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April, 2015 – Stretch vs Strength

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April, 2015 – Stretch vs Strength
Dr. Jonathon Chung
Dr. Jonathon Chung

Ask the Docs

Stretch vs Strength: The Surprising Results in Sports Injury Prevention

By Dr. Jonathon Chung, Keystone Chiropractic

 

See the video! https://youtu.be/qwa0tQ2QgHc

The prevailing thought process in little leagues, pee wee football, and high school sports have generally placed a high priority on stretching to reduce injury amongst their athletes. The idea has gone mostly unchallenged by youth sports coaches in the name of “it just makes sense” and “that’s what my coaches have always taught me”.

Stretching-200x300

 

Truthfully, we didn’t have much reason to doubt that stretching is beneficial for injury prevention. By common knowledge, it did make sense given that stretching will usually leave you feeling good, and it seemed to make sense that having looser muscles would be more advantageous than being tight.

However, with the age of the internet and the virtual freedom of information, we now have better resources to make decisions using research and data from people who study this stuff all of the time. That’s when I stumbled upon this article on Twitter last week.

The effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent sports injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials 

The article basically took a look at 25 large scale studies that compared the rates of sport-related injury in strength Training, functional exercise programs, and stretching. For most people, the results are pretty surprising:

  • Strength training and proprioceptive exercise (what most consider functional training) consistently provided a protective effect against injury
  • Stretching programs showed no effect 
  • The Authors estimate that strength training would reduce sports injury rates by 1/3 and reduce overuse injuries by 1/2

 What Does That Mean For My Athletes?

This doesn’t mean that stretching has no benefits what so ever. There is still some evidence that stretching may help with some types of muscle strains. Additionally, flexibility and good range of motion have been well documented as markers of overall health and longevity, especially as we age. If you want a good run down of how to apply stretching in effective ways, I wrote about it a few months ago in my article: Stretching: You’re Doing it Wrong.

The big idea is to de-mythify the idea that lifting weights is bad for the body and leads to injury, when the fact is that stronger muscles are what allows the body to be more resilient!

Of course this doesn’t mean it will make your body bulletproof. Stuff happens, especially in the world of contact sports, where injury for all intents and purposes, is inevitable. We have limited control over our environment, and we have even less control when bad luck happens on the playing field.

What we do have control over is how strong we make our bodies.

“While other professions are concerned with changing the environment to suit the weakened body,chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment.” – Dr. B.J Palmer

While his quote has nothing to do with exercise, or strength training, Dr. Palmer’s words echo the fundamental philosophy that we have towards patient care. If we can’t change the environment that the body faces day after day, than it’s up to us to make the body more resilient to the environment.

Who Can Benefit the Most?

Athletes of the big sports (football, basketball, baseball) usually have a strength and conditioning program built into their training, so as long as they’re getting good coaching, it’s not really something that needs to be addressed. Most of the time, these programs have dedicated strength coaches, and spend a huge amount of time in the off season in the weight room.

A lot of the smaller sports that don’t get as much attention make up a bulk of the total athletes in the country. Sports like soccer, cross country running, swimming, water polo, gymnastics, cheerleading, lacrosse are sports played by millions of boys and girls around the country.

These sports generally do not get the knowledge resources from high level strength and conditioning coaches. They also have limited time and money resources to work on a strength training program to supplement their regular practice schedules. Generally speaking, these athletes basically spend time practicing their sport day after day. Soccer coaches spend time playing soccer. Cheerleaders practice their routines. Swimmers swim, and cross country runners run This problem is especially prevalent for girls, who have the most to gain from strength training.

If you really want to make a difference for your young athlete, from a performance AND injury prevention stand point, it may be time to ditch the pre-practice stretch, and start looking for a gym and trainer to help them get to the next level. Plus, if they start learning good habits now, they’ll have a better chance of  maintaining their weight lifting habits as adults.

 

Did you like this article? Feel free to share it with the people you care about and see if a Complimentary Consultation is the next step to regain their health.

Dr. Chung is a practicing Structural Chiropractor in the West Palm Beach area. He has been published in peer reviewed scientific journals and is a sought after speaker in health and wellness. Follow his blog at http://chiropractorwellington.com/category/keystone-chiropractic-blog/ or find him on twitter at @drjonathanchung

 

April, 2015 – Career Transition Program

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Career Transition Program in Wellington

 

Wellington’s Community Services Department has partnered with the Palm Beach County Wellington Branch Library to host a Career Transition Program, Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 beginning at 2:30pm at the Palm Beach County Wellington Library located at 1951 Royal Fern Drive.

