Category: Community

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Returning the favor

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” — Haruki Murakami.

To say that Margi Bre weathered her storm would be the understatement of the decade.

Margi Bre is the founder of The Legacy Closet. The Legacy Closet is a 501(c)(3) outreach center that provides families in need with new and gently used items such as food, clothing, household items, toys, diapers, and basic essentials. At their store in Margate, families can select items they need or want at no charge. The Legacy Closet has an all-volunteer staff, and many of the center’s volunteers and donors live nearby in Coral Springs and Parkland. The Legacy Closet is the referring agency for the Coral Springs Special Crimes Unit and the Broward County School Board.

Margi Bre founded The Legacy Closet, in part, because of the financial struggles she overcame as a single mother.  Margi had a troubled life throughout her 30s: she was evicted from her home and was forced to rummage for food in garbage cans to survive.  Every single day, Margi prayed that she would wake from her nightmare and her children’s suffering would end. With the generous help of others, Margi slowly dug out of her dark pit and made an impassioned vow that, on some future day, she would help similar families in their time of need just as she had been helped.

Margi is not proud of her past but appreciates that it transformed her into the woman she is today. Although Margi is kind, dedicated, and selfless, these are not necessarily the qualities that make her unique. Margi is a beacon of hope.  Like a crusader, she attracts people sympathetic to her cause.  The freight train that is The Legacy Closet is moving full speed ahead, picking up more and more passengers at every stop.

Margi formed The Legacy Closet just 17 months ago.  During the first few months, Margi donated items out of her garage on Sunday afternoons. At first, one family would receive help, then two families, then four families: and today, Margi is assisting tens of thousands of families per year with the help of over a dozen volunteers throughout the tri-county area (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach).

In the past three months alone, Margi has helped 40,000 families receive essential items such as clothing, soap, underwear, and socks. For Easter, Margi helped secure 100,000 pounds of chocolate from a corporate donor. This donation allowed 4,000 families the opportunity to celebrate Easter.

In 2020, the Darcy J Foundation, another charitable fundraising organization in Florida, awarded Margi the title of “Mother of the Year” for her selfless acts.

Margi loves that she can finally give back to others the way others gave to her when she was down on her luck. Margi takes great joy in knowing that she can tell any child who walks in the door, “You can have anything you want.”  For some children, this is the first time in their lives they have heard this phrase. Something simple (and inconsequential to most) like a bag of gummy bears or a colorful, almost-new pair of pajamas can be the spark of hope a family needs to get them back on track.

Without fail, Margi’s patrons leave The Legacy Closet with tears in their eyes, knowing that “today was better than yesterday.”

Margi wakes up every day knowing that she is making a difference and instilling hope — hope that anyone can overcome their struggles with just a little bit of help. In just 17 months, Margi and The Legacy Closet have instilled hope in thousands of families. Margi survived her storm.  It transformed her into the person she is today.  With continued help from our community, imagine how many more families Margi and her crew can help to weather their own storms!

Thank you, Margi, for being the “Mother of the Year” to so many families.

You can learn more about The Legacy Closet at www.TheLegacyCloset.org

 

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Honor with Action Coalition seeks community support on school safety

The Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in Schools Safety Alert Act, commonly called the “ALYSSA Act,” is legislation on school safety created in memory of 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, one of 17 victims who perished during a mass shooting at Parkland’s Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. The quiet city has now been added to a growing list of other memorable mass shooting sites that include Columbine, Sandy Hook, Blacksburg, Pittsburgh, Tucson, Aurora, Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Orlando, and El Paso.

Mass shootings, homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings accounted for 43,542 gun-related deaths in 2020, but gun sales remain at an all-time high. Every day, nearly 119 people die from gun violence in this country, according to Heather Chapman, a co-founder of the grassroots organization Honor with Action Coalition. The coalition was started when a group of Moms Demand Action volunteers branched off to start their own organization. “As Moms volunteers, we were limited to the legislation we could pursue, so we started Honor with Action and now have the dual focus of school safety and gun violence prevention,” said Chapman.

The group works with local organizations and also connects with leaders from larger ones to provide opportunities and resources. The coalition also connects volunteers with local and national groups and shares educational opportunities, updates, calls to action, training, and events.

