On November 19th at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, the Hounds & Heroes organization matched veterans with retired greyhound service dogs. It was a great day for all who participated. For more information, visit this link.
Photos by Katie Stevens.
Open House at Wellington Prep
Wellington Preparatory School will be holding an open house on December 6th from 6:30 – 8:00. Please join us and meet with class teachers, learn about our university developed curriculum, and discuss the co-curricular classes including violin, Meet the Masters art and Spanish. Wellington Prep is enrolling students for the 2017-2018 school year in grades kindergarten through 5th. For more information, please call 561-649-7900 or visit our website at www.wellingtonprep.org.
Tree Lighting at SandiLand on Dec. 1st
Tree Lighting Dec. 1st at SandiLand, downtown WPB
This December the City of West Palm Beach is rolling out the red carpet for one of the BIGGEST celebrities ever during Holiday in Paradise. Taking center stage on the West Palm Beach Waterfront is Sandi, the World’s ONLY 600-ton sand tree. Truly the star of the show, Sandi is a staggering 35 feet tall and dazzles crowds with nightly music and light shows starting at the December 1 Clematis by Night Tree Lighting, through New Year’s Day.
Sandi’s friends, national country recording artists, Waterloo Revival will headline the event, along with a performance of Motown favorites by opening act N2Nation. Shop the Holiday Boutique at the Lake Pavilion from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. where you can find a local treasure, craft, or treat for your loved ones during the Holiday Season. Enjoy some Hot Cocoa and Cookies, as you stroll the local artisan booths with your friends and family, and purchase Sandi Bling to sync with Sandi shows all season long.
Looking for the Hot Spot to Chill? Clematis by Night is it! This highly popular, award-winning weekly concert series is the place to be for great music, mouth-watering foods, and amazing sidewalk shopping. Since 1995 the City of West Palm Beach has staged over 950+ Clematis by Night weekly celebrations on Thursday nights in Downtown West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561.822.1515 or visit us at wpb.org/events.
Billy Crystal Comes to the Kravis Center
BILLY CRYSTAL ANNOUNCES THE
‘SPEND THE NIGHT WITH BILLY CRYSTAL’ TOUR
COMES TO THE KRAVIS CENTER ON JANUARY 22
Tickets On Sale Beginning Monday, November 21
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (November 18, 2016) – Tony® and Emmy Award®-winning comedian, actor, producer, writer and director Billy Crystal announced this week the first set of shows on his upcoming 30+ city US tour Spend the Night with Billy Crystal. His show is set to come to the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, January 22, 2017. Coming off the heels of his recent critically acclaimed Australian tour, Crystal promises a hilarious and intimate evening. Tickets will be available to the general public beginning Monday, November 21 at 10 am.
“This show is unique. There’s stand up, and ‘sit down’ which gives me great freedom to tell stories, show film clips and talk about my life and career and the world as I see it,” said Crystal. “It’s loose, unpredictable and intimate. The most fun I’ve had on stage in a long time.”
A stand-up comic turned television star, Crystal found fame as a movie funnyman with starring roles in blockbusters such as When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers and Analyze This. He was much loved as the acclaimed nine-time host of the Academy Awards, an achievement topped only by Bob Hope, who hosted the Oscars 19 times. Also an award winning author, Crystal’s latest memoir, Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? was an instant NY Times best seller.
Connect with Billy Crystal on his official Twitter – twitter.com/billycrystal
Spend the Night with Billy Crystal comes to the Kravis Center Sunday, January 22 at 8 pm. Tickets start at $61.50 and are on sale beginning Monday, November 21 at the Kravis Center Box Office located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, on-line at the Official Kravis Center website www.kravis.org, or by calling the Box Office at 561-832-7469.
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
Celebrating 25 Seasons of Success, Thanks To The Community:
This season, the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts celebrates a Quarter-Century on Stage. And while we celebrate our silver anniversary, we renew our commitment to the community to present the gold standard of excellence in the performing arts. Today, the Kravis Center is a thriving cultural complex, serving as the gateway to downtown West Palm Beach. Thanks to so many who have and continue to support the Center, it has become one of the premier performing arts centers with a renowned national and international reputation. The Kravis Center for is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County. The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. For more information, please call 561-832-7469 or visit the official website at http://www.kravis.org/.
Gulfstream Goodwill Industries holds 50th Anniversary Gala
Gulfstream Goodwill Industries holds 50th Anniversary Gala
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Nearly 300 community leaders, sponsors, program participants and employees gathered Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in celebration of Gulfstream Goodwill Industries’ 50th anniversary.
The anniversary gala began with a cocktail reception, during which guests mingled and marveled at a photo exhibit of archival images from the 1960s through today. Many took their turn for a photo in front of the event’s official backdrop.
Guests entered an elegantly appointed, blue uplit ballroom as images from throughout Gulfstream Goodwill’s 50-year history scrolled across two large screens. The Dee Dee Wilde Band played a cover of “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge as the video rolled on.
The song, as explained by Gulfstream Goodwill Industries president and CEO Marvin Tanck in his remarks later in the evening, was chosen by the non-profit organization’s Adult Day Training (ADT) Program participants as the theme song for their annual talent show. “It has become somewhat of an unofficial theme song for the entire organization,” Tanck said.
As guests enjoyed a three-course sit-down dinner, catered by The Breakers, they heard from several speakers.
Among those who have been helped by Gulfstream Goodwill’s programs and services is assistant administrator of St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital Don Chester.
“Goodwill is one of those organizations that is synonymous with quality of service to people,” Chester said. “Being asked to speak at the 50th anniversary of Gulfstream Goodwill Industries is truly one of the great honors of my life. I have the highest regard for the Goodwill staff and its volunteer leadership.” In his remarks, Chester noted he is “so very grateful” for the help he received from Gulfstream Goodwill after the 2004 accident that left him critically injured.
Following his personal story of being the first person who is blind to graduate with a master’s in business administration at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (Cambridge, Massachusetts) and difficulties finding work as a blind person, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International Jim Gibbons spoke about Goodwill’s ability to help people reach their highest levels of personal and economic independence.
“You tell your kids to go clean their stuff out of the basement. You drop it off at Goodwill,” said Gibbons. “All of a sudden, that act that helps you helps others. Goodwill takes that and they turn it into value. They turn it into value for your community through direct employment of 1,200 people, and through services, more than 10,000 people, and they do it in a way that offers stability and sustainability in an extraordinarily powerful way.”
“Think about every time you drop something off,” he continued.” Think of that as an investment. Think differently. Are you just cleaning out your closets and dropping stuff off? Are you donating? Are you investing? Am I a donor? Or am I an investor of Goodwill? When you’re an investor you’re a part of the solution.”
Among those who also made remarks was Gulfstream Goodwill Industries board chairperson Denise McDonald, RN, CLNC. McDonald spoke of her interaction with Goodwill first as a nurse, and later as the mother of a student enrolled in the organization’s charter school for students with disabilities.
Tanck, who recently celebrated 42 years of service with the Goodwill family, 26 of which have been with Gulfstream Goodwill, was honored by Gibbons with an American flag made by workers with disabilities at Goodwill of South Florida for his many years of success at Goodwill.
Chester also presented Tanck with a “Making a Difference” keychain.
Tanck closed the program by calling guests to the dance floor to sing and dance to “We Are Family,” and they danced the night away.
The night was a heartwarming celebration of 50 years of providing opportunity, purpose and hope to our community by integrating people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Gulfstream Goodwill’s Deaf Services staff provided interpretation services for the Deaf and hard of hearing in attendance.
Gulfstream Goodwill Industries would like to thank event chairpersons Richard Rampell and Carol Roberts, and committee members Margaret Donnelley, Vincent Elhilow, Mark Foley, Dennis Grady, Denise McDonald, Bert Premuroso, Sophia Stone and Bonnie Weaver.
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About Gulfstream Goodwill Industries:
For 50 years, Gulfstream Goodwill Industries has been a leading non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to become self-sufficient, working members of our community. We provide more than two dozen health, human and social service programs for individuals in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties.
Beach Clean-Up
Beach Clean-Up
Let’s keep Juno Beach Clean! Bring your friends, family and colleagues for our monthly clean up on November 19 at 8:30 a.m. Don’t forget to bring a bucket to collect the trash, we have eliminated the use of plastic bags. Meet at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center back gate to sign in and for clean up announcements. After cleaning for one hour we will return to weigh our collected trash and enjoy a light breakfast compliments of Whole Foods Market and Oceana coffee.
Thanksgiving Interfaith Gratitude Service
Thanksgiving Interfaith Gratitude Service
The Lake Worth Interfaith Network (LWIN) invites people of all faiths to attend its twelfth annual Thanksgiving Day Service of Gratitude. United in the spirit of the holiday, join area representatives from local faith communities including Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Native American, Muslim, Bahá’í and Buddhist traditions for an uplifting hour of music and shared inspiration.
This year’s service will be held on Thursday, November 24th at 10 AM at First Congregational Church, 1415 North K Street in Lake Worth.
In collaboration with CROS Ministries, a opportunity to support END HUNGER program is being organized after the service. Volunteers will package rice and beans in one pound bags that will be given to food pantries and needy families. (Time: 20 – 30 minutes)
LWIN is a group of individuals and faith-based communities dedicated to promoting acceptance and understanding among our diverse spiritual traditions through devotions, education and compassionate action.
Diabetes Approaches Epidemic Proportions Locally, Expert Available For November’s National Diabetes Month
FOUNDCARE, INC. OFFERS SCREENING AND HEALTH TIPS FOR NOVEMBER’S NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
(West Palm Beach, FL) – With a simple needle prick, Palm Beach County residents can be screened for diabetes – a disease reaching epidemic proportions locally, according to FoundCare staff physician, Dr. Serge Thys, Jr. In honor of November’s National Diabetes Month, FoundCare, Inc. is calling attention to disease screening, management and prevention. The Federally Qualified Health Center provides medical care for everyone in the community, regardless of health insurance status.
“Our priority is making sure everyone in the community is healthy, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status” said Dr. Thys, Jr. “If we can detect diabetes early, we have a much better chance of properly managing the disease and staving off some of the complications. The screening process is simple, and we encourage Palm Beach County residents to learn their risk with a simple blood test to measure blood sugar levels.”
The American Diabetes Association reports that Florida is dealing with a diabetes epidemic. Nearly 40 percent of the adult population in Florida has pre-diabetes with blood glucose levels higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In addition, every year an estimated 129,000 people in Florida are diagnosed with diabetes. However, according to Dr. Thys, a few lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes in most patients, noting “Early screening is critical.”
Diabetes is defined as a problem with the body that causes blood sugar levels to rise higher than normal and often affects minorities more than Caucasians. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, causing the body to not use insulin properly. The serious complications include heart disease, stroke, amputation, end-stage kidney disease, blindness – and death.
“I think it’s very important for people to know that this is something they can easily overlook, but it’s important to catch early,” Dr. Thys said. “It should be treated as early as possible to prevent further complications.”
Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, feeling very thirsty and very hungry, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal. Many people with type 1 diabetes also experience weight loss even though they are eating more and many with type 2 diabetes experience tingling, pain or numbness in their hands and feet. However, some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.
Dr. Thys explained that diabetes is manageable and often preventable. He offers the following tips:
Get active – exercise can help lower blood sugar and boost sensitivity to insulin
Eat right – fiber and whole grains may reduce risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels, and studies have shown that a low-fat, reduced calorie eating plan can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.
If diagnosed, get to know everything you can about the disease to make informed decisions with your doctor. A great tool is to know your diabetes ABCs:
A: A1C tests measure average blood sugar levels to keep them at reasonable levels.
B: Blood pressure regulation is key.
C: Cholesterol levels need to be kept low.
Learn to manage stress and reach out to counselors.
Follow a daily plan with healthy choices, monitoring your body for any changes.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes, or if you wish to work with a physician to help lower your risk of developing the disease, please call 561-HEALTHY (561-432-5849) to make an appointment with one of FoundCare’s outstanding providers.
FoundCare, Inc. is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center that offers pediatrics, adult medicine, chronic disease management, mental health services, dentistry, laboratory work and X-rays, and an on-site pharmacy. FoundCare accepts most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and self-pay on a sliding fee scale. For more information about FoundCare, please call 561-HEALTHY (561-432-5849) or visit www.foundcare.org.
The Big Fall Issue
Mommy Moments
The Big Fall Issue
By Melanie Lewis
I just received my new BIG FALL ISSUE of my favorite magazines in the mail. Promises of delightful makeovers for home and body, beautification, and de-cluttering prospects galore! It’s loaded with beautiful, colorful, glossy and crisp designs splashed on the pages. It’s an escape from reality. I’m overdue for a makeover. Can I turn my closet chaos into California Closet or my mish-mash stuff into Shabby Chic?
Where to begin? I start by opening the pages of the magazines and it appears that I need to take stock of who I am, what I love and how I live. There were many tips online that seem to follow suit. My kids offered the most practical solutions for their own spaces. At camp one of the counselors offered a trunk makeover as a prize for best bed-making. The kids learned all kinds of nifty folding tricks to make the space look neater and make the items easier to find. T-shirts are folded with the sleeves in thirds, then half and half again so that it’s a little bundle, socks are rolled into little balls, underwear is folded. It really is a space- saver to rid the unmatched and unraveling items. They are very proud of their drawers!
Apparently, I’m not the only one struggling with the Placement for my possessions. At the top of the best-selling list for many weeks has been, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, by Marie Kondo. Better known as the KonMarie method.
Some KonMarie tips:
* Discard unwanted items first, and consider your items in order from clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items to those with sentimental value.
* If you are organizing your books, get every single book from around your home and pile them up in one place. Pick each one up and ask “Does this bring me joy?”
If not, thank the item for the role it’s played in your life and throw it away.
* There is no need for special storage containers, hiding things from view only creates the illusion of decluttering.
* Get rid of mobile phone packages, manuals, and CDs, if you need help you can always go online or ask at the shop you bought it.
* Don’t feel guilty for throwing a gift away, the purpose of a present is for it to be received
* The entire process of decluttering usually takes between six months to a year
* Once you have discarded all your items, then make sure you designate a place for the things you have left, this helps to keep your home clutter free.
I find this process very difficult. For starters, I have trouble putting things in the trash, they need to be sold, recycled, repurposed or given away. Those activities are much more time-consuming. I love storage bins for keeping items. I whole-heartedly agree with getting rid of manuals and packaging. All manuals are online. Packaging is a fire-hazard. Recycle them. Recently a friend was moving and she paid $1500 for a dumpster to remove 20 years of clutter. So much for saving money if in the end, you’re paying to top-off the landfill.
So I’m grabbing some stuff for the flea market from shelves, boxes, and drawers. I’m going to let the universe resolve the dilemma. I keep what doesn’t sell after a day in the fairgrounds. I had the perfect garage sale one time. Everything but 2 suitcases of clothes and a box of my photos was up for sale. I was moving where everything would have to be put in storage. At the end of the day; a bed, some dishes and a box of floatsum and jetsum remained. It turned out that after I settled in my new place, that’s all I needed.
I’ve churned through piles for donation with a carload to go and decided to put my chips all in for painting the dining room. According to the magazine, painting gives the most bang for the buck to freshen up a space. It’s a makeover that I hope will help the house feel more like a home.
Risë Siegrist and Her Family
AW Spotlight
Risë Siegrist and Her Family
By Sabeen Faquir
To describe the Siegrists, I can only think of one word, charming. I got the opportunity to sit down with Gene, Risë, Sean, and Jennifer Siegrist. Previously, AroundWellington visited Risë and Sean, a mother-son duo at the top of the real-estate game in Wellington, FL in 2013. We learned about Wycliffe, one of the most exclusive communities in South Florida and how they were its preferred realtors. The family loved to be together and among the chatter, I got to ask them about what they did.
This time, AroundWellington got to hear more from Gene Siegrist and his daughter-in-law, Jennifer. Unlike his wife and son, Gene doesn’t work as a realtor. He works in property management, contract renovation, and home remodeling. A lot of his work comes through Risë’s referrals both inside Wycliffe and outside. Gene does the work because he has a great eye for interior design. He’s never once had to face a customer who was unhappy with his work. He is meticulous and geared toward an end product. As Jennifer put it, “He finds the good in the house.” It’s interesting to know Gene was previously a policeman.
Last time, we briefly visited Jennifer who did administrative work. She is now a real estate agent and works alongside both Risë and Sean. She works on listing appointment preparations and took over many of Sean’s “behind the scenes” duties like photography, advertising and updating technological communications for the family.
I asked Risë what brought her to the real-estate industry and she told me she thought she would originally work part-time and get to spend time with her husband. Before that, she worked as a real estate paralegal for 30 years. To become a realtor, she needed time but luckily her background lent her to it, well. She said it was an easy transition. At the time, her son Sean did the communications and marketing for the company, both online and through paper.
So how did Sean get into the business, you might ask. “I saw that Mom was really good at her job and started working part-time.” He would come up on weekends from college in Florida International University and found himself staying longer and longer. So, he decided to transfer to Florida Atlantic University where he completed his degree in Finance and minor in real estate.
Each Gene, Risë, Sean, and Jennifer finds their work very satisfying. “You don’t do it because you hate it. It’s about helping people find what they’re looking for,” said Jennifer. Together, they find the appreciation of the clients rewarding. The Siegrists go above and beyond for their customers, too. They are known to do things like meet with Comcast or open the door. Other real estate agents don’t do this. Risë told me their motto: “You are never alone when buying or selling a home.”
Not only is Gene meticulous, but the other Siegrists follow suit. When it comes to preparing for a client, they prepare all paperwork and ensure everything is in order. “The buyer or seller needs to know what they are getting into,” said Risë.
I noticed on her website, RiseatWycliffe.com, Risë lists communities she serves. I asked her which community stood out in her mind, for its amenities and location, and she answered Olympia. “They have family houses with amenities for kids like a playground, basketball court, volleyball, as well as a great clubhouse where many community events are hosted.” Risë’s territory extends from Okeechobee Blvd to Atlantic Blvd. Yes, she does do real-estate as far south as Boca Raton, should you need assistance there.
But, she loves Wycliffe for the family-friendly resort-style living it affords. According to Risë, houses in Wycliffe are approximately $300,000 less than other communities of its sort but keep in mind there is a minimum $44,000 buy-in.
You may be wondering what’s changed at Wycliffe in the past few years. Well, the Siegrists informed me Wycliffe is under all new management and is slowly renovating many areas of the clubhouse like the lobby and the cardroom. They have introduced bocci and pickleball, as well. Wycliffe showcases its new changes through their new magazine and newsletter, appealing to a younger demographic.
The Siegrists keep healthy relationships with other agents. In fact, real estate agents are known to call them for their advice on what to show! What Risë has to offer is a thorough knowledge and experience. She said, “You don’t look better by comparison but you look worse by association.”
Sean said the best feedback a customer can provide them with is a referral. Among their customers, Risë, Sean, and Jennifer are known to be knowledgeable about school districts, dues, laws and all aspects of the business, inside and out. The Siegrists still work out of an office outside the Wellington Green Mall, to serve the Wellington area. They also have 4 other offices in Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton.
And, Risë is heavily involved in the community. She is now the Communications Vice President for the Hadassah Chapter at Wycliffe. With Jennifer, she arranges the bulletin, posters, and mailings like holiday greetings. In her spare time, Risë is still involved with Wycliffe Charities, 1001 Lights, and Play for Pink.
When asked why they are perfect for Wellington residents, Jennifer answered: “Because we live, work and play here.” Siegrist knowledge and shared experience is not a secret. They share with buyers, sellers, and other agents and their office in Wellington is a team production. They consider themselves very lucky. Risë is still the top producer in Wycliffe and top 100 in the state for Re/Max. To learn more about the Siegrists, visit them at SiegristRealtyGroup.com.
Siegrist Realty Group, REALTOR®
(561) 889-6873
RE/MAX DIRECT
10240 Forest Hill Blvd Ste 180
Wellington, FL 33414