Education Archives - Page 4 of 7 -

July 6, 2020July 20, 2020

Pet Talk: Socially distanced, we told stories on my driveway

One night my wife and I were socially distancing with neighbors on my driveway. People that I have never met, neighbors that have been living on the street for years were coming out of their home quarantines and bringing chairs and coolers to my driveway. The six chairs grew to 20 and we all stayed six feet apart. I learned that more than half of us were in the healthcare profession. The other interesting thing I learned was that everyone owned a dog and most of us recognized each other by their dogs. I went from the golden retriever guy to the veterinarian who lives in the two-story house on the corner. That was fun.

As the evening went on it was like a classic joke: A veterinarian, a physician and a dentist walk into a room. Literally, a dentist and a physician and I spent more than an hour trying to outdo each other with the crazy things we have seen, removed or took off a patient. At least my patients have an excuse why they do some weird stuff but what the physicians or dentist had to do for their patients was mind- blowing.

Then the conversation went to clients and patients that
did not follow the golden rules. The physician was a dermatologist and discussed skin cancer from not using suntan lotion. The dentist talked about severe dental disease from not brushing and flossing and I talked about the emergencies that I saw from not spaying and neutering.

I met a guy years ago who wanted to adopt a dalmatian. At that time, I was the veterinarian in charge of the Dalmatian Rescue League of South Florida. The only requirement to adopt was a home inspection and review of their current pet’s health care. The potential adopter owned two Pekinese dogs, and neither were spayed.

The owner did not have an issue that the female dalmatian that he wanted to adopt was spayed but had no intentions
of spaying his Pekinese. He wasn’t going to breed them but has never spayed or neutered a pet before and didn’t believe in it. I was a younger veterinarian and respected the owner’s opinion but was steadfast that he was not going to adopt this dalmatian. It caused a big problem for the rescue group and

for me. What I didn’t know was that he was a politician. He wasn’t used to not getting his way.

About a week after I told the owner and his kids that they were not going to adopt one of the dalmatians I got a call
on my after hours emergency line. It was from the politician. He was at an emergency hospital in Fort Lauderdale and his dog was being prepped for emergency pyometra surgery. Pyometra is when the uterus fills like a balloon with pus. It is the nightmare scenario that can happen when you don’t spay your female dogs.

He wanted to know if I could do the surgery, not because of my reputation, or that he respected me professionally, but he wanted to know if I could do it cheaper than the estimate he received at the emergency center. I hung up.

Back to quarantine. At the end of the night a female neighbor approached me. She told me my story gave her the courage finally to spay her Labrador. Her last dog died due to sepsis from a ruptured pyometra.

By Dr. Glenn Kalick

May 15, 2020May 20, 2020

Do not forget them…

In Flanders Fields – John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

“In the spring of 1915 bright red flowers began poking through the battle ravaged land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium),” Barbara Maranzani wrote for history.com.

“Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who served on an Allied artillery unit, spotted a cluster of the poppies shortly after serving as a brigade surgeon during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres.

“The sight of the bright red flowers against the dreary backdrop of the war,” she continued, “inspired McCrae to pen the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” in which he gives voice to the soldiers who had been killed in battle and lay buried beneath the poppy-covered grounds.”

The United States was not to enter the war for another two years, in April 1917. It was the month and year my father was born in Buffalo, N.Y. It was exactly one year before my wife’s father was born in St. Louis, MO. Archie and Bob.

Both served bravely in World War II: My wife’s father building hospitals for injured soldiers across Europe; my father at the controls of an M4 Sherman tank prowling Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. My wife’s mother, Pearl, born in Chicago in 1923, also served overseas in the U.S. Army during the war. That’s where Pearl met Bob.

Archie, Bob and Pearl were part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” They were among those who returned to their families.

This month we honor all the men and women who didn’t make it home, who gave up their lives in too many wars.

Earlier this year, before Covid-19 struck, Memorial Day events had been planned in communities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The “better part of valor,” however, as Shakespeare’s Falstaff reasoned in Henry IV, Part I, might still have us in stay-at-home mode at the end of the month.

One hundred years ago the country was still trembling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu. It killed an estimated 675,000 Americans between 1918 and 1920, more than were killed during the Civil War.

It was that same Civil War that sparked Union General John Logan to establish “Decoration Day” on May 30, 1868 to honor the estimated 620,000 who died in the four-year struggle. The name was later changed to Memorial Day and set for the last Monday in May.

One hundred years ago there were Memorial Day celebrations throughout Florida — in Tampa, Miami, Orlando — but at least one nearby city chose a different path.

