Palm Beach Perspective

Talked with Dr. Flora Bentsi-Enchill, Dentist and Laurel Dalton, Exec. Dir., T. Lerory Jefferson Medical Society. "Named after the first African-American physician in Palm Beach County, T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society (TLJMS) is a professional organization that focuses on helping underserved populations in our community. TLJMS provides health education programs, youth mentoring programs, speakers on health issues, as well as health fair medical screenings to school children and adults. We also provide scholarships for deserving students, and other healthcare, education, and youth development services." They are hosting their 22nd Annual Community Health Fair on Saturday August 5th from 9am-2pm and the Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of Riviera Beach located at 221 W. 13th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. They will be offering back-to-school physicals, medical/dental screenings, health education and resources plus free school supplies. They also have community service volunteer opportunites for students. Listeners who'd like more info can reach out to them at tljmedicalsociety.org or call 561-318-0814.

Talked with Rob Russell and Gary Schweikhart from Arts Garage. Arts Garage is having a very special benefit concert: LOVING AVERY: A Musical Salute to Avery Sommers on July 23rd. It will be headlined by singers Rob Russell and Anthony Nunziata, along with special guests Copeland Davis, Patty Chamberlain, Tony Siders and Meri Ziev, Music Director Phil Hinton (piano), Frank Derrick on drums and Vla Shaffer on bass will be performing 7pm on July 23rd. Tickets are $75 with 100% of proceeds going to Avery and available by calling Arts Garage at 561-450-6357 or going to www.artsgarage.org. Arts garage as poetry nights, open mic nights, author speaks series, etc and listners can get all that info at the website www.artsgarage.org (aired 7/16 and 7/23)

Talked with Pat Rash, Park Supervisor and Alissa Koch, Naturalist & Volunteer Coordinator, Riverbend Park. Riverbend is located at 9060 Indiantown Road, Jupiter. They offer a wide variety of programs to the community. There are free Naturalist Walks every Friday at 9am. They have horse back riding trails. The farmstead, sawmill and battefield are also located at the park. Listeners can sign up for Archery classes (age 8+) or Night Hikes (age 8+) or Orienteering (age 8+). Coming up Thursday July 13th 9:30am is Birding Basics or South Florida Animals :Mammals on Satrurday July 22 9:30am (age 5+ $5/each). Then Fishing Fun on July 29th at 9:30am (age 8+ $10/each). To make reservations call 561-741-1359. Riverbend also has lots of hiking/biking trails and folks can rent kayaks/bikes at Jupiter Outdoor vendor at the park. To get info/make reservations, listeners can go to www.pbcparks.com and for info on Riverbend, www.pbcnature.com

Talked with Willie Puz, Manager of Legislature and Public Affairs, Solid Waste Authority (SWA). The SWA is a governmental entity that is charged with providing economical and environmentally conscious integrated solid waste management system for Palm Beach County. They were ranked number two in the state in 2021 by Department of Environmental Protection. Their recycling component recycles about 100,000 tons of curbside recyclables each year keeping it out of the landfill. This has allowed them to extend the longevity of the current landfill until 2054 instead of closing it in 2011 and allowing time to site another location for future needs. SWA has a campaign to alert customers about the danger of Lithium Ion batteries. They are highly flammable and cannot go in the regular trash. Customers need to drop them off at one of the 7 HCRC (Home Chemical adn Recycling Centers) in the county. They also take motor oil, cooking oil, regular batteries, paint, electronics, and listeners can find a complete list on the website: www.swa.org. They can also request new yellow/blue recycling bins and see a list of what items can be put in those curbside bins. They also have educational programs for middle schoolers and teachers. In addition, SWA is working with community events for their "recycle right" program. Listeners can sign up online at www.swa.org

Talked with Trent Stephens, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Dashiell from Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival. They are performing Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" play this year. It's the 33rd year for Shakespeare by the Sea at Carlin Park in Jupiter and year 3 for Shakespeare by the Palms in at Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach. The play will run Thursday-Sunday July 6-July 16 at Carlin Park in Jupiter and then July 20-23 at Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach. The performances are free (donations are gladly accepted) and start at 8pm parks gates open at 6:30pm. Listeners can bring their own food/chairs/blankets or buy something at the food truck. For more details, www.pbshakespeare.org

Talked with Bert Moreschi, Herb Price, Tom Giblin and John Wright from the Jupter Tequesta Repeater Group (JTRG). They are an ARRL (American Radio Relay League) affiliated special service club. They promote Amateur Radio (Ham radio) and provide community assistance. They recently met with Emergency Operations Center about offering assistance during emergencies such as hurricanes/tornadoes and did a "Hurricane Alice simulation" to make sure everything is set up for this upcoming hurrican season. Listeners can find out more about the club by attending their upcoming "Field Day" event June 24th/25th at the Carlin Park Civic Center in Jupiter. They'll have a variety of setups avalable to check out and listeners can try and "Make Contact" themselves. Bert teaches classes and the schedule is available on their website along with their community services projects (like Adopt a Highway) and info on Field Day event, www.jtrg.org.

