Palmetto Bay News 2.5.2013

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A romantic moonlitValentine’s concertbegins the DeeringEstate Festival of the

Arts, a 10-day celebration of literary,visual and performing artsw at the his-toric estate. A variety of events and pro-grams are scheduled from Feb. 14through Feb. 24.

A curated exhibition “Speak Now,”places artistic interjections throughoutthe grounds, one-night only art events,classical and chamber ensemble con-certs, a Curator’s Tour, and a spectacu-lar closing Red Carpet Wrap-Up arejust some of the cultural experiences tobe offered.

Guests can enjoy an “All AccessPass” for $75. A limited number of thesepasses are available and only can bepurchased online. Individual event tick-ets can be purchased online; by phone at305-235-1668, ext. 233, or at the event.

Deering Estate Festival of the Arts: A celebration

of all things artistic

BY GARY ALAN RUSE

P almetto Bay, which hasbeen incorporated foronly 10 years, recentlyhad its first ever staffretirements, both in the

Finance Department, with new peoplejoining the team.

Marti Brasovan, who had been with thevillage for nine years, retired in Novemberand Dorothy Henderson retired inDecember. Both retirees were honored at avillage council meeting on Dec. 3, 2012.

“As Palmetto Bay’s first retiree, afternine years in the Finance Department, I’mtaking a brief moment just to enjoy mynew found freedom,” Brasovan said dur-ing an interview on Jan. 23. “However,that moment will be brief because I havecreated an exciting new business. I am aLife Purpose Consultant and I have beenstudying Scientific Hand Analysis andreading hands for two years.”

Besides being a Certified Hand Analystand advising people about business andrelationship success, Brasovan is a mem-ber of the Florida Speakers Associationand speaks about “Investing in Yourself.”

“I’m running full steam ahead,”

Village Hall’s first retirements bring in new finance staffers

Pictured (l-r) are Palmetto Bay Mayor ShelleyStanczyk, Marti Brasovan and Dorothy Henderson atthe ceremony honoring their retirement.

(Photo by All Star Event Photography.)

BY GARY ALAN RUSE

P almetto Bay youngsters at the3C’s Preschool of ChristCongregational Church got todo something on Jan. 18 that

children rarely do in South Florida’s warmclimate — enjoy a “Snow Day” with sled-ding and winter clothes.

Roughly 13 tons of “snow,” or shavedice, was dumped on the campus at 14920SW 67 Ave. to give the kids the thrill ofsliding down a snow-covered hill on smallsleds and snowboards. There even was hotchocolate with marshmallows to make the

simulated winter setting complete.School director Adriana Black said that

the annual event takes a lot of work byeveryone there.

“It’s because of the efforts of our parentsduring our fall festival in November, and asa result of that fundraiser, we are able topull together the funds to create the snowfor our ‘Snow Day,’” Black said.

“Some of the kids have actually seensnow before, but it’s fun to get them outthere in their ski clothes. Some of them

‘Winter’ comes to village as youngsters enjoy ‘Snow Day’

Luke Hatem(foreground)slides down the hill at theannual 3C’sPreschoolSnow Day atChristCongregationalChurch.

(Photo by Bill Kress)

––––––– See SNOW DAY, page 6

––––––––––– See FESTIVAL, page 6

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Westminster Christian Schoolstudents pack meals for needy

More than 200 Westminster Christian School students and faculty packed meals for needy families in Haiti andNicaragua with “Feed My Starving Children,” a non-profit Christian organization that provides meals for mal-nourished children in nearly 70 countries. During the two-hour event, more than 200,000 meals were packed.The special weekend event sent more than 2 million meals to those in need. Pictured (l-r) are WCS freshmenAshley Diaz, Kevin Rodriguez, Gracie Chewning, Samantha Forjan, Lily Manoogian and Lauren Dirube.

February 5 - 18, 2013 COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM Page 3


BY MAURICE R. HERNANDEZ

In a moving ceremony surrounded byfamily, friends, and residents,Commissioner Lynda Bell was sworn informally as vice chair of the Miami-DadeCounty Commission by Miami-DadeCounty Court Judge, the Hon. GladysPerez.

The ceremony was attended by U.S.Senator Marco Rubio, who administeredthe oath of office to commission chairRebeca Sosa, the first Hispanic chair of theboard, as well as Florida Gov. Rick Scottand Miami-Dade County Mayor CarlosGimenez, who delivered welcomingremarks.

During her speech, Bell thanked Sosafor nominating her as vice chair inNovember of 2012 and expressed herappreciation to her colleagues for theirvote of confidence in her leadership forthis new role. Bell pledged to continue tonurture and further a new era of mutualcooperation and respect between her col-leagues and the work they perform onbehalf of the people they represent whichhad been lacking prior to her election as acounty commissioner in 2010.

Finally, she addressed her constituents bypromising to “continue my long-standing

tradition of lending my office to anyone inneed who seeks my assistance, and to con-tinue to uphold only the highest standardsof excellence in public service that theyhave come to expect and so richly deserve.”

Among her many accomplishments dur-ing her first two years in office, Bell wasable to work with her colleagues to makegovernment more transparent, accountableand more responsive to the needs, as well

as striving to create the necessary econom-ic environment for small businesses, thebackbone of local and national economiesto thrive. She made it possible for countyresidents to examine the annual proposedbudget via the Internet.

Commissioner Bell worked withCommissioner Sosa to change the countycharter to include term limits for all countycommissioners, as well as place significant

limits on the way registered lobbyists con-duct business with the county.

Bell worked closely with MayorGimenez on a number of critically impor-tant projects and initiatives, including thetransferring of some county services backto remote regions of the county, making iteasier for residents to access governmentservices. The implementation of physical,one-stop, information and processing cen-ter designed to help entrepreneurs throughthe process of opening new businesses, andcreating much needed jobs for all residents.

Finally, recognizing the need for moreaffordable housing for senior residents,Bell was successful in securing fundingfor the construction of a 101-unit, fourstory LEED Certified Building that willserve the housing needs of her district’selderly population.

Commission Chair Sosa appointed ViceChair Bell to chair the EconomicDevelopment and PortMiami Committeewhich oversees all matters pertaining to theseaport and dedicating itself to supportingjob creation and advancing the economicgrowth of Miami-Dade County. Bell alsowas named to the prestigious Health andSocial Services and the Land Use andDevelopment Committees of the Miami-Dade County Commission.

Commissioner Lynda Bell installed as vice chair of Miami-Dade Commission

Commissioner Lynda Bell, surrounded by family and friends, is sworn in formally as vice chair of the Miami-DadeCounty Commission by County Court Judge Gladys Perez.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Folks, if you have a favorite place to eat,shop or do recreational things in your area,Channel 10 TV is giving you a chance tocast your votes in their “Top Ten” surveynow under way. If you go to<http://vote.local10.com/> you may castup to one vote in each business categoryduring each day of the open voting period.The voting ends on March 10th.

What’s currently in the running? Placeslike Harvey’s Smokehouse BBQ and theBlack Point Marina in Cutler Bay, localhobby stores like Hollywood Station, andvarious martial arts schools. In thePalmetto Bay area the Red Robin GourmetHamburger chain is getting votes, as is theAntique Mall, Y’all store and other places.And if you don’t see your favorite place inthe list, you can nominate it. So go toChannel 10’s webpage and check out thecategories and let your opinion be heard.

TGIF? We hear from Maggie Anzardothat something new is coming to SouthlandMall that should give you another reason tolook forward to the end of the week.“Festive Fridays” will take place everyFriday, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with enter-taining cultural performances and activitiesorganized by local schools and organiza-tions. To kick off this new weekly eventseries, the Arthur & Polly MaysConservatory of the Arts will present spe-cial student performances inside SouthlandMall’s Center Court with the officiallaunch of “Festive Fridays” on February8th. There will be a live performance bytheir magnet program’s orchestra and jazzband followed by a group of “SpokenWord” performers. Mall patrons will havethe opportunity to learn about the multi-disciplined visual and performing arts pro-gram offered at the Arthur & Polly MaysConservatory of the Arts while enjoying apreview of their most prominent studentperformers.

“We hope this will promote an apprecia-tion for culture and arts within our commu-nity while promoting some of our bestlocal talent,” said Maggie Anzardo,Marketing Director for Southland Mall.

”Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoythese free events every Friday and start offtheir weekend with a pop of culture.”

“Festive Fridays” are free events thatwill be open to the public. Southland Mallis located at S. Dixie Highway and S.W.205th Street.

Batter up? Carolina Perrina tells us thatthe Marlins Foundation is requesting pro-posals for the 2013 Charity PartnerEmpowerment Fund. To be considered as a2013 Marlins Charity Partner, organiza-tions must provide direct and unique pro-gramming for youth through educational,arts and baseball related programming,more specifically by providing uniqueexperiences for kids in schools, parks andon the water.

“During the Inaugural Year at MarlinsPark, the Marlins Foundation invested over$1.2 MM in philanthropy in South Florida.In addition, over 6,000 hours of volunteerservice was done through Marlins Ayudan.To continue our commitment to corporateand social responsibility, and in recogni-tion of the vital role non-profits play inSouth Florida, the Marlins Foundation willselect four 2013 Charity Partners toempower with a $25,000 donation and sea-

son long benefits.” said Miami MarlinsPresident, David Samson. “Additional ben-efits include volunteers from MarlinsAyudan, recognition throughout the seasonat Marlins Park, exposure with media part-ners and player involvement.”

Pre-Proposals are due (online) by Friday,February 15 at 5:00 p.m. Notification andinvitation to full proposal: Thursday,February 21. Full Proposal due (by invita-tion only): Friday, March 15 by 5:00 p.m.The 2013 Charity Partners will beannounced on opening night at MarlinsPark on Monday, April 8th. For informa-tion on how to apply, please visit<www.marlins.com/charitypartners>.

Thought of the Day:

Anyone without a sense of humor is at the mercy of everyone else.

— William Rotsler

Gary Alan Ruse contributed to thiscolumn.

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669-7355, ext. 249, or send emails to<[email protected]>.

Forget politics, vote for your favorite local business!

AROUND TOWN

Michael MillerEXECUTIVE EDITOR


Palmetto Bay News6796 S.W. 62 Avenue, South Miami, FL 33143 • Phone (305) 669-7355, Fax (305) 662-6980

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PALMETTO BAYJUMPS

New faces of the village’s Finance Department are (l-r)

accountant Litsy Pittser, senioraccountant Donna Latchman

and accounting clerk Idalmy Vidaurre.

(Photo by Bill Kress, Village PIO.)

Brasovan said. “There is life afterretirement!”

New employees joining the village’sFinance Department are Litsy Pittser,accountant; Idalmy Vidaurre, accountingclerk, and Donna Latchman, senioraccountant.

Latchman is the newest staffer. She start-ed as senior accountant on Jan. 22. She pre-viously worked as an accountant at theChildren’s Trust for one year and at theVillage of Pinecrest for six years.

“I’m very excited to be here,” Latchmansaid. “This seems to be a very vibrant com-munity. I’m thinking that, aside from theaccounting work, there will be lots of funthings to do here, so I’m really looking for-ward to that.

“I have some supervisory duties, and I’msort of bridging the gap between thefinance director and the rest of the villagein terms of the small financial aspects thathe doesn’t need to be bothered about andthat someone can assist him with, since hehas a very demanding workload.”

Vidaurre joined the village as an account-ing clerk on Dec. 3, 2012, after doing finan-cial work at Eastern Airlines and CarnivalCruise Lines. She has lived in the area mostof her life and likes the change.

“I’m very happy here,” Vidaurre said. “Ilike it. I do a lot of volunteer work at differ-ent retreats and things through my parish. Inthe corporate world there was more hustle

and bustle and we had closings everymonth. Here we have closings once a year.”

Among her duties, Vidaurre processesthe daily cash that comes in from the vil-lage parks, such as tennis court fees andfacility rental costs, stormwater utilitiesmanagement and false alarm fees.

“Right now we have 3,200 registrantsthat we’ve sent out renewals for burglaralarm registration,” Vidaurre said. “Manyof them are coming in right now. I likethe idea of meeting the people. Theycome to bring in the registration forms.It’s nice to meet the residents face to faceand know who everybody is. Dorothytold that she’s known certain peoplethrough the years, and I hope that’s goingto be my case, too.”

Pittser, who started with the village onFeb. 21 2012, previously was the controllerof a printing company in the Doral area for13 years and worked for nine years at aCPA firm in Coral Gables.

“I wanted a fresh start and this place isreally wonderful,” Pittser said. “I havevery good co-workers with me. I like thefact that we do a lot of things for thecommunity.

“When I started last year I went to theladybug release at the Montessori Schooland it was very nice. It was very hands onwith the community. I’m looking forwardto attending the annual picnic of the com-munity. It’s fun to meet everyone.”

RETIREMENTS,from page 1 –––––––––––––––– have never had that experience to make a

snowball and toss it to their friends here inSouth Florida, so it’s an exciting event forthose students.”

The snowy area was created near theentrance to the school, alongside the street. Thetrucks arrived about 7:50 a.m. and by 8:15 a.m.the snow was on the ground, ready to go.

“We’ve been doing it there for years,”Black said. “It’s a natural hill, so the snowjust falls into place. It’s a conglomerate ofpeople who put it together — the teacherspromote it and the parents come out and par-ticipate, helping as volunteers to supervise

and to play with their children. I came outand made some hot chocolate with marsh-mallows and cookies, and that was fun forthem as well.”

Palmetto Bay Mayor Shelley Stanczykalso attended the event, dressed warmly forthe occasion.

Black said they were grateful for all thehelp.

“The school greatly appreciates the volun-teers, the families and the parents who comeout and support our school, particularly ondays like these,” she said. “We probably had30 parents, so there was almost an equalamount of adults as children.”

The “Snow Day” likely will be repeatedand the preschool is open for registration fornext year.

SNOW DAY, from page 1 ––

The invitational show “Speak Now” opens onSaturday, Feb. 16, from 6 to 10 p..m., and featuresartists from the Deering Estate Artist in ResidenceProgram, Fountainhead Residency and Studios,and invited exhibitors. The title, “Speak Now,”alludes to the urgent need to communicate withand be understood by others, and to the relation-ship between literary and visual arts as supportstructures for expressions of thought.

Curator Ralph Provisero encourages the view-er to discover and develop dialogues between thespace and artists with works placed around theestate. There are pieces that confront the viewer;some works are on the peripheries of view, whileothers are hidden in plain sight.

Opening night highlights include sponta-neous poetry readings by the fire circle, andperformance pieces that engage visitors tolisten or travel around the site. Guests arewelcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs andpicnic baskets. A walk and talk Curator’sTour precedes the opening at 4:30 p.m. andprovides insight to the concept, creation andselection of works for the exhibition.

Bill Belleville, environmental writer andfilmmaker, presents “Salvaging the RealFlorida: Lost and Found in the State ofDreams,” on Wednesday, Feb. 20, as the fea-tured speaker for “Icon of a Moment.” TheIcon, the late John Kunkel Small, was abotanist who lived in the estate’s RichmondCottage in the early 1900s, and used it as abase for his explorations through the ham-mock and the Everglades.

For over a decade, Kunkel Small docu-mented the development and destruction ofFlorida. Author Bill Belleville wrote theintroduction Kunkel Small’s updated editionof From Eden to Sahara — Florida’s Tragedywhich parallels his own travel, study andwritings on the regions rich flora and fauna.

For the budding botanist, artist and musician,ages 4-14, there are several events scheduled.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. tonoon, is “Field Study Books” at Book Nookby the Bay, where kids explore and drawplant-life and outdoor art installations from

the “Speak Now” exhibit. Also in partnershipwith the Greater Miami Youth Symphonythere is a Piano Master Class and on Feb. 23a Concerto Competition that showcases SouthFlorida’s best young musicians.

For fans of chamber music, the LivingArtist Concert Series presents “Dreams ofBiscayne Bay”, on Friday, Feb. 22, withguest composer Roberto Sierra. Intimatelyset in the ballroom of the historic StoneHouse, the Deering Estate’s ChamberEnsemble highlights the works of Schubert,Touzet, Valdes and Brahms.

The smashing Red Carpet Wrap-Up endsthe festival on Sunday, Feb. 24, with a blendof broadcast and live entertainment hosted byTeddy Behr (David Rohn) and Adora (Danilode la Torre). With real-time feed from theKodak Theater in LA, the actual Oscar cere-mony and red carpet will be broadcast andprojected on large screens, while Teddy andAdora offer erudite commentary on the fash-ion choices, questionable results and all man-ner of madness surrounding Hollywood’smost glamorous event.

Adding to the sparkle is the estate’s veryown red carpet, staged on the historic mainentrance. Guests are encouraged to dress up,whether as historic Hollywood actors orone’s own version of red carpet attire.

The Deering Estate Festival of the Artsprovides cultural engagement for all ages,offering literary, musical and artistic experi-ences for youngsters, to presenting a world-class exhibition, concerts and informativelectures for the most sophisticated patron.

For more information on the Deering EstateFestival of the Arts, a complete schedule ofevents and tickets, call the Deering EstateTicket Office at 305-235-1668, ext. 233, orvisit online at <www.deeringestate.org>.

The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-DadeCounty Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Ave..This 444-acre natural and archeological pre-serve and historic site is listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places and serves as a cen-ter for education, culture and recreation.

FESTIVAL, from page 1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––



Are Social Security benefits a gift to theretired from the taxpayers of America? Or isSocial Security a retirement plan that wesubscribed to and made monthly paymentswhile we worked anticipating that someday, when we retire, we would receive amonthly benefit?

What happened to the money taken frommy paycheck every payday all those longyears I worked starting as a bag boy atSafeway Grocery Stores in Washington, DC,as a young boy in high school? The moneywas deposited in the Social Security TrustFund.

How much is in the trust fund? Today itshould be $2.6 trillion. That’s not a milliondollars, not a billion dollars; it’s a trillion.That’s simple enough.

Just take my next month’s Social Securityinstallment out of the trust fund and depositit in my bank account. And, just think howlucky we are — $2.6 trillion earning divi-dends. Why, even if just invested in

Treasuries the monthly growth must be in themulti-millions. Right? Wrong!

Why do I say “wrong?” Because there is atrust, but it just doesn’t have any money in it.Why? Because the federal government hasborrowed the money and given the trust anIOU. In other words our federal governmentowes our Social Security Trust Fund $2.6trillion. Forget the lost interest.

So, you see Social Security is self-fundingand off budget. It’s only “on budget” becauseit is a federal debt. In other words the moneypaid out to Social Security beneficiaries isnot the obligation of the federal governmentand paid through the budget, which is fundedby taxpayer income tax payments andTreasury borrowing. We are just getting backthe money we contributed all these years.

I’ll bet, if we were collecting interest allthese years, we wouldn’t be short of funds tomeet our obligations, we would have a sur-plus in the trust account. But, why even thinkabout it. There is no way the federal Treasurycould ever pay back the money it has bor-rowed all these years to fund the operationsof our federal government.

So, here is our problem, now in 2013. Wehave too many seniors in retirement and notenough working Americans making paydaycontributions to Social Security to meet themoney needed to pay us old timers who are

living much longer than expected. If we can’tgo to the Treasury and say “pay back the $2.6trillion you borrowed” we better makeadjustments to the current program to remainsolvent, or better said, become solvent. Wemust become entirely self-financing or againbetter said, self-sufficient.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, one-time Republican candidate for the presidency,said on Meet the Press, Jan. 23, 2011: “Wecould resolve the Social Security question onthe back of a matchbook.” And he is correct.

This is what must be done: Increase SocialSecurity taxes. In other words pay more nowso there will be something there when youretire. Increase the salary cap for the collec-tion of Social Security contributions. If wecan pay 4.6 percent of our paycheck when weearn up to $106,800 a year we could certain-ly make contributions up to say $250,000 ayear.

Make an adjustment to the amount ofmoney Social Security beneficiaries receive.Raise the retirement age. In 1935, whenSocial Security was created it was anticipat-

ed that the life expectancy for the averageAmerican was 67.1 years. Today it is 77.5.Common sense says we are working longerand the need, except for the disabled, to retireshould be later than 62.

I do not have the ability to make theadjustment calculations to meet the fourmodifications I cited above but once madeSocial Security would no longer be a federalbudgetary consideration. We would be self-sufficient, self-financing and no longer aproblem for the White House and theDemocrats and Republicans in the Congress.

It will take a little more space than theback of a matchbook to resolve. But you arecertainly correct, Sen. McCain, it is solvable.

We appreciate your opinions on this col-umn whether in agreement or disagreement.Please send your comments to (fax number)305-662-6980 or email to <[email protected]>. The opinionsexpressed in this column are not necessarilythose of this newspaper, its editors or pub-lisher.

KENNETH’S COMMENTARY

R. Kenneth Bluh • • • VIEWPOINT • • •Social Security: Entitlement or prepaid retirement benefit?

By Misty Buck

Love it or hateit, social media isessential intodayʼs businessworld and bringswith it infiniteopportunities toeither build rela-tionships or drive

people away. The truth is, socialmedia marketing is still fairly newand most people, despite their bestintentions, still donʼt get it.Want to be a social mediastar? Check out this list of 10social media marketing mistakes toavoid:

Posting before "thinking" -Whenyou post in a hurry or carelessly,the wording may inadvertentlyhave completely different meaning.Worse yet is posting angry rants,which can really turn people off.This goes for both brands and per-sonal accounts. Take a step back,breathe, and think.

Direct messages to new con-tacts – Sending a private messageto a new contact can be great, butself-promotional messages mightbackfire. If you really want some-oneʼs attention, send him or her apersonal note.

Synching all accounts - Differentnetworks equal different contexts.For instance, Facebook posts auto-matically sent to Twitter are usuallyover 140 characters and the mes-sage gets cut off. You also miss outon hashtags and tagging otherusers, an important part of buildingrelationships.

Poor grammar - Reread beforeyou click share and brush up onbasic grammar. For example, itʼs“sneak peek” not “sneak peak.” Ikeep a reference book close by atall times just in case I need arefresher.

Friend requests by unknownpeople - Identify yourself and yourreason for connecting with a per-sonal message. If I donʼt know youor if it sounds like a sales pitch,youʼre getting ignored or marked asspam.

Incorrectly using hashtags –#Annoying. Hashtags are beingused more across all networks asthey have become popular, but didyou know that they only serve afunction on a few sites? Hereʼs ahint: They donʼt work on Facebook.

Clicking on or sharing spamlinks - Beware clicking on or shar-ing spam links. You can hover overthe link to view the source. Ifyouʼre still not sure, use a URLexpander service like http://where-doesthislinkgo.com/.

Ignoring comments –Acknowledge all comments andmessages. Certainly donʼt ignoreor delete negative comments.Address the issue and turn it into apositive customer service experi-ence

Stale accounts – Having anaccount on a social network meansnothing if youʼre not actively usingit. Accounts with outdated postsand incomplete profiles are greatways to look like you either donʼtknow what youʼre doing or you sim-ply donʼt care.

Talking at people and not withthem – Whatʼs in it for them? Thinkabout what grabs your attention onsocial networks and then thinkabout what keeps it there. Ask ques-tions. Get creative. Be personal.

Misty Buck is the president of Miss Ink,LLC, a public relations firm specializing insocial media marketing. Misty also teach-es workshops and seminars on best socialmedia marketing practices. For more infor-mation, contact Misty at [email protected] or visit miss-ink.com.

10 Social Media MarketingMistakes to Avoid


Retailers agree that this past holidayshopping season was better than the previ-ous year. However, as the U.S. economyimproved, the influx of post-holiday billsalso may be a lot worse than past years.

The main question for a lot of consumersnow is: “How can you pay them off as pain-lessly as possible?”

Howard Dworkin of Consolidated Creditconfirms that a few years ago most peoplestopped using their credit cards, but thisseason he says, “Boy, they spent like ban-shees.”

According to the National RetailFederation, 2012 holiday spending went upabout 10 percent from the previous year tothe tune of $28 billion and unless you paidcash all those bills are coming due soon.

“Unfortunately, now it’s time to pay thepiper,” Dworkin said.

Doral’s Vivian Elesppe already is tryingto figure out how to pay off her growingholiday bills, “I have to readjust; pay a lit-tle less; find a way to budget better, and cutcosts somewhere,” she said.

What’s making it even harder? Likeeveryone else, her take home pay is lessthan last year’s because of higher payrolltaxes.

So how do we cut costs and pay off thecredit cards?

Coral Gables financial planner LaneJones of Evensky & Katz said it may makesense temporarily to reduce savings plansand use the extra take-home pay to acceler-ate paying off high credit card debt.

“You can always evaluate what you’rededucting into your 401k,” Jones suggest-ed. “I always hate to tell people to cut backtheir savings, but that’s one way to do it.”

Need some more ideas?Go through your bills and cut back all

unnecessary expenses — like dining out orall those premium cable channels you maynever watch.

Check your credit cards and pay off thehighest interest rates first. Try to use cashrather than credit as much as possible, anddon’t get trapped into thinking you can justmake the minimum payments.

“If you want to be in debt the rest of yourlife, just pay the recommended payments,”Dworkin warns, “If you do, you’ll neverget out of debt. It could take you 10 to 25years.”

Home mortgages are at all-time lowrates. If you can refinance and save moneyon your monthly payments, the extra cashcan go towards paying off holiday bills.

Need one last idea?Now is a great time to start a so-called

“Christmas Club” savings account for the2013 holiday season.

Want some more budget strategies?Just check out this link from the FederalTrade Commission on “66 Ways to SaveMoney.”

Visit <www.consumer.ftc.gov/arti-cles/0163-66-ways-save-money>.

Or check these links for more HomeBudgeting Help: <www.bankrate.com/cal-culators/smart-spending/home-budget-plan-calculator.aspx> or<www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/money-matters/managing-your-budget.shtml>.

Watch Al Sunshine’s “Money Watch”reports Monday-Friday on CBS4. You mayfind Al’s blog at <www.cbs4.com/catego-ry/blogs/al-sunshine>.

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Consumers suffer from backlash of holiday bill


BY JEANMARIE FERRARA

The Krutulis family invites the communi-ty to attend a “Celebration of Life” ceremo-ny for the late Marian C. Krutulis, founderof Gulliver Schools, who passed away onJan. 26 at the age of 89. The event will takeplace at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at theUniversity of Miami’s BankUnited Center,1245 Dauer Dr. in Coral Gables.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Krutulisfamily requests that contributions be madeto the Joseph A. and Marian C. KrutulisMemorial Endowment Fund. This endow-ment fund was established by the Krutulisfamily and past parents to support studentsthat qualify for financial aid.

Donations may be made online at<www.gulliverschools.org>, by mailing acheck along with a donation form (or sim-ply write gift designation in the memo sec-tion of the check) and mail to: GulliverSchools Advancement Office, 1500 SanRemo Ave., Suite 420, Coral Gables, FL33146, or by calling the AdvancementOffice at 786-709-4081.

Community tribute set for Feb. 12to honor Gulliver’s Marian Krutulis

Marian C. Krutulis–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


‘Read to Learn Initiative’ targets children reading below grade levelBY GARY ALAN RUSE

The Southern Regional LiteracyCommunity Planning Meeting took place onWednesday, Jan. 23, at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 St.in Cutler Bay.

Sponsored by The Children’s Trust “Readto Learn Initiative,” the purpose of the meet-ing was to inform community leaders, par-ents and others about an urgent problem inthe community. Too many children are read-ing well below their grade level. “Read toLearn” is a communitywide initiative withthe goal that all children read at or abovegrade level by the third grade.

Emily Cardenas of The Children’s Trustsaid that there have been additional meetingsin Homestead at the Philcol WilliamsCommunity Center, Little Haiti CulturalCenter, Joseph Caleb Center, OvertownYouth Center and Betty FergusonRecreational Complex, with more to follow.

“As for the Cutler Bay meeting, I wouldsay it was a good first step in building acoalition of residents who could help launcha neighborhood-based movement to improvegrade-level reading in their community,”Cardenas said. “There were parents, retiredteachers, local librarians, and after-school

programs at the table. Church leaders weresuggested as people who were sorely neededto join future dialogues. In the comingweeks, The Children’s Trust will help bringmore people from the South Miami-Dadearea together again to eventually turn conver-sation into action at the grassroots level.”

According to The Children’s Trust, thethree major reasons why children are notreading at grade level are: summer learningloss, poor school attendance and inadequatepre-school readiness. They estimate that 88percent of the children who never graduatefrom high school were poor third grade read-ers, and that high school dropouts earn lessthan half of college graduates.

Sue Loyzelle, Cutler Bay Seat 2 coun-cilmember, attended the meeting and saidthat the information given them was that only53 percent of students countywide are read-ing at grade level by the third grade, and thatin the south end of the county the number isonly 26 percent.

“Some of the attendees included commu-nity representatives such as myself,”Loyzelle said. “There were Miami-DadePublic Library representatives from theSouth Dade Library and Palmetto BayLibrary, the Girl Scouts, local school teach-ers, faith based representatives, local CBOs

and the staff from The Children’s Trust.”The Read To Learn Book Club is a free,

monthly book club for all 3-year-olds inMiami-Dade County, funded and adminis-tered by The Children’s Trust, Miami-DadeFamily Learning Partnership and EarlyLearning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe.

All children are eligible on their third birth-day to receive a free book each month, deliv-ered to their home.

For more information visit <www.thechil-drenstrust.org/read-to-learn-book-club> orcontact Emily Cardenas at <[email protected]>.

Pictured are some of those attending the meeting at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

BY RICHARD YAGER

Determined to retain its recently approvedtrauma center, Kendall Regional MedicalCenter is rallying public and professionalsupport in the face of a legal challenge fromJackson Health System, which operates theRyder Trauma Center.

In a competitive climate to maintain rev-enue streams, Jackson Health filed two peti-tions with the State of Florida in earlyJanuary to revoke the KRMC operationslicense, declaring it was illegally granted.

The hospital attorneys have asked forhearings after an administrative law judgewas reported to find Florida Department ofHealth rules invalid for certifications inNovember 2011, the same month KRMCopened its new trauma center.

Opened Nov. 19, 2011, the West Kendallfacility is credited with assisting “more than2,550 critically injured patients” by a full

page advertisement published in The MiamiHerald on Jan. 25 after a Jan. 18 Heraldstory headlined the legal action, based on aNews Service of Florida report of Jan. 15.

Both reports noted how hospitals strive tomaintain trauma centers as revenue sources,particularly in highly urbanized areas where firerescue departments operate in crises withoutregard to patient insurance costs and coverage.

“In some areas where there is greaterdemand, like Miami, some hospitals are nowactively trying to prevent more trauma cen-ters,” observed Tony Fransetta, president ofFlorida Alliance for Retired Americans, anon-profit representing 200,000 retirees.

He added, “Time plays a critical factorduring traumatic events. In Florida, thestate’s goal is to have a hospital trauma unitwith trained staff, the best equipment andproven techniques within each of its so-called 19 designated Trauma Service Areas.”

Potential revisions in the state trauma sys-tem were under study Feb. 2-5 in Tallahasseeby members of the American College ofSurgeons, which is conducting an independ-ent review of Florida’s existing regulatorycode managed by the Florida StateDepartment of Health.

Dr. Mark G. McKenney, chief of traumasurgery, heads the KRMC center followingexperience at Jackson’s Ryder TraumaCenter for over 20 years where he served aschief of trauma surgery and the center’s med-ical director

McKenney believes that Miami-DadeCounty has been “underserved for years incare for trauma cases,” noting that beforeKRMC opened its unit, “transportation fromsouthwestern parts of Miami-Dade Countycost patients critical time.”

As a provisional Level II trauma center,the KRMC unit’s primary focus is to provideoptimal care by a multidisciplinary traumateam that includes pre-hospital personnel,trauma surgeons, emergency medicine physi-cians, specialist consult physicians, nurses,and ancillary staff, according to Peter Jude,KRMC spokesperson.

The trauma center differs from a typicalemergency department in that it is equippedto provide specialized, comprehensive emer-gency medical services to patients sufferingtraumatic injuries, he said.

A key component is having a trauma sur-geon at the patient’s bedside within minutesafter notification of the arrival of a patientjudged to be in need of rapid assessment of

injuries, a critical factor in successful treat-ment, he said.

A Level II center is required to be open 24hours but specialists are “on call” rather thanstationed at the facility. Trauma teams assessseriousness of patient injuries to relay thecare needed even before transporting themost seriously injured to a trauma center likeKendall Regional, Jude explained.

KRMC Trauma Center challenged by Jackson Health

Rooftop heliport aids in receiving some trauma cases at KRMC.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Dr. Mark G. McKenney is chief of trauma surgery atKRMC.

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BY ELIZABETH ADAMS

The largest school districts in the U.S.,including Miami-Dade County PublicSchools (MDCPS), recently announced thatfor the first time they have banded togetherto share best practices and to build a coali-tion to drive food costs down and quality up,ultimately giving students healthy optionsfor school meals.

The districts have formed the UrbanSchool Food Alliance, which includes theschool districts of New York City, LosAngeles, Chicago, Miami-Dade as well asthose in Dallas and Orlando. The group,which procures more than $530 million infood and food supplies annually, aims to useits purchasing power to help drive downcosts of food and supplies, and to have ven-dors reformulate menu items to ensure thatstudents continue to receive delicious andnutritious meals daily that exceed USDAguidelines. The school districts in thealliance served more than 460 million mealsduring the 2011-12 school year. That is2,565,500 meals daily.

“Forming such a partnership is unprece-dented,” said Rick Boull’t, chief operatingofficer at the Los Angeles Unified SchoolDistrict. “It’s an honor to be a part of an

alliance that wants to move the needle whenit comes to improving school food, whileimplementing eco-friendly practices.”

The Urban School Food Alliance first metin summer 2012 in Denver and has met reg-ularly since by tele-conference before the in-person meeting in Miami.

The food services directors from each ofthe school districts share and review menuitems to ensure that they provide access tomeals that meet the following nutrient rec-ommendations: whole grain products, lowfat dairy, fresh produce and lean protein thatwhen prepared are calorie conscious, andlow in fat, sugar and sodium. In addition tocreating a purchasing powerhouse, the coali-tion is working to be more ecological bylooking for alternatives to polystyrene trays.

“We want to give a national voice to ahealthier meal program where costs are con-tained,” said Eric Goldstein, CEO of SchoolSupport Services for the New York CityDepartment of Education, who spearheadedthis alliance. “Our urban school districts faceunique challenges and we need to find inno-vative ways to meet them.”

To show solidarity in providing healthymeals, the Urban School Food Alliance willbe serving the same lunch at all six schooldistricts on Wednesday, Mar. 20. The menu

includes savory roasted chicken, brown ricewith seasoned black or red beans, steamedgreen broccoli, fresh seasonal fruit and milk.

In recent years, the school districts haveimplemented innovative ways to provideaccess to school meals including expandedoptions for reaching more students withbreakfast on campus as well as supper afterschool in order to meet the needs of students.In some of the districts, close to 90 percent ofthe student body qualifies for free andreduced price meals as a significant numberof families live in poverty.

“Ultimately, the role of school food servic-es has expanded beyond serving just lunch-es,” said Carol Chong, director of Food andMenu Management at Miami-Dade CountyPublic Schools. “Providing students withnutritious meals assures that students are pre-pared to meet the academic challenges of theday. Hunger should not be a reason for lowperformance in the classroom.”

To learn more about the Urban School FoodAlliance, contact Tatum Wan, RL PublicRelations, at 1-310-473-4422 or by email at<[email protected]>.

MDCPS joins other urban districts to raise food quality, lower costs

Food services representatives from the school districts of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami-Dade,Dallas and Orlando gather for the announcement. Pictured (l-r) are Carol Chong, Miami-Dade County PublicSchools; Penny Parham, Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Brad Trudeau, Dallas Independent School District;Laura Gillbert, Orange County Public Schools; Dora Rivas, Dallas Independent School District; Leslie Fowler,Chicago Public Schools; Stephen O’Brien, New York City Department of Education; Armando Taddei, New York CityDepartment of Education; David Binkle, Los Angeles Unified School District, and Dennis Barrett, former director ofFood Services, Los Angeles Unified School District.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––






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BY LEE STEPHENS

Internationally collected artist David

Schor, who has his studio in Palmetto Bay,

has completed the first of a series of paint-

ings commissioned by Ariel Rodriguez,

owner of Pasta Del Giorno Restaurant,

located at 8739 SW 136 St., across from

The Falls Shopping Center.

The series, titled “Everybody Eats at

Pasta Del Giorno!” will consist of a num-

ber of original paintings created by

Schor, who is well known for his paint-

ings for the Greater Miami Chamber of

Commerce, Miami Children’s Hospital,

the Rotary and the YMCA of the USA,

all of which have also been published as

limited editions.

Unveiled recently at Pasta Del Giorno,

Everybody Eats at Pasta Del Giorno No. 1— Tony Soprano by Schor, shows Tony

Soprano being served by another of the

show’s characters, Arty Bucco. His wife,

Carmella is across the table from Tony.

“I am very excited to have been able to

interest David Schor in painting a series of

famous characters eating at our new restau-

rant,” Rodriguez said. “All original paint-

ings will be on permanent exhibition at

Pasta Del Giorno and the public is invited

to eat and enjoy the first of this series.”

“Ariel and his staff have made Pasta Del

Giorno a very different experience,” Schor

said.

“My wife, Olga, and I spend a great deal

of time on location in Italy every year cre-

ating paintings for clients, and Pasta Del

Giorno has the exuberant atmosphere of an

intimate restaurant in Italy.”

The concept for the series evolved as a

result of discussions between the two men.

“I have always felt that the best paintings

are the result of a joining of the creative

efforts of my clients and myself. This

series evolved when Ariel and I discussed

who should be depicted in one painting. As

soon as the theme for ‘Everybody Eats at

Pasta Del Giorno — Tony Soprano’ sur-

faced, the series was born,” Schor said.

Diners can look forward to at least five

paintings in the series.

For more information about the Artist,

visit <www.DavidSchor.com> or call 786-

443-3705.

To contact Pasta Del Giorno, call 305-

969-0075.

Paintings show ‘Everybody eats at Pasta Del Giorno’

Everybody Eats at Pasta Del Giorno No. 1 — Tony Soprano by David Schor.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


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BY TERESA ESTEFAN

TotalBank recently donated the sculp-ture “Total Peace” by local artist MANOto Zoo Miami. The artwork, now situatedjust south of the zoo’s new PlayworldPlayground area, depicts a manatee withits offspring and originally graced the cor-ner of Red Road and Sunset in front ofTotalBank’s Red Sunset Banking Center.

The sculpture was a part of the SouthMiami Manatee Fest, a public art eventused to raise awareness for local naturalresources, waterways, wildlife and aquatictreasures.

TotalBank supports Zoo Miami’s com-

mitment to worldwide conservation andits efforts to heighten appreciation for theworld’s wildlife in the children of ourcommunity.

Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152St. General zoo admission is $15.95 plustax per adult and $11.95 plus tax per child(3-12). Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.;ticket booths close at 4 p.m. Parking isfree. Annual pass holders and children 2and under under are free.

For more information on Zoo Miami,visit <www.zoomiami.org> or call 305-251-0400. More information aboutTotalBank can be found at <www.total-bank.com>.

TotalBank donates manatee sculptureto Zoo Miami to promote conservation

Ron Magill, communications director and goodwill ambassador for Zoo Miami, (left) and Mel Martin, senior vicepresident and market manager at TotalBank, are pictured with the manatee sculpture.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


BY ANA M. POVEDA

The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Women’s Glee Club performed for WestminsterChristian High School students, and then visited middle school classrooms and ate lunchwith high school students to share their experiences at the Academy. Students were ableto ask questions, and learned about the many opportunities available at the USNA.

USNA Women’s Glee Club performsat Westminster Christian School

U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen share their experiences with Westminster Christian Middle School students.

The U.S. Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club performs for Westminster Christian High School students.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


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BY SHAWN WARMSTEIN

Sandra Fine, APR, vice president of rbbPublic Relations, a national marketing pub-lic relations firm that champi-ons breakout brands, has beennamed president of the PublicRelations Society of America(PRSA) Miami Chapter.

Fine has been a member ofPRSA Miami since 2008. Shepreviously was chair of thecollege relations committee, aboard member at large, secre-tary and president-elect. Finealso is accredited in publicrelations (APR) by PRSA.

“As part of our employee-driven workplace, rbb strongly supportscommunity leadership and is committed tohelping current and future practitionersstay ahead of the curve in today’s ever-changing communications industry,” saidrbb CEO and managing partner ChristineBarney, a PRSA Miami past president.

“Sandra has dedicated herself to becom-

ing a leader in our field and we’re proud tohave her represent rbb and the SouthFlorida community among public relationsprofessionals nationally.”

Fine has managed severalaward-winning client cam-paigns that have garnered theagency top recognition includ-ing a Silver Anvil from thePublic Relations Society ofAmerica for reputation/brandmanagement and a GoldSABRE from the HolmesReport for corporate reputation.

In addition, she was named tothe PR News 2008 “15 toWatch” list, a national awardgiven to 15 up-and-coming

communications professionals under theage of 30 who demonstrate outstandingperformance and a keen understanding ofthe profession beyond their years.

Fine is the fourth member of rbb PublicRelations to lead a local PRSA Chapter.For more information about rbb, call 305-448-7450 or visit <www.rbbpr.com>.

Sandra Fine named president of Miami Chapter of PRSA

Sandra Fine––––––––––––––

Beverley A. McGhee receivesDistinguished Educator Award

Beverley A. McGhee (left) recently received the 2012 Distinguished Educator Award at the Florida StateUniversity College of Education. The presentation was made by Dr. Marcy P. Driscoll, PhD, dean of Collegeof Education at FSU. McGhee and her husband, Jim, founded the Alexander Montessori School in Miamiin 1963 where her sons, James and Alex, and Dr. Joyce McGhee, are administrators. The AlexanderMontessori School now has 570 students and 106 staff.

