Dream Makeover Luncheon-Saturday, April 16th, 2011
doors open at 11:00 a.m.
It’s almost time again for our Oasis Compassion Agency Annual Dream Makeover luncheon which will be held on Saturday, April 16th, 2011 at Indian Springs Country Club. Tickets may be purchased for $45.00. Guest speaker will be announced soon!
Exciting fashion show and Shopping Village, great panel of inspiring speakers! Bring 9 friends and enjoy a special girls day out!
If you are interested in our shopping village rental, tables are $100 each or $125 with lunch. Only 2 vendors per product so first come, first booked! Sponsorship opportunities are available. Get your message out to 200 captive female audience. Call Kay at 561-967-4066 for more details.
Sponsorship Rates:
Presenting Sponsor
$5000
Gold Sponsor
$3000
Silver Sponsor
$1500
Bronze
$ 750
Stage/Runway Sponsor
$ 500
Entertainment Sponsor
$ 350
Program Book
$ 300
Each sponsorship opportunity comes with benefits including tables and tickets, booths, recognition leading up to the event and on site plus much more. Call Sharon Gill for details on sponsorship-561-967-4066.
WHO: South Florida Science Museum and Palm Beach County Archaeological Society
WHAT: Discover Florida’s Ancient History!The South Florida Science Museum is hosting an Archaeology Festival. Join the Museum and local archaeologists for an exciting day of learning through PLAYING! Guests can explore the Museum and take part in many activities including recovering artifacts in the Museum’s dig pit, see Suzy the Ice Age Mastodon and a new saber-toothed cat, make jewelry and crafts, throw an ancient spear in the atlatl throwing competition, learn to write in hieroglyphics and chart an underwater shipwreck. The day will also include a drum circle to entertain the crowd, a film festival, a lecture series by professional archaeologists and much more!
Presented by the Palm Beach County Archaeological Society in cooperation with the South Florida Science Museum, the Florida Public Archaeology Network, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach Museum of Natural History.
WHEN: Saturday, March 26th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: South Florida Science Museum
4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach
HOW MUCH: Adults $11.95, Seniors $10.45, Children $8.95,
Under 3 Free, and museum members free
WHY: The South Florida Science Museum delivers entertaining and educational journeys through the many worlds of science and technology for curious minds of all ages. Located just off I-95 and Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach, the Museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, fresh and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions. Each year the Museum welcomes more than 125,000 visitors and reaches more than 45,000 students through workshops at the Museum and outreach programs to local schools. Established in 1961, the Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology.
GENERAL INFO:For more information about the South Florida Science Museum call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.
WHAT: Spring into science at the South Florida Science Museum’s Spring Nights at the Museum. The evening will feature many spring-themed activities including a viewing of the night sky through telescopes in the observatory, shattering flowers nitro-mania lab, planting sunflowers to take home, insect dissections, Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure planetarium show and much more! Free food provided by McDonald’s.
WHEN: March 25th from 6-10 p.m.
WHERE: South Florida Science Museum
4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach
WHY: The South Florida Science Museum delivers entertaining and educational journeys through the many worlds of science and technology for curious minds of all ages. Located just off I-95 and Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach, the Museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, fresh and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions. Each year the Museum welcomes more than 125,000 visitors and reaches more than 45,000 students through workshops at the Museum and outreach programs to local schools. Established in 1961, the Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology.
HOW MUCH: Museum Members: Adults $5.00, Children free.
Non-members: Adults $10.00, Children $6.00. Children three and under are free.
GENERAL INFO:For more information about the South Florida Science Museum call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.
WEI Network and “Peter’s Livingroom” in conjunction with the Village of Wellington presented a comedy show Friday night, March 11th, 2011 at the new Wellington Amphitheatre along W. Forest Hill Boulevard.
The evening started with a faulty microphone and Emcee Neil Berliner asking the popular Verizon phone service question, “Can you hear me??” Then moving a few steps and asking, “Can you hear me now???”After a big “Yes” from the audience and some warm up jokes from Neil, the comedians started performing their acts.
Laughter echoed throughout the area as comedians (who perform at the Improv, Bonkers, NY Comedy Club, National Lampoon, and other clubs across the country) presented their acts.They included the following: Neil Berliner (Emcee), Joe Duwayne, Teresa (Lady T) Poulos, Joey Novick, Anthony Monte, and Dougie Almeida (Headliner).
Chrissy Henley, a resident of Wellington who attended the show, was up front by the stage laughing louder than any other person in the audience.During his act, Anthony Monte stopped, pointed to Chrissy, and said he loved her and her very loud and continuous laughter.Chrissy stated after the show that this was her first time attending a LOL event. She also said that she was pleasantly surprised that the performance was live and not video as she had expected.
