CBS4 Newspaper

newspaper December 2012

SQUATTERS

THAT WON’T

GET OUT

They will move in, change the locks, live in your property and when you try to kick them out, they’ll be the victims!

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December 2012

(CBSMiami.com)

SQUATTERS

THAT WON’T

GET OUT Reporting Michele Gillen

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Christina Malloy is living the nightmare as she buys a condo in Downtown Miami.

For months, CBS4 Investigates has been following her as she purchases and tries to close on a one bedroom apartment; squatters somehow moved in and keep changing the locks and have figured out how to sneak in and out of the building.

“What’s your message to them,” CBS4’s Chief Investigative Michele Gillen asked Malloy.

“Get out because I am coming for you,” Malloy said.

As someone who buys and sells property for a living, Malloy said it’s frightening how often she now comes face to face with squatters.

“I go to open the door and there’s people inside. There’s furniture. There’s beds. There’s personal items,” Malloy said.

And that’s exactly what she finds when she finally gets to see the inside of her unit and videotapes the possessions of the squatter living there; TV hooked up to cable, a place to eat, but no living room furniture. “I absolutely consider them criminals,” said a property manager who is fed up with the problem.

He describes them as out of control in multiple buildings decorating our skyline. He asked that we mask his identity to protect his condo’s reputation.

“Some people who have no rights to this property move in, use the free water, use the free cable, destroy property and for what? So they can live for free,” he said.

For months, CBS4 Investigates has been documenting cases across South Florida where police or banks have been notified that people living in vacant and foreclosed homes or apartments – allegedly – don’t legally belong there.

“They are getting a free ride,” said Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff.

Sarnoff said the number of absentee owners coupled with banks so slow to foreclose is a recipe for disaster.

“Unfortunately, the police are ill-equipped to deal with this because if someone just shows a document, a quit claim deed, a lease, the police treat it as a civil matter. And then you go before a judge that takes time, you have to hire a lawyer and next thing you know you are months, weeks, sometimes almost a year away to get a person out that doesn’t belong in the property,” Sarnoff said.

When police are called, squatters often say they are the victims. And, in some cases, they may be victims of crooks posing as realtors or property owners.

On a recent day, Miami-Dade police were called out to a house in MiamiDade County to investigate a burglary.

The alleged criminal: a mother of two who says she was duped by a make believe realtor who took her money and disappeared after renting her the house – a foreclosure not available for rent.

“She was just so convincing,” the woman said describing the demeanor of a realtor who turned out to be a fake.

“Did you write a check?” Gillen asked.

“No, I gave her cash,” the woman said. Just hours after this exchange, the woman found herself an efficiency apartment and moved her family out of this house.

“There are some honest victims, usually the ones willing to negotiate with you. They are the ones who say, ‘Do I need to pay’,’” said the property manager.

But countless numbers are conning the system and you never know whose property they might move into next.

“You don’t know what they have behind that door. But who knows if they have a gun. Who knows if they are going to attack you. Who knows what I’m going to find. Will I find a dog, will I find drugs, will I find guns, will I find someone dead? I just don’t know,” said the property manager.

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December 2012

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami.com)

Online Prices Fluctuating Minute

By Minute

Reporting Al Sunshine

Shopping online can be overwhelming for most customers. Now, it turns out there may be a best time to look for your product on websites.

Pembroke Pines shopper Tony Munoz knows some days he

gets better deals online than others. He believes it’s best in the middle of the week.

“Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays seem to be the best,” Munoz said.

While shopping online recently, Amy Shoaff noticed prices for the same item, on the same website changed substantially even throughout the day, “General everyday items fluctuating anywhere from $40 to $300.”

It’s all part of a new trend: Some retailers are changing their online prices hourly, some even by the minute. The goal is to have a product priced so it pops up as the lowest priced item in shopping search engines, or Amazon’s coveted “buy box,” where most consumers look to find the best deals.

Chris Buckingham of the Professional Pricing Society said, “It’s more a battle of getting the right screen position as opposed to trying to sell it as quickly as possible.”

After monitoring prices of several items on a well known shopping website, CBS4 found an iPad selling at midnight for $511. By 6am it dropped to $503. Then at 7am the price sunk to $475, where it remained until 2:30pm and then jumped to $510. By 10 PM, it increased to a high of $529.

That’s a $54 price difference, on the same site, all in one 24-hour period.

Buckingham said, “The suppliers are constantly monitoring each other.”

There are websites which will monitor prices for items you want and alert you when the price drops, or reaches an amount you’d be willing to pay. If you add an item to your Amazon shopping cart and leave it there; amazon will notify you of price changes.

But Amy has a warning about clicking on the least expensive deal found on search engines “Free shipping, returns, make sure you’re using those things to your advantage because sometimes just price isn’t always the cheapest,” Amy said.

What product’s prices fluctuate the most?

From what CBS4 found its electronics, appliances, clothing, shoes, jewelry and even household staples, like dust pans!

Some experts suggest if you ordered something from a retailer and the price dropped within a reasonable amount of time, contact the business and see if they’ll refund you the difference.

“There are websites which will monitor prices for items you want and alert you when the price drops, or reaches an amount you’d be willing to pay.”

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December 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Study:

More Americans

Drowning In College Debt Reporting Al Sunshine

A newly released study shows a record number of households, one in five, now face college debt. On top of that, more middle aged Americans than ever are struggling with college loans, though it may not stem from their own education. This painful increase in college expenses is often felt the most by the parents supporting their students.

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With two kids in college at the same time, Miami dad Jose Paz has found his family budget is stretched pretty thin.

Even though his daughter Evette has a scholarship, there are all those extra costs.

“It’s hard because everything costs a lot, like books, activity fees.

Yes it’s hard, we do a lot of things to cover it,” explained Paz. Evette’s a senior at FIU who appreciates all the sacrifices her family is making to send two kids to college at the same time.

“It’s difficult for them but it means a lot to my brother and me to be able to go to college,” said Evette. “We’re the first ones in the family to do it.”

They’re not alone.

Jean Andes and Mark Hilliard had the best of intentions when it came to saving for their kids’ college but adds, “It’s hard to save when you’re paying the mortgage and your utilities.”

Her kids had to take out college loans and now face $120,000 in debt.

Dad Mark added it all up and found “It cost us about as much to borrow to put our two children through college as it did to buy our house.”

Mark Kantrowitz of Finaid.org said “It’s typically not just debt for undergraduate degrees, instead, it’s like parent plus loans, from their

“Financial planners warn parents and students should only borrow what they really need because there’s a tendency to borrow to the loan limit which is not always necessary.” graduate education and from cosigning on private student loans.”

So called “parent-plus” education loans have doubled in the last decade, with an average balance of $34,000 with more parents than ever are borrowing for their children’s’ educations.

“Before the credit crisis about half of all student loans required cosigners. In the aftermath of the credit crisis and today more than 90% of new private student loans,” said Kantrowitz.

Jean and Mark cosigned for their kids.

They hope to have everything paid off in seven to ten years.

Kantrowitz stressed parents shouldn’t cosign for or take

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December 2012

out loans that will take longer than ten years to pay off and warned “If they’re borrowing more than that it’s going to eat into their retirement.”

Financial planners warn parents and students should only borrow what they really need because there’s a tendency to borrow to the loan limit which is not always necessary.

America Saves, an initiative of the Consumer Federation of America, and Sallie Mae just released a tip sheet to provide recent graduates with information and tips on how to pay their student loans.

• Know how much you owe each month.Keep track of what you

•

•

•

•

•

•

Beware of scams! Some fraudulent companies might claim to offer you easy ways to erase or lower your loan payments.

unnecessary items in order to pay down your debt or that you can pay a little extra each month to pay down your debt even faster. Contact your student loan servicer or visit their website to calculate different payment scenarios that best fit your budget and personal situation. Proactively planning payments helps save you time and money.

Make payments automatic. Signing up for automatic debit is an easy option that electronically deducts payments from your checking or savings accounts, saving you time, stamps and, most importantly, providing you with peace of mind that you have made your loan repayment on time. Bonus: many servicers may even provide you with a lower interest rate just for signing up.

Make payments each and every month. Resist the option of putting off your payments, as deferment or forbearance typically mean you’ll pay more over the life of the loan. It’s empowering to tackle your payments now.

If you do fall behind, get help. Call your loan servicer to discuss your options – or if they are calling you, answer the phone. A different payment plan or a temporary postponement of payments may give you the extra time you need. If you need help organizing your finances, a licensed nonprofit consumer credit counseling service can offer free budget counseling.

Update your servicer with any changes. If your situation changes, your student loan servicer needs to know about it. Keep your loan servicer updated with any change in mailing address, email and phone numbers. Accurate personal details will help ensure you receive all the information you need about your payment due dates, helping you stay on track no matter what the change in your situation.

Beware of scams! Some fraudulent companies might claim to offer you easy ways to erase or lower your loan payments. If you have any doubt about services being offered, get in touch with your student loan provider.

Build an emergency fund in case of unpredictable circumstances.

Aim to save $500 to $1,000 to meet unexpected financial challenges like paying a parking ticket, repairing the brakes on your car or covering dental expenses. Saving even small amounts each month can add up and give you the peace of mind to know you can weather financial emergencies while continuing to pay down your student loan.

To download the tip sheet, go to

AmericaSaves.org/media/studentloantipsheet.pdf.

For more tips on planning for college or student loan repayment, please visit

CollegeAnswer.com.

For more tips, advice and resources on how to save money and build personal wealth visit spend for one month and create a budget that includes your student loan payment. You may find that you will need to cut out

AmericaSaves.org

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December 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

How Social Media Is

Changing

Adoption

Reporting Rhiannon Ally

We all know social media is a great way to connect with others, but how about connecting future family members? People who want to adopt a child are now “Facebooking”, “Tweeting” and “YouTubing” their desire, hoping a birth mother will see their posts and pick them to be parents.

Many do find success but there are also risks.

Holding, singing, and kissing Theo, their newborn son, was a dream come true for his adoptive parents, Molly and John Connolly.

“We found and connected with our son by using social media,” said Molly Connolly.

Soon after the Connolly’s posted a website and started a Facebook group expressing their desire to adopt, Theo’s then pregnant birth mother saw it and emailed them.

“Our hearts just jumped out of our throats practically,” said John Connolly.

They finalized the arrangements through an adoption agency and the day Theo was born, travelled across the country to meet the little boy and his birth mother at the hospital.

“She was holding Theo and she told him how much she loved him and, she loved him so much that she picked the perfect parents for him and she gave him a kiss and put him in my arms,” recalled Molly.

Social media sites confirm more people than ever are posting their plight to adopt online, hoping to stand out in a competitive selection process.

There are Facebook posts linking to websites with heartfelt pictures, heartbreaking stories of infertility, and carefully worded

write-ups about how they’ll parent and if the birth mother can be involved.

Adam Pertman, executive director of the renowned Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is studying this brand new phenomenon. As more adoption agencies and attorneys suggest prospective parents use social media, Pertman hopes to soon establish some “best practice standards” for the industry.

“We really don’t know about all this stuff. It is inventing itself before our eyes,” said Pertman.

The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys warns it should be just part of the process. Would-be parents should work with an attorney or agency before they post to be sure they are following the laws for each state where they are advertising or finalizing the adoption. There are also adoption scams and experts can help weed those out.

“The risk involved is that both the birth parents and the prospective adoptive parents are vulnerable and they don’t necessarily know the laws or how they can proceed once they connect,” explained Deborah Steincolor from the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.

The Connolly’s said the risks were well worth it. They actually still use Facebook to keep in touch with Theo’s birth mother so she can see the pictures as he grows up.

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“The risk involved is that both the birth parents and the prospective adoptive parents are vulnerable and they don’t necessarily know the laws or how they can proceed once they connect.”

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December 2012

More Dangerous Than Driving New Killer

Drunk

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There’s a new killer in Florida, more dangerous than drunk driving.

It’s already outlawed in 44 states but it’s still legal in Florida.

It’s the “new” drinking and driving, known as texting and driving,

but should it be outlawed in Florida?

If you ask Yessica Torres, the answer is definitely yes.

On September 11, 2008 Yessica Torres’ parents, Myriam and Wilson, were driving home. They turned left onto SW 127th Avenue from Bird Road.

At the same time, 17-year-old Luis Cruz-Govin was speeding down Bird Road. Records showed he sent a text at 8:19 p.m. At 8:20 p.m. his car slammed into the passenger side of the Torres’ car, right where Myriam sat.

“I could feel it inside me, that something bad was about to happen,” Yessica recalled. “I called and got a ride to the hospital. They had told me that both my parents were airlifted. When I got there only my dad was there,” recalled Yessica.

Myriam died on impact. It took Yessica and her attorney Alan Goldfarb three years to prove that Luis Cruz-Govin killed her mother because he was texting. Yessica and her family filed a civil lawsuit against Cruz-Govin

who declined to speak with CBS4 about the accident. Late last year, a jury awarded them $8.8 million dollars after proving Cruz-Govin was in fact texting and driving.

“No text is important. It can wait while you’re driving,” Yessica said.

Yet 30-percent of drivers ages 16-21 admit they text and drive in a Consumer Reports survey.

Texting and driving is the new driving drunk.

David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah, has been studying texting and driving for over a decade.

“If you are texting and driving you are twice as likely to be involved in a crash than if you were driving drunk,” Strayer said.

Florida is one of just 6 states in the U.S. without a ban on texting and driving. Why is that?

State representative Irv Slosberg is an advocate for traffic safety regulations who has tried for six years to pass the ban.

He blamed former Speaker of the House Dean Cannon for the stall in legislation.

“Unfortunately the Speaker of the House, Dean Cannon, would not pull this out of the drawer, he was the worst thing for road safety,” said Slosberg.

In fact, last year the Senate passed an anti-texting bill in Florida, but it stalled in the House.

Cannon sent CBS4 an email in response, in part it read: “We must be careful to weigh a proposed regulation with the potential infringement on personal liberty. Personal responsibility remains the primary means to increase safety on our roadways.”

Former speaker Cannon’s term ended November 6th, and Speaker Will Weatherford now has the reigns.

“All that I can hope for is that Speaker Weatherford will realize that public safety is our number one priority in the state of Florida,” Slosberg said.

Yessica hopes legislation will stop others from losing the people they love too.

“If they would have banned this a long time ago maybe this accident would have never happened, maybe my mom would still be here,” said Yessica.

In Florida’s next legislative session, Representative Slosberg said he will introduce a ban on minors who text and talk on cell phones while driving.

Congress has recently approved $50 million in financial incentives for any state that passes “anti-texting” legislation.

Without a texting while driving ban, Florida stands to lost millions in federal dollars.

“No text is important. It can wait while you’re driving”

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December 2012

FTC Warns Of

Scammers Accessing Your PC

Using Your Phone

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

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“Scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about viruses and other threats.

They know that computer users have heard time and again that it’s important to install security software. But the purpose behind their elaborate scheme isn’t to protect your computer; it’s to make money.”

In a recent twist, scam artists are us-

ing the phone to try to break into your computer. They call, claiming to be computer techs associated with well-known companies like Microsoft. They say that they’ve detected viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into giving them remote access or paying for software you don’t need.

These scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about viruses and other threats. They know that computer users have heard time and again that it’s important to install security software. But the purpose behind their elaborate scheme isn’t to protect your computer; it’s to make money.

How Tech Support Scams Work Scammers have been peddling bogus security software for years. They set up fake websites, offer free “security” scans, and send alarming messages to try to convince you that your computer is infected. Then, they try to sell you software to fix the problem. At best, the software is worthless or available elsewhere for free. At worst, it could be malware — software designed to give criminals access to your computer and your personal information.

The latest version of the scam begins with a phone call.

Scammers can get your name and other basic information

from public directories. They might even guess what computer software you’re using.

Once they have you on the phone, they often try to gain your trust by pretending to be associated with well-known companies or confusing you with a barrage of technical terms. They may ask you to go to your computer and perform a series of complex tasks. Sometimes, they target legitimate computer files and claim that they are viruses.

Their tactics are designed to scare you into believing they can help fix your “problem.”

Once they’ve gained your trust, they may: • Ask you to give them remote access to your computer and then make changes to your settings that could leave your computer vulnerable • Try to enroll you in a worthless computer maintenance or warranty program • Ask for credit card information so they can bill you for phony services — or services you could get elsewhere for free • Trick you into installing malware that could steal sensitive data, like user names and passwords • Direct you to websites and ask you to enter your credit card number and other personal information

cbs4 Newspaper December 2012

Regardless of the tactics they use, they have one purpose: to make money. If you get a call from someone who claims to be a tech support person, hang up and call the company yourself on a phone number you know to be genuine. A caller who creates a sense of urgency or uses high-pressure tactics is probably a scam artist.

Don’t give control of your computer to a third party who calls you out of the blue. Also, do not rely on caller ID alone to authenticate a caller; criminals spoof caller ID numbers. They may appear to be calling from a legitimate company or a local number, when they’re not even in the same country as you.

Online search results might not be the best way to find technical sup-

site or allowed a cybercriminal to access your computer, don’t panic.

Instead: • Get rid of malware. Update or download legitimate security software and scan your computer. Delete anything it identifies as a problem.

• Change any passwords that you gave out. If you use these passwords for other accounts, change those accounts, too.

• If you paid for bogus services with a credit card, call your credit card provider and ask to reverse the charges. Check your statements for any other charges you didn’t make, and ask to reverse

“They pay to boost their ranking in search results so their websites and phone numbers appear above those of legitimate companies.”

port or get a company’s contact information. Scammers sometimes place online ads to convince you to call them. They pay to boost their ranking in search results so their websites and phone numbers appear above those of legitimate companies. If you want tech support, look for a company’s contact information on their software package or on your receipt.

Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from tech support.

If a caller pressures you to buy a computer security product or says there is a subscription fee associated with the call, hang up. If you’re concerned about your computer, call your security software company directly and ask for help.

In addition, never give out your password over the phone. No legitimate organization will call you asking for your password.

Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, and then report illegal sales calls.

If You’ve Responded to a Scam If you think you might have downloaded malware from a scam

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those, too.

• If you believe that someone may have accessed your personal or financial information, visit the FTC’s identity theft website. You can minimize your risk of further damage and repair any problems already in place.

File a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them.

To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

cbs4 Newspaper December 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Is It OK

To Flirt At Work?

Reporting Vanessa Borge

It’s an eyebrow raising headline: flirting gets results for women. According to a new study, it can give women the upper hand when it comes to negotiations.

UC Berkeley professor Laura Kray is the co-author of

the study, which looks at the costs and benefits of so-called “feminine charm.”

“To the degree that women are perceived as flirtatious, as opposed to merely friendly, they actually do better in negotiations,” said professor Kray.

She found that flirting signals a sense of power.

One of the experiments was car buying. The women who were just being nice rarely got a discount. If they flirted, men gave the woman a deal, as much as 20 percent off.

Simmons College professor Paula Gutlove teaches MBA students the art of negotiating.

She tells her students women don’t need to flirt to get their way,

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“it’s manipulative, it’s not honest behavior and it really devalues and demeans women.”

But even in 2012, is it a necessary evil?

“Being in the driver’s seat with a little bit of flirtation, a little bit of playfulness, a little bit of flattery can mitigate obstacles that women face,” explained professor Kray.

Kray argues it may even give women an advantage over men.

“It’s a new way of thinking about how we relate to people that may give women a little bit of an advantage.”

Professor Gutlove disagrees.

“What we want to do is empower women, to bring their talents and capabilities to the table. We don’t want to go back to the 50’s.”

Whether you think it’s a step back or a way to move ahead, flirting remains a fine line to walk at work.

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December 2012

Best Books About Miami Like the sand and swamp the city of Miami arose from under the nurturing eye of founder Julia Tuttle in the late 1800s, the city remains a study in contradictions. Visible

“Miami”

by Joan Didion Publisher: Vintage Noted author and historian Joan Didion chronicles more Miami history than a blowfish has stingers. From Fidel Castro raising money in Miami with which to overthrow Batista to the murder rate, cocaine trafficking, political passions and pitfalls and the ceaseless chronicle of immigration and exile community politics, Didion shines a light on aspects both hidden and obvious for residents and curious readers.

“Historic Photos of

resplendent beach-side skyscrapers bejewel the skyline, building a wall

Cuban Miami”

of affluence that cordons off drugs,

by Jennifer Ortiz Publisher: Turner

gangs and violence. Recognized as

By virtue of geography and political history, Miami and Cuba go hand in hand. Since 1959 when the first Cubans rafted to Miami to escape the brutal regime of Communist dictator Fidel Castro, Miami has been the beacon of a fresh start, freedom and the promise of the American Dream. Using over 200 black-andwhite photographs with informative introductions, the author tells the story of the Miami Cuban community from the wet-foot-dryfoot immigration policy to the assimilation of new arrivals and their unique impact on a community that has gone from Anglo to largely Hispanic in culture, arts, décor, cuisine and language.

the ‘Mistress of the Caribbean,’ a variety of books about Miami explore the contractions and contradictions of the Magic City.

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“Miami Babylon: Crime, Wealth and Power—A Dispatch from the Beach”

by Gerald Posner, Alan Sklar Publisher: Tantor Media

“Miami: The Magic City”

by Arva Moore Parks Steven Brooke, Photographer Publisher: Thunder Bay Press Historian Arva Moore Parks has been recognized as “the person who knows Miami best.” Part coffee table book and part authentic travel tour, Parks and photographer Steven Brooke present the reader with nothing short of the ‘official’ history of a city risen from marshland. Whether you know the buildings and institutions featured or not, this book will educate and exhilarate.

“Miami: Then and Now”

by Carolyn Klepser and Arva Moore Parks Publisher: Thunder Bay Press This collaboration between noted Miami authority Arva Moore Parks and independent researcher Carolyn Klepser is part of the successful “Then and Now” series. The volume chronicles the development of Miami from Coconut Grove to Biscayne Bay, using historic and contemporary photography coupled with informative captions describing the development of this jewel city by the bay.

The city of Miami Beach has spawned tantalizing temptation born of the drug trade, money laundering, corrupt politics and the intoxication of the newly inexperienced rich. Historian and best-selling author Gerald Posner chronicles the neverbefore-told story of the rise of Miami Beach in a tale that glows neon and bleeds oceans of blood spilled in the name of the cocaine trade. For the reader—and in the words of one of the book’s characters—this story “makes ‘Scarface’ look like a documentary.”

“Black Miami In The Twentieth Century”

by Marvin Dunn Publisher: University Press of Florida Containing never-before published, first-hand historical accounts augmented with over 130 photographs, Garth Reeves, publisher emeritus of the black Miami Times newspaper calls this book “…a necessity for any African American who has ever lived in Dade County, or South Florida for that matter.” Author Dunn traces the history of Miami’s black community beginning with the very first black pirates of Biscayne Bay over 100 years ago, chronicling the arrival and migration of blacks throughout Miami-Dade county, as well as their triumphs and travails in a multi-ethnic community struggling to cope with sudden growth and engrained southern racism.

cbs4 Newspaper December 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Holiday Cuisine Causes

Problems For Pets

As you celebrate and feast these upcoming holidays with loved ones and family; you may want to think twice about letting your furry friend enjoy the leftovers.

While you celebrate with turkey and all the trimmings you may be tempted to include your pet, however, some parts of the holiday feast could actually make your pets sick.

Experts say foods like turkey, onions, macadamia nuts, chocolate, raisins, garlic, grapes, the sugar substitute xylitol, and raw or undercooked food can create health problems for pets.

Sneaking a juicy turkey bone or a chicken bone under the dinner table is more harmful than you think. The bones could splinter, causing the intestines to be pierced.

Feeding pets uncooked or undercooked meat could be a potential cause of salmonella as well as pancreatitis.

You should also stay away from herbs and spices, like the sage used in stuffing, which can contain oil and resins that can cause pets to vomit or have diarrhea. Cats are particularly sensitive to spices.

It is best to keep your pets on their normal diets and tightly seal garbage bags, placing them in a tightly covered container to prevent your pets from getting into something that could injure them.

If you simply can’t resist sharing, a little mashed potatoes, a bit of pumpkin pie, green beans, sweet potato, and a tiny bit of boneless cooked turkey are considered safe for your pets.

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December 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Lying Can Be

Hazardous To Your Health

People who make an effort to lie less say they have better relationships and report fewer health complaints, according to new research.

“Our findings support the notion that lying less can cause

better health through improving relationships,” says researcher Anita Kelly, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame.

“Improvements in the relationships accounted for a significant improvement in health.”

Although other research has focused on how to detect a lie or how often people lie, Kelly wanted to look at whether she could convince people to lie less, then look at the effects of less lying.

She presented her research at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Orlando.

On average, Americans lie about 11 times a week, says Kelly, citing surveys by others.

Some of those are whoppers. Other are white lies, often meant to spare feelings or save face.

Kelly and her co-researcher, Lijuan Wang, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame, assigned 110 people, aged 18 to 71, to one of two groups.

Both groups came to the lab each week to take a polygraph test.

