KATHY FOSTER AND WELLINGTON CARES DELIVERS GIFT CARDS TO NEEDY SENIORS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Kathy Foster, Executive Director of Wellington Cares, Inc., and Wellington Cares are proud to announce they successfully delivered a total of 140, $25 gift cards to needy senior citizens for the holidays.
Foster and Wellington Cares’ volunteers reached out to local pastors and senior service organizations to identify needy seniors in Wellington, the western communities and throughout the Glades area.
The gift cards were purchased with donations made to Wellington Cares from our business partners and the community.
Wellington Cares is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a means of empowering persons 65 years of age and older to be in control of their own lives by offering free short-term services, provided by volunteers, when a little extra help is needed to maintain their independence.
For more information about Wellington Cares and our services, visit www.wellingtoncaresorg.com.
Hounds and Heroes Announces Contest Among Three Branches of the Armed Services
West Palm Beach, FL – The Hounds and Heroes (H and H) organization trains retired racing greyhounds as service dogs and donates them to veterans in need. This is a portion of Awesome Greyhound Adoptions, Inc.
H and H is running a contest to see who can donate the most – Army, Navy or Marines. We have a dog nearly ready for placement that is going to an Army veteran. We have another greyhound that just went to his trainer yesterday to begin his training for a Marine veteran. And we have a Navy veteran who is waiting to get a dog next. More applications are coming in every day. Training of these dogs takes approximately four to six months with the trainer, greyhound and veteran working together during the last two months.
We have extended a challenge to those who support the veterans and their need for a service dog and want to see whose dog will be fully sponsored first with the donations to the Army, Navy or the Marines veteran and service dog.
Please note that we accept all donations through paypal or propay on the web site AwesomeGreyhoundAdoptions.org but will need a note in the memo section that the donation was made for which branch of service. Or we can accept checks directly to Awesome Greyhound Adoptions and mailed to AGA at 226 SE First Avenue – Boynton Beach, FL 33435 with a note in the memo section as to the branch of service.
whether complete sponsorship for a dog or a partial donation towards the sponsorship. Sponsor the greyhound throughout the entire process is $4000 – taking the dog clear through from initial selection at the compound throughout training and the turning over of the greyhound to the veteran owner four to six months intensive training of dog and training of the veteran and dog together.
Sponsor the greyhound itself as it goes through training – $1000 – spay or neuter, dental, titers, shots, microchip, collar, lead, tag collar, glucosamine and chondroitin, fish oil tablets, six months heartworm meds, service dog coat, food for the four to six months the dog is in training and anything else the dog needs during training.
Please visit our web site for more information about the program. – AwesomeGreyhoundAdoptions.org
The 2014 South Florida Fair will open with its Ride-A-Thon at 5 p.m., Jan. 16, and the complete Fair opens on Jan. 17. In the meantime, we invite you to come to the fairgrounds in the next week to capture a behind the scenes look at some of the elements currently being constructed to bring alive the “New York City: Be a part of it!” theme.
Green Sky Productions is currently completing replicas of some of the Big Apple’s more recognizable features, which include eight modules of Battery Park, a Broadway Theatre marquee, the subway system, a World Trade Center memorial, an information booth that will contain a daily ball drop containing raffle tickets for prizes, and a section of Times Square.
If you would like to take photos or video of these projects while they are being constructed, and/or interview the artist, Frank Navarrete, please contact me at 772-215-2333.
Set up and installation of the entire fair will begin Mon., Jan. 6.
Thank you and I wish you a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!
American Friends of The Hebrew University Upcoming Season Events
The American Friends of The Hebrew University, Southeast Region will have the 2014 Palm Beach Scopus Award Gala on January 18 followed by the Annual Leadership Education Forum on January 19. Please see below for more details
January 18, 2014
American Friends of The Hebrew University, Southeast Region, will present the 2014 Palm Beach Scopus Award Gala at The Breakers on January 18 at 7:00 p.m. An elegant and entertaining evening, this Gala includes a cocktail reception, followed by dinner, an awards presentation to those who have shown extraordinary support to Hebrew University, followed by a professional performance. The event gets its name from Mount Scopus , the historical site of The Hebrew University in Jerusalem . Honorees are Ambassador Stuart A. Bernstein and Wilma Bernstein. Chairpersons are Roberta and Stanley Bogen, Suellen and Melvyn Estrin, Barbara and Richard Rothschild, Judy and Robert Snyder and Robbi and Bruce Toll. Tickets are $1000. Please contact Monica Loebl at 561-750-8585 for reservations and information.
January 19, 2014
American Friends of The Hebrew University will present its Annual Leadership Education Forum (ALEF) on Sunday, January 19, 2014, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at The Four Seasons Resort in PalmBeach. The forum brings together Hebrew University experts and other leading individuals to discuss a spectrum of vital issues. Among these are Middle East Affairs and national security, medical breakthroughs important to human health, and progress in brain science. ALEF is hosted by American Friends of The Hebrew University (AFHU), a national, not-for-profit organization in support of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s foremost center of higher education and research. Tickets are $150 and include breakfast and lunch at the Four Seasons. More information may be obtained by calling Laura Gottlieb at 561.750.8585 or lgottlieb@afhu.org .
Kids won’t notice the vegetables in these yummy zucchini muffins. They can have fun helping you make them, too!
Into a large bowl mix:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
Stir in:
2 cups grated zucchini
1 apple peeled, cored and grated
In another bowl, beat:
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola)
Stir into flour mixture until batter is just combined. Spoon into well greased muffin cups, filling to the top. (Note: If you are using muffin liners you may need to spray with cooking spray to prevent the muffins from sticking to the paper.)Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. See more healthy kids snacks.
It’s the second year of the Wellington Equestrian Gallery and Mall, and they have moved to a bigger storefront, offering even more of a variety of unique gifts and art. Founder Jack Van Dell explains that there was nothing like this for the equestrians who come to Wellington, a group of people who make a big difference in our economy and our footprint on the global map. While the Wellington Equestrian Festival gives space to vendors, a place for special equestrian gifts and works of art was needed in an indoor facility.
Founder of the Wellington Equestrian Gallery and Mall Jack Van Dell stands in front of a horse, to be painted by a few of the gallery’s artists.
The Wellington Equestrian Art Gallery and Mall brings an eclectic mix of beautiful things to the public – including Van Dell jewelry, beautiful Pingo handbags from Argentina, Susan Painter pottery, Wellington & Co. Antiques, equestrian-themed jewelry by Suzanne Werson, accessories with bling from Glitz & Glam and much, much more. At the front of the shop stands a life-size horse sculpture to be painted by four or five local artists.
Another fun, unexpected item to be found is the Aerobic Cruiser, a hybrid cycle that can be motorized or peddled and go up to 24 miles per hour. And other great gift items are beautiful dog collars and belts made in Kenya, and a portion of proceeds go back to the original artists in Kenya. It’s a place that defies categories or description with so much to see.
[nggallery id=351]
The owner and founder of the gallery Jack Van Dell is perhaps one of the most interesting people you’ll meet Around Wellington, and this is really just a small project for him, compared with other projects in the works. He owns Van Dell Jewelry, and began with his first store 35 years ago when moving down to Wellington to play polo. Producing custom jewelry is an art form and a family business for the Van Dells. Locally they produce five or six custom jewelry pieces a day. They specialize in sterling silver and 14K / 18K gold fine jewelry. “We have the craftsman, designers, model makers, diamond setters and every type of skilled person needed, all in our shop,” says Van Dell. His Van Dell Jewelry shops are located in the Publix Shopping Center at Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores (same plaza as the Wellington Equestrian Gallery and Mall) and also in Royal Palm Beach on Southern Boulevard.
His other big project is creating a Horse Park, a place for a quarter horse show, at the fields at Stribling Road and 441. It’s a proposed 148 million dollar project that is projected to bring over a million dollars in revenue to Wellington every year and to create between 400 – 600 full-time and part-time jobs. Different from the other English horse–based shows and projects in town, the Horse Park would be a “horse show ground dedicated to the American quarter horse.” The plan includes covered show rings, a teaching facility, two hotels, 65,000 feet of retail space, and a 5,000 seat event center for all varieties of events like concerts, rodeos and conferences.
Needless to say, Van Dell is always busy. “God didn’t put you on the face of this Earth to retire,” he says. He feels lucky that in his family, “Work to us is fulfilling” and they love what they do.
