A Sukkah In The Park
We encourage you to contact your local Chabad or Synagogue to celebrate the holiday.
As the seasons change from summer to fall and families spend more time inside, the Jewish community of South Florida will celebrate the annual holiday of Sukkot by heading outdoors. Sukkot, also known as the holiday of booths, begins this year (5786/2025) at sundown on Monday, October 6th and concludes on the evening of Monday, October 13th. The two day holiday of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah immediately follows Sukkot, beginning the evening of Monday, October 13th and ending on the evening of Wednesday, October 15th. During Sukkot, we remember G-d’s kindness to us during our journey through the desert by dwelling in a sukkah--a hut of temporary construction with a roof covering of branches--for the duration of the Sukkot festival. For seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the sukkah and otherwise regard it as our home. The temporary booths emphasize how the world and the Jewish people rely on G-d’s protection. Eating under the stars
Big Adventures, Bright Vibes
Fresh Ride, Bright Vibe: Your Ride. Your Space. Your Community.
By Jose Paz
Every Sunday morning, 10year-old Ethan jumps out of bed a little faster than usual. He knows it’s not just any day; it’s “Grandma Day.”
For the past year, Ethan and his grandmother Rachel have made it a tradition to ride the bus together every Sunday. It’s their shared ritual: no rush, no screens, no distractions. Just the two of them, discovering new corners of Broward County one route at a time.
Sometimes it’s a visit to the park for kite flying and ice cream.
Other times it’s a trip to the library, a stop at the local market, or even an afternoon exploring nature at a community center.
The destinations change, but the feeling stays joyful, relaxed, and connected.
“The ride is part of the adven-
ture,” says Grandma Rachel.
“And for me, it’s also a way to keep moving, keep social, and share time with my grandson without worrying about driving or parking.”
As a senior, Rachel rides with a reduced fare, which helps stretch his budget. She’s also grateful for the thoughtful design of the buses, which have low floors, accessible seating, and drivers who greet her with a smile and lend a hand when needed.
For Ethan, the bus is magical. He loves watching the city roll by, choosing the “best” seat, and announcing their next stop. “It’s like we’re going on a mini vacation every Sunday,” he says. “And Grandma lets me pick the route.”
Their favorite trip? “The one where we went to the farmers
market, tried dragon fruit for the first time, and rode back home just in time to catch the sunset.” Ron laughs, remembering the day. “It was a great ride. The bus was cool, clean, and quiet. We were tired, but happy. It’s something we look forward to every week.”
At BCT, we believe public transit should be more than just transportation; it should be a fresh experience that makes daily life better for every age.
Whether you’re a grandparent creating memories or a kid with a curious heart, there’s a seat for you on board. Fresh Ride. Bright Vibe.
For senior fares, family-friendly routes, and planning tools, visit Broward.org/BCT or call 954-357-8400.
Be a part of the beautiful predawn and sunrise start and run along the Broadwalk, this is a huge draw for people from all over the U.S.
It’s that time of year. Don’t miss out on the most unique event format in South Florida!
The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk Half Marathon & 5K!
This isn’t your traditional Half Marathon & 5K, you will be able to watch the sunrise over the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and hear the sounds of waves crashing as you run just steps from the beach! Win! Win! If that interests you then here is some good news. The Hollywood Beach Half Marathon and 5K is back in a few weeks at Hollywood North Beach Park. Hollywood Beach is a popular stop on the Elite Events South Florida Half Marathon Tour. Hollywood hosts multiple races this year, January & November. The beautiful pre-dawn and sunrise start and run along the Broadwalk are a huge draw for people from all over the U.S. The events take athletes through the eclectic, beautiful area and many stay in local hotels for the weekend.
What To Expect
Sign up for the Hollywood Beach Half Marathon & 5K run in Hollywood, Florida at Hollywood
Hollywood Art And Culture Center Announces Three New Art Exhibitions
Hollywood Art and Culture Center, celebrating its 50th Anniversary, has announced three new art exhibitions for the Fall/Winter Season. Dennis Scholl: A Day of Four Sunsets and Felice Grodin: Where Do I Go From Here? will be on display from Saturday, October 18th, 2025 through Sunday, January 4th, 2026 and Brian Reedy: Gothic Pop Prints will be on display from Saturday, October 18th through Sunday, November 2nd in the main gallery space. An opening reception will take place on Saturday, October 18th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, October 19th, the Center will host its Free Arts Day with complimentary admission from 12:00 p.m. Noon to 4:00
p.m. including a print making workshop with Brian Reedy. “We’re thrilled to close out our Golden Anniversary Season with the thought-provoking, evocative art from top South Florida-based multimedia creators,” said Jennifer Homan, Executive Director of the Hollywood Art and Culture Center. “The Center is committed to providing a dynamic space that brings art to life. These exhibitions offer three distinct visionary interpretations through form, style and approach. We hope audiences of all ages will find something inspiring that resonates with them and sparks conversation.”
A Day of Four Sunsets presents a new body of work by Miami-based artist Dennis
Scholl, exploring the poetics of space exploration through assemblages of NASA memorabilia. The exhibition takes its title from astronaut John Glenn’s experience of witnessing four sunsets as he orbited Earth in 1962, evoking themes of time, memory, and the sublime vastness of the cosmos.
Scholl’s work, rooted in the language of historical artifacts and collective memory, arranges space exploration ephemera into compositions structured by the dodecagon — a recurring motif in his practice that represents cyclical time and cosmic order. Over the past decade, he has meticulously gathered NASArelated materials, including mission patches, declassified docu-
ments, photographs, and newspaper clippings, integrating them into intricate assemblages that reframe our understanding of humanity’s relationship with the unknown. Scholl’s work gives us an insight into his keen collector’s eye and his skill at design and storytelling. In Untitled (Viking Orbiter II), photographs of Mars captured using surface imaging are arranged in thoughtful compositions. Visitors will find themselves viewing a piece of history transported back to 1969 with the work Untitled (Man on Moon). This exhibition contains more than 14 works of art that immerse the viewer into the history and collective memory of outer space, the universe, and astronauts. From real space food
to sculptures created using space gloves, to viewfinders with images of the universe, this exhibition will fascinate science, history and modern art enthusiasts alike.
As a filmmaker, Scholl has chronicled untold stories across art, music, and cultural history. His feature documentaries have explored a forgotten 1950’s abstract painter, the rise of 1960’s soul music in Miami, the vanishing Jewish communities of Miami Beach in the 1970’s, a Cuban ballerina’s pursuit of freedom in the 1990’s, and the voice of the greatest jazz singer of the 21st century. His films have been showcased at over 100 inter-
Sukkah, Page 6A
Hollywood Beach, Page 10A
Kind Of Blue: Celebrating The Music Of Miles Davis, 2A
Hollywood Beach Sweep Keeps Coastline Clean, 11A
The Key West Film Festival, Passion Meets Paradise, 8A
Hollywood Art, Page 4A
By Rabbi Moishe Kievman - Chabad Chayil
Kind Of Blue: Celebrating The Music Of Miles Davis
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to present Kind Of Blue: Celebrating The Music Of Miles Davis. This one-night-only centennial concert kicks off the 2025-26 Season of Jazz Roots at the Arsht and celebrates the unparalleled and beloved legacy of Miles Davis, featuring music from his renowned catalog. The evening will be hosted by Jazz Roots Artistic Adviser and Frost School of Music Dean Shelly Berg and features the talents of trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire (@ambroseire) and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (@ravicoltranemusic), both Grammy nominees. Joining them on stage is acclaimed vocalist and Frost School Of Music alumna, Veronica Swift (veronicaswift.com,) along with the Frost School Of Music’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra (@frostschoolum).
