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GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 23 NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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WILTON MANORS
You’ve Got ‘Friends’ at Art Gallery 21’s New Exhibit By Marc Gave “Friends” is the title of the exhibit that opened Nov. 13 at Art Gallery 21, 600 NE 21st Court, in Wilton Manors. While it shares its name with the nostalgic TV series in perpetual reruns, it is a totally contemporary show. Organized by photographer Steven Shires and impeccably curated by Matthew Dreger, “Friends” comprises works of Shires and those of photographers who are friends of his: Wilton Manors resident Sharron Demarest and the Hallandale Beach–based triumvirate known as MarcMartin Publishing: cousins Albert Barg, Jeff Weisberg, and Brandon Quarters. Gallery owner Constance Ruppender remarked, “We are honored to have been chosen to exhibit this show. This is the first of its kind for us. It was originally timed to coincide with the Wilton Manors Art Walk on Nov. 20. When that event was moved up a week so as not to conflict with Fort Lauderdale Pride on the Beach, we revised our opening schedule.” Shires’s work reflects an eclectic approach to photography. While he has taken thousands of shots for community events and continues to work as a commercial photographer, it is his
fine-art side that is highlighted in this exhibit. He says, “I shoot what captures my eye. I want my audience to see what I see through the camera, and as a result, I’m a big fan of cropping.” Because he prints his fine-art photos on watercolor paper, people often mistake them for paintings. Shires’s portfolio can be viewed at www.stevenshires. com. Demarest combines masterful, colorful still-life and urban scenes with poignant color and black-and-white portraits. She says, “I owe my photography career to Steven Shires, whom I met while I was shooting an assignment for SAGE of South Florida, where I was editor and photographer of the newsletter. Steve encouraged me to enter gallery shows. “I expand the boundaries of traditional photography with Photoshop. The three pillars of my work are observing people, getting close-up to nature, and doodling on the computer.” You can see more of Sharron Demarest’s work online at scd-photographics. com. The Marc-Martin artists, Albert Barg, Jeff Weisberg, and Brandon Quarters, are wellknown individually and collectively for their
Organized by photographer Steven Shires and impeccably curated by Matthew Dreger, “Friends” comprises works of Shires and those of photographers who are friends of his.
All five photographers in the show, headlined by Steven Shires (right). Photo via Art Gallery 21, Facebook.
photos of National Parks. At Art Gallery 21, they selected a few images from those sites along with scenes of Miami Beach. Weisberg says, “This barely scratches the surface of what all three of us do. We wanted to sample what we do around the country but also show our local stuff. Close to home, we love taking photos of the beach, the Everglades, and other natural areas like the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and
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Green Cay Wetlands.” You can see more of their work at www.marcmartinpublishing. com. If you are a lover of fine photography, watch the show at Art Gallery 21 through Dec. 11. The gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. and by appointment: 954-2255488. Include a visit in your dinner plans and enjoy another aspect of what the Wilton Manors community is all about.
