Sun Times Issue 04 01 21

A Year Under Lockdown..................6A Classified........................................10A Elite Auctioneers..............................3A Hallandale Beach.................5A, 7A, 8A

Hollywood........................................8A Kodner Galleries...............................2A Pembroke Pines...............................8A Stepchildren: Unselfish Love............4A

A P R I L 1 , 2 0 2 1 • 1 0 PA G E S • V O L U M E 1 8 • I S S U E 2 8

AVENTURA • BAL HARBOUR • DANIA BEACH • HALLANDALE BEACH • HOLLYWOOD • NORTH MIAMI BEACH • PEMBROKE PINES • PEMBROKE PARK • SURFSIDE • SUNNY ISLES BEACH

A Year of COVID-19

Cancel Culture

A Look Back & A Look Ahead

Current Events Through A Historical Lens

By Bindu S. Mayi, M.Sc.., Ph.D.

Dr. James Finck, USAO History Professor

Six Dr. Seuss books won’t be published anymore: “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street”, “If I Ran the Zoo”, “McElligot’s Pool”, “On Beyond Zebra!”, “Scrambled Eggs Super!” and “The Cat’s Quizzer” With the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss, being the latest on the chopping block of what is being called “cancel culture,” it is once again worth taking a look at things, historically. First, was Dr. Seuss racist? Yes. I have not even investigated the supposedly racist books, but I know that he is a product of his time. In fact, if we have to ask of any historical personality, author, singer, actor, or politician before a certain time, if they were racist or sexist, then the answer is, yes.

Every time, yes. I am not saying they wore a white sheet and burned crosses, but by the standards of our time, every historical figure said or did something that was acceptable at their time, but, not in ours.

If we go back to the 19th century, most whites were overtly racist and sexist. It was completely acceptable, in their society. We are not talking about just slave holders, but, even those who fought against slavery, still did not think of Blacks as completely equal. Lincoln falls into Cancel Culture, Page 4A

Important Information Regarding COVID-19 Vaccinations

Vaccination by appointment only, will take place at the following locations in Broward County: • Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, 3700 Northwest 11th Place, Lauderhill, Florida 33311.

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Coral Square Mall, 9469 West Atlantic Boulevard, Coral Springs, Florida 33071. Hours: Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Lockhart Stadium, 1350 Northwest 55th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309. Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m.

• Pompano Beach Citi Center, 1955

This has been difficult to write, as I look back on half a million COVID-19 deaths, here, in the United States. I am heartbroken to say, that I knew a few of those, who passed away. There’s so much in life we have no control over, natural disasters, being one of them. Is a Pandemic a natural disaster, or, is it a perfectly engineered storm, that comes together when there are so many variables, lining up to allow, an unimpeded, spread?

Sixty percent of adults in the U.S. are living with at least one chronic medical condition, putting them in a category at high risk, for contracting COVID-19.

There are 28.9 million uninsured individuals in our country, this means, they won’t know, seek care or modify, any, high-risk behavior that compromises, their health. These facts are disheartening on their own, but, when you add in a Pandemic, you can quickly see, how dire, the situation can become.

When Johns Hopkins created the COVID-19 dashboard, making it easier to keep up with new cases and the number of deaths, very few could imagine, that we

COVID-19, Page 5A

A Look Back, Page 6A

Vaccination Site for 40+ Opens at TY Park in Hollywood This week, TY Park transitioned to an “open” COVID-19 Point of Distribution (POD) Vaccination Site for those 40 and over with an appointment. The Florida Department of Health (FDOH), in partnership with Broward County, have been vaccinating sworn Police and Fire Rescue personnel over the age of 40 and all school personnel, at this location for the past several weeks. On Monday, the site became an “open” POD to those 40 and over with an appointment. Additional important information regarding this site is as follows: • This Vaccination Site is open to those 40 and over from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

• An appointment is required to be vaccinated at this POD. Book your appointment on-line or by calling: 866.201.6313 (TTY-833-476-1526 for the TY Park location).

• Website: https://myvaccine.fl.gov/#/

• TY Park is closed for recreation on vaccination days. The park is open for recreation on Sundays and Mondays.

Florida Department of Health Broward Telephone Appointment System Appointments for COVID-19 Vaccination Sites operated by Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward) and can be scheduled using the State appointment telephone system by calling: 866-201-6313 (TTY: 833-476-1526). When calling for an appointment, you will be asked via an automated system to enter information using your telephone keypad. Live agents will then call you back to schedule an appointment, once they become available. Homebound Residents may request a vaccination at their residence, by sending an e-mail: homeboundvaccine@em.myflorida.com

When Johns Hopkins created the COVID-19 dashboard, making it easier to keep up with new cases and the number of deaths, very few could imagine that we would surpass 29 million cases in the US.

ceive their first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine at any DOHBroward sites through the telephone appointment system, will be called by the Call Center about 14 days after their first dose, to schedule a second dose appointment.

PLEASE NOTE: People who re-

The Price of Parental Peace Hats off to all parents out there - the unsung heroes of the past year who’ve been doing their best to keep all the plates spinning from home: from helping their kids with math fractions; to making three meals a day plus snacks; all while still maintaining a full-time day job, Zoom meetings and trying to keep the house tidy. It’s likely that many parents would do absolutely anything for an escape route at this point to recharge batteries for the year ahead, even if it meant paying out a significant number of dollars for a few days away from the chaos…

Leading home-selling platform, ISoldMyHouse.com, decided to find out exactly how much, hypothetically, the average parent would pay for some

West Virginia were prepared to pay the most – a whopping $2,448. By comparison, those in Maine would only be willing to pay $309.

The survey also asked parents which additional amenity they would love to have in their homes to help ease the burden of lockdown.

• A home gym revealed as homeowners’ no 1 desire.

• Half say they are determined that their next home will have ‘covid-friendly’ amenities.

The average Florida parent would pay $680 for a week of R&R away from their family.

R&R to recharge away from their families. They surveyed 3,050 moms, dads and legal guardians across the country who have been working from home since

Hallandale Beach - State Of The City Address Part III, 7A

the start of the pandemic (so, for roughly a year). The survey revealed that on average, parents in Florida would each pay a considerable $680 for a week’s

break away from their kids and significant other (compared to a national average of $873)!

When broken down by state, it was discovered that parents in

After a Year Under Lockdown, Will Our Freedoms Survive, 6A

It was found that the most popular answer was a home gym – almost a third of parents (31%) think it would improve their qualParental Peace, Page 8A

Kodner Galleries Antiques and Much More, 2A

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Cancel Culture From Page 1A this category. He abhorred slavery, but would have kept it, if it stopped the nation from going to war. He certainly never said or did anything to make us believe that he hoped for women’s equality. Even avid abolitionists, like Henry David Thoreau, who absolutely hated slavery and demanded its abolition, had an entry in his journal that praised a newspaper column that rejected race mixing and hoped to send freed slaves back to Africa.

Though Thoreau fought for women’s suffrage, modern feminists would object to plenty of his words and actions, towards women. So, what do we do with someone in early America who was considered progressive towards Blacks and women’s rights, but falls short today?

