(Press Release)_SUNRISE, Fla. – During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Doris Italian Market and Bakery locations throughout South Florida are going pink to raise funds for the American Cancer Society - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
 
In October, the famous Doris large homemade black and white cookies in the bakery will be decorated in pink and white icing to raise awareness of breast cancer. For each cookie sold during October, $1 will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
 
In addition, the Sunrise, Coral Springs and North Palm Beach locations will sell pink ribbon-shaped fudge for $4.99 with $1 donated to the American Cancer Society. 
 
Doris Italian Market and Bakery has raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society over the years from cookie sales, participation in annual walks and Wine & Food Galas. For more information, email customerservice@dorismarket.com or call 954-572-5269.

(Press Release)_MIAMI – September 27, 2017 – Brightline, the new privately funded express inter-city passenger rail service in Florida, will soon take delivery of its fifth trainset, BrightRed, from Siemens USA in Sacramento.

Fabrication of the trainset was recently completed, and it is now on its way to South Florida traveling 3,052 miles via rail across eight states. The transcontinental journey is a milestone as it marks delivery of the final trainset for Brightline’s Phase 1 service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The train was built by employees at Siemens’ 1,000-person, 60-acre rail manufacturing hub and is 100 percent Buy America compliant. Train components were manufactured by 40 different U.S. suppliers from more than 20 states. Upon arrival at Workshop b, Brightline’s 12-acre railroad operations facility in West Palm Beach, BrightRed will soon begin the testing and commissioning process.

“The voyage of BrightRed across the U.S. is an exciting milestone as we gear up to launch service later this year,” said Brightline CEO Dave Howard. “The five trainsets represent thousands of hours of dedication from the Brightline teammates who designed and oversaw the assembly to the 1,000 people who built them in California and the 40 suppliers throughout the country that manufactured components.”

Brightline’s trains are built as integrated trainsets, comprised of two diesel-electric locomotives and four high quality stainless-steel coaches. These clean diesel-electric locomotives will meet the highest emissions standards set by the federal government. The integration improves ride quality and makes for a quiet experience, while the bright yellow locomotive on each end offers high reliability and redundancy.

“It is an exciting honor for Siemens to build trainsets with such historical significance, serving the first privately-funded rail system in over 100 years,” said Siemens Rolling Stock President Michael Cahill. “I salute the Brightline team for their innovative and courageous approach and I am proud of the team of highly skilled employees in Sacramento and the suppliers across the nation for their significant contributions to this great American manufacturing success story.”

Brightline’s trains abound with innovations and comfortable features, from automatic level boarding platforms and aisles that exceed ADA compliance standards to comfortable leather seats with multiple outlets for devices and complimentary robust Wi-Fi, powered by multiple antennas on every car. The interiors were designed by David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, one the world’s leading architecture and design firms.

Brightline is committed to leading private investment toward transportation infrastructure benefiting the public. Brightline will provide a much-needed, hospitality-driven alternative to South Florida’s congested roadways. The company is anticipating an official launch of its service later this year.
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(Press Release)_West Palm Beach, Fla. – Sept. 25, 2017 – South Florida’s passenger and freight rail providers are highlighting the importance of being safe around railroad tracks during the first annual National Rail Safety Week taking place September 24 through 30. National Rail Safety Week is being spearheaded by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

With two active rail corridors traversing the region, the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) and the South Florida Rail Corridor, it is always the right time to emphasize ways to be safe. Brightline, the only privately-funded express intercity passenger rail system in the country, Tri-Rail, South Florida’s public commuter rail service, Florida East Coast Railway, the sole freight provider along the east coast of Florida, and the three South Florida Metropolitan Planning Organizations are partnering to spread the word about ways to keep you, your friends and family safe around railroad tracks.

Currently, both passenger and freight service operate on the South Florida Rail Corridor, which runs primarily to the west of I-95 between Mangonia Park in Palm Beach County and the Miami Intermodal Center near the Miami International Airport. The Florida East Coast Railway operates 14 to 15 freight trains on its corridor, which is located along the eastern portion of the counties and parallels US 1 or Dixie Highway in most places. Brightline also operates on the FECR and will continue testing its trainsets as it gets closer to launching passenger service later this year.

Communities along each corridor have worked or are working to establish quiet zones, which means neither freight nor passenger trains will be required to blow their horns as they approach at grade crossings due to the installation of supplemental safety measures. However, a train engineer may blow the horn if there is an emergency on the tracks, like a trespasser or a vehicle. With the implementation of quiet zones, stakeholders along each corridor are strongly encouraged to make smart decisions, like staying off the tracks and not wearing headphones or being distracted.

​While vehicle-train collisions in the U.S. have dropped by 83 percent in the last four decades, there are still more than 2,000 vehicle-train collisions annually across the U.S., and last year more than 900 injuries and fatalities occurred to people walking, playing or taking photos on train tracks. These incidents are devastating to families, communities and train crew members – and they are often preventable.
Making the right decisions near railroad tracks can truly be the difference between life and death, today – and every day. Keep yourself, family and friends safe by following Operation Lifesaver’s top five rail safety tips:
 
1) Look and listen for a train as you approach all railroad crossings - obey all signs, warning lights and gates. 
2) Trains are quieter and faster than you think - never try to beat a train.
3) Because of their size and weight, it can take a mile or more to stop a train.
4) Always expect a train on any track; avoid distractions when you approach a crossing.
5) Railroad property is private property. Walking on the tracks is illegal and dangerous.
 
More information on National Rail Safety Week can be found here. Follow Rail Safety Week on social media with the hashtags #USRailSafetyWeek and #RailSafety.

(Press Release)_​MIAMI, September 26, 2017 – Azamara Club Cruises®, the upmarket cruise line subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase a sister ship to Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, with delivery taking place in March 2018.
 
“We are pleased to expand our portfolio by 50%, allowing us to visit even more regions of the world through the acquisition of this sister ship,” said Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises®. “Our loyal guests and travel partners have asked for this expansion for a long time; we are very pleased to deliver this to them.”
 
The new addition, the Azamara Pursuit, is comparable in size to the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.  As such, it will also allow visits to unique ports that larger ships are unable to reach. Together, the three ships will support the brand’s commitment to enrich destination immersion around the world, by staying longer in port to allow guests to experience more.
 
The ship’s décor will be updated to match the brand’s upmarket position.  These updates will be similar to the renovations recently introduced on the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, bringing guests the experience of a boutique hotel at sea.
 
Information about deployment and itineraries for Azamara Pursuit will be available in October. For additional information please visit www.azamara.com/pursuit.

(Press Release)_Loggerhead Marinelife Center will host a free public screening of The Smog of the Sea, a documentary from filmmaker Ian Cheney and original score by Jack Johnson, on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. The 30-minute film chronicles a research expedition through the Sargasso Sea and the global issue of plastic marine pollution.
 
Prior to the screening, LMC will hold a beach clean-up from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Juno Beach. Light bites will also be offered before the screening.
 
For more information contact Tommy Cutt, LMC’s chief conservation officer at tcutt@marinelife.org.
 
About the film
 
The Smog of the Sea chronicles a one-week journey through the remote waters of the Sargasso Sea. Marine scientist Marcus Eriksen invited onboard an unusual crew to help him study the sea: renowned surfers Keith and Dan Malloy, musician Jack Johnson, spearfisher woman Kimi Werner and bodysurfer Mark Cunningham become citizen scientists on a mission to assess the fate of plastics in the world’s oceans.
 
After years of hearing about the famous “garbage patches” in ocean gyres, the crew is stunned to learn that the patches are a myth: the waters stretching to the horizon are clear blue, with no islands of trash in sight. But as the crew sieves the water and sorts through their haul, a more disturbing reality sets in: a fog of microplastics permeates the world’s oceans, trillions of nearly invisible plastic shards making their way up the marine food chain. You can clean up a garbage patch, but how do you stop a fog?
 
Using nostalgic super-8 footage, sparkling underwater cinematography, an original score by Jack Johnson and shipmate Simon Beins and live action footage of the crew’s research, The Smog of the Sea provides a new perspective on the once pristine oceans, and makes an artful call to action for rethinking the scourge of the sea — single-use plastic. Directed by Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Ian Cheney (King Corn, The City Dark, The Search for General Tso).
                                                                                                                             
“As someone who loves and lives in the ocean, I couldn’t be more excited to have participated in 5 Gyres’ SEA Change Expedition,” Jack Johnson said. “I look forward to raising awareness of the importance of reducing our dependency on single-use plastics.”
 
Singer-songwriter, surfer and longtime ocean lover Jack Johnson has been affecting ocean health worldwide by supporting plastic-free initiatives through his social action network All At Once and his Johnson Ohana Foundation.
 
The three-leg expedition marked 5 Gyres’ 16th expedition, having sailed around the world once already to document the global impact of plastic marine pollution. In December 2014, 5 Gyres published the first global estimate on plastic pollution, finding 270,000 metric tons from 5.25 trillion particles of plastic.
 
“What we know now is that plastic in the ocean quickly shreds into microplastics and joins the SMOG of plastic polluting our oceans,” said Dr. Marcus Eriksen, 5 Gyres co-founder and director of research. “This new research revelation is driving solution inland, to the top of the watershed where the problem starts. But we need to return to sea, to educate crews, understand more and monitor our successes on land.”

(Press Release)_​MIAMI (September 19, 2017) — Miami and the Beaches is open for business following minimal impact from Hurricane Irma this past week.   The destination’s tourism industry welcomes visitors with a new promotion launched today by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) titled #MiamiNow.  The unprecedented value-offer promotion runs through October 31 and unites six of the twelve beloved GMCVB Temptations Programs:  Miami Spice, Miami Spa, Miami Hotel, Miami Attractions, Miami Museums and Shop Miami Month.  The program offers a variety of deals, providing tremendous value on hotels, restaurants, spas, museums, attractions and shopping.  While Miami and the Beaches tourism infrastructure remains intact, the GMCVB’s thoughts and prayers are with the communities severely impacted by the storm as they rebuild.
 
Savvy travelers and local residents have taken advantage of the destination’s monthly Miami Temptations special offers for years, and now the GMCVB is bringing back many of the program’s best offers to support and celebrate local businesses.   There has never been a better time to visit, or better destination-wide savings.
 
#MiamiNow features:
 
· DINE: The much-loved Miami Spice Restaurant Month has been extended through October 31 with nearly 200 restaurants participating. Highlighting Greater Miami and The Beaches’ diverse and ever-evolving culinary scene, Miami Spice restaurants will continue offering reduced prices ($23 per person for lunch and brunch / $39 per person for dinner) in some of the hottest neighborhoods in town.
 
· STAY: Many hotels are extending special offers through October 31 as part of the #MiamiNow promotion.  Hotels throughout the destination from Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Sunny Isles Beach and more are offering promotional rates and special amenity packages.  A few of the hotel participants include:  Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Ritz-Carlton South Beach, Coconut Grove and Bal Harbour properties, Sonesta Coconut Grove Miami, Marenas Beach Resort Sunny Isles Beach, The Biltmore Hotel Coral Gables, EPIC Hotel, Four Season Hotel Miami and Mandarin Oriental Miami. 
 
·   PAMPER: Miami Spa Month is back! More than 25 spas are offering exclusive treatments at $109 and $139, with select spas offering treatments for $199.
 
·  SHOP: Miami’s most popular malls, marketplaces, boutiques, restaurants and hotels will be offering incentives across different retailers.
 
·  ARTS & ATTRACTIONS: Home to internationally renowned cultural institutions and art museums, many Miami and the Beaches attractions and museum are rolling out special Miami Now offers and buy-one-get-one-free admissions.
 
For a complete listing of all the #Miami Now special offers, visit MiamiandtheBeaches.com. And for a live look at Greater Miami and the Beaches, visit our webcams at SeeMiamiLive.com. 
For a complete listing of all the #Miami Now special offers, visit MiamiandtheBeaches.com. And for a live look at Greater Miami and the Beaches, visit our webcams at SeeMiamiLive.com.

(Press Release)_​DETROIT (Sept. 15, 2017) – Fourteen years ago, the travel experts at CruiseCompete dreamed up a new way for travel consumers to find exceptional cruise deals. Since then this revolutionary website has set the cruise-travel website standard, and this month CruiseCompete celebrates its 14th anniversary with close to 16 million consumer-requested quotes.

CruiseCompete is great resource to share with your readers!

Why CruiseCompete? Unequivocally, the cruise consumer will find the best cruise deals via CruiseCompete by comparing deals from multiple independent travel agencies.

Trust – Over 1.2 million members have booked more than half a billion dollars ($500,000,000) via CruiseCompete.

Expertise – More than 3,500 cruise specialists represent more than 1,000 of the best travel agencies on the planet.

Dependability – Since 2003, agents have delivered close to 16 million quotes in response to consumer requests.

Simplicity is the key to our success. Just 3 Easy Steps to Get the Best Cruise Deal

1. Find your cruise & request quotes. Receive custom offers from some of the world's most trusted cruise specialists.

2. Compare member-only prices and added benefits Cabin upgrades, travel insurance, cabin credits to use for shore excursions, spa services and more.

3. You control the process. Remain anonymous until you decide to contact the agents with best offers to ask questions or to book your cruise.

CEO Bob Levinstein says, “CruiseCompete is very pleased to have completed 14 successful years in business and thanks each loyal consumer who has visited, booked a cruise or told friends or family about the CruiseCompete website. We are grateful, as well, for as the tremendous accolades bestowed on us by the press, and we look forward to the years ahead.”

As hurricane Irma gets closer, a steady stream of yachts and mega-yachts have been heading down the Intra-Coastal. Boat owners are also busy retrieving craft from nearby marinas as well. This will be our second close encounter with a hurricane since we came to Florida 10 years ago. We hope like everyone it's not too close. Be safe all.