Mardi Gras Casino Presents the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Mania! Keeping within its theme and tradition, Mardi Gras Casino will hold its annual Mardi Gras Mania featuring live bands, Cajun buffet, fireworks, and fun! Beginning on Friday, February 28th through Fat Tuesday, March 4th, there will be non-stop excitement and entertainment throughout the casino including bands like The Bad Apple Brass Band, Porchdogs, and the Blues Brothers with Matt Guitar Murphy (available to sign autographs with the Blues Brothers Car). But the party doesn’t stop there! Stilt walkers, jugglers, magicians, and mimes will roam the casino floor throughout the five-day extravaganza and on Fat Tuesday, guests will enjoy a delicious Cajun buffet from 5pm9pm, $3 Hurricane drink specials, and live entertainment in the Grandstand from 7pm-10pm followed by a spectacular fireworks show. And a casino just wouldn’t be complete without offering tons of cash and bonus play! From 9am-12am, players who earn 50 points their favorite slot machines will have a chance to play the Mardi Gras Madness Game to win a share of over $40,000!
• Live bands, delicious food, fireworks, and more - from Feb. 28-Mar. 4!
Over 50 years of vision problems corrected in minutes As he thinks back to the first time he recalled having problems with his vision, Raymond Poirier has to laugh for a minute. What the 61-yearold was bringing himself back to was the age of 8, Catholic school in his home state of Rhode Island, where everyone kept telling him that many of his problems didn't Raymond Poirier, left, with Dr. Stanley come from him not Braverman after a successful procedure. knowing things, but actually not being able to see them. "I was a defiant, young kid who really didn't want to wear glasses," Poirier said. "But I guess every child has that certain vanity." While vision problems have plagued him for much of his life, other unfortunate circumstances have also surrounded Poirier's lengthy career as a construction worker. Within the struggle to see - with eye covering protecting him - a severe accident broke both of his legs and truly had Poirier scrambling to just live each day. "Pain was crazy, but the fact that I now had vision problems and two bad legs, compounded the craziness," Poirier said. "It was like a curse or something." While being dependent on pain relief medicine, Poirier decided to head to south Florida to spend time with a mother who had been ill. While ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BRAVERMAN, Page 6A
Medical marijuana is once again grabbing the political spotlight 1st Priority Restoration By Larry Blustein sfsuntimes@aol.com Can the decision over medical marijuana in the state of Florida be enough to actually carry a political candidate to victory? That is a question that has been burning in every corner of the state since the momentum to put this important, and in some cases, lifechanging decision, into motion. The decision by the Florida Supreme Court
• Mold inspection, scanning with infrared technology - as well as a moisture reading A JOB FOR PROFESSIONALS
approving a statewide vote on a medical marijuana amendment opens the possibility of a hard––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MEDICAL, Page 8A
"The way I look at any disease is, there has to be an understanding of that disease. I mean, if you are going through something and nobody else can feel what you feel, you have to convey to them that smoking marijuana does me good. It is not harming you, the average citizen who does not care. What it does to bring my quality of life up - several notches - is what this is all about."
Detecting and removing toxic mold is not a simple process, and it should be done by a professional. Using the best technology and tools available, 1st Priority Restoration can get rid of the mold in your home or business before it becomes a serious problem. Mold can grow anywhere that moisture exists. Air conditioning ducts are the most common place, but it can also form behind drywall, under carpets, and on furniture and fabrics. And mold may already be growing on a surface that is not yet releasing enough spores so it is visible. A small area of mold and moisture ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1ST PRIORITY Page 3A
AURORA MARTINEZ CANCER PATIENT
RICE IS VERY NICE Rice offers health benefits depending on which variety you choose. Brown rice, for example, is a 100 percent whole grain and research shows that whole grains may help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. 2D.
HALLANDALE BEACH The City is making it much easier for you to register for programs, find events or look for a rental facility for your next event through our new online registration/reservation system launched on the City’s website on the Parks & Recreation, Human Services. Page 6B.
BEST SERVICE DRY CLEANERS At Best Service Dry Cleaners in Hallandale Beach, they have been in business for 15 years, and have continued to keep up with the times by offering quality dry cleaning at affordable prices. Check out the tremendous service that they provide to this community. Page 1D.