WESTLAKE TO UPDATE CITY’S COMP PLAN
KEVIN’S ROCKSTARS LIP SYNC EVENT
On Sunday, March 30, the Kevin Babington Foundation held its annual Kevin’s Rockstars Lip Sync Fundraiser. Babington, an Irish Olympian paralyzed in a show jumping accident, was in attendance and spoke about the mission of the foundation. Proceeds will help those who have been injured during equestrian jumping events. The crowd enjoyed a night of drinks, dinner and outstanding musical performances. Richard Goodall, the winner of 2024’s
Got Talent” competition, headlined the evening. Shown above, Goodall
a
Our Community Cares Hosts Wine-Tasting Fundraiser In Wellington On Thursday, March 20, Our Community Cares hosted a wine-tasting fundraiser at the Wellington home of Bonnie Sansone. Our Community Cares is a nonprofit organization created to help seniors age in their homes through companionship and non-medical assistance. At this event, attendees enjoyed food, a wine tasting, fellowship and a raffle, while learning more about the organization. Page 16
Also
are
with the foundation’s Spirit Award. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18
Bill Relaxing New School Start Times Mandate Moving Through State Legislature
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report
School districts would have the flexibility to opt out of a 2023 state law mandating later start times for middle schools and high schools, under a bill gaining traction in Tallahassee and sponsored by freshman State Rep. Anne Gerwig (R-District 93), the former mayor of Wellington. Gerwig’s bill, HB 261, sailed through the State House’s Education & Employee Committee 18-0 on Wednesday, March 26. A day later, a similar State Senate version, SB 296, passed that chamber 38-0 and was sent to the lower chamber.
It signals a likely off-ramp for school districts like Palm Beach County, where the scheduling mandates were causing considerable consternation and debate.
“HB 773, in 2023, was a wellintentioned law backed by research showing that middle and high school students were not getting enough sleep,” Gerwig told the education panel at the committee meeting.
The 2023 law requires that by 2026, all middle schools must begin no earlier than 8 a.m. and all high schools must start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Though few oppose better rest as a concept, it has created concerns about how to reset the scheduling matrix in Palm Beach County, where the most common start time for high schools now is 7:30 a.m.
Public meetings at sites around the county, including one in Wellington, about how to conform to the mandate have exposed a complex Rubik’s Cube of factors to be
sorted out, from possibly making elementary school students start their travel day in the dark to upsetting schedules for after-school activities and more.
Gerwig’s bill would allow school districts to be in compliance with the state law by submitting a report to the Florida Department of Education by June 1, 2026.
The report would outline, among other things, any unforeseen financial impacts or “unintended consequences” the later start times could create.
She noted that the 2023 law could jeopardize dual-enrollment programs that let high school students take college-level courses or participate in work training, for example.
“We want to do what’s best for all of our students,” Gerwig said.
Chris Doolin, representing the Small School District Council Consortium, said his group advocates for 36 school districts and supports the bill.
“It’s right at the middle ground and the sweet spot,” he said.
Doolin said that the change does not dismiss the issues of sleep and health, but instead requires school districts to show what public meetings they have held and what other work they have done, and then submit a report.
He said school districts that want to implement the later start times can still do so, while giving flexibility to others. About 12 districts in his group have signaled they want the later start times, Doolin said.
In debate, State Rep. John Paul Temple (R-District 52) of Sumter said he wondered if the bill lets districts sidestep the basic issue of
whether students come to school sufficiently rested.
“My concern is given too much leeway, districts will revert to what is easiest and most convenient,” Temple said.
Some schools around the state start as early at 7 a.m., he noted. That often means students have to rise an hour before that to allow for bus travel, for instance.
Gainesville’s State Rep. Yvonne Hinson (D-District 21) said she supported the original later-times bill but is supporting this measure now.
“It’s a conundrum,” she said, as the desire to see students get more sleep runs into a complicated process of balancing a district’s bus schedules, after-school activities, parents’ timetables and more.
Districts can buy more buses, but a big issue in Palm Beach County turns out to be securing enough drivers who can afford to live there, Gerwig noted.
In an online statement on why she filed the bill, Gerwig said, “The mandated start times for middle and high schools creates an undue burden on local school districts. While I believe our students benefit from more sleep, the delayed start times will not accomplish that. Students that participate in after-school activities, including dual enrollment, will suffer.”
This leads to an array of unintended consequences, Gerwig noted.
“Students who are able to participate in internships will be affected, along with students who work to contribute to their households,” she said. “Sports teams do not always have access to lighted
Good Cheer Is A Key Element Of The New Saddle View Elementary School Near Arden
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report
Dwan
of Ross’ infectious energy is the newly named Saddle View Elementary School going up just outside of the Arden neighborhood near 20-Mile Bend. It’s expected to welcome more than 600 students beginning Aug. 11.
“This is going to be absolutely marvelous,” School Board Vice Chair Marcia Andrews said during the planning process. “The teachers and principal will be the best and the brightest.”
That principal is Ross, who comes to the job with high praise.
“She is super nice and a real go-getter who wants the school to be great,” said Mariella Thomas, an Arden parent who was on the school-naming committee formed by the principal. “She’s very approachable.”
The fact that Ross, a longtime Royal Palm Beach resident, is a former Dolphins cheerleader speaks to the vitality she brings to her work, Andrews said recently. “You have to have that kind of enthusiasm... and give that kind of energy to the parents [at a new school],” she said. “Dwan Ross
is an outstanding individual. She knows how to open a school.”
And Ross will have quite a school to open. Saddle View, the name chosen from 17 offered by a committee of parents and others, is 95,900 square feet over three stories on 15.6 acres. Its construction cost is approximately $45 million. It sits next to the 1,209-acre Arden development, which began in 2017 and will eventually have 2,000 homes. The community is centered around a five-acre farm. The school’s design is meant to capture Arden’s “agrihood” nature, including an indoor-outdoor agriculture lab with hydroponic gardens, planting beds and rainwater cisterns.
“It’s going to be gorgeous,” See SADDLE VIEW, page 4
INAUGURAL GALBANI FESTA ITALIANA
Former Child Star Making Local Faces Beautiful
By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report
A Royal Palm Beach native who worked in Hollywood as a child star, has grown up to become one of the most successful professional makeup artists in the western communities.
Nine-year-old Haley Blythe was one of the shyest students at Royal Palm Beach Elementary School when auditions were announced for a “Sesame Street” production that involved singing and dancing.
“I am not sure what came over me,” Haley recalled. “I was the world’s shyest, most quiet child. But something in me made me go try out and, apparently, the producers liked what they saw, because I was gainfully employed as a Hollywood model and actor for the next five years.”
The audition led to a relationship with a talent agency, and the offers just started coming in.
“This was back at a time when I was usually the only person of
mine,” Haley said. She shot Disney features, starred in commercials and appeared on the TV sitcom “All of Us.” She employed her mother as an agent as she commuted between Hollywood and her home in the Madison Green neighborhood of Royal Palm Beach.
“I had a wonderful time in Hollywood,” Haley said. “I call my time as an actor my ‘Hanna Montana lifestyle.’ I got to work with people like Will Smith, and once his wife Jada Pinkett Smith gave me a cupcake.” Her mother, Marcia Blythe, took a very hands-on approach.
“My job was to watch out for her and make sure she had fun,” Marcia said. “I was very careful, every step of the way, to empower Haley and let her know that Hol-
lywood was her decision and her dream, and we would support her in that.” Young Haley had the final word on which auditions and roles she would play. “I let Haley lead the way,” Marcia said. “I completely trusted her gut. We only took jobs she wanted.”
A self-learner who religiously frequented YouTube, by the age of 10, Haley’s makeup skills had started to exceed those of the production set makeup artists. “By the age of 11, I was doing makeup for all the girls of color in whatever production I was in,”
“America’s
(right) presents Babington (center) with
Journey album.
shown
Foundation Chair Jeff Papows and Michael Cruciotti, founder of MAC Sports International, who was honored
The first-ever Galbani Festa Italiana of Wellington was held Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at the Wellington Amphitheater. The fun family event featured live music all day, cooking demonstrations, wine samples, festival rides and lots of Italian food. Shown here are event organizers Jerry Somma
PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER
Principal Dwan Moore-Ross
Former child star turned makeup artist Haley Blythe does birthday makeup on client Fabiola Bonny. PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER
Greater Wellington Chamber Hosts Annual Installation Luncheon
Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce held its annual officer installation luncheon on Wednesday, March 19 at the Wellington International showgrounds. Chamber members enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of networking, delicious food and world-class show jumping.
new board was sworn in by County Commissioner Sara Baxter. Page 8
Experts Update Royal Palm Council On Education Initiatives
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report
It was “education night” at the Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting on Thursday, March 20, during an evening that started with a celebration.
All five members of the council took the oath of office to officially begin their new council terms, including newly elected Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps, who took her seat on the dais for the first time.
The evening continued with presentations from two education experts — Ralph Aiello from Xello, a college and career readiness platform, and Jaime Akkusu, director of programs at Path To College, a nonprofit that works with high-performing but underserved students.
“Florida needs to have a plan to meet the talent and workforce needs of our new economy,” Aiello said, noting that if Florida was a country, it would currently be the 15th largest economy in the world.
“We need to start as early as possible to build a ‘cradle to career pipeline.’”
He explained that the Florida Chamber Foundation has created the Florida 2030 plan, and among its goals is to get K-12 students more work experience in the real world, including industry certifications.
“So, when they graduate, they come out with the knowledge, skills and abilities to enter the workforce,” Aiello said.
This smooths the transition from high school, to college, to career.
The state recently passed SB 240, which requires a middle school career and education planning course, high school career fairs and more work-based learning. It also requires students to take a financial literacy course to learn real life financial skills.
“So, the state provided Xello to help with students being able to understand how to manage their money,” Aiello said.
It is Xello’s first full year being used in school districts all across the state with 830,000 unique users. It is all available for free, paid for by the state.
Xello starts in elementary schools with fun, computer-based games that teach economic lessons and about different industries.
In middle schools, Xello turns more to career and education planning, helping students match
their personalities and interests to possible career choices, and how to go about getting started in those careers through higher education opportunities.
Moving forward, Xello offers a “lifestyle simulator,” which gives students a glimpse of what they might earn in different careers and the lifestyle choices that would give them.
“When they finish middle school, they have a four-year plan, with a goal, that they are working toward as they enter high school,” Aiello explained.
In high school, Xello helps students put together a résumé and portfolio that they can send out to employers.
Aiello asked the village to work with Xello to help find business partners to create profiles on the platform and offer opportunities to students.
“We always hear that we don’t have enough talent, and the talent we do have doesn’t have the skills we need for the jobs,” Aiello said.
“This is an opportunity for local businesses to discover and grow their own talent.”
He asked that village officials help promote awareness of Xello and sign up as guest speakers at schools.
Councilman Adam Miller was impressed by the program.
“I wish that when I was a kid, I had something that I could put in and figure out how much I would make if I got a particular job,” he said. Learn more at www.xello. world/floridawbl.
Akkusu then came to the podium to discuss Path to College, a local nonprofit based in Palm Beach County.
“We envision a world where genius, leadership and excellence are cultivated in the most overlooked and underestimated students in our community,” Akkusu said.
The program was founded in 2017 with 10 students at Lake Worth High School, and it now serves hundreds of students in its various programs, including its flagship program, which is a threeyear fellowship.
Its focus is on ending generational poverty by getting more students to apply to college and be successful in college. Path to College provides academic enrichment opportunities for these students to increase the competitiveness of low-income
students in college admissions. Each student is also provided with a mentor. They also offer a college prep workshop series for students, as well as free SAT prep services.
“We are very proud of the impact we have made in the community, and we hope to be able to serve more students here in Royal Palm Beach,” Akkusu said.
Miller asked about how students could get into the fellowship program. Akkusu said the application process opened up online on April 1. Students can apply online and will then be invited to the second phase, which is an interview process. Learn more at www. pathtocollege.org.
Mayor Jeff Hmara noted that both educational presentations stressed the need for community volunteers.
“There are plenty of volunteer opportunities,” he said. “People are often asking how they can serve and make a difference. For us to know about these organizations is a win-win to bring people together.”
In other business:
• During the council’s annual reorganizational meeting, Richard Valuntas was tapped to serve as vice mayor over the next year.
Councilwoman Jan Rodusky was appointed liaison to the Recreation Advisory Board, Sharps was appointed liaison to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Hmara will stay as liaison to the Education Advisory Board.
Sharps was also appointed liaison to the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, and Miller was tapped as liaison to the Western Communities Council. Rodusky will serve as the primary voting delegate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities.
• The council agreed to enter into a “supplemental state funded grant agreement” with the Florida Department of Transportation on a project related to the roadway underdrain in the La Mancha neighborhood. The grant is for $500,000.
• The council heard a presentation from Branden Lopez, a partner with the village’s auditing firm CBIZ CPAs, on the village’s annual audit for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024. Lopez said that his firm has given the village an unmodified, clean opinion, showing that the village’s finances are healthy and in order. Finance
Director Sharon Almeida also noted that the village has produced a new, easy-to-read annual financial report, which is available to the public.
• The council also authorized the village to enter into the first phase of a contract with Kaufman Lynn Construction for the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center expansion and renovations. The amount not to exceed $901,824 will be primarily for the design, planning and permitting phase of the project, which is currently projected to be completed in January 2027.
