Casino @ Dania Beach.....................6B Classified.........................................5B Community Events...........................7A Hallandale Beach.......................2A, 8A
Hollywood........................................2B Lifestyle......................................2B-4B Aventura...........................................4A Blue Bar & Grill / Carini’s.................2B
N O V E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 • 1 4 PA G E S • V O L U M E 1 7 • I S S U E 7
AVENTURA • BAL HARBOUR • DANIA BEACH • HALLANDALE BEACH • HOLLYWOOD • NORTH MIAMI BEACH • PEMBROKE PINES • PEMBROKE PARK • SURFSIDE • SUNNY ISLES BEACH
The Casino at Dania Beach Welcomes the Holiday Season This season, guests can expect even more from this dynamic venue! Whether planning a visit for a concert, playing some games or catching a great
bite out - they’ve got you covered! Dine at the exquisite Luxe Gourmet Buffet and Restaurant where guests can enjoy an all
you can eat dining experience at a surprisingly modest price. It offers a variety of options including a popular carving station, which is home to a slow-roasted
marmalade glazed ham, a delicious array of steak, and seafood options that are sure to delight. Sundays relax and sip some breakfast cocktails at the cham-
pagne brunch with unlimited mimosas and an expansive selection of traditional breakfast Holiday, Page 3A
Medicare Enrollment Season 5 Tips To Make Sure You’re In The Right Plan
Brightline / Virgin Trains USA The New Aventura Stop Will Be a Major Transportation Boost For The City by Marylynne Newmark
The $76 million in funding that was approved by the MiamiDade Board of Commissioners on October 11th for Brightline, now also known as Virgin Trains USA, to build a railway station in Aventura seems to be a win-win situation for everyone. Not only will it enable commuters from downtown Miami to access the Aventura Mall, Aventura Hospital and local businesses and professionals, but the complement for Aventura residents will be to zip down to the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami Arena, Bayside and downtown offices in just minutes. The best part? No traffic and parking issues. Aventura City Manager Ronald Wasson confirms the benefits. “I believe this will be something special for Aventura,”
he says “The Brightline/Aventura stop will be a major transportation boost for our city. Not only will it easily bring Brickell and the new Downtown Miamians to our businesses, retailers, restaurants and professionals, but the door opens both ways for our folks here to catch a train and hop downtown for sports and entertainment.” Wasson is very familiar with this type of commute. He formerly was the city manager of Rockville Center, a station stop on the Long Island Railroad with direct connection to New York City from the most eastern parts of the Island. This window of opportunity opened for Aventura on October 11th when the Board of Commissioners of Miami-Dade County approved $76 million to fund Virgin Trains USA, the brand
name for Brightline, to build a station in Aventura. Tri-Rail had been trying to do the same thing for a few years, but was blocked with permitting and approval issues complying with new railroad regulations. There was much discussion at that Miami-Dade Commission meeting on Oct. 11th. Based on the current $9.75 ticket cost for the Miami-to-West Palm Beach Brightline Express, Commissioner Joe Martinez felt that the fares on Brightline would be out of reach for most Miamians. Commissioner Jean Monestine, who aspires to be County Mayor in 2020, cast the passing ballot only when discussion was brought to the table to build affordable housing units along the railway path. This was an important issue
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2019. This is your yearly chance to shop for insurance coverage that best meets your needs. People covered by Medicare will have even more plans with a host of new benefits to choose from for 2020. Here are five things to keep in mind for Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period.
for Monestine’s constituents in the North Dade area. “There’s a grave affordability housing crisis here in Miami-Dade County, “ he had said. “So many of our hardworking families literally are being priced out of their homes, their communities, and this county. We need these working people to stay. Everybody plays a role, and they fulfill a large number of jobs in our service and construction industries.” Finally, at that meeting, commissioner Rebecca Sosa said, “If we do nothing, nothing will happen. So, now is the time to start.” And it passed. Formerly known as AllAboardFlorida and now as Virgin USA, Brightline’s new Miami-to-West Palm Beach service began running on May 19,
1. Review your 2020 coverage options. Medicare Advantage plan details change each year, so the policy that was the least expensive or best match for you in 2019 may not be right for 2020. Changes to premiums, deductibles and co-pays can be costly. A recent eHealth analysis of people using eHealthMedicare.com to compare Medicare plans found that fewer than one in ten were enrolled in the lowest cost plan for their personal prescription drug regimen. Those who switched to their optimal drug plan stood to save an average of $900 per year.
Brightline, Page 3A
Medicare, Page 7A
surgery to slow progression and help prevent more damage. Meanwhile, he prescribed contact lenses that could help with her vision. However, the pain
persisted and her vision worsened. Then one morning last year, Dene woke up unable to
2. Look out for drug coverage changes. It’s common for insurance companies to tweak their
Braverman Eye Center Cross Linking Procedure Halts Corneal Damage Caused By Keratoconus by Marylynne Newmark
Eight years ago, when she was only 20, Dene Rorie began to experience pain in her eyes and blurry vision. Her primary care physician sent her to Dr. Dan Llewellyn, optometrist, who diagnosed her with Keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea, the clear tissue in front of the eye, slowly weakens, becomes misshapen, and bulges outward into the shape of a cone. Keratoconus can rarely be very painful and always distorts and reduces vision. Dene had the
condition in both eyes. Symptoms of Keratoconus usually first appear in early teen or young adult years, such as in the case of Dene. Its cause is unknown, but researchers suggest that the weakening of the corneal tissue that leads to Keratoconus may be due to an enzyme imbalance in the cornea that makes it more susceptible to oxidative damage. Since the condition has appeared in families such as Dene’s, susceptibility to having it may be due to an inherited gene, but not necessar-
How Can We Keep The Positivity Going Hallandale Beach, 2A
ily so. Because of the irritation and itching it creates, Keratoconus can also be caused or worsened by increased rubbing of the eyes. It is a chronic condition that slowly worsens and lasts a lifetime. Symptoms can include blurred vision and sensitivity to light and glare. In later stages, scarring can develop in the area of the corneal bulge, which can cause pain and further decreased vision Dr. Llewellyn advised Dene that possibly, she would need
Aventura Happenings: Zumba, Winter Camps, & More, 4A
Braverman, Page 6A
Hooray In Hollywood! “Frozen”, Hollywood Artwalk, & More 2B