Sun Times Issue 01 05 23

Brightline

New Stations In Aventura And

Boca Raton

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, along with its partners in Boca Raton, Aventura and Miami-Dade County, celebrate the ribbon cutting of its Aventura and Boca Raton train stations. Congressman Carlos Gimenez and Mayors Daniella Levine Cava, Scott Singer and Howard Weinburg were joined by officials from the City of Boca, the City of Aventura, Miami-Dade County and Brightline executives to officially launch the highlyanticipated opening of the two new stations. The first day of service for Boca Raton and Aventura is December 21st, 2022.

The ceremony commenced at the entrance of the Boca Raton station at 9 a.m. where city officials and media were welcomed with remarks by Brightline’s President Patrick Goddard, City of Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Florida State Senator Tina Polsky and Milton Segarra of Discover The Palm Beaches. The ceremony proceeded with a tourofthecompletedstationand the inaugural ride from Boca Raton to Aventura. The ceremony at Aventura began at noon with remarks by Brightline Brightline, Page 6A

Gulfstream Park is heating up in 2023! Peak season has arrived at South Florida’s favorite entertainment destination where a number of exciting events and happenings will take place under the Florida sunshine. Home to a world-renowned racetrack, casino, live performance venue, countless dining options and plenty of shopping and entertainment, Gulfstream Park is excited to usher in another year of signature events that attract visitors bothnearandfar.

Known as one of the richest races in the world, the Pegasus World Cup Presented by Baccarat has quickly established itself over the past six years as South

Florida’s preeminent luxury sports and lifestyle event. Taking place Saturday, January 28, the Pegasus World Cup attracts Alist celebrity attendees, fashion icons, influencers and avid fans to catch a glimpse of horse racing’s most iconic event of the year. The Pegasus World Cup brings a new energy and modernity to the sport of thoroughbred horse racing for a new generation of fans. The 2022 Pegasus World Cup hit a recordsetting handle with over $43.8 million wagered on the 12-race program, a testament to the race’s popularity among fans. This year’s event promises even more excitement with an exclu-

sive ticketed event at the Carousel Club featuring special performances by KYGO and One Republic. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: pegasusworldcup.com/tickets/ South Florida’s favorite food and wine festival is back! The Hallandale Beach Food & Groove: A Wine, Food and Art Experience returns to Gulfstream Park as part of the 22nd annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One. Taking place Saturday, February 25 from 7-11 p.m., the event invites food lovers for an immersive experience. Hosted by

Met @Chabad Modern Technology Mixed With Age-old Tradition

A complex algorithm makes

really counts

Close to two hundred local young Jewish professionals gathered in a private ranch in South Florida for a unique event at the end of December. While many such mixer events exist for this large and diverse demographic, this wasn’t just another singles event. Curated and hosted by the folks at Met @Chabad, participants were treated to something that actually delivered on its promise and premise.

Met @Chabad, a recent initiative launched by the central Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., brings a sophisticated blend of modern technology with age-old tradition to the dating world. Long considered a tough nut to crack and the source of much aggravation, in the span of just one year, results are coming in—and they’re lookingquitepositive.

Drawing from ancient Jewish values that stress the importance of compatibility on a bedrock of values, Met @Chabad has developed a unique system that brings new signees into a sophisticated database. The entry point is through a custom questionnaire that prompts participants to hone in on their life values. Once the data is com-

Titan Restoration Inc. Is A Company That Cares

By Erika Cartwright

Titan

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The only thing in life that is certain, is that anything can happen at any time. Such tragedies as; fire, hurricanes, and floods are real and do happen, bringing with them water damage and the potential for harmful mold and bacterial growth. Water damage can occur for several reasons, some you may not notice right away, such as sewer issues, a leaking roof, and clogged or leaking pipes, just to name a few. During these times you need licensed professionals with a

plan of action that can ease the stress and take the headache of dealing with the insurance company off your hands. Allowing you to focus on what is impor-

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The opening of the Aventura station creates opportunities for better connectivity to destinations across South Florida

potential matches based on what

Gulfstream Park, Page 4A

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Gulfstream Park

From Page 1A

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Florida International University, the Festival benefits FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits BeverageManagementCenter.

