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Aug/Sept 2019
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HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE - SPECIAL ISSUE
This special Hurricane Guide is sponsored by Roberts & Roberts Management Services, LLC Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. and the Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30. Hurricanes can happen along any U.S. coast or in any territory in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans; they can affect areas more than 100 miles inland and are most active in September.
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L I F E S T Y L E
Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor
Hurricane Season has begun, here is what we thought you should know Samuel Roberts, Publisher/Editor
Due to the severity in storms in recent years, we wanted to bring you a comprehensive guide to being prepared during hurricane season.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is designed to prepare American families for an effective response to whatever natural or man-made disaster may come next. While the country has experienced recent devastating natural disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires, tornados and hurricanes, only 20% of Americans say they feel very prepared for a disaster. Yet 64% of Americans say disaster preparation is very important for people to do. The Ready campaign’s resources can help close that gap. The PSA message—“Don’t Wait. Communicate.”— encourages Americans to talk to their loved ones and make a plan that’s shared with all family members. The campaign also encourages Americans to be informed and build a kit with essential supplies that will last up to 72 hours. It is advised that you do the following: Start an emergency savings fund. Check your insurance coverage to make sure you have enough coverage. Learn more about flood insurance by visiting: www.floodsmart.gov Strengthen Your Home - Make sure your home is in good repair and meets local hurricane building codes. Declutter drains and gutters, trim trees, secure loose outdoor items & secure doors. Know a safe location to move your car during a hurricane. Help Your Neighbors - Get to know your neighbors before an emergency strikes. Make sure they have a plan before and after a hurricane. Exchange contact information Make an Emergency Plan - Write down your hurricane plan & share it. Preparing your family for an emergency is as simple as a conversation over dinner. Make a plan of how you will get in touch with others before, during, and after. It’s important to include kids in the disaster planning process. Review your family emergency plan together so that they know what to do even if you are not there. Be Prepared. Make an emergency plan today & practice it: www.ready.gov/plan Take photos of important documents and store them in a secure place. Download a group texting app so your entire circle of family and friends can keep in touch before, during & after an emergency. Practice evacuating in the car with your animals, so they’re more familiar if you need to evacuate in an emergency. Get the @fema app with weather alerts for up to 5 locations, plus disaster resources and safety tips: fema.gov/mobile-app. Utilities - contact your water and power companies to get on a “priority reconnection service” list of power-dependent customers if you rely on electrical medical equipment. Learn how to turn off utilities like natural gas in your home.
1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800 Fax: 407-386-7925 Toll Free: 877-220-8315 For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Should you desire to review past copies of the publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Editor & Publisher................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .....................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal .......................................................................................................................Ryan Davis ...................................................................................................................Sandra Fatmi .......................................................................................................................Gail Seeram .................................................................................................................Sasha Watson ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
Be prepared for a power outage by having enough food, water, & medications to last for at least 72 hours. Be safe, this storm season and be ready to help those in need. www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
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Closing on a House Checklist: 6 Things Home Buyers Must Do Before They Move In By Daniel Bortz
Welcome to your Closing on a House Checklist—a rundown of everything home buyers need to do in the 11th hour before they get their hands on those keys. Because when you're approaching the finish line in your home-buying journey, you want nothing to go wrong, right? That’s why we’ve put together a home closing checklist, which outlines your action points in those few days leading up to settlement. Keep this list handy to know you've done what you need to in order to close the deal. 1. Get all contingencies squared away Most purchase agreements have contingencies—things that buyers must do before this transaction is official, explains Jimmy Branham, a real estate agent at the Keyes Company, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. These are the most common contingencies: • Home inspection contingency: This gives buyers the right to have the home professionally inspected. If something is wrong, you can request it be fixed—or you can back out of the sale. It’s rarely advisable to waive an inspection contingency. Although the average home inspection costs $300 to $500, it’s a drop in the bucket considering the costly home issues you might uncover, says Claude McGavic, executive director of the National Association of Home Inspectors. •
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Appraisal contingency: With this contingency, a third party hired by your mortgage lender evaluates the fair market value of the home. If the appraised value is less
than the sale price, the contingency enables you to back out of the deal without forfeiting your earnest money deposit, says Bishoi Nageh, president of the Petra Cephas Team at Mortgage Network Solutions, in Somerset, NJ. • Financing contingency: This contingency gives you the right to back out of the deal if your mortgage approval falls through. You have a specified time period, as stated in the sales contract, during which you have to obtain a loan that will cover the mortgage. 2. Clear the title When you buy a home, you “take title” to the property and establish legal ownership—a process that’s confirmed by local public land records. As part of the closing process, your mortgage lender will require a title search, and you'll need to purchase title insurance to protect you from legal claims to the house.
