March 1, 2021 – Helix Virtual Medicine and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) announced a partnership to provide Molecular PCR COVID-19 tests to travelers flying out of West Palm Beach.
 
“Our partnership with PBI provides travelers with flexibility to get convenient COVID testing, as well as minor medical attention, just minutes after they exit the plane,” said Chad Sanders, COO of Helix Virtual Medicine. “Travelers can preregister through our online patient registration portal via any Wi-Fi connection or mobile network. This means passengers can register prior to departure, or even during their flight from any WiFi-enabled aircraft.”
 
Beginning today, the testing will be available in Helix Virtual Medicine’s clinic located on the second level of the terminal near Concourse C. The clinic will provide passengers with results needed to comply with new pandemic-related travel requirements. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and on Sunday. Passengers must schedule an appointment for testing. Test results will be available to passengers within 24 to 48 hours for the standard PCR test. Patients will receive rapid test results in 30 minutes or less.
 
“In partnering with Helix Virtual Medicine, our goal is to provide our guests, employees, and travelers, with the safest and most convenient experience we can,” said Laura Beebe, Director of Airports for Palm Beach County. “While the past year has been challenging, visitors can rest assured that we will continue to do our best to offer the easy, convenient experience that they have come to expect at PBI.”
 
Passengers with proof of travel can take a PCR test for $125. Travelers can be tested at the airport in the days leading up to their travel or after they disembark from a plane, and can bill their insurance for reimbursement.
 
In addition to COVID-19 testing, Helix Virtual Medicine’s clinic will offer their full spectrum of services, including telehealth visits, wellness, and other testing.
 
On-site COVID-19 testing is meant for passengers traveling to and from PBI. Travelers should plan ahead to make sure they obtain the right kind of test for their needs, and allow adequate time for processing – usually three days before travel to destinations where a negative PCR test result is necessary.
 
Appointments for COVID-19 tests can be made at helixvm.com.
 
About Helix Virtual Medicine
Helix has been a leader in the health care industry for nearly 30 years and is proud to offer FDA-certified lab results, diagnostic services, and physician-guided care.
 
About Palm Beach International Airport
During these unprecedented times, PBI continues to work diligently to uphold fiscal responsibility, provide robust air service, and maintain the highest standards in airport experience our passengers and guests have come to expect. To read more about PBI’s commitment to recovery, please review the PBI Comprehensive Guide: Pandemic Preparedness and Response. To best serve passengers, guests, and employees, PBI became the first airport in Florida to achieve GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation, ensuring a safe, sterile, and clean facility. Palm Beach International Airport is proud to be named the 9th Best Domestic Airport in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2020 World’s Best Awards and 3rd Best Airport in the U.S. in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards. Palm Beach International Airport was named Second Best Medium Airport in the 2020 J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Survey. For more information, visit pbia.org and follow PBI on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and announcements.
 





Al & Jackie Fernandez, Caitlin Stella, Aurelio Fernandez, Lotsy Dotsy, Andrew Greenfield,
Jose Basulto, Eisner Dilhomme, Kevin Janser, Deandrah Dilhomme, Joey D.
 
February 28, 2021 – The 12th Annual ANF Group Tour de Broward raised more than $375,000 to expand programs, services, and facilities for kids and families at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, the hospital’s nonprofit foundation announced. In its 12-year history, Tour de Broward (www.tourdebroward.com) has now raised more than $5.5 million for pediatric healthcare in South Florida. 
 
To ensure everyone’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1,000 event participants completed a 50 or 100K bicycle ride, a 5K run, or 3K walk on their own during the month of February and submitted results online. The tour’s drive-thru celebration at Miramar Regional Park enabled supporters to receive their finisher’s medal, event t-shirt, and sponsor souvenirs from the safety of their own cars. 
 
“We’re thankful that even during a pandemic the community demonstrated their support for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital,” said Kevin Janser, senior vice president and chief development officer for Memorial Healthcare System. “Providing South Floridians ongoing access to the highest quality pediatric healthcare remains our focus and the expanded facility will enable us to serve even more kids with complex medical issues and their families.” 
 
