Big Adventures, Bright Vibes - Fresh Ride, Bright Vibe: Your Ride. Your Space. Your Community. By Jose Paz, BCT Oct 8, 2025 Every Sunday Morning, 10-Year-Old Ethan Jumps Out Of Bed A Little Faster Than Usual. He Knows It’s Not Just Any Day; It’s “Grandma Day.” For the past year, Ethan and his grandmother Rachel have made it a tradition to ride the bus together every Sunday. It’s their shared ritual: no rush, no screens, no distractions. Just the two of them, discovering new corners of Broward County one route at a time. Sometimes it’s a visit to the park for kite flying and ice cream. Other times it’s a trip to the library, a stop at the local market, or even an afternoon exploring nature at a community center. The destinations change, but the feeling stays joyful, relaxed, and connected. “The ride is part of the adventure,” says Grandma Rachel. “And for me, it’s also a way to keep moving, keep social, and share time with my grandson without worrying about driving or parking.” As a senior, Rachel rides with a reduced fare, which helps stretch his budget. She’s also grateful for the thoughtful design of the buses, which have low floors, accessible seating, and drivers who greet her with a smile and lend a hand when needed. For Ethan, the bus is magical. He loves watching the city roll by, choosing the “best” seat, and announcing their next stop. “It’s like we’re going on a mini vacation every Sunday,” he says. “And Grandma lets me pick the route.” Their favorite trip? “The one where we went to the farmers market, tried dragon fruit for the first time, and rode back home just in time to catch the sunset.” Ron laughs, remembering the day. “It was a great ride. The bus was cool, clean, and quiet. We were tired, but happy. It’s something we look forward to every week.” At BCT, we believe public transit should be more than just transportation; it should be a fresh experience that makes daily life better for every age. Whether you’re a grandparent creating memories or a kid with a curious heart, there’s a seat for you on board. Fresh Ride. Bright Vibe. For senior fares, family-friendly routes, and planning tools, visit: www.Broward.org/BCT - Or call: (954) 357-8400. Previous Next

Looking For A FREE Ride: Expanded Service Route Now Underway September 7, 2023 Share Last week, the City of Hollywood, in partnership with the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency, and Circuit Transit, Inc., launched an "On-Demand" Shuttle Service from select areas west of I-95. Riders may now request a Ride from designated locations in the western portion of the City to popular spots like local grocery stores and community centers, our Historic Downtown and the World-Famous Hollywood Beach. Visit the dedicated website: http://www.hollywoodfl.org/ and search Sun Shuttle Expanded Service to learn more about the expanded service areas, how to request a Ride and more. How It Works Riders can download the "Ride Circuit" application from Google Play or the App Store to request a Ride. The App allows for Pick-Up and Drop-Off Location Requests, as well as connections from one Zone to another. If you have an issue with booking a Ride, please call: (646) 504-3733, or click here. Fares will be $2 Per Person each way on ALL Shuttle Rides within each Zone. Use Promo Code: "SEPFREE2023" when requesting a Ride and Ride for FREE during the month of September within the Newly Expanded Route Zones. Should you have any questions or concerns about your Sun Shuttle experience, you can easily reach a Circuit Customer Service Representative by calling: (646) 504-3733. Their Team is dedicated to providing Excellent Service and Assistance, ensuring that your journey is as smooth as possible. Learn more about Hollywood's Sun Shuttle by Circuit Micro-Transit System here: https://www.hollywoodfl.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1342 < Previous News Next News >

Aventura Salutes America’s Veterans November 3, 2022 Share Calling all veterans and military personnel from every generation! The City of Aventura will remember and recognize all the brave men and women who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces at Our Annual Veteran's Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The Ceremony will take place at the Government Center located at 19200 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, Florida 33180. If you or anyone in your family would like to be recognized, please email the City of Aventura Community Services Department at: crcenter@cityofaventura.com with that person’s name, rank, branch of service and when they served. For more information, contact the Community Recreation Center at: (305) 466-3883. < Previous News Next News >

Getting Ready For The Jewish Holidays: Looking Good For The Fall With New Designer Eyewear And Trendy Fragrances September 22, 2022 Share As Jews around the world are looking toward the eve of September 25 - when the High Holidays take place - it is also time to celebrate and feel good about yourself. With all of the changes happening this year, many family events planned throughout Rosh Hashanah (September 25th -September 27th) and Yom Kippur (October 4th - October 5th) might look and feel a bit different. So if you have been cooped up at home and are looking forward to seeing family or just spending the special time at home with a friend, you might want to treat yourself to get a sense of normalcy. What better way to do this than to get dressed up to look and smell great? Let the professionals at Brand International help you a bit with that part of it. Some new designer eyewear, or a trendy fragrance can help you get out of those stay at home blues and make you feel good about yourself with all the is happening. During the High Holidays, feasting and fasting is part of the holiday season, there will be several occasions that gift giving will be part of the event. At Brand International Perfume in Hallandale Beach, the High Holidays are important - and for that reason, there will be special savings throughout September and October, featuring the latest eyewear and fragrances, every member of your family will simply love. When it comes to trendy fragrances and fashionable eyewear, nobody has the selection and quality that Brand International Perfume in Hallandale Beach does. From the time you walk in, you are greeted by the most knowledgeable and friendly team that Jacqueline Kels has put together. Brand International Perfume has certainly earned a positive reputation for being the place to go for gifts for every member of the family. And, you can guarantee that there will be plenty of convenient parking. Stop on over and the friendly staff will help you find the perfect fragrance or gift set for a special someone and while you're shopping, they will assist you with finding a fragrance for yourself as well. We all know that finding that new signature scent or a gift for the special people in your life can be a challenge, so why not take all the guesswork out of it and let the professionals help you. This sale will have you smelling great. The fragrance experts at Brand International can help you find that scent that defines you, all at huge discounts. Plus while you are at Brand International, selecting your perfect scent, check out the fabulous designer eyewear and sunglasses, you’ll be ready for the Fall season and looking great as well. They can even gift wrap your purchase! You may also be interested in out-of-stock, or hard to find fragrances from your favorite designers. At Brand International Perfume this month they will be hard at work to bring you big savings, owner Jacqueline Kels and her knowledgeable staff are making it easier than ever to shop for your special scent. Jacqueline and her staff have quite a selection of fashionable eyewear in the latest styles. When it comes to frames - everyone is searching for that perfect look that fits their personality. Maybe you saw someone wearing a style that you felt would look great on you - or flipping through a magazine - that pair of glasses happened to be just what you were looking for. Come by and Jacqueline will help you with your selection. “What we want to give our customers is a great selection at lower prices and something that everyone will notice,” Jacqueline explained. “Your eyes are so important - and we make it easier than ever for you to come in, bring your prescription and we will find the perfect frame and will have you looking and feeling great about yourself.” You don’t need to be a fashion expert to find eyeglass frames that look great on you. From designer brand name sunglasses to those frames that everyone is talking about, Brand International has it all - and there is really no reason to waste your gas and drive all over south Florida. Among the trendy frames that everyone is wearing these days - include: Vera Wang, Prada, Chanel, Dolce, Burberry, Oakley, Ray-Ban, Dior, Tiffany, Versace and many more. So with the vast selection of trendy eyewear, and thousands of brand name perfumes, the staff will be able to help you find exactly what you are looking for. When it comes to having the best deals, with savings on perfume sets to designer brand name sunglas-ses, there is really no reason to drive all over. With the guidance from her late husband, Elliot, Jacqueline has put her own signature into this very popular business, creating a vision that both had some years ago. A Large Selection Brand International Perfume prides itself on getting anything the customer wants. If it is still out there, if it is still being made, Jacqueline will get it. Even if it’s not being made and very hard to find, she probably has it. Living by Elliot’s motto: “If you can’t find it, we may have it.” this is certainly a destination that shoppers head to. The Lowest Prices Around It’s not often that you can purchase quality fragrances at such discounted prices. At Brand International Perfume, high-end items that go from $150, $200, $300 retail - such as Creed, Flower Bomb by Victor & Rolf - are not found in most discount perfume shops, but Jacqueline carries them at significant discounts, along with the other big names - such as Dolce & Gabbana and Thierry Mughler's to name a few brands. Brand International Perfume’s customer service is second to none. Come on by and check out top names such as: Maison Francis, Kurkdjian Paris, Amouage, Montale and Juliette Has A Gun to name a few. They are open 7 days, with over two decades of experience Jacqueline and her staff can fit your style and your budget. Brand International Perfume is located at 121 Northeast 3rd Street, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009. If you don’t have time to stop by the store, give Jacqueline a call at: (954) 457-1969. OUT OF STATE: 1-800-689-1969. Chances are, you will find your favorite fragrance at a tremendous savings. WE SHIP UPS ALL OVER THE USA! < Previous News Next News >

Supreme Court Sides With ZAKA Legal Affairs Unit - The Project Dignity Of Deceased After Fatal Jerusalem Nursery Tragedy Jewish Connection News Feb 12, 2026 Following The Tragic Deaths Of Two Infants At A Jerusalem Nursery, ZAKA Search & Rescue’s Legal Affairs Unit Played A Central Role In Safeguarding The Dignity Of The Deceased And Representing The Families During A Sensitive And Legally Complex Process That Rose To Israel’s Supreme Court. Immediately after the incident, as authorities began to investigate the fatalities, ZAKA’s Legal Affairs Unit was asked by the families to provide legal guidance and representation. From the outset, the unit ensured that investigative procedures would respect Kavod HaMeit, the obligation to preserve the dignity of the deceased. When the Israel Police and State Attorney’s Office petitioned the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court for full invasive autopsies, ZAKA’s Legal Unit made the case to the court that preliminary medical assessments already indicated the likely cause of death and should be accepted in lieu of invasive procedures. Despite this, the Magistrate’s Court approved the autopsies. Within hours, ZAKA filed an urgent appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court, exhausting every legal avenue to preserve Kavod HaMeit. At the Supreme Court hearing, ZAKA’s team, led by volunteer Attorney Dror Shosheim and Legal Affairs Unit Coordinator Michael Gutwein, presented an alternative framework balancing investigative needs with human dignity. The high court overturned the lower court ruling, ordering no autopsies be completed and emphasizing the importance of preserving the infants’ dignity while releasing their bodies for burial. “This decision reflects not only religious law and legal reasoning, but human sensitivity,” said ZAKA’s Legal Affairs Unit Coordinator Michael Gutwein. “Our role is to stand beside families at the most painful moment of their lives and ensure that their children are treated with respect and care, even after death.” Throughout the process, ZAKA coordinated with rabbinic authorities and forensic professionals, including Rabbi Asher Landau and the staff at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine, exploring