Residents of Wellington’s Aero Club community are recovering from shock after Aero Club Community Association President Scott Schlander, 40, and his wife Joann, 43, were killed last Sunday when their small aircraft apparently malfunctioned. STORY, PAGE 3A
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
In order to increase revenue without cutting too many recreation and athletic programs, the Village of Wellington is considering instituting a “passport” program for participating in village events.
At a budget workshop Thursday, Community Services Director Paul Schofield told the council that village staff has proposed two main ways of increasing revenues for recreational and athletic programs: an increase in fees and the passport program.
If approved, the village would increase fees charged for programs by $10 for athletic or community programs that now cost less than $50 per resident and $20 for those costing more than $50. Camps, adult sports and team sports would charge $25 more. Room rental costs at the Wellington Community Center would also increase. Further, all independent contractors who currently run programs through village facilities would pay the village 40 percent of revenues instead of the current 30 percent.
In the proposed passport program, no one will be able to participate in sports and community programs without a passport, issued to each Wellington household at the cost of $100. The fee for non-residents will be considerably higher, as a proposed fee of $200 was rejected by council members Thursday as too low.
Those with passports will have free, unlimited access to village facilities such as the gymnasium, the skate park, the dog park, pool events, and be able to park free at big “hometown” events like concerts in the park and Fourth of July festivities. Those without passports will be able to take part in events, but will pay regular fees. Staff estimated that the village could increase revenues by over $700,000 by implementing the two plans.
Council members said some programs and events facing cuts, including summer camps, Wellington Seniors Club funding and extra park maintenance, could be added back into the budget because of the savings.
Schofield told the council that his staff had also found funding to restore 15 of the 22 posi-
tions set for elimination in earlier versions of the budget.
Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore, who attended by phone, asked Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz whether the county would object to different passport fees for non-residents. Kurtz said he thought it would pose no legal problems, although he could not promise the county would not object.
Council members also expressed a preference for retaining its annual reading grants of $25,000 to each elementary school in the village (totaling $150,000) rather than its funding of $5 per student in all schools ($80,000) if one or the other must be cut. Council members decided to stop providing $20,000 to the county’s School Readiness Childcare Program since the money is spent outside Wellington. Council members also agreed to retain the $50,000 funding for the Wellington Boys & Girls Club.
The council agreed to look for sponsors for several special events that previously benefited from village funding, particularly the fall festival, the egg hunt, the senior games, the Wif-
See FEES, page 5A
SCHOOL’S IN SESSION
Ar Arena Rules Headed enaRulesHeaded Back T To Committee oCommittee
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Wrapping up a hearing that had begun the week before, the Wellington Village Council voted Monday to send back to its advisory committees an amendment to the village’s land development regulations regarding commercial equestrian arenas.
Among its many changes, the amendment would make such facilities a conditional use on properties with a commercial recreation land-use designation, instead of a permitted use.
The amendment has drawn criticism even from those who support it in principle. Some critics charge that it has been rushed through approval without sufficient review, and that it conflicts with the village’s comprehensive plan rules, es-
pecially as show promoter Stadium Jumping has applied to build a new facility in southern Wellington.
Monday’s special meeting, before a full audience, was a continuation of the council’s first reading of the amendment, which began Aug. 14.
After an hour’s worth of public comment, Councilwoman Laurie Cohen said that while she did not advise passing the amendment on first reading, she also did not want to cause any problems for Stadium Jumping’s effort to win approval for a new facility. However, she suggested that the amendment return to the committee review process with a roundtable discussion among stakeholders.
“I don’t want there to be a perception out there that I per-
A benefit dinner for pianist Copeland Davis, shown above tickling the ivories, was held last Sunday. The event raised money for Davis, who needs urgent eye surgery that is beyond his means. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17A
The 2007-08 school year started Wednesday. For most students, it was a return to the classroom settings to which they have grown accustomed. But at the newly opened Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, it was a new start entirely. Pictured above are Genesis and Alexa Morow, their friend Alexis Gonzalez with dad Miguel on their way to Emerald Cove Middle School Wednesday morning. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 19A
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Friends, Neighbors Mourn Aero Club Plane Crash Victims
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Residents of Wellington’s Aero Club community are recovering from shock after losing two of their own in a small airplane crash last weekend.
Aero Club Community Association President Scott Schlander, 40, and his wife Joann, 43, were killed Sunday when their small aircraft apparently malfunctioned on takeoff from the Aero Club airstrip and crashed in nearby Greenbriar Park.
“It’s a tragedy,” said Bob Morris, an aviator who preceded Scott Schlander as president of the community association. “They were very well thought of and loved in the community. They were well known in the community and generally known in our small 250-lot neighborhood. We are a rather close-knit community.”
Morris said accidents are very rare in the Aero Club, where many homes are situated around a 4,000-foot grass runway.
“This was an unusual circumstance,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. There will be an FAA safety inquiry. Basically there was an engine or power failure. They had just taken off.”
Mace Horoff is another Aero Club resident and aviator who admired the Schlanders’ community involvement and dedication to their family. “They were really wonderful people,” he said. “Scott was committed to the community, and his wife was very involved with their
church. Joann had wanted their children to be involved in doing things for people.”
The couple were raising seven-year-old twin daughters as well as Joann’s 13-year-old son. Besides involvement in the Aero Club community, the Schlanders were active members of Christ Fellowship Church in Royal Palm Beach. Joann Schlander had recently returned from trip to Montana with her son, where they took part in home construction as missionary work.
“Joann was attempting to tell her kids there were people less fortunate than themselves,” Horoff said. “They were very giving people.”
They also contributed to their community and were active in neighborhood functions, Horoff said.
“In the Aero Club, the people fly,” he said. “It’s a pretty tight community because we share a common love. We meet once a month. It’s not just fliers, but it’s always people who fly who attend. Scott and Joann attended every one of them.”
Besides the monthly meetings, the Schlanders regularly attended the community’s annual barbecue and participated in a recent charity function to benefit Little Smiles, a charitable organization that provides toys, outings, limousine transportation, specialty dinners and celebrity meet-andgreets for children in local hospitals, hospices and shelters.
“The previous year we raised money for the South Florida Opera Company,” Horoff said. “We do those things and Scott and Joann were there, too. It’s the same people who support things, and they were a part of that.”
Joann Schlander was the CEO of Schlander & Associates Wealth Management.
Scott Schlander had a college degree in entomology and owned a pest control company, PestSmart. “He took care of our pest services. He was very knowledgeable,” Horoff said. Funeral services for the Schlanders have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug.
25 at Christ
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Family Trust, in care of Mark Schlander, CPA, 330 Oakwood Place, Boulder, CO 80304.
Fellowship Church in Royal Palm Beach at the corner of Southern Blvd. and State Road 7.
Schlander
Aero Club Tragedy — Sisters Towing employees prepare to lift the remains of the private airplane that malfunctioned last Sunday, killing owners Scott and Joann Schlander.
PHOTO BY MARK
Our Opinion
‘Business As Usual’ On The Run At The County Commission
For the second time in less than a year, scandal has led to a new face on the Palm Beach County Commission. Last week’s decision by Gov. Charlie Crist to appoint School Board Member Bob Kanjian to fill the seat vacated by Warren Newell — who resigned in July and awaits sentencing on federal charges for taking payments in exchange for votes — signals what hopefully will be a new day for the commission.
In selecting Kanjian, Crist went outside the system to find a like-minded Republican with a known independent streak. While there will likely be those who view Kanjian’s appointment with cynicism — arguing that it’s merely one politician replacing another — there is reason to believe the commission is entering a new era of honest governing. We hope that this becomes a reality.
When County Commissioner Jess Santamaria took over from his disgraced predecessor Tony Masilotti last fall, it became apparent that he would be the first of many agents of change. Santamaria’s willingness to eschew developer cash, tape-record meetings with those seeking his support for county projects, and remain accessible to the public — including the monthly community forums he hosts — gave the commission some much-needed credibility. And while those positive steps forward seem to have been overshadowed by Newell’s breathtaking fall from grace, it’s only temporary. What’s more important is where the commission goes from here.
Kanjian must prove to be a true agent of change — a tough sell, given his job in the real estate business. And with term limits in place to keep future commissioners from making a career out of their positions, the current board now has the opportunity to show real leadership and prove to the public that past transgres-
Many Thanks For Supporting Tourney
Editor’s note: The following letter is addressed to everyone who participated in the James Ryan Rivera Muscular Dystrophy Golf for the Cure tournament held Aug. 13 at the Links of Madison Green.
sions are just that — in the past.
While Newell and Masilotti may be the only members of the county commission actually charged with crimes, it has been long apparent that several other members of the commission have played games rife with conflicts of interest and ethical challenges. And while others may have kept such dalliances just on the right side of the law, they must do much better if the public is to regain trust in the county’s system of government.
For far too long, “business as usual” has been the name of the game. But that is changing, not only in Palm Beach County but all over the state.
The biggest issue facing much of Palm Beach County, especially here the western communities, is development. During Jeb Bush’s reign as governor, he did pay lip service to the idea of controlling growth. But lip service was all it amounted to, and the developers continued to have their way. However, there are hopeful signs that change is afoot. Whereas Bush wasn’t willing to put the squeeze on the ol’ boys network, Crist appears serious when he says he wants honest, open government dedicated to smart, managed growth.
Perhaps the change comes from the added burden of an irate public, which has seen too many scandals in too few years. Commissioners now know they are governing under a microscope. And with tighter coffers, there’s less patronage money to go around.
Once Commissioner Kanjian gets down to work, the world will see where he fits in. Will he work with the agents of change to bring a new age of good government... or will he fall into the same trap of greed and shoddy ethics that ensnared his predecessor?
Letters To The Editor
All I can say is you guys are awesome! What an amazing day we had. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all your help and hard work. Look at what we accomplished! You all worked so hard and did such a great job, especially in the heat. I could never have done what we did without all of you.
TOWN-CRIER
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The Original Wellington Mall Wellington, Florida 33414
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JODY GORRAN Associate Publisher DAWN RIVERA General Manager
I appreciate the time that everyone took away from their jobs and lives to dedicate to James on that day. It took a community to pull this together in such a short period of time, and we did it! Not only did we do it, we nailed it. I have received such great feedback from the golfers and volunteers via e-mails and phone calls. Rich LeConche even received a phone call from Royal Palm Beach Mayor David Lodwick, and I know that Jim Sackett had a good time as well. I know that we will have many of the same golfers and more returning next year to do it all over again.
know that they will forever be touched by all of us.
Dawn Dallin Wellington
No Need For County Water
I’m not sure why anyone would want city water out here in The Acreage. It’s trivial to install your own mini water plant for your own house that produces city water exactly like what the county would provide. If your beef is with the water quality, just add a chlorination system. That’s how the city people do it. Any good water system contractor can install it. It can cost as little as $35.
That’s a whole lot less than the $8,000 to $15,000 that you will have to pay the county to be hooked up to city water.
Not only that, but if you can’t afford that, then expect your home to be foreclosed. There is a little-known law in the State of Florida that allows municipalities to seize homes that don’t pay their water taxes. It doesn’t matter if you have a mortgage or are homesteaded; if you don’t pay your water bill, they can take your home. So why cause everyone else trouble just because you want city water? Just put your own system in and you’ll have water exactly like the county provides.
JASON BUDJINSKI Community Editor MARK LIOI News Editor
BARRY S. MANNING Publisher JOSHUA I. MANNING Executive Editor RON BUKLEY Managing Editor
WRITERS/ Denise Fleischman • Paul Gaba • Lisa Keeney Steve Pike • Carol Porter • Leonard Wechsler
CONTRIBUTORS/ Don Brown • Jules Rabin • Deborah Welky • Ernie Zimmerman
Founded In 1980 By Bob Markey Sr. Copyright 2007, Newspaper Publishers Inc.
The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising.
Just in case you have not heard the good news yet, we raised $35,000 total in two and a half months from the idea of a golf tournament to the actual event. After paying all the expenses, the Riveras will have approximately $25,000 for James’ medical expenses. Let’s find a cure for James!
Again, I’d like to commend each and every one of you for not only a job well done, but for all the love and caring you have shown for the Riveras. I
The chlorination system adds chlorine to the water and kills all the germs, eliminates any sulfur odors, and breaks down iron so it can’t tarnish your toilet. If the varying water pressure is intolerable to you, you can add a second stage pump with a regulator and increase the water pressure in your home to a constant 50 psi.
Adding both a chlorinator and a second stage pump to your system might set you back $1,000 to $2,000 depending on what equipment you install.
Oh, and another thing, regardless of whether you make your own city water or you get it from the county, you’ll need to install a carbon filter to remove the chlorine before it enters the house. If you don’t, then the chlorine will kill the bacteria in your septic tank and cause it to plug up. Then you’ll be screaming in five years that you must get city sewer because septic tanks don’t really work.
Dennis Hawkins The Acreage
SEND IN YOUR LETTERS SEND IN YOUR LETTERS YOUR
The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number (anonymously sent letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to 793-6090; or you can e-mail them to letters@goTownCrier.com.
Martel Van Zant: Deaf... But Doable!
How can we not pause for a moment and recognize the heroic accomplishments thus far of Oklahoma State cornerback Martel Van Zant… who is deaf? The six-one, 210-pound defensive stalwart will be a starter, for the second consecutive year, with National Football League scouts aplenty watching and salivating until the season is over and preparations for the NFL draft begin.
There are a thousand possible roadblocks on the football field for Van Zant, but crowd noise is not one of them… he just doesn’t hear it. Martel’s mother contracted chicken pox when she was pregnant with him; the result was the infant’s loss of hear-
Footloose and...
By Jules W. Rabin
ing. Oklahoma State was fortunate in recruiting Van Zant as other schools were not anxious to take on the obvious headaches of teaching and working with a deaf defender.
The Pokes’ assistant coach Les Miles has a deaf brother, and Miles’ thorough knowledge of American Sign Language loomed large on the recruiting scene. Van Zant’s biggest game time problem is
being able to gauge when the referee’s whistle blows for play stoppage.
“I have to watch other players and wait for them to stop moving,” Van Zant said. “I also have to wait for the receiver to move.”
Amazingly, during the entire 2006 season, Van Zant did not have a single “late hit” call against him. Oklahoma State opens its 2007 season against the Georgia Bulldogs, which brings a mighty test of how their season will go.
“I won’t be affected by the big crowd,” Van Zant said. “I can focus on what’s happening on the field. But when the crowd gets really loud, I can feel the vibrations.”
Arena Back To Committee
continued from page 1A sonally am looking to delay or torpedo Stadium Jumping,” Cohen said. “I think this village owes it to the entire community and all the equestrians to get it right.”
Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto said the terms set forth in the amendment were too far-reaching and might produce unintended consequences, such as the possibility of a property reverting to a large amount of commercial uses if a show held there moves on. She also urged sending it back through the committee process and incorporating a stakeholders meeting, but noted that various equestrian interests in Wellington are mired in lawsuits against one another.
“There has to be a caveat that the stakeholders will participate,” Benacquisto said. “It’s quite an opportunity to have all the stakeholders in one room. It would be a tremendous thing if the entities involved come to some agreement themselves.”
Benacquisto was sharply critical of all the infighting that has kept Wellington’s equestrian community in the news over the past year.
“When we talk about Wellington being the capital of the equestrian world, you need to support each other, instead of trying to fight each other all the time. Maybe I’m an idealistic person,” she said. “The amount of money being spent on the suits in this room is staggering. You all want to be successful. You want the other entities to be successful and figure out a way to make a difference in this community in a positive way. That’s a challenge from this council to you all.”
Vice Mayor Bob Margolis also said he supported returning the amendment to the committees, and workshopping the issue if necessary. He said he shared the confusion of others regarding the amendment’s review schedule, and that further review and discussion would allay suspicions of a perceived conspiracy to push the item through.
“I think we should go back to workshop,” Margolis said. “I don’t want to do anything to hamper Stadium Jumping’s ability to stay in Wellington, but I think we need to push this back to workshop. We need to wait until the equestrians come back into town. Let’s set up a stakeholder’s meeting and see if we can have a meeting of the minds. At least 90 percent of our residents are non-equestrians, but almost everyone I’ve talked to wants this to remain an equestrian community.”
Mayor Tom Wenham also supported sending the ordinance back through the committee process.
“To have a turnout like this on this topic in the summer shows the interest in this community and the equestrian part of it,” Wenham said. “We
acted a little fast. I should be turned back to them. There are a number of people on the equestrian committee, and one of my members spoke to me this evening. I support it going back and coming back to this council.”
Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore also supported the ordinance going back for further review, and said he shared Benacquisto’s worries. Deed restrictions, he said, might be a good option to provide more control of land usage.
While he supported sending the arena ordinance back to committee, he noted that it would not affect Stadium Jumping’s application due for council review on Aug. 28.
“Absent what we discuss or pass or push this back,” Priore said, “we will take up their issue on the 28th. It’s not going to affect this item on the 28th agenda. I would concur and agree we should send it back.”
Members of the public spoke both for and against the measure.
“I have concerns about this piece of legislation,” said Dan Doorakian, attorney for Mark Bellissimo. “It doesn’t get all the way there. We still have not dealt with the fact that this is a very site-specific piece of legislation. The village can accomplish what it wants to do without an entirely new piece of legislation. They can do that through a more limited piece of legislation or through a developer’s agreement.”
Ronnie Beard, a 25-year Wellington resident and equestrian activist, supported the new rules.
“I feel it’s very important to move forward with this,” Beard said. “This community has undergone many changes. I came here 25 years ago. People complained about the move from South Shore to the new showgrounds. I think it’s time for the change. This community has a chance to become a most important asset to the equestrian community throughout the world. We need this facility, and we need it soon.”
Equestrian Committee Member Victoria McCullough asserted that slowing down implementation of the new rules will not adversely affect Stadium Jumping’s new facility.
“Let us consider this carefully and take our time,” McCullough said. “It will not impede Stadium Jumping’s progress. That’s not our intention. You need to give us the time, and we need to have another workshop, and let our fellow equestrians have the opportunity to review it.”
Dave Burton Sr., owner of Littlewood Farms, said the proposed ordinance is inconsistent with Wellington’s comprehensive plan, which mandated Burton apply for a comp plan amendment when he wished to build a much smaller facility.
Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz noted that part of the disagreement is that some have suggested Stadium Jumping’s new show grounds must go through a full comprehensive plan review, while
it is the opinion of village staff that the expanded review process is not necessary.
He said that while Cohen suggested Stadium Jumping should be treated the same way as Littlewood Farms with respect to the comprehensive plan process, he had not heard the same support from other council members.
“There is a pending conditional use application that is due to come before you on Aug. 28,” Kurtz said. “You will review it in light of the existing ordinance. You will review it as a conditional use application. It’s staff’s current position that it is consistent with our comprehensive plan process. With respect to the stakeholders, if you go ahead and do that, the action with Stadium Jumping and Everglades Equestrian Partners would have taken place on or about Aug. 28. They will not be subject to this ordinance.”
Cohen said she thought staff’s interpretation a bit of a stretch, and she was concerned that a large project such as that of Stadium Jumping would come to council as a conditional use. Perhaps,
Fees
Wellington
‘Passport’
continued from page 1A fle ball tournament and spring fling.
To reduce costs in the village’s Planning, Zoning & Building Department, Schofield proposed sharp fee increases for “those who work for profit, the developers.”
“We have often provided very expensive services at almost no cost for developers,” Schofield said. “Now developers will pay for the hours our people use to check their work. The fees range from $50 to $175 an hour, and we estimate will cover 65 percent of the cost
she considered, the council ought to pass the ordinance on first reading and then work at fixing it through the committee process. “I’m not saying Stadium Jumping is not a great thing,” Cohen said. “[But] I feel like this is being put over on us. It’s being passed before we’ve had a legitimate policy discussion as a council on whether it’s appropriate. That’s the complaint. If the only mechanism to slow it down and take a look at it is to pass it on first reading, maybe we should. I agree there are a lot of problems with it. To not pass it would be to approve Stadium Jumping’s application as a conditional use.”
