(PRESS RELEASE)_And then there were three. Luckily for those in Riviera Beach watching American Idol's penultimate episode, singer Willie Spence was among them. The City of Riviera Beach and the Riviera Beach CRA are throwing a Watch Party on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 6pm until 11pm at Bicentennial Park at the Marina Village Event Center. There will be food trucks, live music, and fun! Come out and support our own, Willie Spence, and make sure you vote. Willie is known in the American Idol community by “Shine Bright Like a Diamond, Willie Spence.” That phrase has become synonymous with the 21-year-old caretaker, who was born in Riviera Beach, as he competes to be the next American Idol. The season 19 finalist auditioned for the ABC reality show competition with a heart-stopping rendition of Rihanna’s song, Diamonds. His performance was so good, judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan gave Spence a golden ticket, a coveted “in” to the competition. During his American Idol audition, which aired in February, Spence told Richie, Perry and Bryan that he sings not just for himself but also for his family, who lives in Riviera Beach. Spence currently lives in Atlanta. Though Spence grew up in Douglas, Georgia, he was born in Palm Beach County. American Idol footage showed him standing in front of his grandparents’ home in Florida. Spence was asked what he would be doing if he was not on American Idol. For Spence, he said it would still have been singing — except in his grandad’s church in Riviera Beach. It’s where Spence began his singing career as a child, before moving to Douglas, Georgia. He’d spoken in past episodes about his grandfather, Willie Roger Singleton, who died in March and had lived in Riviera Beach. Spence’s incredible performances on American Idol, including Rihanna’s Diamonds, have moved the judges and fans who have voted him into the top three. It will be a busy week for Spence. Right now, he is heading back to Los Angeles to continue rehearsing for the final show. American Idol season finale will air live Sunday at 8 p.m.
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(PRESS RELEASE)_Palm Beach Gardens – It’s a wonderful time to be a whiskey lover. Once idealized by medieval priests for its medicinal efficacy, the amber liquid later quenched the thirst of monarchs (King George IV preferred illegal single malt while Queen Victoria paired hers with tea). Inspired by international spirits from around the globe, III Forks Prime Steakhouse in Palm Beach Gardens has unveiled Whiskies of the World (WOW); a boozy trio well suited for cocktail connoisseurs and grain-to-glass aficionados alike. Glamorous dinner potables, each WOW cocktail crafts its own unique story. The luxurious Japanese Gold Rush blends fresh honey with Suntory Toki’s pink grapefruit and white pepper notes for a silky smooth finish. The russet-hued elixir, Rye’s and Grind drops chocolate and slightly spicy notes (found in Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye), while chocolate bitters and agave provide balance enjoyed over a cold brew ice cube. Whiskies of the World: Islay Mist $15 Laphroaig 10 Yr. Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Combier Crème de Mûre Liqueur, Liber & Co. Fiery Ginger Syrup, and fresh lemon juice garnished with a lemon wheel, blackberries, and a mint sprig Japanese Gold Rush $14 Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky, honey, and fresh lemon juice garnished with a honeycomb square Rye’s & Grind $14 Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye Whiskey, Monin Agave Nectar, Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters served over a large cold brew coffee ice cube and garnished with an orange peel and a Lindt chocolate truffle Whiskies of the World are available now through August 30. Hours are Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m. Bar opens at 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. III Forks Prime Steakhouse is located at 4645 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens. For more information, call (561) 630-3660 or visit 3forks.com. (PRESS RELEASE)_ORLANDO, FLA. – May 19, 2021 – Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly high-speed rail, today announced a major milestone, the company has passed the halfway mark for construction on its extension to Orlando. The company held the announcement at the future site for its vehicle maintenance facility (VMF) just south of the Orlando International Airport (OIA). The progress on Brightline’s VMF and 170-mile extension from West Palm Beach to OIA represent the company’s $4.2 billion dollar private investment into the state of Florida. Brightline executives, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings joined region-wide county and city officials, Central Florida government partners and community leaders who toured the new facility site and celebrated the major construction milestone. Attendees marked the occasion by signing a 12-foot, bright yellow stick of steel rail. The rail will be incorporated into Brightline’s track between the OIA station and the VMF as a sign of everlasting community support. Once complete the corridor will connect South and Central Florida (235 miles), making it one of the country’s largest and most significant privately financed infrastructure projects. The project is expected to be complete by late 2022. Brightline has over 1,000 construction workers on multiple sites for the 170-mile project with 48 bridges, 52,000 tons of steel rail (approximately the weight of the Empire State Building), 1.4M square feet of retaining walls (more than triple the floor area of Camping World Stadium in Orlando) and six million cubic yards of earth embankment (more than enough to fill up the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center). In total, Brightline’s high-speed rail network will create over 10,000 jobs and over $6.4 billion in economic impact over an eight-year period. Today, Brightline is halfway home to Orlando as we progress toward completion of one of the nation’s largest and most significant transportation projects,” said Brightline’s CEO Mike Reininger. “This is just one major milestone of Brightline’s progress and investment of more than $4 billion dollars which serves as a powerful example to those across the country who are calling for the creation of a national high-speed rail network.” "This is an exciting time for our community and the entire state of Florida,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Brightline is fulfilling a longtime vision to bring high-speed rail to Central Florida and providing additional transportation options for our residents and our visitors. I look forward to boarding the first Brightline train to Miami from their station at Orlando International Airport.” "Today is an important milestone” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “The construction of the Orlando extension has employed thousands throughout the region and will continue to bring much needed jobs to our community. We need to continue to support public and private partnerships that will improve transportation and mobility options and meet the needs of our growing population.” Brightline currently has operations and stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The company currently has plans for additional stations in Boca Raton and Aventura, and discussions are underway with local stakeholders regarding expansion to Disney and Tampa. "Today is an impressive showing of support from a broad coalition of our public and private partners and community leaders who recognize the need for high-speed rail in Florida,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Brightline is establishing a new transportation network in our state and unlocking countless benefits related to jobs, the climate and equity.” Brightline will also bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. Similar to how Brightline plans to operate its service to Orlando, the tracks on the West Coast will run on existing transportation corridors. Brightline is reinventing train travel in the U.S. with its high-speed rail system that generates a positive impact on jobs, the climate, and accessibility to transportation. Upon completion, Florida will be home to some of the fastest, most efficient and eco-friendly trains running in the United States. Brightline Infographics
(PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – May 18, 2021) The Kravis Center is bringing Broadway back to West Palm Beach with the 2021/2022 Kravis On Broadway season. The series is headlined by the “cultural phenomenon” (LA Times) and winner of six Tony Awards DEAR EVAN HANSEN, the acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater production of Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY, and the heartfelt COME FROM AWAY. This upcoming Kravis On Broadway season also features CATS, SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL, ANASTASIA, and AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN. Series subscriptions starting at $268 go on sale Monday, June 7, and payment plans are available for this season of “impossible to resist” Broadway hits. The 2021/2022 Kravis On Broadway series includes: November 16-21, 2021 COME FROM AWAY Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY is a Best Musical winner all across North America. This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Don’t miss this breathtaking new musical written by Tony® nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and helmed by Tony® winning Best Director, Christopher Ashley. Newsweek cheers, “It takes you to a place you never want to leave!” On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all. December 15-19, 2021 DEAR EVAN HANSEN A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it. The show has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, including The Washington Post who says it is “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history.” The New York Times calls it “a gut-punching, breathtaking knockout of a musical.” And NBC Nightly News declares the musical “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.” DEAR EVAN HANSEN features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal). January 5-9, 2022 SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed. With a score featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including Love to Love You Baby, Bad Girls and Hot Stuff, this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation. (PRESS RELEASE)_West Palm Beach, FL (May 18, 2021) — A record-breaking $1.4 million was granted to local children’s charities during the 2020-2021 fiscal year by Boca West Children’s Foundation, with $500,000 awarded last week in the latest round of grants. The Foundation established new fundraising initiatives to support its partner charities during the pandemic, resulting in a record fiscal year for the 11-year-old non-profit organization. New initiatives included the “Partnership,” which raised $280,000 for 11 local charities, and the “Bike for Tikes” initiative which provided hundreds of bikes to local kids for the holidays. The Foundation also held its annual raffle program and a socially distanced golf challenge. The funds granted help local children and their families with food, medical care, education, counseling, aftercare, college preparedness, college scholarships, computers, school supplies, diapers, music camp, sleep away camp, beds on which to sleep, and safe homes for displaced kids. “The pandemic presented such a challenge to our charity partners as well as to the families they serve. The Foundation’s supporters rallied to support these charities resulting in our best year ever in terms of fundraising,” said Pamela Weinroth, Executive Director and COO for the Boca West Children’s Foundation. “We have exciting plans for the year ahead, including a partnership with the Palm Beach Marathon, ‘Walk the Walk” on December 11, and our annual Golf Challenge on November 1.” The most recent round of grants were awarded to: Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, American Association of Caregiving Youth, Best Foot Forward Foundation, Boca Helping Hands, Bound For College, Boys & Girls Clubs All Stars, Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, Caridad