Tickets to Kind of Blue: Celebrating the Music of Miles Davis are $53-$153* and may be purchased now at: www.ArshtCenter.org or at the Arsht box office by calling: (305) 949-6722.
For guests with accessibility needs, the Arsht provides accessible seating and complimentary assistive listening devices for all performances, along with sign language interpretation, open captioning, and audio description at select shows to ensure an inclusive experience for all guests.
Kind of Blue: Celebrating the Music of Miles Davis is part of the 2025 - 2026 Jazz Roots series and is made possible with generous support from Baldwin Richardson Foods, Steinway & Sons and Alan & Diane Lieberman. WLRN and WDNA are media sponsors.
Jazz Roots Sound Check
A part of the Jazz Roots series from its inception in 2008, Jazz Roots Sound Check welcomes high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools to the Knight Concert Hall for free sound checks, lectures and, on occasion, opportunities to perform with headline artists from the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Jazz
Roots concert series.
Jazz Roots Sound Check is presented by Baldwin Richardson Foods and made possible in part by Hazel Rosen, Melanie & Martin Kirschner and Melvin Kirk.
“The Frost School of Music is proud to join the Jazz Roots series to bring to life the music of Miles Davis, one of the greatest and most creative artists in Jazz,” said Shelly Berg. “Miles constantly redefined the music and moved it forward. He has been an inspiration to me and countless other Jazz artists. We look forward to capturing his spirit and making this an unforgettable evening for the audience at the Adrienne Arsht Center.”
2026 marks 100 years since the birth of Miles Davis, one of the greatest innovators in Jazz history. This concert celebrates his unparalleled and beloved legacy including Sketches of Spain, Tutu and the advent of Jazz rock, The Birth of the Cool, and the most famous Jazz album of all time, Kind of Blue. Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane will pay tribute to the magical pairing of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, alongside vocalist Veronica Swift and the Frost School of Music’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.
About the Artists
Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, bandleader and composer. Coltrane has released six albums as a bandleader and has collaborated on a number of others. Born in Long Island, he is the second son of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane. He was raised in Los Angeles, where his family moved after his father’s death in 1967. Coltrane produced and played on his mother’s powerful 2004 album Translinear Light. He lives in Brooklyn, and maintains a fast-paced touring, recording, composing and performance schedule. He leads the effort to restore the John Coltrane Home in Long Island and presides over important reissues of his parents’ recordings.
Described by NPR Music as “one of
the most acclaimed Jazz artists of his generation, a trumpeter of deep expressive resources and a composer of kaleidoscopic vision,” Ambrose Akinmusire has made a home at the crossroads of different musical forms and languages, from post-bop to Avant-Garde Jazz, contemporary chamber music, hip-hop and singer-songwriter aesthetics. The Oakland, California native and Blue Note recording artist aspires to create richly textured emotional landscapes that tell the stories of the community, record the time and change the standard. While committed to the lineage of Black invention and innovation, he is able to honor tradition without being stifled by it. A graduate of Manhattan School of Music and the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, Akinmusire lives in Berkeley, California. In 2023, he was named artistic director of the Herbie Hancock Institute.
Veronica Swift first gained international attention in 2015, when she won second place in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Vocals Competition. Four years later, Mack Avenue Records released her acclaimed album Confessions when she was only 25 years old. She demonstrated her flair for conceptual song cycles on her follow-up album, This Bitter Earth, which not only gave glimpses of her rock influences but thematically touched upon some of the harder truths of being a woman, particularly when it comes to domestic abuse. Swift is more than a jazz singer, exploring French and Italian opera, European classical music, bossa nova, blues, industrial rock, funk and vaudeville. Swift’s expansive artistic voice remains intact regardless of genre.
Shelly Berg is a Steinway piano artist and five-time Grammy-nominated arranger, orchestrator and producer. His newest album, Alegría, was recorded with bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and Dafnis Prieto and released July 2024 on ArtistShare. It is described as “buoyant joy” by JazzViews.net and “an instant jazz
a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition.
An award-winning educator with over 40 years of leadership in higher education, Berg is Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He has appeared as a performer and lecturer throughout the United States as well as in Canada, China, Mexico, Europe, Israel, Japan, Romania and Venezuela.
Scott Flavin is professor of violin and conducting at the Frost School of Music. He enjoys an incredibly versatile career as a conductor, violinist, composer, writer and pedagogue. As a conductor, he holds several important positions, including resident conductor of The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. He is conducting artist faculty at the Eastern Music Festival and founding conductor of the Camerata Orchestra in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. He has conducted at various festivals, on Jazz and the Philharmonic for PBS and for a wide variety of notable artists, from Joseph Silverstein to the Beach Boys.
*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Tickets shown include taxes and fees. Visit: www.arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information. The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, and the state of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.
piano trio classic” by Modern Drummer. Berg’s original song “At Last” was nominated for
Ambrose Akinmusire - Photo courtesy artist management
Ravi Coltrane - Photo by Erin OBrian
Shelly Berg - Photo by Gabriela Gabrielaa
Veronica Swift - Photo courtesy artist management
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
national film festivals, including Sundance, SXSW, and DOC NYC, earning numerous accolades, including 23 regional Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. His documentary The Last Resort was acquired by Netflix, and his latest film, Naked Ambition, examines the legacy of Miami’s legendary pinup photographer, Bunny Yeager. Scholl’s work—both visual and cinematic—questions how history is archived, remembered, and reframed, offering a conceptual dialogue between past and present. Through the excavation and reconfiguration of historical materials, he constructs a liminal space where personal and collective memory collide, forging new narratives from the remnants of the past.
Felice Grodin’s architectural training informs her drawings, intricately weaving together elements of imagination, the future, and the past. Where Do I Go From Here? features more than 10 new works, some of which were created during Grodin’s time as a Center 2025 Spring Artist in Residence. With meticulous care and references to ancient civilizations, Grodin renders lines into complex arrangements of circles and curves, creating dynamic three-dimensional forms and exploring the concept of mental boundaries. Her art transports viewers to a psychological realm reminiscent of maps, cities, landscapes, and speculative future worlds. These ink drawings on mylar can sometimes rely on chance, or automatism, liberating not only the creative process, but inviting viewers into the surreal.
