Adriane Reesey and Patricia Vazquez. Photos courtesy Herb Stein.

To learn more about the severity of human trafficking and what can be done to prevent it, visit the State of Florida’s site at http://www.stophumantrafficking.org, Broward County’s site at http://bhtc.us/, or the national website at http://www. polarisproject.org. To report suspicious activity call the National Human Trafficking tip line at 888-373-7888.

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Community News

Weston University Students are Armed and Educated By Stacey Bomser

eston U niversity students

got a first-hand lesson in law enforcement. On Police Services Day, students learned what Weston BSO does to keep our community safe. The students started the day at the Weston Police Services Center. There, Police Chief Kevin Butler explained how the Broward Sheriff’s Office works, including the various departments such as public information, professional compliance, training and detention. In addition, Chief Butler spoke of Weston’s emphasis on community policing, its efforts and effects. Following this informative session, students took a field trip to the BSO Tactical Training Facility at Markham Park. There, they learned about firearm safety and were able to complete a “shoot house” Armed with fake guns, training exercise armed Weston University students took part with paint pellet hand guns. in a “shoot house” During their actiontraining exercise.

Vaccaro and Crime Prevention Deputy Alan Barnes. This month, the Weston University curriculum will focus on local government and finance. The students will learn how local taxes are figured, explore sources of City revenues including non-tax revenues and user fees, and examine the Weston Budget. The students will also be assigned their roles for the City Commission Simulation. That is the culminating activity for Weston University when students must utilize all of the knowledge of local government they have gained throughout the program to carry out a mock city commission meeting.

Weston University students learned about law enforcement. Photos courtesy City of Weston.

packed day, the students also explored various SWAT vehicles, witnessed the expertise of the BSO K-9 handlers and their dogs, and attempted the SWAT physical training course. The class toured a detention facility inside the Weston Police Services Building, where a few found themselves “locked up” behind bars. The exciting and exhilarating day was arranged by BSO Lieutenant Rodney Brimlow, Sergeant Rich

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Community News

Weston is Snowbound at Winter Safety Expo By Stacey Bomser

equesta Trace Park was transformed

into a winter wonderland for the second annual Weston Winter Safety Expo. The event, which is presented by the City of Weston and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, is designed to educate the community on all of the resources available to keep residents safe. BSO was out in full force, showcasing its impressive fleet of fire and rescue trucks, motorcycles, helicopters, and other emergency vehicles. Guests also had the opportunity to admire and explore a Coast Guard boat, SWAT truck, and even the U.S. Postal Inspectors Mobile Command Center. Officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission brought along one of their K9 puppies, along with a baby alligator. The evening also featured plenty of entertainment, including performances by local dance studios, and children’s activities such as games, bounce houses and a DJ. There were also informational booths and educational displays. In keeping with the winter wonderland theme, guests enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies and posed for photos as cuddly penguins and silly snowmen. But the highlight of the night was definitely the snow! All eyes were on the skies as snow flurries fell in South Florida. Everyone enjoyed the refreshing feeling of reaching up to catch the icy cold snowflakes.

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Mayor’s Message

Weston Welcomes Bikes, Trikes and Construction Cranes By Mayor Daniel J. Stermer

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one of the most beautiful communities in the nation, but this winter we have seen brutal weather throughout the U.S, with the rare exception of South Florida! To go along with this fabulous weather, we have had a season filled with events and activities to be enjoyed throughout our parks system. I’d like to highlight one such upcoming event, the 2014 Weston Family Fun Ride & Bike Rodeo, on Sunday, March 16th from 2PM to 5PM in the Weston Regional Park. I encourage everyone with a bike (or not) to come on out for a fun and educational afternoon. There will be several information stations to visit that include: ▸▸ Bike and Helmet Safety Checks ▸▸ Bike Safety Education ▸▸ Teen Bike Challenge ▸▸ BMX Stunt Show ▸▸ Kids Bike Rodeo (three age groups) – clinic teaching children the importance of riding safely and what skills and precautions they need to develop to have a fun and safe time on their bikes or trikes. Children must bring their own bicycle or big wheel AND a helmet. ▸▸ Family Fun Ride – several lengths of rides will be available on a closed stretch of South Post Road. There will be music to ride by and also giveaways at specific distance increments. ▸▸ Additional activities, displays and demonstrations as well as bounce houses for children’s enjoyment.

Along with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, this year we welcome participation from our friends at the Rotary Club of Weston. This event is the perfect venue to enjoy a safe, fun and educational riding experience for all ages. Residents who drive Royal Palm Boulevard will soon see construction begin on our Administrative Services Building which will be on the campus area that includes City Hall, Fire Station No. 81 and the Weston Police Services Building. The 3-story structure will have a of total 27,000 square feet that will house Building Code Services, Code Enforcement, Fire Inspection and Information Technology staff on a daily basis, and provide a records retention area for the office of the City Clerk. The building will provide dedicated space, the entire 2nd floor and part of the 3rd floor, for an Emergency Operations Center, that will hold and house the number of personnel necessary to respond during a crisis or disaster situation. This space will also be utilized during non-emergency times as a training area to meet the needs of larger departments such as police and fire. A storm hardened facility; this is the final link missing in our public infrastructure to enable us to operate 24-hours a day from a central command center during a crisis situation. We look to have the building occupied in June 2015. We hope that everyone enjoys the upcoming Passover and Easter holidays and for students looking forward to Spring Break, both here and those away at college, have fun and be safe. I hope to see you all at our great family events. Mayor Stermer can be contacted via email at dstermer@westonfl.org or (954) 385-2000.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Community News

Weston Ranked as Second Safest City in Florida By Stacey Bomser

ood news Weston residents!

We live in the second safest city in Florida. A recent study by Movoto, a real estate research site, found Weston to be a veritable safe haven, second only behind Parkland. With over 67,000 residents, Weston is the largest city on Movoto’s list of Florida’s safest cities. According to the website’s research, out of 723 crimes only about nine percent were violent crimes. According to Movoto, the reason Weston didn’t rank higher in its study was because of the high incidence of property crime. There were 148 reported burglaries and 493 incidents of theft. All told, residents in Weston only have a one in 93 chance of being the victim to any type of crime, easily making it one of the safest cities in the Sunshine State. Parkland, with just over 24,000 residents, saw a mere 255 crimes in 2012 — only 20 of which were violent. As for the other 235 crimes, 73 percent of those property crimes were theft. There were also 52 reported burglaries. Rounding out the top ten safest cities are Marco Island, Sanibel, Punta Gorda, Longboat Key, Bay Harbor Islands, Niceville, Valparaiso, and Groveland. For those that are curious, Florida City ranked lowest on the list. Of its 1,396 total crimes, 242 were violent crimes making it the least safe city in the state. Florida City residents have a 1 in 8 chance of being the victim of a crime. Opa

Locka, Lake City, Cocoa, and Lake Park also ranked at the bottom. In order to compile the list, Movoto Real Estate looked at the FBI’s 2012 report of crime statistics. It selected the 202 Florida cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more. The company then evaluated these locations in terms of three criteria: property crime (theft, burglary, motor vehicle thefts); violent crime (rape, murder, assault); and the chance a resident will be a victim of crime. For violent crime and property crime, it calculated the number of transgressions per resident. In order to determine a resident’s chances of being the victim of a crime, it used the total number of crimes in the city. Then, Movoto ranked each city from one to 202 using these three criteria; the lower the number, the better the score. The company then weighted the criteria with a greater emphasis placed on violent crime, followed by property crime, and finally, the chance a resident could be the victim of a crime. Violent crime made up 50 percent of its ranking, property crime made up 30 percent, and a resident’s chances of being the victim of a crime made up 20 percent. To learn more about the top ten safest cities in Florida go to http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/ safest-places-in-florida/.

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Community News

Weston Launches Massive Parks Improvement Project By Stacey Bomser

he City of Weston prides itself on

its extensive parks system. It operates 13 municipal parks providing residents with recreational facilities, organized sports leagues and tranquil, reflective spaces. This year, the City has embarked on a massive parks improvement project, including a complete renovation of Peace Mound Park. “Just like someone’s home, Weston’s parks need to be updated and improved to retain their value,” explains Don Decker, Director of Parks and Recreation. “The economic conditions of the last several years made that challenging, so this year a number of projects are happening at once.” Decker says the City is seeing a growing interAdditional trees were est in beach volleyball. Several of the projects added at Indian Trace involve expanding these opportunities throughout Park to provide shade and aesthetic value. Photos the city. “We recently opened a volleyball court at courtesy City of Weston. Eagle Point Park and added lighting for night play to the third court at Regional Park.” The parks department is also addressing the drainage issues affecting some of the sports fields. According to Decker, bad weather and heavy use tax the grass playing fields. “To help combat the weather we have made drainage improvements at the football and lacrosse fields at Tequesta Trace Park, and will be addressing the soccer fields at Regional Park over the summer,” states Decker. “In addition, we will be installing our first large scale synthetic turf field surfaces on some of the

underused hockey courts at Regional Park. This will provide a new place to move some activities, thus giving the real grass fields needed rest.” Other much-needed sports improvements include resurfacing the basketball courts at Regional Park and the track at Tequesta Trace Park, as well as re-sodding soccer and football fields. The City is also committed to updating the landscaping at some of the parks. Workers recently planted palms and hardwood trees near the playground and basketball courts at Indian Trace Park. As these trees grow, they will provide shade opportunities as well as a more attractive view. The renovations at Peace Mound Park call for the addition of 100 more trees enhancing the aesthetic sense of peacefulness and tranquility that Peace Mound Park is known for. Decker says one of the most widely anticipated parks improvement projects is set to begin this summer with the renovation of the dated and worn restroom buildings at Regional, Vista, Tequesta and Emerald Estates parks.

Top: A sand volleyball court was added at Eagle Point Park to help meet the increased demand for beach volleyball facilities within Weston. Bottom: The City made drainage improvements to the football and lacrosse fields at Tequesta Trace Park.

Construction to Begin on Administrative Services Building By Stacey Bomser

onstruction is set to begin on an Administrative S ervices

Building and Emergency Operations Center, adjacent to City Hall and near the Police Services Building. The $5.2 million project is slated to open in June of next year, just in time for hurricane season. “The City has not had a dedicated, hardened space for an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that could hold as well as house all of the necessary personnel needed during a crisis or disaster,” explains Denise Barrett, Weston’s Director of Communications. The three-story building will house approximately 40 employees on a daily basis, as several city departments will be relocated from leased space throughout the city into the new facility. The Building Code Services Department, Zoning Code Services, Code Enforcement, Fire Marshal and Fire Code Services will all be located on the first floor. That floor will also have a records storage area for city records and files which are maintained by the City Clerk’s office. This will free up needed space at the Public Works Services Center. Barrett says the building’s second floor will be a secure space dedicated for use as an Emergency Operations Center. It will also be used as a training facility mainly for police and fire use. The City’s Information

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Technology Department will also have offices on this floor; those personnel are currently scattered in various locations. The third floor will provide sleeping rooms for EOC personnel and space for future expansion needs. “This facility will enhance services to the community and relocate building, code enforcement, fire code services and IT onto a campus area that includes City Hall, Police and Fire Services for convenient access by the public as well as emergency responses,” states Barrett. The 27,000 square-foot facility will be built on Royal Palm Boulevard, next to City Hall. The architectural design will be similar to that of City Hall, with less windows. Of course, being that this is an emergency operations center, the structure will be built to the latest hurricane codes and equipped with impact-resistant windows. It will also feature back-up power generators. The Emergency Operations Center project is financed by a $5.2 million loan secured by the City last December.

The new Administrative Services Building will house Weston’s Emergency Operations Center which will serve as a central command center during a crisis or disaster situation, such as a hurricane. Photos courtesy City of Weston.

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write one for a lesser amount for chiropractic. When you bring in this article (by 3/31/14) you will receive my entire new patient exam for $45. That’s with x-rays, biomechanical exam, history and consultation…the whole ball of wax. This exam could cost you $250 elsewhere. The law says that I must tell you THAT YOu OR AnY OTHeR peRSOn ReSpOnSIBLe FOR pAYMenT HAS THe RIgHT TO ReFuSe TO pAY, cAnceL pAYMenT, OR Be ReIMBuRSeD FOR TReATMenT, WHIcH IS peRFORMeD AS A ReSuLT OF AnD WITHIn 72 HOuRS OF ReSpOnDIng TO THe ADveRTISeMenT FOR DIScOunTeD, OR ReDuceD Fee FOR SeRvIce, eXAMInATIOn, OR TReATMenT.

want to give credit where credit is due. So, perhaps a confession can help clear the air so there’s no misunderstanding. Before I talk about my confession, though, let me say a few other things first. Let me start by explaining the photo in this letter. You know, when I meet people in town they usually say, “Oh, yeah, I know you, you’re Dr. Rick. I’ve seen your ad with that picture of you and your family.” Well, I’m the guy on the right. Twenty-five years ago something happened to me that changed my life forever. I was a junior in high school and I started getting migraines. I had suffered from intense headaches since childhood. Over the years, I consulted many medical doctors, and specialists. I went through all kinds of tests, MRIs, and treatments. I tried every drug in the market; our medicine cabinet looked like a hospital’s infirmary. And still, nothing helped. But there’s more… A friend of mine convinced me to give a chiropractor a try. The chiropractor examined me, took X-rays, and then “adjusted” my spine. The adjustment did not hurt; it actually felt good. And guess what…I started feeling so much better! From daily migraines, I went down to three a week, and then to once in a great while. That’s when I realized that I wanted to become a chiropractor and help others. That’s how it happened! It’s strange how life is, because now people come to see me with their migraines. They also come to me with their chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, backaches, ear infections, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, athletic injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, just to name a few. Here’s what some of my patients had to say: “Due to an auto accident, I suffered from severe neck pain, vertigo and I could not raise my arm to comb my hair. Now I am symptom free with no medication and I can do everything I could not do before.” – E. Heaney, Hollywood, FL “Thanks to the DRX 9000 and the doctors, I no longer have chronic sciatic pain. It’s been a long time since I have taken pain medication.” – J. Walker, Miramar

Several times a day patients thank me for helping them with their health problems. But I can’t really take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never healed anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve pressure, and the body responds by healing itself. We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that! Forty-five million Americans no longer have health insurance, and those who do have found that their benefits have been greatly reduced. That’s where chiropractic comes in. I have a significantly lower fee plan so that more people are able to afford the care they need. An entire week of care in my office costs what you could pay for one visit elsewhere. Another way to save…studies show that chiropractic can double your immune capacity, naturally and without drugs. The immune system fights colds, the flu, and other ailments. So you may not be running off to the doctor as much. Studies show that people actually pay less for their long-term overall health care expenses if they are seeing a chiropractor. You benefit from an amazing offer. Look, it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to correct your health. You are going to write a check to someone for your health care expenses, you may as well

great care at a great fee…please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. My qualifications…I’m a graduate of Life college and have been practicing for over 10 years. I’ve been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to pro athletes that you may know. I am constantly going to seminars and updating my knowledge so I can give my patients the latest information and techniques of my profession. My assistants are Mylene and Johanna – really great people. Our office is both friendly and warm and we try our best to make you feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. Our office is called Windmill Health center and it’s at 17160 Royal palm Blvd., Suite 1 in the Windmill professional plaza. Our phone number is 954-217-4881. call Mylene, Johanna or Annie for an appointment. We can help you. Thank you. For more information regarding our services please visit our website www.WindmillHealthcenter.com. If you would like to email us with your questions, you may reach us at WindmillHealth@ att.net – Rick Behar, D.C. P.S. I am also offering the second family member for only $37. p.p.S. Your time is as valuable as mine. That’s why I have a no-wait policy. You will be seen within minutes of your appointment.

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Community News

Smoke Alarms Save Lives By Weston Assistant District Chief Bruce Caruso

Our primary goal is to have a long lasting and comfortable relationship with our patients. We provide 24-hour emergency care. Also, we can assist you in all of the latest techniques in oral hygiene. · Sealants · Bonding - direct or porcelain veneers · Tooth colored fillings · Porcelain crowns and bridges · Dentures and partial dentures · Non-surgical Periodontics (gum treatment) · Cleaning · Extractions · Implant restorations · Children's dentistry · Conscious Sedation · Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) · Night Guards · Bleaching Procedures · Opalescence (Home Kit) · Zoom (In-Office and Home Kit) · Beyond and above all, our gentle touch!

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n S unday, March 9 th , Daylight Savings Time

begins. Remember to change your clocks one hour ahead. It is also “time” to change your smoke alarm batteries. This has been a recommended practice by local fire departments for the past several years to ensure that smoke alarm batteries are changed twice a year. The other time that you will change the batteries is when Daylight Savings time ends in November. According to the National Fire Protection Agency almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. It is very important to have working smoke alarms with working batteries in your home. If you have them, it greatly lowers your chances of dying in a fire. According to news media, there were 167 civilian fire fatalities in the United States last year in homes where there were no smoke alarms installed or they were not working. In comparison, there were only 33 reported fatalities in homes with working smoke alarms.

The following are ten easy tips on smoke alarm safety:

1. 1. One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” 2. 2. Place a smoke alarm on the ceiling of every level of your home and both inside and outside bedrooms. Children and older people can sleep through the loud sound of a smoke alarm. Make sure your escape plan includes someone that can help children and others wake up immediately to escape from the home. 3. 3. If you keep your bedroom doors closed, place a smoke alarm on the ceiling of each bedroom. 4. 4. Check smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button. 5. 5. Never take smoke alarm batteries out to put into other items like games or remote controls. 6. 6. Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear the alarm sound. 7. 7. If there is a fire, leave the home right away by crawling low under the smoke. Never go back inside. 8. 8. If smoke from cooking makes the alarm sound, press the “hush” button, if your alarm has one. You can also turn on the kitchen fan, open a window or wave a towel near the alarm until it stops making the sound. Never take the battery out of the alarm. 9. 9. Alarms need a new battery twice a year. Replace the entire alarm every ten years or sooner if the unit is not functioning properly. 10. 10. If you rent, talk to your landlord about placing a working smoke alarm in your home. You still need to change the batteries twice a year. The City of Weston has a smoke alarm and battery replacement program for elderly or disabled residents. The program is designed to reach senior residents or the disabled who are unable to safely install smoke alarms and/or replace the batteries in existing alarms. Please contact Mary Ann Caporrino at Fire Station 81 phone number 954-389-2015 to schedule an installation and/or battery replacement. This service is provided at no cost to our residents. If you have any other questions please contact Weston Assistant District Chief Bruce Caruso at (954) 3892089 or via email at Bruce_Caruso@Sheriff.org.

Community News

Community Shows its Colors to Support B’nai Aviv Preschool By Stacey Bomser

he B’ nai Aviv E arly Childhood E ducation Center (ECEC) put

the “fun” in fundraising. It hosted its first Colorful Family Run, attracting approximately 300 participants. According to event committee member Jamie Horwitz, the B’nai Aviv ECEC Board was looking for a fundraising event that would be fun for all ages and also promote healthy living. ECEC Co-President Chavi Lustig suggested a color run, a popular race in which runners are sprinkled with colorful powdered paint. She had participated in a 5K color run in Fort Lauderdale last year and thought a shorter race for families would be perfect for the preschool fundraiser. “The one-mile, untimed B’nai Aviv Colorful Family Run was created as a fun way to motivate families in the community to lead a healthy lifestyle,” states Lustig. “Exercise doesn’t have to be boring. This was a great way to get everyone moving while having a blast!”

Lustig says the health aspect was important to the preschool because of the growing concern over childhood obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of obesity have more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the past 30 years. It is a growing concern because obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on health and well-being. To get the runners warmed-up for the race, OrangeTheory Fitness of Weston led racers through a series of jumps and stretches. Kidokinetics and Happyfeet Soccer provided post-event sports and fitness activities. Whole Foods in Pembroke Pines provided a healthy snack of fresh fruit. Participants were also treated to refreshing Vita Coco coconut water and calcium-rich McArthur Dairy milk. The event raised about $7,500 which will be used for renovations to the B’nai Aviv ECEC preschool and playground.

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Real Estate

2014: South Florida Real Estate Shoots Out of the Cannon By Phyllis Scarberry

ccording to EWM R ealty ’ s President, Ron

Shuffield, “combined inventories in Broward and MiamiDade Counties grew by 24% last year. Most all of this growth occurred in the last half of 2013.” With the optimum number of inventory supply as six to 12 months, Broward saw a 25% increase in the median price of a single-family home last year, while the median price of a condo in Broward increased 27% during 2013. Our months of supply are low. Broward currently has only a 3.5 month supply of single-family home inventory and a 4.8 month supply of condominiums. We have had double-digit annual median price increases for over 24 months for both single-family homes and condos in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties. With the increasing inventories and new construction underway, median price increases will likely temper back in 2014 to single-digit levels. This is a great reason to get your home on the market now.

What about the luxury market?

Broward County shows 17 months of supply for properties listed over $1 Million. The average price for sale is $2.6 Million and the average sold is $1.7 Million. There are currently 868 properties in Broward County listed over $1 Million. Weston shows an 11.8 months of supply. The average price for sale is $1,977,000 on and the average sold is $1,285,000. There are currently 47 properties in Weston listed over $1 Million. The average sold price per square foot is down 11% compared to last year. Davie shows a 24 months of supply. The average price for sale is $1,763,000 on and the average sold is $2,046,000. There are currently 48 properties in Davie listed over $1 Million. The average sold price per square foot is up 32.1% compared to last year. I recently received my report from Christie’s International Real Estate, which states that the Miami area, New York and London are the three most vibrant world cities currently attracting the globally affluent buyer. “Luxury sales volume is surging in these three top markets which are in the midst of a renewed housing boom fueled by local residents, foreign buyers and, to a certain extent, young millionaires eager to become established homeowners. As a result, luxury homes are moving quickly as inventory levels drop to multi-year lows. Foreign buyers purchased about 35% of luxury homes in Miami 2013. Wealthy South Americans, English, Russians and Canadians have been buying real estate in South Florida for decades. But in 2013, luxury homes in Miami were purchased by Chinese buyers as well. ‘With literally the entire world showing interest in Miami—and prices still relatively low compared to other international cities—we anticipate the current bull market in real estate to continue in 2014,’ says Ron Shuffield, President of Christie’s International Real Estate Affiliate EWM Realty International.” Things are looking up for Real Estate in 2014 – especially in the luxury markets. Phyllis M. Scarberry, CRS, CLHMS, SRES, E-pro, Certified Relocation Specialist, Realtor® is affiliated with EWM Realtors® International and has been licensed for 23 years and is the Real Estate expert in Weston and its surrounding communities. She has assembled a team of highly trained professionals to help take care of the many details that come with buying, selling and leasing your property. To learn more, call (954)980-3385, e-mail Scarberry.p@ewm.com, visit http://www.PhyllisMScarberry.com, or check out her new blog at www.ScarberryGroup.com.

Got News? email editor@OurCityWeston.com

Kristi and I have over 31 years experience and remained in the top 1% of Real Estate sales “nationally and have graced EWM Realty International’s Chairman’s Club year after year. “We

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Legislative Look

An Attempt to Repeal an Archaic Law By Representative Richard Stark

he month of March at the Florida C apitol is

usually a time for legislators to add to state statutes. But, I intend to use the 2014 legislative session as an opportunity for spring cleaning. A bill repealing a ban on cohabitation may open a dialogue about the need to clean up the State’s books. We may be exploring wonderful bill ideas, but let’s also take a look at the laws that are outdated. One such law, Statute 798.02, Lewd and Lascivious Behavior is a law that prohibits “any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together.” This law is an archaic law that cannot be applied correctly in this day and age and should be updated so that it may reflect the modern day culture. This law is a second degree misdemeanor and, if charged, Floridians who cohabitate can face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The HB 4015 aims to eliminate 798.02 completely as it is simply unnecessary in the current society and puts a heavy, yet unenforced limit on society. For example, let’s say that a couple has been dating since their senior year in high school. They’ve been living together for a couple of years now and the couple said the reason for their living arrangement is a simple monetary calculation. It just made financial sense to move in together. But

according to Florida statutes from the 1800s, this couple is breaking a law against unmarried cohabitation; and they’ve got lots of company. 2010 Census data shows there are around 600,000 unmarried couples living under the same roof in Florida. It is difficult to believe that Florida still has this bill on the books. That’s why I think it’s time for repeal. Be aware that just because laws are on the books, doesn’t mean they’ll be enforced. According to a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Florida chapter, if someone were to be prosecuted under a law like Florida’s cohabitation ban, the suit would be challenged and ultimately thrown out. It seems unlikely that the law would stand. Government should not be involved in people’s personal relationships in this way, through the criminal code. This would likely be considered a terrible breach of privacy. This bill came to my attention via the Bill Contest that I offer to all Broward County high school students. It is wonderful that through their studies, these students are able to look at our laws with a new vision. I am hopeful that my colleagues will agree with me and eliminate this antiquated statute. State Representative Richard Stark (D-Weston) represents House District 104 which includes all of Weston. You can reach Rep. Stark at Richard.stark@myfloridahouse.gov or by calling his legislative office at (954) 217-0287.

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Community News

YMCA Volunteers Clean-up Children’s Harbor By Stacey Bomser

or many people , Martin Luther K ing J r .

Day is simply a day off school and/or work. In celebration of Dr. King’s legacy, YMCA’s across the nation encourage members to spend the day giving back to their community with the YMCA Day of Service. Volunteers from the Weston YMCA Family Center spent the day helping to spruce up the facilities at Children’s Harbor, a residential foster care program providing children with a loving home in a family-style setting. The event attracted more than 200 Weston Y staffers and members, as well as people from the community. This included students from Cypress Bay High School, Tequesta Trace Middle School, Falcon Cove Middle School, The Sagemont School, Weston Christian Academy, Imagine Charter School, as well as members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church Youth Group. With adults, teens and tweens working side-by-side, the volunteers were able to complete their assigned tasks which included mulching the grounds, clearing weeds, painting the inside of the homes, cleaning up the garages, and much more. “This amazing group of volunteers helped refresh the living space for the families at Children’s Harbor,” states John Gorman, Weston YMCA Executive Director. This project would not have been possible with the support of community sponsors. BAM Pressure Cleaning pressure

Weston YMCA Executive Director John Gorman, Broward YMCA CEO Sheryl Woods, and Weston YMCA Outreach Committee Chair Cristina Yanes.

washed all the sidewalks, Home Depot donated mulch and paint, and Green Source provided additional mulch. D. Stephenson Construction Company donated workers and resources to help trim branches, clean the grounds, and paint the homes. Working alongside his employees was owner Dwight Stephenson, former Miami Dolphin Hall of Famer. Publix, Costco and Carolina Ale House provided food to fuel the hardworking volunteers. Cristina Yanes, Weston Y Community Outreach Chair, says by the end of the day evidence of the volunteers’ hard work showed in every corner of the property. “The feeling is indescribable when you see the gratitude and the smiles on the children and families who call Children’s Harbor home,” notes Yanes. “Their expression warms your heart and we knew we made a difference in someone’s life.” The YMCA of Broward County completed projects at ten sites throughout the county on MLK Day of Service. Other projects included building a community garden in Lauderhill, refurbishing and beautifying the playground area at the Irma Wesley Childcare Center in Fort Lauderdale, cleaning the trail and riverside at Secret Woods Nature Center, among others. In total, more than a half-million volunteers nationwide provided crucial support to strengthen their communities.

Dentistry For Children at Weston P.A. Gently Starting a Lifetime of Perfect Smiles

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954-384-4560 our city weston | March 2014

Community News

Expert Health Advice is Only a Click Away By Stacey Bomser

leveland Clinic Florida hosts monthly

live online web chats designed to educate participants and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. The year-round series of web chats demonstrates Cleveland Clinic Florida’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of patients, as well as the neighboring Weston community. These web chats empower individuals with information about healthy living, disease prevention, and the most current information on treatment options. The beauty of this free forum it that it makes many of South Florida’s top medical specialists readily accessible to the public. Program participants can access their knowledge and expertise all from the convenience of a computer. As a healthcare organization, Cleveland Clinic Florida believes that it is responsible for helping stem the tide of chronic and preventable diseases and conditions. Health topics addressed during the web chats include disease prevention, as well as common conditions and health issues. For example, March is national colorectal cancer awareness month. On March 12th, Gastroenterologist Tolga Erim will discuss polyp removal techniques. Dr. Erim and his Cleveland Clinic associates routinely perform colonoscopy screenings for the early detection and removal of polyps to help prevent colon cancer. On March 20th, Pulmonologist Laurence Smolley will tackle a common concern – getting a better night’s rest. If you feel tired even after a full night’s sleep and have been told you snore loudly, you may be suffering

from sleep apnea. Left untreated, this condition can lead to other health ailments including hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and stroke. Foot and Ankle Surgeons Arjun Srinath and Mark Berkowitz will discuss common foot and ankle pain and problems on March 25th. Proper foot care is something most people do not think about, yet foot and ankle problems are among the most common health ailments. All web chats take place from Noon - 1 p.m.. You can access the discussion at www.clevelandclinic.org/webchats. Past topics of discussion have included minimally invasive weight loss surgery options, cataract surgery, concussion and injury prevention in athletes, women’s pelvic health, and severe allergies. Transcripts from previous web chats are available at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/about/ web-chats.aspx. In addition to its web chats, Cleveland Clinic Florida offers symposiums, lectures, screenings, and health expos throughout the year. All are free and open to the Weston community. Last month, in recognition of American heart month, Cleveland Clinic Florida hosted a Heart & Vascular Health Symposium. The event featured free health screenings, and nutrition and exercise tips to get heart healthy. A panel of Cleveland Clinic Florida specialists spoke on a variety of heart and vascular topics including peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, cardiac risk and prevention, and cardiac and thoracic conditions.

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Camp News

Exciting Changes in Store at Camp Sagemont this Summer By Stacey Bomser

The yellow team arrives prepared to take on the red team during the Amazing Race Color War.

or eighteen years , Weston children

have been happily spending their summers at Camp Sagemont. The program has evolved over the years, to serve campers of all ages from tiny tots to teens. This summer will be no exception, as Camp Sagemont rolls out a menu of program offerings sure to appeal to everyone – campers and parents alike. “Camp Sagemont is thrilled to introduce Camp Clubs to our traditional day camp program this summer,” states Camp Sagemont Director Danielle Guski. “Every afternoon throughout the summer, campers will have the option to participate in a Camp Club in their area of interest. This gives our youngest campers the sleep-away camp experience.” Camp Sagemont has created clubs allowing children to explore their creative, athletic and even academic sides. Club choices include General Sports, Critical Thinking Games, Environmental Club, Arts and Crafts, Spanish and more. Older campers will also have new options this summer. In addition to Camp Sagemont’s popular Adventure, Art and Science specialty camps, campers can choose Junior Lifeguarding Camp, Creative Writing Camp, and Drama/Vocal Camp. “These three specialty camps offer campers the opportunity to investigate their interests in these areas,” explains Guski. “Additionally, each of these camps possesses leadership qualities and a specific skill. We will assist each camper in honing these qualities and take them to the next level.” Both the Junior Lifeguarding Camp, as well as Camp Sagemont’s LIT Leadership Program, offer older campers the opportunity to experience possible future jobs. Campers enrolled in the Junior Lifeguarding Camp will

be exposed to different water safety situations and raise their overall water safety awareness through hands-on assistance with swimming activities for Camp Sagemont’s traditional day campers. “Our Junior Lifeguard campers will work on developing their own physical swimming skills through a variety of lifeguarding activities, which will enrich the future of each camper,” states Guski. “CPR and First Aid certification, lifeguarding skills and conditions that affect lifeguards on a daily basis will round out the focus of this exciting new camp program.” Campers entering ninth and tenth grade are eligible to take part in the Leaders in Training (LIT) program. “It prepares future camp counselors through rigorous, hands-on leadership development and training evaluations,” notes Guski. LIT’s participate in weekly workshops on cabin management, positive reinforcement and feedback, and how to achieve desired behaviors. They also help in planning and running camp games and activities throughout the summer. LIT’s will be placed with at least three camp groups, maximizing their exposure to the inner workings of Camp Sagemont’s diverse camp offerings as well as the different methods and techniques used by its seasoned camp staff. One of Camp Sagemont’s most popular programs is its Marine Camp, which is being expanded to a four-week program this summer. According to Guski, this allows for a more in depth study of the ocean. “It will include more extensive field trips to various locations such as the Smithsonian Marine Center and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to observe sea tanks and visit a sea turtle rehabilitation center.” All campers at Camp Sagemont enjoy fun-filled field trips. Guski promises campers will return to many of their favorite destinations including Rapids Water Park, a Marlin’s baseball game, DJ Scratch, Young At Art, Planet Air, and tubing at CB Smith Park.

Tubing at CB Smith Park is just one of the many exciting field trips campers at Camp Sagemont enjoy each summer.

Guski says there are plenty of surprises in store for campers this summer. “The element that will have our campers most excited this summer is the anticipation of what will happen next? How will color war be introduced? Who will be in the gazebo on the opening day of camp? Last year, Alvin and the Chipmunks greeted our campers on opening day, and then Spiderman and the Green Lantern appeared on campus to kick-off color war. There is no telling who will be here this summer.” The one thing that is certain is that Camp Sagemont will be one of the most incredible experiences a child can have.

Lucas (left), Samantha, Adam, Allison, Jordan, and Aleeza join the ranks of Camp Sagemont’s Leaders In Training.

“Camp Sagemont embodies the entire camp experience and recognizes that summer camp is a special and powerful time in a child’s life,” states Guski. “This is when new friendships blossom, old friends are reunited, challenges are not only faced but conquered, and the lifelong memories of holding a snake, laughing with a best friend, dancing in the talent show, and participating as a team in a color war battle are made.” She says Camp Sagemont provides children with these memorable camp experiences which help shape, mold and develop campers into strong, self-confident individuals with spirited character. All this is accomplished in a fun, safe, nurturing environment. “At Camp Sagemont, campers are encouraged to develop their individuality and explore their talents, interests and values through new and fun challenges, all while being closely supervised by a staff of experienced, caring counselors. Parents should feel confident that their child or children are safe, having fun and developing life-long memories and friendships.” Camp Sagemont begins the week of June 9th and runs through August 8th. Camp hours are 9am to 3:30pm, with early care and after care available. All programs are held on Sagemont’s Lower School Campus in Weston. To learn more about Camp Sagemont visit www.campsagemont.com or call (954) 384-1894.

Sagemont IS Proud to announce theIr new VISual & PerformIng artS center ComING IN AuGust 2014

Sagemont offers a wide variety of music courses including chorus, band, concert band, key board, percussion ensemble, rock band and music theory.

ACHIEVING

ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.

Sagemont artists have been recognized in numerous art competitions. Students can take courses including all levels of drawing, painting, digital art and design.

Sagemont’s 4th & 5th grade annual musical is always creative and exciting. The elementary students will have the ability to perform on the new stage located at the Upper School Campus.

Sagemont’s Thespians have received recognition for their innovative theatrical presentations. They are proud to have received a Cappie Award for Best Play in Broward County for their presentation of Dracula.

VISIT OUR OPEN HOUSE. SUNDAY, MARCH 16 | 1:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M. Program begins promptly at 1:00 p.m. Upper School Campus—Grades 6-12 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 | 9:00 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M. Program begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Lower School Campus—PreK3–Grade 5 RSVP or call today to schedule a private tour! PREK3–GRADE 5 954.384.5454 EXT. 2502 LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS

1570 Sagemont Way | Weston, FL 33326

ACHIEVING ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE. Our students enjoy a well-rounded private school education in a diverse and supportive environment. The Lower School Campus combines core academics with specialty classes while the Upper School Campus oﬀers a college-preparatory curriculum, strong athletics and a variety of extracurricular activities. The Sagemont experience prepares students for success in the classroom and beyond.

GRADES 6–12 954.389.2454 EXT. 366 UPPER SCHOOL CAMPUS

2585 Glades Circle | Weston, FL 33327

sagemont.com Find us on

Facebook

School News

Tequesta Trace Middle School Kicks Off County’s “Think B4U Post” Initiative By Stacey Bomser

here’ s an old schoolyard saying , “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” That is no longer true in the age of the internet, when one person’s Facebook or Twitter post can be seen by hundreds in mere seconds. According to DoSomething.org, about 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. Sixth graders at Tequesta Trace Middle School learned the importance of using social media responsibly during the kick-off of the “Think B4U Post” initiative, a joint effort of the Broward County Public Schools and Broward Sheriff’s Office. Approximately 300 students listened attentively as Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, Weston Mayor Daniel Stermer and Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel shared words of warning. Superintendent Runcie suggested that if you are really angry or upset, write it down and then delete it – do not hit ‘send.’ “You can throw away all of your dreams because of one angry text.” Mayor Stermer reiterated that thought. Tequesta Trace students sign the “Think B4U Post” banner “That is a line you cannot cross. Once you hit pledging to practice safe and respectful online use. ‘send’ it’s out there for the whole world to see.” He added, that it’s not just words that can be dangerous, pictures can be just as bad. Sheriff Israel shared with Tequesta Trace students the same message he tells

his own triplets, “It’s easier to stay out of trouble than get out of trouble.” He told students that to stay out of trouble they should never text and drive and never cyberbully. Not only is it illegal, he said it causes people to get hurt. The sheriff spoke of a child at his children’s high school who took her own life last year because she was being cyberbullied. “Take responsibility for your actions,” said Members of Tequesta Trace’s advanced drama class Sheriff Israel. “It’s performed a skit on the dangers of cyberbullying. your future. Don’t ruin it or somebody else’s.” Members of the Tequesta Trace’s Advanced Drama class illustrated this through a skit about what happens when you post negative comments about another student using your cell phone. Tresha Fletcher, from the Diversity, Cultural Outreach and Prevention Department, then explained the “Think B4U Post” initiative to the students. Designed to inspire students to practice safe and respectful online communications and combat negative online actions, such as cyberbullying, the campaign covers topics such as: Your post can haunt your future; If you don’t want everyone to see it, don’t post it; Don’t be overexposed online; Your post may be used against you; and If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online. The assembly concluded with students reciting the “Think B4U Post” pledge and signing a banner.

Country Isles Elementary Schools Parents on Cyber-Bullying and Internet Safety By Stacey Bomser

t wasn ’ t students , but rather par -

Agent Carpinteri recommended teaching children, “If you wouldn’t post it in front of your ents who were taking notes during a recent parent or teacher, then don’t do it! Children presentation at Country Isles Elementary. The need to be taught that once information is ‘out school hosted a program on cyberbullying and there’ it cannot be taken back.” internet safety awareness. Julianna Lessor, a parent of a fifth grader, Organized by School Resource Officer says she is grateful the school offered this Deputy Mark Skolnick and Assistant Principal program. “With my daughter entering middle Vanessa Cox, the evening event featured a school, I feel like there is so much I need to 90-minute presentation by FBI Special Agent learn. You have to remember, when we were Alexis Carpinteri, from the Crimes Against in school, we didn’t have to worry about the Children, Miami Division. internet.” Agent Carpinteri used real-life examples as Country Isles Elementary is also making an she discussed the types of situations children effort to educate students about this issue. Agent can find themselves in on the internet. She also Carpinteri will speak to fourth and fifth graders cited several shocking statistics, including over School Resource Officer Deputy Mark Skolnick, FBI Special Agent this spring about how to recognize the signs of 75% of internet crimes involving sexual solicitaAlexis Carpinteri, Country Isles Principal Mindy Morgan and Vice cyberbullying, how to avoid being a victim, and tions of children and exposure to unwanted Principal Vanessa Cox were pleased many parents attended the school’s cyberbullying and internet safety awareness presentation. what to do if you find yourself in that situation. pornography are never reported to police or This presentation complements the school’s own efforts to educate students parents, and an estimated 20% of parents do not supervise their children’s internet through its anti-bullying awareness campaign. School Counselor Amy Carrabba use at all. has visited each classroom to talk to students about this subject in age-appropri“An open line of communication between the parent and child is critical,” states ate lessons. For example, fourth graders discussed “Making Decisions: Will I be Agent Carpinteri. an Ally or Bystander?” while kindergarteners through third graders learned about The mother of three encouraged parents to practice listening to their children “Words that Hurt and Words that Heal.” without overreacting, but acknowledged that is not always easy. Her other tips included keeping the computer in an open area of the house rather than a child’s bedroom, utilizing filters and parental controls, and not being afraid to check your To learn more about cyberbullying and internet safety, visit www.NetSmartz411.org or call 1-888-NETS411 child’s phone, tablet or computer. (638-7411) – a leading internet-safety helpdesk and hotline for parents and guardians.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

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w e s t o n ’ s r e a l e s tat e l e a d e r WESTON THE LANDINGS

WESTON TEQUESTA

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WESTON RIDGES

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SoLd WESTON LAkE RIDGE $575,000 5/3 StunninG, cuStom deSiGned modeL PeRfect, PRivate huGe Lake Lot, haRdWood fLooRS, uPGRaded kitchen, cuL-de-Sac. SOLD AND CLOSED IN 30 DAYS!

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School News

Everglades Elementary Class Celebrates Storybook Characters By Stacey Bomser

Ms. Berry and her third grade fairy tale characters ready to perform.

tudents in Allison B erry ’ s third grade

gifted class at Everglades Elementary performed the original play, “Once Upon a Time in Storybrook,” for parents at their Winter Fairy Tale Ball. It was the culminating activity for a literary genre study of fairy tales. “Literary genres are a part of our reading curriculum,” states Ms. Berry. “I extend this lesson into a unit study that consists of reading different fairy tales,

focusing more on story elements and character analysis. I find this allows for a more interdisciplinary approach, which suits my gifted students.” The class studied classic children’s stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, Snow White, Peter Pan, Hansel and Gretel, and many others. Students then selected which characters they wanted to portray in the class play. “Working in collaborative groups, the students created their own scenes based on the characters, which were then linked together through narration to form a complete play,” explains Ms. Berry. “The scenes involved the way in which the characters prepared for the Winter Fairy Tale Ball.” For instance, several of the princesses and Prince Charming came in an enchanted carriage, while Peter Pan flew in from Neverland, and Snow White and the Wicked Queen met each other at the royal beauty salon. The Three Little Pigs and Big Bad Wolf were in charge of setting up for the ball. The play ended with all of the characters officially being welcomed to the ball, which transitioned into the party activities. The children enjoyed making photo snow globes, sipping Snow White apple cider from carved apple mugs, and playing games while dressed as their fairy

tale characters. Ms. Berry says the parents were impressed with their children’s creativity. “It was such a delight to see how proud they were of their children. They were extremely impressed that the students had written all of the scenes on their own.” More importantly, the students themselves were proud of their accomplishments. “The students really enjoyed being a part of the creative process and definitely gained a new perspective on fairy tales,” notes Ms. Berry. “By the end of our study, it was evident that they had really taken ownership of their learning and had been a part of a dynamic learning experience.”

Rumplestiltskin, Pinocchio, Hansel, and Peter Pan create snow globes.

Gator Run Principal Shows School Pride During Spirit Week By Stacey Bomser

ator R un E lementary students , fac-

ulty and administrators showed their school spirit during Spirit Week 2014. The weeklong celebration is an annual tradition at the school. It is also the PTA’s spring fundraiser. Organizers are hoping to collect $12,000 from this year’s Spirit Week to fund important school upgrades and improvements, which will benefit students and teachers. As an incentive to reach that goal, Principal Peters promised to have the school’s initials, GRE, shaved into the back of his hair if students raised

It was cool to be a nerd during Gator Run’s Spirit Week.

