New Urban Arts Lofts in Lake Worth
August, 2013 – Craft Vendors Needed for Harvest Fest
PRESS ADVISORY – Contact: Lori Maxwell 561-632-4484
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CRAFT VENDORS NEEDED FOR ST. PETER’S COMMUNITY HARVEST FEST ON OCT. 12, 2013
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington is currently planning its BIGGEST yet Fall Community Harvest Fest to be held on Saturday, October 12, 2013. The Community Harvest Fest will feature craft vendors, BBQ dinner, bake sale, on-stage entertainment, kids games and much more.
8’ x 8’ booth spaces are available to vendors in our air-conditioned building. Each booth space includes a 6ft. table and chair for $50.
Vendors…Don’t miss the chance to showcase your crafts at this huge event on Saturday, October 12th, at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, 12200 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington.
For further information or to request an application, call Lori Maxwell at (561) 632-4484 as soon as possible as there is limited space available.
August, 2013 – Summer Shorts Festival
Summer Shorts Festival 2013
Play Reading Series
Two Nights of FREE Readings
August 19 & 21, 2013
Empire Stage 1140 N. Flagler, Ft Lauderdale
Monday August 19, 2013 @ 7:30pm
Who Killed Joan Crawford?
By Michael Leeds
On a dark stormy night, five men arrive at a cabin in upstate New York to celebrate the birthday of their friend, soap star, Trick Rogers. Each guest is dressed as Trick’s favorite actress and mentor, Joan Crawford, in one of her signature roles. But Trick is late, and while waiting for the birthday boy to arrive, the “Joans” begin drinking and dishing until dark secrets emerge, long-held resentments revealed and soon there’s one Joan less… and then another… and.. Who Killed Joan Crawford?
Wednesday August 21, 2013 @ 7:30pm
Summer Shorts 2014 – try outs?
Help us select next season’s Summer Shorts Festival plays! We will be trying out 5 short play comedy contenders. You listen, You Think, You let us know, do they make the show? You Decide! Preview strong finalists for the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, under production consideration for City Theatre’s acclaimed annual Summer Shorts Festival 2014. Attendees will evaluate and discuss plays with company artists and Artistic Director John Manzelli.
Wine and Cheese reception at both reading! Free admission! Limited Seating!
For tickets call 954-519-2533 www.islandcitystage.org , www.citytheatre.com
This program is sponsored in part by:
The Summer Shorts Festival is made possible with the support of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council: Regional Investment Program Grant, Funding Arts Broward,
Citizens Interested in Arts, and Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, PA
August, 2013 – Healthy Portions
Health & Fitness
Healthy Portions
By Sherri Mraz
The portions, servings, helpings, slices and amounts of what we eat have grown dramatically over the past two decades.
The bigger-is-better motto has taken over the food industry, in conjunction with mass marketing to convince us to buy bigger sizes in order to save money.
Supermarkets, wholesale clubs and restaurants use the promise of better value as a way of pushing extra food onto customers.
Watch the movie, “Super Size Me,” a 2003 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker who follows a 30-day time period during which he eats only McDonald’s food. The film documents this lifestyle’s drastic effects on Spurlock’s physical and psychological well-being, and explores the fast food industry’s corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit. Spurlock dined at McDonald’s restaurants three times per day, eating every item on the chain’s menu. He also always “super-sized” his meal if given the option-but only if it was offered. As a result, the then-32-year-old Spurlock gained 24½ lbs, a 13% body mass increase, a cholesterol level of 230, and experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation to his liver. It took Spurlock fourteen months to lose the weight gained from his experiment.
Food Facts
- Pizzas went from 10 inches to 16-18
- Hershey’s chocolate bar went from 0.6 oz. to 1.6 oz.
- Burgers have gone from approx. 3.9 oz. to quarter pounders and double burgers
- Starbucks “short” cup was 8oz. now the smallest is “tall” at 12 oz.
- Even cook books have increased the amount of servings and increased serving sizes
- Restaurants have larger portions and or “all you can eat”
Bigger portions mean we eat more than we need. When a larger portion is placed in front of us, we tend to eat 30% to 50% more! Most often we don’t even realize that we are eating more.
