11 November 09 Lhp Magazine

Lighthouse Point www.LHPmag.com

November 2009

“The Biggest Little Magazine in South Florida”

Around the Around the Point is a column that includes news items relevant to the residents of LHP. We reserve the right to reject material that may not be in the best interest of the community.

NEW AGENTS TO CAMPBELL & ROSEMURGY REAL ESTATE In their 1750 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach Office

Kristen Fazio has joined the Peggy Fucci Team at the Pompano Office as a real estate associate. Her areas of expertise are in Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Plantation and Coral Springs. She stays active in church activities and fundraisers for Breast Cancer Awareness. Wendy Hunt joined our Pompano Office and has a Bachelor’s in Finance from Michigan State University. Wendy is an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and enjoys boating with her family. Kristin O’Reilly has been working in the real estate business in Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach. Kristin said “she strives for success in assisting with both buyers and sellers, doing the research and knowing the market”. They can be reached at 954-781-4747. In their 2741 Marine Circle, Lighthouse Point Office Michele Craig has her B.S. in Business Administration and has been selling real estate since 2000. While not working she enjoys tennis, boating and skiing. 954-781-1510 Tia H. Jessee has spent the last 14 years focusing on luxury condo and multi-family residential development. When not selling real estate, Tia enjoys cooking and “Green” living. 954-781-1510 “We want to thank these talented agents for choosing Campbell & Rosemurgy,” said Kiku Martinson, Director of Real Estate. “We hope that buyers will take advantage of this great time to buy property with one of our Realtors as the market keeps improving and interest rates are low.”

Pope John Paul II High School Presents

“Damn Yankees” riday, November 20th - 7:30 pm Saturday, November 21st - 7:30 pm Sunday, November 22nd - 3:00 pm matinee Tickets are $12.00 for adults; $5.00 for students. For tickets, call (561) 314-2157. School located at Spanish River Blvd. and Military Trail. Address: 4001 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Point

“ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH, IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING” — Edmund Burke

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, Lighthouse Point Magazine columnist Denise Richardson is co-hosting the National Consumer Empowerment Conference & Expo with Americans for Fairness in Lending, here in South Florida at the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Hotel. Consumers will have the unique opportunity to meet with consumer advocates from around the country and combine their voices in the fight for financial reform. If you thought that finding people online who shared your woes was inspiring, wait until you meet those peers and get to speak to your national advocates at National Consumer Empowerment Conference & Expo! Denise Richardson is founder of GiveMeBackMy Credit.com, and a longtime consumer advocate. A victim of identity theft herself, she is also an author who turned her life experiences into her first book, Give Me Back My Credit, a memoir that exposes the harmful effects of inaccurate credit reporting, lender errors, abusive debt collection and questionable mortgage servicing practices. Richardson is also a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, trained and certified by the Institute of Fraud and Risk Management. She continues to blog about various consumer protection issues on her site and on the Sun-Sentinel online Editorial Blog, “Talk Back South Florida.” Her monthly identity theft column appears in Lighthouse Point Magazine. So save the date! Saturday, November 21, 2009 – in our own Hollywood, Florida. Please email Denise Richardson for more details or visit her blog at GiveMebackMyCredit.com/blog for updates.

REAL ESTATE BUYER & SELLER BREAKFAST CLUB SEMINAR Lighthouse Point, Fl., The REDI Foundation, and Richard Michael Abraham will sponsor the Real Estate Buyer & Seller Breakfast Club Seminar at the Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racquet Club on December 17, 2009. Continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 AM. The Seminar will run from 9:00 AM-Noon. Mr. Abraham will cover topics relating to buying or selling Commercial Investment Property, Businesses For Sale and Luxury or Waterfront Property. The Buyer & Seller Breakfast Club is a private Club. Membership in the Club is by Application only. Seminar space is strictly limited. For further details and an Application, visit www.redii.org/seminar

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From the

F

eatures

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Single Mom Struggles

30 Soroptimist’s Roaring Twenties 36 Dunn’s Run Charity Event 41 Lighthouse Christian Fund Raiser The complete October issue and back issues of

Lighthouse Point Magazine can be seen on our great website at www.LHPmag.com

Advertising Rates & Information The Lighthouse Point Magazine is published monthly by City News Group and delivered by mail, free of charge each month to residents of Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Cove, businesses and the surrounding communities. Check our website for advertising rates and specials for new clients, or call 954-486-3820. DEADLINES FOR CAMERA-READY ART AND PREPAYMENT OF ADS ARE DUE ON THE 1ST DAY OF THE PRECEDING MONTH OF PUBLICATION. ALL ON-GOING ADS MUST BE CANCELLED BY THE 1ST DAY OF THE PRECEDING MONTH OF PUBLICATION.

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A BRAVE HEART If a pregnant Demi Moore can appear on the cover of Vanity Fair, then Bettina Tweddle can appear on the cover of Lighthouse Point Magazine. Bettina, owner of Wild Nails Salon in Lighthouse Point, posed in this spectacular photograph, taken by our own Debra Todd in a recent underwater photo session in celebration of her pregnancy. As a single mom, Bettina faces a difficult future in attempting to devote time to the new baby and juggling the problems that arise in dealing with the present economic turndown and other random variables of life. Staff writer Barbara Silkstone has written our cover story this month that will give some insight as to how Bettina plans to face the future (see page 10).

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I WANT A BOOK DEAL! A writer trying to get a publisher to look at his or her work is a futile task, usually ending in great disappointment and frustration. But just become a common criminal, or perform some stupid athletic feat, or let your libido run rampant and there’s a good chance you may be noticed. I am by no means suggesting that any fellow members of the Fort Lauderdale

Editor

Writers’ Group resort to such desperate means, but you take the witless, deposed Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich; take the pathetic presidential hopeful and Virginia Senator John Edwards; take the gullible, gallivanting New York State Governor Elliot Spitzer; take the slippery, sinless President Bill Clinton; take “Appalachian jogger” and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford -- and what do you get? Book deal! Book deal! Book deal! There just ain’t no justice!

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MY LATEST CHALLENGE I’ve been loyal to Bill Gates for as long as there has been a blasted computer around to mess up your life. My addiction, at least to a PC, has finally come to an end.A new 24-inch Mac just showed up on my doorstep, and a whole new learning curve is about to begin. The prospect of spending precious hours learning the new process somewhat dampens the excitement, but it sure is an amazing machine. Thank you, Bill, for the many PC years, good and bad, especially the viruses and crashes. But it has truly served the Lighthouse Point Magazine well, and for that I am grateful. Onward and upward!

Jon Frangipane, Editor

Lighthouse Point 3467 N.W. 17 Terrace, Oakland Park, FL 33309 OFFICE 954-486-3820 • CELL 954-608-3820 • FAX 954-735-3652 Email: [email protected] Website: www.LHPmag.com ©2009 Lighthouse Point Magazine

JonFrangipane – Founder/Publisher/Editor BabsKall, Kall Graphics – Magazine Design & Layout BohPhillips – Ad Design WendellAbern – Staff Writer

LindaKaufman – Staff Writer AlanWilliamson – Staff Writer

Contributing Writers Jim Balistreri, Doreen Gauthier, Sheriff Al Lamberti, Dr. Steve Wigdor, Donna Torrey, Dr. Gary Goberville, Erica and Jan Davey, Barbara Silkstone, Rev. Jack Noble, Mary Griffin, Karen Hammett, Denise Richardson, Al Siefert, Mary Greenwood, John Offerdahl, Catherine Favitta, Kim Sherman and Commissioner Ken Keetchl

www.lhpmag.com

C

I Love My Pet

ontents

Al’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Around the Point . . . . . . . . . . . 5 As I Was Saying . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Beauty Spot of the Month . . 26 Cantankerously Yours . . . . . . 56 Cookin’ with the Community. 62 Cover story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Eyes Have It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Garden Lady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Green Harriet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Butterfly Lady . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Happy Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Healthy Choices . . . . . . . . . . 60 Hot Off the Grill . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Identity Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 I Love My Pet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Legal Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Library News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Love & Laughter . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Merchant of the Month . . . . . 74 Mortgage News . . . . . . . . . . . 48 On Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Out & About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Pet Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Real Estate News . . . . . . . . . 40 Sheriff Lamberti Reports . . . . 64 Strange, But True . . . . . . . . . . 54

NOTICE Past issues of

Lighthouse Point Magazine can be viewed online at www.LHPmag.com To accommodate the many requests we get for our publication, copies of the Lighthouse Point Magazine are now available during the first week of each month at: LHP Library, Police Station, Red Fox Diner, Roadhouse Grill, LHP Yacht & Racquet Club, J. Marks, Yahoo’s, Rita’s Ice, Bonefish Mac’s, Duffy’s Diner, Federal Grill and Offerdahl’s Cafe. Call for other locations. 8

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Taco Hi, my name is Taco the turtle. I just moved into a new home, and I love it here already. I get to eat a lot of romaine lettuce and I have an endless supply of bananas. I eat grass all day so Dad doesn’t have to mow the lawn that much anymore. My Mom gives me these really tasty flowers everyday and Dad lets me play with my new brother and sisters.We play fetch, but I'm not fast enough to get to the ball first. On Sundays Mom and Dad let me come in and watch football games. Please send us a favorite photo of your pet. Also, include 75 words, or less why you love your pet, your name, address, phone and the name of your pet. Send photos by regular mail, or by email as a PDF or jpeg file to [email protected]. No photos will be returned.

LOST & FOUND FOUND – A very friendly bunny in Lighthouse Point. He is obviously someone’s pet. We’d like to find the owner. If you can be of any help in locating the owner, please call 305 992 4227 so the sweet bunny can go home. Thanks!

NOVEMBER QUOTE “One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.” - Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) www.lhpmag.com

Bettina Tweddle Faces Life’s Biggest Challenge

By Barbara Silkstone

Debra Todd Photography.com

Photos by Debra Todd

B

ettina Tweddle is a young lady with two unique dreams that at first blush don’t seem to be in harmony. But meeting Tweddle and listening to her talk about her childhood and her future you begin to believe all things are possible. A pretty woman, Tweddle’s interesting surname sounds as if she’s stepped out of Alice in Wonderland. The name is of Scottish origin, although she’s a blend of Irish, Scottish and French. Tweddle grew up around the waters of Hollywood and Pompano. Some of her fondest memories are of following her dad around on the seas, inlets and lakes of South Florida as he collected tropical fish. A former navy man, Mike Tweddle became a professional tropical fish collector when Bettina was a little girl. He would take his young daughter along as he collected specimens to fill the requests of his clients for specific exotic fish or just to stock his own personal fish tanks. Dad and daughter spent many lovely weekends on Snake Creek looking for the perfect colorful fish. Bettina remembers sitting on the shore holding nets on the ends of poles. Her dad would catch every imaginable rainbow fish, turtles, and other aquatic creatures. They frequented two fresh water and two salt water lakes. “It was a great, inexpensive way to have family fun. We were often joined by my mom, Donna and my younger brother. As a family we would spend long days at the beach looking for just

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the right fish.” The Tweddles enjoyed free family fun and created true Florida memories unlike plastic memories that originate in expensive theme parks. “We loved catching guppies to bring home to feed our own aquarium fish. As kids we learned about the cycle of life.” Tweddle is due to give birth to her first child, a boy on December 10th and is obviously very excited. The newest Tweddle will be named Xaunder, a very impressive name for a young man. She explains that the name is Greek. The “u” is included to be sure folks pronounce it correctly. He is one of her dreams come true. “I’ve always wanted children from the time I was a kid myself.” Did her early interest in underwater adventures prompt her recent prenatal photos? “I wanted pregnancy photos. I asked my friend, Debra Todd, who specializes in these types of pictures. Debra suggested an underwater picture and I was all for it as I love being in the water. The picture was taken in Deb’s pool.” The mom to be discusses what her wishes would be in a perfect world where she could be a stay-at-home mom. “I didn’t exactly expect to be a single mom, but I have such a wonderful support system of family and friends, it will all work out. It would be a wonderful luxury to stay home with my son while he’s a baby.” Tweddle’s other dream, owning her own business,Wild Nails,

requires her constant attention. A perfectionist, she strives to create a wonderful work environment for her closest friends who happily work with her at her budding day spa. “Diana and Jackie Christie are here with me all day and I want our workplace to compliment who we are — loving friends who truly care about our clients. The salon is an extension of how we live.” “I was always interested in doing nails. I can remember being a small child and loving to get my nails done. I enrolled at Artistic Nail Academy when I was 16 years old. I’ve been doing nails since then. I trained at Contour Day Spa where I met Diana Garcia who is the best esthetician and masseuse. She’s a little wonder girl.”

