Category: Lifestyle

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Champion in a pink skirt Coral Springs golf prodigy following in brother’s footsteps

Golf dad Jeremiah Ritchie likens his children’s talent for the game to what Venus and Serena Williams experienced in tennis.

First came Elijah, quiet, studious, and steady. As an 11-year-old, he earned Gold Coast Golf Association Player of the Year honors in 2020. Elijah, now 16, continues to play at a high level in tournaments, clubs, and programs across South Florida.

But his little sister, Gabrielle, is tearing up those same courses at just 9 years old. And she’s doing it with confidence and a little swagger—with long curling braids, perfectly coordinated outfits that lean into shades of pink, and a matching golf bag and rosy-gripped iGen clubs.

She has followed in her brother’s footsteps. They both started to play around age 5. The two take coaching and endless repetition well, practicing roughly two hours a day, with early-morning strength training. And both revel in wearing brightly colored knee socks featuring characters from “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Rocko’s Modern Life.”

And when brother and sister are on the course, it’s all business. Elijah—his dad calls him “Easy” —easily stays among those at the top of the leaderboard every time he tees it up. But his dad says, “Gabrielle is the one that’s a force to be reckoned with.”

“She’s way more focused, way more resilient,” Elijah says of his loquacious sister. “She’s intense.”

“The comparison with how Venus and Serena came up is an easy one to make,” says Jeremiah Ritchie.

Also, in South Florida, the family legacy of Tiger Woods echoes down the eastern peninsula.

Elijah has played in some of the same youth golf circles as Charlie Woods, but Jeremiah more resembles Tiger’s father Earl Woods than Tiger—proud ex-military, college-educated, and a former athlete with plenty of glory days to look back on. Jeremiah, 47, works for the post office and has coached youth sports. He took up golf at age 33, thinking he could play as he got older—and then, as the story goes, he became obsessed.

To quote Mark Twain: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”

The Ritchies, a middle-class family from Coconut Creek, stand out mostly for their pluck and perseverance—and enviable trophy collections—in the lush landscape of South Florida youth golf, where children and grandchildren of paterfamilias Trump, Nicklaus, Norman, and Woods are the most seasoned young golf talent in the country, and they train and play in one of the wealthiest enclaves on the planet.

The Ritchie threesome has benefited from youth development programs like Fore Life (based in Lauderhill) and the Gold Coast Junior Golf Association to learn the game, the etiquette, and life lessons that help make young players more aware and resilient.

Now a rising junior at Transformational Technical Academy in Pompano Beach, Elijah lives and breathes golf, and he sees himself playing in college. He sees Gabrielle going pro.

Elijah said that when he was 9, he won some tournaments, but he wasn’t playing 18-hole rounds. Elijah endured his first full rounds at age 11. “She’s 9—and she’s doing way better than just keeping up,” he said.

In early July, Gabby played in the invitation-only Junior World Championships, hosted at Torrey Pines in San Diego, where she won the putting title for her age group. She played the three official 18-hole rounds of the JWC, plus multiple full practice rounds at Singing Hills Golf Club.

“The trip was fantastic—it was an eye-opener,” Elijah said. “The kids I play with, we never get on a plane to go anywhere. This trip felt like a fantasy—it was fun!”

Elijah helped get the family prepared for each day in San Diego—cleaning clubs, setting out clothes, checking locations, shooting video, keeping things easy. During warm-ups and between rounds, Gabby chatted up fellow players and traded pins in the shape of Florida for similar tokens from kids from across the globe.

“I don’t worry about anything,” Gabby said when asked if she feels pressure to win. “I have a free mind.”

Her dad took the family sightseeing in San Diego, visiting Mission Bay and taking a tour of the USS Midway. “I’d like to keep them kids as long as possible,” he said.

On July 13, the day after their return trip, Gabby took second in the nine-hole Gold Tour July Open at Pompano Beach Golf Course, sponsored by the Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation.

This season, the rising fourth grader and straight-A student from Winston Park Elementary School has racked up five wins, four second-place finishes, and two third-place honors.

“I noticed from the very start that Gabby isn’t just a youth golfer—she’s a rising star,” pro golfer Micaá Thomas told The Parklander. “Her natural talent, focus, and poise on the course are rare, and I truly believe she has what it takes to dominate the junior tournaments and beyond.”

Thomas currently plays on the ANNIKA Women’s All-Pro Tour and NXXT Women’s Pro Golf Tour, aiming for the LPGA. She met Gabby at ChampionsGate Golf Course in Orlando in March. She said that Gabby’s play reminded her of herself when she started playing at age 10.

“Gabby’s passion for the game, her discipline, and her sweet spirit are a powerful combination that will take her far, not just in golf, but in life,” Thomas said. “I’m so incredibly proud of her!”

The two made quite an impression on each other. After meeting and playing a few holes in Orlando, Gabby wrote Thomas a letter, thanking the tour pro for spending time with her and sharing some pro tips.

She signed off on the letter by drawing flowers, hearts, and golf clubs that looked like little black music notes, and she wrote, “I 🩷 Micaa Thomas.”

Gabby and Elijah are both set to play in the Junior Golf Association Championships, where each player’s odds of adding to their collections of hardware are pretty good.

For Gabby, she’s keeping her aim on following the advice she gets from her dad and big brother. “Just don’t have too many thoughts—ball to target, ball to target,” she said. “Keep my mind free.”

 

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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.

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MindTravel – The Sounds of Silence Updated

A handful of white flags blow in the breeze against the blue of the skies.  Two cherry blossom trees and a sprinkling of yellow daffodils set the stage as pianist Murray Hidary, 53, dressed all in white, sits down at a grand piano set up in the sand on the beach last April in Deerfield Beach as part of his MindTravel series.

A few hundred people sat on towels and blankets in the sand or reclined in chairs; many brought coolers of food and drink with them.

MindTravel, an immersive, “silent” musical journey created by Hidary is designed to stimulate inspiration and awakening and foster connection to ourselves, to nature and to others.  Participants wear headphones to hear the music and are free to roam around the beach, dip their toes in the water or sit back on the sand and relax.

“Welcome to a continuous, uninterrupted musical journey and a real-time improvisation at the piano,” Hidary says through the headphones.

“Every time is different,” he says.  “Isn’t the seeing different? Isn’t the sky different?  Aren’t the waves different?  We are continually evolving and shifting.”

“I invite you into this conversation,” he says.  “All we have to do is take a moment to listen.”

Taking that moment to listen is something Hidary knows firsthand.

A multi-disciplinary artist, award winning photographer and tech pioneer, Hidary grew up in a large Sephardic Jewish family in Brooklyn, N.Y. where music was omnipresent.

“I always knew I wanted to be composer,” he says.  “I had my own thing to say.”

He studied music and composition at NYU and went on to perform at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Finding music both meaningful and meditative, Hidary says music became a portal into creating deeper connections and a way for him to deal with the stress of everyday life and of running a company.

During his 20s and 30s, Hidary kept a piano in his office and at the end of every day would play to de-stress and reset.

In 2006, after the unexpected death of his sister Mariel, a dancer, at the age of 23, Hidary turned more to music to help him deal with the loss.

“Music opened me up in a beautiful way and allowed me to connect to the love for my sister,” he says.  Steering him in a new direction, he says he saw how the power of music can be used for healing and to create deeper connection and decided to make this his life’s work.

After reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse as a teen, Hidary incorporated the practices of Zen Buddhism into his music.

“When we don’t have the words to express our feelings, we turn to music,” he says.  “Music can give expression to the feelings that are hard to communicate and can help us navigate these circumstances in life.”

As Hidary’s relationship with music deepened, he began to see it not just as a tool for his own healing, but as a way to help others in their healing journey.

This realization led him to share his classical, jazz and musical improvisations beyond himself, bringing the experience to others who seeking solace, reflection and connection — thus, MindTravel was born.”

The first MindTravel took place 10 years ago on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif.

Hidary says he was the first to pioneer this communal way to experience music and nature and to bring people together for healing and community.

“I founded MindTravel,” he says on his website, “to create transformational experiences using music to share the wisdom and tools that helped me to achieve greater personal fulfillment, healing, and deeper connection with all things.”

Since then, MindTravel has performed in more than 100 cities, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beaches.  He performs approximately 150 concerts each year, including in Austin, TX, Southern California and in Central Park in New York City.

He has performed in such disparate areas, from the deserts of the Middle East to the continent of Antarctica.

“I haven’t looked back,” he says about his musical journey.   Part of his goal is to create a community where ever he plays and to do repeat performances in those cities.

“I want to make a space for reflection; a space people can just ‘be,’” he says.

In each of his concerts, Hidary creates a theme, such as courage, joy or love.

In Deerfield Beach, the theme was “wild.”

After an hour into the music, Hidary began a spoken word meditation on that theme.

“Imagine a place in you that was never meant to be tamed,” he says softly.  “They told us to be good – not wild.”

“To be wild is to be dangerous,” he says.   “To be wild means that you belong to something larger.  What if wildness was never the enemy?”

He talks about “a silence so complete, your breathe forgets it’s rhythm.”

One of Hidary’s favorite parts of the evening is the open mic section at the end of the concert where people get up and express how they’re feeling.

“People share the most heartwarming and fulfilling stories and emotions,” he says.  “It’s so human.”

In Deerfield Beach, a young man named Pedro got up to express his happiness at meeting his girlfriend, Amanda, and told her he loved her and was grateful for their two years together.  Another couple expressed their love for each other, while another participant who said they were in the military and leaving for Korea, expressed appreciation to Hidary for the special evening.

“Offering ways to destress and find deeper connections and healing makes me happy,” says Hidary, who now lives in Miami.

He’s motivated by the Jewish concept of “tikkun olam,” or, repairing the world.

“We can each bring a bit of “tikkun olam” in our own lives,” he says.  “As long as my fingers still work and people show up, I’ll do this until I’m 100 years of age.”

Visit mindtravel.com

Hidary will perform in Deerfield Beach on July 13.  Visit Eventbrite for tickets.

 

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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.

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Dive into aquaculture A sustainable seafood system

Some agricultural production systems rely on soil to farm plants for food. There’s also farming that involves raising land animals for food. But have you heard of aquaculture? Although it is sometimes referred to as “farmed fish,” aquaculture is more complex and involves both underwater plants and animals. 

Aquaculture: The Basics

Farming in water includes environments such as oceans, rivers, and even pens or tanks submerged in the water or on land, which is called inland or freshwater aquaculture. As of June 2023, there are approximately 600 species being farmed in countries around the world—significant for helping to feed the global population. Aquatic plants such as edible seaweeds or algae are being grown along with a variety of aquatic animals, including the following:

  • Fish (salmon, black sea bass, sablefish, yellowtail, pompano, trout, catfish)
  • Shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, crawfish)
  • Reptiles (crocodiles, alligators, turtles)
  • Amphibians (frogs)

Aquaculture is becoming increasingly complex, with a focus on plant and animal health and production practices. There also are other forms of farming in the water: hydroponics and aquaponics. Hydroponics is the process of farming or gardening plants in a water-based solution, rather than in soil, either on land or in water such as a lake, river, or ocean. Aquaponics is the process of growing fish and plants together in the water without soil. The nutrients for the plants come from beneficial bacteria that convert fish waste into fertilizer. The plants help keep the tanks or containers clean, so it is considered a sustainable practice.

Farmed Fish vs. Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a farming practice that does encompass “farming” fish. However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as NOAA Fisheries, farm-raised fish and shellfish grown in the United States are held to rigorous standards to ensure safety. Because most seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported from other countries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established several processes to oversee its safety.

How Aquaculture Contributes to Sustainability

Aquaculture plays an increasingly vital role in the sustainability of food that grows both in the oceans and in fresh water. It can be used to increase the accessibility and affordability of seafood for consumers, and it supports guidance such as the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourages the consumption of seafood for health.

Aquaculture also plays a role in supporting wild seafood. When fish and shellfish are farmed, it helps to sustain fisheries that harvest wild-caught seafood. Aquaculture also can be used to protect wild seafood habitats and to revitalize or support the environment as well as the health of threatened or endangered species of fish or shellfish.

According to the FDA, about 90% of seafood eaten in the United States is imported—and more than half of it is produced through aquaculture practices. The FDA, along with other agencies, holds seafood grown through aquaculture to the same standards as fresh or wild seafood. Aquatic animal health in the U.S. is monitored through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which works with the World Organization for Animal Health to ensure that standards are maintained in the health and safety of aquatic animals and their international trade.

As the world’s population grows and demands more seafood, it’s important for farming in water to be sustainable, safe, and effective.

Aerial view of vast coastal fish farm with numerous circular enclosures in clear blue water, showcasing aquaculture practices.

Sustainably grown, organic Alaskan kelp is harvested at the Seagrove Kelp Co. farm in Doyle Bay. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jordan Hollarsmith

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Breathe easy The power of houseplants as indoor air purifiers

We’re lucky to live in South Florida, where tropical plants thrive year-round and lush greenery is part of the everyday landscape. But while we enjoy our palm trees and bougainvillea outside, more and more people are bringing plants indoors—not just for their beauty, but for the hopes of cleaner air.

The idea that houseplants can help clean indoor air has been around for a while. It started with a NASA study in the late 1980s, which looked into how plants might filter air in space. Since then, there’s been ongoing curiosity about whether common houseplants can make a difference in our homes.

As it turns out, indoor air can be more polluted than we think, thanks to chemicals found in cleaning supplies, paints, furniture finishes, and even synthetic fabrics. For some, those pollutants can trigger headaches or even allergies. That’s where houseplants come in. While they’re not a magic fix, certain plants may help absorb some of those toxins—and they happen to make a room feel warmer, cozier, and more alive.

Lucky for us, you don’t have to travel far to find them. Many popular indoor plants are available at places like our local Fresh Market, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Home Depot, and even Publix.

Here are a few popular indoor plants that thrive in South Florida homes and are often praised for their air-cleaning potential.

Areca Palm

A soft, full plant that fits right into our tropical climate. It’s also said to help add moisture to the air.

Snake Plant

Very low-maintenance and tough to kill. It can handle low light and is often mentioned as a plant that helps clean the air.

Peace Lily

Easy to grow with elegant white flowers. It’s known for filtering indoor air, but it’s not safe for pets.

Pothos

Also known as devil’s ivy, this is a popular choice for beginners. It grows quickly and looks great trailing from shelves or hanging pots.

Spider Plant

A classic option that’s easy to care for and grows little baby plants that you can repot or share. It’s also believed to help with carbon monoxide and other indoor toxins.

To really feel a difference, some recommendations suggest having at least one medium-sized plant for every 100 square feet of space—but even just a couple can bring some life and freshness into a room. Experts suggest keeping leaves free of dust so the plants can “breathe,” and be sure to pay attention to their lighting and watering needs.

Whether or not they completely purify your space, houseplants have a way of making homes feel more grounded. In a world full of screens and synthetic everything, bringing in a few living, growing things might be one of the simplest ways to breathe a little easier—literally and figuratively.

NASA’s 1989 Clean Air Study is available online.

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Playing it forward Teen organizes drive to support student athletes in Africa

For Jordin Bekker, a freshman at North Broward Preparatory School, a recent school service trip to Tanzania was the perfect opportunity to give back to her native continent.

“I felt really inspired, being from Africa and knowing I was going to go on this trip, to give back to my community,” says Bekker, who grew up in South Africa and has lived in Parkland for almost three years.

A lifelong athlete whose love of sports helped her develop confidence, engage with people, and release her anger in a healthy way, Bekker wanted to support student athletes.

“Since sport is my passion, and there are many kids in Tanzania who don’t have the opportunity to pursue a passion like sports because they lack equipment and facilities, I wanted to give back part of what I was able to experience growing up,” explains Bekker, who decided to do an athletic clothing drive.

Bekker and her mother created a Facebook post about the drive, asking for used athletic clothing donations, and the response from the Parkland community was overwhelming. “The people of Parkland are absolutely amazing,” enthuses Bekker, who received three seasons’ worth of brand-new lacrosse uniforms from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School alone. “I didn’t expect this to blow up as much as it did. We received messages multiple times a day from people telling us they had bags and bags for us.”

Bekker spent weeks collecting and washing clothes and cleats and sorting them by size and age group. Due to the volume of donations, she had to put a shed in the backyard and is already planning on expanding her efforts next year. “It’s definitely something I want to keep doing,” she confirms. “I love kids.”

With the help of her fellow classmates and travelers, Bekker was able to transport 27 duffel bags, each filled with two T-shirts, two pairs of shorts, a pair of cleats, a soccer ball, and a ball pump.

The bags were distributed to students at Ngongongare Primary School, which has four sports teams and more than 700 students. “Giving them the sports equipment made me cry,” recalls Bekker. “Before we gave them the equipment, I watched them play during recess. They were playing barefoot on stones that would pierce your foot. Their field was slanted with long grass, and a goal made out of wooden planks. They were so happy when we gave them the equipment. They sang and danced to say thank you to us.”

Since returning from her trip, Bekker has already collected 50 more pairs of cleats and has begun registering her charity, aptly named Play It Forward, to continue and expand her mission of providing clothes and sports equipment to children in Tanzania.

For more information, visit platitforwardinc.com. {Is this URL link correct? It doesn’t work. And playitforwardinc.com doesn’t have anything on the site yet.}

https://playitforwardinc.com/ coming soon

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Music is on the menu with the band Vocal Menu

When somebody loves you
It’s no good unless he loves you
All the way

So begin the lyrics to Frank Sinatra’s classic song “All the Way,” on the 1961 album of the same name, and which he performed virtually with Celine Dion live in 1999 at the Millennium Concert in Montréal, Québec.

A classic love song, spotlighting both singers’ musical styles, it is a favorite to perform for local singers Catalina Prado, 29, and Carlos Iturrieta, 35, both classically trained vocalists and now members of the band Vocal Menu. Other members of the band include Jesús Herrera on guitar, Sandro Montoya on bass, and Oscar Bravo on drums.

“The song is so beautiful—I’m obsessed with it,” says Prado, the lead female vocalist, who admires both Celine Dion and Sandra Brightman.

Prado, a soprano, and Iturrieta, a bass-baritone, met in their native Chile during an audition backstage at the historic and iconic Teatro Municipal de Santiago, where they were asked to perform a duet from Mozart’s comic opera, “The Marriage of Figaro.” Both nervous for the audition, Prado sang the lead female role of Susanna while Iturrieta sang the lead male role of Figaro, two servants who fall in love and eventually marry, despite the obstacles in their way.

Luckily for Prado and Iturrieta, nerves gave way to something more. As Prado remembers, the couple, like their characters, fell in love during that audition, in a case of life imitating art.

And while they are not yet married, since that fateful day in November 2018, the couple has been singing together and two years ago relocated to Boca Raton from Chile, to be near family in Parkland.

Iturrieta studied at the Institute of Musical Arts in Concepción, Chile, under the tutelage of Chilean baritone Pablo Castillo and alongside renowned Chilean pianist Verónica Torres. A four-time scholarship winner, he studied under Chilean opera singers Rodrigo Navarrete, Oscar Quezada, and Christian Senn, as well as Italian baritone Alessandro Corbelli and Chilean soprano Pilar Aguilera.

In 2018, Iturrieta was a semi-finalist in two international competitions—in San Pedro de la Paz, Chile, and in Trujillo, Peru. The following year, he made his opera debut in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” at Chile’s Biobío Regional Theater, in the role of the Imperial Commissioner, conducted by Italian maestro Lorenzo Tazzieri. And In May 2019, he was selected as a semifinalist in Plácido Domingo’s “Centre de Perfeccionament,” in Valencia, Spain.

And while Iturrieta studied opera formally for six years in IDAM, he, like Prado, realized he didn’t want to limit himself to one genre of music and felt that instead of people coming to him to hear him perform, he could bring his music to the people.

One of Iturrieta’s long-term goals is to found a performing arts center where people can come hear him perform. In addition to opera, he enjoys singing ballads, especially American music from the 1950s and ’60s, such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, and Nat King Cole. “The crooners,” he says.

Other musical influences include American opera singer Samuel Ramey and Russian opera singer Dimitri Hvorostovsky, who passed away in 2017.

Prado has an equally impressive background, beginning her musical journey in 2013 at the Symphonic Choir of the University of Chile, under the baton of conductor Juan Pablo Villarroel, where, at 17, she was the youngest student admitted to the program.

She studied under Chilean soprano Claudia Pereira, later graduating from the Conservatory of Music of the Universidad Mayor, in 2022. In 2018, Prado won the prestigious Amigos del Teatro Municipal de Santiago scholarship, and she performed in many of Chile’s top theaters.

Growing up, Prado attended a Waldorf School where music and the arts were an integral part of the school curriculum. She knew at a young age that she loved to sing, and to sing with others as part of a group. Finding success at an early age, she credits her mother’s prayers as having “something to do with it.”

Not one to leave fate to chance, Prado had a backup plan if her singing career didn’t take off: to become a doctor. “I always have a Plan B,” she says.

With a “strong passion” to heal people, Prado says both physicians and musicians are healing in their own way.

With a far-reaching repertoire, including arias, operettas, chamber music, popular music, and musical theater, Prado is not content to remain in one genre, and she’s looking to find her sound. “I want to explore my own sound without limitations,” she says, noting that to sing opera, one needs to conform to strict vocal techniques and requirements.

“I want more freedom,” she says, finding that freedom in musical theater and contemporary music, especially cross-over music.

“Cross-over music bridges different genres and worlds and is a way to bring people together,” Prado says. “Music is for everyone.”

Her dream, she says, is to be able to create unforgettable musical moments for everyone.

Prado cares for her voice with a healthy lifestyle that includes taking precautions against becoming sick; not eating spicy foods late at night, which can cause reflux and harm the vocal cords; and staying hydrated. She trains her vocal cords with warm-ups and scales every day.

Her dream is to play the role of protagonist Christine Daaé in “The Phantom of the Opera,” live on stage.

While the couple perform numbers from the musical, such as “The Music of the Night,” and others, Prado likes to imagine herself performing on stage in front of a large, enthusiastic audience.

“That would be unbelievable,” she says. She hopes to make professional connections here in South Florida to realize that dream.

The two also hope to make a name for themselves and the Vocal Menu band. Last year, they participated in the city of Parkland’s 60th Anniversary celebration, opened for the band Sugar Ray, performed for Veterans Day celebrations, and performed twice at the Parkland Farmers’ Market at the Equestrian Center, once as a duo and the second last February with the full band.

As recently arrived members of the community, they hope these performances are only the beginning.

“We love what we do,” says Prado. “We get to share special and emotional moments with each other and our audience.

“It’s a unique and beautiful moment,” she says. “Isn’t that what makes us human?”

To learn more, visit vocalmenu.com or go to Vocalmenu on Instagram


https://theparklander.com/2025/03/27/music-is-on-the-menu-with-the-band-vocal-menu/

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A feast for the senses at farmers market

Are you looking for a large farmers market in Broward County that provides fresh produce from local farms; international foods to purchase from vendors and eat in a tiki-hut pavilion or bring home to cook; and lots of crafts, handmade goods, and clothes to buy from local artists and crafters? Would you like to listen to live music played by talented multicultural musicians while you shop?

Then the Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood is the place for you. This huge, airy marketplace follows the model of a true farmers market where each booth is a separate business. While not all the food is from local farms, there is a bounty of seasonal, fresh foods here, along with a large selection of artisanal goods. Established in 2010, the Yellow Green Market likes to say that it “connects local producers and artisans with the community.” Reportedly the largest farmers market in South Florida, it also resembles a bustling flea market in some sections.

My husband and I went on a recent weekend. The weather was good and we enjoyed walking around and exploring the huge, busy marketplace under blue skies. We took along our own canvas bags to bring our purchases home, and it’s good thing we did, because the walk between the parking lot and the entrance was a long one.

We started with an early lunch at a picnic table in the thatched pavilion. Nearby food stands included aromatic meals from Jamaica, Peru, Argentina, Bahamas, and more. My husband got Thai food, and I had fresh beef from a barbecue place where you can watch the whole savory, steaming process of beef being sliced from slabs hanging there. It smelled magnificent.

We listened to minstrels playing music nearby as we ate our lunch.

Then we headed out to do some shopping. I enjoyed the cacophony of sights and aromas surrounding us. There were merchants set up both inside and outside on the sprawling property. The smells of savory foods, fresh produce, beautiful plants and flowers, and other fragrant products made for a pleasant experience as we strolled along, and the music and festive sounds made it even more fun.

The main market is housed in a 100,000-square-foot converted warehouse; it used to be a sheet metal fabrication site. It is open on the sides, so you still get an airy feel while walking the aisles among the hundreds of vendor booths. I read that this building gets stuffy and uncomfortable on hot days. We went on a day with no humidity and nice breezes, so we were fine there.

We explored all around, appreciating the vast culinary and cultural variety in this place. There were spices from all over the world, French crepes, Turkish coffee and snacks, Louisiana gumbo, tortillas being freshly produced, oysters and lobster rolls, baklava and other delectable ethnic desserts, many kinds of juices, smoothies, and frozen drinks, and a guy cutting off juicy pieces from a whole pineapple for us to sample.

We bought a lot of fresh fruits and some veggies for a salad, and then went to another stall and got a variety of empanadas to heat up later for dinner with my son. We also picked up plump brownies from a dessert stall, and then found a homemade pasta place, where we bought some stuffed raviolis to have for dinner another night.

We explored the lively flea market booths as well, and I got a sundress from a boutique. There was a fragrant stall full of many essential oils, and I bought a couple that smelled great and might be useful (one was “insomnia oil”). There were artisans displaying Argentinian clothing, hats, jewelry, and cork purses from Portugal. Vendors sold crystals, soaps, skincare products, and more. There also was a kids play area, and lots of dogs being walked or pushed in a stroller.

One end of the warehouse has colorful bars and places to sit and drink. Earlier in the day the bar area wasn’t too crowded, but I’m sure as the day goes on, more people come to enjoy libations there.

The one downside: It costs a minimum of $10 to park near this market. The parking lot we used wasn’t even paved, and it was a long walk to get to the venue. Not a good deal.

The Yellow Green Farmers Market is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There is paid parking in three different lots. For more information, go to ygfarmersmarket.com.

 

 

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Feeding your body, feeding your brain

Being healthy means taking care of your brain as well as your body. This is especially important as we age, because the risk of dementia increases over time. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia for adults, affecting more than 6 million Americans ages 65 and older, it isn’t the only type.

Other illnesses and conditions—such as Parkinson’s disease, alcoholism, stroke, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and traumatic head injury—also can cause dementia. Additionally, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can increase the risk of dementia, so managing these conditions is important.

Making healthful lifestyle choices, including getting regular physical activity, socializing, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking, can help to reduce your risk for dementia. Scientific evidence has shown that eating patterns such as the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet may be beneficial to your body as well as your brain, helping to protect against cognitive decline. Certain nutrients are especially important for brain health and may help maintain and improve cognitive function. These include the following:

Omega 3 fatty acids. About 60% of the brain is composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The most abundant type is DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid. Some research suggests that diets rich in omega-3s, combined with a low saturated-fat intake, may lower the risk of cognitive decline.

B vitamins. B vitamins, including B6, B12, and folate, are known for their role in metabolizing homocysteine, one of the amino acids in protein. High levels of this amino acid are considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamins are involved in many other aspects of brain function, and deficiencies may affect mental health and lead to cognitive decline. However, research on B vitamin supplementation and cognitive function remains unclear.

Antioxidants and phytonutrients. The brain is particularly susceptible to damage caused by free radicals, which are substances that attack healthy cells. Vitamins C and E, as well as the mineral selenium and phytonutrients such as lycopene, are antioxidants and are known to help minimize damage caused by chronic stress and free radicals. Other well-known phytonutrients—such as anthocyanins, which give certain fruits and vegetables their color—are thought to have a positive effect on brain function.

Vitamin D. Vitamin D is found in nearly every cell in the body, so it’s no surprise this vitamin is present in brain cells. Vitamin D is believed to have protective effects against cognitive decline, and research has suggested that low blood levels of vitamin D may affect brain health.

Choline. Choline is an essential nutrient required for fat transport and metabolism. It is necessary for normal brain and nervous system function, muscle control, and other functions.

Focusing on an overall healthy eating pattern that includes these nutrients from foods is important for good health. You can get these nutrients from a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods, and healthy fats. Some examples:

  • Berries, including strawberries and blueberries, citrus fruits, grapes, and watermelon
  • Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and broccoli
  • Whole-wheat bread, oats, quinoa, and other whole grains
  • Seafood including shellfish and fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, and herring
  • Nuts and seeds such as chia, flaxseed, walnuts, and almonds
  • Beans and lentils, including chickpeas, black beans, and lima beans
  • Whole eggs, skinless chicken and turkey
  • Sources of unsaturated fat such as avocados and olive oil

Remember: While making healthful food choices is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, other important factors that contribute to overall health include getting enough sleep, managing stress, staying hydrated, and adding regular physical activity to your daily routine.

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Artist John Bowen Celebrating National Vietnam War Veterans Day

John Bowen started with watercolor when his art teacher introduced it to him in high school, and he’s been painting with it ever since.

Art is a “labor of love,” says Bowen, whose extensive artistic career has taken him from artist apprentice right out of high school at an ad agency, and on through to the U.S. Air Force. But it doesn’t stop there. This month we recognize Bowen’s longstanding career as we honor National Vietnam War Veterans Day on Saturday, March 29.

Bowen was hired as the only illustrator (technician), graphically responsible for documenting work for about 200 soldiers in the 834th Air Division Headquarters Unit. Stationed in Tansonhert Airbase during the Vietnam War, near the city of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in southern Vietnam, Bowen at times was able to go out into the countryside and document the war in sketches. Otherwise, his job was to document actual operations in action on-site. He served eight years in the Air Force, from 1961 to 1969, and in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968, using mainly pencil (or pen) on paper as his medium for documentation.

Vietnam experiences. In 2013, Bowen was published by Middle River Press in Oakland Park, which recorded his physical and emotional experiences in the Vietnam War. The book is titled “Eleven Months and Nineteen Days,” and it is complemented with 43 black and white drawings made specifically for the work. The image here is a recreation of Bowen’s experience in one of his instances as he drew then. This time he was drawing from a life model as he recreated the memory. Bowen’s book could’ve been augmented with up to 60 of his original drawings; however, 43 was the magic number where he had chosen to stop. The medium was used for the purpose of keeping its authenticity as he recreated his experiences from the war.

Scratching the surface. Bowen was born in the Bronx and then grew up in Irvington, N.J., during his adolescent years. However, with his family having relocated to South Florida when Bowen left the war in December 1969, he also chose to settle in Florida, where he found a job with the Miami Herald. Some years down the road, he then worked for the Sun Sentinel. Bowen retired in 2009.

The years of painting, however, did not stop before or after the war. His work has been exhibited in major shows and has won several awards over the course of his lifetime. Bowen, from 1988, is a lifetime member of the Gold Coast Watercolor Society. He is a distinguished signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society, and his proudest accomplishment yet has been for him to be honored with signature status from the American Society of Marine Artists, more recently.

Realistic expressionism. Bowen’s creations with watercolor may seem mastered, but according to him, he is always learning and evolving (FYI, they are pretty mastered). However, he is not a purist. He admits to the use of gouache at times, predominantly zinc white, he mentions, in combinational transparency that creates a texture, such as with his trees or foliage. His ability to bring light colors over dark to increment to some extent is an evolution to depth development. He does this by using more paints and little water, which suggests a paste-like medium applied over its primary layer. Bowen’s reversed topical application assigns dualism to his expression by the concept of light.

