Ready for the Olympics? Make Your Games-Watching Experience Gold Medal Worthy Thu Aug 01 2024 16:09:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Medicare Open Enrollment Open Through December 7th U.S. Department of HHS November 14, 2024 Share If you're enrolled in Medicare, it's important to remember Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15th through December 7th each year. This is the time for people with Medicare to compare their Prescription Drug and Health Coverage Options for the upcoming year. New This Year The new prescription drug law is lowering Out-Of-Pocket costs on covered prescriptions. New in 2025, all Medicare plans will include a $2,000 Annual Cap on what you pay Out-Of-Pocket for Prescription Drugs under Medicare Part D. The Cap only applies to drugs that are covered by your plan, so it's more important than ever to review your plan options to make sure your drugs are covered. That means you will not pay more than $2,000 in 2025 on Prescription Drugs covered under Medicare prescription drug coverage - that includes expensive prescription drugs to treat Cancer, chronic illnesses and more. This is in addition to improvements already in effect due to the Prescription Drug law including a $35 Cap on a month's supply of each covered Insulin Product - and no Out-Of-Pocket costs for recommended Adult Vaccines covered under Part D, including the Shingles Vaccine. Also starting in 2025, you can choose to spread your Out-Of-Pocket Drug costs across the calendar year instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy. It's called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. You can opt in with your plan in advance of January 1st and throughout 2025. How to Compare Prescription Drug and Health Coverage Options www.Medicare.gov is the official source for information about Medicare and Open Enrollment. Start here to get unbiased information to find the type of coverage that best meets your needs. Comparing prescription Drug and Health Coverage options is easy at: www.Medicare.gov . Get started by clicking on "Find Plans." Then enter your Zip Code, current prescriptions and favorite pharmacies. You will see a side-by-side comparison of the total cost for all the plans in your area, including the premium and how much you'll pay for your prescriptions. You'll also be able to see what plans cover your prescriptions and whether some plans offer extra benefits. If you are happy with your current choice, you don't have to do anything. If you choose a new option for 2025, you can enroll on: www.Medicare.gov . Before you enroll in a plan, consider this advice: • Check if your health care providers are in a plan's network. • Check if your prescriptions are included in a plan's formulary and if the plan works with your pharmacy. • Review a plan's estimated total costs to you, including deductible and other Out-Of-Pocket Costs. Remember low monthly premiums may not always be the best overall value for your specific needs. • Check if Medicare Advantage plans offer Extra Benefits, like Vision, Hearing or Dental Coverage, if you need these services. • Understand that you may need to get approval from the plan before it will cover certain services or supplies. • Check your plan's Star Rating to see how it performs on quality, customer service and more. Medicare Can Help To compare options and find the best coverage to fit your needs: • Visit: www.Medicare.gov and conduct side-by-side comparisons of costs and coverage. • Call 1-800-MEDICARE. Help is available 24 hours a day, including weekends. • Access personalized health insurance counseling in your community at no cost, available from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit: www.shiphelp.org - Or call: 1 (800) MEDICARE for locations near you for assistance. < Previous News Next News >

Credit Card Bill vs Bathroom Scale: Would You Rather Lose 20 Pounds of Weight or $2,000 of Debt? June 16, 2022 Share As we steadily make it half way into 2022, the resolutions we made a few months earlier - to spend and eat less – begin to fade from our collective memory. Many of us will be left to ponder two frustratingly large figures: the one that shows up in our Credit Card Bill and the one that appears on the bathroom scale… But which would the average Floridian prefer to lose most? A bulging waistline or a Hefty Debt? It's a hypothetical question which www.BarBend.com the World's leading Strength Training Resource and News Outlet, sought to find the answer to when they questioned 5,337 (18+) Respondents. They asked: Would you rather lose 20 Pounds of Weight, or $2,000 of Debt? It turns out that Floridians are more concerned about their Fitness Debt than their Financial Debt. 65% concluded that losing Weight is more important to them - this is broadly in line with the National Average. Indeed, when it comes to Fitness, many Floridians haven’t been doing nearly as much as the recommended amount per week. Fitness Debt, or Fitness Deficit, can