Just a few highlights of happenings Around Wellington. For many more photos, visit the link “Photo Galleries” on this site! For recent videos, click on our “Videos” link.
July/August, 2015 – AW in Pics
July, 2015 – Wingfoot Lake
Wingfoot Lake
By Rita Dove
(Independence Day, 1964)
On her 36th birthday, Thomas had shown her
her first swimming pool. It had been
his favorite color, exactly—just
so much of it, the swimmers’ white arms jutting
into the chevrons of high society.
She had rolled up her window
and told him to drive on, fast.
Now this act of mercy: four daughters
dragging her to their husbands’ company picnic,
white families on one side and them
on the other, unpacking the same
squeeze bottles of Heinz, the same
waxy beef patties and Salem potato chip bags.
So he was dead for the first time
on Fourth of July—ten years ago
had been harder, waiting for something to happen,
and ten years before that, the girls
like young horses eyeing the track.
Last August she stood alone for hours
in front of the T.V. set
as a crow’s wing moved slowly through
the white streets of government.
That brave swimming
scared her, like Joanna saying
Mother, we’re Afro-Americans now!
What did she know about Africa?
Were there lakes like this one
with a rowboat pushed under the pier?
Or Thomas’ Great Mississippi
with its sullen silks? (There was
the Nile but the Nile belonged
to God.) Where she came from
was the past, 12 miles into town
where nobody had locked their back door,
and Goodyear hadn’t begun to dream of a park
under the company symbol, a white foot
sprouting two small wings.
***
Rita Dove, “Wingfoot Lake” from Thomas and Beulah (Pittsburgh: Carnegie Mellon University Press, 1986). Copyright © 1986 by Rita Dove.
July/August, 2015 – Weight Loss in Cats
Paws-itive Press
Weight Loss in Cats
By Mark Planco of Planco Veterinary Care
When cats are overweight they are at risk for many medical conditions. Being overweight by two pounds or more make a cat very likely to develop serious illnesses. Overweight cats live shorter lives than more fit cats. Overweight cats tend to be less energetic and lazy, and this inactivity causes the problem to escalate. When cats lie around and aren’t active it may be because of the excess weight and not the reason for the weight. Some common illnesses associated with excessive weight include:
Diabetes
Osteoarthritis
Heart Disease
High Blood Pressure
Cancer
Here are some tips to help your cat lose excess weight or keep them from gaining unhealthy pounds.
Cats must eat. Introducing a new diet food and taking the approach of “He’ll eat when he gets hungry enough” doesn’t work for cats. If cats don’t eat anything for several days in a row their metabolism changes and can get a life threatening illness called hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).
A weight loss formula starts with knowing the calories a cats needs for maintaining optimal weight or for weight loss. The most effective way for cats to lose weight is to eat high protein, small meals multiple times per day. A meal should consist of 10-15 pieces of kibble or small amount of canned food. This equates to 20-30 calories per meal. Overweight cats should have the same amount of food except using food made for weight loss and containing fewer calories. If possible to feed your cat four to five times daily this small, high protein diet, cats will lose weight. To determine how much canned food to feed visit petobesityprevention.com and click on “Food and Calories” at the left side of the page.
Changing diets in cats should be done slowly over one to two weeks. Start by introducing the new food to be approximately 25% of his diet for a few days, then 50% for a few days, and then 75% of new food for a few more days then you can change to all new diet. To make dry food more appetizing for a finicky cat you can warm it with a small amount of an Omega 3 supplement or salmon juice.
Exercise is the other important factor in weight loss. Exercising cats isn’t easy. If a cat is young and playful, keep his/her interest in playing by rotating toys and activities to prevent boredom and lack of interest. If your cat is not into playing or too fat to play for long, you will have to be creative. Examples or things to try are feathers on a string to have them chase, mazes to get their food or a favorite toy, cat condos or shelves for them to climb. Some cats like chasing flashlights or laser lights. Overweight cats that won’t exercise may need to work to get their food. There are toys that you can put dry kibble in and as cats roll it around a piece drops out for them to eat. This makes them exercise for their meal. Once cats start losing weight they will become more active which encourages more weight loss and should make it easier.
Making the commitment to keeping cats healthy and living long active lives is important for every cat owner. Obese cats live shorter lives with more medical issues. Consult your veterinarian for other helpful tips on weight loss in cats.
Dr. Mark Planco’s compassion for animals has been a lifelong labor of love. He earned both his undergraduate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at the University of Florida. Dr. Planco has treated small and large animals since 1991, and has been in Palm Beach County since 1994. Dr. Planco is a member of the Palm Beach Veterinary Society, American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. Visit PlancoVetCare.com for further information or call 561-795-9507.
***
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to provide information on which you should use to diagnose or treat a medical condition or delay seeking medical attention. This column is of no value with respect to any medical condition that needs prompt attention. If you have a question that needs an immediate answer, you should call your own veterinarian or emergency animal hospital, especially if you are confronting a medical emergency!
Furthermore, we urge you to always seek the advice of your own veterinarian, and you should not disregard, discount, or delay seeking the advice of your veterinarian because of any response posted in this column.
July, 2015 – Downtime Abbey
Mommy Moments
Downtime Abbey
By Melanie Lewis
WELCOME summer vacation! Everyone can use a little downtime. Plan a relaxing and replenishing retreat for yourself or the entire family. Here are some of my recommendations.
You could take a page out of the book of the PBS TV series and visit the American equivalent, The Flagler Museum. When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, Henry Flagler’s Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world.” Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring guided tours, changing exhibits, and special programs. While in the area, see The Breakers. The Villa Medici in Rome is the inspiration for the hotel’s facade. Walk in the same halls as the Vanderbilts and the Astors. Tours available on Saturdays for a small fee. Another step back in time, but still available to those wishing to splurge like a Housewife of West Palm Beach wealth and eccentricity. Go ahead and live it up with an overnight stay.
If that seems like more running around, then go for the ‘stay-cation’. Trips to the library for a stack of books, movies and music will keep the crew entertained. Reading, or D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) time is what they call it in school. When desperate for some quiet, yell out, “DEAR” time. The first one sitting reading wins first choice for dessert.
Add a cookbook to that pile of library finds. Have the kids participate in meal planning and preparation. They have to eat, so why not get them involved as much as possible? A trip to the local farmers’ market may be in order. Find new uses for tomatoes and beans.
To prevent unnecessary Downtime drama, make sure to preserve an hour everyday after lunch or mid afternoon for pure quiet. No computers, no toys or games, just an hour of stillness: contemplation, meditation, prayer.
And most importantly, find a moment for yourself. Moms need a break. I recently went to visit a friend two hours away. I felt guilty leaving floors unmopped and the lawn growing sky-high. I can tell you the next day on my way home, I wasn’t thinking of any of it.
Give yourself a pause from a harried life and create your own Downtime Abbey.
***
Melanie Lewis is the mother of 2 active young boys. She is married and works part-time as a Silpada representative and a weight loss consultant. She enjoys book club, and playing with her Blue-mitted Ragdoll, Percy and Golden Retriever, Rosie. She can be reached at – melaniewlewis@yahoo.com.
www.mysilpada.com/Melanie.Lewis
Jewelry makes the perfect gift!
508-656-0125
July, 2015 – Paint for Hope
Paint for Hope
At the Art Cellar in Wellington
July 23rd
To purchase tickets, visit: http://www.artcellarwellington.com/event/place-of-hope-fundraiser/
For more information contact Rachel Gaydosh: rachelg@placeofhope.com or 561-775-7195
July/August, 2015 – Staying Productive over the Summer
Teen Talk
Staying Productive over the Summer
By Gabi Harris
I feel like I’m constantly trying to spread both productivity and positivity among my peers and even in my Teen Talk articles. Yes, summer is a time to relax from work and school, but it’s also a time to figure things out and be productive! My summers include me also working at my job, but I also like to keep myself busy because staying on the couch, constantly watching Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix can get boring after a while. Again, yes, Netflix is a beautiful, beautiful thing, but so are activities that help you better yourself!
If you’re an entering senior, then this summer should be the opposite of a walk in the park. Researching colleges, applying for early admission, pumping up the resume are just a few of the things high school seniors have to encounter the summer before entering senior year. Don’t forget online classes, summer institutes, and (if you don’t know yet) figuring out where exactly you want to spend the next four or more years. The summer is the perfect and only time to plan all this out because trust me, once the year begins, it’ll be over before you know it. Plan out accordingly; stay on track of things, so you can be moving your tassel from the right to left side next year, Class of 2016!
Now if you’re not an upcoming senior, maybe you don’t have much to worry about but staying productive is still something you may want to consider, as you lay on your bed constantly refusing to see daylight? When I wasn’t working over the summer I found myself at home often, laying down with my laptop on my stomach finishing seasons of TV shows. Those days caused me sickness from feeling as if I wasn’t accomplishing anything, so I decided ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. Whether my friends were working, out of town, or at college, I decided I still had to move on with my life and do something besides staying at home all day.
I took trips to art museums, the beach, to get coffee, and finished most of the tasks I wanted to have done by the end of the summer. Whether you complete an online class or finish your summer reading book, productivity will find you not being upset with yourself when (I’m sorry I’m mentioning it) school comes back around.
Keep yourself busy! A couple of days relaxing and doing nothing are obviously necessary, but don’t forget to stay on track with what you need to complete this summer!
***
Gabrielle Harris just graduated from Wellington High School. She was involved in the Quidditch team, Key Club, and served as the social media and news editor for the WHS Wave school newspaper. She hopes to study mass communications in college and aspires to someday tell her travel stories to the world.
July, 2015 – Celebrate July 4th at Eau Palm Beach
July, 2015 – Celebrating July 4th at Eau Palm Beach
July, 2015 – Science Center’s Expo Offers Options for Healthy Living
SCIENCE CENTER’S EXPO OFFERS POSITIVE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING
City of West Palm Beach residents get half-off admission on July 25 in honor of 6th Annual Green Health & Wellness Expo
Photo: Esteban Parchuc/South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. Madison Maynard, 10; Amber Yates, 13; and Dale Karman, 12, learn about sustainable practices at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s annual Green Health and Wellness Expo. The 6th annual event takes place on Saturday, July 25 and West Palm Beach residents are treated to half-off admission with proof of residency.(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) On Saturday, July 25, all guests at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium will walk away with some healthy swag, included in their admission to the family-focused West Palm Beach-based venue. In addition, City of West Palm Beach residents get a power boost of good news when they show proof of residency and their admission is half-off for the day.
In honor of the 6th Annual Green Health & Wellness Expo, the in partnership with the West Palm Beach Office of Sustainability and the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society are celebrating the City’s good health with fun and educational activities for the family–all promoting a healthy lifestyle though vendor exhibits, demonstrations, give-a-ways, tastings and much more.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, the Science Center’s regular exhibits will serve as a backdrop for booths featuring Whole Foods, FPL, Fresh Fest, Braman Motorcars, ABM, Brown and Caldwell, Solid Waste Authority and more. Activities include yoga and healthy food preparation demonstrations, gardening workshops, information about carbon footprint reduction, energy efficiency, transportation, environmentally preferable purchasing and other sustainable/conservation subjects. Representatives from the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society will offer rare guided tours of the Melvin J. & Claire Levine Animal Care Complex and discuss their on-site conservation programs.
“Science is proving now more than ever that wellness and a healthy lifestyle are critical to our own personal longevity as well as the life of our planet,” said Lew Crampton, CEO of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. “We are excited to see that our annual Green Health & Wellness Expo has grown to such popularity over the years, as we continue to be a community resource. Our participating vendors and sponsors are top-notch and visitors will surely delight in all of the samples, tips and quality experiences. With collaboration from the City of West Palm Beach and the Zoo, along with outstanding sponsors and vendors, we know this year will be our best yet!”
The e4 Life: Green Health & Wellness Expo is included with paid Science Center admission, and West Palm Beach city residents receive 50% off admission with a valid ID. Admission to the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is $15 for adults, $11 for children ages 3 to 12, and $13 for seniors over the age of 60. SFSCA members are free. The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an 8,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall, pre-K focused “Discovery Center” and an interactive Everglades exhibit. The current summer exhibit, Eww! What’s Eating You? is destined to get under guests skin with a carnival of creatures.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium,” said Penni Redford, manager of the Office of Sustainability. “Our mission to enhance the viability of West Palm Beach as a modern model of a healthy, environmentally progressive and ecologically sustainable community, coincides well with the Science Center’s annual health expo. We look forward to a fun-filled afternoon with tons of activities for the entire family – offering both entertainment and education!”
Located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, the Science Center is open Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. For more information the Expo or other activities, please call (561) 832-1988 or visit . Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @SFScienceCenter.
June, 2015 – Palm Beach Zoo events this Summer
Events going on this summer at the Palm Beach Zoo
Safari Nights (6/26, 7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28)
Every Friday evening through August is Safari Nights at the Palm Beach Zoo, 4:15-9:00pm. Weekly family-friendly themes, DJ, crafts, character appearances, and more. Learn all about it at www.palmbeachzoo.org/safari-nights. Zoo members get in free!
Food Truck Safari (6/27, 7/25, 8/22)
Every 4th Saturday evening of the month a collection of South Florida’s best gourmet food trucks set up inside the Palm Beach Zoo for our super-popular Food Truck Safari, 4:30-9:00pm. The whole Zoo is open, plus there’s live music and cold, adult drinks! See www.palmbeachzoo.org/special-events for admission prices and other info.
Roar & Pour (7/11)
Every 2nd Saturday evening of the month through August catch some of South Florida’s best tribute bands at Roar & Pour at the Palm Beach Zoo, 4:30-9:00pm. Tonight’s featured band is “White Witch, A Stevie Nicks Tribute”. The whole Zoo is open to explore, the Summer Grill serves up great eats and the Tiki Bar features a tap takeover from Funky Buddha Brewery. See www.palmbeachzoo.org/roar-and-pour for admission prices and other info.
Roar & Pour (8/8)
Tonight is the last Roar & Pour of the season at the Palm Beach Zoo, 4:30-9:00pm. Tonight’s featured band is “Keep The Faith Bon Jovi Tribute Experience”. The whole Zoo is open to explore, the Summer Grill serves up great eats and the Tiki Bar features a tap takeover from Due South Brewery. See www.palmbeachzoo.org/roar-and-pour for admission prices and other info.
July, 2015 – Freedom-Inspired Feasting at The Cooper
Freedom-Inspired Feasting
at The Cooper
On July 4, celebrate your patriotic right to eat whatever you please until you’re red, white, and blue. Head to The Cooper, the rustic, farm-to-table hot spot, where executive chef Adam Brown will be marking the special occasion with a twist on two, American comfort food classics.
Guests will enjoy finger lickin’, St. Louis-style BBQ Ribs (half rack, $21), infused with ancho chili pepper and served with homemade sides of jalapeño-cheddar corn bread, coleslaw, and soon-to-be-famous, hand-cut French fries. Or, get your crustacean fix with the New England Clambake ($29), loaded with fresh lobster, littleneck clams, Amelia Island shrimp, Prince Edward Island mussels, chorizo, sweet corn, and golden potatoes. End on a sweet note with The Cooper’s hot fudge-drenched sundae ($8), with salted caramel, spiced pecans, whipped cream, and Amarena cherries.
Being American sure tastes good.
The Cooper, Craft Kitchen & Bar
The Cooper, Craft Kitchen & Bar provides sustainable, environmentally conscious food in a contemporary setting, with unparalleled service. The menu is influenced and inspired by fresh ingredients that are locally sourced and mindfully prepared. Complementing the menu are thoughtfully crafted artisan cocktails. These seasonal, barrel-aged cocktails are modern interpretations of classic drinks. The Cooper also offers a lively and international selection of wines and microbrew draft beers.
The Cooper is located in PGA Commons at 4610 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Daily lunch hours are 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner hours are Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday brunch hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit thecooperrestaurant.com.