Palm Beach Perspective

Talked with Tony Schebel, President of Nam Knights PBC division. The Nam Knights are a motorcycle group made up of Vietnam Vets, Police Officers active/retired, active military and patriotic minded members as well. They meet the first Thursday of the month at the VFW on Claire Ave in WPB. They do several fundraisers throughout the year in support of vets, Vetsville ceasefire house, adaptive sports,etc. Today is their 19th Annual Rock N Roll Sunday, featuring Southern Rockers, BlackFoot, starting at Noon at the America German Club on Lantana Rd. They also host a comedy night at the VFW the first Saturday of the month. For more info listeners can to www.rocknrollsunday.org

Spoke with Suzanne Davis, Sponsorship Director, IBRA; Sergio Nativi, VP of IBRA; Bob Pontek, Race Director, Stuart Sailfish Regatta. This year's event will be 5/20-21 with VIP events starting on Friday 5/19. The Stuart Sailfish Regatta was created to help promote local charities, stimulate the local economy and to raise environmental awareness. To accomplish those goals, they collaborate with the local community to conduct sanctioned boat races and by attracting tourism to the Treasure Coast. Listeners can get tix, info on events, being a vender, sponsor or volunteer all at the website. www.stuartsailfishregatta.com.

Talked with Heidi Reever, Community Investment Mgr., Feeding South Florida. They have lots of programs in the community. Their backpack program is converting to a school pantry program that we enable them to provide food for the entire family and include fresh produce too. Their next big event is the Stamp Out Hunger Campaign on May 13th in conjunction with the Post Office. Listeners will receive a bag in the mail, which they fill with canned goods (tuna, chicken, peanut butter) and set out by the mailbox. On the 13th the letter carriers collect all the donated food and then it gets sorted by volunteers and sent to local food pantires/soup kitchens for distribution. To volunteer, find out more info or make a tax deductible donation, listeners can go to www.feedingsouthfloirda.org. If they donate on May 17th (Great give,$ will be doubled)

Talked with Amy Blackman, Recreation Superintendent, City of Boynton Beach and Owen, Clinics Can Help as well as Golf Great Dana Quigley. Amy recommended several tips for listeners to help prevent drowning: learn how to swim (kids and adults), add door alarms to alert you if your child goes outside and also, fencing in your pool area. Folks can reach out to www.watersmartpbc.org for lots of info and there are grant programs for children on the autism spectrum. Then I talked with Owen and Dana about Clinics Can Help's 4th Annual Golf Tournament. This year it's at Madision Green in Royal Palm Beach on Friday, May 19th starting at 1pm. Check in at 11:30 followed by lunch and then the 1pm scramble start for the golf tournament. Proceeds are going to Kinder Project which provides medical equipment for kids with serious medical issues that can't afford the necessary equipment. For more info listeners can call 561-640-2995.

Talked with Natalie M. Alvarez, VP/Director Sabadell Bank & Trust regarding Executive Women of Palm Beach County. Exceutive Women is a group created to empower women to succeed, lead and inspire integrity, equality and leadership in the workplace and our community. They are holding one of their big fundraisers, WILA - Women in Leadership Awards Luncheon on May 11th. At the luncheon, Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, Inc. presents its Annual Women In Leadership Awards to exemplary women who have demonstrated extraordinary achievements and leadership in the nonprofit, private, public and volunteer sectors. The monies raised go toward scholarships for women in the community. To get tickets, find out more about the organization please reach out to them at www.ewpb.org.

Talked with Andy Villabona, Denise Mariani,No Kid Hungry and Chef Lindsay from Regional Kitchen and Public House plus Sally Severeid from Kool 105.5's Morning Show about the upcoming Taste of the Nation fundraiser at the Kravis Center. It's being held on April 20th from 6-10p and tickets are available online at www.tasteofthenation.org/palmbeach. There are regular, VIP and VIP Deluxe (that include an afterparty at Regional Kitchen). The proceeds go to local programs that ensure kids are offered breakfast at school and training classes for family about cooking on a budget. They have 40+ restaurants plus wine tasting and lots of auction items and a new "wine door" event this year. Listeners can get more info at the website www.tasteofthenations.org/palmbeach

Talked with Dr. Zwick, Gastroenterologist about G.E.R.D. (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. Gastroenterologist treat diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. Some of these include Crohn's and Colitis as well as GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux is a physical condition in which acid from the stomach flows backward up into the esophagus. People will experience heartburn symptoms and others such as sore throat, asthma, difficulty swallowing, etc. GERD is treated through modification of diet/lifestyle, medication and surgical techniques. Dr. Zwick is working with a new minimally invasive procedure called T.I.F. for more info, listeners can go to www.digestivecareonline.com.

Interviewed Fatima NeJame, Exec Dir. Photographic Center and Ray Merritt, Curator, Photography in Place Exhibition at Palm Beach Photographic Center. They are a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the community and the enrichment of life through the photographic arts. They are located at 415 Clematis St. West Palm Beach, Fl 33401. One of their "outreach" methods is offering free exhibitions at the center for the public to come and enjoy. They are currently showing "Photography in Place", which was curated by Ray. It includes 25 photographers from grand-masters to emerging amateurs as well. PB Photographic also offers summer camps and are now taking registrations for them. Listeners can reach out at workshop.org or by calling 561-253-2600.

Talked with Rachel Ramos, Director of Programs and Ken Cunningham, Board Member and Watch A Rising Star Event Chair, Junior Achievement of Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.They work with students K-12 to teach entrepreneurship, financial literacy with the help of Volunteers. Watch a Rising Star is their big fundraiser and is happening 6pm on March 25th at the Cohen Pavilion of the Kravis Center. They are featuring a dynamic vocal competition between 5 area seniors (who will all receive scholarship funds). For listeners who want to buy tickets, volunteer or see what programs are available, they can go to www.juniorachievement.com

Spoke with Bonnie Scharf, Crohns & Colitis Foundation. They are doing one of their big fundraisers Monday March 13th. It's the Book of Hope Luncheon and the guest speaker is Michael Tonello, Author of "Bringing Home the Birkin" will be the keynote speaker. And they received a Birkin Bag to raffle off - the tickets are $100 each. They use the funds raised for research, scholarships to Camp Oasis, and education/outreach. CCFA can always use volunteers. Listeners can go online to www.ccfa.org and sign up for events, to become volunteers, to find out information and for support groups.