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May, 2013 – Alan is Now Friends with Thor

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May, 2013 – Alan is Now Friends with Thor

As I Was SayingAlan Williamson

 

Alan Is Now Friends With Thor

 

By Alan Williamson

 

       It was a Wednesday night and Modern Family was coming on in two minutes, which meant that the only place you’d normally find me would be on the sofa waiting for the show to start. Except I wasn’t there. And things were far from normal.

          Instead of settling in to catch one of my favorite sitcoms, I was in front of my computer scanning a picture of an old family pet that everyone had long since forgotten so I could post it on Facebook. Why would I bother to do this you ask? Well, if you really need to know, it’s because my brother Jim had posted two other old photos of family pets on Facebook leading my cousin Dawn to speculate about the name of a dog that we kept in a coop outside a corral fence by the barn in our backyard.

          So there you have it. I had a perfectly logical reason for my actions . . . or at least that’s what I tell myself. But then, you tell yourself a lot of things to justify your bizarre behavior once you’ve turned into a love slave of the Facebook gods.

          Facebook addicts will confirm that it all begins innocently enough. When I first started, my Facebook profile sat frozen for months – just another lifeless mannequin posing in the cyberspace storefront. I was on the brink of pulling the plug on it when the following short sentence posted to my wall caught my eye:

 

Alan is now friends with Andy McGrane.

 

          Hello. It was my good buddy Andy. The Andy I had struggled to keep in touch with in the years since he moved away. Facebook’s potential to connect and keep up with friends and family hit me like a pie in the face. A slew of similar messages followed.

 

Alan is now friends with Eric Williamson.

Alan is now friends with Kristen Williamson.

Alan is now friends with Marjorie Bornkamp Williamson. (Hi Mom.)

Alan is now friends with Dawn Bornkamp Barbacci.

 

          Before I knew it, I had an entire family reunion at my fingertips whenever I wanted it. And boy did I want it. I wanted to see the rare picture my brother posted of our long-gone grandfather and Great Aunt Shirley. I wanted to see (and poke fun at) the profile picture my mom posted of her as a patriotic four year old saluting the photographer. I wanted to trade wisecracks on family photos from years gone by showing alarming hair styles and drop-dead hilarious fashion statements.

          Most of all, I wanted to enjoy the new world of quick and easy conversations that Facebook made possible with relatives I hadn’t had contact with in years. Consider this exchange with my cousin Dawn after I posted a picture of me running a 5K race during my college days.

 

Me: This showcases my ability to pass older, heavyset guys and young children during the home stretch.

Dawn: r u wearing JOX sneakers?

Me: I don’t think so – back then I wore Pumas.

Dawn: Classic blue suede-ish style . . . nice.

 

          See? Nothing earth-shaking or newsworthy. But that’s precisely the beauty of it. With Facebook, suddenly you’re sitting at a family reunion and that dusty old photo album that someone flips open starts the quips and comments flying.

          Which brings me back to that Wednesday night when I almost missed an episode of Modern Family while posting a photo on Facebook of a dog my grandmother Bessie gave us because he was eating all her furniture. The dog’s name was Thor and we kept him in the backyard by the barn where furniture was scarce and the chances to bark at horses and whiffle ball-playing kids were unlimited.

          Somewhere, in that big dog coop in the sky, I’d like to think Thor is looking down at his Facebook photo album and thinking:

 

 “Nice family reunion guys – thanks for remembering me. And while I have everyone’s attention, I just want to set the record straight: I only ate furniture when Bessie forgot to feed me.”

Alan Williamson is an award-winning writer with 27 years in the field of true fiction (advertising). A practical man who knows that writing for a living is risky going, he has taken steps to pursue a second, more stable career as a leggy super model. Alan can be reached at alwilly@bellsouth.net.  © 2013 Alan Williamson.

May, 2013 – Mother’s Day

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May, 2013 – Mother’s Day

A Mother’s Love – Truly UnconditionalIMG_0293

By Mariah Celin Figueroa

If you ever wonder how everlasting love feels, then you haven’t stopped to think about your mother (or an equivalent who might act as your mother in your life). Everlasting love doesn’t have to be to a significant other or a spouse – it’s right in front of you – it’s your mom! Over the years, there have been some extraordinary ladies in my life, teaching me ways to become a respectable young lady. As I learn and grow, these fantastic females such as my mom, my aunts, my grandmas, etc. have always been the light to guide me through the dark tunnel. Through every late night project, job interview, or even heartbreak, they’ve always been there to give unconditional love, which life would be unbearable to live without.

I personally have gone through many phases with my mother. From the beginning of infancy it was as if my mother and I were inseparable. As years progressed and my teen years came swiftly blowing in, I couldn’t stand being by her because with every incident or event, I felt that I couldn’t be more embarrassed. Eventually, I’ll leave the house to go to the college of my choice, and I’ll miss being her little girl.
This year giving recognition to the awe-inspiring ladies in my life is the least I can do. No one can nurture and love a beautiful child for 18 years like a mother can. No one can cry with a daughter or give them advice like a mother can. No one can be your best friend, your confidante, and your superior all in one like your mom. As Mother’s Day finally approaches, I’ll stop and appreciate my mom and my many female role models for the little and big things they have done for me. And you should consider to do the same.

 Mariah Celin Figueroa is a sophomore at Palm Beach Central High School. She is a staff writer and photographer for her school’s newspaper, The Bronco Beat. She participates in her school’s choir and is very social-able  Her family and friends are her life and even in time that’ll never change. Mariah’s hobbies include writing, reading, movies, and eating. Her ambitions are being able to see the world and being successful in her career, when she chooses one.

 

May, 2013 – A Few Cat “Tales”

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May, 2013 – A Few Cat “Tales”

Dog Walkin’  Wellingtonbarbaraphillippi1

So . . . not everyone’s a dog lover

By Barbara Phillippi
                                                                     

This month, I’d like to share some cat “tales.”
    There is an oft-asked question: “Are you a cat person, or a dog person?” I write a dog interest column, so it might be assumed that dogs are my pet preference. But the last couple of years are the first time in my life that there hasn’t been at least one resident cat in my home.
     Most of us are aware that the domestic cat was revered and worshiped in early Egyptian culture, but did you know that during the Middle Ages, in Europe, sorcerers were thought to be able to turn themselves into cats? Pope Gregory XI launched an inquisition, in which people who owned or helped a cat paid with their lives. The poor animals suffered various types of ghastly torture, and were put to death by the thousands, often by being incinerated while alive.     
     Hundreds of books have been written about feline history: behavior, breeds, folklore, literature, etc. There’s just no room to expand here – on the myriad of topics that feline aficionados might “purrruse.” If you are a cat person, bookstores and the library are chocked full of “cat” books, but may I recommend one of dozens that I’ve read, one that I consider exemplary?
     “The Quintessential Cat, A Connoisseur’s Guide to the Cat in History, Art, Literature, and Legend” by Roberta Altman. This book is a great read, and not just for cat people. You won’t put it down easily.

CatBook2

     The first kitty I remember was a sweet little striped female named Nellie, who moved in with us, grateful for a reprieve from meager success hunting in the winter in a nearby hedgerow. My cousin liked to dress her in doll clothes, and plop her in a miniature chair for “tea parties.” One day, Nellie had had enough, left the house, and was found several days later, hung on a strand of fence by the strings of a doll bonnet. The horror of that discovery has stayed with me for decades.
     Another childhood kitty was “Vel,” named because of her propensity to sleep in an empty Vel detergent box behind the kitchen stove.
     When I was raising my own family, we lived in a remote rural area, where people “from the city” (Buffalo, Rochester, NY) still come on weekends and during vacation to summer cabins and hunting camps in the woods. When they pack up and move back, at the beginning of the school year or end of hunting season, they leave unwanted pets, mostly cats, behind. “Oh, they’ll go to that nice farm down in the valley, and the farmer will give them milk,” they rationalize.
     That never happens. There is a feline pecking order in every dairy barn, and strange cats are not welcome. They are attacked by dogs or the resident Tom, injured by being stepped on by a cow, and invariably driven away, with few hunting and survival skills. Most cats who’ve lived with me have arrived sick and starving because of the “nice farmer” myth.
     Over my lifetime, there have been, among a couple dozen names, “Maxi the Taxi,” Pedro, Eddie, Perky, Bonnie, Rosie, Blanche, Cotton, Tigger, Two, Three, Wishbone, Petal, Caesar, Wanda Kim Bennett, Babe, and, still living in my old home in NY State, sweet old Charlie.

     petunia_charlie2
     My daughter has always had at least one cat, and she often names her pets after her friends; Cindy, Amy, Billy. Her current companion, Billy, age 12, is a hefty 22 lb. load of lovin’ feline. She agonizes about finding ways to help him lose weight. If she gives him “diet” cat food, he eats twice as much. He howls with disbelief if his rations are shorted, or if she gets up late to feed him.

Billy_dog_bed 

     Billy is a big, white, goofy guy. One of his favorite sleeping places is an ordinary plastic bag on the floor. His best toy is a piece of woven strapping tape, and he likes to drink from the faucet in the bathroom. But he never misses greeting folks at the door, or loving his caretaker with abject devotion.   

billyfaucet
     We hear, on a regular basis, horror stories of cat “hoarding,” a home, usually occupied by a woman and a multitude of cats, existing in smelly, squalid quarters. When discovered, the owner must submit to mental health evaluation; many animals are euthanized, or offered up for adoption (although their chances of adoption are slim).
     But it isn’t only women who succumb to a cat’s charms. My Mom told me once, “Don’t trust a man who doesn’t like cats.” This is personal, and many won’t agree, but I think that men who like cats are very often more tolerant, gentle, compassionate, and introspective than the macho “I’m a dog guy” man.
     My friend Tony and his wife had an adopted cat named Isabel. She was dear to both of them, and when Tony’s wife passed away, Isabel helped him through his grief, and to stay grounded. She was always there when he came home to a lonely house, in his lap while he watched TV. He built a small addition to his family room, so that Isabel could lie out there in the sun, and observe the activity in the yard.
     Tony was devastated when Isabel became so ill that life was a challenge, when the vet said that she couldn’t get better. After her death, he traveled to West Virginia and scattered Isabel’s ashes where he had previously scattered those of his wife.
    There are way too many cats/kittens at shelters. Spring is “kitten season on steroids,” and, being heart-meltingly cute, most little ones are adopted. But there are never enough folks looking for an older kitty. A seasoned cat makes a better pet – grateful for its new digs, adapting with ease. No shredded curtains, experiments with plants, no learning curve with a litter box.
     I’d like to appeal to older citizens: please consider adoption, a companion animal, dog or cat, makes life so much better! It’s been proven that stroking a pet lowers blood pressure, slows the heart rate. And, you won’t be talking to yourself anymore!
     This particular column was sparked by a little story about a cat named “Ling,” written by the daughter of “Around Wellington’s editor, Krista Martinelli. THANKS, Stella!  In the print-version of Around Wellington Magazine (a few years ago), there used to be a popular feature called “I love my pet.”  Thanks, Stella. Stella would like to bring this back to AroundWellington.com, so please feel free to submit your pet stories and photos to: editor@aroundwellington.com, subject “I love my pet” if you’d like to participate.

LingStoryfor0513

“In a perfect world, every dog or cat would have a home, and every home would have a dog or cat.”

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!”

 

May, 2013 – Gettysburg

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May, 2013 – Gettysburg

Travel with Territerrimarshallsm

Gettysburg:  Bravery and sacrifices remembered

Story by Terri Marshall, Photos by Gregory Holder

As the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the site of the conflict’s biggest battle joins in the commemoration activities.  In July 1863,  over 170,000 soldiers converged on the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg  in a battle that changed the course of the war and ultimately the course of a nation.

Most of us studied the Battle of Gettysburg in our American history classes.  We memorized President Lincoln’s brief address delivered at the dedication of Soldiers’ NationalCemetery – the final resting place of 3,500 Union soldiers.  Those history lessons become real with a visit to Gettysburg.

Picture 053
Lone soldier in Soldiers’ National Cemetery

Every year the town commemorates the Battle of Gettysburg with as many as 15,000 Civil War re-enactors arriving each July to give visitors a glimpse into the 1860’s through battle re-creations, medical and fashion demonstrations, musical performances and encampments.  Each day includes two battles featuring Union and Confederate cavalry, artillery, infantry and an explosive pyrotechnic display – an ideal way to get in touch with the nation’s history.  www.gettysburgreenactment.com

Each November, the dedication of the Soldiers’ NationalCemetery and the Gettysburg address are commemorated on Remembrance and Dedication weekend.  The events begin with a parade of Union and Confederate soldiers through the streets of town.  Townspeople and re-enactors in period costumes stroll throughout the community.   As daylight fades Soldiers’ NationalCemetery glows with the flickering candlelight of thousands of luminaries placed on the graves of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

November 19th – the anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address – is Dedication Day.  In 2012 the keynote speaker was a man who knows quite a bit about Abraham Lincoln…Steven Spielberg.  As he stood on the stage next to a portrait of Lincoln to address the thousands of people in attendance, one theme was central to his speech.  “I am humbled to stand in this place where Abraham Lincoln addressed a nation torn from war with a brief speech that provided hope when it was needed most.”

Seminary Ridge Museum
Seminary Ridge Museum

If you have ever considered visiting Gettysburg, this is the year to go.   Walk in Lincoln’s footsteps beginning at the historic railroad station, through the streets of town to the David Wills House and on to Soldiers’ NationalCemetery.  

GettysburgNationalMilitaryPark is the most visited of all the military parks in the United States.   With more than 6,000 acres of preserved hallowed ground, the park is a place of learning, reflection and patriotism.  With more than 1300 monuments and markers, the park has one of the largest outdoor sculpture collections in the world. 

There are nine ways to tour the park including horseback, bicycle, guided tours by bus or car and even by Segway.  Guides like Jim Pangburn know more about Gettysburg than the history books.  “I studied for five years before becoming a guide here at GettysburgNationalMilitaryPark,” says Jim.  “I’m still learning new things every day.” www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm

The Gettysburg National Military Park’s Museum and VisitorCenter – just four years old – has already welcomed millions through its doors as a starting point for the Gettysburg experience.  The museum is also home to the Gettysburg Cyclorama – a 377 feet by 42 feet circular oil painting – serving as a vivid memorial to the soldiers who took part in Pickett’s Charge. www.gettysburgfoundation.org

Picture 049
Tennessee Monument in Gettysburg National Military Park

The jewel in the crown of Gettysburg’s 150th Anniversary observation of the Civil War’s most famous battle is the opening of the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum on July 1, 2013.  The museum will occupy 20,000 square feet on four floors of the renovated Schmucker Hall on the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg campus.  Visitors will be able to explore history where it happened, walk halls where wounded soldiers suffered, experience General Buford’s view from the Seminary cupola and stand where many on both sides lost their lives. 

The museums main exhibit – Voices of Duty and Devotion – begins on the 4th floor with the story of the fighting on Seminary Ridge on July 1, 1863.  Pledging “we have come to stay,” outnumbered Union troops fought to hold back Confederate forces as reinforcements from both armies continued to arrive.   The staggering losses on both sides left the wounded and dying to seek shelter in the Seminary building.  The 3rd floor depicts what happened within the walls of Schmucker Hall as it became one of the largest field hospitals in Gettysburg.

Exhibits on the 2nd floor provide a context for understanding the moral and intellectual struggles that led to the Civil War over issues that divided a nation. The exhibits offer an opportunity to explore how a county on the Mason Dixon line experienced civil strife and moral struggles involved religious debates, anti-slavery activities, the Underground Railroad and the role of the African American community.  www.seminaryridge.org

Picture 041
Remembrance Day Parade (someone has to shovel!)

Gettysburg is looking forward to the 150th Commemoration, but there is another side to Gettysburg that has nothing to do with history. 

This is Apple Country with over 20,000 acres of apple, peach and pear trees.  Each spring the countryside blossoms with thousands of apple blossoms as the community hosts the Annual Apple Blossom Festival.  http://www.appleblossomfestival.info/

This year marks the 66th year of the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival.  Dozens of musicians come together on stage for fours days of music, workshops food and good times.  http://www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/festival/

Gettysburg also has a growing wine industry and has produced several varieties of award-winning wines.  The Gettysburg Wine and Fruit Trail combines visits to the renowned vineyards and orchards throughout the scenic countryside.  http://www.gettysburgtravel.com/

Remembrance night in Soldier's National Cemetery
Remembrance night in Soldier’s National Cemetery

Whether you visit for the history or any of the other activities Gettysburg has to offer, you will leave knowing this is a very special place.   

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.

 

 

 

 

May, 2013 – Street-Smart Education of a Curmudgeon

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May, 2013 – Street-Smart Education of a Curmudgeon

Cantankerously Yourswendell-abern-cantank-yours

Street-Smart Education of a Curmudgeon

By Wendell Abern

Dear Inquisitors,

       Recently, when I read a cantankerous column to my writers group, my young friend Sam pointed out that I always pick on women when unleashing my curmudgeonly wrath. Taking great umbrage at such an accusation, I reviewed many previous columns … and discovered he was right.     

