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A COVID CON? YOU BE THE JUDGE:

THE PECULIAR CASE OF A ‘CON-SIGNMENT’ SHOP PAGES 10 - 13

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July 30, 2020 • Volume 11 • Issue 30

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READ IT ONLINE AT THEMIRRORMAG.COM COVER: The Peculiar Pelican Consignment shop. Photo via Facebook.

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2

• 7. 3 0.2020

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3

NEWS STATE

Shevrin Jones (left), Florida State Representative and Democrat running for Florida Senate, and Nikki Fried, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Photos via Facebook.

GAY STATE SENATE CANDIDATE GETS ENDORSEMENT FROM TOP DEMOCRAT John McDonald

S

hevrin Jones picked up another key endorsement this week, capturing the backing of Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Nikki Fried, in a statement released on Thursday, said “during these challenging times Floridians need leaders they can count on to look out for them, and Shevrin is that leader.”

Fried, 42, is Florida’s only state-wide elected Democrat.

“Working alongside him in Tallahassee I saw first hand his passion and commitment to expanding access to health care, fighting to see equal opportunity to quality education, standing up for what is right, no matter what the political consequences are,” Fried stated.

Jones is campaigning for Florida Senate

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• 7. 3 0.2020

Seat 35. The district takes in parts of MiamiDade and Broward Counties. Jones’ family has been impacted heavily by the novel coronavirus.

“Coronavirus is real and I am asking you and your families to stay safe out there,” Jones tweeted last week after visiting with his mother, who tested positive for the virus.

If elected, Jones would become Florida’s first openly gay Black Senator. He has the support of LGBT organizations SAVE, Equality Florida and the Victory Fund.

Fried, a Fort Lauderdale attorney, picked Jones from a field of six candidates seeking the Democratic party nomination. The primary election is Aug. 18.

Jones called Fried a friend and “an awesome leader in our State.”

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NEWS NATIONAL

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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced July 23 it was replacing the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule implemented in 2015 with its own policy, named Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice, according to a HUD press release.

“After reviewing thousands of comments on the proposed changes to the [AFFH] regulation, we found it to be unworkable and ultimately a waste of time for localities to comply with, too often resulting in funds being steered away from communities that need them most,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson in the press release.

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furthering fair housing” to mean any action rationally related to promoting any of the above attributes of fair housing.

The problem is though that under the new rule, shelters and programs that receive or operate using HUD grants are now able to ignore nondiscrimination protections for transgender people, leaving them vulnerable to being denied shelter and forced out onto the streets, according to a press release by CenterLink.

“Transgender people already face widespread discrimination in all aspects of life,” said Denise Spivak, CenterLink’s CEO, in the press release. “One in five transgender individuals have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, and a disproportionate number of homeless youth identify as transgender. We will do whatever we can to ensure this repugnant rule doesn’t go into effect.”

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NEWS STATE

WEEKLY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA Sean McShee

CUMULATIVE COVID-19 CASES IN Cumulative Known COVID-19 Cases in THREE SOUTH FLORIDA COUNTIES Three South Florida Counties: July 22 through July 28

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 7/22 to 7/28 Palm Beach 14.9%, Broward 18.1%, Miami Dade 19.5%

7/22

7/23

7/24

7/25

Palm Beach

30,958

30,325

29,707

29,004

28,267

7/26

Broward

51,657

50,784

49,350

48,187

46,576

45,010

43,747

27,506

98,430

95,068

92,345

110,352

107,315

104,755

101,854

31,598

7/27

7/28

Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DEO Dashboard.

CUMULATIVE COVID-19 DEATHS IN Known COVID-19 Deaths in THREE Cumulative SOUTH FLORIDA COUNTIES Three South Florida Counties: July 22 through July 28

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 deaths from 7/22 to 7/28 Palm Beach 9.9%, Broward 14.7%, Miami Dade 6.2%

529

536

546

7/22

7/23

7/24

Palm Beach

580

605

607

607

7/25

7/26

7/27

7/28

Broward

Miami Dade

Source: Florida DEO Dashboard.

8

• 7. 3 0.2020

779

758

755

752

744

727

709

1,425

1,404

1,388

1,379

1,370

1,354

1,342

Source Fl DOH Dashboard

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9

FEATURE IN-DEPTH

CON MAN OR COVID-19 VICTIM? CONSIGNMENT SHOP OWNER ACCUSED OF RIPPING OFF CONSIGNORS Jason Parsley

The former front entrance of the Peculiar Pelican.

Photo via Real Living.

10

• 7. 30.2020

FEATURE IN-DEPTH

W

hen Donna Nunes’ brother died last year, she was heartbroken. The 73-year-old traveled to South Florida from California to settle her brother’s estate and in doing so found a local consignment store, the Peculiar Pelican, to sell his belongings.

Now, a year later, Nunes is crying foul — saying she’s been cheated.

“He’s just a crook,” she said.

And she’s not the only one who believes that.

SFGN interviewed a half dozen customers of the Peculiar Pelican in Fort Lauderdale who have accused its business owner, Johnny “JT” Lee Thompson, of ripping them off.

Thompson’s customers, or consignors as they are called in the consignment business, accuse him of not paying them for items he’s sold, writing bad checks, and finally of shoddy record keeping.

Thompson, who is gay, spoke to SFGN for more than 40 minutes to respond to the accusations, mostly blaming his misfortunes on the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down his business for now.

Thompson, who has been in the consignment industry for 20 years, said before COVID-19 he had no issues with his consignors.

“No one expected what happened to happen. No one could foresee what this COVID-19 has caused,” he said. “I thought, OK well, we’ll be down a couple of weeks or something, and then we will be back to normal.”

Ginger Berluti, one of the accusers, doesn’t buy the pandemic argument.

“He’s such a good con artist. He makes you feel comfortable. He’s very friendly and personable,” she said. “He’s been doing this for years. This was before COVID. COVID is a convenient excuse.”

Johnny “JT” Thompson, the owner of the Peculiar Pelican. Photo via Facebook.

‘PLEASE HOLD UNTIL I GET APPROVAL FROM BANK’ Nunes said she heard about the Peculiar Pelican from her late brother’s neighbors and felt comfortable with Thompson after meeting with him.

“My brother had things from all over the world,” she said. She described him as an avid The check that Donna Nunes received from the Peculiar Pelican, along with the note to hold the check.

Photo courtesy of Donna Nunes. collector.

She consigned 129 pieces from her brother’s ‘soon,’” Bishopric said. “He never gave me estate in the Peculiar Pelican, whose corporate Thompson’s store to a new location last year.

“It was an extremely big move,” the owner any accounting of what was sold or for how name is TLC Enterprise of Florida LLC. much.”

After heading back to California, though, said. He charged Thompson $5,000.

At least three consignors went so far as “He would give us checks and tell us not to she soon realized something was not right. to call the police and attempt to file incident She asked Thompson over and over again for cash them right away,” the owner continued.

Some of those checks eventually bounced reports. Two of them were told it’s a civil a list of the items she consigned with him.

It wouldn’t be until October - three months and now the owner claims Thompson owes matter and there’s nothing they could do.

Monique Smith attempted to file an incident after her contract expired - when she finally them $3,500. report Feb. 7 with the Fort Lauderdale Police received a handwritten memo of her items, ‘HE FINALLY PAID ME WHEN I Department, a month before the pandemic but without prices. He also sent her a check THREATENED A LAWSUIT’ forced businesses to close. The police deemed for $407 with a note saying “please hold until the matter a civil complaint and no report I get approval from bank.”

Jeff Fauer threatened to sue Thompson was taken. SFGN obtained a copy of the “call Nunes’ contract ended in July 2019 yet she didn’t receive an accounting of her items until for not accounting for, or paying him, for the notes,” which does not list the details of the items his wife consigned with situation.

October – the same time she him.

“A good portion of the things I brought to received her check.

“I SENT DEMAND His complaint took place him were from my sister’s estate who ended Nunes shared the check and around October 2019, months up in a nursing home. She’s totally broke note with SFGN. LETTERS TO A before the pandemic. and completely on disability and this was Thompson admits to SFGN he FEW OF HIS “I sent demand letters to a supposed to be money for her welfare,” Smith asked her to not cash the check few of his addresses,” Fauer told SFGN via Facebook Messenger. “until everything got back to ADDRESSES,” said. “He finally paid me when I “I don’t know what things sold for,” she said. normal.”

FAUER SAID. threatened a lawsuit.”

She estimates he owes her around $600.

