December, 2014 – All About the Wycliffe Stiffs
December, 2014 – Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
Yummy Treats
Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
(Ready in 50 Minutes)
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 30 cookies
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, then stir in vanilla and peppermint extracts. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
December, 2014 – Wellington Holiday Parade Announces Celebrity VIP
WELLINGTON HOLIDAY PARADE ANNOUNCES FEATURED CELEBRITY VIP
Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing-Miami Star, Chris Leavitt
WELLINGTON, FL – The organizers of the 31st Annual Wellington Holiday Parade, the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Wellington, announce the 2014 featured celebrity VIP, Chris Leavitt, the star of hit TV show Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing-Miami and local Palm Beach resident. Leavitt’s recent $50 million dollar penthouse listing at Miami Beach’s anticipated ‘Bath Club Estates,’ made national headlines in The Wall Street Journal and his sales for 2014 top $200 million. The series chronicles Leavitt’s life as one of the top brokers in the world and provides international exposure for his record breaking listings. Leavitt has emerged as a global luxury real estate expert and has recently been profiled by top-tier outlets such as Forbes, Success, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.
The Parade will take place on Sunday, December 14. This year’s theme, Peace on Earth, will be on display as parade participants walk the 1.3 miles of the parade route beginning at Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Boulevard. They will walk down Forest Hill and end at Wellington’s Town Center and the Wellington Amphitheater. In an effort to provide a safe procession for the parade, Forest Hill Boulevard will be closed from the north intersection at Wellington Trace to South Shore Boulevard beginning at 2:00 pm. The parade will begin at 2:30pm.
“The Village of Wellington is happy to participate in the annual Wellington Holiday Parade in partnership with Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce,” said Mayor Bob Margolis, Village of Wellington. “The parade is a wonderful opportunity for families in our community to come together and share in the delight of the season. I hope to see everyone there.”
Before the parade begins, Holiday Park will be open to the public and feature exhibitors offering arts and crafts, food, back massages and face painting. Holiday Park takes place at the Wellington Amphitheater and will include music from noon to 2:30pm.
“The day of festivities would not be possible without the invaluable cooperation of the Village of Wellington, the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the generosity of our presenting sponsors, Schumacher Family of Dealerships, Wellington Preservation Coalition, Waste Management and our community partners,” says Wayne Burns, CEO, Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. “We feel so fortunate to have this parade committee, led by Chairman Dennis Witkowski and made up of prominent business leaders who all work tirelessly to provide this annual gift to the community.
Parade Committee Chair, Dennis Witkowski adds, “I urge all parade participants to please get their entries in as quickly as possible because the staging process has begun. This year’s parade promises to be yet another fantastic community event showcasing the high quality of life in Palm Beach County that we all enjoy.”
For groups wishing to participate in the parade or for vendor opportunities, applications can be downloaded from the Chamber’s online calendar at www.CPBChamber.com or by calling (561) 790-6200.
Presenting Sponsors of the Parade:
Wellington Preservation Coalition
Schumacher Family of Dealerships
Presenting Sponsor of Holiday Park:
Waste Management
Community Partners include:
AGTS Insurance Company
City of Greenacres
Costco
Everglades Farm Equipment
Hill Audio Visual
JJ Muggs Stadium Grill
J&J Produce
Mid Florida Golf Carts
Palm Beach Fire and Rescue
Palm Beach Sherriff’s Office
Primerica Financial Services
Print-it Plus
Professional Concessions Inc.
Republic Services
South Florida Fairgrounds
Southern Waste Systems
Starbucks
TD Bank
The Center for Bone and Joint
The Mall at Wellington Green
TKM-Bengard Farms
Two Men and a Truck
Valic Financial Advisors
Whole Foods Market
Media Partners include:
Around Wellington
Palms West Monthly
Sun-Sentinel
The Forum Group
The Palm Beach Post
The Town-Crier
Wellington The Magazine
Parade Fun Facts:
1.3 Miles of parade route
10 Fire trucks present
25 Horses in parade or working
31 Years parade has been produced
80 Number of volunteers
111 Number of parade entries in 2013
500 Number of musical instruments in parade
2,500 Number of people walking or riding in parade
25,000 Estimated number of spectators
About the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce
The geographic footprint of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber extends from the sugar cane fields near Lake Okeechobee to the coral reefs of the Atlantic Ocean, encompassing 15 municipalities and serving a population of more than 490,000 residents, roughly 36 percent of the population of Palm Beach County. From Cane-to-Coral the communities located within the chamber’s footprint are: Acreage, Atlantis, Belle Glade, Greenacres, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Manalapan, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, Wellington and West Palm Beach. Over 1,000 business members receive benefits through the Chamber’s programs and services. The Chamber also produces marquis events such as Economic Forums and the Wellington Holiday Parade. Visit www.cpbchamber.com.
December, 2014 – Breakfast with Santa at the Zoo
Breakfast with Santa at the Palm Beach Zoo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ring in the holidays at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society with amazing animals and breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
“Breakfast with Santa” will feature a scrumptious hot buffet breakfast that includes waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets, pastries, coffee and juice with mimosas available for purchase. The event also features private, up-close animal encounters, a meet and greet plus photo opportunities with Santa and all-day admission to the Zoo. The event kicks off on Saturday, December 13th, and goes through Sunday, December 21st.
Advance reservations are required and most seats sell out, so guests are encouraged to register online early at www.palmbeachzoo.org/santa.
Event Dates & Times
Saturday, December 13th at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 14th at 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 20th at 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m.
Sunday, December 21st at 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m.
Pricing
Zoo Members:
Adults (13+) $22.95
Children (3-12) $14.94
Toddlers (0-2) $4.95
Non-members:
Adults (13+) $32.95
Children (3-12) $24.95
Toddlers (0-2) $4.95
About the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches exists to inspire people to act on behalf of wildlife and the natural world. We advance our conservation mission through endangered species propagation, education and support of conservation initiatives in the field. Our commitment to sustainable business practices elevates our capacity to inspire others.
The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is located at 1301 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org.
November, 2014 – Wellington Prep at Nu Vista
November, 2014 – Wellington Prep Entertains Nu Vista Residents
Photos submitted by Julie Khanna
On Monday November 17, 2014 the second grade class from Wellington Preparatory entertained the residents of Nu Vista Living with a violin concert during lunch time. The residents enjoyed the show so much that the kids extended it by two songs. It was a rewarding day for all.
December, 2014 – Christmas in Grapevine, TX
Travel with Terri
Unwrap the Magic of Christmas in Grapevine
Story by Terri Marshall, Photos courtesy of Grapevine CVB
Grapevine, Texas is a lovely place to visit any day of the year. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad with beautifully restored Victorian rail cars chugs along. Historic buildings line Main Street. Local wineries share the fruit of the vines and residents exude an unmatched passion for their community. Centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Grapevine is truly a place for every season, but when the Christmas season arrives this enchanting town transforms into a magical wonderland of holiday delights. Welcome to Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas!
Grapevine, The Christmas Capital of TexasDuring the holidays the city’s historic buildings are dressed up with ribbons, bows and wreaths and set aglow with more than one million lights along Main Street. Musical performances delight residents and visitors alike. Fireworks brighten the night skies and hot chocolate melts the chill in the air. Here are a few reasons you should add Grapevine to your holiday wish list.
Light Show SpectacularThe season opens with the largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas as 100 lighted floats join marching bands along downtown Grapevine’s historic Main Street. Marvel at the nightly Light Show Spectacular and enjoy the singing Christmas tree throughout the holiday season. The Twinkle Light Boat Parade takes the celebration to the water. Watercrafts decorated in all of the finest sparkling lights lead a floating festival from Twin Coves Marina as vessels join in the parade at each marina along the route. The parade is visible from the shores of Lake Grapevine and the Glass Cactus Nightclub at Gaylord Texan Resort.
Grapevine GaylordSpeaking of the Gaylord Texan Resort, it certainly adds to the festivities of a Lone Star Christmas featuring ICE! and Santa’s Wild Workshop Snow-tubing. This year’s ICE! exhibit features the ever popular Frosty the Snowman and his friends. Other Lone Star Christmas favorites include a snow-tubing adventure through Santa’s workshop, cookies and milk with Mrs. Claus and gingerbread cookie decorating with Gingy, the most famous of all gingerbread men.
When she’s not at the Gaylord Texan, you can visit with Mrs. Claus aboard Grapevine’s North Pole Express. The Victorian rail coaches of Grapevine’s Vintage Railroad are magically transformed into a holiday haven where guests are greeted by elves singing traditional Christmas songs. More magical moments unveil as the train draws closer to the North Pole when Mrs. Claus makes a special appearance to give each child a “We Believe” silver Santa bell. When the train arrives at the North Pole, a snowy Christmas tree trail filled with magical holiday moments leads to Santa. Jolly St. Nick wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas as he shares his Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk with all the boys and girls.
All Aboard the Grapevine North Pole ExpressThe little ones will be delighted with the Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk, but the grown-ups can get in the spirit with a ride on the Christmas Wine Trains. Each train features a different Grapevine urban winery. Hors d’ouevres are served and there’s plenty of holiday cheer.
The wine tasting continues at local wineries. Don’t miss the award-winning Sloan & Williams Winery. Military veterans, Alan William Kunst and Ralph Sloan Mattison, Jr., bring integrity and respect to every bottle of wine produced. In the true holiday spirit of giving these talented winemakers actively support Wounded Warriors, Toys for Tots and Angel Flight. Enhance your holiday cheer by ordering a flight of wine ice cream (yes, you read that right…wine ice cream) in six decadent flavors including Cherry Merlot, Red Raspberry Chardonnay and my personal favorite, Chocolate Cabernet.
View Christmas through the eyes of Grapevine’s earliest settlers at Nash Farm’s Victorian Christmas. Docent led tours begin in the pole barn with hot cider and cookies and continue through the farmhouse and the farm. While there, make an old fashioned Christmas ornament to add to your holiday tree.
Experience the fascinating craft of glass blowing with a workshop at Vetro Glassblowing Studio. Vetro’s open studio concept provides a hands on opportunity for making a unique glass ornament to add to your collection. Work with the artists to transform colorful ground glass crystals into a thing of beauty. From the fiery blast of the 2,000 degree furnace to the careful puffs of the glass blowing artists, you will treasure the experience as much as the ornament you help create.
Ornamental art at Vetro Glassblowing StudioThe performing arts round out the holiday celebration options at the Palace Theatre where America’s Got Talent favorites, the Texas Tenors perform classic Christmas music from opera to country favorites – all with a Texas twist. Of course nothing says Christmas like a classic Christmas movie – well unless that movie is shown in a restored 1940’s era theater! Grapevine’s Palace Theatre has the full lineup of the classics including It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Y’all head on over to Texas now and catch the spirit in Grapevine!
***
Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at . Also, check out her blog at . You can contact Terri at .
December, 2014 – Tis the Season for Holiday Parties
Teen Talk
’Tis the Season for Holiday Parties
By Gabrielle Harris
Now, I don’t know about you but every holiday that comes around the corner gives me an excuse to have a party or celebration of some sort. Finally, my favorite holiday season has commenced and it’s time to party plan! As a party planner for the last eighteen years and proud Pinterest user, I am an absolute expert when it comes to holiday party celebrating.
My school newspaper class has been having holiday cookie swap parties ever since I was a freshman (so for four years), and they’re one of my favorite types of celebrations. You probably already understand how this is going to go. Everyone supplies a type of cookie, a large enough portion for all of the guests attending, and then all attendees take one cookie from each person. By the end of the party, you’ll have twenty different cookies on your plate which is either a really good or very, very bad situation for your calorie counter. For these parties I usually just stick with my sugar cookies with a Hershey kiss placed in the middle – they’re super simple and I make them every year!
You’re never truly too old for a good old fashioned Christmas movie night. I basically have them every night in December by myself with a mountain of popcorn, but having a party is always fun too! It would also be more fun if everyone showed up in pajamas, so it’s similar to those slumber parties you’d have as a kid, watching Christmas movies with friends. Elf is always a must when it comes to Christmas movies. Home Alone, The Santa Clause trilogy, Christmas with the Kranks are a few of my favorites that I have to watch every year. ABC Family also has 25 Days of Christmas which is a very beautiful way to spend nights during December! And the pajamas add to the “throwback” feel of childhood Christmas seasons for me at least.
My all-time favorite type of Christmas party would have to be an Ugly Christmas Sweater party. Mainly because I own about a closet full of knitted sweaters and I’ll use up any opportunity to buy more in hopes to find a Christmas sweater that is absolutely amazing yet, atrocious. There are so many things you can do with Ugly Christmas sweater parties. Having an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest has to be done with the theme of the party. It’s a huge laugh and gives everyone something to talk about later.
It may just be me that loves to be with others during this time of year and have an excuse to host another event. But, I truly think this time of year should be spent with loved ones no matter what holiday you celebrate! I hope you all have a very, jolly holiday season!
Gabrielle Harris is a senior at Wellington High School. She is involved in the Quidditch team, Key Club, and is 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.
December, 2014 – Christmas Trees
Christmas Trees
By Robert Frost
The city had withdrawn into itself
And left at last the country to the country;
When between whirls of snow not come to lie
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city,
Yet did in country fashion in that there
He sat and waited till he drew us out
A-buttoning coats to ask him who he was.
He proved to be the city come again
To look for something it had left behind
And could not do without and keep its Christmas.
He asked if I would sell my Christmas trees;
My woods—the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
I hadn’t thought of them as Christmas Trees.
I doubt if I was tempted for a moment
To sell them off their feet to go in cars
And leave the slope behind the house all bare,
Where the sun shines now no warmer than the moon.
I’d hate to have them know it if I was.
Yet more I’d hate to hold my trees except
As others hold theirs or refuse for them,
Beyond the time of profitable growth,
The trial by market everything must come to.
I dallied so much with the thought of selling.
Then whether from mistaken courtesy
And fear of seeming short of speech, or whether
From hope of hearing good of what was mine,
I said, “There aren’t enough to be worth while.”
“I could soon tell how many they would cut,
You let me look them over.”
“You could look.
But don’t expect I’m going to let you have them.”
Pasture they spring in, some in clumps too close
That lop each other of boughs, but not a few
Quite solitary and having equal boughs
All round and round. The latter he nodded “Yes” to,
Or paused to say beneath some lovelier one,
With a buyer’s moderation, “That would do.”
I thought so too, but wasn’t there to say so.
We climbed the pasture on the south, crossed over,
And came down on the north.
He said, “A thousand.”
“A thousand Christmas trees!—at what apiece?”
He felt some need of softening that to me:
“A thousand trees would come to thirty dollars.”
Then I was certain I had never meant
To let him have them. Never show surprise!
But thirty dollars seemed so small beside
The extent of pasture I should strip, three cents
(For that was all they figured out apiece),
Three cents so small beside the dollar friends
I should be writing to within the hour
Would pay in cities for good trees like those,
Regular vestry-trees whole Sunday Schools
Could hang enough on to pick off enough.
A thousand Christmas trees I didn’t know I had!
Worth three cents more to give away than sell,
As may be shown by a simple calculation.
Too bad I couldn’t lay one in a letter.
I can’t help wishing I could send you one,
In wishing you herewith a Merry Christmas.
December, 2014 – Do You Need a Will or Trust?
Legal Intelligence
Do You Need a Will or Trust: Tips on When You Should Start Considering Creating One
By Blanca Greenstein, Esq., Andrew Rothstein, Esq. & Nadia Hoosien, Esq. with Greenstein & Associates
Protecting your family and business in the event of a death is one of the most important life planning decisions a person will have to make in their lifetime. Unfortunately, it is a common fact that most Americans will not have a Trust or a Will in place to protect their loved ones or business. It has been a widespread belief for most, that a Trust or Will is something people only consider upon reaching their retirement age, if at all. There are however many benefits of having either a Trust or Will in place, which this article will highlight in the following manner: (I) the differences between a Trust and a Will, and (II) points to consider when to create one, and which option is right for you.
(I) Differences between a Trust and a Will
A Trust is designed to provide legal title to property for the benefit of another, and is considered a Revocable Trust, unless the instrument expressly states to be irrevocable. The most common reason to create a Trust is to avoid probate court and costly attorney’s fees. The most common type of Trust is also known as an Express Trust, which is primarily used when the owner has an explicit intention to create it for a particular purpose, such as creating a Trust for his or her beneficiaries or a charity of his or her choice. It is important to note that a Trust requires certain elements to be met in order to be viewed and treated as a valid Trust. Such elements require the owner’s intent to divide his or her property into legal interests that have a legal purpose. The Trust must have property that is transferable, and can include any property, including life insurance proceeds. And finally, a Trust requires beneficiaries and a trustee of legal age, competence, and capacity to enter into contracts.
A Will on the other hand does go through probate court, and is designed to have a person manage your estate, which includes distributing your property at death. The most common type of Will is known as a Testamentary Will, and is a formally prepared document that requires your signature, as well as two other signatures in the presence of witnesses. It is important to note that the State of Florida does not recognize a Holographic Will, which is a document written outside of the presence of witnesses.
(II) What to consider when creating a Trust and Will, and which option is right for you
Nobody wants to think about the time when they are no longer with family and loved ones but planning for the future is essential to make your wishes known and to provide for your loved ones. To put it plain and simple, when any life-changing event occurs, you should update your Will and/or Trust. A life-changing event includes marriage, having kids, purchasing property, buying a business, divorce, or when health issues arise. Because the majority of American’s do not have a Trust or Will, it is important you understand the process of what happens without either instrument. If neither a Trust nor Will is in place, the State will administer the distribution of your property following a formula set out in the Florida Statutes. The formula is primarily designed to distribute property to the deceased’s surviving spouse and children. The downfall in dying intestate, is that the process is a time consuming and emotionally draining experience for your loved ones that can leave them in a difficult financial state.
Remember, you do not have to be a millionaire or have an abundance of real estate in order to put a Trust or Will in place. The purpose of either instrument is to provide for your loved ones, while ensuring that your goals and wishes will be seen through. The Law Offices of Greenstein and Associates understand the difficulty in planning for your future, and our expertise and experience will provide you with comfort and confidence in dealing with these sensitive issues.
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to provide legal information or advice. All data and information provided on this column is for informational purposes only as well as to give general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. By reading this column you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the publisher. This column should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
December, 2014 – Shoot for Your Star
Health & Fitness
“Shoot for Your Star”
By Sherri Mraz
“Don’t die with the music still in you.”
What is the one thing that you have always wanted to do, that one thing that keeps whispering in your ear? For me, I have always wanted to write a book. It has been years since I had the goal but kept putting other things on my priority list in front of my real dream.
Now, I can finally say that I have done it. Not only that I got published but also that I launched my first book in NYC!
This is a picture of my book, “The Cookin’ Yogi’s, More Energy, Less Waist” and me on stage in Lincoln Center! I would never have been able to say that before!
The best part of all was getting up on that stage with some other authors and getting so much recognition. The power of so many of us reaching a long held dream was so inspirational.
If I were to ask you what are three things that you have always wanted to do, could you answer? When was the last time you did nothing but listen to your inner voice?
Without giving it too much thought, write down your three things. Maybe you want to paint, write, and dance or plant a garden. Whatever it is don’t wait.
I hope that my story inspires you to go after your dreams. Don’t get so caught up in your life that each day goes by and you never get around to the things that you want to do. Start each day with an intention and then go after it.
I think the most important lesson for me in this accomplishment is to remember not to live small, whatever your current circumstances are. You can do anything through keeping your sights on God, loving others, a little hard work, perseverance, and never losing FAITH in yourself.
Shoot for the Moon and you may just hit a star!
***
Sherri Mraz is also known as the Cookin’ Yogi. She works with clients privately and in groups to improve their health. She teaches healthy cooking classes, yoga and is a public speaker. Sherri has trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC and is certified through Teachers College Columbia University and by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). She is also registered with the Yoga Alliance at the advanced teacher level, a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and studied at The Hippocrates Health Institute. She studied ancient nutritional wisdom, and the latest diet and healthy lifestyle trends with renowned experts such as Dr. Mehmet Oz, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Walter Willet, Dr. Anne Marie Colbin, and Dr. Neal Bernard. Sherri is the author of the Cookbook “The Cookin’ Yogi’s, More Energy, Less Waist” and the “3 Day Bliss Detox” She is located at Keystone Chiropractic in Royal Palm Beach. Please contact her at Sherri@CookinYogi.com or visit her website at www.CookinYogi.com
You can order a signed copy directly from Sherri’s website at www.Cookinyogi.com/cookbook which also comes with a complimentary call to help you get started or you can order directly from Amazon.