New date announced for 34th Annual Wellington Dinner Dance to support Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club
New April 22 date ensures the safety of guests after a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Photo: Tracey Benson Photography
Wellington, Fla. (January 4, 2022) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County announced Friday, April 22, as the new date for the highly anticipated 34th Annual Wellington Dinner Dance. The event’s time, location, and offerings will remain the same, starting at 6:30 PM at Wycliffe Country Club, Wellington, Fla. The new date is precautionary due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases across South Florida.
Proceeds from the annual event benefit critical programming at Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington. This year’s event will have special meaning as it will also honor the legacy of Neil Hirsch, who passed away in June.
The evening will begin with a cocktail hour including hors d’oeuvres and a specialty cocktail from the High Goal Luxury Gin liquor line donated by celebrity polo player, Nic Roldan. HyRyZe Band will perform live, while guests enjoy vintage circus Wellington Club members will perform a dance and circus act while guests enjoy a sit-down dinner.
This year’s Dinner Dance Chairpersons include Georgina Bloomberg, Dr. Eduardo Jusino & Dr. Ana Ferwerda, and John & Julie Kime.Honorary includeDr. Edward & Maria Becker, Dr. Richard & Julia Giroux, Chris & Charlene Ramos and Daniel & Angie Payne. Committee members include Jennifer Black, Maria Becker, Paulette Edwards, Julia Giroux, Dr. Elizabeth Gonzalez, Nicolette Goldfarb, Julie Khanna, Lilly Khanna, Julie Kime, Angie Payne, Jennifer Quent, Charlene Ramos, Ranjita Sharma, Sandra Stella, Christine Vergari, Jenna Zorn, Ana Ferwerda and Beatriz De La Rua.
For more information, please contact Elena Corsano at (646) 209-6965 or ecorsano@bgcpbc.org. For details about Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, visit www.bgcpbc.org.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
Founded in 1971, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is a not-for-profit youth development organization dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, health, leadership and character of boys and girls in a safe, nurturing environment. The Clubs provide more than a safe, fun, and constructive alternative to being home alone – they offer a variety of award-winning developmental programs to help youth build skills, self-esteem and values during critical periods of growth. The 17 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Palm Beach County serve more than 10,000 children ages 6-18. For more information, please visit www.bgcpbc.org or call 561-683-3287.
Whatever your New Year’s Resolutions may be, I hope you have a happy, healthy and fun New Year. This month we feature a couple of young rising stars, one in the music business and one golfer. Read this month’s “AW Spotlight” story to see my interview with singer/songwriter Joshua Desir. We’ve embedded three of his music videos inside the story, so you can enjoy those too.
Writer Mike May interviewed young Wellington golfer Jason Shwartz, who was named as Palm Beach County’s Top Boys High School Golfer for 2021 by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in late December. Read “On the Move with Mike” this month.
Have you read any good books lately? I have! “Confessions of a Jewish Shiksa” by Frannie Sheridan. You might remember Frannie and Dani as our dessert reviewers (“The Sweethearts”). Frannie has written her autobiography, and it’s a complex, masterfully crafted story, blending pain and humor. Read my book review.
Now a couple of important introductions. Ingrid Webster will be providing a monthly cartoon for AroundWellington called “Harold’s Universe.” Just visit the Harold’s Universe page to see what it’s all about. Nice themes of kindness and inclusion.
Also, teen writer Carly Cantor will be writing “Teen Talk” for us. She will also serve as our intern. You might remember Carly from her beautiful voice, as she won our July 4th singing contest and sang “On This Day” by Jon Frangipane.
Is seeing the Northern Lights on your bucket list? Our travel writer Terri Marshall takes us to several good spots for viewing the aurora borealis, as well as adding in several bonus winter wonderland activities. See “Travel with Terri.”
Explore our other articles and links too. There are new photos[k1] from the first polo match of the season by Alan Fabricant.