The ALYSSA Act is a two-part legislative initiative that involves the installation of silent alarm systems in elementary and secondary schools and funding for school resource officers. The panic alert system can notify emergency services, staff, and students, and it provides two-way communications about specific information in a life-threatening emergency.

“Seconds save lives, and the ALYSSA Act does just that,” said Angela Weber, Honor with Action Coalition co-founder.

Alyssa’s Law was designated HB23/SB70 and passed in the 2020 legislative session. It was sponsored by Rep. Michael Gottlieb, Rep. Dan Daley, and Sen. Lauren Book. This bill is only for the state of Florida and requires mobile panic alert systems in public and charter schools. Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, school staff are required to activate the mobile panic alert system (Alyssa’s Alert) in the event of an emergency. Alyssa’s Law was signed into law in February 2019, and similar legislation is being debated in New York, Nebraska, and Arizona.

The Honor with Action Coalition was formed less than a year ago, yet it’s made excellent progress. State-level priorities for the coalition include a notification of a “threats in schools” bill, HB951/SB1284, proposed by Rep. Daley and Sen. Shevrin Jones, which provides requirements for reporting specified threats and incidents in schools. Another piece of legislature, HB7035 by Rep. Christine Hunschofsky and Rep. Chip LaMarca, is moving through the legislative session. Additional bills include SB836/HB455 by Sen. Jones and Rep. Omari Hardy to establish an urban core crime and violence task force, while HB167/SB428 sponsored by Rep. Hunschofsky and Sen. Tina Polsky focuses on safe gun storage. On the federal level, the coalition is working to help pass the ALYSSA Act for school safety alerts, Ethan’s Law for safe firearm storage, and HR8/HR1466 requiring background checks on all gun sales and a ban on assault weapons.

Chapman had a poignant message to lawmakers: “Our country has seen staggering numbers in death tolls due to a pandemic, yet I would like to remind Congress that we have an epidemic that is uniquely American — gun violence. After the attack on the Capitol in January, I would hope lawmakers now understand the fear our children face in schools across the country,” she said. “The problems of school safety and gun violence can be significantly reduced if they would pass federal legislation to turn the corner on the intolerable numbers of dead, injured, and traumatized citizens.”

U.S. Rep. Joshua Gottheimer of New Jersey will reintroduce the ALYSSA Act to a new Congress, with the co-sponsorship of Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Rep. Carlos Jimenez. According to Chapman, New Jersey elected to install a hard-wired alert system but Florida decided that a mobile phone app alert system was more practical and cost-effective.

“The app is a good solution because if a student is in between classes, on a playground, or on a soccer field, he or she has access to both receiving and sending information,” said Chapman. “School districts have the option of choosing the system that works best for them and how it will be utilized.”

Formed less than a year ago, the Honor with Action Coalition has made excellent progress. Its steering committee meets regularly, and a campaign of public education and information on contacting representatives is ready to launch, but it remains on hold until the bill is formally reintroduced. “It takes a while for the process to unfold; we’re being patient but we are moving forward,” Weber emphasized. “We’ve made corrections to the text of the bill and know the committees it will be sent to. When it’s officially filed, we’ll be ready to go.”

The local coalition continues to seek the support of lawmakers in Washington, D.C., but communicating is difficult because many legislators work remotely. Where it was once possible to speak with a legislative aide or legislative director, messages are now forwarded to a voice mailbox. “This political limbo stalls the process, but it doesn’t stall our efforts,” Weber said. “Locally, the pandemic has limited the number of events we attend, but our Facebook page is updated frequently, making it easy for people to engage in our efforts and provide opportunities for calls to action.”

The Honor with Action Coalition has united with local and national groups to promote gun safety and school safety bills at both the state and federal levels. “The goal is a focus on legislative policies that promote safe firearm ownership, school safety, and support for victims of gun violence,” said Weber.

Follow the Honor with Action Coalition on Facebook and sign up for updates and calls to action at honorwithaction.com.

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Wine Watch: The glorious wines of Tuscany

I believe that in another life I must have been Italian and a resident of Tuscany. I say this because, although I try to be as impartial as possible, I love the wines of Tuscany. I was fortunate to spend some time there and was amazed that even in the small-town restaurants where they served their own home-made wines, the wines were excellent, very enjoyable and absolutely perfect to accompany the Tuscan cuisine.

There is another side of the coin. If the home-made wines were so good, the Tuscan commercial wines must be something special.  They are. While Tuscany is mainly known for its chianti, a name that may be used by any wine from the district that is mostly sangiovese, there are producers there whose wines rise above the ordinary and express the true Italian style of fine wine making. I recently sampled some of the imported Tuscan wines and was delighted to find that the wines had not changed and were the same gems that I enjoyed while there.

Lagone 2018 Aia Vecchia ($17). This wine has been made to please anyone who loves red wines. It is a blend of the most popular red wine grapes; 60% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc. The question arose, at least in my mind, will all of these grape varieties clash or will they meld into an interesting whole?

The answer is that they did not only meld but they also produced what has to be one of the most interesting and delightful wines on the market today. Each of the constituents adds its own special flavor and aroma to the blend. I believe that it is safe to reiterate that everything that one seeks in a red wine is right here, clearly presented and probably the most interesting wine I have tasted in a while and all at a very affordable price.

Selvapiana 2019 Chianti Rufina ($21.99). Being made in the Rufina area of Tuscany, the smallest in size and highest in altitude of the Tuscan grape growing regions and from 95% sangiovese, this wine clearly classifies as a chianti. To further classify this wine, it is a chianti on steroids. The aroma and flavor are, to say the least, powerful. Plum, ripe cherries, wild berries abound with a background hint of fresh spice are easily identifiable with new flavor sensations appearing as the wine sits in the glass. The finish is as powerful as is the wine and may I add here, as unforgettable.

Casanova di Neri 2018 IRRosso Toscana ($22). Let’s be very honest. Just the name Casanova associated with the wine perks the interest. Here the name means “new house.”. This wine too is almost all sangiovese with 5% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit Verdot blended in to add a bit more interest and balance.

It is in the production of this wine where the vintners moved in a direction that is not often used. The wine is fermented and aged in barrels of different size and of different types of woods thus changing the wine from the expected style to a wine of incredible depth and character. The results of all that work led to a wine that has all of the expected flavors and aromas of plums, cherries, wild berries and a hint of spice and a regal elegance found in very few wines.

As one would expect, with all of that barrel use, the properties of this wine might be muted in a shower of wood flavors. Not so, the wood is there but it is in harmony with the other properties and serves more as an enhancer rather than an overpowering annoyance and if you have ever had an over oaked wine you know what I mean. This wine is very food friendly and will accompany meals that call for a red wine and some that do not.

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Actors 50 and over examine dementia and death

The Show Must Go On | Pigs Do Fly Productions

Actors 50 and over examine dementia and death

By Jan Engoren

With the emphatic moniker, Pigs Do Fly, Ellen Wacher, founder and producer of Pigs Do Fly Productions, wanted people to know, women (and men) of a certain age are still relevant.

“When pigs fly,” might be an ironic comment meant to convey the unlikeliness of something happening, but Pigs Do Fly stands for people over 50 living interesting, active lives, according to Wacher, a 60-something who founded the theatre company in 2014.

With a mission is to produce plays that highlight the actor over 50 as a viable, fully involved, full of life character, Wacher says she wants to engage the 100 million plus Americans who are over age 50 and are under-recognized by the marketers of other popular culture.

“We don’t do plays about dementia or death,” says Wacher from her home in Miami.  “I’m interested in vibrant, active people living their lives and pursuing their passions.”

All of the company’s plays focus on this demographic and feature actor over 50.  The company is a professional theatre company and all employees are paid.

Seven years ago, Wacher presented her first production, title, “Fifty Plus — A Celebration Of Life . . . As We Know It,” a collection of short plays featuring actors 50+, and focused on active folks of the same age group.

On March 6, 2020, Wacher’s latest production, “Helen on Wheels,” an original play by Oregon-based playwright Cricket Daniel premiered at the Empire Stage in Ft. Lauderdale, but was indefinitely postponed as theatres shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’d give my eye teeth to be back live,” says Wacher who is gauging things on a daily basis as to when the theatre might resume.