$6,000 by mid-week. “This was an incredible event that Mr. Peters agreed to if we reached our mid-goal,” states Karin Galjuf, PTA Vice President Ways & Means. “The kids and staff were glued to the morning announcements while this took place live on WGRE. His enthusiasm and energy are contagious and inspiring to our school environment.” Principal Peters certainly impressed his young audience. Students called his new ‘do “cool,” “funny,” “awesome” and “spunkacoolar.” Students and teachers showed their school spirit

Students show off their crazy hats and socks.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

by dressing up according to each day’s theme. This year’s theme days included: nerd day, crazy day, team/sport spirit day, and silly sock and hat day. Spirit Week concluded with everyone wearing their “Gator” gear. Unfortunately, this year’s Spirit Walk was delayed because of rain. Spirit Walk is the culminating activity to Spirit Week. It’s a school-wide walk around Gator Run Park to help raise money for the school. The PTA brings in a DJ and sports coaches to get the students motivated and moving.

Principal Peters had the school’s initials shaved into his hair live on the morning announcements as a reward to students for reaching their midweek fundraising goal.

January 2014 sales of Weston single-Family Homes Mollie Light, Realtor

Betty Frongello, Realtor

mollielight@bellsouth.net COMMUNITY / ADDRESS

CAMBRIDGE LAKE

SOLD PRICE

350 CAMBRIDGE DR

470,000

bettyfrongello@yahoo.com

BEDS BATHS Sq. FT. GARAGE POOL WATER

2.5

2,630

Feature ProPerty 2567 JARDIN DRIVE WESTON,FL $659,000

CASCADE FALLS

COMMUNITY / ADDRESS

SAN SEBASTIAN 1495 ESTANCIA CIR

SOLD PRICE BEDS BATHS

Sq. FT. GARAGE POOL WATER

346,900

2.5

1,802

SAVANNA

136 DOCKSIDE TE

800,000

3.5

4,100

1036 SUNFLOWER CR

640,000

3,492

562 SLIPPERY ROCK RD

395,000

2.5

2,142

1086 LAVENDER CR

550,000

3,150

1165 SKYLARK DR

480,000

2.5

2,700

1646 SWEETGUM TE

390,000

2.5

2,381

1826 SIRIUS LN

285,000

1,517

360,000

2.5

2,342

655,000

3.5

3,634

565,000

3.5

2,700

4181 STAGHORN LN

592,000

2,928

3716 VISTA WY

555,000

2.5

3,155

4192 LAUREL RIDGE CR

425,000

2.5

1,883

4486 DOGWOOD CIR

382,000

2.5

1,954

250,000

2.5

3,137

COUNTRY ISLES 1646 EASTLAKE WY

390,000

2.5

2,111

COUNTRY ISLES GARDEN HOME 1349 GARDEN RD

242,000

957

THE GABLES

1264 WILLOW DR

235,000

973

171 GRANADA AV

EMERALD ESTATES

THE ISLANDS

16403 SAPPHIRE PL

390,000

1,822

1232 IRIS CT

16516 SAPPHIRE ST

375,000

2.5

2,061

THE LAKES

ISLES AT WESTON 19349 STONEBROOK ST

663 VERONA PL 465,000

3,085

LAGUNA SPRINGS I 1110 CAPISTRANO

445,000

2.5

2,320

NEW RIVER ESTATES 375 E RIVERBEND DR

287,500

2.5

2,097

NORTH LAKES

THE RIDGES

WATERFORD LANDINGS

734 HERITAGE DR

500,000

3.5

2,873

1872 WATER RIDGE DR

390 CAMBRIDGE DR

450,000

2.5

2,888

WESTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

SAPPHIRE SHORES 4109 SAPPHIRE TE

230,000

1,495

SAN MATEO 2398 PASADENA WY

215,000

2.5

1,605

2505 HUNTERS RUN WAY 725,000

4.5

4,804

2764 OAKBROOK DR

585,000

2.5

2,308

1824 HARBOR VIEW CIR

550,000

3.5

3,458

2000 HARBOR VIEW CR

435,000

2,436

Source: Local Multiple Listing System(MLS) and Broward County Tax Records. Information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. If you should have any questions or would like further information, please contact Mollie Light at (954) 336-9006.

CALL (954) 336-9006 路 PArA EsPA帽oL LLAmE A (954) 695-6904

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Health and Wellness

Fatigue – Is It Your Adrenal Glands? By Dr. Jean-Claude Nerette

re financial pressures , emotional stress ,

unemployment, poor eating habits, smoking or drugs causing your adrenal glands to fail? Have you felt as though you just cannot seem to get yourself together? It is hard for you to relax or to get exercise? Do you find that you get sick more often? If so, then you, like many others, may be experiencing symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue. What is Adrenal Fatigue? Adrenal Fatigue is a collection of signs and symptoms that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress, it can also arise during or after acute or chronic infections. As the name suggest, its paramount symptom is fatigue that is not relieved by sleep. You may look and act relatively normal with adrenal fatigue and may not have any of the sings of physical illness, yet you live with a general sense of un-wellness, tiredness or “gray” feelings. People suffering from adrenal fatigue often have to use coffee, colas, or other stimulants to get going in the morning and to prop themselves up during the day. Although it affects millions of people, conventional medicine does not yet recognize it as a distinct syndrome. Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life. With each increment of reduction in adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected. Changes occur in your carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive. Your body does its best to make up for the under functioning adrenals, but it does so at a price. What causes adrenal fatigue? It is produced when your adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress. The adrenal glands mobilize your body’s responses to every kind of stress (whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological) through hormones that regulate energy production and storage, immune function, heart rate, muscle tone, and other processes that enable you to cope with the stress. Whether you have an emotional crisis, such as a death of a loved one, a physical crisis, such as major surgery, or any type of severe repeated or constant stress in your life, your adrenals have to respond to the stress and maintain homeostasis. If their response is inadequate, you are likely to experience some degree of adrenal fatigue. How common is adrenal fatigue? It is estimated that approximately 66% of the population has some degree of low Cortisol. How can I tell if my adrenals are fatigued? ▸▸ Tendency to gain weight. ▸▸ Reduced sex drive. ▸▸ Unable to remember things and unclear thinking. ▸▸ Lack of energy in the mornings and also in the afternoon between 3 to 5 p.m. ▸▸ Need coffee or stimulants to get going in the morning. ▸▸ Unexplained hair loss. ▸▸ Crave for salty, fatty, and high protein food such as meat and cheese. ▸▸ Decreased ability to handle stress and responsibilities. Can people experiencing adrenal fatigue feel their best again? Yes. With proper care, the right type of testing, and physician awareness, one can expect to feel good again. The adrenals can be placed back into balance with proper treatment that may include supplements by mouth and/or intravenously and lifestyle changes to create balance. For detailed information about how you can help support and correct your adrenal glands, we encourage you to make an appointment with Dr. Jean-Claude Nerette for your complimentary consultation. Call us today and schedule your free consultation at 954-384-8989 to get your adrenals into balance. Dr. Jean-Claude Nerette is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Stephanie Muniz Nerette is Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. They both specialize in Functional Medicine, IV Nutrition Therapy and Sottopelle Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy. Their practice is located at 2665 Executive Park Drive, Suite #3, in Weston.

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our city weston · feature story

The Martinez Coalla Group Has Been Delivering Real Estate Results For Over 10 Years By Stacey Bomser

market like Robert Coalla and Maria Corina Martinez. Not only do they sell the Weston community, they also call it home.

With a business built on in depth knowledge of the community, exceptional customer service, and professional expertise, the Martinez Coalla Group generates nearly 100 closed transactions every year, making them the top producing team at Keller Williams Realty in Weston and earning them a spot in the top ½ of 1% of realtors nationwide. Realtors Robert Coalla and Maria Corina Martinez share the secrets to their success.

What is your area of expertise?

Robert: We specialize in the Weston housing market as well as the surrounding communities of West Broward County. I’ve been working as a realtor and showing clients this wonderful community of Weston since 1996. Maria: I first discovered Weston as a home buyer, searching for a home for my girls. When I came to Weston I saw something very different. I saw this as a wonderful place not only to live, but to start my own real estate career.

How did you get into the Weston real estate market?

Robert: I originally worked at the new homes sales center for Arvida as I took a hiatus from general real estate sales. I was the second Spanish-speaking associate. After a few years I saw the opportunity to practice residential resales in Weston and left Arvida to open my own real estate company. Maria: I also saw the tremendous growth potential in this community and started working as a realtor. After we got married in 2003, we merged our businesses to form the Martinez Coalla Group under the Keller Williams Realty umbrella.

Why do you choose to focus on Weston?

Robert: There’s something about Weston you just don’t find anywhere else in South Florida. I’ll never forget driving down Arvida Parkway, Royal Palm Boulevard today, for the first time. My client said, “This is it!” and they bought that very day. Maria: We truly believe this is the best city in South Florida to raise a family. We are raising our blended family here. Between the two of us we have five girls, ages 15 to 19. The two oldest ones are in college and the other three all attend high school at The Sagemont School.

What is the secret to your success?

Robert: Our dedication to customer service has attracted a loyal client base over the years. Seventy-five percent of our business is repeat customers and referrals. For Maria, it’s almost

How have both the Martinez Coalla Group and Keller Williams grown?

obody knows the Weston real estate

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Maria: Our team will generate nearly 100 closed transactions this year. The average realtor does only six. This success has earned us a spot in the top ½ of one percent of realtors in the country. Robert: Keller Williams Realty was the number one real estate company in North America in 2013. It is also one of the fastest growing agencies, with over 95,000 agents and over 700 Robert Coalla and Maria Corina Martinez specialize in the Weston offices around the world. The Weston office housing market. Not only do they sell the Weston community, it was the first Keller Williams office in South is where they are raising their five daughters. Pictured here are Florida, now there are over a dozen others. I Corina, Andreina, Robert, Giselle, Maria, Anabelle and Michelle. was the fifth agent in this office and now there 100 percent. We are genuinely and sincerely are 165 agents in Weston alone! appreciative of the trust our clients have given us. Maria: Whether you are a buyer, seller or investor, the Martinez Coalla Group is committed to providing the highest level of customer service in everything we do. From showing to closing, and beyond, we are there for our clients every step of the way.

The Martinez Coalla Group at Keller Williams Realty is located at 1625 N Commerce Pkwy., Suite 105. The agency is open daily. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5:30pm and weekends from 9am to 4pm. Please call (954) 358-6010 to schedule a private consultation. For more information on the real estate services provided by the Martinez Coalla Group visit www.Martinez-Coalla.com.

Describe your team.

Robert: It has taken years, but we have assembled a team of three industry professionals committed to helping clients quickly and effectively get the home that is perfect for them or sell their home for the highest price in the shortest amount of time. We are five sales professionals including Maritza Martinez, Kim Nicoletto and Luciana Rangel, plus three administrative staff personnel. Maria: To complement the service we provide, we refer clients to lenders, title companies, escrow agents, appraisers and other professionals. We even have a real estate attorney on retainer to assist our clients.

Why did you choose to be affiliated with Keller Williams Realty?

Maria: Robert always liked the idea of creating something. Keller Williams’ culture and business model revolves around creating your own image. As part of the Keller Williams family, we have been able to establish ourselves and our practice. Robert: I was attracted to Keller Williams because of the training and support offered by the Keller Williams University and the charity work of KW Cares, a non-profit organization that assists families nationwide from helping those displaced after a national disaster to sponsoring local food drives. We all share in the Keller Williams’ belief and vision philosophy:

Mission: To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living. Vision: To be the real estate company of choice. Values: God, family and then business.

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Are You Considering A New Look? By Charles A. Messa, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

ave you been thinking about a new look , a

new you? Maybe now is the time to do something for yourself that will give you that much needed boost you’ve been looking for. But what would that be? There are many reasons to want to improve something about your appearance. Maybe you are a mother whose body just isn’t the same after multiple pregnancies. Loose skin, stretch marks and sagging breasts can all be improved with surgery. A “mommy makeover” can include a tummy tuck, which tightens the underlying muscles and removes the redundant excess skin. When liposuction is done along with the abdominoplasty to contour the waist and hips, the end result is the flat stomach you had prior to pregnancy. It can also include a breast lift, with or without an implant, to lift and reshape your breasts to restore a more youthful appearance.

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March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

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Weston Christian Academy Unveils State-of-the-Art Science Lab By Stacey Bomser

Third grader Jozef Wolek studies seeds for a lesson on plant growth.

lementary students at Weston Christian Academy aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Digging in the dirt and planting seeds is just one of the many hands-on science projects taking place in the school’s brand new, state-ofthe-art science lab. The facility is equipped with all of the supplies and equipment needed to teach chemistry, earth, life, and physical science. Each class, kindergarten through fifth grade, spends an hour and a half each week with Ivanny Jimenez, the school’s elementary sci-

ence teacher, conducting lab experiments and other hands-on activities. “Students need the opportunity to predict, experiment with, and observe in order to gain a better understanding of how things work,” explains Ms. Jimenez. “Hands-on teaching makes learning fun for the student. It promotes curiosity, competency, and creativity.” Ms. Jimenez says the new science lab allows her to supplement science lessons with hands-on activities. “For example, when learning about plants, students are planting their own seeds and observing the growth. Microscopes are used to see live plant and animal cells when learning about cells. We melt and freeze solids and liquids to teach matter. Students dissect owl pellets to understand the food chain and webs. They also have the opportunity to use a stream table to see how erosion occurs.” The lab is equipped with the latest technology, including a three dimensional ELMO projector. This allows fifth grade students to view a 3D diagram of the human heart when learning about human body systems. The lab is also equipped with a large LED screen and a SMART board. Of course for the students, their favorite equipment is the live animal habitats. The science lab houses a 60 gallon marine reef aquarium and a Green Thumb Greenhouse for plant observation. Along with a current habitat for the class’s box turtle, a bearded dragon and a baby hedgehog will soon be taking up residence in the lab.

Students learn life science through these habitats. For instance, reptiles are cold blooded and need sunlight, so that habitat has a sun lamp. In the water habitat, students can observe the life cycle of a frog, from tadpole to frog. “Using our school’s butterfly garden, students get to see the steps in a butterfly’s life cycle first hand,” shares Ms. Jimenez. “Once the eggs hatch, we store the larvae in the science lab to observe its metamorphosis to the butterfly stage.” Weston Christian Academy also has a dedicated science lab for its middle school students.

First graders Adrian Rosario, Jordan Dooling, Ireland O’Brien, and John Chen with WCA Elementary Science Teacher Ivanny Jimenez.

Falcon Cove Middle School Expanding Computer Science Curriculum By Stacey Bomser

tarting next year , students at Falcon Cove M iddle School

will not just learn how to use computers, they’ll learn how they operate. Falcon Cove is one of 38 Broward County middle and high schools selected to take part in the pilot program aimed at increasing students’ interest in computer science as a possible career path. Broward County Public Schools have partnered with Code.org, a national nonprofit organization committed to providing students with increased access to computer science programs in school. This unique partnership provides students with greater opportunities to access high-quality computer science courses and curriculum, and provides professional development opportunities for teachers. Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie says this partnership is an incredible opportunity. “Today’s generation is growing up in a high-tech world. The skills they learn in computer science will benefit them throughout their lives and can open doors to many high paying, in demand jobs.” Margo Day, vice president, U.S. Education at Microsoft, applauds this partnership, saying the move will help students gain the computer science education needed to succeed and thrive in the 21st century. “Across sectors, our nation is facing a critical shortage of workers with the skills and computer science training needed to sustain American innovation. By 2020, there will be one million more

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

computing jobs than students with the education needed to fulfill these openings.” Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, says Florida is facing a severe shortage in this field. “Florida has over 20,000 computer science jobs open and just under 2,000 graduates to fill the demand. This partnership shows bold and innovative thinking to prepare Florida students for the high demand jobs that will drive our economy.” Code.org has partnered with more than ten school districts nationwide, but Broward is the only one in the state of Florida. Hadi Partovi, co-founder and CEO of Code.org, considers this partnership critical in the expansion of computer science to American students. “Computer science is just as foundational today as basic algebra or chemistry. Taking one of these courses early on can be life-changing for Broward students.” Falcon Cove isn’t the only Weston school to have been chosen by the District to take part in a pilot program to promote computer literacy. Eagle Point Elementary is the only school in Weston, and one of only 27 schools in the county, selected to participate in the Digital 5 initiative which calls for learning to be done using laptops instead of traditional textbooks and worksheets. Every fifth grade student and teacher received a laptop computer to use for the school year.

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School News

Gator Run’s Multi-Age Classroom Benefits Students and School By Stacey Bomser

ith more than 1,200 students , Gator

you have to be familiar with two sets of curriculum they often perform better because they are showing and teach two grades simultaneously. At the training the younger children how to do something and take Run Elementary is hardly a one-room provided by the county, we literally spread out pages pride in doing it well.” schoolhouse, but it’s finding great success and pages of curriculum and then had to figure out She describes the classroom dynamic as somein that old tradition of combining multiple grades in what like the learning that takes place within a family. what areas we could line up. It’s a matter of alignone classroom. “The little ones respect and learn from the older ones.” ing curriculum so that you are teaching many of the Shannon Martinez is teaching a class made up of same skills but aiming it at the different levels within Mrs. Martinez admits that teaching a multi-age high achieving kindergarten and first grade students. the classroom. It takes extra planning time and creclassroom does pose a challenge. “As an educator While hers is the only multi-age classroom at Gator ative grouping to get it done, but it Run, she says the practice is being works great!” adopted at schools throughout The reaction from parents has Broward County at different grade been phenomenal. “Parents are levels as a way to maintain classpleased with the learning taking size regulations. place,” notes Mrs. Martinez. “They She says it’s a win-win situation; are happy their children are being the school is able to meet classchallenged with a curriculum that is room size rules and the students rigorous and at their own pace.” benefit both academically and Mrs. Martinez says it’s been socially. interesting to see how the students “It’s amazing how the children interact with their classmates and work together and understand that have fostered friendships within the although they are learning together, classroom. “I have observed that they are learning different things,” children become interested in each explains Mrs. Martinez. “Older kids Kindergartener Austin Kindergartener Olivia Troche Kindergartener Chloe Blum, other as individuals based on their mentor younger kids, and by doing Feldman, first graders Brooks and first grader Brody first graders Ferris Rosson and Livesy and Marina Chavez, Ginsburg (front table) play Maria Salas, kindergartener talents and interests, not according so learn their own curriculum in and kindergarteners Olivia math bingo together. Thiago Ramos, and first grader to their age or grade level.” a deeper, more meaningful way. Troche and Tyler Fortson work Brody Ginsburg create a 100th day of school snack. When I challenge the older children, on a word study project.

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School News

Tequesta Trace Peer Tutoring Program Promotes Learning for All Involved By Stacey Bomser

of my high functioning ESE students who do the tutoring develop better social equesta Trace M iddle skills.” School has resurrected and Reading teacher Kristy Rosario often recommends students utilize the peer redesigned its Peer Tutoring tutoring program. “The availability of help on a variety of subjects and the quiet, program this year. Every Wednesday focused atmosphere peer tutoring offers makes it worthwhile for any student to morning before school, members of attend. My students always come back with something positive to say.” the National Junior Honor Society The students who attend the tutoring sessions rave about the program. Seventh (NJHS) are available to assist peers grader Jake Reeder says, “It is very helpful for me because it helps me with fluency with everything from homework help so I can read faster with less mistakes.” to improving organizational skills. Seventh grader Wyatt Gonzalez says his tutor, Daniel, has been a huge help. “To see our media center overflow “He tells me to try it on my own and then he’ll help me if I get it wrong. That makes with a student-run program that me feel happy and encouraged.” provides students who need academic Wyatt is one of the program’s success stories. He has been going to peer tutorhelp from GEM Math to organizing a ing every week since the program started. His GPA improved over 30% from first backpack is very rewarding,” states quarter to second quarter, qualifying him for Honor Roll. NJHS Advisor Carolyn Sant Angelo. NJHS members work one-on-one with The tutors themselves gain from this experience. “This program not only benIn order to be a peer tutor, NJHS students during the peer tutoring sessions. efits the students who members must meet certain criteria need help, but also of high standards including having the volunteers, like a grade point average of 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They are matched up to a subject of which they are proficient. Subjects include math, language arts, science, myself, who are able to venture out of their social studies, Spanish, and study and organizational skills. comfort zone and lead “The tutors are first trained on how to connect and establish a rapport with the others,” states Victoria students and on ways to guide the students to find answers on their own,” explains Contasta, Peer Tutoring Ms. Sant Angelo. “The tutors are provided a checklist of items to help prioritize co-captain. what is needed most during the session.” Students sign up for tutoring at the encouragement of their teachers, guidance counselors, and parents. ESE teacher Elyse Felder says peer tutoring has helped The NJHS members signmany of her students. “For those who have been consistently coming, I have seen in students at the media center for peer tutoring. them receiving reinforcement with math, civics and fluency. I also have seen some

Career Day Speaker Inspires Eagle Point Students By Stacey Bomser

Eagle Point Assistant Principal Rosado, Principal De Zayas, Career Day Presenter and Artist Maria Cecilia Santos, PTA Meet the Masters Coordinator Maria Alejandra Orjuela, PTA Career Day Coordinator Cristina Yanes, and PTA President Aimee Fretwell with the painting Santos donated to the school.

Karate America demonstrated the skills it takes to become a karate instructor and the business aspects of running a karate academy.

ommitment, dedication , passion and

determination. Those are the qualities needed for success shared Maria Cecilia Santos during her Career Day presentation to students at Eagle Point Elementary School. The professional artist, who is also an Eagle Point parent, was the star presenter at this year’s Career Day. What really inspired and impressed the students was that fact that Santos is blind, yet she did not let that disability deter her from realizing her dream. Santos, who was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Ecuador, says she always knew she wanted to be an artist. She started taking painting lessons at the age of five. By twelve, she was studying with a professional artist and had her first exhibition in Quito at the

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Students in Mrs. Wucher’s fourth grade class listen attentively as Weston Fire Rescue officers explain what it is like to be a firefighter.

age of sixteen. After high school, Santos went to New York to pursue a degree in fine arts. She continued her studies in Florence, Italy. Sadly, at the age of 22, a tragic car accident almost ended her promising career and her life. Santos survived, but lost her memory and sight. She eventually regained her memory, but that accident left her permanently blind. While this disability would have discouraged most people, Santos says it did not deter her from her passion. She learned to compensate for her blindness and continue painting using cork or cardboard under her canvas, pins to distinguish different sections, paint bottles labeled in braille, and a divided color palette.

Weston BSO brought officers from several departments including the bomb squad with its K9 officer, motorcycle units, and even its horses

Santos told students, “A disability is not a barrier that stops you from accomplishing your goals, those barriers you put on yourself.” Other Career Day speakers included members of the military and civil servants including a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, army officer, firefighters, BSO officers, US Border Patrol agent, and the director of the National Hurricane Center. Representing professional careers were a nurse anesthetist, pediatrician, pediatric dentist, physical therapist, and even an entomologist (someone who studies insects). Career Day also included several professions that serve the community including a plumber, karate instructor, yoga instructors, pilot, marketing consultant, and even a chef.

School News

Cypress Bay Hosting Program on Transition to College By Stacey Bomser

avigating the path from high school to college is not easy.

Just ask any stressed out senior, or their parents. Cypress Bay High School is hosting a program to help answer questions and calm concerns. Beyond the Bay is scheduled for Thursday, March 13th from 6:30 – 8:30pm at the school. Beyond the Bay will be an informative evening for all high school students and their parents dedicated to helping students transition from Cypress Bay to college and beyond. The event will feature guest speakers and informational sessions covering everything from college admissions to test taking strategies. “We are so excited to bring a program of this magnitude to our students and parents,” says Shari Bush, Beyond the Bay coordinator. “It is a great opportunity to educate them on everything they are going to need to graduate high school and move on to the next chapter of their lives.” With 98% of Cypress Bay graduates going on to either a two-year or four-year college, Beyond the Bay will provide students and families with invaluable insight. The event will begin and end with an informal open house. Attendees can visit the various tables hosted by event speakers and sponsors. Students and parents will also be able to attend two 30-minute sessions of their choice. A dozen different

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To learn more about Beyond the Bay, contact Shari Bush at 754-323-0350 or email Tammie.Gonzalez@ browardschools.com. Beyond the Bay provides valuable information on the transition from high school to college.

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subject matters will be explored through these special sessions. Beyond the Bay will feature experts from the Florida Department of Education to discuss Bright Futures and Scholarships, a college Director of Admissions to discuss choosing the right school, information on budgeting for college, an advisor from Broward College to discuss Financial Aid options, as well as representatives from Revolution Prep to discuss test taking strategies for the SAT and ACT. According to Assistant Principal Jeff Nelson, “This program will provide our students and parents with invaluable information as they prepare to transition to college and we are thrilled that this information will be presented to them by the experts in their field.” While parents may focus on the logistics of planning for college, students will probably be more interested in learning about campus life. The Freshman Reality session will feature current college freshmen talking about adjusting to college life, credit cards and having a car at college.

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our city weston | March 2014

School News

Spotlight Shines on Indian Trace Elementary Choral Students By Stacey Bomser

ndian Trace E lementary School

should be commended for its choral program. Of the 75 members in the school’s chorus, one student was selected for the Florida All State Chorus and 13 were chosen for the Broward Honors Choir. Fifth grader Stefannia Tasayco was one of 200 students statewide, of the 900 who auditioned, to be selected to perform with the prestigious All State Chorus. “All State Chorus is the highest honor any elementary chorus student can achieve,” explains Linda Saver, music director at Indian Trace Elementary. “Because the auditions are by CD, no one knows the student’s name until they are chosen.” The students are judged strictly on their voice and singing ability. Stefannia and the other fourth and fifth graders selected for the choir took part in extensive rehearsals under the direction of Darren Dailey, the nationally-recognized conductor of the Jacksonville Children’s Stefannia Tasayco and Music Teacher Linda Saver at the All Chorus, to prepare for the All State Chorus State Chorus concert in Tampa. concert. They performed at the Florida Music Educators Association conference in Tampa. Thirteen Indian Trace singers were selected for the Broward All County Honors Choir. Fifth graders Emma Kozlowski, Tina Valadkhani, Emily Von Loh, Angelina

Kinney, Lauren Newmeyer, Ryan Bazail and Maxwell Nunn, as well as fourth graders Franklin Ferrer, Whitney Ribnick, Viviana Cornier, Garret Gill, Sophia Sheehan and Madison Zuel performed with the choir at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. All of these students have been taught by music teacher Linda Saver. She has been teaching at Indian Trace Elementary for the past 24 Thirteen Indian Trace students were selected years. for the Broward All County Honors Choir. “Indian Trace is fortunate to have a quality music program that has serviced thousands of students and their love for music,” states Principal Amy Winder. “Mrs. Saver is an extremely talented musician and teacher who instills an appreciation for the arts in all of her children.” In Mrs. Saver’s class, students experience various forms of music, both vocal and instrumental. Students get the opportunity to play the recorder, drums, rhythm instruments, xylophones, bells and more. Mrs. Saver also leads the Indian Trace Choir. Its members meet once a week after school and perform multiple times throughout the school year. Mrs. Saver was recognized for her contributions to music education at the Florida Music Educators Association conference. She received a plaque honoring her for 35 years of service as an elementary school music teacher.

Falcon Cove Band Performs for Parents, Passengers and Professionals By Stacey Bomser

t ’ s been a busy season for the 218

members of the Falcon Cove Middle School Band. Next month, the Wind Ensemble will travel to Washington DC to compete in the prestigious Festival of Gold hosted by WorldStrides Heritage Performance. The band was invited to take part in this elite event because of its exceptional performance at last year’s Festival of Gold in Chicago. Approximately 45 students will travel to our nation’s capital to take part in the program which includes an intensive individual ensemble clinic, formal performance and adjudication, and concert at Strathmore Music Center. The concert hall is home to the National Philharmonic. Five Falcon Cove band members performed in January with the Broward All County Middle School Honor Band. Hundreds of students auditioned but only the 123 best band students in Broward County were chosen. Congratulations to Falcon Cove eighth graders: AnnaLee Bossory, 1st chair bass clarinet; CJ Dubois, contrabass clarinet; Jessica Kang, flute; Jesse Linevsky, alto saxophone; and Jessica Wu, alto saxophone. As part of the arduous audition process, talented seventh and eighth grade musicians had to perform a specific lyrical exercise for their instrument, a chromatic scale covering the range for their instrument, seven major scales from memory, and a short sight-reading exercise.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

The All County Honor Band performed in concert at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. The band was led by guest conductor Michael Antmann. A product of the Broward County School System, Mr. Antmann is now an accomplished band director and educator. He had the privilege of conducting the 2012 All-State Middle School Honor Band. The season began back in December with Falcon Cove’s Winter Concert, featuring the entire Falcon Cove Middle School Band. In addition, Falcon Cove was invited to perform as part of the 25th annual Winter Festival of Music at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. Falcon Cove’s instrumental ensembles, under the baton of Band Director Ian Loew, helped spread holiday cheer to travelers arriving at baggage claim in Terminal 3. Approximately 1,600 students representing over 30 bands and choirs from various Broward County elementary, middle and high schools took part in the airport’s weeklong music festival. These young musicians performed a selection of festive songs at venues throughout the airport terminals and car rental center. Top: Band Director Ian Loew with the five Falcon Cove students selected to play in the All County Middle School Honor Band: AnnaLee Bossory, CJ Dubois, Jessica Kang, Jesse Linevsky, and Jessica Wu. Photo courtesy Jessica M. Kennedy Below: Members of the Clarinet Choir, Matthew Pasteweski, Alex Kim, Jenny Shim, Angelica Martinez and AnnaLee Bossory, at Ft. Lauderdale airport’s Winter Festival of Music.

