RESULTS

Bureau Veritas today announced it has certified Westfield Broward, a Westfield shopping center in Plantation, Florida, with its industry leading hygiene and safety excellence label, SafeGuardTM. The Bureau Veritas’ SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety Certification designates a facility that has met stringent requirements to minimize the onsite risk of virus spread and is adhering to best-in-class hygiene and safety protocols. Angel Cabrera, General Manager, Westfield Broward, commented: “With the Bureau Veritas SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety certification, our loyal guests and visitors can confidently shop and dine at our destination knowing the highest sanitation and safety procedures are in place. We look forward to continuing to serve our community while keeping employees, retailers, and guests safe.” Bureau Veritas reviewed and certified the procedures implemented at the participating Westfield center in Plantation, Florida. Each center addressed the health and safety of the local community as it navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing new practices, services and amenities including: Increasing the frequency of cleaning measures following CDC and local health department guidelines, with a focus on high-touch areas such as restrooms and common areas; Monitoring and controlling the number of guests entering the centers and crowds in dwell areas; Implementing and enforcing relevant policies related to social distancing, face masks, and other preventative measures; and Providing an increased number of hand sanitizer stations and making other amenities available on an as needed basis. The independent third-party SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety Certification by Bureau Veritas includes: · Detailed review of safety guides and protocols to achieve hygiene and safety excellence using industry best practices, local laws and requirements, and leading medical expertise; · Best-in-class digital solutions to conduct audits of Westfield’s properties to ensure compliance of hygiene protocols and operational requirements; and · Administration of the Bureau Veritas SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label upon achieving a successful audit which demonstrates Westfield is in compliance, thus providing an extra layer of assurance to the general public, employees, and retailers. Shelly Orel, President – Certification, Audit & Assurance, Bureau Veritas North America, commented: “For nearly ten years, Bureau Veritas has proudly partnered globally with Westfield to ensure the highest standards across their shopping centers. Today marks another critical milestone in our journey together, as Westfield leads in the retail industry and we deploy Bureau Veritas’ SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label across their North American shopping centers. We commend Westfield for continuing to put safety first––and implementing the industry’s highest hygiene and health standards to protect their employees, retailers and shoppers.” Since 2012, Westfield has worked with Bureau Veritas to ensure the highest health and safety standards across their global shopping centers through Bureau Veritas’ testing, inspection and certification services. In April 2020, Bureau Veritas announced an expansion to this partnership through the launch of the SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label within Westfield’s European Shopping Centers. Today, this certification is now expanded to include 28 of its retail shopping centers across the United States. “Restart your Business with BV” The SafeGuardTM Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label is a suite of services offered through Bureau Veritas’ “Restart Your Business with BV” program. As an independent third-party partner, Bureau Veritas provides hygiene and safety protocols, independent third party audits, e-training programs, surface testing, and continued monitoring of safety protocols to ensure businesses restart operations safely. Protocols, standards, and guidelines for the program are developed in partnership with leading epidemiologist as well as members of the scientific community, and in compliance with local government agencies across North America. The Restart your Business with BV service offering supports the restart efforts for all places where people live, travel and work including retail centers, restaurants, transportation hubs, hotels, and more. For more information on “Restart Your Business with BV”, please contact restartwithbvna@bureauveritas.com and visit: https://www.bvna.com/magazine/restart-resource-center. For more information, visit www.bvna.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. For Westfield Broward additional information, please visit: https://www.westfield.com/broward. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Westfield Broward