“No Plans For Observance of Memorial Day,” read a headline on the front page of the Palm Beach Post, May 18, 1920.

“No preparations are under way for observance of Memorial Day,” the story read. “There is no post of the G.A.R and no organization of the Confederate Veterans or Spanish War Veterans” planning events for the day.

The G.A.R. was the The Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War.

After World War I Memorial Day was expanded to honor Americans killed in all wars. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.

This year, this month, again for “the better part of valor,” the Indianapolis 500, traditionally held on Memorial Day, has been postponed to August 23.

Still in its infancy a century ago, the race was held as scheduled on Monday, May 31. It was the race’s eighth running at The Brickyard.

Gaston Chevrolet, brother of the man who started the Chevrolet car company, won the race, posting an average speed of 88.6 miles per hour. The average speed at the 2019 race was 175.8 miles per hour.

Whatever Memorial Day events are allowed this difficult year and whomever you’re with, the Parklander joins all of you in honoring those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Richard Battin, Editor

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Wikipedia page on Memorial Day

Wikipedia page on In Flanders Fields

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Check out our local service member stories

July 1, 2019July 10, 2019

More Than a Job

Tragedy drives county health official

Casey McGovern is the Florida health department’s Drowning Prevention Program Manager for Broward County —raising awareness about water safety is her job.

But preventing deaths by educating people about the possible consequences of not being aware of water-related dangers is her passion.

Nine years after McGovern’s daughter drowned in a backyard pool, the mother of three is still haunted by what she didn’t know then and driven by what she wants parents to know today.

On Aug. 3, 2009, McGovern found her 19-month-old, Edna Mae, floating face-up in the pool where “Em” had been playing in just hours earlier. The toddler died eight days later.

“You think you are going to hear it — people think they are going to hear flailing and splashing and yelling,” McGovern said.

But the unthinkable can happen quicker than you think, she said. “A drowning can occur in as little as 60 seconds.”

Mom to three girls, who were then ages 10, 3, and 19 months, McGovern placed Em in a chair in the family room, across the counter from where she was putting away groceries.

McGovern stepped away to chat with her husband. She was only gone a minute.

Today, McGovern, of Coral Springs, talks openly about the experience, acknowledging some of the ways Em’s death might have been prevented. She needs other parents to know how such a tragedy happens.

At the time of her daughter’s death, the family pool was encircled by a child safety fence, but McGovern said the fence gate was not latched that day.

McGovern also said there was nothing in place at the time to raise an alert to potential trouble, such as chimes on the sliding door leading to the pool deck. “Drowning is silent,” she said, encouraging parents to find ways to put sound to danger.

McGovern said she also wasted precious minutes searching for her daughter inside the house.

Whether you have a pool or you’re at the pool or the beach, she tells parents today, check the water first.

“We thought we were doing everything right,” McGovern said. “There are so many things I didn’t think about, wasn’t educated on.”

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, In the past two years, 12 children ages four and younger drowned in Broward County. The deaths occurred in family pools, community pools, lakes, the ocean, and in canals. With its 125,000 backyard pools and miles of waterways, Broward offers ample risk of drowning.

“Because our county is covered in water and it’s swim season all year long, year after year our statistics show we are one of the highest counties in state of Florida for drowning fatalities,” McGovern said.

Among her high-priority recommendations, McGovern said children should start swim lessons as soon as they start to crawl.

The county Children’s Services Council backs that advice by providing a $40 swim voucher to Broward kids ages six months to four years. The voucher is available annually, up until the fifth birthday.

“I think knowledge is power and I think the more people who relate and connect to my story may cause changes,” McGovern said.Sallie James writes for the Florida Department of Health in Broward County.

July 1, 2019July 10, 2019

Michelle Kefford Comes Home

New principal ready to lead Douglas forward

Michelle Kefford is pumped. And while spasms of enthusiasm seem to come with the job when you’re a school principal, the new principal of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High has plenty of legitimate reasons to be excited.

“It’s coming back home,” Kefford, 44, said.

Those four words explain almost every reason she’s back at the Parkland school, coming full circle from where she began her career 20 years ago as a biology teacher.

Kefford, who begins work at Douglas on July 1, replaces former principal Ty Thompson, who stepped down in May, and co-principal Teresa Hall.

The principal at MSD when a former student opened fire at the school, leaving 17 dead and as many injured on Feb. 14, 2018, Thompson had been under investigation by Broward Schools and reassigned to different duties at Douglas. A popular and exuberant figure at the school, Thompson cited personal reasons for resigning after six years as principal. The investigation, which district officials expected to complete by May, remains ongoing.

