SUN August 2015 by Our City Media

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It’s Back to School Time

he lazy days of summer are slowly coming to an end. There are a couple of weeks of pool time, beach days and movie matinees left to relax and unwind; rejuvenate from the constant chaos of our daily lives. Before we know it, the kids will be back to school and we’ll be back to crazy carpool schedules and chauffeuring to afterschool activities and sports practices. The next few weeks will be a blur; stocking up on school supplies and buying new clothes and sneakers. Now is the time to start thinking about afterschool enrichment programs. In this issue you will find our Back to School Guide. We’ve put together a list of activities in our area to keep your kids busy after school with everything from dance classes and martial arts to tutoring programs and academic enrichment classes. The guide also includes local child care and preschool programs. Before that first day of school arrives, let’s have a few more days of summer fun with our loved ones. Enjoy the beaches, the backyard pool, or a simple BBQ with friends, because soon enough we’ll be back to school, again!

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Contents calendar 6

August 2015

Community News 8

ARC Broward Receives $250,000 Grant from the Able Trust

Food and Wine Gala Raises Over $1,600 for the American Cancer Society

Sunrise Resident Artist to Be Featured At the Civic Center Art Gallery

forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

10 Sunrise Named One of “Most Livable” Cities in America 10 Sunrise Sharks Hit It Out of the Park 12 Do You Know About the Sunrise Fire-Rescue RAP? 12 Model Canine Citizen 13 The City of Sunrise and Family Central Partner to Establish An Early Learning Initiative

School News 14 Full of Pride - Piper High School Band Invited To Perform at Sugar Bowl 14 Piper High School Business Student Heads to the Big Apple to Compete

Back to school guide 15-17 Educational Options

Legally Speaking 18 How Much is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

MESSAGE FROM THE POLICE CHIEF 19 Back To School Safety Tips

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AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

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Legally Speaking 21 What Should I Do?

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it’s their business 22 International Dance Academy is Simply the Best!

seen on scene 24 Community Snapshots

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calendar august 2015

August 1st Open-Play Chess – Each Saturday morning, the City hosts FREE open chess play for all ages. Participants gather from 10:00am-12:00pm in the lobby of the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre located at 10610 West Oakland Park Blvd. People of all ages and skill levels, including those who have never played chess, are invited to participate in supervised open play. New players can be taught and guided by more experienced players. The Club creates year-round opportunities for friendly competition and learning, and supplements the work of schoolbased groups in Sunrise. For more information about the City’s open-play chess sessions, call (954)746-3207. (This month’s games are also on August 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.)

2nd Symphony of the Americas – Special Summerfest Concert – This year the Symphony will feature the Arpeggione Chamber Orchestra from Hohenems, Austria. This string ensemble has performed throughout Europe, Russia, and abroad, and previously had a long and prestigious tour of the Americas. They will be performing with Symphony members under the baton of Symphony Artistic Director, Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese. Featured composers include Vivaldi, Strauss, Mozart, Liszt, Offenbach, and Latin Grammy-award winning Eduardo Magallanes. Showtime is 2:00pm – Sunrise Civic Center Theatre – 10610 West Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise – Reserved Seating: Tickets: $15 Adult, $13 Student with ID, $10 Child – Call 954-747-4646 for tickets.

4th National Night Out Against Crime – The Sunrise Police Department & Target celebrate National Night Out Against Crime with SWAT Demo, Police Displays, K-9 Demos, Child Fingerprinting, Fire Trucks, Live Music, Bounce Houses, Free Food & Drinks, Give-Aways and more. 6:00pm – 9:00pm at the City of Sunrise Public Safety Building – 10440 W. Oakland Park Boulevard – For more information, email nationalnightout@sunrisefl.gov.

7th The LeNard Rutledge Cole Porter Revue – Jazz Concert Series – The vocal stylings of Miami native LeNard Rutledge have been described as “captivating, soul stirring, earthy and funky”. Tonight’s performance will feature the classy and elegant LeNard

Rutledge with his smooth jazz quintet in an evening of favorite songs from Cole Porter. 7:30pm Sunrise Civic Center Theatre – 10610 West Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise – Reserved Seating: Tickets: $16 Adult, $14 Student with ID, $10 Child – Call 954-747-4646 for tickets.

8th

8:30pm – $8 per person – Moose Lodge 2267 – 6191 Rock Island Road, Tamarac, 33319

21st “Lyrical Lounge” Teen Open Mic Night – Poets, singers, actors, musicians and other talented teens are encouraged to take the stage. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. The Lyrical Lounge is presented in partnership with the Jason Taylor Foundation, the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, the SPEAK! collective, and the Community Foundation of Broward. 7:00pm – Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery- 10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard

Back To School Round-Up – Kick off the school year at this FREE family event, jam-packed with rides, games, music, food and fun. Representatives from Sunrise public schools will be on hand to answer questions about the 2015-2016 academic year. In addition, the first 1,000 K-12 students to show proof of Sunrise residency will receive a free drawstring backpack filled with school supplies, along with an ageappropriate book. 4:00pm-7:00pm at The Sunrise Civic Center – 10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Sunrise. For more information call 954-747-4600.

22nd 9th JCC Maccabi Games & Artfest – Opening ceremonies for the David Posnack Jewish Community Center summer Maccabi games will be held at the BB&T Center at 7:00pm– 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise. More than 1,200 Jewish teens (artists and athletes) from around the globe and across the United States will be participating. FREE for Broward County residents. Pre-registration is required. To register call 954-501-2015 or visit fortlauderdalejccmaccabi.com

19th Sunrise Boy Scout Troop 245 Fundraiser – Spaghetti dinner fundraiser to raise money for Troop member, Justin Shultz’s Eagle Project to benefit the children of JAFCO. 6:00-

AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal – Clean out those garages and bring all those hazardous waste items such as batteries, paint, chemicals and fluorescent bulbs to Plantation Public Works Compound from 9:00am-1:00pm – 750 NW 91st Avenue Plantation, FL 33324.

28th Opening Reception: “Dark Chocolate Japan” – featuring the work of Sunrise resident, Carlos Aleman. View his impressions of Japan in his drawings and paintings on display at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery – 6:30pm – Exhibit will run until October 10th -10610

West Oakland Park Blvd. For more information call, 954-747-4600.

ONGOING Citizenship Class – Review, prepare and learn what it takes to be a United States of America citizen in this FREE weekly informational session. No registration necessary. Held each Saturday at the Sunrise Daniel Pearl Library in the Community Room – 10:30am-12:30pm – 10500 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise- Call (954)357-7440 for more information.

JAFCO Tours – First Wednesday of every month ~ Take a two – part informative tour and learn what JAFCO is and the meaningful programs and services they provide to the community’s children as well as volunteer opportunities. 9:30am Jewish Children’s Village is where the tour begins ~ 4200 N. University Drive and then at 11:30, it continues to the Children’s Ability Center located at 5100 North Nob Hill Road and completes with a volunteer information session. For more information visit www.jafco.org or call Linda Sachs at (954)315-8664 Senior Center Chess Club – Each Friday, The Sunrise Senior Center hosts a chess club from 10:00am-12:00pm -10650 West Oakland Park Blvd. For details, call (954)746-3670.

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OUR CITY SUNRISE | AUGUST 2015

ARC Broward Receives $250,000 Grant from the Able Trust Community News

By Beverly Perkins

t was a very exciting day at ARC Broward as they were one of the chosen two in the state to receive an extremely important $250,000 grant from the Able Trust. Able Trust CEO, Susanne Homant and Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Jesse Panuccio, traveled from Tallahassee, Florida to present this generous grant. ARC Broward, a not-for-profit human services organization, is dedicated to transforming the community by providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other life challenges by helping them reach their full potential through their various programs offered. This grant will help extend services in their Center for Financial Stability. The Center for Financial Stability aid clients with disabilities enter the job marketplace. In order to reach this goal, they help these individuals obtain and maintain employment, complete post-secondary education or occupational skills training as well as increase their knowledge of financial stability concepts and behaviors. This long-term educational commitment allows these participants to earn, keep and grow assets while remaining employed and out of poverty and ultimately becoming self-sufficient. ▸▸ There are over 341,000 students in Florida who have a disability. ▸▸ 77 percent will graduate or age out [of school] without a standard diploma.

▸▸ 7 9 percent will not qualify for further educational opportunities. ▸▸ Only 8 percent of companies in the U.S. report hiring people with disabilities. ▸▸ 9 0 percent of individuals with autism are unemployed. The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, is a 501©(3) public-private partnership foundation which provides Floridians with disabilities opportunities for successful employment. The funds which have been granted will be used to support the gap in funding for ARC Broward’s clients after they have turned 22 years old. This longer term of support will enable the participants to have a more successful outcome. “The Able Trust is very proud of what ARC Broward has accomplished in the past, and we are pleased to help support the growth of their Center for Financial Stability,” Able Trust President & CEO Dr. Susanne Homant said. “The services provided by this program are designed to equip job seekers with disabilities to achieve better and major employment outcomes. ARC Broward has been a great advocate for people with disabilities, consistently exceeding expectations in their programs and helping to develop skilled workers for Florida’s economy.” “We are honored that The Able Trust has expressed such confidence in our work by granting ARC Broward this incredible gift,” said ARC Broward President/CEO Dennis Haas. “This funding will help us to continue our work to better ensure a more independent life and future for individuals with disabilities in our community.”

