Public photo opportunity to honor veterans and encourage donations in support of life saving mental health services September 10 – November 10

July 22, 2026 – Galleria Fort Lauderdale will be the perfect backdrop for the The Poppy Project Pop-Up Living Garden in support of Henderson Behavioral Health (HBH). This public art initiative, designed to honor veterans while raising awareness and funds for critical mental health services, will be a cherished photo opportunity moment from September 10 through November 10 at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 East Sunrise Blvd.)

Designed by South Florida based Ingham Landscaping and presented by Galleria Fort Lauderdale, the two-month living garden will be a colorful and lively setting featuring the five-and 6-foot striking handcrafted fiberglass poppy flowers which are a remembrance of those who protect and serve our country. The garden will include a variety of tropical ornamental plants and shrubs that will complement the artistic poppy works of art sponsored by key community partners, sponsors, and supporters including The Leo Goodwin Foundation, Arlene Pecora, the Henderson Behavioral Health Board of Directors, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD28) Support Committee, Community Foundation of Broward, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale.

Guests to the mall can take colorful photos to share online and connect with and donate to HBH’s virtual Legacy Wall which encourages friends and families to honor loved ones who have served or are currently serving our country. Special retail offers will coincide with this community project. The campaign will continue throughout the year, aligning with nationally recognized holidays including Veterans Day.

“Galleria Fort Lauderdale has a long history of supporting worthy causes and is proud to support Henderson Behavioral Health’s efforts to help those who dutifully served our country through this impactful and engaging public photo opportunity,” said Shaneika Haskins, marketing director at Galleria Fort Lauderdale. “We invite the community to experience the mall and be part of this vibrant tribute to veterans which supports much needed mental health services.”

The poppies made their debut at an unveiling at Tunnel Top Plaza in Downtown Fort Lauderdale in May. Funds raised through sponsorship of the poppies and donations will directly support Henderson Behavioral Health’s VICTORY (Veterans in Counseling to Obtain Recovery) Program, which provides free mental health services to veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families, including outreach and education across South Florida, workshops addressing mental health challenges impacting military families, and individual and relationship therapy offered both in clinical settings and within the community.

“The Poppy Project is a powerful way for our community to come together in remembrance of those who have patriotically served our country and to honor them by supporting vital mental health programs and services,” said Dr. Steven Ronik, CEO of Henderson Behavioral Health. “We salute Galleria Fort Lauderdale for presenting this extension of our program and thank many other businesses and individuals who are not only honoring service and sacrifice but also ensuring that those who have served and continue to protect our country receive the care they deserve.”

Inspired by the poppy’s historical significance as a symbol of sacrifice, rooted in the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields,” and later adopted as a national emblem of remembrance, HBH’s The Poppy Project brings this tradition to life in a local and meaningful way. The effort will continue throughout the year, aligning with nationally recognized holidays including Veterans Day.

Since 2023, Henderson Behavioral Health has served hundreds of veterans, including more than 250 in 2025 alone, reflecting the growing demand for accessible, high-quality mental health care. As a vital safety net within the community, the organization continues to see increasing demand for veteran-focused services, highlighting the need for continued resources to support and expand access to care.

To learn more about The Poppy Project Pop-Up Living Garden at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, and for a complete list of retailers, call (954) 564-1015 or visit www.galleriamall-fl.com.

 

About Henderson Behavioral Health

Established in 1953, Henderson Behavioral Health (HBH or Henderson) is one of Florida’s oldest and largest nonprofit providers of mental health and substance use disorder services, serving more than 30,000 individuals of all ages each year. Through a comprehensive approach that includes clinical care, housing, supported employment and advocacy, Henderson helps individuals achieve recovery and lead meaningful, independent lives. With programs and facilities throughout South Florida, the organization provides a wide range of accessible, evidence-based services designed to treat the whole person. Henderson is fully accredited at the highest level by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (C.A.R.F.). For more information visit, hendersonbh.org or call (954) 777-1624.

 

About Galleria Fort Lauderdale

Galleria Fort Lauderdale, recognized as one of South Florida’s premier shopping destinations, features a variety of popular dining and retail options. Macy’s, Dillard’s and H&M anchor the center which also is home to Apple, Banana Republic, Free People and Pandora. The center features an assortment of dining establishments such as Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and P.F. Chang’s. Coming in late 2027, Galleria Fort Lauderdale will welcome Florida’s first Wayfair retail location. Just steps away from Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach, it is minutes from the airport, port, downtown, hotels and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center with easy access from Sunrise Boulevard, U.S. Highway 1 (Federal Highway), Interstate 95, Interstate 595, and U.S. Highway A1A (Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard). Located at 2414 East Sunrise Blvd., it is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon. through Sat. and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sun. Restaurants and anchors enjoy varied hours. More information is available by calling (954) 564-1015 or by visiting www.galleriamall-fl.com.



July 15, 2026  – Summer is here! If you haven’t made your vacation plans yet, you might be searching for a deal. While you look for bargains, scammers are looking for ways to reach you…and your money. Here are some things to know to help you avoid travel scams.

Travel scams can crop up when you’re searching online for hotels or flights. Scammers sometimes use paid ads and put their number alongside a well-known company’s name, or link to a website that only looks like it belongs to a hotel brand or airline. To avoid these scammers, scroll to the unpaid search results and check that you have the right website or contact info for the business you’re looking for. Or better yet, type the company’s website directly into the browser, if you know it.

Scammers have driving vacations covered, too, sending texts about fake “unpaid tolls” and demanding immediate payment. If you’re not sure that a text is real, reach out to the state’s toll agency using a phone number or website you know is correct — not the info from the text.

Here are some other ways to avoid travel scams:

  • Get all the details of a travel offer before you commit. If the organizer can’t or won’t give you more specific details (other than saying “you’ll stay at a ‘five-star’ resort”), walk away.
  • Do some research. Look up the names of travel companies, hotels, rentals, and agents with the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See what others say about them before you commit.
  • Look at how they ask you to pay. Only scammers will tell you that the only way to pay is by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or cryptocurrency. They prefer these methods because, once they’ve collected the money, it’s almost impossible to get it back.

Learn more at ftc.gov/TravelScams. Spot a scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

 About AAABC (Area Agency on Aging of Broward County)

Sponsored by the Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County is the nonprofit umbrella organization charged with the responsibilities of planning, coordinating, monitoring, and funding programs designed to meet the needs of over 510,632 year-round Broward older adult residents including an Elder Helpline, Medicare Counseling, Health & Wellness classes and more. As the prime advocate for local Older Americans, the AAABC contracts with administering organizations for the following programs: senior centers; senior day care; site meals; home-delivered meals; Alzheimer’s in-home and facility respite; minor in-home repair; legal; transportation; homemaker personal care; respite; emergency response; and case management. Please visit our website for detailed information on all our services. https://www.adrcbroward.org/

A Public Service Announcement from the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County, the state-designated disability and aging resource center for Broward County funded in part by the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs.



Statement attributable to:
Willie Underwood, MD, MSc, MPH
President, American Medical Association

JULY 21, 2026 – “Quick-moving legislation to reform prior authorization—adopted today by the House Energy and Commerce Committee—shows that this idea has bipartisan support and political legs. The Ways and Means Committee last week supported the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2026, and the Energy and Commerce panel tucked it into another bill and then overwhelmingly passed it. For too long, Medicare Advantage plans have misused prior authorization to delay or deny medically necessary care for our patients. This legislation would bring greater transparency and accountability to the prior authorization process while reducing burdens that pull physicians away from caring for patients.

“The next step is the House floor. The bipartisan votes are there. The need is undeniable. The AMA will work with lawmakers in both chambers and both parties until patients are no longer denied medically necessary care by red tape and bureaucratic indifference.”

Read the AMA’s letter (PDF) to the House Ways and Means Committee.



JULY 21 2026 The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia July 21 upheld a lower court’s decision that Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act does not permit drug companies to impose proposed rebate models on 340B purchasers unless the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services approves. The court did not weigh in on the lawfulness of the department’s proposed rebate program or any other version of a rebate model that it could approve.

“The manufacturers’ reading would also counterintuitively let manufacturers, rather than the Secretary, take the lead in administering the 340B Program, rendering the Secretary’s role largely reactive,” the court explained. “Put simply, the statute places the Secretary, not the manufacturers, in the driver’s seat of this important program.”

The AHA, Children’s Hospital Association, Association of American Medical Colleges and America’s Essential Hospitals filed a joint amicus brief in the case, defending HHS’ decision to reject the rebate models offered by appellants Novartis and Johnson & Johnson.



JULY 21, 2026 – The AHA provided comments July 21 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on its proposed rule to modify policies governing Medicaid state-directed payments as authorized under the July 2025 reconciliation bill. The rule also includes proposals that are beyond what the statute requires, such as new limits on certain targeted fee-for-service payments and other SDP service types, as well as new limitations on SDP design. The AHA said that CMS’ projection of a $510.1 billion reduction in payments over 10 years well exceeds the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of $149.4 billion over 10 years, and would greatly reduce access to care, exacerbate workforce challenges, and impact hospital and health system financial viability if proposed changes in the rule are enacted. The AHA urged CMS to rescind proposals that exceed statutory requirements and to lessen the financial impact of the reduction of SDPs to Medicare levels.