• Two local businesses were given council authorization to continue with their planned expansions. Royal Palm Auto Spa on Southern Blvd. was given approval to add a 923-square-foot addition as part of a project that will also improve cross-access in the Royal Plaza area. Also, the
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If you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
• Finally,
NRI Institute of Health Sciences was given approval to operate an academic institution at an existing building in an office park at 1402 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.,
(Above) The new Royal Palm Beach Village Council was seated on Thursday, March 20, including (L-R) Vice Mayor Richard Valuntas, Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps, Mayor Jeff Hmara, Councilwoman Jan Rodusky and Councilman Adam Miller. (Below) Sylvia Sharps takes the oath of office.
Westlake OKs Contract For Updating The Comprehensive Plan
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report
The Westlake City Council unanimously approved a $135,840 contract Tuesday, April 1 with Chen Moore Associates of Jupiter to develop a new comprehensive plan for the fast-growing municipality.
“A comp plan is your vision of what the city is going be over the next 10 to 20 years put together in a way that can be understood,” Westlake City Manager Kenneth Cassel explained.
Councilman Gary Werner, who has been pushing for a comp plan review, said Wednesday that he was pleased to see the effort moving forward.
“It’s something we need to do,” he said. “I hope to see some policies coming out of it that will give the city council more say in what can be developed... As it is, our hands are tied.”
The date of Feb. 27, 2026, has
Saddle View New School
To Open
In August
continued from page 1 Ross said. “We thought the design should reflect how the community looks.”
The school also features a central administration suite, a dining and multipurpose performance space, an arts suite with an art lab, a music lab, a media center with a computing center, stateof-the-art classrooms, a faculty lounge, lesson planning areas and 175 parking places, according to details provided by the district.
Beyond the school’s physical features, Ross said she is determined to create an exciting and engaging learning environment that will include the Ron Clark Academy House System and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) eSports
been set as the deadline for the plan’s completion and submittal to the state for review.
The comp plan sessions, which will include public hearings and community input, will be held in conjunction with an already approved two-day strategic planning workshop through the International Institute for Leadership Development.
A community engagement meeting tied to the strategic planning process is set for Saturday, May 24 at the Westlake Adventure Park Lodge (5490 Kingfisher Blvd.).
The workshop, which is designed to allow council members to openly discuss issues facing the city and how to address them while remaining within the state’s strict Sunshine Law, will be held June 20 and 21 at a location to be determined.
The sessions will be open to the public, but public input will be
clubs, which will aid students in learning computer coding. In Clark’s system, each “house” has unique properties, such as its own color, symbols, history and more. Over time, each house takes on its own values and personality driven by the culture of the students and staff within it. Through fun competitions, communication and intrapersonal skills are developed.
Nowadays, Ross is a wife and mother, and an enthusiastic cheerleader for Saddle View, but her cheerleader spirit goes all the way back to her teens at New Iberia High School in Louisiana. Her résumé, however, speaks of a hard-charging educational professional, though that wasn’t her first career.
After graduating from Southern University in Baton Rouge with an accounting degree, Ross got a job in Miami’s Brickell Avenue financial district, but she said the work didn’t suit or satisfy her. A relative suggested teaching. She got her
Haley Child Star To Makeup Artist
continued from page 1 of the camera came to an end, she was spending more and more time honing her makeup skills and became the go-to makeup artist at Royal Palm Beach High School. While her father preferred that Haley make plans to go to college, her mother recalled, “I was shocked when about 20 girls all came to our house on prom day, asking Haley to do their makeup. I told Haley, ‘You have a gift, you might consider doing this professionally.’”
And that’s exactly what happened. Her business, Beauty with Haley B, just celebrated its eighth anniversary of successfully delivering professional makeup services throughout the area.
“We do a lot of weddings, proms, birthdays, events. Some folks like to get professional makeup for headshots, and we have even done pro makeup for job interviews,” Haley said. Her business operates out of the Aayat Threading Salon in the Village Shoppes plaza near Burlington at State Road 7 and Southern Blvd.
Friend and client Fabiola Bonny has known Haley since their first grade together at Royal Palm Beach Elementary School. Fabiola recently engaged Haley to do her birthday party makeup. “I’m so lucky to have a best friend who is a makeup artist, plus Haley is the sweetest person I know. She’s sunshine and roses,” Fabiola said. Haley’s mother agrees. “Haley is a successful businessperson who gives back to the community,” she said. “I think her business flourishes because she is so empathetic with clients. Just today, she woke up at 4 a.m. to do wedding makeup, and the bride was flustered because she forgot to get her nails done. Haley took care of that for free because that is the type of person she is.”
Haley points to her mother as the source for her strong moral code.
“I was brought up to respect everyone, even people who are different than me,” she said.
Her mother thinks that Haley commands respect in the community because she treats everyone with respect and is also proud how much her daughter gives back.
Haley said she loves giving pro bono services to organizations like Runway of Hope, which advocates for abused, neglected, homeless, hungry, exploited and
allowed only on the second day.
While the strategic planning sessions costing $9,775 may seem superfluous in view of the comp plan decision, Cassel said that’s not the case.
“They go hand-in-hand,” Cassel explained. “They feed off each other.”
Among the elements the comp plan will update are: administration, future land use, population projection, transportation, infrastructure, conservation, recreation and open space, capital improvements and intergovernmental coordination.
The Seminole Improvement District, which provides most of the infrastructure for Westlake, will provide data as needed for the update.
Comp plans are typically reviewed every seven to 10 years.
Chen Moore produced the current 109-page plan soon after Westlake was incorporated in 2016.
credentials and began classroom work in Broward County. While coaching the cheerleaders at Cooper City High School, she also was performing on the Dolphins’ sidelines.
Still, neither role quite fit.
“I knew I wanted to be [a school] administrator,” said Ross, who earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Barry University to open that door.
After moving to Palm Beach County, her career took off. For four years, Ross was assistant principal at John I. Leonard High School, then spent some time learning the ropes in the district office before becoming principal at Frontier Elementary School on 180th Avenue North in The Acreage.
“It was the very best for my first principalship,” she recalled. “It was a friendly, loving environment with a very involved community.”
In 2010, Ross opened Everglades Elementary School as its first principal. After two years, she left for a job helping to oversee all the schools in western Palm Beach County, from the western communities through to the Glades.
“We all worked together to make sure students in the Glades received an A-rated education... and the same opportunities as students on the coast,” Ross said.
After four years removed from daily school activities, Ross said she missed being with the students, teachers and parents, and in 2016 returned to Everglades Elementary as principal, until she was tapped in 2024 to open the new school near Arden.
Ross’ first chore was to begin building trust with parents through communication and inclusion in the decision-making process, such as naming the school.
“She seems to be someone who values community input,” said Thomas, who will have two children — Melanie, a rising third grader, and Max, an incoming kindergartner — attending the new school.
Werner and Cassel said they trust that the professionalism of Chen Moore will allow the firm to look at the current comp plan with fresh eyes.
“That was a concern,” Werner said, but after meeting with firm representatives, he added, “I feel they’ll do what is right for the community.”
Werner said that the original plan was weighted heavily in favor of Westlake’s major landowner and developer, Minto Communities USA, and approved by a council handpicked by Minto. While perhaps appropriate then, time has passed, things have changed and the comp plan needs to reflect a more broad-based community, he said.
“I’m not against Minto,” Werner said. “I want to work in collaboration with Minto and use some of the tools available to the city to bring in businesses... of the sort residents expected.”
In other business:
• At the April 1 meeting, Greg Langowski was appointed unanimously to a fourth one-year term as vice mayor. Langowski will be hosting a public engagement session for residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 at the Westlake Starbucks at 4801 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Meanwhile, Councilman Eric Gleason, who was appointed in February, noted that he held his first public engagement session and plans more in the future on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Residents can also make an appointment for a 30-minute conversation by e-mailing him at egleason@westlakegov.com.
• At the council’s March 20 meeting, the plat for 712 acres mostly west of the M-2 Canal and wrapping around Florida Power & Light’s Hibiscus Solar Energy Center was approved 4-0. Cassel said the new plat was
mostly just clean-up, pulling together several earlier plats into one overall document. The development of that part of Westlake is not imminent as far as he knows. “I don’t know of anything in the pipeline,” Cassell said.
• Also at the March 20 meeting, Gleason suggested that enhanced lighting standards for public places and future businesses may be something the council should consider.
“I want to be forward thinking,” he said after a discussion with city staff. “A higher lighting standard will allow us to ensure high-quality lighting in commercial businesses and public spaces.”
Beyond the aesthetics, Gleason, a commander with the Miami Gardens Police Department, said the higher standard would improve safety within the community. “Dark areas are incubators for crime,” he said. “Lighting deters crime.”
The Palm Beach County School Board chose the Saddle View name in February over Arden Lakes and Arthur R. Marshall, the late environmentalist whose name is also on the national wildlife refuge located south of the school. Saddle View was a good choice since the Colts already had been picked as school mascot, Thomas said, plus it connects to the equestrian ethos of nearby Wellington. Virtually all of the students initially attending Saddle View will be Arden youngsters being transferred from Binks Forest Elementary School in western Wellington. Binks Forest was built in 1999 with a capacity for 1,206 students. Currently, enrollment is 1,278 and was expected to top 1,400 in the near future if there was no relief.
“It looks like [Saddle View] is going to be an amazing, stateof-the-art facility,” said Thomas,
children and youth.
While so many businesses fail in their first year, Beauty with Haley B has been thriving for eight
though she called the move from
years. When asked the secret of her success and any advice for young entrepreneurs, she said, “Stick to your moral core no matter what and mind your business closely,” Haley said. “Water your own grass and don’t worry about what the other lawns are doing.” For
Haley Blythe with Will Smith during her acting days.
Haley Blythe today. She works as a makeup artist. trafficked
Binks Forest “bittersweet” because of their familiarity with the school and its teachers. To ease that blow, 17 teachers currently at Binks Forest will be moving to Saddle View, Ross noted.
On Wednesday, Ross finished an all-day set of meetings at about 6:30 p.m., her energy undimmed. She was headed home to her
Saddle View Naming Committee — (L-R) Wellington Vice Mayor John McGovern, Wellington Landings
Middle School Principal Lindsay Ingersoll, Jennifer Sunderman, Kathleen Ali, Saddle View Principal Dwan Moore-Ross, Mariella Zevallos Thomas, Gracie Sneed (student representative) and Charity Severino de Gutierrez.
Dwan Moore-Ross (front row, second from the left) during her Miami Dolphins cheerleading days.
husband of 30 years, Grady Ross, a former Florida State linebacker and Arena Football League player. She was enthused and bubbling about how well her daughter Reagan, a junior at Palm Beach Central High School, did at a track meet.
“People feed off my energy,” Ross said. “If you exude positivity, people will follow your leadership.”
An aerial rendering of the new school near Arden.
INAUGURAL GALBANI FESTA ITALIANA HELD AT WELLINGTON
The first-ever Galbani Festa Italiana of Wellington was held Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at the Wellington Amphitheater. The fun family event featured live music all day, cooking demonstrations, wine samples, festival rides and lots of Italian food. On Saturday, radio personalities Kevin Rolston, Virginia Sinicki and Jason “J-Bird” Pennington from the KVJ Show on WRMF, along with Kate Hussey from WPTV, hosted a pizza-eating contest. Learn more at www.wellingtonfestaitaliana.com. PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone on stage with other village officials and festival organizers. PHOTO COURTESY THE VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON
There were many Italian food favorites available.
Sponsor Cerrito Electric enjoys a family gathering in a VIP tent.
Tony Quaranti of the Sinatra Songbook performs. Event organizers Jerry Somma and Thomas Cerrito.
Virginia Sinicki of the KVJ Show served as emcee.
Chef Jenifer O’Malley of Lasagna Love during one of the food demonstrations.
Ryan Tims of Wellington wins the pizza-eating contest as chef Andrew Garavuso of Sicilian Oven raises his hand in victory.
Contestants get ready for the pizza-eating contest.
Attendees gather with Galbani mascot Stringster.
Sophia Avon and Kinley Hamlin enjoy a pasta sample from a food demonstration.
Singer Philippe Harari performs on stage.
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Wellington To Host Events In Celebration Of Earth Day & Arbor Day
By Mark Caracciolo Town-Crier Staff Report
The Village of Wellington is hosting an array of events on Saturday, April 26 in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, including a community cleanup event, a plant sale hosted by the Wellington Garden Club and an environmentally themed celebration at the Wellington Amphitheater. First up is the Great American Cleanup, an annual initiative of Keep America Beautiful. Wellington’s cleanup event will be hosted in partnership with Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful Inc., a certified affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, and the Solid Waste Authority. These events are held all across
School Times
Gerwig Bill Moving Forward
continued from page 1 fields and are considering before school times so that sports can be accomplished safely.”
In addition, the size of the school district can matter a great deal, she said.
“Larger districts cannot accommodate the busing schedule that is required by this forced change, along with the difficulties that high cost of living areas have in hiring bus drivers in the first place,” Gerwig continued. “In my own county
the United States to recognize Earth Day and Arbor Day and keep communities clean. Each year, the Great American Cleanup inspires thousands of volunteers of all ages across the nation to participate in efforts to clean up and improve their local communities.
This year, the Village of Wellington is participating by organizing cleanup activities throughout the community starting at 10 a.m.
Those interested in volunteering for one of the cleanup events should contact the Community Services Department at (561) 7532484 to register. Also starting at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m., the Wellington Garden Club will be hosting a plant sale at the Wellington Am-
of Palm Beach, school start times are already not uniform, even in the public schools. The school officials need to be able to accommodate the families that they serve, and the forced mandate will detract from their ability to provide the best learning environment for the students.”
Last September, the first of six community-input sessions on the new school start times in Palm Beach County drew about 50 people to Wellington High School.
At the time, three scheduling options to fit the 2023 law were drawing virtually equal support in more than 12,000 survey forms in the county, pointing to a lack of clear consensus.
phitheater, located at 12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.
The plant sale will feature annuals, butterfly plants, native plants, orchids and perennials available for purchase. Plants will be on sale from various nurseries and vendors local to the Wellington area. The free event will also include a children’s craft table, food trucks, master gardeners available for advice and a plant raffle.
Proceeds from the plant sale benefit the Wellington Garden Club’s youth programs, scholarships, civic beautification and environmental efforts.
“Last year we did the same thing,” Wellington Garden Club President Carol Ralph said. “Our plant sales are one of the fundraisers that allow us to give out scholarships to local high school students and maintain gardens that are in Wellington.”
The Wellington Garden Club organizes other events year-round, from flower shows to quarterly street cleanups, bi-annual garden tours and more. Learn more at www.wellingtongardenclub.org.
“Wellington Garden Club has a motto: Gardening makes a world of difference,” Ralph said, summarizing the motivations and purpose of the club, which aims to leave a positive impact on the community through gardening.
Starting a bit later in the day at the Wellington Amphitheater will be the Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration, hosted by the village government itself. In combination with the plant sale, the community
is invited to enjoy a free day of fun and learning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At the start of the event, the Wellington Village Council will be planting a Sweetbay Magnolia tree in honor of Arbor Day. The event will also feature Earthfriendly product demonstrations, free native seedlings, a raffle for a plant in a seven-gallon container, free seed packets sponsored by Burpee and a visit with Smokey Bear, among many other attrac-
tions. The event will also feature the village’s annual FLOWER (Fabulous Landscapes Of Wellington Earning Recognition) Award Ceremony, and visitors can stop by booths highlighting the Wellington Garden Club, the Wellington Art Society and the Wellington Tree Board.
“We are excited to once again partner with the Wellington Garden Club and the Wellington Tree Board to host this event,” said Michelle Garvey, Wellington’s
assistant community events director, who is organizing the event. “This inclusive event will have a little something for everyone. Attendees can purchase plants, learn about proper pruning, take home free seedlings, visit our children’s activities and purchase lunch from one of our local food trucks.”
To learn more about Wellington’s Earth Day and Arbor Day activities, visit www.wellingtonfl. gov/earthday.
Yesteryear Village To Host Breakfast With The Easter Bunny
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny is returning to Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The event includes a breakfast buffet, photo opportunities with the bunny, Easter egg hunts, craft activities and more.
The event will be held Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. with breakfast and photos with the Easter Bunny. The event will continue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with an Easter egg hunt, DJ, activities, crafts and games.
Admission with the breakfast buffet, meet-and-greet and Easter Bunny photos are $30 for ages 11 and older per person and $15 for children 10 and younger per person. Admission after 10:30 a.m., which does not include breakfast, is $10. To secure tickets, visit www. southfloridafair.com/p/buy-tickets.
Online sales are available now and will end on Wednesday, April 9, at 11:59 p.m. Tickets that do not include the breakfast will be available for $10 at the gate starting at 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Guests should bring their own Easter basket to collect the prefilled eggs.
There will be two egg hunts, at 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with each hunt staggered by age group in the following order: 2 and under, 3 to 5 years old, 6 and 7 years old, and 8 to 10 years old. The same order will be followed for both time slots. There also will be an Easter bonnet contest for those who bring their own decorated hats.
Yesteryear Village is located at the South Florida Fairgrounds at 9067 Southern Blvd. For more information, call (561) 793-0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com.
Palm Beach Atlantic Welcomes Former CIA Officer Michele Rigby Assad April 10
On Thursday, April 10, former CIA intelligence officer Michele Rigby Assad will be welcomed by Palm Beach Atlantic University to participate in its LeMieux Center’s Annual Speaker Series. The event will take the form of a fireside chat between Rigby Assad and former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux. The event is free and open to the public with advanced registration and will be held at the DeSantis Chapel at 6:30 p.m.
PBAU’s LeMieux Center for Public Policy provides a space for
RPB Citizen Summit April 14
The Village of Royal Palm Beach will hold its annual Citizen Summit on Monday, April 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, located at 151 Civic Center Way. Village residents are invited to take part in the Citizen Summit, which is designed to increase citizen awareness about the Village of Royal Palm Beach and the issues and challenges facing the village government and the community. Attendees will be invited to give input on the desired direction and goals for the village, looking out five years and beyond, and on specific issues targeted for action over the next two years. The summit will provide a forum in which residents can share their ideas and help shape the future.
To register, e-mail cwax@ royalpalmbeachfl.gov or call (561) 790-5100.
Wellington’s Egg
Hunt At Village Park April 19
Get your baskets ready for Wellington’s annual Egg Hunt. The Egg Hunt will return to the Village Park softball fields, located at 11700 Pierson Road, on Saturday, April 19. The event begins promptly at 10 a.m. and will be divided into four age groups: ages 2 and under, or
reasoned, thoughtful and civil discourse on pressing public policy issues confronting Florida, the United States and the world. Students and the community get the opportunity to learn directly from policy experts and global thought leaders from a broad spectrum of disciplines.
A resident of Florida’s Space Coast, Rigby Assad holds a master’s degree in contemporary Arab studies from Georgetown University and an undergraduate political science degree from PBAU. Her
husband Joseph, also a PBAU graduate, served alongside her as a CIA operative. In her previous role, she served five CIA tours in the Arab world and has traveled to more than 50 countries. She credits her experiences in sharpening her ability to deal with the most challenging people, including terrorists and insurgents. Significant milestones and lessons in her career have been highlighted in her bestselling memoir Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and
NEWS BRIEFS
those in need of special accommodations; ages 3 to 4; ages 5 to 7; and ages 8 to 10. At each egg hunt, two eggs will have a pink bunny ticket inside, indicating a special prize.
Families are encouraged to arrive early, as traffic congestion may occur. Remember to bring your own basket or bag to collect eggs. The village thanks featured event sponsor Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center for their generous support. Learn more about Wellington’s Egg Hunt at www.wellingtonfl. gov/egghunt.
Earth Day Celebration At Okeeheelee Nature Center
Join in a day of fun and learning at the Okeeheelee Nature Center’s Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This exciting, free event for all ages is packed with a variety of activities to promote environmental awareness, conservation, recreation, and health and wellness. Whether you’re coming solo or bringing the whole family, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate one of the most significant milestones in conservation history at your local nature center.
Highlights include: live animal encounters; guided nature tours;
rehabilitated animal releases; environmental exhibitors and vendors; mindfulness in nature tours; meet-and-greets with Oakly, the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation mascot; eco-friendly crafts and story time; raffles to benefit the Friends of Okeeheelee Nature Center; and food trucks, face painting and much more.
Come explore all that the nature center has to offer. Whether you’re connecting with nature, supporting local conservation efforts or enjoying the festivities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The Okeeheelee Nature Center is located in Okeeheelee Park at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd.
Espressivo Concert April 5
The Espressivo Singers will perform their spring concert on Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at St. Michael Lutheran Church (1925 Birkdale Drive, Wellington). General admission tickets cost $15, $12 for St. Michael members and $8 for students. Get tickets at https://espressivo-singers.square. site/s/shop.
Free Health & Wellness Fair
April 4 At Mall
Hosted in partnership with the Mall at Wellington Green (10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), Wellington’s fifth annual Community Health &
What it Taught Me About What’s Worth Fighting For. This year, Rigby Assad released her second book Get Off the X: CIA’s Secrets for Conquering Obstacles and Achieving Your Life’s Mission. The book is set to inspire people to get out of their personal and professional comfort zones and into a life of purpose and meaning. For more information on the LeMieux Speaker Series, or to register for this event, visit www.pba. edu/academics/schools/centers-ofexcellence/lemieux.
Wellness Fair will take place on Friday, April 4, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The free event will be located near the mall’s main entrance, closest to the food court, where visitors will have an opportunity to visit with a variety of health and wellness vendors offering services and support for all ages.
Guests are invited to donate blood with OneBlood’s Big Red Bus, receive free health screenings and information, participate in giveaways, and connect with local resources and programs.
For the most up to date event information visit www.wellingtonfl. gov/healthfair.
Ferrin Scholarship Fund Event
On April 26
The Vivian and Adrienne Ferrin Memorial Scholarship Fund will hold its “Divine Wine & High Tea Party” with an Indian flair on Saturday, April 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, located at 151 Civic Center Way.
The event will include a fashion show, hat contest, live entertainment and more. Ticket donations are $50 with advance reservations only. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund.
To reserve your tickets, contact Genieve White at (561) 876-4161 or Rhonda Ferrin-Davis at (561) 685-9836.
Celebrate the joy of spring at Westlake’s third annual SpringFest event on Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will take place directly across the street from the Adventure Lodge at 5490 Kingfisher Blvd. and promises fun for all ages.
This year’s festivities include: Easter egg hunts for various age groups, live music and entertainment, a petting zoo featuring adorable animals, face painting and balloon twisting, a variety of food trucks and market vendors, and photos with the Easter Bunny.
“We’re thrilled to bring the community together for another unforgettable SpringFest,” Westlake Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families, friends and neighbors to celebrate the season and create lasting memories.” The egg hunts will kick off at 11:30 a.m., starting with the youngest age group and continuing throughout the afternoon. Parents are welcome to join their children in the hunt. Bring a basket or bag for egg collection and arrive early to secure your spot in line. The egg hunt schedule starts at 11:30 a.m. for ages two and under (and those in need of special accommodations); 11:45 a.m. for ages 3 to 4; noon for ages 5 to 7; and 12:15 p.m. for ages 8 to 10. For sponsorship, food truck and market vendor spaces, visit www. westlakegov.com. Third Annual
Art Society To Feature Ilene Adams On April 8
The Wellington Art Society will feature Ilene Gruber Adams as the guest speaker at this month’s meeting, set for Tuesday, April 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.).
After a successful tenure as the owner of a nationally acclaimed multi-million-dollar broadcast marketing company in the Northeast for more than 20 years, Adams relocated to Florida, becoming the first owner of an all-female radiomarketing company in the country. Her marketing talents also led her to the nonprofit art world with an art center in West Palm Beach, several art organizations and the greater community. She generously shares her expertise through seminars on marketing art. Adams’ artistic journey is a testament to her versatility and creativity. She studied printmaking and painting in Rome and earned a degree from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Her thirst for knowledge led her to study with the renowned Milton Glaser at the School of Visual Arts in New York and marketing at Harvard University. Her artistic endeavors have been diverse, ranging from designing textiles to creating murals, graphic design and web design. To meet Adams and learn about her incredible history in marketing and art, come to the April 8 meeting, which will also include a meeting-and-greet, member spotlight and raffle. For more information, contact presidentofwas@gmail.com or visit www.wellingtonartsociety. org. Visit www.ileneadamsfineart. com to learn more about Ilene Gruber Adams.
The breakfast event will include the opportunity
Bunny.
The Wellington Village Council with Smokey Bear at last year’s Earth Day and Arbor Day event.
PHOTO BY CALLIE SHARKEY/TOWN-CRIER
GREATER WELLINGTON CHAMBER HOSTS ANNUAL
The Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce held its annual officer installation luncheon on Wednesday, March 19 at the Wellington International showgrounds. Chamber members enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of networking, delicious food and world-class show jumping. The new board was sworn in by County Commissioner Sara Baxter and includes President Maureen Brennan, Vice President Jane Garifo, Treasurer Sherron Permashwar, Secretary/ Chamber Counsel Alec L. Domb, Carlucho Arellano, Eric H. Light, Jason Kimbrell, Kimberly Lancaster and Brion P. Lawler. The event was sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County. Learn more at www.wellingtonchamber.com. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Town-Crier
Board members Maureen Brennan, Ben Martin, Jane Garifo, Eric Light, Carlucho Arellano and Jason Kimbrell.
Palm Beach State College’s Elizabeth Ferrier, Dr. Peter Barbatis,
Kimberly Lancaster, Dr. Tunjarninka Coleman-Ferrell, Tara Chow, Jose Murillo and Andreas Alexander.
County Commissioner Sara Baxter installs the new officers.
The chamber welcomes Brian Fortman of Force AV.
Kelly O’Neil, Sandy Erb, Jason Kimbrell and Melisa Sandler.
The chamber welcomes Emmanuel Elias from Brightview.
The new Greater Wellington Chamber board includes (L-R) President Maureen Brennan, Vice President Jane Garifo, Treasurer Sherron Permashwar, Carlucho Arellano, Eric H. Light, Jason Kimbrell, Kimberly Lancaster, Brion P. Lawler and Secretary/ Chamber Counsel Alec L. Domb.
Habitat for Humanity’s Brion Lawler, Dayana Rooks and Teawanna Teal.
Arlene Smith, Ambassador of the Year Walter Imperatore and Stuart Hack.
Sharon Watson, Kathleen Williams and Erin Williams.
Arlene Smith and Claudia Molina. Ben Martin is honored as Volunteer of the Year.
Sonali Mendiratta and Dana Murphy.
Darlene Curti, Arlene Smith and Melody Domb.
Darby Diaz and Melisa Sandler.
Fast Urgent Care
NEUROSURGERY
Climate scientist faces new challenge: A large brain tumor
As a former snow and ice scientist in the cryospheric sciences laboratory at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Dorothy Hall studied climate change in cold regions. Her profession took her on numerous field expeditions in the northern U.S., Canada and the Arctic.
But in May 2024, Dorothy faced an unexpected journey when she was diagnosed with a large brain tumor. In addition to constant headaches, Dorothy experienced difficulty with walking, feeling unsteady and was dizzy at times. In recent months, her appetite and energy level had suffered as well.
Dorothy saw an ear, nose and throat specialist believing she may have a sinus condition. From there, she was referred to a neurologist who ordered an MRI. Upon reviewing the MRI results, the neurologist told Dorothy she needed to go straight to the nearest emergency room.
When Dorothy arrived at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, she was seen by Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD, Neurosurgeon and Director of the Brain Tumor and Pituitary Center. Dr. Razavi delivered concerning news: Dorothy had a large meningioma, a common benign tumor of the brain.
“This was an emergency situation because Dorothy also had hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid on the brain due to the tumor,” Dr. Razavi says. “The tumor was obstructing the fluid connections in the brain.”
Disbelief fades to euphoria and gratitude Dorothy was in a state of disbelief. “I’d never heard about meningiomas before this,” she says. “I thought I’d have time to go home and study about it to learn more.”
Instead, Dorothy was admitted to the hospital in order to have the advanced tumor removed as soon as possible.
“Most meningiomas are slow growing and we follow the patient closely over time,” says Dr. Razavi. “In Dorothy’s case, her tumor was large and symptomatic. It was critical to remove the brain tumor so we could improve her symptoms and quality of life.”
TALK WITH AN EXPERT
Following a small craniotomy (a surgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the skull to access the brain), Dorothy woke up feeling like a new person.
“It was a feeling I can’t describe,” she says. “I was euphoric at the outcome and very grateful for the competence and caring of Dr. Razavi and his team. All of my symptoms were gone and I recovered from the surgery quickly. My brain felt much clearer and my energy came back.”
Before long, Dorothy returned to her daily routines, taking long walks every morning and evening without any problems.
“I was euphoric at the outcome and very grateful for the competence and caring of Dr. Razavi and his team.”
– Dorothy Hall
“Dorothy has a very good prognosis,” says Dr. Razavi. “We were able to completely remove the tumor and improve her fine motor function, controlling by her cerebellum which was under severe pressure by tumor.”
“My brain felt much clearer and my energy came back,” Dorothy says.
Dr. Razavi stresses the importance of taking chronic headaches seriously. “If they are constant, affect your quality of life or wake you up at night, then you need to see your physician,” he says. “While meningiomas are commonly benign, once they start to grow, they might become symptomatic and can cause seizures, behavioral and cognitive changes and other deficits.”
Dorothy is thrilled with the outcome, to be able to live a full life again. “I am very grateful for what Dr. Borghei-Razavi and his team have done for me.”
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Borghei-Razavi or another Cleveland Clinic neuroscience specialist in Florida, visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Neuro or call 877.463.2010 or to learn more.
Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD
See how we’re advancing neurological care at Cleveland Clinic in Florida.
Dorothy Hall (right) is grateful for the expert care of neurosurgeon Hamid Borghei-Razavi, MD, and the team at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.
The neurosurgery team at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital provides expert care.
PALM BEACH COUNTY DOG FANCIERS ASSOCIATION SHOW AT
The Palm Beach County Dog Fanciers Association held a dog show on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. The event included the dog show, as well as a wide array of pet vendors selling food, toys, bedding and more, along with healthcare options, such as dog chiropractic and massage. Junior and pee wee dog handlers were honored, and some pups got a chance at dock diving.
DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
PHOTOS BY
Handler Jorge Olivera with mini Schnauzer Baby Joe, #1 all-breed dog in the U.S. with Palm Beach County Dog Fanciers Association Show Chair Blake Hansen.
Doug Koger with Sergei, a rare Azawakh.
Bill Prettyman with Maltese Wendy.
Ximena Cavallazzi with Nito and Marielle Chavez with Pikka.
Pee Wee Handlers with their ribbons and Palm Beach County Dog Fanciers Association Show Chair Blake Hansen.
Angelina Becerra with Riley.
Cindy Andazola with Great Dane Opus.
Owner, breeder and handler Jennifer Beil with her Belgian Malinois, who just won three ribbons.
Certified canine massage therapist Ashlee Parker massages Brinkley, owned by Carolyn Cohen.
Laurie Grffith gets a kiss from her long-haired Dachshund Annie.
Susan Halpin with Happy, a whippet.
Micheal Madison with Icon, a Czechoslovakian wolfdog.
PHOTOS BY DENISE
Kathy Gilbert of POTTC Events gives Angie Alcaraz her door prize. Paula DeFabrizio of Bella’s Shells.
Sandra Kessler Brandt of Art by Sandra with her creations.
Kari Remmen bought a candle from Alexa Deusenberry of Hillbilly Candles.
Michele Hudon of Hudon Apiaries with Jill Neal and Phyllis Ulmer.
Erica McMichael with some handmade doxie dogs made by Debbie Shields from Barky Pines.
Vargas of Granny’s Quilts.
Margie Sturz, Eric Sturz and Annette Watson of Seafin Creations.
Author Leah Orr signs and sells her books.
Hypnotic Aquatics owner Donna Kellison gives Paloma Lopez a small terrarium
The Schlechter family kids with sponsor Everglades Equipment Group.
Parent Staff Fellowship event chairs Kaylin McCarthy, Kayla Cabrera and Jessica Idone.
Amber Austin at the Treehouse Counseling Services LLC booth.
Bake Sale Chair Heather Harris with her daughter.
Students enjoy a ride on the trackless train.
Youth volunteers Giles Maxwell and Kyle Rodriquez. VPK teacher Debbie DeLong with current and former students.
Derby Of Dreams: Racing For Arts And Academics May 3 At NPC
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of elegance, excitement and philanthropy at Derby of Dreams: Racing for the Arts and Academics. The event will take place on Saturday, May 3 at the Polo Club at the National Polo Center, located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington, benefiting the Dreyfoos School of the Arts.
Guests will immerse themselves in an evening filled with thrilling entertainment, stylish fashion, and a deep commitment to supporting arts and education. Attendees can take part in the Derby Hat and Bowtie Contest, showcasing their best race-day attire, and experience the excitement of watching the Kentucky Derby live from the picturesque grounds of the National Polo Center. The unforgettable event will feature a captivating live performance by Grammy Award-win-
ning artist Charlie Porter, a Palm Beach County School of the Arts music alumnus from the Class of 1996, alongside Tara Simon, a 2002 Dreyfoos School of the Arts alumna, Broadway veteran, “X Factor” finalist and celebrity vocal coach at Tara Simon Studios, as well as Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist John Lloyd Young. Guests will also enjoy inspiring performances by Dreyfoos students and have the opportunity to bid on auction pieces created by talented alumni, including designs by Karina Brez Jewelry, along with commissioned artwork from Kyle Lucks, a sought-after sports and lifestyle artist, and alumnae Nava Lundy, Michelle Sherman and Olivia Hollaus, founder of Protect My Shoes. The evening’s silent auction will feature an exciting array of items, including golf packages at
Emerald Dunes, Admirals Cove, Trump International and Apogee; a “Jockey for a Day” experience with professional jockey Mike E. Smith; a professional polo lesson; and a unique National Croquet Center experience.
Attendees will also indulge in a gourmet dinner and cocktails, featuring signature mint juleps, a nod to the rich traditions of the Kentucky Derby.
This year’s honorees, J. Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPA Global, and Kimberly Bluhm, philanthropist and art collector, will be recognized for their dedication and contributions to the arts and education. Event chairs Nancy Hart, Karen Swanson, Francine Walker and Alix Troast have meticulously curated an evening that promises both entertainment and impact.
The Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a top-ranked
public magnet high school in West Palm Beach, continues to set new standards for excellence under the leadership of Principal Blake Bennett. The school has impressively climbed from No. 111 to No. 91 in national rankings out of nearly 25,000 high schools in just three years. This growth is driven by a commitment to student success, offering unparalleled college-level courses, scholarships and mental health support, alongside its worldclass arts programs. With the unwavering support of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation, students benefit from resources such as college and testing prep, classroom enhancements, private lessons, travel opportunities, musical instruments, financial aid and scholarships for students in all grade levels. These initiatives play a crucial role in ensuring that students can reach their highest potential, both aca-
demically and artistically. To learn more about the event and how you can contribute, visit the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation’s web site at www.
Inaugural Bill Bone Olympic Triathlon At Okeeheelee Park On April 6
The Wellington Art Society recently opened its “Spirited Artistry” project, which is a two-part exhibition series, where “Spirited” runs at Wellington Village Hall from March 4 to July 15 and “Artistry” runs at the Wellington Community Center from Feb. 18 to May 13. The exhibition is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Wellington Village Hall galleries on the first and second floors, and on the first floor
of the Wellington Community Center. The public is also invited to join in the festivities at the Artists’ Reception and Sale on Tuesday, April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m., with People’s Choice Awards, refreshments and door prizes. Attendees can meet the participating artists and celebrate their original artworks, including sculpture, mix media, paintings, drawings and photography. Participating artists include:
athletes — Kirsten Kasper and Matthew Sharpe.
Kasper, who represented Team USA in the Women’s Triathlon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and her husband, Sharpe, an Olympic triathlete for Canada in Tokyo and an Ironman Champion, will race side-by-side with athletes of all levels on a professionally designed Olympic-distance course.
“It was a privilege to watch her race,” said Bone, who met Kasper during the Paris Olympics. “I was inspired by her energy, and knew I wanted to bring that Olympic spirit here. Kirsten and Matt are worldclass athletes and incredible people. We’re honored to have them compete in our inaugural event.”
The triathlon begins with a swim in Waterski Park, followed by an escorted bike course. The
Halyna Albanese, Susan Mosely, Heather Bergstrom, Susan Oakes, Betty Brodie, Alison Plaza, Cynthia George, Ida Perez, Kris Hilles, Marion Roberts, Diane Hodges, Vasantha Siva, Helen Kaufman, Katherine Stepp, Norma Medina, Cindi Taylor, Dinah Mirson, Lanzhi Wang and Hermi Zumbado. The Wellington Art Society is a nonprofit charitable organization in its 43rd year. For more information, visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.
final segment is a shaded run through Okeeheelee Park. A free breakfast will be provided for all participants and spectators. In addition to the race-day excitement, registered participants are invited to an exclusive Meet & Greet Cocktail Party with Kasper and Sharpe on Friday, April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bill Bone Bike Law (475 Hibiscus Street, West Palm Beach). RSVP is required through the race registration process. Athletes can join a free pre-race
A new online financial transparency tool launched by Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo provides access to information relating to Palm Beach County financial activities.
OpenGov is an interactive online portal that provides access to county financial records. Users can search the county’s “checkbook” by vendor name, review one-cent surtax expenses and revenues, the county’s annual revenues and expenses and more.
OpenGov is available at palmbeachcountyfl.opengov.com and can also be found under the County Financial Information section at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/ countyfinances.
Abruzzo chose the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week, which runs from March 16 to March 22
this year, to launch the OpenGov financial transparency tool for Palm Beach County.
As Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Palm Beach County, Abruzzo serves as the county’s protector of public records and taxpayer money. He is responsible as Palm Beach County’s comptroller for ensuring the proper investment and legal use of billions of dollars in taxpayer money. “Two of our office’s core missions are government transparency and connecting our community with financial information they need to be well-informed,” Abruzzo said. “OpenGov makes it easy for people to go online and search for payments made to different vendors, review the county’s future debt service payments or see county revenues and spending.
We believe OpenGov will be a valuable tool for everyone in our community, and what better time to share this resource than during Sunshine Week.”
This easy-to-use tool allows users to filter and customize their search, such as the spending specifically related to roads, public safety or debt, to name a few. Users can also download data from OpenGov to analyze in a spreadsheet. More than 2,000 government agencies use OpenGov in their communities.
Learn more about the financial information available from the clerk’s office, including monthly investment reports and the award-winning “Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances” at www.mypalmbeachclerk. com/countyfinances.
(L-R) Francine Walker, Alix Troast, Kimberly Bluhm, J. Michael Prince, Nancy Hart and Karen Swanson. PHOTO BY CAPEHART
Olympians Matthew Sharpe and Kirsten Kasper.
Christian Kukuk’s Daughter Arrives Just In Time For His Big $750,000 Win
By Sarah Eakin Town-Crier Staff Report
Sharing a champagne celebration on the podium after winning the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix was one way of “wetting the baby’s head” for Germany’s Christian Kukuk. He and Checker 47 won the title — the grand finale of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the first stop of 2025 on the prestigious Rolex Equestrian Series — for the second year running, on the night after he and his partner Veronica Tracy welcomed their daughter Lilah into the world.
Forty entries took to the Saturday Night Lights arena on March 29 in front of 10,000-plus spectators. Crowd favorite, USA’s Laura Kraut, took the lead in the jump off aboard Bisquetta, finishing in 39.49 seconds, after Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141, first to go, set the bar in a time of 40.41. “It’s $750,000 tonight. You’ve
got to put the pedal down, so I’ll go as fast as I can,” Kraut said in the buildup. Kukuk, 35, and the 15-year-old German-bred Westphalian gelding Checker 47, were the penultimate pair in the eight-strong jump off, taking the lead in front of Kraut and Bond, with a time of 39.2 seconds.
Money was a theme of the night, with six of the world’s top 10 ranked riders — including world No. 1, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann — vying for the big checks.
Ireland’s Jordan Coyle summed it up prior to the jump off when asked what the attraction was in competing. “If you ask anyone, if they’re being honest, they’ll say it’s for the money. It’s really good money, the best money of the season, so for sure everyone’s building up for that,” Coyle said. The night paid off when, last to go in the jump off, he and Chacco-
lino finished fourth, taking home
$75,000 from the pot. Kukuk and Checker’s partnership of four years brought them to Wellington International for the first time last year when they won the Rolex Grand Prix in the last week of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival. “The crowd, the atmosphere, that is something very special,” Kukuk said. “And it’s one of the toughest competitions in the year. It was a really strong Grand Prix, the best riders in the world were here. It was a super competitive jump off. I will never forget that.”
Their journey then took the pair to Paris, where they won the individual gold medal in the show jumping. For Kukuk, the accolades keep on coming. The Rolex Grand Prix combined with the newly founded US Equestrian Open Jumping Final, giving Kukuk the inaugural title of the contest. That, combined with the Rolex Grand
special with the Olympics, and it keeps going,” said Kukuk in the aftermath of his victory. “And honestly, I don’t really know what to say. Besides, I think we should all say hello to Veronica. She really wanted to be here today. And then Lilah decided to come a day earlier rather than wait until after the Grand Prix.”
Wellington International President Michael Stone summed up the prestige and popularity of the night. “Seeing the crowds turn out for those athletes proves
Park Place Takes An Emotional Victory In The USPA Gold Cup
By Sarah Eakin Town-Crier Staff Report
season, Argentina’s Rufino Laulhé — slated to play for Park Place this winter in Wellington — was killed in a car crash in January, before leaving for Florida.
The promising 15-year-old player was on everyone’s mind for the final, and Park Place wore a sticker on the team jersey’s sleeves, spelling “Rufo.” The victory was bittersweet. “I want to honor Rufo Laulhé today,” said Park Place’s captain, 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa. “We had a tough start of the season. I wish he would have been here. Louis did an amazing job, but this final has been very emotional due to what happened. Today, we were with five guys on the field, probably he was around, and he helped us.”
Louis Hine, a 19-year-old Wellington high-goal polo rookie from England, tried out for the team, and once granted the opportunity, proved his mettle, winning the Most Valuable Player award in the final.
“When I managed to get the spot on the team, I knew I just had to go throw everything at it and do my best,” Hine said. “I was lucky that we clicked well with the boys from early on, and we kind of got better and better every game, getting to know each other.”
His teammate, Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr., may have been in contention for the MVP having been a game changer in defense and attack. His reward came in the form of Best Playing Pony for his impressive grey horse 5. He played the gelding in the first and fifth chukkers, both times scoring from the field.
Both teams arrived at the final unbeaten — their presence ensuring that the Sunday U.S. Polo Assn. Field One Gauntlet tournament final showdown was noticeable by the absence of either Poroto or Adolfo Cambiaso for the first time since the U.S. Open in
2022. In banking a C.V. Whitney Cup win, money was on Adolfo Cambiaso to pull off a first-time acquisition of the Gauntlet of Polo, a rare polo accolade that has so far eluded him, and has only been acquired once when Pilot took home all three tournaments in the Gauntlet’s inaugural year in 2019. Adolfo’s son, Poroto, with La Dolfina/Catamount, met La Dolfina/Tamera in the quarterfinal, and when Poroto came out on top with a 12-11 win due to his last-minute breakaway goal, hopes of a Gauntlet win for his father this year were dashed.
Park Place was ahead 7-5 at halftime in the UPSA Gold Cup final, but the match went into overtime, as Coca-Cola captain Polito Pieres engineered a field goal and a penalty at the culmination of the sixth chukker to push the match into a seventh chukker. Park Place secured a spot penalty in front of goal in the sudden death period, and Coca-Cola’s hope of securing its first win in the USPA Gold Cup was all but over.
“It’s a pity for them,” Ulloa said. “We played an amazing first half, but we knew they were going to come back. I feel it has been anybody’s game.”
The victory may not have given Park Place the Gauntlet, but it did give Andrey Borodin’s team a title in all three tournaments. “It’s our first ever Gold Cup win here,” Park Place manager Ash Price said. “We won the C.V. Whitney twice, and the U.S. Open, so to win the Gold Cup here is incredible.” Focus now moves to the U.S. Open Polo Championship as all 11
the
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joined by
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is one of two women
in the U.S.
with finals
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team owner
is the only other female in contention, and after losing in the finals of the C.V. Whitney and the USPA Gold Cup, Coca-Cola seeks to put the record straight.
Michael Lutheran Church 1925 Birkdale Drive – Wellington FL 33414
April 5th Espressivo Singers Holiday Concert 7:00pm $15.00 Palm Sunday Service 9:30am Holy Thursday Service 7:00pm Good Friday Service 7:00pm th Easter Sunrise Service 6:30am Bring a lawn chair Easter Egg Hunt and Fellowship 9:00am Easter Service 10:00am
Read more by equestrian writer Sarah Eakin at www.paperhorsemedia.com.
Champagne celebrations all around for the three riders on the podium in front of a full house at Wellington International. PHOTOS
A standout night for Germany’s Christian Kukuk and Checker 47, winning the Rolex Grand Prix for the second year running.
Park Place claims the USPA Gold Cup. (L-R) USPA Chair Stewart Armstrong, Peke Gonzalez, Hilario Ulloa, Andrey Borodin and Louis Hine. PHOTOS
SARAH EAKIN/PAPER HORSE
Park Place’s Hilario Ulloa speaks from the heart in a post-match ESPN interview.
the Gauntlet return to
action,
one new team, Melissa Ganzi’s
Setai. Ganzi
competing
Open,
slated
20. Coca-Cola
Gillian Johnston
Sommelier Paul Seal teaches attendees about wine.
Bonnie Sansone, Laura Maher and Cheryl Anders.
Board Member Shelley Swartz shares how serving with Our Community Cares has impacted her life.
Our Community Cares Secretary Marjorie Sullivan addresses the gathering.
Alex Frank, Cathy Biczak and Tess Steyn.
Jeff Rodman introduces wines to the attendees.
Director of Operations Diane Gutman introduces Our Community Cares.
Gladys Schulz, Alicia Sharpe and Petra Pitkonen.
Pascucci won
Linda Mackin won a magnum bottle of wine.
Jade Sprenger, Mary-Jo Sansone, Bonnie Sansone and Wendy Gard.
Laura Maher and Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind.
Selena Samios and Jeff Rodman.
ELISON SENIORS TOUR BUTTERFLY GARDEN
ROWING CENTER
VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH PRESS RELEASE
Attention!!!!!....Scout Groups .... Home Schoolers .... 4-H Groups .... Service Organizations … Residents and Friends … Anyone and everyone who is interested in participating in the National Great American Cleanup helping to keep Royal Palm Beach beautiful!
The Village of Royal Palm Beach will participate in the Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Registration will take place from 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. at the Recreation Center located at 100 Sweet Bay Lane where participants will be equipped with bags and gloves for the cleanup. Refreshments and lunch for participants will follow the cleanup! Contact Michael Cheatham at 561-790-5199 for details.
Butterfly meadow visitors Dom Prestano, Kathleen LaCosta, Dorie Johansson, Geri Oborne, J.C. Morris, Tao Universal, Eric Allen, Ginny McLoughlin, Barbara Hadsell, Chip Coulter and Lisa Ferrano.
Wellington Garden Club members invited residents of Elison Independent Living to visit the wildflower meadow and butterfly garden at Wellington’s Greenbriar Park for a tour on Thursday, March 20. The guests, members of the Elison Garden Club, learned about
butterflies such as the cabbage white and the zebra longwing from Kathy Siena and Lisa Ferrano. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Mayor Michael Napoleone with meadow project chair Lisa Ferrano.
Leslie and Randy Pfeiffer.
Ginny McLoughlin, Kathleen LaCosta and Dorie Johansson listen to Kathy Siena talk about butterflies.
Sandra Anderson and Mariann Boomhower with Norma Heelan.
Chip Coulter, J.C. Morris and Eric Allen.
Mike Butters on stage.
Monique Lananna and Margie Cruzado.
Leanor Appleton, Ernie Zimmerman, Bob Nappi, Alina Silvacoll, Sherie Scalzitti, Grace Lyons and Mary Smith.
(Seated) Felicita Rodriguez, Nicole Tiffeau, Debbie Ullman, Patty Klammer, Mara Haines and Sharon Larsen; and (standing) Juan Rodriguez, Tom Chenoweth, John Moran, John McNally, Ken Klammer, Richard Domark and Ron Larsen.
Sigal Carmel enjoys some green beer. Brenda and Glenn Ikalina.
Jack and Paula Brownson. Sandy and Wayne Papziak.
THE BABINGTON FOUNDATION HOLDS LIP SYNC FUNDRAISER IN WELLINGTON
On Sunday, March 30, the Kevin Babington Foundation held its annual Kevin’s Rockstars Lip Sync Fundraiser. Babington, an Irish Olympian paralyzed in 2019 due to a show jumping accident, was in attendance and spoke about the mission of the foundation. Proceeds from the event, held at Eye Candy Farm in Wellington, will help those who have been injured during equestrian jumping events. The crowd enjoyed a night of drinks, dinner and outstanding musical performances, both lip synced and live. Richard Goodall, the winner of 2024’s “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) competition, headlined the performance and was a crowd favorite. Learn more about the foundation at www.kevinbabingtonfoundation.org.
PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER
Foundation Chair Jeff Papows, AGT winner Richard Goodall and Michael Cruciotti, founder of MAC Sports International.
The crowd watches AGT winner Richard Goodall on stage.
Nicolas Rihan, Lukene Arenas and Nicole Meyer.
Victoria McCullough presents the foundation’s Spirit Award to Michael Cruciotti, founder of MAC Sports International.
Teaghan James performs “Believe.”
Dani Chayo sings “Hallelujah.”
Kevin Babington thanks everyone for their continued support of the fundraiser.
Kevin Babington’s wife, Dianna Babington, welcomes everyone and talks about the help the foundation provides.
One of the dancing acts included Marielle Walrath, Eloise Eisner, Olivia Sweetnam, Taylor Cawley, Parker Peacock and Baylee Rowan.
Rovena and Anthony Barbuto enjoy the evening.
Javan Dalman performs “Medley Song.”
Heather Caristo-Williams performs “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin.
Patricia Griffith preforms “Like A Prayer” by Madonna.
Performers wow the crowd with a Kesha dance routine. AGT winner Richard Goodall on stage.
Ki-Juan Minors performs the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Lee S. Freidman, MD
Randy S. Katz, MD
Steven M. Naids, MD
Megan A. Rowlands, MD
James M. Walsh, OD
SATURDAY | MAY 3 | 3:00 PM
Get ready to experience the excitement, style, and grace of the Derby Race Day like never before at Wellington’s Premier Derby Celebration returning again to the exquisite Diamante Farms! Immerse yourself in the splendor of horse racing culture and the charm of Southern sophistication at this unforgettable event.
Slip into your most elegant attire, crown the day with your fanciest hat, and prepare to root for your top pick in an atmosphere buzzing with anticipation and festivity. This is more than an event; it’s an opportunity to make a difference. Proceeds will benefit the Wellington Community Foundation, supporting vital initiatives close to home.
Treat your palate to an exquisite culinary adventure crafted by the talented Executive Chefs. Savor delectable dishes while sipping signature beverages,including the quintessential mint juleps, as the excitement builds.
Whether you’re a racing aficionado or simply looking for a lively evening filled with good company and great entertainment, this celebration will leave you inspired and uplifted.
Mark your calendars, saddle up, and join us for an evening of elegance, gastronomy, and philanthropy. Together, let’s make this Derby Party another resounding success and continue to support the heart of our community.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of racing, revelry, and giving back—where every moment is a winner.
Wellington, Sem Ridge Flag Football Teams Eye Postseason
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
Flag football powerhouses Wellington High School and Seminole Ridge High School are in the middle of strong seasons, looking ahead to the looming postseason.
At the beginning of the current season, Wellington High School head flag football coach Robert Callovi had a big void to fill. He needed a new starting quarterback, since Keelin Coleman had graduated. If the team was going to have
any aspirations of returning to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state finals, then finding a capable signal caller was a necessity.
In the days leading up to the season opener on Feb. 18 against Homestead, Callovi had identified his new starting quarterback in senior Ava Hanson.
“Ava has been our starting quarterback on the junior varsity for the last three years,” Callovi said. “We kept her on the JV team last year
so she would continue to get the necessary reps as a quarterback.”
Clearly, it was a good decision, as the Wolverines have opened up the current season with 10 consecutive wins to post a perfect 10-0 record. Hanson has felt comfortable following in the footsteps of Coleman, who is now the starting quarterback for the flag football team at Thomas University in Georgia.
“I was nervous at first, but my teammates have been there supporting me the entire season,” said Hanson, 18, who has a 3.8 GPA.
“Everybody is picking everybody up in every game. There’s no yelling, and we’re supportive of one another. We’re family.”
Hanson has responded by completing more than 60 percent of her passes. Through the first nine games, Hanson had thrown 28 touchdown passes. She is averaging more than three touchdown passes per game.
While Callovi is proud of Hanson’s development as a quarterback, he’s equally proud of the play of his defense. Of Welling-
ton’s 10 victories, eight of them have been shutouts. As a team, Wellington has only given up 10 points all season while scoring 257 points.
“I think our defense is better than last year’s defense,” Callovi said. “We lost three defensive starters from last year, but I think the returning starters have improved a great deal. I think we have one of the best defenses in the state.”
Besides Hanson’s play at quarterback, three other players who have stepped up as team leaders are senior Jordan Fernandez, junior Avery Schroeder and junior Angelia Bistrong.
“Jordan is unbelievable,” Callovi said. “She has stepped up and has played well on offense and defense. So much of what Jordan does is second nature. Jordan simply makes plays for us in every game. Avery is a great wideout who is very talented. As a cornerback, Angelia knows how to play defense and makes plays.”
Fernandez leads the team in touchdown receptions (eight, to date) and interceptions (six, to
Wellington Girls Softball Squad Has Big Goals For 2025 Season
and the regional finals last spring, the Wellington High School varsity girls softball team is focused on returning to the FHSAA’s Class 7A state tournament this year and coming home with the championship trophy in May.
Led by head coach Mark Boretti, WHS is off to a strong start as this year’s 19-player squad has won 11 of its first 13 games. The most recent victory was an 11-0 win at home on Tuesday, April 1 against Dr. Joaquín García High School.
One of the team’s big wins this season was a 2-1 triumph on Tuesday, March 18 over another South Florida Class 7A annual power, Coral Reef High School. At the time of that game, Wellington was ranked second in the state’s Class 7A standings, while Coral Reef was ranked third.
Other big triumphs this season were a 5-2 win against 2023 Class
7A state champion Spanish River High School on Feb. 26, a 4-0 shutout of District 12 rival Jupiter High School on March 7, and a 4-1 home win over longtime Palm Beach County nemesis Palm Beach Gardens High School on March 14.
The two blemishes on the schedule were a closely contested 3-2 loss in eight innings on March 4 to Park Vista High School, which is currently the top-ranked Class 7A team in Florida, and a 5-4 extra-inning loss to West Palm Beach’s Oxbridge Academy on Wednesday, March 19. According to Boretti, now in his 16th season at the helm of the WHS softball program, the Wolverines are well-positioned for yet another strong regular season showing, and a deep postseason run. With a talented roster of five seniors, seven juniors, three sopho-
mores and four freshmen, the Wolverines are led by senior pitcher Tori Payne, who is leading by example in the circle and in the batter’s box. To date, as a pitcher, Payne has a sparkling 0.56 earned run average. As a hitter, Payne is tied for the team lead in home runs (2), triples (2) and stolen bases (6). She also has the team’s best on-base percentage (.488) and slugging percentage (.735).
Other key players who are leading by example with their defensive hustle and offensive execution are three other seniors — Kaylee Riles, Brianna Casey and Erryn Lowe.
Wellington concludes its regular season on April 22 when the Wolverines play at Palm Beach Gardens High School. The end goal for Wellington is to reach the FHSAA’s Class 7A state final four, which will be held between May 20 and 24.
Winning Regular Season For Palm Beach Central Lacrosse Boys
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
The Palm Beach Central High School boys lacrosse team has concluded its regular season schedule with a 9-4 record. The Broncos are now getting ready for the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A, District 15 tournament, which starts on Wednesday, April 9. In all likelihood, the Broncos must win the tournament in order to earn a bid into the Class 2A state tournament. Palm Beach Central is one of six teams in the district and finished in fourth place in the regular season district standings.
According to William Bauer, now in his second year as Palm Beach Central’s head coach of the boys varsity lacrosse team, the Broncos have some talented players on the roster.
“We are very fortunate this year to have several key players in all the right positions,” Bauer said.
“They say college coaches recruit goalies and face-off specialists first, and we are strong in both those positions, with team captain Henry Petillo in our goal and Logan Birdsall handling our face-off duties. Logan gets us the ball over 67 percent of the time, and Henry saves it about just as much. Both are great winning percentages.”
In support of Petillo and Birdsall are a pair of talented defenders, Jonathan Campbell and Ethan Lewis.
“Both are strong, big, fast, quick and aggressive defenders that few, if any, in the league can take on successfully,” Bauer said. Bauer added that his attackers are top-notch, too.
“Offensively, this year we have probably the best overall attack with senior Aiden Emerick, senior Nicholas Tardivo and sophomore Kolston Moradi,” he said. “Because of all the attention both Aiden and Nicolas draw with superior ball handling/playing skills, other teams are always forced to slide to them from Kolston, who is one of our best shooters. He just keeps putting the ball in the back of the net for us.”
While it’s important to have a prolific offense and a staunch defense, it’s also important to have big, strong and fast midfielders playing between the lines.
“Like the offensive line in football, the team can’t win without great middies who can get the ball, possess it and move the ball with alacrity,” Bauer said. “This is really tough to do when gasping for breath, which they do on every run. Consequently, we are lucky to have our other team captain,
Sean Lewis, as our true short-stick middy workhorse. He is backed up by juniors Cooper Keydel and Brody Diaz. All three play with great heart, handle between the lines, and contribute on both offense and defense.”
As Bauer reflects on the current regular season, he knows why his squad has been able to produce a winning record.
“Hard work on the basics has been the key to our success,” he said.
If you look at the district standings, the key rivals for Palm Beach Central in the upcoming district tournament are Boca Raton High School and Spanish River High School.
“We lost to both of these teams this year,” Bauer noted. “We had Spanish River early on in the season and lost to the Sharks in double overtime. Boca, however, got us pretty good. For us, it was one of those days where nothing went right.”
Regardless of how Palm Beach Central fares in the upcoming postseason, Bauer is proud of how his team has grown and competed since the moment he took over as coach.
“Our team has improved in every aspect of the game tremendously since my arrival,” Bauer
The Palm Beach
“Consequently, our larger margins of victory, year-over-year, seem to show that.”
Bauer is particularly pleased with his team’s stick work.
“If I were to pick one area of the most improvement, I would have to say it is in our stick work,” he said. “We have gone from having difficulty in simply passing and catching to the ability to pick corners when shooting. And this, I attribute to our players’ dedication in putting in the extra work on their own to improve stick handling proficiency. It’s fulfilling for me to see the love of the game grow inside them.”
One of the big moments
for
See GIRLS FLAG, page 24
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
After reaching the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 7A state semifinals in 2023
The Wellington High School 2025 girls softball team. PHOTOS BY JACK BARTLETT
Wellington quarterback Ava Hanson and wide receiver Jordan Fernandez. PHOTOS BY MIKE MAY/TOWN-CRIER
Central boys lacrosse team celebrates after defeating Wellington on March 13. said.
this season
Palm Beach Central
its 12-5 victory on March 13 against crosstown rival Wellington High School. It had
Tori Payne pitching for Wellington High School.
WHS coach Robert Callovi meets with his players after a game.
Keiser University Flag Football Team Driven By SRHS Grads
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
A big part of the success being enjoyed by the Keiser University women’s flag football team this spring can be attributed to the contributions by four graduates of
Ridge
graduate of Seminole Ridge — has put together an impressive 10-1 start to its current season, thanks largely to the contributions of the four former Hawks. As the starting quarterback, Young has completed more than 80 percent of her passes this spring; she is 228-for-282 through the first 11 games. She has also thrown 56 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. Young has passed for 2,367 yards, and her longest pass completion is for
79 yards to Ashlea Klam, which is the longest pass completion in program history. That record pass completion took place on Thursday, March 27 during the team’s 65-0 win at home against Point University from Georgia. Young also has two rushing touchdowns on the season.
Through the first 11 games, Caprio has caught 54 passes for 419 yards and seven touchdowns. Her longest catch was for 17 yards. After 11 games, Griffin has 39 catches for 539 yards and nine touchdowns. Her longest reception was for 66 yards. Griffin also has three rushing attempts for 11 yards and has also completed one pass attempt for 12 yards.
Wagenman is making her mark on defense. So far on the season, she has recorded 10 solo tackles, of which four have been quarterback sacks. On offense, she has caught one pass for 12 yards. After the team’s first 11 games, Keiser’s offense is averaging 52.7 points per game, while the defense has only allowed 39 points for the entire season. Seven of Keiser’s wins have been shutouts.
To date, Keiser’s only loss has been a 20-19 defeat on the road at Sun Conference rival Thomas University of Thomasville, Georgia,
on March 19. That game featured a pair of dueling quarterbacks with high school roots in the western communities — Young from Seminole Ridge for Keiser and freshman Keelin Coleman for Thomas, who graduated from Wellington High School last May.
In that game, Coleman threw a game-tying touchdown pass with
a minute left in the fourth quarter, followed by the go-ahead and eventual game-winning point-after-touchdown pass. In that game, Coleman was 19-for-29 for 214 yards and two touchdowns. For that performance, she was named the Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The Seahawks will conclude their 15-game regular season schedule on April 12 when they play Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens. After that, the squad will attempt to win the three-day Sun Conference postseason tournament set for April 17-19. Then, they will play in the NAIA’s flag football national finals
Another Outstanding Season For Wellington Landings Girls Soccer
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
For the third time in the last four years, the girls soccer team from Wellington Landings Middle School reached the final of Palm Beach County’s middle school girls soccer championship.
In 2022 and 2023, Wellington Landings won the championship game of the annual postseason tournament. On Wednesday, March 19, the Gators advanced to their third championship game in the last four years. This year, their opponent was the West Boynton Middle School Stingers.
The game was played at the soccer field complex at Village Park in Wellington. This year’s game featured the two teams that have won the last three titles — West Boynton in 2024 and Wellington Landings in 2022 and 2023. While Landings played well, West Boynton played a bit better. West Boynton led 1-0 at halftime, and eventually won the match, 3-0.
West Boynton, coached by Cody Russell, finished with an overall record of 12-1-1, while Wellington Landings completed the season with a 9-2-1 record.
While the final score of the championship game was a tough way to finish the season, Landings coach Caitlin Waites was very proud of her team’s competitive attitude throughout the season.
“This season, the girls had one goal in mind: make it back to the championship game,” Waites said. “Due to unfortunate circumstances, we lost in the second round of the playoffs last year. I feel this gave my girls the fire to work as hard as they could, and they did. All 15 players contributed to every win they had. Ultimately, I am so incredibly proud of all the girls for their hard work this season.”
According to Waites, the team leaders on her squad this past spring were Sofia Davila, Elisa Kate Stroup, Zoe McCranels, Chayse Ludlam, Parker Leim-
berger and Leah Browne. The top scorers were Davila, Stroup and Magnolia Welsh. The assist leaders were Stroup, Davila and McCranels.
The keys to success for Wellington Landings were a prolific
goal-scoring offense and a strong, defiant defense. “We had 43 total goals scored and five goals allowed all season,” said Waites, whose overall coaching record at Landings is 39-5-5. “This was only possible because of the girls work-
ing together every single game.”
As Waites looks forward to next year, some of her players will transition to high school, but she is cautiously optimistic that her new and returning players will have another memorable year on the pitch.
“Out of my 15 players, eight of them are eighth graders. Usually, six or seven would start depending on the game,” Waites said. “As far as next year, all I can say is I am looking forward to seeing what the new squad brings.”
•
• Offering
• Distributing
• Providing
• Supporting
• Donating
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for
• Providing
Wellington Landings Middle School’s 2025 girls soccer team.
Elisa Kate Stroup of Wellington Landings and Breyana Cruise of West Boynton are travel soccer teammates.
Seminole
High School — Haylie Young, Sophia Caprio, Chloe Griffin and Emma Wagenman. The Seahawks flag football team — led by head coach Samantha Harris, herself a 2007
Emma Wagenman of the Keiser Seahawks playing
Keiser Seahawks players Sophia Caprio, Chloe Griffin and starting quarterback Haylie Young.
Bronco Baseball Team Stuns Visiting Forest Hill On Senior Night
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
The conclusion to the Palm Beach Central High School versus Forest Hill High School baseball game on senior night at Palm Beach Central on Tuesday, April
Girls Flag
Looking Toward The Postseason
continued from page 21
Raton High School, 24-0. It was senior night for the 10 seniors on Wellington’s roster.
Wellington concludes its regular season with a pair of home games on Thursday, April 3 against
1 was no joke. It was a game that every player, coach, umpire and fan in attendance will never forget.
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to visiting Forest Hill, the Broncos rallied to tie the game — and eventually win it on a wild pitch that brought in Jabari Seguignol with the winning run. The three-run deficit was erased with just one hit — an infield single. No ball ever left the infield. Of the seven players who completed their at-bat in the bottom of the seventh, three walked, one player was hit by a pitch, one popped out to the Forest Hill second baseman, another hit into a fielder’s choice, and another legged out an infield single on a ground ball to the shortstop.
The 7-6 victory was memorable, to say the least.
“I don’t think that has ever happened,” said Tony Gullo, now in his ninth year as the head baseball coach at Palm Beach Central. “We found a way to win. They beat us in the six-inning game, but, fortunately, we were able to pull it in the seventh inning.” That April 1 victory improved
Seminole Ridge High School and on Tuesday, April 8 against Park Vista High School.
After that, Wellington will play in the Class 4A, District 12 tournament set for April 14-17, followed by the Class 4A regionals from April 23 to May 1. The season will conclude with the Class 4A state finals, to be held from May 8-10 in Tampa at the AdventHealth Training Center, which is the indoor practice facility of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Palm Beach Central’s record to 145. It was the second one-run win against Forest Hill this season. The teams played one another back on Feb. 10. Palm Beach Central prevailed, 4-3.
With the win over Forest Hill, Palm Beach Central has won five of its previous six games. That’s
Seminole Ridge Playing Well — The Seminole Ridge flag football team is having another winning season under the guidance and leadership of head coach Scott O’Hara.
After nine games, the Hawks are 7-2. Their most recent game was on Thursday, April 3 on the road against undefeated Wellington High School (10-0). The result was not available at press time.
O’Hara is pleased with the performance of his squad, which continues to work hard in practice to get better every day.
“We are off to a good start to the season,” O’Hara said. “We are trying to continue to improve by cutting down on mistakes and penalties while being effective on both sides of the ball and executing consistently.”
Among the key performers for Seminole Ridge this season is sophomore quarterback Aubrey Fogel, who is completing 66 percent of her passes. Through nine games, Fogel has thrown 26 touchdown passes.
Meanwhile, senior Lola Agosto has caught a team-leading six touchdown passes, and senior Dakota Parks is the team’s leading receiver with 62 receiving yards
a promising sign, but Gullo noted that his team should have a better win-loss record.
“It has been an up and down season,” Gullo said. “We’ve given away a couple of wins. And there has been one game on paper that we should not have won, but we did.”
Moving forward, Gullo and his staff will be focusing on getting the Broncos to better execute the fundamentals.
“To be successful, it’s a matter of our team paying attention to the little details,” Gullo explained. Palm Beach Central will conclude its regular season at Palm
Beach Gardens High School on Thursday, April 10. Then, it’s time for the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 7A postseason, which concludes with the final four in mid-May at the Lee Health
per game. On defense, sophomore Chachi Saunders has nabbed 10 interceptions, senior Sydney Pena is averaging a team-best 4.2 tackles per game, and senior Lily Von-Purkyne has registered a team-leading 12 quarterback sacks.
Sports Complex Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
Palm Beach Central’s
Slade Wayne at bat against Forest Hill High School.
Bronco baserunner Gabrian Diaz looks for his opportunity.
Palm Beach Central coach Tony Gullo gives some final advice to the team.
The Seminole Ridge offense is averaging nearly 20 points per game and only allowing an aver-
of just more
one touchdown per game In the FHSAA’s Class 3A division, Seminole Ridge is currently listed as the top-ranked team. As a result, the chances of Seminole Ridge getting a bid into the Class 3A state tournament are quite strong. Just like Wellington, Seminole Ridge is hoping to finish its season at the state finals, to be held from May 8-10 in Tampa.
Wellington quarterback Ava Hanson consults with head coach Robert Callovi.
The Seminole Ridge High School 2025 girls flag football team.
SebiLion Wins Sunset Polo Match At Grand Champions Event
One of the largest fundraisers in Palm Beach County more than lived up to expectations on a chilly night under the stars. Nic Roldan’s Sunset Polo White Party, hosted by Grant Ganzi, was held Friday, March 21. While SebiLion (Grant Ganzi, Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan and Matias Gonzalez) won a four-chukker thriller over Black Watch (Jason Crowder, Hilario Figueras, Tommy Collingwood and Fred Mannix), it was the Kids
Cancer Foundation and the Polo Training Foundation that benefited the most from the generosity of sponsors and fans. Meanwhile, Cedric Gervais and Tyga entertained more than 600 guests, including tennis star Venus Williams, two-time Super Bowl champion Jason Pierre Paul and actress/singer Kelley Jakle. “All our team here did a lot of hard work,” Roldan said. “There is a lot of love and passion that
Cresswind Women’s Club Honors Joe DiAngelo As Westlake Hometown Hero
The Cresswind Women’s Club of Westlake recently honored Joe DiAngelo as a Westlake neighbor to know.
As you look around neighborhood streets, you might see this handsome guy riding his bicycle and frequently stopping to pick up trash, filling many bags to bring home for the next trash day pickup. DiAngelo is out there almost every
single day keeping the neighborhood clean, and perhaps working on his tan a bit, too.
On Thursday, March 20, the Cresswind Women’s Club presented its Hometown Hero Award to DiAngelo, as Cresswind resident. This award recognizes his continued generous, selfless efforts to keep the City of Westlake clean and free of litter and debris.
Cresswind Women’s Club leaders Coco Forlizzi, Stormi Bivin and Sheree Biafore with Joe DiAngelo.
goes into it. At the end of the day, we do it for one reason, these little guys who we love so much, the Kids Cancer Foundation and PTF. All the proceeds will go to them this year.”
Ganzi played an integral role in the event’s success, along with Melissa Ganzi, Laura Hirsch DeLuca and Olexa Celine.
“Without our team, we wouldn’t have been able to make this happen,” Ganzi said. “It’s another year we have been successful, got everyone here and pulled it off.”
SebiLion edged Black Watch,
The spirit of generosity and community was alive at Cardinal Newman High School’s Newman Night 2025, where more than 350 guests gathered on Saturday, March 8 at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion for “An Evening of Polynesian Paradise.” The school’s largest annual fundraiser was a resounding success, uniting supporters for a night of tropical elegance, entertainment and philanthropy.
Chaired by Tiffany Eitel, Michelle Gonzalez and Wendy Tuma, the event honored Mary Jo Higgins and Virginia O’Hara for their remarkable contributions to Cardinal Newman High School. Their unwavering support and dedication have played a vital role in advancing the school’s mission and enriching student experiences.
“The generosity of our supporters ensures that we can continue providing an exceptional Catholic education, fostering faith, leadership and academic excellence in our students,” said Charles Stembler, president of
4-3, in the spirited Sunset Polo Match. Ganzi scored in the final three seconds to clinch the win.
The fast-paced game pitted two well-matched teams while DJ Webb’s music mix played in the background to welcome guests. Ganzi and Crowder each scored two goals for their teams. Roldan, Kampsen and Collingwood each had one goal.
“Thank you to all the players,” Roldan said. “There’s a lot of polo during the season, so to make the effort to come and to play, we really appreciate it.”
Cardinal Newman High School and a Wellington resident. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this evening so special.”
From the moment guests arrived, they were transported to a Polynesian paradise. Traditional dancers welcomed attendees, setting the stage for an unforgettable
The event was kicked off by a stirring rendition of the national anthem by hometown favorite Tom Blake, followed by a guest throw-in by Kids Cancer Foundation warriors.
After the game, Olexa Celine presented awards to the players, and Michael DeLuca awarded the Neil and Laura Hirsch Perpetual Trophy to SebiLion’s foursome. Then the party started with great food, drink and best of all, topshelf entertainment.
Miami Beach-based French DJ, record producer and actor Cedric
evening. Inside the beautifully adorned ballroom, guests were captivated by a powerful haka performance, a traditional Polynesian war dance featuring rhythmic foot-stamping and dynamic chants. The décor, inspired by the lush landscapes of the South Pacific, showcased cascading or-
Gervais and American rapper Tyga kept the crowd dancing and entertained throughout the night. Ganzi, Roldan and Natascha Baecher have combined to create an event unlike any other in the U.S. by combining great polo, DJ music, dancing and an Argentine asado to raise money for the Kids Cancer Foundation and the Polo Training Foundation, among other charities supported by Sunset Polo International, a nonprofit founded by Roldan,
Joe DiAngelo rides around Westlake, picking up trash.
SebiLion teammates receive the Neil and Laura Hirsch Perpetual Trophy from Michael DeLuca, joined by Kids Cancer Foundation warriors.
Tennis star Venus Williams was among the star-studded crowd enjoying polo.
Kathy, Chuck and Kate Stembler. PHOTOS COURTESY CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY
Event chairs Michelle Gonzalez, Tiffany Eitel and Wendy Tuma.
SebiLion teammates Grant Ganzi and Nic Roldan.
CRESTWOOD STUDENTS
FOCUS ON DRUG AND VAPING PREVENTION
Crestwood Middle School’s student council and National Junior Honor Society leadership have been meeting with Alexa Lee from the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition all year, creating and planning projects and initiatives focusing on drug and vaping prevention. The coalition developed a Mental Health for You(th) Course for students to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. What’s so amazing about this course is that Crestwood is the only school with multiple students featured — Nora Leonard, Nicholle Sangronis and Isabella Caceres. Additionally, Crestwood is one of seven areas throughout the county that are participating in environmental messaging and other activities promoting two campaign messaging activities on vaping prevention, marijuana use by youth and underage drinking. The school thanks Lee and the PBCBHC for the $2,000 donation to the student council and NJHS in this effort.
Oxbridge Academy Hosts 10th Annual St. Baldrick’s Event
On Monday, March 17, the Oxbridge Academy held its 10th annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation program in support of finding a cure for pediatric cancer, as well as raising awareness of the scope of the disease.
Aside from raising funds — more than $70,000 over the past decade — the heart of the event includes faculty, staff and students volunteering to have their hair cut or heads shaved to show solidarity with child patients, or use the shorn locks to make wigs. Licensed barbers carry out or oversee the cutting and shaving.
The Oxbridge Cancer Awareness Club also spearheaded a drive to collect toys, snacks, blankets, socks and other items for St. Mary’s Medical Center’s Pediatric
Oncology Support Team (POST) to distribute to patients at the West Palm Beach facility. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of math teacher Sheri Viggiano being cancer-free. Viggiano, along with several students, started the Oxbridge St. Baldrick’s program 10 years ago. To recognize that milestone, Viggiano had her long locks dramatically shortened and donated. Since the initial St. Baldrick’s event, it has become one of the school’s most popular and beloved service programs, illustrating the school’s culture of kindness.
The Oxbridge Academy is located at 3151 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, visit www.oapb.org call (561) 972-9600.
of being cancer-free by donating her shorn locks for wigs.
Palm Beach State College’s Associate Dean of Nursing Carol A. Clarke has been re-elected to serve a two-year term on the Nursing Consortium of Florida’s Board of Directors. The Nursing Consortium of Florida is a nonprofit founded to serve the professional needs of Florida’s nursing community. Member organizations include hospitals, accredited schools of nursing, nurse staffing agencies and other providers of nursing services. The consortium’s goal is to foster and strengthen relationships between nurses in practice and academic settings, and promote and facilitate collaboration among member organizations to strengthen the nursing profession and ensure adequate access to high-quality nursing services throughout Florida.
“In my current role, it is imperative that I embrace networking, as I extend myself not only to members of this community, but to the community of nursing,” Clarke said. “As a part of the new initiative to ‘Keep Nursing Alive,’ it is also my desire to ensure nursing’s success on all levels, hence my interest in serving on the consortium board.” Clarke is responsible for the management and maintenance of all aspects of nursing at PBSC. She is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of each nursing program and ensuring that the programs are in compliance with accrediting bodies and the Florida Board of Nursing regulations. Additionally, Clarke works in close collaboration with the
Two Wellington El Students Honored By School Bus Drug Prevention Contest
At this year’s annual School Bus Drug Prevention Media Contest awards night, hosted by the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition, two students from Wellington Elementary School were honored for their creative artwork and strong
messages promoting the theme “Power of Choice: Be Alcohol and Vape Free.”
Fifth-grader Christian Suarez earned a spot as an elementary finalist with his drawing of a rainbow with children holding hands around the earth and the moving
message in Spanish, “A world without drugs, together we can make a change!”
Third-grader Gavin Griesemer won the elementary artist choice award with his digital art piece “Hop on the bus to success! Choose to be alcohol and vape
free,” showing a Palm Beach County school bus going uphill. Griesemer’s artwork will be displayed inside all Palm Beach County school buses starting March 31, along with 10 other student winners from the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Binks Forest Students Showcase Creativity With 2025 Celebration Of The Hands Program
In a heartwarming display of creativity and community spirit, students from Binks Forest Elementary School are set to participate in the much-anticipated 2025 Celebration of the Hands, part of Children’s Week in Florida. This year’s event, which runs from April 13-18, will feature an inspiring array of hands created by young artists, all on display in the
Capitol Rotunda in Tallahassee.
Under the guidance of Nova Vazquez, the art teacher at Binks Forest, select kindergarten and first-grade students came together to create a collaborative art piece using their handprints. This vibrant display not only highlights the creativity of the youngest learners but also symbolizes unity and cooperation among the students. Each
handprint tells a story, representing the unique contributions of each child, while collectively forming a powerful visual statement about the importance of nurturing future generations.
In addition to the collaborative piece, select students from the fourth and fifth grades have created individual hand art pieces that reflect their personal artistic visions. These paintings showcase an impressive range of styles and techniques, demonstrating the talent and creativity that thrives within the school. The individual works will be on display in the Capitol Rotunda, providing a unique opportunity for families, legislators and visitors to experience the joy and talent of young artists from Wellington.
PBSC community, providing
and weekly
updates to the college’s dean of health sciences and other PBSC governing bodies and departments, while maintaining and adhering to budgetary guidelines. Clarke’s leadership role at PBSC has emphasized the importance of partnerships.
“On working through the present and past pandemics, I have realized the importance of broad collaboration among nurse leaders, and I recognize that fostering collaboration between nurse leaders in practice and academia is at the core of the consortium’s mission,” she said. “My motivation for serving on the consortium board is to contribute to the good work underway in service to the profession and the broader community through committee leadership and close collaboration with my peers.”
Cove Middle
science, technology, engineering and math
at neighboring Equestrian Trails Elementary
American Heritage Schools, a nationally ranked private, nonsectarian and co-educational college preparatory day school, has announced that its summer programs, including day camp and summer education, will be offered in-person or online this summer. The summer programs, which American Heritage Schools has offered for more than 40 years, will run for nine weeks, starting June 9 through Aug. 8.
American Heritage summer camp programs, offered at both the Broward and Palm Beach campuses, are designed for children ages 3 to 13. There are day camps and specialty camps, including robotics, art, science, musical theater, video production and sports camps. Specialty camps vary by campus. Each camper will enjoy age-appropriate activities supervised by highly qualified staff. Cabins for ages 3 to 5 are co-ed,
while ages 6 to 13 have separate cabins for boys and girls. All cabins, which are classrooms during the school year, are air conditioned, and campers take pride in decorating them to reflect the cabin’s theme.
To expand the number of recreational activities available to campers ages 8 to 13, age-appropriate field trips are scheduled. Bus transportation is provided and operated by American Heritage, and all drivers are properly licensed and screened. All field trips are supervised by off-campus directors, as well as an appropriate number of counselors. Prior to starting camp, campers will receive a schedule of activities. The summer camps are directed by state-certified teachers and college or high school students who have been carefully screened. Many of the counselors are students or alumni of the school, or
have been campers or counselors in training (CITs) for a number of years. For more information, or to sign up for camp, visit www. ahsummerprograms.com.
American Heritage’s Summer Education offers an extensive course catalog of more than 120 enrichment and reinforcement courses (three-week sessions or weekly seminars), specifically designed with student interest and engagement in mind, to students from pre-K3 through 12th grade. Most of the classes are offered live online and/or in person at one of American Heritage’s two 40-acre campuses. American Heritage course offerings are often viewed as the gold standard in college-preparatory education, and the summer programs continue that standard. High school course offerings include advanced test prep, honors and AP-level research work, as
well as unique pre-professional programs for those interested in future careers in medicine, law or business entrepreneurship. American Heritage Summer Programs also offer a wide variety of enrichment and reinforcement programs for Junior High School (grades 6-8) and Lower School (PK3 to fifth grade) students, as well as one-on-one tutoring options for those looking to enhance their skills and build confidence heading into the new school year. The programs also feature topnotch instructors, all of whom are degreed and certified professionals in their fields. Whether a student’s interest is in math, English, science, robotics or the fine arts, American Heritage Summer Programs has something to suit everyone’s needs. For more info., or to sign up, visit www.ahsummerprograms. com/pages/summer-institute.
Students show off their colorful hand art as part of the 2025 Celebration of the Hands.
Emerald
School’s
(STEM) students recently participated in “STEM Day”
School. The students created various projects to help the elementary students learn about STEM and science. They included mousetrap cars to discuss physics, mechanical arms for robotics, electrical circuits and balloon cars. Participating Emerald Cove students included: Kaitlyn McGriff, Phoebe Maltas, Mia Summerside, Kalysi Riveron, Conner Commins, Dimitry Henry, Vedhasree Boddu, Isiah Paul, Ian Perez Ovalle, Jag Thornby, Colin Dever, Ryder Krottner, Shai Veig, Lisa Anderson, Caleb Jacobs, EJ Schroeder, Milana Jumabayeva, Milania Nugent, Tran Nguyen, Riya Peter, Meadow Bronen, Jaydon Pugatch, Jonathan Nagy and Alex Singer.
Oxbridge math teacher Sheri Viggiano, who organizes the school’s annual St. Baldrick’s event, celebrated her 10th-year
Christian Suarez and Gavin Griesemer with their awards.
Gavin Griesemer with Principal Dr. Maria Vaughan, art teacher Erica Bordonaro and homeroom teacher Rosanne Tatti
Minto Opens Final Phase Of Terraces
Townhome Neighborhood In Westlake
Minto Communities USA re-
cently announced the launch of the third and final phase of the Terraces, an affordably priced townhome neighborhood within the highly sought-after Westlake community. Driven by strong buyer demand, Westlake’s developer and primary builder is adding 227 new townhomes with prices starting in the mid-$300s. The Terraces provides homebuyers with modern, new-construction residences in a vibrant, lifestyle-centric development.
“The response to the Terraces has been phenomenal, and we are excited to unveil this final phase,” said Steve Svopa, southeast division president at Minto Communities USA. “With an unbeatable blend of affordability, prime location and thoughtful design, these townhomes present a remarkable opportunity for homebuyers seeking quality and value.”
The two-story models feature floor plans from Minto’s new Courtyard Collection, which include the Rose, Ivy and Coral.
The Rose, starting from $368,990, boasts three bedrooms and twoand-a-half baths at 1,536 square feet under air. The Ivy starts from $398,990 with three bedrooms and two-and-half baths at 1,649 square feet. The Coral is the largest floorplan, with four bedrooms and twoand-a-half baths. At 1,786 square feet, it starts at $413,990. Buyers can make their design selections
and entrepre
neur
received the 2025 Style Icon award presented by Dress for Success Palm Beaches at the nonprofit’s annual Style for Hope fundraising luncheon on March 7. With her newest venture, Jones Road, launched in 2020 and rapidly becoming as beloved as the namesake makeup brand she birthed 34 years ago, Brown was honored for embodying the Dress for Success mission: the empowerment of women.
An onstage interview with the honoree emceed by Hollani Davis, anchor of WPTV’s “Today on 5,” was a highlight of the program, which is estimated to have raised close to $350,000. Last year’s
National Group Honors Advanced Breast Center At Wellington Regional
The Advanced Breast Center at Wellington Regional Medical Center was recently recognized as a certified participant in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers program for the second year in a row. This distinguished honor represents a commitment to provide the highest level of quality breast healthcare to patients in the community.
The Terraces is a Minto townhome community located in Westlake. and add options and upgrades at Westlake’s design center, located within the sales center. The townhomes have two-car garages, front-entry-covered lanais, impact-resistant windows and thoughtfully designed interiors. Homeowners will enjoy spacious layouts, island kitchens with granite countertops, energy-efficient appliances, walk-in closets, and dramatic 9-foot, 4-inch ceiling heights on the first floor. The building exteriors feature two distinct architectural styles: Coastal Contemporary and Urban Transitional. Several residences have direct views of the Westlake Fitness Trail and a pristine lake. As with all Minto homes in
Style Icon winners Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger served as this year’s honorary co-chairs and were on hand for the salute to their friend Brown. Brown was on the national board of Dress for Success when it was founded in 1997 and continued to be actively associated with the organization for more than a decade. She visited DFSPB’s headquarters ahead of the fundraiser to meet client Courtney Banks, giving her makeup tips and helping select her attire for the luncheon. A video presentation during the event profiled 20-yearold Banks, who had bounced around from shelter-to-shelter most of her life, had no family support, overcame numerous
Westlake, public servants, including active military, police officers, firefighters, teachers and healthcare workers, can take advantage of the Welcome Heroes program, which provides a 3 percent discount off the base purchase price. Buyers can also take advantage of the City of Westlake’s HAPPY program, which offers up to $35,000 in downpayment assistance on a home that costs no more than $568,577. For more information, interested buyers can call (888) 299-3628 or visit www.westlakefl.com. They are also invited to visit the sales center located at 16610 Town Center Parkway North, just off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in Westlake.
indignities, battled anxiety and insecurity, and was craving stability and independence. Her excitement at scoring highly on the entrance exam for Palm Beach State College was blunted by the crushing news that her high school diploma was invalid since the online high school she had enrolled in during the pandemic was a scam. Undeterred, Banks, whose ambition is to join the military and eventually pursue a career in healthcare, repeated her junior and senior year with an accredited program. But she didn’t have the experience of a cap-and-gown graduation. So, DFSPB, with a mentoring program that bolstered her self-confidence and helped her realize her self-worth, staged
Measuring and comparing quality performance is essential in assessing patient care and allocating resources where improvement is desired. In today’s dynamic healthcare industry, breast centers are faced with providing quality care while simultaneously keeping costs under control. A center’s staff must not only be familiar with existing standards of care but must also be aware of new advances in technology. The Advanced Breast Center at WRMC has taken a major step to ensure they provide the best possible quality care to patients.
WRMC is a 235-bed, acute care hospital. It is proud to have provided high quality healthcare services to the residents of Palm Beach County since 1986. As a community hospital, accredited by the Joint Commission, WRMC prides itself on its continued commitment to remain at the forefront of advanced technologies and expanding programs and services to meet the needs of the growing community it serves.
a ceremony at the luncheon. The story of Banks’ journey brought the audience of 600 to their feet.
Michele Meyer-Shipp, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, was a guest of honor. It was her first official appearance in South Florida, having joined the organization three years ago from Major League Baseball. One other highlight of the luncheon was a 60-second video tracking the progress of DFSPB’s relocation to River Bridge Centre in Greenacres and renovation of a storefront that will yield more space and added programs. Funds raised at the event will help with this move, which is anticipated by summer. For more information, visit www. dressforsuccesspb.org.
Makeup mogul
-
Bobbi Brown
Joe Ann Fletcher, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, Bobbi Brown, Michele Meyer-Shipp and Tommy Hilfiger.
Leave It To Grandchildren To Make You Feel Old And Left Behind
I don’t think that parents in their 30s and 40s realize how imperative it is to keep their kids’ grandparents in the loop. It’s not just that we like seeing the kids, it’s that we need their interaction to keep from being sucked into the mindless oblivion of boring and routine.
For instance, without my grandchildren, I would have no idea how to use the word “cringe.” Cringe used to be a verb. Now, it’s a noun. For instance, an ugly car is cringe. What you want to be driving is a car that is “sick,” “fire” or “dope.”
Without my grandchildren, I wouldn’t know how to scan the QR codes (displayed on their science fair projects) that explains them in detail. I wouldn’t be able
to get into the fair’s parking garage for free using a similar code. And I certainly wouldn’t be invited to attend the awards ceremony to witness my “skibidi” (cool) grandson win a silver ribbon and my “preppy” (now meaning sparkles and flair) granddaughter win blue.
When they’re not around, I feel myself slipping away. I get comfortable paying bills by check and reading newspapers that rustle comfortingly in my hand. I go to restaurants where the cashiers accept real money and know how to count my change back without referring to the cash register screen for a hint. Which reminds me... Last night at the grocery store, the clerk asked me how much change I should get. But when I tried to explain how I figured it out, she tossed back her pink and orange hair, arched her tattooed neck, fidgeted with her nose ring and willed me to go away — quickly, before anyone noticed that she didn’t know or care about her job.
I guess it was my own fault for paying $4.31 in cash. At first, I thought children’s sports couldn’t have changed much over the years, but then I went to a few games. I was happy to see the additional protective gear for football, but lacrosse? It looked like the Michelin Man was playing. Skibidi’s mother told me she got the helmet for $70 — used! It looked like something the Jetsons would have worn to soar through space at 200 mph. And the kid still came home bruised. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to see head protection. I’m happy to see scientific advancements. And I’m happy to be included. But I do go home, often
shaking my head in awe and wonder. How did I fall so far behind? And seemingly overnight?
And, because I’m a futurist only as far as the “art of worry” goes, I worry that soon my daughter will be following me into the abyss. Later, when they have children of their own, my grandchildren will fall out of the loop. And so it goes — generation after generation making their forebears feel ancient before their time. In fact (probably by this summer), no one will be describing things as sick, fire or dope anymore. Do it and you will be cringe. Or “ick,” which is even worse.
‘A Working Man’ With Jason Statham Is A Wild And Violent Ride
The new Jason Statham film, A Working Man, is perhaps not surprisingly similar to his very popular The Beekeeper, made last year. That movie did very well at the box office, which led to this one, not a sequel, but one that also focuses on the old-fashioned notion that justice should win out and strong men can take care of finding that justice in a corrupt system.
Levon Cade (Statham) is a former heroic Royal Marines commando who now works as leader of a construction team in the US. He has become almost a member of the Garcia family that owns the company, a valued leader and trusted comrade. When their teenage daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) is kidnapped by Russian sex traffickers, her father Joe (Michael Peña) completely collapses, and Levon takes matters into his own hands. He has been told by the father of his late wife that he is a violent man, as a reason to keep him from his daughter, and we
‘I’ On CULTURE
By Leonard Wechsler
certainly get to see that. The people who took Jenny are the Bratva, the Russian Mafia, led by Symon Kharchenko (Andrej Kaminsky), whose brother Wolo (Jason Flemyng) takes the lead on all of this and is quickly killed by Levon, leading to the Russians becoming aware of him. He infiltrates the organization by pretending to be a dealer to get close to Dimi (Maximilian Osinsky), Wolo’s son, who handles the sex trafficking for the group. At the same time, Jenny is sold to a very weird client, but instead of
going along with it, she bites the man’s cheek off and is ordered to be killed, but the client changes his mind and wants to try to tame her again. Then Levon kills more Russians. And then even more, since he has killed Symon’s sons. Things then really get violent. The script by director David Ayer and Sylvester Stallone (really!) is not as interesting as the one for The Beekeeper. There, at least, there was a new type of villain, one who used the computer to fleece old people, and the bad guy, despite being a creep, let others handle the nasty work. Here, we simply have thugs. And that creates a major weakness. Few of the Russians seem to be smart. Most seem to be caricatures, and that weakens the story. Right from the start, there are logical holes. Why would a professional criminal organization go after regular citizens who might have powerful families or friends, when there are thousands of runaways
and smuggled migrant kids available, who would have no one to miss them or report them? The chain of command is remarkably weak. As a result, there is no killing that really makes much of a difference. But there are many, many deaths, and just about all are bad guys, another weakness. In The Beekeeper, the bad guys built up a decent body count. Here, they probably fired thousands of bullets that never hurt any good guy — shades of The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight. The bad ones had only their weirdness. Statham, of course, is the center of everything. And he is a master of the fight scene. There were at least a half dozen major ones, including one really fabulous battle inside a moving van. Of course, no real person could take the punishment that was inflicted on him, but nothing was going to deter him. The film at a few points did manage to get him in a somewhat different mode, joking with the Garcia clan,
dealing with a comrade blinded while in the service, and particularly when dealing with his young daughter (Isla Gie). The rest of the cast was mostly wasted. David Harbour was almost unrecognizable as Gunny, the blind veteran. Peña was only in a couple of scenes. Kaminsky looked appropriately weird, but just about all the Russians were one-dimensional. I liked Rivas a lot. Her Jenny was not a damsel in distress. She fought all the way through, right to the end. In a testosterone-filled movie, it was nice to feature a woman who could be both sweet and tough. This is a good B movie. There are few pretensions. No major dramatic moments, no real insight into the nature of humans. But it’s filled with good action scenes handled by one of the best action actors in the business. It’s a close to two-hour thrill ride. I enjoyed it, as did my wife. If you like action, this is for you.
St. Jude’s Novena May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St.Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day by the 8th day, your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you, St Jude for granting my petition. s.r.
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