“Put your jackets on and come outside. You don’t want to miss this!” Those were the only words we needed from our host, Johan Stenevad. We left behind the cozy dining table at the Lapland Guesthouse in the Swedish Lapland miles above the Arctic Circle to scurry outside wearing far fewer layers than we needed in the bone-chilling night air. We gasped as the aurora borealis gracefully danced across the sky in shades of green, pink and purple. A mesmerizing sight, the show lasted several minutes earning every ooh and aah exclamation.
There’s a reason the northern lights find a place on so many bucket lists. Viewing this natural phenomenon provides unforgettable moments. If viewing the aurora borealis sits near the top of your bucket list, these destinations just might deliver that checkmark you seek along with a bounty of winter wonderland delights.
The Swedish Lapland
Happy Travelers at The Lapland Guesthouse! Photo by Johan Stenevad
At the Lapland Guesthouse in the village of Kangos–one of my favorite places in the world–the search for northern lights is never far away. Johan surveys the skies each evening making sure everyone knows when the lights arrive. Some evenings he attaches a sled to his snowmobile and takes guests on a northern lights safari. Other times, like the aforementioned evening, the lights put on a dazzling show just outside the house.
Spending time at the welcoming Lapland Guesthouse delivers more than northern lights viewing. Traverse the frozen landscape to experience hand-feeding reindeer. Then share a hearty lunch of hot soup or grilled burgers served fireside in a snowbank blanketed with reindeer skins.
For active adventures, don’t miss dog sledding on a frozen lake. Or spend a morning ice fishing. If you’re lucky enough to reel in a fish from the icy waters, the chef at Lapland Guesthouse will happily prepare your prize catch for dinner. Don’t worry, your evening meal is certain to be delicious even if your fishing expedition comes up empty.
After a day filled with winter delights, warm up with time in an authentic Swedish sauna. Then top off the evening with a nightcap at the onsite bar aptly named the Tilted Reindeer. Skål! www.laplandguesthouse.com
Fairbanks, Alaska
Borealis Base Camp
Fairbanks sits in the aurora oval, a ring-shaped area around the North Pole, making it one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. They’re often visible from August to May, becoming more intense between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. While there are many places to experience the northern lights in the Fairbanks area, one of the most intriguing is the Borealis Base Camp.
Situated on 100 acres in the snowy boreal forest just 25 miles outside of Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp feels as if it’s worlds away from civilization—in a good way. Guests stay in geodesic domes with expansive clear ceilings that provide unobstructed views of the night sky and if you’re lucky, the northern lights. The best part: all of this is visible without ever leaving the comfort of your warm and cozy bed. Considering that the temperatures in the region frequently dip as low as -35 or more, the ‘not leaving the warm bed part’ is especially enticing.
Although this lunar-like landscape remains off the grid, that doesn’t stop the chef from whipping up delicious cuisine. Served in a stunning yurt with floor-to-ceiling windows, our three-course meal included the choice of flat iron steak, Alaska sockeye salmon or Alaskan king crab. www.borealisbasecamp.net
Wiseman, Alaska
Under the Northern Lights in Wiseman, AK!
At the north end of the aurora oval, Wiseman—population 14—is worth the daring Ice Road Truckers drive up the Dalton Highway. Northern Alaskan Tour Company offers tours from Fairbanks with lodging at Coldfoot Camp—a place built for truckers serving the needs of the workers on the Alaskan Pipeline. They’ll drive you up the icy highway and fly you back to Fairbanks for a bird’s eye view of the frozen tundra.
When the northern lights forecast seems promising, guests are transported from Coldfoot Camp to Wiseman—a tiny village just 30 minutes away. Here you’ll meet Jack Reakoff, a true Alaskan character. Jack happily shares information about the lights along with entertaining tales of life in Wiseman. He also provides photography tips along with tripods. A warm cabin with a fire burning in the hearth, hot beverages and cookies keep everyone comfy and cozy. www.northernalaska.com
Alta, Norway
Northern Lights Cathedral in Alta, Norway. Photo Courtesy of Visit Norway
When a community procures the moniker “Town of the Northern Lights” it deserves a spot on any aurora borealis chasing itinerary. Situated 375 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in Norway’s northernmost county of Finnmark, the 15,000 residents of this picturesque fjord town seem to have won the location lottery. Surrounded by mountains and benefiting from the Gulf Stream’s warm air which finds its way to Norway’s coast, Alta doesn’t have the extreme bone-chilling temperatures of other far north locales. You’ll still need to bundle up, but it’ll be worth it to take in the glorious lights dancing overhead.
The world’s first observatory dedicated to the study of the northern lights sits above the town on Mount Haldde. And in the town center, the bold design of the Northern Lights Cathedral with its coiling body and spire clothed in rippling titanium sheets celebrates the beauty of the aurora borealis.
When you’re not chasing the lights, add a few extra layers and spend a night at Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel on the banks of the Altaelva River. Carved entirely from snow and ice, the hotel opens in January and returns to the river as it melts in springtime. www.visitnorway.com
Ready to bundle up and chase your bucket list dreams?
In “Confessions of a Jewish Shiksa,” a new autobiography by Frannie Sheridan, the story weaves through many aspects of her life as an actor, writer and comedian. With this masterfully crafted story, Sheridan opens the reader’s eyes to her family’s long-kept secret – that they are Jewish. Her parents escaped the Holocaust, only to be persecuted in Canada where her father was beaten and almost left for dead. Sheridan’s father, who she calls “Diddy,” makes a decision to raise the family under the pretense of being Catholic, in order to protect them from further danger. She is faced with her father’s haunting words, “Never tell anyone.”
You see the complicated life and complicated lie that they are forced to live through the eyes of Frannie as a young girl. Meanwhile, Frannie is torn apart by her mother and father, seeking their approval and not able to ever achieve that from both parents at the same time. It’s a story that brings pain to the surface, but punctuates it with humor throughout.
Frannie’s story takes you places – from the Catholic life she led in Ottawa, Canada to her experimental days as a stripper to her more recent appearances at comedy clubs in Palm Beach County, Florida. She is undeniably brave and seeks to overcome her fears of being seen naked by signing up as a stripper. That’s one way to conquer all sorts of phobias at once.
It’s a lively story and you’ll find yourself turning the pages quite easily, as her journey speeds along. Sheridan’s father instills in her a deep fear of being institutionalized, always claiming that her mother is mentally ill. She writes, “…it was just a matter of time before I would be found out. A crazy Jewish-Catholic girl who’s torn in half.” The greatness of her story is in the way that she overcomes her struggle. In deciding to tell her truth and write about her true heritage, Sheridan uplifts the whole family. She puts on a one-woman show based on her life called “The Waltonsteins.” She also attracts the attention of film maker Arthur Hiller (known for many films, including “Love Story”). Hiller was working on making “The Waltonsteins” into a full-length film before he died in 2016. Because of Sheridan’s writings and performances, the whole family is brought out of the proverbial closet and into the light. Feature film still to come.
While the strip club scenes are raw and gripping, the scenes at home with the Sheridan family are relatable and familiar. As a comedian, Sheridan knows how to handle an audience and how to leave them wanting just a bit more. As a writer, she carries out the same thing, painting a picture of her story in colorful detail and at the end, leaving you wanting just a bit more. And that’s how it should be. “Confessions of a Jewish Shiksa” is a compelling look at coming to terms with your true family heritage and true self. The laughs in between are an extra bonus.
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Frannie Sheridan
Confessions of a Jewish Shiksa
Frannie Sheridan who lives in West Palm Beach is in demand as a Speaker “FROM TRAUMA TO NIRVANA” – available for in-person or cyber appearances. She is selling inscribed copies of her memoir from her home in West Palm Beach – they can be shipped anywhere in the US or Canada.
Copies of the book also available via Mosaic Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
The book, which was well received at the Frankfurt Book Fair by foreign publishers, is being translated into German, Italian, French and Russian.
At one time or another every family has the conversation: Should we get a pet? My answer is always a resounding YES! First of all, so many dogs and cats are in desperate need of our help. Second, they add a layer of warm and fuzzy to our lives that can’t be duplicated by anything else. But what if it’s just not the right time? What if time or money constraints won’t allow us to have a fluffy little puppy or a snuggly kitten? What if we have allergies to pet dander? What if we live in Hawaii (wait – what? I’ll explain)? No worries. Here are some alternatives.
Let’s start with something light: turtles. Turtles are easy to care for and they will be more than happy to eat the veggies you bought last week when you swore you were only eating salads this week. Not only will they make you feel better about not wasting food, some species live a long time. So the family tortoise could get passed down to the kids when they get their place.
Bearded Dragon
Bearded Dragons. Yes, I said dragon. But these aren’t the fire-breathing sort of dragon. They happen to be medium-sized lizards that love attention and being handled. Their laid-back nature makes them a good starter reptile. Just remember to wash your hands before and after handling them – they can react to the chemicals and dirt on your hands.
How about an itsy-bitsy spider? Like a tarantula? O.k., so they aren’t so itsy-bitsy and, for some people can induce nightmares, but they are quiet and docile. They take up very little space and are easy to feed. Because of their delicate nature handling them can be difficult. You have to be very gentle.
Hedgehogs. These spiny little bundles of fun enjoy being played with and can even be trained with positive reinforcement. Know someone with an allergy to pet dander? These little guys are perfect – they are dander-free. Hedgehogs are rather quiet but they are nocturnal and are known to rearrange the “furniture” in their cages late at night.
At this point, I know you are saying “How about something alternative but kind of normal?” O.k. – how about a hamster? They are so cute, easy to take care of and they only sometimes get out of their cages and end up nesting in your closet or getting stuck in the toaster (speaking from experience here). (Editor’s Note: The hamster was rescued from the toaster). BUT … and this is a big but here – hamsters are illegal in Hawaii (I told ya I’d get back to it…). Hawaii determined ahead of time that conditions were favorable and because its an island, didn’t want to risk being overrun by hamsters and endangering the species native to their island. Hats off to Hawaii for thinking ahead (I’m not looking at you Florida and the Ball Python fiasco that is happening in the Everglades). So, if you plan on moving to Hawaii in the next three years this might not be the best choice unless you want to smuggle them in.
Whatever pet you chose, remember, they are family. They go where you go. Unless it’s Hawaii.
AW: How did you get involved in singing? Song writing?
JD: My first singing opportunity was at 4 years old at a Memorial Day Service (where I sang the National Anthem) at Trinity Christian Academy. I also grew up singing at church. I sang with the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches from 3rd grade to 9th grade. I was in an opera called Tosca at 11 years old at the Kravis Center. I sang because of TV as well, singing along with theme songs from old cartoons. When I was about 9 years old and YouTube was still new, my cousin showed me the music video for “Beat It,” and I was introduced to the singing and dancing of Michael Jackson.
When I was 15, I was in a music convention in Orlando. They brought home the point, “If you can sing great, if you can write your own songs, even better.” I decided to write from my heart and see what happens. I had taken piano lessons for six years, which helped me a great deal with songwriting. I was inspired to write by my music mentors.
AW: How old are you? Where do you go to school? Where do you live? What do you want to do next, school-wise or career-wise?
JD: I’m 20 and am a biology major at FAU. I live in Boynton Beach. I just want to be the best that I can be. I want to have a prolific music career. CJ Ali (my music producer) and I will produce “Sincerely Yours,” a new album we will be working on. Additionally I work with my father, who has an electrical company.
AW: How many songs do you have so far? Tell us about your new upcoming album.
I have written 12 songs so far. There’s a concept behind my upcoming album “Sincerely Yours.” It’s a love story within itself. It’s from the point of view of a younger me thinking he has found the love of his life, but things change, and things are not as they seem. “Searching” is a song about how the good times have suddenly changed. “Sincerely Yours” is a toxic love rollercoaster.
AW: Which artists/singers inspire you?
Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Luther VanDross, Chris Brown, Prince, Kanye West. These artists inspire me business-wise and music-wise. Prince inspired me to get better at my instruments and pick up more instruments.
AW: Who made the music videos with you?
JD: In the collection called Prodigy, the videos for “Best Life” and “Searching” were made by Wavy Clips.
Adept Productions recently made the video “Good Time.”
To get the right concept, including the actors and location, it takes more than a month to plan out a good music video.
AW: Do you believe there’s a message behind your music? If so, what kind of message do you want to convey?
JD: Most definitely, the message is love and positivity. Even if it’s a sad song, there’s still a message of hope. I get inspired from God, and God is Love. His Love goes through my music, and I can share it with everybody.
AW: Do you play at local venues? Which ones?
JD: Most frequently, I play at The Chill Room (Wednesday nights at 9pm), which is at about Lake Worth Road and the Turnpike. Sometimes I play at Hullabaloo or Subculture Coffee in West Palm Beach. And sometimes my band plays at FAU.
AW: Tell us about your family. Are they supportive of your singing?
JD: They are very supportive. My parents are immigrants from Haiti. My father is an electrician, and my mother is a nurse. My younger brother is 14, Jaden. He is a straight A student, just ranked in the top 5 in the state of Florida in basketball for “most charges.” He plays football as well. We visited Haiti when I was 16. There are so many beautiful parts of the island, parts that you don’t see on the news.
AW: Tell us about your most recent song/video “Good Time.” How did the idea for that song come to you?
JD: My producer CJ and I were hanging out in my room – during COVID. I was realizing that having fun with my friends was something I had taken it for granted. He dropped a great beat. I was thinking about so many people losing lives, losing jobs, being stressed out. Life isn’t just about how much money in your bank account. It’s so important to take care of your mental health. When you’re home alone, you must ask, “am I happy with who I am?” The song is about just having a good time. We’re not here for a long time, but we’re here for a good time. There’s a lyric in it, “Smile more and eat better.” If you have a beef with someone, call them up and make amends. If you do this, a burden is lifted off your shoulders faster than you’ve even imagined.
AW: Tell us about your collection of songs called “Prodigy.” Why did you title it Prodigy?
JD: Prodigy is really a mix tape. I wanted to do a project in high school, reflecting about the past and what’s to come. There are no regrets for me, just lessons. I named it Prodigy because of all the musical mentors I’ve had in my life. I’m the product of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, the American Heritage School fine arts program, and growing up singing in the church.
AW: You wrote a song dedicated to George Floyd?
JD: Yes, it’s called, “I can’t breathe.” That song came from straight emotion – words can’t express that event. It was my way of relieving myself of the traumas I’ve seen, including the George Floyd murder. I have to ask myself, “What if that was me? What if that was one of my family members?”
AW: Tell us about your upcoming year.
JD: Next year’s going to be a big year for me, 2022. I’m growing on Tik Tok, almost 20K followers. Next year will be a promising year for me and my band in music.
My producer CJ Ali is also the drummer in my band “J Desir and the Formula.” The bass player is “Jordan the Musician.” The guitar player is Rodley Joachin. I’m planning on doing a lot of collaborations.
A delicious dish to bring you good luck in the New Year!
Ingredients
1 pound dry black-eyed peas
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (32 ounce) cartons chicken broth
8 cups water
1 pound smoked ham hocks
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
5 pepperoncini peppers
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground thyme
salt and pepper to taste
Step 1
Place the black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse before using.
Step 2
In a large stock pot over medium heat, cook and stir onion and garlic in olive oil until onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and 8 cups water, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in soaked black-eyed peas, ham hocks, tomatoes, pepperoncini, bay leaf, garlic powder, thyme, and salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until peas are tender, ham meat is falling off the bones, and the broth is thickened, about 3 hours.
Did you know that locally sourced produce not only tastes delicious, but is better for you and the environment? When you buy fruits and vegetables that are grown close to home, they have a much shorter trip from the farm to your plate – giving you fresher, tastier, more nutritious food that leaves a smaller carbon footprint on the planet. With benefits like that, it only makes sense to shop local!
Thankfully, Palm Beach County offers plenty of options to get locally sourced produce, so you’re sure to find a favorite to visit regularly this year. To help you eat healthier and more sustainably in 2022, here are five local farmers markets that make farm-to-table living easier than ever!
Caribbean Plants and Produce might look more like a plant nursery but looks can be deceiving. This produce stand often has hard-to-find produce like jackfruit, sugar apples, longan fruit, and annonas. Plus, while you’re here, you might find a new air-purifying houseplant to take home, or an exotic fruit tree.
Caribbean Plants and Produce is open year-round. Visit them at 13527 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee, FL 33470.
Stock up on fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, honey, and unique merchandise at this popular market. With a beautiful lakeside atmosphere and plenty of free parking, this is the perfect place for your seasonal shopping!
Open Saturdays from October through April, you can visit Royal Palm Beach Green Market and Bazaar at 1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411.
Serving Palm Beach County for over 30 years, this quaint plant purser and market has a lot to offer. Besides fresh produce and flowers, Rorabeck’s has a huge selection of plants and pottery for some backyard inspiration. The market also hosts a smoothie and lunch café for a quick lunch on the market. If you’re looking for a gift, one of their special-order fruit baskets is always a good idea.
Rorabeck’s is open year-round, and you can visit this Palm Beach County staple at 55539 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33463.
Locally grown produce, fresh flowers, artisan baked goods, fresh eggs – you’ll find it all at this lively market that’s located right on the water. You can even bring your leashed up pup with you to peruse the stalls and enjoy the live music. The market is committed to supporting over 80 local vendors every week, rain or shine.
The Lake Worth Farmers Market is open every Saturday from mid-October through April. Stop by and check it out at 1 S. Ocean Blvd, Lake Worth, FL 33460.
If you’re looking for a family-owned and operated farmer’s market, look no further than Bedner’s! Tasked with bringing a variety of affordable, locally grown produce, the Bender family is making farm-to-table living more accessible in South Florida. Check out their seasonal selections and activities year-round.
You can visit Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market at 10066 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33473.
We hope that this roundup will help you eat fresh and shop local this year. For more reasons why you should embrace the farm-to-table lifestyle, read our December Around Wellington article here.
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Carmen and Tripp Eldridge are small-scale farming experts and the current Farm Directors at Arden, an award-winning residential agrihood in Palm Beach County, FL. Managing the community’s five-acre farm, Tripp and Carmen are pioneering innovative farm-to-table living in South Florida.
Making its Florida Premiere at Mounts Botanical Garden
This beautiful, inspirational exploration of art and nature is set to open January 8, 2022
(West Palm Beach, FL – December 29, 2021) Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Made with LEGO Bricksis set to make its Florida premiere at Mounts Botanical Garden, opening on Saturday, January 8 and running through Sunday, May 1. This new exhibition from acclaimed artist Sean Kenney features over 40 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO pieces and explores the beauty of nature through highly stylized, colorful displays that stand in striking contrast with their surroundings.
Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Nature POP! blends art, science, and innovation in the display of the New York-based artist’s newest, never-before-seen sculptures. Known for his ability to make striking works of art using simple LEGO toys, Kenney pushes the boundaries of the medium in this new exhibition through his use of vibrant colors and a bold, graphical style. Inspired by the Pop art movement, Kenney’s work on Nature POP! plays on that movement’s principles by blurring the boundaries between austere and the everyday, and draws from a belief that everything is interconnected.
Nature POP! invites guests to consider how just as LEGO bricks are interconnected, so is everything in nature. The intricate displays explore the relationships that exist in nature, whether that be the delicate balance between predators and prey, the commonalities between species as they care for their young, or the impact that humankind has on the natural world. Supporting content enhances the experience with scientific facts about the creatures presented in the displays.
Most importantly, the exhibition allows visitors to appreciate both nature and the sculptures as something beautiful, and to inspire them to go home and create something wonderful themselves. Presenting a playful spin on traditional sculptural art, Nature POP! is an accessible experience for all ages.
Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine Exhibitions shared, “Imagine Exhibitions is proud to partner with Sean Kenney to bring the creative vision of Nature POP! to Mounts Botanical Garden. Sean’s work is not only awe-inspiring in its artistic qualities, but it’s also an incredible demonstration of the ways that human innovation and engineering can be used to solve problems and build something amazing.”
“We are very excited to welcome Sean Kenney back to the Garden to debut his new exhibition in Florida,” said Rochelle Wolberg, Curator-Director for Mounts Botanical Garden. “Nature POP! is the perfect way to launch the new year and is guaranteed to thrill visitors of all ages. It highlights our Season of Awe and Wonder.”
“We are so delighted to sponsor this exciting exhibit,” said Jan Cairnes, CEO for Hanley Foundation. “Hanley Foundation is the nonprofit statewide leader in adolescent substance use prevention and education, and we know how important family time is in preventing substance use disorder. We hope families will come together to enjoy this incredible opportunity to connect with nature and connect as a family. Family time is time well spent.”
Admire the colorful creations on display at Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Made with LEGO Bricks, open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm (last entry at 3 pm) for a limited engagement through May 1, 2022. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate or online at mounts.org.
Lead sponsor for Nature POP! Is the Hanley Foundation. Select sculptures and murals are sponsored by Renée Rotta, Lewis Pollack and Iggy, and by an anonymous donor.
About Mounts Botanical Garden
With a mission to inspire and educate through nature, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Visitors to this 16-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants, including Florida natives, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads and much more. The award-winning Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland, completed in 2017, is a guest favorite.
Mounts Botanical Garden is part of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Department, in partnership with the University of Florida and the non-profit Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden. This project is sponsored in part by The Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. Mounts Botanical is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit mounts.org.
About Hanley Foundation
Hanley Foundation envisions a world free of addiction, leading the way as the largest provider of educational programs that prevent underage drinking in the State of Florida. In addition to offering treatment scholarships to those in need and facilitating trainings to identify the signs of substance misuse, the Foundation works to reduce stigma and change policy through its advocacy efforts. The Foundation’s mission is to eliminate addiction through prevention, advocacy, treatment, and recovery support. For more information on Hanley Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.hanleyfoundation.org or call 561.268.2355.
About Imagine Exhibitions
Imagine Exhibitions is currently producing over 40 unique exhibitions globally in museums, science centers, zoos, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues, with millions of people around the world visiting our exhibitions each year. In addition to developing successful traveling exhibitions, Imagine Exhibitions designs, opens, and operates permanent installations and venues, and consults on building, expanding, and directing museums and attractions. With decades of diverse experience in the museum and entertainment industries, Imagine Exhibitions consistently develops exhibitions that educate and excite while exceeding attendance goals. For more information, visit ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.
About Sean Kenney Sean Kenney is an award-winning artist who uses LEGO pieces as a medium for contemporary sculpture, portraiture, and commercial art. He is recognized as one of the leading experts in the field and is a founding member of several global programs that aim to encourage and support this emerging art form. Millions of people have visited his exhibitions, he has authored 9 children’s books, and The LEGO Group collaborated with him as an official partner for 14 years. Sean’s work has been acclaimed by The New York Times, PBS Arts, BBC Arts, and Vogue, and he continues to create every day at his studio in Brooklyn. www.seankenney.com