 

This program is designed to assist Wellington residents who are seeking employment with skills such as resume building, cover letters, interviewing skills, career path assessments, and creating a profile on a job database.

 

If you are interested in attending please contact Community Services at 561-791-4764.

 

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

 

March, 2015 – Wycliffe Stiff’s End of Season

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March, 2015 – Wycliffe Stiff’s End of Season

March, 2015 – The Conclusion of Another Great Stickball Season

Submitted by Commissioner Marty Ross

Wycliffe-ClippersChamps11
Photo by Harry Klaff.

Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League, on Stickball Blvd, here in Wellington, Florida, 1300 miles from the streets of Brooklyn, NY, celebrated the end of its socially-competitive 13th Anniversary Season.

 

No snow on the Stickball Blvd. to shovel, just sunny skies and great friendship exuded from the players as the Bronx Clippers Team beat the Brooklyn Bums Team, 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the home made Egg Cream Trophy that goes into the trophy showcase at Wycliffe Golf and Country Club.

 

The Bronx Clippers Captain:Steve Wechsler, co-capt. : Doug Lipman, pitcher:Marty Ross.

 

The Brooklyn Bums Captain:Mike Schweiger, co capt. : Elliott Tuckel, various pitchers.

 

The players and fans toasted with great Chocolate Egg Creams made by Big Al Diamond and Jon Mirenda, following the game.

 

The details of the game are below.

 

Steve Wechsler’s two-out double in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Bronx Clippers to a 4-3 victory over the Brooklyn Bums to win the Wycliffe Stiffs championship.

 

Warren Zweifler started the rally with a one-out double. Doug Lipman’s single put runners on the corners with two outs, setting the stage for Wechsler’s heroics.

 

The Bums had taken a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third on Art Spector’s 3-run homer. Harry Klaff and Andy Bleadon had singled to put two runners on base with one out, as Spector delivered with a blast over the center field fence.

 

Bronx immediately came back with three runs of their own on consecutive doubles by Len Keilin, Lipman, Wechsler, and Sean Siegrist. The teams traded zeroes until the Clippers came through in the bottom of the ninth.

June, 2015 – Mounts Botanical Garden Launches Summer Camp

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The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County

Launches First Summer Camp for Children in June
Mounts Nature Camp 2015: Pirates in the Garden
(West Palm Beach, FL – March 30, 2015) Allen Sistrunk, Garden Director of Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach, today announced the launch of the garden’s first summer camp for children: Mounts Nature Camp: Pirates in the Garden.

“Parents are always looking for positive, educational experiences for their kids during the summer time, so we at Mounts are inviting them to discover the magic of the garden,” says Sistrunk.  “The first Mounts Nature Camp promises to be full of adventure, discovery, creativity and fun as children explore the world around them using a mix of nature exploration, science activities, art, stories, and games on our 14 beautiful acres.”
“Because South Florida is steeped in buccaneer history, the first Mounts Nature Camp will have a pirate them,” he adds. “Taking that spirit of adventure, our Garden Story Pirates will guide youngsters on a voyage discovering magical spaces throughout Mounts Botanical Garden. We will embark on a Treasure Trek exploring the natural environment and learning the stories behind unusual botanicals. Each of our programs offers playful and creative opportunities for children to utilize their powers of observation and spirit of adventure through nature exploration, science activities, art in the garden, stories, and games. Each day will be filled with outdoor hands-on activities and time to create art. Our goal is to balance curiosity-driven free time with content-based activities that incorporate both structured and self-directed learning. And, of course, we promise to make it fun!”

The Mounts Nature Camp will offer three concurrent sessions for K–1st graders, 2nd and 3rd graders, and 4th and 5th graders, running for two weeklong segments (Monday through Friday, 9 am, to 2:30 pm), June 8-12 and June 15-19.
“Participating children will gather garden materials to create art projects and work together on collaborative creations,” says Sistrunk. “Each day will be filled with outdoor explorations, hands-on activities, and time to create art. At Mounts Nature Camp, we will balance curiosity-driven free time with content-based activities that incorporate both structured and self-directed learning. And, of course, we make it fun!”
The cost to enroll for Mounts Nature Camp is $125 per week for Mounts members and $175 for nonmembers. Financial scholarships are available. To sign up, please contact Program Coordinator Rochelle Ibanez Wolberg by phone (561.233.1730) or email (RWolberg@pbcgov.org). The deadline to enroll is June 5, 2015.
About the Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:
With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, offering gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more.  Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden.
Located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

April, 2015 – Wellington Art Society Scholarship Award Ceremony

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WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY

The Wellington Art Society will meet on April 8, 2015 at Bootz Culture Camp, 420 State Road 7, Suite 120.  Meet and greet will begin at 6:30, followed by the presentation of the Scholarship Awards to local high school seniors who will go on to study art in college.  All parents and teachers are invited to attend the presentation.  It is always a wonderful occasion for both the Wellington Art Society and the students.  It is one of the ways we contribute to the local community.

A brief meeting and the election of new officers and directors for the Board of Directors for the year 2015-2016  will follow the awards. All Art Society members are invited to share their latest art work during the Member Spotlight.  The meeting will conclude with our outstanding monthly raffle.

The Wellington Art Society is a non-profit charitable organization In its 35th year.  It is open to artists of all mediums and patrons of the arts, allowing both local and regional artists to display their art work in local galleries, interact with other artists and serve the community through. their art.

For further information visit wellingtonartsociety.org

April, 2015 – The Boss Project

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April, 2015 – The Boss Project

AW Stories of the Month

An Electrifying Night With

 

 Boss project1

By Rachel Baumel

Since moving from Boston back to Wellington (or Welly-world as we used to call it when I was growing up) I’ve been enjoying the wonders Mother Nature has to offer during the normally dreary months of winter. The sky is blue, there’s bright green grass, bougainvillea in bloom, and tons of Vitamin D to soak up. I like to spend as much time outside as possible before it gets too hot to handle.  There are many ways to be entertained and enjoy the weather in our lovely little town. One outdoor location that I like to take advantage of is the area near Wellington Village Hall. Every Saturday morning there’s a small green market where you can buy fresh fruits, veggies, and flowers. On Thursdays you can attend “Food Truck Invasion” with a variety of 23 food trucks to choose from. Saturday evenings include live outdoor stage performances with artists such as the Journey Tribute Band and No Strings Attached.

 

Who doesn’t love the songs Born to Run, Dancing in the Dark, and Born in the USA? On the evening of March 14, 2015 I attended a concert at the Wellington Amphitheater where I heard the wonderful talents of The BOSS Project: A Bruce Springsteen Tribute.

 

Prior to the concert, I had the pleasure of interviewing Paul Goldschlag (a.k.a. Bruce), the lead singer of The BOSS Project. He had the spirit of Springsteen himself and just as much talent and charisma.

Boss project2

Rachel Baumel (RB): Tell me what you, personally, find most exciting about performing live?

 

Paul Goldschlag (PG): From time to time in life, in those quiet moments, I believe we all wonder what it is we “do” that benefits the world we live in. Sometimes, we get to make that an exciting experience. For me, it’s putting a smile on the faces of those in the audience when we take to the stage and perform.  For the audience, it’s a moment.  It is for those who are remembering a special time in their lives that is brought forward by the music or a lyric captured live in concert. They say music touches the soul and I’m just the messenger for Bruce Springsteen’s music. But, once in a while, even the messenger gets excited by that touch. That moment is what I find most exciting about performing live.

 

RB: Tell me about the origins of The BOSS Project?

 

PG: Cary Stadtlander, the drummer for The BOSS Project, and I have been best of friends for over 20 years.  He and I were in a cover band called Amp’d with some truly great and talented musicians, playing the local South Florida club and bar scene for years.  We were discussing the business of music with our then guitarist, the very talented Randy Lavenia, who also happens to be a Wellington resident. We decided to step it up a few notches and take on a Bruce Springsteen tribute.  Not an easy task by any stretch!  After a band meeting [which included] lousy Mexican food and cold beer, it was in the works.  “Bruce fans, here we come!” was our battle cry!  After putting in many months in the studio and going through several different musicians and many auditions, it came to fruition.  There was such [a strong] desire for a Springsteen tribute like ours, that we were booked out several months in advance before we even stepped one foot on stage. We had a LOT of help from wonderful and talented people.  The list is WAY too long to mention all of their names, but they know who they are and we thank them profusely.

