Tag: Parkland

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A documentary from Parkland’s own: ‘It’s Not a Burden’

Directed by Michelle Boyaner and produced by Parkland resident Wendy Zipes Hunter, “It’s Not a Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents” is a deeply intimate documentary that follows its director as she serves as the primary caretaker for her elderly parents, Elaine and Morris. Each parent struggles with their own battle incited by old age, with Elaine suffering from dementia and Morris being a hoarder.

Morris Boyaner in IT’S NOT A BURDEN
©2021 Greenie Films

Supplementing her own personal story and composing the majority of the film is a composition of around 20 vignettes, each telling their own story of adults providing care for their elderly parents. Each vignette features a retrospective of each parent’s life, an account of their current struggles, and occasionally an update on the family’s story. 

Boyaner’s impetus for dedicating such a considerable portion of her documentary toward other people’s struggles instead of her own is to convey the film’s central message. 

Coming directly from Boyaner, the message of this film is, “You are not alone. If you are somewhere in the midst of this journey, helping your parent/parents, you are not alone. Look at the people in this film, all walks of life, navigating their own version of the same thing. You are not alone.”

Frances Moore & Cynthia Moore in IT’S NOT A BURDEN
©2021 Greenie Films

In each story, including her own, it is an uphill battle against old age. Boyaner is frank in showcasing that elderly care is often embarrassing and melancholy, for both parties.

However, as Boyaner presents, no one family is solitary dealing with the strife of old age. Although each family struggles, they prove strong in the face of life’s great equalizer, and they are able to see the final time spent with their loved ones as a blessing rather than a burden.

Below is a portion of my interview with Boyaner.

Q. What kind of philosophy or belief system do you believe people should take into the final stages of their lives?

A. I relied very heavily on the book “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande, as it explores the last stages of life through personal stories and focuses on quality of life. I highly recommend this book (you should see my copy, it’s marked up like a textbook).

Q. After filming, did you do any follow-ups with the families you interviewed?

A. We have kept in touch with many of the families we met with for “It’s Not a Burden,” and although “follow-ups” are not contained in the film, we have been in touch. The bulk of the filming with the other families was from 2016 to 2019, so unfortunately some of the parents have now passed away, and we’ve been in touch with families as they have grieved their losses. We also continue to celebrate milestones with those who are still with us.

Q. During filming, was it ever difficult for the people you interviewed to talk about their circumstances?

A. Every family who opened their homes and their hearts to us were taking a chance. They were honest and vulnerable and shared stories about their own experiences that they hoped would help other people. Those we spoke to were truly heroes and we are so grateful to them for trusting us with their truths and knowing that what we were creating was going to become something to help.

Q. What is your favorite memory with your mother?

A. I have certain memories, snapshots of simpler times from very early in my childhood that stand out as magical with my mother. In more recent times, it has just become a montage of all the time we spent — as you see in the film — out on adventures, running errands, just being together.

Q. Do you have any advice for anyone who is currently going through something similar to what you experienced?

A. My advice is really contained in the film: Let’s try harder to regard each other. To take a minute. To spend the time. To be patient. To listen. To not just see an older person as their age or their ailment but realize that they’ve lived a whole life filled with memories, and they’re still here, and it’s vital that they have a sense of purpose.

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Mounts Botanical Garden Offers Escape from Summer Heat

Mounts Botanical Garden offers escape from summer heat

What to do in the dog days of summer?

After the beach and pool, why not explore nature at Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden? Or better yet, bring your pooch on July 11 as the garden hosts its monthly Dogs’ Day in the Garden, a dog- and family-friendly event.

“Dogs’ Day in the Garden offers dog owners a chance to step away from their routine outdoor walks and enjoy a different, relaxing environment with their fur babies,” says Melissa Carter, a spokesperson for Mounts.

Mounts Botanical Garden offers escape from summer heat

“The dogs love being in our garden with so many new ‘sniffs’ and the chance to see other dogs and people,” she says. “The Mounts Botanical Garden also offers a great backdrop for family photo ops.”

The Garden takes its name from Marvin Umphrey “Red” Mounts, the county’s first assistant agricultural extension agent, who established and cared for the Garden’s collection of fruit trees to help produce new food resources.

A quiet, tropical oasis located behind the Palm Beach International Airport, the Garden spans 4 acres and boasts a collection of 25 display gardens containing more than 5,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, ornamentals, herbs, palms, roses, cacti, succulents, and bromeliads.

The various gardens include the Rose and Fragrance Garden, Garden of Tranquility, Herb Garden of Well-Being, Florida Natives Garden, and Children’s Maze Garden, among others.

For kids, the Children’s Maze Garden offers opportunities to learn and explore. Hedge mazes evolved from the knot gardens of Renaissance Europe. They are known for their mystical and magical quality. This maze was created in the 1980s from a sweet fragrant shrub whose white flowers bloom twice a year. 

At the center of the maze stands the Bo Tree, said to be the species of tree that Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher known as the Buddha, sat under when he attained enlightenment.

Each garden is created as a living exhibit, with plants chosen specifically to tell a story about choices that visitors can make within our subtropical climate. The gardens illustrate what area residents can emulate in their own spaces, large or small.

The Herb Garden of Well-Being showcases herbs and how they affect our lives and sense of well-being through culinary, medicinal, ceremonial, and aromatherapy applications. 

Natural elements of stone, wood, and living plant materials are combined in the Garden of Tranquility, as well as an Indonesian, hand-carved wall juxtaposed with elements from other Asian influences. The objective is to inspire peace and tranquility — a spiritual place for the mind and soul.

In addition to roses, the Rose and Fragrance Garden boasts the fragrant flowers of the Ylang-Ylang Perfume Tree, Angel’s Trumpet, and the Longan Tree, one of the oldest trees in the Garden.

The Florida Natives Garden uses native plants to help preserve the state’s natural resources. Increasingly, our native birds, butterflies, and wildlife rely on gardeners to replace natural habitats lost to development. Those native plants include the Wild Coffee native shrub and the Firebush, which attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. 

In bloom in July are the Rainbow Shower Cassia (Cassia x nealiae), the Verawood (Bulnesia arborea), and the Trai Tich Lan Perfume Tree (Fagraea ceilanica), with its large, creamy, trumpet-shaped flowers.

August awaits the blooms of the Summer Poinsettia (Mussaenda philippica), the White Crepe Ginger (Costus speciosus), and the fragrance that became famous as Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum — the Ylang-Ylang Perfume Flower (Canaga odorata).

In June 2017, the Garden created the Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden as a way of conserving and protecting freshwater. The wetland garden was designed to highlight the wetland ecology and to protect Florida’s fragile wetland system. 

Designed by artists in collaboration with Palm Beach County’s Art in Public Places program, the garden, a microcosm of tropical wetlands, features open-gridded, 4-foot-wide walkways on the surface of the wetlands. 

Within these walks are four “windows” planted with aquatics and changed out with rotating and seasonal botanical exhibits growing from submerged containers. Four circular, etched-glass, interpretive viewers are strategically located throughout the garden to educate and engage visitors on key components of a wetland.

Bromeliads grow wild and cover the natural stone walls; aquatic life and wading birds are abundant; and wildlife can be seen foraging for fish, clams, and snails in the muck and shallow pools.

So, while you may not find silver bells or cockle shells, you will find a respite from the outside world, a chance to unwind with or without your pet, and appreciate nature in all its glory.

Mounts Botanical Garden

Mounts Botanical Garden is located at 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Sunday, July 11, is Dogs’ Day in the Garden, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Last entry at 2 p.m.) Cost: Free for members; $10 for nonmembers; $5 for children 5-12. For more information, visit mounts.org.

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The sad truth: Vision problems have no age boundaries

From young children to the elderly, no one is immune from vision problems. For some, it’s genetic; for others, it’s a part of the aging process. Four of the most common eye problems are cataracts, floaters, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. 

The National Eye Institute says that in the U.S., at least 24 million people over age 40 have cataracts, 11 million have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and nearly 3 million have glaucoma. Eye floaters affect nearly 30% of the general population.

The sad truth: Vision problems have no age boundaries
Phoropter, ophthalmic testing device machine

Cataracts

“Routinely, people over 60 develop cataracts, but they can also occur among children,” says David Rand, M.D., a specialist at the Rand Eye Institute, a premier eye-care facility that for 35 years has treated thousands of people throughout South Florida and around the world. “Cataracts cloud the natural lens inside the eye and can be caused by sun exposure, trauma, a medical condition, genetics, and aging.” 

Warning signs include a need for more light, a lack of clarity, and glare from car lights or lampposts when driving at night. “Regardless of the degree, vision can be restored surgically,” Dr. Rand said. “There is more urgency among young children because their vision can be affected permanently.” Mild cataracts can be temporarily treated by changing the prescription of one’s glasses, but once visual quality becomes a problem, surgery is the definitive treatment.

Floaters

Millions experience eye floaters or “shadows” on the retina, and it’s a chronic problem that can impact the quality of life. Most are caused by age-related changes in the eye’s vitreous, a jelly-like substance that deteriorates over time. They occur primarily during middle age, or earlier, and develop due to an inflammatory condition. 

“As a physician, I’m concerned that a patient who has an acute increase in flashes or floaters may have a retina tear or detachment,” said Carl Danzig, M.D., a vitreoretinal specialist at Rand Eye Institute. “It’s very important to seek a diagnosis as early as possible.” 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

When new blood vessels grow under the eye’s retinal tissue, it’s referred to as “wet” AMD. When there is a thinning of the macula, a part of the retina responsible for clear vision in direct line of sight, it’s referred to as “dry” AMD. 

“If you have trouble reading a menu, small print, or have problems driving at night, dry AMD may be the cause,” said Dr. Danzig. Vitamins with the AREDS2 formula are used for both types, but they’re especially recommended for patients with intermediate-stage AMD or worse. “The standard treatment for wet AMD is intravitreal injections; surgery is not a first-line treatment.” 

The sad truth: Vision problems have no age boundaries

Glaucoma

When there is damage to the optic nerve due to high or fluctuating eye pressure, glaucoma can occur, and if untreated it can lead to vision loss. Although diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a history of trauma are contributing factors, a genetic predisposition is also common. “If a family member has glaucoma, it’s very important to be examined and monitored to be certain that glaucoma does not develop,” says Dr. Rand. “The important point common to all treatment options is to adequately lower and maintain the eye pressure to an acceptable level to prevent progression well before it becomes advanced enough to threaten the vision.”  

Glaucoma can be asymptomatic in its early stages, but gradual vision loss may still occur. “Sadly, many patients are unaware they have glaucoma until they lose their vision,” he said. According to the specialist, certain types produce painless vision loss, while other forms cause significant eye pain, pressure, and/or headaches. Among young children, it may lead to tearing or excessive eye rubbing.  

David Rand, M.D.

Dr. Rand completed his undergraduate education at the University of Miami and received his medical degree from the university’s Miller School of Medicine, Honors Program. He completed his postgraduate internship in internal medicine at the Staten Island University Hospital and completed his residency at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center. He has published scientific papers and presented before prestigious organizations, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Radiological Society of North America.  

Carl Danzig, M.D.

Dr. Danzig is a vitreoretinal disease specialist with experience treating a variety of complex eye disorders. He graduated cum laude from Tulane University and was accepted into the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. After receiving his medical degree from Temple University, he completed an internship at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and residencies at Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital/Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles and the State University of New York-Downstate, Brooklyn. He also enrolled in the University of Texas/Southwestern Medical Center’s vitreoretinal fellowship program.

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The Fantels − adjusting to a new normal in music, performing arts

In early 2020, the future looked rosy for Coral Springs couple Caryl and Roy Fantel.

One night, Roy was playing drums in the orchestra for the world premiere production of the musical “A Wonderful World” at Miami New Drama, a professional, nonprofit theater company in Miami Beach. Roy helped create the drum score for the musical biography about jazz legend Louis Armstrong. 

While Roy worked on “A Wonderful World,” Caryl was music directing a production of Stephen Sondheim’s classic “A Little Night Music” by Zoetic Stage, a nonprofit, professional company in downtown Miami.

Caryl and Roy, a nationally respected couple who have been married almost 26 years, own and operate Coral Springs-based Fantel Music (www.fantelmusic.com). The couple, between them, boast more than 60 years of professional expertise in the performing arts. And the couple had already booked most of the rest of 2020 with gigs. Life was good.

Then, almost overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Folks who had booked the Fantels for jobs canceled the engagements. In fact, Caryl could not even retrieve her belongings from the Arsht Center, where “A Little Night Music” was to open. The Arsht shut down, as did the musical. Meanwhile, in Miami Beach, Miami New Drama postponed “A Wonderful World” indefinitely.

In the bleakness that followed, email message after email message reached the couple’s inboxes, confirming closures and cancellations. 

For the first time in decades, the Fantels found themselves jobless. Fortunately, they are versatile and adaptable. 

Caryl is a music director, event producer, pianist, teacher, editor, and arts activist. Meanwhile, Roy is a drummer, percussionist, teacher, video-audio producer, and web designer. With all the skills between them, they were able to adapt to the new normal by finding virtual work.

Their first COVID-era job was producing the Carbonell Awards, which recognizes excellence in South Florida live theater. Caryl has been part of the award show’s production team for 12 years. But this year, the awards ceremony looked different. Caryl, herself a Carbonell Award winner, decided — along with the organization — to prerecord the 2020 awards ceremony and present it virtually in August 2020. The Carbonells turned out to be one of several projects the Fantels worked on, during which they helped schools and other performers put on shows virtually. 

“COVID has been extraordinarily challenging for everyone in the entertainment industry, but it has given us the opportunity to demonstrate our flexibility,” Caryl said. “Roy’s extensive technical background and abilities, and our wide experience working with groups of all sizes, ages, and levels, has enabled us to pivot into creating work that isn’t necessarily live performance, but is still art and entertainment.” 

For instance, the couple worked with drama students at Coral Glades High School to virtually perform the Off-Broadway musical hit “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” Among other things, Roy figured out via green-screen technology how to make four actors appear as though they were together.

The Fantels also used green-screen technology to virtually produce “Signs of Life.” The Yiddishkayt Initiative presented the musical drama as part of a Holocaust Remembrance Day program. Roy said because the production was virtual, people from all over the world were able to watch it on Facebook and YouTube. 

The Fantels − adjusting to a new normal in music, performing artsJoan Limon, the producer of “Signs of Life,” praised the Fantels. “If there is an equivalent of a Tony Award for best musical direction and videography of a virtual musical drama, it definitely belongs on [their] mantel,” she said.

In addition to the Carbonell Awards, “Signs of Life,” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” the couple’s projects during the past year included the following:

  • “Stars of David in Concert,” produced by Avi Hoffman’s Yiddishkayt Initiative. The group is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates and promotes Jewish history, life, and culture.
  • Two readings of new musicals that combined recorded and live elements, including one at Florida Atlantic University.
  • A couple of holiday concerts presented as part of the Yiddishkayt Initiative’s international Hanukkah and Purim festivals.
  • A musical theater production for Nova Southeastern University.
  • A production of “Almost, Maine” for an area high school.

“As long as there’s a need, we will continue to produce virtually,” Caryl said. “To some degree, we believe virtual productions are here to stay, as they provide unlimited audience reach.”

However, “we’re both looking forward to performing in front of live audiences again,” Caryl said. “We are cautiously optimistic that audiences will return to theaters live and in-person in pre-pandemic numbers (or even beyond those numbers). We have heard that people are starved for live entertainment. We’re hoping they will be willing to prioritize attending live events, since people haven’t spent much, if anything, on arts events in more than a year … and artists and arts organizations need support now more than ever.”

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‘There’s always time for tea’

Did you know — and I admit I didn’t — that there is Thai iced-tea pie, and even a small artisanal company in Brooklyn that sells Macha and Earl Grey teas ice cream? 

Here we take a brief tour of teas. Look no farther than our state for retail and cafe locations for sampling numerous types, some familiar and some perhaps not. Plus there is the nonprofit U.S. League of Tea Growers, at www.usteagrowers.com, where potential growers can ask questions, research tea growing, and connect with regional organizations. There is also American Yaupon (www.americanyaupon.org), based in Florida, which promotes a number of local shops.

It’s a new day for tea. It is soothing, warming, and refreshing with excellent varieties easily obtainable. The steady trend toward natural foods and herbal teas is well known, though you may not have spent much time thinking about the varied types until the pandemic descended upon us. Tea is an enjoyable beverage whatever the time of day or season. There are, of course, basic teas. 

One gardening expert of 30 years, Erica Jo Shaffer, confirms, for example, that herbal infusions are relaxing to the nerves and nourishing. She advises, “Tea is only ‘tea’ when it contains camellia sinensis, the plant that gives us white, green, black, and oolong tea.”

Sampling of organic herbal teas: You could try citrus mint with an infusion of peppermint and citrus; blueberry merlot with a taste of blueberries and a wisp of sage; chamomile citron with a blend of flower blossoms and a zest of citrus; and ginger lemongrass blended with citrusy herbs and a tingle of ginger. (There’s also a cocktail like the Sunday Tea, which some may know from having peach, moonshine, bourbon, sweet tea, and lemon, which might lull you into a generic dream of the South.)

And then there’s yaupon!

Yaupon tea: Pronounced “yoh-pon,” this is the only caffeinated plant native to North America — an antioxidant-laden drink that’s been consumed for thousands of years and known as yaupon holly. It’s a specific Southern tea type that can be found in loose-leaf form at premium shops around the country, and sometimes in shrub form at select nurseries to add as a border or hedge to your own landscaping to harvest, keep in a container on the patio, or plant in a community patch! 

Grown in the Southeast and traded by Native Americans for ceremonies and recreation, according to the Yaupon Brothers Tea Co. (formed in Florida in 2012), it does not need fertilizer or pesticides as it is native and requires very little water, and has less environmental impact on surrounding areas. During the Civil War, Southerners often drank yaupon in place of coffee and black tea, note historians. One fellow of the day noted, “Substitute for Tea — [yaupon] is excellent but let me say that the wild thorned leaf holly is the best that I have ever used. It would take the best of judges to tell it from the best of black tea. Fall is the time to gather the leaves. Make as black tea.”

 

Caffeine content: Unprocessed, the leaves of this evergreen holly with small green leaves on stiff branches contain between 65% and 85% caffeine compared to tea leaves with about 3.5% caffeine. (Black-tea caffeine content is labeled by one popular seller as “robust,” herbal infusions as “none,” green tea as “moderate,” and white tea as between “very low” and “low.”)

There is plenty of information on Yaupon and Dwarf Yaupon shrub propagating, pruning, light requirements, soil, and so on, at several informative websites; one is a University of Florida blog site, at blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/lakeco/2021/01/21/grow-your-own-yaupon-tea.

For example, the “evergreen” Dwarf Yaupon Holly tolerates wind and the hot, humid Southern summers. New growth emerges with a light purple color and darkens to green. This small mounding shrub can get 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, and it can take full sun or partial shade.

  

Ryan Hinson, the “tea guy” at well-known Tin Roof Teas (www.tinroofteas.com), a high-quality loose teas and accessories business, knows his teas — and their shelf life. He told me, “Yaupon is best consumed in 8 to 10 months, but good up to 2 years. Would consider an herb, so you have 8 months for maximum potency — up to 8 months for flowers and leaves, and up to 2 years for seeds, roots, and barks.”

