“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” – Billy Joel.
Music has the power to change people, get them through tough times, and so much more. For a high school student, music can be an essential part of the daily schedule, acting as a release from the stresses of school. With that being said, music’s coming out like crazy right now, from new artists, and old ones making a comeback. Here’s a teenager’s opinion on the new music out, and some underrated music right now.
Many artists just released albums in the recent months after relatively long breaks. One very notable band is Fall Out Boy. After taking an “indefinite hiatus,” Fall Out Boy released their album Save Rock and Roll on April 12th. With this album, came one of their most popular songs ever, My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up). This song’s been played on the radio repeatedly, and in the minds of many Wellington High School students, for good reason. While I find this song great, it has overshadowed the rest of the album. I personally love the entire album, and strongly encourage everyone to listen to the whole album, because there’s a song in there for everyone.
Another band that took a needed break is 30 Seconds to Mars. After a record setting world-wide tour for their album This is War, the band took a four year break to recover from the crazy touring schedule. They released Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams on May 17th, headlining with the song Up in the Air. While the album overall has a completely different tone than their earlier stuff (going in the direction of pop-sounding music), it’s still a good album in my opinion. There are quite a few instrumental songs, and it’s weird to see a different sound on this album, but Jared Leto still sings his heart out, and kills it in my opinion.
There have also been quite a few returning bands releasing albums. Black Sabbath just released their album 13 on June 10th, which is their first studio album with Ozzy since 1979. I personally haven’t listened to the album, but one of my friends asked my psychology teacher if he wanted to go to a Black Sabbath concert once they go on tour. My teacher said yes. So I can assume Black Sabbath is relevant with high school students and teachers as well.
While much of the attention has gone to famous returning acts, one band has emerged out of nowhere last year and taken the world by storm. Imagine Dragons has released one of the all-around best albums I’ve heard in a LONG time. I, along with half of the high school population, have listened to the entire album multiple times, and can’t find one song I don’t like. The album Night Terrors is an outstanding album headlined by radio hits It’s Time and Radioactive. Great individual songs, even better all-around album. It’s a “must listen to” for the entire album, as it’s brilliantly put together and the music is just all around incredible. I’m even going to a concert at Jones Beach this summer, and my friends have expressed their hatred for me at the moment. I heard online that someone went to an Imagine Dragons concert and it was one of the most electrifying, and energizing experiences of their life. Surely, this will be a concert to remember.
Tyler Alexander is a sophomore at Wellington High School. He is Sports Editor for his school online newspaper, The Wave. Tyler enjoys just being around his friends, and having a good time. He has a passion for sports writing, reporting, playing, and well, anything to do with sports. Tyler hopes to ultimately pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
“Agliolio” is a word derived from the Italian words “aglio” for garlic and “olio” for oil. The restaurant – now located in Wellington and Boynton Beach— offers fresh-made pasta that you can mix and match with an impressive array of sauces and toppings. They also offer many classic Italian dishes and an impressive wine selection. When we arrived, I was impressed by the sleek, modern, dark wood décor. The smell of tomato sauce fills the air and Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong croon away over the speakers. It was a good start to the night.
For starters, we selected the fried three-cheese ravioli ($7.00) and the Tomato-Basil Bisque ($5.00). Four very large square cheese ravioli come with a marinara dipping sauce. Fresh pasta is light-years superior over the dried variety, and the fried ravioli is a great way to experience the difference. The ravioli are stuffed with three different cheeses and fried to a golden perfection. We ate them all, they were that good. The tomato-basil bisque is creamy with a hint of spiciness at the finish. I couldn’t stop eating it. The ravioli tastes very good dipped into the soup too. A house salad comes with each entrée and is served family style, already tossed with their vinaigrette. It reminded me of Olive Garden in presentation, but the dressing was a bit blander than the chain restaurant’s version.