Food and Wine Gala Raises Over $1,600 for the American Cancer Society By Beverly Perkins

he actual relay may be over, but the race to end cancer is not. Recently, The Sunrise Chamber of Commerce joined forces with Doris Italian Market to support American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. South Florida’s premier specialty supermarket was the perfect place to host a Wine & Food Gala to raise funds for one of the largest and most effective organizations fighting to end cancer. American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, Relay for Life, is known globally and each event is unique and special to its community. Each year millions of people all over the world raise funds and awareness to save lives of those affected by cancer. People of all ages participate to honor cancer survivors, to remember loved ones lost and to raise funds to find a cure for the life threating disease. For over half a decade, Doris Italian Market and Bakery has proudly served generations of families in South Florida. What started as a small family owned meat market and deli has now grown into one of the finest specialty grocery stores with five locations in South Florida. Besides purchasing top quality products such as authentic Italian-American meats and bakery items, gourmet specialty

AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

groceries and a worldly collection of wines, customers enjoy personal service and attention which is why it couldn’t be a more ideal venue to host a Wine & Food Gala benefiting the American Cancer Society. “Our Wine & Food Galas have always been a great opportunity to help raise money for a local nonprofit organization,” said John Alfano, president and CEO of Doris Italian Market & Bakery. “Partnering with the Sunrise Chamber of Commerce allowed us to elevate our influence and increase the money we raised. Cancer has unfortunately impacted so many of us. We are honored to do our part in supporting American Cancer Society’s mission to save millions of lives.” “This is the second consecutive year we’ve worked with Doris Italian Market and once again it has been a huge success for Relay for Life,” said Kathy Ladwig of the Greater Sunrise Chamber of Commerce. “Doris’ is one of the most valuable businesses in Sunrise because of the commitment and support to our community and surrounding areas. We’re proud to join forces with them for such a great cause.” The evening’s attendees helped raise more than $1,600 for the nonprofit organization.

Sunrise Resident Artist to Be Featured At the Civic Center Art Gallery By Beverly Perkins

This display of magical realism and pop surrealism embody the feminine form. These whimsical images were inspired by the writings of Haruki Murikami, the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki, Tokyo fashion, cosplay, manga, anime, geisha, maiko and samurai. Together they are integrated into a showcase of his reflec-

tions from his last trip to Kyoto, Japan. Carlos Alemán’s love for Asian art began in 1995 when he visited a Japanese Museum. He wanted to see the world from a different perspective. “My interest in eastern philosophy, coupled with my appreciation for Chinese landscape painting and Japanese woodblock prints fueled my fascination and longing to admire the yin of the east through western eyes,” Alemán states. Alemán took his first trip to Asia in 2010, and this is when he was introduced to the beauty of China. After experiencing the culture along with the mountains and the mist, this Cuban American artist was inspired to draw and paint foo dogs, dragons and women dressed in qipaos when he returned home. Alemán studied fine arts at Miami Dade College and then studied abroad in Italy. He has been featuring his art since 1995 in exhibits throughout South Florida and at the Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, California. Besides painting, Carlos Alemán is an accomplished writer, illustrator, book cover designer (including the award-winning Battle for a Soul by Manuel Melendez), digital product artist/prototyper and web designer for Onstream Media. Carlos Alemán says, “It is my hope that people will find my artwork to be quiet and hypnotic like a scene from a Miyazaki film, free from mental noise and the frenzy of human drama. If I can make a person smile, then I smile too.”

community news

unrise’s very own award-winning resident artist, Carlos Alemán’s artwork will be on display at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery from August 27th through October 10th. His exhibit, Dark Chocolate Japan, features his impressions of Japan in drawings and paintings created with “dark chocolate” acrylic paints.

For more information on Carlos Alemán visit | www.carlosaleman. com or write Brotherkarloz4@gmail.com. Opening reception at Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery: Friday, August 28th at 6:30pm – Free Admission- 10610 West Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise. For more information call 954-747-4600.

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OUR CITY SUNRISE | AUGUST 2015

Sunrise Named One of “Most Livable” Cities in America Community News

By Beverly Perkins

unrise residents can be proud that the City of Sunrise and Mayor Michael J. Ryan have earned an Outstanding Achievement Award in the 2015 City Livability Awards Program at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 83rd annual meeting in San Francisco. This conference is for cities with populations of over 30,000, and each city that qualifies is represented by their chief elected official, the mayor. The award recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America’s cities, focusing on the leadership, creativity and innovation demonstrated by the mayors. The winners were chosen by former mayors from a group of over 200 applicants. Cities across America have been competing for this prestigious award, which is sponsored by the Conference of Mayors and Waste Management, Inc., for the past 36 years. “Our City Livability Awards Program gives us the opportunity to highlight mayoral leadership in making urban areas cleaner, safer, and more livable,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the Conference of Mayors. The City of Sunrise was selected because of its Scholastic Chess Initiative. Mayor Michael J. Ryan has been identified as leader in the scholastic chess movement. He has been the crucial component in creating the various programs available throughout the community. Instructional sessions, ongoing chess games and tournaments, family fun chess nights at local restaurants, after school clubs and the installation of chess tables in local parks are a part of the initiative and what makes Sunrise shine. Mayor Ryan understands that there is a strong correlation between learning to play chess and academic achievement. His most notable accomplishment was working with Broward County Public Schools and America’s Foundation for Chess

to bring the standards-aligned “First Move” chess curriculum to three elementary schools in Sunrise. He started the initiative during the 2013-2014 school year and it was adopted countywide during the 2014-2015 academic year in all second and third grade classrooms. In addition, with the assistance of The City of Sunrise, The National Scholastic Chess Foundation launched a training program for educators, principals, parents, mentors and other community leaders. “We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the most livable cities in the nation by the U.S. Conference of Mayors,” said Mayor Ryan. “Chess has been proven to deliver a wide range of benefits to students and our community at large. We all know the power of scholastic chess for building critical thinking skills, but we have also seen profound benefits from the social aspect of chess by bringing the entire diverse community together.”

Sunrise Sharks Hit It Out of the Park By Beverly Perkins

he Sunrise 12U Sharks are most definitely in a league of their own after completing the baseball year with 18 wins, successful tournament appearances and a once in a lifetime trip to the birthplace of baseball, Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown All Star Village is America’s first and only baseball and tournament camp for players and their families. It was founded to provide young baseball players a major league experience in a world-class facility with professional baseball fields and uniforms. It also is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. A visit to this infamous destination is every players’ dream and the Sunrise 12U Sharks made theirs come true. These 12U Sharks are comprised of local eleven and twelve year old middle school students. During the year they play their home games at Flamingo Park in Sunrise under the guidance of Manager John Bottone, Assistant Coaches: Brad Leff, Gil Plasencia, Chuck Manuel and professional coaches Tanyon Sturtze, Angel Jaime and Kellen St. Luce. The team is sponsored by Hotaling Group Insurance Services, Weston Division, Carl’s Barber Shop, and National Relocation Services, Tamarac. The team worked hard fundraising and are grateful to the many Sunrise residents who contributed at Carl’s Barber Shop and Sam’s Club. Assistant Coach Brad Leff says, “Going to Cooperstown for a week is the highlight of a 12 year old’s travel baseball experience. Not only do the kids love play-

AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

ing all of those games on the beautiful fields with the mountains in the background, but they love being together in the bunk house for a week. I was lucky enough to go last year and this year, and each time was an experience my sons and I will never forget.” While in Cooperstown, the club played 8 games in 4 days advancing far in the tournament. The ball club also enjoyed contributions from the entire team featuring outstanding defense, hitting and pitching by Tyler Bottone, Evan Leff, Kolby Miller, Matthew Manuel, Ethan Cook, Zach Jencen, Logan Plasencia, Nick Sanchez, Josh Cohen, Danny Diaz, Jack Cue, Yohance Machado, Brandon Morrison and Santiago Puigbo. They also hit 8 home runs during the trip with home runs by Tyler Bottone, Evan Leff, Matthew Manuel, Kolby Miller and Ethan Cook. The trip was topped off during the closing ceremonies when they received their rings. Evan Leff, 1st baseman and pitcher, says, “I’ve been on the team for 3 years and have had the greatest experience, especially going to Cooperstown because I got to hang out and play baseball with my teammates who are also my friends and make new ones from all around the country.” For more information on the Sunrise Sharks travel baseball, contact Matt at sunrisesharks1274@gmail.com.

DBS for Movement Disorders: Tuning the Brain There are more than 100 nervous system disorders that afflict millions of people across the globe. Many of the disorders affect a person’s movement and alter their motor controls. This includes balance, gait, speed of movement, tremors, jerks and abnormal postures. Deep brain stimulation or DBS has successfully treated these symptoms and allowed many sufferers to reclaim their lives. At Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Pauline Braathen Neurological Center, a collaborative approach is utilized. The team of neurologists and neurosurgeons has pioneered the use of DBS since the original clinical trials in the mid1990s. Cleveland Clinic Florida continues to be at the forefront of innovative breakthroughs and successful treatments.

DBS is the use of a small electrical current sent to the brain. Electrodes are placed in specific areas of the brain; the location depends on each patient’s specific symptoms and treatments. The electrodes are connected by wires to a pacemaker-like device, implanted in the chest. The device will continuously send electrical pulses to the brain targets, stopping the impulses that cause tremors or other movement disorders. This treatment has been successful in treating disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and Tourette syndrome. DBS is a very safe and effective treatment. Patients who undergo DBS see a 50 to 70 percent improvement in their movement symptoms and a significant reduction in their tremors. They’ve also reported an average of 50 percent improvement in their walking and balance following surgery. Most DBS

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patients are able to significantly reduce their medications after undergoing the procedure. The neurological team at Badih Adada, MD Cleveland Cleveland Clinic Florida Clinic Florida Neurosurgeon consists of expert neurologists, neurosurgeons and medical support staff who work collaboratively to treat each individual case. The neurologist evaluates each patient and employs non-surgical treatments first. If further treatment is needed, the neurologist and the neurosurgeon will work together to coordinate the DBS procedure, as well as throughout the surgery. Patients are awake under mild sedation for the procedure, because surgeons need to ensure the electrodes are controlling the patient’s abnormal movement. This collaboration is vitally important because the difference between success and failure is measured in millimeters. In the past a lesion was created in the areas of the brain that were abnormal in order to treat movement disorders. Now, instead of injuring the brain, we electrically stimulate it to re-establish normal movements with minimum risk to other areas of the brain. The results are often dramatic. For patients with severe tremors, it’s practically a cure; often their tremor is completely gone. For patients with Parkinson’s, we usually see marked improvement in symptoms and a decrease in the need for medication. There are many complex factors that must be taken into account before considering DBS. You should discuss your condition and symptoms with a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. Patients who have tried medical treatments including medications, and have not attained satisfactory control of their disorder, should talk to a physician about their DBS options.

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Do You Know About the Sunrise Fire-Rescue RAP? Community News

By Beverly Perkins

he Sunrise Fire-Rescue Department created a Resource Access Program (RAP) in 2013, and is thrilled to announce that it will continue because of its incredible success. The goal of RAP is to reduce the amount of patients who repeatedly dial 911 through a risk reduction and education program. After a two year study of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls received, it was discovered that 40% of the department’s call-volume were comprised by repeat callers. Out of almost 16,000 EMS calls, 6,000 were repeat calls and 2,400 of those were repeat patients who took another trip to the emergency room for the same or similar reason of which they previously went. Many of these habitual patients keep returning because of poor living conditions, neglect or abuse, unfilled prescriptions or misuse of medication, poor comprehension of what is expected after being discharged from a previous hospital stay and not knowing how to live independently. Fire Chief Thomas DiBernardo, the City Manager and the Commission members decided and agreed that a program needed to be developed to minimize these calls. The program would be a collaboration between community resources and the patient’s primary care physician with a focus on education. Firefighter Daniel McNeil (now a lieutenant) volunteered to implement this through the role of a Community Paramedic, which is now known as the RAP Coordinator. McNeil continued this challenging opportunity with plenty of research. This

research resulted in the creation of a network of providers and a tracking system linking patients with the suitable resources necessary to aid them after they are referred to what ultimately is called the Resource Access Program. Once the referral is approved with the RAP, the patient is contacted and a home visit is scheduled within 72 hours. During the visit, the RAP Coordinator reviews the most recent emergency with the patient. They then thoroughly go through all discharge instructions, medications and a home-safety evaluation. Additional services are also recommended such as those available through the Senior Center, the City social worker, Broward 211 Touchline, the ADRC senior hotline, A Matter of Balance Fall Prevention program, APS, mental health specialists as well as various pharmacies. The RAP Coordinator will then check on patient progress two weeks later. Since the implementation of the RAP by the ambitious Lt. McNeil, repeat calls and transports were reduced by over 50%. This translated to more than a 13% reduction of an overall call-volume. Although it is quite impressive, the most significant impact is the improvement and quality of life for those individuals who accepted the intervention. Lt. McNeil received both the 2015 Mike Murphy Innovator of the Year Award from the Fire Chiefs Association of Broward County, and the 2015 Marilyn Crook EMS Pioneer Award from the Florida Department of Health.

Model Canine Citizen By Beverly Perkins

unrise is fortunate to have a model citizen residing in the community. However, this citizen is not typical. This one is a highly energetic, 5 year old Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Zeus. He currently works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Florida Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue. Zeus previously lived with a military family who could no longer take care of him when the owner was deployed overseas. Fortunately, a Sunrise family heard about him since their son, Aden, was wanting a chocolate lab for the holidays 2 years ago. A family friend who trains search and rescue K9’s met Zeus and immediately saw that this canine was a perfect candidate for urban search and rescue. Aden got his dog and Zeus became FEMA Basic Canine Certified. In order to become FEMA Basic Canine Certified, Zeus had to pass a series of assignments. Within the first 6 months of living with his new family, he passed these tests on his first attempt.

AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

These tasks ranged from an intense agility course, long stays, emergency stops, directional controls and of course, search and rescue. All exercises require attention to commands by voice and by hand signals. Each also have a certain time requirement, as time is always crucial in a search and rescue operation. In order for Zeus to become FEMA Advanced Certified, he traveled to Arizona to take a test on two separate 12,000 square foot piles of rubble where as many 6 people combined could be located. Each pile had to be covered within 20 minutes. Distractions such as food and clothing were also in the pile. If he deviated to anything other than the people he would have failed. Luckily, Zeus’ high drive and ambition allowed him to pass on his first attempt again. Aden Perry, a rising 5th grader at Sawgrass Elementary, has had Zeus for 3 years now, and has helped teach and prepare him for all his tests by playing games such as Hide-N-Seek to reinforce commands. Aden hides in rubble, Zeus seeks, and is then rewarded with his favorite toy when he locates his master. “I am proud that my dog is able to help other people and still be my best friend,” says Aden. Zeus continues to train to find people that are buried alive under rubble due to disasters such as tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, explosions, etc. He is able to be used for local, regional, state, national and international responses. He must train on a weekly basis to stay prepared for any emergency he is needed at.

By Beverly Perkins

amily Central was awarded a multi-year grant of $749,950 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to implement their Community of Quality Early Learning and Literacy (C-QuELL) Program in Sunrise. Since 1971 Family Central, Inc. has been a leader in the South Florida early learning community as a comprehensive early-learning and social service agency. C-QuELL is an innovative community-based initiative

which promotes and sustains early learning opportunities to prepare children for success in school. “We choose to launch this program in collaboration with Sunrise because of their leadership in many education and community initiatives. In the end, we know this collaboration will generate a prototype to be replicated in other cities in Broward County, throughout Florida, and even across the country,” said Dr. Barbara Weinstein, CEO of Family Central. Throughout the City of Sunrise, C-QuELL will implement effective and responsive activities to prepare children for success in school. This will strengthen the city’s commitment to early learning, parent empowerment and quality childcare by supporting safe, nurturing and enriching early learning environments whether they be in child care centers, the home and/or the community. This partnership will be between the mayor, the city commission and city departments, child care centers, businesses, faithbased institutions, parents and key stakeholders in Sunrise. “C-QuELL will bring all segments of the community together to identify and address gaps in early learning and build partnerships at a grassroots level with the community stakeholders to maximize learning possibilities for young children, their parents, and the community,” explained Dr. Mark Gross, VP of Program Research and Development at Family

Central. The C-QuELL City paradigm has seven core strategies: 1. Develop a city’s leadership in building the community’s commitment to the young child. 2. Establish child care provider readiness for structural, behavioral, and attitudinal changes needed to implement and sustain quality. 3. Raise the quality of care offered young children and their families. 4. Engage parents as their children’s first teacher. 5. Strengthen the relationship between communitybased child care programs and feeder elementary schools. 6. Explore ways to nurture local business involvement and investment in early learning. 7. Establish standards to certify a C-QuELL City’s commitment. “We are confident that investment in effective early learning efforts will pay dividends for generations to come,” emphasized Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan. “Our motivation to partner with Family Central in this strategic and innovative initiative is the goals of engaging parents so they are involved in the early education of their children, establishing early learning standards for child care centers and the community at-large, and developing parental educational engagement habits that will carry forward for a lifetime.”

SECTION HEADSchool News

The City of Sunrise and Family Central Partner to Establish An Early Learning Initiative

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Full of Pride - Piper High School Band Invited To Perform at Sugar Bowl

School News

By Beverly Perkins

nder the direction of Mr. Kervens Jackson, the Piper High School Band of Pride, is marching in the right direction with an exclusive invite to play at the 2016 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 2014-2015 school year consisted of 145 students and throughout the past few years, the number of participating students keeps on increasing. Besides marching band, Piper High School boasts a Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Orchestra, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble. Mr. Jackson wrote the band’s motto which states, “Discipline, hard work and dedication will take us to the next level.” These students diligently challenged themselves to follow this expression. Therefore, earning the Piper High School Band of Pride the opportunity to represent their school and their community on a national level at one of the most popular sporting events in one of the most respected cities in which Jazz was born. As a result of the support by Principal Angel M. Gomez, the Band Parent Association, local businesses and an ambitious Band Captain, Duncan Morais, the Piper High School Band of Pride has been ranked superior. Performances and competitions are frequent and most of these devoted students are in the top 20% of their class. Some of their top achievements are… ▸▸ 1st Place in the Martin Luther King Battle of the Bands for 2 years in a row (2014 and 2015) ▸▸ Performed 2 years straight at the Florida Classic Battle of the BandOrlando, FL ▸▸ Performed at Universal Studios, Orlando, FL

▸▸ C ompeted in concert competition in Atlanta, GA ▸▸ P erforming every year at the Woodstock Festival-Sunrise, FL ▸▸ M arched in the Ft Lauderdale St. Patty's Day Parade ▸▸ M arched in the "Above the Influence" Parade ▸▸ Performing at every home football game ▸▸ W on 2nd and 3rd place drum-line at the St. Patty's Day Parade drum-line competition ▸▸ P erforming at Christmas and End of the Year Concerts However, the biggest accomplishment will be performing at the 2016 Sugar Bowl. In order to do so, a significant amount of funds need to be raised. It will cost the entire band approximately $250,000 to attend. The Band Parent Association has created a 501(c) (3) corporation, formally known as Bengal Music Supporters Incorporated to receive donations. “This opportunity would be a wonderful way to pay back our band director, Mr. Jackson, who has been dedicated to the program from my first day as a freshman,” says Band Captain, Duncan Morais. “He works hard at helping us become a superior band program. Not only will we be representing our community, we will also show the nation our band director and his hard work.” Donations can be paid through the Band Parent Association’s Paypal account using email address piperhsmusic@gmail.com or checks can be made out to Bengal Music Supporters, Inc. and mailed to Piper High School c/o Kervens Jackson Band Director 8000 NW 44th Street Sunrise, FL 33351. Visit the website at www. piperbandofpride.com for more information.

Piper High School Business Student Heads to the Big Apple to Compete By Beverly Perkins

iper High School Class of 2015 graduate, Kevin Diniz, competed in the Ignite Entrepreneurship Youth BizPlan Challenge which was sponsored by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). For over 25 years, the NFTE has taught and inspired more than 600,000 young individuals from low-income communities across the United States and around the world to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses and succeed in life. NFTE founder, Steve Mariotti, a former entrepreneur turned high school math teacher, started the program to improve academic performance and prevent dropouts for those students at risk of failing or quitting school. By discovering that these young adults could develop their “street smarts” into “academic/business smarts”, Mariotti knew he wanted to provide the necessary tools to achieve this goal. He did this by creating an entrepreneurial program which could transform many struggling students. Kevin Diniz represented Piper High School in the

AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

ninth annual Ignite Entrepreneurship Youth BizPlan Challenge. Diniz participated with other promising high school entrepreneurs from four schools in Broward and Miami-Dade County. These ambitious students pitched their businesses to a panel of entre-

preneurs and community and business leaders in a professional setting at the conclusion of the school year. Kevin’s business is a mobile app which he hopes to design over the summer called “Easy Scholar”. Students create an individual profile based on information they provide through a survey and “Easy Scholar” will match them with appropriate scholarships available to them. During his senior year, Diniz found an abundance of accessible scholarships that many students and parents don’t even know about. “Easy Scholar” will be a great asset to anyone applying to colleges. “Easy Scholar” was awarded second place, and Diniz received a cash prize along with the opportunity to compete for $25,000 in the NFTE’s National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in October in New York City. Diniz plans on preparing for the competition and will further his education at Broward College in the fall.

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By Russell Miller Thompson, Esquire

fter “Do I have a claim?” this is the most common question asked by accident victims. To answer this question an attorney will consider how your injuries have impacted your life. The value of your claim will vary widely depending on the nature of your accident. Accident victims should consider these questions: 1. HOW SERIOUS OR DISABLING IS YOUR INJURY? Insurance companies will seek to play down the seriousness of an injury while an experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer will help you get the full compensation you deserve. 2. HOW MUCH ARE YOUR MEDICAL BILLS? Gathering the medical records and bills and projecting future medicals bills with the help of the doctors is the job of a competent lawyer skilled in personal injury. 3. WAS THE OTHER PARTY CLEARLY AT FAULT? If the other party was driving drunk or ran a red light, etc. it will have an impact on the amount of damages. You need a competent lawyer to IMMEDIATELY investigate your case before evidence disappears and witnesses’ memories fade. 4. ARE YOU DISFIGURED IN ANY WAY? Scars and other disfigurements add to the damages you have suffered. 5. ARE YOU SOMEONE A JURY WOULD FIND SYMPATHETIC? Juries, after all, are human, and the emotional effect of your story will impact how they determine the outcome of your case. Knowing this, insurance companies will pay more in settlement to people whom a prospective jury would like. 6. HOW MUCH INSURANCE COVERAGE IS AVAILABLE? If you were injured in an automobile accident and your damages are legitimately worth $100,000, but the negligent driver has only $20,000 insurance coverage and no assets; $20,000 may be all that’s available. However, a skilled attorney may be able to collect money over and above the amount of the other driver’s insurance from uninsured/under insured motorist coverage, another potentially at fault persons or from other available sources.

The value of your claim depends on the total amount of your medical bills and lost wages and the extent of any long-term problems due to the accident. Your claim will also include a factor for your “pain and suffering”. But there are no magic formulas to put a monetary value on your claim. An experienced attorney can help by putting your case together and negotiating with the insurance company to get a fair value for your claim. If you have suffered an injury as a result of the negligence of another, consult an attorney quickly to determine who may be liable and to devise a strategy to hold that party accountable for your damages. Russell Miller Thompson, Esq. is an attorney who has been practicing law since 1985. Located in Sunrise, his office handles Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death cases. He can be reached at (954) 316-8988, e-mail: rthompson@rmtlawfirm.com or his website at www. ForTheInjuredOnly.com

AUGUST 2015 | OUR CITY SUNRISE

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By John Brooks, Sunrise Police Chief

he Sunrise Police Department would like to remind drivers and pedestrians to be extra careful when a new school year starts. We are asking students and parents to be extra cautious during this exciting time of year which is extremely hectic and potentially dangerous if not proceeded with care. Below are some great safety measures to review with your families to ensure a safe and happy start to the new school year.

Tips For Walkers

▸▸ ▸▸ Pay special attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards. ▸▸ Never cross the street against a red light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming. ▸▸ Wear reflective clothing and bright ▸▸ colors so drivers can see you easier. ▸▸ Plan a safe walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and if possible, with intersections that have traffic controls.

Tips For Drivers

▸▸ Be watchful around schools and bus stops for children running into the street. ▸▸ ▸▸ Watch for children entering the street from behind buses or running to catch the bus. ▸▸ ▸▸ When driving your children to school, deliver and pick them up

After School

▸▸ Have your children check in with an adult as soon as they get home. ▸▸ Show them how to properly lock all ▸▸ doors and windows. ▸▸ Make sure they know to never open ▸▸ a door to a stranger. ▸▸ Establish a set of rules; who can come over, when homework must be

Advise children to arrive early for buses, stay out of the street, and to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the street. Drivers also need to be very aware when school is back in session and children will be walking to and from schools and bus stops. As autumn approaches, there will be less daylight and children will be out early in the morning and more difficult to see. as close to the school as possible. Don’t leave until they are safely on school grounds. Drive slowly when approaching children riding bicycles and walking near the street. Watch your speed when entering school zones. done, and any chores they must do before you get home. Find a trusted neighbor who will allow your children to come over in case of an emergency. Establish strict rules regarding Internet usage.

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At School

▸▸ Teach your children to resolve prob- ▸▸ Ask school officials about the safety and emergency plans for the school. lems without fighting. All schools are required to have ▸▸ Encourage your children to report one. bullying behavior, either as a victim or a witness.

Bullying

▸▸ Listen to children and encourage them to talk about their day. ▸▸ Take all complaints about bullying seriously: if you don’t, your child may not tell you next time. ▸▸ Watch for symptoms such as withdrawal, a drop in grades, or new friends.

▸▸ Notify the school immediately if you think your child is being bullied. ▸▸ Praise your children when they are kind to others. ▸▸ Teach children self-protection skills; how to walk and talk confidently, stay alert to their surroundings and to stand up for themselves verbally.

“See Something, Say Something”

▸▸ Parents and children alike should be aware of their surroundings. If you or your child becomes aware of

something or someone suspicious near the school, report it to law enforcement. We want to know.

Stay Safe, Police Chief John Brooks To see more safety updates from Sunrise Police, ‘Like” us on Facebook at City of Sunrise Police Department, and follow us on Twitter @SunrisePoliceFL. Please take note of our non-emergency number: 954-764-HELP (4357)

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Willow is a 2 year old Golden Doodle who loves her human Mommy and Daddy. Her favorite toy is a squeaky Mr. Piggy. She enjoys car rides to her grandparents’ house and playing with other dogs. She was last seen sleeping in her Mommy and Daddy’s bed after a long day of playing with her canine friend, Cash, a French Bulldog.