The Parklander Magazine – Connecting you to our community
The family friendly magazine since 1991
Joining us for this episode is the owner of SoundsSweet Entertainment (www.soundssweetent.com) – David Brownstein. They create live moments into lasting memories.
You can reach him via email: info@soundssweetent.com. Or on Instagram and twitter, his handle is @soundssweetnews
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With no Plan B on the horizon, Parkland resident and indie-pop country music singer Liddy Clark, 22, knows who she is and where she’s going.
Currently a senior at the Thornton School of Music at USC in Los Angeles, Clark is home with her parents and two younger brothers in Parkland for the summer, where she has a home recording studio.
Making the most of the COVID-19 quarantine, Clark is busy working on her music, taking her dogs for walks at the Parkland dog park, bicycling, and reading Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist.”
“It’s all about the music for me,” says Clark. “I thrive in creative environments, and I have a unique way of transmitting my message in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
Singing since the age of seven, when she realized she had perfect pitch, Clark appeared in a talent show performing ‘Colors of the Wind,’ from the Disney movie Pocahontas at the former Day School in Coral Springs.
After taking vocal lessons and learning to play the guitar at age 12, Clark says, “Things snowballed from there.”
She started writing her own songs at age 13 and at 15 studied at Boston’s Berklee College of Music summer program for three years in a row.
At 17, she earned a scholarship to Berklee’s five-week Summer Performance Program, one of the most distinguished summer musical performance programs in the country, and landed a coveted spot in the school’s Singer-Songwriter Showcase, with professor and singer/ songwriter Melissa Ferrick.
According to Ferrick, Clark “writes award-winning lyrics.”
With her warm, soulful voice and from-the-heart lyrics, Clark is an advocate for change through her music. In 2018, she released “Shot Down (Stand Up),” about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a call to action for her generation of students plagued by gun violence.
That same year, Clark released her debut EP, Testing the Waters: a selection of original songs, showcasing her indie-pop take on country music.
The highlight of her career to date has been the gap year she took between high school and college, where she toured radio stations, including Spotify and iHeartRadio, meeting with program directors. She played the Country Music Hall of Fame appearing after Garth Brooks and likes to say he opened for her.
Locally, Clark has played in and around Parkland for the past five years and had her first paying gig at the Parkland Amphitheatre in Pinetrails Park. In 2015, she played at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ballfields opening during the last phase of the building of that same park.
“Liddy is a wonderful representative for the City of Parkland,” says Mayor Christine Hunschofsky. “She has graciously volunteered her time and talents over the years for many local performances.”
“As a community, we’re so happy to have been able to observe and be a part of Liddy’s growth as a musician/songwriter, and as a young woman, and know she has an exciting future ahead of her,” Hunschofsky says.
A former competitive cheerleader, Clark spent a lot of time driving from school to school with her mom listening to a variety of music, including Shania Twain, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift. All of them, she considers influenced her musical style.
Other role models include her parents, “especially my dad who pushes me always to be a better version of myself,” says Clark.
She has a single coming out in October and hopes to also release an album and go on tour. After college, she plans to stay either in Los Angeles or relocate to Nashville.
About Parkland, she says, “I’m just so thankful to grow up here in Parkland. It’s such a nice city with such great people.”
Visit liddyclark.com for more information.
By Jan Engoren
Not one to shy away from tough social issues of the day, Boynton Beach author Robert Brink tackles racism, police brutality and issues of legal justice in his latest legal thriller, “Blood on their Hands,” set in South Florida.
Inspired by a true-life meeting with a black man who came to repair his computer and recounted a story of being roughed up by the police for sporting an Obama bumper-sticker, Brink uses the incident as the catalyst for his suspense-filled narrative that is at once compelling and surprisingly humorous.
“This is a tale replete with both pathos and humor, steeped in sex, suspense, intrigue, and violence all leavened by a tragic love affair,” says Brink. “Perhaps most important, it is a story of redemption.”
Brink took inspiration from two of his favorite films, the 2008 Clint Eastwood film, “Gran Torino” and the 1992 classic, “My Cousin Vinnie,” (“my favorite comedy of all time”) starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. He borrowed themes from both films and used them as inspiration for this novel.
Brink’s previous books include the coming-of-age novel “Breaking Out,” “The Way It Was: Short Stories and Tall Tales,” and “A Tale of Two Continents,” a ghost-written memoir.
“I’m fascinated by true crime stories,” says Brink, whose last book was “Murder in Palm Beach: The Homicide That Never Died,” about a Standard
Oil career executive, Richard Kreusler, who was gunned down at the front door of his Palm Beach home in 1976.
In “Blood on Their Hands,” a racist attorney (Hiram Garbuncle) eventually finds redemption when he defends his client, an immigrant from Trinidad, brutally beaten by police. While it goes against the defense attorney’s grain to defend a black man from a charge of violently resisting arrest, he discovers incriminating evidence on the two cops, and rises to the challenge to keep himself and his client alive pending a new trial.
With police shootings of unarmed black men making headlines on a regular basis, “Blood on Their Hands” is a timely exploration of how bigoted feelings and perceptions play a role in racial profiling.
“It personalizes the issue of racial discrimination, helping the reader to comprehend the makeup of a bigot,” Brink says. “The book also provides a glimpse into how the legal system may be stacked against minority members of our society.”
Brink exploits a quirk in criminal law and his character makes use of this controversial tactic, one in which the defense attorney serves as a witness for the defendant.
“It’s very rare, but can be done,” says Brink, who spent hours researching the issue and speaking to criminal attorneys about the issue.
A mid-westerner by birth and temperament, Brink is a former journalist and worked for the Palm Beach Post where he covered police and criminal trials. He’s also written for Palm Beach Illustrated magazine and The Associated Press in Chicago.
Brink received two offers from traditional publishers and chose Touchstone Press he says, because several of their authors have won awards.
“Get the basics right first, and move on to such salient elements as showing versus telling, point of view (which still baffles me), and command of dialogue.”
By Jan Engoren
After hitting pause on their exhibits and programming in mid-March due to COVID-19, the Boca Raton Museum of Art reopened to the public on Jun. 3, offering a newly renovated lobby courtesy of board chair, Jody Harrison Grass, a redesigned Wolgin Education Center and free admission through September.
There is still time to catch a number of their time-run exhibitions, including “Eye to I: Self Portraits from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery,” kicking off their national tour. Originally running through Jun. 14, the show has been extended through Sept. 20.
At a time when millions of selfies are posted every day and identity is proving to be more fluid, this exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery shines a new light on self-portraiture.
“These artists looked inward in ways we can connect with in our modern time in ways they could not have foreseen,” says Irvin Lippman, executive director of the museum. “They made a lasting mirror effect of themselves, cutting across time and creating a very personal art that engages us – the viewer,” he says. “
The show was organized by the Chief Curator of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, Dr. Brandon Brame Fortune and showcases 60 works from the years 1901–2015, in a variety of styles and media ranging from caricatures to photographs, from watercolors to dramatic paintings.
Fortune chose all new works for the national tour, some not part of the original exhibit.
“It was an exercise in balancing works from the 20th century, balancing mediums, looking at representations and including portraits from each decade, across generations and across time, to make sure the show that goes on tour is as strong as the original show,” Fortune said
“Because selfies are so ubiquitous, it seemed like an interesting moment to pause and look at what artists have been doing for years.,” Fortune said. “Their self-expression tells us something about their personal lives and the times in which they created the portrait.”
Self-portraits by prominent figures in the history of portraiture include Robert Arneson, Thomas Hart Benton, Deborah Kass, Elaine de Kooning, Alexander Calder and Jasper Johns, among others.
More recent works include those by artists Ana Mendieta, Chuck Close, Lois Dodd Alison Saar and Cuban-born multi-media artist Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, whose self-portrait, “When I am not Here, Estoy alla,” (or, When I am not Here, I am There), graces the cover of the exhibit’s catalog.
Standing serenely with her eyes closed, her face covered in white and brown makeup, one arm behind her back and one grasping a Bird of Paradise, Campos-Pons seems to evoke a discussion on the ephemeral nature of shifting identities and self-identity.
Fritz Scholder’s “Self Portrait with Grey Cat,” was the last self-portrait the artist created before he died in 2003, from complications of diabetes.
The dark, moody canvas features the artist boldly facing the viewer as he leans on his cane. His eyes are covered by tinted glasses, and the tubes from his oxygen tank run from his nose across the canvas to the floor, which has been described as a reference to the “shadow of death.”
Also extended through Jan. 3, 2021 and running concurrently with this exhibit is New York based photographer Phyllis Galembo’s: Maske, a series of large scale photographs documenting African ceremonial masks and costumes and the Museum’s presentation of the “Edward Steichen: In Exaltation of Flowers,” a series of seven large art nouveau panels, inspired in part by Maurice Maeterlinck’s book, The Intelligence of Flowers, and depicts Isadora Duncan, Mercedes de Cordoba, Katharine Rhoades, Marion Beckett and others, along with their floral counterparts.
The seven large art nouveau panels, each ten feet tall, were painted by Steichen from 1911-1914 for the Park Avenue townhouse of Eugene Meyer and his wife, Agnes.
The murals were inspired in part by Maurice Maeterlinck’s book, “he Intelligence of Flowers,” and depict Isadora Duncan, Mercedes de Cordoba, Katharine Rhoades and Marion Beckett, along with their floral counterparts.
For more information, visit: bocamuseum.org
By Jan Engoren
It’s the season of patriotic songs. You know the melodies, and maybe the lyrics, and now we present you with a little of the history of some of the most well-known and well-loved.
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies/To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies/To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home/
God bless America, my home sweet home
Irving Berlin might be best known for songs such as “White Christmas,” “Easter Parade,” and scores for 19 Broadway shows and
18 movies, but he also wrote “God Bless America.” In 1918, Berlin, a Russian immigrant, was serving in the U.S. Army in Yaphank, New York. “God Bless America” was intended for the finale of his comedic all-soldier music revue, Yip Yap Yaphank, but Berlin decided to cut it, and did nothing with the song for 20 years. Then, in response to the growing conflict in Europe, he made revisions to the unpublished song, and Kate Smith first sang it on her radio program on Armistice Day, (now called Veterans Day), broadcast in 1938. “God Bless America” became her signature song.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties/Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood/From sea to shining sea!
The author of “America the Beautiful,” Katharine Lee Bates, was a Massachusetts native who became an English literature professor at Wellesley College. It was on an 1893 trip to Colorado, on Pike’s Peak, that she began to formulate the words to “America the Beautiful.” Her poem first appeared in The Congregationalist, a weekly newspaper, on July 4,1895. Over time, Bates made a few revisions to the words and for years, the poem was sung to many popular tunes, including “Auld Lang Syne.” Today it is sung to a melody written in 1882 by Samuel Augustus Ward, a Newark, New Jersey, church organist and choir director who originally wrote the tune to accompany the words of a 16th century hymn. Although they did not know each other, Bates’ poem and Ward’s music were published together in 1910.
When you think of military marches, you think of John Philip Sousa. Sousa first became famous as the leader of the U.S. Marine Band and then with the Sousa Band, which toured for nearly 40 years. Known as “The March King,” he composed over 100 marches including “Semper Fidelis” (1888), which became the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the rousing, July 4th favorite, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” (1896), the national march of the United States. And yes, the “The Stars and Stripes Forever” has lyrics, but they are much lesser known than the tune itself.
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,/Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,/O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?/And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
The lyrics to the “The Star Spangled Banner” are a poem titled “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” written by lawyer, Francis Scott Key, during the War of 1812. Upon seeing a large American victory flag waving after a night of intense British bombardment at the Battle of Baltimore, Key was moved to write the poem. It was paired with a British tune written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society and became known as “The Star Spangled Banner.” (For those not in know, Anacreon was an ancient Greek poet known for his celebrations of love and wine.) Declared the national anthem in 1931, and often played at professional sporting events, “The Star Spangled Banner” is notoriously challenging to sing given its difficult lyrics and high pitched and held notes.
If tomorrow all the things were gone I worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife
I thank my lucky stars
To be living here today
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom/And they can’t take that away
And I’m proud to be an American/Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you/And defend Her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston
And New York to L.A.
Well, there’s pride in every American heart/And it’s time we stand and say
That I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
And I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
Singer songwriter Lee Greenwood released “God Bless the USA” in 1984. Greenwood, and the song, which peaked at Number 7 on the country chart, were nominated for two Grammys that year: Best Country Male Vocal and Best Country Song. However, it became an even bigger hit during the Gulf War in 1991, and then again in 2001, after 9/11. Greenwood had wanted to write a patriotic song for years, and found inspiration for the song when Russia shot down Korean Airlines flight 007 in 1983, killing 63 Americans.
The Coral Springs Museum of Art kicked off this summer with a digital camp program,“Zoom into the Studio,”which began June 15, and continues through August 14.
Artists ages 6 to 17 will be able to explore a number of studio art classes online on Zoom, where they will meet children with similar interests, and have fun developing their artistic skills in an interactive and engaging atmosphere.
Ninety-minute classes run Monday through Friday. Fees for members range from $54 to $60, with a $5 sibling discount. For registration information, visit museuminfo@coralsprings.org. Upcoming week-long classes include:
Young artists will jump right into designing colorful POP art pieces inspired by everyday images and comic books.
Young artists will learn the finer points of designing comics, including character design, drawing techniques, and plot development. A lively discussion on the history
of comic books and their characters add to the fun.
Young artists will begin mastering techniques of drawing by adding dimension, value, and structure to their work.
This class allows young artists to experiment with different paper and painting techniques. They will learn about color, composition, texture and shapes, all while exploring life under the sea.
Learn about color, composition, texture and shapes in this out of the ordinary watercolor design class. Artists have fun experimenting with paint to make their own masterpiece. Demonstrations, classroom time for Q & A, and individual interaction will help you create beautiful paintings.
Young artists will become world travelers as they learn about different cultures and their art. Throughout the week they will explore a variety of techniques and materials as they take a virtual trip to different destinations around the globe.
Young artists will learn how to create their own “chibi” character and critter using different art techniques like drawing and watercolor.
In this class young artists will learn how to draw popular cartoon characters step-by- step. They will practice cartoon drawing techniques and learn about anatomy, perspective, movement, how to create their own characters, and world- building philosophies.
This class is all about the exploration of painting. Young artists will enjoy learning different step-by-step skills of completing a work of art where both drawing and painting techniques will be covered.
This class is perfect for the budding artist. During this fun and exciting class the young artist will explore all things drawing and painting. They will be encouraged to use their imaginations as they discover their inherent talent.
This fun class will help young artists master the basics
of drawing animals as they explore the creative side of
the natural world and develop skills of bringing their creations to life.
Explore the world of painting illustrations. Learn how to convert ideas drawn from various sources of texts into stunning, illustrative watercolor paintings.
Young artists will spend the week creating art inspired by different cultures, while also learning about different traditions used to make art around the world.
Learn about color, composition, texture, and shapes in this out of the ordinary watercolor design class. Artists have fun experimenting with paint to make their own masterpiece. Demonstrations, classroom time for Q & A, and individual interaction will help you create beautiful paintings.
Young artists will begin mastering techniques of drawing by adding dimension, value, and structure to their work.
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.
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
In Flanders Fields – John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
“In the spring of 1915 bright red flowers began poking through the battle ravaged land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium),” Barbara Maranzani wrote for history.com.
“Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who served on an Allied artillery unit, spotted a cluster of the poppies shortly after serving as a brigade surgeon during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres.
“The sight of the bright red flowers against the dreary backdrop of the war,” she continued, “inspired McCrae to pen the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” in which he gives voice to the soldiers who had been killed in battle and lay buried beneath the poppy-covered grounds.”
The United States was not to enter the war for another two years, in April 1917. It was the month and year my father was born in Buffalo, N.Y. It was exactly one year before my wife’s father was born in St. Louis, MO. Archie and Bob.
Both served bravely in World War II: My wife’s father building hospitals for injured soldiers across Europe; my father at the controls of an M4 Sherman tank prowling Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. My wife’s mother, Pearl, born in Chicago in 1923, also served overseas in the U.S. Army during the war. That’s where Pearl met Bob.
Archie, Bob and Pearl were part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” They were among those who returned to their families.
This month we honor all the men and women who didn’t make it home, who gave up their lives in too many wars.
Earlier this year, before Covid-19 struck, Memorial Day events had been planned in communities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The “better part of valor,” however, as Shakespeare’s Falstaff reasoned in Henry IV, Part I, might still have us in stay-at-home mode at the end of the month.
One hundred years ago the country was still trembling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu. It killed an estimated 675,000 Americans between 1918 and 1920, more than were killed during the Civil War.
It was that same Civil War that sparked Union General John Logan to establish “Decoration Day” on May 30, 1868 to honor the estimated 620,000 who died in the four-year struggle. The name was later changed to Memorial Day and set for the last Monday in May.
One hundred years ago there were Memorial Day celebrations throughout Florida — in Tampa, Miami, Orlando — but at least one nearby city chose a different path.
“No Plans For Observance of Memorial Day,” read a headline on the front page of the Palm Beach Post, May 18, 1920.
“No preparations are under way for observance of Memorial Day,” the story read. “There is no post of the G.A.R and no organization of the Confederate Veterans or Spanish War Veterans” planning events for the day.
The G.A.R. was the The Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War.
After World War I Memorial Day was expanded to honor Americans killed in all wars. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.
This year, this month, again for “the better part of valor,” the Indianapolis 500, traditionally held on Memorial Day, has been postponed to August 23.
Still in its infancy a century ago, the race was held as scheduled on Monday, May 31. It was the race’s eighth running at The Brickyard.
Gaston Chevrolet, brother of the man who started the Chevrolet car company, won the race, posting an average speed of 88.6 miles per hour. The average speed at the 2019 race was 175.8 miles per hour.
Whatever Memorial Day events are allowed this difficult year and whomever you’re with, the Parklander joins all of you in honoring those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Richard Battin, Editor
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Wikipedia page on Memorial Day
Wikipedia page on In Flanders Fields
Check out our local service member stories
We are all in agreement that COVID-19 has made a drastic impact on our daily lives. From schools to businesses, all the way to future vacations and concerts, everything has been put on hold. What does this mean for upcoming weddings?
April to June is typically a popular period of time where couples choose to get married. It can take anywhere from six months to a year or more to plan a wedding. This time in the couple’s life can be stressful, tiring but also exciting, as they prepare for their special day.
All this stress is not without reward. You get to plan the best day for you and your future spouse’s life. In a normal situation, a wedding is the culmination of months of planning, resulting in a celebration of the union between two people. This union is highlighted by beautiful bouquets, gorgeous dresses, and cake – stunning and delicious.
As the maid of honor for my older sister’s wedding, I was disappointed to find out that the venue for her wedding had to close because of the quarantine. My sister had to cancel her dream wedding.
Understandably, she became frustrated, worried, and stressed. Months of planning and money just disappeared. But despite all these setbacks, my sister and her fiancé realized they can still get married on their desired date.
With today’s technology she can livestream her ceremony. Even though her family and friends can’t make it to the wedding, she will be able to share it with everyone. They may not be there in person, but they will still be participating in the celebration.
Instead of postponing, couples are choosing to live stream their small ceremonies. By doing this, they are respecting the social distancing rule.
A bonus about having a virtual wedding is being able to invite everyone without feeling stressed or guilty about not inviting them originally. Weddings are very costly when it comes to the number of guests attending. Being able to save money, while not feeling guilty about not inviting someone, is definitely a plus.
Couples are doing whatever they can for this moment to still be as special as possible. The coming together of two people in marriage is a beautiful moment, regardless of the current situation.
Before the start of the first millennium, the Roman poet Virgil wrote “love conquers all things.” And now, in the 21st century, clever couples are proving that includes quarantines too.
Best video conferencing review
Born, raised, and currently living in Parkland, Racquel Goldy has the much-coveted job as the on-air personality during the afternoon drivetime on Revolution 93.5 FM in Miami, South Florida’s home for EDM (electronic dance music).
By her own admission, the popular TV and radio host, interviewer and content producer is a workaholic and isn’t afraid to say it. She loves what she does. “I’m always working. I go to work, I come home, I prep my show or I’m researching djs or whoever’s coming in for interviews. I live and breathe the music/entertainment industry but that’s why I’ve gotten as far as I have and I don’t take it for granted.”
A 2011 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Racquel largely credits her confidence to pursue a multimedia journalism major and a minor in theater at FAU – the earliest foundation of her subsequent success – with a class she took in high school.
Knowing that she wanted to major in broadcasting once she got to college, she thought the high school’s peer counseling class would give her some much-needed skills. “Peer counseling helped me with public speaking because you wouldn’t know it now, but I was really shy. I was a competitive dancer growing up, and obviously you don’t talk in dance,” she said.
It was during senior year when the teacher encouraged her to go to school for broadcasting and told her, “You’ve come so far, I’m very proud of you, you can do this,” that she truly believed her goal of a career in entertainment was attainable. “That was my moment,” Racquel said. “I knew my dream was working out the way I wanted it to.”
While at FAU, Raquel found herself hungry to immediately get hands-on experience so she started her own YouTube channel Off The Racq, where she interviewed musicians and athletes as well as interned at Y100 Miami, iHeart radio Miami.
After her college graduation, Racquel started working for an online digital music website, Stage Right Secrets. She found herself as their country music correspondent covering award shows, music festivals and events, traveling back and forth to Nashville often, while still living in Parkland.
Her biggest break came in 2017 when she got a job with the Florida Panthers as their in-arena host as well as the host of the BB&T Center’s digital event productions.
After 2 ½ years with the Florida Panthers and perfecting her craft as an on-air personality, Racquel found herself at a crossroads in her career. She would not be going back for another season with the NHL team and was unsure about what turn her career path was about to take. “I applied to maybe 50 jobs a week. Seriously, I’m not joking, and would hear back from maybe two if I was lucky and that was with someone putting my resume in the right person’s hands.
“For me, it was never about quitting because I know this is what I’m supposed to do with my life, but it was definitely scary.”
Racquel’s talent, experience and perseverance finally paid off. “I got the job at the radio station after going in and auditioning a couple of times on their morning show. I waited a month and finally got the call that I was waiting for. I never thought I would have the afternoon drive show by myself, never having worked in radio fulltime before. For the station to believe in me, I’m beyond grateful for that,” she said.
What is Racquel’s advice for students aspiring to a career like hers and who are determined to succeed? “Work hard. Know that you definitely will go through trials and tribulations. Roll with the punches. Never quit or second guess yourself because new doors and possibilities open up, ones you never thought would happen.
“And last but not least, surround yourself with good friends and family because they are going to keep you going mentally and physically.”
South Florida’s fave holiday? Lobster miniseason
South Florida divers always look forward to lobster miniseason, which for them is the biggest unofficial holiday of the year.
Properly known as the two-day sport season, which is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, miniseason is the first chance for recreational divers to catch lobsters since the regular season closed on April 1. That usually means lobsters are abundant, as commercial traps have been out of the water since that date, and the bugs, as they are known, haven’t been netted or snared by divers.
In addition, the tasty crustaceans are less wary than usual, which makes them easier to catch. Instead of retreating into a hole in a coral reef or under a ledge, like they do during the regular season, which opens Aug. 6, bugs in late July tend to stand their ground when a diver approaches.
Another reason the miniseason attracts thousands of divers to South Florida is the daily limit outside of the Florida Keys is 12 lobsters per person, which is double the regular-season limit. (For regulation info, visit MyFWC.com.)
To get their limit, a fair number of divers will be in the water at 12:01 a.m. July 24, when the miniseason begins. Most boaters don’t head offshore until five or six hours later. They’ll be back on July 25 to hopefully get another limit of bugs and the makings of a lobster feast for them and their families and their non-diving friends.
Divers prepare for the miniseason weeks before it arrives. Dive gear such as regulators and BCs (buoyancy compensators) are taken to a dive shop for service and air tanks are filled.
Doing some dives also is part of pre-miniseason prep, both to locate areas with lobsters and to make sure all your equipment is working properly. For lobster divers, few things are as disappointing as having the strap on a mask or a fin break during miniseason. Unless you have a replacement strap, you probably won’t be catching any lobsters.
Two years ago, I dove the Monday before miniseason with my good friend Jim “Chiefy” Mathie of Deerfield Beach. We were on the bottom in about 60 feet and my mask was taking on water. When I tried to clear it, the lenses popped out into my hands.
Mathie escorted me back to the surface. As it turned out, the mask’s frame had cracked. Fortunately, Mathie had another mask on his boat that I used that day.
The author of the book Catching the BUG: The Comprehensive Guide to Catching the Spiny Lobster, Mathie will have a free lobster-hunting seminar on July 23 from 6-7 p.m. to begin Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s eighth annual BugFest, a celebration of miniseason and the town’s beach access to local reefs.
Following the seminar is a free miniseason kickoff party — both will be held at Plunge Beach Hotel — during which divers can register for BugFest’s popular Great Florida Bug Hunt. For a $20 entry fee, divers receive a goody bag and T-shirt and the opportunity to win cash and terrific prizes such as regulators, dive computers, air tanks, dive boat trips, and hotel stays.
In the past, a $1,000 prize was awarded to the two-person team catching the heaviest total weight of 12 bugs on Wednesday. This year, $500 goes to the team with the heaviest weight caught off Broward County and $500 to the duo with the top weight caught off Miami-Dade or Palm Beach counties. Other prizes include $400 for the biggest bug caught anywhere off a boat, $400 for the biggest bug caught off the beach, and a Sherwood Oasis regulator valued at $420 for the biggest bug caught on a midnight beach dive off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. There are also prizes for the biggest bugs caught Wednesday on the 6 a.m. dives on the Aqua View and Black Pearl dive boats at South Florida Diving Headquarters in Pompano Beach.
Divers don’t need to bag big bugs to win big. They receive a raffle ticket for each lobster they weigh in on Wednesday and Thursday. Winning tickets are drawn at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, following the lobster chef competition, which starts at 6 at the Beach Pavilion at the end of Commercial Boulevard. So, a diver who weighs 24 lobsters can win multiple prizes. Divers can register in advance at Gold Coast Scuba in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea or South Florida Diving Headquarters or online at DiscoverLBTS.com.
“It’s fun for the divers. It gives them more of an incentive,” said Steve d’Oliveira, the town’s Public Information Officer. “The town knows that BugFest is fun for divers and they get behind it, and everybody has a good time.” Other activities include a midnight beach dive on Tuesday, a fish identification seminar on July 26, a free clean-up dive under and around Anglin’s Pier at 8 a.m. July 27, and the third annual Diveheart Benefit Concert from 6:30-10:30 that night.