Felice Grodin is a visual artist and cultural agent who creates the real from the virtual through experimental and transdisciplinary projects. An artist with a background in architecture, her show Felice Grodin: Invasive Species (2018-present) was the first AR (augmented reality) only contemporary art exhibition in the United States. Her work hovers between the digital and analog realms, creating immersive experiences that have an impact on reality. She lives and works in Miami Beach and received a Bachelor of Architecture from Tulane University and a Master of Architecture with Distinction from Harvard University.
Gothic Pop Prints by Miami Artist Brian Reedy features more than 10 custom linoleum block prints. The Center commissioned Reedy to create a work about Lizzie Borden inspired by Lizzie the Musical, which will be performed Saturday, October 18th - Saturday, November 1st at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center. In addition to the Lizzie Borden print, the exhibition features the macabre and spooky iconography of hauntings, oddities, and the afterlife in an expressionist and graphic style.
Reedy’s woodblock prints combine his eye for graphic design, the skill of European medieval woodcuts and Japanese woodblock prints into modern pop culture masterpieces. Reedy creates modern works of art using the painstaking process of block printing, the craft of hand carving wood blocks to transfer ink to paper. Brian’s expertise in this art form has provided a unique combination of traditional print making with pop-culture iconography and themes.
A guided tour of the exhibition will take place on Thursday, December 4th, at 7:00 p.m. An artist talk will take place on Saturday, December 13th, at 1:00 p.m. On Saturdays, November 15th and December 20th, at 6:00 p.m., a free curator tour/ Downtown Hollywood Art Walk will be conducted.
These exhibits were made possible through support from the City of Hollywood, Broward County Cultural Division, Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Max Chira and Family, State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, Community Foundation Broward, David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation, Josephine S. Leiser Foundation, Memorial
Healthcare System, The Windhover Foundation & Quadracci Family, Kofsky Weinger, PA, and Helen Ingham Foundation.
For more information, please visit: www.artandculturecenter.org.
About Hollywood Art and Culture Center Founded in 1975, the Hollywood Art and Culture Center is an award-winning NonProfit Organization dedicated to showcasing the arts for all ages. Yearround programming, which includes exhibitions, Broadway and summer camps, live theatre, education, documentary films and more, contributes to its continued success as a leading cultural institution
that strives to improve connection, communication and well-being through art and cultural experiences. The Center also operates Cinema Paradiso, a 72-seat arthouse movie theater as part of its strategic plan to establish programs for emerging and established local filmmakers, and offer workshops for film, sound design, editing, music production, animation and motion design. It also serves as a dedicated space for screenings of first-run independent films. The Center is supported by its members, guest admissions, public partners and private entities. It is located at 1650 Harrison Street, Hollywood, Florida 33020. For more information, call: (954) 921-3274. Or visit: www.artandculturecenter.org.
Hollywood Art
From Page 1A
[1] Felice Grodin, toroidal universe, 2025, freehand ink on mylar, 36 x 24 inches
[2] Dennis Scholl, Untitled (Visor), 2024 Acquired objects and graphite 40” x 40” x 8”
[3] Brian Reedy, Lizzie Borden, 2025, custom linoleum block print, 11 x 14 inches
Battlefield America: Trump’s War On The Enemy Within - The American People
By John & Nisha Whitehead
“The era of the Department of Defense is over… From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: warfighting.” — Pete Hegseth
“America is under invasion from within… That’s a war, too. It’s a war from within… We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military... it’s the enemy from within.”—President Donald Trump
Distractions abound. Don’t be distracted.
The American police state under Donald Trump has mastered the art of delivering endless diversions, constant uproar, and wall-to-wall chaos designed to prevent us from focusing on any single issue for long.
This is how psyops work: keep the populace reactive, confused, fearful and pliant while power consolidates.
According to the Trump Administration, “we the people” are now the enemy from within.
Over the course of just one week, we’ve been bombarded with headlines about government shutdowns, a presidential directive aimed at blacklisting dissent, threats by Trump to deploy the National Guard into states he considers political opponents, the politicization of the military, tariffs that inflict economic pain on American consumers, and the administration’s unabashed embrace of graft and grift.
In the midst of it all, Pete Hegseth, the newly styled Secretary of War, compelled a sudden gathering of the top military brass for a costly $6 Million exercise that amounted to little more than chestthumping, propaganda and grandstanding.
With Hegseth at the helm of the renamed Department of War, calling for a new “warrior ethos,” the Trump Administration is celebrating aggression and blind obedience over peacekeeping, honor and constitutional duty.
Both the rebranding of the War Department and the warrior-ethos pep rally signaled a profound shift in how the Deep State—which has consolidated its powers under Trump—views the role of the military, our constitutional government, and the American people.
It is a shift we cannot afford to ignore.
Reviving the Department of War signals to the bureaucracy, the brass, and the public that aggression—not defense—is the organizing principle.
The Pentagon has been rechristened not as a fortress against foreign threats but as a machine for waging endless war here at home: Democratic cities will become military staging grounds; rules of engagement will be loosened to maximize “lethality;” and militarized police will be given a license to kill their fellow Americans.
This is not the language of defense. It is the language of aggression and occupation.
A standing army on domestic soil was precisely what the Founders feared. They lived under troops quartered in their towns. They knew what happens when the government treats its own citizens as a hostile force.
Two centuries later, their fear has become our reality.
For years, federal and state agencies have blurred the line between soldiers and police. Armored vehicles on neighborhood streets. Combat training in American towns. Laws allowing indefinite detention of citizens without trial.
Methodically, a war culture has been transplanted from the battlefield abroad to the homeland.
the instruments of tyranny at home.”
Their warning is clear to everyone but the die-hard devotees of the American police state: a standing army puts the American people squarely in the crosshairs of a tyrannous regime.
It was for this reason the Founders vested control of the military in a civilian government, with a civilian commanderin-chief. They did not want a military regime ruled by force.
They opted for a republic bound by the rule of law: the U.S. Constitution.
That basic civics lesson hasn’t sunk in
training video created by the Army for U.S. Special Operations Command, which envisions using armed forces to solve future domestic political and social problems. What they’re really talking about is martial law, packaged as concern for national security.
Welcome to Battlefield America.
Be warned: in the future envisioned by the military, we will not be viewed as Republicans or Democrats. Rather, “we the people” will be enemies of the state. As I make clear in my book Battlefield
“America is under invasion from within… That’s a war, too. It’s a war from within… We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military... it’s the enemy from within.” - President Donald Trump
With armored tanks on our streets, SWAT raids treated as routine, and citizens viewed as combatants rather than neighbors with rights, the results are predictable: abuse, eroded liberties, and the slow death of a constitutional republic.
This is the future we warned was coming: every city a potential conflict zone, every protest a pretext for deployment, every citizen a suspect.
Trump’s reckless call to use “dangerous cities” as military training grounds doesn’t just echo this dystopia—it completes the circle.
Under the banner of “war,” the government is giving itself license to treat the American people as the enemy.
And Trump, buoyed by the power of the presidency and his ability to use taxpayer dollars for his own grandiose plans—building ballrooms, hiring thugs with extravagant bonuses for arrests and roundups, erecting detention centers—is now attempting to bribe the military with over $1 Trillion in spending in 2026 if only they will march to a dictator’s drum.
But this is precisely the scenario the Founders sought to guard against. They understood that “the means of defense against foreign danger have always been
with Trump, who seems to relish ruling with brute force and using the military to kill with impunity.
Having strayed from the Constitution, Hegseth and Trump are a lesson in how power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Yet Trump and his administration didn’t create this quagmire from nothing—the present police state and its tools of terror have been in the works for a long time.
Back in 2008, the U.S. Army War College issued a report urging the military to be prepared to put down civil unrest within the country.
In 2009, DHS reports labelled rightwing and left-wing activists and military veterans as extremists, calling on the government to subject such targeted individuals to full-fledged pre-crime surveillance.
Fast forward to the present day, and you have NSPM-7, Trump’s new national security directive, which equates anyone with “anti-Christian” or “anti-capitalism” or “anti-American” views as domestic terrorists.
Add to this: “Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity,” a Pentagon
America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, we’re already enemies of the state.
For years, the government has warned of domestic terrorism, erected surveillance, and trained law enforcement to equate anti-government views (that is, exercising your constitutional rights) with extremism. Now that groundwork has paid off.
What the government failed to explain—until Trump—was that the domestic terrorists would be of the government’s own choosing.
“We the people” have become enemy #1.
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
Sukkah
From Page 1A
allows us to truly thank G-d and see the blessings that surround us. Sukkot is a wonderful way for us to continue celebrating and connecting with our Judaism after the High Holidays.
This year, Miami-Dade county has allowed the Jewish community to erect a Community Sukkah in the park. As this is going to print, there’s one being set up at Highland Lakes Park and few more in the works. The Parks Sukkah will be available to anyone throughout the holiday, whenever the park is open.
Another unique holiday practice is the gathering of four different species. The taking of the Four Kinds: an Etrog (a rare citrus fruit, originally from Italy, but now also commonly grown in Morocco & Israel), a lulav (palm frond), hadassim (myrtles) and Aravot (willows), tied together with Lulav leafs. On each day of
the festival, except for Shabbat, we take the Four Kinds, recite a blessing over them, bring them together in our hands and wave them in all six directions. The Four Kinds represent the diverse types and personalities that make up our community, and whose intrinsic unity we emphasize on Sukkot.
Chabad Houses and many synagogues throughout Florida will be available to help each family plan a sukkah during the weeks leading up to the start of the holiday. They will also all be equipped with a Lulav & Etrog set for anyone to use, free of charge. Many Chabads will also have available Etrog and Lulav sets for you to order, as it is preferable to actually own your own set. They will be offering guidance and classes for all community members interested in learning how to put their Four Kinds together or learn more about the holiday.
If you would like to learn how to bind together your own Lulav set, you can join me for a hands-on class on Sunday,
October 5th, 10:00 a.m., right after daily Shacharit at Chabad Chayil in the Highland Lakes section of Miami North (West Aventura). The class will be free of charge and open to anyone who reserves at: www.ChabadChayil.org/Sukkah.
Drawing from the gravity of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Sukkot gives us the chance to celebrate the sweetness of nature and to thank G-d for His protection. Sukkot touches all five senses: the sweet smell of the Etrog, the feel of the palm branch and twigs in your hand, the sights and sounds of the sukkah around us and the taste of the festival’s feasts. Sukkot, referred to as the holiday of rejoicing, comes just five days after Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. The group of four plants, including the Etrog fruit, are replete with symbolic meaning, including the fall harvest and gathering season, and the unity of the Jewish people.
We encourage you to contact your local Chabad or Synagogue to celebrate the holiday. You’re of course welcome to
join us at Chabad Chayil for a community meal in the Sukkah, Shabbat or any of the holiday nights. Reservations can be made via: (305) 770-1919. Or: www.ChabadChayil.org/High-Holidays. You can also use our Sukkah any time of day or night 24/7. We’ll leave the lights on for you, and keep a set of Lulav and Etrog for use any time during the day. To learn more about the holiday, or to order a Lulav & Etrog, visit: www.ChabadChayil.org/Sukkah.
About the Author: Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of Gan Chabad Preschool, your local CTeen & CKids chapters, CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the Rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at: (305) 770-1919. Or: Rabbi@ChabadChayil.org.
Pigs Do Fly Productions To Present Better Late
By Larry Gelbart
Pigs Do Fly Productions will present Better Late, Larry Gelbart’s (M.A.S.H.) ‘breezy entertainment on serious themes’ (Variety) at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale from Friday, November 7thSunday, November 30th.
A bitingly funny December-DecemberDecember romantic triangle, Better Late focuses on former actress Nora, her notalways-faithful husband of 25 years, Lee, and her ex-husband Julian, who needs a place to stay while recovering from a recent illness. Once Julian moves in, the question becomes: how long will Julian have to remain with them? Gelbart’s clever script is filled with one-liners and sharp repartee, yet “explores love, divorce, aging and death with a mature sensibility and in a decidedly comedic tone.” (Variety)
“We are now into our ninth year of operations,” says Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher.“When we started, we weren’t sure how our concept of focusing on characters (and employing actors!) over a ‘certain age’ who are living real and interesting lives would resonate with audiences. But we have found that people want good theatre, no matter what their age or demographic - our full houses reflect that.
“It has sometimes been a challenge to find plays that fit our mission,” she continues, “But with both Better Late, and our upcoming March 2026 production, Bonnie and Claire, we know we have chosen pieces that will provide great theatre and fit that mission perfectly!”
“Two husbands. One wife. Under one roof. What could possibly go wrong?” says Better Late director Deborah Kondelik. Gelbart has given us a story that’s funny, sharp, and surprisingly tender. It reminds us that love is never simple. We can love more than one person in different ways, and the past doesn’t always stay neatly in the past.
“Love is rarely tidy,” she continues. “It’s layered with jealousy, guilt, old affections, and unexpected loyalties. But in the end, forgiveness - sometimes grudging, sometimes hard-won-emerges as the saving grace.” Kondelik has cast Carbonell Awardwinner (and current 2024 nominee) Patti Gardner as Nora, Geoff Freitag as
The group of four plants, including the Etrog fruit, are replete with symbolic meaning.
Artificial Affection?
Floridians Spend A Month A Year Chatting With AI Companions, Reveals Study.
Forget swiping right - Floridians are now spending their free time whispering sweet nothings to chatbots. What started as a quirky novelty has ballooned into a full-blown cultural experiment: AI companions have become the digital equivalent of that friend who always picks up, never interrupts, and occasionally offers surprisingly sage advice.
A new survey from AllSafeIT, an IT support provider, of 3,012 respondents, reveals the extent of our new digital devotion. On average, Floridians now spend an extra 31 days a year online thanks to their new AI “friends.” That’s a significant amount of time gone not to TikTok binges or Netflix marathons, but to chatting with a computer.
The state-by-state split is striking:
South Dakota residents are clocking a staggering 53 extra days per year with chatbots. That’s nearly two months of bonus digital companionship - clearly, the prairie winds aren’t the only thing whispering back. Vermont, by contrast, barely flirts with the trend. Vermonters average just five additional days a year, suggesting they still prefer maple syrup over machine learning for comfort.
App or Friend?
When asked to define their relationship with a chatbot, Floridians leaned more pragmatic than poetic:
• 63% said it felt closer to using an app.
• 37% said it was closer to talking with a friend.
But the depth of that “friendship” quickly shows when you dig deeper. Almost a quarter of respondents said they would miss their favorite chatbot “quite a lot” or “a great deal” if it vanished tomorrow.
Secrets, Trust, and Digital Confessions
Four in ten Floridians say they would rather confess a secret to a chatbot than to a priest or therapist. Around one-third admit to telling their AI something they would never tell a partner, parent, or best friend. Some even let their guard down completely - 30% say they’ve uttered “I love you” to their chatbot, even if only half-joking. That mix of levity and honesty shows just how much emotional space these tools are occupying. And yet trust has limits. Only 14% said they completely trust a chatbot with personal information, while more than a third flatly said “not at all.”
The Quirks of Human-AI Friendship Not all the findings are heavy some are just plain quirky:
• Cancel plans for a bot chat? 22% would.
• Worried about being judged? 30% say a chatbot’s opinion would sting more than a stranger’s.
• Better advice than friends? 42% say yes.
• Understood better than a partner? 18% sheepishly admitted it.
And then there are the almost comic hypotheticals: one in four Floridians would be fine with a chatbot officiating a wed-
LEGAL NOTICE
Dr. German Camacho Will Be LEAVING Conviva East Port Orange on September 29, 2025. Current patients will automatically be transferred to another provider at the center. If you are a patient and you choose not to continue at Conviva East Port Orange, you can obtain your medical records by calling (386) 761-0050.
has always blurred the line between tool and companion
astonishing, 26% said their AI companion is more valuable to them than Netflix or Spotify.
“Technology has always blurred the line between tool and companion, but this sur-
LEGAL NOTICE
Dr. Enercida Martinez is no longer with Conviva East Port Orange as of August 29, 2025. Current patients will automatically be transferred to another provider at the center. If you are a patient and you choose not to continue care at Conviva East Port Orange, you can obtain your medical records by calling: (386) 761-0050.
vey shows just how far that line has shifted,” says Bones Ljeoma of AllSafeIT. “For some, AI chatbots are as valuable as caffeine - or more valuable than streaming services. That says a lot about where digital relationships are heading in the next decade.”
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
“Technology
Passion Meets Paradise
The 2025 Festival Runs Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 - Sunday, November 16th, 2025
The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipients of its Golden Key Award For Artistic Excellence, honoring legendary comedian and performer Billy Connolly. The festival also celebrates its tenth annual Golden Key Award for Excellence in Costume Design, honoring Award-nominated costume designer Deborah L. Scott.
Mr. Connolly will be in attendance at the festival to coincide with a screening to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Aristocrats, the groundbreaking film about the dirtiest joke ever told, in which Connolly is featured.
As part of the Golden Key Award for Excellence in Costume Design honor, Scott will participate in a discussion of her work, to be moderated by Addie Morfoot of Variety. Ms. Scott will accept her award in person at the festival, which will feature a pre-recorded presentation by Oscar nominated Costume Designer, Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis.
Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, musician, television presenter, artist and retired stand-up comedian. He is sometimes known by the Scots nickname the Big Yin (“the Big One”). Known for his idiosyncratic and often improvised observational comedy, frequently including strong language, Connolly has topped many UK polls as the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. In 2017, he was knighted at Buckingham Palace for services to entertainment and charity. In 2022, he received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
As an actor, Connolly has appeared in various films, including Water (1985), Indecent Proposal (1993), Pocahontas (1995), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Mrs. Brown (1997) (for which he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role), The Boondock Saints (1999), The Last Samurai (2003), Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), The Aristocrats (2005), The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008), Brave (2012), What We Did On Our Holiday (2014), The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).
Deborah L. Scott is an award-winning costume designer known for her outstanding design, intuitive looks, and trailblazing techniques that elevate each and every character she costumes. Scott’s latest work can be seen in the highly anticipated Avatar: Fire and Ash, set for release on Friday, December 19th, 2025. She reunites with James Cameron for this third installment, helping to further expand the vibrant, immersive world of Pandora. For this chapter, Scott and her team are once again pushing the boundaries of costume design, spending years developing intricate textiles, beadwork and embroidery, and fusing traditional handcraft with cutting-edge digital innovations. The result continues to bring the Na’vi to life with a richly detailed culture inspired by indigenous craft traditions and realized through thousands of bespoke costume pieces and props.
Her previous work includes Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), the record-breaking film that earned her a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination for Excellence in Sci-Fi / Fantasy Film. In 2023, she also received the CDG Career Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field.
Previously, Scott collaborated with Cameron on Titanic (1997), for which she took home the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. She also received a BAFTA nomination, in addition to ACCA, OFTA, and Golden Satellite Award wins. Scott later joined Cameron to work on Avatar (2009).
Her first film as a costume designer is Never Cry Wolf (1983). She is also known for her work on films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Back to the Future (1985), Legends of the Fall (1994), Heat (1995), Wild Wild West (1999), The Patriot (2000), Minority Report (2002), Transformers (2007), Love & Other Drugs (2010), and Aloha (2015). Scott is a sought-after designer whose work is respected globally.
Scott’s additional award nods include a CDG Award nomination in Excellence in Fantasy Film for Avatar; a Golden Satellite nomination for Best Costume Design for Roland Emmerich’s The Patriot; and Saturn Award nominations forBack to the Future and Minority Report . She is also an active member of the Costume Designers Guild and
Golden Key Award For Artistic Excellence Billy Connolly
Golden Key Award For Costume Design Deborah L. Scott
South Florida’s Theater & Arts Honors
The Carbonell Awards Welcome Four New Judges for 2025-2026 Theatre Season
The Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s most highly coveted recognition of theatrical production and performance excellence, today announced four new judges. They will bring the total number of Carbonell judges to 48, including 18 in Broward County, 11 in Miami-Dade, and 19 in Palm Beach County. Collectively, they will see and evaluate more than 100 different productions at more than 30 professional theaters. The current theater season runs between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.
The four new Carbonell judges are:
• Deborah Bigeleisen (West Boca) is an internationally acclaimed artist who in her early career was a textile print designer and founder of her own global design company in NYC. She also served as a voter/judge for the Emmy Awards in several design categories. She began her fine art career upon moving to WPB in 1998. Over the course of her 25-year art career she has had 21 solo shows and has been juried into over 65 group exhibitions. Her paintings are sold through fine art dealers, International Contemporary Art Fairs including Art Hamptons, The Palm Beach Show, and the Shanghai Art Fair, and upscale digital art platforms. They have been widely published in international lifestyle and art magazines including Architectural Digest and Fine Art Collector and have been prominently exhibited in museum exhibitions including The Boca Raton Museum of Art, The Platt/Bornstein Galleries at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY.
• Barbara Cheives (West Palm Beach) is President/CEO of Converge & Associates Consulting. Her community engagement clients include the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County (she recently joined their Board) and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, where she offers training and consulting in workplace communication and race relations, and guides the theatre’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Barbara’s consulting expertise includes law enforcement and public safety, not-for-profit organizations, media, education, and corporations. She served as the first Executive Director of Toward a More Perfect Union in Palm Beach County, a non-profit initiative addressing the critical impact of race and ethnicity in a diverse community, is Past President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, has been featured in The Palm Beacher as one of “25 Impact Players Defining Palm Beach County, and is the new chair of the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Medical Center.
• Wendy Bryan Michaels (Miami) Actress, writer, playwright with 25+ years of experience, who won the Carbonell Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2006 for Bluefish Cove and was nominated for Best Actress the same year for Rabbit Hole at Mosaic Theatre. She appeared in the films I Love You Phillip Morris with Jim Carrey, Bachelor Party 2 with Harland Williams, and Sex Drive featuring James Marsden; and co-created and starred in the comedy series My Sister Is So Gay, alongside Loni Anderson, Debra Wilson, and Rae Dawn Chong.
• Cheryl Steinthal (Boynton Beach) is Artistic Director/Choreographer for The New Florida Follies; a lifelong dancer, she is a former Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, danced in the Ziegfeld Girls Gala featuring Liza Minnelli, was dance coach to Ann Miller’s understudy in Anything Goes at the Papermill Playhouse, and choreographed shows at the Delray Beach Playhouse and numerous high schools and residential communities in NY, NJ and Florida.
They will join the current team of distinguished Carbonell judges: From Broward County:
• Jerry Abella (Wilton Manors) actor, playwright, and arts journalist.
• Charles Baran (Palm Aire) actor, singer, comedian, published author and Senior Writer and Brand Ambassador for South Florida’s OutClique Magazine.
• Noah Cuellar (Fort Lauderdale) actor, director, former member of the Chicago Latino Theatre Company.
• Mary Damiano (Oakland Park) awardwinning writer, editor, and theater critic who has covered the South Florida arts scene since 2000, former Carbonell Coordinator.
• Donna Horkey (Davie) actor, director, stage manager, props master, and makeup artist.
• Mike Jeknavorian (Tamarac) actor, writer.
• Jerry K. Jensen (Hallandale) director, production stage manager, producer, and tech designer.
• Larry Jurrist (Hollywood) retired teacher, performer, and screener for the South Florida LGBTQ Film Festival.
• Jeff Kiltie (Wilton Manors) General Manager of Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, stage manager, producer, member of Actors’ Equity Association, and
Enrichment Manager at John Knox Village of Florida, and longtime former officer and board member of the Carbonell Awards.
• Marcy Ruderhausen (Hollywood) classically trained actor, media spokesperson, and brand strategist.
• Lynne Schaefer (Tamarac) production manager/assistant stage manager who worked on many Broadway shows.
• Greg Schuh (Tamarac) actor, director, teacher, dancer and choreographer.
• David Simson (Pompano Beach) veteran stage director.
• Gilda Steiger (Hallandale Beach) communication and marketing pro.
• Ali Tallman (Pembroke Pines) director, movement coach, dramaturg, and playwright.
• Savannah Whaley (Lauderhill) veteran arts publicist who managed public relations for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and former theatre columnist.
From Miami-Dade County:
• Al Alschuler (Miami) arts journalist and theatre board member.
• Nancy Doyle Cohen (Miami) Arts, Culture & Education Director at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, and former Director of Group Sales for Broadway Across America.
• Nancy Duerr (Miami) actor, spokesperson, TV host, and voice over artist who served on national and local boards of SAG and SAG-AFTRA for 25 years and was a member of the G1 team that merged the two unions.
• Isadora Zia Hernandez (Miami Beach) student at the New World School of the Arts in the Visual Arts division for Art & Technology.
• Marjorie O’Neill-Butler (Miami Beach) playwright, theater critic, and a member of the Dramatists Guild, AEA and SAGAFTRA.
• Ileana Oroza (Miami Beach), former arts editor and assistant managing editor at The Miami Herald, now an independent editor focused on cultural issues.
• Jorge Perez (Miami) former editor of CubaNet News and correspondent for the EFE agency, blogger and author.
• John Soliday (Miami) award-winning actor, director, educator, and member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
• Michelle F. Solomon, M.A. (Miami) editor in chief and theater critic/writer for both Artburstmiami.com and Miamiartzine.com.
• Pauline Winick (Miami Beach) a leader in the local arts community and former Chair of the Cultural Councils of MiamiDade County and the City of Miami Beach.
From Palm Beach County:
• Dr. Lhisa Almashy (Lake Worth) awardwinning educator who founded film and theater organizations in California and Michigan.
• Barbara Bradshaw (Delray Beach), a 17time Carbonell Award nominee and fourtime winner who has been a professional actress for more than 50 years.
• Cheryl Dunn Bychek (Royal Palm Beach) served as PR/Marketing Director for the BoarsHead Theatre in Lansing, Michigan and the Theatre Club of the Palm Beaches, longest serving Carbonell judge.
• Elizabeth Dashiell (Jupiter) is both Carbonell Coordinator and a judge, and has served as Co-Producer of the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival since 2013.
• Jason Fisher (West Palm Beach), actor, stage manager, and arts journalist.
• Sharon Geltner (Boynton Beach) awardwinning writer and multimedia communication specialist who is a contributing writer/reviewer for both the Broward Arts Journalism Alliance (BAJA) and Palm Beach Arts Paper.
• Tom Hantzarides (Delray Beach) talk show host and producer, writer, journalist, and founder of GET OUT South Florida LGBTQ+ Media.
• Allen H. Jones (West Palm Beach) retired Production Designer who has worked on hundreds of TV commercials, films, and plays.
• Mark Keller (Boynton Beach) producerpresenter for numerous concerts and stage productions from Broadway to South Florida and serves on the board for Florida Children’s Theatre.
• Dale King (Greenacres) award-winning newspaper reporter and critic in both Rhode Island and Florida.
• Christine LeShay (Riviera Beach) actor, playwright, and owner/artistic director of A.C.T.S. of Life Productions.
• Teri Mitze (Boynton Beach) began her producing career at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, founder and producer of The Great American Children’s Theatre Company, and produced more than 300 national television commercials..
• Deborah Nix (Delray Beach) retired high school and middle school counselor and lifelong theater student and enthusiast.
• Jeremy Quinn (Boynton Beach) has acted in or directed over 300 theatrical productions including On and Off Broadway and three National Tours.
• Linda Shorrock (Boynton Beach) costumer for Palm Beach State College and experienced designer, wardrobe coordinator, and costume technician.
• Jan Sjostrom (Boca Raton) spent 28 years as cultural editor and theater reviewer for The Palm Beach Daily News, a critic for South Florida Theater on Stage, and an adjudicator for the Kravis Center’s Dream Awards for high school musicals.
48th Annual Carbonell Awards
This season’s Carbonell Awards will be presented at a glittery ceremony on Monday, November 17, at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton. Hundreds of actors, musicians, performers, writers, directors, back-stage technicians, producers, reviewers, designers, specialty artists, and diehard theater fans are expected to attend South Florida’s version of Broadway’s Tony Awards® under the leadership of Executive Producer and Director Andrew Kato, Coordinating Producer Eloisa Ferrer, and Associate Producer and Musical Director Caryl Fantel. Tickets for the ceremony and after party are only $45 and will go on public sale in mid-October.
About The Carbonell Awards The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the excellence and diversity of our theater artists, providing scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. More than 30 professional theater companies in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties participate in the awards process every year. The Carbonell Awards also celebrate the accomplishments of local artistic leaders by presenting various Special Awards. Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s oldest regional arts awards and predate others, including Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after the internationally renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell, who designed the signature solid bronze and marble award given annually to Carbonell Award winners. Over nearly half a century, the Carbonell family has donated more than $250,000 in awards.
For more information, please visit: www.carbonellawards.org.
Deborah Bigeleisen
Barbara Cheives
Wendy Bryan Michaels Cheryl Steinthal
North Beach Park and experience the ulti mate beach view run! The course takes you through the iconic Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, an award-winning beach promenade featuring miles of pristine beach, a pictur esque broadwalk, and an array of shops, restaurants, and entertainment.
The route follows the beach giving you spectacular views of the Atlantic and the chance to feel the sand under your feet and the ocean breeze in your hair immediately after you finish. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting out, this event has something to offer for everyone with both Half marathon and 5K
At the start of the race runners will run along the picturesque Hollywood Broadwalk for miles as the sun comes up.
A quick U-turn takes athletes back heading north on the Broadwalk with a good oppor tunity to see how your friends are doing amid magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean. The course takes runners to North Surf Road to again run parallel to the Atlantic, running through a shaded tree tun nel before starting a second loop, until reaching nearly the end of the Broadwalk and Harry Berry Park. A beautiful finisher’s medal for both the Half Marathon and 5K plus lots of snacks await at the finish line!
As an added benefit you will also get a close up tour of the best that Hollywood Beach has to offer. Both races are also a part of the very popular South Florida Half Marathon Tour!
But the fun doesn’t stop at the finish line! Hollywood is a city that offers a great blend of culture, entertainment, and out door activities. After the race, treat yourself to a well-deserved meal at one of the many seafood restaurants, and explore the city’s art scene by visiting one of the many galler ies or the Artspark at Young Circle. Take a stroll on the beach, and enjoy the tranquil Gulf waters, or head back over to the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk for a leisurely walk with stunning views of the ocean. Hollywood also offers a variety of fun activities, perfect for families and friends such as visiting the Hollywood Beach Theater where you can enjoy free live per formances, or visiting the Hollywood Trolley, an open-air bus that takes you around the city’s famous sights and land marks. Sign up for the Hollywood Beach Half Marathon & 5K run and you’ll expe rience the best of both worlds: a challeng ing and rewarding run, and an unforgettable adventure in one of the most beautiful places in Florida.
Can I Walk The Event?
Walkers are welcome at all of the Elite Events! There is a 3.5 hour time limit for the half marathon. After 3.5 hours, the course will open up to traffic. At that point, you must obey all traffic laws as if you were a pedestrian. You will still receive your finisher medal as long as you are close to finishing after the 3.5 hour time limit. Police, Volunteers, and Race Crew will be dis missed after 3.5 hours. All of the finish line and event equipment will be cleaned up after 3.5 hours.
Important Information
Early Packet Pick Up: Friday, October 17th, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Runner’s Depot - Davie - 2233 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33324
Race Day Packet Pick Up: ?5:30 a.m.6:10 a.m.
Time Limit: 3.5 hours
Water Stops: There will be water and Gatorade about every 2 miles or less.
Included With Entry
Aside from being known for the best “swag” aka finisher medals and race shirts, Elite Events has their FREE Elite Events Tracker App at every race. The app allows spectators to track your progress live on the course and provides you with instant race results. Your accomplishments will be stored in their ‘Lifetime Stats’ database so you can keep track of all of your Elite Events results in one place and see how they stack up against every Elite Event participant ever! Download the Elite Events Tracker Mobile App at: https://rtrt.me/app/ elitea for FREE.
Awards Pick Up
The Hollywood Beach Half Marathon and 5K features a run north and south along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors from all over can enjoy the eclectic area and beautiful scenery of Hollywood Beach while participating in a healthy and invigorating event.
Since the event timing technology allows for live results, you are able to receive your award as soon as you cross the finish line. After you’ve enjoyed the complimentary post-race refreshments, report to the awards area where one of their team members will present you with your finish results and award.
Parking There are only a little over 1,000 parking spots close to the race venue and start. It is highly recommended that you carpool, bike or stay at a nearby hotel. There is limited parking north of the Park available on the side streets at the Hollywood Beach Daily Rate. All athletes parking on the side streets must exit to the north (right) to East Dania Beach Road/A1A only.
This event is not organized by the
of Hollywood, for more
and
5K Course
Half Marathon Course
The War Continues
By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper
This past Tuesday October 7th marked the 730th day since the horrific attack on the Nova Musical Festival and Israel. It is unimaginable 48 hostages 26 confirmed dead, 20 are presumed alive and remain in the hands of Palestinians.
251 hostages were taken. Of those innocent victims, 148 were released through negotiations of whom 8 were dead. IDF forces recovered 51 dead hostages and rescued 8 during the war.
This war was started by Gazans fueled by hate and Hamas terrorists. It was unprovoked and still continues. It is unimaginable that war could end with their release but the refusal to release the hostages has continued loss of lives.
Since the terrorist organization Hamas launched its unprovoked attacks on Israeli 1,200 innocent Israelis died, 5,431 have been injured. 913 IDF soldiers have lost their lives and over 20,000 have been injured. Through the war to rescue the hostages by the Israeli armed forces against Hamas in Gaza.
61,158 Palestinians were killed, and 151,442 were injured. This does not include the second front on the West Bank
fueled by both Hamas and Hezbollah. As noted, the Gaza numbers are UN Aid numbers which should be questioned.
What many people are forgetting, and the news is not covering Israel has been attacked for years. Hammas, Hezbollah and other terrorists have attacked Israel with over 2,000 bombs and attacks. In all, over 3,800 thousand have died. One cannot avoid the point that this is a War and Israel has the right to protect themselves and fight for the hostages and peace. Just like any other country.
I am so frustrated over the one-sided media that continues to fuel misinformation, ignorance, and antisemitism. No one person wants war and death, but it is the reality when one country attacks another.
I have spoken to others about what is a one-sided hostage exchange. The goal was 500 so-called political prisoners.
I considered this such a lie. They are criminals. They have killed, murdered, injured, manned and plotted against Israel for years. Imagine the United States returning the 1993 World Trade Center bomber who is serving a life sentence.
Barghouti, 68, from the West Bank vil-
lage of Kobar, has spent over 45 years in Israeli prison and was serving a life sentence. First arrested in 1978 for his role in an attack that killed an Israeli bus driver.
Ghanem, 31, from east Jerusalem, was serving three life sentences and 60 years for a bus attack in 2015 that killed three Israelis. One of those killed was Richard Lakin, an American educator who marched for civil rights and coexistence between Muslims and Jews.
Al-Ziben, 50, is from Nablus, in the West Bank. He was sentenced to 27 life terms for planning a bombing in a Jerusalem market in 1997 that killed 16 people, including a U.S. citizen.
Abu Shakhdam was sentenced to the equivalent of 18 life sentences over his involvement in Hamas attacks that killed dozens of Israelis during the second intifada. They included a suicide bombing that blew up two buses in Beersheba in 2004, killing 16 Israelis, including a 4-yearold. These are just a few.
We need to commend Israel for working with the U.S. Envoy, Steve Witkoff and allies in the Middle East to get hostages out through political prisoner trades. As a parent, yes, I would do absolutely eve-
rything to get my child out. Negotiating with Hamas one could say has been one sided. It has also torn many Israelis apart.
Two years of pain, suffering, war, and family members fighting in combat have taken its toll. We all need it to end. We need to bring all the hostage’s home. Israel needs to continue what I call the World’s work fighting against terrorists and terrorism. The rhetoric and blatant attacks on Israel and their leaders over their rights to defend its people which include Jews, Christians and Muslims are a disgrace.
The Americans fueling the hate and lies need to remember 911 and the terrorist attack on our soil. Many also need to do their homework before believing every headline.
Bring Them Home!!
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 Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!
Hollywood Beach Sweep Keeps Coastline Clean
The City of Hollywood is inviting volunteers to roll up their sleeves and take part in the monthly Hollywood Beach Sweep Clean-Up, held on the second Saturday of each month from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Participants meet at Charnow Park, located at Garfield Street and A1A, before heading out to collect litter along the shoreline. The event aims to keep the City’s coastline clean while fostering community pride and environmental stewardship. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, though participants must be at least eight years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Proper attire is required, including closed-toe shoes, and volunteers are encouraged to wear hats, apply sunscreen, and bring water and snacks. City staff will provide cleanup and safety instructions, as well as trash bags and gloves.
Parking for participants is available at the Garfield Parking Garage, located at 300 Connecticut Street, Hollywood, Florida 33019 but space is limited. Carpooling is encouraged. Free parking is provided through a virtual parking pass system, which is issued electronically based on the information submitted on the registration form. Each vehicle is eligible for one temporary pass valid during event hours. Passes will not be issued on the day of the event, and free parking is not guaranteed for all volunteers.
Registration forms must be submitted by the Wednesday before each cleanup to qualify for waived parking fees. Because City of Hollywood offices are closed on Fridays, forms submitted that day will not be processed. Hollywood Beach Sweep offers residents and visitors a chance to give back
American Heritage Schools Is The No. 1 School In Florida
The prestigious American Heritage Schools, which celebrates 61 years of fostering academic excellence and shaping future leaders this school year, is proud to announce that 87 seniors (57 from the Broward Campus; 30 from the Palm Beach Campus) from the class of 2026 were named National Merit® Scholar Semifinalists.
Additionally, 92 more seniors were honored with the distinction of National Commended Scholar, further highlighting the deep pool of talent and academic potential at the school.
American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, is ranked as the No. 1 school in Florida and the No. 2 private school in the U.S. for the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. The Palm Beach Campus is the No. 1 school in Palm Beach County, the No. 2 school in Florida, and the No. 7 private school with the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national academic competition and the most prestigious award a senior can receive. The combined students from both campuses comprise 9% of all semifinalists throughout Florida’s public and private high schools. One in seven students from American Heritage Schools in the Class of 2026 is a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.
This marks the 16th consecutive year that American Heritage Schools have had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists in Florida. For 12 consecutive years, American Heritage Schools has been the No. 1 or No. 2 private school in the nation with the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists.
“Year after year, our students continue to raise the bar of academic excellence. Their success in the National Merit program is a reflection of their hard work, the dedication of our teachers, and a school environment that challenges and inspires,” said Dr. Douglas Laurie, President of American Heritage Schools. “We are proud to see them recognized among the very best in the nation.”
Beyond the prospect of securing millions of dollars in potential scholarships, these exceptional students are presented with a wealth of new opportunities for their collegiate journeys, instilling a profound sense of confidence in their prospects.
According to the esteemed National Merit Scholarship organization, prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt have consistently embraced and enrolled the highest number of National Merit Scholars.
“To be a part of the National Merit Group is honestly amazing, and I think it’s just a testament to the incredible opportunities, resources, and support we have here at American Heritage,” said Daniela Staton, a senior at the Palm Beach campus and a Delray Beach resident.
“American Heritage teachers have very challenging tests and the curriculum is very intense, but they do a very good job in preparing you for those tests,” said Ramon Diaz, a senior at the Broward campus and a Miami Lakes resident.
“I’d like to share with other students that anything is possible. If you work hard, if you put the right
amount of hours into it, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.”
American Heritage Schools is also pleased to announce that 95% of the students passed the AP (Advanced Placement) exams with a score of 3 or higher, compared to 69% in Florida and 73% globally. This accomplishment solidifies American Heritage Schools as a leading institution for college preparation nationwide.
More information can be found at: www.ahschool.com/nationalmerit.
About American Heritage Schools: American Heritage Schools is a collegepreparatory day school for students in PK3-12th grades, known for academic excellence and top rankings across multiple disciplines. With two 40acre campuses, one in Broward County and another in Palm Beach County, American Heritage Schools provides a diverse and inclusive environment for almost 5,000 students from more than 100 countries. Dr. Douglas Laurie, a distinguished educator and visionary leader, is the president and co-owner of American Heritage Schools. American Heritage Schools is nationally and internationally accredited by the following associations: Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISF), Middle States Association (MSACESS), and National Council for Private Schools, among others. The Lower School includes advanced classes and 15 electives, and the Upper School offers over 300 courses with 145 honors classes, 31 Advanced Placement classes, and 130 fine arts classes. Pre-professional programs are offered in pre-med, pre-law, preengineering,biomedical engineering, business & entrepreneurship, and computer science with classes taught daily by doctors, surgeons, lawyers, judges, engineers, and computer scientists currently practicing in their fields. American Heritage Schools was named No. 1 Private K-12 School in Florida and No. 1 College Prep Private High School in Florida, according to Niche.com, ranks as the No. 1 high school in Florida for the highest number of National Merit Scholars for 16 years, and the No. 1 school in Florida for the most Presidential Scholars. The Math Competition team is No. 1 out of all private schools in the nation, Model UN team is top 3 in the nation, and the Speech and Debate team is in the top 1% in the nation. In their recent “Book of Lists” rankings, South Florida Business Journal (SFBJ) recognized American Heritage Schools as No. 15 in Corporate Philanthropy in South Florida and No. 21 Largest Employer in South Florida. For more information about American Heritage Schools, visit its website at: www.ahschool.com
Broward Campus: (954) 472-0022 Extension#: 3021. Or email: admissions.broward@ahschool.com
Palm Beach Campus: (561) 495-7272 Extension#: 219. Or email: admissions.palmbeach@ahschool.com
