Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 1
Palms West Journal
Palms West Journal is now offering Home Delivery!
Scan the code to sign up now!
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • WEST PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE GROVES • THE ACREAGE Volume 1, Number 6
PalmsWestJournal.com
FREE • March 2022
Manatee rescue measures are underway
Boys & Girls Clubs Palm Beach members eligible for Atlantic awards PBSC scholarship
scholarships
Boys & Girls Clubs members in PalmGlade Beach Atlantic University Belle may apply now for ahas $1,500-a-year scholarship awarded four of its seniors to Beachannual State College, thePalm school’s Women thanks to a $20,000 donation by of Distinction scholarships, philanthropist Laura Finfrock.of including Maria Landron
PAGE 3 Beach. Royal Palm
Photo by Troy Levengood
A hungry manatee feeding on some lettuce provided as part of the feeding program implemented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
By Ivan Santos Palms West Journal
Mounts Botanical Garden features traveling exhibition NaturePop! Produced by Image Exhibitions, “Nature POP!” invites the community to enjoy a display of complicated and unique connections through Lego blocks.
Florida documented 1,101 manatee deaths in 2021, nearly double the number in 2020, and close to 100 of the sea mammals have died in the first month of 2022. Starvation, caused by agricultural and urban pollution, is the main killer of manatees. Pollution triggers algae blooms, which deci-
PAGE 7
Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands plans for expansion In addition to close-up views of wildlife, the 63-acre project will offer recreational facilities for the whole family including hiking, canoeing and even fishing.
PAGE 9
mate the seagrass beds on which manatees depend. Despite a pilot feeding program, food scarcity, cold waters and negligent boating continue to harm this threatened species. The nonprofit Save the Manatee Club is trying to feed and protect the mammals, while Florida zoos, SeaWorld theme parks and aquariums are working to rescue and house mana-
tees. A manatee found in Florida waters in January 2021 weighed 490 pounds, more than 600 pounds short of the normal weight of 1,100 pounds. The manatee, named Chandler, also suffered from cold stress. After a year of rehabilitation at ZooTampa’s David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, he gained 250 pounds and was released into the wild last month. Manatees nursed back to good health typically are returned to their previous environment, where they know the locations of grass flats, feeding areas and freshwater. Orphaned calves are commonly received at rescue facilities with limited or no experience of the wild. They are released in warmwater sites where manatees congregate during the winter. Manatees rescued in a high-risk state often are tagged to monitor their adaptation and behavior back in the wild. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that 7,520 manatees are in the wild. Human activity and contamination threaten to return the mammal to the endangered list. Experimental feed-
ings with lettuce, a common food in rehabilitation facilities, continue in the Indian River Lagoon, the Homosassa River Restoration Project, Cocoa City and other locations. Feeding manatees on your own is illegal. If you spot a manatee injured or starving, call the FWC at 888-404-3922. Signs of a starving manatee include protruding ribs; a “peanut head,” which is the presence of a curve behind the head; and ventral folds, which are similar to ripples across the abdominal area. The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership has joined with multiple partners, including SeaWorld Orlando, one of the facilities that has space to nurture manatees. Others include Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Centro de Conservación de Manatíes de Puerto Rico. There are no plans to stretch the feeding program beyond Brevard County, even though the West Indian manatee is seen heading toward warmer waters and food up to Alabama. Seagrass restoration and reduced water pollution remain the keys to the species’ future.
Page 2 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 3
FACES & PLACES
Boys & Girls Clubs members eligible for PBSC scholarship
Photo by The Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County Row 1: Chilondra Sheppard, Mayra Gomez, Jaene Miranda, Laura Finfrock, Allen Finfrock, Ava Parker and Dr. LaTanya McNeal. Row 2: Kimberly Lancaster, Jernae Thomas, David Rutherford and Capt. Emory Payne. Row 3: Jim Spafford, Steve Cornette and Anthony Davis.
By Ivan Santos Palms West Journal
Boys & Girls Clubs members in Belle Glade may apply now for a $1,500-a-year scholarship to Palm Beach State College, thanks to a $20,000 donation by philanthropist Laura Finfrock. The scholarship is only for members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s
Smith & Moore Family Teen Center in Belle Glade who pursue an associate degree or career certificate at the community college. Finfrock, whose family company is one of Florida’s leading commercial contractors, said the college offers the necessary tools to support the future of Belle Glade and Palm Beach County. Belle Glade has seen the
highest unemployment rate in the county, motivating companies like Finfrock to take steps to develop qualified employees. Scholarship applicants must have been Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County members for two or more years and have completed at least 20 volunteer hours with the teen center. They need a GPA of at least 2.0 and must write a 250-
word essay describing how the scholarship will benefit their educational journey. Priority will go to students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math, as well as industry, manufacturing, construction and transportation. Scholarship recipients may attend any of PBSC’s five campuses. Although Finfrock’s dona-
tion launched the program, additional contributions are needed to support more students in the future. Established in 1945, Finfrock has designed and built resorts, parking garages, student housing, office buildings and multifamily buildings. The company aims to offer a modern, edgy touch to construction. The Apopka-based contractor’s connection to the Glades region started early last year when it purchased 100 acres in Belle Glade to house precast concrete manufacturing facilities. The plant will bring the Belle Glade area over 200 jobs. Since 1994, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County has expanded from after-school programs in three Belle Glade schools to six school-based sites and one stand-alone facility providing education to more than 1,200 Glades-area youths. The club offers six core programs: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; sports and fitness; and technology. For information on donating to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s Belle Glade Teen Center Scholarship Fund, contact Kim Sovinsky at ksovinski@bgcpbc.org or 561683-3287. To donate to the PBSC Foundation, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/foundation, or call 561-868-3450.
