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    Storyteller John Dufresne

    Posted by

    with attribution to:

    ArtSpeak
    FIU Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media
    The College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts

    Introduction to John Dufresne. 1:56 min. Interview: Raymond Elman.  Post-Production: Lee Skye.  Recorded via ZOOM  10/21/2025. Miami.

     

    JOHN DUFRESNE has won the Yankee Magazine award for fiction, the Transatlantic Review/Henfield Foundation Award, a PEN Syndicated Fiction award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His novel “Louisiana Power & Light” was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 1994.

    He is also the author of a short story collection, “The Way That Water Enters Stone,” three chapbooks, “Lethe, Cupid, Time and Love;” “Well Enough Alone;” and “I Will Eat a Piece of the Roof and You Can Eat the Window;” the novel, “Love Warps the Mind a Little,” also a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 1997; the novel “Deep in the Shade of Paradise;” the story collection “Johnny Too Bad,” the novel “Requiem, Mass.,” and most recently, the novel “My Darling Boy.” He is one of the thirteen authors of the mystery novel, “Naked Came the Manatee.” He has also written six books on the craft of fiction writing: “The Lie That Tells a Truth: a Guide to Writing Fiction,” “Is Life Like This: a Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months,” “What Would Chekhov Do?,” “Flash!: Writing the Very Short Story,” “Storyville: An Illustrated Guide to Writing Fiction,” and “What Would Chekhov Do?: Revised Second Edition.” He is the editor of the anthologies Blue Christmas, Holiday Stories for the Rest of Us., Having a Wonderful Time with Michael Hettich and Cynthia Chinelly, Everything Is Broke, I’m the One with the Blue Cap On. Poems by Jeffrey Knapp. His story “Johnny Too Bad” is included in New Stories of the South: Best of 2003.

    Dufresne grew up in Worcester, Mass and received his MFA from the University of Arkansas. He has lived and taught in Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, and Florida. He teaches in the Creative Writing Program at Florida International University in Miami and lives in Dania Beach.

    https://www.johndufresne.net/

     

    The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 7 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

     

    EMPATHY:   0:25 sec.  

    The addiction problems you describe are so common these days.

     

    OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:   4:13 min.

    Have you seen improvements over the decades in the way addictions are treated?

     

    DEVELOP A VOICE:   2:16 min.

    When did you leave Worcester?

     

    SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:   6:15 min.

    What was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

     

    RESILIENCE:   0:59 sec.

    I have never heard of someone having 19 siblings.

     

    SERENDIPITY:    1:29 min.

    Was it normal to give birth to so many children in the 19th century?

     

    COMMUNITY VALUES:    1:27 min.

    What kind of housing did you grow up in?

     

    PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS:    3:12 min.

    When did you first think you were a better writer than most of your peers?

     

    DEVELOP A VOICE:    6:42 min.

    How did growing up in a large Canadian-Massachusetts family impact your writing?  How did moving to the South impact your writing?  How did moving to Miami impact your writing?

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    1:59 min

    The Miami arts communities exploded with talent and recognition from the mid 1980s to 2025. Have you incorporated those communities into your novels?

     

    COMMUNITY VALUES:    1:30 min

    There are a number of good writers like you, Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry, etc. who incorporate the gestalt of Florida into their stories. Do you communicate with one another?

     

    INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:    1:20 min. 

    You have written both fiction and non-fiction. Many of my novelist friends approach non-fiction as though it were a novel. Do you do that?

     

    DEVELOP A VOICE:    3:10 min.

    Compare the experience of writing your first novel with writing subsequent novels.

     

    OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:    1:33 min

    What is a typical day for you as a writer?

     

    COLLABORATION:    1:10 min.

    Have you tried to make movies out of your novels?

     

    COMMUNITY VALUES:   1:02 min. 

    Have you seen Lauren Fisher’s 3 part series called “Believers: Boston Red Sox” on ESPN?

     

    CRITICAL THINKING:    3:32 min

    Author Ben Mezrich, whose book about Mark Zuckerberg was made into the film “The Social Network,” told me that he now considers possible actors when writing a new book. Do you do that?

     

    PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS:   1:10 min.

    What are you working on now?

     

    INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:     1:48 min.

