Aventura Breaks Ground on New Don Soffer Aventura High School Campus Aventura Digest Sep 17, 2026 The City Of Aventura Marked A Major Milestone In Its Commitment To Education In August With The Official Groundbreaking Of A Brand-New, Expanded Campus For Don Soffer Aventura High School. “Yes. The moment has arrived. Groundbreaking on our brand new school. Promise made. Promise kept. So honored to be your Mayor.” as shared on Mayor Howard Weinberg's Instagram. The project represents a significant expansion of the school and its partnership with Charter Schools USA, which operates the public charter school. City officials, school representatives, families and community partners gathered to celebrate the beginning of construction and look ahead to the opportunities the new campus is expected to bring to students across Aventura. The expanded campus is designed to increase the school's capacity in every grade, creating space for more students and allowing more families in the community to access a Don Soffer Aventura High School education. Charter Schools USA said the new campus represents an exciting next chapter for the school and the families it serves. The organization described the project as an investment in greater educational opportunity, innovation and student growth. “The future of teaching and learning is taking shape in Aventura,” Charter Schools USA said in announcing the groundbreaking. The expansion comes as Aventura continues to emphasize the importance of providing high-quality educational opportunities for local families. By increasing capacity throughout the school, the new campus is expected to provide additional access to a world-class charter school education while giving students more opportunities to pursue their academic interests and discover their individual potential. For families, the project promises more than simply additional classrooms. School officials envision a modern learning environment that can support students across all grade levels and provide greater opportunities for innovation and engagement. The project also highlights the collaboration among the city, Charter Schools USA and the construction team responsible for bringing the vision to life. Charter Schools USA specifically recognized Pirtle Construction Company for its role in helping make the groundbreaking event possible and for its work on the new school. The groundbreaking marks the start of a project that city and school leaders say will have a lasting impact on Aventura. As the groundbreaking marked the day shovels hit the ground, anticipation is already building for the day students and families can walk through the doors of the completed campus. “We can’t wait to cut the ribbon on the spectacular school you are building,” Charter Schools USA said in thanking its construction partners. The new Don Soffer Aventura High School campus is poised to become an important addition to Aventura's educational landscape, expanding access while creating a larger home for the school's growing student community. For Aventura families, the project signals a future with more seats, more opportunities and a renewed focus on preparing students for what comes next. With construction now underway, the city and its education partners are looking toward the completion of a campus designed to serve generations of students. The August groundbreaking was only the beginning. As the new campus takes shape, Aventura will be watching the transformation of a vision into a new center for learning, innovation and opportunity in the heart of the community. Previous Next

Disney's 101 Dalmatians KIDS Wed Jul 20 2022 04:03:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Damar Hamlin Matters To You: Is Sudden Death Occurring More Commonly Thu Jan 26 2023 17:08:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Unexpected Hotel Travel Trends for 2023 Thu Apr 06 2023 16:06:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Joint Will Be Jumpin’: Ain’t Misbehavin, Forbidden Broadway Sinatra & Gesualdo Six Come To Aventura January 25, 2024 Share The City of Aventura presents Ain't Misbehavin', winner of three Tony Awards including Best Musical at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday, January 27th at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Applauded by Huffington Post as "a boozy, after-hours party,” this musical revue is a tribute to the Black Musicians of the 1920’s and 1930’s who were part of the Harlem Renaissance. Taking its title from the 1929 Fats Waller Song, Ain't Misbehavin’, the performance features five performers in an evening of rowdy, raunchy and humorous songs that encapsulate the various moods of the era and reflect Waller's view of life as a journey meant for pleasure and play. Among the timeless standards in the show are “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “The Joint is Jumpin’,” Your Feet’s Too Big,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” With a book by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by various composers and lyricists of the day as arranged and orchestrated by Luther Henderson, Ain’t Misbehavin’ celebrates a time when Manhattan nightclubs like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom were the playgrounds of high society, and Lenox Avenue dives were filled with piano players banging out the new beat known as swing. The Chicago Sun Times applauded Ain’t MisBehavin’ reporting, "Fun and off-the-charts galvanic energy are the main orders of the day in this show… Talk about 'Spreadin’ the Rhythm Around.' Pure joy.” Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation Called “The Best Edition of Forbidden Broadway in recent memory!” by The New York Times, the City of Aventura presents Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Tuesday, January 30th and Wednesday, January 31st at 8:00 p.m. Up to the minute spoofs include comic looks at Moulin Rouge, the all-Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof, Hadestown and the dark Oklahoma! revival, along with Dear Evan Hansen, Tootsie, Beetlejuice and Frozen plus some classic laughs from The Lion King, Phantom, Les Mis and others. Broadway stars Bette Midler, Andre de Shields, Bernadette Peters and Lin-Manuel Miranda also get the comic treatment as a talented quintet of comic chameleons delivers the pointed parodies at a dizzying pace in this show featuring madcap impressions, outrageous costumes and silly spoofs of the songs you know by heart. Forbidden Broadway has been a theatrical institution since 1982, when Gerard Alessandrini created the first edition that lampooned the Broadway shows and stars of the day. Forbidden Broadway has released 12 cast albums and garnered international acclaim and awards that include seven Drama Desks Awards, an Obie, a Drama League Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, two Lucille Lortel Awards and a Special Tony® Award. The Sinatra Experience Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Chairman of the Board is back as Tribute Masters presents The Sinatra Experience with Dave Halston on Saturday, February 3rd at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Featuring the best of Sinatra wrapped in black tie elegance, Halston delivers a stunning interpretation of Sinatra’s familiar style and swagger. Halston has performed command performances for Mrs. Sinatra, as well as performed for Jeanne Martin (Dean's widow), Michael Feinstein, recording artist Steve Tyrell and Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton. Gesualdo Six The Gesualdo Six is an Award-Winning British Vocal Ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, Directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the ensemble formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and has gone on to perform at numerous major festivals across the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. RK Cultural Productions will be presenting the Gesualdo Six on Thursday, February 15th at 8:00 p.m. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, this Award-Winning British Vocal Ensemble is composed of some of the UK’s finest consort singers and Directed by Owain Park. The ensemble has released seven recordings including Fading, which was awarded Vocal & Choral Recording of the Year 2020 by Limelight. The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Buy 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 5:00 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307. The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188 Street, Aventura, Florida 33180. Join the conversation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram @aventuracenter or #aventuracenter. 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. < Previous News Next News >

A Jewish Perspective On Burial And Cremation By Rabbi Moishe Kievman - Chabad Chayil
 Jan 15, 2026 I Write These Words After Far Too Many Tears Shed Together With Bereaved Families—Families Placed In Painful And Often Avoidable Situations Simply Because The Right Conversations Did Not Happen Earlier. My Hope Is That This Article Helps Open Those Conversations With Clarity, Compassion, And Care. When families face end-of-life decisions, they are often doing so in moments filled with emotion, love, and uncertainty. Judaism approaches these moments with deep sensitivity, offering guidance not to judge or criticize, but to bring dignity, comfort, and peace—to the soul of the departed and to those left behind. Jewish tradition teaches that the human body is a precious gift from G‑d. Throughout life, it enables a person to perform mitzvot, express kindness, and bring light into the world. For this reason, Judaism asks that the body be treated with profound respect even after life has ended. Burial is understood as a final act of care—gently returning the body to the earth from which it was formed. It is important to say clearly: this article is not a judgment of past decisions. Rather, it is a loving wake‑up call for those who may be unsure, undecided, or simply unaware of the significance of proper Jewish burial. Unfortunately, cremation is becoming increasingly common. My intention here is to shed light on this sensitive topic and to offer a Jewish perspective that can help guide thoughtful, informed decisions. Cremation, which involves the active destruction of the body, stands in contrast to the tenderness and guardianship that Judaism encourages at life’s end. The Torah speaks of burial not as a technical requirement, but as an act of chesed shel emet—a “true kindness.” It is kindness because it is done for someone who can never repay it. Through burial, family and community come together to honor a life lived and to escort the soul forward with dignity, reverence, and love. This sacred process—often including tahara (ritual purification), prayer, and a simple burial—has brought comfort to Jewish families for thousands of years. It provides continuity and quiet meaning at a time when so much can feel overwhelming. Judaism teaches that death is not an end, but a transition. The soul lives on, and one of our core beliefs is Techiyat HaMeitim, the resurrection of the dead. Choosing burial gently affirms this faith and expresses hope in the enduring bond between body and soul. While G‑d’s compassion is limitless, Jewish tradition views cremation as inconsistent with this belief, as it symbolizes finality rather than continuity. For many Jewish families, cremation also carries deep emotional weight because of our collective history. The forced cremation of millions of Jews during the Holocaust left an indelible imprint on the Jewish soul. Even generations later, this memory can make cremation especially painful, evoking times when Jewish dignity was brutally stripped away. Jewish teachings explain that the soul remains connected to the body after death. Burial allows for a gentle, natural separation—bringing peace to the soul and comfort to the living. The familiar rhythms of Jewish mourning—burial, shivah, prayer, and remembrance—help families begin the healing process with structure, support, and community. Even for Jews who lived largely secular lives, choosing a Jewish burial can be a powerful final connection—to family, to heritage, and to timeless values. It is a quiet but profound way of saying: I belong. I am part of this story. Judaism’s preference for burial is not meant to pressure or condemn, but to guide families toward a choice rooted in dignity, compassion, and faith. In moments of loss, Jewish tradition seeks to wrap families in care, reminding us that even in goodbye, there can be meaning, holiness, and peace. If you are navigating these decisions, please know that you are not alone. Rabbis and community leaders are here to listen, to support, and to help you find a path that feels both loving and true. I encourage you to reach out to your local Chabad or Chevra Kadisha—they will guide you through these challenging decisions with sensitivity and respect. We have lots of information gathered at: www.ChabadChayil.org/LifeToLife - And have a list of affordable burial options available in South Florida at: www.ChabadChayil.org/Cemetery . If there is anything we can ever help with, please don't hesitate to give us a call at: (305) 770-1919. As Rabbis, we are privileged to share in the most meaningful moments of a family’s life. We rejoice with parents at baby namings and circumcisions, welcome children into preschool, laugh with them at Hebrew School, prepare them for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, support them through teen years and young adulthood, counsel couples before marriage, celebrate life’s milestones—and we cry together when loved ones pass on. May we experience less crying and more celebrating. And may we merit the time when G‑d will remove death and sadness from the world entirely. May it happen speedily in our days. More about that at: www.ChabadChayil.org/Moshiach . About The Author: Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of Gan Chabad Preschool, your local CTeen & CKids chapters, CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the Rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at: (305) 770-1919. Or: rabbi@ChabadChayil.org . You can also support the community with your partnership at: www.ChabadChayil.org/Partner . Previous Next

Become A Teen Ambassador: Interested In Arts, Journalism and Marketing, Join the Program Thu Aug 18 2022 04:09:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Medicare Open Enrollment Is Now Through Sunday, December 7th Find The Right Care At The Best Price Jewish Connection News Nov 20, 2025 Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator Of The Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services As the new head of the Medicare program, I encourage everyone with Medicare to take full advantage of this year's Open Enrollment period. This is your once-a-year opportunity to take a fresh look at your coverage for the year ahead. As a physician, I've seen firsthand how the right health plan can improve both the quality of care you receive and your peace of mind. Now is time to take a moment, do a little homework and make sure you are getting the right care at the best price. Health plans can undergo changes every year including adjustments to benefits, costs and coverage. Even the plan you're in now could be changing. At the same time, your health needs may have changed over the past year. When you review your coverage options and compare plans, you may find that you can save money, get better coverage or both. A simple plan comparison could save you hundreds - in some cases even thousands of dollars, depending on the prescription medications you take. Start at the Official Source: www.Medicare.gov www.Medicare.gov is your official source for all your Open Enrollment needs. It's the trusted resource to help you navigate Open Enrollment. Here people can explore and compare every available Medicare health and drug plan available in their area. If you prefer speaking with someone directly, call: 1 (800) MEDICARE. Call: 1 (800) 633-4227 to connect with our team of experts. We're available 24/7 to help you review your options and answer any questions about your Medicare coverage. To get started, go to: www.Medicare.gov and click on "Find Plans Now." For the best shopping experience, log in or start a Medicare account. You can easily compare plan costs, side-by-side, all based on the drugs you take. This is important: Make sure the plan you choose covers your prescription drugs and your doctors. Time is Limited So Start Early Medicare Open Enrollment ends on Sunday, December 7th. After this deadline, you'll typically need to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to make changes to your coverage. The deadline approaches quickly, so start early to make sure you have time to compare your options - including costs, benefits, covered drugs and provider and pharmacy networks. Then you can feel confident in selecting the plan that delivers the right care at the right price for your needs. Help is Available 24/7 If you have any questions about your coverage options, visit: www.Medicare.gov . If you prefer to talk it over with someone, call the experts at 1 (800) MEDICARE. Call: 1 (800) 633-4227 - they're available 24/7 to review your options and answer your questions. One final note: Stay vigilant against Medicare fraud, especially during Open Enrollment. Remember that Medicare will never contact you unsolicited. If someone you don't know calls, texts or emails you about Medicare, simply hang up or delete the message. By staying alert, you can help stop fraud before it starts. New at: www.Medicare.gov This year: www.Medicare.gov has rolled out a series of improvements designed to help people more easily compare their Medicare options and find a plan that fits their unique needs. By clicking "Find Plans Now" on the homepage, users can quickly compare plan costs side-by-side, with results personalized to the specific medications they take. For the first time, you can now search to see whether your preferred doctors are covered by different plans - all in one seamless experience. www.Medicare.gov is also making it easier to search for plans that include additional benefits that can improve your daily life. Whether you're looking for wellness perks like weight management programs or other services that support a healthier lifestyle, the updated search tools can help you focus on what matters most to you. Logging into your Medicare account has also been modernized. If you choose, you can set up your fingerprint or Face ID to get into your account securely. It's faster, it's more secure and it's easier than trying to remember another password. Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Previous Next

Ahoy, Mateys, Get Out Your Boxes Thu Oct 03 2024 16:45:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Twist On Traditional Burgers August 3, 2023 Share As the weather continues to rise, it's time to dust off the grill and indulge in one of summer's favorite dishes: burgers. While the thought of a classic Beef patty may come to mind, there are exciting alternatives that offer both nutrition and flavor. So, why not try a twist on traditional burgers? One option that stands out is salmon, a protein-packed, nutritionally well-rounded alternative. Not only does Salmon offer a variety of health benefits, but it also provides a unique and delicious flavor to your burger. To make things even better, Trident Seafoods Alaska Salmon Burgers are a gluten-free choice made with wild, sustainable, ocean-caught whole fillets, free from any fillers. These burgers are lightly seasoned, delivering a "just-off-the-grill" smoky flavor that will leave you craving for more. To create a truly mouthwatering twist on the traditional burger, let's explore the recipe for Alaskan Salmon Burgers with Peppered Bacon: Preparation time: 13 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: • 1/2 cup of mayonnaise • 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice • 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest • Salt • Pepper • 1 box (11.2 ounces) of Trident Seafoods Alaska Salmon Burgers • 4 slices of cheddar cheese • 4 seeded burger buns, split and toasted • 4 cups of arugula • 6 strips of peppered bacon, cooked • 12 bread-and-butter pickles, drained Instructions: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Season the mixture with salt and pepper according to your taste. Set it aside for later use. Cook the Trident Seafoods Alaska Salmon Burgers following the directions on the package. When the burgers are almost cooked through, place a slice of cheddar cheese on top of each burger. Cover the grill and continue cooking until the cheese has melted to perfection. While the burgers are cooking, spread the cut sides of the burger buns with the mayonnaise mixture you prepared earlier. This will add a zesty touch to your burgers. Once the buns are prepared, it's time to assemble the burgers. Start by placing a generous amount of fresh arugula on the bottom bun, creating a bed of greens. Carefully place the cooked Salmon burger on top of the arugula, allowing the flavors to meld together. Now, it's time to add a smoky and savory touch to the burger. Place three strips of cooked peppered bacon on each burger, adding a burst of flavor and texture. For an additional tangy kick, add a few bread-and-butter pickles on top of the bacon. These pickles will complement the flavors and provide a satisfying crunch. Finally, top the burger with the other half of the bun, completing the ensemble. Voila! You've successfully created a twist on traditional burgers with the Alaskan Salmon Burgers with Peppered Bacon. The combination of the salmon's smoky flavor, the richness of melted cheddar cheese, the freshness of arugula, the savory bacon, and the tangy pickles will take your taste buds on a delightful journey. These burgers are not only bursting with flavor but also offer a healthier alternative that is both gluten-free and packed with essential nutrients. So, this summer, step out of your comfort zone and embrace a new take on the classic burger. Incorporating salmon into your grilling repertoire will bring a delightful change to your meals. With Trident Seafoods Alaska Salmon Burgers, you can enjoy the benefits of sustainable seafood while satisfying your cravings for a delicious, protein-packed burger. For more healthy seafood recipes and options, visit: www.tridentseafoods.com and explore the exciting possibilities that await you. Happy grilling! < Previous News Next News >

Happiness and Hope Go Hand in Hand: Physician-Scientist Reveals Simple But Profound Discovery May 2, 2024 Share Dr. Alphonsus Obayuwana, a physician-scientist and happiness coach, reveals his groundbreaking, five-minute tool for measuring personal happiness in his new book, The Happiness Formula: A Scientific, Groundbreaking Approach to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment. In it, Dr. Obayuwana explains the interconnectedness between hope, hunger and happiness, and introduces a universal unit of measure called the “Personal Happiness Index” or PHI — the operative word being “personal.” “Everybody has different issues, different hungers, different hopes, different assets, different aspirations,” Dr. Obayuwana said in a recent interview. “Yours are plugged into the equation, and we get your happiness index.” This PHI, according to Dr. Obayuwana, makes it possible, for the first time ever, to calculate and assign numerical happiness scores to human individuals by plugging their unique hopes, hungers, assets, and aspirations into an equation. But Dr. Obayuwana is quick to point out that The Happiness Formula is much more than a mathematical equation for measuring happiness. “It is a book about life, the relationship between human hope and hunger, and one’s overall feeling of personal satisfaction and subjective well-being,” Dr. Obayuwana explained. The Happiness Formula challenges the findings published in the World Happiness Report, debunks three major happiness myths, and then introduces the Triple-H Equation — the simple but profound formula about what makes life worth living. Dr. Obayuwana’s discovery offers individuals a simple but scientific way to self-assess their levels of fulfillment; provides happiness seekers with a proven routine for achieving and sustaining a flourishing life; and offers a strong theoretical basis and a firm practical structure for happiness coaches. In 1979, Dr. Obayuwana (then a medical student) was awarded a national research grant and Smith-Kline Medical Perspective Fellowship to develop an instrument for measuring human hope, with the purpose of detecting hopelessness in time to prevent suicide. The result was the widely used and often cited Hope Index Scale (HIS). This progressed into decades of research that ultimately resulted in The Happiness Formula. “For full disclosure, my own PHI is 2.923, and that means I am a ‘very happy’ person but not yet ‘flourishing’ by definition,” Dr. Obayuwana added. “Like everybody else, I could be happier, and with the formula revealed in this book, I now know where I am compared to anyone else in the world — who also knows his or her PHI.” About the Author Alphonsus Obayuwana, MD, Ph.D., CPC, is a physician-scientist, a happiness coach, and the founder and CEO of Triple-H Project LLC, an entity that trains and certifies happiness coaches. He is a Literary Titan Gold Award–winning author who has published several peer-reviewed articles in the national medical journals about human hope and happiness. His other works include How to Live a Life of Hope (2022), The Five Sources of Human Hope (2012), Hope and Pregnancy Outcome (1984) and Hope Index Scale (1980). After 30 years of relentless research on human hope and happiness, he successfully derived the Triple-H Equation that is at the core of his newest book, The Happiness Formula. Throughout his faculty tenures at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the University of Toledo, he has taught and mentored medical students, resident physicians, nurses, and fellows in the art and science of caring and promoting happiness for themselves and their patients. Dr. Obayuwana is also a retired major in the United States Air Force (Reserve). He is married to Ann Louis, his wife of 47 years. Together, they have two sons and three granddaughters. For recreation, he loves walking, reading, listening to music, and playing on his drum set. Connect with the author at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alphonsusobayuwana - Or: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/alphonsus-obayuwana-md-phd-cpc Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Formula-Scientific-Groundbreaking-Fulfillment/dp/0757325084/ To learn more, please visit: www.triplehproject.com < Previous News Next News >

CarePlus Expands Affordable Medicare Advantage Options in Florida Thu Nov 24 2022 17:07:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)