 

RB: It seems you had a bad experience initially…

 

It wasn’t a bed of roses.  We had gotten [involved] with a rather nefarious character parading around as a “talent agent” who stole a lot of money from us. You live; you learn and never stop learning – especially in the music business. We now have a couple of agents [that] we work with, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the great job done by Rich Rubin and his staff at Maximum Bands.

 

RB: Have you ever met our Wellington neighbor, Bruce Springsteen? If so, has he heard you perform?

 

PG: No, but we made a pretty good splash playing here last February and we are hoping he has heard of us.  If he’s in town, we’re hoping he or someone in his camp make an appearance… BRUCE: if you (or anyone who knows you) are reading this, please come on out and hear us – and have some fun with your fans in Wellington!

 

RB: How did you come to be “Bruce Springsteen?”

 

PG: Let’s not get carried away.  I’m no Bruce Springsteen.  I’m not an impersonator. The BOSS Project:  A Bruce Springsteen Tribute is a seven-piece ensemble of some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. [We] pay tribute to arguably one of the most prolific songwriters/performers of our time, period.

 

RB: So, tell me about the band?

 

The musicianship required to pay tribute to “The Boss” is extreme and I am truly in awe of the members who make up [the band]… from the guitar wizardry of Freight Train Kane to the brilliance on keyboards by Cary Keyz. [We also have] the spiritual Hammond B3 organ playing of Muggie Doo, the energetic bass guitar of Thomas Larkin and the aformentioned stewardship drumming of Cary Stadtlander. No Springsteen and E Street Band tribute could be complete without a big man on sax. We have the greatest, John Harden!  This is arguably one of the most talented groups of musicians around.

 

RB: Can you tell me a little about yourself?

 

PG: I’m originally a New Yorker who migrated (actually fled – kicking and screaming) from NYC to Florida shortly after 9/11… that’s another story.  If I may, I’ll spare you all the ink and data by directing you and your readers to our website. It includes a full bio on each of The BOSS Project band members. See:

www.BOSSProjectBand.com

 

RB: In your own words, how does Bruce Springsteen inspire you?

 

PG: [He is] “anthemic,” electrifying, emotional, exciting and brilliant. However, more than anything, having seen Bruce Springsteen live in concert several times, the most inspirational attribute of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band is the energy he and his band exude during a live performance. It is an AMAZING accomplishment and something any musician or music fan should bare witness to.  Honestly, I wasn’t a huge Bruce fan until I saw him live in concert.  Truly spectacular!  It is that very thing – the live performance – The BOSS Project tries to emulate.  We push and push until the tank is empty, night after night.

 

RB: What is the age range of most of the musician members in your band?

 

PG: The age range of our seven members is from early 30’s to early 50’s.

 

RB: What percentage of your audience are between the ages of 18 -35?

 

PG: Difficult to tell, but I will say that it always surprises me, as to how many in that age range show up and sing along to every word of each song we play.  I’ve been known to bring some of them up on stage and sing with us during our shows.  It’s all about having fun and enjoying the incredible music of Bruce Springsteen.

 

The BOSS Project concert was well attended and the audience was brought to their feet – both dancing and singing along. It was an incredible evening and I hope to see this band again in seasons to come. For future concert information check the band’s website – http://bossprojectband.com/. You can also see the comments by those who follow The Boss Project on Facebook: Facebook.com/BOSSProject

***

April, 2015 – What Does Earth Day Mean to You?

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April, 2015 – What Does Earth Day Mean to You?

Living GreenBryan Hayes

What Does Earth Day Mean to You?

By Bryan Hayes

 

Isn’t it amazing just how much we take for granted?  Even waking up every day is routine.   We are continually breathing without even thinking about it.   Walking from here to there, all those steps we take – we are not conscious of our efforts and even less of all the moving parts that enable us to be so mobile.

 

What we walk on is just as complex.  Not to mention all that surrounds us.   Whether it is the Earth below us, the sky above us, or the plants and foliage that are before us, the world is made up of so many living organisms.

 

The Earth itself is a living organism.   Just that thought we take for granted, most of the time.   It tends to be easy to forget that our planet is living.   The grass we can easily see, especially when it is dying, but there is much more to life than what we are able to visualize.    Sometimes it is helpful to be reminded.

 

Every year we have just that with the annual Earth Day celebration (on April 22nd).   What is Earth Day? And, what does it mean to you?  I set out on a journey to ask local residents that very question.

 

Cathy was the first person I spoke with. She said Earth Day for her is about “respecting and honoring the Earth” and everything that is on the planet as well.

 

Respect and honor are two very fundamental words.   Traditionally, Native Americans often spoke in those terms.    Theirs was a culture that very much focused on that ideology.   It was one that encompassed seeing every living thing, including the Earth, as needing to be nurtured and cared for.

 

For Alexa, Earth Day is a “celebratory day to reflect on my daily actions and first ask if I am doing all I can do to reduce, reuse and repurpose and second to take action where I lay short, because it is the daily changes that can make a lifetime of positive impact.”

 

It is the daily changes that do make a difference.   It is the small contributions when added together that are monumental.  And if everyone asked these same questions as Alexa, where might we all be?

 

Kevin, another local resident, invoked the words “simple and natural” in terms of responsibility and the need for personal and corporate accountability.   When asked what simplicity means for him, he provided the example of eating foods that are more natural and less processed.   He also listed living a healthy lifestyle as another protocol that is important for him with “healthy” encompassing the full aspect of the term.   Not only does he feel having a healthy relationship with others as critical but also with our surroundings as well.   In terms of environmental responsibility, he sees not overusing our natural resources as important both short-term and long-term.    One of the ways he practices personal responsibility himself can be seen in his pest control choices, making sure that he chooses a company that uses methods that are environmentally-conscientious.

 

A company’s business practices are very much a part of our personal choices.   As consumers, there is much more access to information when it comes to a company’s environmental stewardship and that can be a determining factor in selecting products as well as services.

 

Earth Day is a time to celebrate our wonderful earth, according to Dina, who said it is when we can “all come together and be united in our efforts of practicing going green.”  She views “Mother Nature” as something we need to care for and cites recycling as critical to this process.  While she did say that Earth Day has become increasingly more commercialized, she also indicated that may not be a negative because of the international publicity received.

 

Publicity is critical for any movement to gain leverage as we tend to gravitate to what we know.   There is much more copy attributed to Earth Day as evidence by what you are reading right now.  That trend, we hope, continues and the day becomes not only a celebration of what can be accomplished but also of what has been accomplished in caring for our planet.

 

No matter how old we get, respect and honor never goes out of style.  Being respectful of our mother transcends to Mother Nature.  Without her, we would not be here.   Even if starting with just one day not taking that for granted, it is a start, and a step in the right direction.

 

Note: for a fun and educational Earth Day celebration, come to the Wellington Amphitheater on Sunday, April 19th from 4pm – 7pm.

 

***

Bryan Hayes is an actor, amateur photographer, business consultant and full-time lover of all things living.  To check out more from Bryan Hayes, please visit his blog at:http://outofthehaze.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

April, 2015 – Cooperstown, Authentic Small Town Americana

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April, 2015 – Cooperstown, Authentic Small Town Americana

Travel with Terri

Cooperstown:  Authentic Small Town Americana

By Terri Marshall

 

When my son was young I spent a good portion of my spring and summer watching him play baseball.  I can still hear the crack of the bat, the cheers of the crowd and the occasional shouts at the umpire…that might have been me.  As baseball season arrives, it is the perfect time to spotlight the village that is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame – Cooperstown, New York.  Located on the southern shore of Otsego Lake, Cooperstown is authentic, small-town Americana.  With only one stop-light and about three blocks of downtown, walking the streets of the picturesque village is a bit like strolling through a Norman Rockwell painting.  There are plenty of reasons to visit this American treasure, here are some highlights.

Ostega Lake. Photo: Gregory Holder.

 

America’s Favorite Past-time

 

No visit to Cooperstown would be complete without seeing the cathedral of baseball.  Tucked away on the village’s main street, the has more than 38,000 artifacts honoring baseball’s history.  The crowning jewel is the Plaque Gallery, where visitors will discover all 306 Hall of Fame members’ bronze plaques honoring their achievements.  Visit the 20th Century Baseball Time Line to discover more about women in baseball and the African-American league.  Kids will love the interactive exhibits and activities in the Sandlot Kids’ Clubhouse.  And collectors will drool over the museum’s collection of over 135,000 baseball cards.

 

Baseball spills out into the street where quaint shops are filled with baseball themed souvenirs and memorabilia.  At the center of the village is the place widely recognized as the birthplace of America’s pastime, Abner Doubleday Field.

 

During the spring and summer expect to see little sluggers throughout the village and at baseball camps and batting cages just outside of town.

 

Arts and Culture

 

While baseball may be Cooperstown’s most famous pastime, its culture extends far beyond the balls and bats.  Cooperstown is home to iconic collections of American history, culture and art.   The is home to some of the nation’s finest examples of American landscape, history and genre paintings.  There is a huge folk art collection and a wonderful American Indian art collection.

 

Located on the shores of OtsegoLake (dubbed “Glimmerglass” by Cooperstown founder, James Fenimore Cooper) the is an internationally acclaimed summer opera theater.   Built on donated farmland, the theater features  an intimate design with a single wrap-around balcony and box seats, and unique sliding side walls that can be opened prior to performances and during intermissions.   The design mimics the region’s rural agrarian culture with its barn-like architecture.  The ceiling of the theater features a traditional Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern.  All of the theater’s 914 seats are less than 70 feet from the stage, so you can experience the world’s great operas and musicals the way they were originally performed – with clear, unamplified natural sound.

Glimmer Glass Opera House. Photo courtesy of Cooperstown Tourism.

 

As one of the oldest rural life museums in the country, the is a true treasure.  This open-air living history museum depicts rural life in America in the mid-1800’s.  There are more than 40 authentic buildings where interpreters in period costumes demonstrate life from days gone by.  Learn how to bake bread over an open hearth or see how herbs were used to make medicine at Dr. Thralls Pharmacy.  The Farmer’s Museum is also home to the gorgeous Empire State Carousel.   Often referred to as “the museum you can ride,” the carousel has 25 hand-carved animals representing the agricultural and natural resources found in New York State.  Eight foot curved murals depict moments in New York history.  Designer and master woodcarver, Gerry Holtzman has cleverly carved his face here and there throughout the carousel.  Join a docent led tour to discover these secrets and more.

Jersey Cow on the Empire State Carousel. Photo: Gregory Holder.

 

The Spirits of Cooperstown

Ommegang Brewery. Photo courtesy of Cooperstown Tourism.

 

Once the hops-growing capital of North America, Cooperstown is back on the map when it comes to serving up the spirits.  For beer, wine and cider, travel along the – New York’s first cuisine trail.  The trail includes a stop at Brewery Ommegang – nationally recognized for  its Belgian-style ales.  Other stops include Cooperstown Brewing Company, Bear Pond Winery, Butternuts Beer and Ale, Rustic Ridge Winery and Fly Creek Cider Mill.

Fly Creek Cider Mill. Photo courtesy of Cooperstown Tourism.

 

Man (or woman) cannot live by beverage alone, so be sure to check out while traveling the beverage trail.  A fixture in the community since 1856, Fly Creek Cider Mill has been producing delicious sweet apple cider for 150 years, but that is just the beginning.   The Mill Store Marketplace is filled with culinary delights like apple salsa, New York cheddar cheese, homemade fudge, pickled garlic and even apple wines and hard ciders.  There is a bakery and deli on site with daily specials…you won’t leave hungry.  And it’s not just about the goodies, there are seasonal apple press demonstrations and ducks on the mill pond.  Fly Creek Cider Mill is a place of good eats and good treats!

Pressing Apples at Fly Creek Cider. Photo: Gregory Holder.

 

The extends the spirit of baseball into the distillation of spirits.  This farm distillery utilizes over 90 percent of New York State based agricultural products in their small-batch, hand-crafted spirits. Open only two years, the distillery is already a national gold medal winner for its vodka and one of its gins.  A wonderful tribute to the inventor of baseball, the Abner Doubleday Double Play is a baseball shaped glass decanter perched atop a ball field shaped pedestal.  It is a perfect replica of a baseball right down to the 108 stitches, Doubleday’s actual signature is etched onto every hand blown bottle.  And of course, the bottle is filled with the distillery’s award winning vodka.

 

Where to Stay:

 

There are plenty of lodging options in Cooperstown ranging from well-known chains to resort hotels to intimate Bed & Breakfasts.

 

For couples, check out the for romantic accommodations in a lovely restored Victorian home.  Innkeepers, Mark and Tara Barnwell will cook you the best breakfast you have ever tasted!

 

Families will enjoy the Otesaga Resort Hotel occupying 700 feet of lakefront on OtsegoLake and loads of amenities including golf.

 

For more lodging options visit

Whether or not “Take Me Out to the Ballpark” is on your greatest hits list, Cooperstown should be in your travel plans! 

***

Terri is a New York City based writer who is happiest when she’s globetrotting.  She is the Special Projects Editor for TravelSquire.com, the National Chocolate Examiner, the Globetrotting Grandmom for TravelingMom.com and a contributor to several other publications.  Tough life, right? You can find more of Terri’s work along with tales of her adventures on the NYC subway on her website:    Follow her on Facebook at    and on Twitter @terrimarshall60

April, 2015 – Ham and Gruyere Crepes

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April, 2015 – Ham and Gruyere Crepes

Yummy Treats

Ham and Gruyere Crepes

Hey Kids: Gruyere is a delicious kind of cheese. And Black Forest Ham comes from the Black Forest region of Bavaria in SW Germany.

ham-cheese-crepes

Ingredients for the crepes:

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbs. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. canola oil
  • 1/2 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste
  • 8 tsp. unsalted butter, plus more for brushing pan
  • 1 lb. Black Forest ham, thinly sliced
  • 8 oz. Gruyère cheese, thinly sliced
  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

To make the crepes, in a blender, combine the milk, egg, flour, oil and the 1/2 tsp. salt and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

In a crepe pan over medium heat, melt 1 tsp. of the butter to coat the pan evenly. Lift the pan at a slight angle and pour 2 Tbs. of the batter into the center, tilting the pan to spread the batter to the edges. Return the pan to the heat and cook until the crepe is golden underneath, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the crepe over and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover. Repeat with the remaining batter to make 8 crepes.

To assemble, on a clean work surface, lay a crepe flat. Arrange 2 oz. of the ham on the crepe and top with 1 oz. of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the crepe into quarters. Repeat with the remaining crepes and filling.

Lightly brush the crepe pan with butter and set over medium heat. Place the crepes in the pan and cook, turning once, until the cheese begins to melt, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Thank you to Williams-Sonoma for this recipe!  Visit their site for great recipes and cooking tools.

April, 2015 – Skin Infections and Allergies

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April, 2015 – Skin Infections and Allergies

Paws-itive PressMarkPVC1

Skin Infections and Allergies in Dogs and Cats

By Mark Planco of Planco Veterinary Care

Skin infections in dogs and cats are caused by disorders that compromise the natural barriers and immune system in the skin. Most infections start after an itching episode. The most common reason for itch in dogs and cats is allergies. The cells that people have in our eyes and nasal passage are found in animal’s skin. Allergies cause these cells to react and create itch. This itchy reaction also compromises the skin’s natural protection and makes it susceptible to infection. The majority of skin infections are caused by the normal bacteria that live on skin. The allergy breaks down the defense mechanisms causing normal bacteria to become pathogenic.

Determining the cause of the allergy is sometimes challenging. It can be an external parasite, inhalant allergens, contact allergens or ingested substances in their diet. To determine the cause sometimes requires diagnostic tests and sometimes a response to treatment. The best way to treat is to figure out what an animal is allergic to and avoid it. There are many safe and effective medications to eliminate external parasites. In the case of inhalant allergies, avoidance is impossible (dogs and cats don’t do well in a “bubble”).

Treatment options for allergies include: antihistamines, steroids, antihistamine/steroid combinations, hypo-sensitization, change of diet or immune suppression.

Antihistamines– Totally safe for long term use. They’re only 30-50% effective and take trial and error to determine the best product and dose. All antihistamines may work for your pet or none.

Steroids– Have side effects, short term or long term. Short term is an increase in thirst and appetite. Long term increase in thirst and appetite shouldn’t be an issue. If your pet needs too much steroids too often than long term side effects may occur and your veterinarian should choose a different treatment.

Antihistamine/Steroid combination meds provide the best of both together. Small doses of steroids that will be safe long term added to an antihistamine. Safe and usually effective.

Hypo-sensitization requires allergy testing and administering a specific serum made for your animal’s specific allergies. This can be done by injection or sub-lingual (under the tongue). Usually 70- 95% effective.

Food trials may be tried if your pet is allergic to ingredients in its diet. To be effective you must use a limited ingredient diet with a novel protein or use a hydrolyzed protein diet. Must be strictly used for 4-6 weeks to know if effective.

Immune suppression– These are products that suppress the immune system and are used as a last resort. Effective in 75% of patients. Side effects result from immunosuppression since they decrease the entire immune system.

Controlling allergies will control skin infections. When infections accompany the allergies antibiotics are necessary with one of the allergy treatments to eliminate the infection. Infections can also itch.

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.

 

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