Thompson’s departure widened the administrative hole needing to be filled at Douglas. In the wake of 2/14 and the local and state probes that followed, three assistant principals were transferred and a second principal was named. Kefford’s hire is not only a move to fill that void, but to begin building anew.

Kefford declined to speak specifically about past events at the high school but did say she will be re-evaluating policies and procedures going forward.

She has been working on her transition from Flanagan High, where she served as principal for eight years. Her efforts at the Pembroke Pines school blossomed these past two years as Kefford was named Broward’s 2018 Principal of the Year, then in March earned the Florida Board of Education Principal of the Year honor for 2019.

“I love what I do,” she said. “It’s rewarding to work with kids.

“I’m driven by their success. I want to prepare our kids for graduation and what comes next in life.”

A wife and a mother of two, Kefford and her family reside in Parkland. Her oldest son attends Douglas, while the younger boy is a student at West Glades Middle School.

Valerie Wanza, the district’s School Performance and Accountability director, was Kefford’s first supervisor.

“I watched her career grow in the school district and watched as her leadership grew at Flanagan,” Wanza said. “Under her guidance, Flanagan became a consistently A-rated, high-performance school — not just academically, but as an overall school experience.”

Describing her as a highly accomplished school leader, Wanza believes Kefford is the right person at the right time to take the reins at Douglas.

“Michelle will seize this opportunity to go home, help the community recover, heal, and move forward,” Wanza said.

Michelle Kefford (center) is flanked by Broward Schools officials, including superintendent Robert Runcie (right) at a May 13 press conference to announce her hire as principal at Douglas High. (WLRN photo

Robert Runcie, at a May 13 press conference announcing Kefford’s appointment, said, “We are grateful to Michelle for taking on this challenge. It speaks volumes to the type of leader she is.”

The Broward Schools superintendent cited the “culture of pride” Kefford built with the staff and students at Flanagan.

“Given her qualifications and her background, we couldn’t be more proud — and lucky — to recommend someone that’s so qualified to fill this important role,” Runcie said.

For Kefford, the most fulfilling aspect of the job is witnessing the success of her students.

“I get to see these kids from their awkward adolescence through to young adulthood,” she said. “Watching (them) attain their goals, receive scholarships, graduate, walk across the stage, go on to college, and to know I’ve made a difference in their life is very satisfying.”

The daughter of two retired educators, Kefford once thought she’d become a veterinarian. She said it was her mom who encouraged her to teach, because of her passion for biology. “I tried it out and never looked back,” she said.

July 1, 2019July 10, 2019

Man on a Mission

Street Priest hits South Florida & beyond

Just 19, barely past his freshman year at Lynn University, James Okina is already well-traveled, very savvy, and passionate about his work. In fact, he’s a man on a mission.

At 15, in his hometown of Calabar, Nigeria, a city not unlike Boca Raton with its greenery and coastal proximity, he founded a nonprofit called Street Priests designed to help the children living in the streets.

By the time he reached 17, Okina says he became obsessed with solving this problem on a global scale and began to study why, despite increasing efforts to address the issue, this problem is growing and persists worldwide.

An estimated 100-150 million children live on the streets around the world, while 250,000 die every week from disease and malnutrition, and 10 million are child slaves, according to Womenaid International.

In the U.S., almost 2.5 million kids under age 18 — that’s 1 in 30 — experience homelessness each year. In Palm Beach County alone, more than 4,400 children are counted as homeless, according to the county’s Homeless Coalition.

Kids living on the street are often victims of violence and crime, and later often fall prey to abuse and drug addiction. They are especially vulnerable to the human rights violations inherent in gangs, sexual exploitation, and abuse and neglect.

As an adolescent, Okina had been tempted into gang life. He is thankful he escaped — and it inspired him. “I rose above my own difficulties when my parents divorced when I was 8, and many people helped me along the way.” He remembers a cousin who came to stay where he lived with his father. Okina told NPR in 2017, “I saw that he led a more quiet, dignified life.”

Okina had already made international news by his late teens, as Street Priests drew attention, help, and funding. Trying to find a framework that would help the nonprofit reach children across different cultures and societies, he moved to South Florida to study at the Watson Institute at Lynn. Okina is part of an inaugural cohort of scholars from around the world studying to earn a degree in social entrepreneurship while working on issues they are passionate about.

“The first word that comes to mind when I think of James is unstoppable,” Tyler Tornaben, director of programs for the Watson Institute, said. “He is majoring in his mission every day.”