Fragrant premium tea shops abound if you prefer to visit rather than to order in supply (see two Florida brothers’ enterprise at www.yauponbrothersamericantea.com). Many shops are now open with COVID protocols in place.

 

And from the Louisiana State University Ag Center is an informative May 2019 article by horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard, who notes that the wiry shrub’s blooms appear in early to mid-spring (eaten by many bird species), with the red berries, also enjoyed by the birds, showing in late fall and winter. She writes much more about the yaupon, including its widespread use as home decor during the holidays. Check out the article too for excellent tips for your seasonal decorating.

So whether you grow your tea fresh from the garden (or patio container) or have it shipped to your door, get out those teapots and teacups (or mugs), and have a tea party. Pinkies up!

Joan Wenner, J.D., is a widely published, longtime freelance writer who writes historical, maritime, and general interest stories. She resides in eastern coastal North Carolina, although she lived many years in Florida where she hopes to soon return. Comments are welcomed at joan_writer@yahoo.com.

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Sunshine, Wildlife, and Cane Toads: My First Year in the South

Sunshine, Wildlife, and Cane Toads: My First Year in the SouthA year ago, I moved to southeast Florida from northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Besides arriving in a new part of the country in the middle of a pandemic, which presents its own set of challenges, I encountered a lot of new and different things to contend with in my adopted state.

Born and raised around Chicago, I moved to the D.C. area after college, got married and raised kids there, and then decided to move to Florida after a divorce and job layoff last year. Why not start fresh in a new place, where I wouldn’t have to deal any longer with snow and ice? The lingering image that had always been in the back of my mind was to someday live in a warm and subtropical place, surrounded by palm trees, and somewhere near the ocean. And so that’s what I ended up doing when the opportunity unexpectedly presented itself. 

I took the settlement checks from both my divorce and my full-time job and put them toward the purchase of a nice “villa” home in Florida. And so in July 2020, I suddenly found myself moving still further south and east from where I had originally started (cold, windy Chicago). My dog Lex, a Pomeranian mix, and I arrived last summer to this sunny and humid part of the country and began to put down roots, and I soon discovered a lot of differences here. 

Sunshine, Wildlife, and Cane Toads: My First Year in the South

I have no regrets, but here are some observations from my first year in Florida:

  • Lizards in the house. I didn’t know that there would be so much wildlife around my new neighborhood. While I appreciate all the birds, geese, ducks, and rabbits lollygagging around my lakeside community, and I’ve gotten to enjoy the various lizards darting around the lawn, I didn’t expect to be sharing my home with the geckos.  These quick creatures like to sneak into the house and creep around the rooms, hang out on the ceiling, and pop out and startle me.
  • Cane toads that could kill my little dog. Of all the animals I’ve encountered in southeast Florida, including alligators at the wetlands reserves, the scariest for me are the ugly toads that secrete powerful toxins that could take out Lex, horribly and painfully, within 30 minutes if I’m not constantly vigilant outside.  
  • Hurricanes! Two weeks after I moved to Florida last July, Hurricane Isaias hurdled in from the Atlantic and joined me here. I got a very quick lesson on preparing for tropical storms and securing my hurricane shutters.  While my windows were tightly covered for a couple tumultuous days, it was dark and depressing in my house. I was so happy when Isaias finished up his visit and rolled away.
  • Gated communities. Yes, I live in a secure, gated community, and as a single woman residing alone, I am relieved to have that protection.  But what I have found in this part of the country is that there are so many gated communities that it’s not easy to just drive through neighborhoods here and explore. When I lived in Virginia, I could run through any neighborhoods I felt like. Here, I can’t do that. I have to keep to my own community or on the busy roads around it.
  • More tattoos than I’ve ever seen before. I didn’t know before my move that Florida was the land of full-body tattoos. While I have had friends and family in my life who have sported one or two small tattoos, I was in for a surprise when I arrived here and saw that they are etched all over people’s faces and limbs, in every corner of the region. 

Like the colorful tattoos, I am getting used to all the differences in southeast Florida. I enjoyed my first warm winter here, although I missed the changing of the seasons in the fall and the spring. But I am glad my winter coat is packed far away in a bin in the closet, and I don’t ever have to shovel out my car again. I’ll take it.

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‘Witness the magic’ – empowering people through equine connection

Tucked away on the north side of Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek is a place that has been empowering all who pass through its gates — both two-legged and four-legged — for almost 40 years. That place is Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida (EATSF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic riding and equine activities to children and adults with special needs. 

“We’re here to build people up, no matter what their ability is,” emphasizes Molly Murphy, executive director of EATSF.

And that’s exactly what the organization does through its hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, equine-facilitated psychotherapy, and equine-facilitated learning programs.

“None of my peers rode horses,” recalls Murphy, who participated in both EATSF’s therapeutic riding and hippotherapy programs as a child. “This was something I did and was really good at, and I felt really powerful. For kids with disabilities, that is not the case a lot of the time. You don’t feel powerful in a lot of ways because you don’t have power over the way your body moves or your mind works.” 