be defined as the difference between how much exercise you should be doing (according to CDC Recommended Guidelines of 150 minutes Per Week) and the amount of exercise you actually do on a regular basis. If you’re exercising your body for fewer hours than it needs to function optimally, you have a Fitness Debt, which can be measured as a Percentage. Over time, a Fitness Deficit can add up and Negatively Impact one’s Health, leading to things like Weight Gain and an Increased Risk of Certain Health Factors – much like how a Poor Credit Score can affect Finances. Another Study By www.BarBend.com revealed that overall, Floridians have an average Fitness Debt of 19.5 Hours Per Year (-15%), as compared to the CDC Recommended amount of 130 Hours Per Year (which is 150 Minutes Per Week). When these Figures were broken down across the States, it was discovered that the two Dakotas were actually in an Overall Fitness Credit to themselves! South Dakota had a Fitness Credit of 7.3%, working out for 7.3 Hours More Per Year than the CDC Recommended amount of 130 Hours. North Dakota also had a Fitness Credit, but of 3.7%; as people here worked out for 3.7 Hours More Per Year than the Recommended Guidelines. Comparatively, the State that had the Overall Highest Fitness Deficit was Wyoming at 35.6 Hours (-35.6%). Many of us are finding ourselves sitting down more throughout the day, especially since the Pandemic started and more of us are working from home, or using the Office/Home Hybrid System. It may sound innocuous to think about the number of hours per day you are sitting down, but sitting has even been referred to as the ‘New Smoking’ based on the number of Health Issues it can trigger. Research shows that those who spend extended periods of time sitting down have Higher Rates of Certain Cancers, as well as Heart Problems, as compared to those who don’t. It can also lead to Poor Circulation and Weight Gain, both of which are Risk Factors for Heart Disease. ‘For some of us, 150 Minutes sounds like a lot of time to allocate towards exercising, but when you break it down into more manageable chunks, it becomes far easier to meet your fitness goals for the week,’ says Max Whiteside for Barbend. ‘This could be Half an Hour Per Day, 5 Days of the week, or you could even split up your workout into two parts – one in the Morning and one in the Afternoon. It’s not about becoming a Triathlete overnight, but it’s important to make sure that your body is getting the movement that it needs in order to give you maximum output – both Physically and Mentally!’ *The difference between the amount of exercise an individual should be doing (according to CDC Recommended Guidelines: 150 Minutes Per Week) and how much exercise they actually do on a Weekly Basis! < Previous News Next News >

“Cuchi Cuchi” She's Instantly Recognizable & Coming To Aventura Thu Sep 29 2022 16:12:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Serving In More Ways Than One: The Miami Native Got To Play Tennis & Serve Her Country Thu Mar 21 2024 16:01:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Strong. Proud. United. The 28th Annual OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival South Florida Sun Times Apr 2, 2026 Strong. Proud. United. The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Spring Edition Returns To South Florida From Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 – Sunday, May 3rd, 2026! Internationally Acclaimed As One Of The Largest LGBTQ+ Cultural Festivals In The World, This Season’s OUTshine Line-Up Hits Miami-Dade And Broward Counties With Vibrant Thought-Provoking, Entertaining And Educational Star-Studded Features, Documentaries And Shorts Including Four International, Nine North American And Six East Coast Premieres From 20 Countries. New This Year Is The Festival’s Opening Night Under The Stars, A Community Block Party Closing Night And An Extended Fort Lauderdale Run Adding Three More Days Of Fun, Fabulous Excitement To Connect Cinema Enthusiasts. Last year’s OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festivals drew more than 12,000 attendees from the Greater South Florida area, as well as virtual viewers statewide. “OUTshine was created to entertain, educate, and inspire film-loving audiences of all persuasions by presenting the best of emerging international, national, and local LGBTQ+ oriented films to South Florida,” said Mark Gilbert, Interim Executive Director, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “We strive to enrich our audiences while encouraging a sense of community by presenting international and culturally diverse films that offer historical and contemporary perspectives on the LGBTQ+ experience. Our message is that when you come to the festival, you’re with friends.” Starting the 2026 Spring Edition off on a glamorous, outdoor note, OUTshine is thrilled to present its opening night film, The Dinner (La Cena) (Spain, 2025), a delicious blend of tension, history, and