Weaponizing the Bureaucracy: Who Will Protect Us from the Government’s Standing Army? Thu Aug 25 2022 16:06:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Selling Your Home? Seller’s Disclosures Are Very Important In Florida Real Estate Sales Thu Jul 04 2024 16:15:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Memorable Start To Spring JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa Have A Magical March Lineup Aventura Digest Mar 19, 2025 JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa Invites Guests To Experience A Memorable Start To Spring With A Roster Of Fun Activities And Special Activations. Renowned Restaurateur, Chef Michael Mina, Hosts An Intimate Dinner At Bourbon Steak With A Specially Curated, Multi-Course Menu And CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar Welcomes Clase Azul For A Tequila And Tacos Tasting Event. Live Entertainment Is Offered Every Sunday At Corsair Kitchen & Bar’s Brunch 52 And Every Thursday Through Sunday At SOFF’s Lobby Lounge. âme Spa And Wellness Collective Welcomes Back The Popular Juice And Glow Retreat And Offers Exclusive Treatments For The Month Of March. Discover luxury services, modern amenities and a stylish setting at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa. Elegantly designed spacious rooms and suites provide relaxing comfort with marble bathrooms and private balconies overlooking the resort's tropical grounds. The resort features Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, serving signature cuts of prime meat, local seafood and a fine selection of over 1,000 wines. For casual fare, visit CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar, Surf House Bar & Grill or Freestyle. Let little ones join in days of fun at Tidal Cove Water Park while lounging poolside in a private luxury cabana. Golf enthusiasts can vie for under par scores at the property’s two 18-hole championship courses, while the exquisite full-service spa is a tranquil haven for beauty and wellness. Ushering in a new era of meeting style and sophistication, the 120,000 square foot conference center features 40 flexible meeting rooms, two grand ballrooms and vast outdoor terraces and venues, while delivering the luxury expected, along with JW Marriott’s world-class event services and amenities. CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar & Brunch 52 An American-inspired kitchen and bar, Corsair’s contemporary cuisine attracts those looking for lighter comfort food prepared with regionally sourced, wholly natural ingredients. Guests are invited to enjoy tacos paired with Clase Azul Plata, Reposado and Mezcal on March 25th from 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m. Stay for dinner at CORSIAR Kitchen & Bar to receive 25% off or continue the journey with Clase Azul at Soff’s Lobby Lounge and receive 25% off including Gold, Añejo and Ultra. This dining experience is $75 per person and reservations can be made by calling the restaurant: (786)-279-6800. Named the 52 – as the menu items change 52 weeks of the year – Corsair Brunch 52 includes à la carte items, unlimited mimosas and Aperol spritzes, seafood and dessert bars. Made-to-order dishes include French Toast with a graham cracker-crusted brioche, Key lime meringue and mint; Breakfast Skillet with Buffalo chicken, cheese fondue, blue cheese, scallions and celery; Mac n’ Cheese with crab, Old Bay and panko breadcrumbs; and Eggs Benedict with fried onion rings, KC BBQ beef "burnt ends," poached egg and classic hollandaise, among others. Guests can enjoy live entertainment every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. Brunch is $67 per person; $31 per person for children 12 and under, and children ages 3 and under eat free from the Kids Menu. Reservations can be made online: https://www.opentable.com/corsair-kitchen-and-bar Wine Down Wednesdays: Enjoy a mid-week special every Wednesday at CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar with 40 percent off select bottles of wine. The offer includes varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau d’Esclans, Chardonnay and more. Guests are invited to enjoy a bottle while sampling the Seafood Platter with a jumbo shrimp cocktail, snow crab claws, octopus salad, classic louis and cocktail sauces for the ideal happy hour. For dinner, elevate a meal with a choice of wine while indulging in entrees such as the New England Lobster Roll or CORSAIR smash burger and sides including truffle fries, loaded tater tots and more. Reservations can be made online: https://www.opentable.com/corsair-kitchen-and-bar Ribeye Sundays: Every Sunday at CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar, from 6:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m., guests are invited to enjoy a ribeye dinner special for $48 per person. Ribeye Sundays include a choice of roasted tomato soup or Caesar salad, a 12-ounce ribeye with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, roasted mushrooms, beef jus and key lime pie with coconut sorbet for dessert. Advance reservations are required and can be made online: https://www.opentable.com/corsair-kitchen-and-bar SOFF’S Jazz & Martini Night Enjoy Jazz music and Martinis every Thursday starting at 4:00 p.m. In addition to martinis made to one’s liking, guests can also enjoy an array of signature cocktails including “Where’s Donnie?” with Ketel One Vodka, cucumber, mint, agave, and lemon or ‘Sting Like Ali” featuring Bulleit rye, Chartreuse Green Liqueur, Drambuie and lemon among others. A wide variety of cigars are also available and are perfect to enjoy on the adjacent patio. âme Spa & Wellness Collective - Juice and Glow Retreat – March 23rd âme Spa & Wellness Collective invites guests to a day of renewal and transformation at the Holistic Rejuvenation Center at JW Turnberry’s âme Spa and Wellness Collective. The exclusive one-day retreat is designed to help guests reconnect with their inner balance, vitality and overall well-being. This one-day event is a unique opportunity to nurture the body, mind and spirit in a setting of elegance and tranquility. Attendees can embrace the power of juicing, set intentions, listen to enlightening lectures and have access to world-class amenities, including the Infrared Sauna, Whole-Body Red Light Therapy pod, Aromatherapy steam room and a cold plunge with guided breathing exercises. Guests will also have access to the tranquil adult pool for complete relaxation. Tickets are priced at $296 per person and include Juices and Collagen shots, access to an Infrared Sauna, Red Light therapy pod, a Cold plunge with guided breathing exercises, a welcome gift bag, and more. Further information is available online: https://www.exploretock.com/turnberryislemiami/event/503212/juice-glow-retreat âme Spa & Wellness Collective March Specials QMS Connection Treatment: This treatment is a multi-faceted treatment combining face, body, and nutritional stimulation. With the ability to energize, revitalize connective tissue, and skin cells, this treatment restores blood, lymphatic circulation and relaxes the nervous system to reduce inflammation. 50 minutes | $249 Cryo-Facial by BABOR: This cooling facial treatment reduces puffiness, tightens skin’s appearance while promoting a radiant, refreshed and more even complexion. Combining the benefits of cold therapy and sculpting gua sha, the ergonomic shape of the tool perfectly adapts to the contours of the face and neck. 50 minutes | $189 Turnberry Reset: Reset and recover with this unique treatment. Experience the combined benefits of hands-on massage and aromatherapy oils. The therapist uses advanced bodywork techniques, as well as aromatherapy oils to soften fascia and release adhesions. 50 minutes | $189 Celebration of You Massage: This offer is exclusively offered to guests with a birthday during March. Enjoy a signature massage with a special gift. Guests can book online. 50 minutes | $159 Restore and Glow: Restore the skin to a healthy glow with this uniquely hydrating treatment. This service features a customized exfoliation and hydrating treatment using coconut and natural sugar cane to reveal a bright radiant skin, followed by a full body massage combining traditional massage techniques to transform stress into balance. 80 minutes | $249 Perfect Day: Relax with a customized full-body massage designed to unwind the body and refresh the mind. An express facial combining antioxidants and vitamins to enhance elasticity and improve the look of fine lines is also part of this luxurious treatment. 80 minutes | $249 Tidal Cove Waterpark Award-winning Tidal Cove Waterpark features a 60-foot tower with seven water slides, a 4,000-square-foot kids pool with an aquatic play structure, the first-ever FlowRider® Triple surf and bodyboard simulator in the nation, 25 private cabanas and an additional VIP pool, Oasis Pool. Guests of JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa enjoy complimentary exclusive access. • Tidal Cove Adult-area DJ – Weekends, 12:00 p.m. through 4:00 p.m. • Kids Cove DJ – Weekends, varying dates and times. Tidal Cove Arcade Tidal Cove Arcade is the go-to spot for family-friendly entertainment. Located within Tidal Cove, the arcade features Claw and Halo machines, Cruisin’ Blast, Pac Man and Key Master. The Tidal Cove arcade is open from 9:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. daily. Golf Lessons JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa offers private golf lessons from top 25 US-ranked National golf instructors, starting at $250. The Ray Boone Golf Academy has options for everyone, including corporate clinic rates. Indoor and outdoor sessions are available, along with Trackman and Video Analysis. For more information, please contact: jteetimes@jwturnberry.com . Or: (305)-933-6929. JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa is tucked away on 300 acres in Aventura, it's a tropical oasis with a culture of accessible luxury and enriching experiences. For more information visit: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/miajt-jw-marriott-miami-turnberry-resort-and-spa/overview/ - Or call: (305) 932-6200. (Photo Credit: JW Marriott Miami Turnberry) Previous Next

Witness The Impossible: Magic & Mayhem - LIVE At The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Thu Aug 29 2024 16:12:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Real National Emergency - Endless Wars, Failing Infrastructure, And A Dying Republic By John & Nisha Whitehead Jun 26, 2025 Seventy Years After President Dwight D. Eisenhower Warned About The Cost Of A Military-Industrial Complex, America Is Still Stealing From Its Own People To Fund A Global Empire. In 2025 alone, the U.S. has launched airstrikes in Yemen, bombed Houthi-controlled ports and radar installations (killing scores of civilians), deployed greater numbers of troops and multiple aircraft carriers to the Middle East, and edged closer to direct war with Iran in support of Israel’s escalating conflict. Each of these “new” fronts has been sold to the public as national defense. In truth, they are the latest outposts in a decades-long campaign of empire maintenance—one that lines the pockets of defense contractors while schools crumble, bridges collapse, and veterans sleep on the streets at home. This isn’t about national defense. This is empire maintenance. It’s about preserving a military-industrial complex that profits from endless war, global policing, and foreign occupations—while the nation’s Infrastructure crumbles and its people are neglected. The United States has spent much of the past half-century policing the globe, occupying other countries, and waging endless wars. What most Americans fail to recognize is that these ongoing wars have little to do with keeping the country safe and everything to do with propping up a military-industrial complex that has its sights set on world domination. War has become a huge money-making venture, and the U.S. government, with its vast military empire, is one of its best buyers and sellers. And now, the price of the empire is rising again. Clearly, it’s time for the U.S. government to stop policing the globe. The U.S. military reportedly has more than 1.3 million men and women on active duty, with more than 200,000 of them stationed overseas in nearly every country in the world. As investigative Journalist David Vine explains, “Although few Americans realize it, the United States likely has more bases in foreign lands than any other people, nation, or empire in history.” Incredibly, America’s military forces aren’t being deployed abroad to protect our freedoms here at home. Rather, they’re being used to guard oil fields, build foreign Infrastructure and protect the financial interests of the corporate elite. In fact, the United States military spends about $81 Billion a year just to protect oil supplies around the world. America’s military empire spans nearly 800 bases in 160 countries, operated at a cost of more than $156 Billion annually. As Vine reports, “Even US military resorts and recreation areas in places like the Bavarian Alps and Seoul, South Korea, are bases of a kind. Worldwide, the military runs more than 170 golf courses.” This is how a military empire occupies the globe. This is how the military-industrial complex, aided and abetted by the likes of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and others, continues to get rich at taxpayer expense. War spending is bankrupting America. Since 2001, the U.S. government has spent more than $10 trillion waging its endless wars, much of it borrowed, much of it wasted, all of it paid for in blood and taxpayer dollars. Add Yemen and the Middle East escalations of 2025, and the final bill for future wars and military exercises waged around the globe will total in the tens of trillions. Talk about fiscally irresponsible: the U.S. government is spending money it doesn’t have on a military empire it can’t afford. Even if we ended the government’s military meddling today and brought all of the troops home, it would take decades to pay down the price of these wars and get the government’s creditors off our backs. As investigative journalist Uri Friedman puts it, for more than 15 years now, the United States has been fighting terrorism with a credit card. Americans have thus far allowed themselves to be spoon-fed a steady diet of pro-war propaganda that keeps them content to wave flags with patriotic fervor and less inclined to look too closely at the mounting body counts, the ruined lives, the ravaged countries, the blowback arising from ill-advised targeted-drone killings and bombing campaigns in foreign lands, or the transformation of our own homeland into a warzone. That needs to change. The U.S. government is not making the world any safer. It’s making the world more dangerous. The U.S. government is also not making America any safer. It’s exposing American citizens to alarming levels of blowback, a CIA term referring to the unintended consequences of the U.S. government’s international activities. The war hawks’ militarization of America—bringing home the spoils of war (the military tanks, grenade launchers, Kevlar helmets, assault rifles, gas masks, ammunition, battering rams, night vision binoculars, etc.) and handing them over to local police, thereby turning America into a battlefield—is also blowback. James Madison was right: “No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.” As Madison explained, “Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceeds debts and taxes… known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.” We are seeing this play out before our eyes. The government is destabilizing the economy, destroying the national Infrastructure through neglect and a lack of resources, and turning taxpayer dollars into blood money with its endless wars, drone strikes and mounting death tolls. This isn’t just bad budgeting. It’s moral bankruptcy. A country that can’t care for its own people has no business policing the rest of the world. Clearly, our national priorities are in desperate need of overhauling. We are funding our own collapse. At the height of its power, even the mighty Roman Empire could not stare down a collapsing economy and a burgeoning military. This is the “unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex” that President Dwight Eisenhower warned us not to let endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We failed to heed his warning. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, war is the enemy of freedom. As long as America’s politicians continue to involve us in wars that bankrupt the nation, jeopardize our servicemen and women, increase the chances of terrorism and blowback domestically, and push the nation that much closer to eventual collapse, “we the people” will find ourselves in a perpetual state of tyranny. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture. John Whitehead’s com- mentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org . Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org Previous Next

Fuel Family Fun with This Easy Recipe Thu Aug 15 2024 16:08:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance July 1, 2021 Share Broward County Opens Three Service Centers To Help You Residents behind on their rent and utility balances due to a COVID-19 financial hardship are encouraged to submit an application for Emergency Rental Assistance before the end of the national eviction ban. Three new customer service centers offer in-person assistance if necessary or desired – an appointment is required. Broward County has received $53 million in federal funding for its Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which for eligible residents, it provides 100 percent of past due rent and utility payments as far back, as March 2020. Up to 12 months of assistance for past due rent is available for eligible residents who have experienced financial hardship, are at risk of eviction, homelessness and up to three months of future payments, to provide housing stability. While completing the application does not guarantee the renter will receive assistance or that the landlord won’t begin eviction proceedings, it is likely to deter landlords who would rather not go through the eviction process, if their tenant has submitted an application for assistance and is waiting to hear, if they qualify. To schedule an appointment at an in-person service center, call: (800) 204-0557. An agent will help applicants ensure they have all the required documentation to complete the process. Applicants who are missing documentation will be given a checklist and will be asked to return with the proper documentation. Locations for in-person assistance include: Housing Foundation of America 2400 North University Drive, Suite 200 Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024 Housing Foundation of America 1773 North State Road 7, Suite 101-D Lauderhill, Florida 33313 Crisis Housing Solutions (at the Northwest Family Success Center) 10077 Northwest 29th Street, Coral Springs, Florida 33065 Tenants and landlords are encouraged to work together to complete the application process. Rental assistance funds will be paid to either the tenant or the landlord. Utility assistance payments will be paid directly to the utility provider. An on-line application option is available and encouraged for faster responses. To apply on-line, visit: www.Broward.org/RentAssistance or call: (888) 692-7203 for assistance over the phone in English, Spanish and Creole, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tenants or landlords who have already filed an application, can also call: (888) 692-7203 to check the status of their application and please have the case number, handy. Eligibility An "eligible household" is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals, meet the following criteria: • Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability (including eviction notices, utility shutoff notices, past due rent notices, past due utility notices or any other evidence of unsafe or unhealthy living conditions or housing stability); and • Qualifies for unemployment, has experienced a reduction in household income, has incurred significant costs or experienced any financial hardships, due to COVID‐19; • Has a household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. • Review the 2021 Income Category Chart at: https://www.broward.org/RentAssistance/Pages/default.aspx Payment Method • Rental assistance payments will be made to either landlord or tenant. Utility payments will be made directly to utility providers. Eligible Expenses • Past-due rent, including contracted late fees • Past-due utility and home energy cost (includes electricity, gas, water and trash removal) Future Rent (up to three months) • Relocation expenses (includes rental security deposit, application fees, screening fees and hotel costs) No Duplication of Benefits • Assistance provided for an eligible household may not duplicate any other assistance, including federal, state and local assistance provided for the same costs. • An eligible household that occupies a federally subsidized residential or mixed‐use property, may receive assistance, provided that funds are not applied to costs that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal assistance. • If an eligible household receives a monthly federal subsidy (e.g., a Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Project-Based Rental Assistance) and the tenant rent is adjusted according to changes in income, the renter household may receive ERA assistance for the tenant-owed portion of rent or utilities that is not subsidized. Level of Assistance • Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance (measured from March 13, 2020), plus an additional 3 months if the applicant is able to demonstrate that the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and that funds are available. • Assistance will be provided to reduce an eligible household’s past due rent, before the applicant will be evaluated for its eligibility for assistance with future rent payments. • Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their eligibility for assistance. As of June 22, in Broward County, 4,600 individuals have completed the application process and another 6,300 have started the process, but have not yet, completed it. “We have funds available and a program in place to help,” said Broward County Family Success Assistant Director Natalie Beasley. “We will continue to accept applications after June 30th, when the eviction moratorium ends. People in need are encouraged to apply now and those who have started the application process and not completed it, are urged to do so as soon as possible.” The Service Centers will also remain open, until further notice. For more information COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance visit: https://www.broward.org/RentAssistance/Pages/default.aspx < Previous News Next News >

Aventura Acknowledges World Mental Health Day: To Promote Education, Treatment, Dialogue And Wellness Practices Wed Oct 18 2023 16:02:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

How To Save On Gas: Start Saving On All Your Fuel Purchases Thu Jun 02 2022 04:10:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Avant Garde Safe Route To School Sidewalk Improvement Program Underway In Hollywood Thu Jan 26 2023 17:05:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Your Family's Heritage: Knowing Your past Can Help Build A Better Future By Tracy Renee Lee September 1, 2022 Share My husband is a retired US Navy Veteran. His career has been filled with amazing experiences. Those experiences have contributed to making him an amazing man. I am sure most military wives feel the same about their husbands, but do their children? I was talking on the phone with my daughter the other day. Her husband also serves in the US Navy. She was talking about her father and his amazing experiences as a US Navy service member. She asked me to ask him to video himself telling the stories of his career. She said that she wanted them for her children and grandchildren. My youngest daughter is a genealogist. She researches our family history as well as histories for other families seeking knowledge of their ancestral lineage. She is a historical detective. She finds information that others are unable to find; treasures of knowledge and hidden history. She finds letters and documents and pieces together the lives of the deceased. She brings to life and reignites lost heritage. That is what my other daughter was asking for when she asked for her father to record his history. She wants to preserve his legacy and make it a living part of her heritage for her children. Because she recognizes his outstanding qualities of honor, integrity, strength, loyalty, love, charity, dedication and faith, she wants his story to be intact as it passes through the future generations of our family. She wants to ensure those virtues remain important and naturally ingrained into her posterity. As an adult woman and mother to her children, my daughter sees that virtues sometimes slip away as generations pass. She has witnessed the struggle to recover those virtues within the previous generations of our family and she does not want to see that happen to her future descendants. The world is a tough place to live and a tough place to raise virtuous children. Children are bombarded from all angles to disregard the virtues of society and self and to follow individualism as they interpret it. The problem with that is that children aren’t experienced or mature enough to understand the consequences of adult choices nor the importance of virtues. That is why they are children and have parents to guide, love, and teach them. One hopes that children have parents who have decent objectives and are mature enough to have given up selfish behaviors and bad decisions. In the funeral profession, my daughter witnesses families who struggle with virtues and families who thrive through virtues. It is a perspective that she is fortunate to see. It has made her an excellent parent who understands the seriousness and failures of lawlessness and carelessness. My daughter understands that it is easier to build upon a good foundation rather than start from scratch. Therefore, she wants to ensure that her father’s history and virtues are the foundation from which her children launch their lives. I, like my daughter, am blessed with the tremendous fortune of having a good father. I grew up in the loving embrace of parents who loved the Lord and took the time to teach me the virtues of character and life. I appreciate my parents’ time and effort in teaching me to choose good over evil and incorporate virtue into my life rather than failure and heartache. Their focus was to raise strong, successful, loving, and caring children into virtuous adults. Even when their children may have tried to wander, they remained ever loving and gentle with us. They led us back to where we needed to be through kind nudges and loving directions. As a parent, I have tried to follow the examples and loving guidance through which my parents tenderly raised me. I have tried to empower my children through the proven path of virtuous living, encouraging them to obtain their potential and serene happiness. Fortunately, before they came along, I married a stalwart man, undaunted by my goals and willing to join my crusade in parenting virtuous children. My husband has been a good, generous, gentle-hearted, and virtuous father to our children and grandchildren. Our daughters attest to this truth through continual expressions of gratitude and love. My children have been incredibly blessed through him; thankfully, they realize and appreciate their good fortune. His influence has imprinted his virtues into their personalities, ways of life, and eternal souls. I have passed along my daughter’s request for my husband to record his life’s history for her and his future descendants. I hope he will honor her precious request and provide his enduring legacy to our future family. My name is Tracy Renee Lee. I am a Certified Grief Counselor (GC-C), Funeral Director (FDIC), published author, syndicated columnist, Podcaster, and founder of the “Mikey Joe Children’s Memorial” and Heaven Sent, Corp. I write books, weekly bereavement articles, Podcasts and Grief BRIEFs related to understanding and coping with grief. I am the American Funeral Director of the Year Runner-Up and recipient of the BBB’s Integrity Award. It is my life's work to comfort the bereaved and help them live on. For additional encouragement, please visit my podcast “Deadline” at https://open.spotify.com/show/7MHPy4ctu9OLvdp2JzQsAA or at https://anchor.fm/tracy874 and follow me on Instagram at "Deadline_TracyLee." < Previous News Next News >

Tobacco-Free ‘23: Three Reasons Why This Is The Year To Quit Tobacco For Good January 19, 2023 Share While Tobacco use has been declining for decades, 14.7% of Florida residents still smoke and Tobacco is the leading cause of death and disease in the state. Through the new “Tobacco-Free ‘23” campaign, the American Lung Association in Florida is sharing key reasons why 2023 is the year to quit Tobacco, as well as sharing tips and resources. “Each year, quitting smoking is listed as one of the top New Year’s resolutions. While quitting smoking is extremely difficult, it is possible. In fact, it typically takes a person 8-10 attempts to quit smoking for good, which is why we call it a journey,” said Janelle Hom, Executive Director, American Lung Association. “It is important to have support during this process, including family, friends and your doctor, to help keep you on the right path.” Here are three important reasons why 2023 is the year to start your journey to become Tobacco-free: 1. Your Health: Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Florida, killing 32,300 people each year. Currently, 16 million Americans live with a tobacco-related disease. While it’s best to quit as early as possible, quitting Tobacco use at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life. 2. FDA is Preparing to End Sales of Menthol Cigarettes: Currently, the Food and Drug Administration FDA is in the process of finalizing rules to end the sale of Menthol Cigarettes and flavored Cigars in the U.S. If you use one of these Tobacco Products, this is an optimal time to begin your quit journey. In fact, after Canada stopped selling Menthol Cigarettes in 2017, the country saw an increase in quit attempts and cessation among people who smoked Menthols. 3. Be An Inspiration! Last year, the American Lung Association relaunched the “Super Stoppers Club” with Award-Winning Journalist Bob Levey to celebrate people who have quit smoking for good and inspire those who are trying to quit. Read inspiring quit stories and submit your own at: www.Lung.org/Super-Stoppers *Bonus: If your New Year’s Resolution is to save money, quitting smoking can save you between $2,230-$4,360 annually. Here are some of the tips and resources the American Lung Association recommends to successfully quit Tobacco: • Lung Helpline: Not sure where to start? Call the Lung Association’s free Lung Helpline and Tobacco Quitline at: 1 (800) LUNGUSA 1 (800) 586-4872, which is staffed with Licensed Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists. • Talk to your healthcare provider: Talking to a healthcare provider about your plan to quit smoking is an important step. With your doctor’s help, you can include cessation medication into your Tobacco treatment plan, which can double your chances of quitting successfully. There are seven FDA-Approved medications that are proven to help you quit. • Get help from a proven resource: The American Lung Association offers resources to help adults and teens to quit all Tobacco products, including: • Freedom From Smoking® helps individuals create their own unique quit plan, as well as tips and techniques to stay successful in the long run. Freedom From Smoking can be accessed online, at a group class and through a self-guided workbook. Those looking to quit smoking are encouraged to use the method that works best for their learning style, schedule and unique quit Tobacco use plan. • Not-On-Tobacco® (N-O-T) is a teen smoking/chewing/vaping cessation program for teens who want to quit. The 10-session program provides the tools, information, and support for teens to end their addiction to Tobacco. Teens can participate in NOT in-person, virtually or online at: www.NOTforMe.org • Quit. Don’t Switch. E-Cigarettes are Tobacco products,and the FDA has not found any E-Cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. Switching to E-Cigarettes does not mean quitting. Quitting means ending your addiction to Nicotine. For more information about quitting Tobacco for “Tobacco-Free ’23,” visit the American Lung Association website at: www.Lung.org Or call the Lung HelpLine at: 1 (800) LUNGUSA, 1 (800) 586-4872. < Previous News Next News >