kendall gazette 10.30.2012

BY RICHARD YAGER

F or more than a year,increased fender-bendersat an under-constructionMDX Shula Expressway(SR 874) interchange at

Killian Drive (SW 104th Street) generatedcriticism from Kendall motorists.

Now completed, the new MDX (Miami-Dade Expressway Authority) interchangerouting plan seems to be working well. Soagrees one of its severest critics, travelagent Doug Kostowski who still worriesthat a severe accident could see a vehiclecrash through his first-floor office windowsat 10707 SW 104 St. that overlook theinterchange just 100 feet away and just eastof Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus.

When the two-year project to improvetraffic flows recently came to a close, evenKostowski gave it his blessing — exceptfor a green arrow on an overhead traffic sig-nal he claimed appeared either “not work-ing or missing.”

Set for a timing delay for left-turningtraffic, the arrow lights only briefly for

EEENDALL GAZETTENDALL GAZETTKK communitynewspapers.com OCT. 30 - NOV. 12, 2012

Jazz Under the Starsreturns to MDC Kendall

Campus on Nov. 2

One of Miami’s Community Newspapers –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Connecting local businesses.

305-669-7355

–––––––––––––––––––– See SIGNAL, page 6

Interchange project complete but potential problem signaled

BY SUE ARROWSMITH

G r a m m y - w i n n i n gconga playerPoncho Sanchez andsultry jazz vocalist

Nicole Henry will headline thisyear’s Jazz Under the Stars concertat Miami Dade College’s (MDC)Kendall Campus’ Fred Shaw Plaza,11011 SW 104 St.

Co-presented with MDC Live Artsperforming arts series, the concertwill take place on Friday, Nov. 2, at7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit stu-dents pursuing degrees in music,theater and dance at the campus.

Sanchez will perform pieces fromhis latest album, Chano y Dizzy! Theconcert will pay homage to two ofhis most prominent influences andlegends in the world of jazz, congadrummer and composer ChanoPozo, and trumpeter DizzyGillespie.

Songstress Henry will joinSanchez with her powerful voicethat has established her as a peerlessinterpreter of jazz and pop standards,transcending genre boundaries. TheMDC Jazz Vocal Ensemble willround out this magical evening.

Now in its sixth year, Jazz Underthe Stars is a musical celebration forthe entire family. Past performersinclude Jon Secada, ArturoSandoval, Nestor Torres, Albita, LosHerederos, and more.

Green arrow absent for southbound turn atShula-Killian intersection (taken Oct. 18).

MDC Kendall Campus finishingnew Academic Support Center

BY RICHARD YAGER

T he new $31.8 millionAcademic Support Center atMiami Dade College Kendall,

now finishing construction at the north-east corner of the campus, is planned for aJan. 7 opening.

“We are now scheduled to begin opera-tion of services in January for the start ofthe spring semester,” said Brian Stokes,senior director for campus administration.

Opening the new five-story buildingwill centralize most administrative andstudent services in the 136,000-square-foot structure, built on a one-acre siteadjacent to the tennis center at the eastcampus entry off SW 107th Avenue.

The first three floors of the building are

planned to house admissions, registration andfinancial services for new and continuing stu-dent services as well as providing 21 newclassrooms. In addition, two major shifts ofacademic disciplines will include relocatingthe School of Business to the building’s fourthfloor and opening vacant spaces elsewhere tocentralize the school’s science division.

The building’s fifth floor is planned as atesting center for admissions, placementand similar programs.

Built with LEED certification stan-dards, construction for the building beganin May 2011 after a February ground-breaking.

Largest of the eight Miami-Dade cam-puses, the Kendall Campus now registersnearly 35,000 students, a 35 percentgrowth rate since 1997.

New MDC Kendall Campus Center to open Jan. 7–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––– See JAZZ, page 6

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For five hours more than 1,200 partici-pants created new business among them-selves and with 104 exhibitors during the“Seventh Annual Expo” hosted by the fast-growing Greater Kendall BusinessAssociation (GKBA) on Oct. 11 at Lexusof West Kendall’s towering automotiveshowplace.

Chaired each year by Julie Rico, the 2012event included free samples, giveaways,food from several Kendall area restaurants,a miniature putting contest, casino blackjackfor fun and never-ending networking ofmerchants, professionals, distributors andowners, large and small, attracting new cus-tomers to increase their clientele.

Over 1,200 participants network at GKBA ‘Expo’

Pictured (l-r): Albie Barnes, Miami’s Community Newspapers account executive, is welcomed by Jay Schaaffe,Maggie Rehman and Beatriz Herrmann.

Maria Prado tries Colombian-styled rice served byPaula Franco of Macita’s Restaurant in Kendall. (PHOTOS AND TEXT BY RICHARD YAGER)


So far, we’ve steered clear of taking anystand on the issue of conflicting names raisedin a recent letter to the Gazette by KendallFederation of Homeowner Associations for-mer President Lee Zimmerman.

Zimmerman contends that having KFHAso closely sharing its name with the KendallFederation Political Action Committee, theimpression is implied that KFHA (and thus,he) supports KFPAC’s ballot endorsements.

The fact that some members belong toboth organizations lends some weight to hisargument, as well as the similarity of the twonames. Zimmerman thinks the PAC shouldchange its name so it does not appear tospeak for members of KFHA which is notorganized for advising voters how to vote.

Identity of the two names is easily misun-derstood. It’s caused misinterpretation of ourown election news reporting when we’vefailed to correctly attribute the right state-ment to the right source.

KFPAC Chair Marvin Stein has alwaysmade it clear that the separately-charteredorganizations are, in fact, completely inde-pendent of each other. KFHA PresidentMichael Rosenberg admits that while a dual-ity of members does exist, there are KFPACmembers who do not attend meetings or actas KFHA members.

Two Association members whose opinionswe highly regard believe KFPAC endorse-ments really help voters. They point out can-didates are interviewed and referendumissues explored before judgments are made,concluding it’s a community service provid-ing guidelines for Kendall area residents whodon’t take the time to study ballot choices.

KFPAC could simply drop the word“Federation” from its title, and call itself the

Kendall Political Action Committee. But asanother reputable member puts it, sinceKFPAC is a non-political cross-section ofcommunity activists (including severalKFHA officers who live in Kendall), what’swrong with having a PAC, even if people doassociate it with KFHA?

Our conclusion: leave it to the organiza-tions to decide ‘the Zimmerman issue.’

No one asked for our two cents worth butwe hope The Herald building on BiscayneBay gets torn down and end the hand-wring-ing from preservationists who believe it hashistoric value.

Even in its early years, critics referred tothe structure as Jim Knight’s “Taj Mahal-on-the-Bay” designed primarily to unload giantpaper rolls from bayside-docked barges,shipped from Alabama newsprint mills.

Some ex-Herald folks in our own shopremember it as an “architectural memorial toan escalator,” the mechanism still dominat-ing the two-story interior lobby and guaran-teed to send those with vertigo anxiety dash-ing to the elevator bank.

There’s got to be a better cause for historicbuffs than wasting time on what was termedby its own architect as “ill-conceived.”

Busy night ahead for West Kendall’sCommunity Council as a Zoning Board,beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Kendall Associates asks for a modificationof a covenant on 12-plus acres at in the 112-113 block of S. W. 84 St. for a revised siteplan that would permit a new accessorystructure for a previously approved home forthe aged.

In a second application, Jose MiltonDadeland LLC seeks approval of revisedplanning to build a parking garage as anaddition to an existing multi-family buildingat the Colony residential complex, 9345-9375 S.W. 77 Ave.

Details on-line were unavailable at presstime but should appear under a “Kit” catego-ry in the Council 12 agenda, available at thecounty’s zoning site reached through<miamidade.gov>.

If you have interest in either application,attend the session at Kendall Village Center’sCivic Pavilion, opposite the Regal StadiumTheater.

A final word of support for Pets Trust, theproject conceived and brought to ballot byKendall’s Michael Rosenberg. As a humanitar-ian cause, helping eliminate 20,000-plus straysthat roam county streets speaks for itself.

Even during belt-tightening economics, itmakes financial sense to start eliminating$300 per rescued and euthanized animalwhen spaying or neutering costs $60 to savea potentially-adoptable pet.

If you haven’t turned in your ballot, voteYES on item 240 to establish veterinary-staffed clinics in North and South Dade tohelp our four-legged friends. And begin sav-ing tax dollars, too!

Thought for the Day:Rudeness is the weak man’s

imitation of strength. — Eric Hoffer

Gary Alan Ruse contributed to this col-umn.

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

Kendall Gazette6796 S.W. 62 Avenue, South Miami, FL 33143 • Phone (305) 669-7355, Fax (305) 662-6980

wwwwww..ccoommmmuunniittyynneewwssppaappeerrss..ccoommPUBLISHER ...................................................................................................................................Grant MillerEXECUTIVE EDITOR ......................................................................................................................Michael MillerEDITOR................................................................................................................................... David BerkowitzWRITERS, COLUMNISTS.............................................................. .Ron Beasley, Kenneth Bluh, Robert Hamilton,

Linda Rodriguez-Bernfeld, Gary Alan Ruse, Lee Stephens, Al Sunshine, Richard YagerADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES..................................Albie Barnes, Beatriz Brandfon, Roberta Bergman,

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AROUND TOWN

Michael MillerEXECUTIVE EDITOR

KFHA or KFPAC: It’s all in a name!

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We will not return solicited or unsolicited editorial material including stories, columns and or photographs.Please make sure that you have duplicate copies of the material.

Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan and DianeSchiller of Community Newspapers sayvote ‘YES’ on #240 to help stray animals.

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MDC Live Arts is an initiative ofMDC’s Cultural Affairs Department,created in 1990 as Cultura del Lobo.MDC Live Arts continues a long legacyof bringing unique, diverse performanc-es from around the world to SouthFlorida. The mission is to present thenewest, most challenging contemporaryand culturally specific work being cre-

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those motorists wanting to make a left turnto access the southbound Shula ramp infront of eastbound vehicles.

The super-imposed arrow only lightswhen activated by a vehicle in the left-turning lane. When no vehicle is withinthe lane, the light simply changes to whattraffic engineers call a “green ball” allow-ing Killian Drive traffic to flows in botheast and west directions. That’s when anoccasional battle can ensue as Shula-bound vehicles trying to turn left andeastbound Killian motorists simultane-ously seek the right of way.

Believing not only traffic delays, butpotential accidents were possible amongfeuding “me-first motorists,” Kostowskiand MDX officials began five weeks ofemail communications, winding up withthe explanation from Alfred Lurigados,deputy director of engineering for MDX:

“Traffic engineering has timed the sig-nal to maximize ‘eastbound through’ sincetraffic is lighter in the west to south move-ments. The green arrow must be activatedby a vehicle in that [turning] lane.

Remember, this signal will react to no carsin the left turn lane and then give east-bound a green.”

Driving that intersection from his homeoff Killian Greens Golf Course, east of theinterchange, Kostowski had claimed hehad “never seen the arrow lighted” untilOct. 14 when he reported, “I did see thegreen arrow for the first time. It’s kind oflike bird watching. You have to be at rightplace at right time.”

Miami-Dade traffic engineers call thesignal “permissive protected” and believeit correctly favors the major east-west traf-fic flows along Killian Drive.

Miami-Dade Traffic Signal managerHiram Hernandez emphasizes, “[The] sig-nal is not malfunctioning; it was designedthat way.”

After contractual performance delaysextending formal project completion wellpast its November 2011 estimated finish,MDX’s Mario Diaz reported on Oct. 18,“We are in the process of getting the proj-ect signed off.

Total cost of the project was $70 million.”

SIGNAL, from page 1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

JAZZ, from page 1 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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Michael Rosenberg entered his cage atthe Miami-Dade Animal Services Shelter at2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, vowing to saveevery homeless dog brought there duringthe weekend.

During a 55-hour vigil ending at 6 p.m. onSunday, Oct. 7, Rosenberg, who now callshimself “The Man in a Cage,” estimates hesaved at least triple the number of dogs thestaff usually has adopted during a two-dayweekend.

“But that proved hardly enough, as manydogs came in as were taken out, only illus-trating how urgently we need to help the20,000 to 30,000 homeless strays, roamingour streets every day,” said the Kendallgraphics business owner who spent threedays and two nights cooped up in a dog cage

to help publicize the Pets’ Trust initiative hecreated.

“I listened to the barks and howls of cagedanimals, all night long, frightened andalone,” he said after his dramatic attempt toencourage voters to support the “Pets’Trust” cause to reduce homeless canine pop-ulation with “yes” votes on the Nov. 6 bal-lot. “I’ll never forget those sounds.”

With up to 100 strays brought to the ken-nel, staff members estimated Rosenbergspared euthanasia for at least half of themduring the two days when his caging broughttriple the number of people to the shelter toseek adoptions.

Despite any discomforts, “I didn’t haveto eat out of a dish,” he laughed, thankingthe staff of Lots of Lox, 14995 S. DixieHwy., and owner Steve Paulos for con-tributing daily meals for him and hamburg-ers for his fellow canine inmates.

In addition to local television interviewsand news coverage, Rosenberg’s kennelcaging brought international televisioncelebrity dog trainer Cesar Millan from hisCalifornia home to lend his name in sup-port of Rosenberg’s mission.

Millan posed with stray pets and said heis considering launching a nationwide cam-paign to initiate the Pets’ Trust idea thatwould establish tax-supported clinics toshelter, vaccinate, spay/neuter and providelow-cost veterinary services, all directedtoward sharply reducing the homeless ani-mal population in the U.S.

Rosenberg even helped a new dog,“Jackie,” due for euanthasia but rescuedthat weekend when Dr. Juan Bravo broughtthe stray to his Bravo Animal Clinic at10901 SW 186 St. for needed surgery andcare.

Now, Jackie lives with Dorothy “Dee”Chess of Friends Forever Rescue, a PetsInitiative supporter and rescuer herself whobrought the animal home for future adop-tion (call 786-229-9002, if interested).

“This is an example of what we can do,”

Rosenberg said. “It’s all worthwhile if peo-ple will vote ‘yes’ (#240) on the ballot’snon-binding referendum to establish twohigh-volume care clinics in North andSouth Miami-Dade County.

“Why spend tax money averaging $300per animal for temporary shelter and care,only to kill them when it only takes $60 to$70 to spare them and bring the homelessproblem truly under control?”

‘Man in a Cage’ Rosenberg backed by Dog Whisperer

Lots of Lox crew supporting the Pets’ Trust vote are (l-r) Shelby Barocus, Sherry Beckels, Tonya Gay, KatrinaPoulos, Laurie King and deli owner Steve Poulos.

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

Stray “Jackie” gets affectionate care from Dr. JuanBravo, veterinarian.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


If you are one of the thousands of SouthFlorida homeowners insured by the state-runCitizens Insurance program, you may havereceived a letter from them recently, or fromanother insurance company that you’ve prob-ably never heard of. It is all part of a recenteffort by Florida Gov. Rick Scott and theFlorida Legislature to “shrink” CitizensInsurance and move policyholders to privatecompanies.

However if you threw the letters out, youwill automatically be “depopulated” to acompany you may know nothing about, evenif you haven’t given your approval. It’s calleda “Negative Option” plan and, according to amember of the group’s board of directors, it’sintentionally aimed at ousting as many poli-cyholders as possible off Citizens’ roster.

To date, 84,000 policies already have been“taken out” and it’s believed that as many as210,000 more — mainly based in High RiskCoastal Areas of South Florida — have beenearmarked for removal.

The goal is reduce Citizens’ exposure andallow private companies to take over more“risk” in the event of a bad storm, but criticsargue that the way the program is beingenacted does not give homeowners enoughinformation about the new companies, nordoes it boost their ability to pay claims in theevent of any major storm losses.

To make the situation even more precari-ous, there’s a 30-day countdown for thisrecent group of homeowners “selected” fordepopulation that expires on Nov. 6.

In simple language, that means if you donothing and fail to send back the proper “Opt

Out Forms” to “Say No,” you automaticallywill be removed from Citizens Insurance andyour homeowners’ insurance coverage willbe taken over by a new company.

Unfortunately, Citizens Insurance offersvery little about the plan on its website. As aresult, many homeowners may be frustratedwith the lack of information on “Just SayingNo.” However, CBS4 has investigated thesituation which may help you decide foryourself whether you want to accept the newcoverage, or to opt out and stay with yourcurrent Citizens policy.

Still, some customers like Doral’s WaldoFaura say its new plan is optional; customerscan just say no…but he says that Citizensisn’t telling its customers all the details.

“Absolutely not,” Faura added. “I thinkCitizens has been on the path to push insur-ance policies for the insurance companies atthe expense of the insured, and this is anoth-er means and another way of doing it.”

If you get a letter from a private companythat wants to take over your Citizens’ cover-age, you may want to check out its websitefor more information. I crunched the num-bers and found that the plan targets approxi-mately 200,000 policies through an automat-ic negative option aimed at increasing privateinsurance coverage.

To decline the offer from a private insurer,you have to file a formal opt-out form within30 days. If you received one of these lettersfrom the state’s Citizens Insurance program,you must formally notify them by Nov. 6 andlet them know you want to stay in the programand not be “taken over” by another company.

Citizens has a special hotline set up to han-dle questions at 1-888-685-1555. You alsocan get more information from your localinsurance agent.

For more details on the latest“Insurance Depopulation Plan” and how itmay affect your insurance coverage, go to: <www.citizensfla.com/about/depopinfo.cfm>.

CBS MONEY WATCH

Al Sunshine

Homeowers, beware of Citizens’new ‘Insurance Depopulation Plan’


A word of warning: Unless you want tospend an hour or more in the voting booth,spend time at home reading the ballot that hasbeen included, on two occasions, in theMiami Herald. Or, go online for a copy of thesample ballot found on the county’s website.

Another choice is to call 305-499-8444 torequest an absentee ballot. It will take you anhour or more just to read, and understand theproposed amendments to the FloridaConstitution. FYI, I spent more than a dayresearching and preparing to write my lastarticle on the state constitution and this oneon local issues. Now, let’s look at the pro-posed county charter amendments.

Relating to Term Limits of CountyCommissioners

Simply stated “Shall CountyCommissioners serve no more than two con-secutive four-year terms in office excludingterms of service prior to 2012?”

Much has been written and much has beensaid about this subject. Many want to includeterms served in the term limit amendment.Some demand including a salary increase.Certainly an increase in salary is warrantedand long overdue. However the question ofterms limits, in this proposed amendment, isclear and easy to understand. I recommendvoting “YES.”

Technical Amendments to Home RuleCharter

This amendment will clarify titles of sub-sections of the charter, correct and updatecross-references between provisions anddelete references to offices and agencies thathave been abolished.

This will make it easier to read and under-stand the charter. I recommend voting“YES.”

Requiring Extraordinary Vote toInclude Additional Land within the UrbanDevelopment Boundary

The amendment, if passed, would requiretwo-thirds of the county commission toapprove the expansion of the UDB (UrbanDevelopment Boundary) which currentlyonly requires a simple majority –— half plusone vote.

Vote “YES.” This will reduce influence bythe few commissioners who place their per-sonal relationships over the best interests ofthe community.

Pertaining to Changes in MunicipalBoundaries and Creation of NewMunicipalities

This amendment covers two subjects: (1)Annexation by municipalities of portions ofadjacent unincorporated county and (2) theincorporation of Annexation:

The amendment proposes that county com-missioners “consider” the benefits of anyproposed annexation of commercial areas…”

I would assume that commissioners “con-sider” the benefits of all annexations — bothcommercial and residential.

New municipalities: County commission-ers on Aug. 23 set forth an additional methodby which new municipalities can be created.Basically the county will require that 20 per-cent (previously 25 percent) of the registeredvoters in the area desiring incorporation soindicate their desire by signing petitions.Petition gatherers have six months to collectthe petitions (previously 60 days).

The procedure still contains many ways formembers of the county commission to inter-fere in the process. However, on balance, thisis the best opportunity parties interested inincorporation have had in the last 10 years. Irecommend a “YES” vote.

Penalties and Enforcement of Citizens’Bill of Rights

This amendment, if passed, would elimi-nate loss of office or employment if an elect-ed official or county employee willfully vio-lates citizens’ protection under the Citizens’Bill of Rights?

I feel we need more enforcement, not aneasing of current penalties, therefore I recom-mend voting “NO.”

Option for Filling Mayoral or CountyCommissioner Vacancy

This amendment contains two provisions:(1) It would extend to 90 days the current 45days to call an election to fill the vacatedseat(s) and (2) Authority to transfer certainmayoral powers to the county commissionchair or other designated commissioner in theevent of a vacancy or incapacity.

It takes 90 days for the community toselect candidates for election to the positionof mayor or county commissioner in theevent of a sudden death or resignation. I likethis portion of the proposed amendment.However, I do not like the concept of thecounty commission absorbing “certain” pow-ers in the event of incapacity. Who deter-mines “incapacity?” As much as I like thefirst portion of the proposed amendment Imust recommend a “NO” vote.

Regarding Mayoral Conflicts in CountyProcurement

The amendment relates to situations wherethe mayor declares a conflict of interest in aprocurement giving authority to the countycommission to exercise authority over theconflict.

Too much authority by the commissionover the office of mayor, who without the oldstyle county manager position is now respon-sible for the management of the county gov-ernment. I recommend a “NO” vote.

Structures and Modification for theTennis Center at Crandon Park

Our county charter requires an approvalvote of the county voters to authorize anymodifications or improvement to countystructures such as the Tennis Center, regard-less of the fact that the taxpayer will NOT be

paying for the improvement.Obviously the vote is “YES.” Any improve-

ment to the tennis facility, which will bringincreased employment, increased revenue tothe county and greater international recogni-tion of our community, at no cost to the tax-payer, is fantastic and greatly appreciated.

Non-Binding Straw Vote on FundingImproved Animal Services Programs

We are being asked if we would approveincreasing our county tax millage by 0.1079to fund improved animal services.

Vote “NO.” It is a good cause. And, I dolove animals. But, any additional revenue wecould collect must be spent on the needs ofour children, our seniors and the disadvan-taged members of our community.

Non-Binding Straw Ballot onContracting with Companies DoingBusiness with State Sponsors of Terrorism

The law, if passed, would forbid our coun-ty from contracting with any company that isdoing work in any country that is listed byour federal government as a sponsor of ter-rorism such as Cuba.

Even if approved, I cannot see how ourcounty government could monitor such a law.Let me ask you one simple question. Has theItalian company that is going to buildreplacement cars for our Metrorail systemdone business inside Cuba? I bet that ques-tion wasn’t asked much less thought of. Howabout the company that sells the county toiletpaper or paper clips? Need I say more? I rec-ommend a “NO” vote.

We appreciate your opinions on this columnwhether in agreement or disagreement. Pleasesend your comments to (fax number) 305-662-6980 or email to <[email protected]>. The opinions expressed in thiscolumn are not necessarily those of this news-paper, its editors or publisher.

KENNETH’S COMMENTARY

R. Kenneth Bluh • • VIEWPOINT • •Several local issues also appear on Nov. 6 ballot


BY RICHARD YAGER

The Miami-Dade Public Schools bondissue and establishing a Pets’ Trust toreduce the county’s stray animal popula-tion have been endorsed by the KendallFederation Political Action Committee(KFPAC) on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Backing from KFPAC for the $1.2 bil-lion school bond issue was anticipated fol-lowing a personal appearance by schoolssuperintendent Alberto Carvalho, who thensaid he would stake his job on getting voterbacking countywide.

The Pets’ Trust initiative to establishlow-cost veterinarian services as well asnew adoption sources originally was theidea of Kendall Federation of HomeownerAssociations (KFHA) president MichaelRosenberg. The straw ballot vote is non-binding and, if approved, requires furthercounty commission action.

The newest KFPAC endorsements sup-port nine of the 10 Miami-Dade Countyissues including charter amendments,rejecting only the change that would givethe county commission chair authority to

act over the mayor in contracts declaredconflicts of interest. It also supports aquestion on improvements to CrandonPark Tennis Center and a non-bindingstraw ballot on Contracting withCompanies Doing Business with StateSponsors of Terrorism.

The KFPAC rejects all 11 StateConstitutional Amendments (Nos. 1-6. 8-12, No. 7 was thrown out by the court),except Amendment 2 — Veterans DisabledDue to Combat Injury; HomesteadProperty Tax Discount.

The KFPAC supports “yes” votes onretention of Florida Supreme Court JusticesR. Fred Lewis, Barbara J. Pariente and PeggyA. Quince. The KFPAC also re-endorsedKatherine Fernandez Rundle, unopposed inher bid for the State Attorney’s post in theEleventh Judicial Circuit.

The third and final KFPAC endorsementsof individual candidates will be released onTuesday, Oct. 30, according to Marvin P.Stein, KFPAC chair, who said all endorse-ments released July 27 for the Aug. 14 pri-mary will be reviewed before making itsfinal choices known on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

School bonds and Pets’ Trustget endorsement of KFPAC


BY RICHARD YAGER

A $2 million project that began in earlyOctober to interconnect nine miles of aplanned Greenway Trail in southwestMiami-Dade will create a continuing bik-ing and pedestrian path from Biscayne Bayto West Kendall.

The three-phase project will expand theexisting 30-year-old Black Creek Trail to a17-mile route connecting Black Point Parkand Marina with the future West KendallDistrict Park and an existing Krome Trailnear the L-21N Canal.

Miami-Dade Parks and RecreationDepartment initiated Phase I constructionfor the continuing bike and pedestrianpathway with $2,080,995 funding from aFlorida Department of Transportation(FDOT) grant and the BBC (BuildingBetter Communities) bond issue.

Completion is expected in mid-October2015 by JVA Engineering Contractor Inc.in conjunction with the Parks DepartmentDesign and Build Team; Kimley-Horn andAssociates Inc., design consultants;Matthew Gibson PE, engineer on record,and Stewart Robertson PE, consultant proj-ect manager.

When complete, the Greenway Trail willconnect the existing South Dade, OldCutler and Biscayne Trails as well as areaparks and preserves, tying into a larger 27-mile network near Biscayne Bay windingthrough six municipalities and extendingas far north as Bill Baggs Cape FloridaState Park on Key Biscayne.

Expansion of Black Creek Trail is thesecond of two major Miami-DadeGreenway Trail projects to begin in 2012following a July groundbreaking for 3.4miles of improvements to Snake CreekTrail in North Miami Beach expected to becompleted in 2013.

Black Creek Trail and other county parktrails and park links are planned as part theEast Coast Greenway Corridor, a 2,500-

mile off-road and traffic-free trail, openinglong-distance hiking and biking inFlorida’s East Coast cities from the FloridaKeys to the coast of Maine.

Phase I of three expanding Black CreekTrail takes advantage of existing bikingand pedestrian trails and linear park facili-ties to open a continuous trail to the 164-acre District Park planned off SW 157thAvenue north of 120th Street.

The initial phase will widen and resur-face an existing four miles of paved trailand add more than five miles of additionalnew trails in gaps not connected for bikersand walkers between Black Point Park andMarina and SW 97th Avenue.

Phase II improves the trail betweenLarry and Penny Thompson Park to SW127th Avenue, with a new trail segmentbetween 137th Avenue to SW 184th Street.

Phase III from SW 127th Avenue to SW97th Avenue includes widening an existingtrail from SW 127 Avenue to US1 and anew trail segment between US1 and SW112th Avenue and a new 12-foot widebicycle and pedestrian bridge over the

Black Creek Canal on the east side of US1.The final phase also opens a new trail

segment between SW 216th Street and SW97th Avenue, as well as creating new restareas with small shelters, bike racks andtrash receptacles.

“This is an exciting project that willseamlessly link the trail to other parks,sidewalks and bicycle trails,” said parks

director Jack Kardys. “It provides residents with alternative

routes to access our parks and will helpimprove the overall quality of life in thiscommunity,” he added.

“The Parks Department is effectively con-necting communities together for the enjoy-ment of our residents and the overallimprovement of the districts thatCommissioner Dennis Moss and I represent,”said District 8 Commissioner Lynda Bell

Added District 9 Commissioner Moss:“By commuting this way, families enjoymore fun, free outings and the bonus ofhaving a little more money in their pockets,reducing automobile use and gasolineexpense, as well.”

The Black Creek Trail improvement isplanned as a “linear park” defined inparks’ terminology as a narrow, land-scaped strip of land), including a 10-footwide trail for shared use by walkers,inline skaters, cyclists and other non-motorized uses, including ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) motor-ized devices.

For more information about the BlackCreek Trail development, contact AdelfaMartinez, parks project manager, at 305-755-7815.

New $2 million Black Creek Trail bikeway project begins

Black Creek trail after development completed.(Artist rendering courtesy of Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department)

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Homestead High Feeder PatternCurriculum Expo set for Nov. 5BY RAUL CALZADILLA JR.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’South Region Office and Dr. AlexisMartinez, region superintendent, will behosting a Curriculum Expo featuring allschools within the Homestead High SchoolFeeder Pattern on Thursday, Nov. 15, 6:30p.m., at the Homestead Community Center,1601 N. Krome Ave. in Homestead.

All current students, prospective stu-dents, their parents and community mem-bers are invited to come and learn about theinnovative curriculum programs, acade-mies, magnet programs, enrichment activi-

ties, iMAP initiatives, clubs and extracur-ricular activities the schools have to offer.Administrators, teachers and students willbe on hand to answer questions. Studentperformances will be featured.

Participating schools include: RobertMorgan High, Campbell Drive K-8 Center,Coconut Palm K-8, Gateway EnvironmentalK-8 Center, Leisure City K-8 Center,Peskoe, I & B K-8 Center, Neva KingCooper Educational Center, Title I MigrantServices, and Air Base Elementary.

If you want more information about thistopic, contact Air Base Elementary Schoolat 305-258-3676.

BY THOMAS ENNIS

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’South Region Office and Dr. AlexisMartinez, region superintendent, will behosting a Curriculum Expo featuring allschools within the Miami Killian HighSchool Feeder Pattern on Tuesday, Nov.13, 6:30 p.m., at the Miami Killian HighSchool Gymnasium, 10655 SW 97 Ave.

All current students, prospective stu-dents, their parents and community mem-bers are invited to come and learn aboutthe innovative curriculum programs,academies, magnet programs, enrichmentactivities, iMAP initiatives, clubs and

extracurricular activities the schools haveto offer.

Administrators, teachers and studentswill be on hand to answer questions.Student performances will be featured.

Participating schools include: ArvidaMiddle, Devon Aire K-8 Center, GloriaFloyd Elementary, Glades Middle, KendaleElementary, Kenwood K-8 Center,Leewood K-8 Center, William LehmanElementary, Miami Killian High, SnapperCreek Elementary and Sunset ParkElementary.

If you want more information about thistopic, contact Miami Killian High Schoolat 305-271-3311.

Killian High School Feeder PatternCurriculum Expo set for Nov. 13


BY ALICIA WHITLEY

The Falls Shopping Center, 8888 SW136 St., will ring in this holiday season onSaturday, Nov. 17, with the 16th annual“Miracle on 136th Street” Holiday Paradethat promises to be bigger and better thanever.

Local celebrities and their families willride in one of the many vintage convertiblecars during the parade, led by ParadeGrand Marshal Coco Jones, star of DisneyChannel’s Let it Shine movie. This year,the Holiday Parade benefits the SouthDade YMCA Family Center.

“The Miracle on 136th Street” HolidayParade is attended annually by more than20,000 residents. The parade features

marching bands, stilt walkers, clowns, vin-tage cars, community groups and interna-tionally recognized costumed characters,along with the season’s first officialappearance of Santa on his very own float.

Spectators are encouraged to arrive earlyand line both sides of the parade routebefore the 4 p.m. start. The parade route,which is located on the Boulevard inbetween the center and the parking lot, willstart at the east end of The Falls, in front ofBloomingdale’s and traverse the entirelength of the center, west to Macy’s.Activities take place from 4 to 10 p.m.

For more information about The Falls,located at US 1 and SW 136th Street, call305-255-4570 or visit online at<www.simon.com>.

Some 20,000 spectators are expected to attend the annual Holiday Parade at The Falls.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

‘Miracle on 136th Street’ Paradewelcomes start of holiday season


BY PATRICIA ROJAS

The American Red Cross recently intro-duced 11 outstanding women leaders whowill be receiving the Sara Hopkins WoodruffSpectrum Awards for Women during aluncheon on Mar. 5, 2013 at theInterContinental Miami Hotel.

The honorees serve as exceptional exam-ples of the humanitarian principles of theAmerican Red Cross: Humanity, Impartiality,Independence, Unity, Neutrality, Universalityand Voluntary Service.

“Spectrum” refers to the impact thesewomen have on a broad scope of communi-ty life and also reflects the spectrum of cul-tures represented in our community.

The 2013 Sara Hopkins WoodruffSpectrum Award for Women honorees are:

BlueCross BlueShield of FloridaPhilanthropy Award, Irene Korge;

Rosalind Ludwig Chairmen’s Award,Jeanett Slesnick;

Cervera Real Estate Ambassador Award,

Penny Shaffer;Bank of America Cultural Award, Kathryn

Q. Mikesell;J. N. McArthur Foundation Education

Award, Mary Young;Mercantil Commercebank Entrepreneurial

Award, Olga M. Ramudo;Baptist Health South Florida Healthcare

Award, Sabrina Cohen;Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel

Association Hospitality Award, JulieGrimes;

The Ethel and W. George Kennedy FamilyFoundation Volunteerism Award, PatriciaRobbins;

Barbara Nelson Red Cross Service Award,Janelle Patty, and

Swanee and Paul DiMare Youth Award,Marina Bryant.

To purchase tickets for the Mar. 5 lunch-eon, or for more information on theSpectrum Awards, contact Kenia Tedesco at305-728-2512 or send email to<[email protected]>.

American Red Cross announcesrecipients of Spectrum awards

Honorees pictured are (l-r) Marina Bryant, Julie Grimes, Kathryn Q. Mikesell, Janelle Patty, Patricia Robbins, PennyShaffer, Olga M. Ramudo, Jeanett Slesnick, Sabrina Cohen and Mary Young. Not pictured: BlueCross BlueShieldof Florida Philantrhopy Award, Irene Korge.

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BY PAULA FERNÁNDEZ DE LOS MUROS

“Chapungu: Custom and Legend, a Culturein Stone,” soon will grace the lowlands ofFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden with 82unique, hand-carved sculptures by Africanartists from Zimbabwe.

The seven-month exhibition from Nov. 1through May 31, 2013, will depict beautifulstone carvings of animals, families, customs,social issues and creatures of legend. Carvedfrom opal stone, cobalt and springstone, thesealluring works of art will be grouped by themein Fairchild’s lowlands: Custom and Legend,Family, Nature and Environment, Role ofElders, Role of Women, Social Comment, TheSpirit World, and Village Life. These amazingsculptures range in height from three to 10feet and weigh between 600 and 6,000pounds.

“Each of these sculptures is a unique, one ofa kind creation that the artists have producedbased on their own ideas and passions,” saidRoy Guthrie, Chapungu curator.

Many of the 35 artists represented are fromZimbabwe’s native tribe, the Shona people.The Shona tribe believes that the “ChapunguBird” is a good omen, bringing them protec-tion and good fortune. Chapungu is a metaphorfor the Bateleur Eagle, Terathopius ecaudatus,a powerful bird of prey that can fly up to 300miles a day at 30 to 50 miles an hour and livesin the savannahs, open forests and semi-desertsof central and southern Africa.

In addition to enjoying the exhibition, visi-tors and the community can create their ownoriginal sculpture with the help of a Chapunguartist in residence during one of several five-day workshops conducted Tuesday throughSaturday in a pavilion near the lowland’s palmcollection. No experience is required. The $500fee includes a sculpting stone from Zimbabwe,a set of tools to keep and instruction by promi-nent Zimbabwean artists.

For reservations and details, call 305-667-1651, ext 3322.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is dedi-cated to exploring, explaining and conservingthe world of tropical plants. Considered thegreatest tropical botanic garden in the world,Fairchild exhibits some of the tropical world’srarest and most beautiful plants within the tap-estry of an iconic landscape design. Fairchildis a one of the world’s best science, conserva-tion and education-based gardens and a recog-nized international leader in both Florida andinternational conservation. It has conservationprograms in over 20 countries throughout thetropical world including the Indonesia, SouthAmerica, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.Fairchild’s palm and cycad collections areconsidered the best collections in the worldand are nationally recognized by the American

Public Gardens Association. It is also home tothe American Orchid Society.

The Fairchild Challenge is the largest sci-ence-based education program in the U.S.reaching more than 150,000 schoolchildren.Fairchild hosts popular events like theChocolate, Mango, Orchid, Food and Garden,Ramble and Edible Garden Festivals, as wellas an internationally acclaimed Art Program,GardenMusic Festival, concerts, plant showsand sales, and evening events and is the cul-tural and community hub in South Florida.Fairchild is a not-for-profit organization with45,000 members and over 1,200 volunteers.

Fairchild is located at 10901 Old Cutler Rd.in Coral Gables. Admission is $25 for adults,$18 for seniors, $12 for children 6-17 and freeto children 5 and under and Fairchild mem-bers. Information is available at<www.fairchildgarden.org>.

Stone sculptures from Zimbabweto be displayed at Fairchild Garden

Aunt Admonishing Child by Rachel Ndandarika––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––



BY DURÉE ROSS

For more than 35 years, Boys and GirlsClubs of Miami-Dade has been sellingChristmas trees and wreaths to help bringholiday cheer into many South Floridahouseholds, and it continues this tradition.

To kick off the 2012 selling season, Boysand Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade will hold agrand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony atthe tree lot on Monday, Nov. 19, 4:30 p.m.,at the Hank Kline Club, 2805 SW 32 Ave.

Attending will be Santa Claus, local dig-nitaries and Boys and Girls Clubs ofMiami-Dade representatives.

The trees, beautiful Fraser firs fromNorth Carolina, stand five to 14 feet talland sell for $55 and up. Plain and hand-decorated wreaths also will be for sale,starting at $35.

One hundred percent of proceeds fromthe trees and wreaths sales will benefitBoys and Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade,which serves 10,000 boys and girls inMiami-DadeCounty with positive pro-

grams year-round.The tree lot is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. seven

days a week from Nov. 19 to Dec. 15 (oruntil trees are sold out).

For more information, visit online at<www.bgcmia.org>.

Boys and Girls Clubs to beginChristmas tree sales, Nov. 19


Crafts • Gifts • Food Trucks and more

Arts & Craft FestivalSaturday, November 10th • 8am-3pm

Central Presbyterian Church 12455 SW 104 St.

Free admission & free parking.10x10 Vendor spaces $35.00, call 305-274-4007

‘Digging Miami:’ Free lectureat Deering Estate at CutlerBY JENNIFER TISTHAMMER

The Deering Estate at Cutler, in partner-ship with the Archaeological Society ofSouthern Florida, presents a free lecture onthe second Thursday of each month. Thenext lecture is scheduled for Nov. 8, 7 p.m.,in the Visitor Center Auditorium at theDeering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72 Ave.Topic is “Digging Miami” and the presenteris Robert Carr.

The pace of change of Miami since itsincorporation in 1896 is staggering. Miami’sdevelopment continually erases monumentsand traces of indigenous people and historicpioneers while ironically leading to archaeo-logical treasures that have lain undiscoveredfor centuries.

In “Digging Miami,” Carr traces the rich11,000-year human heritage of the Miamiarea from its first inhabitants through thearrival of European settlers and up to the early20th century. Carr was Dade County’s firstarchaeologist, later historic preservationdirector, and held the position at a time whenredevelopment efforts unearthed dozens of

impressive archaeological sites, including theCutler site, discovered in 1985, and the con-troversial Miami Circle, found in 1998.“Digging Miami” presents a unique anatomyof this fascinating city, dispelling the myththat its history is merely a century old.

Currently the executive director of theArchaeological and Historical ConservancyInc., Carr’s career spans over 30 years. AsDade County’s first archaeologist, he wasinstrumental in the implementation of theHistorical Sites Preservation Ordinance. Carris a prolific writer, from trade periodicals totechnical reports to books.

The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW72 Ave. This 444-acre natural and archeolog-ical preserve and historic site is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places andserves as a center for education, culture andrecreation. Historic house tours are offereddaily at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. with admis-sion to the estate.

For more information on the DeeringEstate’s educational and cultural programs,visit <www.deeringestate.org>.


BY DUREE ROSS

Reptile lovers and those who want to

learn more about the intriguing creatures

are invited to attend Miami Science

Museum’s Reptile Day on Saturday,

Nov. 3.

Reptile Day will include entertaining

and interactive activities about many dif-

ferent reptile species including:

• Meet and greet with Animal Planet’s

Gator Boys celebrities Chris and Ashley;

• Python Control in the Everglades pres-

entation by Shawn Heflick, host of

National Geographic’s Python Hunters;

• Live venomous snake handling show

by Venom One;

• Eyes and Ears (invasive reptile detec-

tion and reporting training) presentation by

Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species

Management Area (ECISMA);

• Alligator aquaculture presentation by

Gatorama;

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission airboat display;

• Live invasive reptile display by ECIS-

MA;

• Reptile artifacts from MSM Collection

Vault;

• Live python animal presentation by

MSM herpetologist;

• Turtle race;

• Eat Like a Reptile by Chef Kat Duran;

• Outdoor tables featuring Venom One,

FWC, ECISMA, Shawn Heflick of

National Geographic’s Python Hunters,

Gatorama, Animal Planet’s Gator Boys

celebrities Chris and Ashley and Gator

Boys merchandise sale, Zoo Med prizes,

Eat Like a Lizard;

• Pet reptile contests: Attendees can enter

their pet reptiles in several contests for

prizes. Each pet entry will receive two free

admission tickets (limit one pet entry per

family).

• Arts & crafts activities: Activities will

include a sea turtle craft, spiral snake craft,

and chameleon camouflage challenge

(Learn how camouflage is used as a sur-

vival technique as you color the chameleon

to make it disappear into the background.);

Fun-filled floor demos at Reptile Day

will be:

Alligator vs. Crocodile — Think you

know the difference between the two?

Complete venn diagram to identify the

characteristics of each, then visit them in

our Wildlife Center.

Sea Turtle Bingo — Grab a “turtle egg”

and follow the life stages of a sea turtle as

you play this game of survival.

Reptile Scavenger Hunt — Complete the

scavenger hunt to learn more in-depth info

about our reptile residents.

Feeding Frenzy — Match the prey item

to its reptile predator.

Guess the Number of Eggs — Clutch

size (the number of eggs laid in a nest)

differs greatly among lizard species. Can

you guess how many eggs each species

lays?

Lizard Personality Quiz — Lizards have

interesting personalities, just like we do!

Take this personality quiz to find out which

lizard you fit in best with.

Reptile Day is sponsored in part by

Venom One, ECISMA, Gatorama, MSM

Collection, Zoo Med, GEICO, Tom

Crutchfield, and United Pet Group Inc. For

more information about sponsorship

opportunities, contact Donald Uricchio at

<[email protected]>.

Miami Science Museum’s ReptileDay scheduled Saturday, Nov. 3


BY XIOMARA MORDCOVICH

Miami Improv, 3390 Mary St. inCoconut Grove, presents “Puppies andKittens!” on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m.,offering a special night of standup comedythat is great fun for a good cause. All pro-ceeds from the ticket sales will be donatedto Miami-Dade County Animal ServicesDepartment.

The show features local comediansForrest Shaw, Lisa Corrao, John Wynn andNery Saenz, all of whom are proud ownersof adopted pets. Tickets are only $15 andcan be purchased online at <www.laugh-stub.com/buyTicket.cfm?showTimingID=177735&buy>.

“How often can you say that your funnight out on the town is actually doingsomething good for society?” said LisaCorrao, comedian and organizer of event.“Tickets get people an evening at the bestcomedy club in Miami with some of thetop stand-up comics in Florida, all whilehelping to save puppies and kittens. It’s awin-win situation.”

Each year, Animal Services receivesover 30,000 pets. The goal of this event, aswith any event in which the departmentparticipates, is to increase pet adoptionsand community awareness and involve-ment with the shelter.

For more information, visit<www.miamidade.gov/animals> or call3-1-1.

Animal Services to benefitfrom Miami Improv show

“Tickets get people anevening at the best comedyclub in Miami with some ofthe top stand-up comics inFlorida, all while helping tosave puppies and kittens. It’s a win-win situation.”

—— LLiissaa CCoorrrraaoo ccoommeeddiiaann aanndd oorrggaanniizzeerr ooff


Marco Drugs & Compounding is locatedat 6627 South Dixie Highway,

Tel: 305-665-4411 • Fax: 305-663-3258Email:[email protected]

<www.marcodrugs.com>This article is intended to provide information on health-related matters. The ideas expressed cannot be usedto diagnose or treat individual health problems andshould not be taken as medical advice or instruction.

Sonia Martinez, RPH - Marco Drugs

Photo byElla Woodson

Hormones — for KEEPS!

Marco Drugs and Compounding will provideyou with compounded medications preparedwith the highest standards and with highquality bulk materials, traditional prescrip-tions and high grade nutraceuticals, supple-ments and multivitamins. We provide to youhealth information in a clean, comfortable,fun and safe environment. Make us yourdoorway to total health.

BY SONIA MARTINEZ, RPHThe results of the Kronos Early

Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS)were released at the 23rd annualmeeting of the North AmericanMenopause Society in October 2012.The conclusion: Bio-identical hor-mones (estradiol and micronizedprogesterone) - started soon afterthe start of menopause - improveddepression, anxiety, and cognitivefunction in healthy women. But,perhaps most importantly, bio-iden-tical hormones did this without pos-ing any cardiovascular disease risk,and were shown to be superior tosynthetic conjugated equine estro-gens (CEE). CEE are the form of hor-mones that were used in the Women’sHealth Initiative (WHI), a large govern-ment-sponsored study which found anincreased risk of breast cancer associ-ated with CEE, leading many womenand health care professionals to seekinformation on options such as bio-identical hormones.

Luncheon event to benefittherapeutic riding centerBY ROBERT HAMILTON

Whispering Manes Therapeutic RidingCenter, a non-profit organization dedicatedto providing therapeutic horseback ridinglessons to people with disabilities, will hostthe First Annual Shoe Fairies Luncheon onSunday, Nov. 4, noon-3 p.m., at 8500 SW182 St. in Palmetto Bay. Participants canregister online at <www.shoefairies.event-bright.com>.

The Shoe Fairies Luncheon, co-chaired byLinda Peterson and Helen Picard, will reachout to more than 100 women in an effort toraise funds to support equine assisted thera-py programs for hundreds of affected chil-dren and adults as well as local veteransreturning from war with PSTD and socialdisabilities.

Attendees will have the opportunity to bidon select items offered through a silent auc-tion as well as participate in an early holidayshopping event with local vendors. Theafternoon also will feature a fashion showcourtesy of Cocoa Couture and a luncheonby Relish Miami.

“In its first year of operation, Whispering

Manes has positively impacted the lives ofdozens of Miami-Dade children with mus-cular and cognitive disorders,” Picard said.“We are confident that with the enthusiasticparticipation of women from our communi-ty, we will be able to extend the programsto many more affected children and localveterans.”

The Whispering Manes TherapeuticRiding Center is located in the heart ofHorse Country in Kendall. Its mission is tobenefit children and adults with specialneeds or disabilities by offering them theopportunity to interact with dedicated horsesin a manner that promotes physical, mental,and emotional wellbeing. Through programsat Whispering Manes people can developtherapeutic relationships with horses, cross-ing boundaries of speech and physical dis-abilities in a way that encourages healingand improved self-esteem.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at thedoor.

For more information about the FirstAnnual Shoe Fairies Luncheon or to registeror donate online, visit online at <www.whis-peringmanes.org>.


By Laura TraegerHaving a conversation to think through long term care needs helps you

evaluate how a loved one’s long term care needs may impact their or your fi-nancial security. Almost 40% of people believe they will need long termcare, yet most people don’t take action until something happens. This putsyou at a disadvantage due to a pre-existing condition and may cause familymembers to make spur of the moment, emotional and uninformed decisions.Having honest conversations can reduce stress and allow everyone to makedecisions more comfortable later.What would you do if you received a call today regarding a family member

who required immediate long term care assistance? 73% of people cannotanswer that question. If you as an adult child have these concerns on yourmind, chances are your parents do too. Most people are five times more con-cerned about being a burden to their family than they are of dying. Seniorswant to be able to afford quality care in a setting they chose as well as protecttheir spouse and loved one’s quality of life. One survey found the nationalmedian for a year of nursing home care to be $77,000 and the cost for an in-home licensed home health care aide to be $19.00 per hour.Part of retirement strategy should include planning for long term care.

What are your options?

Public ProgramsMany people feel the government will pay for long term care expenses.

Medicare generally covers a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay of atleast 3 days, for a limited amount of time. Medicaid contributes towards carebut requires the savings you’ve worked hard for to be spent down.

Private/Family SupportYou may look to family and friends to provide care. This decision may

require moving closer to where these individuals live. Consideration mustbe given to whether they have the time, ability and physical and financial re-sources to provide care.

Self-FundingYou may also assume the primary financial risk for your long term care

costs. Review the cost of care in your area and consider inflation. This willhelp you determine the amount of savings that should be set aside for longterm care.

Long Term Care InsuranceLong term care insurance is designed to help reimburse the cost of skilled

or custodial nursing care in your home or in a facility. It provides a pool ofmoney if you are unable to perform two of your daily living activities suchas eating, dressing, getting in and out of bed, bathing or if you suffer from acognitive impairment. Sometimes this coverage is available through youremployer. If not speak to a professional who can help guide you through theprocess of selecting the right policy to fit your needs.

For more information on how to get this conversation started,email: [email protected].

You can also find more information at www.longtermcare.gov

Having a conversationabout Long Term Care Needs

BY SANJAY RAZDAN, MD, MCH

According to theAmerican CancerSociety, more than241,000 men will bediagnosed withprostate cancer in theUnited States thisyear, and more than28,000 men will die ofthe disease.

With these startling statistics, it is impor-tant for men and their families to be awareof the disease, understand who is most atrisk and what they can do today to lowertheir chances of battling prostate cancer.

What is prostate cancer?Prostate cancer refers to abnormal cells

in the prostate gland, which is part of themale reproductive system. The prostate issituated just below the bladder and in frontof the rectum. A normal prostate is aboutthe size of a walnut.

Who is at risk for p rostate cancer?Prostate cancer can affect men of any age

but it is most common in men over the ageof 50. Eight out of 10 men who suffer fromprostate cancer are over the age of 65.African-American men are at higher risk aswell as men with a family history of thedisease. Men who eat a high-fat diet or whoare obese also may have increased chancesof getting prostate cancer.

What can be done to lower the risk ofgetting the disease?

While researchers continue to study theeffect of diet and other lifestyle factors on aman’s risk of developing prostate cancer,there are some changes that may be associ-ated with a decreased risk of the disease.Men are encouraged to eat a diet low in fat,especially animal fat, and include morefruits and vegetables. According to theNational Cancer Institute, studies show thata diet high in dairy products and calciumalso may be linked to an increased risk ofprostate cancer, although the increase maybe small.

What are the symptoms of prostatecancer?

In most cases, early stage prostate cancerdoes not produce any symptoms, but theymay begin to appear as the cancer grows.Symptoms include:

Difficulty starting to urinate;

Less force to the stream of urine;Frequent urination, especially during the

night;Pain while urinating; Blood or pus in the urine;Pain in hip, lower back or lower part of

the pelvis, andUnintended weight loss and/or loss of

appetite.

What types of options are available tot reat prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer can be treated success-fully if it is caught early, before it spreadsto other parts of the body. One treatmentoption for patients at Jackson SouthCommunity Hospital is the daVinci SRobotic Surgical System, which allows thesurgeon to perform minimally invasiveprocedures, such as removal of theprostate, in hard-to-reach areas with moreprecision. Because this technology is lessinvasive than other surgical options,patients experience minimal pain, lessblood loss and a smaller risk of infection.

Patients undergoing this procedure canexpect an excellent chance of being curedwith a return to normal activities withindays. In some cases, the surgery may be anoutpatient procedure. In the majority ofcases, patients are not troubled with incon-tinence or impotence.

How can men learn more aboutp rostate cancer and the various treat-ment options?

The Urology Center of Excellence atJackson South Hospital is a resource forstate-of-the-art diagnostic testing andtreatment for prostate and other urologicproblems. We’re always innovating andon the leading edge of developing the lat-est techniques for beating cancer, improv-ing urinary function and restoring sexualfunction.

For more information or to schedule anappointment call the Urology Center ofExcellence at Jackson South at 305-547-2364 or visit the Jackson Health Systemwebsite at <www.jhsmiami.org>.

Sanjay Razdan, MD, MCh, is the direc-tor of Jackson South Hospital’s UrologyCenter of Excellence. Dr. Razdan, who iswell known for his expertise in advancedsurgical procedures in endourology andurologic cancer, was one of the first urolo-gists in Miami-Dade County to performradical prostatectomy procedures with thedaVinci S robotic Surgical System.

Prostate Cancer: The secondleading cause of death in men

BY JEANMARIE C. FERRARA

The Miami Foundation is on a quest tohelp the residents of metropolitan Miamiachieve a more rewarding quality of lifeand love for their city — and needs theirhelp to achieve it.

“We asked: ‘What can we do to make ourplace, our city, more attractive to anincreasingly mobile and global society?’”said Javier Alberto Soto, president of TheMiami Foundation. “Our answer: We willmarshal our foundation’s $160 million infinancial resources to help target initiativesthat will measurably improve Miami-Dade’s quality of life.”

The foundation has mapped out a strate-gy in “Our Miami: Soul of the City,” a newinitiative that is the result of research thatcompares how Miamians feel about theircommunity with statistics reflecting howthe community actually performs.

The foundation will use the informationto advance public policy and support com-munity projects, including programs thatpromote college degree attainment, attractthe best and brightest young talent to Miamiand create a stronger sense of community.

“We believe intuitively — and ourresearch confirms — that younger

Miamians hold the key to our future suc-cess,” Soto said.

“The leaders of tomorrow are today’srecent graduates, young professionals andemerging creative class. But we mustensure that these leaders of tomorrow maketheir homes and their livelihoods heretoday. Our Miami is the starting point tomake that happen,” he added.

“This body of research has helped us iden-tify the community’s needs,” said NancyJones, vice president for development andcommunications at The Miami Foundation.“Our financial resources however are onlyone piece of the solution. We need participa-

tion and input from the community to beeffective in addressing these issues.

“Our board of directors and staff havebeen steadfast in their commitment to mak-ing this a game-changing project. Nobodyneeds a report that will sit on a shelf,” sheadded.

Jones said a good place to start is with theinteractive website at ourmiami.org. Thewebsite’s colorful graphics illustrateresearch findings about how Miamians feeland how we perform in the economy, edu-cation, leadership, safety, social life, open-ness, aesthetics, and basic services.

“You can also find a interactive quiz anddiscover what attaches you to Miami,”Jones said.

The website also will serve as the hub forpeople to submit ideas on how to maketheir Miami neighborhood better. The foun-dation will use the ideas for making grantsto individuals and organizations to carryout neighborhood projects.

“There is one caveat to these grants. Youcan’t do it alone. You have to mobilize agroup of people to work together,” Soto said.

Our Miami stems from a three-year study,called Soul of the Community, which wasfunded by the John S. and James L. KnightFoundation. Soul of the Community sur-veyed residents of metropolitan Miami and25 other cities nationwide to explore whatthey like most about where they live and

which factors play the biggest roles in con-necting people to their place. Perhaps moreimportantly, the study looked at how thosefactors contribute to the local economy.

The Knight Foundation study found thatbeautiful natural surroundings, great weath-er, social openness, a thriving arts scene,night-life, good educational systems andjob opportunities, among others, are theattributes that make people love Miamimost. In turn, when people love where theylive they develop strong pride in their com-munity, a positive outlook on its future andthe community thrives economically.

The Miami Foundation reached into itsown back yard by commissioning FloridaInternational University researchers, whoevaluated the areas of community attach-ment in greater depth. The research foundseveral areas of discrepancy, such as theperception that public schools provide poorquality education. Instead, research provesMiami-Dade County high schools outpacepeers in Florida for their programs aimed atincreasing AP courses, especially amongtraditionally underserved students.

“If more people like living in Miami,then they are more likely to put down rootsand become civically engaged. This createscommunity stability and economic success.Therefore, it makes sense for us to invest inand strengthen those things that attachMiamians to the community,” Soto said.

Foundation seeks residents’ help in making Miami better

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BY ROBERT HAMILTON

Former Coconut Grove resident and nov-elist Ann Lee Miller has incorporated hereye-rolling adolescent years living aboard asailboat at Dinner Key Marina into her sec-ond novel, The Art of My Life, whichlaunched Sept. 25.

As an 11-year-old, Miller’s movingaboard the Annie Lee warranted little morethan a yawn.

“My dad, a dead ringer for Willie Nelson,had already packed the family into a VWvan for a year to pan for gold out West andin Mexico, pitched us a tent on a St. Johnbeach in the Virgin Islands, and built adinghy in our 27th Avenue and 11th Streetrental house he had to dismantle to get outthe door,” Miller said.

Her father, Dick Fetterman’s, secondboat — a 36-foot yawl — he built in theyard out of plywood and fiberglass.Miller watched the boat take shape fromskeleton to upside down ark to floatableRV during her elementary years at the oldShenandoah Elementary School.Familiarity made hauling the yawl bycrane to the Miami River and movingaboard seem like no big deal.

Miller slept in the aft cabin beside a pileof lumber, terrorizedby a spider the sizeof her hand and aspare palmetto bugor two. Every morn-ing she tore down thedock on her bike,“rattling the teeth outof my head,” to SaintHugh’s CatholicSchool. It was 1969-71, and passed-outhippies litteredBayfront Park’sbenches. Hair playedin the Coconut GrovePlayhouse where theactors performed naked. The cool, quietlower level of the Coconut Grove Library,shrouded in swaying greenery, becameMiller’s sanctuary, the place she escapedinto fiction.

In the afternoons she shimmied into herbathing suit, cannon-balled off the end ofPier 1, looked both ways, and dodged boattraffic to the nearby island.

“I thought my life was unremarkablebecause every other kid at the marina livedit, too,” Miller said.

She calls the 36-foot sailboat an aquacul-ture for mold and dysfunction that launchedher — in lieu of therapy — into writing. Butmore telling is the fact that sailboats appearin all four of her completed novels — twomore books will debut within the next six

months. Perhaps, just maybe, herfamily drama wasn’t the boat’sfault. But, according to Miller, theboat did become the crucible thatbroke her parents’ marriage.

Still, she recalls positives fromthe ages 11, 12 and 13 at the mari-na. Her family rescued an injuredturtle the size of a car tire andnursed it back to health in the cock-pit of the Annie Lee. Her fathertaught her and all the other “dockrats” life skills like how to open a

coconut with a hammer and screw driverwithout spilling the milk, filet a fish bysticking your fingers into the eye socketsfor a good grip, and rub a blow fish’s stom-ach till it puffed up, then throw it back intothe bay to deflate and swim away.

On weekends Miller’s family putted intoBiscayne Bay with a 10-horse Johnson out-board, then raised sail on mismatchedmasts, one aluminum, one wood.

Of sailing, Miller said, “I was bored sillyand snacked on powdered eggs and grilledpeanut butter sandwiches while Mom and Iread Gone With The Wind aloud — sheskipping the racy parts; I ferreting them outlater.”

Buoys made her folks crazy. Miller’sfather knew “red right returning,” but he

was colorblind. Her mother recognized col-ors, but not what they meant. So, Miller gothandy with the depth sounder — a longmop handle with notches carved at footintervals. Once, the pole stuck in seaweedand mud with Miller attached. Shescreamed bloody murder as the Annie Leesailed off.

Since her father had captained theUniversity of Miami’s swim team in col-lege, “I darn sure knew how to swim. Butboy howdy was he PO-ed when he had tofetch me from the shallows.”

Miller’s younger brother, Richard James“R.J.” Fetterman Jr., a surfer who settled onMaui, hadn’t completed his swimmingindoctrination when the family movedaboard and still ran around the dock with aStyrofoam football on a belt circling hiswaist. Every month or so, their fatherhacked off another slice of the thing till herbrother could swim on his own.

R.J., who still says these were the bestyears of his life, rode his tricycle full-tilt offthe end of the dock. A fully clothed strangerjumped in to fish him out. Their dad had todive for the trike. The next time R.J. cycledoff the end of the pier, their father wentafter him, and the tricycle stayed at the bot-tom of the bay.

Even at her snottiest, Miller said, shecouldn’t help being grateful for pram sail-ing lessons she took adjacent to BayfrontPark where she picked up the much appre-ciated life skill of capsizing — one she hasindulged many times. The actual going overdidn’t thrill her. What she loved was stand-ing on the dagger board, flipping the mastupright, and watching water sluice off thesail. Her sailing companions have failed toshare her fascination.

Staying up late, armed with nets andspotlights when the shrimp were running,did have its appeal. But the 11-, 12-, and 13-year-old Miller whined about picking fishbones out of her spaghetti, wearing zincoxide as a second skin, and never-ending

boat chores.“If I’d known I was living the swan song

of my parents’ marriage, making lifelongfriends, packing memories like a thousandsea sponges into a dock box — maybe Iwould have rolled my eyes less and said‘thank you’ more,” Miller concluded.

Today she’s saying thank you by penningnovels that capture life aboard ship. Miller’snew book, The Art of My Life, chronicles aguy trying to get his charter sailing businessoff the ground. The novel is available in e-for-mats at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com,and Smashwords.com. Paperback versionscan be purchased at Amazon.com andBarnesAndNoble.com.

About the novel: Cal walked out of jailand into a second chance at winning Alywith his grandma’s beater sailboat and areclaimed dream of sailing charters.

Aly has the business smarts, strings toa startup loan, and heart he never shouldhave broken. He has got squat. Unlessyou count enough original art to stock amonster rummage sale and an affectionfor weed.

But he had only ever loved Aly. That hadto count for something. Aly needed a guywho owned yard tools, tires worth rotating,and a voter’s registration card. He’d be thatguy or die trying.

For anyone who has ever struggled tomeasure up — and failed.

About the author: Ann Lee Miller earneda BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH)University and writes full-time in Phoenix,but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach,where she grew up. She loves speaking toyoung adults and guest lectures on writingat several Arizona colleges.

When she isn’t writing or muddlingthrough some crisis — real or imagined —you’ll find her hiking in the SuperstitionMountains with her husband or meddling inher kids’ lives.

For more information visit online atAnnLeeMiller.com.

Author bases her latest novel on life aboard dad’s sailboat

F O O T N O T E S

Ann Lee Miller––––––––––––––––––––


BY LINDA RODRIGUEZ BERNFELD

Libba Bray, whose new book TheDiviners recently hit the shelves, will be afeatured author during the 2012 MiamiBook Fair International Literary Encountersprogram on Friday, Nov. 16.

Bray won the Printz Award, the awardfor best YA (Young Adult) for her book,Going Bovine, about a boy with Mad Cowdisease.

Bray’s books all have hit the New YorkTimes and USA Today bestseller lists. Shewill be teaching five writing seminars for500 teens.

“I’m going to give them life lesson, likemake sure you always have toilet paper ortissues in your purse,” she joked.

She said that when she teaches teensabout writing, she has a favorite exercisethat includes improv.

“We get up and build a story together. Itinvolves audience participation. It’s a moreinvolved, fun thing. If we have time, thenwe get to go through it twice.”

After that, Bray takes questions from thestudents.

“I always tell them they can ask me any-thing they want to talk about, whether its

writing, publishing or life. I like the stu-dents to be driving the bus as much as pos-sible.”

The book fair begins Nov. 11 and thestreet fair is Nov. 16-18.

While the book fair features a huge vari-ety of books, it has expanded its program-ming for children. The children’s programhas been renamed “Generation Genius.”The idea is that children should not onlyhave fun when going to the book fair, butthey should learn.

The Literary Encounters are expected todraw 1,122 students on Thursday from 25different schools and 4,069 on Friday from80 different schools. Some authors also willbe sent to 45 schools on Thursday andFriday.

“We expanded the number of days that wehave programs for students,” said LissetteMendez, creator of the Generation Geniusprograms. “When we first started out, it wasonly on Friday that we had students comeand there were only three authors. We’veexpanded the number of days. We have eightauthors on Thursday making presentations.On Friday we have 15.”

The kids are bused in for the sessions. Insome instances, the schools pay for thebuses, and in other cases the book fair pays.

“We have five sessions in each grade

group,” Mendez said. “There are five differ-ent high school authors. They pick one thatday to be the official author. She [Bray] isdoing that presentation for 500 students.”

The book fair provides programming forstudents of all ages. The author encountersis one of the oldest programs provided bythe book fair, as is the Children’s Alley. Butthe focus of the programs is changing.

“In the past, what we’ve done is dedicat-ed a venue to a book or a concept,” Mendezsaid. “Instead of saying this is going to theWizard of Oz, for example, this is going tobe dedicated to science. It’s one of the sub-ject areas that kids learn.”

Other featured areas will be music, art,history and culture, and anthropology.

The book fair also has the GenerationGenius Reads program, which distributes3,500 books to children. This year theKindergarten First Grade titles are HowRocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills andOtto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson.

Last year, the Center for Literary Artsdistributed 17,536 books to children.

“That’s part of what we’re doing; we’regetting books in the hands of the student,”Mendez said.

Bestselling author to teach writing to tweens and teens

Libba Bray(Photo credit: Vania Stoyanova)

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



BY LINDA RODRIGUEZ BERNFELD

It isn’t often that students in Miami-DadeCounty get the chance to meet a bestsellingauthor. But many will be able to do so Nov.7 and 8 when Cinda Williams Chima, theauthor of The Crimson Crown, comes toMiami.

On Nov. 8, at 4 p.m., she will be at Booksand Books in Coral Gables for an informalmeet-and-greet while she signs books.

“I really wanted to have a public opportu-nity to meet readers,” Chima said.

She said she expects to do two or threeschools in a day.

“When I work with a publisher to visitschools, it’s usually one presentation in aschool,” she said. “People can come to thestore that afternoon or pre-order the bookand have it signed while I’m there.”

Chima’s latest book, The CrimsonCrown, was released Oct. 23. It is the fourthbook in The Seven Realms series.

“There are some people who still thinkit’s a trilogy,” Chima said. “I still seereviews on Goodreads, why did it end likethat? If the end of Gray Wolf Throne leftyou hanging, there is one more book!”

Chima laughed and said some peoplewho don’t like to read series until they aredone started the series and weren’t happyabout having towait for the fourthbook to come out.The books havebeen spaced abouta year apart.

“The story isabout Hans andRaisa. There willbe some surprises,”she said. “My 20-something son whois a very smartreader, he calledme and said,‘Mom, I did not seethis coming.’”

She adapted thesetting of The Seven Realms series from anadult series she wrote that didn’t sell.

“When I focused on YA, I realized Ialready created a world and characters Iloved,” she said. “I took some of the charac-ters I know from the adult series and tookthem back to what they would have been at16 and 17.”

The setting works so well, readers oftentell her they cannot believe how detailedand real the world is.

“I spent a lot of time on it. I’ve writtenhundreds of words in my adult novels andnow hundreds and thousands of words in

YA,” Chima said. “I know the worldreally well and I hope it comes acrosson the page.”

Chima also is known for her HeirChronicles series, starting with TheWarrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, andThe Dragon Heir. It continues to be sopopular that she’s now writing sequels.

“I’m under contract to write twomore books in the Heir series,” shesaid. “They asked if I would be willingto write two more. I’m finally havingfun with it. It was hard to go back andget my head into it.”

Chima writes every day but she also hastimes when she sprints through to reach herdeadline. She has a daily word goal, usually1,000 words a day — which is about fourpages. Keeping to that goal will get her to30,000 words a month. This spring, however,she wrote 95,000 words in three months.

“Another writer once said, ‘I can fix any-thing but a blank page,’” Chima said. “Onceyou have it down you can make it pretty.”

Chima will be at Books and Books, 265Aragon Ave., on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 4p.m. For information, call 302-442-4408 orgo online to <www.booksandbooks.com>.

School visits top agenda forbestselling fantasy author

FOOTNOTES

Cinda Williams Chima––––––––––––––––


Residents of our county are fortunateto have access to one of the latest andmost accurate laser treatments forcataract, corneal and refractive surgeriesin the world. In the skilled hands of oph-thalmologist Dr. Richard S. Kalski,patients can receive the treatment theyneed from the LenSX laser by Alcon at astate of the art facility, the South FloridaSurgery Center, located on SW 70 St inSouth Miami.

Dr. Kalski, a native of Cleveland, Ohiois a physician who believes in arming hispatients with information, providing acomplete packet about his services, what toexpect during and after surgery, and even avideo on his website in which his patientsdescribe their experiences with eye sur-gery. His treatment includes pre- and post-operative personal phone calls to eachpatient.

Cataracts, something that may be on theincrease as Baby Boomers age, are gener-ally the consequence of surviving a cer-tain number ofbirthdays. Witness thefamous Impressionist artist Claude Monet(1840 – 1926), whose vision was severely

impacted by cataracts, after the age of 72;some believe they interfered with his abil-ity to accurately see color from 1915 on.Today, modern techniques in cataract sur-gery and intraocular lens replacementwould have made Monet’s eye troubleseasy to remedy.

Dr. Kalski says that cataracts are a mat-ter of “when,” not “if.” The issue aboutthem is that surgery is only necessarywhen the condition greatly hampers one’sability to see clearly, a la Monet. Theapproval by the FDA of foldable artificiallenses (intraocular lens or IOL) in the1990s moved the treatment of cataractsinto a realm that was much better for thepatient with healing time being greatlyreduced.

With the invention and approval of theAlcon LenSX in the United States, cataractand other surgeries are safer, smaller inci-sions are required and can self-heal with-out suturing, healing time for the patient isreduced and there is much less swelling asa result of the procedure. Because theequipment relies on discrete patient infor-mation entered by the doctor, the solutions

are custom tailored for each patient.Results are extremely accurate and certainroutine maneuvers are easily replicated,thanks to this state of the art equipment andthe skilled hands of an ophthalmologistlike Dr. Kalski.

Another major improvement in artificiallenses is their ability to solve certain visionchallenges such as astigmatism and otherissues that may require glasses or contacts.These premium lenses are available anddecisions about choosing one over theother should be made in consultation withthe doctor.

Dr. Richard Kalski is a board certified

ophthalmologist who is a graduate ofCase Western Reserve University Schoolof Medicine and performed his residencyat CWR’s Ophthalmology program. Also,he is the recipient of the “Physician’sRecognition Award in ContinuingEducation” from the American MedicalAssociation and has published and pre-sented his work worldwide. He may bereached at 305-665-2023 and his medicaloffice, Vision Correction Specialist, islocated in Kendall at 7000 SW 97Avenue, Suite 114.

For additional information, feel free togo to: www.kalskivision.com

Richard S. Kalski, M.D. is the vision correction specialist... where patients can receive the treatment they need

Dr. Kalski believes in aiming patients with information.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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BY AMY HOFFMAN

Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bessand BankUnited, one of the largest banksheadquartered in Florida, are teaming up topromote financial literacy among SouthFlorida’s youth with the second annual “4Downs for Finance,” which kicked off inSeptember.

Through Monday, Dec. 3, students ages13-18 in Florida can register online at<www.4downsforfinance.com> to accessage-appropriate money tips and submit anessay telling why they think saving isimportant.

During each gameday radio broadcastthroughout the regular football season, onewinner will be announced live on the radioand will win a football autographed byBess. At the conclusion of the season onelucky grand prize winner will be chosenfrom the weekly winners to receive a$1,000 cash prize and an opportunity tomeet Bess.

“BankUnited is happy to team up withDavone Bess again this year to help teachFlorida’s youth about the importance of

saving money,” said John Kanas, chair,president and CEO of BankUnited.“Positive messages about earning, spend-ing and saving money, when instilled at ayoung age, can help form healthy finan-cial habits later in life, setting our com-munity’s young people on a path of finan-cial success.”

As part of “4 Downs for Finance,”BankUnited and Bess share money tipswith youth such as:

• Earn money by getting a part-time jobor helping mom and dad around the house.

• Save part of what you earn, at least 10percent.

• Save a portion of monetary gifts youreceive for holidays and birthday gifts, atleast 10 percent.

• Open a savings account for the moneyyou save and deposit it as soon as possibleto avoid spending it.

• Set a savings goal. Be ambitiousenough that you have to work for it butrealistic enough that the goal is achievable.

For more money tips or to register for“4 Downs for Finance” visitwww.4downsforfinance.com.

‘4 Downs for Finance’ essay contestfeatures wide receiver Davone Bess


BY MARITZA ARCEO-LOPEZ

Miami Seaquarium welcomes marine

adventures for the whole family with the

new “ZZZ’s by the Sea” family campout

on Saturday, Nov. 10, through Sunday,

Nov. 11. Families are welcome to camp

under the stars to watch the night sky light

up while participating in an exciting ocean-

ic journey throughout the day.

Featured activities include a behind-

the-scenes look at the park, exploring all

there is about marine life, and lessons on

conservation. The two-day event offers

science presentations, marine mammal

shows, breakfast, lunch, snacks and much

more.

Families also will have the opportunity

to explore a variety of marine creatures by

booking one of the many interaction ses-

sions with manatees, sea turtles, dolphins,

sea lions and more. All participating fami-

lies will need to bring a family tent and

camping equipment.

The cost is $50 per participant. A mini-

mum of two people is required to reserve a

camping area. A non-refundable $100

deposit is required before Oct. 19.For more information call 305-361-

5705, ext 520.

Miami Seaquarium, South Florida’s

most popular tourist attraction, is a family-

oriented marine-life park open to the pub-

lic 365 days a year. General admission to

Miami Seaquarium is $39.95 and $29.95

for children (ages 3-9).

More information on Miami Seaquarium is

available at <www.miamiseaquarium.com>.

Catch some ‘ZZZ’s by the Sea’at Miami Seaquarium campout

BY MELISSA NOBLES

Big changes are in store this year for fansof the South Florida International AutoShow. Most notably, the show will official-ly change its name to the MiamiInternational Auto Show (MIAS), payinghomage to the alluring destination it hascalled home for the last 42 years.

The show also will be sporting a wholenew look, complete with new exhibits andinteractive elements, when it opens on Nov.9 for its annual 10-day run at the MiamiBeach Convention Center.

“We are so excited to unveil the new fea-tures of the Miami International AutoShow, and feel the name now truly reflectsthe culture and history of this time-honoredSouth Beach event,” said Mario Murgado,chair of the Miami International AutoShow.

Among the new exhibits planned for thisyear’s show is Eco Experience, which willeducate environmentally conscious con-sumers with cutting-edge displays focusedon renewable energy and alternative fuelvehicles. Show-goers also will be able toexperience select electric cars inside on themain show floor, during a first-time-ever

inside track event.The redesigned show debuts its first ever

“Topless in Miami” exhibit, presented inpartnership with the Southern AutomotiveMedia Association (SAMA). This uniqueshowcase will allow guests to fully experi-ence a convertible car in a picturesqueMiami environment, while never leavingthe showroom floor.

Recognizing the impact of social media,the 2012 show will offer the hundreds ofthousands of show attendees an opportuni-

ty to connect and interact with each other inreal time via Twitter. Prominent screenswill be displayed at high traffic pointsacross the show floor, encouraging visitorsto engage in a conversation about theirexperience at the Miami Show.

In addition to the new exhibits, show-goers can expect to see returning favoritessuch as Memory Lane, which will featureAmerican muscle vehicles and a specialexhibit showcasing classic automobilesfrom Havana. In Million Dollar Alley, vis-

itors can fantasize about their ultimate joytoy, a six-figure motorcar. Camp Jeep andan outside test drive program will put vis-itors behind the wheel of popular newmodels.

“As always at this auto show, car enthu-siasts and the general public alike can seeand experience hundreds of new cars upclose and personal, all under one roof,”Murgado said. “It’s a once-a-year chance toget a glimpse of the newest models and tosee what the future of the industry willhold.”

Each year, approximately 40 major automanufacturers fill the hall with several hun-dred new cars, trucks, crossovers andSUVs, making this event one of America’stop five in attendance.

The South Florida Automobile DealersAssociation, which today comprises morethan 190 dealerships in Miami-Dade,Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe coun-ties, has been the official sponsor of theSouth Florida International Auto Showsince its inception in 1971.

For more information on this year’sevent, contact show coordinator Cliff Rayat 305-981-1448 or visit the auto show’swebsite at <www.sfliautoshow.com>.

Miami International Auto Show promises a whole new ride

This 1956 Chrysler Windsor Newport is one of the cars featured in the Havana Classics section of Memory Lane.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––



BY CHERYL FENSKE

Baseball fans will have the opportunityof a lifetime to cruise with baseball legendsrepresenting leading teams on select 2012-13 Caribbean sailings of MSC Poesia.

Guests can interact with former MajorLeague Baseball stars as they sail to incred-ible Caribbean destinations onboard MSCPoesia on several “Baseball Greats” themecruises.

This is the ninth year MSC Cruises hashosted these popular cruises with a chang-ing lineup of players.

Host and emcee for all of the onboardactivities on each cruise is former NewYork Yankees star pitcher Stan Bahnsen.“Baseball Greats” cruises offer freeguest/player activities including a player-hosted trivia game, a question-and-answersession, a guest pitching contest and a live-ly storytelling session.

Baseball players host hitting, fielding,base running, and defense strategy clinics.A free autograph session is one of the mostpopular aspects of the “Baseball Greats”experience.

These Caribbean cruises sail roundtripfrom Fort Lauderdale and feature the fol-lowing itineraries and baseball greats (thelineup of participating players is subject tochange):

• 10-night “Southern Caribbean Dream,”calling at San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. John’s,Antigua; Fort-de-France, Martinique;Roseau, Dominica; Philipsburg, St.Maarten, and Freepost, Bahamas, with threedays at sea. Players are Jesse Barfield, GlennBeckert, Bill Russell, Dave Campbell andStan Bahnsen. Sails Dec. 11, 2012.

• 7-night “Eastern CaribbeanEnchantment,” calling in Philipsburg, St.Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico, andNassau, Bahamas, with three days at sea.

Feb. 9, 2013 sailing — Ken Griffey Sr., JimFregosi, Stan Bahnsen, Ed Herrmann andLarry Parrish; Feb. 23 sailing — TommyDavis, Cookie Rojas, Stan Bahnsen,Clarence Jones and Juan Marichal; Mar. 9sailig — Gorman Thomas, Gary Peters,Stan Bahnsen, Wallace Johnson and RicoPetrocelli.

• 7-night “Colors of the Caribbean,” call-ing at St. John’s, Antigua; San Juan, PuertoRico, and Freeport, Bahamas, with threedays at sea. Apr. 6, 2013, sailing — RandyHundley, Stan Bahnsen, Jack Billinghamand Ellis Valentine.

For more information about MSCCruises and its “Baseball Greats” themecruises, visit online at <www.msccruis-esusa.com>, call 1-877-665-4655, or con-tact your local travel professional.

Meet and mingle with baseballgreats on 2012-13 MSC cruises

Juan Marichal, pictured in his playing days, is one ofthe baseball greats scheduled.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

BY NANCY EAGLETON

Car buying isn’t like it used to be — andthat’s a good thing. The motto at Doral BuickGMC is “where car buying is made simple.”

Gone are the days of spending hours ondealership lots searching for the best car atthe best price. At Doral Buick GMC, the VIPexperience starts on the Internet.

“More than 70 percent of our customersresearch the vehicle and price online,” saidAric Gasper, Doral Buick GMC’s managingpartner. “Customers shop from the comfort oftheir home or office and chat with our onlinesales specialists. When they come in, they’reready for a test drive and visit to the financeoffice. The process of buying a vehicle cantake as little as 45 minutes.”

Once at the dealership, customers will find arecently renovated, state-of-the-art facility.After a two-year, $2.5 million renovation, DoralBuick GMC now touts a sleek and modernshowroom, service drive and Certified ServiceDepartment. The new customer lounge, Internetcafé and kids’ playroom provide customers andtheir families with enhanced comforts when vis-iting the dealership.

More exciting things are happening in2013. Gasper confirmed that most GMC andBuick vehicles will be launched with signifi-cant updates or full redesigns.

“This includes GMC’s full-size trucks andSUVs, as well as the popular Sierra andSierra HD pickups,” he added.

Vehicle incentives and hassle-free financ-ing also make car buying simple. Gasperreports that finance rates have never beenbetter. In addition, Doral Buick GMC hasspecial financing services for those cus-tomers with troubled credit.

Whether purchasing a new vehicle or certifiedpre-owned vehicle from Doral Buick GMC, cus-

tomers can expect the same top-notch level ofconvenience and customer service when theyvisit the Certified Service Department.

“Technology drives our ServiceDepartment,” Gasper said. “Mobile appsalert the customer when it’s time to scheduleservice and alert us when a customer’s vehi-cle service light is activated, allowing us toeasily diagnose the issue.”

The Service Department, which servicesall makes and models, is open extended hourssix days a week for customer convenience.Customers receive a free first oil change anda complimentary car wash with each servicevisit. Loaner cars also are available.

Doral Buick GMC, conveniently located20 minutes from “everywhere,” just off StateRoad 836, east of NW 87th Avenue on 12thStreet, is the brand’s largest facility inFlorida, and a volume leader in the state andSoutheast region. Since purchasing the busi-ness in 2007, Gasper has applied his 20 yearsin the automotive industry to put his stamp onthe dealership and grow his team from 36 to64 employees.

“We strive to offer our customers a pre-mier facility, product and experience whenthey shop with us,” Gasper said.

Doral Buick GMC also partners with thecommunity to support worthy causes. To raisemoney for Breast Cancer Awareness inOctober, the dealership sold pink wiper bladecovers and donated $1 for every Facebook“Like.”

“Nearly 90 percent of our employees havebeen affected or have a family member orfriend who has been affected by breast can-cer,” Gasper said.

Doral Buick GMC is located at 8447 NW12 St. For more information, call 786-245-8310, or visit <www.DoralAutomotive.com>or connect on Facebook or Twitter.

Doral Buick GMC makes buying an auto simple

Doral Buick GMC recently completed an extensive renovation to better serve its customers.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


The 2013 Scion FR-S is a hot new sportscar that made me think of my college yearswhen I was zipping around the campus in asnappy little MGA roadster. Oh, it’s notquite the same, but pretty darn close.

The FR-S — which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport — isToyota Scion’s definition of an authenticrear-wheel-drive sports car. And it is a verywell-balanced automobile, with excellentpower and handling characteristics, quitenice styling, flexible utility and pretty darngood fuel economy (34 mpg on the high-way with the six-speed automatic and 30mpg with the stick). It is the fifth model tojoin the growing Scion family, followingthe xA, xB, tC and iQ.

The FR-S is sleekly styled, with a lowhood and roofline, giving it an aerodynam-ic shape that channels air cleanly over tothe top. The front-end has a menacing face

made up of sharp lines, a wide lower intakeand angular projector-beam halogen head-lights. The rear fascia sits low and wide,with aerodynamic lower treatments thatsurround the sporty dual exhaust system,while LEDs illuminate the edgy taillights;center-mounted backup lights finish themuscular design.

The FR-S interior has 2+2 seating withthe front seats mounted very low, almost toolow, while the rear seat folds down flat formore flexible space. A large center-mountedtachometer is the focus of the three-gaugecluster and features a programmable shift-indicator with a small but intense indicatorthat lights up when redline is reached. Thedriver can set the warning to go off in 100-rpm increments, starting at 2,000 rpm. Achime can be programmed to sound whenredline is approached. Speed is monitoredby both digital and analog gauges.

The FR-S is powered by a new 2.0-liter D-4S naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxerengine jointly developed by Toyota andSubaru. The partnership began by combin-ing Subaru’s newly developed, horizontallyopposed engine and Toyota’s cutting-edgeD-4S injection system, which incorporatesboth direct and port injection for each cylin-

der — one injecting fuel directly into thecombustion chamber, the other a port injec-tor located above the intake valves. Adoptedfrom the Lexus IS F, D-4S injection is a newtechnology for the Scion family.

The D-4S system uses the direct injectorsat all engine speeds. The FR-S heads utilizedual variable valve timing, making adjust-ments to the intake- and exhaust-cam tim-ing to help optimize power, torque and fuelmileage. The D-4S system, partnered with ahigh 12.5:1 compression ratio, results in an

impressive 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The flat-four mates witheither a six-speed manual or a six-speedautomatic transmission.

Pricing on the 2013 Scion FR-S starts at$24,200.

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

2013 Scion FR-S means return of pure sports car

LLEETT’’SS TTAALLKK CCAARRSS

Ron BeasleyAUTOMOTIVE EDITOR

New Scion FR-S is sleekly styled, with a low hood and roofline, and an aerodynamic shape.


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