Celebrating Freedom 250 Through Music - Miami Music Project Receives National Endowment For The Arts Grant To Support Its Children’s Orchestras Program Aventura Digest Aug 27, 2026 Miami Music Project Is Pleased To Announce It Has Received A $50,000 Grant Award From The National Endowment For The Arts For The 2026-2027 Program Year. This Funding Will Support Its Children’s Orchestras Program, A Tuition-Free, Year-Round, Daily After-School Youth Development Program With Intensive Orchestral Training. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support opportunities across the country for Americans to experience and participate in the arts,” said Mary Anne Carter, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As we celebrate the country’s 250th Anniversary this year, it is a moment to recognize the important role the arts continue to play in our lives, communities, and heritage.” The Miami Music Project Children’s Orchestras program is dedicated to expanding access to orchestral music education for all, fostering youth development, and celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States through 25 community performances to commemorate this historic milestone. “We are deeply honored to receive this milestone investment from the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Miami Music Project President and CEO Anna Klimala. “Dedicated to advancing the values of opportunity, community, and service, our organization proudly celebrates Freedom 250 by ensuring more young people have access to exceptional music education and performances that honor the nation’s artistic heritage.” About the National Endowment for the Arts Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit: www.arts.gov . About Miami Music Project Miami Music Project is a 501(c)(3) award-winning NonProfit Organization that uses music as an instrument for social transformation, empowering children to acquire values and achieve their full potential, positively affecting their society through the study and performance of music. Miami Music Project’s vision is to create opportunity and access through music for those most in need, improve the quality of life for children today, and ultimately transform their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities. Emerging as a model for music education programs nationally, Miami Music Project offers free-of-charge, after-school programming to all students with no barriers to entry, regardless of race or economic status. As of today, Miami Music Project has reached over 33,000 children and youth across Miami-Dade County, becoming one of the largest socially transformative music initiatives in the U.S. Miami Music Project's programming is inspired by the El Sistema phenomenon - a new model for social change and a visionary global movement that transforms the lives of children through music. Miami Music Project meets children in seven local schools, providing them with the highest-quality, immersive conservatory-level education three hours a day, five times a week. This support results in 100% of our senior students pursuing higher education. Learn more at: Instagram: @miamimusicproject Facebook: @miamimusicproject X: @MiaMusicProject YouTube: youtube.com/@MiamiMusicProject https://miamimusicproject.org/ Previous Next

Rooftop Family Movie Night: A Whimsical Evening Under The Stars In Sunny Isles Beach Thu Jan 25 2024 17:03:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

All That Jazz & More December 16, 2021 Share Gold Coast Jazz Society (GCJZ) celebrates thirty years of respect and honor for the art form of Jazz in their 2021- 2022 Season - Live! At the Amaturo. “In marking this incredible milestone, we aimed this Season, to mix our performances between pure and contemporary, alongside some hip, creative variations,” says GCJS Executive Director Pam Dearden. “We hope we have curated something for everyone and we also wish to invite new audience members into our fold.” Live! At The Amaturo features a sensational variety of ‘straight-ahead’ tunes, new renditions of old favorites, as well as innovative Jazz. A host of international artists as well as outstanding local musicians are carefully included in the series. All concerts will occur at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Southwest 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 and will begin at 7:45 p.m. The Shelly Berg Trio will return on January 12th, 2022 with a special tribute to the music of George Gershwin with a Gershwin Top 20 Celebration. Berg is a Steinway Piano Artist, a five-time Grammy-Nominated Arranger, Orchestrator and Producer with numerous recordings to his credit. Not only a performer, he is also a notable educator and is the Dean of the University of Miami’s Prestigious Frost School of Music. The All Music Guide says that Shelly “is one of the finest pianists around in the early 21st century playing Modern Mainstream Jazz.” To learn more about Shelly Berg, go to: https://www.shellyberg.com/ On January 25th, 2022, fresh off the Jazz Cruise, join us for a concert with NEA Jazz Master, Kenny Barron. Honored by the National Endowment for the Arts as an NEA Jazz Master, Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him "one of the top Jazz Pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly calls him “the most lyrical piano player of our time.” Whether he is playing a solo, a trio or a quintet, Kenny Barron is recognized the world over as a master of performance and composition. Enjoy pre-concert music in the Amaturo’s Lobby by the Pine Crest Jazz Septet. To learn more about Kenny Barron, go to: https://kennybarron.com The February 9th, 2022 Concert will feature the Gold Coast Jazz debut of the acclaimed Latin Jazz Pianist, Chuchito Valdés. Chuchito, following in the footsteps of his famed father Chucho Valdés and grandfather Bebo Valdés, continues the legacy of great piano players from Cuba. With influences of Caribbean Rhythms and Jazz, he will create an exciting and energetic blend of spicy music. Chuchito has recorded and performed with the world renowned Cuban Band, Irakere, which he led for two years. His exciting performances have taken him to festivals, clubs and concerts throughout the world, from Cuba and the Caribbean to the Americas and Europe. Learn more about this artist at: https://www.chucho-valdes.com On March 9th, 2022 Tony DeSare, the incredible Singer/Pianist, brings his fresh take on old school classics. He’s won critical acclaim for his three Billboard Top 10 Jazz albums and for his exciting performances in Jazz Clubs at Carnegie Hall with symphony orchestras and in Las Vegas. DeSare releases new recordings, videos of standards and new originals every few weeks on his YouTube channel, iTunes and Spotify. Learn more about this artist at: https://www.tonydesare.com The closing Concert of the Jazz Series will occur on April 13th, 2022 featuring the world renowned Dirty Dozen Brass Band with An Evening of New Orleans Jazz, Funk & Soul. The DDBB has taken the traditional foundation of Brass Band music and incorporated it into a blend of Genres including: Bebop, Jazz, Funk and with a sprinkling of R&B and Soul. This world famous music machine has celebrated over 40 years of performing a “musical gumbo” around the globe with over twelve recordings and collaborations with a wide range of artists. Learn more about the DDBB at: www.DirtyDozenBrassBand.com The Gold Coast Jazz Society is a Not-For-Profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Jazz Music through a mainstage concert series, free community concerts, educational programs, a Jazz scholarship program and musical services provided by the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band. For more information, go to: www.goldcoastjazz.org Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. This program is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Concert Sponsors include: American National Bank, Funding Arts Broward, Helen Ingham Foundation, Tim Ingham and Julie Pabst, Morgan Stanley and the Mary Porter Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward. < Previous News Next News >

This Year's Budget Is Almost Complete: Is A Tax Increase For The Upcoming Fiscal Year Necessary? By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper August 19, 2021 Share In September 2019, the city received the SAFER grant award in the amount of $5.7 million. This grant funds the requested 14 Firefighter positions for a period of 3 years. Over the past month, we have received calls from concerned residents, about the water leaking on Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Three Islands. The leak, is due to a small fracture, in a 14-inch pipe. The work to repair this, was scheduled and our Staff, was preparing and found, that this older sized pipe, was difficult to find, but it was finally found and work will now begin, for the repairs. There will obviously be a disruption in traffic, so please, pardon the dust. Over the next years, we will be endeavoring to aggressively updating our infrastructure. We have secured a revenue bond, based on our current utility rates, but, we will also be looking to propose a Government Obligation Bond, to replace many pipes, that are well over, 50 years old. The following is a continuation of our City Manager's Budget Message and The Strategic Financial Plan. This year's budget is almost complete. We held our final budget workshop and will be conducting our public hearings, to adopt the final determinations. The concepts laid out in this plan, have not all been adopted. We did adopt on first reading, for the On-Street Parking Plan with some amendments, that include a reduced rate for senior and codified, our policy, for free parking, for Handicapped Residents and Veterans. For approximately the past four fiscal years, both Administration and the City Commission, have discussed, the creation of a Request For Proposal (RFP), for the outsourcing Of The City's Sanitation Services. It has been previously discussed, that by outsourcing those particular services, the City would realize, performance improvements, while generating, approximately $1.5 Million, in Franchise Fees, for The General Fund, at the same time. The Current Administration, has considered the previous concerns, by members of the City Commission, as it pertains, to Sanitation Staffing and Layoffs. To that end, our proposal would be to proceed with the Outsourcing Of Services, as a part of our Financial Solvency Strategies, while keeping all of our current Sanitation Employees, which will allow them, to work in current vacancies, within the Department Of Public Works. The Outsourcing Of Sanitation, is a vital part of our Financial Stabilization Strategy, because once implemented, in FY2023, there would be a one-time transfer, to The General Fund, of the Remaining Balances/Closeouts Of The Transportation Fund, in the amount of $4.5 Million. Additionally, in that same fiscal year, the city would generate revenues of approximately $1.5 Million, for a total of $6 Million, in FY2023. The City would receive, approximately $1.5 Million, in franchise fees, per year, after that. Property Tax Increases: Although A Tax Increase, is not proposed, for the upcoming fiscal year, increases may become necessary, to offset the projected, steep, budget shortfalls. An increase, is not proposed in FY2021/2022, as we recognize, that the Global Pandemic, is not over and that, the community, is still struggling, with the effects, of a slow recovery. However, A Proposed Tax Increase, of approximately .65 Mills, is proposed, starting in FY2022/2023 and in, FY2023/2024. The Proposed Increases, will generate approximately $2.9 Million, in FY2022/2023, approximately $6 Million, in FY2023/2024 and approximately, $6.1 Million, in FY2024/2025. It should be noted that the ability to tax is capped at 10 mills, including that of independent districts such as Golden Isles and Three Islands. The current operating millage is 7.0000 with a maximum potential increase of 1.2466. This maximum is proposed to be spread over a period of two years beginning in FY2022/2023. Therefore, under our current structure, the total millage that can be assessed is approximately 8.12466 (excluding debt service millage). Cost Allocation Study: One of the tools which we can utilize is the update to our City’s Cost Allocation Plan. The full Cost Allocation Plan (CAP) can be used as supporting documentation for inter-fund transfers between Enterprise and Special Revenue Funds and the General Fund. In essence the CAP clearly documents the administrative and support costs (e.g., HR, Procurement, Finance, IT etc.) incurred by the General Fund in support of operating departments such as Public Works. The last CAP was done in 2019. It reduced the transfers to the General Fund by approximately $1 million, even though expenses have increased. A revised CAP will consider these expense increases. As a management tool the CAP provides City Administration with relevant cost data as to how much it actually costs to provide specific services. Cost Savings - Elimination Of SAFER Grant Firefighter Positions: In March 2019, the City Commission, approved a SAFER Grant Application, in the amount of $3.5 Million, to fund 14 Firefighter Positions, that were needed to place, a third of the Firefighters, on The Fire Trucks. Due to the City’s financial constraints, an Economic Hardship Waiver Request, was also submitted, for the funder, to consider granting 100%, of the costs. In September 2019, the City received, The SAFER Grant Award, in the amount of $5.7 Million. This Grant, funds the requested 14 Positions, for a period of 3 years, (from March 2020, through the end of, March, 2023). Per The Grant Guidelines, The City, is not obligated, to keep the positions, at the end, of the Grant Period. Should the City decide to keep the positions, the financial obligations would begin, in FY2022/2023 with a cost to the General Fund of $890,679. For FY2023/2024 and FY2024/2025, the cost would increase, to approximately $1.9 Million and $2.1 Million, respectively. The cost of keeping these positions after the grant ends, through FY2024/2025, is approximately $4.9 Million. This will be a direct impact, to reserves given, for the expected, budget shortfalls, in the next, four years. In order to preserve reserves and better prepare for the end of ARPA, the elimination of, the 14 Firefighter Positions, is recommended. Hiring Freeze Of Select Positions: Over the next year, The Administration, will review possibilities, for the freezing of select positions, as long as, those positions do not interfere, with the level of services, that we are now experiencing, as a result of, The Policy Of Minimum Staffing Levels, which, we have adopted. As previously discussed, for many years, the City was understaffed, due to previous, budget cuts. This led to existing staff working overtime and directly contributed, to the fact that over the past six (6) years, the City lost hundreds of employees, across the board. The loss of hundreds of staff, are creating numerous challenges for the organization, including both brain, and experience drain and the higher costs, are associated with hiring and training, of new employees. Based on our policy of maintaining, minimum staffing levels, in order to ensure our current levels of service, there are no major, across the board Staff Reductions, which are a part, of our Financial Stabilization Strategies. The final portion, PART IV of this message, will be next week. As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our City, a better place, on my phone/text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can e-mail me at: jcooper@cohb.org . Please visit my Facebook Page: MayorJoyCooper. Like It! Friend It! Share It! < Previous News Next News >