Let’s jump 100 years, to the 1950s and ‘60s. There were still plenty, especially in the South, who were just as racist as the 19th Century. Then, there were those who believed that Jim Crow was wrong and that Black Americans, should have the same rights as Whites. But, still occasionally, they told racist jokes or used the N-word, because, it was still acceptable in polite society. Finally, there were even those represented by the character, Matt Drayton in the 1967 movie, “Guess Who’s

Coming to Dinner?”

The Draytons, were a well-off liberal, white family, who had taught their daughter that all forms of racism were wrong and that everyone should be treated equally.

They were offended by the Nword, yet, things changed when their daughter brought home, her Black fiancé from college.

Suddenly, her parents faced an internal moral dilemma, about what they always, believed and what their new reality, was.

I am grateful for the MeToo movement. It’s about time we stood up for the treatment of women. The behavior towards women in the workplace, in the ‘50s and ‘60s is despicable, yet, it was accepted then, and in some ways, celebrated today.

The extremely popular show, “Mad Men” has won awards. As depicted, sexually harassing women, just seemed part of a normal workday, yet, today, the entire firm would be under investigation, as it should be. What do we do with the Don Drapers of today? It is easy to take down the street sign of someone in the Klan in the 1960s, but, what about the people who were like Matt Drayton or Don Draper?

They were fictional, but, they represented thousands of men and women in their day. What do we do with people who did not consider themselves racist or sexist in their day, but, are by our standards today? What do we do if, at their times, slavery was

completely acceptable? What do we do today, if a children’s author, used a racist word that was not considered racist, at the time? What about one of America’s greatest authors, who, at the time was seen as progressive on race and gender issues, but, does not fit in today?

I hope that no one thinks I am trying to say that racism or sexism, were ever okay, because I am not. Just because something was accepted, does not make it right. I guess what I am trying to say, is that I am far from perfect, but, I try my hardest to live a good life and be a good person. I just hope that in 100 years from now, when people are judging me, if I have done something repulsive to them, that they understand that I meant them no harm. I don’t know all of the answers, I wish I did. I don’t know if we should stop reading Dr. Seuss to our kids. I don’t know the man or his heart, but, his books have brought joy and I think he cared about making kids smile. Though racism is wrong, they would not have been published at the time, if they were socially unacceptable.

I don’t want any Black chil-

answer, but, somehow, we need to come to an understanding and have, some type of historical, forgiveness.

Dr. James Finck is a Professor of History at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and Chair of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium. To receive daily historical posts, follow Historically Speaking at: www.Histor icallyspeaking.blog or on Facebook.

dren in any way to feel “less than equal.” If Dr. Seuss makes them feel this way, then, maybe, we should stop reading those books. I do worry about where it ends and I will go back to my original point. I believe that, if we investigate anyone before the modern era and ask if that person is racist or sexist, then, the answer is, yes. If we set that as the standard, we will basically remove all classic literature, music, culture and historical figures. That does not seem to be the

Dr. James Finck is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, in Chickasha, where, he is also Chair of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium. Follow Historically Speaking at: www.Historically speaking.blog.

Stepchildren: Memories of Service, Sacrifice, and Unselfish Love

By Tracy Renee Lee - About two months ago, a client of mine was traveling home on a backwoods country road after dining at his favorite café. My husband and I often dine at this café as well.

Shortly after his death, his wife passed away.

This past weekend, my husband and I were dining at this café, when one of my client’s adult daughters came in for a takeout order. I waved at her and she approached our table. I stood up to hug her and ask her how she is doing. My concern for her runs deep as she has lost two parents within a month of each other. She said that her sor-

during her last few decades of life.

Once their mother passed away, the birth children took over her funeral arrangements. They decided to change everything their mother had planned and did not consider their stepsiblings as they chose dates and far away locations for services. As the primary caregiver who lived next door to her parents, my client’s daughter was crushed.

Earlier that same morning, I had another client’s adult daughter visit the funeral home. For this family, the mother had passed a few years ago. During that time, I got to know her daughter quite

In both cases, these stepdaughters committed themselves and took care of not only their natural parents but their stepparents too, as loving and devoted daughters. The fact that they were stepchildren was an irrelevant circumstance in their hearts and minds. It was, however, very relevant for the birth children who had been absent during the later years of their natural parent’s lives. The time in life when their parents truly needed them.

The time when dependency on one’s children becomes a reality.

In both circumstances, the natural parent died first, leaving the stepparent in the care of their adult stepdaughter. Upon the death of the natural parent, all properties under Texas law, transferred sole ownership to the surviving spouse.

This is where things get tricky. The natural parent and the stepparent, in both cases, consolidated sizable estates.

Unfortun-ately for the stepdaughters, as the surviving spouse was their stepparent, neither of them were legal next Life lessons of step-daughters, who honorably committed their love, devotion, of kin, nor lawfully entiand service to their dying parents, the term “step” never held bearing. tled to any part of their natural parent’s estates. row is great and that recovery is well. The death of her father earIn both instances, the birth elusive. lier that week brought her to my children disregarded their parI explained that suffering two funeral home again. Although I ents’ spoken wishes and direcvery significant deaths so close was happy to see her, I was sad tives of returning their spouses’ in time compounds the grief for her loss. original estates to their natural experience.

We continued Once again, this situation, like children when dividing property, speaking and her eyes filled with the other, involved a blended trinkets and tokens of love, and tears. This loving daughter had family. The daughter that came family sentiments. Instead, as been the caregiver for both par- by was the decedent’s stepchild. legal next of kin and lawfully entients during their later years. Her She, like my other client’s tled to the property of their stepmother’s birth children live daughter, had not been consid- deceased parents for whom they some distance away and were ered to the extent that she felt had not contributed care or demunwilling to care for their mother attached to her parent. onstrated love, they opted to dis-

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regard their stepsiblings’ birthrights and kept all properties and tokens of family history and love.

These tiny little things, trinkets of love and tokens of family history which hold no monetary value, mean the world to the daughters who cared for their parents. As reality eluded their parents’ aged minds and breath escaped their tired bodies, these stepdaughters sacrificed and shared their time, love, and tender care. For these daughters, who honorably committed their love, devotion, and service to their dying parents, the term “step” never held bearing. They loved and cared for their stepparents as devotedly as they had their natural parents.

Courtesy and love are free and given at will. However, in their willful absence, the withholder surrenders his humanity.

As the natural children withheld their obligations and stepped away from the needs of their parents, the “stepdaughters” stepped up and surrendered their labors and love to those whom they cherished.

My heart goes out to these amazing women. In the midst of losing their natural parents, they carried on and continued to love and care for their stepparents.

They neither looked left nor right seeking relief; their commitment remained steadfast until the end.

Although these two great women live on without their parent’s property and tokens of love; things that represent their history and would bring them comfort, they, unlike their stepsiblings, have something even greater. They have their memories of service, sacrifice, and unselfish love in their hearts.

These are treasures that their

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stepsiblings will never have, nor understand.

Moreover, they have something even greater. They have a living legacy that will continue to bless their lives, as well as, those about them. They have wisdom, compassion, and the potential for unlimited growth and influence. Through the service they gave their parents, they became better, more generous, and virtuous women.

I knew their parents and stepparents before death occurred.

