Jupiter, Fla. (October 6, 2022) – To help disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ian, Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch is playing a vital role in relocating homeless animals from storm-hit Florida shelters to other parts of the country. Part of a collaborative disaster relief effort with the nation’s largest animal welfare organizations, Furry Friends has partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to move hundreds of dogs and cats outside of the storm-affected areas to safety on their state-of-the-art transport bus, Hope On Wheels.
Earlier this week, Furry Friends transported dozens of dogs and cats to The Anti-Cruelty Society in downtown Chicago to ensure Furry Friends could take in as many homeless animals as possible. On Wednesday, Furry Friends traveled to Pinellas County and Manatee County with Hope On Wheels to help Best Friends Animal Society move more than 200 animals from the hurricane-ravaged West Coast of Florida to shelters in the Northeast. In the coming months, Furry Friends plans to relocate hundreds of more animals affected by Hurricane Ian.
“When Hurricane Ian began heading for the West Coast of Florida, my team sprung into action,” said Jason Gluck, Executive Director of Furry Friends. “Our state-of-the-art animal rescue bus can transport more than a hundred dogs and cats at a time from the storm-hit areas to destination shelters that will place them in loving homes.”
Furry Friends started an ongoing relocation program in March to move homeless animals from overcrowded shelters in Florida to areas where they can thrive. Through their Relocation Program, Furry Friends is committed to reducing animal shelter euthanasia rates in the state, where Florida ranks fourth in the nation.
“Furry Friends is committed to helping our fellow Florida shelters. Our transport relief effort will allow organizations in those devastated areas time and space to rebuild,” said Gluck. “Thanks to Best Friends Animal Society and the destination shelters who are kind enough to take in these animals, we can save more dogs and cats from those places affected by the storm. This disaster relief effort is all about teamwork, and Furry Friends is proud to join with our partners at the national and local level to bring dogs and cats affected by the storm to safety.”
The animals that Furry Friends moved out of Pinellas County and Manatee County on Wednesday were taken to Jacksonville where they were staged and transported to shelters in the Northeast. Tomorrow, Furry Friends will transport another group of more than 100 animals on Hope On Wheels from Jacksonville to shelters in the Midwest, including P.A.W.S. Tinley Park in Tinley Park, Illinois, and I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven in Warren, Michigan.
About Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch
Since its inception in 1981, Furry Friends has rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed animals across Palm Beach and Martin counties. This year, the organization is excited to introduce a slate of new programs aimed at saving lives by helping pets and people. Those initiatives include providing free pet food to needy shelters, pairing senior pups and people, training life-changing service dogs for veterans, transporting animals from overcrowded Florida shelters to eager adopters across the U.S., helping to keep pets in their homes by providing financial and behavioral resources, caring night and day for bottle-fed kittens and pediatric puppies, and encouraging a more compassionate future through our humane education program. For more information, visit furryfriendsadoption.org.
Wellington, FL – Rustle up your little cats and bats for some ghoulish, holiday fun, food, and fabulous frights happening at The Mall at Wellington Green!
Wednesday, October 26
Mommy & Me Costume Party
10:30am – 12pm
Set your holiday gps for The Mall at Wellington Green for a spectacular spookfest! Head over to the Grand Court for a pre-Halloween event for preschoolers (you’re invited too, stroller moms!). Dress up in your cutest costume and enjoy spooktacular Halloween games, sweet treats, fun photo opportunities, and a chance to meet your favorite costume characters. Free.
Saturday, October 29
Kids Club Fall Festival and Costume Party
11am – 1pm
Take a power shopping break with the kids and (silently) scream “we love Halloween!” at The Mall at Wellington Green’s annual Kids Club costume party. The Grand Court will transform into a spooktacular setting where little ghouls, superheroes, and every Disney character in between will enjoy fun carnival games and family-friendly entertainment. Each child will also receive a holiday goody bag and a complimentary Halloween photo from Tracey Benson Photography. Free.
The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
Kids Club at The Mall at Wellington Green
The Mall at Wellington Green’s Kids Club offers creative classes, book readings, live entertainment, academic activities, and more for children 10 and under. Enjoy kid-friendly events, free giveaways, and receive a monthly e-newsletter loaded with kid-related retailer offers and upcoming, family-friendly programming.
About The Mall at Wellington Green
The Mall at Wellington Green in Wellington, FL is a 1.2 million square foot, two-level regional shopping destination, and it features over 160 stores. Retail and restaurant favorites include Macy’s, Dillard’s, Apple, Brighton, Chico’s, Forever 21, H&M, Helzberg Diamonds, Zales, Tommy Bahama, City Furniture, Lemongrass, Cask + Shaker, The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History, and more. For more information, visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
Having traveled cross country numerous times, the total of states I’ve visited began growing in my teen years continuing into adulthood. Some I traveled to several times and others just once or twice. Outside the continental USA, my travels took me to the far north to Alaska which I fell in love with at first sight returning for a total of four big Alaskan adventures. But one state remained elusive until a few weeks ago.
My 62nd birthday looming, I decided the time had arrived for me to check that missing state off my list. My husband, Greg and I boarded our flight in New York and roughly 10 hours later we landed in Honolulu. But that wasn’t our destination. We had our eyes on the Big Island—Hawai’i where smoldering volcanoes, lava fields, dark skies, free-falling waterfalls and the southernmost point in the USA beckoned. A short 55-minute flight landed us in Hilo where we picked up our rental—a Chevy Colorado pick-up equipped with 4-wheel drive. This was to be a road trip like none other.
Unending scenic views!
A Scenic Drive Around the Island
The Hawai’i Belt Road loops around the edge of this fascinating island providing an ideal way to road trip and catch all the jaw-dropping sites along the way. Venturing from Hilo to the northern section of the island, your route is lined with beaches to the right and more varieties of trees than I’ve ever seen anywhere.
As you make your way across the island, the landscape changes. The north and northwestern corner of this stunning piece of land boasts a higher elevation and comfortable temperatures especially when the sun goes down.
The 130,000-acre Parker Ranch continues a historic legacy that began 175 years ago. This working cattle ranch remains committed to preserving the Paniolo (cowboy) culture and legacy by operating a sustainable business where cattle graze on acres of rich natural volcanic grasslands, on the slopes of the majestic Mauna Kea and Kohala Mountains. The combined visual of bucolic ranch land flanked by the deep blue shades from the Pacific Ocean keeps those stellar views coming mile after mile!
Moving along the western edge of the island, we drove along the volcanic Kohala Coast. Here miles of lava fields cover the landscape adding yet another scenic element.
The entire island covers about 300 miles if you drive along the Hawai’i Belt Road. But as any good road trip requires, we detoured off in several sections to explore backroads and find new discoveries. Here are a few not to be missed.
Akaka Falls State Park
We began our exploration with a stop at Akaka Falls State Park. Located just 11 miles north of Hilo, the park is home to two waterfalls perfectly situated in a lush tropical rainforest. An easy .4-mile Akaka Falls Loop Trail leads you to both the Kahuna and Akaka Falls. Known as a free-falling waterfall, Akaka drops 422 feet making it one of the tallest on the island of Hawai’i.
Akaka Falls
Waipi’O Valley Overlook
Once the boyhood home of King Kamechameha, the sacred Waipi’o Valley is an important site for Hawaiian history and culture. A fertile valley approximately one mile across and over five miles deep, the Waipi’o sits amid cliffs soaring up 2,000 feet. Views of the coastal valley unfold from the Waipi’o Valley Overlook at the end of the Hāmākua Heritage Corridor Drive.
Waipi’O Valley Overlook
Note: The road down to the beach was temporarily closed during our visit as locals strive to limit visitors to allow the valley time to heal from over-tourism. Please respect their wishes if you go.
