Annual Peace Ceremony in Wellington, FL
A beautiful Peace Ceremony took place on Sunday, September 25th, 2016 at the . The event was headed by the and the . Video shows the mission of the Wellington Rotary Club, as well as showcasing local students who wrote essays, poems and created posters on the subject of peace. There’s also an interview with the event’s founder Dr. Wesley Boughner.
November, 2016
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hope you have a Thanksgiving filled with blessings and wonderful food! Whether you’re gathered around a ping pong table with friends (like in the Peanuts episode) or gathering with family, I hope it’s a great time.
This month we get to know the Siegrist family, a talented team of real estate professionals from Re/Max Direct. Check out the story in “AW Spotlight” and you’ll meet Risë, Gene, Sean and Jennifer.
I want to point you to our “Photo Galleries” if you’ve never visited that page before. We have great photos, thanks to Carol Porter, from Veteran’s Day in Wellington, the anti-Trump rally in West Palm Beach and the Equality Florida Gala. We also have photo collages from Katie Stevens from the annual Hounds & Heroes ceremony at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Check out “Cultural Corner” this month by Angela Shaw. In “Mehri Danielpour – The Starving Artist and the Queen,” she chronicles the development and life of Danielpour as a sculptor. A very interesting story.
Check out all of our other new articles this month! And if you’re looking for a great place to eat, we have two yummy recommendations for you, both advertisers with AroundWellington.com – Bolay (healthy, eclectic food) and Gandhi’s (Indian food).
Enjoy your November!
Krista Martinelli
Publisher/Owner
AroundWellington.com
Travel with Terri
Give Thanks for Girlfriends with an Autumn Getaway
Story by Terri Marshall
As Thanksgiving approaches, like many of you, I take a few moments to consider all of the blessings in my life. Of course these include my new husband, my family, my children and adorable grandchildren, my travel writing career and those friends with whom I’ve shared so many life experiences. If you have friends who have been with you through thick and think sharing tears and laughter, I’m sure you know what I mean.
One of the ways I celebrate those friendships is with girlfriend getaways. And, in my opinion, there’s no better time of year for those getaways than autumn. With the crispness in the air, brilliant blue in the sky and the fiery colors of the fall foliage as the backdrop, these are some of my favorite girlfriend getaways.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Let’s face it, if you’re girlfriend getaway leads you to the Deep South, there will be fried chicken, biscuits and gravy and probably some fried okra in your future. But never fear, you can walk all those delicious calories off with a stroll (or two) across the Walnut Street Bridge – the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. Erected in 1890 and standing 2,376 feet high, the Walnut Street Bridge connects the north shore of the Tennessee River to downtown Chattanooga. Time your stroll for sunset when the lights of the city begin to decorate the sky.
Head up to the top of Lookout Mountain to Point Park for spectacular views of the Chattanooga Valley below. While you’re on the mountain, visit Ruby Falls. A guided tour will lead you through the cavern’s amazing rock formations and to the stunning 145-foot-tall underground waterfall.
Stretching for one and a half city blocks on East Second Street, the Bluff View Art District is a historic downtown Chattanooga neighborhood. Set high above stone cliffs that afford spectacular views of the Tennessee River, the Walnut Street Bridge, and downtown Chattanooga, the area is full of art galleries, coffee shops, bed and breakfasts, courtyards and gardens.
Niagara Falls, New York
The summer crowds have disappeared along with the hot summer days. And that window between the heat of summer and the snowy winters is filled with the warm golden, red and orange hues of fall foliage, breezy days and fewer crowds. It’s the ideal time to experience Niagara Falls, New York.
Plan on a bad hair day with a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist that takes you close enough to feel the water from the falls. For a seriously up close view, take a walk along the wooden platforms at Cave of the Winds where the thunderous water is just a few feet away. If you’re looking for some exercise, embrace nature with a challenging hike along the network of trails in the Niagara Gorge.
Southern West Virginia
It may not be the most girly thing to suggest for a girlfriend getaway, but getting down and dirty on all-terrain vehicles along West Virginia’s Hatfield & McCoy Trails is a blast. One of the largest of its kind in the world, the Hatfield & McCoy Trails network consists of approximately 650 miles of adrenaline inducing off road trails through the mountains of Southern West Virginia. The trails wind through nine counties with some trailheads beginning in “ATV-friendly” towns. These towns have passed ordinances allowing ATV’s to be driven on the streets. Riders are welcome, muddy boots and all, to grab a bite to eat, shop or stay in the local inns and experience true ATV hospitality.
Traditional all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are available to rent along with the UTV – an ATV with four seats that much like a jeep. The UTVs are easier to handle allowing a complete novice to experience the thrill of the trail without having to learn how to balance an ATV. Women in particular enjoy these fun vehicles because they can ride with their friends, talk and scream together and sling more mud on their passengers. And a little mud-slinging is good for a girl’s soul!
Hershey, Pennsylvania
You’ve heard it before; Hershey, Pennsylvania is the sweetest place on earth. As home to Milton Hershey’s world renowned chocolate factory, Hershey is the place to go for chocolate lovers. But did you know you can celebrate chocolate without the additional calories at the Hotel Hershey’s Chocolate Spa? Indulge in a cocoa body wrap, cocoa massage, or even a cocoa facial. You’ll emerge from the peaceful serene spa facility refreshed and smelling sweet.
While you’re checking out the Hotel Hershey, sign up for an off-road Segway tour. You’ll get a quick lesson in balancing the Segway which has wider tires for off-roading, then you’ll tour the property before heading out into the colorful wooded trails on the resort property. The Segway tour concludes with time to ride up and down the hills on the resort property.
I’ll never forget the look on my friends’ faces as they barreled down the hills on their Segways at top speed: pure joy. And for that moment I will be forever thankful.
I hope you will take a few moments to reflect on the blessings in your life this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Cantankerously YoursBy Wendell Abern
Dear Readers,
As a cranky curmudgeon, I was dubious about reading Mitch Albom’s, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” I always suspect saccharin, spiritual lectures under the guise of someone else’s epiphany.
The beauty and simplicity of the book surprised me. Thankfully, Albom doesn’t preach. And while there are many more than five people I’d like to meet in heaven, two occur to me immediately.
1 – Mr. Gilhooley.
In 1951, between my sophomore semesters in college, my good friend Dennis and I spent the summer working our way around the east coast. We lied a lot. And spent most nights sleeping in the car; an old Chevy.
I was 18, Dennis 17. We left home (Chicago) in early June, with thirty dollars between us; by mid-July, we had arrived in Patterson, New Jersey. With three dollars.
As “experienced” short-order cooks, we had angered dozens of customers at a small diner in Syracuse; broken dozens of dinner plates as dishwashers at a Lake Placid hotel, and in one afternoon lost seventeen golf balls as caddies at a Philadelphia country club.
In Patterson, we saw a large warehouse announcing, “Gilhooley Peaches; America’s Favorites.” Behind the factory: an endless stretch of peach trees, with ladders beneath some, and workers high up amid branches.
“Dennis,” I said, “Let’s go pick some peaches.”
Mr. Gilhooley, 75ish, skin like brown leather, looked at us as if we were from another planet. “All my employees are from another country,” he said.
“So? Think of Chicago as another country.” I said.
He sighed. “Tellya what. I got enough pickers right now. I need a coupla loaders. You guys get at the end of them conveyer belts, where the peaches are comin’ down. Load ‘em – gently — into those baskets ya see. Set the baskets on the other conveyer belt. Seventy-eight cents an hour.”
A buck fifty-six an hour for the two of us. Eight hours. More than twelve bucks. Dinner!
“You’re on,” I said.
At five o’clock, bent over from backaches, we limped over to Mr. Gilhooley, who was perched on a small landing, surrounded by empty peach baskets.
“It’s been eight hours,” I said. “We’d like to get paid.”
“What?”
“We put in a good day’s work,” Dennis said. “We deserve to get paid.”
“A good day’s work? Last night, we worked ‘til one in the mornin’! It’s harvest-time! Payday’s a week from Friday! That’s when you get paid, like everyone else.”
“But we have no money for food tonight!” I said.
“Your problem, not mine. G’bye.”
Dennis, scowling, said, “I don’t see why you can’t just pay us. Why do you have to be such a louse?”
“What? What? Nobody calls me a louse!” And with that, Mr. Gilhooley picked up an empty basket and hurled it at Dennis, who blocked it with an elbow. Then he picked it up and hurled it back.
That sent Mr. Gilhooley into a rage. Soon, it was a Marx Brothers movie: peach baskets flying back and forth, accompanied by locker-room language at five-digit decibels; peaches sailing down the conveyer belts and littering the entire floor.
“I’m calling the police!” Dennis yelled from the floor, where he had fallen on a cascade of rolling peaches.
“Like hell you are!” Gilhooley called back. “I’m calling the police!”
The police came eight minutes later. The police sergeant said, “Boys, drivers’ licenses.”
We gave him our licenses. He looked at them and then said, “Go sit on those chairs over there; Gilhooley, come with me.”
They moved toward an office, Gilhooley yelling, “He called me a louse!” as they went inside. After a few minutes, the cop motioned us to come in.
Wordlessly, Gilhooley handed over twelve dollars and forty-eight cents. The sergeant said, “Now you boys just leave. You ever come through Patterson, New Jersey again, don’t stop; just go right on through; you are not welcome here.”
Later, my father (a lawyer) explained. In those days, Dennis was considered a minor and Gilhooley had struck the first blow. Cheaper and simpler for him to just pay us.
When I get to heaven I want to find Mr. Gilhooley and explain: we were just kids! We just wanted dinner!
And of course, the other person I’d like to see in heaven is Dennis himself.
2 – My good friend, Dennis.
Dennis was part of my poker crew in a game that existed every month, incredibly, for 72 years. To this day, the rest of us still break up while talking about the famous “Dennis Deal” from a game in 1991.
Dennis was dealing seven-card stud. He had dealt each of us six cards, and none of us had folded (rare). Seven players; seventy or eighty dollars in the pot; only ten cards left in the deck when Dennis gave each of us our last card.
Suddenly, he shouted, “Wait! Wait! I dealt you my hand! I dealt my cards instead of the rest of the cards in the deck!”
Jerry, my brother, said, “Good. I didn’t want your ten of clubs anyway.”
“I had a flush!” Dennis shouted. “I had a heart flush! Give me back my cards!”
Lou said. “I’m not giving back the six of hearts.”
My brother, with one of those infectious laughs that make everyone laugh, started to giggle.
“But I had a flush! I had a made flush!” Dennis shouted.
Without a copy of Hoyle’s “Rules for Games,” we decided to leave the money in the pot for the next game. My brother kept giggling, setting off a new round of laughs.
Shel said to my brother, “I think there’s a chipmunk outside wants to mate with you.”
We haven’t stopped laughing since.
Dennis died more than 20 years ago. Assuming there is a heaven, and that I might somehow qualify for it, Dennis will be the first person I seek after Mr. Gilhooley.
Cantankerously Yours,
Wendell Abern
By Dr. Jonathon Chung, Keystone Chiropractic
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about this article filling up my Facebook newsfeed. The article talks about how a specific type of spine surgery called spinal fusion has been found to be mostly ineffective. The author goes so far to say that the surgery should be put to rest.
I’ve seen a lot of patients with a previous history of spinal fusion. Some people feel like their life was made dramatically better by spine surgery, others feel like it didn’t have any effect at all, and some people will actually feel a lot worse. Overall, the verdict on fusion surgery seems to be pretty dim.
People Don’t Volunteer for Spine Surgery. It’s a choice made out of desperation
Here’s the thing. I don’t blame people who choose to elect spinal fusion even in the face of the world’s best evidence. Why?
I’ve never experienced the level of pain that makes someone consider spine surgery an option.
It’s the easiest thing in the world to be a chiropractor, physical therapist, or pain management doctor to tell someone that they don’t need spine surgery. Our professions are invested in the idea that you should choose us over surgery because you should exhaust your conservative options before being cut open.
However, someone who is choosing spine surgery is often someone who is desperate. Their pain is debilitating and costing them the ability to work and move like a normal human being. Many patients have tried numerous conservative options and feel like they have spent years feeling debilitated. They are tired, frustrated, and just want something, anything to make their pain go away.
I hear it in my office all the time. “Doc, can you just cut this thing out of me?”
Sure it’s said in jest, but it opens a window to what someone’s last option looks like. Just cut me open, and take whatever is causing this pain, and remove it.
You’ve had surgery, now what?
People that choose surgery often feel like they’ve exhausted all possible treatment options.
If your pain didn’t improve or if you develop or new and worse pain after surgery, it can be devastating to the psyche. You tried everything and it still didn’t work. Will you have to suffer like this for the rest of your life? Do I just have to rely on pain management and more surgery?
From time to time, I’ll meet people who tell me about how bad their back or neck problems are, but they’ll usually say something like:
But I’ve already had surgery, and my doctor says I shouldn’t have my back cracked.
I understand this fear. If I had hardware in my spine, the last thing I would want is someone just jerking my back or neck around and possibly hitting one of those fused parts.
Here’s the thing, though. Not all chiropractic techniques require heavy force.
There are a lot of chiropractors trained to be extremely precise with their adjustments. With a high level of precision, you can avoid doing anything to the spine that may jar or disturb these fused vertebrae.
This is important to remember because precise Structural Correction of the spine is something that can really help these patients! It’s one of the reasons that there are doctors in Palm Beach County that refer cases to our office when patients still have pain after surgery.
The Problem Isn’t Just the Spine, it Might Be in the Brain
Pain is a complex physiological phenomenon. As doctors, we can sometimes oversimplify back and neck pain as a bad bone or a bad disc. The fact that people don’t get better after surgery isn’t the fault of the surgeon. The problem is that the bones and discs in the back may not have been the actual cause of the pain to begin with.
Pain can exist in the absence of physical tissue damage as is often seen in things like fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome. In these cases, there is a problem with the way the brain perceives the environment. It is overreacting to normal stimuli.
When people have successful cases with surgery, then we can probably assume that a bad disc or some bad vertebrae were big contributors to the patient’s pain process. However, if we are operating on patients whose symptoms are coming from a brain that is overly sensitive to pain, we are giving that sensitive brain more ammunition to be in pain because of the surgery itself.
Sometimes the answer is not simply to change the bones, but we have to desensitize the brain to normal living.
That’s one of the biggest unknown benefits to Structural Correction with the NUCCA procedure. Normal Structure plays a vital role in normal input into the brain. Our gentle approach to correcting the spine is capable of changing the signals the brain should be focusing on and reducing some of the chronic inflammation impacting your sensitive brain tissues.
Changing the Conversation
Millions of people every year are going to have spine surgery. It’s up to the doctors and surgeons to decide if surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. There’s no use in beating a patient up for making a decision that they think is going to help them live a better life.
It’s our job to let people know that whether you had surgery or not, there are still options available to help people live a normal life without feeling debilitated.
Living GreenBy Bryan Hayes
There is something truly magical about the south Florida sunrises and sunsets. The colors are spectacular. They are among the many reasons why people flock here by the thousands to visit the paradise we call home. There are natural wonders our beautiful state has to offer. Living here, though, it is easy to become complacent about our surroundings.
This is why I have made it a priority to get up early and go to the beach before work at least once during the week. The feeling is tremendous. It is such a glorious way to begin the day. It is quiet, peaceful and the tranquility is beyond compare.
There is only problem: the garbage.
I found an empty bucket and used it to pick up at least some of the trash, but it hardly made a dent in the mass of litter that was strewn across the sand. It was then that I sat down and took a seat. After a few minutes of sungazing, I took a pen to paper.
Mother
You are there always
Never to betray
Your love is unconditional
Through the light of day
Throughout the dark of night
Without fail
Your life is sustaining
Sustaining, nature, is it a betrayal to show you such disrespect? Can we do better?
By Mayor Anne Gerwig
The month of November is when we give thanks for our health, families, jobs, and our great hometown. As we approach the end of the year, the days get shorter while Wellington gets busier. Please remember to “fall back” by setting your clocks back one hour on November 6th for the change to Daylight Savings.
Even through this busy time and holiday season, I encourage you to stay involved with the Village. Please make sure your voice is heard by participating in our Village’s decision making process. Click here for complete list of meetings and agendas: http://wellingtonfl.gov/government/agendas, or visit our website, and social media pages (Twitter: @wellingtonflgov, and Facebook: Village of Wellington).
As we enjoy the fall season, our thoughts turn to cooler weather and the holidays. If you enjoy keeping things close to home during this festive time of year, Wellington has some upcoming events that you and your family may find interesting. On behalf of Council and staff, please join me at the following:
Veterans Day is Friday, November 11th. Each year, the Village and the American Legion Chris Reyka Memorial Wellington Post 390 honor all current and former members of the armed forces with a Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony. The parade begins at 8:15 a.m., commencing at Village Hall, located at 12300 Forest Hill Boulevard. The parade is followed by a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, located on the corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and South Shore Boulevard. Join me in showing our support for our returned troops and honor those in our community who have served our country.
If you are an active or retired veteran attending the ceremony, I would like to personally thank you for your service and invite you to join us as we honor you and your fellow service men and women. You will have an opportunity to add your name to our roll call the morning of the event at the Wellington tent.
The Green Market at Wellington is scheduled to resume on Saturdays, 9 am – 1 pm. Please mark your calendars and make sure you do not miss out. Join us near the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 Forest Hill Boulevard).
Holiday season officially begins early this November around Wellington, as we begin decorating all around the Village. I would like to invite you and your family to the Annual Tree Lighting event on December 2nd. For more information, please make sure to visit our website: www.wellingtonfl.gov, and follow us on Twitter: @wellingtonflgov, and Facebook: Village of Wellington.
It is easy to see why Wellington is known as “The Winter Equestrian Capital of the World.” We are starting to see many of our seasonal friends as “season” approaches. Join me in welcoming them and their four-legged friends. Please check out the equestrian venues for current and upcoming events schedules. With a busy season approaching, please be aware of the increased traffic on the roads.
The Village continues its tradition of partnering with InterFaith and other local partners for the annual “Hometown Holiday Food Drive.” Please drop off donations by November 17 at Food can be dropped off at the Village of Wellington’s Municipal Complex (12300 Forest Hill Boulevard), Village Park (11700 Pierson Road), the Wellington Community Center (12150 Forest Hill Boulevard), Community Services Office (1092 Wellington Trace), Lake Wellington Professional Centre (12133 Ken Adams Way), Ultima Fitness, The Goddard School, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, District 8 Substation. Non-perishable items such as instant mashed potatoes, packaged stuffing, and canned vegetables are appreciated.
The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season, and I hope you consider shopping locally with our many wonderful merchants.
As you can see, Wellington is staying busy as the summer heat gives way to crisp autumn air. There is no better time to get the family outdoors to see movies at the Amphitheater, enjoy our weekly, Thursday food truck invasion, or go nature-spotting at one of our beautiful natural preserves. There are so many great programs and events happening around our Village. I would like to encourage you to check them out on our community calendar available at www.wellingtonfl.gov/discover-us/calendar.
With no shortage of family-friendly fun around the Village, I am thankful to call Wellington home, because it truly is a Great Hometown.
Natural InsightBy Sabeen Faquir
The weather may be cooling down but I think it’s time to heat things up! We all know heat can bring relief to sore muscles. But did you know topical capsaicin (the active ingredient in cayenne and spicy chili peppers) can help ease inflammation, too? And internally, it can have several different effects.
Capsaicin works by signaling to the central nervous system. Particularly, it first increases the sensation of burning or pain. In a study where these pain receptors were cloned it was found that these receptors also respond to thermal stimuli (Caterina et al). Topical capsaicin is a great alternative for those suffering from pain due to chronic neuropathic pain, arthritis, and other ailments who don’t want to use topical steroids.
Capsaicin first increases a burning sensation, and then relieves it. An 8% concentration patch can be used one time to relieve pain for 12 weeks, in those adults with chronic neuropathic pain (Derry et al). Per WebMD, capsaicin may also relieve pain from: surgery, cluster headaches, skin conditions (psoriasis), mouth sores from chemotherapy or radiation. But, capsaicin is never to be used on broken skin.
Capsaicin effectively defunctionalizes cutaneous nociceptors (Derry et al). This means that it defunctionalizes the sensation of heat, with recurrent use. So, while you may experience an itching or burning sensation the first few times you use topical capsaicin, continual use will mitigate this reaction.
Taken as a capsule, capsaicin induces digestive enzymes in both the stomach and pancreas. Particularly, it was found to enhance pancreatic lipase activity and stimulate pancreatic amylase and trypsin and chymotrypsin, when combined with other spices in albino rats (Platel and Srinivasan). Together, these enzymes help us break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
The NIH also found capsaicin to be a strong anti-microbial against Streptococcus pyogenes, a pathogen that can cause histological or systemic infections (Marini et al). Not only was it bactericidal when tested in-vitro, but it inhibited intracellular invasion and haemolytic activity or the loss of red blood cells. It can also prevent the growth of pathogens that cause gingivitis in the mouth and work as an auxiliary treatment for periodontitis, a gum infection that destroys bone (Zhou et al).
Internally, capsaicin can thin mucus. Essentially, it can help clear the lungs of excess mucus and be an auxiliary treatment for people suffering from emphysema, too. Capsaicin inhibits the activation of mast cells that trigger the secretion of histamine, cytokines and other granules that metabolize arachidonic acid, a precursor to both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory fats (Frydas et al).
So, if you want to use heat to help you find relief from sore muscles, bad digestion, bacterial infections, or more, try capsaicin. But, before beginning any supplement regimen, remember to talk to your doctor to be certain there will be no interaction with any underlying condition you may have.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure disease.
Sources:
Michael J. Caterina, Mark A. Schumacher, Makoto Tominaga, Tobias A. Rosen, Jon D. Levine and David Julius. The capsaicin receptor: a heat-activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Nature 389, 816-824 (23 October 1997)
Sheena Derry, Andrew S C Rice, Peter Cole, Toni Tan, R Andrew Moore. Topical capsaicin (high concentration) for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Library: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 28 February 2013
Emanuela Marini, Gloria Magi, Marina Mingoia, Armanda Pugnaloni, and Bruna Facinelli. Antimicrobial and Anti-Virulence Activity of Capsaicin Against Erythromycin-Resistant, Cell-Invasive Group A Streptococci. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2015; 6: 1281
Frydas, G. Varvara, G. Murmura, A. Saggini, A. Caraffa, P. Antinolfi, S. Tetè, D. Tripodi, F. Conti, E. Cianchetti, E. Toniato, M. Rosati, L. Speranza, A. Pantalone, R. Saggini, L.M. Di Tommaso, T.C. Theoharides, P. Conti, F. Pandolfi. Impact of Capsaicin on Mast Cell Inflammation. International Journal of Immunipathology and Pharmacology. July 2013 vol. 26 no. 3 597-600
Paws-itive PressBy Barbara Masi
I wanted to share with you some thoughts on setting up a Pet Trust and turned to my dear friend, Mary Morris, Esq. Mary Morris is an attorney with Morris & Morris in West Palm Beach. She and her husband are privileged to care for dozens of rescued animals on their small farm.
Here is what she has shared with us:
What happens when a pet owner becomes incapacitated or dies and has not made any arrangements for the care of his or her pet? Sadly this happens all too often, with sometimes tragic consequences. A pet trust, which Florida recognizes, can help avoid a bad situation. It is a legally sanctioned arrangement that provides for the care and maintenance of a pet in the event of his owner’s disability or death.
The trust is effective so long as the animal it benefits is alive (and if the trust benefits more than one animal, it terminates on the death of the last surviving animal). The person who creates a trust is called the settlor and the person who holds the trust property (cash, for example) is the trustee.
Under the usual arrangement, the trust will be funded in some way with sufficient assets (for example, by life insurance proceeds, proceeds from investments, or cash) and the trustee will pay those funds to a designated caregiver to use for the care and maintenance of the pet. You will thus need to consider who (or what organization) will be your trustee; who will be your caregiver, and who will be the beneficiary of any trust assets that remain after the trust terminates on the death of the pet.
The directions left in a trust for the benefit of a pet should be very specific and include such things as the kind of food your pet likes best, where and how often he likes to be walked, direction about routine visits to the veterinarian, and other details only you know about your special family member. Describe your pet’s standard of living in detail. Make sure your caregiver is acquainted with it and will know how to care for your pet the way you do. Make sure, now, that your pet is easily identifiable by photographing and microchipping him.
Certain organizations that adopt out pets will require you to sign a document saying that you will return the dog to them should you be unable to keep it – whether sickness or death. Be sure and check that out as it is a way to ensure your pet has a good home in your absence. You may leave the funding to the group (make sure it is a 501 c 3) to ensure the care of your pet. The pet will be then placed in a good home with ample funds to keep him or her comfortable for the rest of his / her life.
Giving money to an organization that benefits animals either during your lifetime or after death is not only a wonderful thing to do but relatively easy. Trusts and wills are technical, however, and often have tax consequences so see an estate planning attorney to make sure that everyone you love – particularly your beloved pets who cannot take care of themselves without you – is well protected if and when something happens. Planning ahead will ensure that your pets will be healthy and cared for even if you are unable to do that personally – and will provide you with great peace of mind.
Health and FitnessBy Cheryl Alker
As with anything in life repetition, repetition and more repetition will often deliver results. This principle certainly applies to our diet. So it is the things we do on a daily basis over and over again that can determine our long-term wellbeing.
When it comes to implementing change in our diet a step-by-step approach is something we can build over time. Little by little we can start to crowd out the bad choices by choosing healthy alternatives that we can actually start to enjoy. These conscious choices turn into healthy habits and then staying on course is made so much easier.
If you make one switch today and continue to focus on making that switch, it will then become a habit and then you can move onto the next on your list.
Below are a few ideas to get you started:
Best Healthy Snacks on the Go: Try to make it a habit to pack your snacks so when you are hungry, you don’t just grab what is available – as is often the case. Unhealthy snacks seem to be far more available than healthy snacks. Just like with all of our meals, choosing whole foods as close to their natural state as possible is preferable. Instead of pretzels or chips, choose nuts or trail mix. The fiber and healthy fats will make you feel satisfied and full for longer and won’t cause your blood sugar to skyrocket. If you fancy something sweet choose fruit every time. Berries are the best choice, however, whenever possible choose fruit that is in season and grown locally, they will taste better and pack more nutritional punch.
Best Oil for Cooking: Coconut Oil. Wherever you can, use coconut oil instead of processed vegetable and seed oils because they can cause inflammation in the body and are high in omega 6 fatty acids. In a study in India, the high levels of antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil reduced inflammation and healing arthritis more effectively than leading medications.Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, which is antimicrobial and great for thyroid function (the thyroid controls your metabolism). It is also known to reduce candida, fight bacteria, and create a hostile environment for viruses. Many diseases today are caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria, fungus, viruses and parasites in the body. It is also a tropical oil, so it can stand up to heat well and won’t go rancid like vegetable oils.
Best Milk : Almond Milk. It would seem that dairy for many of us is problematic. It can cause inflammation in the body, excess mucus and for many, it is the root of digestive and skin issues. The good news for all of you milk lovers is that you do not have to give it up, just substitute it with almond milk. Almond milk is free of cholesterol and saturated fats, cow’s milk contains these to different degrees – depending on the type of milk. The fat in almond milk is all healthy, which cannot be said of cow’s milk unless it is skimmed and has no fat. Also, almond milk generally has fewer calories than cow’s milk, though again that depends on whether you’re drinking heavily sweetened almond milk or skimmed cow’s milk. Not sure which one to buy? Make your own. Soak a cup of nuts in water overnight, in the morning pour off the soaking water, rinse the nuts and add it to your blender with 3 cups of water, blend, strain and enjoy!
Best Healthy Treat : Homemade Popsicles. Unfortunately, most of the processed desserts we choose contain white flour, sugar or corn syrup.Freezing your favorite smoothies or juice, adding a few chunks of fruit or berries will provide you with the sweetness you crave but a healthy and guilt-free treat.
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