Sun Times Issue 10 20 22

Underpark Project

Let’s Build A New Park Together!

The City Of Sunny Isles Beach is still in the early planning phase for this new park

The City Of Sunny Isles Beach is in the early stages of planning to build a new park underneath and adjacent to the William Lehman Causeway. They are work ing with the talented profession als who are building The Underline from Brickell to Dade-land underneath Metrorail. City resi dents have a dire need for more team sports and other recrea tional facilities and the Lehman Causeway underpass and adja cent City-Owned Land present an opportunity to provide these amenities to the community.

The City is still in the early planning phase for this new park. A critically important component of conceptualizing the final plan is to ensure robust and inclusive input from Sunny Isles Beach residents. The City recently sent out a survey asking residents’ opinions about what additional recreational facilities “you would want in the city.” If you’re are a Sunny Isles Beach resident and you have not already done so, please take a moment to com plete the survey: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/Recreation

With

A Message From The City Manager

By Stan Morris, SIB City Manager

www.sibfl.net

In accordance with Article IV Section 4.5 of the Charter of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, I am pleased to present to you the Proposed Comprehensive Budget and 5-Year Capital Improvement Program for FY 2022-2023.

When we started this process, I had four main goals to accom plish.

The first goal was to involve the City Commission in the development of the priorities for this next Fiscal Year. Through Individual Meetings with the Commission and our Administrative Team, we were able to freely discuss what the goals were for the future of our City. A special thank you to the Commission for their guidance and open dia logue to discuss what the vision and goals are for this upcoming year. Their message was clear and the recurring theme included

Public Safety and reducing our Millage Rate.

The second goal was to thor oughly involve the Staff in this process. As it is, the Department Heads and their team that must execute the work that this Budget represents, they need to be involved at every step. After they heard your vision, they were tasked with doing the research to provide a Professional Assessment of what was possible, how to do it and what it would cost.

Simultaneously, our Assistant City Manager, Audra CurtsWhann performed a full 5-Year Review, line by line, of the actual expenditure for each Department. Working with our Finance Director Tiffany Neely, every Department met individually with them and my Office for a thor ough review of what they had spent historically to identify where surplus may be cut. Every

Department was directed to look at their Budget from a fresh per spective, prioritizing needs over wants. Every Department Head was provided the tools they needed to get to work and sub mit a comprehensive, respon sible Budget. This was followed by one-on-one Meetings with each Department and my Office to review their submissions. We scrutinized each division and cut where it was possible and added where necessary to meet the vision you provided. I thank our Finance Team and our Department Heads who took on this challenge and made the hard decisions to provide this Balanced Budget that asked to do more with less.

The third goal was to develop a Budget that remained fiscally responsible, could lower the

Booogie By The Beach

And Family Movie Night

Join friends and neighbors Halloween Weekend in the City of Sunny Isles Beach for a scary good time filled with all of your favorite attractions, a haunted house, activities, food for pur chase and live entertainment. Booogie By The Beach will take place on Friday, October 28th, 2022 from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. located at Pelican Community Park, 18115 North Bay Road, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33180 and on Saturday, October 29th, 2022.

You’ll get a chance to take a walk through the Haunted House for lots of frights and fun. Enjoy games, crafts, rides, a photo booth and other attractions for the whole family. Think you’re the spookiest witch out there? Enter the costume contest in the gym and you could win prizes! Food will be available for purchase to satisfy the hungriest of were wolves.

Wristbands are available for purchase now and may be pur chased in person at Pelican Community Park, Gateway Center and online at: www. activities.sibfl.net Wristbands purchased online can be picked up during regular business hours at Pelican Community Park or Gateway Center. Wristbands are $5 with a Valid City-Issued Sunny Isles Beach Resident ID Card and $20 without. Children 2 and

Titan Restoration Inc. Is A Company That Cares

By Erika Cartwright

Titan Restoration Inc. is a trusted, licensed Cleaning, Water Damage Restoration, and Mold Remediation Company proudly serving all of southern Florida

Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties, allowing them to arrive at the site within 45 minutes in times of emer gency. With emergency calling 24/7, you’re never more than a phone call away from friendly, efficient, caring, knowledgeable professionals.

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

tant to you in your time of need.

Titan Restoration Inc., for merly known as 1st Priority, is a trusted, licensed Cleaning, Water Damage Restoration, and Mold

Remediation Company proudly serving all of southern Florida. The main office is in Broward County. Technicians are through out; Collier, Lee, Martin, Miami-

Whether the water damage in your home or business was caused by a leaking pipe, roof, or major flood, Titan Restoration Inc. is here to help. To schedule non-emergency services or to request a free estimate visit: www.Titanrestorationfl.com, their user-friendly website makes scheduling appointments easy.

The only thing in life that is certain, is that anything can hap pen 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 Titan Restortion, 9A

Dave Brubeck,

Isles,

The Sunny Isles Beach Proposed Budget And Capital Improvement Program

Millage Rate and ensure that our residents continue to receive the high-quality serv ices that they expect while fulfilling the ini tiatives set by the Commission. This Budget achieves these goals. The filing of the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Budget reflects an assessed value that has increased by $1.1 Billion from last year and we have a Budget that reduces the Millage Rate to 2.0 Mills per $1,000 of Assessed Value. This has resulted in an unprecedented tenth year that our City has lowered the Tax Rate.

In 2021, our Budget was 9.5% higher than the prior year, then, in 2022 our Budget was 7.6% higher as compared to this Proposed Operating Budget which is only 4.0% more than Last Year’s Operating Budget. Between the supply chain issues, the extraor dinary increase in CPI of over 10.6% from June 2021 to June 2022, and the “Great Resignation” of 2021 that continues to affect every corner of our Country in both the Public and Private Sectors, we developed a Budget that keeps us competi tive in the Employment Market. This is critical to recruit and retain qualified personnel to main tain the quality of life for our residents. Fiscal Responsibility is at the forefront of our entire Management Team. The phrase “do more with less” has been felt by every Department these past few years where they had to do more work with less staff (for less pay than their counterparts in other cities). We are fortunate to have the Dedicated Team that we have that has kept the wheels turning throughout the Pandemic and the aftermath that has left us all working in unprecedented times and conditions. As we continue to navigate this Post-Pandemic World, we developed a Budget that is conservative on our Revenues and hopeful in our Expenses. We hope to be able to fill every vacant position. We hope to purchase every Budgeted Item. We hope to fulfill every Commission Goal.