The parents I knew never considered their daughters as stepdaughters. Their love for them was true and pure, and their daughters returned to them what they had given. A gift so priceless that it cannot be purchased nor inherited; the gift of pure and unconditional love.

My name is Tracy Renee Lee. I am a Certified Grief Counselor (GC-C), Funeral Director (FDIC), published author, syndicated columnist, Podcaster, and founder of the “Mikey Joe Children’s Memorial” and Heaven Sent, Corp. I write books, weekly bereavement articles, Podcasts, and Grief BRIEFs related to understanding and coping with grief. I am the American Funeral Director of the Year Runner-Up and recipient of the BBB’s Integrity Award.

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COVID-19 From Page 1A

important that you return for the second dose, on the day and time that you are instructed, to do so.

North Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Markham Park, 16001 West State Road 84, Sunrise, Florida 33326.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Snyder Park, 3299 Southwest 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Tradewinds Park, 3600 West Sample Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33066.

Hours: Sunday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Tree Tops Park, 3900 Southwest 100th Avenue, Davie, Florida 33328.

Hours: Sunday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Testing Continues: The availability of the vaccine does not reduce the need for ongoing COVID-19 testing, which remains available for free at many locations throughout Broward County, including the Boulevard Heights Community Center in Hollywood. VIEW BROWARD COUNTY TEST COLLECTION SITES. While initial data of the effectiveness that the COVID-19 Vaccine is encouraging, it is equally important, to continue to follow safety protocols: wear a mask, practice safe social distancing and wash your hands, often.

To check availability and schedule an appointment with local pharmacies and retail stores, please visit: • Walmart registration www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine • Sam’s Club registration www.samsclub.com/covid • Publix registration www.publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida • CVS registration www.cvs.com/immunizations /covid-19-vaccine • Winn-Dixie registration www.winndixie.com/pharmacy /covid-vaccine While Walgreens is participating with vaccination sites elsewhere in Florida, there are currently no Walgreens stores in Broward County offering the vaccine. Visit: www.broward.org/

Coronavirus (Vaccination Sites) often for updates.

Hospital Vaccination Sites: In addition to the Department of Health initiatives, there are 173 hospitals in Florida administering vaccines to health care workers who have direct patient contact, healthcare workers who are out in the community and to persons age 65+, determined by hospital providers to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. There are 14 hospitals in Broward County, please click the links below to visit the individual facility’s COVID-19 informational webpages: • Broward Health Coral Springs https://www.browardhealth.org/ pages/being-healthy-vaccine • Broward Health Imperial Point

https://www.browardhealth.org/ pages/being-healthy-vaccine • Broward Health Medical Center https://www.browardhealth.org/ pages/being-healthy-vaccine • Broward Health North https://www.browardhealth.org/ pages/being-healthy-vaccine • Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/landing/covid-19-vaccine • Florida Medical Center https://www.floridamedctr.com • Holy Cross https://www.holy-cross.com/covidvaccine?hcmacid=a0Z5G000009JPk3UAG • Memorial Hospital Miramar https://www.mhs.net/patientsvisitors/coronavirus-disease/covid19-vaccination • Memorial Hospital Pembroke Pines https://www.mhs.net/patientsvisitors/coronavirus-disease/covid-

19-vaccination • Memorial Hospital South https://www.mhs.net/patientsvisitors/coronavirus-disease/covid19-vaccination • Memorial Regional Hospital https://www.mhs.net/patientsvisitors/coronavirus-disease/covid19-vaccination • Plantation General Hospital https://plantationgeneral.com/covid19/covid-19-vaccine-information/ • University Hospital https://uhmchealth.com/covid-19/ covid-19-vaccine-information/ • Westside Regional Hospital https://westsideregional.com/covid19/covid-19-vaccine-information/ Once an individual has received their first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine, they will be given a scheduled time to return, for their second dose. It is very

Florida Residency Requirement: State of Florida Surgeon General Scott A. Rivkees, M.D. issued a Florida Department of Public Health Advisory on January 21st, 2021, prioritizing Florida residents for receiving the vaccine, in the state of Florida.

Prior to providing the first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine, the provider will ensure that the recipient is either a Florida resident or a health care provider, working in the state and is providing direct patient care.

Residency requirements are defined in Florida Statutes 381.986(5)(b) and do provide some accommodation of seasonal residents. Individuals who received a first dose before this Public Health Advisory was issued, will receive the second dose.

Coyote in Hallandale Beach Last week we had some excitement as Hallandale Beach became the most recent City in Broward County to have a sighting of a coyote. Here is some advice from the experts at the South Florida Wildlife Center about feeding wildlife so we can do our best to avoid coyote issues as a City: “South Florida is a unique place where people from all over prosper as do the many species of animals who called it home first. As the population of humans continues to grow, we find ourselves living amongst our wild neighbors and wanting to find a way to help them since they are so curious and interested in the things we do.

Wildlife however is designed to live in these natural environments and have been instilled with ways to hunt, forage, confine to their social standards and find refuge when they need to rest or find a safe place to hide. When people intervene with these natural instincts is when wildlife finds itself in danger. Wild animals who are accustomed to being fed will not develop essential survival skills and are poorly equipped to find basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. The food that humans often feed to wild animals, like bread, is actually nutritionally poor and can cause severe health issues for animals including physical deformities.

Nature, however, contains a perfect assortment of nutrient-rich

The coyote is doing well and is under observation with an anticipated release into a natural area in the next few days.

foods for wild animals. Without the presence of handouts, animals will not starve but rather thrive on a natural diet like they are meant to. Feeding wildlife and desensitizing animals to be fearless of humans and approach people for food, are sometimes mistaken as rabid or aggressive, then killed for that behavior. Wild animals who are accustomed to being fed cluster unnaturally and become vulnerable to highly contagious and often deadly diseases. Diseases like distemper, rabies, botulism, salmonella, trichomoniasis, and pox can quickly wipe out hundreds of animals. Diseases caused by unsanitary bird feeders kill thousands of birds, squirrels, reptiles,

and other animals every year.

The best thing you can do to ensure the health and wellbeing of wild animals is to avoid feeding them and to observe and appreciate them from a safe distance. If you enjoy watching wildlife, there are many local parks where you can observe hundreds of species of wildlife in their natural habitats. If you are looking for another way to get closer to wildlife, please consider volunteering with the South Florida Wildlife Center in Fort Lauderdale. Please share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors. Thank you for helping to keep our local wildlife safe and wild!” - Carolina Segarra from the South Florida

Wildlife Center.

Since at least 2007, coyotes have been found in all of Florida’s 67 counties. Coyotes arrived in Florida as part of a natural range expansion from western states and they now live in every state except Hawaii. The coyote found in Hallandale Beach appeared to be injured and was taken for medical care at the South Florida Wildlife Center. The coyote is doing well and is under observation with an anticipated release into a natural area in the next few days.

Other ways to support wildlife The City of Hallandale Beach is home to many species of wildlife, including a number of fox

families, many species of songbirds, and butterflies. While we discourage the feeding of wildlife, we do encourage habitat building for our wildlife friends.

For many years the City has been working to attain certification as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat. We need 100 more certified yards in the City to finally achieve this certification. Will you help us reach our goal? Learn about what is needed to certify your yard as a wildlife habitat here or here.

