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Aetna Recognized for Outstanding Service to Counties
Aetna was awarded the National Association of Counties (NACo) Award for Corporate Excellence during ceremonies at NACo's 2015 Legislative Conference in February in Washington, D.C. Cain Hayes, president of Government Sector and Labor for Aetna, received the award on behalf of the company.
The NACo Award for Corporate Excellence is presented to companies that have demonstrated a long-standing and ongoing commitment to counties and NACo. Aetna was recognized for its work with NACo to develop strategies for managing the health and well-being of county employees and retirees.
"On behalf of all employees at Aetna, we thank NACo for recognizing and acknowledging Aetna's passion for excellence," said Hayes. "Knowing the past recipients of this award, we are honored to be part of this esteemed group."
Aetna has worked with NACo to provide innovative solutions for county government health benefit plans that help employees and retirees live healthier lives while controlling health care costs. Specifically in Bexar County, Texas, a wellness program that initially focused on treating chronic conditions has evolved to emphasize the prevention of such conditions by giving employees a reduction in their premiums if they demonstrate that they are taking actionable preventive measures to improve their health.
"We appreciate Aetna's commitment to empowering counties through its collaboration with NACo," said NACo executive director Matthew Chase. "We applaud Aetna for its continued support and helping to build healthy, safe and vibrant communities across the country."
Aetna has demonstrated its sustained commitment to NACo by serving as a NACo Premier Member and becoming the first health insurer to join NACo as a Healthy Counties Sponsor. It has worked with NACo to develop valuable webinars, workshops and roundtable discussion on cost-effective ways of providing optimal health care services to member counties.


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Go creature crackers with five chuckletastic creature comedies. From the pen of a master storyteller, they'll send you wild with pleasure!
A cute book, probably more for younger readers, or as a short read for older readers.


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Bill Thomas Of Brightway Insurance Offers Quality Advice And Unique Expertise Concierge Service
December 31, 2019 wellingtonINSIDER
Bill Thomas of Brightway Insurance has come a long way since growing up in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Back then, his goal was to fly.
"I became a commercial pilot and was trying to fly for the airlines," Thomas recalled. "Unfortunately, or fortunately, the airlines were furloughing pilots, so I went to school, to Queens College and St. John's University Law School, became an attorney and worked as a real estate attorney in New York City."
It wasn't long before he felt the lure of Florida's sunshine.
"Eventually, I started a factoring business, which I could run from anywhere, so I moved to Florida where my family and my wife's family were living," Thomas explained. "I found Wellington because I am a pilot and wanted to live at the Aero Club so I could fly my airplane."
While living in Florida, Thomas took on some work as an attorney doing closings for business brokers and eventually opened his own business brokerage.
"It looked like more fun that working as an attorney," he said. "I did so many sales as a business broker that I wrote and published a book, The Six-Figure Business Broker, which sells on Amazon. It is designed to teach new agents how to sell businesses."
After years of helping others with their businesses, he found himself interested in the insurance industry.
"After selling businesses for 10 years, I started buying and selling them myself," Thomas said. "After a year of researching insurance agencies to buy or to start, I decided that I would purchase a franchise."
Through his research, he liked what he learned about Brightway Insurance.
"I chose the Brightway Insurance franchise because, after meeting with other agency owners and the principals of the company, I decided that they were a well-run organization, and they provided superior services to their customers," Thomas said. "They are also fast-growing and financially strong. This is the type of company that I'd like to associate with."
Thomas uses his experience and knowledge as an attorney to provide customers with quality advice and concierge service.
"I say concierge because I'm very much hands-on and would rather handle my customers myself than hire agents and hand customers off to them," Thomas explained. "When you call my agency, you speak with me and get my background and experience. You get concierge service at regular prices."
Insurance can be complicated, especially in the Wellington area. Thomas said that you can have estate-type homes, horse farms, homes with airplane hangars, agricultural businesses and homes that are so far away from a fire station that they are difficult to insure.
"I've developed relationships with different underwriters to be able to handle these homes," he said. "The difference is that you can't quote this business online in minutes, you have to research the house, fill out a paper application and then call the underwriter to explain the circumstances. You also have to have knowledge of insurance policy contracts and underwriting guidelines. At the end of the day, customers trust my advice and that I'm doing the best thing for them."
If Thomas has a specialty other than an unswerving dedication to quality service, it would be horse farms and barns.
"I do a lot of commercial liability for horse barns and shows, too. I also enjoy handling commercial insurance because of the challenge," Thomas said. "It's similar to insuring houses in the western communities. You have to deal directly with an underwriter who will work with you to get the policy written correctly."
Currently between planes, his most recent was a Beechcraft Baron for 15 years, Thomas has been married for 25 years to his wife Aleyka and has a daughter Kelly, who has graduated from the University of Central Florida and is starting a job as a flight attendant with United Airlines in January.
As a pilot, Thomas has traveled everywhere in America and hasn't found many places that are as pleasant to live as Wellington.
"I love the horse shows, polo and being able to fly my plane to the Bahamas on weekends," he said. "I also love the people. There is a wonderful sense of community here. You don't find that in most places. It's no wonder it's such a sought-after winter destination."
For additional information about Bill Thomas' Brightway Insurance agency, call (561) 614-1122, e-mail bill.thomas@brightway.com or visit www.brightwaybillthomas.com.
The Village Of Wellington Offers A Growing List Of Programs For Senior Citizens Serving Seniors
For many senior citizens, getting older can mean a loss of independence, fewer relationships and less social interaction. In the eyes of Wellington Community Services Specialist Jenifer Brito, this is unacceptable. Her job is to help provide for those needs among the local senior community.
Having been around seniors since childhood, Brito has seen firsthand the challenges many face on a daily basis. Life continues its onward march, as their pace begins to slow, and their companions start to dwindle.
While it isn't true of all seniors, Brito has found a general feeling of depression to be common among the elderly. This could be a result of the loss of loved ones, limited mobility and a lack of social interaction.
It is Brito's mission to help the seniors in Wellington overcome these challenges and thrive as the valuable members of society she knows them to be.
"Many of them come in, and they are seeking help, and they don't know what they're looking for, but they know they're looking for something," Brito said. "When I meet with them, I try to gauge what that is, and I find out what their likes are, what their dislikes are, and how I can plug them into things."
While working with — and for — seniors, Brito discovered that as people age, one of their crucial needs is to have sufficient social interaction. This, Brito explained, is a necessity of great importance.
"I don't think at any age that's different," Brito said. "We all want to have that, whether you're 90 or six."
For this reason, Brito has taken on a number of projects to help initiate social opportunities for the senior population. The new Feel Good Fridays program is one such opportunity.
Partnering with Baptist Health South Florida, Wellington's Community Services Department has been bringing in instructors for exercise classes catered to seniors — such as dance and chair yoga. They have also added an educational component — a lecture following the classes presented by a visiting doctor.
"This is a new initiative that we started on Fridays because we saw that Fridays were an open day where we were able to engage the seniors and get them into the Wellington Community Center with programing," Brito said.
The best part? Participants are invited to attend Feel Good Fridays absolutely free. This goes for both Wellington residents and non-residents.
In order to offer classes to seniors at no cost, Wellington has partnered with a number of sponsors, such as Wellington Regional Medical Center, Florida Blue and Baptist Health South Florida.
Other activities available for the seniors are technology classes, bingo, Zumba, Aqua Zumba and more. Then there are the parties, such as an annual luau and the upcoming senior prom.
Brito has also planned health fairs and a volunteer fair, and she plans to see them both become an annual practice.
"We did that initiative because many seniors do want to volunteer, but it's really difficult for them to call 10 different places and find out volunteer opportunities. So, we brought it to them," Brito said of the volunteer fair.
Unless it is an outdoor-specific activity — such as Aqua Zumba, which is held in a heated pool at the Wellington Aquatics Complex — all events take place indoors to make it as easy on the seniors as possible.
The senior prom, for example, is scheduled to be held on April 7 in the Village Park gymnasium. Among other things, Brito is planning to have a live band playing nostalgic hits from bygone days.
"It's going to be really pretty," Brito said. "I'm very excited about the prom because it's not only going to bring the seniors together, but it also might facilitate meeting new friends or companions, and that's really important in our senior population."
Recognizing the need not only for fun but an understanding community as well, Wellington offers a monthly support group for caretakers of loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. Taking place in the Wellington Community Center, this is open to seniors and non-seniors alike.
The Wellington Community Center also includes a Senior Lounge where individuals or groups are welcome to relax, play games, watch TV, enjoy snacks, drink coffee and just enjoy the atmosphere.
"It's really looking at what the needs of the seniors are and how we can help with those needs," Brito said.
Pat Keeler is a Wellington resident who frequents the Senior Lounge to borrow books, use the free Wi-Fi and socialize.
"I think it's always important to be active in the community you live in," Keeler said. "The seniors community are people your own age, so you have a connection with them, and I've made some good friends."
According to Keeler, a member of the Wellington Seniors Club, having these services for the seniors is important for both their social and emotional health.
"Many seniors — their families don't live around here and they've outlived some of their friends. I've been fortunate, but it's easy for a senior to become isolated," Keeler said. "And this helps them not to do that."
It is Brito's passion to help seniors who are searching for connection in their community, and she meets with them over the phone, in her office, in a public place or in their homes in order to do just that. There is no pressure to commit or get involved, but Brito wants to make sure seniors know their options.
"I just want them to know that I will continue to work hard to bring more programming to them, and more events," Brito said. "And I feel that yes, we have a lot going on, but we're always going to have more going on."
To learn more about opportunities for senior citizens in Wellington, contact Brito at (561) 753-2476 or jbrito@wellingtonfl.gov, or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/seniors.
Wellington's Landscaping Team Works To Keep The Community Green Going Native
December 2, 2019 wellingtonINSIDER
One key to Wellington's allure, both to residents and visitors, is its small-town feel. An important part of that atmosphere is the amount of green space and trees found in the community. Wellington's landscaping team is key to setting the tone, from the moment one drives past the first Village of Wellington welcome sign.
Brian Hopper is the operations superintendent in charge of all landscaping and trees found on village property. Over the past seven years, he has taken his master's degree in forest resources and conservation from the University of Florida to bring the vegetation in Wellington to a more natural state.
"Having a strong natural resources background gives me the tendency to use native species whenever I can. I'm always looking for ways to increase our tree canopy," Hopper said. "My favorite thing is when I get an opportunity to be creative. By that I mean, do our own in-house designs for landscape enhancements, especially to plant trees in spaces that didn't have any."
This tendency to use native plants has long-term side effects for Wellington that are beyond just aesthetics.
"Native plants are more cost effective," said Deputy Director of Public Works Bill Conerly, who is Hopper's supervisor. "They require less treatment, too. You don't get the exotic pests, and they don't need the herbicides to take care of themselves. I'm a Florida guy. I've seen the changes, and the native species are low maintenance compared to exotic plants."
Conerly and Hopper have worked together for years and share a passion for taking care of Wellington's greenery. One such project they are both proud of is the Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat, located at 3491 Flying Cow Ranch Road.
"It started off as an old agricultural field that was nothing but Brazilian pepper, and they carved out the retention areas to attract birds," Hopper recalled. "They did initial plantings, and we have added to it every single year just to make it better. Now, everything has started to grow and recruit native species. Not only do you get to see aquatic vegetation but upland habitats — all built from scratch."
The 365-acre preserve has been a work in progress that began in 2007 and now has plants ranging from wildflowers to oak trees re-seeding and growing on their own. Originally designed to be a stormwater retention area, there is much more going on at the preserve now. "It's amazing all the native species that you can see at any given time," Conerly said. "We have migratory birds, bald eagles and ospreys. We put out osprey perches, and you can see them eating fish and interacting with each other."
Hard work and consistency have paid off. Wellington has been awarded a Tree City USA designation for more than 20 years running. In addition, the village has also maintained a growth award for the past 10 years, proving there is an increased level of attention and commitment to the trees here.
"For the past five years, we have planted an average of approximately 500 trees a year, and about 1,500 seedlings each year at the Wellington Environmental Preserve," Hopper said. "We also give away free seedlings to all the local schools in celebration of Earth Day, and we offer free trees at the Earth Day event held at the Wellington Amphitheater."
For Hopper, the big projects are great, but he feels it is the little projects that add up to big things.
"We have high-profile projects — like the landscape berm over near Stribling Way and State Road 7 — but it's the amalgamation of all the tiny little projects that make a difference," he said. "It's the small neighborhood entryways, like the median in front of a neighborhood that we overhauled even when no one asked for it, and it looks so much better. They may not be projects that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I know it has an effect on people's daily lives."
One example is an upcoming planting project to add more trees along pathways in the preserve to create better shaded stopping points for trail users. In the end, the purpose always comes back to the community and its residents.
"When you have a resident write on social media about how great something looks — when the public says that, it really makes you feel good," Conerly said. "One good compliment goes a long way."
Hopper and Conerly view their work in Wellington as more than just a day job. "I always like to say if you do what you love for a living, sometimes it doesn't feel like work," Hopper explained. "It's nice to be able to enjoy what you do when you have a passion for it."
He also shared a little advice for locals when deciding what to plant in their own spaces. "Stay away from the plants that you know are pest problems, or plants that you know are going to have to be treated," Hopper said.
Conerly couldn't agree more. "In my personal yard, if it doesn't attract a butterfly, a bee or a bird, I try not to plant it," he said.
Palm Beach Aquatics Is A Leader In Lake And Wetland Restoration Protecting Water
Always interested in the idea of working to maintain a healthy environment, John Natale founded Palm Beach Aquatics in 1998 as a full-service environmental management company specializing in lake and wetland restoration.
With his business partner Mike Lehman, the firm has become a Florida leader in environmentally friendly green technology for lake management.
"Our services include algae and weed control, fountain sales and service, aquatic planting, fish stocking, bank restoration and beneficial bacteria programs," said Natale, who moved to the Wellington area more than 30 years ago from Hartford, Conn.
Committed to working to improve the environmental well-being of Florida's communities, Palm Beach Aquatics achieves its goal in two important ways. First, it restores wetlands, promoting natural methods and thereby reducing chemicals and nutrients in ground and service waters. The company also helps to prevent weathering and provides animal habitat by the introduction of native vegetation — plants, grasses and trees — to their appropriate communities.
"We are an authorized Aqua Control and Airmax fountain and aeration system dealer," Natale said. "Placing a fountain or aerator in your waterway is one of the most beneficial things you can do for the ecosystem."
He added that other beneficial actions include the addition of aquatic plants and fish stocking.
"We are a SePRO preferred applicator and stewards of the water. Our trained aquatic biologists have more than half a century of combined experience," Natale said.
Working in both the private and public sector, the team is experienced with small and large bodies of water and in advanced freshwater fish management.
A new product being used by Palm Beach Aquatics is a weed control solution that is as effective as the chemical in Roundup, without the carcinogenic compounds.
The firm even offers an eco-friendly method for flying pest control.
"We offer a completely green approach for mosquito, midge fly and black fly control that is very important for horse stables and farms in Wellington," Natale explained.
The green theme extends to the company itself, which conserves and limits overall energy consumption in its offices, facilities and vehicles. As an environmentally friendly company, Palm Beach Aquatics strives to protect natural environments, conserve resources and educate its clientele on environmental issues.
"We also strive for exceptional customer service and pride ourselves on using EPA-approved and environmentally safe products that are not harmful to horses and humans to treat the waters," Natale said.
Palm Beach Aquatics offers its lake, fountain and aerator service throughout South Florida for lake and fish management. "We carry a full line of Aqua Control fountains and aerators to keep your lake in regulated circulation," Natale said.
Incorporating the objective of sustainability for every decision in the business, the firm strives to play a positive role in conservation from global climate change to local issues, such as water scarcity and aquatic vegetation management.
In order to prioritize its environmental stewardship, the company focuses on the following areas: water, waste recycling, habitat restoration, exotic species control, energy conservation, phytoremediation (which includes processes mediated by plants that are useful in treating environmental problems), best management practices and transportation.
Using only EPA-approved herbicides and natural methods of nutrient reduction and algae prevention such as waterway aeration, using enzymes and bacteria to reduce sludge, and algae prevention rather than treatment, the company encourages the use of slow-release fertilizers and educates clients on the effects of nutrient loading in and around waterways.
As a longtime resident of the area, Natale enjoys the lifestyle of Wellington. He and his wife moved to the area in 1987. They have one daughter who works for Wellington Parks & Recreation. Natale's hobbies include fundraising and polo.
For more information about Palm Beach Aquatics, call (561) 719-8900 or (888) 391-LAKE (5253) or visit www.pbaquatics.com. The web site includes links for customer service, work order requests and a client-only log-in for comprehensive reports for each property.
Meet The Unsung Heroes Of Wellington's Emergency Operations Team
October 31, 2019 wellingtonINSIDER
When storms like Hurricane Dorian are on the horizon, the community prepares for the worst and hopes for the best. But preparedness is more than having bottles of water and canned food on hand. Wellington's Emergency Operations Team of Eric Juckett, Bruce Wagner, Shannon LaRocque, Ed De La Vega and Mike O'Dell — led by Director of Emergency Management & Public Safety Nicole Coates — takes the concept of preparation far beyond the expected.
"Emergency Management is made up of all employees who work for the village. All public employees may be called upon to work during an emergency, such as a natural disaster," Coates said. "The village has implemented the use of FEMA's Incident Command Structure and applied it to all large-scale events. Employees train year-round on FEMA's process in the event we needed to respond to an emergency."
While the entire village is ready to help, there are key personnel who assist in the coordination of resources, response and recovery efforts during a disaster of any kind.
"We all wear multiple hats and are ready to serve when called upon," Coates said. "My blue-sky role in the Parks & Recreation Department back in 2001 was as the community projects manager, in which I would coordinate and serve as the incident commander for large-scale community events such as the Fall Festival and the Fourth of July."
As Coates rose over time to become community services director, she continuously found herself working and training in the field of emergency preparedness and response.
"It was during the hurricanes in 2004 that I had my first experience working in the village's Emergency Operations Center (EOC)," Coates said. "I understood incident command, and it all started to make sense."
In 2012, when John Bonde retired, Coates was promoted to her current role and is now a part of the Region 7 team consisting of professionals from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The team is deployable to any part of the state when the need arises.
"I was sent to [Hurricane] Michael. Knowing that here we deal with debris and flooding, seeing a Category 5 storm and what it can really do was eye opening," Coates said. "It really helped me to see the massive coordination it takes to recover from a storm."
One of the key personnel for the village is Director of Public Works Bruce Wagner. He serves as the Operations Section chief, who is responsible for coordinating a variety of staff during an active incident.
"We work to return the village to normal operations as soon as possible. Public Works is the first to respond and is always the last to leave to ensure the safety and welfare of all residents," Wagner said. "During Hurricane Irma, Binks Forest Drive became blocked with a great deal of downed trees, vegetation and debris, which posed a potential flooding issue and driving hazard, including obstruction for emergency vehicles. Public Works spotted the situation, responded and addressed it before the public even knew or reported it."
Coates explained that in addition to fire-rescue and law enforcement, Wellington's Public Works and Utilities staff also serve as first responders, ensuring roads and critical facilities remain operational. "One of the largest parts of the recovery process is debris management. Removing debris quickly, before it becomes a safety concern, is a top priority," Coates said. "On average, here in Wellington, we have seen storms generate more than 265,000 cubic yards of debris."
Utilities Director Shannon LaRocque mirrors Wagner's role in the Operations Section.
"Bruce handles Public Works, and I handle the Utilities side — water and wastewater," LaRocque said. "The one thing everyone talks about is water, but even more important is the wastewater plan. Without it, we don't have sanitary provisions, which is critical to public health. We can always truck in water."
Because water and sewer service are critical infrastructure, LaRocque's team plans for more than just natural disasters. They are ready for massive power outages and even to mobilize and assist public utilities elsewhere in Florida.
"We can deal with power loss. We have nearly 60 emergency generators. Emergency power management is huge for us," LaRocque said. "In [Hurricane] Dorian, I was preparing everybody for the fact that we could have widespread water and sanitary sewer outages."
With large infrastructure improvements in process, LaRocque's department has about $50 million in construction projects underway, and all that equipment and unfinished work had to be secured.
"It was a huge coordination effort. Everybody on my team has a specific role, and they know what to do in preparation for a storm. So, I feel very confident that we are in a good position," LaRocque said.
Assistant Planning & Zoning Director Michael O'Dell is another important piece of the Emergency Management team. His role in the Planning Section is important for the documentation of everything from broad assessments to individual events.
"The Planning Section assists with developing the incident action reports for each operational cycle," he said. "They are also key to obtaining damage assessment and situational awareness throughout the incident."
Supporting the staff as they care for village residents is also vital to keeping all responses and recovery efforts moving along smoothly.
"My Emergency Management role is Logistics Section chief. This includes ensuring all the staff in lockdown have the proper supplies, including food, water and safety supplies," Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett said. "It is of the utmost importance that we get back up and running to the public as soon as possible. I can't begin to explain how many compliments we receive from the residents for our efforts in this."
Perhaps one of the least visible roles is that of Director of General Services Ed De La Vega, who also serves as the Finance Section chief during and after emergencies.
"The Finance Section is responsible for all financial, administrative and costs associated with the incident," Coates said. "They play a critical role in the recovery process, from working with our insurance providers to seeking FEMA reimbursement for damage to public property and assets."
Service Is Key to Successful Equine Waste Business JH Hauling
With Wellington famous for its equestrian lifestyle and world-class events, it is easy to overlook the less glamorous end of the horse business. Justin Hickey of JH Hauling calls himself a "manure entrepreneur," and his successful firm is one of the top manure haulers for the waste of Wellington's equine residents.
Born in Ireland and raised in England and California, Hickey moved to Wellington when he was 15 years old and grew up in the community. "I loved watching polo and the lifestyle of Wellington," Hickey recalled. "I immediately thought, 'Wow, this is paradise to me!' I've been here ever since."
To this day, Hickey enjoys the majestic sport of polo.
"Polo season is the best time of year. I love Sunday polo, and I go to polo games during the week," he said. "The lifestyle is for people who like fast cars and fast boats. I love the Sunshine State with its tiki bars, great restaurants and nice people. It is the land of the lifestyles of the rich and famous."
During the equestrian season, some 12,000 horses are in Wellington. Each 1,000-pound animal produces about 50 pounds of waste each and every day. These horses are easily producing more than 600,000 pounds of waste per day, according to some estimates. Phosphorous runoff from the manure can create damaging situations for the fragile Everglades ecosystem. This provides a challenge for the village and an opportunity for businesses like JH Hauling.
