Category: Community

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A haven of healing for wild animals

A little over a year ago, the well-renowned Busch Wildlife Sanctuary moved to a new home in Jupiter to become even more of a savior for animals that need rehabilitation and healing. This nonprofit wildlife center almost tripled in size at its new, expansive, natural campus.

Now on 20 acres, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary supports the rehab and release of animals brought through its doors, and the staff care for those that can’t be returned to their natural habitats. They provide emergency and ongoing medical care to 6,000 sick, injured, or orphaned animals every year, accepting more than 50 animals a day.

My animal-loving adult son and I recently took a trip there to check out what sounded like an impressive new refuge, located in west Jupiter just off Indiantown Road on Rocky Pines Road.

Billed as a “one-of-a-kind encounter and opportunity for education about Florida’s unique wild animals and natural environment,” Busch Wildlife Sanctuary proved to indeed be a rare find and a perfect place to bring injured wildlife. They report that 90% of the animals treated in their rehab center had suffered from human-related injuries, which was one of many sobering facts we learned there.

 The good news is that many of the rehabilitated animals are released back into natural habitats across Palm Beach County. Those with injuries that are too severe to return to the wild become permanent residents of the sanctuary.

“Our animal residents are ambassadors to educate and inspire people to engage in local conservation efforts,” according to the facility. “We want to raise an active community of people who cherish, enjoy, and protect the wildlife and our natural environment.”

My visit there was soon after a hurricane-spawned tornado had swept through the region. An employee told me that the animals had been safely brought into the property’s Category 5 building, which was built to withstand hurricanes and other natural disasters. All animals, structures, and habitats were unharmed that week, with the exception of a few newly planted trees onsite.

My son and I walked around the well-landscaped grounds and saw many different kinds of animals. Included at the property are black bears, Florida bobcats, river otters, bald eagles, water birds, raccoons, foxes, alligators, small tortoises, gopher tortoises, box turtles, and more. There is a Songbird Garden, Birds of Prey Trail, Reptile Complex, and Small Mammal Complex.

We met Charlie, a 5-year-old mountain lion who had been trafficked in California in the illegal pet trade. He was kept as a pet and declawed on all four paws. State officials eventually rescued him and gave him to the nonprofit Conservation Ambassadors, who cared for him for a couple years. Then Charlie made the trek this year in a transport van from California to Florida, where he will live out his life in the sanctuary.

Just on the other side of the fence from Charlie’s large natural habitat, we saw another big cat, a cougar that had been rescued from a forest fire in California. The two animals couldn’t share an enclosure, but they both like to run alongside the fence that separated them and playfully interact with each other from either side, to ours and other visitors’ amusement. We also got to see two bears that do share a habitat, because they are sisters that were rescued together.

Held daily at the site’s Educational Amphitheater is a “Conservation Conversation,” which is an informational and entertaining presentation by two park employees with their “animal ambassadors.” Seated on wooden benches in this lovely natural setting, we got to hear about these animals’ stories and see them close up as one staffer brought them into the audience for everybody to experience. Our ambassadors that day were a gopher turtle, an opossum, and a tiny, one-eyed owl. We learned what caused these animals to initially come to the sanctuary, why they were permanent residents there, and what humans can do better to protect our native wildlife.

There are lots of other opportunities for education about wildlife conservation at this sanctuary. Various educational activities are held daily at some of the animal habitats, and visitors get to have a rare close-up view of some amazing, beautiful creatures.

Admission to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is by donation. Every dollar counts to help save and nurture these animals, and we were happy to donate to this noble cause.

For more information, go to www.buschwildlife.org.

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Going Baroque? ‘Splendor and Passion’ coming to Boca art museum

The Boca Raton Museum of Art will hold the world premiere of the historic Spanish Baroque art exhibition, “Splendor and Passion: Baroque Spain and Its Empire,” beginning Nov. 7 and going through March 30. The exhibition is organized in partnership with the Hispanic Society Museum & Library in New York City, which features a timeless collection of 57 Baroque masterpieces, evolving around 17th-century Europe.

What Is the Baroque Period and Why Did It Start?

Times were looking a bit gloomy after the High Renaissance period that lasted into the mid-16th century. The Mannerism style, between 1520 and 1600, was a reaction to the Renaissance’s idealized naturalism. People didn’t like it and wanted change. However, times grew turbulent, marked by significant political and religious upheaval after the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Baroque art originated in Rome and spread throughout Italy and other European countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, south Germany, and Poland. 

 Melchor Pérez Holguín, “Saint Peter of Alcántara and Saint Teresa”

Although the prior period was composed of harmonious, idealized, and balanced compositions, the new focus took to emotion in a dramatical sequence of exaggerated motion. It consisted of fine detail easily interpreted as a response to the Mannerist distortions and the idealizations that preceded it. 

A lot of political instability existed during the emergence of the Baroque period. Europe was rife with wars, revolutions, and power struggles. With these chaotic conditions, the artists of the time wanted the freedom to express themselves without the High Renaissance perfection constraints. Consequentially, much of Baroque art mirrored the dramatically dark themes. The gloominess of the times acted as an overture to the darkness compounding into the compositions of this new wave.

In Spain, the Baroque period was a time of great artistic achievement that reflected the country’s landscape, politically, socially, and religiously. The Catholic Church and the Spanish Inquisition held significant influence on the arts, intending to inspire devotion from the dismounted upheaval of rebellion. Many religious themes held to the period as the Catholic Church aimed to reassert its dominance.

Another factor moving the Baroque period was the advances into new scientific discoveries of the time, and in astronomy, that challenged existing worldviews. Artists expressed not only awe, but also the existential dread that these new discoveries provoked. 

Style, Depiction, and Symbols

The Baroque style’s dramaticism used intense light and shadow to express such strong emotions. Many works were elaborated with ostentatious decorations incorporated into the compositions. Spanish Baroque art, specifically, exercised visual realism with its realistic depictions of subjects often accommodated with somber or melancholic tones. 

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, “The Prodigal Son Among the Swine”

Similar to other preceding and proceeding art periods, symbolism is used to display the adequate tones of work, much like reading a story. Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s “The Prodigal Son Among the Swine” shifted concepts but stayed within the message. Instead, Murillo captures the biblical tale of the Prodigal Son in a destitute manner and repenting nature, where the swine serve as a reminder of the consequences of his actions that hang over him.  

Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, “Don Martin de Leyva”

Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo’s portrait of Don Martin de Leyva, or the Count of Monza, is a flat emptiness with the exception of an elegant decoration oddly hanging in the background. It is a unique, yet ghostly minor detail with symbolic significance when accenting Mazo’s subject’s notable characteristics. The true focal point is the light on Leyva’s face and skin that contrasts with the dark attire of one’s military and noble background.

Earlier Works with High Vibrancy of Skill in Light of Characteristics

Style, depiction, and symbols continued: Anthonis Mor van Dashorst was a Netherlandish portrait painter in the 16th century. His “Portrait of a Man” defined the dignified presence of a man with high social standing through rigorous rendering of detail. The use of dramatic light contrasts to categorize the Baroque style. 

Anthonis Mor van Dashorst, “Portrait of a Man” 

The traditional Baroque landscape in technical detail creates the high visual realism that is captured in the artist’s skill of likeness and personality of his subject. Rather than the traditionally natural landscapes of preceded movements, Mor van Dashorst decorates the background by highlighting social symbolism, such as the woman in the portrait who was likely his wife. This helps to shape the power of social status by adding position through the use of emphasis, while drawing the eye of the viewer is also aiding in establishing the emotion brought forth to the focal point.

Sebastián Muñoz, “Maria Luisa of Orléans, Queen of Spain, lying in state”

Here’ye, Queen: The Queen of Spain’s funeral around 1689 brings the resilience of contrast for viewers to indulge in the darkness of emotional Baroque. Sebastián Muñoz, a Spanish painter of the time, splits timelessness into a paradox through the use of darkness and light between the symbolism of good and evil. The story of the composition surrounds the queen in her lying state as emotion pours from the good in light of its poignant context. The grandeur and solemnity of the event in an extracted demonstration of the Catholic Church is a timeless masterpiece with the care of detail. The detail is right down to the hierarchy of the queen’s earlier portrait hung high, as a time of honoring and remembrance. 

Fray Alonso López de Herrera, “Virgin of the Immaculate Conception”

Although Fray Alonso López de Herrara’s “Virgin of the Immaculate Conception” does not necessarily seem as dark and cohesive to the Baroque style as others, the sense of depth and volume combined with the interplay of light and shadow builds the emotional intensity that reflects the Counter-Reformation’s influence to reinforce Catholic doctrine. The swirling movement around the Virgin intensifies emotion with her as the focal point, evoking deep emotional responses through the flowing use of line of her garment. There is a sense of urgency within the realm of tranquility, contradictorily giving light to religion’s portions of belief.

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Curiously hungry: Cooking cheese with wine

The classic pairing of wine and cheese is taken to another level by the Swiss. The Alpine country, with its many pasturelands, is home to many famous cheeses. Surrounded by great wine regions of France, Germany, and Italy, it’s no wonder someone came up with the idea of cooking cheese with wine in the 17th century.

“Fondue,” as we now call it, is made by melting cheese in wine, and it’s usually served with bread to be dipped in it. It is the national dish of Switzerland, and it’s the most recognized dish. The blend of flavors and aroma from great cheese and wine is a wonderful foundation for anything you dip into it. It is something that should be experienced if you ever travel to Switzerland.

Meanwhile at home, you can find this classic Alpine creation in the heart of Coral Springs. The Melting Pot, located near the corner of Sample Road and Coral Springs Drive, serves up this simmering concoction to local residents.

Their classic fondue is made with Gruyère, a hard cheese named after a town in Fribourg in Switzerland. The cheese is sweet, and it’s creamy and nutty when young. Along with a white wine, the fondue provides a fruity base for more than just bread. At the Melting Pot, they provide you with apple slices that go extremely well with this fondue.

Emmentaler cheese, with its characteristic “eye formation” common in many Swiss cheeses, is part of other Melting Pot fondue offerings. Its mild and savory flavor pairs well with Wisconsin aged cheddar and Sam Adams lager. This fondue provides a stronger flavor base, which goes well with the soft pretzels and vegetables offered.

At the Melting Pot, they also serve great salads, with delicious dressings. They offer a great refresher for your taste buds before you embark on the restaurant’s entree course. For the entree, a selection of proteins is offered, which can be cooked at the table either with a grill or in a hot pot.

The grill options work great with many cuts of meat and fish that are on the menu, or you can try their Coq au Vin stock, which is prepared with burgundy wine, mushrooms, scallions, and garlic. The Melting Pot also serves entrees with a combination of dips, which adds extra flavor dimension for the diner.

The meal is not complete without enjoying a new modern American fondue creation. The chocolate fondue was first served in a restaurant in New York in the 1960s. The Melting Pot’s chocolate fondues offer several chocolate options, including dark, milk, and white chocolate. Served with a combination of fruits and desserts, it will satisfy any sweet tooth. For those who love chocolate, there is nothing more decadent than dipping a brownie into dark chocolate. And who doesn’t love a strawberry or banana dipped in chocolate?

So as the next cold front comes to Florida, and you want to enjoy a classic Swiss creation, give fondue a try. The Melting Pot has long served its version of this method of cooking in Coral Springs. They offer an authentic experience that you will enjoy.

The Melting Pot is located at 10374 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs; www.meltingpot.com/coral-springs-fl.

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Fern Forest: a hidden oasis of green

One of the most verdant, lushly vegetated venues in Broward County is the Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek. True to its name, this secluded oasis is home to more than 30 varieties of ferns. A 247-acre nature preserve, and a designated Urban Wilderness Area, Fern Forest includes 10 different plant communities within its boundaries.

This well-hidden, high hedge-lined park is located just off South Lyons Road, parallel to the turnpike. The entrance is easy to miss and I drove past it the first time. Once inside the gates, I was impressed by the beautiful setting and ready for a nature hike. The property is very nicely maintained with good signage. I parked in one of the large parking lots near the picnic area, with includes a covered pavilion with eight picnic tables, and six additional picnic tables scattered nearby among the trees.

To reach Fern Forest Nature Center’s main building and its pathways, visitors traverse the entry boardwalk, which goes though an information gazebo and then on to the nature center. This impressive wooden building quickly comes into view as you stroll along the boardwalk between the trees and look up to see the large, two-story natural structure that appears like a giant tree house built into the woods.

The two levels of the building are connected outside by wide natural-wood stairs, with matching wooden benches and porches to rest on nearby, and there are elevators as well. The first floor houses the indoor exhibit area featuring interpretive displays on the park, as well as native reptiles, kids’ educational activities, a nature store, trail maps, reference guides, and a lot of cool science posters. Back outside, you’ll find their 120-seat amphitheater that’s open on three sides into the green, ferny forest, with long wooden audience benches and a raised platform at the front for concerts and other events.

Upstairs, the second floor offers the Royal Fern Hall, a 2,343-square-foot, air-conditioned assembly space that has capacity for 120 people and features an equipped catering kitchen and buffet counter. It’s available for meetings, receptions, and other gatherings. The views from up there are amazing.

After exploring the nature center building, I went off to discover the rest of the grounds, starting with the Cypress Creek Boardwalk Trail. This wheelchair-accessible, raised boardwalk is a half-mile loop through a beautiful low hardwood hammock and maple/cypress community. Built above the wetlands and with high rails throughout—separating you from the trees, water, and wildlife—it’s the safest route for those who don’t want to go on the uneven terrain and often-muddy ground trails of the outer wooded paths. It was a nice, scenic walk.

But there is so much more to discover at this nature preserve. The property features a wading bird habitat, a butterfly bridge, a pavilion/outdoor classroom, a restored cypress dome, and a rewatering channel with culverts, a pump, and a receiving pond. There are lots of scheduled programs and events on-site throughout the month.

For hiking, visitors can take the Wetland Wander Trail, the Prairie Overlook Trail, or the Maple Walk. The 1-mile Prairie Overlook loops through an open prairie and an oak/cabbage palm community and includes a 20-foot-tall observation platform. The rustic Maple Walk covers ⅓ mile of red maple swamp and can get soggy; tree markings help guide you. The Wetland Wander is a ¼-mile foot trail that runs parallel to a canal and wetlands community.

Fern Forest also has a bit of art. Just behind the nature center before the beginning of the walking trails, nestled in a clearing among trees, is the sculpture “Fern-Lore Guardian,” which is two bronze pod forms created by artist Jerome Meadows, installed in 1993 by the Art in Public Places program.

Besides artists, scientists also have been enticed here, including some from Florida Atlantic University and Broward Community College, who had visited Fern Forest and discovered more than 200 species of plants. And coming up for National Take a Hike Day on Sunday, Nov. 17, is a Wetlands Walk, where a naturalist will lead a hike through the swamp and guide the group on an exploration of native flora and fauna. This will start at 10 a.m.; preregistration and $3 are required.

If you like being surrounded by lush green foliage and going on some peaceful nature walks, then Fern Forest is the place to check out.

Fern Forest Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, for no charge. For more information, go to www.broward.org/Parks/Pages/park.aspx?park=14.

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Friday At Five Brings the Party Any Day of the Week

“We’re not just a band, we’re a state of mind,” says Carey Peak, 55, guitarist and lead singer for the band Friday At Five.

And, the good news is, you don’t have to wait until Friday at 5:00 p.m. to hear the band.

They play at all hours around town at THRōW Social and Johnnie Brown’s in Delray Beach, Packy’s Sports Pub in Lighthouse Point, Lefty’s Tavern & Grille in Coral Springs and will appear at Sharkey’s Bar and Grille in Coral Springs on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

“We’re a high energy party rock cover band,” says Peak. “There’s no song we don’t do.”

They take their name from country music singer Eric Church’s  lyrics in his 2011 song, “Drink In My Hand” (“Early Monday morning, ’til Friday at five; Man I work, work, work but I don’t climb, climb, climb.”)

In addition to Peak, the band, founded in 2017, includes drummer Jordan Welch, Gonzalo Gallarza on bass and their newest member, lead vocalist, Carrie Wicks Johnson, 28, who joined the band in March.  All the members sing lead vocals as well.

Peak was born into a musical family – his dad played guitar with Buddy Holly and as a child, Peak would fool around with his dad’s guitar and figured, “I could do that,” and became a child prodigy by the age of 12.

In his twenties, he formed the alternative rock band, Dore Soul and later, his second band, The C60s, an indy rock band was signed to Dreamworks Records. They charted number six on the college music charts, and received critical acclaim.

In 2006 Peak started The Free Radicals, a corporate cover band.

His most recent venture, Friday At Five, plays a selection of eclectic music from the 70s to today, including rock, pop, country, alternative rock, metal and reggae.

“One of the things our fans like is that we cover everyone from Lady Gaga to ACDC to Zack Brown to Bob Marley,” Peak says.

Peak says the band likes to put a rock edge on every song, putting big, hard rock guitars into a Whitney Houston song.  Two of his favorite songs to perform are “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses and AC/DCs  “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).”

“Our fans love that we cover this song,” says Peak, adding, “and with Carrie singing, it’s even better.  She’s both beautiful and an amazing singer.”

Among his musical Influences he counts Eddie Van Halen (“Unchained” is his favorite song), Buddy Holly (“That’ll Be the Day”) and, as evidence of his own eclectic tastes, Metallica and Barbra Streisand.

“Good music is good music,” he says.

Lead singer, Johnson, (she got married in October to Mike Johnson, a Coast Guard reservist) came to Florida from Long Island during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She was part of a top cover band there called, “Jessie’s Girl,” and also wrote original music and sang with the soul/rock band, “Carrie and the Cats.”  In 2018 the band won the Long Island Blues Challenge  and went to finals in Nashville, TN.

She met Peak when she made a guest appearance on stage at Mulligan‘s Beach House Bar & Grill in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and a friend of was in the audience.

He recommended her for the lead singer in Friday At Five and Peak hired her instantly.

Peak recalls her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” as making the hair on his arms stand up.

“Carrie is the real deal,” he says.

Johnson found her calling in life at an early age and knew that she wanted to sing.

“Ever since I started talking, I was singing,” she says, noting that she considers her ability to be versatile and be comfortable in multiple genres as her best musical quality.

Her parents never pushed her to pursue other careers, although she did earn a cosmetology degree as a back-up plan.

Her musical Influences include Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, Etta James and The Beatles.

Her love for the profession and for performing keeps her motivated.

“Singing makes me happy,” she says.  “It’s the only job I’ve ever loved.”

“The best thing you can do for yourself is to only compete with yourself,” Johnson said in a 2018 interview with the blog, LongIslandSound. “Don’t try to be better than somebody else, strive to be better than you were yesterday.”

On stage she sports fun outfits and with a nod to her cosmetology background – big, platinum blonde hair.
“There’s no better feeling than being on stage,” says Johnson.

In addition to bars, Friday At Five plays at city events, the Parkland Amphitheater, Wellington’s Food Truck & Music Series and Pompano Beach’s Music Under the Stars.  Peak says it’s a “feather in their cap” to be requested for many private parties, weddings and corporate events.

