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Parkland Mayor Candidates Q&A 2020

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

Stacy Kagan

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

Stacy Joi Kagan, Mayor of Parkland

2. Where are you originally from?

Originally from Queens, NY, and moved back and forth from Kendall, FL, to Queens, NY.

-Why did you choose to move to this city/county/school district/state district? How long have you been here? 

I have wanted to live in Parkland from the first time I drove into the community.  We have lived in  Parkland for over 16 years and our daughter Brittani is a graduate of MSD. We are residents of Heron Bay, The Greens.  Parkland was just what we wanted for our family with beautiful communities, A-rated schools–a quiet gem in Broward County.  I have also worked in the Parkland area for about 25.

My childhood was difficult, and I wanted a community for my family that I dreamed of. My personal unwavering commitment to give back comes from my past and my goal was for all children to have the opportunity and a role model to know things can and will change. It takes drive, commitment, and passion. I started working at age 12 after my father passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack. Faced with financial difficulties, and not always having a place to live, it made me strong. Overcoming these challenges is what allowed me to develop the strength, tenacity, and compassion that I have today for people of all ages.

3. Why are you running for this position?

I have been serving Parkland as Commissioner for three terms, just short of 8 years and I am incredibly proud that my community has kept me in my seat. I was voted by my peers to be Vice Mayor two years in a row. I’m actually taking a bit of a leap of faith in giving up my Commission seat in order to run for Mayor. This is how passionate I am about my work to serve Parkland residents. There’s so much good that I want to continue to do in this role.

Being on the Commission for almost 8 years tells me that the residents are happy with my service to the people of Parkland.  I work and serve the residents.  I do not work for the city, I work for the people.  During my term, I am proud of my voting record.

I look at the future of Parkland from many different views and I take this position extremely seriously, as it is the Mayor and Commission’s role to create the vision, and the City Manager and staff to implement it.  Having strong relationships with the community and related services, Broward County Schools, an understanding of how to work with others, and find solutions to exceed the needs of the people is what I have done and will continue to do as Mayor.

I have always been a working Mom and raised my family here for a reason and I am proud of my daughter who also has served in her heart. One of my proudest moments as a parent was my daughter returning home to Parkland to help the students just days after the tragic shooting. Brittani brought light to our community during our darkest times, the tragic shooting at MSD. Her
high school was such a big part of her life and continues to be. Her compassion and strength for the families, kids, and teachers reached so many.

Owning multiple businesses, dealing with budgets, managing people, consulting, crisis management, working with children, being a former preschool teacher, owning a music school, and working with many diverse and unique people have given me the tools I need to protect, and guide, Parkland’s future in the best possible direction.  I will enhance community involvement and engagement.  I will lead with compassion, teamwork, and an open line of
communication with the residents.

-Have you run in the past?

Yes, I am currently a Commissioner in Parkland District 1 since 2013 and Vice Mayor for 2 years in a row, voted on by the Commission.

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

There are so many things to get started on and everything is fluid as things change in our city, county, state, county, and globally. I will continue to focus on safety and protecting public health, optimizing Parkland’s city budget (working on that now). We are prepared for a potential active 2020 hurricane season while safeguarding Parkland’s unique character and exceptional quality of life.  Restarting our business community here in Parkland and helping Parkland business owners that work outside of our community is important.  We need to work together and my many years of networking, building relationships, being a mentor and a business owner will help our community to strive.

I will continue with all that is Parkland and use my experience to expand on what is needed, make certain that my new Commissioners have a strong understanding of the new role and commitment.  Having worked with Mayors Hunchofsky and Udine, I offer a great deal of knowledge and experience to our relatively new Commission.

It will be a seamless transition as we have an outstanding Mayor and I will meet with Mayor Hunschofsky, the City Manager, and City attorney to immediately continue what we started and then get to work on with the new Commission and bring new ideas forward.

Creating new boards, community involvement, and open discussions, office hours for residents to meet with me and encourage our new Commission to do the same. May be virtual or in-person or at a park. Those that know me to understand how I communicate.  Listening is key and then when you have all of the information you need run with it, boots on the ground! We are all one vote and that is why Resident and Commission communication is key for the future of Parkland.  I am here for the good times and the bad times and the unexpected.

 5. What mission do you feel most passionate about? Why?

Bringing our community together.  There seems to be an invisible line between the east and west side of town.  We are  “One Parkland’ and we should be working together not dividing.  When I meet with the people of Parkland there are so many things they all want and have in common.  There are times when the path we choose may be different, however, the end goal seems the same.

  • Help our community and businesses rebound from the effects of Covid-19 and work together safely with physical distance while being social.  Healing and growing together.

  • Keeping our children and adults safe in the fields, in our parks, and in our community.

  • Keeping city services, programs, and our schools top-rated.

  • Protecting our property values.

  • Protecting the character and the hometown’s special vibe of Parkland.

  • Working with the families and community for a permanent memorial to help the healing process from the MSD tragedy. We will always remember and honor.

6. Where do you feel our city needs improvement? Why? 

There is always room for improvement in whatever you do. Personally, I strive every day to improve and I believe the city staff does as well. If I had to pick one area, I would say communication and community involvement. We have so many active residents that truly care about Parkland and its future and have new and different ideas.  We need to have more opportunities for them to be heard.  It is also important for all areas of Parkland to see another’s point of view and understand that when the Commission votes, we need to look at all the moving parts. The decisions we make are not easy and often there are people that are extremely upset.  Although I would like to be able to agree with everyone’s point of view,  that is not possible and there are times that things go the way I would like and others they do not.  That is democracy!  I believe in working towards solving an issue, problem, or concern and listening to come up with the best possible outcome.

There will be many issues before us. I have every confidence that when we work together as a community—from parks to roads, to development, fiscal planning, safety, business development, schools, long-term strategic planning, community spirit, and well being—so much good can be done. This has been my strategy and promises from my first day in office as Commissioner.  I am
extremely satisfied to watch new residents choosing Parkland as their home and everything our Commission has archived to keep our community beautiful.

7. Where do you feel our city stands above the rest? Why? 

Parkland is an exquisite gem.  It is a place that is our home, community, and offers a lifestyle for all from small children to the young at heart. Parkland has top-notch communities, beautiful parks that offer unique amenities, an award-winning library, dog park, P-Rec Center, houses of worship, bike paths, located next to a magnificent part of nature, the Everglades.  In the middle of my term, we had several issues relating to school overcrowding, which Broward County Public Schools governs. The Mayor at the time, Michael Udine, and our Commission fought for Parkland children to stay in schools located in Parkland.  This is not common.  We worked diligently with the school board when they wanted to bus children out of Parkland. We added additional classroom space at Riverglades, Pine Trails, and Heron Heights working with Broward County Public Schools, city staff, and developers.  We offer free SAT and ACT tutoring for MSD students at our Library and I worked with MSD students involved in the National Honor Society to develop a tutoring program that is student to student.  The people of Parkland make our city stand above the rest!

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

Communication is crucial now more than ever. I am not waiting until day one, I have already started my plan and with every opportunity, I talk with the residents about how they feel and get their input on why Parkland, what they like and dislike, and what they would like to see going forward.  It is so important to recognize that it is our home and everyone has a voice in moving the community forward.  I have also shared my vision with our City Manager about creating more volunteer opportunities and focus groups. This is key to knowing the true pulse of the city.  It is my goal to listen to the people of Parkland and share that with the commission and encourage them to do the same. We need to be sensitive to what is going on in the world, our community, and make certain no resident is left behind.  Our population is changing and we
need to address the needs of all of Parkland and want to create opportunities for our children to our seniors.   I believe we all want the same thing and together sharing ideas and vision will lead us in the best possible direction for the future of our already outstanding place to live and work.

9. If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in our city (road, bridge, etc.) how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing?

I will always meet with anyone that involves Parkland.  That is part of what I do now and what I will continue to do.  There are many steps in any form of development and processes that municipalities have to follow regardless of what type of proposal or development and needs in our community.  As elected officials either Mayor or Commissioner, we are policymakers and the staff runs with the details.  It also depends on many complex issues and how they can be resolved.  This is actually a very complex question with many steps prior to anything moving forward. Always starting with a discussion and meeting is step one.

10. What neighborhood do you live in?

I live in The Greens of Heron Bay with my husband Richard of 35 years and our dog Ziggy and cat Tiggy.

-Why?

This is an interesting story… When we moved to Parkland we only had two weeks to find a home and move.  Our house in Weston sold quickly and we had to be out in less than a month.  We were not even considering Heron Bay, and it is crazy to even think about it.  Every home we bid on we lost to buyers who offered more money.  The market was crazy and my family had very specific things we wanted. My husband wanted a big yard, pool with a lake and trees, and my daughter wanted a bedroom with a walk-in closet, bathroom, and room for a couch.  All I wanted was to pick up my house in Weston and move it to Parkland. When my Realtor called about our house, my husband did not even want to look at it.  He was done looking, so Britt and I went to look at the house we now call home.  It was close to meeting our needs and we needed a place to live. The view was spectacular on the golf course, the bedrooms were big,
and it was empty and needed a family. We all compromised and it became our home.  We put in a pool two years later and it turned out to be the perfect place for the Kagan Family!

 11. Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town? 

Now is a very unusual time and the way I do things now is very different than would be without a pandemic.  Meeting and talking with the people of Parkland in our communities and at our events, supporting all of the residents of our community in any way possible, which has been an extremely new experience with COVID. I do much more facetime, zoom, and physically distance talks and walks so I can connect with our community.

I love everything in Parkland and I do have a few personal favorite things.  I love driving down Holmberg and Trails end with the top down on my car. I love driving by Hendricks Farm and Parkland Golf and smelling the peppers, it’s like being in the country.   Taking walks all over town with Richard, my husband, and Ziggy, our puppy is wonderful and I get to meet and talk with neighbors that are out safely as well as the dog park and walking with friends physically distancing around town and in our parks. Spending time at Carmella’s and meeting friends and neighbors while physically distancing and getting fresh air and grabbing take out from our incredible restaurants.

I would be remiss if I did not share how much our community activities mean to me, not for me for our families of Parkland. When I see smiling faces at the Drive-in Movie, on the fields, events like Snowfest, (my personal favorite), Egg Hunt, Farmers Market,  the school events, Parkland Dash, all of our incredible charity events, activities at our P-rec, visiting with residents at their clubhouses, an MSD football game, a drama production at MSD, a baseball game, watching the band play, our homecoming parade, police and fire meet and greets, reading to the kids at the library, and watching a Parkland sunset at the Levee or even my own backyard. I can go on and on….

Parkland is a special place for all ages and there is so much to do even now!  I was so pleased when my plan for the drive-in movie was approved. I really wanted to get creative with the Commission and city staff and find a way to bring everyone together safely. I look forward to more of that as Mayor.

To learn more or get involved in my campaign: visit StacyKaganforParkland.com or email StacyKaganforMayor@gmail.com, or call 954-288-5261.

Best to all,

Stacy

 

Rich Walker

1. What is your full name?

Richard Walker

2. Where are you originally from?

I am originally from New Jersey

-Why did you choose to move to Coral Springs/Parkland?

I chose Parkland because of the schools and the community.

-How long have you been here?

I have lived in Parkland for 7 years.

3. Why are you running for this position?

I am running for Mayor because I bring a unique perspective to the dais. My wife and I have 5 children ranging from ages 6-16 at each level of the school system. We are an active family in schools, Parks and Recreation, and throughout the community. I am engaged and I am always accessible for our residents. My business background gives me the knowledge and know-how to identify problems and always look for a solution.

– Have you run in the past?

I am currently a Commissioner in District 2

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

Obviously to continue to ensure our residents are safe is #1, but I want to make sure our businesses have the support they need from us as a City to be
successful.

-Why?

During this COVID time, our businesses have had a difficult time. Our businesses are great partners for our City. They sponsor events and sports leagues. They also give our residents additional opportunities to see one another around town.

5. What mission do you feel most passionate about?

I believe our Parks are very important. Parkland is a family-based community and we have to be forward-thinking as we continue to grow our infrastructure.

-Why?

To have a successful and wonderful City we need to make sure we are meeting the needs and level of service our residents deserve. Proper planning is essential. Having my business background is exactly how I think. I am results-oriented and forward-thinking. The decisions you make today can impact tomorrow in both good and bad ways, so it’s imperative to not be impulsive in that decision making.

6. Where do you feel our city needs improvement?

Our City is behind in terms of our infrastructure. We have grown so much over the last 5 years and we are playing a bit of catch up to this growth.

– Why?

The government is not overly fast and nimble, so it’s so important to make quick and decisive decisions. We cannot keep up with the level of service our residents need if we are making reactionary decisions. We need to be proactive. My engagement daily within the community gives me this insight. I am with you at the Parks, Schools, Community Events, and businesses daily.

7. Where do you feel our city stands above the rest?

Our community is resilient. We have been through so much and every time we get back up and move forward stronger than ever.

-Why?

We are a close-knit community, so we are always there for one another. We have so many opportunities during the year to see each other whether it’s the Farmer’s market, Eats and Beats, or any of our other wonderful events.

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

Communication and engagement are vital to the success of any entity. I have always made a point to engage with our residents whether it’s at the schools, parks, community events, or our local businesses. I am always open and available, and I will continue that throughout my service.

9. If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in our city (road, bridge, etc.) how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing?

I would listen to their plan regardless of my initial thought. It’s so important to listen to everyone with an open mind. I will always listen and try to find the value in any discussion or idea. This is how you grow as a person and this is how we can grow as a community.

10. What neighborhood do you live in? Why? Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town?

I live in Parkland Isles. I love our community. I have been to so many other wonderful communities in Parkland and they all have their own unique feel. It’s wonderful. My favorite thing to do is ride my bike throughout our City. I will ride my bike several times a week and it’s great to be able to ride around town and see the differences within each community. This is one of the things that makes Parkland so special.

Rich

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Parkland Commissioner District 2 Candidates Q&A 2020

To further assist our readers in making educated decisions when voting in November, we have sent a list of questions to each candidate running for the District 2 Commissioner of Parkland, FL. 

