Florida Agenda

During the 19th and early-20th Centuries, intellectuals and community leaders shared their ideas and thoughts in the form of a parlor game that spoke, truthfully, about the innermost them. This week, we speak CANDIDLY with Carl Marzola, who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, the President of the Fort Lauderdale & Wilton Manors-based Atlantic Properties International and member of the Wilton Manors Economic Development Task Force.

Your favorite virtue.
Patience, of which I possess ‘zero,’ but I’m working on it.

Your favorite quality in a person.
Honesty, loyalty, sincerity, and being able to make a hell of a Carbonara.

Your chief characteristic.
Organization. Also, the ability to find someone else’s strengths and talents and help them to make the most of the gifts with which they’ve been gifted.

Something you appreciate most in your friends.
Kindness and understanding (I need them both in large helpings). Being able to forgive, and, if not forget, at least to give me more latitude next time. (I’ll do the same for you: we’re only human, baby.)

Your main fault.
I have an excess of energy, and I like to be busy all the time with numerous projects, but it can drive the people around me crazy trying to keep up because of the ninety irons I have in the fire at any given time.

A fault you can’t tolerate in other people.  
When a person thinks he or she “knows it all.” When you stop learning, they put you into six feet of cold ground. Buh-bye. We should all continue to learn and grow and to help others.

Your favorite occupation.
Exactly what I’m doing now, but with an extra fifteen hours in the day to get it done!

Your idea of happiness.
Being at the peak of health and at the top of my professional game, surrounded by friends, family, and the people I love: not too much different from the reality I’m blessed to enjoy in this life.

Your idea of misery.  
The absence of love.

A person you would be, if not yourself.
Someone who wanted to be just like me! (Immodest?)

Your favorite food and drink.
With a last name like “Marzola,” do you even need to ask? (Hint: foods that end in a vowel– Italian!) And I do enjoy my Grey Goose martinis with stuffed bleu cheese olives.

Your ideal place to live.
I think that home is where your heart is, and your heart is full of the numerous blessings you enjoy at any given moment in time.

Your favorite color.
Is chartreuse a color or an ice cream flavor? I’ll stick safely with “royal blue.”

Your favorite author(s).  
Anthony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Joel Osteen, Donald Trump (sometimes), Carlos Castaneda. I also like Shakespeare, but gave up a while ago trying to get my “thees” and “thous” straight.

Your heroes in film.  
Indiana Jones, Rhett Butler, Tom Cruise in “Top Gun,” and the character Charles Bronson played in all his movies.

Your heroes in real life.  
My parents and grandparents—remember I’m Italian: it’s all about family. Also first responders (fire fighters, police officers, ambulance drivers, and paramedics). And everyone who gets up every day and works to support themselves or their family with a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts.

Something you hate.
Hate is a strong word. But I have no
tolerance for intolerance.

Your present state of mind.
“I like to think sane and happy, but not quite content: there’s still so much to accomplish.
The natural talent you’d like to be
gifted with.
The ability to time travel, so I could squeeze an extra seven or eight hours out of the day.

How you’d like to die.  
At the age of 155, in the arms of a 70-
year-old “younger guy” at the hands of his jealous boyfriend.

The reform you admire the most.  
I admire any person who makes the conscious decision to reinvent himself, whether getting a higher education at 50, or shedding some pounds to improve your health or the way you think of yourself, or deciding that a new career for a new year is just what the doctor ordered. (And if that’s the case: call me! I’m always looking to meet smart and enthusiastic men and women who are looking to make their career in a field that makes success stories every day—God isn’t making any more real estate!)

Your Personal Motto.
Daddy’s buying…this time only, boys!

By Cliff Dunn

Photo: Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti is shown here with Captain Rick Wierzbicki who leads BSO’s Hate Crimes Task Force.

Sheriff Al Lamberti says that the communities he polices are diverse, vibrant, and thriving, but he remains deeply concerned and troubled that Broward County ranks first among Florida counties for reported hate crimes.

“Simply put: we don’t want to be number one in terms of these stats,” Lamberti emphasized. The sheriff, entering his fourth year in office, says that the numbers tell several stories.

The county’s number one ranking, Lamberti offers, is in some ways the result of hate crimes victims coming forward to report their attacks for the first time, inundating law enforcement’s reporting apparatus and giving a top-heavy statistic for crimes that went unreported or underreported all along.

“By establishing a Hate Crimes/Anti-Bias Task Force, we’re actively encouraging citizens who have been victims to report on these crimes,” Lamberti notes.

“That puts the focus on the numbers for BSO [Broward Sheriff’s Office]. The crimes themselves are deplorable,” the sheriff cautions, “but we want potential victims to report their attacks, or harassment.”

“At the same time,” he adds, “we want the state’s other police agencies to follow our lead and establish their own hate crimes task forces. When that happens, you will see a spike in their numbers, too. But it’s important to make victims know they have official assistance available to them, no matter whether they’re gay, or homeless, or had a ethnically-motivated hate crime perpetrated upon them.”

The state of Florida defines a hate crime as an act committed or attempted by one person or group against another –or that person’s property –that in any way constitutes an expression of hatred toward the victim based on his or her personal characteristics.

A report issued last month by Florida’s attorney general records 149 hate crimes being committed statewide for the year 2010, the last complete year for which statistics are available. Those numbers are slightly higher than the ones from 2009, but a vast improvement over 1992’s record of 395 hate crimes. The attorney general’s report details the number as well as the types of hate crimes committed throughout the Sunshine State.

Of hate crimes committed, nearly half were racially motivated–over 46 percent–while more than one-in-five, or 21.5 percent, resulted from the victim’s sexual orientation. Religious beliefs account for 19.5 percent of hate crimes statewide, followed by ethnically-motivated crimes at 12.7 percent.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the hate crimes stats were reported by law enforcement agencies across Florida. This data was then provided to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Both Broward and Miami-Dade counties saw the number of hate crimes reported drop in 2010. Miami-Dade experienced a drop in its 2009 numbers, from 17 to 11. Broward County again led the state in overall reported hate crimes with 19 cases, three less than in 2009. Of the 32 reported hate crimes in Florida that were motivated by sexual orientation, eight of them–25 percent–occurred in Broward.

Said Lamberti: “Broward is the most diverse county in Florida. Clearly, though, that statistic of number one is proof that we’re not all getting along with each other.”

Lamberti says he is encouraged by the response to his department’s efforts of law enforcement agencies and lawmakers outside of Florida, including members of Congress.

“When Maryland was looking to increase the classes protected under that state’s hate crimes laws, they looked closely at our efforts and internal practices in investigating hate crimes against the homeless and others, and used these as a model for retooling their laws,” he recalls. “It was gratifying, but at the same time, you say to yourself, ‘they are using our case to improve their own legal protections for victims, why isn’t the same being done here in our own state?’”

Lamberti and his office’s efforts paid off when Florida lawmakers got the message. “There was a sense,” Lamberti remembers, “that there had already been efforts to tackle this before. I said to the people who were helping us, ‘I haven’t tried before,’ and we used the clout of this office and the support of law enforcement to spearhead what was a legislative effort. It was gratifying.”

The sheriff acknowledges the work ahead. He admits that many crimes go unreported. But he believes that he has put a system in place that can adapt to the needs of victims and challenging conditions. One reason for his optimism is his choice of officers to command the Hate Crimes and Anti-Bias Task Force. BSO Capt. Rick Wierzbicki was a 24-year veteran of the Wilton Manors Police Department, retiring as Chief of Police in August 2005. It proved to be a short retirement.

“Capt. Wierzbicki’s experience leading a department in a city that has a diverse population comingling with one another makes him a natural candidate to bring disparate individuals and ideas together,” notes lamberti. “It requires him to be a leader, and also a diplomat and a consensus-builder when it comes to the numerous stakeholders who have a voice in combating these crimes,” he adds.

For Wierzbicki, the proof is in the pudding. “The reality is that hate crimes are being reported and investigated,” he said. “This entire agency wants to know if hate crimes are being committed.”

Broward’s standing as highest-ranked county for hate crimes is also drawing attention to the stats and reporting of Florida’s other 66 counties and their jurisdictions. Although Miami-Dade County reported 11 hate crimes for 2010, its largest municipality, Miami–the state’s second largest city–reported no hate crimes for the third consecutive year.

