February charity events focus on women’s issues

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February 29, 2012

Gab-2_20-BB-Shelley-Reese — Dressed in ’60s attire at Beach Colony affair are Barbara Reese and Robin Shelley.

February is the month for hearts and flowers and, of course, heart health. Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Breakfast at Grove Isle used that theme for their event attracting civic leaders and several local celebs including CBS4 reporter Natali Zea, who emceed the breakfast, and Univision’s on air talent and author Albert Sardinias.

Tenet physician Dr. Miguel Diaz, a heart specialist, addressed the crowd stressing the importance of not smoking among other ways to decrease your risk of heart disease. Also, featured was personal trainer Marta Montenegro whose father’s death from a stroke inspired her to take better care of herself by improving her diet and regular exercise routine.

Among the many faces in the crowd that morning enjoying a healthy breakfast were Tenet’s Vilma Medio, Miami International Mall’s Jessie Mendoza, Tenet’s Jennifer Beard Evans, Sushi Maki’s Jenny Larson, and Halo Branded Solutions’ Norris Perez, to mention a few.

Lots of great charity events are scheduled even before the craziness of the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities begin. On Saturday, Mar. 3, the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club is holding its annual Casino Night fundraiser with a silent auction. This is definitely one of the most fun events in town and certainly the best deal with tickets priced at $25 per person.

Past president Barbara Lapsley is chairing this year’s affair that has a Hollywood theme for those who like to come in costume. Lapsley and her hardworking committee, including silent auction chair Carmen Suarez, are dedicated to raising enough funds to extend the hours and days of operation for the club’s May Van Sickle Children’s Dental Clinic that provides more than $170,000 in free dental care annually to disadvantaged children.

For tickets or more information on the dental clinic, call Dr. Iris Torres at 305 446-1047.

Save those Hollywood costumes for Friday, Mar. 9, and join Coral Gables Rotarians for the club’s Annual Gala, “A Night on the Red Carpet,” at the Coral Gables Country Club. Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill will be on hand that night to entertain and serve as emcee a fun-filled awards program. Club president Deborah Swain and gala chair Margarita Tonkinson promise guests great food, lively entertainment, dancing and an auction to benefit Citizens for a Better South Florida and the Rotary Foundation.

Single tickets are $150 per person. The club is also selling raffle tickets for $125 for a 1 in 300 chance to win $20,000 or a new car of boat. For more information on the event and the raffle, visit www.coralgablesrotary.org.

The Beach Colony Club (BCC) celebrated its third party of the season with the theme “Jersey Boys” at the Coral Reef Yacht Club on Jan. 28. The host committee was Dan and Trish Bell, Bob and Manya Lowman, and John and Jane Noppenberg. It was an enjoyable evening of ’60s fun music and dancing according to BCC president Rick Tonkinson.

At the event, BCC past president Robert J. Shelley III and Cotillion Club president Barbara Reese, announced the first joint party in the history of both clubs on Mar. 31 aboard the yacht Biscayne Lady.

Finally, on Monday, Feb. 27, you can bowl with some of your favorite former Hurricanes at the 2012 University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Bowling Tournament at Splitsville in Sunset Place. Look for chance to win a 2001 Hurricanes National Championship Ring in a live auction. Teams of four bowlers are $400; individual bowlers are $125.

Call 305-284-2775 or go to UMSportsHallofFame.com for more information. Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to gloria@communitynewspapers.com.

Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) — The New FIU Creative Think Tank

By

Judy Holm

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February 29, 2012

Left to right: SOM Jazz Ensemble: Osvaldo Vargas (drums), Kennan Torgerson (saxophone), Jason Whitting (elect. Guitar), Cori Alexander (piano), and Carlos Itturalde (bass)

MBUS, a new addition to The College of Architecture + the Arts of Florida International University (FIU), is home to some very exciting programs and innovative learning opportunities for its students. The College is comprised of seven departments, ranging from Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture to Art and Art History, Communication Arts, Music and Theatre.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Brian Schriner, Chair of our Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Arts and Culture Council, and Dean of the College, about the Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) in the newly acquired 16,000 square foot space at 420 Lincoln Rd. Dr. Schriner explained that some of the reasons they have opened this satellite location is to integrate the Arts and Architecture students with the vibrant city of Miami Beach, and include practical experience via internships and community activities on Miami Beach. Through this program, the students will acquire a very different perspective from their studies on the main campus location in Miami.

“In this international and creative environment, our faculty will collaborate with prominent artists, scholars, and designers to offer our students an exceptional educational experience that is truly Worlds Ahead,” Schriner said.

The building itself is located in the center of the pulse of Miami Beach – Lincoln Road, at the main “artery” of Washington Ave. Creativity and artistic inspiration, paramount to every student in this College, are heightened by the energy and sensorial stimuli that abound in South Beach.

MBUS includes a public gallery, design studios, performance and rehearsal spaces, offices and class rooms. It is a notably well-designed space, with synergies enveloping the activities and physical needs of the diverse practices. For example, the rehearsal rooms are integral to the overall layout, yet allow for the requisite sound isolation from the surrounding student workspaces, which have an open format that is conducive to a more collaborative and multidisciplinary creative process.

One of the most exciting aspects of the MBUS is the new Office of Engaged Teaching, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (ETSCA), established by Dr. Schriner.

The focus of the Office of ETSCA is to leverage the Arts to “create, innovate and inspire a more beautiful, sustainable, healthy, and just tomorrow.” It is committed to research and activities that will impact the health and sustainability of local and global communities; it will bring together various FIU offices, local governments, business leaders, students, alumni and faculty to accomplish its mission.

“The establishment of the new ETSCA will certainly prove to be of great benefit to not only Florida International University, but the entire local community,” said Schriner.

The access to this location on Lincoln Rd has been made possible by the generosity of Ambassador Paul L. Cejas, for whom the main campus Architecture School Building is named. Astrong supporter of FIU for over twenty years, Ambassador Cejas is strongly committed to the future development of the Arts and Architecture. The new MBUS is an important testament to the possibilities of future innovations within these fields.

“Art and architecture are two passions of mine,” said Cejas. “I’m also passionate about FIU and nothing brings me greater satisfaction than playing a part in having arts and the university come closer to our community in a way that enhances both.”

Each discipline in The College of Architecture + the Arts draws on creativity and the connection of the world via art. The educational process draws from understanding the history of the respective subject matter, and bridging the present into the future of new developments. What better place to learn and innovate than in the heart of Miami Beach? The Arts and Culture Council is thrilled to support the efforts and successes of this new “think tank,” in particular as it aligns completely with our Mission Statement:

“To proactively enrich and elevate the importance and success of arts and culture within the City of Miami Beach.”

Kick-Off Celebration prepares teams for King Pins Challenge

By

Lee Stephens

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February 29, 2012

JESKennardMPSPaul — SoMi Magazine publisher John Edward Smith, former South Miamian and current Seattle Seahawk Kennard Cox, Coalition Director Margaret Sotham and Coalition member Paul Merker, an addiction therapist in South Miami.

As the clock counted down on another Miami Heat win, some 50 athletes of a different sort gathered on a recent Sunday to kick off their season – competitors on the battlefield known as Splitsville in the contest known as The King Pins Challenge — benefiting the South Miami Drug-Free Coalition sponsored by Informed Families.

The athletes (supporters and players) came to prepare for the Fourth Annual King Pins Challenge on March 25, civic and business leaders, law enforcement and area high school students will then take to the lanes for fun and fundraising.

Competitors vie for The King Pins Challenge Trophy awarded to the team that raises the most money for the South Miami Drug-Free Coalition. Funds raised at the event go directly into programs in the community that help kids make wise choices and grow up safe, healthy and drug free. South Miami Coalition Director Margaret Sotham thanked the players and sponsors for their steadfast support of the event and the work it makes possible.

“We know that too many youth turn to alcohol and other drugs to combat the pressures they experience and desire to fit in,” Sotham said. “With your participation and support, we can meet the challenges in kids’ lives.”

Miami Heat’s Tim Hardaway and wife Yolanda will once again serve as Honorary King Pins Co-Chairs, and former South Miami resident and current Seattle Seahawk Kennard Cox will be on hand to show off his bowling prowess.

Hosted by SoMi Magazine and Splitsville, The King Pins Challenge IV is sponsored in part by South Miami Hospital, Team FootWorks, Dr. Rene Landa, Jr., the Police Benevolent Association, the Red Sunset Merchants Association and the Rotary Club of South Miami. Community Newpapers is media sponsor for the event.

