Get Ready For A Summer Of Fun In Hallandale Beach July 26, 2023 Share As the temperature rises, it's time to gear up for an unforgettable summer in Hallandale Beach. The City's Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department are thrilled to present the highly anticipated 2023 Free Summer Fun Program Series. With a diverse range of activities and events, there's something for everyone to enjoy this summer. One of the highlights of the program takes place at the Cultural Community Center, where individuals of all ages can gather for a variety of exciting events. Seniors can test their luck and have a blast at Senior Bingo, while toddlers can immerse themselves in the enchanting world of stories during Toddler Storytime. Additionally, the Outdoor Flea Market offers a unique opportunity to explore a wide selection of Goods and Treasures from Local Vendors. If you're interested in setting up your own booth, make sure to reserve your spot early as space is limited. Families are in for a treat with the Family nights at the OB Johnson Center. These special evenings are designed to bring loved ones closer together through engaging and entertaining activities. Whether you're a fan of dancing, games, or arts and crafts, there's a Family Night event that will surely tickle your fancy. Let loose and show off your dance moves during Family Dance Night, test your skills and bond over friendly competition at Family Game Night, or unleash your creativity at Family Craft Night. To top it all off, the Free Summer Fun Program concludes with the highly anticipated 3 on 3 Basketball Event held at the OB Johnson Gymnasium. Basketball enthusiasts of all ages are invited to form their teams and compete in this thrilling event. Lace up your sneakers, practice your dribbling, and get ready to showcase your Skills on the Court. The City of Hallandale Beach Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department are actively seeking Sponsors, Vendors, and Volunteers to make this Summer Program a resounding success. If you're interested in being a part of this incredible initiative, don't hesitate to reach out to them at: (954) 457-1452. Or via email at: HBParksRec@coHB.org . Your Support will contribute to the Community's enjoyment and help create unforgettable memories for all participants. Remember, Registration is Required for each activity, but the best part is that all activities are entirely FREE. The only exception is the Flea Market Booth Fees, which apply if you're interested in setting up shop and showcasing your wares. So, mark your calendars and get ready for a summer packed with laughter, joy, and boundless fun. The City of Hallandale Beach's 2023 Free Summer Fun Program Series is your ticket to an unforgettable summer adventure. Don't miss out on the opportunity to create lasting memories and connect with your community. Get involved, participate, and make this summer one to remember! For more information call: (954) 457-1452. < Previous News Next News >

Why Are Airlines Being So Nice To You? By Christopher Elliott July 18, 2024 Share Airlines are shedding fees, giving away free stuff, and being extra nice to their customers. Has the world gone mad? "That's what I've been asking myself," says Gail Clark, who complained to American Airlines after a recent flight delay and received a lightning-fast response, including a personal apology and 7,500 frequent flyer miles deposited to her account. Clark, a retired CEO from Bluffton, S.C., says she's used to foot-dragging and canned apologies. She says something feels wrong. Sébastien Long has seen it with Southwest Airlines. The flight attendants keep pouring him free drinks whenever something is less than perfect on the plane. And when they do, they dismiss it in their Southwest way, with an, "Oh, I forgot to charge you, and we're about to land." "Honestly, it's almost too nice," says Long, who runs an apartment rental company in Houston. "I feel like someone's going to get in trouble for not charging me." The niceness is contagious. Last month, Spirit Airlines killed its unpopular flight change and cancellation fees. Frontier Airlines did the same. And JetBlue announced that all customers - even those with a "basic" economy class ticket - will get a free carry-on bag in addition to one small personal item. "After the Pandemic and the bad press the airline industry was getting this past spring, it seems natural that they would put more emphasis on smoothing nerves and garnering more trust from passengers," says Anthony Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor. Why Airlines Say They're Being Nice The biggest changes by far are the low-fare carriers like Spirit and Frontier removing their fees. Barry Biffle, Frontier's CEO, said the airline made the change because of its promise to "make travel with Frontier as flexible and worry-free as possible." "We understand that plans can change, and we want to ensure that when they do, our passengers can adjust their bookings without the stress of additional fees," he said in a prepared statement. Spirit's Chief Commercial Officer, Matt Klein, said in a press release that the airline wanted to change the game by offering "unparalleled flexibility and peace of mind." He added, "It's just the beginning of our pursuit to make affordable travel easier and more seamless than ever." But they left out a very important detail. This spring, the government announced a new rule that requires airlines to tell consumers upfront if they charge fees for changes or cancellations. And that regulation would have made their fares look more complicated and probably led to fewer bookings. "The airline industry had to be forced by legislation and regulation to do the right thing," says Bill McGee, a senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project. Another possible reason: We complained last year. A lot. The U.S. Department of Transportation last week reported that airline complaints for 2023 were the highest ever, except for the Pandemic year of 2020. The agency received 96,853 grievances about air travel, compared to 86,240 in calendar year 2022. The government hasn't released any numbers for this year yet. But it's not just regulation, fed by an almost constant stream of passenger complaints. There are other reasons behind the change in customer service attitudes. What's Really Going on With "Nice" Airlines? When it comes to airlines, things have changed since the Pandemic - in a good way. “Market dynamics have shifted,” explains Jason Block, CEO of WorldVia Travel Group. “Airlines are looking for ways to attract and retain customers in a more competitive environment.” One way of doing that is by taking better care of their customers instead of taking them for granted. Airlines are also seeing an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the competition, according to Andy Palacios, a Vice President at App in the Air, an app for frequent air travelers. "Customers have had many negative experiences with airlines, from poor customer support to hidden fees and unsatisfactory onboard experiences," he says. "They're trying to win back some of that business and appeal to customers who previously avoided them." Which Airlines are The Nicest? It's difficult to say which airlines are trying the hardest to woo their passengers with better service. As a group, the "low-cost" carriers like Spirit and Frontier have generated some positive buzz recently - mostly because of their new relaxed rules. There have also been reports of legacy airlines like American, Delta and United going the extra mile for customers. And, of course, there's always Southwest, which has a legendary reputation for customer service to live up to. Here's the thing: The reports of great service are sporadic. Amid the steady stream of complaints I receive as a consumer advocate, I've been getting surprise reports of truly outstanding, pre-deregulation-level customer service. But it's hard to predict when it will happen -- or which airline will deliver it. Can the Nice Airlines Last? Don't get used to the niceness. Because even if it lasts -- and it probably won't -- there's a price to pay. "There's no free lunch here," says Mike Taylor, J. D. Power's resident airline expert. For every dropped fee, and indeed for every nicety airlines add, you should expect to pay a higher fare. (Just maybe not yet. As the Department of Transportation recently noted, airfares are down 6 percent over the last year, and they are below Pre-Pandemic prices.) But ultimately, airlines have a corporate culture, shaped over the last four decades, that does not favor customers. And for most domestic airlines, it's one that thinks of passengers as self-loading cargo, as walking dollar signs, to be manipulated with addictive loyalty programs and squeezed for every fee it can legally charge. "I don't think it will last forever," says Radchenko of AirAdvisor, noting that customer service moves in cycles, and we're just in a brief phase that happens to benefit passengers. Real change will only come when airlines start thinking of their passengers as people who should be served with dignity, regardless of their loyalty status. And, unfortunately, the only way that will ever happen is if airline passengers start to prioritize service over cheap fares. Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at: chris@elliott.org . < Previous News Next News >

Florida's Fentanyl Crisis: The Attorney General Wants To Classify It As Weapon of Mass Destruction Thu Aug 04 2022 04:04:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Celebrating Love At First Bite: Valentine’s Day "Foody" Options To Express Your Heartfelt Sentiments Thu Jan 25 2024 17:07:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

New Flavors In Bloom This Spring - Arc Culinary's Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen Features Bold Menus South Florida Sun Times Apr 16, 2026 Arc Culinary’s Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen In Sunrise Is Serving Up Two Unmissable Chef Experience Dinners This April And May, Each Featuring Bold, Inventive Menus. A Study in Short Rib will delight the senses on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. The four-course menu features a Short Rib Croquette with crispy braised Short Rib, a micro-herb salad, citrus salt and lime-garlic aioli; a Short Rib agnolotti cooked with pho broth essence, crispy shallots, charred onions, scallions and lime oil; potato gnocchi with Short Rib estofado, red wine and tomato reduction, roasted garlic, parmesan and charred scallions; and caramel flan for dessert. Butter, Bone, and Spice brings an evening of bold flavors and culinary creativity to the table on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. This four-course culinary adventure starts with sweet chili glazed Shrimp skewers with fresh pink Key West Shrimp, sweet chili glaze and Thai basil; roasted carrot-ginger soup made with nutty brown butter and pumpkin seed gremolata; rosemary charred Beef Osso Buco featuring slow-braised Beef shank, roasted bone marrow and truffled polenta; ending with chocolate molten cake. Tickets for “A Study in Short Rib” and “Butter, Bone, and Spice” chef experience dinners are $102 for the chef’s table or $92 for communal seating, including gratuity and alcoholic beverages. Ticket sales from every Chef Experience Dinner support Arc Broward’s mission to strengthen the community by empowering adults and children with disabilities to grow, develop and thrive. Arc Culinary's Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen offers a blend of mid-century classic and modern elegance, featuring a Chef’s Table, refined décor and an outdoor patio. Beyond Chef Experiences, the catering venue hosts private cooking classes, corporate meetings and events, bridal and baby showers, rehearsal dinners, small weddings and more for seated guests up to 49 and buffet or cocktail-style events up to 125 guests and provides full-service off-site catering. Arc Culinary and Arc Educates are revenue-generating social enterprises of Arc Broward that directly support programming for 1,200 children and adults with disabilities. Chef Experiences are sponsored by Amazon. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen at Arc Culinary is located at 10250 Northwest 53rd Street, Sunrise, Florida 33351. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://arcculinary.com/chef-experience-dinners/ . Or call: (954) 299-7515. About Arc Broward In 2026, Arc Broward proudly celebrates 70 years as a leading provider of services that empower individuals with disabilities and their families to thrive. Today, Arc Broward is focused on opening doors, creating pathways and expanding opportunities through 24 programs at 16 locations across Broward County, serving individuals with disabilities from preschool children to adults and seniors. Its two social enterprises, Arc Educates and Arc Culinary, help people with disabilities and various employment barriers gain education, experience and employment. For more information about Arc Broward, visit: https://arcbroward.com . Or call: (954) 746-9400. Previous Next

Lights Camera Action: The Hallandale Beach CRA Commercial Film Incentive Grant Program July 22, 2021 Share If you are a budding file maker or a seasoned professional, the Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (HBCRA) has designed a Commercial Film Incentive Program to promote economic development; attract more film producers to the city and by extension, you can motivate more investors to open businesses, in the City of Hallandale Beach. So, now would be a great time to get your creative juices flowing! The application process and guidelines are intended to provide the Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and producers/ film makers with a reasonable process that will safeguard the interest of the community. Proposed film projects must be presented to the HBCRA and are reviewed based on the following criteria: The general conditions are, you must spend a minimum of $10,000 in the City of Hallandale Beach in qualifying expenditures and a minimum of one (1) full production days occurring within the City of Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The CRA area is bound to the north by Pembroke Road, to the south by the Dade-Broward County line, to the West by Interstate 95 and to the East by NE 14 Avenue and the 14th Avenue canal. A map of the HBCRA is included in the application for reference. The Film Incentive Grant Program application can be found online at: https://cohbcra.org/programs/business-programs-incentives/. The production must agree to help promote the City of Hallandale Beach by including (as applicable): • Thanks to the City of Hallandale Beach in the production end credits • Listing the City of Hallandale Beach as a location on the production`s page of the internet movie Database (IMDb). • The City of Hallandale Beach welcomes any request to cross promote projects in the City’s social media platform and marketing campaigns: including promoting movie openings, movie posters, still photographs and trailers or any positive content. Qualifying Expenditures: 1. Building rentals 2. Contracted City services 3. Equipment Rentals/ Purchases 4. Food/ Restaurant Expenses 5. Goods & Services 6. Location & Studio rentals 7. Lodging / accommodations 8. Material rentals/ purchases 9. Transportation & Vehicle rentals. Eligible Projects • Feature Films • Documentaries • TV Pilots/ Series • Music Videos • Short Films • Commercials • TV shows/ TV Movies • Web series Ineligible Projects • News/ current events • Sports/sports programming • Informercials/promotional • Reality / Talks shows • Gala presentations/ award • Political ads/ Materials • Obscene/ Inflammatory. Applications are submitted to the HBCRA staff for review to ensure that the above criteria were followed. Completed applications must be submitted along with the required support materials (below) no earlier than 120 days prior to production. Applications must be accompanied by the project description including synopsis of plot along with an itemized project budget totaling no less than $10,000 including only (and all) local expenditures in the City of Hallandale Beach. The CRA will expect a proposed City of Hallandale Beach CRA locations and production schedule. For a full list of requirements, visit: https://cohbcra.org/programs/business-programs-incentives/. The maximum amount of the award is $5,000. The Hallandale Beach CRA may periodically review production activity including, but not limited to, in-city spending, shooting locations etc. The HBCRA may request documentation for all the above. In addition, the production must provide the HBCRA with the production point-of-contact for any media request. Application Process If you wish to complete the application process, you must schedule an appointment with The Hallandale Beach CRA staff to discuss the potential film project and make sure it meets the program guidelines. To schedule an appointment, please call: (954) 457-2228. To be considered, you must submit a completed application with a check for $75.00 made payable to the City of Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency for review. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding until a complete application, and all supporting documents are received by the Hallandale Beach CRA. The Hallandale Beach CRA will complete the application review within 15 days of receipt and notify the applicants of any missing information or deficiencies in terms of eligibility for the program. The Hallandale Beach CRA will notify applicants in 20 days of approval once a completed application is received. < Previous News Next News >

Scratching Beneath The Surface - Keeping Pets Flea-Free South Florida Sun Times Jun 26, 2025 The Summer Heat Has Crept In — And With It The Critters That Have Owners And Pets Alike Itching. Fleas, In Particular, Have A Tendency To Make Themselves At Home In Your Carpet, Bedding, And, Worst Of All, Your Pet’s Fur, Inflicting Constant Irritation And Posing Potential Health Risks To Their Hosts. Dr. Lori Teller, a Clinical Professor at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers insight into the symptoms and dangers of fleas as well as effective prevention methods. How Fleas Spread Although fleas thrive the most in warm, wet climates, there are very few places in the United States where fleas are not a problem for at least part of the year. “The Gulf Coast region is a major place for fleas to thrive,” Teller said. “Areas where it’s very cold and dry, especially at higher altitudes, and desert areas that are extremely hot and dry will generally have a lower incidence of fleas.” Whether from the environment, other animals, or people, pets are susceptible to contracting fleas from a variety of sources. Migrating wildlife can even bring fleas to areas where they may not normally flourish. “Pets can pick up fleas from direct contact with other animals, such as at a dog park, pet store, kennel, or the beach,” Teller said. “They can also pick them up in the environment, such as the backyard or when on walks. In some cases, fleas can hitch a ride on people’s clothing or gear, such as a backpack.” Recognizing The Signs When fleas make themselves at home in a pet’s fur, symptoms can range from itchiness to major skin irritation. “Fleas can cause pets to become itchy, especially on their lower back, inner thighs, and head,” Teller said. “With enough scratching and chewing, a pet can pull out its hair, create raw and inflamed lesions on its body, and develop a secondary bacterial infection.” A visual inspection can often help owners know if fleas are the cause of their pet’s itching and scratching. “Sometimes you can see fleas on your pet, especially in areas where the hair coat is thinner,” Teller said. “You may also see what looks like pepper in your pet’s fur; these black granules, called flea dirt, will turn reddish when wet.” Beyond A Nuisance Fleas are more than just an irritation; they can also pose several health risks to pets, including: Spread of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum from ingesting fleas Flea-allergic dermatitis, an allergic reaction to flea saliva Secondary infections from raw wounds “A severe infestation, especially in very young or old pets, can even lead to life-threatening anemia, sometimes requiring a blood transfusion,” Teller said. Fleas also can spread disease-causing bacteria to people, including Bartonella henselae, the cause of cat scratch fever; Yersinia pestis, the cause of bubonic plague; and Rickettsia typhi, the cause of murine typhus. Flea-ing From The Itch The best way to shield your pet from fleas — and the secondary problems they can cause — is by using a veterinary-approved flea and tick preventative. “The preventives prescribed by veterinarians tend to be more effective, but the best prevention is the one that you use consistently,” Teller said. These preventatives are available as topical treatments, oral medications, and medicated collars. Teller recommends that every dog and cat in the household be on flea prevention, even those that are inside-only. “It is extremely important that the product you use is labeled for the species you are treating,” Teller said. “Dog products should never be used on cats. If you accidentally use the wrong product on your pet, immediately call animal poison control and contact your veterinarian.” Controlling fleas in a pet’s environment, including inside the home, is another important part of prevention. “If you are battling a flea infestation in your home, there are some flea treatments that can be used in your carpet and furniture,” Teller said. “You may also want to enlist the help of a professional exterminator.” Combating fleas requires a proactive and thorough approach, but by preparing for the presence of fleas, treating the issue promptly, and maintaining a clean household, your pets will be healthier and itch-free — ready to play another day away. Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at: https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk . Suggestions for future topics may be directed to: vmbs-editor@tamu.edu . Previous Next

Holiday Celebrations Kicked Off in Hallandale Beach Thu Dec 12 2024 17:30:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Making A Lasting Impact On Those In Need In South Florida South Florida Sun Times Sep 10, 2026 Community-Based Connections, Inc. (CBCI), A NonProfit Organization Dedicated To Delivering Youth Development, Family Strengthening, And Community Empowerment Services To Underserved Populations, Has Announced Local 10 Anchor/Reporter Aaron Maybin As Emcee And Has Added Two New Honorees For Its Fifth Annual Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration. FPL (Florida Power & Light) Will Be Honored As The Organization’s Corporate Partner Of The Year And The GEO Group Foundation Will Be Recognized As Corporate Education Partner Of The Year At 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 At The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Located At 321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. These Two New Honorees Will Join Previously Announced Distinguished Leaders Kirk Brown, CEO Of Handy; Carol Hylton, President And CEO Of CareerSource Broward; Brian C. Johnson, Founder Of Community-Based Connections, Inc. And President And CEO Of The Minority Builders Coalition; And Newton Sanon, President And CEO Of OIC Of South Florida Who Will Each Receive A Commemorative And Branded Green Blazer For Their Contributions To Help Improve The Quality Of Life For Local Children And Families. “Community-Based Connections is indebted to our many funders, partners and sponsors including FPL and The GEO Foundation,” said Mikelange Olbel, President and CEO of Community Based Connections, Inc. “It is an honor to recognize them along with a number of dedicated individuals at our annual event which shines the spotlight on those who make an impact on so many lives in our community.” FPL is America’s largest electric utility, delivering reliable power to more than six million customer accounts — serving approximately 12 million people across Florida. It is committed to making a positive difference in our communities through its FPL Care To Share program. Founded in 1994, the program helps individuals and families who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties, such as sudden illness, unexpected unemployment, or another emergency or personal crisis, keep their lights on when they need it most. Each year, the program helps thousands of families by providing emergency bill payment assistance to eligible customers in need. Contributions are distributed to the community through a network of NonProfit Human-Service Agencies. The GEO Group Foundation supports charities, schools, community organizations, and higher learning for students across the country. One of The GEO Group Foundation’s main goals is to help deserving students within its local communities achieve their education and career goals through higher education scholarships. This charitable group is revered for making Charitable Grants to NonProfit Organizations, schools, and public entities to help them meet their philanthropic goals and public purposes. This year’s honorees join a prestigious roster of past individuals and organizations who have made a lasting impact on those in need in South Florida. These include Tim Curtin, Memorial Healthcare System; Rosalyn Frazier, Broward Community & Family Health Centers; Kathy Salerno, Broward Health; Ken Walters, Community Care Plan; Anna Fusco, Broward Teachers Union; Kenneth Jones, HCA Florida Northwest Hospital; Sandy Michael McDonald, Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development; Jasmin D. Shirley, Broward Health Regional Planning Council; Dion Smith, Children’s Services Council of Broward and Khalil Zeinieh, community advocate. In the last year, CBCI served nearly 4,000 people and almost 2,000 families, provided over nearly 15,000 hours of in-home case management and support services to keep families intact and conducted 68 fatherhood group session meetings to improve fathers’ relationships with their children and help them secure employment. Additionally, the organization expanded services to Palm Beach County with an office in Riviera Beach. Proceeds from the event will benefit CBCI’s Awesome Dads Awesome Men (A.D.A.M.) fatherhood mentoring program, The Beacon of HOPE-Intact Family Navigation Program, Family Strengthening Program, and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring safety plans, as well as its vital initiatives such as Early Achievers at Markham Elementary, Young Believers, Club Elevate, Haven and Healing Space. The evening of celebration will include a cocktail reception, a seated three-course dinner with an open bar, live musical entertainment, dancing and the impactful awards ceremony, which includes the presentation of the branded green blazers. Tickets are $150 per person; a table is $2,500. To attend, please reserve seats at: https://communitybasedconnections.com/green-blazer-awards/ . Community-Based Connections, Inc.’s Fifth Annual Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration is sponsored by FPL, Kirk Brown, Homes, Inc., Pompano Beach Hosing Authority, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, GPR | Goodman Public Relations and The Spritz Group. About Community-Based Connections, Inc. Community-Based Connections, Inc. (CBCI) is a NonProfit Human Services Organization with more than 16 years of expertise in delivering youth development advocacy and family resilience strengthening programs, plus health and community empowerment initiatives to underserved populations in Broward County. CBCI was founded upon the belief that service providers who have natural ties to the community are in the best position to help improve the odds of youth and family success. The CBCI mission is to expand the options available to children – from cradle to college - that promote their social and academic growth, equipping them with the skills they need to overcome challenges and thrive in adulthood. CBCI programs services that engage, encourage and motivate include the Young Believers Program, Family Strengthening Program, S.M.A.R.T. Team, New Day Diversion, and the Early Achievers Program. For more information about programs in Broward and Palm Beach counties, visit: https://communitybasedconnections.com . 2025 CBCI Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration Honorees (from l. to r.): Ken Walters, Rosalyn Frazier, Community-Based Connections Inc. CEO Mikelange Olbel, Kathy Salerno, and Tim Curtin (Photo credit: Michael Murphy Photography) Local 10 Anchor/Reporter Aaron Maybin has been announced as the emcee (Photo courtesy of Local 10) Previous Next

Monday Marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper Apr 16, 2026 Antisemitism Continues To Rise, Echoing Patterns Seen In The 1930’s. Throughout History, Jews Have Faced Persecution, Displacement And Violence. Monday Marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah. I Attended A Memorial At Beth Torah, Sponsored By Several Jewish Organizations Including Yad Vashem USA. Some Holocaust survivors, now elderly, shared their stories. The ones alive today were children during the Holocaust. They lost their parents, siblings, and entire families. Over six million people died, including 1.5 million children. While some survived concentration camps, others escaped or were hidden, they still live with the horrors and guilt of surviving. Survivor Regina Behar shared her story. What struck me was she said, “my childhood was stolen.” She, along with others, survived thanks to those who risked their lives to protect them. Rabbi Farber shared an interesting story in regards to what is said in the Bible. There is a passage that every generation will see evil. In other words, there will be another snake that comes out of the ground to attack the Jews. During the times of historical struggles and war many leaders did not choose to be leaders. David, Joseph, and Ruth are some of the heroes that stood up against oppression. They stood up, spoke out, and did what was necessary at personal risk to protect their community. Since World War II the message has been Never Again! Since October 7th we have been saying Never Again is Now! I have listened over the years to many survivors. It is always very emotional but necessary. The pain they endured. Their childhood was stolen from them. The sense of guilt for being the only person to survive. Their words are true. Their words are not some made-up stories that Holocaust deniers like to spin. Florida State Representative Fabian Basabe shared such an amazing speech. I was hoping to get a copy of it rather than just taking bits of it for this article. He made it a point to say, “standing up for truth is not political. Standing up for your community is not political. Speaking out and doing the right thing is not political.“ Other speakers, including him, shared the fact that silence and not speaking out equals utter surrender. If not us and now then when. Mayor Steven Meiner from Miami Beach also shared the same message. He told us when he just became Mayor October 7th occurred. He had to deal with protestors. He had to deal with misguided Palestinian supporters blocking roads and attacking local Jewish businesses. He did not back down. He shared his story when he had first started to set up boundaries for the protesters. They were actually sued for free speech. He did not stand down. He won and his ordinance has become a model for other cities. Even to this day any person that spews lies and hate from the podium in his chambers will never sit silent. Lies need to be called out and corrected. I have said this all along. Supporting the fight against hate is extremely important. It is a start. Inaction or indifference allows lies and misinformation to continue and grow into the hate that we are seeing now. I ask everyone if you see a lie, call it out. These lies create stupidity. Stupidity creates ignorant followers. You may not agree with everything but in a world like today, facts of history matter. As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org . Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share! Previous Next

Fire & Soul At WMODA Thu Oct 21 2021 05:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Paddleboard on Hollywood Beach Thu Mar 31 2022 04:05:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)