Cohen’s motion to approve first reading and then send it back for committee review died for lack of a second. Benacquisto made an alternative motion to send the ordinance back for committee review, and include the input of stakeholders and other interested parties, and also a workshop to be scheduled when the majority of the equestrian community is in town. Vice Mayor Bob Margolis seconded the motion, which passed 4-1 with Cohen opposed.
of our work. That will allow us to free up some money that we would normally pay in expenses so we could use it to cover costs in other departments.”
Schofield noted that the overall value of property in the village has declined for the first time in memory. Further, he said, demographic experts say the village’s population also declined. Both would put pressure on the village’s budget, he said.
Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto asked whether the average resident would also face an increase in fees in the department. Schofield replied there would be no new fees for residents unless a variance or change in easements is requested.
DUI Arrests In Royal Palm, Credit Card Fraud In Wellington
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
AUG. 13 — A pair of Wellington men were arrested in Polo Chase after being caught with open containers of alcohol in public last Monday. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington observed 19-year-old Darien Sinanan and 21-year-old John Martin drinking beer at approximately 12:55 p.m. Sinanan was additionally charged
CRIME NEWS CRIME NEWS
with possession of alcohol by a person under 21.
AUG. 14 — A Wellington man was arrested last Tuesday for shoplifting at the Kmart store on Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, a Kmart security officer observed 22-year-old Moses Dantica stuff two CDs in his waistband at approximately 6:30 p.m. After witnessing Dantica leave the store without paying
Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives:
• Stuart Barnes is a white male, 6’2” tall and weighing 160 lbs. with blond hair and blue eyes. His date of birth is 09/14/78. He has tattoos on both legs. Barnes is wanted for failure to appear in court on the charge of driving while license revoked (habitual). His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Barnes is wanted as of 08/23/07.
• Alejandro Guzman-Duvant is a white male, 5’11” tall and weighing 165 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 06/14/ 85. Guzman-Duvant is wanted for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing bodily harm. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Kensington Way in Wellington. Guzman-Duvant is wanted as of 08/23/07. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crime stopperspbc.com.
THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHICH IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
for the merchandise, the officer detained Dantica until a deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach arrived. Dantica wrote a sworn confession, according to the report. The property was returned to the store. Dantica was arrested and given a notice to appear in court.
AUG. 15 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to the Famous Footwear store on State Road 7 last Wednesday in reference to a retail theft. Ac-
cording to a PBSO report, the deputy met with a store employee, who said she observed 18year-old Sandi Barnard of West Palm Beach select a child’s pair of K-Swiss shoes, remove them from the box and place them inside a white purse at approximately 11:30 a.m. The employee further witnessed Barnard exit the store without attempting to purchase the shoes. A second witness observed the theft as well, according to the report. When the deputy later made contact with Barnard at a nearby store, she no longer had the shoes in her purse and denied stealing them. The witnesses provided sworn statements. Barnard was arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.
AUG. 16 — A PBSO alert for a reckless driver in Royal Palm Beach led to the DUI arrest of an Acreage man last Thursday. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the RPB substation observed a Dodge Ram driven by 22-year-old Devanard Singh of The Acreage speeding and driving erratically northbound on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. from Okeechobee Blvd. at approximately 1:40 a.m. The deputy noted that Singh’s vehicle accelerated to 72 mph in a 35-mph zone and swerved into another traffic lane approximately five times. When the deputy made a traffic stop, he noted that Singh swayed from side to side while undergoing a series of roadside sobriety tasks, according to the report. He was arrested and given two breath tests, which came back with blood alcohol reading of .190
and .194. Singh was transported to the county jail.
AUG. 17 — A Pahokee woman was arrested on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and criminal use of personal information at the Walgreens store on Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington last Friday. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 1:30 p.m., 22-year-old Sharma Young confessed to knowingly using a coworker’s credit card without authorization. Young was arrested and transported to the county jail.
AUG. 17 — A Lake Worth man was arrested on charges of grand theft and scheming to defraud at the Nordstrom department store in the Mall at Wellington Green last Friday. According to a PBSO report, 20-year-old Gregory Williams was arrested after he confessed to using customers’ credit cards to buy merchandise. According to the report, Williams confessed to a deputy and was transported to the county jail.
AUG. 18 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence last Saturday on Southern Blvd. According to a PBSO report, 61-year-old Pompeyo Lopez struck a van while traveling westbound on Southern Blvd. near Crestwood Blvd. at approximately 11:40 p.m. The front of Lopez’s vehicle was underneath the van’s rear bumper when the deputy stopped him, according to the report. The deputy noted that Lopez was slow to respond to questioning and he called in Palm See BLOTTER, page 7A
Alejandro Guzman-Duvant
Stuart Barnes
Loxahatchee Groves Council Seeking Strict Code Of Ethics
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Loxahatchee Groves Town Council members are considering two different codes of ethics to use as models for adopting their own code.
At a meeting Tuesday night, Interim Town Attorney David Tolces asked for council input on versions from the cities of Coral Springs and West Palm Beach. Tolces said the Coral Springs’ code allows for theoretical statements regarding ethics and how to be ethical, whereas the West Palm Beach code mirrors the Florida statutes.
Of the two proposed versions, Councilman Dr. Bill Louda said he favored Coral Springs’ version. Also, in light of recent scandals involving West Palm Beach city commissioners and Palm Beach County commissioners, Louda suggested language in the code that prohibits council members from meeting with developers privately. The only way a developer could make a presentation would be at a public meeting, Louda said.
“There should be no behindthe-doors clauses,” he said. “I don’t want to see anyone work with anyone who has any business coming before council except in a fully advertised meeting.”
Town Clerk Matt Lippman said developers or their representatives are encouraged to come to the office and speak to him or staff, who would listen but not offer support and would tell the applicant if the application would have to come before the council.
“That’s different than meeting with them,” Lippman said. “One of the things you might want to add is potential applications as well.”
Council members also took the first step Tuesday in changing the county’s Unified Land
Development Code and Code of Ordinances for town purposes.
They approved the first reading of an ordinance that would replace “Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners” with “the Town of Loxahatchee Groves” in both documents for town purposes. Tolces said the replacement language would clarify misinterpretations of enforcing the code of ordinances and ULDC for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. The second reading will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
“The town council and not the board of county commissioners is the entity in the code of ordinances and the land development regulations,” Tolces said. “The charter does provide for language that states that the town council shall act instead of the board of county commissioners. Just in case someone says you don’t have the authority, you have the authority to do so.”
Louda made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Councilman Dennis Lipp. It passed unanimously 5-0. In other business:
• Lippman asked for approval of a draft of the town’s meeting policies and procedures. As proposed, it is similar to the policy for the county commission. It allots three minutes for each member of the public, with the mayor allotting more time if he feels it is appropriate.
The policy sets the format to submit information and fill out a comment card. It also requires speakers to act in a professional manner when speaking to members of the council. Any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks to council members would be barred from speaking in the future unless permission is granted by a majority of the council.
Councilman Dave Autrey asked if cards could be submit-
ted while an item is under discussion. “Sometimes when you go to a meeting and look at the agenda,” Autrey said. “Once the meeting is going on, something comes up. You might want to address something. Do the comment cards allow for filling out as the meeting progresses?”
Lippman said that the cards could be filled out while the meeting takes place, but once an agenda item passed, it would not be appropriate for someone to make a comment on an issue until the public comment portion at the end of the meeting.
• The council also approved the hiring of a planning service to process the land use amendment to provide for one dwelling unit per five acres as opposed to the existing one-in-ten rule.
Calvin, Giordano & Associates Vice President Shelley Eichner had submitted a proposal for $4,260, which would cover all phases of the comprehensive plan amendment process, including legal description, letter of transmittal, local government information, application site description, existing and proposed uses, analysis of public facilities and services, analysis of natural and historic resources, land use compatibility, hurricane evacuation analysis, redevelopment analysis, intergovernmental coordination consistent with county plans and programs, population projections and other documents.
The costs would include the application and reanalysis process, traffic analysis, mapping, graphics and legal costs, as well as the public hearings process.
Louda made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Vice Mayor Marge Herzog. It passed unanimously 5-0.
• The council decided to readvertise for proposals to write the town’s comprehensive plan.
See COUNCIL, page 42A
Mahoney To Speak At Wellington Chamber Lunch
Congressman Tim Mahoney will be the guest speaker at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 12 noon at the Players Club in Wellington. National City will sponsor the event.
RPB Art Festival This Saturday
The Village of Royal Palm Beach will hold its Second Annual Summer Art Festival at Veterans Park on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The village will also present certificates to its Student Art Contest winners at 11 a.m. Veterans Park is located a quarter mile south of Okeechobee Blvd. on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more information, call (561) 790-5149.
Peace Vigil At Mall Aug. 28
A “Stand for Peace in September” vigil will be held in front of the Mall at Wellington Green at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and State Road 7 on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Participants are asked not to park close to businesses. Participants are also asked to bring positive signs supporting peace. Candles and some signs will be available.
The purpose of the vigil is to tell members of Congress that their constituents are counting on them to vote to end the war. This September, the White House is going to issue its longawaited report on whether the “surge” is working. Then Congress will vote on war policy for the next year. The vigil is being sponsored by MoveOn.org and the Palm Beach County Peace & Justice Coalition.
Race For Retired Greyhounds
Greyhound Pets of America FL / SE Coast Chapter will hold its first Race/Walk for the Retired Racing Greyhounds, sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Micanopy Pavilion at Okeeheelee Park.
Sign up will be at 7 a.m. Races start at 8 a.m. Early registration is available through Sept. 20. Six-foot vendor tables are available for $50.
Events will include a 5K race for men and women, a 5K walk, and a one-mile family/dog fun walk. The price for early sign up is $20 if received by Sept. 20 and $25 from Sept. 21 through race day. Family fee for the one-mile walk is $20. The registration fee entitles an individual or family to one goodie bag, T-shirt, subscription to BocaDog magazine and a light breakfast. Well-behaved, leashed dogs of all breeds are welcome.
Awards and prizes will be given out and raffles and contests will be held. Other activities include face painting, a clown and blessing of the animals. Low-cost microchipping will be available. Pet-related vendors will be on hand, as will many greyhounds to pet and adopt. Also featured will be Finnegan, the PBSO mascot; Clue, a PBSO bloodhound demonstration; and a K-9 officer who will present a demonstration.
All proceeds benefit Greyhound Pets of America FL/SE Coast Chapter. For more info., call Barbara Masi at (561) 737-1941 or e-mail BarbaraMasi@comcast.net.
Blotter
continued from page 6A Beach County Fire-Rescue personnel to check Lopez for medical problems; he was checked and cleared. During a series of roadside sobriety tasks, Lopez appeared to be confused and swayed from side to side, according to report. He failed to successfully complete some tasks and refused a breath test.
“We are very enthusiastic to sponsor this luncheon,” said Tensy Caine, National City’s district sales executive. “National City is committed to finding financial solutions for small businesses and to addressing the many varied interests of our western communities.”
The cost to attend the luncheon is $ 15 for chamber members and $25 for non-members. RSVP by calling the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at (561) 792-6525.
Congressman Mahoney was sworn into office on Jan. 4, 2007 to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District. He currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and is the only Florida representative serving on the House Agriculture Committee. Tim is a member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, a select group of representatives focused on restoring fiscal responsibility to Congress. He also belongs to the New Democrat Coalition, a moderate group of representatives focused on economic growth, national security, personal responsibility and technological development.
AUG. 19 — A Wellington juvenile was arrested after being caught with marijuana while on probation last Sunday. According to a PBSO report, when a deputy from the substation in Wellington made contact with the juvenile at approximately 11:05 p.m., he tossed the marijuana that was in his possession. The juvenile was additionally charged with violation of probation and introducing marijua-
na into a detention facility. He was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
AUG. 21 — An employee of the Macy’s department store at the Mall at Wellington Green was arrested and charged with larceny on Tuesday. According to a PBSO report, 18-year-old Christian Vinson of West Palm Beach was arrested at approximately 11:15 p.m. for stealing $1,980 from the store.
Congressman Tim Mahoney
Property Taxes The Main Topic At League Of Cities Conference
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
Not surprisingly, the majority of the talk at the Florida League of Cities’ annual conference dealt with tax reform. But the conference — which took place Aug. 16-18 at the Marriott World Center Resort in Orlando — was also a “welcome aboard” opportunity for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. League members passed a resolution honoring Loxahatchee Groves as the state’s 412th municipality.
“That was outstanding for me and for Loxahatchee Groves,” Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog said. “It was interesting to see all the representatives on the state level who are from Palm Beach County. I didn’t realize there were so many.”
Most of the representatives, as well those from other parts of the state, had one thing in mind in Orlando — the twopronged property tax reform bill the Florida Legislature passed in June. For years Florida municipalities operated under “need to do” and “nice to do” premises. The “need to do” included the basic services to citizens such as police, fire and utilities. The “nice to do” included such things as parks and community sponsored athletics programs and holiday celebrations.
But with the legislature’s passage of the rollback package, few if any municipalities and counties have much to celebrate. Such was the mood in Orlando.
More than 1,000 of Florida’s city and county leaders attended the educational workshops and seminars, listened to speeches from U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, and also heard state officials’ thoughts on the new tax package.
“Certainly you have to take a much harder look at what type of community you’re going to have,” Royal Palm Beach Mayor David Lodwick said. “Right now, for the most part, we’re able to continue business as usual. But if the residents vote for further cuts in January, you’re going to see a dramatically different community. The level of service has to decline, and fees will have to go up. You just can’t shake your head and look the other way. You’re going to have to make decisions on what is important and what isn’t.”
Lodwick said Royal Palm Beach residents will feel “very little difference” in the 2007-08 budget the village is expected to approve next month. “We are continuing our trend. We have been reducing taxes every year,” Lodwick said.
In addition to Lodwick, another familiar face from Royal Palm Beach was in attendance — former councilwoman Carmela Starace, who attended the conference as a past president of the Florida League of Cities.
“It was good to see all the people there lobbying for the cities,” Starace told the TownCrier from her current home in New York City, where she is a
real estate broker. “The people who were there were very well informed and attentive.”
Starace said that despite the distance in terms of miles, she still keeps up with happenings in Royal Palm Beach.
“I still talk to [Royal Palm Beach Councilman] Matty Mattioli,” she said. “I had a great 17 years in Royal Palm Beach, but I’ve moved on with my life. I’m very happy.”
Other municipalities that haven’t had the fiscal flexibility as Royal Palm Beach could get hit hard by the tax rollback, which calls for tax rates to be reduced to last year’s level, with further cuts based on each local government’s past property tax increases. The package also calls for property owners to receive tax cuts of five to ten percent.
“You can understand that the majority of the conference was dedicated to those discussions,” said Wellington Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore, who was elected the league’s first vice president, meaning he is in line to become president.
The major role of the Florida League of Cities in the rollback issue, Priore said, is to take the position of the 412 cities throughout the state, go to the legislature and speak as one voice. “We’re all going to work very hard, and I believe we can accomplish our goal in getting to the mandated rates because the residents of the State of Florida have summarily said, ‘we’re hurting from taxes and insurance,’” Priore said.
It’s not the state’s residents as whole who are hurting, Priore said, but a specific group of residents who have “suffered an inequity” as a result of Save Our Homes amendment passed by voters in 1992.
The amendment limits the amount of value a homestead property could increase on the tax rolls each year. The law limits value increases to three percent.
“People who have been in homes for a considerable period of time are not complaining,” Priore said. “The people who are complaining loud and clear
are the people who have moved into their homes within the past three years and have been assessed at a very high rate because that was the value of the property when they moved in. If you bought your home in 1992 when Save Our Homes was instituted and you’re still living in it, you’re paying a very small tax rate in comparison to someone who bought a comparable valued home in today’s market. That’s where we’re hearing a great deal of the complaints.” Florida residents will vote whether to keep or change the tax structure next January.
League Of Cities Convention — Wellington Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore and Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog at the Florida League of Cities annual conference in Orlando.
PHOTO COURTESY MARGE HERZOG
PBSO To Motorists: Drive Safely, Slowly In School Zones
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
School is back in session, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will be out vigilantly enforcing the traffic laws.
That was the message laid out by PBSO officials on Friday, Aug. 17 at Palms West Hospital. It was the kickoff of a new traffic enforcement program called “Operation Safe Zones.”
“We want to start off the school year with a good head start, so people don’t end up in a hospital like Palms West,” PBSO Lt. William Bruckner said.
“We’re concerned not just for the students, but for the school teachers, crossing guards and moms.”
The objectives of Operation Safe Zones are to enforce speed laws, educate children about the importance of wearing helmets and enforcing helmet laws, enforce child restraint/seatbelt laws and enforce all traffic laws near or within school zones.
The PBSO aims to reach these goals through proactive patrols applying zero-tolerance traffic enforcement.
Unfortunately, when drivers ignore school zones and exceed posted speeds, children are at risk and vulnerable to injury, Bruckner said.
“It’s a combination of not just speeders, but it will also be people failing to stop for school crossing guards and people discharging passengers on roadways when they are not supposed to,” he said. “We’re particularly concerned about mak-
ing sure children wear their bike helmets and get across the street properly and safely.”
Wellington (PBSO District 8) and Royal Palm Beach (PBSO District 9) school sites will receive enhanced enforcement for the first two weeks of school, with periodic school zone enforcement during the remainder of the school year. Both arrival and departure times will receive traffic enforcement. Specific deputies and motorcycle officers have been assigned to the operation.
Besides traffic enforcement at speed zones, deputies will randomly set up speed trailers to monitor and advise motorists of their speed while driving through speed zones. Message boards will be displayed at hightraffic areas to inform the driving public that school is back in session.
Bruckner said that the selective enforcement is targeting Wellington and Royal Palm Beach because of the substantial recent growth in both communities, and with that growth came increased traffic on the roadways.
“There will be several other enforcement operations throughout the county, but we are focusing in these two local communities because there are over 14 schools in these two communities,” he said. “There is a high volume of traffic out here.”
Bruckner said the PBSO has been doing this type of enforcement since 1999, and what they had learned is that people, espe-
cially parents who are dropping their kids off for the first time, are nervous and excited during the first two weeks of school. This year’s selective enforcement, he said, is bigger than prior years’ activities because the PBSO wants people to know and be more aware of the speed zones around schools.
“We’re trying to get more public awareness,” Bruckner said. “That’s why we are doing the event today. We want to make people aware of it. We are also finding that people are very impatient the first couple of days of school. We want them to slow down a bit. We need them to take that extra 10 to 15 minutes. Perhaps they should leave a bit earlier.”
Bruckner noted that the goal is not punishment, but educa-
tion. Nevertheless, fines will be doubled for people caught speeding within a school zone.
“The first two or three days will be more of an educational time,” Bruckner said. “It will depend upon the particular violation. Someone who is doing 15, 20, 25 miles per hour over the speed limit in the school zone will get a traffic citation.”
With the strict enforcement of the bicycle helmet law, the PBSO will be targeting youngsters who are not wearing a helmet properly — and it could get mom or dad in court.
“The public awareness and education is what we are focusing on,” Bruckner said. “Unfortunately, some people disregard every effort we do, so we have to take some enforcement action.”
(Above) A contingent of motorcycle and traffic officers were present at Palms West Hospital for the press conference last Friday morning. (Below) PBSO Lt. William Bruckner speaks to reporters.
Groves Councilman Named To County’s Land Use Advisory Board
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Dennis Lipp’s appointment to the Land Use Advisory Board by County Commissioner Jess Santamaria this Tuesday was no random selection.
Lipp, a member of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council, said he has made it clear that he is against heavy growth and additional density in his town or the nearby area. The catalyst for his appointment, Lipp said, was probably his outspoken opposition to the proposed CalleryJudge Grove development, which would have put 10,000 homes and several million square feet of non-residential use on what is currently a 4,000acre citrus grove.