Additional sponsorships and player positions are still available. The public is invited to join in the fun of “The Challenge” on Sunday, March 25, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at Splitsville. Spectator tickets may be purchased for $25 per person at www.informedfamilies.org/kpc or by calling 305-856-4037. Ticket price includes the buffet and non-alcoholic beverages.

Barry Katzen, MD, honored with prestigious award for excellence

By

Barbara Moore

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February 28, 2012

Katzen-Award — Barry T. Katzen, MD, founder and medical director of Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute, (left) receives the Julius H. Jacobson II, MD Award presented by Robert B. McLafferty, MD, president of the Vascular Disease Foundation. (Photo credit: Gort Productions)

Interventional radiologist Barry T. Katzen, MD, has been presented with the Julius H. Jacobson II, MD Award presented by the Vascular Disease Foundation.

The prestigious annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to physician education, leadership or patient care in vascular disease, and is endowed through a donation from Julius H. Jacobson II, MD.

Dr. Katzen is the founder and medical director of Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute. He has been a leader in advancing the science and clinical practice of vascular disease in endovascular interventions for more than 30 years. He pioneered the development of angioplasty for vessels outside of the heart, and performed the first “peripheral” angioplasty in the United States in 1976 by using a balloon mounted on a catheter to open a blocked artery. He helped popularize the use of clot-busting drugs for vascular disease.

More recently, he has been on the forefront of developing carotid artery stents and stent-grafts to repair aortic and thoracic aneurysms.

Dr. Katzen graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his radiology residency at the New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center. He was awarded a fellowship in cardiovascular radiology at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York.

He lives in Coral Gables with his wife, Judi. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Studio helps young patients have a picture-perfect day

By

Lee Stephens

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February 28, 2012

Photo-studio-9536 — Carlos Barquin shows the photo he took with his camera to one of the children.

More than a dozen children at Miami Children’s Hospital benefited from a special activity presented by Barquin Photography, a professional photography studio in the Kendall area.

Barquin Photography hit the road on Monday, Feb. 6, to introduce Posh Portrait Parties, a unique concept that lets boys and girls play dress up, sing karaoke, work on arts and crafts and pose in front of the camera for their very own professional photo shoot. Patients ranging from the age of 10 months to 15 years enjoyed an afternoon filled with excitement that will never be forgotten.

Carlos Barquin, owner and professional photographer at Barquin Photography, created this event to offer families in the community an alternative to traditional birthday parties for kids, but now it’s also touching the lives of those that need it most.

“Seeing the expressions on the faces of these young kids was the most rewarding experience,” said Eli Barquin, marketing assistant and wife of Carlos Barquin. “We are proud to have been able to use Posh Portrait Parties to impact the lives of people in our community.”

Young girls also received a light makeup application, wore feather scarves and tutus and got their nails painted. The arts and crafts activity entailed decorating a picture frame to have as a keepsake of the Posh Portrait Party. At the end of the event, participants got a glimpse of their spectacular photos.

“Thanks to Miami Children’s Hospital for granting us this wonderful opportunity.” Carlos Barquin said. “As a family and children photographer, being able to capture such magical moments and uplift the spirits of these boys and girls was phenomenal. It truly helped them forget about their illnesses for a day and dream big.”

Barquin Photography is located at 7192 SW 47 St.; call 305-984-8028 or visit http://poshportraitparty.com.

Students of all ages benefit from tutoring programs at Huntington

By

Susan Smith

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February 28, 2012

The Huntington Learning Center on North Kendall Drive has been successful for so long they now welcome adult alumni students coming back to bring their own children in to benefit from the program. A holistic approach involving exhaustive academic evaluations and individual attention is why the tutoring program at Huntington has excelled since 1986.

“Tutoring means different things to different people.We do not do classroom settings and we do not work in clusters where all of the students are working on the same material regardless of their level of proficiency. After exhaustive testing to determine exactly what skills the student needs to focus on, our teachers work with them on a one to one basis.We are totally dedicated to the student throughout the session,” said Huntington proprietor Robert Santana.

All of the tutor/teachers at Huntington are accredited so the center is able to maintain its established accreditation status from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. “We do not hire teachers who do not have degrees. Of our staff of 26 teachers, about 20 are Dade County public school teachers and the rest are teachers by profession in area private schools,” said Santana.

