Tag: community

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Ethos Greek Bistro

Ethos means “character” in Greek. For restaurateur George Pappas, owner of Ethos Greek Bistro in the Promenade at Coconut Creek, it also represents integrity, “your guiding belief.” When Pappas opened Ethos in May 2012 he was responding to his ethos and the needs of the local market. He wanted a restaurant that served fresh and healthful food, in a timely and friendly manner, at a fair price. When I dined there recently I got to see for myself.

My friends and I ordered a variety of dishes – from spreads and salads to lamb and fish dishes – accompanied by elegant libations and finished with dessert, baked in-house.

Standouts are the Rebel Lamb, dips, Shrimp Saganaki (baked in fresh tomato and garlic, topped with barrel-aged feta), Zucchini Croquettes with tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber spread), and chargrilled octopus.

A popular appetizer is dolmades (traditional stuffed grape leaves). Pappas said the staff hand rolls 60,000 a year. My table decided instead to try the spread sampler, which proved to be a good choice. It was served with crusty bread fresh from the oven that my friend Beth called “the perfect dipper.”

The appetizer includes four dips: refreshing tzatziki, creamy feta, tasty hummus, and “eggplant smash” (which resembled its Middle Eastern cousin, baba ganoush) with feta, roasted red peppers, and walnuts. Each of us had a different favorite in the flight of spreads.

My friend Steve’s surf and turf comprised of shrimp saganaki – (delicious, and also available as a small plate) and lamb chops. Steve ordered them to be cooked medium and he loved them, although the piece I tried was a bit rare.

The Ethos Platter has a bit of everything: Greek salad, spinach rice, roasted potatoes, grilled pita, and yogurt sauce with a choice of vegetable or protein, such as chicken, gyro, pork tenderloin, or kefte (lamb meatballs). My dinner companions ordered Faroe Islands Salmon and Bronzini (described on the menu as Greek sea bass) as their entrees, which they enjoyed.

My dish was Rebel Lamb, which might be unfamiliar to readers (but well worth trying) even though it has been around for more than a century. The dish goes back to the Ottoman Rule when Greeks hid in the mountains and would steal a lamb for food. They needed to cook it, but building a fire brings smoke that will reveal their hiding spot. So the rebels developed a slow-cooking method of sealing the meat and other ingredients in a clay pot and burying it with hot coals, allowing it to braise slowly. Today, Ethos uses New Zealand lamb and parchment paper, baked in an oven to get the same effect. Braising tenderizes the meat but I did not expect it to be this tender and have so much flavor – it was perfection.

The full drink menu has everything from wine and martinis to the classic Greek retsina and signature drinks with a Greek twist. Try the Mykonos Mule or Mastiha Cosmo made with a Greek liquor called Mastiha (pronounced mas-tee-ka or mas-tee-ha), which is made from the sap of a tree on the coast of Chios. I was surprised by its refreshing flavor and my friend Beth found it to be the perfect complement to the meal – in fact, she said it was her favorite part. A lighter version of ouzo, Mastiha’s licorice base is quieted by the other ingredients in mixed drinks.

The goal is to have the food served within seven to eight minutes of ordering lunch; 12 minutes at dinner. So you might not wait once you’re seated, but be prepared to wait a bit for a table on Friday or Saturday nights. Being in an open mall, Ethos attracts many shoppers. But the good part is you can walk around the Promenade while waiting.

Desserts are made in-house. “You can have an amazing meal, but if there is no wow at the end, it won’t be as memorable,” Pappas said. “Dessert must wow.”

Sweets include baklava, and lesser-known Greek favorites Ekmek and Galakto Fantastico, both made with phyllo dough and custard. My favorite was the exquisite Triple Layer Cheesecake, dressed with walnuts, shredded phyllo, and topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. Wow indeed.

Within the Promenade, Pappas also owns Ciao Cucina and Bar, as well as another Ethos location in Wilton Manors. He has a business plan to open six more restaurants in South Florida in the next five years.

“When you try to deliver food that is healthful, fresh, and tasty, coupled with good service at a fair price, often something will be lacking,” said Pappas, who was raised in Crete. “It is hard to put it all together. We work very hard to accomplish that here.”

No Zorba Here

Traditional Greek restaurants often make me think of waiters dancing the syrtaki, shoulder to shoulder, and breaking plates (on purpose) with a festive “Opa!” Owner George Pappas didn’t want his establishment to be “that Greek restaurant.”

There is no blue and white Greek-style lettering, no dancing on the tables, no breaking dishes, no scattered napkins, and no waiters dancing with their hands on each other’s shoulders in a line. (I picture Anthony Quinn in Zorba the Greek and immediately hear the movie’s iconic theme.)

Pappas, 45, is proud to offer both traditional and modernized food and drink in a minimalist setting. He sees this more as catering to a local market – from Aventura to Boca – that wants a menu offering fresh and healthy dishes.

by Linda Brockman

March 2018

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Fra Diavolo

Just south of the University/Commercial intersection on the east side of the road is a restaurant that advertises its quality right on the marquee. The sign says Fra Diavolo with four large stars. That sign is an understatement in a marvelously understated masterpiece of an elegant restaurant.

