Signature City Winter 2023

ArtiGras Island

PRODUCTION

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Craig Dolch

Rebecca Seelig

Candice Temple  David L. Williams, II

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jason Nuttle

Candice Temple  David L. Williams, II

CONTACT US

signaturecity@pbgfl.com

Signature City Questions: 561.799.4152  Main City Line: 561.799.4100

Signature City magazine is a free publication produced quarterly by the City of Palm Beach Gardens Public Media Relations Division. Signature City is mailed to every household in Palm Beach Gardens, as well as distributed at city facilities.

ON THE COVER: Our three cover models, Sharon Bastin, Matt Lerer & Sarah LaPierre transport us to the artful and enlightening world of ArtiGras Island! Read about what’s in store at ArtiGras 2023 (February 18 & 19, 2023) on page 6. Photographed by Jason Nuttle.

A beach? In Palm Beach Gardens? Not exactly… To create our cover scene we took it to the kind of day “at the beach” that everyday athletes are used to in south Florida. Our backdrop is none other than the 13th green sandtrap at our soon-to-open Par 3 course at Sandhill Crane Golf Club.

Upcoming City Council Meeting Dates

January 12, 2023

February 2, 2023

March 2, 2023

April 6, 2023

City Council meetings are generally held on the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, first floor, City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail, unless otherwise scheduled.

Other Ways to Watch

Our City Council meetings are streamed live via the City’s website. Can’t make it to the meeting in person? Stay informed from the comfort of your own home!

Fire Prevention: Lithium-Ion Batteries

No March Election

The qualifying results were finalized in November and there are no opponents running against the incumbents, therefore there will be no election on March 14, 2023. The following candidates will take their City Council seat at the April 6th meeting: Group 1- Robert Premuroso Group 3- Chelsea Reed Group 5- Dana Middleton

LiveStream: www.pbgfl.com/LiveStream Archives: www.youtube.com/citypbg

Lithium-ion batteries have become an everyday part of life. Whether it be cellphones, tablets, laptops, electric cars, electric bikes or scooters, most of us use multiple devices every day that contain lithium-ion batteries. These batteries have become

I Only purchase devices that are listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, such as UL or ETL.

I Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.

I Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made for your specific device to charge it.

I Never charge a device under your pillow, on your bed or a couch.

I Batteries should be kept at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.

I Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. They can be recycled at most electronic stores or at a recycling center.

I Discontinue using any battery that changes in color, emits an odor, overheats, leaks, changes shape or makes odd noises.

If a lithium-ion battery fails, it can burst into flames and have deadly consequences. Please use them safely.

common because they are small, lightweight and have a long-lasting charge. However, if they are not used and charged properly, they can be a serious fire hazard. Please follow these tips when using any device powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Operation Sister City 2022

Written & Photographed by Candice Temple

Every hurricane season brings an ominous tinge to the sunshine State of Florida. In recent years, Palm Beach Gardens has been fortunate to have escaped massive destruction or direct hits as storms churn their way across the Atlantic Ocean. Not every city has been so lucky.

With Hurricane Ian, the west coast of the state wore the bullseye as the storm drew closer. In its wake, a small, rural town in central Florida was beginning to rebuild. If you haven’t heard of Wauchula Florida, it has been known for quite some time as the “cucumber capital of the world”, although nowadays watermelon and citrus are economic drivers. It is a little country town of just under 5,000 residents and 91 city employees delivering municipal services.

On September 28th, contrary to its name, the Peace River rose with fury as strong winds and destructive rains from Hurricane Ian made landfall. Floodwaters from the 15-20 inches of rain the city endured destroyed homes and spun lakes of water where none had ever been seen before. To make matters worse, at the height of the storm when emergency response was limited, an apartment building caught fire and displaced dozens of residents. Several Wauchula employees sustained storm damage to their personal homes.

“We had seven or eight of our employees who were anywhere from major damage to total loss,” Wauchula City Manager Terry Achtley shares. “But at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. at the latest, the next morning they were at work.”

Upon learning what Wauchula had endured, the City of Palm Beach Gardens

and Christ Fellowship Church

PBG made the decision to revive the Operation Sister City program that was created in 2018 when they supported Florida employees of the City of Callaway and the Bay County Public Works Department. Paying it forward, the City of Callaway called to lend a hand to Wauchula, as well. Together, the three entities contributed over $61,000 in funding and in-kind donations for the program.

Support for the employees of Wauchula was issued in two parts. First, personalized care packages were created for each employee that included some basic necessities, a gift card and handwritten notes from children in P.B.G.’s childcare program, as well as from Christ Fellowship. A team drove to Wauchula to deliver the care packages and passed them out during an informal pizza lunch at the train depot.

On the second trip to Wauchula in midDecember, the Operation Sister City team turned the Hardee County AgriCivic Center into a holiday wonderland. Employees and their families were treated to a holiday dinner, and activities like a hot cocoa mix station and cookie decorating. All children received a visit with Santa & Buddy the Elf, where they were showered with gifts collected during a local Joy Drive in the Gardens. The goal of the visit was to allow the employees to relax and receive appreciation for the hard work they’d endured over the previous weeks to rebuild their community.

“I personally believe this is going to lead a movement forward where more cities are going to adopt other cities in crisis,”

says Becky Kyle, Ministry Coordinator at Christ Fellowship Church.

Operation Sister City continues to be a unique public service program that supports those who are supporting their communities. The impact of the program is simple in the words of Gardens Emergency Management Director David Reyes.

“By helping those employees, the impact is a lot greater than what we see. It’s bigger than a single employee or the 90 employees of the City of Wauchula”, says Reyes. “We are impacting a larger community, as we focus on serving those who serve others.”

Watch our Operation Sister City recap video for firsthand accounts from community partners and City of Wauchula employees at www.youtube.com/citypbg.

Karla De La Cruz & family pose with Santa Claus and receive gifts in Wauchula.

Hometown Artists at ArtiGras

Shine

by Rebecca Seelig | Photography by Jason Nuttle

On Presidents’ Day Weekend, the City of Palm Beach Gardens will host the ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival, the county’s premier outdoor, fine-arts show. ArtiGras features more than 300 artists from around the country who will showcase their art in 12 different mediums ranging from painting to fiber and metal to photography.

Along with bringing art lovers and artists from all over the country to Palm Beach Gardens, ArtiGras nurtures the art that is in the city. Each year, ArtiGras does a call for new artists to be

part of their popular Emerging Artist program. The Emerging Artist program offers selected developing artists mentoring services, professional booth photos and complimentary tent rental. Qualifications include artists who have never exhibited in a show and reside in the Palm Beach County area.

“We started the Emerging Artist program to help local artists lower their stress by guiding them and assisting them to prepare for the festival,” said Alishia Parenteau, who heads the Artist Relations Committee and helped develop the Emerging Artist program in 2009.

Painter Sarah LaPierre, who grew up in Palm Beach Gardens, is no stranger to art festivals. She has been attending them since she can remember as a little girl, following her father, Joseph LaPierre, around the state as he set up shop to display his artwork. However, Sarah didn’t start showing as an artist at festivals until she entered the Emerging Artist program through ArtiGras in 2010.

“The Emerging Artist program is really an amazing starting place for entering the world of fine art show and exhibiting, and I don’t know of any other shows in Florida that do it like ArtiGras,” said LaPierre. She creates original paintings using heavy body acrylics with impasto/palette knife techniques that give her local and Florida inspired landscapes and iconography vivid color and textures.

“Both the media exposure and being in a highlighted section that let patrons know who we were, was very helpful,” she shares.” The other great factor is being in a group of newbies, so you feel a little braver because you’re not the only one just starting out.”

Currently, Sarah has a pop-up studio at the Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach through March 15, 2023 and attends art festivals with her mother, Melody, and fiancé, Mike Zinni, who support her efforts to showcase her talents. And her talent has been noticed. In 2015, LaPierre was asked to create the 30th anniversary commemorative poster for ArtiGras and the poster for the South Florida music festival SunFest.

For Palm Beach Gardens resident and porcelain sculpture artist, Sharon Bastin, the

ArtiGras Emerging Artist program helped her learn the ropes and make networking connections within the art industry.

“I was an emerging artist my first year and really enjoyed the experience. With the ArtiGras staff’s help, I learned how to put on a successful show. They assisted in the setup and prep along with how to organize myself and my work for the show. The experience was

2023 for the fourth time since being an Emerging Artist.

“Since my first year, I have made connections with other artists, learned from seasoned artists and have a little bit of a following. I have even had people come back to visit me from previous years to ask about the new work or hope I had something from previous years they wanted. It has been a very fulfilling experience.”

North county resident and photographer Matt Lerer says the Emerging Artist program helped him gain confidence in his work. Lerer, a tennis professional at Admirals Cove, partook in the Emerging Artist program in 2020.

“Being at ArtiGras helped me develop easily and build my confidence to show my work,“ said Lerer, who prints his underwater and landscape photography directly on ChromaLuxe panels. “The Emerging Artist program made it comfortable for me to show my work to so many people.”

The 38th Annual ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival, February 18-19, 2023, will be held at The Gardens North County District Park on 117th Court North. Along with the juried exhibition of outstanding fine art, ArtiGras showcases activities which include live entertainment, a special Amazon ArtiKids Zone and Baptist Health Youth Art Competition.

Returning for 2023 will be the Culinary Arts Studio which incorporates the art of food into the festival. This studio will have a full kitchen set up provided by Kitchen Concepts & More, and will showcase the creativity of cooking through live food demonstrations and tastings. This area of ArtiGras will surely satisfy the palate with chefs from Ganache Bakery Café, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, and Chef’s Table Catering. In addition, Stormhouse Brewing and Lucky Shucks will be going through drink pairings for the food presented.

There is a something for everyone at ArtiGras. Ranked as a Top-10 fine arts festival by Sunshine Artist

Magazine, ArtiGras offers its patrons an immersive arts experience like no other.

“The best part of ArtiGras for me is the combination of being a part of a large festival where I can show and sell the work I have generated over the year and being able to admire the work and creativity of others,” stated Bastin.

WANT TO BE PART OF ARTIGRAS?

Volunteer shifts are still available in the following areas: Amazon ArtiKids Zone, Parking/Transportation, Artist Relations, Site Operations, Volunteer Committee, Baptist Health Youth Art Competition Committee, Information Booths and Merchandising. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt, free admission to the festival before or after their shift the day of volunteering, special parking and free food and beverages in the volunteer area. Students will also receive community service credit for the hours they volunteer.

For more information on volunteering for ArtiGras and details about the festival and the artists, visit www.artigras.org or call 561-746-7111.

Sarah LaPierre is a painter based in West Palm Beach. Her work features coastal scenes using palette knife techniques.

Matt Lerer is a photographer based in north Palm Beach County specializing in landscape and underwater photography.

Sharon Bastin is a porcelain sculpture artist based in Palm Beach Gardens.

Calendar of Events

JANUARY

NOW-JANUARY 26

GardensArt Exhibition

Melissa Mastrangelo: “Slice of Paradise” Acrylics & Watercolor Ink Hours Vary; call 561.630.1100

Burns Road Community Center

NOW-FEBRUARY 2

GardensArt Exhibition

Laurie Snow Hein: “An Artist’s View of Florida” Oils on Canvas Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at City Hall

JANUARY 15, 22, 29

The Gardens GreenMarket

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

JANUARY 16, 23, 30

Junior Tour Chasers 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

JANUARY 12

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. at City Hall

JANUARY 13

Artist’s Reception for Melissa Mastrangelo “Slice of Paradise” Acrylics & Watercolor Ink 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

JANUARY 14

Stories in the Park 10 – 11 a.m.

Burns Road Community Center Playground

JANUARY 16

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance

City Administrative Offices Closed

JANUARY 16

School’s Out Golf Camp

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

JANUARY 16

Middle School EDGE and School’s Out Camps 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

JANUARY 16-FEBRUARY 16

GardensArt Exhibition

A PREVIEW TO ARTIGRAS 2023

Group Exhibition of Tropical Artworks

M- Th 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Fri 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sat & Sun 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse

*Hours may vary due to special events or other programs

JANUARY 18

After School Clinic 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

JANUARY 20

Artist’s Reception for Laurie Snow Hein

“An Artist’s View of Florida”

Oils on Canvas 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

JANUARY 21, 28

Junior Drop-In Clinic 9 - 10 a.m.

Get Golf Ready Clinic 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

JANUARY 24

Special Magistrate Hearing 2 - 5 p.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

JANUARY 24-29

“Les Grandes Dames” Level 2

Women’s Singles & Doubles 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

JANUARY 26-APRIL 18

GardensArt Exhibition

Frederick Croen

“Discovering the Familiar” Views of Palm Beach County Photography

Dawn to Dusk

Sandhill Crane Golf Clubhouse

JANUARY 30-APRIL 4

GardensArt Exhibition

Adult Student Group Exhibition

“Creativity on Display”

Oil & Acrylic Paintings

Hours Vary; call 561.630.1100

Burns Road Community Center

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 1, 8, 15, 22

After School Golf Clinic 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

FEBRUARY 4, 11, 18, 25

Junior Drop-In Golf Clinic 9 - 10 a.m.

Get Golf Ready Clinic 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

FEBRUARY 6, 13, 20, 27

Junior Tour Chasers 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

FEBRUARY 2

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. at City Hall

FEBRUARY 4

Public Safety Day 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Gardens District Park

FEBRUARY 4

GardensArt Pre-Concert Artist’s Reception for Stanley Dornfest

“Luminous Landscapes ll” Oil & Acrylic Paintings 4:30 – 6 p.m. at City Hall

Community Concert

THE LONG RUN: America’s Favorite Tribute to the Eagles 7 – 9 p.m.

Veterans Plaza Amphitheater

FEBRUARY 5, 12, 19, 26

Black History Month Celebration at The Gardens GreenMarket 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. City Hall Municipal Campus

FEBRUARY 6

Early Summer Camp Registration Opens for PBG Residents

FEBRUARY 6-MARCH 30

GardensArt Exhibition Stanley Dornfest “Luminous Landscapes ll” Acrylic & Oil Paintings Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at City Hall

FEBRUARY 10

Heart-y Party 10 – 11 a.m. Burns Road Community Center

FEBRUARY 11

Stories in the Park 10 – 11 a.m. Burns Road Community Center Playground

FEBRUARY 12

Sweetheart Mixed Doubles & Luncheon 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tennis & Pickleball Center

FEBRUARY 18-19

ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival: ArtiGras Island 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily

The Gardens North County District Park ArtiGras Pineapple.png

FEBRUARY 23-26

The Honda Classic PGA National Resort & Spa

FEBRUARY 20

President’s Day Holiday City Administrative Offices Closed

FEBRUARY 20

School’s Out Golf Camp 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

FEBRUARY 20

Middle School EDGE and School’s Out Camps 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

FEBRUARY 22-MAY 18

GardensArt Exhibition Scott Henderson

“Along the Water’s Edge” Watercolors

M-Th 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sat & Sun 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse

*Hours may vary due to special events or other programs

FEBRUARY 28

Special Magistrate Hearing 2 - 5 p.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 4

Women’s Clay Tournament 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

MARCH

MARCH 2

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. at City Hall

MARCH 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

After School Clinic 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

MARCH 4, 11, 18, 25

Junior Drop-In Clinic 9 - 10 a.m.

Get Golf Ready Clinic 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

MARCH 5, 12, 19, 26

The Gardens GreenMarket 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

MARCH 13, 20, 27

Get Golf Ready Clinic - NEW 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

MARCH 10

GardensArt Artist’s Reception for Adult Student Group Exhibition 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

Teen Art Exhibit & Reception 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

MARCH 11

Indoor Yard Sale 7 - 11:30 a.m.

Burns Road Community Center

Artist’s Reception for Scott Henderson 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.

MARCH 17

School’s Out Golf Camp 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

MARCH 17

Sweetheart Dance: Shamrock Shenanigans Dinner, Dancing & Desserts 5:30 – 8 p.m.

Sandhill Crane Golf Club Ballroom

MARCH 17, 20-24

Middle School EDGE and School’s Out

Spring Break Camps 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Burns Road Community Center

MARCH 20-24

Spring Break Youth Tennis Camp (Ages 7-17) 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Tennis & Pickleball Center

MARCH 21, 22, 23

Spring Break Golf Camp 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

MARCH 28

Special Magistrate Hearing 2 - 5 p.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

MARCH 31

Glow with the Flow Egg Hunt 6 - 9 p.m.

Gardens Park

APRIL

APRIL 1

Spring Rates Take Effect Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

APRIL 1, 15, 22, 29

Junior Drop-In Clinic 9 - 10 a.m.

Get Golf Ready Clinic 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

APRIL 2

Awe for Autism Expo at The Gardens GreenMarket 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

APRIL 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

The Gardens GreenMarket 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

Additional event details are available on our website at www.pbgfl.com.

APRIL 3, 10, 17, 24

Get Golf Ready Clinic 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

APRIL 5, 12, 19, 26

After School Clinic 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

APRIL 3-JUNE 1

GardensArt Exhibition Diane Prater

“Intelligent Design: Inspired Treasures from the Sea” Watercolors Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at City Hall

APRIL 6-MAY 24

GardensArt Exhibition Felipe Thompson “Mad Artist” Abstract Fluid Art Hours Vary; call 561.630-1100 Burns Road Community Center

APRIL 6

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. at City Hall

APRIL 7

Good Friday Holiday City Administrative Offices Closed

APRIL 7

School’s Out Golf Camp 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sandhill Hill Crane Golf Club

APRIL 7

Middle School EDGE and School’s Out Camps 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Burns Road Community Center

APRIL 13

Artist’s Reception for Diane Prater “Intelligent Design: Inspired Treasures from the Sea” Watercolors 5:30 - 7 p.m. at City Hall

APRIL 14

Artist’s Reception for Felipe Thompson “Mad Artist” Abstract Fluid Art 6 - 7:30 p.m. Burns Road Community Center

APRIL 15

Gamer Sale 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Burns Road Community Center

APRIL 25

Special Magistrate Hearing 2 - 5 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES:

Burns Road Community Center 4404 Burns Road

City Hall Municipal Campus 10500 N. Military Trail

Fire Station #61 4425 Burns Road Gardens Park 4301 Burns Road

PGA National Resort & Spa 400 Avenue of the Champions

Sandhill Crane Golf Club/ Dancing Crane Restaurant 9500 Sandhill Crane Drive

Tennis & Pickleball Center Clubhouse/Center Court Café 5110 117th Court N.

The Gardens GreenMarket 10500 N. Military Trail

The Gardens North County District Park 5101 117th Court North

The Honda Classic Then & Now

Rickie Fowler 2017 Tournament Winner

AT OAKS PARK All Aflutter

by

With the completion of a new project, there are sure to be a lot more smiles in Palm Beach Gardens. The City recently opened a butterfly garden at Oaks Park that is sure to become a favorite for locals.

Over the summer, national news reported that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had placed the migratory monarch butterfly, a subspecies of the majestic Monarch butterfly, on the endangered species list. Inspired by this news, City staff began a plan to take advantage of its abundant passive greenspaces to carve out places for a butterfly garden.

A small city park located off of Gardens East Drive, Oaks Park features pavilions, picnic tables, and a multipurpose walking trail, among other amenities. Nestled in near the walking trail and tennis court,

a butterfly sanctuary has been created. The garden was designed with every stage of the butterfly life cycle in mind.

Three new oak trees have been planted to provide shade and a variety of plants, including flowering plants, have been installed to provide the nutrition butterflies need to grow from ovum to imago. Metamorphosis happens in four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult, and can be a fascinating process to witness.

As a larva, they must grow rapidly, so they eat continually. Several patches of milkweed have been planted to supply plenty of food for monarchs to feed. Milkweed is an important host plant for the monarch butterfly and, as

the only plant they will lay eggs on, is critical to the mission of encouraging expansion of the population. As an adult, the most important component a butterfly garden holds is flowering plants to provide nectar.

Butterflies are valuable pollinators and the City of Palm Beach Gardens is proud to bring this latest initiative to the community. Signage has been installed at the park to educate visitors about the various flora they will view and the many butterflies they will be able to observe at the garden. Split rail fencing has been constructed for “look, don’t touch” visits.

Oaks Park is now home to what we hope will be the first of several butterfly gardens throughout the City. When you visit, be sure to look for bright green cocoons and bright yellow, black & white striped caterpillars. And know that Palm Beach Gardens is doing its part for this precious ecosystem.

Oaks Park Butterfly Garden

Open: Sunrise to Sunset 10666 Gardens East Drive Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Candice Temple

The Honda Classic:

Then Now

In 2002, the Honda Classic arrived in Palm Beach Gardens, the PGA TOUR event moving north after spending three decades in Broward County. Ten years later, on March 4, 2012, the Honda Classic truly arrived on the world golf scene. That’s the day Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods – the faces of golf during the last two generations – dueled down the stretch of a scintillating final round at PGA National.

Written by Craig Dolch Photographs courtesy of The Honda Classic

Russell Henley plays a shot on the 18th hole during the final round of The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on March 2, 2014 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Woods closed birdie-eagle to shoot 62 on the Champion course – his lowest final round – to apply the pressure on McIlroy. The Northern Irishman was up to the task: Hearing the roars from Woods’ exploits, McIlroy made a birdie and three clutch pars around the Bear Trap to shoot 69 and beat Woods and Tom Gillis by two shots.

McIlroy’s victory moved him into the No. 1 spot in the world ranking for the first time. At 22, McIlroy became the youngest player to reach No. 1 since … Woods, who did so when he was 21. The exciting finish gave the Honda Classic the type of drama major championships can’t dream about. It was the first time Woods had played in the Honda Classic since the then amateur was offered an exemption when he was 17.

Longtime tournament Executive Director Ken Kennerly was brought to tears when he announced Woods would be playing. Woods’ presence certainly brought out the fans to PGA National – more than 100,000 showed up during the week to witness history and have a blast doing so. It was the greatest highlight, but not the only one for the Honda Classic, fittingly played in the “Golf Capital of the World.”

It brought back the thrills that were evident when the tournament started a half century ago. In 1972, thanks in large part to a host who also knew how to put on a show – comedian Jackie Gleason – a new PGA TOUR event in South Florida debuted. It immediately made noise when future Hall of Famers Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus battled down the stretch near Fort Lauderdale to win the inaugural Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic.

Weiskopf made a 30-foot birdie putt on the penultimate hole to beat his Ohio rival and claim the $52,000 first prize, one of the richest on the PGA TOUR. And away we went, to modify Gleason’s catchphrase.

That was the start of 51 years of incredible golf, fabulous finishes, decorated winners, lots of laughs and cheers along the way, and tens of million dollars raised for charity. From the beginning, what we know as the Honda Classic has captivated fans while becoming one of South Florida’s top sporting events.

Gleason wasn’t the only Great One involved with the tournament. Not when the list of winners includes a wing of the

World Golf Hall of Fame legends such as Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Fred Couples, Nick Price, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, and Ernie Els; proven winners such as Mark Calcavecchia, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas. Winning the Honda Classic was so nice, Nicklaus, Miller, Calcavecchia and Harrington did it twice. Nicklaus remains the only one to win back-to-back (’77 and ’78).

If a tournament is judged by the pedigree of its winners, the Honda Classic could be ranked among the four major champions. The tournament certainly knew how to put on an entertaining show, the most scintillating finish coming when Nicklaus birdied the last five holes to steal a victory from Grier Jones in 1978.

“That’s the first time I finished a tournament with five birdies,” said Nicklaus, who started his birdie barrage by holing an 80-foot chip on the 14th hole. “I couldn’t do it (make birdie) the easy way, so I thought I would do it the hard way.”

But changes were on the way: In ’81, Gleason stopped hosting and American Motors Company became the sponsor in ’81 with American Honda Motor Company taking over in ’82, beginning the longest-running sponsorship on the PGA TOUR. The tournament left Inverrary in 1984 for neighboring TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs – a stadium course the PGA TOUR owned – and officially became known as The Honda Classic.

The tournament remained in Broward County for the next 18 years, but it struggled to gain traction because it shifted from TPC Eagle Trace, TPC Heron Bay and Weston Hills Country Club four times. In 2003, the PGA TOUR steered the Honda Classic to Palm Beach Gardens and convinced Nicklaus and wife Barbara to serve as unofficial hosts with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation becoming the primary

The Bear Trap

sponsor. Last year’s Honda Classic raised a record $6.45 million for charities, pushing the total to $46 million in the 16 years it has been held at PGA National.

The TOUR’s decision to move to Palm Beach Gardens was akin to Nicklaus making those five closing birdies to win in 1978 – it changed the direction and success of the tournament. The Honda Classic was held at the Country Club at Mirasol from 2003-06, and it produced four splendid winners: Three eventual major champions (Leonard, Harrington and Todd Hamilton as well as a future world No. 1 (Luke Donald).

The Honda Classic reached another level when it moved across PGA Boulevard in 2007 to PGA National’s Champion Course, which had hosted the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1987 PGA Championship. The Champ, as the course was known, also had been renovated by Nicklaus and, with his children’s healthcare foundation’s involvement, he became a caretaker of the course, tweaking it every year. Thanks in large part to Nicklaus’ involvement, many of the game’s top players – who had followed Jack’s lead of moving to Palm Beach County in the mid-1960s – started playing in the Honda Classic.

After McIlroy’s seismic victory in 2012, the Honda Classic became one of the best non-major events on the PGA TOUR. It started attracting most of the top players in the world rankings, while producing elite winners on a very tough golf course. During the Honda Classic’s 16-year run at

PGA National, the winners have included six major champions (Els, Yang, McIlroy, Harrington, Scott and Thomas), as well as constant major contender Fowler.

Nicklaus gave the Honda Classic a more dramatic closing stretch in 2014 when he re-designed the 15th, 16th and 17th holes, which became known as the Bear Trap because of their difficulty. Fans flocked to the Bear Trap to see which players could handle the formidable finish. There is a plaque next to the 15th that notifies golfers: “You are about the enter the Bear Trap.” Below it are these words: “It should be won or lost right

here,” with Nicklaus’ signature and a statue of a bear next to it.

Honda recently announced it will stop its longest-continuous sponsorship on the PGA TOUR after the tournament is held on February 23-26. But the show, started by the entertainer Gleason, will go on.

Under the leadership of Kennerly and new Executive Director Andrew George, the Honda Classic has become more than a golf tournament; it has become a happening with ancillary events held throughout the year. Moreover, the Honda Classic has done far more than entertain golf fans. It also has raised millions of dollars for local charities.

If a tournament is judged by the pedigree of its winners, the Honda Classic could be ranked among the four major champions.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after winning the Honda Classic at PGA National on March 4, 2012 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

DIAN

The sculpture Dian was created in 1987 by local and renowned sculpture artist John Raimondi, an American sculptor best known as a creator of monumental public sculptures with works throughout the United States and several countries in Europe. This 26-foot sculpture stands at 4400 PGA Blvd, between Embassy Suites and Wells Fargo.

Written and photographed by David L. Williams, II

Dian was named and inspired by the late conservationist and primatologist Dian Fossey. In the late 1970s, Raimondi developed a strong interest in issues concerning the environment, as well as the hardships related to endangered species. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Raimondi’s work took on a new artistic direction that showed his passion for the

significance and history concerning the fragility of our planet.

For over 20 years, Dian Fossey conducted extensive studies of mountain gorilla groups in the mountains of Rwanda. She also supported conservation efforts and actively opposed tourism and poaching in wildlife habitats. Her notoriety became more widespread as she pushed to advocate for the acknowledgement that gorillas are sapient beings.

During her time in Rwanda, her research ultimately helped to reduce the diminishing population of mountain gorillas. However, this did not come without a myriad of adversaries with opposing views. On December 26, 1985, Fossey was murdered inside of her cabin by an assailant whose identity has yet to be discovered but was a poacher. After her death and the reading of her renowned book Gorillas in the Mist, Raimondi designed the sculpture Dian to honor her life.

By the mid-1980s, Raimondi already created several monuments in different parts of the world; however, Dian was the first piece he made using high-reflecting stainless steel. The purpose of this was for the viewer to see their own reflection while looking at the sculpture. Raimondi’s intention was to inspire the viewer to examine their own relationship with the world we live in and recognize that it is our responsibility to protect it before it’s too late.

As Fossey wrote in the last entry of her diary, “When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.”

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