Category: Community

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4 Rivers Smokehouse

Something special happens when you greet your favorite cut of meat with heat and smoke from a well-prepared BBQ. The essence of the smoke and the slow cooking process creates some of the most flavorful foods you will find throughout the world.

R Smokehouse

Our community is incredibly lucky to have a great BBQ smokehouse right in the middle of Coral Springs.  4 Rivers Smokehouse is well known all over Florida for its hickory-smoked BBQ. Named after the Rivers family, our local Coral Springs location is a great place to get your fi ll of juicy brisket.

Lean and Juicy Brisket with Smoked Sausages

Smoked brisket is the quintessential smoked meat cut. The process of building the fire, managing the temperature, and seasoning the meat is a ritual found in many backyards.The delicate smokey flavor can not be easily created by a propane grill and often takes at least half a day to BBQ correctly. At 4 Rivers Smokehouse, they have done all the work, and all you need to bring is your appetite.

4 Rivers Smokehouse prepares everything from scratch to achieve those authentic BBQ flavors. They spend 18 hours smoking their brisket so you can pick it up in a jiffy. You have a choice of lean or juicy cuts and can enjoy it in various ways – sandwich, tacos, or bunless. My preference is a bunless, juicy cut; biting into it, you can taste the sweet hickory-smoke infused
into the beef. Heaven, if you love beef.

Burnt Ends, sweet and tangy, is another favorite choice. At 4 Rivers Smokehouse, they come in beef, chicken, and pork. For vegetarians who want to enjoy the smoked flavor, BeyondMeatTM Burnt Ends are also available, so you don’t miss out on the great smokey experience.

The real challenge is saving room for dessert, and they have some great ones on the menu right now. Their Tipsy Cowboy Cake, made with real bourbon, is delicious. The best is their Krispy Kreme donut bread pudding, made with real Krispy Kreme donuts; it’s an indulgence worth saving room for.

One of my favorites is currently only available on their catering menu – BBQ wings. These wings are smoked in the same hickory-smoke as the brisket. The result is meat that is tender, juicy, and full of flavor. You must try it if you decide to have 4 Rivers Smokehouse cater your events.

During the past few months, catering, curbside, and delivery has been very popular. As Broward slowly reopens, the spacious dining room has reopened as well with social distancing protocols in place. With the fall season, some favorites like sweet potato casserole and smoked jalapeños are back on the menu.

Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Closed Sundays)
2660 NORTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE CORAL SPRINGS, FL 33065
Phone: (844) 474-8377

By Curiously Hungry

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Broward County Sheriff Candidates Q&A 2020

To further assist our readers in making educated decisions when voting in November, we have sent a list of questions to each candidate running for the Sheriff of Broward County.

Gregory Tony

  1. What is your full name and what position are you running for?

Gregory Tony running for Sheriff of Broward County

 

2. Where are you originally from? Why did you choose to move to this city/county/school district/state district? How long have you been here?

 I was born in raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.. I received my Bachelors degree from Florida State University and moved to Broward County to join the Coral Springs Police Department where I served for 15 years before starting a business and, eventually, accepting command of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

 

3. Why are you running for this position? 

I am running for Sheriff to put the training and policies in place that will guarantee the highest level of public safety for the residents of Broward County while promoting community trust with greater accountability, transparency, and diversity.

-Have you run in the past? 

No.

 

4. If elected, what is your first point of action? 

I will continue improving training, technology, and policy to provide the best public safety services while building better community trust.

-Why? 

When I accepted command of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, it was clear that better training and greater accountability was necessary to bring the agency up to the standards that Broward County residents expect and deserve.  The agency’s response during the mass shootings at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School and the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport uncovered massive deficiencies in training and policy. Upon accepting command, I immediately revamped and improved active shooter training, expanded the Real Time Crime Center to allow BSO to monitor school campuses in real-time, installed bleed kits in every school, and reformed BSO’s incident command policies and structure.  I will continue to do what is necessary to improve school and public safety and to repair the public trust by holding our officers accountable, expanding community policing, and building diversity throughout the agency.

5. What mission do you feel most passionate about? 

The mission I am most passionate about is improving the relationship between law enforcement and the communities we serve.

-Why?

As a Black child growing up in a community filled with violence and destructive police-community tension, I experienced firsthand the difference good policing can make in a neighborhood and in an individual’s life.  The early experiences I had in Philadelphia inform me daily about the importance of trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve.

 

6. Where do you feel our city needs improvement?

Improving public safety and rebuilding public trust are top priorities in Parkland and all municipalities in Broward County.

-Why? 

Rebuilding trust between Parkland residents and BSO continues to be a challenge after MSD.  It is a challenge the entire agency and the Parkland District hopes will be met with better service and improved community outreach.

7. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town? 

District’s Neighborhood Support Team is working with the Parkland District and residents to identify challenges unique to Parkland.  While these efforts have been somewhat curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, The District Command continues to engage residents as venues and technology allow.

H. Wayne Clark will be running against Gregory Tony. Our attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.

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My pre-COVID self lies just under the surface, waiting to emerge

Neil and I along with millions of others are entering another month of primarily staying home. As I wrote last month, I recognize that as time continues and projects wane, I have to think of new ways to spend my time in a productive manner. Let me catch you up.

Mickey Booboo is growing in leaps and bounds. He is learning many new things daily. Some I like, others I tolerate. When the devil dog emerges, we butt heads. He is vocal, opinionated, happy, and confident (he certainly takes after the two of us). He occupies a large portion of my day and I laugh out loud
at his antics, tell numerous Mickey stories to anyone who will listen, and enjoy our exercise program of walking and swimming. Yes, Mickey is a true water dog and swims all over the pool catching bubbles and bugs. I love my time with him and have looked to augment only a small portion of the day with other things.

Neil is busy with his many undertakings, yet makes time to play two-handed Canasta with me at least once a day. Besides his business and the HOA, he is working to create a mentoring program with the Broward County
Board of Education. Although we are both in the house, we generally are separate except for the card game, dinner, and whatever after-dinner activity we plan.

The biggest enhancement I have made is for my friends to occupy more of my time again. I now play both Canasta and Mah Jongg online with friends (simultaneously using Houseparty) three afternoons a week, I have a couple
of friends over to swim one day each week, and try to do an occasional lunch, dinner, or coffee and dessert outside (socially distant). By creating a regular recurring weekly schedule of these things, I am more satisfied both socially and having utilized my time in a positive way. This addition has made a world of difference.

I continue to try new recipes, and while some turn out to be delicious, others have been mediocre at best. Prepping and cooking combined with planning a shopping list for Walmart pickup occupies a number of hours, and this is something I have thoroughly enjoyed.

My cousin Sharry has tried a number of my creations and shares many of
hers with me. Again, I think I always get the better end of this deal as hers are
always delicious.

While I have nearly run out of house projects, there is one remaining that I have consistently hesitated to start. The project is going through all of my and my mom’s old photographs. I know that this should be done as it will preserve family history for my grandchildren, but somehow, I dread the poignant, emotional hours and days it will entail. Maybe I’ll start this month.

There is a word that describes my life during the pandemic: Pentimento. It is the reappearance in a painting of an underlying image that had been painted over, usually when the later painting becomes transparent with age. The earlier image may be visible initially, become visible with age, or revealed through X-rays. I feel that way about my life now. I have changed the surface of my life, substituting things that enable me to be happier in my new normal, but the elements of my previous way of life are still there, under the surface, waiting to emerge. I pray for a vaccine.

 

By Jill Vogel

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Building, project permits protect the homeowner

When contemplating plumbing, electrical, or structural work in your home, it is wise to touch base with the city building department about permit requirements.

A permit protects you, assuring that the work has been done according to building code. It assures you that the contractor and sub-contractors are properly licensed. For example, if unlicensed work was done and you have to file an insurance claim because of a problem, your homeowner insurance company may not approve the claim if the work was done without a permit.

Permits are also important if you are selling. A buyer’s home inspector will check to see if any work done had a permit. Trouble may occur if a permit is obtained but the work was not completed and the permit closed out.

The title company or law firm handling a closing will also check to see if any permits filed for have been properly closed out. Open or unclosed permits may delay a closing.

Importantly, when it comes time to sell your home, you will be able to show that all work was properly done by permit and inspected by the city building department. The buyers will feel comfortable that your home is safe.

