“Why do we live in Florida?” my beautiful, sulky teenage son asks. The disdain in his voice is palatable. And even though I don’t think he’s doing it on purpose, he’s doing a fabulous impression of Edward Cullen.
“Well, we live in Florida for a lot of reasons.”
This was the start of a long conversation we had while we were hiking on our summer vacation. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the greenest places. Each turn in the trail reveals a new verdant vista. We were all in awe of the parks beauty. Even my kids were.
“First of all, the beach is nearby and the Atlantic is just a few miles away from us.” I started. “Second, the Everglades is in our backyard and there’s only one other eco system like it in the world.” I continued even though they were unimpressed. “And besides being theme park capital of the world, we also have the oldest city in the country.”
I could have kept naming all the things that make Florida awesome but after watching how unimpressed they were I realized I have not been the best ambassador for our state.
Shame on me. We go on vacations and make sure to visit all the things that make other states great but what have I done (besides sing the praises of the o’mighty mouse and hold court on the latest rollercoaster) to show the kids what makes their own state “The Bomb”.
I made a silent vow on that trip that we would live like tourist here. I want them to feel the call of the ocean when they haven’t seen her in a while. I’d like them to appreciate the chorus of chirps from the crickets and frogs that make their home in the Everglades. And yes, still pay homage to the o’mighty mouse.
What can we do to be a better ambassador for your state? How can we get our kids to love where they live? I pondered these questions while we hiked.
Watching my kids climbing the rocks made me pause. A beam of sunlight peaked through the canopy and lit them up. I fully expected to see my sullen sulky teenagers “sparkle”. But they aren’t fictional vampires from Forks. They are like Florida – beautiful and special all their own.
Family costumes are so much fun when they include pets. Here are some ideas that are sure to make people giggle.
These costumes require minimal accessories for your pets.
Wizard of Oz – Perfect if you already have a dog that resembles Toto! If your small dog doesn’t quite look like the original, just find a picnic basket to put him or her in. Or if your dog is a larger breed, find a lion’s mane to make him the cowardly lion. Then dress up family members as Dorothy, Scarecrow and the Tin Man.
Charlie Brown – You don’t have to have a beagle to pull it off. Once your dog has a pair of long black ears (attached to a headband) and stands beside Charlie and Sally, he turns into Snoopy. Add a red bandana that says “Joe Cool” to complete the look.
Ratatouille – Add a pair of mouse ears and a curly tail to your pet while you wear a chef’s hat and coat.
Shrek – Your pet gets the easy end of the deal here. If your cat will don a feathered cap or your dog will tolerate donkey ears, all you have to do is paint yourself green, add some horns and dress in medieval clothes.
Dr. Dolittle – Have a lot of pets? Throw on a doctor’s coat and stethoscope and you’re all set!
Ace Ventura Pet Detective – Another easy one for the pets. Just have them around while you wear an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt over a white tee.
M&M’s – Add a white ‘m’ to any solid-colored bandana or shirt and your pet can be one of the tasty candies. Choose solid tee shirts in other colors for the rest of the family.
Men In Black – Have a pug? This one is for you.
Now for the ones that are a bit more involved, but just as much fun.
Pirates of the Caribbean – What’s cuter than a pet dressed as a pirate? With plenty of characters, there are enough costume options for everyone in the family.
Star Wars – So many options here! Your pet could be Yoda, Chewbacca, Darth Vader or almost any other character from the films. Possibilities are endless for the kids and adults too.
Peter Pan – Once the humans are dressed as Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and Peter Pan, dress your dog in a crocodile costume and he’s Tick-Tock. We did this one a couple of years ago and people still talk about it.
Alice in Wonderland – This one is especially cute if you have a cat willing to wear a Cheshire Cat costume.
Scooby Doo – If you have the right amount of people, this one is a hit. There are dog costumes for Scooby Doo and The Mystery Machine.
Finally, the costumes just for pets with no participation necessary from the humans.
Garfield and Odie – If your pets are the right color, you won’t even need costumes for this. Just add a pan of lasagna to make it obvious.
Cheech and Chong – This requires your pets to wear wigs and clothing, but if you can pull it off, it will be remembered for years. (Photo credit: @haoleboysurfs on Instagram)
Super Mario Brothers – Dress one pet as Mario and the other as Luigi.
Ghosts – This one is super easy. Just cut some holes in a white sheet and drape it over your dogs. Have them hold a jack-o-lantern bucket in their mouth for added smiles.
For those of us who are trying to stick to a healthier diet, having access to fresh herbs at home can be a big deal. Given their relatively short shelf life growing your own herbs, like dill for example, can add the freshest flavors to your fall menu and make for an incredibly rewarding pastime. After all, few things are more satisfying than picking food that you grew yourself.
Dill, also referred to as dill weed, is one of the most universally beloved herbs out there. It is also an easy plant to grow and harvest. As such, it is a great choice for beginner gardeners looking for something simple to start their gardening hobby. Historically, dill was used as a medicinal herb for coughs, headaches, and other every-day ailments. Today, dill is added to global dishes, used for pickling, and helps gardens by attracting pollinators to the plots.
Here in Florida, the most successful variety of dill is called Long Island Mammoth. It is a large variety of the herb and most commonly used as a pickling spice. It is also a great companion plant for cabbage. Dill repels pests that usually feast on cabbage and cabbage plants help protect dill from strong winds.
As you prepare for planting, choose a soil that is well-drained and slightly acidic and select a location where your dill plant will get at least eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Dill doesn’t transplant well, so where you plant your seeds is where the plant should stay while it grows.
Once you find the perfect location, it’s time to start planting! Dill seeds should be placed 18 inches apart and about ¼ inches deep. The herb is also self-sowing, which means the seeds and flowers often replant themselves, so make sure your containers or garden plots have enough room for more plants. Dill does not like a lot of water but monitor your topsoil to ensure it doesn’t dry out completely between waterings.
Dill has the most flavor before it flowers, and it begins to lose it once harvested. To preserve its freshness, use the herb as soon as possible or store it in your refrigerator with the leaves wrapped in a damp paper towel. You can also freeze dill with water in an ice cube tray and the preserved leaves will guarantee you extra flavor and additional moisture. For dried dill, hang the stems in a dark, well-ventilated space to air out the leaves. After a few weeks, they will be completely dried and ready for an air-tight container.
When cooking, you can sprinkle the herb on roasted potatoes or dates, mix it into Greek yogurt for a refreshing tzatziki dip, or enhance fish dishes with an added bright note. The Long Island Mammoth dill can also be added to pickling liquids to build extra flavor for homemade pickles and pickled onions. If you harvest any dill flowers, keep them and add to salads for extra flavor.
Dill is an incredible plant that keeps on growing and adding a wonderful aroma and freshness to your kitchen and home garden. Once you start harvesting and adding it to your meals, you’ll see how big of a deal dill can be!
People have a habit of acting differently behind a screen. It could be overly positive or the opposite. In my personal experience, it’s been both. I realize there’s a sense of comfort that comes with being online in opposition to saying certain things in real life. I like to think this is because you can’t physically see people’s facial reactions, and you are able to prepare yourself for what they might say.
Pretending to be somebody you’re not has always had a significant effect on my views. I had a period of my life where I did it everyday, and I don’t think I could ever go back to feeling that way. This experience has made it so I can usually identify when others are going through the same thing. And, though a blessing, it is also a curse of sorts, as seeing this behavior makes me angry.
I know many others feel this same way when seeing influencers on the internet act phony or corny. I believe the entire act is filled to the brim with stupidity, and it is much more appealing when internet-stars are ‘real’ with their audience.
However, idiotic influencers aren’t the main focus of internet-pretenders. Who is? Cyber bullies. We are taught about cyber bullying in school and laugh, but do we ever truly think about what those people may be going through? I think about it a lot, actually. I believe it’s pathetic to swarm somebody’s comments on a post for no particular reason. And, I honestly don’t think they do it because they have “nothing better to do”. Mental health in my generation has become such an important topic, and though the people being targeted by these bullies are obviously put first, we should take into consideration what the aggressors may be going through as well.
But pretending behind a screen doesn’t necessarily have to be public for everybody to see. It could be that you’re lying to your friends or even family. Doing this is honestly a little harder considering these people know you and see you, but it’s been done many times, even by myself. This type of pretending could include text messages, emails, calls, etc. It’s hard to notice sometimes because usually it isn’t overly out of character, but you must be able to identify it. There aren’t really steps to this sort of thing, you simply follow your gut and make sure to communicate with that person and ask them.
There are too many issues regarding pretending to be something you aren’t. It takes a strenuous toll on your mental health, and I just overall don’t recommend ever utilizing this way to avoid problems. It’s ineffective in the long run, and will only hurt you and others.
While many baseball fans make a point of visiting baseball ‘shrines’ such as Wrigley Field in Chicago, Fenway Park in Boston, the Field of Dreams in Iowa, and Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (NY), one ‘shrine’ that should be added to your ‘baseball bucket list’ is the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory (800 West Main Street, Louisville, KY; www.sluggermuseum.com). The great thing about this baseball ‘destination’ is that you don’t have to wait for baseball season to go for a visit since it’s open seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is far more than a factory where wooden baseball bats – from ash, birch, and maple – are made. This museum is a living, breathing ‘monument’ to baseball’s past, present and future. It reveals interesting parts of baseball’s past, it showcases where the game is today, and it gives you a feeling that baseball’s future is bright, positive, and promising.
More than anything, the curators of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory have done a great job of preserving baseball’s past so that future generations of Americans can learn about who played the game, their accomplishments on the diamond, and how the wooden baseball bat has evolved over time.
THE ‘BIG BAT’ & WALK OF FAME
When you get to Main Street in downtown Louisville, it won’t be hard to find the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Why? Because it has the World’s Biggest Bat, 120-feet tall weighing 68,000 pounds, perched alongside Main Street, where it is leaning against the outer wall of the Museum. The ‘Big Bat’ is an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat. As they say, you can’t miss it!!
Before walking into this museum, it’s worth taking a few minutes for a stroll along the Louisville Slugger Walk of Fame. For a few city blocks along Main Street, the museum has created and placed bronzed Louisville Slugger baseball bat models, used by some of the game’s greatest players, along the sidewalk. These bats are permanently attached to the sidewalk for all to see. Next to each bat is a bronzed metal home plate where the career highlights of the famous player, who used that bat model, are inscribed. The Walk of Fame stretches for one mile from the ‘Big Bat’ on West Main Street to Louisville Slugger Field – home of the AAA Louisville Bats — on East Main Street.
MLB SIGNATURE BATS
Once you walk in the front door of this museum, make a beeline for the Signature Wall where you will see the many, many, many signatures that have appeared on Louisville Slugger baseball bats. You’ll see many baseball names that you will remember, a few that you didn’t know used Louisville Slugger bats, and some not-so-familiar names. There is also a special section honoring Louisville Slugger’s contracted players and managers who have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
THIS BUD’S FOR YOU!
Next, I would suggest that you visit Bud’s Batting Cage, named after John Andrew ‘Bud’ Hillerich, one of the co-founders of Hillerich & Bradsby Co. Bud was the company’s original bat maker who made his first bat in 1884. Inside the cage, you will get a chance to take a swing with Louisville Slugger’s latest TPX or TPS non-wood baseball bat models….or try a swing with a wood replica bat used by some past baseball greats such as Ted Williams or Babe Ruth.
TOUCH & SEE
One of the great aspects of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is that it is truly interactive. Museum operators encourage you to try, touch, hold, and feel many different items on display. One of those interactive sections of the museum is Gallery 125, where you can get face-to-face with the lifelike sculptures of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Derek Jeter, and Ken Griffey, Jr. You will also be able to stare down a 90-mph fastball from big-league pitcher Cole Hamels.
If you want to put on a pair of gloves and have your picture taken while you hold an actual wood bat used by baseball greats Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken, Jr., David Ortiz, and Johnny Bench, that is possible, too! The background for the picture is a grandstand of an old baseball stadium from a bygone era.
Two of the most interesting bats on display in the Grand Slam Gallery are two of the bats that were used by Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. On Ruth’s bat, you will see carved notches for every home run that he hit with that specific bat during his record-setting 60 home run season in 1927. As for the DiMaggio bat, it was one of the bats used in 1941 when ‘The Yankee Clipper’ set his 56-game hitting streak, a Major League Baseball record that stands to this day.
During the actual factory tour, you will be told about the history of the company, which was founded in 1884. You will also be an eyewitness to craftsmanship at work as you will see a solid piece of wood (either maple, birch or ash) transformed into an official Major League Baseball quality baseball bat. Every one of Louisville Slugger’s wooden bats is not only ‘Made in America,’ more specifically, it is ‘Made in Louisville.’
BASEBALL’S ‘FORT KNOX’
One section of the museum that is not open to the public is a ‘vault’ where the ‘spec bats’ for each of its players (from past and present) are kept.
“We still have the ability to reproduce the exact bat that was used by every professional player who used a Louisville Slugger, from players like Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth to today’s stars like Derek Jeter,” states Louisville Slugger spokesman Rick Redman.
GREEN IS GOOD
If you are curious what happens to the wood shavings which fall to the floor, when a wooden bat is made on the lathe, they are swept up every day, collected, and then donated as ‘bedding’ for a turkey farm in nearby Jasper, Indiana.
“We’ve been ‘going green’ here at Louisville Slugger long before it became trendy and popular,” says Redman.
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS
One of the bonuses of the factory tour is that you are given a complimentary miniature Louisville Slugger wooden bat at the end of your tour as your own keepsake souvenir. You can also purchase your own personalized, full-size wooden baseball bat from Louisville Slugger, either in person at the museum or online: www.sluggergifts.com.
As for the opening hours and the cost of admission, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is open seven days a week. The opening hours range depending on the time of the year. There’s no admission charge for children five and under. It’s $11 for children age 6-12; $18 for people from 13-59; and $17 for seniors (age 60+). It’s worth noting that group tours are available.
Besides the chance to get a glimpse into baseball’s past and the role of the Louisville Slugger bat in baseball lore, when you visit this part of Louisville, there are other cultural attractions in this part of town worth visiting. They include the Frazier History Museum, Glassworks, Kentucky Science Center, The Muhammad Ali Center, The Kentucky Center for Performing Arts, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, and the 21C Museum Hotel. This section of Louisville has been termed Museum Row on Main. Complete details are available at www.museumrowlouisville.com.
But, first, take your ‘BATitude’ and go ‘Play Ball’ at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. More than 300,000 people visit the museum annually and more than three million people have visited this baseball ‘shrine’ since it was first opened. Will you be next? If so, you’ll be glad that you did. Batter up!
Wellington, FL – The Mall at Wellington Green will host its free annual Pink Party in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Saturday, October 1, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The District @ Wellington Green will transform into a health and wellness paradise, where visitors can enjoy high-octane dance and musical performances, family-friendly activities, photo opportunities, Survivors and Thrivers Recognition Ceremony, and an energetic Zumba class ($10 donation will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk).
Participants can also decorate bras, enjoy vendor giveaways, and learn more about early breast cancer detection and prevention from the American Cancer Society (ACS). Feeling snoozy? Head over to CITY Furniture for a Test Rest and receive a $25 gift card to test drive a showroom mattress, and CITY will also donate $25 to ACS.
The District @ Wellington Green is located on the lower level in the H&M corridor.
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.
Lake Worth Beach, FL – On Sunday, October 9 th at 4:00 pm St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in downtown Lake Worth Beach will present Saint and Sinner, a music theatre piece celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The performance highlights the lives of two courageous Latinos: Archbishop Oscar Romero who spoke out about injustice and violence against the poor and defenseless of El Salvador during the 1980’s civil war and Joaquin Murrieta, the 19 th century bandit known as “the Mexican-American Robin Hood”. It is believed that the Zorro legend was based on this historical figure.
Saint and Sinner is a Core Ensemble production with actor Victor Vazquez, Cellist Ju Young Lee, Pianist Alfonso Hernandez, and Percussionist Michael Parola. Members of the Core Ensemble are Artists in Residence at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The dramatic narrative includes music from Latin America, spanning classical, popular, and folk genres. A reception will follow the program. The program is free and open to the public. A Love Offering will benefit the Farmworker Coordinating Council. St. Andrew’s is located at 100 North Palmway, Lake Worth Beach, FL
For information call: 561-310-3230.
About St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is a welcoming, inclusive Christian community. Its mission offers love, tolerance, and respect for everyone, with ministries for homeless, food-insecure, and LGBT individuals. St. Andrew’s has become a strong voice in our community, leading the local justice ministry efforts of congregations in our area. Its cultural mission is to offer experiences that promote participation in the arts, communication among various neighborhoods, ethnic groups, religious communities, and people of diverse lifestyles, and to develop the image of Lake Worth Beach as a cultural destination.
About The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc., is a non-profit organization that provides social services to farmworkers and other people in need in Palm Beach County for over 43 years. The services are provided from our two offices located in Belle Glade and Lake Worth. Services include case management, emergency rental/utility assistance, distribution of food, toiletries, diapers, clothing, and household items, education, referrals, support groups, scholarships, microloans, financial literacy workshops, transportation, etc. Our mission is to promote self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life of migrant/seasonal farmworkers and other people in need through education, advocacy, and access to services. For more information, please visit www. Farmworkercouncil.com or contact us at 561-533-7227.
Tickets Available Starting Sept. 20 for a Magical Experience
MIAMI(SEPTEMBER 15, 2022) — Rail Events Productions and Brightline are celebrating the return of one of the most talked about family experiences of the year, THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at MiamiCentral presented by Experience Kissimmee! THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride will return for its fourth year beginning Saturday, December 3 through Thursday, December 29, 2022, departing from Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station. Groups of 20 or more are available to book their tickets starting September 15 and individual tickets are available to book starting September 20. Tickets will be available for purchase online at miamithepolarexpressride.com. Guests are encouraged to book early as this beloved holiday tradition is expected to sell out.
The adventure of this holiday classic comes to life when the festive Brightline train departs on a journey led by a cast of talented actors. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of this story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ for a one-hour trip to meet and interact with Santa.
Once aboard, the conductor will work his way through the coach and punch golden tickets before hot chocolate and delicious shortbread cookies brought to you by Walkers Shortbread are served by dancing chefs. Passengers then read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg as Santa and his helpers board the train to greet and present each guest with the first gift of Christmas. During the trip, characters on each coach lead unforgettable onboard entertainment – just like in the film. Specially choreographed song and dance will take place along with fun games and special character interactions. Each guest will take home a keepsake sleigh bell and souvenir golden ticket in addition to the wonderful memories made on this magical trip. Like the kids in the book, families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride.
Guests can also visit the Walkers Online Shop and use Coupon Code PEXMIA to save 20 percent on your next order of Walkers Shortbread. Offer expires 12/31/22. Offer not valid on Sale Items.
Exact dates, times, and fares are available by visiting miamithepolarexpressride.com. Ticket prices range from $45 to $75, depending on the ticket type, date, and time of the ride.
About THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Official THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides are licensed by Rail Events Inc. on behalf of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. Since 2007, Rail Events Inc. has held exclusive license to operate THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.
About THE POLAR EXPRESS Book
THE POLAR EXPRESS film is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas picture book, which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published by the Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. In 1986 it won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for Illustration.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studio’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, the Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, and Hanna-Barbera.
The division’s successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Experience Kissimmee
Experience Kissimmee is the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida. Located 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), Kissimmee offers a perfectly balanced vacation experience with world-famous theme parks and attractions, outdoor activities, and plenty of Florida sunshine. Kissimmee is the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, with options ranging from two-bedroom condos to 15-bedroom mansions. Get inspired at experiencekissimmee.com.
About Walkers Shortbread
It was over one hundred twenty-three years ago that the Walker family started baking shortbread in the Speyside village of Aberlour, where they remain to this day. Joseph Walker founded the company when he opened his village bakery in 1898; now it is his grandchildren and great-grandchildren that continue the tradition of fine baking that he started. In fact, the founder’s personal guarantee is still marked on every pack to confirm that Walkers’ products are made with only the best ingredients obtainable. Though the Walker family have added many new products to their range during the last century, each and every one holds to those original values of quality and natural goodness.
As it always has been, our shortbread is made using only four ingredients: flour, pure creamery butter, sugar, and salt. We are proud to say that our products contain no artificial flavorings, colorings, or preservatives. In its distinctive tartan packaging, Walkers range of products is packed with Scottish character, both inside and out. The name Walkers is recognized as a mark of excellence the world over, a true Scottish classic.
About Brightline
Brightline is the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America. The company currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opening at the end of 2022 and its Orlando station beginning service in 2023. Brightline was recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies in travel, offering a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. Brightline plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Rail Events Inc.
Rail Events Inc. is the industry leader in rail-related special events management. In 2021, the company licensed events that hosted over 1.2 million guests at 50 partner railroads in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Rail Events Inc. and Rail Events Productions are wholly owned subsidiaries of American Heritage Railways, which is the premier operator of heritage railroads in the United States.