For our entrée’s we chose to create our own pasta dishes. We tried the cheese ravioli in a pink sauce with roasted garlic added ($12.00) and the penne pasta with Alfredo sauce and blackened chicken added ($15.00). The cheese ravioli was delicious with the pink sauce and the added roasted garlic gave it an intense garlic kick, which I liked. The Alfredo sauce at Agliolio is not the kind of sauce you find in most Italian restaurants. It is made the traditional way with butter and cream, so the sauce is much thinner than you might be accustomed to. This makes the dish lighter and allows the wonderful taste of the fresh pasta to come through. The blackened chicken that topped the dish was very flavorful and cooked nicely.
We tried to save room for one of Agliolio’s homemade desserts, but we found we could not stop eating and we were too full to try any of the sweets. Agliolio offers some of the classic desserts like Tiramisu ($7.00) Zeppoli ($6.00) and a chocolate Lasagna ($7.00) made with actual fresh pasta sheets flavored with chocolate. I am looking forward to returning to try some of these yummy sweet treats.
With moderate prices and a true, authentic, homemade Italian taste, Agliolios is a great place to take the family. There is something for everyone on the menu. I warn you, once you have had fresh pasta, you may never go back!
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.”
“Life is sometimes hard — that things will go wrong in love and business and friendship and health, and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And that the best thing an artist can do at those times is to “make good art.”
– Neil Gaiman
The graduation parties are over. We’re taking down the streamers and decorations. Graduates are now knocking on doors or trying to get their foot into one. What makes us envious of a graduate looking toward the promise of tomorrow? When attending a wedding, we witness the unification of a couple starting a new life together. Many of us have already experienced the splendor of our own academic commencement or the sanctification of a beautiful wedding day. We have our day in the sun, and then what?
The ability to “start fresh” is always enticing. We often say, “I was that graduate, I was that bride or groom.” What happens to our mindset thereafter? We change our perspective. It is very difficult to feel like each day is the day after graduation.
On May 14, 2013, I was listening to Neal Conan interview author Neil Gaiman on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation. The topic was Gaiman’s newly published book entitled Make Good Art. The book is adapted from his 2012 commencement speech delivered to the students at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. I was extremely moved by the interview. Within minutes of Conan’s closing statements, I watched the speech on Vimeo and then downloaded the newly published e-book. Needless to say, it made me pause for reflection.
I often ask myself, “Why were the days I delivered my children the most beautiful days of my life?” I hardly looked or felt beautiful. My husband was slightly frazzled, and tired. Yet, we were extremely excited because each miraculous child that entered our world was an opportunity to “make good art” of our very own. We created three unique individuals that we delight in having conversations with. Yes, our children are still works in progress, but aren’t we all?
Let’s get the bragging rights over with. I have produced over 250 commercials, written soundtracks for Emmy award winning television and published six music compositions with noted publishing companies. I accomplished many of my lifelong dreams. I am often asked, “What was your greatest production?” The answer is always the same: my children.
Still, I am not in the least bit satisfied. I am continually striving to create a better “me” and I encourage my children to do the same. We often perceive summertime as the halfway point of the year. I especially do, as my birthday is July 1st. News Year’s Eve is my “half birthday.” How lucky I am to be given a fresh new start in the midst of the summer months.
For July and August, picture yourself as a newly minted graduate knocking on a door of opportunities. Wake up each day and say, “I’m going to do everything in my power to have an adventure. I will make good art.” Then take eight minutes or eight weeks to do it.
Live… Go… Do!
Top Five List For Summer 2013
In continuing with the theme of this article, I highly recommend this simple assignment…
1) Watch:
Neil Gaiman’s Make Good Art speech on Vimeo for 20 minutes. As time goes by, it is harder and harder for me to get excited about mediocre things. When I finally latch onto a spark of inspiration, I want to share it and make a difference in other people’s lives. Therefore, I urge you to watch this video and pass it on.
Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chip Kidd. Enjoy a sweet, simple work of art unto itself. Do not read the book without viewing the video first. It will not feel the same.
You can also listen to the Conan/Gaiman interview on NPR’s Talk of the Nation at:
3) Spend some creative “one on one” time with a child:
Whether it is your own child, grandchild or a friend’s child. It’s summertime, you can dread it and count the days before the kids go back to school or you can relish in the homework-free afternoons. If your own kids are no longer under your roof, give a mom or dad in your life a break. Do the things you were too tired to do when you felt like the “old woman who lived in the shoe.”
