The feasts and festivities are behind us. It’s the time of year when we resolve to do better and be better. Most resolutions usually include something about weight loss, exercise or generosity. Our furry family members are often left out of our New Year plans. With all the love and happiness they bring us, shouldn’t our pets be part of our resolutions for 2023? I think so, and if you do too, here’s a list of resolutions your pet will love.
Walk your dog daily
I’m putting this one on my list. How easy it is to simply open the back door and let the dog outside to frolic in the fenced-in back yard. But the look on your dog’s face when someone grabs a leash is priceless. Daily walks, even short ones, will help you bond and give you both a little exercise.
Measure your pet’s food
Pet obesity is one of the biggest concerns for pet health. Over 50% of household cats and dogs are overweight. Weighing your pet’s food every single time will help their waistline and keep them healthier so we can love on them longer.
Improve your dog’s training
You can, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks, so it’s never too late to train your pup to do something new. Learning is a great way for dogs to keep their minds sharp, and helping your dog learn a new trick or behavior will strengthen your bond. You can bump this one up a notch by attending training or obedience classes.
Incorporate more playtime
Play with your cat once in a while by having him or her chase a laser toy. Play a weekly game of hide and seek with your dog. Regular games and activities are fun for everyone involved.
Plan adventures
This is another one we’re hoping to do consistently in the new year. If your dog likes to hop in the car as much as ours does, you can plan monthly day trips to dog-friendly parks, beaches and trails. You’ll both sleep better after a day of driving and exploring. Top it off with a stop at Starbucks for a refreshing pup cup for your pooch.
Refresh the toy bin
The new year is a great time to clear out the clutter. That includes the toy bin. Toss the old germ-infested toys, bones and stuffies (or give them a good wash if your pet is attached) and get some fresh new toys for your pet’s collection.
Step up your dental game
Regular daily brushings (or a minimum 3 times a week) will help your dog avoid dental disease later in life. It may be tough to get started, but once brushing becomes part of the daily routing, your dog will come to expect it.
It’s January, globally known as the start of the new year! With the new year comes the tradition of ‘new year resolutions’. Personally, following this tradition is a struggle for me, for I usually have trouble sticking to my goals. In this article, we’ll both be on our new year’s journey as I walk us through how to stick to our goals and possible goals to fulfill this new year!
Staying on top of what we want is hard, and we tend to put ourselves down for it very often. This struggle can really take a toll on someone’s mental health, so here are ways to keep yourself focused!
Make a to-do list. This may seem incredibly basic, but it definitely works. I like making lists and adding dates to do them so I feel more organized. Also, it works as a motivator because you’re really seeing progress. To-do lists help to keep that organization and motivation factor in one place!
Use writing repetition. Does your mom ever continuously repeat what you need to do? Does it annoy you? But also, do you get it done? Well, no matter the answer, it’s time to do it to yourself. Writing down your goals everyday could, one, help you remember what you need to do and, two, motivate you to complete those tasks.
Prioritize. Sometimes when we don’t prioritize our main goals, we get distracted with little, more unimportant tasks. Pick 2-3 goals to really maintain and make sure you’re following. It makes goals seem a lot easier to tackle, but also makes you more productive.
Some people also struggle with figuring out goals in general. A few questions to ask yourself to possibly figure out what you need are: What do I really want to pursue? What do I need to achieve? What are the steps to becoming my best self?
This year, I’m going to start working on productivity, fitness and health, and overall happiness and enjoyment. Goals don’t always have to stem from a deep and personal want, they can be inspired by others just as easily. Some may think it’s being unoriginal, but I think if it will truly make somebody feel satisfied with themself then it’s just as valuable a goal as someone else’s original thought. For example, if you’re not sure what to do this year, try one of my goals and see if it works for you! But, if you’re looking for more possible ideas, here are some others!
Read more often. I could never stress enough, reading is incredibly healthy. It exercises the brain, increases knowledge, and can relieve stress. It’s a perfect hobby and I recommend it immensely.
Create more time for yourself. A lot of the time, people tend to cut into their time for themselves in order to make room for other things. Instead, manage your time wisely and create more time to focus and improve yourself.
Be more bold. Been stuck with anxiety eating away at you in public? Or maybe you’re afraid to share that idea? It’s time to say goodbye to that fear and hello to boldness. Make more moves, don’t be the pawn but move it, and share what’s on your mind.
I wish all of you luck this new year, and encouragement to stick to your goals! Remember why you made them in the first place and keep working towards that end goal no matter how many steps it may take.
The New Year is a time to refresh, restart, and get motivated. New Year’s resolutions are made to start the new year on the right foot and hopefully end it better than when you started. But did you know that only 9% of people successfully keep their resolutions?
It’s time to make resolutions that you can feel good about keeping all year long. I’m excited to share some easy ideas that will keep you and our planet healthier in 2023.
Get Healthy and Plant a Backyard Garden
Are you making plans to get healthy in 2023? If you are planning a healthier approach to your eating habits in the upcoming year, try planting a backyard garden. Not only will you have direct access to fresh produce to cook and snack healthier, but gardening also has an incredible impact on mental health, weight loss, increased physical activity, and your general quality of life. Starting a garden is easy, and it checks off so many boxes for traditional New Year’s resolutions.
Illustration by Rollin McGrail
Invite the Neighborhood To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Trying to find a way around the scaling gas prices? If your New Year’s resolution is to budget better, try carpooling, ridesharing, biking or public transportation! Whether you’re going to school or the office, carpooling is an efficient way to commute. Aside from saving money on gas, you’ll rest easy knowing that you’ve helped reduce emissions of harmful pollutants and holiday traffic! Not to mention that a music-filled carpool with friends each morning can be a great way to start your day.
Drink More Water and Reduce Your Plastic Waste
Is your New Year’s resolution to drink more water? Purchasing a reusable water bottle is an easy, sustainable, and stylish way to dramatically reduce your plastic waste! The water bottling process releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Using a reusable water bottle means that billions of plastic bottles won’t end up in landfills or the oceans killing marine life. And besides helping save the planet, you will also be saving yourself close to $260 per year!
Shop Local and Invest in Reusable Bags
Is your New Year’s goal to support your local community? Are you tired of constantly piling up single-use plastic bags after each shopping trip? Don’t worry, here is how you can tackle both! A great way to support your local community is by supporting local businesses. Find a local farmer’s market, clothing, or homeware shop to reduce your carbon footprint. While you are busy shopping, don’t forget to invest in reusable shopping bags. You can get easy to reuse bags for cheap at local grocery stores, so they won’t break your bank. This will reduce your carbon footprint and plastic waste while also helping you shop comfortably and look stylish while you do it!
Develop Your Wardrobe and Donate or Upcycle New Clothes
Feel like you need to reinvent your style? If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be more fashion forward, try developing your wardrobe through shopping for unique vintage pieces in thrift stores. Giving away any clothes? Donate to your local thrift shop, charity shop or salvation army. Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tons end up in landfills annually. With old trends coming back into style, there’s no shortage of eco-friendly ways to look great in 2023.
New Year’s resolutions can be hard to stick with, but these are just a few easy ways to start 2023 off with an (eco-friendly) bang!
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! A new year is an opportunity to begin again, to re-invent yourself, to try new things and embark on new adventures. This month we have several articles that reflect on these things. Thanks to our diverse team of writers for their contributions, as always.
I’m happy to introduce you to our newest writer Dr. Vincent Apicella D.O, who writes in “Ask the Docs” about Lasting Goals, S.M.A.R.T. goals and how to make positive change in the new year. Dr. Apicella is a board-certified osteopathic family medicine physician. He has been practicing medicine since 2004. He is the owner and co-founder of Premier Family Health, PA. He was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, has four children and is passionate about senior health and wellbeing.
If one of your goals is to live a more “green” lifestyle, you’ll enjoy reading “How to Make Healthy and Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions for 2023” in “Living Green” by Cristian DeRusha. Whether it’s planting a backyard garden or upcycling clothing, you’ll find eco-conscious ways of doing things that will make your carbon footprint a little lighter.
Our “Teen Talk” writer Carly Cantor gives some very practical steps in making your New Year’s Resolutions stick. Read “Starting Off on the Right Foot in the New Year.” Carly is also our very helpful intern and won our singing contest a couple years ago, which resulted in her singing the National Anthem plus an original song for all of Wellington.
When considering new year’s goals, we can’t leave out our pets. See “Paws-itive New Year Resolutions” by our pet writer Tricia Roberts. Great ideas for energizing, exercising and maintaining the health of your pets.
Well, as usual, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Click around and see all of our new articles this month. Thanks to our writers and photographers. Also, a big thanks to our sponsors. And as always, thanks to you for your readership and participation.
Happy 2023!
See you Around Wellington!
Krista Martinelli
Founder/Editor
***
Krista Martinelli has been publishing AroundWellington.com for 16 years. She is a Mom (of two teenagers), writer, tennis player and consumer of many kinds of cheese. She has not yet played pickleball, but plans on it in 2023.
Sixteen of the 37 feature films and documentaries in the Festival, which runs January 26 through February 16, were either directed or co-directed by women, including:
Ali & Ava
ALI & AVA
Director: Clio Barnard
(Feature—UK—2021) This romance is a bundle of good humor and nervous energy. Ali is a British Pakistani working-class landlord who forges close bonds with his tenants. One day, while picking up one of his tenants’ children from school, he offers a lift to Ava, an Irish-born teacher and single mother of five. They bond almost instantly through their love of music. Their story serves as a reminder that it is sometimes the least likely connections that are the ones most worth pursuing. (Toronto International Film Festival, BAFTA Nominee Best British Film)
+ February 1, 3:45 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 14, 1:00 pm – Paragon Theatres of Delray Beach
+ February 14, 4:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach Premiere
BALABAN
Director: Aysulu Onarani
(Feature—Kazakhstan—2022)
On the verge of adulthood, Ardak, a reserved 16-year-old schoolgirl who was diagnosed with HIV as a child, lives a sheltered life with her mother in a plush house in a part of Kazakhstan known for its dramatic mountains and vast nomadic steppe. Ardak dreams on moving to Paris and becoming the next big thing in fashion. After a chance meeting with an adventurous teen, Zhanna, at a local charity for HIV adolescents, they forge a plan to steal a prized falcon from Zhanna’s cousin to finance their trip—which proves to be the ultimate test of their relationship. (International Peace Film Festival)
+ January 30, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 9, 1:00 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Palm Beach Premiere
BREAKING THE ICE
Director: Clara Stern
(Feature—Austria—2022)
What happens when someone with a rigid approach to life meets their freewheeling opposite? Mira is the heir to an Austrian vineyard whose existence is defined by stress: the family business is barely staying afloat, her grandfather’s dementia is getting worse, and her brother Paul recently went missing. Mira’s sole outlet for all this anxiety is serving as the captain of a women’s ice hockey team. (Tribeca Film Festival)
+ January 27, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 11, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
+ February 14, 1:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Calendar Girls
Palm Beach Premiere
CALENDAR GIRLS
Director: Maria Loohufvud & Love Martinsen
(Documentary—Sweden—2022)
This “coming-of-golden-age” film follows senior volunteer dancers in Southwest Florida, who are determined to prove that age is just a number. The dancers give it all they’ve got: impressive makeup, handmade costumes, elaborate dance routines, unparalleled enthusiasm, and sparkling personalities. (Sundance Film Festival, Hot Docs Film Festival, Bergamo Film Festival Audience Award Best Documentary)
Note:The Calendar Girls will be Special Guests at all three Festival screenings.
+ January 28, 1:45 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 4, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 7, 1:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
Cinema Sabaya
Palm Beach Premiere
CINEMA SABAYA
Director: Orit Fouks Rotem
(Feature – Israel—2022)
A group of Arab and Jewish women attend a workshop run by Rona, a young filmmaker from Tel Aviv, to learn to document their lives on video. As each woman shares her raw footage with the others, they are all forced to challenge their preconceived views and beliefs, coming together as mothers, wives, and women. Based on the real-life experiences of the film’s director, with a remarkable cast consisting of professional and non-professional actors alike, Cinema Sabaya is a testament to the power of film and its unique capacity to spark mutual recognition and connection across cultures. (Jerusalem Film Festival Winner Best Israeli Debut & Audience Award, AFI Fest, Warsaw International Film Festival, UK Jewish Film Festival, nominated for 8 Ophir awards (Israeli Academy) including: Best Film(winner), Best Director (winner), Best), Best Supporting Actress(winner), Israel’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film)
+ February 7, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 13, 7:00 pm – CMX Wellington
+ February 13, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theatres in Delray Beach
Palm Beach Premiere
HAUTE COUTURE
Director: Sylvia Ohayon
(Feature—France—2021)
Esther is at the end of her career as Head Seamstress at Dior in the famous Avenue Montaigne workshop. When her handbag is stolen in the metro by 20-year-old Jade, Esther decides to help her rather than call the police. In the frenetic world of Haute Couture, Esther will give Jade a way to reach beyond herself and harness her creativity and talent. (Mill Valley Film Festival, Palm Spring International Film Festival)
+ February 2, 7:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 7, 7:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 14, 7:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Florida Premiere
LOVE & MATHEMATICS
Director: Claudia Sainte-Luce
(Feature—Mexico—2022)
This is a tale of longing, reconnection, and disconnection. Billy, a former boy band quasi–pop star, is now a dutiful stay-at-home dad, frustrated by the lack of fulfillment in his comfortable life. He’s someone who’s out of touch, especially with himself. Mónica a mild-mannered new neighbor, is a former devoted fan. Monica’s adoration reminds Billy of what his life used to be as a performer, with fans feeding his ego. It also reminds him of his passion for music, and he begins to play his guitar again.
Note: Special Invited Festival Guest Sandro Florin, CEO of FiGa Films, will attend the February 8 screenings.
+ January 31, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 8, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 8, 7:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
Florida Premiere
MISSION JOY: FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES
Directors: Louie Psihoyos & Peggy Callahan
(Documentary—USA—2021)
Deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share science-backed wisdom of how to live with joy in troubled times. With genuine affection, mutual respect and a healthy dose of teasing, these unlikely friends impart lessons gleaned from lived experience, ancient traditions, and the latest cutting-edge science regarding how to live with joy in the face of all of life’s challenges from the extraordinary to the mundane. (Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival Ad Hoc Docs Winner)
+ January 31, 3:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 13, 1:00 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I
Director: Caroline Vignal
(Feature—France—2020)
Schoolteacher Antoinette (Laure Calamy) is looking forward to her long-planned summer holidays with her secret lover Vladimir, the father of one of her pupils. When learning that Vladimir can’t make it because his wife organized a surprise trekking trip in the Cévennes National Park with their daughter and a donkey to carry their load, Antoinette impulsively decides to follow them, with Patrick, a cantankerous, protective donkey. Completely inexperienced in outdoor life, Antoinette forges quick bonds with Patrick, as she poignantly and uproariously stumbles toward self-revelation and independence. (Cannes Film Festival, Best Actress: Laure Calamy César Awards)
+ February 14, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach Premiere
NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS
Director: Vivian Kleiman
(Documentary—USA—2021)
A lively look at five LGBTQ+ comic book artists whose careers go from the underground scene to the cover of Time Magazine and the international stage. This adaptation of Justin Hall’s anthology of the same name invites the artists to share their stories and observations on everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love. It’s a warm-hearted tribute to all the artists among us, those who paint the world so that we can better understand it. (Tribeca Film Festival, AFI Docs Fest, Grand Jury Documentary Prize Outfest)
Note: Profanity, Sexual Content
+ January 28, 4:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 12, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Palm Beach Premiere
SYLVIE OF THE SUNSHINE STATE
Director: Sasha Levinson
(Feature—USA—2022)
Palm Beach County filmmaker Sasha Levinson aims the lens at her multigenerational family in an unconventional hybrid documentary offering an honest glimpse into modern motherhood that will make parents everywhere feel a lot less alone. When the world was turning to chaos in the early stages of COVID-19, Sasha decided to make a film with her daughter. It began as a filmmaker’s experiment, but what emerged is a therapeutic exploration of single motherhood, distance co-parenting, and multigenerational trauma which ultimately gives way to healing. During the greatest mental health crisis of our time, this film provides an honest look at parenting and finding peace within the family. (Winner George Starks Spirit of Slamdance Award at Slamdance Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival) Note: Festival Special Guests at the screening include director Sasha Levinson and star Sylvie Bellanca.
+ January 28, 11:00 am – Movies of Lake Worth
Palm Beach Premiere
THE BLUE CAFTAN
Director: Maryam Touzani
(Feature—Belgium, Denmark, France, Morocco—2022) Middle-aged married couple Mina and Halim operate a small garment shop, from which master tailor Halim painstakingly embroiders magnificent caftans for a choosy clientele. Mina and Halim have an unconventional marriage, informed by affection and mutual respect but burdened by a secret that Halim can’t name. The film is an understated, yet immensely powerful exploration of the various forms love can take. (FIPRESCI prize–winning premiere in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, Toronto International Film Festival, Morocco’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature)
+ February 2, 7:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 7, 7:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 15, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach Premiere
THE FORGER
Director: Maggie Peren
(Feature—Germany, Luxembourg—2022)
Berlin,1942. 21-year-old Cioma Schönhaus, a Jewish man, won’t let anyone take away his zest for life, especially not the Nazis. Since the best hiding spots are in plain sight, Cioma decides to go out into the light to escape deportation. Throughout the day he forges IDs with just a brush, some ink, and a steady hand – and saves the lives of many. Based on the true story of Cioma Schönhaus. (Berlin International Film Festival, Haifa Film Festival, Vancouver Film Festival)
+ February 8, 1:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 8, 3:30 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 13, 1:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Florida Premiere
THE WILD ONE
Director: Tessa Louise-Salomé
(Documentary—France—2022)
The documentary traces the life journey of an enigmatic artist, Jack Garfein, his family’s fleeing the Nazis, surviving in Auschwitz, his 1946 arrival at 16 in New York and coming under the wing of Lee Strasberg, Hollywood, and his marriage to actress Carroll Baker. It examines how his experience in the concentration camps shaped his vision of acting as a survival mechanism. Narrated by Willem Defoe, the film explores the importance of his legacy as an artist who confronted censorship and reveals how art can draw on personal memory to better enlighten our present. (Winner Best Cinematography in a Documentary Film Tribeca Film Festival Winner Jury Prize Best Documentary Festival 2 Vincennes)
+ February 6, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 6, 1:30 pm – Regal Royal Palm Beach
+ February 15, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
THE WORST ONES
Directors: Romane Gueret & Lise Akoka
(Feature—France—2022)
Set in the suburbs of Boulogne-Sur-Mer in northern France, the story captures a film within a film as it follows the production of a movie whose director turns to the local housing project for casting. Eager to capture performances of gritty authenticity, the director selects four working class teenagers to act in the film to the surprise of the local community, who question the director’s choice of “the worst ones”. (Un Certain Regard Grand Prize winner at Cannes, Toronto International Film Festival)
+ January 29, 7:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 12, 1:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach Premiere
YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER
Directors: Sarah Watts & Mark Slutsky
(Feature—Canada—2022)
In the early ’90s, gay teen Jaime is sent to live with her devout Jehovah’s Witness relatives after the death of her father. Jaime makes an unexpected connection with Marike, daughter of a prominent Witness Elder. The two are instantly drawn to each other, and begin a secret, unspoken romance. But when their attraction becomes too obvious to hide, the community moves to separate the two, forcing them each to make a terrible choice between faith and love. (Tribeca Film Festival, Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement nomination)
+ February 1, 7:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 3, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 10, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
“In addition to American, British, French, and Mexican movies, the upcoming festival will showcase a global array of audience-wowing and mind-expanding films from Canada, Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Israel, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kurdistan, New Zealand, Bolivia, Uruguay, and more,” says Festival Founder Donald M. Ephraim. “The films were specifically selected to foster dialogue and interaction among attendees and supporters.”
For a full list of participating theaters and scheduled movies at the upcoming The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Film Festival, request a DMEPBFF brochure, or to become a member of the Festival Film Society, please call 561.867.3109 or visit www.DMEPBFF.org
A Wellington, FL tradition, WinterFest took place on Dec. 9th, 2022. Local celebrity Vanilla Ice took the stage, as well as other artists and local government officials to celebrate the holiday season.
If you are seeking a fun, memorable, and affordable East Coast golf getaway with your buddies or your family, then set your sights on the Sea Trail Resort, located in the Brunswick Isles area of North Carolina, just south of Wilmington. Sea Trail is actually in Sunset Beach, where the nearby beaches along the Atlantic Ocean are as pristine and inviting as any sandy spot from Maine to Miami…..where the locally caught fresh seafood is as tasty and delicious as anywhere in the world……where the ice cream at Calabash Creamery is second-to-none..…..where the accommodations are on par with quality of the three championship golf courses (which truly deserve the championship label)….and where the weather allows golf to be played 52 weeks a year.
When you visit Sea Trail (www.seatrail.com), visitors have access to a wide variety of on-site recreational amenities such as an indoor and outdoor pool, an outdoor kiddie pool, an indoor jetted hot tub, a game room, pool table, table tennis, cornhole, shuffleboard, and an outdoor volleyball court. The quality of the beach experience and accommodations are best described with one word: luxurious. It’s like putting a red bow on a wrapped gift. Truth be told, it’s fair to say that the overall experience at Sea Trail is on par with any stay-and-play destination in the southeastern United States. Simply put, there is no stress at Sea Trail, with the exception of the stress associated with trying to drain a four-footer for par on any given hole or figuring out what to do during the day. The toughest part of your trip to Sea Trail is having to say goodbye to this slice of oceanside paradise.
Sea Trail’s three golf courses – William Byrd Course, Rees Jones Course, and the Dan Maples Course – are well-designed, fair, fun, and player friendly. Very few golf destinations are like Sea Trail, which have three top-notch 18-hole courses in one location. Locals simply refer to the three courses as the Bryd, Jones, and the Maples.
At the Bryd, there are sand traps on every hole and around every green. The large number of bunkers is somewhat penal, but it is not too harsh. There’s plenty of room to play the Byrd and avoid the sand. The home hole at the Byrd is a par five which only measures 469 yards from the tips, but there are at least 12 bunkers and three water hazards from tee to green. FYI: The 7th and 8th greens are surrounded by five bunkers.
At the Jones, water hazards exist on 11 of the 18 holes. Stay away from the water at all costs, as nobody has ever been known to get ‘up & down’ for par from the bottom of any of those ponds. Many fairways feature large mounds which will impact your stance and club selection as you hit your approach shots to the greens. FYI: The Jones course was used as a 2006 U.S. Open qualifying course.
At the Maples, there are short par fours, long par fives, and gettable par threes. The one exception is probably the most difficult hole at the Maples — the right-to-left par-four 9th which is more than 400 yards long from three of the four tee boxes. Well-struck tee shots at the Maples will put you in a position to excel. Water lurks along the 1st, 2nd, and 15th from tee to green. On the 12th, a waste bunker borders the fairway for three-quarters of the hole. At the Maples, five of the holes are perched along the scenic Calabash Creek. North Carolina Magazine has rated the Maples as the “Top Best Conditioned Course on the Coast.” And. Golf Digest has given the course four stars. FYI: This course may be Dan Maples’ finest creations.
Golf Digest has ranked both the Byrd and Jones courses as “Top 100 Courses in North Carolina,” which is quite an honor considering how many great golf courses are in the Tar Heel state.
One constant about each course is the presence of those tall Carolina pine trees which border many of the fairways. The great thing about those pine trees is that they are devoid of low-level branches so it’s possible to execute an escape shot from the woods without having to worry about a well-struck punch shot clipping a low-hanging branch, thus preventing an escape to the fairway.
So, set your sights on traveling to the Sea Trail Resort (800-546-5748 or 910-287-1156). It’s a true stay-and-play gem which is fun, memorable and affordable, just like the golf, 52 weeks a year.
The Wellington Art Society to Feature Carl Stoveland for Their January Meeting
The Wellington Art Society is thrilled to present Carl Stovelandas guest speaker at their January 11, 2023 meeting.
The meeting and presentation will take place at the Wellington Community Center, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd, Wellington. The meeting will open with a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the member spotlight and a brief meeting. The event will conclude with a presentation by artist, Carl Stoveland, entitled “The Not So Unlikely Journey from Photographer to Painter”. For more information contact: Laura Jaffe, presidentofwas@gmail.com.
Carl Stoveland grew up in New York near the Catskill Mountains and found his passion for photography while hiking along the many trails and streams near his home. His father spent his entire career working in photo labs and his mom as an oil painter and watercolorist. Naturally, Stoveland was immersed in fine art his whole life. He says, “While the other neighborhood kids were playing football in the street, my folks sent me to ceramics camp…. Creativity and play have been strongly connected for me ever since.”
Stoveland’s primary medium for many years was photography. About 20 years ago, he started playing with watercolor, and since moving to Florida six years ago, he has been exploring many different mediums including watercolor, gouache, urban sketching with casein, and even a little film making. Stoveland’s current passions include a variety of photo and painting media, along with urban sketching, and teaching.
He has been awarded several artist residencies, including most recently Dry Tortugas National Park. In 2022, he was awarded Best in Show in the Florida Showcase at The Box Gallery. He has also Co-Founded the Lake Worth Beach Urban Sketchers Group and has a podcast called “IAMLAKEWORTH”.
In February, Stoveland will be teaching a two-day urban sketching workshop with the New Studio for the Visual Arts in Jupiter. For information on this class, visit https://www.thenewstudiova.net/. In addition, you can see his work during the “Myth America(na)” exhibition at the Box Gallery of West Palm Beach.
Learn more about Carl Stoveland and his works on his website at https://www.carlstovelandart.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram @carlstoveland.