The City of Hollywood Rewards Customers for Saving Water Thu Sep 01 2022 16:07:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Celebrate Hollywood's History: At The Liberia 100th Anniversary Celebration This Weekend November 2, 2023 Share The Liberia neighborhood in the City of Hollywood is turning 100 and all are welcome to join in the weekend of celebration! The Libera 100 Celebration kicks off on Friday, November 3rd at 6:00 p.m. with a neighborhood reunion at Attucks Middle School, 3500 North 22nd Avenue. The free event will include a screening of the film "Stories From Our Ancestors - An Ode to Attucks High School" and panel discussion led by filmmaker and oral historian Emmanuel George. Light refreshments will be served. The Libera 100 Celebration continues Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. with a parade through the Libera community, followed by a festive fun day from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2400 Charleston Street. All are encouraged to line the parade route that runs south on J. A. Ely Boulevard and Meade Street, west on Atlanta Street to Northwest 24th Avenue then north to the MLK Center. The parade will include local high school bands, dance teams, youth and civic organizations, church groups, state and local elected leaders, decorated floats, the Hollywood Police Department, Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety personnel and equipment and more. Parade Grand Marshalls include District 2 City Commissioner Linda Hill Anderson and Libera Civic Leader Mr. Henry Graham. Fun Day festivities will include kids’ activities, bounce houses, face painting, and entertainment on the lawn. Admission is free, food will be available for purchase. The Libera 100 Celebration continues on Saturday evening with a gala banquet at the MLK Community Center from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Space is limited, tickets are $50 per person, and are available for purchase: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/liberia100-centennial-anniversary-banquet-tickets-731900964487 The Libera 100 Celebration concludes on Sunday morning with a nondenominational community worship service. Hosted by the United Churches of Liberia, the worship service is taking place at the Attucks Middle School auditorium from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Admission is free, all are welcome to attend. The Liberia 100 Centennial Celebration is presented by the City of Hollywood, Liberia Civic Association, Attucks High School Alumni Association, Inc., Hollywood Eagles Youth Development, Liberia Economic & Social Development Inc., and United Churches of Liberia. For parade participation, banquet details or additional event information, please email Anthony Williams at: anthony@anthonywilliamsonline.com . Or Richard Walker at: rw2310forrest@yahoo.com . For media inquiries, please contact Joann Hussey by calling: (954) 921-3620. Street Closures • J.A. Ely Boulevard between Meade Street and Atlanta Street, Atlanta Street between Ely Boulevard, and Northwest 24th Avenue and Northwest 24th Avenue from Atlanta Street to Charleston Street • 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 4th Limited on-street parking, attendees are encouraged to observe all event parking restrictions and avoid parking on private property or blocking private driveways. Hollywood West Salsa Fest 
 Join Melina Almadovar, Saturday, November 4th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with her live orchestra for an exciting night of live entertainment at the Boulevard Heights Community Center Amphitheater, 6770 Garfield Street. The event is presented by Salsa Festival International and the City of Hollywood. Admission is free. < Previous News Next News >

