Riviera Beach, Fla. (May 26, 2022) – The Arc of Palm Beach County unveiled its reimagined north campus in Riviera Beach at a ribbon-cutting and open house event on Wednesday, May 25. The 15,000-square-foot Achievement Center, formerly the headquarters of Seagull Services, was transformed into a dynamic, specialized educational and career development hub for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“The Arc’s mergers with Seagull Services and Palm Beach Habilitation Center have created amazing opportunities for our agency to enhance and elevate our services through the combined effort of the most experienced disability professionals in the county,” said Kimberly McCarten, president & CEO of The Arc.
Community members attended the event to celebrate the improved campus and services, including the mayor of Riviera Beach, Ronnie L. Felder, County Commissioners, and Arc funders, clients, and friends. Designed with the intention of supporting the whole person and helping adults with disabilities focus on their tasks, the new campus features six distinct studios and classrooms, a fulfillment work center, and indoor and outdoor social areas.
Each specialized room adds a layer of support to help adults with disabilities achieve their educational and employment goals. The “About Me” room promotes mental health and wellness, the music and movement studio encourages mental and physical stimulation, the sensory room allows clients to take a break and relax if they feel overwhelmed or stressed, and the Artisan studio fosters engagement with the arts and culture.
“These changes have drastically improved workflow, productivity at the work center on campus is the highest it has ever been, and our clients are thriving thanks to the diversity of activities available to them,” McCarten explained.
“Through The Achievement Center, The Arc is showcasing a continuum of care model for helping all adults with disabilities succeed,” said Mayor Felder. “These innovative spaces allow participants to engage in structured learning, recreation, and employment options in an environment that fosters growth in every aspect of their lives, uplifting the whole community.”
The transformation was made possible by The Arc’s team and volunteers from The Breakers Palm Beach, with support from The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation and another private foundation. Looking to the future, The Arc has bold, cutting-edge plans to advance the rights of all individuals through inclusion, diversity, and equality. Renovations to The Arc’s south campus in Palm Springs, Fla., are on the horizon, and The Arc is leading the conversation around disability inclusion in the workforce by forging new business partnerships throughout the county.
About The Arc of Palm Beach County
The Arc is changing the conversation around disabilities by defying definitions, inspiring possibilities, and improving the lives of the people we serve, their families, and our community. Since 1958, The Arc has envisioned a community where every person feels welcome, connected, and accepted.
The Arc’s North Campus Achievement Center Ribbon-Cutting
Anyone who hasn’t registered for a Wellington program before will have to create a household account, which takes just a few minutes but it makes registering in the future very easy. Once they create an account they will be able to register for Wellington classes online
With school ending in just a couple weeks and for some already, summer is here. Students are antsy in their classrooms, just waiting until their bus is called so they can cool off the summer heat with a popsicle. The anticipation is dreadful, and I’m feeling it too, everyday. Even now, as I am writing this, I’m simply waiting for school to end, both in general and where I am right now, class.
In school, summer is all I can think about. It’s on my mind 24/7, and that’s why I’ve decided to write this article now of all times.
In this article, I’ll be covering all things summer.
I’ll start with one of my favorite aspects of summer: Fashion. When summer fashion comes to mind, most just think of bikinis and jean shorts. And, though that is accurate, it doesn’t fully embody the word fashion. What about nighttime? What about when going out to a fancy restaurant? People don’t usually think about these scenarios, but I’m here to help. The following will consist of specific outfits for specific events, summer staples, and of course, a bikini with shorts.
1.An outfit for going out. Summer fantasies usually consist of beach days, swimming under the sun, and eating your ice cream before it melts from the heat. However, all of these can only be possible if it is daytime. The night is a large portion of the 24 hours we have in a day, and we must utilize it. When going out at night, whether it’s downtown or you already live in the city, it’s important to be dressed for the occasion. Although outfits differ from place to place, it’s important to have essentials. Some of my favorites would probably be black halter dresses, or really any LBD (little black dress) for that matter, plain white or black sneakers if you’re walking around (Converse preferably). Dresses are probably one of my favorite aspects of the whole summertime-night-out aesthetic, so having a few simple mini dresses are perfect.
2.An outfit for family outings. Going out with family is an obvious obligation for summer, but I’m afraid some just won’t be wearing their LBDs to First Watch for brunch. Instead, here’s what I would recommend: A ruffled floral dress. It can be blue, white orange, whatever color you would like, but having one on hand can be quite helpful. I have a blue one myself. Any sort of flower, fruit, or summer-type dress can be great for family events.
3.An outfit for a classy restaurant. Listen, as much as I love feeling free in my clothing, especially in the summer heat, sometimes I love to dress up just as much. Classy restaurants may be an option in the summertime since there is so much freetime you’re utilizing. It never hurts to be prepared, so here’s what I think: Any satin bodycon dress is perfect. It can be short or long, it doesn’t really matter. Personally, I have a teal one that I adore and I think would be perfect for such an occasion.
4.An outfit for a beach day. Here’s where jeans and a bikini come in. I love jean shorts, they’re cute, comfortable, and great for the heat. They’re a perfect cover up for bikini bottoms without blocking a tan. However, let’s talk tops. Personally, I’ve really been into the microtrend of crochet tops. I love greens, browns, and beiges for these. I think a pairing of jean shorts and a crochet top would be the absolute cutest thing, and I’m hoping to try the combo the next time I visit the beach. Next, I’ll simply talk about staples and essentials. This summer I would recommend buying the following items: A cap, black sunglasses, a plain, white, loose, button-up top, jean shorts, multiple cute bikinis, one LBD, one floral dress, a plain pair of sneakers, one crochet top, a stretchy, colored crop top, a plain tote bag, and a beach bag.
Fashion isn’t the only aspect of summer I’m fond of, however. The food is one of the best parts. I will now talk about my favorite summer foods and why they’re perfect for the season.
1.Watermelon. I’m sure summer in a fruit would be a watermelon. It’s refreshing, sweet, and conveniently easy to eat.
2.Strawberries. Any friend of mine knows that I’m obsessed with strawberries. They’re so versatile in how they can be eaten and there is so much you can do with them. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they taste amazing plain, too.
3.Pizza. I love hanging out with my friends during the summer, and our go-to food is almost always pizza. It’s simple and everybody loves it, so even when the heat is unbearable, pizza can never go wrong.
4.Bagels. I’m not sure if bagels can be considered a summer food, but honestly I eat them year-round, so I do. They’re such a simple yet delicious breakfast food, and let’s be honest, a bagel with a side of fruit sounds amazing at any time of day.
While eating, I have a tendency to binge my favorite shows. Entertainment with a mixture of food is the absolute best feeling. Here are my top summer favorites: show edition.
1.Stranger Things. This show is one of my favorites of all time. It has the perfect mix of action, drama, comedy, and romance while still being youthful and entertaining. Season four comes out this month right after my school ends, so I’ll most definitely be binging it.
2.The OC. I just started watching this 2000s masterpiece, but I’m loving it a lot. It’s all around summertime vibe is perfect while incorporating drama and action. I’ll be finishing it this summer for sure.
3.Gilmore Girls. Sometimes it’s important to just wind down on the couch with some ice cream and a blanket, this is the perfect show for that. It is absolutely charming and not to mention addictive. I’ve loved every episode so far and will continue to do so in the future, I’m sure.
Now, I’ve covered enough to get the point across that I’m super excited for summer, and I hope you are too. With May 26th right around the corner of next week, I’m more antsy than I have been all year. I’ve been wishing over and over again for school to end so I can get to experience the wonders of summertime: my favorite season. I hope that this article has given you some ideas on what to wear, eat, or watch this upcoming summer, and I hope you’re excited as I am.
Sincerely, your local teen talk writer, Carly Cantor
Lake Worth Beach, FL – St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, The Guatemalan Consulate of Lake Worth Beach, The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc., and the Global Leaders Program are presenting Guatemalan concert Pianist, Alfonso Hernandez Hernandez is an affiliate member of the Core Ensemble, a Lake Worth Beach-based chamber music theatre company that produces and performs music theatre works that celebrate diversity and social justice. Members of the Core Ensemble are Artists in Residence at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and long-time collaborators with the Farmworker Coordinating Council.
The event will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Friday, June 10th, 2022, at 7:00 pm. The program will feature dazzling and virtuosic pieces by Guatemalan composers and the beloved “Fire Dance” by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. The program is free; a love offering will benefit the Farmworker Council. A reception will follow the concert. All are welcome. St. Andrew’s is located at 100 North Palmway, Lake Worth Beach FL 33460. For more information, please call (561) 310-3230.
“St. Andrew’s is thrilled to host this collaboration and to present a tremendously gifted young artist.” Said the Very Reverend Corinna Olson, Rector of St. Andrew’s. “We strive to reflect the diversity of our city in the artists who perform for us; Alfonso Hernandez is a perfect fit for our multicultural community.”
“We are so grateful to St. Andrew’s Church for organizing this amazing event. The proceeds of this event will benefit the Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. The proceeds will be used to provide free social services to farmworkers, and many families in need in Palm Beach County”, said Ms. Denise Negron, Executive Director.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is a welcoming, inclusive Christian community. Its mission offers love, tolerance and respect for everyone, with ministries for homeless, food-insecure, and LGBT individuals. St. Andrew’s has become a strong voice in our community, leading the local justice ministry efforts of congregations in our area.
About The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc.
The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc., is a non-profit organization that provides social services to farmworkers and other people in need in Palm Beach County for over 43 years. The services are provided from our two offices located in Belle Glade and Lake Worth. Services include case management, emergency rental/utility assistance, distribution of food, toiletries, diapers, clothing, and household items, education, referrals, support groups, scholarships, microloans, financial literacy workshops, transportation, etc. Our mission is to promote self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life of migrant/seasonal farmworkers and other people in need through education, advocacy, and access to services. For more information, please visit www. farmworkercouncil.com or contact us at 561-533-7227.
Meal delivery services have increased in popularity, especially for busy people looking to save time planning, shopping, cooking, and meal prepping but still want to eat balanced nutritious meals. I was looking for a way to cut calories and save time. As a society, we are saturated with diet options and different ideas of “healthy.” Fad diets, juice cleanses, and weight loss programs are all highly marketed as “get lean fast,” but for people looking to make a lifestyle change, it can be an overwhelming experience. I will share my newfound experience with a popular meal delivery service, Ideal Nutrition, and include insights from experts in food and nutrition to expand upon the unexpected benefits I found.
Learning Portion Sizes
Portion control is essential for dieting because you need a tight handle on how many calories you’re consuming to see results. Ordering these pre-prepared meals helped me see and learn portion sizes. Seeing my daily meals in their pre-portioned containers at the start of each day also allowed me to visualize how much food I would be consuming for the whole day, which was a deterrent to mindless overindulging. It’s almost as if your “food budget” is laid out for each day. It helps to retrain your brain and allows your body to adjust to proper portion sizes.
Mindless Snacking
Snacking between meals is another common habit that leads to weight gain. Snacking, especially on high-calorie or fattening foods, can reduce hunger at mealtimes, increasing the risk of losing out on important nutrients. “Meal delivery services that provide pre-cooked pre-portioned meals can be beneficial to ‘snackers’ because there is minimal prep time needed, and they provide satiety. So rather than munching on calorie-dense processed snacks throughout the day or snacking in place of a meal, a ‘snacker’ could easily pop one of the pre-cooked meals in the microwave. This would aid in helping the individual feel full, and therefore feel less of an urge to keep snacking,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator Adrian Husbands.
Food for Thought from the Experts
Husbands, a fitness and health enthusiast with a Master’s in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Columbia University, also shared some helpful insight into some of the harmful mental habits surrounding overeating. “There is a direct correlation between our emotions and overeating. Feeling stressed, exhausted, anxious, emotional, or distracted are just a few reasons we might overeat. When we experience these feelings, we often gravitate towards foods that will make us feel better”, also known as comfort foods, and they “may not be the healthiest options,” Husbands added. Studies have found that eating junk food causes a release of dopamine in the brain, which gives an intense feeling of reward. This reward encourages susceptible individuals to eat more unhealthy foods and can ultimately lead to the never-ending battle between satisfying foods and unhappiness due to weight gain. “While I don’t believe that a meal delivery service can prevent an individual from overeating, they can aid in portion control. Finishing a meal can sometimes bring about a sense of fullness. While we might feel we could eat more, we’re more likely to resist because there is some satisfaction in knowing we ate a complete meal,” remarks Husbands.
Food-forward Thinking
While meal delivery services can be a great starting point for a weight loss journey, Founder of Trust Healthy Living, Health Coach & Professor Rhonda Trust makes a point by saying, “While these programs can be a good starting point, they are not recommended for long-term use. These pre-portioned pre-packed meals can help alleviate the overwhelming feeling of starting a new diet; however, it’s not teaching the person how to “fish “for their food. They are just being led to water.” The long-term success of meal delivery services and making proper food choices lies in the foundational education needed to be able to eat on your own. “I have used meal delivery services in the past and have been very satisfied with them. As a dietitian and fitness enthusiast, I rarely eat out. I like to know exactly what is going on my plate and in my body,” says Husbands.
If you’d like to give Ideal Nutrition a try, use code KHANNA10 to save 10%
Exhibit presents beautiful showcase of original, “square” works, in various mediums
May 24, 2022 – Stuart, Fla. – MartinArts is proud to present a unique collection of original works, created by its Member Artists, in Be Squared – A Members Exhibition. The exhibition opens June 10th at MartinArts’ Court House Cultural Center Gallery, 80 S.E. Ocean Blvd., in Downtown Stuart. A $5 Donation is requested at the door.
Chris Kling’s “The Gatherers”
This exhibit, on display through July 23rd, will showcase the diverse talents of 52 artists who are all members of MartinArts. Unique to the collection, is that each piece is created and presented in a square shape. Throughout the exhibition, a special selection of 8”x8” works, created and donated by participating artists in a variety of mediums, will be available for purchase. All proceeds will benefit arts education programs in Martin County.
The public is invited to preview this exciting show and meet the artists, at Be Squared – A Member’s Exhibition’s Opening Reception, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Friday, June 10th.
“We invite the community to experience these extraordinary works by this exemplary group of artists at our beautiful, historic gallery,” said Nancy K. Turrell, Executive Director of MartinArts. “Whatever your favorite medium or genre, it’s bound to be showcased in in this exquisitely-presented “square” exhibit.”
Be Squared – A Members Exhibition, will feature works by these celebrated MartinArts’ Member Artists:
Jeanine Baum, Michaelann Bellerjeau, Kimberly Beltrame, Dinija Berkien, Mallo Bisset, Deborah Bottorff, Sally Browning Pearson, Tracy Canada, Holly Cannon, Robert ClenDening, Marc Cohen, Suzanne Connors, Kendra Deltano, Evangelia Deslis, MJ Dowling, Sharon Ferina, Tom Forster, Torenzo Gann, Katie Gianni, Lindsay Hager, Jill Heveron, Heather Ivins, Etheard Joseph, Elizabeth Esther Kelly, Julia Kelly, Justin Klahne, Sue Klahne, Scott Klimek, Chris Kling, Jane Lawton Baldridge, Mia Lindberg, Barbara Z. Lyons, Lorrie McKenna, Dana Meyer, Maria G Miele, Mary Lou Mirabito, Lynn Morgan, Margarita Nielsen Palacios, Janis Clary Oehlschlager, Tom Prestopnik, Mary Lou Pults, Lisa Rapp, Diane Raymond, Jacquelyn Roesch-Sanchez, Danuta Rothschild, Bobby Savage, Jordan Silvia, Mark Stall, Marian Vitale, Jesse Walker, Sunny Walker, Laura Kay Whiticar Darvill
MartinArts’ Court House Cultural Center Gallery is open Tuesday 10 AM – 6 PM and Wednesday through Saturday 10AM-4PM.
About MartinArts:
MartinArts mission is to inspire participation and passion for the arts in our community. MartinArts envisions a vibrant and thriving community where arts and culture is woven into every aspect of life. As a regional leader, MartinArts stimulates and advances the economy of the cultural community.
MartinArts has served our community since 1980 and as the local arts agency since 1986. With roots in our community, we strive to support the arts sector through advocacy, promotion, research, community planning and programming. Our focus on arts education is core to who we are as we know that through those efforts, we are working to secure an audience for generations in the future. We are housed in a county-owned historic building (formerly the county’s first courthouse) the Court House Cultural Center. Located in historic downtown Stuart, this venue allows us to serve as a hub of cultural experiences for residents and visitors.
Sponsored in part by the Florida Dept. of State, Division of Arts & Culture, Florida Council on Arts & Culture, the National Endowment for the Arts, Martin County Board of County Commissioners, and private contributions.
DOWNTOWN COLLECTIVE – MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION
WHAT: Downtown Collective – Memorial Day Weekend Celebration
In celebration of Memorial Day weekend enjoy an afternoon filled with live music, face painting, popsicles, special instore sales and offers, a balloon artist and more!
WHAT: Downtown Collective – Lawn Games and Live Music
Spend the afternoon with your family at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens. Enjoy playing some of your favorite lawn games while listening to the sounds of summer with live music from a local performer.
WHEN: Saturday, June 4, 2022 – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Palm Beach Gardens – The Interactive Water Feature
Celebrate World Oceans Day with Loggerhead and learn the importance of protecting the ocean. Join Downtown Palm Beach Gardens at Dubois Park at 8:00 a.m. for a beach clean-up. Afterwards, stop by Downtown Palm Beach Gardens to learn about protecting the ocean with Loggerhead and interacting with the Junior Vet Lab. Capture your World Ocean’s Day moment with an Ocean Superhero-themed photo op.
WHEN/WHERE:
Wednesday, June 8 from 8 to 11 a.m. – Beach clean-up at Dubois Park
Wednesday, June 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. – Downtown Palm Beach Gardens
Making plans for extracurricular activities this summer? Look no further! The West Palm Beach Library Foundation is supporting a FREE six-week Summer Learning Program held at the Mandel Public Library (411 Clematis St.) providing a safe, easily accessible learning environment enabling children to maintain and build their skills in reading, writing, science, and math. Motivating students to excel, the programs are instructed by certified teachers who are tailored to each grade level.
Starting June 1, the available curriculum for all ages include:
ALL AGES PROGRAM
Summer Reading Program 2022: Oceans of Possibilities (Wednesday, June 1 – Sunday, July 31): Teens can earn free books by reading this summer. Log your weekly reading into the Beanstack app or website to be eligible for books and raffle prizes. Stop by the library to pick up a free Summer Reading booklet with book recommendations, reading challenges and more.
Teen Small Group Tutoring: Reading (Starting Sunday, June 5): For teens entering grades 6-12 in August.Get extra help in 45-minute small group tutoring sessions with a certified teacher.
Healthy You! Mental Health for Teens (Wednesdays starting June 8): Learn about strategies for positive mental health and self-care practices with instructors from the Center for Child Counseling.
The Artist in You (Thursdays starting June 9): Join artist Dahlia Perryman for weekly art sessions. Teens and tweens will use different mediums to discover their own creativity and make a unique piece of art to take home.
CHILDREN’S IN-PERSON PROGRAMS:
Small Group Tutoring: Reading (Starting Sunday, June 5): For kids entering grades 1-5 in August. Get extra help in reading in 45-minute, small group tutoring sessions with a certified teacher.
Small Group Tutoring: Math (Starting Sunday, June 5): For kids entering grades 1-5 in August. Get extra help in math in 45-minute, small group tutoring sessions with a certified teacher.
The West Palm Beach Library Foundation supports the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach and all its community programs, services and resources that are offered free to the public. The Foundation’s vision is to create an inspired community where children excel, and adults thrive. For more information or to register, visit wpbcitylibrary.org or call 561-868-7703.
FLORIDA TEEN SELECTED FOR ESTEEMED TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE SARASOTA BALLET
Clare Keavy, 17, has earned a spot at the famed dance company’s trainee program in Sarasota
May 27, 2022 (Jupiter, Fla.) — When former international ballet star Jean-Hugues Feray decided to open his own dance school in Jupiter in early 2009, the Keavy family noticed.
They recognized Feray immediately from his years dancing professionally with the original Ballet Florida and were one of the first families to enroll their then-4-year-old daughter Clare in dance classes at his new school. Their daughter quickly fell in love with ballet, and today – after 13 years of training with Feray at his now-renowned Paris Ballet and Dance – Clare, now 17, has earned a coveted trainee spot at The Sarasota Ballet on Florida’s west coast.
“I am so proud that one of Paris Ballet’s very first ballet students has earned such a prestigious training spot with a major ballet company,” Feray said. “It’s wonderful to see one of my students come full circle like this. Clare is incredibly motivated and talented, and I can’t wait to see where her professional career takes her.”
Founded in 1987, The Sarasota Ballet is a full resident professional ballet company with an expansive repertoire that has earned international acclaim. With rave reviews in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Dance Europe and Dancing Times, The Sarasota Ballet has been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, at City Center and the Joyce Theater in New York City, among others. The Sarasota Ballet’s Trainee Program offers talented students a well-rounded curriculum designed to prepare them for their next steps in their dance careers.
“The Sarasota Ballet’s repertoire is really amazing,” Clare said. “I’m really excited to start dancing with the Trainee Program and am so grateful for this incredible opportunity to begin my professional career here in Florida.”
Cast as Clara at age 9 in Paris Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, Clare said she knew then that she would pursue a career as a professional ballerina. In eighth grade, she began training through Paris Ballet’s Paris Ballet Conservatory, an elite accelerated training program for students preparing for professional dance careers. She has spent the past four years averaging about 20 hours per week of rigorous dance training with Paris Ballet. Clare has excelled academically, too; she completed her schoolwork (through Florida Virtual School’s flex program) at such an accelerated pace that she graduated high school a full year early this month.
“It’s been great growing up with Mr. Jean as my mentor,” Clare said, referring to the name many students call Feray. “He has guided me every step of the way and has taught me so much. His training has given me the best opportunities and prepared me for the next steps in my career.”
In addition to the role of Clara, other favorite roles through her years with Paris Ballet have included the Sugar Plum Fairy, Black Swan, White Swan, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother and dancing the famed pas de deux from Le Corsaire and pas de trois from Swan Lake. She has attended summer programs in France at the Stage International de Danse in Arcachon and the Paris Opera Ballet School, as well as Paris Ballet’s summer and winter intensives, and has placed annually in the famed Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competition. She also received offers from Nashville Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet, but ultimately decided The Sarasota Ballet was the best fit.
This summer, Clare will head to Sarasota, where she has earned a full scholarship to The Sarasota Ballet’s summer program before starting the trainee program in the fall.
And her family is exceptionally proud.
“The training that Clare has received at Paris Ballet has been incomparable,” said her mother, Christi Keavy. “Jean-Hugues Feray’s dedication and instruction enabled Clare to get a world-class dance education right here in Jupiter. Clare has received numerous scholarships through the years, has had her pick from prestigious trainee programs and is now on her way to a professional career — all because of the amazing training and mentorship she received at Paris Ballet and Dance and the Paris Ballet Conservatory.”
Clare can be seen performing at the Kravis Center during Paris Ballet’s final performance of the season on June 11 at 7:30 p.m.: a mixed bill end-of-year showcase featuring ballet, modern, contemporary, neoclassical, jazz and tap.
“I’d love to invite everyone to attend our June performance at the Kravis Center to see our incredible students perform, including Clare and other seniors who are starting their professional careers,” Feray said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to see our students on stage locally before they join professional ballet companies or colleges with renowned dance programs.”
Tickets to Paris Ballet’s June performance at the Kravis Center are currently on sale; all tickets are $35. The performance will take place at the Rinker Playhouse. For tickets and more information, call the box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.
About Paris Ballet and Dance Paris Ballet and Dance was founded in 2009 by Jean-Hugues Feray, a native of France and former principal dancer with many international companies, including Ballet Florida and National Ballet de Marseille. Located in Jupiter, Fla., the school offers world-class dance training for students starting at age three. With a stellar reputation for quality, exceptional master classes and top-notch training in ballet, jazz, tap and modern, the school draws 100 students per year from as far as Vero Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Wellington. The school is also home to the prestigious not-for-profit Paris Ballet Conservatory, an elite accelerated training program for students preparing for professional dance careers. For more about Paris Ballet and Dance and its Conservatory, call (561) 308-8377 or visit www.parisballetdance.com.
Climate READY Ambassadors from Florida Atlantic University’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center will be the guest speakers at the Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club’s meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 13, at the Okeeheelee Nature Center, part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
The ambassadors are teams of high school students who have been learning about climate change and what they can do to help their communities become more resilient to environmental challenges.
In the final semester of the innovative three-semester program, students speak at outreach events in the community.
Visitors to the Pack & Paddle Club’s meeting on Monday, June 13, can arrive for socializing starting at 6:30 p.m.
PALM BEACH PACK & PADDLE CLUB
The Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club, founded in 1975, plans several events each month for exploring and appreciating nature. Trips last a day, a weekend, a week or longer. They are local, within Florida and long-distance. Activities include kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, hiking and biking, snorkeling, car camping and wilderness or river camping.
In addition, club meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at the Okeeheelee Nature Center in Okeeheelee Park, with guest speakers on nature-related subjects and other topics of interest.
Okeeheelee Nature Center is part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33413. Go 1.2 miles west on Forest Hill Blvd. from Jog Road to Eshleman Trail (the second Okeeheelee entrance). Turn right (north) and follow the signs and road 1.6 miles to the nature center, which is in the back of the park.
The nature center features 2.5 miles of trails winding through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. Highlights include hands-on exhibits, animal encounters and a nature-related gift shop. For more information, call (561) 233-1400. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OkeeheeleeNatureCenter/
