Our City Coral Springs - October 2022

DR. WILLIAM A. FORERO

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CORAL SQUARE MALL & PEMBROKE LAKES MALL

The B-12 Store,

At the B 12 Store, we are dedicated to your health and well being. We offer preventative care for people of all ages, in the form of IM Injections & IV Drip Infusions!

are dedicated to your health & well-being.

care for people of all ages, in the form of IM Injections & IV Drip Infusions!

Vitamin injectables benefits

les benefits

I beat cancer with BROWARD HEALTH

At Broward Health, we are dedicated to the fight against cancer.

Learn about our comprehensive oncology services: BrowardHealth.org/BeatCancer

- Les prostate cancer survivor

Imagine a health plan with doctors who put you first. BECAUSE WE CARE.

At CarePlus, we use value-based care to help you get the quality health care you deserve.

That means we partner with doctors based1 on how well they treat their patients.

As one of Medicare’s top rated plans in Florida,2 CarePlus helps you see doctors who care as much as we do.

1806 N. Pine Island Rd. Plantation, FL 33322

Plaza Medical Centers accepts CarePlus Health Plans and offers:

• Coordination with specialists

• Urgent or same-day appointments

• Management of long-term conditions

For directions, hours, and appointments, call 954-741-5000 Or visit us online: PlazaMedicalCenters.com

We also speak Spanish.

We are accepting new patients today!

Choose a CarePlus plan with the benefits you need, such as:

$0 copay for primary care physician office visits and lab services

$0 copay for routine dental, vision and hearing coverage

$0 to low copay for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drug coverage

Provider may also contract with other Plans/Part D sponsors. South and North Florida, Tampa, Orlando and Daytona areas, and Space Coast. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract.Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. 1https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/Value-Based-Programs.

2Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Other providers are available in our network. Important: At CarePlus, it is important you are treated fairly. CarePlus HealthPlans, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, genderidentity, disability, age, marital status, religion, or language in their programs and activities, including in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, their programs and activities. Thefollowing department has been designated to handle inquiries regarding CarePlus’ non-discrimination policies: Member Services, PO Box 277810, Miramar, FL 33027, 1-800-794-5907 (TTY:711). Auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, are available to you. 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). CarePlus provides free auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters,video remote interpretation, and written information in other formats to people with disabilities when such auxiliary aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate.This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at 1-800-794-5907. Hours of operation: October 1 - March 31, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.April 1 - September 30, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may leave a voicemail after hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and we will return your call within one business day. Español(Spanish): Esta información está disponible de

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PUBLISHERS

Christy & Terry Jaillet publisher@ourcitymedia.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Christy Jaillet

ART DIRECTOR

Tom Rowe

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alana Brodie

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

Nancy Koval nancy@ourcitymedia.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

John Brodie, Denise Caligiuri, Adrienne Collins, Caleb Furlong, Mariem Garcia, Carlos Medina, Kenny Rodgers, Silvia Silva

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Terry Jaillet, Jon Duka, Dr. Robert Donoway, Christine Hunschofsky, Bruce Iden, Wayne M. Messam, Dr. Carlo Messina, Frank C. Ortis, Dr. Isabel Suate, Rich Walker

ADVERTISING INFO sales@ourcitymedia.com

VISIT US ONLINE ourcitymedia.com 954-306-1007

400 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway Suite 200C • Sunrise, FL 33325

of

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Each year, we see the color pink in unexpected places. Whether it’s high school football players wearing pink socks to salute a mom’s struggle or a coworker adorning their shirt with a pink ribbon, the global Breast Cancer Awareness campaign has shone a light on breast cancer and helped raise billions in research funding.

Breast Cancer has impacted the Our City Media family as well. We have had family members struggle with a diagnosis and recover and have seen others succumb to the disease. One thing we saw again and again, however, was the tireless efforts of healthcare workers. These men and women have dedicated their lives to help people live as healthily as possible.

According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, there are almost 1 million Floridians employed in the healthcare sector. There are 83,000 doctors, 190,000 nurses, 66,000 EMTs and Paramedics, and hundreds of thou sands of support staff.

These “front line” workers have been asked to do more in the past three years than at any time in a generation. We decided to recognize a few of these “Healthcare Heroes” in this month’s Our City magazine. Turn to page 29 to learn more about some of the people who are making an impact in the community. It is nice to know they are there for us when we need them.

Thank You to all of the healthcare professionals who are helping us live our best lives from all of us at Our City Media!

Sincerely,

October 2022 Calendar

OCTOBER 22

Thrills & Chills

Enjoy a spooky night of carnival games, fun and more! The evening will be filled with ac tivities, treats and more for the whole family. Dress up as a ghastly ghoul or your favorite superhero and be sure to bring your sweet tooth. 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive. For more info call 954-345-2200.

OCTOBER 22-27

Pumpkin Patch

The Parkland Equestrian Center will be open each evening from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm for a community event. There will be music, a petting zoo, face painting, children’s games, and of course, lots of pumpkins. Admission is free, but the pumpkins are available for sale. For more info call 954757-4107 or visit www.cityofparkland.org.

OCTOBER 28

Parkland Halloween Festival

OCTOBER 26-30

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the greatest boat show on the seven seas. Located steps from the beach in sunny South Florida, FLIBS spans nearly 90 acres across three million square feet of exhibit space that is connected by an intricate network of water and ground transportation services. The five-day show attracted over 100,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors representing 52 countries with more than 1,300 boats on display in 2021. Products range from sunglasses to superyachts and everything in between. For tickets & more info visit www.flibs.com.

OCTOBER 22

Scary Beez

Come and join the fun at STEMBee’s SCARYBeez Halloween event. The Witches are up to no good; they cast a spell on our scientist and we need your help to return our scientist to normal. Take part in the hands on activities that will help turn the scientist back to normal! Only you can help us reverse the witches spell. Come dressed to impress as there will be candy, raffles, and prizes! Enjoy a day of STEM fun! Kids will be able to enjoy fun activities that will intrigue all ages (and yes we are talking about the parents too!). Enjoy several STEM activities, giveaways, Spooky craft and so much more! 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at Broward College-North Campus 1000 E Coconut Creek Pkwy, Building 46, Coconut Creek. Scan the QR code to register.

Dress up in your favorite costume and spend an exciting night with food trucks and sweet treats. This “trunk or treat” event provides a safe place for kiddos to collect more treats than they could imagine. Enjoy tunes from the DJ and pick a pumpkin to decorate with the family. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Pine Trails Park, 10555 Trails End, Park land. For more info call 954-757-4105.

OCTOBER 31

Happy Halloween

Trick or Treating will likely be a bit different this year than in years past. Kids will still be dressing up, playing games, and maybe even playing a trick or two on a friend or family member. We remind everyone to have fun and stay safe!

The Neck and Back Pain Institute

that impact and whiplash type injuries are serious. They can

issues. Improper healing can create a multitude of

and schedule a no obligation consultation and learn how we can

Dr. David B. Bass DC, LAc, AP, DOM Antalgic Trak Inventor

Dr. William Forero Builds on 18 years of serving the community and recently expanded his practice to a larger, state-of-the-art location in the Coral Springs Professional Campus at the corner of University Drive and Westview Drive in Coral Springs.

Dr. Forero is a general dentist, who specializes in all areas of dentistry with an emphasis on Cosmetic Implants. He has worked with Dr. Eugene Black, a pioneer, and talented Implantologist for much of his career. Dr. Forero has taken Dr. Black’s proven techniques and added the latest technology to create one of the most advanced implant dentistry practices avail able today.

State-of-the-Art Care

The practice offers the latest technology solutions for all members of the family. They have 3D Digital X-ray machines to add incred ible precision to cosmetic procedures, resto rations, and fillings procedures. They also offer smile makeovers using bleaching, Invisalign, crowns, and/or veneers.

Cosmetic Implant Dentistry

Moves to New State-of-the-Art Location in Coral Springs!

By Our City Staff

Dentistry offers a full range of dental treatments and procedures, including routine check-ups and

bridges, crowns, and extractions. They also offer a variety of dental implants for their patients that need them. Everything from a single tooth replacement to a full mouth reconstruction can be done on-site.

he begins the process of retiring. Dr. Kupfer has been giving his patients beautiful, lasting smiles for over 30 years with his precise, exacting work.

Both Dr. Forero and Dr. Kupfer are loved by their patients because of their gentleness of care, precision, and empathy. The staff at Cosmetic Implant Dentistry are highly skilled and treat patients like family. Many of the staff members have been part of the team for more than two decades.

Medicare Advantage

Highly Trained & Dedicated Dental Team

Dr. Glenn Kupfer joins Dr. Forero in delivering world-class care at the practice. He is a Cosmetic Dentist who has practiced in the Coral Springs area since the 1980s. He has joined Cosmetic Implant Dentistry while

Dr. Forero has partnered with most Medicare Advantage Plans, including Aetna Medicare to provide superior dental care to senior patients. Medicare Advantage plans have added dental benefits over the past few years. Now is the perfect time for seniors to take advantage of the coverage they have earned. Some plans even cover dental implant services. Be sure to ask your agent about dental benefits during open enrollment, which starts October 15, 2022.

Serving the Community

Cosmetic Implant Dentistry is owned by Dr. Forero and his wife Sandra. They truly love providing patients with the very best care and the brightest smiles. Their staff is highly trained and treats every patient like family. They are also connected with a number of specialists to ensure that any dental issue can be addressed correctly with the best care possible.

Dental implants are their specialty, and we make the process painless. They believe that every person should have a beautiful smile and will you get yours. With such a complete range of dental services and care, where else would you go?

IMPLANT CORAL SPRINGS

▸ Cosmetic Implant Dentistry is located at 5501 N University Drive, Suite 102, Coral Springs. Call 954-752-4900 or visit www. CosmeticImplantsDDS.com to make an appointment today.

DR. WILLIAM A. FORERO

Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center Receives

$600,000 IN STATE FUNDING

school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Since then, they have provided the community with crisis inter vention, licensed mental health clinicians, navigator services, wellness experiences, and classes, all free of charge to students, parents, and teachers.

Coral Springs community are so grateful to Representative Christine Hunschofsky and Senator Tina Polsky for this life-changing appropriation of $600k, representing 50% of our annual budget.”

Eagle’s Haven Wellness Center received $600,000 in state funding last month. The funds represent about half of the charitable organization’s oper ating budget and will ensure it continues to help local families for the coming year. State Representative Christine Hunschofsky and State Senator Tina Polsky presented the center with a check for $600,000.

Eagles Haven Wellness Center opened its doors in March of 2019, after the tragic

Senator Polsky stated: “Eagles’ Haven is such an important resource for the greater Parkland community. This appropriation came just in time when the federal funding was about to expire. Now, these crucial mental health services will remain available thanks to the $600,000 in state funds to continue these services for the community.”

Sarah Franco with Eagles’ Haven stated: “With the trial of the shooter underway, being able to support the community with wellness services and therapeutic support was more important than ever. Eagles’ Haven and the entire Parkland/

Eagles’ Landing offers a number of programs and wellness experience for members of the local community. Wellness Experiences provide a safe space for children, teens and adults to participate in a variety of our health and wellness learning sessions. Classes range from kickboxing to open mic poetry and photo journaling to family game nights.

▸ Scan the QR code to download the Eagles’ Haven app for our Well ness Experience sched ule and, to register for one of their many classes.

ON $20 OR MORE

ON $20 OR MORE

ON $20 OR MORE

ON $20 OR MORE

Let the Coral Springs Fire Department

DO THE COOKING ON OCTOBER 8TH

Join the Coral Springs Fire Department as they host their Annual Cancer Awareness Pasta Dinner on Saturday, October 8th from 5 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Station 80, located at 2825 Coral Springs Drive, North of Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs, Florida 33065.

The event is open to the public and for a $8 donation attendees receive a generous portion of pasta, homemade firehouse sauces, salad, meatballs, Italian sausage, bread, a beverage and dessert. All food is made and served by firefighters, including our Fire Chief Michael McNally. Participants are treated to a tour of the firehouse, will learn about fire rescue equipment, meet firefighters and purchase t-shirts for the benefit. Kids will receive a firefighter helmet too.

Donations once again will benefit the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund. The mission of the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund is to provide funding for breast care to women in the local community who are financially

unable to obtain screening mammograms and advanced high quality breast imaging and biopsies. Sadly, Lisa lost her battle with the dis ease earlier this year. Proceeds will also benefit the American Cancer Society and the Coral Springs Professional Firefighters Benevolent Association. The American Cancer Society is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. The Coral Springs Professional Firefighters Benevolent Association assists in raising funds and providing awareness for local charitable events that offer a direct benefit to the people, person or organization in need.

The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) adopted wearing pink during October for Breast Cancer Awareness for a number of years. What grew from that is support for more than just breast cancer, their efforts focus on all forms of cancer, said Coral Springs Director of Communications, Lynne Martzall.

“To raise funds, the IAFF Coral Springs-

Parkland Fire Department members began hosting a yearly Cancer Awareness Pasta Dinner at Station 80 nine years ago. Each year the dinner has grown and residents look forward to seeing their favorite firefighters while raising money for a good cause,” said Martzall.

The local firefighters are in support of bringing awareness to cancer and those affected. The local Department has been personally impacted by cancer.

“Members of the Department were deeply impacted by cancer when they lost their close friend and fellow firefighter Paul Pietrafesa, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016; he was just 48 years old,” said Martzall.

The Cancer Awareness Pasta Dinner con tinues to grow each year.

“Each year members look to increase the amount of dinners served with a goal of 1,500! So come out and support your local firefighters and community in their fight against cancer!” added Martzall.

YOUR FIRST CALL TO GET HELP

Did you know there is a resource to help every person living in Broward County find the resources they need? Just dial 211 on your phone to become connected to 211 Broward. They can help you find food, housing, health care, elder care services, child care, legal aid, mental health support, and much more.

211 Broward is the only 24/7 comprehensive agency in the county that provides individuals and families with all of the critical connections to health and human service services they need in just one call, chat, email, or text. This 24-hour helpline is available to every individual and family in Broward County!

211 is a free, anonymous, 24-hour helpline offering listening support, information, referral, and crisis services. Their professional, degreed staff connects people in need with nearly 3,800 programs and services that are available to help

them. Bilingual staff and telephone interpreter services ensure that callers can talk with us in the language of their choice.

211 offers people access to a variety of resources including:

• Crisis and Suicide Care

• Mental Health Services

• Substance Abuse Treatment

• Military and Veteran Services

• Health and Wellness Referrals

• Sexual Health Services

• COVID-19 Assistance

• Confidential Help for Teens

• New Parent Help

• Older Adult and Adult Caregiver Services

• Much more…

211 is available to help people in almost any circumstances. 211 Broward was established

as a 501(c)(3) in 1995. Every hour of every day, someone in Broward searches for help or services. Knowing where to go is the first step to getting your needed help.

▸ If you need help for any reason, dial 211 on your mobile phone today

35 years experience in healthcare industry; 26 with FirstLantic Healthcare Broward, Palm Beach Counties Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, member, since 2019 Leadership Hollywood Class 44

Coral Springs Annual Government Academy Kicks Off

The annual Government Academy offers participants with essential information about city services and operations and provides them with the fundamentals and complexity of municipal operations including communication strategies, public safety, utilities, parks, and community development.

Participants may attend any of the five ses sions, which will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates:

October 13 - Special Events / Parks & Recreation

Meet the Parks and Recreation and Special Events teams that work hard year-round to keep our parks in top shape and our special events fun for residents of all ages. The session will be held at Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive.

October 20 - Public Works/Utilities

Staff from the Public Works Department will discuss their role in providing safe streets, quality drinking water, and a fleet capable of supporting all city departments. The session will be hosted at the Coral Springs Water Treatment Plant - 3800 NW 85th Ave.

October 27- Development Services / Economic Development

Members of the Community Development, Code Compliance, Building Department will share their role in planning and maintaining our community’s aesthetics, while the Economic Development team will give the latest updates in planned develop ment in Downtown Coral Springs and beyond. The session will be hosted at Coral Springs City Hall in the Commission Chambers - 9500 W Sample Road.

November 3- Police, Fire, Emergency Management

Get to know your public safety staff and learn about the many divisions of the Police Department, the services provided by the Fire Department, and how the city prepares and responds to emergency situations, including hurricanes. The session will be held at the Public Safety Building - 2801 Coral Springs Drive.

November 10- Your City Government at Work

Hear from city management staff about our form of government, your city commission and how they work together to develop our strategic plan, business plan and annual budget. Also learn about our city’s history and communication methods. The session will be held at the Public Safety Building - 2801 Coral Springs Drive.

▸ Each session is open to Coral Springs residents age 16 and older. To pre-regis ter for any of the session, follow the QR code.

Spooky Times are Here in Coral Springs and Parkland

By Jon Duka

Kids of all ages will enjoy dressing up as their favorite villain, goblin, superhero, or celebrity during this year’s Halloween season. The Cities of Coral Springs and Parkland will host a number of events during October to get you into the “spirit” of the season.

Thrills and Chills

Enjoy a spooky night of carnival games, fun, and more! The evening will be filled with activities, treats, and more for the whole family. Dress up as a ghastly ghoul or your favorite superhero and be sure to bring your sweet tooth. October 22, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive. For more info call 954-345-2200.

Parkland Pumpkin Patch

The Parkland Equestrian Center will be open on October 22 through October 27

from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm for a community event. There will be music, a petting zoo, face painting, children’s games, and of course, lots of pumpkins. Admission is free, but the pumpkins are available for sale. For more info call 954-757-4107 or visit www.cityofparkland.

org.

Parkland Halloween Festival

Dress up in your favorite costume and spend an exciting night with food trucks and sweet treats. This “trunk or treat” event provides a safe place for kiddos to collect more treats than they could imagine. Enjoy tunes from the DJ and pick a pumpkin to decorate with the family. October 28, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Pine Trails Park, 10555 Trails End, Parkland. For more info call 954-757-4105.

On Halloween night be sure to visit homes with their front lights on for a treat. And, as always, beware of the tricks! Happy Halloween.

hey live in our community. They are our next-door neighbors, moms at the PTA meeting, dads who coach football, and young professionals who volunteer at the harvest drive. They do all the everyday things we all do. They go to the grocery store, plan vacations, exercise at the gym, and dine at their favorite restaurants.

They also save lives. Our community is filled with HEALTHCARE HEROES They all help us to live healthier lives. Whether it’s the EMT who responds to 911 calls, a nurse at the hospital, the oncologist treating cancer, your family dentist, or your local eye doctor. These heroes treat what ails us and help us live better quality lives. We’ve included a selection of some of the heroes from our community who are making an impact, enjoy!

Jose

It is hard to imagine a more frightening moment in a person’s life than receiving a brain or spinal cancer diagnosis. Hearing those words would cause anx iety and fear in virtually any patient. Luckily there are new innovative treatments for these types of diseases. Dr. Jose Valerio is one of those pioneering surgeons treating these diagnoses. His offices are right here in South Florida.

Dr. Valerio is a board-certified neurosurgeon. He has completed a post-doc fellowship in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (affiliated with Case Western Reserve University) and a clinical fellowship in neurosurgical oncology and spine at the Cleveland Clinic Ohio.

He trained and worked as a staff neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and Florida for eight years until 2013. After that, Dr. Valerio joined the Miami Neuroscience Center. His primary focus is on complex spine pathology and spine tumors. He has received multiple awards for treating brain tumors, including the American Brain Tumor Association Young Investigator Award, the Musella Foundation Award, and the Cleveland Clinic Clinical Research Award.

Dr. Valerio opened the first Radiosurgery Suite in Florida. This state-of-the-art facility uses real-time tumor tracking technology and motion management capabil ities to ensure precision that is not attainable in almost any other way.

Dr. Valerio is an expert in treating brain metastasis. Any cancer can lead to brain metastasis when cancer from other parts of the body spreads to your brain. Therefore, surgery to remove the brain tumor may be part of your treatment for metastatic brain cancer.

At his practices in South Miami, Hialeah, and Weston, Dr. Valerio performs many surgical treatments for brain metastasis. He also treats meningioma, the most common type of primary brain tumor, and glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Dr. Jose Valerio is a unique type of neurosurgeon. He combines a proper patient-centered approach to care with his extensive skill and training to help his patients achieve the desired outcomes. His practice accepts most health insurance plans.

■ To schedule a consultation with Dr. Valerio call 954-907-9447 or email contact@jvaleriomd.com or visit www.jvaleriomd.com

Andrea Bretal, MD

OWNER & MEDICAL DIRECTOR Weston Medical Health & Wellness

Dr. Andrea Bretal opened Weston Medical Health & Wellness with one goal in mind: to help people live health ier and more fulfilling lives. It only made sense to locate the holistic clinic, which focuses on obesity medicine in Weston.

Dr. Bretal’s practice combines nutritional counseling with integrative medicine to help men and women of all ages achieve success with lasting weight loss. She understands the role hormones play in weight loss and specializes in balancing hormones, from thyroid and adrenal to estrogen and testosterone, to set your body up for weight loss.

Patients with chronic health conditions like diabetes can find management techniques and even achieve disease regression at Weston Medical Health & Wellness. By helping you lose weight and keep it off, Dr. Bretal believes you’ll live a healthier, happier life.

While the practice is known for weight loss, they offer much more. “Our services include Mental Wellness through Epigenetic and Nutritional imbalances, Hormone therapy for Men and Women,” said Dr. Bretal, “I am dedi cated to educating and enhancing the lives of my patients.”

■

Dr. Andrea Bretal practices at Weston Medical Health & Wellness 1605 Town Center Blvd • Suite D • Weston, FL 33326. To make an appointment please call 954-389-1800 or visit www.WestonDiet.com for more info.

Paula-Ann Francis, MD

Dr. Paula-Ann Francis is a boardcertified psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience. Her role as a community psychiatrist is to provide comprehensive evaluations and treatment for individuals in the community and at large.

She incorporates a holistic treatment protocol for mental health patients and provides mentorship and training for resident psychiatrists to reinvigorate the community we reside in. Dr. Francis is proud to be at the forefront of facilitating patients on their journey to mental well-being.

In her early teens, Dr. Francis had excellent mentors who encouraged her to give back to the community. Initially, she did this in the form of community service by providing care for and service to incarcerated individuals, people in mental health institutions, and underserved populations. Eventually, she aspired to achieve serving the underserved on a larger scale.

“I like being able to understand individuals at their core. Helping them to gain insight into, and overcome whatever obstacles are impeding them from reaching their full potential,” said Dr. Francis.

Dr. Francis currently manages her practice in Weston and is at the forefront of Psychiatry. Her practice provides state-of-the-art mental health care in the form of medication management and transcranial magnetic stimulation--a non-invasive, FDA-approved method of treating depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Helping people is what Dr. Francis has dedicated her life to, and it really shows.

■ Dr. Paula-Ann Francis practices at 17110 Royal Palm Blvd • Suite 1 • Weston, FL. To make an appointment please call 754-216-0840.

Carlo A. Messina, DPM

FOOT AND ANKLE SURGEON

South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine

Carlo A. Messina is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon practicing podiatry in West Broward since 2009. He specializes in treating foot, ankle and leg injuries in infants, children, teenagers, and adults.

He graduated from the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

He also completed a fellowship with the German Foot and Ankle Society in 2009.

His interests include treatment of complex deformities and trauma of the foot and ankle in children and adults. He lives in Weston with his wife, Victoria, their son, Sam, their daughter, Victoria, and their French Bulldogs, Mapache and Nya. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and is Board Certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Messina continues to be active in the local communities.

■

To make an appointment with Dr. Messina or learn more about South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine call (954) 430-9901 or visit

www.SouthFloridaSportsMedicine.com

THE

Pancreatic NanoKnife Tumor Ablation for Advanced and Oligo-Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

If you are being treated for advanced or oligometastatic pancreatic cancer you may want to contact Dr. Robert Donoway at ATLAS ONCOLOGY in Hollywood, Florida.

Dr Donoway is using multi-modality therapy combining Pancreatic NanoKnife Tumor Ablation with chemo-immunoradio therapy to treat advanced stage cancer patients from around the world after they have stopped responding to standard of care therapy and have been left with few options for further treatment.

With over 32 years of experience performing pancreatic surgery in south Florida, Dr Donoway recognized that because of late diagnosis, up to 85% of patients treated for pancreatic cancer already had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. This fact limited the benefit many patients might receive from pancreatic surgery, which is problematic as surgery has been long held to be the only reproduceable therapy for cure; whereas in reality surgery is currently more likely Palliative in almost 80% of the cases.

Recent evidence shows that when even advanced disease is treated aggressively in an integrated approach, incorporating NanoKnife surgery with chemotherapy and now supplemented with immunotherapy, long-term survivorship can be achieved, especially when compared to chemotherapy alone.

Dr Donoway has been a pioneer in the use of pancreatic NanoKnife, especially for complex cases. During the past decade, patients from around the world have traveled to benefit from

this groundbreaking treatment by Dr Donoway, which is FDA approved. Dr Donoway also treats other advanced cancers, such as liver, Breast, and sarcomas, using NanoKnife Surgery based on its FDA approved guidelines. Patients experience a brief recovery, which means the patient can start chemotherapy and radiation that much sooner.

Dr Donoway feels that “we are long overdue to revise our approach to treating Pancreatic Ca. The treatment history been largely unchanged for over 80 years and has just broken the 10% five year survivorship barrier. Only thru thinking outside the box will we accomplish the positive. Otherwise, all we’re doing is confirming Einstein‘s definition of insanity.”

Dr Donoway is involved in ongoing research in identifying the best chemo-immuno therapy and sequencing to be used along with Pancreatic nanoKnife/IRE . Dr Donoway states, “the results so far have been very encouraging and we have begun using it for other select cancers. Among his longest survivors are now patients over nine years without evidence of cancer recurrence. In the past, without IRE they would have lived a little over a year, and so this technique opens a whole new avenue for treating those eligible patients in a more targeted fashion.”

Dr Donoway has presented his results of pancreatic ablation at the recent annual meeting of the American Pancreatic Association. For more information about Dr Donoway and the pancreatic IRE/NanoKnife program call 954-986-6366 or visit www.atlasoncology.com

ATLAS ONCOLOGY

Robert B. Donoway, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.S.S.O. Surgical Oncology & Pancreatic Surgical Oncology

Dr. Robert Donoway is a Board Certified Sloan Kettering trained Pancreatic surgical oncologist, who received his MD and surgical training at the University of Pennsylvania. At Sloan Kettering he was the General Motors Pancreatic Cancer Research Fellow. Dr Donoway is a former Director of the Memorial Regional Cancer Center (now the Memorial Cancer Institute) and Chairman of the Cancer committee for the Memorial Healthcare System as well as a former Chief of Surgery and Surgical Oncology at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, South Florida.

Dr Donoway served on the Board of the American Cancer Society and Gildas club. He has also served as past president of the American Cancer Society Broward chapter and serves on the board of trustees of the Ancient Spanish Monastery.

Dr Donoway is active in the The American and International Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Associations, The Pancreas Club, Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Pancreatic Association. His accomplishments include being the first surgeon in Florida to perform radio frequency ablation as well as laparoscopic major liver resection. He is the former recipient of the South Florida Health Award for use of micro-endoscopy for the detection of early stage breast cancer.

Dr Donoway has been repeatedly named to Top Doctor‘s in America by Castle Connolly. Dr Donoway is one of only a few international surgeons performing advanced multi-modal pancreatic and liver ablation therapy for non-resectable tumors.

Robert B. Donoway, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.S.S.O.

Medical Director, ATLAS ONCOLOGY: Institute for Pancreatic Ca IRE NanoKnife Ablation

Former Medical Director Memorial Cancer Center (Now- Memorial Cancer Institute) Board Certified

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2855 N. University Drive,

By State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky

As we kick off the month of October, I would like to introduce you to our newest team member in our District 96 office. Johanna Savelli is our new Legislative Aide for District 96. She is a Broward resident, speaks fluent Spanish, and comes to our team after two years of working in another district office. Join me in welcoming Johanna and please reach out to our office at 954-956-5600 if we may ever be of assistance.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a good time for all women who have not done so in the past year to make an appointment for a mammogram. Early detection can save your life, so I encourage all of you to be proactive with your screenings. Eligible women can receive free breast and cervical cancer screenings at various locations in Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties through the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. For information or to schedule an appointment, please call (954) 762-3649. Our communities also have several events to not only create awareness but also raise funds to support the cause. The Coral Springs-Parkland Annual Cancer Awareness Pasta Dinner will be on October 8 from 5 pm-8 pm at Fire Station 80 at 2825 Coral Springs Drive, and “Not My Daughter… Find a Cure Now” will have its annual luncheon back in person at the Heron Bay Marriott on Oct. 24 (www.notmydaughter.org).

October 10 is World Mental Health Day and a time to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilize efforts in support of mental health. In 2021, I sponsored legislation to establish a Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse and was appointed by our Speaker Sprowls to the commission. Our next meeting is October 19-20, where we will be reviewing draft recommendations for the Governor and Legislature. I encourage you to learn more about the Commission (https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/ samh/commission) and the work being done and to reach out with any questions or ideas you may have. Additionally, we have many mental health resources available in Broward County. If you or someone you know needs help, dialing 211 will connect you to resources in the community. Eagles Haven (eagleshaven. org) is also available with wellness programs and clinicians. Tomorrow’s Rainbow (tomorrowsrainbow.org) provides free grief counseling, as does the Children’s Bereavement Center (childbereavement.org). Every person struggles with their mental and physical health at some point in their life. It’s important to acknowledge when we need help and get the help we need.

As always, our constituents are our number one priority. Look out for my updates on Facebook (@RepChristineHunschofsky), and Twitter (@RepHunschofsky) as well as my regular e-newsletter, which you can sign up for by emailing HDIST096@ myfloridahouse.gov with “subscribe” in the subject line. My team and I are here to help, so please reach out to us at (954) 956-5600 or at HDIST096@myfloridahouse. gov. We look forward to hearing from you!

CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION OCTOBER MESSAGE

Budget hearings were held last month to adopt the city’s budget for fiscal year 2023. A great deal of time, attention, and planning goes into the budget process. As your elected officials, we are committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility. Our mission to remain the premier community in which to live, work, and raise a family is directly tied to our financial stability and ability to provide the highest level of service. You can view the adopted budget book at CoralSprings.gov/budget.

The city’s first Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) was formally adopted in September. The plan is our commitment to reducing local greenhouse emissions, managing resources wisely, enhancing operations and engaging in environmental education. Residents are encouraged to view the SAP and consider ways to be more sustainable at CoralSprings.gov/gogreen.

We often hear from residents who have questions about the devel opment taking place in Downtown Coral Springs. The development of the downtown area has been 20 years in the making, coinciding with the creation of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The CRA’s purpose is to revitalize the physical environment and stimulate the economy of the CRA boundaries. A development master plan was established by the CRA and adopted by the city in 2014. The mixed-use development was part of that plan. The CRA was established for a 30-year term and will be “sunset” in 2032. The CRA master plan is being updated to reflect current conditions and to prioritize projects. Residents and businesses are encouraged to provide their input by taking a short survey at CoralSprings.gov/CRAsunset.

Prost! Oktoberfest will take place on Saturday, October 15 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the Great Lawn of City Hall (9500 W. Sample Rd.). The event will feature authentic German fare, Bavarian treats, and a beer garden with a variety of beer and wine for guests ages 21 and older. The event is also family-friendly, featuring a separate Kids Zone with games and activities.

Additional events taking place in October include a Senior Health Fair, Fire Department Pasta Dinner, Halloween activities, and the return of Open Chess. For details on all upcoming events, visit CoralSprings. gov/events.

This month’s Commission Meetings will take place on Thursday, October 6 and Wednesday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. As always, the public is invited to attend Commission meetings. The meetings are aired on CityTV, Blue Stream Channels 25, 25.7, 725 and on AT&T U-Verse channel 99. Meetings are also live streamed at CoralSprings. gov/citytv

If you would like to schedule an appointment with any of your City Officials, please call 954-344-5911. Make sure to follow Coral Springs on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Mayor Scott Brook @ CSCommissioner1, Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons @CSCommissioner4, Commissioner Shawn Cerra @CSCommissioner2, Commissioner Nancy Metayer @CSCommissioner3, and Commissioner Joy Carter @CSCommissioner5.

PARKLAND UPDATE

By Mayor Rich Walker

eamwork is something you hear a lot about, almost to the point of it being a cliché. But cliché or not, it’s at the foundation of most of what we do. City government is no different. As the Mayor of the City of Parkland (City) I preside over City Commission meetings—a team of elected officials making decisions for the City. Officials elected by a team of residents. And most of the decisions we make are based on information, leg work, or data provided to us by a team of dedicated City staff members who often work long hours.

The City Commission also relies on information that comes from the City’s Community Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Planning and Zoning Advisory Board. Each of these Boards is a team of resident volunteers. And, of course, we rely on information that comes directly from residents, whether shared in the public comment segment of a City Commission meeting or in outreach to a member of the City Commission. That is why I share my e-mail address and cell phone number at the end of each of these columns. All members of our City Commission love hearing from our residents.

■ ASK THE SHERIFF

TOver the past few years, our teamwork has proven particularly fruitful. We have maintained additional School Resource Deputies in Broward County Public Schools located in Parkland. We are in the throes of a branding initiative that will deliver our City its first ever official logo, color scheme, and tagline. This effort has relied heavily on resident input through focus groups, some one-on-one interviews, and a citywide survey. In fact, the “data” gathered from this outreach is used in the development of the creative elements of the branding process.

We have also finalized the expansion of Covered Bridge Park. Though intentionally limited, there is now parking for Covered Bridge Park for the first time ever. Our teamwork enabled us to transform a thickly wooded area overrun by exotic invasive vegetative species into a relaxing passive area with meandering pathways, open green space, shaded areas, and a natural play area. We converted natural grass fields to artificial turf to decrease downtime and maximize our field space, we tackled the big project of fixing the drainage issues that plagued fields six through nine at Pine Trails Park—transforming all four into better surfaces with confident draining that decreases downtime and enhances the playing

experience. We’ve also added pickleball courts and reconfigured parking at Terramar Park to address both of these growing needs.

I couldn’t be more proud that our team of elected officials has taken on previously unsettled issues like the condition of the roads in Pine Tree Estates, drainage in The Ranches and Ternbridge, and the school boundary matter that has concerned Parkland parents for years. These are big issues—each one a heavy lift on its own—and my fellow members of the City Commission and I are meeting them head-on. That kind of teamwork involves a lot of people, all coming together to move the ball down the field. And the successes we have made and will continue to make, me proud to be the Mayor of this team.

If you would like to share your thoughts about teamwork or you have questions or comments you’d like to share with me, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached via e-mail at rwalker@cityofparkland. org or via cell phone at (973) 390-1453. Of course, I am frequently available monthly at Parkland businesses and love to talk with residents there. I encourage you to visit the City’s website cityofparkland.org and click on the social media icon that you prefer, to ensure that you stay informed on events and helpful information.

OPEN AND UNSOLVED

By Sheriff Gregory Tony

Cold cases, by their very name, are crimes that remain unsolved.

Investigating these cases takes patience, tenacity and innova tive thinking. At the Broward Sheriff's Office, unsolved crimes will never be placed on the shelf or forgotten, and the passage of time will not delay our quest for justice.

In 2019, BSO created a full-time Cold Case Unit, whose primary function is to investigate unsolved homicides and sex crimes. The cases date back to 1963; today, about 350 remain open.

The trails of these investigations might have gone cold, but the pain for the families never goes away. The detectives investigating these crimes work tirelessly for the victim's loved ones, never giving up the search for that one clue that could help lead us to solve these crimes.

Making progress on these cases can be challenging; however, significant technological

advances have helped immensely. Thirty years ago, DNA testing was in its infancy. Today, we can retest physical evidence to identify potential suspects and link them to a crime. Progress in fingerprint identification has also come a long way. Even minute, unique details of an individual fingerprint can be discerned by new programs, leading to faster and more accurate identification.

Last year, the BSO Cold Case Unit, working with the Miami Police Department, Brazilian National Police and U.S. federal agencies, tracked down the man responsible for the brutal murders of three South Florida women decades ago through DNA and fingerprint technology. The resolution of the case received worldwide attention. However, it is only one of the eight cases the BSO Cold Case Unit has solved since its inception.

To bring more exposure to these investi gations, we launched a cold case video series to uncover possible new leads. The first epi sode details a North Lauderdale mother and daughter who were shot and killed in their bed in 2017. In another, a Pompano Beach-based American Airlines pilot was shot nine times

at his front door in 2011. The latest episode explores the brutal murder of Jerri Emken in 1985, who was found dead at the Pompano Beach bar where she worked. While the mur ders remain unsolved, detectives hope the series will jog a memory and result in new leads bringing resolution to these cases. I encourage you to take some time to view this series on the Broward Sheriff's Office YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BrowardSheriffsOffice.

You, too, can help bring a critical clue to one of our cold cases. Broward Crime Stoppers is a vital resource for submitting tips resulting in successful outcomes. Even the most minor clues, something someone saw, heard or remembered, can result in a new lead. Anyone with information on unsolved cases is asked to contact the Broward Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at (954) 321-4200 or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) to report a tip anonymously.

Service Equals Reward Sheriff Gregory Tony