Carnival Cruise ship leaves with family's luggage, dialysis machine

Tue, 22 May 2012 03:58:23 GMT

A South Florida family misses out on a cruise despite their luggage and a needed dialysis machine being on the ship, WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach reports.

Lillian Hensley, her disabled daughter, her son and her daughter-in-law were supposed to set sail for a five day Carnival Cruise to Jamaica over the weekend.

On Monday, Hensley was still shaken by the experience.

"It felt like a nightmare," she said.

Christine, her daughter, requires nightly dialysis, and Hensley said she got clearance from Carnival to bring a portable dialysis machine onboard.

Shortly after checking in Saturday, Hensley said she got a call from the ship's staff saying they couldn't find their luggage or the machine.

"I said, 'My daughter cannot live without the dialysis.' 'Well, then, get off the ship. You've got to get off the ship.' I said, 'I'm not leaving without her equipment and her supplies,'" said Hensley.

In a statement, Carnival said there was some questions at the time that the dialysis machine made it onboard, saying: Given that it is imperative that Ms. Hensley have her dialysis equipment in order to sail, it was decided it would be in her best interest that she disembark the vessel.

"I said, 'Without everything? You're giving me like a death sentence for my daughter.' 'We don't care, you have to go to the emergency room, then.' Not one sorry, nothing from anybody," said Hensley. "They just escorted us off the ship."

The family was left in Miami as the ship sailed away with their dialysis machine and their luggage.

Carnival issued another statement, saying: Carnival Cruise Lines sincerely apologizes for this most unfortunate situation and is providing everyone in the Hensley party with a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as a credit for a future five-day cruise with Carnival.

Cameras were rolling as a representative from Carnival called Hensley.

"You're calling to make it right for me? How? How? The only thing that could have made it right for me was the return of all my daughter's medical equipment immediately when they pushed us off the ship," said Hensley.

Prosecutor suggests Kaufman killed wife because he was involved with another woman

Tue, 22 May 2012 01:03:20 GMT

Testimony resumed Monday in the murder trial of an Aventura real estate developer accused of killing his wife, as prosecutors suggested Adam Kaufman strangled his wife because he was involved with another woman, an affair that possibly started before Lina Kaufman's death.

"This takes the cake," said William Matthewman, Kaufman's attorney. "What is the possible relevance of this testimony? There is none."

Matthewman was irate after prosecutors began discussing the matter in front of a witness.

"Here, he's asking this girl out with his dead wife's wedding ring on his finger, the next month, December of '07," Assistant Miami-Dade State Attorney Bill Baldwin told Judge Browyne Miller. "By January, February, they're having regular sex. He was not exactly devastated by his wife's passing. I mean, the best analogy I can think of is when Casey Anthony getting a tattoo."

The defense shot back after the comment.

"There is absolutely no evidence of any impropriety during this marriage, any marital infidelity during this marriage, on either side," said Matthewman. "Adam is still wearing his wedding ring. He has to be forced to go out."

Meantime, prosecutors questioned one of Lina Kaufman's friends about her life and relationship with Adam.

"She was the type of girl that was one in a million," said Melissa Fedowitz . "A strong, happy, vibrant, funny, loyal friend."

Lina Kaufman's closest friends told the court that she was a specimen of good health, not the woman the defense contends had a heart condition which led to her death.

Friends say she never complained of shortness of breath or chest pains.

In the afternoon, Dr. John Stollar, the emergency room physician, recalled when she arrived at Aventura Hospital.

"What was your preliminary diagnosis as to how she died?," asked Baldwin.

"Perhaps she had a broken neck, perhaps she was strangled, perhaps she was hung," said Stollar.

Lina Kaufman was found dead in the bathroom of her home in Aventura in 2007.

The state says her husband strangled her.

Watch Local 10 and refresh Local10.com for updates.

Veterinarians: Pug sold unfit for sale

Tue, 22 May 2012 03:56:02 GMT

A couple bought what they believed was a healthy pure bred pug only to find out it was unfit for sale.

Monika Tikunoff said she had a bad feeling when she pulled up to Puppies R Love on the corner of NW 79th Street and 21st Avenue in northwest Miami-Dade County. She thought she was going to a breeder's home, not to what she called a puppy mill.

"Once we got there, we realized we had made a mistake, but once we saw her face, we fell in love with her," said Tikunoff.

Tikunoff and her husband paid $850 for Daisy Mae, a pure bred pug.

On the way home, the couple realized something was wrong.

"She started gasping for air," said Tikunoff.

Tikunoff said they called Joanne Longman, who owns the store, and Longman told them to take the pug to her veterinarian.

