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The meaning of the high holidays

I love the high holidays! I love being with family, friends, and community. And this year is even more special because after two years we will be together.

As a rabbi who prepares hours on end for these services, I know I have an advantage. And that comes from spending time with the liturgy and readings. As a result, I have come to see myself in the holy days.

I’ll explain.

It may sound strange coming from a rabbi, whose religion is deeply immersed in the idea of “tradition,” that I need religious celebrations and observances to inform and inspire me in the present.

Traditions help create connections to the past and deepen religious feeling, but our inherited traditions also need meaning that speaks to the needs or challenges of our times. I have learned that even our most ancient traditions can address life in the present.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is the beginning of what are known as the High Holy Days. It is followed by the “Ten Days of Repentance.” These 10 days are meant for self-reflection and consideration of our own behaviors. They culminate on the holiest day, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

So, what can be said that’s particularly meaningful for us and our world today?

Central to the Ten Days is a notion of teshuvah, which literally means “return” and calls upon us to examine ourselves and see where we can improve. We might ask, “How can I be kinder, more patient, more forgiving, more giving in this world?” Looking at all of the disturbing events and issues in our world, we can easily be overwhelmed and feel helpless. But when personal reflection leads to change, we give ourselves agency to fix some of the problems of the world.

The most profound message of these holidays reminds us that the world begins with you and me! In a world that is so deeply divided, where there is so much violence against each other and our environment, where there is anger and hostility and such intolerance for the “other,” this ancient tradition tells us to look at ourselves and see what we can do to create change for the better.

I wish all a good, healthy, and meaningful New Year! Shana Tova.

David Steinhardt is a senior rabbi at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton.

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Artist’s ‘Terra Ephemera’ highlights environmental passions

For Gretchen Scharnagl, a Miami-based environmental artist and professor in the Art History department at Florida International University, her art and subject matter are her way of connecting — connecting herself to others, and others to her art.

For her exhibit “Terra Ephemera,” at the Coral Springs Museum of Art running through Oct. 8, Scharnagl, 64, brings a number of “stepping into her subject works,” some more mature works, and pieces created specifically for this show.

“Terra Ephemera” makes use of traditional and nontraditional media in a way that provokes visual, conversational, human, and scientific interest.

“Gretchen is a risk taker,” says Jill Brown, executive director of the Coral Springs Museum of Art. “This translates into an important component of her creative process. Gretchen’s art transcends the familiar and leans heavily into difficult and unknown territory, leaving viewers to think and rethink what they are seeing.

“‘Terra Ephemera’ tackles the mundane while exploring the environment with a strong sense of place,” Brown says. “It makes us think about our relationship with the world and each other from the present, past, and future.”

Scharnagl lives with her husband, Robert, 64, a carpenter/contractor who often plays a role as her art assistant; two large Dobermans; and three cats.

From her backyard studio in suburban Miami, where she has lived for 40 years, Scharnagl examines common artifacts from her environs, reads copious amounts of scientific environmental studies, and is fascinated by her own compulsions, leading her to discover and explore little-known phenomena.

While visiting the Field Museum in Chicago, Scharnagl became fascinated by the story of migrating birds who collided with urban architecture and died. Her raison d’etre is to highlight little-known environmental issues — such as this and other facts like a worldwide sand shortage — through her art-making.

The mother of two women scientists, Scharnagl reads about science, the earth, and the environment and finds inspiration for her art.

She cites Edward Humes’s “Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash,” Susan Strasser’s “Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash,” Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s “Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet: Ghosts and Monsters of the Anthropocene,” and David Wallace-Wells’ “Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming” as influences.

“I feel an urgency that art should take a responsibility,” Scharnagl says. “Art that is speaking of something important has to jump the fence and speak to those that would not necessarily have exposure to it.”

For someone intensely committed to her art and teaching, Scharnagl came to her calling in her 40s, calling herself “a reluctant artist.”

