The Parklander Magazine – Connecting you to our community
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A group of citizens holding Anti-Racism signs and supporting Black Lives Matter gathered in front of Coral Springs City Hall today. They were greeted by regular honks from drivers passing by showing support.
The event was very peaceful, with music keeping everyone’s spirit up on a grey Friday.
Patricia Nicholas organized the event through social media.
Casinos are a major center for local entertainment in South Florida. We are home to several casinos, the most prominent is Seminole Hard Rock with its newly finished hotel shaped like a guitar.
Locally, Seminole Casino at Coconut Creek has been an entertainment center off 441 and Sample Road. When I heard it was reopening, I felt it was worth checking out what the New Normal of the South Florida casino looks like.
As you can see, the new entrance routes you to a thermal scanner, where your temperature is monitored.
For slot machine players, you will find every other seat disabled to maintain the social distance while a crew of cleaning staff regularly cleans the area.
If you are looking to play a table game, the dealer will welcome you to a private plexiglass booth with a squirt of hand sanitizer. Then when you leave, a staff member will be immediately wiping down your former play area.
According to the hotel/casino, the air is constantly purified and disinfected via their Atmos™ bipolar ionization system. Combined with 50% capacity, it appears the Seminole Casino is trying their best to minimize all risk for customers.
Masks are mandatory and will be provided by staff if you don’t have one. Dealers will remind you if you are not covering your face during play.
For elderly customers, one challenge you should prepare for is more walking. Staff will be directing you through a predefined path through the building, and to the cashier. So expect to walk more in an attempt to maintain social distance.
The atmosphere is no different than pre-pandemic with the noises from brand new slot machines drawing you to their giant displays. Yet, every time you sit down at a table in your own private booth, you are reminded, this is the New Normal for the next while.
Valentina Shtefan from Hello Gorgeous Medical Spa, discusses with us the new normal for med spas opening in the area. Listen to her explain what they are doing to keep the clients safe.
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It feels strange… After months of cocooning in my home, I ventured out to an event with strong apprehensions. What is the expectation, what is the new norm, when you meet strangers?
Art was an early casualty of the pandemic response. Not often associated with an essential activity, these exhibitions effectively fully shut down. With the reopening of south Florida, a local event in Fort Lauderdale, is showing works by local artists revolving around the quarantine theme. Desiring to see what the New Normal will look like for the artist community, I took my mask, and embarked on my longest journey since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Artists picked a character from the word quarantine, to create art capturing the mix of emotions associated with the lockdown. The organizer, Chen H. Bitton of Painting Picnik, wanted to give the artists who have been in isolation for the past several months a venue to show the work they have been creating. Proceeds from sales will go to help fund COVID-19 relief.
Caption: LOVE PREVAILS
By Chen H. Bitton and Joey Ace
The exhibit, showing between June 13 to 17th at the Painting Picnik in Fort Lauderdale, is one of the first in the area. The public is invited to appreciate the works and discuss with the artists about their recent experiences.
Everyone at the first night of the exhibit was cautious, even though many know each other well. People overcame the uneasiness quickly by discussing the works in the exhibit. Everyone enjoyed being able to chat with each other about the works of art around us and share recent experiences.
For Painting Picnik, the gallery and studio has been open to clients by appointment. Clinics are still being held, for individuals or families. More events are starting to get planned, so please check in with Chen for details if you are interested in taking a class.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a drastic impact on the art world. Social distancing has separated the artists and eliminated opportunities to gather and share. Patrons are also often staying home. I hope with this initial kick off, more patrons and artists will start defining the new norm for the art community.
Like all things new, we will feel strange for a while. Art will thrive, the stress of 2020 will surely be explored by artists. I believe many masterpieces have or will be produced, and I look forward to appreciating them… And reflecting.
link to the live bidding of the art exhibit http://artistrelieftree.com/artgallery
Contact Chen @ Painting Picnik – https://paintingpicnik.com
Joining us for this episode is Commissioner Rich Walker, who is running for Parkland Mayor this fall.
Check out his website richwalkerformayor.com.
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By: Rabbi Melissa Stollman.
Union for Reform Judaism,
Major Gifts Officer
By: Pastor Andy Hagen,
Advent Life Ministries,
Boca Raton, FL
Since the shelter-in-place orders began in March religious institutions scrambled to move their programs and worship to a virtual space. While some congregations around the country already took advantage of streaming services to offer a hybrid worship of face-to-face and online prayer, most did not. This presented quite a few challenges. The obvious hurdle concerned the technical aspects – what virtual platform to use, what audio/visual equipment to purchase, and so on. But the more difficult task involved how to create a spiritual communal worship experience while everyone remained separated and isolated, from one another and the sacred worship space.
As we moved to the virtual space the role of the clergy has also changed. While it is still to engage the community, provide pastoral care, and teach tradition, history and values – the way this needs to be done has shifted, without any time to prepare. Here, in Parkland, we are no strangers to disruption, even when surrounded by crisis and trauma. We may have been more prepared to bear the emotional weight of this new reality, but not the physical nuances of running our business from home. Clergy, trained in leading worship and teaching about faith, had to quickly become tech savvy, managing different platforms and equipment. Acquiring an entire new language, based in technology, also needs to be learned. From Shabbat services, to “Zoom” mitzvahs, to online funerals – our work looks very different than before.
I have always believed that a community can be created in a virtual setting. Just look at Facebook with its millions of groups that segment us based on our interests. These are some of the most engaging online forums that exist. Now, with the increased use of videoconferencing technology, reunions of all types occur across the world with the realization that everyone is only one click away. I watch clergy lead Facebook live sessions filled with study, prayer and music that not only engage people in the moment, but stay online for others to watch later. If you miss worship in our time zone, you can click on a California synagogue’s website and catch it live a little bit later. These are the most positive changes that have happened since this pandemic began, and I hope they will not disappear in the future.
Now as restrictions begin to lift in Florida we are faced once again with how to conduct our worship in meaningful ways. Just because we CAN be open does not necessarily mean that we SHOULD. In person worship often attracts an older population, which may be more vulnerable during this time. No one would want to put anyone at risk, for the sake of prayer. The concept of pikuach nefesh, saving a life, is an important principle in Jewish law stating that the preservation of a human life is the greatest commandment one can follow, above all others, including worshipping together physically to create a minyan (prayer quorum of 10 people). Under this guiding principle online prayer with a minimum of 10 people will suffice for worship. It is my prayer that we stay as healthy as possible, minimize risks when we can, and continue to engage with each other in meaningful ways, even if this means using online platforms a bit longer. While these virtual experiences cannot fully replicate an in-person gathering, they do have the opportunity to keep us engaged and connected during a very isolating time.
In August of 70 AD the Jewish people suffered a terrible tragedy. Besieged by Roman armies, the city of Jerusalem fell and with it their Temple. The loss of land and life and freedom was significant but the religious implications were even greater. Without the Temple, how would God’s people be able to maintain their worship of God? The answer to this crisis was an institution that can be found all over the world-the local synagogue. No longer bound to one location Judaism grew in its world-wide presence.
In March of 2020 synagogues, churches, mosques and houses of worship faced a unique challenge caused by the COVID-19 Crisis. How can we gather our members together to worship if our doors are shut? Some churches, mainly extremely traditional, small or poor have just shut down. It is a painful truth that some will not reopen. Others have refused to close their doors only to find that members have gotten infected and died despite their faith in God.
But for millions of the faithful God has gone online. Churches have started drive-in worship services and drive-thru communion. Others are finding safe ways to feed their neighbors out of their parking lots or setting up emergency funds for those in difficult situations. Most have found a way to go online with their worship services, Bible studies and small groups. Our church has risen to the occasion in a variety of ways:
• Our Senior Bible Study members helped each other figure out Zoom and now meets weekly.
