Passport to a Successful School Year

August 15th, 2009

The Unicorn Children’s Foundation and TD Bank present “Passport to a Successful School Year,” a Community Resource Fair, on Sat., August 15th from 10am to 3pm. RSVPs are encouraged, 561.620.9377.

Your Bosom Buddies II, Inc. Presents

Natural Strategies to Reduce Cancer Risk

Join us for this FREE educational event from 9am to 1pm on September 26th, 2009 at Wellington Regional Medical Center.

DELRAY BEACH RAISES $72,000 FOR MDA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DELRAY BEACH RAISES $72,000 FOR MDA

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., July 22, 2009 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association held its annual Delray Beach Lock-Up at The Sundy House, Thursday, July 9. With the support of

local community leaders the event raised over $72,000 to help support the programs and services offered by MDA.

Delray’s kindest business leaders were arrested at work by volunteer Palm Beach County Sheriff Officers and All Points Limousine drivers and taken to MDA’s maximum appreciation jail. Once there, they received the standard lock-up treatment. Jailbirds were fingerprinted, mug shots were taken and they were hauled off to their cells.

At MDA’s prison, jailbirds didn’t receive the standard one phone call; they were allowed many.

Jailbirds spent their sentence on the phones calling family, friends and business associates to help them reach their $3,000 bail.

“It’s exciting to see everyone get so involved,” recalls Nicole Ingenito, MDA Administrative Assistant. “I overheard someone on the phones saying, ‘I’m in jail, and I need you to bail me out.’ It took him about five minutes before he told his friend that it was a fundraiser; he was so into it.”

No one was more excited and dedicated than Lisa Hamilton Project Executive from Coastal Construction; she ended the event with $3500 in bail, making her the top bail raiser.

Lock-Ups are not just about raising money; it is truly a community event. “There is no telling what will happen,” Ingenito said. She recalls one jailbird who brought his wife along to celebrate their 3^rd wedding anniversary. He didn’t want to miss the event; he even went as far as getting down on his knees, pretending to propose for their mug shot.”

Ingenito says people have a great time with the event Business people have the opportunity to give back to the community and also benefit by trading business cards and showcasing their products. One Jailbird, Tonia Turner, sold pieces from her jewelry line, Beads on the Avenue, and still had the time to raise several hundred dollars.

Overall the event was a great success! The money will stay right here in Palm Beach County and help fund medical services at the Jupiter Medical Center, purchase and repair wheelchairs and leg braces, fund support groups and send kids to MDA’s week long summer camp.

 Media Contact: Crystal Grant

(561) 742-3748  

Norm Gitzen, Betty Wilson and Tracy Rosof-Petersen Display Their Art

Wellington artist Norman Gitzen was one of three featured artists at the July 17 opening of Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Cooperative Gallery in downtown Lake Worth. The other artists were Betty Wilson and Tracy Rosof-Petersen.

Gitzen is a passionate environmentalist who cannot separate his love of nature and its survival

from the incredible works of art he creates. He is a blacksmith, woodcarver, stonemason and sculptor in clay. Gitzen’s skills intertwine in his work with the need to save the little piece of the planet we share here in Florida, one species at a time. A well-recognized figure throughout the county with his long flowing hair and enormous mythical mermaid hitching rides on its own trailer behind his van, Gitzen brings a sense of earnestness and devotion to every piece he creates.

The gallery is filled with Gitzen’s intricately carved mantle pieces, his remarkably alluring lamps, a combination of metal crafts, glass, walking sticks and whatever other materials you might request of him, and his hearts of wood, metal and stone. Hanging on the wall is a walking catfish modeled after the catfish that walk right out of Gitzen’s ponds at home. This one, a doorknocker, could be recreated as a free standing sculpture or wall hanging. His “Vanishing” series decries the rapid loss of fish, mammals and reptiles throughout the planet. Gitzen co-exists with millions of bees that regularly inhabit his home, and the thought of grass, and its cost to the water tables in the area will evoke a long and thoughtful discussion on returning our properties and priorities to their natural states. As part of Gitzen’s exhibit, a video will be playing that details his passions and his workspace.

“My mission is to stimulate environment and nature conservation by building awareness,” Gitzen said. “I do this with a series of sculptures designed to call attention to each of our personal and collective responsibilities to halt and reverse the demise of species and destruction of our environment. Through their display via Art in Public Places and other public installations, these sculptures will generate interest in and lay the foundation for continued education and action specific to earth’s preservation.”

A wine tasting, courtesy of artist and wine broker Barbara Eden, takes place at every opening.

Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Cooperative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists. The gallery is located at 605 Lake Avenue in downtown Lake Worth. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Gallery openings are held the first and third Fridays of each month. For more information, call (561) 588-8344 or visit the gallery’s web site at www.clayglassmetalstone.com.

(This press release was submitted by one of our readers and originally appeared in the Town-Crier newspaper in July, 2009).

Save the Date . . . October 17^th, 2009

Hispanic Human Resource Council’s 33^rd Anniversary Gala

“A Night Among the Stars”

Call Miguel Reyes, 434-7005 for more info.

Visions 3rd Annual Haircut-a-thon

We are excited to announce that Visions Hair Salon is having their 3rd annual Haircut-a-thon to support the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on August 16th.

The stylists are all donating their time and giving up their Sunday to come in and cut hair for this great cause. This will be a great opportunity for back-to-school haircuts and to support a great cause.

There will be representatives from the American Cancer Society with information about breast cancer awareness and the services they provide for residents in our community. They will also have information to share about the Making Strides walk on October 17.

On Wednesday morning, July 15, members of the Wellington Garden Club participated in the dedication of a Habitat for Humanity Home in Greenacres. In June, members of the club designed and planted a “bullet proof” landscape incorporating many native plants under the direction of Lisa Ferrano and Linda DeSanti–co chairmen. The recipient, Lucy Hernandez and her twin 7 year old boys were delighted with their new “yard”. They had waited 6 years, living with the boys’ grandmother, for this wonderful opportunity. WGC members, assisted by the B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 1352, West Palm Beach, St. Davids-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church–Outreach ministry in Wellington and members of CURVES in Greenacres were able to gather “recycled” furniture, linens, kitchen utensils, dishes and gift certificates to help the family make the house a home. WGC member Carol Richardson, Chairman of “Going Green” coordinated the donations. WGC members also provided refreshments for the Hernandez family and friends. A tree dedication was part of the ceremonies. A Pigeon Plum, Green Buttonwood, a red maple and a jatropha were dedicated.

Pictured in attachment shows Lucy Hernandez new owner with Lisa Ferrano, Habitat Landscape co-chairmen for the Wellington Garden Club.  As part of the landscape plan the club added two more native palms to the bed with the existing sabal palm which was preserved.

Barbara Hadsell
President, Wellington Garden Club
561-635-8809