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A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections Expands Services to Hillsborough, Pinellas & Polk Counties in Florida  FinancialContent

A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections Expands Services to Hillsborough, Pinellas & Polk Counties in Florida  FinancialContent

Orange County woman shares how Habitat home inspection got her free roof  Spectrum News 13

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live in a place where many cultures and nationalities abound.

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When I was at a restaurant with friends the other day, we were served by a comely waitress. My friend commented on the beauty of the “Asian waitress,” but I thought she was Latina.

Is there a tactful and proper way to ask? Or are we better off not asking such a question at all? None of us wishes to offend anyone.

GENTLE READER: Then please just order your food. Miss Manners reminds you that the waitress is not a menu item of whom you may inquire the ingredients. She has work to do and may not want to explain her background to you.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I inherited a 1920s-era diamond ring and earrings.

I remember my grandmother saying that with the exception of an engagement ring, it’s inappropriate to wear this type of flashy jewelry during the day.

I am going to a reunion luncheon for my all-girls school, to be held at a lovely “Old South”-style tearoom. Frankly, I would love to wear these pieces to the event. The ring could pass for an engagement ring, but the sizable solitaire earrings are definitely just “bling.”

Does this rule still hold? Would sticking to pearls be more appropriate?

GENTLE READER: Hold with whom?

Even if Miss Manners had inherited the crown jewels, she, like your grandmother, would never wear them during the day. But she has noticed that people who actually have inherited crown jewels are among those who are either ignorant or contemptuous of the rule.

However, the rule was well-known and observed in what you are calling the Old South. As your classmates have chosen this venue, perhaps they would consider your wearing the earrings to be a vulgar case of showing off. Or not.

You do know that your grandmother would not approve. Gratitude and respect should stop you from going against her sense of decorum — especially if she is the relative from whom you inherited the jewelry.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My fiance and I sent out wedding invitations. Our wedding is still 12 weeks away, but will-be attendees have already begun sending gifts to our house.

What is the proper etiquette for the timing of thank-you notes? Should we wait until the wedding takes place, or should we start sending thank-you notes now to acknowledge receipt of these gifts?

GENTLE READER: NOW!

Sorry; Miss Manners did not mean to shout at you. But she knows what happens when brides postpone thanking people who give them presents.

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Right now, you are busy getting ready for the wedding. Then, you will be on your wedding trip. After that, you will be catching up at work after having been away. At that point, you won’t be able to bear to look at the list of who gave what — which will be on your desk, giving you dirty looks.

Then you will decide that it is too late.

The time to thank someone for giving you a present is when you receive that present.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

More than a dozen development projects in Boca Raton are under review, which could mean hundreds more residences and thousands of square feet of new shops, restaurants and office space in the city.

Some of the projects propose only 20 residential units — such as Briskel Pointe at 6800 N. Federal Hwy. — while others, such as the Modera Boca along Dixie Highway, pitch a more than 300-unit building, according to city documents.

When talking about Briskel Pointe during a recent public planning and zoning board meeting, Peter Begovich, a senior planner with the city, said the development promotes the “public health, safety, comfort, order, appearance, convenience and general welfare of the city.”

He also said that the development “answers the growing demand for housing of all types of designs” and offers a greater variety of layouts than is normally possible via conventional zoning.

Similar statements have been made about some of the other projects in the city’s development pipeline in recent months, and with Mayor Scott Singer welcoming more people and businesses to Boca Raton, perhaps the “significant opportunities for housing” may be more necessary.

Included in the growing list of projects in review before the city officials are:

— The Oval, a 10-unit residential development with about 2,000-square-feet of retail at 501 East Palmetto Park Road.

— The Boca Raton Residential, a 76-unit residential development at 501 East Camino Real.

— Atrium Residential, an eight-story, 222-unit multi-family residential building with 15% of the units designated as affordable and workforce housing, at 6111 NW Broken Sound Parkway.

