BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS AND FUNDRAISER SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6th AT ST. MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WELLINGTON

September 14,2013 (Wellington, FL) – St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington will be holding their 5th Annual “PAWS for a Blessing”, on Sunday, October 6th at their second service which is held at 10:45 am.

Come early to have your photo taken with your pet. The service will be held indoors in the comfort of air conditioning.

Everyone is welcome to attend with or without a pet. Pets attending must be leashed or confined in a carrier.

“PAWS for a Blessing” is also a fundraiser with this year’s theme being a challenge between cats and dogs. Are you a cat person or a dog person? Come by and put a dollar in for your favorite even if you are unable to stay for the service. The pet that collects the most money wins!

All dog dollars collected will go to the Big Dog Ranch in Wellington and all cat dollars raised will go to Adopt-A-Cat Foundation in Lake Park.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be matching funds raised at this event. For every $3 raised in dog dollars or cat dollars Thrivent will match $1 for the appropriate charity.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s mounted unit will be joining us and the horses and officers will be blessed on the sanctuary steps at 10:45 am.

St. Michael is located at 1925 Birkdale Drive, Wellington, which is the northwest corner of Birkdale Drive and Forest Hill Boulevard. Come join us!

For more information call Donna Tagg at 561-371-3201 or the church at 561-793-4999.

For more information on this release contact:
Donna M. Tagg – 561-371-3201

Lake Worth Casino Building and Beach Complex Announces Full Lineup of Festivals/Dance Nights – November 2013 through April 2014

Lake Worth Casino Building & Beach Complex
10 South Ocean Boulevard
Lake Worth, FL 33460
(561) 533-7395Lake Worth, FL (Sept 11, 2013) – The Lake Worth Casino and Beach Complex, already enjoying tremendous success as a premiere beach and wedding destination, is expanding their reach to join in the City of Lake Worth’s campaign “The Art of Florida Living.”

Two signature festivals will become a new tradition with the already announced Lake Worth Beach Art Fest the weekend before Thanksgiving, and the launch of the Lake Worth Beach Sand Sculpting and Seafood Fest in January. This creative new event features the experts who produce the world famous Ft. Meyers Sand Sculpting events; bringing the same level of professional sculptors, plus an amateur sculpting contest, nautical vendors and a beachfront seafood festival.

“Adding these events to the beach brings synergy to the cities vision of becoming the premiere arts destination in the county,” said Mayor Pam Triolo. “The beachfront in itself is the perfect destination already, but by adding these new events, we will bring new audiences who might not otherwise go to the beach,” she added.

Additional events include by popular demand the return of Community Dance Nights. “The former casino ballroom hosted hundreds of community dances through the years. Once we reopened last March, the community begged for these dances to return, so eight different themed dance nights will take place in the ballroom for audiences of all ages to swing, jitterbug and tango!” concluded Triolo.

Popular Lake Worth Casino Beach BonfiresThe popular beach bonfires return, but with an all new look and feel, including live music and a beer and wine garden. The kick-off of “Seaside Celebrations and Beach Bonfires” will be November 8 with the Lake Worth favorite The People Upstairs.

All events, except the Community Dance Nights are FREE. The dance night price varies per event. Advance reservations are recommended for the dance nights by calling 561-533-7395.

The full list of events is below and is on the City of Lake Worth Website .

Lake Worth Casino and Beach Building Calendar of Events

Seaside Celebrations and Beach Bonfire Kick-0ff
With The People Upstairs
Friday, November 8 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Live music, two beach bonfires (one for the little ones to roast marshmallows) and beer and wine garden.
Free Admission
Lake Worth Beach Complex

Veterans/USO Community Dance Night
Wednesday, November 13 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Salute to America’s Veteran’s. Dance to the tunes from the Great American Songbook and hits from the USO dance hall days. Featuring Charisma – “Barry & Maxine” and entertainer Mel Seba.
$20 per couple/$12 per person. Includes 3 hour parking, complimentary dance lessons, snacks and soft drinks. Cash bar available.
Casino Ballroom

Lake Worth Beach ArtFest
Saturday, November 23 & Sunday, November 24
10 am – 5 pm both days
Over 100 fine artists and crafters, craft beer and wine garden, kids zone and live music.
Free Admission
Lake Worth Beach Complex

Seaside Celebrations and Beach Bonfire
With Reel Tings Steel Drum Band
Friday, November 29 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Live music, two beach bonfires (one for the little ones to roast marshmallows) and beer and wine garden.
Free Admission
Lake Worth Beach Complex

Community Dance Night
Wednesday, December 4 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Traditional Ballroom Dancing – featuring Charisma – “Barry & Maxine”
$20 per couple/$12 per person. Includes 3 hour parking, complimentary dance lessons, snacks and soft drinks. Cash bar available.
Casino Ballroom

Seaside Celebrations and Beach Bonfires
Ongoing – second and fourth Fridays through May 9
Music, two beach bonfires (one for the little ones to roast marshmallows) and beer and wine garden.
*No bonfires March – May 9 due to turtle nesting season. Free Admission
Lake Worth Beach Complex

1950’s Sock Hop – Community Dance Night
Wednesday, January 8 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Put on your bobby socks, saddle shoes and poodle skirts and dance to the 1950’s sounds of Cricklewood.
$20 per couple/$12 per person.  Includes 3 hour parking, snacks and soft drinks. Cash bar available.
Casino Ballroom

Chaos at the Old Casino…A Night of Murder and Mystery!
Thursday, January 16 – 6 pm
Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show presented by Actors With a Clue!
$55 per person. Includes 3 course dinner, show, gratuities and parking.  Cash Bar available.
Advanced Reservations required by calling 561-207-8947

Lake Worth Beach Sand Sculpting and Seafood Festival
Friday, January 24 – 12 – 9 pm (Includes a Beach Bonfire)
Saturday, January 25  10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, January 26  12 noon – 5 pm
Professional and amateur sand castle sculptors compete for cash and prizes; view the work in progress and enjoy an ocean side seafood festival, Lil’ Guppies Area, Live Music and more.
Free Admission

Valentine’s Day Dance
Wednesday, February 12 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Dance to the romantic sounds of Sinatra, Dino, Como, Crosby and more with Michael Matone.  Includes a rose for the ladies and Kilwin’s chocolate favors.
$30 per couple/$17 per person. Includes 3 hour parking, snacks and soft drinks.  Cash bar available.
Casino Ballroom

Community Dance Night
Wednesday, February 26 – 6 pm – 9 pm
“Dancing through the Decades with Cricklewood.” Enjoy all types of dance music from swing to doo wop.
$20 per couple/$12 per person. Includes 3 hour parking, snacks and soft drinks.
Cash bar available.
Casino Ballroom

One Year Anniversary Celebration and the return of Johnny Cool and The Mobster Swing Band
Wednesday, March 12 – 6 pm – 9 pm
$30 per couple/$17 per person. Includes 3 hour parking, snacks and soft drinks.
Cash bar available.

Latin Community Dance Night
Salsa, Merengue, Balero and Tango to the sounds of Latin Beat
Wednesday, March 26 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Bring your flappers, Charleston and Swing the night away.
$20 a person.  Includes 3 hour parking, food bites and dancing!
Cash bar available.

Jazz Community Dance Night
Wednesday, April 6 – 6 pm – 9 pm
Bring your flappers, Charleston and Swing the night away with the Frank Hubbell Jazz Trio
$20 a person.  Includes 3 hour parking, food bites and dancing!
Cash bar available.

Call 561-733-7395 or visit for more information.

DRAMATIC STORY OF THE SINKING OF TITANIC COMES TO SOUTH FLORIDA

South Florida Science Center and Aquarium to host Titanic Exhibit

From November 16 through April 20

(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) – On April 15, 1912, the world’s largest Ship, Titanic, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives and subsequently altering the world’s confidence in modern technology.  A little over a century later, the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium pays tribute to the tragedy, which continues to resonate through Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, where nearly 100 legendary and priceless artifacts conserved from the Ship’s debris field will be showcased to provide visitors with a poignant look at this iconic Ship and its passengers. The exhibit opens at the South Florida venue at 4801 Dreher Trail in West Palm Beach on November 16, 2013 and runs through Titanic’s fateful 102^nd anniversary with the exhibit closing on April 20, 2014.

“While important scientific discoveries are made every day,” said SFSCA CEO Lew Crampton, “there are few as stirring and dramatic as those researched and recovered from Titanic.  This blockbuster exhibit depicts an inspiring and dramatic time in our history and its discovery would not have been possible without the presence of modern day technology. We want visitors of all ages to be exposed to the notion that science is all around us, and we know this epic exhibit will accomplish that goal in a unique and highly educational way. We are grateful to the Quantum Foundation for their sponsorship in assisting us to underwrite this important exhibit. We’re convinced that from young to old, visitors of all ages will enjoy Titanic!” 

The exhibition has been designed with a focus on the legendary RMS Titanic’s compelling human stories as best told through authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations.  Perfume created by a man traveling to New York to sell his samples, china etched with the logo of the elite White Star Line, even personal effects like a cigar holder, toothpaste jar and a calling card– these and many other authentic objects offer haunting, emotional connections to lives abruptly ended or forever altered.

Visitors are quickly drawn back in time to 1912 as they enter the exhibit, with each receiving a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger on board Titanic. They then begin their chronological journey through the life of Titanic, moving through the Ship’s construction, to life on board, to the ill-fated sinking and amazing artifact rescue efforts.  Visitors will marvel at the recreated first and third-class cabins, and can press their palms against an iceberg while learning of countless stories of heroism and humanity.

In the “Memorial Gallery,” guests will take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and discover whether their passenger and traveling companions survived or perished.

Over the past 15 years, more than 25 million people have seen this powerful exhibition in major museums worldwide, from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London.  RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck site of Titanic. The company was granted Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck site of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted eight research and recovery expeditions to the sunken ship, rescuing more than 5,500 artifacts.

“We know that a passion for science is at the heart of any health care career so, as a health care foundation, we’re excited that the South Florida Science Center is growing and developing as a center for science education in the region,” said Quantum Foundation President Eric Kelly.  “Big exhibits like this help draw new people in to explore the world of science and this exhibit will encourage those who haven’t experienced the newly-renovated Science Center to come and see how just how exciting it is.”

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, formerly known as the South Florida Science Museum, recently completed a $5 million expansion and renovation and will host Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition in its newly expanded exhibit hall.  With a new mission to “open every mind to science,” the Science Center features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an 8,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall and an interactive Everglades exhibit.   All exhibits will be open during the Titanic’s special showing.

Admission to the Science Center during Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition will be $15 for adults, $11.50 for children aged 3 to 12, and $13.50 for seniors aged 62 and older.  Science Center members and children under 3 are free; and school group pricing will not be affected.  Planetarium shows and miniature golf are not included in general admission pricing.

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach and is open Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. 

For more information, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. 

Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @SFScienceCenter.

Titanic Fast Facts

• 705 passengers survived, but 1,523 were lost. Even if all 20 lifeboats had been filled to capacity, there was only room in them for 1,178 people.
• The Titanic was the largest moving object of its time.
• It cost $7.5 million to build Titanic, which carried a $5 million insurance policy. It would have cost about $400 million to build the ship today.
• More than 10,000 men worked on Titanic for nearly three years to construct the hull and internal structure.
• More than 100,000 people gathered to watch Titanic sail off to New York.
• For a third-class passenger, a ticket was $40 ($770 today). For a first-class passenger, tickets were $4,500 a piece ($90,000 today).
• It took about 60 pounds of coal for the ship to move 60 feet. 

Aiming to Make History: Zoo Close to Record Attendance – Special September Activities at the Palm Beach Zoo

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ten thousand, four hundred fifty-seven: that is how many people have to walk through the gates of the Palm Beach Zoo between now and the end of the day on September 30, 2013, to help the Zoo set a new attendance record by the end of its fiscal year. With 304,015 guests attending last year, staff is hoping more people will come by that deadline to help the Zoo make history. The Zoo is now making a call to action, asking the public to visit and help build on a wild legacy, more than sixty years in the making.

“We thank the many people who have been coming to the Zoo and supporting our mission,” said Andrew Aiken, President and CEO of the Zoo. “As a non-profit organization, we rely on attendance to continue operations. We are hoping this will be another year for the record books, because the more our attendance grows, the more we have an opportunity to educate the public about conservation.”

The consistent growth in guest numbers has been spurred by several factors, including pleasant weather, brand-new events that offer additional visiting hours, baby animals born at the Zoo, new attractions and a passionate focus by staff on spreading awareness of the Zoo’s mission.

“Many of our guests travel to West Palm Beach just to come to the Zoo, to experience a fun family outing,” said Aiken. “Our ultimate goal is to inspire our guests to act on behalf of wildlife. If we can bring them in with an enjoyable experience, we hope they can connect with the animals they meet, and learn ways to value the natural world.”

September Activities at the Zoo

Officials hope offering even more events through the month of September will help top the previous record from the year before. Activities include the following:

• Food Truck Safari — September 14 & 28, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Several of South Florida’s most popular food trucks will be parked throughout the Zoo. From savory sandwiches to loaded hot dogs, the Food Truck Safaris are great opportunities to try flavorful food while roaming among the animals. Admission is $9 for adult members, $10 for adult non-members, $6 for children members, $7 for children non-members and children under three get in free.

• Teddy Bear Affair – September 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal to this “bear-y” special event. The Zoo’s veterinary team will be available to perform check-ups on furry, stuffed friends, while zookeepers will educate visitors on bear conservation. Regular admission.

• Safari Nights – September 13, 20 & 27, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Zoo comes alive at night, with each Friday evening featuring a different family-friendly theme, special entertainment and children-focused activities. Safari Nights are always free for current Zoo members. Non-member pricing is $15.95 for adults, $9.95 for children (3-12) and children under three are free.

More information on special events is found on www.palmbeachzoo.org.

Click here to enjoy a special Video Visit to the Zoo!

Historical Attendance Records at the Zoo

In March, the Zoo set records for “best day” and “best month” attendance during the week of Spring Break. The best single day on record, with the highest attendance at the Zoo, was March 26, 2013 with 3,348 guests. For the month of March 2013, 44,641 guests came through the gates. When the original Zoo opened in 1951, it was known as Dreher Park Zoo. Today, the Palm Beach Zoo has exceeded the dreams of that original visionary, becoming one of the largest tourist attractions in Palm Beach County and a respected haven for endangered species.

“We are thrilled that so many people are enjoying the Palm Beach Zoo,” said Aiken. “We are grateful that with all of the support, we can continue to provide a unique experience for years to come.”

About the Palm Beach Zoo

The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches exists to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat, and to inspire others to value and conserve the natural world. We advance our conservation mission through endangered species propagation, education, health and wellness, field research, and conservation medicine. Our sustainable and responsible business practices and local, national and global partnerships enable the Palm Beach Zoo to support national and international conservation, species survival, and habitat preservation.

The Palm Beach Zoo is a located at 1301 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For more information, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org.

JAZZ AT ST. PETER’S ON SATURDAY NIGHT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR COPELAND DAVIS, WORLD-FAMOUS JAZZ PIANIST.

Help Him Obtain Needed Eye Surgery, for Which He Has No Insurance.

Wellington, FL—September 12, 2013.

This Saturday night, September 14, 2013, beginning at 7:00p.m., St. Peter’s Church located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington will host a fundraiser benefiting Copeland Davis.

Davis is a world-famous jazz pianist who has been featured on The Tonight Show and Good Morning, America. The evening will feature Davis on the piano, along with many of his friends and band members, as they do what they do best—create some beautiful jazz music!

Davis has multiple tears in his eye’s retina and will need some surgery on his eyes in order to restore his vision.  His vision has become so bad, he cannot even drive.  Unfortunately, he has no insurance and he simply doesn’t have the money for the surgery.  So, a group of friends and fellow parishioners from St. Peter’s Church decided that they would try to help defray the cost of the surgery by holding this fundraiser—“Jazz at St. Peter’s”.

“He is not in any pain and can see to play,” explains Copeland’s wife, Mary Davis.  “So, that is what we are going to do…listen to him play!  The evening will feature Copeland at the piano, as well as a drummer, bass player and a keyboard artist.  It should be a fun evening together with friends.”  All proceeds from the event will go to off-set the costs of the much needed surgery for Davis.

“Jazz at St. Peter’s” will be held Saturday, September 14, 2013, at 7:00p.m. at St. Peter’s Church located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington.  Tickets for the fundraiser are $20 and can be purchased at St. Peter’s Church in advance or at the door on Saturday night.

For further information about “Jazz at St. Peter’s”, call (561)793-5712.

Or Contact:

Maureen Gross
Director of Development and Community Outreach
Phelps Media Group, Inc., International
12012 South Shore Blvd., Ste. 105, Wellington, FL  33414
(561) 753-753-3389 | FAX (561) 753-3386 | CELL (561) 714-0887
mbg@phelpsmediagroup.com