Future goals include cultivating their fan base and playing in new events and venues.

“We’re happy doing what we do,” says Peak.  “We’re grateful and blessed to play in such a vibrant music scene and get support from Richard Kushner at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill as well as other bar owners.”

“South Florida is a great area for music,” he says.  “We all support each other and we’re happy to be part of this larger community of bands and do our part to contribute to this vibrant music scene.”

Friday At Five will perform live at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill, 10365 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs on Wed., Nov. 6. For more information visit sharkeysfl.com or call (954) 341-9990.  Visit sharkeysfl.com and fridayatfiveband.com.

 

 

 

 

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The Milk Drunk Foundation Creating happy endings for animals in need

With the philosophy that every orphaned baby puppy or kitten deserves a fighting chance, the nonprofit Milk Drunk Foundation, founded by former midwife Michelle Bucur, 40, in 2023, feeds, nurtures, stimulates, cuddles, and loves the newborn animals so that they have a chance to live and find a good home.

“I saw a need to focus on the most vulnerable animal populations,” says Bucur, who previously volunteered at the Wonder Paws Rescue in Fort Lauderdale.

Specializing in bottle/tube-fed neonatal babies with anomalies, Bucur set about to fill a need in the community. Anomalies can include clefted bulldogs, especially French bulldogs, puppies born with congenital abnormalities such as heart defects, and animals born with missing limbs or dome-shaped heads known as hydrocephalus.

Born in Ecuador, Bucur discovered her passion for animals at an early age. As a young girl, she hid cats and dogs in her backyard tree house, hoping her parents wouldn’t find them.

But animals aren’t her only raison d’être. Bucur also has a passion for human babies, giving birth to two biological children, adopting another two, and becoming a surrogate mother not once, but twice—in 2016 and 2017.

Married to Claudiu Bucur, a battery scientist and cofounder of the solid-state battery company Piersica, based in Miami, the couple lived in China where he worked for an automobile manufacturing company.

Back in the U.S., Michelle Bucur secured a $10,000 donation to the Wonder Paws Rescue after she found and returned valuable luxury watches valued at $100,000 that were left in a Tesla that she owned and leased.

The family has two rescue dogs—a French bulldog with a cleft palate that Bucur raised since birth and a labrador mix she nurtured from a litter of three—as well as four cats, one with feline leukemia. All of them are currently thriving, she says.

“I’ve loved mothering since I was a child,” Bucur says, noting that this desire led her to become a midwife. “I have a strong desire to help the underdog (or undercat), or anyone who is unable to care for itself.”

Currently, the foundation, which operates in a foster model where every animal is paired with a foster home and family, is nurturing 17 puppies and 28 cats with the goal of getting them healthy and socialized in order to be adopted.

With the foster model, animals are not left alone in cages or shelters and don’t spend nights alone. Neonatal foster parents, who are trained caregivers, get up every two hours to bottle-feed the animals, some of which may need incubators or oxygen as well. Bucur estimates that in a traditional shelter or rescue, nine out of 10 animals would be euthanized, as it is not cost-effective to provide expensive medical care.

In 2023, she says the foundation’s “save rate” was 99%; only 1% of animals were euthanized.

Two of her specialized caregivers (and volunteers) are Abigail Babic, 18, a college student at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, and Amy Osborne, 39, a social media manager for a dog company in Fort Lauderdale.

Osborne, who has a fondness for Shar Pei dogs and has two of her own, has fostered 22 puppies since December 2023. Once the puppies are weaned on raw food, at around 4–5 weeks, Osborne potty trains the puppies until they are 8–12 weeks old. One of her favorite rescues (“my heart and soul”), a puppy named Cheyenne, was adopted by a family in New York City.

Osborne keeps in touch with the adoptive parents and has plans to visit Cheyenne (now renamed Chi-Chi) when she goes to New York in November, where she will walk in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a friend.

Babic, who is studying public relations and wildlife ecology and conservation, has been involved with animal rescue since the age of 14, during the COVID-19 quarantine. In 2023, she received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from Miami-Dade Animal Services as well as the Best Neonate Foster in Miami-Dade County in 2021 and 2023. And in 2022, she was featured in the first CBS News “Miami Proud” segment, highlighting her work as a volunteer where she bottle-fed kittens every three to four hours through the night.

Knowing she wanted to continue her efforts working with neonate fosters, Babic found Bucur and the Milk Drunk Foundation on a Google search. Accompanying her in her freshman year at UF is her former foster cat, Sticky, who she nurtured from 6 weeks old. Suffering from an upper respiratory infection, blindness, and a fractured arm that had to be amputated, the “super sweet” black cat, now 2 years old, is living his best life in her dorm room.

“Any and all animals deserve a fighting chance at life,” says Babic. “Just because they need extra care doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a chance at life.”

She recalls one success story where a litter of five newborn puppies requiring special care was left at a gas station in a garbage bag. They managed to foster all the puppies until they were able to find forever homes and be adopted.

“There is no one like Michelle,” says Osborne. “She does everything she can to help and goes out of her way for those in need. She works tirelessly with other organizations and is always willing to go the extra mile.”

Osborne says the foundation is always looking for new foster parents to help them in their rescue mission.

“The Milk Drunk Foundation is the kind of rescue that doesn’t say no,” she says. “We do whatever we can to save the lives of the most vulnerable newborn animals. When a shelter calls in desperation, we step in and do our best to help these animals survive.

“It’s very gratifying,” she says.

For more information, visit themilkdrunkfoundation.org. Foster parents and donations are always welcome. To help in other ways, the Milk Drunk Foundation offers a wish list on Amazon (www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XH9AEDZSR7ZM?ref_=wl_share).

 

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Hot Mess offers cool vibes

Putting the “hot” in the Hot Mess band, lead female vocalist Stacey Isaacs, 51—an attorney by day and a pop singer by night—rocks out with the classic rock and pop cover band she formed three years ago with five other local musicians. A partner, along with William Haro and her husband, David Benn, in the WorkInjuryRights law firm, a firm specializing in worker’s compensation, Isaacs, the mother of two teenage girls—Reese, 15, and Jules, 13—morphs into a rock star at night.

“The name of the band, ‘Hot Mess,’ is a great description of my life,” jokes Isaacs. “Multitasking and being pulled in all directions resonate for myself and many women.”

Along with Glen Friedman on bass guitar, Nick Montgomery on acoustic guitar, Adam Gutman on lead guitar, Russ Meadows on drums, and Leo Perez (aka the Keytar God) on keyboards, the group plays at local venues including THRōW Social in Delray Beach, the Biergarten in Boca Raton, and Sharkey’s Bar and Grill in Coral Springs, where they will perform live on Oct. 5.

“I love being a part of the band. It’s an outlet for me. As a busy attorney, business owner, and busy mom, life can be stressful,” Isaacs says on her Instagram page. “This gives me something, whether we’re practicing or performing, where I do not think about anything else but the music.”

Growing up in musical theater, Isaacs always loved performing but suffered from stage fright, which took years to overcome. She was inspired and mentored by her aunt, Hela Young, Miss New Jersey of 1971, who had a talent for singing. As a child, she remembers her aunt performing at Lincoln Center in New York City. She was encouraged by Young, who took her to voice lessons in New York, something she enjoyed doing, and she would come home every night and practice in her bedroom.

Her aunt, who later went on to become the host for the New Jersey Lottery on TV each night and was president of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, helped Isaacs prepare to sing at her law school graduation from Seton Hall Law School in 1997.

Isaacs practiced and sang Simon and Garfunkel’s 1970 hit, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” in front of 1,000 attendees, an event that helped her overcome her stage fright. “That was a pivotal moment,” she remembers. “Now I love being on stage and performing.”

With a voice that has been compared to that of Alanis Morissette, Isaacs is inspired by singers and musicians Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and the rock band Heart.

Signature songs include Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes. She has also been known to perform a mean rendition of Morissette’s 1991 hit, “You Oughta Know.”

Bass guitarist, Freidman, 50, owner of the G-Clef Music Academy in Parkland, is a professional guitar, piano, and trumpet player. He has played with the likes of jazz greats Arturo Sandoval, David Sandborn, and Tito Puente as well as for Walt Disney World, Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus, a number of cruise lines, and on recordings for Emilio Estefan’s Miami Sound Machine.

“Music gets in your blood and soul,” says Friedman, who knew from a young age he wanted to make a career in music. Inspired by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson (“my idol”), Friedman also admires Journey, the Beatles, and ’80s Hair Metal bands such as Whitesnake.

Drummer Meadows, a “true Floridian,” lives in his grandparents’ and parents’ former home in Coral Springs. He also plays guitar and sings and was the catalyst for forming the band. In addition, Meadows is the tennis pro at Heron Bay in Parkland.

He forged many connections on the tennis court, including those of Friedman and Perez, and says the concept began as a hobby. Seeing a connection between the rhythm of tennis and the rhythm of music, he says, “we were surprised when it took off so well.”

Meadows continues, “We’ve become one of South Florida’s most popular cover bands. We assembled the right musicians, the right sounds—a mix of pop and rock—and make a good presentation on stage.”

The drummer, who has been drumming for 30 years, admires Led Zeppelin and the Police, especially the Police’s drummer, Stewart Copeland. He loves performing Journey’s 1980 hit, “Any Way You Want It,” and its 1981 hit, “Stone in Love.”

Noting that the band boasts both a female and a male lead vocalist, Meadows believes that this sets them apart from other bands. “We’re the quintessential cover band with a twist,” he says.

For Isaacs, who also hosts the “Success of a Hot Mess” podcast, one of the highlights of being part of a cover band is the camaraderie and the fact that her teenage daughters are proud to bring their friends to see her perform.

Future goals for the band include playing larger venues, such as the Parkland Amphitheatre and the Coral Springs Center for the Arts.

“We’re all good friends,” Isaacs says, “and enjoy performing and doing what we love. We appreciate all the support of our friends, family, and fans—and the best part is that my daughters think I’m cool.”

Hot Mess will perform live at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill, 10365 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs, on Oct. 5. For more information, visit sharkeysfl.com or call (954) 341-9990. Find the Hot Mess band on Instagram at instagram.com/wearethehotmessband.

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Sharon Shevell: a message from nature

Surrealism is certainly potent in the delicate works of Sharon Shevell. When I went to view them at the Parkland Library while on display until the end of August, I could not help but want to dissect them all. Each of them tells its own story, taking us back to the prevalence of nature and in tune with the realities of today. The works are  dynamic and certainly opposed to the discrepancy-specific environments that each composition entails. Here I explore each of Shevell’s acrylic intricacies and attempt to anatomize the message that she finds and portrays from nature.

“Hope on the Horizon” is an acrylic painting on canvas, with overtones of connotation, and diversions like puzzle pieces that surrealism supplies. The bodiless configuration of the female suggests that the rest of the self is in the background. The emotions are revealing of the water, and the consciousness within the sands. Her roots in the forefront seem to be a bid to cover the mystery that interestingly and inadvertently tells all by the irony of only her right eye being exposed. It is the eye that is the focal point that’s applying the symmetry, and by its subvertical alignment before the integral of vision displaces at the horizon.

Quite possibly, the clouds off the horizon could be analogous to electrical configurations of the subject, and the thought processes, posing at the overall conjuncture of the composition. In the topic of  “hope,” the message could very well be a substance applying the importance of self-awareness.

“Oy Vey” (a Yiddish phrase expressing dismay or exasperation). Well, it is often said we should avoid talking about politics; however, politics seems to be screaming at the reciprocal of this platform, and is quite detailed. The mood changes considerably in this composition and, moreover, toward its undertones that are held of voicelessness and in the context of politics that surround the topic. Instead, Shevell seems to articulate the protection and safeguarding of the nurturement of nature, embracing it as a mother would her child. All the while, the feminine subject is emphasized as still attempting to save her head. The chosen animals involved add to the visual dynamics of this piece. The work speaks its message quite transparently, as Shevell takes the viewer through the storm of its exquisite composition.

“Another Day Another Dollar.” Acrylic, paper, coffee filters, and styrofoam quite clearly deliver what this artwork speaks about, and three-dimensionally. Paradoxically, it is quite fun to look at, while maybe not the evidence that extracted from it likely was. More so, the experience hits the message on the button, becoming a question at hand: Is it all worth it?

“Victoria’s Lament.” This painting in acrylic on canvas is another work that Shevell uses as background to the theme of emotion from off the composition. Here, what an emotionless Victoria lacks in the expression of her face is the emotional journey spread of the sea in which she dwells. And as she grasps what past is entangled with roots, the message is exposed as a question: Is it the effort to reach what washed up on the shore, or is she letting go?

Shevell exposes the hypothetical nature of mythical reasoning to converse about choices, provoking thoughts about which can be claimed, and what came first and why. Too often in life there’s a threshold that forces one to give up one thing for something else. Perhaps this message is about nature’s natural procedural of balance.

“Cry” is an emotional painting of mixed media and acrylic on canvas that seems to be a transcendence from “Hope on the Horizon.” Undoubtedly beautiful, clearly the message portrayed here is about conservation: a very important one at that.

“Eye of the Storm” is acrylic and fabric on canvas that appears as a metaphorical sense of what weather does.  It gives a sense of how time and place both create the environmental stress, and how it functions both as the action and effect.   While a psychological fraction of its pressure costs is left to be freely interpreted, the transcendence of color is interestingly viable from the skies of “Oy Vey.” This three-dimensional concept brings its extraordinary essence of interpretative vision right in front of viewers to investigate for themselves.

“Garden Nymph Contemplating the Effects of Climate Change.” Shevell’s acrylic on canvas has a surrounding seven-piece set of 8-inch-by-8-inch small canvas picked by the theme of its subjects’ motivation. This painting emphasizes the prose of the composition while its muse blends into the delicate magic of care along its landscape. The conjunction of sea life and botany coheres with the abstract thought behind her, riveting color as a tool to emphasize the need for survival. The intensity of this work is honest and provokes emotion, as is seemingly needless for any visual input by its cause. Instead, this painting’s subject is from a perspective at the other side of it. Interestingly, no matter how colorful the composition is, it still leaves the viewer with a sense of emptiness: the irony entangled with the subject at hand.

“Cosmic Winds I & II” is acrylic on canvas, both pieces integrate pebbles into galaxies, expressing the stepping-stones toward the bigger picture. What a lovely path Shevell makes of it, and within the discrepancy that time decomposes, as color fills any negative space rhythmically imposed by the contrast of suggested wavelengths. Its mundane choice of compositional trajectory keeps the subject communicating along with the connectivity of it all. Very powerful.

Sharon Shevell is a New York-raised, local Floridian residing in Parkland who studied painting at the Boca Raton Museum Art School in the 1990s. Her works have been displayed around South Florida quite fluently, and they’re held in private collections between Canada and the U.S. For more information, visit www.sharonshevellart.com.

 

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Sharon Shivel: a message from nature

Surrealism is certainly potent in the delicate works of Sharon Shivel. When I went to view them at the Parkland Library while on display until the end of August, I could not help but want to dissect them all. Each of them tells its own story, taking us back to the prevalence of nature and in tune with the realities of today. The works are  dynamic and certainly opposed to the discrepancy-specific environments that each composition entails. Here I explore each of Shivel’s acrylic intricacies and attempt to anatomize the message that she finds and portrays from nature.

“Hope on the Horizon” is an acrylic painting on canvas, with overtones of connotation, and diversions like puzzle pieces that surrealism supplies. The bodiless configuration of the female suggests that the rest of the self is in the background. The emotions are revealing of the water, and the consciousness within the sands. Her roots in the forefront seem to be a bid to cover the mystery that interestingly and inadvertently tells all by the irony of only her right eye being exposed. It is the eye that is the focal point that’s applying the symmetry, and by its subvertical alignment before the integral of vision displaces at the horizon.

Quite possibly, the clouds off the horizon could be analogous to electrical configurations of the subject, and the thought processes, posing at the overall conjuncture of the composition. In the topic of  “hope,” the message could very well be a substance applying the importance of self-awareness.

“Oy Vey” (a Yiddish phrase expressing dismay or exasperation). Well, it is often said we should avoid talking about politics; however, politics seems to be screaming at the reciprocal of this platform, and is quite detailed. The mood changes considerably in this composition and, moreover, toward its undertones that are held of voicelessness and in the context of politics that surround the topic. Instead, Shivel seems to articulate the protection and safeguarding of the nurturement of nature, embracing it as a mother would her child. All the while, the feminine subject is emphasized as still attempting to save her head. The chosen animals involved add to the visual dynamics of this piece. The work speaks its message quite transparently, as Shivel takes the viewer through the storm of its exquisite composition.

“Another Day Another Dollar.” Acrylic, paper, coffee filters, and styrofoam quite clearly deliver what this artwork speaks about, and three-dimensionally. Paradoxically, it is quite fun to look at, while maybe not the evidence that extracted from it likely was. More so, the experience hits the message on the button, becoming a question at hand: Is it all worth it?

“Victoria’s Lament.” This painting in acrylic on canvas is another work that Shivel uses as background to the theme of emotion from off the composition. Here, what an emotionless Victoria lacks in the expression of her face is the emotional journey spread of the sea in which she dwells. And as she grasps what past is entangled with roots, the message is exposed as a question: Is it the effort to reach what washed up on the shore, or is she letting go?

Shivel exposes the hypothetical nature of mythical reasoning to converse about choices, provoking thoughts about which can be claimed, and what came first and why. Too often in life there’s a threshold that forces one to give up one thing for something else. Perhaps this message is about nature’s natural procedural of balance.

“Cry” is an emotional painting of mixed media and acrylic on canvas that seems to be a transcendence from “Hope on the Horizon.” Undoubtedly beautiful, clearly the message portrayed here is about conservation: a very important one at that.

“Eye of the Storm” is acrylic and fabric on canvas that appears as a metaphorical sense of what weather does.  It gives a sense of how time and place both create the environmental stress, and how it functions both as the action and effect.   While a psychological fraction of its pressure costs is left to be freely interpreted, the transcendence of color is interestingly viable from the skies of “Oy Vey.” This three-dimensional concept brings its extraordinary essence of interpretative vision right in front of viewers to investigate for themselves.

“Garden Nymph Contemplating the Effects of Climate Change.” Shivel’s acrylic on canvas has a surrounding seven-piece set of 8-inch-by-8-inch small canvas picked by the theme of its subjects’ motivation. This painting emphasizes the prose of the composition while its muse blends into the delicate magic of care along its landscape. The conjunction of sea life and botany coheres with the abstract thought behind her, riveting color as a tool to emphasize the need for survival. The intensity of this work is honest and provokes emotion, as is seemingly needless for any visual input by its cause. Instead, this painting’s subject is from a perspective at the other side of it. Interestingly, no matter how colorful the composition is, it still leaves the viewer with a sense of emptiness: the irony entangled with the subject at hand.

“Cosmic Winds I & II” is acrylic on canvas, both pieces integrate pebbles into galaxies, expressing the stepping-stones toward the bigger picture. What a lovely path Shivel makes of it, and within the discrepancy that time decomposes, as color fills any negative space rhythmically imposed by the contrast of suggested wavelengths. Its mundane choice of compositional trajectory keeps the subject communicating along with the connectivity of it all. Very powerful.

Sharon Shivel is a New York-raised, local Floridian residing in Parkland who studied painting at the Boca Raton Museum Art School in the 1990s. Her works have been displayed around South Florida quite fluently, and they’re held in private collections between Canada and the U.S. For more information, visit www.sharonshevellart.com.

 

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What to eat when transitioning with hormone therapy

While a person is assigned a sex at birth of male or female, a person’s gender identity refers to their inner sense of being male, female, both, or possessing no gender at all. Gender expression refers to the outward appearance of gender demonstrated through name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, voice, and more.

Transgender people have a gender identity and/or gender expression that differs from their sex designated at birth. Some transgender people may seek to medically transition with hormone therapy, which is typically used to produce physical changes that help align their body with their gender identity.

Feminizing hormone therapy involves taking medicine to block the hormone testosterone, as well as taking the hormone estrogen. Masculinizing hormone therapy involves taking the hormone testosterone. Hormone therapy may be taken as injections, pills, gels, sprays, or patches. Not all transgender people will choose to be on hormone therapy, but for those who do, the speed and magnitude of the changes will differ from person to person.

Physical Changes with Hormone Therapy

Transitioning with hormone therapy is often referred to as a “second puberty,” given the many physical changes that occur, such as changes in hair growth, skin oiliness, body size and shape, and the sound of one’s voice. These are normal and expected effects, especially during the first few years. Weight gain is a common side effect of both masculinizing and feminizing hormone therapy due to changes in body composition and appetite—this could be a few pounds for some or much more for others.

Hormone therapy also affects body composition, or the amount of fat and muscle someone has. Masculinizing hormone therapy tends to increase muscle and decrease fat, while feminizing hormone therapy tends to have the opposite effect.

Body shape may also change with hormone therapy, which to some is an important part of their gender expression. This is due to changes in where fat is located in the body.

Masculinizing hormone therapy tends to decrease body fat in the hips and buttocks, while the reverse often occurs with feminizing hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy may also impact other aspects of health where nutrition can play an important role, such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and bone mineral density.

Healthy Eating Guidelines

People undergoing hormone therapy may wonder if they should change their diet or if certain foods might affect hormone levels. They also may wonder if there are beneficial foods that can “kick-start” their transition.

The same healthy eating guidelines apply for cisgender (or non-transgender) people and transgender people alike. In other words, there is no special diet to follow when starting on hormone therapy, though calorie needs may change slightly. A healthy eating pattern can help ensure you are meeting your nutrient needs, promote overall health and well-being, and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. Food and nutrition can also be a form of self-care during a time of rapid physical and emotional changes.

The 2020-2025 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” recommends choosing a healthy eating routine, including the following:

  • Vegetables with an emphasis on a colorful variety, including dark green, red, and orange; beans, peas, and lentils; starchy vegetables; and other vegetables
  • Fruits, especially whole fruit
  • Grains, with at least half being whole grains
  • A variety of protein foods, such as lean meats, poultry, eggs, and seafood, as well as plant-based proteins such as beans, peas, lentils, nuts, and seeds
  • Low-fat or fat-free dairy such as milk, yogurt, and cheese or lactose-free versions of dairy products

“Dietary Guidelines for Americans” also recommends limiting daily intakes of added sugars, saturated fat, sodium, and alcohol.

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Rocking out with the Smokin’ Aces

“The ringleader of craziness” is how The Smokin’ Aces lead singer Lou Falco (who goes by “FALCO”) describes himself. “I’m the one with the bald head, goatee, and black nail polish.”

Originally from Valley Stream, N.Y., FALCO, 55, came to South Florida in 2000, moved away six years later, and returned in 2010 after sojourns to Texas and Georgia. He now lives in Deerfield Beach.

Singing since the age of 13, FALCO’s inspirations include Kiss, the original Van Halen with David Lee Roth, and Ronnie James Dio, a heavy metal singer who sang with a number of bands, including Black Sabbath.

The name “The Smokin’ Aces” was inspired by Joe Carnahan’s 2006 action film of the same name. “I thought it was cool,” FALCO says.

Additionally, the singer performs with the band Wicked Maraya. They toured Europe and the Americas, releasing five CDs including their latest one titled “Chapters,” released in 2023 by Massacre Records and characterized by moody, emotional layers, heavy grooves, and big, melodic vocals. Two months later, the CD hit No. 2 on the U.S. metal CD charts.

The band played their first live show in 25 years last March at Piper’s Pub in Pompano Beach and will be playing around South Florida this August.

The Smokin’ Aces—composed of Rafael Sa on bass, Johnny Ace on drums, Jose Pantoja on guitar, and Al Stone on keyboard—is known for putting on a good show and playing every party and fun genre of music, including rock, pop, punk, dance, disco, country, and funk.

Stone, 50, and FALCO have been making music together since 2000, meeting in the party and cover band Funkette at Murphy’s Law Irish Pub, a former landmark bar on Las Olas Boulevard. It was also a landmark time for Stone, who met his wife there while playing.

“Kismet,” Stone says, “An arrow and a beam of light hit me.”

A Plantation resident, Stone is 99.9% self-taught. He learned to play on his Casio keyboard by listening to Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 song, “Dancing in the Dark,” and Van Halen’s “Jump,” which he plays to this day.

“The current incarnation of The Smokin’ Aces is one of the best groups I’ve played with,” Stone says. “There’s nothing we won’t try and nothing we don’t excel at.”

He compares the band’s efforts to a snowplow, saying they clear the way for the audience to have a good time.

While he appreciates both Judas Priest and heavy metal, Stone likes to keep the band’s repertoire diverse and occasionally throws in something out of left field, such as a Harry Styles or Steely Dan tune.

“I’m the odd one out,” Stone confesses, admitting to a preference for melodic music, including the Beach Boys, Chicago, and Canadian singer-songwriter Gino Vannelli.

“Music allows us to navigate different emotions the crowd is feeling,” he says. “If they want to party and let loose and need a shot of adrenaline, we play louder, more rocking music. But, there’s a time to mellow out as well.”

With eclectic tastes, Stone listens to different musical genres. Feeling nostalgic, he’ll play some ’80s music; if he’s in a sentimental mood, he’ll put on Janes Taylor. He enjoys the Little River Band and the Eagles and gladly says he’s a huge Ambrosia fan.

“I’m the chameleon of the group,” he jokes. “I even listen to Miles Davis and Latin jazz.”

Among his musical influences, Stone says he’d most like to meet Michael McDonald, keyboardist for the Doobie Brothers, and his early inspiration, the Doors’ Ray Manzarek.

Stone is thankful to be part of the group and thankful to bring joy to his fans. “We genuinely have a good time on stage,” he says. “So as a result, the crowd has a good time.”

FALCO agrees. “If the audience is dancing and having fun, that’s what it’s all about,” he says.

Their 20-year career has been “amazing,” FALCO says.

Also a realtor with his partner, Lori Paolillo of Realty100, Rock And Roll Realtors, and a 911 emergency communications dispatcher at Coral Springs Police Department, FALCO got his start in Florida in 2000 by walking into Murphy’s Law, getting up on stage, and wowing the crowd.

“I had to learn 150 songs in three weeks,” he remembers. Twenty-five years later, he is still going strong.

“We know how to cater to the crowd; we’re practical, not pretentious,” FALCO says.

“We listen to our fans and fill our venues,” he says. “We throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.”

They cover a wide variety of bands such as Italian rock band Måneskin, Limp Bizkit, The Cure, Matchbox 20, and Kid Rock, as well as the Weekend, Marc Anthony, and Ricky Martin.

Locally, the band plays at Biergarten Boca Raton, Cagney’s House of Rock in Davie, Piper’s Pub in Pompano Beach, and Sharkey’s Bar and Grill in Coral Springs, where they will perform on July 26.

“We’re honored and thankful ‘our crowd’ follows us, comes out for us, supports us, and parties with us,” FALCO says. “We owe it all to our crowd.”

A fan writing on their Facebook page says, “The Smokin’ Aces play their a**es off—every set, every show.”

Find The Smokin’ Aces on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSmokinAces. They will be at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill, 10365 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs, on Friday, July 26. For more information, visit sharkeysfl.com or call (954) 341-9990. Wicked Maraya will perform around South Florida in mid-August. For more information, visit www.wickedmaraya.com.

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Shane Duncan Band S.D.B.—going the extra country mile

It’s been full speed ahead for the Shane Duncan Band (S.D.B.) for the past 15 years, and contrary to its 2014 hit, “Life’s Snooze Bar,” the band hasn’t hit the snooze bar once. The five members include singer and guitarist Shane Duncan, 46, lead singer Tiffany Rosario, 40, lead guitarist Dave Scully, 51, drummer Bryce Kretz, 27, and bass guitarist Hernan Motley Rodriguez, 44.

Formerly known as South Florida’s “premiere party band,” the homegrown South Florida band is known for its wide variety of musical genres, including country, rock, top 40, pop, disco, dance, and Latin.

Duncan says what sets S.D.B. apart from other bands is its ability to capture the audience from the get-go. In addition, the band performs all songs live with no backing tracks or studio enhancements.

“We love seeing everyone on the dance floor having a good time,” says Duncan by phone from Knoxville, TN, where he and Rosario (a couple) went for a mini-vacation. “Come Friday night, people want to cut loose, have a drink, have a good time, and dance, no matter what’s going on in their life.”

S.D.B.’s repertoire ranges from Toby Keith’s “Get Your Drink On,” to Mily Cyrus’s “Party in the USA,” to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The group has written and performed songs for a 2024 film, “The Rocket Club: Across the Cosmos,” and TV, including the History Channel’s “It’s How You Get There” theme song, the Cooking Channel, Velocity Channel, and Fox Business Channel.

They performed at the Super Bowl XLVI Wounded Warrior event with former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon in 2015 and at a pre-party for the American Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in 2012.

“We’re proud of our accomplishments,” says Duncan. “The producers for ‘The Rocket Club’ flew us out to Hawaii for a week, and as unsigned musicians, our music is available on all digital jukeboxes.”

Duncan began playing drums in clubs at the age of 11. His father and some neighbors had a band, and he began jamming with them and going to their rehearsals.

Early influences included 1980s pop, rock, and country music as well as country artists like Ronnie Milsap and Merle Haggard. Later, he listened to Journey, Bryan Adams, Whitney Houston, and Def Leopard.

A highlight for Duncan was meeting his musical hero, Brent Mason, a 14-time Grammy Award winner, when Mason played guitar on one of Duncan’s original LPs, titled “Shane Duncan,” in Nashville more than a decade ago.

“I think we’re doing pretty well,” says Duncan, noting that the band has accomplished all the goals they set out to achieve—good musicianship, good singers, good song list, good sound system, good lighting system, and putting together a great package. They’ve toured and been on the road, and now they’re looking forward to being the best local band and sleeping in their own beds.

S.D.B. plays private events, city events, and weddings. It also has headlined aboard cruise ships on the Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines, was voted “Best Band on a Barge” in the Seminole Hard Rock Winter Fest Boat Parade in 2018, and opened for Charlie Daniels, Joe Diffie, Mark Wills, Clay Walker, Josh Turner, and Blake Shelton.

Lead singer Rosario has been singing since the age of 2 and always knew she wanted to be a professional singer. Growing up with a big Italian family, she said they would sit around the piano in her grandmother’s music room and sing 1950s tunes.

Rosario learned Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie and Nat King Cole, and Doo-Wop. “Singing comes naturally to me,” she says, noting that she never took a lesson and is self-taught.

Later, as an adult, she listened to ’80s rock (“all the way”) and admires lead singer Steve Perry of Journey (“my all-time favorite”). She opened for singers Wynona Judd, LeAnn Rimes, and Willie Nelson at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

“It was a great experience,” she says, admitting to some jitters.

For both Duncan and Rosario, playing and singing with the band is more than a job—it’s a passion for both of them. Often, they befriend their audience and have been known to socialize with their fans, who become friends.

Having reached their goals and succeeded in their professional musical lives, what’s left for the band to accomplish?

“Longevity,” says Duncan. “We’ve been on the radio, we’ve been in the movies, we’ve written songs for TV, we’ve headlined on cruise ships. We’ve pretty much done it all.

“We want to continue the ride and continue to do what we love most,” he says. “If you want to have a good time and listen to a variety of music, come check us out.”

The band will perform June 28 at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill, 10365 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs. For more information, visit sharkeysfl.com or call (954) 341-9990. Visit ShaneDuncanBand.com.

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