Monday, June 30, 2025
Home Blog Page 83

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League Shares the Importance of TNVR

And how to help this “Kitten Season”

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (March 27, 2024): Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League takes care of hundreds of animals at any given time, and now that it is “Kitten Season,” the leading animal organization in Palm Beach County is sharing the importance of TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) as an effective solution to help control the population of outdoor cats.

During the spring and summer months, female outdoor cats experience their breeding cycle, resulting in litters of kittens. This phase is known as “Kitten Season,” and it lasts for more than half of the year. Female cats that roam freely outdoors can sometimes give birth to multiple litters in one season, which can put a significant strain on the time, money, and resources required for around-the-clock care. To address this issue, there’s a program called TNVR, which stands for Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return. In this program, community cats are humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and then released back to their outdoor homes.

“TNVR is an extremely effective method,” explained Alyssa Dazza, Admissions & TNVR Manager, “It works by immediately stabilizing the cat colony’s size by eliminating new litters. This reduces nuisance behaviors such as yowling, fighting, and marking territories with urine. Returning the cat to its original location prevents new intact cats from moving in and restarting the cycle of overpopulation. As a result, it helps reduce the number of kittens and cats flowing into local shelters, which in turn lowers euthanasia rates and increases the adoption of cats already in animal shelters.”

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League offers residents of Palm Beach County free trap loans with a refundable deposit during our hours of operation for TNVR. Peggy Adams loaned out over 1,800 humane traps in 2023 and has a goal of 2,000 in 2024.

NOTE: Palm Beach County Ordinance 98-22 forbids trapping cats for any other reason than for TNVR or vet care.  To learn more, visit peggyadams.org/tnvr

Peggy Adams also reminds the community that if you find a litter of kittens, your first reaction might be to bring them to your local animal shelter. But chances are, their mother is close by – and you may actually be “kit-napping” them.  Once newborns are separated from their mother, their chances of survival drop dramatically. Check out these resources at peggyadams.org/found-kitten-resources before determining how to intervene when finding kittens.

Currently, Peggy Adams has neonatal kittens who require foster care. As a neonatal kitten foster, you would take on the responsibility of bottle-feeding some of our smallest orphaned residents every few hours during their critical first few weeks of life. Peggy Adams will provide volunteers with comprehensive training, essential supplies, and ongoing support, and in return, you shower them with love! If you or someone you know would like to help care for a neonatal foster or learn more, visit peggyadams.org/foster.

About Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League:

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is an independent nonprofit organization operating continuously since 1925. Peggy Adams provides critical services to more than 35,000 animals each year and collaborates with local area organizations to expand the lifesaving work in Palm Beach County.

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity navigator. For more information and to donate, please visit PeggyAdams.org

###

Community Wellness Hub: The Essential Role of Small Businesses

By Diane Harrison

Small businesses are the cornerstone of local communities, offering more than just economic benefits. They are pivotal in creating jobs, engaging with the community, and fostering an environment conducive to health and wellness for individuals and families alike. The vitality of these enterprises extends far beyond mere financial gains, touching every facet of community life and promoting a cohesive, healthy atmosphere. In this article, Around Wellington will explore the broad spectrum of advantages that small businesses contribute to community health and wellness.

Launching a Local Business to Serve the Community

First things first—when considering starting a business to support your community’s health and wellness, it’s crucial to assess your locality’s specific needs. Researching demand and service gaps can help determine the right business to establish. Once decided, forming an LLC offers essential liability protection, shielding personal assets from business liabilities. Substantial legal fees can be avoided by filing independently or utilizing a formation service. Still, you must familiarize yourself with the regulations governing the formation of an LLC Florida beforehand.

Empowering Communities Through Job Creation

Small businesses are vital engines of job creation, directly influencing the economic stability and well-being of families within the community. These enterprises offer valuable employment opportunities, supporting local economies and ensuring communities maintain their vibrancy and resilience. By fostering an environment where entrepreneurship flourishes, small businesses play a crucial role in promoting local economic health and preventing the flight of talent to other areas.

Promoting Health

Small businesses frequently lead community health efforts by partnering with local health organizations for awareness and fundraising events. These collaborations underscore the community’s unity and ability to make a collective impact. Small businesses demonstrate their essential role in enhancing community well-being and vitality by supporting health initiatives.

Fueling the Local Economy

Small businesses have significant ripple effects, bolstering a vibrant local economy through their activities. By keeping money circulating within the community, they support each other and local services and vendors, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem. This continuous circulation of funds sustains the community’s economic vitality, ultimately benefiting all its residents.

Securing Affordable Housing

The presence of small businesses has a stabilizing effect on housing costs, thanks to the employment opportunities they generate. A strong local economy, fueled by these businesses, makes housing more attainable and prevents the displacement of community members. By contributing to the financial well-being of the area, small businesses play a direct role in ensuring that housing remains accessible to a broader segment of the population.

Creating Spaces for Safety and Inclusion

Small businesses are vital in creating safe and inclusive spaces within our communities. By strategically selecting locations with a high walk score, you ensure accessibility and encourage community members to engage in active lifestyles. Beyond mere commerce, they provide gathering spots where individuals can connect, socialize, and find support, significantly enhancing mental health and overall well-being. In nurturing these environments, small businesses become integral pillars of communal support, enriching the social fabric and offering a haven for camaraderie and connection.

Fostering Community Spirit

Engagement in local events, sponsorships, and volunteerism is another avenue through which small businesses enrich community life. Their active participation helps cultivate a strong sense of belonging and community spirit, which is vital for a healthy, cohesive society. By investing in the community, small businesses reinforce their commitment to their neighbors’ collective well-being and prosperity.

Advancing Environmental Stewardship

Small businesses play a crucial role in environmental sustainability efforts by implementing practices that decrease their carbon footprint and support a healthier planet. By selecting convenient locations, reducing waste, and backing eco-friendly initiatives, these businesses showcase a dedication to environmental stewardship that influences the entire community. Their commitment to sustainability benefits the environment and fosters a sense of responsibility and consciousness among consumers and neighboring businesses.

The impact of small businesses on community health and wellness cannot be overstated. From bolstering the local economy and providing employment to fostering safe spaces and environmental responsibility, these enterprises are central to creating vibrant, healthy communities. Supporting small businesses goes beyond an economic decision; it’s an investment in the community’s collective well-being and future prosperity, ensuring that it remains a place where health and wellness can flourish for all.

***

I’m Diane Harrison, a former librarian of 15 years turned non-profit marketing guru. Although I’m no longer a librarian and have switched career gears completely, I’ve combined my passion for helping others as well as my writing and researching skills to provide you with a site I hope you can use to gather helpful health information.

Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Workship Program Celebrates Four Million Volunteer Hours

0

West Palm Beach, Fla., USA (March 25, 2024) — This spring, Palm Beach Atlantic University’s (PBA) distinct community service program, Workship, reached four million hours served. Workship, started in 1968 by PBA’s founder, Dr. Jess Moody, and his wife, Doris, and has been a pillar of the university in its five decades of existence. On Wednesday, April 10, PBA will celebrate the milestone with a day of activities beginning with a chapel service at Family Church Downtown at 11 a.m.

“This is an incredible milestone for our university,” said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, president of PBA. “I am extremely humbled to lead a university that is committed to molding leaders who navigate with purpose by leading with conviction and serving God boldly. Our Workship program embodies the essence of this mission, offering our students a unique platform to not only practice servant leadership but also to immerse themselves in value-based leadership within their prospective careers. It opens their eyes to the immediate needs of individuals and families within our community, instilling in them the imperative to contribute positively and effectively, wherever their professional journeys may take them.”

The program combines community service and worship and allows students to give back to the West Palm Beach community and beyond. Each undergraduate student is required to volunteer at least 45 hours each academic year at nonprofit agencies, churches and schools.

Workship brings biblical values into the community, and students have served in countless ways over the years. Whether it is through tutoring elementary and middle school students, helping with hurricane recovery efforts, partnering with Urban Youth Impact to serve inner city youth, volunteering at the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital Foundation, or packing meals and mentoring children, Workship provides students the unique opportunity to get involved in the community.

Workship has partnered with over 200 organizations across Palm Beach County alone, creating meaningful opportunities to support the local community. Most recently, the university teamed up with the Jewish Federation to organize 18 community service projects across Palm Beach County on MLK Day. Students, faculty and friends of PBA served nearly 2,000 hours in just one day.

“It’s truly remarkable to see Palm Beach Atlantic University students, faculty, staff and alumni reaching such an impressive milestone of serving four million hours to the community and the world,” said Nathan Chau, Director of Workship. “Behind each of those hours lies a story of positive impact and transformation, reflecting the dedication and commitment of the university and its community. This achievement not only highlights the institution’s emphasis on community service, but it also underscores the profound influence it has had on individuals and the broader world.”

To learn more about Workship or to get involved through community service, visit pba.edu/workship.

###

About Palm Beach Atlantic University

Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The university is dedicated to the integration of biblical principles to prepare students for learning, leadership, and service. Learn more at www.pba.edu.

 NEW EXHIBITION: Artist Kip Fulbeck’s hapa.me Exhibit at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

0

Runs May 3–August 25, 2024 

DELRAY BEACH, FL – “Hapa,” a Hawaiian word meaning “half,” refers to anyone who self-identifies as part Asian or Pacific Islander. In 2001, American artist and photographer Kip Fulbeck launched The Hapa Project to put human faces, on this international community, and call attention to the millions of hapa who call the United States home. Five years later, The Hapa Project premiered at the Japanese American National Museum and featured 1,200 portraits of hapa men, women, and children accompanied by handwritten responses explaining their personal identities.   

  

From May 3 through August 25, 2024, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens will welcome Fulbeck’s subsequent hapa.me exhibition and follow-up book.  

Picking up 15 years later, this thought-provoking presentation focuses on 46 participants from the original project. Utilizing dozens of then-and-now portraits, old responses, and newly written ones, it not only captures their somatic changes but also how mixed-race issues are perceived on the world stage.  

Also, on Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to meet Kip Fulbeck in person. During the “Who Are You? The Stories Behind The Hapa Project,” the pioneering artist and curator will share stories and never-released photographs from the project along with his own experiences of being hapa with Chinese roots. The cost is free with paid museum admission.  

  

hapa.me was created and developed by Kip Fulbeck. The traveling exhibit was organized by the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California. 

For more information on the hapa.me exhibit at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, visit morikami.org/upcoming-exhibitions

  

ABOUT KIP FULBECK 

In addition to his distinguished career in art, Lawrence Keith “Kip” Fulbeckis a spoken word performer, filmmaker, and author who has written six books, including Part Asian, 100% Hapa;Perseverance: Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a ModernWorld; and Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck. Fulbeck, who is half-Chinese, has exhibited and performed in more than 20 countries and been featured on CNN, MTV, The TODAY Show, The New York Times, Voice of America, and NPR. At the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he serves as a Professor of Art, Fulbeck has received numerous academic honors, including the UCSB Academic Senate’s Distinguished Teaching Award.  

  

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org

  

Photo credit: Kip Fulbeck 

USA vs Ireland Polo

0

Photos and story by Alan Fabricant

In a match between the USA and Ireland held at the National Polo Center on St. Patrick’s Day the USA jumped out to a quick lead which only kept growing.

It was 10-0 before Ireland scored their first goal late in the fourth chucker.

The final score had the USA winning 11-3.

Felipe Viana of the USA was the game’s MVP scoring six goals.  Hope Arellano, Tommy Collingwood and Quinn Evans made up the rest of the team.

Ireland was represented by Evan Powers, Nial Donnelly, Max Hutchinson and Richard Tyrone.

There is Nothing Wrong with the Night 

0

By JM Millien

There is nothing wrong with the night 

Hearts still beat through cold or heat 

Effervescence or mundane replete 

Really nothing wrong with the night 

Erase glaring looks or kind embraces 

Idle discourse as deep as space is 

Still nothing is wrong with the night 

Whether you’re here or out of sight 

Off distant shores do we hear it (…. tonight) 

Even through light winds do we feel it (…. tonight) 

In still or turbulent air 

Now or here or anywhere 

My! Nothing is wrong with the night 

Except everything isn’t quite right (…. tonight) 

Learn about manatees at Pack & Paddle Club meeting Saturday, April 13

0

Manatee Lagoon’s conservation and education manager will speak to P&P members and visitors at Okeeheelee Nature Center.

Rachel Shanker, the conservation and education manager at Manatee Lagoon, will be the guest speaker at the Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club’s meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at the Okeeheelee Nature Center, part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33413.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for socializing starting at 1:30 p.m.

As the official Florida state marine mammal, manatees are arguably one of the most charismatic species found throughout the state’s waterways. In her talk, Rachel will tell attendees about manatees’ anatomy and behavior, threats to these gentle creatures and conservation efforts.

Manatee Lagoon, a Florida Power & Light Co. Eco-Discovery Center on North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, features interactive and entertaining exhibits that inspire curiosity about the environment and the world of manatees. These gentle giants migrate to the waterways surrounding Manatee Lagoon during the cooler months to seek warmth in the clean, warm water outflows of FPL’s adjacent Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center.