• Our pastors host a mid-week talk show called “Meet in the Middle” that focuses on encouraging our members during this difficult time.
• Easter Baskets were shared with our teachers in a car line.
• A small study group my wife and I belong to has met now for seven weeks in a row-a record for us!
• Members will drive by this Sunday to pick up milk weed plants to plant for their moms to attract butterflies-a potent symbol of hope that we will soon leave our cocoons!
By no means do we want to let these “silver linings” deflect from the very real suffering around us. But just as people of faith have found ways to “keep the faith” in all manners of trials it is good to know that this time is no different. And who knows? Perhaps our hope will be the most contagious thing to outlast this pandemic.
June 2nd, 2020, 4pm, Coral Springs, FL.
Here are some pictures from a peaceful protest at University and Sample, in the center of the City of Coral Springs.
Make your voices matter by registering to vote, goto https://www.browardsoe.org
Learning her daughter, a nurse, do not have enough masks at her hospital. Rhonda Nissensohn, started the group of local resident making medical spec’ed masks.
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[SOUTH FLORIDA, May 29, 2020] – The YMCA of South Florida will be offering Summer Day Camp beginning June 8 at various locations in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
“Because we know that parents will need to have care for their children as businesses begin to reopen and they head back to work, the YMCA of South Florida will offer traditional summer day camps,” said Sheryl A. Woods, President & CEO, YMCA of South Florida. “We will have in place safety measures that include handwashing, masks for staff, six-foot distancing, as much outdoor activities, and a 1 to 9 ratio of staff to campers.”
Traditional YMCA camp will be offered, and will run in accordance with CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommended social distancing guidelines. Activities will include our Y-Fit youth wellness program both indoor and outdoor; arts & crafts, project-based learning to continue to stimulate children’s minds throughout the summer; built-in sports; water safety and water games for YMCA locations without pools; and water sfaety and daily swim lessons for YMCA locations with pools.
The YMCA is encouraging parents to get their children signed up right a way. “We will have lower capacity this summer in order to follow the social distancing guidelines,” said Woods. “There will be only about half of the number of slots available, which means they will be filling fast.”
For more information aobut YMCA Summer Camp, call 954-334-9622 or visit ymcasouthflorida.org.
About the YMCA of South Florida
The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Every day, the Y works hard to build healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities through over 200 afterschool, preschool, special needs, sports, camp and youth programs, family centers, and senior health outreach sites. To learn more, visit www.ymcasouthflorida.org, connect on Facebook or Twitter, or call a Y near you.
Commissioner Stacy Kagan, who is running for Parkland City Mayor this fall, joins our podcast series. She has served as one of the city’s commissioners for 7 years, and has been a local resident for 16. Go check out Stacy’s website, www.stacykaganforparkland.com. All our podcasts are available now on our website, www.theparklander.com/podcast .
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Florida has one of the country’s strictest building codes because of its climate, location, and history of destructive hurricanes. The Florida Building Code (FBC) requires windows to be impact-resistant or protected if located within one mile of the coast where the wind speed is 110 mph or greater. Those of us living inland in Parkland and Coral Springs probably also want to look into this, not just for protection but also the possible discounts available from insurance agencies (fancily called “Wind Mitigation Discounts”).
The most cost-effective options are panel shutters. Plywood panels are ½” thick. Storm panels are polycarbonate, steel or aluminum. Both can be screwed into place over windows and doors. This can be labor intensive, but the panels are easily stored afterwards. Unfortunately, there is little to no wind mitigation discount available for this type of protection. Both of these types of panel shutters are available at your local home improvement stores.
Accordion shutters are a permanent home addition that are custom installed around your windows and doors, therefore they are more expensive than panel shutters, but can still be quite reasonable. They are made of aluminum and are easily closed before a storm and opened again afterwards. Insurance companies will provide wind mitigation discounts for accordion shutters.
Colonial and Bahama shutters are also permanent home additions, and custom installed around windows and doors. As they are functional and aesthetically pleasing, they are slightly more expensive than accordion shutters. Bahama shutters hinge on the top of the window or door, and colonial shutters hinge on the sides. Both are easily closed and opened, and can be made from multiple different materials. Insurance companies also provide wind mitigation discounts for these types of shutters.
Rolling shutters are a high-tech, permanent home addition that are custom installed and made of high quality aluminum or steel. They deploy and retract with the press of a button. They are the most expensive shutter-style option but are offset by high wind mitigation discounts from insurance companies.
Accordion, Colonial, Bahama, and rolling shutters are all available from specialty shutter stores, and it’s recommended you do your research to see what options are best for you and what your own insurance company offers in terms of wind mitigation discounts.
The final option is, of course, not to have shutters at all but to go with impact resistant glass for your windows and doors. Those would be a permanent home addition and custom installed, however, once installed, they would never need to be removed or replaced unless they are damaged. They are quite expensive (usually running around three times the cost of regular windows), but again this is offset by the highest wind mitigation discount. These types of windows and doors are widely available, but it is highly recommended to do your research on the levels of protection and quality as not all impact-resistant glass is built the same.
Thirty years ago the Parklander™ magazine came to life, serving the communities of Parkland and Coral Springs. During that period, many in the community have contributed to help it evolve. The staff at the Parklander™ will be profiling local residents in this and upcoming issues, to reflect on the community’s past, present, and what is to come. Just like how the community has grown and thrived, it is our belief that together, we can overcome the current health crisis, and come out stronger still.
Looking back at Volume 1 Issue 1 of the Parklander™, we found some familiar faces, including Realtor Grace Noethen, one of our original advertisers. At the time, she was already a Multi-Million Dollar Club member, and acknowledged “Sales Person of the Year”. Having specialized in luxury and waterfront properties of Parkland, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, she has accumulated many awards for being the leading real estate agent in the area.
Grace did a socially distanced telephone interview with us over the phone recently.
She started her career in New Jersey before specializing in the Palm Beach and Broward area in 1985. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish, having been born in Sicily and spending her early years in Argentina. Her family moved to the U.S. in 1958. Those who know her call her knowledgeable and patient. Many of her clients have said Grace treats them with compassion and makes them feel like part of her family.
For Grace, her honesty, compassion, and taking care of her clients is always the forefront of who she is, not just as a Realtor. She is always looking to help, so when she was approached to support a new magazine in Parkland in 1991, she was more than happy to.
Her compassion and experience have helped many local residents find homes in the area. Parkland grew from around 1,900 people when she started to well over 32,000 now. Many came to Parkland seeking the same relaxed and rural lifestyle that attracted earlier residents.
Grace remembers the decision to realign Holmberg Road to a southern bend, that all residents are now familiar with, to go around the equestrian center. This was a controversial topic for years in the early 90s, as the city adapted to new developments while striving to protect horse riders from increased traffic.
The decision to realign Holmberg shaped the development of Parkland. City Commissioner Ken Cutler
shared news articles and city council minutes from the early 90s, showing a community struggling to balance the interest of developers, residents, and environmental agencies.
Over the course of years and multiple debates, re-alignment was approved and completed.
Just like that one event shaped the future of Parkland, so has Grace’s efforts to match up people to the right home shaped lives and futures. Drawing upon her knowledge of the area, and her passion for real estate, she has been able to both buy and sell many homes in the area, becoming a “legend” in the industry. Her warm and welcoming personality is the gateway many prospective residents walked through to settle in Parkland. Her ability to find the right home for prospective buyers is confirmed by one of her former clients who writes to her regularly, thanking her for their Parkland home and neighbors.
Parkland today still oozes the charm of its more rural days. As we spend weeks in our homes, it’s good to reflect how blessed we are to live in such a friendly community. To be able to enjoy our farmers’ markets, our drive-in movies, and the equestrian center, is a wonderful gift, and we should all work toward ensuring the character of Parkland stays welcoming for another 30 years.