A Q&A on Taxes, Congress and Debt – The Abridged Version
By Tom Copeland
I know what you’re thinking. “Yawn” – your immediate thought process likely goes, “another article about Congress, billionaires, taxes, the economy, and blah, blah, blah!” And to be perfectly honest, I would agree with you, if it weren’t for one simple fact – as a country, we’re on the verge of making history.
That’s if we haven’t already. Deadlocked Congressional bobble-heads broke their deadlocks earlier this month to come together and agree on a bipartisan bill that raises our federal debt ceiling, with the only result being that Standard and Poor’s downgraded U.S. creditworthiness for its debt from AAA to AA+ for the first time in the nation’s history.* Need a refresher?
About 10 months ago, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told the world that the U.S. would be hitting its “debt ceiling” limit around August of 2011, a mostly arbitrary legal number that caps the amount of money the federal government can borrow. He urged Congress then to raise that limit in order to keep the government humming, printing payroll, social security, and Medicare checks and funding other day-to-day operations.
What does our debt have to do with paying bills?
The government pays its monthly bills with that debt. The country is running on what is basically a perpetual line of credit. We print up money that is owned by the investors of America – institutional investment funds, individual investors, foreign investors, and of course, the U.S. itself. China sovereign wealth funds own about 35% of outstanding U.S. treasury securities, i.e. America’s debt, while the rest is mostly owned by the U.S. and U.S. investors.
That sounds bad. Why do we have so much debt?
The short answer is that in the last decade, the country has suffered two major recessions lead by economic bust; Americans have been borrowing way more than they make; and we started two major wars on credit. Plus, federal interest rates have remained at a record low since 2000.
The bigger-picture answer is that the government’s fiscal condition is cyclical; it fluctuated from running deficits to running surpluses. It may take another decade or more, but we’ll get our debt back down to manageable levels eventually, and maybe even get back to a surplus one day.
OK. So what can we do from here?
There are basically just two choices: raise taxes and cut spending by reforming social welfare programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. The problem is that both are wildly and equally unpopular with the majority of Americans.
So which one should we do?
It depends on who you ask.
Ask a Republican: Cut social welfare programs because they’re a waste of time and money, and promote tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals to encourage investment and growth. In their eyes, there’s no need to tax the rich anymore because the richest 2% of American’s already pay 62% of all taxes collected. Cut spending and taxes, period.
Ask a Democrat: Social welfare programs are the pillar our collective national decency and intrinsic compassion and responsibility. We can afford to take care of our sick and our elderly because we’re the richest, most powerful country in the world. Tax the rich, because although as a group they contribute more to overall federal tax receipts, they are taxed at a rate much lower than average Americans – only about 15% versus 35-30% – and they are paying less than their fair share in proportion.
So what’s the bottom line?
At the moment, everything’s a mess, and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel . . . yet. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
* For a helpful overview of the S&P downgrade, please see the “S & P Downgrade . . .” article by Constance Barnhart at www.HelpingYouCare.com. This article is also re-posted in our “AW Stories of the Month” section at AroundWellington.com.
Tom is a freelance web developer, professional content writer, and owner of Bullworthy, a web services firm. Tom helps small businesses create a powerful, branded presence on the web. Bullworthy specializes in building web assets using WordPress development from their West Palm Beach offices.
Despite its location on the Northeast coast of Florida, St. Augustine is not just a beach town – it is a living history lesson.The area now known as St. Augustine was first explored in 1513 by Juan Ponce de Leon who claimed the area for the Spanish crown.The area was first settled by Pedro Menendez de Aviles on August 28, 1565 – the feast day of Augustine of Hippo.Menendez’s goal was to fortify the area to protect his people and supplies.Menendez had a contract with King Phillip of Spain providing him three years to import 500 African slaves.So it was that the start of African American slavery in the United States began in St. Augustine on the day it was founded by Menendez.
St. Augustine’s history is not limited to the Spanish, in fact evidence ofnearly 500 years of American history can be seen within the 144-square block historic district including that of Spanish conquistadors, marauding pirates, defenders of a colonial empire, slaves and slave hunters, American Frontiersmen and women, Seminole Indian tribes, New York’s social elite and civil rights champions.Every chapter of America’s history is represented in this relatively small community.St. Augustine is definitely not your average beach town!
For over 30 years, Old Town Trolley Tours have provided visitors an excellent starting point for exploration of this historic community.Tour conductors narrate with a mix of information, humor and trivia.Stops on the tour include the Old Jail, St. Augustine’s History Museum and the world famous spring declared by Ponce de Leon as the Fountain of Youth.The tours are designed so that you can hop on and off for independent exploration at each stop.With 22 stops and over 100 points of interest, the trolley tours provide a comprehensive overview ofSt. Augustine’s attractions.Tickets are good for three consecutive days of exploration making the Old Town Trolley Tours an excellent value as well as an interesting and informative source of transportation during your visit.And if you are still determined to make this a beach town – shuttles are also provided to the beach!http://trolleytours.com/st-augustine/
Castillo de San Marcos
Perhaps a lesser known historical sight in St. Augustine is Fort Mose (Moe-say), the first free black settlement in the United States.History teaches us of runaway slaves seeking sanctuary in the North by way of the Underground Railway during Civil War times, but nearly a century prior many followed the Underground Railway south escaping to Spanish Florida.They were granted their freedom if they would pledge their allegiance to the King of Spain and join the Catholic Church.The Fort Mose Historical Society is committed to bringing the fascinating stories of these slaves out of our hidden history.http://www.fortmose.org/
St. Augustine is home to Flagler College, a liberal arts college named for Henry Flagler – an American tycoon, real estate developer, railroad developer and partner of John D. Rockefeller.Mr. Flagler first set his sights on historic St. Augustine in 1882 for its potential as a winter resort for the social elite in New
Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse
York.In 1887 he commissioned a New York City architectural firm to design the Ponce de Leon Hotel which now serves as a residence hall at the center of Flagler College.This architectural masterpiece was the first building in Florida to be wired with electricity – the process of which was personally assisted by Thomas Edison.Additionally, Louise Comfort Tiffany of the famed Tiffany Stained Glass created the stained glass inside the hotel.The other structures comprising the campus were created in the same architectural style as the original hotel making this a beautiful addition to St. Augustine’s attractions.
St. Augustine’s historic village known as Old City is home to America’s Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse.Constructed of red cedar and cypress and held together by wooden pegs and handmade nails, this historic structure was built over 200 years ago.It stands just inside the old city gates amidst a quaint historic village filled with artisan crafts.Old City is also home to some of St. Augustine’s finest restaurants and quaint bed and breakfasts.
Not interested in a history lesson?Remember, St. Augustine is really just a beach town complete with a lighthouse, pristine beaches and water sports of all varieties – it just happens to be where America started.http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/
Streets of Old City
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. You can contact Terri at terri.marshall60@gmail.com
(EDITOR’S NOTE:This column first appeared shortly after the 9/11 tragedy in 2001.It has run every year since, with the author’s updates.)
Dear Grandchildren Everywhere,
Today, I am writing to apologize to all of you.
Usually, I try to write humor.But I can’t today.On September 11, ten years ago, terrorists stole some airplanes and flew them into buildings, killing thousands of people.And this month, memorials throughout the country will mourn those who lost their lives.Reminders of that horrendous day make it too hard to think funny thoughts.
Instead, today I want to apologize to everyone in your generation from everyone in mine.
My generation inherited two world wars that killed millions of people.We should have learned something from those terrible wars, to make the world a better place for you.
We didn’t … and we didn’t.
And so, it would be hypocritical for me to offer any advice to you.I can, however, tell you some of the lessons we should have learned … that every generation should have learned.None ever has.I hope yours will.
We never learned the one thing that every human being on earth has in common:none of us asked to be here.We had no say in the matter at all.But once given the gift of life, no one should have the right to take it away.Yet human beings kill other human beings every day.Every hour.Every place on earth.And too often, in the name of some –ism, or –ology,
or –ocracy.
One reason for this is because of another lesson no generation has ever learned about its leaders:how to tell The Good Guys from The Bad Guys.
That is just as dumb as it sounds.But it keeps happening.Every century.And it happens because we never understand how badly we want to believe in our leaders.Our presidents, our prime ministers, our priests, our rabbis — any of our leaders.We want them to be smart, to be fair, to be honest, and to always to be right.
But our leaders are merely human beings.They make mistakes, just like we do.They are wrong sometimes, just like we are.Yet we continue to endow them with kindness, intelligence and righteousness, whether they possess such qualities or not.
Another reason we never learn how to tell the Good Guys from the Bad Guys is because history is written by the winners.
Many centuries ago, a man named Alexander led an army that conquered other countries.Some history books still refer to him as Alexander The Great.No history book tells us what he was called by the thousands of widows and orphans his marauding armies left in their wake.
If Germany had won World War II, the madman Adolph Hitler – arguably the most evil human being who ever lived – would be portrayed in today’s history books as a dynamic, righteous leader.
Because we want so badly to believe in our leaders, we seem to be willing to do anything they ask.Our leaders discovered long ago that by using the hatred of others, it is easy to galvanize us in a common cause, which almost invariably leads to mass killings.
Many in this country balked at the Vietnamese War because we didn’t understand who hated us.Conversely, if our government had declared war on Iran after zealots had kidnapped 52 Americans, everyone in the country would have backed our leaders with fervent jingoism.
My personal belief is that there is nothing as beautiful or sacred as a human life.Any human life.Yet, at some point in the history of our civilization, our leaders decided that our beliefs are more important than our lives.I’m not sure just when or why this happened, but that has never changed.
About seven thousand years ago, there were almost 27 million of us listening to a few leaders, telling us to go kill each other in the name of some-isms.
About five hundred years ago, there were now 450 million of us, still listening to a few leaders, still telling us to go kill each other in the name of some new -isms.
Today, there are more than six billion of us, still listening to a few leaders, still telling us to go kill each other… still in the name of some –isms.
When does it stop?When do we stop killing each other?
More than 150 years ago, a man by the name of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel said, “What we learn from history … is that we never learn from history.”That is just as true today.How pathetic.
And because we never learn, we keep repeating past horrors.Today, more than 60 years after the unspeakable atrocity known as The Holocaust, after a weary world swore, “Never again,” after a United Nations was created to bring peace to the whole planet, genocides continue to flourish.
Ethnic cleansing seems to occur every decade or so.As I write this, the slaughter of innocent people continues in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, all in the name of some –isms.
When will it end?
Another important lesson we never learned:don’t stop questioning just because you believe in something.We have survived on this planet because of our brains.We are not as strong or fast or agile as most other animals on earth.But we are smarter.Our brains are our most potent weapon.And we should never stop thinking.
Yet somehow we always do whenever we are told that what we believe in gives us license to kill other human beings.
Well, almost always.
Mahatma Gandhi tried mightily to bring people together with love instead of hatred.So did Martin Luther King.So have a precious few others.Unfortunately, too many leaders have discovered that hatred works better.
And finally, here is a lesson we all should have learned in kindergarten:there is only one planet that supports life.This is where we all have to live.We should be taking care of this planet.And I must admit, your generation is doing a much better job of it than mine did.Or any generation, for that matter.