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School News

Essay Contest Encourages Seventh Graders to Speak Up By Stacey Bomser

ost middle schoolers dream of being

professional athletes or pop stars, but a new essay contest is encouraging seventh grade students to consider what life would be like if they were mayor. The Florida League of Mayors and the Florida League of Cities are sponsoring a statewide essay contest titled “If I were elected Mayor…” All seventh graders, enrolled in a Florida public school, are invited to write about what they would do to make their city a better place to live. Weston Mayor Dan Stermer hopes many Weston students will enter. “This contest is an excellent opportunity for students to have their voice heard in local government and for city leaders to see from a student’s perspective what they feel is important and what they would do differently.” The essay contest is targeted to seventh grade students because civics education is a required subject in all Florida public middle schools. The City of Weston is a strong proponent of civics education. “Getting students involved in local government has always been a passion for our City which is why we have run the Weston University program since 2002,” states Mayor Stermer. “This contest for seventh graders only builds on that commitment.” Essay entries must begin with the statement, “If I were elected Mayor…”, must not be more than 250 words long,

and must fit on one page. Only one entry per student. Essays will be judged based on creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and appropriate grammar, spelling and essay construction. First, second and third place winners will be chosen by a Florida League of Mayors committee. The top three winners will receive a joint resolution from the Florida League of Cities and Florida League of Mayors to be presented by the mayor at a hometown commission meeting. The winners will also have their essays published in the Florida League of Cities’ Quality Cities magazine and posted on the Florida League of Mayors website. In addition, the first place winner will receive a $100 gift card and have a chance to be “Mayor for a Day.” The second place winner will receive a $50 gift card and the third place winner will receive a $25 gift card. Every student who participates will receive a participation certificate. Interested students can download instructions and the official entry form at http://westonfl.org/ NewsdayTuesday/01142014/P01_Mayor.pdf. All entries must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 14th and sent to Florida League of Mayors, Post Office Box 1757, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302. Entries may also be submitted by email to janderson@flcities.com no later than March 14th.

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Health & Wellness

BY KENNETH N. WOLINER, M.D., A.B.F.M.

A case of Ulcerative Colitis “We are trying to avoid surgery.”

David’s wife Beth did most of the talking; looking at him, you could see why. He was as pale as a sheet. “Dr. Woliner, the last year has been horrible with Dave being hospitalized twice. The last time his hemoglobin got down to ...” “8.3. My gastroenterologist says my colitis is the worst he’s ever seen. He says I need surgery to remove the whole thing.” My colleague, Dr. Mark Hyman, calls Functional Medicine doctors such as myself, “resort doctors”, as we are often the “doctor of last resort.”1 It seems your case is no exception. Tell me more.” “Lots of mucous and blood. Dave can hardly leave the bathroom much less get out of the house to work.” “And mouth ulcers. I can’t eat, but that’s mostly due to the severe belly cramps. I’ve lost 25 pounds in the last 3 weeks.” I looked over his medication list. “Asacol, Prednisone, Prilosec, Pepcid, Zofran, Donnatal, Iron tablets, B12 ... They ever try you on a biologic drug such as Remicade?”2 “That was my GI doctor’s last hope, but I got “Serum Sickness” with fever.”3 “Beth interrupted, “Those TV commercials say all those side effects so quickly. You don’t think you’ll get them until you’ve already got them.” After I did my physical exam, I laid it out straight. “You’re sick enough that I want to admit you to the hospital today. Not for surgery, but for intensive nutritional therapy. However, there are no guarantees, and if I can’t turn things around, surgery is still an option.” “What do you have in mind?” “I’ll fax in admitting orders so you can bypass the ER. Don’t expect to eat anything, as food allergies are one cause of colitis.4 Fortunately, because I was a Nutrition major at Cornell, I learned how to prescribe TPN correctly. “ “TPN?” “Oh, that’s an abbreviation for feeding you by IV. You’re severely malnourished, and that is why you’re still anemic despite the iron and vitamins. Dr. Viteri taught me that patients such as you need up to 280 grams of protein per day!”5 “What else?” “I’ll run some tests for food allergies, as well as vitamin and essential fatty acid deficiencies.6 I am vice-chair of the Continuing Medical Education (CME) committee of the hospital, and we’ve done a pretty good job of educating the pharmacy of why patients need the right supplements. Probiotics, for example, you’ll need lots of them.”

“Food allergies are one cause of colitis.”

“We already tried that.” “No. I’m talking mega-doses. 900 billion live bacteria per day!7 We’re going to hit this hard.” David’s admission labs showed him severely anemic, with a Hemoglobin level of only 5.1. I had to transfuse 4 units of blood, but the combination of mainstream drugs (steroids and antibiotics) and nutritional therapy did bring David’s colitis under control.8 Still, it took close to 3 weeks before he was stable enough to be discharged. He was eating food again (minus the half-dozen foods he was allergic to), and was still on Asacol, but he avoided a colectomy (surgery) or a colostomy bag. Beth, who is now also a patient of mine, came to see me eight months after I first met David. “The good news is that he’s back at work and only rarely takes Prednisone when he feels a flare coming on. The only bad thing is that he has now put on the pounds, especially with the holidays. When you see him next, can you talk to him about that?” REFERENCES: 1. Hyman MA. The Biggest Medical Discovery of Our Lifetimes: Finding the Cure for Chronic Disease. Huffington Post. Nov 6, 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drmark-hyman/chronic-disease_b_4221141.html (accessed Jan 26, 2014). 2. Halfvarson J, Järnerot G. Treatment of choice for acute severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis is remicade. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2009 Jan;15(1):143-5. 3. Katz J, Frank M. Prolonged fever after Infliximab infusion. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jun 6;3(3):34-5. 4. King TS, Woolner JT, Hunter JO. Review article: the dietary management of Crohn’s disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1997 Feb;11(1):17-31. 5. Torun, Benjamin, and Fernando E. Viteri. “Protein-Energy Malnutrition.” Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. Ed. Maurice E. Shils and Vernon R. Young. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1988. 752-54. Print. 6. Blanck S, Aberra F. Vitamin d deficiency is associated with ulcerative colitis disease activity. Dig Dis Sci. 2013 Jun;58(6):1698-702. 7. Shen J, Zuo ZX, Mao AP. Effect of Probiotics on Inducing Remission and Maintaining Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, and Pouchitis: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2014 Jan;20(1):21-35. 8. Smith JP, et al. Safety and tolerability of low-dose naltrexone therapy in children with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease: a pilot study. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013 Apr;47(4):339-45.

Dr. Kenneth Woliner is a board-certified family physician in private practice in Boca Raton. He can be reached at 9325 Glades Road, #104, Boca Raton, FL, 33434; 561-314-0950; knw6@cornell.edu; www.holisticfamilymed.com

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Health & Wellness

Fast, Pain-Free Laser Hair Removal By Faiza Khalid, MD

nwanted facial and body hair is a common

problem that can be a source of distress for both men and women. Historically, people have used anything from shaving, waxing, plucking and even bleaching to deal with this issue. These modalities are not only temporary but they are also associated with their own risk profile including razor bumps, skin irritation, infection and even pigmentation of involved skin. The last decade has seen considerable advancement in medical lasers and light systems. These modalities are safe and have the main advantage of producing longer lasting results. Laser hair removal has proven to be a very popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. According to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) 2012 statistics, laser hair removal is amongst the top five minimally invasive cosmetic procedures with 1.2 million people undergoing laser hair removal in 2012 alone. The latest and the greatest in the laser hair removal arena is the revolutionary ELOS technology by Syneron. This is the first and only technology that uses combined energies to effectively and gently remove hair of many colors and types from all skin tones. Electro-Optical Synergy (ELOS) technology uses the synergy between electrical (conducted radiofrequency) and optical (laser or light) energies. There are several benefits of using combined energy as opposed to laser light alone. The combined energy selectively targets the hair follicle and shaft while sparing the surrounding tissue thus minimizing any potential adverse effects. Combined energies allow deeper skin penetration for more effective treatment than optical energy alone. By combining these energies, the optical fluence can be lowered by up to 60%, resulting in safer and more comfortable procedures, but with higher total energy delivery, which enhances clinical efficacy. With the introduction of new applicator the Motif HR and LHR, Elos Plus has undoubtedly become the fastest and pain free laser hair removal platform. Both of these novel applicators offer high-energy mode as well as the high frequency, multiple pass “pain free” Motif mode, resulting in quick and permanent hair removal treatments. Using the Motif LHR/HR applicators, the physician can achieve permanent hair reduction of dark and even lighter hair on all skin types, including tanned skin, safely and effectively. The new Motif HR Plus has a 60% larger treatment area with a significantly smaller hand piece, significantly improving ergonomics and usability. These new applicators significantly reduce treatment time and enhance overall efficacy and patient comfort. According to expert opinions, the new Elos Plus applicators have reduced procedure time by one third on the face and by half to two thirds for large body areas. Elos Plus with Motif HR has finally made it possible to achieve fast, pain free and colorblind hair removal, which is safe for all skin types, including tanned skin. Elos is truly the next generation of safe and effective hair removal technology. Achieving beautiful, silky smooth skin is now easier than ever. This revolutionary technology is available at Radiance MedSpa. Dr. Faiza Khalid is the Owner/Medical Director of Radiance MedSpa of Weston. It is located at 4551 Weston Road in the Weston Commons shopping center. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. To schedule an appointment call (954) 659-0199. For a complete menu of medical aesthetic services or to see this month’s special promotions, visit www.radianceweston.com.

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our city weston | March 2014

Fitness Forum

Yoga for Injury Prevention and Healing By Fabienne C. Grossman, RD, E-200hr RYT

Over 21 classes a week for all levels * First class $10

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March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

ne of the wonderful things about yoga is

that it is gorgeously accessible: it can be practiced by absolutely everyone. A yoga practice can be started at any age, and regular practice boosts the inherent benefits for body-and-mind. Many people have learned from personal experience that yoga is medicine for body, mind and spirit (in addition to being excellent exercise). Yoga strengthens all aspects of oneself, assisting in the in the journey to the place of wholeness. Many people who have exercised intensely, either as weekend warriors or on a regular basis, feel that something is missing from their equation: the current physical routine doesn’t feel like a match for overall well-being. Balance in one’s exercise life, as in all areas of life, is essential for providing optimal overall health. Adjusting one’s exercise routine with age and/or for changes in physical ability can bring tremendous benefit. It is a common characteristic of the human condition that many of us ignore the body’s initial signals and over time, the body -- being extremely intelligent and always trying to get our attention -- turns up the volume on those messages to become louder and louder...and an injury may occur that brings about a complete halt. Here’s a good example: many folks have been involved solely in one main sport/exercise over the course of many years. Depending on the activity, this can lead to overuse and imbalances. As a result, these individuals could find themselves with joint pain, stress fractures, and ankle or knee injuries. As we age, an adjustment to physical activity can actually prevent and counter bodily wear-and-tear. Yoga is a wonderful tool in this regard, as it’s an activity that provides an abundance of benefits simultaneously: cardiovascular exercise, flexibility, alignment and strength. Yoga is unique in that helps prevent injuries by addressing the overall body, as well as addressing balance in the mind. Numerous studies abound, both by traditional and alternative organizations, confirming that yoga is highly effective in minimizing and preventing injury, relieving pain and promoting body-mind wellness. In yoga, there is no competition. “Perfecting” the pose is not the objective; rather, the goal is doing the pose to the best of your ability and observing how you feel. Experienced yoga instructors are trained, non-judgmental and help each student to learn to listen to their body and work at their own level. Awareness gained from your practice is the key. In yoga, we learn to become more selfaware and less self-conscious. Yoga helps improve self-esteem, and makes practitioners more balanced and flexible in both body and mind. These positive shifts help improve inner peace, which then increases the flow of peace into the surrounding world. With simple asanas (postures), pranayama (breath work) and meditation, you can receive the treasure trove of gifts that yoga has to offer: learning the tools needed to help relieve pain, prevent injuries, improve selfesteem, release stress and optimize overall health. Namaste! Fabienne C. Grossman, RD, E-200RYT is the owner of Weston Yoga and a Relax and Renew® certified trainer. Weston Yoga, located at 2600 Glades Circle, Suite 400, offers yoga classes, private sessions and workshops on and offsite. Call 954-349-6868 or visit www.westonyoga.com for more information.

School News

Mar

By Danielle Bush, student writer

p am

Cypress Bay Student’s Hockey Shot Selected as ESPN Play of the Day

k S r u a mme P e h t rC at

hile getting interviewed by four news stations , appearing

on the radio, and being honored at a Panther game may seem like a rare occurrence, to Cypress Bay sophomore Jake Levy, it became the norm. Levy’s penalty shot earned him the ESPN number one play of the day on Sports Center’s Top 10 plays.

Thank You Weston For Voting Us The Best Sports Summer Camp! TV news crews converged on Cypress Bay to interview Jake Levy after his hockey shot was picked as the ESPN Sports Center’s Play of the Day.

“Never could I of ever imagined being on Sports Center, let alone being number one,” Levy said. The incredible shot was during the Lightning boys’ hockey team’s game against Flanagan High School. Levy, who plays forward, was fouled while on a breakaway to the net. Quickly after, he was rewarded a penalty shot where it was just him and the goalie. “My teammates were yelling for me to put it through my legs so it was just in the back of my mind when I shot,” Levy said. To ensure his shot wasn’t a fluke, Levy informed the referee of what he was planning before taking the shot. The whistle blew and from center ice, Levy skated up to the net, put the puck through his legs, and scored in the top right corner of the net. “I had practiced the shot at practice several times, but I never thought I would actually be bold enough to try it in a game situation,” Levy said. At the game, senior Jake Winderman, Sports Producer for CBTV, was recording the action for the weekly broadcast when he observed the goal scored by Levy. “As soon as I got home, I uploaded the video and sent it to the sports anchors hosting that night on ESPN,” Winderman said. “I knew it was something special.” Within 30 minutes, Winderman was contacted for permission to use the video. He knew there was a possibility it could make it on the show. “It was so exhilarating watching it be number one on live TV,” Winderman said. Levy knew there was a chance it would appear on ESPN. As the list wound down to number one, Levy looked up and to his astonishment, saw the video of his trick shot penalty on the TV screen. “There is no way to describe how I felt when I saw my play as number one other than just pure shock,” Levy said. Within seconds, Levy’s twitter, Facebook and cell phone lit up with notifications of congratulations by friends, family, sports anchors and news stations. Levy’s coach, Perry San, said he thought it was funny when Levy scored because originally, he wasn’t the one supposed to take the penalty. “A lot of people don’t know, but Jake’s dad is my assistant coach and he told me to have someone else take it,” Coach Perry said. “I insisted on having Jake take it, and I told him to go out there and make sure you score.” “There are honestly no words to describe how amazing it was to be on ESPN, to win Best of the Best, and have all the support from my friends and family,” Levy said. “It truly will go down as one of the best days of my life.” Danielle Bush is a sophomore at Cypress Bay High School. She is a staff writer on the school’s newspaper, The Circuit, and is the photography editor for the online newspaper publication, cbhscircuit.com.