The purpose of the initial academic evaluation is to hone in exactly on the area of study where the student has fallen short. “If a student is failing Algebra we do not know why until we test them. Then we may, for example, discover they never mastered fractions and decimals from fourth grade Math. So our next stop would be to fill in those gaps and make sure they understand those concepts before moving on to the next lesson,” said Santana.

Filling in those educational gaps is essential to the ultimate success of the student according to Santana. Instead of a reactive approach that appears to be prevalent in the industry whereby students are essentially getting homework help, the program at Huntington Learning Center is designed to break the tutoring chain.

Learning opportunities at Huntington are not limited to Reading,Writing,Mathematics, Study Skills, Phonics and Vocabulary tutoring for ages 5 to 17 although this is a major element of the program. They also offer high school entrance exam preparation and SAT, PSAT and ACT coaching as well.

“We are seeing Moms coming back to the center who received instruction from us when they were kids and they are now bringing in their own children. So while Mom is brushing up on her Math for the SAT because she plans to go back to school, her third grade daughter is working on her reading skills.We are seeing a lot of that because we have been around for so long and people know about us and know we deliver results,” said Santana.

The results are derived from over 1000 pieces of curriculum utilized by the center including over 300 Math books alone. A combination of the latest resources, one to one instruction and exhaustive progress monitoring with a team of qualified professionals is why Huntington Learning Center sets the standard for successful individualized tutoring of all ages.

To find out more about Huntington Learning Center call 305-598-0686 or visit huntingtonlearning.com.

Elevation Burger finally arrives in South Miami

By

Community Newspapers

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February 28, 2012

Elevation Burger, the rapidly growing, fast-casual restaurant serving great-tasting 100% USDA-certified organic, 100% grassfed, free range burgers, opened its first-ever location in South Miami last week. Recognized as the nation’s first organic hamburger chain since opening in Falls Church, VA in 2005, Elevation Burger offers a healthier, delicious alternative to the usual fast-food burger.

Elevation Burger is re-thinking an American- classic and redefining the fast food gestalt with its focus on offering quality food that is better for customers and for the environment. In addition to amazing organic hamburgers, Elevation Burger offers two kinds of veggie burgers, fries cooked in hearthealthy olive oil and hand – scooped shakes. The chain’s warm, welcoming, and well-appointed restaurants provide an elevated dining experience for families and kids, health-conscious consumers and on-the-go urbanites.

The entrepreneurs behind the new Downtown Dadeland location are French transplants Magali and Stephane Vannier de Langre, who purchased the Miami-Dade franchise rights and have plans to open 5 locations by 2015. After hearing about the Elevation Burger concept and its healthy and environmental focus, the Vannier’s were immediately interested in coming on board to bring the chain to Miami.

“We have lived all over the world, in places where eating Organic is the norm. With Elevation Burger we found an opportunity to do what we love and provide a healthy food alternative that is often hard to find at affordable prices for the entire family,” said Magali.

“We also really liked the fact that Elevation Burger is committed to environmentally sustainable practices and to being part of the communities it serves,” added Stephane.

The new Dadeland location features monthly and weekly specials including Teacher Tuesdays, Uniformed Officer Days, Senior Citizen Discounts, Little League/Sports Days, College Days and “Fun” Raising Wednesdays where they will donate 10% of the days sales to a different local charity each week. In addition, they will be sponsoring and participating in activities around the community to promote sustainability in schools.

South Miami’s Elevation Burger is located at 8975 SW 72nd Place. The Franchise is the second in Miami-Dade and first in South Miami. Both are managed and operated by Magali and Stephane Vannier de Langre and their group EBM2. The rapidly expanding chain is set to have over 100 locations by the end of 2013. For more information visit www.elevationburger.com.

About Elevation Burger
Elevation Burger is a national organic burger chain that serves 100% USDA-certified organic, 100% grass-fed, 100% free range beef burgers. Recognized as the nation’s first organic hamburger chain since it’s opening in Falls Church, VA in 2005, the idea for Elevation Burger was conceived by Hans Hess in 2002 and quickly gained national acclaim. Driven by their passion to bring organic, sustainable and fresh food to a national audience, Hans and his wife, April, created Elevation Franchise Ventures, LLC, which began franchising Elevation Burger restaurants in 2008. There are currently 27 Elevation Burger locations throughout Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas.

Thom Elliott’s photo exhibit captures images of the stars

By

Gary Alan Ruse

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February 28, 2012

Thom-Elliott-Exhibit — Thom Elliott (right) is pictured with an attendee at the opening of his photo exhibit, which continues through Mar. 2. (Photo by Daniel Portnoy)

Thom Elliott, a Cutler Bay resident who has lived in South Florida since 1973, is a photographer whose celebrity photos are featured in an exhibition, which continues through Mar. 2 at Pyramid Photographic Studios in the warehouse district of the Falls.

Images of Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Peter Sellers and other stars reveal a different approach to photography.

“They’re not portraits,” Elliott said. “I call them ‘super candids.’”

The 10 featured photos and others in smaller frames in the main room were taken when he was the film production manager of a daytime television show in the 1960s, called Dateline: Hollywood on ABC-TV, starring Rona Barrett and Joanna Barnes. Mastering the job in about a week, Elliott sought to add some interest to his routine through photography.

“I picked up my camera and took casual snapshots of celebrities,” Elliott said. “The unique thing is that the stars did know I was taking their pictures because nine out of 10 times I asked their permission. One of them was George Raft, and the lighting was so low that his face was lit up by the match he was lighting his cigarette with.”

Elliott’s interest in photography began in the seventh grade in junior high. An afterschool program allowed students to process their own negatives and make contact prints.

“Then when I went into the Air Force I had a top-secret job I couldn’t talk about and my father had sent me a $10 box camera so I started taking pictures with that,” Elliott said. “I wanted to get a better camera so I bought a Rolleicord that was a version of a Rolleiflex, and I started taking pictures around Germany and Europe during the four years I was stationed over there.”

After Dateline went off the air, Elliott returned to the advertising field and moved to New York, doing freelance work for a number of clients. After he moved to South Florida, a chance encounter gave him new insights into the kind of work that was important to him. “

I took pictures of the artist Christo when he was here at the Lowe Art Museum for three days,” Elliott said. “He said that he never used corporate sponsorship because there are too many strings attached to it, and he didn’t allow anybody to put strings on his heart, and he did this from his heart. I turned away and started to cry, and his wife came over and said, ‘Thom, what’s wrong?’ and I said I just realized that I hadn’t taken any pictures from my heart.”

Since then he has tried to devote as much time as possible to creative photography, although he still does it as a business locally and keeps his New York clients by commuting monthly. He and his wife, Irene, also work as a team — she as a court reporter and he as the videographer. Elliott has taken part in Career Day at Southwood Middle School in Palmetto Bay, talking about photography to Jenifer Berse’s art students.

“I love the process of photography and I’ve met a lot of fine people through photography,” Elliott said.

When asked what’s next, Elliott said that a friend of his who lives in Las Vegas has broached the idea of him coming there with the same show of his celebrity pictures.

Elliott’s website is http://www.tomelliott- photography.com.

Pyramid Studios is located at 8890 SW 129 Terr. Its hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or by appointment at 305-256-6944.

Community Association Beat

By

Mitch Drimmer

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February 28, 2012

I am honored to have been asked to serve as a columnist for Community Newspapers to share important and topical information about South Florida community associations.

My column will specifically address business issues related to condominium and homeowner associations (HOA). Running an association is a complicated and difficult task, often thrust upon well-meaning residents who have volunteered their time to take on the enormous responsibilities of board membership. I also believe that nonboard member owners should understand the issues involved because they may decide to run for the board of directors one day.

Perhaps the most critical issue facing condos and HOA’s today is the delinquency rate among members paying their association maintenance fees, also known as assessments. Some people pay late, and some owners do not pay at all. Since condos and HOA’s are known as a zero dollar business (what they are budgeted to collect is the same as what they are budgeted to spend) it has caused either a reduction of services or even an increase in assessments. This unfairly affects the owners who have been responsibly paying fees and is a problem that should not be taken lightly.

So what is a community association to do when an owner is paying late or does not pay at all? Usually, the first reaction is for the association’s board of directors or management company to send the file to an attorney. Now while that may seem to be the best idea, and at some point in the life of a delinquent unit it may be necessary, it does not have to start that way.

The first thing that a board of directors needs to do is to plan a meeting with only one item on the agenda: collections. In this meeting, all options should be put on the table and discussed. The goal of this meeting is to agree to follow the association’s “uniform collection policy,” or to establish such a policy if one does not exist. The single most important paper in the room for this meeting is the governing documents of the association. Highlighted sections discuss how the bylaws address this issue. Every set of governing documents for all communities contemplate this issue and have parameters by which boards can deal with it. Such topics as when a payment is late, when it is past due, late interest, past due fees, and whether the association can file a lien for unpaid maintenance fees are usually included in the governing documents.

The second most important documents are Florida State Statutes 718 (for condos) and 720 (for homeowner associations). A good understanding of these statutes along with a proper reading of the associations own governing documents will give a board direction in formulating a just and proper uniform collection policy.

In my next column I will get down to the specific issues and present some possible policies that a condo or HOA may adopt to improve association cash flow.

Mitch Drimmer is a licensed community association manager and the Vice President of Association Financial Services, a Miami finance, business process outsourcing, and accredited collection agency specializing in community associations.

Winners of 2011 Zoolens photo project announced

By

Cristina Planas

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February 28, 2012

aw_l — Alex Waller’s photo Feed Me earned third place and a $1,000 savings account.

Mercantil Commercebank, one of the largest banks headquartered in Florida, announced the winners of the 2011 Zoolens Photography Project during a recent awards ceremony at the bank’s headquarters in Coral Gables.

The photography contest, in partnership with Zoo Miami and the Zoological Society of Florida (ZSF), was open to all Miami-Dade County eighth grade students, and designed to help build awareness for the world’s wildlife through photography.

The contest ran from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, 2011, during which time participating students were asked to take a photograph of an animal at Zoo Miami and submit it either through their teacher or at a Mercantil Commercebank banking center.

The bank received an overwhelming number of entries. A panel of distinguished judges chose first, second and third place finishers, along with 10 honorable mentions. The top three for the 2011 Zoolens Photography Contest are:

First place: Clarissa Napoles from West Miami Middle for her photo titled Dancing to Different Tunes. She received a $2,000 savings account.

Second place: I Haven’t Forgotten, by Thomas Hoyos from St. Lawrence, who received a $1,500 savings account.

Third place: Feed Me by Alex Waller from Herbert Ammons Middle, who received a $1,000 savings account. The top three finishers also received a digital camera, a membership to the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA), as well as a donation to their school. In addition, these students will be recognized on the Zoolens website (www.zoolens.com), the Zoolens Facebook page, Zoological Society of Florida e-Newsletter Toucan Talk and the Zoo Miami website.

“We are thrilled with the unprecedented response we received from Miami-Dade County eighth grade students and teachers,” said Millar Wilson, president and CEO of Mercantil Commercebank. “Providing students with the chance to experience one of the world’s great zoos and interact with wildlife in this manner has been exceptionally rewarding for all of us at the Bank. In addition, Zoolens provides students with a program to express their creativity through photography, while supporting their artistic endeavors and strengthening education. It is a true win/win for all.”

The awards ceremony was attended by nearly 100 students and their families, as well as Ron Magill, emcee and director of communications at Zoo Miami, who also served as one of the expert judges. The 2011 Zoolens panel of judges included internationally acclaimed photo-artist María Martínez-Cañas; New World School of the Arts Visual Arts professor and curator Rosario Martínez-Cañas; renowned Miami Herald photographer Carl Juste, and Zoological Society board member and Mercantil Commercebank vice president Grizzel Gonzalez.

Also in attendance at the event was executive vice president and CFO of Mercantil Commercebank, Al Peraza; Miami Dade County Public School Board vice chair Lawrence Feldman; ZSF president and CEO Ben Pinagree, and vice president of development for the ZSF Cindi Eisaman.

For additional information on the 2011 Zoolens Photography Project, visit www.zoolens.com or Facebook/Zoolens.

For more information on Zoo Miami visit www.zoomiami.org.

Waste Management collects organic material from Publix

By

Savannah Whaley

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February 28, 2012

WMI-2 — Pictured at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility are (l-r) Bob Shanz, Garick; Eric Myers, director of Organic Recycling Operations, Waste Management; Tim Hawkins, area vice president, Waste Management; Kim Brunson, Recycle and Solid Waste manager, Publix; Maria Borus, director of Media and Community Relations, Publix, and Bill Fauerbach, vice president, Retail Operations, Publix.

Waste Management trucks are collecting and transporting organic material from 40 Publix stores in Aventura, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Doral, Hialeah, Kendall, Miami and Miami Lakes to a new Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility, the most advanced aerated composting technology to process food residuals in South Florida.

The eight-acre facility, located adjacent to Waste Management’s Okeechobee Landfill, utilizes a forced aeration system with computer controls to regulate airflow and air treatment to process pre-consumer food waste from Publix stores — including produce, bakery and floral items — with yard waste into organic compost products.

“As the nation’s largest environmental solutions provider, our customers are asking us to help them meet their sustainability goals,” said Tim Hawkins, area vice president for Waste Management. “We’re very pleased to partner with Publix on the first dedicated organics composting site in South Florida to serve their needs.”

During the coming months, Publix plans to add additional stores in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to the program.

“Publix commends Waste Management on moving the industry forward with the opening of their Organics Recycling Facility in Okeechobee,” said Kim Jaeger, Publix’s Miami media and community relations manager. “Our partnership with Waste Management presents an opportunity in fulfilling our mission to be intolerant of waste by diverting food waste that would typically be sent to local landfills. Publix’s continued success depends upon sustaining our environment, our community and our business.”

The Okeechobee facility is permitted to accept up to 30,000 tons per year, including 15,000 tons of food waste and 15,000 tons of yard waste, and is part of Waste Management’s strategy to expand organics recycling in Florida and throughout North America.

Garick, a subsidiary of Waste Management and leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of organic lawn and garden products, is producing the lawn and garden products from the Okeechobee composting facility.

North America generates more than 80 million tons of organic waste each year. In the United States, approximately a third of municipal solid waste is organic, including food, yard and wood waste. Approximately 65 percent of yard waste and 2.5 percent of food wasted collected in the United States is currently diverted from disposal.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), converting waste into valuable raw materials through recycling creates jobs, builds more competitive manufacturing industries, and adds significantly to the U.S. economy.

“As one of the nation’s largest residential recycling services provider, we’re always focused on how to improve recycling rates in our communities so that we can extract more value from the materials we manage,” Hawkins added. “Recycling is easy, good for the environment and good for our local economy, and we encourage residents in South Florida that on America Recycles Day we think about recycling every day.”

Waste Management currently operates some 155 recycling facilities and processes approximately 10 million tons of recyclables per year. The company is now halfway to its goal of managing more than 20 million tons each year. In 2010, Waste Management recycled, reused, or managed enough material to fill a football field 2.11 miles high.

To learn more information about Waste Management visit online at www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.

For information about Publix, visit the company’s website at www.publix.com.

Mayor’s watering hole cleared of permit regulations by county board

By

Raquel Garcia

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February 27, 2012

Victor Citarella addressing the County Board of Rules and Appeals with Mayor Stoddard and wife Gray Read to his immediate left

The Miami-Dade County Board of Rules and Appeals passed a motion clearing Mayor Philip Stoddard’s watering hole of potential permit requiring pool status and determined it falls into the category of pond notwithstanding the two inches of concrete borders and maximum depth of seven feet on an approximate 1000 square foot body of water.

Although one board member said it looked more like a lake than a pond and board member Rolando Diaz worried about the access of children to the area, along with the main intent of the pond— whether it was for swimming or landscape— the motion declaring it a non-permit requiring pond passed unanimously. “My concern is safety,” said Diaz. “I have 11 grandkids and you say you have a fence but what about kids that are inside the house. If they get loose you have about five seconds (before possible drowning).”

Attorney Leonard Fiengold, the former city attorney who was fired during Stoddard’s first term, represented the Stoddards who were present at the meeting. Fiengold apologized to the board for taking up their time and said the issue was brought up as a result of city politics in the most recent election.

Stoddard said that although they used to swim in the pond “in the beginning” they now go to the neighbor’s house to swim and the kids only use it for fishing and tadpole hunting. Stoddard also said the pond had benign water snakes such as one they have named “Patrick” along with bass, mosquito fish, and migratory birds and no filtration system.

Built in 2004, the original intention was ecological restoration according to Stoddard. When asked by board member Carmen Garcia how the issue came about, Stoddard said after inviting former mayor Julio Robaina, Jr over for breakfast, he filed a complaint.

Of the three possible status options presented at the outset of the hearing: 1. a pool governed by building code, 2. a pond not covered by the building code and 3. some other type of structure covered by the code, the second determination was made by the board declaring this was a decision made on an individual basis and not a blanket interpretation. No photos of swimmers in the pond were presented.

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