Jordan Isrow

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

Jordan Isrow – Parkland City Commissioner (District 2)

 

  1. Where are you originally from?

Boca Raton, FL

 

-Why did you choose to move to this city/county/school district/state district?  

While working in New York City as an Assistant Attorney General I met my amazing wife, Jessica, who grew up in Parkland. We fell head over heels in love with one another and eventually made the joint decision to move back down to South Florida together. After visiting her family in Parkland multiple times, meeting a number of their friends and fellow residents, visiting the parks, learning about the A-rated schools, and getting a great feel for the tight-knit community, we both knew that this was the place where we wanted to raise our family.

 

-How long have you been here?

7 years

 

  1. Why are you running for this position?

Parkland is my family’s home and is going to be our home for the next 20+ years. Our City is at a critical juncture right now in its evolution with an influx of new residents and a substantial amount of new development still remaining to be built. The strategies and policy decisions that are made over the next two years will dictate what Parkland looks and feels like for many years to come. I’m running for Commissioner to ensure that our great City maintains all of the phenomenal things that attracted us here in the first place – top-rated schools, beautiful green spaces, and robust sports and recreation programs – while still preserving Parkland’s special character and family-friendly environment. It’s not just important for our two kids, Parker and Maya, but for all of the families in Parkland.

 

-Have you run in the past?

No.

 

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

My first point of action will be to work with the Mayor and other Commissioners to prepare and finalize a Master Plan for the City so that we have a thoughtful and comprehensive blueprint of what we want Parkland to look like in the future, as well as a roadmap on how to get there. This will include plans for the potential annexation of new properties, enhancements to City services and programs, and investments in capital infrastructure to support the growing needs of our residents; both the young families and our rapidly growing 55+ age group.

 

-Why?

Without a Master Plan, we will be left in the untenable position of having to be reactive as opposed to proactive. In my view, there is too much at stake to not have a cohesive plan for the future of Parkland, otherwise, we risk becoming like our neighboring cities that have become overcrowded in terms of capacity and less connected as a community.

 

 

  1. What mission do you feel most passionate about?

There are a number of important missions for Parkland that I am passionate about, but safety will always be my number one priority.

 

-Why?

If residents don’t feel safe in our community, there is little else that we can do as a governing body to improve our quality of life. Being able to enjoy our parks, schools, and local businesses without having to worry is why people move to Parkland in the first place. We, unfortunately, learned a tragic lesson in 2018 with Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and it is incumbent upon our City Commission to do everything in its power to prevent anything of the sort from ever happening again.

 

  1. Where do you feel our city needs improvement?​

Generally, we are fortunate to live in a well-planned and well-run City. However, there are changes and growth on the horizon and therefore we must have a well thought out Master Plan with sufficient flexibility to account for the future growth, including the possibility that in the not too distant future Hendrix Farms may annex into the City.

 

-Why?

Parkland is anticipating that approximately 1,100 new homes will be built over the next four years. As the population grows, we need a long-term plan that provides a conceptual layout to guide the future growth to avoid undue traffic congestion, overburdened public facilities and services, and the erosion of Parkland’s unique character.

 

  1. Where do you feel our city stands above the rest?

The overall look and feel of Parkland — including the beautiful parks, trails, and green spaces — is unrivaled.

 

-Why? 

This certainly does not happen by accident. It is all thanks to exceptional planning by past leadership who upheld their fundamental commitment to keeping Parkland as green, open, and accessible as reasonably possible. I promise to carry the torch and see to it that we protect and preserve this going forward.

 

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

To me, it is all about communication. Whether through community outreach on social media or speaking with my fellow neighbors out and around town, I plan to keep an open line of communication with all Parkland residents and make myself readily available to talk through the decisions I will be tasked with making as the next Commissioner. I also have a plan to utilize the My Parkland app to notify residents of important issues that will be addressed at upcoming commission meetings to increase public awareness and add the ability for them to pose questions or comments on specific topics to be considered by the Commission as part of their decision-making process.

 

  1. If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in our city (road, bridge, etc.) how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing?

 My first step would be to assess whether there is an actual need for the new piece of public infrastructure. This would entail speaking with City Staff, residents, and other stakeholders to understand the underlying basis for the proposal. Assuming that the research showed there was a legitimate need, the next step would be to perform a technical evaluation of what the project will require in order to operate as needed. This would include calculating the overall cost for construction, future operating expenses, and the timeline in which it is expected to be completed. Next would come an environmental assessment to ascertain the environmental risks and impacts associated with the project. Assuming that the cost of the project is justified by the expected benefit to the community, and the environmental impact is minimal, I would make the recommendation to move forward with the new piece of public infrastructure.

 

  1. What neighborhood do you live in?  

Watercrest

 

-Why?

When my wife and I were finally ready to buy our first home we toured a number of different developments in Parkland, but Watercrest stood out above the rest for us. The neighborhood was filled with young families with kids of all ages playing outside and at the clubhouse pool and there was a noticeably strong sense of community pride among the residents.We fell in love with one of the model houses and made the decision to build on a lot backing up to the nature preserve, which provides breathtaking views of all the natural wildlife that surrounds us every single day.

 

  1. Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town? 

Pine Trails Park, Liberty Park, Barkland, Farmer’s Market, Carmela Coffee Shop, Family Bagels of Long Island, Déjà Blue, Bluefin Sushi, Pizza Time, Los Bocados.

 

Jordan Isrow

Derek Olivier

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

Derek Olivier and I am running for Parkland City Commissioner District 2 

  1. Where are you originally from? 

I am originally from New York but I have lived in South Florida since 1993, so I consider myself a Floridian.

-Why did you choose to move to this city/county/school district/state district?

My wife and I moved to Parkland for the school district and safety as we were planning on starting a family.

-How long have you been here?

On October 28th, we will have lived in Parkland for 5 years. 

  1. Why are you running for this position? 

Service to others is a pillar in my faith and is written in my DNA. It was one of the prime factors why I left corporate America and started my company and it’s the reason why I spend the mornings of my birthday helping different charitable organizations in South Florida. Our country is going through a lot of turmoil and when I had my first child 6 months ago, I looked into his eyes and felt like I needed to do more. I know what I am capable of and that my experience as a business owner, my real estate knowledge of 17 years, and my understanding of accounting principles makes me uniquely suited to help in this moment of crisis. Knowing I am the best person for the job invoked a sense of duty to step up and give back to a city that has given my family an amazing place to call home. 

-Have you run in the past?

No, I never thought I would ever run for office, but I feel compelled to do something as I see the qualities I love about Parkland changing. 

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

Help the hurting retail business in Parkland. Parkland businesses add to the culture of our community and give a space for our residents to commune. As a business owner myself, I have a unique understanding of the many challenges businesses in Parkland are facing and have created a simple but effective 8-step plan to help increase their sales. I have listed them on my website, DerekGetsItDone.com. One of the most obvious steps is to add a Parkland business Icon to the homepage of our city website. 

-Why?

Even before COVID hit, Renee and I witnessed a revolving door for the small business owners of Parkland. When we first moved here, we would take our nieces and nephews to SubZero in the Parkland Commons Shopping Center. SubZero closed its doors a couple of years ago. My wife fell in love with I Heart Mac and Cheese, and it also closed. I helped create a social business networking group in Parkland we called PBNG. We had over 50 members and had monthly meetings at Bahama Grill on 441. Bahama Grill closed its doors about a year ago. Now with COVID, almost all of the business owners I spoke to are suffering. They need the city to step up and help them navigate through this tough time. Let’s relax the signage laws on 441, let’s work on getting them PPE equipment since the city is requiring them to provide it for their workers, and let’s get them some additional advertising opportunities to help them help themselves. 

  1. What mission do you feel most passionate about? 

Getting a Parkland Police Force and Keeping Businesses in Parkland. 

-Why?

a. Safety is important to me and although I believe BSO has some amazing officers when you have 2,800 officers in 14 cities, I think it’s challenging to manage your force. After speaking with the people of Parkland, I have learned of many of the challenges they are experiencing with BSO and many of the surveys have shown that the people of Parkland want their own Police force. I am in total agreement. I believe huge Police forces set up officers for failure. I believe policing should be personal, a more community-style policing where officers live in the city they serve. Officers should be a part of a community they serve and know the names of the people in the community. Officers who are the neighbors of the people they serve will be even more motivated to act in moments of crisis.

b. I built 2 businesses from the ground up and I know the blood sweat and tears it takes to start and run your own business. My first company was a 2,600 SQFT video game center similar to Chuck E Cheese called GameBreakers that I started in 2006. GameBreakers was a LAN center that utilized the power of at-home gaming consoles. Although home computers were the standard at that time, I believe consoles would be the new standard. We called ourselves the purveyors of fun. We focused on daycare centers, colleges, birthday parties, and group events. We started making some headway and was featured on the cover of the Sun-Sentinel business section. But due to the crash of 2008, the fun did not last and we were forced to close our doors. That was one of the worst events of my life. I know how hard business owners work. I know firsthand what getting up at 6 am and working to 12 am, just to do it all over the next day feels like. I know the weight of having employees, I know about paying your employees before you pay yourself, and how helpless you feel when you see all the things you worked so many years to vanish in a couple of days due to an economic crash. To lose my company in that way was heart-wrenching. COVID has debilitated so many South Florida businesses in the same way. I know firsthand what the business owners of Parkland are going through and I want to do whatever is in my power to help them not experience what I did in 2008. 

  1. Where do you feel our city needs improvement? 

We need our own police force, we need to help Keep businesses in Parkland, we need to stop overdevelopment, we need to work through the issues with Pine Tree Estates, we need to elevate our parks. 

-Why?

a. We need our own police force because the people of Parkland want community policing at a level BSO cannot provide. BSO leadership can change every 4 years and we as a city do not have much say on who gets elected. Also, according to the CSPM study, having our own police force would be cheaper by about 3 million a year.

b. Parkland businesses are hurting. As a business owner myself, I have a unique understanding of the challenges they are facing and have an 8-step plan on how the city can help increase their sales.

c. Parkland is experiencing growing pains, including excess traffic and the loss of natural landscapes. With my experience working in accounting and real estate development, I am ready to get to work on this issue.

d. A city should never get sued by its residents. We need to figure out a way to resolve the issue with Pine Tree Estates.

e. Our city is called Parkland, and I feel like we should have the best parks. But currently, many of our parks are having challenges. The city has taken steps to correct the issues and I want to continue what was started and see if there are any steps to improve. 

  1. Where do you feel our city stands above the rest? 

I believe Parkland is one of the best cities to live in. 

-Why?

I am originally from NY and when I first moved here, I fell in love with the fact that I could see so many stars at night. Parkland offers that small-town feel in a big city. Also, the people of Parkland have been so welcoming to us, the parks and events like “Eats and Beats” bring a sense of community and the school system can rival some of the best in Florida. I am proud of my city and feel obligated to do my part to help. 

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

 Social media is a great way to keep residents up-to-date on what’s going on. I also plan on hosting monthly zoom meetings, going to events, and taking advantage of any opportunity to get face to face talk with our residents to explain what’s going on and understand developing issues. 

  1. If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in our city (road, bridge, etc.) how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing? 

a. One of the first considerations is the residents of the area. Are they interested in the structure?

b. What impact will this have on traffic and what are the implementation costs?

c. What added functional use will this project provide the city? Is it purely decorative?

d. What are the thoughts of the planning and zoning department and city manager?

e. What will this structure add to our community?

f. How long will the build out take and what contingencies can we put in place to prevent them from not meeting their timelines?

g. I would need to know there was an RFP done to ensure we are getting the best price. h. I would want to know the accreditation of the structural engineer and know that proper steps would be taken to ensure structural integrity.

i. I would need to understand the past work of the builder and speak to the city members on their past jobs. 

  1. What neighborhood do you live in? 

Parkland Isles 

-Why? 

  • Renee and I felt Parkland Isles was one of the prettiest communities in Parkland. 

  • Each home in the community had a little more land between them than many of the newer communities. 

  • For all the amenities offered, we thought the HOA was reasonable compared to others. 

  • The people in our community have been so awesome. We have made lifelong friends. 

  • Our community is super close to the highway so it makes it easy to get anywhere in South Florida quickly. 

  • It’s in Parkland and zoned for the schools we wanted.

  1. Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town?

a. Pine Trails Park- I love playing flag football.

b. Eats and Beats- Date nights with Renee.

c. Bahama Grill- Social meetups and happy hour.

d. Bluefin- Date nights with Renee.

Derek Olivier

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Parkland Commissioner District 4 Candidates Q&A 2020

To further assist our readers in making educated decisions when voting in November, we have sent a list of questions to each candidate running for the District 4 Commissioner seat of Parkland, FL. 

Bob Mayersohn (Incumbent)

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

Bob Mayersohn -Re-Elect Commissioner City of Parkland-District 4

  1. Where are you originally from?

Spring Valley, New York

–Why did you choose to move to this city/county/school district/state district? 

I moved to Florida 37 years ago. We fell in love with Parkland when we were looking for a place to raise our family. Growing up we had apple trees in our backyard, and farmland down the road so we immediately connected with Parkland. The natural landscape features, such as the Holmberg Road tree canopy, the equestrian setting, walking paths and community spirit felt like home.

-How long have you been here?

24-year resident of Parkland

  1. Why are you running for this position? 

I am humbled and grateful that I have been able to serve the City of Parkland as the District 4 Commissioner since 2016. Over the last 4 years, I have developed relationships and acquired knowledge and experience. I want to continue to work in making Parkland the best place to live. Have you run in the past? Was elected to serve in 2016

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

Continue to address the PTE road issue.

-Why?

There are current litigation and while, under the advice of our attorney, I will not comment on the merits of the litigation, I am hopeful that we can get to a resolution.

  1. What mission do you feel most passionate about?

Our commission developed the City’s mission which is, “To provide quality services while protecting the community’s unique character and natural environment, adding value to our resident’s lives, and advocating to protect community interests.” Why? Because this is Parkland.

  1. Where do you feel our city needs improvement? 

Why? What has plagued the city and will continue to present a challenge is balancing the infrastructure to support the growth. These are complex issues that involve various state, county, and local requirements as well as collaboration with landowners. My goal is to continue to work with these entities as we plan for our future.

  1. Where do you feel our city stands above the rest?

Our natural landscape.

-Why?

We have been able to maintain what we call “country elegant classic” design standards.

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

The interesting part is that COVID-19 has forced us to implement creative ways to reach out to our residents. Continuing to have community meetings, using on-line input, which includes emails, and face to face discussions are vital. The key element for me, however, is making sure everyone’s voice is heard.

  1. If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in our city (road, bridge, etc.) how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing?

Evaluating a project takes an interdisciplinary team approach. While an individual commissioner may advocate for a project, decisions are not made in isolation or silos. The process involves strategic planning, community outreach, evaluating funding options, etc. to get to a consensus.

  1. What neighborhood do you live in?

Mayfair

Why?

Great location, warm and friendly neighbors, and its mature street tree canopy.

  1. Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town? 

I enjoy spending time all over town; however, since COVID-19, I have acquired a greater appreciation for our greenways, parks, and trails. Its natural beauty is very peaceful and tranquil.

Bob Mayersohn

*Bob Mayersohn will be running against Robert Brannen. Our attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.*

 

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The High Holy Days of 2020

In the Bible, we find the origin for the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The Book of Leviticus (23:24- 25) declares: “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of rest, a memorial proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar, a holy convocation.” However, for the first time in thousands of years, the delivery model for this worship will change.

The Hebrew root for the word “Shanah” means to change, shinui. This is typically referring to our personal evaluation and change that takes place over the High Holy Days, but this year we are faced with even greater ways to transform our worship.

Over the past few months, clergy have struggled with the dilemma of how to offer meaningful worship for the High Holy Days during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questions range from: “Can we accomplish a lengthy service filled with sermons, song, shofar blasts, and Torah readings through a virtual platform?” to “Can we figure out how to safely host a socially-distanced service where the clergy and a choir deliver a full worship service?”

Most have concluded that online is the only way to ensure the safety of their congregations. Unfortunately, this leads to a myriad of other dilemmas:

  • Will worship be in a virtual meeting platform (interactive both ways) or on a webinar (interactive one-way) where people can only see the speaker?
  • Should we pre-record or conduct live services?
  • Should we stream worship to a website or a social media account?
  • What if we lose power, Wi-Fi cuts out, or my children walk in and interrupt the service?

For a religion like Judaism, which places a great deal of importance on tradition and communal gatherings for Torah reading and saying certain prayers in a minyan, a gathering of 10 adults all tackling a new delivery model for the holiest day of the year seems like a great mountain to climb.

Martin Buber, a great 20th-century Jewish philosopher, once wrote about the distinction between an I-It relationship and an I-Thou relationship. The I-It relationship is a superficial relationship between two people, which is now reinforced through virtual meetings thanks to mandatory isolation. The I-Thou relationship is the creation of a deeper connection with another human being, leading us closer to a relationship with God.

The true task of the High Holy Days is not about how long the worship service runs or if it was the best video and music production. It is about the prayer, the melancholy tones that are chanted, and a sermon that educates, inspires, and provides hope for the year to come. It will be the roles of the clergy to create space for the I-Thou relationship to occur.

Psalm 82:1 reminds us that “God stands in the congregation of God” and we have an opportunity to reinterpret this metaphor in our current reality.

The world feels so very broken right now. People are not only fighting a virus in different ways but are bombarded with the tense political climate. We are suffering losses in many capacities; we are grieving loved ones, missing our “normal” routines, and missing out on the ability to visit with friends and family. These changes have affected our mental and physical wellbeing and will continue to do so as we see no end in sight.

The Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, remind us that life continues to move forward whether we are ready for it or not. However bleak things may be, we must continue to search for meaning and find our purpose. By taking the time to pause on these High Holy Days, we cash in on the reality check we all so desperately need. The world is reaching its birthday on Rosh Hashanah and we have a chance to renew ourselves and refocus our goals.

For some, not entering a physical building removes a barrier for worship participation. By observing the High Holy Days in a virtual platform, there is no one to care what shoes or handbag you are wearing or to remember when you last stepped foot in a synagogue. No one can hear whether you know the words and sing along, or if your child is making noise in the background.

The playing field for participation is leveled. Everyone has the same seat in the sanctuary – in front of an electronic device. You can have your camera off or on – you can be seen or hold on to your anonymity.

For others, this virtual space will be much harder. Those who look forward to experiencing everything happening in three dimensions or reuniting with friends they have not seen all summer will feel as if they missed out on something. Everyone will be muted figuratively and literally.

One thing is for certain. Whatever happens, it will most definitely not be a repeat of the year prior or of decades before. Clergy have been pushed in new directions to rethink High Holy Days altogether. We must remember that this is not necessarily a bad thing. Inspired by learning new technology, they have been forced to innovate, which may prove to be particularly engaging for everyone in the virtual prayer space.

It is important to use this time to reflect on the change you want to occur in your life before you experience a new modality of worship. May you all have a Shanah Tovah, a “good change” or a happy new year, and a G’mar Chatimah Tovah, be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for good.

 

By Rabbi Melissa Stollman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

By Jill Vogel

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SNOOK season’s on! Start your engines!

Capt. Brian Sanders is on the right holding the snook. All the others are customers of his with snook that they caught with him.

September 1 is a special day for many South Florida anglers because that’s when the snook season opens after being closed for most of the summer.

It’s also one of the best times to catch a snook because the fish are still congregated inside inlets, off beaches, and around bridges.

One of the best places to fish for the popular gamefish is in the 10,000 Islands on Florida’s southwest coast. The remote area, much of which is part of Everglades National Park, probably has the most boat traffic of the year during the first week of September, most of those fishermen hoping to catch a few good-tasting snook to bring home for dinner.

Capt. Brian Sanders, who fishes out of Chokoloskee Island for snook as well as redfish, sea trout, tripletail, cobia, and permit (visit www.sandersoutdoorguide.com) said he’s usually booked for the opening week of snook season 30-45 days in advance. Those with their own boats also invade the area, especially on the first weekend of the season, which this year is Sept. 5-6, followed by Labor Day on Sept. 7.

“This area solely relies on tourism and fishermen,” said Sanders, who has fished out of Chokoloskee for more than 50 years and ranks among the region’s top guides. “The fishermen come, they stay the weekend, they buy fuel, ice, and food. They all come down and descend into the Everglades.”

It’s easy to get turned around in the 10,000 Islands, where many of the mangrove islands look the same. In addition, water levels constantly change with the wind and tides, so a creek or bay that was easy to navigate at high tide could leave a boater stranded during low tide. If you haven’t fished the area before and aren’t going with someone who knows the 10,000 Islands, it makes sense to book an experienced guide such as Sanders.

He is especially good with youngsters and with adults who don’t have much fishing experience and coaches them so they can expertly land multiple species.

“I do a lot of family trips,” said Sanders, who lives in Davie and commutes across Alligator Alley to State Road 29 every day. “Lately it seems I’ve had a lot of husbands and wives and their 12-year-old kid. They let me take all of the guesswork out of fishing.”

On a recent trip, Sanders took his cousin’s 18-year-old son. He had just graduated high school, but because of COVID-19, he didn’t get to enjoy a proper graduation.

“She wanted to do something nice for him and asked if I’d take him and some of his buddies fishing,” Sanders said. “We had seven kids on two boats and we caught lots of redfish and some big snook. We had a great time and all the kids caught big fish.”

Big breeder snook are protected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make sure that the state has a healthy population. Anglers are allowed to keep only one snook per day with a total length of 28 – 33 inches along the Gulf coast and in Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, and one snook 28-32 inches on the Atlantic coast.

The Atlantic coast season is closed from June 1-August 31, which is when snook spawn. The open season is Sept. 1-Dec. 14, then it closes Dec. 15-Jan. 31. The season re-opens Feb. 1-May 31.

Regulations in Everglades National Park, the Florida Keys, and Gulf coast waters are more restrictive, with the season closed from Dec. 1 to the end of February and May 1-Aug. 31. Due to the adverse effects of red tide, the snook season is closed along the Gulf coast from north of Tampa to south of Naples through Aug. 31, 2021.

Snook can be caught and released during the closed seasons, and I’ve enjoyed many trips with Sanders where he pulled up to an island, told me to cast my bait to a downed tree or submerged oyster bar, and I immediately hooked a snook. That’s only half the battle with the hard-fighting fish because they have a knack for swimming to the nearest obstacle and tangling or breaking your fishing line.

Sanders said that when you feel the “thump” of a snook inhaling your bait or lure, reel in the line until it comes tight, then set the hook. If you get excited and jerk the fishing rod with slack in the line, you won’t drive the hook into the snook’s mouth.

“Once the fish is under control and away from the structure, back off,” Sanders said. “Let the fish pull and then you pull. And it’s important to stay on top of your fish. You can’t fight a fish that goes to the back of the boat from the bow.”

Sanders recommended fairly stout tackle to wrestle snook away from rocks, oyster bars, and mangroves. He uses medium-heavy 7-foot spinning rods made by Fairbanks Customs Rods with a 3500 or 4000 series Canyon reel. His main line is a 20-pound braid tied to a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader attached to a 2/0 or 3/0 Mustad Big Gun hook if he’s using live pilchards, threadfin herring, or finger mullet for bait.

His favorite lures are a Live Target 3-inch scaled sardine, which imitates a pilchard, and A Band Of Anglers 3-inch Dartspin Pro, either white with a chartreuse blade or gold with a gold blade.

Whether his customers use live bait or the lures, it’s likely that they’ll be enjoying fried or blackened snook for dinner in September.

By Steve Waters

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Teachers’ COVID-19 Survival Guide

The first day of school is always such a special day! A day filled with excitement, anticipation, and joy. A brand new beginning
is upon us. A day that is filled with hope! Hope for our youth, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for our future. The building is always abuzz with the hustle and bustle of teachers reorganizing their classrooms, decorating bulletin boards, color-coordinating folders. Teachers are reviewing lesson plans, sharing new ideas, discussing their summer vacations. Smiles are given by your favorite custodian, warm hugs from the office staff, and you notice the familiar smells wafting from the cafeteria. There is the prospect of eager new students dressed in their new clothes, shoes, and backpacks.

Unfortunately, it’s September 2020 and none of those things are possible right now. With all the changes this year, your excitement may be replaced with anxiety and dread. Some questions you may ask yourself are: How am I going to do this? How can I possibly prepare? How will I actively engage my students? What if I can’t work the technology? One thing to remember is that we cannot control the external circumstances and challenges present this year. The good news is we can make personal changes that will help to decrease or eliminate our anxiety related to this school year.

Here is a Survival Guide which you can begin practicing right now!

What can I do right now:

  • Sleep 7-8 hours per night
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat healthily
  • Meditate
  • Engage in activities unrelated to work
  • Connect with others
  • Limit social media and all media
  • Practice self-compassion (kindness talk)

What can I do next week:

  • Set up a dedicated workspace. This helps form a work mode versus a disconnected mode.
  • Set up boundaries. Be sure to set up a designated time for office hours where the students, parents, and even administration can reach you. Respond during these hours only. Midnight texts, emails, and phone calls are unacceptable!
  • Set up reasonable expectations for yourself and your students. By setting up small, timely, realistic goals, you will feel more fulfilled. This will help to maintain your mental health.
  • Change your mindset. Think about what you have control over and make the decision to be positive. Wake up with gratitude every day.
  • Stop apologizing. Instead of starting a sentence with “I’m sorry, but,” be specific about what you need and what you are capable of doing. Do not apologize for setting boundaries or taking time for yourself.
  • Carve out time for your self-care. Self-care is not selfish.

What can I do when feeling anxious during the school year:

  • Reach out to others
  • Call others
  • Video chat, Face Time, Zoom
  • Suggest a zoom book club, yoga session, or cooking club
  • Connections are crucial. You’ll be glad you did it, I promise!

How can I help my students when they are anxious:

  • Praise students for facing their fears.
  • Model good coping behaviors.
  • Validate and be supportive of your students.
  • Be open and honest with your students while reminding them that there is much thought and planning put into keeping them safe.
  • Provide new and accurate information in a timely manner while allowing students to safely express their concerns.
  • Provide an emotionally safe space for all students.

What can I do with my students when we are both feeling anxious:

  • Deep breathing
  • Support the use of comfort objects
  • Teach and practice meditation techniques
  • Teach and practice grounding techniques by using all five senses.

Gratitude for teachers is sometimes left unspoken. Know that you are appreciated and we are grateful for you. This too shall pass and when it does, our teachers will be celebrated as the heroes of the pandemic of 2020.

 

By Stacie Boyar

Stacie Boyar is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice for the past five years at Grace Counseling in Coral Springs. She also has a master’s degree in education. Because of COVID-19, she has been providing services exclusively through www.telehealth.com.

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Annual Parkland Buddy golf classic set for October 23

Parkland Buddy Sports is hosting its Eighth Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 23, 2020, at Boca Lago Country Club, in Boca Raton. Sponsors are Vertical Bridge REIT and the Pintchik Family.

“Our Parkland Buddy Sports family has been providing fun, safe programming for our special needs children, their families, and our community since our inception in 2002,” said Parkland Buddy Sports President, Andy Zaukas.

“This tournament is our primary source of fundraising, with the hope that our free sports programming will continue to grow and succeed.” The golf committee is headed by Parkland Buddy Sports past board member, Gayle Tyrie.

The mission of Parkland Buddy Sports is to provide quality sports programming for children and young adults with special needs in an inclusive, empowering, challenging, and caring environment where the emphasis is on having fun, making friends, and realizing their potential.

Each player is paired for the entire season with their own “Buddy” who is a student volunteer. Through the shared encouragement of all the Buddies, the players with special needs and their families are able to experience the joys of their athletic endeavors.

The 1:00 pm shotgun start golf tournament will consist of up to 144 players in teams of four. The cost per player is $125, which includes golf, tournament prizes, gift bags, and a buffet dinner at Boca Lago’s VIP dining room.

Specialty holes will be available, including a hole-in-one par three, where golfers will be shooting for amazing prizes, including a three-year car lease, courtesy of Infiniti of Coconut Creek.

Other specialty holes will also be available. Mulligan cards will be on hand for players to purchase.

Sponsorship opportunities may be obtained at several monetary levels. Tee Sign hole sponsorships are also available for $125 per hole. The Parklander Magazine is the official magazine sponsor. Other corporate sponsors include Connect Credit Union, Ryder, The Eppy Group, Holman Enterprises, Wawa, Pollo Tropical, Fastbolt, JM Family Enterprises, and Pepsi.

Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the top teams. A silent auction and raffle will be held and will include hotel stays, signed sports memorabilia, attraction tickets, restaurant gift certificates, and an array of incredible prizes.

If you are interested in assisting the charity or golf tournament committee with your time and/or donations, please contact Linda Brown-Doriot at 954.288.7201. For more information on Parkland Buddy Sports, visit the Facebook Page – Parkland Buddy Sports Inc. or parklandbuddysports.org.

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Youth sports persevere in spite of pandemic

There’s a reason why “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is one of the most easily recognized songs in America. As a tribute to our national pastime, the tune holds relevancy as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens sports across the country.

From leagues as large as the NFL, to as small as Parkland’s Little League, players and fans recognize the impact sports have on wellbeing, education, and morale. The quarantine we all struggled with has proved the importance of sports as parents tried to find ways to entertain children without organized team activities.

This fall, Parkland hopes to deliver to the community a sports season that incorporates a variety of social distancing practices.

Richard Walker, a Parkland city commissioner, is spearheading the plan to accommodate new guidelines throughout a variety of Parkland leagues.

“Kids need social interaction and the opportunity to listen and learn from their coaches. There’s an element of learning outside the classroom that is definitely valuable,” Walker said.

While he maintains the situation is “fluid,” Parkland plans for fall leagues to continue under Broward County guidelines. This includes socially distancing viewers around the field, as well as spreading individual games farther apart across fields.

Local baseball has continued successfully this summer during the pandemic, and Parkland parents proved they were willing to follow all necessary steps to allow their children to compete.

However, if schools choose to reopen classrooms this fall, it may become more of a challenge for sports to continue if cases rise, specifically with indoor contact activities like basketball and wrestling.

What’s so threatening about a potential shutdown isn’t just the loss of everyday structure, but also how young athletes may have to work even harder next year just to return to the level they competed at before their training time was interrupted.

Demi Snyder, a South Florida local and member of the Harvard women’s tennis team, recently received news that all fall sports at her institution would be canceled. The cancellation affects her preseason training while she awaits a decision for the 2021 spring season.

“Because we missed our last season due to the pandemic, I may only get two seasons with my team to represent my school. After putting so many hours into my sport, it’s hard to know I might not play my first tennis season until I am a junior. It’s tough because there’s no one to blame. It’s just the situation that we’ve been dealt.”

As the future of sports has been threatened indefinitely, it remains important to listen to the voices of our sports community, who all convey their determination and willingness to adapt during tough circumstances.

So long as our community is willing to listen and propose new solutions, athletes this fall can be given the opportunity to prove they are capable of tremendous endurance, beyond the physical feat of passing home base.

 

By Madison Smith

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With COVID-19 there are no ‘immaculate’ assumptions

If you feel confused by the ever-changing data and recommendations surrounding COVID-19, you are not alone. As a new virus emerges, doctors and scientists are learning new information almost daily. Hence, the need to modify recommendations as this information arises.

If I say one thing to help guide you through this process, it is that as long as the virus is around, you must take measures to mitigate the risk of getting and spreading it. Over the last few months, many of us have witnessed two extremes: Those who drive alone in their car while wearing gloves, a mask, and a face shield, and those who partake in large group gatherings with no social distancing nor PPE of any kind.

Regardless of whether you fall into one of these categories or somewhere in the middle, I think we can agree that we all want to do whatever we can to keep our loved ones out of harm’s way.

The question I get asked the most from family and friends is regarding what measures to take when visiting with others. Whether it is a party for Grandma’s 90th birthday or a relatively small family gathering at a lake house, everyone wants to know a definitive answer on doing the right thing in the age of COVID-19.

Although there are evidence-based answers, anyone watching one of the numerous news networks or various social media feeds knows the research is ever-changing. Even those of us who have been critically reviewing journal articles as part of our career are relatively confused as to what the perfect answer is. As I said, you are not alone!

All of that being said, I would like to offer what I think is a risk-mitigating, comfort level approach to keeping you and your loved ones as safe as possible during group gatherings and family visits. For this, we need to make a few assumptions:

Assumption 1: When someone says they tested negative, assume this means they still could be infected with the virus.

Yes, I know this one is confusing, but it is very important. PCR and Rapid tests of all kinds (including flu) have always been known to be unreliable – this is not unique to COVID-19. This means that you should always inquire about symptoms, such as fever, cough, loss of smell/taste, etc. (refer to the CDC website for a current symptom list; cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ symptoms-testing/ symptoms.html). If a person tests negative and has any of the listed COVID-19 symptoms, you must assume they are infected, and the test didn’t pick it up.

Assumption 2: Asymptomatic patients can still transmit the virus.

If someone says, “I tested positive but didn’t have any symptoms, therefore, I am fine,” be cautious. Although it seems that asymptomatic patients have a lower likelihood
of transmitting the virus, the evidence is debatable and from a personal standpoint, I wouldn’t bank on a lower potential transmission rate equating near zero chance, especially when dealing with any of the vulnerable populations. Play it safe!

Assumption 3: Assume that anyone with a fever of 100.4°F or greater has COVID-19.

For those who are taking temperatures at their door, more power to you. Although it is surely an uncomfortable welcome at the front door, it is one of the few truly objective measures we can take, even if it won’t screen in every infected person. Understand though, a temperature of 99° Fahrenheit is not a true fever. I grew up thinking anything above a 98.6° meant you were hospital-bound. We all have very normal fluctuations in our core temperatures throughout the day, but a fever doesn’t truly start until 100.4° Fahrenheit.

Assumption 4: Assume everyone has COVID-19.

Clearly, this will be the most controversial assumption, but I believe a smart approach, especially when dealing with the elderly population and those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or lung disease. Assume everyone has COVID and take precautions based on that. Everyone may seem okay or say they are fine, but don’t stop practicing strict hand hygiene or whatever form of social distancing you usually partake in.

If you don’t personally believe this is as bad as the news is portraying, the simple effort of regular hand sanitizing/washing and wearing a face mask during group gatherings could have maximum outcomes if it means you could prevent the spread to a vulnerable person.

Should you worry so much about your healthy 3-year-old or 16-year-old getting very ill? Not nearly as much as the vulnerable populations, but you should worry about who they will potentially pass it on to. Thankfully, although children can indeed get ill, they seem to be the safest population when it comes to COVID-19 with mortality and morbidity rates seemingly lower than influenza, but this doesn’t mean that they are not vectors.

At the end of the day, we all want to keep our loved ones as safe as possible, but unless you live in a HEPA filter bubble, I don’t think there is a 100% perfect approach in this COVID world we live in; however, you can mitigate risk. Personal interactions are core to our sanity and mental health. If you understand the risks and take precautions to mitigate them when you can, you can certainly achieve these interactions while maintaining relative safety.

