DELRAY BEACH, FL – Start your night off on a high note with a magical vinyasa flow at The Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach.
On August 30 at 7:30 p.m., unplug, unwind, and “om” your way into the weekend on your very own pristine, private beach. Hosted by CocoYogi, the 60-minute Full Moon Yoga class features relaxing lunar meditation, moon salutations, yoga poses, and a languorous moonlight cool down. Howling at the moon is optional.
Guests should bring a mat, towel, and water. Price: $20. All levels are welcome.
Enjoy aprés yoga sips and nibbles at the Atlantic Grille tucked inside The Seagate Hotel. Executive chef Glenn Rogers serves up deliciously healthy coastal cuisine like summer burratas, verdant salads and fresh vegetables, ahi tuna crudo, gluten-free pasta, and grilled seafood specialties.
What: Seventh Annual Sculpture in Motion: The Art of Pre- and Post-War Automobiles
Sculpture in Motion, honoring Gold Star Families of Palm Beach County and Veterans, welcomes visitors of all ages to experience the history and design of one-of-a-kind, classic pre- and post-war automobiles. Group tours by renowned automotive historians will be offered throughout the day and guests will have the opportunity to be the judges and cast their votes for “Most Artistic,” “Most Elegant,” “People’s Choice” and “Young Connoisseur.”
At the conclusion of the event, the community and guests will have the opportunity to view the Grand Tour Parade of Cars departing the main lawn from the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, crossing the bridge and touring the island of Palm Beach.
When: November 18, 2023
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Community Exhibition
4:15 p.m. – The Grand Tour Parade of Cars
Where: Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens – 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach
Admission: General admission is $30 per ticket. ANSG members and seniors are $25 each and children 18 and under are $12 each.
Contact: Please visit ansg.org or call 561-832-5328
Who are we, and What are we doing? To answer those questions, meet me and my siblings Jordan, and Isabella. We met our friends Ben, Kendall, Ellie, Sofia, and Ana three years ago, they are like our second family. However just last January Ellie asked if we wanted to help make the movie she and her friend Addie were working on. We were all so enthusiastic about the idea. So, we jumped on board going from beads and string to selling bracelets that turned into the business we came up with called It’s so Bracelets, then buying costumes and props. Hours of rehearsing scripts and much more work to be done.
However, what’s our movie about? Two girls from NYC move to Florida Isabella and Paige. They have a sister-like bond but are best friends. They moved to Florida because their lifelong dream is to be a spy. They find a job opportunity to be a spy so they apply. Lucky enough they get the job but they’re not supposed to tell each other because the fine print says “DON’T TELL ANYONE.” Paige makes up an excuse for moving to Florida but Isabella tells her the truth, going against the company contract and risking everything for their friendship. Isabella doesn’t know that Paige is a spy because Paige follows the contract and doesn’t tell her but does that mean that following the contract will break their friendship?
The letter mission, the first case that Isabella gets, will test everything because Isabella and Paige are partners but only Paige knows while Isabella tells her everything about her job Paige keeps quiet. This amount of distrust causes issues amongst them, which jeopardizes their job putting them at risk of being fired. They don’t get fired however any other circumstances will cause them to be released from their job. They continue their work targeting the suspect and working side by side to solve a 77 year long crime. Ultimately they end this madness or so they thought.
(Credit to all the authors of this movie: Ellie Amezcua, Addie Maroney, And Priscila Johnson)
If you are interested in our movie and want to learn more about it:
New Campus Will Be Ready to Welcome Students in the Fall Following Failed Negotiations with the Els for Autism Foundation
Jupiter, FL – July 31, 2023– The Learning Center (TLC), a renowned charter school catering to children with autism between the ages of 3 and 14, has announced a new location for its students starting fall of 2023. The new campus is located at 650 Royal Palm Beach Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach. The school plans to reside at the new location until they complete the build-out of a brand-new campus.
“We are grateful that we found this location since it suits the specific needs of our students and staff and will work wonderfully for the next few years while we find the perfect location to build a custom facility for our dream school,” said Stacie Routt, Executive Director.
The new 30-thousand-square foot location has amenities unavailable at their previous location, including an indoor gymnasium, cafeteria and kitchen. In addition, the school will have a music room, art room, computer lab, STEM space, OT and sensory rooms, and an outdoor garden nook. These additions will add great value to the students’ overall experience and education.