As always, there was audience participation.Although the comedians involved in this ongoing series are used to performing to adult crowds in clubs, they still delivered much laughter for everyone. As advertised, it was a “G” to “PG” rated show that adults enjoyed as much as the kids.The audience brought blankets and seating, plus coolers with drinks and munchies.There was ample free parking and restrooms on the grounds.
The “Laugh Out Loud” shows are an ongoing series which occur the 2nd Friday of each month.The next show will be Friday, April 8th, 2011 from 7:30 – 9:30 P.M.Go to Peterslivingroom.com for more information or call Peter at 561.827.4223. Dates are also listed on The Village of Wellington’s website. Or check back at AroundWellington.com on the Calendar page or the Press Releases page.
The YWCA of Palm Beach County is pleased to announce that it is seeking nominations for its 2011 Grace Hoadley Dodge Award.The award is presented annually to a woman residing in Palm Beach County who has overcome adversity and in the process has not only empowered herself but also created opportunities for and led other women toward their own empowerment.
Information required on the application includes the nominee’s name, address phone number, and current occupation as well as the adversity she has overcome, how she overcame it and how she has helped empower others.The name and contact information about the person making the nomination is also needed.
The award will be presented at the YWCA’s Vintage Tea on June 15, 2011, 3:00 p.m., at The Chesterfield Hotel, 363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach.
Applications must be received by the YWCA no later than May 18, 2011 at:Grace Dodge Award Committee, YWCA of Palm Beach County, 2200 North Florida Mango Road, Ste. 102, West Palm Beach, FL 33409.
For more information or to request an application, please contact the YWCA, 561-640-0050, Ext. 115.
Four Young Stars at That’s Dancing to Compete at Nationals
Highlighting Shari Mittenthal, Alec Mittenthal, Jillian Medero and Rachel Squire
By Krista Martinelli
It’s remarkable when a dance company has one of their young dancers win the state competition and go on to compete for the national title at the Dance Masters of America convention. When it happens to four dance students from the same dance studio, “it’s a once in a lifetime” event, according to co-owner of That’s Dancing Andrea LaMaina. Andrea LaMaina runs the popular dance studio with her co-owner sister Michele Walsh. This July twins Shari and Alec Mittenthal, Jillian Medero and Rachel Squire will aim for capturing the national title at Gaylord Palms in Orlando.
Front row: Alec and Shari Mittenthal, Back row (L to R): Jillian Medero, Michele Walsh, Andrea LaMaina, Rachel Squire.
Training is already underway for July. “As of now, we’re pretty thick into our competition season,” says LaMaina. The students are constantly training in their various technique classes. They also add onto their group lessons with private lessons. All four students are also active in the dance company that rehearses at That’s Dancing for three hours each Saturday afternoon, Fusion Force Dance Company. The four star students go to Nationals in July, and the action-packed competition will last an entire week. Dance Masters hires a choreographer to come in and rehearse a big grand opening number with all of the participants. The young dancers get exposure to many different nationally-renowned teachers and their different styles. To say the least, “it’s a very busy week,” explains LaMaina.
Shari Mittenthal, 9, was crowned Petite Miss Dance of Florida 2011, after impressing the judges with her lyrical dance solo.Her brother Alec Mittenthal, 9, was awarded Petite Mister Dance of Florida 2011 after his terrific tap solo.He also won a Junior Tap scholarship. Shari and Alec are twins who attend Sunset Palms Elementary School in Boynton Beach.This year’s state competition took place in Cape Coral. The dancers must submit a resume and also go through an interview, in which they are asked questions based on their resumes. Shari and Alec both scored the highest in their category for dancers twelve years old and under.
Jillian Medero was Mini Miss Dance of FL in 2005; now at fifteen she’s Teen Miss Dance for FL.
Jillian Medero as Mini Miss Dance of FL in 2005 and as Teen Miss Dance of FL in 2011.
She found an old photo of herself from her days as “Mini Miss” and put it next to her recent Teen Miss photo on the That’s Dancing Facebook page. She currently attends Dreyfoos School of the arts and performed a contemporary lyrical piece in the state competition. “She’s been my student for 13 years.She’s the definition of dedication. She’s young and talented,” says Andrea LaMaina. Jillian won the overall scholarship for the senior division – in jazz, ballet tap and acrobatics class.
Rachel Squire, a senior at Dreyfoos, performed a contemporary lyrical piece to win the state championship title. “She’s another dancer who’s been with us forever and ever,” says LaMaina. She was crowned Senior Miss Dance of Florida and was also awarded the overall ballet scholarship. She plans to attend Marymount Manhattan College in N.Y.C. on a dance scholarship.
Dance Masters of America, which is over 100 years old, is considered to be one of the best dance competitions in the country. It’s a non-profit organization that truly gives back to students who excel. There’s an entry fee at the state competitions, but those entry fees are used to pay the winning students’ entry fees at Nationals. “They hire fantastic teachers at Dance Masters. At the end of the day, it’s a learning experience. It’s all about education – more so than winning,” says LaMaina.