irreverent humor, on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, located at 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. Set in the turbulent aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, a grand dinner is planned to celebrate the nationalist triumph of Franco in the iconic and luxurious Hotel Palace in Madrid. But what the victors don’t know is who's in the kitchen. Directed by Manuel Gomez Pereira, the film stars Mario Casas (The Goldsmith’s Secret) and Alberto San Juan (Cristobal Balenciaga). Opening night tickets are $75 and include reserved lawn seating, entertainment, open bar cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a filmmaker Q & A. “With so many new universal stories yet to be discovered, selecting this year’s Spring Edition features was truly a labor of love,” said Joe Bilancio, Director of Programming, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “Our Miami run has a strong focus on Latin America, international and foreign language LGBTQ+ films geared toward a strong multicultural audience while Fort Lauderdale features many American independent films. We are proud to share these empowering stories by today’s foremost and emerging directors whose creative visions urge us to embrace our differences and foster a sense of unity and belonging.” The Men’s and Ladies Latin Spotlight Night will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 in Miami at the SilverspotCinema, located at 300 Southeast 3rd Street, Suite#: 100, Miami, Florida 33131. This year’s films include the romantic comedy An Island Away From You (A Una Isla Deti) (Spain, 2025) and the award-winning drama Jone, Sometimes (Jone, batzuetan) (Spain, 2025). Monday, April 27th, 2026 Tuesday, April 28th, 2026 and Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 OUTshine will present its Cocktails & Cinema™ nights in BOTH Miami and Fort Lauderdale. At 7:00 p.m., at the historic landmark Tower Theater, located at 1508 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33131, OUTshine brings the magic of local shorts to Calle Ocho and at 7:00 p.m., at the historic Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale, located at 1820 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304, a Trans Spotlight film will debut. This year’s Centerpiece Film screening at the Koubek Center Theater, located at 2705 Southwest 3rd Street, Miami, Florida 33135 at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30th, 2026 will be Maspalomas (Spain, 2025), an intimate story that delves into the subject of homosexuality in elder age through the journey of a 76-year-old man confronting fears and dilemmas that cross generations. Set in the iconic town and beaches of Maspalomas, on the beautiful island of Gran Canaria, the film thoughtfully explores universal themes such as family, identity and sexuality in later life, with extraordinary honesty, depth and sensitivity. The film was directed by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi. Post-screening, audiences are invited for light bites, entertainment and complimentary cocktails. On Monday, April 27th, 2026 OUTshine travels north to Fort Lauderdale with a host of exclusive screenings, fun-filled evenings and a brand-new block party spread out over three additional dates. On Friday, May 1st, 2026 Men’s Spotlight and Ladies Spotlight films, co-hosted by Wilton Women’s Week, will grace the big screen at the historic Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale, located at 1820 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. Broward filmgoers will be treated to the action-crime thriller Lone Star Bull (USA, 2024) starring Luke Macfarlane, Sebastian Roche, and D.J. “Shangela” Pierce, and Erupcja (Poland, 2025), a romantic comedy-drama starring Charli XCX followed by an afterparty at J. Mark’s Fort Lauderdale restaurant. Other star-studded films of note this year include Montreal, My Beautiful (Montreal, Ma Belle) (Canada, 2025) starring Joan Chen as a Chinese immigrant who begins a secret affair with a young Quebecoise, I Want Your Sex (USA, 2026), an American erotic comedy thriller directed by Gregg Araki starring Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Daveed Diggs, Johnny Knoxville, Margaret Cho and Charli XCX and Rock Out (USA, 2025), directed by Dustin Lance Black, an excavation of the queer roots of rock, punk and metal featuring Roger Daltrey, Dolly Parton, John Reid, Danny Fields and more. On Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 OUTshine is proud to present its first-ever Closing Night Community Block Party at Savor Cinema, located at 503 Southeast 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. Audiences are invited to the 6:00 p.m. screening of We’ll Find Happiness (Canada, 2025) followed by an outdoor soiree featuring food vendors, filmmakers, live performers, entertainment and more from community partners. We’ll Find Happiness, directed by Lea Pool, tells the story of Saad, a young Moroccan exile in Quebec, who will do anything to save the man he loves, an Iranian refugee facing deportation and likely death. In a desperate move, Saad tries to seduce a high-ranking spokesperson from the Ministry of Immigration. This risky gambit sets off a chain of events that are as intimate as they are political, where every decision carries consequences far beyond matters of the heart. OUTshine At-Home viewing will be available from Monday, May 4th, 2026 - Sunday, May 10th, 2026. “While others might retreat, OUTshine forges forward with an even more robust schedule proving that strength, courage, and solidarity can turn even the fiercest storms into a path toward hope and pride. We will continue to showcase the bold storytelling, diverse voices, and unforgettable cinematic moments that define our community,” added Gilbert. This year’s OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival spring edition is presented by CAN Community Health and The Warten Foundation. Premiere sponsors are Gilead and Comcast; Presenting Media are HotSpots! Media and It’s Happening Out; Grand sponsors are Google, Wilton River Suites, Silverspot Cinemas, Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale, Major Prevention 305, Fast Printz, Tito’s and Commissioner Damian Pardo; Supporting sponsors are Latino Salud J. Mark’s, Miami Beach Botanical Gardens and Media partners includeCultural Owl, The Bulletin, I Love Gay Movies, Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, MOCHEE, TampaBayGay.com, OUTFRONT MEDIA, OUT SFL, OutClique, queerguru.com, wireman, Skirt South Florida and GPR | Goodman Public Relations. The full film schedule for OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Spring Edition will drop on Friday, March 27th, 2026. Ticket subscription packages and individual tickets starting at $17 go on sale at the same time. OUTshinepassholders and Producer Circle members receive priority advance ticket purchase opportunities. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.outshinefilm.com . About OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, celebrating its 28th year and 45th 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: www.outshinefilm.com and follow us on Facebook @OUTshineFilmFestival, on Twitter @OUTshineFilm and on Instagram @OUTshineFilm. Previous Next

Swing Into The Jungle This Summer - Area Stage Presents An Immersive Adventure - Disney's Tarzan South Florida Sun Times Jun 26, 2025 Following The Sold-Out Success Of Disney’s The Little Mermaid And Beauty And The Beast In 2024, Area Stage Proudly Announces Its Latest Immersive Theatrical Experience: Disney’s Tarzan. This Thrilling Reimagining Of The Tony-Nominated Broadway Musical Will Preview Thursday, July 17th, 2025 Through Saturday, July 19th, 2025, With An Official Opening Night On Saturday, July 19th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. And Performances Running Through Sunday, August 3rd, 2025. Audiences will once again step into a fully transformed space inside South Miami’s Sunset Place, where explorers and hunters gather to recount the legendary tale of Tarzan and Jane. Under the creative vision of Artistic Director Giancarlo Rodaz, the production will plunge theatergoers into a jungle world of heart-pounding rhythm, vine-swinging adventure, and deep emotional discovery. With Area Stage’s signature immersive staging, audience members will move through the world of the show, surrounded by live music, atmospheric design, and interactive storytelling. Based on the Disney animated film and inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel, Tarzan features music and lyrics by Grammy and Oscar-winning Artist Phil Collins and a book by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang. The original Broadway score—featuring iconic songs like “You’ll Be in My Heart” and “Two Worlds”—will be reimagined for this bold new production. The show marks another ambitious chapter in Area Stage’s commitment to creating boundary-pushing immersive theatre experiences. Award-winning Director Giancarlo Rodaz, recently named Best Director by Miami New Times in 2024, returns to lead the creative team, including Raquel Dwight (Set Design), Joe Naftal (Lighting Design), Maria Banda-Rodaz and Sofia Ortega (Costume Design), and Katie Duerr (Music Director). For more information and tickets, visit: www.areastage.org/tarzan . About Area Stage Area Stage is a Non-Profit theatre company founded in 1989 on principles of artistic innovation, education and accessibility. Throughout its 35 year history, this award winning organization has striven to bring extraordinary theatrical experiences to its audiences, establishing itself as one of South Florida’s most influential cultural institutions. In addition to its acclaimed mainstage productions, Area Stage houses a world-class Conservatory, which provides professional training to hundreds of young aspiring artists each year, as well as the Inspire Theatre Project, a program that offers similar opportunities to neurodiverse participants. Previous Next