       I hate it when that happens.

       Sam, thinking back over my life, I know exactly why I don’t confront men the same  way I do women. It’s all because of Donald Gray — and the events leading up to meeting him.                                                           

                                                            *           *           *

       I was always The New Kid.  I went to eleven different grammar schools in seven different Midwestern towns before I entered fifth grade in Chicago. 

In those days, it was traditional for the new kid to have a fight with the bully in his class.  I learned something from each fight. Such encounters lurk in my subconscious even today. I won’t recount all of them here; only those which illustrate how we grow up, but never really get away.

       Fargo, North Dakota. Second school, first grade. Age six.

       My playground baptism. Recess.  The pumpkin-faced, bowlegged bully, accompanied by an entourage of three, stepped in front of me as I headed toward the swings.

       “You’re the new kid.” Not a question; an accusation.

       “Yeah.”

       “What’s your name?”

       “Wendell.”

       “C’mon, what’s your name?”

       “I said. Wendell.”

       “Nobody’s called Wendell.” He turned to his minions. “You ever heard anyone called that?” Head shakes. Denials. Shrugs.

       “New kid doesn’t want to give us his name.”

       I noted the shift from singular to plural as the bully jumped forward and wrapped his arms around my neck. We wrestled. Fell on the ground. No big deal. “My friends call me ‘Dendy,'” I grunted.

       “‘At’s better,” he said, and helped me up.

       Fargo lesson:  Beware of questions; any answer provoke a fight.

       Omaha, Nebraska. Sixth school (second one in Omaha).Third grade.Age eight.

       Recess.  I really hated recess. 

       Bully had buck teeth, only one lieutenant.

       “You’re the new kid. You sit in front of me.”

       “Well, I’m new at this school, but not new to Omaha.”

       “Oh. What school you been at before here?”

       A light went on! Keep ’em talking!

       “Roosevelt Elementary. Awful school. Teacher looked like a cowpie.”

       Chuckles. 

       “Whaddaya think Mrs. McGillicuddy looks like?”

       “John Wayne.”

       Laughs. Back-slaps. Handshakes. No fight!

       Omaha lesson:  Use your mouth as a weapon!  Make ’em laugh! 

       Minneapolis, Minnesota.Ninth school.Fourth grade. Age nine.

       Tried to convince my new teacher I was allergic to the schoolyard gravel, and couldn’t go outside at recess. She said I needed a note from a doctor. 

       I slinked out after everyone else.  Bully, with cruel mouth and at least ten lackeys, waiting for me.

       “Who’re you?  I never seen you before.”

       Humor.  I needed humor.  I had just read a book on dinosaurs.

       “Just started here today.  My name is Terry.  Terry Dactyl.”

       “‘Zat Eye-talian?”

       Clearly, the bully knew nothing about dinosaurs.  

       “Actually, it’s Romanian,” I said.

       “Sounds Eye-talian.”

       Bad. Very bad. The year was 1943. We were at war, and Italy was an enemy.  Think!  Think!

       “Romanian,” I said.  “Both my parents.  But my dad says his mother-in-law — she’s my grandma — was created in a lab.”

       Chuckles.  Keep ’em laughing!

       “When grandma came to dinner last week and I called her Frankenstein, my dad almost choked on his soup.”

       Laughs. I asked if they had a softball team. The bully asked what position I played, said they needed a shortstop. 

       “‘At’s my position!” I said, even though I’d never played anything but the outfield. No fight.

       Minneapolis lesson:  Humor, yes. But always have another idea ready, just in case..

       Chicago, Twelfth (and final) grammar school. Fifth grade.  Age ten.

       My first day. Burt, the guy sitting next to me said, “I wanta tell you somethin’, but don’t look.  Kid in the back o’ your row.  Don’ look, I said!  Name is Donald Gray. He’s starin’ atcha. He’s gonna look for ya at recess.”

       “Why?”

       “‘Cause you’re the new kid. He always fights the new kid in whatever class he’s  in. He loves to fight ’cause he knows he can beat up anyone. Watch ‘urself.”

       “Thanks.”

       Burt was right. Donald Gray was waiting for me, accompanied by a crowd that formed a semi-circle behind him. I silently cursed whoever had invented recess.

       “So,” he said,  “Where’dja come from?”

       “Bismarck, Fargo twice. Pierre, Omaha twice. Duluth and Minneapolis.”

       “Yeah.  Not funny.”

       “Listen,” I said.  “I understand you wanta have a fight.  But see, I just got over a hernia operation, so we’ll hafta wait a coupla weeks.”

       I was trying to conjure up another idea when Donald Gray hit me. He hit me with a roundhouse left, and with a fist that made a large “thwack” sound against my face. No one had ever hit me in the face.  I literally saw stars.

       I woke up in the nurse’s office; she was applying a horrid-smelling rag to my nose, which I later discovered was ammonia. I was sent home for the day. Two weeks later, after many similar incidents, Donald Gray was sent to a reform school.

       Chicago lesson: If you’re going to use your mouth as a weapon, do it with girls, not boys.

                                                            *           *           *          

       So you see, Sam, you live.  You learn. I blame all my confrontations with women on Donald Gray.

       Cantankerously Yours,

       Wendell Abern

Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net.

