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Our City PEMBROKE PINES • MIRAMAR

WE CONNECT COMMUNITIES | APRIL 2020

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“We swore we weren’t ready for senior living. Then we saw The Palace.”

Jack & Evelyn Miller

“We were stunned. We stayed in the Four Seasons in Paris once, and The Palace in Weston looked better. Ten minutes after we walked in the door, we realized we had never seen senior living like this. Everything you can think of is at your fingertips. Chef-prepared meals in the dining room. A social director who makes cruise ships look dull. A staff trained to deliver such a high level of care and comfort they’ve been named #1 in America. Everywhere you look, it’s 5-star all the way. But you need good friends to share it with. Our crowd at The Palace are some of the best new friends we’ve ever met, and every single one of us will tell you: ‘We wish we had found The Palace sooner.’ ”

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CONTENTS

Our City

PUBLISHER PAGE

PUBLISHERS Christy & Terry Jaillet publisher@ourcitymedia.com

12 You Have the Power to Change the World

COMMUNITY NEWS 14 Quarantine Binge Watchc 16 What To Do If You Are Sick with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

ASK THE EXPERT

18 Coping With Coronavirus: Managing Stress, Fear, and Anxiety

36 Growing Pains In Children Or Merely Flatfeet?

20 Run for Your Life at MargaRELAYville

42 Considering Removing Your Breast Implants?

22 Making a Difference in South Florida: African-American Achievers 2020 Honorees 34 Miramar Ends Black History Month on a Few Good Notes 35 Broward & Miami Dade Schools Providing Breakfast and Lunch During Coronavirus Pandemic 38 A Chili Morning in the Garden

FEATURE STORY 24 The Best Way To Fight Coronavirus? It’s In Your Hands.

SCHOOL NEWS 28 Pembroke Pines Charter Teacher Engages Students “One Blox at a Time” 30 The Botcats Say, “Lego my LEGO”! 32 Making Dollars & A Whole Lot of Sense

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

29 Elite Dental and Aesthetics Has New Faces and Bigger Smiles

MANAGING EDITOR Beverly Perkins OFFICE MANAGER Gabriela Moscoso ART DIRECTOR Jacqueline Allard GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Alana Brodie, Tom Rowe

LEGALLY SPEAKING 40 What Should I Do? 41 Do I Need A Trust?

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

44 the world’s favorite magazine™

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYORS

45 Let’s Make Everyone Count in Pembroke Pines 45 Miramar is About Community

PUZZLE PAGE

46 Crossword and Sudoku 43 Answer Key

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Nancy Koval nancy@ourcitymedia.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES John Brodie, Denise Caligiuri, Adrienne Collins, Mariem Garcia, Kenny Rodgers,Silvia Silva, Jerry Spielman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stacey Bomser Dr. Robert H. Sheinberg Dr. Isabel Suate Wayne M. Messam, Mayor of Miramar Bruce Iden, Esquire Dexter Williams, Miramar Police Chief Robert E. Palmer, Miramar Fire-Rescue Chief

47 April is for Autism Awareness

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Harris Photography, Kim Ruoff, Krushot Photography, PhotographyByLuigi.com, Victoria Genova Photography, Weston Photography Studios

48 A Day of Service

GOT NEWS? editormiramar@ourcitymedia.com

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEFS

47 Keep Two Hands on The Wheel and Two Eyes on the Road

SEEN ON SCENE

49 Snapshots from Around Town

ADVERTISING INFO sales@ourcitymedia.com VISIT US ONLINE OurCityMedia.com

954-306-1007 400 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway Suite 200C • Sunrise, FL 33325

Our City Media of Florida, LLC publishes FREE monthly, local community news magazines throughout South Florida. Our City Media Magazines are mailed monthly to affluent single-family homes, condos and businesses in their respective communities. Monthly mailings are verifiable by USPS postage statements. Additional free copies are available at selected locations throughout the communities served and upon request by contacting the publisher. Opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher. Our City Media of Florida, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our City Media of Florida, LLC 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 2020 by Our City Media of Florida, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

10 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

PUBLISHERS’ PAGE

You Have the Power to Change the World

he past few weeks have been unprecedented. An exotic sickness from a far-off place has impacted every man, woman and child on earth. Since the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus we have seen the best and, at times, the worst of ourselves. Here, at Our City, we prefer to focus on the good. Our community has come together in efforts to support each other in large and small ways. Things like college students shopping for senior citizens so they won’t have to leave their homes; or, restaurant owners providing meals for families in need. These are the things that make our community strong. There is one other thing we can all do to help. Local businesses have been hurt. Many have seen their revenue drop to near zero. These are our neighbors, family and friends. If you have the means, support them. Pick up a dozen bagels for breakfast, book a one-on-one physical training session or schedule your next teeth cleaning. Small, local businesses are what make communities unique. They are, in many ways, what defines the character of a place. Please do your part to ensure they make it through this crisis. We are all in this together. Stay safe!

Hector Fabregas, MD

Yul Lopez, APRN

FAMILY & GERIATRIC MEDICINE COMPLETE MEDICAL CARE

Annual Physicals • Specialists Referrals • Open Saturdays Woman Wellness Exam And Pap Smears In-Office Labs & Other Diagnostic Tests Home Visits Available For Frail Elderly Patients

Sincerely,

Christy & Terry Jaillet

Christy & Terry Jaillet Publishers

2019

We Accept Medicare, HMO Medicare Advantage Plans, All Commercial Plans and Marketplace Insurances.

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WESTON

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DAVIE

4705 SW 148th St. Suite 102 Davie, FL

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www.healthstonePCP.com 12 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY |PEMBROKE OURCITYMEDIA.COM PINES | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Quarantine Binge Watch BY JOHN DUKA

Nurse Jackie - Showtime/Netflix (seven seasons) Nurse Jackie is a medical drama-comedy that tells the story of Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco), an Emergency Room nurse at a hospital in New York City. Every day is a “high wire act” for Jackie as she juggles patients, doctors, fellow nurses, and her own drug addiction. Falco’s portrayal of Jackie, as a strong-willed, iconoclastic New York City nurse juggling the frenzied grind of an urban hospital and an equally challenging personal life, is phenomenal.

oredom and stress have become constant challenges as we stay at home in self-quarantine from coronavirus. One way to overcome both is to get lost in a TV series. Luckily, there is no shortage of compelling TV available. With so many options to choose from, we polled our staff for their favorites.

The Mandalorian - Disney Plus (one season) The Mandalorian is the break-out star of Disney’s streaming service. The 10 episode drama is set in the Star Wars universe after the fall of the Empire. The classic “space western” follows bounty hunter Din Djarin from one adventure to another. His discovery of “The Child,” better known in popular culture as Baby Yoda, made our family fall in love with the quick moving series. Stranger Things - Netflix (three seasons) Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities. It follows the boy’s friends, Mike, Dustin and Lucas as they uncover mysteries surrounding their friend’s disappearance.

Breaking Bad In what many people call the greatest television series yet made, high school chemistry teacher Walter White transforms into the Southwest’s biggest drug lord after learning he has incurable cancer. The pace of the show and incredible writing make it easy to pass hours on end.

Shameless, courtesy of Showtime

Shameless - Showtime/Netflix (nine seasons) Set in the slums of Chicago’s South Side, Shameless follows the Gallagher family as they navigate life on the edge. The family is led by William H. Macy’s ,Frank Gallagher, a dysfunctional alcoholic who is hilariously self-destructive. What makes the show work is the cast’s ability to make you love the characters despite their sometimes reprehensible behavior.

The Mandalorian, courtesy of Disney 14 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY |PEMBROKE OURCITYMEDIA.COM PINES | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

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OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 15

What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

Stay home except to get medical care

Clean your hands often

You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. Animals: Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Wear a facemask You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a facemask if they enter your room.

Cover your coughs and sneezes Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can; immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.

Avoid sharing personal household items You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

Monitor your symptoms Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed. Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.

Discontinuing home isolation Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.

For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19 CS 314937-D 03/05/2020

16 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

Cosmetic Surgery Of The Face, Body & Breast

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Se Habla EspaĂąol Financing Available

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Coping With Coronavirus: Managing Stress, Fear, and Anxiety BY JOSHUA A. GORDON, M.D., PH.D

These are confusing, stressful times for all of us. As the coronavirus pandemic affects numerous facets of our society, it also impacts each person in different ways. The disruptions to daily life are already being felt by many, my family included—my son has been sent home from college, my place of worship has closed, and the comforting social gatherings that usually fill my weekends are off-limits. We are all feeling uncertain about what could happen in the coming weeks, as we hope to slow the spread of this pandemic. Feelings of anxiety and uncertainty are completely normal during times like this. Now imagine you are facing this uncertainty and have a mental illness. How much more challenging must it be to navigate this uncertainty? While we all are concerned about the future, for those with anxiety disorders, worry may be all-consuming. For those with schizophrenia, the concern that people are infectious may contribute to paranoia. And for

those with depression, lack of social engagement and disruption in routines could increase symptoms. If you need support coping with the events of the last few weeks, there is advice and help available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a webpage with information on dealing with fear, anxiety, and stress brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. A section of this CDC page is specifically geared toward those of us with children, as they can be particularly sensitive to uncertainty. For additional shareable resources for those with children, see this NPR story, which features an interview with National Institute of Mental Health expert Dr. Krystal Lewis. For those with mental illnesses, be sure to continue your treatment regimens. Consider developing a plan for telehealth sessions with your provider if you (or your provider) are quarantined or must avoid exposures to the public for any reason. And, reach out to friends and family for support, virtually if necessary. This last piece of advice is really important for all of us. It is important to realize that social distancing does not have to mean social isolation, especially with modern technologies available to many of us.