Van Dell is happy about the changes in the Wellington Equestrian Gallery and Mall this year – a handful of world-renowned artists and more of a variety in the gift items to be found. The gifts appeal to everyone, not just equestrians. He explains that there is nothing else like this gallery in South Florida “or possibly in all of Florida.”
As the equestrian season gets underway, there will be artists working on their paintings on the sidewalk, right outside of the gallery. This will add a nice touch to the whole plaza, and residents will get the chance to see the artists in action.
Van Dell is always on the look out for more vendors for the Wellington Equestrian Gallery and Mall. He can be contacted at the Van Dell Jewelry store (561) 753-7937. And if the gallery becomes full, the artist can always be put on the list for next year’s gallery.
Jack Van Dell is constantly thinking of ways to improve upon our Wellington community with both the gallery and the Horse Park project. He’s particular about non-profit organizations, as some of them have been known to only provide 10% of the funds (for example) to the actual good cause. However, a few of his favorite local non-profits that he believes in include: Vinceremos, Hospice of Palm Beach County, the Boys and Girls Club of Wellington and the ASPCA.
He has two sons, one who works as a paralegal in the Boston area and one son who is currently working with him on the Horse Park project here in Wellington.
As for the Wellington Equestrian Gallery and Mall, it’s a place you need to see and it’s a place that adds culture to Wellington. “There’s something for everyone!” says Van Dell.
If you are a regular reader of this column, you are aware of my disgust and anger at the selling of “puppy mill” dogs, especially at pet shops. You’ve seen the guys, twirling signs at the curb, advertising “PUPPIES” at a nearby store, because people are charmed by baby dogs, and pay way too much for often defective animals.
“But we can’t find little dogs at the local shelters,” I hear, all the time. The photo that appears below is of “Mickey,” an amazing little dog whose time was up at a nearby kill shelter. I was informed by a rescue group that he needed to be “pulled” immediately, or he would be euthanized.
Mickey“Mickey” from all appearances, had been severely abused, cowering when a hand approached to pet, cringing at even the softest corrective language, eating at night when no one could see. He lived with me for a few days, while I medicated him for kennel cough and sneezing. We took long walks, and he walked at a loose leash “heel” position worthy of an obedience champ, looking up often to see if he was still pleasing me.
Mickey is now on his way to a new home in Sarasota. And behind the scenes, good people are still “pulling” doomed animals from shelters, praying that someone will take the time to go online and find an animal rescue site near them.
I’ve been researching Puppy Mill information for this month’s column, but the sheer volume of information and statistics available is staggering. So, I went back to “Dogster,” an online e-magazine, for an article that gets it right, in just a few paragraphs. I urge all readers and dog lovers to get involved in halting the ghastly practice of procreation for bucks.
This article includes information quoted from the article on “Puppy Mills and Backyard Breeders”, found at Dogster.com (http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/puppy-mills-and-backyard-breeders), and adds my Commentary to that article.
Bold type inserted into the text below are my comments.
From the “Dogster” Article:
“Part of being a responsible dog owner is being a responsible dog buyer or adopter. If you decide to purchase a pooch, it should be from a reputable breeder – not a backyard breeder or puppy mill. Reputable breeders produce a few, stable and healthy dogs. Puppy mills breed too many dogs with little concern for their health or the conditions they live in.
The History of Puppy Mills
How did puppy mills get started? They’re fairly recent – after WW II, crops were failing and farmers needed to supplement their income. Some started raising and selling puppies, even though they had little knowledge of correct dog care. Puppies were raised as cheaply as possible, often without attention or care. There are now thousands of puppy mills in the U.S.
Who Runs Puppy Mills?
The federal government considers the dogs livestock so anyone can start a mill. But perhaps the best-known group is the Amish in Pennsylvania. Amish puppy mills have been in the news again and again. The Amish defend their practice, claiming dogs are no different than other livestock and that the conditions are not deplorable like some say.
NOTE: Prior to moving to Florida, I lived among the Amish in rural New York State. They are prolific breeders of sub standard dogs of every breed. Because they do not have personal phones or internet connections, they ask neighbors, sometimes for a bit of remuneration, to answer calls from newspaper ads. Sometimes, they pay for land line phones to be connected in a neighbor’s barn, in the neighbor’s name. They have phone cards. I once asked an Amish seller why his Jack Russell Terriers seemed much too “long” for breed standards. The answer? “Long dogs have more puppies.” Really!
Regulation Of Puppy Mills
People breeding large quantities of dogs and selling them are required to have a license by the USDA. The Animal Welfare Act also requires they be regulated. Unfortunately, the regulations are for minimum standards, more for survival than humaneness. Puppy millers aren’t incentivized to follow them. And, of course, there are many puppy mills without licenses. Many people are trying to change this. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is one agency working for reform.
Definition Of A Puppy Mill
Puppy mills are high-volume commercial breeders that sell dogs for profit without providing public access to the breeding site, and breed female dogs every time they come into heat. Conditions usually do not meet our society’s idea of taking care of pets.
Issues Related To Puppies From Mills
Health: Puppy mills are often dirty and unsanitary. You often see dogs in cages with their own filth, left out in the heat and cold, mal-nourished and with skin problems.
Behavioral: Puppies are not hand-held from birth like most reputable breeders’ are. This means they have little or no human interaction until they’re sold. This can lead to aggression, anxiety, fear, indifference and a whole host of behavioral problems. Also, living in a small cage crates a poorly adjusted dog.
Inside A Puppy Mill
Newsweek did an even-handed review of puppy mills in 2007. Please GOOGLE the results.
The HSUS also did a hidden-camera investigation of puppy mills.
Cages: Dogs are usually caged their entire breeding life.
Breeding: Dogs are often bred every six months, with never a break. After their fertility ends, they are often sold or, sometimes, killed.
Noise: The noise can be deafening with so many dogs in small spaces.
Poor Care: Dogs with long hair are often matted. Injuries go unnoticed and/or untreated.
The Elements: Dogs and puppies are often left out in ice storms and 90 degree weather. Some even don’t have roofs over their heads. They are often fed and watered every other day, sometimes less.
Getting to a New Home: Puppies are often packed into crates in cargo trucks for transport to a broker or pet store. Often, some die in transport.
Puppy Mill Statistics
Around 3,500 of the 11,500 pet stores in the U.S. sell cats and dogs, according to the Pet Industry Advisory Council.
Puppy mills produce about 400,000 litters a year. Dogs are often sold online and to pet shops. They are usually below par in breed standard, and the physical defects are easily spotted by those familiar with the breed. If they’re offered with “papers,“ AKC registrations are often fraudulent.
Approximately 500,000 puppies are sold at pet stores each year. (HSUS)
If your dog came from a pet store, it was bred at a puppy mill. Your pet is not responsible for its beginnings. But if folks stopped paying for these animals, the market would dry up.
There are more than 6,000 licensed commercial kennels in the U.S. (and untold numbers of unlicensed).
In the U.S., there are more than 1,000 research facilities, more than 2,800 exhibitors, and 4,500 dealers that are supposed to be inspected each year.
Puppy Mill Facts
Puppy millers will usually not let buyers see their kennels.
Puppy millers are not willing to discuss possible health or behavior issues of their pups.
Puppy millers almost always have puppies for sale. If you visit a breeder’s website with price tags next to the puppy photos or a “buy it now” button, you are most likely on a miller’s webpage.
There is documentation of overbreeding, inbreeding, minimal or no veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of human socialization, overcrowded cages and the killing of unwanted animals in puppy mills.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
There are things you can do to help stop puppy mills. First, don’t buy a puppy from a pet shop. If you answer an online or newspaper ad, make certain you’re dealing with a reputable breeder. The AKC site has a list of breeders by Breed Club and offers information on finding a reputable breeder. You can also check out www.stoppuppymills.org and www.hsus.org, which have information such as how to lobby for better laws.”
Comments on this original article below are not mine, but from Other Dog Owners:
A Word on Small Family Breeders
“Contrary to some here there are those small family breeders who breed one or two litters a year because they want to offer a loving pet or companion. They are not disreputable but may be limited in how they advertise. With the internet often cheaper than many newspapers for placing ads the internet has become the source of the family-run breeder’s advertisements.
The thing that needs to be done is ask for pictures and study them carefully.”
MY opinion: you must visit the family breeder’s facility. No excuses. Reputable ones encourage this. Ask to see the parents. “Look at the puppy: does he look clean and healthy? Are his eyes bright and shiny? If you can answer yes then you are likely dealing with a family breeder who cares for the dogs as if they were fully part of the family. Family breeders are often a good choice for a puppy because they spend the time and energy to socialize the puppy and play with it getting it used to being handled. I would never again buy a dog from a large breeder as I have found the dogs to be anti-social and very skittish.” A small breeder does not indicate the quality of puppies.
~Angi A., owner of a Mini Dachshund
Give Dog Rescues a Chance
“I made the mistake years ago buying a dog at a store before the puppy mill thing came to my attention. I would never buy there again. My dog, who I had to put down, had so many health problems. I spent well over $10,000 for her treatments. I believe it’s because of poor breeding practices. She had a bad spine. Undoubtedly she was the best dog I ever ever had and I’m glad I was able to care for her and give her the life she deserved. There are so many unwanted animals out there that it seems ridiculous to even think of buying from breeders. I’m sure a lot of them love their animals but it does come down to the dollar. To make money. Why not rescue? Seems like better solution to all this. Just my opinion.”
~Lance N., owner of a Redbone Coonhound
My Puppy Mill Story
“Here’s my experience from over 35 years ago: My husband got a puppy from a pet shop for my birthday. We took it to the vet since it was running into things. The pup was apparently born with cataract issues. We returned it to the pet shop and was given another puppy, which died in two weeks from Pneumonia. This was Petland Pet Shop in Florida.
I always tell friends about this so they do not make the mistake we did. Please pass this along to others. These places should not be allowed to sell them. They should be banned, as well as those puppy or kitten mills.”
~Christa , owner of animal shelter cats
“In a perfect world, every dog would have a home, and every home would have a dog.”
***
Over a lifetime, Barbara Phillippi has had mostly “normal” dogs – a few German Shepherds and a bunch of wonderful “mutts,” each with its own wonderful, quirky, qualities. For many years, she taught 4-H dog obedience courses, under the authorization of Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension Services. That terrific program teaches the basics of dog behavior, of every breed, to young dog owners. Today she lives in Wellington with three Jack Russell Terriers – Woody, Gracie, and Buck. “These guys showed me a learning curve that I never knew existed!”
“There’s nothing that tells you more about what a person’s life might have been like than seeing a house in which they lived.”
– Doris Kearns Goodwin
On November 22, 2013 I had the privilege of interviewing Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, one of the leading presidential historians of our era, via telephone. Her book, The Bully Pulpit, an accounting of the relationship between Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft had recently been released. The very next day she flew in to Miami for the Miami Book Fair International (MBFI) to participate in a panel discussion with A. Scott Berg, author of the new book entitled Wilson.
LHB: What aspect of the MBFI is most appealing to you?
DKG: I think what makes it so much fun and, I’ve done it before… there’s such an energy, an excitement and a chance to meet your fellow authors who are all in various places – and somehow you do run into them. Particularly, in this case, I’m going to be in conversation with Scott Berg, the writer of the Wilson biography. He’s an old friend of mine. I saw him last in California during the award ceremonies for Lincoln. I think we’re looking forward to the chance to do this together. I think that underwrites the whole idea that I know what an extraordinary festival it is. To have so many people coming and so many different authors running from one place to another – you feel the energy and excitement of the whole event.
LHB: What question do you want those who attend your panel discussion to be asking themselves upon leaving your presentation?
DKG: What a great question. I think, hopefully, what they will get from the presentation is my own passion and desire to have created a story, a series of stories actually, about these men and women who lived during the progressive era. I’m hoping that they’ll want to hear the story… delve into it so that period can come alive for them the way it has for me. I would hope that after I give them a sense of what drew me to the story that they themselves will come back to me and say, “I feel drawn into this story too and I’d like to learn more about it.”
LHB: There has been a multitude of books written on Teddy Roosevelt, but The Bully Pulpit has a fresh unique perspective covering his relationship with Taft, their wives, the press and, of course, Archie Butt. I know the cast of characters you had to choose from. Besides Roosevelt and Taft, which character in the book were you most fascinated or intrigued by?
DKG: There are probably two answers to that.
One is that there are three women in the book that attracted my continuing fascination. They each chose, in a different way, how a woman could find her own desires and ambitions met in that period of time. Edith Roosevelt becomes a more traditional wife and mother and finds a deep sense of satisfaction in the family. Nellie Taft, [becomes] an actual partner of Will Taft as his political campaign manager [and] his speechwriter… Ida Tarbell, deciding she could not marry in her own right and still have [her career], becoming the most famous journalist of her era. Those three women – each making a choice differently, depending on what they thought was possible for them in their era – really struck a chord with me.
But, if I had to choose one person, rather than the three of them, and you mentioned him, it would be Archie Butt. The idea that this military aide to both Teddy and Taft was able to chronicle the heartbreak of their rupture (because he was so close to both) and write letters to his family every day, great letters… that’s the treasure of being a historian… you’re looking over their shoulders at their writing at the end of a day. So I guess I would say, besides Teddy and Taft, that the triple women and Archie Butt struck a chord in my heart.
LHB: That’s interesting; I thought you would have said S. S. McClure, the editor of McClure magazine.
DKG: That’s who I probably would have said. It’s really interesting. Your mentioning of Archie Butt just got to me.
LHB: Good!
DKG: I’m sure, with anybody else, I would have said McClure. There is something about Archie Butt’s character, especially knowing that he comes back from his vacation on the Titanic. His death is such a blow to Taft and really, again, shadows his presidency.
LHB: I have visited Teddy Roosevelt’s birthplace in Gramercy Park (NYC) many times over the years. The docents there are exceptional. Did you have access to that facility for your research?
DKG: Yes, indeed. I love going to the houses. There’s nothing that tells you more about what a person’s life might have been like than seeing a house in which they lived. To be able to go there and see the formal parlor as they had it then and to see that, eventually, they worked in the back – in the patio… where he could exercise so that his asthma would be able to deal with a body that could help to make him stronger.
The whole atmosphere of that period of time, where Edith lived nearby him… I’ve been there a number of times. You’re right, the docents there become as if they’re living in the house at the same time. They tell you details… there was one little chair – I guess most of the chairs had horsehair on them so they weren’t that comfortable. [His parents] made a little chair that had a different kind of texture on it so he’d be comfortable. Maybe velvet? [The docents] know things that you don’t know and you feel like, in their presence, that you learn something every time you go.
LHB: … and the unusual amount of affection given to Teddy and his siblings (by his parents) during the Victorian era. Both of his parents actually shared a room and the children rooms were on the same floor. It reflected what is described in your book, how Teddy wasn’t afraid to hug his children upon stepping off a ship (after a post – presidential trip to Europe). I thought back to the docent who told me how warm Teddy’s parents were. Looking at the setup of their bedrooms, they broke all precedence from the generations before.
DKG: Wow! You have just taught me something. You’re absolutely right. I know about the warmth. They were an unusually expressive family. They did hug each other. They could talk about loving each other… and you’re right, it’s that Victorian era, where normally the parents and the children are separated. Even in terms of structure, where the house is and the servants are somewhere else… there’s not [usually] that open display of affection. But, I hadn’t thought about it in terms of the house itself and the bedrooms being close together.
LHB: During that era, they usually had the father’s private entrance, quite frankly, should he want to bring up a “guest” right at the top of the steps. At the other end of the hallway was the wife’s bedroom and they would “visit” each other upon occasion. That was tradition… But Theodore Roosevelt Sr. loved his wife so much that they shared a bedroom and kept the children’s rooms near them on the second floor (of the brownstone). Also, on the first floor of TR’s birthplace, there’s a museum. It has items like the thick speech that was in Teddy’s pocket that helped him dodge a bullet… and a picture of his wife Edith campaigning for Herbert Hoover against “cousin” Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
DKG: I’m so glad you told me that… that is great!
LHB: I’m a fan of Audible.com and I preordered The Bully Pulpit (narrated by Edward Herrmann) before it was released. Obviously, it’s a very big business.
DKG: I think it’s going to become bigger and bigger and the great thing is, as I talk to people in publishing, that a lot of people are going to want to have both the book [and the audiobook]. If they get up to a certain point and they are going on a trip they can then follow [the story] in the car. [There are so many] modern ways of reading the book: listening, podcasting or watching it on your computer. If they could absorb the story in different ways – either reading or listening – I think it’s all for the good.
LHB: The only thing missing from the audiobook is the illustrations.
DKG: I suppose that’s right.
LHB: … so I’m going to pick up a copy of The Bully Pulpit at the book fair! But, I’m listening to my “mind movie” [the audio book] already.
DKG: That’s a great way of calling it… “Mind movies.”
LHB: You certainly are the presidential historian of our era. Teddy Roosevelt was one of the presidents whose face was placed on Mount Rushmore. How well do you think the presidents on Mount Rushmore would have gotten along?
DKG: [Hearty laugh]. Well, he would argue with Jefferson, I think, because he believed that government and federal government have to deal with the social problems of the day. Jefferson would have believed in a more limited role of government even though as president he did exercise the powers of the government. I think [TR] and Washington would have been fine.
LHB: Although their personalities were very different.
DKG: Absolutely… and I’d like to think that Lincoln and Teddy would have gotten along. Teddy adored Lincoln… read all of Nicolay and Hay’s biographies – that many volume series. [He] quoted Lincoln, thought about Lincoln a lot. I’m sure Lincoln would be the peacemaker of all of them.
LHB: If you were to put a fifth face on Mount Rushmore, I have a feeling I know the answer to this, who would it be?
DKG: It would be Franklin Roosevelt.
LHB: That’s what I thought. I just got a 100% on my test! Last question…
I am a published music composer, but I don’t solely listen to my own music… What book are you currently reading?
DKG: I read mysteries at night. Somebody just gave me Sherlock Holmes mysteries in short story form. I’ve read Mary Higgins Clark [and] Elizabeth George. When I go to bed at night I just want something that I can read for twenty minutes and go to sleep. Now that I’m finished with this book, after the book tour, I’m going to embark on a serious reading program again because normally I have to read the books that relate to what I’m doing during the day. I’m really looking forward, probably to fiction, once this is over.
LHB: Wonderful.
DKG: Oh, this was such a great treat for me. I’ll see you down there [at the MBFI]… come by and make sure I see you! This was so much fun. I will forever now remember your understanding of the house [TR’s birthplace] and it’s structure… so thank you very, very much.
And so, on November 23, 2013 I met Doris Kearns Goodwin. It was a day I will never forget. She signed our copy of The Bully Pulpit and it was amazing to meet such a humble, delightful person.
For More information on Doris Kearns Goodwin go to:
You can also read an excerpt of The Bully Pulpit on the Diane Rehm Show site.
3) Watch:
CSPAN’s BOOKTV
In November, I extensively covered the Miami Book Fair International for our Around Wellington readers. On November 23, 2013 I was THERE! Now, you can be there too. Watch a Miami Book Fair International videotaped panel discussion on CSPAN’s Book TV:
Mark your calendars for the Wellington Equestrian Festival 2014:
January 8 – March 30, 2014
It’s time for my favorite Wellington event of the year. Once again, I highly recommend you attend Saturday Night Lights and all of the equestrian events scheduled. It’s “season” and it’s time to see all of the internationally renowned equestrian stars shine. Bring the kids. There’s plenty to do for the entire family.
To whet your appetite, click on the image below to watch a Vimeo video containing highlights of the 2013 Wellington Equestrian Festival:
Harry Benson Photo: Courtesy Cultural Council 2013
Scottish born photojournalist, Harry Benson, arrived in America with the Beatles in 1964. He knew then he would stay. His 60-year career as a photojournalist included an over 25 year contract with LIFE Magazine and photographs on the covers and inside major magazines worldwide, including: Life, Time, Newsweek, Town & Country, Vanity Fair, Quest, Paris Match, G.Q., Esquire, W, The London Sunday Times Magazine, People, Vogue, Architectural Digest and Vice Magazine.
Benson was twice named NPPA Magazine Photographer of the Year and was also twice awarded the Leica Medal of Excellence. In 2009, Benson was named Commander of the British Empire, (CBE) by HRH Queen Elizabeth II, for his service to photography. He has also received a Doctor of Letters from Glasgow University and the Glasgow School of Art, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.
Benson’s photographs are in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.; Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow and the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. He has enjoyed 40 solo exhibitions and published 17 books including New York New York, The Beatles in the Beginning, President and Mrs. Reagan: an American Love Story and The Beatles on the Road: 1964-1966.
Benson will discuss his incredible experiences and give us insight into how he sees the world and translates his vision into some of the world’s most compelling photos.
Admission: $100 Proceeds benefit programs for and about artists in Palm Beach County.
Valet Parking Provided
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
601 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, FL 33460
For questions please contact: ksmiley@palmbeachculture.com.
(561) 472-3342
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Lori Hope Baumel and her husband Eric live in Wellington and have three children.
Their eldest, Sam, 27, is a media producer and conceptual artist who currently resides in (extremely hipster) Brooklyn, NY. Her younger children, Evan and Rachel, wrote the Around Wellington “Teen Talk” column in previous years. Rachel, 24, is an arts administrator for the Masterworks Chorale in Boston, MA and Evan, 21, is a senior at American University in Washington DC. Eric has practiced radiology in Wellington since 1991. His many talents include artist, cook, photographer and, recently, medical app developer. You can learn more about Lori at www.loribaumel.com or read her blog: www.grownupcamp.tumblr.com
Not only does Gabriel’s have a fantastic menu of home-style favorites for breakfast and lunch, but they also cater to the canine crowd offering a special menu for your favorite pooch. We went one crisp morning to sample some of the legendary breakfast offerings. The atmosphere is classic old-school café with comfy seating and a band of eclectic and interesting servers to wait on you. You feel right at home once you walk in.
The highlight of our meal was the Georgia Waffle ($)—one of several specialty waffles offered—that comes topped with thick whipped cream and a ton of sliced peaches. There are fat pecans baked right into the waffle that give a nice, rich crunch to the meal. I hate to admit it, but I ate the whole thing. I am always on the hunt for a great waffle, and I have found one at Gabriel’s.
Another high note was the huge omelets which could easily feed two people. My dining companion chose to create her own ($7.75) combo of bacon, sausage and mushrooms. The giant omelet comes with your choice of potato/fruit/ or tomato. The classic breakfast plates (starting at $7.75) are also very popular. The only issue was that our “over-easy” eggs. The whites came out a bit too runny for me and my other guest, but us “over-easy” aficionados know this is a common complaint.
As I said, Gabriel’s also offers a special dog-friendly menu full of affordable treats for your pup. Each order comes to the table in a chrome doggie dish. We saw one cute man and his canine companion dining together at the table. For those who feel their four-legged friends are truly family, this is a great place to visit for a nice outing.
With Frittatas, crepes, eggs benedicts, and an array of lunch offerings, I am sure I will be returning to Gabriel’s very soon to sample some more great food. You can beat the homey atmosphere, the classic crusty service, and the dog-friendly policy. Go for a nice breakfast with your family or drop in on your lunch break. You’ll be a regular before you know it!
In her previous life, Sarah, a Palm Beach County Native, spent ten years working in various high-end eating establishments around South Florida. She is currently a fiction thesis candidate in the MFA program at Florida International University where she also teaches creative writing and rhetoric. If that is not enough, Sarah is also the owner of Cakes by Sarah, a local custom cake shop. Sarah lives in Lake Worth with her husband and two beautiful boys. “Food, fiction, and family are my life.”
Stay yet, my friends, a moment stay—
Stay till the good old year,
So long companion of our way,
Shakes hands, and leaves us here.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One little hour, and then away.
The year, whose hopes were high and strong,
Has now no hopes to wake;
Yet one hour more of jest and song
For his familiar sake.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One mirthful hour, and then away.
The kindly year, his liberal hands
Have lavished all his store.
And shall we turn from where he stands,
Because he gives no more?
Oh stay, oh stay,
One grateful hour, and then away.
Days brightly came and calmly went,
While yet he was our guest;
How cheerfully the week was spent!
How sweet the seventh day's rest!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One golden hour, and then away.
Dear friends were with us, some who sleep
Beneath the coffin-lid:
What pleasant memories we keep
Of all they said and did!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One tender hour, and then away.
Even while we sing, he smiles his last,
And leaves our sphere behind.
The good old year is with the past;
Oh be the new as kind!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One parting strain, and then away.
– See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19330#sthash.lloehVbM.dpuf
