PGA Master Professional, Kevin Perkins, Nominated For SECPGA Teacher of the Year
Palm City, Florida, April 5, 2017
”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.
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 DigestInstructional 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.comor call 561 301-3783.
A Partnership for Art, Science and the Natural World
Saturday, April 22, 2017
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Artist Todd McGrain works on plaster molds in his studio near Ovid, New York. The molds are used to make bronze sculptures as part of McGrain’s project to memorialize the extinction of five North American birds; the Carolina Parakeet, Great Auk, Passenger Pigeon, Heath Hen and Labrador Duck. The documentary film, The Lost Bird Project, follows McGrain as he searches for the locations where the birds were last seen in the wild and negotiates for permission to install his large bronze sculptures there. (Lost Bird Project)
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.
CAPEHART
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.
Jenny Gardner was always getting sick. Ever since she was a child, she’d had more than her share of the common cold. Her propensity to catch illnesses, and inability to recover quickly continued throughout her adult years. She was unable to lead a normal life, work full-time or enjoy the simple pleasures that others did.
At age 41—and after years of misdiagnoses, as well as being wrongly labeled a ‘hypochondriac,’—Jenny was finally diagnosed with CVID (Common Variable Immune Deficiency. People with CVID are basically born without an immune system, or a very weak one. They are extremely susceptible to infections and viruses that target the lungs, sinuses, and ears. Jenny’s system could not produce the antibodies necessary to maintain normal periods of wellness.
After her diagnosis, doctors prescribed a weekly routine of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy (IRT), which provides her with IVIG (Intraveinous Immunoglobulin). Immunoglobulin is plasma that contains high levels of antibodies, therefore bolstering the body against the aggression of disease.
Jenny was undergoing her IRT weekly treatments, and without a doubt doing better than she had in years. But the problem was that by the time she was ready for another treatment, she’d have contracted some kind of upper-respiratory condition. She feared her battles with sinus infections, viruses and multiple bouts of pneumonia would return. After 14 years of IVIG therapy, she needed another solution.
And that is where Biotest and Patricia Gant came into the picture.
Patricia Gant, manager of the Royal Palm Beach Biotest donations Center, told us a little about what she does. “We are a plasma donation center. We are here to save lives,” she said in a commanding tone that expressed of her confidence and pride in her field.
Biotest originated in 1946 in Germany, and has since expanded worldwide. Last year, they celebrated being in the business of saving lives for 70 years. In the U.S. alone, there are 22 donation centers in twelve states—with the main manufacturing facility located here in Boca Raton, Florida. The Boca regional complex is a plasma refractionation plant, as well as a center for Research in Biopharmaceuticals. Plasma is broken down and turned into paste or powder from which live-saving medication is developed for a variety of diseases and deficiencies. Some of those conditions are: RH Negative blood (expectant mothers with RH Negative blood pose a serious threat to their newborn’s viability, CVID—Common Variable Immune Deficiency, Hepatitis B and C, Rabies, Tetanus, Chicken Pox, as well as treatment for burn and trauma victims.
Patricia Gant has been in plasma medicine field since the mid-70s. As a child she wanted to be an army nurse, but her mother wouldn’t have it. She went to school and then worked as a nurse at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. “In 1974, I left the hospital and went to plasma, and have never looked back. I know that every day, I get to get up and save people’s lives,” she says. Patricia has been with Biotest since 1993 in their Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio centers, and finally here in Royal Palm Beach.
Thanks to Patricia Gant and the many donors at Biotest, Jenny Gardner can live a better life. After the IVIG treatments proved inadequate, she started a new treatment called Subcutaneous Infusions. It is administered weekly through small needles just underneath the skin. The results have proven successful. While Jenny has seen several of her friends with immune disorders lose function of organs and even their lives, due to her subcutaneous plasma therapy she is now living a more vital life, than ever.
Without the plasma donors, Jenny would not know the level of health she does now. It takes approximately 325 donors to provide the medicine she needs for one week! She will often visit the center with candy and hugs just to thank them.
Biotest thoroughly screens and tests their donors, and they are compensated for their time. It is safe and rewarding. Many donate 1-2 times per seven days. More information on plasma contributions is available on their website at http://biotestplasma.com/royal-palm-beach/.
Let’s wish Biotest a Happy 70th Birthday. Their mission grants many people, like Jenny Gardner, an opportunity to celebrate yet another birthday, as well.
Wellington is calling on its young residents to roll up their sleeves and make a difference in their community with the “Great American Cleanup” project. The Village is looking for 75 youth volunteers for the cleanup which takes place on Saturday, April 15th from 10am to 12pm.
Volunteers will pick up trash and loose litter along Greenbriar Blvd. & Greenview Shores Blvd., as well as the Folkestone/Yarmouth community. Those interested in participating should meet under the blue Wellington tents at the back of Tiger Shark Cove Park. Come early and receive a free T-shirt.
