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A Tribute to Tribute Bands

Angela Shaw
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A Tribute to Tribute Bands

Cultural Corner

A Tribute to Tribute Bands

By Angela Shaw

They’re popping up all over.  Music fans—especially midcentury-born enthusiasts—couldn’t be happier. They can experience their teenage music several times a month here in South Florida.  The music of Billy Joel, the Supremes, Temptations, and Bruce Springsteen are just a ticket and a short drive away.  In fact, in July alone the Wellington Amphitheatre will feature The Beach Boys and Johnny Cash, Jimmy Hendrix and The Beatles.

Last Sunday I took in a Donna Summer tribute sung by her sister, Mary Gaines Bernard.  Because Mary was Donna’s sibling—and sang back-up for a good part of her career—Mary’s look and sound was spot-on to the Disco Queen’s.

Since I was new to the tribute band phenomena, I was struck by the audience’s raucous response. They were up and dancing and singing along for the entire concert. Afterward, I overheard some folks talking. “Yeah, wasn’t this great?  There’s a Rod Stewart band playing in a couple of weeks. We’ll come by and pick you up.” Following your favorite old band has become an area pastime.

Tribute bands began to gain popularity in the mid-90s. Some say it was a response to rap music, and the market’s inability to embrace the new inner city genre. Tribute bands were a welcomed throw-back.  Others criticize tribute acts because they feel they’re not authentic. The musicians are likened to posers and wannabes who never made their own mark. But for many, the music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s had an integral part of their youth, and the mere sound—even just a few bars of a song’s introduction—can jolt the listener back to the glory days of adolescence. It’s a trip to the past, transporting them to more carefree and footloose days.

Today, the tribute bands have been accepted just as any another type, like cover bands, dance bands, etc.  Documentaries, TV shows and multiple articles have been devoted to the subject. 

With more than 100 acts playing here in South Florida, audiences have cultivated detailed expectations from their favorite throw-backs. From ABBA to ZZTop, the Beatles to Bon Jovi, there are specific requirements that make up a top-notch tribute band.

 

 

 

 

First and foremost, they must look the part, which includes, hair length and color, hats, glasses (or none), facial hair or not, costumes and shoes.  Casting is as critical as talent.  Imagine Elton John without platform shoes and funky glasses; or Stevie Nicks without a black shawl and a fringed scarf flowing from her tambourine, or Elvis without a collared, bell-bottom suit and ankle boots. The visual personality must replicate the Real McCoy.  Reba McEntire is not Reba without red hair.

Part of that ‘image’ is mannerisms and gestures.  Sound-alike artists study video upon video to learn how the celebrity comes across on stage.  Do they pace, jump, lean, or dance while performing, like Janis Joplin, Michael Jackson or Tina Turner?  Or do they sit calmly on a stool—acoustic guitar in hand—like James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and Simon and Garfunkel? Hand gestures and singing style are key features that a tribute artist works to imitate.

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously, the group is expected to play their songs as close to the recording as possible. Vocal timbre is huge.  It wouldn’t be Joe Cocker or Rod Stewart if they didn’t have a gritty voice. Without stacked harmonies, The Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac would not sound authentic. Garth Brooks imitators better have a twang, and Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond’s vocal range better live in the basement. Song arrangements stay tightly within the reins of their radio or CD likenesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rather than replicate the music exactly, some groups have exercised creative liberty and added a twist to their show. In 2009, an all-girl band called Blonde Jovi remixed Bon Jovi’s music (and incidentally, caught a law-suit from the latter and changed their name for a brief life afterward).  Beatallica does a Metallica version of Beatles tunes. (They also got in trouble with Sony Music, but won). And the boys in Dread Zeppelin do Led Zeppelin in a reggae style. Many of these copy-cat groups have developed a following of their own.

Tribute bands offer music-lovers the chance to relive that unique moment a hit was first heard on the radio or in concert. And audiences are not comprised of just aging rockers who grew up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  Plenty of today’s young adults can be found moving and grooving to Elton John, the Doors, James Taylor or Rush.

Younger concert goers can also hear shows that feature existing artists, like Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, and Dave Matthews.  Rather than bring back the past, some tribute acts are simply riding the wave of current pop successes, and peddling acts such as Adele, One Direction, and Beyonce.

But, whatever your musical taste is, somebody’s playing it at a venue or amphitheatre near you. Take advantage of the Tribute Band trend and go hear yesterday’s favorite Top 40 tunes, today.