Finally, the fourth and to me, most important Goal remains to be fully trans parent. When I took this position, I prom ised to be fully transparent in my deci sions and actions. I hide nothing and wel come your questions and comments. I worked closely with the Commission, The Finance Department and City Staff to pre sent an honest and Manageable Budget. This Budget advances our initiatives in sustainability, innovation, safety and qual ity. We also met with members of our Public with expertise in Finance who pro vided additional insight.

We listened to the residents through Public Outreach, Surveys and worked closely with our Commission and Dedicated Staff to deliver this fully transparent, thorough and Comprehensive Budget that fulfills several initiatives as proposed by our community in a cost-effective and fis cally responsible manner.

General Fund

As stated, The Budget provides for a reduction in the Property Tax Rate, reflect ing a Millage Rate of 2.0 Mills per $1,000 of Assessed Value. This is achievable even with only a 11.32% increase in our Taxable Value of all property within the City. It is important to note that this includes $255 Million of Property Value Decrease due to reassessments, $1.2 Billion increase of Property Values and over $197 Million of New Construction added to the Tax Rolls in our City this year. Our City’s Assessed Value will slowly increase over the next few Fiscal Years as New Construction continues at a slower pace than previous years.

There are currently seven approved development projects, four of which are under construction. There was also one

project completed, which added 320 resi dential units. All these projects contribute to our Increased Revenue from such sources as Building Department Fees, Bonus Payments, Funds from Transferable Development Rights (TDR), Impact Fees and ultimately Property Tax Revenue.

The Revenue for the Fiscal Year 20222023 General Fund is $47,899,558, which represents an increase of $7,289,215, or 17.9%, from the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Adopted Budget.

The changes in various Revenue Categories are outlined below:

Property Tax Revenues reflect an increase of $976,905 due to the increase in Property Values offset by the 1/10 reduction in the Millage Rate. The City’s Assessed Value as reported by the Property Appraiser is $13,781,795,040,

Maintenance and Construction Fund include Intergovernmental Revenues such as State Revenue Sharing, Transportation Surtax and Local Option Fuel Tax. This fund was developed for the benefit of seg regating the uses of this Revenue Source. The Fund Accounts for the costs related to Transportation, Street Construction and Maintenance Programs. The total budget is $3,294,572.

Building Fund

Major Revenue Sources in the Building Fund include: Fees Generated from Building Permits and Inspections. This Fund was developed for the benefit of segregating the uses of this Revenue Source. This Fund Accounts for the costs related to the Administration and Enforcement of the Building Code. This coming year, we are gearing up for the New

Local Governments in order to facilitate the Ongoing Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic (“Fiscal Recovery Funds”). ARPA allocated over $7 Billion for making payments to metropolitan cities.

The City entered into an Agreement in September 2021 with The State Of Florida, Division Of Emergency Management as a Non-Entitlement Unit to receive its allocation of $10,920,613 from the State. The first half of the allocation was received in October 2021 and the second half was received in August 2022. The total allocation will be utilized for the pro vision of Government Services and Necessary Investments in Water and Sewer Infrastructure.

Enterprise Funds

The City has a Stormwater Operating Fund and a Stormwater Capital Projects Fund. The Stormwater Operating Fund is primarily self-supporting and has Budgeted Revenues of $1,002,000, which is primarily the same as the prior year. This Fund incurs costs to ensure Compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit.

which is a $1,145,952,354 increase over 2021-2022. The recent history of the City’s Taxable Values are provided below.

Franchise Fees are estimated to increase by $575,000. The City entered into an Agreement with Florida Power & Light for Franchise Fees to be paid monthly effective as of May 2020. Due to the New Construction being added to the Tax Roll, higher Proposed Revenues are anticipated. Utility Tax Revenues are esti mated to increase by $50,000 due to New Construction being added to the Tax Roll.

Communications Services Tax Revenues are expected to decrease slightly by $20,000. Revenues from Licenses/Permits are expected to decrease by $2,000 pri marily related to the reduction in the Vacant Property Registry. Intergovernmental Revenues for State Revenue Sharing are projected to increase by $79,812 and Local Government Half-Cent Sales Taxes are expected to increase by $165,116 over the prior year. Charges for Services are expected to increase by $202,500 over the prior year. This is primarily due to the Parking Fee Collections of $31,000, Recreational Programs of $166,500 and Police Overtime Reimbursements from the Federal Government of $5,000. Fines and Forfeitures are estimated to increase by $335,000 due to Increased Parking Fines and Code Compliance Citations. Miscellaneous Revenues are expected to increase by $366,575 primarily due to Rental Income from The Navarro Property. Transfers are estimated to increase by $4,560,307 due to the American Rescue Plan Act Funds being transferred to the General Fund and utilized for the provision of Governmental Services.

The Proposed General Fund Budget expenditures (not including Transfers out to other Funds) increased to $44,461,238, which represents an increase of $1,875,658, or 4.4%, from Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

Expenditures have increased primarily due to: (1) Compensation Adjustments, Retirement System Contributions and Health Insurance ($1,821,063), (2) Additional Departmental needs ($456,874) off set by (3) a reduction in Debt Payments due to Lower Principal Payments ($8,868) and a reduction in Capital Outlay Needs (-$333,411) and a reduction in other disbursements for Election Expenses (-$60,000).

Street Maintenance And Construction Fund

Major revenue sources in the Street

Legislation recently passed, Senate Bill 4D, requiring Proactive Milestone Inspections of Condominiums. Revenues, not including Appropriated Fund Balance, are $3,598,762, a decrease of $1,454,238 from the prior year and expenditures are $5,252,959, an increase of $1,122,200 from the Prior Year. The excess of expen ditures over Revenues this Fiscal Year are funded by the Carryover (Fund Balance) of previous Years Revenues.

Public Art Trust Fund

This Fund was created in 2014-2015 for the benefit of segregating the use of Public Art Trust Fund Revenues to pur chase and maintain Art within the City. The Total Budget is $1,417,887, a decrease of $205,955 from the prior year.

The Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC) Public Art Program was approved and Commission Adopted in 2020. The Program contains a Five-Year Strategic Work Plan with one of the first Projects involving a Meditation Garden located in the western area of Town Center Park. This Project is fully funded for and con struction is expected to begin this year!

Sunny Spaces was developed in Celebration of The City’s 25th Anniversary and under the initiative of the Public Art Program. The Sunny Spaces Art Contest launched in May 2022 and received over 78 eligible submissions from 59 different Artists. The community was asked to paint, or hand draw an original piece incorporating the theme of a sun. Up to 25 submissions will be recreated as a public art installation within the City. Sunny Spaces aims to bring the community together through the Visual Arts by cocreating artistic spaces curated by our residents. The goal is to shed light on our talented Artists while increasing acces sibility to the Arts in our community. Sunny Spaces aspires to be the premier showcase of Local Art for our community.

Sunny Spaces and Gateway Artway will be unveiled in Winter 2023 and will be publicly accessible for residents and visi tors to enjoy, including Art Activations at City Events.

American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021 Fund

This fund was created to Segregate Fiscal Recovery Funds as a result of the United States Congress passing the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). It was signed into the Law creating the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for the purpose of providing funds to

Joseph A. SCARANO

Stormwater Capital Projects are funded by the Local Option Fuel Tax and Transfers in from the Stormwater Operating Fund, as available. Accumulated Fund Balance (Carryover) will be util ized for Drainage. The City is in the Design Phase of the Central Island Drainage Project to improve its Stormwater Pumping Capacity.

Capital Improvement Program

The Capital Improvement Program concentrates on the Development of Parks, Infrastructure and Rehabilitation of our Facilities including: Major Road Resurfacing, Sidewalk Improvements and Pedestrian Safety. A Capital Improvement Project generally exceeds $25,000 and has a useful life of five years or more. The City has been successful in leveraging City Dollars to obtain Grant Awards and Legislative Appropriations for some Capital Projects and will continue to seek these where possible.

The City has one Capital Projects Fund, The Capital Improvement Program Fund, which is funded by a Transfer from the General Fund, Grants, Impact Fees, Other Development Fees and Contributions/Donations.

The Capital Projects, which total $26,726,614 (including $19,316,614 Carryover from the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year), are recommended and funded by The Capital Improvement Program Fund. All of The Capital Improvement Projects requested and proposed for this year are fully detailed in our Proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) located in the CIP section of this document. Please note that many Capital Projects are MultiYear Endeavors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Budget is one that is presented with transparency and represents our Meetings with Elected Officials both individually and as a group, as well as, Meeting with mem bers of the Public to ensure that their needs and requests were heard. Our goal is to maintain Fiscal Responsibility while providing the utmost level of High-Quality Services our residents and visitors have come to expect. This work could not have been accomplished without the input and vision of The Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners, the direction of our Finance Director, Tiffany Neely and the Finance Department Team and our Department Directors. On behalf of Deputy City Manager Susan Simpson and Assistant City Manager Audra CurtsWhann, we express our sincere thanks and gratitude.

Respectfully submitted, Stan Morris - City Manager

Presidential Circle Memorial Chapel

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

Closest Christian Funeral Home minutes from Hallandale Beach,Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Hollywood and Dania Beach. Large beautiful chapel and ample parking.

Affordable Pre-Planning, International Funeral and Cremation Services, Serving All Faiths and Cultures.

of Financial Circumstances, we can help!

“We listened to the residents through Public Outreach, Surveys and worked closely with our Commission and Dedicated Staff to deliver this fully transparent, thorough and Comprehensive Budget that fulfills several initiatives as proposed by our community in a cost-effective and fiscally responsible manner”

under are FREE and do not need a wrist band. Wristbands are required to partici pate in all activities including: rides, crafts, games, the photo booth and costume contest. Wristbands are NONREFUNDABLE, all sales are final, no refunds or replacements will be issued for LOST wristbands.

Trips through the Haunted House are an additional $1 per person per entry and the line for rides and Haunted House sales will close at 9:45 p.m. each night.

Costume Contest

Costume Contest Winners will be cho sen for the following categories and age groups: Tots (5 years and younger), Youth (6 – 12 years old), Teen (13 – 17 years old), and Adult (18+ years). Each group is awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes along with one Winner for Overall Scariest, Most Original and Best Group. Attendees who are interested in registering for the Costume Contest have until 9:00 p.m. to register on site. Winners will be announced from the stage at 9:30 p.m.

The City Of Sunny Isles Beach Reserves the right to deem any costume inappropriate or offensive, which will dis qualify the participants from the contest.

Parking is along Atlantic Boulevard, North Bay Road and at the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center. The SIBshuttle provides FREE transportation within city limits. For shuttle information please call: 305-792-1706.

October 28th, 2022 181st Drive will be closed from the corner of North Bay Road to just past Pelican Community Park. Resident-only traffic will be permitted between Atlantic Boulevard and the road closure barricade to access residential units along 181st Drive. 181st Drive will reopen for normal traffic at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 30th, 2022.

Wristbands for the Booogie by the Beach Event may be purchased in person at Pelican Community Park located at 18115 North Bay Road, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 and at The Gateway Center, located at 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 and online at: www.activities. sibfl.net.

Saturday, November 5th, 2022 bring your blanket and chair to join your neighbors for Family Movie Night in the park. This month’s movie feature is Encanto. There will be Free activities for children starting at 7:00 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to eve ryone.

Friday, November 4th, 2022 and Monday, November 7th, 2022 9:00 p.m. at Heritage Park

The Friday screening will be held at Heritage Park. FREE parking is available in The Heritage Park Garage, located at 19200 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 and under The William Lehman Causeway. The SIBShuttle will

provide FREE transportation within Sunny Isles Beach. If you can’t make it on Friday night, join in the fun for the same great movie on Saturday night at Town Center Park.

November 5, 7- 9 pm at Town Center Park

The Saturday screening will be held at Town Center Park. Free parking is avail able in the municipal lot on 175th Terrace, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 behind Walgreens. The SIBShuttle will provide free transportation within Sunny Isles Beach. The park is located at: 17200 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160.

For more information about these events, please call: 305-792-1706. Or via email at: ccs@sibfl.net.

BECON-TV to air Open Dialogues

Stories From the LGBTQ Community during LGBTQ History Month

The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood is partnering with BECON-TV to screen the Center’s award-winning documentary film short Open Dialogues: Stories From the LGBTQ Community to commemorate

October in recognition of National Coming-Out Day. In total it will air 13 times through the remainder of the month. This marks the first time Stories From the LGBTQ Community is being shown on an over-the-air television channel.

BECON-TV is an FCCLicensed Station that broad casts Educational and PublicInterest Programs to nearly 2.5-million households in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce Media Markets. It is available on WEBC-Channel 63 for Subscribers to ATT U-Verse, DirecTV and Dish Network, while Xfinity subscribers can tune in on Channel 19 or 488 (HD).

new audiences for our film as part of LGBTQ History Month.”

Eric Powell, Task Assigned Director/ General Manager at BECON, added, “The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood is to be commended for creating such a compel ling film as Open Dialogues: Stories From the LGBTQ Community. This film reflects our goal at BECON to air high-quality, local programming that invites informed discussion while showcasing the talent and creativity in our diverse community.”

and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, Frederick W. Jaqua Fund, Deinhardt Charitable Fund, Ruth H. Brown Fund for the Arts and Anna Bloeser Fund.

The 20-minute film premiered on the 10th and will be shown throughout

FREE

“The Center is thrilled to partner with BECON-TV to make our first Open Dialogues film, Stories From the LGBTQ Community, accessible to viewers throughout the tricounty region,” said Joy Satterlee, the Center’s Executive Director. “BECON provides such a valuable learning resource for South Florida households by airing locally pro duced programming such as Open Dialogues. We look forward to reaching

Available

This Could Mean The Difference For You & Your Pet

A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without Microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas Microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time

Thanks to a recent Grant from the ASPCA and Subaru, The Humane Society Of Broward County will be providing 200 FREE Microchips to pet owners who visit the shelter’s Vaccine Clinic and purchase a Vaccine Package. The clinic is located at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. The hours are: Monday –Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. with no appointment necessary and it is closed daily from 11:40 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Thanks to technology, a Microchip is the size of a grain of rice and administered under the skin between a pet’s shoulder blades. When a Chip is properly registered it contains the owner’s contact information. Should your pet become lost and taken to a vet’s office or shelter, a scanner is used to see if the animal has a chip and then the owner can be contacted. It is important to understand that a Microchip is not a tracking device. It

is also imperative that if you move or change your phone number, that you update the contact information with the Microchip Company.

Microchipped pets are reunited with their owners frequently. In April 2019, a 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd named Cedar was reunited with her Southwest Ranches family after being stolen from her home at the age of four months. Found injured in a ditch by law enforcement in Colorado, Cedar was taken to a vet office where a Registered Chip was located by the scanner. She was flown home after she recovered.

Should your pet become lost, a Microchip could mean the difference between being reunited quickly or waiting for days, weeks or months in a shelter, rescue or someone’s home hoping you will find your lost pet. According to the AVMA – American Veterinary Medical Association’s website, “A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without Microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas Microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. Cats without Microchips were

Open Dialogues captures in rich, blackand-white photography the intimately told coming-out narratives of seven Broward County residents. Directed, shot and edited by Miami Filmmaker Freddy Rodriguez, the film explores how the LGBTQ Community is marginalized within families, schools, churches and public spaces – and how individuals interviewed for the film learned to empower them selves in these spaces.

The newsletter Queer Guru described Open Dialogues as “exactly what most Queer People would have loved to [have] been able to view on the verge of ‘coming out’ as Gay. Listening to the stories of seven South Florida members of the LGBTQ Community articulate on their own journeys is such an uplifting experience.”

Support for Open Dialogues has been provided by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Helen

BECON-TV scheduled screening dates – Open Dialogues: Stories From the LGBTQ Community: Friday, October 21st, 2022, 10:00 p.m., Saturday, October 22nd, 2022, 12:00 a.m., Sunday, October 23rd, 2022, 10:30 p.m., Monday, October 24th, 2022, 9:00 p.m., Thursday, October 27th, 2022, 9:30 p.m., Friday, October 28th, 2022, 8:30 p.m., Saturday, October 29th, 2022, 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 30th, 2022, 11:00 p.m.

Cable Channels Channel 63: ATT U-Verse, DirecTV and Dish Network

Xfinity: Channel 19 or 488 (HD)

About The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood

The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization sup ported in part by its members, admis sions, private entities, The City of Hollywood, The Broward County Board Of County Commissioners as recommended by The Broward Cultural Council and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. We welcome donations from all members of the com munity who wish to support our work.

back home 38.5% of the time. Lord et al, JAVMA, July 15, 2009” For Microchipped animals that weren’t returned to their owners, most of the time it was due to incorrect owner information or no owner information in the Microchip Registry

Database – so don’t forget to register and Microchipping is crucial to your pet’s well-being. In addition, a collar and ID Tag are a visible sign of identification and should be kept on your pet at all times. That way, if your dog or cat wanders from home and is found, you can be reunited.

The Humane Society of Broward County is a private, Non-Profit Organization that is not affiliated with any national or local group with a similar name. The shelter’s programs and services are made possible by the generosity of those that want to make a difference for animals and people. To learn more, view pets waiting to meet you, or to make a donation, visit: www.humanebroward.com Or call: (954) 989-3977.

6.

Join in the fun at the Costume Contest

Family Movie Night in the park featuring Encanto

LGBTQ History Month in October.

around the City, Officials want to know what you would like to see in these spaces. Currently, The City of Sunny Isles Beach maintains the following Recreation Spaces and Amenities:

• Heritage Park - Splash Pad, Playgrounds, Dog Area, Picnic Tables, Memorial Wall

• Golden Shores Park - Playground, Picnic Table, Benches

• Pelican Community Park - Baseball Field, Indoor Basketball Court, Playground, Picnic Tables, Community Center with Classrooms, Fitness Center

• Senator Gwen Margolis Park - Soccer Field, Dog Park, Walking Path, Picnic Tables, Playground, Botanical Garden

• Samson Oceanfront Park - Playground, Benches, Walking Path, Pavilion, Volleyball Courts on the Beach, Showers

• Town Center Park - Fitness Equipment, Walking Path, Gazebo, Benches, Restrooms, Playground

• Gateway Park - Performing Arts Stage, Butterfly Garden, Playground, Picnic Tables & Benches, Interactive Water Feature, Community Gathering Space

• Gateway Center - 3,600 Square Foot Ballroom, Social Alley with Seating and Game Tables, Classroom, Fitness Room, Catering Kitchen

• Newport Fishing Pier - Fishing Pier, Restaurant, Showers

• Intracoastal Parks - Playground, Walking Path, Benches, Picnic Tables

Sunny Isles Beach can pay for this park outright because of record Reserves and solid finances, but they will be seek ing Grants and Sponsorships to offset costs. Additionally, this new park will not prevent the City from building other rec reational and cultural facilities or upgrad ing existing ones.