“I certainly wasn’t low profile,” Lipp said Wednesday.
And his philosophy is broader
than the Callery-Judge decision, extending out to include Palm Beach Aggregates, GL Homes and other developments proposed for the western communities with many times the intensity of use called for in the proposed Central Western Communities Sector Plan.
“Jess and I are on exactly the same page on this point,” Lipp said. “This is what’s allowed and [developers should] find a way to build it that way. If you don’t want to build it that way, don’t buy it.”
The Callery-Judge project received divided approval by the LUAB, but was subsequently rejected in May by the county commission.
Lipp said he feels that any dealings that had the mark of disgraced former county commissioner Tony Masilotti should be reviewed. Masilotti is cur-
rently serving time for his role in two real estate schemes. “We should just roll it all back,” Lipp said. “Any of the land dealings tainted by the Masilotti touch need to be revisited. The same with [disgraced county commissioner Warren] Newell.”
At lunch Tuesday with Santamaria, Lipp said they talked about how people are getting more involved, and more intolerant of backroom deals.
“It’s a new day in Florida,” Lipp said, adding that the sentiment is spreading to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, which also recommended approval of the Callery-Judge project. Lipp referred to the DCA as part of “the good ol’ boy network.”
Lipp, who was on hand for his appointment Tuesday, said he was intrigued that County Commissioner Jeff Koons com-
mented that the number of members on the LUAB might be reduced from 14 to seven and is destined to take on a new role as some municipalities approach the board for direction on redevelopment projects.
“Jess commented to me, ‘get used to 60-hour weeks without pay,’” Lipp said.
Lipp said he expects development to get more expensive as the county reaches buildout, relating it to a personal experience he has had in the Florida Keys.
“I have been looking at property in the Keys almost 20 years,” he said. “The Keys look like the Keys did 20 years ago. They don’t have any more dirt. If you want to build on vacant land, there’s things you have to go through for points. It’s like buying land and donating it back to the county.”
Lipp said a five-acre piece of
land he was considering building on would have cost him about as much again in permitting as what he paid for it originally. The cost of infrastructure was what “shown a bright light of
See LIPP, page 42A
School Police Detective: Local Gang Problem Is A Real Threat
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
Detective Stephen Santos of the Palm Beach County School District Police Department told a fascinated crowd at Tuesday’s Acreage Landowners’ Association meeting that there are many gang members living in the western communities, although they have, to date, confined their activities to areas far from where they live.
“They generally go in to the city [West Palm Beach] or out to the Glades,” Santos said. “But they recruit out here, and they
are active. But most of the members out here keep the violence away. Most violence takes place east of Jog Road.”
Smith is part of a task force that works in schools but coordinates with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’ve gotten great support from Superintendent [Dr. Art] Johnson and the school board,” Santos said. “They have taken the first step; they recognize the problem. Now we go out and work to keep the schools safe.”
There are no real local gangs in the western communities, he said. “In places like Riviera
Beach, we see local gangs, which are usually set up to protect drug deals,” Santos explained. “But that does not happen out here.”
In the western communities the real problem, he said, comes from the national gangs. “The big gangs like the Black Gangster Disciples, the Latin Kings or Sur 13 recruit heavily,” Santos said. “The OGs [old guys] of the gang have often moved out here because their parents wanted to get away from the violence, and the first thing that happens is they begin to recruit.” Santos warned that many stu-
dents who assume the “gang look” are not really gang members. “But it is important for parents to know that their child understands and may be sympathetic to the gang lifestyle,” he said. “Many students know all about the gangs and sometimes hang out with gang members.”
The worst thing a parent can do is to be in total denial. “Don’t ever say, ‘it’s not my kid,’” Santos warned. “If we call you, listen. There are many gang wannabees and they hang out with gang members. They are also the ones most likely to get into
trouble. The old-time gang members have learned to limit any violence they do and stay out of the way of the law. The associates, like kids who want to join, are the violent ones; the ones who take shots at the police.”
Santos pointed out that the best way to prevent a child from joining a gang is to spend quality time with him (or her).
“When you’re away a lot, even if it’s because you’re working hard,” he said, “your child forms associations with gang members. Kids in this situation
Councilman Dennis Lipp
Loxahatchee Groves Council Ponders Project Moratorium
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Two development requests had an unintended consequence at Tuesday’s Loxahatchee Groves Town Council meeting, resulting in a council member’s proposal for a moratorium on projects until town officials get their bearings.
The developers, one proposing a church with some commercial uses and the other pushing to build a communications tower, still need to go through county permitting first, but said they wanted to get the feeling of the town council beforehand.
But the proposals led Councilman Dave Autrey to suggest a moratorium be enacted so the new town would not get overloaded with applications from developers who thought it was “open season” now that the community has incorporated. The town is still in the early stages of developing its zoning regulations and comprehensive plan.
Because the county had not yet rendered a decision on either application, Town Clerk Matt Lippman and Town Attorney David Tolces noted that the presentations were informational only and the council could not render a decision until after the developers met with the appropriate county agencies.
Michael Haggerty and Woodie Williams of Dynamic Towers, along with David DeYoung of the planning firms KimleyHorn & Associates, proposed a
125-foot “stealth” cell phone tower on A Road north of Okeechobee Blvd. at the Plant Factory. Haggerty said that Dynamic Towers had spoken to several cellular carriers who were willing to be a part of the project, which would fill in a “hole” where cellular service is lacking.
“We go out into an area and look at a spot that has some diminishing coverage,” Haggerty said. “Then we go to the carriers and talk about their plans for a new antenna facility. We are in this area. We have found a willing landlord.”
While Councilman Dennis Lipp expressed concerns about the location, Haggerty said the Plant Factory site works best.
“This spot was picked,” Haggerty said, “because it has a better line of sight along Okeechobee Blvd. than other sites. I also had been a customer of the Plant Factory when I was landscaping my yard. I thought it would be a great site. Hopefully, any issues with the Plant Factory will be resolved.”
DeYoung said they had come to the town council as a courtesy before their presentation to the county. “We wanted to make sure you are aware that this is in the process. We didn’t want to submit something and you not be aware of it,” he said. When the application goes through the development review process, Lippman said he would be there to represent the town. He suggested the other council members provide him with comments as well, which he
would present to county staff. Lipp said the applicant planned to submit its application to the county in mid-September and should be considered in early October.
Looking at the design, Mayor David Browning said he expected something “a bit more stealth.” Haggerty promised to work with the town to design whatever would be suitable for Loxahatchee Groves. “You might have an idea of what you would like, and the designs would change,” Haggerty said. “It’s not very intrusive because of the size and location.”
Autrey asked if the tower could be made to look like a pine tree, and Haggerty said that was possible.
The second proposal came from Bishop Roy Glover of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in West Palm Beach and a member of the Jesus Christ Worldwide Christian Center, whose team is considering the construction of a large church facility at B Road and Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves.
With Glover were Project Consultant Steve Siebert and Ronald Davis, senior vice president of Hardie Industries, who proposed a project consisting of a large church, a retail complex and offices. It is designed to attract the faithful from far and wide to religious-themed functions.
Glover said the project could generate millions of dollars in revenue for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves, adding that the town could locate its town hall
and other facilities in the complex if it so chose.
“We would be willing to work with this town council on the conceptions and concerns and issues,” Glover said. “You would be responsible for taking care of the utilities.”
Siebert, who is a project consultant with Ohio-based Cogun, which has built church facilities throughout the United States, said that among the reasons why this site was desirable was that it has easy access to Palm Beach International Airport.
Siebert said the Jesus Christ Worldwide Christian Center would be a site that would host international and weeklong conferences, and the parcel along Southern Blvd. would be a good fit. Siebert said that his client would work with the town to design an appropriately rural facility, but needed feedback from the council before proceeding.
“I would like to have you consider it,” Siebert said. “If you are not, we are looking for a fast and quick no.”
Davis agreed that a large component of the process would require input from town residents and that the Jesus Christ Worldwide Christian Center would do whatever it could to be a good neighbor in the community, adding that the project would also serve as a good revenue and job generator for the new community.
“A project of this magnitude would require a lot of input,” Davis said. “We feel confident this would go somewhere. This
place would be our preference. We are looking forward to having a dialogue with you. We will have a lot of interaction with the town manager and staff.”
Lippman suggested that representatives of the project speak with the county first.
“This is not the forum to make presentations,” Lippman said. “This is a process you need to start with the county.”
Siebert said that the applicant could not start anything with the county until they had proper control of the property, which they felt meant working with the local community first.
Interim Town Attorney David Tolces agreed the town does not have the legal standing to give anything to the applicant as far as control over the parcel of land and suggested the applicant go to the county’s Planning, Zoning & Building Department first.
Councilman Dr. Bill Louda and Vice Mayor Marge Herzog suggested the applicant go to the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association first for conceptual approval.
But Browning said he shared the applicant’s frustration. “They are coming forward in an honorable way,” he said.
B Road resident Joan Shewmake said the design being proposed does not look like it fits into the community. “That is a very nice design,” Shewmake said. “If you look at the bottom picture, it looks like it will do well in New Mexico. They have no idea what our design stanSee GROVES, page 42A
Appraiser’s Office: Complain To The Taxing Authorities, Not Us
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
If you feel your taxes are too high, complain to the taxing authorities — that was the message of Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office representative John Thomas on Tuesday.
Thomas, assistant director of the Residential Appraisal Department, spoke at a meeting of the Acreage Rotary Club at Sneaky Pete’s restaurant in the Grove
(Winn-Dixie) Plaza. “People come to our office without realizing that our office has very little to do with the amount of taxes they pay,” Thomas said. “That’s done by political leaders.”
This week, the Property Appraiser’s Office sent out its annual notice of proposed property taxes to homeowners. Consequently, this is the time of year that complaints to the office are at a high.
People come in convinced that the appraiser is the one who has decided on
increased taxes. “When you look at your TRIM (Truth in Millage) rates, which you should be getting just about at this time in the mail,” Thomas said, “you should understand that the only thing our office does is fill in the four small squares listing the market value of your home, its assessed value, any exemptions you receive, and then the taxable value of the home. Everything else on the page is the work of other people.”
Thomas said that the market value is
designated using a statistical approach that takes into account all sales of similar houses for the previous year. “People should keep in mind that our numbers are based on prices as of Jan. 1 of each year,” he said. “So even though prices have gone down this past year, the value will not have gone down as much. However, next year’s rate will likely be lower unless the market for houses goes up.”
The difference between the market
See APPRAISER, page 42A
Trailways Committee Begins Scoping Out More Equestrian Trails
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
The Indian Trail Improvement District Trailways Committee on Monday began the process of creating more equestrian trails in The Acreage.
Several members of the committee reported driving around the community looking for areas that already have paths that could be rehabilitated into horse trails at little cost.
ITID Operations Director Terry Narrow told the committee that most of the signs are already up on the existing Eastern Equestrian Trail, which runs from Hamlin Park south on Grapeview Blvd. with a small jog east on Tangerine Blvd., south again on 143rd Street North, east on 60th Street North, and then south on 130th Trail North, eventually ending at the Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area.
“The basic signage is in place,” Narrow said. “Now we just need to put in a few directional signs at intersections where people have to change streets.”
Committee members Deborah Knapp and Chris Kooienga suggested more small trail signs be placed on the road so that riders are more aware of the path in between the larger signs at major intersections.
The board heard from ITID President
Michelle Damone that the district has approved trailer parking on 140th Avenue North at Acreage Community Park. Narrow promised he would soon have signs in place clearly reserving the area for horse trailers.
The committee agreed to create a set of standards for equestrian signs. Damone promised that as soon as the committee finishes its work, she would ensure that the district works with its lawyers to verify the standards and adopt the new sign regulations.
Vice Chair Celeste Hathhorn, who is president of the Acreage Horseman’s Association, asked for more “slow” signs because too many drivers are flying past horses at unsafe speeds. Committee Member Helmut Schmitt said that ITID must protect the signs after they go up, asserting that several had been pulled down.
The committee also discussed standards for long-term maintenance of the trails. Current regulations require mowing the trails once a year, although Narrow said his people sometimes do so more often. Damone suggested mowing be done as often as four times a year.
“If we have a drought like this year,” she said, “we don’t need to have it done as often. But we do need to have our policies in writing so we have a standard
to measure performance against.”
ITID Vice President Mike Erickson supported that idea, noting that the district needs “policies, procedures and rules in writing.”
The committee spent much of their meeting discussing Acreage roads that are already horse friendly. Narrow handed out a map showing several trails that could be designated for equestrian or multipurpose use without major reconstruction work. The list included Avocado Blvd. north of Orange Blvd., a section of Hall Blvd. between 60th Place North and the C Canal, Banyan Blvd. between Tangerine Blvd. and the M-O Canal, 162nd Drive North between Harlena Drive and Sycamore Blvd., and small sections of Cheetham Hill Blvd. and 180th Avenue North.
Damone pointed out that the northern part of 130th Trail North is wide open. “Unfortunately, the previous board allowed workers to dump shell rock there, which is a good reason for having set policies in place,” she said. “But we could probably fix it up with a relatively small amount of work.”
Hathhorn supported that idea. “Most of what we would need is signs and mowing,” she said, “and just a bit of work here and there.”
Committee Member Brenda Riol
pointed out that riders could go north on Grapeview past Northlake Blvd. to Tangelo Blvd., and then go west to the M-O Canal out to 190th Street North.
Erickson said that with the right kind of gates, riders could be able to continue along the M-O Canal through the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. “We could probably work with the county for funding for these projects,” he said. “They’re already looking at these kinds of projects.”
Riol pointed out that there is an excellent potential riding loop going along 162nd Trail North west on Sycamore and then riding along the M-2 Canal. Damone noted that the land along the M-2 Canal belongs to the Seminole Improvement District, not ITID, but that the district could speak to the property owners to see if an equestrian trail is possible.
The committee made a motion to request that the ITID board support three immediate expansions of the equestrian trail system: along the M-O Canal, 162nd Drive North and 83rd Street North between Hall and Grapeview, which would connect two parallel equestrian-friendly paths.
The next meeting of the ITID Trailways Committee is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
Firm Hopes To Turn ITID’s Chili Cookoff Into ‘Signature Event’
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 8 to have a private company affiliated with Acreage Landowners’ Association President Robert Trepp produce its annual Indian Palms Chili Cookoff.
Trepp, a partner in Tromsi Inc., told board members that he proposed the change because in the past the cost of the spring event has come from taxpayers, but by allowing his company to organize the event, it would not cost residents a thing.
“Another important reason is to upgrade the event and try to have an event to reach everyone,” Trepp said. “We need a real signature event in The Acreage, and right now we don’t have one.”
Supervisor Carol Jacobs was an enthusiastic supporter of the move. “ITID can’t afford to make this a bigger event,” she said. “He’ll build it up for us.”
Vice President Mike Erickson agreed. “He’ll grow the event, make it better, which is for the community’s good,” Erickson told the Town-Crier. “He’s done a lot for school programs and helped pay for park equipment. The proceeds are an investment so that we can continue fundraising, with more coming in each year.”
President Michelle Damone added that an enhanced chili cookoff will help the community. “I’ll vote for anything that will enhance the community,”
she said. “This will bring in people from all over the area and help bring everyone together.”
After receiving permission from the board, Trepp spoke optimistically about the cookoff’s future. “ITID just took a big step,” he said. “They’ve shown a great deal of faith in us. They’re being proactive, bringing bigger events into the community without asking taxpayers to cover the costs.”
Sofia Rossi, Trepp’s partner in the venture, said her goal is broaden the cookoff’s appeal.
“We need an event that can appeal to people involved in athletics,” Rossi said, “as well as equestrians, music lovers, chili lovers, people who want to spend time with their families or just meet their neighbors for a fun day. People out here are part of their own special interest groups… Here we can help everyone get together.”
Trepp said chilie lovers should expect many upgrades next spring.
“We’re going to hire a concessionaire to provide very good food and beverages for the event,” he said. “We also want to get a group of different types of bands to make sure that everyone will have a good time.”
Trepp promised that there would be a tent on site that would have free booths for local nonprofit groups. He also plans to bring in a broad range of musical groups.
“We’ll get bigger, betterknown groups as we mature,” he said, “but we also want to have our local bands get a chance to be heard.”
“Our default music is country,” Rossi added, “but we’ll have as large a range of music as possible to appeal to as many people and groups in the community as we can.”
Trepp plans to invest the new
company’s money in the event. “We’ve already started the process of hiring a professional promotion company,” he said. “We want people coming to the event, which will again be held at Acreage Community Park, from all over the county. We want people to realize what a great place we have here and why it’s a wonderful place to raise kids and to live.”
Trepp said that he has the support of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, one of the event’s original cofounders. “They’re very pleased to be able to work with the many businesses located in The Acreage and Loxahatchee Groves,” he said. “They want to meet more of the business owners and partner with them to build up the area.”
Trepp does not expect large profits from the cookoff.
“I fully expect to lose money the first year,” he said. “I would be very happy to break even. Over time, I think we will make money. This is an investment, but it will also help build an event that will center on our community.”
For more information about next year’s Indian Palms Chili Cookoff, call Tromsi Inc. at (561) 420-9509.
Groves Resident Offers To Help Keep Town Clean
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Beth Preston wants to clean up the Town of Loxahatchee Groves.
Preston spoke to members of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on Tuesday about volunteering to initiate a cleanup campaign. Preston said she had spoken to other residents who
also are interested, adding that the cleanup could be a component of community service projects undertaken by high school students who need community service hours for graduation. “What better place to do it than in our community?”
Preston asked.
Preston said that the town might be broken up into a grid for easier cleanup.
However, Preston noted that there could be liability issues associated with the cleanup. Specifically, Vice Mayor Marge Herzog, who has run similar cleanups for Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association, had told her that there is likely an umbrella insurance policy that the volunteers could share with either the LGLA or with the Loxahatchee Groves
Water Control District. Councilman Dr. Bill Louda concurred with the liability issues and asked what agency would oversee the coverage. “Is this the landowners’ umbrella,” Louda asked, “or does the town have an umbrella?”
Town Clerk Matt Lippman suggested the cleanup be coordinated through the LGLA. He
See CLEANUP, page 42A
Tromsi Inc. partners Robert Trepp and Sofia Rossi
COPELAND DAVIS BENEFIT A FUN TIME AND A GREAT SUCCESS
A benefit dinner for Copeland Davis was held last Sunday at the center court of the original Wellington Mall. Sponsored by My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust, the event raised money for Davis, an internationally renowned pianist and Royal Palm Beach resident who needs urgent eye surgery that is beyond his means. In addition to Davis — whose Phantom of the Opera medley received a standing ovation — performers included Alfred Obediah Colebrook and Accents 1 & 2, Steve Petrone, Chris Davis, and pastors Ronnie and Glenice Glover of Free Spirit Worship Center. A live auction, silent auction and Chinese auction were held as well. By evening’s end, the event raised approximately $13,650, far surpassing the target goal of $8,000.
Copeland Davis with Royal Palm Beach Councilman Fred Pinto.
Ronnie and Glenice Glover of Free Spirit Worship Center. RPB Vice Mayor David Swift with Al Doc Berwick. Harriet and Neil Spielholz hold up their raffle tickets.
Chris Davis sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” while Copeland Davis plays.
My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust members (front row, L-R): County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, Mark McLean, Dr. Farokh Jiveh, Barry Manning, Randy Pfeiffer, Ron Tomchin and Chris Santamaria; back row: Wes Boughner, Jimmy Matthews, Bruce Easton, Adrienne Ferrin.
Copeland and Mary Davis.
County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, PBC Democratic Party Sergeant-at-Arms Alan Olinsky and RPB Councilman Matty Mattioli.