— North Park Villas, a 10-unit project at 5910 NW 2nd Ave.

— Ibis Row, which has been proposed as four, two-story townhomes at 1700 Juana Road. This project in particular has gained negative traction from people who live in the nearby neighborhoods who believe this project would disrupt the single-family pattern.

A residence near the former Life Center Boca Raton displays signs opposing a potential townhome development on the site at 2 SW 12th Ave. in Boca Raton on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Just because a project is under review, though, does not mean it automatically gets approved. Each project has to go through the city’s approval process, which could ultimately mean being rejected by the City Council.

Some projects go entirely unnoticed by residents. Others are criticized, like Ibis Row. Others are even praised.

When Briskel Pointe was discussed at the most recent planning and zoning board meeting, one person brought up how the project could bring more traffic to Federal Highway. That concern was followed up by praise from Villas at Berkeley Condominium president Michael Speizman. The Villas Berkeley is directly south of where Briskel Pointe could rise.

“It’s replacing a kind of rundown, vacant lot that, I don’t want to think what’s going on in it, but it’d be better if it was housing,” he said.

A vacant lot at 6800 N Federal Hwy, in Boca Raton is shown on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Attorneys from the law firm Miskel Backman who are representing Briskel Pointe argued in documents that the city’s population “is steadily growing, particularly post-pandemic with many moving to the city from out of state,” which also leads to higher housing costs. Thus, more residences may continue to rise, whether current residents want them to or not.

As Zohran Mamdani, the socialist democratic candidate for mayor of New York City put it: “I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality.”

The remark — made during a recent network news interview — has hardly gone unnoticed by South Florida politicians and economic development promoters who would welcome another major round of business relocations from New York — the most recent being triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, some in South Florida have come to believe that Mamdani, 33, whose campaign is touting rent freezes, free buses, city-owned grocery stores and a $30-an-hour minimum wage — funded by the city’s top 1% earners — could be a one-man trigger of another Florida-bound corporate migration movement.

For the record, the 2025 billionaires list published by Forbes places New York at the top with 123. Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties are each home to 23 billionaires. Broward has four.

All three counties appear on a different worldwide list of “hot spots” for centi-millionaires compiled by New World Wealth, a South Africa-based intelligence firm.

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“We’ll have to have more direct flights from New York to Fort Lauderdale,” Bob Swindell, CEO and president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, said by phone Thursday.

In the wake of Mamdani’s remarks, the alliance issued a statement noting that it has leveraged Florida’s business-friendly climate to draw large numbers of businesses to the county from elsewhere over the years, helping to position them all for success.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is the new frontier for business expansion, with all the right elements to prosper both in business and in life,” Swindell said. “We’ve cultivated one of the most business-friendly climates in the nation, offering public-private partnership opportunities, collaborative support, and an innovative spirit that catapults businesses to the next level.”

“We’ve helped countless business leaders seamlessly relocate and expand in Broward,” he added, “and the majority have only one regret: that they didn’t do it sooner.”

Geographically, the chief sources of the wealth transfers are hardly surprising: New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

A new capital of capitalism?

Recently, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer scored some national publicity for his city in an interview with the New York Post, saying his city’s doors are open to those corporations that are tired of New York’s high taxes. He said he’s already conducted phone conversations with interested business leaders. “New York is not going to be the capital of capitalism anymore,” he asserted.

Swindell said he and David Coddington, senior vice president of business development at the alliance, recently traveled to New York to meet with various corporate operatives.

The prevailing pivot points for deciding whether to move or stay are the policies a city chooses to adopt for their local economies.

“The way policymakers position themselves and the stances they take … the whole tenor of their conversation helps people form their impressions,” Swindell said.

NBC News host Kristen Welker on June 29 asked Mamdani, “Do you think billionaires have a right to exist?” Mamdani reacted to the question by first laughing, then replied he didn’t think “we should have billionaires.” He added, “It is so much money, in a moment of such inequality. And ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city, and across our state, and across our country. And I look forward to work with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fairer for all of them.”

Talking against the idea of a monied class won’t impress everyone: Swindell noted that Mamdani “didn’t correct himself. That’s the way he feels.” Swindell said, “That attitude that (billionaires) shouldn’t exist is so short-sighted.”

In South Florida, he noted that the prominently rich have stepped up over the years with significant contributions to the community.

He cited Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola, the family of the late auto dealership entrepreneur Jim Moran and the late Fort Lauderdale billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of AutoNation and onetime owner of the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins and the Panthers.

“They have been so incredibly generous to this community,” Swindell said.

“We realize the strength of our region,” he added. “There is no question about who we are or where we are.”

Bob Venero, CEO of Future Tech Enterprise Inc., and an inveterate Florida Panthers fan, moved his company from Long Island, N.Y., to downtown Fort Lauderdale nearly four years ago.

“A lot of it was tied to the business environment,” he said when recalling the reasons for the move.

“In New York, from a political perspective, they did not believe in the trickle-down effect,” he said, where profitable businesses generate economic benefits for the community.

In Florida, it’s been different, he said.

“Everybody I have met from a business perspective — it’s not combative,” Venero said. “It’s the opposite: ‘Show us your value and when we see your value we’ll do business.'”

Now Future Tech has doubled in size. It occupies the top floor of the Broward Financial Center as well as the 14th floor — the latter for use as a briefing center with customers from around the country.

“We’re extremely happy to be there and to grow,” Venero said. Each year, hundreds of customers travel to Fort Lauderdale for visits.

One frequent customer request about the timing: “Oh, by the way, can we do it in the winter?”

With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, the South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a look at 10 storylines to watch for in a 10-part series ahead of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of training camp, which is set for July 22.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, a likely future Hall of Fame selection, will cost the Dolphins $51.8 million on the salary cap in 2026, according to Overthecap.com.

You can be fairly sure Hill, a five-time All Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, won’t be playing for the Dolphins at that price.

The Dolphins will either release Hill or amend his contract to lower the cap hit.

Or they could trade him this year before the November trade deadline depending on how the season goes.

But as the Dolphins seem to be moving toward trying to win with youth and draftees, and being more fiscally responsible, you wonder where that leaves Hill’s future with the team.

If they cut Hill before June 1, 2026, it would cost them $15.5 million in dead money but save them $36.3 million against the cap.

If they designate Hill as a post-June 1 cut, he would cost them $12.7 million in dead money but save them $39.1 million against the cap.

Hill, however, has been essential personnel for the Dolphins.

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Over the past two years the Dolphins are 11-0 and average 35 points per game when Hill gets 100 yards or more receiving. When Hill has 99 or fewer yards receiving, the Dolphins are 7-16 (.304) and average 18 points per game.

“I think one of the things that was very clear,” coach Mike McDaniel said regarding the 2024 season, “is that defenses had spent their time figuring out how to make us perform in all facets.”

The Dolphins began adapting to life without Hill during this offseason’s organized team activities and minicamp. Hill missed both while recovering from right wrist surgery, so quarterback Tua Tagovailoa worked mostly with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, his college teammate at Alabama.

“We’re continuing to grow our chemistry with one another,” Tagovailoa said. “For the past year, for the past two years, it’s really been me and ’Reek kind of getting on that same page.

“But if me and Waddle can get together and continue to make strides throughout these last few days of minicamp, I think it’s going to lead into some pretty good things preparing us for training camp.”

Hill has been amazingly durable during the previous three seasons. He’s only missed one game, the 30-0 victory over the New York Jets in 2023.

Dolphins Deep Dive: What is Miami’s goal for the 2025 season? | VIDEO

He’s also been amazingly good.

Hill had a career-best 1,799 yards receiving in 2023. He did it on 119 receptions with 13 touchdowns.

In 2022, he had 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns.

Last season his production slipped. He had just 959 yards on 81 receptions with six touchdowns as he battled through the wrist injury.

The Hard Rock Bet sports app has set Hill’s over/under yardage total for this season at 975 yards.

If Hill has another season such as his 2024 performance, it’ll likely cost the Dolphins severely. They slumped to an 8-9 record last season although part of that was due to their 2-4 record when Tagovailoa was sidelined.

From the outside, Hill appears poised for a great season. He ran blazing fast 100-meter dashes of 10.15 seconds and 10.1 seconds at track meets near California and Texas this summer.

And Hill seems recovered from the offseason surgery on his right wrist.

Hill also seems to have mended fences with his teammates after his infamous “I’m out” remark after last season’s finale. Hill at the time hinted he wanted to depart from the Dolphins for the 2025 season.

“It was tough,” Hill said of making up with teammates. “Obviously, emotions were high then, but at the end of the day I’m just looking to move forward from that. Hoping that I can prove myself and prove to my teammates I’m still one of them ones who’s chasing 2k, one of those ones chasing playoff dreams and all of that great stuff.”

Oh, yeah, that’s the other thing. Hill, who came close to 2,000 receiving yards in 2023, said he’d like to reach that threshold this season.

If he gets it, most likely the Dolphins will reach the playoffs, and that would make it extremely tough for the Dolphins not to have Hill on the roster in 2026.

Q: Can we all agree that “leaning into their youth” is a euphemism for tanking? – Harvey.

A: No, because if your youth is what you believe it can be, then winning still can be the result. The Heat did not draft Kasparas Jakucioinis, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic with an eye on defeat. In fact, if such a “lean into youth” is the plan, then it is one predicated on winning with those aforementioned first-round picks. What leaning into youth means is not falling into the trap of taking the known from the likes of Kevin Love, Terry Rozier or, if he returns, Alec Burks. It means playing through the learning curves of the young players, but with expectations of growth from those young players. The reality is that if the Heat get what they think they can get out of Jakucionis, Ware, Jaquez and Jovic, they will be, at minimum, a play-in team. So, no, not the same as tanking and lining up alongside the Wizards and Nets.

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Q: Kasparas Jakučionis looks completely lost.  It seems like it’s going to be a long time, if ever, before he’d be ready to contribute in an NBA game. This is not a player ready to play in the NBA this season. Are you concerned with what you’ve seen in the first two summer games?  Do you expect him to spend the season in the G League? – Brian.

A: Because you always judge an entire career arc based on the initial two summer appearances. Kiddingly, when I spoke after the summer opener to Eric Glass, the assistant coach who is guiding the Heat summer roster, I joked about how Kasparas Jakučionis’ career clearly is headed nowhere after Saturday’s struggle. Um, perhaps we wait at least a week . . . or two . . . or for the start of training camp . . . or for the preseason? When you draft a player at 19, there is plenty of time for growth. It will get better. With time. And only with time.

Q:  So is it panic time for the Heat? Unless I am mistaken, the only guards on the roster are Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell, Terry Rozier and Kasparas Jakucionis (who will probably spend most of his time in the G League). They better hope that Rozier has a comeback year or pick someone else up, or they are in a heap of trouble. That protected lottery pick is looking huge for them. – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.

A: So we’re really doing this a week into July? Really? For years, the Heat did not draft young because it was all about being ready for the moment, in the moment. Times have changed. You bank on growth and development. Kasparas Jakučionis will be just fine. Seriously. But perhaps we give him more than a week? Also, don’t count out Pelle Larsson when considering Heat backcourt options this coming season. There is something real there.

 

Today is Monday, July 7, the 188th day of 2024. There are 177 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On July 7, 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Also on this date:

In 1865, four people were hanged in Washington, D.C. for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln: Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the federal government.

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In 1898, President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, approving the annexation of the Republic of Hawaii.

In 1930, construction began on Boulder Dam (known today as Hoover Dam).

In 1976, the United States Military Academy at West Point included female cadets for the first time as 119 women joined the Class of 1980.

In 1990, the first “Three Tenors” concert took place as opera stars Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras performed amid the brick ruins of Rome’s Baths of Caracalla on the eve of the FIFA World Cup final.

In 2005, terrorist bombings in three Underground stations and a double-decker bus killed 52 people and four bombers in the worst attack on London since World War II.

In 2010, Los Angeles police arrested and charged Lonnie Franklin Jr. in the city’s “Grim Sleeper” serial killings. (Franklin, who was sentenced to death for the killings of nine women and a teenage girl, died in prison in March 2020 at the age of 67.)

In 2013, Andy Murray became the first British man in 77 years to win the Wimbledon title, beating Novak Djokovic in the final.

In 2016, Micah Johnson, a Black Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, opened fire on Dallas police, killing five officers in an act of vengeance for the fatal police shootings of Black men; the attack ended with Johnson being killed by a bomb delivered by a police robot.

In 2021, a squad of gunmen assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and wounded his wife in an overnight raid on their home.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Musician-conductor Doc Severinsen is 98.
• Former Beatle Ringo Starr is 85.
• World Golf Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin is 81.
• Actor Joe Spano is 79.
• Actor Roz Ryan is 74.
• Actor Billy Campbell is 66.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson is 65.
• Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is 62.
• Actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan is 59.
• Actor Amy Carlson is 57.
• Actor Jorja Fox is 57.
• Actor Robin Weigert is 56.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie is 53.
• Actor Kirsten Vangsness (“Criminal Minds”) is 53.
• Actor Berenice Bejo (BEH’-ruh-nees BAY’-hoh) (Film: “The Artist”) is 49.
• Actor Hamish Linklater is 49.
• Olympic figure skating medalist Michelle Kwan is 45.
• Guitarist Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold) is 44.
• Pop singer Ally Brooke (Fifth Harmony) (TV: “The X Factor”) is 32.
• Pop musician Ashton Irwin (5 Seconds to Summer) is 31.
• Country singer Maddie Font (Maddie and Tae) is 30.

Here are the top stories for Monday, July 7, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Did the president drop an f-bomb? Yes, and Democrats are doing it too

‘A really exciting game’: Major League Cricket comes to Broward County

Plantation man dies in head-on crash

Death toll in central Texas flash floods rises to 82 as sheriff says 10 campers remain missing

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world’s largest trade relationship

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Asking Eric: My daughter says she’s a minimalist and won’t take my heirlooms

Musk says he’s forming a new political party after split with Trump over tax cuts law

Ware uneven, Jakucionis limited as Heat fall 103-83 to Lakers in summer league

 

General Daily Insight for July 07, 2025

Let’s shake it up, everyone! Zany Uranus enters Gemini today at 3:45 am EDT, shifting dynamics and bringing an inventive, restless energy to the collective until November 8, when it will dip back into Taurus once more. Venus then uplifts magnetic Pluto, transforming us for the better with balance, creativity, and compassion. Things settle down once the Moon trines communicative Mercury, making it easier to express ourselves to the world and get our thoughts and feelings aligned. Brush off the cobwebs and speak from the heart.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Passion can propel you forward. Your manner of expressing yourself might become more excited during this time, and other people may find you to be full of energy or all over the place. Instead of talking a mile a minute, search for a balance in the conversation that allows the other person to express themselves as well. As you continually build a balance between following your passion and connecting to your community, you’re simultaneously setting yourself up for future success.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Abundance may mean something different today. It’s possible that you’ve set aside a career-focused or goal-oriented mindset in favor of a more family-focused or relationship-centered mindset. This can be a sudden shift that you don’t expect. Others could also be surprised when you want to spend more time with them, or when you become more involved in family matters. No matter how removed you were in the past, you can dive in headfirst. Focus on those who mean the most to you.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You may notice a personal change taking place. You could feel as though you’re changing on a molecular level. Maybe you feel pulled to dye your hair, alter your wardrobe, or make another significant change that would affect your appearance. This is likely to take place at the same time as you notice more people approaching you to get to know you better, and you might feel conflicted regarding how to introduce yourself. It’s okay to show off the new you to new people.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