The salon is a blend of earthy colors, pale yellow, sage green and faux-finished walls in the pedicure room. The picturesque murals, willow tree, and Roman Column washing stations confirm Tweddle’s eye for design. “I’ve always been very independent. When the opportunity presented itself to buy this salon in 2007, I knew I could do it. I somehow saw myself as a mom running a successful business. But the idea of more children will have to wait until the right man comes along. As a single mom there is only so much you can take on.”

A perfectionist, she [Bettina] strives to create a wonderful work environment for her closest friends who happily work with her at her budding day spa.

Bettina and her staff. Tweddle talks about the organic skin care lines she carries. “The line is called Bella Lucce. It has Asian and Arabian products, both excellent depending on personal preference. The Asian line has products made from crushed pearls, shitake mushrooms, green tea and red tea. The Arabian line has ingredients like sandalwood herbs and sea mud. We are constantly on the lookout for environmentally safe products for our clients.” What’s the most challenging part of owning a nail salon? Tweddle answers,“The hardest part is finding good staff. It takes a reliable, talented person to develop a following. In this economy it’s more important than ever to give quality service. This is really a business where you get what you pay for. The client learns quickly that discount nail salons are not in their best interest.” The cover photo of Bettina Tweddle brings to mind the Vanity Fair cover of the seven months pregnant Demi Moore taken by Annie Leibovitz in 1991. At the time, it created quite a stir. That cover has had a lasting impact on society. It started a trend for fashionable pregnancy photos and a booming business. The photograph is one of the most highly regarded magazine covers of all time. Almost fifteen years after its publication it was listed as the second best magazine cover of the last forty years by the American Society of Magazine Editors. We wish only the best for Bettina, who now faces the greatest challenge of her life.

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New Location on the Water

3100 E. OAKLAND PARK BLVD. • FT LAUDERDALE, FL 33308

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LHP Chamber of Commerce Social Federal Grille – Lighthouse Point Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The LHP Chamber of Commerce celebrated its first Social of the 2009-2010 year. More than 70 members and guests gathered at the “New” Federal Grille located at 3150 N. Federal Highway. Chef Luciano Balzano and Cheryl Schmitt hosted a lovely evening and guests enjoyed scrumptious samples of their new menu. Michele Greene, the Chamber’s President, kicked off the meeting by greeting new members and guests and advised that the Social Calendar is already filled for the 2009-2010. For more information on the monthly Socials, log onto www.lhpchamber.com. Michele also introduced this year’s Board of Directors which are: Cindy Tenberg,Vice President – Law Offices of Cynthia L Tenberg, PA , Susan Gingerich, Secretary - Basket Garden Gifts, Lou Petrone, Treasurer – Red Fox Restaurant, Warren Persky, Board Member – Best Promotions, Julie Wheeler, Membership Chair – Wheeler Mortgage, Pat Anderson, Board Member – My (L to R) New Members: Dr. Paula Hedglon, Hedglon Chiropractic Center, Cruising Journal, Dr. Carol McNamara Krauss, Board Fine Nguyen, Avanti Nails Salon, Joanne Massey-Dean, Silpada Design, Member, Lucille Pignataro, Board Member – Bank Teri Kovacs, Teri Kovacs Photography, Janet Ruffolo, Interiors by Janet, United, LizAnn Brown, Board Member – Campbell Paul Allert, Alianza Transportation and Rosemurgy, Rene Sabatini, Board Member – Azure Julie Wheeler, LHP Chamber's Membership Director. Realty, Sydnee Renaurd, Social Chair - SunTrust Bank and Virginia Campbell. Carol Landeau, City Clerk, Lighthouse Point, talked about the The Auction Committee is and will be collecting items for the importance of everyone taking the time to fill out the 2010 Silent, Chinese and Live auctions. If anyone has anything that Census. Another important fact to remember is the City of they are interested in donating or has names of companies that Lighthouse Point gets money per household for the general fund would be, please contact the Chamber at: lhpchamber@ for every completed census and those dollars are use for very gmail.com. Stay tuned for more and let us know what you like. important improvements to our community. The Chamber will again be participating in the 14th Annual Michele Greene then recognized this month’s new members Dunn’s Run the first Sunday in October. Our team continues to which are, Dr. Paula Hedglon: Hedglon Chiropractic Center, Fine grow each and every year. Nguyen: Avanti Nails Salon, Joanne Massey-Dean: Silpada Design, Teresa Kovacs: Teri Kovacs Photography, Janet Ruffolo: Interiors by Janet and Paul Allert: Alianza Transportation and Dr. Christopher Dean of the Lighthouse Point Animal Hospital. The 6th Annual Taste of Lighthouse Point will be held on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at the Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club. There are many new suggestions that we are trying to implement. For example, we will be having additional valet services, possibly having trolleys bring attendees from an off site location to and from the club, background music throughout the Club and then three stations for the wine services and a few others. The Restaurant Committee is contacting the many restaurants in the city. We will be reconfiguring the entire club and the number of restaurants should be about the same as previous years with a little variety. The Sponsorship Committee is contacting our current listing of previous sponsors and is always looking for additional new names of individuals and businesses that would be interested. Federal Grill Social Hosts, Michele Greene and Chef Luciano Balzano

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Cleaning Up the Mess On Saturday, September 19th, Deerfield Beach Middle School science teachers — Ms. Fogel, Ms. Dieujuste and Mrs. Pinnell — and a group of student volunteers participated in the “International Coastal Cleanup Day.” There were approximately 400 volunteers there and 25% of them were DBMS students! Students removed trash and debris from Deerfield Beach. “Water covers about 70% of our planet. If we can learn to keep our beaches clean, we can avoid pollution and our waterways can be free from trash and safer for people and wildlife,” Ms. Fogel stated. L to R: Miguel Moreno, Janel Weatherly, Taylor White, Julian Fredericks, Shalissa Alleyne, Matthew McDermott, Ms. Fogel, Mrs. Pinnell.

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FAS H ION

‘Tis The Season… By Millie Walsh There are more party invites in November and December than in the previous ten months combined. So now is the time to freshen up your party-wear so there’s something in your closet when you get your next invite. There’s nothing worse than running out last minute to find something to wear — and everything you find is too small, too tacky or too overpriced. Where to start? How about right in your own closet. You may have a few pieces to build on that you haven’t worn in a while because you don’t have the perfect top to go with it, or shoes that match. Well now you have a little time to start looking. Start by trying on to make sure those pieces still fit.And the best thing to do is keep those pieces in a bag in the trunk of your car so you have them with you when you go shopping. There’s no better way to see if those pants really match that top than having them with you. Plan for several dress levels — casual outdoor party, holiday house party, office party, and cocktail party. Here are a few tips to help: Color – The holidays are the perfect time for rich jewel tones. Red is always a holiday favorite. This season deep rich purples and greens are hot. And black is always in, especially accented with sequins or jewels for the holidays. Metallics are the perfect accent — how about a silver jacket for your little black dress? Bling — Whether it’s in your jewelry, or on your clothing the bling this season is sequins, jewels, stones and metallics. I wouldn’t say crystals are out, they’re just more subdued. Instead of covering the entire shirt they’re used more to accent the print or silhouette of the piece. Dresses — Long or short, dresses haven’t been this hot in decades. Dress it up, or dress it down with a change of accessories and shoes the same dress can take you to many parties. Throw on a wrap, or wear it with tights or boots for a completely different look. With so many different styles, dresses can show off your attributes and help hide the parts you’d rather not flaunt. Jeans — Jeans can take you almost anywhere. At the holidays that is a big almost. Even the dressiest jeans aren’t appropriate for cocktail parties and black tie affairs. Call me old fashioned but I think we need to keep our jeans in the closet for the dressier holiday fare. As an alternate try a wide palazzo pant or a fitted black pant with a metallic shine.

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Accessories — They say accessories make the outfit and “they” are right! You have a lot to play with — jewelry, bags, shoes, belts and wraps. And remember you can overdo. If the top or dress has a busy pattern, or a higher neckline, keep the jewelry simple. Invest in a nice clutch in a neutral color — black, brown, beige, silver or red.This will be your most used accessory all year. Work Parties — Make sure your clothing isn’t too revealing. Remember you (or your husband) have to work with these people the other 364 days of the year. Millie Walsh is the owner of Body & Soul Boutique, located in The Shoppes at Beacon Light, 2430 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point.

AS I WAS SAY I N G

Floored By Alan Williamson I can t stand this carpet anymore, it’s disgusting,” my wife said one day out of the blue. Not quite hearing her right, I thought she said “I can’t stand this country anymore, it’s disgusting” and wholeheartedly agreed that we should take the initiative and do something about it. “I don’t like what I’m seeing either, haven’t for quite a while,” I confided.“I’m glad we’re on the same page with this. Let’s put our heads together, commit some real time and energy, and do something meaningful, something transformational.” “Great,” Sherry said.“I was thinking of putting a wood floor in the dining room and berber or frieze carpeting through the rest of the house.” “I’m sorry, what?” Suddenly, that “same page” I thought we were on was a page in a whole different book written in another language. “I know, I know, I’ve never been a wood person, but I was thinking it would really set the dining room off from the rest of the house,” Sherry clarified. “You want to change the flooring throughout the whole house?” “Well, not the kitchen and family room, but everything else. Did you have something different in mind? “Well, since you asked, I was thinking of influencing social and economic change through a personal investment in political activism,” I cheerfully professed. “Excuse me?”The testiness of those two words didn’t bode well for Sherry’s openness to go in a different direction. “Or wood in the dining room, carpet in the rest of the house — what you said,” I countered, slickly correcting course. “Good I’ll make some calls.” So began our home reflooring project, or to put it more accurately, our “Move Everything We Own From 90 percent of the House and Put it in 10 Percent of the House While We Camp Out in a Tiny Corner of the Kitchen Project.” When you’ve lived in the same house for a long time, things have a way of accumulating. In our home, the contents can be divided into three distinct categories: furniture and accessories, home electronics, and the staggering flea market-size collection of things my wife has crammed into every inch of closet space. In the small guest bedroom closet alone we have four boxes of gift wrapping materials, an assortment of hats (some of them straw), extra blankets and pillows, an oscillating ceramic heater, a battery-powered black and white TV, a hurricane kit, a first-aid kit, a sewing kit, board games, two pair of binoculars, a tripod, fake leaves made of silk, “silk” shirts made of polyester, duffle bags, tote bags, store bags, luggage, tax records, old record albums and six large plastic storage boxes of photos — three of them quite possibly not of people we know. The upheaval of transporting all that stuff from the closets to the dumping ground formerly known as our family room was unsettling, but not nearly as unnerving as the installation of the carpet and wood. I’m not a flooring expert, but I sensed we were in trouble when the “wood guy” kept reading the box the planks came in and making puzzled grunting sounds. After a couple of hours of grunting, he snapped several lines of red

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chalk on the floor. I presumed this was to mark his territory, which seem plausible when, in a move reminiscent of tribal rituals I’ve seen on National Geographic specials, he danced in ever widening circles through the chalk before tracking its indelible stain to far off corners of the house. Meanwhile, the carpet guys, inspired by the wood guy’s mystical approach to project planning, set about carrying out their own ingenious strategy of installing carpet in the living room first and then relentlessly trashing it on their 115 trips back and forth to do the bedrooms. After installing approximately 12 planks during a six-hour shift, the wood guy decided to quit while he was ahead, and rode off on his bicycle (yes, his bicycle).The carpet guys, who had arrived three hours late, asked if we minded if they worked late into the evening. After eight hours of carpet-laying chaos, we minded. Things didn’t go any better the next day when the crucial merging of the wood floor and the carpet was to be executed. According to Sherry’s vision, there would be a gently sweeping curve that would define the transition from the dining room wood to the living room carpet.When the moment of creative conception came, we were, to put it succinctly, “floored.” Instead of a soft, graceful curve, the meeting of the carpet and wood resembled the jagged outline of an eroded beach during low tide. “I can’t stand this flooring, it’s disgusting,” Sherry said, surveying the carnage. “Isn’t that what you said before we started this project?” I asked, trying to sort out the forensics of our misadventure. “Yes, but that’s before we spent money trying to improve it, so now I’m even more disgusted.” “Let’s never do this again,” I proposed, running my toes along the eroded coastline that was supposed to be the border of our new carpet and wood floors. “Never do what again? Make a home improvement?” “No, never use a company again that charges half the price of their competitors and sends guys as inept as me to do the work.” “I think that’s a change in policy worth making,” Sherry acknowledged. “Now what do you want to do about this eroded beach of a floor border?” “Well, since you asked, I was thinking we could buy some rubber sand crabs and jellyfish from one of those tourist shops out by the pier and make it into a whole ‘bad day at the beach’ theme.” “Maybe add some beer bottles, cigarette butts, food wrappers,” Sherry brainstormed. “Yes, excellent! Maybe some medical waste, too. And odd items of clothing — a glove, a girdle, a straw hat, one shoe.” “Wait here,” Sherry nodded.“I’ve got some stuff I was going to cram back in the closet” “Bring out those boxes of old photos,” I yelled. “Especially the ones of people we don’t know!” [email protected] © 2009 Alan Williamson

HEDGLON CHIROPRACTIC CENTER ACTUAL PATIENT TESTIMONIAL I have been disabled for 22 years. I had back surgery in 1993. Since the surgery I had not been able to walk without a cane, I was taking morphine daily for my back pain and my mind was not clear at all, due to the side effects of the medication. When I came to Dr. Paula to see my X-rays, she showed me that I had pressure in the spinal cord and I was losing life coming from the brainstem affecting my low back. I have been getting adjusted for about two weeks now. I was able to walk without the cane after the 4th day of getting adjusted and for the first time in 22 years, I was able to run, swim, play pool, kneel down and I can even dance. Thank you God, For the miracle  FREE Spinal Exam of Life!  $25 X-rays (If needed) Alain Paula ula R. R Hedglon, e , D.C. D ( $390 retail value) Offer expires November 30, 2009

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Whether it’s family, good friends, health and the gift of Life, we all have something to be thankful for – and many have been blessed with much to be thankful for. But the most important blessing is health. Chiropractic is an allnatural approach to restoring and maintaining health. Dr. Paula invites you to discover what millions already know: Chiropractic Works! www.HedglonChiropractic.com

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The Garden Lady Says… IT’S YOUR GARDEN! By Donna Torrey

I personally love it when we go back to regular time; it means that the sun comes up much earlier. It is a known fact that our bodies are programmed to rise with the sun and to sleep in darkness. This means we get an extra precious hour to visit or work in the garden before we head off to our daily activities. There is no better way to start the day, as we are getting all of the things that we know are good for us: sunshine, fresh air, exercise, peaceful meditation, and last but not least, enjoyment! Once the winter season is here to stay, I always seem to want to re-do areas that have been taken over by rampant summer growth. This was good during the summer by suppressing weeds and filling in for a more limited choice of plant material. But, come winter, all bets are off and I’m ready to make room for new plants. Remember, an annual here will last almost a year, so it’s a very good value, especially if you can eat it! One of my favorite winter annuals is Nasturtium (Tropaeolum sp.) It is known for its edible blooms, which can be almost any color, but are usually yellow to orange to red, with combinations on the same plant. The flowers are quite large, around the size of a large walnut, very frilly and delicate

looking, but don’t let them fool you; they taste peppery, and spicy and just a little bit hot. They can turn any salad into a show-stopper! Not only are the flowers edible, but the leaves as well, which are roundish with scalloped edges, and are delicious added to salads, or used as lettuce on a sandwich, for an unexpected twist. Nasturtiums need at least five hours of direct sun and just enough water to keep them from wilting. They are great in pots, hanging baskets, and as borders. You can grow them easily from seed or buy the plants already started. If you’re lucky, many times they will re-seed themselves the following season, when the nights cool. So, tomorrow, go out into your garden at first light, and look around. Got some areas that have been a disappointment? Some plants that have not performed well, gotten corrupted with weeds or not growing as you would expect? Well, then I’d say it’s time to throw the rascals out, and start over! This is your chance to make it different. It’s your garden.

Beauty Spot of the Month

Congratulations to Robert and Milyn Odierna of 2741 N.E. 46th Street, winners of the Lighthouse Point Community’s Beauty Spot of the Month Award for October, chosen by the LHP Beautification Committee.

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TRICIA’S SKIN CARE RELOCATES AND NOW OFFERS MORE SERVICES! Miss Patricia (Tricia) Lambe has been providing esthetic services in her popular Lighthouse Point salon for the last ten years. Her original services included facials, microderm abrasions, waxing, manicures and pedicures. She recently moved her salon two blocks south to provide for expanded services of laser applications. These new services include Acne Clearance, Permanent Hair Reduction, Photo-Rejuvenations, Pigmented and Vascular Lesion Reductions, Rosacea Reductions and Cellulite Reduction. Known for her colorful personality, Tricia is meticulous and serious in her approach to skin care. Tricia was born and educated in Ireland and has resided here in the United States since 1984. Skin care is her life’s passion and she is truly excited with her new ability to provide additional services for her clients. Tricia is pleased to carry a full line of Dermalogica and Bioelements products. Visit Tricia in her beautiful new salon Now known as

TRICIA’S SKIN AND LASER CENTRE 1701 NE 28th Street Pompano Beach, Fl. 33064 Phone: 954-242-0542

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Everybody has a story, a very unique story, to tell about his or her life, or about significant events in that person’s life. This is your opportunity to hear — and to preserve forever — that story as told by someone very special to you. In the comfort of our recording studio, you will make a professionally-produced CD of your interview with that special someone. What will the interview be like? You might ask, for example, about the most memorable moments in the that person’s life, or delve into the lasting lessons that he or she has learned, or seek words of wisdom to be passed on to you. Or maybe you’ll want to spend this face-to-face time telling that special person things you’ve always wanted to say about what he or she means to you. In any case, the choice of topics is yours and you’ll have a lasting reminder of this very personal and meaningful experience. Call today for details and to make an appointment.

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Soroptimist Casino Night Saga

Roaring Twenties By Marsha Crismond, Casino Night Chair

Soroptimist International of Pompano Beach recently held its 19th annual Casino Night at St. Coleman’s Parish Hall in Pompano Beach. Soroptimists are a group of 45 professional women from Lighthouse Point and Pompano Beach who are very active in raising money for local charities. All proceeds from their Casino Night are donated to Woodhouse, a residential facility in Pompano Beach which serves 24 adults with severe to profound developmental disabilities as well as physical challenges.The Board of Directors and the staff at Woodhouse work to ensure each resident enjoys a normalized, warm and responsive family-like environment which respects and reflects an understanding of their individual differences and needs. The event is attended by 250 plus people each year who have a fun, exciting evening. This year’s theme was “The Roaring Twenties.” Attendees at the speak-easy included flappers, gangsters, and a sole woman picketing for prohibition. She was definitely in the minority! The event was closed by a raid of trench coat wearing FBI agents toting inflatable plastic machine guns. Luckily no guest was taken into custody and hauled off to jail. 30

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Gamblers enjoyed Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Texas Hold’em. All chips won were traded for tickets to win an array of Chinese Auction items. There were also many Silent Auction items to bid on as well as 50/50 and Wine Wagon raffles. Guests enjoyed dancing to “The World Famous Low Tides” and a dinner catered by Carrabbas. Sponsors included The Seminole Tribe of Florida, Florida Shores Bank, Delisi & Ghee, Balistreri Realty, Jim & Sue Acheson, Carrabbas Italian Grill and more. This year Soroptimists raised $24,000 for Woodhouse thanks to all who attended and participated in the event. Everyone enjoyed a fabulous evening while ignoring the prohibition picketer who seemed to be enjoying some illegal spirits herself. Preparations for next year’s Casino Night are all ready in progress.

More photos on page 47

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What Should You Do With 401(k) After a Layoff? The long and deep recession resulted in the highest unemployment rate in decades. If you’ve been laid off, you may need to look at all your available financial resources — including your 401(k). However, if you tap into your 401(k), you’ll have to pay taxes and possibly penalties. Furthermore, if you cash out your 401(k) now, it won’t be available for your retirement. You may want to consider rolling your 401(k) into an IRA, which will allow your money to continue growing tax deferred. Still, if you don’t cash out your 401(k), how will you get by until you find another job? If you’ve created an investment portfolio outside your 401(k), you can consider temporarily adjusting your investment mix to add more income-producing investments, if you feel it is in your best interests. A layoff is never easy. But if you can protect your 401(k) today, you’ll be helping yourself tomorrow.

954-783-6694

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Robert Friedman AAMS 1827 NE 24th Street Lighthouse Point FL 33064 MEMBER SIPC

[email protected]

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Dunn’s Run 2009 Gallery of Champions

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R EAL ESTATE N EWS

STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT SHORT SALES By Richard Michael Abraham With 60-80% of residential and commercial real estate listed and offered as short sales, I decided in my first LPM monthly article to alert sellers and buyers of the crucial short sale elements. About 10% of short sale listings receive lender approval and sell as short sales.All three parties, the seller, buyer and lender must agree on the price. To convince the lender to approve the price, select a credible Broker with experience and negotiation skills. The seller must complete an application (with Broker assistance) to include a hardship letter, tax returns,W-2s, payroll stubs, financial and bank statements. Most short sale listings are NOT lender approved. Consequently many sellers and buyers travel “the long and winding road” of disappointment and heartache. If you’re a buyer, make sure the price of a short sale listing is lender approved. What lenders consider a hardship: Unemployment; medical emergency; bankruptcy and death. There’s a caveat. The seller still cannot possess income or assets. Insolvency is almost essential for lender approval. The seller needs a Broker with credibility and negotiation skills to convince the lender to sign what I call a DSR or Deficiency or Shortfall Release clause. This is the most important clause for the seller. The IRS does not permit short sellers (or regular sellers) to deduct losses on their personal residence. In most instances, the IRS treats debt forgiveness as income. The difference between the original mortgage and short sale price is subject to 1099 taxes. Under the Debt Relief Act of 2007, short sellers may avoid taxes but only if the property

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is a principal residence, or bankruptcy has taken place or the mortgage is a non-recourse loan. The short sale has been hailed as the savior of credit worthiness but in the real world, lenders do not make a distinction between a short sale and a foreclosure as it relates to credit worthiness. The above are the crucial elements of the short sale. What about the seller who wants to sell property on a regular basis (not a short sale) in an area with many competing, lower priced short sale listings? This regular seller needs a Broker who has expertise in what I call SVA or Specialized Value Added Marketing and Sales strategy. There has never been a better time to buy residential property. Regular sellers can hedge their losses by buying low. And commercial properties are now beginning to bottom out. Finally, compare investment alternatives. The DOW mysteriously rose 50% in the last 6 months. Many economists believe that the fundamentals for this increase do not exist. But real estate prices are at the bottom, ripe right now. Richard Michael Abraham, a founder of the REDI Foundation, www.redii.org and Broker Associate with Campbell & Rosemurgy Real Estate. You may call Richie at 954-397-5355 or email him at [email protected] Disclosure: Any person reading my monthly articles should retain legal or tax counsel before entering any contract.

Lighthouse Christian School Fall Fun Night

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About $30,000 was raised to benefit the Lighthouse Christian School at the school’s Fall Fun Night. This sold-out event, held at Galuppi’s Restaurant Pompano had record participation from both the community and the families from the school. The $10,000 “Last Ticket Standing is the Winner” reverse raffle was won by the Kleinhenz family. Fun Night also included a Poker Tournament and Charity Black Jack. Many of the teachers and Principal O’Leary served as celebrity dealers for other games such as Uno, Go Fish, and Old Maid. There was also a small silent auction of items hand-crafted by the children of the school, which was very successful. The poker tournament Grand Prize winner was Stu Clark, who won two nights and three days stay donated by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Honorable Mention to the 2nd through 5th place prize winners: Skip Smith (2nd), Mike Zubero (3rd), Brian Plancarte (4th), and JD Thrower (5th). Sponsors of the event included DocVision/Kassis Family, Triton Insurance/Zubero Family, Diagnostic Professionals/Dekkers Family, Advanced Control/David Jones Family, and USArt Balloons/MoreiraAlmeida Family. What a wonderful way to start the school year, with Fun and Friendship opportunities abound. Everybody had a great time. We are looking forward to next year already.

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Bottomless Bowl & More?

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1825 NE 24TH STREET, LIGHTHOUSE POINT, FL 33064 www.lhpmag.com •

November 2009

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1930 NE 34th Court • Pompano Beach, FL PEDIATRIC DENTISTS

Dr. Robert Stephens Dr. James Bennett Dr. Lauren Governale “SERVING SOUTH FLORIDA FOR OVER 35 YEARS” (SATURDAY HOURS AVAILABLE)

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Soroptimist Casino Night Saga

Roaring Twenties Continued from page 32

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MORTGAGE N EWS

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Deadline December 1, 2009 By Karen Hammett Although there has been some talk that the deadline for the First-Time Taxpayer Credit may be extended, it is currently December 1, 2009. So, if you are a first-time home buyer you may want to take advantage of the opportunity. Give your favorite realtor a call and start shopping asap. Remember you must CLOSE by December 1. Coming from the mortgage side of the business, I urge you to make that call sooner than later, especially if you are planning to purchase a condo. Mortgage loan approvals have been taking up to 60 days on condo’s and all of the usual 30 days on single family homes. And, after waiting this long to finally take the plunge you won’t want to feel pressured to make a decision on a home to meet the deadline. A summary of the plan, for those of you who are not familiar with it, is as follows: First-Time Home purchasers (defined as individuals who have not had any ownership interest in a home in the three years previous to the day of the 2009 purchase) who close on properties purchased in the United States between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 are eligible for a tax credit up to $8,000. Every dollar of the tax credit reduces their income taxes by a dollar. The Credits are claimed on the purchasers Income Tax Return reducing their total tax due by the amount of the credit. So, if an individual owed $10,000 in income taxes their liability would be reduced to $2,000; or if they owed $7,000 they would receive a refund of $1,000. Unlike the $7500 credit in 2008, the 2009 credit does not require repayment.

A home that is purchased for $80,000 or more qualifies for the full $8,000 amount. If the house costs less than $80,000, the credit will be 10% of the cost. So, if the house costs $75,000 the credit would be $7,500. The good news is that in today’s market there are more properties available in the lower priced markets then there were in the past, so more individuals should be eligible to take full advantage of the incentive. There is, however, an income restriction of $75,000 Adjusted Gross Income for single filers and $150,000 Adjusted Gross Income for couples who file a joint return. More good news is that if you have not filed your 2008 tax return you can take advantage of the credit on your 2008 tax return even if you purchased your home before the 2009 stimulus bill was enacted. You will not have to repay the 2009 credit even though it is filed in 2008 when the previous incentive was in place. Please keep in mind that if you sell the property within three years of the purchase date you will be required to pay back the full amount of the credit, including any refund you received from it. This is designed to prevent flipping. Consult your accountant for exceptions that may apply. As always, an experienced mortgage professional is essential when shopping for a home. Please call us for further information on the Tax Credit or if you want information regarding Pre-Qualifying. Karen Hammett is a Licensed Mortgage Broker and owner of Howard Grace Mortgage located at 625 SE 10th Street, Deerfield Beach, Florida. She welcomes your mortgage questions at 954-421-3010, or e-mail her at [email protected]

LEGAL MAT TERS

Marital and Family Law Perspectives When it is hard to give thanks By Catherine Iaconis Favitta Mark Twain penned the phrase: “You are about as happy as you make up your mind to be.” After reviewing a time line of the events in Mark Twain’s life, it is clear that he had few reasons to feel like giving thanks. His father died of pneumonia when Twain was young, his brother died in a steamboat explosion when Twain was 23, he fought in the Civil War, he was arrested for misconduct when he was 32, his wife had emotional problems and many physical ailments, one daughter drowned, another daughter died during an illness, he was involved in many lawsuits, and he was plagued with professional and financial anxiety for most of his life. Anything about his life feel close to home? Nearly every one of the clients I have served in the last twenty-six years has had a series of problems that ultimately led them to seek legal counsel for their family law issues. Over the years, I have researched and read many books and articles so I could share advice from experts on how to “keep on keeping on” when it is hard to give thanks. Here are three suggestions that have proven to help: 1. Go outside into fresh air a few times a week.Walk. Play. Feel the sun. Breathe. A change of scenery can really help change your perspective. 2. Do something to brighten someone else’s life. Even something small

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like stopping to hold the door open for the person behind you, or saying “thank you” (with a smile) to a salesclerk before you leave the store can make a difference. 3. Get a puppy! According to an article on stress management written by Elizabeth Scott, M.S., for About.com,“It is virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood when a pair of loving puppy eyes meets yours.” She says that research supports the health and mood-enhancing benefits of pets in decreasing sad feelings, controlling blood pressure, providing much needed unconditional love in ways people can’t, and reducing stress. A puppy can even help with the fresh air department! How to get started? You could go for a walk and enjoy the company of a friend who has a pet, or you could stop by Gigi and Luca’s pet boutique, where lots of friendly neighbors gather with their pups. Either way, the change of pace will surely break out your smile, warm your heart, and make it easier for you to give thanks! Catherine is a Family Law Attorney, and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. Feel free to ask Catherine questions about marital and family law at either (954)767-8340 or [email protected], and visit www.FavittaLawFirm.com for more information.

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LI B R ARY N EWS

This is Homer, Not Odysseus By Doreen Gauthier

This column is not designed as a book review forum, but I simply could not let this title go without adding my purring voice of praise. For argument’s sake assume that I am a sucker for warm and affectionate animal stories. Halloween has just passed complete with ghosts, goblins, haunted houses and of course black cats. Nearly two years ago Dewey, the tale of a tabby cat who lived in an Iowa library, hit the New York Times best seller list and the popularity of this bookish denizen held resolute for many months. Dewey Readmorebooks was heralded as the cat lovers’ Marley. Don’t look back, Dewey — there’s a new black cat on the block, and he may be gaining on you. The book’s subtitle “a fearless feline tale or how I learned about love and life with a Blind Wonder Cat” puts it all into perspective. Gwen Cooper, whose first novel Diary of a South Beach Party Girl, is a sucker for cats too. She owned two frankly feminine elegant creatures and certainly did not need another. She was underemployed, bunking with a friend until affordable housing was available, and suffering from a broken-heart. Gwen received a telephone call from her sympathetic veterinarian who had a tiny kitten with a severe eye infection that would result in the removal of both eyes even before they had opened as opposed to being

euthanized begging Gwen to adopt him. It was love at first sight (pardon the pun) for both of them. The bonding was instantaneous and while Gwen believed that life with a blind cat was going to be a travel on smooth seas Homer was determined to prove her wrong. A blind three pound cat that catches flies (of the insect variety) five feet into the air, a dare-devil who leaps from chair to table to closet shelves, and a passionate devoted friend to all, most particularly Ms. Cooper, hardly describes Homer. A subsequent boyfriend dubbed him “El Mocho the cat without fear.” Homer adored the rough-housing of males and he would cry when the mayhem would end. Homer’s antics and intrepid nature made keeping him from harm’s way a challenge — no open doors, windows, dryers, or cabinets for fear he would escape. An open toilet could spell sure disaster. Homer and Gwen have an attachment that grows deeper with each passing adventure. Incorporated into the story are glimpses of pet psychology, human emotion, and a harrowing description of post 9/11 at Ground Zero. Homer the blind poet wrote extraordinary sagas; Homer the blind cat carves his courage into every heart. Cooper, Gwen Homer’s Odyssey. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009 available at the Doreen Gauthier Lighthouse Point Library.

P ET CAR E

Pets and Heat Stroke — The Facts By Dr Brian Weekes

Remember that there are fundamental differences in the way people and their pets experience and deal with heat. People perspire, producing sweat and the evaporation of the sweat from the skin draws away heat (latent heat of evaporation) and we are cooled by it. Our furry friends aren’t so fortunate. Dogs are only equipped with a few sweat glands on the pads of the feet which do nothing for heat loss especially when walking on a very hot pavement outdoors. Most of a dog’s heat loss occurs via panting and passive heat exchange from the outer ear. Consider how often we see our furry friends panting indoors in what we would consider a not too hot and maybe even a pleasant environment.This demonstrates that our experiences are different! Another difference is that while we can dress appropriately to go outdoors by wearing lighter breathable fabrics, sleeveless tops and shorts, our furry friends cannot. Just think about your little fluffy Maltese or Shih Tzu for a moment. He/she is still wearing its winter jacket and if your pet is well padded with body fat then you can add thermal underwear. Chances are “Fluffy” also has thick long hair on the ears too, so you can throw in a pair of “ear muffs/warmers”. To make matters worse, when we walk one of our strides is equal to several of our little pooch’s, so a short walk for us is a mini marathon for little “Fluffy”.