non-invasive investigative alternatives. The Legal Affairs Unit also guided families through the legal system, explaining proceedings and ensuring their voices were heard. “ZAKA exists to protect dignity where it is most vulnerable,” said ZAKA CEO Dubi Weissenstern. “Our Legal Affairs Unit ensures that even in the most sensitive and complex investigations, families are not left alone and dignity is preserved.” “Our Legal Affairs Unit is a critical tool in ZAKA’s holy work of Kavod HaMeit,” added ZAKA U.S. Executive Director Moshe Rozenberg. “In this case our incredible volunteers, who are attorneys who have dedicated themselves and volunteered their time to stand by families in their darkest hours, were able to prove to the court that the tools exist to bridge both investigative needs and preserving the dignity of the deceased.” Founded to honor the dead in accordance with religious tradition, ZAKA has evolved into a full-scale emergency response network, with over 4,000 trained volunteers operating 24/7 across Israel to honor the dead, aid the living and bring dignity in times of devastation. Today, it operates a wide range of units – from rapid medical response and search and rescue to water recovery to culturally sensitive burial teams serving Israel’s Jewish, Bedouin, Arab and Druze communities to international units deploying at a moment’s notice to crises across the globe. For more information, visit: https://zakaworld.org/ . ZAKA Ambulance at High Court of Justice Previous Next

South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 28th Season Ignites With Electrifying Compositions South Florida Sun Times Oct 15, 2025 South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s (SFSO) 28th Season, “Juxtapositions,” Ignites With A Powerful Reminder That Even In Darkness, Light Will Always Find Its Way. Led By Award-Winning Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, SFSO Launches The Electrifying Evening With Beethoven's Freedom-Fighting Egmont Overture Followed By Saint-Saëns’ Fiery Cello Concerto No. 1 And Massenet’s Hushed “Méditation” From Thaïs Featuring GRAMMY®-Winning Cellist Virtuoso Zuill Bailey. Capping The Evening Is Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 – A profound Work That Took The Composer Decades To Complete, Beautifully Articulating One’s Journey From Darkness To Triumph. The Concert Will Take Place On Wednesday, November 5th At 7:30 p.m., At The Parker, Located At 707 Northeast 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. Enjoy A Pre-Concert Chat With Dr. Alan Mason 30 Minutes Before The Concert, Featuring In-Depth Conversation And Insights About The Works And Composers. “Each of the works we are presenting beautifully expresses challenges we can all relate to – when struggle becomes triumph, and the perseverance it takes to get there,” said Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso. “As we enter our 28th Season, I reflect on the resilience, grit, and dedication that South Florida Symphony has demonstrated throughout our history – and what has sustained us: the gift of performing live for our audiences. It is with pure joy that we share these profound, defiant, and utterly sublime works with you – music that acknowledges hardship and suffering, yet at its core fills you with hope, love, and optimism.” A work of extraordinary triumph that took decades to complete, Brahms’ First Symphony is an epic, deeply human piece reflecting the composer’s battles with self-doubt and perfectionism under the weight of Beethoven’s omnipresent shadow. From its brooding, stormy opening to the life-affirming finale, Brahms beautifully traces one’s journey from darkness to light. A signature of this work is the candescent French horn, brilliantly illuminating the path from despair to victory. Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 is a whirlwind of movement—elegant yet fiery, delicate yet commanding. With no pause from start to finish, the music flows in an unbroken surge of passion and virtuosity. Audience favorite cellist Zuill Bailey returns to SFSO bringing his signature artistry to this expressive work. Beethoven’s freedom-fighting Egmont Overture portrays the tragic heroism of a man who makes the ultimate sacrifice in defiance of oppression and tyranny. Originally composed for violin, Massenet’s “Méditation” from Thaïs takes on new depth in this interpretation for cello—an SFSO first. A hushed prayer amid the opera’s high drama, this sublime interlude floats with quiet longing. Guest artist Zuill Bailey, who performed at SFSO’s inaugural concert and has returned many times since, is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier cellists. An award-winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, artistic director, and teacher, Bailey combines celebrated artistry, technical mastery, and an engaging presence, making him one of the most sought-after and active cellists today. A prolific recording artist with over 20 albums, he won a GRAMMY Award in 2017 for Best Solo Performance for his live recording of Michael Daugherty’s Tales of Hemingway with the Nashville Symphony. The South Florida Symphony Orchestra was part of the consortium that commissioned the work, and Bailey has performed it multiple times with SFSO, highlighting the orchestra’s ongoing connection to this celebrated composition. The album also won GRAMMY Awards for Best Composition and Best Compendium. SFSO’s 28th Season of “Juxtapositions” explores beauty in contrasts, where the bold and the sublime intersect, and timeless masterpieces share the stage with today’s most compelling and celebrated musical voices. From Mozart’s vivacious “Haffner” symphony to the sun-drenched skies of Mendelssohn’s “Italian” and the sweeping emotion of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto — performances burst with color and power. Beethoven’s luminous Piano Concerto No. 4 and Dvořák’s Bohemian Eighth deepen the journey, while Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol whirls with Spanish flair. SFSO is also proud to present upcoming orchestra firsts by GRAMMY-nominated composers, including the Florida premiere of Had to Be by Haitian American Nathalie Joachim, featuring breakout cellist Seth Parker Woods, and Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances. Five Masterworks concerts will be held at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale from November 2025 through April 2026. Three Masterworks concerts will be held at New World Center in Miami Beach and at Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West from January through March 2026. From sold-out masterworks performances to accompanying today’s musicians such as Natalie Merchant and performing modern musical scores including Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Back to the Future, featuring the iconic films screened live with audio and musical accompaniment, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra is continuing its journey of excellence inspiring audiences of all ages and musical genres. Tickets are on sale now beginning at $35 (plus ticketing fees). Buy tickets online at: www.southfloridasymphony.org - Or: www.ParkerPlayhouse.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222, press 1. And in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. Season subscriptions are available for the Fort Lauderdale Season at The Parker, the Miami Season at New World Center and Key West Season at the Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys. Discounted subscription packages may be purchased by visiting: www.southfloridasymphony.org/2025-26-season - Or by calling: (954) 522-8445. Subscribers save up to 20% off single ticket prices and have first access to the best seats in the house. Five-concert packages in Fort Lauderdale are available from $180*; three-concert packages from $84* in Miami; and three-concert packages in Key West from $90* (*Prices do not include ticketing fees or Handel’s Messiah tickets.). For additional information, visit: www.southfloridasymphony.org - Call: (954) 522-8445. Or email: info@southfloridasymphony.org . About South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) Founded in 1997 in Key West by Music Director Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, the Fort Lauderdale-based South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is celebrating its 28th Season. SFSO is dedicated to providing enriching cultural music experiences to residents and visitors in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Guided by the belief that music is pivotal to thriving communities, SFSO brings vibrancy and engagement with the arts via innovative programming and transformative educational initiatives. A pioneer in its commitment to symphonic music for underserved communities, its Symphony in the Schools program has touched the lives of over 130,000 students since its inception in 1997. SFSO was recently named the first Partner in the Arts for The Parker by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and has been recognized by the Broward County Cultural Division as a “Major Cultural Institution,” one of only a handful of organizations to be so honored. For a performance schedule and season tickets, call: (954) 522-8445. Or visit: www.southfloridasymphony.org . Major support for South Florida Symphony Orchestra is provided by PNC Private Bank; Nicklaus Children’s Health System; the Gerald L. Laskey Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward; the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners; Aviah Flagler Village; The Maval Foundation; and Marand Builders. Additional sponsorship is provided, in part, by Funding Arts Broward; Ver Ploeg & Marino; City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Previous Next

Outshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival: Never-Before-Seen International Feature Premieres, Documentaries And Shorts September 20, 2024 Share OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, internationally acclaimed as one of the largest LGBTQ+ cultural festivals in the world, is excited to announce its 42nd edition fall dates, preview of featured films and a new format designed to unite cinema enthusiasts from South Florida and beyond! For the first time in its event history, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival will offer 62 acclaimed features and shorts including premieres and documentaries from 25 countries that inspire, entertain and educate to theaters and audiences in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties during one run. This year’s fall festival will open in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, October 17th at Regal Dania Pointe, 128 Sunset Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 and will run through Thursday, October 24th, at Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale, 1820 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 and Savor Cinema, 503 Southeast 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. From Friday, October 25th through Sunday, October 27th, the festival will move to Silverspot Cinema Miami, 300 Southeast 3rd Street, Suite#: 100, Miami, Florida 33131 and Regal South Beach, 1120 Lincoln Road Mall, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 followed by select screenings available from Monday, October 28th, to Sunday, November 3rd, during the OUTshine AT HOME extension. “We are thrilled to introduce the newly reimagined OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival to South Florida,” said Allen Martello, Festival Co-Director, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “Film is better with friends and our vision is to bring our community together to celebrate inspiring LGBTQ+ cinema with a fall and a spring festival in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We’re also thrilled to welcome back FREE Uber rides to and from select film screenings in Miami making it easier for our Fort Lauderdale neighbors to travel to Downtown Miami via rail. By connecting our community, we’re also adding on extra viewings, parties and special events, increasing the festival’s run dates in theaters and at home.” Young Hearts (Belgium/Netherlands, 2023) will open this year’s fall festival on Thursday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m., at Regal Dania Pointe. Written and directed by Anthony Schatteman in his feature debut, the film explores first love as 14-year-old Elias (Lou Goossens, in a breakthrough performance) contends with his feelings for Alex, a cool new neighbor. Exquisitely filmed in the Belgian countryside, this profound story resonates on multiple levels: a balm for those whose initial queer experiences were traumatic, a mirror for today’s LGBTQ+ youth, and a hopeful message for parents of future generations. An afterparty at the Dania Improv will take place immediately following the screening. This year’s Centerpiece Film screening at 7:30 p.m. on October 24th at Savor Cinema will be the East Coast premiere of Hammarskjöld - Fight For Peace (Sweden, 