Bea Pernia and Tito el Bambino

Her electric vibe and connection with the audience is undeniable, her fans adore her and for good reason; Bea Pernia, this young uprising Venezuelan artist is not only making new waves for the electronic pop-rock music industry, but she is also representing Venezuelans and Miamians.

Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Venezuela, Pernia is considered for many in the music industry as the ultimate complete artist, embodying many talents, from singing, acting, modeling, to even becoming a popular DJ in the electronic world. Embracing each of these passions, Pernia has been able to inspire others to think outside of the box, by combining each of these talents and igniting it through her music.

This past Tuesday, April 9th, Pernia was the opening act for the popular Latin American singing artist, Tito El Bambino for a private concert at The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater for the Billboard Latin Music Awards. She was able to sing her new hit single “Tiempo,” translated to “Time,” from her new album.

“ It was a complete success, I was able to expose some of my new songs and I had the honor to open the show for a very well known respected artist like Tito el Bambino,” said Pernia. “The energy was insane and I had a lot of fun.”

Her eclectic music has already reached several places around the world. Pernia has been involved in several important events like Paris Fashion week, Milan Fashion Week, International Miami Fashion Week, and Miami’s world famous Ultra Festival.

Pernia has worked side by side with some of the most influential artists like Latin-Grammy Award winner, Miguel Bose and internationally renowned Venezuelan fashion designer Viviana G., among others. And just recently, Pernia was honored with the Spanish Heritage award by the City of Miami Beach this past year.

But Pernia’s love for music doesn’t stop there, she uses her musical talents to influence others and her biggest role yet is representing Venezuelans across the world. With the elections this past Sunday in Venezuela, Pernia has been able to perform at several events in New Orleans to raise funding for the elections and for those Venezuelans who needed financial help traveling from Miami to New Orleans to vote at the Venezuelan Consulate.

“I get goose bumps when I think about how important it is for me to represent Venezuelans, especially during these crucial times of change for our country,” said Pernia. “All of the Venezuelan artists that are growing there should be able to rise in a peaceful manner; I have faith our situation will change.”

Pernia has been able to develop as an artist in the 13 years she has lived in Miami and this year she is taking her career to new heights through her community activism and is headed for the big screen with a new movie that is currently being filmed in Miami and in Mexico, titled “La Esfera de Marfil.”

“This film is about the trafficking of women and children in Latin America,” said Pernia. “I’m the main actress and some of my music is also being used.”

Throughout her career Pernia has encountered the challenges of being a female DJ in a male dominated industry.

Bea Pernia DJ

“It’s tough as a woman DJ and I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’m excited for the challenges,” said Pernia. “It’s a path and it never ends; I take things step by step and when you least expect it when you open your eyes you are living your dream.”

As for new projects, Pernia is now crossing over to the English market and will be releasing new songs this month. And if you don’t want to miss her, she will be walking the red carpet live on Thursday, April 25th for the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

“I want to put the name of Venezuelans out there and open doors for Latin Americans and If I can be the voice to speak for them, then I will be their instrument,” said Pernia.

HIALEAH, Florida – En los últimos años la Calle 49, la arteria principal en el corazón de la Ciudad que Progresa, ha sido transformada con nuevos negocios y restaurantes de renombre, pero esta semana la llegada de un nuevo palacio ha llenado la calle con los aromas y sabores del Caribe.

La reina de este palacio, Apolonia Bermúdez, 75, es dueña de los restaurantes cubanos Palacio de los Jugos, que inauguró su sexto restaurante este fin de semana en la 12 Avenida de esta calle en Hialeah.

Con los colores llamativos del restaurante, rojo y amarillo, los clientes entraban y salían sin parar desde temprano en la mañana. Las filas llegaban hasta la puerta, todos con el deseo de probar un plato delicioso cubano acompañado con un jugo natural.

“A mí me encanta el Palacio, vengo seguido,” dijo Migdelis Gonzalez, 23, una de sus fieles clientes. “Este lugar nos gusta porque tiene un gran corazón latino.”

La variedad de comida abarca el restaurante de punta a punta en un mostrador con vitrinas de cristál. Con arroz moro, chicharrones, plátanos maduros, mariscos, frutas frescas y toda clase de sándwiches que pueda existir. Y para llenarles el corazón a sus clientes, Apolonia decoró su negocio con arreglos hermosos de flores frescas en cada esquina y mesa de su local.

“Yo soy florera, sin mis matas yo no soy nada”, dijo Apolonia. “Yo me crie en el campo, con flores, pájaros; por eso pongo flores porque me recuerda mi casa en Cuba”.

Con casi 40 años de trabajo en los Estados Unidos, Apolonia o “Poli,” como le llama su gente querida, abrió su primer local de frutería en la Pequeña Habana donde empezó humildemente a servirle a su comunidad.

“Yo era churre y manteca,” dijo ella con una risa. “Yo cocinaba de todo, me hice tantos inventos, y todos empezaron a llegar de todas partes.”

Al ver que su primer local fue todo un éxito, Bermúdez decidió mudarse y agrandar a su local en la Calle Flagler.

“Mi ex esposo y yo llegamos en 1965 sin un centavito, yo no sabía ni decir ‘buenos días’ en inglés”, dijo Bermúdez. “Fue muy difícil y lloré mucho, pero trabajamos duro, porque este es el país de las oportunidades”.

Fotos: Palacio de los Jugos en Hialeah

Hoy en día Apolonia y su hijo Reinaldo Bermúdez están encargados de todos los locales y piensan abrir uno en la 27 avenida al norte de la Coral Way y otro en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Miami.

“Me siento orgulloso de iniciar una cadena aquí en Miami”, dijo Reinaldo Bermúdez. “Hialeah me faltaba, y yo me críe aquí, es un centro hispano con una tremenda comunidad”.

El negocio de Bermúdez fue la mira de todos nacionalmente después de la visita del republicano Mitt Romney el año pasado, cuando hizo su campaña en el Palacio de Los Jugos # 2, en la 7085 suroeste 24th calle.

“Fue un orgullo tener a Romney y Paul Ryan,” dijo Reinaldo. “Ese 13 de agosto fue muy especial, y ese día mi hija nació.”

Empleando a casi mil trabajadores por todos los locales, Apolonia trata de darle consejos y apoyó a sus empleados para que ellos mismos abran sus propios negocios.

“Yo siempre digo, tú tienes la misma oportunidad que tuvo una niña rica en este país,” dijo Apolonia.

Apolonia le abierto las puertas a sus cinco nietos y piensa seguir trabajando hasta que llegué a los 90 años de edad.

“Mientras que Dios me de vida, salud, amor y paz seguiré en los Palacios”.

The American Cancer Society Bark for Life event in Miami

More than 100 supporters and about 50 dogs participated to support The American Cancer Society’s first annual Bark for Life event in Miami, sponsored by Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff, PetSupermarket and Canine Counselors.

“Dogs and humans need each other no matter who has the cancer, our main focus is to find a cure and improve therapy and treatment,” said Emily Marquez Area Executive Director for the American Cancer Society.

The event began with several speakers giving everyone a warm welcoming and announcing the upcoming raffle, costume and trick contests that were soon to come. On site, participants had immediate access to valuable information about services provided around South Florida.

“I think this is a beautiful event and it gives us the opportunity to also fund for animals with cancer,” said Irina Rodriguez, 24. “Our dogs mean everything to us and they give us the energy to keep going.”

Irina Rodriguez, 24, giving her 5-year-old Golden Retriever Panda water

And for the opening ceremonial song, the popular R&B song “I’m a Survivor,” by Destiny’s Child began to play through the large speakers to accompany the ambiance.

Proud pet owners took a stroll with their furry companions around the one-mile mark titled ‘Survivor lap’ to honor those who have passed, survived and continue their fight.

Crowds cheered as professional trainers performed demonstrations with their therapy, police and rescue dogs. Several other participants also showed off their dog’s tricks.

Professional trainers demonstrating dog trick abilities at Bark for Life

Cancer specialist and Veterinarian doctor Villamil from the Animal Cancer Clinic says the same specialized treatment humans receive for cancer is out there for dogs as well.

“There are new drugs coming out for dogs,” said Dr. Villamil. “And this event definitely raises awareness that dogs get cancer too.”

To cool off after the walk, County Commissioner Sally Heyman served her refreshing smoothies and coffee directly from her Coffee Brake Truck, donating the proceeds to the cause.

“Anytime we can bring our community and create awareness, it is always a success,” said Heyman. “We’re all hoping for a cancer cure in our lifetime.”

Mayhgen Corraliza, 3, with her chihuahua dog

The American Cancer Society Bark for Life walk

The Rodriguez family enjoying the day at Bark for Life

The Ortiz family

Pampa, 4, Labrador Retriever winner of contest

Online picture from blog.nj.com - Photo by JERRY McCREA

Yesterday I went to The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner to check out what exactly is it that these forensic doctors do. The day began like any other ordinary office with an early conference meeting at 7:45 a.m. sharp.

They only had two cases to go over and the meeting was pretty casual and brief. Soon after we headed to the autopsy room. Later we chatted for a while to get a good sense of what types of cases they review on a weekly basis. Here are some of the questions I asked Dr. Ratke to give us a better perspective on what kinds of things they look for during an autopsy.

According to Dr. Radtke he explained to us the four types of cases they take in to examine:

- Homicide
- Natural Death (If the person had not been to the doctor in a long time)
- Suicide
- Accidents

For natural deaths it takes up to 2 hours to perform the autopsy and in cases of Homicide it could take anywhere from 2 to 3 days. And just in case you weren’t aware, taxpayers pay for these exams.

And say for instance your relative passes and your doctor dismisses it as a natural death, but you want more answers, your family can request a private autopsy that the State does not pay for, normally it is around 3 thousand dollars.

Is it possible to know the time of death?

“It’s pretty impossible to know due to the fact that there are too many variables (rain, light, wind, etc.) between the time the person was alive and the time they died. You only have that time frame to work with,” said Dr. Radtke.

Does the legal system normally asks for a time of death?

- According to Dr. Radtke, they sometimes do ask and they provide an estimate.

The Medical Examiner receives on average 250 cases a year. Doctors attend court at least once a week to speak to lawyers, the State or defense to provide results. Most of the time police detectives frequently visit The Medical Examiner to collect evidence or speak to doctor’s about a specific case. Medical Examiners often go to the scene of the accident to determine the cause of death.

How often do you see young people die of an overdose?

“Usually every 2 days, about 2 to 3 days weekly, it’s very frequent.”

What can bones tell us?

” It says a lot, we have an anthropologist forensic here, they determine the race, age, whether that individual had a hard life or not.”

Has there been a time where you can’t identify the cause of death?

” Sometimes it is an undetermined cause of death if we can’t identify the cause, it does happen.”

What do you check for when performing an autopsy?

- Tissue samples
- Any signs of strangulation from the neck
- Bullets
- Knife cuts on the bones for evidence
- To identify the body

What can you detect from the brain?

- Schizophrenia
- Alzheimer
- Dementia
- Alcohol Effects (Chronic Type)

How do you test for drugs?

The Toxicology lab tests the blood, urine, bile, ocular fluid, gastric contents, liver, and brain tissue, all of these are useful specimens for testing.

In what conditions does the body decompose faster?

“The body decomposes faster in water and heat.”

How do I know that is my loved one you have at the morgue?

- All bodies are fingerprinted if possible upon arrival and photographs are taken if the identity is questionable. Identification can be made by fingerprint comparison by a law enforcement agency or identification can be made by a family member viewing photographs of the deceased.

How long will the Medical Examiner hold the body of my loved one to allow for final arrangements to be made?

- The ME Department will hold the body for 72 hours after death. If there are extenuating circumstances, however, the body can be held longer.

Does The Medical Examiner provide cemeteries for those who can’t afford it?

“Yes, Miami-Dade County maintains two cemeteries”

- The Kendall cemetery is located at SW 79th Street and 115th Avenue.
- The Galloway cemetery is located at SW 60th Street and 87th Avenue.

As I took my notes down, my hands were sweating and I could feel myself getting dizzy from a distinct smell that I can’t really explain. The doctor in front of me cut and removed each organ from a elderly man that had just died on Sunday. It was a pretty impressive sight and shocking to see what “our” organs look like in person. Interns and assistants took pictures, while others held the organs and placed them in a bowl for inspection. Others were opening the skull of another victim across the room with a special high-speed oscillating saw to examine the brain. I could only hear the sound, I couldn’t bare to see that with my eyes.

As our conversation continued throughout corridors, I passed by the morgue and it was at least 40 degrees cold, I almost froze to death (just kidding). He opened a huge metal door to show me the inside and it was a large empty room with another large metal door at the end of the room.

When the day came to an end, my perception on life changed instantly and I realized how time is so relevant now that we exist and once we’re gone … we’re gone. So take the time to step back from everything that is bothering you in life, all the stress, all the little things that don’t matter and you will see that none of that matters. What matters is what you are doing ‘now’ essentially and hope or pray that you’ll have another minute, another hour and hopefully another day to do the things that really matter in your life.

For more information you may visit the following site: ttp://www.miamidade.gov/MedExam/Statistics.asp

Rodrigo De Leon, 18, and Brian Zamora, 17, concentrated in one of the activities from the Life's Lessons booklet

Inspired by Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle and many more, Mr. Medina created a seminar that fully embraces every aspect of someone’s life; covering topics that include everything from the cost of college, universal laws, leadership, stress control, goals and responsibility to early adulthood.

“It’s been my dream to be able to do this, and I’ve gotten the support from everyone,” Medina said. “My biggest message is to let students think about their lives and who they are.”

At least 71 registered students ranging from freshmen to seniors attended the seminar. As part of their agenda, students were provided a breakfast and lunch, and a “Life’s Lessons” booklet that included written activities, a yearly checklist and a list of website resources to help guide those students who are college-bound.

Medina considers his seminar to be a “first of its kind.”

“This encompasses the whole person,” said Medina. “We get into the six pillars of character, we talk about the things that affect them, where they want to go in life and what they need to do to get there.”

Students were able to apply the lessons in an interactive method by partnering in teams to engage in conversation to test their communications skills, and they wrote thank-you notes to express their gratitude toward someone special at their school.

And instead of cellphones becoming a distraction during the seminar, they became a practical tool; Medina creatively asked students to vote on a Q&A poll-type website by texting what stresses them out the most. The results immediately displayed on the projector screen, and the majority voted their parents as their cause of stress.

Medina also taught students how to practice “the progressive muscle relaxation technique” by lying on the floor with an inflatable pillow while listening to relaxing music and releasing their physical stress.

“Your mind is wired to think constantly — take a moment, breathe in and out and clear your mind,” said Medina as he instructed students.

For Betsy Trujillo, 17, the seminar not only provided her with useful information, but the lessons became invaluable for her to apply in her everyday life.

“This is different from what our teachers tell us every day in class. Instead of it being about a test we’ll have tomorrow, here they focus on telling us about actual life,” said Trujillo. “ It’s really unique.”

And as the seminar came to an end, Medina gathered his students outside of the media-center library for a surprise game activity with a twist.

A group of volunteers teamed up to play a game from one of the lessons, the “FISH philosophy,” which consists of four simple ways to live your life — to be emotionally present; to make someone’s day; choosing a positive attitude; and being able to “play” by tapping into one’s creative natural way of being.

Each team placed their clear gloves in preparation for the game; suddenly, Medina revealed the surprise as he opened a red cooler and pulled out a large fish dripping in water. Many gasped in shock, while others laughed and covered their noses from the “fishy” smell.

The concept of the game: to throw the fish to the other team member without dropping it and to have fun.

During the last few seconds of the game, as it narrowed down to two teams, one of the students, Vanessa Suarez, 17, in an attempt to catch the fish in mid-air, squatted like a professional athlete, caught the fish and was declared the winner.

“I really felt like a baseball player when I caught that fish,” said Suarez. “The seminar was very inspiring, and it’s leading us to do great things; it really shows how much Mr. Medina cares about us, and I had a lot of fun.”

Vanessa Suarez, 17, catches the fish in mid-air during playful game at the seminar

Assistant principle Eddie Medina and students at the Life's Lessons seminar

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Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2817777/seminar-teaches-students-how-to.html#storylink=cpy

Seniors dancing at the Palace Royale for the 1950s sock hock party

About 75 seniors took a trip down memory lane at The Palace Royale Assisted Living as they enjoyed a full day of pampering hosted by the Keller Williams Realty for their 4th annual RED (Renew, Energize, and Donate) day of service.

“RED day is a day to give back and it is a part of the Keller Williams culture,” said team leader Vladimir Golik. “ Everyone of us has either parents or grandparents and we brought this Sock Hop party idea to rekindle memories of when they were growing up.”

At least 53 volunteer agents were a part of the event, all of them proudly wearing their RED day logo shirts as they hula hooped in their poodle skirts along with the music. And even a dressed up Marilyn Monroe strolled through the room serving delicious Twinkies, moon pies and cold root beer floats.

“ This is fabulous,” said Connie Otero, 86, resident from The Palace Royale. “ This really means a lot for us elders and it’s great to see the smiles on everyone’s face, today I’m the happiest person alive.”

For volunteer Alexandra Golik, 20, the event gave her the opportunity to get to know a lot of the residents and build relationships.

“I feel sometimes the elderly are pushed to the margins and this is a great way for the community to come together and enjoy each other’s company,” said Golik. “Everyone has a story to tell and you learn so much.”

Residents took part in enjoying the full day of fun activities, which included a relaxing spa room temporarily named “Beauty School Drop Out” – inspired from the famous film Grease – fun dance lessons, a game room and individual glamour shots.

“This is our first time hosting an event with Keller Williams and they really did a first class job all the way,” said Vice President of marketing for The Palace Group, Adam Rosenblum.

And as the event came towards a bittersweet end, everyone eagerly awaited the surprise star attraction. Finally, after a long wait… Elvis Presley came out dressed in his famous white jumpsuit with his electric guitar and the crowd went wild.

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This is copyrighted righted material for The Miami Herald and Let’s Talk Miami Today.com

Juan Muria, 88, and Arminda Nodal, 79, dancing at the 1950s sock hop party at the Palace Royale

Fun activities at the Palace Royale during the 1950s sock hop party

Esther Arnold, 89, enjoying the sock hop party at the Palace Royale

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

BY JENNIFER MORENO Special to The Miami Herald

As Catherine Mitchell approaches her 100th birthday, you can’t help but wonder what the secret is to her longevity. As she sits quietly in her warm, cozy living room, gazes at you with a smile, the answer to that question seems clear: she embodies a life full of positivity and kindness.

Born in Mannings’ Field, Claredon, Jamaica, on April 27, 1912, Mrs. Mitchell was raised with a Christian upbringing, and Sunday service was always a must in her family. Mrs. Mitchell became a mother of two, with her son, Hubert Mitchell, 68, who lives in New York, and her daughter Evadne Mitchell Beckett, 71, who lives in Miami.

“I remember daddy coming home from the United States with a large adult pocket handbag,” said Beckett with laughter. “The little kids would giggle at me because it was such a big handbag and I was only five years old, but hey, at least I was going to Sunday school like my mom told me to.”

As Evadne reminisces about her childhood upbringing, she begins to tell her mother’s story with pride.

“Her life has always been very active, but a quiet one, always going to church, reading the Bible and gardening outside of our home and cooking Jamaican food,” said Beckett.

Mrs. Mitchell then married Obadiah Mitchell, a farmer who traveled back and forth to the United States and Jamaica in 1945. After her husband passed away in 1981, Mrs. Mitchell migrated to the United States the next year.

Once she settled in Miami, Mrs. Mitchell wasted no time and quickly began to apply all of the gardening skills she learned from her husband, creating her own garden oasis in her daughter’s backyard — one of many steps on the path of her long, fruitful life.

“Back home, daddy would plant a lot of sugar cane and rice; she learned a lot from him,” said Beckett. “She began to chop, plant and store her peas in her pocket to cook soups for remedies.”

A tall, tropical Ackee tree that Mrs. Mitchell planted now hovers over the corner of the small garden, providing shade for hot summer days. A beautiful array of large sugar-cane plants, mint plants and a small Gungu tree known to produce pigeon peas blossomed along the wooden fence.

“Not only does she eat organic, she also loves to drink her ‘pot water,’ which is all the nutrients in the water after all the food cooks,” said Beckett. “That water has all the iron — I still give it to her and it keeps her healthy.”

Always very proactive in her community, Mrs. Mitchell has dedicated her time by being an active member at the Church of the Ascension and the Affirmative Aging Ministry in South Miami-Dade.

“She’s a very strong, vibrant and beautiful woman,” said the Rev. Norbert M. Cooper, rector at the Church of the Ascension. “She has a lot of wisdom, and that is what she gave to the church.”

Evadne attributes her strong character and strength from her mother’s life of teaching lessons passed on through the generations of her family.

“My mother always taught me to be kind and to have manners toward others, even if someone isn’t friendly,” said Beckett. “It carries true life, and it stays with you.”

Throughout the years, Mrs. Mitchell got accustomed to traveling back and forth from Miami to New York to visit her son and daughter, but due to ill health she stopped in 1992.

A very close friend of the family, Sally Trim, 74, says Mrs. Mitchell is a person who is extremely observant and very independent.

“One day, I came to check on her and she was preparing something to eat,” said Trim. “She wouldn’t allow me to serve myself — instead, she took care of me. That is what she does best, she takes care of people.”

As good as her health is — with no high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes — it is not perfect. Recently, she was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and suffered a minor stroke. Although she has taken hardships in stride, she continues to be resilient and strong for her family.

“The CHF has slowed her down, but she’s a fighter and I am blessed to have her with me,” said Beckett. “God has given me the strength and spirit to give my mom the best and to give her the dignity she deserves …’’

And although Mrs. Mitchell’s garden has slightly withered, the small Ackee tree she once planted in her garden stands strong and tall, affirming all the life that Mrs. Mitchell represents.

Evadne Mitchell Beckett and Catherine Mitchell

The Ackee tree in Mrs. Mitchell's garden

Gungu Tree, mint plants and sugar cane

If you haven’t noticed, sexual offenders and predators have been clustering for quite sometime in low-income neighborhoods. Find out why this is happening at such an alarming rate and what is being done about it. I produced this story for Noticias23 Univision in Spanish, take a look which neighborhoods in Miami are targets.

viven-en-tu-barrio-depredadores

Produced by Jennifer V. Moreno
Reporter – Arlena Amaro
Editor – David Gonzalez a>

Zachary Mardini, 10

When Zachary Mardini, 10, from Eugenia B. Thomas Elementary School found out he was the winner of a local contest and selected to be featured in a new bilingual children’s book exclusively for Miami, he nearly couldn’t believe it. Late last year, Delta Dental Insurance Company hosted free dental screenings at 18 Navarro stores around South Florida to find the child with the healthiest and brightest smile for their new free educational book called Las Aventuras del Ratoncito Pérez en Miami, (The Adventures of Ratoncito Pérez in Miami.

Zachary was one of the hundreds of children who lined up at their local Navarro store for a chance to take a picture with El Ratoncito Pérez, the legendary mouse character that is the Hispanic counterpart of the tooth fairy. Every child who participated at the event received a free screening and entered the “Miami’s Little Smile” contest for a chance to be featured in Delta Dental’s storybook. After a lucky drawing, Zachary was selected to be featured as the child with the brightest smile in the story.

“When my mom told me I won and that I would be in the book; I felt like I was going to faint,” said Zachary.
Throughout the months of October and November last year, Delta Dental held “La Feria de Sonrisitas” (The Fair of Little Smiles), a series of educational health events with interactive activities to teach children about good dental hygiene. Solomon Romano, marketing manager for Delta Dental says studies shows that tooth decay is the most common childhood disease and that Delta Dental wanted to take a new approach by reaching out to the community by creating this educational bilingual storybook.

“We wanted something that resonated with the Miami community, and we were trying to find ways to engage people to learn about dental health and early prevention,” said Romano.
Romano says the book was created by a small internal team from Delta Dental, taking up to three months to develop.

“The book is about educating parents and the importance of starting at an early age,” said Romano. “We wanted to promote the Spanish language, oral health, and at the same time give the book a Miami feel by adding beach and city scenes.”