In her hybrid role, Rachel Shanker manages the educational and outreach initiatives of the center and lends her marine expertise to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in response to the alarming challenges Florida manatees are facing.

Born and raised in South Florida, Rachel earned a master of science in teaching degree from Florida Atlantic University. With a love of the study of marine ecology, she looks for new ways to engage the public in science and conservation to address environmental challenges.

For questions about the meeting, please call or text 561-312-2765.

BOO-YAH!

0

CMX Cinemas Wellington Unveils Three Movie-Themed Cocktail Pairings 

WELLINGTON, FL – CMX Cinemas Wellington at The Mall at Wellington Green will soon release two of the biggest films in March – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (premiers March 22) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (premiers March 29). 

In conjunction, guests can treat themselves to three new, limited time cocktails themed after each movie from Cask + Shaker. Channel your favorite ghostbuster with the Ghostini ($13.99), unleash your inner titan with a Blackberry Battle ($15.99), or satisfy your sweet tooth with the Marshmallow Madness ($15.99), in honor of the leviathan Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. 

Cocktails are available now through April 4.

Ghostini 

2 ounces Bacardi rum

.50 ounces DeKuyper blue curaçao

.50 ounces simple syrup

.25 ounces tangerine juice

Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker tin. Shake briskly. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange wheel.  

Blackberry Battle

1.5 ounces Espolon Blanco

.75 ounces Grand Marnier

.75 ounces Reàl blackberry infused syrup

3 ounces sour mix

Prepare a rocks glass with a black salt rim. Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker tin. Shake briskly. Strain into prepared rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a skewered blackberry.

Marshmallow Madness

 1.5 ounces Patrón Reposado

.25 ounces Cazadores Café liqueur

.50 ounces vanilla syrup

2.5 ounces cold brew concentrate

Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker tin. Shake briskly. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with a skewered toasted marshmallow.

Cocktails are specially curated and crafted by Shane Zinn, Corporate Bar Manager and General Manager of CMX CinéBistro Hyde Park Village in Tampa, Florida.

CMX Cinemas Wellington is located at The Mall at Wellington Green at 10300 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. For more information, call (561) 209-1482 or visit cmxcinemas.com/locationdetail/wellington. Photo credit: CMX Cinemas Wellington

Wellington’s Egg Hunt Returns to Village Park on Saturday, March 30th

0
The Village of Wellington Easter Egg Hunt. Photo by Carol Porter.


Get your baskets ready for Wellington’s Annual Egg Hunt! The Egg Hunt returns to the Village Park softball fields, located at 11700 Pierson Road, on Saturday, March 30th.

The event begins promptly at 10:00 a.m., and will be divided into four age groups: ages 2 and under, or those in need of special accommodations; ages 3 to 4; ages 5 to 7; and ages 8 to 10. At each egg hunt, two eggs will have a pink bunny ticket inside, indicating a special prize. Families are encouraged to arrive early as traffic congestion may occur. Remember to bring your own basket or bag to collect your eggs.

Learn more about Wellington’s Egg Hunt at www.wellingtonfl.gov/EggHunt.

Special thanks to our event sponsors, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center and Christ Fellowship Church, for their support of this great hometown event.

For more information on family-friendly events coming up in Wellington at www.wellingtonfl.gov/Events

Stay up to date on events and activities coming up in Wellington by signing up for the monthly Play Wellington Newsletter at www.wellingtonfl.gov/PlayWellington.

As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/Newsletter.

GET A TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS AT THE 6th ANNUAL CAJUN CRAWFISH & MUSIC FESTIVAL

0

ON APRIL 13 & 14 IN JUPITER LIVE CAJUN AND ZYDECO MUSIC, AUTHENTIC CAJUN FOOD, AND MORE!

The 6th Annual Cajun Crawfish & Music Festival, sponsored by Good Greek Moving & Storage, returns to Abacoa on Saturday, April 13, from 10 am – 10 pm and Sunday, April 14, from 10 am-8 pm.  This premier Cajun Crawfish and Music Festival will celebrate the culture and traditions of Louisiana through food, music, and dance!  Virginia Sinicki from The KVJ Show on 979WRMF will serve as the Master of Ceremonies throughout the weekend and bring her flair as a local who grew up in New Orleans.   

The streets of Abacoa will be filled with Mardi Gras-themed decorations and banners, with lots of purple, green, and gold.  Attendees will be transported to Bourbon Street when they arrive as the aroma of the Cajun food will be in the air. Come get a taste of “N’awlins” with authentic Cajun food featuring an expanded menu featuring a crawfish boil by Louisiana John and lots of other dishes of crawfish etouffee,’ jambalaya, Virginia’s seafood and meat gumbo, po’boys, muffalettas, fried shrimp and chicken, crab cakes, oysters, red beans and rice, and Little Smiles will be raising money by selling Cajun Crawfish Pasta by the famous award-winning chef Jim Lucas, a master boiler. There will also be beignets, sno balls, cider donuts, and more. There will be a crawfish eating contest on Saturday.

Enjoy the Bourbon Street atmosphere with classic cocktails such as Hurricanes, Grenades, and champagne hurricanes. Atoll Vodka will be giving away samples throughout the festival.  

Headlining the two-day festival on the Louisiana Travel Stage is 2022 winner- Jazz Fest a New Orleans Story Grammy Winner for Best Music Film 2022, and 2018 two-time Grammy nominee, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers. Dwayne Dopsie grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, and will perform on Saturday at 8 pm. Dwayne taught himself how to play the accordion by watching videos of his father and Clifton Chenier. The knowledge of Dwayne’s musical ability, along with his Zydeco Hellraisers band members, has over 100 years of combined experience playing Zydeco music, which shows in every performance. The energy and true talent that Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers emit from the stage makes it obvious that this band has no competition.  Currently, Dwayne Dopsie can be heard on Beyonce’s latest album.

Adding to the lineup performing on the Louisiana Travel stage are The Porchdogs, who bring their spicy accordion sounds of Louisiana with their Cajun, zydeco, and New Orleans R&B classics from New Orleans, The Rock’n Jake Band, a festival favorite. Jake is known as one of the premier harmonica players in the country. His original sound is a hybrid of second line, swamp funk, blues, and zydeco with influences from Paul Butterfield, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, The Meters, WAR, J. Geils Band, Clifton Chenier, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds; the local band, Hot Sauce Moon performing folk and Blues, and J-Bird’s Value Meal Killah and The Snack Pack (from KVJ Show) will return to the festival.

Two amazing charities will be on site all weekend at The Cajun Crawfish and Music Festival. First, we have Maddie’s Fight Foundation. They are incredible at helping families dealing with childhood cancer. Second, we have our beloved Little Smiles, which helps children go through personal or medical crises. Visit their booths to learn more about these children’s charities. They will be on-site, creating awareness of their cause and raising money.

Experience Louisiana in style, reserve a VIP stage pod with four seats near the stage with a table including cocktail service or a private VIP Chalets with eight seats and table under a tent, including cocktail service. These are available for purchase on Eventbrite.

Tickets are $5.00, and children ages 12 and younger are free. Sponsorship opportunities are available. General lawn seating will also be available for those who would like to bring their own chair or blanket to enjoy the all-day entertainment. For more information, visit www.cajuncrawfishmusicfestival.com.

About Little Smiles:

This fun-filled cultural event benefits Little Smiles. Little Smiles is a volunteer-driven, non-profit 501(c)3 children’s charity. Their mission is to help heal hearts and create little smiles by providing gifts and fun activities to children impacted by serious illness, homelessness, or tragedy. With the guidance of local professionals such as doctors, nurses, child life specialists, and social workers, they strive to help kids escape their unfortunate circumstances, even if only for a brief period of time. For more information, visit www.littlesmilesfl.org.

About Maddie’s Fight Foundation:

Founded in 2017, Maddie’s Fight Foundation is a fully licensed 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to families of children with cancer and to supporting research for Osteosarcoma treatment. Visit: www.maddiesfight.org.

Calendar Listing:

The 6th Annual Cajun Crawfish & Music Festival (benefiting Little Smiles and Maddie’s Fight Foundation) is Saturday, April 13, from 10 am – 10 pm and Sunday, April 14, from 10 am – 8 pm at Abacoa Amphitheater in Jupiter. The event is $5, and children 12 and under are free. VIP stage pod seating and Creole Cottages are available. The event will be filled with authentic Cajun food featuring an expanded menu with a crawfish boil, jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp po’boys, and live New Orleans and Cajun zydeco music. For more information, visit cajuncrawfishmusicfestival.com.