Pinecrest Tribune 2.28.2011

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

Positive PEOPLE in Pinecrest

SEBASTIAN NICHOLLS Palmer Trinity junior Sebastian Nicholls spent three weeks last summer teaching abandoned and abused boys at an orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia.

“They are all kids that have been either abandoned by their families or taken from their families because of abuse,” Nicholls says. “I liked teaching them English because they got really excited.”

Nicholls says the boys enjoyed learning math and how to use computers.

“We opened email accounts for all of them,” he says.

While he went to Bogotá to teach the boys, Nicholls says he learned as well.

“I really saw how lucky we are and that you really have to take advantage of all the opportunities,” he says. “There is always some kind of social injustice. The best thing we can do to solve that is to do community service to help people who are less fortunate.”

Nicholls is planning to return to Colombia to teach the boys again.

“I am also going to do something else there,” he says. “For the people who have been affected by the violence. I’m trying to teach ex-child soldiers, the kids that were forced to fight.”

Nicholls says he probably will go to an existing school and volunteer. A year ago, he went on a mission trip to Nicaragua and helped build a house for a poor family in four days. He says they mixed concrete and passed bricks to the two bricklayers.

“We also went to this trash dump, the city dump,” he says. “The mission family we work with has a school and a feeding program. We played soccer with the kids who have been rescued from the city dump.”

Nicholls noticed that many of the children in the dump were barefoot, so when he arrived back in Miami he conducted a shoe drive and sent the shoes to the kids so they would not have to be barefoot any longer.

“We got 70 pairs,” he said, adding that he had more shoes at home.

The shoe drive also collected cleats because the mission family was trying to start a soccer team.

Nicholls did quite a bit of traveling last year. He spent the summer in Latin America, but before that he spent a semester in France.

“I’ve lived in a lot of different places, but the culture in France is really different,” he says. “It’s really eye opening.”

Nicholls lived with a French family in Aixen-Provence. The town is in the south of France, about three hours from Paris by train.

“I wanted to live in a different setting,” he says. “In the Americas, the cultures are similar, so I wanted to see something much more different. I wanted to perfect my French, to become completely fluent.”

Nicholls has lived in Columbia twice, in Chile, Guatemala and Brazil, and in Miami twice. His family is international, as he was born in Colombia, his brother in the U.S. and his sister in Chile. As a result of living in so many countries, he speaks, Spanish, French, Portuguese and English.

As a junior in the second half of the school year, his attention is turning to college. He’s interested in studying international relations and hopes to become a diplomat. Last year he went on a college tour with his father and brother. On that trip he discovered that he likes Georgetown, but he’s still not sure which school he wants to attend.

By Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld

ALLAN HORN Allan Horn is the Gulliver Prep nominee for a Silver Knight in the Social Science Category.

Horn has a keen interest in history. He has taken numerous history classes through the International Baccalaureate program and he is a member of the History Honor Society.

But Horn is also known for his commitment to community service. For the past five years, he has participated in Friendship Circle sponsored locally by the Chabad of Kendall.

“Every other week I’ll visit David, a child with special needs,” Horn says. “I started doing this when I was 12 years old. I’ll go over to his house and just hang out. The objective is to treat him like a regular friend.”

The two might play hide and seek, color in coloring books, work on art projects and even cook something to eat. They have even gone to the movies together.

“It helps me because I love being able to do it,” Horn says. “It’s great for David to have a friend and it provides a respite for his mother.”

One of the things Horn takes away from his relationship with his friend is that he has learned that you don’t need that much to be happy.

“David is elated every time I see him,” he says. “He always has a smile on his face. I

aspire to be able to do that as well.”

But it does bother him to know that while he and his friends will be going off to college and then into a career, David won’t be able to go down the same path.

“Even though he will be with his family that loves him, he won’t be able to go through the same progression through life that I will,” Horn says. He does plan to continue to see David when he comes home on college vacations.

Horn’s community service extends beyond Friendship Circle. As a member of Interact, he volunteers at the shelter run by the Community Partnership for the Homeless.

“Every time we go, we serve 400-450 meals,” he says. “And we’ll work with 2030 kids. We go there four to five times a year.”

Each time they visit the facility, they spend $650 to buy food and supplies. They begin food prep around 3 p.m. and start serving at 6 p.m. Through his work with the homeless, Horn says he has come to realize that each homeless person has their own story.

“It teaches you to give people the benefit of the doubt. It really teaches you not to judge a book by its cover,” he says. “I’ve gone there over 15 times. You meet families of different people and you meet children who are your age, but haven’t been offered the same opportunities.”

Horn is also on the Starbucks Philanthropy Committee through Hands On Miami. The six-member committee doles out grants to qualifying groups.

“We receive grant applications and we decide which ones we are going to fund,” he says. “We have funded around 30 projects.”

Horn’s interest in history is matched by his interest in engineering. He’s a member of JETS, the engineering club, and has participated in club projects over the last three years.

The projects include the water purification system for Haiti and inventions to help the disabled. Gulliver has consistently been a finalist in the national high school design challenge.

After graduating Gulliver, Horn will go on to the University of Pennsylvania and enter the Jerome Fisher Program for Management and Technology, which will allow him to earn a dual degree in engineering and business.

By Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld

If you know someonewho deserves to be a positive person in the Pinecrest Tribune, send us an email at:

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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Positive PEOPLE in Pinecrest

EMMA KELLY Emma Kelly is the Gulliver Prep nominee for the Silver Knight in English. Kelly has always been a strong writer and is confident enough in her work to submit her college essay to The Fair. She also loves to

read, especially historical fiction. But more than anything else, Kelly loves Operation Smile.

“I have been working with Operation Smile for the last four years,” Kelly says.

“They conduct medical missions to undeveloped countries.”

The Operation Smile surgeons visit these nations to help children with facial deformities such as cleft lips and palates. Kelly became interested in the charity after talking with her father, who is a plastic surgeon.

“He went on his first Operation Smile mission when I was in second grade and he brought home pictures of the children he was helping,” she says.

When she was in middle school, Kelly organized bake sales to help raise money for the organization.

“In high school, I joined our club here in high school and tried to make it stronger,” she says. “In high school we’re still doing bake sales, but last year we also had the Battle of the Bands.”

The Battle of the Bands was held at the Pinecrest Auditorium last April. Four student bands competed – two one from middle school, one from Palmetto and another

from Gulliver. The event raised about $2,000. This year, Kelly says they may have another Battle of the Bands or maybe a comedy event.

Along with raising awareness at Gulliver, Kelly visits other schools to speak about Operation Smile.

“I’ve been to Lourdes, Belen and Miami Country Day to give speeches to their clubs and try to get them to start clubs,” she says.

Kelly has also been to Brazil on an Operation Smile medical mission.

“On my mission we performed 126 surgeries,” she says. “It was a smaller mission

by Operation Smile standards. I have friends who have gone to India where they have over 1,000 people show up.”

On the trip to Brazil, they educated the children and their families about the procedure, along with the pre-op and post-op care. That included teaching the children about oral hygiene. Kelly took along more than 600 toothbrushes for the children, as well as an assortment of toys and books.

“When you pack, you have a small bag for your clothes and a bigger duffel bag for the toys,” she says.

In Brazil, children with a cleft lip or palate are not allowed to go to school. One

of the kids was a 17-year-old boy with a severe cleft lip who had never been to school in his life.

“These children have severe trauma because they have been laughed at their whole life,” Kelly says.

Kelly is on the Operation Smile Executive Leadership Council, which is made up of high school students. Each student represents a different region of the United States.

“We run mission training and the conference,” she says. “I planned the conference in we had Denver and we are in the process of planning the one for Beijing.”

Kelly’s experience has helped her decide that she’d like to be a surgeon, but she is not sure that she will follow in her father’s footsteps and become a plastic surgeon. But she is planning to work with him this summer so she can see his work firsthand, along with the work of his colleagues.

Kelly has already been accepted into the Florida State University Honors College. She has also applied to Vanderbilt, Brown, Pennsylvania, George Washington, Northwestern, Illinois and Boston University.

By Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

Bird finds reading another good use for newspaper

Marilyn Gonzalez, who works at The Aviary in South Miami-Dade, shows a copy of the Pinecrest Tribune to Troy, a Harlequin Macaw.

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

VILLAGE 2011,

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accurate gauge of community interest and concerns. As a result of the outreach, we learned that there was strong support for improving Pinecrest Gardens and the Banyan Bowl, for cultural and educational initiatives and for more opportunities for community interaction.

Our Council identified six areas for our focus over the next five years. Our first priority is Organizational Excellence and Financial Stability: To maintain efficient and responsive government, which embraces highest standards of service and citizen engagement. Providing public service which exceeds expectations is an important focus, and we will continue to work with our staff and encourage more volunteer involvement.

And, of course, to maintain financial stability in these difficult economic times continues to be a challenge. For this current budget year, we, like all cities, have made budget cuts; we eliminated Cost of Living raises for all employees and were able to maintain the exact same millage rate as last year. Over the course of the past five years the Village budget has actually shrunk. We have reduced staff from a 2007 high and this budget year, where we had a reduced gross taxable value of 4.6 percent, our budget reflects a lower tax rate, from 2.4, down to 2.19 percent.

Our outlook is cautious and our focus is on becoming more efficient in our operations, and in identifying additional non-tax sources of revenues, and because 86 percent of the Village’s taxes are generated by residential property, our tax base has been heavily affected by the reduction of property values.

So our focus over the next five years will be on diversifying and strengthening our income base, by going after private and government grants, by re-instituting critically needed admission fees at Pinecrest Gardens, and by aggressively applying for grants.

We will also increase communication and continue to provide accessible and highquality information to the community. We have this month just instituted a Senior Citizen newsletter which will be mailed out every other month to our seniors, offering specific recreational and social programs for them, thanks to the support of Baptist Health Systems. We created a new, enhanced and more user-friendly website this year. It will allow for e-business and the application of various permits online.

Security and Pedestrian Safety is our second priority. There continues to be a high level of satisfaction with our police protection and we are proud that our Police Department has been re-certified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation and in addition designated as a Flagship Agency, a prestigious award. Our crime rate has been reduced 10 percent on Part I Crimes, the lowest level of serious crimes in the department’s history. We went from a high in the year 2000 of 836 to 595 in

2010. So in the past decade, there was a 28 percent reduction of Part I crime.

We will continue to provide further resident interaction with our police, through events such as Bike Day, and expanding our Citizen Crime Watch, and the Police Explorers program for high school students. We also will continue to focus on pedestrian safety; to determine where it must be enhanced, and we will soon begin construction on a sidewalk at 60th Avenue to provide safe routes to school and better connectivity to our community center and Pinecrest Gardens. This month, we will be discussing the potential for developing enhanced bikeways to connect them to the neighboring cities on our borders.

RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT Maintaining and protecting the character, beauty and quiet enjoyment of our community is also a continuing focus. Maintaining the quality of our public schools is a high priority for the Village and the commitment to the partnership that the Village has historically had with our schools has now been formalized with the signing and approval of an educational compact between the Village and the Miami-Dade County School Board.

Our community is so fortunate to be represented on the School Board by a champion for our children, Dr. Larry Feldman. We have a true partnership and team, which includes our principals and PTAs. The Smart Schools campaign, which was announced at last year’s State of the Village, has yielded new corporate support. We have applied for grants and have just unveiled a community arts fundraising campaign, to raise additional funds. It is called smArty Dogs and like the peacocks in the Grove, flamingos in the Gables and manatees in South Miami, Pinecrest will soon be sprouting large fiberglass dogs, painted by local artists, in our parks, school sites. We are looking for businesses to host a smarty dog or to sponsor a dog. They will be auctioned off next March and all proceeds will go to our Smart Schools campaign.

Our Youth Advisory Council, which has now been operating for a year, has been a real source of pride for me. The Village Council created this advisory group, modeled on the Florida League of Cities framework, to provide middle and high school students in Pinecrest an opportunity for civic engagement and leadership opportunities.

We seek their advice and guidance on programs and even movie selections for teen night, and they work as liaisons between their schools and the Village on many of our projects.

This past year we have developed a youth media project — teaching them how to create communications messages for our radio station. We sent a delegation to the Florida

League of Cities conference in August to spend a day with other youth councils from throughout Florida, leadership training, listen to speakers and learn more about local government.

We participated in the creation of a new Pinecrest yearly event, the Earth Day Festival, planned an eco-fashion show and one of our members, who wrote a song for Earth Day, was invited to sing it in the Miss Florida Earth Day pageant.

RECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE The community center operational audit by a national recreational consultant provided us with significant guidance on how to improve our facility, program offerings and operational management.

In order to make sure our residents are involved and have significant input into the plans for our center, the latest advisory council was created, the Community Center Advisory Committee, whose role is to review the recommendations, prioritize, and provide recommendations to the Village Council. These volunteers represent all segments of our community and take their responsibility seriously. We applaud their commitment of time, energy and ideas.

We now have recently installed more outside seating, shaded tables and will soon have wifi at the center, and a teen room. We have also just instituted a more formalized senior activity program, which includes group trips, computer classes at the library, monthly socials, and new yoga and tai chi classes at the community center. We are advertising for a senior activities director and look forward to even more opportunities to enrich the lives of our residents.

Our Pinecrest Pioneers luncheons, for our 90 years young residents, continue twice a year at the gardens, and the oral history project is a truly precious opportunity to capture our own history and to engage our youth council with a multi generational experience.

Although we haven’t yet identified the ideal place within our park structure for a dog park, I assure you we will keep looking; I have my eye on several new potential sites and will eventually identify the perfect location for a dog park.

CULTURAL VALUE Improving the amount and variety of arts and culture to provide opportunities for enrichment and community interaction. The arts and entertainment consultant we retained this past year performed a thorough analysis and solicited input from over 60 arts and cultural organizations to develop a business plan, which now guides us in prioritizing and investing in infrastructure improvements.

And at the same time, we have the new organizational structure within the Pinecrest governance of a stand-alone Pinecrest

Gardens department and the hiring of Pinecrest Gardens Director extraordinaire, Alana Perez. She has just the right mixture of marketing, programming and development skills, with a vibrant and bubbly personality and enthusiasm that is quite infectious. And the changes here have been evident and progressively significant each month of her tenure. One of the best advertisements for the gardens and the community is our farmers market. We have by far the best market in all of South Florida - every Sunday through May. The results of our planning, with significant input from our Pinecrest Gardens Advisory Committee, will reveal themselves from this night going forward. We invite you to attend the jazz series, movie night gallery openings and dozens of events.

Our Pinecrest Gardens Advisory Committee, composed of volunteer residents, meets monthly to review all aspects of the gardens, the facility, the botanic needs, the programming, and our engagement of area organizations as supporters. The lighting project has been completed, and although there are yet more areas to be enhanced with lighting in the future, the new lighting will enable us to provide more community events at night, in a magical setting. The stage, lighting and sound system enhancements you now see in the Banyan Bowl provide opportunities we only imagined, but will now be experiencing, with musical, and theatrical, dance performances throughout the year. Family and teen movie nights, a jazz series and our schools performances are all planned for coming months; hope to see you back here. Finally, our application for this facility to be designated on the National Historic Registry is moving forward and we hope to have approval soon. That will enable us to apply for special funding grants in the future to continue to maintain this exceptional facility.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Last year we were Going Green; this year, I am proud to say, we are Green. It is our goal to minimize our community’s impact on the environment by becoming more energy efficient in our operations by reducing energy consumption.

Last year we endorsed a green action plan, which requires sustainable procurement policies, a Village-wide recycling program at all of our parks and government buildings, and we will soon be revising our building and land use codes to encourage more sustainable practices. We have purchased two hybrid vehicles so far, and next year I hope we will add a car charging station at our Village Hall and incentives for others to do

–––––– See VILLAGE 2011, page 9

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

News @ Gulliver Gulliver hosts state Chinese Competition

Pictured at the Florida Chinese Teachers Association sixth annual Florida State Chinese Championship are (front row l-r) Gabriel Sarria and Zoe Chen; (back row l-r) Gustavo Armada, Noah Norton, Luis Nunez, Cecilia Emden, Vanessa Hollander, Alexis Wong and Stefeno Campana.

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BY BAY PROBY

Interest in learning the Chinese language and culture has surged in the past decade as American economic and cultural ties to China have deepened.

On Jan. 28-29, Gulliver Schools hosted the Florida Chinese Teachers Association’s sixth annual Florida State Chinese Competition at the Gulliver Prep campus to showcase evolving student interests in China.

More than 260 students from 23 schools throughout Florida competed in a variety of categories focused on Chinese knowledge. The two-day event was a much anticipated opportunity for students to showcase their Chinese knowledge in an educational setting filled with food and competitions. Among these events were “Jeopardy” style competition, exhibits on display that consisted of projects the students created that best represents the Chinese culture, concluding with a buffetstyle dinner.

RECYCLING PROGRAM SAVES MORE THAN 15 TREES IN FIRST MONTH Stepping up its ongoing green initiatives, Gulliver Schools launched an ambitious recycling program in January that has

already saved more than 15 trees.

“We are always searching for ways to better conserve our environment,” said Gulliver Head of School John Krutulis.

“Through the diversion of our paper products, we will preserve our atmosphere, extend the life of area landfills and help create new jobs. We continue looking for new efforts to go green in hopes of preserving our environment for future generations.”

As part of Gulliver Schools’ commitment to environmental sustainability, recycling bins were placed throughout all campuses, as well as in the executive and advancement offices. After the bins are filled, the paper contents are shredded on site.

In the first two weeks of January, Gulliver Schools recycled nearly a half-ton of paper. According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling a ton of paper avoids releasing 60 pounds of pollutants into atmosphere.

Based on those calculations, Gulliver’s recycling program saved 16 trees (35 feet tall) and kept 58 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere during January – and those monthly savings are expected to continue throughout the year.

For more information, <visit www.gulliverschools.org>.

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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the same. Those electric cars are here to stay.

Our energy efficiency practices and consequent dollar savings will be measured as we go. I am working closely with Miami-Dade, State of Florida and the National League of Cities on energy and the environment, developing policies and practices for municipalities, and we are partnering with Miami-Dade County’s Office of Sustainability. We joined together last year to support legislation creating property assessment clean energy programs which passed in Florida, and are soon joining our South Dade neighboring cities in providing homes and businesses with financing options to retrofit with solar and energy efficient improvements, creating a new green economy and new jobs for our community.

And finally, we will finally be creating a transit project in Pinecrest, utilizing the people transportation tax allocated to Pinecrest by the county, but never before used. We will be starting a pilot circulator project to reduce the congestion around our schools in the morning rush hour and after school. If there is enough interest and participation by middle school and high school students, we could significantly reduce traffic flow by offering a school route for the hundreds of students who live within the two-mile radius of school getting potentially several hundred cars off the streets and allowing for transportation from school to our parks and community center for our students.

If this proves successful, we will explore transit for residents to Metrorail as well. This would reduce our carbon footprint while providing parents with significant convenience of not having to leave work to rush to school to pick up a child just to get them to their next activity.

One final note, our Village staff exemplifies professionalism and exhibit a true work ethic, and we ought to offer more opportunity for residents to get to know and thereby appreciate what Pinecrest employees do to make our Village as wonderful as it is.

Working with this Council is a real pleasure. Their commitment to the Village, their collaborative spirit and shared vision makes this process one that is welcoming to all, which is how it should be. I thank them for their time and energy, great ideas and collaborative attitude.

The wonderful work that has been accomplished this past year is the result of a great collaborative effort by your Council, along with our staff, the manager and his staff, the Clerk’s office, our departmental directors, all play a part; but the most important are our residents, our volunteers who participate on education, community center, Pinecrest Gardens and youth advisory boards, senior activities committee, Pinecrest Pioneers project cooks who help make the luncheons a great success, our garden club, our community foundation are likewise creative, engaged and committed to improving their

community. We thank them for giving of their time, their ideas and energy to help make Pinecrest even better. If you aren’t involved but would like to be, please let me know. The monthly E-Newsletter is my way of keeping you informed and involved in what is happening. If you do not currently receive it, you can sign up for it online.

Our partnerships with our neighboring cities — South Miami, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay — have been wonderfully successful. Whether we are fighting the proposed monstrosities on US 1 (I call them monstrosities, others call them transmission lines), planning how we can impact transit and traffic, or developing legislation and programs to become more energy efficient. It has been a terrific working relationship, and I thank each one of you. For the newly elected, we welcome you and look forward to continuing a great working relationship and support for each other.

