Eddie About Town: It's just 'The Square' now; baby rhino born at Lion Country Safari
What's in a name?
Well, a lot if you consider that the Good Book says in Proverbs, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches."
Though the author may not have intended it to be applied to shopping destinations, in the sense that the right name can lead to better business, it pretty much does.
So whether you remember it as Downtown/Uptown, CityPlace or Rosemary Square, it's now officially "The Square."
Starting off originally as Downtown/Uptown, the shopping and dining destination was christened CityPlace when it opened in October 2000.
West Palm Beach's CityPlace: A look back at the area's beginnings
Photos: Before the Rosemary Square name, there was CityPlace. Here's a look at its beginnings.
Renamed Rosemary Square: New name, features, as CityPlace transforms from mall to urban neighborhood
It took that name on a 19-year run through good times and not so good, until it was time for a change.
That change came after a facelift that included curbless streets, beautiful pavers, lush landscaping and the amazingly lighted Wishing Tree.
By the time the two-year renovation was completed, CityPlace was out and Rosemary Square was in.
Though Rosemary Square tied it to the main city street that runs through the heart of it, people had taken to calling it The Square for short.
Rather than fight it, the powers that be simply decided that it was a great name and officially changed the name to The Square in November.
"The Square is simply a condensed version of Rosemary Square since everyone had coined it ‘The Square’ anyways; we’re simply embracing it," said Sasha Jozefczyk, director of Marketing & Experience at Related Cos.
In addition to the new name, the shopping, dining and entertainment destination has new stores that are slated to arrive in the near future.
On the retail front: UNTUCKit, the men’s apparel brand focused on casual shirts designed not to be tucked into pants, and Nini & Loli, a new location from a family-owned group of stores selling baby gear and apparel, are both slated to open by the end of the year.
For foodies, Sweetgreen, a major national salad chain backed by tennis star Naomi Osaka, and Mexican restaurant El Camino are scheduled to open at the end of 2021/early 2022 and Salty Donuts should debut in the spring.
Lion Country Safari welcomes baby white rhino
Bust out the cigars!
Not the Swisher Sweets either — this calls for the Cohibas!
A baby rhino was born at Lion Country Safari on Nov. 17.
Though just a baby, this baby is a big deal. Not just in terms of his size (he is a rhino, after all), but also in terms of species.
Already named Josh, he is a southern white rhinoceros and is a significant contribution to the White Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan, a national collaboration to save the imperiled species from extinction.
This plan exists and is vital because as recently as the 1970s, this species was on the edge of extinction with less than 1,000 individuals left on the planet. Today, thanks to multinational collaborative breeding and protection efforts, there are an estimated 20,000 white rhinos, and each new birth contributes to their continued conservation.
Lion Country Safari cares for one of the largest herds of rhinoceroses in the country with a long history of breeding success. Josh is the fifth offspring born to 22-year-old mom Bloom and the second white rhino calf born at the park this year. Aziza was born Sept. 22 to mom Anna.
Some of the rhinos born at the park are eventually relocated to other Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facilities to participate in the conservation program for the survival of the species.
Of the five species of rhinos (white, black, Indian, Sumatran and Javan), the white rhino is the most abundant, but all five species are in peril due mostly to poaching. Lion Country Safari is home to 15 white rhinos — 11 females and 4 males.
Though he is spending quality time with his mom and will nurse for approximately two years, Josh can be seen by guests from their cars during the drive-through safari.
White rhinos can live up to 50 years and weigh as much as 5,500 pounds.
For more information on rhinos, visit the International Rhino Foundation www.rhinos.org and Save the Rhinos www.savetherhino.org
Where: 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee.
Cost: Tickets start at $30.
Information: www.lioncountrysafari.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. He has lived in the West Palm Beach area for more than 30 years and, from mild to wild, will cover noteworthy community happenings. He can be reached at eritz@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lion Country Safari welcomes baby rhino; West Palm's CityPlace renamed
