Wexner Heritage Program develops 20 Jewish leaders from Boca Raton

20 Boca adults to receive intensive training for 2 years

By Lois K. Solomon |
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 26, 2007

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Can 20 people transform the Jewish community?

A group of thirty- and fortysomethings will ponder this question for the next two years as part of the Wexner Heritage Program, a national Jewish leadership-development curriculum co-sponsored with the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

The program was founded in 1985 by Leslie Wexner, who developed the vast retail conglomerate that includes The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works and Henri Bendel.

Wexner’s foundation has trained more than 2,000 American Jews in leadership development that encourages them to brainstorm creative ways to maintain vibrant Jewish communities.

Wexner teachers travel every other week to selected cities, where adult students chosen for the program after a lengthy interview process learn Jewish history and culture. The intent is to instill confidence in the decisions they make at their synagogues, community groups and Jewish schools, said Rabbi Jay Moses, national program director.

“In any endeavor, well-trained leadership is the key,” Moses said. “The first step is know your stuff, in this case, the history, traditions and thoughts of the people. A deeper and more thoughtful understanding of history gives the tools for leadership.”

Participants are expected …

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The self-proclaimed widow admits she’s been a bit of a drama queen, and she’s not about to apologize for it. The lawyer feels brushed aside after more than two decades of dedication. The preacher had trouble dealing with the death of a man who took the role of the father who abandoned him. And the son is at peace, ready to continue his father’s work.

A year after music legend James Brown died in an Atlanta hospital, the people who surrounded him in life continue to fight over the future of his fortune and legacy. People claiming to be Brown’s relatives have entered the fray. And none of what’s become a tragic-comic saga of sorts looks to be resolved anytime soon.
Brown, who died Christmas Day at age 73, continues to be remembered for a larger-than-life personality, his voice and flashy footwork inspiring generations of entertainers. The Godfather of Soul won Grammies, recorded more than 110 charted singles and is credited by some with inventing funk and rap music.
As thousands attended public memorial services for Brown, the legal rifts surrounding his estate were forming. It took two months for him to be buried, his body at one point resting in a sealed gold casket inside his home. After he was buried in March on one of his daughter’s properties, his family said a more public mausoleum was planned. There’s still talk of a Graceland-like mansion at his Beech Island home.
Tomi Rae Hynie, a former backup singer who claims to be Brown’s fourth wife and the mother of his child, said she led the private funeral procession that day with her son. She’s claimed Brown wanted her to have his home in the western part of South Carolina, near the Georgia state line, but was locked out.
“Everybody says I’m being a drama queen and I’m a great actress,” Hynie said, alternately sobbing and joking during a recent telephone interview. “All I did was cry and fall to knees and faint a couple of times. Isn’t that how a wife is supposed to act …

Bellingham, MA, December 23, 2007 –(PR.com)– The fourth annual World Hypnotism Day, on Friday, January 4, 2008, gives hypnotists an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding about hypnosis. Professionals in the field of hypnotism from organizations around the world will be sharing their expertise and promoting the truths and benefits of hypnosis.

“Hypnosis is now known to be a successful approach for creating positive and healthy personal change,” says certified hypnotist, Kathryn McGlynn, CHt. “Hypnotism has been found to be quick, comfortable, effective, and lasting,” she adds.

On January 4, McGlynn offers a free informational seminar for everyone who ever wanted to know the benefits of hypnotism and how it can be used by almost anyone : Gain Confidence and Become More Self-Confident with the Help of Hypnosis.

Hypnosis, a form of creative relaxation, helps people to replace those emotions that hijack the subconscious mind, resulting in unhelpful thoughts and feelings. With hypnosis, people can build their inner self-esteem, so they can feel more comfortable at work, at school, and with friends.

Folks won’t sleep through this one. And they won’t find McGlynn swinging a watch. They will find themselves profoundly relaxed, totally unstressed and they’ll emerge feeling wonderfully refreshed and energized. The best part will begin in the next few days. Those who attend the seminar will notice immediately that they behave more comfortably in social situations and express themselves more easily.

McGlynn’s event is being held from 1:00 – 2:00PM at Whole Foods Market, 255 Hartford Avenue, Bellingham, MA 02019. Door prizes will be offered.

“Life doesn’t have to be an unconscious reaction to the chance encounters of your everyday life. There a safe and proven solution to escape the struggle of living with unhelpful habits,” says McGlynn.

McGlynn, …

Everyone seems to have something to say about Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy: people like you, celebrities, residents in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana. Now even a presidential candidate is voicing his opinion on the news.

Republican contender Mike Huckabee recently weighed in on the 16-year-old “Zoey 101″ star’s pregnancy, which was revealed on Tuesday via an interview she gave to OK! magazine.

“Apparently, she’s going to have the child, and I think that is the right decision, a good decision, and I respect that and appreciate it,” he told CBS News.

“I hope it is not an encouragement to other 16-year-olds who think that is the best course of action. But at the same time I’m not going to condemn her,” continued Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister who has been soaring in the polls lately due to increased support from Christian conservatives. “There’ll be plenty of people in line to do that and I always look for the shortest lines. I just hope that she will make another right decision, and that’s to give that child all the love and kindness and care that she can.”

Huckabee also said, “It’s a tragedy when a 16-year-old who is not really prepared for all the responsibilities of adult life is going to be now faced with all the responsibilities of honest-to-goodness adult life.”

This isn’t the first time Huckabee has shown his pop-culture savvy. The former Arkansas governor has made headlines with a tongue-in-cheek ad featuring Chuck Norris.

For more on Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy, check out:

Jamie Lynn Spears’ Pregnancy: Is It Legal?

Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnancy Spurring Possible Nickelodeon Special

Lynne Spears’ Book Put On Indefinite Hold

Do you think Jamie Lynn is setting a poor example for her fans? Has she damaged her Share your thoughts below.

For more on the presidential election, check out MTV’s Choose or Lose ‘08 home page.

For all your get-out-of-town holiday needs, NJ Transit will be offering “early getaway” rail and bus service on Friday, December 21 and Friday, December 28 from Hoboken Terminal.NJ Transit trains at the Hoboken Terminal. Photo by Kmf164

Plus, kids ride free for the holidays! On all NJ Transit trains, buses and light rail systems, two children 11 and younger get to travel free with a fare-paying adult from 7 p.m. Friday, December 21 - 6 a.m. Wednesday, December 26, and again from 7 p.m. Friday, December 28 - 6 a.m. Wednesday, January 2.

From Hoboken: There will be early getaway service starting at noon today, Friday, Dec. 21 on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Pascack Valley and Morris & Essex lines leaving from Hoboken terminal.

On Monday, December 24, trains will operate on a weekday schedule, with early getaway service from Hoboken on the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines starting at noon.

Also on Friday Dec. 28, there will be early getaway service starting at noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Pascack Valley and Morris Essex lines leaving from Hoboken terminal.

NJ Transit will also be offering special late-night service after midnight on New Year’s Day.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – A San Juan resident reported Tuesday night that her adult son had broken into her residence, according to police reports.

Police received the report of a family dispute at 8:15 p.m. on the 32100 block of Via Viente, the report said. The woman said here son was told to leave the residence the night before by deputies.

10:32 p.m. Suspicious person in vehicle, 32800 block of Valle Road:Informant reports that a tow truck is parked beside her vehicle, which is up for sale, and she worries they are going to steal it.

8:15 p.m. Disturbance, family dispute, 32100 block of Via Viente:Informant reports that her adult son broke into her residence. The son was told to leave the resident by deputies the night before.

7:38 p.m. Keep the peace, 31900 block of Camino Capistrano:Informant is in a jewelry store, where the manager is refusing to give him his money back for an item he doesn’t want.

6:18 p.m. Suspicious person, 31800 block of Paseo Terraza:A solicitor is knocking on the informant’s door refusing to leave.

Contact the writer: The blotter is compiled by Reporter Sean Emery from public information available at www.ocsd.org.

NEW YORK, NY — (MARKET WIRE) — 12/18/07 — Advertisers are avidly experimenting on
Facebook, MySpace and niche social networks. In 2008, they are expected to
spend $1.6 billion — a rise of 69% over the $920 million they spent in
2007, according to a new eMarketer report, Social Network Marketing: Ad
Spending and Usage.

Social networking may get more than its fair share of media attention, but
it is not a fad, says Debra Aho Williamson, author of the report. “In 2007,
37% of the US adult Internet population and 70% of teens used online social
networking at least once a month.” There is little to suggest that this
activity will go away. eMarketer predicts that the total US social
networking audience will grow by 46% over the next four years to 105
million in 2011.

While the leading social networks, MySpace and Facebook, are now targeting
ads based on members’ interests like word-of-mouth marketing on steroids,
that ad technique will evolve and be joined by several other methods. In
coming years, for example, advertising will appear not only on social
networking destination sites but also within other Internet activities,
such as online shopping, e-mail or search, which will take on social
networking attributes.

For more information about social networking or to speak to Ms. Williamson,
contact the eMarketer media department listed below.

About eMarketer

eMarketer is “The First Place to Look” for research and analysis on digital
marketing and media. eMarketer aggregates and analyzes research from over
2,800 sources, and brings it together in analyst reports, daily articles
the “eStat Database” — the most comprehensive database of online
marketing statistics in the world.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=651997

A majority of RRSP investors (60 per cent) are not concerned about market volatility and the number of Canadians who are planning to contribute to their RRSP is unchanged from 2006 (49 per cent), according to the 18th annual RBC RRSP poll. Among the 40 percent of those polled who are worried about market volatility, more than half (54 per cent) stayed the course and did not make changes to their investments.

Current market fluctuations may feel more severe because equity markets experienced a period of unusually low volatility between 2003 and mid-2007. During that period, there were only a handful of days when the market moved up or down by more than two per cent. Despite the changing market dynamics, most investors remained calm.

“Investment discipline pays off in the long run and it’s great to see that Canadians are making decisions that will help keep their RRSP plans on track” said Kim Buitenhuis, vice president, RBC Asset Management Inc. “We believe investing should be based on core principles that can help you succeed in all types of markets, regardless of what happens during a given day, week or month”

While it is also advisable for many Canadians to maximize their RRSP contributions, only three in ten plan to do so for the 2007 tax year. For some, finding the cash for a single lump sum RRSP contribution is a challenge.

“There are many benefits to setting up a regular investing program. Dollar cost averaging (buying regular amounts every month or week) also limits exposure to market volatility and it allows investors to purchase more units of a mutual fund when markets are down and less when markets are up. This discipline pays off in the longer run” added Buitenhuis.

2007 RRSP FAST FACTS

* More than two in three Canadians have an RRSP (68 per cent), up from 57 cent in 2002.

* Nearly half of Canadians (49 per cent) have contributed to …

(adds byline, additional info)

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The last man on Earth was
first at the weekend box office in North America as Will
Smith’s sci-fi thriller “I Am Legend” crushed the competition
with a record opening, distributor Warner Bros. said on
Sunday.

The film brought in $76.5 million and was the seventh
consecutive chart-topper for the versatile Smith. It combined
with a surprisingly strong $45 million debut for “Alvin and the
Chipmunks” to end the box office’s five-week losing streak,
even as severe winter storms across the Midwest and Northeast
hurt ticket sales.

“I Am Legend” ranks as the best December opening of all
time, beating the $72.6 million start for “Lord of the Rings:
Return of the King” in 2003, the Time Warner Inc (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research)-owned
studio said. The studio said it had hoped for an opening in the
mid-$40 million range.

Smith plays a military virologist who has survived a
human-made virus that apparently killed everyone else on the
planet. Music video veteran Francis Lawrence directed the film,
working from an adaptation of a 1954 novel by Richard Matheson.
It was originally envisaged as a vehicle for Arnold
Schwarzenegger and director Ridley Scott in the early 1990s.

“Alvin and the Chipmunks” squealed its way to No. 2 with
$45 million, more than doubling the expectations of its
distributor, Twentieth Century Fox.

The film combines real actors, led by Jason Lee, with
animated renderings of Alvin, Simon and Theodore, the beloved
helium-voiced singing trio. The News Corp (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research)-owned studio
the film played strongly with family audiences, as
expected, but also drew plenty of young-adult viewers.

OVERALL SALES UP  Continued…

You might imagine that freezing weather would do strange things
to a man who once represented Great Britain in the Winter Olympics
and has spent half his adult life strapped to a pair of skis. But
Michael Edwards, the man the world once knew as Eddie “The Eagle”,
shrugs off the suggestion that an icy breeze and the promise of
snow make him a bit tingly inside. It’s been too long, he says.
He’s a family man now. But he will admit that, as winters go, this
year’s is a bit of a milestone.

Exactly 20 winters ago, Edwards was limbering up for a feat of
sporting majesty that is still talked about today. He had been
ski-jumping for just two years when he somehow managed to wangle
the chance to represent his country at the sport in Calgary. He was
Britain’s first Olympic ski jumper and he famously came last in
those 1988 Winter Games - by quite some margin. Yet no one, apart
from the upper echelons of Britain’s skiing community, seemed to
mind at all.

He jumped, he landed (with a bit of a thud) and, lo, a hero was
born.

But that is all in the past. This winter, The Eagle is ready to
soar again, and this time there’s little chance of the cheerful
44-year-old getting hurt - unlike the time of his worst fall, in
1989, when he landed on his face and fractured his skull,
collarbone and ribs. A project is about to begin that will once
more shove him into the spotlight. Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, the
movie, is go, go, go.

“I’ve seen about four drafts of the script and I can’t say I
really like it,” Edwards shrugs. “Steve Coogan’s playing me, but
isn’t he about 42? I was 24 when I went to Calgary.”

Coogan was reputedly holed up with the script, making “tweaks” -
changes Edwards hopes will eradicate slapstick and add more
reality. It’s a story that’s just begging to be told, and one in
which Edwards is cautiously optimistic of being portrayed not as a
fool but an enthusiastic amateur who worked his socks off to
compete in front of a global audience. …