Are you in the mood for a one-day outing? Rather than the usual trip to Disney World, consider a short journey to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, FL. Explore the lives and laboratories of men whose epiphanies changed the world.
Head north to the Kennedy Space Center and Museum, Cape Canaveral, FL.
Photo: Kennedy Space Center website.
On Saturday, July 20, 1994, we heard on the morning news that it was the 25th anniversary of the landing on the moon. All types of special events were going on at Kennedy Space Center. In the midst of folding my second load of laundry of the morning I had an epiphany. I looked up at my husband and said, “You want to go?” He didn’t even blink. We packed up the baby bottles and diaper bag, stuffed the kids into the van and without Google maps or a GPS we drove up there. Within hours of the TV broadcast, we were reliving the wonders of Neil Armstrong’s first steps. It was one of the most spontaneous days of our lives!
Hmm… let me check my calendar. July 20th falls on a Saturday again this year…
Embrace the summer.
Have an epiphany.
Make good art!
******
Lori Baumel and her husband Eric Baumel live in Wellington and have three grown children. Their eldest, Sam, 26, is a media producer who currently resides in (extremely hipster) Brooklyn, NY. Rachel, 23, and Evan, 21, wrote the Around Wellington “Teen Talk” column in previous years. 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 and read her blog at www.grownupcamp.tumblr.com.
Watch out . . . It’s the season of the dreaded BUFO TOAD!
By Barbara Phillippi
If you have a dog, and have lived in Florida for any length of time, you’ve heard about the “Bufo Toad,” Bufo marinus, Linnaeus, 1758.
Common names: Marine Toad, Giant Toad, Cane Toad
The dreaded Bufo toad, a true danger for dogs.
Bufonidae is the family of the true toads, members of the order Anura (frogs and toads). It is the only family of anoraks in which all members are known as “toads” The bufonids now comprise more than 35 genera, Bufo being the most widespread and well known. The toads are large, many around six inches long; stocky amphibians with dry, warty skin. And for your dog, they’re dangerous creatures, indeed; the venomous glands on a toad’s back have caused many a pet owner to head for the emergency vet on a warm and steamy summer night.
Known in other parts of the world as the “Cane Toad,” The Bufo Toad is native to a few areas in the southern United States, Central America, and tropical South America. Its venom is a mix of toxins present throughout their bodies and is secreted as a milky liquid from the parotoid glands located over the toad’s shoulders. The poison primarily affects the functioning of the heart. A curious dog that is not confined or restrained will grab at a Bufo with its mouth, and pay dearly for the experience.
Envenomation is painful, but rarely deadly to humans, although some people have died from eating cane toads and even their eggs. The venom is a neurotoxin, which interacts with the mucus membranes, and does not need to be swallowed to poison your dog.
Gracie (my Jack Russell Terrier) and I have recently moved, and it’s a wonderful place for long, relaxing walks in the moist cool of the evening. But I must be vigilant! Such excursions are rife with danger for my beloved companion, as under every streetlight is a gang of these giant toads who hide in dark, damp places in the daytime, and emerge to dine after dark on insects attracted by the lights. They will also eat pet food left outside, and forage through garbage.
Our new digs back up to a nature preserve, and maybe we have so many of the darned things in our yard because the wetlands behind me are just what these critters need to reproduce and thrive. Gracie has always scrambled furiously at the end of the leash for anything small that moves. And she can sense presence of a toad or other creature in the shadows, unseen by me. Eggs are laid in strips, and can be hidden in the grasses on the water’s edge.
Cane toad
I spoke with Debbie, the office manager, at Palms Wes tAnima lHospital. She says, “We’ve already had a few poisonings this year, but we’ve saved them all.”
Dr Richard Kelleher, the new vet at the practice, can’t say if the numbers of Bufo poisoning have increased this year, but he practiced 12 years in Boynton Beach, and is very familiar with the problem here in South Florida.