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Coach Mark Logsdon · 954-822-7265 Where: Indian Trace Elementary When: June 9 - August 1 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm • Male & Female Staff Members • our city weston | March 2014

Legally Speaking

What Homeowners Need to Know about Florida’s New Speedy Foreclosure Law By Omar J. Arcia, Esq. Foreclosure Defense and Consumer Bankruptcy Protection Attorney

fter a two year effort, Florida legislators approved a new

foreclosure law that significantly affects the rights of homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages. Under the veil of “helping Florida’s economic recovery,” Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 87 into law on June 7, 2013. Unless this new law is overturned by the courts, it is expected to have a profound impact on the foreclosure process in favor of the banks and homeowners’ associations. The new law permits a lender or its servicer to file a foreclosure action and, instead of being required to prove its right to foreclose, it unfairly shifts the burden on the homeowner to “prove” that the lender “does not have the right” to foreclose. This new procedure is time sensitive, and if the homeowner does not provide the necessary evidence, a final judgment of foreclosure is entered. In as quickly as 45 days, the property could be sold at a foreclosure auction. The new law also provides homeowners’ associations with same expanded rights to quickly evict non-paying homeowners through this new expedited foreclosure process. For homeowners that are behind on their mortgage or HOA payments (but not yet in foreclosure), it is imperative that you immediately consult with a legal professional about your case. There are a number of “pre-foreclosure” steps that must be taken in order to defend yourself and your family from this new speedy foreclosure law. Remember you will only have a limited amount of time (20 days) to prove that the party suing for foreclosure does not have the legal right to do so. This means that the evidence needs to be gathered before the foreclosure process starts, and there are critical requests for information that must be presented to lenders prior to a foreclosure to avoid losing your home. The new speedy foreclosure law also states that if your house is foreclosed on fraudulently, you cannot get it back. You will only be entitled to file an action for damages against the lender or other party that obtained the wrongful foreclosure. We all know that in foreclosure cases there are a disturbing number of mistakes being made by banks and their attorneys. For those homeowners currently in foreclosure, it is critically important that any mistakes in the process be identified and brought to the attention of the court BEFORE a final judgment. In short, this new speedy foreclosure law is wrong, and it clearly violates the due process rights of the good citizens of Florida. It will force many more homeowners into bankruptcy as the only reliable means of saving their home. More detailed explanations of different options available to homeowners in foreclosure, at risk of foreclosure, or considering bankruptcy are discussed in a new consumer-friendly DVD developed by the Arcia Law Firm entitled “Fight For Your Home,” available for purchase on our website. If you mention that you heard about the DVD through this magazine you will receive a FREE copy during the appointment to discuss your case in detail with a member of our qualified legal team. Contact the Arcia Law Firm today at 954-437-9066 to schedule a free consultation, or visit www.arcialawfirm.com for more information.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Tee to green

Club Selection When Chipping Around the Green By Dean Sklar, PGA Professional

lub selection is

vital to chipping as I am not a believer in just one club for all chip shots. As a matter of fact, I believe in using a basic chipping stroke whenever I am about 15 to 20 yards from the green. I prefer to roll the ball and not pitch it, if at all possible, because the percentages are greater than if you had to pitch the ball in air and having it bite one time and not the next. The more like a putt you can make your shots around the green, the more constantly you can get the ball closer to the hole. That’s why I will chip the ball until I get so far away and I simply have to get it up in the air with some spin to stop it in time. Until that moment, I control the distance and trajectory with club selection. I use the same swing and let the club do the work. The rule of thumb that you should adopt is to take the club that will allow you to carry the ball safely to the green and let it run the rest of the way to the hole. Do not try and drop the ball a foot from the fringe of the green and let it run up to the hole. If you misjudge your landing area you can wind up short every time. Then, if you misjudge your swing, your margin for error has an even greater chance of making a poorly executed shot. A good example is when I am just off the green on the fringe, I might putt the ball, which is the safest shot of all. Whenever I’m in a close in chipping situation, which means the intervening ground is too rough or the grass too long to putt over, then I will select a 6-iron. But from the spot with the pin cut just 10 to 15 feet from the edge, I might select an 8-iron or even a pitching wedge, depending on whether I’m going uphill or downhill. I’m still playing a running the ball type of shot by using my chipping swing, but I need more height to carry the ball farther or make it roll shorter. I never try to manufacture height with a change in my swing. Making the same motion every time great produces good timing and consistency. So when practicing your chipping before or after heading to the driving range, do so with basic fundamentals that will repeat consistently when playing on the golf course and especially when you need to get the ball up and down under pressure. PGA Professional Dean Sklar is a member of the Quarter Century Club of the PGA of America, an elite group of members who have served the PGA with honor and pride for 25 years. If you would like to talk to Dean about your golf game, contact him at Dean.Sklar@FloridaMoves.com or at the Rose and Dean Sklar Real Estate Group at Coldwell Banker, 1760 Bell Tower Lane in Weston, (954) 389-6197 or on Dean’s cell at (954) 298-3616. Visit him online at www.WestonFloridaUSA.com.

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Tax Talk

Five Secrets to Winning Your Audit By Jacqueline F. Rodriguez, CPA

early one third of all returns audited are

selected through the Discriminate Function System scoring process. This program compares every line of your return to statistical averages. Another method used is wide-scale random audit program. This program is randomly targeting fifty thousand taxpayers for audits. The fact that your return was selected does not necessarily signal an error, it means only that the IRS questions a claim and is calling upon you to verify it. Thus, if you do get audited by the IRS, there is no need to panic. Here are five secrets to winning your audit. 1. Assume you are right: Tax returns are not necessarily selected for audit because of an error. If you go into the audit believing that your return is correct and then take steps to prove it, your chances of winning increase greatly. The reason is simple. Those who believe they are in the right are more aggressive about asserting their position than those who are uncertain. Your success in an audit depends upon your willingness to assert your position and to document the correctness of your tax return claim. 2. Know the issues: When you are selected for audit, you must demonstrate that all or a targeted portion of your return is accurate. You are greatly handicapped if you have no clue what you claimed in the return. Do not make the mistake of believing that you do not need to know what is in your return just because you used a professional preparer. Please recognize that all a tax preparer does is organize your raw material into the format required by the IRS. Your tax professional cannot create deductions that do not exist, nor will he/she fabricate explanations for deductions claimed on your return. Make no mistake about it: you are ultimately responsible for the declarations in your return. This burden is non-delegable. Be sure to store your records in a secure and organized fashion for at least six years from the date the return is filed. This takes much of the pain out of the audit process. 3. Realize that your have power: You have an absolute right to appeal audit decisions. The audit merely makes recommendations concerning your tax liability. The recommendations are presented in the form of an Examination Report. If you do not agree with the report, you have the option to present more information, ask for a conference with the auditor’s manager, or submit a protest letter. However, if you want to avoid further effort, your only option is to sign the audit report and then turn out your pockets. 4. Always deal with the IRS in writing: There is nothing unreasonable about seeking a measure of protection, security, and privacy in your dealings with the IRS. It is not uncommon for audit personnel to solicit information over the phone. Notwithstanding, you should never provide information without the benefit of a notice explaining the nature of the inquiry, the year, and the intended use of the information. This enables you to determine your legal requirement to provide the material, to consult counsel if you so choose, and to formulate an accurate and correct response to the notice. 5. Prevent audit abuse: Tape-record the audit. In order to do so, you must notify the IRS in writing ten days before the meeting of your intention to record the audit. It is the simplest way to keep the IRS agent in line and make a permanent, accurate record of what transpires. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CPA, holds a Masters Degree in Science of Taxation and is a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Weston Chapter. She has more than ten years of experience and concentrates on International Taxation. Her office is located at 2225 N. Commerce Parkway, Suite 4. For more information call (954) 389-0729 or visit www.afsb.net/jfrcpa.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

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Positive Parenting

Protecting the Gift: Keeping Our Children Safe By Jodi Kurry Cohen, MS.Ed Director of Early Childhood Programs, Temple Dor Dorim

ne in three girls and one in six boys will be

victimized before their 18th birthday. A startling 90 percent of these predators are known by the family. Does that scare you? Good. I’m glad I got your attention because you should be scared. You’ve all seen the headlines from around the country and have seen how children of all ages can be targeted. Our children are accessible to predators through so many outlets…schools, parks, sitters, sports and the internet to name just a few. The statistics are startling and the fact is that the way parents have typically taught their kids to be safe from predators by teaching “stranger danger,” is obviously not all that is needed to keep them safe. So how and what exactly can we teach our children to empower them so that as they grow, they can be the first line of defense in their own safety? We need to teach them skills so that when we aren’t always there they will know how to make safe and smart choices. Something that may seem like common sense to us as adults is not common sense to kids. Here are just a few suggestions: ▸▸ Teach your child that if they are lost to go to a woman with kids. This is often the safest option and who would most likely be easier to find. Policemen are great but aren’t always there…and a man in uniform is often not even a policeman. ▸▸ When a car pulls up next to your child on the street teach your child to take three huge steps back. Teach them the kinds of things a predator may say to lure them and remind them that an adult should not be asking a child for directions or to help them find something. ▸▸ Talk to your children about who should and shouldn’t be a friend. Adults shouldn’t want to be friends with kids of any age and seek time alone with them without an adult present. It should raise a red flag if there is a family friend who seems to seek an unusual amount of time alone with your child. ▸▸ From a young age make sure to have open communication with your children about sexual topics. “Private areas” on the body should be called by their real names and parents should discuss inappropriate touch especially pertaining to people they may know (uncles, cousins, brother’s friends). ▸▸ Monitor your child’s internet activity. This is especially true once they enter the age of chat rooms, Club Penguin, facebook and other social networking sites. Your child may be gaming with someone who is 30 years older than they are and a predator will create a fake profile. They may even arrange to meet them at the park or after school. The dangers our children are facing in today’s world are terrifying. They are things we never want to consider but it is our obligation as parents to do the best we can to protect our most precious gift…our children. The above tips are just the beginning. Start the conversation. Additional resources for parents include: www.kidsafefoundation.org, www. birdsandbeesandkids.com, www.wiredsafety.org, Protecting the Gift by Gavin de Becker, and How to Protect Your Children Online by Madison Owen. Jodi Cohen has a Masters Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education as well as a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Jodi has led many workshops on parenting, behavior modification techniques, curriculum development, special needs training and crisis management. She has been the Director of Temple Dor Dorim’s Early Childhood Center in Weston for the past 15 years. For more information, please contact Ms. Cohen at the Early Childhood Center at (954)389-1232.

Got News? email editor@OurCityWeston.com

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Ask the Expert

Timing of Tooth Eruption By Dr. Maria Grosman

ne of the most common anxieties parents

share with us concerns the timing of the eruption of teeth. We are often asked: “When are the first teeth scheduled to enter the mouth?” or “Which is ‘better,’ late vs. early erupting teeth?” The truth of the matter is that although there are published milestones, there is still a normal variation/range that teeth may be expected to erupt. In terms of which is better, there is no real benefit for early or late eruption. However, extreme deviations may cause a practical challenge, as we will discuss. Let’s start with the primary (or “baby”) teeth. The first primary tooth to erupt is usually the lower central incisor between 5-8 months of age. The teeth will then follow the “rule of twos,” which is that two additional teeth will erupt every two months until around 2-2.5 yrs old. There are a total of 20 primary teeth equally divided between upper and lower arches. After the eruption of the lower central incisors, we will see the eruption of the upper central incisors, the lower lateral incisors (as the name suggests, next to the central incisors), followed by the upper lateral incisors. The pattern will continue from the center laterally, with the lower erupting earlier than the upper counterparts.

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Premature eruption of primary teeth occurs in 1:2000. This can occur in two ways. “Natal” teeth are present at birth and “prenatal” teeth erupt in the first 30 days of life. When teeth erupt prematurely, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider (pediatrician or pediatric dentist), as strategies for feeding will need to be addressed, especially if breastfeeding is planned. There are also structures which are present at birth and resemble premature teeth, but are actually not the primary teeth. One of the most common examples of this is “Epstein pearls.” They are visible cysts located in the upper arch in the front close to where the primary teeth are expected to be positioned. There is no treatment recommended for this, as long as there is no interference with feeding and no observed discomfort for the child. As with all published milestones, it is important to acknowledge the fact that these are just averages and that “normal” has a range. We find variation in gender, with females being ahead of males. It is also important to note that deviations in one area may have no bearing on others. For example, there are many children who are either “ahead” or “behind” in dental development, but are at the opposite ends of the spectrum in skeletal growth. They do, however, give us an idea of what to plan for and some guidance on timing of interventional treatment, whether dental or orthodontic, when indicated. Drs. Maria and Alon Grosman are Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and Orthodontist. Their office is located at 4401 S Flamingo Rd on the NW corner of Griffin and Flamingo Rd. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 954-236-3434.

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Legally Speaking

Dissolution and Financial Disclosure By Evan Baron

lients who are going through a D issolution

of Marriage are often surprised to learn how much personal financial information they must reveal. The laws of this state require complete financial disclosure. Most people get overwhelmed with this requirement, since it can be very time consuming. Since Florida is a “No Fault” state, the primary area of dispute between a husband and wife is usually financial. The following is a list of the financial information required pursuant to Florida law. All parties MUST complete a Financial Affidavit. This Affidavit list a party’s income, expenses, assets and liabilities. It is a sworn document, signed under oath by the client, swearing to its truthfulness. A financial affidavit must be filed in all dissolution proceedings, even in the most simplified uncontested matter.

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March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

In addition to the financial affidavit, certain documentation must also be exchanged between the parties within approximately six weeks from the date of filing. If it is a simplified divorce this requirement can be waived by both parties. The Financial Affidavits must be produced however. The documents that are required include: ▸▸ Income tax returns ▸▸ Pay stubs for the past three months ▸▸ Statement of income ▸▸ Loan applications and financial statements prepared during the preceding 12 months ▸▸ Deeds, leases and promissory notes executed during the past 12 months ▸▸ Checking account statements for the past three months ▸▸ Bank statements (other than checking) for the past 12 months ▸▸ Brokerage account statements for the last 12 months ▸▸ The most recent statements showing value of retirement accounts, profit sharing or deferred compensation accounts ▸▸ Life insurance documentation ▸▸ Credit card statements for the past three months The above list is just a partial list of what might be required. Requests often require documents dating back three years. It is not unusual that clients often become quite anxious when assigned the task of gathering this information. Here are a few words of advice: ▸▸ Do not wait for the last minute to gather these items. Time deadlines are extremely important and any delays could result in sanctions. ▸▸ Don’t try and do everything at once. Give yourself enough time to “pace yourself”. ▸▸ Be as accurate as possible in filling out all Financial Affidavits. Please remember that it is a sworn document and your answers (if incorrect) can be used against you. ▸▸ Do not ignore items or questions you feel are not relevant. If you have an attorney, don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek his/her advise. It can make this task a lot less stressful for all concerned. The law firm of Evan H. Baron and Associates is located at 1655 North Commerce Parkway, Suite 201, in Weston. For information or a free consultation, call 954-385-9160.

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Advanced Treatment for Cancer-causing Polyps Removing polyps from the colon is standard practice to reduce the chance of colorectal cancer. But for polyps that are large or hard to reach, their removal during a colonoscopy is a challenge. Though many patients have traditional surgery for these “complex polyps,” Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologists are using new tools and techniques that require no stitches or long recovery times. It’s a procedure called “endoscopic mucosal resection,” or EMR. An endoscope is a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera, to which small surgery tools are attached. “Mucosal” refers to the tissue of the colon, and “resection” means surgical removal.

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“Many patients and physicians may not be familiar with EMR or do not have access to it locally, so these polyps are often removed using traditional surgery,” says Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist Tolga Erim, DO who specializes in advanced endoscopy techniques. “But EMR gives patients another choice. With experienced specialists performing it, there is less risk of bleeding, and a much shorter recovery time compared to surgery.” During the procedure, Cleveland Clinic physicians employ several standardized procedures to reach and remove the polyps. “For example, by injecting saline into the tissue, they can raise the polyp in order to resect it completely. In addition, newer snares, or metal loops, and tools to cauterize (seal) blood vessels make removal very efficient,” Dr. Erim says. After a follow-up visit, patients can return to their regular physicians. According to reports from the National Institutes of Health, patients with large or complex polyps should be referred for EMR to a specialty facility such as Cleveland Clinic Florida, so they can avoid unnecessary surgery. “We’ve treated patients from as far away as South America,” Dr. Erim says. “Because of our expertise and experience with EMR, this is the appropriate place to come for hard-to-treat polyps. We’ve become a referral center for it.”

Health & Wellness

Upper Back Pain By Dr. Behar and Dr. Browner

ou may have woken up with a “ kink ” in your

neck or upper back, or a shooting pain in your shoulder or arm. Perhaps you have noticed restricted movement in these regions doing the simplest of tasks, such as putting on a coat or backing up the car. Upper back disorders can be manifested in a wide variety of symptoms ranging from a constant dull ache to an excruciating stabbing pain. It may be precipitated by head, arm or torso movement, or by coughing, sneezing or just taking a normal breath. After low back pain, neck pain and headache, upper back discomfort is the most frequent reason people visit a doctor of chiropractic. The upper back refers to the general area between the shoulder blades extending up to the base of the neck. Comprising the upper half of the thoracic spine, it involves ribs that attach to the thoracic spine, and numerous muscles, ligaments, nerves and other soft tissue. Some of the most common causes of upper back pain include: ▸▸ chronic poor posture ▸▸ abnormal thoracic spinal alignment and function (biomechanics) ▸▸ structural and functional problems of the neck (cervical spine) ▸▸ strains and sprains due to trauma or repetitive overuse ▸▸ arthritic conditions A good argument can be made for only two main causes -- poor posture and strains/sprains -- since the majority of structural and mechanical problems of the thoracic spine and neck, and the most common form of spinal arthritis, osteoarthritis,

can be traced directly back to chronic poor posture. Less common causes of upper back pain can include organic diseases such as lung, heart and gallbladder, bone diseases and fractures. Your chiropractic doctor’s first task is to perform a thorough consultation and examination so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. The examination usually includes a manual, hands-on assessment of the area of complaint as well as associated areas, a detailed postural evaluation, appropriate orthopedic, neurological and vascular tests, and will frequently include an x-ray evaluation. Occasionally, laboratory blood work may be ordered. Your chiropractor will discuss the examination findings with you and if the condition is appropriate for chiropractic care, will recommend a specific treatment program. In cases where other forms of health care are required, prompt referral to the appropriate health provider will be made. Your chiropractor will offer two basic types of care: relief care which helps restore the movement of individual spinal segments, thus helping to reduce immediate pain and symptoms; and corrective care. Corrective care involves specific spinal adjustments, rehabilitative exercises and other procedures that reconstruct the spine to as near normal as possible. By restoring near normal spinal alignment and function, not only is pain relieved but optimum healing can occur. So if you or someone you know is suffering from upper back pain, think before reaching for that bottle of pain-killers: what is the more logical solution? Call your chiropractor. For a consultation or more information you can reach Dr. Behar and Dr. Browner at Windmill Health Center in Weston at 954-217-4881. They also have two additional locations to serve you in Pembroke Pines and Plantation. Contact the Weston location for more information.

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outh Florida was once again in the national

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The relationship between patient and plastic surgeon is unique. Plastic surgery can truly be life changing. The patient is choosing to have elective, medically unnecessary surgery on his/ her face or body. Even in the best hands, elective surgery can carry risks. Therefore, one of the most important decisions a plastic surgery patient makes is the choice of surgeon holding the knife. The selection of a plastic surgeon, like a defense attorney, is not to be compromised. Choosing the right plastic surgeon is that Justin Bieber’s mugshot important. from his January 23rd There are many reasons to select a surgeon. arrest in Miami Beach. The most important of these are qualifications and personal compatibility. Heavy advertising, free consultations, car dealertype “discounts” and low fees are all poor, often regrettable, reasons. Patients have even reported choosing a plastic surgery office because it was “close to home”! Really? Isn’t choosing the right surgeon worth at least as much of a ride as a good restaurant or sale on shoes? So what’s the lesson? Take your time, have multiple consultations, and choose wisely. Remember, it’s your face and your body -- don’t compromise. Dr. Perez is a graduate of The Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has been selected among Castle Connolly/U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Top Doctors every year since 2000. He has lectured internationally and been featured as a plastic surgery expert for major media outlets. Patients are accepted from all over the world. A limited number of personalized consultations are offered by appointment only. More information is available at www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Visit his website blog to learn about The 10 Questions Every Plastic Surgery Patient Needs to Ask.

Got News? email editor@OurCityWeston.com

Thinking About Plastic Surgery? Choose the Plastic Surgeon chosen by other Doctors*

It’s your Face and your Body… don’t compromIse! *Since 1998 Dr. Perez has been selected among Castle Connolly’s Americas Top Doctors or Best Physicians in the U.S. Castle Connolly IUS News & World Report conducts an

Academy The Aesthetic l Facial “Best Surgica and “Best Enhancement” ds Shaping” Awar Surgical Body

Serving Weston residents for over 20 years

954.351.2200

Independent survey of doctors and medical leaders to identify the top 1% of doctors in each specialty Doctors do not, and cannot pay, to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor

www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com 2421 N.E. 65th Street, Suite 105, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

“Surgery is performed at the Surgery Center of Weston, a State-of-the-Art Ambulatory facility located at Broward Health Weston, staffed by physician anesthesiologists. We’re dedicated to your safety and comfort. It’s your face and your body, don’t compromise.”

Jorge A. Perez, MD , F.A.C.S.

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery El Doctór Habla Español

www.JorgePerez.com

Visit our website Blog to learn about “The Dirty Little Secrets of Plastic Surgery”

Michael Augustino, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Fabienne Achille, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Gentle Gynecology & Obstetrics Combined 26 years experience

Se Habla Español / Nou Pale Kreole

Specializing in: Robotic Surgery / Hysterectomy Natural Bio-Identical Hormones (for Men & Women), Personalized Pre-Natal Care (High Risk Pregnancy)

In Addition:

Evening Appointm ents Available

• Menopause Management • Bone Density Screening • Pms

• Outpatient Surgery

• Endometriosis • Well Woman Preventative Care • Chronic Pelvic Pain • Surgical Procedures & Alternatives

• Family Planning

• Mammography

• In-Office Ultrasound

• HPv vaccine

• In-Office Sterilization

• Contraceptive Counseling

2010

Pembroke Pines

Suite 360 A 603 N. Flamingo Rd. Pembroke Pines, Fl 33028

954 436-7667

Weston

1605 Town Center Blvd. Weston, Fl 33326

954 384-8668

www.docAobgyn.com our city weston | March 2014

y Sou th W ears se r est Bro ving war d

Health & Wellness

Easing the Pain of Divorce for Your Child By Alina Gastesi-de Armas, MA, MEd, LMHC

Mediation & Parent Coordination

Conflict Resolution

Cost Effective • Confidential • Creative Divorce Workable Parenting Plans • With or without attorneys • Shared Parenting • With or without children • Holidays • Property Division • Child Support

Alina Gastesi-de Armas, MA, MEd, LMHC Licensed Mental Health Counselor Florida Supreme Court Mediator, Parent Coordinator

954-384-9373 www.APlaceforGrowth.com As seen on

& heard on

Call for a fRee

30 min Phone Consultation ($100 value)

“Hablemos Claro”

any children experience the stress of their

parent’s divorce each year. How they react depends on their age, personality, and the particular circumstances of the separation and divorce process. Although every divorce will have an effect on the children involved, children can come out of it better able to cope with stress, and many become more flexible, tolerant young adults. The most important things that both parents can do to help kids through this difficult time are: 1. 1. Be honest. Don’t lead your child to believe “Dad’s away on business” or “everything is going to be wonderful”. Children are very perceptive. They know if a parent is trying to hide something, even if the purpose is to spare their feelings. Children need simple straight-forward answers they can understand, without blame or making anyone wrong or bad. 2. 2. Tell your child it is not their fault. All children assume they may be responsible for their parents’ break-up. Children need to be gently reassured repeatedly over the first couple of years that the divorce is an adult decision having nothing to do with them or their behavior. 3. 3. Try to listen. Children will have many questions, feelings, assumptions and concerns about divorce. Many parents find it difficult to just sit quietly and listen to their children talk without trying to interrupt with a “fix-it” statement. Children need to feel heard with quiet patience and undivided attention. 4. 4. Give your child permission to respond to the divorce in their own way. Many

1625 N. Commerce Parkway, Suite 210, Weston, FL 33326

Outdoor Comfort On Demand

Retractable Awnings & Screens For Your Home Or Business • Outdoor comfort when you need it, retractable when you don’t. • Shielding you from: Sun, Rain, Cold, & Bugs • Custom sizes & hundreds of fabrics. • Most products professionally installed in 2 weeks or less. Lic# 77-76AE

SINCE 1949

• Call for a FREE estimate.

954-764-1711 www.HooverCanvas.com

Broward’s Oldest - Since 1949 78

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

children hide their feelings of sadness, grief, anger or confusion because they are afraid expressing these feelings will upset their parents. Children need to know all their feelings are acceptable. 5. 5. Let your child know it is normal for them to want their parents to get back together again. Children can feel ashamed about this very normal wish. You can explain to your child that once divorced, it is very unlikely that people ever get back together, but their wish for reconciliation is very normal. 6. 6. Avoid putting your child in the middle or trying to make them take sides. Don’t say anything about your ex within earshot of your child. Avoid having your child carry messages to your ex. Children need to be able to love both parents. If one parent is disapproving of affection a child expresses toward the other parent, the child will begin to withdraw, become dishonest and even depressed. How you handle the divorce will impact your children. If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or stuck, therapy can provide a safe, supportive environment. Alina Gastesi-de Armas, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Florida Supreme Court Mediator and Parent Coordinator will help you gain insight, learn problem-solving skills and find solutions to dealing with the anger, the pain of separation and the divorce. Please call (954) 384-9373 or visit www.aplaceforgrowth.com.

HAppy St. pAtrick’S DAy! Ask about the pot of gold at the end of our rainbow. We have golden “New Annual pet Health plans” including boarding, baths, exams, vaccines and much more!

Weston AnimAl HospitAl A.B. christopher Deane, DVM

Dr. Deane & Dr. Lopez personally take EMErGENcy cALLS:

954-802-0595

Up to 12 Midnight EVEry DAy!

✓ Full Service Animal Hospital ✓ Medical Surgical Dental care ✓ Laser therapy

✓ prescription Diets ✓ Grooming & Boarding ✓ Vaccine packages ✓ Now have pet portals check out our new website:

$100 special includes: annual exam, Vaccines, HeartWorm test + Fecal exam

One pet per household. Must present ad. Exp. 3/31/14

954.389.5689

www.WestonAnimalHosp.com our city weston | March 2014

pet of the Month

“Champion and Valentina”

EMERALD ESTATES DR.

Free oFFice Visit

I-75

WESTON RD.

N W

RICK CASE WAY

for new clients

GRIFFIN RD.

Voted “Best Full-serVice AnimAl clinic” in Weston We accept pet insurances and Care Credit

Dr. Eduardo Bernal, D.V.M. 4476 Weston rd., davie, fl 33331

954.659.9913 Hablamos Español register at

WWW.allfriendsanimalclinic.com

50%off First Grooming New clients only. Must present coupon at checkin. Not valid with any other offer. One per pet. Exp. 4/15/14

Free

nail clipping for your pet Must present coupon at check-in. Proof of vaccination required. Exp. 4/15/14

Free

boarding (Cats only first night with the purchase of 2 additonal consecutive nights). New & Returning clients. Must present coupon at check-in. Proof of vaccination required. Exp. 4/15/14

$25 Off

Dental Cleaning or Surgical Procedure Must present coupon at check-in. Proof of vaccination required.

March 2014 | OUR CITY WESTON

Exp. 4/15/14

Champion is a six-year-old male Chihuahua and Valentina is a two-and-a-half-year-old female. This pint-sized pair love outdoor activities, especially paddle boarding. As soon as they see “mommy” gathering their gear they get excited. This photo was taken while participating in the “Stand Up for a Cause” event to benefit the Humane Society. They also enjoy cycling and digging holes at the beach. Champion’s favorite toy is a stuffed rabbit that is missing its ears. Valentina’s favorite toy is a big stuffed Halloween cat. They both adore their “mommy.”