PHOTOS
If I Went Back To College, There’s Plenty I Could (Re)Learn
All across the nation, kids are heading off to college. I wish I was going. I already have my degree and getting it was a lot of work. This time I want to go for the fun of it. I’ll hang around the student union or sorority house all day, sympathizing with kids who have homework to do while I kick back and watch some TV. I’ll be on hand for all the parties, of course, and maybe even audit a few of the more interesting classes. Yeah, that’s what I’d do.
It occurred to me the other day that the reason I don’t know anything about the world is that I’ve never taken geography. Maybe they taught it in high school the year I was out sick (with what my quack doctor thought was rheumatic fever but turned out to be an allergic reaction to a wasp sting). I’d like to take geography now that I can afford to check out any cool locales in person, though. I’ve seen them in books — maybe I’ll
make sure they’re really there.
I should probably sit through a few science classes, too. Last week I was startled to learn that the moon doesn’t stay out all night. Sometimes it’s completely AWOL. I always got an A or a B in any science classes I took, so I don’t know how this fact slipped through the cracks. All these years, I’ve assumed that if I can’t see the moon, it’s because it’s behind a tree. Now I find out it’s not watching over me at all.
“Where did you get the idea it’s up there all the time?” Mark asked, while doing that annoying simulation with the salt shaker, a cup and my plate again.
“Give me my food,” I grumped. “I suppose I thought it was up there because every picture I’ve ever seen of the nighttime sky has a moon in it. In fact, that’s how I can tell it’s night.
“The darkness doesn’t tip you off?”
“I mean officially night.”
“Oh! Officially! ” he laughed. So maybe I’ll take astronomy again. Another class I’d sign up for would be sculpture. I’ll take out all the aggression I now feel toward the moon using a hammer and chisel on a big chunk of granite. At my university, there was a big pit outside the art building for the sculptors. The noise was deafening. At the time, I had reading to do and the pounding sound was irritating. Now, I’d like to make some noise.
I’d go to all the football games, too. I mean, I went to them all in high school but that was as part of the band. This time I’d look up from my music out onto the field a little more, and this time I’d know better than to cheer for every good play — you’re really only supposed to cheer when your team makes a good play. (This is especially important when you’re in the band.)
The college courses I did really well in
were those important for my major — early childhood education. I am fully licensed, bonded and insured to teach nursery school through grade three, but I never did. I moved to Florida and realized that to be a teacher, you have to get up quite early. Instead, I turned to journalism. I’ve never taken a journalism course, but the hours of the job suit me. For instance, right now — 3:12 a.m. — I am ready to punch out and go home. It would be nice if the moon was there to guide me, but I’m not counting on it.
Eureka! This Clever Sci-Fi Channel Show Is Onto Something
There are a few oases in the desert that is summer television. One of my favorites is a lovely show on Sci-Fi called Eureka broadcast on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eureka is a small town in the Pacific Northwest, founded right after World War II at Einstein’s urging as a way of repeating the scientific successes of the country in developing atomic power. U.S. Marshall Jack Carter (actually a great old name from science fiction, originally the hero of a series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs about adventures on Mars) is stranded in the town as he drives through and helps the badly injured sheriff solve a crime. He is then named sheriff in an agreement between the U.S. government and the huge science corporation that dominates the town. But he is the one real “norm,” meaning personal of normal intelligence in the town. Some-
how, despite not being a genius like everyone else, he is able to constantly figure out what has gone wrong, something that seems to happen every week when some scientific discovery goes haywire.
The real pleasure is watching how things go off track. Even though the sensibility in many ways hails back to smalltown America of the 1950s, when things go wrong they really go bad, very bad, quickly.
For example, one time the small town has four different kinds of weather all at once (and they’re not even living in South Florida!) within one or two square miles, including rain, snow and a tornado. A scientist is flash-frozen because of that, which brings in the sheriff. Who was behind the whole thing? The local TV weatherman, who hated being ignored.
You don’t get plots like that every day. Where else would you hear the sheriff and other people describing the high school’s science fair as the “most dangerous day of the year”? Of course, when you allow a group of young geniuses free range with projects, things like caution and scientific ethics go out the window.
Colin Ferguson is a joy to watch as Carter, continually dealing with projects that seem far beyond the norm. Watching him move into a new home, which at first looks like a fallout shelter, was a priceless comedy gem in an early episode. He comes in and starts yelling at the scientist who urged him to move there when he is interrupted by Sarah (an acronym for Self-Actuated Residential Automated Habitat), who provides him with all the comforts of a regular home, Eu-
By Leonard Wechsler
reka style. Who wouldn’t love a home that cleans itself, cooks your favorite dinners, automatically records the games of your favorite teams and presents them on a wall-wide television, has your favorite beer coming out of the tap in your refrigerator and has hundreds of online magazines available in the bathroom? Of course, when Carter is very late for dinner several days in a row, Sarah locks
SCHOOLS CELEBRATE THE START OF A NEW YEAR
The 2007-08 school year started Wednesday throughout Palm Beach County. For most students at Wellington Christian School and Equestrian Trails Elementary School, it was a return to the classroom settings to which they have grown accustomed. But at the newly opened Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, it was a new start entirely.
Wellington Christian sixth-grader Cory Ricardy and sister Kayla Ricardy, a ninth-grader, kick off the new school year.
Lindsay Gurewitz on her way to Emerald Cove.
Equestrian Trails Elementary School teacher Sara Pavlovics talks to some students Wednesday morning.
School Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson chats with 12-yearold Korrie Smith on her way to school at Emerald Cove.
The Shuber family arrives at Emerald Cove Middle School.
WCS kindergartner Christian Centeno with mom Wendy.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson wishes Emerald Cove Middle School Principal Dr. Nancy Lucas good luck.
P.W.
CHAMBER AFTER-HOURS
MIXER AT MR. FOOD NO-FUSS MEALS
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce held its monthly after-hours mixer at Mr. Food’s NoFuss Meals in Wellington Aug. 15. A drawing was held for guests to win and assemble free meals. Located in the Pointe in Wellington Green, Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals allows patrons to create their own meals in one of its no-fuss sessions from a menu that changes monthly. For more information about Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals, call (561) 333-4044 or visit www.nofussmeals. com.
C.J. Johnson and David Goy serve Crunchy Chicken Caesar.
Philly Connection’s Debbie Niepling buys a raffle ticket from Marianne Hall.
Armand Professional Services’ Mary & Scott Armand.
The chamber presents a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals. (L-R) Eric Gordon, Amy Steinhauser, Meeghan Gerhring, Catherine Engel and Marianne Hall.
Elaine Tomchin of RPB Advisors makes Sunset Ranch Chicken with help from Margaret Kendall.
Jarrett Smith of Florida Public Utilities makes meatloaf while Dave Goy looks on.
BUCKLER SHOW BRINGS CRAFTS
& CROWDS
The Buckler Craft Show returned to the South Florida Fairgrounds last weekend. Produced by one of the major craft show promoters in the southeast, the seasonal event featured a large variety of crafts and accessories including jewelry, handcrafted furniture, holiday decorations, fine art, gourmet delights and more. For more information about future shows, visit www.bpcraftfairs.com.
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
TO THE FAIRGROUNDS
The Mugaveros of Royal Palm Beach visit one of the tables.
Chef Barry Siegel prepares a dish.Charlie Borg and Al Greenland of the Wellington Lions Club.
Dennis Stein with some of his bracelets.
Sharon Dube sells her crafts.
Paige Empey, Amanda Smith and Amanda’s aunt Anita of Wellington look at some crafts.
ACREAGE FOOTBALL LEAGUE CELEBRATES TEN YEARS OF PLAY
Acreage residents joined representatives of the Indian Trail Improvement District and the Acreage Athletic League last Friday to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Acreage Community Park. The 18-acre park hosts a variety sports and recreational events, including the recently opened skateboarding/inline skating area. According to ITID Supervisor Ralph Bair, the park will eventually have three more baseball fields and two all-purpose fields. Also at the park last Friday, Acreage Football League players, coaches and parents held a rally for the start of the season. Players were placed on teams and given uniforms, while raffle tickets and baked goods were sold to raise money.
AAL Vice President James Parsons speaks to the crowd.
The Seminole Ridge High School Marching Hawks, led by band director Tim Skinner, plays the national anthem.
ITID supervisors Ralph Bair and Sandra Love-Semande, former ITID president Bill Gotthelf, ITID Vice President Mike Erickson and ITID President Michelle Damone.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 105: Brian Morgan, Kyle Burton, Chris Burton, Cameron Kass, Devon Ritchie and Chris Mancuso.
Hannah Smith with her mother Lacey.
The Gators Pee Wee division team.
Summer Bong buys a beverage from Ryan Ruebenson and Jordan Schumacher at the concession stand.
The West Virginia Mountaineers cheerleaders practice.
Coach Melody Sayles talks her husband John into buying raffle tickets to benefit the Acreage Extreme cheerleaders.
Hurricanes quarterback Logan Jones gets the ball from center Joseph Brow.
Acreage moms have a bake sale to benefit the cheerleaders.
Skateboarder Pierce Beaubien catches some air.
AAL HOSTS FOOTBALL RAFFLE
The Acreage Athletic League teamed up with the Florida Youth Athletic Association, Wal-Mart and Pepsi for a fundraiser Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11 and 12 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Royal Palm Beach. League members sold raffle tickets for a chance at a $500 jackpot, with Acreage football teams and cheerleaders taking shifts throughout the two days to help out. The top five revenue-raising teams were Geoff Grafton’s Collegiate Division Fighting Irish, Brian Jones’ Pro Division Hurricanes, Tom Gerane’s Pro Division Gators, Ken McDonald’s Collegiate Division Hurricanes and Mike Kelleher’s Prep Division Buckeyes. Kids and parents had a great time supporting a good cause. The winner of the jackpot was Gary Alvord of Royal Palm Beach. Alvord received a check during the Acreage Athletic League’s opening ceremonies on Friday, Aug. 17. Shown here, members of the football league sell tickets in front of Wal-Mart.
Wellington Lawyer Awarded National Skydiving Badge
Throughout the week, 47-year-old Wellington resident Mickey Smith is often in a business suit. Smith, a partner in the Palm Beach law firm of Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, represents victims in personal injury, wrongful death and insurance bad faith matters. He has practiced law in Florida for 22 years and is the recipient of many legal awards, including being named to the Best Lawyers in America, the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Attorneys in the Country and Florida Super Lawyers.
On the weekends, though, Smith trades his business suit for a different kind of suit — a skydiving “jump suit.” He started his skydiving career 14 summers ago. “I was scared to death before that first jump,” Smith said. “It was even more frightening than my first jury trial.”
Smith persevered and six months later was even able to convince his wife Elizabeth to take up the hobby. Elizabeth, a teacher at Osceola Creek Middle School, has logged more than 1,160 skydives. Mickey Smith has logged more than 2,740. They have jumped out of a wide variety of aircraft, including biplanes, helicopters, balloons and a 727 cargo jet. Their most memorable jump was dropping from the bomb bay doors of a World War II-era B-17 bomber in Illinois.
Smith explained that skydivers track both the sheer number of skydives made and the time spent in freefall before the parachute is deployed. “A typical jump for us would be from 13,500 feet, with deployment of the parachute occurring at 2,500 feet. Such a jump equates to approximately 70 seconds of freefall time,” he said. “I have logged every second since I started and just passed the 48-hour mark.”
In recognition of this accomplishment, the United States Parachutist Associa-
tion awarded Smith its 48 Hour Freefall Badge. Worldwide, only 792 other people have ever received the award. “Made at one time, 48 hours of freefall would be a very long, tiring weekend,” Smith said, “but made over 14 years it has been great. When I made that first tandem jump, attached to an experienced instructor, I never dreamed it would lead to this. I am very honored to receive this award.”
Smith’s accomplishment was recently logged over Skydive Air Adventures in Clewiston, where he made his first jump in 1993. The Smiths say they enjoy skydiving there because of the safe, friendly atmosphere. Elizabeth added that “it is the best skydiving operation in the country, and it is less than an hour from our house. We are lucky.”
Air Adventures manager Lisa Hornsby said the Smiths are typical skydivers — “ordinary, professional people who are able to safely enjoy the extraordinary sport of skydiving.”
For more information on skydiving, visit www.skydivefl.com or call (800) 533-6151.
Mickey Smith in a “five-way” jump.
This Year’s Wildcats Football Team: Young But Experienced
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
The question for Royal Palm Beach High School football coach Eric Patterson is a bit cliché, but nevertheless relevant following the Wildcats’ 9-2 season and a trip to the Class 6A playoffs: rebuilding or reloading? Remember, the 2006 Wildcats won nine consecutive games and collected touchdowns like a ten-year-old collects baseball cards. Consider that during one three-game stretch, RPB amassed a total of 163 points.
Ironically, the only two losses to Royal Palm’s high octane offense came as the result of shutouts — an opening 19-0 loss to Pahokee and a 24-0 loss to Orlando Boone in a Class 6A regional playoff game.
“A lot of people are going to consider us rebuilding this year because we lost a lot of good players,” Patterson said. “Of
FOOTBALL FOOTBALL
the 26 seniors we graduated last year, 15 are going off to play college football.”
Those players include all-everything running backs Brandon Pendergrass and Zach Brown, who combined for more than 2,400 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in 2006. Pendergrass now plays at Wake Forest University and Brown at the University of Wisconsin. But seated in the coaches’ locker room at Royal Palm Beach High School on Thursday — the day before his team’s opening game at defending Class 1A state champion Glades Day — Patterson put on his best “what me worry?” persona.
“We have more depth coming back, and across the board we’re probably even better than we were last year,” said Patterson, who has a 24-15 record in five seasons at RPBHS.
Start with the Wildcats’ offensive line, anchored by seniors Randy Richards and Decarlos Wood, returns every starter from a year ago — a rarity in high school football. You don’t think Pendergrass and Brown gained all those yards on their own, do you?
“They range from about 250 pounds to 280 pounds,” Patterson said of the offensive line. “They’re a good size.”
The biggest lineman, however, is the youngest. Chris Sezeher is a 6-foot-7, 440-pound freshman who has been working out with the varsity.
“The freshmen don’t start playing for a couple of weeks, so he’s just going to practice with us for now,” Patterson said.
The Wildcats are nearly as strong defensively. Every starter this season saw action in 2006.
“And we’re still a young team. Those guys are sophomores and juniors,” Patterson said.
Defensive back Jordan Dangerfield, who intercepted 11 passes in 2006, is one of those juniors, as is defensive end Perry McIntyre.
“Jordan hasn’t missed a step all summer,” Patterson said, “and McIntyre knows only one speed — go. Nobody on our offensive line can block him. That’s pretty good.”
McIntyre, along with senior linebackers Ernest Ferguson and Derek Andrews, should make the Wildcats difficult to run against in 2007.
“It’s a good unit,” Patterson added. Ferguson, who gained 120 yards on 20 carries in 2006, will also see time as fullback this season, teaming with senior Melquan O’Neal. Junior quarterback Marvin Payne will get his first action as a varsity signal caller, replacing Vince Lalonde, who threw for 190 yards and three touchdowns last season.
“He threw a couple of good balls that
Latron Green caught in the spring game,” Patterson said. “He’ll got through some growing pains like every young quarterback.”
With three of their first four games on the road this season, the Wildcats might have to grow up in a hurry.
“We get to be road warriors. I like that,” Patterson said. “Everybody is going to be licking their chops for us, so we’re going to find out what the kids are made of. But everything they’ve done in the off-season should translate to wins on the field.”
Patterson noted that the team doesn’t want to be outdone by last year’s group.
“We expect to do the same job we’ve been doing and advance farther into the playoffs,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is always the state championship game. We want to keep progressing the program.”
Wildcat Footballers — (Front) Melquan O’Neal and Jordan Dangerfield; (back) Randy Richards, Chris Dunkley, Theo Lena, Jeremiah Brutus, Latron Green and Ernest Ferguson.
Coach Eric Patterson
PHOTOS BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER
Football, Cheer Program
Launched In Royal Palm Palms West Athletic Association (PWAA), a new member of the Pop Warner Treasure Coast Football and Cheer Conference, held the first games of its inaugural season on Saturday, Aug. 18 against teams from the Palm City Dolphins.
The PWAA, with President John Ruffa and Vice President Leonard Watson leading the ceremonies, held six different goodwill scrimmage games on Katz Fields in Royal Palm Beach as practice for the upcoming travel football season in the Treasure Coast conference. Boys and girls ages five to 15 played football, cheered and danced as members of Pop Warner, the oldest and largest youth foot-
ball and cheer organization in the nation.
Pop Warner, as well as PWAA, is a non-profit organization that requires participants to maintain academic standards in order to participate and is committed to developing local youth on and off the field. The RPB Wildcats, who have been practicing since Aug. 1, will travel and play teams from as far north as Fort Pierce and will be playing home games at Royal Palm Beach High School. During the welcoming ceremony, Ruffa presented the first-ever RPB Wildcats Jersey No. 1 to Royal Palm Beach Parks & Recreation Department Director Lou Recchio in gratitude for all that he and the village have done for the league.
For more information about the league, call (727) 642-1302 or e-mail bradvill@ yahoo.com.
RPB Triathlete Raising Funds For Research
Daphne Markey at the recent Loggerhead Triathlon in Jupiter.
Royal Palm Beach resident Daphne Markey has decided to take on a tough project and seeks residents’ help.
She plans to compete on behalf of Team in Training in the Walt Disney World Triathlon on Sept. 23 to benefit research and cures for leukemia and other diseases.
Recently Markey completed in her very first triathlon, the Loggerhead in Jupiter, and has another planned on Sept. 9 to get better prepared for the Disney Triathlon.
Markey is asking neighbors to support this cause by making a donation to her Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training fund. She thanks those who have already contributed.
People can contribute in one of two ways: by mailing a check made out to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society c/o Daphne Markey, 10646 Aquarius Lane, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411, or by visiting the Team in Training web site and donating online at www.active.com/donate/tntpb/dmarkey.
Markey’s goal is to raise $2,800.
Royal GEMZ Cheerleaders Thank Staples
Cheerleaders from the Royal GEMZ Allstars recently visited managers of the Lake Worth Staples to convey their appreciation for the office supply store’s contribution. The cheerleaders, dressed in GEMZ blue, presented General Manager Joyce Yung and Copy Center Manager Diane Marriott with a recognition plaque for their support last season. Each cheerleader received a bag of school supplies from the store to start the year off right.
“We are grateful to the Lake Worth Staples for their generosity and are looking forward to a long-term partnership. They really came through for us,” said GEMZ director and head coach Lori Sedore.
Sedore oversees the competitive cheerleading program, which ranges from threeyear-olds to 15-year-olds. Royal Gemz is located at 440 Tall Pines Road, near Southern Blvd. and Jog Road. For more information on the Royal GEMZ program, call Lori Sedore at (561) 315-5470 or visit www.royalgemz.com.
GEMZ Say Thanks — Front row (L-R): Carlie Franchie of The Acreage and Haley Stoop of West Palm Beach; middle row: Shelby Stoop of West Palm Beach, Cayla Epstein of Lake Worth and Kristina Mullins of The Acreage; back row: Amanda of Lake Worth, Staples Copy Center Manager Diane Marriott, Staples General Manager Joyce Yung and Meghan.
Area Congressmen Visit Grounds Of Lake Worth’s ‘Eco Centre’
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Congressmen Tim Mahoney (D-16) and Ron Klein (D-22) paid a visit to a cutting-edge environmentally friendly building being constructed in downtown Lake Worth Monday.
Klein and Mahoney have become leaders in Congress on alternative energy issues, and the visit is part of an educational effort on the part of both congressmen to raise awareness about the need to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and the opportunity for Florida to become a leader in alternative energy production.
When it opens in the spring of 2008, the Eco Centre, a “living building” on Lake Avenue, will be Florida’s first office building of its kind, incorporating natural systems and green technologies designed to save energy, reduce carbondioxide emissions, water consumption and create an overall healthier environment.
The main occupant of the building will be the Romano Law Group. The firm, known as Romano, Eriksen and Cronin, was founded in 1991 by John F. Romano, Joel Cronin, M.D., Michael Eriksen and Rodney Romano. The firm changed its name this year to Romano Law Group.
The first floor of the 33,000-grosssquare-foot, four-story structure will be rich with gardens and a beautiful waterfall flowing from the second floor above. The second, third and fourth floors will contain office space and views into the center of the building. The building will
be topped with a living roof rich with plants, trees and gardens, integrated into the building’s water system and environmental life cycle.
Among its many features the building will contain a “living machine,” by Worrell Water Technologies that allows for the on-site purification and recycling of water. The lead architect of the project is John Szerdi, the principal architect in designing the Sundy House restaurant in Delray Beach.
The building is being built with extensive use of recycled materials and natural resources harvested in an environmentally considerate manner.
Mahoney said he and Klein wanted to see if the construction could be undertaken on a wider level by those more interested in profit.
“I wanted to come out and take a look at this to see what’s happening in terms of the viability of this type of construction,” Mahoney said. “Is this something in which you have to be altruistic in order to do this, or this a technology that can be practical or can be built into future codes and standards? From my perspective, it appears that with the help of local communities here in Lake Worth, the payback on this kind of construction can be very attractive. Not only do you get a good building and one that is more attractive but you can lease it at a higher rate. The payback seems to be there.”
Mahoney also said he is interested in providing incentives for environmentally sensitive construction.
“One of the things we are looking at is once we start getting the data on buildings like this is whether or not there are
things we can do in Washington to spur these efforts on,” Mahoney said. “You have your early adopters like John Romano that are passionate about the issue of green buildings. But at the end of the day, it’s got to stand on its own return on investment.”
Klein said the project illustrates Florida’s potential to become a leader in the field of responsible development.
“We have a sustainable economic model which says, ‘I can build it for a certain cost, I can recover costs over a number of years, and I am doing the right thing for the environment,’” Klein said. “There is a new economy of businesses that are developing around this, which will drive down costs over time for everything from the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning systems to the components we see in this project here. It’s a very exciting proposition.”
Klein said he and Mahoney would describe the project to colleagues in Congress. “Everyone is very interested in energy alternatives and reducing the costs of energy whether it’s oil or other things,” he said. “We have to make it economically viable. We are also trying to see if there are incentives we can do in Washington or a national basis that would not only benefit Florida but the entire country to go to that next step. One of the things Tim and I talked about is ways to economically incentivize this. You have to have the feeling to do this, and it has to make economic sense.”
The Eco Centre is located at 1005 Lake Avenue in Lake Worth. The building’s targeted completion is December with a move-in date the following March, and a grand opening celebration on Earth Day 2008.
PHOTOS BY CAROL
Congressman Tim Mahoney talks with Lake Worth Commissioner Cara Jennings.
Congressmen Tim Mahoney and Ron Klein take a hard-hat tour of the site.
Saturday, Aug. 25
• The Maltz Jupiter Theatre (1001 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter) will continue The Kid From Brooklyn through Sunday, Sept. 9. The smash musical is based on the life of New Yorker Danny Kaye. Tickets are $30 for matinee and $35 for all evening performances. Group tickets are available for 20 or more. Visit www.jupitertheatre. org or call (561) 575-2223 for tickets.
All the big hits are included such as “Honky Tonk Women,” “Start Me Up” and the band’s signature classic “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” The event is produced by the City of West Palm Beach and is free to the public. For more info., call (561) 822-1515 or visit www.wpb.org.
Tuesday, Aug. 28
• The Village of Royal Palm Beach will host its Second Annual Summer Art Festival on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Veterans Park. Individuals can enjoy food and beverages from the Wild Orchid Café, musical entertainment in the courtyard, and spend the day strolling along the park’s pathways to view the works of talented local artists. Interested artists can contact the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center for an application at (561) 790-5149.
• WRMF’s “Our Kids World” show will take place at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25 and 26. Children can participate in hands-on educational activities, be entertained at two stages, meet their favorite sports mascots and television characters, and bounce in the Fun Zone inflatables. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit www. adayforkids.com for more info.
• Grassy Waters Preserve (8264 Northlake Blvd.) will feature a program on Saturday, Aug. 25 to discuss beneficial insects and reducing the use of pesticides. The program will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon. at the north side at the Everglades Pavilion and is for ages 13 and up. The cost is $5 for adults and $1 for children. Call (561) 804-4985 or (561) 629-6016 to RSVP or visit www. grassywaterspreserve.com.
• Prepare to be amazed as resident birds of prey are introduced in Raptor Chapter on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. at Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). The program is for all ages and costs $3 per person. Reservations are required. For more info., call (561) 233-1400.
• Community of Hope and Compassion International will present international recording star Shaun Groves on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach High School auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Special guests City of David and Brent Walker will open the free concert. Call (561) 7538883 or visit www.community ofhope.com for more information.
• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will feature saxophonist Boney James on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall. James, who pioneered the subgenre known as urban jazz, has won legions of fans the world over. For tickets, call the box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.
Sunday, Aug. 26
• A Rolling Stones Experience — a full-scale production, complete with Mick Jagger and company look-alikes — will take place on Sunday, Aug. 26 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Meyer Amphitheatre (104 Datura Street, West Palm Beach).
• The Acreage/Loxahatchee Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at 7:29 a.m. at Sneaky Pete’s Restaurant in the Grove (Winn-Dixie) Plaza on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. For more information, call President Richard Helton at (561) 792-5379.
Wednesday, Aug. 29
• The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host its next luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Players Club (13410 South Shore Blvd., Wellington). Sponsored by National City, the luncheon will start at noon and feature guest speaker Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-District 16). The cost to attend the luncheon is $15 for chamber members and $25 for non-members.
RSVP to (561) 792-6525.
Thursday, Aug. 30
• The Village of Royal Palm Beach is offering a trip to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood on Thursday, Aug. 30. The price of $20 includes $15 gaming and lunch voucher, and bus transportation. Sign up at the recreation center, 100 Sweet Bay Lane. Space is limited to 35. For more information, call Noel at (561) 7917080.
• Clematis by Night’s Concert Fountain Series takes place every Thursday at Centennial Square from 5:30 to 9 p.m. For more info., call (561) 822-1515.
• Cuillo Uncorked, a free concert series featuring live music by local musicians, takes place at 7 p.m. every Thursday at the Cuillo Centre for the Arts (201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach). Hosted by Patrick Aaron, the event features drink specials all night. For more info., call (561) 835-9226 or visit the Cuillo Centre’s web site at www.cuillo centre.com.
Friday, Aug. 31
• Every Friday at 10 a.m. the Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) invites parents to bounce, sing and move with their babies to nursery rhymes and favorite songs. The program is for babies under one year. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.
• A “Mega Fundraiser” dance on will be held Friday, Aug. 31 at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge (5876 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) to benefit Brian Lawrence, who has suffered from sickle-cell anemia for nearly two decades. The event will take place from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and feature DJs TopRanking Sound (OG), Sir Winston and Ernitones. The cost is a $25 donation, including dinner. For more info., call Norma at (561) 632-7731, Marjorie at (561) 333-8841 or Junette (561) 793-7370.
Saturday, Sept. 1
• The Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Saturday Morning Drop-Ins at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 1 and 8 for ages two and up. Had a busy week? Drop-in and spend some time listening to stories. For more info., call (561) 790-6070.
• CityPlace Saturday Nights will present Nicholas Marks
and Ari performing Latin pop music on Saturday, Sept. 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. on the plaza stage at CityPlace in West Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 366-1000, ext. 7 or visit www.cityplace. com.
Sunday, Sept. 2
• Chabad-Lubavitch Hebrew School will hold an open house and “shofar factory” on Sunday, Sept. 2 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Classes are offered for children pre-K through bar/bat mitzvah. Shul membership is not required. For more info., call Rabbi Mendy Muskal at the Wellington Jewish Center (12785 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite C) at (561) 333-4663.
Tuesday, Sept. 4
• The Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature Talk Like a Pirate Day on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. for ages six and up. Set sail for adventure with rousing tales of the high seas while playing pirate games. For more info., call (561) 790-6070.
• The Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Sept. 4, 11 and 18 for adults. Based on the parenting guidance groups of child psychologist Dr. Haim Ginott, the final three sessions of this seven-week communication workshop teaches parents how to communicate more effectively with their children through audiotapes, role playing and exercises. For more info., call (561) 790-6070.
Wednesday, Sept. 5
• The Jewish Coalition for Literacy will hold Literacy Tutor Training for new reading partners on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the Jewish Federation building (4601 Community Drive, West Palm Beach). The organization places reading partners in 46 participating public elementary schools in Palm Beach County. Men and women over age 18 are encouraged to volunteer at least one hour per week to help students read. For more info., call Boots Fox at (561) 478-0700, ext. 194.
• The Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Avast, Ye Landlubbers!” on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 12 to 18. Show off your pirate rags in a costume contest, dare to eat some authentic pirate fare and try to avoid walking the plank. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.
Thursday, Sept. 6
• The Palm Beach County Bar Association will host a free small claims and mediation program on Thursday, Sept. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive). The purpose of the program is to educate the public on how to file a small claims case and present information to a judge, as well as how mediation can solve a legal dispute without hiring a lawyer and without going to court. A small claim is any dispute valued at $5,000 or less. Space is limited. To RSVP, call the bar association at (561) 687-2800.
Friday, Sept. 7
• The Wellington Library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Baby Time on Friday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. for newborns through 12-month-olds. Bounce, sing and move with your babies to nursery rhymes and favorite songs. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.
PROJECT GRAD ‘SENIORS RULE’
The Royal Palm Beach High School 2008 Project Graduation Committee continued the tradition of distributing “Seniors Rule” crowns to all senior students on the first day of school. The crowns were decorated by the parents of the 2008 graduates. Project Graduation is a group of adults including parents, teachers and community leaders, whose goal is to provide a safe, all-night festivity of fun, games, food, prizes and safety for all graduating seniors on the night of graduation. This endeavor involves a lot of fundraising, organizing and planning. If you’re interested in helping, call Tammy Germain at (561) 795-0873 or e-mail projgrad08@ bellsouth.net. (Above) Front: Courtney Iaccarino and Ashley Harrington; back: Denise Whitmore, Angel Baez, Jessica Rynkewicz, Michelle Kuseske, Melissa Germain, Jenna Strassman, Melissa Rosenberg and Katie Araujo. (Left) Heather Tocci and Jessica Ngo.
Earn your Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Wellington Campus.
What
is
Organizational Management?
Organizational Management (ORM) is a broad based program that emphasizes management theory and
What will the degree do for me?
You will enhance your career opportunities while you develop the knowledge and skills to compete with other college graduates. Learn how to lead effectively and apply sound business and management principles as you enhance your understanding of human behavior and its relationship to today’s global work environment.
How long will it take?
certificates. If have earned an Associate of Arts
“Palm Beach Atlantic’s Wellington location suits my busy schedule and the evening classes allow me to complete class assignments throughout the week. My education will help me move up the ranks.”
Ask about the Master of Science degree program starting this fall.
The ORM program is flexible in applying previously earned college credit to your degree. Professional Education Credit may also be awarded for professional licenses and certificates. If you have earned an Associate of Arts Degree or the equivalent you should be able to complete your
degree in 1½ to 2 years.
credit to Professional Education
How ar e classes of fer ed? nights
Classes are accelerated and meet in the evening from 6 - 10 p.m.. Attending two nights per week gives you full-
time status.
Brenda Smith of Belle Glade, lieutenant for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department, Palm Beach County Jail that and practice
Earning an evening college degree is an investment that will pay off. Your total cost and your cost per semester will depend on several factors: Full-time or part-time student status, the number of credit hours you transfer to PBA, the type of financial aid you qualify for Florida residency and tuition assistance from your employer. Full-time students who are Florida residents receive the Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) fall and spring
student status, the number of credit hours transfer
Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) fall and semesters, $1500 each semester.
P.B. Central Students Attend July FCCLA Conference In California
More than 5,000 nationwide members, advisers, alumni and guests of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) gathered in Anaheim, Calif. July 8-12 for the 2007 National Leadership Meeting. Among the attendees were Palm Beach Central High School’s Kendra Brannon, Ryan Chiarello, Kaitlin Crow, Kristen Favre, Reed Jeschonek, Danielle Kimelstein, Ashley LaScala, Kelsey Neary and Stacey Wallach. Also in attendance was the students’ advisor JeffAnne Pike and chaperone Grace Alexin.
This year’s student-devised subject for the annual national meeting was “Leadership Revolution,” and throughout the five-day convention, participants examined and discussed several critical issues, including family, school and community
violence prevention, physical as well as financial fitness, future career exploration and countless community service projects. Meeting highlights included participating in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events, which are competitive events that build proficiency and achievement in leadership and jobrelated skills. Jeschoneck won a gold medal for his entrepreneurship project “Delicious Delights.” He received a perfect score for his portfolio and was the top winner in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic state division. Chiarello, Favre and Kimelstein received a silver medal for their interpersonal communication project “Family Matters.”
For more information about the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, visit www.fcclainc.org.
Young Leaders — Palm Beach Central High School students at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America last month in Anaheim, Calif.
Seminole Ridge Athletes Begin Season With New Coaches
Seminole Ridge High School Athletic
Director Scott Parks has announced there are several new coaches at the helm of Hawks teams this year:
• In boys varsity basketball, Seminole Ridge has hired Mr. Jason Pitman as head coach. Pitman, a native of Taylor, Mich., graduated from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, where he was a four-year letterman in basketball.
Pitman began his coaching career at his alma mater as an assistant coach from 1997 to 1999. He then became an assistant at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) powerhouse Mt. Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio. During his six-year tenure, Pitman helped lead Mt. Vernon to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2000 NAIA national tournament and to a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) championship in 2002. In 2005, he became assistant coach at Lamar Junior College in Colorado, where he helped lead the Runnin’ Lopes to a 24-7 record in 2006-07.
Pitman also brings to SRHS extensive basketball camp experience, including work as an instructor at the Rutgers and Cleveland State basketball camps. He now teaches social studies at Seminole Ridge.
• In boys JV basketball, Mr. Tim Jakab was named as the team’s coach. Jakab played basketball at Flagler College for famed coach Bo Clark and was a member of Flagler’s 1990-91 Florida Sun Conference championship team. He was JV coach at Cardinal Newman High School in 2006-07 and a highly successful coach in both high school and middle school basketball in the Martin County School District from 2000-05. He teaches English at Seminole Ridge.
• Mr. Scott O’Hara will take the reins as the girls basketball coach. O’Hara, the Hawks JV girls’ coach and assistant var-
sity coach in 2006-07, is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and has taught at schools in western Palm Beach County since 1987. O’Hara has extensive coaching experience in youth league basketball. He teaches science at Seminole Ridge.
• Ms. Ali Mitchell has been hired as the boys volleyball coach. A graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School, she has impressive credentials as both a player and a coach. Mitchell, who will finish her college playing career this fall at Palm Beach Atlantic University, has been a starter for the PBA Sailfish the past two seasons and was a major catalyst in the team’s second-place finish at the NCCAA national championships last fall. Mitchell also served as head coach for the Palm Beach High-Performance Girls Volleyball Club in 2006 and as an
assistant coach in 2005. She has extensive experience teaching volleyball skills at camps and clinics throughout the county.
• Mr. Todd Williams will step into the spotlight as girls varsity volleyball coach. Williams has served as assistant coach at Royal Palm Beach High School for the past five years and has an extensive background in competitive volleyball as a player. In addition to coaching high school volleyball, he has coached several club teams.
TV Production Brings Home Honors — The SRHS television production program begins the school year with good news: more contest winners.
After winning district and regional awards in the Jim Harbin Student Media Festival, Seminole Ridge students won second place in the state in
the Music Video category. The music video “Early Rise” was directed and edited by Andrew Suarez. Joey Barrata and Jeff Moise also contributed to the project.
SRHS also received two honorable mentions at the state level. Shane Stukel earned his in the Drama category for his movie trailer “The Dark Has Eyes.” Anthony Pedicelli also contributed to the project. Andy Cichewicz earned his in the Instructional Video category for “Seatbelt Safety 101,” which features Chris LaCroix comically learning the importance of seatbelts.
TV production teacher Mr. Earle Wright said he is proud of his students and is looking ahead to more contests. He plans for them to compete in next month’s Florida Scholastic Press Association (FSPA) regional competition.
SRHS Seeks Parent Help For Project Graduation 2008
Seminole Ridge High School’s Project Graduation 2008 will be on its way shortly. The organizers have received the task force list from Cindi Walker (cindi@ wmph.com) to use in order to break down volunteers in groups. Anyone willing to head one of these task forces should contact Project Graduation Chair Jean Lauer at galau6@aol.com.
This project is put on by the parents for the senior class. Project Graduation task forces include:
Activities — This task force is responsible for hiring all entertainment for the night of Project Graduation, such as the DJ, karaoke, hypnotist, caricature artist and palm readers.
Chaperones/Security This task force provides supervision for the evening of the party. Senior parents can be used to check students in. Non-senior parents are needed for security and
to chaperone throughout the night.
Cleanup — This task force assembles a crew of about 15 to arrive at the facility in the morning to take down all decorations and clean up after the party. Senior parents are encouraged to volunteer for this.
Decorations — This task force decorates the entire facility, focusing on a theme.
Door Prizes/Senior Gifts — Every graduate leaves the party with a door prize.
Senior Gifts — Beginning in January, seniors will receive a gift once a month. One month prior to graduating the gifts will be given out once a week. This task force is responsible for providing all the gifts through donations or purchases.
Food This task force is responsible for organizing the food and drinks for the party. Food and drinks may be
either purchased or donated. Volunteers are needed to get the food delivered or arrange to have it picked up.
Fundraising — This celebration needs a lot of funding. Any other ideas are welcomed.
Game Room This is the hot spot at the party. Several games will be offered. Parents are needed to organize and run the games all night.
Publicity — This task force ensures that information regarding Project Graduation is announced to the public. Fundraising events and other pertinent information is advertised through this committee.
Volunteers — This task force coordinates all the volunteers.
Wall of Fame — This task force is responsible for organizing the parents to create a poster of their child through the years. This is solely for parents.
‘MEET YOUR TEACHER’ NIGHT AT BINKS FOREST ELEMENTARY
Students and parents got to meet the teachers at Binks Forest Elementary School on Tuesday, the day before school started. Students also were able to receive textbooks and plenty of useful information before school began.
Binks Forest Elementary School Principal Dr. Julie Hopkins in the midst of all the action.
Fourth grade teacher Brenda Collier greets students and parents.
Jackson and Hunter Haynes with their mom Shannon.
Emilee and Catlyn Quesada.
Mac Watkins with his mom Rachel.
Teacher Shirley Houlihan gives out books in front of the media center.
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Radio Club Helps Observe Lighthouse Weekend
The Wellington Radio Club traveled to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum last weekend to celebrate International Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend with the Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group.
The groups received a special-issue amateur radio callsign “W4J” from the Federal Communications Commission and tuned in fellow ham operators at other lighthouses and lightships around the world to promote lighthouse preservation and restoration awareness.
According to the International Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend web site, the event came into being from the Scottish Northern Lighthouses award weekend. Over the past seven years it has grown to more than 380 lighthouses in 51 countries participating in the event, which is held on the third full weekend in August starting at 0001 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Saturday and finishing at 2359 UTC on Sunday.
The event also coincides on the Sunday with International Lighthouse Day organized by the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers, whereby many world lighthouses are open to the public for the day. The basic objective of the event is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster international goodwill.
Wellington Radio Club President Larry Lazar contacted the museum with the idea to set up operations at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum for the special weekend.
The pairing of the radio clubs with the Lighthouse & Museum made sense due to the museum’s history as the last remaining building from an important World War II installation that existed on the site. That installation was officially called a U.S. Naval Supplementary Radio Station, code named “Station J,” a
secret operation designed to intercept Uboat radio messages, determine the position of the submarines, warn Allied ships and help U.S. forces attack enemy vessels.
During World War II, thousands of ham radio operators volunteered for service and became the backbone of military communications. Station J reached its peak in 1943, when the operation had 95 men at the site, plus 11 Marines who stood guard.
The station included an operations building with 24 radio receivers. With those radio receivers tuned to the frequencies used by the U-boats, Station J was able to pinpoint the names and locations of the submarines, which would surface every night to charge their batteries and send their locations and weather reports to their home base.
Due to the skill and perseverance of the military radio operators, 67 German submarines were destroyed that spring.
For more information about the radio clubs, call Lazar at (561) 694-0868. For information about the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, call (561) 747-8380.
Hospice Group At
Wellington Regional VITAS Innovative Hospice Care offers bereavement support groups to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. The next group will feature a six-week walk-in group beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4 and continuing every Tuesday through Oct. 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Wellington Regional Medical Center, Classroom 2 East, 10101 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information or to register, call Bereavement Services Manager Chaplain Karen Modell at (561) 7336326.
(Above) Members of the Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater group operate equipment as Larry Lazar of the Wellington Radio Club has a discussion with Jerry Gumbus, North Area coordinator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
(Below) Marty Mundel of the Wellington Radio Club operates equipment on the porch of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum.
Wellington Resident Amy Gray To Lead Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Amy Gray of Wellington was recently named executive director of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
Gray brings eight years of national voluntary health agency management, development experience, healthcare program management and administration
to the foundation’s Florida chapter.
With a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and eight years experience working for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Gray has an in-depth background in
Newlyweds — Larry and Pam Wingate recently announced the wedding of their daughter Ashley Wingate to Tony Cortese (shown above). Ashley and Tony were married at Memorial Presbyterian Church on July 14, followed by an Intracoastal cruise reception. The Rev. Ray Cortese, Tony’s father, was the officiant. The newlyweds enjoyed their honeymoon on Palm Island in the southern Caribbean. Ashley was born and raised in Wellington and attended the King’s Academy for 14 years. Tony, son of Ray and Diane Cortese, was raised in Crystal River. Tony’s grandparents, Norman and Arline Cortese, reside in Wellington. Both Ashley and Tony graduated from Florida State University and now call Tallahassee home. Tony works for the Republican Party of Florida and Ashley is pursing a career in interior design.
non-profit management and fundraising. Gray joined the local chapter of the CCFA on July 9 and will guide the chapter in the coming year on some new fundraising and healthcare initiatives.
Ellen Shapiro, chairwoman of the board and also a resident of Wellington, said she was pleased with the choice to appoint Gray as executive director.
“We are confident that we have chosen the right person to bring stability and growth to our
Fundraiser For PBSO Deputy
A fundraiser for the family of Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle deputy Dave Bradford will be held at the Sound Advice Amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 25 from noon to 5 p.m.
Bradford was involved in a critical motorcycle accident on April 28 and is receiving treatment for paralysis at Shephard Center in Atlanta, Ga.
He is a resident of The Acreage and has been with the PBSO for 19 years. Bradford is married with one child.
Pre-sale food and raffle tickets are available. For more information, call Deborah Hewitt at (561) 723-4779.
Miller Completes Recruit Training
Coast Guard Fireman Noah Miller, a 2005 graduate of Wellington High School, recently graduated from the U.S.
organization,” Shapiro said.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
CCFA was founded in 1967 by Irwin and Suzanne Rosenthal, William and Shelby Modell, and Dr. Henry Janowitz.
Four decades ago, CCFA created the field of inflammatory bowel disease research. Today,
Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey.
During the eight-week training program, Miller completed a vigorous curriculum of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, fire fighting and marksmanship.
Recruits also received instruction on the Coast Guard’s core
Boden Fisk Osler — son of Jennifer Heede and Bruce Osler of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Aug. 2.
Jaden Christopher Martin — son of Tami and Duane Martin of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Aug. 5.
Maya Sunshine Veig daughter of Lori Beth and Almog Veig of Wellington was
the foundation funds cuttingedge studies at major medical institutions, nurtures investigators at the early stages of their careers and finances underdeveloped areas of research. Educational workshops and symposia, together with the scientific journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, enable medical professionals to keep pace with this rapidly growing field.
For more information about the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, visit www.ccfa.org.
values — honor, respect and devotion to duty — and how to apply them in their military performance and personal conduct.
Men and women train together from the first day in the Coast Guard just as they do aboard ships and shore units throughout the world.
Recruits were trained in preventing sexual harassment, drug and alcohol awareness and the basics of the work-life balance.
born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Aug. 6.
Morgan Layne Beukers — daughter of Tiffany Layne and Ronald Beukers of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Aug. 10.
Allayah Diane Powell daughter of Cecilia Wulf and Ty Powell of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Aug. 12.
Free Ozzfest Tickets Offered At Sound Advice
If you haven’t picked up free tickets for Ozzfest 2007, don’t worry — there’s still time. The all-day event will take place Thursday, Aug. 30 at Sound Advice Amphitheatre, featuring Lamb of God, Static-X, Lordi, Hatebreed, Behemoth, Devil Driver, Nile, Ankla, the Showdown, 3 Inches of Blood, Daath, In This Moment, Black Tide, Chthonic and the festival’s namesake Ozzy Osbourne.
To pick up tickets simply go to the Metro PCS box office at Sound Advice Amphitheatre (601-7 Sansbury’s Way) any time from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticket orders are limited to two per person and parking is not included. Availability is limited. For more information call (561)795-8883 or visit www.livenation.com. For more information about Ozzfest 2007, visit www.ozzfest.com.
Science Museum Will Be Closed Sept. 10-21
After finishing “Robotics,” one of the most successful exhibits ever featured at the South Florida Science Museum, the museum will close its doors from Monday, Sept. 10 through Friday, Sept. 21 to prepare for the upcoming exhibit “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats.”
“Masters of the Night” will feature interactive displays focusing on the anatomy, abilities and importance in nature of these mammals. The exhibit will include gothic structures, lifelike settings and displays that explore the fascinating ecological importance and amazing anatomies of nature’s misunderstood mammals.
Visitors are invited back to the museum for the opening of the new exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 22. Highlights of the exhibit include: sonic hearing with the “I’m All Ears” display, which will give
the sensation of hearing the way a bat hears and a life-size reproduction of a gray headed flying fox.
The South Florida Science Museum is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach in the north end of Dreher Park. Admission is $9 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $6 for children.
For more information about the “Masters of the Night” exhibit or the museum’s closing dates, call (561) 832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.
Vendors
Needed For St. Peter’s Harvest Fest
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church is planning its second Community Harvest Fest scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6. The Harvest Fest will feature a rummage sale, BBQ dinner, bake sale, entertainment and craft booths.
Six-foot tables are available to vendors in an air-conditioned building for $35 each. For vendors who prefer to furnish their own tent for a ten-by-ten-foot outside space, the cost will be $40. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15.
For further information, or to request an application, call Al Bennett at (561) 753-6784 as soon as possible for there are limited spaces available. The church is located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington.
‘The Kid From Brooklyn’ At Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre invites anyone who has ever loved New York, is from New York or loves the talent from New York to the musical The Kid From Brooklyn. Based on the life of New Yorker Danny Kaye, this smash hit musical has sold out all throughout America and is now in Jupiter through Sunday, Sept. 9. The Maltz is located at 1001 E. Indiantown Road. Tickets are on sale online at www.jupitertheatre.org or by phone at (561) 575-2223.
Eleemosynary — Paula Sackett as Dorothea, Erin Alexander as Echo and Nancy Martin as Artemis in Lee Blessing’s play.
‘Eleemosynary’ At The Studio Theatre
The Studio Theatre of Wellington will present Lee Blessing’s play Eleemosynary beginning Friday, Sept. 7 and running through Saturday, Sept. 15. Eleemosynary examines the delicate relationship of three singular women: grandmother Dorothea, who has sought to assert her independence through strong-willed eccentricity; her brilliant daughter Artie (Artemis), who has fled the stifling domination of her mother; and Artie’s daughter Echo, a child of exceptional intellect — and sensitivity — whom Artie has abandoned to an upbringing by Dorothea. Sensitive and probing, this master-
ful play explores the subtle and often perilous relationship between three remarkable women. Eleemosynary features local actor and studio artistic director Paula Sackett as Dorothea, Nancy Martin of Davie as Artemis, and Bak Middle School of the Arts student Erin Alexander as Echo.
Show times are 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7; Saturday, Sept. 8; Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15.
The Studio Theatre is located at 11320 Fortune Circle, G-7. Tickets are $15. For further information, reservations and directions, call (561) 2044100.
Gangs ALA Meeting
continued from page 10A become more attached to the gang than to their parents, and they give their loyalty to the gang.”
In response to questions, Santos said that the most visible sign for many people of gang presence is the “tagging” — putting up gang markings — done in many places. “Keep in mind,” he added, “that some of the work is simply graffiti, but there are special markings put by gang members.”
Gang markings include hearts with wings, devil’s tails, pitchforks and, sometimes, simply emblems with gang colors on them. “Look at notebooks,” Santos urged. “If they are filled with gang symbols, it’s time to take action.”
Taking action to get a child out of a
Groves Moratorium?
continued from page 11A dards are. If they want to be in Loxahatchee Groves, they might want to look at our design standards.”
D Road resident Sharyn Browning said town residents aren’t so concerned about revenue generation as appearance.
“We don’t care about money,” she said. “We care about the history and the character of the area. We care about our lifestyle. We don’t care about the money being generated. Personally, I would highly recommend that you look to other properties that would fit in and work well with you.”
After the two presentations, Autrey suggested the council consider a zoning moratorium to slow the parade of applications to a trickle until the town council figures out what it wants to do. It would be difficult to craft a document as integral as the comprehensive plan if council members have to keep listening to applications from people who want to build things in the community, he said.
“A moratorium was recommended to us by a number of people,” Autrey said. “It gives the council the time to develop
Appraiser State Tax Changes
continued from page 13A value and the assessed value could be vastly different, Thomas noted, especially for those who have lived in their homes a long time and have benefited from 1992’s Save Our Homes three percent tax cap program.
“Prices have jumped very sharply the past few years,” Thomas said. “There were larger increases than in the ten years previous. That put more of a tax burden on new homeowners.”
Thomas was frank in discussing proposed changes to the state’s taxation system. “The current system is not fair to owners of commercial property or those without homestead exemptions,” he said. “Not surprisingly, that’s where the biggest pressure for change comes from.”
However, Thomas was quick to add that even those with the exemption are not happy. Many people feel tied to their homes because they would lose their benefit and might face a huge tax increase by moving to a new house.
Next January, Floridians will vote on a major overhaul of the system, which would create a new two-tiered system for calculating taxes. “Don’t forget,”
Cleanup Illegal Dumping
continued from page 14A asked that Herzog work as the liaison with Preston. Lippman also said he had gotten in touch with Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful for information on their end.
By consensus, council members directed Preston and Herzog to work with Lippman, and thanked Preston for volunteering.
Preston also raised the issue of illegal dumping. She said she had contacted
gang is not easy, he said. “The Black Gangster Disciples like the number 6. In order to join, a new member is generally beaten by six members for six minutes,” Santos said. “To leave, they often have to go through the same thing, but more violent. Some people find the only way they can get their child away from gangs is to move away, far away.”
Santos said his task force has worked closely with PBSO deputies as part of Operation Gangbuster, arresting members when they can. “Right now many gangs are telling their members to stay low, finish school and even attend college,” he said. “That way they can join the police or even go into politics. There are some cities where gangs actually now play a role in politics.”
Santos said that under Florida law, if three or more people call themselves a group and one or more breaks the law,
a comprehensive plan without hearing all these projects coming through. It’s not forever. We need to focus on doing the comprehensive plan.”
But Autrey wanted to know how that moratorium would affect the one-unitper-five-acres comprehensive plan amendment being considered. He said he didn’t want to throw a monkey wrench into something council members and residents care so much about.
Tolces said that the one-in-five amendment would not be impacted, and if it were the town council’s desire, they would direct staff to draft a zoning moratorium ordinance.
Lippman said a moratorium could freeze all zoning changes and all applications, and exceptions might be included to allow smaller projects such as singlefamily home construction or repairs that require a permit. Such a moratorium could last six months to a year, he said.
Louda said that he supported a zoning moratorium, but he wanted to wait until the one-in-five paperwork is with the state’s Department of Community Affairs. Tolces said that the amendment would likely reach the DCA by September.
Thomas noted, “that people who already have Save Our Homes can continue to use that benefit.”
Although the new system does not change things for commercial property owners and residential landlords, and does not allow homestead portability, adoption of the new policy would begin a process of change.
All homeowners under the plan would have a minimum homestead exemption of $50,000, although some low-income senior citizens will receive a $100,000 exemption. Beyond that, a so-called “super exemption” would apply:
• The two-tiered homestead exemption will be based on a percentage of a property’s market value.
• 75 percent of a home’s first $200,000 value would be exempt from property taxes.
• If the market value of property is greater than $200,000, then 15 percent of the amount over $200,000 would be exempt from property taxes, up to $500,000.
• The initial $500,000 ceiling will be adjusted annually based on any adjustment to Florida’s per capita personal income.
For example, if the market value of a home is $500,000, the 75 percent ex-
representatives of the Solid Waste Authority and Waste Management several times about piles of trash in front of one of her gates, to no avail.
“I have called and reported it,” she said. “Short of hiring my own people to go out there and clean it up, I can’t get anything done. They basically told me they wouldn’t pick it up. In front of my own gates there is a giant pile of building junk that was dumped there. We need to know how to get these illegal dumping issues handled. Perhaps we can make this a part of the cleanup also.”
they are considered a gang. “If three brothers give themselves a name,” he said, “and one of them puts up graffiti on the wall of a school, that could be considered the act of a gang.”
Santos said that although his office warns parents privately when children get involved with gangs, they do not create public records. “We want to protect both the children and police intelligence operations,’ he said. “Being a gang member just by itself is not a crime. Committing a criminal act is what makes someone a criminal.”
In other business:
• ALA members expressed concern about the existence of an auto repair facility inside The Acreage.
“We spent a lot of time discussing and arguing whether or not to approve a change in our Neighborhood Plan to allow Publix to have a gas kiosk,” Vice President Cheryl Wagner said. “And now we have an auto repair shop, licensed by the county, operating in The Acreage.”
Local activist Alex Larson pointed out that the business, located on Mandarin Blvd., is in violation of the Uniform Land Development Code and should be stopped by Palm Beach County Code Enforcement. “The whole district is agricultural/residential,” she said. “There is no provision for this kind of business.”
Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Ralph Bair said that concerned citizens should contact not only code enforcement, but the Department of Environmental Resource Management and the Palm Beach County Health Department because of possible health concerns from oil leaching into the soil.
The ALA voted to send an official letter to all those agencies.
• ALA President Robert Trepp announced a grant of $1,000 for the Seminole Ridge High School Marching Band, which will appear at the Gator Bowl, the only such band from Florida.
• Nominations were held for new ALA board members. All current members were re-nominated, as was Kesia ChangAllen. There will be another round of open nominations at the next ALA meeting, scheduled for Sept. 17.
emption on the first $200,000 would be $150,000. There is then a 15-percent exemption on the next $300,000, which would add another $45,000 to the exemption, for a total homestead exemption of $195,000. That would mean the total taxable value of a half-million-dollar home would be $305,000, and ad valorem taxes would be calculated based on that amount.
The Property Appraiser’s Office provides a calculator on its web site to figure taxes. Go to www.pbcgov.com/papa, then “Record Search” and then select the “Taxable Value Calculator” button to find out the tax rates under the old and new system for your property.
Thomas noted that some people will be very happy with the new plan, while others would not. “But remember, it is the people in charge of the taxing authorities that create your taxes,” he said, “not the appraisers.”
Wechsler Watch ‘Eureka’
continued from page 18A him out of the house until he apologizes.
Eureka, for all of its sci-fi patina, is really a show about families. Carter’s daughter Zoe moved in with him at the start of the first episode, having run away from her mother. She has a shaky relationship with him, but the show explores it without the usual extreme reactions that seem to be a staple of too many series. An example is when she receives the results of her IQ test. Her father had boasted that he had scored 111 on the test, “better than a 100,” which put him far below everyone else in the town. She told him she got 112, even though her real score was 157, so he wouldn’t feel inadequate.
Ed Quinn as head corporate researcher Nathan Stark has many secrets but also
Council Comp Plan Costs
continued from page 7A
The apparent low bid, submitted by Julia Trevarthen, director of the South Florida Regional Planning Council Institute for Community Collaboration, is $5,750 per day for a vision meeting, which would consist of two sessions.
Lippman said that he had also received proposals from Calvin, Giordano & Associates and from Dr. Jack Pinkowski, director of the Institute for Government and Public Policy, and assistant professor of public administration for the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Enterpreneurship at Nova Southeastern University. Calvin, Giordano & Associates’ estimated cost was $84,500.
Autrey asked if there could be someone with some more rural experience involved in the process. Council members by consensus agreed to ask that the invitation be re-advertised with applications being reviewed possibly at the Sept. 18 meeting.
Louda, who teaches environmental chemistry at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, said he had been approached by a colleague there with an offer of graduate students to cut down the costs.
“He’s a GIS specialist,” Louda said. “Since we were going into the comprehensive plan process, he asked that this be passed on to council and to staff. He said they would be willing to do GIS services as a freebie.”
The council, by consensus, said they would review this again at the Sept. 18 meeting.
• The council approved an interlocal agreement with the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County for solid waste and recycling collection services within the town for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The amount for the services will be $388,914 from Oct. 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2009.
• The council approved an agreement with Fusedog as its web service provider.
Lipp
Now On LUAB
continued from page 10A reality on the ‘westward ho’ plans,” he said. “The county said it will cost about a billion dollars for enough roads out there. I think that was the tipping point for Callery-Judge.”
Lipp lives in the northern portion of Loxahatchee Groves. “I did not move here to live next to CityPlace. If I had I would have moved there,” he said. “I want a place with open space.”
Lipp said his attitude largely reflects the feeling of a majority of Loxahatchee Groves residents. “I think putting a member of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on the Land Use Advisory Board was a gutsy move,” he said. “Everybody knows where I am on development issues. If it doesn’t fit into the current comprehensive plan, then why are we attempting to change the plan?”
has an estranged wife (Salli RichardsonWhitfield) and an autistic stepson who has some kind of connection to an alien artifact that provides one of the sci-fi elements to the story. His passion for secrecy goes too far, however, and the estranged wife takes over running research.
As a way of ramping up the action, Carter is seen three years in the future as her adoring husband with a child on the way who is forced to go back to the past and, in doing so, changes the whole past so that he no longer has her. As I wrote earlier, the problems here are different.
I highly recommend the show. There are very few shows I automatically set my DVR to record. This is one of them. For those who are sci-fi fans, it is a must. For those who are not, my wife is one of you, and she loves the show. It is not exactly sci-fi lite; it is more sci-fi bright.
A NEW ERA FOR AN OLD SHOW
Stadium Jumping’s Move To New Showgrounds
Captures International and Local Support
While Stadium Jumping Inc., has been a popular fixture in Wellington for some three decades, the hunter/jumper and dressage winter extravaganzas have also placed the community on a global map, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually.
It can accurately be stated that the Winter Equestrian Festival, Nation’s Cup and National Horse Show place Wellington at the epicenter of the international equestrian community. Stadium Jumping is the heart of the seasonal equestrian residents who trek to the community every winter to be close to the action.
While the eternal question – “Which came first, the chicken or the egg” – might never be answered, there is absolutely no question that Stadium Jumping has created a Wellington lifestyle that keep tourists and seasonal residents coming back again and again.
Stadium Jumping announced recently that it plans to move to larger and more permanent facilities at the planned Wellington Preserve about two miles from its present location at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. The move will allow SJI to explain its operations on more suitable showgrounds, thus creating an even larger international event.
Support for the move has grown substantially since it first appeared that Stadium Jumping might have to leave Wellington because land was being sold off at its present location. That problem was solved with an agreement to move operations in 2009 when SJI’s lease expires.
Here is what some supporters have to say on the matter:
Arlene Page – Owner/operator Wellington’s Stillpoint Farm. Represented the U.S. in World Cup and international dressage competitions in U.S. and Europe.
“If you are not moving forward, you are moving backwards. We have been at the existing facilities for a long time. The equestrian community, locally, nationally and internationally, is desperate for a move such as this. The dressage community looks forward to the opportunity of a first class facility to expand the dressage competitions on a national and international level.”
Jane Henry – Wellington resident. Senior member of the Board of Directors, National
“Speaking on behalf of the National Horse Show, the event needs to be in the best location available. I have been involved with the National Horse Show for over 50 years and I am thrilled at the prospect of being part of relocating the show to what promises to be America’s finest competition facility. This is a very exciting move and I am glad to be a part of it.”
Dale Lawler – Wellington resident and real estate agent. United States Equestrian Federation steward.
“We have outgrown the current facility and this generation of horseman, which includes an increasingly international contingent deserves a state-of-the-art showgrounds. When it’s completed, everyone will be happier than they ever thought they could be.”
Topping – Wellington resident and businesswoman,
“It is most reassuring to know that the WEF circuit will continue on in Wellington for many years to come. The event relocation will definitely change the day plan in order to incorporate the logistics of riding or shipping in, but if the design concept becomes a reality, it will be well worth the competition improvements.”
Susie Schoellkopf – U.S. Equestrian Federation licensed judge and WEF exhibitor.
“When you outgrow a showgrounds, which seems to be the case with the Winter Equestrian Festival, it only makes sense that you would consider a move to a large area to create a world class facility. Change is very hard but I look forward to the future and the move being made by Stadium Jumping.”
Tim Kees – Wellington homeowner and seasonal resident. A top trainer, traveling with a stable of clients and some 40-50 horses each season.
“I think it’s a spectacular effort and I believe this country needs a venue comporable to those in Canada and Europe. This is our chance.”
Chance Arakelian – Ranch Sante Fe, travels from California to Wellington every year with stable of horses.
“We need a facility built for 4,000 horses, not 800. It is also important for Stadium Jumping Inc. to own the facility so there’s more incentive to constantly improve and upgrade.”
Leo Conroy – Wellington resident.
“In my opinion, anybody who cares about the sport and anybody who cares about the Village of Wellington, this is a win-win.”
Stadium Jumping Inc. 3380 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 1
Wellington, FL 33414
Office: 561-753-7296
Fax: 561-753-6428
www.stadiumjumping .com
Visit our website and give us your opinion about Stadium Jumping’s plans to build the world’s best equestrian facility right here in Wellington at: www.wellingtonshowgrounds.com
trainer and exhibitor at the WEF.
“I’m so excited about the move to the new facility which will allow us all to show at a world class venue. It will also allow for us to provide optimum training and care of the horses.”
Karen Healey – Wellington seasonal resident. One of the country’s top teacher/trainers, WEF judge.
“As someone who has judged in Wellington fairly often, I feel the time to move has come. Unless you own your own farm, you do not have anywhere to adequately prepare your horse.”
Linda Hough – Wellington resident. Her barn of hunters has won more championships than any other trainer in the country. Her daughter Lauren represented the U.S. at the Olympics in Sidney.
“I’m looking forward to having a new facility here in Wellington and I wish Stadium Jumping continued success.”
Peter Welles – Owner of many horses that have shown in Wellington at WEF. Currently has horses in training with Olympic Gold Medalist Chris Kappler.”
“I spent two weeks at Spruce Meadows in Calgary with my son Andrew. It opened my eyes on what a true world class facility is. It became obvious to me, the idea of transforming the existing showgrounds, given its physical and size limitations, would never work. If we were to stay at the current location, we would never have that opportunity. Let’s start with a clean sheet of paper. I commend SJI for taking the initiative to create such a facility and I look forward to competing there in the future.”
Allan E. Shore, Jr. – Wellington resident, WEF exhibitor, owner.
“It is no secret that during the past five years, Stadium Jumping’s success, and the growth of the Winter Equestrian Festival, have created more than simply growing pains for the country’s premier equestrian multi-discipline venue. I have seen this tremendous growth evolve over the past 20 years from a few rings and tents into the current facility which Gene Mische continues to improve upon every year. However, from my perspective as an exhibitor, owner and spectator at the WEF, it is clear that the current site has been severely squeezed beyond its capacity to offer enough available rings for competitions and schooling, adequate stabling for the many horses housed on the property, sufficient convenient parking, and has resulted in very long days with dangerous wear and tear on the current grounds. It is very exciting to now anticipate a specially designed facility where the welfare of the horses will be of paramount concern and everyone’s needs will be thoughtfully provided at a new state-of-the-art showgrounds.”
Betty
Horse Show.
Susie Humes – Wellington resident, is one of the country’s leading Horse Show Judges and a member of the board of the National Horse Show. She is a
Tracey
WEF rider.
PALMS WEST
A TOWN-CRIER Publication
Nancy Jennings T NancyJenningsT NancyJenningsTreatreats Her sHer Agent Agents s And Customers Like Family AndCustomersLikeFamily
By Jenna Fugate Town-Crier Staff Report
The stately wooden doors of the Keller Williams Realty offices in Wellington look professional and formal. One might expect this office of 102 agents would be more aloof, but behind these doors the agency meets the needs of customers in a friendly and comfortable manner because of the people who work there, like broker and team leader Nancy Jennings.
Jennings, an Indiana native, moved to the western communities in 1981 and was licensed as a Realtor in 1985. She qualified as a real estate broker in 2000, and combines her expertise and over two decades of experience in the real estate industry with her friendly personality when managing her office.
Jennings watches over her agents and helps them to excel. She said she promotes a sense of family and a pleasant environment in order to make the Wellington branch of Keller Williams, a nationwide realty company, a genial place. It may be the agency in the area with the most agents, but the comfortable environment makes it seem smaller and more intimate.
“People here are caring,” Jennings said. “It is not a normal market center, it is an agent-run company with an agent leadership council that is so important in helping my market center. I couldn’t do it without them.”
As a mother of three and grandmother of three, Jennings said family is im-
portant. She said she has helped to foster a caring atmosphere for each of the agents on her team, calling them her extended family.
“I have 102 other children,” she said. “I want to be sure my agents have careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.”
Jennings maintains a delicate balance between work and family with grace, taking little of the deserved credit for the growth of the agency. In just two and a half years since Keller Williams began its Wellington office, she has helped the agency gather its 102 agents and gain the trust of thousands of clients.
“Nancy is the most energetic, positive and supportive broker I’ve ever worked with,” coworker Susan Witka said. “I think a lot of people have joined because of Nancy. In stressful times, she makes it bearable.”
The real estate industry has indeed seen stressful times, but Jennings always looks on the bright side, which is part of the secret to her success.
“It’s not doom and gloom. The glass is always half full,” Jennings said. “I want my agents to have a good time here.”
Her spirit and enthusiasm not only make working at Keller Williams more enjoyable, but makes the process of buying or selling a home more agreeable for customers. Jennings said the attitude toward customers is why people turn to her agency for their real estate needs.
“I think the reason the customers keep
coming back is because of the great customer service and professionalism,” she said. “Pricing it right, and following through from the first home to the 500th. We only do it the right way.”
The doors to Jennings’ office may look formal, but they are always open for her agents and clients. Inside the profession-
alism prevails, but the overwhelming feeling of family makes this realty agency feel like a home.
Keller Williams Realty’s Wellington office is located at 12008 South Shore Blvd., Suite 101. For more info., call Jennings at (561) 790-4400 or visit www.nancyjenningsrealtor.com.
Team Leader — Keller Williams Realty’s Nancy Jennings is the broker and leader of the company’s 102-agent Wellington office.
The Satellite Store: Nearly 40 Years In The Western Communities
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
One of the real longtime residents of the western communities, Bob Gordon of the Satellite Store wants all his old friends and customers to know he’s back in business.
“I was in the hospital and people wanted to know what happened to me,” he said. “My company has installed thousands of satellite dishes out here, and we had customers coming to the store all the time. Then I got sick without warning and was not able to work.”
One night last year, Gordon said, he went to bed and woke up an hour later with a badly swollen leg.
“I wound up at the emergency room where the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong,” he recalled. “I was lucky that a surgeon who was visiting at the time recognized that I had a blood clot and performed surgery. Had I waited longer, I would probably have died.”
Gordon, who has been ensuring great reception for western communities residents for almost 40 years, lives in Loxahatchee. “I came down here on vacation in 1967 when Royal Palm Beach only went as far as the Royal Inn,” he reminisced. “They were using it as a place to showcase houses in Royal Palm Beach, which barely existed at the time. I was here before I-95. I remember when you had to get off at Palm Beach
Gardens and drive down A1A.”
Gordon began his business years ago as an installer of antennas for regular TV sets. “We could only get channels 5 and 12 back then,” he said. “With an antenna, you could get Miami stations. Then I began to install the large dishes and gradually moved into installing the smaller dishes that everyone now uses.”
Gordon wants the many people who have done previous business with him, as well as those interested in installing a satellite dish today, to know he is now back at work.
“I’m a real veteran with these devices,” he said. “I’m an electronic engineer, and I’ve been a licensed contractor since 1969. I’ve seen it all, I’ve fixed it all.”
Gordon said his customers appreciate the experience he provides.
“When you go to some companies, you get some guy coming around who lives in South Miami and who will resent coming back if there’s a problem,” he said. “I live out here; I’ve been in thousands of homes and have no problem coming back if there is a problem. People have told me that they’ve had installers who began on Monday, and this is the third dish they’re installing. Would you rather have hands-on service from someone who’s been doing this since the dishes have been around or someone who is just learning?”
Gordon said a satellite dish, in his opinion, is far preferable to cable because it is cheaper
‘I live out here; I’ve been in thousands of homes and have no problem coming back if there is a problem... Would you rather have hands-on service from someone who’s been doing this since dishes have been around, or someone who is just learning?’
— Bob Gordon
and provides a greater variety of channels. “You get a lot more specialized channels, particularly foreign channels and business channels, with a satellite,” he said.
For more information, call the Satellite Store at (561) 7904434.
“Call at any reasonable time,” Gordon said. “Right now I’m working out of my home office.”
Get Great Reception
(Above) Bob Gordon of the Satellite Store would like his longtime customers to know that he is out of the hospital and back at work installing satellite dishes in the western communities.
(Left) Bob and his signature trucks have been common sights on local streets since the late 1960s.
CAFCI HOSTS ANNUAL BUSINESS EXPO IN ROYAL PALM BEACH
CAFCI (Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement) presented its 12th Annual Business Awareness Expo last Saturday at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The free event offered area businesses a chance to showcase their services and get acquainted with each other. For more information about CAFCI, visit www.cafci.net.
PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Cheryl Metzner of Nu Skin uses the galvanic spa machine on Sharon Soleyn.
Marjorie Aiken, Winsom Martin of Genie’s Childrens Entertainment, Shauna Simms of Cassie’s Castle Assisted Living, CAFCI President Rhonda Ferrin-Davis and Ernie Garvey.
Ana Cora of Ana’s Flowers for a Life Time and Christina Grand of Sun Support & Resource Program.
Sashoy Foster, Arielle Lawson and Chennel Gayle with An Elite Affair President Tamara Negron and CEO Carol Jordan.
Kathy Masta and Rhonda Perez of YTB Travel Network.
Expo co-chair Amanayea Abraham with CAFCI President Rhonda Ferrin-Davis.
Expo co-chairs Edward Clark and Amanayea Abraham, along with Newley Wilson (second from right), present certificates of appreciation to Pamela Hart of the Office of Small Business Assistance and Eduardo Tautiva of Arbonne International.
Wycliffe Golf & Country Club Begins $22 Million Renovation
The clubhouse at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club in Wellington recently began a $22 million renovation with the approval of their construction permit through Palm Beach County on Tuesday, July 31. The highly anticipated revamp includes improvements and expansions to the fitness center, tennis and golf facilities, and facilitates the security of member property value for years to come. The investment will fashion Wycliffe into one of South Florida’s most enviable and contemporary golf and country club facilities.
A state-of-the-art grille room, sports and fitness complex, spa, tennis facility, men and women’s card rooms, meeting rooms, furnishings and finishes will be enhanced. In addition, Wycliffe recently completed the redesign of the tees and greens of the east 18-hole championship golf course designed by Bruce Devlin and Karl Litten, the famed team behind some of the most talked-about holes in South Florida. The redesign follows the successful completion of the popular John Sanford-designed West Golf Course in late 2006, making the two 18hole golf courses a fabulous duo for the Wycliffe community to enjoy.
The innovative grille room with a display kitchen is designed to serve 200 members and guests with an additional 150 seats outdoors, under a covered loggia. The sports complex features enlarged and upgraded facilities including a junior Olympic-style pool and separate spa, aerobics, pilates and physical therapy facilities. A renovated and enlarged clubhouse lounge, dining and card rooms will effectively and comfortably serve additional members and allow increased space for entertainment and events. In addition, a new tennis pro shop and covered stadium viewing area (seating 132 and overlooking the exhibition court) will
maximize spectator enjoyment.
Construction started 18 months after the Clubhouse & Golf Course Improvement Master Plan was given to Wycliffe Golf & Country Club members in January 2006 for feedback and approval. The renovations highlight a strong desire for Wycliffe members to witness an improvement in the condition and aesthetics of the current clubhouse built in 1989 as a developer-owned country club prior to turnover.
Consequently, Wycliffe members have waited in anticipation for construction to begin so they can enjoy the modernized amenities. Ultimately, Wycliffe Golf & Country Club Board of Directors President Michael Fish said the renovations mean a great deal to the Wycliffe membership as the club had “been under developer ownership up until two years ago, and our members have been waiting in anticipation for the renovation of our facilities.”
“We expressed a strong desire for a second dining facility in the form of a grille room of significant size,” Fish said. “And a new state-of-the-art fitness center with spa facilities to help resolve these former shortcomings.”
Wycliffe Golf & Country Club General Manager Steve Malvinni emphasized the need for the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club to “embrace future opportunity and potential and keep up to date with modern and effective amenities and conveniences to ensure the club prospers well into the future.”
“Although time consuming and at times inconvenient, the renovations can only represent a positive and celebrated addition to the existence of Wycliffe Golf & Country Club members, as the end result will far outweigh the initial disruptions,” Malvinni said.
Expected to be finished in late spring
2009, the improvements will highlight and invigorate the membership lifestyle and prepare Wycliffe for a dazzling future in the competitive country club environment.
“These changes will enhance our collective lifestyles and make Wycliffe a hidden jewel on the border of Wellington,”
Fish said. “A competitive country club attracting our share of the baby
The Wycliffe Golf & Country Club is located at the corner of State Road 7 and Lake Worth Road. For more information, visit www.wycliffecountryclub. com.
boomers relocating to South Florida.”
Renovations — Demolition of the cabana begins at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club, marking the first phase of the $22 million renovation project.
P.W. CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS
Shoppers Mini-Mall — Located at 3931 Jog Road in Greenacres, Shoppers Mini-Mall celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Shoppers MiniMall is composed of former Shoppers Depot tenants. The retailers vacated Shoppers Depot prior to its closing and formed a co-op in order to continue offering their products and services to the residents of central Palm Beach County. Shoppers Mini-Mall tenants include Common Scents, Myra’s Handbags, Crown Jewels, Shan’s Jewelry, Larry’s Leather, VI’s Avon & Cosmetics, My Guy & I Gifts and Young Time Watches. For more info., call (561) 967-7779. Shown here are Shoppers Mini-Mall tenants with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members.
Celebrateyourman.com — The Palms West Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Celebrateyourman.com on Monday, Aug. 13. The web-based company offers a wide variety of gift baskets designed for men, from get-well packages to those with outdoor themes, wine, romance and special occasions. For more info., visit www.celebrateyourman.com or call (561) 436-7112. Pictured above are Celebrateyourman.com owner Dorothy Schroader and her family with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, staff and board members.
Dr. Johnson To Speak At P.W. Chamber Luncheon
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon on Monday, Sept. 10 at 11:45 a.m. at Carrabba’s Italian Grill (11141 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach). Sponsored by Cardinal Electric and Carrabba’s, the luncheon will feature a presentation by Palm Beach County School District Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson. The cost is $15 for members with reservations, $20 for members at the door without reservations and $25 for non-members. RSVP by calling the chamber office at (561) 790-6200.
Bonefish Grill — This polished seafood restaurant, located in the Woods Walk shopping center in Wellington, specializes in market-fresh fish cooked over an oak-burning grill. A tantalizing array of sauces and original toppings, ranging from fresh and light to rich and flavorful, are offered to enhance the flavor of the fish. Recognized as the “fresh fish experts,” Bonefish Grill offers a variety of eight species from which to choose on any given day. The fish are flown in fresh, inspected for quality and hand-cut daily. Bonefish Grill is located at 9897 Lake Worth Road. For reservations, call (561) 965-2663. Pictured above are Joe Rotell and his sons Kessler and Tyler with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members.
Three J’s Cigar Emporium II — Located at 4115 S. State Road 7, Suite Y-2 in the Marketplace at Wycliffe, Three J’s Cigar Emporium II is family-owned and operated by Jeremy Fedorok, offering a comfortable home atmosphere. Three J’s offers more than 100 different brand-name premium cigars for the most seasoned cigar aficionado. Also, it hosts exclusive VIP parties every other month, catered by five-star restaurants. For more info., call (561) 8685600. Pictured here is Three J’s Hanz Everhardt with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members.
SBA Rates Small Business Procurement Efforts
In an effort to increase the transparency and accountability in small business contracting, the U.S. Small Business Administration recently released its first-ever small business procurement scorecard. The scorecard will help agencies measure their achievements and progress in making contracting opportunities available to small businesses, improve the accuracy of contracting data regarding small businesses, and provide the public the opportunity to assess agencies’ performance in meeting these goals.
Seven federal agencies met their small business contracting goals: the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing & Urban Development, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs and the SBA itself.
“SBA’s and the agencies’ commitment to small business contracting results is unprecedented,” Office of Management & Budget Deputy Director of Management Clay Johnson said. “With clear, outcome-oriented goals, clear, realistically aggressive plans to achieve them, clearly defined accountability, and frequent tracking of performance, SBA and the agencies are saying they want to be held most publicly accountable for contracting with small business at desired levels.”
SBA’s scorecard builds on a series of administration initiatives to improve small business access to federal contracts. At the request of the White House’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy and SBA, federal agencies spent months reviewing 11 million contract actions from the past two years to cleanse the database of miscoded contracts. On June 30, federal regulations were changed. Contracts awarded to small companies acquired by large corporations will no longer count toward federal agency small business goals — even if the acquisition took place before the rule change.
“These changes — increased accuracy, transparency and accountability — provide a real window of opportunity for America’s small businesses,” SBA Administrator Steve Preston said. “Almost $5 billion in misreported contracts have been cleaned out of the small business database. To meet their goals in 2007 and beyond, federal agencies know they will have to place more new contracts with small businesses. SBA is also increasing its staff and technical assistance to help our federal partners meet their contracting needs.”
After working with federal agencies to identify miscoding and anomalies in the contracting database, SBA released the annual Small Business Goaling Report for FY 2006, and revised the FY 2005 report. The Goaling Report shows that $77.7 billion in federal contracts were awarded to small businesses in FY 2006, up $2.7 billion from the previous year.
The revisions reduce the share of contracts awarded to small businesses in 2005 $4.6 billion from the previously reported 25.4 percent to 23.4 percent. For 2006 the figure is 22.8 percent, just short of the small business procurement goal established by law at 23 percent.
Preston cited the progress federal agencies have made toward meeting the five targeted sub-categories for small businesses procurement, as an example of what can be accomplished when agencies track progress toward small business goals.
