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Wellington Art Society Showcasing Local Art at Village Hall

Natty Kelly
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Wellington Art Society Showcasing Local Art at Village Hall

Wellington Art Society Showcasing Local Art at Village Hall

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The Wellington Art Society will host an artist reception on Tuesday, May 24th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the second floor Art Gallery at Village Hall. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the local art on display. Artists selected to participate in the rotating gallery exhibit will be recognized at the informal reception. The Wellington Art Society will be displaying the original works of art as well as books and prints for sale and have offered to provide light refreshments and door prizes for this event.

As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.

For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch Channel 18 for the latest happenings.

 

 

Wellington Garden Club Awards Scholarships to Local Students at Spring Luncheon

Twig Morris
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Wellington Garden Club Awards Scholarships to Local Students at Spring Luncheon

The Wellington Garden Club (WGC) in keeping with its mission to serve the community, inspire and instruct its members and youth in environmental/ horticultural sciences and ecology, awarded academic scholarships to four outstanding students at its Spring Luncheon on May 2 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Scholarship recipients were: Sandy Smith, an environmental science major at Palm Beach State College; Amy Polen, a Palm Beach Central High School senior entering the University of South Florida as an Environmental Science & Policy major; Julie Morell, a Palm Beach Central High School senior entering the University of Central Florida as an Environmental Science & Education major; and David S. Fisher, a Wellington High School senior entering the University of Florida as a Botany major. These students were selected for their outstanding academic and civic records, vetted by the WGC scholarship committee, and recommended by their professors and educators.

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WGC President Kathy Siena presided over the luncheon, recognizing Barbara Hadsell and Twig Morris, co-chairs of the club’s recent event, the “Glorious Gardens” Garden Tour which provided funds for the scholarships and for youth garden clubs, as well as for environmental summer camp sponsorships, landscaping of Habitat for Humanity homes, and numerous community beautification projects, native plant installations and other civic and educational programs. This array of projects garnered the club numerous state and regional Garden Club awards, which also were announced.

WGC-sponsored Youth Garden Clubs claimed eight wins at the National Garden Club level. The competitions were in language and visual arts with themes related to conservation and ecology. During the past year WGC sponsored Youth Garden Clubs at Binks Forest Elementary School, Girl Scout Troop 22222, Olympia Jr. Garden Club, Palm Beach Central High School, Pine Jog Elementary School, Wellington High School, Wellington Landings Middle School, and Wynnebrook Elementary School.

The Spring Luncheon was the final event of the 2015-16 season; the club takes a break from June through August. The Luncheon co-chairs were Bobbi Ziegler, Barbara Zenker and Judy Schweitzer. In addition to the awards and scholarship presentations, guests enjoyed a fashion show of “Hats Through the Ages” organized by member Dee Rolfe who showed many of the hats in her personal collection with the help of members modeling them.

There are approximately 165 active members of WGC, including both men and women from Wellington and surrounding communities. Meetings are held the first Monday of each month from September through May. All interested citizens are invited to visit the Wellington Garden Club website (wellingtongardenclub.org) to learn more about the club’s activities, and to become members, attend monthly meetings, and participate in ongoing projects and continued learning opportunities.

On Bullying

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On Bullying

On Bullying

By Ryan Donovan of Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, 8th Grade

My name is Ryan Donovan and this is my true story of how I have been bullied early on and it has affected me. It has not been easy for me. Telling my story is hard for me because it is embarrassing and I don’t want to think about it. It makes me very angry and sad at the same time. I have always been a little different. I don’t do and say the same things that other kids do. Sometimes that is the reason why I get picked on. It you are not accepted by others, it can lead to kids teasing you, kids being mean or just being left out.

DTWT Ryan Donovan - 2016

It all started back in my third grade year. I was eight or nine years old at the time and I was the quiet kid. This maybe made me a prime target for bullies. I had little to no friends back then compared to now. But, otherwise I was alone for being bullied. I really try to be everyone’s friend. I also try to forgive those who are mean to me. It doesn’t work being the good guy. At first, I would not say anything. Then, I would tell teachers, guidance counselors, and even the principal. The kids would be talked to and they would just kept going and going.

My parents told me the same thing… “Tell the teacher.” My parents saw that it was not working either. They would call but the same things would happen. But, one day, one of the kids started to constantly call me names. It really was too much for me to understand. One day, he told me why he bullied me. He said that he did it because when he was younger he had bikes and scooters thrown at him. After I learned that, when other kids called me names, I learned to block it out because they may have been through the same thing.

My parents always told me that if someone hurt me, I was allowed to fight back. That didn’t happen for a while. Then came the beginning of Sixth grade when it happened. I was at the bus stop like every day. A group of us were teasing each other and I guess it went too far. We were joking around and don’t get me wrong we were doing it for fun. We were making fun of each other and then it went too far and I ended up getting punched three times in the face. Once in the eye, once in the forehead, then the final blow was in the chin. I was just bruised but I was the only one touched. The principal was involved and my parents were called. I later found out that he had left with his grandmother and they had left to another state. He has been bounced from home to home. I am sure he was sad.

Now, I’m thirteen and in eighth grade. I’ve been helping my friends giving advice to them about bullying and other problems. I’m not the quiet kid any more. I’ve made many more friends now. I have not had any more problems with bullying. I hope to put it behind me. It was a tough time. I learned a lot about others and myself. Ryan Donovan Grade 8 1.11.16 Emerald Cove Middle School.

I want kids to know that there is a real reason bullying happens. We should find out why and try to fix it. From my story, these guys had something they were going through and were acting out. If the parents, teachers, guidance counselors and principals would change their way of dealing with the bullies, maybe they can make a difference. Most bullies have a past that you may not know of where they have been a victim of bullying or abuse and they take their anger out on you. The way to maybe prevent bullying is to see what their problem is and give them someone to talk to. It was good for me to be able to talk to someone when it happened to me. I think they may like that too.

Youth Violence

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Youth Violence

DTWT 16 Devin LockeYouth Violence 

By Devon Locke

7th Grade

Western Pines Middle School

Youth violence has affected my life as recent as October 2015. With that said, I will tell you a story of my own experience with youth violence, how it has affected my life and what I think can be done about it.

 

One of my closest aunts is thankfully now a breast cancer survivor. When she was first diagnosed, I worried that she might lose her fight against this deadly disease. Being that October is breast cancer awareness month, I decided to dye my hair pink to help spread awareness, in honor of her.

 

The first day of school after I dyed my hair, I got out of my mother’s car with my best friend, and an 8th grader rudely asked, “Is that your boyfriend?”  Throughout the day, I was called “homo,” “gay” and “fag,” all because my hair was pink. I was literally tormented in the halls while people laughed and pointed at me.  It made me feel awful about myself. Out of everyone in the school, only two people said something positive about what I had done and other than that, the replies were all negative. The next few days, the name-calling continued and I was called “strawberry shortcake” and “pinkie,” along with other derogatory comments that were thrown in my direction, some of which I cannot even write in this challenge because of the vulgarity. I found it interesting that one of the 8th graders that made fun of me, dyed his hair the next day and nobody had anything negative to say. This made no sense to me and actually made me enraged. Was it because I am quiet and shy? Does that make me an easy target?

 

Thankfully, my parents taught me that the cause of youth violence is because the bully doesn’t feel good about themselves and takes it out on other people. Maybe they, themselves, have been neglected, abused or bullied and now this is how they deal with others. A bully tends to target people that have something they want which I think can be something that is concrete or a certain behavioral trait that the bully wishes they had. I also believe that a bully will pick his or her “victim” by race, religion, physical features, disabilities and personality. In my case, maybe it was that I have the personality that doesn’t care if I stand out because I was doing something that means a lot to me.

 

I have tried to think of ways to stop youth violence and I think we should start with each school having a “Bully Drop Box” that a student would be able to put the name of a bully without having to approach a teacher or administrator.

 

Another idea is to bring peer counseling back into schools because sometimes it’s easier to talk to a peer instead of an adult. It may also help because if others know what is going on, and just one person sticks up for you, the bully may stop.

 

My last idea is to hold parents accountable along with their child. Make them take classes on anger management and how to treat others if their child is not treating others right. If my parents had to sit through a class because I was not treating a peer with respect, it would only happen once. It would also maybe help parents hold their own children accountable for their decisions and actions instead of the parents putting the responsibility on the teachers and schools when their own child has done something wrong.

 

In conclusion, I believe youth violence is not something that just happens. It is something that is learned and taught first at home. Ask yourself if parents teach their children to be kind and caring, would this continue to happen? However, as in a lot of cases, parents tend to be too busy to teach their children how to behave.  So, it is up to us students to work together and change the youth of today to be more compassionate, and a more compassionate child will be a more successful adult.

“Do the Right Thing,” an essay by Jaydon Hood

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“Do the Right Thing,” an essay by Jaydon Hood

“Do the Right Thing”

By Jaydon HoodDTWT 16 Jaydon Hood

7th Grade

Crestwood Middle School

“Pop, pop, pop, pop” the sound of guns firing and people screaming. “Pop, pop, pop” more guns and people scrambling.  Screeching tires, gangs’ colors flying, smoke in the wind, everyone began to run, running in different directions, bumping into each other and dropping down to the ground.  People were afraid for their lives.  Loud screams, people hollering to “get down” or “run” and babies screaming only meant more panic and chaos.  Red blood and opened gun shells everywhere.  The cars were gone and people were getting up and gathering themselves to see the damage, but not my cousin Antwon.  He was still lying on the ground.  He was covered in blood and so was his friend Kevin. And just like that, along with 3 others, they were gone forever. Violence is not always that dramatic, but it is that damaging. It tears up friendships, families, relationships, strangers and even co-workers. Webster’s dictionary defines violence as the use of physical force to harm someone, to damage property, etc.  It also says, it is a “great destructive force or energy.”  That great destructive force changed my family forever.  It didn’t just take away a high school football-playing senior that was in the park, it also opened my eyes to the fact that I did not want to be a part of the ugliness of violence or the potentiality of losing my life unnecessarily.

Having a violent personality does not just happen overnight. There are many influences.  For some, it’s bad influences.  Unfortunately, for others it stems from issues at home.  More children witness violence at home than anywhere else in their lives.  According to , Homicide through violence in the home is the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24 years old. This means that more than anything else, children are being exposed to violent practices and lifestyles.  This has to stop!  My mom always says, “The traits of the parent become the tendencies of the child.”  This means that children are not always being taught to do the right thing. They do not all come from homes where parents are spending productive time with them, instilling good morals and great character traits. Doing the right thing starts in the home.  It starts with families joining together to build each other up and being involved in things that are positive. Most youth join gangs because they are looking for a sense of belonging.  In fact, according to www.cdc.gov_ 77% of gang members did not grow up in a home with their father, traditional family setting or they are 2nd and 3rd generation of felons.  Doing the right thing means living beyond these statistics and challenging yourself to do more than your environment.  I learned that we all have choices and these choices include choosing to be better than our parents and grandparents or even brothers, sisters and cousins.  It means waking up daily and saying, “I don’t have to be a gangbanger.  I can be the President of the United States. I don’t have to go around hurting people; I can devote my life to being a leader and helping others which could even result in a Nobel Peace award.” Doing the right thing means being positive and taking control of your own actions. It also means using your voice and influence for good and progressing, not for bullying or being involved in things that could land you in jail. Another contributing factor to violence is social media.  Now that many people are connected to each other all over the world, it is easy to spread negativity, and hate.  .states “16% of male students and 27.8% of female students reported being in a physical fight on school property in the 12 months due to social media disputes!”  That means that people have more and more distractions from learning in school.  Social media violence extends to celebrities, politicians, coaches and even business owners.

So how can I help change this?  I’ve asked myself how doI do my part in the fight against violence.  Choosing to do the right thing has helped me to be a better big brother to my younger brother, because I am his role model.  I know that because he is watching everything that I do.  I can’t lead him into bad actions. I am a leader and that means that even when I am not speaking, I have to use my actions to persuade others.  I am also a part of the “Safe Schools Ambassador Program” at Crestwood.  As a member, I am able to help others who may be bullied and be the eyes and ears to help teachers.  As a leader in this program, I can show others that you don’t have to choose violence.  You can choose to be a leader, a friend, a good neighbor, a good classmate and a high performer. Doing the right thing also starts in the mind.  It means that you have to look at yourself and others positively and realize that we are helpers not hurters. “Cogito Ergo Sume” means, ‘I think therefore I am.’  That means, if I think that I can, I will. If I think that I can make a difference, then I will rise above violence and distractions. If I see myself as a positive influence, then I will be a positive influence.  And that means, I have chosen to be the definition of “Doing the right thing.”

KRAVIS CENTER CROWD LEARNS THE SUBTLE STAYING POWER OF AMERICAN ICON JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS

Meredith Westheimer
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KRAVIS CENTER CROWD LEARNS THE SUBTLE STAYING POWER OF AMERICAN ICON JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS

KRAVIS CENTER CROWD LEARNS THE SUBTLE STAYING POWER OF AMERICAN ICON JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS

Jackie Kennedy Onassis

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As part of the Kravis Center’s 2015-2016 Artsmart Lunch & Learn series, chaired by Lee Wolf and Steven Caras, a sold-out audience of over 620 admirers of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was treated to a glimpse into her incredible life. The event, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: The Subtle Staying Power of an American Icon, was sponsored by Leona F. Chanin.

Kravis Center CEO Judith Mitchell welcomed guests and introduced the speakers, Ms. Wolf and Mr. Caras. She also thanked Jane Mitchell, Board Chair; Bill Meyer, Past Board Chair and Board Treasurer and Dr. Barbara Golden, Board member and Chair of the Education Committee, for their support.

Prior to the program, the audience watched a film on the woman who has been called American Royalty by many and to this day creates interest and admiration for her love of art, history and fashion.

During the program, Mr. Caras posed questions on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Ms. Wolf, who provided animated and off-the-cuff stories about the life of one of the world’s most intriguing women.

Born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in 1929, she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. When she became First Lady in 1961, she worked to bring elegance to the White House and to protect its holdings. After JFK’s assassination in 1963, she moved to New York City and raised her two children. In 1968, she married Aristotle Onassis, one of the world’s wealthiest men and began a career as a book editor following his death in 1975. In 1994 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died at the age of 64.

“Always charming and poised, there was something extraordinary beyond the pill box hat, oversized sunglasses and that beautiful face of hers,” noted Ms. Wolf. “On the surface, it looked like she had it all, with a handsome husband who happened to be President and those two gorgeous children. But she could teach us all about fortitude,” she explained, pointing to the heartbreaking times in her life.

For almost 25 years, the not-for-profit Kravis Center for the Performing Arts has helped students of all ages fuel their imaginations and expand their lives through comprehensive arts education programs. Last season, nearly 60,000 children from Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties attended numerous performances through the Kravis S*T*A*R* (Students and Teachers Arts Resource) Series. More than 3,000 adults attended ARTSMART continuing education classes and lectures – with topics ranging from Princess Grace to the Great American Songbook.

For general information about the Kravis Center performances and events like the ArtsSmart Lunch & Learn series, please visit kravis.org or call the box office at 561-832-7469 (561-832-SHOW).

Centrally located in West Palm Beach, the Kravis Center is one of the premier performing arts centers in the Southeast with a renowned national and international reputation. Established as a leading force in the social fabric of the community, its many outreach programs are as broad and varied as the community itself. To date, the Center has opened the door to the performing arts for more than 2 million school children.

Behind the Scenes Look atWellington’s Public Works Department

Natty Kelly
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Behind the Scenes Look atWellington’s Public Works Department

Behind the Scenes Look at Wellington’s Public Works Department

city-hall-wellington

To give residents an opportunity get to know Wellington’s Public Works Department and in celebration of National Public Works Week, the Village of Wellington will host an open house for residents on Thursday, May 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Public Works Building located at 14000 Greenbriar Blvd.

Ever wonder what it takes to keep our roads in good repair and free of debris? Want to know more about how the Village’s canals are cleared and maintained? Want to meet the staff responsible for maintaining the Village’s great parks? This event will demonstrate the essential and quality of life services that Public Works provides to the community year round.

Please join us for a fun, family event. The open house will include equipment displays and demonstrations throughout the facility, garage and parking lot, as well as snacks, giveaways, and interactive displays.

Wellington’s Public Works Department was accredited by the American Public Works Association (APWA) on February 7, 2015, becoming the first accredited agency in Palm Beach County. The APWA Accreditation Program verifies and recognizes public works agencies for compliance with recommended practices nationally accepted by experts in the field of public works.

National Public Works Week is a celebration of the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works.

As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.

For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch WellingtonTV for the latest happenings.

Nacho Figueras Plays Polo in Wellington with his friend Prince Harry

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Nacho Figueras Plays Polo in Wellington with his friend Prince Harry

Nacho Figueras Plays Polo in Wellington, FL, a Benefit for Sentebale

With Krista Martinelli, AroundWellington.com

See our related photos from the event under “Photo Galleries.”

Prince Harry Plays Polo in Wellington to Benefit Sentebale

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Prince Harry Plays Polo in Wellington to Benefit Sentebale

May, 2016 – Prince Harry in Wellington, FL

Photos by Alan Fabricant, AlFabPhoto.com

Wellington, FL – Prince Harry helped the Sentebale ISPS Handa team in winning the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup on May 4 at Valiente Polo Club, a benefit for Sentebale. Valiente owner Bob Jornayvaz, Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick and Melissa Ganzi joined Prince Harry on the Sentebale team, which defeated the Royal Salute team 6-3.
Despite a very rainy day that almost caused the polo game to not go on, the players were able to get out and play full force for almost the entire duration of the match.  When heavy downpours happened in the last quarter of the match, the polo players eased up a bit – for the general safety of the polo ponies.
The ticket price was said to be $50,000 at this primarily invite-only event.  Nacho Figueras, also an ambassador and spokesperson for Sentebale, captained the Royal Salute team, along with teammates Marc Ganzi, Teodoro Calle and Joe DiMenna. Nic Roldan was the captain of the Valiente team, along with Tommy Kato, Martin Cregg and Curtis Pilot. While Prince Harry was not taking interviews during the event, Nacho Figueras spoke about the importance of fighting AIDS in Africa and supporting children suffering from HIV.  See a related video with Nacho Figueras.

 

HANLEY CENTER FOUNDATION SERVES AS PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR 2016 PATHFINDER AWARDS

Meredith Westheimer
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HANLEY CENTER FOUNDATION SERVES AS PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR 2016 PATHFINDER AWARDS

Sponsorship compliments mission to prevent substance abuse through alliances with teen leaders

(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) With a commitment to preventing substance abuse across the state of Florida, Hanley Center Foundation is focusing the nonprofits efforts on teen alliances. In addition to the Foundation’s recently launched Twitter handle, “TwinzTweet,” the Foundation is also sponsoring a variety of events, including the prestigious 2016 Pathfinder Awards. Known for recognizing the best and brightest high school seniors in Palm Beach and Martin counties, Pathfinder finalists are a great target audience for an alliance with the Foundation. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on May 10, 2016 at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.

“We want to go where the teens are,” said Kae Jonsons, Hanley Center Foundation CEO. “When you hear statistics like, ‘by the time a child turns 18 he or she will have been exposed to more than 500,000 alcohol advertisements,’ you want to know that someone is out there doing their part to combat perception verse reality – and we are doing just that! Our prevention specialists are in schools across the state of Florida every day, providing evidence-based, age-appropriate education. But we want to do more, which is why we are building strong partnerships and coming up with innovative opportunities to reach teens. The 2016 Pathfinder Awards is a perfect complement to our mission, and an important opportunity to reach teen leaders in our community. It is only through alliances with teen leaders like the Pathfinder Awards finalists that we can continue to spread and encourage this message. We know they will lead the way in many avenues of their life after high school, and we hope one of those ways is to set good and healthy examples with regards to drugs and alcohol.”

The Pathfinder High School Scholarship Awards are presented each year to high school seniors in Palm Beach and Martin counties who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in 18 academic, vocational and athletic categories. Sponsored by The Palm Beach Post, the awards are presented each year to recognize excellence and to encourage students to one day bring their considerable talents to the communities where each received a start on the path to a good education and a rewarding career.

“In order to empower and encourage healthy habits – and meet the teens on a platform they enjoy – the Foundation recently launched a Twitter handle called ‘TwinzTweet,’” continued Jonsons. “With the goal of continuing our prevention education conversations beyond the classroom, ‘TwinzTweet’ is a healthy lifestyle resource for teens and their friends. Teens can find messages of encouragement and reinforcement that most of their peers are not drinking or engaging in risky behaviors.”

“TwinzTweet” is managed by two of the Foundation’s prevention specialists, who have been nicknamed “the twins.” Abby Hamilton and Ashleigh Lentz, who aren’t related, have many similarities, including a strong passion for educating youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, bubbly personalities and engaging presentation styles. All of these qualities are said to resonate well with the students they interact with – both in person and through the popular social media platform.

“’TwinzTweet’ is quickly gaining in popularity, as we have created a safe platform for students who have questions,” said Hamilton. “Positive peer pressure is so powerful, and identifying teen leaders, like the Pathfinder finalists, is key to spreading our message about prevention. Prevention is a successful strategy to save lives.”

Established more than 30 years ago by Mary Jane and Jack Hanley, Hanley Center Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to give hope to individuals, families and communities affected by alcoholism and drug addiction through access to high quality treatment, education, family support and community prevention programs.

College scholarships are available for the Pathfinder Awards winners in the amounts of $4,000 for the first-place winner, $3,000 for the second-place winner, $2,500 for the third-place winner and $2,000 to the fourth-place winner in each category. Top winners in each category will also receive the special “astrolabe” trophy, a symbol for the path each student may follow in the world and the leadership and direction each may provide for others in the future.

For more information about Hanley Center Foundation and its prevention education, please call 561-841-1212 or visit hanleycenterfoundation.org. For more information about the Pathfinder Awards, please visit www.palmbeachpost.com/pathfinder.

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