(PRESS RELEASE)_Palm Beach, FL – They may be called the country’s “most popular pets,” but right now they need our help. Not only are thousands of newborn kittens joining the millions of cats already in shelters across the country during spring’s “kitten season,” but a decrease in funding and supplies at many shelters that have struggled to maintain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic further threaten these beautiful animals and their hopes to find a forever home. To help, American Humane is devoting its 47th annual “Adopt-a-Cat Month®” to encouraging animal lovers to adopt a pet from a shelter, contribute to its “Feed the Hungry” campaign, which has delivered more than a million meals to shelter animals in need, and learn more about the joys (and responsibilities) of adding a cat – or two – to their families. 

“There are literally millions of reasons to rescue a cat in need during our Adopt-a-Cat Month and at every other time of year,” says West Palm Beach resident and American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. “You can find every one of them at your local shelter or rescue and, with time, each will give you a million reasons to be glad you did.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_(May 18, 2022 – West Palm Beach, FL) Ellen Wedner, president of Creative Arts Enterprises, announced today that it will once again be kicking off Pride Month’s celebration of the local LGBTQIA+ community with PRIDE LIGHTS that will illuminate in multi-colored, rainbow lights the Centennial Fountain in Nancy M. Graham Centennial Park in downtown West Palm Beach.
 
Located at 150 N. Clematis Street, the Centennial Fountain lights—along with those on the nearby Citizens Building, the marquee at Palm Beach Dramaworks, Brightline Station, and more—will be turned on at 8 pm on Wednesday, June 1, following a festive PRIDE Happy Hour from 6 to 8 pm at Pistache French Bistro just a few steps away.
 
“Why are we doing this,” asks Wedner? “Because ‘Light’ banishes invisibility and this special one night event gives public recognition to the Palm Beach LGBTQIA+ community at the start of Pride month.”
 
“As the fountain lights up with Pride, the celebration begins with a musical performance that is free and open to the public,” she adds. “We have already booked well-known cabaret stars Rob Russell and Avery Sommers to perform, plus musical ensembles from both the Palm Beach Symphony and Young Singers of the Palm Beaches.”
 
“At a time when gender confusion abounds, when LGBTQ-positive intersections are deliberately vandalized, and when ‘Don’t Say Gay’ is the official state policy, I invite everyone—straight or not, cisgender or not—to join us for this fun, positive, community event,” says Wedner.
 
In addition, Creative Arts Enterprises will be producing the inaugural REEL PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL (October 9-12, 2022) honoring LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Day on October 11.

(PRESS RELEASE)_(Delray Beach, FL – May 17, 2022) As part of its annual celebration of Juneteenth—the federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans--Arts Garage is presenting two informative and exciting events next month:
 
June 16 at 7 pm  (Thursday)
Simone Browne
Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness
The final session of this year’s 3-part Authors Speak Series focused on
The Impact of Race on American Society, this event will feature Simone Browne, Associate Professor in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. As Research Director of Critical Surveillance Inquiry at a local research collaborative, she works with scholars, organizations and communities to curate conversations, exhibitions and research that examine the social and ethical implications of surveillance technologies, both AI-enabled and not. Her award-winning book Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness shows how contemporary surveillance technologies and practices are informed by the long history of racial formation and by the methods of policing black life under slavery, such as branding, runaway slave notices, and lantern laws, and continues to be a social and political norm.

(PRESS RELEASE)_(South Florida – May 17, 2022) Jeff Kiltie, board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s Theatre & Arts Honors, today announced that the 45th annual awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 14 at 7:30 pm at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center at 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill, FL 33311.
 
“Although we held a virtual awards ceremony in mid-2020, this will be our first live, in-person event since April 2019,” says Kiltie. “Everybody’s favorite ‘Theatre Prom’ is back—and we’re looking forward to a truly joyous celebration at our new and larger location so that more friends, fans, family members, and theater lovers can join us.”
 
“Working with the Carbonell Awards is sure to be an exciting, creative, artistic adventure, and the City of Lauderhill is extremely pleased to be a part of the process,” says Desorae Giles-Smith, Lauderhill City Manager. “We are proud that the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is the venue of choice for an organization that highlights and encourages the performing arts throughout South Florida. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at this year’s in-person event.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_Boca Raton, Fla. (May 16, 2022) – The Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (Levis JCC) has named Marty Haberer Chief Executive Officer.
 
Haberer brings more than 30 years of leadership experience including serving as President and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix for the past five years. He has held various senior development positions, including Chief Development Officer of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and Valley of the Sun JCC, a merged entity from 2015-2017, Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee in Florida and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
 
“Marty brings a wide-range of experience in donor development, strategic community partnerships and operational management to our organization,” said Emily Grabelsky, President of the Levis JCC’s Board of Directors. “His expertise and fresh perspective will reinforce our mission to strengthen engagement with the Jewish community through educational, social and recreational programs.”
 
Haberer earned his Bachelor of Arts from Stony Brook University and his Master of Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work in New York. Marty looks forward to returning to Florida with his wife Lori and their pet dachshund. He said,  “I am honored to have been invited to continue to aspire to enrich Jewish life in South Palm Beach County by serving the community with humility and care, and working with the special volunteer leadership there.”

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (May 16, 2022) – Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, is celebrating three years of service in South Florida with its third annual #305Weekend happening May 20-22, at the Brightline MiamiCentral, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stations. As a thank you to the community for its support throughout the years, Brightline will offer $3 and $5 SMART fares perfect for exploring South Florida, Brightline’s first-ever food truck enterprise program, and special in-station events and pop-ups all weekend long. 
 
“We have received a tremendous amount of support from our guests and the communities in South Florida throughout Brightline’s three years of service,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “The Annual 305 Weekend celebration is our way of giving back to the community and our guests who make Brightline truly special. We are thrilled to celebrate another year and many more to come as we expand to Orlando.”
 
To celebrate its anniversary and return to service, Brightline’s #305Weekend will feature continuous programming and daily offers including social media moments, live music on a mirrored DJ booth with special food and beverages throughout the station and specialty goods at Citizens. #305Weekend station-specific festivities will include: