Kravis Center for the Performing Arts – A Class Act NY Workshop with Casting Pro Alexandre Bleau
WHAT: Work one-on-one with Alexandre Bleau of Carnahan Casting and Roundabout Theatre Company of New York City, the casting office behind many beloved Broadway shows. This class will be run like a professional Broadway audition. In addition to singing and getting feedback on your 32-bar cut, Alexandre will also offer his opinion on whether your song is a good choice for you and showcases your unique talent. Alexandre Bleau’s impressive list of Broadway credits includes HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the upcoming MOULIN ROUGE, GROUNDHOG DAY, AMELIE, SKYLIGHT, CONSTELLATIONS, and THE RIVER and many UK, Old Globe, regional and national tour productions. Carnahan Casting is also responsible for casting shows such as FUN HOME and MATILDA.
WHERE: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33401.
Greyhounds are in the fight of their lives in Florida. They are a gentle and sweet breed of dog and they are born to run. The retired racers from local tracks are cherished in so many homes across the US and Canada. With a 98% adoption rate due to all volunteer groups throughout the country, we have the best breed re-homing statistics of all dogs. We do not depend on community shelters to take care of our beloved greys – we take care of our own.
In November you will find an amendment on the ballot to end greyhound racing abruptly in the state of Florida. We urge you to vote NO ON 13 as this will be the end of this magnificent breed. I have been in this breed specific adoption “business” (as a volunteer) for 18 years and know owners, trainers and handlers all across the USA. I have worked with them at the local compound where the dogs are housed while racing. They are well cared for, well fed and much loved while racing and then turned over to responsible adoption groups to find forever homes.
There are approximately 8000 greyhounds currently racing at tracks in Florida – and another approximately 7000 on farms all over the country that are preparing for their life as a racing dog. Can you imagine the glut on the adoption groups if their careers are ended on day due to this proposed amendment?
This month I am sharing (with permission) an article by a greyhound advocate who wants you to KNOW the breed before you vote on the issue. Many people have “heard” or “read” mis-information on the dogs as they live the life of a professional athlete. I hope you are willing to be open minded enough to read what people who have SEEN what goes on will tell you. Also please visit Greyhound Chronicles and Committee to Support Greyhounds on FaceBook where you will see videos from the farms and the kennels where the dogs are raised and then raced – as they are born to run!
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SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW GREYHOUNDS?
by Dennis McKeon
Did you know that the Greyhound is the second fastest land mammal on earth, in terms of pure acceleration, trailing only the Cheetah? Greyhounds can accelerate from a standing start, up to 45 miles per hour, in as few as four strides.
Did you know that the Greyhound chases the lure by sight, and not by scent? Greyhounds and other breeds who chase by sight, like the Saluki, the Scottish Deerhound and the Afghan Hound, to mention a few, are all broadly referred to as “sighthounds”, or “gazehounds”. The Greyhound has extremely keen eyesight, and a 270 degree field of vision.
Did you know, that contrary to popular legend, recent genomic research and DNA testing has indicated that the Greyhound most likely did not originate in North Africa, and was not the favored pet of Egyptian Pharaohs, as has long been thought? Modern science has shown that Greyhounds are not at all closely related to the Saharan and sub-Saharan sighthound breeds. It is more likely that the Greyhound is of Celtic origin, as the noted Greyhound historian, John Henry Walsh (aka, “Stonehenge”) contended, in his landmark treatise on the breed, entitled “The Greyhound”, first published in 1853. DNA research has also revealed that breeds like the Saint Bernard, the Irish Setter, the Belgian Turveren and even the Minature Schnauzer, all likely descend from single Greyhound female.
Did you know that today, in the United States, it is estimated that currently, there are between 150,000 and 200,000 retired racing Greyhounds living out their lives as personal and family pets? The retired racing Greyhound has become a phenomenon in the pet world. Renown for their gentle, loving nature and demure, reserved temperament, they are so highly prized as pets, that many adoption groups can’t quite keep up to the public’s demand for them. Adoption, in this day and age, has become the final phase in the career of the National Greyhound Association (NGA) racing Greyhound. Even sires and brood females, once their breeding careers are over, find homes as cherished, adopted pets.
Did you know that the Greyhound is known as a “universal” canine blood donor, and that the blood of most greyhounds, can be used in transfusions to almost any other dog?
Did you know that the Greyhound is fed a diet rich in raw beef, with added vegetables, whole grains, kibble, and vitamins? The raw, unprocessed beef used in feeding Greyhounds, is the same beef that dog food manufacturers use for their highly processed canned and kibbled products, and the same beef that many zoos feed to their priceless and rare carnivores.
Did you know that Greyhounds, unlike other large breeds, because of their selective breeding process, which involves competing on the racetrack (to illuminate for breeders, which Greyhounds are the best at their job, and therefore chosen to produce the next generation), are kept virtually free of crippling, genetic defects like hip and elbow dysplasia?
Did you know that NGA racing Greyhounds are the least inbred of all purebred dogs? The money greyhounds earn by racing, is what supports a genetically diverse and large population of greyhounds, which is a fundamental prerequisite to proper breed management and custodianship, keeping the breed on a functional and sound trajectory.
Did you know that retired racing Greyhounds now find themselves in demand as service and therapy dogs? They work with prisoners, veterans, the sick, and even the autistic. The unique, remarkable and reliably non-boisterous Greyhound temperament is ideal for this sort of companionship.
Did you know that there is a burgeoning community of people and their retired Greyhound pets, who participate in organized, amateur sports, like lure coursing, flyball, agility competition, track racing and straight racing? Greyhounds love to compete and perform, whether it is on the racetrack, at the agility course, or in the field. They are amazing, willing athletes.
Did you know that your racetrack’s management supports adoption, and can direct you to an adoption group who can begin the process of re-homing a retired Greyhound with you and your family?
Eat These Five Weight Busting Food and Watch the Weight Drop Off
By Cheryl Alker
I recently wrote an article titled “Can an Avocado a Day Help with Weight Loss?” It sparked a lot of interest and I have been asked if there were any other foods that may be more helpful in achieving the goal of weight loss over others.
In fact there are, as not all calories are created equal and depending on what you are eating different foods will metabolize in the body in different ways which can ultimately have a huge effect on your hunger, hormones and the number of calories you actually burn.
So here are a few more to add to your list:
Eggs
We were often told to stay away from eggs for many health reasons, not just weight loss as it was once feared for being high in cholesterol. However, new studies show that they do not adversely affect blood cholesterol or cause heart attacks. So now we have gotten the question of risk to our health out of the way they happen to be high on the list of best foods to eat if you want to lose weight. The mighty egg is high in protein, healthy fats and can make you feel full even though you are consuming a small amount of calories. Eating eggs for breakfast can make you feel fuller for longer and can also affect, in a positive way, the amount you eat for the following 36 hours. Eggs are also incredibly nutrient dense which is helpful when you are on a calorie restricted diet. Ensuring you are getting the biggest bang for your buck with regard to nutrition from the calories you are eating is definitely a bonus and interestingly enough, almost all the nutrients are found in the yolks.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens include kale, spinach, collards, Swiss chards. They are firstly very low in calories, low in carbohydrates and literally loaded with fiber, all huge benefits for a successful diet plan. They add bulk to your plate which, again is important when dieting, we eat with our eyes as well as our mouths and no-one wants to feel as if they are being “short-changed” when sitting down to enjoy a meal. Leafy greens are also highly nutritious and contain a plethora of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, including calcium, which has been shown to aid fat burning.