“I did not consider myself an artist for the majority of my life,” she says. She was prodded into it by a comment she overheard by a mother saying she was wasting her talents by volunteering in her children’s school.

“She could be right,” thought Scharnagl, who hasn’t looked back since.

Her series “The Anthropocene” consists of eight works depicting climate change, water-level rise, and other “planetary boundaries” we are crossing, such as crimes against animals (think wet markets and COVID-19). “Elegy for Earth,” a melancholic lament about the state of the earth, includes three parts, “Earth Retold,” “Earth Tracings,” and “Earth Remains,” which are designed to make the audience think about the state of our earth.

A performance piece scheduled for the opening reception on Sept. 22, “The Earth Piñata Performance,” symbolizes mankind’s treatment of Mother Earth. Participants will break open the 28-inch, earth-like piñata, releasing 2,000 plastic animals, plants, and fungi, creating a new piece of work.

“The Globe Maker” (“a labor of love”) consists of 20 papier-mâché globes that Scharnagl created with her husband, born out of an “obsession” with the word “biophilia” (an innate and genetically determined affinity of human beings with the natural world, a theory developed by biologist E. O. Wilson).

The littlest globe, made from pages from her collection of National Geographic magazines, is titled “Little Blue Marble” — an homage to astronomer Carl Sagan. The globes are cradled in vintage camera and transit tripods used for surveying the earth’s surface that Scharnagl found online, a synergy she couldn’t resist.

“Every part has something to say,” she says. “What you make it with, what kind of papers, graphite, glue, or other media you use. I consider the art-making a way to think, a way to discover and explore. It’s a way to discover things about your subject and yourself.

“When I create art, it’s a personal narrative embedded in a universal idea,” she says. “I identify with the bird who hits the building, with the earth itself, and identify with poetry and cultural mythologies about Mother Earth.”

Scharnagl credits German painter Albrecht Durer as an influence and her professors at FIU, including Clive King, Manny Torres, and Bill Burke, for teaching her to self-critique.

She admires African-American artist Mark Bradford for his large-scale abstract collages; Jamaican-born American artist Nari Ward for his sculptural installations addressing consumer culture, poverty, and race; and art writer Linda Weintraub for her writings on environmental consciousness.

In her spare time, Scharnagl admits to being a “total Trekkie.” “If push comes to shove, I call ‘Star Trek’ my martini — it feeds my soul.”

Future plans include a possible residency at the Deering Estate in Miami and continuing to create art.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m blowing my own horn,” Scharnagl says, “but people have told me, ‘You’re giving a gift to the world.’”

Exhibition Dates
Aug. 23–Oct. 8, 2022

“Ask the Artist” Talk
Thursday, Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m., mingle/gallery view; 7 p.m., talk

Opening Reception
Thursday, Sept. 22, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
“Earth Piñata” Performance Piece

Live during reception

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Shop healthy on a budget

With a little know-how and advanced planning, you can enjoy nutritious foods while sticking to a tight budget.

Plan Around Sales

The key to smart, budget-friendly grocery shopping is planning ahead. Plan meals around fresh produce, lean protein foods, and low-fat dairy items that are on sale and in season to save money while eating healthy.

Check store sale flyers and available coupons on the same items for additional savings. Compare national brands and private store labels for the lowest price. Once you’ve identified sale items, incorporate them into simple meals; baked, grilled, or broiled lean meats or fish served with vegetables and whole grains are delicious and healthy with few added ingredients. Also, use the unit price to compare costs between different-sized packages of the same product.

Create a Shopping List

Use your weekly eating plan to create a master grocery list and stick to it. Prioritize your food dollars for nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, lean protein foods, and whole grains. To keep your grocery list from growing too long, prepare meals that include similar ingredients throughout the week.

In the Produce Section

When it comes to fresh vegetables and fruits, shop seasonally. Local, seasonal produce is at its peak flavor and is generally more abundant, so it’s usually sold at a lower price.