Talked with Yvette Acevedo Flores, CEO, and Damian Perez from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The charity has been around for over hundred years and their mission is to "create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth".
Listeners can sign up to become a "Big" or enroll their children to become "Littles" by going to www.mentorbig.org. BBBS will then match them based on their mutual interests. The program is free and one of the ways they support it is by doing events. Damian is working on their upcoming Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Palm Beach & Martin Counties Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser. It's going to be at Greenacres bowl on June 3rd. Listeners can create teams to fundraise by collecting donations. They have lots of funs games/prizes planned for the day. Then in October on Tuesday 10/10/23, listeners can enjoy a "Foodie" fundraiser, Big Taste of Martin County. That takes place at Atlantic Aviation. For details on the events, to volunteer, sign up, join the board or make a donation, listeners can go to www.mentorbig.org or follow them on FB/Instagram.

Talked with Jeston Brown, Farm Manager, Westgate Community Farm and Anuella Alexandre, Founder, A Green Community FL. Westgate Community Farm is an urban education and production farm, that offers fresh produce, education programs and a lush green space. It's at 1130 Wabasso Drive West Palm Beach, FL 33409. They are wrapping up their season but have 2 more workshops available, Sarturday 5/20 - Vegetable Dye and then 5/27 Seed Saving. Listeners can go to www.westgatecommunityfarm.com to get more info on classes, volunteering, becoming a donor. A Green Community FL works on creating green spaces within schools, community centers and homes. They encourage students to participate in garden science lessons. Their mission is to educate and empower members of the community with knowledge and life skills to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. Anuella had two programs coming up: Saturday 5/27 and 6/17. Listeners can get more info by going to www.agreencommunityfl.org.

Talked with Hilary Greene, Media Relations, Quincy Bruckerhoff, Adult Programs Manager, Jodi Sypher, Dir. of Adult Learning & Engagment and Zoe Spanbrock, Asst. Media Relations from the Norton Musuem of Art. The Norton has a wide variety of programs planned for Summer 2023. As part of Mental Health awareness month, listeners can benefit from experiencing Art. Listeners can enjoy Art After Dark every Friday night. They have two community days planned including one for Juneteenth on Saturday, June 17th (Free admission that day). And starting Saturday 5/27 Admission is Free for Palm Beach County Residents every Saturday. They have permanent exhibits as well hasspecial exhibitions. Current Special Exhibtions include: From Man Ray to O'Keefe: American Mondernism at the Norton, At the Dawn of a New Age: Early Twentieth-Century American Modernism, Akin: Capturing Human Intimacy and Tenderness (curator of this exhibition will do a presentation at an upcoming Art After Dark), New Your Vanguard: Promised Gifts from Stephen and Madeline Anbinder, Special Guest: Beaching the Boat A Masterpiece by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida,
Special Guest: A Quiet Abiding: Jacobus Vrel's Interior with a Sick Woman by a Frieplace in The Leiden Collection, Symbolic Messages in Chinese Animal Paintings, and Project Room: Amercian Collection New York Mural by Stuart Davis. They also, have free classes for Tai Chi starting on June 1st on the lawn 8am-10am. Saturday they also have Family Studio. For more details or to sign up to become volunteers, get student hours, or become a donor, Listeners can go to www.norton.org

Talked with Jackie Lambert, Emilie Travis, Daniella Robbins, PBC Parks & Rec Dept, and Shelly Rosenberg, Audubon Everglades/Purple Martin. May is Mental Health Awareness and Trauma Informed Care Month and Purple Martin month in PBC. The role of PBC Parks in Mental Health is, " : Parks and recreation agencies are an underutilized health care resource. They create healthy communities and play a fundamental role in enhancing the physical environments in which we live. Through facilities, outdoor settings and services provided, they support good health for people of all abilities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities. Parks provide a connection to nature, which studies demonstrate relieves stress levels, tightens interpersonal relationships and improves mental health. In addition, they foster overall wellness and healthful habits, such as engaging in enrichment opportunities that add balance to life. " Some of the upcoming programs are: Night Hike, Walk with Ease, Sunset Stroll, Pickleball and Archery. Listeners can also enjoy the benefits of mental wellness while participating in a Purple Martin hike/tour. Shelly is hosting programs at Okeeheelee Nature Center and Riverbend Park to help create awareness of the purple martin. They are swallow like birds that rely on humans 100% for their habitat. They live in gourd like houses and are an indicator species. Listeners can come register online at http://pbcparks.com or go to www.auduboneverglades.org. Listeners can also sign up to be volunteers, including an "Okee Teen" volunteer, register for a class, find a complete list of parks/events or to sponsor the park for a day. Also, PBC is doing Get Your Green On, pbcbirthto22.com and folks can show support by wearing green on May 18th.