FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Teen Talk
The Impact of a Youth Group
By Stephanie Courtois
As the summer is closing, fall is making its way out. School is part of the everyday routine and youth groups are starting up for the New Year. One in particular has caught my interest and I have been a member ever since I met the age requirement. B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, more commonly known as BBYO, is my youth group that I am deeply involved with.
On the first day of my freshman year, I was a newbie. I had just moved from upstate New York and didn’t know a soul. I was nervous, insecure and in hope of being accepted as any freshman would want. As the day went by, I didn’t feel high school was right for me, but just before lunch, as I had not met anyone to sit with yet, I met a girl who forever changed my high school experience. She invited me to sit with her and her friends who told me about a Jewish youth organization called BBYO. I learned of all the events I was able to attend and the leadership opportunities I could partake in. After that lunch period, I was hooked and made arrangements to attend my first youth group meeting.
On that Thursday evening, I met the members and discovered all these people who were kind and accepting of me – no questions asked. The program they had planned was an “undernight.” Since the meeting was at a JCC, we couldn’t sleep over, so we slept “under” meaning we went home at the end of the night. There was food, games and laughter. I felt at ease, a feeling which I had not felt at school. I recognized some faces of the members and began to meet people through them little by little. If it weren’t for BBYO, my high school experience would never have been the same.
Throughout the years, BBYO has held numerous conventions on a chapter, regional and international level. The structure of BBYO makes me think of a spider web. The most inward thread is one chapter, the people that you see every week. The secondary threads above are all the chapters in region which ranges to about ten or so chapters. The next layer is international, which contains all the regions in the world. In the end, we are part of one, big Jewish family.
Today, I am a junior at Wellington High School who has made connections and bonds of sisterhood that are unbreakable. BBYO has taught me leadership skills and what it means to be part of something bigger than myself. These girls that I see every Thursday are my sisters, the ones that I never had; for I am an only child. I am very fortunate to have found an organization like this and I hope that other teens are as lucky as I am.
Stephanie Courtois is a junior at Wellington High School. She is involved in tae kwon do, French, National and Chemistry Honor Societies, and is the news editor for the school newspaper. She loves journalism and aspires to work for a magazine someday.
The Funkabilly Playboys
Here’s a sample of the Funkabilly Playboys in action, a great local band. Check out the interview with the members of this band, as well as a few other local bands in Marla E. Schwartz’ story (September, 2010) for AroundWellington.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RLEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Gill, C.E.O., OASIS COMPASSION AGENCY
PHONE: 561-967-4066; FAX: (561) 967-0447
E-MAIL: Sharon.gill@oasiscompassion.org
OASIS COMPASSION AGENCY ANNOUNCES 5TH ANNUAL “FALL BALL” AT THE KRAVIS CENTER ON OCTOBER 23RD
Greenacres, Florida, September 13, 2010– Oasis Compassion Agency will be holding their annual ‘Fall Ball” on October 23rd from 6:00p-10:00p at the Kravis Center
The co-chairs of this year’s event are Susan Warmington and Liz Cable.
Oasis, headquartered at 10th Avenue North and Haverhill in Greenacres, is in its seventh year of helping struggling families in Central Palm Beach County. This year Oasis will help stabilize over 800 families, providing courses and counseling in such areas as interview skills, computer basics, personal finance, and job placement. The agency also operates a food pantry and resale shop. On August 28th, Oasis opened its 4th division, the long anticipated Women Center, whose mission is to help women achieve “more” and realize their full potential.
The event will feature live and silent auction, shopping village, dancing by the Memory Lane Band and great food provided by the Breakers Palm Beach. “It’s a great way to spend a nice evening with other community minded individuals, knowing that your money is going toward so many who are disenfranchised and disempowered in our community today.” CEO, Sharon Gill
Morning Star Financial and Professional Accounting are amongst the sponsors for the Oasis Gala. Tickets are $150 per person and available at oasiscompassion.org.
Community Forum at the Original Wellington Mall
Sept. 15th at 7pm
Save the Tatas at this year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
Dr. Kathleen Minnick and Cathy DeStefano will be captains of the “Save the Tatas” team at the Making Strides walk, which will be held at Okeeheelee Park in WPB, on Oct. 30th this year. It’s a 5K walk to benefit breast cancer.
Cathy says, “We are having a Celebrity bartender event to raise money at the White Horse Taven on October 22nd – Five dollars to get in and that money will go to our Team, from 6 to 10pm. Come join us for a fun evening!”
Also Dr. Kathleen Minnick is having a “girl party” at her office on October 16th at 12160 South Shore Blvd, Suite 103, Wellington, FL, (561) 798-7494 – Advanced Breast Care of the Palm Beaches. The woman will have bra fittings, lingerie, and a pocketbook party.
THANKS so much for your support for this good cause!
For more info, contact: Catherine J DeStefano, RNC OCN
(561) 795-9845
WELLINGTON PROCLAIMED A PEACE COMMUNITY
The Village of Wellington Council proclaimed that Wellington would be recognized as a “Peace Community.”
This proclamation, made in conjunction with the Wellington Rotary Club, was made initially in 2009 and the Rotary Club has since then continued to move forward with various initiatives which include the planting of a Peace Pole, the sale of flags of the world and contests at the area schools and scout organizations with the aim of promoting World Peace, multicultural understanding and conflict resolution.
The Peace Pole is an internationally recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of many people worldwide of a planet without conflict and of the wish for multicultural understanding. This is a non-political, non-religious concept with peace and understanding as its precept. The Peace Poles are multisided eight feet tall structures, usually of wood. The words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in various languages are on each of the sides. The Wellington Peace Pole, which is in the 14.5 acre Wellington Rotary Peace Park on Royal Fern Drive, is an eight-sided structure with the peace message in English, Spanish, Japanese, Hebrew, Hindi, Chinese, Arabic and Russian.
There are over 250,000 Peace Poles in countries throughout the world and can be found at such diverse locations as the Pyramids at Giza in Egypt, the Allenby Bridge between Israel and Jordan, Robbin Island in South Africa (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned) and at the site of the baptism of Jesus in Bethany. The majority, however, are to be found in less historic places such as churches, parks and gardens, office buildings and at companies and organizations in most cities and towns throughout the world. The Wellington Rotary Club is engaged in a major effort to bring more Peace Poles into our community and would like to encourage local individuals, organizations and businesses to sponsor their own Peace Pole. The poles can be planted outside or in a stand for placement inside a building. The poles are handcrafted to the buyers’ requirements, and it is suggested that a dedication ceremony be held to unveil each pole. The Wellington Rotary Club will provide all of the information regarding the purchase of the pole and guidelines for the dedication ceremony.
It would be wonderful to see Peace Poles being erected throughout the community and the area so that annual events such as the U.N. World Peace Day (held each year on September 21st) would see members of families, clubs, churches, companies and other organizations taking a few moments to join together at their Peace Pole to wish for Peace and Understanding throughout the World, and would stand throughout the year as a reminder of that commitment.
For details regarding all aspects of the purchase of a Peace Pole please contact Karen Hardin, Chairperson of the Wellington Rotary Peace Pole Planting Initiative (561-333-8709 or KJHSEDONA@AOL.com).
Writer: Larry Kemp
Co-Chair
Wellington Rotary Peace Initiative
WELLINGTON ROTARY CLUB ANNOUNCES ITS PEACE INITIATIVE CONTEST PRIZE WINNERS
The Wellington Rotary Club is again sponsoring various contests as part of its Annual Peace Initiative Program. Schools throughout the community participated during April and May in poster, poetry and essay contests. The involvement of the Wellington school children was tremendous and broke previous records for submissions. The object, in all cases, was to present a view of conflict resolution and multicultural understanding aimed at the promotion of world peace and understanding.
The winners have been announced. The Peace Poster competition for all fourth graders proved to be a close decision as there were many wonderful posters from all of the contestants. All of Wellingtons elementary schools participated and a prize of $50 to each schools winning student will be awarded, as well as a $50 prize to the class teacher of each winning student. An overall winner from all of the finalists was chosen and will receive a $75 check.
The poster prize winners were: Sarah Bertrand, (Equestrian Trails Elementary School); Ebony Bacquain (New Horizons Elementary School); Nicole Nicotera (Discovery Key Elementary School); and Ariannie Bobadilla (Elbridge Gale Elementary School). All will receive a $50 dollar prize.
Several posters merited Honorable Mentions: Ariel Gordon, Liam Stoker and Cory Forberger, all students of the Equestrian Trails Elementary School.
The poster judged the best overall was submitted by Tamara Frazier (Binks Forest Elementary School) and Tamara will receive a check for $75.
All of the teachers of these wonderful winners will receive a $50 check for use, at their discretion, in their classrooms.
The overall winning poster will also be used as part of the Rotary Clubs advertising campaign.
The club also received poems from the Middle Schools. The winners were Keaton Shepard (Emerald Cove Middle School) and Etta Kay (Polo Park Middle School). Keatons poem In the Childrens Eyes and Ettas poem Song Bird both captured the spirit of the peace initiative.
The theme of the essay competition for high school students was based upon the words of the Roman scholar Cicero I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war.
The winners of this competition were Felicia Yan (10th grade, Wellington Community High School) and Samantha Yorke (12th grade, Palm Beach Central High School). All of the students were notified of their success. A special thank you was also issued to all of the teachers at all of the schools for working with their students and co-ordinating their efforts, including-
Mr. Thompson (Binks Forest)
Ms. Mancello (Equestrian Trails)
Mrs. Valdov (New Horizons)
Mrs. Provenzano (Discovery Key)
Dr. Crane (Elbridge Gale)
Mrs. Fontaine (Panther Run)
Mrs. Bodner (Equestrian Trails)
and to the teachers of the Middle and High Schools.
The winners will receive their prizes at the UN Peace Day ceremony at the Wellington Peace Park on Royal Fern Drive at 6pm on September 21st. The Rotary Club wishes to invite all of the winners, their teachers and families, to attend the celebration.
Thanks go out to all the students and teachers who participated and to the volunteers from the Wellington Rotary who contacted all the schools.
The Rotary and the Village of Wellington look forward to seeing everyone at the ceremony on September 21st.
For further information contact: Larry Kemp
Peace Initiative Co-Chair
Wellington Rotary
(Larry.Kemp@comcast.net)
WHOLE FOODS MARKET® turnS 30 and EVERYONE IS invited
Wellington Hosts 30th Birthday Festivities on Sunday September 19th for Shoppers
WHAT: Whole Foods Market – which opened its first store on September 20, 1980 – is celebrating 30 years of offering the highest quality natural and organic foods by hosting birthday festivities at all of its 298 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
At the Wellington store, shoppers are invited to celebrate Whole Foods Market’s big 3-0 by coming to our 80’s party, with complimentary birthday cake, karaoke, and birthday crafts for kids.
WHEN: Sunday September 19th from 2:00-4:00pm
EVENT DETAILS AND TIMES:
Go to wholefoodsmarket.com/wellington for a complete calendar of events.
WHY: Whole Foods Market has come a long way in 30 years – from one small store with 19 Team Members in Austin to becoming the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket with nearly 300 stores, more than 55,000 Team Members and $8 billion in fiscal 2009 sales. The Wellington store, which opened on November 5th 2008 has 150 Team Members and has donated thousands of dollars, volunteer hours and pounds of food to various local nonprofits and organizations, including its latest community giving day benefitting The School for Autism.
Shoppers and the community are invited to join Whole Foods Market to celebrate three decades of making grocery shopping fun while upholding high quality standards and supporting organic agriculture, sustainable seafood, eco-friendly initiatives and local producers.
WHERE: The Whole Foods Market – Wellington is located at 2635 State Road 7.
ADDITIONAL VISUALS:
Giant Cake Cutting at 2:30pm
Team Members and Customers dressed in their 80’s best
Team Members and Customers singing 80’s Karaoke
Karaoke Contest 3:00-4:00pm, winner judged by applause
Kids Making Birthday Party Hats in the Cafe
MILESTONES: 30 YEARS AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET
· Safer Way Natural Foods and Clarksville Natural Grocery joined forces to open Whole Foods Market on September 20, 1980, with a staff of only 19 people. Whole Foods Market has 298 stores in North America and the U.K. and more than 55,000 Team Members.
· Since 1993, Whole Foods Market has given back at least five percent of its after‐tax profits to the community through quarterly 5 percent days as well as donations to non‐profits and schools.
· Whole Foods Market has been on the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work for” list every year since it was first published in 1998.
· Whole Foods Market becomes America’s first National Certified Organic Grocer in June 2003.
· On Earth Day 2008, Whole Foods Market was the first U.S. supermarket to completely eliminate disposable plastic grocery bags to help protect the environment and conserve resources. Since then, it has kept 100+ million bags out of landfills.
· Whole Foods Market joined Twitter in 2008 and today has more than 1.5 million followers! @WholeFoods.
WELLINGTON ANNUAL PEACE DAY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 21ST
The annual UN World Peace Day celebration and ceremony sponsored by the Village of Wellington and the Wellington Rotary Club will take place on Tuesday September 21st at 6pm at the Wellington Rotary Peace Park, situated on Royal Fern Drive, adjacent to the Wellington public library.
The ceremony is in conjunction with the observance of World Peace Day as proclaimed each year by the United Nations.
Each year Wellington Rotary Club organizes contests for multicultural understanding and conflict resolution within the local schools and with the area boy and girl scouts. The winners of these contests along with winners of a photography competition will be presented with their awards and cash prizes during the ceremony. Local Palm Beach and Wellington dignitaries will be on hand to help celebrate the occasion.
The raising of the flags of the USA, State of Florida and Wellington and also the release of Peace Doves will take place.
A commitment to world peace and understanding will be voiced by local multi-denominational clergy, and the pledge of “May Peace Prevail on Earth “ will be read in eight languages.
A center peace will be the Wellington Peace Pole which is one of 250,000 like peace poles around the world.
The Village of Wellington and the Wellington Rotary Club cordially invite members of the community to attend the ceremony starting at 6pm at the Peace Park, Royal Fern Drive on Tuesday September 21st.
Contact.
Larry Kemp.
Co-Chair.
Wellington Peace Initiative.
561 333 2770