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newspaper August 2012

Are Smart Electrical Meters

A SmartÂ Choice?

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August 2012

Are Smart Electrical Meters

A Smart Choice?

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Reporting Al Sunshine

With the help of millions of dollar in federal funding, Smart Electric Meters are being installed in South Florida and nationwide as part of a national initiative to set up a socalled “Smart Energy Grid”. More than 3-million have already been installed on South Florida houses, condos and businesses but some customers who have the device want it removed.

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“There’s absolutely no evidence that smart meters are safe but on the other hand there’s no strong evidence that smart meters are dangerous,” Using wireless technology, the meters allow power companies to know how much electricity you’re using in real time. For customers, the socalled high-tech Smart Grid is aimed at tracking electricity and saving money. “Through this technology, you can go online and manage your electric usage,” explained FPL spokesperson Elaine Hinsdale, “But in South Florida and across the country, some consumers are concerned about alleged health concerns over the Smart Meters wireless signals. There are also concerns about privacy issues and wireless signals possibly being hacked, allowing them to be turned off without you or the power company knowing about it.” Isaiah Brock is a retired Air Force Sergeant who lives in South MiamiDade. He says shortly after FPL installed smart meters in his neighborhood, he started feeling sick and added, “It caused me to lose sleep. It caused me to have a whole bunch of headaches. I couldn’t get my work done because I was constantly feeling sleepy and tired.” He blames the wireless transmissions from the new meters. “I think it’s come from either the radiation or the microwaves, that’s what these things put out when they have the smart meters in there,” said Brock. Brock asked FPL to remove his new smart meter and replace it with an older model. Several neighbors also asked that their smart meters be replaced. FPL agreed. The power company has confirmed it has replaced about 35-hundred smart meters after customer complaints. FPL insists the new meters fully meet all federal safety standards and put out less electromagnetic radiation than other common household appliances. “Studies have shown the radio frequency of smart meters are safe. Smart Meters are safe, the signal strength is miniscule compared to the other radio frequency devices in our homes,” said FPL’s Hinsdale. Still, some public health experts like the University of Albany’s Dr. David Carpenter say there’s a continuing health debate over smart meters’ transmissions. Critics say they can affect some especially sensitive customers. At least one California Community has already passed an ordinance prohibiting the Power Company there from installing any more Smart Meters until there have been more safety studies. “There’s absolutely no evidence that smart meters are safe but on the other hand there’s no strong evidence that smart meters are dangerous,” said Dr. Carpenter. “The evidence is now becoming very clear that certain people are very sensitive to electromagnetic fields and they experience things like headaches, reduced memory functions, sometime confusion, sometimes abnormal heartbeat and that’s a concern.” So, can smart meter’s “data calls” even be tracked and measured? Dr. Faisel Kallem teaches electrical engineering and computer technology at Florida International University. With his help, CBS4 measured the signals coming out of local smart meters, including tracking the power meter’s signals through his home’s concrete walls into his den.

Testing also found smart meters typically put out less electromagnetic waves than other household appliances. “We did have some readings and found out the readings are less than the FCC set regulations,” said Dr. Kallem. The Florida Public Service Commission said it is monitoring consumer complaints over Smart Meters statewide. FPL said it’s on track to complete Smart Meter installation over the next several months for its’ Florida customers. For now, it says it will delay Smart Meter installation or remove them if customers have any concerns. Several other electric companies around the country are already charging customers to remove them and are considering extra monthly charges for any customers who need to have their older meters documented by a meter reader every month, instead of relying on the Smart Meter wirelessly transmitting their readings. Dr. Kallem worries about another ‘feature’ of the wireless meters. If we can track and intercept the meter’s signals, hackers can too. “In simple language if a hacker wants to intercept the communications and modify it, modify the reading as, they can modify it before sending it to FPL. That’s wireless and that is the nature of wireless communications,” said Dr. Kallem. FPL says it uses special encryption technology to protect customers’ data and keep it out of unauthorized hands. “Smart meters are safe and we ensure our customers’ data is protected and secure,” said Hinsdale. However, the FBI posted a 2010 national warning about smart meter fraud by hackers in Puerto Rico.

“In South Florida and across the country, some consumers are concerned about alleged health concerns over the Smart Meters wireless signals.”

The power company there estimated its’ losses could approach $400 million dollars a year. And even now the Internet is packed with articles about smart meter hacking and intercepting their wireless technology. “There is no such thing as 100% security so that means given time anything can be hacked,” said Dr. Kallem, who added hackers might even be able to turn off your home’s electricity.

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

AT&T To Launch

Data-Sharing Plans In August As the saying goes: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

to them is connected tablets, which consumers have been slow to latch onto. Most AT&T announced its own “Mobile Share” plans, matching Verizon people opt to buy Wi-Fi only versions of tablets, or seldom use the cellular connecWireless’ push to get more people to share their data plans with family members. tion of their device because of cost. As with the Verizon plan, the shared data plans may not be the best deal for The plans speak to the shift in the industry away from unlimited data and individuals, but could yield potential savings for a large family. toward rigid tiers and more complex pricing structure. Beyond Sprint Nextel, all AT&T’s data-sharing plan, which launches in August, includes: of the carriers now limit their customers’ data consumption in some ways. Even • A bucket of data that can be shared among as many as 10 devices* for customers with a grandfathered unlimited plan, AT&T throttles, or slows down • Unlimited voice and text messages the connection, of customers who go over 3GB of data each month. *One device must be a smartphone The unlimited text and voice minutes speaks to the carriers’ desire to lock The data-sharing plan will also provide a potential headache for families, as one consumers into a set price for services they using less frequently, preserving a set data-hogging family member could burn up the data allotment for the entire famlevel of revenue. ily. AT&T said that customers can remain with their existing plans or upgrade to If that family member goes over the monthly allowance, expect a fee of $15 per the new ones without extending their contract length. The plans will also be gigabyte. available to business customers. As with Verizon’s plans, pricing for AT&T’s “AT&T seems to Importantly, customers who upgrade their phones are not required to data-sharing plans is complex and tacks on a switch to a shared or tiered plan, avoiding some of the issues Verizon faced fee to connect each smartphone: have learned when it launched its plan and essentially killed its unlim• 1GB for $40 plus $45 connect fee from Verizon’s ited offering for many people. • 4GB for $70 plus $40 connect fee “AT&T seems to have learned from • 6GB for $90 plus $35 connect fee mistakes and is Verizon’s mistakes and is giving customers Higher-tier plans offer 10GB ($120), 15GB more options and a simpler charging ($160) and 20GB ($200) of data, with each of giving customers structure,” said Jan Dawson, an those plan attaching a $30 fee to connect each ! NEW smartphone. As for adding other devices: a baDATA G more options and analyst at Ovum. IN sic phone to any plan costs $30 to add; laptops, S SHAR PLAN Netbooks, and USB cards cost $20; and tablets a simpler chargand gaming devices cost $10. ing structure,” AT&T and Verizon hope these new plans will increase customer loyalty and encourage the adoption of new devices. Of particular interest

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August 2012

Police: Lauderhill Mother

LAUDERHILL (CBSMiami.com)

Stole Thousands Reporting Carey Codd

In Label Switching Scheme

A Broward County mother is accused of being a prolific thief — changing the labels on high priced toys at Target and Walmart stores, selling the items online and making off with tens of thousands of dollars. The suspect — Barbara Aqueveque — faces at least 5 felony charges. Lauderhill Police Detective Alex Iwaskewycz worked the case for months, poring over Aqueveque’s bank records, sifting through her trash and following her. He said when he first learned of the case from Target security, he was surprised at the notion that she had stolen so much merchandise. “At first I thought, ‘This is crazy,’” Det. Iwaskewycz told CBS 4’s Carey Codd. “How can it be this easy to steal this much?” Surveillance video from Target and undercover police officers began to reveal the extent of her operation, Det. Iwaskewycz said. One video clip from Target store security shows Aqueveque picking up a Lego box, placing a sticker on it and casually walking to the cashier with her young son in tow. The clerk rings up the item and Aqueveque helps bag up the box before walking away. Det. Iwaskewycz said receipts show Aqueveque often paid less than $7 dollars for Lego toys that retail for more than $100. He said the labels she used were often for inexpensive items like cutting boards and baking pans. The detective said records showed she made lots of money. “There was months she was making over $30 thousand dollars a month,” Det. Iwaskewycz. When she was arrested, Det. Iwaskewycz said he seized her bank account with more than $36,000 in it. The detective said every time they trailed her she visited multiple stores and purchased multiple items. Det. Iwaskewycz said she would take orders on her ebay store for specific items then head to the store, change some labels, make her purchases and drive to the post office. One surveillance clip showed Aqueveque walking into a post office with her arms full of boxes to mail. CBS 4 tried to speak with Aqueveque but she refused to answer questions. Her attorney, David Kubiliun, also declined comment. A Target spokesperson said in a statement that, “Target takes incidents of this nature very seriously and we partner closely with local law enforcement to help aid in these investigations.” Det. Iwaskewycz says Aqueveque was so prolific that investigators once saw her switch the label on an inexpensive piece of Easter candy for her son

in order to save a dollar or two. Detective Iwaskewycz says this was a case unlike any he’d ever seen. He added that even though it appears Aqueveque got away with it for more than a year detectives finally cracked the case. “You may get away with it one, two, three or several times but eventually we’ll catch on and they’re gonna get caught,” he said. Aqueveque is due back in court next month. She is originally from Chile. If convicted of these crimes she could be deported.

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August 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

South Florida Real Estate On TheÂ Rise

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When longtime realtor Hazel Goldman listed a two bed-

room South Miami house recently, she was surprised to see what happened just six days later. It was sold. That’s been the new norm for many in South Florida as real estate is coming back in a big way. Tuesday real estate tracking site Zillow.com announced the bottom of the market nationwide has finally arrived. It happened in February according to their data. The national average price of a home is now just shy of $150,000, exactly what it was eight years ago. “We are not at the bottom. We were at the bottom a year ago.” Goldman said. She is talking about South Florida where the bounce back has been astonishing. MLS data crunched by CBS4 shows the bottom happened in South Florida around April 2011. Around the time the bottom was hitting CBS4 did a story on hot properties. Properties that realtors called the best deals for the money. CBS4’s David Sutta interviewed Michael Brodie who had just purchased a home in Pinecrest. “What’s your favorite thing?” Sutta asked him. Brodie smiled big and answered “The deal. Don’t put that in my wife will kill me.” Fourteen months since the interview his five bedroom Pinecrest home is worth $300,000 more than he paid. “It’s all about timing,” he quipped back then. When reached today he said they are just as happy. “We have had to do a fair amount of work, but overall it is a great house, in the perfect location.” he said.

Timing was everything in the real estate downturn. Homes became 50 percent off or more. In Downtown Miami $290,000 condo moved for $75,000. This was just a year ago. “It’s something that you would have never imagined during the boom. Never. Never. Never.” Peter Zalewski of CondoVultures.com said. He’s right. And you may not see it ever again. At South Florida’s bottom, the median home price was $100,000. Today it’s $136,000. That’s a 36 percent increase in just a year. Goldman reminded us, “remember, we took a very dramatic fall.” Still the comeback, 36 percent, makes Miami the second hottest comeback city in the country behind Phoenix. Goldman believes the reason for our quick resurgence it is actually quite basic: location. “If you could go to a map of the US and circle places where you might want to live. This is one of them because our weather is so great,” Goldman said. Other national trends that Zillow is highlighting are that rents are going up and foreclosure filings are going down. What does it all mean? They believe it may lead to the housing recovery moving from the shape of a V, a slow recovery to that of a U. A quick shot up. Time will tell how fast the recovery moves.

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August 2012

PEMBROKE PINES (CBSmiami.com)

Reporting Vanessa Borge Few in America had probably ever heard of Pembroke Pines until a State Farm Insurance report literally put the West Broward city on the map. In 2001, the company named Pines Boulevard and Flamingo Road was ranked the “most dangerous intersection” in the nation. The report compiled accident claims from January 1999-December 2000 to determine rankings. The number of accidents at that intersection over the two-year period of the study was 357. “It was just known all over the place as the most dangerous intersection,” said Pembroke Pines resident Dawn Brookins. “Things weren’t marked like they are today,” said resident Jim Flippen. “There wasn’t an awareness of the situation that we have today. There were a lot of accidents in fact one of my sons was in an accident there.” So a decade later, does it still hold the title? After making headlines for the wrong reasons, the city of Pembroke Pines made change including adding another eastbound through lane, lengthening turn lanes, and closing an opening to a McDonalds restrurant in the median on Pines to prevent left turns into their parking lot. “Approximately a year ago we put up red light cameras in three directions,” said Pembroke Pines Traffic Sgt. Scott Carris. Sgt. Carris said the most significant change in

the intersection are those red light cameras. At $158 a ticket drivers are putting a break to their red light running. All those changes seemed to have worked… crashes dropped 64 percent in the four years after the changes were made. From 1997 to 2000, there were 431 accidents at the intersection, an average of 108 per year, according to state records. From 2006 to 2009, there were 157 accidents at the intersection, an average of 39 per year. And in the first six months of this year, Sgt. Carris told us there have only been four accidents in the middle of that intersection. “It’s definitely a safer intersection. It’s a lot more orderly, there’s more traffic but a lot more orderly than it was back in the old days.” About 107,000 cars a day go through the intersection, which is in the heart of a growing West Broward community. “The volume of traffic has gone up but I don’t think the amount of accidents has gone up to meet that,” said Carris. State Farm Insurance no longer tracks dangerous intersections across America.

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August 2012

MIAMI (CBSmiami.com)

Costa Rica:

Paradise Lost Reporting Jim DeFede

In 2007, Warren Bennet believed he found paradise. Located along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, the 665 acre property is complete with waterfalls, lakes and natural streams, as well as birds and butterflies in every color imaginable. “Anybody that wouldn’t love that place has got to be crazy,” said Bennet, who first visited the development in 2007. “After I went and viewed the property, I wanted to invest even more money.” An oil rig worker in the Gulf of Mexico, Bennett invested more than $200,000 in the project known as Hacienda Matapalo. The president of the development company was David Matluck. Laura Gdowik, who worked for Matluck for nearly five years as a sales representative, estimates there are at least 200 individuals who invested in Matluck’s company, Pegasus Star Limited. Total amount she said was given to Matluck – close to $21 million. “It crushes my heart every day,” she told CBS4’s Jim DeFede.

Since 2007, not a single home has been built nor has a single deed been issued. “I am here today speaking with you because I would love for all the clients involved in this project to get restitution,” she said. Bennet also said he was frustrated. “I don’t want to lose over $200,000 that I worked hard for in other countries,” he said, his exasperation evident. “Lord knows man, blood, sweat

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“I think the money went on their lavish lifestyles, on partying, on fancy cars, on fine China, on trips.” and tears to get to that point. And then lose all of it. I don’t know how else to say it man.” Even Gdowik bought into the project, investing more than $60,000 as a down payment on a $330,000 condo that was supposed to have been built more than a year ago Asked where she thinks her money went, Gdowik responded: “Jim, if I knew that, I’d like to get it back.” New Jersey physician Joseph Cervone invested more than $200,000 with Matluck. “Is this mismanagement or is there something fraudulent going on?” he asked. While Matluck was a marketing genius, Gdowik said the key to the development was Michael Starkey, the company’s vice president for sales and investments. Starkey developed a way in which the folks who didn’t have the cash to invest in Hacienda Matapalo could instead tap into their 401ks and retirement accounts to finance the purchase. “Michael was able to help these people see that they could use their IRA to do this,” Gdowik explained. “He said ‘Man you can use your IRA’, so I did that, I signed it all away,” added Bennet. Videos on the Hacienda Matapalo website assure investors that using their retirement money is a good way to guarantee their future “Has Wall Street stolen your future, recoup those losses by seeking out better alternatives,” exclaims an announcer on one of the videos. “Replace those unstable, losing investments in your retirement accounts with appreciating, income producing and more stable investments like real estate. Learn how Hacienda Matapalo, a gated community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast, can give you both financial freedom and peace of mind in a place they call paradise.” Of course there is no “gated community.” The images used in the video are either computer generated or architectural drawings of the as yet un-built development. “I thought it would be a nice investment for my grandchildren, something to leave them,” said Bernadine Dest, a 68-year-old occupational therapist. When CBS4 News first spoke to Dest, she came to provide moral support a friend and co-worker who had invested more than $100,000 with Matluck. During that first meeting, she told us her money was safe. She explained how Michael Starkey showed her how to take $30,000 out of her retirement account and move it into a trust where the money would be held. Dest, who works two jobs, said she was assured if she ever changed her mind about the investment she could just take the money back. “I didn’t lose anything yet,” she said. Documents obtained by CBS4 News tell a different story. The records show that as soon as Dest deposited her money into the equity company in 2007, the money was transferred to Pegasus Star Limited – the company controlled by Matluck and Starkey. When we gave copies of these papers to Dest she was crestfallen. Adding insult to the experience, she now realizes she has been paying $350 a year since 2007 to the trust company, a company recommended by Starkey, to manage an account containing just $1.

“I’m sick, I’m sick,” Dest said, holding back tears. “This was for my grandkids.” She said she’s been distraught ever since she learned the truth. She’s afraid to tell her husband, who is seriously ill with a heart problem. “He’s going to have a fit,” Dest said. “I just hope something can be done. There are a lot of trusting people out there.” The contracts signed by Bernadine and the others do allow the developer to use their money for whatever expenses the developers deems necessary. But the agreements also state that if the developer doesn’t complete the project by a certain deadline, then the developer has to refund the money. Most if not all of those deadlines have long since passed and when Warren Bennett and the others say they have asked for their money back – they say they’ve been told there is nothing left. “Where’s the money? Where is this money?” asked Gdowik. “Why today have they not built one single solitary home? What do you do with $21 million? Diann Feleppa, another investor in the project, has her theories. “I think the money went on their lavish lifestyles, on partying, on fancy cars, on fine China, on trips,” she said, adding that Matluck and other company officials flew to China several years ago claiming they were looking for material that could be used in the project. “David told me, ‘Oh they can get stuff really cheap in China’,” Feleppa said. Joe Cervone, the New Jersey physician, said at this point he doesn’t think he’ll ever get his money back “I’m still able to work thank God, my wife is still able to work,” he said. “But you know, we’re really interested in trying to prevent this from happening to other people. With David still trying to borrow money from us a couple of months ago, I’m just concerned that this is going to happen to someone else that may not be as well equipped to earn a living anymore.” “Everyone that invested in Hacienda Matapalo, they sold them a dream, that’s my bottom line,” said Bennet. And what did they deliver? “Nothing,” he said, “nothing but a bunch of broken promises Hoping to find answers, CBS4 News visited the building on Oakland Park Boulevard that, according to Hacienda’s website, is the home to Pegasus Star Limited. But we found no sign of the company inside. Both David Matluck and Michael Starkey denied our repeated requests for an interview. In emails to investors, Matluck claimed the money was spent on costs associated with the project but he has refused to provide an accounting of where the money went. Last week, the Hacienda website announced that there was now new ownership in the company and that Matluck was out. The new owners, a Costa Rican company, claim Starkey remains with the company to help guide them through the transition. It is not clear if any of the existing investors, like Warren Bennet and Bernadine Dest, will have their contracts honored or will be offered refunds. The website claims the new owners are still hopeful the project can be built.

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August 2012 DAVIE, Fla. (CBSMiami.com) —

Operation

Medicine Cabinet Aims To Lower

Drug Problems

While some residents might have missed out on spring cleaning, the Broward Sheriff’s Office gave residents a second chance on Saturday. While officers didn’t clean out anyone’s closet, they did help make space in their medicine cabinets. Operation Medicine Cabinet, which took place Saturday morning in Davie, gave residents an opportunity to turn in unused or expired prescription medication. In exchange, residents received a $5 gift card. In its fifth year, the free event also enabled residents to dispose of additional items, including personal documents, check stubs, credit card offers, receipts and other paperwork containing personal information.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office website, the BSO’s Homicide Unit investigated 53 overdose death cases in Broward County between June 2010 and May 2011: • 79% of those deaths were overdoses by prescription drugs. • 85% of these deaths were accidental; 15% were intentional suicides. BSO offers these tips to parents who take medication: • Monitor your medicine cabinets. Count how many pills you have and make note of the date when you should expect to refill your prescriptions. Be aware that kids may obtain these drugs from medicine cabinets while visiting friends or family. Restrict the availability of these substances within your home. • Talk with your child about drug use. Help him or her understand that misused prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs. When used in combination with other substances, such as alcohol, prescription drug use can be fatal.

cbs4 Newspaper August 2012 MIAMI (CBSMIami.com)

Viacom & DirecTV End Fight and

Restore

Missing Channels If you are a DirecTV subscriber and were thinking about switching to one of South Florida’s cable companies over the loss of almost 20 channels programmed by Viacom, stand down. The programmer and the satellite service have reached a deal, and channels like Comedy Central and MTV are back on the bird. The two companies had been at odd over what DirecTV paid Viacom for the use of it’s programming, and matters came to a head last week after a contract expired and DirecTV took the channels of it’s lineup. The fight left angry subscribers with no programs, screens telling them to call Viacom and complain, and a threat by some to change services. Neither side will talk about what it cost to reach an agreement, but some sources close to the talks claimed Viacom will get $600 million a year, an increase of about 16%. The company had asked for 30 percent, according to DirecTV. The loss of 26 networks to 20 million homes for nine full days is the biggest of these payment squabbles to date. On July 1, AMC Networks, was yanked from the Dish Network after the two companies failed to reach a new contract. They now have made the absence part of their on air advertising campaign for their most popular shows, saying they are “on cable and satellite, but Not on Dish.” Other programming disputes this summer have usually been quickly solved, such as a contract battle between uVerse and AMC.

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August 2012

A D F roves

App ill To P t s r i F

p l e tÂ H n e ev

V I H

A drug that reduces the chances of getting HIV is about to hit the market and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great news for South Florida which leads the nation in new HIV case rates.

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The Food and Drug administration has approved Truvada, the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection. A 3-year study showed a daily dose cut the risk of infection 42-percent, when accompanied by condoms and counseling. It’s a milestone in the 30-year battle against the virus that causes AIDS. “I think it’s something that should have been done a while ago,” said Rob Rowe. Gilead Sciences Inc. has marketed Truvada since 2004 as a treatment for people who are infected with the virus. While many people excited that the pill will reduce the risk of infection, others worry this could make things worse because people will revert to reckless, dangerous sexual behavior. “They’re going to think that they don’t have to use protection, that’s what it’s all going to be about,” said Brian Benway. “I’m very happy that Truvada has been released by the FDA,” said Dr. Sheetal Sharma. Dr. Sharma works with Broward Health System and the Broward House Service agency. As an HIV specialist, he’s thrilled with the new prevention tool. But, he knows Truvada is not 100% effective in cutting the spread of HIV and does nothing to stop sexually transmitted diseases. “The downside is that don’t drop your guard regarding safer sex practices

because syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, genital warts, hep c infections could still come in,” said Dr. Sharma. Dr. Sharma said he’s also worried that some people might think you can just pop a pill before risky sex and be okay. “That’s a terribly wrong perception,” said Dr. Sharma, “Patients will want to do that, ‘Oh well, this is the evening before pill’, but it won’t work that way.” Health officials are hoping insurance will cover Truvada, which costs about a thousand dollars a month, now that it has FDA approval. “What we really need is a vaccine that would completely wipe out any chances of getting the disease and really need to find a cure,” said John Fama. Health experts agree that the bottom line has remained the same for the last three decades; prevention and safe sex remain the keys to stopping the spread of HIV.

“The downside is that don’t drop your guard regarding safer sex practices because syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, genital warts, hep c infections could still come in,”

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MIAMI (CBSmiami.com)

Metrorail Now Goes To Miami Int’l Airport

All Aboard:

The Magic City’s Metrorail now rolls into Miami International Airport. “It’s only going to create more connectivity and allow for people to get to and from (the airport) easily, more conveniently and cheaply,” said Irene Ferradaz with Miami-Dade Transit. The new super sophisticated Metrorail station opened for business Saturday and some passengers couldn’t wait to board and ride. “I think it’s great you know especially when you come for short period of time,” said Ariel Eskenazi who was visiting from Panama. The train goes from Dadeland south to the airport in about 30 minutes shuttling through sixteen stops. “Miami is going to rank up there with some the great cities because were interconnected and we finally got it done,” said U.S. Congresswoman Ileana

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August 2012

Ros-Lehtinen. Community leaders hope the new airport line will be an economic engine for tourism and business industries, shuttling air passengers to downtown hotels and the financial district. “If you have no time to rent a car or wait for a bus, it’s very convenient that you can just sit and go,” said Sergil Putsoy. ’s projected 9000 riders will board the metrorail to and from the airport everyday. Come 2013 there will be more transportation options; construction of a hub with Tri-rail, Amtrak and Greyhound is already underway. More than three quarters of the $506 million project was funded under the half penny sales tax.

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August 2012 MIAMI (CBSmiami.com) –

Midwest Drought

Hitting Wallets of South Florida

Reporting Al Sunshine

Food Shoppers

As a small businessman with a family of five, the last thing Doral’s Giovanni D’Angelo wants to hear about is higher food prices. “It’s rough, we’re a family of five and already as it is we’re paying $150-$200 a week on groceries…hopefully not man!” D’Angelo said. But according to the latest federal food forecasts, the Midwest drought will raise food prices about 5% next year. One of the biggest crops hit? Corn. Illinois farmer Bob Bleurer told CBS News, “they’re going to go up; they’re going to go up big time. This country lives on corn.” And that’s expected to drive up the price of almost everything. Beef prices are forecast to rise possibly as much as 5% next year, with cereal, dairy and eggs up about 4%. Southwestern cattlemen are already selling off their cattle. For the short term..beef prices could actually drop according to Scott Shellady who adds ” Cattle will go to slaughter because they can’t afford to feed ‘em, so you’ll have meat prices actually go down in the short term, but in the long term — when there’s no cattle left — you’ll see meat prices climb.” For now, prices around South Florida remain stable. Florida is a big cattle and produce grower. State Agriculture officials say local price hikes may be less here than other parts of the country. But for shoppers like Giovanni, the news out of the Midwest means he may have to start planning right now to start cutting back spending somewhere else. He says “I’m going to cut back in other areas. You have to eat. We’ll have to manage however we can”. Making the possible pinch of rising food prices even worse for families all over South Florida? Gas prices are rising too as wholesale prices recently started climbing. But salaries and take home pay remain stalled. So stretching food budgets next year may get even tighter than it is now.

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Ground Broken For

New Brickell Condo Tower Ground has been broken for the newest high-rise to dot the Miami skyline.

The BrickellHouse, located at 1300 Brickell Bay Drive, will be a 46 story luxury condo with a fully automated parking garage. Newgard Development Group said nearly 90 percent of the units have already been sold. They add that this is the first “luxury residential tower” to go vertical in the Brickell district since the 2008 real estate boom. “Brickell is coming back and what it means is that people are already betting on Miami again,” said Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. Once completed, the BrickellHouse will be one of the largest developments in the Brickell financial district. “This is a sign that we are sending to every investor, Miami is a good investment,” said Regalado. The 374 unit tower will have cutting edge designs including an automated parking garage. “You basically come in, drop off your car, and the system will park the car by itself,” said Harvey Hernandez, president of the Newgard Development Group. “When you are ready to leave, from your phone or your iPad or from a phone call you call for your car and it will be waiting for you in two minutes.” The $170 million project is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

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August 2012

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Students in Broward and Miami-Dade public schools are required to do it. Doctors warn against skipping it. Despite those facts, fewer South Floridians are getting vaccinations for whooping cough, and CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald reports cases in 2012 have skyrocketed. For Jan. 1 – July 9: • Miami-Dade County: 26 confirmed, 10 probable (2011: 32 confirmed) • Broward County: 26 confirmed, 2 probable (2011: 1 confirmed) Source: Aaron Keller, Public Information Specialist for Fla. Dept. of Health Note that Miami-Dade’s 26 confirmed cases don’t include cases to be reported during the remainder of 2012. “More and more people are choosing not to vaccinate their children,” said Dr. Peter Antevy, pediatric emergency physician at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. “That leaves their families really exposed.” Also known also as pertussis, whooping cough is a contagious respiratory disease that spreads when those with the infection cough or sneeze near others. One sign of whooping cough is a cough that doesn’t subside within a few days. For kids, teenagers, adults and the elderly, pertussis can merely be a bad cough. However, the risk of contagion is still high because it lasts for about three months. Some people try to continue their day-top-day life at school or work without realizing they’re putting others at risk. In more extreme cases, whooping cough can lead to pneumonia, seizures, shock, even death. Children younger than 1 are the most vulnerable, said Antevy, the hospital physician. Though the coughing can be minimal or absent in infants, whooping cough can still cause pauses in breathing, Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the Broward County Health Department, said by email. The number of cases spike every two to three years, with the last major surge in Florida occurring in 2009. According to the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida had 497 cases that year. On the lower end of the spectrum, 2010 and 2011 had 328 and 312 cases, respectively. From the beginning of this year to July 7, the state Department of Health

has confirmed 273 cases. Nationwide trends mirror those in South Florida. This year alone — through June 16 — there have been 13,946 cases across the United States, a twofold increase since 2011. Medical experts say whooping cough is highly preventable with a vaccination, which includes administering DTP vaccines to children in five different doses: at 2 months old, 4 months, 6 months, between 15 and 18 months, and between 4 and 6 years. One option is vaccinating the child with Tdap late in the mother’s pregnancy or immediately after birth, a strategy doctors call cocooning. Medical professionals also recommend having all other members of the immediate family vaccinated. However useful they can be, vaccinations are not entirely flawless, medical professionals explain. “Pertussis vaccines are very effective, but no vaccine is 100 percent effective,” Thaqi said. “With pertussis circulating in the community, there is a chance that a fully vaccinated person, of any age, can become infected.” One reason many parents refrain from vaccinating their kids: they fear detrimental side effects. Eleven years ago, Wendy Callahan from Hawthorne in Central Florida, had her 2-year-old son vaccinated for whooping cough. He subsequently experienced seizures eight times a day for three months, she said. Callahan blames the increase in whooping cough cases on the vaccine itself. “Not only are they dangerous, they do not work,” she said. “You can’t poison yourself into health — vaccines are absolute poison.” Though she does not have formal medical training, Callahan said she regularly reads medical journals about vaccines. She encourages parents to bypass school mandatory vaccinations for their children by requesting religious exemptions. Of the 312 cases in Florida last year, there was no record of vaccination in 54.5 percent of them. “I have seen deaths from pertussis in my years,” Antevy said, “and it’s very sad to see a child die from a preventable disease.”

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August 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Eat Your Way to a

Flat Belly Reporting Cynthia Demos

Call it a spare tire, a pot belly or muffin top. Belly fat plagues millions of men and women, but some say you can minimize your middle by eating certain foods. Mary Morin lost 20 pounds, but she’s still working hard to improve her abs. “I try to do sit ups and crunches,” said Mary. “If I had to guess I’d say 90 percent of women complain about that area,” said Jayne Drew, a personal trainer. 39-year-old Alexa Moulder says it’s especially difficult after becoming a mom. “It’s a tough area to fix,” said Alexa. Research has shown there are health risks associated with belly fat. It can increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers. Exercising can help, but Nutritionist Nicolette Pace says you can whittle your middle by eating the right foods. “You’ll get flavor, you’ll get freshness, you’ll get vitamins, you’ll get everything you need to help bust that belly fat,” said Pace. Pace says leafy greens and high fiber veggies, like artichokes and celery, can help detox your digestive system and flatten your belly.

Citrus fruits, especially lemons and grapefruits, are a super food for weight loss. They’re high fiber and contain compounds that can trim your middle. “Each of them has some level of plant or phytochemical within it that gives it an extra edge,” said Pace. Yogurt and fermented dairy products with probiotics help regulate the digestive system to flatten your belly. Look for active cultures on the label. Pace also recommends aromatic herbs like sage, thyme, ginger, and garlic. “Each of them not only produces tremendous amount of flavor, but is also containing these plant chemicals that have been found to improve fat metabolism,” said Pace. While certain foods may help you be less bloated, Dr. Lisa Ganjhu is skeptical about being able to pinpoint just fat around the waist. “You may lose weight in your belly, but for the most part it’s hard again to just target to that one area, unless you get liposuction,” said Dr. Ganjhu. If you’re not ready for surgery, some research has shown that tea helps curb appetite, and green tea specifically contains chemicals that rev up fat burning.

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August 2012

Best Breakfast Joints in South Florida

Mom always said that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. But for most of us during the week, we rush off to work after having a cup or two of coffee and maybe a bowl of cereal or toast. When the weekends roll around, a breakfast out can be a real treat but where do you go to avoid the typical breakfast burritos and greasy fast food fare. Well check out our top picks and you won’t be disappointed.

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Original Lots of Lox  (305) 252-2010

First Watch

It’s old fashioned deli and everything tastes great. The restaurant is family owned and everyone makes you feel like you’re a part of the family. This place is known for its staples – omelettes, bagels with cream cheese, potatoes and coffee. Oh, did we mention the lox – it’s incredible.

www.firstwatch.com The First Watch is probably the first thing you should hit on a Saturday or Sunday morning if you want to get your day started right. Located across from the Sawgrass Mills Mall in a strip shopping center, First Watch’s menu includes a variety of traditional favorites to please both those watch their weight and those who love to fill up. Their pancakes (the blueberry pancakes are incredible) are about the size of a dinner plate and only two will satisfy most appetites.

Front Porch Cafe  (305) 531-8300

Walking around South Beach can build up quite an appetite so head on over to the Front Porch Cafe at 14th Street and Ocean for a different kind of breakfast. For example, try the Mediterranean Omelet – smooth goat cheese mixed with spinach and herb sun-dried tomatoes tucked inside a perfectly cooked omelette. The service however can be a little unpredictable, some times good, some times not so good.

S&S Diner  (305) 373-4291

From delis to diners, who doesn’t love a food diner style breakfast and S$S does it right. The joint has a 50′s diner style feel and can only hold around 18 people. There are no tables or booth inside, just a U-shaped counter which customers sit around. The breakfast menu simple and homey. If you not sure what to try, check out the gypsy omelette with potatoes or the ham and cheese omelette. The only real drawback is that the place is cash only!

Bagels N More  www.bagelsnmore.net

Buried in the corner of a shopping plaza, Bagels N More can be a little hard to find. It’s a small shop with only a couple of tables and a sofa/coffee table setup, plus three tables outside. But their fresh made bagels are worth the drive if you are tired of the store-bought or chain variety. If you need something egg-y to go with your bagels, why not try the spinach and feta cheese omelette with pesto – very tasty. On your way out be sure to pick up a couple of pear fruit tart made with the almond paste – you won’t regret it.

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August 2012

Miami Unveils New

Car Sharing

MIAMI (CBSmiami.com)

Program

have the car2gosharing program. Options for transportation around the city of Miami are “The success of car2go around the world to date growing. A car sharing program called car2go is placing 240 Smart shows that we are in a time that demands and calls Cars around Miami city streets for people to use and share collaborafor new mobility solutions in urban settings, and we are tively. thrilled to be working with the City of Miami and the Miami “It’s easy, it convenient, said Liza Walton who came out Sunday in Miami to Parking Authority to bring the next generation of car sharing to test drive. “The cars are everywhere.” the people who live in, work in and visit Miami,” said Nicholas Cole, president It’s an eco-friendly program where and CEO of car2go North America. drivers pay a onetime $35 dollar memAccording to research the average renter bership fee. Members then receive “It’s is a great way to get around Brickell drivers 8-10 miles within the city. The cost access to cars with a simple swipe of or if you’re just going to the design disof a rental with car2go is 38 cents per mintheir membership card over a small trict for the evening,” said Walton.”You can ute. In Miami the average cost of that trip is computer placed under the windshield have dinner and a couple cocktails and cab about $12 dollars. of the car. Next, the doors unlock, back.” “We take care of all of the cost associthe driver keys in their personal pin ated with parking, fuel, maintenance and number and off they go. The cars can insurance, said Katie Stafford who is the be driven anywhere. spokesperson for car2go. “You’re really just paying for the amount time that you “It’s is a great way to get around Brickell or if you’re just going to the design use the car.” district for the evening,” said Walton.”You can have dinner and a couple cockSmart Car can be returned to any legal parking spot in the city if Miami. The tails and cab back.” company says the cars are easily tracked through their website or on individual Cars are available 24 hours a days. They can be used for as long as the driver smart phones. needs it, without having to commit to a return time or location. For more information go to car2go.com Miami is the fifth location in the United States and the 14th city worldwide to

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August 2012 CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami.COM) –

Time Running Out For

Reporting Vanessa Borge

Creative Cuisine Popular Pop-Up Restaurant South Florida foodies have a unique opportunity. A young chef is changing South Florida’s palate with unusual ingredients that have food lovers salivating. Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s pop-up restaurant is the Eating House, located at 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables, but don’t wait too long to try it out. Before this pop up is taken down, customers can enjoy some of the chef’s most creative culinary concoctions. Items making an appearance on the menu include “Mac & Cheese” with roasted pumpkin & cornbread crumbs; roasted bone marrow with ropa vieja & tostada cubana; Japanese eggplant with banana miso & vanilla salt; sea scallops with smoked guava & maduro puree; strawberry shortcake – basil ice cream & crunchy meringue and “Birthday Cake” with cake batter mouse & whipped chocolate. There’s also brussel sprouts your kids will want to eat. They’re sautéed in sesame oil and topped with a fried egg. In the mood for some pasta, try the pasta carbonara kicked up a bit with chunks of back and another fried egg on top. Giorgio enjoys using unusual ingredients. He’s got a dessert called “Breakfast” made with a panna cotta base topped with a mousse made of captain crunch cereal. Giorgio is changing South Florida’s culinary scene. “That’s why we went with the name Eating House because we didn’t want people to associate it with a regular restaurant,” explained Giorgio. “You pour your own water here and eat off paper napkins, but you may be eating foie gras.” At 26 years young, Giorgio is determined to pave a new path for future chefs where ever he can. “We will set up a restaurant in the middle of the street, as long as we get to cook and do what we want,” he said proudly.

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August 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

June Unemployment

Picture Bleak

In South Florida and Statewide Reporting AlÂ Sunshine

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South Florida got some disappointing jobs news with the release of the statewide unemployment report, with Broward seeing an increase in the jobless rate while Miami-Dade was virtually stalled. Statewide, the unemployment rate was unchanged for the second month in a row. The percentage of jobless in Florida stands at 8.6 percent. The Department of Economic Opportunity said Friday the seasonally adjusted rate for June remained unchanged from the May figure and that nearly 800,000 Floridians remain jobless. Miami-Dade’s unemployment rate dropped slightly from 9.6 percent in May to 9.5 percent in June, seasonally adjusted. Job creation declined significantly, with little improvement in construction, an important indicator in South Florida. Broward saw it’s second straight month of job losses after enjoying almost 5 years of growth. Broward’s rate, which unlike Dade’s is not seasonally adjusted, jumped 3 tenths of a point to 7.6 percent. However, that could be blamed on a traditional summer slowdown in hiring in South Florida. Governor Rick Scott has made creating jobs the centerpiece of his administration. campaigning on a pledge to create 700,000 new jobs in seven years. Although the rate has dropped since Scott became governor, state economists say Florida’s unemployment rate has improved largely because people have left the work force, not because they are finding jobs. Scott argued the state’s dropping unemployment rate is because of changes he has been pushing such as removing regulations he believes deter creating jobs.

Job creation declined significantly, with little improvement in construction, an important indicator in South Florida.

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MIAMI (CBSmiami.com)

Seafood

Misrepresentation

Ripping Off Consumers At The Market Reporting Al Sunshine

The investigation into suspected seafood labeling fraud

around South Florida is reportedly underway by the Oceana Foundation, an International Marine Conservation group. It’s believed the group may be just a few days away from confirming a major consumer problem for South Florida Seafood lovers: The next time you go shopping for your favorite fish, you might be paying too much for a meal and end up with something completely different than what’s on the menu. South Miami’s Benjamin Enizondo knows when he goes shopping for fish or goes out for a seafood meal around town, it doesn’t always taste right. He worries he doesn’t always get what he pays for. “Sometimes you don’t, it depends on where you go,” said Enizondo. So what’s the problem? It’s called seafood misrepresentation: Distributors, restaurants or markets substituting cheaper fish for the more expensive ones. In effect, getting higher prices for cheaper fish and boosting their bottom line. CBS4 News first exposed the problem back in 2007. It’s still a problem today, according to local researchers. And that’s why Chef Sam Kim, a Doral Restaurant operator, says he only buys fish from reputable wholesalers and tries to see the whole fish himself to avoid over-charging his customers with the wrong seafood. He told CBS4 Chief Consumer Investigator Al Sunshine when that happens the consumer is basically getting shafted”. To see the latest problem here first hand, international researchers just

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August 2012

finished collecting and analyzing dozens of fish samples selling at local markets and restaurants. The results of the testing are expected to be released next week. Dr. Mahmood Shivji is the research director of Nova Southeast University’s Oceanographic Center. He tested our samples 5 years ago. He’s also a research consultant on this latest study which reportedly confirms our original findings: That in many cases you could be paying high prices for cheaper fish and never even know about it. He says it’s still a problem here. “Yes, disappointingly, seafood substitution in the S. Fla. market is still quite high even 5 years later after all the exposure this problem has received thanks to reports like yours,” said Shivji. Misrepresenting seafood and charging higher prices for cheaper fish is against both state and federal laws. But unlike several years ago when there were numerous cases filed, state prosecutors now apparently do not consider this a priority. There have been no formal fraud charges for several years now. So what’s the best advice for local seafood lovers? If at all possible, buy a whole fish and talk over your concerns with your seafood market or restaurant operator. If the fish doesn’t taste right and you don’t like what you’re being told, buy your seafood someplace else.

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DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami.com)

Ice Cream Institution

Celebrates Star Employee’s

90th Birthday When you see him at Jaxson’s, 90-year-old Stanley Goldstein won’t give you the cold shoulder…just a cold scoop of delicious ice cream. It is ice cream Goldstein has been serving since 1975. The Dania Beach ice cream institution celebrated a birthday for one of its most valuable employees. Most 90-year-olds are well into retirement, but not this birthday boy. Goldstein told CBS4’s Summer Knowles that he isn’t considering retirement anytime soon. According to Monroe Udell, the owner of Jaxson’s, Goldstein is no slacker. “He’s been a great employee. He shows up on time… he’ll work as long as you let him work,” said Udell. Adds Udell: “He’s come in here with a broken leg, broken arm, one eye from eye surgery. Nothing stops him.” Goldstein has enjoyed good times at the Zagat-rated ice cream parlor over the years and has seen many people. “We’ve had football players, baseball players, movie stars, but I’m not impressed. I’m sorry. I’m not impressed. ‘Hi, Stan…I love you’ is more important to me than any movie star,” said Goldstein. Goldstein says the key to his long life is his love for people and his love for ice cream. He said he eats at least two scoops of the cold stuff every day.

“He’s come in here with a broken leg, broken arm, one eye from eye surgery. Nothing stops him.”

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August 2012

Telemundo Sued Over HIALEAH (CBSMiami.com)

Venezuelan Telenovela

Hialeah-based Telemundo, the second largest Spanish network in the U.S., is being called a thief. LaTele Television, a Venezuelan TV network, sued Spanish-language media corporation Telemundo Communications Group, claiming it stole its popular 1989 telenovela “Maria, Maria.” If true, this would be a departure from Telemundo’s long-held practice of producing most of its own telenovelas. In 2011, 85 percent of the network’s telenovelas were filmed at its studios. The Venezuelan network said Telemundo’s hit show “El Rostro de Analia” (The face of Analia) may be set in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, but otherwise it’s the same convoluted story as LaTele’s earlier show, according to a complaint filed June 10 in federal court in Miami. The complaint accuses the Hilaleah-based Telemundo of violating the Venezuelan copyright of “Maria, Maria.” The suit alleges any differences are cosmetic, “specifically aimed at masking that ‘El Rostro’ is, in fact, simply ‘Maria, Maria’ updated and repackaged in a different setting.” The same author also penned both tales, which are of course grounded in the classic telenovela pillars of betrayal, amnesia and switched identities. In both shows, two women drive over a cliff in a car that explodes. One woman is presumed dead. The other is badly disfigured and has amnesia,

and the two women’s identities are mixed up. The survivor’s face is reconstructed to look like the woman thought dead — which leads to plenty of confusion when it is revealed that both women actually survived the crash. “LaTele’s claim that Telemundo infringed on an alleged copyright it purportedly has in a telenovela is completely without merit,” Telemundo said in a statement Friday. The company said it “will vigorously defend itself from these baseless claims in court.” LaTele attorney James Sammataro said his client waited more than two years to sue because the company hoped to have a working relationship with Telemundo. “Look, when you are the producer of telenovelas, the last thing you want to do is sue the second largest Spanish-language broadcast company in the U.S.,” he said. LaTele sought copyright protection in Venezuela in 1991 but not in the U.S. until 2010, a year after “El Rostro” aired. U.S. law, however, recognizes the earlier Venezuelan copyright under international treaties, the lawsuit states. LaTele alleges “El Rostro” has been extremely profitable for Telemundo and has been rebroadcast in countries around the world. LaTele is seeking unspecified damages. No hearing dates have been set.

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August 2012

Miami’s Best Tennis Courts And Clubs Beloved in Miami for a great workout and overall fun game, tennis options abound in this city. Courts and clubs overflow with fantastic instructors and amenities everyone loves, but it’s that little special something some clubs have that other just don’t that keeps the crowds coming back. Whether it’s a first lesson or a hard-core competition, the city’s best courts and clubs’ll make anyone feel like a pro.

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Crandon Tennis Center  www.miamidade.gov/

Price: $4 hard court for adults/$6 evening/$3 for juniors/$4 evening/$7 clay courts for adults/$3 juniors/$11 grass courts for adults/$7 juniors/all prices per person per hour. This expansive facility offers 26 courts (including seven lighted courts) to accommodate players at any skill level. The center employs USPTA/USPTR-certified instructors for its top-rated tennis programs. Players may participate in the World Team League for a taste of professional play, or take lessons at the center to build up to tougher games. The top players in the world come to the Crandon Tennis Center every year for the Sony Ericcson Open, a 12-day tournament offering exciting tennis competitions. Crandon’s summer camps and after-school programs demonstrate make it a great family option as well.

Coral Oaks Tennis Club  www.coraloakstennis.net

The highlight of the Coral Oaks Tennis Club is its active events calendar. From early morning tennis clinics to evening doubles matches, members suffer no shortage of tennis options. Coral Oaks offers single, family and junior memberships perfect for any player. Its social events promote a family friendly atmosphere. Highly trained instructors, certified by the USPTA/USPTR, offer private lessons and hold team practices for group skill building.

North Shore Tennis Center  www.gsibollettieri.com

Price: $5 resident court fee/$10 non-resident court fee/priced per person, per hour. North Shore Tennis Center’s 10 new clay courts and two hard courts are all lighted for play, and a fullservice on-site pro shop guarantees players have all the necessary equipment for a great game. The center offers great programs for all ages, including tournament training. It also serves as the site of elite tennis tournaments. Its fantastic tennis program is legendary in the tennis community.

Tropical Park Tennis Center  www.tropicalparktennis.com

Price: $3/$4 after 7 p.m./$2 youth/after 7 p.m. regular rates apply/rates are per person, per hour. Tropical Park Tennis Center offers year-round programs, private lessons, and individual and group sessions. Players may call or go online to reserve any of Tropical Park’s 12 lighted tennis courts. Reserve multiple courts for group lessons, parties and tournaments as well, with pricing catered to each group’s court needs. Its on-site pro shop provides a great selection of products for the convenience of its patrons.

Brickell Tennis Club  www.cliffdrysdale.com

Brickell Tennis Club’s convenient location near downtown Miami allows for easy access, especially for players who live or work in the area, and anyone using public transportation. Players will be wowed by the state-of-the art tennis facility, including its seven Har Tru courts. With a specialty in tennis clinics, instructors here expertly teach and train players of all skill levels. Patrons can expect a supreme experience in an excellent facility, highlighted by superior accommodations and expert staff.

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August 2012

t s e B

g n i l w o B ys e l l A

ida r o l F Â h t u o S n I

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Lucky Strike Lanes

www.bowlluckystrike.com If you want to go upscale in the heart of trendy South Beach, this is the place to bowl. Just a stones through from where celebs from around the world hang out, you never know who will be in the next lane. They have 14 regular lanes and 6 VIP lanes for those too important to wait. They’re open late, until 2 a.m. weekends, and it’s adults only after 9. They even have free wi-fi, so you can bowl the perfect game and then get on twitter to tell everyone. Leave the kids at home and head to the beach, if you want to be bowled over.

Splitsville

www.splitsvillelanes.com A bowling alley with sushi? That’s the kind of experience you get at Splitsville, which is located in an area packed with restaurants, movie theaters, and other entertainment choices. You can reserve a lane in advance and have catered events. You’ll want to, because there are just a few lanes. This is almost a restaurant with bowling as something to do while you wait for your food, but if you like to have something more than a beer and a burger in your beer frame, this is the place. This is a bowling alley so upscale, they even have an evening dress code. If you are looking for something different, try Splitsville.

The Bird Bowl

www.birdbowl.com They’ve been in business for more than half a century, so they know what bowling’s about. One of the few remaining ‘traditional’ bowling alleys in South Florida, Bird Bowl is located in the suburbs, and draws a local and league crowd as well as open bowling. The place is huge, with 60 lanes, and when it comes to food and drink, the menu is traditional; burgers, pizza, and beer. They even serve breakfast for the early (or late, late) bowler, and if you want to have a real celebration, they offer birthday parties for kids. If you like to bowl and don’t want trendy, this is your place. Oh, they also offer 16 billiard tables.

Sparez

www.sparez-davie.com Bowling with a light show. How much fun is that? Sparez offers traditional bowling, with lessons, leagues, kids parties, and such, but they also offer a package with sound and lighting effects, and even a live DJ, for parties and special events. This is a family center, and they have lots of programs for kids. Keep that in mind if you’re looking for a strictly adult night of fun. Their website offers frequent specials and coupons. A traditional bowling experience, with an option for a light show, is something you don’t see every day.

Sawgrass Lanes

www.gatorbowling.com Traditional bowling with newly updated lanes, Sawgrass lanes offers bowling with a bit of glitz. You can bowl to rock and laser beams if you want, but underneath all of the high tech trappings you can find a traditional bowling alley. If you have your own ball and your own shoes, you’ll be right at home here. The food is a little bit beyond traditional pizza and beer, and they offer billiards and arcade games if you get bored with searching for that perfect 300. Book a party, join a league, or just kick back and bowl a few frames after a long day. Feeling like more fun? Try the Rock and Glow bowling. This is bowling, old school, and a night out, high tech.

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August 2012

Best

Frozen Yogurt In SouthÂ Florida

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In the steamy, sticky days of summer, frozen yogurt can offer a cool, creamy culinary reprieve especially for those counting calories. Here in South Florida, there’s an avalanche of frozen yogurt choices. With such a huge and delicious selection, how’s a lactose-loving consumer able to separate the swirl from the spin? Here’s a breakdown on the fro-yo frenzy.

Yogen Fruz

ChicBerry

Yogurbella

www.yogenfruz.com The concept of yogen fruz is that you can make your own yogurt ice cream from the different fruits and toppings they offer. They have a wide selection of fruits so you won’t have a problem choosing. You can definitely get your fro-yo on here. The yogurt is quality and flavorful, smooth and creamy and has customers coming back for more. The creamy deliciousness can be your new guilty pleasure. Multiple locations throughout South Florida.

WWW.chicberryusa.com This self-serve fro-yo joint is a neighborhood favorite. At ChicBerry it’s like a buffet. You can serve yourself a little bit of this and a little bit of that and not have to spend an arm and a leg to get it. When you’re done, they weigh it and you pay it. There are tons of toppings to choose from. This place is family owned and in front of FIU. They have a few tables outside, and bar stools, high tops, and a couch indoors.

www.yogurbella.com Fresh, non-fat, low-calorie, soft-serve frozen yogurt with real yogurt taste! No artificial flavorings or additives. Real yogurt served deliciously frozen, yet creamy soft. Those who like the self-serve fro yo locations will love yogurbella. There are 20 different flavors and over 30 toppings to choose from. Customers can really get creative making their Yogurbella treat. There are multiple locations across South Florida.

Pinkberry

Gelosia

www.pinkberry.com Pinkberry has been one of the most popular frozen yogurt places in the country and they’ve finally made it to South Florida. They’re big in both California and New York and are now dishing out their delicious flavors and tasty toppings in the Falls area. The service is said to be splendid. Flavors include original, pomegranate, chocolate, mango, coconut and green tee. There are daily cut fresh fruit and seasonal fresh fruit toppings, as well as creative and premium dry and liquid toppings.

www.gelosiausa.com This true Gelateria is a favorite spot in Doral. They not only sell delicious yogurt and ice cream, they also have coffee, cappuccinos, pastries and more. A great after lunch/dinner place to satisfy that craving. The service is friendly and helpful and they love to give out free tasting samples.

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Reducing Elder Pedestrian Crashes: Safe Steps- Pasos Seguros

The Alliance for Aging, Inc., an area agency for aging, is implementing an innovative project to improve the mobility of elders and reduce the alarming number of persons age 65 and above injured or killed while walking in Miami-Dade County. Funded by the Florida Department of Transportation and the

Federal Highway Safety Administration, Safe Steps-Pasos Seguros is a bilingual public awareness and education project to reduce elder-pedestrian crashes. Safe Steps-Pasos Seguros is raising the level of awareness not only among elders who walk, but also among the general public. Safe Steps-Pasos Seguros has three major tracks running simultaneously: 1. A Public Awareness Campaign for elder pedestrian safety using four, 15-second, bilingual, closed-captioned Public Service Announcements airing frequently on both English and Spanish television channels. The media blitz is reaching more than 4.6 million television viewers of all ages with repeated messages about elder mobility and safe elder-pedestrian behaviors. The messages also alert drivers to be more aware of older pedestrians, and allude to their often-unique mobility needs (for example, walking at a slower pace, difficulties seeing or hearing, confusion, etc.). Market analyses from our television partners are validating the penetration of the message and the extent of its promotion throughout the entire South Florida area (Key West to Palm Beach County). In addition, the last frame of all PSAs shows the Alliance for Aging name and Helpline telephone number, which promotes the organization’s presence in and value to the community. 2. An Educational Component to train 1,000 elders how to be more mobile and walk safely on the streets and roads of Miami-Dade County. Basic to the educational track is the adoption of an evidence-based curriculum for adultpedestrian safety developed by the University of North Carolina and proven to change unsafe pedestrian behaviors elsewhere. The curriculum was not only translated into Spanish, but also “transcreated” for cultural and social relevance to a largely Hispanic elder population in Miami-Dade. Training workshops are held at select locales around the ten most-dangerous intersections for elder pedestrians in Miami-Dade County, as identified by the Lehman Center for Transportation Research at Florida International University (McCarthy and Cevallos, 2011). One thousand elders are being shown how to use on traffic lights and signals, maneuver dangerous situations requiring extra caution, and strategies on safe walking. Participants who complete the two-hour program are given a “Safety Kit” that includes a reflector vest, flashlight, water bottle, medication reminder log, whistle and other supplies and information to help them walk safely and apply the lessons learned. Participants are also awarded a “Certificate of Safe Walking.” An unexpected and welcomed benefit of our training approach has been a

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August 2012

direct “consumer feedback loop” which is providing qualitative information about walking behaviors and patterns among elders in our community. The Alliance for Aging understands the value and importance of this “consumer input” and continues to encourage and capture feedback from participants at training sessions. FIU is evaluating the educational component of the project by surveying the workshop participants, both pre- and post-training, to capture learning. Actual changes in walking behaviors are assessed 30-days after each workshop to see if the participants, indeed, incorporated the “lessons learned” into their regular walking behaviors. 3. An Advisory Group composed of local stakeholders in aging, transportation and the Complete Streets “I’m 85 years old and have been walking for 84 years – and Movement related to you’re going to show me how The New Urbanism to walk now?” asked the eland Livable Communider woman petulantly. Using a ties whose premise is grocery cart, she had just mathat all ages can “own,” neuvered the crossing of Calle invest and grow old in Ocho to attend a Safe StepsPasos Seguros workshop at the their own communities. Little Havana Senior Center. The Elder Pedes“I’m not teaching you how to trian Advisory Group walk,” smiled the trainer, a gencounsels, advises, and tleman in his mid-60. “I’m going promotes the project, to show you how not to get run and its members come over – atropellada -- when you from local law enforcedo walk!” ment agencies, traffic engineering, higher education, transportation, health and urban planning. The Advisory Group also will be involved in finding funding to sustain the Safe StepsPasos Seguros project, as well as developing policy statements for safe mobility for elders.

The vision of Safe Steps- Pasos Seguros is a safe and vibrant Miami Dade County where all pedestrians, regardless of age, are safely mobile. The goal of Safe Steps or Pasos Seguros is to change pedestrian behavior while making drivers more aware of the special mobility needs of older pedestrians.

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August 2012

Getaway Guide:

One Tank Trip To

Key Largo If a sagging economy and steep gas prices are keeping you from a European vacation or a trip to the Grand Canyon, don’t despair. Travel to Key Largo, just 60 miles and a world away. Enjoy warm ocean waters, exotic wildlife and unique restaurants for an experience guaranteed to knock you right out of that daily grind. Spend a day enjoying experiences that your friends up north can only dream of —and do it on only one tank of gas.

Getting There

To get there, take the Florida Turnpike south toward Key West. At Florida City, the Turnpike merges into U.S. 1, which is also called Federal Highway. Head south until you reach Key Largo. Other transportation options include Greyhound Lines, which has a bus route to Key Largo, and the Keys Shuttle, which operates from both the Miami and Fort Lauderdale International Airports. Because parking in Key Largo is challenging, you may want to consider alternative means of transportation such as taxis, bicycles and shuttles. All in all, expect to be on the road about an hour and a half.

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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Caribbean Watersports & Enviro Tours

Dolphins Plus

The Buzzard’s Roost Restaurant

(305) 451-6300 www.pennekamppark.com Price: $8 per car/$29.95 snorkeling per adult/$24.95 per child younger than 18/plus equipment rental Bursting with vibrant colors and teeming with marine life, America’s only living barrier coral reef, which extends from Key Biscayne to the Dry Tortugas, is one of nature’s most awe-inspiring and unforgettable sights. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers boats that carry snorkelers to the reef as well as equipment rental and knowledgeable guides. Take the 9 a.m. boat if you can because a discount coupon, available on the Internet, will save you $3 on the morning trip. Other boats leave at noon and 3 p.m. If you don’t like snorkeling, take a short trip on one of the park’s glass bottom boats. Swimming beaches and camp sites are also available in this wheelchair-accessible park. Visitors to the park or to other parts of Key Largo should know that public transportation is limited and they will need to take a taxi if they don’t have a car or bicycle.

www.dolphinsplus.com Prices: $185 for 25 minutes in the water/$79.95 photo package Swimming with dolphins, some of nature’s most intelligent and social animals, creates memories that will last a lifetime. At Dolphins Plus, dolphins are not housed in cramped, concrete tanks. Rather, the animals at this facility, which is devoted to the conservation of marine mammals, live in a seawater-filled canal adjoining the Atlantic ocean. Dolphin swims are by reservation only, so be sure to call ahead.

www.caribbeanwatersports.com Price: $60 enviro tours per adult/$45 per child. Located only five miles away from the state park, Caribbean Water Sports & Enviro Tours offers daily two-hour trips to Everglades National Park in small zodiac-style boats that allow you to get closer to the mangrove islands than you could in standard vessels. About 25 percent of the time, dolphins or manatees will swim close to the boat, giving you a chance to see these magnificent creatures at home in their own world. You may also spot bald eagles and great white herons. The crystal-clear water near the resort is perfect for even inexperienced snorkelers, and delightful little seahorses and starfish keep everyone entertained. During summer afternoons, snorkeling among mangrove stands gives visitors an opportunity to see sponges growing on tree roots. If you are more adventurous, you may want to rent jet skis or try parasailing. Call ahead for reservations.

www.keysdining.com/buzzardsroost If you are hungry and eager to be out of the midday sun, enjoy waterfront dining at the Buzzard’s Roost Restaurant, located at the Garden Cove Marina. Specialties include lobster, surf and turf, and homemade desserts in addition to an extensive wine list and a full-service bar. Sunday brunch offers everything from standard American fare to eggs sardou. Also a bit of a tackle shop, this restaurant has everything you’ll need to hit the water after you scarf that delicious lunch.

The African Queen

www.holidayinnkeylargo.com Movie buffs and Humphrey Bogart fans may be interested in seeing the boat featured in the African Queen. Located at the Holiday Inn docks, the vessel is currently being restored. While there are no guided tours, there is plenty of information about the boat and what happened to it after the famous film was made. Viewing the boat is free, but if you’re staying in town for the night, Holiday Inn offers an inexpensive option. The Floating Inn, Kona Kai Resort, Gallery and Botanic Gardens, and Diver’s Cove, however, offer more unique, intimate stays.

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August 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

South Floridians Turn To

Sound Therapy For Healing

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The number of people trying alternative medicine has exploded in the past 10 years. Now, about 35 percent of Americans try alternative medicine before traditional medicine. People in South Florida are trying something called Sound Therapy. Believers said it brings out your positive energy. How does it work? It works with the help of a didgeridoo, an ancient aboriginal Australian instrument, one of the oldest wind instruments in the world. Harmonic healer, Joda Cook uses it to practice sound therapy also known as vibration healing. “I put positive in and get the negative energy out of the body,” said Cook. He can sense where the tension is. “Sometimes I get to a certain part of the body and it feels like there’s a hand there holding it. Let’s me know that body needs more attention,” said Cook. Sue Monuse suffers from depression and anxiety. She believes can feel the didgeridoo working on her different chakras and energy points. “Relaxing and tingling. It balances my whole energy,” Monuse said. In the past five years Sue has replaced a slew of pills with alternative healing and said she no longer suffers side affects. The ancient device is made of bamboo and at the top where the healer blows in air, it is covered by beeswax. Monuse said she doesn’t just get balance from the didgeridoo but also

from crystals through medical chin gong. Mao Ardissone who owns the Ayama Yoga Healing and Arts Center in North Miami said, “Everything in nature vibrates and has a sound and the color adds a form of vibration.” Ardissonne has been practicing Chinese medicine for a decade and said each crystal vibrates differently and should be paced near areas that need to be rebalanced. Also, he said Thai massage helps realign the body. It’s a kind massage, meets yoga meets chiropractor. Ardissone actually realigns a patient using his hands and feet and twisting the client on the floor. Charlie Himmelstern is a client who has severe scoliosis. “What changes is the tension between the bones and the muscles,” Himmeslstern said. Clients opting for alternative treatments to realign, readjust and refocus are trying alternative steps before traditional. “I’ve had people tell me I know you’re blowing out but it feels like you’re pulling things out of me,” said didgeridoo expert, Cook says This serves as testament that something is changing for the better. The procedures will run you about $80 an hour.

305-883-1218

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