“The signs of Bufo poisoning are pretty obvious. Oral contact with the toad causes frothing from the mouth, bright red gums, and seizures, which will happen almost immediately as the heartbeat and respiration slow down,” he says. The prognosis depends on the duration and severity of the exposure, and how long it takes to get to the vet. “The size of the toad doesn’t seem to matter,” he says,” but the results “are worse for small dogs.” What should a dog owner do if his dog presents these symptoms? “Immediately rinse the dog’s mouth with as much water as you can, not to make it swallow, we don’t want it to ingest the poison, but to remove as much of the toxicity as possible,. And have someone call the vet right away.” After the animal arrives at the clinic, “it is given IV fluids with sedation for the seizure activity and symptomatic support, and monitored closely.” Observation time can vary from 8 – 24 hours.
My friend Donna has had her battles with the Bufos. “None of my dogs ever died from the terrible frogs but came close. I spent tons of money at the vet’s office and he always pulled them through. Last April, my deaf JRT just made it to the vet’s office in time. I drove like a maniac, running red lights in the pouring rain. She had to stay at Dr. Simmons office for almost a week. I had a fenced in back yard with a pool and grassy areas. I had a contractor pour concrete and take out the grass, to deter the frogs from coming into the yard. Those toads are so toxic, all a creature has to do is lick it and they will be affected. They are terrible creatures.”
“I went online to ask how to kill, eradicate or otherwise do away with these frogs, and I got attacked by frog/toad friends. Calling my dogs stupid if they went back for more… But try telling a JRT (Jack Russell Terrier) not to chase something that hops into their territory. I finally moved from South Florida to the Ocala area. And, thank goodness, I have not seen any here in the 7 years of living here.”
A suggestion for folks with dog runs or dog yards: place plexiglass panels against the entire inside of the barrier fence. There is an anecdotal report that mothballs around the perimeter will keep the critters away from your premises. For the rest of us, especially those whose dogs have a strong hunt/kill drive: keep your dog on a short leash at all times during the warm season. Never let your dog roam.
I asked Dr Kelleher about cats poisoned by Bufo venom. He thought for several moments. “Hmmm, I’ve never seen one, come to think of it. No, not one.” Is that because cats are smarter than dogs, and know better than get into a dust up with a Bufo?” I asked, half in jest. “Well,” he laughed, then said, “I’m a cat person, so I suppose that could be true.”
The Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida, offers the curious reader a page about the history of the local Bufo Toad, describing intentional releases at Canal Point and in Palm BeachCounty, and other Florida locations. Here’s a great link:
And here’s what happened when Australia imported a small number to help eradicate the sugar cane beetle… The much maligned venomous cane toads earned their bad reputation shortly after being released into the Australian ecology in 1935, with the hope that they would control the destructive cane beetle population. They turned out to be failures at controlling beetles, but remarkably successful at reproducing and spreading themselves.
About 3,000 cane toads were released in the sugarcane plantations of north Queensland in 1935. They now number well into the millions, and their still expanding range covers thousands of square miles in northeastern Australia. They are considered pests, and government eradication efforts include asking residents to help collect and dispose of them.
Toad eggs
Their numbers are manageable in their natural range, but they have thrived in Australia because there are few natural predators, they breed easily, and they have abundant food, including pet food, which they steal from feeding bowls left outside of homes. Their effects on Australia’s ecology include the depletion of native species that die eating cane toads; the poisoning of pets and humans; depletion of native fauna preyed on by cane toads; and reduced prey populations for native insectivores, such as skinks.
So, please, be alert when you walk your dog, keep it safe from contact with a Bufo at all cost. Be vigilant, and enjoy a safe summer!
“In a perfect world, every home would have a dog, and every dog would have a home.”
***
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!”
Crazy Horse: A Tribute to Patriotism and Perseverance for all People
Story by Terri Marshall, Photos by Gregory Holder
As the 4th of July approaches we, as Americans, tap into our patriotism. Celebrations ensue on beaches, in backyards and in cities across the country. Thousands of Americans will travel to Washington, DC to visit monuments, pay their respects to fallen veterans at Arlington Cemetery and connect with the hub of our nation’s government. Others will travel to Philadelphia to absorb the historic sites of our country’s first capital, while others will travel to New York to witness Macy’s brilliant 4th of July fireworks display. All across this great country there are places to celebrate our patriotism and one of the best (in my opinion) is Rapid City, South Dakota!
