Tag: Health

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A “hip” approach to state-of-the-art care

Dr. Leone’s specialized surgical approach, combined with personalized care, linked to faster recoveries for hip and knee patients.

More than a decade ago, Dr. William A. Leone, head of The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, made an intentional and compassionate decision, transforming the patient care model for his orthopedic practice. It was founded on his vision of providing state-of-the-art orthopedic care while treating every patient with how he would want his family members, and himself, cared for.

Dr. Leone’s unique integration of clinical, surgical, and technological expertise, combined with caring, personalized attention from him and his entire staff, have helped restore mobility and improve the quality of life for thousands of patients from throughout the United States and around the world. He cares for people in their 80s and 90s who refuse to relinquish their independence and opt for surgery to regain their quality of life. He also treats patients in their 20s and 30s who desire an active lifestyle and want to feel “normal” again.

His comprehensive and patient-centered approach begins with the initial consultation and persists throughout the entire post-operative period. Patients are guaranteed increased availability with Dr. Leone and his entire staff, work with a designated and responsive patient liaison, and are educated on what to expect throughout the entire process. This ensures each patient’s entire experience is as positive and comfortable as possible, resulting in successful results and faster recoveries.

“A wonderful trend I’ve seen over my extensive career is that each year my patients are getting well faster and recovering easier than ever before. My surgical procedures are more precise and reproducible and today’s implants are vastly improved compared to years prior,” said Dr. Leone. “Combined with less invasive and more anatomically-sparing surgical techniques and my emphasis on preempting, preventing, and down-regulating pain have all led to patients getting well faster than ever before and regaining their quality of life.”

To avert pain, medication begins prior to surgery, special anesthetic techniques combined with local injections and nerve blocks, gentle soft tissue handling with precise soft tissue balance, and post-operative medications from different families of drugs taken on a schedule, have all made a world of difference. One of the reasons Dr. Leone’s patients recover so quickly is that they are well prepared for their surgery. When patients go into surgery knowing what to expect before, during, and after their surgery, they are less anxious, recover quicker with more confidence, and have an overall superior experience.

“In my experience, a respected, well-informed patient not only has a faster, smoother recovery but also a much better experience, which contributes to a superior outcome,” said Dr. Leone. “Choosing the right surgeon with the right team and at the right hospital is critically important. Education combined with confidence are key ingredients for success.”

Dr. Leone encourages anyone considering hip or knee surgery, to browse his website. He’s written more than 100 blog articles; some are shared thousands of times each month. There is a section on “Frequently Asked Questions,” and he’s particularly proud of the hundreds of inspiring testimonials from patients who share their gratitude and inspiring stories.

The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care provides superb, highly personalized, orthopedic care for people with arthritic hip and knee conditions and for patients who develop problems with a prior joint replacement. Dr. Leone offers patients the latest, most-promising innovations for joint replacement surgery in a compassionate, patient-focused setting. He has performed over 13,000 joint surgeries throughout his career, restoring mobility and improving the quality of life for thousands of patients from around the globe.

The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Health is located at 1000 NE 56th Street in Fort Lauderdale. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 954-489-4575 or visit holycrossleonecenter.com.

 

 

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State Representative D-96 Christine Hunschofsky

On March 1, 2020, we had the first announcement that two Floridians
had tested positive for COVID-19. The virus has impacted our lives in so many ways from our health to our economy, from how we connect with one another and how we do business, from how we learn to how we shop. So much has changed in our lives this past year and now with several vaccines available, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As we wait for more vaccine supplies to become available, please visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov for updates and continue to take precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

March 2, 2021 is the opening day for the Florida legislative session. The Florida Legislature meets every year for 60 consecutive days of session and while some things will be different this year, there is much work for us to get done. We will be tackling unemployment, insurance rates, early literacy, climate change and flooding, among many other issues important to the residents of the State of Florida.

During the session I will continue to provide you with updates.

If you wish to join our email list, please email Lisa.Librizzi @myfloridahouse.gov to be added to the list. Additionally, you can visit www.myfloridahouse.gov to watch meetings, review agendas and presentations, and track bills that have been submitted. Please reach out to us at HDIST096@ myfloridahouse.gov regarding any particular concerns you have with bills coming in front of us for debate and vote. I value your input and your perspective.