She’s also concerned, about whether her audience – also people of a certain age – will return.   Noting that many theatres and other arts venues have moved their programming on-line, Wacher defers, saying, “By definition, theatre is meant to be shared live and in person.”

A native of Miami, Wacher worked for the state of Florida as a teacher and lobbyist and retired with 30 years under her belt.

“I always wanted to be an actress,” Wachter remembers, “but didn’t have the courage to starve.  Eating and dressing nicely were always at the top of my list.”

So, once she retired, she decided to pursue her passion and appeared in local productions of Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” “The Sisters Rosensweig,” “Joseph Andrews” and “The False Witness.”

“Now I can do what I always wanted to do and not worry about the money,” she said.

However, it was a shock to learn that she had aged out of the commercial acting market.

“I didn’t fit the stereotype of what they wanted for older women,” she remembers.  “I got really mad and decided to start my own theatre company.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but I was committed to the idea.”

“I was headstrong and determined,” Wacher says.  “I lucked out, found the right people and in spite of not knowing what I was doing, managed to get it done.”

“We picked plays, held auditions and the audiences came,” she says.  “I got positive feedback from my audience.”

Currently, Wacher is vice president of the SAG-AFTRA Miami local and as chair of the women’s committee, works on the need to better recognize actors (and audiences) over 50 in theater, television and film.

During the quarantine and pandemic, Wacher, despite eating what she says is a bit too much ice-cream, attended SAG Zoom meetings, watched reruns of Seinfeld (her favorite), Friends and Everyone Loves Raymond and founded the Miami Radio Players, a group of professional actors based in Miami, who perform live radio shows.

Once she gets the all-clear to resume productions, Wacher is ready to go with re-launches of two of her most popular productions – Daniel’s “Helen on Wheels” and an original comedy by playwright Jerry Mayer titled, “2 Across,” about the New York Times crossword puzzle and a chance encounter aboard a San Francisco BART train.

She also has her eye on mounting “The Savannah Sipping Society,” a comedy by Nicholas Hope, Jessie  Jones and  Jamie Wooten.

As one audience member proclaimed to Wacher, after a previous show, “Thank god someone’s doing something for people like us.”

 

Visit pigsdoflyproductions.com

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Civil War spawned our Memorial Day

By Ellen Marsden

Memorial Day is the end-of-May holiday that unofficially kicks off summer. But what is the holiday really about?

First, let’s clear up the confusion between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, commemorates those who died in military service to the country. Veterans Day, always observed on November 11, honors everyone who has or is serving the country, in wartime or peacetime.

Memorial Day started as a Civil War remembrance

While honoring those who have been killed in combat goes back to the ancient Greeks and Romans who marked their passing with public remembrances and decorating graves with flowers, our national holiday begins with the Civil War

Toward the end of the war, thousands of Union soldiers were held as prisoners of war in Charleston, South Carolina, at what was formerly a racetrack. Hundreds died from maltreatment, and they were buried in a mass grave there.

In May 1865, newly freed slaves, along with regiments of the U.S. black troops, gathered to honor and properly bury those soldiers. They sang hymns and put flowers on the graves.

Nearly 620,000 soldiers were killed in the Civil War. In May 1868, John A. Logan, Union general and commander-in-chief of the Union veterans group, the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a nationwide day of remembrance to be held yearly on May 30.

General Logan named it Decoration Day, and he called on citizens to put flowers and decorations on the graves of those who had died in the war. (Logan’s name may not be among the most prominent of the Union generals, but Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., is named after him.)

Over time, Memorial Day came to honor all of those lost in military service, not only in the Civil War. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, and Memorial Day moved from the set observance on May 30, no matter what day of the week that fell on, to the last Monday in May. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971.

 

Why poppies are a symbol of the holiday

World War I was raging in Europe in 1915 when Canadian soldier and surgeon John McCrae was serving in Belgium. Inspired by the bright red poppies growing in Flanders Fields (located in southern Belgium and northwest France), despite the bleak and brutal battles there, he wrote “In Flanders Fields,” a poem giving voice to the dead soldiers lying beneath the flower-covered ground.

A few years later, Moina Michael — a professor at the University of Georgia and a volunteer at the training headquarters for YWCA overseas workers — who had read McCrae’s poem, was moved to write her own poem commemorating those who had died at Flanders Fields. She, too, referenced poppies in her poem, “We Shall Keep the Faith.”

After the war, realizing there was a need to support disabled veterans, Michael championed the selling of silk poppies to help raise funds. As a result, a movement began to make wearing a red poppy a symbol of remembrance on Memorial Day. Through the years, the symbolism has extended to represent all veterans, so wearing a poppy on Veterans Day has become common as well.

 

Memorial Day today

For many of us, Memorial Day is a fun day of traditions celebrated with parades, long weekend vacations, barbeques and get-togethers with friends and family. But there are more formal traditions as well. Flags are supposed to be flown at half-staff until noon and then raised.

And by congressional legislation passed in 2000, at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, Americans are encouraged to think about the meaning of the holiday during the National Moment of Remembrance.

Wishing you a happy and meaningful Memorial Day.

 

 

In Flanders Fields

 

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.

⎯John McCrae, May 1915

 

 

We Shall Keep the Faith

 

Oh! You who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet ⎯ to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

 

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led;

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a luster to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

 

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields.

⎯Moina Michael, November 1918

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Spring and summer mark the beginning of moving season

Here are a few tips to make your moving process smoother:

 

  • Prior to moving or relocating, declutter clothing, toys, or personal items. Eliminating these items in advance of your move will reduce your packing time and moving costs.

 

  • Pack items from each room together so they are not mixed with items from other rooms. For example, kitchen items should be packed separately from master closet items. This will help to make unpacking quicker and easier.

 

  • On your moving day, ensure the movers label and scan all of your items before they are loaded into the truck. Items should be labeled on each side and not just on the top so they can be identified easily.

 

  • While the movers will create a list of all of your items, consider creating your own inventory list to not only confirm the mover’s list but also designate which room they should be placed in your new home.

 

  • Once your items start unloading at your destination, be sure to check each item off on both the mover’s list and your list to double check that all your items have arrived safely. Inspect each item for damage if possible.

 

  • Time permitting, open and examine your items to see if they are intact. If anything is missing or damaged, be sure to make a claim as quickly as possible. Take pictures to document any damage, and immediately notify your move coordinator.

Lisa Haubenstock is a Professional Organizer and the owner of LisaTheOrganizer, LLC. serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.

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Another busy storm season predicted

By Aaron Krause

Hunker down for yet another hectic hurricane season this year, say AccuWeather forecasters. However, in 2021, the period of intense storm activity from June 1 to Nov. 30 won’t quite match 2020’s record-breaking season of practically nonstop action.

AccuWeather’s team of tropical weather experts, led by veteran meteorologist Dan Kottlowski, predict that this year, 16 to 20 named storms will form, including seven to 10 hurricanes. Of the storms expected to reach hurricane strength, weather experts believe three to five will become major hurricanes. Such storms are Category 3 or higher that carry maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.

Experts consider a normal season to be one carrying 14 storms ⎯ with seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Last year’s season produced 30 storms, including 13 hurricanes. Six of those reached the major hurricane threshold.

It was a record year with 12 named storms making landfall in the U.S., overtaking the previous record of nine direct strikes in 1916.

In fact, forecasters had to turn to the rarely used Greek alphabet for just the second time to name the storms. Forecasters use Greek letters as names when they have exhausted the list of a year’s assigned proper names.

But the weather service will no longer use Greek letters, instead developing an alternate overflow name list. Journalists and the public were asking more questions about the names than the storms themselves.

Also, say goodbye to Dexter, Dorian, Leah, and Laura. Officials have permanently retired these names, following the tradition of not reusing the names of particularly destructive storms.

Forecasters this year will step up to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System weather model, which should improve predictions on tracking, intensity, and landfall locations.

According to a statement from the National Hurricane Center, the start of the 2021 hurricane season remains June 1. Weather experts had been considering changing the start to May 15, due to an increase in tropical activity in the Atlantic basin over the past decade.

Since 2011, 10 named storms have formed in the Atlantic before June 1. Eight of those happened since 2015. The years 2012, 2016, and 2020 featured seasons that not only saw storms before June but experienced more than one storm before the official season start.

While the 2021 hurricane season’s official start date will remain the same, there has been at least one change. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center started issuing tropical weather outlooks on May 15, two weeks earlier than normal.

