Jonathan Franca is a typical high school senior in many ways. He’s active on social media and preparing to attend college (New York University) in the fall.

But he’s also a young man on a mission. Franca is part of an intiative with UNICEF to end violence in schools globally. Working with more than 100 other young people from around the world, Franca contributed to UNICEF’s #EndViolence Youth Manifesto, which advocates in part for diversity, tolerance and protection for all students.

Locally, the 18-year-old has walked in several March for Our Lives events; he also participated in walkouts following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy, which prompted much of the activism he practices today.

“It took an emotional toll on me,” Franca says of the MSD shooting. “My school community is very attached to Parkland, and I personally knew a Parkland victim as well.”

In summer of 2018, Franca had the opportunity through Nord Anglia [the family of schools to which North Broward Prep belongs] to attend a UNICEF workshop in New York City, where he was able to learn what motivates the United Nations and UNICEF. Following the workshop, Franca kept in contact with the UNICEF officials he met, always asking how he could promote safety in local schools. His drive eventually led to his involvement with the #EndViolence manifesto, which was presented at the Education World Forum in January.

“Students spend such a long time in school that it’s basically their second home, where they make connections with other students, their peers, teachers, faculty, staff, you name it,” Franca says. “When your second home is where you’re seeing these mass shootings—these horrible acts of violence—it needs to stop.”

Franca hopes to see significant changes in school safety, not necessarily visibly or physically, but tangibly.

“The second you step onto a campus or educational environment, you should be able to feel positive energy and not be afraid,” Franca says. “We shouldn’t have to worry about where we’re going to hide or what we’re going to do in [violent] situations. That shouldn’t be something any student or child in the world should have to fear.”

Franca also believes social media is key to spreading awareness and finding like-minded individuals to collaborate with.

“Everyone is linked, in a sense,” Franca says. “We can now all be on the same playing field to receive information … and it’s such a persuasive tool as well. It’s the power of contemporary times.”

Though he’s not sure what he’ll major in at NYU, Franca knows he wants to remain internationally and politically connected.

“I don’t want to stop. I’m going to find a way to keep on pursuing [change], even if it’s just on my own,” Franca says. “If you want to create change, just be vocal and speak out, and don’t be afraid to share your opinions … as small as something might seem, it can become something greater than you’d ever think.”

To learn more about Franca’s advocacy and future endeavors, follow him on Twitter @johnfranca2.

The post Local Student on the Power of Activism appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Bernstein opened Doc B’s in 2013, and Durrenberger became the second manager hired on as Bernstein continued expanding the business. The restaurant (301 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables) boasts a motif he can get behind—fresh, “honest, American food at its best.”

Durrenberger balances his managerial responsibilities—he’s the regional manager of the Texas branches—with his role as beverage director. His drinks include The Dangler (Traverse City whiskey, carrot juice and maple) and, more recently, The “Beet”lejuice (which, naturally, features beets).

Usually, Durrenberger works backward when creating cocktails— interesting name first, ingredients afterwards. With The “Beet”lejuice, however, he wanted to incorporate the flavor and bold color of beets (think of Beetlejuice’s wedding outfit in the film). He didn’t come up with the name until later—even though “Beetlejuice” is one of his favorite films.

“Beet juice ties in with our concept at Doc B’s,” he says. “We essentially don’t have a freezer, so the whole [fresh concept] ties in to my cocktails as well.”

Durrenberger says patrons usually do a bit of a back-and-forth when they find out the cocktail contains beets. First, they see the drink and want to try it, then hear the name and shy away. Once they try it, though, they are hooked.

“I say, ‘I want you to try this; it’s going to blow your mind,’ and then they drink it, and they’re like, ‘Wow, I don’t even really like beets, but I love this cocktail,’” he says. “It goes down really easily, and then they want another.”

The “Beet”lejuice

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces CH London Dry gin

3/4 ounces ginger liqueur

3/4 ounces organic beet juice

3/4 ounces fresh squeezed lemon juice

3/4 ounces mint syrup

Directions

Shake ingredients and strain over crushed ice. Stir. Add a splash of soda water and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

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Though Francis has plenty of memories of helping children during his 16 years with the Kiwanis Club, there are a few standouts.
One is a memory from 10 years ago that launched the club’s backpack program, which works with Liberty Elementary School to provide six backpacks a week to help feed families in need. The project was born after Francis visited a day care in Margate and met a little boy who had food in his pockets.

