Palm Beach Perspective

Talked with Meredith Gregory, Director of School and Teacher programs at the Norton Museum of Art. They offer a wide variety of programs for students/teachers. (free admission for teachers) K-12 grades can explore art at the Norton that connects with Florida State Standards. There are guided tours, virtual tours, home school tours, self-guided school tours. Some of the themes tours are, "learning...

Talked with Antoine Miller, Founder/Band Director, Sounds of Success Marching Band and Willie Spence, former contestant on American Idol season 19. Sounds of Success's mission is: "to create a musical community that is rich with cultural, social and intellectual diversity while preparing each student with a solid foundation in music and expansive education in the liberal arts." SOS is open to anyo...

Talked with Kathryn Rudloff, Executive Director, WeVenture WBC. WeVenture is an SBA and offers programs and services from business education workshops, online entrepreneurial modules, and seminars that assist entrepreneurs and business owners to launch and grow their businesses. They have Ignite 360, and Athena Leadership just to name a few. To find out/sign up, folks can go to www.https ://wevent...

Talked with Tom Pearson, CEO, Armory Art Center. They provide art classes for all ages. Coming up there are three deadlines with "call to artists" to apply for upcoming juried events. For the 6th Annual West Palm Beach Arts Festival with runs December 3-4, the deadline to apply is August 31st. Catagories include: 2-D (drawing, painting, photography. printmaking, mixed media) or 3-D (ceramics, scul...

Talked to Tara Moreno, Multicultural Liaison Librarian, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. We talked about the upcoming school year. They've been part of the summer food program and will continue with a weekend food via Lois' Food4kids. Pickup is in kidspace and is for kids ages 5-12. They are doing a Back to School event on August 15th at 4pm where kids can come meet some of the Homework C...

Talked with Mike Durkee, Executive Director, Wounded Veterans Relief Fund (WVRF). They are a 501c3 that provides emergency financial support to qualified disabled veterans living in Florida. 85% of funds donated goes directly toward veteran assistance. They help with shelter, utilities, transportation and just recently started another branch to help with dental care for veterans. Veterans who want...

Talked with Laurel Dalton, Executive Director and Health Chair, Dr. Kitonga Kiminyo from the T Leroy Jefferson Medical Society. They are celebrating their 75th anniversary of providing medical care to the community. TLJ has multiple classes, mentoring programs, professional educational programs and every summer they hold their Annual Back-to-School Community Health Fair. The Health Fair is being h...

Talked with Ann M. Berner, CEO Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network. They are a managing entity that coordinates mental health services for 5 Florida counties including Palm Beach and Treasure Coast. They work in conjunction with multiple agencies including 211 to help connect people with the services that meet their individual needs. They are working with 988 it's a suicide prevention hotl...

Talked with Trent Stephens and Elizabeth Dashiell from PB Shakespeare by the Sea. This is their 32nd annual event at the Seabreeze Amphitheater in Carlin Park in Jupiter, Florida. They've also added a second venue in Royal Palm Beach, Florida at their Commons Park. This year they are performing, Richard II. It's considered one of Shakespeare's historical plays and covers a failed attempt on Elizab...

Talked with Bert Moreschi, President, Jupiter Tequesta Repeater Group (JTRG). "JTRG is an ARRL affiliated, Special Service Club and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that’s committed to the promotion of Amateur Radio and providing community assistance and goodwill." They are sometimes referred to as "Ham" radio operators. They are doing a field day Sat/Sun June 25/26 at Carlin pa...

Talked with Patrice Schroeder, M.A. Human Behavior, Community Relations Specialist, 211. "211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast’s mission is to save lives through crisis intervention and by connecting people to health, mental health, and wellness services 24 hours a day every day." They connect folks with the services that can help them. 211 recently created a service for age 18+ who are caregivers for ad...

Talked with Kaley Grau, Marketing Manager, Cox Science Center and Aquarium. They recently changed their name from South Florida Science to Cox and are in the middle of an expansion project. As part of the change, mini golf is now included in the admission price. They have a new exhibition run now through September 4th called Mindbender Mansion and Max Planck's Images of Science. Several events are...

Talked with Amy Kight, Executive Director, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. Busch Wildlife Sanctuary has a dual mission of wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education. They rescue sick, injured, or orphaned native Florida wildlife. They rely on the public to bring injured wildlife to our wildlife hospital. Over the years, we have treated deer, foxes, screech owls, hawks, bald eagles, squirrels, b...

Talked with Evelyn Linares, Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration. They are seeing an increase in the number of scam telephone calls to social security recipients. She said social security will not call you. If you call them to set up an appointment, they may call to confirm but that's it. Listeners should not give out their social security number, personal info, financial info...

Talked with Bill Millard, Colonel, United States Army (Retired) and Milena Millard, VWF Post #9610. They in conjunction with American Legion are sponsoring Songfest for Vets III - Ukraine Relief. It's a free classic rock tribute band concert at the Mizner Ampitheater in Boca Raton on Saturday May 21st from 2-10pm. They have Ukrainian artists/crafts dancers and singers. The motorcycle clubs coming...

Talked with Ellyn Okrent from The Fuller Center in Boca Raton, FL. They were formerly known as the Florence Fuller Child Development Center. Their mission is to embrace, educate, and empower hardworking, under-resourced families and children to achieve their full potential. They offer a wide variety of services/programs. For children 6weeks to 5years old they have holistic early education programs...

Talked with Stephanie Surrena, Outreach and Public Information Coordinator, Office of Public Engagement Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and Emilie Travis, Nature Center Manager II, Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. PBC Parks are celebrating 50 year anniversary. Okeeheelee Park nature center that Emilie manages is celebrating their 30th anniversary so they are doi...

Talked with Dr. Tom Pearson, CEO, Armory Art Center. The Armory Art Center is a comprehensive visual art school that offers a wide range of visual arts from sculpture, welding, stone carving, textiles, drawing, painting, jewelry, photography, digital media, and printmaking. The Armory Art Center is currently running Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition through April 24th. Up next will be...

Talked with Wendy Lo, Curator of Education, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. They were created from land donated by George Morikami, one of the original members of the Yamato Farming Colony. The mission at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is to engage the community by presenting Japanese cultural experiences that educate and inspire. They offer a wide variety of classes and exhibitions. T...

Talked with Keri Morrison, Founder/Executive Director, Live Like Jake Foundation and Elizabeth Dashiell, PR Palm Beach. Keri's son Jake passed away from drowning in 2013 and she decided her baby daughter and other kids would have preventative water safety training, ISR Infant Self Rescue, to help prevent this tragedy happening to another family. So, the Live Like Jake Foundation was created to rai...

Talked with Chip McKenney, Founder/President GPL Polo Club. He created the Gay Polo League, GPL, to inspire and empower individuals who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender via the promotion of and participation in the sport of polo. GPL utilizes polo as a way to provide equality, pride, inclusion and confidence for those individuals who face discrimination simply due to...

Talked with Edward Stinson, Museum Educator for the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach, Florida. Their mission is to expand, preserve and present the culturally diverse history of the black communities of Palm Beach County. The Spady Museum hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 4pm. The current exhibit is, Strong Communities Emerging. They offer historical tours and youth cultural leade...

Talked with Owen O'Neil from Clinics Can Help and Danielle Ford from Leeds Endowment. Clinics Can Help collects used durable medical equipment and redistributes it to patients who need it. This equipment typically includes wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, patient lifts, crutches, canes, and nebulizers. The Leeds Endowment, is a non-profit organization, dedicated to improving the lives of the d...

Talked with Tae Edmonds from Suits for Seniors. It's a non-profit that serves high school seniors at Title 1 schools. They have an 8 week mentorship program that covers leadership skills, financial literacy, career guidance, college education, interpersonal skills and more. Upon completion the senior receives a tailored suit. Suits for Seniors has served over 1500 students with a 100% success rate...

Talked with Fatima and Art Najame from the Palm Beach Photographic Center. They are located in downtown West Palm Beach across from the Mandel Public Library. Their 27th annual FOTOfusion event will be virtual and spotlight aquatic photojournalist and film producer Brian Skerry from March 1st-5th. They offer some free lectures as well as paid sessions $25/class or $105 for all 30 sessions or $175...