Category: Environment

Posted on

What is a sustainable food system?

Climate change affects the health of both people and the environment. To minimize the impact and feed a growing population, which is estimated to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, food systems are incorporating more sustainable practices, including reducing food waste and conserving resources.

Sustainable Food Systems

A “food system” is a broad term that describes anything involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of food. This includes growing, raising, harvesting, processing, distributing, ensuring food safety, eating, and even discarding of food. It also includes the connection of these processes and the people and resources that contribute to and are impacted by the food system.

The sustainability of a food system affects everyone. Food systems shape what foods are available for people to eat, how easy they are to get, and how much they cost.

A “sustainable food system” provides nutrition and food security for everyone without compromising the well-being of people or the planet now and in the future. While the topic of sustainability grows and the definition evolves, most experts agree that sustainable food systems address three key factors: economic, social, and environmental.

The key factors of a sustainable food system impact us in different ways. The economic, or financial, goal of a sustainable food system is to benefit everyone involved in the system. This includes providing livable wages for food system employees, tax profits for governments, profits for the businesses involved in the food system, and safe, nutritious, affordable, and available food for all.

The social aspect of a sustainable food system involves fairness and equity for all participants, including vulnerable and underrepresented groups. This means promoting good health among workers, respecting cultural traditions, providing a safe work environment, and looking out for animal well-being.

The environmental goal of a sustainable food system is to achieve a neutral or positive effect on the natural environment. This includes retaining biodiversity (which refers to the variety of species in our food supply and environment), limiting water use, prioritizing the health of animals and plants, minimizing food loss and waste, and cutting down the amount of carbon in the atmosphere that contributes to climate change.

Balancing All Factors

When developing sustainable food systems, the economic, social, and environmental impacts must be considered—as well as the potential unintended outcomes. For example, improvements in technology may increase profits for investors (an economic benefit), and efficiencies in production but may result in job loss for farm workers.

Alternatively, implementing new animal well-being practices at a farm would have social and environmental benefits but may require additional costs or labor, which impacts the economic aspect of the food system.

How You Can Help

Developing sustainable food systems requires action from all people involved. While individual efforts like recycling and reducing food waste are important, fundamental changes to the way food is produced, distributed, and eaten, as well as changes to policies and infrastructure, also are needed to make lasting change.

Here are two ways you can help:

  • Education. Learn about recycling programs and other opportunities to conserve resources in your community. If applicable, advocate for sustainability at your workplace by sharing your knowledge with others and proposing impactful changes, such as placing recycling and composting bins in cafeterias and break areas.
  • Action. Taking steps to reduce food waste—such as meal planning before grocery shopping, embracing leftovers, and composting—provides great ways to do your part in your own kitchen. Consider supporting and purchasing from food brands that incorporate sustainable practices into their production and distribution. Most companies have this information available on their website.

Together, individual actions in addition to large-scale changes at the local, state, federal, and global levels can create a sustainable food system.

Posted on

Boca Raton breaks record for leatherback sea turtle nests

Boca Raton is experiencing a record-breaking sea turtle season, with leatherback sea turtle nests already surpassing previous highs along the city’s 5-mile stretch of beaches. According to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, the milestone is a promising sign for one of Florida’s rarest and most-fragile nesting sea turtle species.

“As of May 6, we already have 40 leatherback nests,” Gumbo Limbo Nature Center said in an interview about this year’s nesting season. The previous Boca Raton record stood at 33 nests, making this season a significant leap forward.

The increase mirrors a larger statewide trend. Florida recorded 2,022 sea turtle nests in 2025, another all-time high. Scientists believe the growing numbers likely point to a gradual increase in the endangered species’ population after decades of conservation work.

Leatherback nesting season typically peaks in April and May, though nests can continue appearing into June. The latest leatherback nest documented in Boca Raton was recorded on July 7, 2012, meaning that this year’s record is likely to continue climbing in the coming weeks.

The achievement carries added importance because leatherbacks remain far less common than loggerhead and green sea turtles. “Record-breaking nest numbers is an indicator that conservation efforts across South Florida may be helping leatherback populations grow,” Gumbo Limbo explained.

Researchers say that several factors likely are contributing to the encouraging trend, including stronger protections for nesting beaches, reduced poaching and harvesting, safer fishing practices, and growing public awareness about sea turtle conservation.

One of the most encouraging developments, according to Gumbo Limbo staff, has been increased community involvement. “The people we encounter on the beach and at the nature center are genuinely interested in what we do and ask how they can help,” the organization said. “The children who grow up learning about sea turtles today are becoming the future scientists, advocates, and environmentally conscious community members who will help protect these populations for years to come.”

Protecting nests on Boca Raton’s busy beaches requires daily attention. Every nest is marked with orange stakes, tape, and signage to prevent accidental damage from beachgoers, umbrellas, or authorized beach vehicles. Staff members monitor each nest throughout incubation and take additional measures when necessary, including predator deterrents and protective mesh screens.

“We monitor each nest during the entire incubation period and protect them from predators or other disturbances,” Gumbo Limbo said. “Each and every nest is given so much attention to ensure success.”

Technology has also improved conservation efforts in recent years. Satellite tracking, GPS mapping, flipper tags, and advances in rehabilitation medicine now allow scientists to better understand migration routes, identify danger zones, and improve survival rates for injured turtles.

Despite the progress, challenges remain. Coastal development, boat strikes, plastic pollution, and climate change continue to threaten sea turtle populations. Still, conservationists say the growing level of public support gives them hope.

“Every action, no matter how small, can make a meaningful impact when it comes to sea turtle conservation,” Gumbo Limbo said. “Something as simple as turning off beachfront lights, picking up trash, filling in holes on the beach, or reducing single-use plastics can directly help protect sea turtles and their habitat. Conservation is most successful when communities come together, and every person can play a role in helping ensure sea turtles continue to thrive for future generations.”

Posted on

From rescue to release: The work of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

For more than 40 years, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary has been a leading voice in wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and education. Set on 20 acres in Jupiter, the sanctuary features a state-of-the-art animal hospital and rehabilitation center and is home to approximately 150 native wildlife species, including otters, black bears, bobcats, foxes, cougars, and pelicans.

Each year, the hospital treats around 5,000 patients, and it’s equipped to handle complex cases with a computed tomography machine, blood diagnostic equipment, a laboratory, and a surgical suite. Busch Wildlife has a full-time veterinarian on staff, along with two rotating veterinary interns and a network of experienced veterinarians who generously donate their time.

That network can make all the difference. When Grayson, one of the sanctuary’s resident foxes, was diagnosed with a thyroid tumor and needed surgery, the staff veterinarian estimated the complicated procedure would take two hours. “We have a veterinarian in the area who is a retired orthopedic veterinary surgeon, so we reached out to him. He came over and had it done in 15 minutes,” recalls Amy Kight, CEO of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, who is celebrating 22 years with the organization.

Busch Wildlife can only accept and treat native wildlife species, which presents a unique challenge in Florida, where invasive species such as iguanas, pythons, and Muscovy ducks are widespread. Kight estimates that 10% to 15% of the cases brought in are invasive species that the sanctuary cannot treat, though staff always provide referrals rather than turning people away.

Of the native species admitted, about 30% can be successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. For animals that recover but cannot be released and are deemed suitable for captivity, the sanctuary follows a thoughtful and collaborative placement process.

“We have a joint committee of animal welfare and animal placement where, each month, our veterinarian, our head of animal care, our education director, and other key staff sit down and go through the list to figure out a placement.” In some cases, animals are placed with other organizations. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for example, has taken in raptors, opossums, and snakes for its education program.

This time of year—baby season—brings a surge in activity. The sanctuary often takes in about 50 new patients per day and fields calls from concerned residents who encounter baby birds, squirrels, opossums, and other wildlife in their neighborhoods.

“It’s a lot of chaos and education,” says Kight. “People tend to see a baby animal and think they have to go rescue it, which gives us the opportunity to say, ‘Please don’t do that.’ We have to first determine whether this animal really needs us, or whether it’s just a youngster trying to make its way in the world and we’re interrupting that life cycle.”

Some of these situations are preventable. During hurricane preparation, for example, tree trimming can inadvertently disturb nests where young animals live. The sanctuary emphasizes education around proper tree-trimming practices and encourages residents to consider whether displaced animals can be safely renested nearby.

Other cases are unavoidable, such as when a mother squirrel is killed by a car, leaving orphaned babies behind. “To get a squirrel from eyes still closed back to the wild takes 4 months,” explains Kight.

When orphaned animals—whether squirrels, owls, opossums, or others—require long-term care, staff take careful steps to ensure they are raised as naturally as possible. This helps prevent them from becoming habituated to humans, which is critical for successful release.

Precautions include wearing ghillie suits—specialized camouflage designed to resemble foliage—using puppets for feeding, and placing animals with foster mothers when possible, a method that has proven especially successful with owls and opossums. “Opossum moms are great,” says Kight. “As long as she’s producing milk, she’ll raise other babies.”

While the rehabilitation center itself is not open to the public, the sanctuary welcomes visitors seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is by donation, with no set fee.

Each year, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary draws tens of thousands of visitors through its gates. Its education programs include daily offerings such as Conservation Conversations in the amphitheater, as well as school field trips, guided tours, summer camps, Junior Naturalist programs, outreach presentations, and interactive exhibits designed to inspire curiosity and conservation action.

“We want people to really know what lives in their environment and how they can coexist with it,” says Kight of the educational programming. Rather than overwhelming visitors with large-scale environmental issues like global warming and microplastics, the sanctuary focuses on simple, actionable steps—such as planting native species instead of exotics that can harm local ecosystems. “You gotta start small,” says Kight. “Otherwise, when you start thinking about all the things encroaching on our environment, it starts to feel impossible.”

A walk through the sanctuary offers visitors the chance to meet its permanent animal residents. Among them is Freddie, a 40-year-old alligator who has lived at the sanctuary her entire life.

When Freddie was still developing, a child cracked her egg open prematurely. The child’s parents brought the egg to Busch Wildlife, but because of the early opening, Freddie never fully developed and cannot open her mouth all the way. Unable to survive in the wild, she has since become an ambassador for her species, giving visitors an up-close look at a Florida alligator.

Another resident, Charlie the California cougar, has a cross-country story of his own. Declawed on all four paws and sold as an illegal pet, Charlie was first taken in by Conservation Ambassadors, a California-based sanctuary. From there, Kight and COO Christen Mason personally transported him to Florida. “We just got up one Saturday morning, grabbed Starbucks and a van, and got to California Monday afternoon,” recalls Kight. “Tuesday, we loaded Charlie in a kennel on our van, and it was 44 hours straight back to Florida. We timed it so we got back right when the staff was getting in on Thursday morning, so they could help us get him set up.”

At the time, Charlie was overweight and would have had to be transported as cargo if by airplane—an option the team wasn’t willing to consider. “It would have been too stressful,” explains Kight. “Also, you’re talking about an apex predator, so there were too many things that could go wrong. It was safer to have him in our hands.”

California cougars and Florida panthers are the same species, considered geographically separated. Charlie—despite being about 30 pounds heavier than a Florida panther—serves as a representative who helps teach visitors about conserving the Florida panther.

While long known as a family-friendly destination, the sanctuary has recently expanded its offerings to appeal to adults as well. New events include Wine Down with Wildlife, Yoga in the Wild, and music concerts. The next Yoga in the Wild session is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 9 a.m.

For more information, visit www.buschwildlife.org.

Posted on

Reset and recharge

Local wellness and recovery therapy

Spring often brings a feeling of renewal, and across South Florida that sense of refreshment is showing up in the growing popularity of wellness and recovery therapies. From Coral Springs to Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, studios and wellness centers are introducing new treatments designed to help people relax, recover, and recharge, whether from demanding schedules, workouts, or everyday stress.

One treatment gaining attention locally is intravenous (IV) drip therapy, now offered at several wellness clinics around town. The therapy delivers vitamins and hydration directly through an IV line, and many people turn to it when they feel run down, dehydrated, or simply in need of an energy boost.

Several other therapies focus on deep relaxation and sensory experiences. Float therapy, available at centers in nearby Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach, allows you to float effortlessly in warm saltwater inside a quiet, low-stimulus environment. Many people describe the experience as calming and restorative.

Salt rooms offer a similar sense of relaxation. Found in wellness studios across Broward and Palm Beach counties, these rooms circulate microscopic salt particles through the air while visitors sit quietly in a peaceful setting designed to promote relaxation.

Technology is also playing a growing role in the wellness space. LED light therapy has become common at local spas and wellness studios, where it’s often used for skin care and recovery. Another option, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, uses gentle electromagnetic pulses that are believed to support circulation and the body’s natural healing processes.

Many recovery studios are also offering contrast therapy, a treatment that alternates between heat (often in a sauna) and cold plunges. The hot-and-cold cycle has become popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, who say it helps with muscle recovery and leaves them feeling refreshed.

Closer to home, Hopson Health Wellness Center in Coral Springs offers a wide range of these therapies in one place, including red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, infrared saunas, cryotherapy, salt therapy, and compression therapy—all designed to support recovery and overall well-being.

Even gyms are joining the trend. At Planet Fitness in Coral Springs, the Relax Space Wellness Pod gives members a place to unwind after a workout with guided relaxation, gentle massage, and immersive audio designed to reduce stress.

While some of these treatments may sound high-tech, their appeal is simple. More people are looking for ways to slow down, recover, and feel better. Whether it’s floating in a sensory tank, trying a robotic massage, or sitting quietly in a salt room, South Florida residents are embracing new ways to recharge as part of their wellness routines.

Posted on

Where the animals reign in lush nature

If you would like to experience a beautifully shaded property that looks like a botanic garden with waterfalls but also is a zoo and a conservation center, then the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is for you. This is a place where they rescue, rehabilitate, and care for injured and endangered animals, and visitors have a chance to interact with some of the zoo’s residents.

Among the many animals at this zoo are bears, tigers, cougars, alligators (including a rare white one), otters, flamingos, a pair of capybaras, a bald eagle, a barred owl, lorikeets, scarlet macas, a Southern ground hornbill, a Baird’s tapir, koalas, sloths, lemurs, tortoises, servals, and a variety of monkeys. I went to visit with my friend Susan recently, and we saw lots of these animals.

We had heard that the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society does a lot of good in helping endangered wildlife. The organization sponsors conservation projects in many parts of the world; much of it deals with species that are represented in the zoo’s collection. Admission to the park is relatively expensive, but we understood that it is to help the conservation society do all its great work for the animals.

Two zoo residents here are a little famous! A female (Iyari) and a male (Zeus) Capybara in the Tropics of the Americas section have been featured on episodes of the TV show “Finding Florida” because zookeepers have been closely observing them as they realized the two had formed a bond. The Capybaras spend a lot of time together and share their food. Zoo workers are hoping that this new couple will breed. Susan and I got to see them from a distance while we were there. Another highlight for us at this venue were the many colorful flamingos in a gorgeous water setting, with some of them “mirroring” each other, a fascinating process we learned they do.

Some nice features at the zoo are its “Animal Experiences,” which cost extra, and its zookeeper chats, which are free. There is a daily schedule board near the entrance that indicates the sessions that visitors can attend for that day. Registration in advance is required for the animal experiences. The animals that participants can sign up to enjoy close encounters with include otters, giant aldabra tortoises, sloths, koalas, panthers, and bears.

Susan and I opted to attend two of the zookeeper chats—the howler monkeys and the Malayan tigers. What we came away with was how dedicated and passionate these staff members are about the animals in their care. The zookeeper for the monkeys stood in front of their outdoor habitats and told us all about these energetic animals, pointed out many of their habits and activities as the monkeys moved around, and answered any questions we had. He had a large group of people gathered around and kept us all entertained and informed.

Afterward, we walked over to the tiger section and listened in as we heard about Kadar, an older tiger who needs regular cold laser therapy to manage age-related stiffness, reduce inflammation, and increase his mobility. The zookeeper there told us we’d get to watch Kadar have this non-invasive treatment during his feeding time. It helps to treat chronic pain and arthritis while allowing the veterinarians to reduce reliance on medications. Observers got a unique experience as another zoo staffer proceeded to feed and apply the laser device to Kadar, who we were told would feel no discomfort from the treatment. We all were thrilled to watch this process so close up. And Kadar is a beautiful animal.

I learned that the Malayan tigers who live at the zoo play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their native habitats. And by visiting these tigers, you are saving tigers in the wild, according to conservationists. Once widespread, Malayan tigers are now only in isolated pockets, and zoo visitors are supporting initiatives to protect their dwindling homes.

In addition to helping with animal conservation, the Palm Beach Zoo is assisting with conserving tropical forests, which it says provide homes to over 63% of all land mammals, including tamarins and sloths, and is essential for human survival. The zoo is restoring its own forest by planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses that support native species.

While there, Susan and I encountered a very striking-looking tree that resembled peacock feathers flaring out. It is called a traveler’s palm, a member of the “bird of paradise” family. Known for its massive, fan-shaped leaves structured in a single plane, its thick trunk can reach up to 30–50 feet in height and the dramatic tree provides great impact in its environment. We had never seen anything like it before. The lushly landscaped Palm Beach Zoo is definitely a recommended outing.

For more information, go to palmbeachzoo.org.

Posted on

Aetherography

New art form captures the magnificence of birds

Coral Springs resident Meir Martin is the creator of “aetherography”—an art form that transcends photography to capture time, motion, and the rhythm of nature through birds. By fusing together hundreds of photos of individual birds into one large-scale image, Martin reimagines nature not as a frozen moment, but as an unfolding experience.

“It is the art of layering time,” explains Martin. “Where photography isolates, aetherography gathers. Where photography freezes, aetherography flows. And what it reveals is the truth of life as it actually happened: chaotic, abundant, overwhelming, and magnificent.”

Martin—who admittedly spends at least 340 days per year taking photos of birds in the Everglades each morning—has amassed a collection of about 1.5 million photos. “Everything in my life is birds, birds, birds. I’m addicted to it, and there’s no cure,” he jokes. With such an extensive library to sort through, it sometimes takes him years to complete certain pieces, which contain hundreds of bird photos. “I keep looking until I find the image that will fit.”

Walking into Martin’s home, which he converted into his gallery after his wife’s passing, is a surreal experience that pulls you deep into the vision of an impassioned creator. Every surface—from the ceilings to the windows and soon the floors—is covered with artwork, each piece set in a custom wood frame that Martin makes himself.

Before birds became his calling, Martin, born in Israel, began his career primarily as a wedding photographer. But one day, when a man walked into his store asking for a camera with a 400-millimeter lens, Martin’s trajectory changed. Sick of the photography he was doing, he joined the man on a field trip and fell in love with photographing birds.

Martin spent the early 1980s photographing desert birds in Israel. In 1983, while on a trip to the Dead Sea, he became the first person to take a color photograph of a pair of desert tawny owls, and in 1986, he published a book, “Desert Birds of Israel.”

“Israel is one of the most amazing places in the world for birding,” says Martin. “Nobody knew that until I published a book in 1986. In America, you have only three species of eagles. In Israel, which is the size of New Jersey, we have about 12.”

After moving to Florida with his wife, Martin took a break from photography and—an innate creator—invented a new system to clean pet urine from oriental rugs. In 2008, after a chance encounter with a man at a dog park while walking his 172-pound Neopolitan Mastiff, he was drawn back into photography, joining a camera club.

“I went to the club, and everyone was taking regular pictures,” recalls Martin. “The digital camera came to the world, and everyone is taking pictures. My pictures would just be one of them. This is not what I want. This is not my style. I have to find something else.”

There was a competition in the club every Thursday to see who had taken the best photo that week. The first time Martin entered, his photo didn’t garner much attention. But the second time he did, the members took notice. Using Photoshop, he had combined images from multiple photographs he had taken, to create something different.

While Martin’s work received attention, acceptance was a different story. “The guy from the photography club said we are photographers and this is not photography. They didn’t accept it, so I left the club,” he says.

After leaving, Martin devoted himself fully to this emerging art form, and aetherography was born. “I’m the first one in the world making this new artwork,” he says—an assertion he supports through extensive research, including the use of ChatGPT, in search of anything resembling aetherography across the globe.

That sense of originality extends beyond technique into meaning. Each piece carries its own narrative, one Martin eagerly brings to life when he speaks about his work. “Everything that you do, you have to have a story,” he says. “What is the image for? What is the artwork for?”

Recently, he began the months-long application process to turn his home from a gallery into a museum. “This house will now become the Aetherography Museum,” enthuses Martin, who wants people to be able to experience this new art form in person.

While he wants to share his work and his stories with the public, he is still unsure about selling his pieces. “Right now I don’t sell any artwork. It’s mine, I love it,” explains Martin. “When I open the museum, it’s probably going to be different.”

Martin is currently working on a piece to honor the anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. He was across the street from the school that day and heard the gunfire. The artwork, which will be featured in the February issue of the Parklander, includes a golden eagle from a photograph he took in Israel in the 1980s. Above the eagle are 17 birds, each representing the 17 victims of the shooting. “This is a very powerful image with a lot of history in it,” says Martin, who is willing to donate the piece to the high school.

For more information, visit www.meirmartin.com.

Posted on

A trek through verdant nature in Davie

There once was a dairy farm in Davie that was slated to get developed as a golf course and golf community. But in 1980, Broward County officials decided to protect and conserve this property for residents’ enjoyment, and it eventually became Tree Tops Park. Right in the middle of residential Davie, locals now have a beautiful 243-acre community park, featuring nature trails, a thriving forest, a 1,000-foot boardwalk extending over a restored freshwater marsh, pavilions, gazebos, and even an equestrian center and equestrian trails.

Tree Tops Park’s conservation success story is evident in its lovely preservation of ancient live oaks, wetlands, and tropical hardwood hammocks. And now it’s all part of Broward County Parks and Recreation.

My friend Susan and I recently planned an outing to Tree Tops. We brought sandwiches and drinks and found plenty of tables under a beautiful oak canopy to sit at, where we enjoyed a quiet weekday picnic in nature.

You can get lost in the beauty and peace of this park, surrounded by trees, fauna, foliage, and water. And there is so much to do here. Various features include playgrounds, exercise stations, hiking, observing native plants and wildlife, climbing to the top of an observation tower, boating, fishing, and more. Visitors can rent canoes to explore the waterways, landscapes, and archaeological sites within the park. Equestrians love the 8 miles of dedicated horse trails.

There is also a large event hall, which is where Susan and I headed after we had our picnic lunch. We were driving through the park, looking for signs for a “visitors center,” but they didn’t have any, only to the “park office.” When we got inside that building, Oak Ridge Hall, we realized that’s the place we were trying to find; it has pamphlets, maps, informational displays on the walls, and other things to guide visitors. We just wished they had better signage for visitors looking for the building.

Oak Ridge Hall is a 3,440-square-foot, multipurpose building of natural wood set against an oak hammock and with a beautiful outdoor patio nestled within the trees. This building includes a reception hall, meeting rooms, catering kitchen, and bathrooms. It is available for event rentals.

After we walked all around this grand hall, inside and out, and got the lay of the land, we headed over to our next destination: the boardwalk over the marshland. There was a nice, quiet paved trail to lead us there.

Once we got to the “boardwalk,” we realized this structure wasn’t really walkways made of boards. The floor of this raised walk is cement, not wood, but the side rails are wooden boards, and regardless, we loved the lush natural views all around us. This Marsh Observation Area covers 23 acres of freshwater marsh.

Next, Susan and I wanted to go find the Observation Tower, which is in a different part of the park, so we walked back to our car parked in front of Oak Ridge Hall, and drove to the parking lot indicated on our paper map. Nearby is the 28-foot-high wooden tower, which is only handicap-accessible for the bottom half, with ramps that lead from the ground up to a wooden landing. At the landing, it’s only accessible by way of climbing three staircases to get to the top. Once up there, it’s a great place to observe birds, wildlife, and the dense vegetation all around.

After that, we drove to a small lake we had seen earlier, with picnic tables dotting part of the perimeter, and enjoyed the quiet scenery and wildlife. Even an iguana walked out to the end of a pier and gazed over the water, seeming to also enjoy the nice day.

There is much more to see at Tree Tops Park, including a lakeside cottage (also available for rental), gopher tortoise preserves, a Sam Jones exhibit and statue, a campfire ring for Scouts and other youth groups, and a biking/jogging path that connects to Pine Island Ridge Natural Area. From Tree Tops, it’s easy to access Pine Island Ridge, another park offering its own peaceful connection with nature.

During the week, there is no fee for entering Tree Tops Park. On weekends and holidays, the gate entrance fee is $3/vehicle. Entry is free for people who walk, ride bicycles, or come by horseback into the park. Visit www.broward.org/parks/Pages/Park.aspx?=40.

Posted on

The comeback of Florida’s spirit animal

As South Florida celebrates another Stanley Cup championship by the local Florida Panthers hockey team, let us not forget the continual struggles of their namesake, Florida’s state animal, the Florida panther. Luckily for the local big cats, through the efforts of conservationists, they are on the path to recovery.

Florida panthers are the North American cougar that has adapted to the Florida climate. The panthers have found a home among the tropical forests and swamps, and it is the only population of cougars in the eastern United States.

The panthers have had a challenge as Florida developed. Hunting throughout the history of Florida, and losing their natural habitat range to new developments, caused their population to shrink. By the 1970s, only about 20 Florida panthers were still alive in the wild.

Since 1981, as mandated by the Endangered Species Act, the Florida Panther Recovery Plan has been in place, run by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This program’s efforts have rebuilt the population to around 200 panthers.

The recovery had to overcome many challenges. The population by the start of the program was so small, the panthers’ genetic pool was already severely depleted. Studies showed that the low genetic diversity increased the likelihood of inbreeding among the remaining population. This was confirmed by studies on newborn panthers, and documenting their congenital issues.

A genetic rescue mission was initiated. Pumas from Texas were brought to Florida. They were  given time to adapt to the local environment. After they were deemed ready, they were released to the wild and helped to reduce inbreeding among the local Florida panthers. These newcomers were successful, and the local population showed increases after their introduction.

A new rehabilitation center was also created to help injured panthers at White Oak Conservation. Injured cats, along with orphaned kittens, were cared for at the facility. The organization, partnering with FWC, has rehabilitated and released 19 sick or injured Florida panthers as of 2020.

Why are we spending so much effort to protect the panthers? Florida panthers are at the top of the food chain in South Florida, and a keystone species in the ecosystem. They are essential in maintaining a balance in the ecosystem, and they help regulate the populations of native wildlife and manage nuisance animals.

Nuisance animals like wild hogs and pythons have grown significantly in population in Florida. The wild hog population is highest around Lake Okeechobee in forested areas, right in the history range of the Florida panthers. These wild hogs cause extensive destruction and damage to both agricultural and native plant life in South Florida. A recovery of the panthers should help in our fight to keep their population in control.

Scientists have also seen evidence of large cats predating on Burmese pythons. The invasive pythons have been attacked by Florida panthers, and smaller bobcats, especially during the colder months when pythons are naturally less active.

The recovery of Florida panthers is still ongoing, so they are not out of the woods yet. They are no longer considered critically endangered, but they are still endangered. As their population recovers, another threat is becoming more common—vehicle collisions are increasing. To avoid hitting a panther, please take care driving in rural areas of South Florida, and support efforts to create wildlife corridors, which allow the panthers to avoid crossing major roads.

The Florida Department of Transportation also runs the Florida Panther Conservation Plan, which, together with federal forestry service, sets up binding agreements between private landowners and the government to minimize and mitigate the impact of land development in critical areas, in exchange for marketable credits.

With all these continuing programs, the future of Florida panthers is hopeful, and with the efforts by local organizations, along with state and federal programs, we hope to see Florida panthers thrive as the state animal.

Native tribes believe that panthers represent courage, power, and stealth. The Seminole tribe considers it a protector, and a guardian spirit animal, while the Miccosukee tribe see panthers as a symbol of change of adaptability. It is that adaptability that may see the panthers thrive in the new ecosystem, and doing their part as the apex predator to keep the balance in the wild.

Posted on

Raising emotionally intelligent leaders

In today’s world, raising a child means navigating a reality dramatically different from the one we grew up in. Screens dominate childhood, and while technology has brought many opportunities, it has also presented serious challenges to a child’s emotional and social development. Working in early childhood education, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to equip children not just with academic knowledge, but with the emotional skills necessary to thrive in today’s fast-moving, high-pressure world.

The term emotional intelligence is not new, but it has taken on new urgency. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions while also recognizing and responding to the emotions of others. Decades of research, including from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Dr. Daniel Goleman’s foundational studies, show that children with strong emotional skills are better equipped to lead, influence, and adapt in high-pressure environments. With stress, anxiety, and disconnection rising rapidly among young children, building these skills isn’t optional. It’s leadership preparation.

In recent years, conscious discipline, rooted in neuroscience and behavioral science, has gained ground. Dr. Becky Bailey’s conscious discipline framework emphasizes that children learn emotional regulation not through punishment or avoidance, but through modeled behavior and intentional connection. Studies at Florida State University and the University of Missouri have shown that children exposed to conscious discipline practices in early education demonstrate higher empathy, better conflict-resolution skills, and increased attention spans—vital 21st-century competencies.

The urgency is amplified by the reality of screen dependency. According to Common Sense Media, children aged 2 to 8 spend an average of 3.8 hours a day on screens outside of schoolwork. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long warned about the impact of excessive screen time on sleep, attention, and emotional regulation. Yet the conversation is no longer just about limiting screens, it’s about actively replacing those hours with meaningful, emotionally rich experiences.

Parents raising future leaders need direct, practical tools. Emotional coaching involves labeling emotions in the moment, validating children’s feelings, and guiding them toward productive coping skills. This does not mean overindulging or shielding children from difficulty. When we do this, we rob them of the small, everyday experiences that build self-esteem, confidence, and a healthy sense of worth. These moments, whether it’s resolving a disagreement with a friend or managing frustration when something doesn’t go their way, are essential for shaping resilient, capable leaders. Leadership is not just about leading others, it’s about trusting one’s voice and having the confidence to navigate challenges. That foundation is built in childhood.

Small, consistent routines foster a leadership mindset that lasts. Predictable morning rituals, mindful breathing exercises, and daily check-ins asking children how they feel equip them with the tools they need. Limiting screen time without a meaningful replacement leads to resistance. The key is substituting digital distractions with activities that nurture social-emotional learning (SEL): unstructured play, open-ended storytelling, collaborative projects, evening walks, and activities that demand teamwork and communication.

Schools must evolve too. Academic rigor alone no longer prepares children for the demands of the future. Programs integrating SEL show improved academic outcomes alongside measurable gains in empathy, resilience, and leadership. Schools that prioritize SEL are not just producing well-behaved students, they are raising leaders.

Parents often ask what they can do when the world feels overwhelming. The answer: Be present. Be intentional. Leave the phone away from the dinner table. Model calm when conflict arises. Validate feelings without rushing to fix them. Build predictable rituals. Replace screens with conversations. If we want our children to lead in the future with compassion and resilience, the work begins at home.

Posted on

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station Nonprofit celebrates 45 years and 45,000 animal rescues

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (PHSS) is Miami’s premier native wildlife hospital, which over time has evolved into a world-class wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, release, and education center. This nonprofit organization, now in its 45th year, is an internationally recognized seabird rehabilitation center that has rehabilitated and released more than 45,000 native animals.

Like most nonprofits, PHSS started with humble beginnings. In 1980, PHSS founders Harry and Darlene Kelton lived on a houseboat and had no experience in animal care. After moving their houseboat to the Pelican Harbor Marina, they found an injured brown pelican, removed a fishhook from its mouth, and decided to nurse it back to health.

When people learned of what the Keltons had done, they started bringing injured pelicans to their houseboat. What began as a love of pelicans quickly grew into a larger calling.

As more and more people began bringing injured pelicans and other animals to them, the Keltons knew it was time to expand, to create a real rescue and rehabilitation center. Others got involved, with the Miami-Dade Parks Department providing land, and in 1992, Miami-Dade County built the organization’s current facility, which is part of the Pelican Harbor Marina.

In 1996, former Executive Director Christopher Boykin led the effort to expand PHSS’s patient intake beyond seabirds to include all Florida native species, with the exception of rabies-vector animals such as racoons and foxes, as the facility did not have space to safely quarantine them. In 2023, PHSS treated more than 2,000 animals spanning 131 native species.

The Keltons remained involved with PHSS their entire lives and were known for helping revolutionize the rehabilitation and care of brown pelicans. Harry and Darlene developed a special medical procedure called “the cotton fish,” where they would stuff fish with cotton balls and feed them to a sick pelican with a hook in its stomach. Once the fish was digested, the cotton would cover the fishhook, and in many cases, the pelican would regurgitate it.

“We still use the cotton fish technique,” says Renata Schneider, DVM, a staff veterinarian at PHSS. “I would guess that it works 50% of the time. It’s noninvasive, so we always try that first. Then if we have to do a manual or surgical removal of the hooks, at least the metal is wrapped up in cotton.”

In October, PHSS will move to a new location along the Little River (about five minutes away from its current location). The new Wildlife Hospital and Education Center is 14 times larger than the current facility and will feature more ambassador and rehabilitation pens, a center for hosting school groups, natural history exhibits, and a manatee viewing location.

“At the new building, we plan to dramatically expand our educational programming as we will finally have space on-site to welcome larger groups of children and adults,” says Marianna Niero, PHSS’s communications manager. “We are planning enhanced tours, hands-on experiences, lectures, day camps, and other programming. The additional space will also allow us to offer more volunteer opportunities of various kinds, all with the aim of creating opportunities for people to connect with our native wildlife and to the ecosystems of South Florida.”

As PHSS has grown, it’s remained committed to its mission of improving the lives of sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife with the goal of releasing healthy animals back into the ecosystem, enabling future generations.

One of PHSS’s recent rescues was a great blue heron white morph, a rare, federally protected bird that was a victim of animal cruelty. A fisherman threw a rock at it and broke its wing. The bird required multiple surgeries, but they were able to rehabilitate and release it. “The bird’s wing looks droopy, so we still get calls from people thinking it’s injured,” says Niero. “It’s nice because usually when we release a bird we don’t know how it’s doing. But because of these calls, I know it’s still there and doing well.”

According to Niero, more than 90% of the animal injuries PHSS sees are because of humans, and 70% of seabird injuries are from improper disposal of fishing equipment. “It might be cruelty, a car accident, pollution, or loss of habitat because of overdevelopment,” explains Niero. “That’s why it’s important to support organizations like ours. We owe it to wildlife because we are taking so much from them. They have no space and their environment is so polluted because of us. We should give back as much as we can.”

Some of the animals that cannot be released back into the wild become ambassadors for PHSS and help with education and outreach programs. One such ambassador is Mowgli, a female screech owl that fell from the nest as a baby and was attacked by a cat. The attack left her with a permanent injury to her left wing that makes her unable to fly properly and therefore unreleasable.

In addition to being an ambassador, Mowgli is also a teacher, training young screech owls how to hunt. “When we raise orphaned baby screech owls, before we release them, we have to make sure they know how to hunt and survive in the wild,” explains Niero. “We put Mowgli in an enclosure with the young owls, and we release mice. Thanks to game cameras, remains, and by weighing the owls, we can tell if they are learning. We call this ‘mouse school,’ and once they pass mouse school, they are cleared for release if everything else is fine with them.”

PHSS also has a library program called “Books with Mowgli,” where children can meet Mowgli and learn more about owls.

In addition to its educational programs, PHSS is open to the public as well. Free tours are available Saturdays at 11 a.m., and self-guided audio tours are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a more in-depth experience, guided “Behind the Scenes” tours are available and must be booked in advance.

For more information or to get involved, visit PelicanHarbor.org.

Posted on

Savoring 360° views above Ft. Lauderdale

It’s 17 floors up on 17th Street where we watched the world spin around. Slowly. The Pier Sixty-Six high-rise has a rooftop lounge that’s fancy, elegant, and reservation only. Pier Top Lounge rotates in a slow circle for a full 360 degrees, where patrons can experience panoramic views from the top, looking out on the Intercoastal Waterway and the yachts docked there, Port Everglades and its cruise ships in the distance, stately buildings of Fort Lauderdale, and treetops below. A little further away, one can see the Atlantic Ocean.

Pier Sixty-Six is located on 32 waterfront acres in a designated historic landmark at a beach gateway in the Harbor Beach district. The property was built in 1957 and originally owned by Phillips Petroleum Co., sellers of Phillips 66 gasoline. In the early days, a Philips 66 gas station was out front and a fuel dock in back. This site has come a long way since then, and it’s now a completely renovated, multibuilding resort and condominium complex. It was announced earlier this year that the original revolving hot spot was finally back atop the iconic tower on the 17th Street Causeway. Closed in 2017 and reopened in January 2025 after a billion-dollar reconstruction, the property is back in business.

I’d heard that the famous Pier Sixty-Six had reopened, with the Pier Top Lounge at the top, and I wanted to go check it out. I had never been to a revolving rooftop bar before. My husband Art and I decided to go there on our anniversary, and we also reserved a table at a fine-dining restaurant on-site, Calusso, which serves food inspired by the French and Italian rivieras. Our plan was to first visit Pier Top (which has a dress code), sip cocktails and take some photos, and then head down to dinner.

When we arrived, we found out that Pier Top Lounge was not yet open for the evening, so we went to sit in the beautiful hotel lobby overlooking the outdoor pool. Art walked over to Calusso to see if we could move our dinner reservation a little later, and he told them it was our anniversary and we were going to do Pier Top first. Calusso’s general manager graciously offered to call Pier Top and let them know we were going up there on our anniversary night and to give us complimentary prosecco. Nice touch!

When Pier Top opened at 5 p.m., we got in the first elevator traveling up with the maître d’ from the lobby to the top of the tower. Walking out of the elevator into the fully windowed, circular structure above the city, we were greeted with striking sights, both inside and out. The host took us to seats at a plush couch with two elegant cocktail tables close to the windows, and we scanned the menu of hors d’oeuvres and decided to try the veggie appetizer to go with our prosecco. Then we strolled around the big, round room, circling the lush retro bar in the center, to get the full 360-degree views of the surrounding area outside the windows.

We stepped through a door outside to a large balcony area overlooking the waters of the Intercoastal, for some closer views. A few patrons were hanging out there in cozy seats. Walking back inside, we realized that our original seats had moved to a different location over Fort Lauderdale, as the whole Pier Top rotated! We now had a new view from our windows. At first, we had been overlooking a marina of boats; later, our view looked out on a city skyline.

It takes about 66 minutes for the rooftop lounge to make a full revolution, not enough to send your drinks flying. If you look down at the floor, you can see it slowly turn. We enjoyed our hour in the rotating bar, savoring our prosecco and the spectacular views, and then it was time to head down to Calusso for our dinner reservation.

Our evening of impressive elegance continued as we were seated in a very comfortable semicircle booth, with views of Calusso’s patio and the marina. The ambiance, service, food, and wine were all first-rate. The server and sommelier treated us like royalty. They knew it was our anniversary and provided us with champagne at the beginning of the meal and a special dessert at the end—both complimentary again! We also shared the Lobster Parmigiana and other delectable dishes.

From the spinning top of the tower to the decadent gourmet meal in the restaurant below, we had a night we’re not likely to forget.

Posted on

Gumbo Limbo Come for the views, nature, conservation

If you would like a nature center with a coastal tropical hammock, located on a barrier island, complete with a boardwalk stroll through the coastal forest, a lush butterfly garden, resident sea turtles, and, most impressive of all, a 40-foot-tall observation tower featuring a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area, look no further than Gumbo Limbo in Boca Raton.

Driving along Route A1A in the past, I would see signs for Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and from the outside it seemed like a nice, tranquil park at the edge of the Intercoastal Waterway. So my friend Susan and I went to check it out recently. I have mobility issues until I get my knee replaced, and stairs or steep inclines are hard for me. I knew that this venue boasted an ADA-accessible switchback ramp to ascend to “Jacob’s Outlook,” at the top of the observation tower, and I wanted to be able to make my way up there and enjoy the spectacular views.

And did we ever. After entering the main building, we were handed a map and made our way out to the Coastal Hammock Boardwalk, a 1/3-mile elevated walk through the forest leading to the new, modern observation tower. There are two ways to traverse the circular boardwalk to reach the tower: a longer path curving around to the base of a large wooden staircase, or a short walk to the ADA-compliant switchback ramp. We chose the latter.

The impressive observation tower, which juts through the green canopy of trees, is just a year old. The old tower had fallen into disrepair and was torn down. For years, nothing was there. But then work began on this state-of-the-art structure, which finally opened to the public in June 2024, and it’s stunning. The 700-linear-foot ramp is spacious and wide, with nice wood craftsmanship and handrails on either side. As we made our way upward, we followed the shallow-ramped walkway while it wrapped around the structure and switched directions, and we stopped occasionally to look out at the different views.

Emerging up in the fresh air at the apex of the tower, we found it nice and breezy—and the panoramic view from Jacob’s Outlook? Fantastic! We could see the Intercoastal, all the trees and nature below us, nice homes, and landmarks of the city in the distance. We slowly walked around and took it all in. Once a knot of visitors headed back down, Susan and I sat on one of the benches and relaxed in the peaceful quiet. A plaque nearby read, “A vista to inspire the soul from the depths of the ocean to the skies above.” And that’s what it was.

The 20-acre Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was founded in 1984, a cooperative project of the city of Boca Raton, the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, Florida Atlantic University, and the Coastal Stewards. “A beacon for environmental education, research, and conservation,” it provides refuge to plants and animals, including some rare or endangered. It is free to enter the park, but we contributed to a donation box at their welcome desk.

Gumbo Limbo’s Marine Science Lab, run by FAU, is well known in this area. Its Visitor’s Gallery, with an educational display, was designed to create public awareness about the fragility of sea turtles, South Florida’s ecosystems, and the Atlantic Ocean. FAU’s Marine Lab graduate students serve as community outreach ambassadors at the gallery.

The main venue was under some remodeling and construction when Susan and I visited, so we didn’t get to see everything. We walked around the outdoor marine aquariums, which usually hold a variety of native fish, resident sea turtles, and other marine animals. Gumbo Limbo also includes a sea turtle sculpture garden, the butterfly garden, an amphitheater, an outdoor classroom, and the Ashley Trail, a mulch-and-sand pathway that leads to the “Chiki Hut” overlooking the Intercoastal.

We had trouble finding the butterfly garden—the signage wasn’t clear, and because of the construction going on, we had to walk out to one of the two parking lots and then into a separate shady section of trees and bushes to find the butterflies flitting among the flowers. But once there, it was very secluded and bucolic.

There also is a sea turtle hospital on the property, which focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, researching, and releasing sea turtles. If anyone encounters an injured sea turtle or other wildlife, they can call the 24-hour rescue line (561-212-8691). Gumbo Limbo is a special place, and well worth a visit.

For more information, go to www.myboca.us/2485/Gumbo-Limbo-Nature-Center.

Proudly powered by WordPress