Palm Beach Perspective

Talked with Erick and Amanda from St. Lucie County, Florida. They have a bunch of exciting events going on including, free hikes with Amanda and other volunteers. Listeners can go to www.slchikes.org to find out more (they list type of hike/local/etc). UnitedWay is offering free tax help at VITA sites (call 211 for locations). The Oxbox Eco center is hosting a fun EarthDay event including art/crafts/vendors/kids activities. Erick and I talked about the libraries and all the cool programs they offer including tech support (where you book 1/2 hour with a librarian) and can get training on your phone/ipad, etc. The libraries also offer lots of apps such as Fregal (download free music), HooplaDigital, etc. They are always looking for folks to volunteer at the different museums, centers, libraries. Listeners can go tohttp://www.stlucieco.gov/ for more info

Talked with Susan Guinana, CEO, Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. Their mission is to expand and enrich the lives, bodies and spirits of children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and other equine assisted activities, while serving the therapeutic riding profession through training and education. Therapeutic riding helps in many ways, including improved self regulation, learning life skills, increasing confidence, etc. Several of the students recently competed in Special Olympics and one was honored when he was added to the Hall of Fame by the PBC Sports Commission. They offer summer camps and are taking enrollments now. They are also looking for volunteers and Listeners can find out more by calling 561-792-9900 or go to www.vinceremos.org

Talked with Chef Zach Bell, Addison Reserve Country Club, Denise Mariani, Event Chair, Mariani Marketing & Events, Andy Villabona, Senior Manager Culinary Events, Share Our Strength and Mo Foster, Host Kool 1055's Mo & Sally Morning Show. They all came in to talk about Share Our Strength's awesome fundraiser that's coming up on April 5th at the Kravis called Palm Beach's Taste of the Nation. It's a great opportunity for listeners to come try out bites, nibbles, wine, cocktails, craft beer/ciders and coffees while raising money for a great cause. There are Chefs from 40 of the best local restaurants showcasing what they do. Plus silent and live auctions which includes the opportunity to win a "wine cave's" worth of wine complete with wine fridge, Chef BBQ Pork and trimmings for you and 50 friends, more intimate Chef dinners for you and a few close friends where the Chef comes to your house and prepares a fantastic meal just for you. Mo & Sally & Curtis from Kool 1055 are emcees again this year. General Admission is $150 and VIP is $200 Listeners can get tickets by going to https://events.nokidhungry.org/events/palm-beach-taste-nation/ and also, find out about volunteer/sponsorship opportunites while there.

Talked with Sharon and Sandy from TriCountyHumane along with co-host Sally from Kool 105.5FM morning show. They are a no kill, animal rescue non-profit and have saved over 55,000 dogs and cats since their inception. They are getting ready for their big Doggie and Kittie Ball western motif) on Saturday March 24th at Boca West Country Club. Listeners can get tickets by going to https://doggieball2018.eventbrite.com or calling 561-482-8110. They are also looking for volunteers and fosters, listeners can sign up by going to the website https://tricountyanimalrescue.com/ and they can also see the dogs/cats available for adoption while they're on the website. And listeners can follow them on Facebook as well.

Talked with Elizabeth Dashiell, PB Film Society and Danielle Provencher, Swede Film Maker about this years SwedeFest 6. What's a swede? A swede is a no-budget, laughably bad remake of a hit Hollywood film – the bigger, the better. The term comes from the 2008 comedy, “Be Kind Rewind,” and was made up to explain the sheer awfulness of their remade films by touting them as European – “swedes” because it sounded really sophisticated. Danielle's team is submitting a swede based on the film Mary Poppins this year. Listeners can check it out along with a lot of other "great" swedes at SwedeFest6 on March 24th at the Kelsey Theatre in Lake Park (right next to the Brewhouse Gallery). Hosts this year will be the improv group, Cheese and Crackers. The event is sponsored by Palm Beach Film Society, which was formed as a way for South Florida and Treasure Coast filmmakers to showcase their work at the Voices of Local Film at the Palm Beach Film Festival, which started in 2003. Listeners can get more info at pbfilmsociety.org and can get swede info at www.swedefestpalmbeach.org. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Talked with Lisa Schmidt, Dir of Community Water Safety and Tracy Sussman, Marketing Dir. from YMCA of SPBC. The YMCA is the nation’s leading nonprofit for strengthening communities through programs and services that nurture and enrich the lives of our youth, promote healthy living and embed the ideals of social responsibility. The YMCA of South Palm Beach County manages programs and services within the South Palm Beach County area and has two facilities: The Peter Blum Family Y of Boca Raton, The DeVos-Blum Family Y of Boynton Beach, The Schmidt Family Y Preschool at the Volen Center and the YMCA@901 NCCI. Lisa's primary focus is Drowning Prevention. They teach parents/kids about water safety, offer swim lessons and encourage the 3 layers of protection, door alarm, pool enclosure, knowing how to swim. They have lots of other programs and offer scholarships for families who need a little help. To do that they hold fundraisers and this year's big fundraiser, The Inspiration Breakfast with Keynote speaker, UM Coach Mark Richt will be on Wednesday March 7th. Listeners can go to ymbcspbc.org to get more info, sign up to volunteer, become a sponsor or buy tix.

Talked with Donna and Lexi from United Way of Palm Beach County. They act like an umbrella agency coordinating other agencies to provide needed services in the county. There mission is to ensure that everyone in Palm Beach County has access to the basics: a quality education, a place to live, financial stability, good medical care, and enough to eat. We talked about several of the programs they have including VITA Tax (which helps with tax preparation) as well as their Mentoring program. They need volunteers for the mentor program [there are 1400 children wait listed]. For more information listeners/charities can go to http://www.unitedwaypbc.org/

Talked with Pamela Carithers, Lincoln Park Main Street and Adriene Jefferson, Indian River Community College and guest co-hosts: Kevin, Rachel, Holli, Gabbi and Harry, students from Palm Beach Gardens Highschool. Pam and Adriene are working on several events for Black History month. The first is the 3rd Annual Highwaymen Heritage Trail Art Show and Festival on February 27th along Moore's Creek Linear Park at the corner of 8th Street and Avenue D in Ft. Pierce from 10a-4p. The second is a their new Walk Lincoln Park Tour App and they will be hosting the release event/party at Indian River State College. Guest Lecturer Dr. Heather Russel will speak at 3;30pm, then there will be a reception at 6pm including the downloading of the app.; from 7-8:15p Black history program IRSC Portrayal of Zora Neale Hurston in the Knight Center Auditorium. For more info and to find out about volunteer/sponsorship opportunities listeners can call 772-462-2481.

Talked with Charlene Farrington, Director and Shreese Keese, Events Coord. for Spady Cultural Museum in Delray Beach. They are dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing the African-American history and heritage of Palm Beach County. Coming up on February 17th is the Spady Festival. Listeners can come out and enjoy a day of music, culture, history from 1-6pm admission is free. They also have docent led tours and trolley history tours. For more info and to volunteer, listeners can go to www.spadymuseum.com

Talked with Melissa Carter from Old School Square in Delray Beach. They have lots of venues including: Crest Theatre, Cornell Art Museum, Fieldhouse, Pavilion, Creative Arts School, and Old School Square Park. Listeners can go and enjoy a variety of activities: broadway shows, comedy, concerts, art exhibitions, art classes, digital imaging, photography and writing classes, diy painting nights, festivals, and can rent the facilities for weddings, business meetings, etc. They are always looking for volunteers, to sign up or find out more listeners can go to www.oldschoolsquare.org