Wellington to Host 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
at Patriot Memorial
The community is invited to join Wellington’s Council at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 11th, 2017 to honor the victims of September 11, 2001 at a remembrance ceremony. The ceremony will be held at the Patriot Memorial, located at 12198 Forest Hill Boulevard, next to Village Hall. The Village Council will make remarks and lay a wreath for those lost and affected by the attacks.
Wellington dedicated its Patriot Memorial six years ago on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The memorial includes one of the largest steel beams salvaged from the World Trade Center as well as an eternal flame, fountain, and etched glass panels inscribed with the names of the victims.
Patriot Memorial sponsorships, including personalized brick pavers, are still available through the Wellington Community Foundation. For more information, contact Susan Trzepacz at (561) 791-4000 or strzepacz@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.
Wellington Earns Top Honors for CAFR, 21 Years Running!
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) is awarding the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) to the Village of Wellington’s Office of Financial Management & Budget for the Fiscal Year 2016 CAFR. This certificate is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the highest standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.
This year’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is the 21st continuously earned. This accolade reflects the commitment the Village staff has for meeting the highest principles and best practices in governmental accounting and reporting.
The Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association serving nearly 19,000 appointed and elected local, state and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services, and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for governmentfinance policy and management.
For more information on the Wellington Aquatics Complex, or Fall swim lessons and programs, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/Aquatics.
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.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL- (August 31, 2017) Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League will host the Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 21, 2017, 9:30 am at Peggy Adams’ Berman Gardens located at 3200 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 am. This event is officiated by Father Frank and Rabbi Frank, who will bless all pets and also address pet parents gathering together to celebrate the animals that bring joy to our lives. With a suggested $10 donation, guests receive refreshments, a professional photo download and a certificate of blessing.
Father Frank was ordained a priest in 1996 and soon after was asked to co-officiate at his first Inter-Faith wedding with Rabbi Frank. Since then, the two are known as “The Dynamic Duo.” They have appeared on TV shows including Four Weddings on the TLC network.
For more information about the Blessing of the Animals at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League visit www.PeggyAdams.org.
About Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
The Mission of the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League of the Palm Beaches, Incorporated is to provide shelter to lost, homeless and unwanted animals, to provide spay and neuter and other medical services for companion animals, and to care for, protect, and find quality homes for homeless and neglected companion animals, to advocate animal welfare, community involvement and education to further the bond between people and animals. For more information, visit www.PeggyAdams.org.
The League is an independent nonprofit animal rescue organization operating continuously since 1925.
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League’s adoption center is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information, visit PeggyAdams.org or call 561.686.3663.
Tis the season for celebration! Celebrate the Holiday Season and celebrate their 15th Anniversary Season with the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches. This highly acclaimed children’s choir continually dazzles audiences with their experienced voices and high level of choral performance. This year’s holiday concert, Winter Tapestry 2017, will envelop you in the spirit of the season. The music selected weaves together many cultures and traditions to form one tapestry. Both familiar favorites and sacred Christmas songs combine with Hanukkah and global holiday music in this concert of unity. You will be delighted as you join in the holiday sing-along, be amazed as you hear the powerful George W. Mergens Memorial Organ, and spend the evening filled with joy thanks to the Young Singers’ vibrant song. Bring the whole family, there will be something familiar and something special for every age.
For further information, contact Young Singers at 561-659-2332 or email information@yspb.org.
This picture represents the first person I met at this school. Her name is Thias and she is a very sweet person. Now, what makes me like her so much is her personality. Not only is she kind, but she also accompanied me in opening up and talking to others. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has been touched by her kind and uplifting spirit. There are other new people that I know who have been influenced by her cheerful and loving spirit. Even though I’ve spent much of a time talking about Thias’ kind spirit, there are MUCH more impressive things about her that I love. She is EXTREMELY and I mean EXTREMELY smart. You can spit out any question, and she will have the answer prepared for you right away. I noticed that the first time and gave her the nickname “Google.” She hates the name, but I love it. Well as you repeatedly heard me say, I really love Thias for her spirit and everything else. She is probably one of the greatest people that I’ve met all week, and I hope we begin a friendship that lasts for the rest of the year and maybe even longer.
SMART AWARD WINNER (Student Mediator). Jayme DeRamus. Palm Beach Central High. President “Together Against Genocide” club. Organized PB Central “International Day of Tolerance” and made PB Central a “No Place to Hate” school.
Community Peace Award. Kathy Foster. 1st Mayor of Wellington. Founder. Wellington Cares.
Traditions Choir. (Palm Beach Central High) Director Scott Houchins.
May Peace Prevail on Earth. (read in 8 languages) Co-ord. Ravi Culbertson.
Peace Proclamation. Mayor Anne Gerwig.
Rotary Volunteers. Larry Kemp (Chair) Don Gross. Susan Odell. Amber Owen. Debbie Sanacore. Tom Carreras. Randy Pfeiffer. Jay Broder. Tom Eastwood.
The Republican Party of Palm Beach County’s 16th Annual Lobsterfest was held on Thursday, August 17, at the Polo Club of Boca, in Boca Raton, from 6 pm to 11 pm. The keynote speaker was James O’Keefe, an American conservative political activist, blogger and reporter. Other speakers that evening include Congressman Brian Mast, Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam, and Congressman Ron DeSantis. The event was emceed by former Congressman Mark Foley. Putnam is also running for Governor of the State of Florida in 2018. Photo by Carol Porter.Protest at Mar-a-Lago on August 20th, 2017. Photo by Carol Porter.Superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools Robert Avossa at the Central Palm Beach County Chamber luncheon, August 20 of 2017. Photo by Carol Porter.
CENTRAL PALM BEACH (August 29, 2017)—The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce will host an Economic Luncheon regarding Palm Beach County Mobility. The luncheon will feature keynote speakers, Nick Uhren, Executive Director of Palm Beach MPO, and Dave Howard, Chief Executive Officer of Brightline, who will give an update on the future of mobility within Palm Beach County. With a 1000 residents a day moving to Florida, Palm Beach County is preparing for the steady population growth. All Aboard Florida’s Brightline will be ready to launch by the end of 2017. The passenger rail service that will connect Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, plans to eventually extend the service north to Orlando International Airport.
The event will be held on November 2nd, 2017. It was rescheduled, after Hurricane Irma. Networking will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and the program will run from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. at Breakers West Country Club located at 1550 Flagler Parkway, West Palm Beach, Florida. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Register online at www.cpbchamber.com, or call the Chamber office (561) 790-6200 for more information.
This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors:
Sponsors: Brightline, Mercantil Bank, Waste Management, Wells Fargo
About the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce
The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to business advocacy, economic development, and education. From Cane-to-Coral the communities located within the Chamber’s footprint are: Acreage, Atlantis, Belle Glade, Greenacres, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Manalapan, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, Wellington, Westlake and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.cpbchamber.com.
Previously, I wrote about the use of fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin, or collagen for joint pain and possible repair. But, there are some other choices to manage joint pain, as well. One of the most touted is turmeric, also known as curcumin; Another is bromelain.
Most commonly, there are two divisions of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the age-related degeneration of joints and rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a set of standardized questionnaires used by health professionals to help determine the severity of joint degeneration.
Turmeric has been studied to be beneficial for people with osteoarthritis. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 160 patients with osteoarthritis, WOMAC scores showed improvement with time. The levels of the following inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers also showed improvement: viz., IL-1β, ROS, and MDA (Srivastava, et. al). Furthermore, in a rat model of human rheumatoid arthritis, ginger-turmeric mixed rhizomes proved effective against the severity of the disease (Ramadan, El-Menshawy). Some precautions to taking turmeric include avoiding blood-thinners. This is because turmeric, itself, is a blood thinner.
To address joint pain, some other people find bromelain to be helpful. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme found in pineapple stems. Essentially, it breaks down proteins. But, the important thing to know about bromelain is that it selectively breaks down inflammatory proteins which happen to cause pain in the joints. In a review study from the School of Physician Assistant Studies, bromelain combination therapy was found to be as effective as NSAID’s to relieve joint pain in patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Specifically, combination oral enzyme therapy with bromelain, trypsin, and the antioxidant rutosid, resulted in no significant differences in registered pain at rest, pain with movement, Lequesne’s Functional Index, joint stiffness, range of motion, or swelling in the affected joint.
Bromelain does interact with some common antibiotics by increasing its amount and is also thought to slow the effects of anticoagulants. So, please talk to your healthcare provider before beginning any supplement regimen. For joint pain, ask about turmeric or bromelain and discuss whether or not they’re appropriate for you.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure disease.
Sources:
Srivastava, S; Saksena, AK; Khattri, S; Kumar, S; Dagur, R. Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Inflammopharmacology. 2016 Dec;24(6):377-388.
Ramadan, G; El-Menshawy, O. Protective effects of ginger-turmeric rhizomes mixture on joint inflammation, atherogenesis, kidney dysfunction and other complications in a rat model of human rheumatoid arthritis. International journal of rheumatic diseases. 2013 Apr;16(2):219-29
Bradley, Paul. Bromelain Containing Enzyme-Rutosid Combination Therapy is as Effective as Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents for Treatment of Osteoarthritis. School of Physician Assistant Studies. 2014;475.
As summer comes to a close and the temperatures start to drop a bit—well, maybe 5 degrees—it’s a good time to try something new for your weekends. How about a camping trip? Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you pitch a tent and sleep on the hard ground surrounded by all types of creepy crawly critters—unless that’s your thing, of course. I’m talking about glamping as in glamour camping.
If you’re unfamiliar, glamping elevates camping to a level that’s civilized. It comes with a real bed, real furniture, real toilets, real showers and air conditioning. Isn’t that the best news you’ve heard today? Or ever? It was for me. As a grandmom I’m expected to do cool things with the grandkids. They think camping is cool. Glamping makes it work.
Yes, we do love Westgate River Ranch!
I recently had the opportunity to experience glamping with my six-year-old grandson, Benjamin. Our destination: the Westgate River Ranch in Central Florida. Located along Highway 60 in the heart of Florida, the Westgate River Ranch has been a place filled with family fun since the 1960s. It’s evolved into the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi River. Situated on 1700 acres and surrounded by over 400 acres of protected wetlands, the ranch is an oasis of moss draped trees, pastures of grazing livestock and serene waterways. And at its center, the answer to my camping dilemma—glampsites!
A “campsite” even a grandmom can love!
Glamping Tents are Nice…Really Nice!
We arrived at the Westgate River Ranch on a sunny afternoon. After checking in and picking up our golf cart, we set out to find our home for the night—and we liked what we found. The glampsite is comprised of 20 canvas safari tents set on platforms amid trees with branches just low enough for climbing. Each tent has a picnic table along with a charcoal grill.
Benjamin was delighted at the real canvas tent complete with zippers and tie-backs. I was THRILLED with the king-size bed, two additional twin-size beds and two chest of drawers. And I was even more thrilled with the air conditioning.
Each unit has a private bathroom with a REAL sink, shower and toilet. It’s a miracle really. Bathrooms are located in a brightly lit and secure bathhouse just across the path. Soft fluffy towels are provided as well as amenities: soap, shampoo and conditioner. And, each individual bathroom is locked for privacy.
Oh, did I mention we had our own Personal Glamping Concierge? Yes, that’s right. Our concierge was there to make any reservations we needed for activities and handle special requests. You don’t get that when you’re sleeping on the ground—or at home for that matter.
Serious luxury in a Luxe Teepee at Takoda Village
Want More Luxury? You Can Have That too!
If you want to amp up the luxury quotient, check out Westgate River Ranch’s latest addition: Takoda Village. Located in an exclusive section of the ranch amid 100-year-old oak trees, Takoda Village is comprised of 10 651-square-foot Native American themed Luxe TeePees. Each TeePee is outfitted with a double-sided stone rock hearth fireplace, screened private patio deck, leather chairs, a king bed, full sleeper sofa, air conditioning and heating. And each Luxe Teepee has its own private ensuite bathroom with vanity and porcelain cast iron claw bathtub and shower.
With either glamping option, you may actually forget you’re in the woods, at least until you step outside and take in that night sky with all those stars!
Every camping or glamping trip needs S’mores!
Adventures By Day
After a fun night of exploring, making s’mores, and chatting with our glamping neighbors, Benjamin and I settled in for a good night’s sleep. When morning arrive—and it arrived very early with an excited little boy in the tent—we unzipped our tent and found a lovely surprise. On the porch was a pot of coffee and a large basket filled with fruit and sinfully delicious cinnamon rolls.
We had a full day ahead, starting with a lesson in archery which Benjamin passed and I failed miserably. Apparently your arrows are supposed to go forward not backwards when you release the bow. Who knew?
Up next was a visit to the petting farm where peacocks strutted about, their iridescent blue and green plumage on full display. And baby goats wandered freely about hoping to pick up a little extra food. There was even a mama-to-be goat waddling around—bless her heart.
The ranch also offers horseback riding, swimming, golf, trap and skeet shooting, hayrides, swamp buggy rides and a full service marina. On Saturday nights, the championship rodeo takes center stage with trick riding, bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing. There’s even a saloon—which I didn’t take my grandson to, just so we’re clear.
Success on our swamp safari!
Taking it to the River
Before arriving at Westgate River Ranch I had never ridden on an airboat despite having lived in Florida for 35 years before I moved to New York. And while it was never a big bucket list item, it was something I had always wanted to do. So Benjamin and I climbed aboard for an airboat ride on the Kissimmee River for our own little swamp safari.
Along the way the captain pointed out wildlife along the way. We spotted baby alligators with mama gators nearby keeping a watchful eye. Egrets, herons, hawks and bald eagles also made appearances as we sped through the murky waters. At one point we were under the close observation of a herd of cattle grazing near the riverbank.
Riding the bull in the Adventure Park
Adventures Benjamin Style
We ended our day at the adventure park—a kid’s dream come true. With miniature golf, a bungee jump, rock-climbing wall and a mechanical bull—Benjamin thought he had hit the adventure jackpot. He tried it all and was especially proud of himself when he made it to the top of the rock climbing wall.
What You Need to Know
Traditional glamping accommodations are priced around $199 for double occupancy and include lodging, linens, toiletries, breakfast basket and a Personal Glamping Concierge. Additional fees apply for certain ranch activities. Luxe Teepees in Takoda Village start at $450 per night with a two night minimum. Rates are all-inclusive. For more information and to book your glamping reservations visit www.westgateresorts.com.
Happy Camper!
Elsewhere in Central Florida
It took some convincing to get Benjamin to leave the adventure park. I coaxed him into it with tickets to Cirque du Soleil La Nouba at Disney Springs where I assured him the performers could show him some new climbing techniques for future rock climbing ventures. This fantastic show runs through December 31st, so carve out a little extra time to check it out if you haven’t been. It’s incredible. Benjamin actually sat still to watch the full show—and that in itself is no minor miracle. Get more information here.Â
Natural Insight
