Thanksgiving Is A Time To Give And Help By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper November 23, 2023 Share As we are celebrating Thanksgiving we need to remember those that are in need. Over the past year there seems to be continued issues for many of our neighbors that simply cannot make ends meet. Our City is one of the few that has its own Human Services Department with Social Workers on hand to help get much-needed assistance for those struggling. Our Hepburn Center aids residents from 16 to 59 years of age. They can provide Emergency Assistance to help keep residents in their apartments and homes. They have Case Management Services and Referral Services for Rental Assistance, Emergency Utility Funding, Emergency Food Service and other needs. There is also Assistance for Healthcare through ACCESS Florida. They will help guide you through the Application Process Online for Food Stamps Medicare/Medicaid. The Center also has a Pantry that provides registered participants twice a month service. Residents 60 and over are required to participate in an Intake Assessment Process. They need to provide Identity and Address, Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Legal Residency Status, Income Verification and other documents for the requested services. This is due to the fact that our Taxpayer Dollars pay for Senior Services and other County Services through the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center. The Hepburn Center offers for those over 60 programmed activities from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There is FREE Transportation to and from the center. Seniors can receive Breakfast and participate in many Classes, Trips, Arts and Crafts, Exercises and other Community Holiday Events. One of the top events is our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner where seniors share a served Thanksgiving Dinner and entertainment. I often get asked questions about Homelessness in our City. While we have the Hepburn Center this issue is far more complex and involves our Police Department. The past year we have hired a Community Service Officer who has been going around documenting the Homeless. He has met the Chronic Homeless. Our Staff has been offering to take them to shelters so they can get off the street and get help. We cannot force people to get help. We can however remind them they cannot Trespass on Private Property, cannot Block Sidewalks or Camp. Cities around that country have been grappling with the Homeless issues. They are beginning to change how they address the three groups of Homeless since the housing first model does not fit every person. They also are cracking down on simply allowing the homeless to camp out by arresting those that simply refused to get help. After attending a day-long summit with mayors around the country it was truly eye opening. We all are realizing that what cities like San Francisco have done by giving out Needles, Food Stamps, and Providing Camp Sites is not working. While everyone is empathic they have found not forcing people to get help or simply leaving them alone is inhumane. The goal is to offer and if refused move along the next tool is arrest. The main reason is two of the groups are those that need Medical and Substance Abuse Treatment and the other Mental Health Treatment. These individuals will not be able to maintain a house until they get treatment. Some Mental Health Conditions will require Long Term Treatment. The system of revolving doors needs to end. Orlando was the first to pass a Law to Arrest Homeless people that refuse to get help and the Law was upheld in an Appeals Court. Arrest seems pretty drastic but in Broward there is actually a Homeless Court. This is where the individuals do not get an Arrest Record, but the Judge can compel them to enter services which they need or end up in Jail. Currently the closest Homeless Court is in Fort Lauderdale, but a new court is opening at the Hollywood CourtHouse. This is a welcome addition since it takes hours for officers to travel and process these individuals. Mental Health Patience can be taken to Memorial but those with addiction must be taken to BARC. The goal will be to have all the wrap around services in one place. Homelessness is not a new Social Condition. It has been recorded over thousands of years and even noted in both the Old and New Testaments. Dade has been Providing Services and Leveraging Federal Grants and assistance through the Homeless Trust. The Trust is funded through a 1 % Sales Tax on all Food and Beverage Sales at businesses that serve Alcohol and have Gross Receipts of over $400,000 Annually. Years ago, a Gas Tax idea was floated in Broward but to date there has not been one dedicated Revenue to address the issues in Broward. Broward County has been addressing Homelessness through their Budget and Broward County Homeless Continuum of Care. They coordinate with a Network Of Service Providers in the County. This issue is not for each City to tackle individually. This does not mean that we should not work with the county and do our part. I, along with Vice Mayor Anabelle Lima-Taub and Commissioner Michele Lazarow have been keenly following this issue. We know our residents and business owners have shared their frustrations. We will continue to work with our Staff and Commissioner Beam Furr to ensure we have Expanded Services in South Broward and Enforce Quality of Life Laws and Codes. Wishing You A Blessed Thanksgiving Holiday! As always please feel free to contact me anytime with your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place. I am available at: jcooper@cohb.org . Or: joycooper@aol.com . On my Office number at: (954) 457-1318. Or my Cell/Text at: (954) 632-5700. You can always visit my Facebook and follow me at Mayor Joy Cooper. < Previous News Next News >

The Illusion of Freedom: We’re Only as Free as the Government Allows Thu May 05 2022 04:05:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Annual Back To School Supply Drive Kicks-Off: Contributions Help Students And Teachers In Broward County Public Schools July 18, 2024 Share Broward Education Foundation, the only 501(c)3 charitable organization solely dedicated to serving students and teachers in Broward County Public Schools, announced its Annual School Supply Drive kicked off July 8th and runs through August 23rd. Last school year, Broward Education Foundation provided essential school supplies valued at more than $2 Million to 130,000 under-resourced students in Broward County Public Schools. The annual event fosters equity in education by providing teachers and students with the Free resources they need to succeed. “When families are struggling to pay rent and buy groceries, the burden of sending a child to school fully equipped is many times unattainable. For these students, school supplies are a luxury,” said Dustin Jacobs, Board Chair of Broward Education Foundation. “This is where Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center steps in, and with the community’s help, we provide students with the Free supplies they need in order to succeed.” According to the National Education Association, teachers will spend more than $820 on classroom supplies this year including books, snacks, pencils, paper and cleaning products. Teachers also benefit from the drive. Last year, Broward Education Foundation provided classroom supplies for 12,000 teachers in Broward County Public Schools. "Having the right tools is essential for a child's academic success. With these resources, children can thrive academically, and their Social and Emotional Well-Being is supported," said James A. Knapp, President & CEO of Broward Education Foundation. "Proper tools help build self-confidence and self-esteem, both of which are crucial for effective learning." Every child deserves a fair chance at a quality education, and by supporting schools in providing backpacks to students in need, donors are helping to level the playing field and create a brighter future for these students. How to Help Place Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center donation boxes at your workplace: Then either drop off the collection at the Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center or arrange with them to pick up donations. Adopt a School: There are many opportunities to sponsor a school and provide students with backpacks filled with essential school supplies. Host a virtual drive within your organization: Encourage monetary donations through https://browardedfoundation.org/drive - $250 can provide art supplies for an entire classroom, $100 can support a teacher with crucial classroom tools and resources, and $25 can provide a student with a backpack filled with essential school supplies. To boost success, Broward Education Foundation posted a free School Supply Drive Tool Kit on its website with ideas and tips, plus suggested Social Media messaging and sample email scripts to recruit support. School supplies needed most include backpacks, compositions books (black), crayons, erasers (pink rectangular), folders (2 pocket), glue sticks, hand sanitizer (individual), highlighters, hole punchers (single), index cards (3” x 5”), markers, notebook paper, pencil pouches, pencil sharpeners, pencils (#2 with erasers), pencils (mechanical), pens (black and blue ink), rulers, scissors (children’s) and spiral notebooks (wide-ruled). Donations can be made at the Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center, 2300 West Copans Road, Bay#: 5, Pompano Beach, Florida 33069. To request donations be picked up, call: (754) 321-9020. Or email: hector.javier@browardschools.com . The Broward Education Foundation The NonProfit Broward Education Foundation aligns with Broward County Public Schools by providing grants for teachers who develop innovative curriculum that increases student outcomes; vitally needed school supplies for students and teachers; scholarships for qualified high school seniors; and support for programs and initiatives. Each year, Broward Education Foundation contributes more than $4 Million to Broward County schools, serving as the catalyst for educational excellence. If you are interested in hosting a supply drive contact: mari-lee.baxter@browardschools.com - For information visit: https://browardedfoundation.org - Or via email: BEFInfo@browardschools.com < Previous News Next News >

Hollywood Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thu Jan 12 2023 17:04:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Puddles Pity Party: The “Sad Clown With The Golden Voice” January 13, 2022 Share It sounds like a start to a joke, a 7-foot clown walks into a bar, but it’s not. He motions for a soda water and sits there staring at his drink. The year was 1998 and Puddles had wandered into the Star Community Bar in Atlanta, GA where bartender Big Mike Geier first laid eyes on the sad, silent clown. “There was a heaviness about him,” says Geier. “I could tell he wasn’t in the mood to chat, so I pretty much left him alone except to pass him the mustard when he pulled an onion and a heel of bread out of his pocket. A couple weeks later, he came by the bar and gave me a flyer to a show he was doing at a flea market. The sound system at that flea market was crap, but his voice was something else. I’ve been in my share of bands and wasn’t expecting much from a clown singing karaoke from a boombox. But I’ll be damned if his singing didn’t get me all choked up.” The two soon became close friends, with Big Mike acting somewhat as a confidant, and the pair travel all over with Puddles Pity Party, Mike speaking on behalf of Puddles since the clown chooses to stay silent. Originally from River City before kicking around Atlanta, the sulking serenader gained momentum after hitting the road as guest performer on the 2010 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live tour and 2013 Eels tour and making special appearances at Seattle’s Teatro ZinZanni and NYC’s Sleep No More. It was Halloween 2013 when Puddles then collaborated with Postmodern Jukebox to record an epic version of Lorde’s hit song “Royals,” which instantly went viral on YouTube, having received over 29 million views so far. You may also recognize Puddles as quarter-finalist from Season 12 of America’s Got Talent and most recently on AGT’s The Champions 2020. The “sad clown with the golden voice” has captivated audiences and media from around the world, building a fan base of more than 425,000 on Facebook and nearly 800,000 subscribers to the Puddles Pity Party YouTube channel. Puddles has since performed all over the planet, garnering rave reviews at festivals like Edinburgh Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Perth Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Fest, Belgium’s Gent Fest, Outside Lands and the Kennedy Center’s District of Comedy Festival. He was a feature performer in La Soiree’s 2014 Southbank show in London, which won the Olivier Award. He was handpicked by Neil Patrick Harris to perform Just for Laugh’s “Circus Awesomeus,” gala filmed for HBO Canada, and Jack Black selected Puddles for multiple performances at Festival Supreme. And he recently enjoyed a Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. “Puddles gives an emotive performance that resonates with all kinds of folks,” says Geier. “The crowd really responds to him. There’s something about a giant sad singing clown that comforts us, let’s us know it’s ok to feel, to show our feelings. It’s a sad and beautiful world, and we’re all in it together, even when we’re totally alone.” Puddles Pity Party: Unsequestered In 2020, with touring cancelled, Puddles holed up in his studio and produced 12 episodes of his “Still Sequestered” show which featured a variety of special guests like Jack Black, Penn Jillette, Howie Mandel, E (from Eels), Weird Al, Sid Krofft, Michael Stipe, Patton Oswalt, Cait O’Riordan, Neil Hamburger, David Dastmalchian, Mastodon, Tim Heidecker and artist Mark Ryden. Puddles also developed a line of coffee. All that was tremendous fun, and kept Puddles from feeling too lonely. But nothing makes Puddles less dejected than performing in front of a live audience of the best fans any sad clown could ask for. He is beyond excited to get back on the road and bring his all new “Unsequestered Show” to his favorite venues! A veritable “Pagliacci by way of Pee-Wee Herman and David Lynch” (The AJC), Puddles Pity Party has over 790K YouTube subscribers and almost 300 million views for indelible interpretations of classics by the likes of ABBA, Bowie, Britney, Cheap Trick, SIA, Tom Waits and Queen along with his unforgettable rendition of the smoosh-up “Pinball Wizard/Folsom Prison Blues.” “It seems like a parody. But when Puddles opens his mouth to sing, it’s beautiful. Operatic.” - The Boston Globe “Fantastically brilliant…originality at its best.” - Simon Cowell “His special effect is a textured voice laced with melancholy…what makes him transcend the trope is his vulnerability.” - The New York Times In these strange times Puddles may be just the ticket to give us all an escape for an hour or two. For ticket information visit, https://www.ticketmaster.com/puddles-pity-party-tickets/artist/2039164 < Previous News Next News >

The Broward Center Kicks Off 2024: Legendary Musicians, A Broadway Blockbuster, Comedy And Family Theater & More January 4, 2024 Share The Broward Center and AEG Presents bring An Evening(ish) with Gary Janetti to the Amaturo Theater on Saturday, January 6th, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. The Writer and Television Producer of Family Guy, Will & Grace, Vicious and The Prince will read essays from his bestselling books Do You Mind If I Cancel? and Start Without Me. He will be highly caffeinated and promises to answer questions from the audience with hopefully entertaining responses. He will also be available to meet guests, take photos and sign books. A double bill of The Commodores and The Spinners gets 2024 off to a soulful start in the Au-Rene Theater on Sunday, January 7th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. One of the greatest Motown/R&B/Funk artists of all time, The Commodores delivered hit after hit, including: “Machine Gun,” “Sail On,” and “Brick House” garnering nine Grammy® Nominations and taking home the award for “Nightshift.” Six-time Grammy® Nominees, The Spinners defined the smooth sound of Philadelphia Soul and topped music charts with the hits “I'll Be Around,” “Could It Be I'm Falling in Love,” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Cupid.” Come see how the world could be when Broadway in Fort Lauderdale presents Hadestown in the Au-Rene Theater Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 - Sunday, January 21st, 2024. Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony® Awards including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated Singer-Songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and Innovative Director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always. Intertwining two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go. The Bank of America Broadway In Fort Lauderdale 2023/2024 Season is made possible with the generous support of Title Sponsor Bank of America and Presenting Sponsor Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale is presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with Broadway Across America and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Performance times vary. Get ready for a night of real Irish comedy, accent included, as the TRUISTComedy Series brings David Nihill: Shelf Help Tour to the Amaturo Theater on Thursday, January 11th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Having left Dublin, Ireland, where he was born and raised until the age of 22, Nihill got drunk on travel, living and working in 12 countries while visiting more than 70. His shows draw on his wide travels, cultural observations, attempts at language study, (occasional) international drinking session(s) and being a mildly confused immigrant. Nihill is the winner of the Prestigious Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition (previous finalists include Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and Dana Carvey) and runner up in The Moth's Largest U.S. Grand Slam Storytelling Competition. He recorded his debut special for Dry Bar Comedy in 2019 and has been featured on: www.TED.com - Amazon Prime Video, Sirius XM, NPR, Huffington Post, The Irish Independent and Ireland AM, among others. JM Family Enterprises presents the Smart Stage Matinee Series Performances of The Frog Prince in the Amaturo Theater on Friday, January 12th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Family Fun performances will take place Saturday, January 13th, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. This fairy tale demonstrates why you shouldn’t judge anyone by their appearance and delivers an important message about treating everyone equally. These performances are recommended for Grades K-3 and support the ELA, SEL, Music and Dance Curricula. Just as she promised in her hit song, Karla Bonoff will deliver her music “Personally” in the Amaturo Theater on Saturday, January 13th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. The Singer-Songwriter’s hits include: "All My Life,” which won a Grammy Award for Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville and was ranked by People Magazine as one of the top five most popular wedding songs. Bonoff has toured with Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, J.D. Souther and others building up a passionate audience and delivering in sold-out houses. The TD Jazz Series brings accomplished Guitarist, Producer and Prolific Filmmaker Jesse Cook to the Amaturo Theater on Sunday, January 14th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Since playing all of the instruments on his debut release, Tempest, more than 25 years ago, Cook has created a musical legacy encompassing selling more than two million albums, recording five PBS specials, garnering more than 25 million views on YouTube and generating over 400 million streams of his songs. His 11th studio album, Libre, was chosen 2021 Album of the Year by JazzTrax and features his band’s unique brand of rhythm and rhumba. Grammy Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Judy Collins performs in the Amaturo Theater on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Through her performances and iconic 55-album catalog, Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs and a firm commitment to social activism. She is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" from her Landmark 1967 Album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame while her dreamy and sweetly intimate version of "Send in the Clowns" won "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy Awards. American Rock Band Mr. Big comes to the Amaturo Theater as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series on Thursday, January 18th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Big combined two popular musical trends of the Rock Scene in the mid- to late-80’s: a particular brand of Hard Rock focused on melodies and listener-friendly choruses together with an impressive technical proficiency, then called shredding. The group is best known for its hits “To Be With You,” “Just Take My Heart” and a cover of Cat Stevens' “Wild World.” With a smooth blend of Country Music and Southern Rock, Multi-Platinum and Grammy® Award-Winning Zac Brown Band will light up the stage in the Au-Rene Theater on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. as part of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s “Toes in the Sand” Annual Celebration. Zac Brown Band has had Six Consecutive Albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200 Charts and Five Consecutive Albums Debut at number one on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart. With three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist in 2010, Zac Brown Band has sold more than 30 million Singles and nine million Albums, amassed over 11 billion Catalog Streams, achieved 16 number one Radio Singles and are the second act to top both the Country and Active Rock Formats. Zac Brown Band currently holds the record for most consecutive sold-out shows at the iconic Fenway Park, and as a result, was inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame in 2022, joining music icons Paul McCartney and Billy Joel. Presented by long-time Broward Center supporters Charles and Laura Palmer, the Annual Celebration begins with an exclusive cocktail reception, followed by dinner, the concert and an after-show party with DJ Laz with proceeds from the evening benefitting the education and enrichment programs at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets to the concert itself are also available. The Kansas “50th Anniversary” Tour of fan favorites and deep cuts that have rarely been played live comes to the Au-Rene Theater as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series on Sunday, January 28th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Drawing from a legendary catalog of a half-century, the band will play such hits as “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind,” “Point of Know Return,” “Play the Game Tonight” and “Fight Fire with Fire.” This concert is generously underwritten by The LaBate Family. Also at the Broward Center in January are the Symphony of the Americas: Trailblazers! On January 9th, 2024 - Gold Coast Jazz Society presents Tierney Sutton & Shelly Berg Trio on January 10th, 2024 Pavlo in Concert: The Santorini Tour on January 19th, 2024 and Quick2Love Foundation, Inc. Presents #AnniFLOetry on January 20th, 2024. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at: www.BrowardCenter.org - Or: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222 - In person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information, visit: www.BrowardCenter.org - Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenter - And: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation - Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at: www.YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter. For more information, visit: www.BrowardCenter.org < Previous News Next News >

Received My Proposed Tax Bill; Now What? Thu Sep 05 2024 16:04:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Special Election Results: A Message From The Mayor Of Sunny Isles Beach By Larisa Svechin, Mayor - www.sibfl.net June 29, 2023 Share Our City Charter is the founding document for Sunny Isles Beach. It is our citizens’ bill of rights, defines our form of government and city boundaries, and outlines how the city administration and legislation should be run. Reexamining the Charter is an important part of our local democracy. Per our founders’ prudence, we must establish a Charter Revision Commission, made up of five citizens and one non-voting City Commission member, every 10 years to propose changes to the Charter. In December 2022, we appointed the Charter Revision Commission to begin the review process and on May 23rd, we held a Special Election for citizens to vote on the 14 proposed charter amendments. This was the charter’s third revision by a Charter Revision Commission since incorporation in 1997, and all amendments were passed. Though many of the changes may not affect your day-to-day lives, the review process is imperative for our municipality. Below are summaries of the amendments and what they mean for our City. You can read in more detail about each amendment at: www.sibfl.net/proposed-charter-amendments 1. The Vice Mayor is to be nominated by the Mayor and approved by the Commission. 2. Commission member terms now start on the 14th day (or first Monday) after the member is elected or immediately after results are certified from a Special Election. 3. Candidates running for Mayor or Commission must pay a qualifying fee of $200. 4. Should all members of the Commission be removed by resignation, recall, disability, or death, the Special Elections called for are pursuant to the Charter and Code of Ordinances. 5. Compensation for the Mayor and Commissioners will increase annually according to the South Florida area’s Consumer Price Index. 6. No member of the Commission is eligible for appointment as City Manager until five years after the term they are elected for ends. 7. The Mayor nominates the City Clerk, and the Commission confirms by majority. The City Clerk reports to the Commission and may be removed by a majority vote. 8. The Mayor nominates an individual Attorney or Law Firm to act as City Attorney and the Commission confirms by majority. 9. No former elected City Official may hold a compensated appointive City office or employment until three years after their term has ended. 10. Special Elections should be governed in the same manner as Run-Off Elections. 11. The Charter has removed a provision that allows the ballot title of a measure to differ from its legal title. 12. The next Charter Revision Commission will be appointed at the first City Commission Meeting in January 2033, and every 10 years after. 13. Charter amendments must be submitted to the City Commission within 150 days after the Charter Revision Commission is appointed. The City Commission will submit them to the City at the next regularly scheduled General Election, or call a Special Election. Having you, our citizens, vote on these amendments is crucial to maintaining a representative government. Though a Special Election for a referendum may not seem as paramount as an Election for a candidate, participating in your local government is essential for our City to operate at its highest capacity. I hope you will choose to exercise your right to vote at the next Election. Whether it be electing a new Commissioner or amending our city’s founding document. Your vote matters. Contact Mayor Larisa Svechin at: mayor@sibfl.net . Or: (305) 792-1753. < Previous News Next News >

Be Proactive To Prevent Heart Attacks And Strokes: Medicare Part B Covers Cardiovascular Screenings Once Every 5 Years By Family Features September 19, 2024 Share Millions of Americans are at risk for life-threatening Cardiovascular events due to High Cholesterol, a condition nearly everyone has heard of yet just a fraction fully understand. In fact, many don't realize they have high levels of harmful Cholesterol until they experience a Heart Attack or Stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 71 million adults in the United States have High Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol, also known as "Bad" Cholesterol. Of these, nearly 50 million Americans do not have LDL Cholesterol Levels under control and are at higher risk for Cardiovascular events, such as Heart Attack and Stroke. Protecting yourself and your loved ones from the effects of High LDL Cholesterol starts by arming yourself with key information. What is High LDL Cholesterol? "Your body needs Cholesterol - a waxy, fat-like substance - to work properly," said Stephen Pinkosky, PhD, Vice President, Drug Discovery and Early Development at Esperion. "However, having too much LDL Cholesterol can lead to blockages in your Arteries. Often impacted by both lifestyle choices and genetics, it's important to maintain an LDL Cholesterol level recommended by your healthcare provider." What are the Risks of High LDL Cholesterol? "It's often not until there may be a large blockage of the Artery that you notice something is wrong, such as chest pain, pain in the arms or jaw, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath or weakness," Pinkosky said. "These symptoms can occur when Blood Supply to the Heart or Brain is being slowed or blocked." These blockages, which may not have previously caused symptoms, can rupture and cause major problems, including Heart Attack or Stroke. According to the American Heart Association, the first sign of Elevated LDL Cholesterol may be a deadly Cardiovascular event for some people. According to the World Health Organization, Elevated LDL Cholesterol causes more deaths than all forms of Cancer combined and accounts for around 1 in 3 deaths in the U.S. and Europe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates Heart Disease deaths will increase 25% by 2030. What Can People Do to Get Cholesterol in Check? One of the best ways to take care of your health is to be proactive. Even if you're feeling fine, it's a good idea to get your LDL Cholesterol Levels checked and discuss the results with your health care provider to determine the best treatment option for you, if needed. Your care team will consider your LDL Cholesterol Level, along with any other factors that make a Heart Attack or need for a heart procedure more likely to occur, such as your age, sex, family history (genetics), presence of Diabetes or High Blood Pressure and lifestyle (like whether or not you smoke and your diet). For those with High LDL Cholesterol, there are options to get your levels under control. Studies show reducing LDL-C Levels with certain Cholesterol lowering medications may reduce the risk of major Cardiovascular events. Consult your health care provider if you are unsure of your LDL Cholesterol Levels or want to discuss options to lower your levels. To learn more about High LDL Cholesterol risks and management, visit: https://www.cardiosmart.org/. For a list of preventive services, especially Cardiovascular disease screenings that Medicare covers, visit: https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10110-Your-Guide-to-Medicare-Preventive-Services.pdf < Previous News Next News >

CityPlace Restaurants Celebrate Miami Spice Aventura Digest Sep 5, 2025 Miami Spice Returns Through Tuesday, September 30th! Foodies Can Enjoy The Magic City’s Annual Culinary Celebration, Not Just On South Beach, But At Cityplace Doral – South Florida’s Premier Wellness, Entertainment, Dining And Restaurant Destination In The Heart Of Doral. Miami Spice spotlights Miami’s dynamic food scene, bringing the community together to savor unforgettable flavors and enjoy exclusive deals and one-of-a-kind offerings with approachable menus for lunch, brunch, and dinner. Diners can enjoy chef-curated prix fixe menus for $35 for lunch and brunch and $45 for dinner through September. The following CityPlace Doral restaurants are participating in Miami Spice by offering special promotions: At King’s Dining and Entertainment, guests can enjoy a playful twist on Miami Spice with a three-course lunch for $35 or dinner for $45, each including a non-alcoholic beverage and an hour of bowling or billiards. The lunch menu features starters such as Buffalo Chicken Wontons, Crispy Pork Dumplings, and Southwestern Spring Rolls, followed by entrées including Chicken Tinga Tacos, a classic burger, Fried Chicken Sandwich, or any house-made pizza or flatbread, which is house-made, hand-stretched dough. The dinner menu includes starters like Boom Boom Shrimp, Nashville Hot Mozzarella, Cheese Quesadillas, Caesar salad, or Queso Dip, before moving to entrées like award-winning Bone-in or Boneless Chicken Wings, Steakhouse Burgers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich, Fried Fish Sandwich, or any pizza or flatbread. Both menus finished with a classic milkshake in favorite flavors for a sweet ending. Novecento at CityPlace Doral is offering a three-course Miami Spice experience, including weekday lunch and weekend brunch priced at $35, and dinner available every day at $45 (and up to $60), each including an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. For brunch, foodies can start with a choice of Breakfast Empanada, Huevos al Pomodoro, or Avocado Toast, followed by Choripán, Brûlée French Toast, Eggs any style, or Milanga Napolitana (served tableside). They can also add bottomless cocktails, including Bloody Mary, Cizano Prosecco, Sangria, Mimosa for $20. For lunch, guests can enjoy dishes such as Provoleta & Pimientos, Beet Carpaccio or Ceasar Salad to start. Followed by the Salmon Burger, Chicken Milanga, Ribeye Jr., or Branzino (+ $10). For dinner, indulge in appetizers like Confit Tomato & Mushroom, Mejillones al Pomodoro, or Salmon Tiradito, then choose from entrees such as or more elevated options like Risotto de Camarón, Steak Frites, Gnocchi Tartufo, or a Surf + Turf T-Bone (+ $10). Finish on a sweet note with Flan or Panqueques 900 (dulce de leche crepes with vanilla ice cream). SuViche at CityPlace Doral is serving up Japanese Peruvian fusion for Miami Spice with three-course menus for $35 for weekday lunch and weekend brunch, and $45 for dinner. Brunch and lunch feature starters include Bang Bang Shrimp and the Shrimp Cocktail. Featured entrées are favorites, from Chicken Camote Waffles, Avocado Toast, and Pork Belly Chaufa to Lomo Saltado “a lo Pobre,” Pork Belly Chaufa and Causa Frita Benedict. Dinner adds sushi favorites, such as the SuViche Roll and Miami Roll, alongside salads and ceviche, the Saltado Steak, Miso Salmon, Pescado a lo Macho and more. Desserts include Suspiro Limeño or flan. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants is offering a three-course lunch for $35, available Monday through Friday, featuring a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert. Guests can enjoy elevated comfort dishes starting with Caprese Flatbread, Italian Sausage & Whipped Burrata Flatbread or the Chopped Wedge Salad, followed by Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, Pretzel-crusted Pork Chops, and Soy Ginger Salmon, paired with decadent sweets such as S’more Budino or Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée. For more information or to view the full Miami Spice menus, visit: https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/deals/spice-restaurant-months . When: Now through Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 Where: CityPlace Doral 8300 Northwest 36th Street Doral, Florida 33166 Parking at CityPlace Doral is available for an additional charge in the parking garage. Valet service is also available. How: For more information, please visit: https://cityplacedoral.com/events . Cost: $35 for lunch and brunch, and $45 for dinner. About CityPlace Doral: CityPlace Doral is an attractive leisure destination offering a collection of memorable dining, shopping, wellness and entertainment experiences. Featuring 250,000 square feet of retail space, CityPlace Doral is a master-planned, mixed-use development nestled in the dynamic employment center of Doral in the heart of Miami-Dade County. CityPlace Doral combines the vision of world-renowned architects, designers and artists creating the next crown jewel of prosperous dining, entertainment and upscale shopping in one of South Florida’s growing cities. CityPlace Doral includes more than 40 dining, shopping and entertainment destinations for all palettes and walks of life, and the property’s entertainment retail component is anchored by a roster of first-class tenants from all over the country. For more information, visit: www.cityplacedoral.com - Or call: (786) 693-1849. Join the conversation and follow CityPlace Doral on Instagram, Facebook and X at: @CityPlaceDoral. Previous Next

It's A Baynanza: Have An Immediate And Positive Impact On Our Environment March 28, 2024 Share The early 1980’s marked the beginning of a monumental effort by Miami-Dade County to save Biscayne Bay, and that effort grows today with Public and Private Partnerships committed to the protection of our natural resources. Baynanza, created as part of a larger effort to save the bay, is a celebration of Biscayne Bay and its significance as one of our most important Ecological Systems in South Florida. But this Ecological Treasure continues to suffer from Pollution and Degraded Water Quality due to Hydrological Changes, Aging Infrastructure, Nutrient Contamination and Chronic On and Offshore Littering. While the environmental concerns that affect Biscayne Bay have reached alarming levels, events like Baynanza raise Critical Awareness for these concerns and can make an Immediate and Positive Impact on our Environment. Baynanza is a celebration of Biscayne Bay and its significance as one of the most important Ecological Systems in South Florida. Celebrated throughout March and April, Baynanza culminates with the Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day where thousands of Volunteers join together to help clean up our bay’s shoreline. The 42nd Annual Baynanza Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day will take place on Saturday, April 13th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Noon. Sign up to celebrate our incredible Marine Resources and help restore the Biscayne Bay Watersheds at over 30 locations across Miami-Dade County. Registered Volunteers at all Cleanup Sites will receive a FREE Commemorative T-Shirt. Community Service Hours are available to ALL students who participate! Remember to wear closed-toe shoes (tennis-type shoes) and bring gloves, water, trash bags and snacks for you and any volunteers in your party. We suggest you bring the following items with you when you participate in a Clean Up: Extra Water, Sunscreen, Mosquito Repellent, Hat or Visor, Sunglasses and a Grabber. Local Baynanza 2024 Sites • Snake Creek Trail: Northwest 202nd Terrace & Northwest 7th Avenue • East Greynolds Park: 16700 Biscayne Boulevard • John C. Farina Mangrove Preserve: Northeast 163rd Street & East of Biscayne Boulevard • FIU Biscayne Bay Campus: 3000 Northeast 151st Street • Oleta River State Park: 3400 Northeast 163rd Street • Haulover Beach Park: 10800 Collins Avenue • Town of Surfside Community Center: 9301 Collins Avenue For a complete list of sites visit: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1516206542736138 To stay informed on the latest Baynanza information, please sign up for updates at: http://cloud.info.miamidade.gov/baynanza < Previous News Next News >

World of Smoke & Vape and JustCBD: Working Together to Bring you the Ultimate Smoking Experience By Austin Torres December 30, 2021 Share When you enter World of Smoke & Vape Aventura, you enter the future of smoke shops and the mecca of CBD products. The sunlight steadily pours in as you are greeted by various smiles from an eager team whose desire to serve and assist is immediately recognizable and distinguishes them from your typical smoke shop employees. A multitude of high-end products line the shelves and sit behind pristine glass. Pipes of varying sizes for first timers and avid collectors, recently popularized vaporizers for dry herb as well as vape liquid, smoking accessories such as grinders and papers, and Juuls and Juul pods can all be found here. Among this assortment, you will also find top-of-the-line products by JustCBD that can soothe anxiety and joint pain, not just for people but for pets as well. Vegan gummies, Topical creams, massage oils, and other products derived from 100% organically grown hemp, cultivated in our very own USA, are part of the inventory. Oscar Martorell, and his partner, who now operate eight different incarnations of World of Smoke and Vape and share a combined twenty-three years of industry experience, had a vision for a smoke shop that would transcend the mundane and cliché smoke shops of yesterday and invite customers into a space with a different kind of décor and the promise of delivering a new level of customer satisfaction along with products, clients can trust. Together, with the help of JustCBD, they are delivering on that promise. So, what are some of the top selling JustCBD products you might expect to find at World of Smoke and Vape? Among the most popular products, are the delicious 300mg Vegan Gummies. For those of you who are looking for a product to alleviate any kind of muscle or joint pain while promoting a great deal of relaxation, JustCBD also offers the finest topical creams. Designed to relieve pain and discomfort, while also nourishing and promoting healthy skin and circulation, these products are top sellers that are certain to satisfy. One of the more popular creams, the JustCBD Roll On, is a huge hit among athletes on the go, who need some relief after a strenuous workout. A subtle, yet effective, combination of natural hemp, mint, eucalyptus, and camphor, work in unison to bring customers an instant cool and soothing sensation to ease sore muscles and joints. Perfect for those of you who are always on the run, this portable product can come in handy for anyone constantly hitting the gym and on the move. JustCBD, also manufactures vape pens and cartridges which are also top sellers at World of Smoke and Vape. With a wide variety of flavors including blueberry, mango, honey, and strawberry, customers can take the calming effects of CBD with them anywhere they go. To be sure, all vape cartridges are manufactured right here in the USA with a full spectrum of terpenes. All of these products and more make up the vast catalog of JustCBD’s merchandise. However, it would be a disservice to not mention that these high-end products are made available by the most stellar team in the smoke shop business, who pride themselves on their love of their products and clientele. Martorell, who formerly worked for fourteen years in hotel management and hospitality, understands better than anyone that the customer always comes first. Tatiana, who was invited in 2017 by Martorell to help manage the Aventura shop, has been delivering world-class customer service at the location, ever since. Her and her team, are renowned for their friendliness and knowledge. It is important for the staff at World of Smoke and Vape to adapt to all of their guests and make them feel comfortable and at home. When asked what her favorite part of working at World of Smoke and Vape is, Tatiana said that it’s the atmosphere that the store brings and the wonderful relationships that she and the staff share with their customers. Through their collaboration World of Smoke and Vape and JustCBD, have built a name for themselves, not only as reliable brands, but as businesses that are both honest and innovative, in the way they handle their products and clients. With a transparency that is still relatively new to the CBD business, they are changing and inspiring the culture, in radical ways. You can find many of these products and more at World of Smoke and Vape located at 2558 NE Miami Gardens Dr. Miami, FL 33180 P:786-916-2224 or you can visit any of their other locations at Aventura, Brickell, Ft. Lauderdale, Kendall, or Palmetto Bay as well as their website at www.worldofsmokeandvape.com One of South Florida’s top Smoke and Vape distributors and a close affiliate and distributor of JustCBD, World of Smoke and Vape, are pioneers of the industry, who are dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art products certain to satisfy. Additionally, you can also visit JustCBD’S website at www.justcbdstore.com Don’t take our word for it, try one of their products and see for yourself. We promise, you won’t be disappointed! < Previous News Next News >