Connecting with our friends and loved ones, whether by high tech means or through simple phone calls, can help us maintain ties during stressful days ahead and will give us strength to weather this difficult passage. Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. He oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and clinical research that seeks to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.

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Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Traffic Accidents - Falls on Premises Product Defects - Other Neglogence

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OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 19

COMMUNITY NEWS

Run for Your Life at MargaRELAYville BY BEVERLY PERKINS

t’s that time of year again when many communities gather all over the globe with one common goal: to celebrate lives, honor and remember loved ones lost, and raise funds to find a cure for cancer. This monumental fundraiser, and the single largest non-profit event in the world is The American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”. This year the Pembroke

Pines and Miramar chapter will hold its’ event on April 4th at Walter C. Young Middle School located at 901 NW 129th Avenue, Pembroke Pines, 33028 starting at 12:00pm. Funds will not only help the American Cancer Society create breakthrough research, but will also provide free lodging near treatment, a 24/7 live helpline, and free rides to treatment. “A lot of the money goes to research, but if you can show people in your community that there’s something real from the dollars they give, that’s what distinguishes fundraising for the American Cancer Society from so many other charitable companies. We can show real things and I think it’s a positive effect,” explained Joe, a Participant. Even though cancer is not fun, this event certainly is. Teams are encouraged to show their spirit by decorating their tents and tees, playing games, listening to live entertainment, eating great food and of course, making new lifelong

friends. The overall goal is that by doing so, funds and awareness are raised to battle cancer. Unlike any other walkathon or fundraiser, teams are formed. These can be groups of families, friends, coworkers, and other organizations. If you cannot form your own team and want to participate, a Relay for Life Specialist can help you. Teams gather on-site and spend the day and night walking, running, and cheering each other on. Because cancer never sleeps, a member of each team must always have at least one participant representing themselves on the track. The “Relay for Life” remains consistent in formalities no matter what part of the world it is in. One can expect seven parts wherever they are participating: Opening Ceremony, Survivor Lap, Caregiver Lap, Opening Lap, Luminaria Ceremony, Individual Walking, and Fight Back Ceremony. Each has symbolic meanings

all to honor, celebrate, and remember those affected by cancer. All participants pledge to continue to act and spread awareness of cancer research, treatments, and prevention. “I believe in promoting community not competition. This event is a great example of how communities can come together to Celebrate, Honor, and Remember our loved ones and together raise those necessary funds to attack cancer from every angle,” exclaimed Peter Rose, American Cancer Society Community Development Manager. For more information about Relay for Life, please visit http://RelayForLife.org/ PembrokePinesMiramar.

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AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVERS 2020

Making a Difference in South Florida: African-American Achievers 2020 Honorees

he African-American Achievers award is granted to four local inspiring individuals who give selflessly in order to make a significant difference in the lives of others. These recently named African-American Achievers Award Honorees all play a major role in South Florida and they all have amazing stories to tell. They will be honored on April 23rd at a ceremony at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. And the awards go to……. Arts & Culture Traci Young-Byron – Miami-Dade County – Preeminent Dance Instructor. Young-Byron, born and raised in Liberty City, is a pillar of her community. She heads the Performance and Visual Arts Center at Miami Northwestern High School and is a dance coach for the school’s Golden Girls Dance Line. She pushes her students to succeed, requiring a 3.5 grade point average to be a part of the team. Young-Byron has touched thousands of underprivileged young women and men with her contributions to the community. Her passion for the arts shines through her role as Founder and CEO of the Young Contemporary Dance Theatre, with its mission to help enlighten and expand societal views through all areas of dance. Business & Entrepreneurism Ken Roland – Broward County – Entrepreneur. His career was launched by a tragedy -- a car accident that landed Roland in the hospital gripping to life. After a stressful 15-hour surgery, Roland recovered and vowed to help his community in a special way. Now CEO of CPR-ETC. Inc., Roland brings CPR training and swim instruction to children across the country. Since Traci Young-Byron (L), 2020 Arts & Culture Achiever, attended his accident, Roland the dockside reception with became a certified her guest Lynn Larose

Colin Brown (R), chairman of the board, JM Family Enterprises, greeted the 2020 African-American Achievers honorees during a dockside reception aboard the Gallant Lady. (L to R: Ken Roland, Education Achiever; Marleine Bastien, Community Service Achiever; Traci Young-Byron, Arts & Culture Achiever) 22 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

Ken Roland (center), 2020 Education Achiever, celebrated this honor with his son Jacob Roland (L) and Colin Brown (R), chairman of the board, JM Family Enterprises

James Thomas, 2019 Business & Entrepreneurism Achiever, joined his Cox Media colleagues Derricka Chung, 2020 African-American Achievers Judge and Maestro Powell

lifeguard, swimming instructor and created the business model which he now runs with his son Jacob and grandson Judah. He formed Swim Central in Broward County, which has provided swimming lessons to more than 650,000 elementary school children, at no charge. As an innovator in the industry, Mr. Roland is leveraging his remarkable background to create an entirely new approach to safety courses. Community Service Marleine Bastien – Miami-Dade County – Social Worker and Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM). Bastien was born in Haiti where she volunteered most of her young life. She came to Florida as an adult and days later began volunteering at the Haitian Refugee Center. Bastien has a master’s degree in Social Work from Florida International University and spent many years at Jackson Memorial Hospital as a medical social worker with children and families where she became the premier advocate for patients’ rights. She has championed the cause of women, children and Haitian families through her dedicated advocacy in the areas of immigration and human rights, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and domestic violence. Through FANM, Bastien helps to provide an array of services such as immigration help, health access, housing, education and more. Education Danni Washington – Broward County – Marine Biologist and TV Personality. Washington’s passion for education and for marine biology has given her a unique career path. She broke the mold of a tradi-

tional environmentalist, toted as the first AfricanAmerican to host an American science television series. At age 21, she co-founded the Big Blue & You, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine conservation through arts and media. Washington has a love for youth outreach and education demonstrated by her work as a naturalist at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, where she has helped educate thousands of South Florida children about local marine ecosystems. She sets out to inspire and educate children so they, too, can use their unique set of gifts and follow their passion in life. “This year’s African-American Achievers are truly making a difference in our community,” said Colin Brown, chairman of the board, JM Family. “From helping to grow arts education to heading up life-saving programs, these are the unsung heroes working hard to improve and change lives. This year’s class of honorees exemplifies the meaning of this award.” The 2020 honorees were selected by an independent panel of community leaders, including former Achievers from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The selection committee reviewed more than 250 nominations received from throughout South Florida after an extensive public outreach campaign. Each year, in recognition of the Achievers and their efforts to improve the quality of life in our community, JM Family and its subsidiaries Southeast Toyota Distributors and JM Lexus make a contribution of $10,000 in each Achiever’s name to the South Florida charity(ies) of his or her choice. JM Family Enterprises, Inc., founded by Jim Moran in 1968, is a $16.3 billion diversified automotive company ranked No. 20 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. It is also ranked No. 17 by FORTUNE® as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®, its 21st consecutive year on the list.

Past achievers mingled with the newest class of honorees aboard the Gallant Lady. (L to R: Ashley Fogle, 2003 Youth Achiever; George Gadson, 1995 Community Involvement Achiever; Lisa Davis, manager of Corporate Community Impact, JM Family Enterprises)

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FEATURE STORY

The Best Way To Fight Coronavirus? It’s In Your Hands.

he coronavirus pandemic has spread throughout Florida, bringing life to a standstill and overwhelming hospitals and emergency rooms across the state. Terms like “selfisolation” and “social distancing” have become part of our shared vocabulary. Think you may have COVID-19? Before you can be tested, you first need to be assessed by a healthcare professional, a simple step to determine if you might have the virus. Over the past month or

important that patients are advised properly,” explains David Mishkin, M.D., medical director of Baptist Health Care On Demand. “Care On Demand is really the first ‘front door’ potentially for many patients regarding this illness and we have specific protocols when a patient does meet (COVID-19) criteria for an in-person evaluation.” Using digital health tools such as Care On Demand as part of a front-line response to the COVID-19 virus pandemic helps ensure that

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Baptist Health South Florida has been encouraging people with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 to stay home and see a doctor via Care On Demand. Baptist Health’s online healthcare providers can answer any questions, evaluate your risk, and provide support to relieve symptoms. Most cases of COVID-19 involve mild symptoms, including fever and a dry cough, that can be hometreated without medical intervention. Some patients

so, thousands of South Floridians have swamped local doctors’ offices, hospitals and emergency rooms in an effort to get tested, straining already over-taxed facilities, resources and staff. If there is a silver lining to this public health crisis, it’s that it has shined a spotlight on the critical role telemedicine plays in healthcare, particularly in battling the COVID-19 crisis. Telemedicine services such as Baptist Health Care On Demand enable you to consult with a trained healthcare professional from the comfort of your home via your smartphone, laptop or computer. “In a public health crisis such as this, it’s very

scarce hospital resources are reserved for the sickest patients, including those who need care for conditions not related to the epidemic. Javier Pérez-Fernández, M.D., pulmonologist and critical care director at Baptist Hospital of Miami, says keeping emergency rooms available for those who are seriously ill has been a major concern for Baptist and hospitals throughout the world. “Unless you’re sick, hospitals and emergency rooms are not the place you want to be right now,” says Dr. Pérez-Fernández. “Also, do you really want to be exposing yourself to this virus unnecessarily?” Following guidance from the U.S. Centers for

develop pneumonia, which is a condition that can fill lungs with fluid, potentially causing difficulty breathing in some patients. “If you’re experiencing shortness of breath in addition to other symptoms such as fever, cough and general malaise, then you should visit Care On Demand to see if you should be tested for the disease,” Dr. Pérez-Fernández says.

24 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

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SCHOOL NEWS

Pembroke Pines Charter Teacher Engages Students “One Blox at a Time”

The 23rd Annual /ŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ dĞĂĐŚĞr

IDEA EXPO CATALOG

Presented by

BY BEVERLY PERKINS

thinking process. Gisela Naranjo. cience, technology, engineering, art and It all starts with Naranjo’s project, Piecing Tales Together One Blox mathematics were just a few of the classroom an idea, and prior at A Time, begins with an introduction to computer subjects highlighted during the recent 23rd to designing their software engineering and game design. Students Annual Broward Education Foundation Innovative Teacher game, students IDEA EXPO at Nova Southeastern University in the Rick research the field, and then interview a game use a storyboard designer. It teaches students to learn about the proCase Arena at the Don Taft University Center. then use the Bloxels cess it takes to create their beloved games, as well as More than 450 Broward County Public School storyboard creating, story elements, problem solving, game board and teachers attended the anticipated expo. All the February 8, 2020 and computer engineering. They will be able to apply blocks to create a dedicated educators got to experience first-hand more than 60 original curriculum projects developed the principles of design and creativity using math and video game based on a fractured fairy tale they have written,” explained Naranjo. visual art skills, as well as skills they have learned by their colleagues and funded through Broward By using elements of engineering and design, the about story structure and story elements. Education Foundation grants which will ultimately “One Blox At A Time encourages collaboration while students will produce a fun video game that appeals benefit more than 300,000 students. Additionally, guidingOUTCOME: students through a design to all ages. When the project is completed, students they all received the tools needed to will understand the computer engineer and game Students learn about the process it takes bring projects to life in their respective OUTCOME: ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞůŽǀĞĚ ŐĂŵĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů Students learn about the process it takes design, and will be able to use the engineering design classrooms. ĂƐ ƐƚŽƌǇďŽĂƌĚ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ͕ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞůŽǀĞĚ ŐĂŵĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů process to help solve game designing problems. The innovative projects, designed to ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ͘ ĂƐ ƐƚŽƌǇďŽĂƌĚ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ͕ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ They’ll apply the principles of design and “Computer software engineering is one of the engage and motivate students, focused ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ͘ ĐƌĞĂƟǀŝƚǇ ƵƐŝŶŐ ŵĂƚŚ ĂŶĚ ǀŝƐƵĂů Ăƌƚ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ most intuitive platforms in the engineering field. They’ll apply the principles of design and on STEM, social emotional learning, ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ůĞĂƌŶĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĐƌĞĂƟǀŝƚǇ ƵƐŝŶŐ ŵĂƚŚ ĂŶĚ ǀŝƐƵĂů Ăƌƚ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ When students build games, they become the writreading and comprehension, the envistory structure and story elements. Using ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ůĞĂƌŶĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ elements of engineering and design, they’ll ers, artists, designers, and developers of their own ronment, nutrition, and so much story more. structure and story elements. Using ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ Ă ĨƵŶ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƉƉĞĂůƐ ƚŽ interactive stories. As young engineers, students will Many esteemed educators hadelements the of engineering and design, they’ll all ages. When this project is completed, Ă ĨƵŶ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƉƉĞĂůƐ ƚŽ use their creativity, intuition, and understanding of opportunity to showcase theirƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ projects students will understand the computer all ages. When this project is completed, engineer and game design, and will be able how video games are designed by Piecing Tales Together,” including Pembroke Pines Charter East students will understand the computer to use the engineering design process to added the 3rd grade Gifted/Higher Achiever teacher. Campus Elementary School teacher engineer and game design, and will be able ŚĞůƉ ƐŽůǀĞ ŐĂŵĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͘ to use the engineering design process to ŚĞůƉ ƐŽůǀĞ ŐĂŵĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͘

PIECING TALES TOGETHER PIECING TALES TOGETHER ONE BLOX AT A TIME

Hunter ONE Douglas Gallery Showroom BLOX AT A TIME

Ɖ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ nd doing new things, because we’re nd curiosity keeps leading us down hs.” - tĂůƚ ŝƐŶĞǇ

QUOTE: ͞tĞ ŬĞĞƉ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ doors, and doing new things, because we’re THE STUDENTS: and curiosity keeps leading Students willcurious know how game designers create us down new paths.” - tĂůƚ ŝƐŶĞǇ

THE STUDENTS: Students will know how game designers create ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂǀŽƌŝƚĞ ŐĂŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ŵƵĐŚ ƟŵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬ ŐŽĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ Ă ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ͘ dŚĞǇ will understand how to use the engineering ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ƐŽůǀĞ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĞŶƚĂŝůƐ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ͕ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂƚŚ͘ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ communicate to create two game board ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ͞ĨƌĂĐƚƵƌĞĚ͟ ĨĂŝƌǇ ƚĂůĞ͕ ǁŝůů ƵƐĞ ǀŝƐƵĂů Ăƌƚ ƚĞĐŚŶŝƋƵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů make precise measurements to ensure the ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĞĂƐŝůǇ ŵĂŶĞƵǀĞƌĞĚ͘

ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂǀŽƌŝƚĞ ŐĂŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ŵƵĐŚ ƟŵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬ ŐŽĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ THE ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ PROJECT:Ă ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ͘ dŚĞǇ will understand how to use the engineering ŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ƐŽŌǁĂƌĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ŵŽƐƚ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚƵŝƟǀĞ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ƐŽůǀĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ OJECT: ŚŽǁ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĞŶƚĂŝůƐ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ͕ ƵƐĞ ůŽǆĞůƐ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ǀŝĚĞŽ Ğƌ ƐŽŌǁĂƌĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĮĞůĚ͘ ŵĂƚŚ͘ in^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ and ĂďůĞ games the classroom toƚŽ tell stories ƵŝƟǀĞ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ communicate to create two game board they create. When students build games, they ƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƵƐĞ ůŽǆĞůƐ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ǀŝĚĞŽ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ͞ĨƌĂĐƚƵƌĞĚ͟ ĨĂŝƌǇ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƚŚĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͕ ĂƌƟƐƚƐ͕ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ n the classroom and to tell stories ƚĂůĞ͕ ǁŝůů ƵƐĞ ǀŝƐƵĂů Ăƌƚ ƚĞĐŚŶŝƋƵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ to ŽǁŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟǀĞ make precise measurements ensure the ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͘ ate. When students build games, they dŚŝƐ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ĐĂŶ ǁŝƚŚ ďĞ ĂŶ ĞĂƐŝůǇ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ƚŽ THE DISSEMINATOR: ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ƚŚĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͕ ĂƌƟƐƚƐ͕ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ĐŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ƐŽŌǁĂƌĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŵĞ DƐ͘ EĂƌĂŶũŽ ŝƐ Ă ϯƌĚ ŐƌĂĚĞ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ Ăƚ ŝƚǇ ŽĨ ĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͘ ŵĂŶĞƵǀĞƌĞĚ͘ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ͘ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ͕ ĂŶĚ Pembroke Pines Charter School East Campus ĞĐƚ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ƚŽ THE DISSEMINATOR: ƚŚĞŶ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁ Ă ŐĂŵĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ͘ Ɛ ǇŽƵŶŐ ůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ 'ŝƐĞůĂ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƐ ƚŚĞ 'ŝŌĞĚͬ ƌ ƐŽŌǁĂƌĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŵĞ DƐ͘ EĂƌĂŶũŽ ŝƐ Ă ϯƌĚ ŐƌĂĚĞ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ Ăƚ ŝƚǇ ŽĨ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌƐ͕ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƌĞĂƟǀŝƚǇ͕ ,ŝŐŚ ĐŚŝĞǀĞƌ ĐůĂƐƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ^d D ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ͕ ĂŶĚ Pembroke Pines ŝŶƚƵŝƟŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ School ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ǀŝĚĞŽ is incorporated into general curriculum. Charter East Campus Sponsored by: ĞƌǀŝĞǁ Ă ŐĂŵĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ͘ Ɛ ǇŽƵŶŐ ůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ 'ŝƐĞůĂ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƐ ƚŚĞ 'ŝŌĞĚͬ games are designed. Piecing Tales Together Ɛ͕ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƌĞĂƟǀŝƚǇ͕ ,ŝŐŚ ĐŚŝĞǀĞƌ OneĐůĂƐƐ Blox ǁŚĞƌĞ At A Time ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞƐ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT: ^d D ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ǀŝĚĞŽ is incorporated while through a design ůŽǆĞůƐ h ĂƉƉ͕ ůŽǆĞůƐ ƐƚŽƌǇďŽĂƌĚ͕ <ŝŶĚůĞ intoguiding generalstudents curriculum. Sponsored by: thinking process. It all starts with an idea. ĮƌĞ ǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ ϳ Žƌ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ;/ͲƉĂĚ Žƌ ƐŵĂƌƚ ƉŚŽŶĞͿ re designed. Piecing Tales Together to designing their game, students use a At A Time ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞƐ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ MATERIALSPrior & EQUIPMENT: RESOURCES: uiding students through a design ůŽǆĞůƐ h ƐƚŽƌǇďŽĂƌĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ůŽǆĞůƐ ŐĂŵĞ ďŽĂƌĚ ĂƉƉ͕ ůŽǆĞůƐ ƐƚŽƌǇďŽĂƌĚ͕ <ŝŶĚůĞ ĂŶĚ ďůŽĐŬƐ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ Ă ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ Resources needed are Internet access and process. It all starts with an idea. ĮƌĞ ǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ ϳ Žƌ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ;/ͲƉĂĚ Žƌ ƐŵĂƌƚ ƉŚŽŶĞͿ MORE INFORMATION: Ă ͞ĨƌĂĐƚƵƌĞĚ͟ ĨĂŝƌǇ ƚĂůĞ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ͘ ůŽǆĞůƐ ĂƉƉ͘ designing their game, students use a PowerView® Motorized Shades from Hunter Douglas move They also use their knowledge of area and GISELA NARANJO ƌĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ůŽǆĞůƐ ŐĂŵĞ ďŽĂƌĚ RESOURCES: to a schedule you access set. available. perimeter ensure thatVoice their game board Resources needed are to Internet andactivation City of Pembroke Pines Charter East Campus ŬƐ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ Ă ǀŝĚĞŽ ŐĂŵĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ automatically now for special savings on a wide range of popular styles. INFORMATION: ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌƌĞĐƚ ƐŝǌĞ͘ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů MORE ůŽǆĞůƐ ĂƉƉ͘ 10801 Pembroke Road ƵƌĞĚ͟ ĨĂŝƌǇ ƚĂůĞ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ͘ Act ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵͲƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ Ă Pembroke Pines, FL 33025 o use their knowledge of area and **The PowerView® App and additional equipment required for programmed operation. GISELA NARANJO ƌĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂŝƌǇ ƚĂůĞƐ͘ er to ensure that their game, 2017 board 954.443.4800 City of Pembroke Pines Charter East Campus Monday-Saturday - 6:00pm ƌƌĞĐƚ ƐŝǌĞ͘ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů 10801 Pembroke10:00am Road gnaranjo@pinescharter.net ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵͲƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ Ă Pines, FL 33025 Drive & Stirling Road) @ashadeaboveflorida 5967 S University Dr., Davie, FL 33328 Pembroke (NW corner of University w w w. as aw f. co m Ŷ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂŝƌǇ ƚĂůĞƐ͘ Principal: Ms. Channale Augustin 954.443.4800

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Elite Dental and Aesthetics Has New Faces and Bigger Smiles BY BEVERLY PERKINS

ust a couple of months ago, Dr. Santiago Lopez and Dr. Carolina Borgenicht acquired Elite Dental and Aesthetics. Although the popular Plantation practice has new faces, the office is still dedicated to personalized care in the dental field. A variety of services are offered and the dynamic dental duo is sure to make their patients’ dental experience a great experience. Dr. Santiago Lopez is an expert in the area of implant and cosmetic dentistry, a master of the latest concepts in digital smile design and has a fully digital workflow. Dr. Carolina Borgenicht is a family dentist who treats

patients from ages 3 and up. However, she is skilled in all phases of Cosmetic, Implant and Restorative Dentistry. Combined, the Gator loving couple offer a variety of treatments in the dental field, including placing and restoring implants, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, oral surgery, dentures, and so much more. The state-of-the-art facility also has the latest and greatest technology available to make each procedure as easy and painless as possible. Drs. Lopez and Borgenicht recently took the time to answer some questions about their newly acquired practice. What distinguishes you from your competition? First and foremost, we listen to our patients’ needs and expectations. We value our patients’ time, so we provide many services all under one roof by providing excellent care with the latest technology. Our fully digital workflow allows predictability in our treatment, from the diagnostic phase, and planning up to the execution phase. This type of workflow guarantees the satisfaction of our patients and most importantly, a natural-looking smile.

Besides traditional dental services, what others do you provide? We are going to start offering treatment for sleep disorders, special needs patients, TMJ problems, and orofacial pain. Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you and/or your business? At Elite Dental and Aesthetics our patients are treated like family in a warm and caring atmosphere. We actively listen and understand their needs and tailor our recommendations to give them the very best oral health care. By doing so, we meet the desires and expectations of our patients. Elite Dental and Aesthetics is located at 131 NW 100th Avenue, Plantation, 33324. To schedule an appointment, please call954476-4537 or email info@plantationdentist.com.

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131 NW 100th Ave. • Plantation • 954.476.4537 • www.plantationdentist.com OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 29

SCHOOL NEWS

The Botcats Say, “Lego my LEGO”! BY BEVERLY PERKINS

he West Broward High School robotics competition team, The Botcats, volunteered to host a “FIRST LEGO League Qualifier” for local elementary and middle school teams in the South Florida area to their school. The Botcats participate in a program known as FIRST ®, a global robotics community preparing young people for the future. The FIRST ® program for grades 9-12; ages 14-18, has the excitement of sports, but the rigors of science as it’s regulated under strict rules, limited

resources, and an abundance of volunteer mentors including engineers, teachers, business professionals, parents, alumni, and more. During a robotics competition, teams of more than 25 students build and program robots to perform challenging tasks against a field of competitors. Additionally, teams must raise funds, design a team “brand”, sharpen teamwork skills, and perform community outreach. At the same time, they learn valuable STEM and life skills and have the opportunity to apply for millions of dollars in college scholarships. Eighteen eager teams, from both Miami-Dade and Broward counties, arrived at West Broward

High School on an early Saturday morning to compete with their preprogrammed LEGO robots on the field. They were each judged in the three categories of FIRST LEGO League (core values, project, and robot design). Four teams were chosen to advance to the Regional Championship in Palm Beach, but all teams were congratulated for the phenomenal jobs they did to represent their schools. “It was a fun and educational experience not only for the teams that attended, but for our team’s members as well. The event was a great success on many fronts,” exclaimed Brandon Holtzman, West Broward High School FRC Team 3653 Project Manager.

The West Broward High School Botcats, FRC Team 3653 was founded in the fall of 2010. Since then the team has grown and adapted to provide the students in their school district a hands-on approach to engineering. The team also believes in the importance of giving back to the community. They understand that the more STEM opportunities they provide to the youth the better. Hosting an event such as this was just one over twenty that they have volunteered at or hosted since August in an effort to spread the message of STEM throughout the community. “The success of the LEGO tournament is a true indication of the continuous need to support our youth in future robotic endeavors. The elevation of wonder is boundless,” added Richard Gonzalez, West Broward High School Assistant Principal.

We would like to welcome Dr. Sharon Ramos to our family. Serving South Florida for over 36 years, we believe in practicing old-fashioned medicine, emphasizing individual patient care.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Making Dollars & A Whole Lot of Sense BY BEVERLY PERKINS

ver 900 students from across the United States competed in the 3rd annual “Payback Challenge” created by Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF). The non-profit organization is committed to ensuring that all students complete their high school education

7th grade Assistant Principal Kienna Knowles with Tatiana Tassy

with the skills necessary to thrive in our increasingly complex financial world. Two students from Florida received Honorable Mention Awards including Tatiana Tassy from New Renaissance Middle School in Miramar. In order to participate, students had to submit essays last fall after playing the award-winning game, PAYBACK. The college finance game was featured in the NY Times and was the recipient of Webby Awards for the “Best Social Impact Game” and the “Best Education Game” categories. Teachers then nominated the best student essay from their classes. “Over 200,000 students played PAYBACK during the contest period,” noted NGPF Co-Founder, Tim Ranzetta. “It was great to see the impact this game had on students’ attitudes and actions as they decide on their educational path after high school. Thanks to the educators who engaged with their students by bringing PAYBACK to their classrooms

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and facilitating the amazing conversations that followed. With student debt at record levels, these conversations are more critical than ever.” “I saw that only one student per teacher could be nominated for the contest and I was so blown away by Tatiana’s resume that she completed for my class, I approached her about entering the contest. She quietly jumped right into playing the game and writing her essay, and within two days she had a remarkable essay written,” explained New Renaissance Middle School Personal Finance Teacher Ermina Pierre. “When I was playing the game, it made me realize that college is going to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. It made me think that maybe getting a job during high school isn’t a bad idea. I could save money then. I also

Personal Finance Teacher Ermina Pierre with Tatiana Tassy

have to keep working hard in school so that I could get as many scholarships as possible,” stated Tassy. The ambitious 7th -grader received a $500 award from NGPF to be used for educational purposes. “As the 7th grade assistant principal, I am extremely proud of our gem, Tatiana Tassy. She is truly a product of excellence, determination and a reminder of why we get into education. I know she will go on to do amazing things, this is only the beginning and we honor and celebrate her here at New Renaissance Middle School.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Miramar Ends Black History Month on a Few Good Notes BY BEVERLY PERKINS

lack History Month was a significant time to recognize the important contributions and achievements made by African Americans. Since 1976, every United States president has officially designated February as a way to remember and honor notable people and events in the history of the African Diaspora. Vice-Mayor Alexandra P. Davis couldn’t agree more, and she wanted to do her part to bring attention to the national observance. So, on Saturday, February 29th, the determined com-

munity figure hosted the inaugural “Afro Carib Festival” at the Miramar Amphitheater. The signature event was the perfect way to conclude the special month-long celebration. “We are so excited have hosted the first Afro Carib Festival right here in Miramar. February was Black History Month and it also happened to be Reggae Month. We put together an artist lineup that was exceptional. We fused the different genres of music from the African Diaspora and we loved that Miramar residents and visitors from all over came out to enjoy great music at a gorgeous venue,” stated Vice Mayor Alexandra P. Davis. Headliners at the festival included reggae sensation, Capleton, AfroBeats artist Stonebwoy from Ghana

Besides live entertainment, attendees had the opportunity to sample multicultural cuisine from the many food trucks, purchase goods from local vendors, and so much more. Event sponsors included Aetna, Workspace Property Trust, WZOP/WZPP Radio, and CES Consultants. “We closed out Black and Amara La History/Reggae Month celebrations Negra. They with a bang! Thank you to all who were joined by Julien Believe and Jay braved the 60 and 50-degree weather to Shep from the Bahamas, gospel-reggae enjoy the stellar line up! Pat yourselves singer, Soné and the Gutta Twins on the back for being a part of Miramar from Jamaica. Miramar’s own Tone C history,” added Vice-Mayor Davis. showcased his talents as well. The event The event was free to the public was also hosted by Yvette Marshall and with a $10 parking fee to benefit United Lance-O of Kulcha Shok Muzik with DJ Way’s Hurricane Dorian Fund and Food Mikey Mike. for the Poor.

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34 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

COMMUNITY NEWS

Broward & Miami Dade Schools Providing Breakfast and Lunch During Coronavirus Pandemic BY JOHN DUKA

roward County Public Schools (BCPS) is providing breakfast and lunch to BCPS students their families while schools are closed becuase of the coronavirus. Breakfast is offered from 8 am – 10 am, while lunch is offered from 11 am till 1 pm. The meals will be provided on every day that classes were previously scheduled.

Students are asked to bring their valid student identification to receive a meal for themselve and family members. However, the schools appear to be quite generous in cases where students do not have their IDs. The meals are available at the following schools: • Boyd Anderson High School • Blanche Ely High School • Dillard High School • Flanagan High School • Hallandale High School • Miramar High School • Nova High School • Sunrise Middle School • Taravella High School Students and family members can obtain the fresh, hot-cooked meals by walking up or driving through designated areas on the campuses. The food distirbution program is part of a partnership between the school system, The Hunger Coalition, Feed South Florida, the Health Foundation of Broward and the United Way.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Growing Pains In Children Or Merely Flatfeet? child’s shoe gear to add more support to the foot and ankle may provide immediate help. Avoiding barefoot and flat shoes is necessary. Custom molded orthotics (shoe inserts) will immediately help to realign the foot and the entire lower extremity. This will almost overnight eliminate the problem. Physical therapy may also help to decrease overall muscle tightness and to improve muscle strength and coordination. If the foot is flat and associated with tight calf muscles, stretching the calf muscles in a walking cast is critical to not only eliminate the problem but to prevent a recurrence. If the flatfoot deformity is severe, there is a small percentage of children that will benefit from a procedure to realign and “correct” the flatfoot. An excellent prognosis is always seen when the cause is identified, and the problem treated.

BY DR. CARLO A. MESSINA

oot, ankle and leg problems in the growing child are often considered to be “Growing Pains” in the bone and muscles of the lower extremity. While in a small number of cases this might be true, in a majority of the cases the pains that plague these children and teenagers may be caused by lower extremity malalignment problems. Growing pains are often seen in children who are excessively flatfooted or whose feet point to the outside. Children may also appear very knock-kneed. Tight calf muscles can not only cause, but significantly aggravate, the pain that these children are experiencing, especially at night. Leg pain is most commonly seen, especially at night after a long day of activity. Pain with activities, especially along the inside of the knee, lower leg, ankle and foot, may also be seen. This is often associated with a general avoidance of activities and sports and premature fatigue with many activities. Many children can also develop lower back pain. Treatment is important early on. Changing a

Carlo A. Messina, DPM, is a Board Certified Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Diplomate American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a Foot and Ankle Surgeon with the Foot, Ankle and Leg Specialists of South Florida and specializes in treating infants, children, teens and adults. His partners are Dr. Robert Sheinberg, Dr. Al DeSimone, Dr. Fernando Moya, Dr. Alexander Bertot, Dr. David Shenassa, Dr. Michael Cohen, Dr. Franz Jones and Dr. John Goodner. The South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine in Weston is located at 1600 Town Center Blvd., Suite C, (954) 389-5900 and in Pembroke Pines at 17842 NW 2nd Street, (954) 430-9901. The practice website is www.SOUTHFLORIDASPORTSMEDICINE.org.

ACCEPTING: MEDICARE •BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD • UHC • CIGNA • AETNA • AV MED • AMBETTER • TRICARE WORKERS COMP • ACCIDENTS/LOPS • SIMPLY • STAYWELL • SUNSHINE • BETTER HEALTH • OSCAR • MEMORIAL PHO

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SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS CARTILAGE INJURIES Microfractures, Cartilage Transplants, Osteochondral Grafting RECONSTRUCTIVE FOOT, ANKLE AND LEG SURGERY Flat Foot, Bunions, Hammertoes, FRACTURES Ligament Repair, Achilles Tendon Why go to an Emergency Room? Dr. Robert Sheinberg, D.P.M. Dr. Carlo Messina, D.P.M. Dr. Michael Cohen, D.P.M. Dr. John Goodner, D.P.M. Board Certified Board Certified Board Certified Board Qualified All Foot, Ankle, and Leg Fractures Tears, Arthritis Surgery FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST in Children and Adults! SPORTS MEDICINE WESTON PEMBROKE PINES PLANTATION Tendon and Ligament injuries, Heel FOOT AND ANKLE ARTHRITIS 1600 Town Center Blvd. 17842 NW 2nd St. 220 S.W. 84th Ave., #102 Pain, Shockwave Therapy, PRP & Stem Cell Total Joint Replacement, 954-389-5900 954-430-9901 954-720-1530 Injections, Arthroscopy and Tendoscopy, Ankle Replacement, Arthroscopy, SATURDAY HOURS Shin Splints, Compartment Syndrome Fusions, Joint Realignment Make Your Appointment Online at www.SouthFloridaSportsMedicine.com FOOT, ANKLE & LEG QUESTIONS? EMAIL THE DOCTOR! DrJohnGoodner@gmail.com (Don’t Send Protected Health Information) PEDIATRICS