To register for the event, download the volunteer application form by visiting www.wellingtonfl.gov and clicking on the “Great American Cleanup” image in the scrolling events section. Completed forms may be returned to the Community Services Office (1092 Wellington Trace) or scanned and emailed to Scott Campbell, Community Programs Manager, at scampbell@wellingtonfl.gov.
Volunteer registration forms may also be completed on site the day of the event. For more information about this event, please contact Scott Campbell at 561-791-4105.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.
For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch WellingtonTV for the latest happenings.
I’m sure you’ve heard, “Everyone has at least one book in them.” That same thing goes for everyone’s stamp on the world.
Sometimes, we think that if we are not Mother Teresa, Harriet Tubman or Albert Einstein, we don’t have what it takes to make an imprint that will change people’s lives.
Not true. You don’t have to be legendary to be magnificent or help change someone else’s life. Every one of us is blessed with a seed inside of us that will be bloomed.
Do you shrink back when you see other’s doing great things? Do you feel like you’ll never measure up?
Many people feel the grass is greener on the other side. That others are more skilled, have better resources or are naturally more talented. The grass is only greener because they water it.
Greatness takes persistence
Nothing great comes out of minimal effort or being in a state of “overwhelm.” If you want to leave your greatness as a mark on the world, you need to be like a pelican zeroed in on his catch.
Do you know who Anne Sullivan is? Her story is one of the most amazing examples of persistence. Anne could have chosen to feel sorry for herself and become a victim, rather than change someone’s life.
Anne was left partially blind at the age of five from an illness. Her mother died only a few years later and her father placed her in an orphanage. Anne realized that education was her answer, so she studied.
A man visiting the orphanage heard of her insatiable desire for knowledge and arranged for her to attend the Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston. She learned how to read Braille and eventually graduated first in her class.
That is not even the amazing part of the story! She became the caretaker and teacher for a blind girl. That girl was Helen Keller. If Anne had not stayed focused on her own greatness, Helen would have probably just been institutionalized her whole life in a dark, lifeless world.
To me, that story is magnificent. We have the power to change our own stories, find our greatness and then share it, even if it is only with one person.
What is your dream? What do you want to achieve during your lifetime? Don’t let your life pass you by with your dream still in you.
For the past 10 years, I have been a health coach teaching cooking classes and helping others with food and lifestyle changes. This past year I founded the Wellness Cooking Academy. Did I have the vision ten years ago that I was going to start my own program? Not really. Although, somewhere deep inside I knew there was always something more, and you probably know that about yourself too!
You need to be a person who wants to leave your mark on the world.
Dreams don’t become reality by dreaming. That is the very first and simplest step. The magic happens when a consistent process of dedicated action is applied.
This is what turns the impossible into the possible and what
Makes the difference between an ordinary life vs. a LEGENDARY life
Wellington Art Society to Host Artist Reception at the Wellington Community Center
The Wellington Art Society is hosting a reception on Thursday, April 6th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm in the lower level of the Wellington Community Center. Artists selected to participate in the rotating gallery exhibit will be recognized at the informal reception. The Wellington Art Society will be displaying original works of art, books, and offering door prizes and prints for sale. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the local art on display.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.
For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch WellingtonTV for the latest happenings.
Get your baskets ready for Wellington’s annual Egg Hunt! The Egg Hunt returns to the Village Park softball fields, located at 11700 Pierson Road, on Saturday, April 15th. The event begins promptly at 10:00 a.m., and will be divided into four age groups: ages 2 and under; ages 3 to 4; ages 5 to 7; and ages 8 to 10. At each egg hunt, two eggs will have a pink bunny ticket inside, indicating a special prize. Families are encouraged to arrive early as traffic congestion may occur.
Now that Bolay has been up and running in Wellington for a while, its customers have been very outspoken about the bold flavors and nutritious offerings. They say, “Bolay has a cravable flavor” and it has health benefits too. The food is packed with nutrients that keep you energized all day. “It sustains you,” says Justin Brady, General Manager and Partner.
Bolay Manager and Partner Justin Brady with Catering Coordinator Yvette Biddle
While Bolay restaurants are expanding to seven locations, Wellington is where it started. “We want to thank everybody for the wonderful feedback, including Yelp reviews and suggestions. We have really had our ear to the ground. And this Wellington community with its great feedback has really shaped Bolay to be what it is now,” says Brady.
Some quick amazing facts about Bolay – their healthy food involves no milk, no butter and no eggs. “Also we have no microwaves and no fryers here,” says Brady. They are also proud to not offer sodas. The food is nutrient-rich. The menu was curated from one of the nation’s most renowned nutritarian chefs, Chef Martin Oswald of Aspen, Colorado. His whole aim is to marry flavor with nutrition. Based on the crowds and the feedback at Bolay, it appears that he’s succeeded.
What’s new at Bolay? “We are offering online ordering with curbside service,” explains Brady. “It’s very easy. It is actually faster than your typical drive thru.” So you just visit EatBolay.com, put in your order and pull up to one of the two pick up spots in front of the restaurant. “We have cameras on the spots, so we recognize your car and bring out your order right away.”
Bolay, ready to offer curbside service.
I asked about the origins of Bolay. Owners Tim Gannon and Chris Gannon had already succeeded with Outback Steakhouse restaurants. “We looked around and asked what everyone wants. The answer was bold flavored food and more nutritious food,” says Brady, who was also contributed his ideas to the launch and is now a partner. Tim Gannon will always say, “What brings someone back is flavor.” The idea for Bolay was hatched one and a half years ago. They felt that Wellington/ Royal Palm Beach would be the perfect starting place.
You don’t have to go far to hear about how good Bolay is. As I was entering the parking lot, one woman was shouting over to her friends, “This is my favorite restaurant! I love it here.” They have several customers who eat at Bolay 3 or 4 times a week. “It’s nice when someone shakes my hand and says, ‘I lost 15 pounds eating at Bolay,’” says Brady. “You can eat healthy and be excited about it.”
So bold flavor is the first thing that Bolay strives to offer. The second thing is value. You can get a delicious, balanced meal for $8. The third thing is a nutrient-rich menu.
When you walk into Bolay, you build your meal from the base up, starting with a choice of: cilantro noodles, marinated kale & currant salad, Peruvian quinoa, Moroccan basmati rice, Forbidden black rice, or baby spinach. That’s step one. The next step is to add veggies, a choice of: smokey cauliflower, balsamic mushrooms, Paleo brussel sprouts, broccoli with ginger orange glaze or seasonal veggies. Then you add your protein: lemon chicken, barbecue chicken, pork tenderloin, miso-glazed tofu, sushi-grade Ahi tuna, Caribbean spiced steak or spicy Thai shrimp. Add toppings and sauce and voila! You have just created a balanced, delicious meal. “There is no bad combination,” says one happy customer, “They are all good.”
Bolay has also branched out into catering. With their catering manager, Yvette Biddle, Bolay has been able to cater some exciting events, the biggest one so far being the Just World International Gala. “We were the sole food sponsor at the Just World Gala,” says Biddle. “It took place at Grand Prix Village in Wellington with approximately 650 people,” including some big names like Bill Gates and Madonna. For this event, they were able to create elegant plates of food, worthy of a multi-million dollar affair.
Bolay catered this year’s Just World International Gala.
Coming up, they plan to do Flavors of Wellington again this year. “We want to thank the community for all of the praise and accolades that came from last year’s Flavors. We won three out of the four categories – it meant a lot to us,” says Brady. They won Best Dessert, Best Display and Best Plate Presentation.
I asked about what the favorites are at Bolay. The AAA sushi grade tuna is a crowd favorite. So is the perfectly cooked steak. “Hello?” Brady jokes, “we know how to do steak. We’re the founders of Outback Steakhouse.” As for the juices, the Berry Gold cold-pressed juice is the favorite. The benefit of cold-pressed juice is that it retains 20% more vitamins and nutrients when cold-pressed.
“We have been listening to customer feedback,” says Brady. Coming soon they will be working on a family meal deal and also a customer loyalty program.
I noticed that the employees at Bolay seem very happy working there. The Wellington location employs 70 people. “I have to kick them out at the end of the night – they seem to love it here,” Brady laughs. “It’s all about hiring the right people.” The one thing he looks for, which cannot be taught, is sincerity.
About Justin Brady
Justin has been married for 2 ½ years to Morgan Brady, who he met working at Outback. “She was a manager at Outback Steakhouse, so she definitely has empathy for what I do now.” It is no small feat to manage a busy restaurant. They are proud parents of their daughter Abigail Lynn, 6 months old. As newer residents to Wellington, they are loving the sense of community and all that Wellington has to offer.
About Tim and Chris Gannon
Tim and his son Chris are both polo players. As mentioned, they founded Outback Steakhouse – Bolay is their newest venture. “They are ‘all in’ from top to bottom,” describes Brady, “with everything they do.” Bolay is a labor of love.
Changing the Way America Eats
“We want Bolay to be more than just the next restaurant. We would like it to be a community hub, where people come together and learn about nutrition,” says Brady. The design of the restaurant promotes interaction. There are intentionally no TVs. The seating arrangement is to make everyone comfortable, whether you come in with your family or come as an individual. When people are comfortable, the food tastes better – it’s all correlated, according to Brady. “Bolay could change the way America eats.”
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Bolay – Wellington/ Royal Palm Beach
250 S State Rd 7, Suite 100
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414
Health and Fitness