The Experience We enjoyed our afternoon stroll. It was exhilarating! Meanwhile Fluffy, dressed in his thick winter jacket, wearing thermal underwear and his ear muffs, being unable to perspire and running at full pace in the scorching heat on a very hot pavement DID NOT!

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The Result: HEAT STROKE! So while it was a nice walk for you it could spell D_E_A_T_H for Fluffy. Heat stroke (hyperthermia) is an acute medical emergency, requiring aggressive management. It is associated with rapid and profound dehydration, circulatory collapse, and subsequent to the blood volume contraction predisposes the dog to multiple organ failure (primarily liver and kidney).There is also the danger of cerebral edema (swelling of the brain), which results in a further deterioration of the dog’s condition and ability to regulate its body temperature. Dogs with Heat Stroke develop diarrhea which is often hemorrhagic (bloody). The resulting destruction of the intestinal epithelium opens the way for endotoxemia/endotoxic shock and coagulation disorders. A vicious and deadly cascade of events!

Prevention • Go walking early in the morning or very late in the afternoon when it’s cooler • Carry a bottle of water for Fluffy and schedule frequent water breaks • Be careful not to let poor Fluffy run a marathon! • Groom regularly to reduce the under coat • Be aware that pleasant for us isn’t so pleasant for Fluffy! This article was submitted by Dr. Brian Weekes of Lighthouse Point Animal Hospital, under new ownership, conveniently located at 3138 N Federal Hwy. Contact us today for your complimentary exam with your scheduled appointment: 954-946-0040.

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• In the weightlessness of space a frozen pea will explode if it comes in contact with Pepsi. • The increased electricity used by modern appliance parts is causing a shift in the Earth’s magnetic field. By the year 2327, the North Pole will be located in mid-Kansas, while the South Pole will be just off the coast of East Africa. • The idea for “tribbles” in “Star Trek” came from gerbils, since some gerbils are actually born pregnant. • Male rhesus monkeys often hang from tree branches by their amazing prehensile penises. • Johnny Plessey batted .331 for the Cleveland Spiders in 1891, even though he spent the entire season batting with a rolledup, lacquered copy of the Toledo Post-Dispatch. • Smearing a small amount of dog feces on an insect bite will relieve the itching and swelling. • The Boeing 747 is capable of flying upside-down if it weren't for the fact that the wings would shear off when trying to roll it over. • The trucking company Elvis Presley worked at as a young man was owned by Frank Sinatra. • The only golf course on the island of Tonga has 15 holes, and there’s no penalty if a monkey steals your golf ball. • Legislation passed during WWI making it illegal to say

“gesundheit” to a sneezer was never repealed. • Manatees possess vocal chords which give them the ability to speak like humans, but don't do so because they have no ears with which to hear the sound. • SCUBA divers cannot pass gas at depths of 33 feet or below. • Catfish are the only animals that naturally have an ODD number of whiskers. • Replying more than 100 times to the same piece of spam email will overwhelm the sender's system and interfere with their ability to send any more spam. • Polar bears can eat as many as 86 penguins in a single sitting. • The first McDonald’s restaurant opened for business in 1952 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and featured the McHaggis sandwich. • The Air Force’s F-117 fighter uses aerodynamics discovered during research into how bumblebees fly. • You can get blood from a stone, but only if contains at least 17 percent bauxite. • Silly Putty was "discovered" as the residue left behind after the first latex condoms were produced. It's not widely publicized for obvious reasons. • Approximately one-sixth of your life is spent on Wednesdays. • The skin needed for elbow transplants must be taken from the scrotum of a cadaver.

Green Harriet

Solar Energy-New Discoveries

The day may not be far off when the use of solar energy becomes a norm. There is now a deep conviction among experts that given a few years time, solar power will be in high demand that the cost will go down, inexpensive enough to undercut the prices of oil-generated electricity. Previous predictions that it will still happen in a decade may no longer be true. The anger generated by the recent prices in oil and its vulnerability to market forces and other events may have already been enough to polarized people, governments and scientific communities into seriously considering a reliable alternative energy source. You can not get a source more reliable than the sun. Even today homes that uses its power does not only benefit from the silent, energy generating, inexhaustible power of the sun, it also spikes up the prices of their homes. Those that have solar powered homes are even reimbursed for the surplus power that they supply to the power grid. Presently, heliostats, photovoltaic cells and plate collectors are being used to collect the energy by focusing these panels towards the sun or constructing and installing the panel’s on spots where the sun shines most. Development in technology as we all know often has a snowball effect. It never stops rediscovering and reinventing that the speed of development could often be surprisingly fast. Today, a polymer foil, thin as a sheet of paper and lighter by 200 times when compared to the regular glass collecting plates, are being developed. Chances are, these new inventions and discoveries could very well have a great potential for mass production. Previously, the glass-based materials used for heat collection need expensive substrates and require additional support for mounting due to its weight. The polymer foil, being

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very light could now be attached even to the walls of a structure. So confident are scientists in the development of this technology that while the polymer foil is being developed, a plastic solar cell, based on nano technology is gaining breakthroughs. This plastic material can collect the power of the sun even on a cloudy day through harnessing the infrared rays is believed to be five times more efficient than the current technology. While plastic materials for harnessing the power of the sun are not new, it is only recently that this plastic composite could harvest the infrared portion. Previously, only the visible rays are generated, the infrared part, which is half of the power of the sun, is invisible. Currently, the best plastic solar cells could only harness 6% of the suns energy, with further study and development, this new plastic solar cells are expected to harness 30% of the suns solar power. Scientists and researchers alike agree that ultimately, solar farms will be harnessing all our energy requirements and costs of power will drop. Today the price of solar powered energy is about 3 to 4 times per kilowatt hour compared with conventional electricity. That could change dramatically though the development of the existing technology and recent discoveries. The roller pressed flexible plastic materials and the polymer foil are only two of the best hopes in arriving at a cleaner, greener and safer environment that could ultimately free the planet from its dependency on the depleting supply of oil.

C AN TAN KE R O U SLY YO U R S

The Benny Hill Hospital Franchise By Wendell Abern Dear Healthcare Reformers and Worriers, About five years ago, my wife spent a week at a hospital so filled with hapless bumblers, I dubbed it “The Benny Hill Hospital.” It seems that Benny Hill Enterprises is now franchising its expertise. Since my wife’s stay, I have discovered all kinds of hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities employing Benny Hill techniques. The latest happens to be the clinic where most of our doctors practice. Last month, after trying to reach several doctors, I called the clinic’s office and asked to speak to the administrator, a person I will call Freddy Fumbles. “Fumbles here. May I help you?” “Yes, I would like to report one of your assistant nurses for violating clinic policy.” “Goodness. What did she do?” “She answered the phone.” “Excuse me?” “She answered the phone. Clearly, a criminal offense at your clinic.” “Sir, I — “ “But she may be new, so please don’t be too hard on her.” “Sir, we do not have a policy — “ “In her defense, she did put me on hold for seventeen minutes. So please give her credit for that.” “Good-bye, sir.” Two weeks ago, after once again trying to reach several doctors, I called the Gynecology Department. “Gynecology, this is Martha, how can I help you?” “Martha, I promise not to report you for answering the phone.” “Excuse me?” “I’m calling to find out about this PMS thing.” “For your wife?” “No, for me. See, every time I call the clinic, someone puts me on hold and the next thing I know, I’m listening to a recorded announcement about your gynecology department, and ways to handle PMS.” “Sir, I’m busy —” “Look, I’m really worried about my PMS problems. I mean, I ate an entire three-pound salami yesterday.” “Good-bye, sir.” And then there’s the new Benny Hill Hospital. Before Benny and his minions took over, I spent some time in it myself. Superb experience. Run so impeccably, I sent a letter to the chief administrator telling him what a fine staff of nurses and technicians he had. He never responded. Last week, my wife spent 26 years in this new Benny Hill version. She entered at 1:00 p.m. on the first day. They brought her lunch, which she was eating when the technician from the lab showed up. “Hey, you’re not supposed to eat that!” he said. “You’re scheduled for an ultra sound! You can’t eat before you have an ultra sound!” “No one told me. And apparently, no one told the kitchen.” “Well, now we’re going to have to wait another four hours.” We waited another four hours. They came with a wheelchair, and as they wheeled my wife out of her room, she shouted, “Don’t let the kitchen forget to bring me dinner.” I called the kitchen. They told me my wife wasn’t supposed to have any food because she was having an ultra sound.

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“No, see, that was this afternoon,” I said as patiently as possible. She shouldn’t have had any food this afternoon. But she’s having the ultra sound now, so she will want dinner.” “No one told us.” The ultra sound took less than a half-hour. My wife was back in her room by six o-clock. After much badgering, they brought my wife’s dinner at 7:40. The ultra sound revealed some cysts in my wife’s liver, so the doctor scheduled a CT scan for the next afternoon, with orders she was to have nothing to eat or drink beforehand. I was there the next morning when the kitchen brought breakfast. “She’s not supposed to eat until after her CT scan!” I shouted. “Oh. No one told us.” I suddenly realized I hadn’t really learned how to communicate in Benny Hill language. Testing the waters, I said,“But make sure she gets her lunch on time.” They didn’t bring her any. It worked! I had it! I now had a glimmer of how Benny Hillspeak works! Someone says “do,” you don’t. Someone says,“don’t,” you do. And if you get something wrong, you just say, “No one told me!” How easy is that? My wife’s CT scan revealed an irregularity in the liver; she was also diagnosed with diabetes. The doctor scheduled a liver biopsy the next day, and ordered a special diet with insulin pills. The next day at noon, nurses gave my wife insulin and heparin, a blood thinner. When she went down to the lab to have the biopsy, the doctor asked her if heparin had been given to her. “Yes,” she said. “An hour or so ago.” “What! Why? You can’t have heparin! That’s a blood thinner, for God’s sake! I can’t give you a biopsy now.” They wheeled my wife back upstairs at 2:00, where I was waiting impatiently to take her home. We had to wait another day. After the biopsy the next day, my wife said, “We should be out of here by 6:00.” However, we were at a Benny Hill franchise. I was taking no chances. At 5:00, I marched out to the nurses’ desk and said, “Okay, who do I have to sleep with in order to get out of here at 6:00?” Threatened by the mere thought of this prospect, the nurses galvanized into frenzied action, calling doctors, phoning the lab, sending nurses' assistants scurrying into the nether regions of the floor, popping into the room with papers to sign, unfastening Carol’s IV, showing up with a wheelchair, and zipping us out of there by 6:20. I haven’t seen any woman move that fast since I tried to kiss Audrey Stern after our first date. We have been home now for five days. On the second day, I called the hospital administrator to tell him how unhappy I was with everything. No one answered. Benny Hill would be proud. Cantankerously Yours, Wendell Abern Wendell Abern can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily the opinions of this magazine.

