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By: Robert J. Tamasy Lack O f Perseverance And Its S evere Consequences

Have you noticed how easy it is to start any kind of endeavor, but how hard it often is to finish it? This is one reason businesses fail. Someone has a brilliant idea and begins a new enterprise with boundless enthusiasm, but then adversity strikes, followed by discouragement and defeat. Doors that had opened with such high hopes suddenly slam shut.

As a jour nalist and author, I have written more ar ticles than I can count, as well as nearly two dozen books that I have written, co-authored, and edited. However, there remain several book ideas that I once felt ver y excited about but remain unfinished. Many times in life, as in the world of sports, it is not how you start that matters but how you finish.

L e a d e r s h i p c o n s u l t a n t a n d coach Tim Kight has obser ved, “T he decision to star t is easiest. The decision to continue is hardest. The first commitment is what gets you started. The many recommitments along the way are what keeps you going. Be relentless.”

I had never thought of it in quite that way. Beginning a project, especially one that will require lots of time and energ y, does req u i r e c o m m i t m e n t . B u t we h i t bumps in the road, obstacles that inevitably threaten our prog ress. It takes recommitment to stay on track. T his is why the adag e, “If at first you don’t succeed, tr y, tr y and tr y ag ain,” is just as relevant for the 21st century marketplace as it was when Robert the Br uce, king of Scotland uttered those words before a major battle against the British in 1314.

Sadly, we can think of many instances when men and women lacked the perseverance to see their way through to success: Promising athletes who decided the hard work necessary for reaching the highest levels of their sports was too much. Talented musicians who refused to put in the many hours of practice needed to achieve excellence. Businesspeople aspiring to rise to the top of their professions but lacked the patience needed to continue advancing.

In reading the Bible, we find examples of both – leaders who rose to greatness through perseverance, and individuals with much potential who became sidetracked and suffered failure and disgrace. The difference? A deter mination not only to start but also to continue, no matter how difficult circumstances became. Here are two examples (among many) of what the Scriptures teach about persevering:

Facing difficulties eagerly. No one wants to g o out of their way to encounter difficulties. However, maintaining a perspective that we grow and mature through those challenges makes it easier to endure. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Keeping the finish line in sight. T he apostle Paul had a long and fr uitful ministry of ser vice to God. But he never considered himself to have “arrived.” “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

If something is wor th pursuing, we must remember not only to commit to it at the start, but also to recommit and recommit as many times as needed until we achieve it.

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B’nai Torah Congregation Celebrates Accomplishments of its Good Works “Mitzvah Month”

B’nai Torah Congregation, a conservative synagogue in Boca Raton, is celebrating the conclusion of Mitzvah Month, which offered congregants as well as the South Florida community the opportunity to volunteer, donate, supp o r t a n d to generally do good in the local area, every single day during the month of November.

T h e f o l l o w i n g are the accomplishments achieved during Mitzvah Month by The Ron and Meryl Gallatin Tzedakah, Learning and Chesed (TLC) program at B’nai Torah Congregation:

A Mitzvah Project was completed every single day of the month (some days had up to 5 projects!)

Over 75 projects were completed by volunteers throughout the month

Over 4,700 people were engaged in various projects, including over 1,000 individuals who participated for the first time!

“We are so proud of the impact our volunteers have had in our community over the past month,” said Summer Faerman, B’nai Torah Congregation’s Director of TLC Programs. “TLC used to host just one Mitzvah Day; however, because we believe that every day should be a Mitzvah Day, an entire Mitzvah Month gave us the opportunity to demonstrate that Mitzvot – good works – can be done every day by everyone.” S a m ple Mitzvah p r o j e c t s during the month of November, i n c l u d e d : H a v d a l a h Yog a with Connected Warriors; Serving soup to the food insecure on World Kindness Day; Homework Help with students at Boca Raton Elementary School; Thanksgiving with the residents of Dixie Manor; Meals with Meaning; feeding the homeless; Making Peanut Butter Sandwiches for those in need; and more.