Pololū Valley
Venturing off the Hawai’i Belt, we drove along Kohala Mountain Road (Highway 250) north from Waimea to Pololū Valley Lookout where breathtaking views of the Hāmākua Coast unfold. A steep rocky trail led down to the valley floor where a black sand beach met the waves of the Pacific. The hike down and back up took some effort but it was worth every breathless moment to experience this unforgettable beach and dip our toes in the cool water of the ocean.
Black Sand Beach at Pololu Valley
Kala‘e (South Point)
In the south, we detoured onto the narrow South Point Road driving through 12 miles of open ranch land to reach Kala‘e, the southernmost point of the United States. Known as South Point, this National Historical Landmark is believed to be the place where the first Polynesians arrived in the Hawaiian Islands somewhere between 400 and 800 A.D. The site features ruins of temples and other sacred cultural artifacts strewn along the sandy beach.
Standing at the edge of South Point, we gazed at the endless deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. From this point, the next land mass is Antarctica!
South Point Beach
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
No visit to the Big Island is complete without a visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. We began our exploration with a short hike through a lava tube. From there we ventured along the Chain of Craters Road stopping at stunning overlooks where miles of lava beds stretched out before us with the Pacific Ocean serving as a backdrop. Along the way, we hiked through a lava bed along the petroglyph trail where Native Hawaiians left messages from the past carved in the rocks.
The still-active volcano, Kilauea, introduced herself as we strolled through steam rising from fissures in the earth. After dark, we hiked to a lookout point and witnessed her fiery lava lake under a star-studded sky and the elusive Milky Way.
Kilauea’s Lake of Lava
Sunset on Mauna Kea
We chose to hang out above the clouds on our final day in Hawai’i. And there’s no better way to do that than to drive to the summit of Mauna Kea. This now dormant volcano stretches 13,803 feet into the sky, but another 19,698 feet lie underwater! The drive to and from the summit requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle. It was somewhat terrifying but definitely worth the white knuckling required.
If you’re looking for a cold Hawaii destination, this would be the place to go. It was 32 degrees at the summit. We layered up and watched as the brilliant orange sun sank into a bed of white fluffy clouds–an unforgettable sight!
Sunset on Mauna Kea
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on the natural wonders we witnessed during our brief time on Hawaii’s Big Island, I’m left with two questions. 1) What took me so long to get to the 50th state? 2) When can I return? I’m smitten!
October 10th @10AM- In Studio or Online- Your Best Self: A Conversation About Mindfulness with Coach Akai Jackson. To celebrate World Mental Health Day, please join host Julie Khanna, Akai Jackson, and Community Partners of South Florida mental health expert Heather DeStefano, DSW, LCSW, for conversation, Q&A, and community.
In-person attendance at Khanna House Studios is limited, and pre-registration is required. The event is free, open to the public, and broadcast on CPSFL’s Facebook page. Learn more at https://fb.me/e/3OPfrwsRv
Wellington, FL – The Mall at Wellington Green has announced it will be accepting drop-off donations from the public, local businesses, and charitable organizations for Hurricane Ian relief starting October 6.
The Mall at Wellington Green is partnering with Stuart, FL-based D.O.A. Fishing Lures who will transport donated items to Hurricane Ian-beleaguered communities on the West Coast.
Donations will be accepted Monday–Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m.; and Saturday–Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The mall’s donation drop-off site is located on the first floor across from California Pizza Kitchen.
The following items are requested for donation:
Diapers and Baby Wipes
Water
Gasoline and Gasoline Cans
Generators
Non-Perishable Food Items
Flashlights
Batteries
NEW Clothing Items
Packing Boxes
For more information or to schedule large drop-off donations, contact Meghan Buser at info@meghanbuser.com.
The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
About The Mall at Wellington Green
The Mall at Wellington Green in Wellington, FL is a 1.2 million square foot, two-level regional shopping destination, and it features over 160 stores. Retail and restaurant favorites include Macy’s, Dillard’s, Apple, Brighton, Chico’s, Forever 21, H&M, Helzberg Diamonds, Zales, Tommy Bahama, City Furniture, Lemongrass, Cask + Shaker, The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History, and more. For more information, visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
About Spinoso Real Estate Group
The Mall at Wellington Green is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group. Since 2009, Spinoso has taken a creative, entrepreneurial approach to real estate development and management, delivering and sustaining successful projects across a wide range of property types and across the country. Spinoso’s robust portfolio includes work on hundreds of enclosed shopping malls, lifestyle centers, and large-scale retail projects from coast to coast. For more information, visit spinosoreg.com.
Jodie Schmitz and Manda Galin, Co-Chairs of the 7th Annual Grandma’s Angels Holiday Luncheon are thrilled to announce Patti Hadden as the Honorary Chair. Patti has served on the Luncheon Committee since the beginning, is a very generous supporter of the Luncheon, opens her magnificent home to host many, many Committee and Board Meetings and serves on the Board of Directors. There is no one more deserving of this honor and recognition!
Herme De Wyman Miro is again serving as the International Honorary Chair. Committee Members include: Jane Bruno, Susy Burrowes, Patty Cooke, Amy Considine, Margaret Donnelley, Danielle Glendye, Barbara Hollender, Eleanor Jones, Mary Lewis Moews, Toni O’Brien, Joan O’Connell, Pamela Pike, Dina Rubio, Lisa Shapiro, Marcie Singer and George Swan, Jr.
Sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor, Heidi Schaeffer MD, Gold Sponsors Danielle McDonald and Hadden Landscaping and Silver Sponsor, International Society of Palm Beach.
The luncheon starts at 11:30 am with a wine reception and a fabulous silent auction. During lunch there will be a small live auction by Neil Saffer while local CBS12 News Anchor Liz Quirantes once again graciously serves as the celebrity emcee.
The proceeds benefit Grandma’s Place, which provides shelter and loving care to children who have suffered abuse or neglect and have been removed from their homes, and also provides respite care for young children with disabilities while offering support to their parents/caregivers to maximize each child’s safety and success.
(Delray Beach, FL – October 3, 2022) Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage, today announced the innovative and diverse nonprofit organization will host a book-signing and discussion of The Contemporary Singer’s Blueprint: From Amateur to Professional and Beyond written by popular cabaret star Jill Switzer. The fun and informative event will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, November 10, starting with a live musical performance by Jill & Rich Switzer.
“Music classes and repertories are filled with aspiring and talented singers, yet less than five percent of all musicians make a living in their field. This book is the go-to guide for those singers looking to work professionally as a performer,” promises Switzer, who is known to South Florida and New York audiences as an extraordinary interpreter of the Great American Songbook and as one of the former co-hosts with husband Rich Switzer of the Legends Radio Morning Lounge.
Using her decades as a career vocalist, Switzer’s invaluable Contemporary Singer’s Blueprint provides readers with theprofessional insight and practical steps for building a top-notch, profitable singing career. Filled with enlightening anecdotes, encouraging pep talks, veteran’s words of wisdom, and the tricks of the trade known only by the pros, The Contemporary Singer’s Blueprint guides today’s vocalists through the mental, technical and physical challenges for achieving excellence in today’s music business.
Thisis Switzer’s second book, following her release in 2005 of The Diva Next Door: How to Be a Singing Star Wherever You Are, which Tony Award®-winning Broadway star Linda Lavin hailed as “warm, funny, right to the heart of what counts in the pursuit of a singing career.”
How to Get Tickets to Book Signing & Discussion with Author & Singer Jill Switzer:
General admission tickets are only $15 per person and are available for purchase by calling the Arts Garage at561.450.6357 or by going online to www.ArtsGarage.org.
About Arts Garage:
Arts Garage delivers innovative, diverse, meaningful and accessible visual and performing arts experiences to Delray Beach and South Florida. “Connecting our community to the world through the Arts”—this vision drives all decision-making at Arts Garage, which brings local, emerging artists and established global performers into the local multi-cultural community (students and adults, locals and tourists, people of all ages, income levels, backgrounds) who share a love of the arts.
Diversity is a hallmark of Arts Garage, which provides multicultural programming that promotes inclusion in the arts. #DiscoverDiversity isn’t just a tagline—it is the cornerstone of our outreach programs, staffing, and marketing. Located at 94 NE 2nd Avenue in Delray Beach’s popular Pineapple Grove (33444), Arts Garage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Delray Beach. For more information, please call 561.450.6357 or visitwww.artsgarage.org.
(Delray Beach, FL – October 4, 2022) Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage, today announced the nonprofit organization’s new comedy series, The Art of Laughter 2023, presented the first Friday every month in collaboration withThe Comedy Zone.
“Arts Garage is thrilled to partner with The Comedy Zone, the largest comedy club network in America, to present The Art of Laughter,” says Waldo in announcing the first three monthly concerts next year.
January 6 (Friday) at 8 pm
Kevin Bozeman
Kevin Bozeman’s comedic style is witty and clever, with amusing and hilarious stories of his childhood and life as a parent mixed in. With a smooth and clever style, a great smile and a contagious laugh, he has been entertaining in clubs and colleges across the country. After winning the Midwest region of the HBO Comedy Competition in 2000,he flew to Los Angeles to compete as a finalist, later performing on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend in 2003 and finishing second in the Boston Comedy Competition in 2005. A semi-finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2015, Bozeman has appeared on Comedy Central, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Clean & Unfiltered, his Dry Bar Comedy Special, has over 7 million views.
Tickets: $30
February 3 (Friday) at 8 pm
Tanyalee Davis
Tanyalee Davis’ positive and hilarious stories and wit will touch the hearts of the audience as she does every day in her daily life. At 3’6″, Tanyalee is the Ferrari of comedy—low to the ground and kind of racy. The Canadian born comic is touring all over the world headlining at comedy clubs, colleges, and comedy festivals with her unique perspective and somewhat racy brand of comedy becoming a Las Vegas favorite before bringing her successful one-woman show to the United Kingdom where she joined the ensemble show Abnormally Funny People.
Tickets: $30
March 3 (Friday) at 8 pm
Frank Del Pizzo
Frank Del Pizzo’s likable and snappy nature, along with his amusing stories will leave the crowd wanting more. Likable and friendly, this New Jersey native is able to take an audience on a journey that makes them feel like they have just taken a wild ride in the back seat of his car. A former auto mechanic, he is a breath of fresh air in a business that is full of hot air. He makes people laugh with his true to life stories and attitude. He has opened for legendary comedians from Sam Kinison to Rita Rudner and is equally at home from Las Vegas to ABC to A&E with his unique ability to turn ordinary conversations into hilarious comedy routines that has made him a highly sought after act by the nation’s top comedy clubs, colleges and corporations.
Tickets: $30
How to Get Tickets to The Art of Laughter 2023 Comedy Series:
Tickets are only $30 per person and are available for purchase by calling the Arts Garage at 561.450.6357 or by going online to www.ArtsGarage.org.
About Arts Garage:
Arts Garage delivers innovative, diverse, meaningful and accessible visual and performing arts experiences to Delray Beach and South Florida. “Connecting our community to the world through the Arts”—this vision drives all decision-making at Arts Garage, which brings local, emerging artists and established global performers into the local multi-cultural community (students and adults, locals and tourists, people of all ages, income levels, backgrounds) who share a love of the arts.
Diversity is a hallmark of Arts Garage, which provides multicultural programming that promotes inclusion in the arts. #DiscoverDiversity isn’t just a tagline—it is the cornerstone of our outreach programs, staffing, and marketing. Located at 94 NE 2nd Avenue in Delray Beach’s popular Pineapple Grove (33444), Arts Garage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Delray Beach. For more information, please call 561.450.6357 or visit www.artsgarage.org.
Everglades National Park – Florida (October 4, 2022) – A team of five explorers is soon embarking on a daring and dangerous trek that has not been completed in 125 years. The 2022 Willoughby Expedition team will attempt to retrace an 1897 canoe journey across the Florida Everglades that was first completed by explorer and scientist Hugh de Laussat Willoughby. Willoughby’s charts aided in creating the first accurate maps of the region, his water sampling provided the baseline water chemistry for the Everglades, and his book is primary reading for all Everglades scholars.
To gauge humanity’s impact on the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in North America and a UNESCO Wetland Area of Global Importance, the 2022 Willoughby Expedition team will sample and test for the same water constituents that Willoughby did more than a century ago. They will also look for water pollutants that Willoughby couldn’t have foreseen, including microplastics, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and antibiotic-resistant genes, all of which are adversely affecting plant and animal species globally. To help conserve wildlife, the expedition team will also document the abundance and location of apple snails, which are the sole food source of the federally endangered Snail Kite, a bird of prey.
Starting at the mouth of the Harney River in the Gulf of Mexico on October 27, and ending in downtown Miami in early November, the coast-to-coast expedition will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of Everglades National Park. It will traverse the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico, the brackish water of inland rivers, pristine freshwater sawgrass, canals in suburban Miami, and ultimately, through a maze of skyscrapers to Biscayne Bay.
Historically, the Florida Everglades stretched from the north near modern-day Orlando to the south at Florida Bay. Willoughby completed his studies of the Everglades before large-scale drainage and reclamation programs began in the late 19th century. Today, the size of the Everglades has been reduced to approximately one-third its original size to make way for the modern cities of South Florida and their millions of residents.
The 2022 Willoughby Expedition will bring awareness to the major scientific and conservation goals of its more than 50 partners, including the University of Florida, National Park Service, Everglades National Park, South Florida Water Management District, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach International Boat Show, and Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
“This expedition is primarily focused on applying modern scientific investigations to one of the planet’s most important watersheds. However, we also hope to inspire future generations of scientists and explorers, and all citizens to be better stewards of our shared environment,” said Dr. Tracie Baker, lead scientist on the Willoughby Expedition team and an associate professor at the University of Florida. “My work focuses on multidisciplinary research that seeks to bridge and improve human, animal, and environmental health. The Willoughby Expedition will provide critical primary research into that work.”
The Florida Everglades is one of the world’s best-known and most visited watersheds, serving as the “environmental kidneys” of Florida by filtering and cleaning water from all over the central and southern part of the state. Its water quality directly impacts more than 12 million people and thousands of plant and animal species.
To increase educational programming around human impact on the Everglades, the 2022 Willoughby Expedition is also partnering with school districts and cultural institutions in South Florida. Live feeds from the Everglades will be shared with schools and science museums, allowing students, educators, and museumgoers to interact directly with the expedition team.
“Public education and the live broadcasts are some of the most exciting and important aspects of the expedition,” said Harvey E. Oyer III, the 2022 Willoughby Expedition’s co-leader, who is also an author, archaeologist, fifth-generation Floridian, and former U.S. Marine Corps captain. “We want to share our passion for the natural world by giving the public an inside look at our work, and igniting their passion to preserve the natural world.”
The Willoughby Expedition team includes:
Harvey E. Oyer III, co-leader – Oyer is a former U.S. Marine Corps captain, member of the Explorers Club, and holds a master’s degree in archeology from Cambridge University. He is also the author of a bestselling children’s book about the Everglades that is part of the 4th grade curriculum in Florida.
Christophe Vandaele, co-leader – A native of Belgium, Vandaele is a graduate of the Belgium Royal Military Academy and the Special Warfare Officer Training School at Marche-les-Dames. He served multiple tours in Africa, and has participated in scientific expeditions in the Andes Mountains, the jungles of Guatemala, and at the North Pole.
Tracie Baker, DVM, PhD, lead scientist – Dr. Baker is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental and Global Health at the University of Florida. She is an expert on environmental contaminants, with studies that seek to bridge human, animal, and environmental health. She is a former NCAA Academic All-American swimmer, and has completed four IRONMAN races and more than 20 marathons.
Carlos “Charlie” Arazoza, navigator – Arazoza is a Cuban-American attorney and CPA in Miami. A vastly experienced Everglades paddler, he has led many trips through the Everglades, served as chairman of the South Florida National Parks Trust, and also founded the South Florida Bush Paddlers Association.
Flex Maslan, photographer and documentarian – A native of the Czech Republic, Maslan has almost 30 years of experience as a paddling guide, leading trips through most of South Florida’s waterways. Maslan is also a professional photographer whose work has been published in nature and watersports books and magazines.
Support team members include three other scientists, a chemist, a pilot, and a filmmaker.
To learn more about the team, the course, the science, and the man who inspired it all, visit willoughbyexpedition.org.
About the 2022 Willoughby Expedition
The 2022 Willoughby Expedition is a roughly 130-mile, coast-to-coast canoe trek across the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in North America. The expedition is in recognition of the 125th anniversary of Hugh de Laussat Willoughby’s daring Everglades crossing and the 75th anniversary of the creation of Everglades National Park. In an effort to document water chemistry changes resulting from human impact on the Everglades ecosystem that began in the late 19th century, the expedition team will sample and test for the same water constituents that Willoughby did 125 years ago. They will also sample and test for microplastics, PFAS, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, antibiotic-resistant genes, and other modern pollutants that Willoughby could not have foreseen that are adversely affecting plant and animal species.
Hugh de Laussat Willoughby in the Florida Everglades (Credit to Historical Society of Martin County)
Wellington is excited to announce the opening day of its Lakeside Market at Wellington Town Center. The market opens on Friday, October 7th, and takes place along the promenade on the scenic Lake Wellington waterfront, directly behind the community center (12150 Forest Hill Boulevard).
Lakeside Market Opening Day, October 7th — Wellington’s Lakeside Market provides a casual, laid-back environment for the community to connect and enjoy an early start to the weekend. Looking for an affordable date night? A fun family night out? An excuse to spend a beautiful evening outdoors and see the stunning Florida sunsets? We’ve got you covered!
Come shop, sip, eat, and stroll while supporting local small businesses. Lighting along the promenade, in vendor booths, and over the market provides a charming natural ambiance to compliment the stunning sunset views.
Each week more than 45 vendors will be in attendance offering a variety of goods for sale. Items you may find at the market include:
artisan and gourmet foods
artists and crafters
fresh baked goods, breads, and pastries
health and beauty items
jewelry and clothing
pet goods and products
plant-based and vegetarian products
and more
Other amenities of the market include the nearby Wellington Community Center, lush green space, restrooms, benches, pontoon and boat parking for our Lake Wellington residents, and a playground and shade structure along the promenade.
The market is pet friendly, and admission and parking are FREE. Please remember to pick up after your pet. For more information, visit www.wellingtonlakesidemarket.com.
Sponsors for the 2022 – 2023 season include Wellington Regional Medical Center, Bang Energy Drinks, Baptist Health, and Good Vibes Furniture Rental.
Pop-Up Biergarten, October 21st – 23rd — The first day of this autumn, a German-style Biergarten event will accompany the Lakeside Market, and is located in the green space and pavilion adjacent to the promenade. Featuring Hofbrauhas Bier from Munchen, the event will include a selection of German beers, US craft beers, and ciders, along with sausage, pretzels, and other German-themed foods for purchase. Traditional music and stein-hoisting contests will round out the free, family-friendly experience. Dates and times for the 3-day event are as follows:
Stay up to date on events and activities coming up in Wellington by signing up for the monthly Play Wellington Newsletter at www.wellingtonfl.gov/PlayWellington.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/Newsletter.