By Dr. Jahn Avarello

Dr. Avarello was the Division Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine for the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of NY for the past 9 years and is now the Florida Regional Medical Director for PM Pediatrics Urgent Care (1st site due to open in the Sawgrass Center this fall). He is currently seeing patients for acute care needs virtually at PMPanywhere.com.

 

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Meal kits cater to a cavalcade of culinary cravings

One of the latest, hottest trends in food is the fresh-food meal-kit delivery subscription service. Recipes and pre-measured ingredients for meals that you choose, or can be chosen for you, arrive in insulated boxes and are delivered to your home weekly, so you can make fresh, tasty meals quickly. Business is booming. According to Statista.com, sales of fresh-food meal-kits were $1.5 billion in 2016 and expected to reach $11.6 billion by 2022.

The reasons to subscribe to a service are many. Maybe you don’t have time (or inclination in this time of COVID-19) to plan out menus, grocery shop, and then cook. Or takeout isn’t the taste sensation it used to be. Perhaps cooking prowess has not been your strong suit and you want to learn basic cooking skills. Rather than experiment and risk a disappointing outcome, you want to cook something tried and true with no guesswork.

Or it could be you’re craving for new foods and flavors, but you don’t want to purchase lots of new ingredients that may end up going to waste, either because you only need a small amount for an individual recipe, or because you’re positive you’re never going to use the rest of that sweetbread in any recipe for the rest of your life.

How many of us have gone to the grocery store needing just a few items and come home with food we didn’t need or were trying to avoid? A fresh- food meal-kit delivery service might help keep you on track. Or maybe you want to eat differently for other health reasons or because of philosophical or environmental considerations and preferences.

Additionally, a meal-kit delivery service might make a good gift. Treating someone to door-delivered easy-to-make meals might make their week.

 

Choosing the right service will take a little research. If you Google meal delivery services, you’ll find lists and ratings from a wide variety of sources, and dozens of meal services to choose from. Because meal-kit delivery service is a very dynamic segment of the food industry, companies continually innovate and merge/enter/leave the market. So, once you’ve found the service(s) you want to try, it’s best to get the latest information from their website. Read what past and present subscribers have to say about a service. You can check Yelp reviews, as well.

When evaluating what meal-kit delivery service to use, there are several factors you’ll want to consider, such as:

What’s on the menu

Some services cater to specific dietary wants and needs; others with broader menus might offer meals that meet those needs even though it is not their specific focus. You will also want to note how many weekly options there are to choose from and how often they rotate the menu.

For overall variety and popularity, HelloFresh, Freshly, and Blue Apron might be good possibilities.

For meeting health and diet needs, Diet-to-Go and Nutrisystem offer multiple options.

For those wanting to eat organic/vegetarian/vegan/plant-based, Sun Basket, Purple Carrot, and Green Chef offer many options.

For foodies, Martha & Marley Spoon, from Martha Stewart, offers a range of selections.

Cost

Cost per serving is generally in the $10 range (Dinnerly positions itself as costing less than average) but can vary depending on the number of meals and quantity ordered, shipping costs, current promotions, etc. Competition is keen. Many companies have enticing introductory offers, as well as referral programs that entitle subscribers to offer a friend a free trial.

Flexibility

How many meals and servings you are required to order weekly varies by company. Some programs might be better for singles, others for families. You might also want to find out if the service allows for ingredient substitutions, increased portion sizes, etc.

It pays to know the service’s subscription commitment/ suspension/cancellation policy. Also, take note of when you need to order your next week’s meals and what happens if you miss that window, as well as what day of the week/time of day you can expect the delivery. While the meals are packaged for freshness, another consideration is how long after delivery is freshness guaranteed, so if the shipment is delayed or you can’t pick up the delivery as quickly as you planned, you know what to expect.

What you need to have on hand

Check what utensils and ingredients are needed to make the recipes. Regarding ingredients, many meal-kit service recipes require you have just the basics, such as salt, pepper, and oil. For others, you might need to supply items such as eggs and flour.

Time

While most meal delivery service kit meals will take up to 45 minutes to prepare, Freshly delivers pre-cooked meals that only require reheating.

While fresh-food meal-kit delivery services aren’t for everyone, if you are looking to try one, the options are numerous, and look to be quite tasty!

By Ellen Marsden

Posted on

PETTALK: Doctors make the worst clients

I recently went to a socially distanced neighborhood block party and met a few people I had never met before. Where I currently live in Jupiter, most of my neighbors are snowbirds and based on the spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida, they may not be coming back anytime soon.

At the party, I met a female neighbor who, after finding out I was a veterinarian, dragged her husband unwillingly out of a group of men who were talking about golf and politics to talk to me.

I am going to call him Dr. Skin because he is a dermatologist and his demeanor got under my skin. Mrs. Skin told him to tell me about Annabella, their 9-year-old boxer, who had increased thirst and urination. Mrs. Skin wanted to take Annabella to the veterinarian, but with the pandemic, she was reluctant to allow Annabella to be seen by her veterinarian while she was forced to stay in the car.

This allowed Dr. Skin the opportunity to act as a veterinarian by searching Google. I asked Dr. Skin how he felt about his clients coming in and comparing his diagnosis to Dr. Google and he said he hated it. I told him that he was doing the same to the veterinary profession.

Dr. Skin told me that he had put increased thirst and urination into the search engine and based on his research, diabetes and kidney disease were the most likely diseases followed by Cushing’s disease and a high salt diet. I nodded my head in agreement that they were definitely high on my list, as well.

So, I asked him what he has done, knowing that he has not called or seen his veterinarian. He told me he obviously wouldn’t start insulin therapy without taking Annabella’s blood sugar but was tempted. He didn’t think Annabella had kidney disease because her urine was very yellow in the morning and he would assume that if she had kidney disease her urine would always be clear in color. Then he abruptly left to get the bag of dog food so I could look at the sodium level.

I told Mrs. Skin that Annabella needs to see her veterinarian. Bloodwork and urine need to be analyzed and Annabella needed to be examined.

She agreed.

Dr. Skin not only brought back the bag of dog food for me to look at but Annabella as well. From ten feet away, I could see that Annabella’s lymph nodes on her neck, chest, and rear legs were swollen.

Annabella is a boxer and boxers are the number one canine cancer breed.

As Dr. Skin was showing me the bag of dog food, I interrupted him and asked if a patient came to him with swollen lymph nodes and abnormal clinical signs, would he take the necessary tests for cancer? He said absolutely and wondered why I had asked. I told them Annabella’s lymph nodes were very enlarged, and her clinical signs were classic for hypercalcemia, secondary to neoplasia.

It was a very hot day and Dr. Skin’s face went from red to pale white in one second. He left abruptly with Annabella and Mrs. Skin. I hoped he was going to the veterinarian.

Follow-up: Annabella had lymphoma and is currently being treated with chemotherapy. I later got a fruit basket from Mrs. Skin, and I would be happy to continue calling her husband Dr. Skin.

Dr. Glenn Kalick

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