Healthier Meal Options

Posted on 29. Aug, 2010 by Howard Salus in Dining, Florida News, Green Business, Healthy Foods, Healthy Products

MIAMI STUDENTS GET HEALTHIER MEAL OPTIONS FROM EVOS®

 
By Nancy Powell Radlauer (PowellReviews@aol.com)

EVOS® is a quick-service restaurant chain serving burgers, fries, and shakes. One exception from the norm; their philosophy is to use healthier ingredients such as naturally-raised hormone/antibioticfree beef and organic ingredients, as well as alternative cooking techniques. The result is 50 to 70
percent less fat without sacrificing flavor.
Dino Lambridis, Alkis Crassas and Michael Jeffers expanded their business to include stores in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and California since starting the franchise expansion in 2005. The company employs sustainable business practices that range from purchasing renewable wind energy to utilizing environmentally-friendly materials in the building of its stores.
EVOS, the restaurant known for great tasting, healthier menu options is proud to
announce the EVOS® Healthy School Lunch Program. Now available at public and
private schools throughout the Miami area this year, it offer an easy, affordable option for parents that ends daily lunchbox dilemmas.
Schools that choose to adopt the EVOS® Healthy School Lunch Program this year
are being rewarded for their efforts because the restaurant chain has committed to
donating a portion of each lunchbox sale back to the school from which it was
purchased.
“This year alone, more than 31 million students will consume 30 to 50 percent of their daily calories during their 30 minute lunch break,” says Jackie Macaluso,community ambassador at EVOS. “Packed with high amounts of salt, fat and sugar today’s school lunch simply “fails” miserably. The EVOS Healthy School
Lunch Program hopes to not only make a direct nutritional impact in the lives of those students we serve, but to also help schools get one step closer to meeting their unique fundraising milestones.”
While many people may assume that the idea of a healthier school lunch would be a
hard “sell” for students used to devouring the first slice of pizza, bag of chips, or
cookie assortment that comes their way, EVOS has succeeded in building a solid
following. From naturally-raised, beef burgers and hotdogs (free of added
hormones, antibiotics), to air-baked chicken strips and even a vegetarian option,
EVOS’ great tasting food and hip, trendy attitude has set the stage for great things to
come. Students are expected to talk about their “Most Talented, Most Likely to
Succeed, Most Athletic and Most Attractive” form those all packed into their tasty
lunchbox.
For more information on EVOS Healthy Lunch Program, menu offerings or for information on how your
school can get involved, log on to www.evoslunchroom.com. And, for those of you who just can’t get
enough EVOS during your lunch hour, visit EVOS’ Miami location at 9537 South Dixie Highway,
Pinecrest, Florida. The restaurant is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.evos.com.

Great Music for Great Kids – June 6th

Posted on 14. May, 2010 by Howard Salus in Entertainment, The Arts Advances

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS OF MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
In association with WLRN Radio & TV
Our Exciting Twenty-Fourth Season

Mikhail Nikitine & Deanna Seay in Coppelia. Photo by Steve Caras (c)ARTISTS: MIAMI CITY BALLET DANCERS

Patricia Alberston, Patricia Delgado, Jeannette Delgado, principals,
Callie Manning, soloist, Didier Bramaz, principal soloist, Marc Spielberger, soloist
and Deanna Seay, narrator

Dance, Dance & More…

DATE/TIME:        Sunday, June 6, 2010 – 3 pm

PLACE:                     Gusman Concert Hall.
Frost School of Music, University of Miami, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL
Just Follow the Balloons to Gusman!!

ADMISSION:    Individual tickets:                 $10 children – $12 grownups
Advance Tickets May Be Purchased:
Concert Line 305-271-7150
On-line via Pay Pal: www.sundaymusicals.org
Heritage House, 12105 S. Dixie Highway, Miami
Ticketmaster:    Dade:        305.358.5885
Broward:    954.523.3309

Miami City Ballet principals and soloists collaborate in a special children’s hour devoted to the dance.  These talented dancers will guide children of all ages through the journey of preparing and rehearsing a ballet to its final performance.  Beautiful music, beautiful costumes and more.  Children will be invited to interact with the Miami City Ballet dancers and learn first-hand the challenges of the basic steps and partnering.  Children are encouraged to wear their favorite tutu and favorite dancing shoes!  Great music for great kids!!!

The program consists of a musical journey that will lead the audience through a dancer’s preparation, exercising, stretching and warming up for the performance. The afternoon will include excerpts from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.  Completing this beautiful afternoon at the ballet!!!

Everything is beautiful at the ballet!

Fun is the first step to music appreciation and that’s what these concerts are all about providing children with experiences that will last a lifetime

Come early to visit and play the musical string instrument petting zoo.  Instructors from the Allegro Music Center of Miami will help the children.

Peter-the-Mime/Clown entertains until the performance begins and will host the Apple juice, Balloons and Cookie party following the one-hour concert!!

Miami City Ballet Dancers appear courtesy of Miami City Ballet, Edward Villella, Artistic Director

Great Music for Great Kids!!

________________________________________
This program is sponsored in part by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Mayor, The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, Funding Arts Network, Baptist Children’s Hospital and with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Whole Foods Market-Coral Gables, Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc, Miami Salon Group and our generous underwriters, supporters, advertisers and friends.

RIBBON CUTTING FOR NEW BIG CYPRESS SWAMP WELCOME CENTER PRECEEDED WITH MAGIC!

Posted on 12. Apr, 2010 by Howard Salus in Eco Tourism, Education, Environment, Everglades, Florida News, Green Events

By Libby Marx

libbymarx@earthlink.net

Once upon a time, there was a magical and mystical place.  It still exists!  It is the Big Cypress National Preserve known as a “recreational paradise”, a protected area that is visited by literally millions of people every year. These visitors may indulge their desires for everything from bird watching, canoeing, hiking, camping and some off road vehicle adventures. They can take their chance of seeing an elusive Florida panther, a bear or explore the wetlands and enjoy the unique wildlife.  Whether called the “Western Everglades” or “The Big Cypress Swamp” it is still a unique and amazing area of more than 2,400 square miles, astonishing for its diversity affected by the difference in the level of the land. Both inches of ground level, or inches of rain fall can make a difference in the landscape. National Park Service Rangers will take you on guided activities into the swamp.  To facilitate all of the above, now there is a new $2.2 million Welcome Center located on the south side of Tamiami Trail just 2.5 miles east of the intersection of State Route 29.

The new Center will welcome an estimated 250,000 annual visitors. Some will just stop by on their travels to the opposite coast; perhaps they will have a picnic in the scenic area out back, set by the water. Others will use the facilities to help them determine their level of exploration of these protected tracts of land that are open for the enjoyment of the public.

Inside the center are eighteen exhibits. In the western breezeway is a mural entitled “Animal Shelters” showing many of the rare birds one might see during a day in the wilderness.  You will also find helpful maps to aid your understanding of the swamps location in relationship to the rest of the surrounding Florida Everglades. Collectively they form the largest natural protected area in the Eastern United States.

Recently dignitaries and guests met for a ribbon cutting for the new Center.  The day included exhibits, activities and displays organized by the Big Cypress National Preserve and South Florida’s Community Partners (a group comprised of professionals, volunteers, entrepreneurs, students and activists who join forces to enrich South Florida National Park’s cultural diversity with the National Parks Service staff).

BUT it was the dedication ceremony preceding the ribbon cutting that took my breath away. Pedro Ramos, Big Cypress National Park Superintendent was master of ceremony. Nathaniel Reed, Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior and longtime environmental advocate gave an outstanding testimony to the history and importance of preserving the land, Jon Jarvis, National Parks Service Director, Chief Billy of the Miccosukee Tribe, Jim Coletta, Collier County Commissioner, Charlie Arazoza, Chairman of the Board of the S. Florida National Parks Trust, Nadine Patrice, Executive Director of Green Leaves and others spoke from specific standpoints. There was, however, an underlying theme.  Each and every dignitary that spoke had an incredible dedication to the work involved and love for the Big Cypress.  They each had an unparalleled respect and admiration for one another and for every contribution, whether of a monetary nature or labor of love.  Guests could not help but be influenced by the feeling of “We have done it – we’ve saved the Big Cypress” as we listened to stories and testimonies of the years of work involved with Government agencies and locals.  The battles fought and won, the friendships formed, the gratitude, and the appreciation were all expressed in a most united way. It was like a night at the Oscars with no egos. Sitting under the open tent, breathing the fresh air, the sunshine streaming in, plus the smell of the earth culminated to the stark realization that this is all too precious to ever be lost. Sharing the rich history and understanding of the ecology of the Big Cypress Swamp, was part of the theme. The swamp has plant communities from a mixture of temperate and tropical varieties that form the unique environment for a diversity of rare wildlife.  Best known are perhaps the Florida panther and the Ghost Orchard. One is an animal, one a plant, but they are both revered and elusive. These jewels only still exist because of the dedication of some of the very people present at the ceremony. After a collection of eloquent speeches packed with information and emotion, the ribbon was cut.

Then we focused on the new center. Quite in keeping with the preservation of the land, is the sustainable structure of the Center which uses several technologies considered green. The solar panels were made possible by a contribution from Everglades’ photographer Clyde Butcher and his wife Nikki. In addition to building materials that are recycled, is the use of LED energy efficient lighting and water saving utilities. The Federal Highways Administration made the building a possibility though a grant.  The exhibits, on the other hand, were made possible through funds in full or part from matching gifts that have been made to the South Florida National Parks Trust.

You may have missed the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, but the New Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center is here to stay and is well worth the time to visit.  Add an extra hour on to your next trip across the State, so you too can enjoy and learn from the exhibits and information now available to help enrich your appreciation and enjoyment of a land that is still magical and mystical.

Nathaniel Reed, Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior and long time environmental advocate!

Wayne Rassner, Coordinator of the Volunteer Authorized Agent Program at Everglades National Park and Trustee of the S Fla. National Parks Trust, cuddling "Belinda" - a 12 foot, 100 pound Burmese Python

Guest Master Naturalist Tony Marx with Clyde & Nikki Butcher (They donated the solar panels at the center.)

Pedros Ramos, Big Cypress National Parks Superintendent standing before the Red Ribbon to be cut.

Jon Jarvis, National Parks Service Director.

Jim Coletta, Collier County Commissioner.

Tony Marx with 7th Generation Ron Bergeron and Chris (Ron presented a donation of $10,000 at the ceremony!)

The entire group assembles for the cutting of the ribbon.

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS OF MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

Posted on 13. Feb, 2010 by Howard Salus in Entertainment, The Arts Advances

In association with WLRN Radio & TV

Our Exciting Twenty-Fourth Season

ARTISTS DAVID GROVER & GROVER’S GANG

David Grover, guitar & vocal, Kathy Jo Grover, bass & vocal

Mike Sacco, drums, guitar & vocal, Charlie Tokarz, woodwinds

A Family Concert

DATE/TIME: Sunday, March 14, 2010 – 3 pm

PLACE: Gusman Concert Hall.

Frost School of Music, University of Miami, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL

Just Follow the Balloons to Gusman!!

ADMISSION: Individual tickets: $10 children/$12 grownups

Advance Tickets May Be Purchased:

Concert Line 305-271-7150

On-line via Pay Pal: www.sundaymusicals.org

Heritage House, 12105 S. Dixie Highway, Miami

Ticketmaster: Dade: 305.358.5885

Broward: 954.523.3309

“…he’s a performer of the elementary schoolset…”

David Grover is a songwriter and performer of original and standard children’s music. It’s music with a message, upbeat and uplifting. Concerts involve his audience with clap-a-longs, sing-a-longs and on-stage audience participation. Children enjoy and learn from David Grover & Grover’s Gang and their songs.

His concerts include old favorites such as “This Land IsYour land” and “ Wimoweh” to original songs like “Step by Step” and “The Fireman in Our Friend, There’s a Light in You, Pass It On, etc. ”. Truly a family concert where everyone has a part!

David Grover & Grover’s Gang have received numerous awards such as the 1997 Parents Choice Award, 1997 Grammy nominee for Best Children’s Album, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold Award, 1999 Parent’s Choice Recommended Winner, Iris Award Nominee from the Nat’l Association of TV Program Executives, etc., etc.

Come early to visit and play the musical string instrument “petting zoo”. Instructors from Allegro Music Center, Miami will be there to help the children.

Fun is the first step to music appreciation and that’s what these concerts are all about, providing children with experiences that will last a lifetime.

The hour-long children’s concerts are an informal and friendly introduction to the exciting world of music, song and dance.

Stay and enjoy the Apple juice, Balloons and Cookie party following the one-hour concert!!

Great Music for Great Kids!!

This program is sponsored in part by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Mayor, The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, Funding Arts Network, Baptist Children’s Hospital and with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Whole Foods Market-Coral Gables, Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc, Miami Salon Group and our generous underwriters, supporters, advertisers and friends.

Ballerinas to Read Children’s Book and Perform at Barnes & Noble in Aventura Benefit

Posted on 11. Feb, 2010 by Howard Salus in Entertainment, Florida News

A perfect day of ballet fun for the budding dancers and story lovers in your family will be held on Saturday, February 27th at 11 AM when the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida brings some of its students and ballerinas to perform and read at the Aventura, Barnes & Noble. Inspired by a new ballet picture book, Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig, the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida will present in store a full range of dance activities, including mini dance demonstrations and performances. As an added treat, a dancer will read the children’s story, Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig and the author, David Ira Rottenberg, will be on hand to answer questions and sign copies.

Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig tells the tale of two friends, Gwendolyn and Omar, who have big dreams. Gwendolyn longs to dance ballet, and Omar wants to join the football team. There is just one problem— they’re both pigs! For any adult or child who wishes to see and learn about ballet, as well as meet real ballerinas and a children story author, it is only necessary to come to the free presentation at the Aventura Barnes & Noble. Be sure to bring your cameras!

Barnes & Noble is hosting the event and donating to the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida a percentage of every sale made by customers with special Book Fair vouchers, or who simply identify themselves as supporters of the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. Vouchers are available at the Arts Ballet Theatre website: www.artsballettheatre.org

For more information on this free Barnes & Noble event contact: the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida,
15939 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, Tel. 305 935 3232.

When: Saturday, February 27th at 11AM

Where: Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Loehmann’s Fashion Island, 18711 NE Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL 33180, Tel: 305-935-9770