One group was encouraged to stop telling major and minor lies for the 10-week study. The researchers suggested strategies for lying less, such as declining to answer questions.

The comparison group got no special instructions about lying. They were simply told that they would have to tell the researchers how many lies they had told that week when they were given the lie detector test.

Each group answered questions about their close relationships and about their mental and physical health each week.

For instance, they reported if they had trouble falling asleep or had headaches.

Over the 10-week study, both groups lied less. However, the group told they couldn’t lie told fewer lies than the comparison group.

By week 10, the no-lie group was telling, on average, less than one white lie, down from more than three in week two. The comparison group was still telling more than three, down from nearly six in week two.

Both groups reduced their major lies, but the no-lie group reduced those lies much more.

The link between less lying and improved health was seen in both groups, Kelly found.

“In a given week, if they told fewer lies, they also reported their health was better,” Kelly says.

“The connection between lying less and improved health, following the people over 10 weeks, was amplified by being in the no-lie group,” she says. ”The connection was even stronger.”

For instance, in a given week, if a member of the no-lie group reduced white lies by three, they had more than four fewer mental health complaints.

In the comparison group, if someone reduced their white

“There are different motives for lying — to protect a child’s sense of magic is one thing, but it’s another thing to tell your boss that you’ve completed a project when you haven’t.”

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“The process of being authentic, or being honest and open in meaningful relationships, is significantly related to feeling less depressed and having higher self-esteem,” lies by three, they had just two fewer mental health complaints, she says.

“When a given person was lying less, they also reported their relationships were better,” she says.

That, she says, explains the link between lying less and better health.

Why? “What we are suggesting is, not violating others’ expectation of honesty is likely to build trust, which may be key to good health through improving our relationships.”

The study was funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

The findings echo some other research findings by Sally Theran, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass.

“My research on girls and boys … indicates that the process of being authentic, or being honest and open in meaningful relationships, is significantly related to feeling less depressed and having higher self-esteem,” she says.

Honesty is also related to feelings of intimacy in friendships, she has found. “There may be increased conflict, as a result of being open and honest, but it leads to better quality of friendships,” Theran says.

Telling the truth can feel risky, she says, but when you do so, you can feel less inner conflict. “When we lie,” she says, “it adversely affects our self-esteem and increases our sense of shame. So, it’s not surprising at all

that the authors found that telling the truth was related to all these positive outcomes.”

Total honesty is not realistic,Kelly and Theran say.

“The goal is a reduction in lies,” Kelly says Theran distinguishes between major lies and white lies. This hit home recently when her 6-year-old daughter asked: “Is the tooth fairy really real?”

“In that case, in my opinion,” Theran says, “a lie is OK.” “There are different motives for lying — to protect a child’s sense of magic is one thing, but it’s another thing to tell your boss that you’ve completed a project when you haven’t.”

These findings were presented at a medical conference. They should be considered preliminary, as they have not yet undergone the “peer review” process, in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal.

SOURCES:American Psychological Association annual meeting, Aug. 2-5, 2012, Orlando.Anita Kelly, PhD, professor of psychology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, In.Sally Theran, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.

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For Information Call: 305.477.1699

Transformers The Ride In 3D ORLANDO (CBSMiami.com)

Coming To Universal Orlando

Get ready – it’s time to prepare for battle. Universal Studios in Orlando has announced its next blockbuster attraction will be the hugely popular Transformers: The Ride – 3D.

The ride, which is already a hit at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore, will bring the intergalactic battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons to Florida.

The ride places visitors in the heart of the action as they, along with the help of Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, must protect the AllSpark from falling into Decepticon hands. Riders will hop inside an EVAC vehicle and are pulled into some seriously stunning visual effects that includes coming face to face with Megatron. Riders will dodge explosions and attacks by the Decepticons and fight to save mankind with the Autobots.

Universal worked closely with Michael Bay, the award-wining director of the “Transformers” film series and the ride’s creative consultant, to create an authentic experience that brings the non-stop action of the films to life. The attraction combines the larger-than-life Transformers characters and an exciting storyline with life-like HD CGI media, state-of-the-art 3D technology and amazing special effects to place riders right in the middle of an epic battle between good and evil.

“We broke the mold and have taken this ride to a new technological level in terms of blending seamless 3-D,” said Michael Bay, director of the “Transformers” films.

“We broke the mold and have taken this ride to a new technological level in terms of blending seamless 3-D” reezuan / Shutterstock.com

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Woman Claims

Removing Plastic From Diet

Increased Weight Loss Led To

Reporting Marybel Rodriguez

One secret to weight loss could be as simple as saying “no” the next time you’re at a cash register. Scientists say the plastics in receipts, bottles and even cars could be making all of us fat.

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At 240 pounds, Laura Newman was a far

plastics made with BPA. “Studies have shown that BPA leeches out of cry from the bride who walked down the aisle. plastic water bottles, even using cold liquids,” Once a size 10, she’d grown to a size 20. that exposure to some of these said Harley.

“The more you hate yourself, the more you “I pretty much eliminated most of that stuff out chemicals in-utero may actually eat, the more you feel trapped, and helpless, and of my life,” said Newman. hopeless,” said Newman. have long term health effects that But Newman said she doesn’t need a scientist Then last year, Newman said she stopped to convince her, cutting plastics helped bring her feeling sorry for herself. She got on a weight we may not see until adulthood,” down to a size four. loss program and started coming out to Gibson “My guess is that it is like carcinogens, not evRanch, where she went on walks and then eventuery person who smokes two packs a day ends up ally started running. with cancer, some of that is genetics,” she said.

“The weight just started to fall off for me,” said Nearly two years after that first walk at Gibson Ranch, Newman took on Newman. a 10K race and crossed the finished line.

Newman quickly shed 80 pounds. Then a few months into her diet and “I feel better now than I did as a teenager,” Newman said. exercise routine, she noticed that no matter how much she pushed, her While the studies are not yet conclusive, scientists say the evidence is body stopped responding. very strong that those chemicals are affecting our long-term weight gain.

“I had plateaued,” said Newman.

So why not ban those chemicals?

As part of her weight loss program, Newman kept a journal of everyIn July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did ban BPA in baby thing she ate, and how the food made her feel. That’s where Newman said bottles and children’s drinking cups, but there are no laws that limit the she thought she found exactly what was slowing down her weight loss, and chemicals used to make plastics. it wasn’t food.

“There’s a pretty compelling theory

“I realized, ‘wait a minute, you’re ingesting quantities of this stuff all the time’,” said Newman.

The vegetables steamed in a bag, the canned tuna, the sports drinks, even the water from the office water cooler exposed her to one common ingredient, plastic. When she decided to cut plastics out of her diet, she said the changes were dramatic.

“I lost about 40 pounds in about a blink of an eye,” she said.

“That’s something scientists are really interested in looking at right now,” said Kim Harley, a Berkeley adjunct professor of Public Health.

Harley is familiar with the theory that plastics may play a role in our country’s obesity crisis.

“We really need to look into what we’re seeing in rats is also happening in humans,” said Harley.

Research already shows pregnant mice exposed to plastics made with BPA, short for Bisphenol A, give birth to mice that become overweight later in life.

“BPA is one of the largest production volume chemicals in the world. This is a chemical used in a lot of things,” said Harley.

“BPA comes from the linings of cans, plastic food containers and water bottles, and it comes from receipts that you get at the store.”

In fact, BPA is known as an obesogen, a term coined by a UC Irvine professor looking into whether industrial pollutants like BPA leech into foods, slow metabolism and cause fat cells to multiply.

“There’s a pretty compelling theory that exposure to some of these chemicals in-utero may actually have long term health effects that we may not see until adulthood,” said Harley.

While scientists are researching that theory, they do agree that people should avoid certain plastics more than others.

Which ones should be avoided?

Well, the answer is in the number inside that triangle you’ll find on plastics. They range from one to seven, seven being the worst, with those

cbs4 Newspaper December 2012

CocoWalk –

The place to be this holiday season.

CocoWalk, Miami’s MultiCultural MarketPlace in the heart of Coconut Grove, is the place to be this holiday season. Stop by and enjoy shopping, dining, and a variety of entertainment.

This year’s annual Halloween event featured fun and surprises. The boys and girls costume contest winners were presented with great prizes, including movie and popcorn passes. Merchants joined the party by dressing in costumes and handing out candy to the enthusiastic Halloweeners. Phobooth, an openair photo booth, allowed a steady stream of visitors to show off their families and costumes by receiving a memorable instant photo.

The adult party was hosted by DJ George Jett/360MIX, who played Top 40 until 11 p.m., when the super-jammed CocoWalk Courtyard began buzzing to the best in House and Techno music.

The Power 96

Morning Crew were co-hosts from 6 to 10 p.m. and brought giveaways for the lively crowd.

Mark your calendars! Santa Claus will visit the Courtyard each weekend in December. Bring your kids and their Dear Santa letters to personally deliver, and don’t forget your camera! Check CocoWalk.net for visiting hours.

On Dec. 22, the Miami Marlins Holiday Mall Tour stops in, 11 to 3 p.m., and the energy team will be bringing Billy the Marlin, along with the Marlins dancers, and more.

Check out the Paragon Grove 13 Prestige Imports Premier VIP theaters, featuring four renovated auditoriums, luxurious leather dine-in seats, and swivel tray tables that allow you to enjoy the expanded menu from The Lot Bar & Lounge.

There’s live music every Thursday through Sunday.

Jazz Pizzazz Thursdays features the best in live and local Jazz. Watch for special events that feature national brands and local community organizations hosting promotions, sampling, and entertainment.

Be sure and visit CocoWalk.net to learn more about all our events, music, and national and local merchants, or call 305-444-0777.

To explore a truly multi-cultural experience, come and take the Walk - to CocoWalk!

Sponsored by CocoWalk

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B I L L I N G S TAT E M E N T

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For Information Call: 305.477.1699 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Doctors And Hospitals Nationwide

Adding Fees To Medical Bills Reporting Al Sunshine

Hospitals and doctors offices across the country are tacking extra fees onto your bill.

Doug Rischbieter booked his appointment six weeks

early with a doctor he’d seen for elbow problems five years earlier.

But when Rischbieter arrived, he learned the hospital had changed his doctor.

His elbow felt much better when he left, but he said the bill he received stung because it included a $164 new patient fee his insurance didn’t cover, he said.

“They said they automatically charge it to anyone who hasn’t been to the facility in three years,” he said.

“That does not seem fair,” said Amy Bach, a consumer advocate at United Policyholders.

Bach said hospitals are getting creative with fees, not unlike the airline industry.

Fees for phone conversations with doctors, calling in prescriptions, or fees to cover malpractice insurance increases are among the most surprising, she said.

The new patient fee applies to patients who haven’t seen a doctor in the same subspecialty in three years.

“Piling a fee like that, surprising somebody, is not the way to run a healthy medical services system,” Bach said.

The American Medical Association adopted the new patient rule years ago after it was implemented by Medicare, and the policy is now followed by many doctors and hospitals nationwide.

UC Davis Medical Center defended the charge.

“Our new patient charge is a fair reflection of the additional time and resources required to get completely up-to-date on a patient who hasn’t been seen in more than three years,” public

information officer Charles Casey said. “The charge is common nationwide because it reflects a clinical reality, which is why health insurance typically covers much of this cost as part of a payer’s negotiated contract with providers.”

Rischbieter’s insurance, however, did not cover the charge, he said.

The medical center stood by its charge.

Reluctant, Rischbieter said he will pay it.

“I don’t think the charge is right,” he said. “I don’t want to get caught with collections or overdue bills.”

As to why UC Davis didn’t disclose the additional charges when asked beforehand, according to Rischbieter, UC Davis said can’t anticipate every single charge.

If you’re covered by a private health insurance plan and get hit by any extra charges, check with your plans’ administrators to see if extra fees are allowed.

If you go to any independent clinics or out of network doctors, it’s a good idea to find out about all the extra charges before seeing a doctor.

“Piling a fee like that, surprising somebody, is not the way to run a healthy medical services system.”

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS / DECEMBER 2012 Cirque Du Soleil: Totem JANUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 05, 2012 cirquedusoleil.com/totem

Cirque du Soleil returns to Miami with TOTEM, a new big top production.

Written and directed by Robert Lepage, TOTEM premieres on January 10, 2013 for a limited engagement under the blue and yellow Big Top at its new Miami location: next to Sun Life Stadium, Lot 14. Since its world premiere in 2010, TOTEM has visited over 15 different cities in 4 different countries and performed in front of more than 1.5 million spectators.

Iami Jazz Jam DECEMBER 10, 2012 -305/757-1807 www.churchillspub.com The Miami Jazz Jam 10 years and counting with The Fernando Ulibarri Group, Surprise Guests, the Jazz Mafia, and out back on the patio- the most open minded open mic night in town: The Theatre De Underground Hosted by Benny! 9 p.m./$5 18 and over only.

Zoo Lights DECEMBER 14 - 23, 2012 305/255-5551 www.zoomiami.org Zoo Miami opens at night for this special holiday event with dozens of bright animal-shaped lights. Enjoy holiday favorites like hot chocolate, holiday songs and more at this family gathering place. 7-10 p.m.

Reggae Night Kulcha Shok Muzik DECEMBER 30, 2012 - 305/673-9372 www.jazid.net Kulcha Shok Muzik presents a night of live, sweet reggae music featuring Inna Sense and Jahfe plus other great bands.

LANCE-O is our energetic host for this reggae night. 11 p.m.

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK WINTERFEST BOAT PARADE DECEMBER 15, 2012 - 954-767-0686 www.winterfestparade.com Visually dazzling event, named one of the “Top 20 Parades in the World” by USA Today. 100 brilliantly illuminated boats sail down the New River and up the Intracoastal Waterway during this signature annual event. 6 p.m.

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M iso : Golden Sounds Of Hollywood DECEMBER 15, 2012 - 305/275-5666 www.themiso.org Miami Symphony orchestra (MISO) performs a fourth season of great film scores by Hollywood's most famous composers.

N E W Y E A R ’ S C E L E B R AT I O N !

Bayfront Park's New Year's Eve

DECEMBER 31, 2012 -305/358-7550 www.bayfrontparkmiami.com It's time to ring in the New Year at Bayfront Park. The pre-show festivities begin at 7 p.m. and the main show starts at 9 p.m. In addition, count down to midnight with Miami's own "Big Orange." At the south end of the park, this New Year's Eve icon will slowly ascend the side of the InterContinental Hotel, reaching the top at midnight in conjunction with a grand display of fireworks shot over beautiful Biscayne Bay.

City Of Miami Beach New Years Eve Celebration DECEMBER 31, 2012 - 305/673-7400 www.orangedr.com Enjoy free fireworks at midnight on the beach at Ocean Drive and 8th Street as Miami Beach rings in the New Year. The Orange Drive Music Festival's New Year's Eve Jam on the Sand features live musical performances between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival DECEMBER 31, 2012 - 305/592-5389 www.orangedr.com/ The 2nd annual Orange Drive Miami Beach Music Festival is a three-day entertainment event and hottest New Year's Eve celebration. Taking place on South Beach's Ocean Drive, the festival captures the energy, excitement, sophistication and international flavor prevalent in Miami Beach during New Year's Eve. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster.

Silent Night: Candlelight Christmas Concerts DECEMBER 12, 2012 - 305/285-9060 www.seraphicfire.org From the traditional opening strains of Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful), Seraphic Fire’s annual a cappella candlelight Christmas concerts are one of the highlights of the cultural season. The world’s most beloved yuletide hymn, Silent Night, will serve as the centerpiece for this year’s Christmas musical celebration. Beautiful Gregorian chant, timeless carols, and glorious motets create a holiday soundscape that transport the listener across time and space. 7:30 p.m.

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Shopping Around Could

Save You Money On

Pet Medications

Do you go into sticker shock every time you need medicine for your pet? Well, consider shopping around the next time your pet gets sick. Your veterinarian is not the only place selling the drugs you might need for Spot or Fluffy.

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Bubba Snider loves his Bernese Mountain Dog, but he’s not thrilled at how much it costs when Bam-Bam gets sick.

“When we first got him, he had a weird parasite,” said Snider. “And he was on different medications for eight months, and it cost us a fortune.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans spend $50 billion on their pets each year; $7 billion of that is for prescription and over-the-counter pet medications.

A majority of consumers get those meds from their veterinarians.

“The only place I know to get them is at the vet, and they say, ‘Here’s what you need, and here’s the bill,’” explained Snider.

But medicine for your pet can be found at plenty of retailers like Costco, 1-800-PetMeds, and even Target, which means consumers can shop around.

At Target, you can get everything from Rimadyl, a pain reliever for dogs, to Heartgard. On its website, you can see all of the pet meds they offer, some for as low as $4.

“You do need to get a prescription from your veterinarian, just like you would a normal medication from your doctor,” said Megan Waltenbaugh, a Target pharmacist.

So how do prices compare?

Here’s an example, a common antibiotic for a dog cost $15.80 at the vet’s office.

That same prescription at 1-800-PetMeds was $14.89 cents, including shipping and handling. At Target, it was $11 dollars.

“My bottom line advice to people is talk to your vet about what things cost,” said Dr. Lawrence Gerson, a veterinarian. “Ask them; is there a cheaper way to buy the product?”

Dr. Gerson said he sends customers to human pharmacies for pet meds all

the time, but it is a hot button issue.

Remember what the pharmacist at Target said?

“You do need to get a prescription from your veterinarian,” Waltenbaugh said.

In some states, vets aren’t legally required to give you one.

“There are some vets that will not write a prescription to get the product elsewhere,” said Dr. Gerson.

Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association have concerns about retailers offering pet medications, including inappropriate counseling, dosing and substitutions by pharmacists and the failure of pet owners to fill the prescriptions.

“I’ve had one animal, he didn’t die but he got sick when they didn’t fill the prescription properly,” said Dr. Gerson.

There is no doubt that competition in the market can affect prices and benefit consumers.

Here’s another example to consider, Metoclopramide is a common drug used for nausea and vomiting in pets.

At Target, it’s $15.99 cents for 30 five milligram tablets. At 1-800-PetMeds, the price is $12.79 including shipping. And Costco has it for $7.79 cents.

Snider wants the best for Bam-Bam, but he likes what shopping around will mean for his wallet, too.

“I would love to shop around,” Snider said. “I know that when we take him to the vet we are going to need some skin medicine and they are going to hand me something, and now I can say wait a minute let me shop the price.”

When buying any pet medications online, experts say make sure the pharmacy has the Vet-VIPPS logo, which means it’s a vet-verified pharmacy and it follows federal and state requirements.

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Sex

Surrogates Growing In Popularity Reporting Brian Andrews

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For Information Call: 305.477.1699

Sex therapists in South Florida say they are seeing an increasing number of patients using sexual surrogates to overcome intimacy and performance problems. A sex surrogate is a licensed counselor who works with single people suffering from sexual problems to overcome their issues, often by serving as a surrogate to allow them to practice overcoming the sexual issue they are trying to overcome.

“It’s a taboo topic, but it, shouldn’t be,” said Miami sex

therapist Dr. Sonjia Kenya.

The controversial therapy using sex surrogates is in the national spotlight as there is a new movie heading to theaters on the issue.

“The Sessions,” which opens this month in South Florida Theaters, chronicles the story of a disabled man who enlists the services of a sexual surrogate to learn how to be intimate with a sex partner, despite his physical limitations.

Dr. Sonjia Kenya said sexual surrogates working with patients in South Florida are helping adults with autism, wounded warriors, and mid-life virgins.

“They’re professional and successful in every other capacity of their life, but they’ve never hugged anyone intimately, or been massaged without all of their clothes off or walked down the street holding someone’s hand,” Kenya said.

Sessions with a surrogate range from learning to flirt, hold hands, and touch to full blown sexual intercourse.

South Florida sex therapist Dr. Marilyn Volker says this isn’t for someone who is bored in their sex life and looking to bump things up. She said this therapy, which is perfectly legal in Florida, helps people with “terrible performance anxiety, horrible past experiences of rape and incest, and even adults with little or no sexual experience.”

Dr. Kenya said surrogates are also working with transgender people in South Florida.

“People who have transitioned from one sex to another, they’ve undergone a new gender assignment, they may use a surrogate to be comfortable now having sex in their new body,” she said.

Dr. Volker said she was a sexual surrogate working with disabled people 35 years ago. She said most therapists will recommend a surrogate to a client. However, its up to the client and the surrogate if they wish to proceed.

“It’s up to the patient and surrogate to set a program with a start and stop date. It’s important to point out both parties can stop at any time,” Volker said.

Therapists said surrogate sessions are often happen in patient’s homes.

“Often times its going to someone’s place of residence and…being sexually intimate with someone, even WITHOUT the physical act of sex,” said Dr. Kenya. “There are many other activities involved in a

successful intimate relationship and surrogates practice all of those.”

Therapists said more satisfied people in the bedroom leads to less sexually-transmitted diseases, less divorce, and more happiness.

“There is a lot more about sexuality than just what’s between the legs,” said Doctor Volker.

Dr. Sonjia Kenya talks about the use of surrogate therapy in her new book “Sex on South Beach.”

You can find out more at:

www.drsonjia.com or call 305-420-5739.

You can reach Dr. Volker at

besafemv@gmail.com or 305-443-8850.

“There are many other activities involved in a successful intimate relationship and surrogates practice all of those.”

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B es t O f M iami

South Florida has its share of wine lovers that range from the experimental to the enthusiast. Often times, these people incur the help of sommeliers, professionals trained in the art of wine, when dining out. Sommeliers build the wine list and can suggest unique wine pairings with their restaurant’s signature dishes to really bring out the flavor in the meal. Check out the list below and see if your favorite sommelier made the cut.

Aaron & Kirsta Grauberger Market 17 www.market17.net This brother/sister team is not only made up of two sommeliers but also the co-owners of Market 17, a farm-totable restaurant and bar. Their 10-page international wine list complements the freshness of each dish. Many wine lovers enjoy the popular option of Dining in the Dark where Chef Lauren DeShields prepares a customer-tailored prix-fixe menu and the Graubergers select the accompanying wine pairing as their patrons dine in a pitch-black room, often times guessing each dish and pairing. “With the dining in the dark, we do get a lot more food-minded and more wine-minded enthusiasts—matter of fact, the people that seem to have the most problems determining what the wine is in the dark room are often times the people that should be the most educated about it,” notes sommelier Aaron Grauberger. This is proof that these sommeliers make dining out an experience to remember.

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Thomas Smith Tasters Grille & Market www.tastersgrille.com Thomas Smith is the owner and sommelier at Tasters Grille & Market and the co-owner of Meat Eatery & Taproom which features specialty microbrew and craft beers. He trained under Master Sommelier Sally Mohr in Boulder, Colorado and completed the Court of the Master Sommeliers Certificate program. He went on to become the wine director at Trios Wine Bar & Grille and at Marker 88 before opening the Asian-Caribbean fusion gastropub, Tasters Grille & Market, serving boutique-style wines. When asked about his job as a sommelier, Smith says he’s most passionate about “taking the fear factor out of wine and the intimidation that a lot of people feel to make them comfortable with pairing food and wine.”

George Johnson The Grateful Palate www.thegratefulpalate.net George Johnson is a certified sommelier at The Grateful Palate with a taste for the extraordinary. When compiling his wine list, he specializes in choosing wineries that produce less than 2,500 cases per year. “As a small restaurant, you try to stand out from the crowd and the best way to do that is to offer your guests something that they can’t get anywhere else,” says Johnson. He’s the best because he finds beauty in the obscure and yet is still devoid of the pretentiousness that is rampant among most sommeliers in fine-dining establishments.

Claudio Giordano Azul www.mandarinoriental.com Claudio Giordano is the sommelier at Azul, the ultra-modern European restaurant located inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel. He oversees a 39-page wine list that would intimidate even the most accomplished wine aficionado. He has a Bachelors of Science from Florida International University in Hospitality Management and an Associates Degree in Business Management from Miami Dade Community College. He is the sommelier for those who like an upscale atmosphere with a great international wine selection.

David Meneses Hakkasan

www.fontainebleaumiami.com David Meneses is one part of a three-part wine team. Under the supervision of the highly decorated sommelier-turned-director of beverage David Mokha and with the assistance of sommelier Henrique Viotti, the group has a private weekly wine tasting to decide which wines will be added to the preselected wine list. The wine must complement all meals served at the Asian fine-dining restaurant, Hakkasan, or it will not be put on the menu. Also, all other wines, except for select vintages, are regularly tasted to ensure the list stays on par with Hakksan’s current menu. Meneses is great because he’s a team player that has helped to continue the legacy of quality food and beverage that Hakkasan is known for.

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B es t O f M iami

Holiday season 2012 has arrived and it’s time to deck the halls! Holiday stores, gift shops, nurseries and other retailers from Miami to Fort Lauderdale have the brightest and most festive accessories to ring in yuletide spirits. There really is something for everyone with a wide range of styles and product categories as well as items at bargain prices to pieces for passing down from generation to generation.

Traditional fare is always a good bet with classics like nativity scenes, ornaments, wreaths and poinsettias or go modern with new products such as LED tree toppers and humorous stockings, ornaments and holiday cards.

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The Christmas Palace

ELJAC Christmas Trees

(305) 558-5352 www.thechristmaspalace.com

(305) 551-1410 www.miamichristmastrees.com

The Christmas Palace is a year-round Christmas store featuring great service and quality merchandise. The large and fullystocked store carries every Christmas decorating desire from lights and trees to wreaths and seasonal figures for the yard (elves, snowmen, Santas). It even sells collectible decor from brands including Lladro, Mr. Christmas and Mark Roberts. The store has a light recycling program which gives a 20 percent discount on new LED Christmas lights in return for old and used lights. Shoppers living a distance from Miami may enjoy the second store location in Fort Lauderdale.

One of the best suppliers of nature’s decorations for the holidays is Miami’s ELJAC Christmas Trees. The family-owned company is actually the oldest Christmas tree supplier in the city and it is most known for its top-quality stock and impressive customer service. Fresh North Carolina Frasier Fir trees abound as well as fresh trimmings, wreaths, poinsettias and topiaries. Trees flocked for snow-covered effects come complete with stands and may be customized with glitter in green, red, silver, gold, pearl or a combination.

Pink Palm

Chan’s Silk Flowers

One of the most darling gift shops in Florida is Lincoln Road’s Pink Palm. The kitschy and quirky Miami store is a well-curated shop filled with decor essentials of all types including a great selection of fun holiday decorations through the season. Pick up ornaments and other tree accessories that are hard to find elsewhere as well as accessories for loving pets to be part of the experience. Other great finds are off-beat holiday cards and some of the finest wrapping paper around.

The family-owned and operated Chan’s Silk Flowers sells charming decorative items at reasonable prices for a number of occasions including a sizable collection for the upcoming holidays. For the holiday tree, there are tree toppers, garlands, skirts and other accessories including one of the largest selections of ornaments in the area. Ornaments include traditional motifs as well as unexpected themes such as sea creatures and butterflies. Chan’s Silk Flowers offers items for outdoor decor as well near-life-size nativity scenes.

(305) 593-2695 www.chansilkflowers.com

(305) 397-8097 www.pinkpalm.com

Interior Digs (954) 938-0101 www.interiordigs.com

Interior Digs is a fun place to shop for holiday decor for the home. Its stock encompasses holiday party necessities, stockings, figurines and other details to liven things up for the season. The LED tree toppers are an impressive selection and a really great way to modernize holiday decor while remaining traditional. Many of the items serve well as collectibles because of their uniqueness and quality including the ornaments ranging from angels and Santa Clauses to cupcakes. Interior Digs also carries a selection of shatterproof ornaments that are ideal for those with active little ones.

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Talking on your cell phone is distracting but texting is much worse. When you’re looking down at your phone your next step may mean trouble.

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For Information Call: 305.477.1699

Walking

&Texting Causing

Thousands Of Injuries Nationwide

We’ve all heard of distracted driving, but did you know distracted walking can be just as harmful?

The danger is real and growing as more people become attached to their cell phones.

Everywhere you look we’re multitasking; walking, talking and

texting or trying to.

A Pennsylvania woman was so busy with her texting, she toppled into a fountain.

“The humiliation. Ask my husband. I cried for days,” she said.

A Canadian reporter’s live shot was upstaged by a texting woman tripping down stairs. In California, a man was so focused on his texting; he came face-to-face with a bear wandering the suburbs.

More disturbing: A distracted man on his cell phone in a Philadelphia train station stumbled and fell onto the tracks. Luckily, no train was coming.

Talking on your cell phone is distracting but texting is much worse.

When you’re looking down at your phone your next step may mean trouble.

Rushing to meet her friends to watch a football game, Michelle Lester stumbled right off the edge of the road.

“I lost balance cause my phone was in my face,” Lester said. “You’re not paying attention like you should be.”

More than 1,100 people ended up in the emergency room last year injured while walking and using their cell phone.

“I think the majority of them go unreported,” said Dr. Richard Lichenstein with the Maryland Medical Center. He is researching the growing dangers of distracted walking.

“We have this belief that we can multi-task when really in effect we can’t do it. The scientific term is something called inattentional blindness,” Lichenstein said.

As a nation we sent 12.2 million texts a month back in 2000. Nine years later we were sending 135 billion a month and many of us are doing it on foot.

“I think a good term is pedtextrians. That would be a pedestrian who’s texting at the same time,” Lichenstein said.

“When you’re distracted it certainly could be something as simple as turning your ankle but if a car hits you, the game is over.” Lichenstein said.

Several states have tried to pass distracted walking laws, but so far none has been approved.

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It can be surprisingly difficult to find a good tailor in Miami. For one reason or another, excellent tailoring services are few and far between in spite of the vast amount of excellent shopping in the city. What is there to do for that slightly over-sized suit or ill-fitting bridesmaid dress? All is not lost, there are five tailors in Miami that are sure to satisfy.

B es t O f M iami

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Mr. B Custom Tailor (305) 200-3018

It’s easy to miss Mr. B’s shop on Biscayne Boulevard, but that would be a big mistake.

Next door to darling designer, Julian Chang’s boutique is a small oasis of tailoring heaven.

Mr. B has devoted clientele with good reason – his excellent skills can turn the most ill-fitting garments into fits-like-a-glove material. The services are always done on time and he always gives the most realistic assessments of what should be done to make a garment work.

Basil’s Tailor Shop (305) 666-9570 www.basilstailorshops.com

Basil’s Tailor Shop offers superior and elegant custom tailoring services and dry cleaning.

Suits are sold at Basil’s for custom tailoring to fit your frame from top designers such as Ermenegildo Zegna. The shop even specializes in creating custom-made shirts. If the South Miami location is still a bit out of reach, there is a second Basil’s Tailor Shop located in Kendall.

Lady Blue Tailors & Cleaners (305) 931-3902

Lady Blue Tailors & Cleaners is the place to go in North Miami Beach for tailoring on anything from casual everyday wear to formal or designer pieces. The friendly and highlyskilled staff perform quality work in prompt time frames. The services are priced well and their expert precision is carried out even on the most complex garments. Loyal customers rave about their work and show their devotion by years of dedication.

Khai Le’s Alterations & Dry Cleaning (305) 604-3312

Khai Le’s Alterations & Dry Cleaning is located conveniently right off of Lincoln Road at Drexel Avenue. Not restricted to alterations, Le also performs dry cleaning and shoe repair. Khai Le’s popularity comes from his great attention to detail and meticulous work. The prices are competitive and services typically take just a few days.

Sew on Set

(305) 409-4206 www.sewonset.com Sew on Set is a mobile tailoring company by Carolyn Finlayson.

The always friendly and highly-skilled tailor is so great that she’s worked with many celebrities including Lauryn Hill, Iggy Pop, and Lebron James and many huge firms (for their shoots) including Juicy Couture, H&M, and Beach Bunny Swimwear.

The always prompt Finlayson comes to you and specializes in custom fittings, alterations, and tailoring. Her attention to detail has given her plenty of work with TV shows, movies, and the Florida Grand Opera as well.

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For Information Call: 305.477.1699

December 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

The Important Difference Between

Smoke

Detectors Reporting Rhiannon Ally

Many people have smoke detectors in their homes but not all smoke alarms are the same.

There are two types of fires and both can be killers.

There are fast moving flames rushing through your home and

slow, smoldering fires that can burn silently spreading toxic smoke.

The most common detector in homes today may not give you enough warning.

There are three types of smoke alarms.

The most common type of smoke detector that is used in 90-percent of homes in this country is the ionization smoke alarm which detects flames.

The photoelectric smoke detector senses smoke and dual detectors are a combination of both.

All three were put to the test in both types of fires to see how they performed.

The first was a slow moving fire. They are often caused by electrical shorts, or cigarettes or candles. Over time, thick toxic smoke traveled across the ceiling and came down on what could have been a person sleeping on a bed.

In test after test, the dual detector went off first, the photoelectric shortly thereafter and the ionization detectors took twice as long to sense the smoke.

In one test, the ionization detector, the type most people have in their homes, never even sounded at all.

In the next test, firefighters set a fast burning fire, like a cooking or grease fire.

In this test, the ionization alarm detected the flames and was the first to go off, quickly followed by the other two.

Ionization detectors are the most common because they are the least expensive and easy to find.

The primary message is to know what kind of smoke detector you have, know that you have options and be an informed consumer.

“Know what kind of smoke detector you have, know that you have options and be an informed consumer.”

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December 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

More Parents Trying Melatonin To

Help Kids Sleep Reporting Marybel Rodriguez

As many parents know, getting your child to sleep can sometimes be a monumental task. Now, more and more parents are turning to a supplement called melatonin to get their children to fall asleep at night.

Melatonin is an over the counter, natural hormone that comes

in a pill. It’s produced by the brain and stimulates sleep.

Blake Huddleston, an active 5-year-old, who loves to play with his older sister, has struggled with sleep issues.

“He’d just be up all night, all wound up, not able to sleep,” said Heather Huddleston, his mother.

So his mom recently tried melatonin. On most nights Huddleston crushes it into a powder, mixes it with juice and sends Blake to bed.

“He seems to be just growing a lot more efficiently. He’s sleeping better, he’s eating better, it’s helped regulate his sleep cycles,” she said.

More parents are discovering their children are better behaved at home and better performers at school after they take melatonin.

Yet there are some concerns. Doctors said there isn’t enough research on the long-term effects. What’s more, melatonin does not have FDA approval for medical use.

Dr Adiaha Franklin, a pediatrician, often recommends it for kids with developmental disabilities such as autism or ADHD.

She suggests trying other approaches first, such as turning off bright screens before bedtime, in order to increase melatonin the natural way.

“For children it can actually take up to an hour for their brains to calm down in order for them to make their natural melatonin and go to sleep,” Dr. Franklin said.

Melatonin doesn’t work for everyone. One mother said her teen daughter tried it last year after a neurologist prescribed it for dysautonomia, a nervous system disorder. Instead of sleeping, the 15-year-old complained of blurred vision and increased anxiety.

“She said like the chalkboard would wave and stuff like that,” she said.

“And then we started noticing she started having panic attacks.”

It all stopped once she cut out melatonin.

“Just went away slowly, after 24 to 48 hours,” she said.

Doctors said other side effects could include drowsiness, headaches and even weird dreams.

Huddleston said her son hasn’t experienced any of that, but she urges other moms and dads to talk to their doctor first before trying the supplement.

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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

The Danger In Wearing Reporting Lisa Petrillo

They’re everywhere! On the fashion runways, in the stores, on the streets… women and their high heels! There’s no doubt about it, women love to wear high heels. There’s just something about them. They make us feel sexy. But unfortunately, the more time we spend in our heels can lead to time spent in this orthopedic boot, and these aren’t too sexy!

“The number one cause of high heel problems is probably pain in the bottom of the foot,” Dr. Kevin Berkowitz told CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo.

Berkowitz, with Miami Beach Foot & Ankle Surgery is now seeing women, mostly between 30 and 55, who’ve messed up the mechanics of their feet and ankles because they lived their lives in high heels.

“It’s not just the height, it’s the narrow nature of the heel now,” explained Dr. Berkowitz. “The higher you go the more stretch there is to the ball of the foot. If you put your foot in that position… in the ballet stance… you’re just going to have compression and pain.”

Berkowitz said it’s simple: as a woman squeezes her foot into an unrealistically narrow toe box, with astronomical heights, the soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons begin to stretch and tear, even rupture, and the mechanics of the ankle are altered. After time, hammertoes and bunions occur… even knee and back pain can often be attributed to high heels.

“At the end of the day it was like this pressure pounding like throbbing pain,” said Maria Duenas, who has had to have foot surgery.

Duenas has been wearing high heels since she was a young teen because she said she wanted to be tall. The result? Bunion surgery two-and-a-half years ago.

Mabel Lezcano, 38, put her first pair of sky high stilettos on at age 15.

“Really bad pain,” Lezcano told Petrillo. “Especially to walk and do regular things.”

“Did you have trouble buying new shoes because of the bunions,” asked Petrillo.

“Oh definitely,” she responded.

Dr. Berkowitz operated on both women. He showed Petrillo Mabel’s X-ray before surgery. It showed her foot deformed due to bunions and hammer toes.

“This is where the fifth metatarcil starts to splay outward and then the shoe puts pressure on both sides in addition to putting pressure on the toe,” explained Berkowitz.

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Then Berkowitz showed Petrillo Mabel’s X-ray after her bunion was removed and hammertoe corrected. Although Berkowitz told us bunions are mostly genetic, he said they are exacerbated by the choice of shoes like today’s super stilettos.

“My advice to women is don’t wear your fabulous shoes to Publix,” advised Berkowitz.

Another foot pain factor is the amount of time spent in high heels.

“If you’re sitting at a desk with your heel on and you’re working at a desk, that’s not terrible. But if you’re on your feet all day, running around doing things and then you’re going to a function after work and you’re in your heels 8 to 12 hours a day over the course of time, your feet are going to suffer,” insisted Berkowitz.

He advises women to change things up. Wear a 2-inch pump one day and 4-inch heels at night, flats or walking shoes the next day.

When Petrillo pulled a few of her own shoes out of a bag for his assessment, “The 5-inch thin stiletto or 5-inch wedge?” she asked Berkowitz.

“The better shoe is this shoe. The wedge wins all the time,” he declared.

It took Mabel and Maria about 6 to 12 weeks of recovery before they were able to wear comfortable shoes, and about 8-months before they were back in heels again.

Petrillo asked Maria, “In the end was it worth it for you? Having the surgery? Wearing the heels? Going through the whole thing?”

“Oh yea,” responded Maria with a grin.

“Yeah!”

“You’re not saying to women don’t wear high heels,” Petrillo quizzed Berkowitz.

“No I would never say that,” he told her.

“That’s like telling a woman she doesn’t look good in that dress!”

A tip for parents: Dr. Berkowitz says he does not recommend girls under 16 wear high heels for long periods of time at all. This is because their bones are still developing and forcing the toes into an abnormal position during these growth years will lead to foot problems later on, and at a much younger age.

“If you’re on your feet all day, running around doing things and then you’re going to a function after work and you’re in your heels 8 to 12 hours a day over the course of time, your feet are going to suffer,”

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WWW.POWERPARTYEVENTS.COM

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December 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)

Survey Puts

Doral At Top

In “Average” Florida Home Price A new survey of home prices based on comparing thousands of 4

bedroom, 2 bathroom homes in more that 2500 communities nationwide found that in Florida, the priciest homes surveyed were not in Coral Gables or Miami Beach, but in the city of Doral.

The survey is the annual Coldwell Banker Real Estate Home Listing report, and looked at 72 thousand homes in 2500 communities.

The average home used in the apples-to-apples survey cost almost half a million dollars in Doral, more than twice the state average and almost $200 thousand more than the national average.

If your budget is less pricey, you can save a lot of money and still live in Florida by choosing another city. In the city of Poinciana you could buy 6 homes for the price of one in Doral. The average survey home price there is $76 thousand.

In South Florida, Homestead ranks as the least expensive city. For a list of all surveyed cities, click here http://hlr.coldwellbanker.com/US2012/Florida.html Nationwide,6 out of the 10 most expensive cities are in California, with Los Altos topping the nation. There, the average home surveyed is $1.7 million.

Compare that to Redford, Michigan in the Detroit area. With an average price of $60 thousand, you coulld buy an entire neighborhood…28 homes…for the price of a single home in Los Altos.

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December 2012

PASADENA, CA (CBSMiami.com)

Ice Sheet Melt

Increasing Each Year

Reporting Tim Kephart

A new study in the journal Science has found that the ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica have been melting at an increasing rate over the last 20 years.

The ice sheets at both poles are losing more than three times as

much ice each year as they were in the 1990’s, according to the study which was conducted by 47 researchers at 26 laboratories around the world.

The ice sheet losses are contributing to a sea level rise of roughly 0.44 inches since 1992, or roughly one-fifth of all sea level rise over the last 20 years. The rest, according to the study, is caused by the thermal expansion of the warming ocean, melting of mountain glaciers and small Arctic ice caps, along with groundwater mining.

“Both ice sheets appear to be losing more ice now than 20 years ago, but the pace of ice loss from Greenland is extraordinary, with nearly a

five-fold increase since the mid-1990s,” Erik Ivins of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena said.

Ivins continued, “In contrast, the overall loss of ice in Antarctica has remained fairly constant, with the data suggesting a 50-percent increase in Antarctic ice loss during the last decade.”

The research findings would tend to support the claim that global warming is not only ongoing, but also increasing over the past two decades.

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