Throughout the years, EATSF’s program has demonstrated that fostering a connection between horse and human consistently produces inspiring results for participants on both a physical and an emotional level. 

A 4-year-old, nonverbal participant rode with the program for a full year and out of nowhere in January exclaimed to everyone, “Happy new year!”

Another participant qualified for nationals for the Special Olympics. Others have started out only able to lie across the back of the horse and, over time, developed the muscle strength to sit up with support. 

“It’s moments like that that have shaped and defined me,” says Missy Tussing, certified therapeutic riding instructor and barn manager, who has been involved with EATSF for 25 years. “One of the most important things I’ve seen is the growth of the participants.” 

The sense of empowerment derived from working with horses is not limited to the riders. 

“I’ve seen volunteers come across our threshold with no horse experience develop confidence and leadership skills that have transcended other areas of their lives,” says Murphy.

What is it about horses that makes them such effective therapy animals? 

“They understand emotions. They’re a lot more knowledgeable than we give them credit for,” explains Tussing. “I’ve seen a horse you wouldn’t expect to reach out and catch his rider reach out and catch his rider.” That horse is Goose, an off-the-track thoroughbred that EATSF acquired through its partnership with Florida Thoroughbred Rescue and Adoptive Care.

Goose serves as an example of the positive impact that therapeutic riding can have on the horse as well. “For him, that was the day everything clicked,” says Tussing. “Off-the-track thoroughbreds come with their own set of challenges, and for him as a horse to overcome that and become such a wonderful horse for the program is a testament to him as well.” 

EATSF is open to new participants, volunteers, and horses. To get involved, visit its website at http://equineatsf.org or call the office at (954) 974-2007. 

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Honor with Action Coalition seeks community support on school safety

The Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in Schools Safety Alert Act, commonly called the “ALYSSA Act,” is legislation on school safety created in memory of 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, one of 17 victims who perished during a mass shooting at Parkland’s Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. The quiet city has now been added to a growing list of other memorable mass shooting sites that include Columbine, Sandy Hook, Blacksburg, Pittsburgh, Tucson, Aurora, Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Orlando, and El Paso.

Mass shootings, homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings accounted for 43,542 gun-related deaths in 2020, but gun sales remain at an all-time high. Every day, nearly 119 people die from gun violence in this country, according to Heather Chapman, a co-founder of the grassroots organization Honor with Action Coalition. The coalition was started when a group of Moms Demand Action volunteers branched off to start their own organization. “As Moms volunteers, we were limited to the legislation we could pursue, so we started Honor with Action and now have the dual focus of school safety and gun violence prevention,” said Chapman.

The group works with local organizations and also connects with leaders from larger ones to provide opportunities and resources. The coalition also connects volunteers with local and national groups and shares educational opportunities, updates, calls to action, training, and events.

The ALYSSA Act is a two-part legislative initiative that involves the installation of silent alarm systems in elementary and secondary schools and funding for school resource officers. The panic alert system can notify emergency services, staff, and students, and it provides two-way communications about specific information in a life-threatening emergency.

“Seconds save lives, and the ALYSSA Act does just that,” said Angela Weber, Honor with Action Coalition co-founder.

Alyssa’s Law was designated HB23/SB70 and passed in the 2020 legislative session. It was sponsored by Rep. Michael Gottlieb, Rep. Dan Daley, and Sen. Lauren Book. This bill is only for the state of Florida and requires mobile panic alert systems in public and charter schools. Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, school staff are required to activate the mobile panic alert system (Alyssa’s Alert) in the event of an emergency. Alyssa’s Law was signed into law in February 2019, and similar legislation is being debated in New York, Nebraska, and Arizona.

The Honor with Action Coalition was formed less than a year ago, yet it’s made excellent progress. State-level priorities for the coalition include a notification of a “threats in schools” bill, HB951/SB1284, proposed by Rep. Daley and Sen. Shevrin Jones, which provides requirements for reporting specified threats and incidents in schools. Another piece of legislature, HB7035 by Rep. Christine Hunschofsky and Rep. Chip LaMarca, is moving through the legislative session. Additional bills include SB836/HB455 by Sen. Jones and Rep. Omari Hardy to establish an urban core crime and violence task force, while HB167/SB428 sponsored by Rep. Hunschofsky and Sen. Tina Polsky focuses on safe gun storage. On the federal level, the coalition is working to help pass the ALYSSA Act for school safety alerts, Ethan’s Law for safe firearm storage, and HR8/HR1466 requiring background checks on all gun sales and a ban on assault weapons.

Chapman had a poignant message to lawmakers: “Our country has seen staggering numbers in death tolls due to a pandemic, yet I would like to remind Congress that we have an epidemic that is uniquely American — gun violence. After the attack on the Capitol in January, I would hope lawmakers now understand the fear our children face in schools across the country,” she said. “The problems of school safety and gun violence can be significantly reduced if they would pass federal legislation to turn the corner on the intolerable numbers of dead, injured, and traumatized citizens.”

U.S. Rep. Joshua Gottheimer of New Jersey will reintroduce the ALYSSA Act to a new Congress, with the co-sponsorship of Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Rep. Carlos Jimenez. According to Chapman, New Jersey elected to install a hard-wired alert system but Florida decided that a mobile phone app alert system was more practical and cost-effective.

“The app is a good solution because if a student is in between classes, on a playground, or on a soccer field, he or she has access to both receiving and sending information,” said Chapman. “School districts have the option of choosing the system that works best for them and how it will be utilized.”

Formed less than a year ago, the Honor with Action Coalition has made excellent progress. Its steering committee meets regularly, and a campaign of public education and information on contacting representatives is ready to launch, but it remains on hold until the bill is formally reintroduced. “It takes a while for the process to unfold; we’re being patient but we are moving forward,” Weber emphasized. “We’ve made corrections to the text of the bill and know the committees it will be sent to. When it’s officially filed, we’ll be ready to go.”

The local coalition continues to seek the support of lawmakers in Washington, D.C., but communicating is difficult because many legislators work remotely. Where it was once possible to speak with a legislative aide or legislative director, messages are now forwarded to a voice mailbox. “This political limbo stalls the process, but it doesn’t stall our efforts,” Weber said. “Locally, the pandemic has limited the number of events we attend, but our Facebook page is updated frequently, making it easy for people to engage in our efforts and provide opportunities for calls to action.”

The Honor with Action Coalition has united with local and national groups to promote gun safety and school safety bills at both the state and federal levels. “The goal is a focus on legislative policies that promote safe firearm ownership, school safety, and support for victims of gun violence,” said Weber.

Follow the Honor with Action Coalition on Facebook and sign up for updates and calls to action at honorwithaction.com.

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Lupus: a cruel, mysterious disease

Lupus is one of the cruelest, most mysterious diseases on earth, an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body.

It is more pervasive and more severe than people think. Most people with lupus don’t look sick. Victims can appear normal while suffering intense pain in different parts of their bodies. It impacts nearly all aspects of a person’s life: relationships, daily responsibilities, finances, and basic enjoyment of life.

May is Lupus Awareness Month. Readers can help by showing support for those, mostly women, who suffer from this brutal affliction. Lupus can strike anyone, but 90% of the people living with lupus are females. Men, children, and teenagers develop lupus too.

No two cases of lupus are alike. Common symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, overwhelming fatigue, and fevers that last for days or weeks.

Lupus can affect any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys. Two leading causes of serious illness and death from lupus are kidney disease and heart disease. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. At this point, the disease has no cure and can be fatal.

The disease is not contagious, but recent studies show that 41% of people are not comfortable shaking hands or sharing food with someone with lupus.

While the causes of lupus are unknown, scientists believe hormones, genetics (heredity), and environmental factors are involved. More research is needed to better understand the role of these factors. People of all races and ethnicities can develop lupus, but it occurs two to three times more frequently among African Americans, Asians, Hispanics/Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans than among Caucasians.

Lupus usually develops between ages 15 and 44 and lasts a lifetime. It can be expensive to live with and to treat. The average annual direct and indirect costs incurred can exceed $21,000, higher than for those living with heart disease, bipolar disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

There is no single blood test to diagnose lupus, and its symptoms mimic those of other diseases, vary in intensity, and can come and go over time. More than half of those afflicted with lupus suffered at least four years and saw three or more doctors before obtaining a correct diagnosis of lupus.

To donate, contact the Lupus Foundation of America at 2121 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037-1830; (202) 349-1155; or www.lupus.org.

(Source: Lupus Foundation of America)

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Mothers Day Gift Guide

 

  1. Antiques & More

Why settle for standard or ordinary when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts? Here in Coral Springs, Antiques & More has a treasure trove of unique jewelry, collectibles, statues, clothing and costumes, furniture, porcelain, and paintings from all over the world for you to show your mom or mother figure how much they’ve inspired you!  9371 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs, FL 33065 954-575-5699 antforsale@yahoo.com

2. Lormin Beauty Spa

Why pamper yourself, when someone else can do it for you? Lormin Beauty Spa offers natural results without the need for plastic surgery.  Facial, body and special treatments are available such as platelet-rich plasma, deep facial cleaning, anti-cellulite, microblading, eyelash extensions, and more.  Look for their ad in the Parklander for a coupon!

10440 West Atlantic Blvd Coral Springs, FL 33071 305-250-8837 lorminspa@gmail.com

Facebook @lorminbeautyspa and Instagram @LORMIN_BEAUTY_SPA

3. Karma Bath & Body Co.

Who doesn’t need a little self-love and pampering after the year we’ve all had?  Karma Bath & Body Co. is here to help!  The Golden Goddess Collection (pictured) is perfect for anyone who loves to sparkle like the Goddess that they are! This yummy blend of Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Vanilla & White musk creates an intoxicating aroma.

4. Boom Again is a Baby Boomer pop culture game filled with questions from the ‘50s, ‘60s & ‘70s calling on advertising slogans and jingles, politics and social movements, movies, music, television, and more.  Boom Again is the perfect gift for Boomer moms longing for genuine laughter and a good time with others. It draws people together and takes them on a nostalgic road trip through the fun memories from their youth — the Twist right up to Disco; American Bandstand to Soul Train; Doris Day all the way to Janis Joplin; Hula Hoops to The Pill; and poodle skirts to mini-skirts. wwwBoomAgain.com

5. BRGR STOP

Don’t cook for mom, bring her here!  Craft beer, craft milkshakes, and incredibly wild and tasty appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches will make sure she doesn’t leave hungry.  There’s even the Plant Power impossible burger for the vegetarians.  Look for their ad in the Parklander for coupons too!

4301 Coconut Creek Pkwy, Coconut Creek, FL 33066 954-975-8459 brgrstop.com

 

 

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Tips from Florida Power and Light Company

Save energy and money this spring with simple tips from FPL

By Andre Sowerby-Thomas

While spring is the season of new beginnings, it is also the season of more sunshine and as the weather heats up, spring also brings increased energy usage – especially as many of us continue to spend more time at home.

To help you save energy this spring, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is offering some simple tips.

  • Check windows for air leaks: Check your windows for drafts. Re-caulking and using weather strips can help to keep the warm air outside.
  • Leave incandescent bulbs behind: LED bulbs are 85% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.
  • Try to block out the sun: Use thermal-backed drapes for your windows and sliding doors and keep them closed during the sunniest parts of the day to help keep your home cool.
  • Always turn off your fan: Ceiling fans cool people – not rooms. Turn ceiling fans off when you leave a room. Leaving them on in an empty room can drive up energy costs.
  • Never leave your A/C filter dirty: Be sure to change the filter and make a habit of doing so within the timeframe recommended for your model.
  • Inspect the ceiling for duct leaks: If the ceiling is dirty around your A/C vents, that is a good indication of leaks in your ducts. Contact an A/C contractor to perform a duct test if that’s the case.
  • Consolidate electronics with power strips: Easily turn off a group of electronics at once when they’re not in use by consolidating several plugs onto a power strip. This could save you up to $100 a year.
  • Get energy savvy: Install a smart thermostat and control the temperature of your home from anywhere. When used appropriately, these can help a single-family home save about 3% of total energy costs.

Looking for more ways to save this spring? Check out FPL’s various energy saving programs, like our ceiling insulation and A/C rebates, no cost On Call program and free Energy Analyzer tool at fpl.com/save/programs.

 Andre Sowerby-Thomas is FPL’s Home, Business and Energy Solutions expert and residential contributor to Watt’s Happening, a blog by FPL focused on helping residential and business customers become energy savings pros. For more than 15 years, Andre has helped customers improve their energy efficiency and lower their home/business energy costs.

 

 

 

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Parkland Vice Mayor Bob Mayersohn

The month of March is usually the time when we think about springing
forward as daylight savings time commences giving us an extra hour of sunshine. Spring centers around “Spring Cleaning,” “Spring Break,” and the religious holidays of Passover and Easter, which symbolize hope and renewal.

This year, however, March will be different for all of us as it is marked by the anniversary of the first reported COVID-19 case in Florida. Some have called it the “COVID Crisis,” while others call it the “COVID Catalyst.” Whatever lens you look through, the impacts of the virus have been devastating on the health and well-being of our families, our educational system, and our local economy. Yet, we need to be thankful and applaud the painstaking efforts of our frontline health care workers, first responders, educational professionals, and all those essential workers who were and still are critical to help us adapt to mitigate the crisis and create innovative opportunities.

As we strive for “herd immunity,” the work to distribute and administer the vaccines is an indication of hope. Yet, we still must be vigilant in preventing the spread by wearing our masks, social distancing, and washing our hands. For COVID-19 updates and resources, please visit our website at https://www.cityofparkland.org/coronavirus.

On a positive note, this month we are bringing back some of our extremely popular events such as Eats n’ Beats on March 13th and Movies in the Park on March 26th. We still have our incredible Farmers’ Market on March 7th, which will showcase our community awareness and business expo. On March 21st we include our health and wellness vendors.

Not to go unnoticed, March is also Women’s History Month. This is a time we reflect on the often-overlooked contribution of women to United States History and the City of Parkland.

Our City Commission meetings this month will be on Wednesday, March 3rd and March 17th starting at 7pm. You can see our agendas at https://www.cityofparkland.org/cc. and watch our meetings livestream at https://www.cityofparkland. org/1304/Live-City-Commission-Meetings.

Finally, I want to thank Mayor Walker for passing the pen to provide me the opportunity to be a guest contributor this month. Thank you, Mayor.

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