Inspectors will come over to inspect at different points along the renovation/ construction project to make sure that from beginning to end the work has been done to code.

By Kathy Schroeder

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Couple apologizes for taking in school shooter

James and Kimberly Snead, the Parkland couple that took in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz, issued a written apology for their actions at the end of July.

The apology is part of a legal agreement settling negligence suits against the couple as a result of the 2018 tragedy in which 17 people were killed.

“The settlement also calls for them to pay $1 to the victims and forbids them or their lawyer from speaking of or profiting from the story of the massacre.” The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

The text of their apology follows:

We, JAMES and KIMBERLY SNEAD, will forever regret taking NIKOLAS CRUZ into our home. We did so believing we were helping a troubled young man who needed help. We are profoundly sorry for the actions and inactions which may have contributed to Nikolas Cruz’s ability to carry out the murders on February 14, 2018.

Despite warnings from Rocxanne Deschamps, his prior caretaker, and Kathy Blaine, a relative of Nikolas Cruz, we allowed Nikolas Cruz to move in with us.

Ms. Deschamps informed us of warning signs of his behavior, which occurred in her home, and that he had chosen to keep his rifle over continuing to live with her.

Kathy Blaine informed us that Nikolas Cruz was violent, dangerous, infatuated with guns and knives, untrustworthy, and threatened to kill people on Instagram, among other things.

We thought we could handle this troubled young man, unfortunately, we were wrong.

We were particularly wrong to allow him to store his firearms in our house, including the AR-15 used in this tragedy. We believed the firearms were secured in a gun safe under lock and key. We believed we had the only key, yet, somehow Nikolas Cruz was able to access the AR-15 before he attacked Stoneman Douglas.

We want people to learn from our mistakes and experience. Before considering bringing a troubled young person (particularly a teen) into your home, you should consider your safety, the safety of your family, and the safety of the community at large. You are assuming this danger.

If they have a history or exhibit any warning signs, you must immediately get him or her the professional help they need, and contact law enforcement. Don’t just naively think that you can handle it yourself.

And make sure you securely lock any and all firearms, and also make sure you keep any and all keys in your sole control. Don’t just think you have custody of the key. Know it.

And review the person’s social media, regularly. Troubled persons so often foretell the violence that they’re going to commit on social media.

Lastly, when you see something, say something to the law enforcement, to mental-health professionals, to everyone.

Sincerely,
James and Kimberly Snead

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Podcast Episode #14 – City Park – Parkland City Commissioner candidate for District 1 – Alex Zand

Join us for this episode is Alex Zand, who is running for commissioner from Parkland’s district 1.  Alex shared his priorities and what motivates him to run for city commision.  Check out his website: https://www.zandforparkland.com 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

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SoFlo Gardening: September 2020

What to Plant

Annuals/Bedding plants: Try ageratum, celosia, zinnia, and wax begonia for color in the fall.

Bulbs: Add color, texture, and patterns to the garden with the many varieties of elephant’s ear (Alocasia spp.), calla, narcissus, and zephyr lily.

Herbs: Plant Mexican tarragon, mint, rosemary, and basil.

Fruits & Vegetables: It is time to establish strawberry plants. Veggies to plant now are broccoli, carrots, cabbage, collards, and many others.

What to Do

Lawns: Continue to monitor the lawn for signs of insect damage. Fall armyworms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, and sod webworms are still active this month.

Fertilizer Bans: Numerous municipalities in South Florida prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June–September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area.

Vegetable gardens: Prepare the fall vegetable garden if not done in August. Using transplants from your local garden center will get the garden off to a fast start, but seeds provide a wider variety from which to choose.

Perennials and bulbs: Divide and replant perennials and bulbs that have grown too large or need rejuvenation. Add organic matter to planting beds and monitor water needs during establishment.

Irrigation: Check that irrigation systems are providing good coverage and operating properly before summer rains taper off.

Citrus: Fertilize citrus with a balanced fertilizer either this month or in October. Use controlled-release nitrogen because rain will not leach it from the soil too quickly.

Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension

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Ask Dr. Renae: Household chore discord

Dear Dr. Renae,

I am constantly in trouble for not completing my chores at the exact time my mom wants them done. For example, I like to relax after dinner and take care of the dishes later. My mother yells at me for not doing them immediately after dinner. The same goes for taking out the garbage, making my bed, taking care of my laundry and hanging up my clothes. I get it all done, just not in the time frame my mother unfairly demands. I am called disrespectful and inconsiderate, neither of which are true. This is ruining our relationship as I do not want to spend time with my mother or even talk to her when she is always angry with me. I would like to be able to relax and have peace in my home. Please help!

14-year-old Daughter

Dear 14-year-old Daughter,

I procrastinate too. I find that it is best to complete my chores right away, so that you don’t have to worry about it later. Relaxing after chores will be much more rewarding that way. I suggest completing your chores on time and see if your mother continues to bother you. Mothers often take on domestic duties on top of being a caregiver and having a job, which is all incredibly stressful. She may be stressed about other things and misdirecting her anger on to you. Sit down with your mother and tell her that you value your relationship with her, but that it has been strained due to arguments over chores.

High School Sophomore

Dear 14-year-old Daughter,

I completely understand what you mean. Just try to understand your mom just wants you to adapt to doing chores on your own accord, as opposed to her having to tell you to do it. If you do it immediately, it saves both you and her unnecessary stress and strain on the relationship. If it’s an imperative problem, simply talk to your mother about how you feel.

Your Friend

Dear 14-year-old Daughter,

I feel you. As the daughter of a strict mother myself, I understand the struggle. In most cases parents tend to want things done their way in a timely and efficient manner. Anything otherwise would be considered procrastination and laziness, right? I’d recommend trying to communicate compromises with your mother and share your thoughts with her. A strong and positive relationship is all we ask for from our mothers and vice versa. Try to compromise on a time frame in which chores or other responsibilities should be completed that comply with both of you. Be realistic and consistent. Ensure that your chores are completed when you say they will be on your agreed terms. Build trust between both of you. You are responsible and respectful, make sure she grows to notice that. You’ve got this!

A 17-year-old Peer

Dear 14-year-old Daughter,

I totally feel you. The best advice I can give you is to start by doing your tasks when she tells you to do them. Now hear me out. Talking with a parent can be difficult if they are angry. If you do your chores on time for a couple of days, your mom will be satisfied with your efforts of listening to her. Her being in a happy state is the perfect time to communicate how being called disrespectful and inconsiderate is harsh when you do get your work done. She will be more understanding of how you feel. You can also try to sort out a time frame of when to do chores. Maybe you can rest 15 minutes and then get to doing your work. Just remember, there’s a better chance your mom will listen to you if she sees you putting in an effort to satisfy her.

Been There

Dear 14-year-old Daughter,

Your mom is trying to raise you to take care of your responsibilities and sounds frustrated in her efforts. Adults suffer consequences for not adhering to deadlines, such as late fees for paying bills past the due date, and accounts canceled. The consequences in those adult situations are applied without argument or discussion, just like your grade in the class automatically going down when you are late in handing in assignments. Some chores need to be done within a very specific time frame in order for the household to remain hygienic, clean, peaceful, and calm. For example, dishes need to be washed before food cakes on or insects crawl around. Garbage needs to be emptied before it overflows or smells. You might want to request a swap for chores that can be done in a less pressured time frame, such as once a day or twice a week whenever you wish, such as vacuuming or laundry. If that does not appeal to you and your mom, and you decide to keep the same chores, you can establish a written contract with the time/day each chore is to be completed. For example – dinner dishes within fifteen minutes after dinner time or garbage to be brought to curb by 6:00 am on garbage days. If you and your mom have previously discussed consequences, that should eliminate the need to argue. You will automatically lose a privilege for not complying, similar to school and adult life. You might find that you are awarded more privileges such as a later curfew and learning to drive when your mom sees you being more responsible for doing your chores without reminders.

Dr. Renae

 

 

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Fresh Florida salmon headed for your dinner plate

Plants grown in greenhouses are protected from the elements, kept at the right temperature, and fed exactly what they need to flourish.

Coming now to South Florida, a “Bluehouse,” whose inhabitants are protected from the elements, kept at the right temperature, and fed exactly what they need to flourish. With apologies to our vegan readers and good tidings to our meat eaters and pescatarians, the inhabitants in this case are Atlantic salmon.