“While only the target for small disadvantaged business has been met so far,” Preston said. “SBA is encouraged by the real gains made in every category in 2006.”
Contracts to companies owned by service-disabled veterans increased by 50 percent, from $2 billion to $3 billion; contracts to women-owned businesses increased by $1 billion; contracts to 8(a) companies rose by $700 million; and contracts to HUBZone companies were up $1 billion.
“We still have more to do to reach our targets,” Preston said, “but these are accomplishments that our federal partners can be proud of.”
SBA rates 24 agencies green, yellow or red, both on whether they reached their annual small business contracting goals and on their progress on efforts to make contracting opportunities available to small businesses.
To achieve a green rating, a federal agency has to meet its overall small business contracting goal, as well as the goals for at least three of four subcategories. For their current status, seven agencies were rated green, five yellow and 12 red. In the second category, under “progress,” 12 agencies were rated green, eight were yellow and four were red.
Each federal agency has a different small business contracting goal, determined annually in consultation with SBA. SBA ensures that the sum total of all of the goals exceeds the 23 percent target established by law. The scorecard will be updated every six months and is publicly available on the SBA web site at www.sba.gov.
“Small businesses play an important part in growing our nation’s economy, and this scorecard will help the agencies achieve contracting results that will keep our small businesses strong,” said Administrator Paul Denett of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP).
With more than 5.5 million contracting actions each year, miscodings and errors will not be completely eliminated from the contracting database. By publicizing the reports, and providing new tools to facilitate public review of the database, SBA and OFPP will enlist affected businesses and other stakeholders in the effort to continuously improve the accuracy and integrity of the procurement data.
The goaling reports are available at www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ goals/index.html.
AG Warns Floridians About Maryland Company
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum recently issued a consumer advisory cautioning Floridians about BlueHippo Funding LLC regarding its potentially deceptive advertising related to the sale of computers, examining allegations that the company fails to disclose the true cost of computers, often fails to send computers to its customers, and substantially overcharges for its computers.
BlueHippo is a Maryland-based company that advertises nationally through television, direct mail and the Internet. The company frequently promises consumers free televisions, printers or other home computer and electronics merchandise in addition to what seem to be affordable financing offers for well-known brand name computers and other electronic equipment. The computers are generally low-end models, and many consumers allege that due to BlueHippo’s financing payment schedule, they generally pay up to four times more than the computer would actually cost had they bought it instore.
The company advises consumers that they may cancel their contract at any time within the initial nine-week deposit payment period. However, company policy does not allow for refunds and instead gives customers “credit” to purchase products available on the company’s web site.
The Attorney General’s Office has received more than 50 complaints from Floridians about their experiences with the company.
Consumers who believe they may have been victimized by potentially deceptive or unfair practices by the company should contact the Attorney General’s Office. Complaints can be filed by calling (866) 966-7226 or by visiting www.myfloridalegal.com.
WINE GALA AT FRESH MARKET BENEFITS DIABETES RESEARCH
The Fresh Market in Wellington hosted a wine gala on Wednesday, Aug. 15 to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The event featured a silent auction and raffles, with prize baskets from TooJay’s, Fresh Market and Build-aBear, as well as salon treatments and various foods. According to organizers, the gala raised more than $6,200. For more information about the JDRF, visit www.jdrf.org.
Kelly Noll and Michelle McClintock win a basket and $50 gift certificate.
Wellington Fresh Market Store Manager Peter Rooney, JDRF Greater Palm Beach County Chapter Executive Director Lora Hazelwood and Coconut Grove Fresh Market Assistant Store Manager Alan Williams.
Diabetes and Nutrition Center office manager Angela Fonda, DNC Director of Education Laura Delvalle, Bob Cavanagh, Diabetes Self Management Supplies President Jerry Fonda, Tammy Hollinstat and Jessa Kovtun of Medtronic MiniMed.
Bob and Karen Cavanagh with Ashley and Joe Maguire.Janeice Coats pours wine for Steve Lamonica.
Michele and Vince Bianco of Wellington.
JDRF volunteers Evelyn and Lindy Savage.
PHOTOS BY DENISE
Wake Up! Do You Know Where Your Food Is Coming From?
Years ago the only things we bought that came across the ocean were cars. I will never forget when the first VW “Bug” suddenly appeared on my street in Brooklyn about 50 or so years ago. Just about everyone on the block was in a state of shock. They couldn’t believe someone would spend hard-earned American money on a car made in Germany. But as the years went by, millions of Americans did spend money on cars made in Germany and Japan.
My wife couldn’t buy her first Toyota ’til my father died. And to this day (four years after she bought her first Toyota) my mother still doesn’t know about it (my mother is blind). My mother is aware my kids bought cars made in Japan, but she thinks I know better, and I should know better. But I gave in just like almost everyone else. On a recent trip to Century Village, I could not believe all the German and Japanese cars I saw parked in the parking areas. I guess all is forgiven for World War II. Does this mean that in about 65 years we will forgive the people (I don’t mean to insult the human race by calling them people) who flew into the World Trade Center? Just wondering
In today’s world I can’t believe all the things we import from across the ocean. It seems that just a few short years ago these items were made in the good old USA. Who knew that most of our dog and
Wondering And Wandering
With Ernie Zimmerman
cat food is now being made in China? Of course it took a lot of dogs and cats to die from this so-called food to wake us up as to who was making our pet food.
Over 50 percent of our seafood is coming from foreign shores. When I first found out I had the gout, one of the first foods the doctor told me to give up was shrimp. I love shrimp. It was a very hard thing for me to give up, but now that I know where most of our shrimp is coming from, I am very happy I no longer eat it. Now we have to worry about the toys our kids play with on a daily basis. And the bibs that hang from their necks. Millions of toys and bibs made in China have been recalled. The reason for the recall is in most cases these so-called toys and bibs were painted with paint that contains lead. The United States outlawed
lead paint many years ago. Where are the folks protecting our borders? Not only can they not stop illegal aliens, they can’t stop all of these dangerous products coming into our stores. Where is our government when we need them? Oh silly me, I almost forgot... most of our resources are in Iraq.
When I was a cop in New York City I saw the results of kids who ate lead paint peeling off the walls of their apartments. It wasn’t a pretty sight to see these kids suffer. Many years ago the Soviet leader Mr. Khrushchev, while banging his shoe on a table at the UN (I guess his mother did not teach him any manners) said he would bury us. It appears that statement is coming back to haunt us. Without firing a shot, foreign countries are doing a good job of burying us in the stuff we import from them.
Just about every mushroom you eat has crossed the ocean to get on your plate. About 50 percent of the apple juice we and our kids drink have also crossed the ocean. What has happened to this country? We never had to depend on anyone else to feed us. I don’t know about you folks, but before I put another bite of food in my mouth, I will read the label very carefully, not to only see calorie or fat content... I want to know where the food comes from. I will give it my best shot to only eat food made in the United States
Watch Those Dooryard Citrus Trees Carefully This Time Of Year
Our fall citrus picking season will begin in about four to six weeks, and many dooryard citrus owners have been eagerly awaiting the upcoming season. If you’ve checked your tree recently though, you might have seen some alarming things going on, and one that occurs a lot in late August and September is fruit splitting.
Fruits are getting rather large this time of year and aren’t able to expand readily when large amounts of water are pumped into them. Thin-skinned citrus fruits like lemons, limes, tangerines and thinskinned oranges may crack open either vertically or horizontally as a result of the fruit absorbing too much water. If this is happening at a time of year that
we’re not getting a lot of heavy rain, the culprit could be your sprinkling system, which can be shut off near the trees and allow the trees to dry out. Split fruit is still too immature to use even for juice, so essentially it’s wasted. Some years up to 25 percent of the crop may be lost to fruit splitting when we have excessively wet soils.
Some people are seeing increased growth of algae, lichens, moss and other things on tree trunks, which although not very pretty don’t injure the tree’s production for the most part. If you want to discourage these growths, spraying copper fungicide will limit them, but won’t eliminate them 100 percent.
Some trees have put out a lot of growth
in the last few weeks, not unusual for the mid-summer, and if you have unwanted suckers on the lower portion of the tree, now is the time to go ahead and remove them to maintain a desired number of branches. Some yellowing and discoloration of older leaves is also occurring, which is seasonal in nature, and as long as it is only the older leaves, you’ve got nothing to worry about. If you see newer leaves yellowing and falling off though, this could indicate more serious nutritional problems or the onset of certain diseases.
It’s important to keep trees as healthy as possible, and one way to do that is to keep a regular three- or four-month feeding program throughout the year. Use a
Gardening With Gene By Gene Joyner
good quality citrus fertilizer, and the general rate to use is one pound for every inch diameter of the tree trunk. Fertilizers can be applied evenly beneath the tree as far out as the branches extend.
If you have questions about citrus care, call the Palm Beach County Extension office at (561) 233-1750.
$18-$25/HR — Teachers/Tutors P/T. All subjects PreK to Adult. Certification/Experience required. Palm Beach County Areas Fax 561-828-8128 or E-mail Tutorking@adelphia.net
HELP WANTED/BOOKKEEPER EXPE-
RIENCED; Familiar with QUICKBOOKS - Full-Time position. Pay commensurate with experience. Fax resume to A. Silver - 561-432-2825
CLEANERS RESIDENTIAL FT — Car required, Pd. Training. North and West Palm Beach Cty. Up to $10/hr Start. 561-756-2282
RECEPTIONIST - For Lawyer and Accounting Office. Some bookkeeping. Fax resume to 561-333-2680.
HELP WANTED
Earn $800 - $3200 Monthly to drive brand new cars with ads placed on them. www.AdCarDrive.com
PINCH PENNY - POOL STORE — Forest Hill & South Shore in Wellington Perm Position - FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE - No nights - M/B avail some weekends. 18 yrs. - Will train - Apply in person.
BASIC OFFICE HELP — needed for church related business. Knowledge of computer and telephone skills. Nonsmoker/Non-drinker. 561-753-5998
RECEPTIONIST AND CHILD CARE — for busy Wellington Company. Experience a must Flexible Hours and some weekends. To apply Fax 561-795-8807 or email:ultima3@bellsouth.net
OVER 62? - Minimum $1,000 after training. Find your own reverse mortgage and get paid to teach others. Madelyn Page@BellSouth.Net. 561-422-2910
LOCAL WELLINGTON OFFICE — seeking friendly upbeat customer service representative. Please fax resume to 561-792-4010
SMALL PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL — in Royal Palm Beach looking for energetic, multi-tasking, ESE Learning Strategist and experienced educator in the Sciences and Histories. Call 561-795-6886 for more information. Part time or full time positions available.
TECHS AND DRIVERS — For Mosquito Control Program. Seasonal PT (25-40 hrs per wk) day & eve. Positions avail. $10.00/hr, paid training & vehicle provided. Must be 18+ w/good driving record. Apply in person M-F 8:30 am – 4 pm, 3132 Fortune Way, Ste D-8, Wellington, FL or call Diane 561-7536685. EOE/Drug Free Workplace.
SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR NEEDS — Temporary workers for event set-up. Heavy lifting required. Flexible hours. Call HR Dept. 561-790-5223
FOR RENT IN ACREAGE — 5 BD/3 ½ BA/2 CG Plus office & den, $2000/MO includes lawn maintenance. 12818 Tangerine Blvd. 561-313-6680
GRANDVIEW AT CRESTWOOD - spacious 3/2/1 CG in security gated community. Includes water, cable and all amenities. Located near shopping and schools. No Pets. $1,300/mo. 561-3296078
GREENWAY CIRCLE - 1BD/1BA Condo. $850/Mo. and THE TRAILS - 2 BD/2BA Condo $1,250/Mo. 561-422-2910
TOWNHOUSE 2/2 LANAI - community pool, tile/carpet, washer/dryer. Walk to Veterans Park. $1,180/Mo. water/cable included. First & Last Required. (954) 605-2180
WELLINGTON PLACE TOWNHOUSE — 3/2/1CG, screened patio, walk to New Horizon and High School. Available immediately. Call for details. $1,375/Mo 954-494-3020
LARGE 4/3 ON 2 1/2 ACRES — 5 Stalls, 3 paddocks. Owners would like to stay on as groundskeepers in the In-laws house. $595,000. 561-767-0731
WELLINGTON LAKES — 4/2 1/2/2CG cul-de-sac home on canal. Leading into Lake Wellington 2400 Sq. Ft. New tile on 1st Floor, all new appliance. Wrap around screened patio. Excellent Condition! Low HOA. FOR SALE BY OWNER. $349,900. Call 561-795-5154
TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CALL TODAY 793-3576
ROOM FOR RENT: Fully furnished room available in 2 BD 2 BA condo in Wellington. Rent $650/month w/$650 deposit plus ½ utilities and $100 condo application fee. Includes pool access, basic cable. Available mid-August. 6 or 12 month lease available. Contact Paul at 352-0635. 2 ROOMS FOR RENT - 1 in Royal Palm Beach and 1 in West Palm Beach. Both private bath. $675/each. 561-422-2910. ROOM FOR RENT IN CONDO — close to schools & shopping, community pool, gated community with gym. 561-5028378 $500/Mo includes utilities.
LOWEST PRICES! — Nobody beats our Price! Free Est. Complete A/C units from $1,150. Repair Specialists. Lic./ ins. 561-795-1130 toll free 888-981-9815
JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC. - Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996.
COMPLETE AUTO SHOP LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF LOXAHATCHEE!!Services provided; Brakes, Steering and Suspension, Belts and Hoses, Complete Engine Repair, Oil and Filters, Motor Tune Ups, Custom Exhaust Systems, A/C Repair, And Much More!!! Pick-up/Deliver Mark Hamilton Auto Repair "ASE Certified" Office: 561-793-1010 o Cell: 954-605-8416 MV#62390 Visa/MC/Amex accepted.
Specializing in Infant Care. References available over 20 years experience. Non-Smoker 561-389-2020
The only non-profit petting zoo in the area. - featuring parrots, mini horses, ponies, pony rides, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and Llamas and more and farm club. 561-792-2666 HOUSE CLEANING AVAILABLE — Over 13 yrs. experience. Great references. Very Dependable. Karen. 561-632-2271 MAURILIA - CLEANING
HOT WYRE ELECTRIC — For all your electrical needs. Panel upgrades, installations, repairs, lightening protection, troubleshooting. Licensed, Insured, Free Estimates. 561-313-0134
RENT ME! - 2007 JOHN DEERE 110 LOADER BACKHOE — Rental includes truck w/100 gal. Diesel Tank for your convenience, Trailer and Tractor. Moves Dirt, backhoe for stump & tree removal and much more. Can be used for small or large jobs. 4 hour min/$40 Per Hr. rate without operator $65 Per Hr. with operator. Pump w/fuel meter for greater ease. Box blade available. 561-7840933. Leave Message. JB Cell 561-3157751
GUARDSMAN FURNITURE PRO — For all your furniture repair needs including finish repairs, structural repairs, upholstery services, chair regluing, antique repairs, kitchen cabinet refurbishing. 753-8689
HOME STANDBY GENERATORS — Complete packages including fueled system - Best Prices & reliable new Generator systems installed from 15 to 200KW “More Practical and much quieter” Maintenance & Service for all types of generators. Factory Authorized Dealer. 561-707-0575 Palm Beach. Tropical Power Systems, Inc.
CAN FIX IT — build it, move it, plant it, and more. Call Bruce, 793-2494. TFN
BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS, INC. — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall, kitchens/cabinets/countertops, remodeling, wood flooring. Bonded/Insured U#19699. 561-791-9900
LAWN MAINTENANCE CARL SAMUELS LAWN CARE — Complete lawn maintenance, mowing, edging, trimming & much more. Free estimates. Quality work at affordable prices! Lic. & Ins. 561-6333687
JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. ––– Interior/Exterior, artistic faux finishing, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair, & roof painting/cleaning. Free est. Call 798-4964. Lic.#U18473
LARRY’S PAINTING & WALLPAPER — Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Interior/ Exterior painting. 561-309-2845. Wallpaper - Luanne 561-801-2018 Painting • Residential • Commercial • Historical Restoration • Faux Finishing • Stucco Repair • Roof Painting • and Pressure Cleaning • Sand Blasting • Mold Removal. FLEISCHER’S PAINTING • 561833-6661. LET US AD A LITTLE COLOR TO YOUR LIFE — Residential/Commercial. Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Owner/Operator. Ask for Paul 561-309-8290. COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/ Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free estimates - Insured. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident. RJA PAINTING & DECORATING — interior, exterior, custom colors, faux art-
CLUTTER FREE CLOSETS — For all your organizing needs. Custom closets. NOW OFFERING THE AMAZING BOOKSHELF BI-FOLD CLOSET DOOR. Robert Powell/Owner. FREE ESTIMATES. 561-422-7999 Lic. & Ins.
D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-333-9433 or Cell 561252-1186 Lic’d- Well. & Palm Beach
MOBILE -TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/Software setup, support & troubleshooting www.mobiletec.net 561-248-2611 $25 Off Labor Home & Office e-Masque InteractiveHas your computer gotten slow? Do you get unwanted Pop-Ups? Does your computer seem to have a mind of its own? Would you like to connect multiple computers to the internet? Spyware & Virus Removal•Repairs •Websites•Networking Upgrades•Programming•Security call: 561-795-0559 we do make house calls www.e-masque.com
ROCKANDRECORD.COM - A professional DJ and Videography Service. Disc Jockey • Music • Entertainment • Professional MC's • Weddings • Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Sweet 16/Birthday Parties • Anniversaries • Private & Corporate Events • Holiday Parties 561-422-4336
ANMAR CO. –James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528
ATLANTIC SHORE HOME IMPROVEMENT — Kitchen & Bathrooms/Remodel, Ceramic & Wood Floors, Carpentry & Handyman Services, Doors & Windows. References upon request. 561-756-0428 Anthony Palermo Lic. #CGC057252 Ins.
MCA CUSTOM WOODWORKING, INC. — “Make your home standout from the rest” Call us for all your home improvement needs. Kitchen & bathroom remodeling, custom wall units, design your home office, cabinetry, tile & drywall repair. Lic. #U-19564. Bonded & Ins. 561-723-5836 Home repair. Quality Work. Free estimates. Fast on time service. "For all your home improvement needs" Lic. & Ins. 561-685-5360 561-308-6677.
BD
SIGMA III CORPORATION PRIVATE
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE — Domestic investigation, surveillance, missing persons. Background investigation into that new boyfriend or fiancé, hidden assets located and more. Lic. & Ins. 561-3124386 Member of Better
LITL AUDIO/VIDEO SERVICE — specializing in Home Theatre Installation Satellite Services and communications. “I will Beat Retailer’s cost & Installation fees”! Call George for immediate service at 954-263-4189 561-784-4858 Office. Res./Comm. Lic. & Ins.
COMPLETE IRRIGATION — PVC/PIPE supplies.Citrus ,Vegetables, Power units. Water Wheels, design services, Fairways Polo fields, Pumps/Engines mowing of all types. 1-863-675-6333. UNIVERSAL IRRIGATION SERVICE & INSTALLATION — New Installations sprinkler repair pumps/Time Clocks. We Service all brands. Monthly Maintenance. Fast Response. Lic. #U-10740 Bonded Insured. 561-795-9735
FRANK’S BUSHHOG SERVICE — Lot mowing, Lawn Maintenance, Landscaping, Lot cleaning and TREE TRIMMING, reasonable rates. 722-4403 Lic.& Ins. TNT LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE 561-644-8683 — Lic. & Ins. Landscape design, low maintenance gardens, professional plant installation, mulching, monthly property maintenance, sprinklers maintenance & repair, expert hedge & tree trimming.
or email: primrosepm123@aol.com MINOR ROOF REPAIRS – Roof painting. Carpentry. License #U9 865. 9675580. BD SHAKE ROOF SPECIALISTS –– New roofs, repairs, preservation.
or 641-4592. BD ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded.
