Dancing horses will raise funds for an Alzheimer’s cure during Prancing with the Stars of Dressage on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 11:30 am to 2 p.m at Lusitano Masters, 1230 F Road, in Loxahatchee, FL.
The event, benefiting the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s-Palm Beach, features a showcase of freestyle dressage to great music in a fun, family atmosphere with equestrian-themed kids games, silent auction and food options.
The equestrian discipline called dressage is the art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility and balance.
Event organizer and Lusitano Masters owner Daniela Siberio, wanted to do a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association, as her paternal grandfather had Alzheimer’s and her maternal grandmother had a form of dementia.
“Horses are my life’s passion so it was only natural for me to organize a fundraiser that showcased these majestic animals that I’m so fortunate to work alongside with every day,” said Siberio. “Horses also play a meaningful role in the lives of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia through equine assisted therapy programs.”
She added, “My hope in organizing this event is that we can unite the equestrian community and the community at large in the fight to end Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia once and for all!”
Currently, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and over 11 million family and friends provide their unpaid care.
Each donation makes an impact in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
Above: Pictured standing is Daniela Siberio and her horse Fundador.
About the Alzheimer’s Association®The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
The Alliance of Women Executives, Inc. (AWE) is offering 25 scholarships to young women graduating from a Palm Beach County high school and continuing their education at Florida Atlantic University, Lynn University, Palm Beach Atlantic University or Palm Beach State College. The scholarship application may be found at www.aweinc.org/scholarship. Requirements include a 3.0 minimum GPA, letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor, copy of transcript and an essay. The deadline is April 2nd with an awards dinner on May 7th in Wellington.
While the sport of basketball was first introduced in Indiana in 1892 when Rev. Nicholas McCay, the general secretary of the Crawfordsville YMCA, imported the sport from its birthplace in Springfield, Massachusetts to residents of Crawfordsville, the sport takes on new meaning in the small town of Milan in southeast Indiana. For the last 70 years, the memories of what took place on the evening of Saturday, March 20, 1954 are rekindled, recalled and retold on a daily basis.
On Saturday night, March 20, 1954, the final of the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s (IHSAA) basketball state tournament was held in Indianapolis at the historic Butler (now, Hinkle) Fieldhouse. The game featured the Indians from Milan High School against the Bearcats from Muncie Central High School. The game featured two teams that were polar opposites of one another. On paper, Muncie Central was the clear favorite. It was a ‘David-and-Goliath’ story where Milan (enrollment: 161) was David and Muncie Central (enrollment: 1,662) was Goliath. The Bearcats were looking for their third Indiana state basketball championship in four years. The school had won state titles in 1951 and 1952. But, the Milan Indians and their large contingent of fans had other plans that night.
In the actual game, Milan led by three points after the first quarter and the Indians increased that lead to six by halftime. But, the Bearcats clawed their way back and the game was tied 26-26 after three quarters. In the final four minutes of the game, with it tied 30-30, Milan started to stall. With the ball in the hands of Milan’s Bobby Plump, the game came to an absolute standstill as the game clock kept ticking down. The only things moving in the gym were the basketball being dribbled by Plump and the game clock as it moved closer to 0:00. With 18 seconds left to play, Milan called timeout. After play resumed, with eight seconds left in the game and with Plump dribbling the ball, he made a move to his right. And, as Plump approached the free-throw line, he stopped for a jump-shot at the corner of the free-throw line. The ball went through the net with three seconds left in the game. In the game’s waning seconds, Muncie Central was unable to launch a ‘Hail Mary’-type shot to tie the game and the Milan Indians were the new state champs. It’s a victory which Milan’s players have never forgotten, which Milan’s fans in attendance that night have always remembered, which residents of Milan continue to celebrate, and which the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum is forever preserving. As good a player as Plump was, he was not shooting the ball that well that night. In that championship game, he took eleven shots and made only three of them, but that third basket was the game’s difference-maker. Teammate Ray Craft was Milan’s leading scorer in the game with 14 as he made four out of ten shots from the field and six out of seven free throws for 14 points. Plump scored 12 that night.
To help formally honor and recognize the accomplishments of the Bobby Plump and Ray Craft-led Indians, the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum opened its doors in June of 2013 in the former State Bank of Milan building in downtown Milan.
If you like high school basketball, it’s a destination worth visiting. This small, well-designed, intimate basketball showcase is filled with hundreds of memorabilia that help honor and celebrate that memorable 32-30 victory in March of 1954. In a back room of this museum is a small, theater-like setting with seats so you can watch a replay of the actual game. Yes, that game was televised – in black and white — back in 1954. Don’t be surprised because, after all, it’s Indiana where basketball has always reigned supreme.
