Meet Virgin Voyages’ chief executive pooch

Chief McAlpin has always been a social dog. Since he was a puppy, Chief has accompanied his parents, longtime Heron Bay residents Tom and Yvonne McAlpin, to play tennis, and he is a popular fixture at the courts.

“He’s part of the family. He’s part of the community. He’s something special,” enthuses Tom McAlpin.

In 2018, after the shooting at Margery Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD), Chief stepped up to show just how special he really is. A trained service dog, Chief became one of the therapy dogs that greeted students and faculty on their first day back after the shooting, and he continued to show up every day to provide emotional support.

“Chief grew up at Stoneman. He was in the yearbook for three years,” confirms McAlpin.

When the program at Margery Stoneman Douglas wrapped up, Chief, who turned 8 in October, was ready for the next opportunity. Landing his next gig—chief executive pooch of Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s luxury adults-only cruise line—was easy. After all, his owner, McAlpin, happens to be the company’s CEO.

Recognizing the positive impact that Chief has on people inspired McAlpin to bring him into the office, which he now does about once a week. “I’m always hearing, ‘What day is Chief
coming?’ ” laughs McAlpin. Chief’s popularity even merited his own photo on the staff photo wall. “People like to see him. You don’t usually see dogs in the office,” says McAlpin.

Bringing Chief to the office has also helped McAlpin interact more easily with employees. “It allows me to walk around with him and spend time with people. It’s a little awkward if the CEO walks in and starts talking to you, but having the dog there, people feel more comfortable around me,” he explains.

But the biggest impact that Chief has had is in boosting morale. “He makes people smile,” says McAlpin. “When people see him, they start smiling. That’s why they call them therapy dogs. They make people feel good.”

Virgin Voyages attempts to do the same—make people feel good by offering its own form of therapy, particularly for parents—with a premium, adults-only cruise experience. “Parents need a getaway, especially after COVID with them being schoolteachers, soccer coaches, therapists, and everything in between. Moms and dads need a vacation,” explains McAlpin. “It’s a great way to get away and have a sophisticated experience that’s hard to deliver when you have kids.”

McAlpin, a cruise industry veteran who has been with Virgin Voyages from the beginning, was instrumental in creating this vision for the brand. “Our original concept was to be adult-centric, which means there’s going to be experiences for adults, but there will be kids too and we’ll take care of them,” he says.

But feedback from focus groups primarily composed of mothers who indicated they wanted time away from their kids inspired a change in direction. “It was the toughest decision to make,” recalls McAlpin, who has children of his own. “But if we really wanted to differentiate ourselves, we needed to be adult-only.”

While it was a tough decision, it panned out well for Virgin Voyages. The company is experiencing exponential growth, and it is set to double its fleet in 2023 with the addition of two new ships, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady.

Inspired by super-yacht designs, Virgin prides itself on delivering an elite, differentiated experience. Virgin’s initial ship, Scarlet Lady, boasts more five-star ratings than any other ship on Cruise Critic and was also named “Best New Cruise Ship” in 2021 by Cruise Critic editors.

Virgin’s ships feature six different restaurants (all included in the cost of your ticket), including Razzle Dazzle, a vegan-forward restaurant that also has a “naughty” menu for those who want to order meat.

Immersive entertainment options include “Never Sleep Alone,” a late-night cabaret that promises to put you at the helm of your sexual desire, and “Duel Reality,” a Romeo and Juliet retelling with an acrobatic, circus-type twist.

You can also literally “shake for champagne” using the Virgin app, or get a tattoo on board at Squid Ink, the first U.S.-based tattoo parlor at sea. “We’re for the young at heart,” enthuses McAlpin of Virgin’s unique nature.

Right now, Florida residents can get 30% off fares when they book within 45 days of sailing.

For more information, visit VirginVoyages.com.

David Haley, artist of the month

Selected as Parkland Library’s “Artist of the Month” in September, Parkland resident David Haley, 79, had more than 20 of his more recent paintings, many of them award winners, on exhibit.

“We are all enjoying David Haley’s artwork,” says Lenore Russo, program coordinator at the Parkland Library. “Each one of his paintings is mesmerizing and very detailed. His paintings add color and life to our gallery walls.”

The artist who moved to Parkland two years ago from Indiana is a former CEO of two major healthcare management companies, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He worked in all aspects of health care, spending the last 15 years with the largest hospice group in Indiana.

With a family, three kids, enlisting in the Navy, going to graduate school, and running a hospital, Haley had a full life with not much time for extracurricular activities. It wasn’t until he divorced in 2007 that he found he had some time on his hands.

He sold his first painting for $150 in 2011 from the trunk of his car when his now-wife, Rhona, took the car to a car wash and someone spotted the painting in the trunk when she went to get her purse.

Since then, Haley’s work has gone on to win at least eight major art competitions, including First Place in the “Nature 2022” international juried painting competition conducted by Artorful for his painting “Intrepid,” depicting a froth of white water engulfing a lighthouse in a storm; Finalist Award in the 2022 Color International Juried Art Competition for “Wire Fence,” a barbed-wire fence in the foreground of a pink and orange crepuscule sky; and “Enduring,” which won third place out of hundreds of submissions in Artorful’s BlueOrGrey 2022 Art Competition. It now belongs to a collector in Naples.

Other paintings featured in the library’s exhibit included “Blue Cap,” acrylic on canvas, a realistic portrait of a man in cold, snowy weather, with ice crystals on his beard and eyebrows; and “Broken Treaty,” oil on canvas, a portrait depicting an indigenous man realizing his people will have to go to war.

Haley’s works have been exhibited in the South Bend Indiana Art Museum, in Walter Reed Medical Center, in a juried regional gallery in Plymouth, Indiana, and in a pop-up gallery in the Chicago area.

With no formal training or art education, he says about his success, “I can’t believe it. I’m amazed.”

He says, “I paint landscapes, seascapes, animals, or portraits that speak to me. I don’t have a particular style like Van Gogh or Picasso. There is no recognizable Haley style. I try to stretch myself.”

In his artist’s statement, he explains, “I seek to produce emotion in the images I create.”

Haley paints from a studio in his third bedroom in Cascata whenever he has the opportunity. “That’s where all the magic takes place,” he jokes.

With family and seven grandkids nearby, he has other responsibilities and paints when the opportunity strikes, sometimes painting until 4 a.m., although he prefers painting in solitude with the natural light.

Haley’s personal favorite is “Drink a Beer,” an oil-on-canvas painting inspired by Luke Bryan’s song of the same name, which recounts the story of personal loss, sitting at the end of a pier, drinking a beer, and reflecting on life.

In his own life, he credits his stepfather, John Haley, for being a role model.

“He was a big foundation for me,” Haley remembers, growing up with two brothers and a single mom. “He was the most pivotal person in my life. He gave me values, showed me right from wrong, and taught me about hard work.”

Apparently, those values took hold. When asked about the quality he values most in himself, his wife Rhona jumped in: “Integrity,” she said.

With many career highlights, including his work in end-of-life care and being a part of so many touching stories, Haley’s painting brings new highlights.

“I like to watch the reactions of the viewers to my art,” he says. “Each person sees the same image, but each takes away something different.”

With so many accomplishments under his belt, what goals would he still like to achieve? “I’d love to have a solo exhibit and showcase my work at a museum.”

 For more information: www.facebook.com/DavidHaley.Art. www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/742692.

Grateful for a new home – Local animal rescue stories

This holiday season, as we reflect on all that we are grateful for this year, let’s not forget our wonderful animal companions that are grateful too. These rescue animals came from situations in which they were neglected and/or abused, so finding a furever home where they are loved and appreciated is exactly what they needed and deserved. Check out some of these unfurgettable stories.

Snoopy’s Story

Rescued by Penny & Wild from a hoarding situation in Little Havana, Miami, alongside 36 other rabbits living in horrific conditions, Snoopy, a Dwarf Hotot/Havana rabbit mix, had an infection in his lips from being repeatedly attacked by another rabbit. Penny & Wild took Snoopy to the veterinarian’s office where he underwent surgery, having his lips cleaned out and then stitched back together. Snoopy was then neutered and adopted by the Grossman family, who already had another rabbit named Bluebell who needed a buddy.

“Our vet told us there was a rescue near us in Parkland. We went and took a look and that was it,” recalls Adam Grossman, who has formed a deep bond with this resilient rabbit. “Snoopy is so friendly and personable. He’ll even jump in your lap when you’re watching TV.”

About Penny & Wild: Penny & Wild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill, 100% foster-based small-animal rescue specializing in rabbits and guinea pigs. Founded in 2021 by then-18-year-old Parkland resident Dylan Warfel after another rescue dropped its small-animals program, Penny & Wild’s primary goal is to save animals that won’t get a second chance: strays, animals on euthanasia lists, hoarding cases, and medical cases. For more information, visit www.pennyandwild.org.

Pingo’s Story

Pingo was found stuck in a car tire in Coral Springs after a heavy rainfall and brought to the United for Animals Rescue (UFAR) shelter. UFAR examined this kitten and found he was full of worms and fleas, had a hematoma in one leg, and was also sick with a cold. He received veterinary attention and was placed in foster care and nursed back to good health. During that time, Pingo bonded with his foster family, who already had another cat and a dog.

A few weeks later, Pingo was returned to the shelter to be neutered and put up for adoption. His foster family visited him every day. It broke their hearts to see Pingo stuck in a crate, unable to run and play as he had at their house. Even their dog was depressed, as it missed playing with Pingo. Finally, after a week of being without this sweet kitten, his foster family decided to officially make Pingo part of the family.

About United for Animals Rescue: UFAR is a no-kill pet shelter, rescue, and adoption facility located in Margate that provides shelter for abandoned and abused companion animals. For more information, visit www.unitedforanimalsrescue.org.

Lilly’s Story

Lilly was rescued by the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) alongside 100 other farm animals from deplorable conditions in Redland. Unclaimed by her mother, the young goat was starving and still had her umbilical cord attached when rescuers arrived. Lilly was immediately bottle-fed by the organization’s vice president, before urinating on her rescuer and then falling asleep.

Christine Scepter, the South Florida SPCA’s executive director, took charge of Lilly’s care, bringing her to and from work every day to keep her on a regular bottle-feeding schedule. “She was never far from where I was,” recalls Scepter. “She thought I was her mommy.” As Lilly grew stronger, she spent time with the rest of the rescued goat herd and formed a bond with another goat named Drama.

Eventually, Scepter decided to adopt both Lilly and Drama. “Having a relationship with her has been filled with wonderful, funny, and endearing moments,” says Scepter. “She knows her name, and she gets jealous if I pay too much attention to Drama when she wants her time.”

About the South Florida SPCA: This SPCA is a charitable organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating horses and other livestock, and then safely rehoming them across the country. The organization does not adopt animals back into the food chain. For more information, visit www.spca-sofla.org.

Biggs’ Story

Biggs, a 5-year-old American Staffordshire terrier, was rescued by “Tails from the Barkside” after a plea from Broward County Animal Care. Biggs was emaciated and anemic, and he could barely walk. Tails from the Barkside immediately took him to the veterinarian’s office where he spent 10 days receiving love, care, and the medical attention he desperately needed. Slowly, Biggs began to trust humans again.

Months later, after proper training and socialization by Tails from the Barkside, Biggs was adopted by a loving family. Unfortunately, four years after being rescued, Biggs was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed last year.

About Tails from the Barkside: This pet rescue is a small, foster-based, and family-run 501(c)(3) organization based in Coral Springs. They work to save abused, neglected, and discarded dogs from the streets and local shelters in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TFTBS.

Delicious Dining – Coffee or tea, anyone?

Our local guide to some of the best specialty foods in our area

Coffee is clearly one of the world’s most popular drinks. A fresh cup is often just what we need to start the day. It wakes us up, gives us that extra jolt we may need in the afternoon, or simply provides a perfect excuse to meet a friend for a latte.

Whether you need a quick morning pick-me-up or a relaxing afternoon cup of tea, here’s where to go for delicious cappuccino, espresso, and more in Parkland or Coral Springs. 

Carmela Coffee Company

7967 N. University Drive, Parkland

Carmela is a coffee/wine bar dedicated to providing you with quality drinks curated in its own family-trade farms. It offers a wholesome, trendy menu including an array of avocado toasts, flatbreads, salads, and sandwiches. 

The Little Coffee Shoppe

10732 Wiles Road, Coral Springs

The Little Coffee Shoppe is a unique spot in west Coral Springs with an eccentric ambiance and a cozy, relaxed vibe. Its wide array of breakfast and lunch options are a perfect match for its many types of coffees, teas, juices, and blended drinks.

Lady and the Mug

3111 N. University Drive, Coral Springs

With a beautiful atmosphere and welcoming environment, Lady and the Mug offers plenty of options of both tea and coffee as well as delicious desserts and savory foods, including vegan and gluten-free options.

 

Fyr & Ice Asian Fusion and Drinks

10371 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs

Boba tea is a drink that includes tapioca or fruit-flavored pearls. Fyr & Ice in Coral Springs offers various flavors of boba milk tea and flavor fruit tea. The Asian restaurant is also known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high-quality, fresh ingredients.

Surprising coffee fact that will perk you up:

Cream makes your coffee stay warm. If you prefer to keep your coffee as hot as possible for a longer time, try adding some cream into your drink. This will make your coffee stay warm for 20% longer.

When brewing coffee at home, save your leftover beans for a do-it-yourself scrub. Coffee grounds are physical exfoliators that can lift off dead skin cells, making skin feel smooth and look brighter.

If you would like your eatery to be featured in “Delicious Dining,” please email EricaLeigh2020@gmail.com.

Relax and take in music, scenery at Jazz Brunch

Next to the banks of the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale on the first Sunday of each month, you can hear the catchy tunes of live jazz music in a beautiful setting at Esplanade Park. Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Riverwalk provides a free concert series performed by local jazz artists on three different stages from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is the large Esplanade Stage for big bands and orchestras, the Connie Hoffmann Stage for more intimate performances in a gazebo, and the Peck Courtyard Stage at the adjacent Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Around the area are park benches, picnic tables, and boat docks on the river, and you can meander all along the scenic, brick-lined walkway by the water and catch some boats gliding by. Some concertgoers set up chairs, tables, and picnic blankets to listen to the music, munching on picnic lunches they bring, or purchasing food from the vendors set up nearby. Local merchants also sell crafts and other wares in a designated area.

I got to experience this relaxing but fun event for the first time in early October with my boyfriend, Art. We didn’t know to bring our lawn chairs but snagged spots on a couple of benches where we could sit. There were almost as many dogs as humans there, it seemed, and we may bring our dogs to a future event. Everybody there was having a great time. We saw several groups camped out with enough food and beverages to feed a tailgate party for a day.

Soon after we arrived, we walked over to a restaurant just past the railroad tracks with outdoor tables overlooking the river for a delicious brunch before returning close to the music. But just walking along by the water and hearing the live music can lift anybody’s mood. There was joyful dancing in a couple of different places, and it was a low-key party atmosphere, with friendly people around us. We saw a woman walking around with shots on a tray, passing them out for free; and a little girl selling lemonade from her small chair and table on the grass facing the walkway.

This peaceful setting by the New River is nice and scenic, but also a great central location to be in. Besides the Broward Center, the area boasts the Museum of Discovery and Science, the Museum of Art, and Huizenga Plaza. There are also water shuttle and water taxi stops, along with the Community Shuttle and Tri-Rail stops. And the city’s Marine Facilities offer four docking stations along the river, all accessible to the jazzy sounds of the live music.

It was my first time at the Riverwalk, which runs from the Sailboat Bend neighborhood to near the Stranahan House. Art and I enjoyed walking back and forth along the pretty walkway near the music, although we didn’t do the full one-mile walk on this day. The Riverwalk has two main streets, Las Olas Boulevard and Himmarshee Street, running through the district. On a future trip there, we plan to take in the full Riverwalk experience.

If you like jazz music, both big bands and small, in a picturesque locale, the Sunday Jazz Brunch is a must-do. I’ll be going back for sure.

The next two Jazz Brunches are on Nov. 6 with entertainment from Davis and Dow, RD Project, and Peter Betan Trio, and Dec. 4 with music by Valerie Tyson Band, Jackson Bunn Group, and Mari Bell Quintet. For more information, go to www.parks.fortlauderdale.gov/special-events.

Scare yourself this Halloween with local author

If you’re looking to scare yourself to sleep this Halloween, curl up with a book by a local South Florida author and international Amazon bestseller, Sara Brooke. Just don’t forget to leave the lights on.…

Brooke, who dreamed of writing horror novels since childhood, has been keeping readers up at night since 2012. Her debut novel, “Still Lake,” a chilling medical thriller, made the Amazon bestseller list and captured the No. 1 spot in Barnes & Noble’s horror genre for two days, which is no easy feat for a new author. Since then, Brooke has written 10 additional horror titles and contributed to four anthologies, often scaring herself in the process.

“Writing ‘Kransen House’ bothered me. It’s a disturbing book. It’s about a very dysfunctional family, and the patriarch is psychologically not right. Writing that, it was a very dark environment and brooding situation that made me uncomfortable,” recalls Brooke. But she isn’t one to shy away from the discomfort.

“I think it’s a good thing because when I’m writing if it takes me to a really dark place in my imagination where I’m kind of looking around and not wanting to think about the story when the lights go out. Hopefully, it does the same for my readers,” enthuses Brooke, who loves being told that her books are demented.

“The best part is having people read my books and tell me how scared they were,” she says. “To know that somebody is fully immersed in something I’ve written—immersed in my twisted little world—that is the biggest reward.”

In addition to writing horror novels, Brooke also conducts paranormal investigations with the Paranormal Existence Research Society, a nonprofit organization that investigates paranormal phenomena across Florida and conducts in-home investigations for those who think their home is haunted. While these investigations would seem the perfect complement to her writing, Brooke rarely draws inspiration from them.

“For me, the investigations are about helping people,” explains Brooke, adding that what happens on a typical investigation is also much milder than what you read in her books. “If I walked into a home and the things that happen in my stories were happening, we would need to call a person of the cloth to help us.”

Brooke is currently working on her 12th novel, “In the Marsh” (a working title that may change), a gothic horror story inspired by a trip to St. Augustine. Though no firm publication date is set, Brooke is confident the book will be released in the first half of 2023.

For some thrills and chills this Halloween, Brooke recommends “Cursed Casino,” a cross between “The Shining” and “The Mist,” which readers have described as “the perfect story for a rainy, stormy, drink-filled Halloween night,” and “Kransen House,” one of her more twisted tales. “‘Kransen House’ is with you after you finish it. You feel like you need to take a shower after that one,” she laughs.

For more information on Brooke and her writing, visit www.sarabrooke.com. Her novels are available on Amazon.

‘Black Pearls’ opens at Museum of Art – Exhibit documents Pearl City, historic Black city of Boca Raton

Many stories have been written about Boca Raton’s first community and historically Black neighborhood, Pearl City, but none have included photographs and first-person accounts of the descendants of the original residents and their neighborhood, built in 1915, before the incorporation of Boca Raton 10 years later in 1925.

The Boca Raton Museum of Art, which stands two blocks from the original neighborhood, located south of Glades Road between Dixie and Federal highways, commissioned Washington, D.C.-based photographer Reginald Cunningham for a series of photographs, titled “Black Pearls,” in honor of Pearl City.

“We want to tell the story of Pearl City through the current residents whose parents and grandparents were the original Pearl City settlers,” says Irvin Lippman, executive director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art. “The Pearl City residents are our museum’s closest neighbors, and we want to celebrate our neighbors with this exhibition.”

To do so, Lippman invited Imani Cheers, associate professor of digital storytelling in the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, and Candace Cunningham, assistant professor of history at Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University, to tell the full historical story of Pearl City.

Photographer Cunningham (BePureBlack.com), a social activist, was selected in 2020 to photograph the cover of British Vogue’s special issue titled “Activism Now: The Faces of Hope,” which featured his wife, activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham, on the cover.

Inspired by photographer Gordon Parks’ motto—“I chose my camera as a weapon against all the things I dislike about America: poverty, racism, discrimination”—Cunningham set out to find out as much as he could about Pearl City, its original residents, and their descendants.

“Through the lens of my photography I’m always trying to create affinity for and uplift Black people and the Black experience in this country,” says Cunningham.

“One of the things I always aim to do is inspire people to feel something when they look at my work. To have an emotional, physiological response,” he says. “Being commissioned by the Boca Raton Museum of Art to photograph the residents and cultural emblems of Pearl City—one of the South’s most beloved and enduring Black districts—is an amazing experience.”

Cunningham captures not just images of Pearl City residents, but also the physical and ephemeral elements that make up the community, including street signs, the community garden, the Little Food Pantry, and the Martin Luther King monument located at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 200 NE 12th Street.

As Candace Cunningham writes in the accompanying catalog, “On April 26, 1915, a land auction was held to create ‘a brand-new colored city’ that would be governed exclusively by colored people. African Americans purchased thirty lots that day.

“Those disparities [racial and social] pushed African Americans out of Georgia and the Carolinas and pulled them into South Florida,” she says about that time in history. “It was by no means the land of opportunity for Blacks, but it did offer more options than they were finding elsewhere.”

In more recent times, the neighborhood faced threats from developers and other outside forces. “What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to keep a sense, or an aura, or a feel for this community,” said the Rev. Henry Willis at the time.

Pearl City was known for being a safe, close-knit community where everyone knew one another.

“The people out of this area, the children, and the grandchildren out of this area have become professionals—athletes, doctors, lawyers, and teachers,” notes Pastor Calvin Davis. “They have become politicians and police officers. They have become productive citizens because of this area. That’s why this area deserves to be recognized as an area that developed many [generations] and is still developing people in so many ways.”

Life was hard in that era, especially for Black people, who worked in the fields picking beans for 17 cents a day, faced discrimination, and suffered through the segregated South.

The exhibit includes 24 photographs, including images of pastors Ronald Brown and Calvin Davis, Anne Blutcher, John Martin, the Anderson family, Katie Mae, Gladys Bettis, Geraldine and George Spain, Irene Rufus, Annette Ireland, Marie Hester and Dorothy Overstreet, Barbara Griffin, Eva Cunningham (Griffin), and Willie Jenkins. Stories in the subjects’ own words are also included.

Pearl City leaves a legacy of good memories and strong moral values with its inhabitants. The closeness of the community, the neighborliness, and the mentality of respecting and helping one another has stayed with its residents to this day.

Descendant George Spain Jr., who comes from an original family in Pearl City, remembers, “One of the founding principles of Pearl City to me was family. We had a deep sense of spirituality. We all had that foundational spiritual growth that was imparted in us to believe and trust in God.”

“That’s the only reason why it hasn’t been dispersed,” he says in the exhibit. “God blesses you to be a blessing to other people. In our house that is something that has been instilled. That’s one of the things that Pearl City was fond of—neighbor would look after neighbor. It’s a very close-knit community.”

“Black Pearls” runs through Jan. 22, 2023. Visit Bocamuseum.org.

New York’s loss is Coral Springs’ gain: the story of Artbag

The year was 1959. Donald Moore, a 17-year-old living in rural North Carolina where he was born and raised, was newly married with a baby on the way. He needed a job to support his family but local opportunities were very limited. Knowing his situation, relatives in New York City urged him to come up north, stay with them, and look for a job in the Big Apple where there were more possibilities. “Why not give it a try?” he thought. So, he went up to New York City, went to an employment agency, and noticed an opening at Artbag.

Artbag, founded in 1932 by Hillel Tannenbaum, a former professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, was a Madison Avenue shop that repaired, restored, and crafted handbags. They were known for their attention to detail and craftsmanship, and they had a loyal and illustrious clientele.

Moore interviewed and was offered a job on the spot. For his $1.00/hour pay, his duties included sweeping floors and dusting bags. He got to work before his boss and stayed late. Tannenbaum took notice of Moore’s work ethic, and Moore became Tannenbaum’s protégé, learning pattern-making and handbag construction and restoration. By the 1970s, Moore had a thorough knowledge of the business and craft, and he considered opening his own shop. But, realizing Artbag might soon lose Moore’s valuable talents, in 1976 the owners presented him with the opportunity to buy a small stake in the business from one of the three partners, and he took advantage of it. By 1993, he was the sole owner of Artbag. But there’s “Moore” to the story.

