![]() (PRESS RELEASE)_Boca Raton, FL (August 31, 2021) – Boca Helping Hands (BHH) has planned a variety of initiatives, giving members of the community the opportunity to help feed local families who are “food insecure” during September’s Hunger Action Month. The initiatives include opportunities to advocate, volunteer, and raise needed funds. Nearly 155,000 Palm Beach County residents struggled with food insecurity prior to the pandemic, and more than 44,000 of those were children. At the height of the pandemic, food insecurity saw a 29% increase of an additional 45,000 individuals. While it’s now projected to be over 181,000 individuals, it’s still elevated from pre-pandemic levels, and many of the “extra” streams of food from the federal government are now concluded. Boca Helping Hands has planned a calendar of events for Hunger Action Month with a suggested activity each day in September. Visit BocaHelpingHands.org/HungerActionMonth to view the calendar. “Hunger Action Month is a reminder that there are local families and children who do not know where their next meal is coming from and, as a community, we can help,” said Greg Hazle, Executive Director of Boca Helping Hands. “Unfortunately, the resurgence of the pandemic is likely to make matters worse.” Boca Helping Hands began as a small soup kitchen in 1998, just serving the Boca Raton area. Over the past 23 years, the organization has expanded throughout Palm Beach County, grown its hunger relief efforts, and now also provides healthcare for uninsured clients, adult education, job training, and emergency financial assistance. Boca Helping Hands’ food programs include the Pantry Bag Program, which provides nonperishable and fresh groceries to clients with five locations between Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Lantana/Lake Worth. In October, the organization will be adding West Delray to its pantry distribution schedule. Annually, Boca Helping Hands distributes more than 80,000 pantry bags. The Hot Meal Program provides hot and nutritious meals six days a week at the East Boca Raton location. Boca Helping Hands serves nearly 90,000 hot meals each year. The Homebound Meal Program provides individuals who are homebound due to age, ailment, or disability with meals delivered to their homes. In 2020, Boca Helping provided more than 5,500 meals to local homebound clients. The BHH Backpacks program provides weekend meals to schoolchildren from ten local schools, serving nearly 1,300 children. Each year, the organization sees a 10-15% increase in demand for the Pantry Bag Program, but during the height of the pandemic, 1,760 new families registered to receive groceries, an increase of 40%. In May 2021, Boca Helping Hands opened an additional warehouse facility at its main campus in East Boca Raton with the capacity to potentially double the number of people served over the next five to ten years.
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(PRESS RELEASE)_Boca Raton, FL, August 30, 2021 –The Fuller Center will honor essential and front line workers at the Inaugural Hero Walk: Honoring Our Hometown Heroes, which will take place on Saturday, October 23 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), 5000 T-Rex Avenue, Boca Raton. The Walk will celebrate all of the everyday heroes among us, including essential workers, doctors, nurses, teachers, child care workers, home health aides, store clerks, delivery drivers and other frontline workers.
In addition to the one-mile walk, the event will also include children’s activities, a live DJ and a very special presentation by the Fuller Center children. Breakfast, snacks, and beverages will be available. There will also be a first responder’s area complete with vehicles on display from the Boca Raton Fire Rescue, Police Department, and FPL. “The walk is open to everyone–no superhero cape needed! Come dressed as your personal ‘everyday hero’ for a fun morning as we honor all of the wonderful people in our community who go above and beyond to keep us safe and cared for during the pandemic,” said Ellyn Okrent, CEO of Fuller Center. The event co-chairs are Dr. Patricia Anastasio, Carolina Doering, and Mary Sol Gonzalez. Major sponsors include ADT and FPL. Tickets are $10 per person, and children under 12 are free. To purchase a ticket or become a sponsor, visit https://www.ffcdc.org/special-events/2021-hero-walk/. To honor someone who made a difference in your life during the pandemic, contact Alana Lagerström at 561-609-1668 or email alagerstrom@ffcdc.org ![]() (Josie's Ristorante) (PRESS RELEASE)_On Wednesday, September 15, celebrate National Linguine Day with a fork, a spoon, and a bib at one of these classic, Italian-centric gems that will be serving up some of the best linguine ("little tongues" in Italian) in Palm Beach County. Delray Beach hotspot City Oyster and executive chef Jordan Stilley will honor the annual pasta holiday with its signature Frutti di Mare ($35), an "eat it to believe it" linguine dish crowned with lavish portions of shrimp, clams, mussels, and calamari. Fresh pastas are made daily at City Oyster's in-house bakery on the second floor. Happy Hour lovers are invited to pair their fresh catch with 2-for-1 cocktails, domestic and international beers, and select wines from 4-7 p.m. City Oyster is located at 213 E. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 272-0220 or visit cityoysterdelray.com. Meanwhile, Josie's Ristorante, a rustic, family-owned eatery in Boynton Beach, will commemorate the protein-packed carb fest with palate-pleasers like Linguine with Sebastian Inlet Clams ($25) and Shrimp Scampi ($29) loaded with fresh garlic, white wine, lemon, and a rich, butter sauce over linguine. Mop up your bowl with Josie's pillowy soft (and free!) garlic rolls. During Happy Hour, from 2-6 p.m. and 9-close, make a toast with salud-worthy sips. Josie's Ristorante is located at 1602 S. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach. For more information, call (561) 364-9601 or visit josiesristorante.com. ![]() North Palm Beach Life Our Restaurant Week road trip continued Wednesday as our food warrior foursome set the car's navigation system towards Palm Beach and the Brazilian Court Hotel, where we had reservations at one of our favorite places, Cafe Boulud. As evening approached, it was perfect weather to choose outdoor seating, and Cafe Boulud provides the perfect setting, amid lush, tropical trees, foliage and fountains. For Restaurant Week, they offered a three-course menu priced at $55, which we perused over cocktails. The first course selections were: -- ANDALUCIAN GAZPACHO - Crunchy Vegetables, California Olive Oil, Rustic Croutons -- TUNA CRUDO - Avocado, Lime, Piquillo Aioli -- BEET & DILL SALAD - Labneh, Beetroot Millefeuille, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Benne Seed Decisions, decisions! Pam and I chose the Gazpacho, Eileen the Tuna and Bill the Beet Salad, so we sampled all three. The tuna and beet salad got high marks, while we found the Gazpacho, while flavorful, a little heavy-handed. Next came entrees. On that list were: -- CRISPY CHICKEN ROULADE “KATSU CURRY" - Japanese Curry Sauce, Green Cabbage, Lemon -- BOUDIN BLANC - Whipped Potato, Green Apple -- RICOTTA CAVATELLI - White Bean, Pesto Genovese, Cherry Tomato, Lemon ![]() As a recent convert to the joys of Katsu, I had to go with the chicken, while the rest of our group went with the Boudin Blanc, which was Cajun-style, white sausage. In terms of both presentation and taste, our compliments to the chef. Both were outstanding. Dessert time. Bill and I chose the Brazilian-style Napoleon with coffee ice cream, while Pam had the key lime pie and Eileen the chocolate tart. The tart turned out to be the clear winner of this round. But that wasn't all: The wait staff brought a bonus dessert to the table -- small confections that were part donut and part beignet. So good I wanted more! Also to note: If you come to Cafe Boulud, you can expect to well taken care of. The service is topnotch. While the food is the main event, for us Restaurant Week is just as much about getting together with good friends and enjoying their company, as we have with Bill and Eileen these past two weeks. We couldn't ask for better people to break bread with. To all, we say "bon appetit"! ![]() (PRESS RELEASE)_BUFFALO, NY – 08/26/2021 - The Harbor Hotel Collection’s Apple Days returns from September 7 - October 15, 2021 at three AAA Four Diamond waterfront hotels: Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on Chautauqua Lake, Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in the Finger Lakes region and 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. Apple Days celebrates apple picking season in Upstate New York with seasonal amenities, such as apples and fresh cider at check-in, and special menu items featuring delicious apple-inspired dishes and signature cocktails. Guests will receive a list of nearby orchards they can visit for apple picking. Autumn is a glorious season for a road trip to all three destinations. A scenic three-hour drive through peak foliage separates Chautauqua Lake from Watkins Glen and from Watkins Glen to 1000 Islands – with many interesting stops, natural wonders, and historic attractions in between. A sample road trip itinerary can be found at the link here. Travelers who visit two hotels on consecutive nights will get a portable mini-cooler stuffed with goodies for the drive. For more information or to make reservations, please visit HarborHotelCollection.com. ![]() As the second week of Restaurant Week gets underway, our merry group of diners headed for Cuba. Well, not the island, but the well-known Cuban eatery on West Dixie, Don Ramos, which was offering a special $15, three-course lunch. Pam and I were introduced to Don Ramos recently by friends who have been longtime regulars, and it did not disappoint. So we were looking forward to making our second visit with Bill and Eileen. Inside, the restaurant has a great vibe: Dark woods and vibrant art that captures the Cuban and Caribbean spirit. We arrived for our 1 pm reservation and got a booth by the windows. The restaurant's policy is wear a mask when you are not dining at your table, which we agree with wholeheartedly. While they brought a stack of menus to our table, none of them were the Restaurant Week menu. When we