Those still interested in giving back to those in need, can still partake in a number of December Mitzvah Projects hosted by B’nai Torah Congregation, including Sandwich Making for the Food Insecure, Boca Elementary Homework Help, Holiday Gift Packaging for B’nai Torah’s adopted school in Naples, Community Shower Assistance, B’nai Torah Toy Drive, and more.

South Palm Beach County Prepares to “Light Up the Four th Night of Chanukah”

In celebration of the fourth night of Chanukah, PJ Library®in South Palm Beach County invites friends and the entire Jewish community to a family-friendly celebration — Light Up the Fourth Night of Chanukah” — in Boca Raton. Crafts and story time, latkes, gelt, candle lighting, a special Chanukah concert, and much more will make for a fun and memorable evening.

From 5 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, participants can celebrate the season at The Shops at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33486. (Please note that this location is off Military Trail– not at the Town Center Mall.) Together, community rabbis will be lighting a giant Chanukah Menorah and welcoming families.

“This is the highlight of our holiday season, when families participate in the activities that make this time of year so special,” said Matt Levin, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. “There’s so much energy, joy and fun at this event that is definitely one of my favorite programs.”

PJ Librar y Director Elana Ostroff promises something for everyone.

“Jacob Spike Kraus always delights with his musical talents. His music is eclectic, drawing on themes from pop, rock, folk, and R&B genres — not one to be ‘put in a box’ stylistically,” Ostroff said.

In addition to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, PJ Our Way, and PJ Library in South Palm Beach County, the Deborah and Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement, event sponsors include The Shops at Boca Center, Above and Beyond Advertising, and Lox & Bagel.

Crafts and story time begin at 5 p.m., followed by the candle lighting and concert at 6 p.m. Ostroff said everyone is thrilled to have the opportunity to gather and celebrate Chanukah in person.

“Each of our local synagogues and agencies will have a table at the showcase for families to visit and learn about our local Jewish Community,” she said.

For more information, email pjlibrary@ bocafed.org or call 561-852-6080. RSVP in advance for a chance to win great prizes. Register for the free event at jewishboca. org/chanukah22.

PJ Library in South Palm Beach County is made possible by generous support from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, the Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation, the Jewish Women’s Foundation, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

PBA Announces $26M Gift, Largest in Histor y

Palm Beach Atlantic University on Thursday announced the largest single gift in the university’s history.

The $26 million gift comes from John J. and Sheila Rinker ($20 million) and the Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Foundation ($6 million), of which he is the president. University leaders announced the gift Thursday at The Breakers during the launch of a $75 million capital campaign.

The University also announced plans for a stunning six-story Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Building. Rinker’s father was the namesake of the business school and a key benefactor of Palm Beach Atlantic from the university’s beginning. John J. Rinker and his wife, Sheila, have built upon that legacy. They have volunteered for the university in significant ways and led major capital projects in music, literature, arts and athletics.

“PBA is generating students who have integrity, moral strength and the ability to live by such principles,” said John J. Rinker. “They are investing themselves in our community, and we are the better for it.”

The new structure is to rise immediately south of PBA’s Warren Library. A dramatic, two-story atrium will welcome visitors into the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Building, which will have a stock trading room with professional terminals and stock ticker; a 314-seat tiered lecture hall; expanded space for the Titus Center for Franchising; and the LeMieux Center for Public Policy, among other features.

Part of the site for the new building is the former Quattlebaum funeral home property. The Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation purchased that property in 2013 and donated it to the University in 2018.

“I am grateful that God provided the vision and the opportunity for this property to become part of Palm Beach Atlantic University nearly a decade ago and that it will play such a strategic role in the university’s future growth,” Rinker added.

Board of Trustees Chairman Timothy S. Sotos noted that the new Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Building is the first project in the development of PBA’s transformative campus master plan. “We are very grateful for the generous gifts from John and Sheila Rinker and other friends of the university,” he said.

“At this profound time of growth for our university and community, the beautiful new Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Building will ensure that Palm Beach Atlantic continues to produce well-trained, values-driven interns and employees for the companies moving to our area,” said Rinker School of Business Dean Dr. Brian Strow. “This spring, the Rinker School of Business will host the final site visit required to earn Association to Advance Collegiate Schools Business (AACSB) accreditation. AACSB accreditation is the highest level of business school accreditation and has been achieved by a mere 5 percent of global business schools.”

The University’s long-term God-Sized Dreams master plan also calls for a new health sciences complex; a performing arts center; and a student and alumni welcome center. The health sciences complex will expand PBA’s health science offerings. It will also enhance interprofessional training and partnerships with healthcare leaders to have clinics on campus.

“I’m so grateful that John and Sheila Rinker are visionaries and wonderfully dedicated supporters of PBA’s mission to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly,” said President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn. “In the fall, we welcomed the largest incoming class in the university’s history, and more students from around the world are coming to PBA. It is time to expand Palm Beach Atlantic University, allowing PBA to contribute even more strongly to our local community and world.”

Palm Beach Atlantic University on Thursday announced the largest single gift in the university’s history.

The $26 million gift comes from John J. and Sheila Rinker ($20 million) and the Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Foundation ($6 million), of which he is the president. University leaders announced the gift Thursday at The Breakers during the launch of a $75 million capital campaign.

The University also announced plans for a stunning six-story Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Building. Rinker’s father was the namesake of the business school and a key benefactor of Palm Beach Atlantic from the university’s beginning. John J. Rinker and his wife, Sheila, have built upon that legacy. They have volunteered for the university in significant ways and led major capital projects in music, literature, arts and athletics.

“PBA is generating students who have integrity, moral strength and the ability to live by such principles,” said John J. Rinker. “They are investing themselves in our community, and we are the better for it.”

The new structure is to rise immediately south of PBA’s Warren Library. A dramatic, two-story atrium will welcome visitors into the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Building, which will have a stock trading room with professional terminals and stock ticker; a 314-seat tiered lecture hall; expanded space for the Titus Center for Franchising; and the LeMieux Center for Public Policy, among other features.

Part of the site for the new building is the former Quattlebaum funeral home property. The Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation purchased that property in 2013 and donated it to the University in 2018.

Helping Young Children Reach Developmental Milestones

Holiday Tech Gift Ideas for Ever yone on Your Shopping List

(StatePoint) The first few years of life are fundamental to cognitive, emotional and physical development. While every child progresses at their own pace, there are many toys and activities you can introduce to encourage growth. Here are a few ideas to consider: 1. Tummy Time. “Tummy time” helps improve a baby’s motor skills and strengthens neck and shoulder muscles. Consider toys designed to foster this activity, such as the Tummy Time Discovery Pillow. This soft, crescent-shaped pillow goes beyond comfortable support for babies. Multiple textures, patterns, colors and a babysafe mirror offer visual and tactile stimulation, while light-up piano keys introduce numbers, colors, shapes, animals, nursery rhymes and music. Use this not only during tummy time, but while babies are learning to sit on their own, and on the go. 2. Gym Day. Seek out toys that grow with your child to nurture each developmental stage, from birth-to-toddler. For example, the 7-in-1 Senses & Stages Developmental Gym is designed to support babies’ growth, build their muscles, and engage their minds and senses. With an included guide that explains how to use each play zone and accessory, you can make the most of its overhead arches, removable xylophone, tummy time pillow, sensory toys and image cards. Plus, you can even fold up the sides of the mat to create a soft, enclosed playful ball pit. 3. Story Time. A child is never too young to be read to. In fact, reading books to a baby is an excellent way to bond with them, introduce vocabulary, and help draw connections between pictures and words. While you’ll likely start out with board books and soft vinyl books comprised of simple words and phrases, soon you’ll be on your way to interesting storylines and fun characters, promoting a lifelong love of literature in the process. 4. Baby Steps. Look for adaptive technology designed to help with motor skill development and support the journey from sitting to crawling to walking. With the Sitto-Stand Learning Walker by VTech, you can start with an easy-to-remove activity panel for floor play, then step it up with the fun-to-maneuver walker. It also includes spinning gears, piano keys, rollers, light-up buttons and a telephone handset to promote fine motor skills, while teaching shapes, colors, animals, music and more. 5. Outdoor Exploration. Encourage a curious mindset by regularly taking walks. Talk to your baby about the sights and sounds around you. Just be sure your stroller features adequate sun protection, storage space and maneuverability so that you’re well-equipped for excursions of all kinds. This is one great tradition to carry on as your child grows and begins to take steps on their own.

While ensuring babies reach developmental milestones is important, the good news is that it can be an opportunity to have fun and bond with your little one.

(Statepoint) Holiday shopping season is in full swing and making sure everyone gets the best tech gifts while you snag the best deals is likely top of mind for you.

Nearly 80% of Americans plan on gifting tech-related products and services this year – with the top gifts being headphones and earbuds, smartphones, streaming and downloading services and gaming consoles, according to this year’s Consumer Technology Association report.

The good news? You don’t need to break your budget in order to make your loved ones’ season bright. Here are some affordable tech gift ideas to please everyone on your shopping list.

For Affordable 5G Smartphones: If your loved one has a 5G smartphone on their holiday wish list, you are in luck! TMobile and Metro by T-Mobile offer the latest affordable devices. T-Mobile’s REVVL 6 PRO 5G is developed in collaboration with Google, making 5G more accessible to everyone at a time when saving is a priority for Americans. Priced at $219.99, it’s free when T-Mobile customers add a line. Another affordable option is the OnePlus Nord N300 5G, retailing for $228. For a limited time, T-Mobile customers can get the Nord N300 5G for free when adding a line and Metro by T-Mobile customers can get it for free when switching. These are worthwhile gifts to consider this particular holiday season because right now, for a limited time, T-Mobile is bringing back a deal that hasn’t been available in more than two years -- four lines for $25 per line per month with autopay for unlimited talk, text and data, which also includes 5G access.

For the Travel Enthusiast: New tools are making it easier than ever for globetrotters to stay connected while on the go. T-Mobile’s industry-leading travel benefits, which include high speed data and unlimited texting in 215+ countries and destinations around the world, now get a travel companion just in time for the holidays. T-Mobile collaborated with Samsara luggage to create the Un-carrier On, a limited-edition magenta smart suitcase. It’s the only carry-on suitcase with wireless charging and includes a removeable battery pack with USB-C charging to take the hassle out of hunting for a power outlet at the airport. The smart suitcase also features builtin Bluetooth luggage tracking to locate your belongings no matter where you are. The Un-carrier On suitcase is available for preorder exclusively online at travelmagenta. com.

For Children: T he SyncUP KIDS Watch can help curious kids explore and navigate their daily adventures with confidence while giving parents peace of mind. The latest SyncUP KIDS Watch features talk and text with approved contacts, realtime location tracking with virtual boundary alerts and a help and 911 button for emergencies. For a limited time, the SyncUP Watch is free for existing T-Mobile customers when they add a line to their existing account.

Stocking Stuffers Under $50: Portable Bluetooth speakers, headphones, portable charging banks and phone cases and accessories make for the perfect stocking stuffers. Check off everyone on your list with the following accessories, all priced under $50. • JLab JBuddies Pro Kids Headphones for only $34.99 • mophie Snap Plus Juice Pack portable charger for $49.99 • JBL GO 3 Bluetooth Speaker for $49.99 • GoTo Phone Cases and accessories starting at $19.99

For more tech gift ideas and deals visit t-mobile.com/devices/tech-gifts.

When it comes to the tech gifts on your holiday shopping list, don’t stress. Deals abound this time of year which can make shopping easy and affordable.

FAU Receives NSF Grant For Secure Communic ations Over 5G Networks

People and assets deployed by the United States Department of Defense (U.S. DOD) in ground, sea, air and space require maintaining operational wireless network connectivity at all times to deter and defeat agile adversaries.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, Florida International University (FIU), Virginia Tech (VT) and PQSecure Technologies, have joined forces to create a universal radio adapter that will enable seamless and secure operations through non-cooperative indigenous 5G networks for U.S. military, government and critical infrastructure systems.

The research team has received a oneyear, $750,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a project titled, “Autonomously Tunable Wavefor m-Agnostic Radio Adapter for Seamless and Secure Operation of DOD Devices Through Non-Cooperative 5G Networks.” The goal of the project is to reduce the likelihood of interception, disruption or jamming of communications over 5G networks.

The project is part of the NSF’s acceleration of 5G solutions to provide the U.S. government and critical infrastructure operators secure communications anywhere and anytime. The FAU, FIU, VT and PQ Secure Technologies effort is one of 16 multidisciplinary teams selected nationally by the NSF for the 2022 Convergence Accelerator program.

“This cooperative research project will extend and enhance the capabilities of the participating universities, industry and community partners, and will provide a streamlined and stable platform for industry-university-community engagement and collaboration in the critical fi eld of secure wireless communications,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean, FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Researchers will develop a waveformagnostic adapter that will be compatible with U.S. DOD communication protocols that operate from HF up to the Ka-band and will be able to interact with indigenous 5G networks. The convergence research effort includes RF systems and antenna design, hardware-software co-design, software-defi ned radio prototyping, adaptive signal processing, data analytics and training dataset design for robust artifi cial intelligence/machine learning, post-quantumcomputing secure cryptography, physical layer security and interference avoidance, and policy and governance for secure communications.

The goal of the universal radio adapter is to accelerate transformative outcomes on how U.S. DOD personnel, aircrafts, satellites, mobile phones, vehicles, sensors, drones and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices operate through either friendly or adversary untrusted 5G network infrastructure and seamlessly connect with devices on trusted U.S. military networks, while providing end-to-end data integrity, confi dentiality and resiliency by data hiding and by autonomously switching between communications pathways.

“5G is used to connect more than just mobile phones, expanding the so-called threat surface,” said Dimitris Pados, Ph.D., principal investigator for FAU, Schmidt Eminent Scholar Professor, FAU Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, acting executive director of FAU’s Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE ) and director of the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artifi cial Intelligence (CAAI). “The 5G radio access network standards offer increased spectral effi ciency and new spectrum utilization such as millimeter-wave. The 5G core is designed to support a distributed architecture of microser vices implemented on an elastic cloud-based backplane.”

Pados has served as PI/co-PI on federal (NSF, U.S. DOD) research grants totaling more than $19 million. Most recently, he led a multi-university, multi-industry U.S. DOD project to develop a fi rst-of-its-kind cognitive wireless network from inception to testbed demonstration.

Utilizing these networks, the research team will carry out accelerated research and development to advance security and resiliency of end systems connecting to 5G networks and leveraging zero trust principles where possible.

“The end objective of the project is to develop and implement new solutions that will enable us to communicate securely through arbitrary public 5G networks that may be friendly or not,” said Pados. “Our solutions involve advanced authentication techniques, re-encryption and data hiding. Success of this effort will have profound impact on privacy and the future of daily civilian use of the networks.”

The industrial, community and government lab members’ direct involvement in research planning and review will potentially result in quick future technology transfer and ensure that the research is industry-ready and addresses major national and international-scale high-impact societal challenges through use-inspired convergence research.

Beyond the scientifi c and societal benefi ts, the research team will engage in educational/outreach activities. The team will develop a research center in 5G technologies to train undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students, focusing on recruiting Hispanic, women and other underrepresented populations with a goal to strengthen their competitive skillsets in areas of future STEM employment.

“We anticipate that these activities will motivate underrepresented minority/female high school students to pursue engineering,” said Batalama. “Our researchers are already working with students from the Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach and FAU’s A.D. Henderson University School.”

High school students will be provided with hands-on experience by working with graduate and undergraduate students at the FIU-RFCOM Lab, FAU’s I-SENSE and FAU CA-AI labs, creating a pipeline of these students trained on wireless technologies that are of strong interest to Florida industries.

The project team includes George Sklivanitis, Ph.D., research assistant professor with the FAU Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, I-SENSE and CA-AI; Elias Alwan, Ph.D., principal investigator and an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at FIU; Luke Beckwith, Ph.D., PQSecure and recent FAU Ph.D. graduate; John Volakis, Ph.D., dean and professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at FIU; and Eric Burger, Ph.D., research professor of computer science at Virginia Tech.

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‘Passion for Learning’ Leads Politics Major to John Jay Fellowship

Politics major Miriam Edele, of Franklin, Vermont, has been selected for the John Jay Fellowship for spring 2023.

The John Jay Fellowship, named for one of the framers of the Constitution, strives to produce “well-rounded students going into the political fi eld with Christian faith and a foundation of the history of America,” said Edele. Twelve graduating students are selected as John Jay fellows each semester. The fellowship prepares its members to enter the world with an understanding of faith and values, she said.

Selected students travel to Langhorne, Pennsylvania, only a 30-minute drive from Philadelphia, to live in community with each other for the semester. Fellows have three hours of daily discussion, weekly trips to see historical places in America, and an internship following the fellowship to launch their career. Edele said the fellowship hopes to “lay the foundation for students to make a positive difference in the world.”

Edele is excited about the fellowship because she has “a passion for learning and asking the big questions,” she said. The hours of discussion with other students gives her the opportunity to “ask those diffi cult questions and fi nd answers in the Bible.”

After completing her time at the fellowship, Miriam plans to intern with Samaritan’s Purse. The John Jay Fellowship connects fellows with internships to prepare them for their careers. They promote having an internship that will build on the foundation you laid in the program. Edele has been interested in working with Samaritan’s Purse, and the fellowship will help her obtain that position.

FAU Par tners with Veterans Group to O ffer Entrepreneurship Training

Florida Atlantic University’s Adams Center for Entrepreneurship has been awarded a partnership with the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program for the eighth consecutive year.

The Adams Center, within FAU’s College of Business, will receive funding from Veterans Florida for entrepreneurship programs. The agency offers qualified veterans the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive entrepreneurship, business education and mentorship program through the center.

Two eight-week courses, from Feb. 4 to March 25, 2023 and Feb. 9 to March 30, 2023, will provide comprehensive entrepreneurship training and education for participants interested in starting new businesses, as well as a six-week course , from April 27 to June 1, 2023, for participants looking to grow existing businesses. There also will be mentorship for all participants that culminates in a business pitch competition. “I’m immensely grateful and excited that FAU’s Adams Center for Entrepreneurship will once again host the Veteran’s Florida Entre preneurship Program,” said Kevin Cox, Ph.D., lead instructor and assistant director of the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship. “This year we’ve expanded the number of courses to help more students at various stages of their entrepreneurship. I expect this will be another great year for the program and the participants.”

FAU has been recognized as one of the top programs for entrepreneurship studies, according to the latest rankings from The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. FAU ranked No. 27 among undergraduate programs, an improvement of 20 spots. The rankings identify the best prog rams of nearly 300 schools offering entrepreneurship coursework.

Named in 2001 in recognition of Scott Adams, an FAU Tech Runway alumnus and CEO and co-founder of STRAX Intelligence Group, the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship prepares students and entrepreneurs in all disciplines who are looking to become successful business owners.

Veterans Florida is a nonprofit created by the state of Florida to help military veterans transition to civilian life and to promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state. Veterans Florida provides powerful tools for veterans to take advantage of the benefits of living and working in the Sunshine State.

For more infor mation on FAU’s veterans’ programs, visit www.business. fau.edu/centers/adams-center/veterans/ or email adamscenter@fau.edu. For more infor mation about Veterans Florida, visit www.veteransflorida.org.

ASAP ’s Special Deliver y to Loc al Holiday Food Drive Donations

ASAP, the area’s only locally born food delivery service formerly known as Delivery Dudes, makes a special holiday delivery today to the United Way of Palm Beach County, providing food donations collected right here in area. ASAP’s delivery of the items was in partnership with the United Way’s Project Thanksgiving™ food drive.

For the past three weeks, ASAP has coll e c t e d c a n n e d f o o d i t e m s f r o m c u s t o mers who donated to the cause in Palm Beach County, Broward County and Martin County when the company delivered their food orders to their homes. ASAP matched their customers’ food donations and delivered the items in two installments to the United Way’s cold food storage facility in Lake Worth. The initial drop-off was Thanksgiving Week.

Those donating food received a coupon code for five dollars off their next order with ASAP and were placed in a drawing to win hundreds of dollars of credits for future orders.

This year donations were desperately needed as food banks across the nation say high prices at grocery stores are leaving many families seeking emergency food assistance for the first time. The mostneeded items were proteins (canned tuna, dried or canned beans, soup, peanut butter), grains (high-fiber cereal, oatmeal, pasta, rice), canned fruits and vegetables, and bottled water.

ASAP.com, the ondemand delivery brand f o r Wa i t r H o l d i n g s Inc., is an online ordering technology platform using the “deliver anything ASAP” model making it easy to order food, alcohol, convenience, grocery, flowers, auto parts and more at your fingertips and get them delivered ASAP. Its proprietar y in-stadium mobile ordering technology now provides an enhanced fan experience at sports and entertainment venues, allowing fans to place orders from their favorite in-stadium concessions, directly from their seats. Additionally, the ASAP. com platform facilitates access to third parties that provide payment processing solutions for restaurants and other merchants. It provides a convenient way to discover, order and receive a wide variety of on-demand products – ASAP. As of September 30, 2022, ASAP.com operates in approximately 1,000 cities throughout the United States.

Americ an Humane Honors Nation’s Most Heroic Canines at the 2022 Americ an Humane Hero Dog Awards® Gala

American Humane, the countr y’s first national humane org anization, hosted the American Humane Hero Dog Awards Gala, chaired by internationally renowned philanthropist, Lois Pope, at the glamorous Eau Palm Beach Resort in Manalapan, Florida on November 11, 2022.

The star-studded event, featuring international music legend Michael Bolton and celebrity host and emcee Carson Kressley, honored the seven category winners of the 2022 Hero Dog Awards and ultimately revealed Ethan as the top American Humane Hero Dog. “The Hero Dog Awards were created to honor some of the world’s most extraordinary heroes,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “This year’s finalists, who may have undergone training such as www.mlk9.com/, have gone above and beyond the call of duty, saving lives on the battlefield, comforting children, and seniors, and inspiring us to overcome our own challenges. All are heroes, but I am overjoyed to congratulate Ethan on winning this year’s top title. We hope his story will encourage people to value our animal friends and recognize the healing power of the human-animal bond.”

Based on more than one million votes by the American public and the deliberations of a VIP panel of dog experts and celebrity animal lovers, Ethan who was left for dead on a cold January day in 2021 and was nominated in the Shelter Dogs category sponsored by Lulu’s Fund, was named this year’s American Hero Dog, the highest honor in all the canine world. Also in attendance at the gala were the other category winners of the 2022 Hero Dog Awards including:

K9 Rig gs, the 2022 Law Enforcement and Detection Hero Dog from Kenosha, Wisconsin

Recon, the 2022 Service Hero Dog from Suffolk, Virginia, sponsored by Window World

Cole the Deaf Dog, the 2022 Therapy Hero Dog from Millville, New Jersey, sponsored by American Airlines

Iiken M090, the 2022 Military Hero Dog from Casa Grande, Arizona

Keb, the 2022 Search and Rescue Hero Dog from Edmonds, Washington

Kinley, the 2022 Guide/Hearing Dog from Austin, Texas

Attendees of the Gatsby-themed affair enjoyed music from multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton, as well as entertainment provided by the Danny Beck Band. Emmy-winning television star Carson Kressley, who hosted the inaugural broadcast of the Hero Dog Awards, returned to host the 12th annual event.

Sponsors and notable guests, including gala chair Lois Pope; American Humane Chairman John Payne and, wife, Nancy Payne; American Humane board members Dawn Assenzio, Amanda Bowman, Nelva Bryant, Sharon Jablin, Rear Admiral Tom Kearney (ret.), Herb Krauss, Marilyn Pelstring, Larry Strickland, Abigail Trenk and David Webb, among multitudes of others, walked the red carpet and greeted each of the Hero Dogs.

Ethan and all the category winners will be featured in a special Hero Dog Awards broadcast, airing on Circle Network on December 6 at 9 p.m. ET. The show will be sure to delight and inspire dog lovers across the country.

“The Hero Dog Awards were created to honor some of the world’s most extraordinary heroes,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane.

South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 25th Anniversar y Season Continues To Shine With Shostakovich, Ocklawaha

South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s (SFSO) 25th anniversary season continues to shine with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9, the world premiere of Ocklawaha by composer-in-residence John Gottsch, and a selection of great opera arias from Puccini, Verdi, and Lara. Led by Music Director Sebrina María Alfonso with guest soloists Catalina Cuer vo, soprano and Gerardo Ortega, tenor, the Masterworks programs are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., respectively, on January 24 at New World Center in Miami Beach, on January 25 at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale, and on January 26, opening the season at Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys in Key West.

“This rich and varied program aims to take our audiences on a musical journey,” said Alfonso. “Shostakovich opposed a totalitarian regime in his time delivering a neo-classical work that was considered more of a rebuke than a celebration of ultimate strength and power. His Ninth Symphony certainly resonates with what is presently happening in Ukraine, today. And, in Gottsch’s latest, he similarly reflects on the plight and culture of Native Americans. Finally, who can resist the sheer power of some of the world’s most beloved arias?”

Originally intended to be to a grandiose piece that would glorify Stalin’s regime and Russian victory over the Nazis in 1945, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 rendered a more complex, thoughtful and sometimes carefree composition. The composer was known for his resistance to the Soviet rule and his subversion tactics often promising to compose the piece the regime wanted while actually giving it something else.

SFSO’s composer-in-residence John Gottsch will present the world premiere of Ocklawaha. The Ocklawaha is a river originating in the lakes of central Florida and flowing north through some of the most mysterious, wild, and breathtakingly beautiful parts of the state. As a young boy, the composer traveled the Ocklawaha with his father, learning the history of the river and surrounding lakes, that brought to life on passing shores, the escaped slaves, Seminole warriors, and a Civil War battle. The musical narrative brings to life the storied struggles of Florida’s Native American ancestors through thoughtfully arranged orchestral movements.

John D. Gottsch was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and moved to Florida with his family, shortly thereafter. He spent his youth in the lake country of the Sunshine State traveling extensively and observing natural habitats. These explorations of Florida gave him an enduring love for its beauty and wildlife. He has been a lifelong composer and a number of his compositions reflect his deep appreciation of the outdoors. Last year, SFSO premiered the live perfor mance of Gottsch’s original composition Princess Yurievskaya, and in 2020, SFSO premiered Sunset, both of which were featured on Gottsch’s 2020 debut album released by Naxos Records, the world’s leading classical music label. SFSO also performed Gottsch’s Bagatelles for Violin & Piano as part of its Summer With the Symphony Series in June 2021. His piano suite, Homosassa, premiered in Palm Beach in 2020. His piano quintet, Maryland Hunt, premiered at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Washington, DC in 2018 and has been performed in Philadelphia, Vienna, Rotterdam and Baltimore. Gottsch, a full-time doctor, now splits his time between Baltimore and Key West.

In addition, the program includes with a selection of great opera arias performed by Catalina Cuervo, soprano, and Gerardo Ortega, tenor – Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro,” “Un Bel Dì, Vedremo,” and “O Soave Fanciulla,” Agustín Lara’s “Granada,” Verdi’s “La Donna è Mobile” and “Brindisi” (The Drinking Song from La Traviata).

“We are thrilled to bring these masterful works to our audiences,” said Jacqueline Lorber, president and CEO of South Florida Symphony Orchestra. “Coming off a sold-out holiday Messiah performance at The Parker, we’re energized to perform these pieces at our new home at Miami Beach’s renowned New World Center and we look forward to opening our season at the iconic Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West where the Symphony first formed.”

Upcoming SFSO concerts include Brahms, Sibelius and Berlioz on February 15 and 18, an all Dvoák program on March 22, 23 and 25 and season closer Rachmaninoff and Bruckner on April 26.

Tickets for the Masterworks II program start at $15 for The Parker and $25 for New World Center and Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys. Season subscriptions are on sale, now, for performances at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, opening on January 28. Tickets may be purchased by visiting southfloridasymphony.org/2022-23-season or by calling (954) 522-8445.