Fra Diavolo is located at 5444 N. University Dr. in Lauderhill (954-746-3132). It is adorably decorated in what can only be described as a “very European motif,” subtle, warm, and inviting so that customers linger for more than a little while.

It’s relatively small, seating roughly eighty people. That is what gives it the intimacy so sorely lacking in most South Florida eateries. Yet, the tables aren’t crowded close to each other to get as many customers as fire codes allow. The restaurant maintains balance and caters to the discerning palate. You would imagine, and with some obvious justification, that the restaurant would make up for the small number of seats with exorbitant prices. If you did, like me, you’d be absolutely wrong. The prices are embarrassingly low for what you receive.

It has been at the same location and under the same ownership for nineteen years. Carol Oliveros rarely takes credit for creating this eatery. She points to her partners and chefs and wait staff as the backbone of the operation. They are clearly critical for their success.

But let’s give credit where credit is due. Carol puts in seven-day weeks (even though the restaurant is closed on Mondays, Carol still has the cleaning, ordering, preparing, and shopping, among other tasks). The result of her care is a smoothly running, effortless to-watch, perfection of an ultra-high quality dining experience – night in and night out.

Please believe me when I say that I am not searching for my favorite adjectives just to show off my command of the language. I am trying, with my limited ability, to get you all to try this place once on my say-so. You will become a customer.

To create the wonderful dishes takes time and Fra Diavolo lets its customers know from the outset so that there is no misunderstanding. Menus state: “Every day at Fra Diavolo, meals are prepared fresh to order. It takes at least 20 to 35 minutes to prepare your entree, so please be patient and enjoy some wine or select from our delicious antipasti.”

No South Florida hustle. No “get ‘em in, get ’em out” attitude. It is just a plain and simple exquisite dining adventure revolving around the recipes of southern Italy, occasionally tempered with northern Italy variations.

I’ve told you about Carol, so let me mention her even more modest husband, Raul Oliveros. He has been cooking for South Florida diners for the past 28 years from Key West to Orlando. He learned the art of cooking by working with several professional European chefs in New York. He started as a dishwasher and worked himself up to a four-star chef. Raul liked the story of Fra Diavolo so much that he decided to name his restaurant after the legendary character (the story is reprinted on its web site: www. fradiavolorestaurant.com). Raul retired (likely exhausted) in 2003.

Finally and clearly not least, the third partner and now head chef is Diego Cruz, who has been cooking in South Florida since 1985. In 1999, after working for Raul at another location for eight years, Diego moved to Fra Diavolo. When Raul retired in 2003, Diego became the head chef.

Our waiter for the evening and, I may add, an extraordinary professional, was Alain. We had fun speaking French in this Italian fantasyland. In whatever language, the foods he served us transcended borders, cultures, apprehensions, and all previous experiences. If you are a Barolo aficionado, Fra Diavolo has Fontanafredda, which is, to this critic, the finest wine for this style anywhere in the world. While this is a more expensive wine, Fra Diavolo has wines for every taste and every price point.

We began with cappe di funghi, which are stuffed mushroom caps with seafood. They were decadent – sweet, moist, flavorful, and almost impossible to stop eating. We followed these appetizers with yet more appetizers (why not?), including clams casino baked with pimento, capers, prosciutto, and also clams oregante, which are baked in olive oil, oregano, and bread crumbs. Another appetizer we devoured was mozzarella caprese for two, which is big enough for three or four.

I was “forced” to move on to our main courses and chose to experience genuine (as in NOT a patty) veal forestiera, which is prepared with baby artichoke hearts, mushrooms, lemon, butter, and white wine sauce. We also had veal sorrentina served with eggplant, prosciutto, mozzarella, herbs, white wine, demi-glace sauce, and a touch of marinara. Each of these magnificent dishes was the tenderest of tender veal selections, and while I always hope the baby cows were raised humanely, I review the dishes for my readers who have no objection. If readers have no objection, this is the veal for you.

If you regularly read this column, you know I don’t like chicken breast. In fact, I don’t like white meat in general. My guests sampled the chicken cacciatore prepared with mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic.

How could I review Fra Diavolo and not sample shrimp Fra Diavolo? Here it is the sweetest, moistest shrimp available on the daily market and garnished with mussels and clams, basil, garlic, and marinara sauce, hot or mild. Certainly, this dish is worthy to carry the restaurant’s name.

Lastly, DESSERT! Have each one — PLEASE.

 

Carol bakes everything on the premises and, if she wrote a dessert recipe book, it would be a best seller for decades to come. Do NOT miss dessert. The menu includes Carol’s whiskey cake, cannoli, spumoni, and Italian cheesecake, among other offerings.

Fra Diavolo is my newest frequent Italian restaurant. It is sure to be yours as well.

BY Charles Marcanetti

June 2011

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A Tale of Two Parklands

There are two Parklands. There is the cardboard cutout of the classic suburban dream. There is the latest installment in America’s long-running series of school shootings. There is that familiar, mind-numbing boredom. There is that wild, vicious intensity. There is the Parkland where I spent my childhood — and there is the Parkland where I lost it.

I assumed that the shooting destroyed the Parkland from before, swallowed it whole. I threw myself into college before it could swallow me too. But of course, the pandemic forced me to return. I cannot escape the gravitational pull of the past. As expected, my Parkland, the wasn’t-that-where-that-shooting- happened Parkland, was waiting for me. We walk circles together around my neighborhood, only to see the Parkland that I used to know, preschoolers and their parents playing games. That Parkland is yours now, and all I can do is wave politely as I pass by.

I imagine you sizing me up, guessing my age, what school I went to. Wondering. I know your questions before you ask them. Every survivor does. That “were you there?” hangs in the air between us. That “did you know anyone?” haunts our awkward back-and-forth. We students, we were all so watched. That ever-present elephant in the room has trampled over every interaction between Douglas students and Parkland residents for the past two and a half years. I grew so used to it, I didn’t realize how quickly people began to forget.

I never thought I would miss the days where well-meaning
— but ultimately condescending — adults would look at me whenever there was a loud sound, waiting for me to break down. But on this year’s Fourth of July, I wish Parklanders had maintained that hyper-awareness.

PTSD doesn’t just affect us when it’s convenient for you. It affects us when we hear fireworks sounding like gunshots. The #MSDstrong stickers seem more like mockery when paired with the distinctive stink of gunpowder. This year’s nearly nonstop display of fireworks demonstrates that Parkland has forgotten the victims it vowed to remember.

I ran outside on the Fourth of July, enraged at my neighbors, spitting out every curse I could. I yelled at the top of my lungs, yelled as though I was dying. You’d think I’d gone insane. I think I did. All I know is, this town is eating me alive, and I must scream. When I told off my neighbors for lighting fireworks, they said, “I didn’t know.” Part of me wants to scoff at this excuse. How dare you not know! But thank God you don’t. The other part of me remembers that I used to be like you.

The Me from Before reminds me that I love fireworks. Not loved, love, present- tense. I miss them even now. I used to beg my parents to take us to the beach to watch them. The big boom reverberating in my throat, the bright colors lighting up the smoke of their predecessors, the collective oohs and ahhs, filled me with such awe. I am both starving and nauseous. I long for that which makes me sick.

To my surprise, my neighbors sent me a card and flowers the next day, apologizing. They meant no harm. I still don’t know how to feel about it. Yay, they care! Of course, they couldn’t know how the saccharine sympathy we received after the shooting only intensifies survivors’ guilt. Again, they mean no harm, and yet, harm is caused. To be honest, I don’t know that there is a right way to handle this. How can you do right in a situation so fundamentally wrong? I wrote them a letter in response, saying this:

“We need to cultivate conscious empathy. If you live in Parkland (or Coral Springs), you live in the aftermath of a school shooting, even if you personally did not go through it. Over 3,000 students were there. We live among you, and you live among us. No one gets the luxury of opting out of our past. It wasn’t just the 17 deaths the day of the shooting. Two survivors died by suicide after that. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves on how to support each other, or at least how not to cause harm. The stakes are higher than you can imagine.”

I can’t return to Your Parkland. Slowly, the victims and their families are moving away, and new families take their place. Like a hurricane, old branches fly off. New growth takes over. If you look close enough, you might notice a slight gap where a tree crushed the branches, but this is Parkland. Soon enough, landscapers will shave down the irregularities and plant something suitable to keep the real estate values high.

So what can we do to bridge this aching gap between us? Octavia Butler once said there was no single answer to the difficult questions she raises in her writing. “Instead,” she said, “there are thousands of answers — at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”

By LMF

Publisher’s Note: Celebrate as one.

July 4th is a celebration, and fireworks have always been a major part of it. As a community, we can find possible solutions for residents with PTSD, so they too can celebrate our nation’s birthday without stress. Send in your ideas to publisher@theparklander.com, so we can make 7/4/2021 a better experience for those of us still healing.

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A big fisherman in any pond

George Poveromo of Parkland, whose television show “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing” airs on Discovery Channel, shows off a nice kingfish.

George Poveromo has caught big fish in oceans, bays, inlets, rivers, and estuaries throughout the coastal United States, as well as from Canada to Brazil to Cuba. But when he’s not on assignment as Editor-at-Large for Salt Water Sportsman magazine or taping episodes of his “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing” television show on Discovery Channel, he likes nothing better than relaxing while enjoying the tranquility of his home in Parkland.

A native of North Miami, where he grew up fishing with his father, Poveromo and his wife, Edie, moved to Parkland in 1994, where they raised their daughters Lindsay and Megan.

That the country’s foremost saltwater fishing expert, whose
TV show has aired for 20 years and whose Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series has been held for 33 years (visit www.georgepoveromo.com), lives in a quiet residential neighborhood closer to the Everglades than the Atlantic Ocean has many of his readers, viewers and social media followers wondering why.

“I was asked that question a lot, and I’m still occasionally asked that question: ‘What are you doing in Parkland? You’re a saltwater guy. You’re an ocean guy,’” said Poveromo, who keeps his 33-foot Mako fishing boat Marc VI at Garnett Storage in Coral Springs. “When we came up to Parkland, it was like a little bit more of a country kind of atmosphere here. I said, ‘This is a nice place, and I think it’s perfect.’

“I trailer a boat, so one day I could go out of Hillsboro (Inlet in Pompano Beach), the next day I might want to go out of Haulover (Inlet in North Miami Beach) or I might go down to the Keys or go to Palm Beach, so I’m still as flexible as I always was. I think moving to Parkland was a very good choice. And when you do it as much as I do it, it’s sometimes good just to catch a break away from the saltwater environment.”

Poveromo, 62, got hooked on saltwater fishing more than
five and a half decades ago. His father, Mel, a dentist in Bay Harbor Islands, used to take him after work to the nearby Broad Causeway to fish in Biscayne Bay from the seawall. Using a kid-sized rod and reel and a small hook baited with pieces of shrimp, Poveromo caught tiny snappers and grunts.

“I used to love to do that. I think I have Biscayne Bay water going through my veins,” Poveromo said. “My dad was the only one in the family that had the crazy fishing passion, and no one else inherited that except for me.”

When Poveromo was old enough to fish with his father in his boat, they’d fish off Miami or trailer the 23-foot vessel to Key West and run about 30 miles west to the Marquesas. They’d catch snappers and groupers around shallow rock piles, anchor, cook fish for dinner, sleep on the boat and fish the next day before heading back.

“To this day I still try to get down there at least once a year to fish the Marquesas because of all the fond memories,” Poveromo said.

He pursued his passion for fishing while a student at The University of Miami, where he majored in broadcast journalism. Not because he wanted to host a TV fishing show, but because his classes were fairly easy and he could schedule all of them on Tuesday and Thursday, which gave him the opportunity to fish Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Little did Poveromo know how that education at sea would pay off.

Through his success fishing in Mako owner tournaments, he caught the attention of Mako Marine’s marketing director Bill Munro. While a senior at UM, Poveromo was invited by Munro to fish in the Mako Outdoor Writers tournament, an informal gathering that featured editors of the country’s most prestigious fishing magazines. That led to Poveromo writing articles for Outdoor Life and Salt Water Sportsman magazines, and he was hired as a full-time staff writer for the latter publication in 1983.

“So if it wasn’t for Bill Munro and Mako,” Poveromo said with a smile, “I might’ve been forced to become a dentist like my dad wanted me to be.”

Poveromo stayed busy fishing, writing and organizing the seminar series out of North Miami for 10 years, where Edie gave birth to Lindsay. When close friends moved to Broward County, Edie entertained the idea of following their friends north and having Lindsay attend some of Broward’s excellent public schools.

One day, a gentleman from Parkland called Edie to order a seminar ticket, and as Poveromo related, she said, “Parkland, where is that? He said, ‘Oh, I don’t want to tell you, it’s one of the best-kept secrets around.’ She goes, ‘I’m a native Floridian, I’ve never heard of Parkland.’ And he told her, ‘It’s the most magnificent area. It’s just starting to grow. There’s space; you can breathe out here, the school system’s superb. You need to go up and just look at the area.’

“So we took a drive up and looked at the area and then Edie did her research of the school systems. We were fairly close to our friends, and Edie said, ‘That’s the place we’re going to. We’re going to Parkland.’ And that’s what led us here from North Miami.

“I can never see myself moving anywhere else.”

HIGHLIGHTS

During his storied career, George Poveromo has had some amazing fishing experiences. Among the highlights:

  • Produced a TV show fishing on his boat with members of the military at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • Caught a 143-pound wahoo fishing in San Salvador, Bahamas, and caught a 113-pounder there three years later.
  • Caught a 701-pound giant bluefin tuna out of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
  • Released a blue marlin estimated to weigh between 700- 800 pounds in Costa Rica.
  • Had a swordfish yank him overboard while fishing in Islamorada when a passing boat’s wake caused him to lose his balance. With help from his cameraman Kevin Tierney, who jumped in the water, Poveromo got back in the boat and, 30 minutes later, landed the 256-pound swordfish.

 

FISHING TIPS

TV show host, seminar organizer, and writer, George Poveromo shared these secrets for saltwater fishing success in South Florida:

Use fresh line: “One of the simplest tips, and I even hate to say it because it just sounds so simple but you’d be shocked at how many people don’t adhere to it except the really good anglers, always make sure your fishing line is new and fresh. When you fight a good fish like a sailfish on a 20-pound test (line), even though that line looks good, the line’s been compromised. It might start off at 20 pounds, but then the breaking strength might fall to 15, 14 pounds, depending on how much it was compromised,” Poveromo said. “What’s going to happen, eventually, is you’re going to hook that trophy fish and if you’re using worn line, chances are that fish could probably go right through it. Line is one of the cheapest things to put on your fishing reel. So change out line religiously, especially after any quality fish you catch.”

Finding fish: “The Gulf Stream is the lifeblood, and it’s essential to know where the true western edge of the Stream is because it meanders. It moves close, it moves farther off,” said Poveromo, who recommended subscribing to SiriusXM Marine fish mapping or ROFFS fishing forecasts. “That warm water current flowing north, you want to find the edge where it meets that nearshore cooler water.
It creates upwellings, and all the upwellings bring these tiny microorganisms in; then the fish that feed on them come in. When you have baitfish along these zones, the bigger gamefish shouldn’t be far behind. If the true western edge is in 600 feet, that’s a good time to troll for dolphin. If it’s in 90 feet, that’s going to be a good edge to fish for sailfish.”

Fish around baitfish: “Always look for bait and signs like working birds,” said Poveromo, who also studies his electronic fish finder for pockets of bait. “If you see flying fish pushing, shut down the boat and fish. There has to be some dolphin around.”

Fish deep: Especially during the heat of a summer day. Poveromo said that if you find a weedline, fish some live baits on the surface and put at least one live goggle-eye down 250-300 feet. Bigger dolphins often hang out below schools of smaller dolphins. “We caught a 34-pound bull dolphin doing that in Islamorada,” he said. “A lot of those big dolphins are down in that cooler water. It makes a big difference.”

By Steve Waters

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Keeping a safe roof over your head

 

Unless it’s leaking, a roof is typically a portion of a home that is out of sight and out of mind. Maintaining a roof is important, but homeowners sometimes do not take into consideration that they can, themselves, be causing damage to the roof. Avoiding the behaviors listed below will not only reduce the number
of leaks on your roof but will extend and protect the integrity of the roof for many more years.

Pressure washing your roof will make your homeowners association happy but will cause unnecessary stress and, often damage to the roof. A pressure washer forces a stream of water that often reaches a speed of 243 mph. This pressure will decrease the longevity and life expectancy of roofing materials up to three times more than their actual life span.

Walking on the roof usually causes tiles to crack or break, often leading to additional costs after an annual pressure washing. A better solution is to treat the roof with preventative products known as Roof-A-Cide or Spotless Roof Solutions after pressure washing to avoid future pressure washing damage. These products are applied using a very light spray every two years, which will eliminate the need for pressure cleaning ever again. For new roofs, the products can be applied one year after a new roof is installed so that pressure washing is never needed.

If someone is not trained to walk on a roof, they shouldn’t be on the roof at all. From air conditioning companies to roofing contractors, many people may need to walk on the roof to provide estimates for repairs or to diagnose a problem. Limiting the number of people walking on the roof will reduce the amount of damage the roof sustains and, ultimately, prevent any damage from occurring in the first place. A homeowner who gets ten estimates for a repair is actually causing more damage by tradespeople walking on the roof.

If the roof is older, it tends to have a brittle underlayment. In this frail condition, the underlayment allows leaks to occur due to water damage from storms, pressure cleaning, or even a simple rainfall. Once a leak begins, the potential for other structures to become damaged increases significantly. It is not uncommon to see
a roof leak that has spread to damage nearby fascia, trusses, and soffits.

A roof leak can sometimes be seen on the interior of a home and appear as a ceiling stain, down the wall, or through a light fixture. Allowing a leak to go unrepaired for any length of time causes many other costly repairs that would have otherwise been avoided if it was promptly repaired. It is recommended to have a roof leak taken care of as soon as there are signs of a leak to ensure any future damage is mitigated.

Who doesn’t love to have their house decked out for the holidays? Most people do, but homeowners often do not think about the damage they are causing to their roofs when hanging holiday lights. Attaching the lights incorrectly or with the wrong fasteners can cause unintended harm to the roof. Hire a professional
who is trained to walk on the roof and understands how to fasten lights without causing damage.

Keeping foliage away from the roof and fascia is an excellent way to extend the roof’s life and keep costs down. Overhanging trees have leaves that hang, or touch, the roof which keeps moisture on the roof instead of away from it. The moisture causes damage to the roof covering and often deteriorates the underlayment and roof sheathing. The leaves from the trees also clog the gutters, which make the water back up onto the roof. This causes fascia damage and, above that, often roof leaks.

Tamara Chase is the owner of Chase Roofing and Shine of Fort Lauderdale.

By Tamara Chase

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Alyssa’s Law comes home

In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, and in an attempt to make schools safer, Florida is now the second state in the country, after New Jersey, to adopt Alyssa’s Law, named after one of the shooting victims.

The state committed to allocate $8 million to implement the statewide mobile alert system for schools, despite a pandemic and budget cuts.

Thanks to Senator Lauren Book (D-Plantation) and State Representatives Michael Gottlieb and Dan Daley, Alyssa’s Law unanimously passed the Florida House of Representatives and was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 30.

“We’re so excited to get this bill passed,” says Book, a mother of two-year-old twins and an advocate for students and educational issues.

The bill is named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, an honor student, then 14, who was murdered on Valentine’s Day 2018 while in her classroom at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, along with 13 of her schoolmates, and 3 staff members. The bill mandates that all public schools in the state of Florida install silent alarms that will be directly connected to local law enforcement in a state of emergency.

According to her parents, Ilan and Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa was “bright, energetic, happy, athletic – a pure ray of sunshine who lit up every room with her warm smile. She was an honor student, a good friend who was known to stay up later than she should have in order to support others, a winning debater, and a star soccer player, the captain of her traveling team.”

Alyssa’s parents founded the non-profit Make Our Schools Safe, with a mission of empowering students and staff to create and maintain a culture of safety and vigilance in a secure school environment. Part of those efforts was lobbying for the passage of the Alyssa’s Law bill.

“In the massacre at MSD, milliseconds mattered – and the lack of real-time coordination between first responders likely cost precious lives,” Book said in a statement after the bill was signed.

The Parkland Commission, set up after the tragedy to determine what went wrong, found that chaos and delayed response time contributed to unnecessary loss of life.

Beginning with the 2021 school year, Alyssa’s Law will require all public elementary and secondary schools to install either silent panic alarms, a cellphone app, or alternative emergency mechanisms approved by The Department of Education from which to silently alert the police.

In an interview with local Tallahassee TV station WTXL, Lori Alhadeff, now a member of the Broward School Board said “We didn’t have panic buttons. If we had an Alyssa’s Alert, teachers would have seen it on their phones and would have known how to respond properly. They could have locked and barricaded their rooms and got[ten] out of the line of fire.”

Alhadeff’s goal is to get all 50 states to pass Alyssa’s Law.

Visit: makeourschoolssafe.org

To help bring Alyssa’s Law to the national level, visit: change.org/p/u-s-house-of-representatives-pass-the- alyssa-law-at-the-national-level?recruiter=985442548&utm_ source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&recruited_by_ id=c6ac5260-a9a9-11e9-aa54-e9ab6b748c2a

 

By Jan Engoren

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SoFlo Gardening: August 2020

What to Plant

Annuals/Bedding plants: The hottest days of summer limit planting to heat-tolerant vinca, gaillardia, bulbine, and coleus.

Bulbs: Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.

Herbs: Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.

Vegetables: Many cool-season crops can be started now as well as a final crop of warm-season vegetables such as lima beans, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers. Tomatoes can also be planted for the fall garden.

 

 What to Do

Lawns: Determine the cause of any damage to the lawn so the proper remedy is used. Damage from insects, disease, or irrigation failure can produce similar symptoms. Use a sharp mower blade and only remove a third of the grass blade to reduce stress on the lawn.

Palms: Check older palm fronds for yellowing as it may indicate a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.

Poinsettias: Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.

Ornamental plants: Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants. See Nutrient Deficiencies (Landscape Plants): edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_ nutrient_deficiencies_landscape_plants

Annuals and Perennials: Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the season into the fall months.

Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension

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Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL, 22nd District)

Dear Friends!

Public health experts have raised concerns over renewed outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus throughout the country. While we have seen some progress, the evidence is clear that we are not completely out of the woods yet. We have seen the heartbreaking losses of the pandemic across the country and in our own community. Many Floridians are still experiencing the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. We must continue to listen to health experts so that we can move past this public health crisis safely.

As a unified community, we all have a duty to care for one another’s safety, especially during these unprecedented times. I encourage everyone to continue social distancing whenever possible. When we follow these rules, we are showing the love that we have for our neighbors and the respect we have for their safety. If we are to successfully get through this crisis and avoid its prolonged effects, we must be able to do it together.

While we continue to face new challenges, I will continue to represent the interests of our district both locally and in Washington. To keep up with recent COVID-19 developments, please visit Deutch.House.Gov. If you would like to express an opinion or are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to call my office.

Alyssa Alhadeff was 14 years old when she was killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy. Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law “Alyssa’s Law,” which will require teachers and school staff to have panic buttons that directly alert law enforcement in case of emergencies.

“I will never forget hearing Lori Alhadeff passionately call for action after her beautiful daughter, Alyssa, was killed at Stoneman Douglas High School. I have seen the love she has for Alyssa through her tireless work to get Alyssa’s Law passed and signed, not only in Florida but in states around the country. I will continue to work with Lori and the Parkland families to prevent school violence and to make Alyssa’s Law a part of a comprehensive strategy to save lives in school emergencies in every state.”

Rep. Roger Williams’ and my bipartisan School Violence Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2019 would expand Alyssa’s Law across the country.

Representatives Max Rose (NY-11), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and myself, recently introduced the Countering Global White Supremacist Terrorism Act, a bicameral legislation to strengthen the U.S. government’s counter-terrorism efforts against transnational white supremacy and identity groups.

As white identity and other far-right violent groups continue growing around the world, this new bicameral legislation is a recognition that the Trump Administration must align its countering violent extremism programming to address this form of radicalization. Despite the increasingly transnational nature of white identity terrorism, U.S. efforts to address this global threat lag well behind our counter- terrorism efforts against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other Islamist violent extremist organizations. The bill directs the U.S. Department of State to develop a strategy with other government agencies to respond to the interconnected global white identity terrorist movement. The bill also requires that the State Department report on these groups and determine whether they should be subject to sanctions under existing U.S. law.

“White identity groups pose a severe and deadly threat to societies around the world. The world has seen how a white supremacist attack in one country can inspire people in other countries to use violence and the role of the dark web in spreading their hateful ideology

and terrorist tactics. The United States must develop a whole-of-government strategy to confront these terrorist groups as seriously as any other transnational extremist group.”

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if we can be of assistance. Warm Regards.

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Local author tackles timely social issues

Not one to shy away from tough social issues of the day, Boynton Beach author Robert Brink tackles racism, police brutality and issues of legal justice in his latest legal thriller, “Blood on their Hands,” set in South Florida.

Inspired by a true-life meeting with a black man who came to repair his computer and recounted a story of being roughed up by the police for sporting an Obama bumper-sticker, Brink uses the incident as the catalyst for his suspense-filled narrative that is at once compelling and surprisingly humorous.

“This is a tale replete with both pathos and humor, steeped in sex, suspense, intrigue, and violence all leavened by a tragic love affair,” says Brink. “Perhaps most important, it is a story of redemption.”

Brink took inspiration from two of his favorite films, the 2008 Clint Eastwood film, “Gran Torino” and the 1992 classic, “My Cousin Vinnie,” (“my favorite comedy of all time”) starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. He borrowed themes from both films and used them as inspiration for this novel.

Brink’s previous books include the coming-of-age novel “Breaking Out,” “The Way It Was: Short Stories and Tall Tales,” and “A Tale of Two Continents,” a ghost-written memoir.

“I’m fascinated by true crime stories,” says Brink, whose last book was “Murder in Palm Beach: The Homicide That Never Died,” about a Standard

Oil career executive, Richard Kreusler, who was gunned down at the front door of his Palm Beach home in 1976.

In “Blood on Their Hands,” a racist attorney (Hiram Garbuncle) eventually finds redemption when he defends his client, an immigrant from Trinidad, brutally beaten by police. While it goes against the defense attorney’s grain to defend a black man from a charge of violently resisting arrest, he discovers incriminating evidence on the two cops, and rises to the challenge to keep himself and his client alive pending a new trial.

With police shootings of unarmed black men making headlines on a regular basis, “Blood on Their Hands” is a timely exploration of how bigoted feelings and perceptions play a role in racial profiling.

“It personalizes the issue of racial discrimination, helping the reader to comprehend the makeup of a bigot,” Brink says. “The book also provides a glimpse into how the legal system may be stacked against minority members of our society.”

Brink exploits a quirk in criminal law and his character makes use of this controversial tactic, one in which the defense attorney serves as a witness for the defendant.

“It’s very rare, but can be done,” says Brink, who spent hours researching the issue and speaking to criminal attorneys about the issue.

A mid-westerner by birth and temperament, Brink is a former journalist and worked for the Palm Beach Post where he covered police and criminal trials. He’s also written for Palm Beach Illustrated magazine and The Associated Press in Chicago.

Brink received two offers from traditional publishers and chose Touchstone Press he says, because several of their authors have won awards.

What advice does he have for other would-be authors?

“Get the basics right first, and move on to such salient elements as showing versus telling, point of view (which still baffles me), and command of dialogue.”

By Jan Engoren

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Commissioner Michael Udine (3rd District, Broward County)

Congratulations to the Broward County Library Division for being recognized by the Florida Library Association as the Library of the Year, and by the American Library Association as the 2020 Library of the Future, among several other achievements. Over the last few years, they have launched innovative initiatives to enhance library services and programs. In response to the pandemic, Libraries developed a curbside pick-up service for patrons to check out books and materials, and expanded their online offerings with even more eBooks, music, movies, and classes. Hats off and thank you for all you do for the residents of Broward County!

I was proud to see so many residents and District 3 cities getting in the Fourth of July spirit. Although we were not able to gather for traditional parades and parties, our community reimagined Independence Day celebrations. The City of Tamarac organized a yard decorating contest, with participants sharing their patriotic decorations on social media. In North Lauderdale, the Parks and Recreation Department hosted a Drive-In Fireworks Show, where residents enjoyed a beautiful firework display while staying safe and socially distant. As our holiday traditions continue to adapt from years past, it is great to know the spirit and celebration remains the same.

As Floridians, we know that August is when hurricane season really kicks into gear. Staying prepared and vigilant is key. Make sure you and your family (including pets) have all the necessary food, supplies, and medications needed if a storm comes our way. If you are a resident at-risk, now is the time to make sure you are registered for Broward County’s Vulnerable Population Registry or special needs shelters. All residents should sign up for Broward’s emergency notification system, AlertBroward, in addition to your city’s community alert system. Visit Broward.org/Hurricane to register and find all the info you need to be Storm Ready.

Soon we will be transitioning out of summer and into fall. I applaud all teachers, students, parents, and staff for their resilience and innovation. I would like to wish everyone a successful start to the school year. The Florida “Back-to- School” Sales Tax holiday will take place this year from August 7th to 9th. Take advantage of savings on school supplies, clothing, backpacks, personal computers, and more so you can be prepared before classes begin. I have no doubt that this will be a year full of learning, growing, and making memories for our students.

 

  • Email: mudine@broward.org

  • Phone: (954)357-7003

  • Facebook: @CommissionerMichaelUdine

  • Twitter and Instagram: @MichaelUdine

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Parkland Life: Time to recreate myself again

Whenever I look at my Apple Watch it says No More Events Today! As the pandemic accelerates in Florida, and since I am in the age group that is considered the most at risk, I remain sequestered at home. I go into stores for necessities, sometimes a couple of times per week, but most of the time not at all. My hair, as I have said before, is still
the one thing that I feel is important enough to make me risk exposure. I have returned to the salon to have my hair colored, cut and for a keratin treatment. Silly, but true. I no longer have manicures and pedicures, but do my nails myself. My nails aren’t nearly as pretty, but it does suffice. Shopping, game playing, volunteering, classes, social events, travel and all other daily excursions are gone. I recently said to a friend that I feel as if life is simply passing. Besides looking at the time on my watch, I check the day and date and am constantly amazed that the months have steadily passed.

I am not complaining (much). I am lucky to have Mickey Booboo growing daily as he fills our home with joy, love, and laughter.
I am lucky to have friends that I speak with regularly and sometimes have socially distanced, outside get togethers. I am lucky to have family that I FaceTime with daily. I am lucky to have Neil to share this strange and scary time with. But with all of that, I still see my life going by with days that are the same and often lack focus and purpose.

At 69, I expected the next few years to be filled with travel while I am healthy and agile. I expected to go back and forth to New York to see my family and share in all of our grandchildren’s small and large milestones. I expected to enjoy my volunteer work, theater, and daily activities. All of these things have been put on hold.

Younger people are continuing their lives more completely. Some are able to go to work, or work at home. Some choose to still travel and enjoy outdoor activities. While stymied by the virus, they are able to weigh their risk/reward ratio more leniently than I do.

When can I change my risk/reward decisions?
After another month? Few months? After a year? I am not sure if there is an answer to this, but if no vaccine or effective treatment is created, how long can I live in this pleasant but boring limbo? I know I am lucky, but my optimism is running thin.

I need to create a way, beyond Mickey, to be productive enough to be happier. There have been a number of times in my life when I felt the necessity to recreate myself to achieve a fuller and happier life.

I changed careers mid- stream. I got divorced and remarried in my mid-fifties. I retired and started a whole new life in Parkland in my sixties. Each time it took thought, faith and hard work to begin again. But each time the daily life that followed was far happier than the one before I made changes. I now recognize that this is a time to do it again, this time in my seventies. Life will never return to what it was before the pandemic, but I have the power to think this through and work hard to achieve a change for the better. Stay tuned, I am working hard on this and hope to find my way soon.

By Jill Vogel

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CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION

During the last several months, so much has taken place in our nation, state, and here locally in Coral Springs. We never imagined we would approach our “Back to School” season and still face COVID-19 as a global health issue; yet, here we are.

We are stepping into August with an unfortunate rise in positive cases in the State of Florida; these numbers showcase how critical it is for residents and businesses to comply with Emergency Orders in order to mitigate the spread of this virus. We remind the community to follow CDC guidelines, stay informed with all Broward County Emergency Orders, and be vigilant when leaving your homes.

Mark your calendars because the primary election in Florida is on August 18th! As citizens of the land of the free, it is our duty to safeguard our democracy and express our right to vote. If you are not a registered voter, you may still register to vote for the general election and can do so online at www. RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. For more information visit www. browardsoe.org.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to be busier than in previous years. It is important for our community to be prepared beforehand to stay safe. Here are tips to ensure you and your family are prepared for this year’s hurricane season:

  • Make an emergency plan that includes your evacuation zone and make sure all members of your household know and understand the hurricane plan.
  • Gather supplies ahead of time including medication, disinfectant supplies, cloth face coverings, pet supplies, and anything else you consider to be essential.
  • Strengthen your home by decluttering drains and gutters, bring the outside furniture inside, and consider investing in hurricane shutters.

For more details on how to properly prepare for hurricanes, please visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

Stay tuned and up to date by visiting www.coralsprings.org and following our social media accounts, also make sure to text the keyword CORALSPRINGS to 888-777 for important updates.

Our August Commission Meeting will take place virtually on August 5 at 9 a.m., and August 19 at 6:30 p.m.; residents are invited to watch and offer public comment. Meetings are aired on CityTV, Blue Stream Channels 25, 25.2, 725 and on AT&T U-Verse channel 99. Meetings are also live streamed.

As always, if you would like to schedule an appointment with any of your City Officials, please call 954- 344- 5911.

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