• Flat feet • High Arches • Fractures • Growing Pains • Warts

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IMEs • Personal Injury • Worker’s Compensation Most HMOs/PPOs • All Foot Ankle & Leg Emergencies Same Day Appointments • Saturday Appointments Early Morning & Evening Appointments

SELF PAY RATES (Procedure cost is in addition to office visit.) New Patient . . . . . . . . . . .$75-$125 Surgery Consult . . . . . . . . . . . $200 Injections . . . . . . . . . .$75 per shot Casts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$175 Follow Up Visit . . . . . . . . $50-$100 Orthotics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350 Ingrown Nail . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$125 X-Rays . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 per area PRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$600 Shockwave (3 sessions) . . . . $500 Laceration Repair . . . . . . . . . $250 Wound Care . . . . . . . . . . .$75-$125 (FOR CHRONIC HEEL PAIN & TENDONITIS)

SPORTS MEDICINE ASSOCIATES (Self Pay Rates Do Not Apply To This Practice Below)

Dr. Al DeSimone, M.D. Board Certified SHOULDER & KNEE SPECIALIST

Dr. Fernando Moya, M.D. Board Certified SHOULDER & KNEE SPECIALIST

36 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

Dr. David Shenassa, M.D. Board Qualified HAND & WRIST SURGEON

Dr. Alexander Bertot, M.D. Board Certified SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST

Dr. Franz Jones, D.O. Board Certified SPINE SPECIALIST

“IZZY”

Pet

of the Month

Hi Im Izzy! I am a 5 month old female boxer and I was recently adopted from my foster home by my furever family! I am a survivor! I beat Parvo at only 1 month old. I love riding in my dad’s truck and playing at the park. I love to run like crazy and fetch just about anything. One of my favorite things is watching movies in bed with my persons and long walks where I sniff just about everything ( which drives my perdon crazy, but he loves me!).

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Your Pet Could Be Our PET OF THE MONTH! ENTER YOUR PET TODAY! Every month Our City Pembroke Pines randomly picks a pet of the month winner. Email to: anna@ourcitymedia.com MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING TO RECEIVE YOUR PRIZE: Owner Name, Email, Phone Number. Please send a high-resolution photo. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PET: Name & Breed / Age & Gender / City of Residence Favorite Person / Favorite Toy / Likes & Dislikes Favorite thing to do / Last Seen Doing/City OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 37

COMMUNITY NEWS

A Chili Morning in the Garden BY BEVERLY PERKINS

pril 2020 marks 50 years since the first Earth Day was celebrated. Since 1970, Earth Day celebrations have called for the responsible use and protection of the natural environment, and no one agrees more than the dedicated individuals at the Miramar Community Garden (MCG). In addition to protecting the environment around them, the MCG wants the community to learn that it is also necessary to “green” our bodies by feeding them healthy “fuel”. “What we eat impacts our energy level, focus, mood, performance, learning and healthy aging,” said Paula Reis, Ph.D., Wellness Professor at Broward College. Therefore, the MCG advocates this year-round by celebrating good health and well-being with fun and

educational activities such as handson cooking demonstrations for the entire family. During “Heart Health Month”, they collaborated with Baptist Health South Florida and Wellness in the Schools (WITS) to bring the community an easy-to-make heart-healthy chili recipe. “For our community, Baptist Health South Florida’s Community Health department aims to nourish the body and mind through various paths. Through dietitian-lead nutrition classes, we help to educate and empower individuals to put nutritional recommendations into practice. Our hope is to inspire others to make better choices when grocery shopping, cooking and eating away from home,” explained Lucette Talamas RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian with Baptist Health South Florida. Participants learned numerous ways in which the budget-friendly recipe can be customized to the individual palates. The presentation covered nutrition and heart health recommendations including the benefits of

eating beans and low sodium food preparation. WITS is an organization that offers programs to create healthier environments for children to learn and grow. “Our collaboration with Miramar Community Garden is a wonderful example of not just learning about proper nutrition, but also tasting it,” added Talamas. The Miramar Community Garden, located at 3700 Largo Drive in Miramar, is the perfect place to explore enjoyable and creative ways towards a resilient body and a resilient planet. Veggie Chili Serves 4-6 Ingredients 3 cups canned black, kidney or cannellini beans 1 1/2 Tbsp. olive or canola oil 1 onion, diced 1 red pepper, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 jalapeno, seeded, de-ribbed and minced (optional)

1 Tbsp. ground chili powder 1 1/2 tsp cumin 1 1/2 tsp oregano 1 14.5 ounce can whole tomatoes in juice, chopped 1 1/2 Tbsp. tomato paste 1 cup water 1/2 tsp salt fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish/optional) scallions, thinly sliced (for garnish/optional) sour cream (for garnish/optional) Procedure Rinse and drain beans and set aside. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat until warm. Add onion, red pepper, garlic and jalapeno and cook, stirring, until onions are translucent. Stir in spices and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, water, salt and drained and rinsed beans; reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, until flavors are well combined. Garnish with cilantro, scallions and sour cream just before serving.

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38 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

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DAYCARE in Miramar Excellent investment, almost 3 year established, beautiful daycare. Licensed for 29 kids with potential to expand to 38 kids. VPK, School readiness, Food program; mandatory uniforms, field trips, 4 photo seasons, indoor activities, for extra income. Winter, spring and summer camps. After school program. Certified bilingual teachers. Free standing building with 17 parking spaces, 1 handicap.

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LEGALLY SPEAKING

THE TUG OF WAR ENDS WHEN YOU ARE ON THE SAME SIDE

What Should I Do? BY EVAN H. BARON, ESQ. s we go through our daily lives we often come upon situations which require us to make decisions. Sometimes these decisions can be minor in nature and other times they can be somewhat more complex. None of them compares to the decision a person has to make in deciding if they should pursue a divorce from their spouse. I hear these questions almost every day from either prospective or existing clients; “Should I stay married or get a divorce?”; “Should I accept this deal or go to trial?”; “What should I do?” Unfortunately, divorce attorneys don’t always have the answers. I can certainly advise a client based upon my many years of experience, but in reality, the decision must always be that of the client. When I meet with a prospective new client who is considering a divorce, I am often asked for my opinion as to what he or she should do. I explain that I do not ever encourage an individual to get divorced, but obviously sometimes that is in fact their best option. It is, however, a very personal decision that he or she must make based upon all the factors involved. I can advise a person as to the law and how his or her case will probably get resolved. I say probably because when there are two parties involved it is impossible to predict what the other party will be seeking. I often explain to a client that no matter how reasonable they may be, the process will also depend upon the reasonableness of their spouse. So I am asked, “What should I do?”. I tell them that is their decision and they will know when it is time to make that decision. I have had individuals return to retain my services one or even two years after their initial consultation. It took that long to be able to answer the question, “What should I do?”

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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. 40 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

Once the process has begun I am also often asked “what should I do?” when faced with the decision to either enter into a marital settlement agreement or proceed to trial. Once again, I can advise them based upon the law and my experience, but no attorney can ever guarantee a particular result if the case goes to trial. Often times the agreement is extremely fair and equitable and as such, I advise my client that it is a good deal for them and they should certainly consider it. If the offer is equal to “their worst day in court”, then the decision is also fairly easy. Why settle a case when you will probably get better results from a judge. Of course, the usual reason is financial, since it costs more money to go to trial than to settle. We sometimes have clients who disregard our advice and accept a “deal” which may not be the best that they can receive. Of course, it is ultimately their decision. So, in reality, the person who can best answer the question “What should I do?” is the client. Of course, I can only hope that the decision is made after they consider my advice. n The law firm of Evan H. Baron and Associates is located at 1655 North Commerce Parkway, Suite 201, in Weston. If you have any questions concerning this issue or any other family law matter, call the office at 954-385-9160.