During 2020, healthcare professionals at the pediatric facility cared for children needing more than 60,000 hospital outpatient visits, 7,000 pediatric surgeries, and 9,500 admissions and observation stays.    
 
“The legacy of Tour de Broward is its philanthropic impact for healthcare in South Florida,” said   Al Fernandez, president of ANF Group and Tour de Broward co-founder. “The event has now raised more than $5.5 million in its 12 years, with all of it going toward programs, services, and facilities that benefit children and families at ‘Joe D.’ 
 
My family is especially proud to have helped create such an enduring example of the power of community-focused philanthropy.”  
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a caring, compassionate setting designed specifically for children. A level one trauma center, it combines advanced technology, the expertise of board-certified specialists, and a patient and family-centered approach to heal the body, mind, and spirit of those it touches. 
 
The hospital’s nonprofit foundation focuses on philanthropy to positively impact patients, families, and underwrite programs, facilities, and equipment that support the pediatric facility’s mission.
 


March 1, 2021 – Americanna Laboratories, a premiere cannabis testing laboratory with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, announced the addition of Wyman Dickey as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The move reflects the implementation of a larger growth strategy in 2021. Co-Founders Steven Perez and David Perez will continue to provide the vision for the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab as Co-Chairs of the Board of Directors. “We recognized that the projected expansion of the cannabis market provided a unique opportunity. We have accelerated our timeline in order to better serve the growing customer base,” said Steven Perez.
 
 
 
Wyman Dickey brings tremendous experience to this role having worked at the senior leadership level for 17 years in the highly regulated field of career postsecondary education. His operational success in overseeing both start-up and tenured institutions matches well with the financial and managerial benchmarks facing Americanna Laboratories in the coming years. His ability to secure high levels of satisfaction from clients and colleagues matches well with Americanna’s desire to always exceed the expectations of customers. 
 
“Wyman Dickey has established a strong history of success in both quality outcomes and financial performance. In a field such as laboratory testing, you have to maintain a high standard in every aspect and he clearly is used to exceeding in this type of environment. We believe this move will bring immediate results.” said Co-Founder David Perez.
 
Americanna Laboratories has over 30 years of experience in analytical testing to coincide with USDA, EPA, and DEA registrations. “This quality foundation is what initially gained my attention. We understand the importance our testing provides in verifying product safety. Being able to expand our footprint further in the cannabis market allows us to provide greater protection for consumers. This is our mission.” stated Wyman Dickey when asked about his perspective upon joining Americanna Laboratories.
 
 
About Americanna Laboratories:
 
Americanna Laboratories is a leader in analytical testing services, setting the standard for
testing in the cannabis/hemp industry. Americanna Labs is dedicated to providing the best, most reliable and accurate testing by bringing ADPEN Laboratories’ 30 years of analytical testing experience in agrochemical, pharmaceutical, nutritional and food safety to the cannabis lab. As one of the first recognized USDA Registered Hemp Analytical Testing Laboratories in the country, Americanna Laboratories conducts all analyses under the strictest of quality programs meeting ISO/IEC 17025:2017, GLP and cGMP standards. Their lab facilities are registered with the FDA, EPA, DEA, and have been audited by these agencies to ensure compliance with GLP and cGMP standards. Americanna Laboratories is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.


 
March 1 2021 – The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center has partnered with Indian River State College to host a COVID-19 Vaccination clinic on March 3 at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Blackburn Center in Fort Pierce. The clinic will offer first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to eligible Veterans by appointment or as walk-ins who currently receive care at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and/or its outlying clinics. 
 
Veterans may call 561-422-5220 to schedule an appointment. 
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Veterans receiving care at VA
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 
9 am – 1 pm
Blackburn Center – Indian River State College 
3002 Ave. D, Fort Pierce, FL 34947
By Appointment or Walk-in
COVID-19 Appointment Line: 561-422-5220 
 
Eligible Veterans aged 65 and older, employed as essential frontline workers, younger than 65 with underlying medical conditions as determined by the CDC and other high risk groups will be prioritized to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine.
 
Veterans must be able to return to the same site for their second dose in four weeks.
 
If a Veteran has received any vaccine, such as the Flu or Shingles vaccines, they will need to wait 14 days from the date of that vaccination before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. 
 
VA will provide education, outreach and vaccinations to those who qualify at this event.
 
Currently available vaccines have been tested in diverse groups of people and no significant safety concerns have been identified. Veterans’ safety is our top priority and getting the COVID-19 vaccine will help protect them, their loved ones and the community from further spread.
 
For more information visit the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center’s COVID-19 Vaccine Page.
 
For more information about the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center’s health care system visit www.westpalmbeach.va.gov. 
 


A discussion with cannabis advocate Bruce Linton

For Bruce Linton, founder and former chief executive officer of one the largest cannabis companies in the world, Canopy Growth Corp, Florida has emerged as an interesting market for the cannabis industry in the East Coast because of its head start.
 
“Things are definitely accelerating there,” he says. “What’s interesting to me is that it’s become an East Coast phenomenon. On the West Coast, they’ve pretty much had cannabis everywhere all the time for about 30 to 40 years. Five years ago, you couldn’t find cannabis anywhere on the East Coast. Today, in Florida especially, not only do they have it, but you can ask questions such as: Where did you get it? What strains do you have? Access is the hallmark of success which Florida has right now.”
 
After leaving Canopy Growth, Linton started Collective Growth in 2020. He founded it as an SPAC, or special purpose acquisition company. This essentially means it’s a listing on the NASDAQ and Linton, who currently serves as the chairman and CEO, has $150 million in the bank which he needs to figure where to invest in.
 
Hemp has his attention at the moment.
 
“We started with a focus on putting together a combination of assets that currently use hemp,” he says.
 
However, after looking at about 170 companies, Linton found it was going to be more difficult and take a little longer than he originally thought. So he did a transaction with a driverless car company that created a technology that fits in driverless cars.
 
“You may wonder how does hemp and this technology relate? Well, they don’t really—but they kind of do,” he says. “Their technology is the incumbent technology in BMW. BMW’s new cars should come out in the upcoming year. But the BMW i7 electric car, currently made in Germany, utilizes industrial hemp based bio-composites. 21% of the car is made of hemp.”
 
By lowering the weight of the BMW i7, engineers have increased the distance that the electric car can travel. Hemp fibers can be used as a reinforcement in bio-composites. It can form a superior composite that can hold any shape and a resulting material that is 2-3 times stronger than steel.
 
“We did a very smart transaction with a very high tech company, and I hope to be back on the field with another run at a way to turn hemp into the most disruptive agricultural crop in America over the next 24 months,” says Linton. “And by disruptive, I mean to protein, pharma, and industrial applications.”
 
Linton believes that hemp can become a viable source of revenue for farmers in the United States. If the plant is able to be cultivated and processed correctly, every part of it can be used. This opens up more revenue streams.
 
Besides the potential of hemp, there are a few other things that excite Linton about the cannabis industry.
 
“Globally, governments are increasingly not ignoring cannabis, which means that scientists, entrepreneurs, general voters, and consumers all have access to it and they all want to do different things,” he says. “Like scientists, we talk about cannabis, but cannabis is a plant. And inside that plant there are at least a hundred components, but we usually only talk about CBD and THC. That means there are 98 things in there that we don’t know enough about. What excites me is trying to have the opportunity for everybody to unlock the potential of all of the components of the plant.”
 
For Linton, that means a lifetime of work for many people because the human body’s endocannabinoid system interacts with those components.
 
“But we don’t know which ones go where and in what quantities to cause what,” he says. “And so access leads to science, science leads to outcome. The number of outcomes that could be derived are exponential compared to the ones that we know of already.”
 
Finally, it’s the consumers themselves that excite Linton. In places like Florida, he says that there are more discerning, knowledgeable, and informed consumers.
 
“As a result, over the next two or three years, things will get more interesting because people are not just asking if they have any cannabis, but in what format, what function, what dosage,” he says. “There’s now a solid base of access and you will soon see a massive acceleration and really sophisticated consumption of knowledge and format.”