Living in Wellington for the past three decades, Hickey first started his business as a part-time opportunity. "I attended school and became a private duty nurse, then I started my manure-hauling business as something on the side," he explained.
From his childhood, Hickey had experience with horses and their waste products. "Being from Ireland, I knew what to do with horse manure," Hickey said.
As a nurse, he came to meet a large sugarcane farmer as a client and took care of him. This provided the connection for a vast amount of land to the west of the village where he could legally and legitimately spread the waste material.
"I'm in charge of spreading between two farms. I have access to more than 129,000 acres of fields," Hickey said.
With 90 percent of his business coming from Wellington, and the balance from all around Palm Beach County, JH Hauling enjoys a good reputation as a registered hauler because of Hickey's attitude toward service.
"By being honest and kind, and answering my phone, I have built a successful business," Hickey said. "It is not science; it isn't that complicated. It's all about service. I've been around a long time. I've been doing it for 30 years. I answer my phone promptly, I treat people with respect, and I get the job done. It's pretty plain and simple."
Hickey now lives in Loxahatchee. He has a daughter and just became a grandfather.
Intimately involved in the ongoing manure issues in Wellington, Hickey has spearheaded efforts to alleviate the challenges created by illegal waste removal and disposal. He said that he feels the situation could be better if everyone followed the rules and regulations and the village was more proactive in making all haulers follow the rules and regulations.
"When there's illegal dumping, Wellington doesn't do anything about it because it's outside of Wellington. When you're a hauler, you're losing clients and customers because of illegal dumping and haulers unethically dumping," Hickey said.
However, Hickey has seen improvements in this regard, and he sees more changes and improvements coming in the future. He said that equestrians are becoming more interested in using permitted haulers to help protect the environment, and they are concerned about knowing where the manure is going to go once it leaves their property.
For more information about JH Hauling, call (561) 248-3344.
Above And Beyond Party Décor Turns A Client's Vision Into Reality
With life comes milestones, many of which are celebrated as special and unique occasions. Andrea Plevin of Above and Beyond Party Décor has built her business around making clients happy by bringing their dream celebrations to life.
Originally from Westchester County, N.Y., Andrea moved to Wellington to support her family. Her two oldest children stayed up north for college, and her youngest, Kylee Plevin, joined Andrea and her husband Roger in Florida as they cared for her in-laws. The entire family has since reunited in Florida.
Andrea has long been involved in the communities that she has lived in, which led to her career in party planning.
"I was very active and volunteered for any kind of function that involved decorating, and I really enjoyed it," she recalled. "People kept saying, 'You should do this for a living.' I finally decided to do it."
Planning parties keeps her busy, too. So far in 2019, Andrea has worked on more than 25 baby showers and first birthday parties alone. Many people don't realize that doing everything for an event on their own can get expensive very quickly.
"Often, I have supplies here that they can use, and I just take them back, so it's like a rental," she explained. "That is going to be much less money than if they went out, bought everything themselves, and then after the party, they don't know what to do with it."
During her 23 years in the business of making magic, all three of the Plevin children have been involved in the company to some extent. Her daughter, Jordana Norring of Jupiter, and son, Andrew Plevin of Wellington, have both contributed many times over. "My son Andrew is the fastest at tying balloons that you will ever see," Andrea said. "Recently, my youngest has become very involved in the business, too."
Andrea is also now a grandmother of seven, including Dean and Brad Lamont; Grayson and Rayna Norring; and Celia, Hudson and Claire Plevin.
After growing up in Wellington, Kylee graduated from Florida Atlantic University with an emphasis on technical design. She worked in the healthcare field for years before deciding to follow in her mother's footsteps and feed her creative side. "I'm like my mom, very creative, very hands on, very crafty," Kylee said. "But I also balance out my mom in ways. I'm very logistic and structured."
Above and Beyond Party Décor can handle any type of function, from a personal backyard birthday party for two, to a 500-guest event at an exclusive country club. Their unique specialty? Larger than life arches and sculptures made entirely of balloons.
"Organic arches are really in right now," said Kylee, who explained the involvement of different shapes, sizes and layers of balloons. "To keep up with the trends, we have to adapt to what people are wanting. Sometimes that means we have to learn new and different techniques."
For the best experience from start to finish, clients should always consider their timeline and realize that successful event planning takes time to execute.
"For large events, like a wedding or bar mitzvah, I suggest getting started at least six months in advance," Andrea said. "Smaller events should start planning at least a month or two ahead."
Because the schedule for party planning varies, Andrea is open to working with clientele in person or virtually. She and her daughter are quite tech savvy.
"If I have a picture, I can do it," Andrea said. "I like talking to people, but I also text often, as more people have been contacting me that way. For people out of the state, we can literally do the entire party by text, and I don't meet them in person until the event day."
She explained that the planning portion is all about learning the client's vision. The execution portion is where Andrea takes the reins and makes that vision real.
She knows the local venues and can draw many of them by memory, but that may not be the best way to translate a client's vision.
"We work predominantly in Palm Beach County, but we have the capabilities to work outside of it, if that's what the client needs," Andrea said. "We also don't put out packages because everything is tailored to the client. We are also very good at working within a budget."
Andrea takes being a part of these important lifetime moments very seriously, and that is why clients return.
"One customer, I did all four kids' [bar/bat] mitzvahs, and now I just did the first wedding for them, too," she said. "It is fun, but my favorite thing is when it's all done, and I'm really excited about how it looks. I can't wait for my client to walk in and see the expression on their face. So many times, they say, 'This looks even better than I pictured!'"
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Not Just Playing With Numbers: Finance Team Keeps Wellington In The Black
Wellington's Office of Financial Management and Budget is setting the standard for practice and policy across the nation. More than just the purse strings for the village, OFMB is directly connected to every department — and every resident.
"We monitor all revenues and expenses for the village, and we provide services that the customers need, want and are willing to pay for," said Controller Ana Acevedo, who has been with Wellington for five years. "In the finance department, we work very closely with all departments in the village, and I just enjoy seeing how our tax dollars are put to work."
After 14 years on the job, Budget Director Christine Wadleigh knows the ins and outs of making things work for everyone.
"We give the financial support and guidance to all the other departments. We make the connection between what the residents see and the requirements that any government has to meet according to statutes and law," Wadleigh explained. "We do the financial reporting, and then prepare and present a balanced budget. We make the translation between the fun stuff that everybody sees and the finances that make it happen."
As a department centered around planning, OFMB is all about being prepared for the future.
"During the Great Recession, many local governments experienced debilitating hardships," Acevedo said. "Wellington was able to continue to meet the needs of the residents during this difficult time by evaluating economic conditions and planning well for unforeseen events. I think that's what finance is all about — planning ahead. We assisted with cost-cutting measures that kept the village running leanly while maintaining our excellent financial position."
OFMB is not the largest department in Wellington's government, but it touches every aspect. Between the purchasing, budget and accounting sections, approximately 20 people are tasked with crunching the numbers.
"We developed a priority-based budget model that every department completes, and it allows them to rank their budget requests," Wadleigh said. "They do an awesome job of prioritizing, and I call them budgeteers."
Another key step to this ranking system involves identifying all the core activities in Wellington and making sure those are funded.
"We implemented an annual budget survey, probably 10 years ago now, that really provides insight on the items that are important to the residents. That helps us to prepare our budget knowing that we are meeting the needs of our residents," Wadleigh said. "We even identify the higher level, quality of life community add-on activities and make sure those are funded."
Getting the community to participate in surveys is no easy task. Other government agencies throughout Florida have tried and failed, so crafting questions that people want to take the time to answer is an art form in itself.
"I gave a presentation on it to the Florida Government Finance Officers Association in June, and many others have had difficulties getting it off the ground. We've had great support here," Wadleigh said.
The results have received not only attention, but awards.
"I am extremely proud of the awards that the finance department has received throughout the years," Acevedo said. "In 2019, we received a certificate of excellence award for our investment policy. This is awarded for investment policies that have been reviewed and professionally accepted by the Association of Public Treasuries of the United States and Canada."
OFMB has also earned many recognitions from the national Government Finance Officers Association, including a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 22 consecutive years.
The GFOA has also bestowed upon Wellington its Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award for eight straight years. This award specifically refers to the creation of reports that are easily accessible and understandable to the general public.
The department's proficiency in everything from policy documentation and organization to financial planning has also earned them the GFOA's Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation for the past 23 years.
Past successes support a strong track record, but the department is always looking ahead.
"Our future plans are to always continue to meet the future economic challenges. We update our forecasting every year and want to keep Wellington in its current excellent financial position," Wadleigh said. "That also means being able to change with the times and being aware of what's going on out there and making sure we recommend financial and policy changes to keep ourselves in a good position, no matter what happens."
There is also an internal plan in place to keep the department running at peak efficiency.
"We want to continue to grow our department and promote from within like a succession plan," Acevedo said. "In the finance office, it is critical to cross-train to make sure that if anyone is out, we always have someone to cover during their absence."
Both Acevedo and Wadleigh give much of the credit for their success to Director of Administrative and Financial Services Tanya Quickel.
"Tanya Quickel really just brings a great and welcoming culture. We meet weekly to discuss everything that's going on," Acevedo said. "It's just a family, a home away from home. Our leadership is just exceptional."
Wadleigh said that Quickel allows everyone to leverage each other's strengths.
"We all respect that everyone's strengths come together as a great team," Wadleigh said. "We've got super-talented, devoted people. Even at quitting time, they're not going home. They stay until the job is done."
The pieces of Wellington's government strive to fit together, working toward a common goal for the community.
"Our goal continues to be a great hometown, and that's our mission and our vision for the village," Acevedo said.
Gwen Gottlieb Helps Clients Boost Their Brand's Influence
August 30, 2019 wellingtonINSIDER
Gwen Gottlieb has found a way to have it all in life by exploring her passion for creativity while helping others build their brands.
Several years ago, Gottlieb was looking for something to complement her day job as the marketing director at Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute. This led to her new business, known as Gwen Lives Well.
"I was looking for something I could do in my spare time — something that would let me express my creative nature," Gottlieb explained.
So, she melded her interests in the current cultural, food and social media trends to find success as a lifestyle influencer. She uses a vast network of online connections to put her clients' message directly in the path of potential consumers.
"I love the Instagram community of people I've 'met.' I've gotten to 'know' folks from all walks of life, and believe it or not, have had several real friendships develop as a result," Gottlieb said.
This one-woman army is equipped with a valuable skill set in a global economy driven by social media outlets. She has a strong client list ranging from hotels and restaurants to other businesses, and Gottlieb thrives on opportunities to collaborate.
"Social media is an amazing way to reach additional potential customers. Add that element to your traditional advertising methods, and you've got a more well-rounded campaign," Gottlieb said. "What sets me apart from other influencers is that I'll always go the extra mile for my clients. I treat their brand with respect and consideration. I do my best to present and help meet the client's goals, whether it's brand awareness, more sales or growth on social media."
Another reason that her clients find Gottlieb a perfect fit for their campaign strategy is her ability to stand apart in a field teeming with young internet influencers. She has a depth they often lack, and the capacity to connect with both younger and older crowds. In addition, Gottlieb enhances her work with a multi-strategy approach.
"Potential clients can contact me for information on branding campaigns, or anything else related to marketing, public relations and business development, including web site copy, brochures, press releases, blog posts and any other creative copy needs," she said.
Since Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute has four locations, one of which is in Wellington, this gives Gottlieb frequent opportunities to spend time in an area she has come to enjoy.
"I just love being in Wellington any chance I get — terrific restaurants, people and the community as a whole," she said. "I also enjoy working with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. It's one of the most dynamic and active chambers I've ever been involved with."
Her reputation as a seasoned foodie and Florida lifestyle influencer have also given Gottlieb some fun and unique experiences.
"I was thrilled to be a judge at this past year's Flavors of Wellington event," she recalled. "I had a blast meeting other judges and sitting next to Mayor Anne Gerwig, a fellow judge."
With experience in a variety of subjects, working on everything from Canada Dry to Wells Fargo projects, Gottlieb is always excited to see what potential clients want to pursue. She has also worked with businesses outside of Florida, including the Hermitage in Nashville, Tenn., and the Peabody in Memphis, Tenn.
"Currently, my particular strengths lie with Instagram, and I'm also trying to spend more time working on my blog, Gwen Lives Well. I would also like to work more on my Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter accounts," Gottlieb said. "My business is a work in progress. I'm always evolving — looking for ways to grow my own brand while doing my best to deliver what my clients expect."
Gottlieb is also on the lookout for travel information, great vacation spots and new product lines that she can share with her network of followers.
"I like to tell my clients, 'Let's grow together,'" Gottlieb said. "I'm available to brands, restaurants and really any business that wants assistance in getting the word out about what they do."
She approaches every client and project with personal attention, tailoring individual quotes for any potential venture. "I am an award-winning newspaper creator and publisher, award-winning television documentary writer and an experienced corporate communications specialist," Gottlieb said. "My social media persona is authentic."
Outside of travel and managing her own Instagram account, @GwenLivesWell, she loves to cook for her family, do Pilates and yoga. Between herself and her husband Gary Gottlieb, a principal partner with the commercial real estate firm Avison Young, they have four children, two in New York and two in South Florida.
Contact Gwen Gottlieb through direct message on her Instagram account @GwenLivesWell, e-mail gwen@gwenliveswell.com or visit her blog at www.gwenliveswell.com.
Technology Services Department Keeps The Village Of Wellington Working At The Speed Of Business
Technology stretches across every facet of modern life. There are always new and innovative ways to use digital tools, which is a perfect way to describe the Village of Wellington's Technology Services Department — commonly referred to as the "IT" department, short for the industry term "information technology."
"It's the 21st century, and we are the least visible but one of the most important departments because every single department is using some facet of mobile, tablet, laptop or desktop system to monitor things, record things, make alerts or create reports," Chief Information Officer William Silliman explained. "More and more of the work is going less and less analog, so everything is pretty much digital nowadays."
As times change, the IT department continues to integrate and upgrade every section of the village's operations to improve the flow of work. As businesses and the community continue to develop more tech-savvy habits, Silliman's seven-person team is on high alert at all times.
"The most critical issue I tell my staff is if e-mail, internet or telecommunications goes down, drop everything and figure it out," Silliman said. "Security is also a big concern. We are constantly monitoring and watching everything from phishing scams to ransomware. We try and watch every little piece — making sure everything is backed up in a way that is recoverable."
Technology Services continues on a strong path forward as they roll out improvements during a special three-year plan. The five-phase project includes upgrading the entire system to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that streamlines everything for staff and residents from paying utility bills to building codes.
"Every iteration of the web site gets better as we try to keep it simple, friendly and easy to use," Silliman said. "We've got a really great department and very smart people, and there is always something to improve. I don't want IT to be a hole into which you pour money. We shop around, and with each innovation are working to save Wellington time and money. The key is we don't perpetuate the way things have always been done."
Perhaps one of the most striking changes to IT over the years is the integration of a quality Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team to support the village as a whole.
GIS Manager Nicole McPherson, who first worked for Wellington in 2004, returned home in 2010 to run an innovative team that is making big strides in the field and winning honors for creativity.
"We just received the 2019 Florida Excellence in Technology Award from the Agency for State Technology for our Emergency Operations GIS Portal," McPherson said. "We have mobile apps collecting damage assessments that is connected to the FPL map of their outages and the county's Emergency Operations Center (EOC)."
Essentially, this portal allows workers in the field after an emergency, like a hurricane or severe storm, to upload data including images and location information directly to the EOC. This allows senior staff to look at damage assessment information in as close to real time as possible, and decisions for dispatching repair teams and assistance is based on reality instead of speculation.
"Eventually, the idea is to have something publicly accessible so people can see real-time road closures and more after an emergency," McPherson added. "Our team is awesome. I can't do what I do without IT. They are so critical, and they don't get the credit. I've had other people, including outside vendors, tell us our IT is amazing, and they are right."
GIS is now a part of our everyday lives, whether we know it or not. Programs like Google Maps is one popular example of GIS in action, and IT is always finding new ways to use it.
"I used to challenge the team to think outside the box, and now I don't have to — they just do it," Silliman said. "I'll play devil's advocate and am always asking 'what if' so we can identify potential problems. Having redundancy means that the end users, both residents and village staff, don't even know there was an issue."
That's all part of the department's primary goal to always keep the machine running.
"Wellington uses a cloud-based system, so that it is not just reliant upon village hall being here. If it was gone to tomorrow, the data is still up and running, and you could go to a neighboring community and still function, pay bills and use the web site," Silliman said.
In the grand scheme of a growing Wellington, IT is striving to ensure the least amount of impact for residents, businesses and employees. Having layers and backup plans in place allow Technology Services to keep the entire community connected and running smoothly.
After working in the private sector, and now at the village for the past seven years, Silliman feels more connected to his work than ever.
"I like the public sector. Being a resident here, I know who I'm working for, while in the private sector, I didn't get to see the end user," he said. "Instead, I've got the entire environment of Wellington. When we use a road application for surveys, I actually see the roads being paved. It just keeps going and growing each year."
Silliman likes the fact that Wellington does not have a fear of technology, which is one thing that brought him to his current position.
"It's one of the reasons why I came to Wellington," he said. "While getting my water bill information filled out, I looked around and thought, 'Wow, they've got a lot of technology.' I pulled out my iPad, found a position and started applying right then and there."
That was in the past, and thanks to Technology Services, Wellington is ready for the future.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Who the Sam Hill is Jim Holt?
Part 2—Stopped before reaching Kyoto: Who the heck is best-selling author Jim Holt? By the norms of Internet information collection, it's remarkably hard to find out.
In this essay for New York Magazine, Holt revealed that, in the summer of 68, he, unlike Jackson Browne, was 13. This would mean that he was born in 1954 or 1955. You can work out his current age from there.
Meanwhile:
Based upon a few passages in his 2012 book, Why Does the World Exist? An Existential Detective Story, it seems That Holt grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, the city of seven hills. Beyond that, his biographical profile is remarkably fuzzy.
We'd say the standard version of Holt's bio is offered in the blurb promoting his TED Talk. In its overview, TED also provides an upbeat account of Holt's book:
TED: In his 2012 book Why Does the World Exist?: An Existential Detective Story, Jim Holt creates a narrative out of one of the biggest questions we can ask—and how modern scientists and philosophers are asking it. Can answers be found in many-worlds theory, in quantum mechanics, in a theology? Traveling around North America and Europe, he talks to physicists, including David Deutsch; philosophers, including Richard Swinburne; and the novelist John Updike. Why? Because as he tells Vanity Fair, "To me it's the most sublime and awesome question in all of philosophy and all of human inquiry."
A longtime contributor to the New York Times, Slate and the New Yorker, Holt has written on string theory, time, infinity, numbers, humor, logic, truth and bullshit, among other topics. Holt studied mathematics at the University of Virginia, and was a faculty fellow in the philosophy department at Columbia. He is now at work on a book about free will, weakness of will, self-knowledge and happiness.
Holt has written on bullshit, among other topics. Let's fill out that basic bio:
It's often said that Holt got a master's degree in math at Virginia, then went to Columbia to study philosophy. That "faculty fellow" designation may mean that he was a graduate teaching assistant. We've seen no claim that he received a degree from Columbia, or that he was an actual faculty member.
Somewhat comically, TED quotes Holt's interview with Vanity Fair—an interview which paired him with a young English major one year out of college. As we noted yesterday, the young journalist started the session by telling Holt that she didn't have the first fucking idea what the Sam Hill he was talking about in his book. Holt pretended that this meant that he had "failed" in his book.
Somewhat cynically, we'd wonder if that young woman's statement didn't mean that Holt had actually succeeded in his basic mission. Leaving such speculations to others, we'll note that the Vanity Fair interview gives us some sense of who Holt may actually be.
As we all await Professor Trump's war, we'll also suggest that the interview may give us a tiny peek behind a significant cultural curtain. The foolishness behind that curtain has led us to our current degraded state.
In the summer of 2012, Vanity Fair had tasked Linda Christensen, one year out of Princeton, with interviewing the seer. As we noted yesterday, she quickly said she had no idea what the fuck Holt was talking about in his new book.
But uh-oh! Being well-mannered and well-employed, she quickly added words of mandated praise. In this initial back and forth, we're peeking behind a curtain:
CHRISTENSEN (7/16/12): Mr. Holt—I have to confess: a lot of this book was over my head.
HOLT: Oh no! That's terrible. I've failed.
CHRISTENSEN: That's not a total negative. It's certainly an impressive whirlwind of complex arguments in cosmology, philosophy, physics, and mathematics—but why the fixation with being and nothingness?
HOLT: To me it's the most sublime and awesome question in all of philosophy and all of human inquiry...
It wasn't Christensen's fault that she'd been handed this assignment, for which she had no apparent qualification. Indeed, having been handed this absurd task, she proceeded as best she could.
That said, we see an intriguing juxtaposition as the interview starts. His interlocutor told Jim Holt that she didn't have the first fucking idea what he was talking about. That much said, so what? She quickly added words of high reassurance:
"It's certainly an impressive whirlwind of complex arguments in cosmology, philosophy, physics, and mathematics," the young scribe unknowingly said. This joined the introductory appraisal she had penned:
Jim Holt had "established himself as an invaluable fixture in the most sophisticated conversations about philosophy, physics, mathematics, and theology today," the young scribe had unknowingly said.
Stating the obvious, this young journalist had no way of knowing whether those judgments made sense. But so what? Having said the book was "over her head," she went on to praise its "complex arguments," having already certified its author's "invaluable" status.
This pattern is widely observed when people like Holt write books of this type. Journalists know they've been assigned to applaud, and so they proceed to do so. A standard group assessment thereby gathers steam.
Our view? Holt's book is, at heart, a giant pile of heavily self-referential bullroar. Again and again as we plow through its text, we're struck by the author's sophisticated humblebragging and by his truly spectacular nonsense.
The intellectual namedropping performed in the book has surely established world records. Other music men play this game, but Holt is a grand past master.
In 1988, Michael Kinsley described the 39-year-old Al Gore as "an old person's idea of a young person." In similar fashion, Holt's book might be seen as an untutored journalist's idea of "an impressive whirlwind of complex arguments" compiled by an "invaluable" guide.
(As we'll note before the week is done, Holt's is precisely the type of book the New York Times will inevitably name as one of the year's ten best. They crowned Holt's book in 2012, did the same thing last year.)
Good God, this book is awful! But before we look at a bit of its text, let's ponder the glimmerings we can glean from the rest of that Vanity Fair interview.
Poor Christensen! Having no idea what Holt's book was about, she was forced to engage in small talk about the process by which it had joined the great chain of being.
As TED tells us, Holt had "travel[ed] around North America and Europe," talking to physicists and philosophers in the course of compiling his book. Early on, Christensen briefly tried working with that:
CHRISTENSEN: How much of this scavenger hunt for answers had you planned out before you began research?
HOLT: In 2009, I thought the journey was going to end up in Kyoto. I ran out of traveling money, actually.
CHRISTENSEN: Why Kyoto?
HOLT: It turns out that the Kyoto school of Buddhism makes Heidegger seem like Rush Limbaugh—it's so rarified, I've never been able to understand it at all. I've been knocking my head against it for years.
CHRISTENSEN: But you didn't end up working from there, in the end.
HOLT: I found the Café de Flore in Paris to be a very convenient base from which to operate. It's where Jean-Paul Sartre wrote Being and Nothingness and hung out with Simone de Beauvoir during the war, and Descartes is buried right across the square. And Leibniz, when he was in Paris, was also right across the street.
We're sparing you Holt's fuller thoughts on the Kyoto school. We're giving you the tiniest taste of the book's high culture foppishness, along with a taste of the nonstop intellectual namedropping to which we have alluded.
At the Café de Flore, Holt was operating right across the street from the place where Leibniz once had been! Concerning Holt's reference to "traveling money," this exchange raised a basic question for us about this piddlerich book:
Who in the world paid for all the hard traveling Holt performs in the book? For all the trips to Paris, and to Oxford and/or Cambridge? For all the fancy meals Holt describes himself consuming? Not to mention the bottles of wine!
Given the worthlessness of this book, why was there any money to fund this manifest nonsense? Presumably, we can feel blessed that the money ran out before Holt reached Kyoto. But given the glimpses Holt provides of his own background; given his relatively light prior output; we're curious how a high-livin' grab bag of nonsense like this ever got funded at all.
Christensen didn't ask. Instead, she proceeded to a standard question, triggering an incorrect answer:
CHRISTENSEN (continuing directly): Bone to pick: your list excludes women.
HOLT: It wasn't meant to be that way! I was going to include a Harvard physicist who's not only a woman but she's extremely attractive. But then I alienated her by writing an insufficiently favorable review of a book of hers in the Times. So I never asked her—it would have been too gelid an atmosphere.
Poor Christensen! She tried to throw in a type of question which was standard even in 2012. For her trouble, she received a tone deaf remark about a Harvard physicist "who's not only a woman but she's extremely attractive."
Holt seems to refer to Harvard's Lisa Randall, high school classmate of Brian Greene. Given Holt's review of Randall's book, any such conversation would have been too "gelid," the VF scribe was told.
Christensen didn't complain. With the book's actual contents off limits, she took one more side trip:
CHRISTENSEN: The book is just as much a personal journey as it is one of science—what made you want to include autobiographical elements into your analysis?
HOLT: Of course, there was a certain amount of death intruded into the book—first of all, one of the philosophers almost killed me—but also my dog dies while I'm in Austin. It's the best part of the book—it's really sad. And then later, my mother dies towards the end, and it's kind of tacky to exploit the death of one's mother, but I saw not only a self but the self that engendered my own being flicker out of existence. Contemplating the question of why the world exists makes one contemplate the precariousness of one's own existence.
"One of the philosophers almost killed me?" As we'll likely explain in a later installment, this is a humblebrag, of a type which pervades this book.
That said, Christensen gets credit for noticing the constant self-reference in this high philosophical work. The best part of his book concerns the death of his dog, the invaluable philosophe says. It was really sad.
Can that possibly be the best part of this deeply sophisticated book? Tomorrow, we'll look at some actual text from Holt's "detective story." We'll be peeking behind a cultural curtain as we take this step.
Tomorrow: Spectacular nonsense of the type the New York Times runs to reward
Posted by bob somerby on Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Somerby says: "As we all await Professor Trump's war, we'll also suggest..."
Why does Somerby refer to Trump as "Professor" when trump has no academic credentials at all?
The term Professor doesn't even refer to someone with a doctorate in some subject. It is a title that refers to someone with an academic appointment at a university. More specifically, it is a job title and refers to someone with the rank of full professor. Others are referred to as lecturers or assistant professors or teaching fellows.
Somerby gives this title to Trump. Why? In part, it mocks Trump. The more likely reason is that it mocks professors to consider Trump to be one of them.
This is snide and unwarranted. It takes someone, in addition to the four years required to earn a B.A. or B.S., upwards of 5 years (often 8-10, sometimes 12-14 years) of additional study to earn a doctorate. It often takes considerable personal sacrifice and it is not easy to do. Then, in a job market where only 23% can expect a tenure-track job, it takes additional years to obtain a position and work one's way up the job ladder. Promotions take the same kind of dedication that earns partnerships at law firms, the same number of hours and the same sacrifice. If you don't get tenure, you lose your job and have to start the job search and promotion effort all over again somewhere else. Other jobs do not require this.
So, on what basis does Somerby mock professors? I think it is small-mindedness and envy. He obviously didn't enjoy his time at Harvard and he seems to blame professors for something -- his failure to do well at university, perhaps? Hard to say when Somerby is so indirect about everything he writes. Easier to lump Trump and professors into the same sentence, a casual slander of people who largely work hard and do their best to advance human knowledge in many different subjects.
Do some professors occasionally say questionable things, especially when expressing personal opinions rather than writing for an academic audience? So does everyone else. That is no reason for this stupid vendetta against them. Somerby should be above this crap.
You seem to lack a sense of humor (and perhaps you think too much).
"Christensen gets credit for noticing the constant self-reference in this high philosophical work."
Most people find it difficult to make contact with highly abstract ideas like those contemplated by philosophy. Including autobiographical information is a way to sustain interest by providing something people can relate to.
Is there any difference between the way Holt uses his mother's death, the loss of his dog, references to his own life to sustain interest and the way Sheryl Sandberg uses her husband's death, her own grief, her children's needs to put herself on the bestseller list and keep members of the public interested in her highly visible life?
I find anyone who would give a TED talk to be highly suspect, to begin with. Are you aware that people pay to give those talks -- to stand up on a stage and wave their arms while entertaining others in the name of pseudo-education? Who does that? Meet the new hucksters.
Somerby doesn't like the idea of philosophy (or cosmology) for the masses. He thinks people shouldn't enjoy pretending to understand obscure ideas as recreation. That should be reserved for college undergrads like he was who think they should be able to assess the value of popular books on the subject despite stopping their education with graduation (or maybe before). Somerby has no more right to critique the book than the young reporter he calls out. But what exactly is the harm in pretending the secrets of the universe are accessible with minimal effort and a bit of entertainment? What does it hurt?
impCaesarAvg April 25, 2017 at 1:08 PM
In another world, Holt's dog did not die.
gravymeister April 25, 2017 at 3:52 PM
Nor did Schrödinger's cat. Or did.
God forbid that thirty or so elementary students of color would be paired with a Philosophy major less than a year out of college as their teacher because he was avoiding military servoice.
You state that Somerby "was avoiding military servoice [sic]." Do you know that for a fact?
Beside that, I avoided military service, as I was reluctant to go off to war in Viet Nam, a war that was a mistake. Does that make me a coward, or somehow morally degenerate in your view?
Just Sayin' April 25, 2017 at 4:19 PM
The investment people have in loathing Somerby is astounding. They actually come here for no other reason than to fluff their pathetic hate boners.
Very icky.
Greg April 25, 2017 at 5:21 PM
I don't know if ad hominem hurts or helps, but it is certainly the order of the day here, and with more sadness than rancor, it is impossible to escape the fact Bob Somerby is an idiot.
You're dumb
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What's app +2347012841542
Website Https://emutemple.wordpress.com/
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The latest "killing" in Arkansas!
Maddow in the "killing" fields!
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Con men of the world, unite!
Tomasky says Comey didn't fear Dems!
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: An early clip from the text-in...
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: The alleged philosopher's flim...
People Comey the God had no reason to fear!
Sheryl Sandberg's superb op-ed!
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Assigned to interview the savant!
EMBRACE OF HATE: Loss of empathy for Those People!
EMBRACE OF HATE: Amanda Marcotte explains The Others!
EMBRACE OF HATE: Fels describes hate aimed at woma...
Krugman softens his tone on the white working class!
EMBRACE OF HATE: The gods of evolution at work!
EMBRACE OF HATE: Hatred seems to be on the rise!
Our hatred may make us dissemble or lie!
For misinformation, watch that space!
THE WAY WE LOOK: They way we looked in 2009!
Another day at the New York Times!
THE WAY WE LOOK: When we seem to sneer!
The rise of a very exciting word!
Was Carter Page a Russkie spy?
THE WAY WE LOOK: Some say we misread Petri's piece!
THE WAY WE LOOK: Our open contempt!
THE WAY WE LOOK: And the way we think!
The things they don't book-learn at Harvard and Yale!
HEALTH MATTERS: Many Trump voters were clueless RE...
Revisiting what Susan Rice said!
HEALTH MATTERS: Nicholas Kristof flayed and denoun...
What fairness does and doesn't look like!
HEALTH MATTERS: The (same old) 30 percent solution!
Mr. O is paid a lot per year!
Susan Rice is an easy mark!
HEALTH MATTERS: Zakaria dreams the impossible dream!
(Susan) Matthews gets it right!
Kristof visited hillbilly voters!
HEALTH MATTERS: Will Donald J. Trump support singl...
We liberals enjoy the hunt for Flynn!


text:
La Leagues Cup 2021 fue la segunda edición de la Leagues Cup. El torneo regresó dos años después de su primera edición, al no poderse realizar en el 2020 por problemas de logística relacionados con las medidas sanitarias establecidas por la Pandemia de COVID-19.

Se disputó con cuatro clubes de la Major League Soccer y cuatro de la Liga MX en un torneo de eliminación directa a partido único. Como en la primera edición, todos los encuentros se llevaron a cabo en Estados Unidos.

El campeón de esta edición fue el Club León de la Liga MX, que logró su primer título en este torneo.

Formato
A diferencia de la temporada inaugural, donde los equipos participantes fueron escogidos de manera arbitraria, para esta edición los equipos de ambos países calificaron a este torneo con base en sus logros en la temporada pasada de sus respectivas ligas.

Por la MLS, los cuatro equipos que participarán son los dos mejores de cada conferencia en la temporada 2020 que no calificaron a la Liga de Campeones de la Concacaf 2021. En la Conferencia Este, el 1°, 2° y 3° participaron en la 'Concachampions' 2021, por lo que  el 4° y 5° de la conferencia son los que disputarán la Leagues Cup: Orlando City SC y New York City FC respectivamente. En la Conferencia Oeste no hubo problema y estarán en el torneo el 1° y 2°: Sporting Kansas City y Seattle Sounders.

Por la Liga MX, estarán los cuatro equipos mejor ubicados en la tabla general de la temporada 2020-2021, sin tomar en cuenta a los que aún participan en la Liga de Campeones de la Concacaf 2021 ni al que juegue la Campeones Cup 2021. Cruz Azul, América y Monterrey, 1°, 2° y 4° respectivamente de la tabla general de la temporada 2020-21 se encuentran en la 'Concachampions' 2021, por lo que los representantes mexicanos serían el 3°, el 5°, el 6° y el 7° de la general: León, Tigres de la UANL, Santos Laguna y Pumas de la UNAM respectivamente. Sin embargo, el León aún se encuentra en la disputa del Campeón de Campeones 2020-21 (vs. Cruz Azul), partido que otorga el pase a la Campeones Cup. Por lo que, en caso de ganar el Campeón de Campeones, el León disputaría la Campeones Cup y dejaría su lugar en la Leagues Cup al Guadalajara (8° de la tabla general, temporada 2020-21). En caso de perderlo, seguiría en la Leagues Cup.

Equipos participantes

Calendario

Cuadro de desarrollo

Partidos

Cuartos de final

Sporting Kansas City vs. León

New York City vs. Pumas UNAM

Semifinales

Seattle Sounders vs. Santos Laguna

Final
Seattle Sounders vs. León

Estadísticas

Tabla de rendimiento

Goleadores

Véase también
 Major League Soccer
 Liga MX
 Campeones Cup

Referencias

Enlaces externos
 Web oficial del torneo

Leagues Cup
Fútbol en 2021

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Rudolph Bird is a drummer and percussionist with over thirty years of experience as a stage and studio musician. He has toured throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa with many musicians including Miles Davis, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lauryn Hill, Kenny Garrett, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Leela James. Bird is often requested for studio work and is featured on the albums of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, Nas, Leela James, Hill's award-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and Michael Jackson's posthumously released album, Michael. Bird has taught drums and percussion in New York and New Jersey at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Harlem School of the Arts, The Institute of Music for Children, and Essex County College for grades six through twelve (middle school through highschool).
^ The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (CD booklet). Ruffhouse Records. 1998. CK 69035.
^ (CD liner notes). Amy Winehouse. Island Records. 2003. 9812918.
^ "Rudy Bird". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
^ "Rudy Bird". www.midoriandfriends.org/. Retrieved 2 February 2017.


text:
require 'em-mongo'
require 'iconv'

#Quickfix: for undefined method `associate_callback_target' for #<EventMachine::Mongo::EMConnection:0x8dd44bc>
module EM
  class Connection
    def associate_callback_target(sig)
    end
  end
end

IC = Iconv.new('UTF-8//IGNORE', 'UTF-8')
def clean_untrusted_string(str)
  IC.iconv(str.to_s + ' ')[0..-2]
end

class ConnectionStorage

  def initialize(db)
    @db = db
		@connections = db.collection('connections')
		@messages = db.collection('messages')
		@secrets = db.collection('secrets')
		@doc = {}
  end

  def connected(ip)
    return if @isConnected
    @isConnected = true
    @doc[:ip] = ip
    @doc[:start] = Time.now
    store_doc
  end

  def disconnected
    if @isConnected
      @doc[:end] = Time.now
	    store_doc
    end
  end

  def authorized(user_id,screen_name)
    @doc[:user_id] = user_id
    @doc[:screen_name] = screen_name
    store_doc
  end

  def message(body,tadpole)
    @messages.insert( {
      :created_on => Time.now,
      :connection_id => @doc["_id"].to_s,
      :body => clean_untrusted_string(body),
      :author => clean_untrusted_string(tadpole.handle),
      :location => [tadpole.pos.x,tadpole.pos.y]
    })
  end

  private

  def store_doc
    if id = @doc["_id"]
      @connections.update({ "_id" => id }, @doc)
    else
      @connections.insert(@doc)
    end
  end

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Пропала возможность редактировать url, мета теги и добавлять изображения Wordpress Пропала возможность редактировать url, мета теги и добавлять изображения Wordpress.
Нажимаю кнопку изменить рядом с url и ничего не происходит.

A: Для редактирования тегов, url и изображения записи в редакторе WordPress (как в новом, так и в старом) используется JavaScript.
Скорее всего, какой нибудь свежеустановленный плагин генерирует JavaScript ошибку на странице редактирования записи.
Отключите плагины, которые были установлены перед появлением проблемы и все заработает.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


2000 Dodge Intrepid bought in April used with 11,000 miles. Since then it has been in shop 9-10 times, mostly consisting of steering problems, such as rack and pinion and the steering coupler. There were other issues, but this was the main concern. One week ago the consumer was involved in an accident, front end impact for which the air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained injuries. No repairs after the accident because there was over $6,000 worth of damage. Emergency brake handle was loose. The dealer determined the it was not connected. The dealer repositioned/reassembled the emergency brake. The key wouldn't come out of the ignition because the shift interlock cable broke. The check engine light illuminated. The dealer replaced the wiring to the brake light switch.


text:
Kasprzak, Jakub (1) (remove)
Hansenula polymorpha (1) (remove)
Alcohol dehydrogenases as biocatalysts for the production of enantiomerically pure chiral alcohols (2016)
Kasprzak, Jakub
Summary Enantiomerically pure chiral alcohols are key compounds in the production of certain chemicals including pharmaceuticals. Chemical synthesis allows to obtain maximal yield of 50% for one enantiomer ( >50% yield is achievable with chiral catalysts used in chemical synthesis), whereas biosynthesis leads to nearly 100% yield. Hence, expensive and time consuming resolution of racemic mixture can be avoided. Alcohol dehydrogenases are the most popular enzymes used in the chiral alcohols synthesis due to high activity with appropriate aldehydes or ketones. ADHs require a cofactor which has to be regenerated after the conversion of aldehyde/ketone to the respective alcohol. Thereby, different regeneration methods were used in the practical work to compare and choose the better one. R. erythropolis and C. hydrogenoformans alcohol dehydrogenases were chosen based on the literature screening. Each gene was cloned into Xplor2 vector and pFPMT vector. Xplor2 vector was used for the transformation of A. adeninivorans and pFPMT vector was used for the transformation of H. polymorpha. Chemically synthesized alcohol dehydrogenase sequences from R. erythropolis (ReADH) and C. hydrogenoformans (ChADH) were cloned between TEF1 promoter and PHO5 terminator which are components of Xplor2 vector or between FMD promoter and MOX terminator which are genetic elements of pFPMT vector. Moreover, ChADH and ReADH sequences with His-tag encoding sequence at the 5' or 3' end were constructed and the most active form of the protein was selected for further studies. ReADH-6H was used for the synthesis of 1-(S)-phenylethanol and ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate whereas ChADH-6H was used for the production of ethyl (R)-mandelate. ReADH-6H synthesized in A. adeninivorans and H. polymorpha was fully biochemically characterized. The enzymes from the two yeast species showed some differences in their pH and temperature optima, thermostability and activity levels. A-ReADH (A. adeninivorans) and H-ReADH (H. polymorpha) were highly active with the same substrates which were: acetophenone, 4-hydroxy-3-butanone and ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate for reduction reaction along with 1-phenylethanol and 1,6-hexanediol for oxidation reaction. Recombinant A-ReADH-6H and H-ReADH-6H were synthesized in A. adeninivorans and H. polymorpha, respectively. Both enzymes were used for the synthesis of 1-(S)-phenylethanol and ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate with the use of substrate-coupled cofactor regeneration system. The enantiopurity of the products was >99%. Moreover, A. adeninivorans whole cell catalyst was also used for the synthesis of both chiral alcohols. BmGDH (Bacillus megaterium glucose dehydrogenase) was co-expressed with ReADH-6H for NADH cofactor regeneration. Comparison between isolated enzymes and permeabilized whole cell catalysts indicate that cell biocatalysts are more suitable for the production of 1-(S)-phenylethanol with 92% of acetophenone being converted in 60 min. However, cells did not show any significant advantage over isolated enzymes in the synthesis of ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate although the velocity of the synthesis of ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate was slightly improved using whole-cell catalysts, giving an 80% substrate conversion in 120 min. Recombinant C. hydrogenoformans alcohol dehydrogenase was synthesized in A. adeninivorans and biochemically characterized. Enzyme showed high activity only with one substrate, ethyl benzoylformate. The A. adeninivorans and H. polymorpha cell catalysts synthesizing ChADH and BmGDH (Bacillus megaterium glucose dehydrogenase) were constructed and used in the synthesis of ethyl (R)-mandelate (reduction product of ethyl benzoylformate) with the enantiopurity of the reaction product being >98%. H. polymorpha catalysts were more effective in the synthesis than A. adeninivorans cells. The first were able to convert 93% of ethyl benzoylformate within 180 min and the latter were converting 94% of the substrate within 360 min. Re-use of non-immobilized cells and catalysts entrapped in Lentikat® was performed and the improvement of the stability of immobilized catalysts was reported. Space time yield of 3.07 mmol l-1 h-1 and 6.07 mmol l-1 h-1 was achieved with A. adeninivorans and H. polymorpha cell catalysts, respectively. Alcohol dehydrogenase 1 from A. adeninivorans was analyzed concerning the synthesis of enantiomerically pure chiral alcohols. The enzyme did not synthesize industrially attractive products. However, based on biochemical characterization enzyme plays a role in the synthesis of 1-butanol or ethanol and thereby it is of biotechnological interest.


The Kentucky Association of Career Colleges and Schools is a voluntary organization for those who value higher education and seek innovative methods of improving the educational experience for students in the Commonwealth. Members find value in collaborating to share best practices and innovative methods of assisting students and in speaking with a unified voice while working hand in hand with legislators on matters that affect our students.
Partnerships among career colleges and schools make a significant impact on our sector both locally and nationally. Members of state associations work cooperatively on issues of mutual interest to our students and member institutions. Non-public postsecondary colleges and schools authorized by the Kentucky State Board for Proprietary Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education are eligible for membership in KACCS. Fees are assessed annually for sustaining membership based on cohort population. Members are invoiced annually. Applications for membership may be completed and submitted to the Executive Director or President of KACCS for consideration by the Board of Directors.
Associate Membership may be extended to organizations providing services to KACCS members or that have an interest in supporting KACCS. Fees for Associate Membership are assessed on an annual basis.


How can law enforcement officers be a key asset to your court and help to advance your mission? Join us for "To Serve, Protect, and Treat: Law Enforcement and Treatment Courts" via WebEx on Wednesday, June 13 at 2:00 p.m. EDT to learn!
Treatment courts strive to combine effective justice approaches with clinical services, and law enforcement officers are vital to achieving this goal. They are often the first point of contact for people entering the criminal justice system and are in a unique position to affect future treatment options. Explore tools and strategies to engage law enforcement with your treatment court by registering for the webinar today!


Marci Rubin – Microcosm – May 6/Artist Talk May 7, 3pm.
Rubin's process of direct printmaking on paper with fruit and ink led her to discover a basic, raw, and primary nature of creating work. Working with fruit as a material evoked questions regarding origin of cycles and phases. Utilizing fruit such as limes, grapefruits, tomatoes, apples, bananas or peaches as a material source captures the essence of the fruited body and transforms them into narratives of cellular cycles, phases, or generation. These works are a direct documentation of the lime, grapefruit, tomato, apple, banana, and peach as symbols of the cell.
"Recently my work involving the body has become political. The questions leading me to create these pieces are constituted from my interrogation of concepts such as; what is our body's direct and indirect relationship to our environment, and how does the media and government have control of/over our bodies?" -Marci Rubin.
Marci holds an BFA from Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and and an MFA from the University of Chicago. Her work was recognized with the "curator's choice" award at Wicker Park's legendary Around the Coyote art festival twice, and she was a winner of the Bridgeport Art Center's 1st Annual Art Exhibition, where she was awarded Best 3D work in show.
We will be open in conjunction with Wicker Park First Fridays from 6PM-10PM May 6th, and then please join us at 3PM, Saturday, May 7th for an informal artist talk with refreshments and music.


text:
Athens among Europe's ten most expensive cities for energy
PM announces €400m in energy subsidies for January
DESFA to continue leading energy developments at home and abroad
Lenders consider minister's demand for state control of gas networks
Government officials are cautiously optimistic over the prospects of an alternative DEPA gas utility privatization model following initial fourth-review bailout talks yesterday between the energy minister Giorgos Stathakis, the proposal's architect, and the country's lenders.
Local officials believe a crucial first step has been taken as the alternative plan is still on the negotiating table.
The ministry is pushing for the adoption of a privatization model that would enable the Greek State to maintain control of the country's natural gas networks owned by DEPA.
The Greek State's control of networks stands to be increased once DEPA finalizes a takeover agreement with Shell for the latter's 49 percent stake in their EPA Attiki gas supply and EDA Attiki gas distribution companies covering the wider Athens area. DEPA currently holds 51 percent shares in these ventures.
The government is expected to privatize 65 percent of the gas utility. The alternative DEPA privatization proposal has prompted some reservations among the lenders as a result of its degree of complexity.
The minister appears willing to also pursue other solutions, such as one entailing the establishment of two subsidiaries, one representing DEPA's networks and the other the firm's commercial division, as long as the Greek State is ensured control of the networks.
The lender representatives, it became evident during yesterday's meeting, are primarily concerned if the budgeted DEPA privatization amount can be achieved through alternative sale models and whether these can be implemented in the limited time available. The government firmly believes its alternatives can be successfully applied on time.
Intensive negotiations with the lenders will continue until a solution is found by Saturday, Stathakis told reporters following yesterday's opening session.
The Greek State's continued control of network infrastructure and other nationally strategic assets stands as a core principle of the Syriza-led coalition's policies. This was highlighted in the details of the recent sale of a 24 percent stake of the power grid operator IPTO to China's SGCC. Also, the Greek State has secured a dominant role in the hydrocarbon exploration and utilization domains concerning ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum). A 50.1 percent stake of the petroleum company is being offered to investors.


Mother's Bistro (212 SW Stark St) is restaurant in downtown Portland. Each month, they feature one Mother who creates a part of the menu. Mother's is a wonderful place for brunch. Their daily special omelette is always delicious. The prices are also reasonable for the quality of the food and service you recieve.
Santeria (703 SW Ankeny St) is a Mexican restaurant, just south of W Burnside. The carnitas tacos and burritos will run you around $10 and are very filling. It's a good place for lunch, dinner, or a after-drinking meal—they're open late.
Deschutes Brewery (210 NW 11th Ave) is one of the downtown breweries. It's a typical large-scale brewery/restaurant. I haven't tried the food there—in spite of visiting twice—but the beer is very delicous. I recommend ordering a flight (8 little glasses of their own brews) and sharing it. Be warned, though, you may feel the affects of the alcohol quicker with flights.
Whiskey Soda Lounge (3131 SE Division St) is a Thai food restaruant/whiskey bar on SE Division. Here, I recommend getting their Vietnamese fish sauce wings (they'll run you around $15). They are very delicious.
Screen Door (2337 E Burnside) is known for their chicken and waffles. Most people who go there simply order that. They cost around $15, and you get a large serving. Be warned, there is always a long wait (both times I went I had to wait around 1.5 hours!) so I suggest you go early so the staff get your name and then wander along Burnside (in either direction).
Imperial Bottle Shop (3090 SE Division St) is just across the street from Whiskey Soda Lounge. It has hundreds of beers available—it's a beer lover's paradise. It has a small seating area, but you shouldn't worry about finding a seat. It's a bit pricer than other places, but the selection makes up for that.
Ground Kontrol (511 NW Couch St) is an arcade, which after 5pm doubles as a drinking establishment. They have lots of pinball machines, old archade games like Donkey Kong, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Terminator 2: Judgement Day and much more. Drinks are also cheap, but the selection is pretty slim. This is a great place to spend a few hours playing arcade games, but be warned that you can easily spend a lot of quarters. If a few machines eat your quarters, just talk to the bartender and they'll fix it for you.


I have been craving a Peanut Butter sweet lately and had a jar to use up. I went searching for a recipe and found this winner on the Jif website! I did top the bars with some chopped Reese's cups before covering in marshmallows because I had some to use up and really Reese's PB cups make any dessert a little better! These taste fabulous!
I really really liked the taste and texture of these bars. The base has a nice Peanut Butter flavor and is light in texture. It is topped with a layer of melted Peanut Butter and then covered Marshmallows (and chopped PB cups in my version) and then baked again until the Marshmallows puff and bec0me light brown. Do not overbake or the Marshmallows will be hard and crisp.
My one complaint about these bars is that they are VERY difficult to cut and eat. The marshmallows stick to the knife (even after greasing the knife) when cutting making them not look too pretty. Also, the PB/marshmallow topping does not stay on the base while cutting and eating. The topping stuck to the knife and got pulled off of the crust slightly. This happened again while eating. I do admit, that I did not allow these to cool completely before cutting and serving so that may have been the problem. The seperation of the cookie base and toppings did not affect the taste, these were soooooo good!! For flavor I give them a 9! The chopped Reese's PB cups really added that extra Peanut Butter flavor I was craving and will continue to add them when making this recipe. I will definately be making them again very soon. Next time I will cool completely to see if that makes a difference in cutting and serving.
Grease a 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish with PAM spray.
In a large bowl combine brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, peanut butter, sugar and egg.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Beat until well blended.
Press into prepared dish. Bake 20 minutes or until light brown.
Do not over-bake. Cool 2 to 3 minutes.
Place peanut butter in microwave-safe measuring cup. Microwave for 1 minute. Pour over cookie base. Spread to cover.
Cover Peanut Butter layer with chopped Reese's PB cups and marshmallows. Return to oven. Bake 5 minutes or until marshmallows are light brown. Do not over-bake.
Loosen from sides of dish with knife. Remove dish to cooling rack.