Tag: July 2020

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SoFlo BUZZ: Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department recognized again

The Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department is among 348 departments nationwide rated Public Protection Classification (PPC) ISO Class 1.

The PPC program is known to help communities prepare to fight fires effectively through the community’s investment in fire mitigation.

The ISO expert staff analyzes the data collected regarding municipal fire protection efforts in communities and assigns a Public Protection Classification on a scale of 1-10. Superior property fire protection
is classified as Class 1. The classification generally determines the price of fire insurance in a community – the better the rating the lower the price, assuming all other factors are equal.

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SoFlo BUZZ: Area seventh-grader wins second place in state essay contest

Isabella Renert, a seventh-grade student at Coral Springs Middle School, has won second place in the Florida League of Cities “If I Were Mayor” essay contest.

Her essay was among 291 submitted state wide. The first place winner was Rithika Shankar from River City Science Academy Mandarin in Jacksonville.

“I am extremely proud of Isabella,” said Bettania Opthof, Isabella’s 7th Grade Teacher. “This young lady is every teacher’s dream student.

“To say that she is highly gifted is undeniable, but what makes her truly special is her kind heart and love of family, friends, and community. With future leaders like Isabella, I feel confident that our great country will be in good hands.”

Isabella’s essay began, “If I were mayor for a day, I would help the homeless, make sure the city is clean, and make sure the schools are safe.”

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Rewind: Keeping seniors connected with loved ones during times of isolation

The Alzheimer’s Association has partnered with the State of Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs to keep seniors connected with loved ones during social isolation. Through Project: VITAL (Virtual Inclusion Technology for All), senior-friendly tablets from engagement technology provider iN2L will be distributed to nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALFs) throughout the state.

“There are more than 580,000 people in Florida living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Approximately two-thirds of the people living in ALFs have some form of dementia,” said Alzheimer’s Association Florida Regional Leader, Angela McAuley. “Project: VITAL has provided the Association the opportunity to extend our reach to not just those living with dementia, but to all seniors in Florida who are vulnerable to the negative effects of social isolation.”

During the pilot phase, the Alzheimer’s Association will work with 150 care communities, 40 of them in South Florida, supplying two tablets per community, as well as virtual training on how to use the equipment and platform. The tablets are preloaded with software programming from iN2L, enabling residents to connect with their loved ones via video chat with a simple tap on the home screen.

The tablet further fosters connection with family by creating individual profiles for every resident, with the added ability for family to add personal photos and videos to those profiles for residents to view whenever they like.

Also included on the tablet is an easily-personalized library of applications that supports cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual wellness for the ultimate person-centered engagement experience.

“We are excited to be working alongside the Alzheimer’s Association to provide the technology and tools for Project: VITAL.” said Lisa Taylor, iN2L CEO. “We know how important meaningful connection is to older adults’ health and well-being, and during COVID-19, it is absolutely critical.

“Our tablets are a connection care package for senior living residents, equipped with one-touch video chat tools for virtual family visits, as well
as over 1,000 content applications to connect residents to their interests and passions – all designed to keep them healthy, happy, and entertained during these uncertain times and beyond. We are thrilled that more seniors in the state of Florida will benefit from this solution,” she added.

“We’re hoping the use of these customized tablets will facilitate critical connections with the families, especially during these times – but, we want to use them for sustainable models for the future,” said Richard Prudom, Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. “We want to ensure the safety of our vulnerable seniors while keeping their loved ones connected.”

The first 50 tablets were shipped on Friday, April 24 with the remaining 100 tablets on May 1.

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Pet Talk: Socially distanced, we told stories on my driveway

One night my wife and I were socially distancing with neighbors on my driveway. People that I have never met, neighbors that have been living on the street for years were coming out of their home quarantines and bringing chairs and coolers to my driveway. The six chairs grew to 20 and we all stayed six feet apart. I learned that more than half of us were in the healthcare profession. The other interesting thing I learned was that everyone owned a dog and most of us recognized each other by their dogs. I went from the golden retriever guy to the veterinarian who lives in the two-story house on the corner. That was fun.

As the evening went on it was like a classic joke: A veterinarian, a physician and a dentist walk into a room. Literally, a dentist and a physician and I spent more than an hour trying to outdo each other with the crazy things we have seen, removed or took off a patient. At least my patients have an excuse why they do some weird stuff but what the physicians or dentist had to do for their patients was mind- blowing.

Then the conversation went to clients and patients that
did not follow the golden rules. The physician was a dermatologist and discussed skin cancer from not using suntan lotion. The dentist talked about severe dental disease from not brushing and flossing and I talked about the emergencies that I saw from not spaying and neutering.

I met a guy years ago who wanted to adopt a dalmatian. At that time, I was the veterinarian in charge of the Dalmatian Rescue League of South Florida. The only requirement to adopt was a home inspection and review of their current pet’s health care. The potential adopter owned two Pekinese dogs, and neither were spayed.

The owner did not have an issue that the female dalmatian that he wanted to adopt was spayed but had no intentions
of spaying his Pekinese. He wasn’t going to breed them but has never spayed or neutered a pet before and didn’t believe in it. I was a younger veterinarian and respected the owner’s opinion but was steadfast that he was not going to adopt this dalmatian. It caused a big problem for the rescue group and

for me. What I didn’t know was that he was a politician. He wasn’t used to not getting his way.

About a week after I told the owner and his kids that they were not going to adopt one of the dalmatians I got a call
on my after hours emergency line. It was from the politician. He was at an emergency hospital in Fort Lauderdale and his dog was being prepped for emergency pyometra surgery. Pyometra is when the uterus fills like a balloon with pus. It is the nightmare scenario that can happen when you don’t spay your female dogs.

He wanted to know if I could do the surgery, not because of my reputation, or that he respected me professionally, but he wanted to know if I could do it cheaper than the estimate he received at the emergency center. I hung up.

Back to quarantine. At the end of the night a female neighbor approached me. She told me my story gave her the courage finally to spay her Labrador. Her last dog died due to sepsis from a ruptured pyometra.

By Dr. Glenn Kalick

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Pandemic Parenting – Making it up as we go along

Think back to the beginning of the year. No one would have predicted that our children would be graduating in our living rooms; that summer camp, family get-togethers and beach days would be so oddly different.

For many, this change to a virtual existence has been difficult. Children thrive from social engagements, which makes this a time of great struggle and stress. Children’s brains develop through play and learning social skills. They learn boundaries and empathy through playing side by side with others, a scenario impossible to re-create through a video chat! So how do we fill the void for our children while maintaining social distancing?

Growing up, I had our summer ritual down pat. Days spent with family and friends, summer camp, vacation on Sanibel, school clothes shopping. It had a rhythm and regularity. This is the time to revisit your summer rituals and revamp them for COVID-19. Rituals are important for family cohesion. Resurrecting a custom from your childhood might be the answer. Unearth photo albums from your childhood and your children’s. Share stories and bring the past alive. Create a new rhythm for summer with family dinners, game time, and movie nights to help children connect with the family.

When we ask children to make a choice, they feel more empowered and in control. That’s a good thing. If we give kids choices, they have a set list of options to choose from. What they don’t have is an endless list of options you don’t want them choosing. “Are we going to the beach at 9 a.m. to beat the crowds, or are we playing in the sprinklers today?” Did you notice two choices with limits? If your child counter offers with a Disney trip, ice cream for breakfast or some other extravagance, it’s fine to pass. Just because your child wants something, it’s OK not to give it to them. Even when life is weird or stressful!

Just remember – you’re a great parent doing the best you can during a difficult time. You got this!

 

By Maria Berger

Maria Berger is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered art and play therapist. Her practice, Berger Counseling Services, is located in Parkland. Maria has been serving children, teens and families for over twenty years.

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A family affair

 

Continuing our profiles of folks connected to the Parklander during the past 30 years, we talked to Bobbi Mechler, from the Mechler Group.  

 

Thirty years ago, when the Parklander published its first issue, the city was already known as a place where young families raised their children in a park-like environment.  That’s one of the reasons that attracted Bobbi and her husband to the area after relocating from Long Island.

Parkland was an idea.  Surprisingly though, Parkland at the time, had no public parks.  The first park in Parkland, Quigley Park, was dedicated in 1989.  Over the years, as the city grew, more and more parks were added. Now it is hard to imagine Parkland without all of its playgrounds, sports facilities, and trails.

Bobbi, working in the real estate industry, has always enjoyed meeting the residents and potential new residents moving to the area.  She shared some of her interesting experiences in the Parklander™ magazine back in 1991.  One story about the perfect seller, a homeowner baking cookies for potential buyers, is still good advice today.

Her love for her work had a strong impact on two of her children.  Her son, Brent, and daughter, Courtney, joined their mom soon after college.  They have been working together for 21 years.

Even though real estate can be a very competitive industry, Mechler’s family enjoyed working together, and there was much laughter. Brent and Courtney were quick studies, and inherited the same charm from their mom.  Soon, clients were feeding back how much they loved working with them.

Having her kids working with her was a boon for Bobbi.  She was able to give them hands on training and advice from her years in the business.  Courtney, who always wanted to work with her mom, helped the team adopt new technology, and market effectively over the years.

These days, real estate marketing is recovering in the “new normal”.  After a period of time with no face to face meetings, recently rules with masks have been adopted.  Property owners can now set the rules for buyers.  Some advice from Bobbi, if you are showing your house, is to keep your lights on, so it minimizes potential buyers from touching the switches.

Looking forward, Bobbi would like to see the area continue to retain the park-like atmosphere, so she can continue to enjoy her tennis, bike rides and walks.  Considering how Parkland went from no parks in the 80s, to now, with the right planning, we can continue to improve our neighborhood.  Someday, perhaps, one of her grandchildren will be helping new residents finding their home in Parkland.

 

by Li Pan

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Broward County Library wins top state award

The Broward County Library has been named 2020 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association.

“Broward County Library is dedicated to providing  our customers with the very best library services and resources available,” says Broward County Library Director Kelvin Watson. “We’re honored that our efforts and initiatives have been recognized by our peers and we’ll continue striving to reach and engage our community in innovative and meaningful ways.”

The association said the award “recognizes a Florida library that has demonstrated outstanding service to its community” by providing creative or innovative programming that can be emulated by other libraries and by expanding library services to the community it serves.

Broward’s “Air, Land and Sea,” campaign increased services to new residents of Broward, explored current social issues and provided our community with free access to current technology including virtual and augmented reality gear, Watson said.

The campaign expanded library service points to unusual and unexpected places in the community, including buses, parks, businesses and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Other awards the library received from the association was its “Excellence in Marketing and Public Relations Award” for the branding/public awareness campaign of its airport branch, and the “Library Innovation Award” for “Project Welcome,” an initiative that supports English-language learners and newcomers to Broward County.

Makiba Foster, regional manager of Broward’s African American Research Library and Cultural Center, received the association’s “Outstanding Scholarly Contributions” award for her article “Navigating Library Collections, Black Culture, and Current Events,” published In Library Trends Journal.

Earlier this month, Foster and Watson were selected by Legacy South Florida magazine as among of South Florida’s “50 Most Influential and Powerful Black Professionals of 2020.”

Nationally, Broward County Library Community Engagement Manager Roslyn Dean was named one of  Library Journal’s 2020s “Movers and Shakers” in the digital developers category.

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So much more than a parade

“Listen,” my mother said, “here it comes.” I heard the sound of drums and then horns in the distance, my first glimpse of a marching band. This was my first Fourth of July parade.

That morning was warm and sunny. At home, my mom told my dad to “hurry up,” we had to get there or we wouldn’t be able to see. My dad hoisted me up in his arms and then up over his head so I straddled his shoulders.

Off we went. We didn’t have a car, so it seemed like a long walk before I was on the ground and sitting on the curbstone across from the Everett Mill building in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Before long, a man came by selling balloons. My mom bought me an ice cream bar from a car and a crowd began to gather on the other side of the street ad behind us, three deep. Many of them held small flags.

As a young child, the Fourth of July was just a day for a parade with marching bands, girls twirling sticks, local Boy Scout troops trying to walk in step, policemen marching, some soldiers or sailors, and fire trucks at the end of the parade. There was music and flag waving and cookouts and summer fun.

At some point, however, I began hearing about the Declaration of Independence and that Thomas Jefferson wrote it. School textbooks were of little interest to me; they seemed so dull, even boring. The books had dates and dry facts: John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 and became the second president of the United States in 1797. No history teacher stirred my interest, either.

I was out of high school before I really felt, understood, and appreciated that these men — many who were men of wealth and means — had so much to lose and literally risked hanging as traitors guilty of treason. Still, they boldly and courageously signed their names to the document that accused King George III of multiple offenses and declared their independence.

Who knew what would happen next? A group of colonies had declared war on a powerful nation with a mighty military. The colonies had no army when they took on King George.

In August 1776, British troops, some 34,000 of them, were prepared to invade New York. About a year earlier Patrick Henry told angry colonists meeting at St. John’s Church in Richmond Virginia: “Give me liberty or give me death.” The sentiment grew among the colonists.

The Declaration of Independence was born during the summer of 1776. It did not flow unimpeded from Thomas Jefferson’s pen. He was the original wordsmith, but over 17 days, a committee and representatives at the Continental Congress made more than 80 changes to Jefferson’s draft. They voted for independence on July 2 and released the final signed declaration on July 4.

John Hancock, the first to sign it, stressed the need for unity when he said, “We must hang together,” to which Benjamin Franklin added, “Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

They pledged to each other “our fortunes and our sacred honor.”

They knew independence would not come easily. John Adams said “the object is great which we have in view, and we must expect a great expense of blood to obtain it. But we must remember that a free constitution of civil government cannot be purchased at too dear a rate.”

The king called them traitors. They called themselves patriots. The colonists did indeed shed their blood and win their independence, setting the stage for the creation of a unique government that persists today, in spite of social upheaval, unrest and pandemic.

And, on a much smaller scale, they saved me that space on the curb in Lawrence, Massachusetts so many years later, and the right for my mother to say, “Listen, here it comes.”

 

by Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson is a retired news reporter and congressional aide who is now a freelance writer.

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FROM THE EXPERT: ASK DR. RENAE

Dear Dr. Renae,

COVID-19 has had an impact on my personal training schedule and my college plans. My passion has always been the team sport I have dedicated large portions of my life to and I was hoping to continue to play on a team in college. As an athlete, the change in my training schedule and future planning has been overwhelming and confusing. If I do not get a sports scholarship to college, I need to reconsider my options. All athletes need a backup plan and I have been a good student with a competitive GPA so I can still get into a good college. I just don’t know how to focus my life on a different college experience since team sports will likely change.

Worried Junior, Rising Senior

 

Dear Worried Junior, Rising Senior,

I suggest that you sit down and create a Pros and Cons
list or a chart with your family or people who you are close with. By doing so, you will be able to figure out viable options for your future whether that includes getting a sports scholarship or not. Since times are very uncertain right now, it is likely that colleges and universities will be more lenient next year when it comes to admissions and scholarships. As long as you keep up a good GPA, you will be able to ensure a good place at a university whether or not your sport is in the picture. I wish you the best of luck!

A Caring Friend

 

Dear Worried Junior, Rising Senior,

This uncertain time with the coronavirus has caught a lot of the world off guard and has created such a dramatic shift in all of our lives. It’s ok to be uncertain about what the future holds, as I’m sure many are in the same position as you are right now. Even with all of the uncertainty, I would not give up your dreams. Of course, it is important to always have a back-up plan for college, but if you wish to play team sports in college and go on a sports scholarship, I would say to keep striving for that goal. You never know, in one year a lot can change and the circumstances may be entirely different. As someone who has been through the college admissions process, my advice is to continue to work hard and you will end up exactly where you are supposed to be!

An Understanding Friend

 

Dear Worried Junior, Rising Senior,

The current response to the pandemic has resulted in almost every person needing to reconsider how aspects of their future will unfold. As an athlete, you have been accustomed to relying on your ability to make highly successful split-second decisions on changing your course of action on the field. This inherent and learned resilience will serve you in realigning your future plans. Think about the decision-making process you automatically go through on the field and slow it down, step by step, to evaluate options for your future. The alternative opportunities you have are endless. You’ve got this!

Dr. Renae

 

ASK DR. RENAE is currently recruiting high school students interested in volunteering to be a Peer Counseling Writer for the Parklander’s ASK DR. RENAE teen to teen advice column. Please email Dr. Renae at askdrrenae@att.net to request an application for this exciting opportunity!

PARENTS OF TEENS: Would you like to anonymously and confidentially ask the panel of teen Peer Counseling Writers to comment on a parenting issue you are struggling with? If you are ready for a variety of honest opinions from real teens, please address your questions to askdrrenae@att.net.

Dr. Renae Lapin, a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years experience currently maintains a private practice in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information about Dr. Renae and her practice, visit her website: www.askdrrenae.com

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Well-balanced diet promotes healthy immune system

There is a strong correlation between a healthy immune system and a nutritionally well-balanced diet. Every day we are exposed to living microorganisms that may cause an infection
in our body. These living microorganisms are called pathogens
or antigens. These can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other microbes. Our immune system protects us against these harmful pathogens with systemic pathways and organs throughout our body that create barriers to fight and prevent the spread of the harmful microbe.

There are two parts to our immune system. The innate part uses barriers to stop the threat of the pathogen. This system uses our skin to keep the majority of the microbes from entering our body; mucus is used to trap microbes; the stomach destroys the pathogens with acid; and sweat and
tears reinforce the skin barrier by creating additional antibacterial coverage on the skin surface. The acquired part utilizes the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow to produce antibodies that attack and destroy antigens.

When antigens enter the body, these substances trigger
an immune response where antibodies and white blood cells
are created to fight the harmful microbe. Once an antigen has entered the body and antibodies have been created to fight it, the innate system has the ability to ‘recognize’ the antigen if it enters the body again, thus being able to fight it even better when it is reintroduced. The acquired part also utilizes inflammation as an effective immune response. Inflammation causes swelling, fluid accumulation, and pain. White blood cells are produced and rush to the area of the harmful microbe surrounding it in the swollen area and flushing it out with the excess fluid. All of these parts work in tandem to fight off unwanted, harmful microbes.

What can depress our immune systems includes any or all of the following: the process of aging where parts of the system may not work as effectively or efficiently as they should; disregarding environmental toxins can impair the system; obesity or excess weight strains the immune system; malnutrition by not providing the necessary nutrients that support the system’s response, and chronic diseases, chronic stress, and lack of sleep can all put a strain on the system.

Anyone who is poorly nourished has an increased risk for infection. Additionally, the severely or chronically ill suffer from malnutrition due to a depletion of macro and micronutrients due to the disease state. During this COVID-19 pandemic, those that are at higher risk include the elderly and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, cardiac disease, and obesity.

A healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, meats/beans, dairy, and fats. The fresher, the better. A diet that is diverse provides all of the macro (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and micro (vitamins and minerals) nutrients that are needed to support a healthy immune system. The nutrients in our diet support immune cell growth and antibody production, both which are used to fight an infection.

If you feel you are nutritionally compromised, it may be beneficial for you to take a multivitamin supplement that provides the recommended dietary allowance for your age. This will be on the label. The COVID-19 virus key micronutrients for immune support include Zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Zinc has been shown to reduce the rate of respiratory infections and reduce flu symptoms. It plays a critical role in skin healing and in most of our enzymes. Zinc is found naturally in most of our protein sources. Vitamin C is another key agent that is known for its role as an antioxidant, in cell repair by reducing tissue damage, and in immunological response. Fruits are a plentiful source. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the chance of developing acute respiratory tract infections. Make sure the MVI you choose contains these three nutrients.

To maintain a healthy immune system, eat a well-balanced diet, do not smoke, no alcohol or consume in moderation, exercise regularly, get eight hours of sleep each night, and manage your stress level.

DIETITIAN’S VIEW

By Nancy M. Ouhib, MBA, RDN, LDN

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CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION

When we started the year, no one knew what 2020 would bring to our nation, our state, or our city. One thing is for certain – this has been an unprecedented year, and the challenges we face are not over yet.

This year, we struggled with the global impacts COVID-19 has had on our health and economy, we have experienced the disappointment of missed milestone celebrations and the grief of losing so many lives as a result of the Coronavirus. We then saw a nation in turmoil, with anger and frustration turning to protest against police brutality as a result of the death of George Floyd, while being placed under arrest in Minnesota.

While this year has been challenging, we also saw our community come together to assist others. Through weekly food distribution events, we provided groceries to nearly 6,000 families. We launched a Give Where You Live Campaign in partnership with the Coral Springs Community Chest to assist struggling families. And, our Economic Development Office launched a grant program, connecting businesses to grants and loans totaling more than $1 million.

When faced with adversity, as citizens we need to remember the very foundation our nation was built upon, freedom. Freedom of speech and the freedom to exercise your right to vote! We urge our residents, especially our young adults, to register to vote and cast their ballots in the upcoming elections in August and November. Also, we remind residents that much of the federal funding we receive for hospitals and schools are a result of the numbers provided by the census. So remember, Coral Springs Counts, please complete your 2020 Census.

All of us who work for the City of Coral Springs are public servants who strive to find solutions to our problems. One of those is the reimagining of events during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Memorial Day, we proudly hosted a virtual ceremony to honor the men and women who lost their lives in service to our nation. As we approach July 4th, one of our greatest traditions is the fireworks display at Mullins Park. Due to social distancing, that event is not possible, so we came up with a new way to honor our nation’s independence, while promoting community spirit.

We invite our residents and businesses to join our Wave & Drive By Parade on July 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festively decorated city vehicles representing each department will visit all of our Coral Springs communities. We will be providing a timeline of arrival so residents can enjoy the parade from their driveways and front lawns. Remember to wave your flags as we pass by. Visit our website for more details and route information, www.coralsprings.org/events.

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

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

Dear Friends!

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a tremendous impact on our daily lives. The public health and economic toll of the virus has been devastating to many residents of South Florida – some even more than others. As we move toward a sense of normalcy, we must remember to look out for one another.

This unprecedented moment in history has renewed our focus on helping one another and solidified our sense of community. Throughout this crisis, I have seen many members of our community answer the call to help others. These heroes, including frontline workers, non-profits, local businesses, and everyday citizens, have displayed tremendous amounts of selflessness and devotion to our community during difficult times. While we must continue to be cautious of renewed outbreaks and be prepared for future challenges, we must continue to stand united as a community to protect the safety and livelihood of our neighbors and friends.

During challenging times, we have shown the potential to unite for a greater cause. As we celebrate the 244th anniversary of our country, let us reflect on the promise of a united nation that strives for freedom and equality.

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

Warm Regards

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