asked, they had to print one off so we could see the choices, which we thought a little odd. The first decision was between beef empanadas and chicken soup. Since Pam and I are not beef eaters, it was easy -- give us the soup. Our companions went with the empanadas. Speaking strictly for the soup, it was excellent -- lots of veggies and thin noodles in a delicious stock. You could easily make it a meal with a bigger portion. You had four chopices for entree: Pollo a la Plancha (Chicken Filet); Lechon Asado (Roast Pork); Filete de Pescado (Fish Filet) or Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef), plus three side orders from this group: White or Yellow Rice, Black, Red or White Beans, Sweet Plantains, Tostones, Yuca, French Fries, Broccoli or Side Salad. After much deliberation, Pam went with the fish while I chose the chicken. For side dishes, she got white rice, white beans and french fries, while I went with the white beans, sweet plantains and tostones, which I had never had before (my nod to adventures in eating). Pam's order arrived with the wrong beans, and mine had the wrong chicken. For some reason, they didn't have the chicken filets so they substituted grilled chicken with peppers and onions. To be honest, the service overall was lacking on this visit, a big change from our first time here. Besides the order mixup, it was slow and our waitperson had just a little attitude going as well. Nonetheless, the food was good, and the portions generous. On the downside, Pam would have liked some sauce for the fish, and Bill found the roast pork a little dry as well. My tostones, which I discovereed were flattened and fried plantains, were not to my liking. I'll stay with the sweet variety.
Our meal also included the choice of Cortadito (Small Café con Leche) or Cuban Coffee. Three of us got the former, while Bill went with the Cuban coffee. I'm not usually a coffee drinker, but the Cafe con Leche was very tasty. While dessert isn't part of the special, we splurged and ordered a round of Flan and Tres Leches cake. Both were outstanding, and well-deserved additions to our take-home boxes. If you haven't been here, now a great time to give it a try. Hopefully, the service hiccups were a one-time thing. --Gerry Barker ![]() (PRESS RELEASE)_Boca Raton, FL, August 25, 2021 – Fuller Center, a non-profit focused on embracing, educating and empowering under resourced children and families to achieve their full potential, will launch The Promise Program with 16 teenage participants this October. The program is looking for interested participants to enroll. Fuller Center will provide teens (16-22) with access to a positive, caring relationship with a non-parental adult mentor or coach. Palm Beach County Youth Services Department provided the grant for this program with the goal of providing teens with the leadership skills and work experience they need to be successful, self-sustaining, productive members of the community. The Promise Program will provide teens with the opportunity to develop soft skills and good work habits, all necessary for future academic and employment success. Teens will build relationships with people of varied backgrounds and experiences. Teen leaders will have a contract and depending on attendance, commitment, follow-through and level of responsibility, the teen will be paid a (small) monthly stipend. An adult mentor or coach will supervise each participant and each teen will develop and create a project. Students can develop a program in their area of interest, such as the arts, animation, sports, early childhood development and more. In addition, the teens will get help with college and job applications. Teens will also work in partnership with Fuller Center staff gaining real world hands-on work related experiences and learning the importance of accountability, responsibility, dependability, commitment and the ability to work with others- all lessons best learned when provided the opportunity for experience. The Sunrise Rotary will work with the teen leaders to teach them about different occupations, and the Center welcomes other caring adults who would like to join in making an impact in our community. To learn more, please contact Olga Bearhope, Volunteer & Mentor Manager, at 561-391-7274, Ext. 136. ![]() (PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – August 25, 2021) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting a season of special events and super-sized exhibitions at Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden starting in October 2021 and running through May 2022. “All of our upcoming special events and exhibits—several returning by popular demand—are guaranteed to inspire a sense of awe, wonder, and even reconnection among garden enthusiasts, plant lovers, and proud ‘green-thumbers’ of all ages,” says Mounts Curator-Director Rochelle Wolberg. “Each one is the perfect opportunity for friends and families to come out and enjoy our many safe, healthy and happy horticultural activities.” October 10, November 14, December 13, 2021 January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11 & May 8, 2022 Dogs’ Day in the Garden Sundays, 9 am to 3 pm (last