Broward Sheriff Lamberti refuses to throw any other police agency under the bus, but he is realistic about his and other departments’ reporting. “I want the rest of the state–and the nation, for that matter–to follow Broward’s lead and set up a system and the manpower for honest reporting and investigating,” said Lamberti.

“We look at a crime, or a possible crime, and don’t in any way mitigate or downplay the facts. If a crime looks like a hate crime, then that’s how it is investigated.

We don’t investigate an attack against two gay men, for example, as a robbery. We investigate it with the presumption that it is a crime of the most serious magnitude. The facts of the case may bear out that it is, in fact, a robbery, but we will investigate all elements of the case to ascertain both what it is, and what it isn’t.”

“As far as some places reporting ‘zero’ hate crimes, I find that a little hard to believe. I can’t comment on what transpires anyplace else but this office, but we don’t sweep stats under the rug,” Lamberti insisted.

13th ANNUAL MIAMI GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
From October 1 to November 1 at various locations. To enrich, entertain and educate the public, encourage a sense of community through international and culturally diverse film, video and other media that offer historical and contemporary perspectives on the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. For a complete schedule; www.mglff.com.

HEAT MIAMI BLATINO EXPLOSION
Friday, October 7, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Miami. Columbus Day Weekend will never be the same because The Heat is On! More information is available at www.thevaultmiami.com or by calling (954)336-3197.

“HAIRSPRAY”
On Thursday, October 13, the Miami Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. in association with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, presents Theater Night at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Mile Theatre (280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables). The Chambers will join forces for the last preview performance of “Hairspray” with a pre-performance reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres in the theater lobby at 7 p.m. $30 for the reception and the performance. “Hairspray” is Broadway’s hottest musical-comedy phenomenon and a joyous tribute to the ‘60s. RSVP required at mdglcc@bellsouth.net, 305-673-4440. hair spray, blatino explosion

TASK FORCE MIAMI RECOGNITION DINNER
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced that straight rugby star Ben Cohen will receive its Humanitarian Award on October 15 at the 15th annual Miami Recognition Dinner at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Cohen is the first straight sports star to dedicate his philanthropic efforts to the benefit of LGBT people. Cohen recently founded and serves as chairman of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, the world’s first foundation dedicated to raising awareness about the long-term, damaging effects of bullying.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force produces the event and donates the majority of the net proceeds to other nonprofit organizations serving the Miami-Dade LGBT community.

HELLROTIKA
SAVE Dade’s 17th annual Halloween extravaganza, Hellrotika will be held on Saturday, October 29 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail in Miami. For a limited time, buy specially-priced advanced-sales tickets at www.hellrotika.com. Amazing music by renowned deejays, top-shelf liquor, costume contest, celebrity appearances, special performances and over 1,000 of Miami’s spookiest partygoers. General admission is $40 in advance, $60 if purchased after October 21 and at the door.

Task Force to Honor  Rugby Star

MIAMI, FL – The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced that straight rugby star Ben Cohen will receive its Humanitarian Award on October 15th, at the 15th annual Miami Recognition Dinner at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Cohen is the first straight sports star to dedicate his philanthropic efforts to the benefit of LGBT people. One of the world’s greatest athletes, Ben recently founded and serves as chairman  of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, the world’s first foundation dedicated to raising awareness about the long-term, damaging effects of bullying and raising funds to support those who are doing work to stop it.

The Miami Recognition Dinner is the premier annual celebration of South Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force produces the event and donates the majority of the net proceeds to other nonprofit organizations serving the Miami-Dade LGBT community.

Pride Center Expands Efforts to Reach GBTQ/MSM with Addictions

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – The Pride Center at Equality Park, in association with Lambda Men’s Brotherhood, have created a new social networking program

called Youth Gay Meth Free (YGMF). YGMF caters to the young GBTQ men in South Florida who struggle with crystal methamphetamine addiction – commonly known as “Crystal,” “Tina” or “Ice” – along with other substances.

YGMF is currently available on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, with the goal of grabbing the attention of young GBTQ males with these tragic addictions.

“I’m very excited about this new program because there are so many young men struggling with additions,” said Mitchell Jerus, Youth Coordinator running the YGMF Program. “We already have much of our online social networking programs in place and very soon we will have a peer counseling program both online and offline.

“These young men often feel alone with no one to talk to about their problems,” continued Jerus. “That’s why we’re here, so they know they’re not alone and that someone is there to help. We anticipate this program will be very successful and we’re using the slogan ‘Get Your Shine Back’ showing these young men that they can emerge from their dark places.

“Numerous indicators confirm problematic crystal methamphetamine use among some sexually active men who have sex with other men. GBTQ/MSM young people’s questions regarding sexual identity and sexual behavior need to be addressed. These young men need skills to address and resist using substances as they become exposed to new behavioral options in the gay community.”

“In my experience catering to LGBTQ youth and their families, many of the young men I’ve met that use crystal meth are young sex workers: dancers, go-go boys, adult film performers, escorts, etc.,” said Listron “Blue” Mannix, Expanding Testing Initiative Manger overseeing the YGMF program.

“We’re reaching out to other organizations that can help this program flourish and become the hope for a better future to others that it’s supposed to be,” concluded Jerus. “We feel that by collaborating with programs such as Meth and Men, the Sunserve Youth Group, MProject and other treatment centers, that young men struggling can get the help that they need and deserve.”

The core of this program is located at the Pride Center at Equality Park on Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors, or by going online to Facebook and looking for “YouthGay MethFree”.

For additional information, email youthmethfree@pridecenterflorida.org or call (954) 463-9005.

Johnny’s Plans Entire Labor Day Weekend Schedule

FORT LAUDERDALE/MIAMI, FL – Both locations of Johnny’s is planning a Labor Day Weekend schedule. What a way to end the summer!

• There will be a Labor Day strip show night at both locations starting at 6 p.m. Friday in Ft. Lauderdale and Saturday and Sunday in
• Miami. Hosted by Sol Delight. No cover Sunday through Thursday in Fort Lauderdale and no cover seven nights a week in Miami.
• T.P. Lords and D.J. Robby Sky present “Drag On” Mondays at Johnny’s Miami. No cover. Drags and Trans drink free from 10 p.m. to midnight. Everyone else $3 drinks all night long.
• Thursdays are Latin Night (18+) at Johnny’s Miami and no cover all night long. Shows by Teresita La Caliente and Marytrini. D.J.
• Lannier Alvarez spins. Sexy underwear contest at 1 1 p.m. with $1,000 in cash and prizes. Free Cuba Libres from 10 p.m. to midnight, $5 after.
• Fridays are GRINDR night at Johnny’s Miami – 18+ college night. No cover all night long. With hot male dancers and D.J. Miik spinning.
• Labor Day Weekend Countdown featuring the Beyonce mix tape on Friday, September 2nd at Johnny’s Fort Lauderdale. Free CD giveaways all night long. Free drinks (well and domestic) from 11:30 p.m. to midnight. Reduced cover after with text “B@MFL” to 31313. $39 Moscato D’Asti bottles, $12 huge big bucket drinks all night. With D.J. TPromix.
• “The Spot” on Saturday, September 3 – “Fire” the hottest in pop, hip-hop and Latin with D.J. TPromix, 40 hot dancers and no cover all night at Johnny’s Miami.
• South Florida’s largest Amateur Strip Contest at Johnny’s Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday nights. No cover all night long. Karaoke from 9 p.m. hosted by D.J. Miik Emceed by Gemini Stone. $3 Margarita Madness all day and night. $1,000 in cash and prizes, but must sign up by midnight.

Paolo Pincente Named Executive Producer Miami Beach Gay Pride

MIAMI BEACH, FL –Veteran event director and producer Paolo Pincente has been named executive producer of the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade & Festival for 2012, announced Babak Movahedi, president of the Pride Board of Directors.   “Miami Beach Pride is fortunate to have someone of Paolo’s diverse background and experience as next year’s executive producer,” Movahedi said. “In three short years, Miami Beach Pride has grown from a hometown celebration to one that captures national, if not international, attention.

For the fourth event, we look forward to having Paolo add his distinctive touch and take Pride to a whole new level.”

In his new role, Pincente will help plan and oversee all elements of next year’s Miami Beach Gay Pride event as well as related activities leading up to Pride.  Now in its fourth year, Miami Beach Gay Pride will take place Sunday, April 15, 2012, along Miami Beach’s famed Ocean Drive.

In addition to his responsibilities for Pride, Pincente currently works and produces events for top-tier venues and well-known brands including, Space Nightclub, Miami, as general manager; Mova Lounge, Miami Beach, as operations and marketing consultant; Svedka Vodka, throughout Florida, as event producer; Source Events, Miami, as event manager; and the Surfcomber Hotel, Miami Beach, as event producer.  His previous experience in the hospitality industry has also included Crobar Nightclubs in New York City, Chicago and Miami Beach; Mia Biscayne, Miami; Exit 66 Nightclub, Ft. Lauderdale; and Cameo Nightclub in Miami Beach, where he has served in diverse operations, management, marketing, training and event-related capacities.

The mission of Miami Beach Gay Pride is to bring together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, their friends, allies, and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBT community by producing free, safe, quality mass-appeal events that are open to all, including the Parade, Festival and allied Miami Beach Pride sanctioned events. For more information; www.miamibeachgaypride.com.

Teacher Suspended for  Being Gay Porn Star

MIAMI, FL – In January, Shawn Loftis, a Miami-Dade County substitute teacher, was suspended from his position. In April, Loftis’ teacher’s certificate was revoked despite his insistence that his porn days were over.

Loftis also worked as a citizen reporter for CNN.

Loftis, who went by the stage name Collin O’Neal, resigned his porn career in 2010 but is still widely known for his porn work. His video work included Mirage, Lord of the Jungle, Humping Iron, Crossing the Line, Rising Sun, Desperate Husbands, Scorched, The Hard Way, Mo’ Bubble Butt, Perfect Fit and Skuff II: Downright Filthy.

However, Loftis/O’Neal also produced and directed his own series, known as “World of Men,” where, as O’Neal, he visited various exotic locations looking for sex. These locations included London, Lebanon, São Paulo, Miami, Spain, Edinburgh, Berlin and Serbia. O’Neal’s videos not only served as sex films, but were also travelogues showing some of the famous sites in the various cities. It is from these locations that, as Loftis, he submitted some of his iReport segments for CNN.

O’Neal’s hard-core performances won him several awards. The “World of Men” series has been nominated many times for awards and World of Men: Lebanon has won a GayVN Award for Best Pro/Am Release and a Grabby Award for Best Videography jointly for Collin O’Neal and Dan Fox, again for Lebanon.

O’Neal said that CNN knew about his porn past and didn’t have a problem with it, but can’t believe that the Miami-Dade School Board would, since he gave up the business.

Symposium on Aging

MIAMI, FL – The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) will hold a Symposium on Aging with the objective to educate and explore the needs of the LGBT community. The Symposium will be held on Saturday, September 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Miami, 400 SE 2nd Avenue in Miami.

The Symposium on Aging seeks to open a discussion and create an understanding of the needs and expectations of this powerful and growing segment of the LGBT community.

The fee for admission, which includes seated lunch and refreshments throughout the day, is $35 for members of the MDGLCC and $55 for non-members. The event is open to the public. Limited space is available. RSVP required.

For complete details, visit www.gogaymiami.com (“Symposium on Aging” tab), call (305) 673-4440 or email mdglcc@bellsouth.net.

Jon Peterson to Appear at Miami Beach Stage Door Theater

MIAMI BEACH, FL – Starting on Saturday, September 10th, the Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre presents “Song Man Dance Man,” a one-man show about one-man shows created and performed by Jon Peterson, emcee from Broadway’s revival of “Cabaret” and Drama Desk Nominee for the title role in the off-Broadway production “George M. Cohan Tonight!”

“Song Man Dance Man” is about seven performers who captured the eyes, ears and hearts of their audiences. They are Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, whose unique styles transformed the movie musical; Donald O’Connor and Sammy Davis, Jr., both geniuses who had to struggle for appropriate recognition; Bobby Darin, who made the leap from ‘50s pop-star to sophisticated concert artist; the eccentric, brilliant Anthony Newley, whose pulsating, emotional style reverberated throughout the musical theater world; and, of course, George M. Cohan, who invented the song and dance man.

“I wanted to remind people of just how good it can be; of how magical the world of show business was in those golden days because of these performers,” says Peterson about why he was motivated to create the one-man show. “The dazzling talent and charisma of these artists inspire life-changing devotion.”

“Song Man Dance Man” Performances: Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. on September 10, 17 and 24.  Tickets are $38 for the matinee and $42 for the evening performance and are available at the box office at Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre at the Byron Carlyle, 500 71st Street, Miami Beach, by calling (305) 397-8977 or purchase online at www.stagedoorfl.org.

Hamilton Gallery to  Host GLBX After Hours

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Hamilton Gallery at 615 East Las Olas Boulevard will be hosting the Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange (GLBX) After Hours Networking event on Thursday, September 22, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. GLBX is a Council of The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.  Exchange events are free for members.

“We plan our socials at various members’ businesses so we can enjoy a variety of venues and also give everyone the opportunity to learn first hand about that member’s business,” said Julian Cavazos, GLBX Chair. “We’re looking forward to meeting at Janice Hamilton’s Gallery.”

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce is the first Chamber in the State of Florida and one of the first in the nation to recognize the LGBT community as a major component of their membership. “The contributions of the Gay and Lesbian Community within our city and surrounding area is major driver to our local economy. The mission of the Chamber is to drive economic growth for the Greater Fort Lauderdale community; it was recognized that the Gay and Lesbian Community needed to be included in a manner to unite and connect, giving an inclusive voice to continue to attract new Gay and Lesbian businesses,” Mr. Cavazos explained.

For information or reservations, contact Drew Miller at (954) 462-6000 ext 8775.

South Florida Cities Rank Highest LGBT Households Concentrations

OAKLAND PARK, FL – Both Wilton Manors and Oakland Park ranked in the top-ten nationwide in the concentration of same-sex households in the United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Wilton Manors ranked second in the nation with, 140 same-sex households per 1,000, and Oakland Park ranked tenth in the nation with 8.8 same-sex households for every 1,000. Provincetown, Massachusetts, came in first place, in front of Wilton Manors.

Sidelines Announces 3rd Round Cook-Off Winners

WILTON MANORS, FL – Sidelines Sports Bar held its last round of their Summer Cook-Off Competition before the Finals. The category for this round of the cook-off competition was Summer Salads.

The recipes included a candied pecan salad tossed with greens and a homemade dressing, a cauliflower and chicken salad, a couscous salad, a chicken salad with grapes and apples, to name just a few. However, Randy Harmon’s black-eyed pea pasta salad earned him first-place; John Woodward came in second-place and was also awarded the People’s Choice honor; Sonia Aguero came in third for her “Mama’s Potato and Chicken Salad”.

The top three winners are now eligible for the “Finals Challenge,” scheduled for Sunday, September 4th (Labor Day Weekend), at 5:00 p.m.

WIN to Hold  “Metaphysical Fair”

WILTON MANORS, FL – Women in Network (WIN) will be holding a Metaphysical Fair on Wednesday, September 7, at 7 p.m. at the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Here’s your chance to ask what you never dared to ask before and your chance to learn more and speak to people who are experts in reiki, psychic ability, yoga, acupuncture and more. Admission is $5 for WIN members and $10 for non-members.

Rescue & Rejoice

WILTON MANORS, FL – Abandoned Pet Rescue will be holding Rescue & Rejoice, an event to raise funds since the organization is run solely on donations they receive. The fundraiser will be held at Allied Kitchen and Bath on September 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., and is co-sponsored by The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa.

Abandoned Pet Rescue takes abandoned pets off the streets of South Florida and gives them veterinary care and places them in permanent, loving homes. APR is the only “no kill” shelter in Broward County and all contributions made are tax-deductible and all the proceeds go towards the shelter.

Suggested donations include gift certificates and other merchandise that will hold a value in an auction environment.
For more information on the Rescue & Rejoice event, or if your donation is something that needs to be picked up, please call Geri at (954) 581-6423 or send email to apr954@aol.com.

Florida Teacher in Trouble for Anti-Gay Facebook Posts

MOUNT DORA, FL – Jerry Buell, a Florida-based teacher, was suspended from the classroom while the Lake County School Board investigates Facebook messages in which he said he “almost threw up” when he heard about New York’s marriage equality, which he said was also part of a “cesspool”. Buell had been Mount Dora High School’s “Teacher of the Year”.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Buell told them that his posts, which were visible to his friends and his network only, were not made out of hate but instead on how he interprets things.