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Christopher Martin drops official music video for “I’m A Big Deal”

Jamaican singer Christopher Martin drops his brand new video for “I’m A Big Deal,” off his latest EP Steppin Razor and the chart-topping compilation Reggae Gold 2015.

The video, which was shot in Jamaica and directed by Ruption for RD Studios, premiered on OkayPlayer’s LargeUpwho says it has a “carefree, youth-friendly vibe” and is “all about the turnup.”

On the heels of outstanding performances at Jamaica’s largest annual music festival Reggae Sumfest, Brooklyn’s MLK Concert Series at Wingate Field and Toronto’s Reggae Festival, Martin continues to hit the road until the end of summer.

Rising reggae artiste Jahmiel releases ‘Long Distance Love” video

Reggae artiste Jahmiel
Rising reggae artist Jahmiel release his video for “Long Distance Love”. The single produced by Japanese producers Gachapan Records, released late last year, has received great international attention for Jahmiel oversees. The single, showcase the soulful, romantic side of Jahmiel, who is known for his uptempo lyrical flow. With such great response surrounding the single it was evident that a video would follow.
Directed by Leighton “Fras” Williams ‘Long Distance Love’ video captures the emotions one goes through when in a long distance relationship. The video highlights the emotional strain, which comes with long distance relationships and the inability to appease your crave for the physical presence of your love one.  For Jahmiel the song has received some good feedback, which has resulted in new fans all over the world.
“Long Distance Love, is one of those songs I was optimistic about from the beginning because it has that international feel to it. I am pleased with the response and hope my fans love the video” says Jahmiel. 
 
Jahmiel is gearing up for several shows in Canada later this year and continues his intense media blitz both locally and oversees.

Nutrition choices made easy in the grocery aisle

Should you buy eggs instead of cereal? Popcorn in place of pretzels? For consumers seeking “better-for-you” foods at the grocery store, these types of decisions can feel overwhelming, and for some, time-consuming.

With the help of the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System, making healthier decisions at store shelves becomes easier and quicker. Developed by a team of recognized experts, led by Dr. David Katz of the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center, the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System was created as a direct response to America’s rapidly rising rates of obesity and diabetes in both adult and child populations. This team advocated the development of an independent and simplified nutritional scoring system to help improve public health.

The easy-to-use NuVal Nutritional Scoring System provides foods throughout participating grocery stores with a score of one to 100, 100 being the most nutritious. Scores are determined by an independent team of nutrition and medical experts who analyze more than 30 nutrition factors such as vitamin D, omega 3 fatty acids, saturated fat and calories. The experts do the research, so consumers can feel better about their food choices.

“Choosing the right foods at the grocery store can make or break your healthy meal plan for the week,” says registered dietitian Tammy Lakatos Shames. “When walking the aisles, pick up wholesome foods that are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients. For example, Eggland’s Best eggs are the highest-scoring egg on the NuVal scale and the only egg I recommend to my clients and serve my family due to their superior nutrition!”

Check out the foods Tammy recommends for your shopping cart next time you hit the grocery store:

* Fruits and vegetables top the list

With a score of 100, vegetables like broccoli and asparagus receive a perfect score due to their nutritional benefits. They provide important nutrients including vitamin A, which helps protect against infections, dietary fiber which helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease, and folate, which helps the body form red blood cells.

* Seafood catches top scores 

Fishing for healthy foods? Try wild Atlantic salmon filets, which have a score of 96 on the NuVal scale. This fish selection offers calcium, which helps build strong bones, and phosphorus, which helps with digestion. Fish is also a great source of minerals such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium and potassium.

* Eggs crack the NuVal Code

Eggs are a complete protein that keeps you full to prevent snacking and also include important nutrients your body needs throughout the day. Out of 56 brands of eggs reviewed, Eggland’s Best eggs scored the highest at 85. Compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland’s Best eggs contain four times more vitamin D, 10 times more vitamin E and double the omega 3s.

5 ways to simplify gluten-free eating this school year

Gluten-free diets are on the rise, especially with an estimated one in 133 Americans affected by Celiac disease, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. When your child has a restricted diet, packing school lunches can be challenging, but with advance preparation you can reduce the stress of keeping your child healthy and focus instead on readjusting to the back-to-school routine. Whether you’re packing for kindergarten or high school, here are five simple tricks for stress-free, gluten-free eating this school year:

Pack lunches ahead of time
Avoid “Is there anything in the cafeteria I can actually eat?” moments by prepping and packing gluten-free lunches the night or weekend before. With gluten-free foods and ingredients on the rise,  there is always an option for lunch. Be sure to try a variety of gluten-free substitutes and snacks to show kids that a restricted diet doesn’t have to mean restricted taste. Experiment with new gluten-free products and recipes to ensure that your child is happy with the taste so that weekday lunches are enjoyable.

Provide your own snacks
While gluten-free foods are more prevalent than ever, the options can still be limited in school cafeterias, so remember to send gluten-free snacks to school each week. Work with your child’s teacher to store a few safe snack options in the classroom.  You want to focus on satisfying, wholesome options that can tide you child over until his or her next meal. Some of these options include: dried fruit, nuts, gluten free minis. The resealable bags are ideal for crunchy, wholesome snacking throughout the week.

Notify the school and cafeteria staff
Remove the risk of eating unknown ingredients in the cafeteria by reaching out to school administrators and cafeteria staff before the start of the school year. Many schools are beginning to offer and clearly label gluten-free options in the cafeteria, especially when they know there is a student with a specialized diet. Work with the school staff so they’re aware of your child’s dietary restrictions ahead of time to avoid cross contamination between foods.

Plan celebration snacks in advance
Celebrating birthdays in the classroom is a common practice in grade school but it’s unlikely that the homemade treats will be gluten-free. Sending a gluten-free treat to school with your child on celebration days will allow your child to still feel included while being safe. Request a birthday list of your child’s classmates so that you can confirm and coordinate this with the other parents.

Seek support
Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to the school psychologist or nurse. Many schools have gluten-free or Celiac disease support groups for students. Abiding by a restricted diet can be frustrating for anyone, let alone a school age child. If your child has the support of school administrators and classmates, it can make coping with a special diet easier.

Superfood, not supersize your snacking

You’ve probably heard of the trend “supersizing.” The challenge is that as our snacks have increased in size, so too have the number of empty calories we consume. Instead of supersizing our snacks, dietician Ashley Koff says now is the time to superfood our snacks instead.

What does that mean? Supersizing is simply increasing the amount of food we are eating, while superfooding is packing those snacks with as many nutrients and health benefits as possible.

“Snacking — what I call nutrition ‘pit stops’ — is a great way to keep your energy up and your appetite at bay,” says Koff. “Instead of reaching for a bag of highly processed chips or cookies, grab superfoods that fill you up with the right balance of quality nutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) as well as delivering the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are critical for good health.”

What exactly are superfoods? They are a group of foods that are rich in nutrients the body needs to function optimally. And while superfoods have powerful nutritional benefits, as with all foods, Koff says to be mindful of portion size, even when choosing better-for-you snacks. She recommends including these amazing ingredients in smoothies, salads, trail mixes or on-the-go bars to pack not only fun into your summer snacking, but a lot of key nutrients as well.

Ch-chi-chia

Chia seeds pack 10 grams of fiber in every ounce (just under three tablespoons) along with an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Plus, they can absorb up to 10 times their weight in water, which keeps you feeling fuller longer.

Hemp: not just for hippies

Hemp is definitely having its moment and for good reason. These powerfully healthy seeds are packed with omega-3 and 6 fatty acids (including the elusive but potent GLA, a fatty acid that supports healthy hair, skin and nails as well as hormones).

Go coconuts

Coconuts are high in fiber, rich in vitamins and loaded with minerals and amino acids. They have tons of calcium, potassium and magnesium. Whether you eat coconut meat, shredded coconut, coconut flour or coconut oil, you’ll be getting lots of healthy fats.

Acai for me

Acai palm trees in South America produce a berry that is widely touted for its many health benefits. Loaded with antioxidants, fiber and healthy fats, the berry is also known for containing key vitamins like vitamin A, iron, and calcium.

Take a baobab

Impress your friends by sharing knowledge of an up and coming superfood: Baobab. The fruit is dried and made into a fruit-flavored powder and features many health benefits. It is rich in vitamin C, calcium, potassium, fiber and antioxidants, and many consider it to be one of the most supercharged of the superfoods.

Cacao

We’ve always hoped there was a reason to eat more chocolate. If you are eating true cacao, then that wish has come true. Rich in antioxidants, cacao nibs are the “seeds” of the cacao fruit. They deliver a stimulant and emotional boost as well as being a rich source of magnesium.

Getting the most out of superfoods

So how do you enhance your summer snacking with these tasty, nutrient-packed superfoods? Koff suggests the following easy-to-make recipes and one superfood snack bar to make this summer a healthy and delicious one.

Smoothies 2.0: Superfoods take smoothies to new heights of healthiness and are a great way to make a nutrient-dense meal or snack on the run. For a tropical escape, try combining hemp, mango or pineapple and coconut water.

Trail mixing: Make your own trail mix this summer and superfood it by adding nuts, dried fruit like coconut and blueberries and cacao nibs for great fuel and taste.

Dinner and a movie on the high seas

The weekend is just a few days away. If you’re not going to be attending an event, why not kick back and relax a little…make a quick and tasty dinner, grab a bottle of your favourite wine, get some good company, curl up on that sofa and enjoy a movie. To help you along the way, here’s a little something you might like.

Creamy Shrimp Pasta 

Ingredients:

1 packet fettucine pasta

2 Tbs butter

¼ cup olive oil

1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped

12 oz. medium shrimp, peeled

2 medium tomatoes, cut in small cubes or 10 cherry tomatoes, quartered

Salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup brandy

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 Tbs white balsamic vinegar

2 Tbs parsley, finely chopped

Directions:

  • Cook pasta in a large pot, until tender. Drain and return to pot.
  • In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, stirring occasionally (about 2 mins). Add shirmp, tomatoes, salt and pepper, stirring, 30 secs.
  • Pour in brandy; cook an additional minute to allow alcohol to evaporate. Add cream and vinegar. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring. Remove from heat.
  • Add cream sauce and parsley to pasta. Toss together to allow flavours to blend. Transfer to serving bowl. Garnish with additional parsley. Serve immediately with your favourite wine – Red or White.

The movie:

The Signal

Academy Award® nominee Laurence Fishburne, Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke and Beau Knapp star in this mind-bending and suspenseful sci-fi thriller. Nic (Thwaites), his girlfriend, Haley (Cooke), and his buddy, Jonah (Knapp), take an unexpected detour from an idyllic cross-country road trip when they are contacted by a mysterious hacker who has gained entry into MIT’s secured network. But after a rendezvous in an eerily remote area goes awry, Nic wakes to a living nightmare in an isolation unit. Interrogated by Dr. Wallace Damon (Fishburne), Nic soon realizes that the only way to decipher the past…is to escape the present. Critics rave “had Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch made a movie together, it might have looked something like The Signal.” – Scott Bowles, USA Today.

Schools make positive changes to create healthier school meals

More fruits and vegetables offered — less sodium used

Most schools in the U.S. are implementing healthy practices to help meet federal school meal standards by offering whole grains, more fruits and vegetables, and reducing sodium content, according to data published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. School meal programs are an important source of nutrition as students consume almost half of their daily calories at school.

CDC researchers analyzed school-level data from the School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) for 2000, 2006, and 2014 to see how well schools are implementing practices related to the nutrition standards for school meals published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2012. The standards require serving more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and gradually reducing sodium over 10 years. Previous studies have shown that students who eat school meals consume more milk, fruits, and vegetables during school meal times and have better intake of some key nutrients (such as calcium and fiber) than those who do not participate in the meal programs.

“School meals are healthier now than ever before. We’ve made real progress, but there is much more to do to help American children make food choices that will keep them healthy throughout their lives,” said CDCDirector Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.

Between 2000 and 2014, the percentage of schools implementing five of the nine school nutrition services practices examined has increased significantly.

Key Findings from 2014:

  • Almost all schools offered whole grains each day for breakfast (97.2 percent) and lunch (94.4 percent).
  • Most schools offered two or more vegetables (79.4 percent, up from 61.7 percent in 2000) and two or more fruits (78.0 percent, up from 68.1 percent in 2000) each day for lunch.
  • Nearly one-third (30.5 percent) of schools offered self-serve salad bars.
  • More than half of schools that prepared their meals at the school used fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned (54.1 percent), used low-sodium canned vegetables instead of regular canned vegetables (51.8 percent, up from 10.3 percent in 2000), used other seasonings instead of salt (65.1 percent up from 32.8 percent in 2000), and reduced the amount of sodium called for in recipes or used low-sodium recipes (68.0 percent up from 34.1 percent in 2000).

“We are encouraged that more schools are offering a variety of fruits and vegetables and finding ways to reduce the sodium content of school meals,” said Caitlin Merlo, M.P.H., lead author of the study and health scientist in CDC’s School Health Branch. “Schools play a critical role in demonstrating and reinforcing healthy eating behaviors by making sure that nutritious and appealing foods and beverages are available and promoted to students. This is particularly important because children’s eating patterns carry into adulthood.”

 

High school athletes using smokeless tobacco more than non-athletes

Cigarette use going down while smokeless use going up

High school athletes who play on sports teams smoke tobacco products at a lower rate than non-athletes, but use smokeless tobacco at a higher rate, according to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Data from national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) show that while current use of combustible tobacco products (cigarettes and cigars) dropped dramatically from 2001 to 2013 among all high school students (31.5 percent to 19.5 percent), current use of smokeless tobacco remained unchanged among non-athletes (5.9 percent) and increased among athletes (10 percent to 11.1 percent).

The lower use of combustible tobacco products might result from athletes’ awareness of how smoking can hurt athletic performance. The higher use of smokeless tobacco suggests athletes may perceive these products as harmless, socially acceptable, or perhaps even as a way to boost athletic performance. However, smokeless tobacco contains nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals and may increase the risk of death from heart disease and stroke. Notable athletes with a history of smokeless tobacco use have been diagnosed with or died from oral cancer.

“We can do more to protect America’s youth from a lifetime of addiction,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “The fact is, smokeless tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, snuff or dip, can cause cancer of the mouth, esophagus and pancreas. And the nicotine in these products is harmful to the developing brain. Because we know tobacco-free policies in schools and other public recreational areas work, we must take action now so that our children are safe from these toxins.”

The data show a relationship between the number of sports teams on which an athlete plays and his or her tobacco use. Athletes who play on multiple sports teams use smokeless tobacco more and combustible tobacco less. During 2013, prevalence of smokeless use was 5.9 percent, 10.2 percent, 11.5 percent, and 12.5 percent among students participating in zero, one, two, or three or more sports teams, respectively. But combustible tobacco use was 21.3 percent, 19.6 percent, 17.1 percent, and 15.8 percent among students participating in zero, one, two, or three or more sports teams, respectively.

The tobacco industry has marketed smokeless products as an alternative to cigarettes in situations where smoking is prohibited, which might further promote their use among athletes. Although Minor League Baseball prohibits use of smokeless products, Major League Baseball restricts but does not prohibit their use. San Francisco has adopted a policy, which becomes effective January 1, 2016, that would prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco and all other tobacco products at all city professional and amateur athletic venues. On September 2, 2015, Boston enacted a similar policy that goes into effect April 1, 2016. Smokeless tobacco use among professional athletes is concerning because youth may view them as role models.

“Tobacco use among youth athletes is of particular concern because most adult tobacco users first try tobacco before age 18,” said Brian King, Ph.D., deputy director for research translation in the CDC Office on Smoking and Health. “The younger people are when they start using tobacco, the more likely they are to become addicted and the more heavily addicted they can become.”

 

Tobacco-free policies that prohibit all tobacco use by players, coaches, referees, and fans on school campuses and at all public recreational facilities—including stadiums, parks, and school gymnasiums—might help make smokeless tobacco use less socially acceptable and reduce its use among student athletes.

 

“Creating 100% tobacco-free environments is one of the best ways we can set our kids up for a healthy future,” said U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. “It helps them see that being tobacco-free is the way to better health and a longer life.”

 

Continued implementation of proven interventions is also critical to reducing all forms of tobacco use among youth, including increasing tobacco prices, warning about the dangers of tobacco use, and increasing access to smoking cessation resources.

 

Early flu treatment reduces hospitalization time, disability risk in older people

Early treatment of flu-hospitalized people 65 and older with flu antiviral medications cuts the duration of their hospital stay and reduces their risk of needing extended care after discharge, a new CDC study finds. The study is the first to look at the benefits of early antiviral treatment on preventing the need for extended care in community-dwelling flu-hospitalized people 65 and older.

Because people 65 and older are at high risk of serious flu complications, CDC recommends that they be treated for flu with influenza antiviral medications as early as possible because these drugs work best when started early. The study, published today in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, supports this recommendation.

“Flu can be extremely serious in older people, leading to hospitalization and in some cases long-term disability. This important study shows that people 65 and older should seek medical care early when they develop flu symptoms,” says Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of CDC’s Influenza Division.

The study found that community-dwelling patients 65 years and older who sought medical care or who were hospitalized within two days of illness onset and who were treated with antiviral medications early (in the first four days of illness) had hospital stays that were substantially shorter than those who received treatment later (after 4 days of illness onset). This benefit was observed even among those who sought care later (more than two days after they got sick), but the reduction in hospital stay was not as great.

Similarly, early treatment was associated with patients being 25 percent to 60 percent less likely to need extended care after leaving the hospital. The study authors suggest that the shorter hospital stays associated with early treatment could account for the reduced risk of needing extended care after discharge since lengthy bed restriction can lead to disability. Other factors like older age, the presence of neurologic disorders, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and pneumonia at admission were also independent risk factors for extended care needs.

While flu seasons can vary in severity, people 65 years and older usually bear the greatest burden of severe flu disease. In recent years, it is estimated that between 80 percent and 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have been in people 65 years and older and between 50 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have been in people in that age group. Antiviral treatment as soon as possible is recommended for all hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed flu and for all patients at high risk of serious flu complications, including people 65 years and older with flu-like symptoms.

The study used data collected during three consecutive flu seasons (2010-2013) from more than 250 hospitals in 13 states participating in the Influenza Hospitalization Network (FluSurv-NET). The study authors suggest that future research should investigate changes in functional status and extended care needs following influenza hospitalization.

Immigration Q&A: IRS transcript

Guyana government increase income tax threshold, Expands Relief for Overtime Workers

Question: I applied for my wife’s green card and did the financial affidavit to sponsor her. But we recently received a letter from the immigration saying that I didn’t send in all the pages of my tax return to show financial proof. But we checked our return and we are sure that we sent in all the pages. So, now we don’t know what to do since they are asking for something that we already sent.

Answer: USCIS requests for additional information are very common in U.S. Residency cases, especially with the financial documents which must be provided to support the I-864 Affidavit of Support. And more often than not, the USCIS request letter is so vague, that it can often be very difficult to determine exactly what the officer is asking for. A good “rule of thumb” to use when you receive such a request like this is to order an official IRS Transcript and W-2 from the IRS, so that you know you are providing a complete return. You can call the IRS to request your Tax Transcript by calling: 800-908-9946 and they will usually fax it to you.

Immigration Q&A: How long can a non-resident stay in the country?

Question: I am visiting here in Miami on vacation with my husband and 2 kids and we want to find out how to increase the time we stay here. If you apply for me to get more time to stay in America, does that include my husband and the kids or are you going to have to file for each of us separately. Also, how long is the extra time going to be and how long is that going to take for you to get our approval?

Answer: An application to extend your stay in the U.S. to “Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status” will include you and your family together. One parent is the primary applicant and we provide information about the spouse and children to be included in the extension. Extensions of stay are normally approved for the time requested to accomplish those things for which the stay is to be extended. For instance, if you have planned an extended vacation and intend to visit more places and attend more parks or attractions during your intended visit which would span the time of four months or so after your normal stay (I-94) would have expired, then the USICS will normally grant a six month extension and issue a new I-94 Arrival/Departure card with the new expiration date on it for you and all your family members. The USCIS usually processes these cases in approximately 60 to 90 days. As a result, visitors should never wait until the last moment to apply, in case the request denied for being filed improperly or for other reasons.

The legal requirements of adopting a stepchild

 

Scenario:

So you’ve recently gotten married, and your wife had a child, Kerry, prior to your marriage. You’re about to have a baby together, and you’ve recently started thinking , “It sure would be nice for us to all have the same last name.” In fact, you don’t just want the same last name, you love Kerry as your own child, and you want to adopt her legally.

Here’s what you need to know:

Adoption is the legal procedure by which a child becomes, through court action, part of a family other than that of his or her birth parents.

In Florida, in order for a child to be adopted, you generally need the consent of the birth mother, the minor child himself if he is 12 years or over, and the father. But note that the father’s consent is only required under certain circumstances, such as when:

  1. The minor was conceived or born while the father was married to the mother;
  2. The father previously adopted the child;
  3. A court has declared that he is the legal father for the child, by the date a petition is filed for termination of parental rights;
  4. The father has filed an affidavit of paternity, by the date a petition is filed for termination of his parental rights; or
  5. In the case of an unmarried biological father, he has acknowledged in writing, signed in the presence of a competent witness, that he is the father of the child, he has acknowledged with the Office of Vital Statistics of the Department of Health within the required timeframes, and has complied with the other requirements of the applicable statute.

Once you have the required consent from the respective individuals, you’ll need submit a petition to the court in order for the judge to determine if the adoption is in the child’s best interest. Sometimes it’s hard to obtain consent for the father, because his whereabouts are not known, and the law provides for ways around this – including service by publication, and search of the Florida Putative Father registry.

In the scenario we started out with, dad who is wishing to legally adopt the step-child will also have to demonstrate that he is in a position to care for the minor child, financially and emotionally. He will need to demonstrate to the judge that the adoption is in the best interest of the child!

Here’s the bottom line:

Adoption is a fairly complicated legal process. It involves termination of at least one parent’s parental rights, and courts usually require strict compliance with the law before entering an order of adoption.

Can divorces be peaceful?

You’re at the end of your marriage, and you want to get a divorce. But everyone has told you that doing so is one of the most draining processes you’ll ever go through in your life; that it’s going take all the money you have, be extremely time consuming, and leave you feeling emotionally drained. Well the truth is, in many circumstances, that would be accurate – but there’s something you should consider that may make it not so.

In Florida, as in most other states, you are allowed to have what is called an “uncontested divorce”. In this process, the paperwork  submitted to the court stipulates you and your spouse is not going to fight about this one – that you’ve agreed to all the terms, and you both just want it to be done.

I always tell my clients that divorce is one of the most devastating processes you will go through in your life. Even as a family attorney that makes a living helping people in these situations, my advise always is – if possible, save your marriage – for more reasons than I can articulate in this very short article. But to the extent that is not possibile, you’ve prayed about it,  gone to counselling, utilized all the resources available to you and there is still no hope, an uncontested divorce should be considered, before the more traditional way of getting a divorce, through litigation. Doing this kind of divorce will help you save in three major areas:

  1. Time: once you provide us with everything we need,  we can usually have your paperwork ready and submitted to the courts within just 2 weeks, and often less.
  2. Money: your court cost will be the same, but attorney’s fees are usually much less when the divorce is uncontested.
  3. Most importantly, this process will likely help save you emotional energy: emotions can rage high in a divorce. You’re facing the end of what you started out thinking would be your “happily ever after”. It may be difficult to sit across the room and actually discuss the issues that need to be resolved in a divorce with someone you feel betrayed or hurt by. One of our goals when working with you is to help you make this process as peaceful as possible, because it doesn’t HAVE to be a war. In fact, we’ve created a division of our law firm devoted specifically to this process, called PeacefulDivorce.com. Visit that website and fill out the “Consultation Page”, for a free case evaluation.

Finally, remember in order to utilize this uncontested process, both parties must agree on ALL issues – which usually means we need to work through how you’re going to divide your assets and liabilities, and how timesharing with the children will be handled, and spousal and child support.  Our qualified attorneys and mediators are ready and willing to help you through this process, and to help make it as peaceful as possible for both you and your partner.

Legal implications regarding sharing minor children between estranged parents

Tobagonians jailed on drug trafficking charges

Scenario:

You have a court order governing timesharing of your children between you and the other parent of your child/children. You’ve recently gotten a better job offer in another city, and you want to move away and you want to take the kids with you.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Florida Relocation Statute is the Florida law which provides guidance to parents regarding the removal of children when they do not have a court order or judgment clearly addressing the relocation of a minor child. This same statute provides serious sanctions to parents who already are under a Court’s order or judgment establishing a time-sharing plan, parental plan, or custody – but the parent relocates the minor child without first following certain legal steps or requirements.

Parents in this situation are not confined to the house that they live in. You’re free to move to another home if you so desire, but there are guidelines. Whenever a parent wants to move away with the kids who are subject to a parenting plan, and the move will be more than 50 miles away from the originally designated primary physical residential home, that parent must either get the consent of the other parent, or approval from the court, by filing what is known as a Petition for Relocation.

I the scenario we presented, the parent who got this attractive job offer and wishes to move more than 50 miles away, needs to consult with the other parent and get their permission, in writing and signed. OR that parent will need to file a Petition for Relocation with the court, and convince the judge that the move is in the best interest of the child.

The advantages of filing bankruptcy

For families facing struggling with the overwhelming burden of debt, caught in an exhausting cycle of juggling bills, debts & mortgage payments the financial pressures can be devastating. And to make matters worse, many older Floridians, ages 55+ who have worked hard all their lives, lose their job, only to discover that their age makes it difficult or impossible to find a new one. But just when all hope seems lost – Bankruptcy may offer a very positive solution!

In addition to providing individuals with financial freedom…and the opportunity  to begin their financial lives again with a clean slate,  Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can also put families back on the path to building a solid financial  future. Finances that were once gobbled up by credit cards and other consumer debts can be used to pay household and living expenses without stress and as circumstances improve, money can be set aside as saving for educational expenses, emergencies, retirement and other necessities of life. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy has many advantages, but there are also many commonly held misconceptions as well.

The most common mistaken belief is that it is impossible to get credit or to buy a car or house for 7-10 years after filing for Bankruptcy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Normal credit can be easily reestablished within several years, including automobile and home mortgage loans, since a person is virtually debt free. Once the bankruptcy process is complete, many consumers find that credit scores have improved, since late payments, write-office and delinquencies on the credit report have all been discharged through the Bankruptcy. Bad credit stays on an individual’s credit report for 7 years, and a bankruptcy for 10.

The truth is that for those who qualify, Bankruptcy may eliminate credit card, medical and other consumer debts and judgments, stop pending and threatened lawsuits, foreclosures, garnishments and harassing telephone calls and letters from debt collectors and provide a Fresh Financial Start

Factors in qualifying for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy include level of income and amount of assets. Qualifying homes, retirement accounts and other important exemptions are generally not counted towards assets in Florida, allowing many consumers to keep what they own and compete the entire Bankruptcy process in as little as 90 days. So when financial problems seem overwhelming – the good news is that the first step to solving debt problems may be the easiest one – finding out your options are taking control of your future.

 

Requesting modification for court ordered child support

Scenario:

A few years ago you and your ex went to court to get a child custody (as it was called back then), and child support order. At the time, and under the terms of that order, you had your child only 20 percent of the time, in terms of overnight stays, and you were ordered to pay your ex $1200 per month in child support. Now, 3 years later, your ex’s work schedule has gotten so busy that she has asked you to keep the child more often – so you’ve ended up having him for about 60 percent of the time. In addition you got a pay cut and is making significantly less than you were at the time of the order. You suspect you are paying too much in child support, but you’re not sure what to do about it.

Here’s what you need to know

The basis for a child support modification in Florida starts with there being a substantial change of circumstances since the entry of the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (or from the entry of the last order addressing child support).

The change of circumstances giving rise to a potential child support modification must be involuntary in nature. What this means, is that someone who voluntarily quits their job, or reduces their hours of work, is probably unlikely to obtain child support modification in a Florida court.

You’ll need to show that the change in circumstances was involuntary, and also that it could not have been anticipated at the time the last order was entered. The factors usually considered include an increase or decrease in income of either party, a change in the amount of overnight stays the child has with each parent, and overall changes to the child care related expenses.

So in the scenario above, you may be able to successfully petition the court for a modification of child support, since you now have significantly more overnight visits with the child, and your income has also decreased – two of the factors considered in determining child support.

CNW90: Opa Locka appoints controversial city manager

A look at some of the top stories making the news today, September 8, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida.

Despite public protest over the appointment, Opa Locka commission has finalized Steve Shiver as city manager, voting in approval 3 to 2. Shiver has been criticized for his mismanagement of millions in tax dollars assigned for rebuilding Homestead after Hurricane Andrew. Opa Locka is currently laboring under a $500,000 deficit.

FBI agents are asking the public to report any information regarding the recent bank robbery of a Chase Bank Branch in Miramar last Saturday. This incident joins a slew of recent bank hold-ups across Broward County, though no official connections between crimes have been made.

The Guyana Diaspora in South Florida will have a chance to field their questions and concerns at a special town hall meeting with Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge. The event is set for this Thursday, starting 7:30 p.m. at Tropics Restaurant in Pembroke Pines.

In sports, despite the sticker shock over Raheem Sterling’s record-breaking 63 million pound contract with Manchester City FC, a new report says the Jamaican-born player is well worth the money. Using an algorithm, CIES Football Observatory values the footballer closer to 95.1 million pounds.

What’s trending:

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has broken Merlene Ottey’s 100 meters record with a new time of 10.98 seconds at the Atletica Mondiale meeting in Padua.

For more on what’s trending, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Caribbean National Weekly, and on Twitter at National Weekly.

 

For Today’s Weather Forecast:

Scattered Thunderstorms in Broward County with a high of 90 and a low of 78. For Miami-Dade, scattered thunderstorms with a high of 91 and a low of 77.

For more information on these and other stories, visit cnweeklynews.com.

Immigration Q&A: Can I sponsor my parents?

Question: My parents brought me to America in 2002 as visitors and then my mom got a job and we ended up staying here for all these years and our visas expired. I’ve been married to my U.S. Citizen wife for a few months now and will be getting my Green Card soon. So I want to know if once I get my residency, can I sponsor my parents right away for their Green Cards and work permits. How long will the process take? How long will it be for them to get their work permits and Green Card? Thanks.

Answer: ​Unfortunately, only U.S. Citizens can sponsor their Parents for Residency. Since you will be obtaining your Green Card through your U.S. Citizen Spouse, you will be eligible to apply for early Naturalization in two years and nine months from the date you receive your U.S. Residency, as long as you and your wife continue to be living together as a married couple. Once you file for your Naturalization, it takes about 4-5 months to become a U.S. Citizen. After that you can sponsor both of your parents (separately). From the time of filing the Residency packages, your parents should receive their Work Permits within about 90 days and their Green Cards within 4-6 months. 

First Jamaican patty eating contest held in Brooklyn

The first annual Jamaican patty eating contest was held in Brooklyn on Sunday as a part of the Labour Day celebrations.

Brooklyn New York Borough President Eric L Adams said the event was held in partnership with Golden Krust and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) in expanding “Brooklyn’s celebration of Caribbean culture and highlight one of New York City’s most popular street foods”.

“The Jamaican patty is to Labour Day what the hot dog is to the Fourth of July, and it’s time that this staple of New York City street food culture has a top-flight competition of its very own,” Adams said.

“I am proud to host the first annual Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill National Jamaican Patty Eating Contest, partnering with the small business that has elevated the patty to the heights of the Big Apple itself,” he added.

The festivities served as the preamble to the West Indian American Day Carnival on Labour Day on Monday, which brings millions of people to Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn for what many consider the city’s largest parade.

“Golden Krust is proud to partner with Borough President Adams and WIADCA for the first annual Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill Jamaican Patty Eating Contest,” said Jamaican-born Lowell Hawthorne, CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill before the event.

The winner, who consumed the most Jamaican patties in a five-minute period received a trophy and Golden Krust gift certificate.

Opa-locka approves city manager contract for Steve Shiver

Despite public protest over the appointment, Opa Locka commission has finalized Steve Shiver as city manager, voting in approval 3 to 2. Shiver has been criticized for his mismanagement of millions in tax dollars assigned for rebuilding Homestead after Hurricane Andrew. 

Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes and Commissioner Joseph Kelley voted down the resolution saying the rush for signatures sent a bad message.
Opa Locka is currently laboring under a $500,000 deficit. The city has a budget deficit of $500,000. Commissioner Terence Pinder, who was in charge of negotiating Shiver’s contract felt the budget’s Oct. 1 looming deadline was enough of a reason.

Bolt ends season

Sprint superstar Usain Bolt has cut his season short to begin preparation for next year’s Olympics in Rio.

The 29-year-old pulled out of Friday’s Van Damme Memorial in Brussels, noting that he was glad to end his season injury free and saying he would now switch his attention to the Olympics.

“I am already thinking about next year and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio,” he said in a statement on Monday.

He added that he was “happy to end the season without any injuries and ready to go for 2016.”

Bolt will chase history in Rio where he will be seeking to win the sprint double for a third straight Olympics. 

His early season form raised doubt about this possibility but his performances last month at the Beijing World Championships saw the odds of winning in Rio slashed once again.

After a series of below par performance in the preceding rounds, Bolt streaked to victory in both the 100 and 200 metres, stunning challenger Justin Gatlin on both occasions.

He clocked a season-best 9.79 seconds in the 100 metres and a world-leading 19.55 in the 200 metres.

Bolt also won both sprints at the Moscow World Championships two years ago.

Opposition party wins election in Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad’s governing party PNM says no to fixed election date
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister-elect Dr Keith Rowley shows his inked finger after voting in the general election

In what was considered a close race, the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) won the general election on Monday defeating the coalition People’s Partnership (PP) of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar that came to power in 2010.

The preliminary figures show that the PNM won 22 of the 41 seats with the remaining 19 going to the PP that had won 29 seats in the 2010 general election.

“I want to thank all the people for the very hard work they did in bringing a successful end in what was a difficult election. I want to thank Trinidad and Tobago for demonstrating once again that we can conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the name Trinidad and Tobago,” PNM leader Dr. Keith Rowley told reporters.

Rowley, 66, one of the longest serving Parliamentarians said the election proceedings “have gone down relatively smooth.

“Election day had some challenges but at the end of the day, once again I think we had a very successful operation and I am pleased to be in a position to say that the PNM has won the majority of the seats.

“We are confident that the country has been placed in good hands, we have prepared ourselves well, we expect that we will take the responsibilities of managing the affairs of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago in a way that will allow us all as a people to look at tonight …as the beginning of a new era.”

Both Persad Bissessar and Rowley easily retained the seats they had in Parliament over the past two decades.

Up to Tuesday morning, Persad Bissessar has not conceded defeat as yet, but a number of government ministers including Roger Samuels, Lincoln Douglas, attorney general Garvin Nicholas, as well as the former president of the Senate, Raziah Ahmed, were among the casualties of the poll.

The PNM was also able to regain the two seats in Tobago it lost in 2010 with.

Dancehall superstar Konshens sets eyes on Europe

Starting end of September, dancehall superstar Konshens is slated to embark on his two month European tour, which will have him visiting numerous cities throughout Europe.
Performing in Europe along with Konshens will be SubKonshus artists Delus and Darrio, who both are no strangers to the European market. Delus who released his EP earlier this year titled ‘Public Relations’ will return to Europe for his second time this year, while Darrio will make his first appearance in Europe for this year since the release of his popular single featuring Konshens titled ‘No New to Gal’.
Known for his versatile musical delivery and for entertaining his European crowd with a solid performance from beginning to end, Konshens is looking forward to his return to Europe.

Cultural Diversity Grant Program Application Workshop slated for September 9

The Broward Cultural Division recently announced a grant application workshop for the Cultural Diversity Program for eligible, not-for-profit cultural organizations to be held on September 9th at the Broward County Main Library, at 6 pm.

Those who may apply include eligible not-for-profit organizations, whose primary mission is cultural, and develops and sustains the cultures, arts, and artists that are rooted in, and reflective of, the cultural heritage and traditions of the community; and whose principal office address, as recorded in the Secretary of State’s Office, is in Broward County, and must have operated in their respective discipline(s) in Broward County for a minimum of one (1) uninterrupted year immediately preceding the date of application, and provided services in Broward County for a minimum of six months in the preceding year, and a governing board, at least 50 percent of whom reside in Broward County, which meets regularly and operates under a set of bylaws.

Awards range from $5,100 to $25,000. Funds may be used for reimbursable program expenses associated with the organization’s total program or for specific projects. This grant program may award funding on a multi-year (up to five years) basis. By year three, the awardee should provide a one-to-one match for the grant program funds. The aim of multi-year funding is to maintain quality programming while assisting the organization in developing its own artistic, management and financial capacities. The workshop will also cover how to submit an online application.
The application deadline for the FY 2017 funding cycle is October 15, 2015 at 11:59 pm.  There is no fee for the workshop and interested persons should RSVP online, in advance. For further information contact 954-357-7530.

Fraser-Pryce breaks Merlene Ottey’s 100m record

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce after winning the 100m in Padua.

On Sunday, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran an incredible race to break Merlene Ottey’s 100m  at the 29th edition of the Atletica Mondiale meeting in Padua.

Just days after winning at the IAAF Diamond League final in Zurich, and at the World Championships in Beijing, the double Olympic 100m champion and seven-time World Championships gold medallist clocked 10.98 to take one hundredth of a second off Ottey’s mark.

“It was a big surprise to hear that I broke Ottey’s meeting record, I did not know about that,” said Fraser-Pryce. “I was excited to be here. I hope to have the chance to come back to compete in this meeting next year.”

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