TLC operated for the last eight years on a campus owned by the Els for Autism Foundation under a Facilities Use Agreement. However, TLC’s board of directors raised several concerns about the agreement, including its impact on the privacy of student education records, which include classroom recordings, and about provisions that interfered with TLC’s ability to function as an independent charter school. TLC hoped to create a path forward for its students to remain on Els for Autism’s campus. However, after months of protracted negotiations, the Foundation refused to enter into a revised Facilities Use Agreement going forward and asked TLC to vacate the property at the end of the current term, giving TLC only 30 days to find a new facility for its 150 students.
As The Learning Center prepares to embark on this new chapter, the school remains committed to its mission of providing exceptional education and support for children with autism. With the collective efforts of the school’s board, teachers, parents, and the wider community, TLC is committed to its legacy of being a school where students thrive and reach their full potential.
“We will continue to keep families updated throughout this process and look forward to having our students continue flourishing at this new location,” said Cathy Sharp, TLC PTO President.
The Learning Center’s board is pleased that nearly 90% of the school’s staff will be continuing on with the school at its new location, ensuring continuity and familiarity for students. They also recognize the deep importance of community support for a student’s success. If you would like to make a positive impact at The Learning Center or help the school during this time of transition, please reach out to tlcpto@thelearningcenter.org or you can visit www.tlcpto.org.
***
About The Learning Center: Established in 1999, The Learning Center (TLC) is a school dedicated to providing specialized education and support for children with autism. With a focus on personalized learning and comprehensive care, TLC strives to empower students with the skills and tools necessary to lead.
100 degrees? No…my dashboard must be malfunctioning. One of the gages registers the temperature and she’s coming in at a sweltering 100 degrees. I have been a Palm Beach County girl since I was five years old and I can not remember a summer this hot and rainy in… well never. The weather has certainly been extreme. These conditions and a few random posts on Facebook got me thinking.
The random posts were the usual complaints about the excessive heat. But the one that caught my attention, and I hope gets you to rethink some things, was about our local library. The post read: Destroy the myth that libraries are no longer relevant. If you use your library, please share. Did I share? Yep. And I’ll keep sharing.
If you have been a local for any time, you know that we stay inside during the summer. Summer in South Florida is the equivalent of Canada in the winter. Can you go out? Yes. Is it dangerous – you bet. Summer is when we do some serious reading and movie-watching at my house.
Growing up here, during the summer, you could find me at the Main Library on Summit Blvd, crossed-legged, leaning up against a wall in the kid’s section with stacks of books on either side of me. And then of course there were the movies they would play. The library always had entertainment on hand.
This was also wwwwaaayyyyy before the internet (I think my age is hanging out…) and having a curious mind, I was always looking up different things. It was a constant source of knowledge. It still is. Can we Google anything at a moment’s notice? Yes, but having a large table with books opened to different pages and seeing everything laid out in front of me was, and is, different.
I’m here to tell you, Wellington, that you have a refuge right in town. Tired of being inside with the kids? Looking to do something that isn’t going to break the bank? Need the kids to be entertained for an hour so you can think a thought? I feel you and I got you. Now I know what you are thinking…it’s only for little kids. I mean do they have story times, snack times, and craft times for the littles? Yes. But, guess what? They have activities for teenagers as well. Learn to play Chess. Learn to play guitar. Hang out and talk manga with other people your age (your parents try to understand but…it’s just not the same).
The library is so many things to so many people. I’ve often called it society’s common denominator. Everyone is welcome here and its resources can be accessed by anyone. We need to keep it relevant. We need to attend book discussions and story times.
My kids grew up in the library and the librarians watched them grow. I’d like to see my grandkids grow up in their library and their kids too. That can only happen if we make an effort to support them. If we can’t donate to help fund programs then bringing our kids there to attend events will help. Showing up lets our local government know that we still care about these things and want to see them continue.
So this summer go to the library. Take your kids, take your neighbor’s kids. I used to give my kids a reusable grocery bag and tell them they could check out as many books as they wanted, but only two movies. Hey – I was trying to raise readers. But if you want to fill your bag with all movies, rock on.
Trust me, on the ride home, when the kids are in the back of the car, quietly sifting through their new treasure, you’ll thank me. Oh, and if you run into Marisa at the library, tell her Heidi said hello and thank you.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (July 26, 2023) – KeyBank Foundation and the West Palm Beach Library Foundation have announced a new partnership in support of literacy, with KeyBank Foundation awarding a $10,000 grant to fund “Improving Reading Skills of Children to Secure Future Education Success”. The gift will assist the Library Foundation in financially supporting two critical programs that address the need to increase reading skills of children – Summer Learning and Reading, and the Elementary Homework Center at the Mandel Public Library.