Nestled in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, Rapid City is “The City of Presidents” – deservedly so. Life-size bronze sculptures of our past US Presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush greet you on the street corners about town.
Carved into the granite face of nearby Mount Rushmore are the 60-foot tall heads of four of our greatest presidents, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. Men who inspired a nation.
Patriotism by definition is the love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it – certainly a quality of our presidents past and present – but there are other great men in our nation’s history – men whose sacrifices often go unmentioned. A tribute to one of those men is still being carved in the Black Hills not far from Mount Rushmore.
Crazy Horse Memorial
The sculpture of Crazy Horse – the spiritual leader of the Native American Lakota tribe – has been developing since 1939 when Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski saying “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, also.”
Korczak considered the invitation for seven years as he studied the story of Native Americans. After serving in World War II, Korczak accepted Standing Bear’s invitation and set out to memorialize the epic story of the North American Indian nation.
Mount Rushmore
At 40 years old, with just $174 to his name, Korczak began the largest sculptural undertaking the world has ever known – 563 feet high and 641 feet long. He suggested carving the memorial in another location not so close to Mount Rushmore, but the elders insisted the memorial be in the Black Hills which had been sacred to the Lakota’s for many generations.
Upon discovering that Korczak was born on September 6th which was the date Crazy Horse died 31 years prior, the elders considered it an omen – Korczak was destined to carve the memorial.
Korczak and Standing Bear scouted the sacred Black Hills for the perfect location and Korczak began what would become his life’s work. His model of Crazy Horse depicts the warrior as a proud figure proclaiming as he points to the hills, “My lands are where my dead lie buried.”
The Crazy Horse Memorial was dedicated on June 3, 1948 with the first blast on the mountain. Initially, Korczak worked alone with only the mountain goats to keep him company. He had a dream and despite the difficulties he encountered, he never wavered from that dream.
Years later he met and married Ruth and together they had 10 children – five boys and five girls. Korczak’s dream became a family project. After his death in 1982 at age 74, Korczak’s children discovered a letter he had written to them in 1952. In it he told them, “You don’t have to do this, but if, after I’m gone, you take up the task of doing it, don’t ever let it go.” Ruth and seven of the Korczak children are still working on Crazy Horse today. Recently the next generation has joined the family tradition of working on the mountain.
Progress is measured in tons and in decades. It’s slow-going partially due to the massive size of the sculpture but also because of Korczak’s principles regarding funding. Korczak strongly believed that a Native American memorial should not be financed by the government which had broken its treaties with tribal people. Twice he turned down $10 million in government funds insisting that all funds need to come from the interested public. In 1949 he established the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation whose board of directors enthusiastically manages the project according to Korczak’s principles.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is much more than the spectacular sculpture. Korczak’s master plan had three major goals: the mountain carving of Crazy Horse, the Indian Museum of North America and a University and Medical Training Center for the North American Indian. The museum has an astounding collection of artifacts and its gift shop has beautiful authentic pieces of Indian artistry and craftsmanship available for purchase.
There are several popular events each year at Crazy Horse. On the first weekend of June, the public can walk to the monument on a 10K hike. The Volksmarch rewards participants with views of the far side of the mountain and an up close view of the nearly 90-foot-high carved face. The up close visit brings home the magnitude of the sculpture. The tunnel under the arm of Crazy Horse is large enough to fit a 10 story building. All four of the president’s heads from Mount Rushmore would fit inside the head of Crazy Horse!
Among the most popular events are two annual night blasts. The first on June 26th honors Korczak’s beloved wife, Ruth’s, birthday and the anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn where Lakota leader Crazy Horse was a main strategist in the defeat of Custer’s U.S. Calvary troops.
The second night blast on September 6th marks the 1908 birth of Korczak and the 1877 death of Crazy Horse.
From Memorial Day weekend through Native American Day in mid-October, the carving lights up nightly for “Legends in Light” – a multimedia laser-light show.