This has been one of the most toxic political years I can remember, and I can tell you that with the anti-government and antiincumbent feelings being so strong, I was ever so thankful not to be up for election this past November. Here in our wonderful Village, we could delude ourselves into thinking life is beautiful and what ails the country eludes us, to focus on strictly the four corners of our village, but that would be a mistake. We are not insulated, we all impacted by the downturn and we all have a responsibility to be conservative with our finances and we have been. But we also have much opportunity at the same time, to be visionary, to partner with our schools, our neighboring cities, and even our county to lead the way. One of the goals I have included in the education compact is to develop Palmetto Senior and Middle schools into a green academy. I hope to see it accomplished by next year.

I’ve spent the past two years learning all I could about the sustainability — what does it mean and why should we reform our ways. I’ve attended local regional and national conferences, talked to other elected leaders, to experts, to vendors, and heard from enough communities to see and to believe the new economy is the green economy. Pinecrest can and will join with our local schools and neighbors to bring new public-private partnerships, offering new jobs and efficiencies to our residents and our businesses. If I can do one thing over the next year that I believe will make a lasting impression on our community, it will be to help inform, educate and engage you in some of what I have learned — to understand our responsibility to our planet and our resources and adapt to new practices— then I would consider this next year a huge success. Watch for the programs and opportunities, and please take advantage of them.

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happy with Lombardi, either personally or professionally. Without going into specifics (those are available on the Pinecrest website <http://www.pinecrestfl.gov/> via streaming video of the last council meeting), suffice it to say that the Mayor makes some good points in her argument for not renewing or extending Lombardi’s contract. Still, the man will be missed.

It was Lombardi who guided the Village through the embryonic stage of becoming a municipality. And the fact that he has remained in office these many years while the faces on the Village Council changed with regularity is a credit to his political acumen.

Lombardi’s stamp is on just about every project or endeavor that has been conceived, launched or built in Pinecrest over the last 14 years. He hired just about all of the early Pinecrest municipal staff, including two police chiefs, the second of which, John Hohensee, has done an outstanding job of building one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the

country.

It was Lombardi who mapped out the budgets for the Village and determined how revenue would be generated, and how it would be spent. He was at the forefront of the drive to find a suitable location for Village Hall, and then led the charge to build it on the South Dixie Highway location where it now stands.

He was the man in the hot seat when the bond issue was floated to generate the necessary capital to buy the Parrot Jungle property, which is now our beautiful Pinecrest Gardens. And he has been a big supporter of creating the parks and recreation structure in our Village, including the development of our outstanding Evelyn Greer Park, named for the first Mayor of Pinecrest.

He’s out when his contract ends this summer. We can only hope that in these remaining months that Lombardi is on the job, he and Mayor Lerner will be able to put aside their differences and work together in a civil manner for the good of the Village of Pinecrest.

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Barefoot Mailmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hikers

Pictured are members of Kendall United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop 457 who completed the 47th annual Barefoot Mailman Historical Hike from Pompano Beach to South Point Park in Miami Beach on Feb. 5-6. They are (front row l-r) Boy Scouts Adam Stebbing and Neal Simmons; adult leader Jack Simmons, scout Zac Cosner; (back row l-r) adult leaders Neal Stebbing, Mike Perse and Jose Castro; scout Jay Castro, adult leader Jack Tuckfield and scout Nick Gonzalez. The 35-mile, two-day hike is sponsored by the Hurricane District of the South Florida Boy Scout Council. Congratulations, guys, and thanks for taking us along!

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Page 21

PHS Baseball season starts off with a bang

Continued on next page

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PHS Baseball season starts off with a bang

Courtesy of John Lang

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

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PHS kicks-off season with blue & white game

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PHS kicks-off season with blue & white game

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Courtesy of John Lang

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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PHS kicks-off season with blue & white game

Courtesy of John Lang

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

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Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can walk you through our affordable coverage options to find one that’s just right for you. Whether you’re looking to buy a health or dental plan, get your healthcare questions answered faceto-face, or just want to experience our unique, interactive health and wellness games, we’d love to see you. We also have a free health fair the second Saturday of each month with free health screenings, kids activities and health tips for the whole family. Come see us today and open the door to a healthier you. Now open across from The Falls, 8895 SW 136th Street, 877-FL-BLUE-0, Mon - Sat: 10 am - 8 pm.

Visit floridablue.com now and take a virtual tour.

The Florida Blue center is brought to you by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PHS kicks-off season with blue & white game

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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PHS kicks-off season with blue & white game

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PHS Baseball season starts off with a bang

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

9th annual Fairchild orchid fest set for March 11 - 13

BY PAULA FERNÁNDEZ DE LOS MUROS

Get ready for an amazing display of orchids from around the world!

The International Orchid Festival, in its ninth year, is taking place at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on March 1113 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The festival will feature more than 10,000 orchid plants and more than 50 orchid growers and vendors from around the world who will exhibit and sell these

More than 10,000 orchid plants will be displayed.

magnificent plants, sure to delight both the orchid enthusiast and those new to the spectacular world of orchids.

The Orchid Society of Coral Gables will grace the Garden House with an American Orchid Society (AOS) juried show displaying orchids for visitors to marvel at throughout the weekend. The society also will provide advice and tips on growing orchids at the Get Growing booth on the Garden House lawn.

As always, the International Orchid Festival will include educational lectures, walking tours, live music, the Orchid Tea Room and great food.

Amidst the exotic colors and shapes of orchids, guests will also have the opportunity to see Fairchild’s current art exhibition, Les Lalanne at Farichild, featuring over 30 whimsical sculptures by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, as well as Yoko Ono’s interactive Wishing Grove.

Admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors, $12 for children 6-17 and free to children 5 and under and Fairchild members. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road.

For more information, go to <www.fairchildgarden.org>.

SCHEDULE OF LECTURES ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Frida y, March 11 1:00 p.m.

Intro to Orchid Culture, Jill Sidran 2:00 pm Intro to Orchid Culture, Betty Eber Sa turda y, March 12 11:00 a.m.

Intro to Orchid Culture, Larry Cox 12:00 p.m.

Intro to Orchid Culture, Jim Davison 1:00 p.m.

Repotting, Orchid Care, Alex Lamazares 2:30 p.m.

Cultivo de Orquideas, Mirta Heineman Sunda y, March 13 11:00 a.m.

Intro to Orchid Culture, Martin Mote, PhD 12:00 p.m.

Intro to Orchid Culture, Dave Foster 1:00 p.m.

Orchid Diseases and their Control, Robert McMillan, PhD 2:00 p.m.

Cultivo de Orquideas , Ruben Sauleda, PhD

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Diabetes is on the rise

BY DR. ADAM CLARIN

Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness in America today, which is why the American Diabetic Association recommends a comprehensive eye exam every year by your eye-care provider.

Some examples of the changes that we see are bleeding and leaking from the small blood vessels in the retina as well as changes to your eyeglass prescription, both caused by uncontrolled blood-sugar levels.

Many times it is your eye doctor who first uncovers the signs that ultimately lead to the diagnosis of diabetes.

According to a new report from the CDC, the number of cases of diabetes may triple by the year 2050, to the point where one in three Americans will have the disease. This is mainly fueled by: AN AGING POPULATION The number of adults 65 and older is expected to climb from 38.7 million in 2008 to 88.5 million by 2050. Also, a confounding factor is that type 2 diabetes is on the rise in younger people, especially adolescents. This group was rarely affected in the past, but lifestyle factors like obesity and a lack of exercise are mostly to blame for the increase.

MINORITY POPULATIONS ARE INCREASING African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian-Americans have the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

African-Americans, for example, are twice as likely to be diagnosed as non-Hispanic whites. They’re also more likely to suffer complications.

EYE CARE Diabetes is a life-altering disease. It is important that you take it seriously and always follow your doctor’s recommendations.

PEOPLE WITH DIABETES ARE LIVING LONGER This is mostly due to better medical care.

Public health campaigns and greater emphasis on diabetes education have also likely contributed. With more awareness and better care, the number of undiagnosed cases has also fallen.

Diabetes is a life-altering disease. It is important that you take it seriously and always follow your doctor’s recommendations. Our office is here to help in any way we can, from simple discussions about the affects of diabetes to an in-depth examination of your retina. We are here for you today and into the future.

Drs. Adam and Bruce Clarin are Optometrists with Clarin Eye Care in Palmetto Bay. For more information, call 305-253-2525 or go to <www.clarineyecare.com>.

See us online at: wwww.communitynewspapers.com

Page 35

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

BMW Active Hybrid 7 fastest hybrid in the world Ron Beasley AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR

LET’S TALK CARS The sleek and luxurious new 2011 BMW Active Hybrid 7 is one of the newest examples of what BMW calls Efficient Dynamics.

The Active Hybrid system blends an upgraded version of BMW’s 4.4-liter twinturbo direct-injection V-8 gasoline engine and the latest eight-speed automatic transmission with an electric motor powered by the new lithium-ion battery technology. The combination results in a 0-60 mph clocking in an eye-popping 4.7 seconds, making it the fastest hybrid-powered automobile in the world. It also delivers 17/24 mpg in fuel economy, which is not bad for a big luxury sedan.

The upgraded twin-turbo, High Precision Direct Injection V-8 engine with a threephase synchronous electric motor gives the Active Hybrid 7 a combined output of 455 hp and a maximum of 515 pounds-feet of

torque. Power is transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the electric motor positioned between the engine and the torque converter. This electric motor receives its supply of energy from a lithium-ion battery developed specifically for the vehicle. Both power sources are precisely controlled in their interaction and maximize the efficiency and performance of the car. It is an exhilarating driving experience.

The Active Hybrid 7 is the first BMW to come with an automatic transmission that has the Auto-Start-Stop technology that shuts down the gas engine when the car is stopped (at a red light, for example). It also has an air conditioning and ventilation system that remains fully operational even when the vehicle is stopped and the engine is shut down, the power supplied directly through the 120-volt, on-board network powered by the lithium-ion battery.

On the inside, special displays in the instrument cluster and the Central Display inform the driver and passengers of the degree of efficiency and the current operating status of the hybrid components.

The sleek and stylish Active Hybrid 7 is distinguished from the BMW 750i by aerodynamic 10-spoke 19-inch light-alloy Aero

2011 BMW Active Hybrid 7 is stylish and luxurious, and available in long and short wheelbase models ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

wheels and badging on the trunk lid, C-pillars and on the door cutouts. The Active Hybrid 7 also is available in a special Bluewater Metallic exterior color.

Like other BMW 7 Series models, the Active Hybrid model is available in two body variations — standard wheelbase and long wheelbase. The extended version has a 5.5-inch longer wheelbase, all devoted to more legroom and comfort for rear-seat passengers. Both models are equipped with a high level of standard equipment, and a

wide range of options also is available.

Pricing on the 2011 BMW Active Hybrid 7 starts at $103,175 for standard wheelbase model and $107,075 for long wheelbase version, both including an $875 destination and handling charge.

Ron Beasley is the automotive editor for Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext.

261, or by addressing email correspondence to <LetsTalkCars@aol.com>.

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Page 37

Enjoy the Live! Experience at The Fair starting Mar. 17

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BY MICHELLE PALOMINO

The Miami-Dade County Fair (The Fair) reaches its 60-year mark Mar. 17 through Apr. 3. Spread across 18-days, The Fair ranks as one of the largest and most successful family events in the country offering more than half a million guests new ways of pushing the Live! Experience to the next level.

On opening day, Thursday, Mar. 17, the Ultimate Live! Experience begins with Latin Grammy Award winners Chino y Nacho Live! in concert at 9 p.m. The Venezuelan duo made their album debut nationally in 2008 and later gained acclaim with their international chart-topping smash hit Mi Nina Bonita and Tu Angelito in 2010.

Fans can purchase Ultimate Live!

Experience packages in advance to Meet and Greet hot new artists slated to perform as part of Friday Nights Rock and new this year — Saturday Nights…Live! and SunDay FunDays A-Live! Visit <www.fairexpo.com> for more details. Quantities are limited.

Fairgoers receive the biggest savings (admission, POP and rides coupons) on tickets to The Fair 2011 during the Advance Sales Ticket window. Discounts of up to $7 per person are available until The Fair opens on Thursday, Mar. 17, by visiting <www.fairexpo.com>.

Advance Sales single ticket prices are: • Single admission $8 (Good for admis-

sion for ages 6 and over any day including Opening Day, Mar. 17 (age 5 and under are free). Price during fair is $10.

• POP $20 (Good for unlimited rides Monday-Friday only. Not good for school field trips or weekends. Price during The Fair is $25.

• Any Day Ride Coupons $17 (Good on midway rides any day of The Fair including school field trips and weekends.) Price during The Fair is $25.

Presented by Pepsi, Kia Motors America and Sedano’s Supermarkets, The Fair is ranked the largest fair in Florida, attracting more than a half million visitors annually.

This adrenaline-filled 18-day event includes live entertainment, state-of-the-art rides, skill games, outrageous fair foods and livestock/agricultural competitions.

The Fair showcases more than 50,000 local student exhibits, both artistic and academic, and generously supports youth achievement programs throughout the year.

The Fair is located at Coral Way (SW 24th Street) and 112th Avenue. Hours are noon until midnight on Thursday, Mar. 17; Friday, Mar. 18 (last two days of spring break), and all Saturdays and Sundays. The Fair is open weekdays 3 p.m. to midnight.

For more offers, show schedules, promotions and additional information, visit online at <www.fairexpo.com> or call 305223-7060. Become a fan at <www.facebook.com/miamidadefair>.

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THE HIRING OF A LAWYER IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION THAT SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY UPON ADVERTISEMENTS. BEFORE YOU DECIDE, ASK US TO SEND YOU FREE WRITTEN INFORMATION ABOUT OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPENSES

Page 38

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

Prep students nominated for 2011 Silver Knights

Kathryn Barnette –––––––––––––––––

Ann Koff –––––––––––––––––

Megan Phelan –––––––––––––––––

BY BAY PROBY

Gulliver Prep students Kathryn Barnette, Ana Koff and Megan Phelan, all Pinecrest residents, have been nominated for 2011 Silver Knight awards presented by The Miami Herald.

Barnette was nominated for the Drama category, Koff for Athletics and Phelan for General Scholarship.

Other Gulliver Prep students receiving nominations are Ilana Berman, World Languages; Allan Horn, Social Science; Madeline Henkin, Art; Emma Kelly, English and Literature; Lindsey Precht, Science; Alexander Rubin, Mathematics; and Victor Naziazeni, VocationalTechnology. There are 15 Silver Knight categories.

The Miami Herald’s Silver Knight program is open to public and private 12th grade students who carry an unweighted GPA of 3.2 or higher and demonstrate extraordinary leadership and achievement skills. There will be one winner from each category who receives $2,000, a medallion presented by the American Airlines Arena and a Silver Knight statue. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 18.

For more information, go to <www.gulliverschools.org>.

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Main Street making dental check-ups a kid favorite

BY LEE STEPHENS

Remember the old saying; I’d rather go to the dentist than…?

The equation of a dental check-up being the alternative to something horrible is a stereotype that adults have chuckled about for years. That reluctance and fear has unknowingly transferred to our children.

Historically, dental check-ups for kids have been unpleasant and scary. Well, not anymore.

Main Street Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics is a network of practices specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents that is changing that stereotype.

They are based in Miami and have more than a dozen locations in Broward County, Palm Beach and on the Florida West Coast. The company began nearly a decade ago with a vision of modern practices where kids get excellent clinical care while feeling totally comfortable and calm. In fact, most Main Street patients look forward to their checkups and ask to go frequently.

Part of that is due to the doctors and staff at Main Street who are specially trained to deal with young patients. Many wear funny scrubs, bunny ears, make shadow puppets and tell jokes. They know that when the patient is happy, their treatment will go smooth. Pediatric Dentists attend an additional two years of schooling and can work with the very young and special needs children, who often go without proper dental care. A 2010 study published in USA Today shows that only one in five kids will see the dentist this year.

“We are trying to change those statistics by creating practices that make going to the dentist easy for Mom and child,” said Sandra Jorge, regional manager for Main Street.

“By combining great doctors with modern and fun offices, it’s our hope that more families maintain a routine schedule of checkups

and proper oral care.”

“Everyone at Main Street is so helpful,” said Yvonne Vega-Garcia, whose son Marcos has been a patient with Main Street since 2008. “When my son had an emergency, they made sure that he was seen despite the fact that they were booked with patients. The front desk was so accommodating and Dr. Menendez was wonderful. Our overall experience has been excellent.”

Another reason kids love Main Street is because the offices are designed with them in mind. They have smaller dental chairs with televisions playing their favorite cartoons.

There are bright colored waiting rooms, fully stocked with toys and video games. Parents are encouraged to accompany their child into the treatment areas, so the open and spacious layouts can accommodate that.

“My son wanted me to come back with him the first time, but at his next appointment he wanted to go alone,” said one parent.

Main Street is committed to keeping up with advances in technology too. Most offices are completely digital and the company plans to be entirely paperless by 2013.

Appointment reminders can be done by phone, email or text message, which caters to the busy families of today. Main Street accepts most insurance plans and offers interest-free financing for braces. One of the company’s objectives when opening was to ensure that good dental care was also affordable. By keeping prices low, working with parents on treatment plans and offering financing options, the company sees an upward trend in their growth.

They expect to open two to four new practices in 2011 throughout Florida, and hope to expand outside the state in the coming years.

“We see the great results with happy parents, happy patients and happy employees,” said Jorge. “So it just seems logical that we continue to spread the good news about going to the dentist.”

Page 39

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PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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Offered at: $475,000.

D CE U D RE

16780 SW 78 Ave….................................Palmetto Bay Short Sale! 5 Bdrms, 3 Baths, 2car gar w/pool, over 3,400sf in prime school district! Soaring ceilings, granite kit, recently painted. Offered at $515,000 D1304052

Little Gables Gem!....................... 4521 SW 15 Street 3/2 Split plan with huge master suite, over 1,700 sq ft on 7.500sf lot. Walk to San Jacinto Park! Light and cheery! Move-in condition. REDUCED $369,000

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Free-Standing Corall Gables office building with US-1 frontage!! FOR SALE OR LEASE! 706 S Dixie Hwy. 2 Story, 10 parking spaces, over 2,700sf, new roof, asking $799,000. LeaseTop floor- 1,350sf–4 offices, conference room, reception area, Offered at $2,300/mo.

Dadeland Walk ................................SALE or LEASE! 8633 SW 79 Place……2 Bdrms, 2.5 Baths, 2-Story lovely corner unit in gated community! Over 2,100sf, eat-in kitchen, master suite on 1st floor, tennis courts, pools & clubhouse.

Offered at $2,200/mo unfurnished or $2,400/mo furnished and $359,000 for purchase. M1463317

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550 S. Dixie Highway • Coral Gables, FL 33146

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

Fund Raising for Haiti through Haitian Paintings

Michele Estevez, owner of La Mela Restaurant, traveled to Haiti in the aftermath of the January 12th, 2010 earthquake to provide help and assistance to the victims in the devastated areas, particularly in Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince.

Lived in a truck 4 days and in less than 24 hours delivered a full 41 foot container fill with clothing, toys, water and food.

Since then have returned 5 times and have personally delivered 2 more containers, now plans to return with the 4 container in April. Michele have help people not only in Cité Soleil, but also in Cap-Haitian where had more than 42000 IDPs and in the Village of Chastenoye in

Quartier-Morin, Ex-Delegate Georgemain Prophete had built 168 houses in partnership with Food for the Poor. They have more than 200 families living in the compound and 300 children that need to be taking care of.

While Michele visiting the Chastenoye compound in Quartier-Morin, little town located at 5 miles SE Cap-Haitien, was moved by the living conditions of school age children living nearby that should be in school and that cannot go for multiple reasons.

Georgemain said fourth of them captivated us more because they come every day at the house for help: Kervens (14, 2nd Grade), Esther (12, 3nd Grade), Jaline (13, 1st Grade) and Yanick (12, 4th Grade).

These kids couldn’t make it to school because their parents couldn’t send them.

One of the two cows was sold last year to pay tuitions, fees and supplies. They couldn’t afford to sell the last cow fearing the family could stay helpless in case of any emergency situation that may arise.

We think that we should be able to do something and we going to do it with your help.

Michele and Georgemain are launching the first program to help those kids get back to school through a sponsorship program that can make it possible and we can make a difference in a child life.

A $ 100.00 can send a child to school and let him make up for the year. ONLY $100. There more than 300 children that can benefit from this program. We are committed to take them back one at a time!

Michele Estevez is planning to raise

funds by displaying Haitian art exhibited at her restaurant starting Sunday February 27 – March 13. Opening night will be Sunday February 27, cocktails will be served everyday during the exhibit from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Each painting will have the suggested contribution. All donations are tax deductible. La Mela Restaurant is located at 14151 South Dixie Hwy, for more details call Michele directly at 305-733-7906.

We can make it Happen!

T h e Chastenoye Children say: Merci! (Thank You!)

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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Little Disciples Preschool Ranked in State’s top 5% for sixth consecutive year

Palmetto Bay, FL (Feb. 9, 2011) – For the sixth consecutive year, the Florida Department of Education has ranked Little Disciples Preschool in the top 5th percentile in the state.

Located in Palmetto Bay at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, the four-year old class of Little Disciples Preschool earned an impressive 197 points out of a possible 200 in the state’s assessment of Kindergarten readiness.

The exam measures how well a preschool prepares its four-year-olds to be ready for kindergarten based on literacy, mathematics, social and personal skills, letter naming and phonemic awareness.

This year, the preschool was also awarded the Florida’s Gold Seal award, the coveted APPLE Accreditation, and earned an impressive fourstar rating from the state’s Quality Counts Organization.

“Preparing our students for Kindergarten is our top priority as educators,” said Preschool Director, Anita Howard. “We know how important that first year of school is for the future growth and education of each child. A positive first experience into Kindergarten usually leads to a more confident child who looks forward to new challenges in the entire learning process.”

“Our teachers are amazing,” added Howard. “The repeated success of our students year-in-and-year-out demonstrates what a great job they are doing. The curriculum is rigorous

but fun, hands-on, and really prepares our students to succeed.”

Howard also credits the success of the preschool to its dedication to family. “We strive to be a place where families can grow with other families,” Howard adds. “Events are planned throughout the year to encourage family involvement in the education process. The parents are such an important part of their child’s learning process and their participation plays a key role in achieving positive test results.”

“My child has been with Little Disciples Preschool since age two and we feel confident knowing that he is prepared for his first day of Kindergarten,” said Stacey Kern. “They learn something new every day.”

“Having our students ready for Kindergarten is a huge priority for us,” says Kathy Loveless, teacher of the 4year old class. “We work towards giving our students a foundation that helps them excel in their future and interact well with other students. Our curriculum gives them a great head start on the learning process and an easy transition into their first day of school.”

Little Disciples Preschool was established in 1986 and prides itself in quality learning through Christianbased education. Registration is now open. It is located at 14401 Old Cutler Road. For more information call the preschool office at 786-573-7019. www.ocpc.org/preschool.

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

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Restoring Health & Home

BY MIKE THORNTON What does decades of working in the boating refurbishing industry prepare you to do?

“Most of the boats I’ve worked on were basically floating, second homes,” says Palmetto Bay resident Lisa Brang, CMR. “They’re all microcosms of houses, having almost all the same human needs, technical systems, and environmental and health risks. We’d assess, plan, deconstruct, and rebuild from top to bottom.”

Complete Mold Remediators, Inc., or CMR, established in 2005, focuses on detecting and controlling excessive moisture in your home, and the damaging effects. “Moisture is the key to mold control, period,” says Brang.

“We’re in a subtropical, moist climate that’s the hurricane capital of the world. Many still suffer from our 20042005 seasons on many planes.”

Brang is determined to help “lift the myth” that mold is an insurmountable obstacle. “It’s there, we can eliminate it or reduce it, we can fix the property damage it may have caused, and help boost your health.” Her no-nonsense approach comes from years of project management, logistics, and containment applications for industrial, governmental, and residential settings.

What is mold? Like mushrooms and yeast, mold or mildew is a type of microscopic fungi that needs water and air. We live in a climate of nutrient-rich surfaces ripe for its competitive success: wood, paper, carpet, fabric, wallpaper glue, sheetrock, wood, leather, clothing, insulation, and “practically any part of a dwelling’s construction or content if there is excessive moisture present.”

Mold can lie dormant in temperature ranges less than 40 degrees F or above 100. Many species are capable of extracting enough moisture from ambient air to survive, and the CDC notes that relative humidity above 70% is sufficient for that threshold. “That’s where we’re at most of the time,” observes Brang, “and the key to a healthy, safe, and valuable property is to maintain it and make it as weatherproof as possible. That excessive moisture harms in so many ways.”

How does mold develop and spread? Mold can grow on virtually any organic substance, and Brang

says “the water or moisture accumulation anywhere is the fuse. A lot can go wrong from there.” Mold presence is impossible to eliminate 100% indoors, but “there is much that can be done to

remove the mold and stop the spores from spreading,” notes Brang. “You need to attack it at its sources.” The spores, or mold seeds, enter structures through the air or on people, animals, and objects brought indoors.

What are some of the health risks?

“Everyone’s tolerance to mold and other microtoxins is individual, but some have really severe reactions and long-term effects. You’ve got to draw the line!” CMR has a “no-growth policy”; CMR is also the name of the state certification required, and her use of infrared technology augments her deep satisfaction and efficiency in working with homeowners, particularly “chemically-sensitive people,” those with low tolerance. Many are afflicted with eye irritation, respiratory complications, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nasal irritation, nausea, and more.

“By improving the health of the home, the health of the individual can also greatly improve,” summarizes Brang.

To help restore your Healthy Home, contact Lisa Brang of Complete Mold Remediators, Inc. at 305.903.8885 or cmrcomplete@comcast.net Learn more at her website http://cmr-moldremoval.com

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Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

Love of flying is a lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion

BY BRITTANY PANTER

In 1977, most 17 year olds dreamed of grandeur featuring Farrah Fawcettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earthly delights, but some dreams soar above cruising height.

Brett Panter, a 17 year old boy growing up in Hollywood, had a higher altitude in mind. At the suggestion of his father, he went to Broward Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North Perry Airport to investigate flying and what it entailed. The airport encapsulated the adolescent fantasy of flying in a practical manner, solidifying the dream in the form of a plane. Panterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first flight was in a Piper Tomahawk. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember the first feeling of flying, it was so exhilarating and exciting,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The freedom of flight is something that must be experienced to be truly understood.

Once Panter gained that understanding, he was hooked; line and sinker. He began his training and a few months before his 18th birthday he soloed in the Tomahawk.

Every pilot remembers their first solo flight, the first time in the plane without an instructor to designate when to rotate or increase airspeed, or when to flair. The autonomy of flight is frightening and equally enthralling; currents of energy, like air, rushing over pilot and plane.

However the gain is worth the trial; the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction far exceed any of the fears and doubts.

But flying is not just a hobby for Panter; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a state of mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flying has had a positive impact on my entire life, from social events to fundraising for causes, to business applications,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flying has always been a part of my life and I expect that will remain true for as long as I am able to fly.â&#x20AC;?

Panter left Hollywood for bluer horizons at the University of Michigan, where he continued to fly. Being on a collegiate budget, he contracted with kids from his dorm to further his flying. Together they gathered funds to

Community Profile Brittany Panter, the author of this story, with her father, attorney and pilot Brett Panter.

rent a Piper Warrior for $28 an hour.

Incorporating flying and socializing, Panter gave his fellow college students a new perspective for $7 apiece. There was never a time when he failed to find three new ready-andwillings or old-and-steadies to put in for an hour of flying fun. His old log books are filled with the names of University of Michigan cohorts who rose above it all with him.

Years flew by and Panter graduated and went on to law school at the University of Miami. All the while, he continued his aviation avocation. After law school, Panterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s burgeoning career curtailed his flight plans.

However, after starting a family with his wife, Wendy, she encouraged him to get back in the pilotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat.

The cockpit inspired the couple to create their own crew and five children later flying remains a significant part of the Panter pride and Panterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional life. His wife has been a huge supporter of the fami-

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lyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flying adventures and she is the family expedition executioner.

Panter has flown his family in their Piper Turbo Aztec to Wisconsin, New York, Virginia, Georgia, throughout Florida and to many of the Bahamian islands. The family makes annual expeditions to their home in Highlands, North Carolina.

Panter is a successful trial lawyer and a founder of Panter, Panter & Sampedro. You can check him out at <www.panterlaw.com>.

The firm has six lawyers and 14 other employees that keep the corporate engine running smoothly. They handle all types of catastrophic personal injury claims, including aviation disasters.

Panter, Panter & Sampedro has achieved many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients, all of whom are innocent people who have been harmed by the negligence of others. Panter has authored numerous articles attesting to the

wonders of flight, as well as advisory articles on essential aspects of flight safety.

About 10 years ago, Panter took his flying adventures to new altitudes by training for and receiving his instrument, commercial and multi-engine ratings. He began his multiengine flight training with a Piper Geronimo built in 1959. Flying the Geronimo that was equipped with a very basic panel, he developed an understanding of his own ergonomics to apply to his multi and instrument skills.

Panter received top-notch instruction for his instrument and multi-engine ratings from retired Delta Captain Ira Leshin. Panter firmly believes in flight training, flying often and training on a simulator to maintain his instrument skills. He currently captains a turbocharged Piper Aztec and has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours. He harnesses the Aztecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power to commute to clients around the southeastern United States.

Panterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son Bryce is 16 and has followed the family flight plan. He has recently begun training with the Miami Gliders and is considering a high-flying career.

Panterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughters also enjoy flying and maybe one day in the future (when there dad gets an instructorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license) they will elect to get their ratings.

Panter believes in giving back to the country and the community and uses flying as a means for magnanimity. He serves the country by flying for the Coast Guard in Miami (now part of Homeland Security) and he helps the community by offering his aircraft and flying ability for Miracle flights such as transporting needy children from remote locations to receive medical care. Panter also donates flights to the Make a Wish Foundation, Red Cross, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet Hope & Love for Girls in Need, Isicoff Memorial Fund, many of the Young Lawyers fundraisers and numerous community charities.

Feb. 28 - Mar. 13, 2011

PINECRESTTRIBUNE.COM

Page 47

A look back at 77th Orange Bowl Festival

BY TONY ARGIZ

Orange Bowl Committee, Past President/Chairman As we wrap our 77th Orange Bowl Festival, this will be my final column.

Taking my place will be our incoming president and chairman Jeff Roberts.

The Orange Bowl Committee (OBC) enjoyed many of its longstanding traditions during the 2010-11 Festival, while also introducing many firsts to complement our championship-caliber football game.

This marked the first year for Discover Financial Services as the title sponsor of the Orange Bowl and the game also aired for the first time on ESPN. We are looking forward to a long future with both Discover and ESPN. Other firsts for the OBC included two New Year’s weekend events — Orange Drive, a three-day festival on South Beach featuring live music and other festivities, and the Ft. Lauderdale Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown, which provided a family-friendly atmosphere on New Year’s Eve. During the festival, Stanford and Virginia Tech student-athletes, coaches, staff, administrators and their families, as well as several thousand tourists and fans, took full advantage of the region’s pristine beaches, diverse cuisine, luxury hotels and live entertainment – adding to the experience of cheering for their team during the highly touted 2011 Discover Orange Bowl.

Most importantly, however, was the completion of the $5.7 million Orange Bowl Field at Moore Park project in Allapattah.

The Committee partnered with the City of Miami to finance the renovation of Moore Park, site of the 1933 and 1934 Palm Festivals, a forerunner to the modern day Discover Orange Bowl. Renovation transformed the current facility into a state-ofthe-art football stadium complete with a 400meter track, press box, bleachers, scoreboard and public address systems.

OBC CEO Eric Poms, Miami Mayor Tómas Regalado, OBC First Vice Chair Ford Gibson, ACC Conference Commissioner John Swofford, PAC-10 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott and I celebrated the completion of the project with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Jan. 2. Special thanks to both Danny Ponce, during whose presidency the Moore Park legacy gift was conceived, and Ford Gibson, who gave countless hours to ensure its completion and success. Local high schools and youth football teams alike will be able to utilize the

gifts from the Orange Bowl Committee and City of Miami for years to come.

Some of the other exhilarating events that made up the world-renowned Orange Festival included the 17th annual MetroPCS Orange Bowl Classic, the football and cheerleading championships of the 12th season of the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority in association with community sponsor Wachovia/Wells Fargo, the 34th annual Orange Bowl International Youth Sailing Regatta Series, the 64th annual Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and the inaugural Orange Bowl Paddleboard Championships.

Before I bid farewell, I would like to express my gratitude to Discover Financial Services, whose partnership with the Orange Bowl Committee was a huge success in its first year, as well as ESPN, the Miami Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium. Also, thank you to our ticket patrons and other sponsors for their ongoing support of the Discover Orange Bowl and the Orange Bowl Festival.

In addition to enjoying great events, your support enables us to make a difference in South Florida by sponsoring youth football and supporting many other charitable and community-based organizations.

And finally, a special thanks is due to the 333 Orange Bowl Committee members, our staff and the South Florida community that has embraced the committee and its mission: To enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida.

Congratulations and best wishes to Jeff Roberts, who was introduced as the 73rd president and chairman of the board of the Orange Bowl Committee on Jan. 25. I know Jeff will carry on the mission of the OBC and take it to new heights in 2011-12.

The Orange Bowl Committee (OBC) is a not-for-profit 333-member primarily-volunteer organization that supports and produces activities and events that enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. For information on the OBC volunteer Ambassador program, or to purchase tickets to the Discover Orange Bowl, MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic or any other Festival event, call 305-341-4701 or log onto <www.orangebowl.org>.

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