Happy 100th Miriam Esther Schwartz Tue Sep 19 2023 16:12:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Congratulations Jonathan Carrillo: Nearly A Quarter Century Of Leadership To Hallandale Beach By Stephen Cummings February 8, 2024 Share The Kiwanis Club of Hallandale Beach presented Club President, Jonathan Carrillo with the President’s Award for outstanding leadership and service to the Hallandale Beach Community for nearly a quarter century. Carrillo has served as Club Treasurer, Club Vice President, President Elect and President over his many years of membership. Jonathan has been recognized as building the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League where he serves as Program Director with over 1,400 boys and girls participating in several different sports and activities. He has played a critical role in fundraising benefitting Kiwanis charities and had led efforts purchasing uniform shorts for all the students attending Gulfstream Academy, building the beautiful garden at the school and working on the committee for the very successful Family Science Night hosted at Foster Park with 100 attendees. Jonathan has been employed by the City of Hallandale Beach for over thirty years beginning his career with the Parks and Recreation Department after graduating from the University of Florida. Carrillo is highly organized and has displayed a natural affinity working with our youth making him a logical choice to be designated as the Program Director for the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League when it was reorganized in our city in 2006. From its nascent beginning, Jonathan is credited in building the bustling sports program to over 1,400 children participating in basketball, baseball, football, track and field, bowling, soccer and cheerleading. Jonathan’s areas of expertise extends far beyond organized athletics as he excels in fundraising supporting the numerous programs within his organization. The Annual Police Athletic League Comedy Show hosted at the Sport of Kings Room in Gulfstream Park attracts over 300 patrons treated to some of the most hilarious comedians. A buffet dinner is served before the show and ticket holders can participate in 50-50 raffles and bid on a wide variety of coveted items at the silent auction. Well-known and respected within the community, Jonathan has had prizes donated to be raffled off to procure necessitated funds to run his programs. Recently, one lucky ticket holder won a round trip ticket on JetBlue. Christmas time is a season for joy and happiness and Carrillo has been instrumental in ensuring that over 100 deserving children receive presents from Santa Claus in the Annual Shop With A Cop Event. Although our local Walmart has historically been very generous helping support this program where throngs of Local Law Enforcement and Civic Volunteers take the kids shopping with a gift card, the COVID-19 Pandemic did not deter Jonathan from continuing the tradition as he asked the children what they wanted and gifts were bought and distributed at Foster Park in Hallandale Beach. Jonathan’s leadership abilities with the Kiwanis Club of Hallandale Beach have greatly contributed to the club’s success and longevity spanning thirty years. Most recently, he championed an initiative with Kenny Cohan purchasing uniform shirts for all the students at Gulfstream Academy and organized a work party two years ago beautifying a garden at the school. Each July, Jonathan can been seen volunteering at the sorting and packing location for the Kiwanis Christmas In July Extravaganza benefitting over 2,000 homeless youths providing shoes, socks, underwear, shirts, shorts, pants and toiletries and serving food at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise where the event takes place. Each year at Thanksgiving, Jonathan ensures that our Kiwanis Club distributes turkeys to 100 needy families that he identifies and raises funds for providing complimentary bicycles and helmets for deserving children. As the young athletes in PAL travel to competitions, Carrillo has utilized car washes and restaurant raffles and pasta dinners as a means to raise money. In summary, Jonathan exhibits indefatigable energy and a gregarious disposition among his peers and club members revered by all the young adults whom he mentors. The Kiwanis Club Of Hallandale Beach proudly congratulates Jonathan Carrillo on this latest accolade. < Previous News Next News >

U.S. Medicare Info Helping Seniors With Medicare Programs Throughout Florida Sun Apr 24 2022 04:02:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Portrait of A Queen: CeCe Teneal Celebrates Aretha Franklin Fri Jan 14 2022 05:03:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Making Strides Walkathon: A Time of Hopes, Dreams And Perhaps, Miracles Thu Nov 04 2021 04:07:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)