Library Foundation Executive Director Dean W. Dimke stated, “Reading is one of the most critical life skills in determining a person’s ability to not only reach their potential, but to have a sustainable life. We are excited to partner with KeyBank to expand our ability to bring literacy to more underserved youth in our community. Truly, this partnership will be a difference maker for so many.”
Data shows that in the public schools nearest to the Mandel Public Library of West Palm, less than one-third of kindergarteners start school ready to learn. By the third grade only 40% have become proficient readers. Research shows that children who have not mastered reading by third grade are less likely to graduate. Adults without high school diplomas make less than their peers who graduated. For many, a diploma is the difference between poverty and a living wage.
“KeyBank Foundation is committed to partnering with community organizations that work to improve the lives of underserved populations in our neighborhoods through education, workforce development, and community investment,” said Michael T. Schneider, KeyBank Florida Market President and market leader for Key Private Bank’s offices in West Palm Beach Gardens, Naples, and Fort Myers. “As a long-time sponsor of the West Palm Beach Library, we are proud to support their work advancing literacy through KeyBank Foundation.”
Since 2017, KeyBank has made community investments totaling more than $341 million supporting low to moderate income individuals and neighborhoods in Florida. This involves lending for affordable housing, community development, small businesses, residential mortgages and home improvements, and transformative philanthropy.
About the West Palm Beach Library Foundation:
The Mandel Public Library offers life-changing programs, services, and resources to children, teens, and adults in our community, all free of charge thanks to the financial support provided by the West Palm Beach Library Foundation. The Foundation hopes to create an inspired community where children excel, and adults thrive. Gifts to the Foundation support popular library programs including afterschool homework centers, summer learning programs, reading programs, teen college prep, job readiness, and adult programs in art, technology, education, culture, and entertainment.
About KeyBank Foundation:
KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.
About Key Private Bank:
Key Private Bank is a leading provider of wealth management solutions and advice for high-net worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, including wealth advisory, investment management, trust administration, customized credit, family office and private banking services. Key’s wealth management platform combines the market insights of local advisors with a national team of wealth and investment strategists to deliver proactive and personalized advice and expertise to clients. Advisors also leverage partnerships with Key’s business banking and capital markets teams to build wealth plans tailored to meet each client’s specific need. Key Private Bank’s wealth management platform is delivered across 15 of the United States. Key Private Bank has $50.2 billion in AUM and $70.1 billion in AUA as of March 31, 2023.
Kids Free Summer at Palm Beach Zoo Extended – Come Enjoy the Last Days of Summer at YOUR Zoo! Kids age 12 and under are FREE now through August 9, 2023
WEST PALM BEACH – July 27, 2023 – Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society announces the extension of its wildly popular Kids Free Summer. Families can save wildlife and money with free all-day admission. Now through August 9, 2023, two children ages 3 – 12 get in free for each full-price adult admission. Children age 2 and younger are always free at Palm Beach Zoo. When school and camp are out, the Zoo is in! Connect with your family in nature with a visit today. With up-close animal encounters and easy conservation actions, every visit helps save wildlife. Spend the day exploring Palm Beach Zoo’s winding shaded pathways and discovering hundreds of rare and endangered animals. No visit is complete without a cooldown at the refreshing Fountain Plaza splash pad (remember to bring a towel) and a slushy from the Zoo’s café, Latitude 26, or Dippin’ Dots. The carousel and Lorikeet Loft aviary are open each day, and if it is feeding time, lorikeets love nectar, which is available for purchase for a hands-on experience with these very colorful Australian parrots. Nature Play is another interactive spot at the Zoo to climb and explore for children of all ages. Included with each admission, get up close with panthers by stepping into the new Candace S. & William H. Hamm III Everglades Conservation Center in the Florida Wetlands section of the Zoo. This expansive rustic cabin transports guests to wild Florida to experience conservation in motion in a fun and life-changing way. Sassy and friends have more room to roam in their Palm Beach Zoo home. Plan your visit to Palm Beach Zoo and save big until August 9. Simply purchase an adult ticket online or at the gate, and up to two children will be admitted at the gate with the adult. www.palmbeachzoo.org/kidsfree. Saving wildlife has never been this easy.
