This is one interview in a 6-part series. The interviews were anonymous, and names changed to keep anonymity.
Why do you think our country is so divided right now?
Virginia: Because I don’t think the Republican party is really a Republican party anymore. MAGA took over. It wasn’t so divided when I was growing up. What Donald Trump has done to this country since 2016 is divided us. It’s sad.
Tell us a little about yourself. Your job, your family, where you are from.
Virginia: I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I’m originally from South Florida.
Would you describe yourself as liberal, conservative or independent? Why? Have you always seen yourself this way or have you changed over time?
Virginia: Liberal. I’ve actually become more liberal over time. The craziness on the other side has made me more liberal. I grew up with a Republican father and a Democratic mother, so I could have gone either way.
What are the issues that you feel most strongly about?
Virginia: My biggest issue is abortion rights for women. I have 3 children. I’m concerned for them. People think of abortion as someone just “decides to have an abortion.” Someone I’m close to would have carried their baby for 40 weeks. And the baby would have lasted about 2 hours. It really killed her to have an abortion. It’s not something anyone wants to do.
Also, books in schools, it’s absurd that they want to remove books from schools. I truly believe that the Republicans want to raise uneducated kids who won’t ask the right questions.
By the time kids are in high school, they should already know what they want to do. Our government wants them to sign off on everything, i.e. my son is a part of an LGBTQ Club at school. I shouldn’t have to sign paperwork, allowing him to participate. But these days, you have to sign a form for everything.
As a mom, I feel like I’m losing my three kids due to the politics of this state. All of my three kids are leaving Florida. After I’m an empty nester, I will probably leave Florida too.
I put up a small Kamala Harris yard sign, and the neighbor across from me put up a giant “Guns, God and Trump” banner.
I was raised with guns growing up and I feel there should be stricter rules about them. After the Parkland incident, you could not get into the Wellington Schools. They were locked down, which was good. I was also horrified at the Uvalde school shooting. I know someone who lost their kid in Parkland. I definitely believe in background checks.
What subjects would you say might be a place for common ground? In other words, places where your views might intersect with someone who you would otherwise be voting very differently from?
Virginia: I think fundamentally everyone wants what is best for their families. We want safe schools and educated children and the ability to grow old with dignity.
How do you feel about the January 6th insurrection?
Virginia: Horrified. I can remember we were all locked down at the time. I can’t believe that it happened and the man that caused it to happen is still a candidate. He should be in jail. Trump treating them like celebrities is just disgusting. My son and I just looked at each other and were like “what in the world is going on?” It was awful. The fact that people do not remember or choose not to remember is even worse, in my opinion.
Do you have friends who think differently politically from you? If so, do you have conversations about what’s going on politically? Or do you avoid them?
Virginia: We avoid these conversations. We have family who think differently.
What do you think the solution is for bringing people together again?
Virginia: I’m hoping that in a world after Trump…(I hope that he loses) that we can find common ground. I think MAGA needs to go. In a perfect world, people can see that we really just want what’s best for our society.
I wish more people would get their kids involved in giving back to the community. I would love to see more families involved in volunteer work. Start them young. I’m proud of my three kids for the volunteer work they’ve done.
When we don’t agree on things, what’s the key to maintaining civility?
Virginia: I think appreciating that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.
After collecting everyone’s responses, I am most interested in where the overlap is. Where is the common ground?
Here are some of the common ground subjects they brought up:
Affordable healthcare
Providing a better education for our children
Separation of church and state
Making our communities safer
Providing a better pathway to legal immigration
Affordable homeowner’s insurance, especially in FL
Keeping gas prices lower
Safer schools
Growing old with dignity
A desire to bring people together and remember we are all Americans
Also, I was surprised to hear that all three of our conservative-leaning interviewees said, in their own words, that they were pro-choice. Of course, this is only a small sampling, but it makes me wonder how many Republicans are actually conservative when it comes to the economy, yet liberal when it comes to abortion rights.
One thing that it seems people on both sides of the aisle agree upon is that we need to move beyond a two-party system. Having only two choices is part of what’s so polarizing in America. If there were a third, viable party, it seems like it would solve a lot of problems. Another thing people agree on is that social media makes the “great divide” even worse. People get caught up in an “echo chamber” effect, sharing memes and not fact-checking.
In conclusion, there’s definitely a deep division, but there are glimmers of hope for common ground. If we can maintain civility in our conversations, whether they are in person, through text messages or through social media, we will make progress on this. I think the (above) list of basic priorities is a starting point for this common ground.
I’m thankful to the six individuals who took the time to explore this topic with me.
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Krista Martinelli is a journalist and enjoys her activities around Wellington. She is the founder of AroundWellington.com, which has been running for 18 years. She has two teenage kids. She can be reached at: aroundwellington@gmail.com
Palm Beach Autographs is excited to welcome Florida Panthers player and Stanley Cup champion, Matthew Tkachuk. Fans will be able to meet the legendary Panthers forward Tkachuk, who will be signing autographs and posing for photo ops. For more information or to buy tickets, visit palmbeachautographs.com/pages/signings.
The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
Wellington Garden Club (WGC) will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, September 9, 2024 at the Wellington Community Center, at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The meeting will feature a presentation at 10:00 AM by Mike Sands, certified horticulturist and Master Naturalist, who will help attendees understand more about common pests and fungus on trees and turfs.
Mike is a certified horticulturalist and Master Naturalist with over two decades of experience in the field. He currently serves as the head horticulturalist and head spray technician for the Village of Wellington, where he has been employed for the past 12 years. Mike holds four spray licenses through the state of Florida in ornamental and turf, right-of-way, aquatic and natural area categories.
At Tangled Roots Orchid Nursery located in Loxahatchee, Mike specializes in bifoliate Cattleyas, often referred to as the misunderstood Cattleya. The nursery is also known for its innovative 3D printed biodegradable pots and a newly developed fertilizer line both of which will be for sale at the meeting. Mike is a past president of the Tropical Orchid Society and has been elected to the board of the local Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association.
The community is invited to join the club for coffee and a plant raffle beginning at 9:30 a.m. Visitors are asked to check in at the guest table. To reserve a spot, contact Carol Ralph at: caroltaylorralph@gmail.com.
Wellington Garden Club, founded in 1981, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating its members and the public in the fields of gardening, horticulture, floral design, and landscape design; and to promoting conservation of natural resources, civic beautification and youth education. For more information: www.wellingtongardenclub.org.
Immerse yourself in Morikami’s natural beauty, peace, and serenity through our therapeutic garden walking program. A qualified facilitator will lead participants through themed walks and journal writing to encourage reflection, and ultimately, personal well-being.
Cost: $90 (Morikami Members $80) Advance Registration Required *Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience or have taken at least three sessions of Ikebana classes.
Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. Dating back to the 15th century, the Ikenobo School is the oldest and most traditional. Students in this course learn the basic principles and style of Ikenobo, creating fresh flower arrangements each week to take home and enjoy.
Kurinuki is a traditional Japanese ceramic hand building technique starting with a solid block of clay and hollowing it out to create a vessel. Create a chawan, Japanese tea bowl using this beautiful ancient technique. In this hands-on workshop, learn basic techniques to work with clay and enjoy a presentation of Japanese ceramics.
Saturdays, Oct. 5, 12, 26, Nov. 3, 9 Japanese Traditional Music: Koto Time: Beginners – 10:30am – 12:30pm
Cost: $155 (Morikami Members $150) Advance Registration Required The Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument first introduced to Japan from China in the 7th-8th centuries. Learn about the history, culture, and techniques in how to play this exquisite instrument in this five-week course. Instruments will be provided for participants to use in the class.
Saturday, Oct. 5 Family Fun: Video Game Character Magnets Time: 12pm-3pm Cost: FREE (with paid museum admission). No Reservation Required
Commemorate the history and impact of beloved video game characters with your own Perler bead magnet.
Saturday, Oct. 5
A Gateway to Japan: An Evening of Violin and Piano Time: 1pm
Cost: $15 (Morikami Members $10) Join us for an afternoon of Japanese inspired chamber music! Featuring a wide range of repertoire- from an audience favorite, Ralph Vaughan Williams to American and Japanese contemporary composers, Sakiko Ohashi (piano) and Reiko Tachibana (violin), will take one on a classical chamber music journey filled with Japanese melodies.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27
The Art of Bonsai Time: Beginners – 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Intermediate – 9am – 12pm Cost: $100 (Morikami Members $90) Advance Registration Required Bonsai means “a tree in a tray.” The art of bonsai creates the illusion of age and maturity of a tree which has developed and sustained the effects of nature for many years. Students of bonsai learn to artfully trim and train a tree in a container.
Sundays, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24 Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese (Virtual Class)
Time: Level I – 6:10pm – 7:10pm Level III – 7:10pm – 8:10pm Level IV – 5pm – 6pm Cost: $120 (Morikami Members $110) Advance Registration Required Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II (JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.
Sundays, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24 Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese (In-Person Class)
Time: Level I – 10:15am – 11:15am Level II – 11:30am – 12:30pm Cost: $120 (Morikami Members $110) Advance Registration Required Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and
IV use Japanese for Busy People II (JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.
Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55) Advance Registration Required
Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. Intermediate course requires approval by the instructor before registering. *Sunday Beginner’s II Class Prerequisite – You must have already taken a Thursday beginner’s I class session or a workshop to attend Sunday classes.
Wednesdays, Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30
Ikebana Flower Arrangement: Sogetsu School
Time: Beginners – 10:30am –12:30pm
Intermediate – 1:30pm – 3:30pm*
Cost: $90 (Morikami Members $80) Advance Registration Required Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. The Sogetsu School is a contemporary school which focuses on the creativity and individuality of ikebana. The idea is that ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything. Students will learn the basics of Sogetsu and create pieces each week to take home and enjoy. *Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience.
Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55) Advance Registration Required
Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. Intermediate course requires approval by the instructor before registering.
Saturday, Oct. 12 Sado: The Way of Tea Time: 12pm, 1:30pm or 3pm Cost: $5 with paid museum admission.
Observe Japanese sadō, an ever-changing demonstration rich in seasonal subtleties. Involvement in the true spirit of sadō — harmony (wa), reverence (kei), purity (sei), tranquility (jaku) — along with a sip of matcha green tea and a sweet candy will help bring a calm perspective into one’s busy life.
Saturday, Oct. 12 Guest Artist Workshop: Calligraphy & Sumi-e Workshop with Artist Masumi Sakagami Time: 10am – 12pm or 1:30pm – 3:30pm Cost: $65 Advance registration required
Learn about the intricacies and beauty of Japanese calligraphy and sumi-ink painting techniques with master calligrapher and artist Masumi Sakagami. Students will learn the history of calligraphy, the basics of how to write a Japanese kanji character with the correct strokes, and to draw a bamboo with the brush
and ink, two traditional writing tools. The workshop will culminate in a special gallery walk and talk with the artist at her exhibition featured in the Yamato-kan. Learn about the inspiration and creative process behind her work with this master artist.
In Pınar Sinka’s Butoh workshop, participants will learn theoretical knowledge such as the philosophy, methodology, and aesthetic ideals of Japanese avant-garde dance Butoh, as well as the choreographic visual elements of classical Butoh and the improvisational practices of post-Butoh. Moreover, they will experience the relaxing, warming, and breathing exercises of Butoh, as well as slow somatic techniques that focus on building a relationship between the mind, body, and space, and increasing body awareness. No dance experience is necessary; anyone who loves dance of any age can participate in this workshop.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org.
The Florida Intergenerational Orchestra, the orchestra for everyone, begins its 18th Anniversary with Open Rehearsals, welcoming former members and looking for new players.
Boca Raton, Florida – Always looking for new faces, the Florida Intergenerational Orchestra under the direction of founder/conductor, Lorraine Marks-Field. begins its 18th Anniversary Season holding OPEN REHEARSALS for all musicians on Thursday, October 17 and 24th at 7:00 p.m.
Just bring your instruments, a music stand and your love of music. Call us at 561-922-3134 for location and requirements. We need musicians that play strings, wind, brass and tuba. Also a good oboist would be nice! Our last one is off to college. Currently our age range is 12 to 97. We are hoping to grow our audiences this 2024-2025 season. We are so happy to see our audiences return to “live” music concerts. We are embarking upon a Renaissance of music. New opportunities, new music, new website, introducing our musicians and audiences to fabulous concerts, and enhancing the quality of life in our communities. Please join with us.
Participation in this orchestra for High School students includes Community Service hour credits.. Scholarships to the FLIOA are given to students who request them as well as to those in financial need.
The non-profit orchestra, featuring musicians ranging in age from 12 to 97 was honored by the State of Florida, Department of Elder Affair with the ” Legacy Award “ for its intergenerational concept. If you would like more information about the orchestra, or to schedule an interview with Lorraine Marks-Field, our often honored conductor, please e-mail strings4all@aol.com. Check out our website at www.flioa.org.
The Florida Intergenerational Orchestra of America, a 501(c)(3) is a volunteer orchestra for players who wish to share and develop their artistic talents while enjoying music making in a friendly orchestral setting. The repertoire is carefully chosen to accommodate the ensemble’s need for music with a wide range of styles and difficulty.
*Our First concert this season “ Most Wonderful Time of the Year Holiday Concert” will be held on Sunday, December 8th, 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, O”Shea Hall , 22094 Lyons Road, Boca Raton. The concert will feature holiday favorites and light classical music. It also will have Santa, Elvis, an original song by Bob Field, the orchestra manager and pianist, scored for orchestra by esteemed conductor and arranger Peter Fuchs. We’ll even have a wonderful Shakespearian actor and former star of “As the World Turns” and “One Life to Live, Peter Galvin, doing a narration to orchestra music of the Night Before Christmas. This would be a glorious time for adults and your children. It will cost you a lot less than a baseball game and you will always come out a winner! Plus this concert is entirely indoors in an air conditioned hall. As we all know it can get hot in Florida, even in December! Please Bring an unwrapped toy for the Rotary Clubs of Boca Raton Holiday Toy Drive.
General Admission $20 VIP $40 (first 3 rows) Children under 12 FREE
At the Student ACES Center (The SAC) – a building generously donated by Bank of America in Belle Glade, sustainability and education have come together in an inspiring way. Thanks to a generous donation from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and the installation efforts of Advanced Roofing, The SAC now boasts solar panels spanning approximately one-fourth of an acre, producing an impressive 18kW of energy. This solar field is not only reducing energy costs but also providing a valuable, real-life lesson in renewable energy for the students that The SAC serves.
The SAC is more than a program—it’s a lifeline for teenage student-athletes in the Glades Region, where challenges like poverty, crime, and educational inequities are deeply rooted. With a median household income under $33,000, 93% of students on free lunch, and student proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math trailing behind national averages, opportunities for growth and success can seem distant.
That’s where the team at The SAC steps in, providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment where students can thrive. Through afterschool and summer programs, The SAC programs focus on academic success, career readiness, college preparation, health and wellness, mental health, character development, and entrepreneurship.
The recent contribution from FPL and Advanced Roofing further enhances the center’s mission. By bringing solar energy to The SAC, these organizations have demonstrated their commitment to both sustainability and education. The installation doesn’t feed back into the grid but instead provides reliable, low-cost, emissions-free power to offset the center’s energy load. The immediate impact is clear: lower energy bills mean more resources can be allocated to the vital programs that serve students at The SAC.
For the students, this solar installation goes beyond just cutting costs—it becomes a source of education and inspiration. With informational resources provided at the center, students can learn firsthand about the importance and functionality of renewable energy. This experience gives them a glimpse into the possibilities that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields can offer, perhaps sparking an interest that will guide them toward future careers in these industries.
By bringing solar energy closer to students, FPL and Advanced Roofing are breaking down barriers to education and opportunity. They are helping to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders—young people who will be equipped to tackle the environmental and technological challenges of tomorrow. For the Glades Region, where opportunity is often scarce, this initiative marks a critical step forward in creating a brighter, more sustainable future.
The solar field at The SAC represents more than just clean energy; it stands as a symbol of hope, innovation, and progress. It highlights the powerful role that corporations and community partners can play in transforming the lives of young people. With every kilowatt of energy produced, the solar installation at SAC is lighting the way to a better, more equitable future—one where students have the tools, resources, and inspiration they need to succeed.
Each year in September the Rotary Club of Wellington holds its annual Peace Ceremony aimed at promoting Multicultural Understanding and Conflict Resolution as a means to World Peace.
This year the ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 22nd at 3pm at the Rotary Peace Park on Royal Fern Drive next to the main Wellington public library.
The ceremony is the culmination of work that started in January with competitions within all the local schools. Elementary students were encouraged to submit posters that depict multi-cultural understanding and conflict resolution. This is not intended as an anti-war exercise.
Over 350 posters were submitted and judged. A winner from each school was chosen and will receive a check for $75 each and a certificate at the ceremony.
Middle school students enter poems on the same topics. Around 100 poems were received and a winner from each school will each receive a check for $100.
High school students submitted essays on a chosen theme. This year the words of Benjamin Franklin were used. “There is no such thing as a good war and no such thing as a bad peace”
A winner from each school will receive $125.
All the winner’s class room teachers will also receive a check for $75 for use in their class rooms.
A single student is also chosen as the person who is deemed to have contributed the most in achieving the goals of the Wellington Rotary Peace Initiative.
Each year a High School student is awarded the SMART award, Student Mediation Award for Resolutions Today. A student who helps with bring their classmates together receives the award.
The annual Wellington Rotary Peace Prize will go this year to Diana Stanley for her years of Service as CEO of The Lord’s Place and their work helping the homeless and less fortunate in Palm Beach County.
The Peace Ceremony commences with the PBSO Drill team providing an honor guard and playing “taps” as our flags are raised by The WHS Interact Members.
The words on our Peace Poles “May Peace Prevail on Earth” will be read in eight different languages by local residents.
After speeches by local dignitaries, including Mayor Michael Napoleone reading the Peace Declaration, and the presentation of prizes, the ceremony will end with Dr. Wes Boughner’s release of Peace Doves.
Dr. Wes Boughner, the Father of the Rotary Club of Wellington Peace Initiative, developed the annual World Peace Ceremony beginning in 2006. Most of the 60 Rotary Members of the Wellington Rotary Club have volunteered in some way to help put this program on for the Wellington Community. The Rotary Club feels “The Peace Initiative is aimed at reaching out to all within the Wellington community and to bringing awareness of the continuing need for multi-cultural understanding and conflict resolution as a way forward to achieving World Peace. It is especially important that we start this with our students and young people”
The whole community is welcome to attend the ceremony which lasts for around one hour.
Further information is available from Don Gross of the Rotary Club of Wellington, wellrotary1@gmail.com
The lazy days of summer have passed us by and school is back in session. With that brings new opportunities to support local student theater in an auditorium, lunch room, or gymnasium near you. For this first month of the school year, I’d like to highlight the Theatre Teacher and Director at Wellington High School, Mrs. Cassandra Truelove. On the first day of school this year, I had the pleasure of spending some time on campus with her talking about her role at WHS, a little about her background, and some of the great things in store this year.
This is Mrs. Truelove’s second year teaching at WHS, and if you missed her productions last year, they were incredible! Each year, the extraordinarily talented students in the Fine Arts Choice Program Academy along with other student cast members put on a theatrical piece in the Fall and musical production in the Spring. This Fall, Mrs. Truelove will direct the students in a performance of Radium Girls on stage at the WHS Auditorium from November 7th-9th.
As students pass through the doorway to Mrs. Truelove’s classroom, they leave high school behind for a little while to enter the theater. The walls throughout her room are adorned with countless playbills and huge tapestries with quotes from famous plays, many of which are precious gifts or hold special memories for her. It feels like another world rather than a classroom, far from the rote stress of an ordinary day in high school in the safe haven she provides for these drama kids. As whimsical as this all may seem, it’s a busy day in the life of one very special theater teacher who ushers five lively classes through this space all week long.
So where does Mrs. Truelove get the patience and expertise to be in the director’s seat with so many theatrical personalities? Well, in addition to being an amazing mom to her spectacular kids, she has an extensive background in theater and working with children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Communication Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota then went on to tour with national theater companies where she spent much of her time engaging with audience members in educational performances. Of course, as a mother, life sometimes asks us to slow down to play another role, and so she did take those breaks in between her professional life on stage. Upon her return, Mrs. Truelove has done extensive volunteer work in theater, in local schools here in Wellington, and also very rewarding work in ministry.
When I asked Mrs. Truelove about what made her want to come teach at Wellington High, she said she “loves the opportunity for kids to express themselves. They go through so much emotionally, it’s a safe outlet to create art. It’s a beautiful experience for the performers and the audience.” Then we stood in her doorway as the last bell rang. The frenzy of the end of that first day of school blazed past, but not without an occasional student popping by for a quick hug and a “hi, Mrs. Truelove” and some quick smalltalk before rushing to catch the bus or car line. And that’s how true legends are made in show business – every beautiful moment carefully crafted by the director with love.
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Melanie Kafka has been a Wellington resident since 2011, which she decided was the perfect place to raise her two daughters after returning to Florida from serving in the United States Navy. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Palm Beach Atlantic University while developing her career as a Senior Project Engineer in the aerospace industry. She is also co-founder of the Wellington Ladies Golf Club, which serves to welcome women and girls into the sport of golf while promoting an atmosphere of inclusion on and off the course.
