Author: Lisa Sam

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Newly Published Novelist From Margery Stoneman Douglas High School

Emily Sam, a Parkland Florida, Broward County Graduate at Margery Stoneman Douglas High School launched her first book – A Romantic Novel “Chasing Daffodils”.

We are thrilled to share the great news that her novel “Chasing Daffodils” was officially released on October 27, 2021.

Margery Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) offered the resources, support, and encouragement for Emily to begin writing a novel, but it was years in the making. Thinking back to elementary school in Jackson New Jersey, located in beautiful Ocean County, it was in fifth grade that the seed for a future young romance novelist was planted. Daily morning writing assignments had Emily expressing her imagination through poetry and short stories. Gaining attention and praise from teachers for her natural ability to captivate readers convinced Emily that she wanted to be a writer one day.

Throughout Middle School and High School, Emily dabbled in fanfiction. Her stories gained a strong following. These stories followed a young adult romance theme. Readers enthusiastically awaited her chapter entries, and the reader reviews were very inspiring. This further encouraged Emily to pursue a writing career.

It was during her senior year at Margery Stoneman Douglas High School that the idea for “Chasing Daffodils” was born. Between her studies and color-guard, she continued writing. Emily kept at it and began writing every spare moment, which was quite difficult because she was taking college classes and working as a Nanny. Nevertheless, Emily continued to be inspired and amazingly wrote 2 to 3 chapters at a time. Life experiences and people she met along the way helped shape and inspire Emily’s characters and plot ideas.

Emily’s book is aimed towards a new-adult audience. Its main character Jade Everly is a 24-year-old aspiring actress living in New York City. While Jade attends auditions and works as a barista in Brooklyn, she begins a search for “Mr. Right”. Jade wants a meaningful relationship that she can bring to an upcoming wedding of her ex-boyfriend Noah and childhood friend Suzy. The book takes its reader through Jade’s journey, and we observe how her life evolves.

Chasing Daffodils is one of those books that is hard to put down. Emily has a real feel for characters, situations, and dialogue that keeps you hooked until the very last page. The Feedback from readers has been great.

Emily’s novel is available wherever books are sold. After you read Chasing Daffodils, tell Emily your thoughts. The contact email is: inquiry@chasingdaffodils.com or check https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KF6N7GN for the direct link.

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School News – November 2021

Westglades Middle

Matthew Bianchi, Principal

Westglades Middle School is participating in the Harvest Drive to assist families with meals during Thanksgiving. This a great way for our students to experience community service and community outreach.

This year’s Westglades Harvest Drive began on Oct. 25 and runs through Nov. 15. We will be helping to feed 200 local families this year for the holidays! Our Harvest Drive Club involves approximately 75 students who work tirelessly throughout the months of October and November to market this event and to collect food. Schools simultaneously run their harvest drives and transport their items to Westglades to be sorted, counted, and distributed.

To help our mission to feed 200 local families, please send in any canned or dry goods with your child to be dropped off in their first-period class. To make it easier to donate some of the larger items, we will collect items in the morning and afternoon car lines during the week of November 1–5 on Monday through Friday. This year we are bringing back the Community Night Drop-Off Event on Nov. 15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Pull up in our car line during that time and we will be happy to help you unload your donations!

Our school-wide fundraiser, “5 Minutes of Dough,” was held on Oct. 27. All money collected during this fundraiser is used to secure a gift card for each Harvest Drive family to be able to purchase nonperishable items to round out their holiday meal.

Please also feel free to drop off your donations at our Westglades Harvest Drive tent at the Farmers Market on Nov. 7. For more information on the Harvest Drive organization or how you can get involved, visit harvestdriveflorida.com.

 

Riverglades Elementary

Christina Chioda and Kimberly Mann

Riverglades students and staff enjoyed participating in our “No Brainer FUNdraiser” where students had the opportunity to take part in fun dress-up days as they worked to collect donations. We are so proud to announce that not only did we meet our goal, but we exceeded it! The donations collected will go toward technology, reading intervention programs, and other instructional resources. A big thank you to all who donated. Great job, Gators!

We are eager to kick off our Fall Harvest Drive where students will be able to provide families with groceries and toiletries this Thanksgiving. The Harvest Drive will run until Nov. 8.

Calling all Bingo fans! Bingo Night is back on Nov. 17. Come out for a night of fun games as you try to become a Bingo champion! More information about this can’t miss event will be coming soon.

Calling all Riverglades shoppers … the holiday shop is almost ready to open its doors! Students can shop for family and friends this holiday season as they look through a variety of cool and unique products. From jewelry to pet toys, this shop has it all! The holiday shop will run from late November through early December.

 Coral Springs Charter

Sophia Kaklias, Social Media Editor, “Paw Print”

 After a year online, raising school spirit is important. Student involvement during Spirit Week was thrilling, and so was seeing everyone’s outfits during the dress-up days. Fun senior pranks and activities led up to our Homecoming game, which we won 28-17. Following the Homecoming game was, of course, the Homecoming dance. After being at home for a year, it was a refreshing time to socialize.

From Oct. 11 to 15, DECA Week was held. This DECA Week was similar to Spirit Week, including a dream job dress-up day on Oct. 11.

Mental health is a priority here at Coral Springs Charter. During October 4–8, a Mental Health Week was practiced, including activities such as yoga, breathing exercises, and acts of kindness.

Something that goes hand in hand with mental health is peace. A pole that reads “May Peace Prevail” recently was installed in front of the school. This pole, which was given to 47 schools in Broward County, was gifted after two former students won the Peace Pole contest, and it was installed on International Peace Day. Student poems and essays were read in front of the pole on the day it made its debut.

Upcoming events include the College Tour for the junior class, which will be a great opportunity to plan futures. The sophomore College Tour will be in February. Also, the DECA Power Trip to Chicago will be held this month, which will be great for our aspiring entrepreneurs.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High

We are so excited to have all of our students back on campus, learning face-to-face again. As always, our Eagles are soaring higher than ever!

Our Culinary students, under the direction of Chef Kurth, had an opportunity to visit Keiser University in Sarasota to attend one of six Regional Workshops hosted by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation. The students rotated through cooking labs to experience a day in the life of a culinary college student. The sessions centered around Latin American tastes, textures, and flavors including Mojo Pork, Shrimp Vera Cruz, Mexican Street Corn, and more. Our Culinary students are in for a treat as they continue exploring various foods throughout the remainder of the year.

To add to our excitement, the Eagle Regiment continues to shine. They competed at the Flanagan Falcon Sound Invitational on Oct. 2 where they were named Grand Champion of the entire competition. Several additional competitions are upcoming — John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres and the Bands of America Regional Competition. We can’t wait to see (and hear) what they have in store for us!

Our Guidance Department was honored to host our parent nights in October. We welcomed all grade-level families to help ease the transition. In addition, we discussed what to expect, GPAs, graduation requirements, studying for success, college applications, and financial aid. We had a great turnout, and parents and guardians left very informed and ready for a wonderful start to the school year.

SGA and Drama students had a wonderful time hosting FALLO’WEEN, our annual event on Oct. 28. We welcomed students from the community, and as always, the costumes, decorated trunks, and activities were a success!

On the academic end, we are easing back into face-to-face learning and students are acclimating quickly. For students who need a little boost or assistance, we are offering tutoring on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:50 to 3:50 p.m. in the Media Center. These sessions are led by our peer tutors from our Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Societies. Students can receive tutoring in all subjects on Tuesdays and mathematics on Wednesdays and Thursdays, free of charge.

Somerset Parkland Academy

Jennifer Knight, VIPP President

Beyond the STEM lessons, in-class group project learning, and the Cambridge Program curriculum, Somerset Parkland Academy (SPA) has had some recent successes in some of its extracurricular activities.

The SPA soccer team led by Coach Saeger won their first-ever game against Somerset Riverside. The speech and debate team led by Ms. Erhardt competed in their first debate competition at Dillard High School. Students Layla Moho, Karina Palskoi, and Emma Yaegar placed first in Original Oratory, and the team of Stella Luna and Brianna Alvarez finished first in Duo Interpretation.

The SPA Drama Academy led by Mr. Ramsarran has 51 members already and is eligible to be a part of the International Thespian Society. They put their acting skills to the test making an appearance at the SPA Halloween Spooktacular, and they will perform a Holiday Extravaganza in December.

The school has also started its Looping Program this year, allowing looping students the opportunity to be with the same teacher and classmates for kindergarten and first grade with Ms. Ferlazzo and then continue together for second and third grade with Mr. Sage. The Looping Program allows teachers to discover the students’ learning styles and motivators while building a level of trust over those four years.

Coming up in December, SPA will host its second annual winter event with stilt walkers, jugglers, costumed characters, Hannukah and Christmas decorations, games and activities like throwing pies at the teachers, and, of course, the photo with Santa. Don’t miss it!

Heron Heights Elementary

Lauren Generoso, PTO President

Our biggest event of the school year is back on Nov. 17 with the Heron Heights Elementary (HHE) Fitness FUNdraiser! We are so excited to have CrossFit Vice Gym of Coral Springs sponsor our event. Our amazing volunteers are working hard to plan an awesome event filled with lots of exciting surprises, prizes, and fun fitness for our Hawks as they fundraise in the weeks prior. Follow us on Instagram (@hhe_pto) and Facebook (facebook.com/hhepto.hawks) for the latest updates and how you can support HHE.

Congratulations to HHE’s teacher of the year, Mrs. Kurzenberger, and school-related employee of the year, Mrs. Diaz!

The holiday shopping season is here! Please support the HHE PTO while you shop on Amazon by adding Amazon Smile to your account. It’s free and easy! Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4567225. Thank you for your support.

Picture caption: Our principal, Mrs. Weiss-Schnur, with the teacher of the year and school-related employee of the year.

Park Trails Elementary

Principal Arlene Manville

Park Trails is excited to be planning for our 20th Anniversary Celebration to take place in January. Students will be creating a time capsule, and we will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 11 to rededicate our school.

We are trying to reach out to all the fifth-grade students who graduated during the 2001-02 school year. Please have individuals contact our staff at (754) 322-7800.

Our STEAM program is well underway, and we are hoping to become a district STEAM magnet school for the 2022-23 school year. Students in grades K–5 are busy coding, learning about the engineering process, building, and designing robots and other objects in our design lab.

Our STEAM team teachers are looking for engineers to help us start a robotics club. If interested in assisting, please email Kristin.meis@browardschools.com.

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Another recycling day for Coral Springs

As we strong-arm another shipping box to collapse it for recycling each week, you may be surprised that for the city of Coral Springs residences, those boxes are not being recycled.

For many years, recycling benefited our local governments’ coffers, by returning surpluses from selling our recycled material on the wholesale market back to the community.

Until a couple of years ago, our recycled waste was often transported to another country where the sorting and processing occur. According to a Yale School of Environment analysis, China’s plastic imports dropped 99% from 2018 to 2019. Overall, China used to take 60% of recycled material, until the import market was shut down by regulation. This triggered a change in the economics of recycling.

The wholesale price of recycled materials dropped while the industry adjusted. According to Dawn McCormick, from Waste Management Inc. of Florida, the average price of a bale of recycled materials dropped almost 75% in value. This resulted in local contracts for recycling starting to cost cities money to operate, versus generating a profit. Due to the changing economics, many cities in Broward stopped recycling. This included Coral Springs, which saved the taxpayers $300,000.

As the commodity prices increased recently, the cities have revisited the decision. In a recent commission vote, the city of Coral Springs, which had stopped curbside recycling, decided to restart. Which is great news to local recycling advocates.

One metric that many residents may not be aware of is the contamination rate. This is the rate at which non-recyclable waste is included in your recycling. This includes batteries that start fires (like the one in a Pembroke Pines facility), plastic films that clog up recycling sorting machines, plastic toys/furniture, clothing, and more. In Broward County, the rate is 25-40%, and the latest Coral Springs rate before the program was halted was 36.5%!

This high contamination rate is due to a phenomenon referred to as “wish-cycling.” According to McCormick, a lot of folks hope that more things can be curbside recycled, which increases the cost to process it and decreases the value. She said the mantra for successful recycling is, “When in doubt, throw it out (in the garbage).” This will ensure that we get the most out of recycling and help fund our local city programs.

So, let’s all do our part and make our local recycling programs successful. Remember to sort carefully, and decrease that contamination rate.

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Who wants to go vampire hunting?

So Hallowe’en is around the corner and you’ve decided to fight evil this year by being a vampire hunter. Where do you start?

John Loper of Antiques & More in Coral Springs had an idea rolling around in his head in 2016, but it wasn’t until COVID-19 showed up that he was able to really start digging into what a vampire hunting kit would require, how to make it with high-quality antiques and reproductions and look authentic.

Fast forward to 2021, and Loper has put together many kits of varying sizes containing everything one might think of, and some surprises too! He took one of his works and sold it through Sotheby’s Auction House in New York. Other interested parties are the Royal Armouries in Leeds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Pictured is one of his larger kits, which is made of a velvet-lined wooden chest with a padlock and key, containing two removable gilt metal sconces — in case you are hunting at night, obviously.

Also included are two replica pistols, a pocket Bible, a strand of rosary beads, six wooden stakes and a mallet, seven crucifixes including one with a carved bone handle, one silvered pendant, and 33 glass vials. Everything a want-to-be vampire hunter will need. The vials could be used for holy water, or garlic (Does garlic salt count? Do you want to take the chance?), or any number of potions that the many vampire legends claim will drive out, stun, injure, or perhaps even kill one of these children of the night.

Other kits contain mirrors, 19th-century documents from funeral parlors, and more curios and religious artifacts. So if you want to be the Winchester brothers (from CW’s “Supernatural”) this Halloween, you know where to get the gear.

 

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Trouble is brewing! A Halloween collaboration

When it comes to Halloween, I feel there are two types of people — those who go all out and those who don’t. Clearly, we go all out! Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, so why not throw a fantastically frightening party with close friends the Saturday before? I’ve teamed up with some amazing local vendors to give you some ideas on how to make this spooky season extra special.

 

 

We set the scene with marquee “BOO” letters and a statement backdrop with a huge balloon garland. Our colorful palette of peach, lavender, and black carried from the plates to the sweets to the décor.

The kids’ table was set with playful coffin-shaped snack boxes filled with goodies, adorable cake-pop cones, and festive cookies with some milk. The bowls were for the “I Scream Bar” later in the party.

 

 

For a super easy do-it-yourself game, I created this seasonal tic-tac-toe from inexpensive wood pumpkins painted to match. Another creepy activity the kids enjoyed was making clothespin flying bats. Simply cut out paper bat shapes and a 3-inch rectangular paper strip. Paint the clothespins black, then glue the bat on top and the strip on the bottom. Slightly bend the wings up and then glue the strip to the wings. Let dry and then watch your bat fly as you pinch the clothespin!

Over on the adults’ table, we featured signature “Boos.” This pastel witches’ brew concoction is simple:

  • 1½ oz. gin
  • ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ oz. maraschino liqueur
  • ¼ oz. crème de violette

Combine all ingredients over ice, shake, and serve! As parents help the kids create the sundae of their dreams with all the creepy toppings, they could enjoy sweet and savory treats done with impeccable Halloween flair.

Whatever your plans, stay safe and creep it real. Happy Halloween!

Rachel Hunter is the owner of Celebrate You Events, offering bespoke party planning for all occasions.

She can be reached at (305) 389-0550 or CelebrateYou2020@gmail.com.

 

For information on any of these activities, contact the following:

  • Rachel from Celebrate You Events (IG: @celebrate.you.events) — concept creation, party styling, fringe banner, and activities
  • Alex from Hullaballoon (IG: @thehullaballoon) — custom balloon arch
  • Kelsey from The Styled Kind (IG: @thestyledkind_) — backdrops, kids’ table, and chairs
  • Cathy and Shannon from BoardYum (IG: @boardyum) — kids coffin snack boxes and charcuterie board
  • Danna from Sweet-n-Dandy (IG: @dandysweettreats) — custom cake and Halloween sweets
  • Nicole from LalaWoodStory (IG: @lalawoodstory) — wood sign and bats, acrylic stir sticks
  • Niki from Alphalit South Florida (IG: @alphalitsofl) — BOO marquee letters

 

Thanks to the following for their contributions:

  • Venue: WowMoms World, Coral Springs
  • Photographer: Melanie Zehner Photography
  • Ice cream: Glyk Gelato
  • Skull bath bombs: Karma Bath

 

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Stocking up on fine red wines for winter

Don’t look now, but winter is approaching. It may not seem that way here in South Florida right now, but there is nothing stopping it and winter will be here whether we want it or not. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, the only way we know that winter has arrived here is by the plethora of out-of-state license plates on the automobiles of the “snowbirds,” the change in the color of women’s shoes from white to black or brown, and the desire to replace the white wines of summer with red.

While the red wines are usually more costly than the white wines, as it is said, “You get what you pay for.” My advice is to stock up on red wines now before the winter price increases or any other maladies that may befall Northern California.

Daou Family 2019 Pessimist ($30). A strange name but not a strange wine. The back label explains that it is a wine “that never disappoints.” That motto says a great deal, but does its name meet its character and quality? As a wine columnist, being a perpetual pessimist goes with the job, but this wine made that job easy: It is excellent. This wine can easily change a hard-core pessimist into a pussycat optimist.

At the first sip, you know that you are in for something very interesting, and very enjoyable. Everything about this wine is concentrated and very obvious. This dark ruby red, full-bodied wine displays the traditional cabernet aromas of cassis, plum, and oak with a hint of clove. Black cherry and cassis, in glorious amounts, firmly reside in the flavor along with a velvety mouthfeel, a sure sign of a better cab — and that is exactly what this wine is, a better cab and a fine starting place if you are a cabernet sauvignon newcomer.

Daou Family 2018 Bodyguard ($50). Since I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, to me a bodyguard is a big, burly guy with a broken nose and cauliflower ears who makes offers that “it’s best not to refuse.” Therefore, a wine so named definitely intrigued me. I will start by saying that no threats, bullying, or strong-arm tactics are needed for this wine, as it will capture and hold you with the first sip.

This wine is a blend of often not-seen varieties: 59% petite verdot and 41% petite sirah. The aroma is a fruit basket alive with the scents of blackberry, raspberry, pomegranate, chocolate, licorice, and cocoa. These fruit aromas and even more carry over to the flavor and then explode in the finish. Words cannot do justice to this wine, and I believe that it is one of the most interesting red wines that I have sampled in a long time. And remember, this wine was made by “the family.”

Hamel Family 2018 Isthmus ($90). The Hamel family, with all of their red wine experience, do full justice to the cabernet sauvignon grapes and from them have produced a very fine and, if I may, an exceptional example of the variety. The wine is full-bodied with a deep, almost violet color. This very dark wine is a true child of California, stressing fruit flavors over the usually austere and stiff character of the grape variety.

The aroma showcases black fruits, cedar spice, and vanilla. These carry over to the flavor, where they mingle with a cherry and plum element and the very discernable flavors of chocolate mint. This wine has a wonderful softness about it and reflects many of the flavors and aromas that are found only in well-aged wines. This is a wine that I believe rides the fine line between a California cabernet sauvignon and a French Bordeaux, and it is a pleasure to drink.

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Helping to break the stigma during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Unfortunately, for too many people, there is still a stigma associated with mental illness. It’s a shame and it must change. No one chooses to have anxiety or depression or to have a child diagnosed as bipolar. Of course, no one chooses to have cancer either.

Instead of exploring why there is a stigma, I have started an organization, the Mental Wellness Networking Alliance (MWNA), that is committed to “Break the Stigma” for as far as we can reach.

I began the organization with other community leaders shortly after we lost our second teenager in a week, only one year and one month after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Both of our local teenagers experienced unspeakable trauma that day. When I heard about Calvin Desir losing his life, I committed to do something different in my capacity as a concerned dad, as a local leader, and as the son of Marcia Brook, in order to save lives.

You see, I tragically lost my mom, Marcia, to suicide when I was only 23 and she was 58. My family was devastated. We had no idea my mother was ill. She visited me in May 1987 in New Orleans when I graduated from Tulane with an MBA. She seemed a little sad at times, but I thought her emotions were more involved with her pride and love than with any mental illness. However, this article is not about me or my loss. Rather, this is about us. Too many groups of people suffer with mental health challenges in silence. Suicide disproportionally affects numerous populations, including veterans, teenagers, young Black males, and others.

What can you do to help prevent suicide during the month of September, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month? You can reach out to a loved one whom you sense has been going through some difficult times and be present for that person. You can share 2-1-1 as a great resource to help those in crisis, as well as the Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 227-TALK.

You also can join me and others, including several mental health professionals, at our next MWNA meeting on Sept. 14 at Keller Williams, 3301 N. University Drive, for dialogue, connection, and education. On Sept. 23, MWNA is joining forces with the Veterans Networking Alliance to raise money to help with education, advocacy, and treatment. The event will be at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, and you can email me for tickets at scott@scottjbrookpa.com or find us on Facebook.

If you or someone you know needs help, please seek it. At MWNA, our vision is that we live in a world where mental wellness is equally as vital as physical wellness. An injury above the shoulders should not be treated as any less of an injury worthy of care than an injury below the shoulders. We all want mental wellness. Discussing mental illness and seeking care should not be taboo.

#BREAKTHESTIGMA

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Grand Opening Event at Arthur Murray Dance

✨Invite to our Grand Opening Event✨
Celebrate with us!

Friday October 1st, 2021
The Doors open at 7:30 PM

Dance the night away!

Ribbon cutting ceremony,
Champagne & Hors D’oeuvres,
General dancing,
Spotlight performances,
Professional show dances
& Tournament of Champions Announcements!

Dress Code: Cocktail attire.
Color code:  Royal blue, Soft Blue or White.

For more information please call (754) 307-0947
Address: 7631 N State Road 7 Parkland, Florida

We are looking forward to having you!🤩

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Tips to follow during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is common and grows slowly. At onset, symptoms may be absent, but as it progresses, early warning signs include an increased urgency to urinate, frequency, and leaking. In more advanced stages, the cancer can metastasize to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. In a majority of cases, bone pain will occur.

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer of the prostate is the second most common cancer, and men are 44 percent more likely to develop it than women.

Mehmet F. Hepgur, M.D., an oncologist/radiologist at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, says that depending on the size of the tumor, a person may feel pain in the prostate and see blood while urinating. “The only way to detect the specific stage is through an examination and taking a test to determine a person’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level,” said Dr. Hepgur. “The best chance for a successful treatment is through early detection when the tumor is still confined within the prostate gland.”

The PSA test is not for cancer detection but a means of measuring the levels of a specific antigen in the prostate gland. The PSA numbers can indicate other issues ranging from inflammation and infection to gland enlargement and subsequent cancer. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, a high PSA level does not always indicate prostate cancer. There are numerous types of prostate cancer, and there’s a treatment for each type. In summary, one approach doesn’t fit everyone, and treatment is on a case-by-case basis.

“A person in their 40s or 50s with a PSA greater than 3 milligrams per milliliter is abnormal and may need a further workup,” said Dr. Hepgur. “The PSA range is usually less than 1. For a person in their 70s, a PSA above 4 is abnormal, and if it rises above 0.3 milligrams per milliliter a year, additional testing is required.”

It’s important to identify prostate cancer in its early stage and to be aware of any history of cancer in the family, genetics, or abnormal lifestyle habits. “Reports show that African-American men have a higher incidence rate and may have to be screened at a younger age,” said Dr. Hepgur. “There’s no hard data to show why certain ethnicities have higher rates of incidence, but we encourage earlier screenings as the best method of prevention.”

There is debate in some circles about the age at which screenings should begin. The primary recommendation is between 55 and 69 years of age. “Exercise is important, as is cutting down alcohol consumption,” said Dr. Hepgur. “It’s critical to be screened at the proper time and talk to your doctor about treatment options.”

Older men and women with prostate cancer are under “active surveillance.” Specialists find that surgical versus radiation outcomes are very similar. In advanced stages, however, it’s recommended to see an oncologist for treatment protocols.

Dr. Hepgur’s advice is to be aware of any history of cancer in the family and of any genetic predisposition, and to live a healthy lifestyle through exercise and nutrition.

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Warning signs of a brain aneurysm

September is Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 6% of people in the United States have an aneurysm in their brain that is not bleeding — an unruptured aneurysm. It is more likely to affect women ages 40 to 60 years old. If you have relatives who have had an aneurysm, you should discuss it with your primary care provider.

The most common symptoms of an unruptured aneurysm, per the Cleveland Clinic, are headaches. Other signs may include the following:

  • Vision changes
  • Enlarged (dilated) pupil, the black part of the eye
  • Seizures
  • Numbness or tingling on the head or face
  • Pain above and behind the eye
  • Neck pain
  • Nausea and vomiting.

If your aneurysm ruptures, as Cypress resident Mrs. Alonna Miller found out, it is an emergency. The most common symptom is a severe headache that comes on suddenly and lasts hours or days. Other symptoms can be the following:

  • Stiff neck
  • Drowsiness or even coma
  • Mental confusion
  • Dizziness or problems with your balance
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Weakness or no feeling in an arm or leg
  • Heart attack.

For Miller, she had to spend weeks in the intensive-care unit, and she experienced “unimaginable pain.” It took many weeks to recover, and two unruptured aneurysms were also discovered and removed in August 2020.

 

If you have concerns or have a family member who has had an aneurysm, please discuss it with your primary care doctor.

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Space … the finally here frontier

Have you ever looked toward the night sky and wondered what exists beyond our pale blue dot?

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with one of South Florida’s own local astronomers, Kyle Jeter. A teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School since 1994, he started teaching the very first astronomy course in Broward County in 1997, originally just titled “Research.”

Recognized as the 2017 Broward County “Teacher of the Year,” Jeter certainly has had some out-of-this-world experiences. In 2018, he was selected for the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program, in which he had the rare opportunity of visiting the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, one of the premier research and observation telescopes in the world, at 16,000 feet with an oxygen tank. Jeter also had the unique experience of being invited on the inaugural zero-gravity flight for teachers in the United States in 2005, and he flew once again in 2007.

There are so many wonderful reasons to look toward the sky with wonder at this time in history, as we embark on space exploration as we never have before.

For the astronomy novice, Jeter has many suggestions to get started. First, he recommends two apps you can download on your phone to aid in your stargazing and cosmic knowledge. They are “Stellarium,” a free app to learn about the constellations in the sky, as well as “Starwalk,” an app that allows you to point your phone in real-time toward the firmament to learn more about what you are viewing at that very moment.

Continue reading “Space … the finally here frontier”

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Sur Aur Taal: From Classical to Modern Bollywood Music, Indian Culture Comes to Liberty City

MAIACA, Miami Association of Indian Americans for Culture and the Arts, will host Sur Aur Taal, a live production exploring the evolution of melody and rhythm connecting centuries old Classical Indian music to Bollywood movie songs. The event is scheduled for September 18th at the revitalized Sandrell Rivers Theater in Liberty City beginning at 6pm EST. Sur Aur Taal will feature musicians and singers from the Asian Cultural Association of Central Florida. The troupe will perform a series of well-known musical ragas (classical patterns of musical stanzas) in both Classical and Bollywood melodies. This will be the first live, in-person performance for MAIACA in almost two years, due to the pandemic.

Tickets for the September 18th Sur Aur Taal show are available via the Sandrell Rivers Theater website. COVID protocols of the Sandrell Rivers Theater will be enforced. Face coverings in all public common areas and temperature checks for all patrons and staff are required. The Sandrell Rivers Theater is located at 6103 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33127. Please visit MAIACA to make a donation or learn more.

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