It’s called a Bluehouse because it’s underwater; water continuously purified by a state-of-the-art filtration system where salmon are free to swim against strong currents, mimicking their natural habitat.

It’s all happening at a 390,000 square-foot
facility in Homestead, where the first four million Florida-born salmon are already swimming in Bluehouse tanks. They are free of antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones. They have no PCBs, mercury, or microplastics; clean fish ready for your dinner table.

The Norwegian company Atlantic Sapphire, an aquaculture venture in salmon, is behind the fisheries on 160 acres of land 30 miles south of Miami. Founded in 2010 by Norwegians Johan Andreassen and Bjorn-Vegard Lovik, the duo pioneered the use of cleaner fish in the 1990s as a natural way of fighting sea lice in net-pen salmon farming.

With a need to feed an expanding global population, aquaculture is the fastest-growing sector of agriculture.

According to the FAU Center for Marine and Warm Water Aquaculture, “More than 50 percent of the seafood we eat comes from aquaculture, but less than one percent is produced in the U.S. There is a critical need and opportunity to expand U.S. aquaculture production to grow safe and healthy seafood that will reduce the trade deficit.”

“With declining fisheries and the need to feed close to 10 billion people by 2050, it is projected that global aquaculture production will need to more than double in the next 40 years,” they say. Right now, the United States imports 95 percent of its salmon from the North Sea fjords of Norway or the cold waters off Chile.

A prototype for the facility was constructed in Denmark in 2011. That facility produced 25 generations of salmon and demonstrated the ability to raise Atlantic salmon without the use of net pens in open water.

“You think of potatoes from Idaho, lobsters from Maine, and now you’ll think of fresh salmon from Florida,” Atlantic Sapphire’s CFO, Jose Prado told Politico reporter Michael Grunwald. “This will be the new thing because the world needs what we’re doing here.”

Why South Florida? Grunwald learned that the company, after researching 14 states, found the perfect locale here. “In a miraculous quirk of geology, Florida has a fortuitous mix of freshwater, saltwater, and waste underground – like a layer cake,” Grunwald wrote.

“The area’s stratified underground aquifers happen to provide pristine freshwater that can mimic the river stage for young salmon, abundant saltwater that can mimic the estuary stage for mature salmon, and a boulder zone where wastewater can be disposed of safely,” he wrote.

Noting that the wild salmon catch has been flat for the past 30 years, Grunwald said, “Aquaculture is an exciting option because these salmon leave less impact on our oceans and forests and less of a carbon footprint.”

This is a theme echoed by Atlantic Sapphire and touted by Dr. Paul Wills of FAU’s Harbor Branch aquaculture research programs. Wills says, “Of course it’s unusual to grow salmon in South Florida. But, this land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) gives complete control over the fishes’ environment. They can control what goes in and that influences what goes out.”

Like the salmon itself, which overcome all obstacles to swim upstream, Atlantic Sapphire will have to overcome its own obstacles, including COVID-19, to go from zero to producing half of the U.S. salmon diet over a four-phased plan.

According to Prado, since the pandemic began in March, limited operations and construction completion have continued and the company made an “extraordinary effort” to implement health and safety measures.

According to the Miami Herald, the company plans to produce 95,000 metric tons of fish by 2026 and 220,000 metric tons by 2031, and plans to price its fish at a price point 20 percent above market.

“Our Bluehouse salmon, raised in Miami, is a game-changer for U.S. seafood production,” Prado said. They also project to generate approximately 31,000 jobs by 2030, paying wages higher than those typical for the region.

“Atlantic Sapphire is an innovative company bringing new jobs and new technology to our region,” says Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “Did you ever imagine South Florida would serve as the world’s largest site for salmon production?”

“The facility is expected to bring in a capital investment of $340 million to South Dade,” says Gimenez. “In these uncertain economic times, innovation and job creation will be even more important to Miami-Dade County.”

 

By Jan Engoren

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How the Parklander gets to you

Once a month, we at the Parklander magazine hope to provide Broward and Palm Beach county residences with fresh and informative perspectives. We could not do this without many local partners, and we want to share the process with you.

Thanks to local businesses who advertise in our magazine,
our editorial staff is able to provide articles and columns of local interest. Our graphics department melds editorial and ads in what we hope to be an attractive presentation with an ever-watchful eye to our printer’s deadline.

For those not familiar with the ‘offset printing’ process, our magazine design is first etched onto aluminum plates representing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Our printing partner uses Akiyama presses with environmentally-friendly, vegetable-oil-based ink. The presses use aluminum plates with tiny holes to indicate where the ink should be deposited. Since oil and water don’t mix, water keeps the ink where it belongs, producing the vibrant colors you see in our magazine each month.

After giant sheets of paper are printed with magazine pages, they are bound with glue. Excess paper is cut off to create individual books and all excess paper is recycled.

After the magazines are completed, they are bundled, wrapped, and delivered to a United States Postal Service center for weighing to determine the postage before being sent out to individual post offices associated with local zip codes.

Pallets of magazines are separated into mail routes by clerks and sorted to individual homes by mail carriers.

Neil Rickette, who runs the Coral Springs Post Office on Atlantic Avenue, explained the magazines are distributed by clerks to the individual mail carriers for each of the city and rural routes. The carriers sort them to individual houses before delivering them to your mailbox.

Many thanks to our local printer and the post office for their work producing and delivering the Parklander to you. They are key to keeping our community connected during these challenging times.

 

By Li Pan

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Wine Watch: Worthy wines from the Pairing

I believe that the average American consumer has become a little leery of all the stuff they see advertised on TV. Most of it is junk, not worth the “only $19.95, free shipping and we will send you a second one for a small additional fee,” that they advertise.

The wine industry also suffers in a similar way. As a holdover from Prohibition (enacted in 1919), wine companies are still restricted in the ways they may advertise and in the content of those ads. Consumers must, therefore, rely on writers to tell them what is available in the marketplace and give some sort of information on the wine.

With prices on all items rising, consumers will not plunk down their money on something that is totally unknown to them and I truly do not blame them. It is my job to point the wine consumer toward worthy choices that they probably might never have tried without a nudge; consider this a nudge.

The Paring 2017 Pinot Noir ($25)

This is a Pinot Noir of character, stature, and an excellent ambassador of the variety. The aroma is a mélange of strawberries, red raspberries, and black cherries mingled with oak. In the flavor department, the true capabilities of the
Pinot Noir grape is explored to its fullest with black cherries dominating and hints of vanilla with soft oak in the background. The finish remains true to the variety and is long, complex, and if I might add, memorable. As a confirmed Pinot Noir lover, I enjoyed this wine and consider it to be an excellent buy for the money.

The Paring 2017 Chardonnay ($25)

This is a Chardonnay that is definitely made to appeal to the American taste. Big, wide-open, and complex tropical fruit flavors and aromas are the hallmarks of this wine. Pineapple is the most obvious of these tropical flavors and it carries right through to a finish that is soft, creamy, and very smooth. Even if you are a charter member of the ABC club (Anything But Chardonnay), this is a white wine you can drink and enjoy. It is so good that you may even resign from the ABC.

The Paring 2017 Syrah ($25)

If you are a red wine fan, you have probably tried a Syrah and you know what a fine wine it can be; if you have not tried one, you have missed a real treat. The aroma has the variety’s trademark of cherry and raspberry flavors with a spice and oak background. This is a soft and easy to drink wine that can, like a red Zinfandel, accompany a very broad spectrum of foods. The Paring 2017 Syrah wine takes these attributes one step further and raises the variety to new dimensions of opulence. It is an elegant wine of elegant proportions and shows exactly why Syrah wines are gaining in popularity around the world.

The Paring 2017 Sauvignon Blanc ($25)

Sauvignon Blanc grapes can produce wines in the fruity California style or the classical style. The Paring 2017 Sauvignon Blanc lives in both worlds. It has the
grassy component of the classical wines, which has been purposely played down so that the fruitiness of the California style can come through. This effect allows the wine to be served with a wider spectrum of foods, will nicely accompany poultry and the lighter meats as well as seafood, and is a standout as a sipping wine. The quality of this wine belies its very reasonable price.

The Paring 2017 Red ($25)

The name of this wine is really three letters that could portend trouble, RED.
Not knowing the grapes used to make this generic wine could result in one that you may not like. Fear not, this wine is not only good, but it also is remarkable. The components each contribute their own specific flavors and aromas to the final blend in such a way that one variety’s contribution does not overpower another, but harmonizes to produce a delightful wine.

 

By Bennet Bodenstein

 

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SoFlo BUZZ: September 2020

Children’s Harbor offering free in-home counseling for Broward County families

Families and children continue to struggle during this difficult time. The “new normal” has left them feeling anxious, stressed, and helpless and many are in crisis.

Children’s Harbor is committed to helping families and children in Broward County through their challenges with the launch of free in-home counseling, in collaboration with the Children’s Services Council of Broward County.

“We understand that the struggle faced by some families is very real,” said Tiffani Dhooge, president and CEO of Children’s Harbor. “We can help. Our Family Support Counselors provide intensive in-home services, counseling, and case management to strengthen family relationships. They can provide the tools, resources, and support to help families heal.”

Counselors from Children’s Harbor will cover improving communication, child/teen behavioral problems, attachment and bonding, co-parenting, grief and loss, adjustment difficulties, and economic hardships.

Available to Broward County residents, Children’s Harbor’s counseling services are available at no cost and completely confidential. Insurance is not required. Children’s Harbor family support counselors will make home visits and will follow all safety guidelines, including wearing masks and social distancing, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, and local and state government officials. Spanish speaking counselors are available.

To complete an application, families can call 954-252-3072, ext. 203 or email FSadmin@childrensharbor.org.

Correction: In our August issue the Parklander ran a release from Children’s Harbor that its annual gala had been rescheduled for September. In fact, the gala has been canceled because of COVID-19.

Alzheimer’s Association announces Southeast Florida leadership changes

The Southeast Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recently welcomed Tracey Wekar-Paige of Pompano Beach as its new executive director. Wekar-Paige brings extensive nonprofit
experience to the role.

“I am thrilled to join the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association,” Wekar-Paige said. “The collective work and passion of the volunteers and staff is inspiring. Together, we will continue to work as hard as we can each and every day to fulfill the vision of the organization – a world without Alzheimer’s disease.”

In her previous position, Wekar-Paige had served as market director for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since 2016. Prior to that, she spent five years at the American Cancer Society in hospital systems and other leadership roles. Wekar-Paige also worked as a group manager at Bloomingdale’s and as a marketing director for Fortunoff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

In addition to Wekar-Paige, the association announced the selection of three new board members: Precise Care Services CEO, Rebecca
Jacques, of Port St. Lucie, Yeager Sherburne CPA President John Yeager, of Miami, and WPBF 25 Meteorologist, Cris Martinez, of West Palm Beach.

Currently, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Association reports, including 580,000 Floridians.

Dixie Longate’s ‘Happy Hour’ comes to Fort Lauderdale museum

A sneak preview of Dixie Longate’s latest stage adventure will take place live on September 8 and 9, at Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science. The shows benefits the museum and Island City Stage.

Dixie Longate is the drag persona of American actor, writer, and comedian, Kris Andersson, who has been performing the solo act Dixie’s Tupperware Party in five countries. The show has become one of the longest-running off-Broadway
tours in history. Since the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined her current stage production (Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull),
she is back with a new show (Dixie’s Happy Hour); sharing some smiles and stories about how her life has been carrying on through quarantine, home-
schooling, craft-making, and a very full tumbler to keep her sane.

“Dixie’s performance shows that laughter is the best medicine during this time,” said Martin Childers, managing director of Island City Stage. “She tells
outrageously funny tales and heart-rendering accounts, including audience participation, a little bit of empowerment, and homespun wisdom.”

“We’re excited to feature this two-night sneak preview of Dixie’s Happy Hour that explores diversity through mixology to the Fort Lauderdale Dixie Longate’s ‘Happy Hour’ comes to Fort Lauderdale museum community at the Museum of Discovery and Science’s safe and clean theater,” commented
Joseph P. Cox, president, and CEO of the museum. “Dixie’s message of encouragement and kindness make her and the experience so special!”

For tickets, please visit islandcitystage.org or call 954.928.9800. Tickets must be pre-purchased. The limited capacity 300-seat AutoNation IMAX theater
at the museum will be capped at 100 tickets per performance to ensure appropriate social distancing. In addition, the theater undergoes electrostatic
sanitation prior to every show.

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