Mom’s Vacation

Melanie Lewis
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Mom’s Vacation

Mommy Moments

Mom’s Vacation

By Melanie Lewis
 
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy”, goes the song made famous by Ella
Fitzgerald. And it will be because the kids are going to sleepover camp!!! My house
will remain clean and quiet; a zen-filled sanctuary to practice my abysmal yoga,
read a book and drive myself without listening to Harry Potter, again. The kids are
like mini-dementors sucking the soul out. I’m going to take my slice of the pie. To
start out my 3 weeks of spicy meals, chick flicks and going to a kid-free fitness
center. This is the best vacation!
 
I’m having my kids let you know what they think about summer vacation:
 
Summer reading is really a sneaky way teachers are making us work over the
summer. Summer is supposed to be “chill”. Chores are boring. Chores are more
work. Playing is fun! Screen time is fun! The best part of summer is the bonfire
roasting marshmallows and making smores. I like to ride my bike and have stick
duels with my brother. I can climb trees and record it with my friends and his go-
pro. I can’t wait to go to camp. It’s the best food in the entire world. They also
make stuff called bug juice. Awesome sweetness. We play a card game called
poo-head during quiet time. I sleep so good after a day of playing capture the
flag! This is the best vacation!
 
Have a great summer!

Canine Influenza

Cristina Anzures
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Canine Influenza

Paws-itive Press

Canine Influenza

By Cristina Anzures of Anzer Animal Hospital

The recent outbreak of canine influenza in the southeast U.S. has many owners checking their pets for dog flu symptoms.

Canine influenza, or dog flu, is a highly contagious infection caused by an influenza A virus.

Canine influenza is a reportable disease in some U.S. states.

The first recognized U.S. outbreak of H3N2 canine influenza occurred in 2015, starting in Chicago and spreading to other Midwestern states. Since March 2015, outbreaks have occurred in a number of areas throughout the U.S. and thousands of dogs have been confirmed positive for the H3N2 virus. 

Outbreaks are more commonly seen in situations where groups of susceptible dogs are in close contact, such as shelters, kennels, dog day care facilities, and grooming or boarding facilities.

Canine influenza is spread via aerosolized respiratory secretions (via coughing, barking and sneezing) and contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes) and people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. The virus can remain viable (alive and able to infect) on surfaces for up to 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours, and on hands for 12 hours.

The incubation period is usually two to four days from exposure to onset of clinical signs. The highest amounts of viral shedding occur during this time; therefore, dogs are most contagious during this 2-4 day incubation period when they are not exhibiting signs of illness. Virus shedding decreases dramatically during the first 4 days of illness but may continue up to 7 days in most dogs and up to 10 days in some dogs with H3N8 canine influenza. Intermittent H3N2 shedding for up to 26 days can occur; therefore, dogs infected with H3N2 should be isolated for at least 21 days. 

There are several symptoms of dog flu all owners need to be aware of. Dog flu can range from mild to severe and, unlike human influenza, is not seasonal. Dogs affected by the virus will have symptoms like coughing (both moist and dry), sneezing, nasal discharge, purulent nasal discharge, runny eyes, fever, lethargy, and difficulty in breathing, according to American Kennel Club.

Although most cases of dog flu are mild, severe cases do occur as well. In these cases, dogs develop pneumonia, difficulty in breathing, and a high fever. Fortunately, the mortality rate of dog flu is relatively low, with less than 10 percent of dog flu cases resulting in fatalities. Dog owners should still take their dogs to the vet, as secondary infections can develop from the virus

The dog flu vaccine is typically recommended according to how active your dog is, if the animal regularly spends time in kennels, or if you live in an area with a high incidence of dog flu.

If your dog has a high risk of contracting canine influenza, your veterinarian may recommend the H3N2 vaccine as a precaution.

According to the AVMA, the canine influenza vaccine is a ‘lifestyle’ vaccine and is not recommended for every dog. In general, the vaccine is intended for the protection of dogs at risk for exposure to the canine influenza virus, which includes those that either participate in activities with many other dogs.

Why Does Fibromyalgia Occur in Rheumatoid Arthritis…

Jonathon Chung
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Why Does Fibromyalgia Occur in Rheumatoid Arthritis…

Ask the Docs

Why Does Fibromyalgia Occur in Rheumatoid Arthritis – a Neurological Perspective

By Dr. Jonathan Chung

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia

When working with a large number of patients with chronic pain and illness, you begin to notice patterns in relationship to certain illnesses. One of the more common trends I see today is the association between having an inflammatory illness like rheumatoid arthritis along with widespread body pain like fibromyalgia.

Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia share some commonalities in that they disproportionately affect women more than men, are associated with flare-ups of increased pain intensity, and are chronic illnesses with no cure. Although they are separate and distinct health issues, it seems that if you have an inflammatory illness like rheumatoid arthritis, 10-15% of these patients are likely to report the widespread body pain of fibromyalgia. Let’s see if we can break this phenomenon down.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Illnesses

Rheumatoid arthritis falls into a class of inflammatory disorders where flare-ups of inflammation can create damage to joints throughout the body. The pain from these flare-ups can be debilitating, and the damage done to the joints can be quite severe when left untreated.

CanStock Photo

Notice the deformity of the thumb and index finger on the right hand. CanStock Photo

The damage to these joints is caused by an autoimmune reaction. Autoimmune disease is a condition where the body’s own defenses inadvertently create harm to the body itself. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, antibodies can build up in the joint spaces and cause other immune cells to create an inflammatory reaction in the area. This is where people can feel the heat, swelling, and pain that is known to occur in flare ups.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have arthritic flare ups affect joints like the hands, toes, and neck. However, they are also more prone to widespread pain in other regions not associated with an arthritic breakdown. Why would pain exist in an area that is not associated with inflammation and destruction of the joint?

Chronic Pain: Central  Mechanisms

Pain is an extremely complex phenomenon. We generally think of pain having a direct relationship to tissue damage. When we get a cut, sprain an ankle, or break a bone we expect that pain will occur because of the injury. Therefore it’s not surprising that the pain and destruction from a rheumatoid arthritis attack to be very painful.

However, we also know that pain can occur long after an injury has healed, and even in the absence of injury whatsoever. This is what happens in patients with the widespread pain of fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia often have nothing to point to as a cause of their pain. It’s an enigma that makes chronic pain syndromes so frustrating because they have no test or image to prove why they feel so poorly.

Many suspect that this widespread body pain may be from dysfunction at the level of the central nervous system. In normal circumstances, the brain has a few ways of controlling how much pain it will feel.  This ensures that our bodies don’t overreact to normal everyday stimuli and interpret as painful.

One mechanism is by pain inhibition. Pain inhibition involves the brain using it’s own pharmacy of pain killing chemicals to stop a pain signal from going up the spinal cord.

Pain can be inhibited by chemical pathways inherent in the brain.

Studies on patients with rheumatoid arthritis have shown that the brain’s ability to inhibit pain becomes compromised leading to an increase in pain with normal stimulation. [Source]

Pain Inhibition broken

When your brain has difficulty inhibiting pain, then you begin to feel it in places where there’s no injury

Another way that the brain can modulate pain is through a concept known as the pain gate. The pain gate operates on the idea that pain has to hit a certain threshold for it to be consciously perceived in the brain. In this way, it allows the brain to ignore things that aren’t causing much damage or risk.

In a perfect system, you would only feel pain when you have actually created injury or are under imminent threat of injury. However, this appears to be another mechanism that gets disrupted in chronic pain patients. When people have chronic pain, it probably means that the gate that is meant to block most of your pain is letting everything in.

Pain Gate Theory

 Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Break This System Down?

The main treatment for inflammatory arthritis focuses on managing inflammation. Most patients with this type of arthritis will take a wide variety of anti-inflammatories that cover a wide spectrum. They include drugs that specifically target the inflammation associated with RA like Trexall, immune modifying biologics like Humira, and go all the way down to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen.

In many of these cases, the inflammatory pain of arthritis is under control by these drugs, yet the widespread body pain persists. We don’t really know how or why these inflammatory disorders can lead to pain sensitization, but studying other acute pain conditions may give us some clues.

Studies done on patients with acute pain from a traumatic injury and post-surgery pain issues. When someone suffers from the pain of a major injury, the neurons associated with the pain response start to fire more frequently to guard against the area of injury. This is only supposed to be a short term response to significant injury, but in some cases these changes become persist through a phenomenon known as plasticity. When these spinal cord neurons stay hypersensitive, it means that a person’s nervous system will become hypersensitive to the pain response. [Source]

While inflammatory arthritis isn’t necessarily an injury in the classic terms, make no mistake that inflammation can create a significant amount of tissue damage when it goes unchecked.

Making Your Nervous System Less Sensitive

If the nervous system can be made more sensitive by persistent pain, can it work in the opposite direction? A lot of the research on pain has been focused on targeting these mechanisms which has lead to a higher usage of opioid medications. The obvious problem is that opioids are highly addictive and has become a major public health issue.

There is a growing need for non-pharmacologic interventions to address these chronic pain issues, and fortunately, there are some that can be really effective. In cases of chronic pain, the best approach is one that addresses a person from a mental and physical standpoint rather than chasing after a holy grail treatment.

When you look at the pain gate theory image, you can see that the factors that impact your pain threshold include brain and spinal input which exercise and chiropractic adjustments can play a major role. Things like memories, emotions, expectations, and attention are all factors that can be changed with neuropsychological therapy. Out of that entire list, everything except your genes are modifiable factors.

Our approach to chiropractic is focused on the head and neck, which has been shown in at least one study to improve long term outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome when combined with exercise and cognitive based therapy. You can read more about that in a previous article below:

Fibromyalgia and the Atlas

Conclusion

At the end of the day, there is no cures for rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia yet. There may not be cures for years to come. However, many people with these illnesses can see their quality of life improve by addressing some of the neurological consequences of the disease.

July, 2017 Loggerhead Events

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July, 2017 Loggerhead Events

July Loggerhead Events

At the Loggerhead Marine Life Center

14200 U.S. Highway One | Juno Beach, FL 33408
  • Beach Cleanup: Firework Debris – July 5th
    • 9am-10am
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
    • Each year, there are many coastal celebrations around July 4th that leave unwanted debris on our beaches and coastal parks from celebratory fireworks, streamers and/or balloons. Join LMC staff and volunteers as we trek our local beaches and collect discarded debris to keep our oceans clean, blue and trash free! If making a cleaner ocean for marine life isn’t enough, clean-up participants will each receive one drawing ticket for a chance to win a several awesome prizes, including a sea turtle adoption and plushie! Clean-up will begin at 9:00am on the back deck of LMC and last until 10:00am. Debris removed from all clean-up efforts get sorted, recorded and properly disposed by our amazing Sorting Team. For more information, please contact Demi Fox at dfox@marinelife.org.
  • Blue Friends Beach Clean-Up – July 15th
    • 8:30am-10am
    • FREE
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
    • Join Lynne Wells and her group of Blue Friends on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. for the monthly beach clean-up.  Following 1-hour of cleaning the beach, join us for a light bite sponsored by Whole Foods Market in Palm Beach Gardens. Help us keep the very beach that our turtles call home free from trash and litter. Complimentary breakfast and coffee by Oceana Coffee will be served. Please RSVP to bluefriends@marinelife.org.
  • Kids Pier Fishing Program – July 1st & July 8th
    • 8am-11am
    • Cost: $10
    • Juno Beach Pier
      14775 U.S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
    • Participants will learn basic techniques for fishing from both a beach and a fishing pier including knot tying, casting, species identification, and proper release protocols. In addition to fishing skills, participants will learn to be ethical anglers. Limited space available. Email kufford@marinelife.orgto register.
  • 2017 Guided Turtle Walks (Wednesday –Saturday Evenings in July; 1st. 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th,20th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th)
  • 8:40pm -12am – Doors open at 8:40 pm and close at 9 pm.
  • Pre-registration is required | Maximum number of 30 people
  • $17 per person or $12 per person for LMC members. $20 for walk-ins.
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
  • Children must be 8 years and older to attend the walks and all participants must be able to walk up to a half mile.
  • A Turtle Walk is a unique program that allows our visitors to learn about, and observe, the nesting and egg-laying process of sea turtles.  Experienced Loggerhead Marinelife Center scouts will patrol our designated section of Juno Beach searching for sea turtles while visitors enjoy an informative presentation on the plight of sea turtles, and take an exclusive, behind-the-gate tour to meet our current sea turtle patients.  Once a loggerhead sea turtle is found and begins her egg-laying process, the group is then led down to the beach to witness this unforgettable experience.

 

  • Research Lab (Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 28th, 29th)
  • FREE | No pre-registration required.
  • Wednesdays 3:30pm-4pm
  • Fridays 3:30pm-4pm
    • Saturdays 11am-11:30am, 1pm-1:30pm 2pm-2:30pm
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
    • Children come to the aid of sea turtle hatchlings as junior researchers learn about the nesting process and hatchling care at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in this 30 minute program. Children will perform a mock excavation and learn about why long term data collection is important to sea turtle conservation and will release their hatchlings out to sea.
    • Program limited to 10 children. Registration takes place 30 minutes prior and is given on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Fish Feeding (Every Tuesday & Saturday:4th, 8th, 11th, 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25ht, 29th)
  • FREE | No pre-registration required.
  • 3pm-3:20pm
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
  • Stop by our exhibit hall and take a trip through Florida’s Coastal Ecosystems. Watch the unique and interesting creatures that inhabit our aquariums.  Learn about different feeding behaviors and food choices as our fish, corals, anemones and much more chow down.

 

  • Public Guided Tour (Every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday:)
  • Tours are $7 per adult/ $5 per child under 12/ Children under 3 are Free!
  • Sunday 12pm-1pm
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 2pm-3pm
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
  • No pre-registration required.
  • Public guided tours are offered every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.  If you’ve ever wondered about the fish in our tanks or the turtle patients in our yard, this is the tour for you.  Lasting an hour, these tours are led by educational docents who will answer all your burning questions. Sign-in at the Guest Services desk in the main lobby.

 

  • Dr. Logger Show (Every Sunday: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th)
  • FREE | No pre-registration required.
  • 2pm-2:30pm
    • Loggerhead Marinelife Center
      14200 S. Hwy 1
      Juno Beach, FL 33408
  • Logger is an educational ambassador for sea turtles. Through an interactive show, Dr. Logger educates the audience on the life of a sea turtle, by addressing various topics: threats, nesting, anatomy, lifestyle, etc. This 30 minute show is for guests of all ages, it’s interactive with the audience and fast-paced.  No pre-registration is required.

Boston’s on the Beach Announces An Intimate Evening with Ambrosia and John Ford Coley

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Boston’s on the Beach Announces An Intimate Evening with Ambrosia and John Ford Coley

Boston’s on the Beach Announces An Intimate Evening with Ambrosia and John Ford Coley

Delray Beach, Fla. – For one night only on Saturday, July 1, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, American rock and roll band Ambrosia will make its first live appearance at the legendary Boston’s on the Beach. 

Los Angeles quartet Ambrosia, whose founding members included bassist and vocalist Joe Puerta, keyboardist Christopher North, and drummer Burleigh Drummond, fused symphonic art rock with a slickly produced pop sound. 

Originally discovered in 1971 by Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Zubin Mehta, who invited Ambrosia to play with the orchestra in the “All-American Dream Concert” at the Hollywood Bowl, it took the young band four more years to secure a record contract. When Ambrosia was released in 1975, the eponymous album spawned the chart singles “Holdin’ on to Yesterday” and “Nice, Nice, Very Nice.” (The latter was based on Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle.) In 1977, Ambrosia scored another big hit in 1977 with a cover of The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour”” from the film All This and World War II, in which they also made a special appearance. More hits followed, including “How Much I Feel,” “Biggest Part of Me,” and “You’re the Only Woman.”

Today, the five-time, Grammy-nominated band has undergone a creative reshuffling. With three of the original members intact, the band now features guitar ace Doug Jackson on electric guitar and backing vocals, Mary Harris on keyboards and vocals, and Ken Stacey on lead vocals and acoustic guitar.

Ambrosia is joined onstage by the American singing legend John Ford Coley. Classically trained on piano and an avid guitarist, Coley is most revered as half of the Grammy-nominated duo, England Dan and John Ford Coley. Today, he continues to perform his platinum and gold record hits for audiences around the world, including classic hits like “Love Is the Answer,” “Gone Too Far,” “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again,” “Simone,” and “Nights Are Forever Without You.”

Tickets start at $30 per person. For more information and ticket pricing, visit bostonsonthebeach.com/live-music. 

 

Boston’s on the Beach is located at 40 South Ocean Blvd. A1A, Delray Beach, Florida. For more information or to make reservations, please visit us online at bostonsonthebeach.com or call 561.278.3364.

WELLINGTON’S WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE TEAM 32nd IN THE NATION

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WELLINGTON’S WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE TEAM 32nd IN THE NATION

WELLINGTON’S WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE TEAM 32nd IN THE NATION

The Florida Oceanfront National Speech & Debate Association District’s World Schools Debate team – comprised of Wellington High School’s Caramen McDaniel, Brandon Schloss, Christopher Slaughter, and Connor Yeackley – went 4-2 in preliminary rounds and placed 32nd out of 175 teams at the 2017 NSDA National Championship Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, June 19-23.

In addition, McDaniel was officially recognized as the 5th-best speaker out of more than 900 competitors in WSD. This makes her the highest-finishing Wellington debate student in NSDA history.

Wellington Debate Coach Paul Gaba said the team’s success was based on a strong work ethic and the ability for his students to focus on the task at hand.

“World Schools Debate is a relatively new event in the United States, and this was the first time any of these students competed on the national scale in this event,” Gaba said. “We essentially had only two weeks to prepare for the national championship, because of semester exams and post-graduation schedule conflicts for the seniors on the team.

“But we worked hard those two weeks, and I think the results prove that,” Gaba said.

McDaniel and Yeackley just graduated from Wellington, while Schloss and Slaughter are entering their senior year.

The preparation included daily three-hour-long workshops where the team met to research, organize, write, and re-write eight prepared speeches, as well as travel to Coral Springs, Orlando, and Tampa to scrimmage against other WSD teams from neighboring Florida NSDA districts.

The Florida Oceanfront team lost in double-octafinals on a 2-1 decision to the top-seeded (and eventual national runner-up) team from East Texas. But Gaba noted it was the most successful district performance in the event.

“My goal was for them to be competitive, because there’s so many factors that come into play in debate rounds,” Gaba said. These factors can include judge bias on a topic, fatigue, or how effective the arguments are made or responded to by students.

World Schools Debate is a three-on-three format. While a given team may consist of five members, only three students from a team participate in a given debate. Teams are assigned one of two sides in each round – either the “government team” proposing the motion, or the opposition team advocating the rejection of the motion.

Resolutions come in two types: prepared motions and impromptu motions. Prepared debate motions included whether the rise of alternative media is a good thing, whether compulsive climate science education should be taught in secondary schools, whether sanctions on Russia should be increased, and whether the commercialization of feminism has been detrimental to the movement.

Impromptu motions included whether police officers implicated in the deaths of unarmed civilians should be automatically indicted, whether governments should support paid parental leave, and whether medically non-essential cosmetic plastic surgery should be banned.

All topics needed to be debated from a global perspective, meaning teams needed to stay away from United States-specific argumentation. And while teams had advance time to research and put together arguments on prepared motions, they only had one hour in which to structure impromptu arguments, and had to do so without internet access; their only resources were a dictionary and an almanac.

In addition to success in World Schools Debate, McDaniel also went 7-2 in Extemporaneous Speaking, finishing tied for 19th overall (out of 915 competitors).

For more information about Wellington Debate, visit www.wellingtondebate.com, or follow the team on Twitter (@RedDawnDebaters).

Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County Invites the Public to 22 Informative, Fun and Tasty Horticultural Events in July & August

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Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County Invites the Public to 22 Informative, Fun and Tasty Horticultural Events in July & August

Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County Invites the Public to 22 Informative, Fun and Tasty Horticultural Events in July & August


· Yoga in the Garden – July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, August 6, 13, 20 & 27
· Orchid Trilogy – July 8, 15 & 22
· Summer Evening Stroll – July 12 & August 9
· Cooking in the Garden – July 14 & 20, August 14 & 17
· Member Appreciation Day – July 15
· Propagation: Increasing Your Numbers – August 9
· Making a Garden Trough: The Hypertufa Process – August 24
· Qigong/Tai Chi in the Garden – August 31

(West Palm Beach, FL – June 21, 2017) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting 22, informative and tasty horticultural events during July and August, including the launch of four exciting new series: Orchid Trilogy on sequential Saturdays in July; Cooking in the Garden with Chef Nina Kauder of Bean Scene; Yoga in the Garden on Sunday mornings at 8 am; and, starting on August 31, Qigong/Tai Chi in the Garden.

July
NEW!
Yoga in the Garden
Summer Sunday Serenity
Sundays, July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 – 8 am
At the Hutcheson Portico Area (Back of Garden)
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Kristen Peterson, Yoga Teacher
What better way to relax, refresh, and reflect than practicing yoga in the tropical landscape of Mounts Botanical Garden? When postures, breath work and nature come together, there is potential to create an experience of connecting back to our environment. The sounds of nature itself can often remind attendees to center awareness, breathe more deeply, and work on stillness. In this “all-levels class” (with modifications for beginners and advanced practitioners) participants will be invited to embrace the elements, become more attune to their breath and gently move through postures that reflect nature. In this weekly series of yoga classes at Mounts, participants will connect to their bodies, connect to their breath and, by practicing outdoors, connect to the earth. A release waiver will be provided prior to the start of each yoga session.

Orchid Trilogy
Saturday, July 8, 15 & 22 – 10 am to 1 pm
Mounts Auditorium
For all three classes: $95 for members; $105 for nonmembers
Per class: $40 for members; $45 for nonmembers
Instructor: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
+ July 8 Topic: Orchid Basics – Newcomers to orchids will learn how to choose the correct orchids for their growing area and what they need – water, light, fertilizer, temperature, so they grow and flower beautifully. (Note: Growing supplies will be available for purchase at the class.)
+ July 15 topic: Orchid Repotting & Mounting
Learn how often an Orchid should be repotted, about different potting medias, the proper type of basket or pot to use or how to mount Orchids such as tree fern or cork. Demonstrations will be given.
+ July 22 – Training Your Eye – Orchid Pests and Diseases
Learn about pests and diseases that harm orchids. From bacteria and fungal rot to insects such as thrips, scale, snails and spider mites. Students will learn how to identify the culprits, what products to use to get rid of them, as well as what to do to avoid them in the future. This is information needed to know how to grow the best orchids possible. Orchids or orchid leaves may be brought in for diagnosis, but must be placed in plastic bags to prevent contaminating other plants.

Summer Evening Stroll
Wednesday, July 12 – 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Meet at the Garden Entrance on Military Trail
FREE for members; $10 for nonmembers
The best way to become acquainted with Mounts Botanical Garden is to take a sensory walking tour through specific demonstration gardens while enjoying the scents and sights of various fragrant plants and blooming flowers. Learn fascinating facts about the Garden’s history, visit demonstration garden, and tour the new Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden with its see-through walkways and waterfalls. Invite friends and family for these special evenings in our Garden.

Cooking in the Garden
Creative Culinary Class with Chef Nina of Bean Scene Productions
Topic: Detox
Friday, July 14 – 6 to 8 pm
Mounts Pavilion
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Chef Nina Kauder, Organic, Plant-Based Chef & Green Champion
Join popular chef and urban farmer Nina Kauder for these informative, fun, and hands-on presentations. Chef Nina’s classes have been recognized by Florida Weekly’s The Best of 2017 for Palm Beach County! Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Nina is a local expert in organic, sustainable, and nutritious eats. Learn how to immediately implement tricks of the trade in your own kitchen and quickly leapfrog your culinary IQ—from how you interact with food, ingredients, and ways to pair and enjoy! Learn techniques that liberate, encourage experimentation, and give voice to your creative, unique culinary expression, from “mise en place” to knife skills. Discover money-saving tricks to enhance nutrients from using every part of the produce—skin, rind, peel, pit, and all. Learn a working vocabulary of tastes and textures, as well as how to use the bounty from Mounts and your South Florida yard. Don’t miss out on this refreshing, wholesome, and educational culinary adventure.
(Note: Please let Mounts know ahead of time of any food allergies, such as a nut allergy.)

Member Appreciation Day
Saturday, July 15 – 10 am to 3 pm
FREE for all members
All members enjoy a special day in the Garden including 20 percent off of everything in the Nursery and Garden Shop, complimentary docent guided tours through the new Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden, complimentary beverages and snacks, and major exhibit announcement.

Cooking in the Garden
Creative Culinary Class with Chef Nina of Bean Scene Productions
Topic: Hydrate
Friday, July 20 – 6 to 8 pm
Mounts Pavilion
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Chef Nina Kauder, Organic, Plant-Based Chef & Green Champion
Join popular chef and urban farmer Nina Kauder for these informative, fun, and hands-on presentations. Chef Nina’s classes have been recognized by Florida Weekly’s The Best of 2017 for Palm Beach County! Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Nina is a local expert in organic, sustainable, and nutritious eats. Hydrate with creative, infused waters. Please bring 2 bottles of your own drinking water and Chef Nina and her team will customize them with herbal selections, on the spot. Attendees will also take a tour of the Garden of Well-Being at Mounts.

August
Yoga in the Garden
Summer Sunday Serenity
Sundays, August 6, 13, 20 & 27 – 8 am
At the Hutcheson Portico Area (Back of Garden)
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Kristen Peterson, Yoga Teacher
What better way to relax, refresh, and reflect than practicing yoga in the tropical landscape of Mounts Botanical Garden? When postures, breath work, and nature come together, there is potential to create an experience of connecting back to our environment. The sounds of nature itself can often remind us to center our awareness. Join Florida native Kristen Peterson in this series of yoga classes where participants will connect to their bodies, connect to their breath and, by practicing outdoors, connect to the earth. A release waiver will be provided prior to the start of each yoga session.

Propagation: Increasing Your Numbers
Wednesday, August 9 – 5 to 6:30 pm
Hutcheson Conference Room
$25 for members; $30 for nonmembers
Instructor: Joel Crippen, Mounts Horticulturist
Discover the process of creating new plants from a variety of sources. Joel Crippen, horticulturalist and garden writer extraordinaire, will cover a range of techniques on the topic of propagation: how to make and root soft and hardwood tissues with or without a misting system; dividing clumping plants; and collecting, preparing, and sowing seeds. Participants will learn a few “tricks of the trade” and environmental conditions for success. Hands-on and geared for novices and enthusiasts. Bring garden clippers or paper scissors.
(Note: If desired, bring in cuttings of particular plants you would like to root.)

Summer Evening Stroll
Wednesday, August 9 – 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Meet at the Garden Entrance on Military Trail
FREE for members; $10 for nonmembers
The best way to become acquainted with Mounts Botanical Garden is to take a sensory walking tour through specific demonstration gardens while enjoying the scents and sights of various fragrant plants and blooming flowers. Learn fascinating facts about the Garden’s history, visit demonstration garden, and tour the new Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden with its see-through walkways and waterfalls. Invite friends and family for these special evenings in our Garden.

Cooking in the Garden
Creative Culinary Class with Chef Nina of Bean Scene Productions
Topic: Convenient, Portable, Plant-Based Meals in a Mason Jar – Breakfast (Muesli, Oats and Chia Puddings)
Monday, August 14 – 6 to 8 pm
Mounts Pavilion
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Chef Nina Kauder, Organic, Plant-Based Chef & Green Champion
Join popular chef and urban farmer Nina Kauder for these informative, fun, and hands-on presentations. Chef Nina’s classes have been recognized by Florida Weekly’s The Best of 2017 for Palm Beach County! Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Nina is a local expert in organic, sustainable, and nutritious eats.
(Note: Please let Mounts know ahead of time of any food allergies, such as a nut allergy.)

Cooking in the Garden
Creative Culinary Class with Chef Nina of Bean Scene Productions
Topic: Convenient, Portable, Plant-Based Meals in a Mason Jar – Salads, Dressings and Snacks
Thursday, August 17 – 6 to 8 pm
Mounts Pavilion
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Chef Nina Kauder, Organic, Plant-Based Chef & Green Champion
Join popular chef and urban farmer Nina Kauder for these informative, fun, and hands-on presentations. Chef Nina’s classes have been recognized by Florida Weekly’s The Best of 2017 for Palm Beach County! Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Nina is a local expert in organic, sustainable, and nutritious eats.
(Note: Please let Mounts know ahead of time of any food allergies, such as a nut allergy.)

Making a Garden Trough:
The Hypertufa Process
Thursday, August 24 – 9 am to Noon
Mounts Pavilion
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers
Instructor: Ted Johnson, Master Gardener
Trough containers are all the rage. These functional planters resemble old stone but are lighter in weight. They’re also durable and perfect for miniature gardens or small plants. In this workshop, attendees will watch a pro demonstrate how to create a hypertufa container so they’ll be comfortable with the process if they choose to practice it at home. (Think hostess and holiday gifts!) Mounts will supply tips on potting mixes and plantings. Wear old clothes and bring clear plastic safety glasses and well-fitting, waterproof dishwashing gloves.
(Note: Class limit is 15, so sign-up early to avoid the wait list.)

NEW!
Qigong/Tai Chi in the Garden
Thursday, August 31 – 9 to 10 am
Mounts Pavilion
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers
Instructor: Dorothy Rettay, Level IV Qigong
Pronounced “chee-gong,” Qigong literally means “energy practice” and is for people interested in taking charge of their health and inner peace. Natural benefits include reducing stress, increasing vitality, improving concentration and sense of balance, how to heal or better manage an illness and more. Dorothy Rettay, who has obtained the highest level of Spring Forest Qigong, is also a professional practitioner of Wu-Style Tai Chi. She is a certified instructor and owner of The Qigong Studio and Up Your Qi!™, a system that uses her unique regimen of applied Qigong/Tai Chi principles and exercises to increase the Qi energy of the body and to restore health, balance and vitality. She has studied mind-body-spirit disciplines for over 30 years and is a member of the National Qigong Association and American Tai Chi Qigong.

Note:
To register for any of the events and workshops at The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County, register online at www.mounts.org/eventcalendar or call 561.233.1751. Events at Mounts are accessible to people with disabilities.

About Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:
With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, offering gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more. Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden. Mounts is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach.

Mounts Botanical Garden is open everyday (except Palm Beach County recognized holidays) from 10 am to 4 pm. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden, including the new Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden, is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

Beat the Heat

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Beat the Heat

Beat the Heat with Hi-Tech Plumbing & Air

17th Annual Back to School Health Fair

Jennifer Cope
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17th Annual Back to School Health Fair

FoundCare, Inc., and T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society Host 17th Annual Community Health Fair

Back To School Health Fair Scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2017

WHO: The T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society (TLJMS) is partnering with FoundCare, Inc. to host the 17th Annual Back To School Health Fair

WHAT: This free event is designed to provide health services and health education to meet the growing needs of the community. Guest speakers, immunizations, screenings, physicals, dental checkups and much more will be provided for the whole family. Services offered to children include the back-to-school physicals and immunizations* for two-month-old infants up to 18-year-olds. Demonstrations of proper installation and usage of children’s car seats will also take place on site.

*Please note: Parents must bring immunization records for their children.

WHERE: FoundCare’s Health Center located at 2330 S. Congress Ave. in West Palm Beach

WHEN: Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Registration begins at 7:30 AM and participants must register no later than noon)

WHY: FoundCare, Inc. is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center that offers pediatric and adult primary care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, dentistry, laboratory services and X-rays, and an on-site pharmacy, all in one location. FoundCare accepts most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and self-pay on a sliding fee scale that is based on income and family size.

The T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society is comprised of a group of dedicated health care professionals united to improve the health and wellness, access to medical care, academic and career opportunities and the quality of life for underserved populations through the provision of health care, education and youth development services. For its members, the society seeks to elevate the professional success of members through information, education and networking opportunities.

HOW MUCH: While the health fair is free to all, the focus is on offering healthcare and education to underserved, uninsured and at-risk community members.

**Please note: Backpacks with school supplies will given away to interested families that have participated in medical screenings.

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