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WILTON MANORS
OPINION
Tear Down the Walls… Working together may be harder in the short term but better for us all in the long term
2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305
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Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald
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Sal Torre • James Oaksun
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secure their future political domination from being eroded by hordes of non-white, nonChristian, non-heterosexuals seeking equality and justice. Republican led redistricting is essentially building walls to encircle safe havens that will secure a Republican dominated political system. Those on the other side of the wall will be successfully disenfranchised and kept from a seat at the table. To be fair, Democrats also have dirty hands when it comes to redistricting, but the recent moves by Republicans to limit voting rights, to prevent fair elections, and to so blatantly redistrict in their favor stoops to never before seen levels of anti-democratic, un-American, and possible criminal behavior. Have we given up on cooperation, on building consensus, on working with others to build a better world? The knee jerk reaction of building walls is currently an easier road to take, rather than one that requires much more work, commitment, sacrifice, and effort to successfully lay a path on which we can all move ahead together rather than separate. Not sure where all this
will lead, but by the look of things, we are in for much more troubling times ahead. Not the most optimistic news but perhaps the most realistic. Looking closer to home and to the upcoming holiday season, there will be plenty of activities to divert our attention to happier times. Thanksgiving is just a few days away. Chanukah comes early this year, beginning shortly after Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas, Kwanza and New Year’s Eve, which will bring us joyfully into the New Year. Thanks to the work of a few elves over the past few months who have been hard at work serving on the Deck the Drive Committee, Islanders will have plenty to enjoy this holiday season. Much has been done by this group of volunteers that will lay the groundwork for better and better Deck the Drive campaigns for many years to come. Thanks to the Wilton Drive Improvement District for creating this committee, for city staff’s support and the committee members themselves for making this holiday season shine a bit brighter for all residents to enjoy. Festivities start on December 2 with the Holiday Lighting Ceremony which begins at 6:30 p.m. at Justin Flippen Park. Tearing down the walls that divide us, respecting differences, working together, doing our best, and striving to make our community a better place for all is what makes life just better here…
www.WMGAZETTE.com • 11.18.2021
November 18, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 23
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
Have we given up on cooperation, on building consensus, on working with others to build a better world?
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GAZETTE Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre There seems to be plenty of calls for building walls lately, but not many for bridging what divides us as a community. A Soviet era leader once said, “If the East would tear down the Berlin Wall tomorrow, the West would rush to rebuild it very quickly.” Seems that might be the case some 30 years later as we see thousands stranded along the Polish–Belarus border freezing in the early winter weather. Calls by many in the EU to build border walls are rising. Perhaps the governments now bracing for the worst in Europe should have thought about such realities as they let Syrian President Assad so brutally destroy his own country over the last decade or the United States failure to secure a thriving Kurdish region after the invasion of Iraq. Actions have consequences, unfortunate so does inaction. Europe is not the only area seeking walls as a solution. Israel has walled off Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. India seeks to cut-off Bangladesh. Here at home the call to finish walling off our southern border with Mexico is loudly chanted by many. At the end of World War Two there were about seven border walls, that number gradually grew to about 15 at the time the Berlin Wall came down, now there are over 70 border walls and structures in place and growing. We know from the past that isolation is not a good solution, but yet in a globally connected world, we still see the barriers being erected, the walls going up, and calls to isolate and protect the home front from the dangerous hordes all around us. Rather than make the tough choices in dealing with issues around the world, it has become easier for our leaders to ignore the humanitarian disasters taken place around the globe, to demonize families looking to escape those disasters and to build barriers to isolate from the turmoil created. Not a good long term strategy for the global community. We currently see this wall building mentality play out in local politics across the nation. Republican controlled state houses are passing new redistricting maps to secure Republican election success. By creating districts whose lines act as walls, this new minority looks to
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Photo via the City of Oakland Park, Facebook.
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
WILTON MANORS
COMMUNITY
Tax Cuts for Seniors; Wicked Manors Blasted; Car Show Returns & More From the Commission By John McDonald
Vice Mayor of Oakland Park Michael Carn. Photo by Carina Mask.
Oakland Park’s Vice Mayor Drops Out of Election By Christiana Lilly Michael Carn, who is currently serving as vice mayor of Oakland Park, has dropped out of the January 2022 special election for Florida House Seat 94. In an announcement shared to Facebook Sunday, Carn explained that in order to stay in the election, he would have to resign from the Oakland Park City Commission one day after being sworn in as the city’s mayor. Oakland Park’s commissioners rotate their mayors each year; Mayor Jane Bolin will be stepping down from her seat. “Completing this Current Season of Service honors and reimburses the gracious endowments of love, encouragement, and guidance from my village and the Oakland Park electorate,” Carn said in a statement. “I owe them this.” Carn has not completely stepped out of the race, though — he plans to return in August
2022 for House Seat 94 and asked the public to continue with their support of his run for the Florida House of Representatives. In October, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order for a special election to be held Jan. 11, 2022 due to a vacancy for House Seats 8 and 94. In the case of House Seat 94, Rep. Bobby B. DuBose resigned in his efforts for a seat in the U.S. Congress. The executive order came after Elijah Manley, a candidate for the seat, sued the governor for delaying the election process and leaving residents in the district unrepresented in Tallahassee. In May, Carn, Manley and Roderick Kemp sent a letter to DuBose calling for his resignation after he announced his run for Congress District 20. The current candidates for House 94 are Daryl Campbell, Josephus Eggelletion III and Manley. All three are running as Democrats.
