South Florida News

Inaugural Reggae Genealogy Concert Event Comes to Plantation, Florida

Published

1 year ago

January 3, 2024

Plantation, Florida – On Saturday, February 10, 2024, in celebration of Reggae Month, the story of the Caribbean’s most prolific music genre will be presented to South Florida in a bold new way. The inaugural historical retrospective and concert event “Reggae Genealogy – The Origins, Evolution and Influence of Jamaican Music,” produced by Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, will be presented in the city of Plantation, Florida. A blend of entertainment and education, this event will showcase live performances including music and dance, archival video elements and contemporary narratives for a fully immersive experience. Reggae Genealogy will take place in the northeast parking lot of the Broward Mall.

The entire history of Jamaican music will find representation. Beloved icons who are no longer with us, such as Harry Belafonte, the first recording artist to sell a million records in the U.S., will speak to the audience in recorded video. Living legends like Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru, the first reggae band to win a Grammy, will make special guest appearances.

Reggae Genealogy event is presented in partnership with Broward Mall and the City of Plantation, and made possible in part by the support of the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Broward County Cultural Division, Grace Foods, Jamaica Tourist Board, Blue Mahoe Capital, the Beach Channel, Visit Lauderdale, Only the Best Printing and the following funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Judith Cornfeld Fund for the Arts, Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund.

The three-hour showcase will trace the early beginnings of popular Jamaican music, prior to Jamaican independence from Britain in 1962, to the present, touching on mento, ska, Nyabinghi, rocksteady, lover’s rock, dub, reggae and dancehall. The showcase will also highlight the influence of Jamaican music on genres such as hip hop, reggaeton, EDM and Afrobeats.

To execute the inaugural staging of Reggae Genealogy, Island SPACE has assembled an experienced team of experts in reggae music history, event production and business. The team includes Lloyd Stanbury – one of the founders of Reggae Month and of the first Jamaican all-reggae radio station, IRIE FM, and Calibe Thompson and David I. Muir – the former producers of The Taste the Islands Experience culinary festival, and co-founders of Island SPACE. Other team members include authors, documentarians, television and video producers, radio personalities and choreographers.

The gates open at 3 p.m. with showtime at 6 p.m. Pre-sold tickets are $20 or $25 at the gate. Afternoon attendees can enjoy restaurant and artisan vendors and tours of Island SPACE Caribbean Museum inside the Broward Mall. Find tickets, general, sponsorship, vendor and volunteer information at www.reggaegenealogy.org

Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives that represent the Caribbean region, in South Florida and the broader diaspora. The public is invited to visit the Caribbean museum Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General museum entry is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Visit www.islandspacefl.org to learn more.

South Florida News

Miami-Dade Transit Extends Service for 2025 Ultra Music Festival Attendees

Published

3 months ago

March 12, 2025

Willie David

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (FNN) – Festivalgoers heading to the 2025 Ultra Music Festival at Bayfront Park will have extended transit service options to make travel easier and more convenient, according to Miami-Dade Transit officials.

From Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30, both Metrorail and Metromover will operate extended hours:

Friday, March 28 & Saturday, March 29: 5 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, March 30: 5 a.m. to midnight

Green and Orange Line trains will run every 30 minutes, offering a 15-minute combined frequency between Earlington Heights and Dadeland South stations.

Visitors arriving from out of town can take the Orange Line directly from Miami International Airport to Government Center Station. From there, they can transfer to the Metromover Inner Loop (free of charge) and disembark at the College/Bayside, First Street, or Bayfront Park stations.

Fare Information:

Metrorail Fare: $2.25 (one-way) or $5.65 (One-Day Pass)
Riders can pay via the GO Miami Dade app, Token Transit app, Citymapper, Transit app, or with contactless-enabled debit/credit cards.

Parking Information:
Parking at Metrorail garages/surface lots is available for $4.50 per day. Riders can pay via Ticket Vending Machines or the PayByPhone app.

Metrobus Detours:
Several Metrobus routes (3, 9, 203, 100, and 101) will be detoured starting at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 through 6 a.m. on Monday, March 31. Delays may occur, particularly in Omni, Miami Beach, and downtown Miami areas.

South Florida News

Miami-Dade Dedicates Pineland Preserve in Memory of Environmental Leader Sean W. McCrackine

Published

3 months ago

March 12, 2025

FNN NEWS

MIAMI-DADE (FNN) – Miami-Dade County paid tribute to the late Sean W. McCrackine by dedicating a newly named pineland preserve in his honor during a heartfelt ceremony held today in Cutler Bay.

Led by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, the dedication ceremony celebrated McCrackine’s nearly three-decade commitment to environmental conservation and community service.

McCrackine began his career as a Project Assistant with the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Division of Environmental Resources Management (RER-DERM) and eventually became the Director of Policy for Mayor Levine Cava.

“Today, we celebrate a remarkable life dedicated to the betterment of our community and the preservation of our environment,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

McCrackine’s wife, Lou McCrackine, expressed gratitude for the tribute. “Sean loved this community and worked tirelessly to ensure its natural beauty would be preserved for all to enjoy,” she said.

The Sean W. McCrackine Pineland Preserve is part of the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, which manages over 28,000 acres of protected natural habitats across more than 85 preserves in Miami-Dade County.

The dedication included a sign unveiling and closing reflections on McCrackine’s contributions, ensuring his environmental legacy will inspire future generations.

The Sean W. McCrackine Pineland Preserve is located at the corner of SW 192 Street & SW 140 Avenue (coordinates: 25°35’24.4″N 80°25’10.4″W).

South Florida News

Miami-Dade to Launch 2025 Sea Turtle Nesting Season with Turtlepalooza at Crandon Park

Published

3 months ago

March 12, 2025

FNN NEWS

MIAMI-DADE (FNN) – Miami-Dade County is gearing up to celebrate the start of the 2025 sea turtle nesting season with Turtlepalooza, a family-friendly conservation event set for Sunday, March 16, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crandon Park Visitor’s & Biscayne Nature Center (6767 Crandon Blvd, Miami, FL 33149).

Organized by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, Turtlepalooza will feature a variety of engaging activities designed to educate the public about sea turtle conservation. The event will begin with a beach cleanup at 9 a.m., followed by the opening of the EcoVillage at 10 a.m., where visitors can explore educational booths focused on marine life protection.

Attendees can participate in guided nature hikes, enjoy a special All About Sea Turtles presentation, and witness a live animal ambassador presentation led by Bill Sadowski Park staff. Guests will also have the chance to enter an adopt-a-nest giveaway raffle.

Miami-Dade residents can further contribute to sea turtle conservation efforts by adopting a nest, participating in a sea turtle night release, or observing a daytime nest excavation this summer.

For additional information on Turtlepalooza and Miami-Dade’s sea turtle conservation efforts, visit the county’s official website.