Just a few highlights of happenings Around Wellington. For many more photos, visit the link “Photo Galleries” on this site!
January, 2010 – AW in Pictures
January, 2010 – Cub Scout Pack 125 Challenges Mayor’s Office
Cub Scout Pack 125 challenges the Mayors office in their annual Pinewood Derby
The Wellington Cub Scout Pack 125 annual Pinewood Derby is being held at St. Peters Methodist Church January 16th and is open to the public. Along with the scout’s divisional racing, Wellington Mayor Darrell Bowen, assisted by VOW employees, will compete with parents from the Pack in the Akela Unlimited Class to win bragging rights and a $50 Lowes Gift Card. Lowes Home Improvement not only donated the card but also donated the wooden car kit given to the Mayor’s office. The winner of the race will also compete in the Gulf Stream Council District event being held at the SF Fair in late January. The public is invited to attend the races from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The scouts will also have a full concession stand serving hot dogs, hamburgers and other refreshments available for purchase at the event. For more information contact Lois Spatz at (561) 797-1056.
January, 2010 – Komen Passes Race Baton
Media Contact: Britt Monroe
Tilson Communications
(561) 998-1995
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Passes Race Baton
Five Inspiring Women Take Charge of January 2010 S. Fla. Event
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., (January 5, 2009) – The South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® (www.komensouthflorida.org) has announced the 2010 Race Committee Leadership, a team of women personally inspired to lead the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure® in January. They are: Patricia Abramson, chairwoman; Stephanie Moak Siegel, honorary chairwoman; and Adrianne Weissman, consulting chairwoman. Karen List and Sandy Spender are co-chairs who will assist Abramson this year and gear up to chair the 2011 Komen South Florida Race for the Cure. All five women will dedicate countless hours, working together to make this one of the best races to date.
Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure, set for January 30, is the largest fundraiser for the South Florida Affiliate and has the distinction of being the first race of the year among all affiliates. The Race is now accepting Sponsorship Applications and Race Registration for participants will begin October 1. The Affiliate serves Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
Patricia Abramson: Race Chair Abramson’s goal for this year’s event: increase participation to at least 23,000 participants, up from 22,000, and boost fundraising. “I would like to see everybody raise just $10 more than their participation fee. Everyone can make this a success,” she said. Abramson, diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, has been involved with the Race for a decade – starting as a volunteer cheering on Race participants and stepping up her role after a close friend’s diagnosis. She credits involvement with Komen for saving her own life, and for instilling the importance of early detection and yearly mammograms. “My story was so much simpler because of early detection,” Abramson said. Her mission is to spread the message to groups including women under 40 who are being touched more frequently by the disease. Abramson, a buyer for Evelyn & Arthur, and husband Larry have three children. In June, the entire family participated in the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure® in Washington D.C.
Stephanie Moak Siegel: Honorary Chair Siegel is a member of the Komen Advocacy Alliance Board in Washington, D.C. The Komen Advocacy Alliance mission is to translate the promise to end breast cancer into action at all levels of government to discover and deliver the cures. Siegel represents the global expansion of the organization’s reach. “We are advocating for lasting change and giving a voice to cancer survivors around the world,” Siegel said. It was the vision of Siegel and her husband Ned that brought Komen to The Bahamas. A businesswoman and philanthropist, Siegel lived in The Bahamas, working side-by-side with Ned during his tenure as U.S. Ambassador. She shared her own battle with breast cancer – ultimately undergoing a double mastectomy – in the country where nearly 50 percent of women under 50 are diagnosed with the disease. Upon arrival in 2007, Siegel served as the inspiration for The Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative and the BBCI Foundation, where she actively spoke out for education, early detection and care for all women of The Bahamas. Siegel, a former designer and couture buyer who later became involved in business and real estate investment ventures, lives in Boca Raton with her husband. They have three children.
Adrianne Weissman: Consulting Chair Weissman, who led the 2009 Race in South Florida, is Sponsorship Chair as well as advisor. She became involved with Komen 12 years ago after a friend asked her to walk and has since served as a volunteer and sponsor and chaired numerous committees. The president of Evelyn & Arthur clothing stores, Weissman believes she has a responsibility to get involved, because many of her customers have had breast cancer. The Race is a significant event for the Affiliate as 75 percent of the money raised stays in South Florida and is used for free mammograms, education and grants for patient navigators among other things, Weissman said, adding, “We are a huge provider of funds.” Twenty-five percent of funds raised goes to the national organization for breast cancer research. Weissman and husband Fred have two daughters.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.3 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
February, 2010 – 4th Annual Wild Things Art Show on Feb. 21
Fourth Annual “Wild Things” Art Show Benefiting the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation
When: February 21, 2010 , 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Where: Pferdekamper Studio, 14281 Collecting Canal Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470
What: Wildlife inspired art show and sale featuring painting, sculpture, fine jewelry and more created by some of the areas leading artists and designers. Live deomonstrations, refreshments and special “wild” guests. Proceeds benefit the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, www.rarespecies.org
Contact: (561) 422-3037 or (561) 596-6196
January, 2010 – Kabbalah Course
Introduction to the Power of Kabbalah
Thursday January 21st @ 12pm
Power of Kabbalah Course
Thursday January 28th @ 12pm
6 weeks- $270
Over 5 million people have discovered Kabbalah and improved the quality of their lives dramatically. The timeless principles of Kabbalah are for everyone who will not settle for second best.
It’s an incredible system of logic and a precise technology that will completely change the way you view your life.
Vantage Pointe Dance Studios ®
4075B St Rd 7 (441), Lake Worth
Call 561-488-8826 Ext. 149
January, 2010 – ArtStart Scholarship comes “Gift Wrapped”
Wellington, FL (January 4, 2010) — ArtStart would like to thank Barnes &Nobles and its patrons for their generosity this holiday season. ArtStart, whose mission is to provide educational opportunities in the arts, was selected as one of the non-profit organizations to work the Barnes and Noble gift wrapping table in December. The gift wrapping service is provided at no charge, however customers are free to give tips to the organization whose volunteers are wrapping their gifts. “As a result of our selection by Barnes & Noble,” said ArtStart founder and president Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi, “we collected enough in tips to fund one of our 2010 Youth Art Scholarships. We can’t thank Barnes & Noble, and their customers, enough for their generosity.”
Parssi said she was also pleased that among the ArtStart volunteers were a seven high school students* who were able to log community service hours by participating. “We want to thank all of our volunteers, without whose help we could never have managed,” she said. Volunteering for ArtStart were: Larry Adkinson; *Kaci Bennett; Suzanne Bennett; Marilyn Berns; Anne Boodheshwar; Bobbie Brubaker; Jenny Dixon; *Mary Dixon; *Brianna Erickson; Mary Inglis; *Allison Parssi; *Isabella Valdescruz; *Crystal Yan and *Felicia Yan.
ABOUT THE ARTSTART YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP
The ArtStart Youth Art Scholarship is available to 5th grade students who are applying for acceptance as visual arts majors at Bak Middle School of the Arts. The $250 scholarship is intended to help defray the cost of attending a portfolio development course, and may also pay for items such as art supplies and other materials needed to create a winning portfolio and increase the chances for a successful audition.
The deadline for submitting applications for the 2010 ArtStart Youth Art Scholarship is Friday, October 15, 2010. Applications may be downloaded by visiting www.ArtStartInc.org or obtained via e-mail at info@artstartinc.org. For more information, contact ArtStart at (561) 635-2037.
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January, 2010 – Donna Tucci’s Dance Students at Wellington’s Edge
Young students from Donna Tucci’s Dance Studio
Perform at the Wellington’s Edge Holiday Party
#1 : “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
#2: “Jingle Bell Rock”
#3: “It’s a Marshmallow World”
February, 2010 – Becoming an Effective Entrepreneur on Feb. 22nd
Workshop for Effective Entrepreneurs
Monday, 2/22 @ 6:30 P.M. workshop at the Wellington LibraryBecoming an Effective Entrepreneur: Top 3 Time Management Strategies
In this one-hour workshop, Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer Claudine Motto will cover 3 key strategies every busy solo entrepreneur and home-based business owner should have in their arsenal to feel more in control of their workday, take more ideas from intention to reality, and get more of the right things done so that they’re continually moving forward on their goals.
January, 2010 – Resolutions Aplenty
Letter from the Editor
January, 2010
Dear Around Wellington Readers,
Happy New Year!
I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and found a little quiet time to enjoy it too! In my household, we are just catching up with the rest of the world and we finally got the Wii for Christmas, thanks to my Aunt Shirley. It’s truly a lot of fun for the whole family, as we can play virtually anything together now. As a bonus, we also got the Wii Fit Plus. So beyond the inner voice that nags at the beginning of the year about shedding some extra pounds, there’s that extra squeaky Wii voice that tells me to get on and off the board as it calculates my body fat, balance and other problematic areas.
Speaking of the New Year, we have several fresh perspectives on the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. If you need a good laugh, read Alan Williamson’s “Resolutions 2010.” This is too funny to be missed, so please read it, forward it, print it out and keep on the lighter side of things as you head into 2010, with a little help from Alan.
For a Mom’s take on things to come in 2010, visit our AW Stories of the Month and see Melanie Lewis’ plan for a big “Do-Over” in the next year.
For some great tips on getting fit this year, read Cheryl Alker’s “New Year’s Resolution Number One.” “Here at Around Wellington,” says Alker, “we would like to take the ‘Commitment to be Fit and Healthy’ pledge in 2010 and provide you with as much information as we can to keep you focused on your goals.”
And don’t forget Fido, as we head into the New Year! Frances Goodman gives helpful suggestions on better ways to communicate and exercise with your dog in “This is the Year to Do More with Your Dog.”
Getting to the important subject of inner self, Lisa Dawn Wax gives some terrific tips in her “Resolution #1: Manifest Happiness.” She starts it off with this beautiful quote from Anais Nin, “The time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” and furthers that thought, uplifting us along the way.
In Living Green, Jathy Garcia compiles a good list of ways to “Take Small Steps for a Greener Life: New Year’s Resolution.”
Don’t forget about our fabulous contests! This month we have our beginning-of-the-month contest to win a wonderful one-hour massage at Massage Envy. So please enter between January 1st – 10th. The winner will be announced on our website on January 11th. And then – listen up, parents – we will have a very special contest between January 15th – 20th and the lucky winner gets a ready-to-go birthday party at My Gym in Royal Palm Beach. THANKS to our advertisers for making these contests possible!
Do you need a “vacation in your own backyard?” I certainly did and found the perfect one last month at the newly re-opened Sanda Gane European Day Spa. This popular spa is now located just above Nicole’s Pasta & Grill on South Shore Boulevard in Wellington. Look for their ad or visit our AW Coupons for their unbeatable Grand Opening offer! In our AW Spotlight story, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Sanda Gane’s thoroughly relaxing spa this month.
I’m happy to introduce three new columnists. Shakira Muneswar takes a turn at “Mommy Moments” and writes about the problem-solving skills she needed to deal with her baby’s allergic reactions. Truly helpful insights, especially for new Moms and Dads who might be scratching their heads too, trying to figure out what’s going wrong.
Talented playwright and writer Marla Schwartz now writes our “Cultural Corner” and offers insights into the brilliant, dark mind of author Jeff Lindsay. He’s the author behind the #1 hit series “Dexter” on Showtime. Don’t miss her in-depth interview with him.
I’m also pleased to introduce Claudine Motto’s new monthly column “Ultimate Productivity.” You might be familiar with Claudine, who has written for our AW Stories of the Month for the past few months (see Archives). For the new year and especially designed for business owners, she provides her “7S Business Productivity Checklist” for jumpstarting your business in 2010.
While New Year’s Resolutions are the theme in this online issue, not every writer chose this subject. Check out Cantankerously Yours, Astrology at Work in Your Life, By the Numbers, the Poem of the Month, The Space Room, Teen Talk and Travel with Terri for a variety of fun topics! For current events, see our Calendar or Press Releases.
Thanks for your continuing feedback and support of AroundWellington.com! I’m pleased to bring you the finest in community news in our online format each month, which is all possible thanks to our terrific advertisers and thanks to you, dear readers.
I’ve succeeded once again in being long-winded! And so my New Year’s Resolution, in addition to trying to lose 10 pounds, is to be more succinct. You know, fewer words. Brevity is the soul of wit and all that. OK, I’d better quit before it gets worse. Wishing you a beautiful start to the New Year!
Cheers,
Krista Martinelli
Editor
January, 2010 – Alabama’s Covered Bridges
Travel with Terri
Romancing the Past: Alabama’s Covered Bridges
By Terri Farris
Who can forget the covered bridges in the heart strings-pulling movie Bridges of Madison County? Romantics believe covered bridges exist for the sole purpose of stealing a kiss – resulting in the appropriate nickname of “Kissing Bridges!” There are other reasons these bridges are thought to have been covered. One belief was they were built to resemble barns so farm animals would feel more at home and not stampede as they were driven across rushing waters. Other explanations included: to keep snow off the bridges, to provide a place of shelter to travelers caught in a storm or to cover up the unsightly trusses. It is true that covered bridges were estimated to have a life expectancy three times greater than an uncovered bridge.
Whatever the reasons they were initially designed, today covered 
bridges are considered historical landmarks. These romantic structures from a bygone era appeal to our nostalgic side. Covered bridges – or the search for them – can provide an interesting travel experience. Most exist in off-the-beaten path locations and following the “turn at the second mailbox” directions can be challenging and entertaining!
Although Vermont and Oregon have the highest concentration of covered bridges, it is not necessary to head to the Northeast or the Pacific Northwest to find these nostalgic structures. The Southeast is home to numerous covered bridges in the beautiful state of Alabama.
Covered bridges in Alabama are scattered throughout the state. Almost all of these structures have historical significance. The Alamuchee Bridge built in 1861 was used by Confederate General Nathan to move his troops into Mississippi during the Civil War. Now relocated to the campus of the University of West Alabama in Livingston, the bridge’s original location was at Alamuchee Creek and was the site where horse thief Steve Renfroe – the county sheriff – was executed by hanging!
Cullman County is home to the Clarkson-Legg Bridge which stretches 250 feet across a gorge cut by Crooked Creek. James Wordlaw Legg, a local mail carrier for the Clarkson Post Office, donated all the materials to build this bridge in 1908 to improve transportation in the area. What an excellent community service!
Built in 1861, the Kymulga Bridge spans Talledega Creek in the old Kymulga community near Childersburg. The bridge was built before the Civil War and a gristmill was constructed there during the war. Today the bridge and the mill are open to the public. Visitors can see corn ground with the original millstones imported from France.
Also crossing the Talledega Creek in the Waldo community is the Waldo Bridge. This historical bridge was used by Wilson’s Raiders during the Civil War. It is located near Riddle’s Hole, an 1840 gold mine that continued operations until World War II. The gristmill at this bridge has been converted into a restaurant.
Blount County, Alabama is known as the Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama and is home to the annual Covered Bridge Festival held each year in October. The festival offers many events including a golf tournament, a 5K race and Fun Run, car show, arts and crafts booths and live entertainment. There is even a Doggy Parade where canines are dressed up to compete for the coveted title of Covered Bridge Festival Doggy King and Queen! The Miss Covered Bridge Pageant is also held in October at the Oneonta High School auditorium. The beauty pageant is a preliminary competition to the Miss Alabama pageant. www.blountoneontachanmber.org/covered-bridge-festival
- The Easley Bridge
Nearby in Noccalula Falls Park just outside the city of Gadsden stands the Gilliland Bridge. Moved to the park from its original location at the Gilliland Plantation in Reese City, it is said a wedding took place at the bridge when a couple happened to meet the preacher there after going to Gadsden to get their marriage license! And that brings us back to the most romantic reason for covered bridges – kissing!
For more information on Alabama’s covered bridges and other attractions, visit www.alabama.travel.
Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at www.examiner.com where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at www.barzz.net. You can contact Terri at tfarris60@hotmail.com.