I hope you can start to turn other things around also.
Most of all, I hope you can start to stop the killing.It will take many, many future generations to overcome millennia of broken alliances, shattered truces, unconscionable genocides and mass killings to stop.
But the end of the killing has to start sometime.I hope it starts with you.
I hope you can make the world a tiny bit better.And a little bit cleaner.And much safer.And that your generation, and all the generations thereafter, never has to experience another 9/11 tragedy.
I hope when you are my age, you never have to write a letter of apology to all the grandchildren in the world.
Sincerely,
Wendell Abern
Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net.
With today’s economy, many are turning to coupons to help cut their expenses. Maybe you have extra coupons that you don’t use and would like to exchange them for ones that you need. Gather as many coupons as you can from the newspaper, family, friends or neighbors and bring them to our event. Let’s save some money together!
Admission: $2 + a minimum of 50 coupons (no expired ones please)
Note: Coupons do not need to be cut out ahead of time.
Free Raffle Ticket and Free Coffee
Food will be offered by Nature’s Table (at a discount)
BYOS: Bring your own scissors!
Please e-mail us with your RSVP quickly – space is limited so hurry!
Grab your scissors and come join us for great food, fun and meet some new friends!
At the end of the exchange, all extra coupons will be donated. Feel free to bring any expired coupons you have (expired up to 3 months). Military families overseas can use expired manufacturer coupons up to 6 months passed their expiration date.
We hope to see you soon!
We will accept the RSVP’s on a first come, first served basis. We will e-mail you with a number. Please bring a print-out of our response with your number to the event. If you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible so we can fill your spot.Contact Shawn Thompson shawn.srt@gmail.com or Krista Martinelli at AroundWellington.com – (561) 965-6617 / aroundwellington@earthlink.net to RSVP.
In a few days, I’m leaving my 2 boys in your school’s caring hands.I’ll let you know they are energetic, inquisitive and comedians- each in their own right.Since they’re only a grade apart, they may want to check in on each other since they are also best friends and playmates.
I respectfully ask that they be kept busy with a variety of teaching methods.One medium that I hope you ban is the use of movies.I may be old-fashioned or not “with-it,” but I feel it isn’t in the children’s best interest. According to the teacher, the movies were a reward for good behavior.Pocahontas II – Journey to a New World, Shrek and even, Charlotte’s Web and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle were the movies shown this past year.The first two movies are rated PG – meaning parental guidance is suggested.
These ratings indicate some material that may not be suitable for children.This was particularly the case as my first grader who had nightmares from the violent gun battles.The other issue I have with Pocahontas is the movie isn’t historically accurate and creates confusion as to the true account of Pocahontas. Shrek, has a lot adult innuendo and little educational value.The other movies based on books became a contentious issue in our house.Suddenly, having seen the movies was the equivalent of reading it.It took a long conversation about the differences between movies and reading the story to find cooperation reading the book. The types of films that I saw when I was in grade school were reel-to reel shows on underwater life or insects-basically natural sciences.If there’s any time to be spent sitting in front of a TV, I’d rather they be purely non-fiction and tied to the subject taught in class.
Another problem that arose was the class ran out of time to take spelling tests.I’m not sure if this is as a result of taking an hour and ½ out of an already packed schedule to watch a full length movie, or it was simply a lack of planning.I find that when I leave the TV off around the house, more gets accomplished.In light of the fact that an obesity epidemic is in this country, taking an extra 20 minutes of recess as a reward for good behavior would be better than the movie.Or, I would suggest games.Here you have 21 kids who can play on almost the same level.They learn cooperation and communication, math and reading. The older brother can’t play some more complicated games because the younger one cannot read, perform higher math yet or has the ability to make intricate strategic maneuvers. This would be a time to include something for this age group.
I hope that funding can be found for a paid librarian.I realize budgets are short.The area of language and reading is the heart of elementary school.As a parent volunteer librarian, it’s getting more and more demanding to keep up with the kids needs for recommendations and knowledge of certain books.I feel inadequate to give them guidance or have the time to look up anything for them.I defer them to the teacher who is already overwhelmed with requests.
I’ll miss them both dearly as I walk back into a quiet house.I’ll feel much better knowing they’re doing activities that are poised to give them confidence and possibilities to explore, learn and grow.At my discretion, I can pop in a DVD, but lacking a degree in education, do not possess skill in teaching methods or familiarity with great materials.I can trust you’ll do your utmost to give them education that is equal to or better than they can get at any other school in this country or on par with other developed nations.They will enter an intensely competitive world when they are done with school.I would like to see every possible moment while in school filled with things that get them towards being self-sufficient and capable to be in that world.
This is a piece of advice given to me by my 90-year-old great aunt.
Lisa Dawn Wax
At the time I couldn’t stop laughing – partly because I was wondering how far down the road of her 90-year-journey did it take her to figure this out and partly because it is – oh so true. Over the last two years of writing “Lighten Up with Lisa,” I’ve written articles about the importance of Tolerance, Patience, Acceptance, Growth, Compassion, Faith, Hope, Belief, Love, Balance, Happiness, Endurance, Strength, Bravery and Courage. Yes, I’ve hit upon many, many fundamentals of how to live life to the fullest and NOT as a Sissy. However, the truth of the matter is this; sometimes we all have a “fall from grace.”
The idiom “fall from grace” is defined as a loss of status, prestige or respect; LOSS being the key word. I can’t think of anyone I know who hasn’t experienced LOSS in one form or another. Whether it was a loss of status, prestige, respect, or perhaps a more personal loss of someone or something held extremely dear, the result can feel the same; an overwhelming sense of sadness and despair that makes us feel as if we’ve fallen from the grace of God. Grief is defined as “the response or reaction to loss.” Grief experts agree that in order to move past or through one’s grief, one must first process the loss. There are different stages of grief and we all experience them differently, at different times, in different order, and different intensities. There is no cookie-cutter recipe for grief relief. So, what do you do when you’ve read all the self-help books, listened to all the spiritual gurus and motivational life coaches, prayed and meditated, sucked it up and/or sucked some down and everything that you’ve learned and come to know or believe just doesn’t seem to add up anymore? What do you do when you don’t know up from down, right from wrong, whether to move forward or go back? What do you do when you have fallen from grace and hit your bottom? A while back I wrote about Thomas Moore’s book, Care of the Soul. Moore wrote about how it is in our darkest moments that we find our strengths and we should therefore embrace the dark as well as the light. I wholeheartedly agree.
I recently experienced my own personal fall and period of darkness and have come to the following conclusion. After the fall but at no particular point and regardless of the root cause of one’s sadness, there is a choice to be made – to either take the low road or take the high road. I’m here to promote the high road. For me taking the high road means falling back in line with grace and dignity, pride and purpose. It means no longer being angry, no longer blaming this, that and the other, being over and done with the “pity party,” being able to take that first scary, albeit tiny, baby step towards the freedom of the light. In essence it is getting reacquainted with all the qualities and virtues listed in the first paragraph.You will know when it is time. You will know when you are ready and not a moment sooner. Remember the words of Anais Nin, “And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”Whenever this time comes is the time to take action. It is time to stand up, look Life straight in the eye, and proclaim with a broad smile, “Is that all you’ve got?” There is no need to be ashamed of where you’ve been. There is no need to regret being human and spending a brief time within the inner recesses of the darkness of your soul. Remember, life is NOT for sissies so be proud and have the guts to choose the high road. For as Teddy Roosevelt once said, “The credit belongs to the man (woman) who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood…because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…”The high road leads you to a new life of composure, serenity, coolness and calm.
On the other hand there is the low road, and let’s face it, this alternative isn’t pretty. The low road breeds drama queens and king babies. Everywhere I turn people are saying, “I don’t want to be involved with drama, especially other people’s drama.”Well, I’m sorry to say, “NEWSFLASH. Life is filled with drama.” However, once again, we are faced with a choice of how to react. We can choose to complain until we’ve alienated everyone who would listen. We can choose to blame everyone else without ever looking at our own behaviors, attitudes and actions. We can choose to follow a path of self-destruction that leads us nowhere we’d ever want to go. We can choose to stay in the darkness indefinitely and resent everyone around us who seems surrounded by light. We can choose to get so wrapped up in the drama that we can no longer recognize life without it. But really, what part of that makes any sense?? Who amongst us wouldn’t rather take the high road and realign with the grace of God?
For millennia life has been hard. Did the cavemen have it so easy? Did the Crusaders, Pilgrims or American Pioneers? No. Life will ultimately continue to be challenging. People will undoubtedly continue to experience loss and to grieve. I pray that whatever challenge may hit you next that these words I’ve written today may bring you some comfort and help guide you in the choice of your actions.While we may not always have control over what happens to us, we do have control over how we choose to respond. May we all live 90+ years responding gracefully with the inner strength it takes us to do so.
Until next time, may your days be brighter and your lives be lighter.
Lightworker Lisa
Let me ignite the light in your life!
If you would like to submit a topic for publication, you can email me directly at lisa@lightworkerlisa.com.
A Lightworker is someone with an innate ability to know and heal. Lightworkers believe it is their divine mission or higher purpose to write, teach or counsel others that spiritual methods can heal any situation. Lightworkers are souls who volunteered, before birth, to help people learn about love and heal from the effects of fear. Lisa Dawn Wax, aka Lightworker Lisa, is a born Lightworker with intuitive abilities to help, heal and to identify sources of pain, clarify current life situations, and successfully redirect one’s focus into positive channels.If you are in need of affordable healing and life coaching with immediate results, call her at 561-594-3948 or visit her website www.lightworkerlisa.com.
Post-storm power outages are different in Florida. Sure, they begin with the familiar crackle, pop and plunge into darkness. In other parts of the country this would be a signal to light that nice candle your aunt Adelaide gave you for Christmas. In Florida – there’s no sense in sugar coating it – the power going out is a signal to kiss life as you know it goodbye and prepare yourself for a slow but steady descent into madness.
First, you will have to renounce all worldly possessions and creature comforts – even the small ones like clean underwear and cornflakes with milk. Then, you will be forced out of your home and onto the streets where you will join other disaster zombies forming lines the length of several football fields for a bag of ice, a tank of gas or a flight to San Diego.
I was once on a line so long, I kept a journal of it.
Dear Diary,
It’s day three and we seem to lack the forward motion one hopes to experience on a line. I suspect it has stopped completely or is even moving backwards. I’ve made a commitment to follow this through to the end, but if it’s going backwards is the end really the end, or is it the beginning of a line I’ve lived through on my way to yesterday?
Most people (me included) are troopers for a few days. We help neighbors, join the hunt for food and water, pull old books and board games out of retirement to fill the powerless hours. But there comes a point, even for the best of us, when our built-in, shock-proof stress detector calculates that we’ve endured way more than our fair share of hardship.
“I can’t believe those condos out at the beach have power and we don’t,” I grumble to my wife, insinuating conspiracies at the highest levels.
“They’re on a different power grid,” Sherry explains sketchily, no doubt conserving energy.
I’m tired of conserving energy. I’m ready to storm the palace gates.