Longman had no comment about the Tikunoffs claims when Local 10 caught up with her outside her home.

The Tikunoffs aren't the only customers unhappy with the store.

"They never answer my questions. They never answer my calls," said one woman.

Miami-Dade County Animal Control says that if the dog came with her vaccinations and the paperwork to prove them, they can't do anything. It's then up to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee.

The department has received 15 complaints dating back to 2007 about Puppies R Love. Many have expressed disappointment with the Better Business Bureau F rated company.

The Tikunoff took their pug to two veterinarians. Both said Daisy Mae was unfit for sale, qualifying the dog under Florida's Pet Lemon Law.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Tikunoff's paperwork will help make a valid complaint against the company.

According to Florida's Pet Lemon Law, she is entitled to reimbursement of veterinary expenses up to the price of the dog.

"It's never a good idea to purchase a puppy from a mass breeder. It's much better to go through a humane society, through animal services, or through a reputable breeder," said Kathy Labrada with Miami-Dade Animal Control.

The Tikunoffs plan on taking Longman to small claims court if they aren't reimbursed.

Improvements coming to Rickenbacker bike lanes

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:39:01 GMT

Improvements are being made to the bike lanes along the Rickenbacker Causeway in an effort to keep cyclists safe.

On Tuesday, the Public Works and Waste Management Department will modify the pavement markings on the Bear Cut Bridge, William Powell Bridge and West Bridge of the Rickenbacker Causeway.

The modifications include adding a second white line between the car and bike lanes with vibratory ridges.

The improvements come three-months after the hit and run death of local businessman Aaron Cohen.

Cohen and another cyclist were struck from behind while riding along the Causeway in February. His riding partner survived.

Police later arrested Michele Traverso, 25, charging him with leaving the scene of a deadly crash and driving with a suspended license.

Thieves steal $50,000 in dresses from Miami store

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:40:50 GMT

A high-end Design District dress store is targeted by thieves determined to make off with dozens of couture gowns, resulting in a loss of up to $50,000.

"They probably came in, saw the dresses and sent somebody back to get them," said owner and designer Tanya Marie McLendon.

It all happened just after midnight Monday. A driver smashed a white van right through the custom made front door of Tanya-Marie Design at 4600 NE 2nd Avenue while eight cameras rolled on the robbery.

PHOTOS: Smash and grab

"It's something that you hoped would never happened that happened," McLendon said.

After the van broke through the double doors, three hooded crooks wearing hats and gloves ran straight into the store, grabbing the most expensive hand-made dresses and running back to the van.

"We've had a lot of people coming in and loving the dresses and you just never know, people might want the dresses and I'll give them a discount. I'd rather give them a discount than have my whole store ruined, you know," said McLendon.

McLendon is a designer to the stars, outfitting Kimora Lee Simmons, Tracy Mourning, and even the Real Housewives of Miami.

But Monday morning she wasn't sewing or designing or meeting with celebrity clients. She was cleaning up the mess left behind by the burglars.

Not only did she lose dozens of dresses, but she also celebrated the grand opening of her brand-new store just last month.

"It's been a long process trying to get the store together and trying to do something really great in this area," she said.

The store has only been open at its current location for six weeks. Before that, the store had been in Coconut Grove, and the Village at Merrick Park.

Police said the crooks knew exactly what they were doing when they went straight to the most expensive racks.

"It's not even my designs, they're like my babies. The rack that they took were really cute, little, gorgeous, one-of-a-kind dresses that I found pieces for all over the world, so I'll never make them again," said McLendon.

Monday afternoon, workers were laying cement, cinder blocks, and plywood to close up the empty space where the store doors used to be.

As for McLendon, she will rebuild her store and eventually start sewing new Couture creations. She does have her store and its contents insured.

"We're going to go forward, we're going to really reinforce the security to the aspect to the hilt, we're going to do everything because we plan to be here for years," she said.

Police think they may know who the suspects are. They recovered the abandoned white van just a block from the dress store.

Auto shop supports 'green' environment

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:51:39 GMT

A Fort Lauderdale auto repair shop is truly unique. Eco-Friendly Auto Center is the only shop certified "green" in the State of Florida. Workers at Eco-Friendly Auto Center recycle just about everything and use fully sustainable motor oils.

Oil changes at Eco-Friendly Auto Repair are done using G-Oil, a bio-degradable oil approved by the American Petroleum Institute, and good for the environment.

That’s good news for Nicole Bennett, who brought her mom’s Saturn in for service.

“I was actually very excited that my mother was coming here,” Bennett said.

Sully Dawson opened the shop two years ago and stresses reusing, reducing and recycling.

“I feel that every little bit that we can do to help our environment, is a good thing," Dawson said. "All the services that we offer here are the same or a little bit less than my competitors down the street and we are helping the environment."

All used motor oil is collected, sent out to be re-refined and returned to the shop to be used again.

“It takes 85 percent less energy to re-refine oil than it does virgin oil out of the ground," Dawson said.

Eco-Friendly also recycles other used fluids, metals and plastics. They also take in batteries and tires for proper disposal.

“You can't look like everybody else in business. It's nice knowing that my little niche is helping our environment,” Dawson said.

Bennett agreed.

“It's nice to go to a place where bad chemicals are being disposed of properly,” she said.

Dawson is a former U.S. Marine and learned the importance of recycling in the military. He has gotten calls from other repair shops throughout the country asking about how they can be greener too.

“I'm not really a tree hugger, but doing something right is doing something right,” he said.

Dawson said some customers drive 60 miles to get an eco-oil change. He is amazed and glad customers go to such great lengths to help the environment.

FBI releases bank robbery photos

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:08:04 GMT

The FBI released photographs from a bank robbery that took place at approximately 12:50 p.m. Monday at the Sun Trust Bank located at 4480 Weston Road.

The robber entered the bank and demanded money from a bank employee.

PHOTOS: Bank robbery suspect

Customers were in the bank at the time of the robbery but no one was injured.

The man got away with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the man in these photos or has information that can lead to his arrest, to call 305-944-9101.

Lion King performance canceled after leaky roof at Arsht Center

Tue, 22 May 2012 03:57:40 GMT

It was show time for the cleanup crews at the Adrienne Arsht Center Monday morning after a crowd of 2,400 people had to be evacuated Sunday after the roof started leaking during a performance of The Lion King.

Pictures and videos captured by viewers showed water falling in the lobby.

The show was in the midst of its performance when the show was cancelled.

PHOTOS: Roof leaks

PHOTOS: Behind the scenes of The Lion King

One person at the center at the time said an alarm went off shortly after the show's intermission.

After the alarm went off, the house lights came on and attendees were told they would need to leave the building.

"It was like an indoor fountain splashing all over the carpet," said one woman.

Robert Schiller, the Executive Vice President of the Adrienne Arsht Center, said flash floods in Downtown Miami caused the drainage line to leak during the performance.

Drains that are meant to take rain water from the roof to the ground could not handle the heavy showers that hit the area on Sunday.

Photos sent to Local 10 showed water falling near the lights below the 4th floor and above the balcony landing on the first floor. There was also standing water in some areas.

The next show is scheduled for Tuesday evening and so far, it will go on as scheduled.

Anyone who was at the show Sunday evening is asked to call the box office Monday to learn their options about seeing another show or receiving a refund. The box office number is 786-468-2337.

On Monday afternoon, John Pritchard, President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center issued the following statement:

Cleanup efforts are progressing as planned at the Ziff Ballet Opera House following Sunday night’s drain line leak. The building is safe for patrons and Tuesday evening’s 8 pm performance of The Lion King will be presented as scheduled. Additional tickets for performances through June 10, including Tuesday evening’s show, are now available at www.arshtcenter.org. On behalf of the Adrienne Arsht Center, I would like to thank the partners and institutions who offered assistance during the cleanup efforts today.

Patrons of the Sunday May 20 evening show are encouraged to call their original point of purchase or the Adrienne Arsht Center Box Office at (786) 468-2337 to exchange tickets for a future performance of The Lion King.

Cat rescued from car engine

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:37:29 GMT

A South Florida man turned to firefighters at the Lauderhill Fire Station after hearing a cat's meow coming from his car.

Cell phone video of the rescue sent to Local 10 by a viewer, shows the superintendent of the their fleet -- Ronnie Rolison -- on his back, working to free the scared kitty.

After several minutes and some skillful handiwork, the kitten was freed.

The viewer who sent the video says he's grateful for the firefighters' help.

"I appreciate these guys and what they do," Bobby Brown told Local 10. "The little things they do are never shown. And this is about showing the little things that really matter." "It was above the axel, off the lower control arm," Rolison said. "I managed to get the car up high enough that I could get under it and go in and get the cat out."

The cat was a little shaken, but Rolison cradled it in his arms and pet it for a few minutes, which seemed to calm it down.

Cities with America's best high schools

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:52:55 GMT

Newsweek and The Daily Beast have put out their annual list of America’s best public high schools. See which cities house the top 25 schools that make the grade.

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