 

May, 2013 – Village Music of Wellington

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May, 2013 – Village Music of Wellington

AW Spotlight

Village Music – A Love Story and a Music Store

By Krista Martinelli

When you walk into Village Music, you might be struck by the sense of community they have built in such a short time (less than a year), the constant flow of music students and the fun that’s going on inside. People pick

Donna and Steve Willey of Village Music in Wellington, along with their dog Benji.
Donna and Steve Willey of Village Music in Wellington, along with their dog Benji.

up a guitar or a ukulele and dabble.  Kids are taking music lessons and learning different instruments. Customers are buying instruments, accessories, and sheet music.  They already have 110 students, fifteen talented music teachers and offer lessons in guitar, ukulele, piano violin, drums, trumpet, clarinet, bass, voice and synthesizer. Their students range from 4 to over-eighty years old.

It’s a very special music store, all thanks to a shared dream that owners Donna and Steve Willey had. “People really appreciate our personalized service that we give,” says Donna Willey. “We both have a real passion for music and for spreading it in the community. This is more of a way of life than a business for us.”

Recently a single Mom came into the store and bought an electric piano. Steve went to her house and put the piano together for her. They can deliver when necessary and will do whatever it takes to get music back into your life.

When it comes to lessons, they put more emphasis on the quality and requirements of the music teachers than some other music stores do.  “I’m a classically-trained pianist,” explains Donna. “All of our teachers must read music and be able to teach music theory.”

Since my 7-year-old daughter began taking uke lessons with Steve, she has really learned to play the instrument quickly and seems to thoroughly enjoy her lessons.  Right away on the day of her first lesson, she spotted a Taylor Swift guitar book and asked if they could order a Taylor Swift ukulele book.  Just about a week later, the book arrived.  So in addition to thoroughly enjoying the lessons with Steve, she is enthusiastic about the songs she practices.  As I have seen, he is always positive, always funny and continues to make it fun!  (Quite a difference from the painful piano lessons I used to endure as a 15-year-old with my Romanian music teacher who tapped out the rhythm on my head and made threats about what might happen if I wasn’t ready for the recital in time).

When it comes to selling instruments, Steve says, “We try to have everything people need. And we have a special passion for the ukes here, with the best selection of ukuleles in Palm Beach County.”  If you haven’t noticed, the ukulele is becoming a very popular choice among children. (See related article about the “rise of the uke.”) If you look around Village Music, you will also find a lovely assortment of guitars, electric pianos, drums, amps, other instruments and sheet music.

Steve Willey had a store in Sturbridge, MA, a historic village, for ten years – also called Village Music.  Since opening this store in Wellington in November of 2012, they’ve been gaining momentum and spreading their joy of music. “My main focus is learning, but having fun while doing it,” says Steve. “Yes, we’re all about the fun factor,” says Donna. “With our students, we like to give them variety. If they are not enjoying an instrument, we let them switch to another instrument. It should be about the joy of music.”

If you spend any time with this terrific couple, you will hear about their one-of-a-kind love story. (And just as a disclaimer, this is much better if you hear it from Steve or Donna, along with the songs along the way that led up to their

Donna and Steve, now married after so many years of being apart.
Donna and Steve, now married after so many years of being apart. Could it be “A Simple Twist of Fate?”

wedding day). In the beginning, Steve was a young soldier, sent to Germany at the age of 22. His troop took a trip to Yugoslavia, and they were introduced to their tour guide Donna, who the men were instructed not “to touch” under any circumstances. They asked why, wondering if she was “extremely hot” or what the issue would be. Right away Steve was in awe of Donna’s beauty, but was trying to not get in trouble with the officer’s command.  Donna organized a barbecue, overlooking the cliffs of the Adriatic Sea. Steve caught a glimpse of an amazing eclipse that evening, and asked Donna to come see it.  “And then I planted a kiss on her,” he says, rather proudly.  After that, they were in love and spent every possible weekend together.  Steve got the bad news that he was being re-located to Texas, while Donna was applying to get her Master’s degree in Heidelberg, Germany. She felt that a long-distance romance would be too painful to maintain, so she ended her relationship with Steve.

Steve was beside himself and wrote the song “Donna, Sweet Donna.”  He asked an artist friend to paint a large painting – with the lyrics written onto the sky in the picture.  He mailed the song and the painting to Donna, all rolled up in a tube.  But he didn’t realize that she had moved to a different address and never received it. They moved on with their lives, each getting married and having kids.  Ultimately, neither Steve nor Donna had found the special connection or closeness that they had found with each other – and Donna was going through a divorce. Many years later in 2010, Steve looked up Donna on Facebook and found her, still living in Germany.  He sent her a quick message, including the first part of the lyrics to the song he had written for her.  She found the lyrics beautiful and explained that she had never received the song in the mail.  That was the beginning of the next chapter of their lives.

They carried on a telephone romance, sharing their favorite songs and playing music for each other (with a lot of Carole King, James Taylor and Bob Dylan in the mix) for two months. Donna had a business trip planned to the Boston area, where Steve was living. It wasn’t long before they married, just as Steve had dreamed about so many years ago (as etched into the love song he wrote for her). And they spent a year researching their next move, finding Wellington, Florida to be the perfect home for their new family and their music store.

“We love it here!” says Donna. “We have had an amazingly warm welcome from the community.” It’s a good thing they love their time at the music store, since they spend many hours there, along with Donna’s children Sophie and Jonah and even bring their adorable dog Benji too.  They recently finished construction on all six lesson rooms and are very happy to have the space to accommodate even more music students now.

 

Donna and Steve love seeing the positive effect music has on children in their overall development. For example, Steve has an autistic student taking ukulele lessons. He has to be tested on a regular basis, and his academic scores have recently doubled; his parents and doctors all attribute the positive change to the music lessons. Also, it’s always rewarding to hear parents report back that their kids have more self-confidence, thanks to the music lessons. Numerous studies show that taking music lessons increases a child’s abilities in math and science.

This summer Village Music offers Summer Music Camp: Instrument Exploration from July 22nd to July 26th, 9am to 3pm each day. “The whole idea is to expose kids to the whole range of instrument groups, learning about two new instruments per day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon,” says Donna. The camp will combine music theory with hands-on practice. Those students who register in May can avoid paying the $25 registration fee.  See the Village Music website for details.

As for their musical backgrounds, Donna started playing piano at age seven and went onto to train at the New England Conservatory in Boston, dabbling in other instruments along the way. She also has an M.B.A., which comes in handy with running a music store. Currently, Donna is a doctoral candidate in the subject of Moral Philosophy. Donna and Steve complement each other with the “best of both worlds” – classical music and band music.

Steve started playing drums at age fifteen, but then broke his hand playing softball.  He picked up the guitar, played and sang in bands in the army, and started writing songs too.  He was in a band called Shades of Grey in Massachusetts.  And these days he plays every other Saturday night at Backstreet’s in Wellington at 7pm.  “I like to keep things fun!  You never know who your next student is going to be,” he says. He taught a young guitar player named Joel Crouse, who is now the opening act for Taylor Swift on her Northeastern tour of the country.

Steve and Donna are very happy with the music teachers they are working with – including a jazz pianist, a BerkleeCollege music grad with a N.Y.U. Master’s degree, a violinist, a flamenco guitar player and many others. Now that more practice rooms are recently finished, they are on the lookout for more talented teachers too.

Village Music is a wonderful place to find an instrument, learn a new instrument or just enjoy the ambiance of this warm-hearted shop.  Stop by and indulge yourself in music – located in the Fresh Market plaza on Forest Hill Boulevard in Wellington.

 

Village Music

10660 W. Forest Hill Blvd. #150

(Between Fresh Market and Joey’s Outback)

Wellington, FL 33414

(561) 798-5334

www.villagemusicwellington.com

Open Monday thru Saturday

May, 2013 – Our Favorite Babysitter

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May, 2013 – Our Favorite Babysitter

Mommy Moments


Our Favorite Babysitter

By Krista Martinelli

A few months ago a new family moved into our neighborhood, just a few doors down. We were blessed to have three terrific kids join our neighborhood – a 13-year-old girl, an 8-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy.  But today, for the sake of this story, I want to focus on the virtues of Katie, the 13-year-old. Some teenagers might be wrapped up in their own lives, phone calls or drama, but not this one. She embraced the younger kids in the neighborhood and immediately started interacting with them. I noticed that my job, as a mother, got easier on one of the first days that she gathered all of the littler kids in our neighborhood to do arts and crafts.  There have been many craft projects and other activities since then, all coordinated by her. She listens to what each kid has to say and incorporates their ideas into whatever project they are working on.

These days when her car arrives home from school, the younger kidsKatieSt (including my 7 and 6 year olds) are watching and waiting for her.  If all of her homework is done, she will begin playing with them right away.  If she still has homework, she gives them an estimate of when she’ll be ready to play.  The kids go through phases of what they are interested in and for a while, it was American Girl Dolls.  They were into a phase of making clothing and accessories for their dolls.  One day Katie announced, “I can teach you how to make wheelchairs for your American Girl Dolls…I just need some cardboard and some fabric.” It made me smile to see that every girl wanted to make a wheel chair right away for their doll, without a second thought. No one questioned this or asked, “Why would my doll be in a wheel chair?”  So the craft project of the day was making a disability a “cool thing” among a bunch of young, impressionable minds.  I loved this, as it might open their minds to be even more understanding when it comes to facing disabilities or interacting to other people with disabilities.

rainbowbracelets
The rainbow bracelets. a very popular craft in our neighborhood

One of the next big projects was the rubber band bracelets made with the rainbow loom. If you have a young girl in your house, you probably know about this craze which is still going strong. In fact, my neighbor stood in line all day recently at Learning Express in Wellington (in a line of over 100 people) to get the rainbow looms and related rubber bands.  Katie and her sister introduced the rubber band bracelet to the younger kids.  “I can show you how to make this one,” she offered. She went on to show the kids how to make the rhombus, the raindrop and many other designs, using YouTube videos and hands-on demonstrations.  The best thing of all is that she is always inclusive and never exclusive toward others. Everyone gets a turn at the loom, for example, from the youngest to the oldest. Even though I am in my 40’s as one of the older Moms on our block, somehow this 13-year-old girl has more patience than I do.

Katie and her sister are fond of making fun music videos, all with special effects and editing in the form of apps on Katie’s phone.  They are well-versed in some basics of Internet safety, luckily, and never share their last name, school name or address in any of the videos that they post on their own YouTube channel.  The kids have spent many afternoons starring in cute music videos, choreographed by Katie.  This is possibly their favorite activity so far.  And who doesn’t want to be a star?  And then get to see the video re-played over and over again?  Everyone who is hanging around gets a role in the video. Again, it’s always about including everyone, which, as a mother, I love to see.

So my kids’ ears perked up when Katie offered one day, “Did you know that I’m a Red Cross certified babysitter and I’m trained in CPR?”  From that day forward, my kids began begging to have Katie as a babysitter.  At first I was a bit concerned about a 13-year-old babysitter, but we decided that with her mother just 3 doors down, it would be safe.  Katie knows our kids so well and engages them so well in activities, she would probably be better than any other babysitter they could possibly have.  So on a recent Saturday night, we went out on a rare “date night.”  The kids were over-the-top with excitement to have Katie as their babysitter.

She arrived with all the trimmings for a great and magical evening, Mary Poppins-style.  “I brought popcorn for later.  And I brought my own pajamas, so we can have a pajama party!” she said.  “And I brought Orbeez.”  She added, “Oh, and I brought Band-Aids, just in case.”  By the way, bringing her own pajamas was an inspired idea, because it might be awkward otherwise – since they are used to playing together as friends. This way they would all be equal and all in their pajamas at the same time.  She also brought her iPhone, of course, and consulted the kids on what kind of music video they wanted to make.  My husband and I headed out the door without anyone complaining or even noticing that we were leaving.  Our son and daughter were in good hands and happy to see us leave, so the party could begin!

In the middle of our dinner, I got a text from Katie.  It was more than a text.  It was a beginning of a music video that they had started to work on to one of my daughter’s favorite songs, “22” by Taylor Swift.  Lots of crazy backwards and fast-motion special effects.  Very cute indeed!  And on the way home from the short plays that we saw, we received the finished video.  It was nice knowing that the kids had a wonderful time and nice seeing what they were up to while we were away.  Here’s the video (below).  Thank you, Katie, for being such a wonderful girl!  If all 13-year-olds were like you, the world would be a better place; there would be no bullying. And every kid would be listened to and every kid would be a star, starring in their own video to their favorite song!

Or just click on this link: http://youtu.be/yHQ29-Z9NtM

Hey Kids!  Did you know that Mother’s Day is May 12th this year?  How about breakfast in bed for your Mom?  She would love it!  😉 

A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them. Victor Hugo

May, 2013 – Doves

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Doves

no one will ever
know this
about my life.
no one,
except You

from the outside
looking in,
no one
could possibly
understand, US

You were my gift
in this life-

I hold your heart
safe within me,
for the rest of my days-
still pure as white snow
where no one
will ever tarnish
this sweet love….

this love that I will
cherish and honour
forever….

…wherever you are,
I am.

Copyright ©2006

Adryan Rotica

May, 2013 – Create, Inspire, Mentor

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May, 2013 – Create, Inspire, Mentor

Cultural Corner


Create, Inspire, Mentor

By Lori Baumel

 

Wire Wrapped Amethyst. Created and photographed by Lori Hope Baumel, © 2013.
Wire Wrapped Amethyst.
Created and photographed by Lori Hope Baumel, © 2013.

Do you find yourself in perpetual motion and feel that there’s no time for personal growth? Are there things that you want to learn but never have the time? As “season” winds down here in Wellington it is time to start thinking about the late spring and summer months and how you will enrich those rainy Florida afternoons.

I often look at this time of year as an opportunity for personal development and hope I can encourage you to do the same. In the past few years, I have cultivated my interests by taking a few jewelry making and photography classes. For example, a combination of both interests is depicted in the photo above. I gave the wire-wrapped amethyst to a friend as a gift, but I’ll always have the photo!

I took two classes on “wire wrapping” at one of the local bead shops. Thereafter, I picked up some jewelry making books and magazines at Barnes and Noble and I have been creating unique jewelry ever since. YouTube is also an excellent resource to hone any artistic technique. Admittedly, the videos are often amateur but informative. In addition, I’ve been able to develop my photographic skills by taking courses at the Palm Beach Photographic Center.

If you do not have the time to pursue creative skills in a classroom environment, I would highly recommend the website Lynda.com. They offer many free courses to give you a sense of what their videos have to offer.  If you enjoy the site, for a small monthly fee, Lynda.com provides unlimited access to over 1700 video courses in 140 specialties including photography, web design, business software and more. 

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Live… Go… Do!

Top Five List for May 2013

 

1) Experience: UBUNTU – Performed by the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches

Kravis Center, May 19th at 7 PM

 2 UBUNTU

  “An award-winning, world-class troupe of youth singers who have performed at LincolnCenter and at international music festivals in Salzburg and Vienna, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches is comprised of more than 350 talented youth in grades 3-12 from all parts of Palm BeachCounty. Ubuntu celebrates Young Singers of the Palm Beaches’ milestone 10th anniversary.

At a time in our country when even our neighbors might be strangers, Ubuntu is a South African concept illustrating the connectivity of humanity. The performance will be highlighted by an original song of the same name and world premiered at the concert.” – KravisCenter press release

The Young Singers of the Palm Beaches (YSPB) has provided an absolutely incredible choral program since its inception ten years ago. Two of my children were vocalists in this organization and I know for a fact that their concerts are awe-inspiring. YSPB’s credo is “Teaching life skills through music.” Many music professionals in the tri-county area have enrolled their children in this choral organization. YSPB has programs for ages eight to eighteen. Auditions for the 2013/2014 season will be held on June 1st, 2013. For audition information go to:

www.yspb.org

YSPB is a privately run, non-profit organization. Tuition fees are charged. Financial aid applications are available on the website.

“Young Singers brings together children from all the diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds of Palm BeachCounty in a positive, nurturing, and safe environment to experience and participate together in many different kinds of choral music, while learning about each other.” – YSPB press release

2) See: Doris Duke’s Shangri La: Architecture, Landscape, and Islamic Art

Photo: Tim Street-Porter
Photo: Tim Street-Porter

 

 

If you’re interested in Islamic art, decorating or visiting a tropical paradise, then this exhibit is worth perusing for an hour or so.  I created a slideshow especially for our AW readers to experience a virtual tour of the exhibit at the NortonMuseum. Perhaps it will interest you in seeing it for yourself. The exhibit ends July 14, 2013.

 Or see the video at: http://youtu.be/0EndNrgPu7Q

3) Go: Art in Public Places

 

4 Art in Public Places 

 For more information call 561-791-4000.  For list of locations and to see the artist brochure go to: http://www.wellingtonfl.gov/community/attractions/parks-a-recreation/art-in-public-places.html  

4) Read: (Well, sort-of) an Audio Book

I’m an avid fan of the website www.audible.com. It is excellent entertainment for those who love to multitask. Every month I purchase an audio book from the site. This month’s audiobook recommendation:

Bossypants, read by the author, Tina Fey

Whether I’m at the gym, driving (using my iPhone’s Bluetooth connection), unloading the dishwasher or even folding laundry, I find myself laughing out loud.

5) Wow! Have you checked out the cool new resources at the library lately?

Those card catalogue days are long gone. Yes, you can still go and check out books, but now the library offers videos, free great music downloads, e-books, audio books and more. This URL alone could keep you enriched all summer long. All you need is a library card linked to your email address to get you started.

See: http://www.pbclibrary.org/

 

Plan Ahead:

 

The Kravis on Broadway 2013-2014 season has been announced! Whether you purchase a series subscription or simply opt for one or two shows, the Broadway series has proven to provide entertainment for all ages. Although I can’t give you a critique of shows in advance of the season, what I can offer is a wonderful sneak peak video of what’s to come. See:

http://www.kravis.org/broadway

 Over the years, I have found the touring shows to be a great introduction to the theater for my older children. Admittedly, I go to New York once or twice a year to experience as much theater as I can. I was absolutely blown away by the production of War Horse at Lincoln Center. If the Broadway Series version is even half as good as it was in NYC, the outstanding puppetry alone is worth examining.

Helpful Hint: If you want to see a review of a touring show, you can Google the “name of the show” + “touring company” + “review” and see what comes up. Most touring shows will have some type of critique by September 2013. Perhaps a review of an “out of town” performance can guide your decision.

Summer Youth Program:

The Lake Worth Playhouse summer theater camp program has a fine reputation for teaching the skills involved in a live theater production experience. For more information see:

http://www.lakeworthplayhouse.org/summer_camps.html

 – Lori Hope Baumel

 ******

 
Lori BaumelLori 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.

 

 

May, 2013 – Foodie Paradise…Flavors

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May, 2013 – Foodie Paradise…Flavors

The Florida Foodiesaucysarah

Foodie Paradise: Flavors of Wellington

By Saucy Sarah

Celebrating its 10th year, the Flavors of Wellington Food and Wine Festival, held this year on April 5th, called to all the foodies of Palm BeachCounty. I was excited to have the opportunity to attend the fest this year, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A beautiful venue overflowing with food, wine, and music; what more could this grub-loving gal ask for? The Flavors of Wellington offers a chance to sample tasty morsels from a dizzying array of Wellington restaurants . Though the festival has concluded, the night was a grand opportunity to investigate many restaurants at one time and I’d like to share the highlights of my night.

DSC_0719What took me by surprise – Carrabba’s Italian Grill’s lobster ravioli was sweet and succulent. I usually avoid ordering lobster ravioli because I am always disappointed in it, but Carrabba’s was enlightening, served with a light creamy sauce. Though a chain restaurant, Carrabba’s consistently impresses me with the quality of their food.

The Breaker’s Resort booth offered up a delicious composed salad consisting of a steamed, butterflied shrimp atop a sushi-style rice ball, dressed with a Wasabi cream sauce and toasted black sesame seeds. It was reminiscent of a deconstructed sushi roll and tingled the taste buds. The Breaker’s resort offers a wealth of dining options that are open to the public. I suggest going for lunch or dinner sometime. A few hours on property feels like a mini-vacation.

DSC_0728

Joseph’s Market passed out selections of impressive Italian favorites. Most Italian food is heavy and the tomato sauce, bitter. I thoroughly enjoyed their meatball and rolled manicotti; both were light and flavorful with a fresh-tasting tomato sauce. Joseph’s is a great place to stop in and pick up a hot dinner or some cold salads to-go from their beautiful display cases. It is a great alternative to the drive-thru.

 

The Welli Deli handed out some yummy Thanksgiving sandwiches, complete with turkey and cranberry sauce on a nice ciabatta bun. The turkey was fresh roasted and the bright notes from the cranberry jelly compliment the sandwich perfectly. The Welli Deli is a great lunch spot or for catering large functions.

For desserts, the Fresh Market offered up some beautiful two-bite fruit tarts. Made with a cookie crust and lined with a painting of chocolate, the custard was cool and creamy and the fruits were juicy and ripe. The Buca Di Beppo booth passed out samples of their creamy and rich tiramisu. I normally am not a big fan of tiramisu, but Buca Di Beppo’s was rich and yet light. I enjoyed eating it.

DSC_0732

Next year, I recommend getting your tickets early for The Flavors of Wellington and spend the evening sampling delicious food to your heart’s content. Until then, try out one of these restaurant highlights of the evening. You won’t be disappointed.

*****

Here are the “Winners” of the evening, as selected by the Flavors panel of judges. Congratulations to our “winners” of the Evening-  Carrabbas Italian Grill -“Best Taste”, The Cookin’ Yogi – “Best Plate Presentation”,  Breakers West Country Club  – “Best Display” and Johnson’s Custom Cakes  –“Best Dessert.” The Wellington Chamber is thankful to all of the fantastic showcase vendors; Anthony Paul, BIBA NY, Breakers West Country Club, Buca Di Beppo, Carrabbas Italian Grill,  Chick-Fil- A, Dunkin Donuts, Field of Greens, Fresh Wear,  The Fresh Market, Hurricane Grill and Wings, India Grill and Bar, Johnson’s Custom Cakes, Joseph’s Classic Market, McDonalds, Napolitano Cucina, PRP Wine International, Short Stacks, Starbucks, TCBY,  The Cookin Yogi,  The Diner of Palm Beach,  Universal Living Sprouts, WelliDeli, White Horse Catering, Whole Foods Market and WineHooch and all of her delicious winery partners!  If you have not visited any of these establishments in the past- PLEASE make it a point to stop in and try them out!  Each can be found in the Wellington Chamber’s NEW DINING GUIDE www.flavorswellington.com.  Each one offers a unique flair and why go anywhere else when we have so many exceptional choices right here in Wellington!  Plus you will be supporting our local economy!

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.”

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