These are the Healthy Eating Rules I share with my clients:
On a scale of 1 to 10 – eat to a seven
You feel satisfied but like you could eat more
You don’t feel over stuffed or hungry
Chew your food slowly
Be aware and grateful for each meal and each bite
The idea behind food manufacturers is to manipulate you into thinking you are getting more for your money. It is brilliant as far as advertising goes but what is it really doing to your psyche? You want to be very clear on their motive to make money and not allow yourself to be brainwashed.
The most dangerous fact about this marketing is what it does to children. They are subject to commercials that are very enticing. In Europe and Canada it is illegal to market to kids. The logo, “Trix are for kids” couldn’t state it better.
Eat with reverence and joy 🙂
***
Sherri Mraz, The Cookin’ Yogi, works with individuals and groups to improve their health through nutrition programs, cooking classes and yoga. Board certified health coach and mentor. Winner of Flavors of Wellington’s Best Plate 2013. Sherri is also the chief editor for Banzai Wellness Magazine.
You can see more about Sherri and her classes at www.CookinYogi.com
August, 2013 – The Peruvian Amazon
Travel with Terri
The Peruvian Amazon: City girls gone wild
Story and Photos by Terri Marshall
How’s your summer going? Doing a little boating, swimming and fishing? Me too. Only I’ve kicked it up a notch. Recently I escaped to Peru with five girlfriends. We abandoned the New York City concrete jungle for the real jungle – the Amazon in Peru.
Let me first introduce you to the girls. You know me already – southern girl that moved to New York and travels the world. I was joined by Cynthia, Kim, Kelly & Michele – single, successful, New York women in their 40’s and 50’s. And Jill – a fellow travel writer from Pennsylvania who we adopted as a New Yorker. In total there were two redheads, three brunettes and one blonde – the Amazon had no idea what was descending into its pristine eco environs.
As you might imagine, the Amazon is not easily accessible. We boarded a plane in Lima, connected in Cusco and landed in Puerto Maldonado where we were asked to board an open air “bus” that I am quite certain was once used for transporting chickens – probably just moments before our arrival. Walking to the “bus” I overheard Kim say to herself “this is terrifying” – the adventure was just beginning.
We were driven to the Madre de Dios (Mother of God) River where our boats were waiting to take us an hour deep into the jungle to our lodge. Our guides cleverly connected the wooden boats to the banks of the river by a wooden plank about eight inches wide or so. I had flashbacks of unsuccessful encounters with balance beams in gym class. Kim grew more terrified.
The rustic boat skimmed through the muddy waters past riverside shanties, unfamiliar birds and reptiles into a region where cell phone reception is non-existent. We arrived at our lodge and were completely amazed at what we discovered – rustic luxury!
The Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica is a first class eco-lodge on the banks of the Madre de Dios. Surrounded by the Peruvian rainforest, the lodge has 35 airy wood and thatch cabanas effortlessly combining elements of nature with contemporary amenities. Nights are filled with the flickering flames of lanterns and each cabana provides organic toiletries, hammocks and a whistle – to call for assistance should you encounter a jungle night creature. In the center of it all stands the main lodge, where gourmet Peruvian cuisine is served by candlelight on tables draped with white linen tablecloths – yes, in the jungle.
After settling in, we were introduced to our guide, Wilson, whose life will never quite be the same after encountering our boisterous group. “Señor Wilson” – as he was affectionately nicknamed – presented our adventure options. There was a canopy walk through the treetops across six terrifying rope bridges, a hike through the jungle to Lake Sandoval for canoeing, night walks through the jungle and boat rides after dark to search for white caimans. We agreed we had to try them all. Then Señor Wilson told us there was something else we could try – fishing for piranha. We were sold.
Early the next morning we walked the plank to board the boat for our adventure. We were joined by our boat captain, Freddie, and Robert and Linda, a couple from New Zealand who had been riding motorcycles through South America – a perfect fit for our insane group.
Michele proudly showing off her catch!
Captain Freddie expertly guided the boat through the calm waters as Señor Wilson pointed out the astonishing array of wildlife on the banks of the river. Butterflies and parrots flock to the river’s edge each day to lick the clay which works as a natural digestive aid – for them, not us. Herons, storks and macaw live there with red howler monkeys and the occasional anaconda. The strange looking punk chicken (named for its funky hair-style) is often called the “stinky bird” due to its tendency to constantly pass gas.
An hour or so deeper into the jungle, Captain Freddie pulled the boat into a cove. There on the banks of the river was a makeshift kitchen, dining cabana and restrooms – well, outhouses. Señor Wilson told us we were going to catch our lunch, then he introduced us to the cook who was going to fry up our catch. Yes, that’s right, we were going to eat piranha – if they didn’t eat us first.
We dropped anchor and got ready to fish. Señor Wilson brought out the bait – raw meat. He gave each of us a cane pole and warned us that nibbles would happen quickly once that meat was dropped into the river, so we’d better be quick if we wanted to catch anything. He wasn’t kidding. The piranha greedily snapped at the raw meat as soon as it hit the water and after a few minutes we all started hooking them and bringing them into the boat!
those teeth!!!!
Our methods left something to be desired. One of Linda’s fish ended up on top of the boat canopy. Kelly spent time comparing her teeth to those of the piranha. Michele – who says she never catches anything – was snapping them up within minutes. Cynthia – a fearless super woman – began pushing the crew aside to get the piranhas off the hook with her bare hands. I took a stab at taking mine off the hook and squeezed a little too hard only to have one of the fish’s eyes pop out. Jill’s catches started off sizable but shrunk with each fish until she was catching sardines. And then there was Kim. She could hook them but getting the fish into the boat was another story. Kelly described it best, “Kim trying to pull the fish in looked like one of us holding a glass of wine tied to a stick and her trying to get it.”
When the fishing ended we had caught 45 piranhas! We boated back to the lunch spot and dropped off the fish for our cook. Señor Wilson suggested we go for a boat ride while lunch was being prepared. Minutes down the river, Captain Freddie anchored the boat and Wilson told us this was a great spot for a swim. Never mind that this was the very same water where we had just watched greedy piranha attack raw meat. Never mind that this water was home to anaconda. Never mind that the water’s muddy tint prevented us from seeing what lurked below the surface. Never mind that the boat had no ladder to assist with reentry. We jumped overboard.
The cool waters felt exhilarating in the intense jungle heat and for a few seconds we forgot about all the potential dangers – and then the current started sucking us under the boat. We lined up alongside the boat gripping the wooden edges as we inched our way one by one to the front of the boat to climb back onboard.
Some people have no problem climbing into boats. I’m not one of them – and neither is Jill. When it was my turn, Señor Wilson was pulling on my life jacket, Jill was pushing on my bottom while trying to keep from being sucked further under the boat and Linda was in the boat promising to pull me the rest of the way.
Summoning all my arm strength I lifted myself out of the water, Linda grabbed me like I was a human bowling ball as I fell into the boat sliding across the bottom flopping around like a fish. I had to stop the slide so I grabbed hold of the only thing I could find – Captain Freddie’s ankles – a move that sent him overboard. Before I could gather myself from the bottom of the boat, Jill came crashing in behind me. Yes, there is a video. No, it will not be posted here.
Eventually we were all safely back in the boat albeit a little soggy and off to our riverside picnic. What greeted us was much more than lunch. Inside the picnic cabana a table displayed a feast of cheese, ham, beef, baked potatoes and guacamole. Our plates were banana leaves. Señor Wilson opened wine and beer and then the main attraction arrived – a platter of fried surprisingly tasty piranhas!
Each girl on this trip has traveled extensively to amazing destinations all over the world. We all agreed this will go down as one of our most amazing adventures. It’s not every day you get to bite into a piranha before it bites you. Now that, my friends, is a fishing tale!
http://www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra/reserva-amazonica
Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at www.examiner.com where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at www.barzz.net. Also, check out her blog at www.trippingwithterri.com. You can contact Terri at terri.marshall60@gmail.com.
August, 2013 – The Office- Prime Burgers and Craft Beers on the Avenue
The Florida Foodie
The Office – Prime Burgers and Craft Beers on the Avenue
By Saucy Sarah
Summertime is a great time to visit Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach for a nice weekend dinner. The crowds are less and you can actually find parking too! You’ll find many enjoying a stroll along Atlantic Ave, window shopping at the many eclectic boutiques and interesting shops or stopping at the various pubs, bars, restaurants, and eateries for a drink and a bite. It is a family-friendly atmosphere and worth the thirty minute drive south for a fun outing. One restaurant in particular deserves the drive for an unpretentious, relaxing, and delicious dining experience. The Office is a classic American watering hole boasting big burgers, an extensive wine and beer list, and classic bistro fare. Sit inside in the modern, sleek dark-wood bistro or dine outside along the street. For me, a crisp white linen table cloth always helps make the night more festive. The Office knows how to give you a good time.
We were a large party of hungry gals the night we went and so we aimed to try as many dishes as we could. With such a wide array 
of tasting opportunities, we had few issues or complaints. For starters we chose the Fried Green Tomatoes ($14), the Tomato Mozzarella ($16), and the Crispy Bread & Butter Pickles ($6). The green tomatoes are pan fried to perfection with luscious bits of tender shrimp on top. The tomatoes mozzarella was a wonder. Burrata is a method of spooning fresh un-kneaded mozzarella into a thin sheet of worked mozzarella so when you cut it open, gooey, milky fresh curds come oozing out. Paired with heirloom mini tomatoes and a syrupy balsamic, this dish is enough reason to come to Delray. The bread & butter fried pickles are a unique twist on the fried pickle fad. There is a sweet & sour quality to them which is addictive.
For our entrée choices we selected the CEO Burger ($18), the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($15), The Natural Roasted Chicken ($23), the Office Steak ($34), and the Grilled Skirt Steak ($29). The CEO Burger come with a tomato comfit, blue cheese and gruyere and is big and impressive with a nice soft bun. I chose the “grown up tater tots” to accompany the burger and they were homemade and full of green onion, bacon and cheese—maybe a bit too salty. The pulled pork is very interesting with exotic spices in the sauce and a generous dollop of slaw on top. The roasted chicken is meaty and juicy and roasted perfectly and comes with vegetable medley and mashed potatoes. The steaks were beefy and tender. I also enjoyed the fat slices of roasted potato that made a bed for the steak. The Skirt steak comes with a robust chimichuri sauce that packs a punch!
The Office also boasts an impressive array of homemade desserts that we could not resist. The menu 
changes often, so there are always new sweets to try. The night of our dinner we chose the S’mores Calzone, the Bananas Fosters Cheesecake, and the Brownie Sundae. All were yummy and sinful and you can tell that someone in the kitchen had prepared them. I am always impressed with restaurants that don’t bring in desserts, but take the time to make them on site.
The Office is a great reason to head south and visit Atlantic Avenue for the evening. I suggest you go and try The Office before season arrives and the laid-back enjoyable summer pace speeds up.
In her previous life, Sarah, a Palm Beach County Native, spent ten years working in various high-end eating establishments around South Florida. She is currently a fiction thesis candidate in the MFA program at Florida International University where she also teaches creative writing and rhetoric. If that is not enough, Sarah is also the owner of Cakes by Sarah, a local custom cake shop. Sarah lives in Lake Worth with her husband and two beautiful boys. “Food, fiction, and family are my life.”
August, 2013 – Starting School Off Right
Teen Talk
Starting School off Right
By Tyler Alexander
With the back to school commercials now airing, students all around Palm Beach County are feeling their hearts sink and their stress levels rise. The commercials signify summer vacation coming to its saddening end, and reality setting in. With the upcoming school year quickly approaching, here are some tips on how to handle the dreaded beginning of school.
Leading up to the first day:
Employ a trick my mother always used with me. Begin to get back into your morning routine a week before school starts. Nothing says summer quite like going to bed at three in the morning, and sleeping till noon. The sudden change to waking up at six for a full day at school can be a challenging task. My mom used to make me go to bed earlier and earlier each night leading up to the first day of school. Slowly adjusting your sleep cycle throughout the final week of summer makes waking up at six as tolerable as possible.
Handling the first day:
Go in with confidence and relax. Being tense on the first day sets up the entire year for stress and anxiousness. My freshman year I was scared beyond belief, and while the day wasn’t bad, everything was very overwhelming. First day of sophomore year was much better. With knowledge of how things went, the entire day was spent relaxing and getting into the swing of things. Being in a new environment can be tough, but remember that the first day is very easy going and straightforward. Just relax and everything will be all right.
For the first part of the year:
Get to know your teachers early. Set up a relationship with them to become comfortable with asking for advice or questions. If you can start off on the right foot, the entire year will be easier. (Deleted a sentence here…repetitive). It’s all about communication. Talk to them about any issues, concerns, troubles you may have. They’re there to help. Maybe even set up a parent teacher conference to address any possible worries.
DON’T GET BEHIND. I can’t stress enough how important it is to not get behind. I’ve done it multiple times and have regretted it every time. Getting behind is the worst thing you can do, especially early because it sets you up for the same routine for the rest of the year. Starting the year off with a D is extremely hard to recover from, even with time left. Avoid it at all costs. Treat the beginning of the year as you would the end. Study as hard as you can, for as long as it takes. Getting a good grade on your first test can be the difference in your final grade. Even if the teacher is just offering extra points for a signed syllabus, get it done. NEVER GET BEHIND.
Everybody reacts to the beginning of school differently, but there are little things you can do to make the year better. One way is by starting off strong. These are some things that I personally have noticed over my years when it comes to starting the school year with success. Starting off with success is easier than you think, and I know you can do it! Here’s to a successful school year to students everywhere.
August, 2013 – Shark Week
SHARK WEEK AT THE SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE CENTER
(West Palm Beach, Fla) If the lifeguards order you out of the water along South Florida beaches during shark week, head straight to the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, formerly the South Florida Science Museum, for a series of JAWS-dropping, shark-week-inspired activities planned for the week of August 5-9th.
The FINtastic fun starts on Monday August 5th and runs through Friday, August 9th, with special shark-themed crafts, activities and presentations. Science Center visitors will be able to create a shark tooth necklace, watch live shark and stingray feedings, learn fascinating facts about sharks and much more! On Thursday, August 8th, visitors will have an opportunity to speak with special guest Hannah Medd, a local marine biologist working to effectively apply scientific research to the shark conservation message. To learn more about why sharks are so vital to the marine ecosystem, be sure to stop in and visit Hannah at Professor Clark the Science Shark’s booth throughout the day. Additional opportunities for structured labs and facts will occur daily from 11am-2pm.
“We love the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week,” noted Science Center CEO Lew Crampton. “It’s another opportunity for us to be the community resource for continued hands-on, minds-on informal science education. Our guests and out-of-town visitors can come in to learn more about what they saw on TV, right here in our backyard, which allows us to further our new mission of ‘opening every mind to science’.”
With the new addition of a 3,000 square-foot aquarium, the largest fresh and saltwater aquarium between Miami and Orlando, the ScienceCenter is perfectly positioned for under-the-sea education. The aquarium features more than 90 different varieties of fish – including some of Florida’s most beautiful native fish such as Queen Angels, Pink Wrasse and of course sharks! Currently home to a nurse shark and a baby Marblehead shark, the ScienceCenter has plans to add two more shark species in the very near future – a Wobblegong shark and Brownbanded bamboo shark. Stingrays, close cousins of the sharks, also have a home at the newly expanded ScienceCenter, and will be on display in the ever popular touch tank.
And if modern day sharks aren’t enough to thrill guests, the ScienceCenter is currently hosting SavageAncientSeas: Dinosaurs of the Deep in the newly expanded exhibit hall. The traveling exhibit takes visitors on a tour of the late Cretaceous period, which existed over 70 million years ago. The exhibit is filled with huge carnivorous marine reptiles, with double-hinged jaws and teeth; gigantic flesh-eating fish, big enough to swallow an adult human being whole; flying reptiles, with three-foot skulls and the biggest sea turtles to have ever lived. Also included in the display is Megalodon, an extinct species of shark, also known as ‘big tooth.’ The waters of the earth during that time were teeming with beasts just as ferocious as their better known counterparts on land.