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Closing on a House Checklist: 6 Things Home Buyers Must Do Before They Move In Sometimes distant relatives—or an ex-spouse—may surface with a claim that they actually own the home, and that the seller had no right to sell it to you in the first place. But clearing title will ensure this doesn’t happen, says Marc Israel, president and chief counsel of MIT National Land Services, a title company in New York City. As the home buyer, you’re entitled to choose the title company. You can get recommendations from your real estate agent, mortgage lender, and friends—just be sure to check out the license and reputation of each company online. 3. Get final mortgage approval Before you can go to the closing table, your home loan must go through the underwriting process. Underwriters are like real estate detectives—it’s their job to make sure you have represented yourself and your finances truthfully, and that you haven’t made any false or misleading claims on your loan application. The underwriter—employed by your mortgage lender— will check your credit score, review your home appraisal, and ensure your financial portfolio has remained the same since you were pre-approved for the loan. Since underwriting typically happens shortly before closing, you don’t want to do anything while you’re in contract that’s going to hurt your credit score. That includes buying a car, boat, or any other large purchase that has to be financed. 4. Review your closing disclosure If you're getting a loan, one of the best ways to prepare is to thoroughly review your closing disclosure, also known as a HUD-1 settlement statement. This official document outlines your exact mortgage payments, the loan's terms (e.g., the interest rate and duration), and additional fees you'll pay, called closing costs (which total anywhere from 2% to 7% of your home's price). You’ll want to compare your closing disclosure to the loan estimate your lender gave you at the outset. If you spot any discrepancies, ask your lender to explain them.
5. Do a final walk-through Most sales contracts allow buyers to do a walk-through of the home within 24 hours before closing. During this stage, you're making sure the previous owner has vacated (unless you’ve allowed a rent-back arrangement in which they can stick around for a period of time before moving). You’re also double-checking that the home is in the condition agreed upon in the contract. If your home inspection revealed problems that the sellers had agreed to fix, you’ll want to make sure those repairs were made. 6. Bring the necessary documentation to closing Make sure you have the following items when you head to the closing table: - Proof of homeowners insurance - A copy of your contract with the seller -Your home inspection reports -Any paperwork the bank required to approve your loan -A government-issued photo ID (Note to newlyweds who just changed their name: The ID needs to match the name that will appear on the property’s title and mortgage.) Plan to sign a ton of paperwork. An attorney or settlement agent will guide you through the process. When you’re done, you’ll collect the keys and you're finally home free! If you’ve never bought a home before – or maybe even if you have – you may not realize that you can work with a real estate agent who has a fiduciary responsibility to represent your interests as a buyer. A buyer’s agent can work with you to understand what you need and want in a home and help you find and secure a home that fits your budget and lifestyle.
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- Closing on your home with a Hurricane on the way
You might think that weather hazards and title insurance are mutually exclusive however what happens outside your home can have an impact on your ability to buy, sell or refinance property and closings can be delayed. You can take steps during hurricane season to minimize the impact a storm can have on your ability to close on-time. BE SURE TO OBTAIN YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON Don’t get stuck in “The Box” refers to the “Hurricane Box.” From the beginning of Hurricane Season, June 1st, through the end of Hurricane Season, November 30th, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to buy certain insurance coverage for the peril of Windstorm or Hurricane damage (as well as other insurance coverage). If a named Tropical Storm or Hurricane enters an approximately 16,000 sq. mile box extending over Florida and the adjacent states and well into the Atlantic Ocean, then the insurance companies will suspend binding coverage. This occurrence is also referred to as “The Storm is in the Box.” Each insurance company may have their own definition of “The Box.” One thing is for sure, if you live in Florida or you are about to buy a house during Hurricane Season, you are inside “The Box.” Note: The restriction also applies when a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center. Action Steps to Avoid the “Hurricane” Box: If you are purchasing a new home or revising your existing Homeowners Insurance, then it is essential to avoid “The Box.” Simply put, insurance companies do not want to extend homeowners insurance to you immediately before a hurricane (and expose themselves to the risk of loss due to hurricane damage). The rules are fairly technical and we suggest that you discuss the exact details with your property and casualty insurance agent before you attempt a real estate closing in “The Box.”
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Hurricane Terms • Watch A Watch means storm conditions are possible and could be reaching your area within 48 hours or less. • Warning A Warning is an announcement that a specified area has a storm moving in, and expected to hit within 36 hours or less. • Tropical Storm A tropical storm is an organized system of thunderstorms, with winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour or less. Tropical storms have the potential to develop into hurricanes. • Hurricane A tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles per hour or more. Hurricanes are rated on a scale of 1 to 5. The scale is called the Saffir-Sampson Hurricane Wind Scale. Learn more about what the ratings mean. • Advisory A weather advisory is the message given to the public about a severe storm. The advisory will keep you updated about which locations are actually under watch or warning as the storm and information develops. • Tropical Storm Watch A Tropical Storm Watch is an announcement that a specified area might be in danger of tropical storm damage in 48 hours or less. • Tropical Storm Warning A Tropical Storm Warning is an announcement that a tropical storm is moving into a specified area, expected to hit within 36 hours. • Hurricane Watch A Hurricane Watch is an announcement that a specified area might be in danger of hurricane damage in 48 hours or less. • Hurricane Warning A Hurricane Warning is an announcement that a hurricane is moving into a specified area, and is expected to hit within 36 hours. • Extreme Wind Warning An Extreme Wind Warning means that winds of greater than 155 miles per hour are expected to hit the area within 1 hour. • Hurricane Eye The area in the center of a hurricane. • Hurricane Eye Wall Intensely high winds surrounding the hurricane eye. An extreme wind warning could be issued as these highintensity winds approach. • Storm Surge A rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane.
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The Caribbean Health Summit
is one of the many vehicles that the Center for Multicultural Wellness and prevention, Inc. (CMWP) are using to reach out to our community to help individuals to make positive lifestyle changes. The new date is September 14th. CMWP was founded in 1995 to provide a variety of health education and outreach services to Orlando minority populations. CMWP is committed to addressing health disparities and remains in the forefront of health education among African Americans, Hispanics, Haitians and other minorities in Central Florida. CMWP is a well-known and established case management provider and has a long, successful track record of providing quality cost-effective programs and services targeting health disparities in Central Florida communities. CMWP has a proven track record of working with minority populations. Programmatically, CMWP has experience in the delivery of health education and outreach in asthma, HIV/AIDS; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; colorectal, breast and cervical cancer; and sexually transmitted diseases. On September 14th, you have a chance to get to know your numbers. Know them, it could save your life. www.cmwp.org.
- General Aid & Relief Information after a hurricane By donating to one of the highly-rated charities on this list, you will help to deliver much-needed aid and relief to communities affected by natural disasters. These charities, and others like them, will provide food, shelter, medical care, and other necessities to victims of these tragedies. Charity Navigator has confirmed that the organizations on this list will provide assistance to the communities affected by these storms. Donors can designate their donations to a specific cause on the organizations’ websites respectively, or use Charity Navigator’s Giving Basket to complete their donations.
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Team Rubicon Save the Children DonorsChoose.org International Relief Teams Convoy of Hope Matthew 25: Ministries Orphan Grain Train Samaritan's Purse First Book World Help Direct Relief American Kidney Fund World Hope International American Red Cross
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Church World Service Christian Relief Fund Children's Hunger Fund World Vision Good360 Americares LeSea Global Feed the Hungry International Medical Corps GlobalGiving Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg United Way Worldwide
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Your Guide to Hurricane Preparedness byhttps://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
• Keep your car in good working condition, and keep the gas tank full; stock your vehicle with emergency supplies and a change of clothes. • If you have NFIP flood insurance, your policy may cover up to $1000 in loss avoidance measures, like sandbags and water pumps, to protect your insured property. You should keep IF YOU ARE UNDER A HURRICANE WARNING, FIND copies of all receipts and a record of the time spent SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY performing the work. They should be submitted to your • Determine how best to protect yourself from high winds insurance adjuster when you file a claim to be reimbursed. When a hurricane is 18-36 hours from arriving and flooding. • Bookmark your city or county website for quick access to • Evacuate if told to do so. storm updates and emergency instructions. • Take refuge in a designated storm shelter, or an interior • Bring loose, lightweight objects inside that could become room for high winds. projectiles in high winds anchor objects that would be unsafe • Listen for emergency information and alerts. to bring inside and trim or remove trees close enough to fall • Only use generators outdoors and away from windows. on the building. • Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim, or drive • Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm through flood waters. shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second • Prepare NOW option is to board up windows with 5/8” exterior grade or • Know your area’s risk of hurricanes. marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. • Sign up for your community’s warning system. The When a hurricane is 6-18 hours from arriving Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic • Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather every 30 minutes in order to get the latest weather updates Radio also provide emergency alerts. and emergency instructions. • If you are at risk for flash flooding, watch for • Charge your cell phone now so you will have a full battery warning signs such as heavy rain. in case you lose power. • Practice going to a safe shelter for high winds, When a hurricane is 6 hours from arriving such as a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm • If you’re not in an area that is recommended for shelter. The next best protection is a small, interior, evacuation, plan to stay at home or where you are and let windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest friends and family know where you are. level that is not subject to flooding. • Based on your location and community plans, make •Close storm shutters, and stay away from windows. Flying your own plans for evacuation or sheltering in place. glass from broken windows could injure you. • Gather needed supplies for at least three days. Keep •Turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting and open only when necessary. If you lose power, food will last in mind each person’s specific needs, including longer. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator to be able to medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets. • Keep important documents in a safe place or create check the food temperature when the power is restored. • Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website. password-protected digital copies. Survive DURING • Protect your property. De-clutter drains and gutters. • If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not drive around • Storm surge is historically the leading cause of barricades. hurricane-related deaths in the United States. • If sheltering during high winds, go to a FEMA safe room • Water weighs about 1,700 pounds per cubic yard, so battering waves from surge can easily demolish buildings • If trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may and cause massive destruction along the coast. become trapped by rising flood water. • Storm surge undermines roads and foundations when it • Listen for current emergency information and instructions. erodes material out from underneath them. • Just one inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage to your • Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery outdoors ONLY and away from windows. home. Homeowners and renter’s insurance do not • Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn typically cover flood damage. Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water • Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can Consider hurricane shutters. Review insurance policies. sweep your vehicle away. When a hurricane is 36 hours from arriving • Stay off of bridges over fast-moving water. • Turn on your TV or radio in order to get the latest weather Be Safe AFTER • Be careful during clean-up. Wear protective clothing and updates and emergency instructions. • Restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include food work with someone else. and water sufficient for at least three days, medications, a • Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies. • Plan how to communicate with family members if you lose the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock. power. For example, you can call, text, email or use social • Avoid wading in flood water, which can contain dangerous media. Remember that during disasters, sending text debris. Underground or downed power lines can also messages is usually reliable and faster than making phone electrically charge the water. • Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often calls because phone lines are often overloaded. down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social • Review your evacuation zone. media to communicate with family and friends.
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Evacuation for Central FLorida • FREE TOLLS: Only the governor can suspend tolls on certain toll roads in the state to facilitate evacuations. Tolls will be reinstated after residents are cleared to return home after a storm. • KNOW YOUR ZONE: There are 40 counties with "Designated Evacuation Zones" in Florida. Four Central Florida counties have the designation: Brevard, Lake, Volusia and Flagler • AREA SPECIFIC EVACUATIONS: Counties that do not have "Designated Evacuation Zones" can still call for evacuations. The areas won't refer to zones and instead will refer to geographic boundaries or landmarks. • KNOW YOUR ROUTE: Certain roads in the state are designated as evacuation routes. Check out the above map to find yours. • DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER: To facilitate evacuations, the governor can order "Emergency Shoulder Use". ESU was first implemented during Hurricane Irma in 2017, but it's only allowed on certain state roads. Overhead signs will dictate if your major highway allows shoulder use. • Emergency Shoulder Use • Interstate 4 Eastbound from US 41 in Tampa (Hillsborough County) to SR 417 in Celebration (Osceola County) • Interstate 10 Westbound from SR 23 in Jacksonville (Duval County) to Interstate 75 in Lake City (Columbia County) • Westbound from Interstate 75 in Lake City (Columbia County) to US 319 in Tallahassee (Leon County) Interstate 75 Northbound from SR 951 in Naples (Collier County) to SR 143 in Jennings (Hamilton County) • Interstate 75 "Alligator Alley" Northbound from US 27 in Weston (Broward County) to SR 951 in Naples (Collier County) • • Southbound from SR 951 in Naples (Collier County) to US 27 in Weston (Broward County) • • Interstate 95 Northbound from SR 706 in Jupiter (Palm Beach County) to south of Interstate 295 in Jacksonville (Duval County) • • Florida's Turnpike Northbound from SR 50 in Winter Garden (Orange County) to US 301 in Wildwood (Sumter County) • CAUSEWAYS WILL REMAIN OPEN: Law enforcement agencies will keep causeways and bridges open unless the bridge is structurally unsound. Drivers crossing causeways with high wind gusts run the risk of losing control of their vehicle. A good rule of thumb is if you don't see a law enforcement officer on a bridge during the storm, you shouldn't be there either. • HAVE YOUR IDENTIFICATION: If you are ordered to evacuate, law enforcement officers will require you to show a form of identification to return to your neighborhood. Law enforcement agencies are trying to prevent criminals from going into areas where homeowners are not home.
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DESTINATIONS
Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla Protecting the Planet Earth and Environment with Integrity By Roger Caldwell There are individuals on the planet who understand their purpose, and they work every day to fulfill their mission. No one can understand their commitment, but after spending a short time with them, you can see their light. Commissioner Emily Bonilla is one of those individuals. She is a passionate person in everything she does, and as a professional, she holds herself to a higher standard. Overcoming obstacles and challenges is all a part of being the first to graduate in her family from college. She has been a strong advocate and supporter for women and the planet; we begin in New York, where she was born in this interview/ conversation. “I was born in New York, and we moved around almost every year. When I was in second grade we moved to Massachusetts and I had to repeat 1st grade over again, even though I could read. I was very studious and I took school very serious. I was an A student.” says Commissioner Bonilla. The Commissioner not only moved around every year, but the neighborhoods she lived in were also impoverished and dangerous. There were infestations of roaches, the house was a mess, and the conditions were deplorable. “School was really important to me. I loved reading, because it took me out of the life I was living and into a fantasy world. It was my escape, from the world I was living.” says the Commissioner. The Commissioner’s family is from Puerto Rico, and no other family member had graduated from High School. Some may have gotten their GED, but as an immigrant moving forward was very difficult, but education was the key.
Commissioner Emily Bonilla District 5
“My goal was to graduate High School, and I had some teachers that looked out for me, because I was an A student. My teachers in the eighth grade made sure in High School that I got into AP honor classes. My grandmother was pushing me to be a doctor, because no one in the family had gone to college.” says Commissioner Bonilla. Commissioner Bonilla continued her hard work in High School, all while her grandfather was a central figure in her life. Her grandfather supported her in whatever she wanted to do. Cont'd on Page 13
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Please join us at for a Caribbean American Town Hall meeting on September 29th, 2019. This Forum is organized by the Caribbean American Passport News Magazine in partnership with the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Florida Inc will explore issues facing the Caribbean American Diaspora. Topics to be covered include Census 2020, Immigration updates, Business and Investment both in American and the Caribbean. The role of Caribbean American non-profits, their contributions and their development potential as well as funding opportunities. The Caribbean American Town Hall meeting will explore role of the Caribbean Diaspora in potential opportunities for Caribbean Investment, Home Ownership & Retirement, Disaster relief, Education and Health. Caribbean American Passport News Magazine will be launching their 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, based in Orlando, it will build further upon the work started by Caribbean American Passport NewsMagazine geared towards transforming the lives of members of the Caribbean American diaspora through Business, Arts and Culture. For more information about this event please visit our website at: www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com or by telephone at 407-427-1800.
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Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla Protecting the Planet Earth and Environment with Integrity Continued from page 11
While the Commissioner was in High School she wanted to be
a model. Her grandfather took pictures of her, even though he was not a very good photographer; she loved him for being supportive, and helped her with the goal of being a model.
As a teenager she worked a part time job. She started working as soon as she was old enough, and she always was independent. She bought her own clothes and as a sophomore she met her husband. “When I was 14, my grandmother took the family to Florida, and we spent a day at Disney. I loved it. So I looked up the schools in Orlando, and I found UCF, and that is where I planned to go. I graduated from High School in 1995, and spent my first semester in UCF.” explained the Commissioner. After her first semester in college, the Commissioner got home sick and her grandfather also passed away. She returned back home to Massachusetts, but college life became confusing, and eventually she and her husband to be moved back to Florida. In Florida, the commissioner became pregnant, and this changed their lives. At this point, she decided to become passionate with her life and become an entrepreneur. Commissioner Bonilla says, “That was a turning point in my life. I wanted my children to do whatever they wanted to do in their life. I wanted them to have the inspiration that my grandfather gave me in my life. So when I became pregnant with my son, I changed my major, because I couldn’t be an example to my son, if I couldn’t do it myself. I taught myself a lesson, you really must do what you are passionate about and not follow what other people are telling you to do Many times people don’t understand why they make certain decisions, but things happen for a reason. Her grandfather took pictures of the Commissioner when she was in High School, and in college, she started a photography/ videography business. “So when I went to film school at Valencia, we had to pay rent, pay bills, so it was very difficult to have a traditional job. It was very intense, and I only had the weekends available. I decided to film weddings and the money was good. I graduated from Valencia, and started a videography business while attending UCF. That business expanded and we ended up doing videos, photography, DJ, and planning.” The business was extremely successful and after getting her bachelors from UCF, and getting her master’s from Full Sail, the Commissioner saved up some money and decided to close the business down. She began to focus on her family, but she was still working with women and teaching them how to start a business. “We always have to think about the future, we just can’t just think about today. I am always looking into the future, that’s how I plan my life. That’s how I think, we all should think. We just can’t think about today, or you can say good-bye to tomorrow.” says the Commissioner.
By Roger Caldwell
This was a profound statement from the Commissioner, and the discussion became passionate, because we started talking about bald eagles. The Commissioner has always believed that the planet must be protected, and the bald eagles are a species that must continue to be in existence. This has been very impactful to her as a child and as an adult. “They are an amazing species that represents our country.” says the Commissioner. She has always been engaged in protecting the environment, and she is always thinking about future generations. So the Commissioner moved to the eastside of Orange County on 6 acres of land. She wanted to move closer to nature, and there were two bald eagles nurseries, close to her residence where she moved. Maybe we can call it fate, but in 2013 where the Commissioner had just moved, a large developer was planning to build 4,000 homes, and that would create “urban sprawl.” The Commissioner was trying to get away from urban congestion, and now it was following her and her family. “I went to a community meeting, and said this is not the place for this type of development. We got together with different members of the community and started an organization called, ‘Save East Orlando.’ I started a Facebook page and we got 2,000 likes in a month, and I made this something that got exposure.” explains the Commissioner. As a result of this community movement in 2013, the Commissioner started studying urban land use, with her husband, and this became a major reason why Commissioner Bonilla got involved with politics today. She learned the policies, the processes of land use and begun making presentations at public hearings. “Everything fell on deaf ears. The County Commissioners was not listening, the staff was not listening, and it was very frustrating as a citizen. The elected officials just ignored us. That is not how government should operate.” said Commissioner Bonilla. Before Commissioner Emily Bonilla ran for office there was no focus on protecting the wet lands, and the EPA was the last process in land use. Now the EPA is the first step in many developments, and the Commissioner is making a difference. Commissioner Bonilla is a reflection of the new guard, and she is listening and talking to all members in the community. “So what I need are the people behind me. I ran on a reform agenda, smart growth, and economic development. I can’t do this by myself.” says Commissioner Bonilla. Commissioner Emily Bonilla is proving as a woman of diversity that you can challenge and change your environment and hold yourself accountable to the needs in your community. Get your neighbors, friends, and everyone engaged, do your homework, and become their voice.
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Tony The Hard-Baked Cereal Killer
BY TONY DEYAL
HEALTH COB . Second, Barbados is the only country with a local bread called a ‘health cob’. The word ‘cob’ is from Late Middle English and means ‘rounded’ or ‘head’, so it is a round head like Oliver Cromwell but not as hard to swallow. The ‘health’ cob has raisins, my favourite additive in all baked goods In my old days of traveling through the English-speaking Caribbean by LIAT and knowing that I would be spending long hours in airports after the cafeterias had closed for the night, I always took one with me. Even though Guyanese tennis rolls with their lemony, vanilla flavour are my favourite Caribbean bread, I go with whatever is available on any day of the week, from Jamaican hardough (probably named after the cost of living) or coco bread, Dominica mastiff with its size and bite, or Antigua Sunday bread. Although I’ve had the occasional Jamaican bulla because of the sweet ginger flavour, it is something I do not dare mention to my Trini friends, who prefer to eat salt fish and roll straight off their beds. Give us this day our daily bread. Regardless of whether it is leavened or unleavened, made by the sweat of my brow or somebody else’s, low salt or high sugar, bulla or cob, bake or roti, bun or roll, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m a bread-aholic. As I continue to tell all those who join me in my morning coffee at home or at Adam’s Bagelry in Trinidad, the Blue Monkey in St Lucia, Cafe Blue in Jamaica or Happy Days in Barbados, if I were to be reincarnated as a fruit or vegetable, I would return as a breadnut. In fact, my exquisite manners when I’m chomping down my Easter bun or adding brown sugar-enhanced cream cheese to my cinnamon-raisin bagel and licking the spoon prove that I am very well bread. As I travel through the Caribbean, when people hail out to me as their Trini ‘Breads’ or ‘Breaddah’, I marvel at their perceptiveness and insight. How do they know that bread is my favourite food and that in my churchgoing days, my favourite hymn was Oh Breadder Man? Over the years, I have become more than a glutton when it comes to bread; I am a gluten. Breadren is my name, flour power is my game. Bread is as old as civilisation itself. My original African ancestors who made their way to all the other parts of the world, including India, as early as the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age period, made their own bread. Starch grains found on 30,000-year-old grinding stones make it clear that prehistoric man may have dined on an early form of flatbread. Where the sweat of their brows came in was in grinding down plant roots, similar to potatoes, to make flour. Researchers found palm-size grinding stones at sites in Italy, Russia and the Czech Republic. The concept of ‘sin’ had not yet come into vogue, since only those without this modern disadvantage would have been able to cast the first stones. The ‘primitive’ people then added fresh river water to make the dough for a flat bread similar to the Indian ‘saada’ roti or pancake, which they cooked on a hot stone. I suppose, trying to bake barefoot in a volcanic area is where the name IHOP originated, and I am sure that further exploration will reveal drawings, in front of, and not inside caves, with the IHOP sign and advertisements for ‘Bread and Mammoth’ or ‘Rex and Pancakes’ for sale. Today, life without bread is like politics without corruption or Jofra Archer without a ball. It is the staple that holds my life in the Caribbean together. In Barbados, where I lived for several years and begat two children, I found two additional reasons to love the country. The first is that while Trini pride might be in its fading oil wealth, Bajan Pride is a flour.
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LOVE FOR BAGELS In addition, I love bagels. The bagel, a roll with a hole, something it has in common with Mark Antony and other great lovers and playboys in history, is golden brown and crusty on the outside, and soft and tender on the inside. Without the cream cheese and salt salmon (lox), they have only 270 calories per three-ounce bagel. The first bagel rolled into the world in 1683 when a local baker wanted to pay tribute to Jan Sobieski, the king of Poland. King Jan had just saved the people of Austria from an onslaught of Turkish invaders and a lifetime of nougat. The king was a great horseman, and the baker decided to shape the yeast dough into an uneven circle resembling a stirrup. The Austrian word for ‘stirrup’ is ‘beugel’. My word for bagel is ‘Adam’s’, the first and only bagel factory in the Caribbean. Before Adam’s opened in Trinidad more than 27 years ago, I had lived and worked in Washington, DC, and my way to work at the World Bank and, subsequently, the Pan American Health Organisation, was interrupted by a bagel factory. The low-cost, wide choices and great taste made me a bagel junkie, and so, upon my return briefly to Trinidad, I was overjoyed to know that a bagel factory would be, apart from steel pan music and ‘doubles’, our first major contribution to civilisation as I define it. Not that our other breads are not worth their salt, but there is something about bagels that give them pole position in the race. They are the Lewis Hamilton and veritable McLaren of flour power. A union in Trinidad has as its rallying cry the motto, ‘Peace, Bread and Justice’. Given the battles they fought in the early days under the leadership of labour stalwarts Tubal Uriah Butler and George Weeks, I marvel at their insight in putting bread in its rightful place at the centre of man’s search for salvation and salivation. However, we are not the only creatures that do so, and this story is worth a rye smile or two. Two insects left the flour bin to go out into the world to seek fame, fortune and dough. One became a roll model and the other, whose life was filled with many turnovers because of his half-baked schemes, died before knowing how much he was kneaded. He was always known as the lesser of the two weevils Tony Deyal was last seen in St Vincent asking angrily, “Sure I love arrowroot and other grains, but how does that make me a cereal killer?”
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