The list of items inside the museum includes trophies, plaques, magazine stories, jerseys, sneakers (from Bobby Plump), team photos, team jackets, commemorative license plates, the team roster, player bobbleheads, the entire 1954 IHSAA basketball bracket, a number of basketballs, and countless newspaper clippings.
Besides the actual museum, there’s a lasting tribute to those 1954 Indians on the town’s water tower, which proclaims the message 1954 State Champs. There’s no reference to basketball, but everybody knows the athletic affiliation. After all, it’s Indiana. It has to be basketball.
To honor that 1954 state championship squad, a 70th anniversary celebration was held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 in Milan. The festivities, which took place in the Milan High School gymnasium, began at 11:00 am. Admission was free and was open to the public. The celebration included remarks from dignitaries and featured a panel discussion with the Milan players from the 1954 team. Greg Rakestraw of the ISC Sports Network in Indianapolis — and the 2023 Indiana Sportscaster of the Year — moderated the discussion. Following the formal ceremony, the Milan players and actors from the movie Hoosiers signed autographs and posed for pictures.
To say that the 1954 state championship game between Milan and Muncie Central is the most well-documented high school basketball game in the history of the sport is an understatement. Of course, don’t forget that the 1986 movie Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman, was an adaptation of that historic win by Milan.
The Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum (www.54Milan.org; 812-654-2772) awaits your arrival.
Father Adolfo Cambiaso, considered by many to be the world’s best polo player, was matched up against his son Poroto, a newly rated 10 goaler at the age of 17 in the finals of the C.V. Whitney Cup on the main stadium field at the National Polo Center in Wellington.
This was the first time they played against each other as 10 goalers.
A very close game throughout this final was enjoyed by a full house.
In the sixth chucker Valiente tied the score at 10 and then went on to score the final two goals to give them the win 12-10 in the first of the Gauntlet Series over LaDolfina, the youngest team in the tournament.
The Valiente team was made up of patron Bob Jornayvaz, Jesse Bray, Paco Narvaez Jr. and the MVP Adolfo Cambiaso. Bray replaced starter Peke Gonzalz, due to a broken rib, in the semifinals.
La Dolfina team was comprised of Dillon Bacon, making his US debut, Quinn Evans, Poroto Cambiaso and Tomas Panelo.
A week’s wait due to rain and poor field conditions was well worth it for team Buena Vibra.
With the youngest team in the tournament, which included 13-year-old Valentina Tarazona along with teammates Cory Wilkliams, Clara Cassino and Milly Hine they were the only team to go undefeated at 5-0 for the entire event.
After a back and forth game into the middle of the final chucker and trailing 11-10 Buena Vibra ran off three straight goals to go ahead for good and won the championship 13-11.
Milly Hine was the leading scorer and awarded MVP.
The losing team of 90210 was made up of Winnie Branscum, subbing for patron Sarah Siegel-Magness, Meghan Gracida, Catalina Lavinia and Mia Cambiaso.
Above: Marvin Sotoloff chair of this event, bike store owner Rudy Zurita, and Alan Milberg
Marvin Sotoloff led the annual Bike event within Wycliffe, which was held on Sunday morning on February 25, 2024. We had 15 bikers riding to support our local charities and it was a beautiful morning. Also on hand were a number of staff members who work at the Wycliffe Spa & Fitness Center led by Daniel Low, Clubhouse Manager and Donna Forte, Director of Spa & Fitness. It was truly a wonderful experience to see how many individuals from Wycliffe come out and support our local charities.
Rudy Zurita and Mayra Zurita, co-owners of Cycle Fit Bicycles (formerly Wheels of Wellington), were there to assist bikers with any adjustments needed to their bicycles or equipment before we left on the 10 mile bike ride through the Wycliffe community.
Rudy and Mayra recently purchased Wheels of Wellington and they were pleased to support the charities.
Many thanks to all those who made the Wycliffe Charities Bike/Walk event a success.
Annual Juried Art Show Produced by Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation
Head in the Clouds by Susan Martin.
JUPITER, Fla. (March 5, 2024) – Florida Atlantic University’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute will host “Insights at the Institute: Creativity and the Bipolar Brain,” a juried art exhibition designed to bring awareness to bipolar disorder, from Thursday, March 14 through Tuesday, March 19, at FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter.
Private receptions will take place on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15, while the exhibition will be open to the public Saturday, March 16 from 1 to 5 p.m., as well as Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
The annual “Insights” competition is hosted by the Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation and features original artwork created by individuals living with bipolar disorder. This year’s theme is “What It Feels Like to Have Bipolar Disorder.”
“Art is a powerful form of expression, and we are thrilled to join forces with our friends at The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation in fighting social stigmas around this disease and underscoring the need for more early-onset bipolar disorder research,” said Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of the Brain Institute.
In the United States, the annual prevalence of bipolar disorder is estimated at 2.8 percent, though this number is likely underestimated due to a number of factors, including difficulty to diagnose. Joyce and Dusty Sang established their foundation in memory of their only child, Ryan, who struggled with the disease and passed away at 24 years old. The foundation is dedicated to fostering awareness, understanding and research for earlier diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The foundation’s signature initiative, called “Quest for the Test,” is aimed at funding research to develop an empirical biomarker test for bipolar disorder to aid early detection and intervention.
“Understanding the mechanisms and causes of mood disorders will open an enormous door through which new therapies and treatments will be discovered,” said Dusty Sang. “The work of FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, under the outstanding direction of Dr. Randy Blakely, has come online at a time when discoveries, once thought to be science fiction, are becoming a reality.”
The “Insights at the Institute” exhibition is part of the Brain Institute’s annual “Brainy Days” series, which includes free community events and educational lectures with world-renowned experts to promote brain health, share neuroscience discoveries, and reduce the stigma associated with brain dis orders.
“We are honored and excited to bring Insights VI to the institute,” said Joyce Sang. “Together, we are shining a bright light on the path to greater societal awareness and understanding of bipolar disorder.”
Being Bipolar in a Polarized World. By Kelly Matthews.
– FAU –
About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
Images courtesy of the Ryan Licht Sang Foundation.
to Support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (March 6, 2024) Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County invites the community to ReDiscover the ReStores! Beginning this month, shopping at and donating to any of the five local ReStores is now better than ever!
Visit Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores to find fantastic deals and donate your new or gently used items. You can expect better prices across all five locations, with discounts of up to 60% off daily. In addition, Habitat’s “Markdown Mondays” offer new discounts on most items every other Monday. Plus, the nonprofit now also offers a Membership Program that provides additional savings beyond the regular 60% off and a Free Rewards Program that rewards shoppers with points and coupons.
But that’s not all! Donating to the ReStore just got easier with the new online donation pick-up scheduling system. This self-service tool offers a better donation experience and faster pick-up times!
Shopping at the ReStore is a great way to support Habitat’s mission of building safe and affordable homes in our community. Every purchase you make is a building block toward a better future for local families. Additionally, every item you donate is given a new life and helps build homes, communities, and hope. This is a win for you, the environment, and the community as a whole.
ReDiscover the ReStores at all five locations: Delray Beach ReStore (1900 North Federal Highway); Boca Raton ReStore (272 South Dixie Highway); Riviera Beach ReStore (6831 N. Military Trail); Greenacres ReStore (4639 Lake Worth Road); and the Jupiter Thrift Store (1635 N. Old Dixie Highway).
To stay up-to-date on sales and everything happening at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County’s ReStores, connect with them on social media @HabitatGPBCReStore. To learn more, visit habitatgreaterpbc.org/rediscovertherestores
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County:
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County is a 501(c)(3) organization and an affiliate of a global nonprofit, Habitat for Humanity International. Our mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1986, we have built 426 new homes, revitalized 749 existing homes, and partnered with over 1,170 families and individuals in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing in Palm Beach County. Habitat homeowners apply to qualify for the program, then help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering, and shopping or donating to any of our five ReStore-Thrift Store & Donation centers, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To discover more, visit habitatgreaterpbc.org and follow us online at @HabitatGPBC.
From ArtsCamp to The Broadway Artists Intensive Junior: An Open Invitation for Aspiring Artists
(West Palm Beach, FL) -Prepare for a season brimming with vibrant creativity and boundless inspiration at the renowned Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, which proudly announces its summer education programming for 2024. Offering an array of programs that include singing, dancing, acting and music, teaching artists at the Kravis Center are presenting young people aged 9 to 13 with the opportunity for an unforgettable experience. This summer, young artists from Palm Beach County and surrounding areas are encouraged to dive into the world of performing arts and let their talents shine like never before.
ArtsCamp will be held June 3-21. ArtsCamp is an innovative, three-week summer camp that provides 70 young artists with a working knowledge of what it takes to bring a show from an idea to reality. The program offers an intensive performing arts approach focusing on dramatic composition and performance for students ages 9 to 11. No audition is required.
Under the guidance of seven professional teaching artists, campers will explore art, acting, dance, technical theater and vocal music, culminating in an ensemble piece produced by the young artists and performed for family and friends. For campers with a keen interest in the performing arts, this curriculum allows them to expand their experience and learn new technical and performance skills.
The cost for ArtsCamp is $725. Classes are held Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended care is available. To apply, please contact Keena Gumbinner at the Kravis Center at 561-651-4339 or at gumbinner@kravis.org. You may also visit kravis.org/artscamp to apply online.
ArtsCamp is sponsored by Rodney B. and Marjorie S. Fink Foundation, Rick and Rosemary Johnston, and NextEra Energy Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team in honor of Sherry Barrat. Additional support is provided by Jane Beasley and the George T. and Ruth C. Laboda Foundation.
The Broadway Artists Intensive Juniorwill be held June 24-28. Created by Broadway professionals Jason Gillman and Jackie Bayne Gillman, The Broadway Artists IntensiveJunior classes will be taught by an all-Broadway faculty, including a special guest artist. No audition is required.
The Broadway Artists Intensive Junior program is taught by the same professional Broadway faculty as the more demanding, by-audition-only three-week program. TBAI Junior allows students ages 9 to 13 to study all areas of the performing arts, with daily classes in ballet, jazz, tap, vocal technique, acting and improvisation.
“The Kravis Center is thrilled to provide young learners with the chance to engage and hone their skills under the guidance of accomplished teaching artists and Broadway professionals,” said Tracy C. Butler, the Kravis Center’s Director of Education. “Both ArtsCamp and The Broadway Artists Intensive Junior program offer enriching experiences, fostering friendships among students with a shared enthusiasm for the arts.”
The cost for The Broadway Artists Intensive Junior is $475 and $25 to register. No audition is required.To register, please visit thebroadwayartistsintensive.com. For questions, call 1-855-554-2929.
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts provides exceptional cultural experiences that entertain, inspire, and educate audiences across the entire community. For information, please visit kravis.org.
To learn more about the Kravis Center’s other education programs, visit kravis.org/education-community. To help support the Kravis Center’s education mission, please call the Development Department at 561.651.4320 or visit kravis.org and click on Giving and Support.
Students happily engage with Matrix, their newfound friend. Tori Repole Photo
The students at Pioneer Park Elementary School will never forget the day they saw Matrix. Not The Matrix, as in the 1999 sci-fi movie, but Maria Newman’s gorgeous gray gelding who paid them a visit on March 4 thanks to a collaboration by JustWorld International, Rodriguez Equestrian, StoryBook Treasures, and Belle Herbe Farm.
It’s not every day that the kids get to interact with a horse on the field of their Belle Glade, Florida, campus. For many, the interaction marked their first time seeing a horse in person, and Matrix brought their imaginations to life.
Volunteers and JWI Ambassadors at Pioneer Park Elementary School. Mike Souza/So Chill Media Photo
“It was a joy to see how excited the students were to see Matrix and how brave they were to approach him,” said Tori Repole, JustWorld’s Community Engagement Associate. “Matrix transformed the horse from a mythical creature into a living and breathing animal the students could approach, pat, and talk to. It was sweet hearing them comment about how soft he is. Or how loudly he sneezes, just like them. This trip was incredibly meaningful, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness the indescribable allure of horses time and time again.”
Pioneer Park Elementary is one of two Title 1 schools in JustWorld’s U.S.-based work, in partnership with StoryBook Treasures. The collaboration provides five literacy kits a year to children in pre-K through third grades, including lesson plans, books the children can take home, and small treasures designed to build a love of reading in all students.
We kicked off the day with a 45-minute commute from JustWorld’s Wellington headquarters to the Pioneer Park campus. Matrix traveled in a truck and trailer donated for the day by Olympian and JustWorld Ambassador Juan Andres Rodriguez, who owns and operates the Wellington-based Rodriguez Equestrian. As a treat to the Pioneer Park students and faculty, Juan Andres conducted four mounted sessions to showcase the horse and rider connection.
“We’re thrilled as Rodriguez Equestrian to [partner with JustWorld] at Pioneer Park Elementary School, bringing some happiness to these wonderful kids,” Juan Andres said. “We’re happy to share the passion we have for our sport and our horses.”
Juan Andres represented Guatemala at the 2008 Olympic Games with the Dutch Warmblood stallion Orestus VDL. At Pioneer Park, his twin daughters, Ana Sofia and Ana Cristina Rodriguez, took the initiative as JustWorld Ambassadors to warmly welcome each group of students, introducing them to Matrix and their father before narrating each mounted session to explain the horse gaits and rider aids. The children also had a chance to ask questions, and Juan Andres explained things such as how long it takes a horse to eat a carrot and demonstrated, at the children’s request, how fast Matrix could go.
