CBS4 News Magazine by CBS4 News Magazine & Newspaper

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Pinecrest A pril 2014

16 | Breaking Down The Bits of Bitcoin

Imagine waking up tomorrow and your bank account has twenty-percent more money in it–or perhaps 20-percent of your hard-earned cash is missing? You probably would lose sleep right? Well it is happening right now with a new currency called Bitcoin. Some South Florida business are now accepting it including the Clevelander.

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How Dirty Is It? How often do you wash your hands? You may think just enough, but after seeing the results CBS4 obtained when testing public places for bacteria—you may reconsider. What you think is clean, may actually be covered in sickening bacteria like e-coli, staphorius and much more.

Deals While You Drive!

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Eye On Pinecrest Latest News & events in your neighborhood

Real Estate

Properties Sold in your area You get ads on your TV, the radio, internet and even your smartphone. But the next spot advertisers are targeting just might surprise you, the navigation screen of your car!

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Cassandra Gonzalez Has All The Ingredients For Success! A grandfather wipes away a tear as his beloved granddaughter, Cassandra Gonzalez tenderly hugs him. Jose Gonzalez is blind and Cassandra willingly serves as his eyes and guide in life. The 17-year old is one of the most loving, unselfish teenagers, you might ever meet

Some South Florida Cities Take Red Light Runners For a Ride Whether you are in favor of them or not, more and more red light cameras are going up in South Florida. For cities, the state and even the camera manufactures, the record number of cameras has turned into record profits. South Florida’s cameras are the most lucrative in the state. In a CBS4 investigation we learned some drivers are being taken for a ride.

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Addicted To Tech: Smart phones, tablets, laptops – with so much technology at our fingertips it’s sometimes difficult to set it aside. Some of your family or friends may seem even addicted to tech.

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[ 4 ] April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest

HOW

DIRTY IS IT?

How often do you wash your hands? You may think just enough, but after seeing the results CBS4 obtained when testing public places for bacteria—you may reconsider. What you think is clean, may actually be covered in sickening bacteria like e-coli, staphorius and much more. So CBS4’s Brian Andrews took to the streets to find out…how dirty is it? The surfaces touched by hundreds, even thousands of people every day were tested—and the results may be shocking and can be pretty nasty.

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he main thing is not getting it inside your body because that’s what can make you sick if you consume it,” said Dr. Julie Torruellas-Garcia, a microbiologist at Nova Southeastern University. First places tested were Miami-Dade Transit, the Metrorail, Metromover, the Government Center Station and the Government Center Food Court. All the places tested have one thing in common—they experience heavy traffic daily. In order to test, surfaces were swabbed and specimens were sent off to the microbiology lab at Nova. First place tested were the seats in the Metrorail cars.

“They tested positive for e-coli which I’m not surprised because we are sitting and considering where e-coli comes from, it kind of makes sense,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia. E-coli is a bacteria that comes from feces. “The issue with e-coli is ingestion. So if you eat it, if you consume it, if you drink it,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia. If ingested, the Doctor said, one could get diarrhea. The Metromover on the downtown loop was also put to the test for bacteria. The rails were found to have quite a bit of bacteria growth. The rails tested positive for staphorius— which can cause staph infections. Also tested were the fare machines at the transit station.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 7 ]

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here was quite a bit of bacteria there and it did test positive for staphorius but again staphorius is a bacteria found on skin,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia. Next up for testing were the pay phones. Perhaps not as popular as they used to be, but still used enough to consider testing. “If you count, each of these dots represents one bacterium,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia. “That was on that phone so I guess there are maybe about 50 there.” Now it’s one thing for a railing or a seat to be dirty, but many people would agree that where we eat should be the cleanest of all. Next up for testing was the food court at County Hall. The area visited by perhaps hundreds of people each day, the tables tested positive for both e-coli and staphorius. The elevators and escalators fared much better than the other places tested seeing as that bacteria can’t grow on metals.

Even though Miami-Dade transit insists the seats and all interior surfaces of the Metro and Metro Mover cars are cleaned daily, testing showed amounts of e-coli bacteria were present. As for the food court, the county said they’ll address CBS4’s findings with the building’s janitorial contractor. “I don’t get grossed out very easily being a microbiologist,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia, “but seeing the bacteria that grew at the food court tables was particularly gross.” Miami-Dade Transit declined our request to talk about the findings on camera, sending us a prepared statement saying they do their best to clean the metro cars each day. So what can you do to protect yourself from this bacteria? Dr. Torruellas-Garcia says wash your hands as often as possible and don’t worry about touching metal surfaces. Bacteria doesn’t grow on metal.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 9 ]

right

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Some South Florida Cities Take

Red Light RunneRs For A Ride By David Sutta

Whether you are in favor of them or not, more and more red light cameras are going up in South Florida. For cities, the state and even the camera manufactures, the record number of cameras has turned into record profits. South Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cameras are the most lucrative in the state. In a CBS4 investigation we learned some drivers are being taken for a ride.

this is not a story about whether red light cameras make our roads safer. There are studies that argue both sides of that argument.What this story is about is fairness. If two separate drivers make a right turn at a red light, without stopping, a red light camera will catch them. Here is the unfair part. One driver will get a $158 ticket that could eventually go up to $400. The other will get nothing.

We wanted to know why.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 11 ]

CBS4

attended various hearings across South Florida. Driver after driver seemed confused at the hearings. A tape plays in a corner of the room. Each clip showing a driver going through a red light. One video shows a driver slowly turning right. The driver scratches their head and asks “What exactly is the violation I’m here for?” A father and son watch the video and begin arguing. “Let me talk I was driving,” the son yells. Another woman, who is an attorney, questions that she broke the law. “I just find that hard to believe.” They leave the courtroom feeling they have been taken for a ride – all have lost their red light camera hearings. “The ticket is for $158?” one asks as the magistrate. No. Since she lost she has to pay an administrative fee. “The ticket will be for $208.” the clerk informs her. The attorney who lost her case is angry. “The deck is definitely stacked against the violators,” said Merna Lucho. When you think of red light camera violations you probably think of the buffoons blowing through lights, jeopardizing us on the road. You most probably don’t think of people like Edwin Garcia. In October he turned right at a red light, doing 1 or 2 miles an hour. Garcia, a retired police officer, tried to explain to the hearing officer “I cautiously inched out to see if there were any pedestrians trying to cross.” Because he didn’t come to a complete stop the red light camera targeted him for a ticket. Then the

“They want revenue. It’s a way to collect revenue from the poor people.” That sentiment was echoed at red light camera hearings across South Florida.” City of Homestead charged him $125 to contest it. The hearing officer told Garcia “You have to come to a complete stop.” And with that his case was lost. Homestead charges $125 for their administrative court fee; it can go as high as $250. Garcia’s $158 ticket for crawling through a light is now $283. More than if he was speeding through a school zone. Outside the hearing room Garcia shrugged “What defense are you going to put in? They work for the city. They want revenue. It’s a way to collect revenue from the poor people.” That sentiment was echoed at red light camera hearings across South Florida. “Some court,” one man yelled as he walked out with his $208 ticket. Your chances of beating the ticket are extremely slim. After his hearing Juan Garcia questioned “I don’t even know if this is legal.” If these people were upset losing, they’d be furious about Miami Springs. “If the vehicle is traveling less than 15 miles

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 13 ]

“How can one city ticket you $158 bucks and another not for the same exact right turn? It has to do with three words in the law; careful and prudent.”

per hour and does not violate anyone’s right of or vehicles, it’s rejected,” said Miami Springs police Sergeant Jimmy Deal. That’s right. Miami Springs won’t ticket a driver turning on red light without stopping as long as they adhere to Florida law which requires them to do it carefully and prudently. When asked how many right on red tickets he had thrown out Deal replied “Hundreds, thousands easily. All because they didn’t fit our standard.” Five days a week, Deal sits in front of a computer and reviews thousands of so-called violations. “This is a rejection,” he said after carefully reviewing an alleged violation. The screen refreshes with the next violation. “Careful and prudent,” he said as hit the reject button again. Another video pops up with a driver crawling right through a red light. It would definitely be a ticket in Homestead, Aventura, North Miami,

West Miami and a host of other cities. “Not here,” said Deal who pointed out that as long as there was not a person or car impacted by the turn, the ticket gets trashed. And there are other cities in South Florida who do that same thing. So what gives? This is a state law. How can one city ticket you $158 bucks and another not for the same exact right turn? It has to do with three words in the law; careful and prudent. “The statute says reasonable and prudent is that you have to stop at the stop bar, before the stop bar, or after the stop bar. You must come to a complete stop,” said Aventura Police Major William Washa. In Miami Springs making the turn at under 15 mph and not impacting another driver or pedestrian falls under the definition of “careful and prudent.”

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 15 ]

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“E

ach municipality, city is going to have their interpretation,” said Deal. Last year legislators added text saying no one could be ticketed at a red light as long as they came to a complete stop at some point. Many cities took the language and ran with it. The impact is a record windfall of cash – red light revenue is up 215%. “No the legislature never intended that. And that’s why they didn’t say you have to come to a complete stop. They had said you had to make a careful and prudent turn,” said state Senator Jeff Brandes. He would know. Brandes wrote the law. He believes the cities were looking for a way to make money. “The cameras were sold as a safety device but ultimately they have become a backdoor tax increase.” he said. It may be. Since the quote “misinterpretation” cities have had a record windfall of cash. Brandes, along with Miami Representative Frank Artiles, is pushing legislation to either eliminate the cameras or slash the ticket prices and record profits. Artiles feels something has to change. “This is a revenue generator. Make no mistake about it. And if this is about safety then they would support my bill,” said Artiles. Brandes agreed. “Those funds should go toward safety programs. Toward intersection safety, pedestrian safety, bicyclist safety. It should all be about safety. It shouldn’t be about revenue,” said Brandes. If you have found this story interesting thus far, here is something fascinating. When you get a red light camera ticket you have a choice. You can challenge

your ticket at City Hall and more often than not lose. Or you can take it to your county’s traffic court where the outcome could be dramatically different. In the county court the interpretation of the law is as Brandes intended. Careful and prudent – not you must always stop. For two days CBS4 News watched as hundreds of cases were dismissed. In fact a Miami-Dade judge reviewed the very same camera in Homestead that resulted in $283 tickets for many drivers. It was the same intersection and same rolling stop. The only difference was that it was a hearing put on by the county instead of the City of Homestead. In most cases, the judge dismissed them. As long as no one was impacted by the turn the judge ruled within seconds. Johnny Hall was one of the lucky ones to get dismissed. In Homestead he would have lost and paid $283 dollars. At county court he was dismissed. “I guess the city has their own laws and the county has their laws,” said Hall after his hearing. When informed it was the same law in both courts, State of Florida law, Hall wondered “Then why would I have lost in the City of Homestead and here it was dismissed?” It’s a good question and one that frustrates the thousands of drivers like Garcia who have and continue to pay millions in right on red ticket fines. “I don’t think they are fair,” Garcia sighed as he went to pay his ticket. Next week the legislative session will begin in Tallahassee. Both legislators plan to move forward their reforms forward to fix the problem. Count on CBS4 to follow the developments as they happen.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 17 ]

Breaking Down The Bits Of

David Sutta

CBSMIAMI.COM

eff Turgeau with the Clevelander explained, “The way we saw it as a better guest experience for our international guests. The impact has been very high. Throughout the course of three days we have generated an additional $100,000 in food and beverage and hotel room revenue.” If you have never heard of Bitcoin, your not alone. It’s fairly new and a bit complex. Bitcoin is digital money. Think of it like cash and an app, put together. You can send Bitcoins to anyone through that app, a webpage, even print a Bitcoin code out and you can deposit it…with an app. Florida International University economics professor explained it’s growing in popularity. “Right now we probably have 10,000 venders all over the world who accept Bitcoin and we have 100,000 users.” And who says it’s worth something? “That community says it’s worth something.” Bustamante replied. Bustamante showed us just what that community thinks it’s worth. $800 dollars. No $950 dollars. No $624 dollars. As we watched a computer screen the price went up and down. “Within 10 seconds you just lost a dollar if you had one Bitcoin,” he said.

As it turns out, Bitcoin is more volatile than the stock market. Any given day Bustamante says the value can go up or down 20%. Remember this is digital money backed by, well, no one. ”Bitcoin exists because we believe it exists,” said CBS4’s David Sutta. “Absolutely. It’s just like Santa,” Bustamante said. Santa for 20 and 30 something’s perhaps– that’s the average age of a Bitcoin user. Moe Levine, a Bitcoin entrepreneur, believes this is a revolution. “I truly believe that in ten years teachers will show their students paper money as a history example of people used to spend money using paper,” he said. Levine is certainly a Bitcoin believer, using it for just about anything he does. He showed us the advantages of the system. -First there are no banks involved. So no big bank fees for you or a business selling you goods and services. -Second you can send money anywhere to anyone. No government can stop the transaction. - And lastly there is no fraud. None of your personal information is attached. In fact it’s completely anonymous.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 19 ]

nd millions of dollars are being moved in the system often with an app on their phone. The app, referred to as a digital wallet, is manufactured by a number of companies. Nicolas Cary is the CEO of one of the more popular wallets called Blockchain. “Think about how obsolete a lot of things have been in the past. We switched from having photos to go digital and then books went to digital. DVD’s went from VHS and things like that to digital. And now there is no reason to think that money wouldn’t do the same thing.” Cary said. Buying Bitcoins is as simple a 30 second signup online. You can also sell Bitcoins for good ol’ American dollars just as fast. If it sounds good to you, imagine what it sounds like to criminals? No banks. Complete anonymity. No regulation for anything. “It seems like it’s the next version of the Swiss Bank account,” Bustamante said with a smile. “It really is.” Money laundering. Offshore banking. Selling drugs or teddy bears. “That’s the beauty of it. We don’t know who’s using it. We have no indication,” Bustamante said. The US Department of Justice has an indication. When they recently took down a secret site called Silk Road that sold just about any illegal drug or item you can imagine the site accepted millions of dollars in just one currency. Bitcoin. The federal agency that oversees financial crimes testified before Congress in November on the issue. The head of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Jennifer Shasky Calvery, said “We know that it has been exploited by some pretty serious criminal organizations.” Congress is now beginning to look at how to regulate

digital currency including Bitcoin. And here in South Florida, where fraud and scams are often invented, the first arrests ever over Bitcoins took place this month. Undercover agents say they approached Michel Espinoza and Pascal Reid to convert large amounts of cash into Bitcoins. They said they took the bait for a fee, despite being told the cash came from stolen credit card numbers. It’s classic money laundering–with a high-tech spin. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle told CBS4, “I had not ever seen anything like this.” Fernandez Rundle is the first State Attorney in the country to go after illegal Bitcoin users. “I would imagine this is something that is happening all over the country. I think we are going to be much more watchful of it. Much more mindful of it,” she said. “It’s just a matter of time before regulation comes into place,” Bustamante contends. With the potential for funding terrorism the completely anonymous feature of the currency may disappear. FIU Economics professors have begun to discuss Bitcoins in their classes. The digital currency is chock-full of lessons–including the possibility of it soon being regulated.

“Congress is now beginning to look at how to regulate digital currency including Bitcoin”

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“I

f there is any kind of small doubt on the future of Bitcoin, what does it do to it’s value in the future?” he asked his class. A student responds “Decrease it” and the professor agrees. “It’s going to decrease.” In Bustamante’s economics class not a single student owned Bitcoin–but they have thought about it. Zach Leatherman didn’t hesitate when asked if he would buy it. “If I had the money definitely,” he said. Other students were not as sure given the volatility of the currency. You could equate Bitcoin to the beginning of the internet. It could be AOL–a big flop. Or the next Google. Levine, the Bitcoin entrepreneur, contends “It’s Paypal. Five years ago nobody could understand, or fathom you have your bank account online. That’s it. Bitcoin is Paypal, but without the fees.” Are these smart people or fools that are doing this? “I think they think they are very smart. And so far they have proven to be geniuses in terms of the increase in value of their investment,” said Bustamante. In the end it may be all about timing. Bustamante says he bought $100 dollars’ worth of Bitcoin in 2010. Over a year it grew just 2 percent and he got out. If he had held out one more year, he would have had more than $600,000. Oops. That said – he’s not getting back in. In fact he tells his mom to stay away because while you could win big, this bubble is likely going to burst.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 21 ]

Eye On Pinecrest The latest news and events in your neighborhood

Content provided by The Village of Pinecrest

Village of Pinecrest Fifth Annual Bike Ride Day

Hundreds gathered in Pinecrest for a family-friendly Bike Ride Day in March. Bicyclists of all ages and abilities took part in the Village of Pinecrestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fifth Annual Bike Ride Day hosted in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools Vice-Chair Dr. Lawrence Feldman. All types of bicycles including stroller, tandem and recumbent styles joined in the fun. The goal of Bike Ride Day is to encourage student and family participation in activities geared toward healthy and active lifestyles. A Safety and Information Fair with a Bicycle Rodeo where children rode through an obstacle course that taught them about bicycle safety kicked-off the event. Sponsors also fitted and gave away bicycle helmets. Participants had their choice of a two, three or four-mile loops where bicyclists rode through Pinecrestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scenic streets while flanked by police personnel to ensure safety. After the ride, participants met back at the Pinecrest Community Center where sponsors gave away gym memberships, major league sports tickets and other family-friendly items.

www.Pinecrest-FL.gov Cindy Lerner Mayor clerner@pinecrest-fl.gov

Model for uniform safety protocols for private and public schools launched in two Miami-Dade County municipalities

Joseph M. Corradino

The Police Departments from the Village of Pinecrest and the City of North Miami teamed up with Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and the Archdiocese of Miami to create a model for uniform lockdown and evacuation protocols in public and private schools.

Jeff Cutler

Representatives from each of these entities worked together for a year to develop the pilot program as part of the Independent School Safety Coalition (ISSC). The model will be introduced to school districts nationwide via national safety and education conferences in the upcoming year. The coalition is part of the In School Safety Working Group, which came from the Miami-Dade County Joint Round Table on Youth Safety headed by Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. First responders, within the participating jurisdictions, now have one cohesive plan of action regardless of whether the school is private or public. All private schools in both municipalities have developed evacuation plans and adopted lockdown procedures modeled after Miami-Dade County Public Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; protocols. Representatives from each school received certificates of participation in the unified lockdown and evacuation protocol program at their respective municipalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March council meetings.

Vice Mayor jcorradino@pinecrest-fl.gov

Councilmember - Seat 2 jcutler@pinecrest-fl.gov

James E. McDonald Councilmember - Seat 3 jmcdonald@pinecrest-fl.gov

Bob Ross Councilmember - Seat 1 bross@pinecrest-fl.gov

Yocelyn Galiano Gomez Village Manager

ygaliano@pinecrest-fl.gov

Guido H. Inguanzo, Jr., CMC Village Clerk

ginguanzo@pinecrest-fl.gov

Mitchell Bierman Village Attorney

attorney@pinecrest-fl.gov

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 23 ]

Eye On Pinecrest

Pinecrest hosted Fourth Annual Relay for Life

Cancer never sleeps and neither did Relay for Life participants during Pinecrest’s Fourth Annual Relay For Life event that lasted from 12:00 noon Saturday, March 1st till 8:00 a.m. Sunday, March 2nd in Evelyn Greer Park, 8200 SW 124th Street.

led the Youth Advisory Council with a Spain theme. All cancer survivors were honored and pampered with massages and goodie bags in a special Survivors Tent. They were also served complimentary lunch and dinner.

This year the neighboring municipalities of Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay joined Pinecrest to make for a huge event with over 40 teams and a $200,000 donation goal. All the proceeds from the event will go to the American Cancer Society.

Each team had a dedicated booth that featured food from the country the team represented, an activity and a fact board about a specific type of cancer. There was also a children’s area with bounce houses and pony rides, and bands that included the School of Rock and the Palmetto Elementary School Jazz Combo performed throughout the event.

The final tally has not been calculated yet, as donations will be accepted until April 11th. To find out how to donate, call 305-234-2121 and ask for Pat Janisse or Angela Gasca. The theme for this year’s event was World’s Fair 2014. The Village team’s theme was France and Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner

After hours activities were led by the Pinecrest Youth Advisory Council and included an eating contest and card games.

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Pinecrest Community Events South Motors Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens presents Ed Calle Big Band Saturday april 15, 8:00 p.m. Bringing a successful season of Jazz to a close, the South Motors Jazz Series at Pinecrest Gardens will feature multi-Grammy nominated artist Ed Calle performing a special tribute to the music of George Gershwin and to the greatest saxophone legends throughout the decades. Ed is known for his extraordinary ability to play bebop, Latin and contemporary jazz, and pop. He appears on Grammy-award-winning albums by Frank Sinatra, Vicky Carr, Arturo Sandoval, and Jon Secada, as well as on numerous television and motion picture soundtracks. He has recorded and performed around the world with such artists as Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Michael Bolton, Bob James, Bobby Caldwell, Rhianna, Extreme, and Vanessa Williams. Among his many solo recordings,” Ed Calle Plays Santana” garnered a Latin Grammy Award nomination in 2005. His release, In the Zone (2006), features original compositions and jazz standards and earned a Latin Grammy nomination in 2007. Join Ed and his Big Band in the Banyan Bowl on Saturday, April 5 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 & $25 and you can select-your-seat on line at pinecrestgardens.org.

South Motors Gen-Next Jazz Sunday april 6, 6:00 p.m. If you don’t get your fill of great jazz on Saturday night you can return to the Gardens on Sunday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m. when the

South Motors Gen-Next series concludes with renown local jazz artist, Aaron Lebos. Aaron’s quartet, Reality, is a powerful and unique original music group from Miami, Fl. whose music encompasses styles of Jazz, Funk, Rock, R&B, Latin and World Music. Since forming in 2012, Aaron Lebos Reality has exploded in South Florida attracting both the highest-level musicians and the mainstream audiences. Playing at Miami’s premier venues, the group has been showcased on NPR numerous times. Aaron Lebos is a well-known, versatile guitarist born and raised in the South Florida area. He received his Bachelors from the University of Miami and a Masters at Florida International University, both in Jazz Performance. Aaron developed much of his versatility playing gigs, touring and recording in the diverse South Florida music scene. He currently also plays with some of the biggest names in South Florida such as Nicole Henry, Tony Succar and The Spam All-stars as well as doing many other gigs and sessions. The group is made up of Eric England-Bass, Jim Gasior-Keyboards and Rodolfo Zuniga-Drums, who on their own are some of the most in demand musicians in South Florida and beyond have been friends and played together for years in various groups but joined together in early 2012 for a new project with a new sound and magic happened instantly. The new sound is more contemporary and progressive than his previous group and includes many diverse elements including Jazz, Funk, Rock and even one Reggaeton song. Aaron Lebos Reality shows are high-energy bolts of music that have no explanation other than sounds that go straight to the heart of the listener. This concert is FREE to the public.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 25 ]

Eye On Pinecrest

Taste of Pinecrest april 6, 1:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m. Taste of Pinecrest returns to the Gardens this year. Each Spring, families, students, foodies, and community members gather for the Taste of Pinecrest. This year’s fun-filled event takes place on Sunday, April 6th, 2014 starting at 11:00 a.m. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the community festival, which is spearheaded by the Pinecrest Business Association and supported by title sponsor Panter, Panter, & Sampedro, P.A. The Taste of Pinecrest has something for everyone including local restaurants, activities and entertainment for the kids, an incredible business showcase and even a bicycle valet. There will also be hands-on arts and science activities, exhibitions of yoga and Pilates as well as live cooking demonstrations. In addition to the community partner showcase, the kids of Pinecrest are the stars of the day! School groups will perform their interpretation of the theme “A Community of Respect – No Place for Hate” in the Banyan Bowl between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Live music will follow the student performances. Admission is $5.00 per person and includes one free children’s ticket with each paid adult. Maximum entry charge is $15.00 per family. In addition to admission into the Taste of Pinecrest, tickets also give visitors all-day access to Pinecrest Gardens including its splash pool and petting zoo. All proceeds from the Taste of Pinecrest support the five public schools in the Pinecrest area, which include Pinecrest Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, Howard Drive Elementary, Palmetto Middle School and Miami Palmetto Senior High.

Family Friday Presents: Frozen friday, april 11, 2014 Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. Flashlight Tours start at 7:30—Hot dogs and popcorn available for purchase. The movie will start at 8pm. $5 general admission, children 2 and under enter free.

Eggstravaganza Saturday, april 12th, 2014 our biggest festival of the year is here! Eggstravaganza (sponsored by Williamson Automotive). Bring the whole family for a day of egg hunts, interactive games, arts and crafts, strolling characters, wildlife shows, story time, magic shows, face painting, balloon art and more!. Tickets are $5, and advance tickets can be purchased at 305-669-6990.

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Cult Film Friday: National Lampoon’s Animal House friday, april 18th, 2014 At a 1962 College, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him.

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL Sunday, april 27, 2014 - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pinecrest Gardens is going green at our annual Earth Day Festival. Celebrate the beauty of our planet, with eco-friendly activities for the family. It is a full fun-filled day of entertainment on stage in our outdoor amphitheater, informative workshops and demonstrations on a variety of relevant ecological topics, interactive and environmental educational opportunities, garden tours, delicious food, music, yoga, massages, and so much more! Don’t miss this festival for the whole family in the lush surroundings of South Florida’s most beautiful botanical garden. Parking is free for all attendents! Overflow parking access will also be available with the Pinecrest People Mover making continous stops for pick-up and drop-off from 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. to Pinecrest Gardens from the following locations: Pinecrest Elementary (10250 Red Road) Palmetto Middle School (7351 SW 128th Street) Miami Palmetto Senior High School (7460 SW 118th Street)

For more information: FIU String Chamber Ensemble Sunday, april 13th, 2014 Free Chamber Concert at 6:00 p.m. Performing will be senior students from the FIU String Chamber Ensemble in a concert of classical works including Beethoven’s Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4.

Register for our E-mail Subscription Service: www.pinecrest-fl.gov Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinecrestfl Follow us on Twitter - @pinecrestfl Contact us at 305.234.2121

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 27 ]

Do You Shop Online? Get Ready To Be Punished For

Excessive Returns

A warning if you shop online and have a habit of returning items, you may be in for a surprise.

CBSMIAMI.COM

More retailers are starting to take notice and some are even punishing repeat offenders. Many retailers are starting to charge fees on all sorts of merchandise to help offset the cost of returns, which is estimated to be nearly $400 billion in losses each year.

ike many people, Magda Walczak does a lot of online shopping. And like many people, she also makes a lot of returns. “About half the things that I actually buy, I end up returning,” Walczak said. Sometimes Magda returns her online orders at the actual store but lately, she’s run into some trouble. “Several times the person at the cash register would tell me, ‘You know you don’t have to buy online, you can just come to the store and you can try everything on.’” Those reminders are just one new tactic some retailers are using to cut down on returns. Some experts also say the next time she makes a return, it could cost her more. “The days of using your living room as a fitting room are yes, going to be coming to a close,” retail expert Carol Spieckerman said. ”For retailers, returns are an absolute nightmare.” Some retailers are also hiring outside firms to help keep tabs on customers’ returns. AgilOne is a company that keeps tabs on 525 million consumers. They flag one-percent of “return-a-holics”, which means they send back a lot more than they keep. “We look at returns in relation to the profitability of a customer. So for example, if you return 50 items, that can be really terrible if you only keep one. But of course

if you return 50 items and end up buying 200, that’s fantastic,” explained Dominique Levin, of AgilOne. Companies use this date to curb chronic returning. Some companies won’t send coupons if you’re a frequent returner. Others will only e-mail promotions for certain products. In addition to charging restocking fees, stores may also start revoking free shipping. Promotions and coupons may also be a thing of the past for customers who frequently return merchandise. “Most stores really would rather have you continue to do business with them rather than their competitors. However, what we do see is stores starting to find ways to perhaps spend less money on you or find ways to have you return less,” said Levin. The good news? You can improve your status with a store by starting to keep more items than you return because customer profiles are refreshed frequently. Magda said her bottom line is that if an item she orders doesn’t fit or she doesn’t like it, she needs to do what’s right for her. “I’ll be mindful of taking advantage of the offers that I receive, but I don’t think it’s going to make me shop any less or return any less.”

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 29 ]

Breakthrough Hepatitis Drug

Out Of Reach For Most

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Doctors are calling a newly-approved drug a “ revolution” in treating the most common blood-borne infection in the United States. But patient advocates warn how those who need it may not be able to afford it. Sovaldi is a breakthrough drug used in the treatment for hepatitis C. The medication was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2013.

The wholesale price for the recommended once-a-day, 12 week treatment is $84,000.

hat works out to be $1,000 a pill. “The thought of dropping one on the floor and not being able to find it, you know, is very scary,” said Dr. Diane Sylvestre. Health experts call Sovaldi a game-changer. Most of the people who take this treatment can expect to be cured, said Sylvestre. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the drug produced a sustained virologic response, or cure, in 90% of patients infected with genotype 1, the most common and difficult to treat strain of the liver-destroying virus that causes hepatitis C. Bill Remak was infected with hepatitis C as a child and is thrilled to hear about the approval of the new drug. “I’ve had two liver transplants and I still have the virus and this offers me the possibility to actually be free of this illness,” said Remak.

By many accounts from the experts, the benefits of Sovaldi are remarkable. When compared to conventional treatment, Sovaldi cuts treatment time in half, has fewer side effects and in some cases eliminates the need to inject interferon, a drug with debilitating side effects. Even though Sovaldi is made by California based Gilead Sciences, Americans are likely to pay the highest price for the medication. Prices in Europe will be lower: the cost for treatment in the United Kingdom is about $57,000; in Germany, the wholesale price is $66,000. In India, while not yet finalized, the prices are expected to be tiered; $2,000 is being considered for 24 weeks of therapy for Genotype 3 for public hospitals, community clinics and NGOs.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 31 ]

CBSMIAMI.COM

he price differences and the wholesale price in the U.S. are upsetting to patient advocates. “The price is staggering,” said pharmacist Steve Bacon. “Who can really afford to pay for this and will the insurance companies put it on their formularies,” said pharmacist Fred Mayer, president of the Pharmacists Planning Service, Inc. As many Americans are now painfully aware, many insurers now require patients to shoulder higher costs for specialty drugs. Sovaldi is a specialty drug, and that could mean big out-of-pocket expenses and co-payments. Patients may also be forced to try less optimal treatments first, according to Professor David Magnus, Director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics. “That’s very frustrating for patients: they’ve got insurance. They’ve got a network that’s agreed to carry the insurance. They have a disease and it’s clear what’s the best treatment, but they might not get it thanks to the exorbitant cost,” said Magnus. “Very glad my insurance picked it up – man!,” said Tom Espinosa. For Espinosa, Sovaldi may be his last chance. His liver disease is advanced and currently very active. Dr. Sylvestre, who is Espinosa’s doctor, said she had to jump through hoops and file mounds of paperwork just to get him the drug. Because the medicine is so expensive, at this point she’ll only prescribe it to patients like Espinosa who have advanced liver disease. If it were cheaper, she said she would absolutely prescribe it to every one of her Hepatitis C patients. “It’s appalling in many ways, but the cost of many medications is appalling.” said Sylvestre. With a free market economy, that won’t change anytime soon – no matter how loud the protest. Baby boomers – Americans born between 1945 and 1965 – are five times as likely to be infected with the virus. Why this is is not completely understood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many could have gotten infected from contaminated blood and blood products before the widespread screening of the blood supply which began in 1992, the CDC said. All baby boomers are urged by the CDC to get screened for the hepatitis C virus at least once in their life. Many could be infected and not even know it. As for specialty drugs, a new report from Express Scripts is sobering: while currently used by 1% of Americans, they account for 25% of all prescription drug costs in the U.S. Experts predict that will soar to 50% in just 5 years.

“The price is staggering, who can really afford to pay for this and will the insurance companies put it on their formularies”

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 33 ]

Protect Your Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Financial Future Now, With A

Roth IRA The Greatest Gift Ever

CBSMIAMI.COM

By Eliott Rodriguez

Parents do a lot for their kids but do you know how to make your teen a millionaire?

ichard Tiberius is an artist who lives in Coconut Grove. The retired University of Miami professor works in his small studio with his daughter Kiry, who’s following in her father’s footsteps. While Kiry is 25-years-old and embarks on her own career as an artist, Dad still worries about his little girl. “A parent is always protective of their offspring,” said Tiberius. “I think there should be a turning point where they take care of you, but that hasn’t happened to me yet.” With Dad’s help, Kiry is funding a Roth IRA, an individual retirement account aimed at middle income taxpayers. Financial advisor Charles Sachs recommended it. “A Roth IRA is a fantastic idea,” said Sachs. “It’s one of the greatest gifts out there. It’s such a great deal. It’s limited and the government says you can only put up to $5,500 a year into it.” Here’s why Kiry’s Roth IRA is so valuable: At age 25, if she or her dad puts in 55-hundred dollars a year, and the stock market goes up 7-percent a year, her initial investment will grow to $1.98 million by the time she’s 65. Open the Roth IRA for a working child at age 16, with the same stock market growth, the account skyrockets to $3.2 million by retirement age. And all the money is tax free.

“It’s a relief because I’m interested in things like painting and teaching yoga and these things are not financially secure,” said Kiry. Financial security during retirement came up during the State of the Union address when President Obama announced a new type of retirement account called myRA. These retirement accounts would be targeted to low wage earners who do not have access to employerbased retirement plans. A myRA could be opened with as little as $25 and contributions could be as low as $5. “I call it a Roth IRA on training wheels,” said Sachs. “Eventually taxpayers with a myRA will want to convert it to a Roth IRA.” The new retirement accounts proposed by the White House and the Roth IRA funded by Kiry and her dad are aimed at helping people like Kiry paint a prettier picture of retirement. “It’s nice to have an insurance policy to feel like I’m going to be okay,” said Kiry.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 35 ]

Real Estate Sponsored By

Listings in this section are based on properties sold in previous months and retrieved from zillow.com. Not all properties sold are listed. Not responsible for typographical errors and/or omissions. Photographs are for illustration purposes only.

Content provided by www.Zillow.com

Why Do Short Sales Take So Long? When buyers hear the term “short sale,” they typically think about distressed sellers and good deals — especially in markets where prices have ticked upwards. But the word “sale” can be misleading. In fact, many real estate agents have renamed “short sales” as “long-and-drawn-out sales.” Here’s why short sales often take a long time to complete. Banks and Bureaucracy

Paperwork Gets Lost in the Process

In a short sale, you need the seller’s bank to approve before you can close. Banks require dozens of pages of paperwork to evaluate whether or not to approve a short sale. Since the seller is asking the bank to accept a sale price that’s less than the mortgage amount, the bank needs to verify that a short sale is the right thing to do. Banks want to make sure the seller is indeed unable to stay in the home and can’t afford to pay off the difference between the market value and the bank’s loan amount. Just as a bank scrutinizes a buyer’s finances in order to approve their loan, the financial institution wants to closely examine the seller’s finances to be sure that it is not giving its money away. With many thousands of dollars at stake, banks don’t want to rush through this process. By comparison, when you’re buying from a person, he or she is more motivated to keep things moving.

Banks require many documents, disclosures and signatures to complete a short sale. Many times they request that they are faxed in. If just one signature or page is missing from a file, the bank will likely hold off on the process until the file is complete. Given that these banks are losing money on short sales, they don’t allocate the same amount of resources they would to the customer service department for paying (and profitable) customers. With limited staff and so much paperwork, things get lost — and then the short sale process drags on.

Two Lenders = Double the Time Many times a short sale seller has two loans. The larger loan is being shorted while the second, smaller loan — usually a home equity line of credit — is being completely wiped out. Often, these loans are with two separate banks.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 37 ]

Real Estate

Content provided by www.Zillow.com

Each bank has its own system that doesn’t in any way communicate with the other bank’s system. The second bank may approve the short sale but put on a 30-day expiration. If the first bank’s approval comes at day 31, the seller must go back to the second bank and start over. As you can see, this too can drag out the short sale.

How to Expedite a Short Sale: Is it possible to work the system and speed up short sales? Absolutely. If you’re selling a home as a short sale, don’t use an agent who doesn’t not have short sale experience. There are so many areas where short sales can get tripped up, so look for an experienced agent who knows how to push through the process. If you’re a buyer and you found a short sale home you love, determine if the agent is an expert in short sales. If the agent doesn’t have much (or any) short sale experience, expect a long, rocky road. Short sales are a different animal from traditional home sales — from how they’re priced, how they’re marketed and the lengthy sales timeframe. A savvy short sale agent will know exactly what they’re dealing with and what to expect, and can shorten the process immensely.

