Thursday, July 24, 2025
Home Blog Page 238

Take Stock in Children Mentor, Teacher Kimberly Rolston Awarded PB Illustrated’s Educator of the Year

0

Take Stock in Children Mentor, Teacher Kimberly Rolston

awarded Palm Beach Illustrated’s Educator of the Year!

Kimberly Rolston

September 24, 2021 – West Palm Beach, Fla. –  Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County cheers Kimberly Rolston, of West Palm Beach, for her recent recognition as Palm Beach Illustrated’s Educator of the Year.  Rolston, in her third year of volunteering as a Take Stock in Children Mentor to support fellow mentors and students enrolled in the nonprofit’s scholarship program, teaches early education at The Greene School in West Palm Beach.  

Rolston’s more than two decades of credentials and service are rooted in education and woven with child advocacy, ministry, and her enthusiastic passion for learning.  

“Kim possesses a true compassion for a student’s individual success, and we are so very appreciative of her choosing to volunteer her time with us to help break the cycle of poverty with education,” said Nancy Stellway, Executive Director, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County. “We cheer Kim’s honor and recognize her as a leader in advocating for children’s wellbeing and success.”

Rolston, a long-time contributor to several, local nonprofit organizations, said she finds the benefits of mentoring applicable in and out of the classroom, “…my first love.”

“I felt the more I communicated with my mentee, the more I learned how to become an effective communicator and inspire self-confidence and give direction,” Rolston said.

Sharing the title of Educator of the Year, is Ariana Murphy, a Teacher at Belle Glade Elementary School, who tied for the top award. Fellow Take Stock Mentor, and Teacher at Glades Central Community High School Mark Risisky, of Wellington, placed among the seven finalists.  

Mark Risisky

About Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County:

Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County celebrates 26 years of commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty with education. We accomplish our 98% success rate with an innovative multi-year model that begins in middle school, and continues throughout post-secondary completion. We provide wraparound services to underserved youth from age 12 – 22, with no drop-off after high school completion. We help students evade dropping out of high school and attain a college education by providing one-on-one mentoring, after school club meetings, college readiness coaching, college retention services, and two-year scholarships.


How can the community help? Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County impacts the community by bringing limitless opportunity to its young adults, with the gift of education. We remain committed to empowering students to earn college scholarships, experience the reward of dedicated work, and gain wide-open access to a life of success, without poverty. Strengthen your community by investing your time as a mentor to support students as a friend and role model throughout their educational journey, or, make a donation to help fund resources critical to student success. www.takestockpalmbeach.org.

Photo of Kimberly Rolston Contributed by: Kimberly Rolston
Photo Credit of Mark Risisky: Laura Louise Tingo 

Teaming Up and Cleaning Up to Help Save Our Florida Beaches

0

Teaming Up and Cleaning Up to Help Save Our Florida Beaches

Broward School and Wellington Renewable Energy Firm Join Forces

Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida (September 18, 2021) – The International Coastal Cleanup™(ICC) is the world’s largest annual volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment. Though Saturday, September 18th was the designated day for ICC for 2021, in Palm Beach and surrounding Florida counties, many clean-up events are happening through fall.

For the past 36 years, The Ocean Conservancy has sponsored this annual event where volunteers from over 100 countries simultaneously visit local beaches and waterways to rid them of garbage and show their commitment to conservation. New River Middle School (NRMS) students, faculty, and family have participated in ICC for over ten years. Their 2021 site was again at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, located in Dania Beach off Florida State Road A1A.

Mindy Wessinger, NRMS principal, said the park always provides a pavilion free of charge to the school because it provides so many volunteers. “We use ICC Day as our kick-off event to create excitement around our school-wide project ‘Mission Possible/Marine Plastics,’” she says.

Wessinger said that Wellington-based Solarize USA’s sponsorship helped make this year’s event COVID safe by providing families boxed lunches from a local deli rather than hosting the traditional BBQ lunch cooked by school staff. The renewable energy consulting firm founded by Lucho Gomez safely served over 480 students, parents, friends, and family volunteers.

