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The Boca Raton Tribune C O M M U N I T Y

The Symphonia’s 2022-23 Concer t Season Kickoff Is Down to “Ear th”

The SYMPHONIA, South Florida’s premier chamber orchestra, will present the second concert in its ‘Inspired, Naturally’ season on Sunday, December 4, at 3 p.m. at Roberts Theater at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. Each concert within the series is inspired by one of the earth’s natural elements, and the theme for this performance is ‘EARTH.’ Alastair Willis will be principal conductor and Kinman Azmeh will be the clarinet soloist. Kinan Azmeh was recently nominated by President Biden for the US National Council for the Arts.

This concert will take in all the wonder s of the Earth. Beginning at Fing al’s Cave off the west coast of Scotland with M e n d e l s s o h n ’s evocative Hebrides Overture, The S y m p h o n i a w i l l begin with a mesmerizing visit to Syria with internationally renowned c l a r i n e t i s t a n d composer Kinan Azmeh, and conclude with ‘Terra Nostra,’ the award-winning multimedia symphony by Christophe Chagnard that combines stunning visuals with the power of symphonic music and explores the impact and challenges of climate change.

‘Inspired Naturally’ was inspired by Terra Nostra, an award-winning multimedia symphony by Christophe Chagnard and produced by Earth Creative that combines mind-blowing visuals with the power of symphonic music and explores the impact and challenges of climate change. The film will serve as the backdrop for The Symphonia’s December concert. Information on flex-subscriptions and single concert tickets and programs is available at thesymphonia.org, by calling 561-376-3848, or by emailing tickets@thesymphonia.org. Pre-Concert Conversation: A Pre-Concert Conversation hosted by The Symphonia’s Principal Conductor, Alastair Willis, in conversation with guest conductor, Andres Cárdenes takes place from

Inspired Naturally’ 2-2:30 p.m., givwas inspired by Terra ing ticket holders an opportunity to

Nostra, an award- learn more about winning multimedia the works to be p e r f o r m e d t h a t symphony by a f t e r n o o n . Fr e e Christophe Chagnard for concert ticket and produced by Earth holders. Meet The OrCreative chestra: The Symphonia’s most popular, i n t e r a c t ive p r ogram for kids returns for the season on Saturday, Nov 12 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., coinciding with The Symphonia’s rehearsal and includes an instrument petting zoo. Children can attend for free, and adults are just $5 per person. The event also takes place at Roberts Theater at Saint Andrew’s School, 3900 Jog Road, Boca Raton.

FPL’s Manatee Lagoon Kicks Off the 2022-2023 Manatee Season with a Weekend Celebration and New Offerings

As the Sunshine State anticipates the return of its favorite marine mammal to local waterways, Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center® kicks off manatee season with a free, family-friendly weekend celebration, complete with a variety of activities, exhibitors and more.

O n S a t u r d a y, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can enjoy free face painti n g , f r o z e n t r e a t s, cor nhole and other games. This year’s kick-off theme is “safe boating” to remind boaters of the importance of being mindful behind the wheel. The first 400 visitors will receive a free waterproof phone pouch with information on how to report a manatee in distress if seen in the wild.

“We hope visitors who come will enjoy themselves and also learn about what’s happening to manatees in the wild,” said Zack Greenberg, senior operations manager of Manatee Lagoon. “At Manatee Lagoon, our goal is to inspire people to preser ve and protect Florida’s environment and wildlife for future generations. Manatees are an iconic part of our local ecosystem, and we do what we can to teach people how they can help.”

Lag oonside Chats throughout the weekend will feature a variety of exhibitors, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Friends of Manatee Lagoon, Save the Manatee Club, Lake Worth Lagoon Waterkeepers and more. On Sunday at 11 a.m., featured speaker and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manatee biologist Amber Howell will present ways the public can help support manatees.

Sunday’s activities will include the return of the “Lectures at the Lagoon” series with a 2 p.m. presentation by Dr. Beth Brady of Mote Marine Laboratory titled: “What Does the Manatee Say? Manatee Vocalizations in Florida and Beyond.” Advance online registration is recommended at www.visitmanateelagoon.com as lecture space is limited.

Now in its seventh year of manatee education and environmental conservation, Manatee Lagoon is a popular community destination, making it the ideal place for people to learn about these beloved marine mammals. FPL built Manatee Lagoon in 2016 as part of its environmental mission to teach the public about manatees, with a goal of inspiring communities to preserve and protect Florida’s environment and wildlife for future generations.

In addition to the kickoff event, the enhanced facility welcomes visitors to explore and enjoy a variety of exhibits and programs this 2022-23 manatee season. T hese features are either brand new or back by popular demand, including: · “Lectures at the Lagoon” series: Visitors can enjoy presentations from marine e d u c a t o r s, l e a d e r s and experts who will speak on a variety of topics, including conservation, local wildlife, boating safety and more. Attendees can register online on the Manatee Lagoon website. · New indoor exhibits: Manatee Lagoon’s indoor facility is welcoming a handful of exciting new exhibits, including three new life-sized manatee statues in the lobby, a refreshed lionfish tank and artificial reef tank, as well as a new Florida mangroves exhibit. · In-person school group opportunities: As a field trip destination, Manatee Lagoon welcomes back school groups to help educate youth about manatees and the Lake Worth Lagoon. The 90-minute program options offer a look into the world of manatees and their local habitat. For select programs, Manatee Masters will speak on manatee biology and ecology, sharing details about the lagoon’s estuarine habitat, and how students can help protect their local environment. · Public tours and outdoor seating: Daily at 2 p.m., Manatee Masters will continue to offer an outdoor talk from Manatee Lagoon’s Adirondack seating section along the first-floor obser vation deck. Limited seating is available on a first-come, firstserved basis. · Outdoor yoga: Every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:45 p.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m., adult yoga classes are led by certified instructors against the calming backdrop of Lake Worth Lagoon. Advance online registration is required as space is limited, and the event is weather dependent (so registrants should check the Manatee Lagoon website for the schedule).

Florida’s manatee season runs from Nov. 15 to March 31, when manatees migrate to warmer waters. When the waters of Lake Worth Lagoon dip to 68 degrees or colder, manatees gather in the clean, warmwater outflows surrounding the FPL Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center, adjacent to Manatee Lagoon.

PBA Professor Guided Youth Who Inter viewed Afric an Americ an Elders to Document Histor y

Dr. Alisha Winn, an adjunct professor in the School of Ministry, pioneered a project that connected youth with elders in their communities to record some previously-untold stories of overcoming racism and segregation.

A team of three PBA interns — Josmery Botello, Nicole DeAvila and Catalina Rios — supported Winn’s project. As a tech assistant, Botello helped the elders get online for their Zoom interviews during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winn shared about the Palm Beach County African American Oral History Project with PBA students, faculty and staff in the Lassiter Rotunda of the Warren Library on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Dr. John Doncevic, director of the Warren Library, introduced Winn’s work saying, “This really is about PBA’s DNA of Enlightening Minds, Enriching Souls and Extending Hands in action.”

“There’s a huge gap between youth and elders,” Winn said, and her work helped bridge that gap.

E i g h t e l d e r s f r o m We s t Pa l m B e a c h , D e l r a y Beach, Belle Glade, Pahokee and Riviera Beach were interviewed by five teenage researchers. The elders told their interviewers about life growing up in Palm Beach County. A PBA intern was on every call to facilitate the interviews.

The end product was a 10-minute documentary and a booklet produced for the elders who are not online. The oral history project shares stories on Instagram, and a public exhibit in each city is also planned, Winn said.

Rios, one of the PBA interns, said she got to learn “a whole different side of history that you don’t really see.”

Each young person interviewed at least one elder from his or her city. But before the youth conducted any interviews, each one was assigned a decade to study, Winn said. It was evident from the youth feedback that the participants developed a

stronger sense of identity and self-worth, increased their appreciation for the past and gained respect for elders, Winn said. Students also developed a deeper understanding of resilience in the face of racism, she added. For many of the elders, it was the first time anyone asked them about their previously unknown contributions to the county. One of the elders, Mary Lopez, described living one street away from a school that she was not allowed to attend because she was Black. She picked up books from “the book building” at the white school so that she and her classmates at the Black school would have textbooks to use. “These things that I’m telling you, nobody ever told me. These are things that I saw,” Lopez told the youth researchers. A n o t h e r o f the elders, Alfred Straghn, was raised A team of three PBA i n a s e g r e g a t e d interns — Josmery n e i g h b o r h o o d i n Delray Beach. He Botello, Nicole DeAvila became a civil rights and Catalina Rios — activist and chairman of the local supported Winn’s N A AC P. S t r a g h n project died shor tly after his interview, which underscored the importance and timeliness of the project. Cordayja Searcy, the Delray Beach teenager who interviewed Straghn, said he never tired of his work, and “he is also the type of man to protect everyone, no matter what race or background they come from.” In addition to her faculty position, Winn is an applied anthropologist and owner of Consider the Culture, a full-service educational and community engagement firm specializing in community outreach and cultural education. She began the Palm Beach County African American Oral History Virtual Pilot Project in partnership with the Palm Beach County School District and the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County. After the project Winn hired Rios as her assistant in Consider the Culture. Rios graduated in December 2022 graduate.

Boc a Raton Police investigate suspicious incident along SW 12th Avenue

On October 26, 2022, Boca Raton Police received a report of a suspicious incident that occurred around 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. An 11-year-old child reported he was walking home from school along SW 12th Avenue, just south of Palmetto Park Road, when he noticed a man standing next to a vehicle in the parking lot of 2 SW 12th Avenue. The man waved his hand, gesturing for the child to walk over to him. The child did not approach the man and continued walking. The man then got into his vehicle, peeled out of the parking lot, and stopped ahead of the child along SW 12th Avenue. The man then made eye contact with the child, and the child started running in the opposite direction. The child ran to a nearby house and asked the resident for a ride home.

The vehicle is described as possibly a gray Hyundai SUV. The suspect is described as a thin-build white male, approximately 40-50 years of age, with medium-length dark hair and an unshaven face.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Alfredo Lima at (561) 620-6246. Residents in the area are encouraged to review their surveillance video and report any findings related to this investigation.