The BRON Studios film starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf and Ellen Burstyn to world premiere in competition at the 2020 Venice Film Festival and screen as a Gala at the Toronto International Film Festival BRON announced today that Academy Award® winning director Martin Scorsese has joined the film team of PIECES OF A WOMAN as an Executive Producer. It is the first English language film directed by Kornél Mundruczó who has been a Cannes regular with films that include the Cannes Un Certain Regard Prix winner White God. The deeply personal film is written by Kata Wéber based on a shared personal experience with Mundruczó. It stars Vanessa Kirby in the lead role along with Shia LaBeouf, Molly Parker, Sarah Snook, Iliza Schlesinger, Benny Safdie, Jimmy Fails and Ellen Burstyn. It will have its world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival in September followed by a Gala Screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. Martin Scorsese commented, “It’s lucky to see a movie that takes you by surprise. It’s a privilege to help it find the wide audience it deserves. Pieces of a Woman for me was a deep and uniquely moving experience. I was emotionally invested in it from the first scene, and the experience only intensified as I watched, spellbound by the filmmaking and the work of a splendid cast that includes my old colleague Ellen Burstyn. You feel as if you’ve been dropped into the vortex of a family crisis and moral conflict with all its nuances, drawn out with care and compassion but without judgement. Kornél Mundruczó has a fluid, immersive style with the camera that makes it hard to look away, and impossible not to care.” Kornél Mundruczó said, “When I first was contacted by Martin Scorsese after he saw Pieces of a Woman, time stopped for a second. It is an utter privilege that someone, who has seen and experienced filmmaking inside and out appreciates what we've created. One always feels more vulnerable with intimate and “close to your heart” materials, but Martin Scorsese joining Pieces of a Woman, on top of an already fantastic cast and crew, is a deeply appreciated validation of the risks one takes when going forward to make something truly personal.” Pieces of a Woman is a BRON Studios presentation of A Little Lamb production in association with Creative Wealth Media and Proton Cinema. The film is produced by Kevin Turen, Ashley Levinson and Aaron Ryder. It is Executive Produced by Sam Levinson, Stuart Manashil, Viktória Petrányi, Jason Cloth, Richard McConnell, Suraj Maraboyina, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Steven Thibault. BRON Releasing is also handling world sales. In Pieces of a Woman, Martha and Sean Carson (Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf) are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably during a home birth at the hands of a flustered midwife (Molly Parker), who faces charges of criminal negligence. Thus begins a year-long odyssey for Martha, who must navigate her grief while working through fractious relationships with her husband and her domineering mother (Ellen Burstyn), along with the publicly vilified midwife whom she must face in court. The film is a deeply personal, searing domestic aria in exquisite shades of grey and an ultimately transcendent story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss. Kornél Mundruczó is a critically acclaimed multi-award-winning Hungarian film director. Mundruczó studied film and television at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Hungary. He is the founder of Proton Cinema. His first film Pleasant Days (2002) was awarded the Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. His following projects all premiered at the Cannes Film Festival including: Johanna (2005 Un Certain Regard),  Delta (2008 Official Competition) won the FIPRESCI prize, Tender Son (2010 Official Competition), White God (2014 Un Certain Regard) won the Prize Un Certain Regard and Jupiter’s Moon (2017 Official Competition). By ML Staff, Image courtesy of International Film Publicity

In its continuing commitment to serve the community, Broward County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (BCPSFNS) is now serving free grab-and-go meals to ALL children 18 years and younger – regardless of eligibility status and even if they don’t attend a Broward County Public School (BCPS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it would extend the summer meals flexibility waiver, which allows BCPSFNS to provide lunch at no cost to all children who meet the age requirement. The District also offers free breakfast through the federally-funded School Breakfast Program. BCPSFNS will now be providing breakfast and lunch for Saturday in its meal bundles, for a total of 12 meals per week (6 breakfast, 6 lunch total). During each distribution, meal bundles will include three breakfast and three lunch meals. The meals will be distributed at all BCPS elementary, middle and high schools on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 3 – 5 p.m., while the District continues instruction through eLearning. Children or their parents will be able to pick up multiple meals at a time by walking or driving to the car or bus loop to reduce risk of exposure. If the child is not present, the USDA requires parents to provide identification for their child to pick up meals. The recommended forms of identification include student ID, report card or birth certificate, and the ID must be presented at each meal service. Meals are provided in bundles and are not available for individual meal purchase. Adults are welcome to purchase meals for $1.80 per breakfast and $2.75 per lunch. Broward County Public Schools will utilize 100% eLearning instruction until at least October 2020, when the District will reassess if conditions are safe to reopen campuses, according to a proposed District plan. For more information, please visit www.browardschools.com/schoolreopening. By ML Staff. Image by Unsplash

Feeding South Florida®, the leading domestic hunger-relief organization in South Florida, successfully accommodated a 600% increase in demand, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during its 2019–2020 fiscal year (July 2019–June 2020). Now, the organization is celebrating its new fiscal year and 40th anniversary with exciting activities for Hunger Action Month, a nationwide initiative created by Feeding America®. Hunger Action Month takes place throughout September and is designed to raise awareness about the issue of hunger in America. This year’s theme is “End Hunger One Helping at a Time.” “There is much to celebrate, while there is much to accomplish to end hunger in South Florida,” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “We are proud to have served the South Florida community for 40 years, and look forward to continuing to serve those facing food insecurity during Hunger Action Month, the COVID-19 pandemic, and into the future.” Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 1.4 million neighbors throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties are experiencing food insecurity. Feeding South Florida immediately mobilized to serve these individuals, ending the fiscal year with 119.2 million pounds of food distributed (99.3 million meals) in the quad-county areas. For its new 2020–2021 fiscal year plan, Feeding South Florida will: Raise the minimum wage within the organization to $15 per hour by the end of June 2021. This is substantially more than the increase in Florida's minimum wage, which will be raised to $10 an hour on Sept. 30, 2021. Currently, for every $1 donated, Feeding South Florida provides nine meals to those in need. Last fiscal year it was seven meals for every $1. These actions would not be possible without the help of Feeding South Florida’s partners, including Publix Super Markets Charities, which recently donated $5 million to Feeding America. Of that amount, Feeding America is allocating $300,000 to Feeding South Florida for COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts and Hunger Action Month. Publix Super Markets Charities also donated 1,443,316 pounds of produce and 106,920 gallons of milk to Feeding South Florida to-date. During Hunger Action Month, South Floridians can support hunger relief in many ways. Feeding South Florida’s 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar of events is available online. For more information about how to get involved, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954.518.1818. Hunger Action Month initiatives include: · Start a virtual food drive: In celebration of Feeding South Florida’s 40th anniversary, help raise $40,000 during Hunger Action Month’s "GO ORANGE" online virtual food drive. Visit www.firstgiving.com/event/FEEDINGSOUTHFLORIDA/HungerActionMonth to learn more. · Participate in the virtual 10th Annual Outrun Hunger 5K on Saturday, Sept. 26: Participants can raise funds for Feeding South Florida by running or walking their favorite 5K route, take photos and use the hashtag #FeedingSouthFlorida to be featured on Feeding South Florida’s social media channels. To register, visit outrunhunger.eventbrite.com. For information about sponsorship opportunities, mfernandez@feedingsouthflorida.org or 954.518.1818 x 1863. · Volunteer during Rock the Orange Week of Service: Practice social distancing while volunteering at one of Feeding South Florida’s warehouses on Sept. 11 and/or 12. Register at volunteer.feedingsouthflorida.org. · 30 Ways in 30 Days: Anyone can print the calendar featuring daily ways to end hunger, and post it on their refrigerator or bring to the office to share with others. Post + tag @Feedingsouthflorida on social media. · Go Orange! Register an individual or company's #GoOrange activity at www.jotform.com/FeedingSouthFlorida/HAM. Individuals can host an orange bake sale, government and municipalities can issue a proclamation for Hunger Action Month, hotels can welcome guests with an in-room display that showcases Hunger Action Month, schools can develop students’ skills by creating a project to promote hunger awareness, and much more! · Take the Snap Challenge: Eat for the day on a food stamp budget ($4.50/day or $31.50/week). · Help spread the word: Download the Hunger Action Month Tool Kit at https://feedingsouthflorida.org/hunger-action-month/ to find out how. For more information about how Feeding South Florida is participating in Hunger Action Month and how to be a part of the effort to end hunger in South Florida, visit https://feedingsouthflorida.org/hunger-action-month/. Feeding South Florida’s food distributions are updated daily and available at https://feedingsouthflorida.org/covid19/. To find out how you can help, learn about what Feeding South Florida is doing, safety precautions, and much more, visit https://feedingsouthflorida.org/covid19/. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Feeding South Florida

Serving youth ages one through 18, the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) is ensuring that kids stay connected to the arts with an array of free, creative art programs for the family. Programs include Virtual Teen Art Force, MOCA miniMAKERS and Sunday Stories. MOCA recognizes the need to enrich the cultural life of the community and connect with the community. Virtual Teen Art Force MOCA Teen Art Force is a one-of-a-kind, free, multidisciplinary art program that provides students with a foundation in the visual arts. Classes include a wide range of techniques including drawing, textile design, sculpture and printmaking. Registered students may choose one class per week, or all five, and are eligible for free art supplies available through contact-less pick up. Cost: Free Time: 4-6 p.m. Ages: 13-17 Dates: Monday–Friday, Oct. 1–Dec. 18 How: For more information or to sign up, visit www.mocanomi.org/teenaf/ or email education@mocanomi.org. Virtual MOCA miniMAKERS Join MOCA every first and third Saturday of the month for virtual MOCA miniMAKERs with Edwin Creates. Children ages 6-12 are invited to enjoy this step-by-step virtual artmaking experience. Cost: Free, this program is made possible with support from the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency. Time: 2 p.m. Ages: 6-12 Dates: First and third Saturday of the month, Sept. 5 and 19; Oct. 3 and 17; Nov. 7 and 21; Dec. 5 How: The programs will be live at www.facebook.com/MOCANoMi. To register, visit https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-miniMakers. Virtual Sunday Stories Tune in on the first Sunday of every month to MOCA's virtual Sunday Stories, a live story time for children ages 1-5 followed by a DIY early childhood art project. Cost: Free Time: 11:30 a.m. Ages: 1–5 Schedule: Sept. 20: "Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos" written by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra Oct. 4: "Islandborn" by Junot Díaz and Leo Espinosa Nov. 1: "Sweetest Kulu" by Celina Kalluk and Alexandria Neonakis Dec. 6: "Shante Keys and the New Year's Peas" by Gail Piernas-Davenport and Marion Eldridge How: The programs will be live at www.facebook.com/MOCANoMi. To register, visit https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Sunday-Stories. Live classes will be made available online following the event. MOCA has free at-home art projects available year-round, that pull inspiration from contemporary artists, techniques and accessible art making. For more information, visit https://mocanomi.org/category/education/art-at-home/ By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MOCA

To maintain the community’s safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding South Florida’s 10th Annual Outrun Hunger 5K presented by JM Family Enterprises, originally scheduled for March 21, 2020, is now rescheduled to be a virtual race on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. The event will now take place during Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger. Each year, the Outrun Hunger 5K raises funds to help end hunger in South Florida and raise awareness for the issue of food insecurity. This year, it is also an effort to respond to the increased need for food assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are welcome to run or walk their favorite 5K route on Sept. 26, take photos and use the hashtag #FeedingSouthFlorida to be featured on Feeding South Florida’s social media channels. All participants will receive an event t-shirt and medal at a drive-thru packet pick-up or via mail. The 10th Annual Feeding South Florida Outrun Hunger 5K is a way to make a difference in the lives of an estimated 1.4 million neighbors throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties who are suffering from food insecurity. The need for food assistance in these counties has more than doubled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding South Florida continues to provide much-needed hunger relief to the communities it serves. For every $1 donated, Feeding South Florida can provide nine meals. Event sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Michele Fernandez at mfernandez@feedingsouthflorida.org or 954.518.1818 x 1863 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. To register, visit outrunhunger.eventbrite.com. Create an online fundraising page to spread the word to family, friends, and colleagues that you are helping to “outrun hunger” in South Florida! For more information, contact mfernandez@feedingsouthflorida.org or 954.518.1818 x1863. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Feeding South Florida