However, the check he sent George Bishopric is another Nunes, who consigned items from her to Nunes is dated Sept. 30, 2019 “HE FINALLY angry consignor who feels brother’s estate, also filed a police complaint.

— two months before the first PAID ME WHEN cheated by Thompson. He said “I informed Donna [Nunes] of the process case of COVID-19 was identified of filing a worthless check case with the State I THREATENED A he’s probably owed $500. in China, and six months before He’s not sure, though, Attorney’s Office in Broward County,” the Fort Broward County would shut LAWSUIT.” because “there’s no accounting Lauderdale Police report reads. “Donna was down businesses because of the - Jeff Fauer whatsoever.” provided with FLPD’s case number for the crisis.

CONSIGNOR “He suddenly moved. report.”

Nunes eventually took The business is dead. I’ve There’s a record of Lisa Waytuk, another the check to her bank, who informed her there were insufficient funds to heard nothing from him. I have left phone consignor, calling the police April 25. messages. Sent emails. No response,” he said. According to notes from the Broward Sheriff’s cover it.

While she was in town handling her “He has broken some of my objects without Office, the police officer deemed it a “civil brother’s estate, she also needed to hire a compensation and simply failed to provide issue.”

According to Waytuk, Thompson sold her moving company to haul the belongings over any kind of record of his transactions.”

Bishopric said Thompson sold a few of his mink coat for $1,500 and since he offers his to the Peculiar Pelican, which cost her $750.

Thompson recommended Rest & pieces early on in their business relationship consignors a 50/50 split she’s owed $750. She Relaxation Movers, a small local moving which started in December 2018, and he was said Thompson now tells her he won’t be able to give her any money until he reopens his company. SFGN contacted the owner who paid $500.

“I noticed other pieces disappear, and business. confirmed he moved Nunes’ items.

‘I TRUSTED HIM’ But he also said his company moved he was always going to mail me a check

7. 3 0 . 20 20 •

11

FEATURE IN-DEPTH down or call her.”

Thompson blamed much of his current woes on Ginger Berluti, who he believes is just trying to stir up trouble.

And Berluti readily admits she’s been a thorn in Thompson’s side ever since she felt he was ripping her off and evading her questions.

“I’ve had more issues with her than any consignor than I’ve had with anyone else,” Thompson said. “She’s done nothing but cause me problems. I’ve talked to her until I was blue in the face.”

Thompson claims Berluti is just a disgruntled consignor who attempted to use his store as a free storage facility. He said her contract expired 15 months ago and she has no legal right to any of the merchandise.

But regardless, he said he has still tried to be a good person by offering to give her items back anyway.

Berluti disagrees and believes Thompson is a con man who has misled and ripped off numerous people in the community.

“I trusted him,” Berluti said.

Thompson sees it much differently.

“In my opinion, she abandoned her things,” he said. “That woman takes off, and you don’t see or hear from her for months and months, but she expects me to chase her

‘PUT IT IN WRITING’ Thompson is right about a contract.

Berluti showed SFGN the paperwork and it does state “it is the consignors responsibility to track the 90-day expiration and Peculiar Pelican will not be liable for any item left in its possession beyond the contract period.”

Berluti’s contract ended April 5, 2019.

But Berluti says the contract doesn’t tell the whole story.

She says she dropped by his store on a regular basis and consigned additional items, never signing a new contract with new dates.

According to Russell Cormican, a local attorney, Berluti may have a point.

“What if you brought something in 80 days into the 90-day contract?” Cormican pondered. “I would argue the contract only covers the items at the time of execution.

For any subsequent dealings between the two parties there would need to be a new contract.”

Without a new contract in place though, Cormican said their past dealings would dictate the agreement.

For instance, Cormican explained, if you

get a haircut every month for $25, on the seventh month the barber could not decide to charge you $75 after the fact.

“The prior dealings of the parties establish the ground rules of the agreement,” Cormican said. “When there is no writing, or codification of the agreement, it’s difficult to establish what the meeting of the minds of the parties were at the time. So you would need to go to court to figure it out.”

Ultimately he said the moral of the story is “put it in writing.”

Bishopric shared a similar story.

“He had every opportunity to say to me ‘you realize that after three months you surrender the property.’ He never mentioned it. We talked about sales activity for months and he never brought that up,” said Bishopric, who said he would also pop into the store on a regular basis. “At some point, you would think that after a year, he might’ve mentioned that. If he didn’t, it was deliberate.”

In June 2020 Berluti attempted to visit the Peculiar Pelican and found it closed.

She eventually tracked Thompson down and that’s when he told her for the first time her contract had expired - 14 months after the fact. More so, she added he never followed the other parts of the contract like the monthly markdowns, or this section that states “at the end of the 90-day agreement, we will offer you the option of donating to local charities all the remaining unsold items or you may pick up your items within 7 days of the contract expiration.”

“He never offered to donate my items to a charity,” she said. “I never saw a reduced price on any of my items. He never followed his own rules. In fact he would tell me ‘I want to get more money for this.’ He never said ‘oh you have three days left on your contract,’ those words never left his lips.”

But according to Thompson, it wasn’t his responsibility to notify anyone, which is stated on the contracts.

Inside the Peculiar Pelican. Photo via Facebook.

‘THEY’RE NOT NAIVE AT ALL’ In the consignment world, it’s typical to have a contract that stipulates any merchandise not sold within a specific time frame, usually 90 days, then becomes the property of the store. The consignor is allowed to take the items back within a limited time frame. If the items aren’t sold or the consignor doesn’t pick them up, a store will oftentimes donate the merchandise to a charity.

During interviews, Berluti and Thompson both mentioned Encore Interiors, a 25,000-square-foot consignment store in Fort Lauderdale, to bolster their arguments against one another.

Co-owner of Encore, Jeff Holly, said that once the 90 days are up, the merchandise is legally theirs. If they happen to sell on day 94, they would keep all of the money.

Holly also said that at his store, it’s up to the consignor to keep track of when their contract expires. With 9,500 consignors, it would be impossible for them to contact all of them. He also noted it’s the consignor’s responsibility to pick up their items.

Once the contract expires they donate the items. But Holly also said that if the consignor were to show up on day 98, they’d

“HE HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY TO ME ‘YOU REALIZE THAT AFTER THREE MONTHS YOU SURRENDER THE PROPERTY.’ HE NEVER MENTIONED IT. WE TALKED ABOUT SALES ACTIVITY FOR MONTHS AND HE NEVER BROUGHT THAT UP. AT SOME POINT, YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER A YEAR, HE MIGHT’VE MENTIONED THAT. IF HE DIDN’T, IT WAS DELIBERATE.” - George Bishopric The mink coat belonging to Lisa Waytuk, who alleges that she is owed $750 after it was sold at the Peculiar Pelican. Photo courtesy of Lisa Waytuk.

12

• 7. 3 0.2020

CONSIGNOR

FEATURE IN-DEPTH be happy to return the items if they were still Broward County. in the store.

He said his new landlord refused to work While the terms of the contract may be with him on the rent even though his new clear, Encore goes so far as to note on their storefront was not even open yet. website many people do not actually read the “He wouldn’t modify the contract,” agreement.

Thompson said.

“Our consignment agreements are very With no revenue, Thompson said there clear without any fine print. Unfortunately, was no way he could afford the $14,000 many people do not read it and don’t the new landlord was asking for, which realize that the terms of the included the first month of agreement are very important. rent, last month and a security For example, there is an deposit. Then the moving expiration to the agreement company refused to finish and any merchandise left the job because the pandemic beyond expiration becomes had shut everything down. the property of the store,” their Thompson said he was forced website reads. to put his store’s merchandise Berluti said she’s never had in a $1,180-a-month warehouse an issue with Encore and has until he’s able to find a new been consigning with them for storefront. years.

“This has made things very When SFGN asked difficult for me,” he said. “I Thompson if perhaps some of am not trying to take anyone’s these disputes are happening property. I’m trying to figure out - JT Thompson OWNER OF THE because these individuals are what the next steps are.”

PECULIAR PELICAN just naive when it comes to As for Berluti’s unsold the consignment industry, he merchandise, she’s been pushed back. tracking it down in various locations. Some of “They’re not naive at all. They act like a her items were left in the old storefront that bunch of spoiled children,” he said. “They she found by accident when she arranged expect me to keep it forever. How can I stay with Thompson to pick up her unsold sofa. in business?”

Other items she found locked up in the new unopened storefront in Oakland Park when ‘NOBODY WANTS THE SOFA’ the owner of the building let her inside to collect a few of her pieces. This is despite the In early March, Thompson was in the fact she said Thompson had told her all of her middle of moving his store from the Gateway items were now packed up in the warehouse.