Center, Eda & Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation, Inc., Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, Faulk Center for Counseling, the Fuller Center, HomeSafe, JAFCO - Jewish Adoption & Foster Care Options, JAFCO – Children’s Ability Center, Place of Hope – The Leighan, and David Rinker Campus, Roots & Wings, Rotary Club of Boca Raton, SOS Children’s Village – Florida, Spirit of Giving, Sweet Dream Makers, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County, Unicorn Children’s Foundation, YMCA of South Palm Beach County, YMCA of the Palm Beaches, and the Youth Activity Center. For more information, visit www.bocawestfoundation.org, call 561-488-6980 or email foundation@bocawestcc.org. (PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – May 17, 2021) The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County (LWVPBC) today invited concerned adults to three timely, informative and FREE Zoom events in June and July: Wednesday, June 9 at 6 pm Spotlight on the Environment: Tackling Climate Change in Palm Beach County Guest Speakers: + Katelyn Cucinatta, M.A., an analyst for Palm Beach County’s Office of Resilience with a background in coastal conservation, wildlife policy, renewable energy and environmental science. + Rebecca Harvey, M.S., Boynton Beach’s first Sustainability Coordinator who leads the City’s environmental sustainability and resilience efforts, including reducing carbon emissions and helping diverse residents and business owners adapt to the impacts of climate change. + Lindsey Roland Nieratka, M.S., Manager of Boca Raton’s Office of Sustainability and former Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Hollywood, FL. Topic: Learn the results of a climate change vulnerability assessment recently completed by the Coastal Resilience Partnership of Southeast Palm Beach County (CRP), a group consisting of the County and seven jurisdictions along the coast. The CRP studied 12 specific climate change threats in order to provide a baseline understanding of the potential risks to the communities and to identify possible adaption strategies. How to Connect: Register for this Zoom webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_skU-ePN8TM-sWMY_thNqsQ Wednesday, June 16 at Noon Hot Topic Discussion: Post-Legislative Session Update Guest Speaker: Ed Chase, Palm Beach County’s Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Community Engagement. He formerly served as District Director for U.S. Rep. Tom Lewis for eight years and U.S. Rep. Mark Foley for five years and was Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation from 2001-2010, President and CEO of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce from 2010-2012 and was an executive with a local publishing and media company before returning to Palm Beach County government service in 2019. Topic: The 2021 Florida Legislative Session, including the bills that were enacted into law and how they will impact Palm Beach County. How to Connect: To register for this Zoom Discussion, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EmCm8bsOR8OBOlYnXn6xqw Wednesday, July 7 at 6 pm Conversations with the League: Cultural Impact: Surviving & Thriving Post-Pandemic Guest Speaker: Dave Lawrence, President & CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. Before moving to South Florida in 2018, he served as President & CEO of the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Topic: Local initiatives to provide direct funding to the cultural sector, the success of the Artist Innovation Fellowship program, and financial assistance now available to help local cultural organizations recover post-pandemic. How to Connect: To connect with this Zoom Conversation, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85845235206?pwd=VDhac2V3b0lETGVjVk5pdDhqZ3p0QT09 (PRESS RELEASE)_Delray Beach, FL – Encapsulating love and a lifetime affection for dad in a Father's Day present can be a daunting task. Thankfully, the Museum Store at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is brimming with one-of-a-kind gifts that pops is sure to prize even if he has already received the best gift ever — you. Take your chichi's ("father" in Japanese) taste buds, and his green thumb, to the Land of the Rising Sun. With these Japanese Herb Seed Kits ($12), growing delicious, edible herbs at home is simple and adds piquancy to every meal. Stocked with seedlings, potting mix, and gardening instructions. Each kit arrives in sealed, plastic-lined paper bags to preserve freshness. Selections include Hawk Claw, Shiso, and Wasabina. Bump up pater’s bar cart game with a bottle of good sake and dapper drinking essentials. Featuring a calligraphed flask, or tokkuri, and four ceramic cups called o-choko, this elegant, handcrafted Japanese Saki Set ($45) will impress guests when it’s time to say, “Kampai!” Raking was a common practice Buddhist monks used to achieve mindfulness and serenity. With a Tabletop Zen Garden ($35), dad, too, can enjoy the calming effects of raking and create delicate patterns using sand and rocks. Additional features include an 11”x7” wooden tray, a garden rake, and meditation book. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org. (PRESS RELEASE)_In honor of National Waitstaff Day on May 21, QuenchTime has launched the First Annual South Florida's Favorite Server & Bartender Awards. Now through May 20, the public can nominate their favorite waiter, waitress, and bartender. Nominated waitstaff will all have a chance to win exciting prizes including a two night staycation at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa. GO HERE to vote. Read more about QuenchTime HERE. The winds were gusting on a recent visit to Melbourne Beach, Florida -- ideal for daredevil wind surfers, like this one. Video by North Palm Beach Life.
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ABOUTExploring what to see and do in North Palm Beach and the South Florida area. Your hosts are Pam and Gerry Barker. GERRY PRONOUNCED GARYArchives
May 2024
YouTube ChannelCategoriesListen to Chapter One of "Panama Palmer"
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