The FOX Sports Films’ documentary, “TUA,” takes an exclusive look at the past year of former University of Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, as he works to overcome a career-threatening injury ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. The documentary, the newest in the Sports Emmy®-Nominated MAGNIFY series, premiered on FOX on Sunday, 9/6, at 4 p.m. EST. To celebrate, FOX Sports is teaming up with Good Sports Inc. for its “Restore Play” initiative to donate $111,111 worth of brand-new play equipment to Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and Boys & Girls Clubs in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama and honor Tua’s new #1 jersey. The new equipment will keep kids active and allow them to follow in Tua’s footsteps! This donation will assist Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade with its In-Person Virtual Learning program and after-school care program for the 2020-21 school year. These positive programs are important to keeping area youth engaged during this critical time. For information visit, www.bgcmia.org. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade

Celebrate World Vegan Day at Gulfstream Park Village! With more flavor than before, Gulfstream Park Village will be hosting its Plant-Based Festival for the third time on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The event will showcase the latest in food, drink and plant-based goods. The festival, located in the Gulfstream Park Village shopping area, will feature music, giveaways from merchants, 60+ plant-based vendors, and contests for the kids. This is a free and family-friendly event. Guests will be required to maintain the social distance of six feet between visitors. Gulfstream Park Village has implemented a number of important policies and procedures to safeguard the health and well-being of its valued guests and employees. The open-air entertainment destination has taken into account the best practices recommended by national experts like the CDC, as well as state and local health care officials, to determine the appropriate steps to make Gulfstream Park Village a place where guests feel comfortable venturing back into public and reconnecting with friends and family. Vendors will be properly spaced six feet apart to avoid any crowding. All guests are required to wear face coverings to the event and wash their hands in accordance with the CDC guidelines. Attendees should come ready for fun and ready to eat by bringing their own reusable water bottle, cup or cutlery to cut down on waste. Alternatives will be available, but every little bit helps! Inspired by the City’s Plastic Straw Ban, Gulfstream Park Village will be giving away multi-color stainless-steel reusable straws to the first 500 attendees. When: Sunday, Nov. 1 from 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Rain or shine. Where: Gulfstream Park Village 901 S. Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 954-454-7000 Cost: Free to attend By ML Staff. Image by Unsplash

Toast Distillers, Inc., a Miami-based spirits conglomerate best-known for its ultra-premium vodka Toast™, has launched its e-commerce website for the vodka at www.toastvodka.com. The site makes it easy to purchase Toast, the world's first ultra-premium, unflavored vodka made with unflavored coconut water. Additional Toast Distillers, Inc., products will also be available for online purchase later this summer. While unflavored, the coconut water maintains Toast’s natural benefits. The use of coconut water in the distilling process gives Toast unparalleled smoothness, and it can be simply chilled, sipped and enjoyed. Toast is six times distilled from 100% corn, and both gluten-free and non-GMO. The vodka is 40% alcohol by volume. It is presented in a chic white bottle with black trim. Toast ranges in price from $22.99–$42. All Toast Distillers, Inc., products are distilled by The Miami Distilling Company in Miami, Florida, and made in the U.S. Thanks to the user-friendly e-commerce site, it is now easier than ever to purchase our world-renowned Toast Vodka from the convenience of home and shipped directly to your doorstep,” said Dieuveny “DJ” Jean Louis, founder and CEO of Toast Distillers, Inc. “Made with coconut water, it’s the healthiest vodka can be, and has an incredible flavor.” Toast Vodka was developed in the heart of the trendsetting Miami nightlife. Louis, also an entrepreneur and restauranteur, recognized that vodka in the U.S is a spirit that is predominantly consumed as a cocktail mixer, almost devaluing the quality and craftsmanship of the product. That led him on a four-year mission to create the world's best and tastiest vodka. A research and development journey led to Toast Vodka. Drawing on experiences he gained from surviving a major disaster, he developed an appreciation for the magic of life's simple moments and decided on the name Toast, as for centuries, “Toast!” has been the theme while celebrating life's highlights, as well as life's simple moments with friends and loved ones. For more information, visit www.toastvodka.com. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Toast Distillers, Inc.

Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) today announced its participation in the annual Clear The SheltersTM pet adoption campaign, which will run from August 1 through August 31. To help individuals and communities continue to practice social distancing and adhere to COVID-19 safety rules, the month-long “Adopt & Donate” effort will feature virtual pet adoptions and make it easy for people to donate online to the participating shelter or rescue of their choice. During the campaign, adoption fees will be waived, and adopters will only be responsible for their new pet’s registration fee. Adopters will receive Hill’s Science Diet dog food with their adoption, while supplies last. "The campaign sheds a national spotlight on the needs of our shelter pets waiting for caring families and helps motivate our community to adopt," said Alex Muñoz, Director of Animal Services. "Now is the perfect time to adopt. With so many of us staying safe at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, it gives us time to spend with a new best friend, bonding, training and helping them adapt to their new homes." Animal Services’ Pet Adoption and Protection Center, located at 3599 NW 79th Avenue, Doral, FL 33122, will continue to be open to the public for in-person adoptions, from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m; closed on Sundays. To ensure adherence to social distancing rules and for the safety and protection of adopters and staff, on arrival all visitors will be asked to sign in to a virtual waiting room and return to their vehicles to wait to be alerted that their turn is up in the cue. The number of individuals allowed in the shelter at any one time will be strictly controlled, as will the number of customers allowed in each adoption suite. Visitors to the Pet Adoption and Protection Center will be temperature checked before entering the facility. All visitors will also be required to wear masks or face coverings at all times while on the premises. Since 2015, the "Clear the Shelters" campaign has helped more than 410,000 pets find new homes across the country. This is the sixth consecutive year that NBC and Telemundo-owned stations present their popular pet adoption initiative to communities nationwide. This year’s Clear The Shelters’ “Adopt & Donate” campaign features returning partners WeRescue and GreaterGood.org, and new partner 24PetWatch. Users can use the WeRescue iOS app to locate adoptable pets near their ZIP code, submit their pet adoption applications through shelters’ websites, and ask questions directly to shelters. Individuals who are interested in donating to a shelter/rescue can visit GreaterGood.org’s Clear The Shelters donation site ClearTheSheltersFund.org. Also, 24PetWatch is enabling shelters to increase their exposure through 24Petshelter.com/cleartheshelter, a free website providing a full list of participating shelters and their adoptable pets along with a link to contact them. Follow the effort on Twitter @adoptmiamipets and @ClearTheShelter, and on social media using the hashtags #ClearTheShelters and #DesocuparLosAlbergues. For more information about NBC and Telemundo stations’ pet adoption campaign, visit CleartheShelters.com. To access information in Spanish, please visit DesocuparlosAlbergues.com and follow #DesocuparlosAlbergues. For more information about of Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department’s programs serving Miami-Dade County’s pets and pet owners visit www.miamidade.gov/animals or call 311. Courtesy of Miami Dade. Image/gif courtesy of Imgur

The most endangered of all Florida's symbols is its state animal, the Florida Panther (Felis concolor coryi) which was chosen in 1982 by a vote of students throughout the state. The Florida Panther is a large, long-tailed, pale brown cat that grows to six feet or longer. Males can weigh up to 161 lb and its habitat is usually the same as that of the white-tailed deer, which is the mainstay of its diet. Much folklore surrounds these seldom-seen cats, sometimes called "catamounts" or "painters," and they have been persecuted out of fear and misunderstanding of the role these large predators play in the natural ecosystem. Human population growth has been the primary threat to the panther's range and continues to diminish the quality of existing habitats. The Panther has been protected from legal hunting in Florida since 1958. It has been on the federal endangered species list since 1967 and on the state's endangered list since 1973. The future of this large animal depends entirely on the management decisions that are made today on its behalf. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is responsible for management and preservation of this endangered State Animal, but only with your support will the Florida Panther remain a part of our unique wildlife community. Where do they live? The Florida panther can live within a range that includes the Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Picayune Strand State Forest, rural communities of Collier County, Florida, Hendry County, Florida, Lee County, Florida, Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Monroe County, Florida. This population, the only unequivocal cougar representative in the eastern United States, currently occupies 5% of its historic range. In the 1970s, an estimated 20 Florida panthers remained in the wild, but their numbers had increased to an estimated 230 by 2017. In 1982, the Florida panther was chosen as the Florida state animal. It was described as a distinct puma subspecies (Puma concolor coryi) in the late 19th century. What do they eat? The Florida panther is a large carnivore whose diet consists both of small animals, such as hares, mice, and waterfowl, and larger prey such as storks, white-tailed deer, feral pigs, and American alligators. The Florida panther is an opportunistic hunter and has been known to prey on livestock and domesticated animals, including cattle, goats, horses, pigs, sheep, dogs, and cats.[15] When hunting, panthers shift their hunting environment based on where the prey base is. Female panthers frequently shift both their home range and movement behavior due to their reproductive rates. Threats The Florida panther has a natural predator, the American alligator. Humans also threaten it through poaching and wildlife control measures. Besides predation, the biggest threat to their survival is human encroachment. Historical persecution reduced this wide-ranging, large carnivore to a small area of south Florida. This created a tiny, isolated population that became inbred (revealed by kinked tails and heart and sperm problems). The two highest causes of mortality for individual Florida panthers are automobile collisions and territorial aggression between panthers. When these incidents injure the panthers, federal and Florida wildlife officials take them to White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida, for recovery and rehabilitation until they are well enough to be reintroduced. Additionally, White Oak raises orphaned kittens and has done so for 12 individuals. Most recently, an orphaned brother and sister were brought to the center at 5 months old in 2011 after their mother was found dead in Collier County, Florida. After being raised, the male and female were released in early 2013 to the Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area and Collier County, respectively. Habitat Conservation The conservation of Florida panther habitats is especially important because they rely on the protection of the forest, specifically hardwood hammock, cypress swamp, pineland, and hardwood swamp, for their survival. Conservations strategies for Florida panthers tend to focus on their preferred morning habitats. However, GPS tracking has determined that habitat selection for panthers varies by time of day for all observed individuals, regardless of size or gender. They move from wetlands during the daytime, to prairie grasslands at night. The implications of these findings suggest that conservation efforts be focused on the full range of habitats used by Florida panther populations. Female panthers with cubs build dens for their litters in an equally wide variety of habitats, favoring dense scrub, but also using grassland and marshland. How you can help You can help to save the Florida Panther by supporting any of the organizations listed below: The Nature Conservancy South Florida Wildlands Association Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission Special thanks to the Florida Department of State and Wikipedia for textual inserts. Images by David Shindle, Conservancy of Southwest Florida; Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic, Cary Bass.

Yoga Design Lab is known for their innovative and stylish yoga mats. Inspired and designed in Bali, they have a specific mat for your preferred workout. The Combo Mat is ideal for those who like hot yoga. This mat is thin and absorbent—two qualities that come in very hand when you are sweating your problems away. The Combo Mat by Yoga Design Lab’s is very light and easy to transport from home, work, or to the gym. It comes with a carrying strap to make transporting even easier. In addition to being beautiful, all Yoga Design Lab mats are eco-friendly and recyclable. All the materials work together to make the most innovative mat in the market. It is made from natural tree rubber—which is how you get the padding—recycled plastic bottle microfibers—you’ll feel how soft it is—and all the beautiful designs are water-based ink. When doing hot yoga, one of the biggest benefits is that you sweat. However, this can also be problematic if you don’t have the right mat to grip you in place. In fact, it can be quite dangerous to be slipping on your mat—not to mention it will disturb your workout. This towel-like mat will absorb all your sweat during your workout, so there is no need to bring additional towel to hot yoga class. Actually, the more you sweat, the better your grip will be, so it’s recommended to spray a little water on the mat before hopping on it. This will prevent sliding if your hands and feet are dry. When you are ready, simply put the mat in the washer—without anything else inside—and add a little detergent. It’s very easy to clean, and to dry simply wring it, like you would a towel, and hang dry it. Start 2020 with a new kind of mat that is as innovative as you want it to be. The Combo Mat is available in 21 designs and vibrant colors—from flashy geometric shapes, to Bali inspired designs such as sunsets and tropical vibes. For more information, visit: www.yogadesignlab.com Story by Claudia Paredes. Images by Yoga Design Lab.