In September, they held an Informal Town Hall/Charrette Design Meeting to collect feedback from residents. At the first Meeting, many thoughtful questions were asked and creative ideas were shared. They kept the momentum going with a second Town Hall Meeting October 6th at the proposed site for the

way lot.

A Celebration Of Brubeck

A Thrilling Multimedia Retrospective Of Jazz Giant Dave Brubeck

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed JAZZ ROOTS Series with A CELEBRATION OF BRUBECK on Friday, October 28th, 2022 in the Knight Concert Hall. To celebrate the life and legacy of Pianist/Composer Dave Brubeck, his sons Dan and Chris Brubeck who, together with Guitarist Mike DeMicco and Pianist Chuck Lamb, form the Brubeck Brothers Quartet and are joined by the Award-Winning Frost Concert Jazz Band from the Frost School of Music, Special Guest Vocalist Catherine Russell and Saxophonist Tom Scott in a multimedia tribute to the Jazz Pioneer.

Tickets to A CELEBRATION OF BRUBECK are $45, $55, $75 and $125* and may be purchased now at the Adrienne Arsht Center Box Office by call ing: (305) 949-6722. Or online at: www.arshtcenter.org

JAZZ ROOTS is presented by the Arsht Center with generous support from Presenting Sponsor EFG. JAZZ ROOTS also receives generous support from Baldwin Richardson Foods, Quint Family Foundation, Alan And Diane Lieberman and Steinway & Sons, the official piano of the Adrienne Arsht Center. WDNA 88.9 FM is a Media Sponsor.

2020 marked the Centennial Year of Jazz giant Dave Brubeck. To celebrate his life and legacy, Dave’s sons Chris and Dan Brubeck, who performed and recorded with their father beginning in the 1970s, curated a multimedia show with their own Brubeck Brothers Quartet. With Dan and Chris as the foundation, Guitarist Mike DeMicco and Pianist Chuck Lamb complete this dynamic quartet. Through stories told by his sons and music per formed by the quartet, the show invites audiences to travel along the timeline of Dave’s extraordinary life and career.

Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together practically all their lives. Drummer Dan and Bassist, Trom-

bonist and Composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966. They’ve sub sequently played a variety of styles in a number of groups, performing at concert series, colleges and Jazz Festivals across North America and Europe, including the Newport, Detroit, Montreal, Playboy/Hollywood Bowl and Monterey Jazz Festivals.

The quartet’s most recent Album, 2018’s TimeLine, celebrated Dave Brubeck’s famous 1958 State Department tour. The Album received extensive airplay in Major Jazz Markets across America and was a hit on the Jazz Week Radio Charts for five months.

These versatile musicians collaborate with orchestras across the United States as well as internationally, including The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Russian National Symphony Orchestra and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. In honor of Dave’s Centennial, the quartet is concentrating on his compositions with orchestral arrangements by Chris.

Grammy Award Winning Vocalist Catherine Russell was born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a Legendary Pianist/Composer/ Bandleader and Louis Armstrong’s longtime Musical Director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a Pioneering Vocalist/Guitarist/ Bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams and Sy Oliver.

A Graduate of The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts, Russell has toured the world, performing and recording with David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, The Holmes Brothers, Wynton Marsalis and Rosanne Cash, among oth ers, appearing on over 200 Albums. Since the 2006 release of her Debut Album, Cat, seven acclaimed and chart-topping Albums have followed, including Strictly Romancin’, which was awarded Vocal Album of The Year in 2012 by the Jazz Academy in France and Bring It Back in

2014. Russell was a featured artist on a Grammy Award Winning Soundtrack Album for the HBO TV Series, Boardwalk Empire.

Her sixth Album, Harlem On My Mind, was released in September 2016 and received a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Catherine has appeared on PBS TV and on Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR. Russell’s 7th Album as a leader, Alone Together, released in March 2019, was #1 on the JazzWeek 2019 Year-End Chart for national radio play and earned Russell her second Grammy Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Catherine’s eighth Album, Send For Me, was released in 2022, once again topping the JazzWeek Radio Charts.

Tom Scott is a Renowned Composer, Arranger, Producer, Music Director, Saxophonist and Educator. His 33 solo recordings have earned him 13 Grammy Nominations and 3 Grammy Awards. In 2013, he produced a CD for Young Ukulele Master Brittni Paiva which won a Hawaiian Grammy for Ukulele Album of the Year, and in 2017 received his first Emmy Award Nomination for Musical Direction of The Tony Bennett 90th Birthday TV Special on NBC.

Tom’s career as a Guest Artist spans more than 2,000 recordings—by such diverse artists as: Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Thelonious Monk, The Blues Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Aerosmith. His numerous contributions as a player and arranger include: Joni Mitchell’s Court And Spark And Miles of Aisles, Steely Dan’s Aja And Gaucho; hit singles like: Carole King’s “Jazzman,” Paul McCartney’s “Listen to What the Man Said,” Rod Stewart’s “Do You Think I’m Sexy,” Blondie’s “Rapture,’ Toto’s “Rosanna,” Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You” and on countless Movie Soundtracks such as: Taxi Driver, The Jerk, Three Days Of The Condor, Heaven Can Wait, Sea of Love, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Toy Story 2,

Monsters Inc. and the latest release of A Star Is Born.

The Award-Winning Frost Concert Jazz Band is renowned for its outstanding musicianship, inspired performances, soloists and well-crafted original arrange ments. Under the direction of Dr. John Daversa, the large Jazz Ensemble contin ues its storied history into a new era. The ensemble has won countless DownBeat Student Music Awards throughout its his tory, including awards for Outstanding Performance and Best Graduate Large Ensemble. Most recently, Frost CJB was awarded first place in the College Big Band Division at the 2014 and 2016 Next Generation Jazz Festivals and sub sequently invited to perform at Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California. In December 2017, Frost CJB released the Album Europa, featuring large Jazz Ensemble Works influenced by European composers. The band has numerous tours, recordings and prestigious collabo rations to its credit. Recent Guest Artists include: Ignacio Berroa, David Binney, Terence Blanchard, Ronnie Cuber, Jon Faddis, Alan Ferber, Jimmy Heath, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Vince Mendoza, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Maria Schneider.

Arts Education Program

Jazz Roots: Sound Check, a part of the Jazz Roots Series from its inception in 2008, welcomes high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools to The Knight Concert Hall for free sound checks, lectures and on occasion, oppor tunities to perform with headline Artists from the Center’s Jazz Roots Concert Series. Participants also receive free admission to that evening’s Jazz Roots Concert, provided FREE of charge by the Arsht Center. Throughout the Program’s history, students have participated with Jazz Legends such as: Chris Botti, Chucho Valdés, Candy Dulfer, Aaron Neville and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band to name a few.

To continue the effort to receive input, the City has created an online portal to submit information. City officials would like to know what you would like to see in this new park. Share your input via the submission form: sunnyislesfl.seamlessdocs.com/f/UnderPark

Sunny Isles Beach Staff in collaboration with residents recently explored the future and possibilities for the proposed site for the UnderPark. If you were unable to join, they would still like to hear your input: sibfl.net/underpark

(L) Celebrating the life and legacy of Pianist/Composer

Dave Brubeck (R)

Dave’s sons Chris and Dan Brubeck, who performed and recorded with their father beginning in the 1970s, curated a multimedia show with their own Brubeck Brothers Quartet

Sensitive To Increasing Taxes and Fees

By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper

I wrote in my column about Taxes and Fees a few weeks ago. I feel it would be helpful to discuss these topics again to help residents understand the services we provide and the costs (taxes) involved. As always, I am available for your questions, concerns and ideas to help make our City a better place: (954) 457-1318.

In September Counties, School Boards, Special Taxing Districts and cities formally adopted their budgets. In Hallandale Beach we did increase our Tax Rate which was to maintain our level of serv ices and in some cases increase them. In addition to the Tax Rate Increase many residents saw a huge jump in their Taxable Values due to the Current Housing Market and the Taxing Structure here in Florida.

Our Property Tax System in Florida is different compared to other states. Typically, there is Flat Tax assessed on the value of a property. In Florida, years ago, the State Legislators passed what is called, “Save Our Homes.”

In the seventies there was what one would call a land rush. Many developers flocked to the Sunshine State and began building. Many Condominiums were built. Since there is not very much land between the Seagrass and Sawgrass, Property Prices Rose. Many year-round residents and seniors were being Taxed out of their homes. The Save Our Homes Law was passed so that no matter what the Tax Rate was set at, Homesteaded Properties would not have to pay over a 3% increase in Tax annually.

Obviously, the seniors and families that lived here were relieved. The biggest problem with the Law was the actual cost to live in our cities, towns, villages and counties that were paid for by the NonHomesteaded and Commercial Properties equating to higher Taxes. Over the years, this imbalance has been exacerbated by additional Exemptions. With $50,000, plus

another $25,000, plus the $75,000 in Taxable Value, some properties in Hallandale Beach were paying no Taxes. A good example of these properties are on Layne Boulevard. 20 years ago, many of these units were valued at $50,000.

Florida has now seen another land rush since COVID-19. Property Values have increased almost 40% across the board. As part of Save Our Homes, owners receive a statement that breaks down Market Value, Taxable Value and SOH Values. The Tax Statement is called Truth In Millage. It also shows the increase in Value of what the Tax Rate is, to generate the same exact Revenue as last year, called the Roll Back Rate. What it does not show is the fact that governments, just like other businesses, still have costs that are not fixed. In other words, it does not account for the cost of living nor for the inflation. It also creates the miscon ception that like other businesses, we can simply cut costs.

I would like to share this concept. I may produce a line of products. Items P E and F which all cost money to produce but P does not generate revenues. As a company, if I decide to cut P, lay off the

workers and streamline manufacturing. Now what if items P, E and F were city services: Police, EMS and Fire. We just cannot stop providing these life sustaining services. Over the past three years, Former Commissioners and Mayors did just that and cut the services. Our Police Department was down 20 positions. We now only have 5 vacancies. So, do we cut the Police? Not on my watch!

Cities do not have the luxury to simply not provide services. We can look at ways to streamline operations, but this too comes often with a price tag of reduced level of services or worse having hidden costs. Here are two good examples of why moving away from the best tested practices, does not always work.

Over the past four to five years there were hiring freezes and layoffs. One Department that truly was gutted was our Building Department. Cities must enforce Building Codes and are required to pro vide Permitting and Code Services. Due to vacant positions and turnover our Permits were delayed and Code Enforcement offi cers were inundated. This directly impacts the quality of life around our community.

Many people think why not contract

Get Ready for King Tides Hollywood

Unusually High Tides, also known as King Tides, are expected periodically through early December. Flooding in lowlying areas is more likely during this time of the year due to the close proximity of the moon which creates King Tides. These Seasonal High Tides, combined with Rising Sea Levels and Inclement Weather Conditions, exacerbate flooding risks. Rainfall and Wind Strength and direction also have a significant impact on the height of the Tides causing them to come in higher or lower than predicted. With seven miles of shoreline, 7.9 miles of canals and a Flat Topography, Hollywood is vulnerable to the effects of Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding.

Most of the King Tide impacts are felt along the coast and in very low-lying areas near other water bodies. Residents

who want to know which areas are impacted by the King Tides are encouraged to use the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Sea Level Rise Viewer: https://coast.noaa.gov/ slr/ On this map, you can Zoom into Broward & Miami-Dade County or your neighborhood. When you click on the “Flood Frequency Tab” you will see areas in red that are vulnerable to King Tide Flooding. King Tides can be observed 1.5 – 2 hours before and after peak times.

on the National

Atmospheric Administration’s Tide Predictions,

High Tides

Above Average High Tides are also expected again, on both the New Moon nd the Full Moon, additional dates to watch for Tidal Impacts include:

December 23rd - December 24th, 2022

High Seasonal Tides can cause LowLying Coastal Areas to Flood. Motorists are urged to use caution and seek Alternate Routes to avoid traveling on Flooded Streets. Coastal Roads, Parking Lots and Docks in vulnerable areas could Flood during the times of High Tide.

Seasonal Tides could raise the water level by more than 2 and a half feet during High Tide. The City is working on both Short-Term and Long-Term Solutions to minimize the impacts of Tidal Flooding and has completed the installation of Flap Gates in The Stormwater System to help

out for services? There are major issues with this concept. When you contract out for a service there is a loss of control, automatic increases in fees and they are difficult to get out of. People often forget cities are not for profit entities. Since we can run like a business, we should be able to do it better and for less because we can save and pass the savings onto the residents.