In A New Light
American Impressionism 1870-1940 | Works from the Bank of America Collection This sweeping survey of American Impressionism presents paintings, prints, and drawings, tracing the emergence and evolution of a truly American style in works by acclaimed artists. In a New Light reflects the changing mindset of America from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, exploring the ways in which local artists interpreted America’s rural, maritime, and urban spaces and portrayed daily life using the Impressionistic devices of capturing moments with brisk brushstrokes, a vibrant palette, and atmospheric effects. Childe Hassam (American, 1859–1935), Old House, East Hampton, 1917, oil on linen, Bank of America Collection
ON DISPLAY THROUGH APRIL 16, 2022 Tickets: $10. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesdays. Visit fourarts.org to reserve tickets and view all our season programs.
fourarts.org
In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870–1940 has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® program.
| 102 FOUR ARTS PLAZA | PALM BEACH, FL
Page 4 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
SCENEFRONTIER LAST FROM WEST PALM by Aaron Wormus | awormus@palmswestmonthly.com
Big Dog Ranch Rescue gives second chance to thousands of dogs By Michelle Morrison Palms West Journal
Spanning 33 acres in Loxahatchee, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest cagefree and no-kill dog rescue in the United States. The ranch was founded in 2008 with the mission to save 5,000 dogs each year, heal and nurture them, place them in loving homes and educate communities about how to care for our fourlegged friends. The nonprofit focuses most of its efforts in the Southeast, but also rescues dogs from international disaster zones such as Caribbean islands struck by hurricanes. Over 8,000 dogs have been rescued from these post-hurricane efforts. The campus is built to provide the most loving environment and best care possible for the thousands of dogs that come through each year while they wait to be matched with families. When dogs arrive at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, they are taken to the state-of-the-art medical intake and quarantine buildings for full medical exams, spaying or neutering and microchipping. This prevents exposure to the rest of the campus until the dogs are cleared with a good bill of health. An area called Puppy Land was created for pregnant dogs to deliver litters in 10 stress-free cabins with attached play yards for the puppies. Most dogs live in 100 cage-free bunkrooms and have play time in one of 4 half-acre yards. The visitor center welcomes over 10,000 people, including potential adopters, each year. The senior sanctuary provides a relaxed space for older dogs to live and for people to spend time with them. Big Dog Ranch Rescue has a variety of special programs. Lauree Simmons, the founder of BDRR, drove to Miami to pick up a Weimaraner that needed
Photo by Palms West Journal
Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s main building mural on the 33-acre campus in Loxahatchee Groves.
rescuing. She vowed that no dog would die at a shelter and began building the ranch. The Florida Weimaraner Rescue program, a tribute to that moment, allows families to adopt this beautiful, loyal, smart, stubborn and attention-seeking breed. The Seniors for Seniors program addresses the highest-risk dog population, those over 7 years of age. The Seniors for Seniors adoption program matches senior dogs with senior citizens, and its visitation program allows seniors to visit the campus to spend time with senior dogs. The Miracle Fund provides money for areas affected by natural disasters to bring essential supplies, save abandoned dogs and reunite displaced dogs with their families. Through the Asia Dog Meat Trade program, Big Dog Ranch Rescue works hard in Asia to save dogs
that are intended for human consumption. More than 100 dogs have been rescued and brought back to the ranch in Florida or to partner locations. The ranch’s Big Dog University offers great training opportunities, whether your dog is a puppy or an adult or just wants to come for “yappy hour” with friends. Most recently, the campus opened the Dawn & Al Hoffman Veteran Service Dog Training Lodge, a haven to prepare rescue dogs to be companions and service dogs to veterans. The program placed several rescue dogs into homes with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, and with the new lodge, the goal is to place up to 250 dogs with deserving veterans per year. To support the ranch you can volunteer time, create a fundraiser on Facebook or donate money or supplies directly to the organization.
Photo By Big Dog Ranch Rescue A Big Dog Ranch Rescue volunteer playing with a new resident.
m 7aprcmh 23 @ 7p @ 3 2 h M Marc
40
Anniveth rsary
2022 Season
lis Trio The Pam Til pm March 4 @7
1977 College Drive, Belle Glade, FL 33430 To register for academic classes: 561-996-7222 or www.palmbeachstate.edu
SEE IT LIVE!
Helen Miller-Best March 21 @7pm
cia de Mexico Mariachi Heren March 27 @4pm
Box Office 561-993-1160
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 5
VILLAGE LIFE
Great Charity Challenge raises $1.7M for local nonprofits By Nina Barr Palms West Journal
The Great Charity Challenge, a show that combines equestrian sport and philanthropy, took place Feb. 5 as part of the Winter Equestrian Festival. People from all over the world come to the festival in Wellington, known as the “Winter Equestrian Capital of the World.” Sponsored by Fidelity Investments, this year’s 13th annual Great Charity Challenge provided $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County. The winning team was made up by Caroline Mawhinney, Mia Albelo and Jessica Mendoza. The team is supported by their team sponsor, Sexton Engineering and corporate sponsor Triple M Farms. The team entered the ring with their costumes representing “The Ugly Duckling” and finished with a time of 93.779 seconds. The father/daughter duo of Mark and Paige Bellissimo founded the challenge in 2009
to increase funding to local nonprofits after the 2008 economic crisis. Charities are randomly selected for the event. This year 33 nonprofit organizations are paired with equestrian teams and sponsors to receive shares of the $1.7 million purse. The competition is relaystyle jumping, with the teams consisting of two junior/amateur riders and one Olympic or world-class rider. Postage Stamp Farm Foundation held the inaugural Pet Parade Contest for children and their pets. The nonprofit organizations supported by the first 15 preselected contestants will share $25,000 in prize money. Each child entered is guaranteed $1,000 toward a chosen cause. Last year’s Great Charity Challenge was held virtually. The theme amid the COVID pandemic was “heroes,” allowing horses and riders to dress in impressive, sometimes patriotic garb. “Seeing the level of need in
Photo by Great Charity Challenge
Rider competing in the Great Charity Challenge at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Photo by Great Charity Challenge
The winning team posing in their costumes with their mascot, a live duck.
our community and knowing how difficult the past year has been, we quickly realized that we couldn’t turn our backs on our most vulnerable neighbors,” Mark Bellissimo said. “We are truly grateful to see that the community was able to adapt to this format while stepping up to provide crucial funding to local organizations.” Over the years, creative costumes have included a horse painted like a zebra for a “jungle” theme and Paige Bellissimo dressed as Princess Elsa from “Frozen” for an “animated movies” theme.
Feb. 5, the riders and horses will compete as characters from children’s story books to highlight the importance of literacy and capture the imagination of attendees. The festival also provides a variety of food, shops, a carousel and carnival games. The Ugly Duckling, the winning team, was awarded the top prize of $100,000 which will be granted to Wellington PTA/ PTO/PTSA, a local non-profit organization that assists all 12 Wellington public schools. The organization has been included in every year’s Great Charity
Challenge event and has received funds of over $450,000 as a result. While the champion team’s nonprofit receives $100,000, all the selected nonprofits are guaranteed a minimum grant of $15,000. “The Great Charity Challenge has given Wellington and Palm Beach County insight to a world that most people never see,” said Mike Sexton of Sexton Engineering, “It has allowed us corporations that work with charities to get to know so many more of them. It is a terrific event.”
DENTAL
Get the dental care you deserve.
INSURANCE
If you’ve put off dental care, it’s easy to get back on track. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company now for inexpensive dental insurance. Get help paying for the dental care you need. Don’t wait.
Helps cover over 350 procedures
Preventive care benefits right away
Go to any dentist, but save No deductible, no annual more with one in maximum our network
Getting back to the dentist couldn’t be easier!
CALL TODAY
1-888-737-7105 Dental50Plus.com/palms
Get your
FREE
Information Kit
Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B). 6208-0721
Page 6 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
SCENE FROM VILLAGE LIFE WEST PALM by Aaron Wormus | awormus@palmswestmonthly.com
Vivia Taylor teaches the beauty of music By Neïsha Etienne Palms West Journal
The Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center hosted the Vivia Taylor Music Program last month with an open house to allow the community to learn more about the music program. Behind the arts classes is the onewoman show that is Vivia Neil Taylor. Through weekly Saturday lessons, Taylor is offering two piano classes for two age groups: “Keyboard ABC” for 5and 6-year-olds and “Cool Keyboards” for 7- to 10-year-olds. Her vocal lessons are for 7- to 15-year-olds, and the theater lessons accept 7- to 16-year-olds. The classes last 12 weeks and require the kids to work. “They have weekly assignments. They have to practice for 20 minutes every day, and when they come to class, they are ready with their books,” Taylor said. During the open house, Taylor will expand on the materials needed for
Photo by Vivia Taylor Music Program
One of Vivia’s younger students enjoying an afternoon piano session.
the classes. Taylor grew up in Jamaica and was drawn to playing instruments early on. She became enchanted by her father’s accordion at the age of 3. Taylor’s parents recognized her passion for music and enrolled her in piano lessons at 4. For 23 years, Taylor has dedicated her life to the musical education of her community. Her goal is to get music into every household. “Music is a language that everyone understands,” she said. Taylor appreciates the healing and transformative power of playing an instrument and touts the mental health benefits of having a creative outlet. She has often found herself in front of her piano, liberating herself from whatever pain she is harboring. Taylor puts great importance on what each student can take from her lessons. She finds what works best for the learning style of each student and is intentional in her teaching. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, music through the media Taylor offers is proven to improve mental health disorders commonly known as the big three: anxiety, depression and trauma. Music also can be a calming agent and help reduce or manage stress. One mother said that learning the piano with Taylor helped her eldest son manage his hyperactivity and improve his penmanship. He enhanced his fine motor skills and learned the benefits of hard work and discipline. Playing the piano engages both sides of the brain, strengthens handeye coordination, increases dexterity and is helpful with math and reading comprehension. The process of learning and improving also can soothe
Vivia Taylor teaching one of her students.
anxieties about learning a new skill or topic and can lead to quicker advancement through other music classes or band sections. Taylor teaches her students through encouragement, adjustment and a lot of questions. “What’s causing this?” she asks when a child is struggling. “Have you tried it this way?” She makes sure they know that everything needed to succeed comes from within. “When you have that student who struggles, use words that are positive … for that child to realize the strength that is within themselves,” Taylor said. The classes culminate with a recital, which Taylor said is an important reward for the students’ hard work and a confidence booster.
Photo by Vivia Taylor Music Program
Class packages are $250 for Royal Palm Beach residents and $275 for non-residents. The program also offers gift certificates for virtual sessions for new students. The $250 platinum tier offers eight 30-minute virtual sessions. The gold has four 30-minute sessions for $120, and the $60 silver holds two 30-minute sessions. Taylor also offers private classes for adults. The recreation center provides an array of activities for the community, including summer and winter camps, a daddy-daughter dance, martial arts classes and classes for seniors.
FREEDOM. TO BE YOU. If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air. Introducing the Inogen One family of portable oxygen systems. With no need for bulky tanks, each concentrator is designed to keep you active via Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology.® Hours of quiet and consistent oxygen flow on a long-lasting battery charge enabling freedom of movement, whether at home or on the road. Every Inogen One meets FAA requirements for travel ensuring the freedom to be you. • No heavy oxygen tanks • Safe for car and air travel • Ultra quiet operation • Full range of options and accessories • Lightweight and easy to use • FDA approved and clinically validated
Call 1-866-551-2415 for a free consultation and info guide.
MKT-P0253
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 7
EAST SCENEOFFROM THE PALMS WEST PALM by Aaron Wormus | awormus@palmswestmonthly.com
Mounts Botanical Garden features traveling exhibition NaturePop! By Mia Petruccelli Palms West Journal
Mounts Botanical Garden is featuring wildlife depicted in Legos in artist Sean Kenney’s traveling exhibition “Nature POP!” through May 1. “They’re just so intrinsically fun and whimsical,” Kenney said about Legos. “I think they reflect my personality well. I am structured and organized and logical, but I am also rather silly and love to laugh. … Art doesn’t have to be so serious all the time.” Produced by Image Exhibitions, “Nature POP!” invites the community to enjoy a display of complicated and unique connections through Lego blocks that represent the complex connections that exist within nature. The exhibit offers more than 40 sculptures made from over 800,000 Lego pieces. “Just as Lego pieces inter-
connect,
Sean Kenney’s beautiful lego exhibit fits perfectly in Mounts Botanical Gardens.
everything in nature is interconnected in a delicate balance,” Kenney said. Kenney’s pop-art inspiration shows in his vivid colors and graphic style. The use of a medium usually seen as a children’s toy does not hinder his ability to make sophisticated sculptures. Kenney said for “Nature POP!” his biggest obstacle was not being able to create what he wanted, but produc-
ing the colors he wanted. He and his team spent a lot of time experimenting with combinations of Lego colors to see what they could mimic. “Colors affect each other. For example, putting pink pieces together with gray ones makes the pink look kind of peach,” Kenney said. Mounts Botanical Garden has carefully and delicately installed the sculptures with beautiful floral ar-
Photos and art by Sean Kenney
rangements and colored settings throughout the facility. Kenney encourages young artists to chase their passions and never give up on their dreams. “Art has to come from within, so do what you are passionate about. Draw, dance, build, whatever,” he said. “I didn’t just wake up one day and build 50,000-piece sculptures. … I’ve gained all my technical building
knowledge by simply building over and over all my life. Keep building, and don’t grow up!” “Nature POP!” is open through May 1, Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free for Mounts members and ranges from $7 to $15 for others. For tickets and more information, visit the Mounts Botanical Garden website at mounts.org.
HOME SWEET ORGANIZED HOME Enjoy up to 50% more space in your kitchen and better access to your most-used items with our custom pull-out shelves installed in your existing cabinets
50% OFF INSTALLATION *
*Limit one offer per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/Designer Shelves.
EXP 3/31/22
Schedule Your FREE Design Consultation: ®
(855) 399-0245
Page 8 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
SCENEOFFROM EAST THE PALMS WEST PALM by Aaron Wormus | awormus@palmswestmonthly.com
Renovation and reopening planned for Royal Poinciana Playhouse
Photos by Royal Poincina Playhouse
Iconic front of the Royal Poiniciana Playhouse in Palm Beach.
By Sharon Penn Palms West Journal
Plans are in the works to renovate and reopen Palm Beach’s landmark Royal Poinciana Playhouse in 2023, ending 19 years of limbo. Massachusetts developer WS Development announced that the historic playhouse will become part of a complex that includes a 200-seat waterfront restaurant, galleries and retail space. The 34,517-square-foot playhouse will receive a com-
plete renovation to make Royal Poinciana Plaza a center for art, fashion and food. The theater will seat around 400 and include a stage with a retractable backdrop wall to allow it to host outdoor waterfront events. There will be 12,000 square feet of retail and gallery space, and the restaurant will be the first on the Intracoastal Waterway open to the public. Visitors to the cultural arts center will be able to enjoy dance, film, music and art as well as theater. The playhouse
will also host educational and charitable events. Palm Beach resident Avie Glazer, whose family owns the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will head up programming as the chairman of the operator WS Development has chosen for the center, Innovate Corp. He and his wife, Jill, plan to make the new Royal Poinciana Playhouse into a world-class cultural venue. John Volk designed the Royal Poinciana in the regency style more than a half-century ago. His intent
YOUR FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
We are here to serve YOU.
Let us help you navigate Florida State Agencies, Departments and more. Call (561) 791-4071 or Email Matt.Willhite@myfloridahouse.gov
REPRESENTATIVE
Matt Willhite
Florida House District 86 Tallahassee Office 216 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 717-5086
District Office 12133 Ken Adams Way, Suite 300 Wellington, FL 33414 (561) 791-4071
was to create a community center for the town of Palm Beach. Architectural teams from SpinaOrourke and Smith and Moore are determined to preserve the iconic details on the main façade of the theater. Visitors will see Roman statues, a distinctive curved design and decorative quoins that add aesthetic detailing to the corners. In addition, stunning new floor-to-ceiling windows will provide views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The ground level will have an additional 7,995 square feet, along with an accessory building. The south side of the playhouse will have a covered entry, and valet parking will be available. The plans also include a new pedestrian plaza, a new trellis that will grace the restored restaurant deck and a new terrace on the seawall. Landscape designs will enhance the venue. The renovation of the Royal Poinciana Playhouse has taken a long road. The waterside playhouse was founded 55 years ago as a production theater. In the 1960s and 1970s the theater hosted ballets, Broadway plays and musical performances. Nightly dinner and dancing took place in the Celebrity Room. The venue welcomed such entertainers as Burt Reynolds, Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason, along with political and social leaders like the Kennedys and the
Duke of Windsor. In 1979 new ownership decided to present touring shows. But the venue could not accommodate big Broadway musicals, which went to larger performing arts centers. When the lease with Clear Channel Communications expired in 2004, the Royal Poinciana had not been updated for many years, and it fell into disrepair. Over the years the Palm Beach Theater Group tried to gain control of the playhouse, and there were attempts to replace the theater with condos. The Up Markets division of WS Development has controlled the Royal Poinciana Playhouse since 2014 and spent years searching for the right operator before selecting Innovate. Alexandra Clark, the vice president of asset strategy and experience for WS Development, said lessons learned from cultural arts center experts worldwide show that success is based on mixed uses to drive traffic. She is aware of the “unique synergy” of blending retail, restaurants and art, and she hopes that this combination will make the Royal Poinciana Playhouse a “magical jewel box venue.”
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 9
NATURE CALLS
Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands plans for expansion By Sharon Penn Palms West Journal More than 800,000 people each year visit Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands in western Palm Beach County, where they can stroll through a lush, tropical habitat to see birds and other animals. Now an expansion dubbed Green Cay 2 is in the works. In addition to close-up views of wildlife, the 63-acre project will offer recreational facilities for the whole family including hiking, canoeing and even fishing. The wetlands park expansion is adjacent to the existing Green Cay facility and the entrance
Photo by Green Cay Nature Center
will be on Flavor Pict Road. The $40 million project, meant to be completed by December 2025, will include a water purification facility and will provide drinking water to county residence by replenishing the aquifer. The water purification plant and a learning center focused on water conservation will be built at the nearby Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility. The facility sends 1 million gallons of treated water a day to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in west Delray Beach, a similar restoration project. Green Cay was originally a pepper farm. The farmland was donated to Palm Beach County for water conservation and reclamation. The current wetlands park features a 1.5-mile boardwalk through marshes, a cypress swamp, an alligator hole and hammock islands on 100 acres. A Seminole Chickee Hut and benches are along the boardwalk. The leafy vegetation and wildlife draw photographers, professional and amateur. Green Cay is now offering a once a month night time nature adventure. Night Stalkers at Green Cay starts with a short presentation about the park by one of Green Cay’s naturalist. Then visitors are taken on a boardwalk tour to see the wildlife at night. The next Night Stalkers event takes place on Feb. 24. It is $5 to join and flashlights are recommended. Day or night, there are many
The everglades just after the sunrise.
animals to see at the park including great blue herons, terns, egrets, grebes, pelicans, blue jays, anhingas, moorhens, wood storks and other birds, as well as turtles and alligators. Some Green Cay visitors spot an elusive bobcat. The Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center is at 12800 Hagen Ranch Road in Boynton Beach. For further information, call 561-966-7000, or visit the Palm Beach County website.
A heron enjoying a dip in Florida’s freshwater.
Voice Clarifying TV Headset
Put on your ® TV•Ears
and hear TV with unmatched clarity
A powerful hearing aid for television since 1998
Over 2 million
satisfied customers
TV•Ears Original™ $129.95 SPECIAL OFFER
$59.95
+s&h
Use promo code MB59 30-day risk free trial
Call 1-855-252-9096 M-F 6 am — 6 pm PST 2701 via Orange Way, Suite 1 Spring Valley, CA 91978
Photo by Green Cay Nature Center
Photo by Tyler Butler
Page 10 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NATURE CALLS
What’s driving the brown seaweed piling up on Florida and Caribbean?
Cleaning sargassum off the beaches in the southern Caribbean with a backhoe.
The Conversation via Reuters
Here’s a handy geography question for your next trivia match: What is the world’s only sea that doesn’t have a land border? The answer is the Sargasso Sea – a 2-million-square-nautical-mile haven of biodiversity that lies east of Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean. Rather than beaches, it’s bounded by rotating ocean currents that form the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. The Sargasso is named for sargas-
sum, a free-floating brown seaweed that grows in its calm, clear waters. In the open ocean this seaweed serves as nursery grounds and a haven for sea life. But over the past decade, a new “Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt” has inundated Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida coastlines, wreaking environmental and economic havoc. It’s driving away tourists, devastating local fishing industries and requires costly cleanup. In my work as a coastal scientist, I’ve watched these invasions become the new normal, choking beaches and turn-
Become a Published Author with Dorrance. We want to read your book! Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true. Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true.
Complete Book Publishing Services FIVE EASY STEPS TO PUBLICATION: 1. Consultation
4. Distribution
2. Book Production
5. Merchandising and Fulfillment
3. Promotion
Call now to receive your FREE Author’s Guide
844-494-0200
or www.dorranceinfo.com/palms
Photo by Stephan Kogelman
ing clear blue waters golden brown. Along with other researchers, I’m trying to understand why sargassum has proliferated into this new sprawling bloom, how to deal with such massive amounts of it, and how affected countries can predict the severity of the next influx. For centuries people have viewed the Sargasso Sea with superstition and fear. Early myths described a treacherous section of the Atlantic Ocean where seaweed ensnared ships. Christopher Columbus documented this ecosystem in his 1492 expedition journals when his ships were becalmed there. His crew feared they would be dragged to the ocean floor, never returning home to Spain. This region was sometimes called the Devil’s Triangle. Sea captains mapped routes to circumvent it completely. Mysterious accidents and disappearances there prompted author Vincent Gaddis to give it a new name in 1964: the “deadly Bermuda Triangle.” But these sargassum islands also create a rich ecosystem that ocean explorer Sylvia Earle calls “a golden floating rainforest.” Suspended by round “berries” filled with gas, the seaweed offers food, sanctuary and breeding grounds for crabs, shrimp, whales, migratory birds and some 120 species of fish. Mats of it form the sole spawning grounds for European and American eels and habitat for some 43 other threatened or endangered species. Sargassum also shelters sea turtle hatchlings and juvenile fish during their early life in the open ocean. Ten endemic species live nowhere else on Earth. The Sargasso is a valuable commercial fishery worth about $100 million per year. Enormous amounts of sargassum first engulfed Caribbean coastlines in 2011. I was there at the time, conducting research in the British Virgin Islands, and I saw huge “rafts” of this brown macroalgae extending 500 feet offshore. Swimmers couldn’t get into the water. Some boats couldn’t leave port. Beaches were piled with massive mounds, some nearly as tall as I was. Nesting sea turtles couldn’t lay their eggs. The seaweed isn’t toxic, but as it decomposed it reeked of rotten eggs and swarmed with insects. Small quantities of sargassum have always turned up as “beach wrack” – stuff that washes ashore. It stabilizes shorelines by helping to build sand dunes and nourishes dune plants. For these reasons, it’s left to naturally decompose in wild areas, such as Cape Florida State Park. But the scale of recent coastal influxes is unprecedented. And since the 2011 event, they have occurred every year except for 2013. Gluts of coastal seaweed have a damaging influence on the coastal environment. In large quantities, the seaweed strips oxygen from the water, killing fish and seagrasses that offer key habitat for many species. It may reduce sunlight needed by ocean plants and smother
shallow coral reefs, like those in the Florida Keys. In 2018 NASA satellites revealed the largest marine algae bloom in the world. A belt of sargassum that contained over 22 million tons of seaweed stretched some 5,500 miles across the Atlantic to West Africa. Satellite images are showing abnormally high amounts again in 2021. Data gathered over the past decade has revealed the likely causes of these seaweed invasions: Saharan dust clouds, warming temperatures and the growing human nitrogen footprint. Just as nutrients feed red tide blooms, they feed sargassum, which thrives in warmer water. Climate change also increases upwelling of nutrients from deep ocean waters at the other end of the sargassum belt in West Africa. The influxes of the past decade seem to have originated along Brazil’s Atlantic coast, not in the Sargasso Sea. Large amounts of fertilizer flow into the Amazon River and then to the ocean from industrial-scale agriculture and ranches. Nutrients also pour into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River. Climate change-driven downpours increase runoff. Saharan dust clouds that extend for thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean have also contributed to this explosion of sargassum seaweed. The dust contains iron, nitrogen and phosphorus that fertilizes plankton and seaweed blooms. These thick atmospheric dust plumes corresponded with a sargassum spike in 2015 and the worst incursion of sargassum in 2018. Researchers are also exploring changing in ocean currents, which may be another contributing factor. Sargassum threatens tourism, a major economic engine for the Caribbean and Florida. Mexico has deployed Navy ships for cleanup operations in Cancun. Some Caribbean destinations have installed floating barriers, like those used in oil spills, to keep seaweed offshore. In 2019 Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados likened the scale of the economic fallout to that of a hurricane. There is currently no good way to dispose of such great volumes of seaweed. It’s labor-intensive and expensive. Removing sargassum from 15 miles of Miami-Dade beaches cost $45 million in 2019.
Photo by Marcial Gonzalez
Seagrass arriving on the coast of Florida.
Some communities plow seaweed under the sand. Others, like Fort Lauderdale, collect it, wash off the salt and convert it to natural fertilizer or mulch. In Mexico some entrepreneurs are compressing it into bricks and using it, like adobe, for building construction. In the long term, lasting solutions will come only through addressing climate change and nitrogen emissions from human activities.
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 11
NATURAL CALLS
C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Project completed
Photo by Becky Seiler
Waves crashing on the algae covered rocks in the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard county, Florida.
By Evan Wechman Palms West Journal
After more than a decade of hard work and a few setbacks, a large restoration project in South Florida has been completed. “I wish I knew then just how important this project would be to HDR, my career and our clients,” said Katie Duty, the water manager for HDR, the company tasked with completing this endeavor. HDR, which specializes in
engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services, won the contract for the restoration project in 2004 “I’d been working as an engineer for a little over a year, and we just learned that we’d been selected to design a large Everglades restoration project,” Duty said. “There were a lot of excited people around me, and it sounded like a cool project to be part of, so I was eager to jump in.” The C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area Project is in Martin
County along the St. Lucie River connecting Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary. The main goal is to slow freshwater flows to the estuary. The pollution from Lake Okeechobee, along with the runoff from cities and agricultural areas, runs into the estuary which eventually feeds into the Indian River Lagoon. The C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area provides a 6,300-acre stormwater treatment area, with a 3,400-acre, 15-foot-deep reservoir to filter pollutants before reaching the
estuary. The efforts for this 12,000-acre area entailed collecting large amounts of data related to topography, soil, existing conditions, animals and plant life. Although the work began in 2005, obstacles delayed progress. After the design analysis was finished, Duty assisted in developing the construction documents, which included over 1,200 drawings and thousands of pages of details. But the 2008 recession it right before the documents were advertised, and the project was put on hold for two years. After that delay, a new plan was formulated. The site was divided into smaller construction contracts overseen by the state of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps of Engineers retained HDR to develop construction documents for its areas. Duty’s responsibilities kept getting larger as she climbed the ranks to become the principal in charge of day-to-day operations. “At some point I realized that the C-44 project and I were intrinsically tied together. Its success would be mine and vice versa,” Duty said. The major features of the project now are complete, Duty said, including a reservoir with approximately a 10-mile embankment, a pump station that can lift a huge swimming pool’s worth of water into the reservoir every 80 seconds, 6,300 acres of wetlands, and about 115 structures and 50 miles of canals that control the water movement. Duty said she is working with the state and the Corps of Engineers to determine where such work will be needed next.
Contactless consultations, installations and delivery available!
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility. Discover the safe and affordable way to regain access to all of your home and allow you to use your stairs safely. The Rave 2 stair lift is the ideal solution for anyone: Who struggles using the stairs That is worried about risking a fall on the stairs Who wants to access all of their home
Call now to save on a Rave 2 stair lift!
1-833-833-1240
Page 12 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
THE VILLAGE IDIOT by Jim Mullen LOCAL HAPPENINGS Flagler Kenan Pavilion offers Gilded Age-style Tea Service
Photos courtesy of The Flagler Museum
call it a “Palace on Wheels.” Museum visitors are able to walk through the restored railcar. The pavilion was built to the style of a 19th century railway palace, complete with vaulted ceilings, elaborate lighting fixtures and floor-to-ceiling windows with beautiful arch frames. Looking out, you can see the cities of Lake Worth and West Palm Beach behind the Intracoastal Waterway. West Palm Beachbased Hedrick Brothers Construction completed the pavilion in 2005.
Palms West Journal
Combining the elegance of the Gilded Age with the beauty of Palm Beach, the Café des Beaux-Arts is offering a tea service through April 15 in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion at the Flagler Museum. The cafe serves tea sandwiches and scones along with the museum’s own Palm Beach Blend tea and lemonade. The Flagler Kenan Pavilion is the newest addition to the Flagler Museum, although it houses one of its oldest artifacts, Henry Flagler’s personal railcar, Railcar No. 91. The railcar was built in 1886 and was used by Flagler for his trips to Florida. This is the railcar that made it to Key West in 1912 along Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad. Its luxury was unmatched at the time, leading some to
American Impressionism on display at the Society of the Four Arts
Photos courtesy of The Society of the Four Arts
Palms West Journal
The 8,100-square-foot facility was the first public Beaux-Arts-style structure built in modern times. This addition has given the museum a venue to hold the Gilded Age-style tea service and the Picnic by the Café Des Beaux-Arts, which takes place in the Cocoanut Grove behind the pavilion. While the tea service has a set price and menu, the picnic offers an a la carte option. The same tea and lemonade are served at both events, which last from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The picnic does not require a reservation but the tea service does.
The Society of the Four Arts, in partnership with Bank of America, brings an art show on American impressionism to the Esther B. O’Keeffe Gallery in Palm Beach. “In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940, Works From the Bank of America Collection” is running through April 16, with guided tours at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. The exhibition features roughly 130 works from over 70 artists. The artists include George Innes, Childe Hassam, Thomas Moran, John Sloan and Guy Carleton Wiggins. These artists and their paintings are important to understanding the impres-
sionist movement because they show how daily life was interpreted. American impressionism during this period featured peaceful communities in many rural areas where emerging artists would learn and collaborate with one another. The exhibition also highlights the vast landscapes and vivid colors used in the depictions of rural America. “We are excited at the opportunity to partner with the Society of the Four Arts to bring this incredible exhibition as part of our Arts in our Communities program that loans exhibitions at no cost to nonprofit community museums,” said Fabiola Brumley, the president of Bank of America Palm Beach County.
movement’s forefathers. American impressionism is also different in the way it captures the upper class in order to show off America’s economic strength. “In a New Light” portrays the evolving artwork in America. Not only did the art differ during the 20th century, but the mindset changed throughout society. “The Bank of America curators have provided great context and a visual timeline with works in the style and movements that were popular before and after impressionism, placing it in the timeline of American art,” said Rebecca A. Dunham, the Four Arts’ head of fine arts and curator. Visitors must wear masks while indoors at the Society of the Four Arts. Tickets are $10 but are free for Four Arts members and children 14 and younger. Bank of America curator Jennifer S. Brown, is coming to the Society of the Four Arts on April 4, at 11 a.m. to discuss the exhibit and the history of American impressionism. For more information about the exhibit, visit fourarts.org.
American impressionism is similar to French Impressionism in the way that it depicts everyday life through “en plein air” pieces. American impressionists were never able to fully embrace the radical spontaneity of the impressionist
SCAN HERE
CBD PAIN RELIEF CREAM GREAT FOR: BACKACHES ARTHRITIS MUSCLE ACHES The relief you need exactly where you need it most.
greencbdtoday.com/palms
USE CODE: PAIN & get 3 FREE Gifts
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 13
LOCAL &HAPPENINGS FACES PLACES
Fiesta de Pueblo: A celebration of Hispanic heritage in Palm Beach County
NOW LEASING
Models Open
Luxury | Modern | Resort
Photo by Sydney Rae
An action shot of the traditional dresses of Mexico.
Palms West Journal
Fiesta de Pueblo, or Three Kings Day, is the largest Hispanic multicultural and art festival in Palm Beach County. The celebration of Hispanic culture through music, food, art and commerce is being held March 5 at Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park in Greenacres. The annual event is hosted by Fiesta de Pueblo Inc., a nonprofit whose goal is to educate and empower Hispanics and other underserved communities in Palm Beach County. The sponsors include the Hispanic Political Action Committee, the Sheriff’s Office of Palm Beach County, the Hilton Palm Beach Airport and Target. Fiesta de Pueblo offers regional foods and treats, such as piña coladas, tostones, maduros, chilaquiles, arepas and empanadas. The festival also showcases Latin dances, including Argentina’s tango, Puerto Rico’s salsa and Mexico’s cumbia.
The festival also includes a business expo. Marking the 12th day of Christmas, Three Kings Day commemorates the biblical tale of the arrival of Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar in Bethlehem to bring gifts to the baby Jesus after following the Estrella (Star) de Belén. Almost 30% of Latin countries celebrate this festival, where the day starts with food and drinks and the night ends with children leaving grass in a shoebox for the kings’ camels. For more information on the festival, visit fiestadepueblo.com, or follow social media @fiestadepueblo.
Professional Chef Anytime Dining Thrive Activities Fitness Center Salon and Spa 24/7 iCare Transportation Housekeeping
"This is just what I have been waiting for! Goodbye stress, hello relaxation." - Nina
561-570-2090
11911 Southern Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 www.InspiredLiving.care
Luxury Assisted Living and Memory Care
Assisted Living Facility License #AL13539
DENTAL Insurance
If you’ve put off dental care, it’s easy to get back on track. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company now for inexpensive dental insurance. Getting back to the dentist couldn’t be easier!
CALL TODAY
1-888-737-7105 Dental50Plus.com/palms
Get your FREE Information Kit Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B). 6208-0721
Page 14 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
LOCAL HAPPENINGS Pam Tillis Trio performing at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
Country music star Pam Tillis
Country musician Pam Tillis will be performing at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center with the Pam Tillis Trio. Tillis is known for her endearing stage presence, captivating acoustic performance and inspiring lyricism in her music. A few of Tillis’ hits include, “Maybe It Was Memphis,” “All The Good Ones Are Gone,” and “Shake the Sugar Tree.” Tillis grew up in Nashville with a life centered in country music. One of six children, Tillis is the daughter of famed country singer and songwriter Mel Tillis, who introduced her to country at an early age. Tillis performed for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry at 8-yearsold. After being signed to Warner Bros. Records, Tillis released her first single in the early 1980s. The country music star signed with Sony Music Entertainment in 2002 before launching her own label, Stellar Cat Records, in 2007. The Pam Tillis Trio is coming to the
Photo by Pam Tillis
Belle Glade campus at Palm Beach State College on March 4, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets to the performance can be purchased on their website, palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/dollyhand, or calling (561) 993-1160.
Photo by Pam Tillis
Quark Expeditions has been exploring the Arctic for 30 years. Isn’t it time you joined us? Photograph wildlife: polar bears, whales, muskoxen, reindeer and more Choose an off-ship adventure option — such as flightseeing, hiking or mountain biking
*
Voyages start at $11,913 Call one of our Polar Travel Advisors:
1.877.815.8766
24 hours a day Monday to Friday, and Saturday until 4 pm. *Average voyage starting price. Starting price is subject to change. We reserve the right to change our products’ prices at any time without further notice.
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • March 2022 • Page 15
BUSINESS DIRECTORY Commercial & Residential
FREE
ESTIMATES!
Licensed & Insured
“Established in 1984” in Palm Beach County
J&B Become a Published Author with Dorrance. We want to read your book! Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true. Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.
Lic #U-21552
PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING INC. Certified Pressure Cleaning & Painting Contractor
FIVE EASY STEPS TO PUBLICATION:
All Types of Pressure Cleaning:
4. Distribution
2. Book Production
5. Merchandising and Fulfillment
3. Promotion
Call now to receive your FREE Author’s Guide
844-494-0200
or www.dorranceinfo.com/palms
Flexible Hours Education Program • Tuition Assistance Learn more at ArchwaysToOpportunity.com
Complete Book Publishing Services 1. Consultation
We Believe You Can Start Your Career HERE!!
Career Growth Free Meals
Apply Now Text “Apply” to (561) 202-4038 or to 36453 mcdonalds.com/careers
Chemical Roof Cleaning, Houses, Driveways, Patios, etc. & Interior/Exterior Painting JBPressureCleaningAndPainting.com • Lic #U-21552
BUTCH (561) 309-6975 (Cell)
The World’s Most Advanced Medical Alert System Voice-Activated! No Wi-Fi Needed!
$20 OFF Mobile Companion Free lockbox! • Risk-free 30 day trial • Free shipping
Offer code: CARE20
CALL NOW 1-855-398-0728 Print and Digital Advertising Available Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Journal • November 2021 • Page 1
Palms West Journal WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • WEST PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE GROVES • THE ACREAGE • LAKE WORTH Volume 1, Number 2
PalmsWestJournal.com
Palms West Special: Check out seven unique Thanksgiving traditions
PAGE 10
FREE • November 2021
Lion Country Safari white rhino born on World Rhinoceros Day
Luxury doggie day care comes to Wellington Grand Opening of the new K9 Resorts is the first franchise to come to Florida. Learn more about this new dog resort. PAGE 4
Baby rhinoceros Aziza, born at Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, is seen with her mother Anna. By Sharon Penn PALMS WEST JOURNAL
Horse riding has many benefits to your health Horse riding has always been a fun recreational activity. Check out all the ways that it can also be good for your health.
PAGE 12
As a happy coincidence, a rare white rhinoceros was born at Lion Country Safari on Sept. 22 — an amazing way to celebrate World Rhinoceros Day. The Loxahatchee drive-through safari park welcomed Aziza, a female southern white rhino calf. The birth contributes to worldwide conservation efforts for rhinoceroses, which are at risk because of a shrinking habitat and poaching. Some poachers target rhinos for their horns, which are used for medicinal purposes, while others hunt rhinos for trophies. The calf was named Aziza, meaning “precious,” to reflect the dire situation for rhinos. “The birth of Aziza on World Rhino Day really helps to bring awareness to the public about conserving the rhino species,” said Haley Passeser, a spokeswoman for
Asphalt Angels bring car show to Wellington Green If you love cars, check out this car show featuring classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles at the Mall at Wellington Green.
PAGE 14
Baby Aziza takes some of her first steps.
Photos By Lion Country Safari
Lion Country Safari. “Our mission is to be a leader in animal care, conservation and education to inspire people through connections with wildlife in a fun, familyfriendly environment. We truly are deeply committed to animal care, conservation and education, and we have a phenomenal team of dedicated and passionate individuals that make all of this possible.” Five rhino species are threatened: white, black, Sumatran, Indian and Javan. White rhinos, also known as squarelipped rhinos, are the larger of the two African species and weigh 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. Approximately 20,000 white rhinos exist, more than the other species, Entrance sign at Lion Country Safari but poaching continues to place them in The first white rhino arrived at Lion jeopardy. Country Safari in the 1970s when the world The Sumatran rhino has been on earth had fewer than 1,000 rhinos. Fourteen longer than any other living mammal, but white rhinos now live at the 600-acre there are now fewer than 80 are left on Loxahatchee safari park: 11 females and the planet. Just 75 Javan rhinos remain three males. One is Aziza’s father, Chitabe, in Indonesia, arguably making them the and the oldest white rhino at the park rarest large mammals. is Aziza’s great-grandfather Buck, who arrived in 1972. Aziza is the second calf for 8-yearold Anna, who has proved to be a caring mother. Females generally give birth for the first time at the age of 6 or 7. “It is definitely possible that she may have another calf in the future, though if and when it does occur, it wouldn’t be for at least a couple of years or more and is up to her,” said Passeser. Aziza is the 37th rhino born at Lion Country Safari since 1979. At birth, white rhinos weigh between 88 and 132 pounds. They stand up within an hour and begin grazing at 2 months old. Aziza gains 3 to 4 pounds daily from her mother’s milk and now weighs around 250 pounds. She is expected to gain 1,000 pounds each year for the first three years of her life. “Aziza is doing really well. She’s gained at least 150 pounds since her birth, so she’s growing really well. She’s curious, is getting to know her care staff and is definitely a little spunky,” Passeser said. Photos By Lion Country Safari
LION COUNTRY SAFARI / PAGE 6
“The birth of Aziza on World Rhino Day really helps to bring awareness to the public about conserving the rhino species.” -Haley Passeser, spokeswoman for Lion Country Safari
sales@palmswestjournal.com - (561) 223-1902
Page 16 • Palms West Journal • March 2022
Read us online at PalmsWestJournal.com
Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!
888-719-2395
FREE
7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!
Limited Time Offer - Call for Details
Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval
*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.
A Smarter Way to Power Your Home. Power your home, save money and be prepared for utility power outages with the PWRcell, a solar + battery storage system.
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!
ACT NOW TO RECEIVE A $300 SPECIAL OFFER!*
(833) 368-0874
*Offer value when purchased at retail. **Financing available through authorized Generac partners. Solar panels sold separately.
$0 DOWN FINANCING OPTIONS!**