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October 2, 2020September 24, 2020

SoFlo BUZZ: October 2020 I

PARKLAND DASH is back — virtually

In keeping with social distancing requirements, this year’s Parkland Dash will allow participants to choose their own routes. Runners will be able to view live results online throughout the race day as participants submit their times.

On Saturday, October 18th, just run and track your 5K (3.1 miles) or 5 miles while using the RaceJoy app on your cell phone. The deadline to submit your time is 3:00 p.m. race day. Once the countdown clock reaches zero, no more times will be accepted and the race will be finalized.

To register for the run, visit runsignup.com/parklanddash.

Each $30 registration helps support Canine Assisted Therapy, the mission of which is to improve the health and well-being of children and adults by achieving specific physical, cognitive, social, or emotional goals through the use of certified pet therapy teams.

Canine Assisted Therapy has provided ongoing services to MSD, The Parkland Library, Riverglades Elementary, and Aston Gardens. They work with isolated seniors, pediatric patients, individuals with special needs, veterans, those suffering from grief or loss, and many others. Founded in 2009, this non-profit organization has the goal of improving the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of pet therapy services in South Florida.

Foundation distributes 41,000 school supply kits

Broward Education Foundation, dedicated to serving students and teachers in Broward County Public Schools, recently distributed more than 41,000 safely sealed 18-piece basic school supply kits to 41,000 students from 69 Title I elementary schools in Broward County.

More than 90 percent of students in Broward’s top 40 Title I elementary schools are enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs.

The foundation pivoted from a physical school supply drive to a virtual one. Thanks to the generosity of the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Jim Moran Foundation, Wells Fargo, Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, Ultimate Software, Hamilton Group Funding, Inc., People’s Trust Insurance, Harmony Development Center, Inc., State Farm Insurance, Pride Center at Equality Park, Centennial Bank, Broward County Public Schools, BrightStar Credit Union, Pirtle Construction, and many more generous corporations and individuals, the campaign was a success.

“Ordinarily, Broward Education Foundation’s School Supply Drive would help to stock the shelves at our school supply center where teachers from Title I schools shop free for their students in need,” said Shea Ciriago, executive director of the foundation. “We knew we had to be proactive in light of COVID, so we orchestrated the online fundraising campaign.”

October 2, 2020September 25, 2020

SoFlo BUZZ: October 2020 II

Save Our Seas

The Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) in Fort Lauderdale will host a “Virtual Save Our Seas Distinguished Speaker Series” via Zoom on the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m.

The series invites scientists and conservationists of all ages to learn from internationally acclaimed biologists, scientists, conservationists, researchers, and educators about new ways of thinking and marine-related preservation topics.

It is sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation, which funds and supports research, conservation, and education projects worldwide, focusing primarily on threatened wildlife and their habitats.

The live events are free but space is limited. Register at mods.org/saveourseas. Unique Zoom links will be sent in the morning on the days of the presentations.

The following first Thursday topics and speakers are scheduled through the rest of the year:

October 1 — Sea Turtle Conservation in South Florida: Challenges and Triumphs Panel Discussion

Mariana Fuentes, Ph.D., Marine Conservation Biologist

Kelly Martin, Program Coordinator for the Marine Environmental Education Center and President of Florida Leatherbacks Inc

Kelly Stewart, Ph.D., Biologist with The Ocean Foundation

Katie Mansfield, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of the Marine Turtle Research Group at the University of Central Florida

November 5 — Manta Rays: Exciting Discoveries

Guy Stevens, Ph.D., Chief Executive and Founder of the Manta Trust

Jessica Pate, Marine Biologist and Project Manager, Florida Manta Project

December 3 — 2020 Save Our Seas MODS Shark Expert Panel Discussion

Stephen Kajiura, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University

Mike Heithaus, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE) and Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University

Gregory Skomal, Ph.D., Marine Biologist, Researcher, Underwater Explorer, Photographer, and Author

Dean Grubbs, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research/Research Faculty III at Florida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory

Marianne Porter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University

Aging in South Florida

The South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA) will host the Aging in South Florida Virtual Symposium presented by AARP on Wednesday, October 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The virtual event will explore “the new normal” in a post- COVID world, presenting innovative ideas and solutions to employment, healthcare, and diversity challenges faced by older adults. The event will be a forum to encourage conversation and collaborative problem solving to better help older adults thrive as they age while providing information on community efforts and resources.

SoFIA’s virtual experience also includes opportunities to attend seminars of personal interest, while sponsors and vendors will benefit from a virtual booth and AI technology.

Visit https://thesofia.org/aisf for more information on sponsorship or to purchase tickets. The event is open to any business, government entity, or member of the community interested in creating a more age-friendly community, general admission tickets are $10.

September 11, 2020September 30, 2020

SoFlo Gardening: September 2020

What to Plant

Annuals/Bedding plants: Try ageratum, celosia, zinnia, and wax begonia for color in the fall.

Bulbs: Add color, texture, and patterns to the garden with the many varieties of elephant’s ear (Alocasia spp.), calla, narcissus, and zephyr lily.

Herbs: Plant Mexican tarragon, mint, rosemary, and basil.

Fruits & Vegetables: It is time to establish strawberry plants. Veggies to plant now are broccoli, carrots, cabbage, collards, and many others.

What to Do

Lawns: Continue to monitor the lawn for signs of insect damage. Fall armyworms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, and sod webworms are still active this month.

Fertilizer Bans: Numerous municipalities in South Florida prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June–September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area.

Vegetable gardens: Prepare the fall vegetable garden if not done in August. Using transplants from your local garden center will get the garden off to a fast start, but seeds provide a wider variety from which to choose.

Perennials and bulbs: Divide and replant perennials and bulbs that have grown too large or need rejuvenation. Add organic matter to planting beds and monitor water needs during establishment.

Irrigation: Check that irrigation systems are providing good coverage and operating properly before summer rains taper off.

Citrus: Fertilize citrus with a balanced fertilizer either this month or in October. Use controlled-release nitrogen because rain will not leach it from the soil too quickly.

Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension