October is healthcare month. For the third consecutive year, the Doral Business Council is organizing a series of healthcare events to help members learn how to take better care of themselves.
The month will be kicked off with the Signature Breakfast on October 11, featuring Dr. Mark G. McKenney. Dr. McKenney is the Chief of Trauma Surgery at Kendall Regional Medical Center. The breakfast will be sponsored by Kendall Regional Medical Center.
As the keynote speaker at the DBC Signature Breakfast, Dr. McKenney will go over the benefits of having a trauma center in the surrounding area of Doral. Whether you are a business owner, resident, parent, you know that when it comes to an emergency…seconds count! This engaging and thought provoking presentation will leave DBC Signature attendees thinking about this most important topic.
On October 19, United HomeCare will host the monthly After Hours event. This is the monthly business card exchnge, which allows different DBC members to showcase their business while providing a venue for attendees to meet other business owners to help grow their businesses.
Later in the month, on October 22, Miami International Mall will host the DBC annual International Health Fair, sponsored by Baptist Health South Florida. The Fair will be held from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Members and non-members are invited to sponsor a table at the event. Tables pricing for members is $450.00, non-members inquire about special table sponsor/DBC membership bundle package specials, general admission is free.
To date, the following organizations have signed up for a table at the DBC International Health Fair:
• Kendall Regional Medcal Center
• 3 Med Health Insurance
• American Diabetes Association
• Palmetto Hospital
• Doral Imaging Institute
• Kendall Family Medicine Clinic
Finally, on October 26, The DBC Healthcare Committee will host the 3rd Annual Healthcare Roundtable at FIU. Panelist will discuss how Doral and Greater Miami compare on international healthcare. Panelists include: Rolando Aedo, CDME, Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Alejandro Badia, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director of Badia Hand to Shoulder Center & Founder of OrthoNOW Immediate Orthopaedic Care Center; Nancy Borkowski, PhD., DBA, CPA, FACHE, FHFMA, Clinical Associate Professor Director, Health Management Programs, Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University. The presenting sponsor of the event is Hialeah Hospital and the supporting sponsor is FIU’s Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center.
October promises to bring lots of interesting and useful health-related information. Mark your calendars for this informational events. Please note, each DBC event has different fees for members and non-members, please check the DBC website at www.doralbusiness.com to register or for more information. You can also call the DBC office at 305-470-9597.
Stefano Campanini will combine art with wine at Wine by the Bay.
Etra Fine Art gallery co-owner Stefano Campanini will open a new business, “Wine by the Bay,” at 888 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 112, on Sept. 28.
Wine by the Bay will be a fine wine and art boutique hosting an ever-changing art exhibition. The store boasts a sleek and sophisticated contemporary interior and magical terrace view of Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
After seven years running a successful contemporary art gallery with his wife, Alicia Restrepo, Campanini has decided to merge his passion for art and wine, and create a unique space that caters to the most seasoned wine collector, but also where the passerby will feel comfortable and at home.
“Besides everyday superior customer-oriented service and a unique selection of wines that suit every budget, I plan to hold regular art and wine tasting events that will both entertain and educate the community,” Campanini said.
“Whereas in the Design District we deal with a select clientele, I am looking forward to offering something that everyone enjoys and in an environment where the art can be appreciated by many and in a non-intimidating way,” he added. “At art openings, wine is like a sideshow, but now, it will take center stage.”
Choosing the best wine to sell is a very selective process much like identifying great art. Campanini personally has tasted all of the wines that will make up the store’s inventory.
“I tried to have a selection of wines that represent the energetic location where I am,” Campanini said. “A selection that includes most of the Premiere Grand Cru from France and the finest Italian wines, but I also was in search of wines that are hidden treasures.”
California wines also are well represented with a good selection of wines scoring more than 93 points by the two most reliable wine experts.
For the grand opening week, customers will be offered special discounts and incentives on all wines.
Located at 888 Biscayne Blvd. at the Marina Blue, Wine by the Bay overlooks the bay directly across from the AmericanAirlines Arena. The 1,200-square-foot boutique will serve Miami’s downtown area and become a functional part of city’s new cultural identity and expansion efforts such as the Genting project, the Mikado Hotel, and the new Miami Art Museum.
Wine by the Bay will conduct a grand opening event on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees will enjoy an evening designed to satisfy the palate and enlighten both the connoisseur and the curious. The opening night event will feature art by Mimmo Paladino, Emanuele Viscuso, Mario Velez, and Wilfredo Lam alongside a showcase of exceptional wine including Gaja, Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Insigna.
To learn more about Wine by the Bay or attend the grand opening event, send email to Stefano Campanini at info@winebtb.com or call 305-491-8400.
The Pink Heals Tour’s signature fire trucks will be at The Falls for the first annual “Strut Your Stuff for Cancer” fundraising event on Oct. 6.
The Pink Heals Tour has announced an official stop at the first annual “Strut Your Stuff for Cancer” fundraising event on Oct. 6 as part of the national tour. The Pink Heals Tour, a movement celebrating women by raising money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, will be steering their two signature pink fire trucks towards The Falls in honor of the charitable event.
The Pink Heals Tour is led by the self-proclaimed “Guardians of the Ribbon,” a group of firefighters, police officers and community leaders who travel the country to spread the “Cares Enough to Wear Pink” campaign, the fastest growing movement in the country.
The campaign’s non-profit mission is to provide a national movement for the support of women across the country by wearing the color pink. The tour will be selling commemorative Pink Heals T-shirts at the event in hopes of generating proceeds for those affected by the disease in the community.
The “Strut Your Stuff for Cancer” event will feature The Pink Heals Tours’ two famous pink fire trucks as a “rejuvenation” stop in the high-heeled walking course, accompanied by local firemen outfitted in pink bunker gear. Each pink fire truck is layered with dedications, all messages to loved ones with cancer. At each stop along the tour, members of the public are invited to leave their marks.
“The Falls is thrilled to have The Pink Heals Tour join our first annual ‘Strut Your Stuff for Cancer’ event,” said Dailen Rodriguez, director of mall marketing and business development. “We feel honored that such a unique organization has chosen The Falls as a stop on their tour through Florida. So many women are affected by breast cancer and this is a great way to raise awareness, one city at a time.”
Proceeds from the Strut your Stuff for Cancer at The Falls will directly benefit Cancer Support Community Greater Miami, Sandy B. Muller Breast Cancer Foundation and La Liga Contra El Cancer.
Hammocks Citizens Advisory Committee chair James Blough (left) honors Officers Arlene Concepcion and Andy McManus, Explorer Post advisors.
For nearly 20 years Miami-Dade Police Hammocks District Officers Arlene Concepcion and Andy McManus have guided hundreds of West Kendall young people to better lives through special training and community service.
During 2011, Hammocks District Explorer Post 800 won a special award from the members of the Miami-Dade Police Academy as “Best Overall Post in the Miami-Dade Police Department.”
The two Hammocks Post advisors recently concluded their leadership of the Miami-Dade Police Department’s summer “Explorer Academy,” acting as drill instructors as well as lecturing in academic classes.
As Explorer advisors, Concepcion has served the Boy Scouts of America unit for seven years and McManus for 12. Both were named Officers of the Month by the District’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) on Aug. 31.
“Exploring” as a Law Enforcement area of BSA offers a worksite-based program for young men and women ages 14-20 in Post 800. They meet every Monday night at the Hammocks District Station for police work training, academics and activities.
Largest in the county, Hammocks Post 800 assists county commissioners during community health programs, food and holiday toy distributions, as well as participation in charity walk-a-thons and “Celebrate Safe Communities” events.
“Officers McManus and Concepcion arrange volunteer work or a social activity to keep all the Explorers busy,” said Capt. Miguel Hernandez, the district’s acting major who nominated the pair. “During the summer, they usually try to raise enough money through fundraising car washes and bake sales to take the Explorers on a bus trip to a water theme park.
“They instill self-sufficiency in the Academy trainees, and it is through this mentoring that they have received extensive praise from parents who say they notice an improvement in their child’s self-esteem,” Capt. Hernandez added. “They make sure that the Explorers take pride in their appearance and are meticulous with their uniforms.”
The Hammocks Post now comprises 45 members but has served up to 60 members at one time, “partially due to Officers McManus and Concepcion’s popularity as mentors,” Capt. Suarez added. “They are exceptional leaders in this field and many Explorers eagerly recommend their friends to join the Post.”
Outreach Officer Laurel Wade said Explorer activities touch on many kinds of career opportunities, not those only associated with police work.
“It’s an eye-opener for young people, who are considering their future and want to gain a better understanding of citizenship and community service, too,” she said.
Post membership qualifications for male or female, ages 14-20, include a “C” average in school, no serious police record, parental permission, a background check and interview board approval. For details on Explorer Post 800 at Hammocks District Police Station, 10000 SW 142 Ave., call 305-383-6800, ext. 6834.
By Ernie Sochin…. I shouldn’t really bother myself with this. Sean is a 7-year-old boy who happened to be my seatmate on a recent flight to Boston.
My traveling companion as always chose the isle seat so I was stuck in the middle and prayed as passengers were coming down the isle, that the 400-pound guy headed my way was not going to be my seatmate and take over my armrest and then some.
No, I was lucky, as a grandmother traveling with her two grandchildren, one of whom was Sean, placed him in the seat next to me. They were from Guatemala and were speaking Spanish so I asked if he spoke English. He did, and did, and did. My wife kept asking me to not engage him in conversation so that she could read. It was too late.
Sean saw me as the universal grandpa and began asking me a gazillion questions. He first advised me that he usually gets sick on airplanes. Great! Then he wanted to know how high we were, how high would we get, would we be above the sun, etc, etc.
Well, I am used to being asked a lot of questions by kids, both from my three grandkids and the many school sessions that I attend, but this somehow was different.
I asked a few questions of my own like where were his dad and grandpa. He said that his dad was in Hawaii and that he had never seen him and that he didn’t have a grandpa. I immediately decided to fill both rolls as long as we were seatmates.
I gave him a brief course on our solar system, explained how planes fly and lots of other stuff. Then I decided that perhaps I might do a little reading of my own. Sean asked. “How long will you be reading?” That broke my heart. I asked him if he could read. He replied that he liked to but that he had no books. He said that his 13-year-old sister seated in front of us had some but would not let him read any. I asked her if that was the case and she shrugged her shoulders.
At this point my wife was giving me the “look.” In other words — just shut up and maybe he will stop talking. Telling a politician to shut up is like trying to get a free snack on a commercial flight. Fuggedaboutit!
I couldn’t help thinking about my three grandkids and the tons of books and toys that they have including my 8-year-old grandson’s new tablet computer. Here was this adorable little boy with no one to answer all his questions and no books to read, and I wondered just how many more are there like him in the world.
At that age kids are like sponges…thirsty for information and willing to absorb as much as you can throw at them. What a waste to have all these empty sponges around when we all have so much. In my visits to our local schools, I learned that the major complaint of teachers is total lack of parental involvement. These are kids living in a country that offers them free schooling and the parents don’t care enough to drop by the school, talk to a teacher and see what else they as parents can do to help their children along.
In my pitch for charter schools in our town, one of the big advantages in my mind was that some of them make it a requirement that parents involve themselves with the school in some fashion at least one day per month. When I sent out emails about this, one parent complained that they were just too busy to spend that much time with the school. What a shame!
My wife eventually got her reading done but I am still wondering about Sean’s future. That is me, always worrying about things that I have no control over. Good luck, Sean.
There will be plenty of action when the University of Miami Hurricanes play Georgia Tech on Oct. 22.
Coral Gables residents will have a chance to buy one ticket (per resident) and receive two free tickets for the “Coral Gables Day” football game between the University of Miami Hurricanes and Georgia Tech scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 (time to be announced). The showdown will take place at Sun Life Stadium, 2269 NW 199 St. in Miami Gardens.
This offer is made possible thanks to a 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami. Coral Gables residents must show proof of residency at the time of purchase. This promotion is good for all available seating excluding suites and club seating.
Tickets must be purchased in person at the Hurricane Ticket Office, UM Hecht Athletic Building, 5821 San Amaro Dr., Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. This promotion is not available for online or phone ticket purchases. These special tickets will be available at the Ticket Office until Friday, Oct. 21.
For more information, call 305-284-2263 or 1-800-GO-CANES.
Lexy Jacobs and Brooke Sterling rehearse for Miami Childrens Theater's production of Les Miserables, which will be performed an October 23 & 30.
Miami Childrens Theater (MCT), in association with Pinecrest Gardens, proudly presents “Les Miz Under the Stars.” “Les Miz Under the Stars” will be a full scale concert version of Les Miserables performed in the Pinecrest Garden’s beautiful 513- seat outdoor amphitheater at 8 pm on consecutive Sunday nights; October 23rd and 30th.
The cast for “Les Miz Under the Stars” will be an all star collection of Miami-Dade County’s best thespians and will be accompanied by a professional 20 seat orchestra.
“We consider “Les Miz Under the Stars” a landmark event in our proud sixteen year history, say Tim Fath, Director of Theater at MCT.”We are grateful to the wonderful folks at Pinecrest Gardens, who welcomed us with open arms and have made this event possible. We held auditions last week for Les Miserables and believe the quality and depth of this cast is outstanding. This will be a beautifully sung and acted Les Miserables.”
“Les Miz Under the Stars” will be performed in the beautiful Banyan Bowl amphitheater located on the grounds of Pinecrest Gardens. Pinecrest Gardens is located at 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, Florida 33156. Tickets for “Les Miz Under the Stars” will be $20, seating is general admission, and sold through the Pinecrest Gardens box office (305.669.6990) and on line at Complete Ticket Solutions.
Miami Childrens Theater is a 501 (c) 2 non-profit organization enriching the lives of young people in theater since 1996..
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Asst. Supt. Enid Weisman; Aventura Comm. Bob Diamond; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez
“Sincere, unique, memorable” …Perfect words used to describe the luxurious Trump International Beach Resort, also applied to the memorable speech sincerely delivered by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez during an Aventura Marketing Council breakfast meeting hosted by the uniquely successful City of Sunny Isles Beach.
Hundreds of business and community leaders were welcomed by AMC Chair Cliff Schulman of Weiss, Serota, Helfman and Sunny Isles Beach city officials including Mayor Norman S. Edelcup.
Gil Dezer, a partner in the Trump/Sunny Isles Beach success story, also greeted guests noting, “We’ve seen so much development in Sunny Isles Beach so quickly because of the City Commission’s ‘can-do’ forward-thinking attitude.” Dezer also encouraged everyone to see the magnificent results of the resort’s “massive” room renovation project reflecting the goal to “continue to reinvest in Trump properties and Sunny Isles Beach.”
Mayor Edelcup added, “Trump Towers are shining examples of how we’ve been able to reinvest in Sunny Isles Beach. Since incorporating in 1997, the city’s demographics have totally changed. This is now a young, vibrant community with a new school I’m honored to have named after me. The pulse of the city has also certainly picked up as a result of our City Commission’s work to encourage progressive developments.”
On another positive note, Edelcup invited the community to attend the 4th annual Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest, Oct. 13-16, headlined by Spyro Gyra — the renowned American jazz fusion band. For more information, visit sunnyislesbeachjazz.com
In keeping with the spirit of Sunny Isles Beach progress and revitalization, Miami- Dade’s new Mayor Carlos Gimenez explained, “My first ten weeks in office have been busy and productive. I want to acknowledge Aventura Marketing Council members for the good work you do in our community extending well beyond business pursuits… I’m doing my best to deliver too. I hit the ground running in July and in less than two weeks produced a budget proposal reflecting our challenging economic environment while preserving essential services – but also cutting more than $200 million in taxes.
“The budget maintains funding for public safety and vital programs for seniors and children. I made sure the Mayor’s office budget has been slashed by 20 percent; the Mayor’s salary has been cut by more than half; and I’ve also done away with unnecessary car allowances.
“I’m fully committed to getting county government back on track. I recently announced my proposal to reorganize to serve you more efficiently and effectively. I envision our organization as more responsive and easier to navigate. We want to eliminate stumbling blocks and promote a market for new job creation.
“I have plenty of work to do in the year ahead. Restoring trust in Miami-Dade government can’t be done simply by words – we’re going to do it by deeds proving‘ they do what they say they’re going to do.’”
For more information on Miami-Dade County, visit miamidade. gov/; for more information on the City of Sunny Isles Beach, visit sibfl.net; for more information on the Trump properties, visit trumpgrande.com
Aaron Perry, Immediate Past Chairman of the Miami Beach Chamber; Bob Balsam, General Manager of the Miami Beach Convention Center; Jason Loeb, Board Chairman of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; Steven Haas, Board Chairman of the GMCVB; Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower; Alan Lips Chair-elect of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; William Talbert III, President & CEO for the GMCVB; Elsie Howard, Chairman of the VCA; Jacque Hertz, Board Member of the VCA
City officials, business leaders, tourist experts, and members of the community all flocked to the Miami Beach Convention Center recently for the grand opening of “Visit Miami Beach,” the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce’s relocated and newly expanded tourism information center.
“What a grand night this is! The center is located right here in the convention center, and will be a place that will offer guidance to visitors and also provide them with information. We’ve got all the good stuff right here now,” said Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, who was among the crowd that flocked to the Sept. 20 event.
The event marked the center’s official opening. It had moved to the site a few months before, marking the first time the city has had a full-service visitor’s center located in the Miami Beach Convention Center.
“This is a very exciting day for the whole community. We are proud that this is the face that will welcome visitors. This center will be the personality and smile that greets them,” said Jerry Libbin, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce President and CEO noting that the new center represents a historic partnership between the Chamber, the City of Miami Beach, the Miami Beach Convention Center (GMCVB) and the Miami Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It’s important to make our visitors and our tourists feel welcome in our world class city and Visit Miami Beach fulfills that mission,” added Jason Loeb, chairman of the Chamber.
The center also marks the coming together of various segments of the tourism community, speakers noted at the event.
“This is an historic first. We’ve had the convention center here since 1956, and this is the first time we’ve had a full-service convention center here. We are an investor in this project and we are very proud of it,” said William D. Talbert III, president and CEO of the GMCVB.
“This is a great facility for a five-star city,” agreed Bob Balsam, Miami Beach Convention Center’s general manager, saying that the move to expand the center had been overdue, but will now help the city keep pace with similar services offered by other top destinations.
And, even in today’s technological age, the personal touch that the center provides has become even more important, noted Steve Haas, chairman of the GMCVB and the owner of City Hall the Restaurant in Miami.
“The Visit Miami Beach center is extremely important. Many people research destinations beforehand on the Internet, but many also come and look for us in person, to tell them about places to go and interesting things to do,” he noted.
His view was echoed by local businessman and former Miami Beach Commissioner Saul Gross, who said, “I wish Dona Zemo and her team the best in opening this center that will provide a great service to the community.”
In fact, the idea of locating “Visit Miami Beach” in the convention center is already paying off, said Dona Zemo, the center’s director. “Our major objective was not only to serve the leisure traveler, but the business traveler as well. Now, people who attend conventions are coming to us for everything. We are providing a service to tourists, and a service to people using the convention center,” she said, adding, “We’ve added a whole new group of travelers—the business traveler.” She also noted that the center is ideally situated to augment the other tourist information facilities in town, which are the Miami Beach Latin Chamber of Commerce and the M i a m i Design and Preservation League’s centers, located on Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive respectively.
The center’s staff includes Dona Zemo and Monique Beaudet, the assistant director who, between them, have more than 30 years of experience serving Miami Beach visitors. Other staff members include Visitor Specialists Matthew Perl and Sarabeth Beitchman, along with interns from Miami Beach High School’s Tourism Academy and the Florida International University’s School of Hospitality.
The center also will carry a full line of traveler’s necessities, including retail items, like souvenirs, cards by local artists, posters, t-shirts, guidebooks, maps, event brochures, as well as sundry items. In addition, the center is the sole distributor of the Miami Beach InCard, and “Go Miami,” a discount tourism program.
Many businesses and organizations also displayed their wares or distributed material at the event. Lucky Tattoo showed off its body painted model and also bedecked guests with the Visit Miami Beach logo, the Deco Bike bike sharing exhibited one of their bikes, Segway Tours rode around the event, and representatives from Costco passed out food samples. In addition, representatives of Ability Explosion were on hand to publicize their upcoming event later this month and Jungle Island delighted crowds with their baby chimp and alligator. , Centerplate provided appetizers and Schnebly Redland Winery poured a variety of fruit wines for the attendees to sample. DJ Jeff Greene of 84 West Studios provided the music.
The center is located in Hall C of the convention center and is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, seven days a week, but will remain open late into the evening, and also offer satellite services in other center halls during conventions.
Text and photos by Charlotte Libov and Henry Perez of Sobe Fabulous. Charlotte Libov, whose work has appeared in Ocean Drive magazine, American Airline’s magazine “American way,” Florida Travel + Life, and many other publications, can be reached at char@libov.com. Henry Perez provides photographic services to corporate clients, as well as covering public events, private parties, portrait and nightlife photography. Contact Henry Perez Photography at 305-908-2768 or via e-mail at henry1dj@bellsouth.net.
One Seventeen Professional Center on Mills Drive to become new college campus.
For the second time in September, a major educational institution has indicated it will locate in Kendall.
Florida Career College will occupy 45,409 square feet of the 65,000-square-foot One Seventeen Professional Arts Center within The Palms at Town and Country property at 11731 Mills Dr., according to a Sept. 13 announcement of Colliers International South Florida, leasing representative.
A week earlier to that announcement, zoning approval was granted to the University of Phoenix, a nationally known adult online training institution, for a third floor lease in a building at London Square shopping center, located at the corner of SW 120th Street and 137th Avenue.
The new Florida Career College on Mills Drive continues a transformation of the neighboring The Palms at Town and Country complex originally developed and later managed by Armanda Codina, a prominent Miami-Dade real estate executive.
The recently constructed Class A office building now is owned by TIAA-CREF, an international financial service provider that purchased Town and Country Center properties from The Codina Group in 2003.
Florida Career College, an entity of Education Training Corporation, would become the building’s major tenant, occupying nearly 70 percent of its available space. Vitas, a statewide hospice service, was the building’s first tenant. The One Seventeen building is served by an adjacent parking garage that connects to a 51,000-square-foot Class A medical and professional office condominium.
The school’s main curricula include business administration, computer technology, cosmetology, health and medical services including nursing and therapy, and training in H/VAC. The college currently maintains 10 Florida locations, including 28,000 square feet at 1321 SW 107 Ave., opposite Florida International University.
Mother Maria Jose Socias holds the antique Bavarian rosary given to her by SoMi Boutique owner Roman Compte (center) while Blessed Trinity Catholic School Principal Maria Teresa Perez smiles broadly.
SoMi Boutique Owner Roman Compte had no idea when he awakened around 5am on a recent Saturday morning to go “treasure hunting” that he would end his adventures combing area garage sales for unique jewelry and collectibles with quite the find: a 200 year old Bavarian Catholic Rosary bead necklace.
“I think God works in mysterious ways and the way it all happened, from me finding the rosary to encountering the perfect person to donate it to, it was like something out of the Twilight Zone. It is a reminder to me that God is always around and we should be careful what we do. Even though we may be going through difficult times we must remember to love one another and we should forget about money worries. It is the feelings and love that matter in this life,” suggests a philosophical Roman.
Roman says when he spotted the necklace at an estate sale in Coral Gables hosted by the niece of the owner of the cross who had recently passed away; he was struck by the elaborate filigree work and translucent red stone beads. “It was a very large estate sale and the owner was from New Orleans, Louisiana as am I, so I lingered around there for a bit and made this incredible discovery. After I got home I did a Google search and found the cross and read about its origin and estimated value at nearly $2000., a lot more than the $10. I paid for it.”
Roman decided to consult a theology teacher friend to advise him on what he should do with his treasure. “I am a Catholic after all and my friend said that if you decide to keep it you should have it blessed to cleanse any of the pain that those who prayed on it in the past may have brought with them to the sacred necklace. And if you have it blessed you certainly cannot sell it so then I was on a quest to find out where to donate it.”
Roman did not have to search for long. About two days after his find he arrived at the boutique atypically early one morning and was followed in the store by a regular customer, Maria Teresa Perez, principal of Blessed Trinity Catholic School. They got to talking and he found out the school and church were about to celebrate a festival in honor of the Virgin Mary. In the pamphlets promoting the special upcoming event he learned the insignia of the Virgin Mary “M” was the same initialized filigree design on the discovered rosary necklace. Roman had found a home for his rosary treasure.
“The church was about to host this special event in honor of the Virgin Mary and seeing the same signature initial on the cross and in the church’s event brochures it just hit me, ‘oh yikes God is watching me, I know what I have to do: donate the rosary to Blessed Trinity Catholic School” exclaimed Roman.
The cross was ultimately presented by Principal Perez to the church’s very own Mother Maria Jose Socias. Mother Socias was celebrating her 25th year anniversary and thanks to Roman Compte, and his apparently pre-ordained treasure hunt, Mother Maria Jose received the perfect commemorative present for her years of service to the school: an antique Bavarian rosary necklace 200 years in the making for her special day.
The Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases and Temple Beth Am will host “ Miami Jews Happy Hour at Paragon” on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 p.m. at the Paragon Backlot Wine Bar & Lounge, 3015 Grand Avenue, Miami.
The event is open to Jewish singles between the ages of 22 and 39. The events include free drinks and appetizers until 8:15 p.m.; a Wii tournament with prizes; and information on Jewish genetic diseases, including details on community screenings happening in December 2011.
October is healthcare month. For the third consecutive year, the Doral Business Council is organizing a series of healthcare events to help members learn how to take better care of themselves.