What Reinventing Our Schools Means To Hallandale Beach By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper March 7, 2024 Share Over the last month the School Board of Broward County announced its goal to address the under enrollment in schools. The announcement that some schools could possibly close sent a chilling effect throughout every school. Parents, community stakeholders and all elected officials all have been outraged, afraid their school would be shuttered, and children transferred to another school. With state and national laws pushing for vouchers and charter schools popping up everywhere the public schools have been under strain for years. Broward County Schools lost over 50,000 students to charter and private schools. That is down from 250,000. The board still counts all the 286 since funding for them comes directly out of their budget as pass throughs. With the student drain from traditional classrooms there are direct budget implications which are tied to student seats. On average Broward receives $9,000 Dollars per student seat. This equates to $450,000,000 Million. As Superintendent Licata states “everything is on the table.” Hallandale Beach actually has 2 schools within our boundaries and 2 centers. We are part of what is called the Hallandale Innovation Zone which comprises seven schools within parts of Hollywood, West Park and Pembroke Park. These include: Colbert Lake Forest and Watkins which are elementary schools. McNicol Middle, Gulfstream K -8 and Hallandale High School. Lanier-James Education Center which serves all of Broward south from I-595 and is a school for students that have been suspended and or have other Behavioral Issues. Gulfstream Early Learning Center is not listed as a school but has become a south area location leased out to various organizations. It was created as an educational center for ages 6 months – PreK 4 and training for teachers. It also provides Adult Education in the form of English as a Second Language and GED services. It also provides services for the District and other Social Services. I cannot cover every aspect of this issue as it will be ongoing over the next year. I wanted to at least share some information so readers could understand the education landscape here, in our city. More importantly, what is at stake? I will focus first on Hallandale High School. This school according to school student seats has a capacity for 1,600 students. Currently they have 1,100. As a note these numbers fluctuate. The school was built in 1973. The state stopped rebuilding older schools, so the school never received much in the way of improvements. This is not unique to our school but the same for most eastern schools. It is important to note that when the schools were segregated in the sixties until 1970 our High School students went to the old Lanier School and others to Attucks. Residents fought long and hard to have a High School, not simply Hallandale but unincorporated Carver Ranches and our neighbors to the west. Notably these were the segregated Black areas. In 1963 MacArthur was built just west of 441 and South Broward built in 1938, it was the only High School and was not integrated until 1968. When news was released that Hallandale High was on the under enrolled list and was going to be discussed everyone including me was dismayed. It became an all-hands-on deck issue. There were three meetings scheduled for residents to find out about this issue. This created controversy by itself as everyone had to travel to attend either in Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, or Coral Springs. I did some asking about the format and heard it was really not a public meeting but set up as a workshop. Residents that attended were split up into small groups then reported out. I am not saying this was a waste of time or effort, but it was not as informative as attendees expected. As Mayor I was invited to a separately held meeting with all of the mayors and city managers from each city. We were informed of the vision and necessity for this “Redefining Our Schools.” From a strict budgetary standpoint many of us understand the board's challenges. We understand the turmoil that the board has gone through over the past decade. Many in the group were happy that it was held and cautiously optimistic the board had turned a corner and was ready to truly focus on the new realities. During the meeting, Mayors shared their concerns and ideas about our schools. They ranged from partnership with CRAs similar to ours when we helped to rebuild the neglected stadium and entered into a shared use agreement. They discussed the failed boundary process where schools were built out west, some with 4,000 seats only to see eastern schools neglected. This combined with school choice gutted many principals’ budgets which meant many programs were cut. My biggest comment was that we need to look at going back to the basics. School cannot be everything and need to be focused on students K-8 Education. Embedded resources at the schools children need. Every school should have at a minimum the right size classes, Certified Educators, Mental Health Counselors, Guidance Counselors, Academic Coaches and Permanent School Nurses. High School should not have a singular focus on college graduation or testing. Life skills and trades need to be provided to those students that may not be ready to go right to college but want and/or need to work to support themselves. More importantly, students without transportation get to the one of three technical schools in the district. I heard last week the closing of Hallandale High was off the table which was a relief. The question now becomes what next? What schools will remain open? What programs will be added, moved or taken away? I will continue as always to keep our readers abreast of what transpires. As always feel free to contact me anytime with your questions, concerns and ideas to make our city better! I can be reached at: jcooper@cohb.org . Or: joycooper@aol.com . Or Facebook: Mayor Joy Cooper. You can always call my office at: (954) 457-1318. Or Call/Text me at: (954) 632-5700. Working for you! Always have! Always will! < Previous News Next News >

Family Fun With A Pop: Kid-Friendly Snacks And Treats Perfect For Sharing Thu Jul 13 2023 16:04:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Santa’s Coming To Town And Landing His Sleigh At The Christmas Palace For The First Stop Of The Holiday Season South Florida Sun Times Oct 29, 2025 Santa Made His List And Checked It Twice And South Florida’s Residents Have Made It On The Nice List. Santa Is Coming To Town And His First Stop Is The Christmas Palace, South Florida’s Holiday Headquarters For All Things Merry And Bright. To kick off the most wonderful time of the year, Santa is making his first stop of the holiday season with two afternoons of festive fun and merry surprises at The Christmas Palace. First at its Miami location on Saturday, November 1st, and then at its Fort Lauderdale location on Sunday, November 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. All the good little boys and girls will have the chance to meet Santa, capture sleigh-full selfies, share their holiday wishes, and drop their Christmas lists into Santa’s magical mailbox, where Rudolph himself will dash them straight to the North Pole. Guests can shop South Florida’s largest and most elegantly decorated Christmas store to discover dazzling decor and the season’s most enchanting holiday treasures. In the spirit of giving, visitors are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys for patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Each toy donor will receive a $10 store coupon to use that day on any purchase. These gifts allow Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to continue living out its mission, “the power of play promotes positive healing.” Toys are used to celebrate major milestones such as birthdays and last chemo treatments, reward children for their courage and cooperation, and bring comfort and imagination into their healing journeys. Since 1992, The Christmas Palace has been the leading retailer for premium holiday decor in South Florida. Each year, The Christmas Palace redesigns the entire store for the Christmas season. Its reputation for offering the largest and most tastefully decorated Christmas decor store in the region is unmatched. The Christmas Palace is committed to helping customers find joyful and memorable moments with their loved ones for festive gatherings throughout the year. The Christmas Palace offers realistic Christmas trees with the perfect height, shape, style and lighting for any space. Every tree at The Christmas Palace is designed to inspire, each one thoughtfully decorated to reflect the beauty and imagination of the season. This year, themed trees are defining Christmas. The Christmas Palace’s decorated trees showcase all the top trends to spark ideas and offer endless inspiration for every taste and tradition. Magical 2025 themes include forest Christmas décor, pastel color schemes, classic traditional luxury, Polar Bear, holly tradition and the Opulence Collection. When: Miami: Saturday, November 1st, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fort Lauderdale: Sunday, November 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Miami: 9820 Northwest 77th Avenue, Hialeah Gardens, Florida 33016 Fort Lauderdale: 200 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 How: For more information, visit: www.thechristmaspalace.com About The Christmas Palace Since 1992, The Christmas Palace has been the leading retailer for premium holiday decor in South Florida. Its reputation for offering the largest and most tastefully decorated Christmas decor store in the region is unmatched. Today, The Christmas Palace is open year-round, with a thriving e-commerce business that serves customers across the globe. It carries only the finest products from industry-leading brands and guarantees the integrity of its products and services. The Christmas Palace is proud to be an approved dealer for every collectible piece it sells. The Miami store is located at 9820 Northwest 77th Avenue, Hialeah Gardens, Florida 33016 and the Fort Lauderdale store is located at 200 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. Hours of operation for each location are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit: www.thechristmaspalace.com . Santa Claus is coming to The Christmas Palace in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Previous Next

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

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

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