Police officer’s persistence helps apprehend 2 burglars

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January 4, 2012

Kendall CAC — CAC chair Barry White (left) honors Officer Angel Rodriguez (center) with Capt. Gregory Dohring during the Miami-Dade Police Kendall District CAC meeting on Nov. 30.

A dogged Miami-Dade Police Kendall District officer’s persistent interviewing and follow through earned a special citation for his arrest of two burglary suspects.

Arriving in response to a dispatched call of a vehicle theft in progress, Officer Angel Rodriguez decided detailed interviewing was in order when he found both victim and suspect in a vehicle, recovered without incident on Sept. 22.

When the vehicle owner said theft of his car keys already had been reported to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Rodriguez verified the report as well as theft of other stolen items taken from the victim.

After reading the subject his Miranda rights, Officer Rodriquez began questioning him how he possessed the keys to the victim’s vehicle, as well as the location of the remainder of property that was stolen.

The subject provided a street name for the second person who had given him the keys, further stating that individual had additional property taken from the victim, although he could “not provide any definitive information” about the second individual.

Utilizing his investigative experience and the county’s computer system, Officer Rodriguez ran extensive checks to identify the second subject and a location where he might live. Rodriguez went to the address, made contact with a second person and arranged for an “orchestrated show up” producing positive identification of the second subject who then admitted to knowledge of the stolen property.

The officer’s persistent questioning not only led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle and property “but was significantly instrumental in the apprehension of two previously convicted burglars, taking them off the streets of Miami-Dade County,” CAC chair Barry White stated.

Officer Rodriguez actions “exemplify outstanding investigative skills and perseverance…above and beyond the ordinary call of duty to investigate leads and pursue additional subjects, resulting in the recovery of stolen property,” the citation naming him October’s Officer of the Month concluded.

Once again I got called to the principal’s office

By

Ernie Sochin

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January 4, 2012

I got called to the principal’s office — again!

This time it wasn’t to be disciplined (more on that later), but to be “Principal for the Day” at Centennial Middle School. What a treat that was.

First, seeing my name up on their marquee and then going to “my office” to have a great school breakfast with the real principal, Yamilla Caballo, and two of her aides, administrative assistant Alphonso Thomas and vice principal Eric Wright. Vice principal Dominique Audain was too busy solving problems to join our breakfast. One may have involved a kid with his foot stuck in a trombone. Don’t ask.

I previously had asked my 6-year-old granddaughter Natalie, who had been in school just a short while at that point, what I needed to do as principal. She gave me a very specific description of my duties. Start the day by making an announcement to all the students, then go back to the office and sign a lot of papers. Have students come to the office, and call their parents in for a conference, sign some more papers and then go home. Sounds easy enough, so off I went.

I made my announcement on their sophisticated video system and tried to instill in the students the importance of learning and how they would be competing with children in other countries who were academically far ahead of us.

I stressed parental involvement and illustrated this by comparing us to South Korea, where they are light years ahead of us in learning. The only complaint they have in South Korea is that the parents are putting too much pressure on the students to learn. This, I said, was a good thing. I begged them to get their parents more involved in their studies and, if they weren’t, ask them to be.

I tried to illustrate by my own experiences in that they never know what they will be doing in the future and that it behooved them to learn as much as they could now. I attempted to prove this by showing all of them a video of me jumping out of a plane from two and one half miles high.

After my TV time, Ms. Caballo began dragging me around the school, up and down stairs, across buildings, etc. I say dragging because she literally was running, in high heels no less, while I limped along as best I could. As she was running, she constantly was bending down to pick up scraps of paper left by students on the floor while at the same time calling for janitorial support on her radio whenever she spotted a spill or something else needing attention.

Wow! As we passed students in the hallways, she seemed to know them all by name. Don’t ask me how she does that. My wife, what’s her name, couldn’t answer it either.

Visiting the classrooms was itself an adventure. I asked if they had any questions that I might answer. I was able to handle most until one cute young lady asked; “Why does a small town like Cutler Bay need a vice mayor?”

Trying to explain why I do what I do is sometimes not easy. It certainly isn’t for the money, and I haven’t done anything statue-worthy, but at best I contribute in some small way to all the improvements that we are seeing in our town. My reward will be leaving it a slightly better place than it was when I began. I am not sure the kids grasped that idea, but I hope at least some of them will.

Now the teachers: What a bunch of dedicated people I got to see in action there. It kind of reminded me of my school days back in the Neanderthal era in Boston, where teachers weren’t allowed to be married (no kidding) so that they could devote all their efforts to teaching and nothing else — and that they did!

One Centennial teacher in particular, Justin Koren, caught my interest so much so that I didn’t want to leave his classroom even though Ms. Caballo was kind of rushing me along. Justin was illustrating how people’s lack of concern for others could lead to things like the Holocaust. He separated the class by skin color and showed what it might be like to be isolated from others both from the positive and negative aspects and then had the students switch roles to see what the other side felt. Again — wow!

I must admit that in the past, and with all that I have been reading about our educational system, I was beginning to become quite worried. If we manage to employ more people like the ones I met during my day as principal at Centennial, we have nothing to worry about. Perhaps we may someday have our own high school with similar qualities.

Oh, yes — why was I sent to the principal’s office the first time? It was in the second grade and my drawing of Santa Claus wasn’t getting any attention, so I drew him anatomically correct, performing a normal bodily function. Kids, don’t try this at home!

Violinist Markov to debut Rock Concerto at benefit

By

Community Newspapers

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January 4, 2012

Alexander Markov, one of the world’s most accomplished virtuoso violinists and passionate musical mentor to students across the world, will light up the lawn of the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Coral Gables with his critically acclaimed Rock Concerto on Jan. 27, 2012.

The concert will begin at 9 p.m. following SpendforEd’s first annual gala supporting education. Markov, known for his masterful and dazzling performances, will debut his masterpiece to South Florida, which includes a variety of classical music followed by his original, musical epic — the Rock Concerto — featuring his six string, golden electric violin with lighted bow. Showcasing his world-class talent and technical skill, Markov brilliantly arranges and composes orchestrations to combine his love of classical and rock music into one musical experience.

The Rock Concerto has astounded audiences in sold-out arenas around the world. The performance is divided into two parts and explores the depth and diversity of his classical background and rock music expertise.

In Part 1 of the performance, Markov will present a variety of his Virtuoso Classical Masterpieces including Vivaldi and Schubert and his signature Paganini, with conductor Alfred Gershfeld. Part 1 also will include the New World School of the Arts Orchestra and renowned pianist Heike Doerr.

A Gold Medal winner at the Paganini International Violin Competition, Markov’s reputation for performing this romantic 19th Century repertoire is hailed as second to none. He has performed as a soloist with some of the world’s most celebrated orchestras and conductors. Markov’s thrilling, flawless performance guarantees to bring audiences to their feet.

Part 2 will introduce the new audience to his sophisticated and highly evolved piece of music featuring brand blending, innovative original compositions and a combination of melodic, rich harmonies of classical symphony with the Gothic sounds of a chorus and a rock-n-roll group.

The Rock Concerto features renowned rock musicians Neal Coomer (vocals), Ivan Bodley (bass and synth), Gregg Gerson (drums) with the new addition of Juanito Pascual on guitar, the New World School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra, and the students of Gulliver Prep Academy and Coral Reef High School choruses.

An original composition by Alexander Markov and James V. Remington, with lead vocal melodies and lyrics by Neal Coomer, the Rock Concerto brings classical and rock audiences together with tuneful melodies and breathtaking solos that open into a colorful, triumphant wall of sound.

Playing the world’s only gold-plated, electric violin and wielding a glowing, lighted bow, designed by co-composer James V. Remington, Markov leaves audiences breathless. The Rock Concerto is a richly textured work, years in the making, featuring the violin’s enormous range of tone and mood, from quiet and sweet, to playful and humorous, to dark, gothic and powerful.

In Markov’s words, “The Rock Concerto is a musical fusion of contrasting classical elements, harmonies, melodies and counterpoints mixed with the contemporary sounds of rock n’ roll.”

Markov was inspired to create the Rock Concerto when he observed the decline in the number of young people attending classical concerts. The result is a body of work that attracts a young, rock music audience without alienating traditional classical music fans. By performing both this original, modern work and a classical Vivaldi and Schubert violin concerto in the same concert, he has created a unique concert experience that bridges the gap between classical and rock music fans of all ages.

Alexander Markov was born in Moscow, and studied violin with his father. By the time he was 8 years old, he already was appearing as a soloist with orchestras and performing double concertos with his father. Markov grew up in Darien, CT, where his love affair with rock ‘n’ roll began and eventually evolved into his Rock Concerto masterpiece. In 1987, he was awarded a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. Markov received his U.S. citizenship in 1982 and now resides in New York.

The Rock Concerto, sponsored by D’Addario, will be performed at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. in Coral Gables. Tickets are available online at <www.spendfored.org> or by calling 1-866-811-4111. Ticket prices range from $20 for general admission lawn seating to $75 for premium orchestra seats. For more information about the Rock Concerto visit online at www.rockconcerto.com.

Community to ‘Come Together’ in fight against hunger, Jan. 12

By

Duree Ross

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January 4, 2012

Members of the South Florida community are invited to join the fight against hunger and attend Feeding South Florida’s (formerly Daily Bread Food Bank) “Come Together” evening event on Jan. 12, 2012. 7-10 p.m., at The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, 591 NW 27 St.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Feeding South Florida is hosting the soiree that will feature food, spirits, incredible artwork, live entertainment, some of South Florida’s top chefs, and more. Proceeds/sponsorships will benefit Feeding South Florida, a not-for-profit organization that feeds South Florida’s hungry in order to improve their lives.

Individuals and corporations are Feeding South Florida’s main sources of financial support. For every dollar donated, seven lifesaving pounds of food and grocery items are provided. Event sponsorships are available ranging from $25,000 (175,000 pounds sponsor) to $1,000 (7,000 pounds sponsor).

Additional packages and sponsorship opportunities may be tailored to specific individual, corporate and community objectives. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Any and all donations are welcomed and needed.

Attendees should dress for the “Come Together” event however they feel comfortable — from jeans to tuxedos.

“Come Together” event chairs are Maria R. Millares, president of the board of directors for Feeding South Florida; Chef Allen Susser, one of South Florida’s top chefs, and Terry Zarikian of China Grill Management and New York’s City Harvest.

Current event sponsors are JM Family and Millares & Company; in-kind sponsors are The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, VSBrooks Advertising, Panache Party Rentals, Le Basque, Bacardi, Southern Wine & Spirits and Shutter Box Photo Booth.

Also participating in “Come Together” are some of the South Florida’s top restaurants including China Grill, Asia de Cuba, Egg & Dart, City Hall, Mercadito, Ortanique on the Mile, Chef Allen, D Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean, Scarpetta, The Forge, La Palme D’Or Restaurant at the Biltmore, Makoto, 1500° at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach and Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering.

Feeding South Florida’s mission is to feed South Florida’s hungry in order to improve their lives. It does this by distributing food and groceries through its network of not-for-profit organizations, educating the public about the issue, and engaging our community in the fight to end hunger.

In South Florida alone, 936,000 individuals are food insecure; 36 percent of those served are children. Feeding South Florida provides approximately 29 million pounds of food annually to over 700 agencies throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. Recently, Feeding South Florida’s agencies are reporting a 39 percent increase in the demand for food services, due to the current economic climate.

Individual tickets are $125 per person. RSVP are required. To RSVP and/or for sponsorship information, contact Jessica Diaz at 1-954-518-1839 or send email to Jdiaz@feedingsouthflorida.org or visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org.

Darby Delsalle serving as director of Planning and Zoning

By

Gary Alan Ruse

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January 4, 2012

Darby Delsalle has been the Village of Palmetto Bay’s Planning and Zoning director since April but is becoming more familiar to residents through the televised council meetings and COW sessions as well as area special events.

The Miami Lakes resident is a Certified Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners and spent the prior nine years as the zoning administrator for the City of Hollywood. Before that, he served seven years with Broward County. He has a master’s degree in urban planning.

“What I’ve always enjoyed the most about planning work really is, although it sounds cliché, the relationships,” Delsalle said. “You meet so many different people, whether they’re business owners or residents, whether they’re local politicians or just folks trying to improve their lives.

“For me, that’s always the most interesting part. I get to learn so many different things about what they do. It’s nice to be able to assist them in accomplishing the goals they’ve set out for themselves.”

Delsalle said that it is nice having a hand in the development of the community, but that it’s not just the large projects that count or that he enjoys working on.

“Those are certainly exciting because they have positive transformative effects,” Delsalle said. “But it shouldn’t diminish an individual who’s doing a simple improvement to their home, or a small business operator who’s trying to set up shop. All of these things contribute in a tremendous way to the success of any jurisdiction, and to be able to help that come to fruition in the village is wonderful.”

He said that it is good to learn about what people in the community are doing and how it all fits into the village. His department covers not only zoning and code enforcement issues, it includes occupational licenses, Art in Public Places and Historic Preservation programs. There is a total staff of six.

“Code compliance — they don’t have the easiest job to do, but they have one of the more important ones, when you consider the economy that we just went through and are slowly coming out of, where the real estate market collapses,” Delsalle said.

“It’s the code enforcement guys who are making sure that some of those abandoned properties are maintained in good condition so that they don’t create an economic drag on the value of neighboring properties. For many folks a home is their primary investment and when a neighboring property falls into disrepair it can hurt their values.

“It’s why we maintain a certain standard for the community,” Delsalle said. “That’s why people move to Palmetto Bay. Safety ties into that as well.”

Delsalle participated in career day on Dec. 14 at Southwood Middle School where he had a chance to explain to students what is involved in planning and zoning.

“I brought in a big zoning map of the city and I asked them some basic questions — where do you live, what kind of roads do you drive on, and created those sort of connections in their minds,” Delsalle said. “I handed out a little map of a portion of the city and gave them the opportunity to actually draw their own zoning methods, for them to decide where do the businesses go, where do the houses go, where do the restaurants go and even some community services like parks or places of worship. And it was a really great experience.

“You could see that they would really get that understanding that cities don’t just necessarily happen, that they’re thought out and they’re planned.”

Delsalle can be reached at 305-259- 1272 or by email at <ddelsalle@palmettobay- fl.gov>.

Preemo excels in computer support and repair

By

Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld

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January 4, 2012

PT-TeamPreemo — Pictured (l-r) are the Team Preemo members Christian Gomez, junior technician; Elias Guanchez, chief technology officer; Ivan Mladenovic, President/CEO; Anthony Lopez, support technician; and Jovary Hill, lead Technician.

When Ivan Mladenovic moved back to Miami, he started a technology solutions company and called it Preemo. It only took six months for Preemo to grow from a home-based company to one that needed to move into an office space.

“We’re five times bigger than last year,” he says. “I think we’ll be a million-dollar business sometime in June of next year. I think what we bring to the table is our quality of people.”

He attributes his company’s rapid growth to relationship building and networking.

“I’m on the board of the Red Sunset Merchant Association,” he says. “I’m also on the executive board and on the ambassador team for the Pinecrest Business Association.”

Mladenovic opened his shop in South Miami across from Sunset Place and has taken on several technicians to help him with his expanding business.
“Our primary service is IT support for small to medium-sized businesses,” he says. “We have about 200 clients. Our second service is a computer repair shop. We do a lot of Mac repair.”

They also help people with hard drive problems.

“It’s a fixed priced service,” he says. “Our third service, we also do website development and search engine optimization for a few clients. We have 20-25 clients that we have done online work for.”

But the core of Preemo’s service is Virtual IT.

“Instead of a paying for IT on a reactive basis, we set up a monthly cost. They shift their IT services to us. We serve as a help desk for any technology questions. They rely on us,” Mladenovic says. “We can do that for a company of up to 100 users.”

He says Preemo will do remote support as well as onsite support. Technicians will also track and monitor everything for their clients. If a client gets an error message on their system, Preemo can help them deal with that problem.

“We do a lot of service maintenance,” he says. “We do host email for clients as well as an online back-up solutions.”

Plus, the Preemo techs follow approved repair procedures.

“If you have an Apple product, we do it the Apple way,” he says. “We’re in the process of becoming an apple certified consultant. They get technical training through the manufacturers.”

In addition to Mladenvoic, Preemo has a chief technology officer and three techs,

“We coach them to be a technician as well as an account manager,” he says. “The business owner knows which tech they are communicating with.”

They also document everything for those times when the tech isn’t available and someone else has to step in.

“There is always someone at our offices, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and then we offer after hours and emergency support,” he says. “That’s for our business clients. We do have a few non-business clients.”

The company’s client base includes 300 individual realtors. They set up wireless networks for their clients and they have done complex network connections in large homes.

“We have the in-store services where some of our clients will come to us,” he says.

Sometimes clients will get a new phone and come to the store so a tech can help them figure out the features.

“We take this very personally. I think each one of us is a nerd at heart,” he says. “If we can’t figure out a problem or something is repetitive, we team up (to figure it out).”

That’s one of the reasons that in just two and a half years, Preemo has become the highest rated computer repair service in Miami on Google and Yelp.

Preemo Technologies is located at 5815 SW 68th Street, South Miami. For more information, call 305-669-6049 or go online at <www.premo.com>

Miami Christian School students gather to pray and shine in fall sports

By

Gloria Burns

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January 4, 2012

By Gloria Burns….

dor nov 9 mcs update 3 volleyball team — Seen here is the MCS Girls Varsity Volleyball Team - Back Row (L to R) Coach Mary K Odio; Student Manager, Brandon Beckelheimer; Melissa Gonzalez, Cassandra Duenas, Andrea Villalobos, Andrea Sinclair, Britney Beckelheimer, Carolina Caputo; and Student Manager, John Ramirez. Front row (L to R) Victoria Gonzalez, Alexandra Rios and Ashley Andrews

Students and staff at Miami Christian School once again participated in the See You at the Pole event, an annual gathering of Christian students of all ages at a flagpole in front of their local school for prayer during the early morning before school starts. The American SYATP events occur on every fourth Wednesday of September. This annual gathering begun in 1990, and has since grown by word of mouth, announcements at youth rallies and churches, and the internet. In fact, See You at the Pole meetings now occur internationally.

Fall sports are always competitive and great fun for the student athletes at Miami Christian School and volleyball has become a favorite for the girls. In fact, the MCS Varsity Girls’ volleyball team just completed an undefeated season and lost only a single set the entire season. The junior varsity and middle school volleyball teams had a good run this season as well.

In other sports, the bowling team came in 5th in the Tamiami Youth Fair Tournament during which MCS freshman, Alexander Yaniz was the top scorer. Yaniz was subsequently named The Miami Herald Athlete of the Week as a result of his great performance during that tournament. To round out the Falls Sports competitions, the Football team is experiencing a winning season, and the Cross Country team looks to conclude its season as well.

Teen Valley Trip in October is always something students enjoy and this year was no exception. This high school wide trip to Teen Valley Ranch in North Carolina gave the young people an opportunity to experience cooler weather and great activities such as hiking, horseback riding, hayrides, bonfires, games and athletic activities at the campgrounds. Of course, daily chapel services and delicious camp food also enhanced their time in the mountains.

MCS is always looking for creative ways to educate and entertain and bringing in community leaders to discuss their professions serves that dual purpose. After a week visits from various community leaders from policemen and nurses to firemen and others, students finished off the week by dressing up in the attire of their desired future occupation. Parents visited the “Community Leader Fair” and then listened to the individual presentations as each student explaining what they hoped to accomplish in their dream job.

MCS faculty is an impressive group whose priorities are the students. Most recently, Israel Ortet , the AP Spanish and Spanish instructor, was recognized as a Cervantes Outstanding Educator, based on his efforts to support excellence in the education of Hispanic students in Miami-Dade County. Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services and its Hispanic Advisory Board present the Cervantes Outstanding Educator Awards each year as part of the Hispanic Heritage Festival. Ortet was honored during a gala reception, October 20, at the Miami Airport Hilton. Ortet has taught at Miami Christian for five years and also serves as an AP Spanish Test reader each summer.

Miami Christian School is a fully SACS and ACSI accredited college preparatory school, with strong programs in academics, athletics, and activities. Students may participate in Advanced Placement, Honors, and Dual Enrollment program, and the school also offers ESOL and a high school self-contained ESE center. Victor Academy is a fully SACS accredited online program for those interested in non-traditional education. Interested families may call the school at 305.221.7754 x771 and ask for Gladys Mata.

Old Parrot Jungle gift shop now an art gallery

By

Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld

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January 3, 2012

PT-GardensArtGallery-ToraBueno — Pinecrest Gardens art gallery features both local and nationally known artists.

Pinecrest Gardens is offering monthly art exhibits in a room that once housed the gift shop for the old Parrot Jungle tourist attraction, and the shows have become so popular that the space is booked through the end of 2012.

Most of the shows at the Gardens Gallery are coordinated by Pinecrest resident Tora Bueno, an internationally known art expert. She has worked both in the U.S. and internationally as an art consultant and curator. Now a Pinecrest resident, she was tapped by the Gardens administration to oversee the gallery.

“My dad has been an art dealer since the 1980s,” Bueno says. “I worked with a dealer until I moved here two years ago. Then I met Alana Perez (Pinecrest Gardens director) and she asked if I would be willing to organize the gallery. I plan the exhibitions and I coordinate the openings.”

Perez says Bueno impressed her from the start with her extensive knowledge of art.

“There is a certain something about Tora that sets her apart from the rest of the Miami’s art scene,” says Perez. “Call it her UK and Swiss upbringing, call it coming of age in New York, call it exposure and access to artists working in Europe or New York, she has her finger on the pulse of global art trends and she brings a whole new perspective. We are lucky to have her association and to have her as curator of the Gardens Gallery.”

Perez says the old gift shop was valuable available space that needed a purpose.

“The Gardens Gallery was a room just waiting to happen,” she says. “When I first came to work at the Gardens 18 months ago, the Hibiscus Room was a blank canvass. It served as an indoor rental venue with stark walls, incredible beamed ceilings and a floor plan that screamed out ‘fine arts gallery’. It was the right idea at the right time; and with the right person to curate it, the Gardens Gallery came to life. Each month we have a new and exciting exhibit, and I know in time the venture will grow in popularity among Gardens members, visitors and fine art lovers.”

In December, the gallery featured the art of conceptual artist Ethan Ryman.

“He flattens something that’s 3-D,” Perez says. “He’s always thinking about spatial perception, what photography does and doesn’t do.”

Other Gardens exhibits have featured watercolor art and wood carving statuary.

“The Gallery is still a multi-usage space and by its nature a community amenity,” Bueno says. “I will facilitate a variety of exhibits, from student-teacher shows to the very avant garde — Ethan’s, black-and-white photography, textiles, sculpture, you name it.”

The exhibits are not limited to professional artists. In November, the Gardens Gallery featured works by public school art teachers and their students. In January, another non-profit exhibit is scheduled. Bueno says her goal is to include exhibits by local artists, as well as programs by more well-known painters and sculptors.

Bueno says she hopes to have one show a month, except during the summer. She adds that the February exhibit will showcase botanical paintings and photography by local artists, and she is working on a Haitian art exhibit tentatively scheduled for June.

For information, call 305-666-6990.

Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival 2011-2012 Rings in the New Year in Style!

By

Community Newspapers

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January 3, 2012

Orange Drive, jointly developed by Union Square Agency (USSE Corp., Pink OTC Symbol: UCRP) and the Orange Bowl Committee, announce the 2nd annual Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival. The festival will consist of a three-day event on the sands of Ocean Drive, bringing together a series of music artists, sponsored activations, a village opened to the public and Orange Bowl related festivities.

Taking place between 7th and 9th Street on Ocean Drive; the New Year’s Eve Weekend Festival will kick off December 30th and extend through January 1st welcoming over 100,000 visitors. Alavish and state of the art amphitheater will be constructed and placed on the sand which can hold up to 30,000 party goers each night. Orange Drive offers locals and tourists a unique opportunity to be a part of the largest New Year’s Eve beach festival in the world.

Among the internationally recognized music performers and DJ’s spinning nightly are Pete Wentz, Ne-Yo, Jermaine Dupri, Boys II Men, Cee Lo Green, Gym Class Heroes and Cobra Starship, Jason Derulo, DJ Samantha Ronson and Miami’s very own DJ Irie.

This year, the Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival will be broadcasted live by HDNet. The event will be hosted by key note speaker and branding guru Daymond John who will be co-hosting the evening with Lana Tailor.

“This year’s lineup will consist of Alist music artists from different genres. Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival will return to South Beach this winter bigger and better than ever,” said Gary Cioffi, CEO of Union Square Agency. “Visitors can purchase a three day pass to this one of a kind New Year’s beach festival.”

For more information Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival or for updates please visit www.orangedr.com. Become a fan on Facebook at Orange Drive or follow us on Twitter @OrangeDriveFest for the latest information.

ABOUT UNION SQUARE AGENCY:
Union Square Agency (USSE Corp., Pink OTC Symbol: UCRP) and its wholly owned subsidiaries Union Square Licensing and Union Square Media, is a NY based company that provides 360 degree strategic marketing and sales solutions. Core strengths include: Intellectual Property Development (focused on integrating sports, entertainment, fashion and lifestyle elements to connect brands, fans and media); Film & Television Production; Brand Strategy; Event Production and Fulfillment; Sponsorship and Event Based Activation; Strategic Consultation; Hospitality Programs; Licensing. www.unionsqagency.com.

Safe Harbor of the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward looking statements involving a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are difficult or impossible to predict, are beyond the control of the Company and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those implied by such forward looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the statement.

ABOUT HDNET
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and provocative content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition. From live concerts and events to gritty reality series to Emmy Award-winning news, HDNet delivers exclusive, innovative and original programming with attitude and independence.

In Fall 2011, HDNet launched its most aggressive prime-time schedule with original programming seven nights a week. The Super brings to life the gritty, and often unthinkable, reality of lowincome residents in Omaha’s Section 8 housing; Drinking Made Easy, hosted by Zane Lamprey, travels across America to discover the unique libations to small towns, metropolitans, and suburban cities alike; CelebriDate follows three contestants as they compete to date one celebrity; and HDNet’s Guys Night In line-up incudes Get Out!, Deadline, Girls Gone Wild: The Search for the Hottest Girl In America and The Ferris Wheel, all featuring beautiful women in the sexiest locations around the world. HDNet Fights airs the most complete MMA coverage of any television network, including over 40 live fights every year and the award-winning news program Inside MMA with hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten. Additionally, for over five years, HDNet has proudly presented the multiple award-winning program Dan Rather Reports, bringing viewers tough, fair and cutting-edge journalism from news icon Dan Rather.

Through the HDNet Concerts label, HDNet is the only network broadcasting live music events in HD with performances from Widespread Panic, Bush, Ted Nugent and more. HDNet also delivers the world’s largest and most diverse concerts, including premieres from Train, Seal, 311, Sheryl Crowe and others. The Sunday HDNet Concert line-up has featured many of the world’s leading artists from Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Rolling Stones, U2, The Black Eyed Peas, Sting and Green Day to name a few.

Launched in 2001 by Chairman Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS and in Canada via Access Communications, Cogeco, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct. The HDNet and HDNet Concerts can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetConcerts and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetconcerts

Media Contact:
Maria Lanao
Levy Communications 305.592.5389 X.104
305.592.9443

Winston Park K-8 celebrates start of cafeteria expansion

By

Richard Yager

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January 3, 2012

Winston Park 2 — Pictured at the groundbreaking are (l-r) Valtena G. Brown, South Region superintendent; Giovanna Blanco, Winston Park K-8 principal; Jaime Torrens, chief facilities officer of Miami-Dade Schools; Carlos Curbelo, School Board District 7; Ciro Rodriguez, PTSA president; Miami Commissioner (District 4) Francis Suarez; Mario Gutierrez, Wolfberg Alvarez and Partners; Freddie Woodson, deputy Superintendent for district and school operations.

A cafeteria expansion groundbreaking brought more than 100 school administrators, faculty and parents to Winston Park K-8 Center on Dec. 9.

The expansion was marked by a formal groundbreaking with gold-tinted shovels wielded by a dozen Miami-Dade Schools officials joined by scores of K-8 Center PTSA and Winston Park Homeowner Association members, as well as Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, as part of his duties with Miami-Dade Schools’ “Principal for the Day” program.

Guests, seated on white-covered chairs tied with red ribbons, enjoyed a holiday touch as a Sunset Senior High School Junior ROTC color guard opened the event in the school’s central plaza before a background of twinkling lights.

With hundreds of Winston Park K-8’s nearly 1,300 students following the event on “streamed” classroom computers, principal Giovanna M. Blanco thanked scores of officials and parents credited for moving the project forward.

“Recent economic times have made it difficult to fund any new school facilities, no matter how badly needed,” explained Carlos L. Curbelo, Miami-Dade School Board District 7 member.

“This is a credit to a partnership between community and its people working together to improve its school,” he added.

“Every time we had another meeting with the school system, we were assured the addition would begin in two months,” said Sherry Maer, one of several leaders who began working for the addition before Winston Park Elementary School was converted to a K-8 Center five years ago.

“Community members met with Mr. Curbelo, asking for his help to alleviate the shortage of cafeteria space that has plagued our school for six years,” she added.

During a November Winston Park HOA meeting, a celebration day was announced when Curbelo said $990,000 in school funding had been allocated for the cafeteria expansion scheduled to begin construction in January 2012.

The new 2,900-square-foot, one-story building will add 136 cafeteria seats to relieve overcrowding, including an additional serving line, storage facilities and a trash compactor.

“This was truly a community-wide effort to improve its school,” Curbelo concluded. “That’s what lies behind the success of every public school system.”

Fortis College now offers BSN degree at Cutler Bay campus

By

Jeff Bray

-

January 3, 2012

Fortis College now offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated Program) degree at its Cutler Bay campus.

The accelerated BSN program at Fortis is open to students who already have a bachelor, associate or related higher degree along with certain required educational prerequisites.

Fortis now is enrolling candidates who wish to become professional nurses and future leaders in the nursing profession for classes that are scheduled to begin in April. The new program is designed to provide them accelerated progress toward the BSN degree by transferring applicable education courses from their previous degree program. Upon completing the Fortis BSN program, graduates will be qualified to sit for the licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

“The introduction of an accelerated BSN at two Fortis College campuses in Florida marks a significant milestone in our efforts to provide the advanced nursing degrees required to address critical shortages in the state and elsewhere,” said Robert L. Anders, Dr. PH, CS, CNAA, FAAN, vice president of nursing for Fortis.

“The program also demonstrates our commitment to enhance already strong educational credentials so that Fortis nurses always meet the highest healthcare standard,” he said.

“The health of our nation relies upon competent nurses capable of providing a high quality of care,” noted Denyse Antunes, area manager and president of Fortis College, Cutler Bay. “Fortis campuses give nursing candidates a broad-based education and holistic focus that prepares them to become the next generation of providers on which our future healthcare system will be built.

“Our campus is specifically designed to offer a premier nursing school,” Antunes added. “The comprehensive nursing simulation labs and support services that are in place help promote excellent student outcomes and is a demonstration of Fortis’ commitment to using technology to train nurses.”

With more than 100,000 nursing positions currently vacant in the United States and a forecast by the Journal of the American Medical Association for a shortage of 800,000 nurses by 2020, now is an excellent time to embark on a career in nursing. As one of the largest nursing education systems in the U.S., Fortis has enrolled more than 4,000 nursing students nationwide and operates 20 nursing campuses in 10 states.

Fortis Colleges and Institutes have received international recognition for their leadership in using simulation technology to educate nursing students. As a leading nursing education provider, Fortis campuses are creating strong learning environments for students who will become tomorrow’s nurses.

“Our campuses offer small classes that allow personalized attention, schedules that fit students’ lifestyles, and frequent start dates with no long waiting lists,” said Jay Ober, PhD, national director of nursing operations and regional dean of nursing for Fortis. “We are especially proud of our well-equipped facilities and fully integrated nursing labs that are incorporated into one of the largest network of simulation programs used to train nurses outside of those of the U.S. military.”

Fortis College, Cutler Bay offers programs in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated Program), Associate Degree in Nursing, and a diploma program in Electronic Systems Technology (EST). Day and evening classes are offered and faculty and staff are fully bilingual to meet the multi-cultural needs of Miami-Dade County students.

For more information about the campus at 19600 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite B, call 786-345-5300. Visit www.fortis.edu to learn more about Fortis educational opportunities.

Gables Chamber taps Credomatic as merchant processor of choice

By

Lee Stephens

-

January 3, 2012

Credomatic 0024 — Pictured (l-r) are Joe Herrera, relationship manager, Credomatic Merchant Services; Mark Trowbridge, president and CEO, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, and Alex Rey, relationship manager, Credomatic Merchant Services.

Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, a premier organization with a mission to foster and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of the Coral Gables community, has signed Credomatic Merchant Services as its partner of choice to handle their payment processing.

Credomatic has been a staple in the credit card processing business in the U.S. since 1981 and its parent company holds a leadership position in the financial products and services sector in the Americas.

“The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce is committed to giving all of our members the best possible experience and service through their membership, including hosting a variety of events that encourage members to get engaged and involved,” said Mark A. Trowbridge, president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

“The selection of Credomatic will facilitate the secure processing of our members’ credit card transactions, both through our website and at the actual events. Credomatic’s expertise is what gave us the confidence to choose them. They offer innovative payment solutions and a high level of customer service through their dedicated relationship managers,” Trowbridge added. “In addition, their impressive track record of competitive and transparent pricing has provided an invaluable resource to all of our members.”

Credomatic, which manages over 100,000 merchant accounts, provides credit and debit card processing services as well as electronic check processing, gift card program and cash advances. The company prides itself on its relationship manager team, which provides one-to-one, superior customer service to merchant accounts.

“We are extremely proud of our continued partnership with Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce,” said Gonzalo Ruiz, national director and CSO for U.S. and Caribbean for Credomatic Merchant Services. “We will provide cutting edge technology and cost effective solutions to meet all of the chambers and their members’ processing needs. Our company philosophy is about service. When we help our customers succeed, we succeed.”

Credomatic Merchant Services has its headquarters at 9150 S. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 800. For more information visit the company’s website at www.credomaticmerchantservices.com.

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