Salmon
All fatty fish such as mackerel trout, sardines, herring and of course salmon is a must if you are eating a healthy balanced diet but they are also incredibly satisfying so keep you full for many hours and are relatively low in calories. Other benefits of salmon in particular are that it is high in protein, healthy fats and various important nutrients. It also contains a significant amount of iodine, a nutrient that is necessary for proper thyroid function. Keeping your thyroid functioning optimally means your metabolism will also be doing the same. Salmon is also loaded with omega-3 fatty acids which we know helps reduce inflammation. It is well documented that inflammation plays a major role in obesity and metabolic disease.
Cruciferous Vegetables
If you’re not sure, cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. The great thing about all vegetables, not just the cruciferous variety, are that they are high in fiber and any food high in fiber will tend to make you feel fuller quicker and longer. Cruciferous vegetable, compared to other vegetables, contain a decent amount of protein. Put that combination of protein, fiber and low energy density together and you can then see why they should be high on your list when meal planning. Let’s also not forget that they are highly nutritious and contain cancer-fighting substances.
Meat
Lean meat, not the processed variety, is a weight-loss-friendly food solely because it is incredibly high in protein.There is no doubt about it that protein is by far the most filling nutrient, and eating a high-protein diet can make you burn up to 80–100 more calories per day. In fact studies have shown that increasing your protein intake to 25–% of daily calories can cut cravings by 60%, reduce your desire for late-night snacking by half and cause weight loss of almost one pound (0.45 kg) per week.
In September, Wellington’s Council adopted a $96.8 million balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2018 -2019. The Village’s budget is one of the most concrete expressions of public policy, as it sets forth the priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. The adopted budget will serve as a road map for how funds will be allocated, and as a checks and balances system to make sure we are spending Village funds properly. My fellow Council members and I are committed to adhering to Wellington’s core values focusing on families, neighborhoods, and our residents. With Wellington property values up 5.2% and a positive economic outlook, we were able to balance the budget in order to continue to provide an outstanding level of service to our residents.
This year’s budget calls for a total spending of approximately $96.8 million, about $13.6 million less than last year due to early payoff of governmental debt and decreases in capital projects that were budgeted in the previous fiscal year. The adopted millage rate for FY 2019 is 2.48 mills, which is 0.05 mills higher than FY 2018 tax rate of 2.43. There is no change in the ACME non-assessment rate, which remains at $230, and no change in the Solid Waste rates, which remains at $135 for curbside and $100 for containerized services. The water and wastewater rates will be indexed by 3.5% on October 1st. Total Wellington taxes, including ACME assessments and solid waste collection, comprise approximately 17% of the average resident’s tax bill.
The Village’s most significant area of expenditures is maintenance of the Village’s streets, parks, trails, and storm water management system. Included in the new budget is additional spending for law enforcement, as we continue to focus on safety and maintaining the outstanding services provided by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. This year’s budget calls for Capital Project spending of approximately $15.8 million. Major projects slated for this year’s budget include the Greenbriar Park Improvements and the Forest Hill culvert improvements as well as major upgrades to the water and wastewater facilities. The Village has also earmarked $1.2 million towards the Lake Wellington Waterfront Activation which starts with public outreach.
The budget also continues Wellington’s commitment to supporting our schools with $400,000 in Keeli Spinelli grant contributions for reading and math programs in each of our 11 local schools, $51,000 for the Wellington Senior’s Club, and $56,000 toward the County’s ADA paratransit services.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our many outreach efforts. From taking part in our Budget Challenge survey at our Senior Symposiums and Amphitheater events, to tweeting and following us on Facebook, I encourage you to be a part of our many outreach options including attending Council meetings and public hearings as they are announced.
In the meantime, feel free to contact me or any member of Council with questions or input. You can find a copy of the final budget for 2018-2019 and updated fee schedule at www.wellingtonfl.gov/budget.
I encourage you to sign up for our monthly newsletter, where we keep you up to date on matters that affect our community. Click on the following link to begin receiving updates: www.wellingtonfl.gov/discover-us/signup.
I look forward to seeing you around our Great Hometown this month.
Did you know that you have a treasure trove of creativity in your pocket? Most smart phones have the ability to create extraordinary works of art with video, photos and drawing apps. In addition, if you own a smart tablet, laptop or desktop computer there are countless opportunities to make use of them in ways you never imagined. Interested in coding? Perhaps you would like an introductory course to see if it is something you would like to do.
Fortunately, the Apple Store offers a plethora of classes for you to explore digital tools. Best of all, they are free! These courses have become very popular. I’ve never had any difficulty signing up for one. Every time I complete a class, I leave with a new knowledge base and a great deal of inspiration. It excites me to go home and create a work of digital art, music, a video or tweak up some pictures that need cropping or color correction.
At the Wellington Apple Store, there used to be two or three classes a day… now there are classes almost every hour. The classes range from basic product training to advance software lessons. Some of them include: photo organizing and editing, video production, GarageBand and coding. There are also children’s classes that teach robotics, music production, digital painting, and photo-video editing.
Best of all, you don’t have to bring an Apple device. The store provides one for you to use during instruction. Most importantly, you can take as many classes as you’d like, as often as you like for free. To check the schedule, space and availability go to apple.com/today where you can read about each individual lesson and how to sign up at your local store. Sometimes I take a class if I’m considering buying a certain product to get some “hands-on” experience.
Personally, I’ve taken at least 6 classes. They were all enriching. I thoroughly enjoyed a music production class that included introductory videos featuring famous musical artists. The Apple Store instructors are very pleasant, patient, and highly qualified. There were no more than 4 people per adult class. I plan to continue signing up for as many courses as my schedule will allow. It’s fun and stimulating, especially on these hot, rainy Florida days. There are also early evening classes offered.
One unique aspect of the offerings at Apple is their Studio Hours: All Projects class. Do you have your own video that you would like to edit, or simple to complex questions about your Apple products? Each store offers daily time slots for you to work on your own projects. You simply bring whatever you are creating (on your own Apple device) and receive one-on-one help with a store specialist. The allotted time is an hour and a half, but you don’t have to stay the entire time.
Classes are posted online two weeks in advance. Again, you can take as many as you like for free! So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for classes at apple.com/today or inquire at the Apple store nearest you.
Village of Wellington Popular Annual Financial Report
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) to the Village of Wellington for the year ended September 30, 2017. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for preparation of state and local government popular reports.
In order to receive this award, a government must publish a PAFR whose contents conform to program standards of creativity, presentation, understandability, and reader appeal. This award is valid for a period of one year only. The Village of Wellington has received this award for the last five consecutive years.
The PAFR, along with all financial reports, including the Budget, external audit reports, and CAFR’s, are available online at www.wellingtonfl.gov.
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/enews.
For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch WellingtonTV for the latest happenings.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Thelma Houston’s Motown Experience, featuring a tribute to Aretha Franklin, will take place in The Pavilion at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on Friday, November 16, at 8 p.m.
Tickets (priced at $25/$35/$100 – the latter for couch seating) are on sale now via Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-653-8000. The Pavilion box office will also open at 1 p.m. on the day of the show for on-site ticket purchases and Will Call pickup.
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will donate all cash ticket and concession sales to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.It will be part of the property’s extensive support of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (November).
Houston will perform a medley of Franklin’s songs in the wake of her passing away from pancreatic cancer. It is personal for Houston, who was close friends with Franklin, and this is a special way to show her respects the legendary singer. Patrons can expect to hear songs like “Respect” and “Natural Women” in the medley.
Houston will perform other iconic songs as well as her own hit, “Don’t Leave Me This Way.”
A Mississippi native and Los Angeles resident, Houston started out in the 1960’s performing gospel music with the Art Reynolds Singers. Later, she signed with Capitol Records (home of the Beatles, Nat King Cole, and Nancy Wilson) in 1967 and produced her first hit song, “Baby Mine.”
Houston recorded her first solo album, Sunshower , with ABC/Dunhill before moving to Motown Records where she claimed the top of the Pop, R&B and Dance charts in 1977 with her number one hit, “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” which won her a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B.
In recent years, Houston has been invited to sing the song on dozens of TV shows and specials, including the Today Show. The song was mentioned by VH1 as being among the greatest dance songs in 2000.
With appearances from Tokyo to Las Vegas to London and beyond, Houston continues to bring audiences to their feet with her dynamic, energetic shows. She logs over 200 performances annually.
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is located at 5550 NW 40th St., Coconut Creek. For more information, call (954) 977-6700 or visit CasinoCoco.com.
About Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Founded in 1999, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and double survival by 2020.
About Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek presents the market’s most fully-integrated, energized, stylish and upscale local’s casino experience featuring nearly 2,000 slot machines, from classic favorites to trendy new themes, plus 70 live table games with real dealers and real cards, including blackjack, baccarat and poker. Under its roof, the casino offers world-class dining including its award-winning steakhouse, NYY Steak, as well as Sorrisi Italian restaurant, the New York-style 1st Street Deli and authentic Asian cuisine at The BOL. Guests can enjoy live music from a variety of performers and dance the night away to the latest mixes from the area’s top DJs at Legends Lounge, Nectar and Sunset Grill. The Pavilion, a 1,200-seat capacity entertainment venue, has been a home to acts such as Wayne Newton, Dionne Warwick, Sophia Loren and many more. Open 24/7, 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is located at the corner of U.S. 441 (State Road 7) and Sample Road in Coconut Creek, Florida. For more information, call (954) 977-6700 or visit us online at CasinoCoco.com. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/seminolecasinocococreek, follow us on Twitter @CasinoCoco and Instagram @seminolecasinococonutcreek, and subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/SeminoleCasinoCC.
About the Merrell Family Foundation and Palm Health Foundation
The “Train the Brain” Campaign this October
This year’s Train the Brain Planning Committee
Palm Health Foundation and Merrell Family Foundation are two non-profit organizations making a difference in our community. They have teamed up to present “Train the Brain,” a community health campaign focused around the importance of brain health. “Train the Brain” urges Palm Beach County residents to take a brain health pledge and attend the free events offered on the campaign website, www.TraintheBrainPBC.org. The Merrell Family Foundation (MFF) is the presenting sponsor, and the Palm Health Foundation (PHF) is the founder and coordinator of the campaign.
I had the opportunity to talk with Patrick McNamara, president and CEO of Palm Health Foundation, and Jill Merrell of the Merrell Family Foundation (and Ultima Fitness in Wellington) about what they are doing. While “Train the Brain” was initially launched last January, they decided to launch another “Train the Brain” series this October, as it’s mental health awareness month.
AW: What is something about the brain (or brain health) that most people do not realize?
Pat: Many people don’t realize how plastic the brain is, and with neuroplasticity the brain has the power to heal itself. A lot of people make analogies to a computer, but the brain is more of a living thing that can be taken care of. And there are simple things you can do to improve brain health.
Jill: Advances in science over the last twenty years have been amazing. We are able to see that the brain has neuroplasticity, we can make changes and “train the brain.” If you care for it, nurture it and give it the right maintenance, there are great results. We tend to pay attention to other parts of the body, but the brain is neglected.
At the Better Brain Health Luncheon last year. Left to right: Jill Merrell, Pat McNamara, Amishi Jha, PhD, and Keynote presenter last year at the luncheon, and Don McKenna, CEO of Jupiter Medical Center.
AW: What are the benefits of meditation?
Jill: There are so many benefits. It gives us the ability to find the space in between action and reaction. It’s not healthy for our body to stay in fight or flight response mode. As a mindfulness and meditation teacher, one of the key things I focus on is “rest and digest.”
Pat: Meditation and mindfulness have been around for thousands of years. Treated as more alternative, Eastern methods, these have not been accepted in Western society fully. There’s a growing mountain of evidence that meditation helps. There are great benefits when it comes to depression and anxiety. Meditation and mindfulness produce tremendous benefits for your brain.
Pat: Jupiter Medical Center has a Mindfulness Center and they will offer two workshops, one on brain health and cancer, and the other on brain health and sleep. There’s a growing awareness that our nation is sleep deprived. So, we’ll be learning about the connection between sleep and brain health on October 11th. There are several events involving yoga and mindfulness. There’s a conversation about positive psychology called “The Habit of Happy”on Oct. 19th. The conversation will aim to inspire people to approach their lives in a different way and to take inspired action toward a life they love.
Jill: There’s a mental health first aid training, which comes from an evidence-based curriculum. It’s a workshop that helps you identify when someone is in crisis and shows you what to do. By the way, there’s a local Mental Health First Aid Coalition, and they have trained over 4,500 residents. In a recent effort with Leadership Palm Beach County, they established a 100-day goal for 100 businesses to sign up for the First Aid training. On Friday, October 5th, Ultima Fitness in Wellington is hosting a free yoga and meditation class to kick off Train the Brain. I will also be leading different offerings around the county. Look at the Train the Brain calendar at www. TraintheBrainPBC.org. I hope to see a lot of the community taking advantage of these diverse offerings in the brain health space.
Jess Merrell, Justin Merrell and Jill Merrell of Merrell Family Foundation.
AW: What are some important routines to promote brain health? What can be damaging?
Pat: There are five important domains when it comes to brain health – sleep, nutrition, physical activity, social relationships and reducing stress. Practicing mindfulness, doing yoga or participating in other physical activities can promote brain health.
Jill: It’s important to have empathy and compassion for others. It can be damaging to not have an understanding of others’ feelings and by trying to convey our own feelings, we may be adding more stress inadvertently. Research shows that loving-kindness meditation has a tremendous amount of positive advantages, ranging from benefitting our well-being to giving relief from illness and improving emotional intelligence.
Pat: Social isolation and loneliness can be very damaging. Studies have shown that isolation can be more damaging to one’s health than excessive smoking. According to the Surgeon General, the greatest public health crisis is social isolation. There’s a great book on the subject titled “Social,” written by a U.C.L.A. scientist Matthew Lieberman. It shows how evolution has led the way to the importance of social relationships in the hierarchy of our needs.
Jill: I’m currently reading an interesting book titled “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker. It’s fascinating to understand how important sleep is and how our actions in our day-to-day life may be having tremendous negative effects on our health. There is documented evidence that poor sleeping habits may be one of the major causes of mental illness. I just read about a recent study by scientists at the University of Oxford who found that “sleep disruption is a driving factor in the occurrence of paranoia, hallucinatory experiences, and other mental health problems in young adults with an average age of 25.” Lack of sleep is also linked to anxiety and depression. The reason is that a lack of sleep affects the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex – two areas of the brain that are necessary for managing emotions. Sleep deprivation causes us to see things more negatively, and to become moodier and more emotionally reactive.
AW: How old is the Merrell Family Foundation? How was it founded?
Jill: When my husband took his own life in February of 2012, the only way I knew to heal and to help my family was to make sure we found a way to help others that were in a similar situation. My thought was that if we could start the healing process while helping others, we could honor John and try to find some peace in our lives. I was introduced to Palm Health Foundation through a family friend and through that relationship was invited to every event they offered in the mental health space. I own a fitness and wellness center, Ultima Fitness in Wellington (since 1990), and through this relationship it felt natural to get involved in Palm Health Foundation’s “Let’s Move” campaign. We know that the positive impact of physical activity is beneficial for mental health. Although “Let’s Move” was a great success, I was relentless, and wanted more. I wanted to know what else we could do regarding brain health and awareness. PHF decided to make brain health the focus of their next community health campaign. They asked MFF to be the presenting sponsor of “Train the Brain.” We immediately said yes. A sense of community is really important to us at Ultima Fitness and at the Merrell Family Foundation.
Left to right: Jill Merrell, Pat McNamara, Amishi Jha, PhD, and Keynote presenter last year at the luncheon.
AW: What are some other projects the Merrell Family Foundation is involved in?
Jill: The goal of the MFF is to create awareness about mental health and erase the stigma. We want people to understand more about mental health and have open conversations as with any other health issue. It seems that people do not understand that your mind and your body are all connected. So the phrase “Train the Brain” resonates with people. We are also partnered with Student ACEs for Leadership in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties. This organization teaches student athletes more of the soft skills. Through the support of MFF they are able to offer the students the mental health training including Mental Health First Aid and mindfulness training. We are also having conversations with some South Florida universities to do research on the impact our efforts are making.
AW: Tell us about Palm Health Foundation. How do you generate donations?
Pat: Our mission is to inspire and fund solutions for better health in Palm Beach County through community collaboration. In 2001, Palm Health Foundation was created after the sale of St. Mary’s and Good Samaritan hospitals. It was planned that the assets would stay in the community for the health of people in our area. We are fortunate to have an endowment. But we get much further by working collaboratively. Our goal is to improve the health of ALL Palm Beach County residents through our collaborative grant making and community health campaigns. We primarily receive donations for two purposes—donors establish a named fund from which they can make scholarship awards and grants; and donors support our big initiative work. Brain health is a priority for the foundation. We have a Better Brain Health fund and are accepting donations for that. The funds go to research around brain health and improving care. We have a very generous local community. If people want to advance health and healthier lifestyles in Palm Beach County today and for future generations, we encourage them to think of Palm Health Foundation. People can give by check, credit card on our website, or by meeting with our Director of Philanthropy, Jeff Groves. See the information at the end of this article.
AW: At Palm Health Foundation, how do you decide where to invest funds?
Pat: We have a Community Investment Committee, which acts as our grants committee. They are the governing body on those decisions. The committee is made up of trustees and community members.
AW: Pat, you’re nominated as “Nonprofit Executive of the Year.” Tell us about your background.
Pat: Prior to this, I was at Community Partners for 18 years. I was CEO for the last ten years. I started out with addressing behavioral health needs in our community and moved toward developing housing solutions for those with mental illnesses. I was attracted to Palm Health Foundation, as they are focused on the intersection of health and community development. I feel like I’ve landed in a place where we can make great impact in the community. There’s a growing recognition of how health care is important, but clinical care is responsible for only 10 to 20% of good health. There are so many other factors – where you live, nutrition, genetics, behaviors. It’s very empowering to learn about. That’s why we recently changed the name of Palm HealthcareFoundation to Palm Health Foundation, as we have a broader understanding of all that impacts our community’shealth.
AW: What are some of your greatest achievements in our community?
Pat: In the nursing arena, we made a large donation to Palm Beach Atlantic University to start their nursing school. We have given $4 million in nursing scholarships. We have given $7 million to Safety Net Clinics, serving those who are uninsured or underinsured. As with “Train the Brain,” our VP of Communications Marge Sullivan blended a PSA with a call to action and has brought our campaigns to life. The county logged over 32 million minutes during the month of March with the “Let’s Move” Campaign, getting many people in our community active.
Jill: Through sharing our own story and the connection to our community, we are able to bring like-minded individuals and organizations together to come up with solutions to this mental health crisis. We are connecting and funding our partners so that together, we can tackle challenges to find solutions that will make our community a more peaceful, healthier place.
As Major League Baseball winds down its season in late October/early November, another ‘diamond’ season will just be getting underway here in south Florida – the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League. It will be the 17th edition of this local stickball program, which plays its games at Village Park – aka, Stickball Boulevard South — on Pierson Road in Wellington.
The Opening Day of the 2018-19 season will be on Tuesday, October 30. On that day, Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig plans to attend and throw out the ceremonial first ball for the second game that afternoon. Two games a week are held every Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 pm and 2:45 pm – with the exception of major holidays or a rainout.
The date of the league championship game will be March 26th.
Photo by Allen Lebowitz.
“To date, registration for the upcoming season has been completed, the draft of players has taken place, team captains have been selected, and now it’s time to play ball,” said Philip Strassler, league publicist.
This year’s league will feature five teams. The names of the teams have a distinct New York ‘flavor’ — the Bronx Clippers (captain: Alan Lebowitz), Dukes of Flatbush (captain: Howard Novick), Brooklyn Bums (captain: Elliot Tuckel), Long Island Whalers (captain: Arthur Spector), and the New York Egg Creams (captain: Arnold Westerman). The Whalers are the reigning league champs.
Photo by Allen Lebowitz.
According to Strassler, each team roster contains 16 players and there are some newcomers to the league this year.
“We have 13 rookies this year in the program,” added Strassler, who also plays for the Long Island Whalers and is getting ready for his fourth season in the league.
For entertainment on a Tuesday afternoon, Strassler says his league offers the best bang for the buck for sports fans during the south Florida winter.
“There’s no charge to attend our games, which are fun to watch and very competitive,” noted Strassler. “And, chocolate egg creams are served at the games.”
To see a collage of stickball action photos from last season, please access: www.wycliffephotoclub.org. Then, click on the Stickball tab.
For more information about the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League, please contact Strassler at 516-729-5555.
In every high school you have the have your animated drama kids, the loud and proud band geeks, all the way down to the overachievers who want to take that extra math course for fun. We often use social media and movies to guide us in a way where we have stereotypes for people who are associated with an elective in high school…specifically speech and debate. What people don’t realize about speech and debate is not the fact that it exists – it’s so much more than just an argument. It’s a whole other world.
The first thing a parent thinks of when they hear the words “speech and debate” is usually something along the lines of ,”Oh that’s very impressive, What do you guys argue about?” These kinds question make every debater want to face palm themselves. Speech and debate consist of many events that a student can compete in. There is an acting side and a debate side. The debate side consists of events such as Congress, Public Forum, and Lincoln Douglas. These events require evidence and persuasion in order to get your point across. Then there’s the acting side, with events such as DUO, dramatic performance, and oral interpretation, etc. These events usually require a performance based around a theme. Every debater has their own personal journey when it comes to figuring out which event they’re good at. Personally, it took me two years to figure out what I was good at in debate and I’m so glad that I took the opportunity to be in speech and debate. It has taught me so much about the world.
Every month, teens in the U.S get up at 4:00 in the morning on a Saturday to put on a suit and compete in a tournament. There is so much work involved when it comes being a speech and debate kid, even the coaches get their fair share of work. There are local tournaments, overnight tournaments and national tournaments. Teams from almost all 50 states go to compete at these national tournaments. As you can see it can get a little (or a lot) competitive.
According to the National Speech and Debate Association, “The association provides competitive speech and debate activities, high-quality resources, comprehensive training, scholarship opportunities, and advanced recognition to more than 150,000 students and coaches every year. For more than 90 years, the National Speech & Debate Association has empowered more than 1.5 million members to become engaged citizens, skilled professionals, and honorable leaders in our society.” Many people don’t even know that celebrities such as Josh Gad, Zac Efron, James Dean and Oprah Winfrey are alumni of the NSDA.
With that being said let’s get down to the nitty gritty of things. Why is that many people in our society don’t acknowledge or even know speech and debate is really about? It’s not about how many times you placed first or who’s been in debate the longest…It’s about working with others and discovering yourself. It’s important that people know more about speech and debate because working together, is something we can all benefit from. For more information, visit the N.S.D.A website.