Enter Moore’s son Chris. When Chris was a young boy, he eagerly helped out when his father brought home bags to work on, but he had never entertained joining Artbag. Chris graduated from college in 1992, intending to buy a pizza franchise, but with the recession and a limited job market, that prospect looked less attractive.

“At that same time, unbeknownst to me, my dad was buying out his last partner, and asked if I wanted to come in,” Chris said. “My mother used to call me ‘Shadow’ because wherever Dad was, I wanted to be. He just has that type of personality, engaging and affable. He was my hero. So, I agreed to join the business.” And despite a former Artbag owner who was quite vocal in his belief that the business wouldn’t last with Donald and Chris Moore at the helm, Artbag thrived.

In 1999, Chris became the owner of Artbag, and he, Donald, and Chris’ wife, Estelle, worked together for the past 23 years at their Madison Avenue shop, taking in all kinds of bags, from those purchased on the street to prestigious bags from Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, to name a few. Does a bag need a new silk lining? No problem. Does the zipper need to be replaced? Can do. A strap repaired? Of course. Want to add a compartment? Never say never. Leather repair or refurbishment? Yes.

All of Artbag’s work requires great attention to detail, and Chris Moore enjoys taking the time to explain the craft to customers, and they appreciate learning what goes into making a bag look as good as possible. “For example, the color of your bag is often custom-made. Say you have a black bag,” he said. “It’s probably not black that comes out of the bottle that you just pull off the shelf. There are times you have to painstakingly tint the black to be a great match to the existing bag.”

Artbag often takes in repair bags from other repair houses or shoemakers when the customer is dissatisfied with shoddy work. “We’ve been known to be fairly pricey, but you get what you pay for,” Chris Moore said. “Maybe you got a ’good’ price, but if the stitching is crooked, or the zipper is off line, what purpose did it serve?” Staffed by artisans committed to their craft, Artbag’s philosophy is that if a repair or refurbishment on a favorite bag is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

The number of repair houses has decreased and the quality of workmanship has declined over the years, yet Artbag has always had a high level of workmanship, as evidenced by their many clients, be they everyday people or celebrities like Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Cicely Tyson, and Whoopi Goldberg. Whether it’s maintaining an investment in an expensive, high-end bag, or a bag only rich in its sentimental value, the craftsmen at Artbag achieve results that few, if any, can match. “It’s not that we’re geniuses, it’s that we care,” Chris Moore said. “If a customer is not happy with a bag, even if it’s the most minute detail, I may not sleep that night.”

Artbag also does custom work. If it gets to the point that a bag can’t be repaired, Artbag will duplicate it. One of the first things that Artbag copied was a plastic travel bag from Eastern Airlines. A client loved the bag and couldn’t get it anymore, so Artbag recreated it.

New York was home to Artbag for 90 years, but Chris Moore and his wife decided it was time for a change. While they loved living and working in New York, when COVID-19 hit, they, like many people, reflected and reassessed. “Why are we paying the high Madison Avenue rent and subjecting ourselves to the long and often unpredictable New York City commute?” In contemplating where to move, they initially considered Fort Lauderdale because they vacationed there often, drawn to the area because “it’s a little bit of New York and a lot of Florida at the same time.” But as they thought more about it, they realized that a better demographic for their business was in the Coral Springs area, because it was close to Boca Raton, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.

So, the Moores bought a house in Coral Springs in August 2021, anticipating that they would move the business close by, which they did, next to the Coral Square Mall. Expecting to open in their new location early this summer, they had to push back the opening until August because Artbag got so much press about leaving New York that local customers were inundating them with bags. As a result, they had to extend their Madison Avenue lease. Although New Yorkers may mourn the fact that they can no longer visit their trusted Madison Avenue shop, they can join the many customers nationwide who mail bags in for Artbag to repair.

Artbag in Coral Springs remains an intergenerational family business. Chris Moore oversees the business; Estelle works the front of the shop, handles administration, and takes bags apart. Donald, who is now 80, trains new hires in the craft. And while Artbag’s location has changed, the deep and long-standing family commitment to quality and craftsmanship has not.

“Joining this business was one of the best moves I’ve ever made in my life,” Chris Moore said. “The only pressure I’ve ever felt working in the family business is the need to not let my dad down. Artbag is his legacy.”

Artbag is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s located at 927 N. University Drive, Coral Springs. For more information: (212) 744-2720; www.artbag.com; Instagram @artbag1130.

Social media – When is it time for kids to take a break?

Social media is meant to make us feel connected to others by allowing us to share our world with friends and family. If used sparingly, it can help form meaningful relationships and complement our social life in a positive manner. However, platforms like Snapchat and Instagram are designed to be addictive, and too much use can be associated with anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying. When does social media use become too much, and how do you know when it’s too much for your children?

The Pew Research Center reports that 69% of adults and 81% of teenagers in the U.S. use social media on a regular basis. This isn’t surprising, given that social media activates the brain’s reward center by releasing dopamine, the “feel-good chemical” linked to pleasurable activities like food, sex, and social interaction. Social media can provide many benefits, such as helping people in remote areas find bigger communities of support or acting as a substance-free escape from daily stressors.

Today’s children and teenagers are growing up with social media; they have never seen a world without posts, likes, comments, shares, or 24/7 access to news. Even my 5-year-old daughter talks about “clicking like and subscribing to my content” when she’s playing. In some ways, online interaction can come easier to youngsters who struggle with real-world social dynamics. But of course, everything is good in moderation, and excessive involvement with the cyber world can be detrimental to people of all ages.

There is a slippery slope with social media. Since the pandemic, we have seen a surge in social anxiety, especially when kids started to get back to in-person school, activities, and playdates. Having gotten used to the online world during quarantine, some kids became uncomfortable and anxious when meeting people face to face. The anonymity that social media provides can be great for those who are anxious, but it could also make in-person events more difficult for them.

Research from the Journal of Adolescence demonstrated that adolescents who overused social media—especially at night—appeared more emotionally invested in it, as well as experiencing poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem, and higher levels of anxiety and depression compared with teens whose social media was limited.

Social media can be detrimental when it becomes a way of life, or when kids (and adults) become obsessive about it. If you or your children find that social media is a constant focus of attention, or if you are judging your self-worth from your “likes,” “dislikes,” or followers, it is likely time to reconsider the levels of social media usage in your home.

How do you know you need a break? Teens or younger kids aren’t always able to self-regulate or know when they need to take a break from social media. Parents need to monitor accounts and screen time to ensure that children aren’t spending more than 2-3 hours a day on screens. Parents should get to know some of the accounts their kids follow to check that they are a positive influence and are not promoting poor body image or negative self-worth.

As a board-certified child psychiatrist, I always recommend asking children questions on a regular basis to see if they appear preoccupied with getting likes or follows on their posts or videos. I would also suggest following their YouTube channel to look for anyone “trolling,” or posting mean comments. Additionally, observe your kids to see if they appear sad or angry after checking social media. This can be a sign that it is problematic. If your child can’t put down the phone or iPad without getting anxious or upset, then a break is surely needed.

Here are some other recommendations:

  • Schedule tech-free times for the family—like during meals, homework, and bedtime.
  • Look up some app blockers and parental control devices.
  • Discuss and set designated time limits on access to social media.
  • Turn the Wi-Fi off overnight to ensure that teens are not using social media when they aren’t supposed to.

There are always ways to improve the family’s interactions with the online world. The more openly parents communicate with children, the better they will understand how social media affects the way young people think about others and feel about themselves.

http://PMBehavioralHealth.com

Dr. Nicole Mavrides is the Medical Director of Psychiatry for PM Pediatrics. Dr. Mavrides is quadruple board certified in pediatrics, adult/child psychiatry, and consultation liaison psychiatry. Previously, Dr. Mavrides was the training director for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the medical director of the Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Program at the University of Miami. She is one of the premier specialists for children with medical and psychiatric issues in South Florida

Capturing invasive pythons in South Florida

Parkland native Ian Bartoszek does not hesitate to hail Dion the snake as an MVP—“Most Valuable Python.”

After all, thanks to Dion, a “scout” snake, Bartoszek and his fellow biologists at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida removed five Burmese pythons during the last breeding season. “[Dion] had five girlfriends,” Bartoszek jokes.

However, Burmese pythons and their effect on South Florida’s wildlife are no laughing matter. The Burmese python is a large, nonvenomous constrictor that is an invasive species in Florida. You will find them primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem. The snake represents a threat to native wildlife, but “they’re not interested in us,” Bartoszek says.

One of the snakes captured during this past breeding season was the heaviest Burmese python ever captured in Florida, according to Bartoszek. Specifically, it weighed 215 pounds, measured nearly 18 feet long, and had 122 developing eggs. A necropsy found that an adult white-tailed deer was its last meal.

“Imagine what else she ate over her life[time],” Bartoszek says.

The necropsy, which National Geographic documented, took place in March. Before the December 2021 capture, the largest female removed through the conservancy’s program measured 16 feet and weighed 185 pounds. At the time, it was the heaviest python captured in Florida.

Bartoszek, a 1995 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School graduate, says that at first, he and his colleagues were unimpressed. “We all underestimated the weight,” says Bartoszek, environmental science project manager for the conservancy’s program. “When we brought her back to the lab and put [her] on the scale, there was a collective wow factor. When we looked, the scale read 215 pounds. We’ve lost count of how many large pythons we’ve captured over the years. To be honest with you, it’s just another big snake for us. There’s always a bigger snake out there.”

Ten years ago, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida started a radio telemetry project to track Burmese pythons in order to learn about their behavior. Since then, Bartoszek and his team removed more than 1,000 pythons collectively weighing more than 26,000 pounds from an area of less than 100 square miles outside of Naples.

Bartoszek and his team use radio transmitters transplanted in male “scout” snakes, such as Dion, to study python movements, breeding behaviors, and habitat use.

Since the conservancy’s python program began in 2013, necropsies have found dozens of white-tailed deer inside Burmese pythons. Also, data researchers at the University of Florida have documented 24 species of mammals, 47 species of birds, and two reptile species in pythons’ stomachs.

The breeding season for Burmese pythons runs from November through March. Last season, Bartoszek and his team removed 4,300 pounds of python from the study area outside of Naples. He says the previous season yielded about the same number.

Removing female pythons plays a large role in disrupting the breeding cycle, Bartoszek says. But that can be easier said than done. Indeed, Burmese pythons are “amazingly cryptic” and hard to locate, he adds. Furthermore, they expand their range each year. Parkland is on the edge of that range, the wildlife scientist says.

The public can report invasive animal sightings by calling 1-888-IVEGOT1. In addition, people can report sightings of invasive species on the IveGot1 app, available at the App store. The app is an integrated invasive species reporting and outreach campaign for Florida that includes the app, a website with direct access to invasive species reporting, and a hotline for instant reports of live animals.

Searching the Woods for Critters

While Bartoszek currently captures huge snakes, he recalled flipping over rocks as a child in the woods in search of critters.

“I always had the bug for turning over stones, seeing where critters were hiding,” he says.

In addition, Bartoszek’s father used to take him fishing. He says those experiences made him appreciate Florida’s wildlife more. As a college student at the University of Arizona, the Parkland native studied wildlife and fisheries science. He recalls coming home from school for the holidays during his college years and appreciating the Everglades and South Florida’s water world even more.

“You have to get away from it to appreciate it sometimes,” Bartoszek says.

After earning his degree, he landed an internship at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. His responsibilities included working on projects for the Everglades restoration. Also, he recorded wildlife and became more aware of the area’s invasive animal issue. The internship led to Bartoszek’s employment with the conservancy.

Bartoszek says if you told him 11 years ago that he would track one of the largest snakes on the planet, he would not have believed you. He has encountered “some pretty incredible things.”

He says, “You really can’t make this stuff up.”

Cruising down the Intracoastal

Living near the water in South Florida has a lot of advantages. I got to experience one of the best ones this summer.

I took a two-hour, narrated yacht cruise aboard the Lady Atlantic on the Intracoastal Waterway, from Delray Beach to Boca Raton and back. The waters were calm and peaceful, the route was beautiful as we passed impressive mansions lining the shores, and the boat was mostly shaded and comfortable for our journey.

I had made reservations in advance (recommended) and boarded the yacht on a Saturday for the 5:30 p.m. sightseeing tour as part of a group of four couples. Lady Atlantic was docked at Veterans Park on East Atlantic Avenue in Delray. We planned to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant after we got back to town, although they sell food and drinks on board the cruise. We got in line early to secure a good spot on the middle deck (which is covered), and we grabbed a couple of small tables that were located at the stern of the boat overlooking the water, pulling up eight chairs at our prime spot. We were ready to cruise!

A server came around with paper menus listing the drinks and appetizers available, and we ordered something for everybody in our group. We also were located close to the inside bar, for those who wanted to go in and get a drink quickly.

At 5:30 our vessel started to move, turning slowly around to go south on the water and waiting for the drawbridge at Atlantic Avenue to go up at 5:45. As a two-year resident of Florida, it was my first time seeing the tall bridge spans standing up from the vantage point of a boat on the water, and I got a little thrill from finally getting to do that.

We slowly cruised south out of downtown Delray and toward Boca Raton, looking from side to side depending on what our narrator was telling us over the intercom about the sights on either bank of the water. There were many interesting, huge properties along the way, some with pools and elaborate yards and gardens, and we learned about some of the pro athletes who had mansions on the Intracoastal as we passed by them. It was easy to stand up and walk around to get good photos of the sights, as the waves were never rocky on our cruise.

As we made our way to Boca, we learned a little about the area’s history from our excellent narrator. My friends and I were also surprised to see how many houses along the way seemed to stand empty; we soon learned that these impressive homes were just one of a few properties that someone might own. Because we were doing this cruise in the summer, many homeowners were gone and probably staying up north. It also meant that everything in the area was less crowded — a nice bonus!

Like clockwork, when we got to our destination in Boca at 6:30 p.m., the vessel made a U-turn and we headed back the other way to complete the journey in two hours. We got to see the churning waters and the picturesque properties from the other direction now.

After we returned back to Veterans Park, everybody lined up to slowly disembark, with help from the staff. My friends said they wanted to do another cruise sometime, maybe to go north toward Manalapan Island, another option offered. We are hoping to see manatees in the water there in the wintertime.

Delray Yacht Cruises also offers 1:30 p.m. boat tours, holiday lights cruises during December, and private charter cruises. For more information, visit www.delraybeachcruises.com.

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.