“Can someone explain to me how we can live in the richest, most technologically-advanced society in the history of the world and still be without power ten days after a storm?”
“It is starting to get aggravating,” Sherry concedes, hinting that her limitless patience may have an expiration date after all.
For the record, my patience ended three days before when we reheated two cold turkey franks over some sterno and pronounced them “dinner.” (In a blind taste test, Sherry and I both picked a flashlight over the turkey franks as having superior flavor and visual appeal.)
Somewhere along the line, when I least expected it, something revitalizing happened. I discovered how resourceful, unselfish and compassionate I could be – a real leader of the masses in times of adversity. Had you been by my side during those difficult days, you would have heard me say this:
“Here’s another 60 gallons of bottled water Mrs. Obermann. I’ll have fresh batteries for your portable TV within the hour – I make them myself from a kit I got off the Internet.”
And this:
“Out of gas, Sean? You drive, I’ll push – there’s a station about a mile up the road.”
And this:
“Hey Stevie, stop crying. Climb up on my shoulders and let’s see if we can get you closer to that breeze that’s passing through.”
Around the same time – give or take an hour – I also discovered how cranky, self-pitying and sarcastic I can be: the Child King with a craving for pizza rolls and cable TV.
Had you been there in my weaker moments, you would have heard me say this:
“Are air conditioners, TVs, stereos and household appliances now simply novelty items to be enjoyed on those rare occasions when the Power & Light gods are feeling benevolent?”
And this:
“Who’s going to reimburse me for the episodes of ‘Modern Family,’ and ‘Parks and Recreation’ I’ve missed?”
And this:
“I’ll start shaving and bathing again when this neighborhood is lit up like a Vegas casino!”
Like I’ve been saying, prolonged power outages are a uniquely transforming experience. They bring out the best and the worst in people – often simultaneously. As for me, I’d much rather turn on a light than curse the darkness. In Florida after a storm, your best bet is to reach for the flashlight first. I keep mine handy next to the turkey franks.
Nature’s Table Café … Fresh Ingredients, Super Service
By Krista Martinelli
When you’re looking for some terrific soups, wraps, Paninis or smoothies, Nature’s Table Café is the place to go. As a few added bonuses, you’ll find the staff to be very friendly, you’ll get the chance to sample anything on the menu and you’ll find the restaurant to be elegant and immaculate.
Adam, Bedonna and Alex at the Nature’s Table Cafe in Wellington – ready to serve you!
“We sample things all the time,” says owner Bedonna Flesher. “We want to make sure that you try everything. At Nature’s Table Café, you can be as healthy or as unhealthy as you want to be.” Their menu features everything from vegan items to Roast Beef Bluez (roast beef, crumbled bleu cheese, carmelized onions, tomato and parmesan peppercorn dressing on grilled Panini bread).
What’s different about Nature’s Table Café?The employees, according to Flesher, and the way they make you feel.“We treat you like family. You will not get this kind of customer service anywhere else.”
This family-owned restaurant was started up by Flesher in 2008 after the former Patty’s Parlor ice cream shop went out of business.Flesher had worked at the ice cream parlor as a teenager. She started thinking about what she could put in there in its place – something healthy and something a bit upscale to fit the market of Wellington customers. She discovered the NTC franchise and realized it was the perfect type of restaurant for this location.
Inside the Nature’s Table Cafe, a gorgeous interior
Its gorgeous interior and convenient Wifi service seem to be a big hit among the equestrian community and the seasonal Wellington folks.
The restaurant is good to its “regulars.”In fact, with some customers, explains Flesher, “we already know what they want, so we start making their order as soon as they walk in.”The customers seem to truly appreciate the friendliness, the samples and the customer service.“We will basically do anything to accommodate you.” See the quick video of NTC regular Mimi, who proclaims her love for both the food and the service.
If you stop by NTC, you’ll undoubtedly meet Adam, Alex or Brent – all very personable, hard-working staff. “They’re amazing,” says Flesher. “The key is in treating your employees like you’d want to be treated.”
Another thing that makes NTC unique is that it’s quite possibly the only place to get a smoothie in “inner Wellington.” With sixteen flavors of smoothies, there’s something refreshing for everyone’s palette. Whether you’re a Mango Mama type or a Peanut Butter Cup smoothie sipper, you’ll find something yummy!
For great savings each week, you can subscribe to a texting program with NTC by texting “nature” to 71441. You will be sent special offers every few days! It’s a great way of keeping up with coupons – all in the convenience of your smart phone.
Owner Bedonna Flesher holding a SW Club Wrap
Bedonna Flesher keeps Nature’s Table involved in the community, just through her own interest in seeing Wellington succeed.They’re very involved in the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and its activities.Most recently Flesher organized a Swap Meet at Wellington Marketplace (in August) to bring some more traffic into the whole plaza. The event was a success and will be held on a regular basis now.
Flesher grew up in Wellington, graduated from Wellington High School and then graduated from Florida State University. She’s happy to bring her marketing expertise to a popular restaurant in her home town. She co-owns the restaurant with her parents Polly and Marc.
If you have a special event coming up, Nature’s Table Café is a great catering option. Although they appreciate at least 24 hours notice, they strive to accommodate almost any request.
For more information, visit their website or just stop by for a delicious bite!
Mad Cat’s “So My Grandmother Died, BLAH BLAH BLAH”
By Marla E. Schwartz
The Miami Light Project presents Mad Cat Theatre Company’s production of theworld premiere comedy SO MY GRANDMOTHER DIED, BLAH BLAH BLAHwritten and directed by Mad Cat multi-talented founder Paul Tei. It opened on August 19th and runs through September 10th at The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse at 404 NW 26th Street in the Wynwood Art Gallery District in Miami. This location offers a multidisciplinary office, performance and gallery space for a diverse group of arts organizations (thegoldmanwarehouse.com). Paul’s experience as a writer and director have certainly influenced his playwriting talents which is evident in this idiosyncratic production that’s difficult to describe without giving away juicy nuggets that come at you so fast that once you’ve gotten them, you’re onto the next one.
If you’re a fan of popular culture, satirical humor and acting at its finest – this play is for you. And if you’re not up to speed on popular culture, this play will inform you and leave you feeling elated beyond your wildest dreams. Another masterpiece from this brilliant company is what to expect when you see this play – and this is what you’ll get. And behind the scenes is Ann Kelly, Chairman of the Board and Business Manager of this original company, who makes this and all other Mad Cat productions possible. And playing the lead role of Polly Chekhov in this play is the vivacious Melissa Almaguer. Polly is a comedy writer living and working in Hollywood, California who returns to Hollywood, Florida for the wake of her beloved grandmother Mary. Although Melissa was very busy in rehearsals before the show opened she took the time to answer some questions about the play for us.
AroundWellington: You appeared as the lead character Polly Chekhov in a previous incarnation of this playat the South Beach Comedy Festival when it was called THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY; are there any major differences that have occurred in the life of this character as the script as evolved?
Melissa Amaguer. Photo by George Schiavone.
Melissa Almaguer: The essence of Polly is the same as the first time we performed, however moments and nuances have developed, partly because of the script changes and partly because of the longer rehearsal period.
AW: How long did you rehearse the show?
MA: We had three weeks, two weeks devoted to creating the show, and the final week to tech the show.
AW: Does Paul ask for any suggestions from the actors before he does a re-write of a show? What type of director is he, particularly when he directs a play he has written?
MA: Paul is very open as a writer and director. There is constant dialogue between him and his actors, designers, stage managers. He is always asking and appreciative of any feedback. He cares about his actors feeling comfortable with the moments and the lines. This is my first time working with Paul, so my perspective comes mainly from working on a play he has written. There are always two parts of Paul at play, the director and the writer. As the writer he is humble and is always in workshop mode. It never seems to reach a final point. Until the director steps in, and as a director he is careful with his actors, and clear and assertive on what he wants. It’s been a pleasure working with Paul, and I know I am not alone when I attest to the fact that Paul’s actors and company become like family to him. He is very loyal and attentive to those he works with.
AW: Can you briefly describe the play from your character’s point of view?
MA: Polly is in a difficult period in her life, one that is very relatable to many. She has recently been dumped and is wounding a broken heart, as well as dealing with the death of her grandmother, a very close and prominent relationship in her life. Having spent a good time in LA, her career is going well, she has friends and family around her, but she can’t see it. She is feeling the pressure of being a female writer in LA. She feels a need to escape into her mind because she finds it difficult to just reach out and ask for help.Through the process of writing the eulogy for her grandmother, she finds catharsis and healing. She learns how to release and let go of her pain, and finds comfort in herself, her work, and her family.
AW: Do you personally relate to anything that’s going on with your character and/or the theme of the play?
MA: I do relate to Polly and the themes. I have been broken hearted, for many of the same reasons Polly has, and I recently lost my grandmother several months ago. I have the same sense of fantasy life that she does, my only wall is that of pop culture. Polly is a dictionary of references from TV, literature, movies, politics, etc. I never knew what was being referenced, and it became a running joke when Paul would ask ‘you know this movie, Meli? When this happened?’ I would just laugh and smile and nod, and he knew that would mean, ‘nope’.
AW: What is your favorite scene in the play?
MA: I don’t want to give too much away, I have several favorite scenes, but one high up there is the end of act one when I get serenaded by Ricky. It’s a moment where even Polly’s fantasy life turns on her and the effect is pretty hilarious.
AW: In the play you have two sisters, do you have sisters and if so was this helpful or not helpful to your portrayal of Polly?
MA: I have one older sister in real life, and Polly’s relationship with her middle sister is almost identical to the one I have with her. My sister is very grounded and supportive, a soundboard for all of my fears and dreams. She tells me how it is, and keeps me rooted. My sister is married with three kids, and there’s something about motherhood that reminds one of what’s really important and one simply does not have time to wallow, such as I can, or Polly for that matter. Monica, my older sister in the play is not married but has a newborn. Mom’s have no choice but to let life go on. It has helped me tremendously in my portrayal of Polly because I know that relationship so well, and there’s a mutual respect and sharing as these two different types of personalities appreciate and complement each other.
AW: Did you audition for the role of Polly?
MA: I did not audition for Polly. At the time I was working with The Playground Theatre (theplaygroundtheatre.com) and Paul caught me in a show. I have no idea what he was thinking, but when he offered me the role I was very excited to work with him and Mad Cat, and said yes!
AW: Is this the first time you’ve worked with the MAD CAT?
MA: Yes, only previously working with them for the South Beach Comedy Festival. (southbeachcomedyfestival.com).
AW: You studied theater at Florida International University (fiu.edu) and earned a BFA in Theatre. How do you feel that your education at FIU prepared you for a career in the theater?
MA: The best thing about FIU when I was there was that they gave their students the opportunity to put on their own shows in a student space. Having the opportunity and support from the teachers to create my own work from a young age and with resources at my fingertips really set in mode the way I wanted to work professionally.
AW: What is it about theater that moves you? When did you first become interested in theater and when did you realize that you wanted to work in the theater as your profession?
MA: Theater is about connecting to others, both on the stage and with the audience. We have the opportunity to impact society by the stories we choose to tell. I knew I wanted to do theatre since I was 12 years old, there wasn’t a particular moment, it was just always in me.
AW: You’re the Artistic Director of the newly formed WHITE ROSE THEATRE COMPANY in Miami – can you please tell me a little bit about it, its members and plans for the future? How do you choose the plays that will be produced by this company?
MA: White Rose Miami recently opened with an outdoor production of Proof by David Auburn. We’re actually not a theatre company, but a
Paul Tei and Melissa Almaguer. Photo by George Shiavone.
production company. We don’t follow a set season guideline but work project by project. Our aim is to create full sensory experiences for audiences. It’s the opportunity for me, and co-founding artistic director, Ivan Lopez, to create work that we really love and really want to share with the community. Our next project is a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in 1950s Havana. We want to create a healing and catharsis in the Cuban community as well as create stimulating and exciting experience for audiences of all kinds.
AW: I understand you act, direct, teach – is this true – are you also a playwright?
MA: My directorial debut was White Rose Miami’s first production of Proof, and my professional life has been as an actress and teacher. I produced a self-written show years ago, but have not and do not consider myself a playwright at this time.
THANK YOU! Thank you very much for your time.
This production was made possible by Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, WLRN and Delaplaine Champagne.
A complete list of all the actors in this production, as well as their brief biographies is listed below.
Melissa Almaguer (Polly Chekhov) is excited to be working with Mad Cat Theatre Company again. She was last seen as Polly in The Preservation Society for the South Beach Comedy Festival. Recent credits include Catherine in Proof (White Rose Miami); Queen of Hearts/DorMouse in Adventures of Alice in Wonderland (The PlayGround Theatre); Mei Hua in The Red Thread (The PlayGround Theatre); Flora in 27 Wagons Full of Cotton (The Jesús Quintero Studio), and Charlotte in The Sorrows of Young Werther (JQ Studio). She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. In addition to performing, Ms. Almaguer teaches in The PlayGround’s Education & Outreach Program. She has experience in Theatre Management/Marketing, holds a BFA in Theatre from FIU, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Erin Joy Schmidt (Monica Chekhov and Hedda) is thrilled to be back at home in a Mad Cat show! Recent credits include: Dinner With Friends (Palm Beach Dramaworks), Goldie, Max and Milk and Mezzulah 1946 (Florida Stage), Fifty Words and Reasons to Be Pretty (GableStage), Summer Shorts ’08, ’09 & ’10 (City Theatre), Dying City, Dead Man’s Cell Phone and Talk Radio (Mosaic Theatre), 4.48 Psychosis (Naked Stage) Viva Bourgeois, Mixtape and Some Girl(s) at Mad Cat Theatre Company, where she is an acting company member. She has three times been nominated for a Carbonell Award. While not on stage, Erin is an adjunct professor of Theatre at Broward College. MFA: Actors Studio Drama School at New School University.
Deborah L. Sherman’s (Annabella Chekhov and Thea) Mad Cat Debut! Cool huh? Recent credits include Goldie, Max and Milk at Florida Stage (Carbonell Award Best Supporting Actress 2011) No Exit at Naked Stage (Carbonell Nomination Best Supporting Actress 2011) Carbonell Award Winners Farragut North (Best Ensemble) at GableStage and Two Sisters and Piano (Best Ensemble) at The Promethean Theatre. Other Credits: Shining City, Ten Unknowns, Othello, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Macbeth, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Dumb Show, Red Tide World Premiere at The Promethean Theatre. Ms. Sherman originated the role of Conchita in the world premiere of Nilo Cruz’s Anna in the Tropics, winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. For the past seven seasons she has been the Producing Artistic Director of The Promethean Theatre, the professional theatre company in residence at Nova Southeastern University. For information on her company go to theprometheantheater.org.
Beverly Blanchette (Mom) has been the Dean of Theatre at the Dreyfoos School of Arts in West Palm Beach since 1993.There, she teaches acting, directs plays, and manages a department of 250 students and seven instructors (including husband, Ed, stagecraft teacher/technical director).During her 34-year career as a theatre arts educator, she has been distinguished with:the Florida Theatre Conference Distinguished Career Award, the Florida Association for Theatre Education Outstanding Arts Educator Award, the Florida State Thespian Sponsor of the Year Award, and an induction into the Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame. An advocate for arts education, she is a past president of FATE (Florida Association for Theatre Education). She holds a BA from Florida State University’s School of Theatre and an MFA in Acting/Directing from FAU where she studied with Zoe Caldwell. Whenever time permits, she enjoys practicing what she teaches (last seen in A Doll’s House at Palm Beach Dramaworks and Talk Radio at Mosaic Theater). She invites you to On the Threshold of . . . A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a new musical she is creating/directing combining The Moody Blues and Shakespeare!), November 3-6 at the Dreyfoos School of Arts. Call 561-802-6052 for tickets.
George Schiavone (Dad) hates long walks on the beach because he’d rather be acting in a play or designing a play poster or taking performance photos of actors in plays or playing with his granddaughter Paloma. Time is the premium and it’s a joy to give it up to another Paul Tei project at Mad Cat because it’s great fun. This is his 5th Mad Cat show, the last of which was VIVA BOURGEOIS. George has had some challenging and rewarding projects lately for which he remains grateful to the South Florida theatre community. Most recently he played The Old Man in Sam Shepard’s FOOL FOR LOVE at Alliance Theatre Lab, performed in an episode of THE GLADES and a lead part in the independent film THE WELL by Clyde Scott. George played a priest in Ground Up & Rising’s First Short Feature Film “Observe” by Arturo Fernandez which was honored as an official selection of 2010 Cannes Film Festival. This last year he designed theatre posters and captured images for Mad Cat, City Theatre, Mosaic Theatre, GableStage, Broward College and Promethean Theatre. I am George. Look for my name at the Carbonells… as a photo credit of course. Life is good.
Anne Chamberlain (Chorus and Miss Julia Tessman) is so freakin’ excited to be working with Mad Cat! Anne received her BFA in Musical Theatre from the New World School of the Arts. She was last seen in Camp Kappawanna and Dirty Little Secrets in Summer Shorts (City Theatre). Other recent credits: Olive in 25th…Spelling Bee (Strauss Theatre), Belle in A Christmas Carol (Actor’s Playhouse), Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show (Slow Burn Theatre), Athena in Rock Odyssey (Adrienne Arsht Center), Sara in Going to See the Elephant (Women’s Theatre Project), Shelley in Bat Boy: The Musical (Slow Burn), Polly Pry in Cannibal! The Musical (Promethean Theatre) and The New Ones at New Theatre where she performed her original One Person Show: Road to Crazy Town. Anne is an ensemble member with the Alliance Theatre Lab, check her out in their musical in November.
Ricky Waugh (Chorus and Loveborg) is a native of the Sunshine State and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. He would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Tei for letting him play with all the Mad Cat’ers one more time, and say how excited he is to be working with beautiful and talented Erin Joy Schmidt once again. Some of Ricky’s recent South Florida credits include: Reasons to be Pretty (GableStage), The Dumb Waiter (The Promethean Theatre), In a Dark Dark House (Mosaic Theatre), In Darfur (Mosaic Theatre), Bridegroom of Blowing Rock (Florida Stage), Betrayed (GableStage), The Rant (New Theatre), and Shinning City (GableStage).You may have seen him, in 2010, as twin brothers Peter & Craig in Mosaic Theatre’s production of Dying City; a play which earned him a Carbonell Nomination for Best Actor. And just last month, Ricky began filming on Magic City; a new TV series that centers around the nefarious denizens of Miami Beach’s glitzy hotel scene, in the late 1950s. It will premiere on STARZ in February 2012.
Troy Davidson (Chorus and George) has been kickin’ it with Mad Cat since ’08. Hey, remember when he delivered that pizza box with a dildo in it during Mixtape? “Oh man!” How ‘bout when he moonwalked in Viva Bourgeois? “I know right!” And I still can’t believe he was a Dancing Diva Cup in Going Green the Wong Way! “Classic”. Troy graduated from The Acting School of South Florida. He’s a proud company member of Mad Cat Theatre, The Playground Theatre, Big Apple Circus Clown Care and The 3000 Brigade Cosplay Troupe.
Brian Sayre (Matt) is a transplant from LA who graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Percussion Performance. Back on the “other” coast, you might have heard Brian play drum set or percussion for West Side Story, How to Succeed in Business…, Anything Goes, Chess, Candide, A Chorus Line or Blood Brothers. Here in South Florida, this is his second debut with Mad Cat, having performed in the initial presentation of this very show. Many thanks to Paul for allowing him another fantastic opportunity to participate in the Mad Cat shenanigans! And his cats Narky and George who helped him practice by tap dancing on his djembe. Be sure to catch Brian and his band-mates playing in their mostly-blues cover-band, Somewhat Hungover – And YES! …shameless plug… They’re on facebook.
Brigitte Kali Canales(ASM Margaret and ASM) graduated from the musical theater program at New World school of the Arts high-school in 2005. She took up hosting from 2006 to 2008 for the Spanish network show Billboard Latino.Around this time she was Helena in FIU’s summer production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Recently she played Tina in A & E’s The Glades. In November 2010 she was given the opportunity to workwith The Alliance Theater in their production of House of Yes in which she played the role of Lesly. She is currently the host of a new extreme sports show launched by Red Bull on the new Spanish network VME. She feels honored to be a part of this creation process and thankful to be working with everyone in this company.
Lauren Butler (ASM Margaret and Intern) originally hails from Newport, New York. She earned her BA in Theatre from Nova Southeastern University in 2010 and currently lives in Orlando where she’s working toward her MFA in Acting. Lauren has spent many of her days teaching kids how to act at various children’s theaters.She is pleased as punch to have the opportunity to work with the Mad Cat Crew.
Eli Peck (Funeral home director, Judge Brack, Understudy to Ricky Waugh and ASM). A graduate ofNew WorldSchoolof the Arts and The University of Miami Film School, Eli is thrilled to be working again with the Mad Cat Theater Company. He last appeared in Mad Cat’s Going Green theWong Wayas “Recycle” and prior to that as Vic “The Viper” in both productions ofBroadSword. He would like to thank Mad Cat for the opportunity to work on such wonderful projects.
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A Toledo, OH native, a graduate of Kent State, Marla E. Schwartz is a Senior Writer for Miami Living Magazine, afreelance writer forLighthouse Point Magazine and the a cultural arts columnist for AroundWellington.com Her photographs have appeared in these publications, in many Ohio periodicals, as well as in The Miami Herald, The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post. She has had numerous plays published and produced around the country. Her short play, America’s Working? was produced in Los Angeles at both the First Stage and the Lone Star Ensemble theater companies, in Florida at Lynn University and at an Off-Broadway playhouse in NYC. Her piece, The Lunch Time Café, was a finalist for the Heideman Award,Actors Theatre of Louisville. Please check out the re-prints of her interviews with authors Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson and Dexter novelist Jeff Lindsay in the October 2010 issue #2 and Chris Bohjalian in the April 2011 issue #3 of Duff Brenna’sServingHouse: A Journal of Literary Arts at www.servinghousejournal.com. You can contact her at marlaschwartz@att.net.