March is also Women’s History Month and a time we recognize and celebrate the contributions women have made to our country and history. Our office is holding a Women’s History Essay contest for students grades K-12 in District 96.

To participate, please send us your essay of 500 words or less about a woman who you look up to or who you feel has made a positive contribution to our  society.

We want to know why this woman is special to you. It could be someone from history or someone you know today. Email us the essay to Lisa.Librizzi @myfloridahouse.gov with “Essay Contest” in the subject line.

Please include your name, email, and phone number. We will have three winners from grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in the Florida House. Please reach out to our office if we can be of assistance with unemployment issues, vaccine distribution information, or if you have a concern you would like addressed. It is our pleasure to help wherever we can. In the meantime, follow me on Facebook at @RepHunschofsky and on Twitter at @chunschofsky for more updates. As always, I look forward to hearing from you!

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Simple but savvy moves for heart health

This month is all about hearts, love, and adding a little TLC to your everyday life. February is American Heart Month. This month is dedicated to driving awareness around heart disease, or cardiovascular disease (CVD). These are the leading causes of many health-related issues that can not only affect your ability to work, but impact your overall quality of life.

It’s important to know that some of the at-risk factors to heart health issues include poor diet, being overweight and lack of physical activity. To ensure that you’re on the right track to improve or maintain a healthier heart, show yourself a little more love by following some of these recommended adjustments for improving your diet by managing your portions and staying active.

Improve your diet

• Start the day with a low-fat breakfast. Try these simple ideas:

• In an electric blender, process 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup vitaminwater zero, 1 6 oz. carton Greek Style yogurt, and 1⁄2 cup fresh or frozen fruit to make a fruit smoothie.

• Spread toasted multi-grain waffle with 1 tablespoon peanut butter.

• Top oatmeal with chopped apple, raisins, or 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts.

• Eat every three to four hours or five to six times a day; this prevents you from becoming too hungry.

• Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water –eight to ten glasses a day will keep you hydrated. If you are looking for hydrating options in addition to water, try flavored varieties such as vitaminwater zero or sparkling water. Most importantly, remember that all beverages hydrate. Thirst is an indicator of dehydration and sometimes thirst is confused with hunger.

• Include more fiber in your diet such as whole grain breads and cereals, beans, legumes, and nuts. Higher fiber will aid in helping you feel full.

• Include more vegetables and fruits—these too will help fill you up, and not out.

Manage weight with right-size portions

It’s important to have a good relationship with food, so my mantra is “all foods and beverages can fit into a balanced diet in moderation.” Below are some guidelines to help you keep portion control in mind and some products that can help you do so.

• Choose 3-oz. portions of lean meat, fish, or poultry. This is a serving about the size of a deck of cards.

• For fruits and vegetables, consider a portion about the size of a baseball. If you enjoy avocado, go for one-half of a medium avocado.

• Servings for grains, beans, and legumes should compare to the size of an adult fist.

• Beverages also come in perfectly-portioned sizes. Coca-Cola has mini-cans available at about 7.5 ounces.

Keep it moving

Regular physical activity and exercise can have long term positive effects along with reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. By getting your body moving, you can improve control of your weight, combat heart disease, increase your energy and mood, decrease stress, and improve your sex life.

Scheduling the time to exercise on your calendar will help make it part of your standard daily routine. If you cannot set aside a 30 to 45-minute block of time, do several 5-10-minute segments daily. The buddy system works well here—having a friend on board will help keep you both motivated and on task.

Take Away: Focus on heart health this month. Start to make life long changes to your lifestyle choices and show a little love to your heart and those you care about around you.

 

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Broward Health Coral Springs offers elite cardiac services

For many years Broward Health Coral Springs (BHCS) provided cardiac care services to the community, but one key component was missing—a cardiac catheterization lab for emergency catheterizations. Subsequently, patients were transported to other facilities, but that’s no longer the case.

Last June, a new state-of-the-art cath lab became operational at BHCS. “We now have the ability to care for specifi c patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarctions (STEMI),” said Mohamed Osman, M.D., director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and specialist in Interventional Cardiology at BHCS. “This is a unique opportunity to provide an even higher level of care through angioplasty procedures.”

Designated as a Level 1 Heart Program by the Agency for Healthcare Administration, the new cath lab was termed a “milestone” by hospital CEO Jared Smith, one that “increases our ability to provide a high level of care and uphold our recognition (per Our City Magazine) as the area’s best hospital and Emergency Department.”

Gary Lai, D.O., and chief of Emergency Medicine says the addition of the STEMI heart program makes it possible for EMS to pre-alert the ER and send electrocardiograms prior to a patient’s arrival. “We can prepare immediately to stabilize, medicate, and expedite patients to the in-house cath lab,” he said. “This saves lives and maximizes outcomes.”

The new catheterization lab allows BHCS specialists to perform invasive cardiac procedures and utilize advanced imaging for diagnoses by using contrast dye to determine the severity of the arterial blockage. Once identified, a balloon angioplasty is performed, or a stent is inserted to clear the artery and save as much of the heart muscle as possible. Pacemakers and defibrillator implant procedures are also performed.

Generally speaking, the last 20 years has seen a rapid transformation of new techniques focusing on minimally invasive procedures, rapid care, and shorter hospital stays, according to Dr. Osman. “Although open heart surgery is certainly an option, the major shift has been toward less invasive, less traumatic procedures that obtain excellent results.” People with severe heart valve problems always required open heart surgery. A significant number are now treated with stents to reduce the risk of a major heart event.

Surgical progress in cardiology can be defi ned by an alphabet soup of acronyms: SAVR (Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement); CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft); BAG (Bilateral Arterial Grafting); PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention); TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement); EVAR (Endovascular Abdominal Aneurysm Repair): and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defi brillator). The term Electrophysiology refers to leadless pacemakers and remote monitoring devices. “Because of these techniques, patients spend less time in the hospital, recover faster, and there’s less trauma to the body,” said Dr. Osman. “An aortic valve replacement once required open heart surgery, but now the TAVR procedure accomplishes the same goal by inserting a transcatheter through a small incision in the groin.”

Surgical complications 

Any medical procedure has the potential for complications such as excessive bleeding, stroke, and even death, but the key is how often complications occur as a result of surgery. “Both minor and major complications are possible, but keep in mind that no patient is the same,” said Dr. Osman. “If a younger patient requires open heart surgery the only problem is the heart and nothing else, so the focus is isolated, but older patients—especially those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, kidney problems, or a previous stroke, are in a high- risk category for complications,” the specialist said.

To show that one size doesn’t fit all, Dr. Osman uses the example of two patients with the same high percentage of blockage that would be treated differently. “The one who is asymptomatic can be treated with medications and dietary changes, while the other who has difficulty breathing and may have underlying medical conditions is a prime candidate for a stent.” He reminds us that everyone is different, and each patient requires a different mode of treatment depending on general health and underlying conditions. “The key is a full evaluation to create a treatment plan with the best benefit.”

Dr. Osman refers to the doctor-patient relationship as “the art of medicine.” The unique relationship includes listening, evaluating, diagnosing, and treating. “At the end of the day when pieces of the ‘puzzle’ come together it’s the collaboration between the surgeon and interventional cardiologist that makes it happen,” he said. He recently saw a patient with a 90-percent blockage of the artery. CABG open heart surgery was performed, and the person is expected to make a full recovery. Choosing the right therapy is the goal.

The COVID consequence

When COVID’s first wave peaked in March 2020, it impacted cardiology services.

With a focus on caring for acute COVID patients, the shift was away from elective cardiac procedures. “Many patients feared coming to the hospital out of fear of COVID and that posed a huge problem,” said Dr. Osman. “In cardiology, time is a big factor and the longer treatment is delayed the worse a condition can become.” He cited a patient who suffered a heart attack yet remained at home for two days. They were able to save his life, but the heart muscle was significantly damaged and he’s now living with a very weak heart muscle. “Things like this are still happening but not to such a high degree. Remember that the margin of error is much less with age,” he said.

The medical facility keeps a log on how long it takes after arrival in the ER to when a clogged artery is opened in the cath lab. According to Dr. Osman the best time to date has been 23 minutes.

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2021-The year of the vaccine

We’ve closed the book on an unexpected 2020, where so much of our lives were dominated by the pandemic. COVID-19 will still be with us this year, but we hope our lives will slowly recover in 2021 as vaccines are made available for everyone.

Creating a new vaccine is time-consuming. Unlike the flu vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, there is no existing vaccine for coronaviruses to build upon. According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines must be developed and tested to ensure they work and are safe. Michal Linial, a professor of biological chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said “Classical vaccines were designed to take 10 years to develop.” So a new vaccine process is now being used for the early COVID-19 vaccines.

As of December 15th, three vaccines have been submitted for FDA approval. There are two mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines by Pfi zer and Moderna, and one DNA vaccine by Oxford-AstraZeneca. Both of these methods are relatively new, and until COVID-19, no DNA or mRNA vaccines had been approved in the US for human use.

The basic concept these vaccines use is to trick your body into producing proteins that appear to be similar to COVID-19 fragments, which will elicit an immune response from your body’s defense system. This response will protect you from infection from the live virus. This is a new process, compared to vaccines based on live or dead pathogen proteins. The new DNA and mRNA vaccines are non-infectious and can be produced faster and economically.

Both mRNA and DNA vaccines use your body to produce the proteins, using the instructions stored in either mRNA or DNA format. DNA instructions are processed inside your body’s cells to produce the proteins designed to emulate fragments from the virus; whereas mRNA is translated into the protein outside of the cell in your body’s intracellular fluid.

Since mRNA does not enter your cell, the chance of your genome being affected is averted. But mRNA is fragile, thus the cold storage requirements for these vaccines: -70 degrees Celsius for Pfi zer, and -20 degrees Celsius for Moderna. The advantage of the DNA vaccine like the Oxford-AstraZeneca version is to reach areas where cold storage is not common.

The minor and moderate side effects reported of these early vaccines are sore arm at the injection site, fever, fatigue, headache, joint pains, and muscle aches. These effects are due to your body ramping up for a virus infection, but because the vaccine is non-infectious, you will not get a case of COVID-19, just the symptoms from your body’s response.

According to Moderna, no one receiving the vaccine in their trials developed a severe case of COVID-19. The reported efficacy rate for these vaccines are in the 90-95% range, which is much higher than your typical flu vaccine.

While the creation and approval of these first sets of vaccines have been completed, the logistics of getting them delivered across the country has just begun. Operation Warp Speed (OWS), is a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the Department of Defense (DoD).

OWS aims to accelerate the development, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Their stated distribution objective “is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available. Several thousand vaccination providers will be available, including doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers.”

OWS has provided a playbook to state and local jurisdictions on the distribution of the vaccines. In Florida, the Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), an agency headed by Director Jared Moskowitz, a Parkland local, is responsible for the distribution of vaccines across the state. “We went out and bought dry ice machines,” said Director Moskowitz. “We got the ultra-cold freezers that we need. We feel that we’re in a good position.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state has been planning since early summer on how best to distribute the vaccines, with initial distribution planned at five Florida hospitals (including Memorial Healthcare System in Broward), and eventually expanding to look like state testing sites. “It may even be the same sites we have now,” Moskowitz said. “Giving out the vaccine in a mass distribution — call it spring, late spring, early summer.”

So we say good riddance to 2020. There is much hope life will start returning to normal as more folks are vaccinated in 2021. As of Dec 15th, 2020, a new hope is slowly arriving in the form of vaccines, and state officials work through the prioritization process. The logistics of successfully implementing a smooth mass vaccination is immense, and we all need to follow the recommendations so we can get back to the OLD normal as quickly as possible.

Welcome to 2021, the year of the vaccine.

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Waist watching? Add soup, whole grains, citrus

As we start the New Year, I’ve had a ton of questions from my clients who are focused on giving a jump-start to their healthy lifestyle goals.

I’ve had questions on the Green cleanse, shapely shakes, citrus cleanse, green tea diet, food lovers cleanse, and more.

My response to those inquiries is consistent with my mantra — “For better health: All things in moderation. There is not one food that is all good or all bad for you.”

Now there are some food choices that can aid you in moving forward on the path to a healthier you.

Take soup for instance. Research published in the Journal Appetite showed that people who started lunch with vegetable soup ended up eating 20 percent less than those who skipped the soup.

The key to adding soup to your meal plan is to choose one that is broth-based, which is low energy density, and provides fewer calories per gram than other foods, and contains low to moderate amounts of sodium.

Soup contributes to a feeling of fullness, so by starting a meal with soup, it can prevent you from overeating.

Whole grain foods are also excellent choices for a healthy lifestyle. They are high in fiber, which can be helpful in weight management and weight loss.

Whole grains have always been around, but the “on-trend” group in the whole grain family falls under the moniker of ancient grains. These are grains such as farro, quinoa, and sorghum.

Farro is often labeled the “mother of all wheat species.” The grain is highly regarded in Italy and fast becoming one of the popular grains on-trend in the USA. Whole grain farro is high in fiber, protein, vitamin B3, and zinc. It is low in gluten.

Quinoa is technically a gluten-free seed. In cooking, however, it is used as a grain. It is high in protein, iron, and fiber.

Sorghum is a substitute for wheat, is gluten-free and also high in protein, iron, and fiber as well as a rich source of antioxidants.

Citrus fruits are also good options to include as you make steps to improve your well-being. These fruits have high fiber, high water content, and fewer calories per gram. These attributes will give you a greater feeling of fullness, helping to suppress your appetite.

Research indicates that eating a half grapefruit before meals can promote weight loss. In addition to waist-trimming qualities, grapefruit contains immune-boosting vitamins A and C, and antioxidants.

However, if you are taking prescription medication, make sure you check with your health care professional before making grapefruit part of your daily meal plan.

Take Away: You can enjoy a variety of foods eaten in moderation. Add
30 minutes of physical activity and you’ll have a head start toward your goals.

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CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION

Happy New Year to all our residents and local businesses! As we put what was an unprecedented year behind us, it is important for us to focus on the future and what the promise of a new year can bring to the City of Coral Springs.

As we start the year, we encourage you to be optimistic, embrace diversity, and work together to ensure our city is the best community to live, work, and raise a family.

We look forward to kicking off strategic planning with city staff. This type of preparation assists us to clearly identify our new initiatives, and creates a path to meeting the needs of our residents and business owners.

The input we receive from our residents, the very people who elected us to hold office, plays a large role in our decision making. Participation in public meetings, sending us an email, connecting with the city on social media, and using the My Coral Springs App are all ways you can offer input and help guide our city’s direction.

As the demolition of One Financial Plaza continues, making way for the development of Cornerstone, we will start to see great improvement of our Downtown area. This revitalization in the heart of Coral Springs, will not only improve revenue, but will also create a true sense of place. In the coming year we look forward to seeing plans for Village Square, the creation of a nature trail at Kiwanis park, and the development of a Surf Park at Sportsplex.

With the distribution of promising vaccines, we are hopeful to see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our city has held a long-standing partnership with the Florida Department of Health, to ensure our city receives vaccines for distribution once they are made available for mass distribution. It is important to stay informed about the potential for this availability by texting the keyword CORALSPRINGS (one word) to 888-777 or visiting our website www.coralsprings.org.

We continue to serve as a host city for two free, state-run, public COVID-19 test sites: Mullins Hall, 10150 NW 29th Street, Coral Springs and at the Panthers IceDen, 3299 Sportsplex Drive. For instructions, days, times of operation and closures, follow the city on social media or visit our website.

As we look to 2021 with optimism, we are hopeful that with a vaccine, we can plan for and welcome back exciting events and activities this year! Stay informed about important city updates and events by following us on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Nextdoor. We wish you all a safe and healthy 2021!

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Fresh produce offers health in seasonal colors

With the arrival of the end of the year holidays, I get the impression that my clients think they have a pass on doing the right thing. Not! I know there is  plethora of tempting edibles at every gathering, at homes, and workplaces.

But one of the best things about this time of year is the colorful and nutrition filled fresh produce. It’s as if Mother Nature selected the season’s bounty to fit right in with the traditional holiday colors of red and green.

Radishes

Though red radishes are the most popular, they also come in rose, purple, lavender, and white. The popular variety in red and white could easily be considered the Santa Claus vegetable.

With a few swift slits of the paring knife, these orbs become the focal point of a vegetable tray. They look good, and they are good for you. The radish is low in calories, and high in vitamins A and C.

Radishes are a good source of vitamins and minerals. The vegetable’s high water and fiber content aids in digestion and makes it an excellent detoxifier.

Radicchio 

This colorful veggie looks like red cabbage with deep red or magenta leaves and white veins. Its flavor is spicy, with a hint of bitterness. It adds a stunning  pop of color to salads, and vegetable trays. You can also spread radicchio’s leaves with hummus, dips, tuna, or shrimp salad instead of crackers. It is a good source of antioxidants, contributing to overall health and wellness. The veggie is also high in fiber, as well as vitamins C and K, which promotes bone health. It contains magnesium which helps build strong bones and teeth, and potassium which plays a positive role in regulating blood pressure.

Beets 

Red beets are available year-round and can be served roasted, steamed, pickled, or in juice. This vegetable is in the same family as spinach and Swiss  chard. Beets are a good source of heart healthy folate and potassium. They also contain energy producing carbohydrates, antioxidants manganese and vitamin C; they are a good source of digestive-supportive dietary fiber, along with magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.

You can intensify the color of beets by adding lemon juice or vinegar while cooking for a brighter color. Baking soda will cause them to turn a deeper purple. Add salt after cooking, because it can blunt the color.

Red Swiss Chard

This leafy green, also in the vegetable family with beets, is stunning with its magenta stalk and veins surrounded by textured deep green leaves.

Swiss chard is an excellent source of bone-building vitamin K, manganese, and magnesium; it is high in antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. It contains potassium and iron, is a good source of fiber and B vitamins including folate which is good for a healthy heart. Swiss chard can be included in salads and sandwiches or as a hot vegetable. To maximize the nutrients, quick cooking such as sauté or steaming is best.

Whether seasonal festivities or year ‘round, these “reds” are vegetables to dish about; they are fabulous looking, great of these to your menu and you’ll be one nutrition-savvy hostess/host serving great dishes that are nutrition rich.

Take Away: Festive occasions can be enjoyed without shelving your plan for good health. Make wise choices and try to opt for colorful fruits and vegetables. Plenty of fruits and vegetables will go a long way toward keeping the calories down and nutrition up.

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

Dear Friends!

This year, our community has faced tremendous challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of loved ones far too soon and placed millions of families into economic hardship. Many celebrations, traditions, and even daily activities have been put on hold as we isolated ourselves to keep each other safe from harm. As we all hope to return to a sense of normalcy, we must continue to follow social distancing guidelines as we try to heal from the pandemic. Although this year has been difficult for us all, our community has shown incredible strength. Throughout the past few months, we have seen heroes emerge to keep us safe, healthy, and thriving. But our work is not over. As public health experts warn of a COVID-19 resurgence, we must all continue to do our part to keep each other safe. In Congress, I will keep fighting to get Floridians the help they need to get back on their feet.

Ted Deutch

One in twenty seniors in the U.S. is a target of fraud schemes, costing them at least $36.5 billion per year. Yet, the National Adult Protective Services Association has found that only 1 in 44 seniors actually report that they are victims of a fraud scheme. Recently the House passed my bill, the Seniors Fraud Prevention Act, that would help protect seniors and their families from becoming the  victims of fraudulent schemes designed to steal their assets. I was proud to work with Rep. Buchanan, Rep. Peter Welch, Senator Klobuchar, and Senator Collins to introduce this legislation that would create an office within the Federal Trade Commission charged with tracking scams, educating and alerting seniors to new scams, and establishing a more effective complaint system to ensure reports of fraud are quickly addressed by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Recently, I joined Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Rep. Kathy Castor to release a climate report prepared by the House Oversight Committee outlining the health benefits for the state of Florida if the United States meets the goals of the Paris Agreement. The report outlines that in Florida alone, meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement could prevent 101,000 deaths and 40,000 emergency room visits and hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease over the next 50 years. The state would avoid more than 23 million lost workdays. Collectively, avoiding these health issues would save Florida over $750 billion. I wish you and your family a safe and happy new year and encourage you to visit CDC.gov for current social distancing guidelines. As always, please feel free to reach out to our office if we can be of assistance.

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Dating during the pandemic

In addition to all of the tragic circumstances, COVID-19 has thrown romance for a loop.

Over the last seven months of the pandemic, individuals continue to long for social interaction, whether it is virtual or socially distanced. Before the pandemic, we did not know how fortunate we were to easily meet with a friend for coffee or fly and visit a different state until those types of activities were taken from us in a matter of months.

Josh and I began dating a month before the pandemic began. Right when we were getting to know each other we had to begin thinking about what mattered to us and how we would make our new relationship work during the pandemic.

Both Josh and I are very family oriented and have grandparents with health conditions. This meant that we had to create some sort of plan where we could still see each other, but also respect our families and their health.

We did not want to have one of us move in with the other’s family because it would not be fair to the other, so we had to weigh our options.

I decided to reach out to my older sister, Stephanie. She had already moved away to quarantine with her boyfriend in his hometown. Stephanie graciously offered Josh and I the opportunity to quarantine together in her vacant Miami apartment.

Two months into our relationship, Josh and I, along with my 9-month-old puppy Ellie, moved in.

A lot of my friends thought we were crazy.

“How are you going to quarantine with a guy you have only been dating for a month?”

“Isn’t it too soon?”

“Julie, are you sure?”

Sure, my friends’ comments were valid, but they were also wrong. The quarantine brought Josh and I closer and allowed us to get comfortable faster.

With all the time we had by ourselves we were able to see each other’s strengths and differences. We learned more about each other and created some of the best memories. I learned that Josh makes a mean steak and Josh learned that he could always count on baked goods due to my love of baking.

Around the beginning of May, my sister returned. I moved back in with my parents and Josh prepared to move into his new apartment. I work from home and Josh works at his law firm. Since the shutdown, his firm has put in strict social distance protocols in accordance with CDC guidelines. We see each other often as well as our families, and only surround ourselves with people we have been around from the start of the pandemic.

As the pandemic continues, some people choose to date online, some continue with the traditional dating route in person, and some have just stopped dating.

“It’s weird. You want to be conscious of what is going on in the world but at the same time you don’t want to be alone,” Jessica Harper, 23-year-old Florida resident, said.

Online dating sites report record use as singles look for someone to connect with and bring some light into these uncertain times.

According to the popular dating site Hinge, messages on the application have increased by 30% since the pandemic began. Dating in the age of COVID-19 is simple for some and difficult for others. Instead of fearing rejection, ghosting, or catfishing, you now have to worry about infection.

College senior, Edramy Mancheno says, “I am not dating during COVID because I don’t trust random people I don’t know; so I don’t know if they’re safe from the virus or not. Since I live with my parents there is a higher risk of them being infected too.” “I definitely feel like I’m going on less dates. I’m trying to figure out beforehand if this is someone I’d even enjoy a date with because of the risk of COVID,” Harper said.

But how do you figure out beforehand the risks of meeting someone? Do they wash their hands regularly? Who are their contacts?

We have to pick and choose what is important to us. No one knows when the pandemic will subside, so why stop living your life? Get out there, whether on a virtual or socially-distanced date, depending on your comfort level.

 

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State Representative D-96 Christine Hunschofsky

Mayor Hunschofsky

It is an honor to serve you as your District 96 State Representative and I look forward to working with you. November was a busy election season and I would like to congratulate all the winners of the elections. I look forward to working with the City Commissions and residents in District 96, which include Coconut Creek, Parkland, a majority of Margate, and the north and east areas of Coral Springs.

Since the election, we have been very busy setting up the district office, which is located at Coconut Creek City Hall at 4800 Copans Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33063. We have a wonderful team including Beth Lerner, who is our Legislative Aide, and Lisa Librizzi, who is our District Aide. Beth has many years of experience working in the State Legislature and brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. Lisa comes from a corporate background and has a wealth of experience in systems organization and customer service. You can contact our team at 954-956-5600. Additionally, there is more information about the Florida House of Representatives, the office, and the district on the website www.myfloridahouse.gov.

In November, we worked on getting the office and staff set up, and I attended the new member orientations and organization session. In December, we will be given our committee assignments for the 2020-2022 Legislative Session and in January our first committee weeks begin. Throughout the process, we will be providing updates and information on what we are doing in the district. If you would like to receive these updates directly, please email lisa.librizzi@ myfloridahouse.gov.

As 2020 comes to a close, we have much to reflect upon. Each year comes with its challenges, and 2020 was definitely no exception. In the midst of a pandemic, we are also facing serious economic and health challenges. May we continue to focus on shared goals and work together toward common solutions to get us through these unprecedented times.

I would like to extend my best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season and great start to 2021. While many of the family celebrations may be different this year due to COVID, I hope you will all have the opportunity to spend quality time with your family whether in person or virtually. As always, please feel free to reach out to our office with any questions you may have. You can also find me providing updates on Facebook at @RepHunschofsky and Twitter at @chunschofsky. Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and all the best for 2021!

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Diwali

With the arrival of the season of fall comes the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali. Diwali, one of the biggest Hindu celebrations, is a five-day festival that usually occurs in mid-October or mid-November, and it celebrates the victory of good/light over evil/darkness in different forms and has many legends behind its origin. Lord Rama’s return from his 14-year exile after defeating King Ravana, Lord Krishna’s triumph over the demon Narakasura, and Lord Vishnu’s defeat of King Bali. During Diwali, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is honored. Diyas and clay lamps are lit inside and outside of homes.

The lighting of Diyas signifi es the destruction through knowledge of all negative qualities, violence, anger, jealousy, greed, and fear; thus celebrating the victory of good over evil. This year, Diwali (the third day) is on November 14. The first day is known as Dhanatrayodashi, and it represents when Lord Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of medicine, brought Ayurveda, the science of medicine, to mankind.

It also marks the day whenGoddess Lakshmi was born from the churning of the ocean. On Dhantrayodashi, people usually buy gold, silver, utensils, and clothes. The second day of Diwali is Naraka Chaturdasi. On this day, Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasura. People often take a holy bath and relax.

The third day of Diwali, often called Diwali itself, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped during Lakshmi Puja in the evening. It is also the darkest day of the month, Amavasya, so Diyas are lit and placed outside the home to keep darkness from entering. The fourth day is celebrated for various reasons in different parts of India. For example, in Gujarat, this day is celebrated as the New Year. The fourth day is also known as Annakut, which means “mountain of food.” Large offerings of vegetarian food are given to Lord Krishna for his defeat over Lord Indra. The fifth and final day is called Bhai Duj, and it celebrates a sister’s love for her brother.

During Diwali celebrations, you will find homes lit with Diyas, doorsteps decorated with rangolis to welcome guests with great honor, fireworks to celebrate the new year, and amazing sweets and delicacies to share with friends and families. Most importantly, Hindu families give thanks. Hindu families give thanks for all they have been blessed with and share their blessings with others and the community at large. During Diwali many of our local temples have food drives to share their blessings.

From Hinduism Today

FACT: Believing that the Divine resides in all things, Hindus practice non-injury and hold a deep respect, bordering on reverence, for all living beings. This embracing attitude is reflected in India’s history of welcoming refugees from all cultures and faiths. By following dharma, Hindus eschew violence and terror. Secure in their faith, they interact harmoniously with their neighbors, regardless of religious affiliation.

FICTION: Many people wrongly believe that Hindus, being proud of their religion, may disdain other cultures. In fact, Hindus fully accept the spiritual efficacy of other paths and never proselytize.

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