Fall in Florida may seem less authentic since our palm trees don’t turn auburn, but do not worry, there are a multitude of activities to do here for your favorite month. I personally love fall, and sometimes I get bummed when I remember our weather doesn’t really change, but that shouldn’t stop me from having the full fall experience. I’m sure many others that surround me feel the same, so here are some fun fall activities for you this month!
Pumpkins at the Farmer’s Daughter farm stand in Loxahatchee.
Pumpkin patches. We all associate pumpkins with halloween and fall in general, so grab a friend and go to your local pumpkin patch! Pick out your favorites and carve them together. And, if you keep the seeds, you’ll be able to cook them and create a fun fall snack!
Baking cookies. Picture this: A marshmallow-scented candle burning on the countertop, sugar cookies with a pumpkin decoration baking in the oven, wearing matching pajamas with a friend or significant other while taking in the sweet, intertwining aromas. Baking cookies not only is a fun and relaxing activity, but also allows you to get a snack out of it!
Watching scary movies. Fall is known for its horror films. If you have any streaming service at all, you are absolutely bound to find a horror movie of some kind, good or bad. I personally prefer horror-comedies, as I get scared quite easily, but it honestly depends on your tastes and preferences.
Throw a bonfire party. Want to have some quality time with your friends by the firelight? Bonfire parties are a classic for the holidays. Roast some marshmallows, share scary stories, and have a spooky night!
Overall, there are many things you can do to make fall in Florida seem like fall in a place with actual seasons. Fall isn’t equivalent to just weather, but rather what you make of it. The only thing stopping you from fulfilling your life this fall is the thought of it ‘not being good enough’, so don’t take it for granted and live your life to the fullest this year.
AW: How many songs, approximately, have you written and at what age did you get started?
AMC: At 12 I wrote my first song and performed it live for American Equestrian’s Got Talent in Wellington, Florida. Since then, I’ve been writing songs. I don’t think I can count how many songs I’ve written. My story is kind of like Taylor Swift’s. My songs are based on personal experiences and personal stories and I know they are relatable to everyone. I started performing in front of people when I was 7 years old. I love performing.
AW: For your new song “A Little Bit in Love,” you were chosen as the first Cascabel Giveback artist. Under the direction of Latin Grammy Nominee Director, Nuno Gomes, you filmed a music video that was gifted to you. Tell us about that process, being chosen and making the video.
AMC: Alejandro Fuenmayor of 4artistsbyartist tagged me in an Instagram post from Cascabel that said they were giving away a music video production as part of their effort to give back to their community.” They informed me that I had won by tagging me in their post. They had me come see the studios and would be in touch with the itinerary for the video. They sent the itinerary to me in Spanish. The day of the filming, we pulled up and from the moment we arrived, everyone was so helpful. They treated me like royalty. From my understanding, this video would have cost $100K. They had at least 50 people working the sets, filming, lighting, machinery etc. They did my make-up, hair, and dressed me. They even fed me and when I wanted a Red Bull, they went and bought one for me. The video was filmed at Cascabel Studios in Doral (Miami). We began filming at 1pm and finished at around 2:15am the next morning. This was the longest filming day of my life, but the most amazing experience I have ever had in filming a video.
AW: Do you have a few regular places that you perform at? Which venues?
AMC: I perform at Tin Roof in Delray Beach regularly. I also perform at Ole Red in Orlando (owned by Blake Shelton), which is booked by the people who book the Grand Ole Opry. I am honored to share that I will be playing Ole Red in Gatlinburg the day before Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving. I also play at various festivals and private events. I perform with my full band, solo, duo or trio depending upon what different venues are looking for.
AW: What do you love about songwriting? How do you get the idea for a new song?
AMC: Song writing allows me to be able to express my emotions and connect with people on different levels. Usually, the ideas for songs just come to me. It’s more natural that way. A lyric or a riff will come to me at random times, and I’ll enter it into my phone. Usually, the music comes to me first, the lyrics come second. Lately I’ve been tuning my guitar differently and forcing myself to come up with new chords. This helps with the songwriting process as it makes my song and sound more interesting.
AW: What do you love about singing in front of a live audience?
AMC: I love the energy from the crowd mostly, and being able to connect with people whom I’ve never met before. I love sharing a moment that cannot be recreated. Even if it’s the same set list and I’m singing the same songs, there’s something so amazing about being in front of a live audience.
AW: Have you ever really connected with someone famous in the music business?
AMC: Recently I ran into Carly Pearce in Nashville. We were staying in the same hotel. We had a really good 10-minute talk. I appreciated that she gave me lots of advice about being in the music business. She is so sweet and sincere.
AW: Tell us who you’ve shared the stage with or warmed up for.
AMC: I’ve played at the same events where Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Rucker, the Jonas Brothers and Lady A were playing. I have opened for Tracy Lawrence and David Nail.
AW: How old are you, where do you go to school and what are your plans for college?
AMC: I’m 17 going on 18 in November. I go to Wellington High School. I’ve already been accepted into two schools in Tennessee – MTSU and Belmont University and one in Florida – Palm Beach Atlantic University. I am still deciding where I want to go but I am leaning towards going to college in Nashville. I currently visit Nashville about twice a year, and it would be good to be in Nashville.
AW: Do you have a voice coach/ teacher?
AMC: I do have a vocal coach that I work with out of Nashville. Her name is Janet Kenyon. We do our sessions via Skype or Facetime. My vocal coach works with Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini and many more artists. Also, she was a teacher at Belmont University.
AW: Any hobbies?
AMC: I love going to the gym. I usually go to Crunch Fitness in Wellington.
AW: Where can people get your music? Spotify? iTunes?
AMC: You can find my music on all music platforms. Just visit the “Links” page on Alyssa’s website to find all the information. https://alyssamariecoonmusic.com/links/
AW: And your new video comes out?
AMC: This Friday, October 28th. “A Little Bit in Love.” See it on YouTube!
The Wellington Art Society is thrilled to feature mixed media artist Lynn Doyal, for their November 9, 2022 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 Lynn Doyal titled “An Artist’s Journey Discovering Public Art”. For more information contact: Laura Jaffe, presidentofwas@gmail.com.
Lynn Doyal blends contemporary design with a reverence for the techniques of the past. She incorporates paint, hand stitching and beading, collage, and digital technology in her works to create vibrant, textural pieces. Digital photographs of her artwork can then be transferred onto a variety of surfaces such as glass, metal, canvas, tile, or vinyl, allowing for expansive reproductions as public art pieces. She says her artwork “… provides that ‘breath’ in the course of a person’s day [which] means a great deal to me.” Her life-sized originals let the viewer marvel at the intricate detail of Doyal’s mixed media pieces, while her large-scale public art pieces are a captivating, surreal experience.
In 1979, Doyal received her degree in Fine Art from the University of South Florida. After working in the corporate realm, she started her own company, Signature Chocolates, providing premiums and incentives for corporations, hotels and cruise lines. Since 2011, she has been exhibiting her art in festivals, shows, and galleries. Over the past 6 years, Doyal’s interest in public art has motivated her to serve as an apprentice to a nationally recognized public artist, as well as volunteer in Palm Beach County Art in Public Places, to gain the perspectives of the many individuals and agencies that need to work in concert together to create, fabricate and install public artworks. She explains, “my overall approach to public art [is to] beautify and surprise.”
Doyal’s current projects include “Word Patterns” which explores the patterns in word search puzzles, and a Portrait Ministry, in which she creates portraits as a way to encourage and uplift others.
To learn more about Lynn Doyal and her works, visit her website at https://mixedmediabylynn.com, or follow her on Instagram @MixedMediaBy Lynn, or Facebook @Lynn M Doyal.
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The Wellington Art Society is a non-profit charitable organization in its 41st year. It is open to artists of all mediums and patrons of the arts, allowing both local and regional artists to display their artwork in local galleries, interact with other artists and serve the community through their art. For further information about the Wellington Art Society, please visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.
Oct. 24, 2022 (West Palm Beach, FL.) – Calling all aspiring novelists! The Writers’ Academy at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts has six courses available for writers of all experience levels and genres to hone their skills. Kicking off on January 3, 2023, the Academy will once again be conducted by Pulitzer Prize-nominated biographer, novelist, playwright and teacher, Julie Gilbert.
Julie Gilbert
“The Writers’ Academy encourages, nurtures and develops creative writing skills in most genres of expression,” said Gilbert, “and the writers I work with at the Kravis Center are a funny, wise, intelligent and sophisticated bunch. What has separated them from the myriad of writers I have worked with is that they are daring. After a while, trusting that a solid amount of technique and the discipline of writing steadily would be their safety net, they have ventured up on the high wire.”
Students who have participated in The Writers’ Academy classes have found their own literary acclaim as a result of Gilbert’s teachings. Local author Mary Simses went on to write the novel The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Café, published by Little, Brown and Company and most recently, Susan Goldfein published her third book, Laughing My Way Through the Third Stage. The Kravis Center Press has also published two books written by Writers’ Academy members: Driving Woodie: Tales From the Home Front During World War II by Martha McMullen and Verbal Snacks by Nancy Sims.
“I went from novice to published author thanks to Julie Gilbert and her wonderful writing class at the Kravis Center,” said Rosemary Gensler, former Writers’ Academy student. “Julie has been teaching my class (as well as others) for 16 years, and I have been with her the whole way. To see the progress that we have all made is amazing; there are many published authors as a result of studying with Julie. I can tell you Julie has been more than just a teacher as she is a mentor to us all, guiding us all in the right direction.”
Gilbert was nominated for a National Book Critic’s Circle Award for Ferber: A Biography of Edna Ferber and Her Circle and a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Opposite Attraction: The Lives of Erich Maria Remarque and Paulette Goddard. She has taught fiction writing and playwriting at New York University and Florida Atlantic University as well as running The Writers’ Academy at the Kravis Center.
Classes with Gilbert are offered at the Kravis Center’s Eunice and Julian Cohen Pavilion. The classes range from “Kickstart Your Writing Ability” to “Advanced Technique,” with the opportunity for selected writers to showcase and present their writing in March 2023.
Bloomsy: A Literary Café at the Kravis – Jan 9, Feb 6, March 6, April 3, 2023at 2:30pm – tickets $125
Each monthly session will have a topic, which will be dispensed in advance to participants. Julie Gilbert will host, along with an occasional guest host.
Advanced Technique – Jan 3, Jan 17, Jan 31, Feb 14, Feb 28, March 14, 2023 at 1:30pm – registration$525 by invitation
Each monthly session will have a topic, which will be dispensed in advance to participants. Julie Gilbert will host, along with an occasional guest host. This course of six sessions of two hours each is by invitation only. It is for dedicated writers who have worked with Gilbert in establishing voice, technique, style, work habits, projects and durability. According to Gilbert, this course is for the writer who has decided upon the “writing life.”
Virtual Advanced Technique – Jan 10, Jan 24, Feb 7, Feb 21, March 7, March 21, 2023 at 1:30pm – registration $525 by invitation
This course of six sessions of two hours each is by invitation only and is virtual via the Zoom Platform. It is for dedicated writers who have worked with Gilbert in establishing voice, technique, style, work habits, projects and durability. According to Gilbert, this is for the writer who has decided upon the “writing life.”
Kickstart Your Writing Ability – January 18 or March 15, 2023 at 1:30pm – tickets $30 per date
An experience for the curious and adventurous, Kickstart is for those about to take the exciting leap into writing. Learn how to release the writer within and how to unlock your very own muse with Julie Gilbert.
Two Biographers Tell Almost All – February 1 and February 8, 2023 at 1:30pm – tickets $200 total
Julie Gilbert and Scott Eyman are professional biographers and between them, they have written 16 biographies, with Eyman in the lead. Eyman’s latest book, Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise, has been widely acclaimed. Perhaps Gilbert’s best known, and most enduring biography was one on her great aunt, the novelist and playwright Edna Ferber. Gilbert’s latest book, a personal memoir/biography of GIANT, the novel and movie, is slated for a 2023 publication. Each session will run 90 minutes, followed by questions from the participants.
Showcase the Writing – March 31, 2023 at 7pm – tickets $10
Showcase the Writing is open to the public and will showcase talented new writers. Selected members of The Writers’ Academy will present all genres of work.
“We are grateful to have been awarded a very generous grant from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation for the Kravis Center’s arts education program and to its Writers’ Academy, which helps the Center provide these programs to the community,” said Diane Bergner, Senior Director of Development at the Kravis Center.
The Kravis Center is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. The Center’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality, by offering comprehensive arts education programs – serving nearly 3 million students since its inception; by providing a Palm Beach County home for local and regional arts organizations to showcase their work; and by providing an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.
(West Palm Beach, FL – October 19, 2022) Master Showman Rob Russell, who is widely recognized as “Mr. Palm Beach,” will be hosting the annual Halloween Party at Café Centro, located at 2409 N. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Prizes will be awarded for Best Costume.
The festive music-filled holiday event will be held on Monday, October 31, starting at 6:30 pm, and will feature live entertainment by Russell and special surprise guests, all of whom who will be accompanied on the piano by Kim Forman, who studied with jazz legend Marian McPartland.
“This is going to be a deliciously fun event that is sure to sell-out quickly, so I encourage all of my friends and fans to RSVP ASAP at 561.514.4070,” says Russell. “This is the perfect opportunity to Trick-or-Treat yourself, so wear an ‘eerie-sistable’ costume and make Halloween 2022 the one you will always remember with giddy delight.”
From his years as the polished front man at the distinguished Governor’s Club at Phillips Point to his nearly two decades as producer and emcee of the world famous Royal Room Cabaret at The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach, to his recent years as a singer, recording artist, and—after graduating top in his class at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting—Dick Robinson’s fill-in tune-spinner on Legends Radio 100.3 FM, Rob Russell has amassed numerous fans of his audience-wowing musical talents and flashy show biz anecdotes.
“Conga lines are the norm at my shows,” promises the ever dapper, occasional tapper Russell, who has been known to cause music lovers and fans of the Great American Songbook to jump up, dance between tables, and join in the revelry. Plus, you never know what celebrity will pop in and join the fun.
Celebrated for its music and entertainment offerings, Café Centro is also hailed for its culinary excellence under the tasty direction of Executive Chef William Graver. For more information, please visit www.cafecentrowpb.com.
WELLINGTON, FL – A new culinary destination is joining the more than 160 stores at The Mall at Wellington Green. Opening on October 24, The Madre’s Mexican Fresh will add a delicious element to the robust offerings in apparel, health, beauty, and more, at this lifestyle destination in Wellington.
The Madre’s Mexican Fresh
Offering a combination of modern and traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex offerings, The Madre’s Mexican Fresh will excite tastebuds with a plethora of healthy and fresh ingredients. Diners get to play executive chef and build their own burritos, tacos, quesadillas, savory bowls, and hearty salads. The fast-casual restaurant also features an impressive lineup of homemade desserts, including caramel flan and a killer Nutella churro.
The Madre’s Mexican Fresh will be in the Food Court between Tokyo San and Med Plate.For more information, visit facebook.com/TheMadresMexicanFresh.
Mall hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) Wednesday, October 19, 2022-Nonprofits First recently held the Sixth Annual Hats Off Nonprofit Awards at the Kravis Center in the Cohen Pavilion. The sold-out event celebrated nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County that contribute and dedicate themselves to improving and strengthening our community. Chaired by Dr. Peter Cruise, of FAU, the ballroom had over 650 people in the room wearing hats of all shapes and sizes, from cowboy hats, hard hats, and top hats to hand-made themed hats. The emcee was Bill Bone who inspired the audience with his eloquent presentation. Music from the nonprofit, Digital Vibez set the tone with popular beats to move and shake as people made their way to the stage to accept their awards. The energy felt in the room was a true sign that the nonprofit community is back stronger than ever.
“The 2022 Hats-Off Nonprofits Awards (HONA) were the best ever. Nonprofits First is pleased to host this event annually to celebrate and honor our nonprofit community dedicated to the business of doing good. It was truly a night to remember.” said Jessica Cecere, CEO of Nonprofits First.
The honorees are:
Nonprofit of the Year:
Small: Youth Empowered to Prosper
medium: Friends of Foster Children of Palm Beach County
large: Arc of Palm Beach County
Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year: Lorraine Petrozza, Community Partners of South Florida
Nonprofit MVP: Jackie Struller, Restoration Bridge International
Nonprofit Professional of the Year: Trudy Crowetz, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Nonprofit Executive of the Year: Julia Dattolo, CareerSource Palm Beach County
Lifetime Achievement: Diana Stanley, The Lord’s Place
Community Collaborators Award: CROS Ministries Caring Kitchen Program, Interfaith Committee for social services, and Delray Beach Police Community Outreach
Nonprofit Innovation Award: Morningday Community Solutions
The Best Hat Award: Holy Ground Shelter for the Homeless
People’s Choice: The Hanley Foundation
Funds raised from the evening benefit Nonprofits First educational programs. These programs focus on professional development, leadership, and training that nonprofit community volunteers and employees need to lead and succeed.
About Nonprofits First, Inc.:
Since 2005, Nonprofits First, Inc. has been the leading resource for strengthening the administrative and operational capacity of nonprofit organizations in the community. Comprised of experienced professionals, consultants, and volunteers, the vision of Nonprofits First is a community in which all nonprofits achieve their highest level of the desired impact. For more information, visit www.nonprofitsfirst.org.
Wellington Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, November 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center, at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The speaker will be Sara Ayers-Rigsby, M.A., RPA, a specialist in cultural resources management and historic preservation. As the Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Southeast/Southwest Regions, Ayers-Rigsby is responsible for designing educational outreach and programming for Florida’s southernmost 9 counties which comprise half of the state’s population. Her talk will focus on the archeology of Florida’s Everglades.
Prior to beginning her role as Southeast/Southwest Regional Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network, she spent 10 years working as an archaeologist throughout the United States, with a regional focus on the archaeology of the southeast and Mid Atlantic. She earned her M.A. in Archaeology for Screen Media from the University of Bristol, UK, and her B.A. in Classical Archaeology from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. She is certified as a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). Her research interests include public outreach and archaeology, resiliency, archaeological compliance legislation, and industrial archaeology in Florida.
The presentation will begin at 10:00 a.m. The community is invited to join the club for coffee and a plant raffle beginning at 9:30. Visitors are asked to check in at the guest table. To reserve a spot, contact Maria Wolfe at: tcacad_registrar@yahoo.com.
Wellington Garden Club, founded in 1981, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating its members and the public in the fields of gardening, horticulture, floral design, landscape design, conservation of natural resources, civic beautification and youth education.
The Florida Public Archaeology Network is dedicated to the protection of cultural resources, both on land and underwater, and to involving the public in the study of their past. Regional centers around Florida serve as clearinghouses for information, institutions for learning and training, and headquarters for public participation in archaeology. For more information: www.fpan.us
ArtSEA Kids Paint Class is back at LMC! During this program, children will paint their own ocean sun-catcher friend to take home with them and participate in storytime with an ocean-conservation theme! This program is hosted outdoors, under the canopy on our back deck.