The changes in your life might be obscured. When incremental changes occur, it can be difficult to tell if you’re genuinely making a lasting impact. It may be that you are unaware of a change that’s going on within you, but others are still noticing. There’s also the chance that there are changes going on behind closed doors that will affect you for the better. Instead of worrying that your shifts aren’t occurring, trust that they have yet to reveal themselves.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

The people around you may be tugging your interpersonal dynamics in unknown directions. This could be quite beneficial, as they might be committed to creating a more balanced relationship that’s healthier for both you and them. If you’ve noticed any issues with communication, in person or online, take time today to make an effort to sit down and talk things out. When you better understand each other, it’ll be much easier to strike that balance. Allow yourself to enjoy your connections with others.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You may be keeping your thoughts to yourself. There could be an opportunity to further your career goals or complete some longstanding goals that you were forced to put off. Because of this, you may find that there are many people who reach out to you, wondering if you’re free to spend more time together — potentially because of how your life is going. Remind yourself that there is a difference between consistent friends and fair-weather friends, and enjoy today with your true companions.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re finding creative ways to branch out. It’s time to give yourself the chance to develop any interests that you’ve been forced to repress — there’s no need to judge yourself for your cravings. You might feel like it’s too big of a change for other people to accept, but it’s very likely that the people around you will be more accepting than you expect them to be. Don’t be afraid of engaging with what makes you happy! Embrace it and move forward.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You might be seeing new partnerships form. It can be hard to understand where this connection came from, since it may be with someone that you’ve clashed with in the past. Still, now that you know them a bit more, it should become easier to express yourself. You’re able to create more equity with the people in your life, and as such, talking to this person to work through your differences can boost you both to amazing heights. Don’t shut them out — reach out.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

The other people in your life are going through transformations. You could notice that friends are moving, changing their relationship status, going back to school, or getting a new pet, inspiring you to rethink how you’re approaching your life. With their drive for life influencing you, you can consider following their lead and permitting their bravery to spark your own sense of courage. Don’t merely copy them, but reexamine where you are and see if you could take it a step further.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Habits can take on new forms throughout the day. You may realize that a schedule you were committed to is no longer working for you, causing you to rethink how you live your life. A good way to reinvent your daily routine is to look at how someone you admire lives their life. Investigate the ideas that help them feel inspired, get organized, and avoid burning out. Life is meant to change as it goes on, so let your daily life change, too.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your creativity can take you to new heights. Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artistic person, you’re likely to want to create more than usual, while concurrently paying attention to where you are and how you can make a difference there. There might be needs others aren’t seeing that you can fill, or you could have a eureka moment that brings in more people to your life. Don’t let yourself be distracted — make something great out of it.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

How you used to imagine yourself might have radically changed. You may no longer identify with a strongly held belief from your past, potentially one heavily associated with your sense of self. This natural shift can cause you to feel lost as you move through the world. The pursuits that you used to enjoy might not call to you as much, but that’s okay. Seek out some fresh hobbies at home to fill your time — take a little staycation to try them, if possible!

At 21, this hardly is men among boys for Ke’lel Ware. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t oversized expectations for the Miami Heat 7-footer in this, his second NBA summer league.

Back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s 103-83 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the California Classic in San Francisco, Ware closed with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting and three rebounds in his 28 minutes at Chase Center.

While there was a spinning step-back 3-point conversion early and several quality finishes at the rim from the No. 15 pick out of Indiana in the 2024 NBA draft, it was not exactly the domination sought from summer coach Erik Glass, the Erik Spoelstra assistant.