You can also participate in a citizen science challenge taking place from April 30 through May 9 called the City Nature Challenge. For this challenge, you simply need to take pictures of wild plants and animals and upload them to a smartphone app called iNaturalist. Scientists all over the world use the data collected through the iNaturalist app. This challenge is a great way to have some sociallydistant competition among friends, neighbors, and family members, and all for a great cause!

Get in touch or involved with Green Initiatives: If you’re interested in learning more about Green Initiatives or if you want to get more involved, please reach out to our Green Initiatives Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood at ajoneswood@cohb.org and visit cohb.org/green.

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A Look Back From Page 1A would surpass 29 million cases and more than half a million deaths, in just, 12 months and how did we get, here?

In a country that gave us Dr. Fauci, (he was a hero to us, when I was in grad school, in the 1990’s), there were so many brilliant researchers, how did we detach from the sensibility of something as simple, as hand hygiene? How did we decide to forgo social distancing or mask wearing, since we are not, in the high-risk group? How did we pick politics, over science, in the midst of an uncertain and potentially deadly, Pandemic?

Asking these questions, puts me in a tailspin of depression and sorrow, for all those families, whose lives, have been forever changed due to COVID-19 and

the ease with which, SARS-CoV2, has found more and more bodies, to inhabit.

Research shows that misinformation peaks on social media during presidential election years, 2020, was such a year and that, it did not deviate, from the norm. This reveals a tremendous opportunity, to utilize social media, to spread evidencebased and scientific data, in a manner, that can be easily understood, by everyone. By communicating science through these non-traditional channels, we can ensure that in the future, there will be a greater tendency to follow the guidance, recommended, by scientific and medical experts.

Many of us, have already gotten vaccinated with either the Pfizer or the Moderna Vaccines, with the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine, following, closely behind. Some of you have expe-

rienced side effects and while that can be worrisome, it is infinitely better than the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19, or, even the long-hauler effect, being experienced, by some survivors. Vaccines enhance your body’s own ability to prevent severe COVID-19, which, in turn, prevents death. What we do not know yet, is how effective, the vaccine is, in preventing infections and thereby, also preventing the ability to spread the virus to others. The presence of new variants, adds another layer of uncertainty, as well as, the opportunity to study the efficacy, of our vaccines.

This is why we must continue to engage in prevention measures – wearing face coverings, frequent hand washing, physical distancing – while we wait on additional data. Just because we’re getting vaccinated, does not mean that we are out of the

woods, yet.

What is clear, is the tremendous and unprecedented, scientific and technological advancements, that have enabled us to create vaccines in less than nine months. What an exciting time for our students to step into science and medicine? My hope, as a scientist and an educator, is that, we will all learn from this Pandemic and we can apply those lessons, in the future, unfortunately, if they are still needed.

About the Author: Bindu S. Mayi, M.Sc., Ph.D., is a professor of Microbiology in NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she teaches infectious diseases to students in the medical, public health and other, allied health fields. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Mayi is committed to promoting Infection

Prevention, as well as, Antimicrobial Stewardship.

She has been a spokesperson on various infections and has appeared on multiple pannels, attended by healthcare professionals and public officials, including representatives from the CDC. Dr. Mayi has provided comments and insight, into a myriad of topics, including, the Zika virus, the life threatening condition of sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis (a.k.a. flesh eating disease). She is well versed in working with the media (print and broadcast), is comfortable on camera or, nowadays, via, Zoom or Skype. She has also had several guest editorials published in, newspapers across Florida.

Prior to her NSU affiliation, Dr. Mayi, worked in Antibiotic Resistance Research, as well as, Cancer Nanotechnology Research.

Every day brought a drastic new set of restrictions by government bodies (most have been delivered by way of executive orders) at the local, state and federal level that were eager to flex their muscles for the so-called “good” of the populace.

After a Year Under Lockdown Will Our Freedoms Survive the Tyranny of COVID-19?

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead -

One way or another, the majority of Americans will survive COVID19.

It remains to be seen, however, whether our freedoms will survive the tyranny of the government’s heavy-handed response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indeed, now that the government has gotten a taste for flexing its police state powers by way of a bevy of lockdowns, mandates, restrictions, contact tracing programs, heightened surveillance, censorship, overcriminalization, etc., we may all be long-haulers, suffering under the weight of long-term COVID19 afflictions.

Instead of dealing with the headaches, fatigue and neurological aftereffects of the virus, however, “we the people” may well find ourselves burdened with a Nanny State inclined to use its draconian pandemic powers to protect us from ourselves.

Therein lies the danger of the government’s growing addiction to power.

What started out a year ago as an apparent effort to prevent a novel coronavirus from sickening the nation (and the world) has become yet another means by which world governments (including our own) can expand their powers, abuse their authority, and further oppress their constituents.

Until recently, the police state had been more circumspect in its power grabs, but this latest state of emergency has brought the beast out of the shadows.

Not only have the federal and state governments unraveled the constitutional fabric of the nation with lockdown mandates that sent the economy into a tailspin and wrought havoc with our liberties, but they have almost persuaded the citizenry to depend on the government for financial handouts, medical intervention, protection and sustenance.

This past year under lockdown was a lesson in many things, but most of all, it was a lesson in how to indoctrinate a populace to love and obey Big Brother.

What started off as an experiment in social distancing in order to flatten the curve of this virus, and not overwhelm the nation’s hospitals or expose the most vulnerable to unavoidable loss of life scenarios quickly became strongly worded suggestions for citizens to voluntarily stay at home and strong-armed house arrest orders with penalties in place for non-compliance.

Every day brought a drastic new set of restrictions by government bodies (most have been delivered by way of executive orders) at the local, state and federal level that were eager to flex their muscles for the socalled “good” of the populace.

There was talk of mass testing for COVID-19 antibodies, screening checkpoints, mass surveillance in order to carry out contact tracing, immunity passports to allow those who have recovered from the virus to move around more freely, snitch tip lines for reporting “rule breakers” to the authorities, and heavy

fines and jail time for those who dare to venture out without a mask, congregate in worship without the government’s blessing, or re-open their businesses without the government’s sayso.

To some, these may seem like small, necessary steps in the war against the COVID-19 virus, but they’re only necessary to the Deep State in its efforts to further undermine the Constitution, extend its control over the populace, and feed its insatiable appetite for ever-greater powers.

After all, whatever dangerous practices you allow the government to carry out now—whether it’s in the name of national security or protecting America’s borders or making America healthy again—rest assured, these same practices can and will be used against you when the government decides to set its sights on you.

The war on drugs turned out to be a war on the American people, waged with SWAT teams and militarized police. The war on terror turned out to be a war on the American people, waged with warrantless surveillance and indefinite detention. The war on immigration turned out to be a war on the American people, waged with roving government agents demanding “papers, please.”

This war on COVID-19 could usher in yet another war on the American people, waged with all of the surveillance weaponry at the government’s disposal: thermal imaging cameras, drones, contact tracing, biometric data-

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bases, etc.

Unless we find some way to rein in the government’s power grabs, the fall-out will be epic.

Everything I have warned about for years—government overreach, invasive surveillance, martial law, abuse of powers, militarized police, weaponized technology used to track and control the citizenry, and so on— has coalesced into this present moment.

The government’s shameless exploitation of past national emergencies for its own nefarious purposes pales in comparison to what is presently unfolding.

Consider that under the Trump administration, the Department of Justice started to quietly trot out and test a long laundry list of terrifying powers that override the Constitution.

We’re talking about lockdown powers (at both the federal and state level): the ability to suspend the Constitution, indefinitely detain American citizens, bypass the courts, quarantine whole communities or segments of the population, override the First Amendment by outlawing religious gatherings and assemblies of more than a few people, shut down entire industries and manipulate the economy, muzzle dissidents, “stop and seize any plane, train or automobile to stymie the spread of contagious disease,” reshape financial markets, create a digital currency (and thus further restrict the use of cash), determine who should live or die.

These are powers the police

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state would desperately like to make permanent.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that anything will change for the better under the Biden administration. That’s not how totalitarian regimes operate.

Be warned, however: once you surrender your freedoms to the government—no matter how compelling the reason might be for doing so—you can never get them back.

Blindly following the path of least resistance—acquiescing without question to whatever the government dictates—can only lead to more misery, suffering and the erection of a totalitarian regime in which there is no balance.

Whatever we give up willingly now—whether it’s basic human decency, the ability to manage our private affairs, the right to have a say in how the government navigates this crisis, or the few rights still left to us that haven’t been disemboweled in recent years by a power-hungry police state—we won’t get back so easily once this crisis is past.

As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the government never cedes power willingly. Neither should we.

A year ago, I warned that this was a test to see whether the Constitution—and our commitment to the principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights—can survive a national crisis and true state of emergency. Nothing has changed on that front.

Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture.

John Whitehead’s commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org.

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State of The City - Hallandale Beach: Part III of a IV Part Series

By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper

This article is a continuation of my State of the City. My speech was to update our residents and review the past year and a half.

The premise of my speech, was to tell the story of our past and troubled year, as we have gone through a long, cold Winter. We are now, entering into Spring, which, I hope you will enjoy. You can find Part I and Part II on the South Florida Sun Times website or, feel free to email me at: joycooper@aol.com.

Obviously, all was not lost during this blizzard and the events that played out around the country, spurred many local state and national dialogues for change! I want to thank Norma and the Chamber Of Commerce for their commitment to join in these discussions. The on-line forum, offered by the joint Chambers Of Commerce have helped to peel back the onion of racial, sexual and implicit bias, right here in our backyards. The forum that was presented, helped us see how we can make changes within ourselves and our organizations to create an environment of inclusion and this work, continues today.

By July, our balanced budget was approved, we started slowly reopening the parks and after months of debate, our beaches were opened as well. Sadly, though Spring had not yet started, this became a cycle of stop and starts that hinged on infection rates. New terms like: PPE’s, Super Spreaders and Flatten The Curve, were added to the New Normal and the frontline workers.

In July, another blizzard struck our city when City Manager Chavarria, decided to resign and take a job in Fort Lauderdale. It was a shock to our organization and yet again, we lost, another City Manager!

Changing City Managers is never an easy task. We were extremely lucky to have two Assistant City Managers on staff, Kevin Klopp and Dr. Jeremy Earle, who both have exemplary backgrounds and without hesitation, Dr.

Jeremy Earle, agreed to take the helm.

Dr. Earle inherited a City in a Pandemic that was still not fully, reopened. He was confronted with making sure that we kept our staff safe and healthy, while balancing what can be opened. If COVID-19 struck a department, it would be devastating, not, simply due to employee illness, but, it would shut us back down.

These are life and death decisions! Businesses were closed and residents were financially hurting! We had an understaffed Police Department, combined with an increase in crime.

Police negotiations, Development Services with a backlog, from the stay-at-home orders, in much need of technology upgrades and staffing! Code Enforcement with added duties, was enforcing COVID-19 restrictions and a looming November election, during a Pandemic!

Step by step, he started to reorganize from the ground up and his major focus, was getting a handle on revenues. Our budget needed to be shifted to stability and sustainability. Like any other business, we need to focus on operational costs and revenue centers. The other goal, was looking at every project for purpose and necessity. The old saying held true: “When the going gets tough, the tough get

going!” I believe that Dr. Earle, was meant to be in our City at this time and the entire City Commission agrees.

Just as the sunlight started to warm things up, we then, had another blizzard, which was the November Election Season and this, in itself was unprecedented!

With a large Election faced with COVID-19 restrictions! Not to mention, that there were three local seats up for Election, these were the Mayor’s Seat and two City Commission seats, all with a combination of 13 candidates running. Elections in Hallandale Beach, have been volatile over the past 10 years, this one, was no different. There were sign wars, protesters, verbal altercations and the national Election, brought on even more agitators on each side!

After two weeks of early voting, on Election Day, we were faced with an added twist, City Commission Seat 3, ended in a recount, where Commissioner Taub was finally declared, the victor!

We all know what transpired with the National Election and at least, that was not close. Almost, like the mask deniers, we continued to hear the election was stolen. Sadly, there are still many that believe in: “The Big Lie.” Months later, after weeks of failed legal challenges, all of us in the World, sat in shock, watching

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the Capital Insurrection take place and on so many levels, the one word that comes to me on that day was fear!

One of the most alarming recordings in my mind, that came out of that infamous day, ironically, was not even from the former President, it came from recordings, of a newly elected representative, from West Virginia, Derrick Evans. “We’re in!

We are in!! We are in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol.” He was not even in the chambers, but, was actually, one of the insurgents.

Another stand out was from Senator Jeffrey Merkley, who was reported saying “Electoral College Ballots were rescued from the Senate floor and if our capable staff, had not grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob!”

I believe that former President George Bush, captured the true ramifications of this infamous event! “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic… I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders, since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions and our law enforcement!”

We have now all lived through an event, which was a grave reminder, that elections do have consequences and that every

vote, does matter!

Not just Nationally, but, in every level of government, Democracy, must be cared for, like a plant, you need to tend to it and as you can see, we went through a Winter with many “Blackberry Springs,” over the past months, which continued to end up back in Winter!

The long Winter has not been all bad, like during snow days, we have all had the chance to reflect, regroup, reorganize and hopefully, had a chance to prioritize. Many of us after being isolated, reached out to help our neighbors. We harnessed our penned-up energy and our frustrations for helping others.

There were many food and mask distributions, some held drive by events, to celebrate the many doctors and nurses that have been working in the ER’s and ICU’s. There were drive by graduations, birthdays and celebrations, I would like to believe that we have all grown a stronger appreciation, for our First Responders that never stopped working and we also learned, that there were many frontline jobs and more importantly, employees that we had taken for granted and I must thank the City Chamber, who, has stepped up in a big way, to help our main streets!

We also learned not to take for granted, what I call “The Little, Big Things” like, toilet paper. As a side note on one of my Harvard Zoom Meetings, I have learned, why we were running out of toilet paper. Paper mills are geared to manufacture both commercial and household toilet paper. When we all were staying at home, they had to retool and adapt themselves, to address this new demand!

Part IV will be next week. As always, please feel free to contact me anytime with your questions, concerns. You can reach me by Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. On my Office Phone at: (954) 4571318. Or you can e-mail me at: jcooper@cohb.org.

