Palm Beach Perspective

Talked with Dr. Karen GIlbert, Vice President of Education and Quality Assurance for Alzheimer's Community Care in West Palm Beach, Florida.  She and Blake Davis will present how behaviors become a form of communication with folks living with dementia-related illnesses especially as the disease progresses at the upcoming Alzheimer's Foundation of America event.  "The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for South Florida residents on Wednesday, November 19 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm ET at the Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center (5150 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton). The free conference is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, and caregiving. Register by visiting www.alzfdn.org/tour. Advance registration is highly recommended."  Listeners can also get info about local adult day services and the free lost on foot program at www.alzcare.org.

Talked with Keena Gumbinner, Education Manager and Elizabeth Dashiell, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The programs on are the website under ArtSmart.  "ArtSmart is a series of arts education classes, workshops and lectures that takes arts lovers like you behind the curtain. Whether you’d like to improve your skill on the dance floor or learn more about classical music, creative writing or film, there’s an ArtSmart course – taught by nationally and locally recognized artists and instructors – that will intrigue and involve you."  Some of the Adult Education classes this year include: Scene Study Class, Virtual Writer's Academy with Julie Gilbert, Everybody Dance and Joy of Movement.  They have the Lunch and Learn series, with one on Jan 26th with Dr. Robert Watson, Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with performances of poetry, music and speeches. for more info on this and other programs as well as the amazing shows this season, listeners can go to www.kravis.org or call the box office, 561-832-SHOW.

Talked with Colleen Smith, Founding Artistic and Executive Director, Ballet Palm Beach and Elizabeth Dashiell, PRPalmBeach. "Ballet Palm Beach (BPB), the professional ballet company of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ballet company dedicated to preserving the art of classical ballet by cultivating new visions in choreography, impacting the next generation through the discipline of dance, and enriching the community through this universal art form. "Ballet Palm Beach is starting off their 2025-2026 season with Snow White October 24-26 at the Rinker, then they'll be at The Gardens Mall November 7th with their Free event to Welcome Santa. On November 8th you can find them presenting another Free event, Snowfall at City Place, followed by The Nutcracker December 5-7, then Queen Esther-March 6-8, followed by Carmen April 10-11, and wrap up with Giselle on May 16th.  This year's Gala by the Sea will be January 28th at The Breakers Palm Beach.  Listeners can find out more about ballet school, becoming a volunteer, becoming a sponsor, getting tickets for the season by going to balletpalmbeach.org.

Talked with Gabby Barbarite McHenry, Ph.D., Director of Outreach & Engagement Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. They are one of over 50 exhibitors at this years 10th Annual Indian River Lagoon Science Festival. It's going to be from 10am - 3pm on October 25th at 600 N Indian River Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL. The IRL Science Festival is a free event that's designed to bring a variety of hands-on STEAM activities to the public. The goal is to make science accessible, interactive, relevant and fun for everyone at every age. Some of the activities will include:"● Control underwater remotely operated vehicles with the Smithsonian Marine Station● Meet a life-sized humpback whale with FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute● Experience the “World of Away” Eco-Art Exhibit with the Oxbow Eco-Center● Observe a real bee hive with Treasure Coast Beekeepers Association● Spend the day in the life of a doctor with Little Medical School of the Treasure Coast● Explore Fort Pierce Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigation Van to learn about forensic science● Learn how to care for corals with the Reef Institute● Discover native plants with UF/IFAS’ St. Lucie County Master Gardeners'"Listeners can find the complete list, sign up to volunteer, become a sponsor and more at www.irlsciencefest.org.

Talked with Jetson Brown, Farm Manager and Andoni Ruiz, Asst Manager, West Gate Community Farm.  "Westgate Community Farm is an urban education and production farm in the Westgate Neighborhood of West Palm Beach that offers neighbors fresh produce, education programs, and a lush green space."  They were created with the CRA to address the food desert in the neighborhood.  They have workshops, kids programs, field trips and lots of volunteer opportunities for the community.  Season is starting with their Green Market on October 4th from 9a-1p. Then October 11th they are having a community book fair and picnic. Free admission with a book donation.   Then on October 18th they'll be teaching a gardening 101 workshop in addition to the market. They will also have starter tomato, pepper plants, etc. for sale that day. They offer double EBT on the organic produce.  Listeners can go to the website for more info at westgatecommunityfarm.com, or email them at TheGateFarm@gmail.com.

