newspaper November 2012
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November 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Photos courtesy of CocaineCowboys.com
queen of cocaine, Griselda Blanco had quite a few nicknames: the godmother, the g impression on the black widow. Regardless of what she went by she left a lastin of kilos into South South Florida’s history. Authorities say she imported thousands way. Recently CBS4 Florida in the 1970’s and 80’s and killed anyone who got in her Robert sat down to interview the man who took her down. DEA agent Palombo spent 11 years of his life chasing a ghost. Reporting David Sutta
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“I don’t wish death on anybody, but if anybody deserved the ultimate punishment…it was her,” he told CBS4’s David Sutta. On Labor Day 2012, the 69-year-old Blanco was assassinated in a butcher shop in Colombia. She had lived longer than anyone expected. She escaped jail sentences, the electric chair, and dozens of enemies eager to kill her. It was the final chapter in a story that began years ago. In 1983, Miami Vice’s Crockett and Tubbs were rounding up drug dealers on television, in reality though the drug dealers were winning. “We were outgunned by them; outnumbered,” Palombo said. Palombo started his career in New York. He seemed to gravitate to Colombian drug cases. Suddenly, he was re-assigned to a South Florida task force waging war against a bloody drug trade. “Violence was the mainstay,” Palombo said. “It was as if the cocaine distri-
bution was a byproduct of the violence rather than vice versa.” In the aftermath of a shooting at the Dadeland Mall that left two dead, authorities discovered what they coined a war wagon. The steal reinforced armored truck, labeled Happy Time Complete Party Rentals, was loaded with a cache of weapons. Palombo had no idea it was linked to a woman named Griselda Blanco. “Griselda never showed on the radar. Her name was mentioned but she was never physically seen by any of us.” Palombo said. He had actually been chasing the ghost of Griselda from a 1974 drug case in New York. She vanished and he assumed she was living in Colombia. It was by sheer chance he came across her in Miami when a tip came in. His partner was on duty answering a tip line.
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“He happened to take a call from a woman, a Miami native who was complaining that her daughter was dating this Hispanic low-life, obviously involved in some sort of illegal activity and more than likely drugs,” Palombo remembered. Uber Blanco was the “low-life.” Palombo soon realized he was on to one of Griselda Blanco’s four sons. Uber lived the high life in Turnberry Isle. With the help of a Colombian arrested in Oklahoma, now turned informant, Palombo got close to Blanco’s children. Each one bragged to the informant about how important they were according to Palombo. He recorded them using hidden microphones in an attaché. “He was talking about how he and his brothers had really taken over the business from mom,” Palombo said. “They were moving tremendous amounts of cocaine both on the West Coast and as well as Miami. And that mom had taken a semi-retirement role.” The investigation was moving along. The informant moved small amounts of money for the brothers. Forty-thousand dollars here; $50,000 there. The DEA
was building a case against the Blanco brothers when a huge break came in. “Out of the blue the informant gets a call and low and behold it’s Griselda,” Palombo said. “He was shocked and unnerved about the call.” He had the informant set up a meeting in California where she was. Palombo remembers the first time he saw her entering the Newport Beach Marriott lobby. “When she turned and walked past us again; we took one look and we could see the dimples and the cleft and we just looked at each other and it was ‘this is it. It’s her,’” Palombo said. After the meeting was over with the informant they didn’t move in. She left them $500,000 to get to her bank accounts in Panama. Palombo said they began to peel back her massive operation for about a year. The DEA, through the informant, began money laundering for Griselda. They moved millions of dollars for her. They tracked her violent orders. No one knows exactly her many her henchmen killed, just that it was more than serial killers Jeffery Dahmer and Ted Bundy combined.
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For Information Call: 305.477.1699 “Does it make a difference whether it’s 50 or 100. I don’t think so,” Palombo said. “I would say that conservatively I would say anywhere between 75 and 100.” Their case hit a wall though when the DEA tried to get drugs from Griselda. A misunderstanding led the trail to go cold overnight. Palombo explained he had coached the informant to make the request without scaring Blanco. “You basically want to say something to the effect that you are having a party and you need a couple people taken care of. So you need a few things and see what she says,” Palombo told the informant. When the conversation went down Griselda told the informant it wouldn’t be a problem and gave them the pager number for Jorge “Riverito” Ayala. Ayala was one of Blanco’s hitman. The informant met with Riverito at Victoria Station on 36th street in Miami. Palombo said everything was going fine until the informant asked for the drugs. “He looked at me like I had 10 heads. And he said, ‘what are you talking about.” Palombo told CBS4’s Sutta the meeting ended abruptly. “The informant tried to connect with Griselda and she wasn’t returning his calls. We became extremely upset and concerned.” Palombo’s world was collapsing. “During the time we had lost touch with her, she was giving me premature gray hair. And my wife was not very happy that I was spending all this time, long periods of time, in southern California when I had two young children,” Palombo explained. “It was becoming a bit of a strain. When is this going to end? So one day I just blurted out if I ever catch her. I’m going to give her a kiss of death because she is driving me crazy.” The veteran DEA agent returned back to Blanco’s weakness…her sons. Osvaldo Blanco was a car nut. Palombo knew he visited a Beverly Hills dealership often. They sat in the Beverly Hills Willshire Hotel for days watching the dealership. When Osvaldo appeared, Palombo had his informant accidentally bump into him. “It worked like a charm. They partied all night long,” Palombo said. They tracked bodyguards back to Griselda’s home in Irvine California and early on February 17, 1985 Palombo finally moved in. With the house covered they watched as Michael Corlone, her 6-year-old son at the time, walked out the front door with a nanny. On the front porch Griselda suddenly appeared to give him a kiss. He headed off with the nanny to the park. Griselda went back inside. Palombo said he walked up to the front door and knocked. An old woman answered. To this day
he’s unsure who she was but speculates it could have been her mother. As they cleared the house, Palombo made his way up the stairs. He came upon a room and discovered Griselda sitting in bed. “She was at that point in bed propped up reading the bible. You can’t make this up. She looked up at first in a bit of a shock,” Palombo said he leaned in and said, “Griselda we finally meet.” She had no clue who he was. He then delivered on his promise. “I made her stand up and at the point I just went over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She was bewildered. Had no idea why I did it,” Palombo said. Blanco never really said anything to investigators. They found a gun on the nightstand. She never made an effort to reach for it though. She was booked and Palombo finally felt relief. He still had no idea how big the case was until he noticed what happened to crime stats. “The fact that the homicide rate dropped dramatically after she was arrested,” Palombo said. Blanco would be sentenced to 15 years in prison on drug trafficking charges. Palombo believes the sentence was rigged. He thought the judge over the case, Eugene Spellman, played favorites with Blanco’s lawyers. “She should have received a minimum of 35 years,” said Polombo. After just 10 years Blanco was released from federal prison. By then, MiamiDade prosecutors had three murder cases against her. Griselda appeared headed for the electric chair when the prosecution became caught up in a sex scandal with a key witness. It ended with a plea deal. She served just 7 years. “Betrayal. That’s the best way to describe it. We felt betrayed by the system,” Palombo said. He believed they shouldn’t have thrown a good case away. “The homicide prosecution was totally salvageable,” he said. “There was another witness that had nothing to do with the sex case that was ready willing and able to get up and testify to the same basic evidence.” In 2004, when Griselda exited the state prison she was deported back to Colombia. He assumed she was dead the moment she landed, yet somehow she held on eight years. The on Labor Day 2012 in Medellin a motorcycle assassin pulled up to butcher store. The cyclists with his helmet still on pulled out a gun and shot Blanco twice in the head. Palombo called it poetic justice. “Here we have a butcher being killed in a butcher shop. By an individual who employs the very technique, the motorcycle technique that she kind of invented,” Palombo said. “I mean you just can’t make this up. It was the final chapter.” Palombo now works as a consultant. As for Blanco she was buried earlier this month in the same cemetery as notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar. It appeared she was out of the drug trafficking business.
