November, 2017 – AW in Pictures
Wellington Extends Gratitude for Hometown Holiday Food Drive
Wellington Extends Gratitude for Hometown Holiday Food Drive 
Volunteers worked diligently on Friday, November 17th putting together bags full of everything needed for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. More than 200 bags were specifically prepared, to feed families ranging in size from 2 to 12.
Through the coordination and efforts of Wellington InterFaith and the Village of Wellington, this year’s Hometown Holiday Food Drive was a huge success. On Saturday, November 18th the community rallied and made it possible for more than 200 local families to receive a gift card for the purchase of a ham or turkey and all of the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal including homemade pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. Funding for the purchase of gift cards came from Wellington’s faith-based organizations (InterFaith), the Christopher Aguirre Foundation, and the Mall at Wellington Green. All of the food items were donated by residents, partners, and community businesses.
As usual, donations exceeded our need and more than 900 cans of excess miscellaneous food items were provided to Wellington Cares and CROS Ministries, for distribution to those in need throughout Palm Beach County.
We are extremely grateful for everyone’s assistance with this project. It is truly amazing to see the accomplishments a community can make when working together.
Thank you to all !!
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.
First Annual Candy Cane Hunt at Downtown at the Gardens December 2, 2017, 11am-1pm
First Annual Candy Cane Hunt at Downtown at the Gardens December 2, 2017, 11am-1pm
Palm Beach Gardens, FL – You are invited to help us kick off the holidays with the first annual Candy Cane Hunt at Downtown at The Gardens sponsored by Rhythm & Hues. This unique, first of its kind (in our area) event will be held at Downtown at the Gardens on Saturday December 2, 2017 from 11-1. Local children will have the opportunity to participate in an Easter egg style hunt for candy canes, find golden candy canes for prizes, play games, make holiday crafts, bounce in bounce houses from Jupiter Bounce and much more! *This is a free event, but each child must RSVP by reserving tickets at Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-annual-candy-cane-hunt-tickets-39619656459 (Tickets are per child). We will select one winner chosen from all tickets to win a prize basket, so get your tickets while they last! Be sure to check in at the Macaroni Kid tent 10 minutes before the hunt to get your holiday bag to use for the hunt (limited to the first 1000 children with tickets). The Big Kid Hunt will begin at 11:15 AM and the Toddler Hunt will begin at 12:15 PM.
The event will take place on December 2, 2017 at Downtown at the Gardens, 1701 Lake Victoria Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 from 11-1pm. This is a free event and open to the public.
Media inquiries can be directed to Ashley Morse at 561-301- 7845 or ashleymorse@macaronikid.com. Vendor and sponsorship inquiries can be directed to Alisha Sands at AlishaS@macaronikid.com
About Downtown at the Gardens
Downtown at the Gardens is a coastal in-fill shopping center anchored by Whole Foods, Cheesecake Factory, Cobb Theaters, and Urban Outfitters. The center draws from one of the most affluent and fast-growing communities in the Palm Beach, Florida area and provides premiere retail options to area residents and visitors. The center is over 335,000 square feet with a diverse roster of national retailers and independent boutiques and restaurants. For more information on Downton at the Gardens visit www.madisonmarquette.com/portfolio/property-listings/downtown-at-the-gardens/
About Macaroni Kid
Macaroni Kid of Palm Beach Gardens-Jupiter, West Palm Beach and Wellington, established in 2010, has produced many successful community events including Summer Playtime Events at Downtown at the Gardens and Harbourside, the Macaroni Kid School Show and Share event series, the monthly Gardens Mall /Macaroni Kid Kids Club event and more. Owner, Ashley Morse has served as co-chair of the ArtiGras ArtiKids Committee for the last six years. Learn more about Palm Beach Gardens-Jupiter Macaroni Kid at www.palmbeachgardens.macaronikid.com.
About Resource Depot
Resource Depot believes in education through imagination. They collect items that are clean, safe and reusable, that would have otherwise gone to a landfill or straight to a recycling center, and distribute them freely through membership to local teachers, organizations and individual for use in creative projects. They do this through Memberships. But they do more than just collect and distribute upcycled items, they also teach amazing ways to put all these items to use at home, in the classroom or in a business. They do this through field trips, summer camp, in-house workshops, and outreach programs. Learn more about Resource Depot at www.resourcedepot.net.
The Palm Beach Post Sunday on the Waterfront: Aloha Islanders Holiday Spectacular
Aloha Islanders Hawaiian Entertainment was established in 1999 and is now the premiere Polynesian entertainment company in South Florida. The vibrant, high-energy and authentic Polynesian show is popular with guests of all ages, and is consistently the most popular The Palm Beach Post Sunday on the Waterfront show annually. Families from all over travel to downtown West Palm Beach for this annual, tropical holiday tradition, where the Islanders take the audience on a journey through Polynesia using pulsating drums, beautiful hula dancers and exciting Samoan fire knife dancers to make guests feel truly transported. The show is an action packed non-stop revue of dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa and New Zealand. Sit back, relax and enjoy this journey through Polynesia. ALOHA!
• A highlight – and a do-not-miss of the show – is the “Big Kahuna” – where one lucky male fan is pulled on stage and dressed in traditional hula garb, including a coconut bikini top and traditional grass hula skirt!
• In addition, guests can participate in a Conch Blowing Contest, where the City awards prizes – and anyone from the audience can participate (with advanced registration required on-site). The Aloha Islanders men give a conch blowing demonstration prior to the contest to help the contestants learn – and then they put their skills to the test!
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to this outdoor event. For more information, please visit Wpb.org/events or follow the City of West Palm Beach on Facebook @CityofWPB, on Twitter @westpalmbch or on Instagram @westpalmbch.
Sunday, December 17; 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
West Palm Beach Waterfront – Palm Stage (by Sandi)
Kravis Center to Host Theater Workshop with Hamilton Star
Andrew Chappelle, a star of Hamilton and Mamma Mia! on Broadway, will give a one-night theater workshop with A Class Act NY on Friday, Dec. 8 at the Kravis Center. Students ages 7-adult with a passion for musical theater will have the opportunity to learn a song and dance combo from Hamilton, as well as participate in a Q&A with Chappelle and enjoy an autograph and photo session.
When: Friday, December 8, 6-8:30 p.m.
Where: Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
Ages: 7 – adult. All skill levels welcome!
Registration: $160
To register: Visit kravis.org, call 561.651.4376 or email Alison Rehm at rehm@kravis.org. Registration for the event is being accepted through Nov. 21.
Building a Home and Hope: Holy Ground Hosts Kickoff Reception
Holy Ground Shelter Building a Home and Hope for Homeless Pregnant Women
Cocktail Party Kicks Off Capital Campaign to Purchase New Apartments
(Palm Beach, Fla.) – More than 100 people gathered at Costa Palm Beach recently for Holy Ground’s cocktail party to kick off their capital campaign, “Building a Home and Hope.” A live band serenaded the large crowd while guests enjoyed a hummus bar with a delicious sampling of Mediterranean cuisine. Donors generously provided various items from sunglasses to wine for an auction, which was popular among the guests.
“The event was beyond our committee’s expectations,” said Jan Kranich, vice-president of Holy Ground Shelter’s board of directors. “We loved that friends brought friends and we hosted more than 100 people to learn more about our work and this exciting project.”
Guests at the Costa event included Laurel Baker, Sascha Bennemann, Inge Bowdre, Stanton Collemer, Susan Dyer, Sherry Frankel, Arlette Gordon, Robert Harvey, Marley Herring, Debra Jenks, Deborah and Lawrence Karlson, Monique McCall, Donna McLoughlin, Anita Mitchell, Penny Murphy, Virginia Oatley, Beverlee Miller Raymond, co-chair Mary Rogan, David Sarama, Beth and Dean Vegosen, Skira Watson and Leslie Weaver.
Based in West Palm Beach, Holy Ground Shelter provides a home and hope to homeless pregnant and parenting young women and their children. Through this long-term and multi-faceted program, young mothers learn responsible living, parenting, and essential life skills, while they complete high school and transition to college or vocational school, always with the on-going support and guidance of a trained adult female mentor. While in the program, the girls work part-time and contribute part of their income toward rent and utilities. The goal of Holy Ground’s program is to teach these young women to be self-sufficient, healthy, and productive members of the community.
With a campaign goal of nearly $1 million, funds raised from the capital campaign will be used to purchase and renovate an apartment complex to expand the organization’s mission in Palm Beach County. The group has raised more than half of the funds to meet its campaign goal and will continue their fundraising to complete renovations on the building and expand programming once their campaign goal is met.
“The need for our services is urgent as teen pregnancy continues to be an ever-pressing problem in Palm Beach County,” said Donna McLoughlin, president of Holy Ground Shelter. “We are one of the only local organizations which provides for parenting young mothers and it is important work. Some of our ladies have been living in their cars prior to coming to us.”
According to the latest statistics from the Florida Department of Health, there were 672 live births to girls under the age of 19 in Palm Beach County and approximately a quarter of these young mothers will have a second baby within 2 years.
Statistics from the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County indicate teen mothers are more likely to live in poverty, and less than half of all teen moms will ever graduate high school. Daughters born to teen moms are more likely to become teen mothers themselves, while a son is twice as likely to serve time in prison. Children of teen mothers are also more likely to be born prematurely.
The next event for Holy Ground Shelter is the 7th annual luncheon at the Kravis Center on January 21. Entertainer Avery Sommers will perform. For more information on the upcoming event or on Holy Ground Shelter’s capital campaign, please visit www.holygroundpbc.org. or email homeandhope@holygroundpbc.org.
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Kravis Center Hosting Magnifique Ballet Auditions Nov. 26
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Magnifique Winter Intensive Auditions
WHO: Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
WHAT: Auditions for the Magnifique Winter Intensive will be held at the Kravis Center on Sunday, Nov. 26, from 1-3:30 p.m. Students who are selected will participate in the Magnifique Winter Intensive, Jan 2-6, to train with ballet dancers and instructors from France in the pure tradition of l’Ecole Francaise (the French School).
Founded by Jean-Hugues Feray, former principal dancer with many international companies, including Ballet Florida and National Ballet de Marseille, the Magnifique Winter Intensive will feature faculty including Charles Jude, former star of the Paris Opera Ballet and now artistic director of the Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux; Muriel Maffre, former dancer with the Hamburg Ballet, Monte-Carlo Ballet and San Francisco Ballet; Olivier Pardina, former principal dancer with the Nice Opera House, Bejart Ballet and a principal teacher with the Miami City Ballet School and Stephanie Roublot, former dancer with Ballet de Nancy and now a principal dancer with the Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux.
WHERE: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33401.
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 26; 1-2 p.m. for grades 4-6 and 2-3:30 p.m. for grades 7-12
WHY: For over 25 years, the Kravis Center has helped students of all ages fuel their imaginations and expand their lives through comprehensive arts education programs. Last season, nearly 60,000 children from Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties attended performances, such as The Lightning Thief, presented in Dreyfoos Hall, through the S*T*A*R Series. The Center’s Admission Waiver Program ensures that no child is denied access to a performance based on ability to pay.
To register for the Magnifique Winter Intensive auditions, please call the Kravis Center Education Department at 561-651-4251 or visit parisballetdance.com. The audition fee is $35; the 5-day Magnifique Winter Intensive tuition is $495.
Wellington Student Speaks Live to Astronaut in Space!
PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENTS GET OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD OPPORTUNITY
Essay Winners Talk to Orbiting Astronaut Aboard the ISS at the Science Center
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) – About a dozen students from Palm Beach County got to live their dreams by speaking live with an orbiting astronaut on board the International Space Station. The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium recently hosted the ARISS (Amateur Radio on board the International Space Station) event. Students in grades 2-12 from public, private and home schools wrote a 250-word essay on the topic: “If you had a chance to ask an astronaut any question, what would it be and why?”
Paolo Nespoli, the Italian astronaut on board the ISS, answered the twelve winning questions while the space station orbited over the Georgia/Florida border. The communication was done through ham radio, thanks to one of the largest amateur radio organizations in the country that works with the Science Center. Traveling at 17,000 miles per hour 250 miles up in the air, the ISS was only in radio contact for eight minutes. But that was enough to change lives.
“Our sense of exploration, wonder and discovery in space is not dead,” said Lew Crampton, president and CEO of the Science Center. “We’re going to Mars, and some of these young people might be so inspired, they will take their place in history and further the mission. We’re all about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and this is the perfect event to inspire the next generation of explorers.”
Parents attended the event, watching each of their children speak into the radio to a human off this planet, adding to the excitement of the special day. Isabella Swiger from Western Pines Middle School asked Nespoli how he does laundry in space. Nespoli answered that water is too precious a resource to wash clothes, so they wear their shirts, underwear, socks, and pants until they throw them away. Nicholas Cruz from Calusa Elementary asked what experiment is helping better our lives on earth.Nespoli said he is working on a fire with flames that burn at a very low temperature.
The full list of students and questions are as follows:
Christopher Andersson, St. Andrew’s School, “What is the most unexpected discovery you have made when doing your science experiments on the International Space Station?”
Eli Fratello, Manatee Elementary, “What do you think the future of air travel will be?”
Kamia Williams, Glade View Elementary, “What is your favorite thing to do in space that feels different than it does here on Earth?”
Dishika Parikh, Elbridge Gale Elementary, “How easy or difficult is it for astronauts to adjust their body’s circadian rhythms knowing that it is always dark in space?”
Josetta Wang, Greenacres Elementary, “If you had suddenly received orders to turn back to earth, what would be the last think you do in space before you head back?”
Nicholas Cruz, Calusa Elementary, “What experiment do you consider to be the one that has best helped us live better on Earth, or one that has helped out the most with space exploration?”
Logan Roe, Everglades Elementary, “Can we launch a rocket from space or from the moon to make it to Mars?”
Hanna Soffan, The Benjamin School, “How does it feel to be at zero gravity?”
Anthony Williams, Roosevelt Middle, “How does an astronaut maneuver the rocket in space?”
Isabella Swiger, Western Pines Middle, “How do Astronauts manage their clothing and do you do laundry in space?”
Lucy Newmyer, Palm Beach Day Academy, “What was your biggest fear during your mission?”
Trakwon Harris, Gaines Park Community Center, “What are the steps of becoming an Astronaut?”
“This incredible opportunity coincides perfectly with our new blockbuster exhibit, Astronaut,” said Lew Crampton, President and CEO of the Science Center. “We are thrilled to open students’ minds to science, encouraging them to look to the sky and beyond for careers in space and STEM-related fields.”
Astronaut immerses visitors in the International Space Station, with hands-on exhibits of what it’s like to blast off into space, train like an astronaut and get an inside look on life off this planet. The exhibit will show what it’s like to sleep, eat, shower and even use the bathroom in space. Visitors will also get the chance to be absorbed in team problem-solving, to overcome challenges, and practice landing a capsule.
Sponsors of this event include BE Aerospace, Comcast, Discover the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach Cultural Council, Quantum Foundation, Tourism Development Council of Palm Beach County and WPBF.
The ARISS program was created and is managed by an international group of amateur radio organizations and space agencies including NASA. ARISS lets students worldwide experience the excitement of talking directly with crew members of the ISS, inspiring them to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and engaging them with radio science technology through amateur radio.
The mission of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is to “open every mind to science” and the indoor/outdoor venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” an interactive Everglades exhibit and the 18-hole Conservation Course – an outdoor putting course with science-focused education stations. For more information, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @SFScienceCenter.
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Pumpkin Cupcakes
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter,softened
- 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil, divided
- 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (236g) canned pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh strained orange juice
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese , at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 3 cups (380g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves for 20 seconds, set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together brown sugar and granulated sugar until no lumps remain. Add in butter and half of the oil and whip until pale and fluffy. Mix in remaining oil then blend in eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
- Add in 1/2 of the flour mixture then blend just until nearly combined then add in pumpkin and orange juice and mix until nearly combined. Add in last 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until nearly combined, then remove bowl from stand mixer and fold with a rubber spatula just until combined.
- Divide batter among 14 paper lined muffins cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake in preheated oven 18 – 22 minutes until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in muffin tin several minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool about 10 minutes. Then transfer to an airtight container to finish cooling (this just helps seal in moisture and keep them really moist).
For the cream cheese frosting:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar and whip until light and fluffy (at this point I recommend freezing or chilling frosting in refrigerator for a bit, returning to mixer and stirring occasionally, for a more stable consistency). Pipe or spread frosting over cupcakes then store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Bring nearly to room temp before serving.