The mission of the SouthFloridaScienceCenter and Aquarium (SFSCA) is to open every mind to science through the strategic programming of interactive exhibits, engaging community-based camps and events. Founded in 1959 and formally known as the South Florida Science Museum, the new SFSCA 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 showcasing the richly diverse ecosystem that the Everglades water-environment supports. The SouthFloridaScienceCenter is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach and is open Monday – Friday from 10am-5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. General admission to the ScienceCenter is $13.50 for adults, $10.00 for children three and up, and $12.00 for seniors 62+. ScienceCenter members and children under three are free. Planetarium shows and miniature golf are not included in general admission.
For more information about the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, please call 561-832-1988, or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. Like the Science Center on Facebook at SF Science Center and follow SFSCA on Twitter @SFScienceCenter.
August, 2013 – The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
AW Spotlight
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
By Krista Martinelli
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, newly renovated and re-named, has recently made a “big splash” in the news! They made a strategic decision, after a lot of visitor surveys, to focus on expanding their aquarium area with their recent renovation and the result is beautiful! Also, their 3,000 square foot aquarium, designed by a local company called Living Color, was selected for National Geographic TV’s “Fish Tank Kings” as their season-finale episode. “We were thrilled to be featured like that,” says Chief Operating Officer Kate Arrizza. “We now have the biggest aquarium between Orlando and Miami.”
The aquarium “tells a story” beginning with the deep Gulfstream waters progressing through various waters and ending in the shallow fresh waters of the Everglades. The aquarium shows off many different under water creatures, including turtles, sting rays and sea horses. It features a 25-foot long shark tank with barracuda, moray eels and other “predators of the sea.” There’s also a hands-on area for children to touch a starfish, an urchin and other sea creatures.
They have been getting a lot of great feedback from visitors, including a lot of “thank you’s” and a lot of people saying, “It’s about time!” In brief, the museum opened in 1961, founded by the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, as a very small space (about the size of a single-family house). In 1964, it doubled in size and then doubled again in 1969. “And then there had been nothing since 1969,” explains Kate. “It was imperative to expand.”
Another new element is the powerful “Science on a Sphere,” a 6-foot in diameter globe, which plays movies and shows data from NASA, NOAA and other scientific sources. Where a planetarium puts the audience on the inside
of a concave, dome-shaped screen, the Science on a Sphere allows to viewer to look at the presentation on a globe. “It’s really cool!” says Kate, “With the push of an iPad, you can look at the migration of Great White Sharks in real time or switch to the historical videos of the hurricanes in Florida from 2005 or visit NASA’s site to see Jupiter’s moons or the volcano on Mars.” Because the data might be a bit hard to interpret to the untrained eye, the best time to see it is the weekends, when volunteer Mark Wiscoff interprets what’s being shown for audiences every half hour. The Science on a Sphere feature is very special with only 93 in the world and just one in South Florida.
There’s a new hurricane simulation machine, where a family of about four can stand inside and feel the high-speed winds, experiencing the full force without all of the problems that come along with a Florida hurricane. This one is entertaining, either way, whether you’re observing it or experiencing it!
Other new areas of the Science Center are – the Everglades, the Conservation Station, the Student Science Showcase and the River of Grass Exhibit. After an earlier (and failed) attempt to raise a much larger sum of money for renovations, the new CEO Lew Crampton came into the picture and decided to start over from scratch. With a realistic fundraising goal of five million dollars, they hit their goal in just 1.5 years. They completed a renovation on about half of the museum on time and within budget. “We are now hi-tech, hi-touch and have had a complete re-branding!” says Kate Arrizza with quite a bit of enthusiasm. And if you’re wondering, they do plan to do another campaign with a similar goal, with the plan of re-vamping other areas of the museum.
In its mission, the South Florida Science Center has a couple of main goals. 1. To open every mind to science. 2. To make that “light bulb” go off in a child’s mind, that spark that possibly makes them go in a new direction in life, according to Arrizza. Studies show that 80% of the fastest-growing jobs in the country are STEM-related (Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics).
“There’s not an age too young to get involved in science,” says Kate. Many recent studies have shown that getting exposed to science in preschool is more important than in college. That is why PNC Bank provided an $800,000 grant to do a science program for children ages five and under, which will be a collaboration of the South Florida Science Center, the Young at Art Museum, Family Central and Palm Beach State College.
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium now offers “Science Nights,” (formally called “Nights at the Museum.”) When the movie “Nights at the Museum” came out, a lot of kids were asking, “What happens here at the science museum at night?” And so, they decided to keep the science museum open the last Friday of each month from 6pm to 10pm. With always a different theme, it’s a great time to explore the Science Center. They offer free cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, crafts and (for a small fee) face painting. Visitors can do a shark dissection (or other dissection). They can go up into the observatory and look through the 14’ Celestron telescope, the only one in Palm BeachCounty. They had a Polynesian night, where they brought in hula dancers. They had a Harry Potter night, where they brought in a magician who did science-related tricks. Visit their site to see upcoming dates and themes for Science Nights.
Do you have a budding scientist in your house with an upcoming birthday? The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium offers three terrific party packages – Science 101, 201 and 301. Children can choose their favorite theme – Diggin’ Dinosaurs, Kabam! Chemistry, Awesome Asteroids, Under the Sea or Science Princess. Birthday parties happen on weekends, using the classrooms, and participants get admission included, as well as miniature golf. For a Diggin’ Dinosaur party, the children dig for dinosaur bones. For the Science Princess party, they learn how to make their own lipstick, mixing ingredients together. The Science Center provides a fun crew to manage the parties, play games, and help serve pizza and cake. They will even provide the cake, invitations and thank you cards. “We try to make it as effortless as possible for parents,” says Arrizza.
In the summer, they offer a very popular science camp, week by week. Kids enjoy special weeks of focusing on a science subject, like “Potions 101,” “Build It, Thrill It, Launch It,” and “T-Rex Trek.” Visit their Camp page for the full list of weekly camp themes. What is a typical science camp day like? See C.O.O. Kate Arrizza’s response below.
If you haven’t heard, the South Florida Science Center (SFSC) plays a vital role in reaching out to our community, aiming to deliver science to those who might not get enough of it in their formal education. “The informal education piece of it happens here,” says Kate. The SFSC allows young students to set a fire in a Bunsen burner or dissect a shark. They have also connected a cow’s heart to E.K.G. machines, demonstrating how the heart really works. Last year the SFSC wrote approximately $600,000 in grants, so that Title 1 schools could come and visit.
So what’s unique about the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium? It’s the only science museum in Palm BeachCounty. The aquarium and Science on a Sphere are also unique to Palm BeachCounty. Meanwhile, they now offer the largest exhibit hall in Palm BeachCounty, so the possibilities of future, world-class exhibits are endless. Right now they are showing the “SavageAncientSeas” exhibit. Beginning in November, they will present the Titanic exhibit, which is the most popular exhibit on the science museum circuit right now, according to Kate. This is an exhibit that would normally only be seen in bigger cities like New York and Chicago. Thanks to a generous grant from the Quantum Foundation, the SFSC is able to bring it to West Palm Beach!
What’s the hard part of successfully running a science museum? According to Kate Arrizza, it’s keeping to the goal of opening every mind to science. “We are a non-profit, so our main goal is not to make oodles of money.” Currently, they are proud to be “running lean” with a staff of just eighteen full-time employees. “Everyone wears a few different hats and cross-trains,” says Kate. “When CEO Lew Crampton came into the picture, the results were fantastic! We had been operating in the red and now we’re in the black.”
The SFSC is happy to have a total of 150 volunteers. The minimum age to volunteer is 16, and for quite a while they had one, committed volunteer who was about 100 years old. “We value our volunteers a lot!” says Kate. They range from kids doing community service hours to retired people who enjoy the interaction, all with a shared interest in science.
Membership Benefits
“For a family of four, the membership pays for itself in just 2.5 visits,” says Kate. Membership offers many benefits, including: special membership previews of new exhibits, free admission, discounted admission to special events, free planetarium shows, free miniature golf, discounts in the gift shop, discounts on birthday parties and discounts on summer camp. They are also a member of the ASTC – Association of Science and Technology Centers, which offers discounted admission price at science museums and zoos across the country.
Check out the newly renovated South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, beat the heat and enjoy the new aquarium, as well as all of the other new features!
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
Opening Minds to Science
4801 Dreher Trail North
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
(Next to the Palm Beach Zoo)
561-832-1988