A Cut Above
Julian and Rachele Alexander, owners of Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids in Coconut Creek, remember the day they took their son, William, for his first trim. They took him to a salon that catered specifically to children, which left a lasting impression. “It was a great experience for him,” Julian Alexander recalls. He remembers being
Learning to Fly
Butterfly World has had a steady stream of visitors for the past 30 years, including as many as 15 school groups a day. Twelve guides provide hour-long tours, showcasing different species and their life cycles, and teaching people how to create inviting butterfly environments in their own backyards. Butterfly World employee Natalie Carbonell inspires visitors
A Helping Hand
Their introduction came seven years ago. Michael Hartwell, an auto collision technology instructor at Atlantic Technical College, and his students replaced a set of tires on the van of the school’s information management specialist, Kristy Bak. He noticed the disabled parking permit on the window. Bak’s son, Andrew, was diagnosed with schizencephaly at birth, a
Four-wheeled Canvas
Build it once, build it right. That’s the mindset Chris Joerger, founder of Big Shot Rides, brings to his business. The Coconut Creek resident has developed a reputation as the go-to man for building and customizing anything with a motor. Joerger discovered his love for cars at an early age, growing up near the raceways
True Blood
Physician Gayan Poovendran was braving winter in Ohio when he learned of a job opportunity in South Florida. On a personal level, it gave the Indiana native access to year-round sunshine. Professionally, it gave the sports medicine specialist a chance to introduce a new treatment to the region’s athletes. As part of his practice at
Flipping Out
It started with a Labor Day barbecue. Something that had the potential to be a gathering of youths sitting and staring at their cellphones turned into a marathon session of one of today’s hottest games: bottle flipping. The goal is simple: Flip a partially filled water bottle and make it land upright. “My son and
Sharks, Boats and the Human Bobber
Two South Florida entrepreneurs place their bets on unique flotation devices They say that no great idea can get off the ground without passion. For Coconut Creek resident Doug Schultz and Oakland Park resident Justin Rietema, it was a mutual love for being on the water that turned these friends into entrepreneurs and business partners.
In High Gear
Chris Green started as a typical car-obsessed teenage boy, eager to make his car cool. Soon, he found his way into the automotive industry, growing his youthful hobby into a multimillion-dollar business. When Green was 15, his mother bought him his first car, a 1995 Volkswagen Jetta. He tinkered with it and its speakers, and
Holiday Cheer
It’s the festive time of year again, and with it come shopping lists, family visits and holiday social calendars in full swing. Entertaining can be a daunting task during any season, but toss in out-of-town guests and tightened schedules, and it’s tempting to forgo the effort altogether. Amy Peskin has seen plenty of parties. As
Music to Our Ears
This season marks a milestone for Symphony of the Americas and maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese in more ways than one. Not only has the symphony been a vibrant part of the community for 30 years, but it continues to make classical music accessible and inspiring at a time when similar cultural entities around the country struggle.
Reaching Out to Help
“The first thing you see is, it’s a beautiful place,” Isabella Damacena says, recalling the fog rising each morning to reveal the mountains in the South African village of Thubelisha. Despite its natural beauty, however, many in the region are living in extreme poverty. Damacena was one of 11 visitors to Thubelisha from Coastal Community
Lending a Healing Hand
A Coconut Creek high schooler saves local wildlife It began with an abandoned baby opossum. In time, the list of wildlife Ella Dotan rescued grew to include injured squirrels, turtles and baby birds that had fallen out of their nest. The Coconut Creek resident has earned herself a reputation as champion of the neighborhood creatures,
