Luxury on the waters of West Palm

By Evelyn Ticona
Managing Editor

A four-day marine extravaganza filled with boats, marine products and accessories, the 25th annual Palm Beach International Boat Show took place at the West Palm Beach waterfront from March 25 to 28.

Presented by Merdeces-Benz USA and Palm Harbor Marina, it primarily targeted people considering buying a boat or marine equipment.

All photos by Evelyn Ticona, Managing Editor

“It is a buyers’ market offering highly unusual opportunities for great values,” said Show Management President Efrem Zimbalist III.

The show had 434 exhibitors displaying boats and yachts with prices varying from $10,000 for the cheapest to $14 million for the most expensive.

New West Palm Beach Waterfront opens with a bang

By Evelyn Ticona
Managing Editor

An estimated 80,000 people attended the inauguration of West Palm Beach’s new downtown waterfront on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Palm Beach Atlantic University students were part of the evening’s entertainment along with live music, a Cirque Majik performance and fireworks.

Mayor Lois J. Frankel first envisioned the waterfront project six years ago. The city tore down its old library and built docks, gardens and a waterfront pavilion. The project cost $30 million.

Click here to view a slideshow of images from the Waterfront opening

Click above for a slideshow of images, with photos by Evelyn Ticona and presentation by Casey Elia.

Frankel has seen this project as a key to drawing more people downtown.

The events Saturday included PBA’s improvisational comedy showcase, A Live Improv Comedy Experience (A.L.I.C.E.) and a performance by the PBA Dance Ensemble.

The spectacle of the night was Cirque Majik’s performance, with more than 30 acrobats suspended from ropes and wearing multicolored costumes.

Following the performance, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the sky.

At the end of the night, a disc jockey gathered people from different ages together around the stage to dance and enjoy music until 11 p.m.

Musicians unite for Haiti relief

By Evelyn Ticona & Jen Rodino
Managing Editor & Features Editor

Singer-songwriter Shaun Groves urged the Palm Beach Atlantic University family to support Haiti relief by watching the upcoming “Help Haiti Live” concert Saturday.

DeSantis Family Chapel served as the stage to host Groves last week.

Groves also offered a free concert in chapel Tuesday night where, along with his performance, Groves sent a message about salvation and God’s purpose for us in life.

The relief concert will take place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville at 8:30 p.m., and can be seen live online at www.helphaitilive.com.

Groves is a partner of Compassion International, a child development organization that sponsors children from third world countries.

He said it took Compassion International longer than expected to put the concert together, leaving little time to promote.

Photo by Christina Cernik, Photo Editor

“We want you to help us spread the word,” Groves told the crowd.

Big Kenny will host the concert and singers like Mat Kearney, Brandon Heath, Dave Barnes and Matt West will perform for free to raise funds for the earthquake relief.

Beacon News: Slavery exists in 2010

By Evelyn Ticona
Managing Editor

As President Barack Obama named January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month, a group of West Palm Beach residents raised awareness of the problem in their own back yard.

On Thursday, Jan. 28 a crowd held a vigil outside a home on Lave Avenue where two years ago, federal investigators found 13 women used as sex slaves.

Todd Mullins, pastor of Christ Fellowship Church, addressed the issue of human trafficking on Jan. 31 in his sermon.

According to Mullins, 27 million people serve as slaves in the world today, and half of those are children.

With the earthquake in Haiti, the issue of human trafficking was brought to the table.

Beacon News: Donald Trump to host ACS fundraiser

By Evelyn Ticona
Managing Editor

The Mar-a-Lago Club, owned by Donald J. Trump, will host the 52nd annual American Cancer Society Ball this Friday, Feb. 5.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Trump offers his property for this event, held at the Breakers in Palm Beach in previous years. Trump also serves as the New York Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Ball.

Staci H. Eaton, community representative at the Island of Palm Beach ACS Unit, said she expects up to 450 attendees at this year’s ball. The price of the tickets to attend the ball is $750 per person.

Beacon News: Inside Scientology

The Beacon takes a look at the controversial religion with strong Florida presence

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

From behind a podium next to a big wooden cross, the mission holder begins the service saying, “Welcome to the Church of Scientology.”

After greeting the attendees, Marilyn Cocco, mission holder and executive director of the Church of Scientology of West Palm Beach and benefactor of the Scientology Ideal Organization, reads the creed of the Church. She then reads the sermon of the day written by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology.

Scientologists display an eight-cornered cross, representing what they call the eight parts of the dynamic principle of existence: self, creativity, group survival, species, life forms, physical universe, spiritual dynamic and infinity.

“The cross predates Christianity by thousands of years,” Cocco said. “It has always represented some kind of spiritual symbol.”

Hubbard believed that humans should enhance their spirituality by acquiring mental, spiritual and bodily freedom through knowledge. Dianetics, scientologists believe, is the modern science of mental health that can help cure people from pain and heal themselves.

“Scientology is an exact science; you have to be trained to deliver it. If not, it’s not effective,” said Donna Noboa, basic courses supervisor and treasury secretary. “It’s a process of learning about yourself and life self-realization.”

Beacon Opinion: ‘Dear Mr. Anti-Interracial Marriage Guy’

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

Dear Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell:

Please check your calendar carefully; it’s 2009 not 1909. Also, please refer to your American history classes in high school and college. At some point, they must have addressed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding equal treatment of every American regardless of race.

It’s been 42 years since the U.S. Supreme Court brought down the Virginia statute impeding whites from marrying people of a different ethnic group when Mildred Jeter (African American) and Richard Loving (Caucasian) were banned from getting married.

Beacon Features: Barbie’s 50 years of beauty and controversy

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

It’s Barbie’s 50th birthday and Mattel, in a partnership with Universal Studios, has decided to celebrate her half-century anniversary by bringing her to the big screen in a motion picture. Barbie is a fashion icon and has inspired girls and women in many ways all over the globe.

Everywhere, women are bombarded with images of perfection. Since her release on March 9, 1959 at the Toy Fair in New York, Barbie has definitely been one of the first images of female beauty that girls see, sometimes before they’re even old enough to talk.

Beacon News: Flavored cigarettes now banned

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

A new ban passed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bars the sale of clove cigarettes and fruit and candy-flavored tobacco.

The ban, authorized by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, states, “A cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol).”

The government is also considering bans on menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco.

Beacon News: Alumni bike across country

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

Only six days ago, three Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates began what is probably the most compelling journey of their lives: a 3,100-mile bicycle trip.

“Our goal is to reach people along the way talking about God and tell them how fortunate we are for having Christ as the biggest part of our lives,” said Ryan James, who graduated in Fall 2008.

PBA alumnus Caleb Price, 23, who also graduated last fall, and 23-year-old Jonathan Engelhardt, who graduated in May 2008, are James’ companions on this journey. The bicycle ride began in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 29 and they expect to reach their destination in St. Augustine, Fla., by Nov. 12.

Beacon Opinion: Oink, oink: I’m on the prowl

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

On Friday, April 24 I was babysitting when CNN had the first images of civilians and the police wearing masks in Mexico City’s main square.

“Breaking News! Swine flu virus has killed at least 68 people in Mexico and more than 1,000 people have fallen ill in Mexico City,” the news anchor said.

H1N1 goes beyond fever, upset stomach, vomiting and other symptoms; it can actually ruin your finances and summer plans. I won’t go into details about the swine flu itself because there is a very informative article about that in this same issue.

I must make it clear that eating pork will not put you at any risk whatsoever of getting infected. So those of you who like pork, don’t let the media scare you. Go out there and get as many pork products as you want.

Beacon Features: Carousel Can Can Cafe earns 10 out of 10

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

A new restaurant at CityPlace has captivated its customers with its unique decoration, great service and phenomenal food: Carousel Can Can Café.

Following its opening about a month ago on the second floor of CityPlace, it stands out from its neighbors with its eccentric exterior design.

Inspired by the French can-can era of the 1890s, the decor features a hybrid of contemporary American design and playful carousel elements.

The menu features a variety of French-American dishes, balanced with international recipes as well.

“We have a twist of everything here. Pasta, casual … fun food,” said Paco Gracia, manager of the Carousel Can Can  Café. “Our customers enjoy a great environment and entertainment everyday.”

During weekdays one can-can dancer performs to a mixture of  can-can and modern music.

Interacting with customers, the dancer offers them some entertainment while they eat dinner. There are up to three can-can dancers on the weekends.

“People can get dinner anywhere; we offer good quality food and entertainment together,” Gracia added.

Carousel Can-Can Café has a family friendly environment. The can-can dancers interact with customers respectfully and make your dinnertime a time for fun.

PBA President Lu Hardin recently visited the restaurant and said, “Mary [my wife] and I live … next to the campus. Therefore, we walk to CityPlace often for dinner. The service was excellent.  The crab cakes are a perfect 10 out of 10 and the entrée salad was very good.  Overall, Mary and I would give Carousel Can Can high marks.”

Price wise, which is everyone’s concern nowadays, it’s pretty affordable. An entree costs from $12 to $26. For those on a budget, all appetizers and pizzas have a 50 percent discount from 3 to 7 p.m.

Thinking about making reservations? Call (561) 233-6001. Carousel Can Can Café is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday from  10 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 12 – 6 p.m.

There will be less H1N1 vaccines than expected

The World Health Organization (WHO) had predicted that companies would have the capacity to produce 5,000 million doses per year.

Ensuring that poor countries receive adequate doses of flu vaccine will also be a challenge because wealthier nations have already booked most of the world’s supply, said the UN agency. However, initial results of clinical studies show that healthy adults and older children need just one dose of vaccine instead of two as some experts had estimated, said WHO.

A group of nine countries (United States, Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) agreed to donate part of their supply of vaccines to developing nations.

WHO will coordinate the distribution of the donated vaccines to more than 90 countries, starting with about 300 million doses in November. WHO continues to recommend that health workers receive high priority in early vaccinations.

The vaccine trials so far indicate that it would be as safe as a vaccine against seasonal influenza. According to WHO, side effects are expected to be similar to those seen with the seasonal flu vaccine. These symptoms may include pain, swelling, redness, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and should not last more than one or two days.

More information will be posted briefly.

Beacon Features: A little bit of ‘Nunsense’

By Chris Hernandez
Contributing Writer

From Sept. 24-27, Family Weekend 2009 will be rocking the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Family Weekend is a time for the families of new students to experience the different aspects of campus life, from dining to athletics. It is also a time for alumni and students to get reconnected.

Some new installments this year include the Panera Bread Family Fun Walk/Run, Lil’ Sibs Campus Tour and Evening with the Arts, a time to reflect on the art of PBA students over some light refreshments.

Mixed in with these new events are some old favorites, such as the Murder Mystery Dinner and the State of the University Address. Another returning favorite is the Family Weekend play.

Beacon Features: New prof. ‘feels blessed’ by position

By Evelyn Ticona
Features Editor

In the midst of French horns, trumpets, flutes, xylophone and a piano, Dr. David M. Jacobs, conducts Palm Beach Atlantic University’s brass ensemble.

“Being at PBA has definitely been a God thing,” said Jacobs, new director of instrumental studies and assistant professor of music at the School of Music and Fine Arts. “I was not even aware that there was an opening here. A friend applied, got the job, but didn’t take it, so I did.” 

Beacon Features: New hot spot, lake avenue, offers students discounts

This article originally appeared in The Beacon student newspaper on March 3, 2009.

By Evelyn Ticona

During a typical Friday afternoon, you’ve had a busy week: exams, quizzes and papers. It’s time to relax now.  To take a walk, go to a restaurant, get some ice cream or maybe go shopping on your college-student budget. City Place and Clematis Avenue are the most popular destinations for Palm Beach Atlantic University students to go in their free time.

Ten minutes from PBA, students can find places to hang out and have fun. One hidden secret is Lake Avenue.

Lake Avenue, located in the heart of downtown Lake Worth, has a collection of restaurants including a coffee house, steak house, ice creamery, a sports store, and many other businesses.