To determine how active a hurricane season will be, weather experts consider factors such as the strength or weakness of systems like El Niño and La Niña, short-term climate fluctuations caused by the warming or cooling of waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. When the water in the equatorial Pacific is warmer than average, forecasters typically declare it an “El Niño.” When the reverse is true, weather experts call it a “La Niña.”

Locally, ongoing work by Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) will help speed electricity restoration following major storms for Coral Springs residents.

“Florida Power & Light Company customers in Coral Springs continue to benefit from the company’s ongoing work to strengthen the energy grid and improve service reliability,” company officials wrote in a press release.

“FPL investments, which include strengthening power lines and poles, trimming trees near power lines, installing smart grid technology, and undergrounding power lines in select areas, help make the grid more reliable day-to-day and speed restoration following major storms,” according to FPL.

“For more than 15 years, FPL has been improving the energy grid, making it stronger, smarter, and more storm-resilient to keep the lights on for customers in good weather and bad,” said Eric Silagy, FPL’s president, and CEO.

Improvements in place last season, for example, prevented some 150,000 potential outages, Silagy said.

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Parkland Life- Unconditional love and friendship

Last night we celebrated the first birthday of Michelangelo Booboo Vogel (aka “Mickey”). My regular readers know that he is my COVID puppy, a mini goldendoodle, ours since he was eight weeks old. He is loving, bright, active, and joyful. I have credited him with saving my sanity during the pandemic when he brought love and purpose into my life.

Dog owners know that the first 18 months of puppyhood can be challenging. Between the teething, the frequent bathroom walks, training, and the general need for activity and attention, puppies consume a lot of patience and energy. Mickey was no exception. What makes it all doable is that the puppy is so very cute. Those little balls of fur with a big belly just melt your heart. It is always love at first sight. However, to form a successful human−dog relationship, life after cuteness needs to be defined and built.

Mickey and I were lucky. He was willing to try us out and I certainly wanted him to be happy. So we worked out the pee runs in the middle of the night, the early-morning face lickings, the chewed shoes, and his picky eating. I look back and laugh as we have moved beyond all of those things except for the early-morning wake-up calls. What I have gotten in return is unconditional love and friendship. He cries when I leave, he is waiting at the door with kisses when I return, and when we have a tiff he can’t wait to make up.

Mickey has opened my world to many new experiences. I have met all the local dogs and their owners. During the pandemic, we have congregated outside and provided the caring that we all need to face another day working at home while the kids are on the computer for school. Mickey has also reminded me that people and dogs are made for each other. He is cuddly, protective, and a great walking companion. We walk about seven miles a day together and watch flowers grow, birds fly, and ducks swim. Together we love our beautiful Parkland neighborhood.

I have become a proud mom all over again, showing his picture, introducing him to all my friends and neighbors, and believing he is simply the best dog in the world. In return, I give up the freedom to do what I want, when I want, and instead, I compromise on timing that is better for him. Mickey is a good listener and enjoys talking back, as anyone who knows him will affirm. He has trained me to cook for him and lets me know when he is unhappy with the menu. He swims, and he smiles every time I ask if he wants to go into the pool. He puts up with my need to have him groomed and to comb him daily. He has learned to be patient when I am on the phone or computer. In other words, we accommodate each other mostly with good humor

As Mickey turns one, he looks like a fully grown dog. I am not sure where the time went. He is everything I could hope for in a companion and worth the time, effort, and angst that goes along with any relationship. I have been blessed, and I hope if you have ever contemplated adopting a dog that you do so knowing that the time and effort spent are rewarded many, many times over.

Happy, happy birthday, Mickey. The presents you give me daily far exceed anything I could ever imagine.

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New rabbi comes to Margate’s Temple Beth Am

Rabbi Michelle Goldsmith will become the rabbi of Temple Beth Am in Margate in June.

Most recently, Goldsmith was rabbi of Congregation Beth Emeth in Herndon, Virginia, where she served since July 2013.

Prior to Beth Emeth, Goldsmith was rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, Alabama, from 2009 to 2013. She also has served as associate rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota, Florida (2001-2009), and at Beth Shalom Congregation in Jacksonville (1998-2001).

Goldsmith graduated from American Jewish University in Los Angeles in 2013 with a Rabbinic Management Institute certificate. She received her rabbinic ordination (M.A.) in 1998 from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. She also earned a master’s in Hebrew letters from American Jewish University in 1994 and her B.A. in 1993 with a concentration on the Hebrew Bible.

Goldsmith describes her style as “marked by sensitivity to tradition and the spiritual needs of my congregants.” She strives for her “timeliness … humor and intellectual breadth.”

At her latest position in Virginia, Goldsmith stepped boldly into the 21st century, undertaking active shooter response and “Stop the Bleed” training, following attacks on Jewish institutions across the country. Her congregation became a national model for synagogue security.

During the pandemic, Goldsmith worked with congregants and staff to adapt the offerings of the synagogue to the reality of COVID-19, including holding Zoom services, streaming the high holidays, and moving the early childhood center, religious school, and adult education programs online.

 

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Business Spotlight – Office Evolution Coral Springs

Working from home isn’t new, but the pandemic has brought seismic changes in where we work and who works from offices. Professionals and businesses everywhere are asking these questions: “Can my business really succeed from my kitchen table?” “Can I downsize my office?” “Should I renew my lease?” “Where can I meet my clients now that I am working from home?”

Local entrepreneur Mark Mendel and his company, Office Evolution Coral Springs, can help with those issues. Office Evolution is part of a growing national network of locally owned and operated workspaces that are close to home, affordable, safe, and inspired. This fast-growing trend in the workplace is sometimes referred to as flexible workspaces or coworking.

Flexible workspaces have numerous advantages:

• Cost and time efficiency. Membership at Office Evolution helps businesses preserve capital by eliminating the need for typical long leases and purchasing furniture and equipment, and it provides phone and internet services.

• Inspiration, collaboration, and networking opportunities. Working at home can be lonely and unmotivating. Working among diverse businesspeople can spark creativity and offer connection.

• Work-life balance. Working from home, you may be distracted or unable to disconnect from work. Coworking gets you out of the house into a productive work environment and mindset.

• Flexibility. You can effortlessly scale and access more or less space. Do you want private offices, or a dedicated desk for a year, a month, or even two days per week? That’s easily arranged.

• Project professionalism. Have your client meetings in a receptionist-staffed business venue, not in a coffee shop or hotel lobby.

Office Evolution Coral Springs is close to home, located on the first floor of the Charter Place office building at University Drive and Sample Road, and is expanding by 35 offices early this summer. It will have a beautiful café as well.

A guiding philosophy at Office Evolution is “Ohana” — a culture of family in a supportive, full-service work environment. “I want to be of service to the business community and provide them with the space, amenities, and service they need,” Mendel said. “As a small business, we understand the needs of other businesses and professionals and can help you get that right space.”

Offices are fully furnished with contemporary furniture, telephones, and business-class secure internet. They range from one-person offices to large executive spaces, team offices, and conference rooms. Office Evolution Coral Springs offers concierge-level service, professional reception, and a café with free refreshments.

Office Evolution Coral Springs
3301 North University Drive, Suite 100 Coral Springs, FL. 33065 Phone: 754.203.0004
WEBSITE: www.officeevolution.com/locations/coral-springs FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ Office-Evolution-Coral-Springs-103536181634831

HOURS: Business center is fully staffed Monday-Friday 8am-5pm and open to members 24/7/365

 

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May the Fourth be with you!

By Sheryl Dunn

Stories from the Star Wars universe have been delighting and enthralling fans young and old alike since “A New Hope” first debuted in 1977. “May the force be with you” became a catchphrase, and eventually, as with many things on the internet ⎯ a pun and a holiday were born.

May the Fourth be with you! Regardless of your opinions on the prequels (Episodes I through III) and sequels (Episodes VII through IX), the popularity of the Star Wars franchise continues with the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando and with “The Mandalorian,” the TV show on Disney+.

However, you don’t have to travel all the way to Orlando and brave the crowds just to have some Star Wars−themed fun. Even though May 4th is a Tuesday this year, you can still have fun dressing up at school, at work, or at home and having watch parties with your friends and family.