It’s the same way at That’s Dancing, which is located at Lantana and Jog Road in Lake Worth. The teachers strive to give their students the tools, confidence and encouragement they need. They push their young dancers to their potential. Andrea LaMaina, who happened to choreograph all four of the winning dance routines at the state competition this year, says “The bottom line is that it comes from within. You’re not going to convince anyone else that you’re good if you don’t believe you’re good.” She jokes that she would love to take credit for her students’ successes, but it ultimately comes from the dancers themselves. LaMaina, Walsh and the other dance instructors are just happy to be a part of each dancer’s journey.
If you’d like to see these four rising dance stars perform, your best bet is this June at the That’s Dancing gala at Royal Palm Beach High School. Call That’s Dancing for showtimes and tickets at (561) 642-9677.
Four Local Students to Compete in Nationals at Dance Masters of America
Four local students from Palm Beach County will be representing the state of Florida in the 2011 Dance Masters of America Competition and Convention.Shari Mittenthal, 9, was crowned Petite Miss Dance of Florida 2011.Alec Mittenthal, 9, was awarded Petite Mister Dance of Florida 2011.Shari and Alec are twins that attend Sunset Palms Elementary School in Boynton Beach.They are in the fourth grade.Jillian Medero, 15, was crowned Teen Miss Dance of Florida 2011 and Rachel Squire, 17, was crowned Senior Miss Dance of Florida 2011.Both Jillian and Rachel attend Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach Florida as Dance Majors.Jillian is a freshman and Rachel is a senior, who after graduation plans on attending Marymount Manhattan College in New York City on a dance scholarship.All four dancers are students of Andrea LaMaina and Michele Walsh, who are the Co-Owners and Artistic Directors of That’s Dancing Studio in Lake Worth, Florida.They are excited to be representing the state for Florida, Chapter 2 Division of the Dance Masters Organization.The event will be held in July in Orlando, Florida. http://www.thatsdancing.com/http://www.dma-national.org/
Fourth and fifth graders at Palm Beach Public will be traveling back in time to the Ice Age, thanks to a collaboration of the Center for Creative Education and the South Florida Science Museum. The 10 week, after-school program will allow 20 students a hands-on arts and science integrated lesson to learn about ice age mammals, fossils and the beginning of art. This collaboration is funded through a grant from Prime Time Palm Beach County.
(Standing, L-R) Jean Hart-Howard, CCE artist; Kate Arrizza, SFSM Director of Education; Sara Bogotch, SFSM educator; Shawn Berry, CCE program director; Lew Crampton, SFSM CEO; Tim Mitchell, CCE artist; Dave Tripp, CCE artist; Sharon Stevens, Palm Beach Public principal and after-school coordinator. (Sitting, L-R) Kayla Blake, 5th grade; Madison Payne, 5th; Maico Gonzalez, 4th; Bianca Rosendahl, 4th; Jubilee Baquerizo, 5th; Cameron Owens,5th.
“It is wonderful when the community partners with the school to enhance and enrich our students’ experience and education,” said Sharon Stevens, principal and after-school coordinator for Palm Beach Public. “I have worked with CCE in the past through our after-school program and it is always a pleasure to work with and provide artistic experiences for our students. I look forward to working with the Museum on this collaboration.”
The children will be constructing a 15-feet-wide by 6-and-a-half-feet-tall cave which will set the scene for the Pleistocene exhibit. Integrating arts and science into the program, science educators from the Museum, Sara Bogotch and Carla Duhaney, along with teaching artists from CCE, Jean Hart Howard, Tim Mitchell and David Tripp, will work with the group on various activities.
“This program has great potential for melding techniques used to teach creative arts into a program that can teach science to young learners,” said Lew Crampton, CEO for the South Florida Science Museum. “Science concepts are tough to grasp for some, so if this effort succeeds, our program will have implications beyond the pilot program we are beginning today.”
The children will paint cave art, chip away a fossil from a block of ice and then use it as a model to sculpt fossils from clay, design and create costumes that represent that time period, sketch ice age mammals after researching their characteristics, and many more activities. To end the program, the students will put on a performance for family, friends and the community to showcase what they’ve learned.
“This collaboration is a great way to expose children to multiple teaching methods,” said Tom Pilecki, executive director for the Center for Creative Education. “Arts integration is a critical way of learning and this unique project with the Museum is adding another layer. The Museum has many great tools and resources and by combining our talents we can really have an impact the child’s overall experience.”