HMS FARA season shifts intooverdrive with inaugural event

BY CARIDAD WEST

The Formula Automobile RacingAssociation (FARA) hit the track atHomestead Miami Speedway recentlywith the first in a series of races going into2013. FARA sponsored the InauguralInternational 500K Road Race to the grat-itude of thousands of fans who watched 50professional racing teams from all over theworld compete on a picture-perfect day.

President Tico Almeida founded 7-year-old FARA to bring together internationalprofessionals and gentleman racers, prima-rily from Latin America, to showcase theirtalent in South Florida.

“As a former professional internationalracer and promoter I understand the formu-la to create a spectacular event for the pub-lic to enjoy,” Almeida said. “Miami is thegateway to Latin America and we have hadgreat representation from the Americas atour events as well as racers from theUnited States like Jeff Segal, Dave Heinzand Bill Lester.”

The overall winner of the 500K wasShane Lewis of the American Le MansSeries. After sealing his victory at theHomestead Miami Speedway 500K, Lewiswent on to win the first endurance race ofthe 2013 season, the Dunlop 24-Hour Racein Dubai.

“We had a beautiful and memorable500K event to get the season started,”Almeida said. “We couldn’t have made ithappen without major sponsor KendallHyundai.”

Steve Gutstein, general manager of

Kendall Hyundai, and his team were outon race day welcoming guests and assist-ing with logistics. The 2-year-old commu-nity-oriented dealership invited honoraryguest and young cancer survivor 7-year-old Evangeline Nieves of Cutler Bay andher family.

“We were proud to be FARA’s mainsponsor and look forward to futureevents,” Gutstein said. “The most memo-rable part of the day for me was seeing thesmiles on Evangeline and her sisterAntonella’s faces. What makes FARA dif-ferent from your traditional racing associa-tions is they really promote a family-friendly atmosphere.”

The Nieves family took the first lap inone of the two Kendall Hyundai Pace Carson site, the 2013 Genesis Coupe two-doorSports Car Track Model six-cylinder withmore than 300 horsepower. The VelosterSensation three-door non-hatchback alsowas on the track for the opening race dayseries.

FARA assistant director Alberto de lasCasas said the racing season began firingon all cylinders and it only will get moreentertaining as the tours continue atHomestead Miami Speedway.

“The Winter Tour Race is coming upnow on Feb. 23 and 24,” de las Casas said.“It is the PANAM GP Series where we willhave 20 Formula 3 cars from LatinAmerica as they begin their championshipin the U.S. and then go on to CentralAmerica, Mexico, and South America.”

For more information on FARA eventsvisit farausa.com.

Kendall Hyundai marketing director Mary Portela and general manager Steve Gutstein enjoy a day at the races.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––



BY NANCY EAGLETON

Under the direction of Medical DirectorDr. Harris Mones, the medical team atMiami Urgent Care Center Medical Clinicin Coral Gables provides patients withexpert care to treat illnesses commonlyseen in a family physician’s office as wellas most minor, non-life threatening condi-tions usually treated in hospital emergencyrooms.

Dr. Mones envisions his practice as ahybrid — combining family practice,urgent care and concierge-style services.

As part of the center’s VIP (VeryImportant Patient) service level, the well-appointed medical center on Douglas Roadaccepts walk-in patients for same-dayappointments and remains open extendedhours, including Saturdays and Sundays.

“Many patients come to us to receive‘urgent care’ treatment because they do nothave a primary care physician or they can-not get a timely appointment with theirphysician when they are sick or have aminor injury,” Dr. Mones said. “They areso pleased with the level of care and theconvenience we offer, they continue to visitus for their general healthcare.”

Dr. Mones has provided his cell phonenumber to his patients “since he started car-rying a cell phone” and has made housecalls to those unable to visit the office sincehe began practicing medicine.

“No matter how good of a doctor youare, if you are not available to your patientswhen they need you, then you are not verygood,” Dr. Mones said. “We are open earlymornings, evenings and weekends andnever say ‘no’ to our patients when theyneed us. We provide a level of servicebeyond that provided in a concierge-typepractice — without charging a hefty yearlymembership fee as is common in thosetypes of practices.”

That same level of service is provided tomembers in the new VIP Discount Medical

Membership plan — an affordable optionfor anyone without health insurance orthose with high-deductible insurance plansor insufficient insurance coverage. The feeis $60 per month per person. The programincludes many conveniences and services,including unlimited doctor and urgent carevisits, with discounted co-pays and med-ication.

Prompt attention is given to patientsupon arrival to the center. Most patients areseen in less than one hour. To make thewait comfortable, Miami Urgent CareCenter has flat-screen televisions in thewaiting area and all exam rooms. Coffeeand tea are offered and iPads are availablefor patient use. The beautiful 150-gallonlive reef saltwater aquarium enhances thewaiting area’s relaxed atmosphere.

Dr. Mones is board certified in familypractice and geriatrics and has more than 20years of experience treating children andadults in Miami. He treats medical condi-tions in areas such as dermatology, gynecol-ogy, urology, orthopedics, pulmonary, trav-el medicine, pediatrics and geriatrics. Hisability to offer a vast array of medical serv-ices to children and adults in one locationsaves patients time and money.

“In most instances, our patients don’thave to visit labs, specialists and pharma-cies after their visit. We perform completediagnostic services, including X-rays,ultrasound and lab work. We also dispensemany medications — most are less than$20,” Dr. Mones said.

With Chiropractor Dr. Luis EnriqueOrozco on staff, Miami Urgent Care is theonly urgent care center in Miami offeringemergency chiropractic care to its patients.In addition, three highly skilled and quali-fied physician assistants help Dr. Monespromptly treat minor medical emergenciessuch as lacerations, infections, wound care,sprains and minor broken bones.

Patients can receive treatment for infec-tions, rashes, sexually transmitted diseases

and automobile and worker’s compensa-tion injuries. Dr. Mones and his medicalteam perform immigration exams, employ-ment physicals and flu and travel vaccina-tions, as well as school and camp physicalsfor children.

For a complete list of services, visitonline at <www.DrMones.com> and<www.MiamiUrgentCare.com>. The cen-ter is located at 2645 SW 37 Ave., Suite502. For more information or to make anappointment, call 305-494-0536.

Miami Urgent Care Center provides comprehensive family medical care

Dr. Harris Mones combines modern medical care with old-fashioned attention to enhance the patient experience atMiami Urgent Care Center Medical Clinic.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


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In its signature program for awardingdollars to nonprofits, the MiamiFoundation is accepting applications forthe 2013 Community Grants Program.

Established in 1967, the program investsin quality and innovative organizations thatstrive to build a greater Miami. The foun-dation will review pre-proposals and inviteselected organizations to complete full pro-posals. The deadline to submit a pre-pro-posal is Thursday, Feb. 7, by 4 p.m.

Last year, the Community GrantsProgram awarded more than $1 million tosupport 62 nonprofits in Greater Miami.

“These grants are made possible by gen-erous philanthropists in our communityand allow us to address emerging needsthroughout Miami,” said Javier AlbertoSoto, president and CEO of The MiamiFoundation.

“From youth and homeless programs tothe arts and social services, the causes sup-ported are as diverse as Miami-Dade’s com-munity. We invite all local nonprofits thatshare our vision for a better Miami to apply.”

Pre-proposals for the 2013 Safe Passagegrant program also are being accepted andare due by Wednesday, Feb. 13, by 4 p.m.

Safe Passage grants support nonprofits thathelp young people make the challengingtransition from foster care to living inde-pendently. These grants, totaling $200,000,are made possible through the generosityof the DadeFund, an endowment estab-lished by Hugh Westbrook and EstherColliflower in 1992.

Guidelines and pre-proposal applica-tions can be found on The MiamiFoundation’s website at <www.miami-foundation.org> in the “Community” sec-tion. For additional information, contactMarianne Maduro, senior program officer,at 305-357-2087 or via email at<[email protected]>.

Established in 1967, The MiamiFoundation has helped hundreds of peoplecreate personal, permanent and powerfullegacies by establishing custom, charitablefunds. With foundation expertise, fundholders have fostered the arts, awardedscholarships, championed diversity, taughtchildren to read, provided food and shelterfor the hungry and homeless, and more.More than $150 million in grants andscholarships have been awarded in thefoundation’s 45-year history. Today, thefoundation is steward to more than $160million in charitable assets.

The Miami Foundation to award more than $1 million in grants

2012 Community Grants grantee Shake-A-Leg Miami received $15,000 furthering its mission to provide peoplewith disabilities and disadvantaged youth opportunities to use the marine environment to improve their health,education and independence in an inclusive community setting.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––




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After 25 years of teaching dance in Miami, Maria Verdeja School of theArts has opened a brand new studio in Pinecreston January 18. This facility is the fourth location for the school, joining studios in Coral Gables, Kendall and Key Bis-cayne. In addition, MVSA teaches afterschool dance in seven local elementary schools, bringing the school’s totalnumber of students to over 700. Owner Maria Verdeja has become a local institution in the dance world, having nowtaught three generations of dancers who have performed at the annual Coral Gables Tree Lighting event, Key BiscayneWinterfest, the Three Kings parade, numerous charity events throughout the year, and the school’s centerpiece End ofYear Show held at the Gusman Theater every Spring.

The Pinecrest studio is a completely new 3100 sq. ft. facility, located at 8181 S.W. 117 St, at the site of the old Mercantile bank. If all goes according toplan, the school will expand next year to include another 1500 sq. ft. once the property next door becomes available, making space available for up to 350 students.A classically trained ballerina, Verdeja was born and raised in Coral Gables and is a first generation Cuban American,. She started dancing ballet at the age of 5 and rapidly progressedin skill and technique, training with the late Martha Mahr, and eventually finishing as the top American dancer in the Prix de Lausanne competition in 1983. After graduating from theUniversity of Miami with a degree in Education, she joined the Miami City Ballet in its inaugural year, and then two years later left to open her own dance school in 1987. In addition toclassical ballet, the school teaches other dance forms such as Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Flamenco and Hip-hop, and also offers music lessons on a private basis. While concentrating in children’sdance education, adult classes in dance, fitness and Zumba are also held during the day“My goal”, says Verdeja, “is to reach as many children as I can and introduce them to the beauty of dance. Our philosophy is to make dance a fun, fulfilling and healthy activity for kidswhich will become something that they will carry forward into their adulthood. Not every child will become a professional dancer, but we have specialized classes and advanced programsdesigned for those young dancers who have the talent and dedication to pursue that goal, and over the years, several of our dancers have made it into professional companies” Recently,dancers fromMVSAhave won first prize for Jazz at National Competitions in Las Vegas and the Gold Medal for Classical Ballet at theAmerican Dance Competition in Daytona Beach,and have been accepted to prestigious summer dance programs for aspiring young professional dancers.“May we all dance through life” is Verdeja’s motto, and she tries to live up to it every day. “I am so grateful to our wonderful staff of professional teachers, some of whom were amongmy original students at the beginning. Every day walking along the street I see current students, former students who are now parents of students and even grandparents, who remind me

what a positive impact dance has had in their lives. Nothing makes me happier in my own life than to know that I havebeen able to give them something so beautiful and lasting, and I hope to continue on for many years to come.”

NEWDANCE STUDIOOPENS IN PINECRESTMaria Verdeja School of the Arts

8181 S.W. 117 St. Pinecrest, FL

305.448.6717 • www.mariaverdejadance.com



NEW ACCIDENT ASSISTANT APP BYPANTER, PANTER & SAMPEDRO, P.A.

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Panter, Panter & Sampedro, P.A. has unveiled “Accident Assistant,” its newfree mobile app for Android and iPhone devices. The app connects users withhelpful resources on the scene of the accident via their mobile phone.Auto accidents are one of the most frightening and disorienting experiences in aperson’s life and yet one of the times people should be most alert and aware.Panter, Panter, & Sampedro P.A., a Miami-based personal injury law firm, haslaunched the Accident Assistant app, a free application that helps those in carincidents organize accident details during a stressful time.Accident Assistant offers useful tools for those in accidents, including:

• Recording accident information • Storing photographs and videotapes of the accident scene or injuries • A virtual insurance card • A flashlight for nighttime accidents • Instant texting with the Panter, Panter & Sampedro, P.A. office • Push-button calling • Case information submission

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This app makes it easy to quickly submit case information to Panter, Panter &Sampedro, P.A. for a free consultation and attorney review. The app also featuresinstant contact options like live texting with the law office, push-button calling andcase information submission.“We represent many car accident injury victims, and saw a need for a sim-ple, straightforward way to record all the vital details at the scene of theaccident, before memories fade,” says Mitchell Panter, co-founder of Panter,Panter & Sampedro, P.A.Studies show people overestimate their ability to remember things accurately;Accident Assistant will help improve retention. “Knowledge is power and we’dlike to help those in this kind of stressful situation retain as much as possible,”adds Brett Panter, co-founder.“One of the best features of the app is communication. You’re texting withyour attorney’s office in the moment; you can’t get better service thanthat,” says partner David Sampedro.This is the first app offered by Panter, Panter & Sampedro, P.A. To learn moreabout the app or to download it, search for “Panter Law app” in iTunes or GooglePlay. Additional information about Panter, Panter & Sampedro is available at Pan-terlaw.com.

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BY JUANITA GOLDEN

While daunting terms like “fiscal cliff”and “debt ceiling” get bandied aroundWashington, DC, in sunny South Florida,World Business Brokers has seen doublethe activity in the firstmonth of 2013 and con-tinues its ascension as oneof the nation’s leadingmergers and acquisitionsfirms serving a diverseinternational clientelesince 1970.

“World BusinessBrokers has handled overa billion dollars worth oftransactions in the past 45years,” said WBBI execu-tive vice presidentMichael Schuster. “Whatour success means to theprospective business sell-er is that we have a database of over 14,000 pre-qualified buyers fromaround the world to choose from, many ofwhom are repeat buyers with multiplebusinesses.”

Schuster is a University of Miami grad-uate who majored in finance and trans-portation. He comes from a family of suc-cessful entrepreneurs and now a provenintermediary. When Schuster joined WBBIand president Dean Sena, he brought morethan 25 years of experience in executivemanagement as a former CFO, as well asan extensive real estate background.

“We are not a franchise,” Schuster said.“We are one of the only brokers in the stateof Florida who have their own database ofglobal buyers through its affiliate officesaround the world. What keeps us in busi-ness is the secret service nature of how we

handle the businesses of our clients andpre qualify buyers.”

World Business Brokers allows clientsto confidentially explore opportunitieswithout any chance of leaks or breaches inconfidentiality occurring, according to

Schuster.“One of the biggest

decisions a business per-son will make is the sell-ing of their company,”Schuster said. “We are anestablished intermediarywith a long term trackrecord. We take pride inalleviating the burden ofnegotiating an exit strate-gy for families preparingfor retirement, or assist-ing entrepreneurs in newmarket potential.”

President of WBBSena said Miami is “theinternational melting potof money and thereforebusiness continues its

uptick in the new year because we are theGateway to the Americas and beyond.Multiples being paid for businesses are attheir highest level. One business justrecently sold for 14 times its net income.Demand for businesses is a direct result ofa high supply of buyers seeking business-es. We have more buyers than sellers.”

World Business Brokers is currentlyopening satellite offices in Boca Raton,Fort Myers, Naples and Tampa under theleadership of Schuster while founder andpresident Sena continues to manage theMiami home office.

For more information on WorldBusiness Brokers Inc. contact Dean Senaat 305-670-6565 or send email to <[email protected]>.

Michael Schuster–––––––––––––––––––––––

World Business Brokers continuesleadership in mergers, acquisitions


BY DUREE ROSS

BRIO Tuscan Grille, a BRAVO | BRIORestaurant Group (BBRG) concept, is open-ing a new location at The Falls. The restau-rant, the 11th BRIO Tuscan Grille inFlorida, is slated to open late February.

BRIO (meaning “lively” or “full of life”)is an upscale, affordable restaurant servingauthentic, northern Italian cuisine. It bringsthe pleasure of the Tuscan country villa tothe American city. The subtitle, “TuscanGrille,” is descriptive of the menu that fea-tures oven-roasted steaks, chops, seafood,made-to-order pastas, flatbreads and entréesalads, similar to what one would find in anauthentic ristorante in Tuscany.

BRIO also offers an ample dessert menu,full wine list and cocktail book. BRIO’smotto is fashioned after the Tuscan philos-ophy of “To eat well is to live well.”

By opening the restaurant at The Falls,BRIO is creating 90 full- and part-timejobs including assistant managers, souschef, prep/line cooks, wait staff, dishwash-ers, hosts/hostesses and bartenders.

Just a few of the delicious menu items atBRIO at The Falls include BruschettaQuattro, Bistecca Insalata, Tuscan HarvestSalad, Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chops,Chicken Limone, Gorgonzola-CrustedFilet, Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, GrilledSalmon Salad, Pasta BRIO, Pasta AllaVodka, Beef Carpaccio, Grilled Mahi MahiFresca, Tiramisu and Torta Di Cioccolata.

Additional offerings at BRIO at TheFalls will be the Bellini Brunch, availableSaturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3p.m., and the $3.95 Tuscan Taster barmenu, which will feature standouts such asShrimptini (shrimp cocktail), BeefCarpaccio, BRIO Burger, and much more.The Tuscan Taster menu, available in thebar only, will be available Monday–Friday

from 3 to 7 p.m. and Monday–Thursdayfrom 9 p.m. until closing.

Every Wednesday, in the bar only, guestswill enjoy $5 Martini Night for select mar-tinis from 4 p.m. until closing. EveryMonday–Friday during Tuscan Tasterhours, BRIO will offer $5 drink specials onselect wines, sangria and martinis. Therestaurant also will offer a special chil-dren’s menu, family-style pans-to-go foroff-site catered special events and businessoccasions, and online ordering.

The new 7,672-square-foot restaurant,located at 8888 SW 136 St., will offerindoor seating for 184 guests, and al frescodining for up to 98 on an Italian-style ter-race. The bar area will seat 25.

BRIO’s villa-like interior features detailssuch as antique, hardwood Cypress floor-ing, arched colonnades, hand-craftedItalian mosaics, antique doors, hand-craft-ed walls covered in an antique Venetianplaster, Arabescato marble-imported fromItaly, and sizable wrought-iron chandeliers.

BRIO at The Falls’ general manager isRyan Glendy; the executive chef is RojelioFernandez.

BRIO at The Falls will be open sevendays a week: Sunday–Thursday, 11a.m.–10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11a.m.–11 p.m. Reservations will be acceptedand walk-ins welcomed.

“BRIO has enjoyed great success in theFlorida market, and we’re excited to bringthis upscale, affordable restaurant to TheFalls,” said Saed Mohseni, CEO and presi-dent, BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group Inc.“We’re confident that BRIO will be an excel-lent restaurant choice for those visiting TheFalls, local residents and area businesses.”

Currently, there are 55 BRIO TuscanGrille restaurants located nationwide. Foradditional information, visit online at<www.brioitalian.com>.

BRIO Tuscan Grille to opennew location at The Falls

BY ALICIA WHITLEY

The Falls, 8888 SW 136 St., will host localmusical sensations with a variety of styles tosuit every taste each Friday night, 6-9 p.m.,during February with the month-long“Fridays at The Falls.”

Feb. 8 — Steve Duell, a guitarist and vocal-ist with a love of the cool sounds of the FloridaKeys, will be showcasing his musical talents.

Duell will take you away with a selection ofMargaritaville influenced music.

Feb. 15 — Frank Hubbell, a DixielandBand that features jazz and an extensiverepertoire of patriotic music and everyone’sfavorite old-time tunes

Feb. 22 — Seven Mile Bridge, allows lis-teners to relive the best decades of Rock ‘nRoll and pop music with the classic soundsof the 1950s to ’80s.

Variety of musical entertainmenton tap Friday nights at The Falls


BY YUDI FERNANDEZ

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, more

than 50 of Miami’s most eligible bachelors

will take the stage in a live auction with

more than 400 women bidding for a chance

to take them on a date, all while supporting

a great cause.

Switchboard of Miami’s Women’s

Leadership Council, in partnership with

Brickell Magazine, presents “Singles for

Switchboard,” the second annual bachelor

auction to raise funds for Switchboard’s

programs and services. Founded in 1968,

the Miami-based non-profit is the area’s

leading provider of telephone counseling,

information, referrals, mental health and

crisis intervention services.

“Singles for Switchboard” will take place

on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at

the Conrad Hotel Miami, 1395 Brickell Ave.,

Level 25, in Brickell. The dynamic event will

feature a live auction with hundreds of pro-

fessional and beautiful women bidding for a

date with many of Miami’s most handsome

and accomplished bachelors.

Hosted by Karent Sierra, a cast member

of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Miami tele-

vision series, the event promises to be full

of fun, surprises and the opportunity to

meet a match. The event will feature hors

d’oeuvres, cocktails, music and great

prizes.

“After a very successful inaugural bach-

elor auction last year, we are very excited

about our second annual event which gives

Miami bachelors and bachelorettes a

chance to mingle, network and connect,

while raising funds for Switchboard of

Miami,” said Erbi Blanco-True,

Switchboard of Miami Board member and

chair of Switchboard’s Women Leadership

Council.

Ms. Blanco-True came up with the event

idea because her single friends were look-

ing for ways to meet professional men, and

she was looking for unique ways to raise

funds.

“The real motivating force of this event

is knowing funds raised will directly bene-

fit the hundreds of individuals Switchboard

helps on a daily basis.” she said.

Tickets for the event cost $45 for women

and $75 for men and guests can register

online. Registration at the door will cost

$60 women and $90 men. For additional

event details, visit <www.switchboardmia-

mi.org>.

Local women invited to bid onMiami’s most eligible bachelors


Top 5 ways to celebrateValentine’s Day with kidsBY SUSSET CABRERA

Valentine’s Day is the time of year whenchildren can experience and learn theimportance of showing kindness towardsothers.

While parents are busy planning theirown romantic evening or getaway, theysometimes forget about incorporating theirchildren into their plans. To help makeValentine’s Day a memorable and enjoy-able holiday forevery family,Rachel Charlupski,founder of TheB a b y s i t t i n gCompany, has creat-ed a list of her “Top5 Ways to CelebrateValentine’s Daywith Children.”

Valentine’s Day isa great opportunityto spend qualitytime not only withyour significantother or spouse butwith your children.By creating a funand interactiveagenda aroundValentine’s Day,children can takepart in simple activ-ities that instill valu-able social and cre-ative skills. Charlupski recommends thefollowing ways to celebrate Valentine’sDay with children:

Cook Valentine’s Day Treats — Allowyour children to help you prepareValentine’s Day-themed recipes such ascupcakes, cookies or other tasty desserts.Select recipes that can be followed easily.Incorporate holiday toppings to yourrecipes and play festive music while theymix. Children feel a sense of accomplish-ment and pride with the end result, plusthey love to decorate and personalize theirown treats.

Create Valentine’s Cards — Ask yourchildren to help you gather materials fromnature or from your local crafts store to cre-ate and design your own Valentine’s Daycards. By having your children write theirown messages inside of each card for theirfriends and family members, you are help-ing promote their creative writing skills.The cards even may be mailed to long dis-tance relatives if prepared ahead of time.

Play Outdoors — It is important forchildren to play outdoors to help themdevelop their bodies while exercising at thesame time. Turn their favorite outdooractivities into a Valentine’s Day-themedgame. For example, children may play a“Heart Scavenger Hunt” which is a greatway for them to exert energy, to exerciseand to enjoy the local environment.

Invite their Friends Over — Play dateshelp children develop their social skills.

Invite their friendsover for any of theactivities men-tioned above andmake sure tomaintain closes u p e r v i s i o n .Parents also mayread Valentine’sDay books to thegroup of childrenand give eachchild a Valentine’sDay goodie bagfilled with tastytreats, Valentine’sDay cards andtheir favorite bookinside.

E n c o u r a g eVolunteering —There is no greateract of kindnessthan giving to oth-ers. Bring your

children along with you to visit a homelessshelter or deliver Valentine’s Day cards to anearby elderly center. These experiencesshow children to care about others in theircommunity while giving back.

By taking part in some of theseValentine’s Day activities, parents will beable to create lasting memories with theirchildren. Once parents are ready to takesome time off, Rachel Charlupski recom-mends hiring a trustworthy and experi-enced babysitter to take care of your chil-dren. Her company matches highly reli-able, fun and energetic babysitters to par-ents’ needs and requests. By providing par-ents with a sense of security and a profes-sional child care experience, the babysitterstruly help make Valentine’s a more enjoy-able day for the entire family.

For more information on RachelCharlupski or The Babysitting Company,visit <www.TheBabysittingCompany.com>or send email to <[email protected]>.

Rachel Charlupski–––––––––––––––––––––––––––


BY CATHY GUERRA

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the 14th annu-al “Moonlight and Music” Valentine’s DayConcert at the Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701SW 72 Ave., on Thursday, Feb 14. The concertstarts at 8 p.m. and the gate opens at 7 p.m.

This year’s concert will feature world-classsinger, guitarist and songwriter Allan Harris.Harris is best known for his interpretations ofjazz standards, but his smooth vocals and gui-tar style easily cross genres, from jazz to rockto blues. There also will be an opening per-formance by jazz pianist and singer ArielPocock, a University of Miami sophomore.

The annual Valentine’s Day Concert at theDeering Estate at Cutler offers guests theopportunity to celebrate their love at a roman-tic, outdoor concert under the stars on the edgeof Biscayne Bay. Guests are welcome to bringblankets, lawn chairs, and small picnic baskets,but no coolers are permitted. Refreshments andfood will be available for an additional fee. Ms.Cheezious and gastroPod food trucks will beonsite as well as Crepemaker.

Chef David Schwadron Catering andJoanna’s Marketplace are the official picnicproviders for the Deering Estate at Cutlerand can be contacted directly for preordered

meals. Call 305-238-5881 for Chef DavidSchwadron Catering and 305-661-5777 forJoanna’s Marketplace.

Concert tickets are $20 and can be pur-chased online for an additional fee or by call-ing the Deering Estate Ticket Office at 305-235-1668, ext. 233. The ticket office is opendaily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are non-refundable, rain or shine.

The Valentine’s Day Concert begins theannual Deering Estate Festival of the Arts (for-merly known as the SoBay Festival of the Arts)with events and programs held from Feb. 14-24.The 10-day celebration features literary, visualand performance art at the historic estate.

Some of the events and programs includea curated exhibition, Speak Now, whichplaces artistic interjections throughout thegrounds; one-night only art events; classicaland chamber ensemble concerts; a Curator’stour, and a spectacular closing Red CarpetWrap-Up are just some of the cultural expe-riences offered.

For information on the “Moonlight andMusic” Valentine’s Day Concert or theDeering Estate Festival of the Arts, visit<www.deeringestate.org> or call theDeering Estate Ticket Office at 305-235-1668, ext. 233.

‘Moonlight and Music’ Valentine’s DayConcert scheduled at Deering Estate



BY XIOMARA MORDCOVICH

Miami-Dade County Animal ServicesDepartment invites the community to cele-brate Open Your Heart and Your Home PetAdoption Event, from Feb. 9 to 17.

This festive adoption celebration of pets,life, loyalty, and above all, love, will takeplace at the Animal Services Shelter, 7401NW 74 St. The shelter opens seven days aweek; hours of operation vary weekdays andweekends. Visit <www.miamidade.gov/ani-mals> for specific hours.

Open Your Heart and Your Home PetAdoption Celebration will give petlovers the opportunity to adopt dogs andcats who are in need of a loving homefor life. You will find a lot more than apet; you will find true unconditionallove and loyalty.

The event is free and open to the public.Adoption Gift Certificates also are avail-

able. If you are thinking about giving a petto someone as a present, you may purchasean Adoption Gift Certificate so they

choose the best pet for their lifestyle.Donation Gift Certificates are ideal pres-

ents for any occasion. It’s the perfect giftfor everyone and a gift that will help theshelter animals.

Miami-Dade Animal Servicespresents pet adoption event

BY CHRISTY MIRA

Born Free Pet Shelter is having its annu-al “Second Chance Dinner and SilentAuction” on Saturday, Mar. 2, 7 to 11 p.m.,at the Key Biscayne Beach Club, 685Ocean Dr., Key Biscayne.

Enjoy dinner, deejay and Bacardi Bar

while supporting a great cause. Born FreePet Shelter is a “no kill” dog shelter dedicat-ed to providing food, shelter and medicalservices to homeless dogs. It also does out-reach to find permanent homes for the dogs.

Dinner seats are $100 per person.Contact Lucille at 305 372-5191 or send

email to <[email protected]>.

‘Second Chance Dinner, Auction’to benefit Born Free Pet Shelter

You can help dogs like Brinny and Logan.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


BY LAURA PHILLIPS

Colorful kites of all shapes and sizes will

fill the skies over Haulover Park on Sunday,

Feb. 17, from noon to 5 p.m., for the park’s

20th annual “Kite Day,” presented by the

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and

Open Spaces Department and Skyward Kites.

This year’s event will spotlight “Kites of

the Caribbean” — an exhibit by local kite

makers representing the styles and tradi-

tions of Caribbean kite flyers from such

countries as Cuba, Haiti and Trinidad.

Visitors will see a returning display of

colossal kites, including a 150-foot rain-

bow, a 100-foot squid, a 30-foot scuba man

and a 30-foot “Nemo” fish. The family-

style event also will feature free kite com-

petitions and kite-building classes for all

ages, as well as music, food and refresh-

ments available for purchase.

Event-goers are encouraged to come out

to fly their kites, attend a kite-making class

and make their own paper kites for free.

Kites also will be available for purchase

starting at $5.

Kite competitions will include prizes for

the best homemade kites, highest flying

kites, prettiest kites, and kites with the

longest tails. Those who just want to sit and

watch the festivities may bring a blanket.

Shoes with socks are recommended for run-

ning around on the grassy field.

Haulover Park is located at 10800

Collins Ave. Festival admission is free;

parking is $6.

For more information about Kite Day

and other kiting activities at Haulover Park,

contact Dan Ward at Skyward Kites, 305-

893-0906. For directions and information

about Haulover Park, visit <www.miami-

dade.gov/parks> or call 305-947-3525.

20th annual ‘Kite Day’ comingto Haulover Park on Feb. 17

www.communitynewspapers.com


The Hyundai Genesis Sport Coupe hasbeen redesigned significantly for 2013 andmore power added to both engine options.

The rear-drive Genesis Coupe continueswith a long wheelbase and short front andrear overhangs for a classic wedge-likeprofile and a bodyside character line in aninnovative “Z” shape design. It integratesseamlessly with a drop-beltline rear win-dow, while the arching roofline and taper-ing cab highlight the profile and emphasizethe broad shoulders and wide stance.

The refreshed styling gives the GenesisCoupe a more menacing look, with anaggressively redesigned front fascia, grille,headlights, LED daytime running lights,fog lights and a hood with heat extractorcues. The side view shows aggressive new18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs withdeeper sculpting, while the rear taillightshave LED illumination and new contours.

Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integratedwith the blackout rear diffuser complete theperformance message.

But it’s the increased power that has autolovers talking. The 3.8-liter V-6 getssophisticated new direct-injection technol-ogy, while the 2.0-liter four-cylinderengine upgrades to a more precise twin-scroll turbocharger. Automatic transmis-sions for both engines now have eight-speeds, with paddle-shift Shiftronic manu-al capability.

The 3.8-liter Lambda DOHC V-6 withContinuously Variable Valve Timing (DualCVVT) and a Variable Intake System (VIS)now has 348 hp — a gain of 42 hp over theprevious version — and clocks 0-60 mph inthe low five-second range, with an elec-tronically limited top speed of 149 mph.The engine uses an alloy block and cylin-der heads for lighter weight and thermalefficiency and features durable, quiet tim-ing chains with no scheduled maintenance.Even better, it runs on regular fuel.

Not to be outdone by its big brother, theturbocharged, intercooled 2.0-liter DOHCinline four-cylinder substitutes a new twin-scroll design for its turbocharger in addi-tion to a larger intercooler with enhancedthermal efficiency. The twin-scroll design

is more efficient at recovering exhaustenergy and produces cooler cylinder tem-peratures than the former single-scrolldesign. It also is more precise, withimproved combustion efficiency, reducedturbo lag, leaner air/fuel ratios and moreevenly distributed pressure in the exhaustports, resulting in simultaneous power,efficiency and emissions improvements.

Also, a 53 percent larger intercooler fur-ther reduces intake temperatures, providingdenser, cooler air to develop even morepower. The engine also benefits from Dual

CVVT on both intake and exhaustcamshafts and now generates 274 hp (a 30percent increase) and 275 pounds-feet oftorque.

Pricing on the 2013 Hyundai GenesisSport Coupe ranges from $24,250 to$33,000.

Ron Beasley is the automotive editor forMiami’s Community Newspapers. He maybe contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext.261, or by addressing email to<[email protected]>.

Hyundai Genesis Sport Coupe is redesigned, more powerful

LET’S TALK CARS

Ron BeasleyAUTOMOTIVE EDITOR

Refreshed styling gives the Genesis Coupe a more menacing look, with an aggressively redesigned front fascia,grille, headlights, fog lights and a hood with heat extractor cues.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––



South Miami Audiology Consultants areyour hearing healthcare professionals

BY NANCY EAGLETON

Hearing loss is an increasinghealth concern in the U.S., affect-ing more than 36 million Ameri-can adults. In many cases,hearing loss is preventable. Audi-ologists Cindy Simon, Au.D., andAndrea Pernick, Au.D., of SouthMiami Audiology Consultants,have cared for their patients’ gen-eral hearing health for more than30 years. To better serve their pa-tients, the pair relocated theirSouth Miami practice to One7000 Place in 2011, and movedinto their newly renovated third-floor suite last fall.

Drs. Simon and Pernick provide comprehensive hearing evaluations and treatmentoptions, including hearing aids, assistive listening devices and hearing rehabilitation,for infants, children and adults. They also treat patients experiencing dizziness andthose suffering from tinnitus or misophonia.

“Many people tend to ignore hearing issues and don’t receive the assistance theyneed,” Dr. Pernick said. “Hearing loss can affect people’s lives at work and home, andlead people to withdraw from social situations.”

If you think your hearing is deteriorating, the doctors recommend seeking treatmentearly. “If left untreated, you can lose the ability to understand words and tolerate sounds,”said Dr. Simon. “It’s easier to adapt to hearing aids when the hearing loss is minimal.”

This is not your grandfather's hearing aid. Today’s advanced technology digital hear-ing aids are small, sleek and super high-tech, offering superior sound quality and im-proved clarity. The tiny devices fit behind the ear and have a virtually invisible wire thatwraps around and goes into the ear. Some hearing aids now connect wirelessly andseamlessly to cell and landline phones, TVs, computers and other electronic devices.

“Today’s hearing aids come in colors to match the color of your hair or eyeglasses.They are even waterproof and can be worn in the shower,” said Dr. Simon.

Drs. Simon and Pernick also help their patients obtain special devices and servicesthat improve their quality of life. CaptionCall, a speech telephone available to the com-munity from the FCC, is easy to operate and displays every word of a telephone con-versation in real time on its seven-inch screen.

Hearing aids, noise generators and other high-tech combination devices may alsobe used to treat people with tinnitus or misophonia. Tinnitus, also known as ringing inthe ear, affects as many as 85 percent of people with hearing loss. People who havemisophonia are most commonly annoyed, or even enraged, by such ordinary soundsas other people chewing, breathing, sneezing, yawning, snoring or coughing or otherrepetitive sounds. This condition can cause intense anxiety and lead to decreased so-cialization.

To help people protect their hearing and avoid hearing loss, the licensed/certified au-diologists also provide custom-fitted ear protection to those who are exposed to loudnoise. In other words, don’t rely on drugstore earplugs to protect your hearing.

“These custom-fitted earplugs still allow you to hear high-quality sound – just at acomfortable and safe level,” Dr. Pernick said.

The doctors recommend everyone over age 50 receive a baseline hearing test. Whenpatients visit South Miami Audiology Consultants, they will experience a warm andcomfortable atmosphere in a new suite that houses state-of-the-art audiology diagnosticequipment. Visitors will also enjoy the building’s amenities, which include renovatedcommon areas and elevators and covered parking that attaches to each floor of thebuilding, allowing easy access to the many healthcare practitioners who call One 7000Place home.

“We provide quality care in a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere,” said Dr. Simon. “Ourpatients are seen quickly, with very little wait time. We take the time to get to know ourpatients – and they become like family.”

South Miami Audiology Consultants is located at 7000 SW 62 Ave., Suite 315. Formore information, call 305-663-0505 or visit www.SouthMiamiAuidiology.com. Formore information on One 7000 Place, managed by Healthcare Realty, contact WayneE. Stringer, president, Stringer Realty Services, Inc., at 305-772-2801.

Cindy Simon, Au.D., (left) and Andrea Pernick, Au.D., ofSouth Miami Audiology Consultants are committed tohelping their patients take good care of their hearing.

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By Sharon GallerThe East Ridge at Cutler Bay retirement com-

munity is experiencing renewed interest by cus-tomers and substantially higher sales which arestrong indicators of improving economic condi-tions in southwest Miami-Dade County.According to Brad Hunter, chief economist and

national director of consulting for Metrostudy,sellers are able to sell their homes much morequickly in the southwestern Miami-Dade neigh-borhoods these days and this empowers seniorswith more mobility and more choices.“Sales in 2012 of East Ridge residences are four

times higher than sales in 2011,” said Rick Drew,director of sales. “In previous years we were en-countering customers who wanted to move toEast Ridge but couldn’t sell their homes. Theresimply weren’t new buyers in themarket despiteinterest.”When seniors decide they want a lifestyle

change, their ability to sell an existing homerather than draw on their investments and sav-ings significantly affects their decision.East Ridge now offers relocation services with

many customers taking advantage of the oppor-

tunity. By using qualified real estate consultants,customers have a more realistic expectation ofcurrent home values, guidance in selling theirhome and are able to have their homes sell morequickly.“The concept of East Ridge lifestyle is more

widely accepted since seniors want to be assuredof their future care as well as have the opportu-nity to enjoy the social aspects the community of-fers,”added Drew.East Ridge is a life care community, designed

for seniorswho are living independently butwantthe security of future healthcare services includ-ing assisted and skilled nursing care. The averageentry fees start at $98,000 for a one-bedroom res-idence and residents have freedom from homemaintenance and the added security of onsitehealth services.East Ridge is also reinvesting in the 50 year-

old community. Drew said that since 2011, over$4million has been invested in community-wideimprovements, including a newWellness Centerwhich offers residents state-of-the-art spaamenities, equipment and services.“From fitness training and classes to one-on-

one personal training, we felt it was critical tooffer top notchwellness facilitieswhichwould at-tract new buyers,” said Drew. “The response hasbeen overwhelming. Our customers now are re-questing to see the Wellness Center before theysee our models. This is clearly indicating today’sseniors are placing much more emphasis on ac-tive aging and wellness.”An extensive renovation and rehabilitation

program has involved public buildings’ exteriorswhich will be followed by interior improvementsincluding the Lifestyle Center and auditorium.Thecommunity is being updated to blend with theKey West architecture style that was initially in-troduced in theWellness Center design.Also, residential residences are being updated

as they as they are sold. Exterior improvementsinclude replacing and added screened patio en-closures, front entry doors and new windows. Atotal home makeover is involved with interiorspace being completely gutted.Bathrooms and kitchens incorporate aging-in-

place features such as raised vanities and waterclosets. Each residencewill have new appliances,cabinets and countertops as well as new lighting

fixtures and raised electrical outlets.“Residents have the advantage of living in a

new home while enjoyed the benefits of an es-tablished community,”said Drew.East Ridge at Cutler Bay offers monthly edu-

cational events that are open to the public. Forinformation or for a personal tour, please call(305) 256-3564 or visit their website atwww.eastridgeatcutlerbay.com

Strong Sales at East Ridge at Cutler Bay Show Positive Economic Recovery

East Ridge at Cutler Bay, a lifecare community in Miami-Dade, is experiencing renewed interest by customers.

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19825 SW 87 CtWell-maintained 3 bedroom/2 bathroom,over 2,000 sq ft home in Cutler Bay. Largeliving areas. Tile floor and carpet through-out. Eat-in kitchen overlooks screened inpatio on a beautifully landscaped, 9,520 sqft lot. 2 car garage$215,000

1900 Pizarro StMediterranean style home in Coral Gables!4 bdrm/ 3 bath, built in 1989. Renovatedkitchen with custom cabinetry, granite

counter tops and stainless appliances. Onebdrm & full bath downstairs. Great for en-tertaining w/ courtyard off dining room andpavered patio in backyard. 1.5 car garage.$724,900/For rent $4,500 per month

4821 Ronda StExquisitely updated 4 bdrm/3 br, 3,250 sqft home on quiet Coral Gables street. Ex-pansive eat-in kitchen, spacious familyroom, living room & dining room. PristineOak hard wood floors throughout. Lushlandscaping on large, 11,886 sq ft lot. Im-pact windows and doors. 2 car garage.$975,000

10820 SW 74 Ct4 bdrm/ 2 bath, well-kept home on a wide,canal front lot in Pinecrest. Ready for yourupdates. Formal dining and living room.Large kitchen overlooks partially coveredbrick patio and pool. Beautifully land-scaped including a screened-in orchid

house. Shutters throughout. 2 car garage.$674,900

364 SW 19 RdBeautifully renovated Old Spanish home inThe Roads. 3 bdrm/2 bath with 2,374 sq ftof living area, on a 6,750 sq ft lot. Kitchenhas stainless steel appliances, gas range,

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17070 SW 74 PlTastefully updated 4 bdrm/3.5 bath, 3,700sq ft home in gated community ofOld Cutler Palms in Palmetto Bay. Beauti-ful kitchen, expansive living areas, greatfor entertaining. Lush landscaping sur-rounds private pool and home on just over17,200 sq ft lot. 3 car garage. $725,000

2756 Day Ave #403Great opportunity for young professionalsor investors. 2 bdrm/ 2 bath condoin secure & gated, Grove Haus building.Updated kitchen. Laminate flooringthroughout. 1 assigned parking space.1 block from Biscayne Bay. Walkingdistance to the shops and restaurants ofCoconut Grove. $235,000

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Palmetto Bay News 2.5.2013