On Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., join Loggerhead Marinelife Center as we celebrate the earth at our Earth Day Celebration and remember that “the earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth” (Chief Seattle). Guests will gather for a beach cleanup, composting lessons, free turtle yard tours and gardening activity. Guests can participate in the Great American Clean-up from 9 am to 11 am to kick-off our Earth Day celebration.
Unicorn Children’s Foundation Introduces The Creating Compassionate Children™ Toolkit
BOCA RATON, Fla. – April 10, 2017 – Unicorn Children’s Foundation presents the Creating Compassionate Children™ campaign and toolkit. This character development program promotes a positive culture of understanding, acceptance, inclusion, and respect towards differences in other students learning comprehension, including children with special needs, and accepting them into their social environment. Unicorn Children’s Foundation wants young children to contribute to the elimination of bullying and build a world where their peers can be fully engaged in the classroom and in society, no matter the neurological differences they have. Click here to read more about the toolkit.
The introduction of the Creating Compassionate Children toolkits are pre-assembled by individuals with special needs for preschool and elementary age classrooms to help create a kinder classroom. Each toolkit consists of a:
· Teacher’s Guide to using the Creating Compassionate Children Curriculum
· Get Caught Being Kind™ Cards
· Get Caught Being Kind™ Poster
· Brain Break Cards©
· Sensory/Fidget Toys
· Promise Ribbon
· Exceptionally Good Friends: Building Relationships with Autism book
“Children with special needs are an easy target for bullies because of their desire to fit in and make friends coupled by their challenges in understanding social cues,” said Sharon Alexander, Executive Director of the Unicorn Children’s Foundation. “More and more doors to inclusive opportunities are opening for individuals with special needs, but these very doors may also make them more vulnerable to bullying by their peers. Your gift will ensure that when these doors open they will reveal supportive peers.”
With support from the community, donate today and help the Unicorn Children’s Foundation raise $30,000 to make sure 1,000 classrooms receive the Creating Compassionate Children toolkit. Click here to learn more about how these kits can make a positive impact in the classroom.
About Bullying
Students with neurodiversity, the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, encounter bullying. Nearly 85% of children with special needs are victims of bullying by their peers. They are two to three times more likely to be bullied than non-disabled students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 27.8% students between the ages of 12 and 18 are victims of bullying. One in three of those students encounter cyberbullying. Because of bullying, 18.5% of students between the ages of 12 and 17 have skipped school and 2% of those students make skipping a frequent occurrence. With constant bullying, the self-esteem of pre-teens and teens begins to lower and 29% of bullied victims report suicidal thoughts. However, with the help of peers learning how important it is to stop bullying, more than half of the reported cases of bullying stopped due to peer intervention. In order to increase peer intervention and stop bullying, children and teachers must work together to create an environment where all children, no matter what disability, can learn to their full potential.
About Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Unicorn Children’s Foundation is a 22-year-old international non-profit organization dedicated to building communities of acceptance, support and opportunity for individuals and families challenged by special needs and neurodiversity. We connect families to resources, advocate for inclusive opportunities, respect differences, empower individuals and support success by providing education, awareness and funding opportunities to organizations for special needs children in an effort to help them excel in the community. We all can create a positive environment for children with ADHD, autism, bipolar, dyslexia, and other learning disorders while they learn. To learn more about the Unicorn Children’s Foundation visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/. Also available on Facebook and Twitter.
Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden Welcomes 250 Supporters to Annual Spring Benefit in Palm Beach
(West Palm Beach, FL – April 7, 2017) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden today announced 250 supporters attended the annual Spring Benefit that was held on Sunday, April 2, at the Palm Beach home of Keith & Linda Beaty.
The sunny, sold-out, poolside event adjacent to the Intracoastal was co-chaired by Palm Beacher Polly Reed and Sandy Smith of Singer Island. It raised approximately $121,000 that will be used for both educational programs and the Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Garden. When it opens in June, the largest new garden in the 40-year history of Mounts will include a series of see-through walkways and permanent and moveable aquatic plants that will allow visitors to feel and connect to the tropical wetlands around them.
“This was a wonderful event at a beautiful home,” said Rochelle Wolberg, Mounts Interim Operations Manager/Director of Programs. “The weather was perfect and it was a great opportunity to share information about all the exciting things happening at Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest public garden.”
Two highlights of the enchanting annual fundraising event were musical performances by the Kretzer Kids, and a spectacular silent auction featuring a diverse array of rare and exceptional plants.
Event sponsors included Jean Matthews, Diana Barrett and Robert Villa, John & Elena Brim, Randell & Rebecca Doane, Mary Hulitar, George & Elizabeth Nottingham, John & Stephanie Pew, Ruth Arneson and Rodney Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Henry, Sam & Vicky Hunt, Sally Marks and Thomas Schoch, John & Hawley McAuliffe, W. Stephen & Muffie Murray, Alice Pannill, Lesley Smith, Caroline Sory, William J. & Sally Soter, John & Melie Spofford, Louise Stephaich, Susan O. Taylor, Rev. Dr. Cecily Titcomb & Rodney Titcomb, William & Kathy Vaughan, Thomas & Deborah Whitesell, and Michael & Elaine Zimmerman.
With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden offers gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more. Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden. The Garden is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach.
Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County is open every day (except for Palm Beach County recognized holidays) from 10 am to 4 pm. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden, including the new Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden, is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.
Travel with Terri
Story and Photos by Terri Marshall
From the first time I visited California I was hooked. The beaches—so unlike the ones I grew up with in Florida—intrigued me. The landscapes dazzled me and the cities from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco quickly gained a place in my heart as favorites. But there’s one particular region that I recently became more acquainted with: California’s Central Coast. And it’s a winner in my book. From farm-to-table goodness, to whale watching in the Channel Islands National Park to laid back seaside towns and a dazzling mansion, here are some of the reasons California’s Central Coast is absolutely dreamy.
You’d have to put your table in the middle of the fields to get food any fresher than the farm-to-table dining scene in Oxnard. Chef Gabriel Garcia and his team at Tierra Sur (situated inside Herzog Wine Cellars) take advantage of the bounty of fresh produce available creating fabulous seasonal menus from ingredients sourced from the local farmers. Tierra Sur has the highest ZAGAT ratings in Ventura County. And that’s just one of many restaurants in town that will keep your taste buds happy.
The city is known for an abundance of impossibly sweet strawberries. The strawberries are celebrated each May during the annual California Strawberry Festival which is one of the top food festivals in the country.
Located just 11 miles off the coast of Oxnard, the Channel Islands are often referred to as America’s Galapagos. Thousands of years of isolation has created unique plants, animals and archaeological resources unlike any other on earth.
A quick boat ride from Oxnard, the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary provides a wealth of recreational opportunities and exploration of nature through hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. A whale watching tour between the coastline and the Channel Islands is an ideal way to spot Pacific Gray Whales as they migrate from December through mid-April and the massive Blue Whales as they travel June through September.
Pismo Preserve is the newest hiking, biking and equestrian trail system for the southern coast of San Luis Obispo County—so new it’s still under construction. Boasting 900 acres of ranchland, the Pismo Preserve has sweeping views of the Central California Coast.
Originally slated for residential development, the prized property was saved when the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo stepped in and raised more than $12 million in less than six months. The massive fund raising effort combined with over 6,300 volunteer hours by the citizens of San Luis Obispo County have created a haven for recreation along the coastline. Although the full opening for the Pismo Preserve won’t happen until 2018, pre-scheduled docent led hikes, equestrian rides and mountain bike rides are now available to the public.
If you’re looking for a laid back seaside getaway with an abundance of outdoor recreation options and oysters fresh from the water, Morro Bay is your town. This is a place where sea otters frolic in the waters munching on shellfish they work hard to remove from the shells. Seals lounge about on the piers barking their hellos and whales are often spotted migrating from north to south and back again.
Rising from the waters of Morro Bay, the iconic Morro Rock provides the backdrop for year-round recreational activities. Choose from stand up paddle boarding, boat cruises, bicycling, kayaking and golf. A Morro Bay Adventure Pass gives you access to all the recreation options for a reduced price. There’s even a small but very cool skateboarding museum in town where you climb onto the world’s second largest board. And when you’re ready for oysters, head to Tognazzini’s Dockside where an abundance of oysters are served fresh from the waters of Morro Bay.
Perched on a hill high above the Central California coastline, the former home of publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst is stunning inside and out. The views from the property overlook miles of unspoiled coastline. From the manicured gardens, to intricate tapestries covering the interior walls to a collection of over 20,000 sculptures, paintings and collectibles, the Hearst Castle is dazzling.
I’d been to the Hearst Castle once many years ago and one of the things that really impressed me then and now was the spectacular Roman pool. Decorated with eight statues of Roman gods, goddesses & heroes, the entire pool from ceiling to floor to the bottom of the pool is covered with one inch square blue mosaic tiles fused with gold—real gold. Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplain, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant and Joan Crawford were just a few of Hearst’s famous guests. Can you imagine the pool parties here?
There’s so much more to explore along California’s Central Coast—it’s sure to have you humming California Dreamin’ right along with the Mamas and Papas
PGA Master Professional, Kevin Perkins, Nominated For SECPGA Teacher of the Year
Palm City, Florida, April 5, 2017
Kevin Perkins, PGA Master Professional, was recently nominated for the Southeast Chapter of the South Florida PGA Section, for the Chapter’s Teacher of the Year award. His PGA peers, within the Chapter, nominated Perkins, who runs the nationally known Kevin Perkins Golf Academy, at The Evergreen Club, in Palm City, Florida.
A PGA nomination committee will evaluate the nominees, and select the Teacher of the Year sometime later this month.
”It is a privilege and an honor to have been nominated by my peers,” said Perkins from the lesson tee at The Evergreen Club. “Our Chapter and Section is rich with some of the best teachers in America and, I am very pleased to be considered for this outstanding award.” Perkins added.
About Kevin Perkins Golf Academy
The Kevin Perkins Golf Academy provides world-class instructional programs at The Evergreen Club in Palm City.
Kevin Perkins is an author, lecturer and has hosted and produced his own television and radio shows, and became the 92nd PGA Professional to have achieved the elite “Master” PGA professional ranking. Kevin is also a PGA of America Adjunct Faculty Member and serves on the PGA Master Professional Mentoring Committee.
Kevin has been influenced and worked with two teaching legends, Bob Toski and David Leadbetter, widely considered two of the greatest teachers of all time.
Perkins also served as an apprentice with the Golf Digest Instructional School where he studied under well-known teachers such as Jim Flick, Peter Kostis, John Elliot, Jr., Hank Johnson, Davis Love, Jr., and Dick Aultman.
Perkins played collegiate golf at the University of Miami.
For more information about the Kevin Perkins Golf Academy, please visit their website at: www.kevinperkinsgolfacademy.com or call 561 301-3783.
Celebrating Earth Day
The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens Presents
A Partnership for Art, Science and the Natural World
Saturday, April 22, 2017
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHAT:
The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens (ANSG) is commemorating a forty-year history of art and nature with an inaugural Earth Day Celebration. ANSG will host a collaborative initiative engaging five Palm Beach County non-profit institutions to provide a forum for the dynamic intersection of art, science and the natural world. Participating organizations include, ANSG, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation and the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium.
ANSG will feature a special shared artist talk and tour to kick off the morning. Todd McGrain will discuss The Lost Bird Project, his traveling exhibition that spotlights the tragedy of modern species extinction through monumental memorial sculptures immortalizing five North American birds, currently on display at ANSG. Dr. Paul Reillo, with the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, will present a presentation on the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, one of North America’s most endangered birds teetering on the edge of extinction.
The participating organizations will partake in a panel discussions titled, Exploring the Beauty and Wonder of our South Florida Environment with a question and answer session. Following the panel, guests will have the opportunity to visit and learn more about the mission of each organization through interactive “learning stations” presented by educators throughout the garden. Guided tours of the garden and current ANSG exhibitions will be offered as well.
WHO:
Educators from Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation and the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium will explore their current plans and educational programs to enhance preservation and raise awareness of the South Florida environment.
WHY:
The Ann Norton Partnership for Art, Science and the Natural World embraces Ann Norton’s vision for maintaining an urban preserve that supports the coexistence of art and nature. Ann Norton described her legacy to the community as “an environmental showplace” intended to display her nine monumental sculptures and the work of visiting artists amidst her collection of over 250 native plants, rare palms and cycads. She defined its purpose as an “educational museum and urban sanctuary” for the public enjoyment of art, garden and natural history enthusiasts of all ages.
WHEN:
Earth Day – Saturday, April 22, 2017
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Artist Talk and Tour with The Lost Bird Project and Rare Species Conservatory Foundation.
2 to 3 pm Panel Presentations and Q&A
3 to 5 pm Interactive Learning Stations and Garden Tours
Light refreshments will be provided throughout the afternoon.
WHERE:
The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens
2051 S. Flagler Drive – West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Parking available on neighborhood streets or the adjoining lot at Palm Beach Day Academy
1902 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL. 33401
ADMISSION:
In honor of Earth Day, ANSG will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with discounted pricing. Members of participating organizations are free with proof of membership, as well as children under five. $10 for adults and $5 for seniors (age 65 and older), students and children (ages six to 18).
INFO:
For more information, please visit www.ansg.org or call 561-832-5328.
SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM HOSTS DR. MICHIO KAKU
“The Future of the Mind” benefit highlighted by announcement of Center’s new brain exhibit
(Palm Beach, Fla.) – Uploading memories and sending emotions through a text message sounds like science fiction, but these were just a few of the topics highlighted at The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s annual benefit “The Future of the Mind – An Evening with Dr. Michio Kaku and the Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind” on Thursday, March 30. Mary Freitas, Elizabeth Gordon and Caroline Cummings Rafferty chaired the event.
More than 200 guests enjoyed the lively and interactive discussion by renowned scientist and author, Dr. Michio Kaku, whose presentation included information about being able to operate an exoskeleton through thoughts to give injured people the gift of mobility, such as returning veterans from the Middle East.
“That all sounds like something from the Iron Man comics, but it’s a reality,” Dr. Kaku said. He took questions from the crowd during the informal presentation.
During opening remarks, SFSCA board chairman Matt Lorentzen brought Lew Crampton, president and CEO of the Science Center, and his wife Kathleen up to the stage for a surprise announcement. He unveiled the plans to name the entrance of the Science Center the “Lew and Kathleen Crampton Science Exploration Gateway” to honor Crampton’s hard work over the last seven years turning the organization into a success story.
“I’m so honored and humbled by this gracious gesture,” Crampton said. “I am beyond excited for the future of the Science Center, and this benefit is opening up new possibilities that we have been dreaming about to open every mind to science.”
The evening raised more than $400,000 as the benefit kicked off fundraising for the Science Center’s latest expansion, a permanent exhibit called “A Journey Through The Human Brain,” which, when completed, will be one of the most advanced displays of the human brain. The Science Center will be renovating the current building to dedicate an entire wing to this latest addition. The exhibition will take a bottom-up approach to telling the story of the human brain, from the molecular and cellular level to the integrated circuitry that creates our hopes, fears and memories.
“This exhibit is exciting because we have to energize young people and fire up their curiosity about the brain,” said Dr. Kaku. “All of us, sitting on our shoulders, have the most advanced object in the known universe – the brain. We’re entering the golden age of decoding thoughts, and we want young people to understand this.”
The Science Center is teaming up with the Florida Atlantic University’s Brain Institute to make this plan happen. “We are looking forward to our partnership with the Science Center to make this vision a reality,” said Dr. Randy Blakely, the Executive Director of the FAU Brain Institute. “We hope to inspire young minds to dive even deeper into brain science, and this exhibit is the perfect way to get a picture of how the brain is built.”
Major sponsors of “The Future of the Mind – An Evening with Michio Kaku and the Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind” included Mr. and Mrs. Lew Crampton, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Lorentzen, Mr. and Mrs. John Niblack, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Stiller, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Freitas, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Gordon, and Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Rafferty, PNC Bank, KLX, Inc., The Stiles Nicholson Foundation, Modernizing Medicine, Mr. Mrs. Robb Allan, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Stone, Drs. Bonnie and Kenneth Davis, Mr. Dave Nuti, and Mr. and Mrs. James McCann.
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- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” an interactive Everglades exhibit and the 18-hole Conservation Course – an outdoor putting course with science-focused education stations. For more information on the new brain exhibit or other Science Center programming, please call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @SFScienceCenter.
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