In his first year at Lynn, Okina met Isaac King, 23, who also feels driven to solve the worldwide crisis of homeless children.

King spent six months in the Dominican Republic after high school. The Ocala native learned Spanish and was drawn to the island’s street children, known as palomos — literally translated as “doves,” but in street slang, meaning “rascals.” King later spent a year in Brazil, working with the homeless “beach kids” of Rio de Janeiro.

At Lynn, joined in common cause, Okina and King set out on a self-proclaimed “audacious” trip back to the Dominican Republic to dive deeper into the street culture there.

Okina (right) and Isaac King flank Ana María Domínguez, Governor of Santiago Province, paying their respects during a recent visit to the Dominican Republic.

Over a period of eight days last March, the two traveled the island, interviewing more than 60 kids, community members, police officers, and government officials for a documentary.

“The stories and plights of both the Haitian and Dominican children we met left a deep and burning desire in us to commit to this problem and create a long-lasting change in our world,” Okina said.

A few of the children living in the streets in Santo Domingo. (Photo courtesy of James Okina)

The two will travel to London this summer to present their findings at the Map the System Global Challenge, part of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School at Oxford University.

King calls his mission partner an inspiration.

“James is a leader in every sense of the word,” King said. “He embodies everything he talks about. When you hear his conviction, you know it comes from a place of compassion and empathy.”

In the fall, Okina is set to help tackle gun violence in Palm Beach County. Partnering with Angela Williams, founder of Mother’s Against Murderers Association in Rivera Beach, they hope to design a plan of action to work with kids in the community to interrupt the cycle of gun violence.

Even if he can’t solve all the world’s problems, it seems likely Okina will at least provide sparks of inspiration and fellowship in lending a hand. Engaging with kids is the first step. “The future won’t create itself. Young people must take an active role,” Okina said. “We are only 25 percent of the population, but we are 100 percent of the future.”

July 1, 2019July 10, 2019

Local Libraries Deliver

Upgrades make reading easy, accessible

The mental image the phrase “public library” frequently evokes involves metal shelving filled with worn bindings, with a severe-looking librarian perched behind the counter, index finger primed for shushing. Certainly, those shelving units and librarians are real, but the Broward County Public Library delivers so much more, and right to where you need it.

Take the Northwest Regional Library’s collection of eBooks (electronic books) and audiobooks (recordings of books read aloud.) For the full-time busybody, both options provide opportunities to enjoy stories without the hassle of trying to get to the library twice. The offerings simply disappear from your device after the loan period concludes, thus erasing the need to keep track of a book for longer than the day or two you need to read it. eBooks and audiobooks checked out through the Broward system don’t have late fees! Audiobooks are a nifty companion for the daily commute and road trips, often playable through your car’s sound system.

What’s that? You don’t have a device to download eBooks or play audiobooks? Worry you’re your local library shall provide. Digital tablets can be checked out for three months and renewed for another three months — that’s half a year. That might get a person a sixth of the way through their reading backlog!

For kids on summer break, Northwest Regional has child-friendly tablets that come with educational games, no internet required. These Launchpad Learning Tablets can be checked out for 21 days with two 7-day renewals.

It helps, too, that these kinds of technological upgrades make reading more accessible for the dyslexic, the visually impaired, and the otherwise disabled. While Broward Library has made plenty of impressive high-tech upgrades to its community services (virtual reality devices, portable wi-fi hotspots, amateur robotics labs, and more) throughout the region, what stands out is its dedication to making its services available to every resident, regardless of mobility or income level.

Impressive examples include accessible computer software that turns websites into braille for the blind, which is offered at several library locations; as are assistive listening devices that amplify sound but minimize background noise, aiding those with hearing loss. West Regional Library has a sign-language story time for children who have speaking and hearing difficulties. The county library even distributes specialized phones for people with any hearing, seeing, or speaking disability — at no charge. According to the 2017 census, 22.5 percent of Broward’s population is composed of seniors and just under 7 percent of non-seniors have a disability, so these additions to the library’s offerings have come at a time of need. They will join the dearly loved but more analogue Books-By-Mail program in offering as many options to as many residents as possible.

June 1, 2019June 7, 2019

Family Guide to Cool Summer Fun

If you’re not up for braving the South Florida heat this summer, these local venues offer family-friendly activities available during the quiet — and less hot — afternoon and evening hours.

OUTDOOR FAVORITES

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

Gumbo Limbo’s environmental complex in Boca Raton is an indoor / outdoor nature center with several aquariums and exhibits. A variety of group programs, including guided nature trail walks, sea turtle talks, and animal feedings, are offered throughout the week. A popular activity that only takes place on summer nights is the Turtle Walk and Hatchling Release, where participants have the opportunity to learn about Florida’s native sea turtles, walk to the nearby beach, and watch a nesting Loggerhead or see baby turtles race for the sea.

View Gumbo Limbo’s calendar of events for information on how to register.

Where: 1801 N. Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton

When: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free ($5 suggested donation); free parking

Details: GumboLimbo.org

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Favorite activities at Birch State Park range from live animal presentations to guided mangrove and trail walks, and all are excellent opportunities for families to explore Florida’s natural ecosystems and wildlife, and learn about the history behind this local state park. The two-mile loop surrounding the natural habitat is bike- and rollerblade friendly, while the Intracoastal Waterway allows for easy access to fishing and makes for a perfect sunset-viewing picnic spot. Birch State Park offers paddleboard rentals for those looking to visit Fort Lauderdale’s stretch of beaches along A1A. In addition, the park is home to Camp Live Oak, an immersive nature program for children ages 5-13, as well as a variety of scheduled tours, educational classes, and events.

Where: 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

When: Every day, 8 a.m. to sunset

Cost: $6 per family/group vehicle

Details: FloridaStateParks.org/HughTaylorBirch

Bark Beach at Spanish River Park

Release the leash and let Fido roam free on the sands of Spanish River Park’s beach! Bark Beach is sectioned off from the rest of the park to ensure dogs don’t run too far and other park visitors remain unscathed by licks or wet paws. Summer hours are conveniently scheduled in the early morning and late afternoon. Bark Beach is open to all families of Boca Raton who have purchased a dog permit at their nearest community center. A single weekend pass is also an option, allowing unlimited access to Boca’s best dog-friendly beach from Friday through Sunday.

Where: 3001 N. State Rd A1A, Boca Raton

When: Friday through Sunday, 7-9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sunset

Cost: Bark Beach dog permit required; $11 weekend pass; parking $17 weekdays, $19 weekends OR free with annual beach pass

Details: MyBoca.us

INDOOR DESTINATIONS

Children’s Science Explorium

Located inside Boca’s Sugar Sand Park, the Children’s Science Explorium is a must-visit attraction. Activities during the summer include a variety of interactive, science-geared exhibits and exciting educational programs. The Grab ‘n’ Go Eco Pack gives young children and their families the opportunity to embark on a scavenger hunt throughout Sugar Sand’s nature trails and explore the park’s plants, birds, and insects. Kids-only activities include the one-week Summer Science Camp — open to youngsters in grades kindergarten through 5th — and the after-hour Friday Nights @ the Museum, featuring a cool experiment and movie night! Check the events calendar in early June for a list of summer exhibits and more info on registering.

Where: 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton

When: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: Free ($5 suggested donation); free parking

Details: ScienceExplorium.org

Young At Art Museum

What’s one thing that makes the Young At Art Museum unique? Through its program YAA for ALL: Access to Lifelong Learning, the museum has developed special programs and events for children and adults with autism and other disabilities. In addition to its pre-scheduled classes and exhibits, the YAA opens one hour earlier every second Sunday of the month, giving exclusive access for families with disabled children. Specialized activities include the Sensory Studio Art Class, which creates a warm and friendly environment of hands-on art-making alongside specially trained staff members.

Where: 751 SW 121st Ave, Davie

When: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: $14 for adults/children; $12 for seniors and Broward County residents; $11 for military families. Membership and group rates available.

Details: YoungAtArtMuseum.org

Museum of Discovery and Science

In addition to its array of science exhibits and children’s Discovery Camp, a distinctive feature of the Museum of Discovery and Science is its in-house IMAX 3D theater, which presents a number of documentaries and Hollywood films. With numerous showtimes throughout the day, as well as wheelchair-accessible and sensory-friendly screenings, this theater is a great pick for families. This summer, the Museum’s featured exhibit, Hall of Heroes, immerses visitors in the superhero world of crime-catchers, Batmobiles, spy gadgets, and more.

Where: 401 SW Second St, Fort Lauderdale

When: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Cost: $17 for adults; $16 for seniors; $14 for military families and children ages 2-12; free for children ages 1 and under; parking $6-$10. Museum membership rates available.

Details: MODS.org (Note: The IMAX 3D Theater has its own hours and admission fees. Please visit the MODS website for details.)

June 1, 2019June 7, 2019

Spacing Out – Exhibit showcases astronaut’s year in photos

Neil Armstrong notched a singular spot in history as the first man to walk on the moon.