The event features a variety of international cuisines that will get guests movin’ and groovin’ including Gulfstream Park Village’s Belly Fish and Ten Palms restau rants. Other participating restau rants include: El Tamarindo Coal Fired Pizza, Marash Turkish Cuisine, Moises Bakery, Dr. Limon Hallandale, CAO Bakery & Café, The Krazy Vegan, Il Mercato Café & Wine Shop, Matteo’s Trattoria, Dunn’s River Island Café, Holy Avocado, Ceviche Avenue, Chef Irie, See Thai & Japanese Cuisine, Nana’s Sapibon Haitian Restaurant, D’s Delights and Mable’s Island Kitchen.

Additional restaurants will be announced. General admission tickets are $75 and can be purchased by visiting sobewff.org/ groove/.

Music in the Park, Gulfstream Park Village’s favorite live entertainment series, continues its weekly performances with the area’s favorite musical talent. Taking place Wednesday through Sunday nights from 6:30-9:30 p.m., Music in the Park is sure to get audiences dancing. These open-air performances take place in the center stage and feature rotating bands on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights. Saturdays are DJ/Family Nights. Free to attend, Music in the Park has proven to be one of Gulfstream’s most popular ongoing events. For additional live music, the Casino Stage features a DJ on Friday nights from 7-11 p.m. and live band on Saturday nights from 7-11 p.m. The Breezeway Stage features rotating DJs on Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. and the Carousel Club features live music Friday-Sunday during all open hours.

“Gulfstream Park is the place to be – with live music, food and racing events, there is something for everyone to enjoy this season,” said Alex Schreer, Director of Experiential Marketing for Gulfstream Park Village. “Our

something new or revisit a favoritepastime.”

About Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park is South Florida’s premier entertainment,

legendary Gulfstream Park racetrack. Gulfstream Park not only offers world-class Thoroughbred horse racing but is also home to a casino and family-friendly venues including over 15 restau-

rants, outdoor cafes, art galleries, fashion retailers, state-ofthe-art bowling alley, and a renowned selection of signature home stores. Gulfstream Park,voted a 2020 Top Travelers’ Choice Winner by TripAdvisor,is located at 901 South Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach,

Florida, just two miles east of I95. Valet service and complimentary self-parking are available. Gulfstream Park is open seven days a week. For hours, schedules, upcoming events and additional information please, visit:www.gulfstreampark.comor call:954-454-7000.

Pipes, Pumps And Roadways

Developing Strategic Plans To Address Hallandale Beach Infrastructure

As we begin the year 2023, our Staff in the Department Of Public Works and Finance have been busy developing strategic work plans to address our City’s Infrastructure. As I wrote last week, we have been focused on our lift stations replacing and repairs and water main projects. Our City was founded 95 years ago and many of our underground pipes are over forty to fifty years old. The current preliminary plan projects an 8 – 10 year build out of the most critical priorities.

To perform this work takes millions of dollars. There are different funding sources that we can utilize. Water, Sewer and Stormwater Fees are the first we can use without having to go out for a voters’ approval. Recently we increased these fees and now are looking at future increases based on needs and project timing. The City can spread the fees over the project years, when they are needed. I have already received emails about these increases.

WS & SW Fees are made up of a Base Rate and a Usage Rate. This type of structure ensures that every user pays fairly for the full cost of providing service. For example, you may only spend part time in your home or condominium, so you do not use water all year round. This does not mean owners do not have a responsibility to pay for the pipes, pumps and treatment of the Water and Wastewater. The Split Fee provides a balance. These fee

increasesarenecessary.

The other method of funding that does not require voter approval are Revenue Bonds. This is where we borrow money and pay it back through the fees.

The Staff is now working with Bond Consultants to formulate a financial plan for the timing of borrowingandfeestructure.

Replacing and repairing pipes is just one part of the equation. This work also requires aboveground work. While we obviously must repair the road where work is done we have a goal to complete our streets. This work includes: Sidewalks, ADA

The Commission now requires improvements through Development Agreements and Impact Fees. Even with these requirements there are areas in our City that do not even have sidewalks and streetlights. Many areas have not even had repaving for years. To pay for these types of improvements will require additionalfunds.

to at least blacktop. It was not approved. During our December Meeting, Staff finally came back with a goal to evaluate and plan repaving. Recently, in an email to the Mayor and Commission, City Manager Dr. Earle gave us an update. “We are slated to start some of our Lift Station improvements including the muchdiscussed work on Layne Boulevard in February to March of next year. Because those Lift Stations were always breaking down and our Water and Sewer lines were always breaking, those became our targeted prioritytoaddress.

That being said, our Public Works team is currently getting pricing/quotes which will form the basis for our three-to-fouryear plan for roadway improvements which will cover specific streets in every quadrant of the City. I instructed Staff to begin to address specific streets beginning in February to March of this year.”

As Mayor, I do want residents to understand that this type of work does not happen overnight. We have heard and listened to our residents and as a resident myself, I would like to see it performed. In the coming years, we will continue our work on a Government Obligation to fund above ground needs. Currently we are working within our budget and will work with other agencies forfundingandgrants.

As always, I am available for your questions, concerns and ideas to help make our City a better place. Please feel free to reach out at my office at: (954) 457-1318. On my cell/text at: (954) 632-5700. Or email at: jcooper@cohb.org

Presidential Chapel - 6 Miles from the Beach, 1 mile West of I-95 and 2 Miles East of the Florida Turnpike.

Closest

Joseph A. SCARANO

Compliant Crosswalks and Lighting. Unlike many newer planned developments in our City when builders built housing and commercial developments, they were not required to performthiswork.

Many residents have asked me about repaving. Years ago, I asked for funding for paving. There was to be a set aside of $100,000 Dollars. Before I came back on the Dais, this project was not implemented. I asked about the status and was told that $100,000 was not enough and that due to underground work that was scheduled it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars. I then asked Golden Isles

By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper

Hallandale Beach has been focused on replacing and repairing lift stations and water mains

President Patrick Goddard, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, City of Aventura Mayor Howard Weinburg, Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) Second Vice Chair Robert Wolfarth. The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a tour of the Aventura station and the inaugural ride fromAventuratoMiamiCentral.

Aventura & Boca Raton Stations

With the station openings of Aventura and Boca Raton, Brightline now has five stations in South Florida and will connect travelers to existing stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Both stations feature Brightline’s signature autonomous MRKT, SMART and PREMIUM lounges in addition to touchless turnstiles and free high-speed WiFi throughout the stationandonboardthetrain.

Brightline’s Aventura station is located at 19796 West Dixie Highway, Aventura, Florida 33180. The Aventura station will allow guests congestion-free travel between all of Brightline’s stations with an estimated travel time to Miami Central of about 20 minutes. The station will also offer express service between Miami during the peak morning and evening hour commute periods, saving time and stress for commuters.

As part of the agreement with Miami-Dade Transit, Brightline guests will have access to discounted rides between Aventura and Miami Central through the

Brightline website and App. Monthly commuter passes for travel between Aventura and Miami Central can be purchased at a discount at the Aventura station guest services desk. Starting in January 2023, discounted commuter passes will be available online or through the App. Brightlinewillreservecapacityon commuter trains for rides between Aventura and Miami Central up until 48 hours of train departures.

The 34,000 square foot station features 240 parking spaces, a bus drop-off for Miami-Dade Transit passengers, newly landscaped and hardscape areas and a pedestrian skybridge that transports guests from the vertical transportation towers to the train platform. Brightline is currently designing a new pedestrian bridge which will connect theplatformtotheAventuraMall.

Upon the station’s opening, Brightline will provide a complimentary bi-directional Brightline+ shuttle to Aventura Mall for guests. The shuttle will be available14hoursoftheday.

The Aventura station has been designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver criteria as part of Brightline’s goals to reduce contribution to global climate change, enhance individual human health and protect water resources. These LEED Silver station design features include a solar canopy and installation of electric charging vehicles to reduce emissions and encourage clean transportation, a careful selection of materials to increase healthy indoor spaces and smart technologytoreducewateruse.

Florida 33180.

• Brightline’s Aventura Station is located on the west side of US1 across from Aventura Mall, one of the nation’s top luxury destinations for shopping, restaurants and lifestyle.

• The new station in Aventura will help alleviate road congestion and connect the community to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando (2023).

In October 2019, the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) passed a resolution to approve the property acquisition anddevelopmentagreementbetween the County and Brightline. It also approved the use of $76.7 Million of Surtax Dollars for the development of this project, which will serve the Northeast Corridor – one of six corridors in the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit(SMART)Program.

Brightline’s initial schedules for Aventura and Boca are designed to optimize commuter patterns and will focus on peak morning and evening weekday service. During non-peak hours and weekends, Brightline will provide service approximately every other hour. Regular hourly service will continue in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Central. You can view a full schedule for Boca and Aventura at: https://drive.google .com/file/d/1dkyzy36KftQHQ5TAExaoHh9YYRqIKH8/view Or visit:www.gobrightline.com

Parking options will be available at both stations upon opening with rates for Brightline guests starting at $7 and walk up parking rates starting at $6 for up to an hour. Guests traveling from Aventura and Boca Raton stations will also have access to Brightline+ shuttle services offeredtoSouthFlorida’sbiggest gamesandevents.

For guests looking to save on fares, a commuter SMART pass will be available for $229 per month. Passes for SHORT (2-leg) and LONG (4-leg) bookings will alsobeavailableforbothSMART and PREMIUM. Miami-Aventura passes can be purchased inperson at the Aventura station and will become available for purchase online in early 2023 for $170 per month. To purchase tickets, visit: www.gobrightline. com

The opening of the Aventura station creates opportunities for better connectivity to destinations such as Aventura Mall, Hallandale Beach and Hard Rock Stadium for events; Brightline is working with local partners on establishedconnectionoptions.

The Lopsided Politicization Of Society And Medicine

By Jane M. Orient, M.D.

Most Americans are aware that the nation is deeply divided and that politics is intruding everywhere.

They seem to think that we have two equal opposing forces, as shown by razor-thin majorities in Congress and in many key elections.

This superficial appearance papers over a marked asymmetry in actual power, as described in a new Substack by Information Heals: “Politicization, Polarization & Power Asymmetry: The Sinister Triad Affecting Modern Medicine,” it can be found at: https://neutralresearc her.substack.com/p/politiciza tion-polarization-and-power

The two power blocks might be labeled “Progressive” and “Conservative.” Those two adversarial tribes are hostile to each other. They have nothing in common and are locked into hermetic bubbles. The days of civil and courteous rivalry are gone; instead, there is anger and contempt for the other side. Irreconcilable cultural and moral differences preclude any dialogue. Each side believes that the other is unworthy to hold power and that it is actually dangerous to have it in power. This may lead to the conclusion that stealing the election from the evildoersismorallyjustified.

In the population as a whole, the number of Progressives and Conservatives may be approximately equal. However, there is no equivalency between them regarding the ability to

•

•

• Mainstream press

• Large parts of organized religion

• Large parts of the military

Interestingly, both sides are frequently in denial about the obvious power asymmetry. It is an interesting paradox.

Conservatives who are objectively weak keep denying their weakness. Progressives who are objectively strong keep denying theirpower.

The COVID-19 Pandemic with its mandates was a rude awakening for many Conservatives. In a free society, it is essential that experts and institutions be neutral. For example, medicine should be a neutral tool, the purpose of which is to detect and cure disease. Politicization turns it into a partisan weapon designed for manipulation and coercion.

The very definition of “neutral” has changed. It now means “secular,” with the abolition of long-accepted religious or patriotic expressions, replacing them with aggressive ideological advocacy and performative activism inclinicalspaces.

Before politicization, medical experts were expected to be impartial skilled consultants, whose role was to guide less qualified colleagues, reassure the public and advise policymakers about rational public health policies. Politicization of medicine has perverted this mission. Politicized medical experts do the bidding of their masters.

Theyrubberstampmedicaltreatments

favors the deployment of powerful partisan weapons. While awaiting better and more harmonious times, people of good will and conscience need to recognize that we are engaged in asymmetric warfare, try to expose and oppose the politicization of medicine by any means availabletothem.

No one should be coerced to follow one set of politically motivated rules presented under the guise of “benevolent” public health policies or “scientific” medicalcare.

Freedom fighters must not lose hope. In asymmetric warfare, the superpower does not always win, as the American Revolutionshowed.

Find out more at: https:// neutralresearcher.substack.com

Many people have started to question the sincerity of politicized experts and the universal trust in previously reliable experts and institutions has crumbled. The vacuum has been filled by alternative authorities. Unfortunately, the quality of this newly founded industry is variable. Speculation, misinformation, propaganda and outright lies are inter-mixed with true and genuinely helpful information. These dissident experts lack the resources to undertake the sophisticated research needed to answer difficult scientific questions. While their role is indispensable,theirabilitiesarelimited.

The politicization of medicine should be stopped and abolished. This is unlikely to occur as long as a heated political climate combined with economic crisis

About: Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her Undergraduate Degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in 1974. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of The Association Of American Physicians And Surgeons, (AAPS) since 1989. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare and the second through fifth editions of Sapira’s Art And Science Of Bedside Diagnosis Published by Wolters Kluwer. She is the Managing Editor of The Journal Of American Physicians And Surgeons.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Jane M. Orient, M.D and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The South FloridaSunTimesNewspaper.

Location • 19796 West Dixie Highway, Aventura,

Station Travel Times, Parking + Passes

“The City of Excellence was among the earliest supporters of Brightline

and we

are thrilled that the Aventura Station is now a reality. It is a game changer for our community as we embrace our transportation challenges today and into the future.” - Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Esq., City of Aventura

Fig. Increase in Political Polarization 1994-2017 between politically engaged Americans. Credit: InfoGraphic based upon data collected by Pew Research Center

project various types of power. Major institutions that are crucial for the operation of the state are dominated by the Progressives. Those institutions include:

Federal and State administrative apparatus including The Food And Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and medical licensure and specialty boards

and policies that are favored for political reasons even if they are harmful and ineffective.Theprimaryfunctionofsuch “experts” is to deceive their colleaguesandthepublic.

Promotional Articles

piled, a complex algorithm makes potential matches based on what really counts: not goals, hobbies, or looks, but shared values.

“We’ve seen great success hosting a number of international virtual speed-dating events,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, Director of Met @Chabad, who also personally attended the event. “Thousands of young Jewish adults have been matched up with each other with real chances for continuation. It’s now time to break new ground.” The most recent frontier has been to bring the experience to real people in real life. After successfully launching in New York City, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires, Met @Chabad has now hit South Florida and it was met withwildenthusiasm.

Well before the event got underway, participants knew that this would be different. Asked to fill out the trademark Met @Chabad questionnaire days before the event, participants were assigned to clusters based on the value group to which the algorithm deemed them most suited. With a different color for each group, it was easy to spot where you belonged as soon as

youcameintheroom.

In addition to being placed in groups that automatically put members on the same page, expert coaches were scattered around the room to facilitate meaningful conversation and connection. Each group began with someone leading an icebreaker bingo game, and the evening progressed from there.

Shmuel Druin LCSW was on hand for dating advice; Chanie Lebovics, an experienced matchmaker and dating coach, was

A brand new “Jewish Dating Primer” was handed out to all who attended, adding yet another ingredient to help those present achieve their goal: to find aseriouslyinterestedpartner.

“The difficulty of finding a likeminded soulmate with which to start a home is a challenge with

which many of today’s youth are struggling,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of Chabad Young Professionals International, under whose umbrella Met @Chabad operates. “We’re honored and humbled to see how much progress we’ve made in such a short time to help solve this global problem. Andthisisjustthebeginning.”

“I’ve been to many different Jewish dating events all over South Florida, from as far south as Brickell and as far north as

Boca,” said David Russ, an Aventura native who works in digital advertising, “but Met @Chabad was by far the best one I’ve ever been to. The classy environment set a great mood. The group pairing made it easy to meet people with similar levels of Jewish values. Using a game to help break the ice made it easy to approach and meet new people. No other Jewish dating events I’ve ever attended had such meaningful elements, and it really puts Met @Chabad above therest.”

“It was really something special to see so many young Jewish adults from all over the area come to such an intentional and meaningful event,” said Rabbi Moshe Kievman of Chabad Chayil in Highland Lakes, FL. “Many of them are shy or otherwise apprehensive about dating, and being there tonight was so helpful for them. I personally heard from at least two people, ‘Rabbi, I think I found the right one tonight!’ Whatcanbegreaterthanthat?”

When asked whether he would go again, Russ replied, “100%! Just tell me when and where,andI’llbethere.”

For more information about the innovative matchmaking platform from Chabad visit: www.metatchabad.com

KC and the Sunshine Band: It All Started Out As a “Dream” in Hialeah

Whose music has been featured at EVERY major sporting event in the world including the Super Bowl, World Series, Conference Championships, The NBA, Collegiate Bowl Games National Championship Games, the NASCAR racing circuit and championships, The World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Kentucky Derby, EVERY Holiday Parade include the famous Macys Thanksgiving Day parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade, Political Party Conventions, Presidential Campaigns, and nearly EVERY wedding, confirmation, and bar mitzvah in the world? Whose music has been featured on more than 200 motion picture filmsoundtracks?

The answer is, Harry Wayne Casey, better known as the founder and leader of KC and The SunshineBand.

The music that got people out of their seats and onto the dance floor originated with humble beginnings in Hialeah, Florida.

KC has never moved farther than 10milesawayfromhisbirthplace and the birthplace of his legendary music underlines the fact that he is proud that his “Sunshine Sound” has flourished continuouslyforover37years.

“I remember that I always wanted to do something that would make people forget about their problems and be happy,” recalls KC. “I always loved music and I was fortunate enough to

grow up in a multi-ethnic area that exposed me to a lot of different cultures and music...from Pop to Reggae to Latin. I experimented at trying to put all three types of music together and the Sunshine Sound was born. Why move from an area that not only doIlove,butowesomuchto?’

Let’s “rewind” back to 1973. The price of an average home was $32,500. The price of an average automobile was $2,900. The price of a gallon of gasoline was 40 cents a gallon. The United States was still involved in the Vietnam conflict, Richard Nixon was the target of the Watergate investigation, University Students were protestingandrioting,andtherewas discontent all over the world with rising unemployment and inflation. People were looking for something that would divert their attention from the negative aspects of everyday life surroundingthem.

During this time, young Harry Casey did anything and everything that he could do to further his passion for music. He worked at a local record store, opened boxes at Tone Record Distributors and hung around a local recording studio just hoping that somebody would give him a chance to fulfill his biggest dream...torecordarecord.

That “dream” was answered by a man named Henry Stone who owned both Tone Distributors and TK Recording

Studios. KC recalls the early days of TK Records: “It was like a big family and Henry was our Dad.” Stone had recorded Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker and James Brown at the TK Recording Studios and took a liking to the energetic and optimistic Harry Casey and decided to give him a chance to make his dream come true...a chance to record.

Nobody would have thought that Henry Stone’s insight and Harry Casey’s talent and enthusiasm would make history and make Miami, Florida the hottest music city on the planet. The “birth” of KC and the Sunshine band was about to happen and nobody knew that its birth would not only bring the world legendary music, but influence a whole generation. From clothing to hairstyles to dance styles to new acceptable words in the English language, KC and the Sunshine Band had arrived! And what an arrival! Four Number one Records in a row, Grammy Awards, Peoples Choice Awards, American Music Awards, and the focus of the music world became Miami,Florida.

Things have changed drastically since 1973. One thing hasn’t changed, though. The infectious, feel good happy music of KC and the Sunshine Band. What started out as a “dream”isnow“legend.”

Their first record, BLOW YOUR WHISTLE, made the top

15 on the R&B chart. Their second album, KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND, was released in 1975, went triple platinum and contained the #1 hits GET DOWN TONIGHT, THAT’S THE WAY (I LIKE IT), BOOGIE SHOES and ROCK YOUR BABY. Also in 1975hewontheAmericanMusic Award for Best R&B Artist. KC & The Sunshine Band became the first act to score four #1 pop singles in one 12-month period since the Beatles in 1964. Three of those singles crossed over to become #1 R&B, as well. KC’s third album, PART 3, released in 1976, also went triple platinum and contained the #1 singles I’M YOUR BOOGIE MAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY and KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE. The band’s string of hit singles continued with BOOGIE SHOES, which was included on the SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER soundtrack, PLEASE DON’T GO, and YES, I’M READY, a duet with high school friend Teri DeSario. He also received Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, as well as Producer of the Year in 1978 for his work on the SATURDAY NIGHTFEVERsoundtrack.

Harry Wayne Casey, a true icon of so many generations, gets people up and dancing, making everyone happy. His

place at the top in the music world is secure and that is as it should be. KC and the Sunshine Band have been entertaining audiences around the world for over 37 years, and have sold in excess of 100 million records and “That’s The Way They Like It”uh-huhuh-huh!

KC and The Sunshine Band are still as widely popular today as they were when they first danced into the music scene so many years ago. KC and The Sunshine Band play more than 100 live shows annually, circling the country and playing dates regularly throughout Europe, Australia and South America. In 2008, KC celebrated 35 years of entertaining, writing songs, performing around the world and he hasnointentionofstopping.

In 2002 KC received the coveted Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where Dick Clark and music producer Michael Lloyd turned out to honor him. This particular honor represents the passion that KC has in writing music, implementing elements of various eras with his songs being a powerful signature from a passionate veteran craftsman. KC’s music is now being sampled by rappers, and whole new generations of fans have been introducedtohismusic.

So if you like to hear hear these hits, put in your BOOGIE SHOES because KC and The Sunshine Band are coming to Hollywood on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at: www.myhrl.com

Doors open one hour before show time.

A feature story in the South Florida Sun Times, The Aventura Digest, or The PROFILES Special Edition is an efficient, effective and For More Information And To Schedule Your Story.

rightinthethickofthingsaswell; and the many Chabad Rabbis with years of experience shepherding their communities were all available for anyone who needed.

“It was really something special to see so many young Jewish adults from all over the area come to such an intentional and meaningful event,” said Rabbi Moshe Kievman of Chabad Chayil in Highland Lakes, FL

(L) Harry Wayne Casey, better known as the founder and leader of KC and The Sunshine Band (R) KC and The Sunshine Band play more than 100 live shows annually, circling the country and playing dates regularly throughout Europe, Australia and South America

Cancel Culture’s War

On History, Heritage And The Freedom To Think For Yourself

By John & Nisha Whitehead

There will come a time in the not-so-distant future when the very act of thinking for ourselves is not just outlawed but unthinkable.

We are being shunted down the road to that dystopian future right now, propelled along by politically correct forces that, while they may have started out with the best of intentions, have fallen prey to the authoritarian siren song of the Nanny State, which has promised to save the populace from evils that only a select few are wise enough to recognizeassuch.

As a result, we are being infantilized ad nauseam, dictated to incessantly and forcefully insulated from “dangerous” sights and sounds and ideas that we are supposedly too fragile, toovulnerable,toosusceptibleor too ignorant to be exposed to without protection from the socalledelite.

Having concluded that “we the people” cannot be trusted to think for ourselves, the powersthat-be have taken it upon themselves to re-order our world into one in which they do the thinking forusandallwehavetodoisfall inline.

Those who do not fall in line with this government-sanctioned group think—who resist, who dare to think for themselves, who dare to adopt views that are different, possibly wrong or hateful—are branded as extremists, belligerents and deplorables are shunned,censoredandsilenced.

The fallout is as one would expect.

Cancel culture—political correctness amped up on steroids, the self-righteousness of a narcissistic age and a massmarketed pseudo-morality that is littlemorethanfascismdisguised as tolerance — has shifted us into an Age of Intolerance, policed by techno-censors, social media bullies and governmentwatchdogs.

Everything is now fair game for censorship if it can be construed as hateful, hurtful, bigoted or offensive provided that it runs counter to the established viewpoint.

In this way, the most controversial issues of our day — race, religion, sex, sexuality, politics, science, health, government corruption, police brutality, etc. — have become battlegrounds for those who claim to believe in freedom (of religion, speech, assembly, press, redress, privacy, bodily integrity, etc.) but only when it favors the views and positionstheysupport.

The latest victim of this rigid re-ordering of the world into one in which vestiges of past mistakes are scrubbed from existence comes from the New York Department of Education, which has ordered schools to stop using Native American references in mascots, team names and logos by the end of the current school year or face penalties includingalossofstateaid.

This drive to sanitize New York schools of “offensive” Native American logos and imagery comes on the heels of iconoclastic campaigns to rid the country of anything and anyone

that may offend modern-day sensibilities.

Monuments have been torn down, schools and streets have been renamed and the names of benefactors stripped from prominent signage in the quest for a moreenlightenedage.

Thesearenotnewtactics.

Since the days of the Byzantine Empire, when “Emperor Leo III ordered the destruction of all Christian images on the grounds that they represented idolatry and were heretical,” political movements have resorted to destroying monuments, statues and imagery of the day as a visual means of exerting their power and vanquishingtheirenemies.

We have been caught in this intolerant, self-righteous, destructive, mob-driven cycle of book-burning, statue-toppling, history-erasing iconoclasm ever since.

In such a world, there can be no debate, no journey to understanding, no chance to learn from one’s mistakes or even make mistakes that are uniquely your own; there is only obedience and compliance to the Government, its corporate overlords and the prevailing mob mindset.

Censorship, cancel culture, political correctness, woke-ism, hate speech, intolerance: whatever label you assign to this overzealous drive to sanitize the culture of anything that might be deemed offensive or disturbing or challenging, be assured they aresignpostsonaone-wayroad to graver dangers marked by

“suppression, persecution, expulsion and the massacring of people.”

Whether those smashing monuments and erasing history are doing so for noble purposes or more diabolical reasons, the end results are the same: criminalization, confiscation, imprisonment,exileandgenocide.

What’s different about this present age, however, is the use of technology to censor, silence, delete, label as “hateful,” demonize and destroy those whose viewpoints run counter to theculturalelite.

Where this leads is the stuff of dystopian nightmares: societies that value conformity and groupthink over individuality; a populace so adept at self-censorship and compliance that they are capable only of obeying the Government’s dictates without the ability to parse out whether those dictates should be obeyed and a language limited to Government-speak.

This is what happens when the voices of the majority are allowed to eliminate those in the minority and it is exactly why James Madison, the author of the Bill of Rights, fought for a First Amendment that protected the “minority” against the majority, ensuring that even in the face of overwhelming pressure, a minority of one—even one who espouses distasteful viewpoints—would still have the right to speak freely, pray freely, assemble freely, challenge the Government freely and broadcasthisviewsinthepressfreely.

Freedom for those in the

unpopular minority constitutes the ultimate tolerance in a free society.

The alternative, as depicted in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, is a world in which individuality and the ability to think for oneself independent of the Government and the populace are eradicated, where even the word “I” has been eliminated from the vocabulary, replaced by the collective“we.”

As Anthem’s narrator Equality 7-2521 explains, “It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. . . . And well we know that there is no transgression blacker than to do orthinkalone.”

As I make clear in Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, we are not merely losing the ability to think critically for ourselves and in turn, to govern our inner and outer worlds, we are also in danger of losing the righttodoso.

The Government’s War on thought crimes and truth-tellers isjustthebeginning.

Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an Attorney and Author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Popular Culture. John Whitehead’s Commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org. Information about The Rutherford Instituteisavailableat:rutherford.org

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Everything is now fair game for censorship if it can be construed as hateful, hurtful, bigoted or offensive provided that it runs counter to the established viewpoint

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Life After Stroke: Tips For Recovery & Daily

tasks. Rehabilitation may take place in an Inpatient Facility, Skilled Nursing Facility or LongTerm Acute Care Facility. Outpatient Clinics and Home Health Agencies can also provide Rehabilitative Care in certain circumstances.

medically safe allows Stroke Survivors to mitigate the lasting effects.

According to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, each year, approximately 800,000 people in the United States have a Stroke. Strokes can happen to anyone, at any age. In fact, globally about 1 in 4 adults over the age of 25 will haveaStrokeintheirlifetime.

Early Intervention

The rehabilitation and support a survivor receives can greatly influence health outcomes and recovery. The first three months after a Stroke are especially criti cal. Although recovery may con tinue for years after a Stroke, this time in the immediate aftermath of a Stroke is when the brain is most able to adjust to the dam age done by the Stroke so the survivor can learn new ways to dothings.

Physical, Communication and Cognitive Changes

Following a Stroke, a survivor may experience physical changes, such as: Fatigue, Seizures, Weakness or Paralysis on one side of the body or Spasticity, Stiff or Rigid Muscles which may cause difficulty with completing daily activities and tasks. If experiencing Fatigue, speak with your Health Care

Provider about ways to reduce it.

Your care team may also be able to provide medications to help with Seizures and Spasticity.

Physical Therapy is also an option.

Challenges after a Stroke depend on the severity and location of the Stroke. In addition to various Physical Disabilities, Stroke Survivors may experience Aphasia, communication and thought problems related to speaking, listening, understand-

ing or memory. Planning, organizing ideas or making decisions canalsobeharder.

“Remember to be patient when communicating with a Stroke Survivor,” said Elissa Charbonneau, M.S., D.O., Chief Medical Officer of Encompass Health and an American Stroke Association National Volunteer.

“The impact of a Stroke on cognitive, speech and language can be significant and isolating. When connecting with a Stroke

Survivor, some helpful practices include: demonstrating tasks, breaking actions into smaller steps, enunciating, asking multiple choice questions and repetition.”

Customized Rehabilitation

Once a Stroke Survivor’s medical condition is stabilized and he or she is ready to leave the hospital, rehabilitation can help restore function and teach new ways to complete everyday

One patient’s rehab journey might include therapy to improve balance, strength or mobility while another might need speech or other therapies. A rehabilitation designed for the individual

Preventing A Recurrence

After a first Stroke, nearly 1 in 4 survivors will have another. Stroke Survivors can help reduce their risk of having another Stroke by working with their health care team to identify what caused the Stroke and uncover personalriskfactors.

Taking steps such as: healthy eating, reducing sedentary time and taking medications as prescribed can help your brain and reduce your risk of a repeat Stroke. Controlling conditions such as: High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Sleep Apnea also reduce your risk of having anotherStroke.

Support During Your Journey

Caregivers and other loved ones can provide important longterm support during your recoveryandrehabilitation.

Find resources for Stroke Rehab and Recovery including the “Life After Stroke” guide, “Simply Good” cookbook and a support network to connect with other survivors at: Stroke.org/Recovery

The rehabilitation and support a survivor receives can greatly influence health outcomes and recovery APARTMENT