“We work to have our students become responsible stewards of the marine environment.  Participating in these types of events as a school family provides students with firsthand knowledge of the magnitude of the problem, as well as how to become part of the solution,” says Wessinger, adding that Solarize USA has always been a great advocate and supporter of NRMS.

Without community partners like Solarize USA, she says events like this would not be possible. Gomez says anytime kids get out in nature and see how to be compassionate stewards, it’s a win.

“We loved collaborating with Mindy, Katie, and the rest of the team at New River and look forward to many more opportunities! I hope we can continue fostering a community of caring and environmentally enthusiastic humans and have a blast while we’re at it,” says Gomez.

About International Coastal Cleanup™

In partnership with volunteer organizations and individuals around the globe, the International Coastal Cleanup™(ICC) engages people to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways. Thanks to volunteers worldwide, the ICC has become a beacon of hope, leading and inspiring action supporting our oceans. Since its beginning, over 16 million volunteers have collected more than 340 million pounds of trash: oceanconservancy.org.

About New River Middle School

New River is a Marine Science Magnet School providing opportunities for students to explore marine and environmental careers, application to real-world issues, and foster stewardship in their backyard. The school is committed to getting students excited about learning through hands-on activities, such as International Coastal Cleanup: browardschools.com/newriver.

About SolarizeUSA

Solarize USA is a renewable energy consulting firm that helps neighbors become independent of utility monopolies. By guiding homeowners through renewable energy options, customers save thousands of dollars on electricity while dramatically reducing their carbon footprint. The company’s founding pillars are conservation, education, and innovation: solarizeusa.energy.

# # #

Khanna Connections

Julie Khanna, President

(561) 603-0557
khannaconnections.com

Our Favorite Tips for Staying Energized During the Day

0

Do you have a friend who seems to have a never-ending supply of energy? Annoying aren’t they? But seriously, do you ever wonder how they manage it? Cracking the secret to a bountiful supply of energy is a code worth cracking, wouldn’t you say? So here are some practical tips for increased energy.

Eat Breakfast.  

I am sure you have heard this so many times before but I’m going to say it again; EAT BREAKFAST! If you are the type who loves to start their day with a large cup of coffee, then I can pretty much guarantee that a few hours later the crash will happen leaving you feeling anxious, jittery and hungry. Here’s what happens when you start the day this way. Firstly, you are correct in thinking that caffeine can suppress your appetite. So what your cup of Joe is actually doing is convincing your brain that you actually don’t need breakfast leaving you thinking that you are not the breakfast type. You are literally trying to override the feeling of hunger and long term that is not good for your overall health, energy levels and weight. 

Listen, you don’t have to give up your coffee but eat a balanced breakfast with your favorite cup. If your last meal was around 6pm/7pm the night before and you get up and 6am/7am then that is 12 hours without food.  If I asked you to go 12 hours without food during the day do you think a cup of coffee would suffice in giving you the energy you needed? So just because you are sleeping during that particular 12 hours between dinner and breakfast the next day it never-the-less is 12 hours without food. So break the fast and eat breakfast to set the tone for the rest of the day. 

Eat regularly.  So many people decide to skip a meal (often lunch) in the vain hope that they will lose weight.  However, the opposite happens and of course our energy levels plummet.  When we allow ourselves to get past the point of hunger our bodies will react in an instinctive way. It will try and get the quickest source of energy as possible. The body knows simple carbohydrates are the easiest form of food to take in that will convert to energy the quickest, and that my friends is sugar! 

We all know the consequences of this type of energy boost; it is short lived and the energy crash in inevitable.  The best way to tackle this is to eat regularly and often throughout the day. The timing will vary from person to person and will also be dictated by that day’s activity level. Rule of thumb though is to nourish your body every 3 to 4 hours.

Eat balanced. We know balance is everything in life. This totally applies to the food you are eating. Take a good look at what is going into your mouth during the day. Aim to balance your meals and snacks including high-quality protein with healthy fats and fiber-filled carbohydrates in each sitting.

Think Pink at PGA Commons for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

0

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (September 21, 2021) – The power of pink is real this October at PGA Commons. The whole plaza is feeling philanthropic, as several retailers and restaurants have joined together to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can support Susan G. Komen Florida by getting a mani/pedi, sipping on spirits, or finding someone special.

Sock it to breast cancer with luxe pink socks from the Tux Shop’s private label. All month long, the men’s clothing retailer is donating 100% of the proceeds from the sales of its fancy footwear to Susan G. Komen Florida. The gift will help Komen in its efforts to ensure access to screening and diagnostic services for women (and men) in our community.

Treat yourself at Blowtox and support breast cancer treatment for community members in need. Throughout the month, the blow-dry bar and full-service salon is donating 10% of all retail product sales. Your hair will thank you – and so will those who are provided assistance for treatment.

Never underestimate the power of pink nail polish! Pick pink this October at Polished Nail Spa and help provide access to breast cancer screening in our community. The nail spa is donating $2 from every pink manicure or pedicure. Making a difference is this season’s top nail trend.

Find your sweetheart and share the love during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Revolution Dating will donate $50 for every new client who joins the matchmaking service during the month of October. Singles ages 20 to 80 can make a connection with someone special, and also help to connect breast cancer patients with needed care. Each new member at Revolution Dating gets a bio to highlight their personal attributes, a photo shoot, and introductions to fellow singles for a one-year period. Call (561) 630-XOXO (9696) to find love now.

You can also sip pink at PGA Commons throughout October. Kabuki Sushi Thai Tapas, Prosecco Café, and Spoto’s Oyster Bar are donating $2 from the sale of each specialty pink cocktail. Cheers to charity – and to finding a cure!

About PGA Commons

PGA Commons features an exciting collection of upscale boutiques, fine art galleries, top-tier restaurants, and a wide variety of specialty stores and services. For more information about PGA Commons, call (561) 630-8630 or visit pgacommons.com.

Junior League of the Palm Beaches’ 13th Annual Deck the Palms Boutique Market on 11.20 and 11.21

0

13th ANNUAL DECK THE PALMS BOUTIQUE MARKET

Outdoors at Palm Beach Outlets, West Palm Beach

Saturday, Nov. 20 ( 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) / Sunday, Nov. 21(10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

WHO: The Junior League of the Palm Beaches along with Co-Chairs Kirsten Davis and Wallis O’Hagan

WHAT: 13th Annual Deck the Palms Boutique Market

Deck the Palms is an outdoor event that features a variety of select local and international purveyors of fine goods including jewelry, home decor, men and women’s apparel, children’s goods, artisanal foods and more.

WHERE: Outside at Palm Beach Outlets – 1751 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 20 ( 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) / Sunday, Nov. 21(10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

COST:

  • General admission – $5 per person.
  • Children 18 years and younger are free.

WHY: The Junior League of the Palm Beaches is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Our 600 volunteers dedicate more than 3,000 hours every year to training our members and supporting more than 20 community nonprofit partners.

MorseLife Health System’s Dinner Dance 12/17, Golf Classic 3/28, Literary Society 1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 3/31

0

MorseLife 38th Annual Dinner and Entertainment

WHO: MorseLife Health System along with Chairs Jean Sharf and Bruce Beal


WHAT: MorseLife 38th Annual Dinner and Entertainment

MorseLife is bringing Broadway to Palm Beach in celebration of its 38th birthday! Featuring the legendary Chita Rivera and friends from West Side Story. Executive Chef, Jeff Simms, and team are already planning to surprise and delight the audience with an exquisite dinner. Let’s toast to the donors and friends who have a shared passion for improving the lives of seniors. 


WHERE: The Breakers, 1 S. County, Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480


WHEN: Friday, December 17, 2021 – Dinner and Entertainment at 7 p.m.

ADMISSION: Please email events@morselife.org or call 561.242.4661 for admission information.

MorseLife Literary Society

WHO: MorseLife Health System


WHAT: MorseLife Literary Society

Guests are provided an intimate opportunity to hear about each of the featured authors’ writing process and where they find the inspiration to write their novels. Upon registration, guests will be invited to enjoy a delectable breakfast buffet prior to author’s presentation. Attendees will be able to meet and interact directly with the authors.


WHERE: The Colony Hotel, 155 Hammon Ave, Palm Beach, FL, 33480


WHEN: Registration opens at 8:45 a.m., followed by breakfast and author presentation beginning at 9:30 a.m.

  • Thursday, January 13, 2022
  • Chris Bohjalian, “Hour of the Witch”
  • Thursday, February 10, 2022
    • Kristin Harmel, “The Forest of Vanishing Stars”
  • Thursday, March 10, 2022
    • Laura Dave, “The Last Thing He Told Me”
  • Thursday, March 31, 2022
    • Anthony Doerr, “Cloud Cuckoo Land” – virtual Bonus Feature

ADMISSION: Please email events@morselife.org or call 561.242.4661 for admission information.

MorseLife Golf Classic

WHO: MorseLife Health System with Chairs Beverly and Dan Floersheimer


WHAT: MorseLife Golf Classic

Golfers start the day with a grab-and-go breakfast and then enjoy 18 holes on the spectacular Breakers Ocean course followed by lunch at the Flagler Steakhouse where the award ceremony will conclude the day’s festivities.


WHERE: The Breakers Ocean Golf Course, 1 S. County Road, Palm Beach


WHEN: Monday, March 28, 2022 – Starts at 8 a.m.

For all events:

WHY: Now in its 38th anniversary year, MorseLife remains devoted to its mission to improve the lives of seniors through innovative and compassionate health care, housing and supportive services. As a charitable, not-for-profit organization, its programs include short-term rehabilitation, long term care, independent and assisted living, Palliative Care, Cannabis-Based therapies, home health care, Hospice, care management and counseling, memory care, meals-on-wheels, homebound Mitzvah program, MorseLife Foundation and PACE – Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which touches the lives of 3,600 seniors each day. MorseLife’s reputation and tradition of caring for seniors continues to honor senior living with excellence and dignity. MorseLife means More Life.

CONTACT: To learn more about the special events of MorseLife, please email events@morselife.org or call 561.242.4661.

Rare Fruit Council to Host Annual TROPICAL FRUIT TREE & EDIBLE PLANT SALE on October 16

0

Both Admission & Parking are FREE;

Visitors are Encouraged to Bring a Plant Wagon

(West Palm Beach, FL – September 20, 2021) The Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and further cultivation and use of tropical and rare fruit in South Florida and around the world, is hosting its annual Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The popular event will be held from 9 am to 2 pm in Building 6-10 (new location, please note) on the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach. Please enter through Gate 8 on sale day. Both admission and parking are FREE.

At this year’s Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale, vendors from all over the state will offer a wide variety of delightful and delicious fruit trees, including Avocado, Banana, Barbados Cherry, Black Sapote, Canistel, Dragon Fruit, Fig, Guava, Grumichama, Jackfruit, Jaboticaba, Longan, Lychee, Macadamia, Mamey Sapote, Mango, Miracle Fruit, Mulberry, Papaya, Peach, Persimmon, Soursop, Sugar Apple, Star Apple, Tamarind, herbs and spices, plus specially formulated fertilizer, and more.

Fresh honey from the Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association will also be available for purchase, promises group president Kevin Easton. Also, Green Leaf Worm Farm from Charlotte County, Florida will be offering worm casting and tea to improve soil health.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a wagon to help carry purchased plants. Also available will be educational information on the planting and growing of fruit trees, along with knowledgeable volunteers and vendors to answer any questions.

About The Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc.:

Established in 1970, the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council (RFC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and furthering the cultivation and use of tropical and rare fruit in south Florida and throughout the world. RFC members are interested in learning about, growing and enjoying tropical fruits, and is holding meetings at Mounts Botanical Garden on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Membership is $30 yearly, and benefits include:

+  Monthly newsletter – filled with informative articles about growing rare fruits and related topics.

+ Propagation classes – members learn how to graft & air-layer tropical fruit trees. 

+ Annual Ice Cream Social – for members and their guests only; the ice cream is handmade with fruits grown by members.

+ Plant Sales – members can bring fruit trees and edible plants to sell to the general public.

+ Organized field trips to regional fruit tree collections and plantings.

+ Periodic field trips to member yards and local orchards.

+ Volunteer opportunities for many interesting & exciting committees and events.

In addition, specially formulated fertilizer is offered at a discount for RFC members.

Garden Club Meeting to Feature Talk on Coral Reef Restoration

0

Garden Club Meeting to Feature Talk on Coral Reef Restoration

Wellington Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, October 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center, at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The speaker will be Jim Ritterhoff, Executive Director/Co-Founder of FORCE BLUE. www.ForceBlueTeam.org Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2016, FORCE BLUE seeks to address two seemingly unrelated problems — the rapidly declining health of our planet’s marine resources and the difficulty returning combat veterans have in adjusting to civilian life — through one, mission-focused program.

By uniting the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine science and conservation, FORCE BLUE has created a transpartisan model of caring, cooperation and positive change with the power to restore lives and restore the planet. Among the organization’s many capabilities are coral restoration and rehabilitation and coral disease response.

The community is invited to join the club for coffee and a plant raffle beginning at 9:30, followed by the presentation at 10:00. Visitors are asked to check in at the guest table. To reserve a spot, contact Maria Wolfe at:  tcacad_registrar@yahoo.com.

Wellington Garden Club, founded in 1981, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating its members and the public in the fields of gardening, horticulture, floral design, landscape design, conservation of natural resources, civic beautification and youth education.

For more information: www.wellingtongardenclub.org.

Wellington Art Society to Feature Artist Nancy Tilles for Their October Meeting

0

Wellington Art Society to Feature Artist Nancy Tilles for Their October Meeting


 The Wellington Art Society will feature a presentation by local artist Nancy Tilles for their
October 13, 2021 meeting.


The meeting and presentation will take place at the Wellington Community Center. The meeting
will open with a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the member spotlight and a brief meeting. The
event will conclude with a live portrait painting demonstration by Nancy Tilles of a girl playing a violin.
The public is invited. Social distancing will be observed, and masks are required. For more information
contact: Laura Jaffe, presidentofwas@gmail.com.

Nancy Tilles


Local artist Nancy Tilles is known for her oils and portraits, which hang in public and private
collections throughout the country. She exhibits her work in nationally recognized art shows across
Florida. Nancy recently completed a commissioned portrait of beloved cardiac surgeon, Dr. Malcolm
Dorman, which is installed at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, FL.


Along with her portrait work, Nancy has created bodies of work representing flowers,
underwater scenes, and tropical art in mural-sized triptychs. Nancy’s newest series is called “Figures in
the Ficus”. She says, “I am fascinated with Banyan and Ficus trees…. I usually begin these paintings with
a unique tree and weave the figures into its structure.” At first glance, the viewer sees a lovely tree, but
after a while, the whimsical human figures within the tree are realized, giving these paintings a truly
magical quality.


Nancy is presently teaching painting to adults at Easel Art Supply and at the City of Palm Beach
Gardens. She is passionate about sharing her love of painting with her students. Nancy is also an active
member of the Wellington Art Society, whose members consist of dedicated professional artists, up and
coming artists, art lovers and supporters. Learn more about her work at her website:
https://www.nancytilles.com/.
 

I Heard It Through the Grapevine

0

By Denise Marsh

I heard it through the grapevine: A sneak peak at Village Music of Wellington’s Wine Pairing event and an interview with its hosts: Donna Willey, Co-owner of Village Music  and Bob Reyers, Owner of Cugini Wine and Guest speaker.   

The medical experts “recommend” drinking a glass of red wine daily for good health and longevity.  There are no testaments nor medical studies that have proven the accuracy of this “recommendation”, but let’s live in our bubble for a little, shall we?

Mark your calendars for an exclusive and entertaining event at Wellington’s favorite hangout, the  Village Music Café on Thursday, September 30th at 7pm.  Donna Willey and Steve Willey are the owners of the charming hot spot in Wellington and Bob Reyers will grace us with his knowledge of Cugini wine.  There will be Live Music (piano) to accompany your wine pairing journey.

Let’s delve into this intoxicating experience a little deeper with a short interview.

Donna Willey took time out of her busy day to answer some questions about the wine pairing event. 

Steve and Donna Willey, owners of Village Music.

AW: What makes this particular event special? You can order wine anytime at the Café.  What inspired you to collaborate such an event?

DW: The wine pairings are unique because of the intimate nature of the event – we cap reservations at 25 people.

 We were inspired to start hosting wine pairings for two reasons.  Firstly, because we have so many wine lovers who frequent the café.  Secondly, because we recently started carrying  Cugini wines from southern Italy and we’re so impressed by the wines that we want to introduce them to all local wine lovers.

AW: What will the wine pairing experience include?

DW:  The wine pairing includes six different Cugini wines and five gourmet pairing plates created by Chef Brandee.  The plates compliment and enhance the flavors of the wine.  The evening also features educational moderation by Bob Reyers, owner of the Cugini Vineyards, and live music by the renowned jazz pianist Mark Doyle. 

AW: Tell us about one of your most popular pairings.

DW: Mars red blend with sliced ribeye; it is definitely a crowd favorite. 

AW: Will you be selling any bottles of wine at the event?

DW: Wine can also be purchased at the event at discounted pricing.

AW: Any closing words or details about the event:

DW: It’s an intimate evening of fabulous wines, delicious food and amazing music-a night not to be missed! The event is almost sold out at this particular time.  If you are interested in attending you can get tickets by emailing me at donna@myvillagemusic.com or call the Village Music Café at 561-788-5334 .

***

Our event wouldn’t be complete without some words from the Owner of Cugini Vineyards and Guest Speaker Bob Reyers:

AW: How did you get into the wine business?

BR: We have been in the spirit business for over 40 years. We purchased this winery over five years ago.  My partner Howard Moore’s family has had an olive oil business in Calabria for over 400 years.

Bob Reyers and his son

AW: There are so many wines out on the market. What is special about your wine? 

BR: We currently offer 16 wines.  Our wine are the only ones from Calabria imported to the United States and the grapes are only grown in our region.

AW: Where is Cugini wine being sold?

BR: Café L’Europe, Star Liquors, Devine Bistro, Wine and Bar Lantana, Piatta Bravo, Village Music Café (of course), and Rustico Italiano Ristorante.  In addition, the wine can be purchased  over personal sales through our wine guild. Visit cuginiwinery.com for more information.   

AW: What is your advice for choosing and pairing the perfect “marriage?

BR: The key to perfect pairing is : complex wine with simple food. Simple food with complex wine.

AW: What are your future plans in the wine industry?

BR: Our goal is to serve wine in “it’s time” so we are becoming a “vintage winery”. Let me explain.  We serve the wine not when it is good for us to sell but when the time is “right” for the public or the buyer to be served.   For example, we will be releasing a 2014 this year. It will be an eight-year-old wine but will be the ideal time to sell it to the public because it is “ready” to be served. 

We use wine chemists at the time of harvest and they tell us whether the actual wine is good to be a wine or better as a  juice within an 8-to-12-year range.  The chemists tell us the “maturity level” of wine and how it will stand the “test of time”.  It is actually like being a coder; it’s a whole business.  Seriously, there is a degree for a wine chemist. 

Pianist Marc Doyle

Red, Red Wine (and white too)

I don’t know what your  plans are for  September 30th but I know I will be at Village Music Café enjoying myself with friends, drinking great wine paired with amazing food in a very relaxing atmosphere.  Will I see YOU  there?