Just a few highlights of happenings Around Wellington. For many more photos, visit the link “Photo Galleries” on this site!
Pictured are the Binks Forest Elementary School Student Council with third grade teacher and Coucil sponsor Lisa Gifford. The Council sponsored a drive for the “Forgotten Soldiers” that lasted two weeks and filled two truckloads with a variety of items including peanut butter, cereal bars, razors, sunscreen and magazines. The items were delivered on Friday, May 15, 2009. "The staff at Binks Forest Elementary is thrilled with the kindness of our students and parents," said BFES Media Specialist Sharon Wedgworth. Photo by Lois Spatz.
Nacho Figueras, the Argentine Polo Player. Photo taken in Miami Beach by Christine Rose.
The 22nd Annual Safe Harbor Celebrity Dog Wash made a big splash on Saturday, May 16 at Jupiter's Carlin Park with over 5000 attendees of the two-legged persuasion. The dog-friendly event featured a doggie costume contest and look-a-like contests, Sky Dogs, fabulous food and craft vendors and cool libations and a play area for the kids. The highlight of the event featured the headlining band War, most well-known for their mega-hits Lowrider, Cisco Kid, Spill the Wine and of course, Why Can't We Be Friends. Photo by Christine Rose.
Parents and kids got together for a good cause on May 22nd at My Gym in Royal Palm Beach, raising funds and bringing toys for the Children's Coalition. Photo by Krista Martinelli.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Evan Baumel and I will be your teen talk columnist beginning with the September issue of Around Wellington Magazine.You may recognize my last name.My sister, Rachel Baumel, wrote the Teen Talk column for Around Wellington Magazine two years ago. Let me give you an update on Rachel: she is currently finishing her second year at Simmons College in Boston and is an Arts Administration major.Like Rachel, I enjoy writing.My style of writing is very different from my sister.I prefer to write about politics, history and issues that teens are experiencing in this day and age.I will attempt to approach these serious subjects in a way that is informative, readable and in some ways entertaining.I enjoy reading satirical literature and the comics as much as the Op-Ed column of the New York Times.I also glance at The Economist magazine to keep up with the business world and our current economic state. The fact that Around Wellington Magazine is now online is excellent!Most teens are plugged into their computers, iphones and ipods almost every waking hour that we’re not in school. As a result, Around Wellington Magazine online will be much more accessible to people our age, so be sure to bookmark it as one of your “favorites.”
I am an active student at Wellington High School and in August 2009 will be a senior.My activities will include the Debate Team, National Honor Society, Key Club, the Wellington Community High School Wave Newspaper and other clubs.
An issue that is very important to me is student political awareness.Whether you attend Wellington High or Palm Beach Central, most of our teen readers are within four years of having the privilege to vote.I will try to keep you informed of how current legislation will affect teens on a local, state and national level.I will try not to discuss controversial issues or communicate any political bias.It does not matter to me what party affiliation you or your family is involved in.What matters most is that you are aware that decisions about YOUR future are being made every single day.
Of course, I will be covering teen culture and events that will interest our high school readers.Over the summer, I encourage you to participate in activities, events, and festivals. Take a vacation, get a summer job and have a good time.Don’t waste your summer by sitting on the couch watching TV for ten weeks. Economic times are tough, so if you can’t get a summer job try to volunteer in some capacity and earn some community service hours. Last year I was a volunteer Counselor In Training at a local camp and it was enjoyable. Overall, the message I’m trying to convey is: “Do something, anything of value to make your summer count.” I look forward to joining the Around Wellington team of writers in September.
Evan Baumel will be a senior at Wellington High School.He’s involved in Debate, National Honor Society, and Key Club.
How Does the Estate Tax Affect Your Wealth Transfer Plan?
Anyone with significant net worth must consider tax rates and the threshold at which wealth transfers are taxable.
If your estate is currently valued at less than $3,500,000 and is not expected to increase substantially any time soon, changes in estate tax rates and exemptions won’t mean much to you. But for persons with larger estates, current law offers significant but perhaps temporary tax breaks through phased rate reductions and increases in exclusion amounts.
The amount you can leave to your survivors free of estate tax is $3,500,000 in 2009. In 2010, the federal estate tax is scheduled to be repealed but, in 2011, it is supposed to go back to the $1,000,000 exemption with a top rate of 55%.The common joke is if you are going to die, schedule it for 2010.Currently, the amount that can be transferred free of gift tax by lifetime giving is $1,000,000 and will not increase. The maximum wealth transfer tax rate on taxable amounts is 45 percent. Also, you can gift $13,000 per year not included in the lifetime giving amount.
Spouses are permitted to join in any gift by the other spouse for the purpose of calculating the tax-free limit.
That means that, currently, a married couple could transfer up to $9,000,000 free of wealth transfer tax – which would include inheritances totaling $7,000,000, plus lifetime tax free gifts of $2,000,000, both significantly more than current limits. But again, it is preposterous to plan that both to die in 2009!
Never in our memory has planning for wealth transfer been more confusing and uncertain. That’s why we advise that, if you are in a high net worth situation and are up in years, you should consult your CPA and other advisors on how to plan your estate to cover the bases. As always, if you have any questions about these or other issues, please call us.
Juan Cocuy, CPA
About Cocuy, Burns & Co., P.A.Located at 12400A South Shore Boulevard, Cocuy, Burns & Co., P.A. is the only full-service CPA firm in the western communities. We have been in business for over 20 years and provide a full menu of services to the professionals and businesses in our area including tax compliance and planning, auditing and consulting. We can be reached at 561-793-1927 or by visiting www.cocuyburns.com.
St. Peter’s CEC Offers its NEW Summer VPK in Wellington
St Peter’s Child Enrichment Center (CEC) in Wellington announces open enrollment for its NEW 2009 summer VPK program. Florida residents can register their VPK eligible 4 and 5 year olds for an educational summer of themed week classes full of reading,
St. Peter's Summer Camp
mathematics, and more – all taught by a certified teacher.St. Peter’s offers a learning environment that is backed by over 20 years of teaching Wellington area children and a Gold Seal Certification. Classes will be held Monday-Friday starting June 8th and continue through August 14th. The Florida approved VPK program is a great way to get your child ready for Kindergarten this Fall. The VPK classroom size is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For St. Peter’s VPK enrollment information call the school director, Pat Banks, at 561-798-3286.
St. Peter’s CEC is located at 12200 West Forest Hill Boulevard in Wellington.For more information about the CEC VPK program, summer offerings and fall registration, call Pat Banks, School Administrator (561) 798-3286.Additional information about the school can be found at http://www.stpeters-umc.org.
Additional information:
The Child Enrichment Center Pre-School is a Florida approved pre-school under the guidance of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church of Wellington.We are a non-profit organization made up of parents and friends of the Child Enrichment Center.
Mommy & Me Pony’s is a program designed for Mothers and children under 5 yrs old to experience the wonderful world of ponies while enveloping a bond between mother and child. This is a wonderful opportunity where Mom and children discover, learn, explore and play together.
Our goal at Wall Street Farm is to offer parent’s and their children affordable, learning-based classes designed to foster each of these areas of early development and lay the foundation for later success. We believe that much can be gained from introducing your child into a structured learning environment long before preschool, as long as that environment is nurturing and fun. And what kids don’t love ponies???
The early years of life are critical to your child’s intellectual, social and emotional development.At this point in their life, positive and enriching experiences will have an ever lasting impact. Mommy and Me Pony’s provides opportunities for children and their mothers to learn and share the new experiences of ponies together and be exposed to various stimulating and challenging experiences in a warm environment.
Each 1 hour Mommy & Me session is supervised by a WSFRA instructor.The session is filled with the introduction and interaction between mom, child and the pony that is chosen to fit the personality of the mother & child pair.
·Basic care-Petting, treats, grooming, bubble baths and getting farmiliar and comfortable with the pony.
·Riding Basics from square one.Step one-Leading. Step two-Lead line andpony rides, learning on the lunge line.Step three-Riding on their own with mommy close by.Step four- Walking and trotting up to as far as they want to advance.
The Mommy and Me Pony experience provides Mom’s and their children the opportunity to engage and learn a passion of ponies that is shared by so many together as a team.
This program runs year round and morning, afternoon and evening hours are available, And even though it is called Mommy & Me Pony’s, we are more than happy to accomodate those Daddy’s who wish to partake in this wonderful bonding experience.
Sponsored by Whole Foods Market, children ages 5 to 12 will stir up chocolate treats! Each session is limited to 15 participating kids and attendance is FREE. Start times are 5pm, 6pm and 7pm on June 4th at the Taste of the West and Chocolate Lovers’ Festival at the South Florida EXPO Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Registration deadline is May 29th. Please open and print the following application for the Kids’ Cooking Corner. Please fax back to the Palms West Chamber of Commerce at (561) 791-2069.
For more information, contact Anitra Harmon at the PW Chamber of Commerce at (561) 790-6200.
BOYNTON BEACH — Are you still searching for a convenient summer experience for your pre-schooler? Well, your quest is over. The JCC of the Greater Palm Beaches is bringing its award-winning Camp Shalom Jr. to Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach. The temple is located at 129 Sparrow Drive. Camp begins June 15 and runs through Aug. 7, 2009. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with ‘extended day’ and part-time options to choose from.
At Camp Shalom Jr. West, children ages 2-5 will enjoy an active, fun-filled summer experience in a safe, loving, and engaging environment. Children will be provided with age-appropriate activities, including art, science, nature, music, sports, and creative movement, as well as Judaic programs and Shabbat celebrations.
Temple Beth Zion is a bus stop for older campers attending Camp Shalom in West Palm Beach so parents with older children also will have the convenience of a one-stop camp drop-off point. (A free summer VPK program is available for children who will be five years old by September 1 and have not yet taken advantage of the fall VPK program.)
Camp Shalom Jr. West registration forms are available at the Temple Beth Zion Preschool Office, the JCC Wellington Branch and the Kaplan JCC. They are also available for download at www.campshalom.org
The mission of the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Palm Beaches is to create a strong Jewish community by providing high quality Jewish programs close to where people live that connect people to Jewish life.
The JCC is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.
New Horizons student Hayleigh Hansen was awarded the District 2009 Character Counts in Palm Beach County Award. Hayleigh was nominated by her teachers for choosing to “Do the Right Thing” even when no one is looking. She was nominated for showing Caring by putting others’ feelings before her own, giving up a center stage position in a school program to another student, always looking out for the underdog, and for raising money at a lemonade stand for needy children. Hayleigh was nominated for demonstrating Responsibility by going above and beyond in fulfilling her duties as a Safety Patrol, through Student Council initiatives to help needy families, welcoming new students as a New Horizons Ambassador, and as a member of our school’s Drum and Orf and Handbell ensembles.
Hayleigh sets high standards for herself by achieving honor roll on her report card. She shows Citizenship by working together to make our community a better place to live, work, play, and learn. We appreciate all she does.
Hayleigh is pictured here with her mom and New Horizons teacher, Deb; her brother and New Horizons student, Andrew; and her Dad Robert.
nominated by her teachers for choosing to “Do the Right Thing” even when no one is looking. She was nominated for showing Caring by putting others’ feelings before her own, giving up a center stage position in a school program to another student, always looking out for the underdog, and for raising money at a lemonade stand for needy children. Hayleigh was nominated for demonstrating Responsibility by going above and beyond in fulfilling her duties as a Safety Patrol, through Student Council initiatives to help needy families, welcoming new students as a New Horizons Ambassador, and as a member of our school’s Drum and Orf and Handbell ensembles.