“We went over and introduced ourselves and asked what he had in his pockets, and he said, ‘I have ’paghetti,’ which meant ‘spaghetti,’ ” Francis recalls. “We asked him why, and he simply replied, ‘Because I have nothing to eat on the weekends.’ ”

In their next meeting, Francis and the rest of the members immediately appropriated funds to fill brown paper bags with snacks to distribute once a month to the day care facility. After using brown paper bags for the first few years, the project progressed to offering backpacks instead to help bridge entire families with the food gap on weekends.

Other yearly projects include Shop with a Hero—a partnership between Kiwanis, Walmart and the Margate Police Department to provide a shopping spree to 100 children in need—and Christmas in July, which provides 1,500 homeless children with backpacks loaded with supplies.

During one Shop with a Hero event, Francis says a young girl was so excited to buy gifts for her brothers, sisters, mother and aunt that she forgot to get something for herself.

“In the end we made some adjustments for her and she was able to afford a little something for herself,” Francis says. “But it shows you how the children think about it. They think more about their families than they do themselves. It’s pretty incredible.”

This holiday season, the 45-year-old club is celebrating the 20th Christmas Tree Lot. In partnership with Hart-T-Tree Farms, a family-owned business, the Kiwanis club helps high school students in Key Clubs, and the tree farm donates some of its earnings to the club. Last year, singer Ariana Grande bought a tree from the lot.

“She was very happy with her purchase,” Francis says with a laugh.

The Hart-T-Tree Christmas Tree lot (1423 North, FL-7, Margate) is now open until trees are sold out (usually by Dec. 19 or 20). For information on joining, search for the Margate-Coconut Creek Kiwanis Club on Facebook.

The post Key to the Community appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

“Like the food people eat with their friends and family and enjoy—like outside patio barbecue parties,” Adamowicz says. “I want people to feel that atmosphere, that youth and freedom.”

Though Firegrills officially opened last August at the Township Plaza, it has essentially “re-opened” under Adamowicz’s management. Previously, he worked at steak houses such as Republic of Texas in

 Corpus Christi, Bovinos in North Miami Beach and Texas de Brazil. He became part-owner of Firegrills in early June and has completely changed the space, including the staff, advertising, atmosphere and, most important, the menu.

The restaurant now offers platters with one meat and four sides as well as sandwiches and a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It specializes in seven cuts of charcoal-grilled meat—specifically, top sirloin, which usually is served with rice, beans, fries and farofa (a mixture of toasted cassava flour) and 10 sides, including a Brazilian take on plantains made with cinnamon and sugar. For breakfast, the restaurant offers New York-style bagels and more.

The menu is simple, and Adamowicz insists Firegrills is better for it. When he first tried the restaurant’s food before taking over, Adamowicz compared it to hospital food with no identity. Now, while there might be less variety, there’s higher quality. And although he has no desire to label Firegrills, there’s no denying how his Brazilian roots have shaped his ideas for the restaurant.

“This is not a Brazilian place,” Adamowicz says. “There are no Brazilian flags around. The food just tastes like the countryside of Brazil. … I want this to be recognized as a good place to go and eat fresh food.”

When he first discovered Firegrills only months ago during lunchtime, he came in to a nearly empty restaurant; since taking over management, business has improved. Adamowicz’s positive influence—shaped by his eight years of experience in the restaurant business—is clear in the lines that now form outside of the restaurant on Sunday afternoons.

Adamowicz has high hopes for the restaurant, as he and his partner are looking to expand to new locations and even buy a food truck. There are also pending changes to the space itself, which include a beach mural as a tribute to South Florida.

“This is going to be a good challenge,” Adamowicz says. “There is a lot of work ahead of all of us, but I can see that this place has potential.”

Firegrills

Location: 4400 W. Sample Road, Suite 146, Coconut Creek

Contact: 954.532.7780; firegrills.net

The post Raising the Steaks appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

From this friendship, they founded the Foundation for Independent Living in 1986, which has helped its residents—high-functioning and borderline-IQ adults who can live on their own but require some level of guidance and supervision—live independently.

Originally, the program had two residents: Bederman’s son, Michael, and Mishner’s daughter, Luise. Today, the program hosts 62 residents, with various needs and capabilities, and is a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs.

“We’re a life-through program,” says executive director Melodie Hayes. “When [residents] come here, the goal is that they’re always going to be here. … Every day, [the staff’s] job is to work with our guys to give them the best life that they can possibly have.”

The foundation’s goal is for its residents to be as successful and independent as possible. To that end, its program offers instruction in daily-living skills that include household maintenance, food shopping, financial skills, nutrition and communication, among others. They also offer a health café program that encourages a healthy lifestyle and provides nutritious food for residents who cannot cook on their own or choose not to.

“We’ve had residents who come into the program, and their families have given them the ability to stand on their own with us,” Hayes says. “Based on that, they’ve enhanced themselves with the program’s help and become the independent people they can be.”

Residents who can work do so—77 percent of residents who are capable of working have jobs—and five residents even work for the foundation itself. Two residents work in the healthy café with live-in staff member Darrell Wiggins—or “Chef Darrell” as he’s known—and three work in reception. Debbie Klein, a “pioneer resident” that has been in the program since 1987, is one of those receptionists.

“I’ve grown a lot,” Klein says, “and to be able to work here is really awesome.”

Along with learning and working comes leisure time. Residents can take part in what marketing director Andre Wright calls “family trips,” such as visits to local festivals, flea markets and sports events, and even out-of-state trips to places such as Tennessee and Costa Rica.

“The residents get involved and before they know it, they have a full life; a life of purpose,” Wright says. “That’s our mission, and we’re achieving that mission on a daily basis.”

The foundation has become a close-knit family. Residents threw Wright a small bachelor party in 2010 when he proposed to his wife, complete with a gift for which each resident pitched in.

“My first Blu-ray player and flat-screen TV came from them, and I still have those,” Wright says. “If that doesn’t speak of family, I don’t know what does.”

The Foundation for Independent Living is located at 1367 Lyons Road. To support, visit filinc.org. For information, call 954.968.6472 or email info@filinc.org.

The post Friendly Foundation appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Jim Jennings, a member of the organization’s board, says tragedy inspired its birth. On Jan. 2, 2012, Emerald Towing operator Joseph Ricciardelli was killed by a driver who did not abide by the law that requires drivers to move over a lane, or slow to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted limit if they cannot move over, when they approach stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles and tow trucks.

“At that point we were all searching for a way to honor Joe and to honor all first responders,” Jennings says.

The mission of Towers with a Heart and its five volunteer staff members is to promote the law and safe driving in Florida. Its signature fundraiser is an annual golf tournament to raise money for billboard advertising and outreach events. This year’s tournament in May drew about 130 golfers and raised about $16,000. It was attended by representatives of the Boca Raton Fire Rescue, the Coconut Creek Police Department and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, among others.

The organization also spreads its message at such community events as Unity Day in Pompano Beach and the Coconut Creek Butterfly Festival. Every year, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, it partners with administrators of Florida’s Turnpike to promote the law.

These outreach programs are where the organization sees the impact of its hard work.

“We got a lot of responses from people who come by with their young kids who haven’t driven yet and are getting ready to get their licenses,” Jennings says. “[Parents] will have us explain to their kids about the Move Over [Act] and the dangers of driving. We affect a lot of lives in that respect.”

This year, the organization is focused on putting out its first public service announcement in cooperation with first responders. It also is trying to pass a federal version of the Florida law, plus it’s putting together a scholarship fund for high school students.

Those looking to support the cause may like the Towers with a Heart Facebook page, volunteer at any outreach events or donate to the organization. To learn more, visit towerswithaheart.org or call Emerald Towing Service at 954.917.4747.

The post Philanthropy in Tow appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

“I want to say it’s been with me my whole life,” Beck says.

In what her husband calls the “Tarantino style of talking,” (a meandering but connected way of storytelling) Beck shares how she studied graphic design (or commercial art, as it was known “100 years ago”) and then fine art in college. She began doing graphic design again when she worked as a magazine production manager, photographer and copywriter in her 20s. Later, she owned her own art gallery in Orlando, and now she’s a creative-for-hire (or a freelance creative director, depending on her mood) and runs Art Buzz Studio in Oakland Park.

The art Beck does in her free time ranges as much, if not more, than her job titles. She is a painter, photographer, book binder, quilter and pretty much any other type of artist, depending on the materials she finds. Her main purpose is to elicit emotion—hopefully, she says, humor or happiness—using bright, expressive colors and textures and encouraging viewers to touch her art.

“I’m a big believer that artists need viewers just like viewers need art,” Beck says. “We need each other … but I also see that as a connection. As human beings, we all want to connect and communicate.”

Beck considers art a positive expression of emotions, versus the negative manifestations that occur when we repress them.

“We don’t give ourselves positive ways to express ourselves, and the arts do that. … I dare you to try to look mean or scornful while you’re skipping,” Beck says. “We’ve deemed those things less important, sadly, in school systems.”

To counter that, Beck hopes to bring the arts to her community. At Coconut Creek’s ArtsFest in September, Beck introduced herself to other artists and discovered many were interested in expanding the arts in Creek as well. She helped organize a gathering in March for Coconut Creek and West Broward artists to “connect, brainstorm and just talk about art.”

“I started the meetup with my agenda being no agenda. I did not want to dictate anything or to anyone,” Beck says. “I wanted it to be an open discussion [of how to bring arts to Creek]. The response was positive and people are ready to act. Ready to define a purpose.”

As for her own artistic career, Beck has created a series of workshops in hopes of becoming a teaching artist. In the meantime, as always, she wants to “make more stuff.”

To learn more about Beck’s art or to contact her about workshops or expanding the arts in Coconut Creek, visit thekristinbeck.com.

Extras with Kristin Beck

Favorite artists: Photography: Abelardo Morell and Cindy Sherman; painting: Andy Warhol; printmaking: Star Shaped Press

Biggest inspiration: A desire to be heard, followed by making people laugh.

Favorite local artists: I have two local art crushes: Francie Bishop Good and Bernice Steinbaum

Tools of the trade: Sketchbook, Sakura pigma micron pens, a 6-inch ruler and camera phone

What to do when you’re “stuck”: Jump up and down in my studio and crank up the music.

Describe your work in three words: Colorful, emotional and tactile

Describe your creative process: With painting, my process is about exploration and layers and color mixing—all hallmarks of abstract painting. With book binding and quilting, I found the process of combining the substrates of each (paper and fabric) such a delight. … With photography, my process is about capturing a moment, not just to document things.

The post Creating a Buzz appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Though it might not seem like an obvious leap to take 32 years of nursing experience and turn it into a specialization in laser tattoo removal, registered nurse Jamie Plastina finds that the two correlate. Her business, VanishThatTat.com offers laser tattoo removal and lightening, with reduced prices for those looking to improve their lives.

The idea spawned on a plane ride, where Plastina was brainstorming industries to enter that aligned with her nursing experience, which has encompassed hospital and home care as well as management and business ownership. At the time, Plastina was a single mother to two girls and couldn’t afford the financial investment to enter the tattoo removal industry—the equipment cost more than of $100,000. Instead, she took six years to research the practice.

“In that process [of researching], I took two laser tattoo removal certification courses and the laser safety officer course,” Plastina says. “In doing all my research … and really learning the industry, I just became obsessed with it; I thought it was the coolest thing. [Tattoos] don’t have to be permanent anymore.”

Tattoo removal is not just for those who no longer like their tattoos. Plastina offers free removals for cancer patients who have had radiation treatment and want their tattoo markers removed. She also reduces prices for jobseekers who want to remove tattoos because prospective employers forbid visible face, hand and neck ink.

“I’m trying to get more involved with the state of Florida and with the county [to help] anyone who has been incarcerated or in rehab, who may have gone down a different path in life at one time, who really wants to get re-acclimated into society again to be able to work,” Plastina says. “If they have visible tattoos … it could prevent them from the employment that they want, like the military, for instance.”

Plastina says the most common reason people have tattoos removed is to let go of the past and change their lives. It’s reflected in her business’ tagline: “Change your mind­—change your life.”

She says the most rewarding part of removing tattoos is seeing the progress toward perfect results, as well as helping people achieve their long-term goals. As for her own goals, she hopes to expand her business.

“I just fell in love with it,” Plastina says. “I like to help people, and I think this is a good way to help people in this day and age.”

Vanishthattat.com

Location: 4400 W. Sample Road, Suite 240

Info: vanishthattat.com; 754.312.6385

Creek Biz News

Want to share local business news? Email us at kmoros@lmgfl.com.

• Women’s lifestyle boutique Revival Boutique recently opened at Promenade at Coconut Creek. Revival has three locations in Delray Beach and carries brands such as Central Park West, Flying Monkey, Monroe, Generation Love and others.
• Coconut Creek recently welcomed the following businesses: Big Dog Construction Services at 3730 Coconut Creek Parkway, Suite 180, (bigdogcsi.com) and J&M Tax and Accounting Solutions at 6810 Lyons Technology Circle (jmtaxandaccounting.com).
• Fusion Chiropractic Spa opened its third South Florida location in January, at 1383 Lyons Road. The spa specializes in treating injuries from sports and car accidents and offers hour-long massages at $45. Visit fusiondelray.com.
• Aventura-based real estate firm Advenir purchased Crown Pointe apartments for $64.5 million from Star Pointe & Crown Pointe Newco. Crown Pointe apartments is made up of 360 units and is located at 4142 Cocoplum Circle.

The post Vanishing Regret appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

What began as a Facebook post asking for unused hurricane supplies soon became a nonprofit organization with long-reaching effects. Coconut Creek resident and Winston Park Elementary School teacher Krystal Langley began gathering goods for her hometown of Marathon, the day after Hurricane Irma ravaged the Keys. She asked Facebook friends to donate supplies they wouldn’t use.

“Within 48 hours, my garage was full,” Langley says. “I posted it on a Coconut Creek residents forum on Facebook as well, and it just spread like wildfire.”

As Langley struggled to transport the goods from her garage in Creek to her hometown—she rarely has opportunities to travel to the Keys herself, being a single mother and a full-time teacher—five of her fellow alumni from Marathon High School reached out to help. Stephenie Fenton, Philip Augustine, Vivi Mira-Culmer, Johnny Moses and Tracy Garcia, who is Langley’s childhood friend and her distribution location coordinator, started working with her on what became known as the Mile Marker 50 Relief Project, also known as MM50.

“My life was pretty much as abnormal as it gets,” Langley says, “and it was definitely difficult to juggle it all, but I’ve learned how to manage. I’ve learned how to ask others to help and step in.”

The grassroots task force eventually became a certified nonprofit, as Langley hoped the organization would serve a purpose beyond aiding in hurricane recovery.

“I chose not to use ‘Hurricane Irma’ in the name because I was hoping, long-term, this could help anybody with any type of unforeseen circumstance,” Langley says. “If your house burns down and you’re homeless or need supplies to feed your children, this organization can help.”

Through MM50, Langley and her team have raised funds and gathered supplies for Marathon’s fall festival, gathering costumes for children to dress up on Halloween and distributing 1,200 pounds of donated candy. They also provided gift baskets for a silent auction to benefit a local school, gathered toys for children during the holidays and are working with Cosmetics for a Cause for high school students to have makeup for their homecoming dance.

“We’re depending on each other, working together to try to get help,” Langley says. “Most of the major organizations are gone … so it’s just neighbors helping neighbors now.”

Though Langley is surprised at how quickly MM50 has grown, she hopes it will continue growing and help Keys residents in other life-altering situations.

“Keys [residents] have this unique ability to make the best of every situation and really overcome obstacles that seem impossible,” Langley says. “They’re really a unique breed of people.”

For information or to help the cause, visit facebook.com/mm50reliefproject.

The post Mending the Heart of the Keys appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

“If you’re going to advertise yourself as [having] beautiful, sweeping views of the Biscayne Bay, you want the entire package,” says Emily Burster, general manager for Starr. “We felt we owed that to our guests and [the museum].”

To that end, the outdoor space at Verde (1103 Biscayne Blvd.) recently was redone to enhance the al fresco dining experience. It now has 30 additional seats and greenery on the terrace, as well as wooden booths.

The space isn’t the only thing that’s been reworked; patrons also will find new dishes and cocktails on the menu. Burster says menu items still are made from fresh, local ingredients—with a little Italian flair from executive chef Kaytlin Dangaran—and new cocktail favorites such as the White Peach Margarita are here to stay.

“The White Peach Margarita is exactly the vibe that we wanted to go with for our renovation and menu,” Burster says. “It’s this great, pink, vibrant drink that you just want to suck down with a straw immediately.”

As Verde is a go-to spot for brunch—dinner is served only once a week—the team wanted to reflect that atmosphere with the menu revamp. New food includes roasted winter vegetables, butternut squash with fig pizza, and shrimp tacos, which Burster says pair well with the White Peach Marguerita. Given Verde’s relationship with the museum, it’s no surprise that the dishes are inspired by art themselves.

“The food has to look as good as it tastes,” Burster says. “Everything is thought through, from the way the plates are placed in front of guests to how the dressing is smeared on the plate. …

“People’s tastes and trends change, and I think in a food and beverage atmosphere, you have to stay current. We would hope to become trendsetters in that sense; that’s always what we’re striving for.”

White Peach Margarita

Ingredients

2 ounces white peach puree

2 ounces tequila

1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

1 ounce triple sec

Directions

Pour ingredients into shaker over ice. Shake well. Salt rim of rocks glass. Pour drink over ice and garnish with lime wedge.

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