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FTC warns COVID cure claimants

Before we get to the dozens of warning letters the Federal Trade Commission has sent out to companies promising a variety of questionable Coronavirus remedies, we owe a sincere apology to the people of China. 

Thousands of Chinese immigrants entered this country in the mid-1800s to help build the Transcontinental Railroad. Some brought with them the oil of Chinese water snakes. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, it was actually helpful in treating arthritis and bursitis. In other words: It really worked.

“As word of the healing powers of Chinese snake oil grew,” NPR wrote in 2013, “many Americans wondered how they could make their own snake oil. Because there were no Chinese water snakes handy in the American West, many healers began using rattlesnakes . . .”

Under the fraudulent shade of a faux umbrella strode one Clark Beauregard Stanley, aka The Rattlesnake King, circa 1897. I made up that middle name. He just seemed to need one.

Stanley reached into a sack, plucked out a snake, slit it open and plunged it into boiling water. When the fat rose to the top, he skimmed it off and used it on the spot to create ‘Stanley’s Snake Oil,’ a liniment that was immediately snapped up by the throng that had gathered to watch the spectacle

– Joe Schwarcz, Director, McGill University’s Office for Science and Society

Okay, stick with me now. In the first place, Chinese snake oil contains almost triple the amount of the soothing ingredient as rattlesnake oil. So, there’s that. And in the second place, the first place doesn’t make a spit of difference anyway because The Rattlesnake King’s snake oil was missing one key ingredient: Snake oil. Any kind of snake oil. So put that in your neti pot and breathe deeply. Before I move on to Covid-19 cures questioned by the FTC, masks that are paid for but never received, and even fake coronavirus test sites, let me finish my explanation of the expression “snake oil salesman.” It’s worth the wait.

The expression “snake oil salesman”, meaning purveyors of patent medicines and other miscellaneous and sundry quackeries, didn’t come to the attention of lexicologists until 1917. Other words that came into common use that year include “acquired brain injury”, “bubblehead”, “chowhound”, and “congresswoman”. 

About that last one, Jeannette Rankin entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 1917 as the first woman in Congress. They called her “the lady of the house.” And, yes, that will be on the test.

. . standing on a street corner in hell right now, making suckers of the damned, telling them there’s nothing like snake oil for a bad burn

Eugene O’Neill, ‘The Iceman Cometh’

While there are, indeed, legitimate test sites in Palm Beach and Broward counties, the Federal Trade Commission warned in late April that nationwide “there’s no shortage of scammers setting up fake COVID-19 testing sites.” While none has been reported in Florida so far, “fake sites can look real, with legitimate-looking signs, tents, hazmat suits, and realistic-looking tests. 

“And the damage these fake testing sites can cause is very real. They aren’t following sanitation protocols, so they can spread the virus. They’re taking people’s personal information, including Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other health information – all of which can be used for identity theft and to run up your credit card bill.”

If you’re not sure a site is legitimate, the FTC advises, check with your local police or sheriff’s office. “If a legitimate testing site has been set up, they should know about it. And if a fake testing site is operating, they’ll want to know about it.”

Crooked creatures of a thousand dubious trades
That breed like gnats from the débris of war;
Half-cracked herb-doctor, patent-medicine man
With his accordion and his inked silk hat;
Sellers of snake-oil balm and lucky rings

Stephen Vincent Benét, ‘John Brown’s Body’

Florida may not have any fake test sites, but a number of companies in the state have been issued warning letters by the FTC about questionable advertising claims.

The web site of a Bradenton “church” offered a “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS) intended to “cure, mitigate, treat, prevent, or diagnose Coronavirus.” 

MMS, for those of you not up on your “miracle minerals” is chlorine dioxide, (CIO2), consisting of one chlorine atom and two oxygen atoms. That’s your basic fourth-grade chemistry. Right?

There are, in fact, limited legitimate internal uses for diluted chlorine dioxide, like some mouthwashes. The FTC, however, questions other claims the website made for MMS, a “protocol” the organization called an “official sacrament.”

An 85-year-old man suffering “various serious” Coronavirus symptoms, the company claimed, was given “a liter bottle of water which had 20 activated drops of MMS added to it.” 

“He was instructed to take a sip from the bottle every five minutes, but not to let it go past 10 minutes.” After alterations to the dosage the elderly man “is recovering quickly — 90% improved. The rest of the family who also took MMS are now fully recovered.” Wow.

Elsewhere in Florida, a St. Petersburg company was warned by the FTC about claiming that stem cell therapy can treat or prevent Coronavirus.

Another Florida company claimed that a “Chinese medical team report successful treatment of Coronavirus patients with high doses of Vitamin C.” Intravenous Vitamin C is one of the more common targets of FTC warning letters. 

A Fort Lauderdale company, with branches in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach was making similar claims on its website but dropped them as soon as it heard from the FTC.

A Naples-based acupuncture and other health solutions firm was marketing a “COVID-19 Homeopathy Treatment Kit” claiming they were “effective for 80% of people.” I only hope the kit contained more of the health solutions stuff than do-it-yourself acupuncture needles.

“Black Seed Oil,” was the cure of choice of another Florida company, whose site claimed it is “believed to be the miracle cure for all diseases except death.” Wow. Really? I’m sure those afflicted with cancer or heart disease or other fatal ailments would love to hear about it.

Of course, questionable or unproven COVID treatments aren’t restricted to Florida, or even the United States. They are as virulent as the actual virus.

In Athens, Maine, for example, an “herb farm” received a letter from the FTC questioning the preventative quality of its “HERBAL ALLIES.” Among them: (Take this down.) “hyssop, burdock, astragalus, Japanese knotweed, chaga, reishi, birch polypore and red raspberry leaves.” 

Red raspberry leaves, huh? Raspberries? Well, I know a few companies that deserve a really, really big one.

Anyone? Anyone?

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Hurricane Season Starts June 1 – Generators

Hurricane Season Starts June 1

Next, you want to pick the type of generator you want. Home standby generators are installed permanently, operate on natural gas or propane, and kick on automatically during an outage. You can move around portable and inverter generators and they come in a variety of sizes. Figure out how many watts you’ll need for the essentials during a power outage and shop accordingly. A regular generator produces electrical power, while an inverter draws power from a fixed DC source and uses a microprocessor to invert DC to AC.

Safety features

In order to decrease the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, some new generators feature a built-in sensor that triggers an automatic shutoff if carbon monoxide builds up to hazardous levels within an enclosed space. In addition, some generators come equipped with engines which emit less carbon monoxide in the first place. “Recent test data . . . shows that these safety features will likely save lives,” according to Consumer Reports, which recommends only portable generators that pass its new carbon monoxide safety technology test. 

You can read more about that at consumerreports.org/portable-generators/new-safety-feature-on-portable-generators-could-save-lives-consumer-reports-tests-show/.

Even with a generator that comes equipped with life-saving features, “we still advise consumers to follow our longstanding safety guidelines: Always operate a generator a minimum of 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust directed away from any windows, doors, air conditioners, or other structures.” 

What size?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the typical American household loses power once or twice a year for an average of about three hours. However, some outages, such as those which extreme weather cause, can last for days or weeks. When that happens, homeowners can face such problems as spoiled food, frozen pipes, flooded basements and moldy walls.

“Buy the smallest generator that will meet your power needs,” Consumer Reports test engineer Dave Trezza says on its website. “That will minimize the amount of fuel you need to keep on hand to run it.” 

For detailed information on what a generator can power, log onto consumerreports.org/generators/how-to-choose-the-right-size-generator/. 

Gas or propane?

“When choosing a generator, consider which aspects of the fuel are more important to you,” advises thepreppingguide.com. “If you are on a tight budget and don’t mind having to replace your fuel on occasion, an affordable gasoline generator my be the best choice for you. If you prefer a fuel that will not deteriorate over time and are willing to pay more for it, a propane generator may be the suitable choice.” Propane is clean burning and has a “relatively long shelf life,” preppingguide.com advises. 

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Hurricane Season Starts June 1

While you may already feel flooded by unsettling news regarding the coronavirus pandemic, weather forecasters are predicting an above-average hurricane season.

Even though hurricanes can happen at any time, the official season, like always, began June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30. The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project team is predicting 16 named storms. Out of those, researchers expect eight to become hurricanes, and four to reach major hurricane strength, packing wind speeds of 111 mph or greater. 

A hurricane is a storm with winds of 74 mph or greater, typically accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning. By contrast, a tropical storm features winds of more than 39 mph, but less than a hurricane.

A tropical depression is a cyclone with sustained surface winds of less than 39 mph. While national disasters such as earthquakes occur without warning, forecasters provide multiple notices before a hurricane strikes. “Whenever a tropical cyclone (a tropical depression, tropical storm, or hurricane) or a subtropical storm has formed in the Atlantic or eastern North Pacific, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issues tropical cyclone advisory products at least every six hours at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. EDT,” according to weather.gov/safety/hurricane-ww.

Also, when tropical storm, hurricane watches or warnings are in effect, the NHC and Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) issue Tropical Cyclone Public advisories every three hours. Websites to follow include hurricanes.gov for the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific or weather.gov/cphc for the Central Pacific. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average hurricane season features about 12 named storms. 

The Colorado State team bases its predictions on various models. They are built on 25 to 40 years of historical hurricane seasons and evaluate such conditions as Atlantic sea surface temperatures, sea level pressures, vertical shear levels and El Niño. The shear levels refer to the change in wind direction and speed with height in the atmosphere. Meanwhile, meteorologists associate El Niño with the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December. The Climate Prediction Center recently released its findings on El Niño. In particular, this year it’s producing weak westerly winds blowing to the east. The lack of wind production means low wind shear and a stronger possibility for pressure to build in the warm water-heavy Atlantic. These conditions resulted in an above-average hurricane season last year. It marked the fourth year in a row with above-average activity in the Atlantic.

Continue reading “Hurricane Season Starts June 1”

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To the rescue: Who was that mask maker?

By Jonah Bryson

There has been no shortage locally of people pitching in to produce masks to combat COVID-19.

Saniél Atkinson-Grier, a Parkland athlete, had the plans of a lifetime this coming summer. She was positioned to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Instead, unexpectedly caught in the midst of a deadly pandemic, Saniél found herself quarantined—like many of us—rather than celebrating her achievements halfway around the world. 

“I was only a week away from traveling to Australia to start my competition season when the pandemic began to spread,” she said. 

Now, Saniél is racing against the clock to produce face-masks, with the help of her mother, Sandra Bryan-Grier.

“Rachel Maddow had a story about how healthcare workers have little-to-no PPE, and how they were struggling to find resources,” Saniél said  “The next day, I went to Joann Fabrics and bought all of the materials.”

From the very first stitch to the final iron, Saniél and her mother make a dedicated team. “My mom is my best friend,” she said, “We … do everything together!”

“Every day we turn on some music and get into the zone,” shared Sandra, profoundly proud of her daughter. “We are so accustomed to the process, that we now can make up to 35 masks a day. It makes me feel blessed to know that we are able to do something to help our community and healthcare workers.”

With nearly 6,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Broward County, as of May 10, the role that face masks play in preventing viral spread is paramount. 

‘Maskateers’ mobilize

Rhonda Nissensohn, the mother of a nurse on the front lines, received a call from her daughter in March. The daughter was concerned for her colleagues, who were being assigned a single mask — designed to safely last only a few hours — per week.

At the time, Rhonda went online and posted an ad seeking volunteers to start fabricating masks. Support from folks around the community proved to be nothing less than inspiring. Within an hour, eight women had signed up to sew, others to iron and cut fabric. They called themselves the ‘Maskateers’.

In a matter of days, 70 masks were being shipped to her daughter’s hospital in Virginia Beach. Rhonda added, “after we did this for my daughter, we said, let’s keep doing this for first responders.”

On average, they make 100 masks using a single queen-sized bed sheet. “We are a well-oiled machine,” she said. The Maskateers have now produced over 1,400 surgical masks, each donated to workers on the frontlines. 

“The one thing we all said we’re looking forward to when this is finally over, is getting together and finally meeting each other, face-to-face!” Rhonda said.

Parkland boutique takes up mask making

Jamie Tobol, the owner of Parkland’s Jatem Boutique, was preparing her shop for the busiest season of the year when COVID-19 struck.

“Nothing could prepare us for this,” she expressed. “The last few months have been very challenging for all of us. To suddenly shut down is devastating.”

Just like many families up-and-down the coasts of Florida, Jamie is now having to juggle between homeschooling her children, and running a small business during tremendous economic hardship.

In light of the pandemic, Jatem Boutique decided to partner with Joy Vava, a Los Angeles-based designer, to produce and sell facemasks. This effort has helped the factory workers — who would normally manufacture the boutique’s clothing — stay employed.

Jamie hopes  that by providing the community with “cute” and fashionable face masks, people might be more encouraged to wear them to stop the spread.

To order masks from Jatem Boutique, visit @jatemboutique on Instagram.

To order masks from Saniél Atkinson-Grier and her mother, Sandra Bryan-Grier, visit their shop on Etsy: lgndry.etsy.com.

If you are a first responder in need of free masks, or if you know first responders in need, please reach out to the Maskateers: 

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Do not forget them…

In Flanders Fields – John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

“In the spring of 1915 bright red flowers began poking through the battle ravaged land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium),” Barbara Maranzani wrote for history.com. 

“Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who served on an Allied artillery unit, spotted a cluster of the poppies shortly after serving as a brigade surgeon during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres.

“The sight of the bright red flowers against the dreary backdrop of the war,” she continued, “inspired McCrae to pen the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” in which he gives voice to the soldiers who had been killed in battle and lay buried beneath the poppy-covered grounds.”

The United States was not to enter the war for another two years, in April 1917. It was the month and year my father was born in Buffalo, N.Y. It was exactly one year before my wife’s father was born in St. Louis, MO. Archie and Bob.

Both served bravely in World War II: My wife’s father building hospitals for injured soldiers across Europe; my father at the controls of an M4 Sherman tank prowling Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. My wife’s mother, Pearl, born in Chicago in 1923, also served overseas in the U.S. Army during the war. That’s where Pearl met Bob.

Archie, Bob and Pearl were part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” They were among those who returned to their families.

This month we honor all the men and women who didn’t make it home, who gave up their lives in too many wars.

Earlier this year, before Covid-19 struck, Memorial Day events had been planned in communities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The “better part of valor,” however, as Shakespeare’s Falstaff reasoned in Henry IV, Part I, might still have us in stay-at-home mode at the end of the month.

One hundred years ago the country was still trembling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu. It killed an estimated 675,000 Americans between 1918 and 1920, more than were killed during the Civil War.

It was that same Civil War that sparked Union General John Logan to establish “Decoration Day” on May 30, 1868 to honor the estimated 620,000 who died in the four-year struggle. The name was later changed to Memorial Day and set for the last Monday in May.

One hundred years ago there were Memorial Day celebrations throughout Florida — in Tampa, Miami, Orlando — but at least one nearby city chose a different path.

“No Plans For Observance of Memorial Day,” read a headline on the front page of the Palm Beach Post, May 18, 1920.

“No preparations are under way for observance of Memorial Day,” the story read. “There is no post of the G.A.R and no organization of the Confederate Veterans or Spanish War Veterans” planning events for the day.

The G.A.R. was the The Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War.

After World War I Memorial Day was expanded to honor Americans killed in all wars. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.

This year, this month, again for “the better part of valor,” the Indianapolis 500, traditionally held on Memorial Day, has been postponed to August 23.

Still in its infancy a century ago, the race was held as scheduled on Monday, May 31. It was the race’s eighth running at The Brickyard.

Gaston Chevrolet, brother of the man who started the Chevrolet car company, won the race, posting an average speed of 88.6 miles per hour. The average speed at the 2019 race was 175.8 miles per hour.

Whatever Memorial Day events are allowed this difficult year and whomever you’re with, the Parklander joins all of you in honoring those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Richard Battin, Editor

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

 

Wikipedia page on Memorial Day

Wikipedia page on In Flanders Fields

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Covid-19 was not part of the wedding plan

We are all in agreement that COVID-19 has made a drastic impact on our daily lives. From schools to businesses, all the way to future vacations and concerts, everything has been put on hold. What does this mean for upcoming weddings?

April to June is typically a popular period of time where couples choose to get married. It can take anywhere from six months to a year or more to plan a wedding. This time in the couple’s life can be stressful, tiring but also exciting, as they prepare for their special day. 

All this stress is not without reward. You get to plan the best day for you and your future spouse’s life. In a normal situation, a wedding is the culmination of months of planning, resulting in a celebration of the union between two people. This union is highlighted by beautiful bouquets, gorgeous dresses, and cake – stunning and delicious. 

As the maid of honor for my older sister’s wedding, I was disappointed to find out that the venue for her wedding had to close because of the quarantine. My sister had to cancel her dream wedding. 

Understandably, she became frustrated, worried, and stressed. Months of planning and money just disappeared. But despite all these setbacks, my sister and her fiancé realized they can still get married on their desired date.

With today’s technology she can livestream her ceremony. Even though her family and friends can’t make it to the wedding, she will be able to share it with everyone. They may not be there in person, but they will still be participating in the celebration.

Instead of postponing, couples are choosing to live stream their small ceremonies. By doing this, they are respecting the social distancing rule. 

A bonus about having a virtual wedding is being able to invite everyone without feeling stressed or guilty about not inviting them originally. Weddings are very costly when it comes to the number of guests attending. Being able to save money, while not feeling guilty about not inviting someone, is definitely a plus. 

Couples are doing whatever they can for this moment to still be as special as possible. The coming together of two people in marriage is a beautiful moment, regardless of the current situation. 

Before the start of the first millennium, the Roman poet Virgil wrote “love conquers all things.” And now, in the 21st century, clever couples are proving that includes quarantines too. 

Best video conferencing review

Alexander Couture Bridal

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To shutter or not to shutter

Florida has one of the country’s strictest building codes because of its climate, location, and history of destructive hurricanes. The Florida Building Code (FBC) requires windows to be impact-resistant or protected if located within one mile of the coast where the wind speed is 110 mph or greater. Those of us living inland in Parkland and Coral Springs probably also want to look into this, not just for protection but also the possible discounts available from insurance agencies (fancily called “Wind Mitigation Discounts”). 

The most cost-effective options are panel shutters. Plywood panels are ½” thick. Storm panels are polycarbonate, steel or aluminum. Both can be screwed into place over windows and doors. This can be labor intensive, but the panels are easily stored afterwards. Unfortunately, there is little to no wind mitigation discount available for this type of protection. Both of these types of panel shutters are available at your local home improvement stores. 

Accordion shutters are a permanent home addition that are custom installed around your windows and doors, therefore they are more expensive than panel shutters, but can still be quite reasonable. They are made of aluminum and are easily closed before a storm and opened again afterwards. Insurance companies will provide wind mitigation discounts for accordion shutters.

Colonial and Bahama shutters are also permanent home additions, and custom installed around windows and doors. As they are functional and aesthetically pleasing, they are slightly more expensive than accordion shutters. Bahama shutters hinge on the top of the window or door, and colonial shutters hinge on the sides. Both are easily closed and opened, and can be made from multiple different materials. Insurance companies also provide wind mitigation discounts for these types of shutters. 

Rolling shutters are a high-tech, permanent home addition that are custom installed and made of high quality aluminum or steel. They deploy and retract with the press of a button. They are the most expensive shutter-style option but are offset by high wind mitigation discounts from insurance companies.

Accordion, Colonial, Bahama, and rolling shutters are all available from specialty shutter stores, and it’s recommended you do your research to see what options are best for you and what your own insurance company offers in terms of wind mitigation discounts.

The final option is, of course, not to have shutters at all but to go with impact resistant glass for your windows and doors. Those would be a permanent home addition and custom installed, however, once installed, they would never need to be removed or replaced unless they are damaged. They are quite expensive (usually running around three times the cost of regular windows), but again this is offset by the highest wind mitigation discount. These types of windows and doors are widely available, but it is highly recommended to do your research on the levels of protection and quality as not all impact-resistant glass is built the same.

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Grace Noethen, a ‘legend’ in Parkland

Thirty years ago the Parklander™ magazine came to life, serving the communities of Parkland and Coral Springs. During that period, many in the community have contributed to help it evolve. The staff at the Parklander™ will be profiling local residents in this and upcoming issues, to reflect on the community’s past, present, and what is to come. Just like how the community has grown and thrived, it is our belief that together, we can overcome the current health crisis, and come out stronger still.

Looking back at Volume 1 Issue 1 of the Parklander™, we found some familiar faces, including Realtor Grace Noethen, one of our original advertisers. At the time, she was already a Multi-Million Dollar Club member, and acknowledged “Sales Person of the Year”. Having specialized in luxury and waterfront properties of Parkland, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, she has accumulated many awards for being the leading real estate agent in the area.

Grace did a socially distanced telephone interview with us over the phone recently.

She started her career in New Jersey before specializing in the Palm Beach and Broward area in 1985. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish, having been born in Sicily and spending her early years in Argentina. Her family moved to the U.S. in 1958. Those who know her call her knowledgeable and patient. Many of her clients have said Grace treats them with compassion and makes them feel like part of her family. 

For Grace, her honesty, compassion, and taking care of her clients is always the forefront of who she is, not just as a Realtor. She is always looking to help, so when she was approached to support a new magazine in Parkland in 1991, she was more than happy to.

Her compassion and experience have helped many local residents find homes in the area. Parkland grew from around 1,900 people when she started to well over 32,000 now. Many came to Parkland seeking the same relaxed and rural lifestyle that attracted earlier residents.

Grace remembers the decision to realign Holmberg Road to a southern bend, that all residents are now familiar with, to go around the equestrian center. This was a controversial topic for years in the early 90s, as the city adapted to new developments while striving to protect horse riders from increased traffic. 

The decision to realign Holmberg shaped the development of Parkland. City Commissioner Ken Cutler

shared news articles and city council minutes from the early 90s, showing a community struggling to balance the interest of developers, residents, and environmental agencies. 

Over the course of years and multiple debates, re-alignment was approved and completed. 

Just like that one event shaped the future of Parkland, so has Grace’s efforts to match up people to the right home shaped lives and futures. Drawing upon her knowledge of the area, and her passion for real estate, she has been able to both buy and sell many homes in the area, becoming a “legend” in the industry. Her warm and welcoming personality is the gateway many prospective residents walked through to settle in Parkland. Her ability to find the right home for prospective buyers is confirmed by one of her former clients who writes to her regularly, thanking her for their Parkland home and neighbors.

Parkland today still oozes the charm of its more rural days. As we spend weeks in our homes, it’s good to reflect how blessed we are to live in such a friendly community. To be able to enjoy our farmers’ markets, our drive-in movies, and the equestrian center, is a wonderful gift, and we should all work toward ensuring the character of Parkland stays welcoming for another 30 years. 

Grace’s Web Page

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Parkland girl finds her niche at drive time gig

Born, raised, and currently living in Parkland, Racquel Goldy has the much-coveted job as the on-air personality during the afternoon drivetime on Revolution 93.5 FM in Miami, South Florida’s home for EDM (electronic dance music). 

By her own admission, the popular TV and radio host, interviewer and content producer is a workaholic and isn’t afraid to say it. She loves what she does. “I’m always working. I go to work, I come home, I prep my show or I’m researching djs or whoever’s coming in for interviews. I live and breathe the music/entertainment industry but that’s why I’ve gotten as far as I have and I don’t take it for granted.”

A 2011 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Racquel largely credits her confidence to pursue a multimedia journalism major and a minor in theater at FAU – the earliest foundation of her subsequent success – with a class she took in high school. 

Knowing that she wanted to major in broadcasting once she got to college, she thought the high school’s peer counseling class would give her some much-needed skills. “Peer counseling helped me with public speaking because you wouldn’t know it now, but I was really shy. I was a competitive dancer growing up, and obviously you don’t talk in dance,” she said.

 It was during senior year when the teacher encouraged her to go to school for broadcasting and told her, “You’ve come so far, I’m very proud of you, you can do this,” that she truly believed her goal of a career in entertainment was attainable. “That was my moment,” Racquel said. “I knew my dream was working out the way I wanted it to.”

While at FAU, Raquel found herself hungry to immediately get hands-on experience so she started her own YouTube channel Off The Racq, where she interviewed musicians and athletes as well as interned at Y100 Miami, iHeart radio Miami.

After her college graduation, Racquel started working for an online digital music website, Stage Right Secrets. She found herself as their country music correspondent covering award shows, music festivals and events, traveling back and forth to Nashville often, while still living in Parkland. 

Her biggest break came in 2017 when she got a job with the Florida Panthers as their in-arena host as well as the host of the BB&T Center’s digital event productions. 

After 2 ½ years with the Florida Panthers and perfecting her craft as an on-air personality, Racquel found herself at a crossroads in her career. She would not be going back for another season with the NHL team and was unsure about what turn her career path was about to take. “I applied to maybe 50 jobs a week. Seriously, I’m not joking, and would hear back from maybe two if I was lucky and that was with someone putting my resume in the right person’s hands.

“For me, it was never about quitting because I know this is what I’m supposed to do with my life, but it was definitely scary.” 

Racquel’s talent, experience and perseverance finally paid off. “I got the job at the radio station after going in and auditioning a couple of times on their morning show. I waited a month and finally got the call that I was waiting for. I never thought I would have the afternoon drive show by myself, never having worked in radio fulltime before. For the station to believe in me, I’m beyond grateful for that,” she said. 

What is Racquel’s advice for students aspiring to a career like hers and who are determined to succeed? “Work hard. Know that you definitely will go through trials and tribulations. Roll with the punches. Never quit or second guess yourself because new doors and possibilities open up, ones you never thought would happen. 

“And last but not least, surround yourself with good friends and family because they are going to keep you going mentally and physically.”

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Strategies for coping with social isolation

What are you going to do? Your favorite restaurants and night spots are closed, the movie theatres have gone dark, and so have the theatres that offer live shows. All the sporting events have been cancelled, and it isn’t even safe to invite friends over anymore. 

Depending on your work status (employed, self-employed, retired, in search of employment), and the type of work you do, you may find yourself suddenly at loose ends during the daytime, as well. So, really, what are you going to do with yourself?

Believe it or not, I have two sets of suggestions. One set falls into the category of social interactions; the other falls into the category of keeping yourself happily and productively occupied “for the duration.” Ready?

Social interactions

The internet is your new best friend, your fallback for getting together with friends old and new. If you’re not already on Facebook, now would be a good time to join. And if you’re already on Facebook, start spending more time there.

The internet can also provide you with opportunities to get together with friends and family face to face, even though not in person. You may miss talking with your friends over a couple of glasses of wine or beer. You may have had to cancel a visit to your grandkids. But all is not lost.

Chances are you have FaceTime on your smartphone and/or your computer. My friend Deb, who lives in California, FaceTimes regularly with her grandkids in New Jersey and has been doing so since long before we’d ever heard of the coronavirus. She has cancelled her next planned trip to see the kids, but she continues FaceTiming with them. 

But you don’t have to have grandkids (or siblings or other relatives) to take advantage of FaceTime. Use it to keep in touch with your friend around the corner, now that she and you are skittish about getting together for coffee. And since it’s a visual medium as well as a voice medium, you can show her the new outfit you ordered from Amazon and see how she likes it on you.

Facebook’s Messenger app offers another means of getting together visually as well as vocally (or just by text if you prefer). If you and the friend you want to “visit” are both on Facebook, use the Messenger app the same way you would use FaceTime. And then there’s Skype, which again offers visual and voice get-togethers. Most uses of Skype are free. (Calling a landline from Skype incurs a charge—but why would you want to do that anyway?) Instagram also has a video chat function for up to 6 people. And speaking of parties DJ D’Nice hosts “Homeschool at Club Quarantine” on his instagram channel @dnice, where on March 22nd of this year over 160,000 people danced while he DJ’d! Discord and WhatsApp are other free chat services that include voice, and text chatting.

Finally, you can have a party and invite a bunch of friends to join you — remotely. Zoom is an application primarily used for remote business meetings with which any number of people can get hooked in to a “conference.” If you limit your get-together to half an hour, it’s free. Or take some of the money you’re saving by not going out to your fave restaurant or other entertainment, and go for the Zoom plan that will let you stay in the conference for as long as you want. Invite your friends to pour a beverage (“adult” or soft), sit in front of the computer, and have a party or just a conversation.

Keep yourself productively busy

There are plenty of projects around the house and on your computer that aren’t “busy work” but are genuinely useful and really need to be done. What better time than now to do them?

Let’s start with a subject that’s dear to my own heart: writing. How many of you reading this have had an idea for a book, whether it’s the next Great American Novel, a self-help book, or a children’s story, but have put off sitting down and writing it for lack of time? You said maybe you’d write it some day when you retired. Well, now’s your opportunity. Go for it!

And speaking of writing, how about writing your memoirs, or your family history? I don’t mean for you to write this for publication. No, you’re writing for your children, your grandchildren, your great-grands, and beyond, and perhaps for your nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well. 

Now, while you’re at your computer, when’s the last time you went through it deleting old files you don’t need anymore? “Housecleaning” is a term that applies to your computer as well as to your kitchen. You go through your spice rack periodically, getting rid of old spices that have lost their pungency. You go through your fridge periodically, getting rid of old foods that should no longer be eaten even if they haven’t yet turned into “science experiments.” 

You go through your closets periodically, getting rid of clothes that no longer fit you or suit you. Do the same with your computer. Delete files you are sure you have no further need for. You’ll make room on your hard drive for new files and may well find your computer executing saves and other functions faster.

Now, moving on from your computer and getting back to your closets, when’s the last time you went through them all to see what’s in them — clothing and otherwise — that you and your family no longer want or need? Fill giant-sized bags with all the things you want to give away. When it’s once again safe to do so, you can venture out and drop the bags off at your favorite thrift store or other charity. And now that your closets are emptier, reorganize them.

Until then go online and check out organizations like Vietnam Veterans of American at scheduleapickup.com or American Veterans at amvets.org. 

What else in your house needs reorganizing? Your kitchen cabinets? Your bookshelves? Your kids’ toys? Maybe this is even a good time to reorganize the furniture in your living room, family room, or kids’ rooms. 

Some day — in the not-too-distant future, I hope — the need for social isolation will be over. But until then, you have ways to “visit” with your friends and plenty of projects to keep you occupied between visits.

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Your neighbor, the black bear

As creeping urbanization slowly takes over nature’s wild habitats, denizens of the wild increasingly find themselves living in close quarters with us human folks — and foraging our garbage for food. Case in point: The black bear. Once you had to go camping to risk an encounter with creatures of the ursine kind, a.k.a. bear. Now you can step out into your backyard and surprise a black bear attracted by the smell of the steaks on your grill.

While finding a bear in your backyard (or while walking your dog in the neighborhood, or when you’re on a camping trip) can be startling, to say the least, and may make your pulse pound, black bears are not dangerous unless they’ve been confronted, according to Ray Simonsen, Sr., known as “Ray the Trapper.” 

Ray is a licensed nuisance wildlife trapper but says you don’t need to call a trapper if you encounter a black bear. “They’re very docile,” he says. 

You can chase it away yourself, but don’t turn tail and run, he advises. Instead, put your hands in the air. Clap your hands, and yell at the bear — something like, “Hey bear, get out of here, bear.” 

Back up. Don’t turn your back to the bear. You can get a small airhorn at a sporting goods store. One blast will scare the bear back into woods. The bears are more afraid of us than we are of them. There is also bear spray, available at local stores like Dick’s and Bass Pro Shops.

Although bears are normally docile creatures, if one is confronted or feels threatened by a human or a pet, it could react. As long as a bear has the means of a way out, it will retreat unless it has cubs in the area. But if cornered by people or pets, it could become aggressive. 

Bears have been known to tree themselves when scared. If you do encounter a bear and see it climb a tree, leave it alone. It’s not stuck in the tree. It will come down on its own. Just let any neighbors know that there is a treed bear, so they don’t approach the tree and bother the bear. If left to its own means of escape, it will be fine and not bother anyone.

While there’s no way to ensure you won’t have a bear encounter, especially if you’re camping, you can minimize the chances of finding one in your backyard: Keep your garbage cans covered and secured. Thoroughly clean out any backyard grill, fryer, or smoker, and don’t leave food droppings on the adjacent ground. Clean up promptly after a barbeque or picnic; no matter how tired you are, don’t leave the clean-up till morning. Bears can smell food from two miles away.

If you do find a bear in your yard, chances are he is just passing through — unless you’ve left something appetizing out. If the bear can get into your garbage or finds something else of interest, then, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, he’ll be back.

You are more likely to see a bear in the spring at dusk and dawn. Like most other wildlife, they conserve their energy in the heat of the day. 

What you should not do in case of a bear encounter is shoot the creature. Bears are a protected species. They are losing more and more of their habitat to construction, but the good news (for the bears, if not for those humans who fear them) is that the Florida black bear is making a comeback. There are some estimated 1400 black bears in the state now, up from the low 100s in the 1970s. 

Their worst enemies are humans and cars. Despite laws, poachers still kill bears for their meat and/or their hides. And now there’s a new dark motive for bear poaching: extracting the bears’ gall bladders. It seems that the bile this organ produces is erroneously believed to have medicinal properties. 

The legal consequences for killing bears are less severe than those for killing turkey and deer out of season. But recent proposals would set the minimum fine for killing bears at $750 instead of the maximum $500 under current law. Also, hunting licenses could be suspended for three years, rather than the current yearlong maximum. There is now an effort on the federal level to stop the poaching of black bears. 

While a bear in your backyard that refuses to leave is unlikely, you are breaking the law if you shoot it. In such an event, call the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3922.

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