Kids Take Part in Preparations for 17th Annual Share-A-Supper Thanksgiving Dinner

WHO:      Kids from the Pleasant City Community Center along with Chef David Pantone and Students at the Florida Culinary Institute and Mayor Lois Frankel

WHAT:    Cupcake Making Lesson - Florida Culinary Institute will be hosting kids from the Pleasant City Community Center for a lesson in cupcake making.  It’s no cake walk making desserts from scratch, but these kids are learning from the best.  The kids will also be helping Chef Pantone decorate a dessert centerpiece that will be presented at the Share-A-Supper Thanksgiving feast on Tuesday, November 25.

WHEN:    Kids Cupcake Making Lesson on: Monday, November 24, 2008 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

100 Turkeys will be cooked on Monday, November 24, 2008 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Side Dishes for 1000 people will be cooked on Tuesday, November 25 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:    Florida Culinary Institute, 2410 Metrocentre Blvd., West Palm Beach, 33407
Phone: 561-688-2001

SPONSORS:    Turkeys are provided by WPEC News 12’s Project Thanksgiving and the United Way.  Thanksgiving dinner is prepared by the Florida Culinary Institute.  Additional sponsors include Cheney Brothers, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Publix, Sysco, Rachel’s, Melanie Barnum of Mac Fabrics, “4 Ever Praise” Dance Group, Margaret Hawkins, Cynthia Sanders, “The Dream Builders,” Blum Foundation, and all the supporters of the Pleasant City Multicultural Community Center.

FUN FACTS:    Over 500 Florida Culinary students help prepare the Share-A-Supper meal.
The students fit this community outreach program into their regular curriculum.
The entire meal for over 1000 people is prepared in two days.
The bake shop turns into a mashed potato station for an entire day.
In 17 years, over 1700 turkeys have been served to over 17,000 people.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: South Olive Community Center

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is presenting “Fun and Fairytales,” an event in which children will walk through a series of fairytale scenes, complete with costumed characters. There will also be a hayride around the park, arts and crafts, and a pumpkin patch storytelling area. This all ages event will be held on Saturday, October 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The fee is $3 / City of West Palm Beach residents and $4 / non-residents, or $7 / resident family and $9 / non-resident family. South Olive Community Center is located at 345 Summa Street in West Palm Beach.

For more information, please call South Olive Community Center at
(561) 804-4945.

When: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: South Olive Community Center

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a Haunted Hayride at South Olive Community Center on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 7:00 – 9:30 pm.  Participants will be able to take a scary hayride around the park, listen to spooky stories, and roast marshmallows around a fire. This event is for all ages. The fee is $2 / City of West Palm Beach residents and $2.50 / non-residents, or $5 / resident family and $6.25 / non-resident family. South Olive Community Center is located at 345 Summa Street in West Palm Beach.

For more information, please call South Olive Community Center at
(561) 804-4945.

What:  Report Issued on Success of City’s Youth Empowerment Center
When:  Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Where:  Palm Beach County Commission Chambers.

(04/21/08)  A report written by Florida State University evaluating the West Palm Beach Youth Empowerment Center and Palm Beach County’s Youth Violence Prevention Project will be issued at a Palm Beach County Commission Workshop on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at County Commission Chambers.

The report is expected to announce findings that the City’s Youth Center, which targets at-risk teens, has helped cut crime, provided a “turning point” in the lives of the teens who attend programs there and has saved taxpayers millions of dollars in the process.

What:  Drought-proof your yard with native plants
When:  Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Grassy Waters Preserve Everglades Pavilion, 8537 Northlake Blvd.

(04/04/08)  Learn how to make your yard more drought tolerant, find out how to select the best Florida native plants for your home and browse beautiful landscape possibilities at the Grassy Waters Preserve Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The plant sale is located at the Everglades Pavilion at 8537 Northlake Boulevard, which is on the north side of the preserve.

The Native Plant Sale encourages people to make “green” and responsible choices for landscaping, which beautifies their yards and conserves water.  The native plants and wildflowers on sale require very little watering or care when properly planted.  You can also visit the sale’s Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Demonstration Garden for beautiful examples of landscaping.

(Thursday, April 3, 2008)  The City of West Palm Beach is continuing its commitment to protecting the environment and beautifying the city by completing the replacement of more than 350 trees that had been damaged or destroyed by recent hurricanes.

A total of 358 trees were replaced, all of which suffered damage during hurricanes Francis and Jeanne in 2004.  The replacement trees are Florida native species and hurricane resistant, and include Live Oaks, Crape Myrtles, Pigeon Plums and Green Buttonwoods.  They were planted by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation in parks throughout the City.

“This tree planting program will beautify our wonderful and diverse network of City parks, as well as further our efforts to protect the environment,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel.

The City paid for the tree replacement program with a $100,000 grant from the United States Forestry Service through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Urban and Community grant program.

The City of West Palm Beach was recently recognized as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation, honoring the City’s commitment to planting and preserving trees as part of an ongoing community forestry program.  This marks the seventeenth year the City of West Palm Beach has received this national recognition.

What:  City partners with Palm Beach Atlantic to bring life to Hillcrest area.
When:  Friday, April 4, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Where:  Off Parker Avenue between Belvedere Rd. and Southern Blvd.

(04/02/08)  City of West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel and City leaders will join Palm Beach Atlantic leaders at a groundbreaking for the Palm Beach Atlantic Athletic Complex and community park on Friday, April 4, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. off Parker Avenue between Belvedere Road and Southern Boulevard.

The athletic center and community park will restore life to a 77 acre parcel that in recent years has stood vacant and fenced off.  The center will include baseball, softball, soccer, tennis and cross country facilities for Palm Beach Atlantic University’s athletic teams.  The complex also includes a 12 acre public park.

(Thursday, March 13, 2008)  The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the City of West Palm Beach as a “Tree City USA,” honoring the City’s commitment to planting and preserving trees as part of an ongoing community forestry program.  This marks the seventeenth year the City of West Palm Beach has received this national recognition.

“Trees make a world of difference in our neighborhoods, our parks and our public spaces,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel.  “With our tree program, beautification projects and waterfront revitalization, we remain committed to providing lush green space for the public to enjoy.”

In recent years, the City has undertaken major tree-planting and beautification projects throughout the City, including projects on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Northlake Boulevard and Flagler Drive.

The Arbor Day Foundation recognizes that trees in cities help clean the air, conserve soil and water, moderate temperature and bring nature in to our daily lives.  Trees are a vital component of infrastructure and provide both environmental and economic benefits.

The “Tree City USA” program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service.

 The City of West Palm Beach is calling all tennis lovers to come out and enjoy the 70th annual South Florida Tennis Championships beginning Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at the South Olive Tennis Center.  The tournament runs through Saturday, February 9th.  Matches begin daily at 9:00 a.m.  Spectators are welcome to come out and watch—free of charge!

Founded in 1938, the South Florida Tennis Championship is one of the United States Tennis Association’s longest-running tournaments.  There is $9,500 in prize money spread across the tournament’s divisions, which include both men’s and women’s open singles.

The South Olive Tennis Center is located at 345 Summa Street.

(01/23/08)  The community is encouraged to be a part of Pleasant City’s history at a workshop on Saturday, January 26th, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Pleasant City Multi-Cultural Center, located at 501 21st Street in West Palm Beach.

Residents are invited to come map historic sites, hear some of the area’s history and bring their favorite photos and documents about Pleasant City for possible inclusion in the mural to be created on the eastern façade of the Pleasant City Multi-Cultural Center.  Residents will also have the opportunity to meet the mural’s artist.