Frozen or Canned Alternatives

If the produce item you want isn’t in season or doesn’t fit in your budget, consider purchasing it frozen or canned. Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables can be good for you. Canned fruits and vegetables are picked at peak freshness and can be just as nutritious as fresh foods because canning and freezing preserves many nutrients. Canned and frozen foods offer an alternative to fresh and may be more budget-friendly. Be sure to check the ingredients list to avoid items with added sugars or salt.

At the Meat Counter

Consider purchasing a larger quantity of meat that is on sale and preparing enough for two or more meals. Enjoy leftovers later in the week or freeze for future use. Because meat is often the highest-dollar ingredient in a recipe, consider planning meatless meals a few nights each week, or try replacing half the meat in dishes such as chili, meatloaf, or burger patties with beans, finely minced mushrooms, or chopped vegetables. Incorporating more non-meat proteins, including beans, nuts, and eggs, can be cost-effective and nutritious.

Whole Grains and Dry Goods

Whole grains and dried beans are generally inexpensive and are an easy way to get more nutrition for your buck. Stock up on these nonperishable items when on sale or take advantage of the bulk bin by purchasing only the amount you need. Dried beans, peas, and lentils are great options to keep on hand. You can buy in bulk, prepare ahead of time, and then freeze so you always have protein and fiber-rich foods on hand.

Reduce Waste

Once you’ve done your shopping, make the most of your food spending by cutting down on waste. Plan to use highly perishable items — such as fish and seafood, salad greens, berries, and fresh herbs — early in the week, and save more hearty items for later in the week. Enjoy leftovers for lunch or create new meals from leftover ingredients. Cooked meat and vegetables can be revamped as a filling for a casserole, frittata, or soup.

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The 26-mile horse trail that wasn’t

Parkland is known for its horse-loving history. In fact, when Parkland was incorporated in 1963, its residents fought to maintain a rural lifestyle where people were few and horses were plentiful.

According to the Parkland Historical Society — an organization dedicated to preserving local traditions and providing opportunities for the community to learn about Parkland’s heritage — Parkland founder Bruce Blount loved and raised animals and originally wanted the city to be called “The Ranches.” His intent was to attract residents who liked animals and country living.

But over time, the city evolved, with development changing Parkland’s agricultural lifestyle and creating a shift in attitude away from horses. As roads, shopping centers, and houses began to significantly alter the rural feel of the city, and infringe on land for horse trails, some residents lobbied to preserve Parkland’s horse-centric roots — even calling for the development of a county-wide horse trail.

Led by City Commissioner Mary Jane Sexton between 1986 and 1987, this ambitious project sought to create a 26-mile horse trail that would begin at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines and end at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. The proposed path would wind north through Markham Park and then have riders following the Sawgrass Expressway toward Tradewinds Park.

Another proposed path (as detailed in Sexton’s 1987 letter to former Coconut Creek City Planner Craig Benedict) had the trail originating at Tree Tops Park in Davie and running north through the Everglades Conservation Area, up into the Loxahatchee Preserve. By building the trail along the levee alongside the Everglades, it would keep the horses away from traffic. This alternate route also included a trail connecting riders with Tradewinds Park via a path through Parkland and Coconut Creek that would require cooperation from local residents.

Sexton faced plenty of opposition to the plan — including that of non-horse-riding Parkland residents with homes along the cross-country trail’s proposed path, who were concerned about the cleanup of horse feces left along the trail. Without cooperation from these residents, connecting the trail to Tradewinds Park would prove difficult.

Despite continued efforts by Sexton and the South Florida Trail Riders, a volunteer horse-riding association, ultimately, the dream of a county-wide trail was never realized.

This article was made possible by archived newspaper clippings generously provided by the Parkland Historical Society. For more information, or to research more history about Parkland, visit www.parklandhistoricalsociety.com.

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September skies: fall equinox and oppositions

Here are the sky highlights this month:

  • 10. Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. This phase will occur at 5:58 a.m. Eastern. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year. This moon is also known as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox each year.
  • 16. Neptune at Opposition. The blue giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.
  • 23. September Equinox. The September equinox will occur at 8:55 p.m. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • 25. New Moon. The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase will occur at 9:55 p.m. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
  • 26. Jupiter at Opposition. The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter’s cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter’s four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.

If you’d like to become more involved with astronomy in South Florida and meet like-minded people, the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association (www.sfaaa.com) at Markham Park is fantastic, equipped with a state-of-the-art telescope, and the perfect way to take the next step in discovering our celestial sky. Happy exploring!

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A Dachshund and a social media mishap

I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I love keeping up with the lives of my friends and family, Amazon and I are family now, and I do look at reviews of restaurants before I decide to try a new one. But the people of Colorado take it to the next level. I live in Colorado part of the year, and they literally will sell a container of protein powder with one scoop missing and someone buys it. I saw someone purchase a used toilet plunger the other day.

To acclimate myself to my new neighborhood, I joined the local community Facebook group. I see a lot of the same issues as I see in Florida: The community pool is too cold, the community pool is too hot, and nonstop talk about swim diapers. I need a few items that some people like to sell or give away, so I spend a little too much time on the Facebook group. One day, a person put out a question about her Dachshund rubbing her nose excessively on the lawn and whether anyone else had that problem.

I read responses describing pets with environmental allergies to grasses, weeds, and trees, to one woman who proclaimed that she was a 50-year Dachshund owner/expert and sent a link about the history of Dachshunds being burrowing animals. One person sent a link about the types of mites found in the lawns and how they could irritate a dog, especially one so low to the ground.

After about an hour, the owner of the Dachshund posted that her dog was starting to scratch her ears and lick her paws excessively. Within a minute she had comments and links to shampoos, lotions, and Benadryl doses for dogs. I was hoping that with the posts, she was going to call her veterinarian or bring the dog to the hospital if the Dachshund was that uncomfortable. In the following half-hour, there were more than 30 responses from neighbors, each one blaming something that could be easily treated with a home remedy. At the hour mark, the owner wrote that the dog was starting to look puffy, and she was very uncomfortable. Before I could even comment, there were a dozen comments about doubling the dose of Benadryl, ice packs, cold baths, and one person even talked about rubbing steroid cream on the muzzle.

I decided to private-message the owner. I explained to her that I am a veterinarian and asked her to send me a picture of her dog, Sadie. The Dachshund’s muzzle and head were huge — at least twice the size of normal. I asked her to take a picture of the inside of her lips, and I could see the spot where Sadie had been bitten by a bee or wasp, and I noticed that her tongue was slightly blue, a clear sign of cyanosis. I told her to go immediately to her veterinarian because Sadie was having an anaphylactic reaction.

At the veterinary hospital, they gave her intravenous steroids, along with IV fluids, and put her in an oxygen cage because her oxygen saturation was low. Sadie did great, and she was discharged later in the day. When I saw that the owner of Sadie posted later in the night, I was hoping that she would post that you should call your veterinarian first because sometimes the speed of treatment can be essential to treatment, but she didn’t. She thanked me personally and told the Facebook group that a new veterinarian had moved into the area and that he really helped her.

So much for staying anonymous.

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Celebrate Jewish culture at YI Love Yiddishfest

The 4th Annual YI Love Yiddishfest ’22 returns live this year, Aug. 30 to Sept. 4, bringing six days of cultural events, including concerts, plays, lectures, and live entertainment, after two years of online events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded by actor/comedian and Coral Springs resident Avi Hoffman (known for his “Too Jewish” trilogy), who’s CEO of the Yiddishkayt Initiative and YI Love Jewish, the first event was held in 2018 at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach. This year’s events will take place in Broward County, Boca Raton, and Miami Beach.

“It’s a little bit scary, very exciting, and very ambitious to be back,” says Hoffman. “But I think we’ll do great.”

Hoffman says the event will appeal to everybody — “not just Jews, but anyone who is Jewish, knows someone Jewish, or has a curiosity about the Jewish culture or religion.”

Highlights of the event include the musical concert entitled “Stars of David: Story to Song,” based on the best-selling book, “Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish” by Abigail Pogrebin.

“Stars of David” adapts these real-life stories of Jewish personalities, including actor/director Stephen Spielberg, Bravolebrity Andy Cohen, shoe mogul Kenneth Cole, actor Fran Drescher, singer/pianist Michael Feinstein, and former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to name a portion of the 62 personalities featured in the book.

The concert will feature Hoffman, Shira Ginsburg, cantor at East End Temple in New York City, Carbonell-winning actor Patti Gardner, and local singer/actor Michael Harper, with musical director Caryl Ginsburg Fantel. Cantor Ginsburg is the niece of Fantel and daughter of Arthur Ginsburg, the former television chef and author, known as “Mr. Food.”

Additional live performers include the Canadian group YidLife Crisis, based on a web series of the same name, created by two friends, Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman, as a way of paying homage to the Yiddishkeit in their upbringing and to shed a Jewish comedic lens on the life in which they were raised. The two have collaborated with actor Mayim Bialik and fellow Canadian Howie Mandel.

Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz, who has performed with rapper Fat Joe and Nisim Black and whose raps about matzoh and Passover have gone viral, will bring his unique rap style to South Florida. Hoffman hopes that his appearance at the festival will attract a younger demographic.

Although Hoffman is modest about his performing contribution, for his fans, another highlight of the festival will be Hoffman’s latest and perhaps last in his “Too Jewish” trilogy performance when he debuts “Still Jewish After All These Years,” a culmination of his Jewish life and career.

Hoffman is also working on a memoir to be titled “Confessions of a Nice Jewish Boy.”

For Hoffman and his mother, Miriam, co-founder of the Yiddishkayt Initiative, a former columnist for the Yiddish edition of The Forward newspaper, a Yiddish playwright, and a past lecturer in Yiddish at Columbia University, it’s an honor to be a cultural emissary for the Yiddish language and culture.

The two teach Yiddish online, a language Hoffman says was predicted to die out with this generation. Instead, he says, Yiddish is flourishing and is everywhere. For examples, he points to Seth Rogan’s 2020 film “An American Pickle” and the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Unorthodox,” and Billy Crystal’s Yiddish call and response at the 2022 Tony Awards where he had half the audience singing “Oy” and the other half responding “Vey.”

Coral Springs OB/GYN physician Bruce Zafran, who has been practicing in the city for 35 years and moonlights as a stand-up comedian, was watching old Jackie Mason comedy bits online when he got a pop-up message asking him if he wanted to learn Yiddish. He thought, why not?

Hoffman and his mother taught that Yiddish class, and while Zafran was familiar with Hoffman, he was surprised to learn they were neighbors in Coral Springs.

Not only did he sign up for the class, he decided to sponsor the Yiddishfest, along with his wife, Lesley.“Yiddish is a beautiful language,” he says. “Whenever you hear it, you just smile.”

Says Zafran, “I’m happy to help Avi and the Yiddishkeit cause.” He jokes, “Avi is the brains and brawn and I’m the pretty face.”

Zafran’s favorite Yiddish phrase? “Freylakh zol men tomid zayn,” or, “Happy we should we always be,” a phrase he used often at his son’s wedding last June.

“Without Bruce and other supporters like him, we couldn’t do what we do,” Hoffman says. “We need people who see the value in keeping this tradition alive and giving us the ability to bring it to the world.”

Says Hoffman, “Since 1885, when a million Jews emigrated to America from Eastern Europe, Yiddish has permeated and influenced American culture.

“We [the Jewish people] have been around thousands of years and we have contributed to mainstream culture over those thousands of years,” Hoffman says. “We as a people have a lot to offer. There’s a lot to be appreciated. Come, experience Jewish culture, enjoy yourself, have fun, and learn something new.”

And, he says, echoing Zafran, “farvas nisht — why not?”

The festival is held in partnership with Florida Humanities, Miami-Dade County, and the city of Miami Beach. It is co-sponsored by the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies/George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies at the University of Miami, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Betsy South Beach, the Miami Beach JCC, the Adolph and Rose Levis JCC, the Holocaust Memorial of Miami Beach, and the Jewish Museum of Florida.  

YI Love Yiddishfest ’22 runs from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4. For more information, visit www.YILoveJewish.org, email info@yilovejewish.org, or call (888) 945-6835.

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How to get started homeschooling

Are you considering homeschooling your child? If so, you are not alone. A growing number of parents desire homeschooling for their children for various reasons. I began homeschooling my own three children almost a decade ago, and I’ve really enjoyed the flexibility involved. Maybe you are concerned about the quality of education in public schools, or perhaps you want more freedom regarding what and how your child is taught.

Whatever your reasons, homeschooling can be an excellent option for your family. Here is everything you need to know about homeschooling.

What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a type of education in which parents or guardians teach their children at home as a substitute for sending them to school. Homeschooling can be an exceptional choice for families who want more control over their child’s education or for those who wish to tailor their children’s learning to their specific needs.

Essential Steps to Start Homeschooling

Consider laws and requirements. First, research your state’s homeschooling laws and requirements. Each state has different regulations regarding homeschooling, so it’s important to know what is required of you before getting started. You can find information about your state’s homeschooling laws online or by contacting your local school district. The Home School Legal Defense Association has tons of great information about state requirements, but be sure to double-check your own state’s information online.

Join a community. Next, find a support system. Many homeschooling families are out there, so seek advice and assistance from them. You can also connect with a local homeschooling group or look for online forums where you can connect with other homeschoolers. In South Florida, we have some great Facebook communities to meet up with and ask for help. Some examples include Kind Academy Community, South Florida Homeschool Group, and Coral Springs Homeschoolers.

What about the curriculum? One big decision you’ll need to make when homeschooling is what curriculum you will use. There are many fantastic choices out there, so it’s essential to research and find one that will work well for your family. There are quizzes online to figure out what type of homeschooler you are. Don’t become too hung up on finding a curriculum because it can take some time to really get to know what type of learner your child is. Some kids are kinesthetic and need lots of hands-on experiences, while others like to do a school-at-home type of homeschooling and sit all day with worksheets. The first year is a time for trial and error; some things will work and other materials will not. I don’t even want to admit the number of curricula I have bought, but I have really gotten to know what works for my kids over the years. Have fun and get to know your child during this time — the learning will happen!

Socialization. This is one of the biggest issues I encounter while coaching homeschooling families. We all worry about our child’s social skills. Finding homeschool meetups in your local online groups is a great first step to getting your child to learn with other kids. Another great option is to do after-school classes with public school kids. Finally, there are homeschool co-ops, pods, and even “micro-schools” available for more structured learning with friends. Some great programs include HEED in Boca, Kind Academy in Coral Springs, and The Hub in Margate. Whatever you choose, there are plenty of opportunities for socialization while homeschooling in South Florida.

Benefits of Homeschooling

Some benefits of homeschooling include the following:

  • A customized curriculum that can be tailored to a child’s individual needs and interests
  • The ability to provide a more nurturing and supportive learning environment
  • More flexible schedules that can accommodate family vacations or other activities
  • Increased parental involvement in the education process
  • The potential to save money on tuition and other school-related expenses.

Final Words

Homeschooling can be a lot of work, but it can also be fun. Spending time bonding with your children and watching them learn and grow is an enriching experience. If you’re considering homeschooling your kids, these important guidelines will help you get started on the right foot!

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Mortgage rates still historically low

Over the past two years, fixed mortgage rates have been the lowest they have ever been since Franklin D. Roosevelt came out with Fannie Mae in 1938.

There is only one reason why fixed mortgage rates dropped to the levels that they have been, and that is because of the COVID pandemic. Now that COVID is getting under control and we are at the tail end of the pandemic journey, fixed mortgage rates are back to where they should be. However, we are seeing panic from new buyers, and from homeowners looking to take cash out for home improvement or debt consolidation, because of these “high rates.”

The fact is, mortgages today are still some of the lowest 15-year and 30-year fixed rates in history.

It’s important to realize that (prior to COVID) in October 2018, fixed rates were at 5.25%, which is basically within a hair of where fixed mortgage rates are now. So we are actually on par for where rates should be; however, with the last 2 “COVID years,” we got spoiled with those steady rates in the 2s and 3s.

I recently surveyed 50 people and asked, “Would you want to go through another 2 years of COVID lockdown, hospital treatment shortages, loss of life, etc., in order to get fixed mortgage rates back to the 2 and 3% range?” Of those surveyed, 100% said, “No way, not a chance.”

Knowing why fixed rates got so low, and realizing that fixed rates are currently exactly where they should be (5% to 6% range), I think we can all take a breather and feel comfortable knowing that mortgage rates are still historically low and that this is still a great time to lock in an incredible rate.

Recently, a member of the Federal Reserve said that fixed mortgage rates in the 7.5% range are in the Fed’s comfort zone. So we have to assume that that is where we will gradually head to. Being that we are in a high-inflation environment, if our economy stays on this path, we could see fixed mortgage rates up another 1-2% by the end of 2022. When you take that into consideration, you will have to agree that today’s mortgage rates are a lot more attractive than most people think.

Whether you are looking to purchase a new home or take cash out to make improvements on your current home, most people have a timeline of 20 to 30 days to their closing. Your goal is not to compete and compare with the “COVID rates” that are in the past, because that is a battle you cannot win. Your only goal is to lock in on the best day of your purchase contract period or in the days leading up to your refinance. Putting together a strategy for locking in a rate on the best day of your contract period is all you can control.

Although we have had a steady rise in fixed mortgage rates since February, we still get those days and weeks where rates turn around and actually get better. If you lock in on the best day leading up to your closing, regardless of what that rate may be, you will win.

Ryan Paton is president of Capitol Lending Group, with 22 years of history helping South Floridians get the best residential mortgage available.

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A canine (human) intervention

I have a friend who will remain anonymous. She has read my articles for the past 20 years and had already declared last month’s conversation as article worthy. Literally, she gave me the look like, “You are going to use this as an article,” not as a question but as a statement. With a wink, I told her that this is not the first time I have used her cute-isms, as my wife and l like to call them, as inspirations for an article.

My wife and I have known “L” and her family for a long time. Our kids have grown up together and we view them as family. L looks at the world differently. She is a teacher and a mother and takes care of everyone around her. When her kids or her dog Mello have an issue, she has them diagnosed and treated like a protective mother might, but she also has the tendency to forget about herself.

L has a family history of high blood pressure and heart disease. She hadn’t seen a doctor in years, and at her last physical she was informed that her physician wanted her to see a cardiologist to work up her high blood pressure and new heart murmur. L’s husband called to tell me the news that L vehemently did not want to be discussed with anyone. She told her husband that her physician is an alarmist and came up with a hundred excuses, from caffeine to stress to weight gain, for why her blood pressure was elevated.

L is an amazing pet owner. Mello has been to my hospital for ACL surgery, tumor removals, emergency dental abscesses, and even once he ate those toxic crayons that the babysitter brought over. If there was a problem with Mello, it was addressed quickly and without question.

Mello was in the hospital for a bath and his biannual examination days after I had talked to L’s husband. It was a weekly routine. L picked up Mello after work. She bought herself a medium iced coffee at the coffee shop and brought me one as well. I asked my receptionist to put L in an examination room.

I walked in and told L that during my examination of Mello, I found a new heart murmur. I told her that I had never heard one before in Mello. I also told her that I ran some bloodwork and checked his blood pressure. L repeatedly shook her head and was notably concerned. She wanted to know if I had any results, and I told her that the bloodwork results would be in tomorrow, and his blood pressure was elevated.

L wanted to know if I needed to do an EKG or take chest X-rays, and I told her that I would feel better if she went to the cardiologist because they are the experts, and if there is a problem then they usually recommend an echocardiogram. L took out her notebook to write down the cardiologist’s name and number. She told me that nothing could happen to Mello. He is so important to the family and losing him only midway through what she considered his life expectancy would be devastating.

I looked at her and gave her a hug. I told her that Mello was fine. He was perfect. L was confused. I told her that I had just talked to her husband, and he told me about her heart murmur and high blood pressure. I told her that she should attack her issues with the passion she had for Mello, because her family, students, and friends could not bear losing her midway through her life expectancy.

L was actually more relieved about Mello than angry with me for having the intervention. She walked out of the examination room smiling but telling me that turning 50 sucks.

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New vistas for Malbec wines

In this modern world of internationalism, certain countries, because of climate, soil, and/or geography, have become famous for a specific variety of wine. For Germany it’s the Riesling, New Zealand the Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa the Pinotage, Sicily the Nerello Mascalese, Italy the Sangiovese, Spain the Tempranillo, in the United States it’s the Zinfandel — and in Argentina, it’s the Malbec. I saved the Malbec for last because I was privileged to sample some Argentinian Malbecs that were more than good — they were excellent. Malbec was once considered a ho-hum grape variety in France and was never able to compete with the mighty duo, Bordeaux’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Burgundy’s Pinot Noir.

The “new world” opened new vistas for grape varieties. Malbec, when it was planted at the foothills of Argentina’s Andes Mountains, was found to produce not only good wines, but wines that in every way were the equal to the mighty duo of France and California, and at considerably less cost to the consumer.

I again admonish the reader not to judge quality by price, as there are many facets that must be considered when the price of a wine is determined. The prices that I show indicate the producer’s suggested retail price; however, the final price can wander all over the place on the internet, and some incredible buys can be found there. It should be pointed out that the internet prices do not include shipping, which is included in the “off the shelf” price, so the buyer pays for the shipping one way or the other.

Coen Classic 2019 Malbec ($24.99). This wine could be considered an ambassador for Malbec; it is that good while also being that affordable. The grapes used for this wine are the great-great-grandchildren of the vines brought over by the original Spanish colonists. While the grapes had found a new home and thrived, it was the Italian immigrants of the early 1900s who perfected Argentinian wine-making techniques and brought the Malbec to its full potential. The Coen 2019 Classic Malbec had no oak aging, so it is about as “au natural” as a wine can get. This wine has a deep ruby color, a medium body, and a flavor that’s almost explosive, exhibiting summer red fruits, cranberries, pomegranates, and ripe giant raisins. This can be considered a wine for all seasons because it will fit with any food from Spanish to Japanese.

Coen 2019 Reserve Malbec ($44.99). Critically selected grapes in the hands of a dedicated winemaker usually lead to a higher selling price. The question now: Is it all worth it? In the case with this wine — yes, yes, and yes. There is a smoothness about this wine that rivals the best of the best from anywhere in the world. Had I not read the label, I might have believed this wine had received many years of extra aging. The finish of this wine, too, is something special, as it is very long and a revolving display of all the flavors that a great Malbec is famous for cherries and summer berries along with a host of fruit under-flavors. These under-flavors are subtle and constantly intermingling with each other. I will add that I believe that this wine is probably one of the finest Malbecs that I have sampled in a long time.

Graffigna 2019 Malbec ($11.99). This wine is again proof positive that price does not indicate quality. The Graffigna Malbec is more than just an affordable wine; it is the wine that, if you have never experienced a Malbec before, could open the door to a very delightful variety. This wine is 100% Malbec and is alive with the flavors of plum and blackberry, with hints of tobacco and chocolate in the background and in the finish. This is another red wine that can accompany all of the red-meat dishes as well as many of the spicy Italian or Spanish dishes.

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