ROYAL PALM THE MAGAZINE – May/June 2026

volume 6, number 3 MAY/JUNE 2026

executive editor

Joshua I. Manning

publisher Dawn Rivera

creative director

Stephanie Rodriguez

account managers

Betty Buglio

Evie Edwards

Joetta Palumbo

administration

Shanta Daibee

Jill Kaskel

Carol Lieberman

photography

Frank Koester

Abner Pedraza

contributors

Shannon Anastasio

Denis Eirikis

Sheryl Flatow

Denise Fleischman

Mike May

Jackson Overholt

Patrick Sherry

Scott Simmons

Fiona Slusarev

ROYAL PALM

12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 33 Wellington, FL 33414

Phone: (561) 793-7606

Fax: (561) 793-1470

www.royalpalmthemagazine.com published by Royal Palm The Magazine Inc.

chairman/ceo

Barry S. Manning

Royal Palm The Magazine is published six times a year in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Copyright 2026, all rights reserved by Royal Palm The Magazine Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

PBSO TEAMS UP WITH H.L. JOHNSON STUDENTS

As part of Project Be Safe, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office partnered with H.L. Johnson Elementary School to educate second graders on the importance of staying safe while walking, biking and riding in a vehicle. BY FIONA

SLUSAREV

RPB MAYOR HONORED AS A ‘HOME RULE HERO’

13 SPIRIT OF SOCCER THRIVES IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara has been honored with his third consecutive Home Rule Hero Award by the Florida League of Cities for his work during the 2026 legislative season. BY FIONA SLUSAREV

from the publisher

Featured on our cover this issue is a new initiative from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office called Project Be Safe, which aims to teach second graders about ways to stay safe out on the roads and sidewalks. The project kicked off recently with a program at H.L. Johnson Elementary School.

18

17 AT 85, THE NORTON MUSEUM IS LOOKING AHEAD

22

Soccer is flourishing at all ages here in the western communities, which includes a group of passionate older players from the Royal Palm Beach area, whose love for the game remains strong. BY MIKE MAY

The Norton Museum of Art recently celebrated its 85th anniversary with a critically acclaimed Rembrandt exhibit. But rather than looking back, the Norton is looking ahead. BY SCOTT SIMMONS

VILLAGE PLANNING JULY 4 PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION

Royal Palm Beach will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Independence Day with a radiant day of summer fun, capped by a night of entertainment and spectacular fireworks. BY FIONA SLUSAREV

KURA REVOLVING SUSHI BAR

NOW OPEN ON SR 7

The newly opened Kura Revolving Sushi Bar combines authentic Japanese cuisine with interactive dining and new culinary experiences. BY JOSHUA

MANNING

Also featured is Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara, who recently won an important award from the Florida League of Cities. Meanwhile, a deep love for the sport of soccer does not wane with age, as shown by a group of older players with the Last Dream Soccer Club, featured this issue, who meet regularly here in Royal Palm Beach to play the world’s most popular global sport. Nothing says “summer has arrived” quite like a Fourth of July celebration, and the village has an exciting lineup of events planned for Saturday, July 4, which we preview in this edition.

Our new cultural series continues this issue with a look at the summer exhibitions on display at the venerable Norton Museum of Art, which recently celebrated its 85th birthday. Finally, Royal Palm Table visits the new Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which is now open on State Road 7. If you love sushi and crave unique experiences, this is the place for you.

With graduation season upon us, we salute the Class of 2026 from Royal Palm Beach High School. We are excited to see where the future takes you. And when you get there, don’t forget all of your friends here at home.

Dawn Rivera

Dawn Rivera, Publisher

CAFCI Cultural Diversity Day At Commons Park In Royal Palm Beach Royal Palm Beach Gathers Resident Input At Annual Citizen Summit

CAFCI’S CULTURAL DIVERSITY DAY AT COMMONS PARK IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

CAFCI and the Village of Royal Palm Beach hosted Cultural Diversity Day on Saturday, May 9 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. The free event featured live cultural performances, international cuisine and interactive experiences for all ages. Learn more about CAFCI at www.cafcipbc.org.

Royal Palm Neighbors, It’s Your Time To Shine!

Behind every front door and storefront, there’s a story worth telling, and we are looking for the ones who make Royal Palm Beach more than just a place on the map. Who has a unique story to tell? Who is chasing a big dream? Who just launched something bold? Who’s the neighbor everyone should know? Royal Palm The Magazine wants to share interesting stories about the people who make Royal Palm Beach a great community. Every street has someone with a story worth sharing. We are looking to spotlight the faces behind our community. Who inspires you? Who deserves recognition? Who makes Royal Palm Beach better just by being part of it? Send us their story, and let’s celebrate the people who make this community special.

THE PBSO TEAMS UP WITH H.L. JOHNSON STUDENTS TO PROMOTE TRAFFIC SAFETY

BY FIONA SLUSAREV

Handmade posters have been popping up around Royal Palm Beach. Each poster has a message that is close to every parent’s heart: Remember traffic safety rules.

District 9 of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office launched a new campaign at the beginning of this year to teach elementary school students about traffic safety — Project Be Safe. As part of the initiative, the PBSO partnered with H.L. Johnson Elementary

School to educate second graders on the importance of staying safe while walking, biking and riding in a vehicle.

PBSO Sgt. Wood, Deputy Mendez and Deputy Evans brought the idea of creating a traffic safety program for elementary students to Diane Smith, community outreach coordinator at the PBSO. Together, they created Project Be Safe with the goal of teaching children correct safety practices to foster lifelong safe habits.

“We talked about car seat safety and car safety. We talked about bike safety. We talked about pedestrian safety, and we talked about bus safety,” Smith explained.

A contingent from the PBSO visited all eight second-grade classes at H.L Johnson to give presentations on the rules of staying safe on the road, how to keep their friends and family safe, and the importance of adhering to these practices.

“We were trying to get the kids involved in understanding the best ways to keep everybody safe,” said Stacey Neps, a second-grade teacher at H.L Johnson.

Smith got the students thinking by asking questions like, “What does a stranger look like?” The answer might seem obvious, but it helps students think critically about the application of safety rules. The children gave many great answers, but there is really only one correct response.

“I have been teaching crime prevention for more than 20 years, and there’s only one student who has ever gotten the answer right, and [the answer] is: Someone you don’t know,” Smith said.

The presentation also tried to get students thinking about how they can play an active role in keeping others safe. They were taught that the first thing to do when you get into a car is to put your seatbelt on. What’s the second thing? It’s not putting the key

“The PBSO and our mayor were there at the

celebration. But

all the businesses and their representatives

also

came into our school

to

meet

the students. It just really is what a community should be about.”

— H.L. Johnson Elementary School

Principal Dr. Crystal Amado Kucharski

in the ignition or rolling down the windows.

“The second thing they do is make sure everyone else has their seatbelt on,” Smith said.

After the presentation and discussions, the PBSO representatives handed out Florida Department of Transportation booklets, rubber PBSO bracelets and poster boards. They challenged the students to create a poster

on what safety meant to them. Students had total creative liberty to use any tools to make it, whether it be pencils, markers, paint, crayons or something else. Participation was not mandatory and was to be done at home.

“They all seemed pretty excited,” Neps said of her students, adding that most of them participated in the voluntary project.

Participation in Project Be Safe also

extended beyond the walls of H.L. Johnson to involve the larger Royal Palm Beach community. Businesses and restaurants around the village stepped up to show their support for the initiative, with iTHINK Financial, Mission BBQ, McDonald’s, Walmart, Dunkin’ Donuts, the Brass Ring Pub and Jupiter Donuts proudly displaying one of the top eight posters on-site, with Fat Apple Custom Framing generously providing framing for each poster.

Walmart further sponsored ice cream parties for each of the eight classes after the selection process was complete. A top poster from each class was selected by the deputies in March, and eight posters were brought back to PBSO Capt. Ulrich Naujoks and Mayor Jeff Hmara to select the overall winner.

“When the officers came and voted, they had such a hard time voting for one winner from each class,” Neps said. “They could tell how much work the kids put into it.”

H.L. Johnson later held a celebration day to honor the eight winners and announce the top winner. Owners and representatives of the local businesses came out in support of the project, and to congratulate the winners. In addition to the year-long display of

their posters at one of the local businesses, the young artists also received gift cards.

“Of course, the PBSO and our mayor were there. But all the businesses and their representatives came into our school to meet the students. It just really is what a community should be about,” H.L. Johnson Principal Dr. Crystal Amado Kucharski said.

After much deliberation, Naujoks and Hmara named Logan Howell of Neps’ class the top winner in Project Be Safe. Her poster will hang in the lobby of Royal Palm Beach Village Hall for a year. Howell also received a gift card from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation, as well as a pizza party for her class through the foundation.

The other winners from each class include: Ainara Torres, with her poster displayed at iThink Financial; Callie Marsh, with her poster displayed at McDonald’s; Alina Rodriguez, with her poster displayed at the Brass Ring Pub; Mariano Baque, with his poster displayed at Walmart; Ella Choquette, with her poster displayed at Dunkin’ Donuts; Isabella Mateo-Domingo, with her poster displayed at Jupiter Donuts; and Zemira Higgins, with her poster displayed at Mission BBQ.

“We talked about car seat safety and car safety. We talked about bike safety. We talked about pedestrian safety, and we talked about bus safety.”

— PBSO Outreach Coordinator Diane Smith

“It also gets [students] involved in community aspects,” Neps said. “They’re creating posters that other people are going to see all throughout Royal Palm Beach, and that will hopefully make an impact on other people in the area.”

Project Be Safe was successful at not only getting students genuinely invested in safety but also creating strong bonds throughout the community. PBSO District 9 prides itself on maintaining an open line of communication with community organizations like schools, businesses and the religious community, and is happy to facilitate opportunities for all members of Royal Palm Beach to come together.

The posters that were not chosen to be displayed around the village will be utilized during events like Traffic Safety Week, as well as being distributed to other PBSO districts. Smith and the officers at PBSO District 9 hope to continue Project Be Safe during the next school year at more Royal Palm Beacharea elementary schools.

For more information about Project Be Safe, including how your business can get involved, call PBSO Outreach Coordinator Diane Smith at (561) 904-8241.

RPB MAYOR JEFF HMARA HONORED AS A ‘HOME RULE HERO’

BY FIONA SLUSAREV

Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara has been honored with his third consecutive Home Rule Hero Award for his work during the 2026 legislative season.

The award is presented by the Florida League of Cities (FLC) to local municipal officials who solve local issues with minimal state interference while also amplifying the voices of residents to the representatives of the state legislature. Hmara and other honorees exemplify the FLC motto of “local voices making local choices.”

The FLC is a nonpartisan organization that aims to support municipal leaders, like Hmara, with events, training and resources in order to keep decision-making local and ensure that local voices are heard in statewide legislation. Since 1922, the FLC has helped keep local leaders informed on state

legislation changes, with support like weekly updates when state representatives meet for sessions.

For Hmara, receiving this recognition from the FLC is an opportunity to set an example for how everyone can impact their government. “We can make a real difference when more than one of us follows through on engaging with our state legislators,” Hmara explained.

Hmara believes that when decisionmaking is left up to local governments, they are able to cater to exactly what the local population needs. He noted the importance of being a listening ear for the citizens of Royal Palm Beach, adding that he strives to maintain an open dialogue with people about their concerns, wants and interests.

To accomplish this, Hmara speaks with residents in numerous settings,

including village events, homeowners’ association meetings, local clubs, the village’s green market or even in the supermarket parking lot. One of these larger events is the Royal Palm Beach Citizen Summit, held this year on May 4, where all Royal Palm Beach residents are welcomed to talk about future programs, projects and initiatives.

“Before you advocate, you need to make sure that you’re knowledgeable of your community and what’s important to your community,” Hmara explained.

No one is in a better place to understand a community than someone who is inside that community. He finds casual conversations outside formal meetings especially helpful to get insight on what is important to residents. Hmara said he is always ready to listen to the citizens of Royal Palm Beach to

“I’ve discovered the beauty of walking around the green market, and when you wander around and just have conversations with people, you find out things that you wouldn’t find out in a more formal fashion.”

— Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara

be as informed as he possibly can be on what matters most.

“I’ve discovered the beauty of walking around the green market, and when you wander around and just have conversations with people, you find out things that you wouldn’t find out in a more formal fashion,” Hmara noted.

When he advocates for residents, Hmara walks state representatives through how a piece of legislature will directly impact the village. He brings attention to how the lives of residents will change based on how the municipality and the services it provides will be altered.

“We’re giving them that first-hand look, and if we do a good job, they listen to us,” Hmara explained.

His excellence in achieving this and advocating for the interests of residents is why Hmara was recognized with the Home Rule Hero Award. Work like this prevents the state government from implementing a “one size fits all” solution, according to Hmara.

For more information about the Florida League of Cities, visit www.flcities. com.

THE SPIRIT OF SOCCER THRIVES IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

BY MIKE MAY

While the sport of soccer will be front and center this summer with the playing of the men’s soccer World Cup at various sites across North America in June and July, the sport is flourishing at all ages here in the western communities.

For the past quarter century, that includes a group of passionate older players from the Royal Palm Beach area, whose love for the game remains strong.

Back in 2003, the Last Dream Soccer Club was founded for adult soccer players. Right now, there are two age groups and a total of 13 clubs that play under the banner of the Last Dream Soccer Club, also known as the Last Dream Futbol Club. The club currently fields seven teams in the 40-plus age group and six teams in the 55-plus age group.

One of the club’s founders, Mauricio Perez, is still playing and is known as the commissioner of the league. While Mauricio is 75 years old, he’s not the oldest player in the league, who is 78. In games, Mauricio now plays as a defender, but he used to be a goal-scoring striker in his earlier years. His son, Carlos Perez, 52, is currently in charge of the day-to-day business of the club.

Members of the Last Dream Soccer Club play pickup games on Tuesday

and Thursday nights at Seminole Palms Park in Royal Palm Beach. The players gather at Seminole Palms Park for competitive games on Sunday mornings. While the club is active throughout the year, teams usually take a break in June and July, as well as in December.

According to Mauricio, the Sunday morning games for the league’s active membership are held between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. They run for the same 90 minutes as other regulation soccer games. Simply put, the motivation to play in the league comes from the players’ love for the sport.

“This soccer club encompasses the players’ love of the game of soccer, together with the camaraderie, good fellowship, and the fun of playing with friends and enjoying a day of sun, fun and soccer,” Mauricio said.

To seize upon the momentum and excitement of this summer’s World Cup, Carlos and a group of players from the Last Dream Soccer Club will be playing in the Master World Cup Soccer Tournament in Orlando set for June 5-7 against other U.S. teams. The club is planning to enter a team in the age 55plus bracket. As a 52-year-old, Carlos is allowed to play in that age group in Orlando because each team is allowed to include a handful of younger players on each age 55-plus age group squad.

According to Carlos, members of the Last Dream Soccer Club are motivated to maintain an active membership in the club by remembering a quote from the late, great author George Bernard Shaw: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

While the club currently has a very active membership, the door remains open for other players to join the club.

“If you are interested in joining our league, just show up on Tuesday night, Thursday night or Sunday morning, where we play at Seminole Palms Park in Royal Palm Beach,” Carlos said.

For additional information about the Last Dream Soccer Club, find them at www.lastdreamfutbolclub.com. The club also has a presence on Facebook and Instagram.

AT 85, NORTON MUSEUM LOOKS AHEAD TO SHOWING NEW ART

BY SCOTT SIMMONS

This year, the Norton Museum of Art celebrated its 85th anniversary, and it recently hosted “Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time: Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection,” a critically acclaimed exhibition that drew more than 100,000 visitors and received international news coverage.

But rather than looking back, the Norton is looking ahead to creating new ways to educate and inspire the community with exhibitions, lectures, films, performances and community days.

As always, art comes first.

Fifteen years ago, the Norton made a commitment to showcase art by

women, offering its Recognition of Art by Women (RAW) series. Two shows in that series are now on view, “Danielle Mckinney: Shelter” and “Recognition of Art by Women: In Retrospect.”

“The Recognition of Art by Women series is central to the Norton’s mission,” said Ghislain d’Humières, the museum’s Kenneth C. Griffin Director and CEO. “Each exhibition offers an opportunity to showcase the work of exceptional women artists and to highlight their lasting impact on the field.

Danielle Mckinney’s exhibition continues this legacy, reflecting the power and diversity of artistic voices that define the RAW program.”

In a world in which works by women artists figured in only 14.9 percent of exhibitions at 31 prominent U.S. museums between 2008 and 2020, the Norton included works by women in 44 percent of its shows. Over the last five years, that trajectory has accelerated, with women artists featured in 57 percent of all Norton exhibitions.

Curated by J. Rachel Gustafson, chief curatorial officer at the Norton, “Danielle Mckinney: Shelter” showcases works that center on solitary female figures within interior settings, offering glimpses into moments of private contemplation, respite or ease.

“Mckinney’s paintings unfold like

moments suspended in time,” Gustafson said. “They invite viewers to consider the emotional and spiritual dimensions of solitude, and how stillness itself can become a site of imagination and strength. Her work captures an interior world that feels both deeply personal and profoundly human.”

The exhibition continues through Oct. 4.

The companion exhibition, “In Retrospect,” curated by Arden Sherman, the Norton’s Glenn W. and Cornelia T. Bailey Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, traces the breadth of practices that the RAW series has championed over the past iterations.

The nine featured artists are British painter Jenny Saville (2011), American painter Sylvia Plimack Mangold (2012), British sculptor Phyllida Barlow (2013), Swedish sculptor Krista Kristalova (2014), Nigerian painter Njideka Akunyili Crosby (2016), Austrian painter Svenja Deininger (2017), American artist Nina Chanel Abney (2019), Colombian visual artist María Berrío (2021) and Santa Clara Pueblo artist Rose B. Simpson (2024).

The exhibition continues through Sept. 27.

These shows are joined by an array of other exhibitions on display this summer at the Norton, including:

• Artists at Work — Through June 21. Through paintings, sculptures, photographs and more, this installation reveals a sliver of the who, where and how behind the art. Artists’ portrayals of themselves and others in the act of artmaking accompany depictions of dynamic studios, while examples of artists’ preparatory works illustrate their creative processes.

• That’s Entertainment: Japanese Prints and the Art of Leisure — Through July 5. This exhibition presents 31 Japanese woodblock prints by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) and other leading artists of the Edo period (16151868) and focuses on portraits of celebrated Kabuki actors from major productions staged in Edo (presentday Tokyo) theaters during the 19th century.

• 60 Seconds: Polaroids from the Collection — Through Aug. 16. This exhibit

The Recognition of Art by Women (RAW) Series

Danielle Mckinney: Shelter Through Oct. 4

Recognition of Art by Women: In Retrospect Through Sept.

27

Artists at Work Through June

21

© ARTIST’S ESTATE

60

Seconds: Polaroids from the Collection Through Aug. 16

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH SERIES, CIRCA 1990S

DAWOUD BEY (AMERICAN, BORN 1953)

celebrates the photography’s signature immediacy, tracing how artists have embraced Polaroids, or instant film, for their ability to produce a unique image in mere moments.

• Galloping Steed: Celebrating the Year of the Horse in Chinese Paintings Through Aug. 23. This exhibition brings together works by Xu Beihong (1895-1953), one of the most celebrated artists of early 20th-century China, alongside rare paintings by Louis Antoine de Poirot (1735-1813), a French Jesuit artist who served at the court of the Qianlong Emperor (reigned 17351796). “Galloping Steed” is part of a multiyear exhibition series developed by the Norton Museum of Art in partnership with the Dongguan Lou Collection.

• Portrait Mode: Self-reflections from Past, Present and Future — Art by students on display through Aug. 16.

• Cursed Images: Pictures Out of Context — May 9 through Nov. 1. This exhibition features 20th-century everyday, amateur snapshots from the Peter J. Cohen Collection, one of the largest privately held archives of anonymous photographs in the United States. It highlights photographs whose subjects or object relationships evoke a subtle, inexplicable unease.

• Art & Independence: America at 250 — July 4 through Dec. 6. Works from the collection that celebrate the U.S. semiquincentennial.

• Florida Roots: Ralph Coburn — July 25 through Jan. 3. This exploration explores the work of Ralph Coburn (1923-2018), who spent most of his winters in Miami Beach and was influenced by its Art Deco architecture.

• Visible Fiction: Photography and Artifice — Sept. 19 through Feb. 21. An

exhibition that explores the theatricality of photography.

The Norton also hosts Art After Dark from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, with admission that’s free for members; $10 for adults and seniors; and $5 for students. First Friday of the month is Jazz Friday. Tours are 5 and 7 p.m. Open Studio art workshops are 6 to 9 p.m. Artist tours are at 8 p.m. the third Friday of the month. Meanwhile, check the calendars each month for the Jazz Brunch hosted in the restaurant.

The Norton Museum of Art is located at 1450 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for seniors; $5 for students; and free for active military and veterans with ID, Florida educators with ID, and free Saturday admission for Palm Beach County residents from Memorial Day to Labor Day. To learn more, call (561) 832-5196 or visit www.norton.org.

Norton By The Numbers 2024-25 Season

• 121,000+ total museum visitors

• 1,300+ docent and curator-led public tours

• 470+ diverse public programs and events

• 29,000+ free admissions

• 17 original and traveling special exhibitions

• 100+ corporate, community and civic partners

• 118,500+ visitors to headlining special exhibitions

• 160+ new artworks added to the collection

• 3 artists-in-residence

• 8,750+ artworks in the museum collection

• 567 artworks on loan from other museums and collections

The Norton’s Art After Dark program runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, with admission that’s free for members; $10 for adults and seniors; and $5 for students.

VILLAGE PLANNING A PATRIOTIC 250TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

BY FIONA SLUSAREV

From the dazzling lights of carnival rides to the crescendo of fireworks echoing through the night, nothing says “summer has arrived” quite like a Fourth of July celebration.

Royal Palm Beach will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Independence Day with a radiant day of summer fun, capped by a night of entertainment and spectacular fireworks. Starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, the Royal Palm Beach community and beyond are invited to come together for a free patriotic celebration with food, live music, carnival rides and more at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park.

Before the celebration officially begins, the festivities start bright and early at 6:30 a.m. with the 34th annual Ed Singleton Royal Palm Bassmasters Fishing Tournament. Children and teens ages 6 to 15 can register on-site at the Commons Park lake between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. to see who can

catch the biggest fish by the weigh-in time at 11 a.m.

Over at the Village Golf Club (122 Country Club Drive, Royal Palm Beach) Independence Day will be welcomed with the annual Mayor’s Fourth of July Golf Tournament at 8 a.m. Those interested in clocking in some time on the green should sign up in advance at the Village Golf Club or the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center. Volleyball fans can eagerly await the 9 a.m. sand volleyball tournament. Registration is on-site at Commons Park, and all participants should arrive by 8:30 a.m. Teams will play three-on-three.

Once the main celebration begins, every member of the family will enjoy the community-oriented festival with activities for children, food trucks, local vendors, musical performances and classic fair rides.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, the village will hold a free raffle to distribute the 13 custom 250-year celebratory flags that have flown in front of Veterans Park. Stop by the village’s booth to put your name in the running.

For the younger members of the family, there will be bounce houses and patriotic-themed arts and crafts. Admittance to carnival rides and the bounce houses are free for children.

For teens and adults, there are plenty of vendors to explore, food trucks to frequent and bands to groove to. Adults 21-plus can partake in libations bought on-site.

The village expects approximately 20 vendors selling all types of wares

Approximately 25,000 people are expected to attend, according to Parks & Recreation Director Mark Pawlowski. “It is, by far, our No. 1 summer community event,” he said. “It’s so open and inviting for families and friends to get together.”

from jewelry and accessories to candles and honey.

“You can come to the park where there are plenty of things to do and keep yourself busy, and your kids busy, in a family-friendly environment. We try to hit every aspect of our community to make sure that they all feel welcome,” Pawlowski explained.

The first performance of the afternoon will start with a yacht rock band, opening the celebration with smooth melodies. Felix And Fingers dueling pianos will take the spotlight at 5 p.m. For those unfamiliar with dueling pianos, there will be two pianos on stage at once, each with a singer. They play only crowd requests, submitted by listeners.

Pawlowski anticipates that the crowd will be excited with this karaoke-adjacent activity. “We’re hoping people participate, sing along and enjoy the music during the dinner hour,” he explained.

view of the fireworks,” Pawlowski said.

Mayor Jeff Hmara and the Royal Palm Beach Village Council will formally welcome everyone at 7 p.m., followed up by the band Wonderama at 7:15 p.m. with covers of hits that will get everyone dancing. If you work up an appetite from all the dancing, head over to the food trucks. With an array to choose from, everyone is sure to find a suitable snack.

If a homemade picnic is more your style, feel free to pack your own food and set up camp with lawn chairs and a picnic blanket. Families can bring tents up to 10 feet-by-10 feet to beat the heat, as long as they are set up toward the back, so everyone has an unobstructed view of the stage. There will also be two large tents on the grounds for people to cool off or avoid any sudden showers.

“There’s so much space in Commons Park. There’s plenty of room to spread out, and everyone can have a great

Before the fireworks start, the Royal Palm Beach High School ROTC will perform a multibranch military tribute at 8:45 p.m. Kiannely will sing the national anthem live at 8:55 p.m., just before the fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Families can take in the nearly halfhour show next to neighbors and new friends on the great lawn. Four-legged friends are welcome, provided they are leashed.

While the night starts to wind down with the incredible fireworks lighting up the sky, Wonderama will return to the stage for a final performance to close out the historic celebration. This free-to-attend event is sure to leave festivalgoers with lasting summertime memories.

Royal Palm Beach Commons Park is located at 11600 Poinciana Blvd. Visit www.royalpalmbeachfl.gov for more information.

ROYAL PALM BEACH RESIDENTS

The Town-Crier Newspaper is the only community newspaper regularly covering Royal Palm Beach, and you can get it delivered directly to your mailbox for FREE just by requesting to be placed on the mailing list.

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SUSHI BAR NOW OPEN ON STATE ROAD 7

The newly opened Kura Revolving Sushi Bar combines authentic Japanese cuisine with interactive dining and new culinary experiences.

If you’re like many sushi connoisseurs, you have things that you enjoy. You head to your favorite sushi spot, take one look at the menu and fill your table with the items you are used to. However, if you’re looking for a different sushi experience, Kura Sushi held its grand opening last month at Lotis Wellington, with its unique revolving sushi conveyor belt carrying an array of small plates throughout the brightly lit restaurant. Something looks interesting? Grab it from its stay-fresh container, the patented Mr. Fresh ventilated sushi lid. Perhaps your new favorite sushi creation is just one small plate away. Along with many of the common

sushi choices, there are items on the conveyer belt that you do not ordinarily see, such as salmon toro, seared eel with miso cream cheese or Spanish mackerel. You can also try the signature Kura Roll, with salmon, shrimp mayo and avocado, or perhaps the seared beef with Yakiniku sauce.

Kura Sushi is the nation’s largest brand of revolving sushi restaurants. This location on State Road 7 is the brand’s first location in the Palm Beach metropolitan area, and its fifth location in the State of Florida.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar combines authentic Japanese cuisine with interactive dining, as guests enjoy a whimsical journey of flavors with more than 100 dishes available on the two-layered conveyor belt system, enhanced by drink delivery robots and prizes.

“Kura Sushi delivers a delicious and fun dining experience serving authentic Japanese cuisine made with highquality ingredients on a two-layered conveyor belt system,” said Robert Kluger, chief development officer at Kura Sushi USA. “While Kaiten sushi is quite popular in Japan, it is not as prevalent here in the United States. Kura brought this concept from Japan in 2009 and, quite frankly, nobody does it better than Kura.”

It is Kura’s philosophy to prepare food using fresh, high-quality ingredients free of artificial sweeteners, seasonings, preservatives and colorings.

“All sushi plates are priced at $3.90, while other dishes, including ramen and udon bowls, hot and cold side dishes, and desserts, vary in price,” Kluger said.

He is excited about Kura’s expansion into the Palm Beach market.

“We have existing locations in other Florida markets, including Miami, Orlando and Tampa, and the Palm Beach market demographics compare favorably with our most successful restaurants in Florida,” Kluger said. “Once we started researching further in the Palm Beach market, Wellington stood out as a rapidly expanding community with an abundance of up-and-coming diverse and successful eateries. We are thrilled to be part of Lotis Wellington’s premier mixed-use development and are confident that Kura Sushi will resonate with this thriving community’s palate.”

He has been happy with the response during the restaurant’s opening weeks.

“We’ve been very well received by the community during our soft opening period with nods to our welcoming staff and food quality,” Kluger added.

During a visit, guests will enjoy the unique Kura Sushi experience, which includes the Revolving Sushi Bar, the Express Belt and the Bikkura Pon Prize System.

“The sushi plates circulate on the revolving sushi bar under patented sushi plate lids that limit airborne exposure and have tracking technology,” Kluger said. “All menu items — sushi, noodles, side dishes and desserts — are available for selection from the ordering touch panel, and they’ll arrive on the overhead belt. Guests will also find enjoyment with our drink delivery robots and prizes.”

The Revolving Sushi Bar is the primary belt that snakes through the dining area with plates of sushi that are protected by the Mr. Fresh lid, with the plate-tracking technology that monitors how long the item has been circulating, ensuring that food is always fresh and delicious from conveyor belt to table.

The Express Belt is positioned above the primary belt and delivers food items ordered via the touch panel menu directly to guests from the kitchen. Want something on the menu but can’t find it on the main belt? The Express Belt will bring it right to you.

“The sushi plates circulate on the revolving sushi bar under patented sushi plate lids that limit airborne exposure and have tracking technology. All menu items — sushi, noodles, side dishes and desserts — are available for selection from the ordering touch panel, and they’ll arrive on the overhead belt.”

— Robert Kluger, Kura Sushi

USA

The Bikkura Pon Prize System is an integral part of Kura Sushi’s innovative and interactive dining experience and is comprised of a prize machine, touch panel and plate disposal slot located at every table in the restaurant that are connected via sensors. The touch panel registers the number of sushi plates dispensed into the plate disposal slot. After every five plates inserted, a short animation will play on the touch panel, and after consuming 15, 25, then every 15 plates thereafter, a prize will be dispensed from the prize machine.

Kura Sushi is open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Reservations can be made up to one week in advance through the Kura Sushi Rewards app and online at https:// kurasushi.com/locations/wellington-fl.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is located in Lotis Wellington at 1349 S. State Road 7, Bay 101, Wellington. To learn more, call (561) 507-1171 or visit www.kurasushi. com.

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