Aventura Chick-fil-A Restaurant to Offer Free Breakfast: Guests Can Claim the Complimentary Menu Offer Via the Chick-fil-A App May 15, 2024 Share Participating Chick-fil-A® restaurants in the South Florida area will offer a free breakfast entrée starting Monday, May 13 through Saturday, May 25. Guests who download or open the Chick-fil-A® App will earn a free Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit, Sausage or Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit or Muffin, Egg White Grill or 4-count Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minisä. “We’re so excited to offer a free breakfast entrée to our Guests for the next two weeks,” said James Probe, local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Aventura. “We hope you’ll start your morning off with a delicious breakfast on us.” Promotion is valid through the app and while supplies last. To claim the offer, guests can open the app and redeem the reward at participating South Florida-area Chick-fil-A restaurants from May 13 through May 25. Limit one per person, per Chick-fil-A One®account. No purchase necessary. Breakfast items valid during breakfast hours only. WHEN: May 13 – May 25, 2024 Open – 10:30 a.m. Closed Sunday Breakfast hours may vary, and breakfast is not available at all locations. Contact your local Chick-fil-A restaurant for details. WHERE: Participating South Florida-area Chick-fil-A restaurants To locate a Chick-fil-A restaurant, visit: www.Chick-fil-A.com/Locations < Previous News Next News >

First Pancreas Transplant Program In Broward County: Simultaneous Transplantation Could Afford A Solution To Both Diabetes And Kidney Failure May 11, 2023 Share Memorial Healthcare System has launched a new Pancreas Transplant Program, complementing Memorial Transplant Institute’s existing Pediatric and Adult Kidney and Heart Transplant Services. This new program is a significant step forward in the field of Organ Transplantation in Broward County, as it is the only one offering patients with Diabetes and other related conditions a chance at a new life with a healthy Pancreas. The Abdominal Transplant Program at Memorial is led by two renowned experts in the field: Dr. Basit Javaid, a Transplant Nephrologist with more than 25 years of experience Facilitating Transplantation with excellent Post-Transplant outcomes for patients, serves as Chief of Abdominal Transplant Medicine; and Dr. Seyed Ghasemian, who has more than 30 years of experience with Organ Transplantations, serves as Chief of The Abdominal Transplant Surgery Program. "With the addition of the Pancreas Transplant Program, we further enhance our reputation as a leading Transplant Center in the region, with the advanced expertise to take on the most complex cases," said Dr. Javaid. "Together, our Transplant Nephrologists, Surgeons, Nurse Coordinators, Dieticians, Social Workers, and other Healthcare Specialists are committed to ensuring positive outcomes for our patients." The Need Kidney Failure is a devastating condition that can have life-altering consequences for patients. Insulin-Dependent Diabetes is one of the leading causes of Kidney Failure, as high levels of Blood Sugar can damage the Kidneys over time. Patients experiencing Kidney Failure due to Insulin-Dependent Diabetes require specialized care and treatment to manage their condition effectively. One of the most common treatments for patients with Kidney Failure is Dialysis. Dialysis is a medical procedure that filters waste and excess fluids from the blood, replicating the function of healthy Kidneys. For patients with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes, Dialysis is a critical treatment option that can help manage their condition and prevent further damage to their Kidneys. Another important aspect of managing Kidney Failure in patients with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes is controlling Blood Sugar Levels. High Blood Sugar can exacerbate Kidney Damage and increase the risk of complications. Patients must work closely with their Healthcare Team to monitor their Blood Sugar Levels, adjust their Insulin Dosages, and make any necessary lifestyle changes to manage their condition effectively. Furthermore, patients with Kidney Failure may require additional Medical Interventions, such as transplantation. Patients experiencing Kidney Failure due to having Insulin-Dependent Diabetes could qualify for a simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant (SPK), affording a cure to both Diabetes and Kidney Failure. According to CDC estimates, of almost 130,000 persons in the US who initiated treatment for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in 2020, nearly 60,000 had Diabetes as the underlying cause of Kidney Failure. Some of these patients would be best suited for SPK Transplants. “Pancreas Transplants occur most often in conjunction with Kidney Transplants for patients who have Advanced Kidney Disease caused by Diabetes,” said Dr. Javaid. “A simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant will treat a patient’s Kidney Disease, freeing them from Dialysis, as well as the requirement for Blood Sugar monitoring and Insulin – a remarkable improvement in their quality of life.” Memorial’s Pancreas Transplant Program received approval from UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) in April 2023. "The launch of the Pancreas Transplant Program is an important milestone for Memorial Transplant Institute and its team of experts who continue to reach new heights for the benefit of their patients and families,” said Peter Powers, CEO of Memorial Regional Hospital, which houses the Institute. The Pancreas is a large Organ behind the Stomach that produces Insulin to regulate Blood Sugar and helps with Digestion. When it produces little or no Insulin, as is the case with people with Diabetes, the body can’t sustain its Blood Sugar in a normal range. Serious medical complications can occur, including Kidney Disease, Heart Attack, Stroke, and Premature Death. For more information, please call: (954) 265-7450. Or visit: www.mhs.net/transplant < Previous News Next News >

State Of The City Address Part VI: Transformational Change Has Been Happening Throughout Hallandale Beach By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper June 27, 2024 Share This is the final segment of my State of the City. While many are still recovering from the storms I want to share my heartfelt prayers. We continue to work around the clock. While we are doing our part we encourage residents to be prepared, it is Hurricane Season! Have your plans ready and supplies ready. Please also remember even if your are renting you should look into content and Flood Insurance. FEMA does not cover every storm. Our Police Department has been vigilant in light of the continued war in both Israel and the Ukraine. Our Commission continues to support and make investments in modern technology and training. Technology has already transformed police work. We have 38 Cameras around the City with 36 License Plate Readers. ShotSpotter Sensors cover half of our City and we have 1 Surveillance Camera Trailer. All within our four-square miles. Obviously, we are looking to add more. We want to expand the system to include every entrance and exit to our community, adding to our schools and houses of worship and cover the entire city with ShotSpotter Equipment. As I mentioned months ago, we partnered with the real time crime center at BSO Headquarters. This center is paid for by your County Taxes. We have a stationed officer there that can help when crime occurs. They automatically collaborate in real time with officers when they are in pursuit. We want to expand the staffing hours. Safety is not just about our police and our streets, but we need to protect our online systems. Cybersecurity programs are vital. Our Microsoft suite uses AI to prevent cyber-attacks and related threats. The most recent application has been with our closed captioning in our Commission Chambers. AI allows for 98% percent transcribing accuracy. There are so many ways that I will transform how we do business. Our IT Staff continues to follow these electronic tools and will be strategically adapting them. The affordability crisis in the housing market has been having rippling effects. It is not just about having a new home. It has impacted every aspect of our economy. These costs are driving homeowners out of cities, along with our workforce. For years I have been pushing changes in how we regulate development and our codes. I believe we have always been at the forefront of change. With this foundation we are, unlike many of our surrounding cities ready for Live Local. Sure, there will still be checks and balances. Our move to form base codes has proven success with developments like: Accesso Office Tower and Atlantic Villages I, II, III and IV brought Transformational change to North Federal and over $120 Million Dollars in investments. Form Base Codes are not perfect. We are finding that in some cases to provide for the organic growth of businesses within new developments, the variance process is hindering growth. We know we need to rewrite our codes which have not gone through a major rewrite, so we contracted with Calvin Giordano & Associates. This will be the most challenging and most critical project other than our Infrastructure. We have already been making changes. We have changed the rules for walls, fences and the use of our right of way. We have adopted changes to roof top heights to allow for amenities and uses that complement the development. We have passed an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance and are currently working on units sizes to provide the flexibility needed to create affordable units. The next issue will be parking. Some interesting facts about parking. First, our City used to have one spot per household. Over 50 cities so far have ditched parking mandates. Parking takes up land that can be used for housing, a single spot can add $5,000 to $150,000 in costs to a unit. 95% of the time cars are simply parked. The key to parking changes needs to be coupled with transit. As we are working hard to expand it. The Cloud is one major set but sidewalks, micro transit ride shares, and Uber will be critical. The past five years went by fast and now we need to address the next 5 years and plan for our future. We cannot do it in a vacuum. 2024- 2025 we hope will be smooth sailing, but we need you on board. I understand how important building connections and relationships are. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic there has been a different paragon when it comes to community involvement. There is so much divisiveness and polarization that it has built-up a lack of trust of government in general. Our City needs to find and utilize new ways to get people involved. It is important to be accessible and transparent to build trust but without two parties working collaboratively we cannot solve problems. Those that know me understand I am willing to work tirelessly to get input from all stakeholders. It starts with understanding we have a common goal. We want to be successful. In our case it takes stakeholders and government and it takes TWO to get to success! Evaluating Threat weaknesses and opportunities will lead to success. We just sent out a City survey by mail. We quickly learned we need to use all avenues of communication. Snail mail is not the only way. It is now posted online, and you can find it on our Social Media. I even posted it on my Social Media. I do not want you to sit back! It is our collective future and we need your input! Another challenge will be the November Elections. While there is a battle on the National level we cannot be caught up in the rhetoric. All elections matter and will have a profound impact on levels. I am not here to be partisan but pragmatic. I wanted to make sure that you do not sit this one out. Elections matter and will impact our future. We have elections across the board including State, County and for the City of Hallandale Beach. I love our City and am honored to be your Mayor. It is great doing what you love. I have decided that I will be running alongside my Colleagues Vice Mayor Anabelle Lima-Taub and Commissioner Michele Lazarow who also are running this year for reelection. I rarely ask for help, but my business this year is an election. So, I am asking you to help and support my business, my reelection campaign. Please ask me more on how you can help keep our City on the right path. I want to thank you for joining us and please remember, I am working for you! I Always Have! I Always Will. I love our City and am honored to be your Mayor! Email me at: joycooper@aol.com . Visit my website at: www.mayorjoycooper.com - Or Call/Text me at: (954) 632-5700. God Bless our great city and God Bess America! < Previous News Next News >

A Family Celebration Fit For A (Lion) King: The Broward Performing Arts Foundation Presents ‘Hakuna Matata’ South Florida Sun Times Mar 6, 2025 The Broward Performing Arts Foundation is hosting a roaring good time with a special brunch party and performance of Disney’s The Lion King during ‘Hakuna Matata – A Family Celebration Fit For A (Lion) King!’ at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 23rd. The festivities begin with a brunch party at 11:00 a.m. in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom, followed by Disney’s The Lion King in the Au-Rene Theater at 1:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy a variety of activities including themed food and beverage stations at the King of the Feasts Buffet, safari arts and crafts, face painting, a “wild adventure” photo op and a DJ Dance Party. Presented by long-time Broward Center supporters Alice and Mike Jackson and Michelle and Donald Sussman, ‘Hakuna Matata – A Family Celebration” is a benefit for the Broward Center's arts-in-education and community engagement programs. At 1:00 p.m., the curtain will rise and giraffes will strut, birds will swoop and gazelles will leap as the entire Serengeti will come to life in Disney’s The Lion King. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, unforgettable music, and uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage. Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, The Lion King brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. The Lion King also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Performances at the Broward Center run from March 6-30. For a complete list of show dates and times, visit: www.Browardcenter.org/events/detail/the-lion-king-2025 Single tickets for the “Hakuna Matata Family Celebration” are $275 per person and include the brunch party and performance. For large groups and families, tables are available for $2,500 and include the brunch party for 10 guests and 10 prime seats for the performance. Sponsorship opportunities start at $5,000. For more information on sponsorships or to purchase tables and tickets, visit: www.Browardcenter.org/events/detail/hakuna-matata-a-family-celebration - Call: (954) 468-3298. Or email: Foundation@browardcenter.org . For nearly 40 years, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation has been instrumental in providing support for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Foundation was established in 1985 to deliver the required private funding to build the Center and create an endowment to sustain its operations. Over the years, the Foundation has successfully raised funds to support the Broward Center’s innovative and diverse programming, arts-in-education initiatives, community engagement activities and capital projects. In 2021, the Foundation completed a $30 Million capital campaign to renovate and restore the iconic Parker Playhouse. Prior to this, it raised $60 Million to complete the Encore! capital campaign to renovate, renew and revitalize the Broward Center. Previous Next

Mutts Gone Nuts: Some Of The World’s Most Talented 4 Legged Performers January 18, 2023 Share Expect the unexpected, as canines and comedy collide in a smash hit performance, that’s leaving audiences everywhere howling for more. From shelters to showbiz, these amazing mutts unleash havoc and hilarity in a breathtaking, action packed, comedy dog spectacular, featuring some of the world’s most talented 4 legged performers. Deemed ‘A Must See’ by the Washington Post, the dogs are sure to steal your heart and then your socks! The all-star lineup includes the highest jumping dog in the universe, two Guinness World Record Champions, a hilarious six pound Pomeranian Pikachu mix, a host of previously discarded dogs that will dance, prance, flip and skip their way right into your heart! Deemed “A must see!” by the Washington Post, Mutts Gone Nuts is sure to win Best in Show! Performances feature 9 amazing mutts (and 4 humans) in a 75 minute canine extravaganza. Witness the unbelievable as these once discarded dogs jump, dance, dive, flip, trip, slip and skip their way right into the audience's hearts. Mutts Gone Nuts will be performing in Aventura on Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. You can purchase tickets online at: www.aventuracenter.org By phone at: (877) 311-7469. Or: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center box office Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. Noon to 5 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307. Parking Free parking is available in the lots adjacent to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in front of the Aventura Community Recreation Center and the Aventura City of Excellence School. Valet service is available for most performances at $20 per vehicle. Valet parking is located at the main entrance of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in the circular drive. There is a convenient drop-off area in front of the building. The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at: 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180. < Previous News Next News >

How to Live and Lead from a Place of Balance and Authenticity Thu Oct 07 2021 04:08:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Art Across Generations - Grandparents And Grandchildren Connect At Wiener Museum Of Decorative Arts South Florida Sun Times Aug 27, 2026 It’s Time For Arts Across Generations On Grandparents’ Day At The Wiener Museum Of Decorative Arts (WMODA) located At 3250 North 29th Avenue, Hollywood, Florida 33020 With Hands-On Creativity, Inspiration, And Family Connection. On Sunday, September 13th, 2026 From 10:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m., WMODA Is Offering Free Admission, This One Day Only. There Are Many Opportunities For Artistic Expression For All Ages To Share, Whether It’s Throwing Raw Clay, Stringing Glass Beads, Or Delving Into Engaging Scavenger Hunts. Ceramics And Glass Are “Fired Arts” And Families Can Create Lasting Memories With These Experiences. Throughout the day, guests can observe Resident Artist Mirela Popovici demonstrate the mesmerizing art of wheel-thrown pottery. For those eager for a more immersive experience on the wheel, Mirela is offering exclusive 30-minute mini-sessions for $30 each, giving lucky guests the chance to learn how to throw their own small bowl. Mirela will fire and glaze their “masterpiece” to collect from WMODA two weeks later. Artist Lori Brown leads a lively, hands-on beading workshop designed for guests eight years of age and up. This guided session invites family members to design, string, and assemble their own beaded bracelet, or other creation to wear or gift to a loved one. Guests can also drop by River of Glass and Light art project, inspired by Dale Chihuly’s iconic Macchia forms, to shape their own colorful paper sculptures. Registration: Museum admission is FREE this one day only! Mirela Popovici’s wheel-throwing mini sessions and Lori Brown’s beading sessions can be booked by emailing: events@wmoda.com . Or by calling the museum at: (954) 376-6690. About Wiener Museum Of Decorative Arts (WMODA): With over 3,000 works of art on display, WMODA features one of the world's largest collections of glass art by Dale Chihuly alongside other superstars of the American Studio Glass Movement. The ceramic art collection celebrates elegant British pottery such as Wedgwood and Royal Doulton and innovative European design movements including Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Spectacular ceramic art and design by Ardmore from South Africa is also a highlight of the collection. WMODA is more than a museum; it is a vital resource for artistic and creative exploration, offering many educational programs, classes, workshops and other events taking place year-round. WMODA is a NonProfit 501(c)3 Museum. WMODA is located at 3250 North 29th Avenue, Hollywood, Florida 33020. Hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $15 Adults, $12 Seniors, $5 Military and Students (with ID), Free for children five and under. Free parking. Wheelchair accessible. Groups invited. For more information, please call: (954) 376-6690. Or visit: www.wmoda.com . Celebrate Grandparents Day at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts with a day dedicated to hands-on creativity, inspiration, and family connection. Celebrate Grandparents Day at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts with a day dedicated to hands-on creativity, inspiration, and family connection. Previous Next

The Final Masterworks Concert: South Florida Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Triumphant 25th Anniversary Thu Apr 06 2023 16:08:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

What Is And Isn't Covered: Understanding Your Medicare Coverage Thu Oct 19 2023 16:10:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Politics Of Hate - Weaponized Discord Is The Deep State’s Most Effective Tool By John & Nisha Whitehead Feb 19, 2026 This Country Was Built On The Radical Idea That The Government Exists To Serve The People—Not To Control Them, Monitor Them, Manage Them, Or Rule Over Them. That idea is being systematically dismantled by a Deep State determined to entrench its power at our expense by keeping the nation divided, distracted, and perpetually at war with itself. This is what happens when those in power discover that a divided people are easier to manipulate than a united one—and that hate is not a byproduct of politics, but one of its most effective weapons. This nation is being destabilized by forces that masquerade as political movements, but dig down deep, and you’ll find that power and greed work the same no matter which party hat they wear. The “politics of hate” is a bipartisan tool. The division that is tearing this country apart is not an accident. It has been cultivated, weaponized, and exploited. As a result, life in America has become a gut-wrenching, soul-sucking, misery-drenched existence. “We the people” are being subjected to crackdowns, clampdowns, shutdowns, showdowns, shootdowns, standdowns, knockdowns, putdowns, breakdowns, lockdowns, takedowns, slowdowns, meltdowns, and never-ending letdowns. We’ve been held up, stripped down, faked out, photographed, frisked, fracked, hacked, tracked, cracked, intercepted, accessed, spied on, zapped, mapped, searched, shot at, tasered, tortured, tackled, trussed up, tricked, lied to, labeled, libeled, leered at, shoved aside, saddled with debt not of our own making, sold a bill of goods about national security, tuned out by those representing us, tossed aside, and taken to the cleaners. We’ve had our freedoms turned inside out, our democratic structure flipped upside down, and our house of cards left in a shambles. We’ve been locked down, shut in, fenced off, fined, cited, censored, silenced, surveilled, tracked, traced, coerced, mandated, ordered, threatened, and punished in the name of “public health,” with our rights treated not as inalienable, but as conditional privileges—granted, suspended, or revoked at the whim of governors, bureaucrats, and unelected officials. We’ve been told that as citizens we have no rights within 100 miles of our own border. Now those “Constitution-free zones” have expanded far beyond the nation’s borders, as federal agents stop, question, detain, raid, and surveil Americans in a profit-driven quest to fill quotas and establish a “papers please” society. We’ve seen the police transformed from community peacekeepers to point guards for the militarized corporate state. We’ve been pushed around, prodded, poked, pried at, spied on, scanned, shot and intimidated by the very individuals—police—hired to safeguard our rights. We’ve been sodomized, victimized, jeopardized, demoralized, traumatized, stigmatized, vandalized, demonized, polarized and terrorized, often without having done anything to justify such treatment. Blame it on a government mindset that renders us guilty before we’ve even been charged, let alone convicted, of any wrongdoing. We’ve been railroaded into believing that our votes count, that we live in a democracy, that elections make a difference, that it matters whether we vote Republican or Democrat, and that our elected officials are looking out for our best interests. Truth be told, we live in an oligarchy. We’ve gone from having privacy in our inner sanctums to having nowhere to hide, with wearable devices and biometric trackers monitoring our bodies, apps logging our movements and interactions, homes that spy on us through smart meters, cameras, and remotely controlled systems, and cars that listen to our conversations and track our whereabouts. Even our cities have become wall-to-wall electronic concentration camps, with license-plate readers, facial recognition systems, and high-definition cameras recording everything that takes place within city limits. We’ve been rendered enemy combatants in our own country, denied basic due process rights, held against our will without access to an attorney or being charged with a crime, and left to molder in jail until such a time as the government is willing to let us go or allow us to defend ourselves. We’ve seen families ripped apart by militarized ICE raids, homes entered without judicial warrants, asylum seekers caged, long-time residents disappeared into detention centers, and entire communities terrorized by quota-driven enforcement schemes that trample due process and treat human beings as collateral damage. We’ve been silenced, censored and forced to conform, shut up in free speech zones, gagged by hate crime laws, stifled by political correctness, muzzled by misguided anti-bullying statutes, and pepper sprayed for taking part in peaceful protests. We’ve had our tax dollars burned on no-bid emergency contracts, bloated surveillance programs, militarized policing grants, mass detention facilities, endless foreign wars, and government handouts to private corporations tasked with censoring speech, tracking behavior, enforcing mandates, and building databases on the American people—while roads crumble, schools fail, and basic needs go unmet. We are no longer just being governed. In many parts of the country, we are being occupied—by our own government. American cities are increasingly treated as hostile territory—patrolled by National Guard units, federalized police forces, and armed immigration agents operating with military tactics, military equipment, and military rules of engagement. At the same time, the country has seen the quiet expansion of vast warehouse-style detention centers—human storage facilities designed to make so-called “undesirables” disappear. Are you exhausted yet? You should be. More than exhausted, however, you should be outraged at what has been done to our country. I’m outraged at what has been done to our freedoms. This is not a culture war. It is not a partisan feud. It is not a battle between left and right, red and blue, believer and nonbeliever. It is a power struggle between a ruling class that governs through fear, division, and exhaustion—and a people whose greatest strength lies not in violence, but in solidarity. We do not have to agree on politics to see what is happening. We only have to decide whether to continue playing a role in our own manipulation. America will not be saved by rage. As I make clear in Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, America will be saved—if it is saved at all—by people who refuse to play by the Deep State’s rules. Demand instead that the government play by our rules—the rules of the Constitution. And when those in power fail to do so, when they trample over the rule of the law and disregard the contract that holds them accountable, boot every last one of them out— peacefully, lawfully, and without exception. 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 commentary 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

Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Seeks Volunteer Ushers South Florida Sun Times Oct 22, 2025 The Dynamic Ushering Corps At The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Is The Unofficial Opening Act For Every Performance. The Aventura Art & Cultural Center’s Milestone 15th Anniversary Season Is The Perfect Time To Join The Volunteer Team, Meet Fellow Theater Enthusiasts From Aventura And Across South Florida And Be Part Of The Excitement. The Venue Is Accepting Applications For New Members And Will Offer A Three-Hour Orientation On Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 From 6:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. The volunteer corps greets patrons and ushers them to their seats as the audience gets ready to enjoy dance, theater, concerts, comedy and a delightful variety of events. New members will be joining a friendly mix ranging from retired seniors to high school students who earn community service hours. Volunteers choose a continuing evening or matinee shift joining a team of others with the same shift. Those interested in volunteering must first apply online at: www.aventuracenter.org/volunteer . Applicants will be contacted by the volunteer coordinator prior to the scheduled orientation to confirm attendance. Volunteers are eligible to begin ushering performances upon completion of the two-hour orientation and training session. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older and commit to a regular weekly shift schedule for a day or night performance. High school student volunteers earn community service hours toward their graduation requirement. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts manages the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, a 14,864-Square-Foot, 330-Seat Waterfront Complex that hosts performing arts, cultural and educational programming for all ages. The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 333180. Visit: www.aventuracenter.org and join the conversation on Twitter at: #aventuracenter. Previous Next

Feeding 8 Billion People: The Human Population Is Four Times Greater Than 100 Years Ago By Beth Ellikidis April 20, 2023 Share The human population has just crossed the threshold of 8 billion. That's four times greater than 100 years ago and demographers forecast we'll reach 9 billion within the next few decades. With more and more people, the challenge of meeting basic needs, starting with food, is mounting each year. In fact, the United Nations reports that global food insecurity has "hit new peaks," due to a confluence of crises and signs point to things getting worse. But thanks to the power of science, particularly new innovations in gene-editing technology, we can mitigate contributing factors such as drought, pestilence and climate change, helping to feed humanity even as our numbers keep increasing. Consider that in roughly the same hundred years the global population expanded by six billion, global poverty also plummeted. In 1929, 1.35 billion people, two-thirds of all human beings, lived in extreme poverty. By 2015, that number was down in absolute terms to 734 million -- just around 10% of humanity. In 2019, the percentage of the global population classified as undernourished stood at 8.9% -- a figure that, while still too high, represents tremendous progress. At first blush, these statistics don't seem to make sense. How can a population double twice over on a planet with scarce resources and people end up less hungry and less poor? But that's exactly what happened and it's thanks to humanity's capacity to get better at what we do. In the 20th century, inventors and agricultural scientists ushered in a "Green Revolution," a period in which new inventions and processes increased crop yields exponentially. In 1909, two German Chemists invented Synthetic Nitrogen, a chemical key to plant growth. Instead of relying only on manure and dead plants to feed crops Nitrogen, farmers now had unlimited access to inexpensive supplies at greater concentration. Later in the century, Norman Borlaug, an American Agronomist, spent years developing new breeds of Wheat to control the height of the stem. Better Fertilization was causing stems to grow too tall and heavier grains were toppling the plants before harvest. The new Wheat breed has tripled yields since the 1960’s. Borlaug also applied his breeding technique to Rice -- and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. Right now, the latest installment of the Green Revolution is already under way. This time, it's not what we add to crops, it's how we structure their Genetic Code to select for desirable characteristics. Consider drought, especially in the context of a changing climate. Areas without water for extended periods of time won't yield enough crops to feed local populations. But with the Gene-Editing Technology CRISPR, which can "cut and paste" Individual Genes, scientists have added or removed Genes to make such crops as Corn and Tomatoes require less water and withstand drier conditions. CRISPR has the potential to speed up the results from selective breeding processes that Borlaug had to spend decades to achieve. For example, snipping just one Gene from Rice and Corn can increase yields by 10%, according to a new Science paper and it takes just one growing season to reap the benefits. Eight billion people is a lot. But by harnessing the power of Gene Editing and other Advanced Agricultural Technologies, we'll be able to ensure everyone on Planet Earth has enough to eat! < Previous News Next News >