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Parental Peace From Page 1A ity of home life. After all, as the saying goes: ‘a healthy body is a

with a ‘No Kids Allowed’ sign plastered to the entrance! 1 in 5 parents (20%) admit they would like a games room in their home – presumably to keep kids occupied and out of mischief,

having a separate dedicated space to work, such as a home office or study room, was top priority for only 18% of parents; while 8% said that a garden would make a great difference in

Speaking of long, difficult days, more than 1 in 10 parents (16%) who work from home say they often have to relocate their workspace to escape noisy family members in the background during working hours. Those who don’t have a dedicated home office setup have to find different places to work, with the most popular location being the living room (44%), followed by the bedroom (31%), kitchen (18%), garden (5%) and bathroom (3%)… Perhaps the bathtub has a comfortable back-

The survey revealed that on average, parents in Florida would each pay a considerable $680 for a week’s break away from their kids and significant other (compared to a national average of $873)! healthy mind’. Also near the top of the list for 23% of parents was a man or womancave – a private, peaceful space to call their own

although we wouldn’t put it past some adults to make use of it themselves, perhaps for a pool table or sports bar. Surprisingly,

their home, as somewhere where the kids can run around more and parents can unwind at the end of a long day.

rest! Who needs an office chair?

The coronavirus pandemic has also made 49% of parents determined that the next home they purchase will have ‘covidfriendly’ amenities, such as a dedicated work room. However, despite the challenges of the past year, another 68% of parents say that they have actually managed to achieve somewhat of a healthy work/life balance, given the current circumstances.

‘Should the possibility of another pandemic arise in the future, it only makes sense that people would want to be as best prepared as they can in order to balance work and family life within the same property’ says Kris Lippi, owner of ISoldMy House.com.

Join the City of Hollywood: Food Waste Prevention Week & Hero Photo Challenge The City of Hollywood is teaming up with Governor Ron DeSantis and numerous state agencies to help launch Florida’s inaugural “Food Waste Prevention Week.” The mission of Food Waste Prevention Week, which runs from April 5th through April 9th, is to raise awareness and inspire all to address food waste in the home, workplace and community.

Up to 40% of all food waste occurs in the home, even when 1 in 5 Floridians lack consistent access to nutritious foods. By reducing food waste, your family can save, on average, $1,500 a year.

For the launch of Food Waste Prevention Week, City employees are joining with others to participate in the Food Waste Reduction Hero Photo Challenge. Together we can reduce food waste in Florida.

Hero Photo Challenge: https:/ /www.savethefoodfl.com/foodwaste-hero-photo...

K-12 Student Art Contest and Teacher Stipend: https:// www.savethefoodfl.com/studentengagement Take the Food Waste Quiz: https://www.worldwildlife.org/ pages/take-the-food-waste-quiz Expansion of Vaccination Eligibility Beginning Monday, April 5th those 18+ will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

For more information visit www.hollywoodfl.org/ CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=930 Parkside Neighborhood Watermain Replacement Project Phase II Set to Begin April 5th The ongoing Department of Public Utilities watermain replacement project is underway in the Parkside Neighborhood.

Work will take place from Dixie

Highway to Federal Highway from Hollywood Boulevard to Pembroke Road, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through February, 2022.

Due to planned construction activities in the neighborhood alleyways, the placement of garbage and recycling bins, as well as bulk items will need to be placed curbside at the front of a property. To ensure collection trucks can access the bins and bulk items at the curb, parking on the street will be prohibited from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Monday and Thursday.

Phase II in this temporary on-street parking ban and change to curbside collections affects the following residents beginning April 5th: Washington Street to Hollywood Boulevard from Federal Highway to Dixie

Highway The estimated completion time for Phase II is October 1, 2021. Your patience and understanding is appreciated during

this important infrastructure improvement project. If you have any questions, please contact Public Utilities at 954.921.3930 or Public Works at 954.967.4526.

The Hallandale Scholarship Fund Update The Application Deadline Has Been Extended to May 1 The Hallandale Community Council Scholarship Fund has recognized the achievements of hundreds of Hallandale Beach resident high school graduates with financial awards ranging from $100 to $5,000 each, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What is The Hallandale Scholarship Fund? First-Year College Scholarships are awarded for the benefit of deserving Hallandale Beach residents who are students at Hallandale High School and all surrounding area High Schools.

In 1960, Mrs. Chester Norteman attended Class Night at South Broward High School and was disappointed when not one civic or service organization from Hallandale Beach appeared on the stage to present an award to a Hallandale student. Mother

of a graduate, she realized how much an award of even $100 (then) would mean to a student planning to work their way through college. To arouse interest in scholarships, she wrote to the organizations in town saying “discuss it, give it some thought and perhaps, take some action.”

In September 1960, S. Lee Crouch, President of the Hallandale Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, urged by Ross Amos, invited all Hallandale civic and service organizations to form a Council of their Presidents or Representatives to serve as a clearinghouse for community projects and a vehicle for cooperative action. At the October meeting of the newly formed Hallandale Community Council, Ernie Pinto, Kiwanis representative, suggested scholarships as a Council project. After meeting with Frank Schwall, Guidance

Counselor at South Broward High School, the Council named its first Scholarship Fund Committee: Charles Knorr, Edna Norteman, Betty Sapienza, Theresa Wipple and Chairman Pinto. Donations from twelve organizations netted $400 that year and the first award was presented by President Ernie Pinto to Richard Sullivan on June 7, 1961.

Since then, the Hallandale Community Council Scholarship Fund (as it was known) has recognized the achievements and promises of hundreds of Hallandale Beach resident graduates with financial awards ranging from $100 to $5000 each, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Plaques are awarded to Honor Cord Graduates (many who do not have a need for financial assistance).

Students apply for schol-

arships through the aid of the Guidance Counselors at their own schools. In turn, the Counselors provide the Committee with additional information, cumulative average, extracurricular activities, results of achievement, aptitude and college entrance tests. The choice of school is left to the student, but the Committee requires that his or her application be accepted and the student enrolled, before any funds are disbursed.

Scholarship students have attended local community colleges, state and private universities across the country (including Harvard) and such foreign universities as Universidad de las Americas and Columbus International in Spain. Some students also receive financial help for continued studies in vocational/trade schools.

Usually, scholarships are for the first year of advanced education. If a student proves to be good college material during his or her first year, supplemental financial assistance is available to continue.

In 2009, the Hallandale Community Council Scholarship Fund, Inc. became the Hallandale Scholarship Fund, Inc. and continues to provide scholarship awards to graduating residents of Hallandale Beach in area high schools.

Scholarship applications are now being accepted, and the application deadline has been extended to May 1. Qualifications and applications are available at: www.hallandale scholarshipfund.org. Or for more information, contact: (954) 4549070. Or e-mail: hallandalescholarshipfund@gmail.com.

Pembroke Pines Writer Headed to Hollywood Elaine Midcoh of Pembroke Pines, will travel to Hollywood as a Published Finalist in the Writers of the Future Contest, now in its 38th year. Her story, “The Battle

long workshop and be honored at a black-tie awards gala.

Elaine Midcoh lives in Pembroke Pines, Florida. At age 8, she wrote to NASA asking to be an astronaut, but was rejected. Undeterred, she penned her first book which featured a young girl as NASA’s first child astronaut. Yes, the kid’s name was Elaine. To seal the deal she bought herself a Jr. Astronaut medal which she still wears on special occasions. Later, when adulthood loomed, she diverted to law school, became an attorney and spent many happy years teaching college students about Criminal Justice and Elaine F Cohen of Pembroke Pines is a the Bill of Rights, while finalist in the Writers of the Future Contest still writing an occasional tale. of Donasi,” will be published in These days Elaine spends the international bestselling time at her kitchen table thinking anthology, L. Ron Hubbard up short stories and poetry. In Presents Writers of the Future 2019, she was spotted dancing Volume 37. in front of her living room window Anticipating that the pan- after learning one of her stories demic will be over and large earned an Honorable Mention in events able to occur once again the Writers of the Future Contest. with visitors from around the And we won’t discuss what celeworld, Elaine will travel to bratory acts the neighbors saw Hollywood this fall for a week- when Elaine received word that

“The Battle of Donasi,” was selected as a Published Finalist for this year’s L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 37 anthology. Police were called, but one was a science fiction fan and she was let go with a warning. Finally, she must offer a shout out to her older brother for reading her stories. (“David, just read this one more time, okay?”)

The Contest, one of the most prestigious writing competitions in the world, is currently in its 38th year and is judged by some of the premier names in speculative fiction.

The Writers of the Future Contest judges include, Tim Powers (author of On Stranger Tides), Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Dune prequel series), Robert J. Sawyer (Quantum Night), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series, Stormlight Archive), Larry Niven (Ringworld), Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game), Nnedi Okorafor (Who Fears Death), David Farland (Runelords), and Katherine Kurtz (Deryni series) to name a few.

Illustrators of the Future Contest judges include, Bob Eggleton (11 Chesley Awards and 7 Hugo Awards), Larry

Elmore (Dungeons & Dragons book covers), Echo Chernik (graphic designs for major corporations including Celestial Seasonings tea packaging), Rob Prior (art for Spawn, Heavy Metal comics and Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ciruelo (Eragon Coloring Book) Following the 1982 release of his internationally acclaimed bestselling science fiction novel, Battlefield Earth, written in celebration of 50 years as a professional writer, L. Ron Hubbard created the Writers of the Future (writersofthefuture.com) in 1983 to provide a means for aspiring writers of speculative fiction to get that much-needed break.

Due to the success of the Writers of the Future Contest, the companion Illustrators of the Future Contest was inaugurated five years later.

The intensive mentoring process has proven very successful.

The 440 past winners of the Writing Contest have published 1,150 novels and nearly 4,500 short stories. They have produced 32 New York Times bestsellers and their works have sold over 60 million copies.

The 370 past winners of the Illustrating Contest have produced over 6,000 illustrations,

360 comic books, graced 624 books and albums with their art and visually contributed to 68 TV shows and 40 major movies.

The Writers of the Future Award is the genre’s most prestigious award of its kind and has now become the largest, most successful and demonstrably most influential vehicle for budding creative talent in the world of contemporary fiction.

Since inception, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future contests have produced 36 anthology volumes and awarded over $1,000,000 cumulatively in prize moneys and royalties.

Hundreds of winners have had successful writing careers following their win and publication in the anthology, and to date has launched the careers of 12 New York Times bestselling authors including: Jo Beverley, Tobias S. Buckell, Nancy Farmer, Eric Flint, Karen Joy Fowler, Tim Myers, Patrick Rothfuss, Lisa Smedman, Dean Wesley Smith, Elizabeth Wein, Sean Williams, and Dave Wolverton aka David Farland.

For more information about the Contests, go to www.WritersoftheFuture.com.

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A Restoration Company such as 1st Priority Restoration is usually the first company to call following significant damage to a home from floods, water damage, sewage backup and other major water events. The job of a restoration company is to clean up the mess and to preserve and protect the home and its contents so that further damage will not occur.

Water Damage - Leak Detection - Mold Testing 1st Priority Restoration - Protecting Your Home & Your Health If your home has been damaged by water from a leaking pipe, intruding water from all the current rains or mold damage from moisture over time. How are you going to address these problems in your home? A Restoration Company such as 1st Priority Restoration is usually the first company to call following significant damage to a home from floods, water damage, sewage backup and other major water events. The job of a restoration company is to clean up the mess and to preserve the home, protect the home and its contents so that further damage will not occur. Flood damage can be found in any geographical area, regardless of elevation. The causes of flooding can range from natural disasters, burst pipes, leaking pipes, rain storms or sewer lines that are backing up. Even in a condo, you could have a water leak in your wall, under a toilet or behind a kitchen cabinet creating mold that can cause damage to your property and your health. 1st Priority Restoration can find the source of the leak, fix it, restore your property and work directly with your insurance. Regardless of the cause, restoration professionals are called upon to repair water damage, mold damage and restore flooded properties.

The water damage restoration process is highly regulated in order to ensure that properties damaged by flood or sewer events, can be effectively restored to a safe space for a homeowner to remain safe during the cleanup. You need a company such as 1st Priority Restoration who you can trust.

The process is simple, when 1st Priority Restoration arrives, they will thoroughly walk through your home and discuss the areas that need to be cleaned & restored. Your insurance company adjuster or claim representative may recommend what and how your home should be cleaned, but in the end it is your decision. In the past months, we have all heard the word “Mitigation” more times than we can count, but with water damage, that is exactly what needs to be done. Water damage restoration does not stop at restoring your real estate back to proper functioning. The professionals at 1st Priority will inspect the underlying causes that have caused the water damage in the first place and make sure there won’t be a reoccurrence. They will repair all of the damaged structures and replace the materials to make your property safe for years to come. If your property has been exposed to water damage, you may have to do water mitigation. Strict actions are required in water mitigation, such as: removal of damaged materials such as drywall and flooring. Molds and mildew that have accumulated in areas in your property will be disinfected and deodorized to restore a healthy environment.

Further cleaning and deodorizing should be done to make sure that your real estate is back in tip-top shape.

Water damage mitigation should happen immediately after flooding or water buildup. Take action immediately, because letting your property sit in water can cause further damages and expenses.

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will crack, sag and collect fungi after prolonged exposure to moisture. If your property is particularly old, it may be time to replace materials such as pipes to prevent a reoccurrence of water damage. If pipes are behind walls it may require more extensive repairs.

The water mitigation process will depend on how long your property has been exposed to water. Air humidifiers and drying equipment must be turned on around the clock in areas with severe water damage. Mold spores are especially dangerous to health and thorough cleaning and disinfecting should be done as part of the water damage mitigation. It is advisable to get the temperature, humidity and moisture of your property tested to see if it has been restored to normal standards, 1st Priority professionals can handle the entire process. After 1st Priority Restoration evaluates the work and equipment needed to clean your home, they will provide you with an estimate or contract for their services.

Leak Detection: One tiny water leak can create huge problems in a home or business. An undetected water pipe leak will not only dramatically increase your utility bills, but it can also lead to even more expensive water damage and mold. If you’ve had higher than average water bills, constantly have to refill your pool or hear running water, it’s time to call the leak detection specialists at 1st Priority Restoration! Is water pipe leak detection possible if the pipes are behind a wall? Yes, using the newest state-of-the-art detection tools, highly trained technicians are able to locate water pipe leaks that are hidden behind walls. They can even provide water plumbing leak detection within concrete slab foundations. Will insurance cover the cost of plumbing leak detection services?

That all depends on your home’s insurance plan. In many situations, when there is a need for water damage restoration, many insurance companies will cover the related costs. 1st Priority Restoration representatives can work directly with your home insurance company to verify the need for the plumbing leak detection service, cause of the problem and the repairs that will be required to remedy the situation.

Mold And Your Home: Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the outside air can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags and pets, which can be carried indoors. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, pipes or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric and upholstery. With all of the rain and storms we have been having these past months, you can see a pattern of mold growth that will last. From leaks, flooding and driving rain, mold growth is a certainty in South Florida. If you are concerned that you might have a

mold or mildew problem, it is best to call the professionals for a complete evaluation of your home. Your health is your most important asset, so just like you go see a doctor for a test, your home needs testing as well.

Never Fool Around With Mold & Mildew: When it comes to mold and mildew, we cannot take those potential hazards lightly. A mold problem can cause you to experience dizziness, anxiety, depression and even hallucinations. If you have been experiencing a diminished attention span or problems with your memory, it might be a good idea to have your home inspected for black mold by a mold remediation crew. For people sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes.

People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath. At 1st Priority Restoration, this is what they do 365 days a year, nobody knows how to prevent potential dangers like they do. By dialing: 1 (800) 617-1112 – you can save financially and your health as well!

Very Important Information: There are some important ways that we can prevent the spread of mold and what you can do to get rid of it. Keep an eye out for hidden leaks: Wet spots on your ceiling, the baseboards or on the floor are a telltale sign of a leaky pipe or roof. Your home’s pipes are behind drywall, which can leave a small leak unnoticed. Mold can grow behind those walls and filter into the air through ducts or pipes. At 1st Priority, they can come in and assess the situation before it gets worse. Did you know that many air conditioner systems/ ducts are susceptible to mold growth?

They often trap moisture, creating a breeding ground for spores. Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms create a lot of excess heat and humidity, especially here in south Florida – whether it is from a shower, stove or even a dryer, all of these areas should be well ventilated.

Education is key to anything – when our health is at stake – knowing that mold spores can lay dormant for years after they are produced and could begin growing again at any time, it is extremely important to know. Because of this, regular cleanings and having 1st Priority Restoration to depend on, will certainly make our lives much easier. Ever wonder why you or your children wake up coughing and sneezing on a regular basis? The CDC may have the answer. According to the CDC, in 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that there was sufficient evi-

dence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, sneezing and wheezing in otherwise healthy people and in individuals susceptible with compromised immune conditions. Mold or mold spores may cause asthma attacks in people who have asthma and are allergic to mold. Even in some nonallergic individuals, mold can cause symptoms of irritation in the eyes, skin and airways. For example, the “black mold” Stachybotrys, along with some other types of mold, produce toxins known as mycotoxins that can cause irritation of the skin and airways in susceptible individuals. Sometimes, people may develop severe reactions to mold exposure, but cleaning and sanitizing by professionals can help mitigate the health issues.

Experience Is Everything: With decades in the business, 1st Priority Restoration is a reputable company with over 20 employees that are licensed and insured. They have been doing all types of cleaning, sanitizing, leak/mold detection and water damage restoration for more than a decade. “We use the most efficient cleaning and water removal equipment to make sure that our customers are satisfied with the job we do for them. We try to use nontoxic (Green) safe chemicals for all mildew treatments.

In all of the years that we have been helping our customers with water damage, they have always been pleased with the work that we do and we have never received a single complaint, that speak’s volumes!”

Year Round Service: If you have lived in south Florida for any period of time, you already know that the weather is ever changing, for that reason, the rainy season can happen at any time. It doesn’t have to be a tropical system to cause flooding and everything that goes along with it, a leak or burst pipe can happen at any time of year, 1st Priority Restoration is available to help get your home back to a healthy environment for you and your family. What continues to separate them from anyone else is that they can take care of all of your water damage problems - as well as conducting leak and mold detections, working with your insurance company and your adjuster. By calling 1st Priority Restoration, you are getting a business that understands it all and is ready to spring into action 12 months a year. From ceiling repair, drywall replacement, structural damage, roof leaks, floor repair, furniture cleaning, mold removal and treatments, they have it all covered.

Customers Are Always Satisfied: “If a customer calls and is not completely satisfied with any of the work, the crew will return promptly to your property and will meet your expectations. We strive to make our customers 100% satisfied.”

Proud member of the Better Business Bureau.

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SOUTH FLORIDA SUN TIMES

Page 10A southfloridasun.net • facebook.com/sfsuntimes • sfsuntimes@aol.com • (954) 458-0635 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

Do Not Post Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card on Social Media Attorney General Ashley Moody is reminding Floridians of the risks associated with posting COVID-19 vaccine cards online.

Attorney General Moody initially warned of scams associated with vaccine card posts in February, but since then, millions of Floridians have received a vaccine. With the ramp up in vaccinations occurring throughout the state, comes an increased risk of fraud related to the inoculations. Vaccination cards issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include the recipient’s full name, birthdate and vaccine location— information scammers can use to hack online accounts or commit identity fraud.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “It is encouraging to see so many Floridians receiving their COVID-19 vaccines, but be

cautious when sharing the good news online. Scammers can use information from a vaccine card to hack financial accounts, commit identity theft or even create fake vaccinations cards and sell them on the black market.

Instead of posting your card, consider using an announcement or picture that does not reveal any personal information.”

Posting pictures of vaccination cards presents another downside besides sharing personal information that scammers covet—the posts could help scammers create phony vaccine cards.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, fake cards are popping up for sale on social media platforms and other websites.

COVID-19 has forced millions of Floridians to work, learn and socialize more online, which

scammers are taking advantage of by ramping up online scams.

Consumers should be wary about what information is shared online.

Attorney General Moody is offering the following tips as reminders for Floridians on how to safely share vaccination news or other information on social media: Instead of sharing vaccination cards, consider using a Got My Vaccine profile picture frame; Do not post anything that contains personal or identifying information online; Be wary of viral social media trends that often highlight a

user’s assortment of favorite things or personal information.

Know that the responses to these trends are often commonly used to inspire passwords or security questions; and Always use strong passwords on all accounts—include numbers and special characters.

For more information about how to protect sensitive information while using social media go to http:// myfloridalegal.com.

Currently in Florida, persons of 40 years of age and older, health care personnel with direct patient contact, law enforcement

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officers, childcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities are prioritized to receive a vaccine. To keep up with the Department of Health’s vaccine availability go to https:// floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/. Since the COVID-19 emergency declaration in March 2020, Attorney General Moody has issued more than 30 Consumer Alerts with information about emerging scams and tips to avoid fraud. To view the latest alerts and to stay updated on COVID-19 related scams, visit the Attorney General’s Consumer Alert webpage at http://myfl oridalegal.com/ConsumerAlert.

To place your Classified Listing in our print and digital publications, please call (954) 458-0635, or email suntimesgraphics@aol.com.

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