The Former Mayor and Commission contracted out the Management of our EMS and Fire. I need to note our Department was operationally sound and on its way to being certified. It was pushed as a way to increase the level of services and put more boots on the ground. In actuality, the increase in staff ing came from a Federal SAFER Grant. The level of service is less and it is costing us more! We lost our Emergency Management position as the BSO Division Director does not provide this position. Many of our staff left, as they could trans fer out to other BSO cities. We are now a training ground. The contract costs us over $1 Million Dollars annually that we are aware of since we cannot audit The BSO. We still pay for our Fire and EMS Trucks, Building Maintenance, Equipment and still have Legacy Pension Costs.

I do know that people are struggling and our Commission is very sensitive to increasing Taxes and Fees. Our readers need to understand that we live in the City too. What we do on the Dais directly impacts us. Our costs to operate are not fixed. Your Commissioners and I along with staff are working hard to provide services in the most cost effective way.

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: (954) 457-1318. On my cell/text at: (954) 632-5700. Or E-mail me at: jcooper@cohb.org.

To report Street-Level Flooding caused by seasonal King Tides, please call: (954) 764-4357

prevent Tidal Water from flowing back through The Stormwater Drains. Additionally, Auxiliary Pumps are stationed in High Risk Areas to help clear Flooded Streets as quickly as possible.

With seven miles of shoreline, 7.9 miles of canals and a flat Topography, Hollywood is vulnerable to the effects of Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding

Cancer Clinical Trials For Broward Residents

More Grants Expand Access To Potentially Life-Saving Clinical Trials & Treatments

More Broward residents diagnosed with Cancer have access to potentially life-saving Cancer Clinical Trials and Treatment Programs, thanks to recent Grants by Community Foundation Of Broward. More than 900 local Cancer patients have participated in Clinical Trials as a result of $2 Million invested by the Foundation since 2016.

Community Foundation Grants totaling $350,000 have recently been awarded to Broward Health in collaboration with the University of Miami for Early Detection Of Gynecological Cancers through expanded research partnerships to Florida International University Foundation in col laboration with Cleveland Clinic Florida for individualized treatments in adults with Relapsed/Refractory Cancers and to Memorial Foundation for its Cancer Biospecimen Resources Project in col laboration with Florida Atlantic University. The Grants are specifically focused on expanding the availability of Cancer

Clinical Trials to Broward residents. They grew out of the Community Foundation’s commitment to “Cancel Cancer,” which has strong support from many fundhold ers at the Foundation.

Comprehensive information about Cancer Clinical Trials is also available at a user-friendly website of the National Cancer Institute NCI, part of The National Institutes of Health. The website includes pages on clinical trials information for patients and caregivers, on steps to find a clinical trial, on related publications and on the availability of NCI’s Cancer Information Service, including telephone lines to call and online chat services to consult. NCI provides accurate, up-todate and reliable information.

Of course, Cancer Patients should consult with their Oncologists and other Physicians about all aspects of their treat ment programs, including the possibility of participating in Cancer Clinical trials avail able in the area.

In addition to Grants for expanded Clinical Trials, Community Foundation of Broward Grants have made it possible for another 2,800 Cancer Patients and their families to receive Cancer-Related Support Services. New Foundation Grants for Broward Cancer Support Services were recently awarded to Gilda’s Club South Florida to provide vital support groups and activities to more than 200 Cancer Patients, their families and care givers and to Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation to provide Emergency Financial Assistance for 20 low-income families who have a child undergoing Cancer Treatments and are unable to pay for basic needs.

“Expanded access for Broward resi dents to Cancer Clinical Trials is a major goal of the Foundation,” said Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson. “In addition, we want Broward residents to have easy access to Cancer Support Services.”

For more information about the Community Foundation of Broward, please email Kirk Englehardt, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Community Foundation at: kenglehardt@cfbroward.org. Or call: (954) 761-9503.

About Community Foundation of Broward Founded in 1984, Community Foundation of Broward (CFB) helps fami lies, individuals, and corporations create personalized charitable Funds that deliver game-changing philanthropic impact. 473 charitable Funds represent more than $212 million in assets, distributing $119 million in grants over the past 35 years. CFB provides bold leadership on com munity solutions and fosters philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter – which empowers visionaries, innovators and doers to create the change they want to see in the com munity – and BE BOLD. www. cfbroward.org

A Trickle in History: Pembroke Pines Resident Wins International Writing Contest

Pembroke Pines, Florida resident

Elaine Midcoh is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood, a weeklong master-class workshop and her win ning story will be published in the inter national bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39.

Elaine Midcoh (the pen name for Elaine Cohen) lives in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She is an attorney and, before retiring, served as an associate dean and profes sor at Broward College where she spent many happy years teaching law and crimi nal justice to undergraduates. She has been a life-long fan of science fiction since watching the original Star Trek at age seven. By age ten she was avidly consuming the paperbacks of Heinlein, Asimov and other sci-fi greats. In time she came to love history too and majored in that in college.

Her winning story, “A Trickle in History,” combines Elaine’s love for both sci-fi and history, and is also about family, loyalty and the fight to maintain one’s

identity in terrible circumstances.

This is Elaine’s second time appearing in “The Writers of the Future.” She was a published finalist in WotF v. 37 with her story, “The Battle of Donasi.” Elaine’s sci ence fiction has also appeared in the magazines Galaxy’s Edge and Daily Science Fiction and in the anthology “Compelling Science Fiction” (Flame Tree Press, Oct. 2022). Her story “Man on the Moon” was named the winner of the 2022 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award (read it at: www.baen.com/man-on-themoon). Her historical fiction has appeared in the literary journals, Jewish Fiction.net and The Sunlight Press.

The Contest, one of the most prestig ious writing and illustrating competitions in the world, is currently in its 39th year and is judged by some of the premier names in speculative fiction.

The Writers of the Future Contest judges include, Tim Powers (author of On Stranger Tides), Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Dune prequel series), Robert J. Sawyer (Quantum Night), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series, The

Stormlight Archive), Larry Niven (Ringworld), Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game), Nnedi Okorafor (Who Fears Death), David Farland (Runelords), and Katherine Kurtz (Deryni series) to name a few.

The Illustrators of the Future Contest judges include, Bob Eggleton (11 Chesley Awards and 7 Hugo Awards), Larry Elmore (Dungeons & Dragons book covers), Echo Chernik (graphic designs for major cor porations including Celestial Seasonings tea packaging), Rob Prior (art for Spawn, Heavy Metal comics and Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ciruelo (Eragon Coloring Book).

Following the 1982 release of his inter nationally acclaimed bestselling science fiction novel, Battlefield Earth, written in celebration of 50 years as a professional writer, L. Ron Hubbard created the Writers of the Future (writersofthefuture.com) in 1983 to provide a means for aspiring writ ers of speculative fiction to get that muchneeded break. Due to the success of the Writers of the Future Contest, the com panion Illustrators of the Future Contest

was inaugurated five years later.

The intensive mentoring process has proven very successful. The 382 past win ners of the Illustrating Contest have pro duced over 6,000 illustrations, 360 comic books, graced 624 books and albums with their art and visually contributed to 68 TV shows, and 40 major movies.

The 452 past winners of the Writing Contest have published 1,150 novels and nearly 4,500 short stories. They have pro duced 32 New York Times bestsellers and their works have sold over 60 million cop ies. The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Award is the genre’s most prestig ious award of its kind and has now become the largest, most successful and demonstrably most influential vehicle for budding creative talent in the world of contemporary fiction. Since inception, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future con tests have produced 38 anthology vol umes and awarded over $1,000,000 cumulatively in prize moneys and royalties.

For more information about the Contests, go to www.WritersoftheFuture.com

Artist Roberto Lugo: Street Shrines Debuting At Miami Art Week

The Wolfsonian–Florida International University presents Street Shrines, debut ing Miami Art Week 2022 and on view November 28th 2022 through May 28th, 2023. Artist Roberto Lugo’s first museum presentation in South Florida, Street Shrines combines new work by Lugo with examples of political and commemorative ceramics pulled from The Wolfsonian’s storied collections to shine new light on the forces of power, memory, culture and community.

Artist, Activist and Educator Roberto Lugo is driven by the twin forces of form and narrative. A Multi-Disciplinary Artist whose practice crosses boundaries between pottery, graffiti and poetry, Lugo mines the legacy of European and American ceramic production to challenge

historical narratives and uplift largely over looked individuals and stories.

Juxtaposing traditional pottery forms with portraiture and imagery inspired by his North Philadelphia Roots, Afro-Latino Heritage and love of Hip-Hop and Popular Culture, Lugo’s work explores broad themes ranging from inequality to racial injustice.

For Street Shrines, Roberto Lugo will activate both the Wolfsonian Galleries and building exterior with a sense of contem porary urgency. Reflecting on the history, experience, and heroics—grand and every day—of often-ignored Black and Brown communities, Street Shrines places the Artist’s work in dialogue with The Wolfsonian’s collections, investigating ideas of culture, community and resis

tance. The Exhibition will showcase both new works by Lugo inspired by the muse um’s significant collection of 19th and 20th Century European and American Ceramics as well as recent works that address Historic and Contemporary Abolition Efforts, Police Violence, Musical Icons and his own family’s connection to the Caribbean Diaspora.

An exterior mural will wrap the building and animate the streetscape of both Washington Avenue and 10th Street, weaving together South Florida stories of Caribbean communities. Connecting gal lery to street and collection to present-day life, Lugo’s work invites us to reconsider who and what is worthy of commemo ration in Miami’s History and in the broader world.

“Lugo’s work is resonant and imme diate,” said curator Shoshana Resnikoff. “It speaks to the here and now, but is deeply rooted in the past, engaging with both political history and the legacy of ceramics production — an approach that could not be more fitting for The Wolfsonian, where we continually grapple with questions of historical ‘truths’ and contested narratives.”

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. The Museum is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Fridays are open late and FREE from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Contact us at: (305) 531-1001. Or visit us online at: www.wolfsonian.org

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After the repairs’, State-ofthe-art specialized equipment is used to detect moisture levels in the air, dehumidifiers are placed in the affected area, and a Florida-licensed Mold Inspector will be sent to do a mold inspec tion. Samples will be taken of the air and mold. The specimens will be sent to their private laboratory for testing. This will determine which type of mold they are deal ing with. Some molds are more toxic than others such as black mold, knowing the type, allows for proper precautions to be taken to ensure effective treat ment and removal of the mold. Depending on the severity of the damages, drywall and flooring may need to be replaced to effectively rid your home or busi ness of mold. Titan Restoration Inc. is a full remodeling and res toration company, specializing in kitchen and bath remodels, as well as a wide variety of other services. Throughout this proc ess, Titan Restoration Inc. will be working with your insurance company every step of the way.

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You Do Make A Difference?

By Bryan Golden

Do you make a difference in the world? Does anyone care about what you do? Are some people more important than oth ers? We all ask ourselves these questions from time to time. Some people wonder about them more than others.

You do make a difference. You are important. Who you are and what you do does matter. You may have wondered what’s the purpose of life. Or perhaps you contemplated the nature of the big picture.

There are many more ques tions than answers. But we don’t need all of the answers to lead meaningful lives. Everything you do and each person you impact has a ripple effect, just like a stone thrown into a pond.

Every occupation helps peo ple and fills some need. If it didn’t, the job wouldn’t exist. Although there may be a wide range of compensation, lower pay doesn’t mean a job is less important. All people are equal, regardless of what they do to earn a living. What can make a person special is how they treat others.

A special person treats others with concern, care and consid eration. A special person’s eco nomic status, education, intel ligence, or occupation is irrele

include family, friends, acquain tances and coworkers.

Many of the people in your immediate sphere depend on and rely on you more than you or they realize. Although people do not show their gratitude to you as often as they should, your presence is nonetheless impor tant to them.

Your direct sphere of influence includes all the people you have personal contact with. Contact involves any kind of interpersonal

communication including in per son, over the phone, mail, email or visual. You can have direct contact with a person once and then never cross paths again.

You have personal contact with people everywhere you go. You talk to many people over the phone or via mail/email that you will never meet in person. You have visual contact with people in other vehicles when you are driving.

When you are polite and car

ing, it makes a difference to oth ers. How do you feel when you are treated this way? It affects you as the receiver the same way it impacts others when you are the transmitter.

Your extended sphere of influ ence includes those that are affected by the people you have had direct contact with. One good deed will have a ripple effect that extends farther than you can ever imagine.

So don’t underestimate the

difference you make in the world. It is far greater than you realize. If someone voices appreciation for what you have done, ask them to repay you by showing the same consideration for someone else.

You do make a difference, one person at a time.

Bryan is the author of “Dare to Live Without Limits.” Contact Bryan at: Bryan@columnist.com. Or visit: www.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com Copyright 2022© Bryan Golden.