entry at 2 pm) FREE for members; $10 for nonmembers; $5 for children 5-12 / includes full Garden admission This dog-and-family-friendly monthly event is held throughout the Garden. Bring your beloved pooch to enjoy a relaxed garden stroll. There are many great spots to capture family photos for posting online with #mountsbotanicalgarden. Guidelines: + Non-retractable leashes only; retractable leashes are not permitted. + No more than one dog per adult will be admitted. + Rabies vaccination must be current. + Visitors should bring their own and water treats for the puppies. + For all Dogs' Day rules, please visit www.mounts.org/dogs-day. October 28, 2021 Public Opening Day for MOAI at Mounts Botanical Garden + Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm (October & May) + Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm (November through April) FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $12 for nonmember adults; $10 for seniors, active military, and college students with ID; $5 for children, 6-17 + Tickets available for purchase at the gate. Reconnect with History as the mystery of the Moai comes to Mounts. Thanks to the generosity of Margaret Blume, the garden’s Tropical Forest Garden will re-open with the permanent installation of three imposing Moai sculptures, replicas of the iconic monolithic, human figures located on Easter Island, Chile. Visitors will discover the inspiring story of the Easter Island Moai and the Rapa Nui Culture. The tribute is meant to inspire curiosity and to serve as a link to ancient history, art, and culture. November 6-7 Plant-a-Palooza Fall Plant Sale + Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm + Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $15 for nonmember adults; $12 for seniors, active military, and college students with ID; $7 for children, 6-17 + Tickets available at www.mounts.org or by calling 561.233.1757. Reconnect with Gardening as an estimated 60 vendors, spread throughout the Garden, offer a wide range of plants, shrubs, trees, garden furniture, accessories, baskets, and fine crafts. Visitors can stroll and shop in a relaxed environment, while looking for Bonsai, bamboo, bromeliads, butterfly plants, citrus, ferns, Florida natives, flowering trees, ginger, heliconia, orchids & supplies, pitcher plants, plumeria, roses, succulents, vines and more. The Mounts Botanical Nursery and Vintage Thrift Shop will also be open with a great variety of plants and unique treasures for the home and garden. December 1-23 Garden of Lights + Tuesday-Sunday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (last entry at 8 pm) FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $15 for nonmember adults; $12 for seniors, active military, and college students with ID; $7 for children, 6-17 + Tickets available at www.mounts.org or by calling 561.233.1757. Reconnect with Magic as Mounts Botanical lights up the gardens for 20 sparkling evenings during the holiday season. Visitors of all ages will enjoy discovering the magic of Mounts at night as thousands of jewel-toned lights illuminate and amplify the lush tropical foliage, majestic trees, and signature structures along an easy-to-follow route throughout various garden areas. January 8-May 1 Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Art with LEGO® Bricks + Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm (last entry at 3 pm) FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $15 for nonmember adults; $12 for seniors, active military, and college students with ID; $7 for children, 6-17 + Tickets available at www.mounts.org or by calling 561.233.1757. Reconnect with your Inner Child. This new exhibition from acclaimed artist Sean Kenney features over 40 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO® pieces and explores the beauty of nature through highly stylized, colorful displays that stand in striking contrast with their surroundings. Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Nature POP! blends art, science, and innovation in the display of these sculptures. Known for his ability to make striking works of art using simple LEGO toys, Kenney pushes the boundaries of the medium in this new exhibition through his use of vibrant colors and a bold, graphical style. Inspired by the Pop art movement, Kenney’s work on Nature POP! plays on that movement’s principles by blurring the boundaries between austere and the everyday, and draws from a belief that everything is connected. April 23-24 Plant-a-Palooza Spring Plant Sale + Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm + Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $15 for nonmember adults; $12 for seniors, active military, and college students with ID; $7 for children, 6-17 + Tickets available at www.mounts.org or by calling 561.233.1757. Reconnect with Gardening as an estimated 60 vendors, spread throughout the Garden, offer a wide range of plants, shrubs, trees, garden furniture, accessories, baskets, and fine crafts. Visitors can stroll and shop in a relaxed environment, while looking for Bonsai, bamboo, bromeliads, butterfly plants, citrus, ferns, Florida natives, flowering trees, ginger, heliconia, orchids & supplies, pitcher plants, plumeria, roses, succulents, vines and more. The Mounts Botanical Nursery and Vintage Thrift Shop will also be open with a great variety of plants and unique treasures for the home and garden. ![]() (PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – August 24, 2021) The Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and further cultivation and use of tropical and rare fruit in South Florida and around the world, is hosting its annual Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The popular event will be held from 9 am to 2 pm in the Agriplex Building on the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach. Both admission and parking are FREE. At this year’s Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale, vendors from all over the state will offer a wide variety of delightful and delicious fruit trees, including Avocado, Banana, Barbados Cherry, Black Sapote, Canistel, Dragon Fruit, Fig, Guava, Grumichama, Jackfruit, Jaboticaba, Longan, Lychee, Macadamia, Mamey Sapote, Mango, Miracle Fruit, Mulberry, Papaya, Peach, Persimmon, Soursop, Sugar Apple, Star Apple, Tamarind, herbs and spices, plus specially formulated fertilizer, and more. Fresh honey from the Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association will also be available for purchase, promises group president Kevin Easton. Visitors are encouraged to bring a wagon to help carry purchased plants. Also available will be educational information on the planting and growing of fruit trees, along with knowledgeable volunteers and vendors to answer any questions. About The Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc.: Established in 1970, the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council (RFC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and furthering the cultivation and use of tropical and rare fruit in south Florida and throughout the world. RFC members are interested in learning about, growing and enjoying tropical fruits, and is holding meetings at Mounts Botanical Garden on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Membership is $30 yearly, and benefits include: + Monthly newsletter - filled with informative articles about growing rare fruits and related topics. + Propagation classes - members learn how to graft & air-layer tropical fruit trees. + Annual Ice Cream Social - for members and their guests only; the ice cream is handmade with fruits grown by members. + Plant Sales - members can bring fruit trees and edible plants to sell to the general public. + Organized field trips to regional fruit tree collections and plantings. + Periodic field trips to member yards and local orchards. + Volunteer opportunities for many interesting & exciting committees and events. In addition, specially formulated fertilizer is offered at a discount for RFC members. For more information about the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc., please call 855.732.7273 or visit www.pbrarefruitcouncil.org. ![]() (FAU Community Service Club members with Jett & Luke Justin) (BHH) (PRESS RELEASE)_Boca Raton, FL (August 23, 2021) – Boca Helping Hands (BHH), in collaboration with the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Athletics and Cereal4All, will commemorate September’s Hunger Action Month by holding the Tackle Hunger Cereal Drive during the FAU vs. Georgia Southern football game. The game is taking place on Saturday, September 11 at 3:30 pm at the FAU Stadium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Those who donate one or more cereal boxes will get into the game for free. Unopened cereal boxes can be dropped at the stadium (Gate 1) on game day. “This is a great way to see your favorite football team play while helping to fight hunger in our community,” said Greg Hazle, Executive Director of Boca Helping Hands. “Breakfast food is one of the least donated items to food banks across the country, which means underserved kids and families do not always have daily access to breakfast in their home.” Cereal4All was started by twin brothers Jett and Luke Justin of Boca Raton, now 13 years old. After volunteering at Boca Helping Hands (BHH) with their parents, Jett and Luke organized their first cereal drive for BHH at their school in 2016 when they were just eight years old. The boys have since expanded the program to 10 more schools in the area. “We want to live in a world where every kid and family has daily access to breakfast food in their home,” Luke Justin said. “We want to be part of the fight against food insecurity.” FAU’s Community Service Club was the first college organization to participate in Cereal4All, and they collected more than 400 pounds of cereal in April. In addition, club members will volunteer on game day to collect cereal and hand out free football game tickets. To learn more, visit bocahelpinghands.org/tacklehunger. For more ways to get involved during Hunger Action Month, visit BocaHelpingHands.org/HungerActionMonth to explore volunteer opportunities, food drives, fundraisers, and educational information. |
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
June 2023
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