On an afternoon when Glass gave the day off to returning players Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson, the Heat focus largely was on Ware and 2025 first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis.

With Ware, the expectations remain ongoing.

“We’re not just going to dump it into the post with him 10 times,” Glass said of the summer approach with Ware. “But we’re just looking for him to dominate. When you’re protecting the rim … dominate. When you’re going for every rebound … dominate. There’s no one-click button for it all.”

Ware said it’s a matter of getting back up to speed.

“I’m just getting back into the flow of it. It’s been a little while from game-time play. It’s about fitting into game-time situations,” he said.

As for that step-back 3-pointer, he said, “I mean that’s something that showed up in the moment. But playing around at the gym, you just do certain things, so it’s something I’ve gotten used to doing. So it’s nothing brand new for me.”

For the second consecutive game, Jakucionis struggled to create space for his trademark attacking game, closing with four points on 0-for-3 shooting, along with five turnovers.

Five Degree of Heat from Sunday’s game:

1. For starters: With the game concluding a back-to-back set that opened with Saturday’s victory over the summer roster of the San Antonio Spurs, Glass gave the day off to Larsson, Johnson and Kira Lewis Jr. after their solid showings a day earlier.

Remaining in the starting lineup were Ware and Jakucionis.

Sunday’s Heat starting lineup was rounded out by Javonte Cooke, the guard who went undrafted out of Winston-Salem in 2023 and has played the past two seasons in the G League; Myron Gardner, the forward who went undrafted out of Little Rock in 2023, who also has played the past two seasons in the G League; and Bryson Warren, the guard who was on the Heat’s summer roster last year and then played this past season with the Heat G League affiliate.

Warren paced the Heat with 18 points, with Cooke adding a team-high seven rebounds.

Also held out by Glass was Vlad Goldin, the massive 7-footer out of FAU and Michigan who has been signed to a two-way contract.

2. Quality opposition: The Lakers played with some of their Sunday best, their starting lineup featuring Bronny James, son of LeBron James; Dalton Knecht, the 2024 first-round pick who received minutes last season with the Lakers; and Cole Swider, the 3-point specialist who was with the Heat two seasons ago on a two-way contract.

Also in the Lakers’ Sunday starting lineup was Trey Jemison III, the well-traveled center who has had stints with the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and Lakers.

Swider led the Lakers with 20 points. James closed with 10 points, Knecht with four.

3. Still limited: A day after being limited to three points on 1-of-7 shooting in his debut, Jakucionis, the No. 20 pick out of Illinois, this time took just one shot in the first half, closing the opening two periods with two points.

After opening at shooting guard on Saturday, Jakucionis this time opened at point guard, again limited by teammates’ wayward shooting and his own miscues.

“We’ll continue to watch film with him and coach him up,” Glass said. “There’s a learning curve for him and we’ll help him with that process so we can get those turnovers down.”

He closed with two assists and two rebounds in his 20 minutes.

“We’re not going to overwhelm him, put a bunch of pressure on him,” Glass said of expectations with Jakucionis. “Right now, it’s about him learning us and us learning him, him feeling comfortable in our system. We’re not just going to throw him into the water with a bunch of sharks. We’re going to set it up hopefully for some success and we just want him to learn our system and learn how to compete and learn how to do all of those kind of things.”

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4. Free throws: A rule that has been in play in the G League and since has been adopted for this year’s summer leagues came into play at the end of the first two periods.

That’s when the Heat’s Erik Stevenson and the Lakers’ James were off with heaves and not credited with missed field-goal attempts.

Under the rule that yet could be adopted for the coming NBA season:

“An unsuccessful end-of-period ‘heave’ will be recorded as a team – not individual – missed field-goal attempt when all of the following criteria are met:

“The missed field goal attempt took place within the final three seconds of the first three periods of a game.

“The missed field goal attempt was shot from beyond the outer edge of the center circle extended (approximately 36 feet from the basket).

“The play originated in the backcourt.”

Instead, the official play-by-play for both shots simply read, “Heave,” with no mention of the players attempting the shots, which would have been scored as a shot and a 3-point conversion if successful.

5. Up next: The Heat conclude their three-game schedule in San Francisco on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Golden State Warriors’ summer roster, one that features Will Richard, the guard drafted out of Florida in the second round of the NBA draft two weeks ago.

The Heat then will move on to the larger Las Vegas NBA Summer League, where they will open play Friday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern against the summer roster of the Atlanta Hawks.

By RONALD BLUM

NEW YORK (AP) — Marlins third baseman Kyle Stowers, in the midst of a torrid 13-game stretch, was named as the team’s lone representative at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, to be played in Atlanta on July 15.

The 27-year-old Stowers, who is in his fourth season in the bigs, had seen his on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) dwindle to .797 on June 21, has gone 15 for 45 in the 13 games since then, drilling six home runs, driving in 12 runs and seeing that OPS vault to .868.

Meanwhile, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was picked for his 11th All-Star Game and Paul Skenes, James Wood and Elly De La Cruz boosted the 23-and-under group to five when they were picked Sunday for the July 15 showcase at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Wood at 22 is the youngest of the 65 All-Stars, while Skenes, De La Cruz and fan-elected starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson are all 23.

Cal Raleigh and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined Wood, Wilson and Crow-Armstrong among 19 first-time All-Stars. Wood was acquired by Washington in the August 2022 trade that sent outfielder Juan Soto to San Diego.

“It’ll just be cool being around some of the best players in the game,” Wood said.

Kershaw last week became the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts and Commissioner Rob Manfred made the left-hander the 65th All-Star as a so-called Legend Pick, his first since selecting Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols in 2022 under a provision in the then-new collective bargaining agreement.

Kershaw gives the Dodgers at least five All-Stars for the sixth straight season. The oldest NL All-Star at 37 and most senior All-Star with 11 selections, Kershaw is joined by Yamamoto and fan-elected starters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.

Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle will have four players each at the game.

Starting pitchers Hunter Brown of Houston, Garrett Crochet of Boston, Jacob deGrom of Texas, Max Fried of the New York Yankees and Tarik Skubal of Detroit were voted to the AL staff by players, managers and coaches along with relievers Aroldis Chapman of Boston, Josh Hader of Houston and Andrés Muñoz of Seattle.

Chapman is the oldest All-Star, born 19 days before Kershaw.

AL reserves picked by players included Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk, Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda and second baseman Brandon Lowe, Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña, Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Byron Buxton of Minnesota, Steven Kwan of Cleveland and Julio Rodríguez of Seattle.

MLB used its six picks on pitchers Kris Bubic of Kansas City, Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, Shane Smith of the Chicago White Sox and Bryan Woo of Seattle along with Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

Smith became the second player since 2000 to become an All-Star in the season after he was selected in the Rule 5 draft, following Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Smith was left unprotected by Milwaukee and joined Wilson (Athletics) as the only rookies on the All-Star rosters.

Pittsburgh’s Skenes, Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler were elected to the starting rotation by players along with relievers Jason Adam of San Diego, Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets and Randy Rodríguez of San Francisco.

Skeenes started last year’s All-Star Game just 66 days his major league debut, pitching a hitless inning in the NL’s 5-3 loss at Arlington, Texas.

Player-elected NL reserves were Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, St. Louis second baseman Brendan Donovan, Cincinnati’s De La Cruz at shortstop, Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez, Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber and Wood, Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. in the outfield.

MLB’s NL picks were Yamamoto, the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd, Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and the Giants’ Robbie Ray for the pitching staff along with Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson and Miami outfielder Kyle Stowers.

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AP freelance writer Patrick Stevens in Washington contributed to this report.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb