HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy in Homestead, FL

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States.

And Dan Marino was in his second year, rewriting the NFL passing record book on his way to a Super Bowl showdown with Joe Montana.

The year was 1984.

And it’s been that long since the Homestead High football team played in a state semifinal game.

That long drought will end in a week after the Broncos clinched their first trip to the state final four on Friday with a dominant 33-13 victory over Miramar at Harris Field.

Homestead coach Philip Simpson let himself crack a smile - albeit a contained one - after meeting with his players following the game.

“I’m holding back a little bit because the job is not done, but it is an exciting time,” said Simpson, who was born a year after that last time Homestead made it this far into the postseason.

The former Southridge defensive coordinator, who was part of his alma mater’s 2016 state championship team, has spent the past four years rebuilding the school that was one of his rivals growing into a state title contender.

“To go from year one, when we went 2-8 and trying to build a program to year 2, the COVID-19 year and then year three, you go to St. Thomas and lose…and now this,” Simpson said. “It shows progress. It shows growth. It’s a great day to be a Bronco.”

The Broncos (11-2) are now two victories away from what would be their first state title in school history. Homestead will play in only its third-ever state semifinal on Friday when it travels to Orlando to face Jones High next week.

Simpson feels his team is more prepared to handle the moment than it had in recent years.

“When we went to St. Thomas last year, people picked them just thinking it would be status quo,” Simpson said. “We weren’t intimidated but it was uncharted territory for us and you could tell. We were on a boat without a paddle. We just never got it going and had uncharacteristic mistakes. This year you see confidence. And I saw leadership.”

Homestead’s special teams set the tone for the win immediately when David Jester returned the opening kickoff for an 82-yard touchdown.

Leading 14-0 early in the second quarter, Javon Robinson fielded a line drive punt and weaved his way to the end zone for a 67-yard score and a 20-0 edge.

“We’re undefeated in our backyard, but we kept telling each other we had to finish,” Homestead quarterback Joshua Townsend said. “By the time (Jester) took it to the house, the energy was high and we knew we were gonna be alright.”

The Broncos’ defense and Townsend did the rest.

Homestead stopped Miramar (10-2), which entered the game on a nine-game winning streak, five times on downs after crossing into Broncos’ territory including three times in the red zone. Sir Robertgeau led the effort with a key interception late.

Patriots’ running back Nate Henry followed last week’s stellar performance by running for 138 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Jordan Jones also ran for a 17-yard touchdown.

Townsend ran for three touchdowns and finished with 80 yards rushing and 105 passing. The Broncos have won five consecutive games since Townsend returned from an ankle injury.

“Joshua Townsend is Homestead,” Simpson said. “He’s our neighborhood hero. He gives us everything he got and he’s a special human being and deserves everything he’s getting.”

This story was originally published November 26, 2022, 1:50 AM.

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HOMESTEAD, Fla. – An inspector was at the Presidente Supermarket in Homestead last week and issued 49 violations and citations.

According to state records, a “stop use” was issued in the backroom and the supermarket was ordered to stop receiving merchandise due to a roach infestation.

Meanwhile, the Little Caesar’s in Hallandale Beach was ordered shut after flies were discovered landing on a dough mixer and pizza trays, yet China Buffet in Miami was not ordered shut despite the fact that an inspector saw a fly landing on raw pork.

Below is a list of places and some of their violations.

The Little Caesar’s was allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and re-inspection.

The Presidente has to be re-inspected before the “stop use” order is lifted.

***PRESIDENTE SUPERMARKET

240 NE 8TH STREET

HOMESTEAD

INSPECTION DATE 11/4/22

49 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Live roaches of varying sizes found crawling up the wall around the mop sink area in the backroom. See supplement, a stop use order is in effect for the backroom. No merchandise can be received through the back receiving area and no new merchandise may be stored/added to the backroom until released by an inspector.”

“Deli-Old food residue encrusted on the slicer blade and guard of all 3 deli slicers. COS, Equipment was washed, rinsed, and sanitized. Seafood- Old yellow dry food residue encrusted on blades of tenderizer stored near the seafood display case. COS, equipment was washes, rinsed, and sanitized. Meat Processing- Green and black mold-like grime encrusted on white cutting board table tops located near the band saw. COS, equipment was washed, rinsed, and sanitized. Kitchen- Old food residue encrusted on the can opener blade located at the cook’s preparation table.”

“Food employees washed various utensils (spoons, knives) at the ware wash sinks without sanitizing. COS, Washed utensils were sanitized and air dried prior to use. Kitchen- Sanitizer measured 0ppm at the ware wash sink where pots and pans had been washed. COS, sanitizer with proper concentration was prepared at the ware wash sink and all pots/pans were sanitized.”

“Deli- Yellow mold-like grime encrusted on the ice making portion and interior housing of the ice machine installed near the coffee machine. COS, ice machine was washed, rinsed, and sanitized. Seafood- Black mold-like grime encrusted on the ice making portion, ice flap, and interior housing of the ice machine used to fill the seafood display case.”

“Deli- Multiple food items cut this morning and placed directly into the salad display unit did not achieve 41*F after more than 4 hours: Caesar salad 70*; sliced tomatoes 71*F; canned green beans and carrots 70*F. COS, food items were voluntarily discarded by management during the inspection. Retail- Multiple cheeses sliced this morning and placed directly at customer reach in the retail cheese display unit prior to the products achieving 41*F: yellow cheese 53*F; Gouda 44.9*F; paisa white 50*F. COS, food items were placed under proper refrigeration until they achieved 41*F. Retail- Multiple meat products were cut and packaged in the morning and placed directly at customer reach in the retail meat cold unit prior to achieving 41*F: ground beef 42.2*F; beef bottom round 42*F; thin whole round 42.6*F; T-bone 42*F; porterhouse 43*F; pork chops 41.5*F; pork ribs 44*F. COS, all food items were placed under proper refrigeration until they achieved 41*F. Deli- Containers housing milk-based soursop smoothie and mamey smoothie placed on the counter next to the register measured 64*F and 53.6*F. COS, food items were placed under proper refrigeration to cool to 41*F.”

“Deli- Package of El Toro sweet ham opened and placed in the deli display cold unit on 10/19/22, was found on 11/04/22 exceeding the 7-day limit. COS, ham was voluntarily discarded by person in charge during inspection. Deli- Multiple packages of open deli meat placed in the display cold unit were found with no date mark and employees did not know when they were opened. COS, all products were voluntarily discarded by person in charge during the inspection.”

“Food Service, Deli, Kitchen, Bakery, Produce, Meat, Seafood, Meat Processing- Multiple employees wearing single-use gloves were observed touching their face/mask, leaving and returning to the processing areas to handle food items, handling money at the register, and between tasks without changing their gloves after they have become contaminated.”

“Kitchen- No hand sink available in the processing area for employees to wash their hands before handling food items and utensils. Food establishment has 30 calendar days to install a hand sink with hot and cold running water and proper drainage in the kitchen processing area. Failure to comply will result in placing this area, all food related equipment, and open food processing on a stop use order until compliance is achieved.”

***LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZA

924 WEST HALLANDALE BEACH BLVD.

HALLANDALE BEACH

ORDERED SHUT 10/31/22

7 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1) 10 small flying insects inside dough mixer and 10 small flying insects on pizza dirty trays in secondary prep area across from Walk in cooler away from the kitchen 2) 20 flying insects on pizza trays in secondary prep area next to hand washing sink away from kitchen. 3) 5 flying insects in storage area across from triple sink landing on clean trays away from kitchen.”

“Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee after handling cash payment proceeded to make a pizza without changing gloves nor washing hands. Reviewed proper hand washing procedures. Employee removed gloves and washed hands correct.”

***CHINA BUFFET

1032 SW 67TH AVENUE

MIAMI

FOLLOW UP INSPECTION REQUIRED (DEPARTMENT DISCRETION)

15 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Kitchen: a live fly land on raw pork inside an uncovered container.”

“Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Kitchen: observed a live fly land on raw pork inside an uncovered container and 2 live flies flying by the cook line and 3 live flies resting on a container with Saran wrap inside. Repeat Violation.”

“Fly sticky tape hanging over food/food preparation area/food-contact equipment. Observed in the kitchen, sticky glue tape with dead insects stored nearby at prep table in front of the walk in cooler above cases of raw chicken. Observed operator move the raw chicken to the prep table and an employee removed the fly sticky glue tape and discarded.”

“Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Observed in the kitchen nearby a prep table: sticky glue fly traps with dead flies and other insects. Observed operator remove and discard the sticky glue fly trap during the inspection.”

“Food stored on floor. Observed in the kitchen: container with raw pork, cases of raw chicken, a container with cooked noodles, and cases of broccoli stored on the floor. Discussed proper method with the operator. Hallway by the back door: bag of onions and a bag of carrots stored on the floor.”

“Hand wash sink not accessible for employee use at all times.”

“No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling.”

“Required employee training expired for some employees.”

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Homestead coach Philip Simpson spoke to his team after Thursday’s state championship loss to St. Thomas Aquinas and said much of the same things he has to them over the past four years.

He expressed his pride in the way they resiliently battled a top-5 national powerhouse until they ultimately lost 38-21 to the Raiders in the Class 3M final.

“This is not the last time you’re going to hurt like this…Handle victory like a man and handle defeat like an even bigger man,” were among the words of wisdom he offered his players.

But then Simpson waved over assistant coach Ronnie Thornton, gave him a hug, and then said to his players, “I love you guys.”

He then turned to Thornton and said, “Talk to your team, Coach.”

Thursday’s loss was the final game Simpson, 37, will coach at Homestead.

He recently accepted a coaching position at the University of Nebraska as an assistant defensive line coach and recruiter. He’s scheduled to travel to Nebraska on Saturday.

Thornton, the Broncos’ associate head coach and defensive coordinator who has coached all four seasons with Simpson, will take over as coach.

And so the question for a program that made its first-ever appearance in a state final this year becomes: Where does Homestead go from here?

“It’s going to get better and we’re going to elevate,” said Homestead quarterback Joshua Townsend, one of several key juniors and sophomores who have been part of the program’s rise during Simpson’s tenure. “We’re all coming back and we’ll be here next year.”

In an era of so much transferring in high school, which tends to pick up when there’s a coaching change, the offseason will tell if Homestead can continue to build or be a “one and done.”

Townsend’s comments seem to indicate, at least initially, that the Broncos have a chance to remain intact.

Keeping the rest of the current coaching staff aside from Simpson intact, which he said is the plan at the moment, is even more important.

“We won and lost with our community guys. We have maybe two Division-I players from this year’s senior class,” Simpson said. “Next year, we’ll have 10 seniors. We’ll be back in the finals. We’re a young group and the coaches will stay intact. There’s no reason for the kids not to stay intact. Run it back. That’s what it’s about.”

Thornton, a former linebacker at Southern Miss who was with Simpson as a linebackers coach when the two coached at Southridge, said he was Simpson’s choice to be his successor for some time.

“When he got the job, I was his first hire,” Thornton said. “It’s something we’ve always talked about. On a personal level, he’s been a big brother to me. He’s my daughter’s godfather. He’s always seen things in me that I didn’t quite see in myself and he’s been grooming me for this moment since I started at Homestead. Over the years just watching this thing build has been really special. It’s a wonderful feeling even though we came up short, but the expectation is to be back.”

Thornton said one of the biggest lessons he’s learned from Simpson was to “Love the kids. The amount of love and passion he poured into this program through the kids and love for the community and give the city something to root for and take care of your coaches.”

Townsend, junior running back Isaac Brown, sophomore linebacker Eduardo Nunez, who recovered a fumble in Thursday’s final, sophomore receiver Cortez Mills and junior strong safety Sir Robertgeau are among the key players who would form a strong core of players for the Broncos next season.

“We’re staying. Nobody’s going anywhere,” Brown said. “We want to get back to this game next year and find a way to win it all.”

The loss may have been a regrettable punctuation to Simpson’s tenure at Homestead. But it didn’t eclipse the long-term results of what he and his staff built over the past two seasons, taking a team that went 2-8 his first season and bringing them within one win of its first-ever state championship.

“When you come into a situation like this, you had kids who came home and came in from programs that didn’t have success,” Simpson said. “We showed them how to lead and how to have success. To see them where they’re at now is a phenomenal experience.

“We have a strong pulse at Homestead now. We have a strong culture. We keep going to work.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2022, 11:30 PM.

SOUTH MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Disturbing videos of a school bus beating shows two children, who are brother and sister, being pounded by their peers, prompting the victims’ mother to take action.

The students’ parents met with 7News and said they have tried for weeks to get help for their children, who attend Coconut Palm K-8 Academy, located at 24400 SW 124th Ave. in South Miami-Dade.

In the bus riding beating, the 9-year-old girl can be seen bent down in her seat as a teen stood over her and delivered a barrage of blows.

Another video showed her 10-year-old brother being beaten while on the same bus.

The little girl was left with scratches and bruises, and her parents are now left figuring out why this happened to their children.

“This kid is just beating my daughter senseless for no reason. She can’t defend herself,” said the children’s father. “She’s a little girl. How is this acceptable?”

The girl suffered bruises on her head, back and shoulders, leaving her parents fuming and full of questions about how this could have happened to their children.

“At the same time that my daughter was getting beaten, the same thing was happening to my son on the other side of the bus,” said the victims’ father.

Both videos have since made the rounds on social media. The clips were recorded Wednesday on a school bus carrying students from Coconut Palm Academy.

The parents of the children, who asked to remain anonymous, said this isn’t the first time their daughter and son have been targeted. They said they’ve been bullied at this school since they started in January.

“Ever since then, I’ve been to the school, and I’ve spoken with counselors, principals, assistant principals,” said the children’s mother.

“An assistant principal wrote us, and she said, ‘Oh, I think it’s time you take your kids out of the school,’ and our kids aren’t the problem,” said the children’s father.

“They love to learn, and it’s just so sad that something that they enjoy is becoming something they’re fearing now,” said the children’s mother.

Since the incident, these parents have pulled their children out of Coconut Palm Academy.

They’re taking their 9-year-old to a doctor and may take legal action after that.

“How many times do we have to come to an assistant principal, principal or counselor within the school for someone to actually step up and say, ‘We’re going to make these changes?'” said the children’s mother.

“I’d understand if it’s a one-time issue, whatever, but we’ve been calling their attention since day one,” said the children’s father. “Since day one we’ve been calling their attention, and they’ve done jack.”

One student has been arrested, while others were disciplined.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools released the following statement: “The safety and well-being of our students is of the utmost importance. The school district goes to great lengths to promote values of restraint and respect, as well as using social media responsibly. We ask that parents reinforce those principles at home.”

The children’s parents said they may be homeschooling their children, for now, to keep them safe.

As of Friday afternoon, the Miami-Dade public school system is now reviewing the incident to see if the bus driver should face any disciplinary action.

7News asked Miami-Dade Public Schools if the superintendent would answer questions about the bullying issue at the school but has yet to comment.

Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Florida voters could offer significant property tax exemptions to Florida’s teachers, firefighters, active-duty members of the U.S. military, and other specified professions, amid a relatively hostile housing market.

But a well-meaning tax exemption may bring about other complications, such as a loss of local government tax revenue, according to a tax watchdog group. What may seem like a simple ballot initiative could mean many layers, leaving Floridians stumped on whether to support the measure or not.

Voters will go to the poll Nov. 8 on Constitutional Amendment No. 3 — the homestead property tax exemption — though early voting and mail-in ballots have already launched.

Amendment 3 is the result of a House joint resolution passed by the Florida Legislature in 2022. At least 60 percent of voters would have to approve the measure to prevail.

The Amendment states:

“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023.”

According to a legislative staff analysis, Florida homeowners already have a homestead exemption of up to $25,000 dollars. And there’s an additional exemption, also up to $25,000, which “applies to the property’s value between $50,000 and $75,000,” according to the analysis.

The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes the measure because it believes the Florida Constitution is not the place to determine tax policies.

“This proposal may have merit but the League has a longstanding position that ‘no tax sources or revenue should be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in the Constitution,’ according to the organization’s website.

The website also notes that approval of the amendment could lead to a loss of revenue for local governments.

The staff analysis, which ushered in Amendment 3 to be on the ballot, reports that starting in the 2023-24 fiscal year, the tax exemption would “reduce local property tax revenue for all levies other than school district levies by $85.9 million.”

The Florida Education Association — the statewide teacher union whose clientele is composed of Florida educators — is not taking a position on Amendment 3 one way or another.

Florida TaxWatch, described as a nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog, reiterates that the group supports the amendment, saying “the benefits of Amendment 3 far outweigh the negative consequences of a tax shift.”

According to TaxWatch’s 2022 voter guide: “A tax shift is not a tax cut and, although that segment of the ‘Specified Critical Public Services Workforce’ who are fortunate enough to own their own homes will benefit, the burden of additional taxes will be borne by everybody else, with higher taxes on lower-income homeowners and small businesses, and increased rents for renters (including those members of the “Specified Critical Public Services Workforce” who rent their homes).”

That said, TaxWatch also notes that property tax revenue help fund government services, and if the revenue falls, “cities, counties, and special districts may experience difficulty maintaining important government services, such as law enforcement, fire departments, etc., without raising other taxes to make up the reduction.”

Some of the professions already have some property tax exemptions, depending on their situation, with many going to disabled veterans, according to the legislative analysis.

First responders who have a permanent service-related disability are entitled to a “complete exemption for the property.” Same for veterans who use wheelchairs due to a service-connected disability.

For veterans who are “disabled to a degree of 10 percent or more by misfortune or during wartime service” can get an exemption for any property up to $5,000.

Counties and municipalities may grant additional homestead tax exemptions towards Floridians aged 65 or older whose household income equals $20,000 or lower.