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Do I Need a Trust? BY BRUCE IDEN, ESQUIRE hould I consider creating a trust even though I don’t have a multi-million dollar estate? Gone are the days that revocable living trusts were only for wealthy individuals. Why? Because it’s now less about avoiding estate taxes and more about the cost savings and protections that trusts can provide. And a properly drafted and funded trust avoids the expense, delay and loss of privacy of probate. The following scenarios help my clients understand why a revocable living trust may be their best option: Meet our hypothetical family, George and Jenny happily married for 25 years with three children, Jessica, age 20, Josh, age 15, and Jonathan, age 12. Both George and Jenny have created wills, leaving everything to each other. After they are both gone, their wills leave it all to their children, in equal shares. Sounds like a logical plan? Maybe not. Tragically, George dies suddenly and, according to his will, all of his property transfers to Jenny. The following year, while rushing to an appointment on a rainy morning, Jenny loses control of her car and rear-ends a bus full of trial attorneys heading to the annual Ft. Lauderdale “I’ll See You in Court Convention.” Several of the attorneys are injured and predictably, lawsuits follow. Now what happens to Jenny’s inheritance from George? It’s likely all gone to creditors. What is left to raise her children? Perhaps nothing. If George and Jenny had used a trust in their estate plan, the final outcome may have been different. While Jenny’s property would still be subject to creditor claims, her inheritance from George inside a trust would be safe for her and their children. In another sad scenario, imagine that Jenny dies first. George later remarries Susan, a woman with four adult children. What happens when George passes? His property, including what he inherited from Jenny, may go to Susan and eventually to Susan’s children. George and Jenny’s children could be completely disinherited! With a properly drawn trust, George and Jenny can rest assured that even if the surviving spouse remarries, their money will go to their children. Finally, think of George and Jenny happily enjoying retirement and grandchildren, but unfortunately, they are not fond of Jessica’s husband, Robert. Jenny fears that their son-in-law will never earn a decent living, and be dependent on their daughter Jessica to support him for the rest of his life. George worries that if they leave an inheritance to Jessica and she ultimately divorces Robert, a substantial portion of Jessica’s inheritance could be lost to her “no-good husband.” If George and Jenny leave the inheritances to their children in a trust, these assets will not be commingled with marital property. Therefore, in the event of a divorce, daughter Jessica’s inheritance will not be the subject of division and partial distribution to Robert. Speak with a qualified estate planning attorney to see if a trust is right for your family situation. Life can change in an instant. What are you waiting for?

Bruce Iden earned his J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center and his L.L.M in taxation from the University of Miami School of Law. He has been practicing in the areas of estate planning, real estate and business law for over 30 years. For more information, or to schedule a consultation with Mr. Iden, contact Iden Law Offices at 954-885-0085.

More than a law firm. We’re your neighbors.

954.885.0085

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualiications and experience. OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 41

ASK THE EXPERT

Considering Removing Your Breast Implants? BY CHARLES A. MESSA, III, M.D., F.A.C.S. espite the evidence that breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure that results in higher patient satisfaction with their breasts and enhanced psychological wellbeing, an increasing number of women are electing to remove their breast implants. In 2017, more than 45,000 breast implant removal procedures were performed – a twenty percent increase over the previous three years. The impetus to undergo breast explantation is multi-factorial, ranging from implant related complications like implant rupture, hardening (capsular contracture) or breast pain, to large breasts with size dissatisfaction to autoimmune symptoms which patient’s attribute to their breast implants. After the implant is removed, the breast can appear empty or “deflated.” To avoid this unaesthetic result, the breast can be lifted (mastopexy) and volume can be restored with the patient’s own fat (autologous fat transfer) or by rearranging or reshaping the breast with adjacent breast tissue, a socalled augmentation. All these techniques have been shown to be successful in plastic surgical literature. When the implants are removed, patients are often pleased with the aesthetic outcome and report very high patient satisfaction rates. Additionally, in a Journal of Immunologic research in February 2017, it was noted that in numerous studies, patients with symptoms of breast pain, muscle aches, and fatigue, those symptoms were reduced once the implants and capsules were removed. In this same article, blood markers for autoimmune disease were unchanged after implant removal in the majority of patients. There is an extensive body of medical literature demonstrating that breast augmentation with both saline and silicone implants is safe without a direct link to autoimmune disease. The decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is a highly personal one, and therefore treatment options should be individualized based on each person’s unique aesthetic goals. If you are considering breast augmentation, a breast implant exchange or replacement, or implant removal, it is important to discuss your goals with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Messa is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, an active member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a recognized expert in cosmetic plastic surgery and has achieved Allergan’s Black Diamond Award as one of the top 1% of plastic surgery practices in the country by volume. Dr. Messa has also achieved Chairman status with Medicis and Mentor Corporation. This award honors distinguished leaders in cosmetic surgery for demonstrating expertise and excellence through a high volume of aesthetic product procedures. The certification is awarded to leaders in the field of medical aesthetics and demonstrates their commitment to innovation, excellence, and the highest level of patient care.

Call Mariem Garcia For Advertising Information 954-326-0409

To schedule your consultation with Dr. Messa, call 954-659-7760. 42 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

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B E E A N T I R O A D S L O L O W E S L O X D E C E D J E E S O D A O V E N W E D

A D A G A S T E S T E H A E A M E S S M E L C O L A A P R E D S E E A L A U L U

E N T R A N C E

M U A G C H E

L E A P

E S S N A E G

Sudoku Solution

1 5 3 9 7 4 6 2 8

4 7 6 2 8 3 9 1 5

2 9 8 6 1 5 4 3 7

8 4 2 1 5 9 7 6 3

6 3 9 7 4 8 2 5 1

5 1 7 3 2 6 8 9 4

7 6 5 4 9 1 3 8 2

9 8 4 5 3 2 1 7 6

E O A D R E

3 2 1 8 6 7 5 4 9

OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 43

We Want Your Take your latest copy of OUR CITY PEMBROKE PINES & MIRAMAR on the road with you and you could be our lucky winner. Send us your “The World’s Favorite Magazine™” photo and you could win a gift certificate to a local restaurant. Happy trails!

THE WORLD’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE™ Just like birds, Eugenia and Cesar Constantino went south for the winter break. Although they already live in the warmth of sunny South Florida, they spent their vacation with family and friends in the tropical climate of Panama. The adorable couple may have gone home for the holidays, but they took a little piece of their home along on their travels. They stopped to take a photo with Our City Miramar in front of the Panama City skyline which is the heart of the Central American country.

44 APRIL 2020 | OUR CITY | OURCITYMEDIA.COM

EMAIL PHOTOS TO: anna@ourcitymedia.com Please send hi-resolution original digital photos as attachments only. Include name, address, phone number and where photo was taken.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR: PEMBROKE PINES

Let’s Make Everyone Count in Pembroke Pines BY FRANK C. ORTIS, MAYOR OF PEMBROKE PINES ensus Day is April 1st! Everyone will have three options for responding: online, by phone, or by mail. The 2020 Census marks the first time that an online option to respond is being offered. Responses can even be made on mobile devices. It is crucial that residents report everyone living in their homes on their Census forms. This includes every child, family member or acquaintance that may reside in the home. According to Michael Stamm Jr. Director of Planning and Economic Development, “For every person that goes uncounted, it costs the City an estimated $1500 per person every year for 10 years. It is vitally important that we count every person in our community.” The Census critically impacts each city, providing current population data which determines the distribution of more than $800 billion of federal funding for state and local infrastructure, highways, schools, hospitals, and services. In addition, school district boundaries and voting districts are set, and the House of Representatives is reapportioned based on Census data. The Census count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. It is important to note that Census information is confidential and cannot be released to anyone beyond the Census Bureau. The online census form is available in English and 12 additional languages. If you do not speak one of those languages, someone else in your home can complete the form for everyone in your home. If adults in the home do not speak one of these languages, someone can translate. Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau. A complete and accurate count is critical for you and Pembroke Pines, because the results of the 2020 Census will affect city funding, congressional representation, and more.

For more information about the 2020 Census, please visit www.ppines. com/census2020. Information and resource links are available to answer many questions. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 954450-1020, or by email at fortis@ppines.com.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR: MIRAMAR

Miramar is About Community BY WAYNE M. MESSAM, MAYOR OF MIRAMAR had the great honor of speaking at the Black History Observance celebration hosted at the U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND CENTER in Doral, FL. Special thanks to Admiral Craig Faller and Colonel Brian Lewis for welcoming us onto their top of the line military base. The event commemorated the efforts and legacy of the late and great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who spent his life fighting for equality and justice. U.S. military veterans of the Korean war, Vietnam, and even WWII were given recognition awards for their service to this country at a time when they were not shown the same gratitude back. It warms my heart when I get the opportunity to address our military and thank them for all the work and sacrifices they endure because too often are they forgotten by today’s society. Meeting many of our very own active duty Miramar residents, I was able to hear all the great praises regarding the developments we’ve started and progress we have made as a city. What a pleasure of mine to have hosted the “Mayor’s Chess Challenge” at Vizcaya Park! It was a blast! Folks from all over our beautiful city of Miramar came together to enjoy this day of scholastic mental agility. Check mates and double moves were all the rage among the competitors. It is with events like these that we open our doors to a wider community and make everyone feel welcomed here in the City of Miramar. The “My Brother’s Keeper” (MBK) program was a mentorship initiative created during the Obama Administration. Here at the City of Miramar our very own MBK chapter has grown quite amazingly in both recognition and numbers. Our Miramar MBK group of young men achievers were able to go on visits to the Miami Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, SunLife stadium, and some have even had the opportunity to tour the U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND Center. MBK meets once a month in a designated area set prior to the meeting date. We recently had the opportunity to hear from retired Special Agent in Charge Herbert Cousins of Springfield, Illinois. He spoke of his tenure with the Bureau and his dealings with high profile cases like “Waco” and “Yahweh ben Yahweh”. We highly encourage middle and high school aged boys who are interested in joining to reach out to the Mayor’s office. Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed one of my favorite events created by yours truly… “Mayor Messam’s annual 5K / 3K & Health Fair” was quite a success! The eagerly anticipated event drew a sensational crowd. Participants loved learning during this full-day about physical wellness. The timed Run/Walk had the largest attendance so far and we’re looking to make next year’s even bigger and better. Thanks to our sponsors Memorial Healthcare, DICKS Sporting Goods, and AETNA, the health fair was filled with celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, popup yoga sessions, and health screenings by medical professionals who were available to answer the many questions.

The Office of the Commission is located at 2300 Civic Center Place, Miramar 33025. To contact please call, 954-602-3198 or visit www.miramarfl.gov. Follow Mayor Messam on Twitter & Instagram: @ WAYNEMESSAM or FaceBook: /MayorWayneMessam. OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 45

PUZZLE PAGE

Our City Media 12/19 Crossword Across

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12 13 10 11 Buzzer Boise’s county 16 14 15 Flightless bird Against 17 18 19 Neon, e.g. 20 21 22 Glitch Auto trial run 23 24 25 26 27 28 Carve in stone 33 32 Plumlike fruit Zimbabwe’s 36 37 35 capital 20 Grassland 38 39 40 41 22 Historic period 42 43 44 45 23 Has debts 26 Tableland 48 49 50 29 The Matrix hero 32 Bagel topper 53 54 52 33 Common sense? 56 55 34 Scoundrel 35 Calendar abbr. Copyright ©2019 puzzlejunction.com 36 Fizzy drink Down 13 Burn 37 37 Arid 15 Pipe joint 39 38 Author LeShan 1 Tavern 19 Genuine 41 40 Bit of butter 2 Nephew of Cain 21 Munitions, 42 42 Scoffed 3 And others, for brieﬂy 45 Broad valley short 23 Antiquated 43 48 Scotch’s partner 4 Bio bit 24 Grief 44 49 Like some jams 5 Pizazz 25 Surpassed 52 Kiln 6 Hammett hound 27 Electric ﬁsh 46 53 ___ mode 7 Doorway 28 Spank 47 54 Actress Turner 8 Riot spray 30 Corn serving 48 55 Tie the knot Our City 12/19 31 Lyric poem 50 56Media Eskimo knifeSudoku 9 Word of disgust 11 Paragons 33 Cicatrix 51 57 Dowel

1 4 7 10 12 13 14 16 17 18

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MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF

MESSAGE FROM THE POLICE CHIEF

Keep Two Hands on The Wheel April is for Autism Awareness and Two Eyes on the Road BY MIRAMAR FIRE-RESCUE CHIEF ROBERT E. PALMER s we move into April, the weather will be getting warmer and the days will be getting longer. Families will be heading outside to enjoy the later daylight hours with their children and pets and, we want everyone to be able to enjoy their activities and stay safe. April is also “Distracted Driving Awareness Month”. A lot of publicity is placed on texting while driving but really distracted driving is the focus of doing any other activity that takes your attention away from the road. Of course, texting is the biggest diversion, but eating, drinking, playing with your music, stopping your pet from jumping into the front seat, taking off your sweatshirt when it gets hot, and even closing the windows when it rains are all distractions just the same. There are three main types of distraction: ▸ Visual - where we take our eyes off the road to quickly send that text. ▸ Manual - when we take our hands off the wheel to reach for something. ▸ Cognitive – when we take our mind off the road by daydreaming. Did you know that when you send or read a text message it takes you an average of 5 seconds? Did you know that if you did that while driving at 55mph that is long enough to have covered the entire length of a football field without looking at the road? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, on average 9 people are killed in the United States each day because of distracted driving, as a result of things that could have waited. Nine deaths could have been prevented by just waiting until someone arrived at their destination to do whatever secondary activity wasn’t necessary.

There are good options to limit our distractions that we can all employ. ▸ Use the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone or put your phone in a bag on silent so you are not tempted to reach for it during your travels. ▸ Plan your travels and have GPS or App directions set before starting to drive. ▸ Make sure all passengers, pets included, are secured in seatbelts before starting to drive. ▸ For teens and new drivers, restrict the number of passengers they are permitted to have in the car with them until both of you are more comfortable with their driving experience. ▸ Don’t do the things you want others to avoid, like texting people when you know they are driving. ▸ Set a good example while riding with other drivers, so they have someone to model their behavior after. ▸ Leave the multi-tasking for work, eat breakfast at home before you leave. We look forward to seeing you at our events not when we are called to the side of the road, stay safe! Miramar Fire Rescue is located at 14801 SW 27th Street, Miramar, FL 33027. For more information please call (954) 602-4802. For emergencies, please call 9-1-1. Also, check us out at Miramarfd.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

BY CHIEF DEXTER WILLIAMS id you know that April is National Autism Awareness Month? This month represents an excellent opportunity to increase understanding, and to promote autism awareness, and acceptance. However, The Miramar Police Department (MPD) always likes to do their part regardless of the month to help make the community the safest it can be by acknowledging challenging issues such as autism. The MPD has joined other police agencies throughout Broward County to promote an Autism Outreach Program that will allow officers to better serve those in our community who are on the spectrum. Residents can voluntarily submit a request to have information for any individual with autism in their care to be included in our database. Once the request is made through our police department’s website, the residence of the individual will be flagged. Officers responding to that location will be informed that someone with autism may be present. The dispatcher will be able to provide some detailed information about the individual, to improve our response and interactions with the resident. This database will also assist us by having emergency contact information for caregivers readily available. The information will be kept confidential and made available only to our patrol officers. This program will allow officers who are responding to an incident involving a person with autism to better prepare for the situation. Residents will also be provided with an autism awareness decal that could be visibly placed on their front door or window as an indication that an individual with autism lives at the residence. They will also be provided with an information card for nonverbal individuals to provide to an officer, if needed. To enroll in the program, please visit miramarpd.org and click on Community Programs. Register under Miramar PD Cares: Autism Outreach Program. This program is just one of the many commitments our department has made to serve those in our community who are most vulnerable. We also welcome everyone to attend our annual “Battle of the Badges for Autism Awareness” fundraiser, April 25th, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Brian Piccolo Sports Park (fields 5 & 6), 9501 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, FL 33024. The annual fundraiser is a softball tournament involving police and firefighters who “battle” to raise money for autism. It was started four years ago by Miramar Police Officer J.D. Drew, who has a son on the autism spectrum. Please stop by for the game, food, bounce houses, raffles and more! All proceeds benefit the Autism Speaks organization.

The Miramar Police Department is located at 11765 City Hall Promenade, Miramar, 33025. For general information, please call 954-602-4000. To report a non-emergency, call 954-764-4357. To reach the Miramar Helpline, call 954-602-HELP (4357). Stay Connected, Stay Informed @ MiramarPD on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. OURCITYMEDIA.COM | OUR CITY | APRIL 2020 47

SNAPSHOTS FROM SCHOOL DAY OF SERVICE & LOVE

In memory of the 17 lives lost two years ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students, faculty and staff from schools across the county held a day filled with activities aimed at community service and spreading love. Photos courtesoy of Broward County Public Schools.

SEEN ON SCENE A CHILI MORNING

The Miramar Community Garden always celebrates good health and well-being with fun and educational activities such as hands-on cooking demonstrations for the entire family. During “Heart Health Month”, they collaborated with Baptist Health South Florida and Wellness in the Schools (WITS) to bring the community an easy-to-make heart-healthy chili recipe. For all the details and the recipe, see page 16.

luigi CHECK MATES

Mayor Wayne M. Messam and other elected officials from neighboring cities, along with many community leaders had their free and friendly meetup in support of Scholastic Chess at Vizcaya Park. Players of all ages and skill levels had an enjoyable time learning a timeless game while making new friends.

LA VICTORIE

HEARTS OF GOLD

The Alpha Alpha Beta Omega Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority enjoyed their 2nd annual “Happy Heart Hour” at the Miramar Regional Park in February. The event allowed attendees to obtain health screenings for blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass index. Additionally, they offered health lectures, cooking demonstrations, dancing, fitness, and other fun activities all in an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle developed by administrators at the Utica College Nursing School’s Miramar Campus. Women’s Healthcare & Wellness Committee Chairwoman, Nadine Baxter-Atkins was elated that the sorority was able to offer this event for the second time for the residents of the city of Miramar.

More than 7,000 people attended the 11th Annual ANF Group Tour de Broward, presented by the Makarov Foundation, which raised $703,642 to expand programs, services, and facilities for kids and families at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. In its 11-year history, the Tour de Broward has raised more than $5.1 million for pediatric healthcare in South Florida.

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