Talked with Scott Simmons from the Norton Museum of Art.  They have a great line up events for this Fall season.  There are some big exhibitions coming: Art and Life in Rembrandt's Time: Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection, Shara Hughes: Inside Out, and Anastasia Samoylove: Atlantic Coast.  They have a great line up of Art After Dark series that happens every Friday night. And have Sunday Jazz brunch on 9/21. Coming up they are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Nuestra Cultura their Free Community Day, Saturday October 4th from 11am-4pm. Visitors can take docent led tours, enjoy live music by Marimba Anhelos Del Copal, Mariachi Pancho Villa, Cuban Flavor Band and dance, crafts, food and more. They also have The Norton has a Chinese collection, spanning 5,000 years. Listeners can find out more info by going to www.norton.org.

Talked with Erick Gill, Communications Director. St. Lucie County Florida.  St. Lucie county has a wide variety of services available to both residents and visitors.  Coming up this month, there are hikes, kayak trips and paddle board events with St. Lucie Hikes with an Autumn stroll on 9/19 at 9am at Citrus Hammock Preserve, then a Healing Nature Walk at the Steven J Fousek Preserve on Sunday 9/21 at 5pm.  There's a complete list/ages/costs are at www.slchikes.org.  The county libraries have lots of fun classes including, crafts, anime, board games, sewing, and ukulele just to name a few.  The library also has "memory studios" where patrons can transfer photos/tapes to a digital format.  They also have podcast studios.  And there's a Library of things that patrons can borrow from as well. And from October 1st-31st they can swap costumes or donate gently used costumes.  Folks can also take pickle ball, tap and ballet classes at the Fenn Center. And the community garage sale is back and will run through April 2026.  For more info or to volunteer, listeners can go to www.stlucieco.gov

Talked with Lisa Niven, Visitor Experience & Cultural Events Marketing Assistant Manager, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.  "Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens celebrate a rich, century-old connection between Japan and South Florida."  Visitors to the gardens can enjoy the Japanese culture with programs, events, tours and classes.  Coming up on Thursday 9/11, they have Sunset Stroll featuring Taiko Drumming, "The Journey of Japanese Fashion: Heisei (1989-2019) to Reiwa (2019-Present) Fashion Show, Koto Performance, sake tastings, and more.  There are tea ceremonies, raking demonstrations, flower arranging, and more.  Listeners can go to www.morikami.org to get tickets, find out information, become a member/volunteer.

Talked with Kristin Calder, CEO, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.  "The Literacy Coalition is a not-for-profit organization committed to ensuring that every resident of Palm Beach County, Florida is able to read. Our philosophy is best expressed by Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations:“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope… (it is) the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”  They have a variety of programs to help the community learn to read.  With the school year starting they are looking for volunteers to become reading tutors. They provide training for the Building Better Readers Tutors and have classes coming up 9/4, 9/17,10/8 and 11/3.  They also have Read with Me events and are looking for sponsors and volunteers to participate.  Read for the Record goes from 10/25 to Feb 26th.  This season they have some new fundraisers with "Author Talks" with Nikki Erlick and her book, The Measure and then Elin Hilderbrand in November.  Listeners can find out more by going to www.literacypbc.org

Talked with Jill Brown, CEO, Armory Art Center.  "The mission of the Armory Art Center is to inspire the creation and experience of art. The Armory’s vision is to become a leading artistic and cultural center."They offer a wide variety of arts, exhibitions, events and outreach to engage the community.  Coming up in September is the fall class schedule, several exhibitions including Between Form and Feeling and Colorform.  They will have meditation, artist panel discussion, artist demo, and free reception for the public. They currently have a call out for Artists, vendors, volunteers for their annual Art + Craft + Design Creative market that's happening November 8-9.  For more information, listeners can go to www.armoryart.org

Talked with Healthier Glades project director, Annie Ifill and Dr. Lisa Wiese, FAU's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.  Healthier Glades is the latest in the Palm Health Foundation Healthier Together initiative.  "Healthier Glades launched in fall 2017 in the historically underserved rural area of Palm Beach County with rich culture and agricultural assets. “The Glades” is the collective of four communities—Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay and the unincorporated community of Canal Point—located in the western section of the county along Lake Okeechobee. Healthier Glades’ focus is behavioral health, with the goal for residents to thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Community Partners of South Florida serves as the initiative’s fiscal agent."  They partner with FAU and Dr. Wiese, collaborate with American Heart Association, providing programs such as chair yoga, seniors helping seniors, addressing metabolic syndrome, and providing mini grants that enable non-profits with resources to thrive and improve the behavioral health of the Glades.  For more information, listeners can follow Healthier Glades on Facebook or go to https://healthiertogetherpbc.org/our-communities/healthier-glades/

Talked with Steve Muschlitz, Founder, Wheels from the Heart and Elizabeth Dashiell, PR Palmbeach.Wheels from the Heart is a 501c3 recognizes the "significant challenge faced by single-mothers-in-need and their children is transportation. Wheels From the Heart addresses this by finding reliable vehicles for hard working single moms and helping them drive to a better life."  Cars can be donated to the charity, listeners can make donations and come out and support the fund-raising events.  Their next event is: "Simple as Black and White: 200 Keys to Freedom" on August 14th 6pm and Crazy Uncle Mike's, 6450 N Federal Hwy in Boca Raton.  Wheels from the Heart will be giving away their 200th car.  Enjoy an evening of: Classic Car Show, Raffles, Silent & Live AuctionsLite Bites & Beverages, Meet & Greet with: Heisman Trophy Winner Ricky Williams, Legendary Football Coach Butch Davis, and Super Bowl Champion Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson.  For ticket information, becoming a volunteer, becoming a sponsor, or applying for the program, folks can go to www.wheelsfromtheheart.org.  There's a link to the event brite page to purchase tickets.

Talked with Sandra Raffaelli, Founder & CEO, Azul Fashion Art Design.  Azul's mission is to empower adults of all abilities and their caregivers using Fashion, Art and Design on their path to achieve artistic recognition, dignity and financial independence.  It's a non-profit "dedicated to offering alternative art-focused programs for adults with disabilities (i.e. down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities) and their caregivers/families. Our philosophy focuses on bringing empowering experiences that transform family dynamics, integrate social skills, workforce skills, personal skills, and therapeutic artistic activities for better mental health."  When students age out of the school system at 24 years old this is an opportunity for them to see if a career in arts is something they'd like. Azul has programs starting with Active Art Lunch, Art Abilities and Follow the Thread. For more info, to become a volunteer, sponsor or enroll, listeners can go to www.azulfashionartdesign.org

Repeat show: Talked with Dr. Kitonga Kiminyo, VP and Dr. Flora Bentsi-Enchill from the T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society.  They are gearing up to host their Annual Community Health Fair on August 9th from 9am to 2pm at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Riviera Beach, Florida.  Their health fair is Free and open to everyone.  They will provide children's back to school physicals for uninsured, medical/dental screenings, diabetic testing, vision testing, HIV testing, Hearing checks, free mammograms, and free CPR training.  This year's theme is "Healthy Hearts and Healthy Minds".  In addition to all the exams, info on physical fitness, nutrition and lifestyle choices, children will receive a backpack full of supplies to help prepare them for the upcoming school year.  Listeners can pre-register/sign up online for the various services, become a sponsor, become a volunteer, get more info on the society, or make a donation at www.tljmedicalsociety.org

Talked with Dr. Stefan Harzen, Director, The Taras Oceanographic Foundation and Elizabeth Dashiell. The Taras Foundation was founded in 1998 and studies dolphins as a way of understanding how the oceans work. Taras has two primary programs:  The Palm Beach Dolphin Project is a long-term conservation research initiative examining dolphin society and how their health and the resources they rely on, has direct and indirect impacts on our health and wellbeing.  Students are using the data for their projects and they have a relationship with Palm Beach Atlantic University to jointly study the occurrence and impact of micro plastics on our local waters. The second program is their Ocean of Notes Concert series that's part of their World Oceans Day Celebration with Riviera Beach. Listeners can get more info about the Dolphin tours, www.palmbeachdolphintours.com and www.taras.org.

Talked with Deanna Hennelly, Adult Programs Manager, Norton Museum of Art.  The Norton Museum of Art is at 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Admission: Free for Members; $18, general public; $15, seniors (60+); $5, students (with valid school ID); $10 Art After Dark, adults, and seniors, $5, students. This Summer they have free admission on Saturdays for Palm Beach County Residents. There is also free admission for Community Day.  Art Around the World Community Day – 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, August 16. Celebrate Summer at the Norton with a day of creativity and discovery at Art Around the World.  They have a wide variety of exhibitions including: Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection – Through October 5.   Blur / Obscure / Distort: Photography and Perception – Through July 20.   Laddie John Dill – Eastern Standard Time – Through Octover 19.   Veiled Presence: The Hidden Mothers and Sara VanDerBeek – Through November 30.   Virtue of Vice: The Art of Social Commentary – July 12, 2025-January 4, 2026.   Art of the Word: Calligraphy and Chinese Artists – Through November 23.  They have Art After Dark every Friday from 5-10pm.  Coming up in August: August 1 – Trenton Klaz Jazz Trio August 8 – Wellness Night with Breathworks, a sound bath and music. August 15 – Music with the Low Ground Band and August 22 – Bianca Rosarrio and The Smooth Operators.  To get times, become a member, docent or donor, listeners can get Info: (561) 832-5196 or www.norton.org.

Talked with Dr. Kitonga Kiminyo, VP and Dr. Flora Bentsi-Enchill from the T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society.  They are gearing up to host their Annual Community Health Fair on August 9th from 9am to 2pm at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Riviera Beach, Florida.  Their health fair is Free and open to everyone.  They will provide children's back to school physicals for uninsured, medical/dental screenings, diabetic testing, vision testing, HIV testing, Hearing checks, free mammograms, and free CPR training.  This year's theme is "Healthy Hearts and Healthy Minds".  In addition to all the exams, info on physical fitness, nutrition and lifestyle choices, children will receive a backpack full of supplies to help prepare them for the upcoming school year.  Listeners can pre-register/sign up online for the various services, become a sponsor, become a volunteer, get more info on the society, or make a donation at www.tljmedicalsociety.org

Talked with Keri Morrison, Executive Director and Elizabeth Dashiell, from Live Like Jake.  Live Like Jake is a charity that was created to increase awareness for drowning prevention and provide swim lessons and scholarships for those who can't afford them.  They also provide financial and emotional support for families who have lost a child or who's child has critical care needs.  Drowning is the number one cause of death for babies and young children between 1 and 4 years old.  Families can sign their kids up for ISR swim lessons to teach them infant swimming resource where they learn to roll on their back.  The number one layer of protection is active adult supervision of kids near water.  There are 5 layers of protection, including alarms on windows/doors, locked doors/windows, pool fences, CPR, bright colored clothes, etc.  Listeners can find out more online at www.livelikejake.org  Live Like Jake raises money for scholarships by doing events throughout the year.  They just had their annual 5K, and are doing Watermelons for Water Safety throughout the Summer.  Listeners can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram.  They have their gala coming up in the Fall and poker for prevention in August.  Folks can become sponsors and get details www.likelikejake.org

Talked with Bert Moreschi, President, ARRL Instructor and Herb Price, Board Director, for Jupiter Tequesta Repeater Group (JTRG).  "Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group is a volunteer organization of local Amateur Radio Operators (affectionately referred to as "Hams"), who play a critical role in maintaining emergency communications, between Local Red Cross and County Emergency Services and other government agencies and services, before, druing and after Disaster events.  Yearly, local JTRG volunteers provdie training and practice exercises with the goal of being totally prepared for emergency operations."  They are participating in the nationwide, Annual American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day. It's happening at Carlin Park Civic Center in Jupiter on June 28th and June 29th.  Listeners are invited to come out and enjoy the day, try making a contact using the "GOTA" Get on the Air" station, and see how the JTRG practices simulated emergency conditions.  For more info, to sign up for class, to become a volunteer or sponsor, listeners can go to www.jtrg.org or reach out to Bert  at aug77@att.net or call 561-714-6673.

Talked with Charlene Farrington, Museum Director. Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.  "The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is a museum of African-American history in Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida. It is housed in the former home of the late Solomon David Spady, a prominent African-American educator and community leader in Delray Beach from 1922 to 1957. They are dedicated to discovering, collecting, and sharing the Black history and heritage of Palm Beach County."  Located at 170 NW Fifth Avenue in Delray Beach, the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is one of the stops on Palm Beach County's Black Cultural Heritage Trail.  They have several events happening during "Juneteenth" Season. The Delray Beach Chamber is hosting a Juneteenth Spady "House Party" on Tuesday June 17,  then they have a Juneteenth Workshop introducing students to the historical meaning and application of Adinkra symbols over five sessions.  The workshop paintings will be displayed as part of a free Community Day at the Spady on June 19th.  Later in July they continue their  workshops by welcoming caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s to a special Lunch & Information Session.  Listeners can get info on exhibitions, workshops, hosting a house party, becoming a volunteer, artisan for the marketplace by going to www.spadymuseum.com.