WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE – August 2021

WELLINGTON AUGUST 2021

Bringing You The Best Of Wellington Since 2004

THE MAGAZINE

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Plus

Outstanding Wellington Educators Win Award Robotics Program Shines At Elbridge Gale Tasty Caribbean Food At Jamaica House Grill Dog Park A Playground For Local Canines

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August 2021

contents

Features

22

The old adage “it takes a village” took on a whole new meaning when a wide array of community organizations joined forces to meet the 2,500 backpack challenge set by the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department.The Wellington Community Foundation, now in its fifth year of working with the village to deliver new backpacks and school uniforms to Wellington students in need, received a call that this year the number of students that needed assistance had risen to 2,500. Would the foundation be up to the challenge? Without hesitation, the foundation’s board jumped into action.

27

FOUR TEACHERS FROM WELLINGTON SCHOOL HONORED WITH NEW AWARD They blazed trails, created a space where students could express their fears, built a sense of community and persevered despite personal heartbreak as they walked a unique tightrope between in-person learning and online classes. They are the four Binks Forest Elementary School team members honored during this spring’s Extraordinary Educator Awards, sponsored by the Economic Council. BY LOUIS HILLARY PARK

33

ELBRIDGE GALE ROBOTICS STUDENTS EXCEL WITH APPEARANCE AT INTERNATIONAL EVENT Small, plastic Lego bricks are ubiquitous in most homes with school-age children. The bricks are a staple of creativity for children and adults alike, evolving into much more than a toy. In fact, they are also a key component of a robotics program that teaches students STEM skills like engineering and technology. Four years ago, Wellington’s Elbridge Gale Elementary School created a Lego Robotics team, which was an instant hit with students. It is currently operated by teachers Tara Dicurcio and Nicole Crane. BY DEBORAH WELKY

37

41

22

COMMUNITY PARTNERS STEP UP TO DELIVER 2,500 BACKPACKS TO WELLINGTON STUDENTS

WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CREATES BLAST, A NEW COURSE IN BLACK LEADERSHIP

33

55

27 45

on the cover

The Village of Wellington captured the group of backpack stuffers from the 2,500 Backpack Challenge, featuring preschooler Zabrina in the foreground.

Departments

WELLINGTON SOCIAL SCENE

14 16 18 20

Wellington Chamber Hosts Ribbon Cutting For 4Ever Young Wellington’s 2,500 Backpack Challenge Was A Huge Success Wellington Chamber Group WOWs 2,500 Backpack Challenge Wellington Rotary Hosts Installation Dinner At Wanderers

With an aim to help build the future base of tomorrow’s Black leaders, Wellington High School has created an innovative course known as BLAST, which stands for the Black Leadership & Achievement Student Team. When AICE math teacher Nancy Toussaint and student McKenzie Henry, then a senior, realized that Black students were under-represented in Wellington High School’s leadership programs, they both wanted to make the school more inclusive. BY MARGARET HUNT

45 WELLINGTON TABLE

NEXT GENERATION MRI BRINGS THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY HERE TO PALM BEACH COUNTY

50 WELLINGTON REAL ESTATE

Newly opened Next Generation MRI brings the most unique and highly advanced MRI ever developed to central Palm Beach County. The Esaote G-scan Brio is the only one of its kind in Palm Beach County and one of only nine in the State of Florida. Nationwide, there are less than 100 of them currently in use. Next Generation MRI’s equipment is not your regular, conventional MRI. The firm’s technology is current, state-of-the-art and imported from Genoa, Italy. BY MIKE MAY

Take a culinary journey to the islands with a visit to Jamaica House Grill in Wellington. Located in plaza with Whole Foods Market, you can immerse yourself in the culture and food of this unique Caribbean island. BY CALLIE SHARKEY Our featured property this month is a stunningly updated and spacious home in Wellington’s Greenview Shores community, presented by Lindsey Taylor of Re/Max Direct.

55 CELEBRATE WELLINGTON The Wellington Dog Park, located in Greenbriar Park at 2975 Greenbriar Blvd., is a place where canine friends and their human companions come together for some much-needed recreation and socialization. BY M. DENNIS TAYLOR

wellington the magazine | august 2021 9

from the

publisher ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUE: WELLINGTON STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL Did someone say summer? Where did it go? Well, it went by even faster for our Wellington students heading back into the classroom this month. To say that things will be different is an understatement for most of our young children. But for some it will mean more than wearing a mask or not. It will mean struggles for families to purchase the necessary backpacks, school supplies and uniforms required to make their academic future bright. This month, the Village of Wellington teamed up with the Wellington Community Foundation to collaborate efforts with several local organizations to help ease the burden that some of our Wellington families will face. “Creating the 2,500 Backpack Challenge was a huge undertaking, but I knew our community would get it done,” Wellington Community Foundation Chair Tom Wenham said. In this issue, we tell the story about how it all came together.

Also this month, we profile four wonderful teachers from Binks Forest Elementary School who were honored as “Outstanding Educators” by the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. Next, we learn about the robotics at Elbridge Gale Elementary School, which recently won an invitation to compete against top students from all over the world. Over at Wellington High School, we explore the new BLAST program, which stands for Black Leadership & Achievement Student Team. Its aim is to help create the next generation of Black leaders.

Wellington Health this month stops by the new Next Generation MRI, which is bringing state-of-the-art technology to Palm Beach County residents with a futuristic theme. Wellington Table samples the unique Caribbean fare at Jamaica House Grill. Located in the plaza with Whole Foods Market, this unique restaurant is making wonderful dishes from islands available right here in Wellington. Wellington Real Estate explores a spacious and updated home in the Greenview Shores neighborhood presented this month by Lindsey Taylor. Finally, Celebrate Wellington visits the Wellington Dog Park, a playground for dogs where canines and their human companions go to enjoy the great outdoors.

Although summer’s end is rapidly approaching, we still get to enjoy the sunny skies of South Florida late into the year, and we hope you take full advantage of the great outdoors and all that Wellington has to offer. Stay safe and be well until we meet again next month!

Dawn Rivera

Dawn Rivera, Publisher

volume 18, number 8 AUGUST 2021

executive editor Joshua I. Manning

publisher

Dawn Rivera

senior graphic designer Stephanie Rodriguez

graphic designers Nancy Pobiak Yolanda Cernicky

account managers Betty Buglio Evie Edwards Joetta Palumbo

bookkeeping

Jill Kaskel Carol Lieberman

photography Abner Pedraza

contributors

Matthew Auerbach Meredith Burow Erin Davisson Denise Fleischman Melanie Kopacz Mike May Callie Sharkey M. Dennis Taylor Deborah Welky

WELLINGTON Bringing You The Best Of Wellington Since 2004

THE MAGAZINE

12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 33 Wellington, FL 33414 Phone: (561) 793-7606 Fax: (561) 793-1470 www.wellingtonthemagazine.com

published by

Wellington The Magazine. LLC

chairman/ceo

Barry S. Manning Wellington The Magazine is published monthly in Wellington, Florida. Copyright 2021, all rights reserved by Wellington The Magazine, LLC. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

10 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

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841 Quail Road Loxahatchee Groves Unique 8.3 Acre Equestrian Estate! Ten minutes from WEF and GLOBAL! Six deeded parcels with newly built 8 stall center aisle breezeway barn, tack & feed rooms, grooms’ quarter, BA & laundry alcove. 2 exterior custom designed wash racks & plenty of turn-out. Fully irrigated, lighted riding arena with a viewing stand, surrounded by a bridal path fenced with 9 turn-out paddocks. Dual paved, gated, secure private access. 4 BR, 2BA ranch style home with open floor plan and a huge equipment building that could fit 8 cars! Must See. $2,200,000.