The Crazy Horse Memorial’s yearly July 4th mountain blast honors the continuing commitment of Native Americans to their historic cultural customs, and salutes all veterans and the current defenders of freedom in memory of Crazy Horse sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, a decorated World War II Army sergeant.
On the walk up to Crazy Horse stands a sign worth noting. It reads, NEVER FORGET YOUR DREAMS. The Crazy Horse Memorial is a testament to that philosophy representing perseverance and patriotism for all people. http://crazyhorsememorial.org/
Where to stay: Rapid City has plenty of options for lodging while you are busy visiting all the patriotic sites. For something special, check out the Hotel Alex Johnson.
Alex Johnson, Vice President of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, was founder of this grand hotel. His admiration for the Native Americans is evident in the structural design of the hotel which is a blend of two spirits – the heritage of the Plains Indians and the Germanic Tudor architecture representing German immigration to the Dakotas. The Hotel Alex Johnson is registered with the Historic Hotels of America and offers a touch of grandeur in the Wild West.
While visiting, don’t miss the Vertex sky bar. Open only to members and guests of the hotel, the roof top bar overlooking downtown Rapid City is the perfect place to sip a martini or two! http://www.alexjohnson.com/
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 www.examiner.com where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at www.barzz.net. Also, check out her blog at www.trippingwithterri.com. You can contact Terri at terri.marshall60@gmail.com.
Here’s another fun recipe, shared by local Girl Scout troop leader Amber Pepellashi. This is more of a science experiment than a food recipe. Just a fun summer thing to do!
Dinosaur Snot
Ingredients
A mixing bowl
2 c. cornstarch
1 c. water
yellow and green food coloring
In the bowl, mix the cornstarch and the water. Add one drop of green coloring, and two drops of yellow. Use your hands to make sure it has totally combined. After about a minute, you’ll have stretchy slime that looks like…dinosaur snot!!!
PS Hey kids, do you have a great recipe that you like to make? Send it to us at Editor@AroundWellington.com, subject “Yummy Treats,” along with your contact information to share your recipe with our AroundWellington audience!
Underage Drinking Peaks in Summer, Says New Research from Caron Treatment Centers
Results Highlight Need for Parents to Convey Consistent Messages about Drinking Alcohol
West Palm Beach, Fla – June 26, 2013 – The Fourth of July is a time to barbecue, celebrate and spend time with friends and family; however, a new survey by reveals 83% of Americans aged 18-40 believe it’s the leading summer holiday for excess drinking. Correspondingly, 61% identified summer as the season teens are most likely to engage in underage drinking.
The online survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Caron in June, 2013 among 848 U.S. adults aged 18-40, revealed that 78% tried alcohol for the first time when they were underage. Of those, 36% had their first experience with alcohol before age 16, including 10% before age 12; only 2/5 indicate their parents had a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking.
“There’s still a pervasive misconception that underage drinking is an acceptable rite of passage – when it’s actually extremely dangerous to the developing adolescent brain and can have deadly consequences,” said Tammy Granger, Corporate Director of Student Assistance Programs at Caron. “Many parents feel there’s nothing they can do to prevent underage drinking, but research shows teens are highly influenced by their parents’ behavior. It’s critical to consistently demonstrate habits, values and messages that we’d like to see our children adopt.”
Many adults hold conflicting opinions when it comes to underage drinking. While 63% of U.S. adults 18-40 expressed concern about the availability of alcohol to teenagers, a surprising 41% believed it’s best for teenagers to learn to ‘drink responsibly’ in high-school rather than waiting until they’re of legal age. Granger notes that teenagers are unable to ‘drink responsibly’ because their brains are simply not capable of making such decisions – especially when impaired.
Mary, a 27-year-old Caron Renaissance alumna, remembers the underage drinking culture at her Long Island, New York high-school. Now four years sober, she believes too many parents allow their children to drink alcohol at home as a way of ‘keeping an eye on them’ – but in hindsight, she believes it’s the wrong message to send.
“I understand parents are trying to protect their children, but unfortunately, it doesn’t really work that way,” said Mary. “Your kids are engaging in crazy and destructive behavior. The fact that it’s happening under your roof doesn’t make it safer or better for them.”
Additional survey findings include:
70% recalled an adult/caregiver in their life engaging in inappropriate behavior while under the influence of alcohol; 19% cited driving while intoxicated, specifically.
Nearly 31% said their parents accepted underage drinking (allowing parties, providing alcohol, allowing drinking without driving or simply not addressing the subject).
29% agreed it was fine for high-school students to drink as long as they don’t drive.
With new dangers emerging every day for teens, such as prescription drug abuse, a soft stance on underage drinking may convey that illegal behavior will be tolerated. Through its centers, Caron has observed that many teens and young adults who enter treatment first drank alcohol before later abusing prescription drugs and other substances.
“It’s really important for teens and young adults to have sober role models to emulate and understand that there’s a community of young people who live amazing lives without alcohol or drugs,” said Mary. “There’s a tremendous amount of pressure today – and the influence of supportive and decisive adults, with a clear set of boundaries and rules, is invaluable.”
To learn more about teens and substance abuse, please visit: .
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Caron Treatment Centers from June 11–13, 2013, among 848 adults ages 18–40. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact .
About Caron Treatment Centers
Caron Treatment Centers is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment. With over 55 years in the field, Caron is one of the oldest and largest organizations offering primary, relapse and longer-term residential treatment for adolescents, young adults, adults and older adults, as well as families affected by the disease of addiction. Caron’s treatment is gender separate and gender-specific. Caron has extensive experience in the treatment of co-occurring psychological/psychiatric disorders within its patient community. Formerly the Caron Foundation, the acclaimed Caron Treatment Centers network operates treatment centers in Wernersville, PA; Dallas, TX; and Caron Renaissance in Boca Raton, FL. Caron also operates Hanley Center in West Palm Beach and Gate Lodge in Vero Beach, FL. Caron has regional offices in Boston, Bermuda, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. For more information, visit
My husband and I clearly remember that magical moment when our kids played together nicely for the first time. They were ages three and one. They had just finished dinner and they were happily engaged in an activity. Meanwhile, we were able to eat our own dinner in peace – without interruption. It was the beginning of a beautiful sibling friendship. Many parents had warned us about later though – when things would “get bad” and the fighting would begin. Things have gone quite smoothly until this year, when our daughter turned eight and our son turned six. And yes, now there’s some fighting. Some of it can be chalked up to healthy sibling rivalry, but how do you handle the unhealthy interactions – the ones that escalate?
Here are some ways I’ve handled problem areas of sibling fighting so far.
“We all go through trying times it’s how you handle these times that truly shows how much of a fighter you are!” – Unknown author
After wanting to pull out my hair in frustration, I’ve come up with a few solutions. Let me just add this disclaimer that there are other terrific parenting resources online (Parenting.com, AhaParenting.com, KidsHealth.org and many more), and I am in no way a “perfect parent.” These are just a few starter ideas, if the fighting is starting to happen in your home too.
Here’s a classic problem that comes up whenever we are taking a road trip that’s long enough for the kids to watch a movie in the back seat. “What movie should we watch?” Some higher-tech car interiors probably allow the kids to watch two different movies, but in our car, there’s only one DVD player. If we have a CD case full of about 50 movies to choose from, they will never agree. In fact, they might spend the whole two-hour trip arguing about which movie to watch. So usually I have handled it this way – I pick three movies. They pick two movies each that “they would be willing to watch.” And then we pick the one that they both agreed upon. If they happen to pick the same two movies, great! If we have time, we will watch both of them.
Another common dynamic that becomes a problem happens when the older sister has a friend over to the house and her brother does not. Sometimes the two girls will close the door and make a point that “no boys are allowed.” This, of course, starts a chain reaction where my son will do all sorts of things to bother them back. He will slide threatening notes under their door, slide pairs of underpants under the door, bang on the door and get very creative in his quest to annoy the girls. Here’s what I’ve tried to do lately with this situation. First of all, I try to avoid it happening – by aiming for a play date for BOTH kids, whenever possible. But if we have three kids in the house, I have also asked them to find something to do that includes all three – a game or a project that they all will do together. If all else fails, another good option is to get everyone outdoors for a change of scenery and for a better environment with no doors.
Here’s another battle that comes up once in a while. One child has a toy, a video game or access to the computer and the other one wants it. It makes matters worse if one begins by saying in a teasing voice, “I have the (whatever).” A struggle ensues. Yelling. Then, if it gets this far, physical violence – a punch, a scratch, a kick. It’s not pretty. There’s no set answer for how to respond. If both are equally at fault, they both do a “time out” and the thing they both want is confiscated. The best way of working with this problem, if you have the time and the patience, is to find a way for them to share. Let the children be the problem solvers. Ask them how they can share it. If they can’t figure out a way, you could set a timer for 10 minutes for each child. Ultimately you can confiscate a problematic toy for a few days if needed, as most kids today have plenty of toys to turn to.
Another issue that arises in our house and while riding in the car is the loud child versus the quiet child. Although our son is very entertaining in his antics, he can also be very loud. Our daughter tends to be more of a quiet child and also is currently experiencing headaches on a regular basis. So when he is yelling and she is having a headache, the issue is especially amplified in the car. My solution, so far, has been to threaten a “car time out” or just to tell him to keep his voice quieter while providing a diversion. Usually my son is just bored and annoying his sister is the only activity he can think of – it seems. So I will either tell him that he must be quiet for 5 minutes, for example, serving as a “car time out.” Or if the problem is not as extreme, I might offer him his DS to play with – or if we don’t have it handy, even my cell phone.
On a lighter note, we had a funny incident a couple years ago when a lengthy commercial for old ShirleyTempleDVDs kept coming on the station the kids were watching. The ad announcer would say, “Shirley Temple, America’s Little Darling!” One time my daughter, who was getting deeply into dance, acting and music, questioned, “Why is SHE America’s Little Darling?” She was so envious that she was turning a little bit green I think. My son, in his four-year-old cleverness, really picked up on it. And he continues to make the most of it, every time that commercial comes on. “Stella,” he says teasingly. “Look! It’s America’s Little Darling!” She never fails to get mad when this happens. But this light sibling mockery is acceptable and kind of funny in my eyes. I feel that as long as it’s basically good-natured and no one is getting hurt, no harm is being done.
If you have sibling rivalry issues in your family, it helps to know that mild sibling rivalry actually builds emotional intelligence and proves to be beneficial later in life. “Family interactions, including mild sibling rivalry, can have a positive impact on a child’s development and social relationships, according to a five-year project at the University of Cambridge.” So if you can get through the bickering and let them problem solve for some of these incidents, all the better for their future development.
Krista Martinelli is the owner and editor of AroundWellington.com. This is really an easy task though, compared with raising two children. Coincidentally, she knows how to juggle. Literally.
The Rotary Club of Wellington recently held its annual college scholarship awards ceremony at The Wanderers Club. Most members of the club, many members of the community, the scholarship winners and their parents attended.
Eight seniors from Palm Beach Central High School and Wellington High School were awarded college scholarships ranging from 1-4 years at $1000.00 per year. The Scholarship Committee of the Rotary Club carefully reviewed every applicant including their grades, their community service, and financial need. Finally every applicant was also interviewed by the committee to choose the winners.
The winners of the scholarships were as follows: Danny Duprey, who won the Mark McClean Scholarship, Sarah Baldeo, the Marylou Alexander Scholarship, Megan Heiser, the Joan Boughner Scholarship, Brandon Krock, the Joshua Candreva Scholarship and Wellington Rotary Club Scholarship, Tilon Powenecki, the Karen J. Hardin Scholarship, Lauren Philmus, the Wellington Rotary Club Scholarship, Megan Stanford, the Neil August Scholarship, and Lena Weeks, the Paul Fortorney Scholarship, and Jonathan Wittel, Wellington Rotary Scholarship and “Service above Self” Interact Scholarship. All college scholarship winners were congratulated and were wished luck next year as they embark on their college career.