Carn explained that in order to stay in the election, he would have to resign from the Oakland Park City Commission one day after being sworn in as the city’s mayor.
Wilton Manors commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance granting two homestead exemptions to low-income seniors. Passed on first reading, the city’s finance department proposal provides tax relief for seniors over the age of 65 who have lived in their homes for more than 25 years. To be eligible for the exemptions, a homeowner’s property must be under $250,000 in market value as determined by the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office. The ordinance moves on to a second and final reading scheduled for the next regular commission meeting on Nov. 23. Other notes from the Nov. 9 meeting include: Police Chief Gary Blocker announced the promotion of Michael Littleton to sergeant. Littleton, a Hollywood native, joined the department in 2018 as a patrol officer. Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to continue exploring redevelopment possibilities for the city hall complex. Commissioner Gary Resnick voted no, asking that more time be given for the private sector to digest changes to the city’s comprehensive land use code. Chef Nate Horner addressed the commission with complaints about the Wicked Manors street festival. Horner said the Halloween event was the biggest disaster he’d seen in 30 years of business on the Drive, complaining about not being allowed to have sidewalk seating at his restaurant and receiving a parking ticket. Resident Michael Rajner thanked Mayor Scott Newton for his leadership during the recent controversy over students at Wilton Manors Elementary School taking a field trip to Rosie’s Bar & Grill. Rajner said Newton’s presence in the meeting with the state investigator and the principal was described by those in the room as like “a gift from God” to stop a politically motivated witch hunt by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary. Resident Jake Valentine said public officials who use Zoom to attend meetings are gaming the system. He challenged commissioners who work remotely to disclose their location. “Heck, I’d be just happy to know what zip code you’re in,” he said. Valentine also took issue with Commissioner Mike Bracchi’s description of “antagonists” in the recent debate over term limits. “If you can’t stand the heat Commissioner Bracchi, I suggest you get
Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
out of politics,” Valentine said. Michael Sansevero, Chair of the Community Affairs Advisory Board, gave a report about the board’s efforts to develop criteria for honorees for Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Sansevero said another Wilton Manors Car Show, supported by the new Three Bridges Neighborhood Association, will return to the city on Nov. 20. Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to approve a contract with Redevelopment Management Associates for business marketing and branding analysis. The one-year deal pays the Pompano Beach based firm $74,500. Resnick voted no, primarily, citing the firm’s high cost. Resnick questioned if RMA had any conflictof-interest issues with Pompano Beach, referencing a 2017 allegation involving the firm’s role in the Old Town redevelopment. Sharon McCormick, RMA director of marketing, said there was no conflict. Community Development Services Director Roberta Moore gave an update on the Broward County Safety Inspection program. For 2021, Moore said 12 properties are due for the 40year inspection and 15 properties are due for the 50-year inspection. As of Nov. 9, only three of the 27 properties have submitted building permits. The rest of the list has been referred to code enforcement, Moore said, to begin issuing notices of violation.
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COMMUNITY
WILTON MANORS
Race To Succeed Alcee Hastings Decided By 5 Votes By John McDonald
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Photo via Facebook.
With a recount completed, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has declared victory in the Democratic primary of the Congressional District 20 special election. Upon final tabulations from the Broward and Palm Beach counties supervisor of elections offices, Cherfilus-McCormick finished with 11,662 votes to squeak past Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, who finished with 11,657 votes. Both counties will now send their totals to the Florida Secretary of State’s office for certification. In a statement, Cherfilus-McCormick called the electoral process democracy’s “bedrock” and although lengthy, it was “necessary to ensure the integrity of every vote to strengthen the public’s trust in the democratic process.” Cherfilus-McCormick, 42, a businesswoman and home healthcare executive, outlasted 10 other Democrats, including five elected officials, to win the nomination. She campaigned as an unapologetic progressive, championing issues such as universal basic income, Black Lives Matter, Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. In Palm Beach County, she ran up the greatest margin, getting 30% of the vote to 7% for Holness. CherfilusHolness won the bulk of the votes in Broward County – McCormick general election. 29% – and held a 12-vote lead campaigned as Florida Senator Shevrin before the machine recount. an unapologetic Jones, an at-large member State law called for a recount of the Democratic National because the margin was less progressive, than .5%. After the recount, Committee, congratulated championing issues Cherfilus-McCormick on her Cherfilus-McCormick came out five votes ahead. breakthrough victory. such as universal “I have been pursuing “I am wishing Sheila all the basic income, this dream for quite some best as she gets prepared to go Black Lives Matter, into one of the most important time,” tweeted CherfilusMcCormick, who ran twice times in our nation’s history,” Medicare for All unsuccessfully for the Jones said. “She ran an amazing and the Green seat held by the late Alcee campaign, and I’m sure she will Hastings, who died in office in represent the people well.” New Deal. April from a long battle with Rep. Bobby DuBose, whose prostate cancer. Cherfilusstate house district includes McCormick said she intended to follow Wilton Manors, came in fifth place with 3,457 Hastings’ “legacy of fighting for the rights and votes. In order to run DuBose had to resign. welfare of the common person.” The resignation takes effect Jan. 11, the same Cherfilus-McCormick moves on to face day a special election for his seat will be held. Republican Jason Mariner in the Jan. 11
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NOVEMBER 18, 2021
AN INTERVIEW WITH PAPA DUKE’S DELI
Check out our interview with Chip Meeker, the owner of Papa Duke’s Deli. By Kim Swan WHAT ARE SOME MENU ITEMS SOMEONE ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE WHEN THEY EAT AT PAPA DUKE’S DELI? We have a great reputation for The Druken Brisket sandwich. It’s a slow-cooked brisket with pepper tapenade, pickled veggies, BBQ sauce, and provolone. My second best is Italian. ANY DAILY/WEEKLY, SPECIALS/DEALS YOU CAN SHARE? We have warm pastrami each Wednesday and most Fridays an off-menu sandwich.
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ISLANDER
Q: WHAT MADE YOU JUMP INTO THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS? I jumped in when I was 20, lest when I was 30 for the corporate world. After 20 years in corporate I missed it. Good can be my creative outlet. HOW DID PAPA DUKE’S SURVIVE COVID? IS BUSINESS BACK TO NORMAL? We just opened this September so we were not impacted like many other amazing places.
A WILTON MANORS NEWSLETTER
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE OWNER OF CARVELLE BIKES Check out our interview with Carvelle Estriplet, the owner of Carvelle Bikes in Wilton Manors. By Kim Swan CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF? I am an unapologetic proud Black trans woman who really loves bicycles ever since I received my first BMX bike GT Performer when I was a 10-year-child growing up originally in Cambridge, Massachusetts but I’m a Floridian. CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS FOR US? Carvelle Bikes is a full-service bike shop. We offer Rentals Repair service and Sales of new and used bicycles. Our product lines extend to Electric bikes, electric scooters and any bicycle-related items such as helmets, lights and locks. WHAT KIND OF BIKE DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR A NEWBIE TO BUY? I tell all my customers all the time the right bike is comfortable and the one that you want to ride all the time that applies if you want to be a beach cruiser or mountain
THURSDAY ARIANNA’S 8TH ANNIVERSARY Arianna’s Center is throwing an event at Sunshine Studios at The Sunshine Cathedral for its supporters and offering food and drinks to celebrate six years of working to empower the trans community of South Florida from 6-8 p.m.
FRIDAY VINTAGE SALE Fashion through the periods is eclectic, unique, and coming back in style at the Vintage Sale at 800 W Oakland Park Blvd from 7-8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY PANDORA PRIDE Celebrate Fort Lauderdale Pride with us with Pandora Pride at Kubs from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
SUNDAY NEON JUNGLE TOUR Clozee brings her Neon Jungle Tour to The Venue along with Of The Trees and Tripp St. at 7 p.m.
biker or a weekend park rider or road racer. Whatever you like, just get out there and ride! WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WILTON MANORS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
ON THE HORIZON
The reason I picked Wilton Manors is I’ve been a resident for over 10 years and historically Wilton Manors never had a bike shop. All the bike shops have been historically on the east side of town. Most of my bicycle experience has been working in those shops at the Eastside of Fort Lauderdale. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? The bike shop is located inside Wilton Collective 2365, Wilton Dr. It’s open Monday-Saturday from 12-7 p.m. You can call at 954-406-1568 or go on Instagram @carvellebike. You can also shop for your next bike on carvellebikes.com and email at Info@carvellebikes.com.
CALENDAR
NOV. 24: KONPA PARTY Join the hottest Konpa Party with Enposib, Vayb, and DJ Bullet at the Venue from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Tell us about upcoming events we should know about!
Carvelle Estriplet. Photo via Facebook.
THE NEWSLETTER YOU NEED NEED. WILTON MANORS NEWS... RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX. From events to local announcements, fun facts and so much more, the Islander is everything you need to wake up ready for a beautiful day in the Island City.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WILTON MANORS
GRAB THE POPCORN...
THIS FILM IS FOR YOU.
Shining The Light On Trans Issues
Want to know all the latest LGBT films? News, interviews, reviews, and so much more...
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At a recent dinner with my friend Steve Rothaus, we both discussed over how the face of activism and advocacy has changed postmarriage equality. While Trump’s election served as temporary reuniting force — for most of our community — not much else has been able to generate the community unity and engagement required to drive real social change on issues affecting the LGBT community. Both Steve and I share a common concern for the health and safety of our trans brothers and sisters and would like to see our local LGBT community more actively involved and invested in all of our causes and concerns. The very same people who are fighting to limit the rights and protections in our legislatures and court systems are the same people who fought against our right to marry. The very same kinds of people who assault trans people in our streets are the same people commit gay bashings. Make no mistake, the people that fought against the LGB didn’t go away, they are just more intensely focused on the T. To be clear, there are organizations and individuals in our community that are stepping up in support of the trans community. Here are a few examples of action and advocacy happening in our community: •Just in time for Pride Fort Lauderdale this weekend, the City of Fort Lauderdale commissioned a rainbow crosswalk near Sebastian Beach utilizing the new “Progress” flag, which brings awareness to marginalized communities including trans individuals. •Pride Fort Lauderdale & Trans Pride are sponsoring the Trans Day of Remembrance at Pride Center in Fort Lauderdale. Trans Pride is shutting down early on Saturday to ensure people have time to get to the Pride Center in time for the event which begins at 6 p.m. and includes a march to the mural honoring Black Trans live at Wilton Collective and concluding with the TDoR remembrance ceremony begins at 7pm. •The City of Wilton Manors began lighting up city hall on Wednesday, Nov. 17 with trans colors, and they run for a full week, in honor of Trans Day of Remembrance.
MEDICARE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE ACCEPTED
•Arianna’s Center is celebrating their 6th Anniversary and raising money for their new Wilton Manors space with a dinner/open bar
Photo via Adobe.
reception at Sunshine Cathedral concluding with a live-streamed program with a speaker roundtable (including myself) on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. (Tickets are only $25 and available at https://bit.ly/3oxWPkz. If you missed the live event, go online to watch the livestream.)
This is certainly not a conclusive list of what’s happening in our community in support of our trans community, but I might suggest as a community we can and must do even more than what we are doing today to amplify the voices of the trans community, protect their rights, and promote their human dignity. Are you doing something to support trans rights or are you interested in learning how you can get more involved? I welcome your email at ccaputo@wiltonmanors.com or via text at 954.557.2801.
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— Chris Caputo
WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER