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miami – dade July 2015

Taste of the Town: SoBe’s Newest Steakhouse

“Quality Meats” Stop the Snore

New laser treatment aims to eliminate snoring

Home inventory

New App Helps Log Possessions In Case Of A Burglary

Life & Death Inside Zoo Miami

The Risks of Waiting For a Baby Women should plan ahead if they want a baby later in life

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Contents July 2015

LIFE & DEATH INSIDE ZOO MIAMI

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Every year more than a million people visit Zoo Miami. It is one of the largest zoos in the country. Visitors who travel its winding trails, see one side of the zoo - a side that seems simple and almost effortless. What the public never sees, however, are the actions of those who care for the animals especially the work of the zoo’s medical staff.

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Health

marketplace

Section sponsored by

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TASTE OF THE TOWN: SOBE’S NEWEST STEAKHOUSE

The Risks of Waiting For a Baby

You may not even be thinking of having a baby yet, but if you’re in your 20’s maybe you should start thinking about it and planning now.

It’s plain to see the all new Quality Meats is a convergence of the past and future.

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2015 Hurricane guide

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Home improvement Section sponsored by

Brought to you by South Florida’s most trusted weather team!

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Real estate

Section sponsored by

Home inventory

Somebody breaks into your home and they take your stuff.

Would you know what to report to the insurance company?

New App Helps Log Possessions In Case Of A Burglary.

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automotive Section sponsored by

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“Traveling inspires me more than anything else. When you stay too long in the same place it becomes black and white.�

Olatz Schnabel

Women to Watch:

Olatz Schnabel c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r | July 2015

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asque-born, Paris-raised model, muse, artist, designer, filmmaker and mother of twin 21-year-old sons, Olatz Schnabel is successful at everything.

Stylish and elegant and as sweet as she is smart, Olatz does it all with a graceful, effortless ease. Especially being the former wife of famous painter, Julian Schnabel. They are divorced but still wonderfully close, as I personally had the pleasure of witnessing at the VIP opening of a very special exhibit at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.

Olatz has given the museum an exquisite painting of herself called “Portrait of Olatz,” a masterpiece by Julian Schnabel. The exhibit features the self portrait and four other works she owns, all by her ex.

OS: I love the museum and I love the museum director, Bonnie Clearwater. She’s brilliant and a really good friend. I love the idea of giving gifts to a museum. I think it’s a great and necessary thing to do.

Also on hand this night, Julian Schnabel himself. The couple collaborated on marriage, parenthood and several movies, including “Before Nights Falls.” I asked Julian about Olatz.

JS: It’s interesting if you can get past the thing where you know you’re not married any more, you don’t live together, you have different lives, but you love somebody and things happened. I thought this was an opportunity to say to her: You know I think

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By Trend Tracker® Tara Gilani Tara.Gilani@TrendTracker.com

you’re great. I wanted to honor her so that’s what I did.

As cliché as the term “family affair” is, on this night, it truly resonated.

OS: It’s a family connection. A lot of years having this deep relationship. It’s very intimate what is happening here at this museum.

The artist’s muse is an artist in her own right. Her collection of linens, sleepwear and accessories for the home is absolutely beautiful.

OS: I love working on my lines – interiors, bedding, pajamas and the rest. I like making things that make others feel happy and content.

Also in production, Olatz is working on a powerful film with collaborator, Miguel Sirgado, award winning journalist at El Nuevo Herald.

OS: I’m working on a documentary about Cuba that’s almost done. It’s been a long process because it’s not easy to work with a country with so many limitations. It’s been a tremendous experience. We’re close to finishing. I’m excited that it will be coming out soon.

Born in San Sebastian, Spain, Olatz is based in New York City but she travels the world, regularly.

OS: Traveling inspires me more than anything else. When you stay too long in the same place it becomes black and white.

The moment I go away I start seeing things

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in a new light, in a new way, in new colors.

This for me is always a revelation and an inspiration.

I love her style. On this night, Olatz was wearing a cream silk John Galliano gown.

Vintage. Of course.

Olatz is lovely and a lot of fun. Her good and positive energy is palpable and contagious.

OS: I like to enjoy life. I love to laugh, I love to love, I love to have fun, I love to be creative, I love to be free.

Olatz was nervous about the stream-ofconsciousness Women To Watch lightening round. No need as she charmingly nailed it.

TG: I am?

OS: I am here TG: I want?

OS: I want too many things.

TG: I will?

OS: I will have fun.

TG: I won’t?

OS: I won’t not have fun.

TG: I promise?

OS: I promise that what I say I promise is true.

TG: I wish?

OS: I wish for happiness. Not only mine, happiness in general.

Divine WTW and amusing muse. Brava Olatz!

Keep up with Olatz Schnabel at www.

Olatz.com | Facebook: Olatz on Clarkson & NSU Art Museum Instagram: @olatzschnabel

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Life & Death Inside Zoo Miami

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Anastasia Royle, CBS4

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By Jim DeFede jdefede@wfor.cbs.com

r. Meredith Persky struggles to insert a needle into the spinal column of Kwame, an eight-yearold lion at Zoo Miami.

The 400-pound cat is unconscious on a large table inside the zoo’s animal hospital because the staff noticed a problem with the way Kwame was walking. They feared there might be a serious problem with his back legs.

Not wanting to take any chances, Persky, one of the zoo’s veterinarians, ordered a full battery of tests, including a spinal tap.

Persky felt her way along the back of Kwame’s neck trying to find the right spot for the needle. The scruff of the cat’s neck, however, is thick, meaty muscle, making it hard to maneuver through.

“Do we have a longer needle?” Persky finally says.

Simultaneously, another veterinarian is performing a muscle biopsy on Kwame’s right hind leg.

The assembled team will also take X-rays and blood samples, perform laser therapy on an ankle that could be showing the early stages of arthritis, as well as combing his mane, trimming his nails, and taking paw prints.

Timing on all of this is critical, they have just a couple of hours to work on him before he’ll wake up - and nobody wants to be standing next to him when he does. One keeper is assigned a rifle just in case.

The longer needle works and Persky is able to collect spinal fluid she can test. A sense of relief is evident on her face.

“He can’t just give us a blood sample or tell us what hurts,” Persky said. “We’ll have to wait for the blood work and the results of the spinal tap to give us better answers.”

And therein lies the challenge to being a zoo veterinar-

ian. Unlike most vets who develop a practice around a handful of animals - but mostly dogs and cats - veterinarian has to be ready to treat almost anything.

“I get to be the small animal doctor, I get to be the large animal doctor, the fish doctor, the chimpanzee doctor, the elephant doctor, I get to do all of that,” she said. “Everyone always says in their field of work there is no such thing as a typical day, I can say 100 percent that I have never had the same day ever.”

Such as the morning the zoo keepers rushed a squirrel named Carmelita from one of the exhibits to the animal hospital.

“Her heart stopped and her breathing stopped and we were able to revive her,” Persky said sheepishly, admitting she performed mouth to mouth on the squirrel. It was a procedure not found in any of her medical books.

“We did get her going,” Persky said, with a small laugh.

“Those moments are amazing and take with you for sure.”

Every year more than a million people visit Zoo Miami.

Spread across 700 acres, it is one of the largest zoos in the country. The zoo is home to 3,000 animals, representing 500 different species - including 40 endangered species.

Visitors who travel its winding trails, see one side of the zoo - a side that seems simple and almost effortless.

What the public never sees, however, are the actions of those who care for the animals - especially the work of the zoo’s medical staff.

It is tense, taxing and emotional work that encompasses the entire circle of life - from births to deaths.

CBS4’s interest was sparked because of a series of highprofile deaths at the Zoo. In the past two years the zoo has lost JJ the silver back gorilla, a female lion called Asha, an Asian elephant named

I get to be the small animal doctor, I get to be the large animal doctor, the fish doctor, the chimpanzee doctor, the elephant doctor, I get to do all of that.”

Dr. Meredith Persky

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Anastasia Royle, CBS4

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Maude, the Malaysian tiger Tevy, King George the cheetah, and Fezzik, a 17-year-old Somali giraffe who died during hoof surgery.

To the Zoo’s credit, these deaths are known because the zoo doesn’t try to hide them. The staff sends out press releases whenever a significant animal at the zoo dies.

Realizing, however, these deaths could raise question, zoo officials invited CBS4 News to conduct its own review of the zoo and gave the station unprecedented access to zoo records and its staff.

The responsibility for inspecting zoos and making sure they provide proper care to their animals is the US Department of Agriculture.

Since June 2012, USDA veterinarians have conducted nine inspections at the Zoo Miami.

A review of those records found only two instances when the zoo’s failures led to the unnecessary death of an animal.

In 2012, the staff failed to properly diagnose a parasite inside an Arabian Oryx that eventu-

ally had to euthanized.

And in 2013, a camel named Randy slipped his head into a hole in a chain link fence, panicked, fell and died the next day from his injuries. The inspectors found the zoo staff had failed to properly maintain the fence.

“That was our mistake, we did not fortify that fence as well as it should have been fortified and it enabled a camel to get caught under a fence and unfortunately the camel died,” admitted Ron Magill, the zoo’s communications director. “It was a tremendous mistake but I can promise you this, it will never happen again.”

The Oryx death was just as unfortunate.

“The bottom line is we’re going to make mistakes, everybody’s going to make mistakes, how we learn from those mistakes is what’s important,” Magill said. “But I challenge you to go to any human hospital in this world, that has the best doctors, the best care technicians, and find mistakes haven’t been made.”

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Meredith Persky has been at Zoo Miami for three years.

“It’s such a taxing job - it’s the best job in the world - but it’s definitely emotionally draining and physically draining,” Persky said.

“I feel like we take on the pain or the care of every animal - I feel that. They need your care and they don’t care that its past 6:30 pm and it’s Mother’s Day or Christmas. Our job is to take care of them whenever they need it.”

Each morning Persky makes her rounds, checking on various animals.

One day she is with a Red River hog that needs clearance for travel before he is sent to another zoo to breed. And then the next she’s performing on ultrasound on an Okapi, who is in the thirteenth month of her pregnancy, and still has another month to go.

And then there are the babies. So many babies at the zoo. And every newborn animal gets a check up from the doctor.

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“We’ve grown up with these animals.

And just like we have problems as we grow older, some of them develop arthritis or kidney disease or other signs of illness.”

Dr. Meredith Persky

could to try to help that animal, and it was all done with pure intentions.”

In February, Persky cried as she delivered the shot that ended Cobber’s life.

“If I get to the point that I don’t feel emotion, then I feel that I’m in the wrong field,” she said. “I don’t take euthanasia lightly, I don’t think any veterinarian does or should.”

A few months later Danda-Loo, who had stopped eating, was also euthanized.

But why did either animal have to be killed. Why not simply allow them to die naturally, whenever that might have eventually occurred?

“I feel that being able to kind of help the animal make that transition rather than watching them gasp to death - I would want someone to do that for me,” she said.

While Persky is still at the start of her

career, Dr. Chriss Miller, the lead veterinarian at the zoo, is bringing her time at Zoo Miami to a close after 24 years.

If anyone thinks, however, the decision to euthanize an animal gets easier over time for the veterinarian, they would be mistaken.

CBS4 News followed the case of Sarafina, a 16-year-old camel who suffered from severe arthritis. Efforts to treat Sara failed and every time doctors tried to examine her or attempt to provide her treatment that might relieve her pain, she would fight them and injure herself even worse.

“You just kind of take into consideration what’s best for her and how long we are going to maintain her in this type of fashion,” said Carey Stanton, one of the keepers who care for Sarafina. “But I don’t expect her to recover.”

Despite the pain she experiencing, Sara was spending almost all of her

Anastasia Royle, CBS4

But the hardest part of the job is dealing with an aging population. The zoo has been around for decades and many of its animals are simply getting old.

The average life span for a Koala is ten to twelve years. Zoo Miami has two Koala’s - Cobber and Danda-Loo - who are nineteen and twenty respectively. Their bodies are frail and beset with arthritis and they could barely walk.

“What becomes harder is our geriatric animals, kind of like our baby boomers that are aging,” Persky said. “We’ve grown up with these animals. And just like we have problems as we grow older, some of them develop arthritis or kidney disease or other signs of illness. There are some thing we can help correct and then there are others you can’t really fight nature on and so you try to give palliative care and make the animal as comfortable as we think we can.

“Everything we work with, the one thing we know is that unfortunately all of them at some point are going to die, just like we are, they are not immortal,” she continued. “And so I think sometimes to understand that when something does make the news or may not go as smoothly as anticipated that it definitely pulls at our heart, that we’ve done everything we

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Anastasia Royle, CBS4

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time standing - a sign he was afraid if she got down on the ground she might not be able to get back up. She was losing weight and eating only half as much food as she should. And she was not interacting with the other animals.

“She could be alive for a very long time and yet be crippled,” said Miller. “We really aren’t in a good position to help her through that so as a group - the keepers, the supervisory staff for the animal, the people for the animal sciences department, the veterinary department - we talk about what we can do. How long we think she can go on like this and whether or not her quality of life is still what we think is acceptable. It’s really a very

subjective call and that’s why we kind of make it a team effort.”

Once the decision was made to end Sara’s life, Miller led the team. She darted Sarafina with a tranquilizer while the keepers responsible for Sara watched stoically. This has been a particularly tough case for Miller, who gave Sara her first exam shortly after Sara was born at the zoo in 1999.

Before administering the final injection that would end Sarafina’s life, Miller and the keepers paused around the animal for moment.

“Personally I do believe that animals have souls and I feel like they need to have a little bit of time to whether its

c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r | July 2015

leave their body or whatever,” Miller said.

“I just feel like it’s more dignified for the animals.”

Sarafina would be the last animal Miller would treat at the zoo. After 24 years she was retiring. She would spend her last day on the job performing Sara’s autopsy.

Despite the sad ending, Miller said her time at the zoo was priceless.

“I think it was an experience that I think I will never forget obviously,” she said, “and I’m glad that I’ve done.”

(On Sunday, July 19, at 6:30 pm CBS4 News will present a special 30-minute documentary inside the world of veterinarian medicine at Zoo Miami.)

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SoBe’s Newest Steakhouse

“Quality Meats”

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by Lisa Petrillo lpetrillo@wfor.cbs.com

t’s plain to see the all new Quality Meats is a convergence of the past and future.

Located on Collins Avenue at 15th Street, the restaurant is in the former Bancroft Hotel, an historic art deco gem.

The hotel’s original check-in desk now serves as a butcher counter.

Recently I met up with executive Chef Patrick Rebholz in the kitchen.

“They used and played off the old hotel. We actually have a foyer that you would walk into that has all the mailbox-

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Having competition like Prime 112, we embrace and we love it because we strive to be the best that we can be.

Chef Patrick Rebholz

es and the key rings and all those sorts of things still on it. Then they also put their touches of industrial New York and then we played off of the things that were already here, Art Deco-wise, and it really came out beautiful,” said Rebholz.

Rebholz said they try to separate themselves from all the other steakhouses of the same caliber, such as Prime 112.

“Having competition like Prime 112, we embrace and we love it because we strive to be the best that we can be. But what puts us above and beyond is our quirky little twists on steakhouse fundamentals,” he said.

Yes, quirky is the name of the game. Take their creative cocktails including the “South Side Swizzle” which is made from mint, lime, cucumber sapphire gin and more.

I checked out the Branzino which tasted like a spin on an “Everything Bagel,” complete with a cream cheese base. My reaction after tasting it: “It’s like an everything bagel but more. The crunch with all flavors is delicious and as the chef said, ‘It’s totally fun!’

So where’s the beef? In the freezer, tons of it and in every cut and style.

A big seller is the home cured bacon served with peanut butter and jalapeno jelly.

“There are so many flavors in this the bacon,” There’s a kick from the jalapeño jelly and then there’s a sweetness to it as well” I said, after biting in.

The Charcuterie Platter with homemade pigs in a blanket, duck bacon, fois gras and slices of sopreseta should make you feel like a southern barbecue, said Rebholz. All I could say after tasting that appetizer was “Y’all got it right!”

And then there’s the signature steak, a 24-ounce rib steak tomahawk style. It comes with a custom homemade steak sauce which is prepared table side.

I found the meat to have a really nice sear on the top and the sauce had a sweetness with a kick. It is truly a very special steak.

Quality Meats is open for dinner only, seven days a week. For more info: www.qualitymeatsmiami.com

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U.S. Orchestra Makes Historical Visit To Cuba

by Eliott Rodriguez erodriguez@cbs.com

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he Minnesota Orchestra is in Havana not just to make music, but to share music with Cubans who are seeing an American orchestra in person for the first time.

The visiting Americans are sharing what they know with young Cuban musicians, like the students at Cuba’s Higher Institute of Arts in Havana.

“The students were so prepared, so passionate about their performances and what they were doing.

We were inspired just listening to them play. It was an incredible once in a lifetime experience and I hope to have many more like it,” said Charles Lazarus, who plays the trumpet for the Minnesota Orchestra.

Orchestra members are also stop-

ping in at high schools where they’re checking out the local talent. And since they’re in Cuba, they tried their hand at classical music with a Latin beat.

“It’s great honor for us to be the first North American major orchestra visiting here and we are like artists ambassadors of art,” said Minnesota Orchestra Musical Director Osmo Vanska. “We are ambassadors of Minnesota, ambassadors of the U.S. and that’s a great honor for us.”

A young Cuban trombone player made quite an impression on orchestra members, including members of the horn section, getting a round of applause after a short solo.

“The thing that struck me is that they want to learn, they want to play for us. They’re not shy and they want to hear what we have to say and they want to hear us play,” said Lazarus.

The thing that struck me is that they want to learn they want to play for us. They’re not shy and they want to hear what we have to say and they want to hear us play.” Charles Lazarus

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Graduate to Giving

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any of us don’t think twice about getting a new backpack and all new supplies for the first day of school.

For many it’s an exciting time, picking out new pencils and fancy new case to put them in. And, while school doesn’t start for more than a month, Neighbors 4 Neighbors is already working to make sure needy children of all ages have the materials they need to start the school year with the tools to make learning easier.

Each year, thousands of students in South Florida start the school year without the resources they need to be successful in class. And in many cases, teachers, with limited budgets, pay out of pocket to provide basic tools to their students.

With a small donation of $35 to Neighbors 4 Neighbors can ensure a child will start the new school year with supplies like pencils, notebooks and even uniforms.

In partnership with the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and Kids 4 Kids, the money collected will help thousands of South Florida students who have been identified in unstable housing.

Last year over 5000 students in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties were assisted though this program. This year even more will be helped with your support.

And if a monetary donation isn’t in your budget, keep an eye out

for by one get one free sales and drop off the extra supplies in one of many donation sites in the area. These supplies will be given to local schools free supply closets that are made available to teachers to help these students who no fault of their own, just don’t have the supplies that so many of us can easily afford.

To make a donation or find a drop off location near you, please go to our website www. http://neighbors4neighbors.org/back-to-school.

Volunteering is a great way to learn more about your community.

Neighbors 4 Neighbors volunteering website, www.helpingfeelsgood. org, powered by Everglades Holiday Park, is a collaboration of the many different agencies in South Florida, who have varied opportunities where they need help. Register on our site today and learn about the many ways you can help improve your community and the lives of those who live in it, through volunteering.

Neighbors 4 Neighbors is proud to once announce the continued support of our Faces of the Homeless Campaign by Wells Fargo. We look forward to sharing more stories of hope with you in the coming months. Learn more about the amazing work already being done on our website at http://neighbors4neighbors.org/Faces-of-Homeslessness Neighbors 4 Neighbors is generously supported by the Herbert Hoover Foundation, Children’s Services Council of Broward County, CBS4 and My33.

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The Risks of Wait ing For a Baby c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r | July 2015

cbsmiami.com

ou may not even be thinking of having a baby yet, but if you’re in your 20’s maybe you should start thinking about and planning for that bundle of joy now.

Even if your career is your top priority, many women may be overconfident when it comes to their fertility, putting it off later and later, not realizing the earlier they plan, the better.

For 35-year old Mari Hernandez, fitness is more than a hobby. It’s a way of life.

She trains for fitness competitions. All that hard work may pay off on stage, but it’s left little time for family planning.

“As time went on, you don’t think about having children. My life was exciting. I was having a great time,” said Hernandez.

Mari is not alone. Research shows the rate of women having babies before 35 has declined 2% since 2008. But the number of women having them over 35 has increased 2% in 2012.

Doctors say numbers like that may give a false sense of optimism for postponing parenthood.

Dr. Kenneth Gelman agrees.

“As a woman starts to age, the amount of eggs she has left is declining and the quality is declining,” said Dr. Gelman, from IVFMD in Cooper City He says he sees and hears it all the time.

“Listen. I’ve been busy pursuing my career. I just gone through law school, I got married. I’ve been so busy, I hadn’t thought about it. I never thought I’d have this problem,” said Dr. Gelman.

First the basics: a woman is born with all the eggs she’ll ever have, but by age 30, studies show a woman has lost nearly 90% of her egg supply.

That’s why many doctors, like Dr. Gelman are encouraging women to get tested in their 20’s and early 30’s.

“We can count the number of eggs in her ovaries. And the AMH which tell us how many eggs she has left compared to her age match,” said Dr.

Gelman.

He also encourages women wanting to wait for kids, to consider freezing their eggs.

CBS4’s Rhiannon Ally spoke with Mari Hernandez who went for a fertility check-up. It includes the ultrasound to measure the health of her ovaries and egg supply. Along with blood tests to test her fertility hormones. One is the follicle stimulating hormone and the other is the AMH or Anti-Malarian Hormone.

Mari’s results are not promising. The average for a woman her age is 1.8.

“Your level is 1.0, which is low for your age. We know your ovarian reserve is lower than it should be,” said Dr. Gelman.

Mari is unsure if she wants to have a baby, but she wants to know her options. Dr. Gelman advised her to consider freezing her eggs.

But with a price tag of $8,000-$10,000, it’s not an option for all women.

“Especially in your late 20’s. You have an extra $10,000, you’re not thinking of freezing your eggs. You’re thinking of going to Cancun!” said Hernandez.

But, she admits, she would do it if she had the extra money.

“I definitely would because they’re telling me I don’t have a lot of time. So if I did have disposable income, of course I would.

A new study shows the number of unmarried women over 35 having babies is on the rise, due at least in some part to egg freezing.

Since there is no expiration on your eggs, depending on your case and your doctor, some women can carry an embryo to full term in their late 40’s or possibly early 50’s.

Most insurance companies do not pay for egg freezing, but check with your company. Some, like Facebook and Citigroup will cover a part of the cost for their female employees.

To get your fertility checked, the costs vary, but all three tests could run you about $500.

Check your insurance. Some do pay parts of that.

“As a woman starts to age, the amount of eggs she has left is declining and the quality is declining.”

Dr. Kenneth Gelman

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stopthe snore New Laser Treatment Aims to Eliminate Snoring

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new procedure is intended to help both those who snore and those who are kept awake by it – with no downtime and no side effects.

For many, there is no way to describe the frustration of snoring. Lana Vilbaum knows the agony of sleepless nights firsthand.

“I kick him, then I have to wake him up; just ask him to turn – and then he is awake. I’m awake,” she said.

For years, Vilbaum and her husband have been struggling with the problem, with both of them suffering from exhaustion.

“It takes a while to sort of get up to speed and get your energy in the morning,” said Vilbaum’s husband, Dmitry Vilbaum.

“I’m tired,” added Vilbaum. “I’m tired when I

wake up.”

But those days could soon be over. Doctors said there is a revolutionary new treatment that can stop snoring – for most of those who suffer for it.

Dr. Lana Rozenberg is one of the few area dentists trained to perform the treatment, called NightLase.

Using a special laser, Rozenberg heats the tissue in the back of Dmitry Vlibaum’s throat. The procedure allows air to flow more freely, which in turn stops the snoring.

“It’s amazing breakthrough, and I think it’s going to help lots and lots of patients to get better sleep,” Rozenberg said.

Mr. Vilbaum was undergoing his second treatment recently. But he said after just one, the results were remarkable – a 70 percent reduction in snoring.

“It’s miracle. It’s a medical miracle for me. It’s a dramatic improvement in life,” he said.

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Rozenberg said three sessions is all it takes to essentially stop snoring.

“There’s no downtime. There’s no cutting.

There’s no bleeding. There’s nothing scary,” she said.

Artem Kuznetsov recently finished treatment with another dentist, and now, his snoring is a thing of the past.

“It’s gone,” he said. “I see it as I’m completely cured.”

Dmitry Vilbaum said he is not quite there yet, but the treatment has paid off.

“I wake up in a better mood. I wake up more energetic, and you know, my wife is happier — significantly happier,” he said. “It’s just a better quality of life.”

In the future, the company that makes the laser will also train ear, nose and throat doctors.

The procedure is not permanent. Most people have to repeat it about every two years.

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Contacts Craze:

Lenses That Make You Look Younger

by Cynthia Demos cdemos@cbs.com

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here are all kinds of things out there that millions of people do every day to make themselves look younger. But here’s one you may not have heard of yet: Contact lenses that take years off your look.

A doctor in Hollywood is one of the first in Florida to carry the lenses.

Carolyn Clarke has been trying a new set of contacts called Acuvue Define Lenses.

“I love the way they make my eyes look after,” she told CBS4’s Cynthia Demos.

The contact lenses give her eyes a new defining border.

They have been very popular in Europe and especially in Asia, but they are pretty new in the U.S. Dr. Barry Kay with Hollywood Eyes explains what it’s all about. It all revolves around the limbus, which is the line right around the colored part of your eye.

“What happens as we age is the color of

eyes fade. Particularly at the limbus where the white of the eye meets the color of the eye,” explained Kay. So the new define lenses actually has that dark border that fades with age.

“It’s like a woman wearing makeup. It’s a subtle difference. You look awake, you look refreshed,” said Clarke.

And the border is the only difference the contacts make.

“This is natural. The center is clear. We aren’t change their eye color, we are enhancing what they have,” said Kay. Just how much will this enhancement cost? It’s a dollar a lens, so a pair is two bucks.

Now, they are daily lenses – after one use, the user should toss them out. And the user should never sleep in them.

Dr. Kay said they really make sense for women in their 40’s and older because that’s when the limbal ring really starts to fade.

These lenses can be used with or without a prescription.

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The Smart Thermostat Test

Smart Thermostats claim to save you big money. We decided to put them to the test.

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by David Sutta dsutta@cbs.com

ou may have seen them in at a hardware or electronics store. They are called smart thermostats. And they claim to be easy to install and will save you big money, as much as 20 percent off your power bill. So CBS4’s David Sutta decided to put it to the test.

It may be the coolest gadget for your home. An air conditioning thermostat you can control with an app on your phone from anywhere. And best of all, these nifty little gadgets say they will save you money.

In February Sutta put the Nest thermostat in his house. His first impression was it’s cute and beautifully designed. Installation was fairly straight forward and quick – at least he thought.

While he installed the thermostat in 38 minutes he had problems for days. The house simply wouldn’t cool off. After a couple of calls to customer support, a week later he finally got it working.

Lisa Lee Arneaud is a working mom, always on the go.

She agreed to put a Nest competitor called Ecobee in her home. She’s hoping it will help regulate her home.

“Oh, this should be simple. I got this. I got this,” she said as she started her installation.

With a clock timing her installation she decided to skip the instructions. Minutes in she was having trouble and questioning whether she could do is.

“Graduated top of my class. Went to college on scholarship. Fairly intelligent person. Multiple careers. Very successful in life,” she joked as she looked at all the wires coming from her wall.

Sutta jumped in to try and help. But he was just as lost.

Arneaud dialed Ecobee’s customer support. They couldn’t help.

Arneaud then Skyped with her dad.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked.

He’s right! Why were they doing this? It’s clear the duo needed a professionals help.

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Terry Zarling with True Cool Air Conditioning knew exactly what the problem was in seconds. It involved messing with power wires.

“I wouldn’t recommend a homeowner doing this unless they are an electrical engineer and even then,” Zarling said.

Ecobee’s CEO Stuart Lombard told Sutta their goal is to make the installation process painless. He also said they had lot of happy customers who have installed their product on their own. He also claimed their product is one of the highest rated on Amazon.com.

Zarling recommended a different product called Lyric that he said had more features.

It looks similar to the Nest, but has something called Geofencing.

“It will actually know when you are getting close to the house and actually start cooling the house down. So you walk in and the house is going to be, if it’s not right to temperature, it will be close to temperature when you walk in,” Zarling explained.

Arneaud was excited about that option – so out with Ecobee, in with Lyric.

Zarling has it installed and running in just 13 minutes. “I love this! I love having control!” Lisa exclaimed as she played with the APP on her phone.

Then it was time for a very unscientific test.

For two months Arneaud and Sutta operated there smart thermostats at their houses. With their FPL bills in hand, the two compared how much energy they used the last two months with their smart thermostats with the same two months last year with their “dumb thermometers.”

The smart thermostats pledged to be easy to use and save money.

Arneaud loved the ability to control the air from her phone. The thermostat also looks beautiful. However, it wasn’t very

practical.

“It takes forever to get down to 72, and I also feel that the 72 with the smart thermostat doesn’t feel like the same 72 with manual thermostat,” she said.

Aside from the cool APP, Lisa wasn’t impressed. And when she looked at her power bill she was shocked.

She didn’t save a dime. If anything she spent more. Once installed, her power bill shot up 66 percent.

“So I think we need to take that sucker out. Get rid of it!” she said.

Sutta’s Nest was problematic too.

He said the house was constantly warm. And his power bill went up 6

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percent increase in the power bill for Lisa.

Honeywell, the maker of Lyric, offered to take a closer look at the issue.

They wrote the following to CBS4: “Honeywell’s Lyric thermostat was designed to deliver maximum comfort when you’re home, and maximum savings while you’re away, if properly configured. Lyric’s features – Fine Tune and Geofencing – play critical roles in delivering stated energy savings if used by the homeowner. While we don’t have all the details, the homeowner’s experience is not consistent with our own tests nor with feedback we’ve received from other customers

It will actually know when you are getting close to the house and actually start cooling the house down.” Terry Zarling percent. He also said it still takes hours longer to cool down the house.

Sutta was not sure he would recommend it.

Arneaud felt the same way.

“I don’t think that I would go and personally purchase it,” she said.

It’s important to note their test was very unscientific. These were real life experiences that were simply observed and reported.

Both Lyric and Nest have studies that claim when used over a longer period of time these thermostats are effective.

It’s also worth noting it got hotter in the months following Sutta and Arneaud’s installation, so their air conditioners were on more often.

Still, that doesn’t account for a 66

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in the Miami area. Estimated annual savings in the southern U.S. range between $31 and $143. We’ll gladly talk to both the homeowner and the contractor to help resolve the issue!”

Nest also sent reaction to the test saying the 6 percent result was just not a meaningful measurement.

Between possible new appliances, changes in the amount of time spent at home and temperatures outside being hotter than last year, the numbers could have been skewed.

Nest wrote, “Studies conducted by Nest and independent third parties have shown that the Nest Thermostat saved US customers about 10-12% on their heating bills and about 15% on their cooling bills on average.”

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Home inventory New App Helps Log Possessions In Case Of A Burglary

by David Sutta • dsutta@cbs.com

omebody breaks into your home and they take your stuff. Would you know what to report to the insurance company? A new study shows most people do not have a good record of what they own.

When thieves broke into Katy Caliguiri’s home, they went right for the good stuff.

“They went into my bedroom and they took a couple of expensive purses…and jewelry.

Unfortunately, every single piece of jewelry that I own,” said Caliguiri.

A year later, Caliguiri is still reeling, wondering if she remembered to report everything that was stolen.

“The uncertainty that then comes along with walking in, room by room, and thinking what was taken here? What else happened? What’s next? What am I going to find? And it just adds to the extreme vulnerability that you feel,” said Caliguiri.

Caliguiri did not have a detailed list of all the items in her home and she’s not alone.

According to a new survey, less than one in five Americans has a list of their belongings and a third are unsure of the value of what they own.

“It is very important to take an inventory of your belongings,” said Cassie Turner with Liberty Mutual Insurance.

The company’s home gallery app is an easy way for consumers to log their possessions.

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All you need to do it snap a photo of everything you own, then log in important information, like how much you paid, and when. You can also add receipts.

“The claims process is very stressful so the more documentation you, have the easier the process will be and a lot less stressful,” said Caliguiri.

Caliguiri said she wishes she had done a better job of documenting everything in her home.

“I think it would have given me a sense of safety afterwards knowing exactly what was gone instead of the continually guessing and wondering,” said Caliguiri.

The home gallery app is free and it’s available to all renters and home owners, not just Liberty Mutual customers.

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F how to

live a long life 104-Year-Old Credits Family For Her Longevity

by Irika Sargent isargent@cbs.com

rom dancing to lifting weights, Mrs. Con Mac is a dedicated member at the YMCA family center in Weston.

She comes in seven days a week to exercise at her Silver Sneakers cardio class along with her daughter. And a recent Thursday at The Y was not just any day—she celebrated 104 years of life.

“I think she’s a wonderful, wonderful image to follow. We’re so proud of her,” said her friend, Judi Greenburg.

Con Mac came to the United States in 1975 from Vietnam. As a widow, she was forced to raise her two children on her own. She says making her family happy is what’s helped her stay healthy and live longer.

Her daughter, Bich-De Lu, says Con Mac lives longer because she knows how to relax and have time to watch the moon.

With nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, she always pushes that education comes first.

Now, five of her grandchildren are doctors and one is a pharmacist. Her grandchildren say she has been an inspiration throughout their lives.

“She is just an amazing woman. I can’t believe that she is turning 104 and I just think that she’s probably the most amazing people I know,” said her great-granddaughter, Kristy Nguyen.

Mrs. Con Mac, who is a strict vegetarian, loves to cook. And her favorite dish to prepare? Egg rolls. But her favorite part of the day, apart from exercising, is to meditate and to pray—a lesson she taught her children.

The City of Weston also honored Con Mac with a proclamation.

She said her secret to living up to 104-years-old, is to exercise, eat clean, and pray every day.

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HURRICANE GUIDE

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Hurricane Hunters

By Craig Setzer, Chief Meteorologist csetzer@cbs.com

hey all have a little different personality you know. Some will knock your back teeth out and some are like a roller coaster or a ride like Disney’s Tower of Terror.” That is how Lt. Colonel Keith Gibson, Director of Operations for the Hurricane Hunters describes flying through storms. “I think probably one of the biggest things as a pilot as we’re flying one of these huge storms is the surreal nature of it. You know it can be pretty rough in the storm as we’re penetrating the eye, going through the different quadrants.” Gibson said. One of the primary missions of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft is to not only fly through the storm and sample the environment, but to see what’s going on all the way down to the ocean and to accomplish they use what is called a GPS Dropsonde.

Typically, the device is dropped out of the plane, a parachute attached to it deploys and it floats all the way down to the surface. “They get it out of the airplane using a tube and when it’s ready to go the meteorologist yells, ‘drop it.” Gibson says what’s actually happening is that they are actually recording these storms so they can go back through training and look at how they penetrated the storm. They usually don’t fly through the most severe weather they actually try to go through it.

That real time data the National Hurricane Center wants and needs to broadcast to millions of people is not something they can just access through satellite. They actually need Hurricane Hunters like Gibson to physically go and obtain it from the eye of the storm. The first Hurricane Hunters began flying back in the 1940s. There are now ten such aircrafts which fly directly into the core of tropical cyclones.

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CBSMIAMI.COM

Making Waves to better understand hurricanes

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by Lissette Gonzalez, CBS4 Meterologist lgonzalez@wfor.cbs.com

ne of the key questions that meteorologists have been trying to figure out is what causes hurricanes to intensify rapidly. Now doctors and researchers are doing just that at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School. At this facility, located on Key Biscayne, researchers hope to better understand some of the fundamentals of heat that help power a hurricane and the friction that slows them down right at the surface. At the school they have what’s called the Sustain Tank, which stands for Surge Structure Atmospheric Interaction Laboratory. This tank is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. It helps researchers study what happens at the air sea interface in extreme winds for hurricane intensity forecasting.

As you can imagine it can be very hard to measure hurricane conditions near the ocean surface, so researchers have brought hurricane conditions inside their lab. Doctor Haus explains it as “We can generate waves by blowing wind over the water and we have 1700 horse power fan that can generate winds to a category

five strength in the facility.” He also says they have a 12 element wave maker that creates waves that the wind then pushes against it. “When we measure the drag of the ocean and the heat transfer of the ocean right at the sea interface, we can put that into mathematical models that are then used by the hurricane forecasters to understand intensity. So it’s a matter of improving these formulations that go into the models.” According to Dr. Haus.

Dr. Haus goes on to explain that wave tanks will not only help us better understand storm surge but what it also means for South Florida. He claims there are two key ways we can help people living in South Florida. One is more long-term which involves developing better designs for buildings and communities to incorporate rising sea levels. He also emphasizes that since we continue to be vulnerable to tropical systems we need to do the best job of engineering and planning that we can.

The second way is related to hurricane intensity forecasting.

If we can provide a better idea of how quickly a storm is going to intensify or not then that will allow us to refine evacuation notices and things like that so we can better respond in case a hurricane is headed towards South Florida.

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Hurricane guide

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Home improvement

The washing machine is one of the longest-lasting appliances in your home.

If you can find a machine that fits your lifestyle, brighter laundry days are ahead.

Washing Machine

Buying Guide

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Content provided by lowes.com

Washer Space and Connections

Measure your space • Width: Keep in mind that washers and dryers need one inch of space on either side for air circulation.

• Depth: Add six inches of space for door clearance, dryer vents and hookups.

• Height: Top loaders need an added 20 inches of above-machine clearance for the door.

If space is at a premium, consider going vertical.

There are many viable compact laundry centers.

And don’t forget that some front-loading washers and dryers may be stacked for space savings.

You’ll also need: • A level floor with no more than a 1-inch slope.

• Hot and cold water lines within 3 feet of washer hookups.

• A 3- or 4-prong power cord, depending on the configuration of your outlet.

• Connection to nearby wastewater drainage system.

Top-load and Front-load Options The traditional top-load and newer front load units share many of the same functional features. Stylewise there are a few differences.

Benefits of Top-Loaders: • No bending or kneeling • Largest capacity • Traditional look Benefits of Front-Loaders: • Additional storage space underneath the machine if placed on a pedestal • Optional steam sanitation feature for a deeper clean • Special cycles that allow a load to be washed and dried in the same machine • Modern look

Washer Features to Consider

Tub Capacity This term refers to the inside wash tub and is measured in cubic feet. A large capacity washer lessens laundry loads, which is perfect for growing families and those who wash bulky items at home.

For reference, a 4.5 cu. ft. washer fits 25-50 bath towels. As a rule, it’s usually best to choose the largest capacity your space will allow.

Laundry Habits Are you guilty of washing a load and letting it sit?

You might want to look for Wash Now, Dry Later capabilities. Do you wear fabrics that require lots of TLC? Insist on a Delicates cycle to avoid hand washing.

Today’s washing machine features take the hassle out of special cleaning challenges. Additional features to consider: add a garment, quick wash, delayed wash, sanitation, steam cleaning and advanced cleaning technology that automatically releases oxygen based cleansers to brighten without bleach.

Noise A quiet machine is essential if it’s to be placed near a living area or bedroom. Check the machine’s specifications for vibration reduction and look for added insulation and improved suspension for quiet operation.

Savings Most washers on the market are already ENERGY STAR® qualified, but it pays to check the washer’s performance according to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency or the CEE. The CEE denotes tiers based on a machine’s Modified Energy Factor and Water factors. The more efficient the unit and the less water it uses, the higher its tier.

High Efficiency or HE washers are ENERGY STAR® qualified and have higher spin speeds to remove more water from laundry, reducing dry time.

You may pay a little more up front for washers with outstanding ratings, but you’ll offset that cost over the life of your washer by conserving energy and water. For example, some washers save up to 7,000 gallons of water each year. That’s enough for 3,000 showers. A worthy trade, no?

Fashion or Function Finally, consider a matching set. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing, your washer and dryer are actually engineered to work together. Factors like spin speed mean reduced drying time and your matching dryer will feature special cycles and sensors to accommodate the function, ensuring clothes are never over-dried, making them last longer for additional monetary savings.

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Mow Your Lawn Correctly Grass cutting is a weekly ritual for most lawn owners.

Here are some things to remember to help you get the best from your lawn mower and your lawn.

Lawn Mowing Tips

Remember that mowing is pruning. Proper mowing increases the density of the lawn, which in turn decreases weeds. Each type of grass has a recommended mowing height.

Find out which type of grass is in your lawn (you may have more than one) and mow at the proper height.

Stick to the 1/3 rule — never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade length at any one time. A healthy lawn can survive an occasion-

al close cut. Repeated close mowing produces a brown lawn and has several harmful side effects, including: • Injury to the crown, where new growth generates and nutrients are stored.

• Reduction of the surface area of the blade, making the blade surface insufficient to produce food through photosynthesis.

• Increased vulnerability to pests and disease.

• An increase in the sunlight reaching weed seeds, allowing them to germinate.

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Content provided by lowes.com • Risk of soil compaction.

Also remember to: • Mow when the grass is dry. The blades will be upright and less likely to clump when cut.

• Avoid mowing in the heat of the day to prevent heat stress on your grass and yourself.

• Keep mower blades sharp and balanced.

Ragged cuts made by dull blades increase the chance of disease and pests.

• Change the mowing pattern each time you mow. Grass develops a grain based on your cutting direction, tending to lean towards the direction you mow. Alternating the pattern causes more upright growth and helps avoid producing ruts in the lawn.

• Mow moving forward, whether you’re pushing a walk-behind mower or sitting behind the wheel of a lawn tractor.

• Discharge the clippings (unless you bag them) towards the area you have already cut.

• Leave clippings on the lawn unless they form clumps or rows. This technique (known as grass cycling) returns nutrients and nitrogen to the lawn.

• Consider using a mulching mower or mulching attachments.

• If you bag your clippings, consider composting them.

• Mow grass higher in shaded areas under trees. In these areas grass has to compete with tree roots for water and nutrients.

• Reduce mowing frequency and raise the mowing height of cool-season grasses when hot, dry weather slows their growth rate.

• Follow the proper fertilizing schedule for your type of turfgrass.

Mowing new grass: Newly-seeded grass needs three to four weeks to get established after germination before you should mow it for the first time. The grass blades are tender and easily damaged and the foot and mower traffic could compact the soil, especially if the soil is moist. Mow when the new grass is 3/4 inch to 1 inch taller than its recommended regular mowing height.

Lawn Mower Tips

Always follow the mower manufacturer’s operating, maintenance and safety instructions, including instructions on safety gear.

Here are some general tips: • Learn how to operate your mower before you take to the lawn, especially if you’ve purchased a zero-turn-radius (ZTR) model.

• Clear debris from the area you’ll be mowing.

• Keep children, pets and others away from the mowing area.

• Do not remove or alter discharge chutes or any other safety attachments.

• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Wear eye and hearing protection and any other safety gear as specified by the manufacturer.

• Protect yourself from the summer heat while working outdoors.

• Do not refuel a hot engine.

• Keep hands and feet away from moving parts.

• Mowing on slopes presents certain challenges. Follow your specific mower manufacturer’s instructions for mowing on slopes.

• If you use a riding mower, do not carry passengers.

• If your mower is equipped with a key,

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53 remove it when the mower is not in use.

Pre-season and post-season mower maintenance will prolong the life of your mowing machines and produce a better looking lawn.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper maintenance.

Caution: Before performing any maintenance, cleaning or inspections on your mower, turn it off and remove the ignition / safety key (if equipped). On a gasoline-powered mower, unplug the spark plug wire(s) as instructed in the manual. If you have an electric mower, disconnect if from its power supply. Make sure all blades and moving parts have come to a stop. Follow any premaintenance procedures the manufacturer specifies.

Turfgrass Mowing Height Recommendations

These are basic guidelines for mowing heights. Keep weather conditions (hot, cold, drought) in mind whenever you mow.

Mowing Height for Cool-season Grasses Bentgrass - 1/2 to 1 inch Bluegrass - 2 to 2 1/2 inches Perennial Ryegrass - 2 to 3 inches Fescue - 2 to 3 inches Mowing Height for Warm-season Grasses Bahia - 2 to 2 1/2 inches Bermuda - 1 1/2 to 2 inches Centipede - 1 1/2 to 2 inches St. Augustine - 2 to 3 inches Zoysia - 1 to 2 inches

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T oilet Buying Guide

Toilet Rough-In Measurement s and Standards

Make sure the new toilet will fit your space. To do this, measure the rough-in size. This is the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the center of the drainpipe or the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. It’s best to perform this measurement before you remove the old toilet.

Measure from the wall behind the toilet to the center of one of the closet bolts (that hold the toilet down). If the toilet has four closet bolts, measure to the center of one of the rear ones. Measure from the center of the mounting holes to the back of the new toilet you’re considering. Compare these two measurements. If the base of the new toilet is shorter than the distance between the rear bolt holes and the wall, it should fit. In small bathrooms where space is tight, also measure from the sides of the flange bolts to the sidewalls or other objects to assure side-to-

side clearance.

The standard rough-in is 12-in, though you may encounter 10-in and 14-in rough-ins in older homes.

You should find the rough-in measurement in the new toilet’s product information.

T oilet Models: One Piece or Two?

Toilets are made in one or two-piece models. Most toilets are two-piece, meaning that the bowl is bolted to the tank. Two-piece toilets are generally less expensive than one-piece. Both function comparably, though a one-piece toilet may be easier to clean. If they’re not included, make sure you purchase all of the installation parts required: toilet seat, wax ring with sleeve, closet bolts and bolt caps.

Wall mount or wall-hung toilets are another style option that is becoming increasingly popular in modern homes. If this sounds interesting, remember that these units require modifications to the plumbing/ waste system and additional bracing in the wall.

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T oilet Bowls

Toilet bowls are available in round and elongated (oval) shapes. Elongated bowls are usually two inches longer than round bowls and offer additional comfort. Round bowls are generally less expensive and work well in small spaces. As with rough-in standards, make sure your space will accommodate an elongated bowl before you buy.

The bowl height is generally 14-in to 15-in high measured from floor level (without the seat). Taller bowls are available that are the height of a standard chair (16-in to 19-in) for comfort and accessibility.

Taller bowls are also ADA-compliant.

Other bowl features to note: Sanitary Bar: Found on two-piece models, the sanitary bar blocks liquid from collecting under the tank at the back of the bowl.

Trapway: The snakelike tubing on the sides of your toilet through which water flows. A larger trapway

Content provided by lowes.com diameter (ex. 2 3/8-in) reduces the chance of clogging and overflow.

Toilet Tanks and Flushing Systems Almost all toilets have a similar tank capacity.

When choosing a tank, you’ll have flush valve size and flush lever positioning to consider, as well as the flushing system.

The flush valve, which is located at the center of the tank, is activated by the flush lever and releases the water held in the tank. The larger the flush valve, the higher the rate of water flow. Flush levers are positioned either on the side, front or top of the tank.

The pressure-assisted and gravity-flush systems are the two standard flushing systems available: Pressure-Assisted Flush System: Pressurized air forces water into the bowl when flushed, reducing the chance for clogs. This system is noisy, expensive and may require costly maintenance.

Gravity-Flush System: The most common and simplest system, it uses the water weight to generate flushing pressure. The pressure forces everything from the tank into the bowl and through the S-shaped trapway. A siphoning action completes the flush. This flushing system is quieter and requires less maintenance than a pressure-assisted flushing

system.

Additonal toilet technology includes: Dual Flush: This is a relatively new system for saving water without sacrificing efficiency. There are two flushing options for a full or partial flush (ex. 1.6 gallon flush and 1.1 gallons per flush).

Waterless Toilets: Where water or plumbing is not available or when portability is required, a self-contained waterless unit is an option.

T oilet Seat s

Most toilets come in separate pieces and don’t include the seat. Choose a seat that complements the color of the toilet and the décor of your bathroom.

Think about the following items when choosing your seat: • The seat shape depends upon the shape of bowl: round or elongated.

• Seats are available in real wood, molded wood composition, cushioned vinyl, plastic or polypropylene.

Slow-close toilet seats are quiet and safe (no more slamming).

• The ultimate toilet seat offers such amenities as warm water stream, heated surface, warm air drying and deodorizer. Additional water and electrical hookups are required for this luxury item.

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T oilet s and Water Usage

By federal law, new toilets can’t use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush (gpf). High-efficiency toilets (HET) use even less.

Toilets with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® label rate high in both water efficiency and flushing effectiveness. They meet strict flushing performance guidelines established by the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) WaterSense® program. WaterSense® -labeled toilets use at least 20% less water than standard 1.6-gallon toilets.

Urinals and Bidet s

Other sanitary devices are available to equip your bathroom: Urinals: This is a water-efficient, wall-mounted unit. Most urinals are found in commercial or retail settings.

Bidets: It provides a convenient facility for personal cleansing. A bidet is becoming an added fixture in many new construction and remodeling projects. It’s usually placed beside the toilet. Some toilets offer an integrated bidet and dryer.

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Small Appliance Buying Guide

Choose the best small appliances for your kitchen with our guide. Reduce prep time and increase your culinary expertise with our most popular small appliances that do more work in less space.

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Content provided by lowes.com Before You Buy

A few questions help you start your search for a new appliance.

1. Do I have enough counter / storage space available for the product I’m considering?

2. Is it available in the color / finish I desire?

3. Is it easy to clean / maintain?

4. Are safety ratings and reports available to guide me?

Blenders and Juicers

• Watts determine speed and power, ranging from 200 to 1,500.

• Higher wattages pulverize ice, frozen fruits and nuts more easily than lower wattages.

• Carafes range from 4-9 cups and are available in glass, which is heavier and offers transparency for easy monitoring; stainless steel, which is non-staining; and plastic, for light weight and handling safety. Look for BPA-free plastic to reduce exposure to carcinogens.

• Removable juicer tops make it easy to add items while blending.

• Detachable bases and blades on blenders and juicers make cleaning easier.

Good to Know: Check the manufacturer’s specifications carefully to find out if your appliance of choice is approved for use with both hot and cold liquids.

Coffee, Tea and Espresso Makers

• Whether you choose single-serve or full-pot brewing, check to make sure your appliance is pod-compatible for added convenience. Coffee pods are pre-packaged coffee units that eliminate the need to measure loose grounds and use coffee filters.

• Some brewers accommodate both singleserve cups, pods and loose ground coffee within a single unit.

• Popular features to consider include integrated bean grinders for the freshesttasting coffee, temperature adjustment for those who prefer tepid or extra-hot coffee, coffee strength selectors, water filters and

permanent coffee filters to reduce landfill waste.

• 24-hour programmability, pause-andserve and automatic shut-off are convenience features helpful when you’re getting ready for work or entertaining guests.

Toasters and Toaster Ovens

• Toasters come with 4 to 6 slice openings, with the option of extra-long or extra-wide slots to handle everything from baguettes to bagels.

• Toaster ovens offer toast, bake and broil capabilities, eliminating the need to heat a large oven for cooking a small dish.

• Features like rotisserie or convection cooking allow you to customize your cooking experience. Rotisserie cooking rotates food in heat for more even cooking and crispier skin. Convection toasters save time and cook foods more evenly by circulating hot air with a fan.

Good to Know: Look for an automatic shutoff feature to elminate worry about appliances overheating, damaging surrounding countertops and cabinets or causing house fires.

Countertop Microwaves

• Countertop microwaves are available between 700 and 1200 watts.

• Watts equal cooking power. The more power you have, the faster food cooks.

• Countertop microwaves are available in all the same finishes as built-ins: white, black or stainless steel. They can be paired with a trim kit for a built-in look.

• Preprogrammed cook cycles and sensor cooking easily heat your favorite foods and drinks with a single button. Preprogrammed settings are automatically set to heat popular snacks, such as popcorn.

Sensor cooking checks the doneness of foods by monitoring steam, adjusting cooktime automatically to avoid overcooking.

Good to Know: Before you shop, measure your available counter space to ensure a good fit, as countertop microwaves vary greatly in size.

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Wine Chillers and Coolers

• Wine chillers and coolers maintain ideal temperatures for wine and / or beer bottles, cans or a mixture of containers (based on shelf configuration) in a built-in or stand-alone unit.

• Chilling units with automatic settings for red or white wines hold your bottles at the optimum serving temperature per varietal.

• Look for textured aluminum interiors, which maintain temperature and humidity better than other materials Good to Know: Solid doors offer the best performance. But, if you opt for a glass door, make sure it is UV-coated. Light can damage wine.

Irons and Steamers

• Non-stick soleplates make ironing an easier task and are easier to clean.

• Adjustable heat settings and built-in thermostats mean safe temperatures are maintained for fabric specifications.

• Steam settings help release wrinkles faster and help to freshen fabric between washes. Steam buttons are available on traditional irons to release wrinkles without effort.

• Stand-alone steamer units smooth fabric with less damage. Wand and upright models are available.

Good to Know: Automatic Off turns the iron off after a period of inactivity.

Mixers

• Stand mixers and hand mixers are available.

• Mixers come with a variety of beater types for flexibility: Flat beaters mix ingredients without whipping, dough hooks let air into bread or pizza dough, allowing it to rise, and wire whips add air to your foods for fluffy whipped cream or meringue.

• With stand mixers, determine the beater action that’s right for you. Planetary means both the beater and bowl move. Standard means that just the beaters move.

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Content provided by lowes.com • Stand mixer attachments are available for a variety of food prep: juicing / saucing, slicing and shredding fruits and vegetables, rolling and cutting pasta, even making homemade ice cream.

Good to Know: Consider the weight of your mixer. For hand mixers, lighter is better because it reduces exertion and shoulder stress, while heavier stand mixers help the appliance remain stable at high speeds.

Cookers and Steamers

• Cookers are available in a variety of sizes, from .75 quart to 18 quarts in configurations from single-vessel to triplevessel.

• Look for dishwasher-safe, non-stick interiors and removable liners for easy cleaning.

• Some cookers and steamers offer multifunction usage - sear / brown meat, then switch to traditional slow-cooking for savory roasts. Use the steam feature for rice or vegetables. Use the reheat option for warming up to 400 degrees.

party needs. Since people tend to enjoy more than a 1/2-cup serving of ice cream at a time, adjust portions accordingly.

• Today’s ice cream makers are made with BPA-free plastics to protect your health.

• Self-refrigerating compressors mean that you don’t have to freeze the bowl ahead of time. Enjoy homemade ice cream on a whim

Deep Fryers

• Closed systems cook to time and automatically lift and drain the basket for improved user safety.

• Open systems require manual lifting and draining of the basket and are available

63 • Indoor grills and waffle makers cook evenly on both sides, so there’s no need to flip for perfect results.

Bread Makers

• Explore pre-programmed settings for crust color, loaf sizes, cakes and more.

Convection fans provide for even cooking.

• Gluten-free settings allow those with gluten sensitivies and aversions to create delicious gluten-free bread.

• Shop for dishwasher safe, non-stick pans for easy clean-up.

Good to Know: Adding a bread maker to your small appliance collection means you

Food Processors and Grinders

• Food processors and grinders come with accessories to tackle many kitchen chores: shred vegetables and cheeses, finely chop vegetables, grind meat, pulvarize grains, chop nuts for toppings or process them to make nut butter.

• Some appliances come with additional attachments to handle prep work. Look for attachments to help knead dough and tackle juicing, shredding, slicing and grating.

• Feed tubes on the top of the appliance let you add items while the machine is running.

Good to Know: Mini-choppers are a space-saving option and come with many of the same features and attachments as full-size models.

Ice Cream Makers

• Small (1.5 quarts = 12 1/2-cup servings) and large (4 quarts = 32 1/2-cup servings) capacities accommodate your ice cream

with cool-touch handles and external basket lifts for safer handling.

• Tilt-and-drain features tilt the basin to drain the oil and make cleanup easy.

• Sealing lids are a great option if you plan to store oil in your fryer.

Good to Know: Read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions carefully to avoid burns and damage to countertops and other surfaces.

Indoor Grills, Skillets and Waffle Makers

• Look for interchangeable flat and ridged non-stick plates for toasted sandwiches, pancakes, bacon and more from your grill, skillet or waffle maker.

• Overflow channels and drains empty grease and juices into a separate receptable for easier cleaning.

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can control what goes into your food and make breads and cakes without preservatives or transfat, unlike store-bought breads which are loaded with preservatives to keep them shelf-stable and unhealthy transfats that comes from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Dehydrators

• Dehydrators preserve food for months ahead.

• Control what you eat by making healthy dried fruit and jerky. Drying food concentrates flavors and maintains nutritional value.

• Fans circulate the air for even drying, so there is no need to rotate your trays.

Caution: Do not use small appliances near water.

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Content provided by lowes.com

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An invigorating shower can get the day off to a smart start. Learn about the different types of showerheads and determine which one will work best in your bathroom.

Choosing a Showerhead

(pounds per square inch. Low-flow showerheads use even less than that, which translates to lower energy costs to the consumer.

Types of Showerheads There are two basic

types of showerheads: Fixed are mounted permanently to the wall of the shower unit. Some fixed showerheads are mounted in such a way that the height can be adjusted to accommodate different people.

Hand-held are connected to the wall by a flexible tube or hose, allowing a range of motion. Hand-held showerheads most often hang on a fixed-mount bracket, which can sometimes be fixed low on the wall to adhere to the principles of universal design.

Hand-held showerheads are also useful for bathing children and pets, and they make cleaning the shower and tub easy.

For energy savings, look for a low-flow showerhead, which uses less water than a standard model. According to government standards, no showerhead can have a water flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute at a standardized pressure of 80psi

Not every home has water pressure as high as 80psi.

Levels substantially lower than that can make a dramatic difference in the effectiveness of the shower. If it feels like you never can get the shampoo rinsed out of your hair properly, look for a model designed specifically for low water pressure use.

Some showerheads also come with a cut-off valve that allows you to stop the flow of water while bathing, which greatly reduces the amount of water used in every shower.

Different spray patterns and options are available. A wide, round showerhead feels like a drenching rain, while a massaging unit can offer a sharp spray, a fine mist or a combination of several sensations. Look for a unit on which the spray pattern is easily adjustable, even with soapy hands.

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Content provided by lowes.com

Easy-to-Make Sandbox What kid doesn’t love a sandbox?

This super-easy project only takes a few hours to make - and provides countless hours of fun.

Skill Level Beginner Estimated Time Few hours Estimated Cost $$$$$ Tools

Shovel Caulk gun Utility knife

Materials

7’ x 10’ pond liner Play sand Landscape adhesive Old Castle Tan Perfect Edging

Instructions Step 1 Determine the size of the sandbox you want to build, then dig a pit about 12” deep.

Step 2 Using a utility knife, trim the pond liner to the shape of the pit, leaving about 12” of liner around the pit perimeter.

Step 3 Make a series of small punctures in the liner for drainage.

Step 4 Fill the pit with play sand.

Step 5 Use edging blocks to anchor the liner around the perimeter of the pit. Using a caulk gun, apply landscape adhesive to each of the blocks so they adhere to one another and to the liner.

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Content provided by lowes.com

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Inspect Your Garden Regularly A Gulf Coast gardener reflects on the wisdom of inspecting one’s garden as part of daily visits.

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By Mary Glazer

atching gardens and growing older have something in common: Both can provide a lot of wisdom.

Over the decades I’ve learned the importance of regularly inspecting plants while admiring my garden. I don’t mean a casual glance while dragging the garbage can to the curb. I mean serious, ongoing, up-close-and-personal hanging out with my plants.

When I do a tour of my garden I start at one end of the yard and completely circle the area, visually inspecting all my plants. Not only do I derive great satisfaction from noticing the first buds of the season or enjoying the fragrance of scented flowers, but also this process enables me to spot small issues before they become big problems. Problems such as leaf-footed bug nymphs, pictured.

If harmful insects have taken up residence on a beloved plant, now is the time for me to take action. Five innocent-looking problem insects quickly turn into 50 big problems. Hand-collecting a few insect pests now is better than dealing with a thriving colony of errant bad-boys later. The same goes with weeds: Pull them when they’re young, not after they’ve rooted deeply.

I also look for wilted plants. Some wilting is due to pests, but often it’s because a gardener forgot to water newly purchased plants and Mother Nature was miserly on the rainfall that week.

Also you can spot nutritional problems early on. Are leaves turning yellow but their veins remain green? Are new or old leaves affected? Is the problem restricted to one plant, or is the entire row of a hedge affected?

Consider the time of year before taking action. Plants in active spring growth

might need a nutritional deficiency corrected, whereas a plant experiencing the typical senescing of the fall likely should be left alone. With the warmer climate in the Gulf states, it’s easy to forget that what appears to be a problem is normal for that plant. One example is a robust crape myrtle undergoing a thinning of leaves and ultimately a change in leaf color.

Among the Master Gardeners at my local extension office, we had a saying: You’re not really a Master Gardener until you kill a thousand plants. I qualify. I have most certainly made all of the mistakes listed above. With mistakes comes experience, and with experience comes wisdom.

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Get to Know Your Mover’s Paperwork Focusing on contracts and lists can be tough when you’re dealing with all the other details of a move, but it’s worth the effort.

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f there is an aspect of the moving process that most people find to be even more painful than packing, it’s dealing with movers’ paperwork.

Not understanding clearly all the terms and provisions of the various documents you need to sign when scheduling your move may cost you a lot of money, time and headaches. But moving paperwork can be a reliable tool that helps you achieve a smooth and trouble-free residential move.

Estimates and quotes

When you ask for a quote, the moving company will provide you with an estimate. But estimates received over the phone or online can never be precise and detailed enough. It’s a good idea to request an on-site visual survey of your household items in order to get an accurate written estimate for your move.

Generally, there are two types of estimates: • Non-binding estimates. The

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amount stated in a non-binding estimate may differ a lot from the final charges you will have to pay, because the actual moving costs will be determined by the precise weight of your shipment and the specific services that your movers provided.

Weight tickets must be issued when your shipment is moved under a nonbinding estimate.

• Binding estimates. The final cost of your move is guaranteed in a binding estimate. However, if the actual

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weight of your shipment exceeds the initially estimated one, or if you need some additional services, you will have to negotiate a revised estimate and pay extra on moving day. Reputable moving companies will agree to provide you with an on-site written binding estimate, and will give you relevant information about potential extra charges and useful tips on how to best prepare for your move.

Bill of lading

Your chosen movers will prepare an order of service and provide you with a bill of lading that serves as a contract between you and the company.

Remember that it is your responsibility to read the bill of lading before you accept it. Keep your copy, as it is the most important moving-related document you will receive.

Make sure you understand and agree with all the terms before signing the document, and pay special attention to the clauses related to movers’ liability.

Your bill of lading must include: • Moving company’s contact and license information. The name, address, and phone number of your chosen moving company; the company’s U.S. Department of Transportation number and operating authority number (typically an MC number; you can verify that information in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database); and/or any other state licenses. The same information should be available for any subcontractors your movers work with. The identification number(s) of the vehicle(s) that will transport your items should also be provided.

• Your contact information, as well as the origin and destination address of the shipment. Make sure both the addresses are full and accurate.

• Pick-up and delivery dates or

time frame. If you opt for guaranteed service, your movers will have to compensate you in case they fail to keep the agreed time frame.

• Provided services and rates.

Any additional services and specific requirements should be clearly stated.

Don’t forget to notify your movers of any possible obstacles when parking the truck and/or taking your household items out of your old property and into your new one.

• Payment method. The moving company should accept different forms of payment. If they insist on cash only, this may be a sign that you are dealing with rogue movers. Any required minimum charges must be pointed out, as well as the amount and type of the required deposit (refundable or non-refundable). The maximum amount your movers will demand at delivery must also be specified.

• Insurance coverage and dispute settlement. The document should specify any insurance you have bought from a third party, as well as its provisions and the amount of the premium. In addition, you need to be familiar with the dispute settlement programs available and the conditions under which you can make a claim for damage. Trustworthy moving companies should provide proper reimbursement for any damaged items, and any conflicts, disputes and claims against them should be peacefully settled. Be sure to request and review a summary of the arbitration process.

• Valuation addendum. You will be provided with Full Value and Released Value Protection plans to choose from. Under the Full Value Protection option, your mover is obliged to repair or replace any damaged items, or to cover the cost of repair for any personal possessions damaged or lost while in the carrier’s

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custody. It comes at an additional fee, but you can set the amount for which you want your belongings to be protected, as well as the deductibles.

You can insure your valuables based on their cost, not on their weight. If you choose this method, it must be explicitly stated in the bill of lading.

Released Value Protection is offered at no additional charge, but the carrier won’t be liable for more than 60 cents per pound per item, and punitive damage claims will not be allowed. Remember that certain circumstances allow your movers to limit their liability.

The moving company is not liable for any items you have packed yourself, or items of great value that are not declared in the inventory list.

Inventory list

All items that will be shipped by your movers must be present on the inventory list, with their current condition properly noted.

You should be very careful when inspecting the records both on moving day and upon delivery, because if an item has been lost or damaged while in the carrier’s custody, the inventory list will serve as evidence in your favor.

Remember that when the shipment is delivered, it is your responsibility to check your items against the inventory list. If something is damaged or missing, notify your movers immediately, and request that proper notations are made on their copy of the inventory before you sign it.

Even if you are pressed for time or stressed by the tense and chaotic moving process, never sign blank or incomplete papers. Find the time to read the fine print on the documents you have been provided with, and research the moving company’s tariffs, rules and regulations. You’ll avoid moving scams, and ensure a problemfree moving process.

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Recently Sold Miami-Dade County

1270 NE 97th St, Miami Shores, FL 33138 SINGLE FAMILY | Built in: 1950 Sold: 6/3/2015 for

J

$555,000

Size (sq. ft.)

beds

2,674 3

baths

3

ust steps from the bay. 3 Bedrooms and two full baths plus one full bath in the attached two car garage. Beautiful entry courtyard; great for entertaining or gardening. Entry foyer, big formal living room, great room and kitchen. Master has huge bath with separate shower and tub plus large walk-in closet. Great bedroom split; the other two bedrooms share a full bath. Good closets and ample storage space. Big screened porch in the back of the house. Hardwood floors.

112 NE 48th St, Miami, FL 33137 SINGLE FAMILY | Built in: 1926 Sold: 6/10/2015 for

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$700,000

Size (sq. ft.)

beds

2,384 4

baths

2

harming 1926 2 story in Historic East Buena Vista-Design District area. 4/2, covered carport & detached 2 car garage. Gorgeous original fireplace, & lots of architectural details. Formal dining, living, wood floors, oversized gated 9280 sq ft lot in the heart of the Design District & a short walk to hip dining & shopping. Tons of potential; location, location, location! Discover the Neighborhood on the Rise...culture & commerce in your backyard.

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Recently Sold Miami-Dade County

3730 De Garmo Ln, Miami, FL 33133 SINGLE FAMILY | Built in: 1997 Sold: 6/4/2015 for

$2,375,000

S

Size (sq. ft.)

beds

baths

4,394 5 5.5

tunning magazine quality home in exclusive De Garmo Estates. Drive through the majestic gates onto a winding road canopied by massive oaks. Walls of windows allow for light filled living spaces opening to lush tropical gardens. Features include volume ceilings and a high-end custom kitchen w/ island & carrara marble counter tops. Luxurious master suite w/sitting area & private balcony. French doors lead out to expansive walled terrace & tranquil pool. Walk or bike to the Grove village center.

7737 Atlantic Way, Miami Beach, FL 33141 SINGLE FAMILY | Built in: 2012 Sold: 6/3/2015 for

Size (sq. ft.)

$9,600,000 6,923

W

beds

baths

6 7.5

ake up to paradise in this oceanfront oasis on Miami Beach. Located in the prestigious gated community of Altos Del Mar, this 6 bedroom/7.5 bathroom modern Mediterranean masterpiece spans 3 floors and is perfect for entertaining. Outdoor highlights include private beach access, a state of the art outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, and exquisitely manicured landscaping. The 3rd floor boasts a grand master suite w/ balcony overlooking the ocean. All rent to be prepaid prior to occupancy. Maximum number of occupants 8.

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Is

For Sale

By Owner

Right for You?

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Going FSBO can be a great opportunity to save money … or a recipe for disaster.

Find out if FSBO makes sense for your home sale.

elling your home without an agent is entirely possible and, in some ways, easier today than in the past. Going for sale by owner (FSBO) could be a huge cost savings, since the real estate commission is the largest expense of any home sale. But FSBO is not for everyone.

If you go this route, you must be deliberate each step of the way. You’ll have to do your research and learn your market to discover what works and what doesn’t. Are homes staged? Do people price low for multiple offers or price high and wait? Is it a strong buyers’ market, or do sellers rule? Sometimes it can be hard to know, as markets can shift by neighborhood — or even by block.

In real estate today, sometimes you only get one chance to make a first impression. If you make a mistake your first time out, the market may punish you later on. Here are some other FSBO considerations for the next-generation home seller.

Online access to pricing makes going FSBO easier today One of the biggest hurdles for sellers is pricing their home correctly and knowing the comparable home sales. It’s easier to understand pricing today, given how much information is online — particularly for someone who lives in a home where the recent comparable home sales are cut and dry.

An example of this is a newer suburban development where the floor plans, layouts, fixtures and finishes are all similar.

Research your market offline, too Learning a real estate market doesn’t take a huge amount of effort, but it does take time. Go to open houses and see what is for sale. Start this process early, and do it often.

Monitor a few nearby homes from listing to close.

Real estate agents do it day in and day out, which makes them uniquely qualified to understand a market.

Be prepared to detach emotionally Selling a home has both financial and emotional implications, whether you sell it yourself or through an agent. Knowing that complete strangers will be running through and potentially criticizing your home is enough to make any home seller feel like a wreck.

Imagine dealing with these strangers directly. If you go the FSBO route, you are front and center from start to finish. You can’t let your emotions get the best of you, and you must focus on the investment aspect of your home.

Sometimes sellers who can’t emotionally detach find themselves leaving money on the table, alienating perfectly good buyers, or both. But if you think you can see your home objectively, as a third-party product, then you might be good to go with FSBO. It can become a part-time job Remember the last time you sold a car or some furniture on Craigslist? It probably required time and energy to photograph your goods, post the listings,

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field calls, and show the items before you finally made the sale. With real estate, you can amplify that effort 10-fold.

Going FSBO can be excellent for someone with a flexible schedule or who works from home. But getting the home ready to sell means doing all of the standard sale prep work that you would do as a seller — and then taking it a step further. You need to be ready to show the home at a moment’s notice, do follow-ups, and manage the open houses and scheduling, not to mention negotiate and see the sale through firsthand.

Doubt creeps in at the 11th hour Selling a home is not only a hugely emotional prospect, but also a gigantic financial transaction. People get scared and uncertain once it comes time to sell the home — and then they make mistakes.

It’s common to see FSBOs for sale at too high a price, or showing in poor condition. Once sellers get more realistic and serious about selling — which means pricing it right and presenting to the market properly — they often bring in a real estate pro.

Thinking of going FSBO? With so much information online today, it could be as easy as snapping some photos, writing some copy and posting online — maybe.

While FSBO does work seamlessly for many, going that route is not for everyone. Carefully weigh your options and consider if you have the time, resources, and emotional wherewithal to make going FSBO a reality. If you don’t think you’ll be able to invest those resources, reconsider bringing in a real estate agent.

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Contingencies: A Home Buyer’s BFF What if you’re under contract to buy a home, and then find out it’s got big problems? Contingencies can get you off the hook.

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ost home buyers organically begin and are comfortable with the real estate search process, but don’t know how to move forward once they’ve found a home they love. In order to put the search and discovery process into context, I sit down with every first-time buyer before we start searching together to go over the process, contract to close. If your agent hasn’t done this, ask them to.

One important aspect of a real estate contract is contingencies.

These provisions for an unforeseen event or circumstance are important in case something goes south. At contract signing, buyers will put money in escrow — as little as $1,000 or up to 10 percent of the purchase price. That’s a lot of money to hand over to the seller before arranging financing and doing more due diligence than opening closet doors at the open house. Contingencies can help protect buyers if a problem arises.

Contingencies are always tied to a timeframe. If it’s a hard contingency, the buyer must sign off physically in writing. If it’s a soft contingency, it simply passes with time. Know the difference between the two, and mark your timeframes early.

Here are the three big contingencies to know.

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Inspections

The biggest and best of the contingencies, the inspection is the “get out of jail free card” for buyers. It allows you to walk away once you’ve had an inspection if you discover issues with the home. For example, it is common for buyers to uncover broken or defective items, older systems or health and safety issues.

Some argue that it would be difficult to exit a contract from a brand new and flawless home, but the inspection contingency language in most contracts provides for an easy out.

If you do find something unexpected, you don’t necessarily have to abandon the contract. Go back to the seller and see what they will fix.

Unexpected inspection issues often result in a second round of negotiations.

If the items are big enough to kill the deal, the seller may agree to fix them or issue a credit at closing. In competitive markets, the seller may leave the defects for you to deal with as the new owner.

Loan approval and home appraisal

Getting pre-approved prior to making an offer is only part of the lending process. Before it wires the funds for your mortgage, the bank wants to be sure that the property is worth what you offered the seller, by way of an appraisal (sometimes a standalone contingency).

The appraiser is an independent third party who will walk through the home, take pictures and measurements, and comment on its condition, then follow up with a written report.

Second, a title report will be issued so the lender can see if there are outstanding liens or clouds on title. For condominiums or planned unit developments, the bank wants to review the governing documents and financials to make sure all is in order.

The loan approval, which can take up to 60 days, is the longest contingency.

In competitive markets, it can be done in less than two weeks. Be in touch with your lender before you make an offer, and strategize on timeframes.

Disclosures

Disclosures are meant to provide the buyer with as much information as possible to make an informed decision, as well protect their soon-to-be interest.

Sellers in most markets must disclose, via boilerplate local or state forms, their knowledge about the property and their experience living there. For example, if there was a leaky roof or if they know about a neighboring development that could affect the home’s value, they must disclose it.

Typically, sellers deliver the disclosures to buyers after their offer is accepted. Additionally, buyers will review local building department documents alongside local, state or federal disclosures about anything from earthquake hazard zones to flood zones to disclosures about proximity to airports.

Don’t sign a contract without reviewing your contingency options with your agent. Understand that contingencies are terms, and can sometimes be used for negotiation. If you can’t offer the highest price, the seller may appreciate moving fast once you sign a contract.

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Mopar Announces Accessory Pricing for the All-new 2016 Fiat 500X

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he all-new 2016 Fiat 500X provides plenty of opportunities for owners to customize the compact crossover, but an assist from Mopar is taking personalization possibilities to the “X-treme.” FCA US service, parts and customer-care brand will offer more than 100 Mopar accessories to personalize the latest addition to the FIAT lineup in North America.

The iconic Italian style, functionality, performance and all-wheel-drive confidence of the 2016 Fiat 500X can now be augmented with a healthy selection of production Mopar accessories ranging from a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of under $20 to $1,775.

“The addition of more than 100 Mopar accessories from which to choose provides customers unlimited potential for giving an even more distinct and unique personality to the all-new 2016 Fiat 500X,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO — Mopar Brand Service, Parts and Customer Care, FCA. Some of the more than 100 genuine Mopar accessories available for the all-new 2016 Fiat 500X include: Graphics packages: 14 different exterior graphics packages will be available at launch to personalize the Fiat 500X, including the Special Edition “Rebel” Graphics Package, which includes red hood, roof and spoiler graphics, as well as red and grey bodyside graphics. Additional graphics packages are available ranging from a MSRP of $100 to $495 to help personalize your new ride.

Wheels: Owners can choose from 18-inch wheels in three different and unique color options, with a

fourth option available in July, to dress up the new compact crossover for a MSRP of $275 per wheel.

Racks and carriers: For bikes, skis, snowboards, luggage and more, Mopar offers a variety of racks and carriers to fit the new Fiat 500X, allowing owners to take their adventure on the road. MSRP pricing for racks and carriers range from $50 to $579 and require black roof side rails ($355) and removable cross bars ($163) for installation.

Katzkin seats: Owners can transform the interior of their Fiat 500X with premium leather Katzkin seats when they become available this July. Prices range from $813 for uninstalled seats to $1,775 for installed seats.

Cargo management: Accessories, including a telescopic bar, collapsible crate, cargo trays and more, are available starting from $50 to help secure items and protect against spills, dirt, grease and grime.

Mopar Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): A state-of-the-art GPS-enabled stolen vehicle recovery system that helps protect the vehicle, along with additional available security features. The unit is available for a MSRP of $499 with additional security feature packages ranging from $149 to $463.

Splash guards: Designed to fit the contours of the Fiat 500X, front and rear splash guards provide added protection from road debris and stone chips and are available for less than $50.

Slush mats and cargo tray: Customers can keep their vehicle’s interior pristine with slush mats ($85) and a cargo tray ($75), which feature molded, deep ribs to protect a vehicle’s carpet and keep it clean by trapping and holding water, snow and mud.

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Cat-back exhaust: Owners can add extra horsepower and torque along with a deeper, more aggressive tone to their ride with the installation of a cat-back exhaust system available for a MSRP of $995 when it becomes available this June.

Extra color personalization: Customers can now also coordinate or accent their vehicle’s unique look by mixing and matching the multiple color combinations available for mirror covers at $95, bodyside molding for $315 and vehicle graphics starting at $100.

Mopar Web: The Mopar Web Wi-Fi service kit is comprised of a module ($395) and harness ($100) and enables owners of the new Fiat 500X to securely conduct online activities in their vehicle as it becomes a roving hotspot, allowing five Wi-Fi-enabled devices to connect to the Internet.

Spare tire kit: This essential addition to any new 2016 Fiat 500X includes a mounted spare tire, jack and jack tool, screwdriver, tie down and bag to keep all the components together for $295.

Additional parts & accessories: A variety of quality Mopar parts and accessories to dress up the new Fiat 500X are available for under $100 including a set of four FIAT valve stem covers ($18), a variety of fender badges ($19.50) to choose from, license plate covers with the 500 logo in chrome or satin black ($38), a chrome hood spear ($95) and chrome door sill guards with the 500 logo ($85).

For additional information on the Mopar catalog of genuine quality parts and accessories for the 2016 Fiat 500X, visit http://blog.mopar.com/tag/500X/

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For People Who Push Back: Warren Truck Pushes Out First 2015 Ram 1500 Rebels

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iat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC began production this week of the all-new 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Mich.). The oneof-a-kind, full-size truck is assembled by more than 4,000 employees across 3.3 million square feet of the Company’s 75-year-old truck plant.

The Ram 1500 Rebel makes a statement with an all-new, blacked-out grille and distinctive billet silver “RAM” letter badge. Rebel is designed with increased ride height, standard 33-inch tires, skid plates, tow hooks, and a unique brawny interior starting at $42,790.

Operating on three crews, the Warren Truck Assembly Plant is home of the only consecutive winners of the prestigious Motor Trend Truck of the Year: the 2013 Ram 1500 and 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel.

Building more than 286,000 available combinations of the Ram 1500, the plant has produced more than 12.5 million trucks since its operations began in 1938.

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