13291 Collecting Canal Road Loxahatchee Groves Great Location for an Equestrian Center! Only 5 miles to WEF and Global.This property is almost 10 acres: divided in 4 lots with 3 houses of about 990 sq/ft each, perfect for the grooms and barn manager. Makes great investment properties..In the back of the property easy access with its private entrance, you have a big field and a 4 stall barn, with tack room and a small ring. $1,875,000

wellington | social scene

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN

WELLINGTON CHAMBER HOSTS RIBBON CUTTING FOR 4EVER YOUNG

(Left) 4Ever Young owners Polina and Stan Tolstunov. (Right) Mayor Anne Gerwig leads a Wellington Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for 4Ever Young.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce held a Chamber After Dark Mixer on Friday, July 9 at the new 4Ever Young Anti-Aging Solutions in Wellington Green Square. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with swag bags, refreshments, music, giveaways and discounts in services. For more information about 4Ever Young, visit www.fyinstitute. com/wellington.

(Left to right) Brand ambassadors Alexandra Major, Jeanette Brown and Courtney De Fries; nurse practitioner Melanie Bivins, Dr. Randy Villarreal, and owners Polina and Stan Tolstunov; event coordinator Victor Concepcion, co-owner Carlton Washington, and bartenders Alexa Alemania and Drake Dyess; and Marc Schwartz and Eugene Sheldon.

(Left to right) Nurse practitioner Melanie Bivins with Physician Assistant Mariana Berger; Kathleen Williams, Wellness Specialist Kristin Robertson and Sharon Watson; Mario Perez, Victor Concepcion and Maxwell Levy; Rosalee Moodie, Gemma Maxime and Morgan Dawkins; and Helen Breda and Louise Wallach.

(Left to right) Larry Coyle and Troy Webster; Hilery and Kevin Gagliardi; Ravi and Nikki Culbertson; Neeraj and Sonali Mendiratta with Wanda Randall; and Dr. Barbara Hales is excited to visit 4Ever Young.

(Left to right) Teri Sukanec signs up for a drawing; Victoria Tolstunov and Monica Sgardelis; Kristyn Kelley meets with nurse practitioner Melanie Bivins; and guests enjoy hors d’oeuvres.

14 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

A-mazing Wellington Regional Medical Center earned an ‘A’ in The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2021 Hospital Safety Grade

Visit wellingtonregional.com

10101 Forest Hill Boulevard | Wellington, Florida 33414

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Wellington Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 216921284437 06/21

wellington | social scene

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN

WELLINGTON’S 2,500 BACKPACK CHALLENGE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

(Left) Michelle Garvey, Paulette Edwards, Pam Tahan, Maggie Zeller, Tom Wenham, Dr. Gordon Johnson, Arlene Smith and Ravi Culbertson. (Right) Ravi Culbertson and Arlene Smith from event sponsor Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

The Wellington Community Foundation was called on to organize local nonprofits to make a huge impact on children in need.

Many local community partners stepped up to help deliver 2,500 new backpacks to Wellington students. A “backpack stuffing” event took place Monday, July 19 at the Wellington Community Center, and the village distributed the backpacks Saturday, July 24 at three community block parties. Backpacks filled with school supplies and hand sanitizer, school uniforms and children’s books were distributed.

(Left to right) Donna Page and RoseAnn Voils representing sponsor the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation; Wellington Rotary Club President Tom Carreras and Wellington Community Foundation Chair Tom Wenham; and (L-R) Tom Eastwood, Ravi Culbertson, Larry Kemp, Tom Carreras, Maggie Zeller, George Kinoshita, Maria Cruz, Leslie and Randy Pfeiffer, and Sherry Norwitch of the Wellington Rotary Club, a sponsor of the event.

(Left to right) Nicola Smith, Brianna Perissien, Tony Nelson and Ed Bailey from event sponsor Premier Family Health; Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Pam Tahan; Johnny Meier from event sponsor My Community Pharmacy; and Arlene Smith stuffs backpacks.

(Left to right) Maria Cruz was on hand to help; Tony Nelson of Premier Family Health; Hermione Williams, Arlene Smith and Tony Nelson stuff backpacks; Morgan Fredericks and Dr. Gordon Johnson; and Michelle Garvey and Ian Williams from the Village of Wellington.

(Left to right) George Kinoshita, Maggie Zeller, Randy Pfeiffer and Larry Kemp; Michelle Garvey, Paulette Edwards, Geneeka Morris and Ian Williams from the Village of Wellington; Randy and Leslie Pfeiffer prepare backpacks with Ravi Culbertson; and Tom Eastwood, Tom Carreras and Dr. Gordon Johnson.

16 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

Shoulder injuries treated with arthroscopy heal faster with less pain

New surgical techniques and better pain management enable easier recovery. Remember Operation, that electronic board game in which one wayward movement causes other body parts to spasm and a loud buzzer to sound?

Just like in the board game, an injured rotator cuff can wreak havoc with other body parts – and everyday activities like writing and eating – because it’s the rotator cuff that allows us to lift and rotate the arm. The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles plus attached tendons and other tissue in the shoulder. It holds the arm in the joint and helps attach the humerus (long bone in the upper arm) to the elbow, neck and torso.

Rotator cuff tendons can tear from age, overuse, traumatic injury or a fall. When it is injured, even reaching for a book can be painful, and a tennis match or golf outing would be nearly impossible.

Understandably, shoulder injuries used to be among the most dreaded by weekend warriors and professional athletes alike. In fact, a rotator cuff injury was often a career-ending incident in sports.

“Shoulder patients can experience much quicker recovery and much less pain using the arthroscopic techniques developed in recent years,” said Peter J. Evans, MD, PhD, chair of the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute in Florida and orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty training in shoulder, hand

and upper extremity surgery. “Today, my patients return to their preferred activities quickly.”

Instead of a large incision circumventing the shoulder, Dr. Evans uses an arthroscope, a pencilsized instrument with a tiny camera at the tip, to examine and repair the tissues in the joint. Recovery is quicker and less painful when compared to an open procedure.

Using arthroscopy also minimizes swelling and allows patients to begin their post-operative rehabilitation sooner. In the last few years, other innovations have made the recovery process easier, including surgical improvements and better postoperative pain management.

According to Dr. Evans, sutures today use new materials that do not require intra-operative knots.

Overall, the procedures are less abrasive to the tissue. New, long-acting pain medications used following surgery last for 72 to 96 hours. Often patients need little or no pain medication after their initial recovery due to the new techniques.

A painful shoulder condition or injury can impede writing, eating, dressing, hair brushing and other activities of daily living. With newer techniques and appropriate rehabilitation, arthroscopic surgery can fully restore movement in the shoulder.

“Prior to arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair required months of post-operative rehabilitation and many patients avoided the surgery,” said Dr. Evans, who sees patients in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Palm City and Hobe Sound. “Using arthroscopy, we can help our patients return to a fuller life without constant pain.”

TALK WITH AN EXPERT.

To make an appointment with Dr. Evans or another orthopaedic specialist at Cleveland Clinic Florida, call 877.463.2010 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/ Access today.

wellington | social scene

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN

WELLINGTON CHAMBER GROUP WOWS 2,500 BACKPACK CHALLENGE On Tuesday, July 20, the Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, known as WOW, came together for a victory celebration after the group’s annual back-to-school endeavor turned into joining forces with the Wellington Community Foundation to deliver 2,500 new backpacks to Wellington students in need for the upcoming school year.

Mole Cantina Mexicana welcomed more than 65 people in attendance, many bringing additional school supplies to ensure that each of the filled backpacks

were stuffed. Supplies were collected over the weeks leading up to the event, while several attendees brought supplies to contribute that evening. Dr. Benita De Mirza of It’s A Smile World Pediatric Dentistry surprised the group with 10 custom-made school supply baskets.

The Women of the Wellington Chamber committed to donating at least 100 supply bundles to support the joint venture providing 2,500 backpacks to local children.