What can hard-core Star Wars fans do if they want to up their costume game or meet other diehards? There are, in fact, international, nonprofit social clubs ⎯ the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion ⎯ with local chapters in South Florida. Founded in 1997, the 501st Legion is an international, 501(c)(7), nonprofit social club first organized by Albin Johnson. As of April 2, 2021, they have 14,188 members in 69 countries. In Florida, there are 602 members who make up the Florida Garrison. The garrison is further divided into five squads with South Florida covered by the Everglades Squad, which was first founded in 2003.

Since then, the 501st has participated in thousands of events and currently has 101 active members in its service. Active members are defined as those members who participate in at least one event, or “troop,” per year; complete their annual organizational census; and own, via building or commissioning, at least one screen-accurate costume that has been reviewed and approved according to specifications listed in the costume reference libraries (CRLs). These CRLs include not only stormtroopers, but also any antagonist or morally gray character from the Star Wars galaxy.

In January 2000, in response to the rise of the 501st, and wanting to celebrate the heroes of the Star Wars galaxy, the Rebel Legion was officially founded by Tony Troxell, Richard Fairbrother, Doug Fesko, and Ed O’Connell.

The 501st Legion and the subunits thereof have three primary missions: (1) to promote interest in Star Wars, (2) to facilitate the use of costumes, and (3) to contribute to a variety of charitable causes. To accomplish these missions, they attend various private and community events throughout the year at no charge to event organizers. For private events, they generally encourage organizers to donate any amount to a charity of the organizer’s choosing in the 501st Legion’s name. This request is by no means mandatory, though. For public events, the 501st Legion visits libraries, schools, children’s hospitals, fundraising initiatives, weddings, birthday parties, comic conventions, municipal parades, movie premieres, select Disney events, and many more. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, the Everglades Squad attended approximately 142 different events in South Florida throughout the year.

For more information, visit the following websites:

The 501st Legion is a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans. While it is not sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd., it follows generally accepted ground rules for Star Wars fan groups. Star Wars, its characters, costumes, and all associated items are the intellectual property of Lucasfilm.©™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

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Let’s Fiesta! – A Cinco de Mayo collaboration

Let’s Fiesta! – A Cinco de Mayo collaboration

By Rachel Hunter

Owner of Celebrate You Events offering bespoke party planning for all occasions.

Tel: 305.389.0550

CelebrateYou2020@gmail.com

While Cinco de Mayo originated as an historic battle won in the city of Puebla, Mexico, here in the US, it has become a celebration of Mexican heritage. So, grab your sombreros and get ready to party! Here are some family-friendly ideas to liven up your hump day.

A few days before the holiday, get the kids involved in creating the decorations. The local dollar store has tons of seasonal, inexpensive crafts. Make them together, or give them the tools and enjoy a few minutes of downtime. (Wishful thinking, I know!)

On the actual day, I like to set up a festive kids table with more activities. Don’t put the Easter eggs away just yet! Save a few for them to make their own maracas. Simply have them put dried beans inside the egg, grab a couple spoons and secure the egg in the spoons with some colorful tape. They’ll enjoy decorating them as well as dancing around afterwards with their new musical instrument. I also found a free, downloadable Cinco de Mayo themed “I Spy” for them to play. Throw in some adorable avocado cookies, and you’ll have some happy kids!

While the kids are busy with their crafts, make yourself a well-earned margarita. Instead of a salted rim try using Tajin for extra bite. Order food from your favorite Mexican restaurant, or whip up some quick fajitas like we did. But be sure to treat yourself to some almost-too-cute-to-eat sweets like these festive cookies and stunning cakes. Believe me, these coconut lime cactus cupcakes will not disappoint.

 

Stay safe and enjoy your Cinco de Mayo!

 

For information on any of these activities contact:

Rachel Hunter of Celebrate You Events (IG: @celebrate.you.events) – Concept creation, party styling & banners

Kelley Jomant of Caked with Love by Kelley Inc (IG: @cakedwithlovebykelleyinc) – Custom cakes

Ana Ortiz of AO Craft Décor (IG: @aocraftdecor) – Extra-large paper flowers

Claudia Ovalle of Claumellows (IG: @claumellows) – Custom cookies

Crystal Aguila of Riley Black Designs (IG: @rileyblackdesigns) – Custom signs & acrylic lime wedges

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