But astronaut Scott Kelly has made his own impressions on the space-time continuum. Not only are he and Mark Edward Kelly the only identical twin astronauts ever to serve with NASA in the U.S. space program, but Commander Kelly has also logged more time in the “final frontier” than any other American spaceman.

August 15, 2015 – ISS, Low Earth Orbit: Astronaut Scott Joseph Kelly posted this photo of an aurora taken from the International Space Station with the caption, ‘Another pass through Aurora. The sun is very active today, apparently. YearInSpace.’
(All images: © Scott Joseph Kelly/NASA via ZUMA Wire)

Kelly is about to share with the public dozens of digital photographs he took during his year aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Space Odyssey 2019, a display of images taken during that 12-month mission from 2015 to 2016, will open June 20 and run through Aug. 3 at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in West Palm Beach.

“One’s perspective shifts when one lives for an entire year — as Commander Scott Kelly and no other American astronaut in history has — in the isolating, grueling and utterly unforgiving vacuum of space,” Fatima NeJame, the Centre’s president and CEO, said.

Kelly is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a now-retired astronaut, and retired Navy captain. A veteran of four space flights, he commanded the ISS on three expeditions. He is also the brother-in-law of former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), who survived a gunshot wound to the head after an attack at a constituent event in 2011.

NeJame said the Space Odyssey 2019 exhibition will feature between 40 and 60 frames, all reproduced using the center’s digital printer. “We are making them large so visitors can see the detail.”

“Kelly mastered the rare art of microgravity photography,” NeJame said.

Microgravity photography? “Using a Nikon D4 with an 800-millimeter lens and a 1.4x magnifying zoom lens, he panned the camera as the shutter released to compensate for the space station’s velocity: 17,500 miles per hour relative to the earth.”

In the display, his photos will be accompanied by personal commentary to put the images into their proper contexts.

During the ISS mission, while breaking records for time spent in outer space, Kelly spoke with President Barack Obama about what he was seeing and the pictures he was taking. The President encouraged him to share the photos with the world via Twitter and Instagram, which he did. Kelly’s artistic eye helped make him a social media sensation.

*Looking down at a frozen Himalayan lake from space.*

Through his lens, Kelly captured sunsets, moonrises, the Aurora Borealis, and the luminous, hazy tapestry of the Milky Way. “There are hurricanes, wrinkled mountains, New York City shining like a galaxy,” NeJame said. “Glorious photographs that are, in themselves, a passionate argument for the preservation of our planet in the face of climate change and environmental destruction.” In one of the images taken over South Asia as the Expedition 46 crew orbited high above Earth, Kelly looked down on a vivid blue body of water shot through with white. “Cool frozen lake in #Himalayas! #YearInSpace” he tweeted on Jan. 6, 2016, to his more than 5.6 million followers.

*Astronaut Scott Kelly shared the last sunrise of his yearlong mission on space on*
*March 1, 2016, aboard ISS.*

May 1, 2019May 13, 2019

A Shared Moment in Time

Like Tibetan sand mandalas, which are swept up and scattered on the water, the Temple of Time is about the moment, the process, the creation, and the transitory nature of life itself.

The beech-plywood temple on Sample Road, created by artist David Best, is the first of five public art installations in Coral Springs and Parkland that are part of the series Inspiring Community Healing After Gun Violence: The Power of Art.

The two cities, in partnership with the Coral Springs Museum of Art, were awarded $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies to fund the projects, which aim to use art to help heal the community after the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018.

With help from local residents, the Balinese-like temple rose from the site of the old City Hall over a two-week span in early February, and opened to the public one year after the Feb. 14 school shooting that left 17 dead and as many injured.

What Best, his crew and community members created was an object of great beauty out of shared loss.

The temple, where visitors are encouraged to leave mementoes and write messages directly on the raw wood, has transformed into a repository of the community’s hopes, fears, wishes, and dreams.

The Temple of Time, said Best, is a way of honoring the time it will take for the community to process the feelings it shares from a common tragedy.

The California-based artist has dedicated his life’s work to designing and building ornate yet ephemeral temples for communities that need healing.

In what some might say is a paradox, the 35-foot-high, non-denominational structure will be set on fire and destroyed in May. It is Best’s hope the community’s grief over the shootings and the loss of life on 2/14 and in the aftermath will dissipate with the flames.

Best began creating temples in 2000, as a way to honor a friend killed in a motorcycle accident, and he and his 14-person Temple Crew have become known for the elaborate structures they’ve built at the annual Burning Man Festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.

Best recently spoke about his work to the Miami New Times: “I make an empty structure — it doesn’t mean anything; it’s just a pretty shape. And then people come, and they put in their religion, their faith, their anger. Whatever they’ve got, they put it [in the temple], and they develop their mythology. It doesn’t matter what we believe. It matters what they believe.”

The Temple of Time in Coral Springs is very nearly covered with the inspirational and heartfelt messages visitors have left on the carved mosaic-like scrollwork. “Tell the sun and stars hello for me. We love you, Gina Rose,” reads one of thousands of personal notes. Another states: “Hate, anger, fear, indifference, and jealousy will never win.”

Hand-painted rocks emblazoned with “MSDStrong,” “A Little Bit of Gratitude Goes a Long Way,” and “There is Always Hope,” adorn the temple altars along with stuffed animals, photos, religious trinkets, hand-drawn hearts, flowers, and a brown manila envelope full of shredded bully testimonials from students at Pioneer Middle School.

Particularly poignant is a photograph from 18-year-old Meadow Pollack’s kindergarten teacher saying, “Proud to have been your kindergarten teacher, Meadow.” A senior at Douglas, Pollack was among the 17 killed by a lone gunman at school that day.

On a cool weekday morning in March — the installation is open every day from 7am until dusk — the temple was alive with visitors. Jonathan Koota, a massage therapist and Coral Springs resident, came with friends Lynne Mass, of Delray Beach, and Judy King, of Pompano Beach. They walked quietly through the temple, discreetly taking photos and reading the temple’s messages of love and hope to their grandkids. Lanie Hyman Shapiro visited the temple in February. The Coral Springs woman called the temple “an amazingly powerful and intricate” tribute to MSD’s 17 victims. “It’s a place to come together, to reflect,” Shapiro said. “It’s a place to begin a catharsis.”

April 1, 2019April 28, 2019

No Limits for Parkland Native with Autism

Haley Moss would be the first to tell you she’s unique. The Parkland native, now 24, was diagnosed with autism when she was 3.

Moss would also point out that being different isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

When she was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, her parents were told that raising a child with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has many daily challenges. They were warned she might never live on her own or even develop the ability to work a minimum-wage job.

Moss has not let that diagnosis, or her disorder, limit her. The Pine Crest School alum, who resembles a petite Natalie Portman with bangs, has written multiple books, including A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About. She also recently earned a law degree from the University of Miami and, in January, became the first openly autistic person admitted to the Florida Bar.

An active advocate for those with ASD, Moss told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in February that her passion for helping others was one of the reasons she became a lawyer.

“A disability generally is not all-encompassing, it is just part of who someone is, not everything they are,” Moss told the newspaper. “Everyone is unique, everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has talent.”

Honored as one of South Florida’s Young Leaders in Philanthropy, Moss also is a recipient of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Yes, I Can! International Award. At February’s Unicorn Children’s Foundation’s Unicorn Ball, held at the Polo Club of Boca Raton, Moss received the Occhigrossi Family Youth in Service Award, which recognizes young people who advocate for those with special needs.

Already a seasoned writer and champion for people with autism, Moss has since launched her career in the legal profession, according to the Sun Sentinel. Offered a job even before graduating, Moss now works for the law firm Zumpano Patricios, based in Coral Gables. For information on ASD, visit the National Institutes of Mental Health website at NIMH.gov.

April 1, 2019April 27, 2019

It’s Not Easy Being Green

Kermit the Frog had a different “green” in mind when he sang the blues about the perils of his amphibian color on Sesame Street. But for many of us, “being Green” in an altogether different way isn’t all that easy either.

These days, what exactly does “Green” mean?

Basically, it means leading more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible lives, so we protect natural resources, ourselves and the planet. I’m sure by now, most of us have seen, heard, or read about the many ways this can be accomplished: by recycling, using solar energy, electric or hybrid cars, picking up trash, collecting plastics in our waterways, using alternate energy sources instead of fossil fuels, etc.

The long list of “easy” fixes quickly becomes not-so-easy when it comes to details. For example, in building and development, there is a system called LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It’s the most widely used green-building rating system in the world. It’s also used for virtually all building projects, whether commercial, community, or home.

But is it worth it? And does it really work, or matter? As I have found out, most things in life have no clear-cut, black-and-white, yes-or-no answers, and that is true here as well. To get a building or project LEED-certified, there are courses to study, exams to take and proposals to be shown and accepted. If all of that is completed, a building or project will receive a plaque stating it is LEED-certified. The buildings must show certain levels of efficiency in resource usage such as water and electric, and none of this is cheap. The initial cost is $600 just to register and certification fees can range from $2,250 to $22,500 based on the project size. On top of that, complying with all the requirements necessary can add millions of dollars and hours of paperwork to the projects. On the plus side, LEED certification can mean tax breaks, grants, and the ability to charge higher rents.

Being LEED-certified sounds great on paper, but the bottom line is this: as in many things, reality doesn’t always live up to theory’s expectations. While some LEED buildings have shown lower resource usage rates, others have shown rate increases. LEED certification, after all, is based on proposals of anticipated resource use and not actual usage once a building project is completed. Therefore, is it worth it to have your building or project LEED-certified? A definitive answer remains elusive.

As another, more familiar example: Do hybrid cars produce lower emissions than gas-only vehicles? Obviously. Do they get better gas mileage? Sometimes. But it’s not always a significant difference when compared to the price differential of similar models. Total electric cars use no fossil fuels and produce no emissions, which are great assets. However, since there are not enough of them on the road, there isn’t an accurate way to determine the difference in electric consumption a nation of them might make. The same can be said of solar panels. As for recyclables, there is absolutely no argument of any sort that doing this is a bad thing.

Cleaning up our oceans, lakes, and waterways, plus keeping our landfills limited to those items that decompose and can/will/might be used to produce products that will go back into our soil is great. But what portion of these post-consumer materials will be reused in manufacturing? Again, theory is rosier than reality in answering this question. We have been recycling so much and have shipped so much of it to foreign countries, China being the main importer, that we now find ourselves without places to send these materials. China has stopped importing “foreign garbage,” which includes many types of plastics and paper. We also have run out of recycling plants and are now depositing what is and might be recyclable back in landfills. Recycling, however smart and necessary, remains shot through with problems, beginning with the fact that a lot of us don’t understand whether what we throw in the recycling bin is really recyclable.

So where are we in this quagmire? Does “being green” mean there’s reason for hope and change? Or is it all hopey-changey bunk? What you decide depends on your environmental outlook and what you want and expect of and for future generations. It also depends on your pocketbook. The difference in cost between hybrid cars and their gaseous counterparts can take years of driving to recoup, let alone seem significant. The same with LEED-certified buildings, electric cars and solar panels. No, being Green isn’t easy. But here’s my take in black and white: any steps forward in making this planet more sustainable, keeping our precious natural resources for generations to come, is worth whatever it takes.

March 1, 2019April 28, 2019

The National Women in History Month: Truths untold

With this year marking the 32nd anniversary of the making of Women in History month and with all the excitement going around, it’s hard to believe women’s history was once considered an insignificant topic. However, in the present era, it is a momentous celebration for both women and girls.

How did Women’s History Month originate and who was responsible for it? To make a long story short, Women’s History Month happened due to the efforts of pioneers who, with their confidence, passion, and humility, brought to light the contributions of women throughout our history.

Women’s rights have been associated with the month of March for more than a 150 years, starting on March 8, 1857, when female garment workers in New York City protested against their poor working conditions and low wage.

Later, on March 8, 1908, women needle workers in New York held a similar protest, with guidance from Mary Harris Jones (aka Mother Jones), Lucy Parsons, Clara Lemlich, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. It is in honor of the efforts of these four women that March 8 is observed as International Women’s Day.

Nevertheless, this isn’t how Women in History Month started.

In 1972, history teacher Molly Murphy MacGregor fielded a question from a male pupil about the definition of the Women’s Movement. MacGregor didn’t have an answer for him then, so she said, “What a good question. Let’s discuss it.”

As the question kept ringing in her ears, she rushed home, determined to find answers. Paging through countless college history textbooks, she found the information in only one, with a single chapter describing the first Women’s Rights Convention in 1848.

The realization came to MacGregor that women had been omitted from media, books, and classrooms. She began questioning herself about the reality of the situation and the real story that women wanted to tell. MacGregor decided to change the course of her life and joined the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on The Status of Women as a volunteer.

MacGregor helped establish a local women’s history week, which was celebrated in schools and organizations based on a specific curriculum. The urge to have women’s contributions to America listed in history expanded from here.

MacGregor, along with activists Paula Hammett, Mary Ruthsdotter, Better Morgan, and Maria Cuevas, founded the National Women’s History Project in 1980. By 1986, the group had helped persuade 14 states across the U.S. to celebrate March as Women’s History Month. One year later, the month was set aside nationally as a time to honor women’s accomplishments and contributions. From labor protests of the past to local activism in the here and now, women’s journey from the grassroots to National Women’s History Month has been inspiring. So, this March, let’s celebrate the countless women who have earned our recognition.