Shopping Center on Sunrise Boulevard to a But the sofa mentioned above is a new location in Oakland Park. In an unlucky particular point of contention between coincidence, his move took place the same Berluti and Thompson. week businesses were forced to shut down in Berluti went to pick it up just as Faith Farm,

“I AM NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANYONE’S PROPERTY. I’M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.”

The sofa that Berluti claims was in perfect shape when first brought to the Peculiar Pelican.

Photo courtesy of Ginger Berluti.

a local thrift store and charity, was loading up all of the store’s leftover merchandise.

Both Thompson and Berluti agree Faith Farm did not want the piece of furniture because it was in such bad condition.

“It was in perfect sharpe when I brought it into the store,” Berluti said.

Thompson disagrees.

“Nobody wants the sofa, it was so sunfaded,” he said. “I couldn’t even get $100 for it.”

Berluti questions why Thompson accepted the piece in the first place if it was allegedly in such bad shape. And on top of that, why he had chosen to keep it long after her contract had expired.

Berluti has no idea what Thompson may owe her. She said there were at least three pieces of hers he sold including a dresser and writing desk.

Early on in their business relationship, she said he told her another item had sold for $100.

“He asked me ‘do you want it now or just let it ride,’” she said. “I told him I had so much stuff there, we could just let it ride.”

‘MY BUSINESS, MY LIVELIHOOD’

The website of the Peculiar Pelican features a message saying that the business is closed temporarily due to COVID-19. Image via PeculiarPelicanDeals.com.

Thompson said he’s more than willing to return merchandise to his consignors if they want it back. And in Lisa Waytuk’s case, he did return some of her items.

Besides the mink coat, Waytuk also consigned some jewelry, which she recently asked for back. Thompson and her ended up meeting in a parking lot a few weeks ago where he returned some of her items back to her.

“He didn’t give me my Pandora bracelet, he said it’s packed away in a box somewhere,” she said.

But in other cases, like Bishopric, at least some of his merchandise is gone for good.

When Bishopric found out a lot of items had been donated to Faith Farm, he went to the thrift store to hopefully get them back.

“They actually remembered the pieces I described and said they were sold before they were even unloaded from the truck,” he said.

Meanwhile, Berluti was so upset with Thompson she went on to the Peculiar Pelican’s Facebook page and found other unhappy consignors who she has since connected with. She also went so far as to retain the services of a “hired bloodhound” to investigate the business owner.

“Well I found that he has a long record of evictions, going back to 2012,” said Andrea Shaw, the self-described bloodhound.

Berluti shared Shaw’s report with SFGN, which detailed his evictions, including May 2020 from his old location on Sunrise Boulevard where he’s accused of owing $21,670. In March 2019, the report shows that the Peculiar Pelican was evicted from another location within the same shopping center and owes $14,750. SFGN confirmed the cases through the Broward County Clerk’s website.

Meanwhile, Thompson doesn’t believe he’s done anything wrong.

“So, believe me I have went above and beyond, working with some of these people and especially Ginger Berluti,” he said. “I’m upset about this. This is my business. My livelihood. This is my community. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

Thompson said he may file a cease and desist order against her. “[Ginger] has gone online and [wrote] all these terrible things,” he said. “She’s already caused the damage, even though I’ve tried to do everything for her.”

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13

LIFESTYLE PHOTOS

FORT LAUDERDALE SWIM-IN FOR

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON JULY 26, THE FORT LAUDERDALE SWIM-IN FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WAS HELD AT JOSEPH C. CARTER PARK. THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE DIA SWIMS CLUB, DIVERSITY IN AQUATICS AND SWIMS FOUNDATION, AND FEATURED SPEECHES FROM LOCAL ACTIVISTS.

Photos by Carina Mask

Niki Lopez.

Ghenete G. Wright speaking at the swim-in.

14

• 7. 3 0.2020

TO SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS, VISIT SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS ON FACEBOOK.

7. 3 0 . 20 20 •

15

Social Distancing Social Distancing for Infectious InfectiousDisease Disease FloridaDepartment DepartmentofofHealth Health• •FloridaHealth.gov FloridaHealth.gov Florida

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ngs tion Florida Health Office of Communications 03-05-20 Florida Health Office of Communications 03-05-20

16

• 7. 30.2020

WMG Volume 7 • Issue 15 July 30, 2020

Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE

COVID-19

New Cases of COVID-19 Remain Steady in Wilton Manors

By Jason Parsley The total number of cases in Wilton has paused much of its reopening plans Manors as of Tuesday now stands at 231, while Broward County has implemented a up from 206 a week ago, according to data nightly curfew and new restrictions have obtained from the Florida Department been placed on certain businesses.

“The City of Wilton Manors continues to of Health. That’s a 12% increase over the prior week — slightly more than the 10% ‘think outside the box’ to see how we can deliver services and provide relief to our rise two weeks ago.

Meanwhile Oakland Park experienced stakeholders. We have assisted Restaurant Owners by providing a 17% increase in the last outdoor dining spaces for week — down from 33% patrons,” Wilton Manors the week before.

City Commissioner Julie Over the past 30 days Carson previously told there’s been a 72% rise in SFGN. “The City’s Code confirmed cases in Wilton Enforcement Department Manors. But those numbers is responding to numerous pale in comparison to violations of the County’s Oakland Park whose most recent Emergency numbers have almost Order. Code Officers are quadrupled in that same working additional hours to time period. educate, assist and compel At the end of May new compliance. Violations of weekly cases in Wilton safety protocols in Broward Manors had dropped to County can be reported by just 1. In May there were - Julie Carson WILTON MANORS CITY dialing 311.”

30 new cases. In June, 22.

COMMISSIONER According to FDOH as of Meanwhile in this month, Tuesday, 51,657 people have there have already been 87 tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward new cases.

The total cases in Wilton Manors comes County — that’s more than 3 times the to about 1.8% of the population. In Oakland number from 30 days ago. So far 607 have Park it’s about 1.8%. For comparison the died in the county.

In Fort Lauderdale there have been percentage of positive tests in Florida 11,758 cases, up from 3,182, 30 days ago. comes to about 2% of the population.

As Broward County and the rest of the Next door in Oakland Park the number is state has reopened, Florida has set multiple up to 829.

There are 436,867 confirmed cases in records for the number of daily coronavirus cases in the last 30 days. South Florida Florida, more than 4.4 million in the U.S.,

“WE HAVE ASSISTED RESTAURANT OWNERS BY PROVIDING OUTDOOR DINING SPACES FOR PATRONS.”

A mask and gloves. Photo via Pixabay.

and globally more than 16.7 million. So far there have been 6,117 deaths in Florida, 151,000 in the U.S. and globally more than 660,000. More than 900 Floridians have died in the last week.

“In all events, acting responsibly by wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands often are the only solutions to mitigating this pandemic,” Carson previously said. WMG

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7. 3 0 . 20 20 •

17

OPINION

Portland Manors When the police come knocking…

July 30, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 15 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre  Photo via Pixabay.

In the early morning hours one day last week, I was roused from a sound sleep by someone pounding on my front door. At first, I thought it was part of a dream. Why would someone be pounding my front door at 5 a.m.? Then it happened again, loud, harsh, bam, bam, bam. The noise was aggressive, made with some type of instrument, meant to be loud, meant to be ominous, and meant to demand immediate attention.

In my early-morning haze, still attempting to rationalize what was happening, my mind went off on a few quick tangents. Were we under siege by President Trump’s DHS Stormtroopers, did our police department become the latest arm of the far right insurgency, was there confusion with some other residence housing illegal aliens or political dissidents that needed rounding up, families separated and deported?

Approaching the door cautiously and ready to dial 911 on my cell phone, I looked to see the familiar face of a Wilton Manors Police officer standing at my door, backed up by the canine officer and their dog.

Deciding to unlock the door and engage our two officers as to what was happening, I was quickly informed that a neighbor had been burglarized and that they wanted to search our yard for one of the suspects.

Needing a key to unlock the gates was the reason for this early morning rousing, and I immediately stepped outside to unlock the gate. Once again, my mind went off to a different place. I chuckled at the thought of being thankful that our city did not purchase body cams for our police officers. No proof of what one looks like at 5 a.m. What a relief!

No back-office laughter from the ranks running the video clip of me in boxer shorts with my belly sticking out from under an old t-shirt. Not ready for close-ups at that hour, Mr. DeMille.

As the sounds of the approaching police helicopter snapped my attention back to the matters at hand, I retreated back into the house as instructed. By now, the rest of the house was awake, including our two vicious and ready to attack guard dogs, who just minutes ago did not make a sound or move from under the covers when I was answering the pounding on the door. Hmmm, thanks you two. No need to bark and look to see what was going on now, but off they went making lots of noise. Since getting back to sleep was no longer an option, the coffee started to brew.

WMG Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kimberly Swan

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com News Editor • Sallie James

Correspondents

Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com

Wondering and concerned about an early morning break-in of one of our neighbors, we did what all concerned residents do at the sound of a police helicopter overhead: We turned to social media. To our surprise, the answer was actually there. Our neighbor had already posted that her car that was burglarized, that one suspect was caught by our police department, and the other was on the run.

Later that day, thinking about my initial reactions, one has many reasons to be fearful of the sound of authorities pounding on your door in the early morning hours. This is the world Trump has created as he dispatches troops throughout our cities.

Fear is a tool successfully being used to manipulate and divert our attention away from the unlawful practices of those in power today. Not the America I want to see, but unfortunately the one many others want as they chant, “Let’s make America great again.”

Scary times ahead as we get closer to Election Day. Many frightening scenarios should have everyone on edge.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, our Island City, like many local governments, look to our nation’s capital for relief.

Unfortunately, many in Washington see no need to help local municipalities deal with the downturn of the economy brought on

by the pandemic.

So, our city keeps their fingers crossed, hopeful for the best-case scenario in regards to this upcoming fiscal year’s budget, while planning for difficult times ahead.

Recent budget hearings and city workshops offer a sobering reality of what lies ahead for our Island City. Tough choices will have to be made by our elected officials and city management. At last night’s Budget Workshop, our City Commission heard from Michael Bracchi, Chair of the city’s Budget Review Advisory Committee, who along with fellow committee members offered their budget recommendations.

Comments from Commissioner Julie Carson raised some eyebrows when she talked about lowering the vacation rental fee. Just a reminder to those running in the upcoming city election, resident homeowners and full-time renters vote in our municipal elections, vacation rental business owners usually do not.

Having strong neighborhoods protected by a wonderful police department, with robust code enforcement, and requesting those business owners who operate vacation rentals in our single-family neighborhoods be properly licensed and to pay appropriate fees are part of what makes life just better here… WMG

Sal Torre has been a columnist for the Wilton Manors Gazette since its inception. Sal has served on the Wilton Drive Task Force, Budget Review Advisory Board, and Charter Review Board, among others. Sal is currently President of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors and Secretary for the Friend of the Wilton Manors Library. He is employed with Broward County in the Human Services Division.

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Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com.

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Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.

Photo credit: Brendon Lies.

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• 7. 3 0.2020

2 •

July 30, 2020

POLITICS

Tom Green Named Acting Mayor of Wilton Manors

By Sallie James

Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green, pictured next to Wilton Manors City Hall. Photos via Facebook.

Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green will become “Acting Mayor” later this month when he is officially named by resolution to the post. The city has been without a mayor since Justin Flippen died suddenly of a brain aneurysm Feb. 25.

His colleagues on the City Commission agreed by consensus July 14 that Green should have the title to eliminate some of the confusion Green has encountered because he still goes by the title “Vice Mayor.”

“It’s very nice. There won’t be any difference in what I have been doing. There has been a lot of confusion on what my title is,” Green said.

Employees at Wilton Manors City Hall refer to Green as “Vice Mayor.” The mayors who attend Broward County’s weekly mayor calls to discuss COVID-19 updates refer to him as “Mayor,” even though he’s not; and the National League of Cities has been

NEWS

Victory Fund Endorses Carson’s Campaign For Wilton Manors Mayor

By John McDonald In a new round of endorsements, the LGBTQ Victory Fund announced its support of Julie Carson’s bid to become Mayor of Wilton Manors.

A triathlete, foster mother and sitting Commissioner, Carson is seeking to fill the vacant mayorship left by the sudden death of Justin Flippen in February. Carson told SFGN she feels her campaign is in good shape.

“I’m out on the streets, doing social distancing but making sure I’m present and accountable,” Carson said. “I hope for the opportunity to continue in service and also push forward some of Justin’s legacies.”

The mayoral election is November 3.

Elsewhere, Florida House candidates Javier Estevez (District 105) and Ricky Junquera (District 118) were upgraded to spotlight endorsements.

“Both candidates are critical to ending the anti-LGBTQ majority in the Florida state

Julie Carson. Photo via Facebook.

House,” reads a Victory Fund press release.

The Victory Fund has endorsed 240 candidates thus far with 14 coming from Florida. WMG

• • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • •

calling Green “Acting Mayor” since Flippen’s death.

The mayor’s slot has been empty since Flippen died. The Supervisor of Elections told the city in March a special election couldn’t be held until the Aug. 18 primary.

“We only have four commission meetings between that time and the November election, it didn’t make sense,” Commissioner Paul Rolli previously said.

Because of ambiguity in the language of the City Charter, City Attorney Kerry Ezrol told commissioners they could use their own discretion as to whether or not to fill the slot.

They left it vacant, to be filled during the November election. “[Green] really felt this would allow his work to be a little easier,” said Commissioner Julie Carson. “He said it has become very difficult to be the vice mayor at the meetings of the mayors.” WMG

THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TOLD THE CITY IN MARCH A SPECIAL ELECTION COULDN’T BE HELD UNTIL THE AUG. 18 PRIMARY.

HAVE YOU JOINED THE GAZETTE’S FACEBOOK GROUP? Visit Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette to join the discussion.

The Gazette welcomes feedback for its community initiative.

Email Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com with comments, suggestions, etc.

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19

PHOTOS

Fresh Food Giveaway ON TUESDAY, JULY 28, LOCAL VOLUNTEERS HOWARD ANDREW AND DAWN HOLLOWAY SPENT THE AFTERNOON OUTSIDE OF HUNTERS, WHERE THEY DISTRIBUTED FREE VEGETABLES AND FRUIT TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE STRUGGLING DUE TO COVID-19.

Photos

By Stephen Lang

Joel Slotnik (left), Howard Andrew, Dawn Holloway, and Kevin Clevenger.

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Jamie Forsythe stands with a box of donations.

Recipients were encouraged to practice social distancing during pick-up.

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• 7. 30.2020

COMMUNITY

‘Parade of Orchids’ Spruces Up Park in Oakland Park

By Christiana Lilly With the “Parade of Orchids” set to Singapore Botanic Gardens’ initiative to plant take place in July, Rich Ackerman walked orchids to urban spaces. After propagating through Oakland Park’s Stunson Park. He local orchid breeds in the lab, they were was impressed with the park’s bevy of native planted around the island and have added a plants, and all it needed next was native welcome addition to the Asian island.

With Fairchild’s new micropropagation orchids climbing from the trees.

Ackerman, the president of the Fort laboratory, scientists are able to specifically Lauderdale Orchid Society, visited the park identify if a plant hails from Miami or Palm alongside Dr. Jason Downing of Fairchild Beach by examining its DNA sequencing.

Tropical Botanic Garden. Together with their With this information, it helps staff know groups, along with the Equality Garden Club where the plant will best thrive.

When he heard about the initiative, in Wilton Manors, they have been working to make the Million Orchid Project a reality, and Ackerman was eager for his club to expand the project into Broward County. After signing Oakland Park was next.

With speakers from the city and members a contract with the garden two years ago, the of both botanical groups present, 100 orchids club’s volunteers have been on the move ever were planted at the park in an event dubbed since, collecting native seeds, propagating the “Parade of Orchids.” The park was named roots, and planting them.

“The original population of these plants for the late Oakland Park City Manager John kind of got wiped out. But if Stunson, a fitting move as he they’re reintroduced, they will loved nature.

WITH THE 100 thrive,” Ackerman said. “We’re “Our family is pleased that putting them back into the the trail named in his honor PLANTS TIED TO environment where they were will be enhanced with so many TREES — THEIR originally found.” beautiful orchids,” his wife, ROOTS WILL And the Million Orchid Shelley, said in a press release.

Project has not only been a work “We hope people of all ages EVENTUALLY BOND of science, but a community. will visit and appreciate how TO THE TREE, AS Fairchild has worked with something so breathtaking was IT IS A PARASITIC schoolchildren, municipalities, made possible by the kindness of so many.”

PLANT — IN ABOUT and public parks to spread the beauty of orchids.