WOW’s event all came together

(Front) Jen Hernandez, Dr. Benita De Mirza, Kaela Genovese, Sherron Permashwar and Maggie Zeller; and (back) Melissa DiMartino, Kathleen Williams, Jenn Cohen and Arlene Smith.

thanks to many sponsors, including Nicola Cervera of Mole Cantina Mexicana as host venue; Kati and Chris Erickson and Stefani Kochanski of Board & Brush Wellington as game sponsor; Donna and Steve Willey of Village Music & Café as music sponsor; Teri and James Sukanec of Big Ink Graphics as sign sponsor; and, of course, all of the Wellington Chamber members who donated supplies.

Women of the Wellington Chamber (WOW) is a collective group of likeminded businesswomen driven to make a difference in the community while supporting one another’s businesses through philanthropy and networking events, thereby creating a network of sustainable contacts and resources. WOW’s leadership committee includes Jenn Cohen, Ravi Culbertson, Melissa DiMartino, Kaela Genovese, Vicki Gotha, Jennifer Hernandez, Sherron Permashwar, Bobbi Rottman, Arlene Smith and Kathleen Williams. The committee is chaired by Hernandez and Culbertson and is responsible for monthly philanthropic campaigns, events and endeavors supporting local nonprofits and the community.

For more information about WOW, or other chamber programs, visit www. wellingtonchamber.com or call Executive Director Michela Green at (561) 7926525.

(Left to right) Erin and Kathleen Williams; Sherron Permashwar and Alexandra Bazo; Jodi Gast and Paula Leonardis; Michelle Bevacqua and Kaela Genovese; and Chris Reiner and Krista Martinelli.

(Left to right) Arlene Smith with Michelle Strassel; Steve Willey and Lenny Townsend perform; Donna Willey of Village Music, Nick Cevera of Mole and Teri Sukanec of Big Ink Graphics; and Sabrina Zeller, Maggie Zeller and Tiffany Rodriguez.

18 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

wellington | social scene

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN

WELLINGTON ROTARY HOSTS INSTALLATION DINNER AT WANDERERS

The Rotary Club of Wellington held its 41st annual Awards Banquet & Installation Gala on Saturday, June 26 at the Wanderers Club.

The officers for 2021-22 were installed, and incoming President Tom Carreras took over the gavel from outgoing President David Berns.A number of awards were given out to Rotarians and others for community service.

(Left to right) Mayor Anne Gerwig installs Rotary’s 2021-22 President Tom Carreras and board members; Don and Maureen Gross, Walter and Joan Imperatore, Maggie Zeller and Tom Carreras received bags of apples in honor of their work with Feeding South Florida; and Frank T. Gladney Community Service Award winner Larry Kemp (center) with Don Gross and Barry Manning.

(Left to right) Andrew Burr, Interact Student of the Year Sydney Showalter, Hernan Avila, scholarship recipient Hermione Williams and David Berns; Don Gross receives the Rotarian of the Year award from David Berns; Tom Neumann presents David Berns with a gavel plaque; the President’s Award is given to Michelle Garvey by Don Gross; Mayor Anne Gerwig receives the Paul Harris Fellow award from Tom Eastwood; and incoming President Tom Carreras with outgoing President David Berns.

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IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Community Partners Step Up To Deliver 2,500 New Backpacks To Wellington Students The old adage “it takes a village” took on a whole new meaning when a wide array of community organizations joined forces to meet the 2,500 backpack challenge set by the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department.

The demand for backpacks filled with school supplies was up sharply over previous years. “We were amazed to hear that more than 2,400 Wellington students will be receiving either free or reduced-cost lunch this school year, but we were up to the challenge,” said Tom Wenham, chair of the Wellington Community Foundation. “I have to say that seeing everyone come together made it a really overwhelming success.”

The Wellington Community Foun-

dation, now in its fifth year of working with the village to deliver new backpacks and school uniforms to Wellington students in need, received a call that this year the number of students that needed assistance had risen to 2,500.

Would the foundation be up to the challenge? Without hesitation, the foundation’s board jumped into action.

Knowing this was a huge undertaking with little time to prepare, the board members knew it would take the entire community coming together to get the goal accomplished. Although the foundation’s donors showed up with generous support last year during the WCF’s Red, White & Blue Jeans virtual fundraiser, the nonprofit would have to ral-

Michelle Garvey, Paulette Edwards, Pam Tahan, Maggie Zeller, Tom Wenham and Dr. Gordon Johnson.

Donna Page and RoseAnn LaBella Voils representing sponsor the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation.

22

august 2021 | wellington the magazine

ly more donations and support to bring the goal of 2,500 backpacks to fruition.

Several organizations joined WCF on this mission, including the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation, the Rotary Club of Wellington, Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, My Community Pharmacy, Premier Family Health, Prominence Health Plan, Baptist Health, the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center, Clinics Can Help and the Village of Wellington.

With the assistance of Wellington’s Michelle Garvey and Paulette Edwards, goals and event dates were set.The mission was to collect as many school supplies as needed to fill backpacks at the “backpack stuffing” event that took

Arlene Smith and Ravi Culbertson.

Event sponsor Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. (Front) Jen Hernandez, Dr. Benita De Mirza, Kaela Genovese and Sherron Permashwar; and (back) Melissa DiMartino, Kathleen Williams, Jenn Cohen and Arlene Smith.

place Monday, July 19 at the Wellington Community Center. On Saturday, July 24, the village would host three separate block parties throughout Wellington. Backpacks filled with school supplies, school uniforms and other school-related items would be distributed to families that attend. The village invited families to a day of food, beverages and games to make it a fun-filled event.

Dozens of volunteers were welcomed as they stepped up to help fill the backpacks. Community Services Director Paulette Edwards said that the village was very thankful for all the supportive community partners.

“The past year’s COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all of us, and especially our youth.

In support of our school-age youth in the community, the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department provides a number of programs and activities designed particularly for our families most in need,” Edwards said.“Once again, we have partnered with our local nonprofits to provide back-to-school backpacks for those families hardest hit financially from the on-going pandemic.

We look forward to seeing the smiles on their faces when they return back to the classroom carrying their new backpacks and supplies.”

Tony Nelson, Brianna Perissien, Nicola Smith and Ed Bailey from event sponsor Premier Family Health.

Already on board was longtime supporter RoseAnn LaBella Voils, director of the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation.

“Five years ago, the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation partnered with the Village of Wellington, and we were the premier sponsor of the event.

The event was held in the parking lot of New Horizons Elementary School,” she said.“Our foundation’s mission is to give back to the community through educational and athletic opportunities for children and young adults.”

Johnny Meier from event sponsor My Community Pharmacy.

The Wellington Rotary Club, a sponsor of the event, sent a delegation to help.

(L-R) Ravi Culbertson, Larry Kemp, Tom Eastwood, Tom Carreras, Maggie Zeller, George Kinoshita, Maria Cruz, Leslie and Randy Pfeiffer, and Sherry Norwitch. wellington the magazine | august 2021 23

A wide array of local community partners stepped up to help deliver the 2,500 new backpacks to Wellington students for the upcoming school year, providing the necessary funding, school supplies and manpower to make it all possible. Many backpacks were handed out at a community event on Saturday, July 24, while others were delivered directly to Wellington-area schools.

Named in honor of LaBella Voils’ late son, the foundation is dedicated to making a difference in Wellington.

“We are a very small Wellington family organization,” she explained. “Our main fundraiser is our annual golf tournament, which raises money for our foundation. This event is very personal to our family. Christopher, my son, passed away in 2006. He grew up and attended schools in Wellington. We want to continue his legacy by giving back and helping as many children and young adults in the community as we can.”

LaBella Voils is proud to see how the village’s back-to-school event has grown.

“We are amazed to see in five years how the event grew, with not just one but all the organizations coming together, and their donations helping so many children in the community,” she said.

The Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation looks forward to teaming up with the Village of Wellington again next year, and LaBella Voils hopes the planning for it gets underway much earlier. “I would like to be included in the planning stages for the event, which should start in April or May, and we should know the date of the event sooner. I was disappointed that with the generous donation that we contributed, we were not in town to assist on July 24,” she said.

The Wellington Rotary was also a key supporter of this year’s back-to-school 24

august 2021 | wellington the magazine

event. Not only did club members donate thousands of dollars in school supplies, they filled backpacks and attended all three block parties.

One of the event’s biggest cheerleaders was Maggie Zeller, who is actively involved in a number of different nonprofits.

“Because of my involvement with the Rotary Club of Wellington, the Wellington Community Foundation and Back to Basics, I have become incredibly aware of the basic needs of so many children in our community,” Zeller said.

“I have participated for the last few years at different back-to-school events, but this one will really reach the elementary school children right in our own neighborhoods, and the children who need school supplies, backpacks and uniforms will be provided for.”

Zeller is proud that the Wellington Rotary stepped up and purchased the needed school supplies. “The Rotarian motto ‘Service Above Self’ is evident by the response from Wellington Rotarians as volunteers from stuffing backpacks, organizing uniforms, collecting children’s books and being there at all three locations on the day of the event,” she said.

Wellington Rotary President Tom Carreras added that the backpack challenge falls well in line with the club’s mission.

“The Wellington Rotary Club raises money all year using various fundraisers

for purposes like this, and we were happy that we could help,” Carreras said.“It brings all of our members joy knowing we have helped kids. We especially like to know any project we are involved with is successful, and we are happy this was, too.”

Longtime Wellington Community Foundation supporter Johnny Meier, owner of My Community Pharmacy, also stepped up to help out.

“I was asked to help, and I was honored to do so,” he said. “This is a necessary endeavor to invest in the next generation, so I didn’t hesitate to help where I could.”

With such short notice, it was difficult to jump from a need of 600 backpacks last year to 2,500 backpacks this year, but Meier didn’t hesitate. He contacted Premier Family Health, and the two businesses agreed to split the necessary donation.

“I believe the youth of our community are very important to the future of our village,” Meier said. “I know that sounds obvious, but I don’t think we do enough to foster our youth and give them the proper mentorship to be successful and productive. We need to first make sure they can succeed in the classroom. That’s what this effort helps to achieve.”

After the joy and excitement of knowing that every Wellington child needing the proper school items to succeed will get it, Meier noted that My

“To say that the last year and a half has been challenging may be understatement, Through it all, our community partners continue to outdo themselves with their generosity and support. We are grateful for the backpack challenge initiated by the Wellington Community Foundation, rallying other community partners for support and, in the process, making a difference for so many Wellington students.”

— Village Manager Jim Barnes Community Pharmacy would absolutely be on board for next year’s event.

Once Premier Family Health President Tony Nelson learned about the event, he wanted to become involved.

“Premier Family Health made a commitment years ago to serve within the community and give back, specifically to the youth, who we see as the future,” Nelson said. “Through this event, we are happy to support the local youth to make sure they have the supplies for their educational needs.”

Unlike the nonprofits, which raised donations through fundraisers, Premier Family Health donated the funds to the efforts of the Wellington Community Foundation and funded thousands of dollars in backpacks.

“It was a true privilege to be a part of this event that will have a positive impact on so many students to start school with the tools they need to have a successful school year,” Nelson said. “The realization that there remains a continuous need for support for the underserved and underprivileged youth in our community is the driving force behind our participation.”

Last year, the Wellington Community Foundation heard about the wonderful

A truck carries the 2,500 backpacks from the Wellington Community Center.

back-to-school effort organized by the Women of the Wellington Chamber and reached out to see if that organization wanted to join forces in helping with the 2,500 backpack challenge. WOW Chair Jennifer Hernandez said the group would be all in.WOW committed to filling 100 backpacks, and the group’s members went above and beyond.

“The Wellington Chamber, through the Women of Wellington, hosts an annual supply drive every year because we believe in our professional community coming together to support our village, residents and students,” Hernandez said. “We also believe in the power of collaboration, so combining the efforts of our supply drive with the Wellington Community Foundation initiative impacted our community in a very powerful way.”

Along with all the school supplies, each filled backpack received a large bottle of hand sanitizer, compliments of Clinics Can Help.

“Providing the necessary supplies and equipment to not only enhance the lives of children and adults, but to protect them, is what we do at Clinics Can Help,” CEO Owen O’Neill said.“We are honored to have been a part of the

backpack project within the Wellington community. Our hope is that we play a role in reducing the spread of germs when children and staff return to school very soon.”

The Wellington Community Foundation is overwhelmed with the effort and support received for the 2,500 backpack challenge and looks forward to doing it again next school year for the community’s children, added WCF Board Member Dr. Gordon Johnson.

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes thanked all the community partners for making the backpack challenge a reality.

“To say that the last year and a half has been challenging may be understatement,” Barnes said. “Through it all, our community partners continue to outdo themselves with their generosity and support. We are grateful for the backpack challenge initiated by the Wellington Community Foundation, rallying other community partners for support and, in the process, making a difference for so many Wellington students.”

To learn about how you can become involved in making a difference in the Wellington community, visit www.wellingtoncommunityfoundation.org. wellington the magazine | august 2021 25

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EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATORS Four Teachers From Wellington School Honored With The Economic Council’s Newest Award

BY LOUIS HILLARY PARK

Sally Mascia

Emily MacMillan

They blazed trails,created a space where students could express their fears, built a sense of community and persevered despite personal heartbreak as they walked a unique tightrope between inperson learning and online classes.

They are the four Binks Forest Elementary School team members honored during this spring’s Extraordinary Educator Awards, sponsored by the Economic Council of Palm Beach County — teachers Emily MacMillan, Sally Mascia and Brandi Soto, and behavioral health professional Hope Jackson.

Brandi Soto

The awards were based on nominations and testimonials from parents.

Among the county’s nearly 200 schools and more than 12,900 teachers, no other school had more than two honorees, according to the council’s Facebook page.

Of Soto, one parent reflected on the virus-driven wildfire of anxiety that scorched through the spring of 2020: “We have never felt so supported by a teacher. She made us feel stress-free during a time when everyone was switching from brick-and-mortar to online learning! … Thank you so much, dear

Hope Jackson

Mrs. Soto, for the amazing, great teacher you are!”

Soto was very moved by her nomination, let alone winning the award.

“When I saw what some of the parents wrote about me, I cried,” said Soto, who grew up in Palm Beach County and has been teaching for 17 years. “Parent involvement is huge here.”

Soto, a Florida Atlantic University graduate, has been impressed by the Binks Forest faculty ever since arriving at the school eight years ago. “At Binks, going above and beyond is simply in our nature,” she said. wellington the magazine | august 2021 27

Principal Michella Levy with award-winning educators Emily MacMillan, Hope Jackson, Sally Mascia and Brandi Soto.

Such an attitude inspired the married mother of two to become a Trailblazer, a school district designation for a teacher who has volunteered for extra training in classroom technology. So, when classes for the district’s 169,000 students went online in March 2020, then returned in the fall in hybrid form — some students in class, some learning online — Soto was well equipped to handle the technical challenges and aid other teachers.

“That’s one thing about our school, teachers lift each other up and support each other,” said MacMillan, another local graduate who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from FAU. She has been teaching at Binks Forest for 10 years.

Parents think MacMillan is special, too. One wrote: “Emily exemplified her 28 august

2021 | wellington the magazine

extreme care during the pandemic…

Her sincere love for teaching and her students makes learning exciting.”

MacMillan, a single mother with a 13-year-old son, said the biggest challenge for her over the last 18 months was not technical but emotional.

“I’m big on creating and fostering a classroom community,” she said.“So, the biggest thing was making sure my students felt connected to me and to each other with some of them in the classroom and some of them at home.”

Enthusiasm carrying her forward, MacMillan focused on the idea that everyone is persevering through the challenges together.

