Almost 90% of Americans will make at least one New Year’s resolution, and less than 20% will succeed in accomplishing even one.
The beginning of the year is a great time for life improving reso lutions. Common resolutions include losing weight, giving up smoking, maintaining a budget, saving money, finding a better job, getting healthier, becoming more organized, and spending more time with family.
Whatever your resolutions, here are some specific strategies to help you succeed. First and foremost is to take the first step, which is to start. Without action, there will be no success. Action creates results. Intention alone will not work.
Have written goals stating what you want to accomplish. If you want to lose weight, how much and by when? If you want to live within a budget, what is the amount? If you want to continue your education, what school will you go to and which classes will you take?
Take small but consistent steps. Habits are formed by frequent repetition over time. Change occurs by the same process. A resolution is not all or
The Beginning Of A Year-long Celebration To Honor The City’s Storied Past
A Delicate Balance Award-winning Actors Tackle Dramatic Family Dynamics In
Pictured Top Row: Patti Gardner, Tom Wahl and Betty Ann Hunt
Strain Bottom Row: Margery Lowe, Christopher Dreeson and Sabrina Lynn Gore
Family secrets, friendship and loyalties drive the heart of Island City Stage’s milestone production of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Delicate Balance, running January 16th,
This Milestone Production
2025 – February 9th, 2025. This ambitious creative endeavor featuring highly acclaimed regional actors will be the first time Island City Stage has produced a show penned by America’s greatest playwright of the last half of the 20th Century.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. It’s dark and funny; a brutal comedy of manners,” said Michael Leeds, Associate Artistic Director of Island City Stage and the show’s director. “To me, the title refers to the delicate balance between life and death, love and hate, and how the balance can shift so easily and suddenly from
“I’ve always loved A Delicate Balance. This multiple awardwinning work was quite a departure for Edward Albee after his Delicate Balance, Page 4A
New Year, New Intentions: Give Broward County
Transit A Try Small Changes Can Lead To Big Wins
Another January rolls in, and with it, the familiar promises: “This is the year I’ll get fit, save money, and reduce stress.” But let’s be honest, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fall flat by February. Gym memberships gather dust, healthy habits fade, and those ambitious goals? Life simply gets in the way. This year, instead of overwhelming yourself with drastic changes, consider a simple, impactful, and surprisingly refreshing shift: try public transit. Whether it’s a new way to commute, run errands, or explore Broward County, transit isn’t just about getting from point A to point B, it’s about transforming your daily routine, one ride at a time.
Unleash Your Inner Mover: Health You Can Feel In 2025, add to your gym membership with a sprinkle of pre-gym exercise to the bus stop! Walking to and from your stop, transferring routes, or
strolling to your final destination seamlessly integrates movement into your day. Studies show that just 15-30 minutes of daily walking can significantly improve heart health, lower stress levels, and boost your overall wellbeing. So, why not take that walk to the bus stop! And let’s talk about stress relief. Instead of battling traffic, use your transit time to recharge. Catch up on a podcast, read a book, or simply enjoy the scenery. Your commute can become your daily reset.
Your Wallet Will Thank You Let’s face it: driving costs a fortune. Gas prices, parking fees, and car maintenance eat away at your budget. But here’s the good news: choosing transit even a few times a week can significantly reduce your expenses.
The City of Hollywood invites residents and visitors to come together for a momentous occasion as it launches its Centennial Celebration. On Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., City Hall will serve as the heart of this historic event, located on the South side at 2600 Hollywood lvd., Hollywood, Florida 33020. This special evening will feature the unveiling of a commemorative display that pays homage to Hollywood’s 100-year journey. The unveiling marks the beginning of a year-long celebration filled with events and activities to honor the City’s storied past, vibrant present, and promising future.
Attendees will witness a dazzling moment as the display is brought to life, symbolizing a century of community spirit, growth, and shared achievements. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a newcomer, or a visitor, this kickoff event promises to be a memorable way to join in the celebration and reflect on the city’s legacy.
History of Hollywood & It’s Founder A coastal city of over 153,000 residents located in Broward Hollywood, Page 9A
BCT’s affordable fares and passes are designed with your wallet in mind, offering a reliable and stress-free alternative to driving. The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Transit Savings Report states that people can save up to $13,000 annually by taking public transit instead of driving. Imagine starting 2025 with a resolution that actually saves you money!
Good for You, Even Better for the Planet Public transit is one of the most eco-friendly travel options available. By choosing the bus over your car in 2025, you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to cleaner air in Broward County. Every bus trip removes multiple cars from the road, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and easing traffic congestion. Think of it this way: your small choice to take the bus isn’t just good for you – it’s a positive contribution to your community. Join thousands of others in taking a step towards a greener, healthier future.
Small Steps, Lasting Change We understand that new routines can feel daunting. Start small – try taking the bus just once a week. Use it for your Friday commute, a trip to the park, or a visit to your favorite weekend spot. You will be surprised at how quickly you adjust. Less stress, more savings, a healthier you, and a healthier planet – what’s
and rewarding resolution like trying transit.
By Bryan Golden
One Of The Greatest Voices Of Our Time
Linda Eder Takes the Stage At The
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
The City of Aventura presents one of the greatest voices of our times, when pop singer Linda Eder takes the stage at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Friday, January 17th, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. Eder, renowned for her powerful vocals and Broadway performances will deliver an unforgettable evening of music and charm.
The New York Times wrote, “What do we mean when we use the word perfection? The question arises every time I watch the pop singer Linda Eder….” Eder’s diverse repertoire spans Broadway, standards, Pop, Country and Jazz. When performing live, she effortlessly transitions between genres, showcasing a vocal versatility to which she excels in each.
Born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Brainerd, Minnesota, Eder began her career right out of high school singing all around her home state, and she eventually landed a gig at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But it was her appearance on the 1987 season of “Star Search,” during which she won for an unprecedented 12 straight weeks, which attracted the attention of audiences and record companies alike.
Eder launched her recording career in 1991 with a self-titled album which quickly established her as one of America’s most popular and acclaimed interpreters of pop, standards and theatrical music. She then released two more solo albums before landing a role as the tragic character, Lucy, in the original Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde. She captivated audiences nearly eight times a
New Year
From Page 1A
nothing. Partial change is okay. Any pro gress in the desired direction, regardless of how small, is a success. Accomplishing a resolution is a process, not a one-time effort. Positive goals are more effective than negative ones. Rather than saying you will eat less, resolve to have a healthier diet. Instead of spending less time at work you can endeavor to spend more time at home. Bad habits can’t just be eliminated; they have to be replaced by good ones. Identify potential obstacles so they don’t surprise you. If you experience a setback, don’t give up. Don’t blame your self if you stumble. Failure only occurs when you stop trying. Difficulties are an opportunity to learn. If you slide back wards, get back on track, get back in gear, and resume your progress. Don’t keep your plans a secret. Develop a support system utilizing friends and family. Visualize how great you will feel as you succeed. Take credit for all accomplishments. It doesn’t matter if your progress is slower than you would like. Don’t try to change too many things at once or you risk becoming overwhelmed and discouraged. You can have a long list of resolutions so long as you realize all of the items don’t have to be addressed simultaneously. Each accomplishment can be followed by another. Change can begin at any time, not just on January 1st. Believe in yourself and your ability to change. Change can feel difficult, uncomfortable, or painful, but you can do it. Become determined to succeed. Don’t
week with her powerful rendition of signature songs including “Someone Like You” and “A New Life” at New York City’s Plymouth Theatre. Her Broadway debut earned her a Drama Desk nomination and solidified her status as one of America’s most beloved singers and dynamic live performers.
After leaving Broadway, Eder’s recording career continued “full steam ahead” with her discography to date being comprised of 18 solo recordings and numerous musical recordings. She focused on mostly Broadway, Standard and Pop music for many years, which highlighted her abundant vocal gifts as well as her skill for delivering dramatic, emotionally resonant interpretations of mostly familiar songs while making them her own. Her highly successful first Christmas album, CHRISTMAS STAYS THE SAME, is a perfect example of the way she is able to transform and interpret best loved Christmas music and make it her own without compromising the original.
snowstorm.
In 2008, Eder stepped outside the box and her familiar “wheelhouse” to record THE OTHER SIDE OF ME, a Country Pop blend of contemporary music, which included a song written by Linda herself. And, in June, 2010, she and Clay Aiken covered Roy Orbison’s “Crying” as a duet on Aiken’s album, TRIED & TRUE.
In 2013, Linda established her own record company under the name Tressamail, Inc., and in that same year she released her first recording on that newly established label, the highly acclaimed
The concert stage remains the mainstay of Eder’s career. She has performed for sold-out crowds in venues across the country and throughout Europe. She has performed at many prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, The Palace Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, Wolftrap, New York City’s Town Hall, Davies Hall, among many others. Always touring in great company, her collaborators have included the late Oscar-winning composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch, Emmy and Grammy winner Michael Feinstein, and conductor of the Boston Pops Keith Lockhart. Eder is happiest on stage singing for her audiences and spreading the joy she exudes.
prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307.
The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180. Join the conversation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram @aventuracenter or #aventuracenter.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts manages the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, a 14,864-Square-Foot, 330-Seat Waterfront Complex that hosts performing arts, cultural and educational programming for all ages. A VIP post-show meet-and-greet experience and photo opportunity may be added to any ticket.
procrastinate. Although doing nothing is often an appealing alternative, it leads to frustration. Each day is a new
work on your resolutions. If you were successful
Don’t try to change too many things at once
Steibs/Cohen Buying Event
ART: old oil paintings, old watercolors, old etchings, lithographs, old movie posters, cartoon art, & more! STATUES: old bronze, carved jade, wood, marble, alabaster, pottery, porcelain.
OLD TOYS: old toys, trains, old comics and baseball cards (prior to 1960), old Japanese toys, robots, old banks & old dolls. ORIENTAL ITEMS: jades, statues, figurines, netsuke, old swords, oriental glass and porcelains.
HISTORICAL ITEMS: letters, autographs (movie stars, presidents, political, etc.), old photos, political pins and ribbons, old fountain pens, old pocket knives, swords, military items, American, Japanese, German medals, advertising items, old stamps, old badges (police, fire, military).
All Things Gold, Silver, Sterling & Platinum Jewelry
We buy all types of Gold Jewelry, new, old, and broken. Rings (class rings, mother’s rings, wedding rings, etc.) Bracelets (charm, tennis, bangles, etc). Earrings do not need to be a matching pair. Chains and Pendants, broken is ok. We even buy old Yellow Gold teeth and crowns. Brooches, company year pins. We buy Diamonds, Emeralds, and Rubies. Any item made out of Sterling Silver. Silverware, forks, spoons, bowls, dishes, trays, tea sets, statues, Sterling and .999 Bars, Sterling and .999 Rounds, frames, candle sticks, trophies, salt and pepper shakers and Jewelry. Broken and smashed is ok.
Stamps
Whirligigs
Autographs
Delicate Balance
From Page 1A
sanity to madness. I think the play is incredibly relevant in this age where the richest 1% of the world owns 95% of its wealth. A Delicate Balance is a reminder that no one is immune to the passage of time and the inevitability of death. I know it doesn’t sound it – but it’s also very funny!”
In Albee’s three-act play, audiences are introduced to Agnes and Tobias, a wealthy, middle-aged couple whose complacency is shattered when unexpected friends Harry and Edna disrupt their household with unfounded anxiety. Add-in Agnes’ witty, yet alcoholic, sister Claire with her quick quips and their troubled daughter Julia’s return home and a pressure cooker of drama and dysfunction ensues.
A Delicate Balance premiered in 1966 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1967, the first of three Albee received for his work (the others being Seascape (1975), and Three Tall Women (1994). The Master American Dramatist also received
Gardner (Agnes), Tom Wahl (Tobias), Betty Ann Hunt Strain (Claire), Margery Lowe (Edna), Christopher Dreeson (Harry) and Sabrina Lynn Gore (Julia).
Patti Gardner (Agnes) returns to Island City Stage, where she last appeared in The Goldberg Variations in 2017. A South Florida theatre veteran, Patti has performed across the region for over 30 years and toured nationally with Menopause the Musical for 17 years. Recent performances include Caroline, or Change (Actors’ Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (The Wick Theatre), Into the Woods (Slow Burn Theatre), and The Last Yiddish Speaker (Theatre Lab). Patti is a recipient of Carbonell, Silver Palm, and New Times Best Awards and is the music and drama instructor at ABC Montessori Academy of Jupiter Farms.
Tom Wahl (Tobias) has performed at prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center, Geva Theatre Center, and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. In Florida, his credits include work with Palm Beach Dramaworks, Zoetic Stage, Actors’ Playhouse, and Miami New Drama, among others. His film and TV credits include Pulse, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,
venues such as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Canadian Stage. In Florida, she has worked with Maltz Jupiter Theatre, GableStage, Actor’s Playhouse, and more. A Stratford Shakespeare Festival company member, she received the Tyrone Guthrie Award and has won Carbonell, Silver Palm, and other accolades.
Christopher Dreeson (Harry), also making his Island City Stage debut, made his South Florida professional debut in 2018 as Tennessee Williams in the Carbonellrecommended one-man show Confessions of a Nightingale. His most recent Carbonell nomination was for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John aka Fountainhead) in Water by the Spoonful (New City Players). Other recent roles include Horace Vandergelder (Hello Dolly!), Mr. Simmons (Memphis), Victor Velasco (Barefoot in the Park), Lt. Schrank (West Side Story), G.W. Nethercott (Sordid Lives), Edward Duchamp (A Class Act), Brother Jeremiah (Something Rotten!), Herr Schultz (Cabaret), Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Jack Lawson (Race), Mr. Paravicini (The Mousetrap) and Ernst Janning
on the nature of families with sold out performances of The Fantasticks. Upcoming shows include Fat Ham by James Ijames from April 3rd, 2025 – May 4th, 2025; The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas from May 22nd, 2025 – June 15th, 2025 and At The Wedding by Bryna Turner from August 21st, 2025 – September 21st, 2025. Individual show tickets start at $43. A Mimosa Sunday Brunch sponsored by Judith Paskoski will take place on January 26th, 2025 with tickets at $60. A special Women’s Night sponsored by Leslie Fine will take place on January 31st, 2025. The show runs for two hours and 40 minutes with two intermissions.
Island City Stage will also be offering two Flexpass options this season. The Flexpass5 ($215) offers five tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased ($52 upfront savings). The Flexpass3 ($130) offers three tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased ($33 upfront savings). Discounts are available for groups. For more information and to purchase
a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement (2005), the gold medal in Drama from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1980); as well as the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts (both in 1996), among many other prestigious theatre and literary awards.
The original Broadway production of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance starred Hume Cronyn as Tobias, Jessica Tandy as Agnes, Rosemary Murphy as Claire, Henderson Forsythe as Harry, Carmen Mathews as Edna, and Marian Seldes as Julia. It has been staged several times since, in the U.S. and abroad, with notable stars of stage and screen including Dame Maggie Smith, Glenn Close, Imelda Staunton, Clare Higgins, Bob Balaban, Martha Plimpton and John Lithgow. In 1996, a revival production starring Rosemary Harris, George Grizzard, John Carter, Elizabeth Wilson, Elaine Stritch and Mary Beth Hurt won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, as well as Tony Awards for acting and directing, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play.
Island City Stage’s riveting revival of A Delicate Balance is directed by Leeds and stars highly acclaimed Carbonell and Regional Award-Winning actors Patti
New in Town, and recurring roles in Moon Over Miami. A recipient of Carbonell, Silver Palm, and Curtain Up awards, Tom is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.
Betty Ann Hunt Strain (Claire) will be making her Island City Stage debut. She was recently seen as Boo in The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Boca Stage). Strain moved to NYC from Memphis to pursue her passion for theatre. As an Equity actress, she has performed in regional theatres and national/international tours. Favorite roles include Mama Rose (Gypsy), Dolly (Hello Dolly!), and the Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods). In South Florida, she has appeared in Sunshine Quest (Founders Theatre), Sweet Delilah and Savannah Sipping (CCP), Bell, Book and Candle (AOD), and Grumpy Old Men and The Lost Virginity Tour (DBP.)
Margery Lowe’s (Edna) recent credits include world premieres of Museum Plays (Miami New Drama), Wicked Child (Zoetic Stage), and The Messenger (Palm Beach Dramaworks). She was named Wall Street Journal’s “Best of Theatre” for her portrayal of Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Lowe has performed in New York and across the U.S. in national tours and at
(Judgment at Nuremberg) among many others.
Sabrina Lynn Gore (Julia), a three-time Carbonell nominee and Silver Palm recipient, returns to Island City Stage where she last appeared in Bette and Barry. Her notable credits include Much Ado About Nothing, Precious Little, 9 to 5, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Murder Ballad, Xanadu, Wild Party, Next to Normal, Lizzie the Musical, Head Over Heels, Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, and Disenchanted. As a director, Gore has helmed acclaimed productions such as Ragtime, Fun Home, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Sweat.
A Delicate Balance is co-produced by FAB (Funding Arts Broward) and Jeffrey Danielson. Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett, Set Sponsor is Glenn Goldberg and Costumes Sponsor are Arthur and Fran Greenberg. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., the SHS Foundation, The Maval Foundation, the Warten Foundation, OutClique and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. Island City Stage kicked off its 2024-25 Season of powerful storytelling focusing
tickets, visit: www.islandcitystage.org, call: (954) 928-9800. Or email: boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/IslandCityStageFLAnd on Instagram at: @islandcitystage1.
About Island City Stage
Founded in 2012, Island City Stage is a professional theater committed to sharing stories of universal interest, engaging diverse audiences with entertaining, challenging, and inspiring productions and programs, often exploring the LGBTQ+ culture. These shows are brought to life on stage through the talents of professional artists whose credits include Broadway, Off Broadway, national tours, major regional theaters, film and television. Island City Stage offers an intimate setting with six rows of stadium seating to foster a feeling of inclusion and participation in each theatrical event. Island City Stage is a 501 (c) 3 NonProfit Organization. It is located at 2304 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, Florida 33305.
For tickets and more information, please call: (954) 928-9800. Or visit: www islandcitystage.org
To dig deeper into this issue, Deye combined environmental and climate data from multiple research sources with a survey asking 3,000 homeowners if they’ve experienced Mold in their home in the past year. The result? A list of the 150 moldiest cities in America - places where residents are most likely to deal with Mold-related health concerns. The top 10 moldiest cities are as follows:
1. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Claiming the not-so-coveted top spot, Fort Lauderdale is the moldiest city in the U.S. The constant rain, warm weather, and high humidity create a perfect storm for Mold to thrive, especially in older buildings or those near water. If you’ve got a leaky roof here, chances are you’ve got some Mold too.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
In second place, New Orleans has a reputation for its unique culture, but it’s also known for its Mold problems. Between the swampy surroundings,
and you’ve got a recipe for Mold that’s hard to beat.
4. Orlando, Florida With regular thunderstorms and muggy weather, it’s no surprise Orlando made the list. Poor ventilation in homes and buildings only makes things worse, creating damp spots where Mold can grow fast.
5. Tampa, Florida Tampa’s tropical storms and high humidity make Mold almost unavoidable. The low-lying areas of this coastal city are especially vulnerable, as flooding often leaves behind damp conditions that Mold just can’t resist.
6. Miami, Florida Miami might be known for its sunshine and beaches, but Mold is a common houseguest here. The constant rain and coastal humidity mean that without good airflow, Mold can take over indoor spaces in no time.
The regular rain and humid conditions present in Shreveport are contributors to the city’s significant Mold issues. Proximity to rivers and flood zones doesn’t help, either - it’s a damp city through and through.
9. Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville’s hot and humid summers, paired with seasonal downpours, create the perfect environment for Mold. Homes with poor ventilation are especially at risk, as dampness tends to stick around in these spaces.
10. Lafayette, Louisiana
Located near marshlands, Lafayette is no stranger to moisture. The combination of high humidity and frequent rain means Mold is a regular problem, particularly in areas where airflow isn’t great.
Three ‘other’ Florida cities were ranked among the moldiest in America: 12. Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee’s combination of high
humidity and regular rainfall fosters Mold growth, particularly in poorly ventilated buildings or shaded areas where moisture
Naples’ year-round warmth and high humidity, coupled with occasional coastal storms, create an ideal setting for indoor Mold growth. Homes near the beach are especially susceptible to these challenges.
15. Sarasota, Florida Coastal Sarasota experiences consistent humidity and frequent rain, making Mold a common concern. Older homes and those near the coastline face added risks due to the persistent dampness.
“Most of us don’t realize how severely Mold can affect both our health and our homes,” says Allen Dong of Deye. “The good news is that simple steps like fixing leaky pipes promptly, running bathroom fans during showers, and using a dehumidifier to keep indoor humidity below 60% can make a huge difference. Even in the most Mold-prone cities across the country, these basic preventive measures can stop Mold before it becomes a problem.”
To learn more visit: https://deye.com/studyreveals-the-150-moldiest-cities-in-america/
Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Naples + Sarasota among America’s moldiest cities.
How Congress Can Stave Off A Crisis In Home Care
By Thomas Ryan
Congress has just weeks to prevent a health care disaster.
Across America, companies that provide vital medical equipment to Medicare patients in their homes are drastically cutting services -- or shutting their doors completely. Without action before year’s end, millions of seniors could lose access to oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, and other essential equipment that keeps them healthy at home.
At the start of 2024, Medicare slashed payments for a major segment of home medical equipment providers by 20%. These rates -- already too low before this year’s cuts -- now fall catastrophically short of market realities. A perfect storm of supply chain disruptions, rising fuel costs for equipment delivery and service calls, and a nationwide shortage of trained technicians has sent operating costs soaring. Other payers -- including private Medicare Advantage plans, commercial insurers, and Medicaid -- have followed Medicare and cut their rates as well.
For hundreds of small businesses that provide home care to seniors, the math no longer works. Congress must act to restore Medicare reimbursement for
homecare to pre-2024 levels.
Home medical equipment providers are essential healthcare partners for seniors.
Providers teach patients how to use complex devices, maintain life-sustaining equipment, and remain on call 24/7 for emergencies. Without them, millions of Americans can’t live safely and independently at home. A July 2024 survey of providers reveals the scope of the emergency. More than nine in 10 companies have had to make operational changes to keep their doors open. Two-thirds are no longer able to provide certain essential medical equipment to Medicare patients. One in three providers reports dipping into personal savings just to keep serving their communities.
The impact is being felt nationwide. Nearly half of providers have shrunk their service areas, and one in six have closed or will soon shutter locations.
When these companies close, they leave behind health care deserts where patients have no alternative sources for oxygen tanks, hospital beds, or wheelchair repairs. One provider’s stark warning echoes across the industry: “We are to the point if reimbursement doesn’t increase soon, we will be shutting our doors and
leaving 15,000 patients without a provider.” What makes these reimbursement cuts so baffling is their ignorance of basic health economics. Caring for patients at home reduces visits to the hospital, which cost more than $3,000 per day, on average.
Or consider the costs of long-term institutional care. The average cost of a stay in an assisted living facility is $5,300 a month. For patients who require nursing home care, the tab can run nearly $10,000 a month.
And once a senior is admitted to a nursing home or hospital, they tend not to leave. Studies show that many elderly patients never regain their independence after a hospital stay.
Home medical equipment that can allow people to receive care at home -like home-oxygen systems and mobility aids -- can save patients and their families tens of thousands of dollars.
This crisis comes at precisely the wrong moment. McKinsey estimates that up to $265 Billion worth of care services for Medicare beneficiaries could move from facilities to homes by 2025, representing a massive transformation in how we deliver health care. As America’s sen-
ior population grows, we should be strengthening home-based care -- not undermining it.
There’s a solution within reach. Bills in both the House and Senate would restore Medicare’s previous payment structure for medical equipment providers. Dozens of lawmakers have signed on in support of the legislation.
Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have the power to include this fix in year-end legislation. Doing so would protect seniors, reduce healthcare costs, and support families.
Every day of inaction, meanwhile, deprives more seniors of the option to stay in their homes, where they’d prefer to be -- and increases the risk that additional providers will have to close their doors permanently. Congress must act now to restore adequate reimbursement for home medical equipment. The independence and dignity of millions of Americans hang in the balance.
Thomas Ryan is President and CEO of the American Association for Homecare, visit their website at: https://aahomecare.org/
Experience “The Best Of All Possible Worlds” At New World Center In Miami Beach
Continuing with its thrilling Icons & Rebels Masterworks Season, South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is proud to present its premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s satirical masterpiece Candide on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 at New World Center in Miami Beach and on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Both concerts will start at 7:30 p.m. A preconcert chat with Dr. Alan Mason will take place 30 minutes before the show at the New World Center featuring in-depth conversation and insights about the work and composer.
Led by SFSO’s Award-Winning music director Sebrina María Alfonso, this semistaged concert version of Candide follows in the manner of Lonny Price’s 2004 production for the New York Philharmonic, made popular through the PBS series “Great Performances.” Bernstein’s acclaimed masterpiece is played out with the orchestra, minimal sets and costumes, a dynamic cast of actor-vocalists featuring David Walton (Candide); Chelsea Lehnea (Cunegonde); Jason Zacher (Dr. Pangloss/ Voltaire); Alissa Anderson (The Old Lady), Lovell Rose (Maximilian), and the South Florida Symphony Chorus performing all together on stage. Dan Wallace Miller provides stage direction.
of calamities and self-discovery. I am always eager to program unexpected and exciting works, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to present this unique adaptation, one of our boldest and most ambitious premieres since Porgy and Bess, to our South Florida audiences. Buckle up because we are all in for one heck of a ride.”
Experience Candide’s riotous journey as he embarks on a whirlwind adventure teeming with humor, unexpected twists, and profound philosophical reflections. Bernstein’s iconic music, adapted from Voltaire’s famed Enlightenment-era novella, sets the backdrop for an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and existential musings. An equal opportunity offender, Candide spares no one. Everything and everyone is fair game in this irreverent satire.
“Our premiere of Candide is a rare opportunity to experience one of Bernstein’s most thought-provoking masterpieces – a thrilling blend of outrageous humor, poignant storytelling, and unforgettable music that follows the endlessly optimistic Candide on his quest for the best of all possible worlds,” says Maestra Alfonso. “From wars and earthquakes to shipwrecks and heartbreak, it’s a globetrotting adventure
From the over-the-top heights of Cunegonde’s “Glitter and Be Gay” and the rarely heard comedic duet “We Are Women” to the stirring depths of Candide’s introspective ponderings, audiences will enjoy a provocative perspective on life’s absurdities and the enduring pursuit of optimism.
Adding allure to the premiere evening on January 16th, 2025 at Broward Center, Symphony patrons are invited to attend the “Glitter and Be Gay Gala” 2025. The separately ticketed formal gala evening (held prior to the performance), recognizing community leaders and supporting SFSO’s impactful artistic, educational, and community outreach initiatives, begins at 5:00 p.m. and includes bubbles and hors d’oeuvres on the Wendt Terraces, a multi-course dinner in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom, the Candide performance and dancing dessert and dancing with the artists postperformance in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom. Tickets start at $500
and can be purchased at: https:// southfloridasymphony.org/gala-2025.
Now in its 27th Season, SFSO invites audiences to a tantalizing season featuring upcoming works by Mozart, Strauss, Berlioz, Prokofiev and Bruckner. The concerts will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Key West.
From sold-out masterworks performances to accompanying today’s musicians such as Natalie Merchant and performing modern musical scores, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra is continuing its journey of excellence inspiring audiences of all ages and musical genres. This season’s popular collaborations included performances of ARRIVAL From Sweden: The Music of ABBA and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, featuring the iconic film screened live with audio and musical accompaniment.
Tickets for Candide are on sale now beginning at $25. For the January 14th, 2025 Concert, buy tickets online at: https://southfloridasymphony.org - By phone at: (305) 673-3331. Or in-person at the New World Center Box Office. For the January 16th, 2025 Concert, buy tickets online at: https://southfloridasymphony .org - By phone at: (954) 462-0222. Or inperson at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. For additional information, visit: https://southflorida
symphony.org - Call: (954) 522-8445. Or email: info@southfloridasymphony.org.
About South Florida
Symphony Orchestra (SFSO)
Founded in 1997 in Key West by Music
Director Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, the now Fort Lauderdale based South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is celebrating its 27th Season. SFSO is dedicated to providing enriching cultural music experiences to residents and visitors in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Guided by the belief that music is pivotal to thriving communities, SFSO brings vibrancy and engagement with the arts via innovative programming and transformative educational initiatives. A pioneer in its commitment to symphonic music for underserved communities, its Symphony in the Schools program has touched the lives of over 125,000 students since its inception in 1997. SFSO has been recognized by the Broward County Cultural Division as a “Major Cultural Institution,” one of only a handful of organizations to be so honored. For a performance schedule and season tickets, visit: https://southfloridasymphony.org Call: (954) 522-8445. Or email: info@southfloridasymphony.org
Front row: Steve Miller, Beth Holland, Ellen Silverman, Ken Evans, Nathan Lipscomb.
County, Hollywood is nestled between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport abuts the city, while Port Everglades, the second busiest cruise port in the world, is partially within its municipal boundaries. Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike, Tri-County Commuter Rail, and two major railroads cut through the city in a north-south direction. Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami are less than twenty-five miles away, providing further opportunities for Hollywood residents and companies to have access to the global marketplace. The region is served by a substantial postsecondary educational infrastructure, including Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, the University of Miami, a number of smaller private universities and colleges, and a community college system.
From its formal incorporation by adoption of a municipal charter on November 28, 1925, the City of Hollywood has transformed itself. Beginning as an undeveloped tract of pine forests, palmetto plants, and tangled undergrowth interspersed with tomato farms and low lying marshland, it has become the second-most populated city in Broward County and the ninth largest city in the State of Florida. Founded by the planning visionary Joseph Wesley Young, a Washington state native and former resident of California and Indiana, the original one square mile of farmland has grown to over 28.87 square miles with a gross taxable value of real and personal property of over $25 Billion.
Joseph Young first arrived in South Florida in January 1920 to survey several parcels of land that would be suitable for the site of his “Dream City in Florida.” His initial vision included a wide boulevard extending from the ocean westward to the edge of the Everglades with man-made lakes paralleling each side of the roadway. One end of each lake would empty into the Intracoastal Waterway and the other would serve as a twin turning basin for private yachts. Also included in Young’s vision was the sectioning of Hollywood into districts, a precursor of present day zoning regulations, with a centrally located business district, large park spaces, a golf course, schools, and churches. Hollywood, in Joseph Young’s vision, “will be a city for everyone - from the opulent at the top of the industrial and social ladder to the most humble of working people.” Unique in Young’s city plan was the incorporation of three large circles of land located along his planned principal boulevard. These circles became the sites of a ten-acre park (originally named Harding Circle and later renamed Young Circle), the City Hall complex (originally named City Hall Circle and later renamed Watson Circle), and a military academy (Academy Circle.) Academy Circle, now Presidential Circle, is the current site of a focal commercial structure. Having formerly lived in California, Young chose as the name of his “Dream City” the name of the Southern California town that had once been so attractive to him. With the formation of the Hollywood Land and Water Company, composed of twenty-six departments covering every aspect of city-building, Joseph Young began earnestly bringing to reality his vision of Hollywood. In February 1921 Young purchased at approximately $175 per acre the first parcel of land that would evolve into present-day Hollywood. Young was successful in attracting numerous potential Hollywood residents to visit and eventually purchase property in Hollywood. By 1925, the Florida real estate market had reached all-time highs
with speculators constantly bidding up Hollywood real estate in a frenzy of buying. Construction continued at a rapid pace with the building of the Hollywood Boulevard Bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway at the cost of $110,000. By January 1926, Hollywood numbered approximately 2,420 dwellings with approximately 18,000 people, thirty-six apartment buildings, 252 business buildings and nine hotels either completed or under construction. The city had grown to include 18,000 acres, six-and-a-half miles of oceanfront and an assessed value of $20,000,000. With this phenomenal growth, residents from the neighboring communities of Hallandale to the south and Dania to the north petitioned the legislature and the Hollywood City Commission to permit their annexation into Hollywood.
During this period, construction along Hollywood Beach was rapidly
Florida Atlantic coast with Hollywood among its targets. The city was devastated by the hurricane’s high winds and surging floodwaters. It claimed thirtyseven lives, uprooted trees, ripped electrical wires down, tore roofs off buildings, and flattened signboards and houses alike. Millions of dollars in property losses were incurred and the seemingly unlimited growth of Hollywood stopped overnight without warning. Again, Joseph Young took up the challenge and led in the rebuilding of Hollywood as head of the Hollywood Relief Committee. During this time of despair, the Hollywood Municipal Band would assemble on Hollywood Boulevard to play rousing marches and other inspirational music as the rebuilding was undertaken. However, the huge task of rebuilding and the financial losses inflicted by the hurricane were enormous and caused thousands of Hollywood’s residents to abandon their new found
to dredge a deep-water seaport from the shallow lake north of Hollywood to the Atlantic Ocean, so that ships from around the world could dock and disembark eager visitors and tourists to Hollywood. In February 1928, Young’s vision became a reality. From that initial predicament, the present day Port Everglades grew from a shallow lake into one of the busiest seaports in Florida. By the end of the decade, Hollywood’s population had risen from 2,689 in 1930 to 4,500 in 1935 and to 6,239 in 1940. In the 1940s World War II came to Hollywood. The military academy site was taken over and converted into the United States Naval Air Gunners’ School; the Hollywood Beach Hotel became the United States Naval Indoctrination and Training School; and the Hollywood Golf and Country Club became an entertainment and recreation center for U.S. servicemen. With the end of the war in 1945, new management was
transforming the coastline. Construction was underway on the Hollywood Broadwalk, a unique cement promenade, thirty feet wide, stretching along the shoreline for a distance of one-and-a-half miles and patterned after Atlantic City’s famed boardwalk. Hollywood Beach also boasted Florida’s largest and best appointed bathing pavilion, the Hollywood Beach Casino located on the Broadwalk, built at a cost of $250,000 and complete with 824 dressing rooms, eighty shower baths, a shopping arcade and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The “Atlantic City of the South” added more allure with the opening in February 1926 of the Hollywood Beach Hotel, which was situated on an 800-foot expanse of oceanfront property at the eastern end of Hollywood Boulevard. The Hollywood Beach Hotel would rise seven stories in height, include 500 rooms with private baths, contain the world’s largest solarium, and boast a private wire connection direct to the New York Stock Exchange for use by hotel guests. It was built at a cost of more than $3,000,000. The hotel quickly became the winter home of many northern industrialists, visiting celebrities, and the site of several of Hollywood’s fanciest social affairs.
On September 18, 1926, disaster struck Joseph Young’s “Dream City.” A vicious hurricane slammed into the South
homes and return to northern cities. The population of Hollywood declined precipitously from 18,000 to approximately 2,500 and property values plummeted as former residents sold properties for whatever the real estate market would yield. As a result of the turmoil, the residents of the communities of Hallandale and Dania seceded from Hollywood, refusing to pay municipal taxes to what was now, in essence, a bankrupt municipality.
During this period, Hollywood had also been expanding its residential stock of homes by building new residences in the western reaches of Hollywood in an area that would become the Hollywood Hills section. Young had contracted with the Highway Construction Company of Ohio and its founder, Samuel Horvitz, to begin construction in this area. By February 1927, in the aftermath of the hurricane and the ensuing collapse of the real estate market, construction had ceased as Young found himself unable to meet financial commitments to Horvitz and other lenders.
Undeterred, Joseph Young’s vision of his “Dream City” included one last inspiration. While grounded in a speedboat on a mudflat in shallow Lake Mabel one afternoon, Young developed his visionary concept while awaiting rescue from his predicament. His idea was
installed at the Hollywood Beach Hotel; the hotel was repainted and refurbished and building permits were secured to build the largest swimming pool and cabana club in the United States. The city’s population continued to grow, reaching over 7,500 in 1945 and almost doubling to 14,351 by 1950. Even two hurricanes in the fall of 1947 failed to deter the city’s renewed growth. Despite his best efforts to promote the new seaport and the City of Hollywood, Young’s precarious financial situation caused him to ultimately lose control of his vast Hollywood holdings to a sheriff’s auction on the steps of a Fort Lauderdale courthouse in 1930. Young continued to live in his beloved city until April 1934, when he collapsed in his Hollywood Boulevard home and died of heart failure at the age of 51. The new millennium began with nearly 20,000 new residents choosing the City of Hollywood as their new home over the previous decade. Don’t miss your chance to be part of history and experience the excitement firsthand. Let’s light up the night and illuminate the next chapter of Hollywood’s story!
For more information on the year-long Centennial celebration, visit the City’s official website at: www.hollywoodfl.org/100
Joseph Young (2nd from left) aboard his family yacht.
Many of you may be conducting your year in review, making New Year’s Resolutions or simply taking part in annual New Year traditions, whatever they may be 2024 is coming to a close. Enjoy your New Year celebrations responsibly. My hope as your Mayor and neighbor is that you enter into the New Year with peace, love, hope and joy. Welcome 2025! As we reflect, I continue with my reflections of my trip to Cuba.
Once we left the revolutionary square we went straight to Havana’s seaside and what is called the Malecon. This is a famous 5-mile seawall and roadway along the Havana Harbour area of Cuba. It was built in 1902. There is a mix of crumbled buildings with Spanish marble fronts left standing and shabby homes. Mixed between are inhabitable buildings that are unkempt. There are modern styled buildings built in the 1960’s with help from Russia.
It was explained that the government owns everything. Many apartment buildings are unkempt as the many owners cannot afford to care for the outside or simply are not motivated since they are government controlled. There are some homes that still are family owned and continue upkeep with earned money or outside sources. Even these homes lack painting and maintenance. Eighty-five percent of the Cuban population lives in poverty.
Ownership is controlled by proof of family deeds. They can be passed on, but the government can step in to take property over. When the revolution came many
commercial properties. While the U.S. placed sanctions on Cuba for over 50 years other countries continued trade. The most recent Trump sanctions are now impacting those ties.
Properties that are collapsing, people leave or kicked out with no guarantee of a replacement. The building debris has been left in place. In one area on the Malecon a building was left and a plaza with a sculpture was put in its place. While it was beautiful to me it showed the contrast and the deep propaganda that suggests all is well. We are informed some people wait for up to ten years or more for a place to live.
There are hotels mixed in along the Malecon. Tourism is one of their biggest industries. The Government is allowing the building of new hotels alongside new apartment buildings. We were told that the building has taken years and still is not complete. While United States citizens cannot freely go as tourists, other countries can and do. Still the communist government controls everything. So, what they give they can take away.
We were all amazed by the Spanish architect that was still in place. It takes you back to a time when Cuba was a major gateway to the Americas. The Spanish influence on architecture is from years of Spanish control dating back from Columbus, from 1492 until 1868. 18681878 the people began to rise against Spain in revolt of taxation and slavery. The first led to a truce with Spain and the abolition of slavery but fell short of the promised reforms. The second was led and
Jose Marti, as I explained, is considered the father of the country that never supported Socialism or Communism. His ideology felt close to the Independence of America. The United States assisted and led the Spanish- American and in 1898 occupied the country until the Platt amendment in 1902.
The country was free and developed its own constitution including the right to work and healthcare. Sadly, it was never stable. The first President Machado became a dictator. There were multiple revolts and coupes of presidents. Batista was the most infamous. Even though he lost his reelection bid he became one of the most notorious cruel Dictators using his military control and remained having profound influence until Castro led the next revolution. As they say, the rest is history. In this case, a dark history of Communism.
The irony in it all was that our government supported Batista since he was opposed to Communism. They withdrew that support when the rebels led by Guevara took the upper hand in a decisive blow against Batista. Castro took over and set up a provisional government.
Rather than elections he took full control over everything. He rounded up Batista to support many who were tried and executed. He created a Communist government with ties to the Soviet Union. Many Cubans fled the country. Some went to Spain. Other refugees went to South and Central America. Many fled to Miami and others to New Jersey. You read right. New Jersey’s Union City became
have and will remain to have ties to the United States. Many Cubans strive for a Cuba Libre.
As we drove on our way to visit The National Hotel we passed the closed American Embassy. As I shared before the Embassy was reopened when Obama was in office. With the opening there was renewed hope in Havana and the country due to tourism. Directly across the courtyard of the Embassy of a propagandizing statue of Jose Marti holding Elian Gonzalez. Irony is that Elian’s mother, like many Cubans, died to bring him here. Jose Marti never supported communism. He is standing pointing a finger at the embassy and shielding Elian from the United States.
The National Hotel is a magnificent building overlooking the Malecon. It resembles Hotels like Biltmore and Breakers. It also has just as much if not more history. It has been visited by many dignitaries, stars, and world-renowned musical talents, over the past one hundred years. It is a World Heritage site. It is owned by the government and sadly like many other buildings not maintained. The hotel is also well known from the movie Godfather where the famous scene was shot about the Italian Mob.
As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my
One Family’s Quest To Prevent Future Tragedies
An Unethical Decision Resulted In A Fatal Car Accident Of Local Teenager
Broward College Foundation recently hosted a comprehensive business ethics workshop for Broward College students in the Automotive, Aviation and Marine Engineering Pathways led by Broward College faculty and local business leaders. The Grimmé family, a beloved benefactor of the Broward College Foundation, established and funded the Michael J. Grimmé II Ethics Program in perpetuity in loving memory of their son, Michael, who died tragically in a car accident at 17, as a result of poor ethical decisions made at a car dealership.
“As our family tried to cope with this devastating loss, we made several dedications and awarded scholarships through my Rotary Club in his name, but we felt it was still not enough, something was missing,” said Michael Grimmé, Sr. “We needed to find a way to really make a difference and hopefully prevent another family from going through what we went through, so we established the Broward College Business Ethics Program in
Michael’s memory.”
With the goal of bringing business ethics to the forefront for students at Broward College, business leaders including Attorney John Uustal, Founding Partner at Kelley Uustal, shared powerful real-life examples and the devastating ramifications which resulted from unethical behavior during the Ethics and the Law session. Industry leaders from JetBlue and Spirit, among others, served as conversational facilitators at breakout tables where they had deep discussions about ethics. Broward College students were prompted to define what ethics means to them and discuss why ethical business practices are so important. An associate professor from Broward College’s Philosophy Department led a captivating discussion about morality versus ethics, the definitions and differences, and delved into core ethical principleshonesty, fairness, respect and accountability. Students recounted ethical dilemmas they have experienced when the core
principles were conflicted.
“We thank the Grimmé family for their unwavering devotion and support for this incredibly important ethics program,” said Scott Rivinius, Interim Vice President, Advancement & Executive Director, Broward College Foundation. “We also appreciate the many business and community leaders and our faculty who took the time to join us in mentoring our students.” The Michael Grimmé story: In 2006, Michael J. Grimmé, II, 17, bought his first car with his parents. The car was purchased at an auto dealership and several items needed to be fixed on the car. The car was “fixed” earlier than planned, and due to his father being out of town, he picked up the car with his mother and they were assured all was fixed with the car. Michael left the dealership with his mother following behind. Ten minutes later, on I-95, Michael was killed instantly when due to mechanical issues caused by a lack of business ethics at the dealership, he had no control of his car and hit a dis-
abled tractor trailer. His mother watched it happen. The initial impact on the family was complete and overwhelming devastation for the family followed by many years of incredible difficulty in coping with this unnecessary and, what could have been avoided, tragedy if someone, anyone, had just said no to the actions taken while it was being serviced and prepared for sale. The Grimmé family continues to offer scholarships but decided more needed to be done to prevent another family from going through what they went through. So, the family created the Broward College Ethics Program in Michael’s memory to educate students and others how short cuts, faulty parts, improper procedures and false statements can have a devastating impact on companies, industries and families.
Anyone interested in supporting ethical decision making training for Broward College students, please contact Nancy Botero at: nbotero@broward.edu.
Michael Grimmé, Sr. discussing ethics with Broward College students.
Jim DeChant, Sr. Major Gifts Officer, Broward College Foundation; Nancy Botero, Chief of Staff, Broward College Foundation; John Uustal, Esq., founding partner Kelley Uustal; and Michael Grimmé, Sr.
What If The Baby Jesus Had Been
Born Into The American Police State?
By John & Nisha Whitehead
The Christmas story of a baby born in a manger is a familiar one.
The Roman Empire, a police state in its own right, had ordered that a census be conducted. Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary traveled to the little town of Bethlehem so that they could be counted. There being no room for the couple at any of the inns, they stayed in a stable (a barn), where Mary gave birth to a baby boy, Jesus. Warned that the government planned to kill the baby, Jesus’ family fled with him to Egypt until it was safe to return to their native land.
Yet what if Jesus had been born 2,000 years later?
What would Jesus’ life have been like if, instead of being born into the Roman police state, he had been born and raised in the American police state?
Consider the following if you will.
Had Jesus been born in the era of the America police state, rather than traveling to Bethlehem for a census, Jesus’ parents would have been mailed a 28-page American Community Survey, a mandatory government questionnaire documenting their habits, household inhabitants, work schedule, how many toilets are in your home, etc.
Instead of being born in a manger, Jesus might have been born at home. Rather than wise men and shepherds bringing gifts, however, the baby’s parents might have been forced to ward off visits from state social workers intent on prosecuting them for the home birth.
Had Jesus been born in a hospital, his blood and DNA would have been taken without his parents’ knowledge or consent and entered into a government biobank.
Then again, had Jesus’ parents been undocumented immigrants, they and the newborn baby might have been shuffled to a profit-driven, private prison for illegals where they first would have been separated from each other.
From the time he was old enough to attend school, Jesus would have been drilled in lessons of compliance and obedience to government authorities, while learning little about his own rights. Had he been daring enough to speak out against injustice while still in school, he might have found himself tasered or beaten by a school resource officer, or at the very least suspended under a school zero tolerance policy that punishes minor infractions as harshly as more serious offenses.
surveillance because of his association with a prominent activist, peaceful or otherwise.
Jesus’ anti-government views would certainly have resulted in him being labeled a domestic extremist.
While traveling from community to community, Jesus might have been reported to government officials as “suspicious” under the Department of
food without a permit.
Had Jesus spoken publicly about his 40 days in the desert and his conversations with the devil, he might have been labeled mentally ill and detained in a psych ward against his will for a mandatory involuntary psychiatric hold with no access to family or friends.
Without a doubt, had Jesus attempted to overturn tables in a Jewish temple and
sentenced to a life-term in a private prison where he would have been forced to provide slave labor for corporations or put to death by way of the electric chair or a lethal mixture of drugs.
Indeed, as I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, given the nature of government then and now, it is
Homeland Security’s “See Something, Say Something” programs.
Rather than being permitted to live as an itinerant preacher, Jesus might have found himself threatened with arrest for daring to live off the grid or sleeping outside.
Had Jesus disappeared for a few hours let alone days as a 12-year-old, his parents would have been handcuffed, arrested and jailed for parental negligence.
Rather than disappearing from the history books from his early teenage years to adulthood, Jesus’ movements and personal data—including his biometrics— would have been documented, tracked, monitored and filed by governmental agencies and corporations such as Google and Microsoft.
From the moment Jesus made contact with an “extremist” such as John the Baptist, he would have been flagged for
Viewed by the government as a dissident and a potential threat to its power, Jesus might have had government spies planted among his followers to monitor his activities, report on his movements, and entrap him into breaking the law.
Had Jesus used the internet to spread his radical message of peace and love, he might have found his blog posts infiltrated by government spies attempting to undermine his integrity, discredit him or plant incriminating information online about him. At the very least, he would have had his website hacked and his email monitored.
Had Jesus attempted to feed large crowds of people, he would have been threatened with arrest for violating various ordinances prohibiting the distribution of
rage against the materialism of religious institutions, he would have been charged with a hate crime. More than 45 states and the federal government have hate crime laws on the books.
Had anyone reported Jesus to the police as being potentially dangerous, he might have found himself confronted— and killed—by police officers for whom any perceived act of non-compliance (a twitch, a question, a frown) can result in them shooting first and asking questions later.
Rather than having armed guards capture Jesus in a public place, government officials would have ordered that a SWAT team carry out a raid on Jesus and his followers, complete with flash-bang grenades and military equipment. There are upwards of 80,000 such SWAT team raids carried out every year, many on unsuspecting Americans who have no defense against such government invaders, even when such raids are done in error.
Charged with treason and labeled a domestic terrorist, Jesus might have been
painfully evident that whether Jesus had been born in our modern age or his own, he still would have died at the hands of a police state.
Thus, as we draw near to Christmas with its celebration of miracles and promise of salvation, we would do well to remember that what happened in that manger on that starry night in Bethlehem is only the beginning of the story. That baby born in a police state grew up to be a man who did not turn away from the evils of his age but rather spoke out against it. We must do no less.
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 Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org.
Making Rental Homes More Affordable In Hallandale Beach
member institutions leverage this annual fund to strengthen their communities and expand access to affordable housing,” said FHLBank Atlanta President and CEO Kirk Malmberg. “In total, FHLBank Atlanta contributed a record $120 Million this year to affordable housing and community development efforts, and across the Federal Home Loan Bank System, more than $1 Billion is being deployed in 2024 to address the growing need for affordable housing nationwide.” AHP General Funds are awarded annually through a competitive application process and distributed through FHLBank Atlanta member financial institutions. Since the program’s inception in 1990, FHLBank Atlanta Bank has awarded more than $921 Million in General Fund grants, providing more than 138,000 housing opportunities for moderate-, low-, and very low-income households. FHLBank Atlanta’s Director of
Community Investment Services Tomeka Strickland said, “We are pleased to partner with 31 member financial institutions and 57 local developers and community organizations whose commitment and dedication make it possible to bring these resources into communities. Together, we are building stronger communities, ensuring more families have a safe, affordable place to call home.”
The Bank’s Targeted Community Lending Plan and the AHP Implementation Plan will be published in January 2025 in preparation for the next AHP General Fund round to open during the second quarter of 2025. Potential applicants must work with an FHLBank Atlanta member financial institution to complete the AHP application. A list of member financial institutions is available on the FHLBank Atlanta website at: www.fhlbatl.com.
FHLBank Atlanta offers competitivelypriced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities. The Bank’s members - its shareholders and customers - are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. FHLBank Atlanta is one of 11 district Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Since 1990, the FHLBanks have awarded approximately $9.1 Billion in Affordable Housing Program funds, assisting more than 1.2 million households. Visit their website at: www.fhlbatl.com
Mosaic Miami To Honor Peter Maer
Mosaic Miami (formerly MCCJ), a NonProfit dedicated to fostering unity and inclusivity within our community, is proud to announce that Peter Maer, Former CBS News White House Correspondent, will receive the prestigious Hank Meyer Headliner Award for his outstanding storytelling that highlights individuals striving for a more unified society. The award ceremony will be hosted by Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald Senior Director for Journalism Sustainability and Partnerships, on February 6th, 2025. It will also feature a special fireside chat between Maer and Kelvin Pierce, Author of Sins of My Father: Growing Up with America’s Most Dangerous White Supremacist.
The award, established in the 1970’s, honors individuals who have significantly contributed to advancing diversity and community welfare. The award is named in memory of Hank Meyer, a well-known Miami Beach publicist credited with bringing more than 60 shows to Miami Beach between the 1950’s - 1970’s. They named a Boulevard after him because he brought The Jackie Gleason Show, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, Mike Douglas, Jack Paar, Dinah Shore, Red Skelton, and The Ed Sullivan Show to Miami Beach. In the 1970’s, he honored journalist Walter Cronkite with the very first Hank Meyer Headliner Award.
Since then, it has gone to several prominent journalists annually, including Dan Rather, Barbara Walters, and Tom Brokaw. As a well-known publicist, Meyer believed in the work of MCCJ (now Mosaic Miami) and thus loaned his talents and connections to the organization. Since his passing in 1999, the award has continued to recognize those who embody Mosaic Miami’s values, including Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr.
and ABC’s “What Would You Do?” John Quiñones, NPR’s Michelle Martin, MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid, ABC’s Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd, New York Times Op-Ed columnist Charles M. Blow, and NPR’s Joshua Johnson, to name a few.
“While I have always strived to be an objective reporter, there is no objectivity, no “other side” when it comes to shining the glaring spotlight on all forms of bigotry and those who perpetrate hatred,” said Peter Maer. “From my earliest days as a reporter in small-town Illinois to my years of covering national news, I reported as I saw it.” He covered the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta in the 1970’s and was often there with the late John Lewis. He interviewed the Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. just days after his wife, Alberta Williams King, was shot as she played the organ at Ebenezer Church. In 1988, on a trip to Moscow with President Reagan, he recalled that he “secretly recorded and later broadcast the stories of Russian “Refusedniks,” Jews who were refused permission to leave the thenSoviet Union.” Maer received an Overseas Press Club Award for that coverage. In 2019, he accepted the “Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award” from the Interfaith Alliance and later became a member of the Alliance’s board of directors. After retiring from CBS News, Maer has done all he can to share stories of those who fight hatred, including the Kelvin Pierce story.
John Kozyak, a childhood friend and former Humanitarian Silver Medallion winner, will present Peter Maer with the Hank Meyer Headliner Award. “After more than 60 years of friendship, I can confidently say Peter is richly deserving of this award,” said Kozyak. He highlighted how Peter introduced him to the Interfaith
Alliance and the powerful story of Kelvin Pierce, whose traumatic upbringing under a notorious white supremacist father exemplifies the critical work we do at Mosaic Miami to combat hate and promote understanding.
The story goes that when Peter hired Kelvin as a contractor to build his house, they developed a mutual respect. Peter was more than a client; they became friends, and when Kelvin approached him for advice on going public with his painful life story, Peter looped Rabbi Jack Moline, the then-President of the National Interfaith Alliance, into the mix. The Rabbi offered the early guidance that Kelvin needed. He also provided a special audience for one of Kelvin’s first public appearances, an opportunity to speak to a Virginia Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion held at the State Capitol. Faith leaders from all denominations were stunned and moved by Kelvin’s presentation that day in Richmond. “The book is a hard read, but an important one at that,” said Maer, who is reading Sins of My Father for a second time in preparation for the fireside chat. “I grew up as the only Jew in a high school in Granite City, Illinois, but I never experienced racism myself. Kelvin Pierce’s story exemplifies inner strength to fight his indoctrination and overcome both physical and psychological abuse.”
To further underscore the strong bonds of friendship and shared commitment to community advocacy, the event will include a book signing session, allowing attendees to engage with Peter Maer and Kelvin Pierce. This gathering will be open to the public, reinforcing Mosaic Miami’s commitment to making essential discussions accessible to all community members.
“We are thrilled to honor Peter Maer
with the Hank Meyer Headliner Award,” said Matt Anderson, Executive Director of Mosaic Miami. “His dedication to telling the truth has illuminated the journeys of many who seek a more inclusive and unified community. We look forward to an inspiring evening of conversation and reflection.”
Event Details:
Date: February 6th, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134
ABOUT MOSAIC MIAMI: Mosaic Miami, Inc. was initially founded in Miami in 1935 as the Miami Branch of the National Conference of Christians & Jews. Later, the group was renamed the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews. In 2011, in recognition of its embrace of people of ALL faiths and secular backgrounds, the organization formally changed its name to MOSAIC MIAMI, Inc. Today, it goes beyond its original intent by creating a haven for dialogue, training inclusive leaders, and promoting understanding for all faiths, races, and cultures through education, advocacy, and conflict resolution. It hosts the oldest continuous interfaith clergy dialog in the United States and presents prejudice-reducing programs in local high schools, among other activities.
For more information, please visit: https://mosaic-miami.org/ or call 305-755-6096.
(L) Peter Maer, former CBS News White House Correspondent. (R) The event will feature a special fireside chat between Maer and Kelvin Pierce, author of Sins of My Father: Growing Up with America’s Most Dangerous White Supremacist.