    What’s your favorite movie?
    ————————————————————

    ABOUT US:

    For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. 

    This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.

    Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.

    If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com

    #thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest #kendall #broward #biscaynebay

    Artist Solomon Souza Wears a Coat of Many Colors

    Posted by

    with attribution to:

    ArtSpeak
    FIU Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media
    The College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts

    Introduction to Solomon Souza.   1:39 min.  Interview:  Raymond Elman.  Post-Production:  Lee Skye.    Recorded via Zoom:  1/16/2025 Miami.

     

    SOLOMON SOUZA (Hebrew: שלמה סוזה; born 1993) is a British-Israeli street artist. He is best known for spray painting portraits of contemporary and historical figures on the metal shutters of the Mahane Yehuda Market (“The Shuk”) in Jerusalem, turning them into an after-hours attraction.

    Souza was born in London, and grew up in the neighborhood of Hackney. His mother, British-Israeli painter Karen (Keren) Souza-Kohn, is one of the three daughters of the Goan artist F. N. Souza, and Czech Jewish actress Liselotte Kristian (née Kohn). His grandfather F. N. Souza’s bestselling 1955 painting “Birth” depicts his grandmother Liselotte posing while pregnant with his mother Keren.

    His younger sister Miriam is a filmmaker. He has been married to Ayelet Finkelstein since February 2021.

    Largely self-taught, Solomon Souza has worked on murals since he was 14 years old.

    As of July 2018, Souza had painted more than 250 of the 360 shutters in the Mahane Yehuda Market. Each painting takes two to four hours to complete. Souza usually completes three murals per night.

    Subjects include contemporary and historical figures, including Yossi Banai, Roseanne Barr, Menachem Begin, David Ben-Gurion (painted upside-down), Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Meyer Lansky, Emma Lazarus, Bob Marley, Matisyahu, Golda Meir, Moses Montefiore, Dona Gracia Nasi, Daniel Pearl, Jonathan Pollard, Naomi Shemer, Steven Spielberg, Hannah Szenes, Henrietta Szold, and Bracha Zefira. There are nearly one dozen rabbinical portraits, including Mordechai Eliyahu, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Yitzhak Kaduri, Maimonides, Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and Ovadia Yosef. Arab personalities are also represented, including Lucy Aharish, Sheikh Fari al-Jabari of Hebron, Si Ali Sakkat, and the Queen of Sheba. Biblical paintings include Moses, Solomon, and panels depicting the seven days of creation. Some of the early paintings are of the stall owners themselves, or their grandfathers, by personal request.

    Other murals

    Solomon Souza was invited in 2019 by Vivek Menezes, the special projects curator for the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, India to do a similar art project there. Souza created murals of various prominent Goans, past and present.

    In January 2020, Chelsea FC unveiled a mural by Solomon Souza on an outside wall of the West Stand at Stamford Bridge stadium. The mural is part of Chelsea’s “Say No to Antisemitism” campaign funded by club owner Roman Abramovich. Included on the mural are depictions of footballers Julius Hirsch and Árpád Weisz, who were killed at Auschwitz concentration camp, and Ron Jones, a British prisoner of war known as the “Goalkeeper of Auschwitz.”

    — Wikipedia

    The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 4 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

     

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:   0:44 sec.

    You said you do VR sculpting. What is that?

     

    SERENDIPITY:   1:33 min.

    Where did you grow up and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

     

    DEVELOP A VOICE:    1:57 min.

    Growing up in a family of painters, did you always want to be an artist? Or did you rebel against the family business?

     

    SERENDIPITY:    1:53 min.

    When did you move to Israel?

     

    SERENDIPITY:    1:04 min.

    When did you first visit Miami?

     

    DEVELOP A VOICE:    1:22 min.

    Where and when did you first make graffiti?

     

    CRITICAL THINKING:     1:18 min.

    Your work is a sophisticated blend of a lot of styles. How did that evolve?

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    1:34 min.

    What has been the evolution of materials you use to create street art?

     

    UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:    2:19 min.

    Israel is full of ancient biblical buildings. I assume that you don’t paint graffiti on them.

     

    SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:    1:03 min.

    When was the first time you were paid to make street art?

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    3:46 min.

    What are some of your favorite projects?

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    2:28 min.

    How did your street art portrait style evolve?

     

    CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY:    0:48 sec.

    Do you start with sketches for your portraits?

     

    EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:    0:59 sec.

    Where does your last name — “Souza” — come from?

     

    SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:    1:07 min.

    My cousin, Shalva Weil, is a world-renowned expert on Jews of color, and has written about Jews of India. How did you meet Shalva?

     

    SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:    1:13 min.

    What’s on your drawing board?

     

    CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY:    0:59 sec.

    Are you working on canvas as well as exterior surfaces?

     

    UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:    1:09 min.

    Do you interact with people who view your art?

     

    INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:    0:50 sec.

    What’s your favorite movie?
    ————————————————————

    ABOUT US:

    For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. 

    This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.

    Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.

    If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com

    #thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest #kendall #broward #biscaynebay

    Rebecca Friedman: From History to Public Humanities

    Posted by

    with attribution to: ArtSpeak FIU Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media

    The College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts

    Introduction to Dr. Rebecca Friedman. 1:53 min. Interview: Raymond Elman.  Post-Production: Lee Skye. Music:  Simon Mogul.  Recorded via ZOOM  6/30/2025, Miami.

     

    DR. REBECCA FRIEDMAN is the Founding Director of the Public Humanities Lab (PHL) and a Professor of History at Florida International University. Friedman has been a leader at FIU in several capacities. She served as the Director of the European Union Center of Excellence/European and Eurasian Studies for over eight years and served as the Faculty Fellow in the Office of the Provost from 2012-2022. In 2018, she was named the Founding Director of the PHL. Friedman has collaboratively secured over 10 million dollars in research and institution-building grants for the university. She is a leading point of contact for the university in Miami’s arts and cultural communities. Her community-facing projects include Mellon-Funded Community Data Curation and Mellon-funded Commons for Justice: Race, Risk Resilience. She has also worked with Florida Humanities on their inaugural Humanities Festival (2024). She has co-curated I Am Little Haiti at Green Space Miami and Bold. Black. Baldwin. at IPC ArtSpace in Little Haiti.

    Friedman is the Director of Research for FIU’s iWitness: IPC Institute for Visual Journalism. In this capacity, she oversees research projects on topics including immigration and climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean and global diasporas. The Institute is building a think tank, curriculum, archive and public-facing activations.

    Her doctorate is in the history and culture of modern Russia. Her monographs include “Modernity, Domesticity and Temporality in Modern Russia: Time at Home” (Bloomsbury, 2020) and her 2006 book on the history of masculinity in “Russia — Masculinity, Autocracy and the Russian University, 1804-1863.”  As a leader in her field, she edited (with Barbara Clements and Dan Healy) Russian Masculinities in History and Culture, which is the first volume in English to focus on the growing field of Russian masculinity studies. She edited (with Markus Thiel), European Identity and Culture: Narratives of Transnational Belonging (Routledge, 2012). She is currently co-editing a Cambridge University Press series on Elements in Soviet and Post-Soviet History.

    — FIU Stephen J. Green School of International & Public Affairs — Public Humanities Lab

     

    The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

     

    EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:    1:21 min.

    Where did you grow up, and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

     

    DEVELOP A VOICE:    1:03 min.

    Do you still play an instrument?

     

    SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:    4:08 min.

    Where did you go to school, and what did you learn that still informs you today?

     

    SERENDIPITY:    1:10 min.

    Some of the people I interviewed at the Miami Book Fair — Karen Dukess and her husband Steve Liesman, Peter Baker and his wife Susan Glasser — were journalists in Russia in the 1980s-90s. Do you know them?

     

    CRITICAL THINKING:    5:22 min.

    You wrote a book titled “Masculinity, Autocracy and the Russian University, 1804-1863.” Why?

     

    VALUES FIRST-RATE EDUCATION:     1:17 min.

    Some of the smartest people I know, who are in their 70s and 80s, graduated from the University of Michigan, and will never miss a UM football game.

     

    CRITICAL THINKING:     2:06 min.

    How did Russia go from Glasnost and Perestroika to the Putin domination era?

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:     2:44 min.

    Tell us about your second book, “Modernity, Domesticity and Temporality in Russia: Time at Home.”

     

    CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    4:24 min.

    Tell us about your evolution from Russian history professor to Public Humanities Lab impresario.

     

    SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:    3:15 min

    How did you meet photographer Carl-Phillipe Juste and get involved with Miami’s Haitian community?

     

    CRITICAL THINKING:    6:10 min

    Tell us about “A Call to the Ancestors” project.

     

    UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:    1:20 min. 

    Do you track the demographics of your projects?

     

    UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART:    3:26 min.

    You are particularly successful at fundraising for your projects. How did that skill evolve?

     

    INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:    0:42 sec.

    What’s your favorite movie?
    ————————————————————————-

    ABOUT US:

    For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. 

    This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.

    Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.

    If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com

    #thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest #kendall #broward #biscaynebay

    The Balance – Episode 11: Closing with Clarity: The Mindset Behind a Smooth Real Estate Transaction


    In this eleventh episode of The Balance, Andreana Jackson meets with R.J. Curington. R.J. is an attorney licensed in Illinois, Indiana, New York, and Florida with a background in business law, real estate, and estate planning. Together, they have in depth conversation on the real estate industry and on closing day does not need to be overwhelming.

    ABOUT US:

    Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.

    #thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest

    Holiday traditions shine as community supports local causes

    Members of the GFWC Doral West Dade Woman’s Club support collections at the Intercontinental Hotel Doral for Marine’s Toys for Tots. Pictured (l-r) are Carmen Siman, Stacy Alonso, Gloria Burns, Marine Corporal Laguna, Ruth Martinez and Nubielena Medina.

    The Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bells Run was a smashing — and hilarious — success on Dec. 6 at Tropical Park where costumed holiday characters turned the fundraiser into pure festive fun.

    A large crowd attended, including a strong team from HCA Mercy Hospital, whose orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gilbert Beauperthuy-Rojas was the event honoree. Also, on hand to cheer on participants were Mercy CEO Allyssa Tobitt, Mercy COO Jessica Miller (in a standout costume), Mercy director of communications Annabel Beyra, and Arely Ruiz, president of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club. They  were just a few among the hundreds who took part in the lively morning run.

    In the days leading up to the race, the Coral Gables Woman’s Club hosted its December Gringo Bingo, with proceeds benefiting the Arthritis Foundation and delivered on race day. Special kudos go to the club’s longtime volunteers, Steven Bradley, the much-loved “Gringo,” who calls the numbers each month, and Corey Tennyson, who provided deejay services.

    What began in 2019 as a one-time bingo fundraiser for veterans — created by Steven and this writer — quickly grew into a monthly tradition that has since raised well over $100,000 for dozens of nonprofits. The club continues this success thanks in large part to Steven, who donates his time despite a demanding schedule as managing partner of Vivo Sports and Social at Dolphin Mall, and the support of Miami’s Community Newspapers to promote the events.

    Pictured here surrounding Jingle Bells Run honoree, Mercy Hospital Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gilbert Beauperthuy-Rojas, are members of the hospital staff including CEO Allyssa Tobitt, COO Jessica Miller (in a standout costume), and director of communications Annabel Beyra.

    Dec. 6 also brought the annual Villagers Holiday House Tour, presented this year as a festive “Stroll in the Grove.” On Nov. 25, Villagers president Gina Guilford and past president Kelly Schild (Gina’s sister) joined Gloria’s Gab LIVE to highlight the event and the extraordinary impact The Villagers have made in historic preservation.

    Kelly, who co-chaired this year’s tour with Merlin Ebbert, shared that the group has awarded $2 million in grants to 200 organizations, an astonishing achievement for an all-volunteer nonprofit. With record attendance this year, 2026 promises to be even more impactful for preservation projects.

    The historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club, itself a past Villagers grantee, recently showcased both history and artistry by hosting Her Art Basel on Dec. 3. Curated by Arts and Culture chair Alex Guillen, the exhibition featured works by women artists, including her mother, Celia Guillen. While one ballroom became an elegant gallery, the other hosted the club’s annual Holiday Dinner Party catered by celebrity chef Chris Valdes. Guests enjoyed cocktails, admired the art, then returned for dinner and beautiful performances by Margarita Parsamyan, an operatic soprano and the founder of MP Miami Music School, with one of her students, Elizabeth Rojas.

    Holiday performances continued with the Merrick Festival Caroling Competition, which brought 30 choirs from across Miami-Dade to compete for cash prizes. Directed each year by Sally Baumgartner Goodman, the beloved event is made possible by sponsors including Miami-Dade County, City of Coral Gables, Holtz Children’s Hospital, and Coral Gables Community Foundation. The Rotary Club of Coral Gables, one of the award sponsors, invited the winning choir to perform at the club’s holiday luncheon – always a seasonal highlight.

    Operatic soprano Margarita Parsamyan performs at CGWC’s Holiday Dinner.

    For those seeking holiday inspiration while shopping, the Festival of Trees Showcase at Miami International Mall (NW 87th Avenue and 25th Street) is a must-see experience. Mall general manager Maria Prado shares that the display features beautifully themed holiday trees created by St. Thomas University’s fashion and visual merchandising students, each inspired by an iconic brand such as Swarovski, Crocs, Aliss, Pandora, and Sephora. Admission is free, and the installation offers a festive backdrop for photos, shopping, and seasonal cheer.

    Upcoming events for your calendar:

    Now through March 2026 – South Florida PBS Pharaoh Immersive Experience, at the Boynton Beach offices. For tickets, go to www.southfloridapbs.org›pharaohs (Look for a new Titanic Experience coming in January 2026)

    Now thru Dec. 31 – Festival of Trees at Miami International Mall, Doral, free admission

    Dec. 27-30 – Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Tournament

    Jan. 1, 2026 – College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl, noon, Hard Rock Stadium

    Jan. 3-6 – Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Tournament, Biltmore Golf Course, 8 a.m. daily

    Jan. 4 – Annual King Mango Strut Parade, Coconut Grove

    Jan. 10 – Voices for Children Annual Gala, Ritz Carlton

    January 2026 – The Titanic Immersive Experience opens presented by South Florida PBS, for info visit www.southfloridapbs.org

    In closing, remember to count your blessings, share a kind word and a smile, and make a difference. Happy Holidays!

    Doral’s New Italian Hotspot: Grant Miller Here at Altamura Trattoria Grand Opening with Strive305


    Doral’s New Italian Hotspot: Grant Miller Here at Altamura Trattoria Grand Opening with Strive305

    ABOUT US:

    Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.

    #AltamuraTrattoria #GrandOpening #NowOpen #DoralEats #DoralRestaurants #MiamiFood #MiamiEats #ItalianCuisine #ItalianFood #FoodieMiami #MiamiFoodies #NewRestaurant #RestaurantOpening #Strive305

    Just Quit Podcast Ep. 1 | Twaney Harding on Leaving the 9–5 & Building His Company

    🎙️ Welcome to the very first episode of the Just Quit Podcast!

    Hosted by Darius Ricks, Radius Resources Group Execution Specialist and entrepreneur. Just Quit is all about helping people transition from the traditional 9–to–5 work life into entrepreneurship with clarity, confidence, and strategy.

    For the debut episode, Darius sits down with Twaney Harding, Co-Founder of Insanity Ventures and Haywire Weekend, to talk about what it really takes to leave the comfort of a paycheck and build something of your own. Twaney shares his entrepreneurial journey, the risks and rewards of betting on yourself, and lessons learned along the way.

    💡 In this episode:

    Making the leap from employee to entrepreneur

    Mindset shifts needed before you “just quit”

    Building ventures from the ground up

    Navigating fear, failure, and financial uncertainty

    Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to take the next step

    🚀 If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your 9–5 and building your own lane — this podcast is for you.

    For more shows, go to: www.communitynewspapers.com/cnewstv

    ABOUT US:

    For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. 

    This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.

    Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.

    If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com

    #thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest #kendall #broward #biscaynebay

    Basabe is WRONG on the Facts

    Why am I scratching my head about the audit of Miami Beach, you might ask, when everyone knows I’m a big proponent of transparency?

    I won’t beat around the bush. It’s because there is no evidence of corruption or mismanagement. In fact, the City of Miami Beach conducts its own comprehensive audit every year and has a clean record.

    More than anything is that it means spending money on responding to a third party investigation, which means city officials are diverted from more important issues. It means that anyone with a grudge, or who was offended that their ego wasn’t stroked exactly right is going to focus the power of the State of Florida on anyone.

    State Rep. Fabian Basabe

    Don’t know the motivation behind it, but State Rep. Fabian Basabe alleged Miami Beach is financial mismanagement at the City of Miami Beach – with no evidence – and the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee pointed Florida’s auditor in its direction. Bayshore Park and the Miami Beach Boardwalk took too long, he says. Okay, but where is the corruption? What is the proof that the money was misspent?

    There is no question that every public institution should get scrutiny for policy and performance on an ongoing basis. The Jackson Health Foundation is a good example, with the former COO Charmaine Gatlin pleading guilty to more than $4 million in fraud over a decade.

    One of my recent columns called for Miami-Dade County Commissioners and the Mayor to create a dashboard on their websites that itemizes every penny spent from their personal budgets. And more public involvement in oversight of the annual budget, which was plagued a year ago by a funding gap of $400 million that drove proposed cuts to entire departments and the merger of others. Staff was left scrambling only to find creative strategies to avoid outright amputations. And what about next year?

    There is no question that MiamI Beach is not immune to sunshine, but does that mean that the government should have a kneejerk reaction to every allegation with no receipts as long as your party is in power? If that is the case, there will be no time left to do anything else.

    If in the end, the State Auditor finds some spending that can’t be accounted for or back room dealing for contracts, more power to them. But there should also be a consequence if the audit finds the City is being responsible and managing projects successfully. How about the State of Florida pays for Miami Beach’s cost for responding to the audit? Consequences should be applied to all parties otherwise we will end up with a lot of time and money wasted, and nobody wants that, especially me.

    SSI in Florida: High Demand, Frequent Denials, and How Legal Help Makes a Difference

    Many people in Florida need help paying for basic things like food, clothing, and housing. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides monthly money for people who are elderly, blind, or disabled. But not everyone qualifies. Here’s what you need to know.

    What is SSI?

    SSI is run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It is needs-based, meaning it helps people with limited income and resources. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), SSI does not depend on your work history. SSI helps people cover basic needs so they can live safely and independently, and it also provides Medicaid for essential healthcare.

    Who May be Eligible for SSI?

    People can qualify based on age or disability. Individuals who are 65 or older are eligible to apply, and people of any age—including children—may qualify if they are blind or have a disabling condition that is severe enough to prevent the person from working for at least twelve months or be considered life-threatening.

    Eligibility for SSI also depends on income, resources, and citizenship or immigration status. SSI is intended for people with limited income, which can include earnings from work, Social Security benefits, pensions, or other sources. The amount of income allowed varies depending on living arrangements, such as whether a person lives alone or with family. Resources—such as cash, bank accounts, stocks, and other property that could be sold—are also limited. Generally, individuals may have no more than $2,000 in resources, and couples no more than $3,000, though a primary home and one vehicle are usually not counted toward this limit. Finally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or meet specific immigration status requirements. Certain permanent residents, refugees, and other eligible noncitizens may qualify.

    SSI in MiamiDade: Challenges, Denials, and the Role of Legal Assistance

    While over 539,000 Floridians currently receive SSI—and about 151,000 residents in MiamiDade County alone—many applications are initially denied or payments are reduced, highlighting how challenging the process can be. This makes SSI an essential support for thousands of people but also shows the importance of careful preparation and guidance.

    Legal Services of Greater Miami (Legal Services) plays a critical role in helping people navigate SSI. They assist with completing applications correctly, gathering necessary medical records and proof of income, and appealing decisions when benefits are denied or reduced, ensuring that eligible individuals can access the support they need to meet their basic needs. Legal Services offers free help. Attorneys and advocates guide people through the process, help collect the right documents, and represent them in appeals if needed. Getting help can make a big difference in receiving these benefits. 

    SSI provides essential support for people in Florida who are elderly, blind, or disabled and have limited income or resources. Knowing the eligibility rules and seeking help from Legal Services ensures residents receive the benefits they need to cover basic needs, maintain independence, and live with dignity.

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