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Facebook’s New “Promote” Option Raising Concerns Reporting Al Sunshine
When you log into Facebook, you see their slogan, “It’s free and it always will be.” But a new fee based service is causing some concerns for consumers about whether that will remain the case.
lev radin / Shutterstock.com
There is always an endless stream of status updates and
photos when a Facebook user gets to their news feed but there’s a new option to break through Facebook’s clutter which will make your post stand out. Users are now getting the option of hitting “Promote” when they create a post. Selecting “Promote” launches your post to the top of all your friends’ news feeds. This new privilege isn’t free. Social media consultant Patrick O’Malley explained, “If you post something on Facebook, your friends may or may not see it because it may just get lost in all the other posts that they have. So if you want to remain at the top, you can pay Facebook a $7 fee and they will insure that your post stays at the top.” Paying to use Facebook troubles critics who say this violates the spirit of social media and will create a two-tier system of users. “Those that can afford $7 each time they post something to Facebook get better influence and better reach than those who can’t,” said David Gerzof Richard, a media consultant and professor. Popular sites like Twitter and LinkedIn have also started introducing various pay-to-play options. It’s about the bottom line. They’re all trying to figure out how
to make money. O’Malley said this could start a trend of more fees for social media sites. He said, “Facebook has got a lot of opportunities to make money, and they lost a lot of money when the stock price dropped.” There are now a billion Facebook users. The ones we spoke with didn’t express any interest in paying for anything on the site. Gerzof Richard doesn’t think this change will cause people to abandon the site, however. “It’s really difficult for anyone to say, ‘That’s it, I am now off of Facebook’, because it has become the standard for staying connected.” Facebooks’ pay option is not available on its tablet and phone apps.
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
CBS4 Investigates:
? Reporting Michele Gillen
Imagine going to the polls and casting your vote for President Barack Obama or Governor Mitt Romney and somehow the machine thinks you voted for both candidates. That’s called an overvote, and your vote may be thrown out. Sound impossible? It isn’t.
“You are getting to the crux of the problem with this technology. We are supposed to trust what goes on back there blindly,” voting rights advocate and attorney Lida Rodriguez-Taseff told CBS4 Chief Investigator Michele Gillen. Rodriguez-Taseff has spent a decade battling to pull back the curtain on election transparency. She helped get the touch screen machines tossed in Florida in favor of getting voters a paper ballot and paper trail – only to learn that the variety of optical scan machines now in use now across America and Florida may have flaws no one could have predicted. Or could they have? “Nobody has done and in-depth study to determine how well those machines are really working,” Rodriguez-Taseff cautioned Gillen. “It absolutely leaves me pause that we’re not looking at those machines more closely. The technology that is used for voting is generally inferior to the computing technology that most people have in their homes. And in their cars and their iPhones and cell phones. So the fact that we’re not looking more closely at this technology is really troubling to most people yes,” said Rodriguez-Taseff. Kitty Garber knows the optical scan ballot and its history in Miami-Dade. She is the co-founder of the Florida Fair Election Center, and she’s worried about the optical scan system Miami-Dade county residents will cast their ballots on this presidential election. In fact, she’s been concerned over how we cast ballots here for the past five years. At the heart of Garber’s concern is how often the machine – the ES&S DS200 in Miami Dade County, registers an overvote. That’s when, according to the machine, a voter has voted for two candidates in the same race. Their vote may then be invalidated… thrown out. Where does Miami-Dade Stand in terms of overvotes visa vie the whole state of Florida? “It’s the worst,” said Garber referring to the top two races studied by the state
of FLorida in 2010 and in the top race, she said, “Miami-Dade again came up with 43% of all the overvotes statewide. It’s awful. It’s terrible. There should be virtually no overvotes,” said Garber. What concerns voting rights advocates? A lack of answers as to what’s causing this problem? “The problem could arise from many different places. It could arise from the fact that voters need to be trained not to overvote. It could arise from the fact that oncevoters overvote… they aren’t being properly notified and it could arise from the fact that voters are not being made to correct their ballot. Lastly of course it could arise from the fact that the machine has a problem and is recording overvotes when it shouldn’t be,” said Rodriguez-Taseff. That’s exactly what was just discovered to have happened in a 2010 race in the Bronx NY. “It became obvious that this was a machine error and not a voter error,” says Larry Norden of NYU’s Brennan Center of Law who helped expose that that the machine misread dozens of votes as overvotes– with no one noticing. “It is unacceptable. The whole point of elections is for people to make their choices known And we should have technology that is able to do that,” says Norden. It was what Norden says was the alarming number of overvotes detected in Miami- Dade races, that caught his attention and led the Brennan Center to investigate the ES&S DS200 machines in use in a 2010 race in the Bronx. “We looked at the record in Florida and saw that there were very high numbers of over votes, particularly in Miami-Dade county which was using this machine but particularly in all of the counties that were using this particular voting machine in Florida,” Norden added. According to Norden, after the machines were left on for a few hours of
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voting— one machine wrongly read dozens of votes as over votes… and all those votes were lost. The conclusion of the manufacturer was essentially summed up this way. “It appears that the unit was out of calibration and when the unit heated up over a period of time, the scanned image was distorted and the system recorded votes that were not marked.” “It is absolutely chilling to hear their account of what happened with the machines. The problem is they can make whatever diagnosis they want. They can say, oh it was the temperature of the machine you don’t know. There’s no way for outsiders to know,” said Rodriguez-Taseff. Keep in mind, that while Miami Dade and the Bronx both use the DS200, our investigation finds that the software in the machines are different versions. Could that affect or prevent the same problem from having happened here, or happening in the future? CBS4 investigates has tried to find out. Despite the Bronx meltdown making New York headlines and raising questions about the machines in use around the country – the Supervisor of Elections in Miami-Dade and the department’s supervisor have denied our requests for an interview regarding the optical scanners, the problems in NY and whether anything has been done to prevent, preclude or identify a similar problem here. On why they refuse to do an interview on the subject: “The Department cannot comment on the issue that was experienced in New York with one of their voting units. However, we can confidently state this has no impact on voting in Miami-Dade County,” said Deputy Supervisor of Elections, Christina White, in a prepared statement sent to CBS4 Investigates. “The advocates do not have the information required to make a real analysis of whether or not the problem can happen here,” said Rodriguez-Taseff. “And part of the problem is that the technology is considered proprietary so they don’t give access to anyone other than the state. And even the state has limited access.
The manufacturer has written CBS4 Investigates that following the Bronx problem: it “issued a best practices technical bulletin to all DS200 users reminding them of the need to properly calibrate and clean units prior to an election.” Broward County Supervisor of Elections, Brenda Snipes sat down with Gillen and answered a wide range of questions on the machines and concerns raised over what happened in the Bronx. Asked if she found out that a similar problem affected her machines, would she be outraged? ”That goes without saying,” said Snipes. “Now do I have the ability or the resources to go in and test… what do we have… 12-13 hundred machines? No I don’t. No I don’t,” she pointed out and added, “It appeared to be that it was isolated to the Bronx. Broward County’s Department of Elections has given CBS4 Investigates access to shoot their machines. They too use the DS200 with software different from that used in Miami-Dade or in the Bronx. Unlike Miami-Dade, Broward does not have what voting observers consider a red flag number of overvotes. Because of the potential fallibility of the current machines— Taseff says its more urgent than ever that elections audit as many of the paper ballots as possible. Currently, by law in Florida, the departments are only allowed to audit a very small sample of the paper ballots, and only after the winner is declared and certified. “We need to pay more attention to what is going on behind these machines so we can make sure that the next election is actually successful and every vote is counted,” said Rodriguez-Taseff.
