Children to Improve Neighborhood, Learn New Skills Through New Community Garden
Jan 26, 2009 - Mayor's Office
(Monday, January 26, 2009) Children from Pleasant City and the neighborhood’s Multi-Cultural Center will be learning new skills and helping improve their neighborhood in the process at a new Children’s Community Garden. The children will grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and more at a site that was previously a vacant lot.
“The Community Garden is a perfect fit for this neighborhood and will help give our young people something positive to do with their spare time,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel. “The kids will learn about everything from sustainability to teamwork, while at the same time improving their neighborhood.”
The garden will be good for the local environment, give kids in the area positive activities and bring together a diverse group of people to work on a common project. The garden will also help remove blight in the area by transforming a vacant lot in to a vibrant place of community learning. The community garden is an initiative of District One City Commissioner Molly Douglas and is supported by the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency and the Quantum Foundation.
Quantum Foundation funding was allocated through the Quantum Neighborhood Initiative (QNI), launched in 2008 to support a variety of economic development and community improvement projects in the area of West Palm Beach north of Palm Beach Lakes, south of 45th Street, and east of Australian. To date, Quantum has granted over $500,000 to neighborhood improvement projects as part of the QNI.
Quantum President Paul Gionfriddo said, “Commissioner Douglas, Mayor Frankel and the entire leadership of the City are to be commended for their neighborhood improvement efforts. The Foundation is pleased to make this contribution in support of those efforts, and on behalf of the children of Pleasant City.”
Children’s Community Garden Dedication Ceremony
Jan 26, 2009 - Mayor's Office
When: Monday, January 26, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Corner of 21st Street and Spruce Avenue, WPB
(01/23/09) City of West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel will help dedicate a new Children’s Community Garden at a ceremony on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the corner of 21st Street and Spruce Avenue in West Palm Beach.
With the assistance of the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Quantum Foundation, the City will transform the vacant lot at this intersection into a vibrant garden, turning it into a place where kids can learn and grow. Children from the Pleasant City Community Center will grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and more, helping beautify their neighborhood in the process.
Kaleidoscope Adds Grammy-Nominated Performer to Musical Line-up
Jan 21, 2009 - Community Events, Mayor's Office
Latin Jazz Sensation Nestor Torres to Perform at this Celebration of Many Cultures
Kaleidoscope 2009 is celebrating cultural diversity with a huge variety of multicultural entertainment and TWO remarkable headliners this year – all for FREE! Grammy-nominated jazz flautist, Nestor Torres, has been added to the already spectacular entertainment line-up. This international Latin jazz sensation will perform on the SWS Green Stage (in the Palm Beach Post Park at the intersection of Flagler Drive and Fern Street) at 2:00 p.m., and then popular Celtic rock band, the Young Dubliners, will perform at the Meyer Amphitheatre at 3:00 p.m.
Nestor Torres’ newest CD, Nouveau Latino, has been nominated as Best Latin Jazz Album for the upcoming 51st Annual Grammy Awards. In this album, Torres returns to his Latin roots with a fresh approach, impeccable musicianship, and irresistible improvisations while interpreting songs from stars like Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades.
Guests to Kaleidoscope 2009 will not only enjoy Torres’ remarkable music, but they can also experience two stages filled with lots of unique ethnic performers such as a Japanese drum group, a Brazilian dance group, a Mariachi band, and even Native American dancers. Event guests are sure to sample music and dance from around the world at this wonderfully colorful event. For a complete entertainment schedule, please visit www.wpb.org/kaleidoscope.
CALENDAR LISTING:
Kaleidoscope 2009 – Go back 100!
Featuring villages from around the world, an interactive kid’s area, ethnic foods and refreshments, an international bazaar and multicultural entertainment with Grammy-nominated NESTOR TORRES at 2:00 p.m., and Celtic rock band the YOUNG DUBLINERS at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
**New Event Location – Meyer Amphitheatre and the Palm Beach Post Park**
Downtown West Palm Beach
FREE!
Produced by the City of West Palm Beach in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County
For more information: 561-822-1515 or www.wpb.org/kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope 2009 is a family-friendly celebration of many cultures produced by the City of West Palm Beach in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County. Kaleidoscope is an interactive multicultural festival that showcases the cultural diversity in our community, where guests can tour villages created by Palm Beach County students and local cultural organizations. Kaleidoscope 2009 will “Go Back 100,” a new event theme that will celebrate 100 years of the many cultures and rich history of Palm Beach County to mark the Palm Beach County and School District of Palm Beach County Centennials. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, January 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Meyer Amphitheatre in Downtown West Palm Beach. Features include multicultural entertainment, villages from around the world, kid’s interactive activities, ethnic foods and refreshments, and an international bazaar. Participating sponsors include National City, Palm Beach County, The Palm Beach Post, La Palma, 97.9 fm WRMF, WPTV NewsChannel 5, Comcast, the West Palm Beach Marriott, the Children’s Services Council, Coca-Cola, Southern Waste Systems and Panera Bread. The event is free and open to the public. For more info, call (561) 822-1515 or visit www.wpb.org/kaleidoscope.
Downtown WPB Weekend Road Closures
Jan 21, 2009 - Mayor's Office, Traffic
When: Beginning Friday, January 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Affected Area: Flagler Drive and some adjacent roads, downtown WPB
(01/21/09) Motorists should be aware that several downtown WPB roads will be closed to traffic this weekend due to three events: Kaleidoscope 2009, Supercar Weekend and the Dr. Feelgood’s One Year Anniversary party.
For Supercar Weekend, Flagler Drive will be closed to traffic from Fern Street to Lakeview Avenue beginning on Friday, January 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Flagler will reopen no later than midnight on Sunday, January 25, 2009.
The following are the road closures for Kaleidoscope 2009:
Beginning Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.: Flagler Drive will be closed from Banyan Boulevard to Fern Street; South Clematis Street and North Clematis Street will be closed from Narcissus Avenue to Flagler Drive; Narcissus Avenue will be closed from Datura Street to Evernia Street; and Fern Street and Evernia Street will be closed from Olive Avenue to Flagler Drive. Datura Street will be open to local traffic only between Olive Avenue and Flagler Drive.
All the roads closed for Kaleidoscope will reopen no later than midnight on Sunday, January 25, 2009.
Clematis Street will be closed from Olive Avenue to Narcissus Avenue on Saturday, January 24, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight for the Dr. Feelgood’s One Year Anniversary.
Accessing City Government Now Easier Than Ever
Jan 21, 2009 - Mayor's Office, West Palm TV
(Wednesday, January 21, 2009) Watching your City’s government in action and learning about how the City works is easier than ever thanks to new technologies and services being embraced by the City’s government access station, West Palm TV 18.
“I’m pleased that West Palm TV 18 is using new resources to reach more people than ever before,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel. “The station continues to be a top-quality window into City government for residents, visitors and anyone interested in West Palm Beach news and happenings.”
The station recently launched its own YouTube channel, giving viewers access to on-demand programming at all times. “YouTube has become a favorite destination for those looking for on-demand content,” said West Palm TV 18 station manager Jim Clark. “By launching our own channel there, we’re giving the public access to our programming on their terms and around the clock.” The YouTube channel address is http://www.youtube.com/user/westpalmtv.
The station also has a channel dedicated entirely to “CityNews,” which airs segments on City events, programs and happenings. This channel runs 24-hours a day in a continuous loop at http://mogulus.com/WestPalmTV.
You can still watch the channel on Comcast Cable channel 18 within the City limits, and via our website (www.westpalmtv.com) from anywhere you have internet access.
West Palm TV 18 is the City of West Palm Beach’s government access TV channel. Its mission is to offer an opportunity for people to see city government at work, to better understand the services the city provides and to see some of the events going on around West Palm Beach. People with programming questions or suggestions should contact Station Manager Jim Clark at 561-822-1867.