With the 100 plants tied A YEAR THE PARK Oakland Park’s “Parade of to trees — their roots will WILL BE BLOOMING Orchids” is one of the county’s eventually bond to the tree, as major plantings. Flowers have it is a parasitic plant — in about WITH ORCHIDS. also been planted at Broward a year the park will be blooming College-South Campus, with orchids.

“This project will create a beautiful and Riverland Manors and Colee Hammock in harmonious space of reflection,” Oakland Fort Lauderdale. Boy Scouts in Davie have Park Mayor Matthew Sparks said in a also participated in the project.

Boasting 300 members, the Fort press release. “We envision the orchids as a stunning tribute to the first responders, Lauderdale Orchid Club is an award-winning medical professionals, and Oakland Park group, being the only group to win the employees whose commitment to serving our American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award twice. community has never wavered.”

“Our orchid society would love to make These plants are a part of a larger goal, the One Million Orchids Project, spearheaded by relationships with garden clubs all over Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Broward County to act as an agent to get these Gables. With native orchids wiped out of plants out to the clubs for their members and their habitats, the scientists at the facility for retirement homes and their community, are trying to bring the unique flowers back to for the city or the town park,” Ackerman said.

“We’re going to have tens of thousands of South Florida.

The staff at Fairchild were inspired by orchids next year.” WMG

Onlookers watch as an orchid is carefully installed. Photo credit: Michael Murphy.

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Guests were treated with demonstrations.

Photo credit: Michael Murphy.

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21

PHOTOS

Getting Wet For A Photos

By J.R. Davis

Good Cause

ON SUNDAY, JULY 26 AT JOHNSONS FORT LAUDERDALE, THE DANCERS OF JOHNSONS HANDED OUT MASKS — AND A FEW GOOD LOOKS — WHILE CLEANING VEHICLES TO RAISE MONEY.

Johnsons owner Matt Colunga with his team.

From left to right: Johnsons stars Angelo and Brian, Casey of The Grand Resort and Spa, and Omar, star barman at Johnsons.

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• 7. 30.2020

COVID-19

NEWS

135 New Cases of COVID-19 These Upcoming Projects in Oakland Park Last Week; in Wilton Manors Are Worth Total Stands at 829 Every Penny – Literally

By Jason Parsley

By Sallie James July has seen a dramatic rise in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oakland Park compared to the previous two months with 587 new cases so far this month, compared to 159 in total for May and June.

As of Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Health, the total number of cases in Oakland Park now stands at 829, up from 694 a week ago — a 19% increase. That’s a sharp decline from two weeks ago when the cases rose 33% and the week before that 52%.

At the end of May new weekly cases in Oakland Park had slowed to a trickle. In May there were 30 new cases. In June, 129.

“It has been reported that approximately 80% of new cases are family or household related,” Oakland Park City Commissioner Tim Lonergan previously told SFGN. “Kids and young adults are socializing with their friends and bringing the virus home and infecting other members of the household.”

The total cases in Oakland Park come to about 1.8% of the population. Next door in Wilton Manors it’s also about 1.8%. For comparison the percentage of positive tests in Florida amounts to 2% of the population.

The Mayor of Oakland Park, Matthew Sparks noted last week that the positivity rate has also been increasing since early June – from 2% on June 2 to 22% on July 22.

“So clearly we have a problem,” Sparks previously told SFGN. Sparks reiterates everyone needs to mask up in order to get the virus under control.

As Broward County and the rest of the state has reopened, Florida has set multiple records for the number of daily coronavirus cases in the last 30 days. South Florida has paused much of its reopening plans while Broward County has implemented a nightly curfew and new restrictions have been placed on certain businesses.

According to FDOH as of Tuesday, 51,657 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward County — that’s more than 3 times the number from 30 days ago. So far 607 have died in the county.

In Fort Lauderdale there have been 11,758

A woman wearing a mask. Photo via Pxhere.

cases, up from 3,182, 30 days ago. Next door in Oakland Park the number is up to 829.

There are 436,867 confirmed cases in Florida, more than 4.4 million in the U.S., and globally more than 16.7 million. So far there have been 6,117 deaths in Florida, 151,000 in the U.S. and globally more than 660,000. More than 900 Floridians have died in the last week.

For more local information Lonergan pointed to the Oakland Park Coronavirus Call Center Hotline the city set up at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “to answer questions and redirect residents to the resources they may find helpful.” He also directed residents to this webpage on the city’s website for “a wealth of knowledge, resources and links related to the pandemic.”

Last month the City launched a campaign to encourage residents to shop local with the “Find it in Oakland Park” campaign. Find more information at www.bit.ly/3f5oW3D (casesensitive). WMG

THE TOTAL CASES IN OAKLAND PARK COME TO ABOUT 1.8% OF THE POPULATION.

Visit Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette to join the Gazette’s community Facebook page.

New bus shelters; resurfaced roads; and new landscaping and irrigation along Wilton Drive are among several city projects that will be funded by money from a penny sales tax that voters approved back in 2018.

The Broward County Commission approved the 30-year, one percent surtax for transportation in November 2018, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The County Commission then approved several transportation surtaxfunded projects for the City of Wilton Manors.

“The projects went through a lengthy ranking and approval process in June,” according to Wilton Manors City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson. An interlocal agreement has to be negotiated with the county for each project, she noted.

Funding will be available sometime in October or shortly thereafter, she said. At that time, each project will have to be put out to bid. The county also wants to review all the bids, she added.

Here’s a list of the approved projects:

WILTON DRIVE LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION The county allocated $287,532 for this project, which will beautify the ongoing improvements to Wilton Drive in the city’s downtown.

Irrigation and additional landscaping will be installed within the existing right of way. Work will take place in roadway “bump outs” and also in sidewalk areas.

WAYFINDING PROGRAM The county allocated $639,650 for this project, which consists of various directional and informational signs to be placed throughout the city. The signs will be designed to help people navigate their way around Wilton Manors and improve commutes by providing consistent information.

BUS SHELTERS The county allocated $180,000 to construct and redesign bus shelters throughout Wilton Manors, as well as build a new bus shelter on NE 16th Avenue.

Photo edited by Brendon Lies.

NE 15TH AVE./NE 24TH ST. ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND SIDEWALKS The county allocated $629,804 for this traffic-calming project, which will provide raised intersections and new crosswalks.

Five foot-wide sidewalks will be installed on the south side of NE 24th Street between NE 15th Avenue and Metropolitan.

STREET IMPROVEMENTS ON NE 26TH STREET FROM FIVE POINTS TO MIDDLE RIVER The county allocated $240,000 for this project to widen the sidewalks on both sides of the road so they are ADA compliant.

STREET RESURFACING THROUGHOUT THE CITY The county allocated $4,410,734 for this project, which includes resurfacing three sections of city roads in the center part of Wilton Manors. WMG

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7. 3 0 . 20 20 •

23

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Stay diligent, wear a mask, and greet each other with kindness

Congregation Etz Chaim

2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus www.EtzChaimFlorida.org / RSVP HERE: info@etzchaimflorida.org All Services LIVE-streamed on Facebook, and posted on website

Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 s. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www,churchofoursaviormcc.org

SPIRITUALITY

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“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 2917 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors, FL 33334 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org

Until further notice: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, our worship services are streamed on Facebook Live every Sunday at 10 AM, rather than held at our church property. https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our web site for more details & updates.

954-633-2987

A home for your spirit.

Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday Mass at 11 & 3 in English • All are welcome!

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CONVICTIONS

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• 7. 30.2020

Jesse’s Journal

Jesse Monteagudo

A

few weeks ago, my boyfriend Ron and I left town and spent a weekend at Vitambi Springs, the popular wilderness resort and campground near Clewiston, for rest and relaxation. Not surprisingly, Vitambi Springs had changed to fit the new normal.

The once-popular Bolo Café and Bongo Bar were closed; and Vitambi discouraged its guests from treating the resort as a party or a playground. The few of us who were there kept our social distance from each other, even at the clothing-optional swimming pool and at the Saturday night bonfire.

But there is a pandemic going on and sacrifices must be made, for our sake and the sake of our fellow campers. Even so, Ron is my favorite person and Vitambi Springs is my favorite place and a weekend with Ron at Vitambi makes me happy no matter what the circumstances are.

Back home, COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc with our lives, our economy, and our culture. Personally, I have much to be grateful for. Not only was I fortunate enough to avoid the virus (thus far), but I have been able to lead a close to normal life, unlike some of my friends. Though much of my social life is virtual (thanks to Zoom) I still go out to shop, to exercise at the gym, visit friends, eat at restaurants, and spend time with Ron. In each case I try my best to obey the protocols; to wear my face masks and observe social distance. Speaking of face masks; there are so many unusual and colorful masks out there that it is hard to keep up with them. Even so, I will try my best to collect as many of them as time, money and common sense would allow. I will be a face mask model; and each time I acquire a new mask I will take a selfie and post it on Facebook. (It sure beats dancing

in my underwear for Tik Tok.) I await your suggestions.

Meanwhile, my home state of Florida has become the new epicenter for COVID-19, which is nothing to brag about. Misgoverned as we are by our Trumpist Governor Ron DeSantis, Floridians came out of hiding all too soon, crowding our beaches and bars and clubs and restaurants and swimming pools.

Local efforts to restrict unsafe behavior does not seem to do much good, and it is only a matter of time before the Sunshine State goes back into lockdown. (We might be in a lockdown by the time you read this article.) I hope not. A second lockdown will damage our economy and drive most small businesses out of existence.

But life goes on, and the U.S. is headed towards a momentous election, if not a second civil war. The American people are divided on virtually everything, even the way we deal with this pandemic. Most of our leaders from the White House to the doghouse seem woefully inadequate to do their jobs in a year when we face multiple troubles: economic crisis, racial unrest, climate change and, of course, COVID-19. We need leaders who will guide us through these and other disasters. So, stay healthy, put on your face masks, and VOTE.

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.

CONVICTIONS

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Off The Wall

CONVICTIONS

10 ETIQUETTE TIPS

IN THE

AGE OF COVID

Pier Angelo

J

udith Martin, better known by the pen name Miss Manners, is an American journalist, author, and etiquette authority.

Beginning in 1978, Martin commenced to write an advice column, which is now distributed three times a week by Universal Uclick and carried in more than 200 newspapers worldwide. In the column, she answers etiquette questions contributed by her readers and writes short essays on problems of manners , or clarifies the essential qualities of politeness.

In the age of COVID-19 nerves are fried, fuses are short and tempers are easily lost. To navigate these tough times we need to restore good manners.

Taking a cue from Miss Manners, here are ten pieces of advice from SFGN:

1. HOW SHOULD WE GREET PEOPLE?

4. HOW TO SAY NO

Avoid the handshakes, choose a phrase like “I’m so happy to see you/meet you, would love to shake hands but let’s wait until 2021.”

The best way to decline is to say: “Thank you for the invitation, I would love to come but right now I will take a rain check and look forward to seeing you in the future.”

2. ARE YOU AFRAID THEY WILL GET OFFENDED?

5. WHAT IF SOMEONE LUNGES FOR A HUG?

Then say: ”I would normally shake your hand but at the moment I will not.”

Clasp your hands in front of you (do not jump back) offer a bow or a nod, say something funny like: “I’m keeping my hands to myself.”

3. SHOULD I ATTEND A SOCIAL EVENT? Communication is the key. Don’t be afraid to ask for more details about an event you have been invited to: is it outdoors or indoors? Number of people attending, is the food to be shared off a buffet, what is the mask protocol, how can social distancing be kept.

#9

WALK AWAY, AVOID A CONFRONTATION THAT CAN ESCALATE, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND WEAR YOUR MASK. 28

• 7. 30.2020

6. WHAT IF FAMILY ASKS TO VISIT? Honesty is the best approach. Just say: “We are very cautious at the moment, we are trying not to expose ourselves to people.

Let’s wait a little longer, hopefully this too shall pass.”

7. CAN YOU ASK SOMEONE TO WEAR A MASK? For hired help or services like plumbers, electricians, cleaning ladies, etc: greet them outside the house and if they do not have a mask ask them: “Do you mind wearing a mask while inside?”

Have a few spare masks ready and offer them one.

Photo via Adobe.

8. WHAT ABOUT FRIENDS

10. HOW MUCH TO TIP?

Again be honest: “You know I am a bit paranoid about COVID. I would feel more comfortable, for both our sake, if you put on a mask.”

Essential workers are risking virus exposure to do their jobs. Many in the service and hospitality industry are hurting therefore we should, according of course to our financial situation, tip to the point of pain. 15% or 20% doesn’t really cut it right now. Starting at 40% isn’t out of the question. If you cannot afford it at least do not undertip, and always thank them profusely.

9. WHAT ABOUT A TOTAL STRANGER? Walk away, avoid a confrontation that can escalate, keep your distance and wear your mask

We went to sleep in one world and woke up in a different one. We have to adjust if we want to be part of a healthy society once again. For us to survive, we have to change.

BE SAFE, BE HEALTHY, WEAR A MASK, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

Pier Angelo was born in Italy, moved to England at the age of 17 and learned English at the Nelson School of English. He attended college and graduate school in Manhattan. In 2009 he founded SFGN with Norm Kent. Now he’s retired with his husband Tom and his Affenpinscher Cabbage. He still enjoys writing his column Off The Wall for SFGN.

FEATURE PETS

KALLY IS A

C U T I E!

KALLY

Adorable Kally (ID 632690) needs a home that’ll shower her with love. Kally hasn’t had the best life so far and she’s just over a year old.

She needs a family that will play with her, take her for walks and give her a comfy bed to sleep in. Sadly her former owner kept her in the backyard 24/7 and didn’t teach her anything. Kally does get along with older kids and other dogs, and a feline free home will be best… she likes to chase cats. Do you have room in your heart and home for her?

If you would like to meet a pet, please visit www.humanebroward.com . The banners rotate so click on the one that says COVID-19 update adoptions and essential services update and scroll down a little bit. There you will find an application for adoption and other pertinent information. Complete the application (even if you have adopted before) and submit it. Please be patient, as the shelter is getting lots of applications daily. Adoptions are being done by appointment only now. For more information call 954-989-3977 ext. 6 The vaccine clinic remains open Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4:30 PM no appointment necessary, credit cards only.

FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN COMING TO THE SHELTER.

VOTE AUGUST 18th

DEMOCRAT

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SHERIFF FOR BROWARD COUNTY

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29

Guest Column

CONVICTIONS

FOR TRANSGENDER FLORIDIANS, STIGMA AND FEAR OF ARREST COULD LEAD TO NEW HIV CRISIS Tatiana Williams

T

here’s another public health crisis laying in the shadows of COVID-19, and it’s completely preventable: HIV. More than 20,000 people are living with HIV in Fort Lauderdale — and more than 100,000 across Florida. New HIV infections have been increasing in Florida every year since 2013, and the state’s budget for combating HIV increased 15% between 2015 and 2018.

HIV currently has a disproportionate impact on certain communities. Only one in four people in Fort Lauderdale are Black, but they represent nearly half the city’s population of people living with HIV. Latinas are twice as likely as white women in Fort Lauderdale to be living with HIV. Transgender people are 49 times more likely than cisgender people to have HIV. Transgender people also face high rates of violence, with transgender people of color being particularly impacted. In 2019, more than 20 transgender people were killed, virtually all of them Black or Latinx. Far too often, their names don’t make the news, names like Tony McDade or Bree Black, both of whom were killed in Florida this year.

WHEN OUR OWN STATE GOVERNMENT IS LABELING THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AS CRIMINALS, IT PERPETUATES STIGMA. IT CREATES A FEAR OF BASIC EDUCATION, GETTING TESTED OR TALKING ABOUT HIV, EVEN WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

30

• 7. 30.2020

Transgender people of color, and in particular transgender women of color, face layers of stigma. Transphobia, racism, and sexism all take a toll on a person and make them more vulnerable in many aspects of their life, including being more likely to contract HIV. We have the tools and knowledge to stop HIV in its tracks. Taking simple precautions greatly minimizes transmission. Testing can offer quick results. And drug regimens can treat people living with HIV and prevent it from spreading. But a lack of understanding and prejudice against people living with HIV prevents us from taking advantage of these tools. Money is not the issue — the law is.

Florida’s very tough HIV criminalization laws have made a bad situation worse. In Florida, having consensual sex, donating blood or organs, or engaging in sex work without disclosing one’s HIV status is a thirddegree felony, which could lead to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The law doesn’t take into account whether protection is used, if people maintain a drug regimen that virtually eliminates any chance of passing on the disease, or the fact that blood is screened — for many diseases, including HIV — before being donated.

Not only are HIV criminalization laws antiquated and discriminatory, they have a devastating impact on public health and the perception of HIV. When our own state government is labeling those living with HIV as criminals, it perpetuates stigma. It creates a fear of basic education, getting tested or talking about HIV, even with friends and family. It’s hard to blame them considering five years in jail is a possibility.

Our state has created a vicious cycle:

At a trans-inclusive town hall on HIV in Fort Lauderdale, participants discuss Florida’s tough HIV criminalization laws, which have made a bad situation worse when it comes to transgender people getting tested and treated for HIV. Courtesy of the Sun Sentinel.

people choose to not know their status out of fear of repercussions. Therefore, they don’t receive treatment, leading to more people unknowingly spreading the disease.

Criminalizing and stigmatizing HIV only leads to more HIV infections.

Earlier this month, the results of the “GLAAD-Gilead State of HIV Stigma Survey” were published, measuring attitudes towards HIV, and the results showed we still have a long way to go. Nearly 6 in 10 Americans wrongfully believe that “it is important to be careful around people living with HIV to avoid catching it.” That’s not true and the medical community has known this for decades. But when it’s difficult to educate people on the disease, misinformation spreads and has a damaging impact on public health.

Knowing that transgender people are more likely to be affected by HIV, at TransInclusive, we spend a considerable amount of time reaching out to that community. When you add the stigma transgender people face to the stigma that surrounds HIV, it makes our outreach efforts that much harder. Moreover, it becomes even more difficult to ensure transgender people have the resources needed to prevent the spread of HIV. The survey found that one in two Americans would be uncomfortable with a partner or spouse living with HIV, which only increases the disproportionate impact HIV has on transgender people, considering they have the highest rates of infection. Ignoring these disparities will only continue to harm the communities most at risk of contracting HIV.

Tatiana Williams is the co-founder and executive director of Transinclusive Group, which works with the transgender community in Fort Lauderdale.

CONVICTIONS

Guest Column

JOHN LEWIS WOULD WANT US TO

VOTE AND VOTE SAFELY Joe Scott

John Lewis. Photo credit: Lorie Shaull, via Flickr.

A

tireless, fearless, life-long fighter for equality and voting rights, John Lewis told us: “we must ensure every vote and every voter counts.”

He lies in state today with his legacy under attack and the House of Representatives playing defense, attempting in his name to restore and strengthen overturned provisions of the Voting Rights Act. In Florida, the Republicancontrolled legislature has worked to suppress the vote, blocking expanded mail-in voting and frustrating the populace’s overwhelming vote to restore the civil rights of over a million former felons who have served their time and are therefore returning citizens.

To honor John Lewis and all our other heroes who have fought and bled for our freedoms over the years, we must all exercise our right to vote.

As I write, voting by mail is already underway for local primary and judicial elections on Aug. 18 that are crucial to our future. The State has

already missed the opportunity to protect citizens and poll workers by sending every voter a vote-by-mail ballot.

With COVID-19 surging out of control, it is important that everyone request a vote-by-mail ballot before the Aug. 8 deadline, to have the option of mailing or dropping off your ballot. The alternative is to vote very carefully in person during early voting from Aug. 8-16, or on Election Day at your normal polling station.

We honor and serve our community by voting and supporting our candidates of choice in every way possible.

John Lewis would be proud to see us help the elderly and disabled get to a polling place and help anyone who might need assistance requesting a vote-by-mail ballot on the BrowardSOE.org website. Now, more than ever, America needs us all engaged and giving our all to ensure every voter is heard. Thank you in advance for doing your part.

Joe Scott is a current Democratic candidate for Broward County Supervisor of Elections who credits the inspiration of John Lewis for encouraging him to make a difference and run for office.

7. 3 0 . 20 20 •

31

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

WE’VE NEVER BEEN ‘THE BOYS’ Photo via PxHere.

Brian McNaught

M

y grandmother referred to us as, “the boys,” but Ray and I have never encouraged such thinking by other straight people. Since coming together as a couple in 1976, we’ve always been out, no matter where we traveled, and no matter whose company we shared. We never avoided having them think of us as sexual. Further, we never assimilated for the sake of acceptance.

“The boys,” is a term of affection, but it has always struck me as one that unconsciously diminished my status as a man who was in love with, who had sex with, and whose family was with another man.

“The boys,” is a totally non-threatening term, like, “the girls.” “The boys are bringing dinner. The girls are bringing dessert.” But, being designated as, “the boys,” in my mind, played into the stereotype that gay guys aren’t “real men.”

They’re the boys that we like to have around because they’re helpful, fun, interesting, and aware of women’s feelings.

I’m not a hard ass about this. I would never correct you if you referred to Ray and me as, “the boys.” I wouldn’t say in response, “Hey, we’re sexual, gay ‘men,’ not, ‘boys’.” But, we never played the role of “the boys,” except perhaps with my grandmother, whose home we decorated, and whose meals we prepared for her holiday parties. For her, and her friends, we could be “The boys.”

In going through old photo albums, I’ve observed that in all of our world travel, we never attempted to “pass,” to fly under the radar, with tour guides, and other service personnel, or with other gay travelers who felt the need to be discreet. We never outed others, but we never went back into the closet. This was as true in Singapore as it was in Rome.

Heterosexuals take their lead from gay people, just as white people do from People of Color. If those who are aware of their lack of cultural awareness sense fear or embarrassment from those whose existence unsettles them, they will gladly remain in the position of dominance. It’s more comfortable to behave benevolently with “different” people than it is to share equal status. That’s why it’s so important for us to take the lead.

The other night, for instance, in the company of sociallydistanced heterosexual friends, I was explaining why a particular male individual was unaware of something that needed doing. “He’s a straight man,” I said. “He doesn’t see it.”

I watched the straight women in the group laugh knowingly.

They know too well that their straight husbands and sons often won’t notice, for example, that the toilet paper roll needs replacing. The straight men in the group initially laughed, but quizzically. “Was this gay male friend just making fun of straight men? Do they dare? Do we care? And, why is my wife laughing in agreement?”

BEING DESIGNATED AS, “THE BOYS,” IN MY MIND, PLAYED INTO THE STEREOTYPE THAT GAY GUYS AREN’T “REAL MEN.”

32

• 7. 30.2020

It’s my experience that straight men are much more comfortable with self-assured gay men than they are with self-conscious gay men. They want to relax, to be able to laugh, to not worry about making a mistake. A selfassured gay man will call them on their lack of awareness, but not with the anger that can accompany insecurity. Comfortable gay men, lesbians, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are beyond overreacting, as well as beyond acting like a person who needs constant reassurance.

Ray and I have never felt the need to shock straight people with displays of sexual intimacy, but if the situation called for it, we would hold the other, kiss, and dance slow together. That may have been shocking to those for whom it was a new sight, but that wasn’t our motivation. We were motivated by self-love, and self-actualization.

A family member recently commented that the reason people were so comfortable with Ray and me was that we “don’t act gay.” Many gay men and lesbians take that as a huge compliment, but I always feel queasy when I hear it because I don’t really know what constitutes “acting gay.”

Is it male effeminacy and female masculinity? I know

lots of effeminate gay men and butch lesbians who are so comfortable with themselves that everyone else is comfortable around them too. I think that, again, we’re talking about effeminate men and masculine women who appear insecure, needy, and consumed with the hope of acceptance. Confident LGBT people don’t need acceptance, and don’t tolerate tolerance.

If you’re straight, and take your lead from me, you’ll relax with your past behavior toward gay people, and with your current lack of knowledge, and you’ll laugh at yourself for the crazy things you assumed to be true about gay people.

If you’re interested in getting to know me, you’ll not want to start out with what you were told is said in the Bible. That can come later.

It’s OK if you’re not comfortable being with a self-loving, self-affirmed gay man. There’s plenty of room in the world for us both. I can help you avoid having your spouse, your child, or your colleague at work avoid you because of your views, if you want, but otherwise, you go be you, and I’ll go be me.

It’s also OK if you love me, and refer to me and Ray as “the boys,” but you should know that when you do it reminds me that I actually am no longer a boy. I’m a proud, happy, selfconfident, gay man.

Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The Godfather of gay diversity training.”

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• 7. 30.2020

GABLESTAGE DEBUTS THOUGHTPROVOKING VIRTUAL THEATER FESTIVAL J.W. Arnold

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s many regional theater companies pivot to livestreamed performances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, GableStage in Coral Gables is going one step further, launching ENGAGE@GableStage, an edgy two-month festival of newly commissioned works, most by local artists.

“GableStage’s Board of Directors created [the series] to replace the cancelled 2019-2020 season of live theater due to the COVID-19 shutdown,” said general manager Isabel Almaraz in an announcement for the series.

“The purpose of the program is to empower artists to create short-form digital content, in any artistic discipline, that remains consistent with GableStage’s mission of producing work that confronts today’s issues and ideas with innovative productions that entertain, educate, and challenge diverse audiences.”

The premieres were selected after a competitive application process, with submissions chosen that exemplify the multiple Carbonell Award-winning company’s values of “thought-provoking and engaging entertainment that also highlight a diverse group of artists, voices, and stories,” explained series director Margaret Ledford.

The series launches Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. with “Sight & Sound,” an original photomontage by photographer George Schiavone set to a newly created musical score by sound designer Matt Corey, “a retrospective and new perspective on GableStage productions of the past two decades.” The opening production also serves as a tribute to the company’s founder and artistic director, Joseph Adler, who died of cancer in April.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SERIES INCLUDE: “MY BLACK BODY” by Kunya Rowley, Aug. 7, is an interdisciplinary performance that will use song, spoken word, text, digital design, movement and photography to amplify the narrative of what it means to walk through life in a body that is black. Black art song and spirituals provide the foundation for this performance of celebration and reclamation of blackness that is part concert, part spoken word and wholly theatrical.

“A FLORIDA STORY” by Caleb Scott and Jessica Farr, Aug. 21, tells the stories of the hundreds of people whose anonymous faces constantly pop up in mug-shots and headlines all across Florida and become “Florida man” memes. These monologues give voice to the misunderstood and the misrepresented,

Kunya Rowley is one of the diverse artists commissioned to create new works for the ENGAGE@GableStage series opening this weekend. Credit: GableStage.

celebrating the secret trials and unspoken desires of the underdog, the outlier and the renegade.

“PRETTY BOY JOSH” by Joshua Hernandez, Aug. 28, explores the stigma of homosexuality in the Miami Latinx community, illustrates the dangers of hyper-masculinity and voices the possibility of living an optimistic queer life. Told through the lens of a gay, Latino and chronically ill young man, this piece utilizes video projections, voiceovers, movement, acting, archival footage and sound to express his personal story in a series of transitional multimedia waves.

“AMERICAN BULLET” by Rachel Finley, Sept. 4, is based on Finley’s own experience as a parent who learned there was an active shooter situation at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, her son’s school. In this multimedia performance, the playwright and performer combines music, film, spoken word poetry, acting, symbolic movement and innovative costuming to create a visceral exploration of America’s obsession with violence, munitions and the price of our “freedom.”

“We have a unique opportunity to capture such diverse voices in a short format. We — the board and myself — drilled down into the mission of GableStage and each of these pieces in their own way uphold that mission,” Ledford said, also noting the digital format will extend the local company’s audience globally. “It’s very exciting.”

ENGAGE@GableStage will premiere new works in the series on Fridays, July 31 – Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at GableStage.org. All performances are free.

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OUTDOOR CAMERATODAY! LIMITED TIME OFFER—CALL DOOR/WINDOW When you upgrade to ADT Ask about same-day installation!

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1-954-390-2356Pulse® + Video —$299 VALUE! $299 VALUE

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GIFT CARD: $100 Visa Gift Card fulfilled by Protect Your Home through third-party provider, Mpell, upon installation of a security system and execution of monitoring contract. $4.95 shipping and handling fee, gift cards can take up to 8 weeks to arrive after following the Mpell redemption process. BASIC SYSTEM: $99 Parts and Install. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64).

Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($671.76) for California. Offer applies See24-Month all off er details below. to homeowners only. Basic system requires landline phone. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Cannot be combined with any other offer. The $27.99 Offer does not include Quality Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. ADT Pulse: ADT Pulse Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Pulse”), which help you manage your home environment and family lifestyle, require the purchase and/or activation of an ADT alarm system with monitored burglary service and a compatible computer, cell phone or PDA with Internet and email access. These ADT Pulse services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Pulse equipment. All ADT Pulse services are not available with the various levels of ADT Pulse. All ADT Pulse services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the ADT Pulse features you desire.

ADT PULSE + VIDEO: ADT Pulse + Video installation is an additional $299. 36-month monitoring contract required from ADT Pulse + Video: $59.99 per month, ($2,159.64), including Quality Service Plan (QSP). Doorbell camera may not be available in all areas. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply.

Additional monitoring fees required for some services. For example, Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or activation of an ADT security system with monitored Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert devices and are an additional charge. Additional equipment may be purchased for an additional charge. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Prices subject to change. Prices may vary by market.

Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the exact product/service actually provided. Licenses: AL-21-001104, AR-CMPY.0001725 AZ-ROC217517, CA-ACO6320, CT-ELC.0193944-L5, DC-EMS902653, DC-602516000016, DE-07-212, FL-EC13003427, EC13003401, GA-LVA205395, IA-AS-0206, ID-ELE-SJ-39131, IL-127.001042, IN-C.P.D. Reg. No. – 19-08088, City of Indianapolis: LAC-000156, KY-City of Louisville: 483, LA-F1914, LA-F1915, LA-F1082, MA-1355C, MD-107-1626, ME-LM50017382, MI-3601205773, MN-TS01807, MO-City of St. Louis: CC#354, St. Louis County: 100194, MS-15007958,MT-PSP-ELS-LIC-247, NCGIFT CARD: $100 Visa Gift Card fulfilled by Protect Your Home through third-party provider, Mpell, upon installation of a security system and execution monitoring contract. $4.95 shipping and handling fee,Vegas: gift3000008296, cards can take up toby8 the weeks arrive after 25310-SP-FA/LV, NC-1622-CSA, NE-14451, NJ BurglarofAlarm Lic. # -NJ-34BF00021800, NM-353366, NV-0068518, City of Las NY-Licensed N.Y.S. to Department of Statefollowing UID#12000317691, NYS #12000286451,OH-53891446, the Mpell redemption process. BASIC SYSTEM: $99 Parts and Install. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 monthOR-170997, ($1,007.64).

24-Month Monitoring Agreement at $27.99 perRI-7508, monthSC-BAC5630, ($671.76) California.

OfferTX-B13734, appliesACR-3492, UT-6422596-6501, VA-115120, VTCity of Cincinnati: AC86, per OK-AC1048, Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration required Number: PA022999, RI-3582, SD- for 1025-7001-ET, TN-1520, ES-2382(7C),WA-602588694/ECPROTEYH934RS, WI-City of Milwaukee: PAS-0002966, WV-WV042433, WY-LV-G-21499.

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ADT Pulse services do notFor cover operation maintenance of any household are connected to the to ADTyour Pulsechecking equipment.or All savings account, satisfactory credit history is ADT Pulse services are not available with the various levels of ADT Pulse. All ADT Pulse services may not be available in all geographic areas. fees You may be required pay additional to purchaseBurglary, equipment Fire, required to utilizeMonoxide the ADT Pulseand features you desire.Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or ac Additional monitoring required for tosome services.charges For example, Carbon Emergency ADT PULSE + VIDEO: ADT Pulse + Video installation is an additional $299. 36-month monitoring contractdevices required from + Video: $59.99 per month, ($2,159.64), includingmay QualitybeService Plan (QSP). camera may not beAdditional available in allcharges may apply in areas that require guar and ADT are Pulse an additional charge.

Additional equipment purchased for Doorbell an additional charge. areas. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply.

Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may

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BUNDLE NOW. SAVE ALL YEAR. Now save $30/mo. for a whole year on a bundle with DIRECTV and AT&T Internet. w/24-mo. TV & 12-mo. Internet agmts & combined bill. Savings based on extra $10/mo. off for 12 mos. compared to previous price, plus $10/mo. discount on internet and $10/mo. bill credit for 12 mos. on TV when you bundle.

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Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call or go to www.att.com/internet to see if you qualify.

1-YR BUNDLE PRICE: Ends 6/27/20. Pricing: $79.98/mo for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rates apply (currently $85/mo. for SELECT TV Pkg.; $39.99/mo. for Internet), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Must maintain all qualifying services and service addresses must match to receive advertised pricing. Pricing subject to change. $5/mo. autopay/paperless billing discount for TV: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles.

First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. $10/mo. bundle discount for TV: Internet must be installed w/in 30 days of TV activation to receive credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain both qualifying svcs to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for bundled services. Includes: SELECT All-Included TV Pkg., Internet plans 768k to 100M, monthly service and equipment fees for one Genie HD DVR, and standard pro installation. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes $10/mo. internet equipment fee, applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. monthly fees for each extra receiver/DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. See att.com/fees for additional details. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit customers. †Must maintain a bundle of TV and Internet on a combined bill in order to receive unlimited data allowance at no add’l charge. Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo. For more info, go to www.att.com/internet-usage. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. The Addams Family: ©2019 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and BRON Creative MG1, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

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