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Coast Guard Readies
High-Tech
Sentinel Ship For Service
Reporting Marybel Rodriguez
The U.S. Coast Guard’s effort to replace its aging fleet made another milestone. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter William Flores has sailed on the waters for the first time.
The trip was a victory lap of sorts, as the ship trekked from its port at Coast Guard Sector Miami three miles to a sea buoy then back to port. The USCGC William Flores is the third of a planned 58 Fast Response Cutters in the Sentinel Class. Sentinel Class cutters are replacing the agency’s aging Island-class, 110-foot patrol boats. According to the Coast Guard’s website, the Sentinel Class patrol boat project will deliver vital capability to the Coast Guard, helping to meet the service’s need for additional patrol boats. On November 3, the USCGC William Flores will be commissioned into service in Tampa. As with all the Fast Response Cutters, the ship is named after Coast Guard enlisted heroes. In this case, both the ship and the location of its commissioning honors Coast Guard Seaman William “Billy” Flores. On the night of Jan. 28, 1980, Flores, just 18 at the time, died while as-
SVLuma / Shutterstock.com sisting his shipmates after their cutter, Blackthorn, collided with a large merchant vessel in the Tampa Bay ship channel. His heroism and sacrifice serve as an example for all Coast Guard members and inspire the ship’s motto of “courage in adversity.”
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November 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Sales Of Electric Cars Not Exactly
Shocking Reporting Al Sunshine
Juan Cordero is car shopping again.
Business has been good enough for the South Miami furniture designer to head back out to the local showrooms. While he wants to save money at the gas pump, he’s still not sure about the latest hybrids or electric cars hitting the market, like Chevy’s Volt.
As a careful shopper, Cordero said prices in the mid $40,000 range is too much for him. “One is the price and maybe they haven’t tweaked it enough, haven’t done what the consumer is looking for,” said Cordero. “It’s a good looking car, but
too small and too expensive.” With an almost three month inventory of Volts, General Motors temporarily shut down its assembly line. To boost sales and move existing inventory, it’s offering new incentives like 0% financing and $3000 markdowns.
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“I think it is more fear of the unknown right now. I think infrastructure has something to do with it. Once that’s in place and once the battery technology elevates that range past 100 miles per charge, I think you’ll see a much greater acceptance of the project,”
“We sell about two to three Volts a month so it’s not one of our big production cars, big volume cars,” said sales manager Gabriel Camps of Maroone Chevrolet in Doral. “There’s not much coming in looking for it” It’s not alone. Nissan’s all-electric Leaf is also a slow seller with its price tag in the mid$30,000 and limited battery range of about 100 miles per charge. Nissan has reportedly bought back several of them after owners complained they didn’t get the battery life Nissan advertised. “We’d like to see more growth, no doubt about it,” said Dave Rodriguez, General Manager at Maroone Nissan of Miami. Publically available electric charging stations for all-electric or plug-in hybrids are one of the biggest attractions for owners of electric vehicles. All they need to do is plug the standardized cables from the station into the vehicle’s universal charging plug. That sounds easy enough, but that’s also one of the biggest problems for anyone who owns an all-electric vehicle in South Florida. What’s the problem? It turns out there are hardly any public charging stations in the tri-county area. A new one was just installed in the City of Miami Beach’s Parking Garage at 13th and Collins Avenue. It’s believed to be the first of its kind in Miami Beach.
Critics say without more of them, electric car owners have few choices where they can drive before having to recharge. “The local and national infrastructure is a work in progress and we haven’t seen, we probably haven’t see as much of an advancement in that area as of yet as we’re hoping to,” said Rodriguez. Because of battery problems and a lack of consumer demand, Toyota in Japan just pulled the plug on its production of the new all-electric “E-Q” mini car. The company decided to only make about 100 of them and offer them for sale in Japan and California. Other carmakers including Ford and Mitsubishi, however, are still developing their electric and hybrid projects. To sweeten the deal for car shoppers, there’s a $7,000 income tax credit to encourage sales throughout the United States. “I think it is more fear of the unknown right now. I think infrastructure has something to do with it. Once that’s in place and once the battery technology elevates that range past 100 miles per charge, I think you’ll see a much greater acceptance of the project,” said Rodriguez. Battery and hybrid technology are expected to improve in the future. The big question right now is “Are consumers ready to spend money today for a technology that has yet to deliver all that it promises?”
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d n u f s e m i R t c d i x n i a V h e T raud Left B ) .com iami M S B MI (C MIA
F etting G
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Tax refund fraud has kept federal prosecutors in South Florida busy as the crime continues to grow in popularity. Just this year, two former NFL players pleaded guilty to taking part in tax refund fraud.
“Identity theft, tax refund scams are really no less than a tsunami that is barreling towards us,” said U.S. attorney Wifredo Ferre. For victims like South Dade’s Lauri King, waiting for help from the Internal Revenue Service is getting harder. She still doesn’t know when the agency may get around to mailing out her refund. “I think they are overwhelmed,” King said of the IRS. “I think this is something they never planned for, never expected to happen.” King filed her tax refund seven months ago. She expected to get her refund a few months later, but continues to wait for the IRS to finally act. “Just two weeks ago, I mentioned to my husband, did we ever get our IRS refund and he said, ‘No,’” King said. “So we called and actually got to talk with a person and she informed us that we had an issue with identity theft.” Miami has the highest fraudulent tax return rate in the nation according to Ferre. “Over 74,000 potentially fraudulent returns filed in Miami resulting in $280 million in bogus returns in 2010,” Ferre said. “The city of Miami per capita numbers of fraudulent returns based on id theft was 46 times the national average…this is absolutely outrageous.” While the IRS investigates an estimated $5.2 billion dollars worth of phony tax refunds nationwide, tax payers like Lauri King are running out of patience while she waits for her tax refund. “I feel like I’m nobody; I feel like whatever happens, happens,” King said. “It’s a very defeating feeling, you work all year long, you’re one little bit of change you get can back to have a little freedom with. Nope, just a name, just a number that’s all.” Several weeks ago CBS4 News asked the IRS how many identity theft victims were still waiting to get their tax refunds? The agency said it’s not releasing that information publicly and wouldn’t even let CBS Miami go inside its Plantation Customer Service Center with a camera to talk with taxpayers who are critical of the way the agency’s treating them. The agencies local customer service offices are so crowded, warning signs are often posted before noon that they don’t have any more time to meet with taxpayers. “I don’t see anything to assist them with getting a refund or getting the credit processed and going foward in any kind of expedited basis,” Miami tax lawyer Kevin Packman said. Packman said federal prosecutors are making progress arresting the scammers, but he believes more needs to be done to help the victims and warns victims like Lauri, “Could still be dealing with this somewhere for 12-18 months.” CBS4’s Al Sunshine asked if he’s heard of people dealing with this for more than a year? Packman answered “Yes, definitely.” The IRS insists it’s changing procedures, tightening up its electronic processing systems to avoid more scams next season. But what about getting tax fraud victims’ legitimate refunds back this year?
In a prepared statement, the I-R-S said: “Refund times can vary depending on the complexity of the case, and we understand the frustration that taxpayer may have that have been identity theft victims. Along with taking steps toward faster resolution of identity theft cases, we are continuously improving the way we track and report on the status of all identity theft cases. We believe these improvements will reduce the time to work identity theft cases in coming filing seasons so that honest taxpayers will receive their refunds sooner. Additionally, better tracking and reporting means that we can spot – and correct – any flaws in the system more quickly.” - Michael Dobzinski, IRS Media Relations Specialist Still, with bills mounting and the holiday shopping season right around the corner, victims like Lauri think seven months is way too long for the IRS to get her refund back to her. “The working public needs help to resolve issues like this,” King said. “It’s hard enough going to work every day and now you’re having your money stolen on top of it and then you have to prove your identity to make sure you’re the correct person. I don’t know how far it’s gone, is it just the IRS check, is it other things? Where does it stop, how does the IRS stop it from happening again? Where does it end, does it happen next year, does it happen a year after that?” A recent Inspector Generals’ report warned these scams could cost Uncle Sam $21 billion dollars in fraudulent tax refunds over the next 5 years. The IRS continues to ask victims to be patient while they wait for their legitimate refund checks to be mailed out. But it still declines comment on what it’s doing to make sure next year taxpayer refunds end up with the people who earned them, and not the criminals who’ve been so successful stealing them.
For more Information: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf http://www.treasury.gov/
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Reporting Shannon Hori
We first met Bella two years ago, playing hopscotch with her younger sister. Something doctors never thought she would do. Bella was four-years old when she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She became paralyzed. Her desperate parents, Shannah and Raymond Rodriguez-Torres, sent out a plea to pray for Bella. Soon after, they say, miracles happened. Bella took steps on her own two feet. And incredibly, scans showed the tumors were gone. But since our first meeting, the tumors have returned. Bella is fighting cancer for a fifth time. The now 9-year old is once again in chemotherapy.
Her one request? Instead of the boring band-aid, she wanted one with the popular cartoon character “Angry Birds”. “For a child, something so simple as a child’s Band-Aid, can brighten their day,” said Raymond Rodriguez-Torres. “In the midst of something so challenging, something so simple.” So Bella’s mom put out the call for fun Band-Aids, for all kids, on the “Pray For Bella” Facebook page. “I’m not kidding, within two weeks from all over the country boxes and boxes shipped in,” Shannah said. Bella needed a lot of help to bring in all the boxes of Band-Aids, about 2500 boxes, into Miami Children’s Hospital. They were sent in from all over the world featuring children’s characters like Barbie and Dora the Explorer. Now these Band-Aids are being given to other kids, like Ava, who’s also fighting cancer. “Every time after she has her blood taken from her thumb she wants a Band Aid. Wants Spongebob,” said Ava’s mom Nickelle Crowley. A simple Band-Aid. Helping ease the pain that can’t be seen. “The greatest gift is to be able to give. The greatest joy comes from helping others even in the darkest storm,” Raymond said.
“The greatest gift is to be able to give. The greatest joy comes from helping others even in the darkest storm.”
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November 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
The Frightening Reality Of
Reporting Marybel Rodriguez
Face Blindness Imagine you couldn’t recognize people’s faces, and even your own family looked unfamiliar. It’s a puzzling and disabling neurological disorder that prevents sufferers from being able to recognize the faces of people that they see every day. The rare disorder is known as prosopagnosia or face blindness. It doesn’t cause victims to forget people but it does make it impossible for them to recognize them. “I literally have walked right past my kids on the street and not known it was them,” said James Cooke. “I don’t forget people, I just can’t recognize them,” Dori Frame said. “I have shaped my life so I don’t have to come in contact with people and rely on recognizing people.” The disorder can prevent a victim from being able to recognize a person who they have known for years. “The first 49 years of my life, I could walk in a room and just scan the room and know who I knew and who I didn’t know. Now, I don’t even bother looking,” James Cooke said. Experts say the disorder only affects 3 percent of the population and that while some people are born with it, others may develop it later in life as a result of an accident or other medical condition. “Stroke, traumatic brain injury, degenerative causes,” were all among fac-
tors listed by Dr. Todd Feinberg, a neurologist, as possible causes of prosopagnosia. Frame said that she has developed a system of techniques to help her distinguish different people. She uses the sound of a person’s voice or distinctive features like short hair, or a crooked mouth to identify people. Help may be on the way for sufferers in the form of specially trained dogs who can recognize family members and close friends while out in public or at large social functions. “All I have to say is, ‘find Greg’ and he’s off like a shot through the crowd,” Frame explained. The disorder can be difficult to deal with for those who are close to its victims as well. “I really didn’t understand at first. What do you mean you can’t recognize me? You’re my dad,” said Cooke’s son, Tommy. There is no cure or treatment for face blindness and some people may not even realize that they have it.
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November 2012
B e s t O f M i a mi
CORAL GABLES
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The Bar www.gablesthebar.com Decorated with that dark English pub feel that shies away from the sunlight, wooden oak booths, old bottles and stained glass lamps, The Bar surprises patrons with its dual personality. Early in the evening in a relaxed atmosphere you may sit at the bar and enjoy one of the largest variety of imported beers in the neighborhood. Later in the night, the volume gets loud and the bar area transforms into a dance floor. The Bar is not a dive where you may end up playing board games, but is intimate enough for a first date and warm enough to host a birthday party. The acclaimed Key Lime Pie is not to be missed.
The Local Craft Food & Drink www.thelocal150.com Limited seating and cozy ambiance make this restaurant and bar a place where you want to meet with friends after work and unwind with a chilled specialty beer and some tapas, or as the The Local Craft calls it, gastropub flare. Frequented by a young crowd of twenty-something professionals that share a passion for great American craft beer and conversation, this is a college student’s dream bar. The 24 rotating taps means that there’s always something new to sip on. Just save room for dessert––the bacon beignet with rosemary maple syrup and whipped cream is a must-try.
Tarpon Bend www.tarponbend.com In Miami, a restaurant that’s been in business since 1999 is the equivalent of an old staple, hands down. Part of a small chain, Tarpon Bend still maintains its warm and casual atmosphere, welcoming its aficionados mainly for lunch and happy hour. This is the destination on the Mile for oysters and seafood and its famous Thursday Mojito Madness.
Titanic Brewery www.titanicbrewery.com The original concept for Titanic Brewery was a maritime themed microbrewery, and it was then extended to a fish and seafood restaurant (even the menu has ships everywhere) and a stage for live entertainment. Understated, unpretentious and laid back are the best attributes of both the crowd and the décor, since the center of the attention is behind the bar where you can see the beers being brewed as you drink them. Titanic is that typical hangout place to meet friends after work or to chill after a fishing excursion. As a drink to choose, with The Sampler you can have a taste of six of the brewery’s nine homebrewed beers to find your favorite.
19th Hole Sports Bar and Grill www.biltmorehotel.com 19th Hole Sports Bar and Grill is the best kept secret in Coral Gables. Whether you are finishing up your 18 holes or coming out of the Baltimore Hotel’s spa, 19th Hole is a pleasant venue overlooking the course. This is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet lunch or a chilled drink at sunset with pals. There’s a spectacular view with a breeze and the waterfall of the pool serves as a soundtrack while enjoying a salad or a burger in a mini escape in your own backyard.
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
New Laser Procedure Helps
Cataract Patients
See Clearly Reporting Cynthia Demos
Picture getting cataract surgery with no cutting of the eye. This is a major leap in the world of correcting diminishing vision. CBS4’s Cynthia Demos tracked down one of the few South Florida doctors performing laser cataract surgery on some of his patients. “I cannot tell you how many times that I honestly have said to myself over these years, ‘If only I could see, life would be
Basil Bain, 59, is a private yacht captain so perfect vision for him is essential. “Early in the morning I have fog in my right eye,” he explained. Bonnie Belangia, 66, has been dependant on her glasses for decades. “I’m over it and I understand this procedure is so precise,” she said. Both patients said they would never have had this surgery when a knife was involved. “I don’t like needles and I don’t like razor blades,” said Bain. With laser, things look a lot better. Dr. Andrew Shatz said the new procedure is more precise and quicker to heal. “We have the precision to allow us to tell patients if they can have 20/25 or 20/20 vision,” explained Dr. Shatz. “That’s what’s able to be delivered with this type of technology.” Dr. Shatz added that eventually everyone gets cataracts. “The earlier it’s done, the quicker you recoverthe longer you enjoy and the better you end up being.” The recovery time for Bain and Belangia was about 3 weeks. After the allotted amount of time we checked back in with them. Basil was thrilled with the results.
easier,’ and it has become reality and it’s just a wonderful thing.”
“When I drive down the road I can see the signs that’s for sure. Everything is crystal clear to me and I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my whole lifetime.” Bonnie agreed. “I cannot tell you how many times that I honestly have said to myself over these years, ‘If only I could see, life would be easier,’ and it has become reality and it’s just a wonderful thing.” The new procedure is typically partially covered by insurance. For more information log on to sighttrust.com
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Fixing Your Own
Back Pain
Reporting Cynthia Demos
Most of us will suffer from back pain at some point of our lives but what if a method could help you fix your own problem? CBS4’s Cynthia Demos explored the McKenzie method.
Dr. Yoav Suprun on Miami Beach teaches it to his patients. “It’s a lot about patient empowerment,” he explained. Dr. Suprun works on Miami Beach and said his goal is to treat you, to teach you and to not have to see you again. “The special thing about the MacKenzie method is it allows the patient to treat themselves,” he said. Dr. Suprun teaches his patients fix their own problem via the McKenzie Method. The book “Treat Your Own Back” by Robert McKenzie features the McKenzie Method. He’s sold more than 7 million copies. Dr. Suprun taught Shakira Silverman the method when she was pregnant with her baby, Eli. “He gave me movements that helped abolish the pain,” explained Shakira. She’s a hair stylist who’s on her feet 6 to 8 hours a day. She didn’t want to take medication during her pregnancy so she learned methods like touching her hand to the ground, the belly to the sky method and other ways to stop any disc
from bulging. CBS4’s own Cynthia Demos, at 8 months pregnant, gave it a try and said she could feel some instant relief. This method of finding your own treatment also works for most athletes, those who’ve been in an accident, lifted something improperly and the list goes on. As far as Shakira’s experience with learning the McKenzie method goes she said, “it actually resolved the pain 100 percent.” Dr. Suprun says his goal is to treat patients about 5 times and send them on their way. That may not be too good for recurring business but he says it’s great for the end result.
“The special thing about the MacKenzie method is it allows the patient to treat themselves.”
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B e s t O f M i a mi
Best Flea
Markets
In Miami
cbs4 Newspaper
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For Information Call: 305.477.1699
Miami has a number of fun, sprawling flea markets for bargain hunters, stylists and collectors alike. Expect everything from toys and books to apparel and accessories as well as services like gyms and salons. The markets range in offerings from the expected flea market items to goodies such as free WiFi, video game arcades, bounce houses, and legendary farmer’s markets. Spend a day with friends and family hunting for good finds or just grab lunch and peruse the day away.
Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market (305) 688-0500 www.opalockahialeahfleamarket.net The Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market has goods from most any category – jewelry to tools to luggage to toys. The most impressive of the selections, though, are the endless great finds of furniture, home accessories, and related items for re-vamping home or office. Many of the items from the 11 furniture booths are good enough to use as is without even painting or upholstering––the place is filled with hidden gems. Die-hard shoppers will love that the flea market is open every day of the year and it is easy to spend many hours there at a time with bonuses like complimentary WiFi and a yummy farmer’s market to keep the energy levels high.
Tropicana Flea Market (305) 638-7004 www.tropicanafleamarket.com The Tropicana Flea Market is a favorite of stylists and set designers in the city. It’s a great place to find special finds from decades past from 1960s skirts to authentic 1970s tie-dyed bean bags. This is a fun place to spend leisurely weekends with friends to treasure hunt and think outside of the box for new wardrobe additions. The popular market also vends everything from food to furniture. It is best to arrive early, as Tropicana is only open Friday through Sunday and is a popular weekend destination for shoppers.
Revelation Flea Market
Redland Market Village Bargain Town
(305) 247-4711 www.revelationfleamarket.com
(305) 257-4335
Shoppers looking for a well-rounded day at the flea will really enjoy Revelation Flea Market. The fun-filled atmosphere accompanies plenty of great shopping across several product categories, as well as a slew of services ranging from the relaxing to the convenient. There are hair salons, nail salons, barbers, a gym, and more. Take the kids along as well to play at the on-site play areas – Victory Amusement Center and Mr. Bear’s Bounce Around Playhouse & Arcade.
Redland Market Village Bargain Town is another interesting flea market in Homestead. Used and new items for sale include jewelry, clothing, and health and beauty products. The market is haggling-focused, so be sure to arrive negotiation-ready. The food is the best part of this flea market, as it sells many ethnic ingredients, sweets, and other foods. The farmer’s market offers the famous natural goodies of Homestead farms, including starfruit and lychees.
U.S. 1 Discount Mall (305) 234-2828 www.us1mall.com A short drive from popular attractions such as Zoo Miami is the U.S. 1 Discount Mall. The cavernous indoor Cutler Bay flea market is a one-stop shopping destination for apparel, accessories, furniture, home goods, and a wide range of other flea market fare. This is best left for an all-day occasion to get a chance to stop by most or all of the booths (there are more than 200 of them). Amenities are not left out either, as there are several beauty services are available on-site.
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November 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Preparing A
Quick And Healthy Breakfast For Kids
Reporting Cynthia Demos
For many families, mornings are hectic. There’s breakfast to consume, teeth to brush, shoes to tie, all before the mad dash to school. So how do you fit in a healthy breakfast? Registered dietitian Dana Nahai says the key is planning and preparation, because you need to include something from three different food groups: whole grains, proteins and fresh or frozen fruits. Many parents turn to cereal in the morning, but Nahai says don’t eat it every day. “Even the organic breakfast cereals have a lot of hidden sugar and sodium in them,” she said. But making a change doesn’t mean you have to cook when you wake up. Prepare some foods the night before, like oatmeal. Nahai recommends making it with milk and brown sugar and then putting it in the refrigerator over-
night. In the morning just reheat it and add some fruit, such as blueberries. You can also make whole wheat waffles, adding yogurt, fruit and nuts. Another option is to make an apple sandwich. You can spread peanut butter on apple slices, and put it all inside a whole grain pita. Sandwiches are a versatile breakfast option. “We have taken some deli ham, some mild-flavored mozzarella, placed it in the tortilla and folded it like a crepe,” Nahai said. While these breakfasts take some preparation, if you do your homework, you can help your child get the best start to his or her day.
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
For
Reporting Lisa Petrillo
If you’ve noticed more men shopping around the beauty department, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. An exploding number of skincare and cosmetic products are being designed with guys in mind.
One look in Scott Lazerson’s bathroom and you might think his wife has taken over but the piles of beauty booty he has all over the counter are actually his. “Every day I am cleansing my face. Once a week I’m putting a clay mask on,” said Scott Lazerson who likes men’s grooming products. Scott said the products help him put his best face forward and he’s not alone. Made-for-Men grooming products are expected to hit more than $3 billion by 2016, up from an estimated $2.6 billion this year. Jesse Ashlock with Details Magazine said men today simply want to look and feel their best. “You can gain a personal and professional advantage by paying attention to these things,” said Jesse Ashlock of Details Magazine. From the drugstore to specialty and department stores, men’s beauty brands are taking up serious shelf space, with everything from anti-aging potions, moisturizers, lip balms and shaving oils. At Sephora in the Aventura Mall, sales are up when it comes to male grooming products. “Definitely, especially here in the Miami and here in the Florida market, men are more inclined to take care of their skin and their hair, so definitely grooming has increased and our male clients have increased as well,” explained Sephora makeup artist Mary Aguilar.
Once a year, Stefan Andersen comes from Europe to buy his products here at the Aventura Mall. “There used to be a stigma with men who put creams on, or anything on their face,” said Andersen. But now, that’s not the case anymore. “I think that’s passed I really do,” said Andersen. Some men are even stocking up on makeup like tinted moisturizer, concealer, and bronzers. “We actually now have a catered section for men. I think they feel more open, more inviting for men now,” said Aguilar. It’s more inviting for men because the word makeup is never used. Instead, the descriptions are bit more masculine like “Beard Lube”, “The Core Collection”, and “Cool Fix.” “They’re not like makeup in the way that women use makeup, but they’ll do something to smooth skin tone, obscure a blemish, get rid of tired eyes, in a way that nobody out there will know that you’re wearing makeup,” said Jesse Ashlock of Details Magazine. Scott Lazerson’s skincare regimen is nothing to blush about. “I really, really believe that doing something daily for my skin has definitely made me look younger,” he said. These days, you can even find subscription based beauty services for men, like Birchbox, for a monthly fee, which sends samples of grooming and lifestyle products sent straight to your door.
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November 2012 MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
What’s In
Your Shower Could Be
Making You
Sick
Reporting Josh Benson
Katie Keating couldn’t understand what was happening to her. “You don’t have the strength to do anything,” Keating said. “Initially, I thought bronchitis.” She was out of breath, had a constant cough and was rapidly losing weight. “I thought that it would go away,” said Keating.
She went to doctor after doctor but her symptoms only got worse and nobody knew what was wrong. Finally, Keating learned she had an illness called nontuberculous mycobacteria or NTM, and even more shocking– she likely got it from her shower. “They are small bacteria. They cause disease in humans, pulmonary disease,” said Keating. You don’t just contract this illness from the shower. It can come from any water. The microscopic bacteria are also in bath water. We cook with them and even drink them. Dr. Joseph Falkinham is a biologist who knows all about these bacteria. “Humans are surrounded by these organisms,” Dr. Falkinham said. As household water became cleaner most bacteria were killed off, but NTM bacteria are extremely resilient and now more and more people are becoming sick as the bacteria silently destroys lung tissue. “We’ve created a better environment for these organisms,” said Dr. Falkinham. The cleaner the water experts say–the more these bacteria thrive. Pulmonologist Dr. David Camelhar says most people are not susceptible to the bacteria. But for those who have a history of lung and bronchial problems, for elderly patients and for people with compromised immune systems, NTM can be life threatening. And the proof is right in front of us. Dr. Falkinham took off a shower head and revealed the source of some of the trouble. For Keating, life has changed dramatically. She no longer takes showers and she only drinks bottle water, but at least she is feeling better.
cbs4 Newspaper November 2012
CocoWalk –
Miami’s MultiCultural MarketPlace
CocoWalk, Miami’s MultiCultural MarketPlace, is the Grove’s international shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. Paragon Grove 13 recently launched its Prestige Imports Premier VIP theaters featuring four renovated auditoriums with luxurious leather dine-in seats, and swivel tray tables that allow ample room to enjoy the expanded chef-created menu from The Lot Bar & Lounge. CocoWalk also announces the opening of three new merchants. Makis Place is a colorful, casual fast food restaurant that features delicious hand-rolled Temakis, as well as a variety of sushi and Japanese dishes. Dine in or take out, Makis Place is centrally located with entrances from the Courtyard and from Virginia Street. Yogurtini is known for bringing you the finest frozen
yogurts. The cool and tropical décor is as tasty as the yogurt treat, and its conveniently located on the ground level, near GAP. Yogurtini features 10 to 16 rotating flavors each day and more than 65 yummy toppings. Just swirl it, top it, weigh it, and pay it! The Habit: Art! is a boutique that features jewelry, wallets, handbags, swimwear, and hair accessories. The women’s fashion boutique will serve as a gallery for more than 30 Latin American designers (mainly Venezuelan and Colombian) including Maria Isabel Albers, Federika Padula, and Ylana Bone. Coming in December, Santa Claus will be our special guest every Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. CocoWalk is the place to be for holiday shopping and fun! 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 national and local merchants. To explore a truly multi-cultural experience, come and take the Walk - to CocoWalk!
Sponsored by CocoWalk
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Redland Fish Fry
Sister Cities
NOVEMBER 10-11, 2012 305/247-5727 www.fruitandspicepark.org
CALENDAR OF EVENTS / NOVEMBER 2012
Wine & Spirits Series NOVEMBER 15, 2O12 305/603-8067 www.coralgablesmuseum.org
Come out and join us lakeside for some tantalizing seafood and incredible live entertainment. Relax while strolling through the park or spread your blanket and gaze at the sky. A multitude of children’s activities, including pony rides and an interactive fishing zone sponsored by Miami Dade Parks EcoAdventures, and Adventure Sports Miami. Young anglers will learn correct fishing techniques including knot tying, lure selection, fish identification and casting. There will also be a free intro to kayak fishing workshop for all ages.
Sister Cities Wine and Spirits Series continues with the Spirits of Colombia. Tasting, cocktails, food and a lecture on the history of spirits in Colombia. $15 for members, $20 for non-members. 6 p.m.
Miami Book Fair International NOVEMBER 11-18, 2012 305/237-3940 www.miamibookfair.com
Granfondo Miami NOVEMBER 10-11, 2012 www.granfondo-world.com An Italian-inspired cycling experience comprised of twelve long distance, mass participation cycling events. This year’s GranFondo World series will include six all new United States based events in San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Vail, Reno and Miami. Visit the website for details.
One of the nation’s finest and largest literary gatherings treats book lovers to more than a week of cultural and educational activities, including author readings, book signing, the Evenings With series, the IberoAmerican Authors program, the popular Street Fair on the actual closed streets of downtown Miami surrounding the campus, Children’s Alley, and much more.
Jazz At Pinecrest Gardens: Spam Allstars NOVEMBER 10, 2012 305/669-6990 www.pinecrestgardens.com Latin Grammy nominated Spam Allstars is one of the pioneer bands of the new Miamifusion sound, blending vintage funk, Latin groove, true jazz improvisation, soul, hip-hop, and electronic. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; performance begins at 8 p.m.
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Friday Nights:
Carnival!
NOVEMBER 16, 2012 - 305/532-4006 Let your hair loose and throw out the rules. It’s Friday night and Carnival is ready to get started. Show girls, contortionists, fire priests, saxophonists, artists, percussionists and Samba dancers are just a few of the performers that bring cultures from the Caribbean, South + Central America, Europe and Asia to South Beach in a global-style show. Starts at 8 p.m.
Florida Grand Opera:
La Bohème
NOVEMBER 17 - DECEMBER 02, 2012 800/741-1010 - www.fgo.org To be young, in love, and in Paris…the magic of the famous Latin Quarter and Puccini’s unmatched ability to capture in his music love’s passion, hope, and sorrow have made La bohème one of the world’s best loved operas.
BROWARD COUNTY FAIR November 15 - 25, 2012 954/922-2224 • www.browardcountyfair.org The Broward County Fair is an exciting annual Broward County tradition with midway, free concerts, entertainment, art/music contests, pageants, the Great American Frontier Show, Belmont Magic Show, a petting zoo and more attractions. See hundreds of animal exhibits, student exhibits, horticulture displays, fair food and so much more. Fun for all ages!
FLAVORS OF FORT LAUDERDALE November 8 - 11, 2012 www.flavorsoffortlauderdale.com A four-day celebration of the culinary lifestyle and casual elegance of South Florida. This inaugural event will include a variety of events featuring the finest culinary offerings from local and regional restaurants and chefs, as well as worldclass wines and spirits, gourmet specialty foods and lifestyle experiences from our participating partners. Admission: Grand Tasting 11/11 - $79, must be over 21
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL November 4, 2012 1pm - 5pm www.thewineandfoodfestival.com Come enjoy delicious cuisine from over 30 gourmet restaurants and more than 200 wines from around the world - Seminole Hard Rock’s Wine & Food Festival has something to satisfy every palate. Admission: $65 advance, $75 day of event.
cbs4 Newspaper November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.COM)
New Program Connects Students
Entertainment Industry Leaders To
College students aspiring for careers in film and entertainment will soon have a chance to work with industry leaders across South Florida. The Miami-Dade Film & Entertainment Advisory Board and the Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment launched an internship program that connects film and entertainment majors at local colleges with production and related companies in the industry. The program is open to companies involved in film production, still photography, camera equipment, audio/visual, digital media, etc. Companies interested in participating in the program should fill out an application form online at www.filmiami.org. “The film and entertainment industry in South Florida has grown tremendously in the past few years and infuses millions of dollars into our local economy. Students are the future of the industry and we want to help them learn the business with local companies contributing to the growth of local industry talent and workforce. By facilitating this process, the program will improve job creation through training and networking opportunities,” Miami-Dade County Film and Entertainment Liaison, Sandy Lighterman said. Local colleges and universities interested in receiving information about participating companies should contact the Office of Film & Entertainment at 305-375-3288 or via email atmhoffma@miamidade.gov.
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November 2012
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami.com)
Broward Passes
Ban
On
Bath Salts
Broward County commissioners have officially banned the sale or display of bath salts and synthetic marijuana.
Bath salts are a toxic cocktail of stimulants Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and pyrovalerone. The Drug Enforcement Agency groups bath salts with mescaline and ephedrine, while dealers market the drug as a replacement for cocaine or a synthetic form of the hallucinogen LSD, according to CNN. Even though these products carry labels that say “unfit for human consumption” they are often ingested to produce a feeling of intoxication similar to the effects of controlled substances illegal under federal and Florida law. Bath salts can be inhaled, smoked, or digested and have names like Blue Silk, Hurricane Charley and Ivory Snow. The American Association of Poison Control Centers has noticed a sharp increase in calls related to these products. Calls regarding exposure to bath salts rose from 304 calls in 2010 to 6,100 in 2011. Calls regarding synthetic marijuana products rose from 2,906 in 2010 to nearly 7,000 in 2011. The newly amended Broward County ordinance banning these products is applicable countywide. Any person found in violation of the ordinance faces a fine not to exceed $500 or a jail term of up to 60 days or both.
“Even though these products carry labels that say “unfit for human consumption” they are often ingested to produce a feeling of intoxication similar to the effects of controlled substances illegal under federal and Florida law.”
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Miami-Dade Schools
Win Top
EducationÂ
Prize
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Miami-Dade County Public Schools has won the prestigious Broad Prize Award. The district was one of four finalists for the Broad Prize, the largest education prize in the country.
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“Today marks an important day not only for Miami-Dade but for our nation,” said Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. “Fifteen years from now or less the face of America will be Miami-Dade.” This was the fifth time Miami-Dade County Public Schools has been a finalist, the most for any school district in America. “We are no longer the Susan Lucci of public education,” said Carvalho. The Corona-Norco Unified School District (California), the Houston Independent School District (Texas), and the School District of Palm Beach County (Florida) were the other finalists. The Broad Prize is given annually to the urban district demonstrating the “greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement in the nation while reducing income and ethnic achievement gaps.” As the winner of the award, Miami-Dade will receive $550,000 in college scholarships for its high school seniors. The three finalist districts will each receive $150,000 in scholarships. As the nation’s fourth-largest school district, Miami-Dade has nearly 350,000 students, 90 percent of whom are black or Hispanic and 74 percent of whom are low-income. “It’s really focused on students who can achieve but don’t have the financial means to obtain a four year degree,” said Millie Fornell who is the Chief Innovation Accountability Officer for Miami-Dade Public Schools.
Among the reasons Miami-Dade won the award: • • • • •
Outperformed peer districts in academic achievement Minority students reached advanced academic levels Improved college-readiness levels 6 percentage points and scores increased 15 SAT score points between 2008 and 2011 Raised graduation rates for minority students
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined philanthropist Eli Broad and retired Adm. Michael G. Mullen, former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, at The Museum of Modern Art to announce the winner, which was selected by a bipartisan jury of 11 prominent leaders from government, business and public service, including two former U.S. secretaries of education. Miami-Dade’s win comes the fifth time the district was named a finalist for The Broad Prize, bringing the district’s total prize winnings to $1.2 million in college scholarships for its students since 2006. The district was previously a finalist in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011. “It really is recognition for what we do and it affects every teacher, in every classroom and every student in the whole district,” said Sandy Baker Hoover, a teacher at North Miami Middle School.
“It really is recognition for what we do and it affects every teacher, in every classroom and every student in the whole district.”
cbs4 Newspaper November 2012
Price at the Pump Continues to Fall MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
After nearly reaching four bucks a gallon for regular unleaded gas a month ago, the price at the pump continues to fall.
Nationwide regular unleaded
prices, on average, fell about 12 cents to about $3.54 a gallon. According to the American Automobile Association, the price for regular unleaded in Florida fell about 11 cents in the last week to $3.51 a gallon. Last year at this time, that same gallon was running around $3.43. In Miami-Dade and Ft. Lauderdale, drivers are paying more than the state average; regular unleaded is averaging $3.63 a gallon in Dade and $3.62 in Broward. Last year at this time regular unleaded gas averaged $3.51 in Miami and $3.50 in Ft. Lauderdale. Check out the cheapest gas prices in your neighborhood at FloridaGasPrices.com. Pensacola, where unleaded regular is averaging $3.39 a gallon, is the cheapest places in the state to fill up. West Palm Beach is the most expensive place to top off the tank; regular unleaded is averaging $3.67 a gallon.
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November 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Miami School’s
New Library
Packs iPads & Battles Hunger Reporting Marybel Rodriguez
With a major renovation now complete, teachers and students at a Miami elementary school saw their new state-of-the-art library for the first time.
Coral Terrace Elementary’s new library includes 2,000 new books, furniture, carpet and shelves. The new learning space doesn’t stop with those expected upgrades, however. As part of a technology upgrade, students have access to new iPads. In addition to providing a quality learning space, the new library also serves as a quality giving space. In an effort to combat hunger, which impacts a child’s ability to learn, the library houses a food pantry that will provide fresh produce and staple foods to students and families each month. At the unveiling celebration, each student also received seven new books to take home: The library was remodeled by Target and The Heart of America Foundation as part of the 2012 Target School Library Makeover Program. The food pantry was provided by Target Meals for Minds. Coral Terrace Elementary is one of 32 elementary schools across the country to receive a library makeover this year as part of the Target School Library Makeover program.
“The library was remodeled by Target and The Heart of America Foundation as part of the 2012 Target School Library Makeover Program.”
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MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Holocaust
Survivor Who Lost
“40 Or 50”
Family Members Talks To CBS4 Reporting Ted Scouten
Victor Cynamon has a story to share…and he tells it to young people every time he has the chance. He survived the holocaust, he’s one of the few in his family who did. “How many in people in your family did you lose?” asked CBS 4’s Ted Scouten. “40 or 50,” Cynamon said.
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Cynamon was a teen when the Nazi’s grabbed his family. His mom was the first one ripped away while they were at a train station. “They took my mother away,” he said, “She looked at me, she didn’t want to say anything. That was the last time I saw her.” Cynamon was sent to Mydanek, in Poland. That’s a notorious killing factory. Nearly everyone who went there was sent to the gas chambers and the ovens. Cynamon was able to get out by sneaking into a barracks where prisoners were being transferred to work detail. “There’s a barrack next door where they prepared the Jews to leave the next morning for the munitions factory,” he said, “So they opened the door for me, they took a chance, I knocked on the door, they got the clothes. In the morning no one knew who I was.” Cynamon’s mission now is to make sure that no one ever forgets what happened to 6 million Jews and millions of others at the hands of hate. “You start to put yourself in their position,” said 17 year old Michael Rub. “(I) start looking at how would I respond.” The Rub brothers have spent valuable time with Victor and other survivors, hearing their heartbreaking stories of how they lost their families…but lived to tell powerful stories of survival. “it makes you want to cry,” said Daniel Rub. “It’s just a miracle,” chimed in Jonathon Rub. “Their stories are insane
about how they survived.” They realize survivors will not be around forever to tell the stories, so they know they have a purpose now too. “Every possible way, I try to get the word out, because people have to know,” said Jonathon. “So people won’t be ignorant when the holocaust survivors eventually pass on.” The program pairing up youth and seniors was open to the public at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center.
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Companies Co-Sign MIAMI (CBSMiami.com)
Reporting Josh Benson
Loans For A Fee
When former NFL player John Diggs found an apartment after a long search, he knew he had scored a touchdown. There was just one catch. “My credit has some challenges,” Diggs admitted, “and the landlord requested that I get a co-signer.” Diggs didn’t want to burden his family, so he paid a company to co-sign the lease for him. “I didn’t know these kind of services existed,” said Diggs. Janna Herron with BankRate.com said the premise is simple; for a fee companies like WeCosign, Insurent, and CoSigner.com will guarantee your lease for a contractual period of time, even if you have bad credit or an unstable source of income. “If you default, they pay the landlord the rest of the lease,” she said. With the financial crisis and a shaky job market, experts said these services are in demand. “We have people that are students, and then we have people that are midlife age,” said Frank Jakubaitis of WeCosign. “We’ve also co-signed athletes and lawyers and doctors,” he added. Fees vary depending on the service. It is usually a percentage of the monthly or annual rent, typically ranging between 6% and 10%. “You may have to pay some other fees, such as a sign-up fee, a process-
ing fee, a background check fee and those could easily add another $100 to $200,” Herron said. Even though these services are designed for those with poor credit, applicants still need to qualify. “They have their own minimum income and credit score requirements and some others will deny you if you have too many outstanding utility bills, too many evictions or a violent criminal record,” Herron warned. CBS4 News contacted the Better Business Bureau which said it’s important to keep in mind that this is “a fairly new industry,” one that could have “real potential for abuse.” In fact, there were several complaints online. Herron said don’t be afraid to try friends and family first. “It’s the option of last resort,” she said. Diggs was happy to have the option and within days he had his keys in hand. “It’s a sense of peace, a sense of warmth that I now have my home,” he said. “I’m on my way to re-building and re-establishing my life.”
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November 2012
Best Brewpubs Serving
Seasonal Beer In South Florida
The fact that south Florida has two seasons, spring and summer, is something that locals and tourists like to boast about to their colder counterparts. Still even with the great weather, residents and visitors crave the comforting tastes of the seasons like pumpkin spice and ciders. Luckily for them, South Florida has a fabulous array of brewpubs that serve great food and offer their own unique seasonal brews. Check out the list below to find an old seasonal favorite or a new comforting delight.
The Abbey Brewing Company (305) 538-8110 www.abbeybrewinginc.com/ The Abbey Brewing Company is located in the heart of South Beach and features a fall seasonal menu with your choice of two pumpkin beers. Choose between the strong Pump King beer or the sweeter and lighter Shipyard Pumpkin beer. Either way, you’re choosing a winner. Call ahead or stop by to see what other items are being offered on the fall beer menu. The Pump King beer is 22 ounces, so if you order this, be sure to arrange a sober ride home as well.
Titanic Restaurant & Brewery
Organic Brewery
(305) 668-1742 www.titanicbrewery.com The Titanic Restaurant & Brewery is no stranger to unique beers. It provides an extensive list that rotates weekly but the fall is the best time of year to stop in. That’s is when Titanic celebrates Octoberfest. The brewery offers beers like Pumpkin Ale, a Dry Hop India Pale Ale (IPA) which has a bitter taste and a White Cap Wheat beer. Each beer is sure to have you thinking of cold weather and turning leaves.
(305) 414-4757 www.organicbreweryhollywood.com Organic Brewery is located on the Hollywood Boardwalk, so the last thing visitors will be thinking of is fall while they’re standing next to the beach. However if you’re in the mood for a seasonal beer, make sure to stop in. Organic Brewery serves different varieties of wheat beers that are sure to please. A wheat beer is made of malted wheat and served in the colder temperatures, so call ahead to find out which wheat beer is in season.
Big Bear Brewing Company (954) 341-5545 www.bigbearbrewingco.com The Big Bear Brewing Company usually features a seasonal menu of its own. The menu is so spontaneous that it’s even a surprise to the owner. Big Bear typically features its own Pumpkin Ale, usually available around Halloween. But it also features a Smokey Bear which is a porter with smoked malt. They’re all hearty flavors that any beer lover will enjoy.
Gordon Biersch (786) 425-1130 www.gordonbiersch.com Gordon Biersch also celebrates Oktoberfest with a seasonal menu. Last year, it kicked off the event with live music and free beer tastings. This year, Gordon Biersch is keeping things under wraps but is likely to include favorites like Festbier which is a combination of dark roasted Munich malt and pilsner malt giving the beer a very rich, hoppy flavor. Stop in to try this flavor or one of the other flavors on the Oktoberfest menu and try the food sampler while you’re at it.
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B e s t O f M i a mi
From South Florida
While living in South Florida is pretty close to being as good as it gets, sometimes even South Floridians need a break from the action. These are a few of the best cities you can get to in a day from South Florida.
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New York
While technically not a day drive, you can get to the Big Apple very easily from South Florida on the numerous flights to the city so nice they named it twice. There’s a huge New York/New Jersey presence in South Florida, so if you want to know anything about the area, there’s always someone in South Florida who can help you out. Getting there may take a few hours on a plane, but it’s a trip that you will never forget if you’ve never been there before.
Tampa/St. Petersburg
The city has some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Florida and is also home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay is a beautiful boat ride that people will never forget. You can also hit up Busch Gardens or the Seminole Casino just outside of Tampa. And if you’re adventurous, try some of the nightlife across Tampa including Ybor City. Plus, Tampa’s just a short drive on I-4 to Orlando.
Naples
The city calls itself the crown jewel of Southwest Florida. It’s nestled on the Gulf of Mexico and only a few miles away from the wilderness of the Everglades. If you like to fish but don’t want to try your hand in Miami, you’ll enjoy some great Gulf fishing. And as with everywhere else in the Southern half of Florida, you’ll find plenty of championship golf courses to satisfy your need to hit the links.
Orlando, FL
It’s got Disney World, Seaworld, Universal Studios, MGM Studios, and the Citrus Bowl. Those should be enough to entice you to bring the family truckster up to the Big O. If you go during basketball season, you can also get a glimpse of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. It’s truly a place for the entire family, and only a few hours from South Florida.
Key West
The drive down to Key West is almost the best part of the escape. The Florida Keys are an experience in and of themselves, but when you get to Key West, you really get a chance to see a little bit, or a lot, of everything. Fantasy Fest will truly give you an eyeful of the nightlife that won’t leave you dragging.
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