Category: Family

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Parkland girl finds her heart horse

Copa is an off-the-track thoroughbred that raced under the name It’s All Copacetic. But when he first arrived at Twine Barn Sanctuary in Parkland, things weren’t all copacetic. Twine Barn Sanctuary founder and president Crystal Coan knew she had her work cut out for her.

“Copa would jump or bolt off at a gallop over every little thing, even moving shadows on the ground from trees he was standing under,” recalls Coan. “Sometimes even his own shadow!” Coan had Copa assessed to see if he had any underlying pain or injuries that would make him behave this way. There were none.

“When he was given the green light to work, it became clear that he’d learned his naughty behavior meant people would dismount and he wouldn’t have to work anymore,” explains Coan. So she decided to work with Copa to curb his dangerous behavior.

Coan and Copa went on a number of thrilling rides she refers to as “flying dragon rolls,” one of which threw her hip out for weeks. Still, she refused to give up on Copa.

“I never once thought about giving up on him,” affirms Coan. “He was super sweet and always wanted to be hanging over your shoulder, so I knew with a lot of patience, desensitization work, and regular exercise, he had the potential to become someone’s heart horse.”

And that’s exactly what happened. When Mikaella Alzein met Copa at Twine Barn Sanctuary, it was love at first sight. Mikaella was only 9 years old at the time and hadn’t started riding yet. The idea of riding Copa gave her the motivation to get started and stick with it.

“When I first saw Copa, I immediately knew he was my favorite horse,” recalls Mikaella. After a few weeks of training, Coan allowed Mikaella to ride Copa for the first time on a lead rope and only at a walk. “I was so happy,” enthuses Mikaella. “I knew I wanted to work with this horse. I could see us going far and having a future together.”

A couple of months later, on her first ride off the lead rope, Mikaella realized how much work it would take to achieve the future she envisioned with Copa. Copa bucked the entire length of the field they were riding through, and Mikaella fell off the 17-hand horse. Copa’s bucking, which was unpredictable, happened during many of their rides and never deterred Mikaella.

“Mikaella would smile, dust herself off, tell him she loved him, and get right back on,” says Coan. “Sure gave us and her parents some scares, but she wouldn’t give up on him.”

“If you want to be a good rider, you’re gonna also have to face your fears,” explains Mikaella. “I faced my fears while he was bucking.”

To help with Copa’s bucking, Mikaella’s parents brought in horse trainers Igo Sifuentes and Irene Arshad. Even though they knew their daughter was determined, they still had their doubts about Copa and made sure Mikaella always wore a helmet and safety vest when riding him.

“At the beginning I thought there was no hope for him,” recalls Jaelke Alzein, Mikaella’s mother. “He would start good and then go wild like a rodeo. I thought the horse was crazy.” But Coan and Sifuentes assured her that Copa just needed a lot of love and consistency.

Mikaella stepped up and began spending hours with Copa in the barn to build love and trust between them. “Every day she took her books and read to him, and sang to him,” recalls Alzein. “She still does that to this day.”

During the summer, instead of going on vacation, Mikaella spent her days at the barn cleaning stalls, feeding the horses, and, of course, bonding with Copa.

As their bond deepened, Mikaella was even able to fall asleep beside Copa. “The first time I slept in his stall, I woke up with him playing with my hair,” she says. “It was a super calming, special feeling.”

“She’s the kind of kid that he needed and he’s the heart horse she’d always dreamt about,” enthuses Coan. “It was a match made in heaven.”

In early 2023, Mikaella started jumping, and within seven months she became the Grand Champion in Parkland in her division. Her dream was to be able to take Copa to a show and compete with him.

In October 2023, Mikaella started jumping with Copa. “I was so excited when that happened,” she enthuses. “It felt like I was flying.”

In late 2023, after a year and a half of working and bonding with Copa, Mikaella took him to his first show in Parkland. It didn’t go well. “He was freaking out,” recalls Jaelke Alzein. “He wanted to jump out of the arena.”

But with love, patience, and positive reinforcement, Copa and Mikaella are now successfully competing in shows together. “He behaves so well. He looks like a champion, and he behaves like one,” says Alzein. “He’s very calm.”

Five months ago, Mikaella became Copa’s official owner. Since then, they have competed in five shows together, and Coan couldn’t be happier for the pair. “Mikaella was determined to learn and grow with him so they could compete together one day, and I thank the universe her parents have supported them the whole way,” says Coan.

The Alzeins’ latest form of support comes in the form of a 3-acre property in Parkland. “This horse changed our lives completely,” says Jaelke Alzein. “We’re finally going to be able to bring Copa home with us. He’s part of the family and we want him with us.”

Mikaella, who is now realizing the original vision she had for her and Copa, has her own set of aspirations for the former racehorse.

“I want him to have the life he thought he would never have,” explains Mikaella. “I’m sure if you told him a couple of years ago that he was going to go to a nice barn, start training as an athlete, and be a champion, he wouldn’t have believed it. I want him to have a name, and be able to jump 3 meters, and go to the Wellington Equestrian Festival.”

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A boat ride back in time to Cap’s Place

Where in Broward County can you go to dine on fresh seafood at a historic place where you know that Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Al Capone also once dined?

Why, it’s at Cap’s Place Island Restaurant, a national landmark and Broward County’s oldest restaurant. Located in a secluded spot off Lighthouse Point on the Intracoastal Waterway, the venue’s way-back roots include being a 1920s casino and a rum-running speakeasy. Cap’s Place can only be reached by a dedicated motor launch, and I decided to check it out recently with three others.

I made an advance reservation through their website for 7 p.m. on a Saturday, and we arrived around 6:30 to the address listed for their boat dock, found a space in public parking close by, and waited to board Cap’s small ferry, which runs back and forth continuously to take customers to the restaurant when it’s open (five days a week). The boat ride was short and scenic, and we arrived at the wooden pier near the restaurant a little early. Walking around, we could enjoy the sun setting over this waterfront site, which is nestled in coastal pine and cypress, with various resident cats sauntering around.

The property is anything but fancy looking, resembling a series of old wood-frame shacks from the outside. Everything looks much like it did when it opened back in 1928. Inside the first structure is Cap’s very kitschy and quaint bar area, with an ancient cash register and lots of cool memorabilia. This building includes the only restrooms for the restaurant. Back outside, past the patio area, is the main structure, which contains adjoining rustic dining rooms with creaky wooden floors, open-rafter ceilings, and weathered walls covered in pictures, old papers, and more mementos.

Cap’s Place was listed as a historical site on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, and the place is musty, chockful of old things to look at, and a fun place to wander around and be transported back in time. It felt like we were in log cabins or the well-worn lodge of a campsite, but with nice views of the water.

According to Cap’s, the restaurant “has hosted the famous and infamous for decades,” including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellers, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, George Harrison, Errol Flynn, the Temptations, Susan Hayward, Gloria Swanson, and Joe Namath. Photos line the walls showing Cap’s famous customers.

Yellowed old newspaper articles also hang on the walls of the various rooms, with headlines such as “We Remember Churchill,” “Cap’s Place: Untouched by Time,” and “A Place Older Than Lighthouse Point.” We saw two walls displaying a large collection of historic currency from different states and countries, along with brittle stock certificates and numerous framed coins from yesteryear. You really get a sense of being in another era at this place, and that enhances the quirky charm.

The fresh cuisine was good too. We had an excellent server who gave us the history of Cap’s Place and impeccable details of everything on the menu—descriptions of the specials, what the entrees come with, and favored options for our sides. She was right about everything she told us. To order mixed drinks, you have to trek to the bar, but we had wine and food brought to our table with fast service. The crabcakes there have a great reputation, and mine were perfect. Their hearts of palm salad is also famous. As is the key lime pie, which we gobbled up.

Some regulars take the boat over just to go to that landmark bar, with its down-home ambience. Cap’s Place is not like any place else. After dinner, we wandered around the property a little more, then headed back to the pier and got right on the boat. We were whisked back in the dark, with lights twinkling on either sides of the water. Definitely a nice evening.

For more information and reservations, go to capsplace.com.

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The sweetest of tours

“Come take a tour through candy’s history at one of the most unique candy stores you’ve ever seen. You’ll be introduced to the history of candy and learn how your favorite candies are made and packaged. You’ll walk through rooms with two-story ceilings decorated top to bottom, and one room covered entirely in candy!”

That was the pitch. And my son and I decided to check it out. It wasn’t exactly Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory—more like a candy museum and behind-the-scenes tour. But it was a fun (and delicious) way to spend a little time on a rainy Saturday, at the Bulk Candy Store in West Palm Beach, a family business run by brothers Brian and Ken Shenkman with their parents and various relatives. The tour starts and ends in the retail store of their building.

On this small-group tour, each attendee will receive candy samples and a 15% discount in the decadent two-room shop. There you’ll find bagged candies of every variety, different kinds of fudge, a long counter displaying 50 flavors of gourmet popcorn, a section of beautiful rock candy, a “Pez corner,” lots of bulk candy in primary colors, bins of every brand of candy you’ve ever heard of, including nostalgic treats from our youth, and a display case of store-made chocolates and other delicacies.

We started our tour back in time, in a room where the history of candy is colorfully illustrated, and our tour guide Ahnaca narrated a sweet trip to the beginnings of candy making, with lots of fun facts and fascinating stories. She started by describing how Egyptians back in the day made their sweets out of honey—“Nature’s natural candy”—and talked about how the bees work, following up with the offer of a taste of fresh honey made locally. We learned how some candies’ names came about, how certain ones changed their look, and which treats have been the most popular, among other interesting facts.

After discussion of the history of candy and all its fascinating flavors, a black curtain gets opened and the group enters the next room of the tour. This second room includes a replica of a candy-making conveyor belt and a video showing and telling how different candies are created. We got to learn about the chromatic steps in producing multicolored Gummy Worms!

The next curtain leads to a room that’s all about the manufacturing and packaging of some of our favorite candies. We saw replicas of a factory’s machinery, watched a video showing the processes, and listened to Ahnaca tell us some surprising facts. After that, we were shown their “Wrappers from Around the World” wall, with candy wrappers from all corners of the planet, and we learned which ones are a big hit in certain countries, such as Turkish Delight, Lacta Big Time, Dorina Riza (and Keks), Mikado chocolate as well as Icelandic chocolate, Mani Moto, Aero Truffle Tiramisu, and Mokba. We also found out about the many different flavors of Mentos around the world, including in China and Japan.

Throughout the rest of our tour, we saw walls with candy art decked out from floor to ceiling; a section with Pez dispensers of all sizes and kinds; a fun display about Willy Wonka; and lots of giant stuffed M&Ms lounging around. In the last room, each tour attendee can get a plastic bag and fill it up with Tootsie Rolls, Gummy Worms, and Hershey’s Kisses of varied flavors (my favorite was sugar cookie), among other candies. Then we were released back into the shop, where we used our discount to buy lots of delectable treats. Sweet!

The Bulk Candy Store is located at 235 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach. Cost for a tour is $12.95 for age 13 and over, $8.95 for kids, and free for 3 and under. Tours are available weekdays and Saturdays, and reservations are required (at bulkcandystore.com/tours). To book a tour same day, call (561) 540-1600.

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A holiday gift guide

With the holidays right around the corner, there’s no better time to find something that’s special and unique. We’ve curated this year’s gift guide with creative items from our communities. Friends, family, and even pets will love these handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gifts, including some exclusive promotions for our readers.

LittleLovelyDay

etsy.com/Shop/LittleLovelyDay

Custom-beaded jewelry designed and made in Parkland! All handmade by Bridget Pearsall, every item can be customized to suit your individual wants and needs. Shop the many selections of predesigned items, or contact Pearsall with your special requests. It always feels great to be able to give someone a more personalized gift. You may not know where to start, but she will work with you to create the best jewelry possible for the person you have in mind. Grab something beautiful for your family, friends, teachers, coworkers, or the most important person, yourself! Wholesale orders are also available, and you can contact Pearsall via Instagram or Etsy with any inquiries.

Use promo code PARKLAND10 for 10% off Instagram: @littlelovelyday

That Mom With a Laser, Inc.

etsy.com/shop/ThatMomWithALaser

Discover the charm of locally crafted gifts by That Mom With a Laser. Known for her fun personality on social media, this local handmade influencer offers personalized treasures perfect for the holiday season. From wooden ornaments to custom-engraved cutting boards, find unique gifts with a local touch. Explore online for unforgettable presents this year. Visit @thatmomwithalaser on Instagram  or TikTok to see how she makes her creations come to life!

Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ThatMomWithALaser

Naturloom

Naturloom.com

Naturloom is a Parkland-based, small family business. Products are made of 100% organic Turkish cotton, all of which have GOTS-certified textile. Therefore, everything is organic and natural at all stages of cotton, from seed to product. This business has a wide selection of products, such as muslin blanket throws in all sizes, baby blankets, pillow shams, and oversized beach towels. Their inspiration comes from nature, as can be seen in the company name and the color scheme.

Use promo code NATURLOOM10 for 10% off

Lei Custom Collars

leicustomcollars.com

Designed with the utmost care and made specifically for your own furry friend, Lei Custom Collars offers personalized, handmade pet collars with matching tags made from the highest-quality leather and crystals for your unique and custom order. Their love for dogs is their inspiration. They have always been surrounded by dogs and showcase their passion by creating unique designs that reflect the inspiring connection between humans and their pets. For new products and promotions, follow them on Instagram and Facebook at leicustomcollars.

Use promo code PARKLANDER for a 10% discount on your order

3GGlamGifts

3GGlamGifts, based in Parkland, creates personalized gifts for all occasions. Customized party favors, apparel, jewelry boxes, canvas pouches, gift baskets, college items, and more are offered in any theme and in any budget! Order through direct message on Instagram and Facebook at 3GGlamGifts.

Mention PARKLANDER for 10% off your holiday gifts

Don’t Forget the Gift

etsy.com/shop/DontForgetTheGift  

When looking for a unique personalized gift, look no further than Don’t Forget the Gift. They specialize in personalized Hanukkah menorahs, candlesticks, and mahjongg-themed snack bowls. These gift items are locally made, and they make the perfect gift for the special person in your life. Check out their full selection in their Etsy store.

Parklander readers can use the code PKLD10 to receive 10% off orders

 My Kid’s Dream

mykidsdream.com

My Kid’s Dream is a magical online store where childhood dreams take a tangible shape. It is a family-run business with a simple mission: to bring joy to kids’ lives by creating personalized blankets, canvases, and customized books. This store offers the perfect gifts for the little ones in your life!

Use promo code PARKLANDER for 15% off any item

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Immerse yourself in tropical Flamingo Gardens

There is a 60-acre botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary in Davie, featuring more than 3,000 species of tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees, and home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife. Their slogan: “We ask that you take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.”

My friend and I went there recently, and we adhered to their instructions. It’s a beautiful, natural setting. It’s called Flamingo Gardens, and yes, it does have many pink flamingos, but it also has a lot more.

Established in 1927, Flamingo Gardens is one of the oldest botanical gardens in South Florida. It was founded by Floyd and Jane Wray, originally as an orange grove. Specialized botanical gardens here include naturalized orchids, cycads, heliconias, and more. The arboretum contains some of the largest trees in Florida. The state began keeping the Florida Champion Tree Register in 1975, and Flamingo Gardens boasts 15 Champion Trees. One of them, the Indian jujube, is also a National Champion, the largest of its species in the country. We were quite impressed by the majestic scenery surrounding us as we toured the venue.

Flamingo Gardens is part of Long Key, a natural oak hammock containing an untouched hardwood forest. There is also the Wetlands Walkway, where visitors can take nature walks and see all kinds of birds. In addition, throughout the area, peacocks, iguanas, and cats roam around, as this is their home.

Flamingo Gardens is owned and operated by the Floyd L. Wray Memorial Foundation, started by Jane Wray in 1969 in honor of her late husband. She sold off much of the original property but kept 60 acres for the wildlife refuge, where animals from the site’s “backyard,” the Everglades, are cared for, as a guide informed us. Wray’s goal was “to preserve the core property for future generations and emphasize the flora, fauna, and history of the Florida Everglades.”

The Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary is a place that takes in injured or nonreleasable native wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, otters, hawks, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacocks, and, of course, flamingos. It also houses threatened species such as the American alligator, American snapping turtle, Florida burrowing owl, wood stork, bald eagle, and Florida panther, which now serve as animal ambassadors in educating the public about the Everglades.

Nestled in the hammock of 200-year-old oaks is the Wray Home Museum, which was built in 1933 as a weekend residence for the Wray family. It is now a cultural landmark and the oldest residence in Broward County west of University Drive. It has been restored to provide visitors “with a glimpse of life in South Florida in the 1930s.” My friend and I toured it and enjoyed the historical items from that period of time. We also were amused by the peacocks that hang around outside. One magnificent male kept strutting around in front of the museum building, showing his plumage and doing a little dance to woo the nearby peahens. He didn’t have any luck, but he put on a good show for us.

We ate lunch at the Flamingo Pond Snack Bar and then jumped on a tram at the nearby station, which picks up passengers throughout the day and takes us on a tour around the property. We had a very good tram tour guide who gave us lots of information about the cultural history, special features, and verdant nature all around us.

Flamingo Gardens has something for everyone, including the Wildlife Encounter (held at various times), a tropical rainforest, a butterfly pavilion, a pollinator garden, a tropical fern section, a cactus and succulent garden, and even a wedding gazebo. And, off the beaten track, there were lots of cool animals to see. We visited a variety of them in their enclosures and were thrilled when a parrot said “Hello!” to us when we walked by.

It’s a lovely place to spend some time. You won’t regret it.

Flamingo Gardens is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. For information, go to FlamingoGardens.org.

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Meet Big Poppa Farms: a Parkland animal sanctuary

Nestled on two and a half acres near the Parkland Equestrian Center is an animal sanctuary called Big Poppa Farms. When Jodi and Pete Sullivan first purchased the property in 2017, they had no idea that in a few years’ time, they would be running a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in their own backyard.

“It wasn’t something that was planned,” affirms Jodi. “It just kind of happened for us. It kind of rescued us.”

Pete had always wanted a Highland cow, but due to heat concerns, they decided that it wasn’t the best idea, so they opted for his second choice, a large draft horse. When Jodi began searching for one online, she found a Belgian draft horse in a kill pen up north and decided to rescue it.

Jodi’s research also led to a woman who frequents these auctions and acts as a buyer for rescuers, sending photos and videos of the animals and then bidding on the ones that rescuers choose to save. This woman secured the Sullivans’ first rescue horse, Samson.

While purchasing Samson may have been simple, getting him to Florida was not. “Any animal purchased at auction has to be vetted and quarantined,” explains Jodi. “You can’t just bring any animal in from another state. It has to have a health certificate and a negative Coggins test.” A Coggins test is done to ensure that a horse is not carrying equine infectious anemia.

Between health care and transportation, costs can run thousands of dollars per horse. Despite the hefty bills, Jodi and Pete continue to rescue animals from auctions. “She wants to help animals instead of just purchasing them,” says Pete of Jodi.

While some may not consider animals purchased from auctions as rescues, Jodi and Pete are quick to remind them what fate awaits many of the animals at these auctions. “You’re bidding against kill buyers,” explains Jodi. “Kill buyers go to these auctions and they ship these animals to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered.”

When deciding which of the many animals at auction belong at Big Poppa Farms, Jodi relies on her intuition. “I have to feel it in my heart,” she says.

And when her intuition kicks in, there is no stopping Jodi, as evidenced by Red, a quarterhorse she purchased online from an auction on New Year’s Eve while at sea. “We were on a cruise ship and she’s on her phone watching an auction,” recalls Pete.

When Jodi saw Red, she knew he was the one. Pete didn’t want another horse at the time, but Jodi refused to take no for an answer. “I told him, you’re gonna gamble, I’m buying a horse,” laughs Jodi.

As Pete and Jodi acquired more animals, Jodi left her corporate job to focus on the farm full-time. “At that point, we were just doing stuff for us,” explains Pete. “Eventually, it evolved into a sanctuary.”

Among the animals that currently call Big Poppa Farms home are Cher, a miniature donkey so wild they had to hire a cowboy to help catch her, and Albert, another miniature donkey bonded to Cher. There’s also Zeus, the draft horse; Tortilla the tortoise who lives in a miniature replica of the main barn; and a black three-legged cat who underwent amputation after being shot in the leg but—incredibly—hasn’t lost her affection toward humans. There is also a lovable group of rabbits, pigs, dwarf ponies, miniature horses, and two bearded dragons.

Pete initially wanted the farm to remain private, but as the number of animals grew, so did the cost of running the farm. In order to keep their operation sustainable, Jodi and Pete decided to open their doors to the Parkland community in February of this year and filed for 501(c)(3) status, which was recently granted.

“I knew I wanted to do something with kids and the community and events,” exclaims Jodi, who was thrilled about opening Big Poppa Farms to the public.

This past summer, Jodi hosted her first summer learning experience for children. Instead of charging parents a fee, Jodi asked that the kids bring a food donation for the animals. “I think it’s more important that parents take the kids shopping and let them choose what food to bring from my list. Then they can see how we chop that food up and give it to the animals,” explains Jodi.

Despite their newfound nonprofit status, Jodi and Pete are not looking to become a huge entity. Instead, they are focused on making a positive impact in Parkland. “I want to become something for our community that people can enjoy, especially the children,” enthuses Jodi. “It’s so nice to see a child who may have been afraid of an animal eventually come up and hug it. You see a smile on their face they’re not going to get anywhere else in Parkland.”

For Pete, Big Poppa Farms is about compassion. “I don’t think there’s enough compassion in the world,” he reflects. “So if we can give a little bit of that here, that’s a good thing.”

Big Poppa Farms is open to the public by appointment only. They offer tours of the property, meet-and-greets with the animals, and seasonal events.

The farm is also available for private events, such as children’s birthday parties, and offers a unique venue in addition to an immaculate barn and menagerie of animals—an antique tearoom straight out of a little girl’s dream. The room, a nod to Jodi’s former antique business “She’s So Shabby,” comes complete with vintage costumes for dress-up, and a pair of bearded dragons with their own party outfits.

For more information about Big Poppa Farms, visit www.bigpoppafarms.com.

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Get your art on

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

 Take a drive to Miami to immerse yourself in the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh in “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” a 360-degree, digital art exhibition that invites you to step into the universe of the Dutch painter and see his works like they haven’t been seen before.

The organizers, Exhibition Hub, say that digital art has been shown to have health benefits, including lowering stress, blood pressure, and anxiety, and is soothing to the soul.

The exhibit is installed at the historic 1926 Olympia Theater in Miami with its Mediterranean courtyard. Step into a 20,000-square-foot light and sound spectacular and take a virtual reality trip through eight of Van Gogh’s works and their source of inspiration in “A Day in the Life of the Artist in Arles, France.”

Explore his life, his work, and his secrets through cutting-edge digital projections, a one-of-a-kind virtual reality experience, and an atmospheric light and sound show. Become completely immersed in the works of art around you, and dive deep into the world created by Van Gogh’s imagination and brush strokes.

Five iconic spring paintings to spot at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience include “Almond Blossoms,” “Fishing in Spring,” “Sunflowers,” “Irises,” and “Flowering Orchid.”

The experience is offered in both English and Spanish and runs through Labor Day. Tickets are available through Fever at vangoghexpo.com/miami.

Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami

While you’re in Miami, check out two spring exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA): “Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” and the South Florida Cultural Consortium exhibition. Both exhibitions are on view through Oct. 1.

“If You Really Knew” provides an intimate and focused look at the career of Birmingham, Alabama-born artist and musician Lonnie Holley. The exhibition, curated by MOCA curator Adeze Wilford, features 70 works including foundational “sandstone” sculptures, new works on paper, and large-scale quilt paintings depicting faces. Known for his unique style of art that draws inspiration from his life experiences, Holley often incorporates found objects and everyday materials into his work.

The South Florida Cultural Consortium exhibition brings together 12 artists working across various media, including sculpture, film, and site-specific installations. The exhibition, hosted by MOCA, provides a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the artistic talent in the South Florida art scene. The 12 artists are Farley Aguilar, Gabino A. Castelán, Nereida Garcia-Ferraz, Moira Holohan, Francesco Lo Castro, Tory Mata, Beatriz Monteavaro, Ema Ri, Asser Saint-Val, Carin Wagner, Carrington Ware, and Addison Wolff.

For more information, visit mocanomi.org.

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County—Biennial

Closer to home, head north to Lake Worth for a visit to the Biennial exhibit sponsored by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County and curated by guest curator Juana Williams. On display are works by more than 30 artists, showcasing the diversity and breadth of work created by artists living and working in the Palm Beaches.

A juried show, presented every two years, the exhibition features works that span a variety of media, including video, painting, photography, and sculpture.

If you go, check out the three award-winning artists from the show: Boca Raton-based artist Fulya Acikgoz earned Best of Show for her oil painting “Turkish Porcelain Plates.” Delray Beach-based artist Lucia Gomez earned second place for her mixed-media oil painting “City Memoirs No. 2853.” And Lake Park-based artist Lupe Lawrence earned third place for her oil painting “I Will Fly a Kite.”

Other regional artists on display include Boca Raton’s Gregory Dirr, a multidisciplinary artist, painter and sculptor Nadine Saitlin, printmaker Ted Shaine, and Delray Beach-based painter Karen H. Salup.

The exhibit is free and open to the public through June 24. Visit www.palmbeachculture.com.

Coral Springs Museum of Art—Juan Abuela, “Pressure”

Fascination with everyday objects, the utilitarian versus the nonutilitarian, is the focus of Juan Abuela’s work. The Cuban-born, Miami-based artist’s work is the consequence of his passion for painting, design, and carpentry. He appropriates different objects to discuss why and how they are stripped of their functions, transformed, and revealed in their new design with the intention to balance matter and spirit.

Abuela researches the inner world and what is not seen: the hidden, mystical, and intangible. It emphasizes the importance of a necessary balance with its counterpart (appearance, brightness, color, tangibility, etc.). These “two universes” must balance in order to function. His work represents the parallel between these two worlds and reflects the different attitudes and behaviors that can create conflict.

The exhibit runs through June 17. Also on display: “Selections from the Permanent Collection,” through June 17; and Luke Jenkins and “Empty Walls,” running June 26 to Aug. 12. Visit CoralSpringsMuseum.org.

 Cornell Museum at Old School Square

 Cornell Museum at Old School Square in downtown Delray Beach presents “The World of Water.” This exhibition explores artistic interpretation and connection to water, the environment, conservation, and sustainability. The showcase includes a total of 43 pieces by 20 artists, featuring textural elements in mixed-media sculpture, installations, glass, digital and film photography, and oil and watercolor paintings.

See glass artist Josh Fradis’s glass sculpture of mother and baby jellyfish titled “Just Follow Me”; conceptual photographer Kasha McKee’s photographs of flamingos splashing in the West Palm Beach fountain; and Boca Raton artist and printmaker Ron Garrett’s “Manatee Lament,” an 84 x 32 x 26, mixed-media sculpture of a motorboat-scarred manatee bringing attention to the environmental threats faced by these “tearful, life-sized gentle giants.”

Boca Raton multimedia artist Lynn Doyal’s photograph, titled “Dew from Heaven,” a digital image painted with acrylic and hand-stitched with beads and thread, depicts an original photograph of a dew drop on a leaf enhanced with her mixed-media technique.

Multidisciplinary artist Dave Rosenthal brings the sound of water to life to augment the viewing experience with a sensory and auditory musical experience.

The exhibition is curated by the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority cultural arts director, Marusca Gatto, and Debby Coles-Dobay of Art Moves You.

All work is for sale by artist. The exhibit runs through June 25. For more information, visit oldschoolsquare.org.

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Five places to be a kid again

Spring is the season of reinvigoration–a time to renew your energy and zest for life. As adults, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks and obligations that seem to run our lives—work, kids, family, groceries, home maintenance—to the point that we sometimes forget that we just need to relax and have fun. It’s an integral part of our overall happiness and well-being.

So, if you’re ready to blow off some steam, or just get out there and have some good, old-fashioned fun, here are five places you can go to feel like a kid again:

  1. Silverball Retro Arcade

19 NE Third Ave., Delray Beach

Travel back in time and play all of your favorite classic pinball and arcade games. This unique venue has a collection of 200 games ranging from 1931 to the 2000s, including Pac-Man,

Galaga, Centipede, Mortal Kombat, a large variety of pinball machines, and original Coney Island Skeeball. Bonus: no coins necessary. One flat entry fee gets you unlimited play inside. Tuesdays are two for $25 all day, so bring a friend.

  1. K1 Speedway

2950 Stirling Road, Hollywood

If you were a Mario Kart fan, you may want to get behind the wheel of the high-performance, zero-emission 20hp electric karts found at K1 Speedway. Capable of reaching speeds of 45 mph, these karts will have you zipping around your friends in no time. Keep the fun going off the track at their arcade, which has billiards and air hockey.

  1. Sky Zone

1834 SW Second St., Pompano Beach

Jump into fun with an array of airborne activities designed to defy gravity. Grab some air on the wall-to-wall trampoline courts, challenge your friends to a SkyJoust, and dive into the Foam Zone at this aerial playground. Worried you’re too old for a trampoline park? Check out the company motto: “All ages (young and old) are welcome at Sky Zone. Because limits aren’t really our thing.”

  1. Artvilla’s Sip, Paint, and Glow Party

11395 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton

Sign up for a psychedelic art experience that might trigger memories of Lite-Brite. Choose any painting in the Artvilla gallery, and they’ll help you recreate it in a party atmosphere complete with music and disco lights. The best part is you’ll watch your painting glow to life in the dark. Bonus: The venue is BYOB, so feel free to bring your own adult libations.

  1. Family Paintball Center, Miami

220 NW 137th Ave., Miami

If you loved nerf guns, laser tag, manhunt, or Call of Duty, paintball should bring back some good memories. And at Family Paintball Center, they let you take your imagination a step further with three different playfields: Speedball, made with artificial turf and inflatable bunkers; Battleground, an urban-style field with a diner and gas station; and Wild West, a fully reimagined, Old West-style town.

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‘Freddy the Ref’ Honoring Fred Yarmuth for over 30 years of service

It all started one day in 1993 when Parkland resident Fred Yarmuth, 70, was driving down the street and saw some kids playing ball in a field. “Hmm,” he thought, “I might like to be their referee.”

Little did he know that more than 30 years later, he would come to be known as Parkland’s “legendary referee,” or as Broward County Mayor Michael Udine nicknamed him affectionately, “Freddy the Ref.”

Born in Passaic, NJ, Yarmouth moved to Louisville, KY, as a child and attended the University of Louisville. He later worked for the now-defunct restaurant chain Victoria Station, and then he worked with his dad in construction and cleaning new homes.

In 1979 he moved to North Miami Beach, a move that would define the rest of his life. He met and married his wife, Karen. The two have two daughters, Lindsay, 37, an attorney, and Brittany, 33, who works for a health-care company, and a 6-year-old grandson, Brandon, who just started playing flag football and basketball in Parkland sports.

“I try not to ref him,” jokes Yarmuth.

While he may refrain from refereeing his grandson, Yarmuth has been an essential part of many children’s and families’ sporting lives in Parkland. He made his mark on Parkland sports and has been integral to the growth of the Parkland sports leagues over the past three decades.

Yarmuth is known for his patience, compassion, and kindness, and he takes time out to teach others the rules of the game and the importance of sportsmanship. He has left a lasting impact on the development of young athletes, both on and off the field.

He volunteers countless hours working with others to improve the sports services and facilities, and many say he is the true heart of recreational sports in Parkland.

“For as long as I can remember, Freddy has been a vital part of Parkland rec sports, and as a result, a part of the Brier family as well,” says Simeon Brier, Parkland’s vice mayor and city commissioner for District 1.

“Whether it was refereeing my younger brothers’ games, games I coached while in college, games for my two daughters in multiple sports, and now refereeing games for my niece and nephews, Freddy has seen multiple generations of Parklanders on the courts and fields of our city parks,” he says.

Brier, who was elected last November, and who has lived in Parkland for 40 years and coached rec sports in the city since the 1990s, is familiar with the ins and outs of the job. “Freddy has a great sense of humor, a passion for youth sports, and is a beloved part of the Parkland community.”

Yarmuth’s passion for sports began when he played basketball in high school, and he gives credit to his former intramural coach, Eugene Minton, for encouraging his love of the game.

It’s that love he passes down to his players. “I love working with the kids,” says Yarmuth. “I love teaching them the rules, seeing them play the game over the years, and watching them grow up. Some of my first kids now have their own kids in the league.

“I’ve seen them come full circle,” he says.

In his younger days, Yarmuth would pick up the little kids and put them on his shoulders to help them make a basket. “They remember me to this day for that,” he says. “That really made their season.”

One of the kids he refereed since the age of 4 is now 16-year-old Broward Preparatory School sophomore Nate Harmelin, who played flag football and basketball.

“Freddy is the grandpa that everyone loves,” says Harmelin. “He makes us laugh with his jokes. We always have a good time with Freddy, and whether I’m on the court or run into him in Parkland, I always get a good laugh from Freddy.”

His father, Adam Harmelin, who coaches football and basketball, says, “Freddy always tries to help the younger kids who are not playing well. He always looks out for the underdog. He’s a wonderful man.”

In addition to his volunteer referee duties, Yarmuth works as a paraprofessional at Riverside Elementary in Coral Springs, volunteers his time packing food boxes with Feeding South Florida, and volunteers on local political campaigns.

In 2021 he was honored with the Humanitarian Award from the Parkland Flag Football League, and in 2022 he was inducted into the Dr. Nan S. Hutchison Broward County Senior Hall of Fame and honored for his contribution and service to the community. A plaque with his name hangs in the Broward County Government Building.

“Freddy’s commitment and dedication to the league is second to none,” says Evan Golden, a Parkland flag football board member for the past five years. “Not only has he devoted countless hours to the kids, but he builds relationships with both the kids and their families.”

“Freddy makes sure to develop relationships on and off the field,” says Golden. “He’s always in a good mood, brings a positive energy and good spirit, and always tries to get all the kids involved to have fun and learn the sport.”

In his own life, Yarmuth says his parents and two brothers were his biggest influences. “We all encouraged each other,” he says. He credits his wife Karen for “keeping me on the straight and narrow.”

When not on the field, Yarmuth enjoys a good game of golf, and cruising to Alaska with extended family.

“Freddy is a charismatic and selfless individual who has dedicated decades to the Parkland community in the form of refereeing sports and creating amazing memories and relationships with the parents, players, and coaches he has refereed,” says Jacob Brier, president of the Parkland Basketball Club.

“He is a staple in Parkland and deserves all the recognition and credit as his commitment to the community and youth sports is unmatched,” Brier says.

What have been some of the highlights of Yarmuth’s refereeing career?

“Being inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame,” he says. “Every day is an adventure. I’m very low-key, but am thrilled when a parent remembers me from refereeing their kid—that’s a thrill.”

Does he have any words of advice for someone considering the position?

“Do your best and enjoy it,” Yarmuth says. “Don’t take it too seriously. If you want it as a career, it’s a great profession—it’s been good to me.”

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Cruising the water in a different kind of taxi

How can you tour the Intercoastal Waterway and the New River in Fort Lauderdale but on your own timetable? By buying an all-day pass on the Water Taxi!

I recently did this on a beautiful Saturday with some friends. We started our waterside adventure by parking at 15th Street Fisheries (where we could do valet all day) and having a delicious seafood lunch there, overlooking the sparkling water, fish, and boats of the Intercoastal. Then we walked out on the pier located right there and boarded a yellow water taxi, at the Fort Lauderdale Route’s stop #3.

To get your Water Taxi passes, you go online for pre-purchase and then your ticket barcode appears on your phone; just show the phone to boat staff upon boarding each taxi. The various boats are scheduled to arrive and depart every 35–40 minutes (though we never waited that long), between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. It is a great way to see the many nice features and highlights of Fort Lauderdale.

Stops 1 and 2 are along the river: #1 is the Riverside Hotel and Stranahan House, where you can enjoy the picturesque Riverwalk, and #2 is just steps away from the famous Las Olas Boulevard with all its shops, restaurants, and bars. We disembarked there and walked over to have cocktails and window-shop on the boulevard for a bit.

The other locations are on the Intercoastal: You can go to stop #4, for the Hilton Marina and Convention Center (where you also can transfer to the Hollywood Express Route, which goes to Margaritaville Beach Resort and the Hollywood Broadwalk); #5, the south end of Bahia Mar (where you can view marinas of luxury yachts docked); #6, Beach Place and Fort Lauderdale Beach; #7, GalleryOne Double Tree and Galleria Mall; #8, Birch State Park; #9, Shooters Waterfront; and #10, Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill.

We spent our afternoon gliding up and down the water throughout the city, seeing celebrities’ mansions and yachts as well as all kinds of other boats, including tour vessels, barges, party boats, a floating tiki bar, and young sailing students soaring by in a line of little boats. We went past “Beer Can Island,” where people frolicked on boats clustered around the sand bars, with many milling around in the shallow water and socializing. It was a gorgeous day, so there was a lot of action on the Intercoastal.

Aboard the taxis were tourists, families, and bar-hopping friends, all seeming to enjoy being out on the water and the ease of the taxi system. There was staff at each stop answering questions and, on board over a microphone, narrating the sights as we went past them, providing some interesting history and funny anecdotes. Be sure to bring some cash for tipping, as they definitely appreciate that and work hard.

Later that afternoon, two of us went ashore for a nice walk alongside A1A and the ocean, at Fort Lauderdale Beach, where we saw large groups having beach parties and barbecues and a wedding getting set up on the sand overlooking the ocean. We went on a walking bridge above A1A to buy drinks from a small market, and then headed back to our water taxi stop. I enjoyed being able to explore the area at our leisure and return when we were ready.

We ended our water tour of Fort Lauderdale by disembarking at the same place where we first got on, at stop #3, and picking up our car at the 15th Street Fisheries valet lot. A very pleasant day!

The Water Taxi all-day pass costs $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and military, $15 for children 5–11, and free for children under 5. Evening-only passes are $20 and start at 5 p.m. You can also buy a month’s unlimited pass for $90. For tickets and information, go to WaterTaxi.com.

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Moving beyond autism awareness to autism acceptance

By Jennifer Villalobos

 April 2 is World Autism Day. This internationally recognized day was designated by the United Nations in 2007 in an attempt to “raise awareness about autistic individuals throughout the world.” During the month of April, many organizations and governmental agencies organize autism events in their community, including our very own city of Parkland, which is the first city in Broward County and the second city in the state of Florida to be designated autism-friendly.

In 2021, the CDC reported that an estimated 1 in 44 children in the U.S. are on the autism spectrum. Given that prevalence, it would be unlikely for any of us to be totally unaware of autism. Awareness is not enough, though. What is also needed is a deeper understanding of autism and more acceptance. More acceptance includes autistic individuals accepting themselves, caregivers accepting their children for who they are and not who they imagined them to be, and society at large accepting that autistic people deserve the same respect, understanding, and access as anyone else.

Although most people have a general understanding of autism, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there. Here are five of the most common ones:

Misconception 1: Autistic people are all one certain way.

Truth: Although autistic individuals share some common traits such as difficulty with communication and social interaction, as well as the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, every autistic person is different. Some people with autism will be highly verbal and others will be nonspeaking. Some may require little support while others may require significant assistance with daily activities. This is why it is called a spectrum.

Misconception 2: Autism is an intellectual disability.

Truth: According to the CDC’s data, only 31% of autistic children have an intellectual disability (IQ < 70), 25% are in the borderline range (IQ = 71–85), and 44% exhibit average to above-average intelligence (IQ > 85). The media have a history of portraying autistic people as either significantly cognitively impaired or as a savant who is highly gifted. The truth is that most autistic people fall somewhere in between those two extremes.

Misconception 3: Autistic children have a lot of tantrums.

 Truth: People often mistake meltdowns for tantrums, but in actuality they are two very different things. Tantrums are very common in young children. They call it the “terrible twos” for a reason. This is a typical part of development that decreases as the child gets older. Children have some control over their tantrums, they usually don’t last for very long, and the child can be distracted or redirected.

Meltdowns are caused by feeling extremely overwhelmed and can happen in children and adults alike. They may be triggered by a variety of things, such as sensory sensitivities, pain, fear, changes to routines, or feeling out of control, among others. When your brain senses danger, the amygdala jumps in and activates the fight-or-flight response. This can result in the person lashing out, shutting down, or running away. Meltdowns can last a very long time and will only subside by a change in environment, a reduction of sensory input, or the person eventually wearing out.

Misconception 4: Autistic people aren’t empathetic.

Truth: Although autistic people can have trouble reading facial expressions or predicting and interpreting the behavior of others, there is no research to support that they lack empathy. In other words, it is not that they don’t care what others are thinking or feeling, it is that they may not be able to identify and understand it. In fact, many adults with autism report having an overabundance of empathy, to the point that it is paralyzing and affects their ability to function in daily life.

Misconception 5: Most autistic people are nonspeaking.

Truth: Studies have shown that 25% to 40% of autistic individuals are nonspeaking or minimal speakers (having fewer than 30 words). It is important to note that even highly verbal people with autism can have difficulty speaking when stressed or overwhelmed and may require accommodations for these situations. It was once thought that if a child did not speak by age 4, then he or she probably never would, but that has since been disproven.

The call for autism acceptance is a shift away from the traditional medical model of disability, where the goal is for autistic people to be taught how to behave or act more “neurotypical.” This model views autism (and other disabilities) as problems to be solved via medical interventions. It results in disabled individuals being passive recipients of treatment rather than active participants in their care. And it perpetuates the belief that there is something wrong with these individuals that needs to be “fixed.” Many adults with autism have spoken out against the use of this medical model for autism, reporting that it led them to lack acceptance of their own autism, as well as experience a lack of acceptance from their peers and even their own caregivers at times.

Others have reported that this approach caused them to engage in masking. Masking is when autistic individuals hide or suppress their traits to appear “less autistic” and “more neurotypical.” Some examples of masking include forcing eye contact, hiding or minimizing their special interests, pushing through sensory sensitivities, such as loud noises, and preventing themselves from stimming (repetitive movements or vocalizations). Research has shown that people who engage in masking have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and autistic burnout, and one study even showed a correlation between prolonged masking and suicidal ideation.

In recent years, the social model of disability has become more accepted as an alternative approach to the medical model. The focus is on providing the individual support and accommodations as well as removing social barriers by changing non-autistic people’s attitudes toward autism. This involves accepting autism as a different neurotype rather than a disorder that needs to be “cured.” The benefit of this model is that it can help reduce the stigma and discrimination that many autistic people face, and it can help create a more inclusive society for all neurodivergent individuals. However, although it is growing, it is not yet fully accepted by all healthcare systems or governmental agencies that are still tied to the traditional medical model.

As autistic adults share their experiences, we can gain a better understanding of how our actions have affected them. We should be listening to their voices. In 2021, the Autism Society of America did exactly that by formally changing their “Autism Awareness” campaign to “Autism Acceptance.” Many other advocacy groups have since followed suit. This is a big step in the right direction for the neurodiversity movement. The sooner that our society accepts autistic people for the unique and diverse individuals that they are, the sooner they will be able to live more authentic and fulfilling lives.

Jennifer Villalobos, OT, OT/L, is the owner of Just for Kidz Therapy and a doctor of occupational therapy. For more information, go to www.justforkidztherapy.com.

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Beautiful Japanese gardens right in our backyard

 

After I moved to South Florida last summer, I heard about the numerous wetlands walks, nature preserves, and wildlife parks in the area. I was planning to explore many of them, especially if they were all outdoors, as it was still the middle of the COVID pandemic. 

One place that was recommended to me often was Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. So I decided to go there with relatives when they came to visit. And I liked it so much, I went back again a couple months later with other visiting family members.

The first time I went, I was floored by the beauty and tranquility of the park. I’ve been to many botanical gardens and similar lushly landscaped parks, but I hadn’t been to one like Morikami before. They call it “Roji-en: Garden of the Drops of Dew,” and it was designed by Hoichi Kurisu. The park comprises six distinct gardens that are inspired by significant gardens in Japan. 

After arriving, you go through a large building that houses the museum, gift shop, and café, and once outside, you descend down a wide staircase to a utopian setting below. There is a gorgeous pond in the center, with walkways that lead to the left and right of it, which make a large circle meandering through the different gardens around the pond. 

In addition to the abundant trees, topiaries, plants, flowers, stone structures, and bubbling brooks, we enjoyed peeking over bridges and seeing fish, turtles, and even an alligator sunning itself in the pond. In the various quiet oases we found, one highlight was the traditional bonsai garden. And we discovered other peaceful green corners where we could immerse ourselves in the serenity and zen of the place.

Being from out of state, I was surprised to learn about the century-old connection between Japan and South Florida, where “a group of young Japanese farmers created a community intended to revolutionize agriculture in Florida,” according to Morikami literature. My mom and I were fascinated to hear about the rest of its history:

“In 1904, Jo Sakai, a recent graduate of New York University, returned to his homeland of Miyazu, Japan, to organize a group of pioneering farmers and lead them to what is now northern Boca Raton. With the help of the Model Land Company, a subsidiary of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad, they formed a farming colony, Yamato, an ancient name for Japan.

“Ultimately, the results of their crop experimentation were disappointing and the Yamato Colony fell far short of its goals. By the 1920s the community, which had never grown beyond 30 to 35 individuals, finally surrendered its dream. One by one, the families left for other parts of the United States or returned to Japan.

“In the mid-1970s, one of the last remaining settlers, George Sukeji Morikami, then in his 80s, donated his land to Palm Beach County with the wish for it to become a park to preserve the memory of the Yamato Colony.” Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens debuted in 1977, as a living monument and a bridge of cultural understanding between George Morikami’s two homelands.

After we learned about the history of the place and strolled through all its verdant gardens, my family and I walked over to the open-air terrace café and had delicious Bento Boxes for lunch. 

It was quite a day enjoying what are the most authentic Japanese-style gardens outside of Japan and then topping it off with an equally authentic Japanese lunch.

To visit, go to https://morikami.org.

Jennifer Merrill is a recent transplant to South Florida from northern states. 

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