*For every full-priced adult admission, up to two children ages 3 to 12 receive complimentary admission to Palm Beach Zoo through August 9, 2023. Children age 2 and younger are always free.
With the prevalence and popularity of boot camp style workouts – everything from barre to cardio circuit – people often conflate working out with a trainer as a grueling experience but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Trainers aren’t there to hurt you, scare you or push you too hard,” said Orville Smith, Director of Fitness at Retro Fitness in Wellington. “Trainers are professionals who guide you on the most efficient path to achieving your goals. The trainer will coach you in a way you’re comfortable with that will keep you motivated to keep training and show you that fitness can fit into your lifestyle and who you are.”
Smith has been captivated by the mechanics of the human body for years and uses sports as a means to connect to the world around him, participating in everything from team sports to martial arts and eventually, becoming certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
For Smith, training is just as much about social interaction and mental support as it is physical optimization.
“Of course, working with a trainer gives you structure and expert guidance but some lesser known benefits of having a trainer are the accountability, emotional support, and motivation you get by having one,” Smith said.“Trainers are there to help make sure you show up to the gym. Trainers are there for you on your good and bad days, coaching you and helping you use fitness as an outlet.”
“At Retro Fitness, our trainers get to know people — their goals, their history, and any body mechanic issues they might have — to develop a workout plan completely tailored to their needs and desires” said Jurado. “Health and wellness aren’t monoliths. We understand that and strive to serve our community and their health needs.”
Smith understands that novices to the health and wellness lifestyle might feel a little intimidated and unsure about their place and strives for inclusivity and a non-judgmental atmosphere.
“New comers require care and patience. I want to make sure that the client becomes as comfortable with the gym, our staff and regulars as they are in their own home and community.” Smith said. “Creating a base of comfort and familiarity in a space of fitness goes a long way to coaching someone into making fitness a natural part of their lives.”
“So many people operate under the misconception that exercise is a punishment or punishing,” Jurado said. “It shouldn’t be like that and we, as providers, should be engaged to find a physical activity that a client enjoys — be it running, climbing, weightlifting, or Pilates. When you come into Retro Fitness, our trainers give everyone a functional fitness assessment to evaluate the functional movement of the hips, shoulders, and ankles. Eventually, we want everyone to be able to do a deep squat, reach overhead and have a full range of motion comfortably.”
To alleviate the concerns of novice gym-goers, Smith likes to outline expectations early.
“On the first day you can expect lots of conversation and physical testing to see where you are and what your starting point is and where you’d like to go,” Smith said. “During the first week – a lot of fundamental movement coaching, laying the foundation and framework you’ll be working with for the duration of your training.”
During the first few weeks, Smith works with his clients to cultivate a deeper understanding of a health-focused and active lifestyle.
“In your first month, a big focus will be changing key habits and also making training and an overall more active lifestyle more accessible,” said Smith.
Once these habits have started taking roots and clients are on a consistent schedule, the changes become evident and tangible.
“You’ll see a substantial development of strength and mobility as a novice trainee,” he said. “You’ll see loss of body fat and development of muscle tone and feel a boost of confidence and self esteem.”
While he enjoys working with beginners and helping new members get acclimated, Smith stresses that personal training isn’t just for novices and that good fitness habits should be a lifelong practice.
“There’s always room to grow and develop. Being a professional doesn’t mean you know everything. It means you’ve gotten very proficient in what you do know,” Smith said. “Getting a trainer could go a long way in broadening horizons and pointing out missed opportunities of growth or seeing what the professional doesn’t see.”
Growth – physically, mentally and in a broader sense of the word – is central to both the personal missions of both Smith and Jurado as well as the professional mission of Retro Fitness.
“We are really interested in engaging our high school athletes. The Wellington community has some amazing talent here — wrestlers, volleyball, baseball and football players — and we are working with them to help supplement their workouts with basic movement and weight training,” Jurado said. “A love of fitness is an investment in longevity and Retro Fitness strives to provide that for our community.”
“From a young age, I’ve always had a passion for moving,” said Smith. “With the knowledge and experience I’ve gained, I plan to dedicate myself to help people become the best versions of themselves through their own goals.”
Retro Fitness is hosting a Back To School Drive for Benoist Farms Elementary School students on August 7, 2023 between 5:00-7:00 pm at their location at 816 S. State Road 7, Wellington, Florida 33414.
Come on out, meet the team and support our students!
Jaime, founder of Rosewood Media, is a West Palm Beach resident, creative and contributing writer to The Well of PBC. With a decade of experience in non-profit communications and a lifetime of experience as a writer, Jaime’s work focuses on behavioral health, diversity, equity and inclusion, travel, music, food and parenthood through a pop culture lens.
DELRAY BEACH, FL – Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach will host its annual Obon Weekend on August 12-13. Obon is a traditional Japanese festival and holiday that holds significant cultural and spiritual importance. It is observed to honor and commemorate the spirits of one’s ancestors. The two-day holiday celebration will include “Launch the Lantern,” an intimate fundraiser dinner featuring a floating lantern celebration to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors.
Above Photo by Austen Waldron
Obon Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, August 12-13
10am – 5pm
Cost: General admission. Taiko drumming performances are $5 for members; $10 for non-members. Taiko drumming tickets are available for purchase at morikami.org/event/obon-weekend/.
During Obon Weekend, museum visitors are invited to take a stroll through Morikami’s Japanese gardens and gallery exhibits and fill out tanzaku slips in memory of lost loved ones. Guests can also gain insight into the legacy of founder George Morikami at his bon altar. During Obon, a time when it is believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors revisit their living relatives, families engage in the thoughtful act of adoring their ancestor’s graves and altars. As symbolic gesture of welcome and appeasement, offerings such as food, fruits, and incense are presented. To share in the significance of this tradition, Morikami’s Bon Altar will be displayed in Kamiya Room, conveniently adjacent to the Membership desk. Visitors also enjoy Pan Asian cuisine form the Cornell Café and watch live taiko drumming performances by Fushu Daiko. Taiko drumming performances are 30 minutes long and will take place in the Morikami Theater on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm.
Launch the Lantern Dinner Fundraiser – An Exclusive Obon Celebration
Celebrate Obon at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Launch the Lantern Dinner Fundraiserwill kick off with hors d’oeuvres, sake and whisky tastings, and guests will decorate their very own Obon lantern. Event goers will also enjoy a live taiko performance in the Morikami Theater followed by dinner and a floating lantern presentation on Lake Morikami. Monies raised from the fundraiser will benefit Morikami’s 4Es: Exhibitions, Education, Emotional Wellness programs, and Expansion.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org.
Palm Beach, Fla. (July 26, 2023) – South Florida’s renowned restaurant month is almost here! Flavor Palm Beach returns on Friday, September 1, and will feature special prix fixe menu offerings at dozens of Palm Beach County’s hottest bistros, diners, and restaurants.
For the entire month of September, Flavor Palm Beach will introduce diners to local restaurants across the county – from Tequesta to Boca Raton. Customers will receive lunch and dinner three-course prix fixe menus, with prices ranging from $35 to $85.
Flavor Palm Beach’s CEO Kerri Paizzi is a 20-year restaurant and marketing veteran who is dedicated to helping local restaurants thrive during one of Florida’s slowest tourism months.
“Every day is an uphill battle for the hospitality industry, and it’s important that we support our local restaurants as much as we can,” said Paizzi. “Restaurants and locals have grown to love what Flavor has brought to the community for the past 15 years, and they’ll be blown away by this year’s restaurants and their menus.”
The most anticipated restaurant extravaganza will feature dozens of James Beard Foundation, Michelin Star, and celebrity chefs with plans to serve up some of the tastiest cuisine from around the world. This year, Flavor Palm Beach will see the return of restaurants owned by renowned celebrity chefs, including Café Boulud owned by legendary, award-winning chef Daniel Boulud, The Butcher’s Club owned by Top Chef season 13 winner Jeremy Ford, Honeybelle owned by Top Chef season 9 finalist Lindsay Autry, and AquaGrille owned by Top Chef All Star Stephen Asprinio.
New to Palm Beach County, Blackbird and Jupiter Grille will be participating in Flavor Palm Beach for the first time. In southern Palm Beach County, delight in restaurant staples across Boca Raton and Delray Beach, including Serena Pastificio, Kapow Noodle Bar, Dada, and Yakitori Sushi Bar. Venture to northern Palm Beach County and enjoy Galley at the Hilton West Palm Beach, La Masseria in Palm Beach Gardens, and 1000 NORTH in Jupiter.
To participate in Flavor Palm Beach, no tickets or passes are required. Simply make a reservation, visit the restaurant, and enjoy the menu. Starting Tuesday, August 8, diners can view the full list of participating restaurants at flavorpb.com.
Spread at the Galley. Photo courtesy of Flavor Palm Beach.
