Our City Miramar - October 2022

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FROM

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, Nancy Koval, Mariem Garcia, Carlos Medina, Kenny Rodgers, Silvia Silva

Contributing Writers

Terry Jaillet, Dr. Robert Donoway, Jon Duka, Amelis Lopez, Wayne M. Messam, Dr. Isabel Suate

Advertising Info sales@ourcitymedia.com

Visit Us Online ourcitymedia.com 954-306-1007

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

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Each year, we see the color pink in unexpected places. Whether it’s high school foot ball 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 mem bers 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 thousands 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 23 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 8-9

11th Annual Brazilian Festival

OCTOBER 1

America’s Everglades

Meet the renowned photographer Clyde Bucher while you take in his exhibit, Ameri ca’s Everglades: Through the Lens of Clyde Butcher. Enjoy wine and small bites as you stroll through the Gallery, followed by a lecture in the newly-finished Mary N. Porter Learning Center and a book signing with Mr. Butcher. Hosted at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 South Flamingo Road. For more info visit www.FlamingoGardens.org or call 954-473-2955.

“A Love Letter to the Amazon Forest and the many Cultures of Brazil.” Florida’s most tra ditional multicultural festival is back at Sny der Park, in Fort Lauderdale. International Concerts, Samba Dancers, Carnival Rides, 100 Exhibitors, and Food Vendors. The Amazing Journey into Brazil’s Art, Culture, Tradition and Cuisine, From the traditional Brazilian “Rodizio, Churrasco, Vatapa, Pao de Queijo e Pastel” to the Sweet Dream of “Brigadeiros, Cocadas, Doce de leite, e Pamonha”. This is the taste of the Brazilian Cuisine featured by all the small business es of Broward in tents especially created to offer a dream day in Brazil’s Flavor-land. Hosted at Snyder Park, 3299 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale. For tickets and more info visit www.brazilianfestival.org.

OCTOBER 14

Latin Nights 2022

Celebrate the incredible contributions that Hispanic-Americans have made to our com munity. Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis will host Gala Awards Ceremony celebrat ing the service and contributions that Latin people have made to our community. Free admission. There will be performances by Gianpaul, Fajardo Elite and Edward Mena. 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm in the Cultural Hall at the Miramar Cultural Center. To RSVP scan the QR code. Call 954-602-3156 for more info.

OCTOBER 1-31

Halloween Drive And Scream

Do not miss all the eerie fun at Miramar’s Halloween Drive & Scream, Broward County’s premier Halloween-themed event, presented by Del Toro Insurance. Experi ence drive-thru scare zones, marauding creatures of the night, a winding corn maze, a monster bounce house, carnival games, outrageous live music and more. There will be hauntingly delicious food, drinks, beer and wine for purchase after your drive-thru experience. Hosted at Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Parkway. For tickets or info scan the QR code.

OCTOBER 10

Flamingo Gardens Orchid Society

Flamingo Gardens Orchid Society in the Learning Center at Flamingo Gardens. This month is Orchid Bingo! Come and have a fun evening playing Bingo and winning Or chids or orchid-related supplies along with a raffle where you will have another chance to win prizes. Whether you are a beginner or a more seasoned grower you are wel come to attend the meetings. Hosted at the Mary Porter Learning Center at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd., Davie, FL 33330. Doors open at 7:00 pm, the program begins at 7:30 pm, for info visit www. flamingogardensorchidsociety.com.

OCTOBER 15-16

2022 Caribbean Culture Fest

Come and experience a festival with a unique Afro-Caribbean influence on Octo ber 15 - 16, 2022! The Caribbean Culture Festival is an annual event that brings together infamous performing artists of Caribbean descent for a weekend of music, food and fun! This event is for all ages so bring the family along to partake in twodays of activities and live-performances. This extraordinary event is taking place at the Miramar Regional Park. For tickets or more info scan the QR code.

October 2022 Calendar (CONTINUED)

OCTOBER 15

Pop N Shop at Branca

The Miramar Pop n’ Shop event is hosted every 3rd Saturday of each month in Shirley Branca Park from 9 AM to 1 PM, in the heart of Historic Miramar - right in front of the location’s brand new Bandshell! This out door event provides our local vendors with opportunities to showcase their products while giving attendees a new way to shop! Enjoy food trucks and music as you explore. For more info call 954-602-4780.

OCTOBER 27-30

Saint David’s Carnival

St. David Catholic Church welcomes every one to the annual fall carnival. Patrons are invited to advertise and attend the 4-day event at 3900 S. University Drive in Davie. Rides, live entertainment, shopping, freshly prepared food, and more. Discount tickets are now on sale. For times and more infor mation, please call 954-475-8046 or visit www.saintdavid.org

OCTOBER 31

Halloween at River Run Park

This evening features Business for the Arts Broward and artist partners April Saler, Enrique Cirino, Orla Ananda, and Tucker Creations. In addition to pop up shows and talks, artists and visitors will have the chance to co-create a mixed media art piece. BFA Broward is a not-for-profit organization that educates the business community about the importance of Bro ward County’s art and cultural community and engages them in building connections between cultural vitality, creative success, and economic development. From 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery, 601 City Center Way.

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 29

Trick or Treat Shop to Shop

Put on your best Halloween costume and heave over to the Countryside Shops for a fun, safe trick-or-treat experience. Make sure to dress your best and bring a big Halloween bag for all that candy. Hosted at the Countryside Shops, 5524 S Flamingo Road from 10:00 am - Noon. For more info call 954-434-4300.

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!

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*$19.95 is the monthly price of subscription to a MobileHelp Classic at home only system. There is a one-time $49.95 processing fee and $15 shipping fee required to subscribe to this plan. Equipment may vary as shown. System featured in photo above is the MobileHelp DUO available at an additional monthly cost. Call or see terms and conditions for further details. 50% off Fall Detection Promotion valid when Fall Detection Service is added to your monitoring system and MobileHelp Connect Premium service is included with the order. Offer is valid for the first year of service only. This offer is for new customers only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Promotion available for select plans only and for a limited time. During the promotional term, you will receive $5 off the $10 full retail price of Fall Detection service. After first year, Fall Detect pricing reverts to discounted price of $7.50/month when combined with MobileHelp Connect Premium. Fall Button does not detect 100% of falls. If able, users should always push their help button when they need assistance. Fall Button is not intended to replace a caregiver for users dealing with serious health issues. Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation. MobileHelp is a registered trademark. Patented technology. MobileHelp is an FDA registered company. MHPN-00939 Rev. 1

Everglades High Student Wins National Spoken Word Poetry Championship

Caitlin Williams, from Everglades High School, was named National Champion in Original Spoken Word Poetry at the National Speech and Debate Association’s Championship Tournament held in Louisville, KY from June 12th-17th. Caitlin also earned Second Place in the Expository category.

Every year, thousands of high school students join together to use the power of their words for change. Throughout the year, more than 6,000 students qualify for the chance to have their mes sage heard in front of thousands. It all culminates in the National Speech & Debate Tournament. With 24 different competitive events, the National Tournament is the pinnacle of public speaking for speech and debate competi tors from around the globe!

For nearly 100 years, the

National Speech & Debate Association has built a platform for youth voices that have built the skills for actors, politicians, and our country’s leaders.

Caitlin’s powerful performance, titled “When They See Me,” covered her experience growing up as a Black girl in South Florida.

▸ You can view and listen to Caitlin’s entire performance on Youtube by scanning the QR Code.

Growing up, people always acted like I wasn’t black enough. Like my interior and exterior were just a juxtaposition, A sign of confusion, a diffusion Of my white peers.

Not knowing, that I have the common black girl fears, And, I cry the common black girl tears, Yet still it’s always, ‘you’re so well spoken, Clearly not a product of your environment’

And, they say it with a smile, But I know the true sentiments, It’s rooted in ignorance, The need to confine me, a black girl For what it means to be in a white man’s world.

The urge to put me, a black girl, in a box, But I got more than four sides.

My foresight tells me that if we push the notion That there is a guide to being our race, We are nodding to every negative stereotype, Trope and wrongfully convicted case.

If anything, we should be instilling In every little black girl and boy That they don’t need to be Who they want them to be.

That, unlike history’s past, When it comes to change, We don’t have to be last.

YOUR FIRST CALL TO GET HELP

id 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

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Adopt-a- Grandparent & National Grandparents’ Day Celebration

a nurturing experience that’s a ‘win-win’ for both generations,” says Omar Urbay, Director of Activities.

Octogenarians from The Palace brought their love of learning to the Primrose school children – ages 8 months to pre-kindergarten - for a morning assisting, serving breakfast, reading, and interacting with the youngsters.

children, and a Tin Man and Dorothy posed for pictures. The party was highlighted by students from the Harmony Dance Academy who made their first appearance before a live audience. This event truly embodied the spirit of how the day was intended to be celebrated.

It was the perfect way to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day!

Residents from The Palace at Weston assisted living community joined with the Primrose School of Miramar for “Adopt a Grandparent Day” and then with Harmony Dance Academy in honor of “National Grandparents’ Day.”

“The Adopt-a-Grandparent Day (officially Sept. 10) was started in 2014 to recognize and honor the lives of the elderly in our society. Statistics show fifty percent of nursing home residents have no close relatives, forty-six percent have no living children, and sixty percent have no outside visitors. By interacting with young school children, many of whom may not have grandparents nearby, we created

In February of 1977, Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day. The statute cites the day's purpose: "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer".

Guests at The Palace at Weston Memory Care followed a yellow brick road to a Grandparents’ Day party in honor of this national event (officially Sept 11). A “Wizard of Oz” Palace-style theme and costumed staff charmed everyone. While the talented Palace culinary team served a sumptuous buffet, a charming green-suited leprechaun fashioned balloon animals for the

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City to Deliver New Green Garbage Carts to All Homes

The City of Miramar, in col laboration with its garbage disposal vendor, Waste Pro of Florida, will be replacing all residential green garbage carts during October and November. To receive their new green trash cart, residents should simply leave their old green cart at the curb on every scheduled collection day until it is replaced (even if it is empty).

The new 96-gallon garbage carts will be picked up by Waste Pro in accordance with the current collection schedule. To avoid interruption with your curbside collection service, the following rules should apply:

• Place cart for collection within 5 feet of the street by 7 a.m. on your scheduled pick-up day.

• Make sure arrows on the garbage cart lid are pointed toward the street. Items in the garbage cart should not extend above the rim by more than a

few inches.

• Non-Waste Pro containers, paper bags, cardboard boxes, recycling bins, and oil drums cannot be used as garbage containers, and will not be collected.

• Branches, limbs, and other vegetative items must be placed in the Waste Pro container or put out with your scheduled monthly bulk pickup.

• Oil, paints, insecticides, chemi cals, automotive parts, batteries,

please email PW-UTILCSRT@ ci.miramar.fl.us to order a trash cart. Provide a brief summary of the reason you need a replace ment cart.

• If you experience a “missed pickup” on your collection day, or have any questions, call Waste Pro at 954-967-4200.

Need to know your collection day, check the Collection Zone Map for your corresponding curbside solid waste collection schedule.

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Heroes Live Amongst Us!

They 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!

Diana Torres, DDS

DESIGNER FAMILY DENTIST

Family Dentistry

Dr. Diana Torres is passionate about giving patients the very best care possible at her practice, Family Dentistry. She treats all members of the family, from young children to grandparents. What drives her is the impact she can have on people.

“I believe in connecting with my patients and giving the most compassionate care possible,” said Dr. Torres, “what motivated me to pursue dentistry is the current and potential relationships that I get to build within my community while creating beautiful smiles.”

Dr. Torres’ specialty is Lite Dentistry. It is a pack age that might include invisalign, whitening, gum contouring, and composite veneers. Lite Dentistry is a noninvasive, high-impact, beautifully tailored approach to a healthy, life-changing smile.

The benefits of attaining a bright smile aren’t just cosmetic. Her patients feel better about themselves and are more confident. It can impact all aspects of their lives.

“What I enjoy the most about my profession is the ability to give patients back the confidence they desire by using a conservative smile design approach,” commented Dr. Torres.

She gets these results by combining extensive academic training with the latest, cutting-edge technology in dentistry. For example, Family Dentistry utilizes the iTero digital scanning device to take highly-detailed images and scans of patients’ teeth. This machine creates digital impressions to provide a more detailed image of a person’s teeth and the surrounding soft tissues. These impressions are often more advanced and precise when compared to traditional options.

“I absolutely love my practice, my team, and my patients,” said Dr. Torres, “Seeing lives being changed by healthy and beautiful smiles ignites my passion for dentistry every day. I am committed to providing an awesome dental experience.”

Dr. Torres grew up in Colombia before moving to Florida in 2000. She has been married for 17 years and has two children, Mateo (4) and Milan (3).

■ To make an appointment with Dr. Diana Torres or to learn more about Family Dentistry, call 954-384-8484 or visit

www.FamilyDentistryinWeston.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.

Nancy Erickson,

Interventional Pain Physicians of South Florida

Dr. Nancy Erickson of Interventional Pain Physicians of South Florida helps patients with acute and chronic pain find relief. She has been helping people manage pain for over twenty years.

Whether your pain is new, old, acute or chronic, Dr. Erickson cares about you and eliminating your pain. She understands that this can severely impact every aspect of your life. Dr. Erickson and her staff perform a physical examination, evaluation, and all aspects of your treatment to make sure you are given a solution that will work. Her goal is to help you improve your quality of life.

There may be specific exercises she recom mends as well as vitamin supplements to help your body heal. Depending on your underlying pathology there may be specific interventional procedures to heal, not mask your pain, this will decrease your pain, help your body to heal, improve your sleep, increase your activity of daily living and improve your quality of life.

Dr. Erickson uses advanced diagnostics, years of focused expertise and comprehensive treatments to treat pain of all types. Dr. Erickson’s patients rave about her empathy and profes sionalism. Giving relief to people suffering from severe pain is, in a way, giving them their lives back.

Dr. Erickson’s practice is on N. Flamingo Road in Pembroke Pines.

■ To make an appointment with Dr. Erickson call 888-352-7694 or visit www.flpainrelief.com

12124 Miramar Parkway 954-441-5350 2937 Dykes Road 954-436-1990

12124 Miramar Parkway 954-441-5350 2937 Dykes Road 954-436-1990

12124 Miramar Parkway 954-441-5350 2937 Dykes Road 954-436-1990

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Use in the Foot & Ankle

ealing after an injury involves a well-orches trated and complex series of events where proteins in the blood act as messen gers to regulate the entire process. Many proteins involved in the healing process are derived from small cell fragments in the blood called platelets.

Platelets are small, colorless, cell frag ments present in the blood.

They are formed in the bone mar-row and are freely passing through the bloodstream in a resting state. However, when an injury occurs, the platelets become activated and start to gather at the injury site to release beneficial proteins called growth factors. This is the beginning of the healing process.

For many years, blood components derived from the patient and then delivered to the site of injury have created growing interest for use in orthopedic procedures. New research and technology have expanded the application of this therapy for use in orthopedic procedures.

By Dr. John Goodner

HWhat is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)? Platelet Rich Plasma is a concentration of platelets and growth factors created from a small amount of your own blood. Increased levels of growth factors have the potential to improve signaling and recruitment of cells. What conditions can it treat? PRP can be used to treat Arthritis (foot or ankle), Ligament Injuries (acute or chronic), Tendon Injuries (acute or chronic), Joint Pain, Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, Achilles Tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic Nerve Irritation (Neuritis), Shin Splints and Heel Spurs.

How does the PRP process work? Our doctors will recover a small amount of blood from your arm using a small needle and a specially designed syringe. The blood then goes through a rapid spinning process that separates and concentrates the platelets and other beneficial growth fac-tors from the blood. The entire PRP production process is usually done in less than 20 minutes. What happens after that? The injected area will be anes-thetized with a local anesthetic (Lidocaine). The blood with its PRP will be injected into the area directly or with the aid of ultrasound or x-ray.

Am I a candidate for treatment with PRP? Speak with our doctors and ask if PRP is right for you. We will perform an exam ination to determine if the use of PRP will benefit you. If you are on anti-inflammatory medications or blood thinners, your physi cian may temporarily discontinue the use of these until your treatment has taken place. What are the risks associated with this treatment? PRP uses your body’s own natural properties to treat your injury. Side effects utilizing PRP systems are very uncommon.

▸ Dr. John Goodner is a Board Certified Re constructive Foot and Ankle Surgeon with the Foot, Ankle and Leg Specialists of South Florida and specializes in sports medicine foot and ankle injuries, foot and ankle ar throscopy, lower extremity trauma, and lower extremity deformities in infants, children, teens and adults. The South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine is located at 17842 NW 2nd St Pembroke Pines, FL 33029-2806. You can reach the office at (954) 430-9901. SouthFloridaSportsMedicine.com. Instagram @SouthFloridaSportsMedicine Twitter @SFLSportsMed

Dr. Carlo Messina | Dr. John Goodner | Dr. Michael Cohen

Serving Our Patients for Over 30 Years!

Silver Lakes Elementary School Refurbishes 9/11 Memorial

Ifor the 21st anniversary of 9/11, Silver Lakes Elementary School students, with

n

from the city of Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, refurbished their 9/ll Memorial built in honor of the heroic men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

“This is an educational moment for our students, who were not alive when September 11 happened,” said Mayor Messam. “It serves as a history lesson as well as a moment to share with them the freedoms we have in this country and the commitment it takes to ensure that we keep our freedoms.”

The memorial was originally built 20 years ago on campus as a memorial and tribute to the men, women and children who lost their lives on that fateful day.

“We are refurbishing our Patriot Day Memorial in honor of 9/11,” said Silver Lakes Elementary School Principal Tammy Gilbert,

“the children and Mayor Messam worked together to refurbish it for our community. We have a lot of our neighbors who walk the sidewalk on the weekends. For them to come and see the memorial, it brings us closer together as a community.”

The granite memorial is emblazoned with a dove and has the words “We will not forget. We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail. In honor of the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 Tragedies.”

Domestic Violence Awareness

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the issue and support survivors.

What is an Abusive Relationship?

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, battering is defined as a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Domestic violence can occur anywhere and to anyone regardless of socio-economic status, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, educational background, etc. It is a crime of manipulation that anyone can fall prey to. It is important to recognize signs of domestic violence to be able to combat it.

Red Flags of Abusive Relationship

Does your partner…

• Utilize intimidation; including threats to hurt or kill you, your children, other family members, and/or pets

• Call you names or puts you down

• Have control over what you do or where you go and financial resources.

• Isolate you from family and friends

• Threaten to take away your children

• Pressure you to use drugs or alcohol

• Not trust you, and easily becomes jealous

• Threaten to have you deported or baker acted

• Threaten to have you arrested for something you did not do

• Destroy your property

• Minimize abusive behavior, blames you, alcohol, or drugs for it

• Display weapons to threaten you

• Force you to engage in unwanted sexual acts

• Grab, push, hit, punch, slap, kick, or choke you

• Threaten to commit suicide if you leave

Often, people question why a person would stay in an abusive relationship. It is important to understand that anybody can be a victim of domestic violence. The abuser uses power to manipulate and control a person. Also, fear often contributes to why a person may stay in an abusive relationship. The victim/survivor may be motivated by love to stay, but it is important to remember that the abuser is not motivated by feelings of love or intimacy. Love should never hurt someone. Rather than question why a victim/survivor of domestic violence stays in an abusive relationship, let’s turn our focus to hold the abuser accountable, and question why they would choose to harm and endanger someone. Yes, batterers can control their behavior.

Millions of people are abused each year, but there is help out there. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, it is important to get help. The following numbers are resources that a survivor may find helpful:

Emergencies: 911

Women in Distress Crisis Line: (954) 761-1133

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida

Family Violence Unit: (954) 358-5644

Broward County Clerk of Court Domestic Violence Division: (954) 831-5570

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

National Domestic Violence Hotline (TTY): 1-800-787-3224

Remember everyone has a right to feel safe and be free from threats. Help us end domestic violence by raising awareness, and sharing information about resources available, to your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Greetings from yourChamber President!

By Patty Archer

The Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce has been serving this area for over 50 years, promoting local businesses, encouraging economic development, offering training resources, fostering the relation ships business leaders need to grow, and being the voice of the business community.

The idea of Shop Local is integral to ensuring a strong local economy to sustain our area in the long-term. A greater portion of each dollar spent locally tends to stay in the local economy when you spend it with a local business. Stronger local businesses are then able to hire more local employ ees, spend their money sourcing materials locally as well, and also support local charities more. A flourishing local busi ness environment also increases competition and diversity of choice for consumers, which in turn promotes innovation and keeps prices competitive.

In a few months, the Chamber will debut its 2023 Community & Business Resource Guide, which will be a great resource for new residents and those looking to learn more about the cities we call home. You will be able to find this guide in retail areas, healthcare settings, realtor offices, and more locations around south Broward. You’re always welcome to visit the Chamber to pick up your copy as well.

Now and in the future, the Chamber is dedicated to being a Convener of leaders, a Catalyst for positive change, and a Champion for a strong business community. For more informa tion and our event calendar, visit miramarpembrokepines.org.

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Pet of the Month

“Rocky”

This Rocky my handsome German Shepherd, he loves hanging out in the backyard. And chasing lizards all day. And yes ladies he’s available!

Your Pet Could Be Our Pet of the Month!

Every month Our City Media randomly picks a pet of the month winner.

Email entries to: anna@ourcitymedia.com

Send Pet’s: Best Picture, Name and about 50 words describing why they’re so special!

Include: Your Name, Email, Phone, and City of Residence. Good Luck!

MIRAMAR UPDATE

By Mayor Wayne M. Messam

As we enter the last quarter of the year, it marks the beginning of our city’s fiscal year. The city budget has been adopted without a millage increase and provides essential funding for city operations, public safety, and city events. I extend my personal thanks to all of the residents who took the time to participate during our public hearings budget hearings, your engagement ensures your input is heard.

One of my favorite presentations as mayor is the Annual State of the City Address (SOTC). This year’s SOTC will take place on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 6:30 PM at the Miramar Cultural Center Banquet Hall. The address features the accomplishments over the past year, identifies our current opportunities and how we will meet them, and unveils the exciting future we are planning. Hear directly from businesses and why they’ve chosen to relocate to Miramar.

Learn about how Miramar is using Smart City Technology to offer you better services. This interactive presentation uses the latest audio-visual technology to escort you along our journey as a city. I promise you don’t want to miss this presentation.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I will present the Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Business Awards on October 13, 2022. This event features businesses of all sizes that have displayed a significant impact on our city. We celebrate our residents of Hispanic Heritage for the many talents and contributions that make Miramar such a wonderful city. I also take this opportunity to invite the chess community to the annual Mayor’s Chess Challenge. This year’s challenge will take place at Sunset Lakes Community Center on November 13th. The annual event allows students, adults, and lovers of chess to compete in friendly matches as they tour cities across Broward. Miramar is up next in November and our meetup is the best of course! For information about any of these events and activities, please contact my office at 954 602 3151.

One more thing Miramarians, a reminder that November 8th is Election Day, please exercise your right to vote.

Yours in Service, Wayne M. Messam