This article has been provided by Zillow.com

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 39 ]

Real Estate

Recently Sold Properties in Pinecrest

8261 SW 128th St, Apt 201, Pinecrest, FL 33156

6707 N Kendall Dr, Apt 116, Pinecrest, FL 33156

2 Beds / 2 Bath | 885 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1974 Sold: 2/20/2014 | $146,000

2 Beds / 1.5 Bath | 900 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1966 Sold: 1/31/2014 | $216,000

7230 SW 127th St, Pinecrest, FL 33156

7730 SW 134th St, Pinecrest, FL 33156

4 Beds / 3 Bath | 3,424 sq. ft. | 0.4 acre Lot | Built in: 1971 Sold: 2/14/2014 | $390,000

4 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,712 sq. ft. | 0.36 acre Lot | Built in: 1957 Sold: 2/6/2014 | $525,000

12921 SW 70th Ave, Pinecrest, FL 33156

11801 SW 70th Ave, Pinecrest, FL 33156

4 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,639 sq. ft. | 0.34 acre Lot | Built in: 1964 Sold: 3/4/2014 | $566,400

3 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,248 sq. ft. | 0.42 acre Lot | Built in: 1954 Sold: 2/18/2014 | $610,00

Listings provided by www.Zillow.com

7125 SW 116th Ter, Pinecrest, FL 33156

12120 SW 68th Ct, Pinecrest, FL 33156

4 Beds / 2 Bath | 3,439 sq. ft. | 0.41 acre Lot | Built in: 1967 Sold: 2/26/2014 | $715,000

4 Beds / 3 Bath | 2,315 sq. ft. | 0.88 acre Lot | Built in: 1955 Sold: 2/25/2014 | $760,000

6790 SW 122nd Dr, Pinecrest, FL 33156

11111 SW 61st Ct, Pinecrest, FL 33156

5 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 4,168 sq. ft. | 0.85 acre Lot | Built in: 1962 Sold: 2/28/2014 | $848,000

5 Beds / 3 Bath | 2,968 sq. ft. | 0.9 acre Lot | Built in: 1964 Sold: 3/4/2014 | $1,155,000

12821 SW 68th Ave, Pinecrest, FL 33156

6255 SW 92nd St, Pinecrest, FL 33156

4 Beds / 4 Bath | 4,500 sq. ft. | 0.51 acre Lot | Built in: 1962 Sold: 2/21/2014 | $1,270,000

3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 3,770 sq. ft. | 1.08 acre Lot | Built in: 1952 Sold: 3/7/2014 | $1,250,000

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 41 ]

Real Estate

L ux u ry P roPerties

Miami-Dade County

7292 Fisher Island Dr, # 7292, Miami Beach, FL 33109

17121 Collins Ave, Apt 4601, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

4 Beds / 3 Bath | 6,170 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1992 Sold: 3/3/2014 | $13,500,000

5 Beds / 7.5 Bath | 6,518 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2009 Sold: 2/19/2014 | $7,070,000

535 Ocean Blvd, Golden Beach, FL 33160

6975 Sunrise Ter, Coral Gables, FL 33133

4 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 5,662 sq. ft. | 0.53 acre Lot | Built in: 1994 Sold: 2/24/2014 | $6,500,000

4 Beds / 5 Bath | 4,484 sq. ft. | 0.61 acre Lot | Built in: 1970 Sold: 2/27/2014 | $5,000,000

6945 Granada Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33146

5545 Arbor Ln, Coral Gables, FL 33156

7 Beds / 9 Bath | 7,411 sq. ft. | 1.31 acre Lot | Built in: 1952 Sold: 2/26/2014 | $4,500,000

6 Beds / 7 Bath | 10,176 sq. ft. | 1.18 acre Lot | Built in: 2008 Sold: 3/3/2014 | $4,994,500

Listings provided by www.Zillow.com

211 N Coconut Ln, Miami Beach, FL 33139

50 S Pointe Dr, Apt 3104, Miami Beach, FL 33139

5 Beds / 5 Bath | 4,571 sq. ft. | 7,000 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1924 Sold: 2/21/2014 | $4,500,000

3 Beds / 3 Bath | 2,173 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 2008 Sold: 3/3/2014 | $4,300,000

7966 Fisher Island Dr, # 7966, Miami, FL 33109

9681 SW 60th Ct, Miami, FL 33156

2 Beds / 2.5 Bath | 2,530 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1989 Sold: 2/19/2014 | $2,600,000

7 Beds / 9 Bath | 7,338 sq. ft. | 0.91 acre Lot | Built in: 2004 Sold: 3/3/2014 | $2,750,000

10101 Collins Ave, Apt 19B, Bal Harbour, FL 33154

322 Costanera Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33143

2 Beds / 5 Bath | 3,110 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1994 Sold: 2/19/2014 | $2,500,000

6 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 5,144 sq. ft. | 0.35 acre Lot | Built in: 1987 Sold: 2/26/2014 | $2,300,000

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 43 ]

Real Estate

Content provided by www.Zillow.com

Have You Thanked Your HOA Board Member Lately? While many owners in Common Interest Development (HOA) communities have unflattering opinions about the board members who govern their neighborhoods, the truth is, they’re generally working to protect your home and investment. Let’s walk through what HOA board members do for the community to get a better idea about the important role they fill. What does the board do? In most cases, HOA board members are owners who are elected by the other unit owners from within the community. The board’s job is to interpret and enforce the rules as dictated by the community’s bylaws and covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs). Every owner who buys into an HOA-governed community is given a copy of those bylaws and CC&Rs to review. Even if you don’t take the time to glance through those HOA documents, as a buyer you agree to live within the rules and regulations of the community. The board hires the management company for the community, approves vendors and payments, penalizes property owners who violate the rules, approves the annual budget, makes legal decisions when necessary, and handles every other function that a governing body needs to do on behalf of the people they are governing – subject to the bylaws and CC&Rs. Boards follow those rules closely because if they allow an exception here or there, it’s likely to create conflicts with other owners who expect the rules to be followed. Most boards do a good job handling functions that individual unit owners are simply relieved they don’t have to deal with. And contrary to news reports bashing HOA boards, board members typically are unpaid, and they’re rarely stealing money or imposing draconian rules. When those horror stories surface, it’s generally because one or two owners choose to publicly air a grievance, rather than working through the community to make positive changes for everyone.

Unhappy with the board’s work? My advice for folks who don’t like what their HOA board is doing is to quit whining! Note: I am not a board member in any community, but I attend HOA meetings and see many unreasonable complaints – and for full disclosure, I see some valid ones too. One of the most important rules in every single HOA is that if the members of the community do not like the decisions of the board, they can vote the board members out. If you don’t like the rules of the community – as enforced by the BOD – talk to your neighbors, campaign in the community, and get yourself elected to the board so you can interpret and enforce the rules. Most people who object to what’s happening won’t do anything to help the board. They just want to keep complaining. But if you aren’t going to spend your time and effort to help better govern the community, then don’t criticize the folks who are doing it. The majority of the time, community members should be saying thank you to board members for spending their time doing a thankless job, trying to protect every community member’s biggest asset. I’ve seen HOA board members in a few communities get so fed up with dealing with complaining constituents that they just give up and quit. Then the task of managing and operating the community – paying bills, making decisions and enforcing rules – is not done by anyone for months. Take my word for it, you don’t want to live in one of those communities!

This article has been provided by Zillow.com

DEALS WHILE YOU

DRIVE

[ 46 ] April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest

CBSMIAMI.COM

By Brian Andrews

You get ads on your TV, the radio, internet and even your smartphone. But the next spot advertisers are targeting just might surprise you, the navigation screen of your car!

imee Brittain doesn’t mind sharing her GPS location with advertisers, and likes when coupons pop up on her phone when she’s near a store offering savings. “It lets me know that, hey, they know I’m going by, they know they want me as a customer. I think it’s a great thing,” said Brittain. And now new location-based technology can deliver similar promotions through the screen on the dashboard of a car. “The car is the next frontier in terms of delivering content and advertising to consumers,” said Alistair Goodman with Placecast. Placecast is one company that delivers ads while you drive. It uses “Aha” which now comes pre-loaded in new models of Acura, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda and Subaru. “In the case of this program, it’s an audio ad that is actually triggered based on your location. If you like the ad, you click the thumbs up and you get a reminder email sent with a coupon on your phone that you can then take into the store,” said Goodman.

Industry experts say we should buckle up for more of these targeted in-car promotions. “There are a number of app developers that are working on a location based ads that would allow a consumer to opt into offers while they’re driving around and pass a participating location,” said Ron Montoya with Edmunds.com But Montoya says deal or no deal; this could be one more distraction that drivers just don’t need. “I think for driving it creates too many distraction issues. When you receive an ad, you need to sort of process that information, think about it, see if you want to take it, and then press a button to confirm it so there’s a little bit more thinking involved,” said Montoya. As for privacy, companies will have access to users movements, but you’ll have some control. “Many of these are opt in. If you don’t feel comfortable with it you can just opt out of it and just not even deal with it,” said Montoya. “We make very clear what data will be collected and we don’t resell that data to any other parties,” said Goodman. Pandora recently announced they’re sending ads to screens in cars too. Right now, they’re not location-based, but plan to ultimately start sending targeted deals to drivers.

ADDICTED

TO TECH

Smart phones, tablets, laptops â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with so much technology at our fingertips itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sometimes difficult to set it aside. Some of your family or friends may seem even addicted to tech.

CBSMIAMI.COM

“I

do email, I do messaging, I have an iPhone, I used to have three iPads,” said Michael Oliver who admits he loves his tech. “Every kid from the age of three years old, there on that iPhone playing every kind of game in the world and doing all kinds of things,” said Ronald Gould. That was certainly true at the McGoldrick house. “Once I get home, I’m just like either on the computer or iPad and like just have fun because school stresses me out so much,” said 10-year old Addie McGoldrick. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find the whole family staring at screens. Addie’s little sister Sylvia with a movie on the laptop, their mom on a notebook, their dad on the phone. “Like if someone texted me at 1 o’clock in the morning, I’ll wake up and answer it,” said Addie. Psychologists say that constant attachment to all these devices comes as a cost. They feel that a deep, qualitative connection between people is sacrificed when there’s that sense of immediacy that technology brings into the situation. Signs of addiction or dependency include spending a disproportionate amount of time on you cell phone, tablet or computer. Doctors suggest if your family is like the McGoldricks, carve out some time by piling up the devices and setting them aside so you can spend some real ‘face time’ together. Other suggestions include wearing a watch, so you’re not dependent on using a cell phone to tell time, and don’t use a gadget to pass the time at every opportunity. Experts say it’s okay to be bored sometimes. Also, disable notifications; not every email or text needs a reply right away.

“Like if someone texted me at 1 o’clock in the morning, I’ll wake up and answer it”

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 49 ]

By Michele Gillen

Cassandra Gonzalez

Has All The Ingredients For Success A grandfather wipes away a tear as his beloved granddaughter, Cassandra Gonzalez tenderly hugs him. Jose Gonzalez is blind and Cassandra willingly serves as his eyes and guide in life. The 17-year old is one of the most loving, unselfish teenagers, you might ever meet. She and her grandpa, as she calls him, carry broken hearts. Her grandmother, Victoria, who she long cared for recently died following a heart attack.

“C

oming home from work and not being able to kiss or hug her, it just hurt me,” Cassandra told CBS4’s Michele Gillen as they sat together outside her Homestead home under a warm February sky. Cassandra’s pull to her grandparents is so strong because they raised her, rescued her, from when she was a baby. “Well, this all happened because when I was 11-months old my dad killed my mom,” Cassandra shared. Cassandra cherishes the few photos she has of her mother who was just 18 years old when she lost her life. There’s one picture of her mom dressed in pink and smiling to the camera at her baby shower. Another is the sonogram showing the first image of Cassandra. Cassandra was 7-years old when she learned the truth of what had happened when she was a baby and too young to remember. She learned that her father was incarcerated and that the man and woman who raised her were really her grandparents, not her birth parents. She said she is grateful to them. Even in her teenage years, through their serious illnesses, she rarely left their side. Every free moment after school and on weekends, she worked to help support them. “I wouldn’t care for having fun or going out because my grandparents are the most important thing to me,” Cassandra revealed. Through it all, she has studied away in her grandparent’s humble home, making top grades and dreaming of someday having a career in the world of hospitality where she can create dreams for others. “I love being around people, I love going to hotels, I love helping others,” the teenager explained and said her dream is to someday, somehow, attend FIU’s renowned Chaplin School of Hospitality. That tickled the imagination of Michele Gillen who thought; why not introduce her to the king of hospitality, a master of culinary cuisine and the Founder and Director of the Food Channel’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival,

“I wouldn’t care for having fun or going out because my grandparents are the most important thing to me”

Lee Brian Schrager. “Let’s go meet her!” Schrager enthused as he first greeted Gillen in the midst of the festivals Fit and Fun as a Family event at Jungle Island. Upon learning Cassandra’s story, Schrager organized a feast of a day for the girl who never asks for anything for herself. “Hi, it’s an honor to meet you!” Cassandra beamed shaking his hand as he gave her a warm embrace.

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 53 ]

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Schrager, whose festival has raised 20 million dollars for the School of Hospitality over the past 13 years, offered his guidance and extended a helping hand. “Do you like to cook?” he asked, a trained chef himself. “I love cooking!” Cassandra shared with him. “I love hospitality and tourism. I’ve been thinking all my life about going to FIU.” A dream met with a spontaneous invite. “We just opened up a new teaching program this week with the funds from the festival. We built this beautiful new campus and I will take you for lunch one day and show you around,” Schrager offered as he she shared insight from an amazing career. “When you love what you do and you do what you love, it’s really not work. And that’s what I have found. I never think of it as going to work. I never call what I do going to work because I love it too much,” revealed Schrager, who has served as Vice President of Corporate Communications and National Events for Southern Wine and Spirits for over a decade. Also on this adventure, Cassandra’s school outreach counselor and one of her biggest champions, Maria Fey Rivera, who works with the non-profit Communities in Schools of Miami. “She has gone through so much pain and loss and instead of giving and saying ‘Oh my god my life is horrible’, she gets back up dusts herself off and continues. I’m supposed to be the role model but she’s a role model to me. I mean she has fallen so many times, she just lost the most important part of her life and instead of saying my life is done, that’ s it, she says ‘no’, she gets up and keeps going,” Rivera

told Gillen. With lofty dreams of running restaurants, today Cassandra supports her granddad working at Taco Bell. With the right education, Schrager encouraged “You are working at Taco bell today? You could be running it in a matter of years! That’s what hard work gets you.” He also shared a personal reflection. “There is such respect in this industry for young people. I was working when I was 13 and 14 years old, fortunately I didn’t have some of the heartaches that you had. But you know what, my parents were very convinced that no one gave them anything and no one was going to give their kids anything. And it was the hard work that really helped me and my brothers do what we are doing today.” Speaking of family, he explained, “There is a passion in people that work within the hospitality industry that doesn’t exist outside. You will develop a family and that family that you unfortunately don’t have you are going to recreate many times over in your career.” Counting himself in as “a new mentor” for Cassandra, he escorted her and the team into the venues of celebrity chefs. The DJ spotting Cassandra intoned over loud speakers, “Congratulations Cassandra. She is the CBS4 Super Kid. Cassandra is coming through! Clear the aisle!” Then it was on to carte blanche access to the festivals dream-makers, the chefs. Everywhere she was lost in smiles, even while crickets were cooked up by Chef Andrew Zimmern, and hundreds of children in the audience roared. One by one, Cassandra was embraced by

April 2014 CBS4 News Magazine Pinecrest [ 55 ]

top chefs who opened their hearts to her. Upon hearing about her journey and dream, Chef RLI, who counts being Dwyane Wade’s personal chef as one of his greatest joys, was so impressed. His tall frame towered over Cassandra, but his smile melted away her jitters and he let her know that he was willing to help her in any way he could. “Wonderful. Wonderful. Make sure you get my number. Let’s stay in contact and let me know if I can help you,” Chef RLI offered. His kind encouragement to help left her eyes filled with tears. “I love baking, I love cooking, I cook for my grandpa all the time,” she recalled for him. After just an hour and half at the event, her cheeks flush with excitement and bewilderment, Gillen asked Cassandra for a reality check. “We are here an hour and a half and how would you describe what’s going on so far?” inquired Gillen. “I am shocked. I feel like I am dreaming,” responded a beaming Cassandra. But the finale still awaited, a personal invitation to the celebrity chef trailer to meet her favorite Chef Rocco DiSpirito. In the thick of his appearances at the festival, he stopped everything to focus on Cassandra, her past and her future. And he made the present, incredibly magical for her. “Anytime someone young wants to get involved in the culinary arts which I have spent my entire life devoted to, which I love so much, I get very excited for them. And we all feel that,” said DiSpirito. He had her join him at the dining table. “I would love to help you in any way I can. In the Italian household food is the currency of love, this is how we express our love for other people. When you feed a person it is an incredibly meaningful gesture it means you care about them. You are willing to invest in them. They have meaning and value in this world. When you do it in a business, it is the same thing,” DiSpirito shared. Joining the conversation, another culinary legend, Chef Robert Irvine. He was wearing his traditional Superman T- Shirt. It was quickly clear; he is man with a super-sized heart. “We get to change people’s lives every day

through food. It’s exciting, when you see a young lady who wants to devote herself to that craft. It is a craft. It is an art. But it comes from your heart. I know Rocco and I know his mom and there is nobody more family oriented than he is. That is for sure,” Irvine explained and graciously continued. “Food is about fun, family, giving a piece of yourself to someone else. And obviously you do that with you grandpa now. I echo what Rocco says, I am sorry for your losing your grandmother. You can honor that loss through food. It’s an amazing vehicle to remember them. You can change people’s lives through food.” DiSpirito added, “I understand you want to go FIU and this festival was created to benefit FIU and hopefully you will be one of the beneficiaries of the 13 years of work that the festival has created. And if you need anything from us just let us know. I brought a copy of my book for you.” DiSpirito then signed his newest best seller “The Pound A Day Diet.” “Congrats! It was so nice to meet you and best of luck in all your future endeavors.” For a kid who seemingly never got a break in her young life, she finally got a day full of them. Following big hugs, Gillen said goodbye with the cheer “to the next chapter!” Schrager’s words and encouragement echoed. “I hope you are going to come visit us and I will show you around FIU. Remember, you can do anything.”

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CBSMIAMI.COM

Taste Of The Town Explores The Flavors Of

Seasalt & Pepper By Lisa Petrillo

Set on the edge of the Miami River bank, Seasalt and Pepper is Miami’s newest hot spot for the in-crowd looking for a delectable bite.

t’s a seafood brasserie offering seating for 200 in a post-industrial warehouse space outfitted with incredible style and artwork. Glass garage doors separate the inside from the outside. Co-owner Stephane Dupoux is no stranger to South Florida, in fact, he’s the man behind many past trendy spaces in town. “I created Nikki Beach, Opium Pearl, Touch, The Living Room and The Strand,” Dupoux said. But nothing quite looks like this sexy spot. Sophisticated touches are everywhere and diners need to just glance outside for a moving experience daily. “One of unique features of the Miami River is it is a working river, and you can see these big old fashioned tankers go by. It’s unique to anywhere in the world,” said Dupoux.

The design of this elegant eatery is what first attracts the eye, but it’s the food and creative cocktails that has had loyal customers coming back since its opening in late December. “The concept is based on seafood dishes I have discovered from my traveling around the world,” Dupoux told CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo. Those seaworthy recipes work to satisfy the palate as Petrillo found out with a taste of the grilled octopus appetizer called La Plancha. “It’s crunchy and seasoned to perfection,” explained Petrillo. So is the Meli Melo tartar with tuna salmon, crabmeat, scallops and avocado ice cream. “The fish and crab is so fresh, it’s super cold and delicious,” said Petrillo. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website at www.seasaltandpepper.com.

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Home Improvement

Content provided by www.Lowes.com

buyIng guIde

Organic Mulches Organic mulches come from natural sources. In addition to blocking weeds and retaining moisture, they enrich the soil through decomposition. Some organic mulches are regional and only available in certain geographical areas. Wood chips, shavings and bark are visually pleasing and provide all the characteristics of good mulch. Wood mulch is good at suppressing weeds and moderating temperature extremes in the soil. It decomposes relatively slowly, and many types don’t wash away easily. Shredded wood works well on sloped areas. You can find some wood mulch in a variety of colors, allowing you to coordinate it with your home and landscape. Use older, decomposed material. Wood mulch that isn’t properly aged or regularly turned can contain toxins and acids that are harmful to young plants. Fungal contamination can also occur with unseasoned wood mulch. There are several common wood mulches: Pine is an excellent mulch with long-lasting color. Pine bark is very effective in weed and seedling control. It can help prevent extreme temperature variations from reaching the root zone, and its sponge-like action keeps soil moist and makes for a healthier growing environment. Pine bark nuggets, which can last for years, may be too large for annual beds, but works well around trees and shrubs. Since pine bark nuggets tend to be lighter than some other types of bark, they may not work well on a slope. Cedar has a pleasing appearance and fragrance, making it a popular choice. It’s longer lasting than most mulches and may act as an insect repellent, especially when fresh. Cedar mulch may be harvested from either the whole tree or just the bark of the tree. Cypress offers good coverage, a nice appearance and a pleasant fragrance. It can be effective in controlling insects, fungus and weed growth. It protects tender plant roots from being damaged by cold temperatures and is effective at water retention. Because of its light weight, this type of mulch is not recommended for use on sloped areas. Redwood is a by-product of the lumber industry and its attractive color and woodsy aroma make it a popular mulch option. Redwood mulch is generally available as shredded material or in chunks. Eucalyptus has a scent that is appealing to humans,

but not to most insects and pests. Eucalyptus comes from plantation-grown trees and may offer a sustainable choice since some varieties can be harvested three to four times from the same tree in a 25-year period. Hemlock mulch does not refer to the hemlock plant, Hemlock mulch is a product of the hemlock tree, a nonpoisonous evergreen native to North America and eastern Asia. Pine needles come in bales, which makes them relatively easy to transport and apply. They’re long-lasting, attractive and are a good choice for insulating plants from extreme temperatures. Straw also comes in bales. Straw is the leftover stem portion of harvested grain. It’s lightweight with a tendency to blow around and therefore not always easy to apply. Straw decomposes quickly and you’ll need to replace it more often than other mulches. Its appearance may not make it a top choice for the landscape. However, weed-free straw does make a good cover for newly seeded lawn areas. It’s also good for winter protection of perennials, strawberries and small plants. It provides good nutrients and works well in vegetable gardens. Composted Manure may work best as a soil amendment or in the compost pile. If you use it as mulch, make sure it’s dry and well-rotted. Odor won’t be an issue, but the appearance may leave something to be desired. Manure often contains seeds — a good reason to consign it to the compost pile. Compost is one of the best mulches for providing benefits to the soil, but that rich medium also provides a great place for weeds. Some compost isn’t very attractive. If appearance is important, use compost as a soil amendment, and find a more visually pleasing material to cover it. Topsoil available at garden centers is basically packaged compost, a good soil amendment. This article was provided by www.Lowes.com.

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Home Improvement

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Marketplace

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