South Florida Life

COVID-19 Testing & Tips

Markham Park COVID Testing
For information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing at Markham Park or any other area locations. Check the latest updates on Broward County’s COVID Testing page.

Tips On Keeping Safe From COVID-19
With the parks and many other local businesses opening back up, it’s more important than ever to understand how to keep yourself healthy. COVID-19 test results lately have been showing a resurgence of the virus in Florida. We found some great tips from Dr. Lim and the staff at Nobhill Medical Center we thought were important enough to share:

Protect Yourself in Gatherings & Crowds
Public health authorities suggest the cancellation of gatherings greater than 10 people and smaller gatherings that may bring people from multiple areas in the U.S. Gatherings and crowds also exist in other places – like work or stores – it is important to stay 6 feet away from others. Limit interactions if you are 65 or older and have underlying or chronic health conditions: compromised immunity, diabetes or heart or lung disease.

Know How to Protect Yourself in a Crowd
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Throw used paper towels in the trash.
Wash after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Wash after you touch someone.
If you don’t have soap and water, use a 60% or more alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Cough and sneeze into your bent elbow or a tissue. Throw used tissues in the trash.

Limit interactions:
Avoid shopping […]

Healthy Eating is as Important as Exercise

The corona virus has us all stuck in the house and going crazy lately. It’s understandable, especially for people who love to be outside enjoying the south Florida weather! Getting outside and staying active – like you all do in so many ways at the park – is incredibly important to your health. But did you know it’s just as important to maintain a healthy diet? Before you get scared, don’t worry! Healthy eating doesn’t necessarily mean eating like a rabbit. There’s delicious healthy options and there’s some very motivating reasons for the things that may not be your first choice.

The CDC recommends adding colors to your plate in the form of dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes. If you like to cook, add peppers, onions or carrots to stews and omelets to give them a quick and convenient boost of color and healthy nutrients.

Fruits of all kinds are excellent choices. Add some different fruits to your diet for some great benefits, like pomegranate, kiwi or pineapple. Fruits that are not in season can generally be found in the frozen foods section and they’re just as great for you. Just make sure there isn’t any added sugar, you don’t need that! Throw them in a blender and make yourself a smoothie!

That doesn’t mean you need to go out to Publix! You can stay home and keep yourself and your family isolated and still get fresh vegetables by using one of the great delivery […]

Preparing For Your First Time At The Range

Getting to the range for the first time is a rite of passage for anyone just getting into shooting. I knew many people who owned guns long before they actually shot this. I did this myself when I first got into the sport.

If you don’t have someone to go with, your first time can be intimidating. The fear of judgement and ridicule is real, and the knowledge that guns are weapons doesn’t help alleviate any of that stress.

However, there are a few things you can be aware of beforehand that can make the whole experience easier.

The first is this: everyone at the range will be kind and respectful. Or, at least, a vast majority of them will be. Many will be more than happy to show you anything you need help with. This is for two reasons:

  • Everyone there respects the power of the weapon.
  • No one wants to get shot by an idiot who doesn’t.

If you need help, you can always ask.

Now, there are a few other things you can do that will make your first trip go as smoothly as possible.

Brush up on Range Etiquette

There are a number of solid rules to know before you shoot a gun anywhere. Most are meant to keep you safe.

  • Always keep the muzzle pointed downrange.
  • Treat every gun as if it’s loaded.
  • Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
  • Never shoot at anything except your target.

These are some of the most […]

How I Zero My Rifle

Little can make as much a difference to your shooting as how well zeroed your rifle is.

However, a poorly zeroed scope can make your shooting worse. So taking the time to go through the right steps can make your time at the range that much more fun.

Boresighting

The first thing I do when setting a new scope, or when when zeroing an old scope at the start of the season, is boresighting the scoper with a laser.

After making sure my gun is empty and the range is clear, I secure the laser in the barrel of the sight. I then make sure my gun is safely secured on the table as I adjust it to put the laser on my attended target.

Then I adjust the sights till the reticle aligns dead on the laser.

This can be done low-tech as well, by taking the bolt off the rifle and staring down the bore to gain the same effect. This technique is a little less precise, but it gets you to the next step.

Getting on Paper

I tend to set up my first target at 50 yards, though if you started without the laser you can start at 25. The most important thing here is to be hitting the paper. At 25 Yards, if you’re shooting reliably straight, you can be reasonably sure to hit the paper at 100.

I’ll pick a spot on my gridded target, usually the bullseye, and aim for that spot for the next 3-5 […]

How To Improve Your Hunt At The Range

Let’s be honest, there’s little that compares to the hunt.

But, the range is pretty close.

Beating through the bush, stalking your prey, and taking the responsibility of the kill elicits a purpose and rush that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.

However, I still love the range. The atmosphere, the noise, the smell of smoke hanging in the air, it all feels right.

Plus, going there regularly can make the hunt better. The best days at the range leave you with a feeling of accomplishment — that you did more than just wearing out your trigger finger.

There are several things I do to use my time at the range effectively.

1)  Zeroing my Gun

Making sure your scope or iron sights is properly zeroed is one of the easiest things you can do to make sure your hunt goes smoothly. Shooting is no fun when you can’t hit your target. Hunting is a lot less fun when you need to chase a white-tail for several hundred yards until it bleeds out because you missed.

Making sure I have the gun zeroed at 100 yards, and specifically that I have it zeroed with the same ammo that I’m going to be hunting with, is a key discipline.

Not only is it important to know where it’s going to shoot at a 100 yards, but it’s equally important to know how that shot is going to change at different yardages. Whether you come upon a buck that’s 25 yards away, or 230, you won’t […]