Viscaya. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, or simply Vizcaya, is a lovely historic estate in Miami. It was built between 1914 and 1922. Bowen’s beautiful paintings of Viscaya can be found in prints and notecards in its gift shop, while some of his originals can be viewed in the cafe.

Chosen subjects. Bowen’s favorite subjects to paint are old homes, in detail, and of wicker, for example, a theme of one of his favorite artworks on the front porch of an old house. “Dove & Blackbird” (not pictured) is just one of many examples of the fine detail to that of interpretation, which extends from the door, amplifying the presence of that detail. Moreover, there are his “shoots”—what Bowen calls them—as he brings photographs of his subjects back home to his studio, where he then recreates the art. His work, inspired by the historical city of Charleston, S.C., was formed from some of his shoots, as he grasps moments of history and shares them through watercolor by hand.

“Antique Ford” (not pictured) is another exquisite artwork reconstructed from history. The work is of an old-time Ford with old-time luggage sitting in the back of its trunk. This work demonstrates quite vividly Bowen’s use of light and color dynamics as he exerts influence on already visually favorable subjects. He brings not only the past into a unique visual, but also the joy and tranquility of his subjects fluently through his artistic hand to life. They are fun to see.

The Florida Keys. The Keys is where viewers can find those wicker chairs, in his series of the area, ranging from his experiences at the Main Street Kennedy Gallery on Duval Street to those on West Atlantic Avenue.

Every little detail. Bowen’s ability to capture every little detail is indeed impressive, unveiling his acuity to vision. His unique Marine collection is no different. The use of light trickles down right to the most rustic authenticity. Dynamics in visual draws of color highlight each context unsparingly. It is easy to see how much his work exercises his bravery.

Currently, Bowen’s work aspires to the BRiC, Boca Raton’s Innovation Campus, expected to launch in May 2025, where three of his artworks will be able to be viewed. He currently resides in Tamarac. We extend a warm thanks for his service.

For more information or to contact John Bowen, go to johnbowenwatercolorist.com.

 

 

 

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Renaissance fun Local festivalgoers march into the past

The annual Florida Renaissance Festival in Quiet Waters Park kicked off on Feb. 1, and it’s scheduled to conclude on March 23. It is a great opportunity to enjoy a glimpse of what life might have been back in the 16th century.

Renaissance festivals have become more and more popular since first coming onto the U.S. scene 50 years ago. These events went from a small niche in New York and California, growing through the decades, to extravagant festivals in recent years. The festivals typically feature a setting during the English Renaissance period.

These events also serve as an educational tool for many. It inspires a deeper passion for history and the arts, and it showcases fashion and music from a different era. For some, the shows spark a deeper interest to learn more about the 16th century, and how the Renaissance period impacted the world.

The modern Renaissance festival was started in California in 1963 by Phyllis Patterson, a schoolteacher. It was initially created as a fundraiser for a radio station, with the vision of blending historical reenactment with performative art. For Patterson, there was a local talent pool of performers that she was able to draw upon in the Hollywood Hills community.

Since then, these cultural events have spread across the country. You typically will find both entertainers and attendees in full costume from that time period, along with music and theatrical performance acts of that era. The outfits you see can be simple, or extravagant. Many attendees and performers go out of their way to reenact every element of the outfit to be as realistic as possible.

You also will find vendors selling outfits at the festival, if you want to check them out in person. The Florida Renaissance Festival boasts more than 100 vendors to supply you with provisions. They will also provide you with a wide range of food and beverage—from turkey legs to desserts, and from cold ale to mead.

Nowadays, you will also find a large online community to help with preparing your outfit. A quick search on online store Etsy.com shows many options for historical dresses, gadgets, and accessories, including full sets of plate armor and weapons.

Typically, the festivals will have a theme, and the Florida Renaissance Festival has a theme each weekend. This year the festival is introducing a new concept—the weekend of March 8 and 9 features “Gears and Gadgets–The Lost Inventions of DaVinci,” which celebrates the retro-futuristic subgenre of science fiction. So, expect to see many creations and outfits featuring gears and spectacles if you visit that weekend.

According to one person who attends these festivals, attendees “enjoy the fact it’s historically inspired, and might require a lot of research, and build on year after year.” It’s not like when you are dressing as a character from a book or movie, such as for Comic-Con; for Renaissance festivals, it’s a character you’ve created. This person cherishes the festivals as “a creation of an agreed-upon environment.”

So if you have a weekend free this month, don’t miss out on the final days of the annual Florida Renaissance Festival. It’s on every weekend at Quiet Waters Park. But be warned, expect long lines—the park often reaches capacity by the afternoon—so get there early if you want to partake in the festivities.

 

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