(back row, L-R) Kate Arrizza, SFSM Director of Education; Tim Mitchell, CCE artist and Dave Tripp, CCE artist. (front row, L-R) Madison Payne, 5th; Kayla Blake, 5th grade
Recently awarded the Muse award for arts integration from the Cultural Council, the not-for-profit Center for Creative Education uses the arts to enrich and transform children’s educational experience. The arts are infused into classroom curriculum and after-school settings to enhance the teaching of traditional academic subjects – improving each child’s learning potential and academic performance, increasing overall enthusiasm about school and shaping more productive, responsible community members that exercise creative problem solving throughout life. For more information on CCE programming or their upcoming Spring Luncheon on March 10, please call (561) 805-9927 or visit www.cceflorida.org.
The South Florida Science Museum delivers entertaining and educational journeys through the many worlds of science and technology for curious minds of all ages. Located just off I-95 at Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach, the Museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, freshwater and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions. New happenings at Museum include the Bugz exhibit and an Amateur Radio Center open on weekends and holidays. Each year the museum welcomes more than 125,000 visitors and reaches more than 45,000 students through workshops at the museum and outreach programs to local schools. Established in 1961, the museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology. For more information about the South Florida Science Museum or their upcoming benefit event, Fete du Soleil: A Toast to 50 Years of Science on April1, please call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.
(West Palm Beach, FL – March 10, 2011)The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden today announced two major public events in April and May 2011:
It’s More than a… Spring Plant Sale & Hibiscus Show
Saturday, April 16 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 17 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Members FREE, Non-members $10
This annual plant sale features over 80 vendors with an amazing assortment of quality plants and goods. Palms, orchids, bamboo, begonias, bromeliads, fruit trees, and many other types of plants will be for sale. This is a great opportunity to learn about the plants that grow well in South Florida and it’s the best place to find something new for every garden. The American Hibiscus Society, Sunrise-Conrad Chapter will be having their hibiscus show featuring many of the state’s best blooms and plants at their booth. The Palm Beach County Woodturners will be selling a large selection of their beautiful
woodturnings. New members receive a free plant from the Mounts’ Nursery Guild. Memberships will be available at the gates. (Free breakfast for Mounts members on Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m.)
Connoisseurs Garden Tour
“A Mother’s Day Tradition”
Saturday, May 7 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 8 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Members $20, Non-members $25
Spend Mother’s Day weekend with family and friends while touring six exceptional private gardens in Boca Raton. The owners of each garden are offering a unique opportunity for people to visit at their own pace and sequence. Brochures containing complete garden descriptions and tickets can be purchased at Mounts or at nine different locations through Palm Beach County.For more information about the six private gardens on this Connoisseurs Tour or a complete list of ticket locations, please visit www.mounts.org.
About Mounts Botanical Garden:
Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest public garden. Mounts displays tropical and subtropical plants from around the world, including plants native to Florida, exotic trees, tropical fruit, herbs, citrus, palms and more. As a component of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service, and through its affiliation with the University of Florida, Mounts is the place to connect with Extension Horticulturists, Master Gardeners, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, and professional horticultural advisors. Mounts also offers a variety of horticultural classes, and garden-related events and workshops.
Located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Mounts Botanical Garden is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.
The 37th Annual Equal Opportunity Awards Carnival is Friday, April 8 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. This year we will be honoring the Lifetime Achievement of Edith C. Bush. I am hoping you plan to attend and provide support for the outstanding works of the Urban League of Palm Beach County.
Over the past 12 months, the community members we serve have been more challenged than ever. But you will be proud to know that the ULPBC has risen to the occasion. Never before has the need been greater. And never before has the work of the ULPBC been more impactful.
The ULPBC has tirelessly served more than 15,000 residents over the past year. Our dedicated staff has provided job training and placement to many in need; worked with troubled youth to stay out of the criminal justice system; counseled over 400 families facing foreclosure; provided after school tutoring and programs for high school students to complete their course work and graduate with a diploma; provided financial literacy classes; inducted 40 new members to the National Achievers Society; and provided support coordination services for the developmentally disabled. This year the ULPBC has completed construction on a new housing development that will not only uplift a neighborhood in West Palm Beach but also provide residents an opportunity to become homeowners.
Yes, all in all, with your unwavering support, we were able to accomplish a great deal over the past year – through a very trying time. Our programmatic efforts have been continuous, and our impact on the lives of thousands, has been significant. But now more than ever, we need your help, because in these troubled times, there is still so much more to do.
Approximately 80 cents of every dollar raised from the 37th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Carnival goes directly to support the extensive efforts of the ULPBC.I hope we can count on your support this year. We hope to see you at the Gala on Friday, April 8th. Quite simply, it is what enables us to keep doing what we do.
Below is an invitation to the event. If there are any questions, please contact Kate Alvarado, Vice President of Development & Communication at 561.833.1461 ext 3002.
You have my genuine thanks for your continued support of the Urban League of Palm Beach County.
Exciting fashion show and Shopping Village, great panel of inspiring speakers! Bring 9 friends and enjoy a special girls day out!
Shari Mittenthal