2024), a speculative biopic about Swedish UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, the anti-colonialist, allegedly queer diplomat who died under mysterious circumstances during the Cold War while trying to bring peace to The Congo. The film is directed by Per Fly. Back by popular demand is the festival’s Latin Spotlight featuring critically acclaimed men’s and women’s films set to take place on October 25th at Silverspot Cinema Miami. The fall edition’s selections are The Astronaut Lovers (Los Amantes Astronautas) (Argentina/Spain, 2024) and the North American premiere of The Muleteer (La Arriera) (Mexico, 2024). Directed by Marco Berger, The Astronaut Lovers is a breezy comedy about Pedro and Maxi, childhood friends reuniting as young men who fall in love and comically try to hide it from family and friends. In The Muleteer, Director Isabel Cristina Fregoso presents a compelling 1930’s narrative about daring teenage Emilia who ventures from the ranch where she grew up to find her biological father. Riding her horse through the mountains, where she pretends to be a young muleteer, she discovers a different world that leads her to find her destiny. Additional selections of note include High Tide (United States, 2024) featuring Brazilian star Marco Pigossi at the heart of a moving tale of a gay immigrant in Provincetown navigating the gig economy after an unexpected breakup. The film also stars Marisa Tomei, Mya Taylor, and Bill Irwin; Drive Back Home (Canada, 2024), a brotherly road trip drama taking place in 1970 starring Alan Cumming; All Shall Be Well (Hong Kong, 2024), Director Ray Yueng’s Teddy Award-Winning film exploring family dynamics, unraveling relationships and the complexities of Hong Kong’s inheritance laws; the Award-Winning Pet Shop Days (USA/Italy/Mexico/UK, 2023), Director Olmo Schnabel’s gritty throwback to American independent cinema with a riveting portrait of lost young men seeking connection featuring fantastic performances (including Willem Dafoe), raw emotion, and propulsive pacing; and the documentaries Linda Perry: Let It Die Here (United States, 2024) and Sapir (Israel, 2024), an engrossing portrait of the world’s first Professional League Transgender Football Referee, Sapir Berman. Focusing on local LGBTQ+ filmmaking talent, OUTshine has curated a new South Florida Shorts program and will present its Filmmaker Panel during the festival run. “Film lovers can expect a lineup of international, North American, U.S. and East Coast premieres stacked with notable award-winning and up-and-coming directors, actors and writers sharing creative visions and personal experiences that excite, exhilarate and uplift the human spirit,” said Joe Bilancio, Director Of Programming, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “At a time when diversity and acceptance is in the spotlight, it’s paramount for us to present films and programs with balanced viewpoints that promote tolerance, equality, understanding and empathy.” OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival’s fall edition closes at 6:00 p.m. at Regal Cinemas South Beach with the film LAYLA (UK, 2024), a love letter to the queer community. Written and directed by Amrou Al-Kadhi, the film focuses on Layla, a struggling Arab non-binary drag queen whose confident façade hides their desperate desire for love. When Layla’s performance at a belittling corporate Pride event turns into a transgressive takedown, they are surprised to catch the eye of marketing executive Max, whose attentions sweep Layla off their feet. As Layla starts to alter who they are in order to keep Max’s interest, they both must face uncomfortable truths. Immediately following, a celebratory Closing Night Party will take place on historic Lincoln Road. "The OUTshine staff, leadership, and board of directors are all incredibly excited to bring this new approach to OUTshine in BOTH cities this fall,” said Owen Carhart, Festival Co-Director, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “Paired with new sponsors, opportunities, and a revamped community partner program, we can't wait to show you just where OUTshine is headed, not only this fall, but for the years to come!" OUTrageous, OUTspoken, and OUTstanding, this year’s OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival fall edition is sponsored, in part, by Twist Night Club, Lexi Goza State Farm, Funding Arts Broward, Broward County Cultural Division, The Our Fund Foundation, OutClique, HotSpots and It’s Happening Out, OUTSFL, Skirt Magazine, Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami Beach, Prevention 305 and Gilead. A full schedule for the 42nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival will be announced on September 27th with ticket subscription packages and individual tickets on sale. OUTshine passholders and Producer Circle members receive priority advance ticket purchase opportunities. For more information, visit: https://outshinefilm.com/. OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, celebrating its 42nd edition, is a bi-annual film festival with a mission to inspire, entertain, and educate; encouraging a sense of community through international and culturally diverse film, video and other media that offer historical, contemporary and entertaining perspectives on the LGBTQ+ experience. Launched separately - in 1998, as The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and in 2008, as the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - both were brought together under one brand to become OUTshine Film Festival, underscoring its brightness, broad appeal and dynamic multicultural locations, the nonprofit festival is critically and internationally acclaimed as one of the largest LGBTQ+ cultural arts happenings in the world. OUTrageous. OUTspoken. And OUTstanding in what we deliver. For more information and tickets, visit: https://outshinefilm.com/ - And follow us on Facebook at: @OUTshineFilmFestival. On Twitter at: @OUTshineFilm. And on Instagram at: @OUTshineFilm. < Previous News Next News >

“The King Of Lovers Rock” Beres Hammond Returns To The Broward Center For Two Shows Thu Aug 11 2022 04:04:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Reserve A Victorian Christmas Tour: A Wonderful Way At Any Age to Celebrate The Holiday Spirit November 18, 2021 Share The Stranahan House is the oldest and most historically significant surviving structure in Broward County and will be decked in spectacular, picture-perfect Victorian Era Décor The Historic Stranahan House Museum will light up the holidays this season with Victorian Christmas Tours scheduled from Saturday, December 18th, 2021 through Thursday, December 23rd, 2021. This is a favorite Broward County holiday tradition! The Historic Stranahan House will be decked in spectacular, picture-perfect Victorian Era Décor and tours will be led by costumed tour guides who will explain the origin of many holiday traditions and how the pioneers celebrated in the early days of Fort Lauderdale. “This is a very picturesque time of year at The Stranahan House and these tours are a wonderful way for everyone at any age to celebrate the holiday spirit,” said The Stranahan House Executive Director April Kirk. “Colorful wreaths and twinkling lights decorate the exterior, the interior comes to life with festive fully decorated trees, wreaths, gifts and other antique and vintage holiday décor. Our volunteers do an amazing job preparing the house for this magical time of year.” Holiday tours are scheduled in timed increments beginning at 7:00 p.m. December 18th, 2021 - December 23rd, 2021 with a maximum of 10 visitors per tour. Tickets are $30 for non-members and $25 for museum members. Event tickets can be purchased on-line at: www.stranahanhouse.org/events. The museum’s gift shop will also be open featuring unique locally created and commemorative items, perfect for every person on a holiday gift list. Face coverings are required inside all of The Stranahan House buildings. Located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale at 335 Southeast 6th Avenue, The Stranahan House is open for daily guided tours and offers virtual experiences and in-person events throughout the year. To stay updated with events, visit: https://stranahanhouse.org/ For any additional information, please call: (954) 524-4736. Or e-mail: director@stranahanhouse.org About The Historic Stranahan House Museum Built in 1901, The Stranahan House is the oldest and most historically significant surviving structure in Broward County, Florida. Built by founding father of Fort Lauderdale, Frank Stranahan, the structure served as the pioneer wilderness' trading post, post office, bank and gathering place. After marrying the area's first school teacher, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the building became their home, later a boarding house, restaurant and now finally, a museum. Sitting on its original location in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, The Historic Stranahan House Museum remains a connection to the past while operating as an educational center, cultural destination and community event space. The museum is open 7 days a week for tours and is located at 335 Southeast 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit: www.stranahanhouse.org . Or call: (954) 524-4736. < Previous News Next News >

Only In Florida: A Winter Wonderland Tour Through the Venice of the Americas December 8, 2022 Share Popular, festive and fun, a South Florida tradition via Water Taxi offers Holiday Light Cruises that are a must for visiting friends and family, and a great way to Kick-off the Season for locals as well! Running Thursday, December 1, 2022 through Saturday, December 31, cruises leave daily at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. and tour the waterways of the Venice of the Americas. Spectacular lights and decorated designs, from some of the city’s wealthy and creative entrepreneurs showcase this very special, time-honored tradition. Water Taxi’s watery, wonderland night-time Holiday Light Cruises offer a unique blend of land, water and lights. Passing under bridges, and along the shores, sighting buildings and local landmarks, passengers can relax while boating through the downtown core of Fort Lauderdale. Views of this impressive seasonal show are only available on the water; and with Water Taxi, the audiences also enjoy live music, holiday cocktails and tales of the tides delivered by commentary from the Water Taxi crew. Owner and Marine Executive Bill Walker offers this service all year long with a fleet of thirteen boats that serve the waterways of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, reaching as far north as Bokampers/Shooters, east along the Fort Lauderdale Beach and west to Downtown/Las Olas and south to Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. All routes vary but include stops at a wide variety of restaurants, shops, malls, parks and many other points of interest. However, it is the Holiday Lights Cruise that creates the Annual Centerpiece for this local establishment. To reserve a spot for the Holiday Cruise, book your tickets online at: https://watertaxi.com/holiday-lights-cruises/. Tickets are Adults: $40 per person; Children (Ages 3 – 11): $20; Under 3 ride FREE. All Cruises Depart from 335 SE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale (Between Stranahan House and Riverside Hotel). Metered parking within walking distance available at 620 East Las Olas Boulevard Garage and Street metered parking on Las Olas. < Previous News Next News >

ZOA Issues Qualified Support For Trump Gaza Plan, With Concerns By ZOA.org Oct 23, 2025 Zionist Organization Of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein Released The Following Statement: The Zionist Organization of America issues qualified support for President Trump’s Gaza plan, with concerns. ZOA is thrilled at the prospect that – at the outset of the plan – all the remaining innocent Jewish hostages will be freed from the blood-soaked hands of the evil Arab-Islamic Hamas monsters, who committed unspeakable atrocities, and whose Charter calls for the murder of every Jew and Israel’s destruction. ZOA is grateful that the war against Arab/Islamic Hamas and their supporters will have achieved its primary goals and therefore may come to a successful end. ZOA strongly thanks President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu for their unceasing efforts to help release our brothers from captivity. And we profoundly thank President Trump for supporting any and all of Israel’s actions if Hamas rejects this plan, or if the Palestinian Arabs and the Palestinian Authority do not fulfill their obligations of reformation and deradicalization required under this plan. As we entered Yom Kippur, we were also hopeful that the plan will enhance Jewish unity and help usher in a year that sees better days for all of Israel and the Jewish people. We are greatly concerned that the deal includes releasing 1,950 Arab/Islamist terrorists, including 250 who were convicted for murdering Jews, and similar capital crimes. In the past, many of these released Arab terrorists went back to murdering Jews. Forty of them became leaders of Hamas. It also increases and inspires the likelihood of more kidnappings of Jews. We are also concerned about hostile-to-Israel Tony Blair having an important oversight role, and the prospect that untrustworthy non-neutral Palestinian Arabs could aid in running Gaza. So-called Palestinian technocrats have historically and invariably been terrorists. We are upset that Hamas leaders will not be held accountable for their Nazi-like barbarism and atrocities and will be given the right to remain in Gaza. We very much appreciate the plan’s statement that Gaza will be deradicalized. However, it is unclear to us if this will include the strenuous, drastic, long-term programs and efforts needed to re-educate an entire population brought up from infancy to hate and aspire to murder Jews and Christians. If such serious efforts will indeed be made, that would be a historic game-changer, and could bring real peace. At a minimum, deradicalization must also include the Palestinian Authority ending pay-to-slay; and all Palestinian Arab regimes changing their antisemitic, Israel-bashing textbooks and daily indoctrination of antisemitic and anti-Israel hatred; removing the names of Jew-killers from schools, streets, sports teams and children’s camps; removing Imams and media that preach hatred and violence against Jews; publicly accepting Israel as a Jewish state; deleting the Fatah and Hamas charters’ demands to murder Jews and destroy Israel; changing emblems, such as the Fatah (PA ruling party)’s emblem, showing all of Israel as Palestine with a rifle and Arafat, and the Palestinian Authority logo showing all of Israel as Palestine; sincerely accepting the Jewish state; and placing Israel on all their maps. We are concerned that mere interfaith dialogue and improving the economic situation of Gazan Arabs will not change the Gazan population’s Islam-inspired commitment to hate and kill Jews and destroy the Jewish state. This has been a religious/Koranic war against Israel’s very existence. It has not been about economics or a state. It is about destroying Israel and murdering Jews. Improving Palestinian Arabs’ material lives doesn’t impact their Islamist hatred of and violence against Jews. The Palestinian Arabs’ refusal to give up their overriding Islamic goal of destroying Israel is why the Palestinian Arabs rejected numerous offers of a “side-by-side” state accompanied with billions of dollars in aid. Remember, the Arabs rejected the British Peel Commission’s two-state offer in 1937, the UN’s non-binding partition recommendation in 1947, and numerous other rejected offers for a state, and instead went to war to annihilate the Jewish state. The economic improvements offered here unfortunately also reward terror. We believe that the provision limiting Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza (e.g., “save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat”) needs to be broadly interpreted to make the perimeter of Israeli control permanent. Israel needs to retain and control a significant buffer zone in Gaza to assure Israel’s safety, and to make it safe for Israelis to rebuild the communities in southern Israel that Hamas and Gazan civilians destroyed on October 7th. It must also be made clear that Israel must continue to control the Philadelphi border with Egypt so that no weapons can enter Gaza via Egypt. We must never forget that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 was a disaster that resulted in over 30,000 rockets launched at Israel, repeated wars, and brutal terror attacks. We also want to make sure that the clause about non-interference with aid is not (mis)interpreted so broadly as to prevent Israel from inspecting trucks delivering aid into Gaza. Israeli inspections for weapons are essential for Israel’s security and should not be deemed to be interference. Current Israeli inspections have not interfered with aid deliveries. Indeed, as of this past Sunday (Sept. 28, 2025), Israel has facilitated 2,097,488 tons of aid on 107,828 trucks and 13,209 pallets into Gaza. We are also concerned about the statement giving UN agencies aid distribution roles – and hope that this provision is not used to revitalize UNRWA – the Hamas-infested UN organization that participated in October 7th, hid weapons and communications centers for Hamas, and teaches unmitigated hatred for Jews and Israel in its schools. We also hope that the aid provisions are not interpreted to bar the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) from its work: As of Monday, September 19th, 2025, the GHF has distributed 176 million meals in Gaza. We are very relieved that the plan does not include an agreement to a Palestinian terror state. But we are somewhat uneasy about even the mention of a state in the vague provision: “While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.” As ZOA has explained repeatedly, a Palestinian state would be a terror enclave and a mortal danger to Israel, and is overwhelmingly opposed by the Israeli people, officials, and the Knesset. “Reforming” the efficiency of the bloodthirsty Palestinian Authority will not justify taking away lands guaranteed to Israel under international law to form a Palestinian state. The aspiration of the Palestinian Arabs is not a state; it is Israel’s destruction, as their charter, their repeated rejection of side-by-side offers, their speeches and sermons, and textbooks and media all confirm. ZOA is also unconvinced that Hamas and the Palestinian regime will fulfill their obligations under the plan. Can we trust Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and others to do what’s promised and what’s right? Nevertheless, given the present international and Mideast circumstances and the frightening surge of Jew-hatred and Israel-hatred everywhere, we believe it is now best to move forward and give the Palestinian Arabs yet another chance for peace. And if the plan is properly interpreted, properly carried out and properly monitored, and truly fulfilled, it has the potential to dramatically change the landscape and increase the safety and security of Israel and its people, and improve the lives of Jews, Arabs, Muslims, and Christians in the Middle East. Previous Next

The Police State Has A New Playbook - Martial Law, One City At A Time John & Nisha Whitehead Aug 27, 2025 Let’s Not Mince Words: Every American Should Be Alarmed By President Trump’s “Liberation Day” Tactics, Theatrics And Threats. What is unfolding in the nation’s capital is a hostile takeover of our constitutional republic. This is no longer about partisan politics, wag-the-dog distractions from the Epstein debacle, or even genuine national security concerns. This is martial law disguised as law-and-order—the oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook. We have been traveling this slippery slope toward a police state for some time, but under Trump 2.0, the descent towards outright tyranny is accelerating. Building on the expanded emergency powers he has claimed to wage war on immigration, wokeness and the economy, Trump is taking aim at yet another so-called “crisis”—this time, by waging war on crime in the nation’s capital, despite the fact that crime is at a 30-year low. Under the guise of “restoring order” and “cleaning up” the streets, Trump has called in the National Guard, dispatched the FBI, and federalized the local police in order to take control of Washington, D.C. This is how the Emergency State operates in the open. A real but manageable problem—crime, homelessness, public disorder—is inflated into an existential threat. Fear is manufactured, then exploited to seize more power. Whether the trigger is terrorism, civil unrest, economic instability, or public health, the aim remains the same: expand the reach of federal authority, justify more militarized policing, and condition the public to accept the suspension of rights in the name of national security. Once these powers are taken, they are never willingly relinquished. Each time, Trump pushes the envelope a little, relying on military optics meant to intimidate. At each stage, the scope of who could be targeted by these executive orders and emergency power operations grows wider. These are not isolated decisions; they are part of a coordinated playbook for bringing local jurisdictions under direct federal control, one crisis at a time. This is mission creep in action—by breaking the police state’s hostile takeover of the country and our Constitution into a series of incremental moves, the administration sidesteps the broad public backlash that a single, sweeping declaration of martial law would provoke. Once the federal government claims the authority to override local control, put boots on the ground, and target a designated “dangerous class,” that authority inevitably broadens to sweep in new targets. What begins by targeting violent criminals quickly expands to hardworking immigrants, then the homeless. Tomorrow those targeted could be protesters, journalists, or anyone deemed undesirable. These executive orders constitute a war on the American people without a formal declaration of war. Once the definitions of “criminal,” “threat,” and “danger” are used interchangeably to advance political needs, there is no limit to who can be targeted next. What begins with a narrow claim of emergency power is quickly normalized and made permanent. We have seen this pattern before. The difference today is that the slippery slope has become steeper and the slide faster. What once took years to creep into everyday life now happens in a matter of months. Every crisis becomes a test: of our willingness to let the government sidestep the Constitution, of our tolerance for militarized “solutions” to social problems, of whether the public will resist or comply, of whether those in authority can get away with moving the line yet again. The players change—Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, and now Trump again—but the game remains the same: permanent crisis management, permanent power grabs, permanent erosion of liberty. This is how constitutional limits die—not in one dramatic coup, but in a series of incremental “emergencies” that accustom us to living under permanent federal occupation. By that measure, the takeover of Washington, D.C., is a chilling case study. The issue is not whether Trump can seize control of DC. Under section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the president may do so for 48 hours without congressional approval and up to 30 days with notice to Congress. So the question we must ask as the symbolic heart of the republic is transformed into a constitution-free zone is: Why? Why now—when crime is at its lowest level in three decades? And where do we go from here? The federal takeover of Washington, D.C., is not the end of that slippery slope. It is merely the latest drop, and nothing in our present political climate suggests it will be the last. The police state will always need another manufactured crisis. Given the rate at which the government keeps devising new ways to establish itself as the “solution” to all of our worldly problems at taxpayer expense, each subsequent crisis ushers in ever larger expansions of government power and fewer individual liberties. Once the government acquires authoritarian powers—to spy, surveil, militarize police, seize funds, wage endless wars, censor speech, detain without due process, etc.—it does not willingly relinquish them. The lesson for the ages is this: once any government is allowed to overreach and expand its powers, it’s almost impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. History bears this out: as the government expands, liberty contracts. If the president can federalize the policing of the capital, override local control, and treat entire populations as security threats without meaningful resistance from Congress, the courts, or the public, then there is nothing to stop that same template from being applied to any city in America in the name of “security.” What is happening in Washington today will be the model for what happens nationwide tomorrow. Case in point: at Trump’s direction, the Pentagon—the military branch of the government—is looking to establish a “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force,” made up of National Guard troops kept on standby at all times, which could be rapidly deployed to American cities “facing protests or other unrest.” Indeed, Trump has already hinted that he plans to target Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland next. This is straight out of the playbook used in that Pentagon training video created by the Army for U.S. Special Operations Command. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, if we do not stop this dangerous trajectory now, the question will not be whether martial law comes to your city—it will be when, under what pretext, and whether we will have the courage and the wherewithal to resist. 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