“I’m a big believer in lifelong learning, and that my students aren’t there just to learn enough to get through the third grade… These students will talk

about this [pandemic experience] for the rest of their lives. They’ll say, ‘Remember the year when?’”

No doubt first-grade teacher Mascia will remember this school year vividly and with no small measure of melancholy, having faced the personal pain of losing her father in September, then her mother in January to COVID-19.

Despite traveling to her native Ohio for the funerals, Mascia maintained contact with her students through the Internet.

A teacher at Binks Forest since 1999, Mascia let parents know about the personal losses she had suffered and allowed them to share, or not, with their children as they thought appropriate.

“First-graders need consistency,” Mascia said.“I didn’t want the deaths to hamper my teaching.”

Throughout Mascia’s personally challenging year, parents, fellow teachers and the school administration led by Principal Michella Levy were there for her.

“They’re amazing,” said Mascia, a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland. “The teachers pull together and support each other, personally and professionally.”

Like several of the teachers, Mascia also gave credit to the school’s very active PTA organization.

In June, Mascia retired after teaching for 35 years in Florida schools. She’s looking forward to spending time with her first grandchild.

Reflecting on the last year and a half, Mascia said, “The children were troopers. They never complained… [But] it was a challenge making sure we reached the kids at home. I’m praying we reached them.”

Parents who wrote to the Econom-

ic Council to nominate Mascia are very sure about the calm, steady difference she made:“This past year has been quite different. It has been chaotic and unsettling at times. The pandemic has been plain nerve-racking and stressful, that is, until you reach the classroom door of Ms. Mascia.”

Through all the stress, chaos, uncertainty and fear generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson was there providing emotional outlets for students, information for parents and encouragement for fellow staff members and teachers. And parents noticed, one writing: “Ms. Jackson remained bright throughout this storm of darkness surrounding her students, peers and her family.”

Jackson said her goal was to create a safe space where students could “scream, shout, cry, throw a chair if they need to, then figure out how to deal with what they’re feeling,” she said.

“There is no problem so big we can’t help them.”

Of course, providing that space for students still learning from home was a challenge.“I still tried to do it with extra attention, extra check-ins with parents and virtual students,” she said.

One of the keys was letting students act out scenarios of their choosing, she explained.

“Role playing lets the students verbalize about different situations… and learn about what sort of skills are needed to cope with them,” said Jackson, a Belle Glade native who earned degrees from Bethune-Cookman and Shaw universities.

Despite Jackson’s many normal work responsibilities and mothering a blended family of seven ranging in age from 7 to 25, she found the time to write a motivational e-mail each Friday for faculty and staff, underscoring the fact that at Binks Forest,“we’re a team.”

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Members of Elbridge Gale Elementary School’s Gator Bots team in action.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Elbridge Gale Students Excel At Robotics Program With Appearance At International Invitational

BY DEBORAH WELKY

Small, plastic Lego bricks are ubiquitous in most homes with school-age children. The bricks are a staple of creativity for children and adults alike, evolving into much more than a toy. In fact, they are also a key component of a robotics program that teaches students STEM skills like engineering and technology.

Four years ago, Wellington’s Elbridge Gale Elementary School created a Lego Robotics team, which was an instant hit with students. It is currently operated by

teachers Tara Dicurcio and Nicole Crane.

“I wanted to coach because I’m interested in robotics myself. I wanted to learn along with the kids,” Dicurcio said.

“The season typically starts in August with competitions running from February through March,” Crane added. “Last year, that was extended while everyone figured out the logistics of competing virtually.”

The teachers’ dedication propelled the school’s 2020-21 team to new heights, which included an invitation

to participate in the FIRST Lego League Virtual Open International, headquartered in Greece.

The “Gator Bots” team was comprised of Corben Dicurcio, Skyler Peterson, Cristopher Martin-Aguirre,Yashasvi Rajpurohit, Colbie Phillips, Chris Powell, Oliver Parreco and Ariana Porterfield.

They entered the qualifier, participating with students from Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in an effort to receive an award and advance to regionals. wellington the magazine | august 2021 33

The 2021 Gator Bots from Elbridge Gale advanced through local and regional competition until becoming one of seven Florida teams to represent the United States virtually in Greece.

Advance, they did.The regional competition heated up with new participants from as far away as Key West and, when the dust settled, Elbridge Gale’s Gator Bots were selected by judges as one of seven Florida teams to represent the United States in Greece. They were one of just 59 teams invited from throughout the U.S., and one of only 200 selected from a worldwide pool of 350,000 competitors.

Of course, last year, no one was physically going to Greece.

“As any educator would say, it was challenging to stay engaged across multiple platforms — with some students working from home and some not,” Crane said.“It was difficult to coordinate but, at the end of the day, the pandemic may have actually worked in our favor.

There are six core values that the students work on developing as part of the competition, and two of those are inclusion and teamwork. Restrictions imposed due to the pandemic helped the students to develop that core set as the season went on.”

In addition to making sure all in-per34 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

son and virtual teammates felt included, the students had to wear masks, so it was difficult to understand each other at times. They also had to stay six feet apart — especially challenging when collaborating and building with tiny bricks. Wearing gloves and repeatedly sanitizing everything they touched slowed things down a bit, too.

Their coaches were there for guidance only. “It shouldn’t be me doing the project,” Dicurcio said. “Our motto around here is ‘Kid Done, Kid Fun.’ For instance, if they needed a new coding system to help put everything together, I could research a fantastic tutorial set, pull those lessons and show them stepby-step, but they’d have to figure out how to apply it. If they wanted to add a line-follower to their build, I could show them how to develop it, but they’re the ones who have to decide how to apply that knowledge to the robot.”

Sounds seamless, right?

Not always. The team experienced several setbacks along their path to glory, not the least of which was having their computer crash the day before the

qualifier round. They lost all their content and had to learn the skills necessary to develop their app and rebuild in time to compete the next day. The silver lining? They received the BreakThrough Award, given to the team that “faces a challenge and continues pressing forward.”

Setbacks are a part of life, and these Wellington students are now better prepared to deal with them.

“Creativity and problem-solving are two of the strongest components of the program,” Crane said.“It’s not just building and engineering skill sets; there’s a lot of technology, a lot of research. Each year, the students are learning things that I facilitate but, very often, the students know the coding and programs and vocabulary better than I do. And, if they don’t know it, they learn it faster than I can.”

In 2020-21, the robotics league program assigned a timely challenge that would require competitors to develop a solution to an existing problem — retaining health and fitness during a pandemic.

“It was a pretty good topic,” Crane said. “How do people exercise when they’re afraid to go outside? How do you incorporate space with social-distancing recess options? How can students even do PE in a distance-learning situation? The team had to find ways, so they created a survey, got the survey out there and collected data to see which direction they should go in when solving their problem. They got a crash course in learning some different strategies to do that, and watching them do their exercise was fun. It was pretty cute.”

The teachers know they are preparing their students not only for jobs but for life.

“The six core values are the guiding force for Lego Robotics — discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and fun,” Crane said. “Teams are judged on their use of teamwork — that their project was done together, not individually.They are taught respect and embrac-

The Gator Bots enjoyed their virtual trip to Greece.

ing differences and not leaving anyone out. They do coding, programming and public speaking. Ultimately, they built a virtual fitness trail to help people remain active during COVID-19.”

Along the way, they learned skills and

had unique experiences that will be able to take with them no matter where they end up heading in life.

Visit www.firstlegoleague.org to learn more about the FIRST Lego League program.

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2021 BLAST Graduates: (Front) teacher Nancy Toussaint; (middle) Faith-Jasmin Wilson, Christie Wilks, Hermione Williams and Trinity Steele; (back) Nathan Louis, Melik Frederick, Jayden Louis, Johan Henry, Chaz Allen and Lintwan Brown. Not shown: McKenzie Henry.

WELLINGTON’S YOUNG BLACK LEADERS Wellington High School Creates BLAST, A New Course In Black Leadership

Author Margaret Hunt is a member of the BLAST program and president for the 2021-22 school year. Her goal is to make Black students feel more welcome, safe and understood.

BY MARGARET HUNT

With an aim to help build the future base of tomorrow’s Black leaders, Wellington High School has created an innovative course known as BLAST, which stands for the Black Leadership & Achievement Student Team.

When AICE math teacher Nancy Toussaint and student McKenzie Henry, then a senior, realized that Black students were under-represented in Wellington High School’s leadership programs, they both wanted to make the school more inclusive. They needed a team, but there was a problem — they had no clue that one another existed.

However, when Mike Kozlowski, a school administrator with a similar vision, approached Toussaint about meeting Henry, it led to the creation of a class for underserved Black students.

In January 2020, at the next faculty meeting, WHS Principal Cara Hayden gave her support to adding a leadership class for Black students at the school. She noted that the previous schools that she worked in all had courses designed for Black students, but when she became principal at Wellington High School, there were none.

She wanted the school to be a place

where minority students could thrive as well.

A follow-up faculty meeting occurred via Zoom near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Toussaint invited Henry to attend. She wanted a student to be involved in the discussion about creating a Black leadership class.

During the meeting, the late Assistant Principal Henry Paulk created the name for the proposed class after pondering it some time. He came up with the acronym BLAST and suggested that Toussaint have an interview process for prospective students. wellington the magazine | august 2021 37

BLAST members Hermione Williams, Margaret Hunt and Melik Frederick.

Toussaint eventually carried out the interviews in August 2020, when BLAST officially became a class at WHS. She worked with faculty members Audra Davis, Oscar Robinson, Suzanne Nichols and Danielle Fairclough to create an application form that the students would fill out before being approved to participate in the program.

From there,Toussaint and Henry met

on Google Meet to discuss creating a commercial for the class. Henry filmed a promotional video that would later be played for the BLAST students. She used word-of-mouth to get her fellow classmates interested in joining the program, garnering the first eight students. Fairclough, a guidance counselor, located more Black students that she would email the application to.The class started

out with 16 founding students, but it will expand to approximately 24 students during the 2021-22 school year.

BLAST is currently offered as an honors elective at Wellington High School, available for students in grades 11 and 12. Its mission is to, “Empower Black students to create a positive mindset, achieve academic success and develop leadership skills.”

Toussaint’s vision for the class was for students to serve in a similar capacity as the Student Government Association.

One of her primary goals was for the class to be student-led. Before he passed away in October 2020, Paulk’s goal was for BLAST to increase the students’ communication skills and to improve their group dynamics. It is safe to say that in its first year, the class accomplished that.

“BLAST has created a safe place for me and my friends to talk about anything,” WHS graduate Melik Frederick said.“We motivated each other every day and learned a lot from each other. Being

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the first year of this class, we got a lot done. Special thanks to Ms.Toussaint.”

During the 2020-21 school year, following through with her student leadership goal,Toussaint allowed the students to give their input on what they would like to be taught. BLAST students learned different leadership styles, goal setting, active listening skills, financial literacy and more. Henry was chosen to serve as president, and the seniors delegated class-officer positions among themselves.They formed groups named after tribes from different African regions and made projects about topics such as African American historical figures.

The most notable part of the class was “Free Talk Friday,” where students had an environment to discuss their opinions on current events and talk about their lives. It was from this time set aside every week that the students in the class realized that the things they had to say mattered.

“BLAST was an amazing experience and by far the best class I took at Wellington High School,” recent graduate Hermione Williams said. “It was a class where I could comfortably express how I felt about national events and learn more about my history. With the help of Ms.Toussaint, we learned that despite the stereotypes set upon us Black people by society, we all have the potential to create a path for excellence.We were more than just peers and a teacher — we were family.”

With the help of the Village of Wellington, the BLAST students were able to use their newly found voices to make an impact on their community through a series of videos that they made during Black History Month to celebrate their heritage and to speak up about topics that they were passionate about. These videos included, “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud,”“Racism,”“We Still Have Dreams” and “Black Inventors.” They were played during school and were shared throughout Wellington.

Because of their videos, six BLAST students were able to participate in the Village of Wellington’s SWAG program, which stands for Students Working to Achieve Greatness. Through this program, the students received summer internships at varying locations, along with tools to become successful in the workforce, such as interviewing pointers, financial literacy, attire and more.

They met with and got advice from accomplished Black people in the community and got the opportunity to network with community leaders.

BLAST’s meetings with community organizations and school leadership classes such as the Urban League, SWAG, the Student Government Association and Latinos In Action have played a crucial role in spreading the word about the new program. So much so, that School Board Member Marcia Andrews, and Brian Knowles, manager of the Office of African, African American, Latino, Holocaust and Gender Studies for the school district, met with BLAST to discuss the expansion of the class to other schools across the county.Andrews was receptive to the proposal, and the likelihood of BLAST’s expansion is favorable.

Along with expanding the class, BLAST has internal goals for Wellington High School. The group hopes to implement programs that will help the students, such as Big Brother/Big Sisterstyle mentoring, conflict mediation, and dealing with student complaints and concerns. BLAST members have talked with the school’s administration about the integration of these programs and have concluded that they will take time and training to fully implement.

However, the program has shown that there are many faculty members in support of minority students in the school. In the future, BLAST aims to collaborate with other classes, clubs and student groups to make sure that every student is represented within the school’s leadership.

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Guest Bath is also updated. Full home impact windows and storm doors to balcony. Community has lovely community room and pool directly on ICW. Conveniently located near shopping, dining, & area beaches. Available for 3 months only July - December 2021. Not available for Jan- May 2022. Association states 55+ and no pets. Rent includes electric, water, cable, & internet! 3 months only $3,100 season, $2,500 off season !

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wellington the magazine | august 2021 39

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wellington | health

A BREAKTHROUGH IN IMAGING

(Above) The Esaote G-scan Brio at Next Generation MRI. (Below) Dr. Mark Blank demonstrates the versatile machine.

Next Generation MRI Brings State-Of-The-Art Technology To Palm Beach County Residents STORY BY MIKE MAY | PHOTOS BY CALLIE SHARKEY

Newly opened Next Generation MRI brings the most unique and highly advanced MRI ever developed to central Palm Beach County.

The Esaote G-scan Brio is the only one of its kind in Palm Beach County and one of only nine in the State of Florida. Nationwide, there are less than 100 of them currently in use. Next Generation MRI’s equipment is not your regular, conventional MRI. The firm’s tech-

nology is current, state-of-the-art and imported from Genoa, Italy.

“We have the most unique and highly advanced MRI ever developed,” said Next Generation MRI founder Joe Nasuti, whose professional background includes more than 35 years in the imaging industry. “It’s a combination of Italian engineering and space-age technology resulting in unheard-of capabilities no other MRI can perform.” wellington the magazine | august 2021 41

wellington | health This includes 90-degree rotation for full natural body weight bearing standup scans and center-line scanning for every body part, flex and extension, motion studies, and 3D images.“We will go boldly where no MRI has gone before!”

Nasuti said.

Next Generation MRI opened July 1 and is located across the street from the Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach.

According to Nasuti, the services provided by Next Generation MRI outperform other local competitors and are focused on providing patients with quick and accurate answers to medical questions.

To add to the overall MRI experience, Next Generation has added an MRI Café to its offices, where clients can rest, unwind and prepare for the MRI by having a cup of coffee. The goal is to create a low-key, relaxed atmosphere for the client prior to the MRI experience.

To add to the space-age technology aspect of Next Generation MRI’s services, when you are in one of its two MRI rooms, you can look up and see a picture of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise, on the ceiling. It’s alright to lay there and say, “Beam me up, Scotty!”

Next Generation MRI has two MRI bays and will only schedule eight to 10 MRIs a day on each machine.This makes sure that no client will ever be rushed through an MRI procedure.

To get access to Next Generation MRI, you must be referred by a medical professional, such as a chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon, podiatrist or neurosurgeon.

“We are specializing in patients who need an MRI due to an auto accident, workman’s comp claim, a personal injury incident, or a slip and fall accident,” Nasuti explained.

The big key to Next Generation MRI’s services is that Nasuti and his team can perform a vertical MRI, where you are standing up, in addition to an 42 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

Owner Joe Nasuti (center) with the Next Generation MRI team of Heather Garland, Elizabeth Prol, Rosalie Ferraro, Donna Nasuti, Erica Wolff and Jill Sisson.

MRI where you are laying on your back.

“With the vertical MRI, we can see your pain better than anyone else,” Nasuti said.“That converts to a more accurate diagnosis and better treatment.”

According to Heather Garland, chief MRI tech for Next Generation MRI, the G-Scan Brio technology in each MRI machine is the world’s first MRI specifically developed to perform more accurate musculoskeletal examinations. The two MRI machines inside Next Generation’s offices are also the world’s only 100 percent natural weight-bearing, stand-up MRI machines. Of great importance to many potential clients is the fact that Next Generation MRI has the least-claustrophobic MRI on the market.

According to Nasuti, the G-Scan Brio reveals what supine MRIs can miss.

“A conventional MRI may not demonstrate the pathology related to these symptoms, but G-Scan Brio gives you a new point of view, so you can accurately diagnose musculoskeletal pathologies affected by a weight-bearing position,” Nasuti said.

The G-Scan Brio also provides more detail, better accuracy and greater confidence.

“The G-Scan Brio is superior to other MRIs because both the magnet and patient can rotate from 0 to 90 degrees,” Garland explained.“Our technology has eliminated the need for many exploratory surgeries.”

Simply put, the G-Scan Brio adds weight to your diagnosis.

“The G-Scan Brio offers a revolutionary MRI approach that increases diagnostic accuracy and confidence for musculoskeletal applications,” Nasuti said.

Once the MRI is complete, it’s sent electronically to Dr. Bruce Rodan, one of the most respected, board-certified radiologists in the industry.

“His preliminary report will be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes, which is another industry first,” Nasuti said.

One of Next Generation MRI’s clients is West Palm Beach-based chiropractor Dr. Thomas Rupolo. He’s a big believer in what Next Generation MRI has to offer. “This is the latest and greatest MRI technology on the market,” Rupolo said.

“It’s not a claustrophobic experience, and it provides a superior diagnosis.”

Rupolo will be referring all of his patients who need an MRI to Next Generation MRI. To give you more peace of mind when you visit, Next Generation MRI has installed three bipolar ionization air purification systems that eliminate bacteria and viruses from the air. It’s the same system used by major airlines.

Next Generation MRI is located at 1700 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 150, in West Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) WPB-1700 (561972-1700) or visit www.nexgenmri. com.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE! O OU R THANKS T RS S SPONSO U O R E N E G AVE UPPLIES H SCHOOL S ARRIVED.

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wellington | table

Take A Culinary Journey To The Islands With A Visit To Jamaica House Grill In Wellington

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CALLIE SHARKEY

When the island-nation of Jamaica was in its infancy, the government decided to build an official residence for the prime minister, known as Jamaica House. To immerse yourself in the culture and food of this unique Caribbean island, pay a visit to the iconic building’s local namesake, Jamaica House Grill in Wellington.

Guests are greeted by reggae fusion music and portraits of Jamaican icons like Marcus Garvey and Usain Bolt.

A cheerful rack of wines and an open floorplan greet visitors and continue to build the Jamaican setting.

There is no coincidence that Jamaican native and Executive Chef Collin Allen landed at Jamaica House Grill, often called JHG. “I’ve worked at Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island, but for me, Jamaica House is the office of the prime minister, and I’m devoted to that,” said Allen, who served as the personal chef to Jamaica’s first female prime minister, Portia Simpson-Miller.

He visited the restaurant when down in Florida on vacation.

“I saw the restaurant’s menu and said this is where I belong,” Allen recalled.

“This is where I want to be — to take guests on a culinary journey of what it is to really have authentic Jamaican cuisine.”

Despite having cooked for celebrities like Harrison Ford, Ralph Lauren and Naomi Campbell, Allen finds joy in bringing his heritage to plate for everyone who visits Jamaica House Grill.

(Clockwise from top left) One of the most popular items is the Braised Oxtails with seasonal vegetables, rice and peas; the Country Man Salad is bright and fresh with diced apples, mango, cranberries, candied pineapples and a special house dressing on a bed of romaine lettuce; the Trio of Wings includes the Mango Tree Wings, Mild Jerk Wings and Sorrel Jerk Wings; wings are available to suit any palate; the Grilled Salmon features a sweet chili sauce, served with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes; and Executive Chef Collin Allen shares some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes. wellington the magazine | august 2021 45

Caribbean décor at Jamaica House Grill.

Jerk spices are a cornerstone of Jamaican food, and chicken wings are one of the best ways to showcase the different levels of spice available. From the tangy Mango Tree Wings to the bold Sorrel Jerk Wings, there is a flavor profile for every palate.

One of the most popular dishes at Jamaica House Grill is the Braised Oxtails.

This rich and savory dish is served with seasonal vegetables, rice and peas. It is a direct inspiration from the Spanish heritage of the island.

Manager Steve Dillon pointed out several of the restaurant’s most popular dishes.

“Most people like the oxtail, curried goat and our fish. It’s a variety of dishes that I grew up eating every day,” said Dillon, who hails from New York but has been with Jamaica House Grill from the beginning.“I get to come here and have the best Jamaican dishes all in one spot.”

Since opening its doors in November

2019, the restaurant has been a dedicated source of authentic Jamaican flavors and traditional cuisine. The menu also contains American-style food such as burgers or mac and cheese alongside Jamaican staples like Curried Goat. Vegetarians also have a variety of options, such as the Coconut Curry Tofu, the Country Man Salad and the Jamaican classic Ital Bean Stew.

For the food extraordinaire Allen, every plate is important.

“At Jamaica House, we pay attention to the details and provide personalized service. So, when you come here, we will do the food according to how you like it to be done. Our jerk is spicy because it is authentic Jamaican food that we have inherited over the years. Our curry comes from India and China. We inherit the Ital from the Rastafarian culture,” said Allen, who is also fascinated by the history of the food.“Being spicy is a form of preserving food in the old

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august 2021 | wellington the magazine

wellington | table days. Americans would use smoke, but we use herbs as a preservative. Our food gets better over time because of the rum and all the spices.”

But Allen doesn’t want the fear of trying intense jerk spices to concern patrons.“You tell us what you want. Don’t be afraid to come in, because everybody will get what they like. Jamaican food is spicy, but we can bring down the heat,” he said.

The Grilled Salmon is a must-try for any fish lover. The medium-well fillet is served in a sweet chili sauce encasing cherry tomatoes, diced bell peppers and onions. On the side is asparagus cooked in a delicate parsley butter, and the signature side of mashed sweet potatoes balances the sweet chili sauce.

For dessert, embrace the rich aromas of the Jamaica House Signature Bread Pudding with rum sauce. The plate arrives wrapped in the soft blue flames of the burning Jamaican rum.

The past year has been rough on many industries, particularly restaurants, but Jamaica House Grill has persevered and kept the focus on serving great food and keeping patrons happy.

“Back in New York, so many of the restaurants I grew up eating at are closed now,” said Dillon, who is optimistic about the future.“Jamaica House Grill made it through that, and we are still going. I believe that says something about the food and about us.”

Part of that future includes eventually expanding the restaurant’s hours and opening for breakfast service. Allen is excited to bring a Jamaican twist to traditional American breakfast items.

Jamaica House Grill is located at 2557 S. State Road 7 in Wellington, in the plaza with Whole Foods Market.The restaurant currently serves lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more information, call (561) 619-9074 or visit www.jamaicahousegrills.com.

JHG’s Angel Frazer and manager Steve Dillon.

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wellington the magazine | august 2021 47

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august 2021 | wellington the magazine

Kitchen: The updated kitchen is open to the family room, allowing for nice sight lines and easy Family Room: Cathedral ceilings add to the drama of the generously sized entertaining. There is plenty of counter space, along with white cabinetry, newer appliances, unique granite countertops and a marble backsplash that are stylish and on trend.

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august 2021 | wellington the magazine

living areas. Natural light pours in, and you can enjoy pool views from almost every window and door.

wellington | real estate

SPACIOUS AND UPDATED This Stunning Home In Wellington’s Greenview Shores Community Includes More Than 2,000 Square Feet

PHOTOS COURTESY LINDSEY TAYLOR

Our featured property this month is a stunningly updated and spacious home in Wellington’s Greenview Shores community.The three-bedroom, two-bath pool home is fully fenced in a highly desirable area with no HOA, just a short ride to the showgrounds. The home features more than 2,000 square feet of living space, and cathedral ceilings add to the grandeur. New porcelain wood plank tile flooring continues throughout the living areas, along with new six-inch baseboards.A large living and dining area greets guests upon entry.The split bedroom plan features a large master bedroom with tray ceilings and a double-door entry.The en suite bath includes dual sinks, a large soaker tub and a separate shower.The master suite includes a walk-in closet and double French doors out to lanai.The kitchen is beautifully upgraded with white raised panel cabinetry, unique granite countertops and a marble tile backsplash with newer appliances.

Front Elevation: This spacious home in Wellington’s Greenview Shores neighborhood is updated with great curb appeal, including a double-door entry and a two-car garage.

Foyer: This welcoming foyer greets guests with an impact, etched-glass, double- Pool: Paradise awaits outdoors! Enjoy the private, oversized pool with a built-in table for your door entry. Easy single-level living makes everyday entertaining a breeze, while new tropical drink. The yard is fully fenced for privacy and safety. The lot is a generous quarter-acre luxury flooring continues throughout the living areas. and includes a shed. wellington the magazine | august 2021 51

wellington | real estate

Greenview Shores Property Presented By Lindsey Taylor

Meet Lindsey Taylor Lindsey Taylor is a Realtor with Re/Max Direct, based in Wellington with satellite offices in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. She is a residential real estate veteran and represents an average of 70 families per year wishing to buy, sell or rent property.

Taylor has a long record of consistently selling homes faster and for record sales prices. She closes residential sales and lease transactions valued at more than $20 million every year, and these results have led her to earning Re/Max’s distinctive Chairman’s Club and Platinum Lindsey Taylor Club awards year after year. She is consistently ranking in Re/Max’s Florida Top 100 and Realtor Real Trends America’s Best Top 1.5% of real estate agents nationally.

(561) 758-3900 Taylor attributes her success in today’s fiercely competitive marketplace to her attention to detail, negotiating strength and unique “active-focused” marketing plan.

A Wellington resident since childhood, Taylor graduated from Wellington High School in 1995 and has experienced firsthand why so many people want to call Wellington home.

She is now raising her own three children, together with her husband Greg, in Wellington.

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www.pbaquatics.com 52

august 2021 | wellington the magazine

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celebrate | wellington

A PLAYGROUND FOR DOGS Wellington Dog Park Offers A Gathering Spot For Canine Residents And Their Human Companions

BY M. DENNIS TAYLOR

With a strong focus on recreation, the Village of Wellington is home to many parks. Some parks are designed for organized sports, some for more passive activities. Most of them are designed for Wellington’s human residents. That is, except the Wellington Dog Park.

The Wellington Dog Park, located in Greenbriar Park at 2975 Greenbriar Blvd., near the intersection of Greenbriar Blvd. and Aero Club Drive, is a place where canine friends and their human companions come together for some much-needed recreation and socialization.

“Wellington has always recognized the importance of our dogs,” Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett explained. “Our facility is divided into three sizes for large dogs, medium dogs and small dogs.”

This division makes sure that little

ones aren’t endangered by their rambunctious big cousins, who may outweigh them exponentially.

Since the facility opened more than 15 years ago, Dr. Marc Pinkwasser of the Courtyard Animal Hospital has been a key sponsor of the park, supporting both special events at the park and items needed for its general maintenance.

Juckett noted that Pinkwasser sponsors the pit crew items that allow visitors to pick up all of their pet’s waste materials. Failure to “scoop the poop” is strictly forbidden. In fact, the park’s community of users work hard to selfpolice this policy and others that make the whole concept work.

Pinkwasser tells patients of the importance of exercise for every stage of the dogs’ life and knows the value of getting out in an open space for that

Wellington’s maintenance team takes good care of keeping the dog park in top shape for families to enjoy. Shown here are Steven Loughey and Gabriel Jimenez.

exercise. He practices what he preaches with his two golden retrievers named Ella “Fly Me to the Moon” Fitzgerald and Satchmo “High Society”Armstrong.

“Dr. Pinkwasser gives us a donation every year to help out,” Juckett said, adding that a team of dedicated maintenance staff cleans the facility daily to the highest premium condition residents would expect and utilizes regular pest control maintenance procedures.

“We have a dedicated day each week on Thursdays when the park is closed in the morning until 3 p.m. to allow for a more extensive cleanup.”

While the park is not a fully staffed recreation location, Wellington crews keep a close eye on the facility. wellington the magazine | august 2021

55

celebrate | wellington

(Above) The park is sectioned into small, medium and large areas, allowing everyone to feel comfortable. (Inset) After a visit to the park, dogs can be easily bathed in the wash area.

“It is not supervised, but our staff checks in on the facility during the course of the day,” Juckett said.

Proud of the 6.5 acres reserved for canine residents, Juckett said the village receives many compliments from its users. Prime time for the Wellington Dog Park crowd is between 4 and 6 p.m. daily.

“That’s when people are getting home from work and when we have the largest number of people throughout the day,” he said.

Juckett added that the facility is popular with seasonal visitors. “Equestrian and polo season from October to April is when we get the most use,” he explained.

Open from dawn to dusk, for an early morning stretch of the legs to a final run at the end of the day, the facility requires visitors to follow current Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines and village protocols.

All three sections of the Wellington Dog Park feature a large fenced-in, offleash area with pet wash and waste disposal stations located throughout the facility.There are water fountains for dogs and people, and restrooms for the pet’s parents are on site. In addition, there are walking paths and pavilions for shade.

People accompanying a dog must have a hand leash with them and be at least 16 years old.

The rules are common sense and fair.

Only dogs and people are allowed, no 56 august 2021 | wellington the magazine

other animals and no personal items or toys are permitted to avoid jealousy.

There is, of course, a risk any time a pet owner allows their dog to come into contact with another dog, and the village is not liable for any incidents, but aggressive or excessively barking dogs are not allowed, and any dog displaying aggressive behavior is required to be immediately removed.

Problematic incidents at the dog park are rare, and a trip to the Wellington Dog Park is sure to be your best friend’s favorite part of the day.

The Wellington Dog Park is part of the village’s award-winning recreation system that aims to make sure that Wellington’s recreation amenities are among the best available. Keeping them that way is a key component of Wellington’s recently approved comprehensive plan for recreational amenities for the next 10 to 20 years, which continues to put a heavy focus on high-quality park amenities.

That recreational blueprint addresses amenities for residents of all ages, in groups from children to seniors, and yes, also mentioning dogs of all shapes and sizes.

All dogs visiting the Wellington Dog Park must be legally licensed and vaccinated and wear a visible dog license.

They must be at least four months of age, and female dogs in heat are not permitted. Other rules apply and can be found at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

John F. Froehlich

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