(West Palm Beach, FL – July 17, 2020) Perfect for families seeking fun and educational things to do this summer, Friends of the Mounts Botanical Gardenis now offering GARDEN-TO-GO, 12 amazing projects and activities for people of all ages.
GARDEN-TO-GO at Mounts Botanical Garden
Available for purchase at the Mounts Gift shop ($20 for members, $25 for nonmembers), each GARDEN-TO-GO package includes a Garden Guide with information and instructions for a dozen different creative learning experiences:
+ Garden Themed Projects: Make a bird feeder, build a bee house (to attract garden pollinators), creative garden markers, how to make a rain gauge, and build a bee bath.
+ Art Projects: Have fun with sun prints, create leaf print art, make your own plant holder, and create flowers & butterflies with coffee filters.
“Each GARDEN-TO-GO package includes yarn, a succulent plant, soil, coffee filters and sun-print papers,” says Diane Robaina, Youth Program Manager at Mounts. “The remaining project supplies can be easily found around any house. And we encourage all participants to use#mbgardentogo when they post to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, so we share on our pages.”
Mounts Botanical Garden is now open to the public 9 am to 3 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. The Mounts Gift Shop is located by the entrance on North Military Trail.
In compliance with county, state and public health department recommendations, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Mounts Botanical Garden has safely implemented new Policies and Guidelines. For example:
+ Entrance to Mounts continues to be limited to no more than 100 people at a time.
+ social distancing is required throughout the garden.
+ All picnic tables have been removed.
Visitors to Mounts are strongly encouraged to review the new policies and guidelines atwww.Mounts.org/Reopening prior to arrival.
Admission to Mounts has been reduced to $10 (general); $5 (children 5-12), and free for members.
Two family-friendly and ecology-conscious exhibitions are still in place at Mounts Botanical Garden:
+ Ribbit the Exhibit, which features a collection of larger-than-life frog characters,is expected to remain until mid-July.
+Cutting Corners: A Stickwork Exhibition is a massive, willow sculpture located in the Great Lawn area.
Updated program information about Mounts can be found on the Garden’s official website at www.mounts.org.
About Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:
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 14-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 2,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical 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 www.mounts.org.
Relationships are feeling the emotional impact of the Corona Virus. Humor is key. Watch Frannie in her solo series I TRIED TO BE NORMAL BUT IT WAS TAKEN! while in Therapy under the scrutiny of her Viennese psychiatrist and her Inner Demon – all 3 characters played by Frannie in this solo humorous series based on truth. #relationshipsemotionalimpactduringcorona#playfulperspective#coronaviruslockdown#humorduringcorona
Here’s my very candid interview with amazing film maker Ron Davis, who hails from Wellington, FL. He recently produced the film “Life in the Doghouse” about Danny and Ron’s Rescue. Danny and Ron, a couple living in South Carolina, have rescued over 11,000 dogs to date (from euthanasia). Their message of Adopt, Don’t Shop is a powerful one.
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) – During the Coronavirus pandemic, the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium stepped up to provide more than 1,000 3D printed face shields to first responders when PPE was needed most. Educators delivered the protective equipment to front-line workers and other nonprofits throughout Palm Beach County and even as far as Orlando. Organizations such as the West Palm Beach Fire and Police Departments, FoundCare, Boca Regional and the Palm Beach Zoo were included in distribution.
Science Center educators typically spend their days teaching budding scientists to use more than a dozen 3D printers the organization keeps in its Stiles-Nicholson STEM Education Center on site. Chris Ortiz and Chris Pait worked with volunteers and used a web-based CAD (computer-aided design) program ordinarily used to help students learn the skills needed to manipulate 3-dimensional objects in a 2-dimensional workspace.
“We were grateful to use the time we were quarantined to help others in our community,” said Kate Arrizza, President and CEO of the Science Center. “Safety is our top priority, and we were happy to step up to fill this great need.”
The Stiles-Nicholson Foundation was a major funder of the 3D printing project. “The Stiles-Nicholson Foundation enthusiastically supports the Science Center’s mission,” said David Nicholson, a trustee and supporter of the namesake Stiles-Nicholson Foundation. “We owe the improvements in our quality of life to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), and the Science Center is delighted to help our neighbors in this time of need. The 3-D printing of face shields is just a small example of coupling modern technology with creativity to create solutions for today’s challenges. The greater the number of students who choose STEM as a career, the faster progress will be made to resolve these medical and other challenges.”
The mission of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is to “open every mind to science” and the indoor/outdoor venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium, digital planetarium, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” 18-hole conservation-themed Mini Golf Course and quarter mile long outdoor science trail. The newest addition includes a $2.5 million permanent exhibit, “Journey Through the Human Brain” and features the most advanced neuroscience research and technology in the world. New safety guidelines like social distancing and mask wearing are enforced.
For more information on Science Center programming, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram @SFScienceCenter.
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Jon Frangipane and His New Song “So I Can Breathe Again”
By Krista Martinelli
Duke Ellington and Jon Frangipane back “in the day”
I’ve known Jon (John) Frangipane for over twenty years. He and I started the Fort Lauderdale Writers Group together, which still exists today. We have a lot in common. We both play the piano. But let’s be clear – he is MUCH better than I am at the piano. In fact, his finger work is masterful. We both play tennis. We’ve traveled together (in 2001 to see the Williams sisters play tennis and to see the David Letterman Show). I never knew how old he was until this year – when he finally fessed up and invited me to his 90th birthday party. He’s a breath of fresh air and always on point with his political commentary. He is in good shape, physically and mentally, and I would have put him in his 70s.
Recently he wrote a beautiful song, dedicated to George Floyd, “So I Can Breathe Again.” I asked him what motivated him to write it. “The George Floyd murder did it for me. I’m sick and tired of the bad examples of police that we see. More than half of the police need psychiatric help,” he says. Did I mention that Jon likes to speak his mind and is not shy? He went on, “More training is needed, a national standardized training program. They should be psychiactrically tested even before they get their jobs. And when they get fired, they should not be allowed to join another police force in a neighboring community.” He mentions that we’ve seen a number of choke holds on the part of the police, in addition to the George Floyd murder. Choke holds, says Jon, should be outlawed. “And restraining people for just walking down the street is ridiculous.”
Jon Frangipane of Fort Lauderdale, composer, pianist, publisher, journalist
Jon has written many songs over the years and has played the piano since he was a young kid. Both of his parents were professional pianists. So yes, he’s a purebred! LOL. “My sister, my mother, my father and I would play with the four of us on two pianos.” They did special performances for Italy relief in the 40’s, donating funds to the Red Cross. He’s Italian, completely Italian and Sicilian. His mother’s parents came from Northern Italy.
Jon Frangipane has played alongside some of music’s greats, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. He played at the Majestic Theatre in a show called “Purlie Victorious” in New York on Broadway with Melba Moore and Cleavon Little. And Cleavon Little played the role of the Sheriff in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles, but that’s another story. Jon played for Linda Hopkins, a famous singer and conducted Leslie Gore, famous for the song “It’s My Party.” He appeared on the Sherman Hemsley Show, a popular TV show at that time. And Sherman Hemsley is best known as the actor who played George Jefferson in The Jeffersons.
Jon worked on a charity concert on a big ship on the Hudson River, a red-carpet charity. He got to shake Babe Ruth’s hand. “I was playing at Greenwood Lake, New York, and he (Babe Ruth) came up on stage.” Jon Frangipane often seemed to be at the right place at the right time.
He’s been writing music since the age of 13. He wrote for a band that he was in – Rod’s Rhythm Rascals, a novelty band.
Jon Frangipane has lived a very musical and very unconventional life. “I left on the day after my high school graduation to go on the road with a 17-piece band, and we broadcast it over the radio.” They traveled and played music from June until December, doing a 6-month tour “until we ran out of jobs,” says Jon.
Jon remembers seeing an advertisement for a metronome. “I got interested in playing 4 notes against 5,” he recalls. He talked with his friend Paul Billotti (who wrote a piano methodology book – Method for Piano Accordion, Elementary Method by Paul Billotti & Bernard Spitzer, Systematically Graded, 1938). At the time, Paul Billotti was living in the Lincoln Center. I didn’t know that was a place people could live, but OK, I digress. “I picked up Paul once a week on Sundays to have spaghetti at my house,” says Jon. “I started writing books. I wrote three short books about the Billotti trinome and how to teach music to young kids. And they were outperforming the seniors at some of the local colleges.”
Jon also conducted a band called The Playmates. One of his favorite memories happened in 1959 at East Rutherford, NJ when Yogi Berra appeared for their musical performance. Yogi Berra, who won ten World Series championships and still holds the record, was famous for funny quotes like this, “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.”
In 1969, Jon Frangipane did a recording with Atlantic Records. One of his songs appeared in Cashbox Magazine. His band put on a show at Plainfield, New Jersey for an all black audience. We played a song called “Blue on Green.” “When the black audience saw an all-white band, they were not happy. And that was the end of the tour.”
Jon had other talents and started using them when he got activated in the Airforce. He was the editor of a publication for the Northeast Air Command. At that time he also started to write a musical, but it never got produced. “I was mostly doing my playing on the radio station for the Northeast Air Command out of St. John’s Newfoundland.”
Liza Minnelli and Jon Frangipane, having drinks together at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.
Another highlight of Jon’s illustrious musical career was founding a Jazz Crusade to end world hunger in 1986. “We appeared in various theaters. All the musicians donated their time. We did this for the Lutheran Feeding Program,” he says.
Jon Frangipane has never been shy about making his political views known. He worked with the governor of Florida in 1988 to designate November 20th as Humanitarian Day, as put into place by Florida Governor Bob Martinez with a lot of urging from Jon.
From Music to Publishing
“When things got bad at the turn of the century as far as karaoke coming in to play, it put a lot of musicians out of work. I saw the writing on the wall,” says Jon. “I saw this community publication sitting on a table. I picked it up and said to myself, ‘God, they should have something funny in here.’” He says it was very bland. I called the owner and “we quickly became friends. We both liked jazz.” This was publishing guru Steve Kelley in Fort Lauderdale, FL, who owned and operated ten neighborhood news publications. He told me, “As long as you keep North of Fort Lauderdale, go ahead and start one.” So after planning it for about nine months, it became 2002 and Jon decided to start The Lighthouse Point Community News. In 2004 it became Lighthouse Point Magazine, a black and white publication with approximately 50 pages each month. And then in 2005, just like in the magical film the Wizard of Oz, his magazine started coming out in full color. “And it was more like 76 pages each month.”
As a side note, I’ve always looked up to Jon for speaking up against things that are wrong in politics and in the overall government of our country in his Letters from the Editor. He never holds back. The magazine was a great success and Jon Frangipane personally attracted a plethora of advertisers and writers. As another side note, Jon was my mentor in the publishing business. He said to me, making it sound quite pleasant, “Why don’t you just quit your corporate job and start a magazine?” So in February of 2006, I came out with my first hard copy of AroundWellington® Magazine. And no, it was not pleasant. Or easy. So I did not appreciate his getting me into the business. Getting advertisers for a brand new magazine was like pulling teeth. I wore a business suit, carried around my advertising rates sheet in a plastic sheet protector and brought my daughter Stella in a stroller to various businesses around Wellington, trying to get advertising dollars to support my new venture. Stella (just 9 months old) would not always cooperate as we solicited businesses, door to door. And so with Stella in the stroller (sometimes crying), we got kicked out of several shops, even before I had a chance to start in on my sales pitch. Some shop owners were mean and even yelled, “Get Out!” or just, “No!” But after the first magazine came out, it got easier.
Enough about me, Lighthouse Point Magazine was a smashing success. At the end of 2013, Jon sold Lighthouse Point Magazine to local publisher Richard Rosser. Jon celebrated over 11 years of his successful, enlightening and funny magazine at the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club with writers, photographers, sponsors and other supporters to highlight the end of an era. It was a beautiful event!
I asked Jon Frangipane, “Why do you think music can shine a light on a topic in a way that nothing else can?” He answered, “We go through life and music really delineates certain points of our life. Through good memories and bad memories, music is like a historical bookmark.” I thought back on all of the songs that carried me through different parts of my life and thought – he’s right. Jon Frangipane played the piano for us at our wedding in May of 2004. He even played a special song that he composed for my husband Joe and me called “Just a Note,” which was based on a poem written by my friend Carol Lustig. And did the videographer get this song on the wedding video? Nope! He forgot to hit the record button during that part of the beginning of the wedding. Nevertheless, the song lives on in our hearts and in our memories of that day. But that song is based on another story, and I don’t want to get derailed again here.
Framed lyrics to the song “Just a note.” Song by Jon Frangipane. Original poem by Carol Lustig. A wedding gift to us, Joe and Krista Martinelli.
“So I Can Breathe Again,” Jon Frangipane’s latest song dedicated to George Floyd, will be presented on August 5th at 5pm in a (recorded) Zoom broadcast by the Episcopal Church Women of All Saints in Fort Lauderdale. The Zoom program will feature a book review of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Frangipane’s response to the numerous deaths of black citizens is summed up in his statement, “I was enraged with the murder of George Floyd as everyone else was.” In Frangipane’s lyrics, “I’ll be there for you, in my prayers for you,” there’s a simple call to action, demanding human love so that everyone can breathe again. The song will be performed by Dan Bishop. Meanwhile, Marjory Lyons and Greg Moore will present the book review. Due to limitations on the Zoom capacity, attendance is limited to church members. But the Zoom event will be recorded. For more information, contact the church at (954) 467-6496.
I asked Jon about the song’s take-away message. “The song kind of says it itself. Our circumstances don’t allow us to get to know people of other denominations very easily. It may take a little more effort to find a way to know them better. And love them better. As difficult as it may be, it would be a wonderful feeling for you to get that experience of knowing them better and trying to have them become part of your life. And having played that show Purlie in 1970 was a turning point for me.” This was a black show set in the era of Jim Crow laws in the American South. The whole cast was black. “It was just me at the piano. I played at a funeral for a black person.” “Actually,” recalls Jon, “The plantation owner was the only white person depicted in the show. Everyone else was black.
Jon has five children. He met his first wife when he was just twenty years old. His second wife was a singer in his band. He’s the proud father of John Jr., Paul, Eva, Noelle and Gavin.
Jon Frangipane front and center with the loves of his life, his five kids.
As for next steps with the song “So I Can Breathe Again,” I’m working with a music producer in Nashville to see if we can find just the right voice to bring this song to everyone’s attention. We’re also looking for a diverse group of four to eight children to do some speaking parts. It’s in progress. Will it go big? I hope so! Stevie Wonder big? Leslie Odom Jr. big? John Legend big? We shall see. It’s exciting to think about!
The great Jon Frangipane, always has a way of rising to the top
Just for a few points of reference, here are a couple of songs Jon Frangipane has previously written. Second Thoughts was written in 1979, and its name has more to do with playing two notes close together than it has to do with “having second thoughts.”
Jon Frangipane wrote “Acrobat” in 1987 and feels that it’s his best song, lyrically and musically. He sings on this track.
For my Letter from the Editor this month, it’s Jon and me goofing around with “Stand By Me” while he plays the piano and I attempt to sing.
Quantum Foundation is now accepting applications for grassroots nonprofits in Palm Beach County to receive their share of $1 million! This year marks the 10th annual Quantum in the Community initiative to help local nonprofits working toward a healthier Palm Beach County by meeting the basic needs of residents through food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and more.
This year, due to the coronavirus, the money will be awarded in two disbursements. To answer immediate needs of grassroots organizations in the county, $250,000 will be given out with those recipients announced July 31. The rest of the $750,000 to be awarded in the fall.
Quantum leaders say the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed health inequity as well as the impacts of social determinants of health. “Health is not simply the absence of illness; it is a positive state of physical and mental well-being,” said Eric Kelly, president of Quantum Foundation. “Our Quantum in the Community program has been addressing the needs of disinvested communities for 10 years. Those communities need us now more than ever to continue providing culturally competent care and basic needs. Health equity is our way forward.”
Strict criteria are set up for those nonprofits applying:
• Organization must be registered as a 501(c)(3).
• Organization must have been working in Palm Beach County for at least six months.
• Annual operating budget may not exceed $500,000.
• Organization must provide basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and transportation to the county’s most vulnerable residents.
A committee of Quantum Foundation staff and board members will carefully consider each application. To learn more, visit the Quantum Foundation website at www.quantumfnd.org. All applications must be submitted using the foundation’s online system by the July 20 deadline.
Quantum Foundation’s mission is to fund initiatives that improve the health of Palm Beach County residents. In 1998, Quantum Foundation marked its rookie year as one of Palm Beach County’s newest and largest philanthropic organizations with an impressive $7.6 million granted to more than 40 Palm Beach County projects. Just over 20 years later, with assets of approximately $155 million, the organization’s focus remains on keeping Palm Beach County healthy. Their awards to date total more than $145 million and have impacted hundreds of local nonprofit organizations. Every dollar the foundation grants continues to stay in the county to benefit local communities. For information about Quantum Foundation, or to learn about applying for grants, please visit www.quantumfnd.org or call 561-832-7497.
With so many travel disruptions around the world, trends are changing for 2020 trips. Those of us who need to feed our wanderlust always find a way. If you’re itching to get out of town, here are a couple of ideas to consider.
Road Trip in an RV
When I told my mother Go RVing loaned me an RV to test out on a road trip, her response was “That’s crazy. Do they know you’ve never driven anything that size?” Despite Mama’s lack of confidence in my driving abilities, it turned out I had a knack for handling the “Minnie Winnie” on the road.
Admittedly, the first time driving a vehicle roughly the size of an 18-wheeler can be a bit nerve-wracking. But once you adjust to its size, the nerves settle down and the fun begins.
Inside the Minnie Winnie
What You Need to Know
From pop up campers to massive motorhomes, there are plenty of types of RVs to choose from. For my trip with two girlfriends, Vanessa and Michele, the Class A provided the ideal space and amenities to turn us into happy campers. An all-in-one RV, the Class A typically has a kitchen, dining area, lounge, bathroom with shower and a separate bedroom. Our Class A motorhome also had a slide-out that operated with just a touch of a button to expand the interior space while we were at the campground.
Camping & Cocktails with Michele
Go RVing partners with dealerships and manufacturers within the RV industry to promote the RV lifestyle. The association’s social media channels feature RV owners sharing their personal experiences. It doesn’t hurt to shop around for a dealership that works best for you. The more options you have to choose from, the better.
Dinner’s on the way thanks to Vanessa!
Below are a few other RV rental companies:
RVshare, a sort of Airbnb for RVs. The company connects RV owners with people who want to rent them.
Cruise America is an employee-owned company with 4,500 vehicles in its fleet.
El Monte RV, which has been renting RVs for 4 decades, even offers one-way rentals.
Outdoorsy, which will deliver a camper to the KOA or wherever you want it, so you don’t have to drive it and set it up if you don’t want to—but you’ll miss out on the white-knuckle driving experience!
Meet Juniata
Go on a Houseboat Adventure
In the continuing theme of family members questioning my abilities, when my granddaughter found out I would be driving a houseboat she said, ““Why would anyone give you a houseboat when you can’t even steer a canoe straight?” She had a point. On our recent canoeing trip together, I navigated straight into the banks of the river more than once. The prospect of me steering a 56-foot houseboat without incident was unlikely. Yet, here I was going houseboating for a week on Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake. One of my RVing girls, Vanessa, was along for this adventure, too.
For our adventure, Seven Points Marina hooked us up with a 56’ floating beauty named Juniata. The family-owned and operated marina boasts 947 wet and dry docks and offers pontoon rentals, watersports equipment and houseboat rentals. Fortunately, they also know how to educate novice boaters.
Prior to boarding we watched a 30-minute instruction video which was followed by a quiz. After passing the quiz, we boarded our houseboat for a thorough orientation provided by Jeremy—a very patient young man. In addition to manning the boat, we needed to know how to work the generator, ship-to-shore radio and various other controls scattered across the bridge. Taking notes saved us more than once.
While I excelled at navigating the RV—even on Washington DC’s Beltway—it turns out steering a big sailing house is not one of my gifts. Thankfully, Vanessa tackled it like a boss earning her the well-deserved title of Captain.
Living Room & Control Center
What You Need to Know
Our spacious home on the water had four bedrooms, a combined living room, dining area and fully equipped kitchen. We also had a rooftop sundeck complete with a hot tub. A slide led straight from the top deck into the lake below.
Tucked into the wooded landscape of central Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, Raystown Lake spans 8,300 acres tucked into the wooded landscape of central Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains. Formed from the Raystown Dam as a flood control project for the Juniata River, the waters wind for 28 miles through the region making it an ideal place for houseboating. Rather than anchoring mid-lake, secluded coves offer the best spots for tying up to the shoreline. Here you’ll have plenty of privacy for the utmost in social distancing.
Hot Tub aka Happy Hour Spot!
Motoring on a lake isn’t the only way to spend your days while houseboating. Kayak and canoe rentals are available providing a smaller vessel for deeper exploration. For the anglers in your group, just toss a line right off the side and catch your dinner. With the boat moored securely to shore, it’s easy to hop off for a hike.
I’ll leave you with this as you plan your new adventures in this world of social distancing…
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by.”—Robert Frost
So I was in the middle of the action on July 4th, right outside of the West Palm Beach Police Office (600 Banyan Street, West Palm Beach, FL). This plays out like a symphony – where a young protester starts off by singing. Then she speaks. Then she is interrupted by another protester who comes in from a different location, yelling from a megaphone. Kudos to Francky Pierre-Paul who de-escalates a volatile situation, with extreme attention to detail and care, even reminding a counter-protester to wear his mask during the argument. Also recognition should go to Kyla Edme for taking care of details like including a voter registration booth and cold bottled water for all participants. And finally, the police officer who helps to de-escalate the situation deserves kudos as well. It’s a team effort with the Black Lives Matter protesters and the police department on the same page. I’m very proud of those who helped make this come to a peaceful resolution. I recommend watching the entire video. This is what democracy looks like. #AroundWellington #It’sGoodNews #PositiveChange
So after writing a 7-part series on racism in two weeks time, I am tired. Instead of writing a Letter from the Editor, I thought I’d just post this video for you. I recently visited my friend Jon Frangipane (90), one of the greatest pianists I have ever heard. He used to play with Duke Ellington, Count Basie and other greats back in the day. Anyway, he was being so kind as to give me an extra keyboard, so I could use it in my band (D-Railed).
I asked Jon to give me some tips on how to do solos and “fancy stuff” when playing songs. “Like what?” he asked. “Like ‘Stand By Me’ for example,” I said. This is a song that our band has played since the beginning. So this was his impromptu performance of Stand By Me (and pay no attention to the mediocre singing by me). But please do pay attention to Jon’s fancy fingerwork!