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ON R E LIGION

Do Not Shy Away From Challenges By Reverend Jack Noble I was talking with a friend of mine a few days ago, and she was saying that she would very much like to make friends here, but that she is so shy and intimidated. As we explored it a bit further, I was somewhat taken aback. This is a very attractive, intelligent, winsome lady. She is a wonderful mother and wife. I shared with her that I too feel those pangs of shyness or intimidation, and that sometimes I just needed to “hold my nose,” as it were, and jump into the deep end. I am not certain why, but since then, that conversation has been rolling around in my head. I suppose I have been thinking about it so much because from time-to-time we are each caused to face those aspects of our personality that are challenging and difficult, and that are holding us back from being the person we might want to become. Why is that; I wonder. Is it fear? Is it the fear of being rejected, or not being smart enough, or clever enough, or…? Basil King, many years ago wrote a book with the arresting title of The Conquest of Fear, and in it he offers this most startling comment, BE BOLD — AND MIGHTY FORCES WILL COME TO YOUR AID. I wonder? The more I have pondered that, the more I have to admit that in the past whenever I have fallen short, it has been almost never because I have tried and failed, and it is almost always because I have allowed fear to stop me from trying at all. On the other hand,

when I have plunged deeply “into the water,” as it were, impelled by a momentary flash of courage, I have always been able to swim until I got my feet on the ground again. Boldness, you know, is not reckless or foolhardy, not at all. Boldness requires a deliberate decision to, perhaps, bite off more than we have ever been able to chew before. Boldness is not vague or mysterious. It requires us to call up the latent powers of energy, — and maybe even physical strength and endurance. That idea of being bold works, I think, in almost any area we might consider — finding a friend, creating community, taking on the chair of some committee, perhaps, or taking a new job. And unless we are hopelessly unqualified, I am suggesting we will deliver, our pride, our competitive instinct, our sense of obligation will see us through. Isn’t it curious how spiritual laws carry-over into almost any aspect of life. Now, with all this said, this personality trait — this putting ourselves in a position where we are required to extend ourselves — is not achieved overnight. It takes practice. It can be taught to children and developed in adults. Confidence though is a cumulative thing. One of the most astute observations I have ever heard is Love life. Be grateful for it always. And show your gratitude by not shying away from its challenges. Try always to live a bit beyond your capacities. You’ll find that you never succeed.

AL’S COR N ER

How Reliable Are The Internet Ratings For Advertisers? By Al Siefert When you Google Electricians, Electrical Contractors, Plumbers, Air Conditioning Companies an information page will come up showing information about those companies. Some pages will have ratings with testimonials from customers about the service they received. Of the ones I looked at, there were some really upset people making comments. There were also some positive reviews that appear to be written by someone to promote their business by saying good things. Unfortunately, there is no way to be sure which comments are true. For example, anyone could write something negative about a company, even if they never did business with them.When you read a comment like this you would probably move on to the next company. People who want reliable references should check with the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List for a rating.The Better Business Bureau requires the business to be a member. With their membership they earn a rating based on comments from their customers.With Angie’s List I believe businesses sign up for free, but consumers must be a member for access to the comments. In either case the business has the ability to challenge the complaint or satisfy the customer. Your friends and neighbors are also good sources for recommendations. Companies that have been around for a while should also be considered as reputable. When you have someone working inside your house you should check to be sure that the

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company has a service department. Many service companies require background checks of their employees and provide ongoing training, uniforms and a drug free workplace policy.They should also arrive to your location in a well marked vehicle. In today’s world people need to be sure that they are safe with anyone they let into their home. While the internet is a way to find companies online, it does not offer any reference to the quality of the work that they do. Quality is not just the ability to fix your problem. Quality also involves how the technician behaves in your home. We learned this lesson several years ago. We used the son of a friend to fix a toilet at the house. We assumed that he would do a good job for us because he was just starting his own business. He was a good plumber, however he was task oriented with more of a construction background. His focus was to fix the problem and forgot that he was a guest in our home. He did a good job fixing the toilet but he used the bathroom hand towel as a rag to wipe his hands.This left a stain that would not come out. Linda, my wife, was outraged when she found it and I am still hearing about it. As a service company, we always try to exceed your expectations by being on time, respecting your property and paying attention to your priorities. If you do not know who to call for any type of service, call us. We may know someone to recommend.

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H EALTH Y C H O I C ES

What’s New with Acne and Rosacea? By Melanie S. Hecker, MD, MBA

Acne Vulgaris Most physicians were taught that diet is unrelated to the cause of acne. We dismiss frequent questions by patients and family members as to whether eating greasy foods, chocolate or other sweets causes their acne. The diet issue, however, has gained new vitality of late in the dermatology literature, with various studies implicating milk, highglucose load diets, and low-fiber/high saturated fats intake as possibly contributing to an increase in acne. From all of these studies is what’s clear is that there is good reason to revisit the diet issue. At the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, a study where teenage girl participants self-reported a greater consumption of milk — whether whole, low-fat or skim- on food frequency questionnaires was independently associated with acne severity. Those who drank two or more servings a day during the two-year study period were roughly 20% more likely to have acne than girls who drank less than one serving per week. In another Harvard study of teenage boys, again the researchers found a link between milk intake and acne. This time though, the relationship was only significant for skim milk. The investigators hypothesis is that cow hormones and other bioactive agents contained in milk products have an effect on acne. It is not being recommended to avoid drinking milk to avoid acne. However, a substitute such as drinking hormone-free, organic milk may help the teenager with acne. In addition, there are many topical

products available at Hecker Dermatology Group, such as the Skin Medica Acne System, that is much stronger and more effective than what is available in the stores. Under a doctor’s supervision, acne is controllable and the risk of permanent scarring is reduced.

Rosacea For symptomatic Rosacea, a round of pulsed dye laser treatments appears to be substantially more cost effective than medical therapy over the course of a year according to one recent retrospective study. Because most patients only need 2-3 laser treatments to improve the symptoms and stop the progression of the disease for about 35 years, the cost effectiveness of the pulsed dye laser over medical therapy grows with time. In addition, the unresponsiveness of dilated blood vessels on the face to topical therapy or systemic therapy in Rosacea makes the condition often frustrating to treat medically. Often we can only control the disease, but permanent redness and damage has been done.That is removed with the pulsed dye laser. Although topical and oral medical therapy is still the gold standard, what is probably the best approach are several treatments with the pulsed dye laser then management with less medication to keep the Rosacea from recurring with time. Again, many new topical therapies are available, such as the Glytone Diroséal AntiRedness Skincare Lotion, to combat the effects of Rosacea. For more information, please call Hecker Dermatology Group at 954-783-2323 or visit us on-line: www.heckerderm.com.

TH E EYES HAVE IT

“Optomap” A revolutionary way to examine eyes! By Dr. Gary Goberville Many adults and children are unaware that they could have a significant eye disease. This is due to the fact that good vision does not translate into healthy eyes. This is why we take time to evaluate the inside of your eye during your annual exam. The Optomap exam gives doctors an exciting way to view of the inside of the eye that was never before possible. Optomap is a Panoramic Scanning Laser that provides a totally revolutionary retinal eye examination. Optomap exams can image nearly the whole retina (the back of the eye) in about a second. This scan of the retina is far superior to the traditional keyhole view seen by conventional eye examination techniques. A father of a young boy, whom developed a retinal detachment and went blind in one of his eyes two days after having his eye examine, developed the Optomap. A typical dilated eye exam only provides about a 35-degree view of the retina. This dilation procedure can be inconvenient for the patient due to light sensitivity and blurry vision, which can last several hours. The Optomap instrument generates a 200-degree high resolution, digital color image of your eye in less than a second. The image becomes part of the patient’s permanent computerized record and is used as a reference to track any changes in the eye over time. Children especially love Optomap because the procedure is painless and simple. No eye drops are needed, no dilation in most cases (NO OWL EYES!).

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Many vision problems begin at an early age in childhood, so it’s important for children to receive proper eye care from the time they are infants. The standard of care is having an eye exam at 6 months of age and then around 3 years, if their eyes are healthy. Early detection and treatment are essential to preventing conditions that could potentially cause problems or vision loss The Optomap retinal exam can assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of serious eye conditions (e.g. diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, detachments and macular degeneration) that often first start in the periphery and progress without symptoms. Signs of general health problems such as heart disease, stroke and certain cancer can also be detected in the retina. Because of its success, we recommend that an eye exam include a complete view of the inner eye, for every person, every year, regardless of age.With the Optomap our patients and doctor can instantly view his/her entire eye. The doctor will review it with the patient to make sure everything looks healthy in your eyes. Results are kept for reference and comparison of future eye exams. Make sure you and your children get your annual eye exams. Don’t forget to ask for the Optomap. We encourage you to visit www.optos.com for more information. Dr. Gary Goberville is a board certified Optometrist and is located at Eye Site Vision Center, 2490 N. Federal Hwy. Lighthouse Point (954) 943-3779, Coral Springs (954) 344-3937 and Boca Raton (561) 479-1411; www.eyesitevision.com

Cardinal Gibbons High School Raises $8,000 for American Cancer Society Donations raised benefit the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Relay For Life Cardinal Gibbons High School recently raised $8,000 for the American Cancer Society and the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Relay For Life. The school hosted a sock-hop dance and a mini-Relay on September 18 & 19. Students and parents alike took part in all events, donating both time and money to help fund cancer research, prevention and local patient services. Carlos Perez-Cubans, Activities Director for Cardinal Gibbons coordinated the fund-raiser. Perez-Cubans and Cardinal Gibbons put on the fund-raiser every year and always exceed their past fund-raising amounts and contributions. Relay For Life is the a grassroots fund-raising event and the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser. The Downtown Fort Lauderdale, the beneficiary of the Cardinal Gibbons event and generous contributions, will take place on May 21, 2010 at Huizenga Plaza in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

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Cookin’ With The Community

We encourage those who can perform magic in their kitchens to submit favorite creations that can be enjoyed by readers of our magazine. To submit your recipe, please email us at: [email protected] and type “RECIPE” in the subject line.

ROAST TURKEY WITH CITRUS GLAZE • 1 15-Pound WHOLE TURKEY fresh or frozen (thawed) • 3 Large lemons • 2 Large limes • 1-1/2 Teaspoon salt, divided • 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper coarsely ground • 1/4 Cup dry white wine (see note) • 1/4 Cup packed brown sugar • Pan Gravy • 1 Bunch, each fresh sage, marjoram, and thyme, divided Instructions Preheat oven to 325°. Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for gravy. Rinse turkey with cold running water and drain well. Blot dry with paper towels. Peel skin from lemons and limes to make rose garnishes. Reserve in refrigerator. Squeeze enough juice from the lemons and limes to equal 2 tablespoons each. Cut the remaining lemons and limes in half and place in the turkey cavity. Sprinkle salt in the cavity. In a small bowl, mix the wine, brown sugar, and citrus juices; reserve for glaze. Gently loosen skin from the turkey breast without totally detaching the skin and carefully place 1 tablespoon each fresh sage and marjoram under the skin. Replace the skin. Fold neck skin and fasten to the back with 1 or 2 skewers. Fold the wings under the back of the turkey. Return legs to tucked position. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large shallow (about 2-1/2 inches deep) roasting pan. Rub turkey with salt, pepper, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of salad oil. Insert oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, being careful that the pointed end of the thermometer does not touch the bone. Roast the turkey in a preheated 325° F. oven about 3-3/4 hours. During the last hour of roasting time, baste with the pan drippings. During the last 30 minutes, baste with the citrus glaze. Loosely cover with lightweight foil to prevent excessive browning. Continue to roast until the thermometer registers 180 degrees F. in the thigh, or 170° F. in the breast. Remove turkey from the oven and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. Place on a warm large platter and garnish the platter with the remaining fresh herbs and lemon and lime roses. Prepare lemon and lime roses as follows: with a small sharp knife or vegetable peeler, cut a continuous thin 1inch strip of peel. Avoid cutting into the white pith. Roll tightly, skin inside out, and secure with toothpicks. Reserve in a bowl filled with ice water until time for service. Provides 22 servings at 6 ounces per portion.

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OLD-FASHIONED CORN BREAD STUFFING • 3-4 loaves of white bread (or 5 if you like leftovers) • Water • Chicken Broth • Turkey parts found inside the turkey cavity • 2 Bunches of celery • 1 or 2 Onions • 2 Tablespoon butter • 1/2 Teaspoon sage • Oysters (optional) • Mushrooms (option) Instructions The night before you want to eat the stuffing, break the bread into small pieces (about 1 inch squares) into 2 huge bowls or pots. Let the bread sit overnight to dry out. The next day, after you remove the insides of turkey, boil them in water in 2/3 qt. sauce pan until cooked (about 20/30 minutes). Remove insides for later use or discard. Keep water and put aside. Preheat oven to 350°. Chop onion and celery and place into food processor until minced. Melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter in large saucepan. Saute onion and celery until heated through. Do not brown! (Saute mushrooms also at this time if wanted). Depending on how much stuffing you want and how much celery and onion you’ve chopped, you may have to saute the onion and celery in two parts. Once cooked, pour the onion/celery mixture directly over the dried out bread. Pour 1/2 tsp. sage over bread/onion/celery mixture. Then take your reserved water and pour slowly over bread. The bread will shrink as you do this. Be careful not to pour too much water in. Mixture thoroughly and smell/taste for perfect stuffing. If you need more liquid, open a can of chicken broth and pour over bread. If you need more spice, add more sage. If you are using oysters, add them now. Once stuffing is of a consistency that it will stick together and does not look too dry, do not add more liquid. Either stuff in turkey to be baked in oven, or put in 9 x 13 pan. If using oysters, it is recommended that you bake the stuffing in a pan so as to ensure the oysters will be cooked through. Bake in 350° oven for 45 minutes to an hour. You want the stuffing to have a nice brown crust on top.

Giving Thanks on This Blessed Day GIBLET GRAVY Servings: Provides 16 servings at 1/4 cup per portion. • 1 Package Neck, heart, gizzard from TURKEY giblets • 1 Medium carrot thickly sliced • 1 Medium onion thickly sliced • 1 Medium celery rib thickly sliced • 1/2 Teaspoon salt • 1 TURKEY liver • 3 Tablespoons fat from poultry drippings • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour • 1/2 Teaspoon salt • Pepper to taste Instructions In a 3-quart saucepan, over high heat, place neck, heart, gizzard, vegetables, and salt in enough water to cover. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 45 minutes. Add liver and cook 15 minutes longer. Strain broth into a large bowl; cover and reserve broth in the refrigerator. To make the gravy, remove the cooked turkey and roasting rack from the roasting pan. Pour poultry drippings through a sieve into a 4-cup measuring cup. Add 1 cup giblet broth to the roasting pan and stir until the crusty brown bits are loosened; pour the deglazed liquid/broth into the 4-cup measure. Let the mixture stand a few minutes, until the fat rises to the top. Over medium heat, spoon 3 tablespoons fat from the poultry drippings into a 2-quart saucepan. Whisk flour and salt into the heated fat and continue to cook and stir until the flour turns golden. Meanwhile, skim and discard any fat that remains on top of the poultry drippings. Add remaining broth and enough water to the poultry drippings to equal 3-1/2 cups. Gradually whisk in warm poultry drippings/broth mixture. Pull cooked meat from the neck and discard bones. Coarsely chop the neck meat and cooked giblets and stir into gravy. Season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until gravy simmers and is slightly thick.

WE ALWAYS WELCOME YOUR FAVORITE RECIPES PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS!!

SWEET POTATO PIE Servings: Provides 16 servings at 1/4 cup per portion. • 1 pound 3 ounces sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed • 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt • 3/4 cup packed, dark brown sugar • 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg • 5 egg yolks • Salt • 1 (9-inch) deep dish, frozen pie shell • 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted • 1 tablespoon maple syrup • Special equipment: steamer basket Instructions Put cubed potatoes into steamer basket and place steamer basket into a large pot of simmering water that is no closer than 2 inches from the bottom of basket. Allow to steam for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Mash with potato masher and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Place sweet potatoes in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment. Add yogurt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, yolks, and salt, to taste, and beat until well combined. Pour this batter into the pie shell and place onto a sheet pan. Sprinkle pecans on top and drizzle with maple syrup. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the custard reaches 165° to 180°. Remove from oven and cool. Keep refrigerated after cooling.

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Hot Off the Grill By John Offerdahl (a.k.a. The Gridiron Griller)

TD TURKEY LEGS Ah, the savory smells of the family bird roasting in the oven while the sweet sound of football games entertains the expectant people of prey. But why do we so often relegate the turkey to the holidays? Maybe most of us don’t want to get stuck with 15 pounds of leftovers the following day. But, turkey is inexpensive, naturally low in fat and delicious — especially when done on the grill! Enter the turkey leg! The turkey leg requires no utensils, which make it perfect for tailgating. My kids love the barbaric nature of eating one right off the bone. Who knows, you might find yourself ditching the big bird and serving these glorious games for Thanksgivings. Trust me…it will score a TD for T-Day!

PREP Brine • 4 turkey legs with skin on • 6 cups warm water • 6 T kosher salt Dissolve salt in water and pour over turkey legs. Marinate in brine 4 hours. Brining adds moisture and tenderness to the finished product.

READY Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Dry Rub • 1/4 cup smoked paprika • 2 T celery salt • 1/8 cup fresh ground pepper • 2 T onion powder • 1/4 cup sugar • 2 T dry mustard • 1/4 cup lemon pepper • 2 T lemon zest Mix above ingredients in a bowl and pour onto a large plate. Remove turkey legs from brine and pat dry. Roll each leg in the dry rub mixture.

LETS GRILL! Coat grill grates with non-stick spray and grill legs over mediumhigh heat (425˚); turning as needed. Once skin is crispy and brown, brush with your favorite barbeque sauce and continue grilling until legs reach an internal temperature of 165˚.

Johnny says… “There’s nothing like tackling the Thanksgiving (T-Day) turkey with a carving knife and fork. Then again, forget that… just grab a leg and munch!” 64

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Sheriff Al Lamberti Reports

eaving Town? Secure Your Home! By Sheriff Al Lamberti The Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching and many Broward County residents will be taking vacations or leaving town to visit with family and friends. The Broward Sheriff's Office reminds everyone that there are certain security-minded steps to take before leaving town. Remember to stop all newspaper deliveries, ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail and contact your BSO district office to sign up for our Home Watch program. When you sign up for BSO’s Home Watch program, a deputy, community service aide or BSO volunteer will check on your home regularly while you are on vacation. An exterior check of your home will be conducted to make sure there have been no unlawful entries and that no other obvious problems have occurred outside of your home. To sign-up for this FREE service, visit www.sheriff.org/homewatch and download the form. Complete it and return it to the BSO district that serves your community.You may also stop by your BSO district office and our staff will help you complete the form. Knowing that your home is being protected will put your mind at ease during your vacation. Before you leave town it is important to make sure your home appears occupied. Place timers on your lights and set them to turn on and off at different times. Lock your garage door and disconnect the automatic opener. Most importantly, tell a trusted neighbor that you are going to be away and ask them to dial 911 immediately if they see anyone on your property. Here are some additional home security tips to keep in mind: • Install good locks on all doors and windows and use them. • Give a spare key to your trusted neighbor and provide them with an emergency telephone number to reach you. • Have someone mow your lawn if you’ll be away more than a couple of weeks. • Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine stating you are out of town. • Leave your window blinds as you normally would if you were home. • Invite your neighbor to park their car in your driveway. The men and women of the Broward Sheriff’s Office are committed to keeping you safe. We can only offer our Home Watch program in our patrol jurisdictions. If you live outside of a BSO jurisdiction, contact you city or town’s police department and ask if they could offer a similar service. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving! Sheriff Al Lamberti

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I DENTIT Y TH EF T

Spot the Con Artist By Denise Richardson Today there are all sorts of predators and con artists who spend their time creating new ways to get you to fall for their con. A con artist is like a shady door-to-door salesperson. Both use high pressure sales tactics to get you to buy something you neither want nor need. Both make promises they have no intention of keeping and both offer a third-rate product. Recently successful scams have been perpetrated on unsuspecting victims by con artists claiming to be a utility company worker insisting they are there to work on phone, cable or electric lines, a condo association repairman claiming there is a leak or even and IRS representative or in some cases a police officer.All of whom used these titles to trick their way into the homes, and bank accounts, of trusting citizens unfamiliar with these scam techniques. Con artists don’t only reach you by phone or email these days; they will also come knocking at your door. They have one goal — and that goal is to con you. The con artist relies on pressure tactics. The “act now or you’ll miss out” deal is designed to pressure you into making a hasty decision. Hasty decisions are often foolish mistakes. Given a minute to think, most people wouldn’t reveal their banking information over the phone. A con artist steals that vital minute away; he catches his victim off-guard, enabling him to steal bank account numbers and passwords. A trustworthy business or charity will never ask you to make an immediate decision. If someone offers you a limited-time opportunity, think twice. Sometimes, a con artist poses as a government official, a lawyer, or a manager — and he benefits from the respect and fear that the position garners. Most people would refuse to give personal information to a telemarketer. Yet when on the phone with someone claiming to be a senator’s aide, many people reveal their private financial information willingly. Think before you start reciting your bank account number; no legitimate company would ever expect you to reveal that information over the phone, just as no government official would ever ask for your Social Security Number while standing on your doorstep. The media often portrays criminals as rude and scruffy. Yet many con artists are charming and polite. The contradiction makes it hard to spot a con artist. A con artist often reveals herself through her eagerness. She is extremely excited about giving you a loan; she is so pleased to be able to offer you this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She asks you personal questions about your family and

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your career and sympathizes when you share your life experiences. She laughs at every joke you make — whether funny or not — and compliments you on your clothes or the color of your hair. This goes beyond mere courtesy. She is trying to be your friend. You would never suspect a “friend” of being a con artist. Be wary around anyone who acts like your best friend after knowing you for mere minutes.

Beware the “Sucker List” This is exactly what it sounds like — a list of victims of fraud. When a person falls for a fraud scheme, his name is added to the sucker list. A con artist then sells this list to other criminals. Why is this list so important? If someone falls for one fraud scheme, odds are he will fall for another. You can never take your name off the sucker list, but you can avoid making the list twice. Always protect your personal information, and never reveal personal information when someone solicits it from you. Think twice before doing business with an unknown company; research the company on the Better Business Bureau’s website, and type its name into a search engine to learn more about its history. And never let politeness get in the way; it is okay to be rude to a con artist. Hang up the phone if you feel someone is trying to swindle you. Don’t open your door to strangers. Sadly, while the economy is in a downturn, crime isn’t. Criminals continue to find creative ways to con you out of your money, your data and your very identity. If you can spot the con artist, before he or she spots you, chances are you will avoid becoming a victim of fraud. National Consumer Empowerment Conference and Expo in S Florida this month! November 21, 2009 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Crowne Plaza, Hollywood Beach South Floridians will have the unique opportunity to gather with national consumer advocacy experts, consumer attorneys and victims’ rights advocates coming to S Florida from around the country to share knowledge, expertise and resources on an array of financial topics. I’m proud to Co-host this event with Americans for Fairness in Lending, a national coalition of non-profit advocacy groups working to fight predatory lending. For more information on this event, please feel free to contact me directly or go to GiveMeBackMyCredit.com/blog.

WITH LOVE & L AUGHTER

No Seeds Please By Barbara Silkstone Recently, my daughter and I pulled up to the drivethrough window of a Cluck in a Bucket fried chicken restaurant. My passion for fried chicken is legendary. There is nothing, that gets my juices flowing like fried chicken. We scanned the red and white poster board menu and decided that the eight-piece bucket would be perfect — six pieces wouldn’t be enough and ten would be a pig-out, besides the price of ten chunks of cholesterol was equal to half the down payment on a used car. Since when had chicken become so expensive? Knowing the challenges of drive-through window communication, I spoke distinctly and slowly into the speaker box as if I were talking to the customer service department of AT& T,“I would like the eight-piece bucket.” The voice responded over the tin can and string speaker. “We can’t sell you the eight-piece bucket. Would you like the ten-piece?” My daughter and I exchanged befuddled looks. “I just want eight pieces of chicken.” I heard grumbling from the squawk box. “We are not allowed to sell you eight pieces. Do you want that original or extra-crispy?” Dazzled by the illogic, I snapped at the squawk box.“I don’t want the ten-piece.” I’m wise to this chicken upgrading ploy, it happened to me before. I refused, assuming they would give in. They didn’t. As I argued my case for the pieces of eight, cars lined up in back of me… hungry chicken nibblers waiting for their share of the greasy feast. “We can’t sell the eight-piece buckets today. We can sell you six pieces or ten pieces,” the garbled voice persisted. I don’t do well under pressure and knowing those behind me were salivating, I snapped. “Never mind! I’m coming inside.” I pulled into a parking space and turned to my daughter. “I think I’ve lost it.” I was in a pre-orgasmic state, the smell of fried fowl aroused my food trail pheromones. Nobody stands between me and fried chicken. My off-spring followed me into the chicken shop. We perused the billboard menu. The sign offered what I wanted, eight pieces of blinking chicken for $13.99. The counter person repeated the argument I had heard at the window adding that corporate would not allow me to have it my way. “Six or ten, lady. Take it or leave it.” I turned to my daughter with tears of laughter in my eyes. Once again I was trapped in a Monty Python episode, the story of my life.“We can get six or ten pieces… but not eight. In what demented part of the universe does that make any sense?” We both began giggling. The giggles

turned into laughter as I imagined the bucket-fillers hunting down eight-legged chickens. I guessed there to be a shortage of the octo-fowl. We looked at the menu board again and there plain as the nose on the clerk’s face were the words: “4 piece dinner – $6.99.” I whispered to my daughter in a voice that sounded as if I’d broken the DaVinci code. “We can get two of the four piece dinners and sides and beat them at their own game.” My daughter said, “Most people would lose their cool over this over this, but I understand why you’re laughing so hard.” Part of our family legend is my obsession with fried chicken. When I was pregnant with my daughter, the local A&W Drive In served the crispiest, saltiest fried fowl in the world. I had such an extreme craving for…well you know…that A&W actually painted my name on a parking bumper so I would have a reserved space for nine months. Twice a day I inhaled an insane amount of chicken saturated in peanut oil and never lost my girlish figure. The clerk handed us two boxes of four pieces never realizing he’d been out-witted. That was the day I bested the Chicken Ponzi. I could take the knowledge of making eight pieces from two-fours with me no matter where I traveled, and as long as there was Cluck in the Bucket, I would beat them at their own game. As I write this I realize I have driven myself into a fry-frenzy and will head over to the giant red and white bucket as I type the last word of this story. Now that I’ve conquered the chicken scheme, I still need help with the burger-barns. I don’t frequent them as often but when I do the frustration sends my normally low blood pressure inching upward. Try telling the tin-can-ona-string ordering box that you want your burger on a seedless bun, please. It can’t be done. No matter how many ways you say seedless please — they hear cheese. “Without cheese?” The voice confirms. “No, I say. With cheese, but on a seedless bun.” “Got it! No cheese.” The box responds. I try graphic descriptions. Take a bun, a roll if you prefer, and make sure it doesn’t have any seeds. “No cheese.” Somebody tell me how to say no seeds please and be understood. No sesame doesn’t work…the squawk box doesn’t know what sesame is. ‘Plain bun’ is not understood. I have stopped saying please as “no seeds please” sounds as if I’m reading Dr. Seuss. I’m open to suggestions. How to you express No Seeds Please?

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TELL YOUR STORY! WRITE THAT BOOK! INNER WISDOM WRITERS’ GROUP will hold its next meeting on Thursday, November 12th at 7 pm Jon Frangipane, Editor of Lighthouse Point Magazine will facilitate a monthly 2-hour session For info call Dottie Reilly at Inner Wisdom Books FREE MATERIALS INCLUDED

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Hey Kids! Born in December Send us your photos before November 8th! Include your name and birthdate and Email to: [email protected] and Please type “Lighthouse Point Birthday” in the Subject Line, or mail to: City News Group, LHP Birthday, 3467 17th Terrace, Oakland Park, FL 33309

FREE D E For a ll our SSERT ! s b

howin ir g thisthday kids by COLD page a t S t h T e O C Pomp REAMERNE Y ano C iti Ce nter

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Tyla Lynn Trusty turns 2 on November 5th

Gary turned 7 on October 10th

Annelyse Campanella turned 6 on October 30th

Ella Imperato turned 5 on October 30th

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Julian Martin turns 3 on October 26, 2009

Gateway Plaza Thinking Green If you have had the crab rolls at Bonefish Mac’s, shopped at Susan White’s beautiful boutique, taken an amazing hot Yoga class, or indulged in a massage at the Body & Soul Spa then you have been to the Gateway Plaza. You might not have known is that all of these businesses have the resources provided to recycle, courtesy of the building management. Bonefish Mac’s has trained their staff to sort their waste. Now the staff is taking the extra step to bring you the tastiest food and recycle your empty beers. Even the professional offices in the building, including the investment firms and dental office are shredding their paper and recycling. Everybody agreed, as the owner of “Inner Wisdom with Grace,” said,“It is so easy; there is no reason not to do it.” The Real Dance Studio is not only recycling, but getting

the kids involved, showing them which containers to use. This simple act is teaching even the youngest residents of LHP the importance of taking responsibility for our environment. Under the inspiration of Veronica, the owner and one of the amazing instructor’s at Awaken Hot Yoga, the pace is set for the businesses to collaborate and make this great city even better by simply recycling. “Now, you not only feel amazing when you leave from an exhilarating yoga class, but you feel proud knowing that they are also taking care of the place we live,” says Amy, a dedicated yoga student,“The studio even gives you your first class for free.” So next time you walk into one of these inspiring businesses, let them know you appreciate the effort they are making to go green and taking care of our great city.

CASEY MORGAN TURNS 13 IN ATHENS By Bill Morgan At the end of June, Susan and Casey Morgan took a trip to Athens with Argy, a Greek friend and fellow Deerfield Beach Middle school teacher who was going home for the summer. Argy Araboglou was born on the island of Mytiahnh, an eight hour ferry ride, or a forty minutes via airplane from Athens. Casey’s first teen birthday was coming up and we wanted to do something special for her “Turn Teen” day. Argy invited them to come along with her to Athens to celebrate. The last minute adventure only allowed for a three day stay. Susan and Casey were lucky to have someone with them that understood Greek because it was all Greek to them. Argy knew the ropes in Athens, so things went very smoothly. Casey said all the drivers seemed crazy but there were no accidents (amazing yet fun to watch). A hike to the Acropolis and Pantheon, the Temple of all temples in Greece, were all on the first day of the expedition. The Acropolis is were most of the major temples in Athens can be visited, but there were plenty of others. The images of Gods and Goddesses floated through the ruins as the three visitors took in the splendor. The Parthenon was grander than it’s picture (even though it’s roof relief’s are still in the British in London Museum for safe keeping). The gang had to keep moving with so little time and so many temples, such as Zeus and others to see. Their favorite meals were the Gyros that are nothing like they get at home. They also had a great dinner at the Bizantino restaurant on top of Mount Lekavito, overlooking Athens. Casey awoke on her thirteenth birthday in Athens! (So Susan and I now have a certified troublemaker, ah, I mean teen.)

Casey Morgan.

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Argy Araboglou, teacher at Deerfield Middle School with Susan Morgan.

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Merchant of the Month W

hy rent in today’s market? With FHA your first, last and security equals your down payment! With all the gloom and doom being reported about the housing market here in South Florida, there is great news for first time homebuyers. In an effort to stimulate the housing market, a special tax credit of up to $8000 is available to all first time homebuyers with adjusted gross income of less than $75K for singles and $150K for married couples on all purchases made before December 1st of this year. The credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price. (Maximum credit is $8000) The tax credit describes first time homebuyers as people who have not owned a property in the last 36 months. Why is this tax credit important? There are FHA loan programs that only require 3.5% down, which can come as a gift from family. FHA also allows sellers to pay up to 6% to cover closing costs. What does this mean to a buyer? It means less money out of pocket at closing. You buy a home using 3.5% from savings and once you file your taxes replenish your savings account with the $8000 tax credit you receive. You can actually file an amended tax return for 2008 if you want the money shortly after closing. This is not theory…this is reality and is happening right here in South Florida everyday! The key is FHA financing! Not all FHA lenders are equal. Buyers Beware! “We have come behind major banks that have issued loan denials and turned them into instant approvals because of our network of FHA lender loan programs.” FHA has 30 year fixed programs with incredibly low fixed rates that allow for mortgage payments to be close to or lower than actual rent payments. There are a lot of good reasons to choose an FHA loan, especially if one or more of the following apply to you: • You’re a first-time homebuyer. (FHA is NOT just for firsttime homebuyers) • You don’t have a lot of money to put down on a house. • You want to keep your monthly payments as low as possible.

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• You’re worried about your monthly payments going up. • You’re worried about qualifying for a loan. • You don’t have perfect credit. If any of these things describe you, then an FHA loan may be right for you. Why? FHA loans offer many benefits and a level of security that you won't find in other loans including: Low cost: FHA loans have competitive interest rates because the federal government insures the loans for lenders.With conventional loans, Fannie and Freddie have added penalty pricing costs to the interest rate when your credit score is less than 740. Lower down payment: FHA loans have a low 3.5% down payment and the money can come from a family member, employer or charitable organization as a gift. With conventional loans, you can get up to 95% but must have the credit score to qualify for mortgage insurance which requires a 740 score here in the State of Florida. Easier qualification: Because FHA insures your mortgage, lender loan terms make it easier for you to qualify. Julie Wheeler CRMS reports, “We are seeing side by side comparisons between FHA and conventional where we get an approval with FHA but cannot get one with conventional.” Less than perfect credit: You don’t have to have perfect credit to get an FHA mortgage. In fact, credit problems such as a bankruptcy are easier to qualify for with an FHA loan than a conventional loan. We have FHA loan programs up to 96.5% financing with a 580 credit score. Finding out if you qualify for this type of mortgage is simple and can be done usually within the same day. FHA makes becoming a First Time Homebuyer now a NO BRAINER! If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a homeowner for the first time or know someone who is please call Julie at 954-422-9400 for a FREE informative no obligation one on one consultation. Using a local professional to sort out your loan options is more important now than ever! Julie Wheeler CRMS is President of Wheeler Mortgage Corp. located in the Duval Professional Center on S.E. 10th Street in Deerfield Beach, FL. Julie is one of a less than 30 Nationally Certified Residential Mortgage Specialists in the State of Florida, an Approved FHA Lender and an expert in Credit Scoring Education.

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