PLA September 2015 by Our City Media

w Vi s w. it ou u rc s it y o pl n l an in ta e tio at n. co m

See Story Pg. 12

stella’s Dancers’ studio celebrates 33 Years

see story pg. 12

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Fall Family Time

he summer of 2015 is slowly coming to an end. Summer vacations are fading into memory and the kids are settling into their school routines. With football season kicking into high gear, our lives are slowly returning to “normal.” While our afternoons and evenings may seem to be a blur of racing to and from afterschool activities, sports practices and music lessons, let’s not forget that the fall season in Florida has plenty to offer for family fun. The sun is not quite so scorching hot, and the ocean waters are still warm and beautiful. So put down the tablet, switch off the game console, and get out there and enjoy the soothing surf, take an airboat tour through the Everglades, or simply make time for a movie matinee. Whatever you choose to do, do it with family and friends. Our hectic lives force us to spend time separated from loved ones for most of the day, either at work or school, so make sure you make the time to enjoy each other’s company whenever you can.

Publisher/Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SVEN BUDZISCH Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jill Sharpe sales manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Koval Account Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Have a fantastic fall season.

Our City Media, Inc. publishes FREE monthly, local community news magazines covering Weston, Davie/ SW Ranches/Cooper City, Sunrise, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Miramar and Hollywood & Hallandale. Total

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circulation is 20,000+ per edition or a total of 140,000+ copies per month. Our City Magazines are direct mailed monthly to affluent single-family homes, condos and businesses in their respective communities covering all of Southwest Broward County. Monthly mailings are verifiable by USPS statements available

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at www.OurCityMedia.com. Additional free copies are available at selected locations throughout their respective communities and upon request by contacting this news magazine. Opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our City Media, Inc. reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our City Media, Inc. is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyrighted 2014 by Our City Media, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

Contents

14 Plantation Junior Woman’s Club Gears up for the 49th Annual Art in the Park

16 Dads and Their Daughters Rock Around The Clock at Sock Hop 16 Moms and Their Sons Enjoy a Night Out at Annual Hoedown

feature story 12 Stella’s Dancers’ Studio Celebrates 33 Years

Inspiring Individual 18 Howard Talenfeld Named to 2015 Civil Rights Super Lawyers List

SCHOOL NEWS 20 American Heritage Students Excel at National Future Business Leaders of American Competition

calendar 6

September 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS 8

Football Player Turned Artist Creates Mixed Media Paintings With Meaning

10 Plantation Residents Will Perform Alongside Superstars in a Broadway Style Show Celebrating Broward’s 100th Anniversary

CAN DO KID 22 Eleven-Year-Old Lexi Schwartzberg Writes An Engaging Book About The Water Cycle

Ask the expert 24 Answers to The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Unions

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 25 Have an Auto Body Experience at Auto Collision Teck, Inc.

September 2015 | OUR CITY PLANTATION

22 pet of the month 26 “Callie”

Photo of the month 27 The World’s Favorite Newspaper™

Seen On scene 28 Community Snapshots

A new chapter in cancer care is here.

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The Maroone Cancer Center is the first hospital-based facility in the southeastern United States to install and operate the most advanced nonsurgical technology to break down tumors. This revolutionary, noninvasive approach using external beam radiotherapy improves accuracy, safety and recovery time. Learn how our holistic approach is helping more patients survive cancer.

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Radiation therapy is a treatment option that kills cancer cells and shrinks tumors. Radiation can be produced from a machine outside the body (external radiation) or by putting materials (often referred to as radiation “seeds”) that produce radiation into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation or brachytherapy). One of the most common surgical treatments for prostate cancer is radical prostatectomy, which involves the removal of the entire prostate. This can be done through an incision in the lower abdomen (open approach), or using robot-assisted surgery. Robotic prostatectomy is a type of minimally invasive surgery that uses robotic equipment and allows surgeons to operate through small ports rather than large incisions. “Unlike many cancers, prostate cancer usually allows the patient a significant window of time to consider their options,” says Dr. Ercole. “Make sure you understand all of the information before you and your physician agree on a course of treatment.”

For an evaluation with a Cleveland Clinic Florida prostate cancer specialist, call 855.324.8153. To learn more visit clevelandclinicflorida.org/cancercare.

calendar September 2015

8th

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

15th Spiritual Wisdom on Life After Death – Interactive spiritual discussion. West Regional Library, Room 230, 6:00 p.m., 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation. Call 954-693-5681 for more information.

Tween Book Club – Book discussion, craft and treats. Ages 8-12, 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Preregistration required. West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

26th Fall Craft! – Ages 6 to 11, 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Preregistration required starting Sept. 12th. West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

Oct. 24th

11th Boys and Girls Hot Shot Basketball Contest – 7:00 p.m. at the Central Park gymnasium located at 9151 N.W. 2nd Street. Sponsored by the City of Plantation Park and Recreation Department. The age divisions for this contest are 7-8 years, 9-10 years old and 11-12 years old. Trophies and awards will be given to the top 3 participants in each category. Limited to 25 participants per age group. Registration begins Monday, August 31st. Sign up early to guarantee a spot. The entry fee is $10 per person, non-refundable. For more information, please call 954-452-2510.

Plantation Garden Club Traditional High Tea – Join the Plantation Garden Club, a non-profit organization supporting local gardening education, children, natural preservation, civic and charitable needs at their 3rd annual traditional high tea. The event will include delectable refreshments, entertainment, a fashion show, a hat parade, raffles and prizes galore. 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road, Plantation. RSVP by October 9th to 954-393-4231: ceh2251@ hotmail.com or 954-806-8930: jsmum2@ aol.com.

12th & 26th Ongoing

Chess Club – A chance for casual practice or play. Raffle prize! Ages 5-18,

Remembering WWll 70 Years Later – The Plantation Historical Museum presents an exhibit commemorating the anniversary of the end of World War ll. Exhibit features military artifacts and items from WWll, memories of Broward County doing WWll, recreated U.S. Army communications bunker, special displays of local WWll veterans,

September 2015 | OUR CITY PLANTATION

viewing a robbery scenario, and much more. Not only does this create a partnership between the public and the police department and its operations, but promotes an interest in children who are looking to pursue a career in law enforcement. Space is limited. Refreshments will be served. To register, or for more information, please call the Plantation Police Department Outreach at 954-916-5601. GFWC Plantation Woman’s Club – 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10:00 a.m. Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road, Plantation. For more information contact Darlene at 954-295-0754 or e-mail davrealtor@comcast.net.

21st Florida History – From the early settlers of 1870 to the vibrant international mecca that welcomed the new millennium, South Florida is more than a warm-weather retreat for northerners - it’s a state filled with colorful stories, culture, art and sometimes prickly politics. Learn more during the Nova Southeastern University Lifelong Learning Institute lecture, titled Florida History: 18702000. 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 at Covenant Village of Florida, 9215 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation. The lecture is free and open to the public but reservations are required. For more information or to RSVP, call 877-670-0889 or visit www. CovenantFlorida.org.

special programs during exhibit (to be announced). The exhibit runs through October 24, 2015.

T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) – TOPS is a nonprofit, noncommercial, weight-loss support and wellness education organization with thousands of chapters in the US and Canada. TOPS doesn’t pay celebrities to endorse them and they don’t promise quick fixes or promote unrealistic images of the “perfect body”. Instead the focus is on health. Meets at Plantation Community Church, 6501 W. Broward Blvd., Mondays 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. For more information call Karen Frodge at 954-797-7769 or the church at 954-581-5276. Family Game Nights – 3rd Friday of every month, 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Plantation Community Church fellowship hall, 6701 W. Broward Blvd., Board games, ping pong, Foosball, pizza and fun. Families or unaccompanied youth 15 and older are invited. $3 per person, maximum $10 per family covers the cost of pizza. Bring your own drinks and games. For more information call 954-797-7769.

Night Division of GFWC Plantation Woman’s Club – 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road, Plantation. For more information contact Darlene at 954-295-0754 or e-mail davrealtor@ comcast.net. GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Plantation – 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road, Plantation. For more information contact Amanda at 954-240-6044 or e-mail aflutie@aol.com.

Bedtime Stories – Stories and crafts, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. All ages, every Tuesday, West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation. Wiggleworm Wednesdays – Stories, finger play and songs, ages 24-40 months, with caregiver. 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. Preregistration required for each monthly series. West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

Family Citizens Police Academy – Every Monday from September 21 to November 16, 2015, from 6 p.m.8:15 p.m. at the Plantation Police Department, 451 NW 70th Terrace. This 9 week course is free of charge and open to adults and children over 13 years of age who live, work or have an affiliation with the city of Plantation. The course includes a K-9 demonstration, firearms safety and tour of the range, information on the Explorer program, gangs and organized crime, crime scene investigation and forensics, participation in a D.U.I scenario,

Fizz! Boom! Read! – Stories, science and crafts. 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Ages 6-10. Every Wednesday. West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation. Kids’ Corner – Stories, songs & crafts. Caregivers may enter during the craft portion. 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Ages 3-6. Every Thursday. West Regional Library, 8601 West Broward Blvd., Plantation. Storytime Fun – Stories, songs and crafts. Caregivers may enter during the craft portion. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Ages 3-5. Every Thursday. West Regional Library, 8601 West Broward Blvd., Plantation.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Football Player Turned Artist Creates Mixed Media Paintings With Meaning BY JILL SHARPE

uch like his mixed media paintings, Plantation resident Brian Poli-Dixon is a mix of many different things. A former football player, PoliDixon decided to turn his lifelong passion for painting and photography into a profession after a leg injury cut his NFL career short. In college, Poli-Dixon was a wide receiver for the UCLA Bruins and pursued a major in History even though he was drawn to the school because of their world renowned art and film program. “I found out early on that majoring in art and playing football wasn’t going to work due to scheduling conflicts so I switched my major to History,” sad Poli-Dixon. “I never lost my love of art though and always kept creating whenever I had time.” After college, Poli-Dixon played football for the San Diego Chargers, the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints. A South Florida resident since 2002, he started to produce more art after he could no longer play football. “I have to admit, retiring early from the game of football was a tough pill to swallow,” Poli-Dixon said. “It took a few years for me to figure out what I really wanted to pursue. These days I am doing three things that I really enjoy.” In addition to being an artist, Poli-Dixon works as a personal trainer at Hawks Landing and he operates a successful car brokering business. However, creating unique works of art is Poli-Dixon’s true passion.

His works are displayed in galleries across South Florida including Gallery Art in Aventura where he recently put on a three-day solo show. He was also very honored to have three of his paintings on display at the National Urban Conference at the Broward County Convention Center in August. “I received a lot of great feedback at the National Urban Conference,” said Poli-Dixon. “People were really impressed with my Abraham Lincoln piece, which is my personal favorite.” “Lincoln” was created using acrylic, resin, stickers and 4,000 pennies. Like many of Poli-Dixon’s pieces there is a lot of meaning in each aspect of the “Lincoln.” For example, Lincoln’s vest was created with “fragile stickers” because Lincoln lived during a fragile time in history. He used “On Sale” stickers to highlight the fact that freedom comes at a cost. And if one looks close enough, they will notice that all 4,000 pennies in the artwork are all heads up. In fact, there are hidden meanings everywhere in Poli-Dixon’s art. “I draw inspiration from every aspect of my life including the History I studied in college,” he said. “What I love most is making something out of nothing. Then when the piece is sold it becomes a part of someone else’s life. It’s a wonderful feeling.” For more information visit Poli-Dixon on his Facebook page: brianpoli-dixonart, on Instagram @brianpolidixonart, or visit his website at www.brianpolidixonart.com.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Plantation Residents Will Perform Alongside Superstars in a Broadway Style Show Celebrating Broward’s 100th Anniversary BY JILL SHARPE

Broadway recording artist, a Grammy-winning superstar and many very talented performers from throughout Broward County, including some from Plantation, will share the stage in “the show of the century” called “WE” on Saturday, October 3rd in the Au-Rene Theatre at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Broadway Director and Cirque Dreams Founder Neil Goldberg auditioned more than 2000 Broward County hopefuls for the coveted 100 roles in his highly anticipated Broadway-style show which will be the pinnacle of Broward’s year-long celebration, Broward 100-Celebrating the Art of Community. On June 26th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the curtain rose and revealed members of the cast for the first time to the media, community leaders, elected officials and sponsors. The cast of “WE” consists of Broadway and recording artist Linda Eder, multiple Grammy-award winning entertainer Jon Secada and other celebrity talent still to be announced, performing along with 100 brilliantly talented South Florida musicians, dancers, poets, choirs, athletes and variety acts ranging in age from 9-70+. When Goldberg first signed on to produce the show, he decided to reach out and see what talent existed and let that talent dictate what a Broadway-style celebratory show would look like to represent 100 years of Broward County. “What evolved was a show that starts in present time and progresses back through the years with the artists representing the different ages in a performer’s life and their pieces representing highlights and landmarks in Broward County from where we are today to where we were 100 years ago,” said Goldberg. “The audience will see what our beaches looked like, our restaurants and our nightlife.” “The variety of artistry and the sheer talent I had at my disposal, actually made writing this show relatively simple,” said Goldberg. “The audience will enjoy every style of performance that they can imagine from tango to hip hop to rap.” Goldberg recently announced that after the performance of “WE” the audience will vote for their favorite local performer who will win a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by the Neil Goldberg Dream Foundation. Additionally, the Foundation will award each of the five runners up with $1000 cash prizes. Plantation residents Craig Strang, a singer, and Ben Bagby, a dancer, singer and music producer, are thrilled to be part of the cast and love working with theatrical impresario Neil Goldberg whose unique, imaginative, spectacle style shows are legendary. “It really is an honor to be a part of something this extraordinary that pulls the community together in an artistic form where all ages, demographics, ethnicities and variety of artists are represented,” said Strang. “Goldberg’s message of acceptance in this show is very beautiful and very powerful.” Strang, who owns a computer consulting business by day, said his true passion is music. He has been featured in leading roles in touring productions of I Am Music, Dance Explosion, Hairspray, Hot Latin Rhythms, A Musical Tribute to Dirty Dancing and West Side Story. When he’s not on the big stage, Strang can be found in a variety of settings. A true virtuoso as a singer/songwriter, Strang wrote and produced several songs for the off-Broadway children’s musical TUSK. He released his debut CD SERENDIPITY in 2000; a compilation of the expression of his deeply original songs and arrangements. Strang’s partner on stage and in life is Ben Bagby. Bagby wrote the arrangement that serves as the opening number for the production of “WE”. He was in the Original Broadway Cast of My One & Only and in the First National Tour of Dreamgirls. He is also a featured dancer in the Blues Brothers Movie and in the Movie Eddie starring Whoopi Goldberg. He has performed on cruiseships for Royal Caribbean and Carnival, and in local productions of AIDA, Chicago, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Hairspray, The Life, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and West Side Story. He has recorded for several Indie record labels and is an acting, dance and voice coach when he’s not performing. He has also written, directed and choreographed an autobiographical show called “It’s A Musical Life”. “WE” is presented by Broward 100 as part of their grand finale, Duende. Ticket prices range from $25 - $85, not including service or handling charges, and are available through Ticketmaster, online at BrowardCenter.org, in person at Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office or by calling 954-462-0222.

September 2015 | OUR CITY PLANTATION

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11 11

Stella’s Dancers’ Studio Celebrates 33 Years feature story

By Debby Teich

take three hours of class per week. The regular Company members are required to take a minimum of six hours per week, but most take more. These dancers participate in local and national competitions, and local charity events.

or 33 years, Stella’s Dancers’ Studio has been teaching students how to become poised, confident dancers. The Cooper City studio offers classes in ballet/pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, musical theater, and hip hop in a warm family atmosphere.

Stella Palumbo, owner, founder and director, answered some commonly asked questions about the studio.

Do the students participate in a recital at the end of the year?

What has been the secret to maintaining a successful business for 33 years? The studio has

In May, we always have a huge extravaganza! The students perform in a large professional theater, with lighting that rivals many TV shows. The recital teaches them how to perform in front of people with confidence and makes them feel like professional dancers.

a real family atmosphere. The staff is extremely organized and professional at all times. All of our teachers are highly qualified.

What are some of the benefits of a dance program? Dance teaches

the children so much. They learn how to become confident people, to present themselves in front of others, and to lead a healthy life style.

What is your background? My dance teacher

encouraged me to attend Dance Educators of America’s teacher’s training school. I started teaching at the age of 16 and bought the studio at 19. Even as a studio owner, I continue to study my craft locally. I also travel to New York City to take professional and master classes, and attend dance studio business seminars on a regular basis.

Describe the typical student. With over 300

students, there is no typical student. They range in age from 2 1/2 to 18, and include beginners to pre-professionals.

Describe the recreational program. The

program includes young children who want to get used to dance, as well as older children who enjoy dance but do not want to pursue it as a career. We use the same lesson plans for our

What are some of your former students doing since they graduated from your program? Many students have

gone to college as dance majors. They have attended schools such as University of Buffalo, Fordum University and New World School of the Arts. Many of my students are also dancing professionally around the world. They are working on cruise ships, in Las Vegas and at Disney. They have been backup dancers for major artists and

Describe the rest of the team. I have an amazing

faculty, from the office staff to the teaching staff. Both are equally important. The office staff keeps the studio running smoothly and efficiently, and that makes parents feel confident about their children’s participation in activities. All of the teachers have strong backgrounds and truly care about the dancers as people. They also provide the best dance education possible.

Describe the atmosphere at the studio. We

want all of the students to feel like it is their second home. They know all of the staff members are looking out for them. When they enter the studio, they immediately feel that warm family feeling.

Describe the facility. The studio is 4,700

square feet, with 4 large classrooms and waiting areas. All of the classrooms are equipped with raised wood floors, with a Marley covering to ensure the safest dance experience. Every room also has an observation window, so parents can follow their child’s progress at all times.

recreational and serious dancers. This way, if a recreational student wants to transition into a more serious program, they have a good solid base of technique. The recreational dancers progress more slowly since they do not dedicate as many hours, but they still get an excellent education. We make sure these classes are fun to keep the dancers interested. All of the dancers receive the same dedication, attention and encouragement regardless of their level.

What do you offer for serious dancers? The

Illusion Dance Company is for serious dancers. They have to audition to be in the Company. The Junior Company members are required to

September 2015 | OUR CITY PLANTATION

made music videos. One of my former students was on the hit television show SMASH on NBC.

Do you offer a summer program? We have

a huge summer program, where the children can dance from 9am 3pm, Monday to Friday. We also offer after care. Many children learn as much in this 6-week program as they do during the year-long program offered after school and on Saturdays. Stella’s Dancers’ Studio is located at 9470 Griffin Road in Cooper City. For information, visit www.stellasdancers. com or call 954-434-8401.

Plantation Junior Woman’s Club Gears up for the 49th Annual Art in the Park Community News

BY JILL SHARPE

rt In The Park is an exciting event for all members of the community. For two days every fall, the Plantation Junior Woman’s Club (PJWC) Foundation presents its annual arts festival in Liberty Tree Park in Plantation. The 49th annual event, will be held this year on November 14th & 15th. This year’s theme will be “The Joy of Art,” which is a perfect way to celebrate the season! “The festival is community oriented not only because it is an event the whole city looks forward to, but also because it includes a student Art Search talent contest for local students, arts and crafts activities in the Kids Korner, and an opportunity for local musicians to perform, said Danielle Durham, PJWS Publicity Chair. “This year Art In The Park will feature craft beer, a wide variety of food vendors, and incredible live music.” An excellent reputation, tradition and extensive advertising make Art In The Park one of the most popular events in Broward County. Visitors of all ages are attracted to the show. According to Durham, one of the most thrilling parts of Art in the Park is the Art Search competition. Students throughout the city of Plantation will create art with the theme “The Joy of Art” in mind. Entries can be submitted in many different mediums such as pen and ink, watercolors, collages, photographs and pencil drawings. Entry forms can be found at Central Park Recreation Center, Plantation libraries and schools. Art search will take place September 7th to October 9th.

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“Funds raised by ART IN THE PARK are returned to our community through the many projects supported by the PJWC Foundation,” Durham said. “In years past, net proceeds have gone to local organizations such as Plantation High School Art Club, Helen B. Hoffman Library, Young at Art Children’s Museum (benefiting low-income Plantation children), and 4Kids of South Florida (their crisis facility, Safe Place is located in Plantation). Additionally, this event enables the Plantation Junior Woman’s Club to fund scholarships for multiple graduating Plantation area high school seniors.” Art In The Park is a unique event as it is organized and operated entirely by volunteers, PJWC members, their families and friends. Community volunteers also come forward to make it great.

ARTISTS AND SPONSORS

The PJWC is looking for Artists and Crafters. All vendors can apply through Zapplication.org. The Club makes every effort to attract the public to our festival and provide them with a first class event. To do this they rely greatly on the generous assistance of sponsors. Last year, sponsors included Rick Case Automotive Group, ChiropracticUSA, Amy Kilcoyne Real Estate Team, TM Ralph Funeral Home and Winn Dixie. For sponsorship and information please e-mail PJWC_AIP@ hotmail.com or call 954-797-9762.

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Dads and Their Daughters Rock Around The Clock at Sock Hop COMMUNITY NEWS

BY JILL SHARPE

ads and their daughters, ages 6-12, had a great time together at the City’s annual Daddy Daughter Sock Hop on July 17th at Volunteer Park Community Center. Tunes from the 50’s, pizza, punch and events such as a twist contest, bubble gum contest and more ensured a good time was had by

all. “It’s always a great bonding event for the dads and daughters,” said Cheryl Greenberg, Publicity Coordinator for Plantation Parks and Recreation Department. According to Wes Lockard, Special Events Coordinator, the girls favorite activity was the limbo and hula hoop contest.

Moms and Their Sons Enjoy a Night Out at Annual Hoedown BY JILL SHARPE

bout 50 Mothers and their sons dressed in jeans, boots and Stetsons enjoyed an evening of old fashion cowboy fun on August 7th at Deicke Auditorium The event included pizza, beverages, Two-Steppin Tunes and Cowboy games. The kids really look forward to the games and prizes,” said

September 2015 | OUR CITY PLANTATION

Cheryl Greenberg, Publicity Coordinator for Plantation Parks and Recreation Department. Special Events Coordinator Wes Lockard said the boys favorite activity was the burp and freeze dance contest.

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Inspiring Individual

Howard Talenfeld Named to 2015 Civil Rights Super Lawyers List BY JILL SHARPE

oward M. Talenfeld, a Plantation resident and the Founder and Managing Partner of Talenfeld Law, was recently selected to the Florida Super Lawyers Magazine’s 2015 Civil Rights Super Lawyers list. Only five percent of attorneys in Civil Rights Law are awarded this honor. Known throughout the legal community and national media as having established the nation’s premier children’s rights practice Talenfeld’s firm focuses exclusively on protecting the rights of physically and sexually abused, medically fragile, foster and other at-risk children. “I grew up with a sister who is intellectually disabled which inspired me to want to fight for the rights of the disabled and children,” Talenfeld said. “I am very proud to be recognized for my work in this important area of law.” Over the years, Talenfeld’s work on behalf of at-risk individuals has earned multimillion dollar awards and resulted in sweeping judicial and legislative reforms. In one case, he earned significant damages awards and settlements against New York City and the Archdiocese of Brooklyn, which together paid more than $27 million in the case of Judith Leekin, a foster mother whose “house of horrors” imprisoned, abused and starved 10 disabled foster children.

In Florida, Talenfeld is responsible for scores of million dollar plus victories in federal civil rights claims against DCF employees and providers also resulting in the landmark decisional law protecting the rights of children and disabled persons. He was among the first attorneys nationally to utilize the federal civil rights damage statute 42 USC section 1983 to recover damages for injured foster children. In the 2001 case Roe v. Florida Department of Children & Family Services, Talenfeld recovered a $5 million dollar damage award, an amount in excess of Florida’s sovereign immunity limit of $100,000, on behalf of six foster children. In another example, the state agreed to pay more than $14 million in a case where foster mother Nellie Johnson repeatedly and brutally beat her foster children, even after the Florida Department of Children and Families knew of the harm they were enduring. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters subsidiary, is an attorney rating service that spans more than 70 practice areas and uses a rigorous, multi-phased process to accomplish its rankings. The annual selections are made based upon a statewide survey of lawyers and an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews.

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OUR CITY PLANTATION | September 2015

American Heritage Students Excel at National Future Business Leaders of American Competition SCHOOL NEWS

BY JILL SHARPE

everal students from the American Heritage School (AHS) in Plantation recently showed off their business acumen in front of a national audience. Four students, all of whom recently graduated, excelled at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference held in Chicago in July. A team of three students, Victor Pires, Connor Kickhoefer and Ean Schwartz, took home first place in the Sports & Entertainment Management category. In the Computer Problem Solving section, Philip Vitus finished in 6th Place. The students got their start as part of the FBLA club at AHS. The group is open to junior high and high school students who are looking to prepare for a career in the business world. Marc Shaw is the staff advisor to the FBLA chapter and has seen first-hand how involvement in the group, and in larger events like the one in Chicago, adds to the student’s educational experience. “They have the ability to compete in an unique process that will help them stand out,” said Shaw. “It adds to being a well-rounded student. It doesn’t matter if you want to be a doctor, a lawyer or anything else, you’re going to need business experience, especially if you open your own practice. FBLA helps the students to under-

FBLA’s statewide finals. From there, five students qualified for the national competition and a rising AHS ninth grader also joined the group. In Chicago, students went through a preliminary exercise as a team and the winners of that took a timed, written test together. Those who scored in the top 15 of their section gave a six minute oral presentation of their marketing plan to the judges after having only 20 minutes to prepare. The pressure of being under national spotlight did not bother the AHS students, as they held their own tryouts and practices beforehand. American Heritage’s culture of active student involvement also helped ready the students. “A lot of our students take part in Model United Nations or speech and debate so we expose them early to being on stage,” said

Students who competed in Chicago (L-R) Thomas Lovegren, Ean Schwartz, Victor Pines, Connor Kickoefer, Philip Vitus and Juan Jaramillo.

stand business and they can potentially win awards for their work and enhance their resume for college and beyond.” The road to nationals in Chicago began with AHS sending an impressive 30 students to Orlando for the

Shaw. “They gain self-confidence as you have to have confidence to present your ideas. We incorporate public speaking into a lot of the other clubs.” These national accolades came after the FBLA chapter at AHS began just over three years ago. “We

September 2015 | OUR CITY PLANTATION

wanted to build a business program here,” said Shaw. “There was a lot of interest among the students, as we have a lot of competitive kids here and FBLA puts on great competitions. The students really wanted to start the club.” The group now has 50 regular members that includes a marketing department involved in television production. The FBLA may be best known for owning and operating a store at the school that sells supplies like pens, pencils, phone charger cords and styluses for touch screen devices. The students select the supplies to be sold, set prices and get experience in running a real business. FBLA meetings often feature guest speakers from the local business community. “We want the students to learn and have a mentor,” Shaw said. “When they go to college, that could be someone they can call on later. They can build relationships now and the idea is all about making connections, whether it’s to help open doors for college or for a job.” Shaw, who has worked as the AHS Director of Admissions since 2012 after working for J.P. Morgan for 26 years in New York and London, is clearly proud of the FBLA students. The 2015 graduates who competed in Chicago include one student who will be attending the University of Michigan and another who is planning to study linguistics and computer science at Florida State University. “What we want to do is help our students identify what they want to do and to study,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about helping them make better decisions.” For more information on the Future Business Leaders of America, and the collegiate Phi Beta Lambda group, visit www.fbla-pbl.org/.

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Eleven-Year-Old Lexi Schwartzberg Writes An Engaging Book About The Water Cycle

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iki Ostendorf, Children’s Librarian at the Helen B. Hoffman Library in Plantation, often brings in guest authors to read to the children who visit the library, however it is rare that a children’s book author is a child herself. That’s why it was so special for Ostendorf to introduce eleven -year-old author Lexi Schwartzberg at a recent children’s story time event. Lexi read her book Lily Droplet’s Amazing Adventure: The Water Cycle to a group of 25 kids. “The kids loved listening to Lexi read the book and I was so impressed by how poised and confident she was,” said Ostendorf. “It was a real treat for us to have Lexi here because she is a great example of a kid who had the courage and ambition to follow her dream.” Lexi, who has always loved writing, said she decided to write her first book after receiving an assignment in school to write about the water cycle from the point of view of a water droplet. “I immediately starting to get lots of ideas for a story and my family encouraged me to turn the one paragraph assignment into a fulllength book.” Lexi named the water droplet Lily, after a favorite character in Harry Potter. The story describes how Lily

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we now offer

$5.00 off

Favorite thing to do:________________________________________ Last seen:________________________________________________

free

Any trAnsferred PrescriPtion

shArPs contAiner

exp. 09/30/15

(With insulin Purchase)

Two locaTions for your convenience 333 NW 70th Ave., Plantation, FL 33317 Phone: 954. 791-2000 | Fax: 954. 791-2001 201 NW 82nd Ave., Plantation, FL 33324 Phone: 954. 474-3887 | Fax: 954. 475-3180 www.prescriptionpadrx.com