Town-Crier Newspaper February 24, 2012

WELLINGTON ELECTION PROFILES GREENE VS. HOSTETLER, PAGE 7

LOX GROVES ELECTION PROFILES GUILLAUME VS. LIANG, PAGE 9

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Volume 33, Number 8 February 24 - March 1, 2012

ITID Picks Hedrick Brothers To Build Rec Center At Park

INSIDE Acreage Man Asks County To Restrict Trucks On Sem Pratt

Acreage resident Thomas Beasley complained about commercial truck traffic on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road last week at the monthly public forum meeting hosted by County Commissioner Jess Santamaria at the original Wellington Mall.

Page 3

Great Charity Challenge Winners — First-place winners the Wellington PTO/PTA receive their check.

PHOTO BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Dressage Under The Stars At P.B. Polo & Hunt Club

Dressage Under the Stars kicked off its fourth season Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Palm Beach Polo & Hunt Club in Wellington. This is a weekly exhibition show with prizes. At the end of seven weeks, the weekly winners will return for the grand finale competition. Page 5

Wellington Green Market Hosts First Chocolate Festival

The Wellington Green Market held its first Chocolate Festival on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Wellington Amphitheater to benefit the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation.

Page 11

OPINION Still Problems In How Florida Legislators Draw District Lines

Not long after the state legislature released proposed lines for new legislative and congressional districts, the matter made its way to the Florida Supreme Court. This is more than just a question of political party, and though we would like to see the issue decided in a timely manner, we hope it is given due consideration and not brushed aside. Otherwise, this will just be another example of lawmakers ignoring the will of the people. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 15 OPINION .................................4 CRIME NEWS .........................6 NEWS BRIEFS........................ 8 POLO/EQUESTRIAN .............17 SCHOOLS .....................18 - 19 PEOPLE ............................... 20 COLUMNS .................... 29 - 31 BUSINESS .................... 33 - 35 ENTERTAINMENT ................ 38 SPORTS ........................ 43 - 46 CALENDAR ...................48 - 49 CLASSIFIEDS ................ 50 - 54 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

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Wellington Schools The Big Winners At Charity Challenge

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington schoolchildren were the big winners last Friday night, with 12 local schools splitting $150,000 as part of the third annual FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments.

The Wellington PTA/PTO Group, anchored by Olympic rider Margie Engle, finished the relay course with 90.32 seconds on the clock, rocketing them to first place.

“It’s a win for the community,” Berta Ebersole, PTO president at Wellington Landings Middle School, told the Town-Crier. “It’s a great effort from the equestrian community — neighbor to neighbor — helping each other out.

We’re so excited. It’s really a winwin situation.”

The Great Charity Challenge was created three years ago by Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo and his daughter

Paige as a way for riders to give back to the community they call home for several months each winter.

The Great Charity Challenge has given away more than $2.7 million to Palm Beach County charities over the past three years.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Bellissimo said. “I think it’s wonderful. My wife and I, we think it was an amazing thing to include the schools this year.”

This year, 32 charities split more than $1.1 million, won by a relay team of three riders jumping a course of jumps. Each charity took home at least $10,000.

Place of Hope, anchored by Olympian Pablo Barrios, took home second place and $125,000.

Third place and $100,000 went to Gulfstream Goodwill.

This year, for the first time, fans were able to vote for their favorite charity online at www.ftigreat

charitychallenge.com.

The winning charity was the American Humane Society, which received an extra $25,000. Be AStar was second, and Big Dog Ranch Rescue was voted third — both receiving $12,500.

For the schools — which often do their own fundraising — the money is crucial and will help to better Wellington’s future, Ebersole said.

Though it hadn’t been decided, the Wellington PTO/PTA leaders anticipated each school would get approximately $12,500.

Kim Proenza-Smith, president of the Polo Park Middle School PTSA, said that the funds could help upgrade facilities to match its high-achieving students.

“Our students are achieving high academics, being rated such a high school, by just effort alone,” she said. “It’s not necessarily the See CHARITY, page 22

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors selected Hedrick Brothers Construction on Wednesday to build the planned recreation center at Acreage Community Park.

The building will be constructed using a “construction manager at risk” bid format, which will protect ITID against cost overruns.

ITID staff explained that the construction manager will assume liability for cost overruns — a key concern expressed by supervisors.

Cost estimates received from architects last month were just narrowly under the $4 million ITID has budgeted for the project, centerpiece of the long-planned park expansion.

Three firms made presentations Wednesday to the board’s selection committee in a workshop prior to a special ITID board meeting.

Using tally sheets, the committee, made up of Finance Director Emily Poundstone, Supervisor

Carol Jacobs (who presided), Director of Maintenance & Operations Anthony LasCasas and Parks Director Tim Wojnar, rated the Weitz Company first with 564 points, Hedrick second with 551 and Morganti Construction third with 426 points.

But the board chose Hedrick over the selection committee recommendation during the meeting that followed. Jacobs, who is in the construction business, said she preferred Hedrick.

“They were all excellent, but for our needs, what I saw was that Hedrick Brothers is a good fit for our community,” Jacobs said, who made a motion to approve Hedrick, seconded by Supervisor Jennifer Hager.

ITID President Michelle Damone agreed. “I actually preferred Hedrick myself,” she said.

Supervisor Ralph Bair said he had not heard all the presentations but would go along with what appeared to be a majority.

However, Supervisor Carlos EnSee HEDRICK, page 22

HORSE ART AT THE SHOW GROUNDS

RPB Council Agrees To Support Chamber’s Art & Music Festival

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week approved a special event application by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce for the Royal Palm Art & Music Festival to be held at the south end of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Friday through Sunday, March 9-12.

At the Thursday, Feb. 16 council meeting, RPB Senior Planner Bradford O’Brien said plans for the festival are very similar to last year’s, except that the event will feature fireworks this year instead of a laser light show.

Mayor Matty Mattioli said the event was popular last year and supported granting the permit.

“I think it’s a great festivity,” Mattioli said. “It was well-received last year, and they’re still talking about it. I think in the times that we’re in, this will be a place for people to go and enjoy themselves as they did last year.”

On the advice of the village attorney, Mattioli then recused himself from further discussion and voting because he is a member of the chamber’s board of directors.

He passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Richard Valuntas.

Valuntas also supported the event. “I really enjoyed it the last couple of years,” he said.

Councilwoman Martha Webster asked about the village’s in-kind support, which amounted to about $17,000 last year. “I’m looking at the in-kind contributions this year, which come to about $5,000,” Webster said. “I’m looking down the conditions of approval, and we’re nowhere near an in-kind as we were last year.”

Webster asked that the level of contribution be increased to the level it was last year. “My argument is that it was a wonderful event,” Webster said. “We had great feedback. This is the third year we’ll be doing it.”

Councilman Fred Pinto asked about the difference in the level of contribution, and O’Brien said the difference was due to costs that proved unnecessary last year.

“The in-kind contribution included the police force and the hours that they were contributing to the event,” O’Brien said.

Village Manager Ray Liggins said the law enforcement support had been for a worst-case scenario. “That was for something you may have been liable for if something very bad happened on the other end of town and they had to deploy additional officers,” Liggins said. “We don’t have that number in here at all.”

Liggins said that the chamber

and the village know more about what they are dealing with now that the festival is entering its third year. “For example, you’ll see ‘electrical inspector,’” Liggins said.

“The first year, we didn’t know what the electrical needs would be, so the estimate was higher.”

Last year, RPB paid for the bus shuttle service, which is being negotiated by the chamber this year, he said.

Palms West Chamber CEO Jaene Miranda said the event was created out of cooperation by the chamber and the village.

“This event was not done just by the chamber,” she stressed.

“We sat with village staff at the time. We sat with the mayor to create the Royal Palm Art & Music Festival. One of the major requests that were made, which we do not offer at any of our other festivals, was to maintain free admission. We need to keep that in mind as we’re working through this. We rely solely on the generosity of our sponsors to put this event together and, of course, the support of the village.”

Miranda noted that at other chamber festivals, gate admission brings in anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 to help defray costs.

“We do not have that at this festiSee FESTIVAL, page 22

Bringing culture to Wellington, this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival features fine equestrian-themed art on display. There are three art galleries located at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center this season. Each gallery features horsethemed art in various media, from photographs to Impressionist paintings, representing an array of artists from around the world. Shown here is a painting by American contemporary ar tist Kristin Knight. SEE STORY, PAGE 3

Campus Workshop Set For March 20

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Officials with the Town of Loxahatchee Groves will sit down again with officials from Palm Beach State College at a workshop session planned for next month.

The workshop is scheduled for March 20 at 7 p.m., according to college officials. Aside from the college and the town, representatives of the property owner and developers of an adjacent commercial project are also set to attend.

The college plans to buy 75 acres at the corner of Southern Blvd. and B Road for its planned fifth campus. An adjoining 22 acres are slated for a shopping plaza.

Collene Walter, of land planning consultant Urban Design Kilday

Studios, gave an update to the Palm Beach State College Board of Trustees on Tuesday, according to Dr. Grace Truman, PBSC college relations and marketing director.

“There is going to be a workshop with the town council, the college and the people who are developing the commercial project,” Truman said. “That will be in March, then there will be a public workshop, then it will go to the planning and zoning board, and then the town council.”

Walter estimated that the project would get to the council for approval sometime in August or September, Truman said.

Issues about the campus have centered on the size of a northern See CAMPUS, page 22

Wellington Candidates Talk Business, Taxes And Growth

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Candidates vying for seats on the Wellington Village Council in next month’s election talked business, taxes and growth at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Candidates Forum” held Thursday, Feb. 16.

Three seats are up for grabs March 13. Council Seat 1, currently held by term-limited Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Carmine Priore, has drawn candidates John Greene and Shauna Hostetler. Vice Mayor Matt Willhite is running for re-election to Seat 4 and has been challenged by former Councilman Al Paglia.

Mayor Darell Bowen is also seeking re-election and faces former Councilman Bob Margolis.

Tax rates were a concern for

many of those who attended the forum held at the Wellington municipal complex. Candidates were asked whether they would consider raising the tax rate or cut programs to make up for budget shortfalls.

Greene told the audience that he would have to look at the specific numbers when they come before him but felt that the council had to be fiscally responsible.

“We are dealing with limited resources,” he said. “We need to be sure that we are spending taxpayer dollars wisely. We have a responsibility to look at everything we are spending our money on, how it impacts our community and to be transparent about it.”

Hostetler said that she strongly opposed raising the tax rate, and

would instead look to cut programs that would not affect residents.

“I would, at all costs, be opposed to raising the millage rate,” she said. “I would look at how we’re spending the money first. If something had to be cut, I would cut things like landscape and beautification before I’d cut programs that directly affect people.”

Margolis said that a millage increase would be a trade for maintaining Wellington’s services and quality of life, but stressed that residents want to know where their money is being spent.

“I am not adverse to increasing the millage rate if, in fact, we let the people know what we’re spending the money for and we don’t reduce services,” he said. “When

you narrow it down to the dollars, you may be looking at a newspaper a day for superior [services]. I would look to make sure that the village is transparent in the dollars that it spends.”

Meanwhile, Bowen had a more optimistic outlook and felt that the hard cuts had already been made when the council reduced the budget by 40 percent over the past four years. He said he would not cut services but would not raise the tax rate, either.

“We’ve seen the bottom or we’re very near the bottom,” he said. “I wouldn’t raise the millage rate at all. I think we have ample reserves to get us through until the market does pick up, and it will pick up.”

Willhite noted that residents

only paid a small portion of their tax bill to Wellington, and pointed out that for three years, the tax rate has been held steady.

“We’ve been able to hold a great tax rate and get through this,” he said. “My hope is that… we won’t have to use our rate stabilization funds, but we won’t raise that millage rate at all. I have voted against raising the millage for the past three years and will continue to do so.”

Paglia noted that several large projects have come to Wellington in recent years that will bring needed tax revenue and help balance the budget.

“There are at least three major projects on the table here in Wellington,” he said, pointing to the See FORUM, page 21

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NEWS

New Galleries At Show Grounds Feature Wide Range Of Horse Art

By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report Bringing culture to Wellington, this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival features fine equestrianthemed art on display. Horse and art aficionados are able to view and purchase art from numerous artistic styles.

There are three art galleries located inside the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Each gallery — one at the Wellington Club, one at the International Club and one at the Gallery Nightclub — features horse-themed art in various media, from photographs to Impressionist paintings, representing an array of artists from around the world.

The idea of having art galleries at WEF was developed by Wellington Equestrian Partners’ Katherine Bellissimo in an effort to bring more culture to Wellington. “Culture is always good, but I think it’s a little bit harder to find it in the South Florida environment,” she said. “It’s a newer environment than places in the northeast, where culture is more accessible because there are more museums and such.”

For Bellissimo, the equestrian center presented the perfect canvas to create a more artistically cultural atmosphere.

“Our exhibitors and spectators spend a lot of time here, every single day for four to six months. For them to have access to something a little different from their normal routine, with a little culture, is good for them,” she said. “I also believe this is good for the general public, who are starting to come out more often. This is a good way to get even more of them to come and experience the show grounds.”

Bellissimo has also incorporated a visit to the art galleries as part of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center tours. The tours are led by coordinator Barbara Lang, who takes groups averaging 40 people through the show grounds.

The tours are given from Wednesday through Sunday, and they allow the general public access to the show grounds, along with a meal.

“The idea of the tour came from people who were not entirely comfortable coming to the show grounds on their own yet,” Bellissimo said. “This is more of a structured way for them to do it. And this is our way of helping the public gain more access to the show grounds.”

The Wellington Club features photography from artist Shelli Breidenbach. Breidenbach offered

Katherine Bellissimo with Field Ladd of Cross Gate Gallery and show grounds tour coordinator Barbara Lang.

Photographer Shelli Breidenbach’s work is featured at the Wellington Club.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

SEE A TOWN-CRIER VIDEO ON THE WEF ART GALLERIES AT WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM her services, creating specially with the idea of creating an art gal- began participating at WEF four with Bellissimo to feature some of designed large-scale photos of lery,” Bellissimo recalled. “With years ago and began featuring its the gallery’s pieces at WEF. “Many of the top-notch riders stunning horses printed on flag that idea, we decided to create a art pieces here three years ago.

Cross Gate Gallery is well-known are stationed here during the winfabric and featured on the walls of location, where during the day it was an art gallery and in the among equestrians for its variety ter,” Ladd said. “So it was either the club.

“We have it suspending from evening it turned into a nightclub.” of art, from contemporary to tradi- sit in Kentucky and be cold or The International Club now fea- tional pieces. “We have been do- come down and get in front of a the glass so that the light goes through them, and it’s absolutely tures art from Cross Gate Gallery, a ing a show in Saratoga for 40 new group of equestrian enthusibeautiful to see,” Bellissimo said. Lexington, Ky.-based art show- years, since my father opened the asts.”

The art that Cross Gate Gallery The Gallery Nightclub also fea- place owned by Field Ladd and gallery,” Ladd said.

Ladd and his family decided to features at WEF is different from tures equestrian artist paintings. his family. Cross Gate Gallery fea“I was approached by one of the tures horse-themed art from many branch out of the horse racing the art showcased in its Kentucky equestrian artists, Patricia Powers, international artists. The gallery world in Kentucky, and worked See WEF ART, page 22

Acreage Resident Urges County To Restrict Trucks On Sem Pratt

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Acreage resident Thomas Beasley complained about commercial truck traffic on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road last week at the monthly public forum meeting hosted by County Commissioner Jess Santamaria at the original Wellington Mall.

Beasley was one of several residents who spoke on topics of their choice at the Wednesday, Feb. 15 meeting. Other speakers included Wellington resident Debbie Evans, who discussed energy efficiency programs available to area homeowners.

Beasley’s goal was to mobilize people to lobby for truck restrictions on Seminole Pratt.

“I want to get with Jess [Santamaria] and see what I need to do and get more people involved to restrict the truck traffic coming down Seminole Pratt Whitney Road,” he said.

Beasley lives near the road and said the trucks use Seminole Pratt at all hours of the night and keep him awake. The trucks tend to use the road to connect to Northlake Blvd., and then head east to the coast, or north and west via the Beeline Highway.

“I live on Seminole Pratt, 75 feet away from the road right now, and soon to be less than that,” he said, explaining that the road widening project now underway will put traffic even closer to his home. “I’ve lived with this since 2001, and it’s just horrendous. I’m fed up with it. I get no peace and quiet. I’d like to open my windows at night when it’s cool, but I can’t because I hear the trucks all night.”

Beasley said he thought something could be done, comparing his situation with that of PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, which has restricted traffic hours on Ryder Cup Blvd. for all nonresidents.

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“You can’t go into PGA National from 11 p.m. at night until 6 a.m. in the morning,” Beasley said.

“Only if you live there can you get in there. If they can do that for PGA, why can’t you restrict truck traffic on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road for me and everybody else on this road?”

He added that the problem can be traced to specific companies that use the roadway as a shortcut.

“Their trucks come through there all night long, and their dispatcher routes them right through our neighborhood purposely because it’s an easier route,” Beasley said. “There’s no red lights, and it’s a shorter route.”

Santamaria said he would arrange for County Engineer George Webb to meet with Beasley to discuss the situation in the near future. “You and I will meet with the chief engineer, and you explain what you just did tonight and let

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him respond to it,” Santamaria said.

Santamaria added that anyone who has an issue that he or she feels is not being properly addressed should try to get other similarly affected individuals involved.

“In your particular case, it affects everybody in your neighborhood, so you’ve got to round up a lot of your neighbors to join in,” he told Beasley, explaining that the county commission is more likely to respond to a roomful of people than just a small handful of residents.

Evans brought up energy issues in the state as they relate to electricity and utilities. She noted that she was energy chair for the Sierra Club for 10 years.

“During my tenure, we wrote legislation which made it possible for the utilities to have energy efficiency and conservation programs that I hope all of you are

taking advantage of,” Evans said.

“We did have to have a hearing before the Public Service Commission to actually set some goals as far as what the utility companies must achieve with their energy efficiency and conservation programs. We did not get nearly everything that we wanted, but those programs are not going away, and we are continually working to strengthen and expand them.”

Evans handed out brochures outlining the energy conservation programs that are in place, including green building through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the United States Green Building Council.

“This is very important because it does address a lot of energy matters,” Evans said. “It helps us reduce our energy use and lower our energy cost, keeping our air cleaner, lowering emissions and helping our tax dollars go farther

within the municipalities while improving our community.”

She said the next step is to utilize technology for individuals to become their own electric utility by going to zero-energy homes that produce what they consume on site.

“The first step is going back and relearning basics, turning off the electric equipment that we’re not using, installing energy-efficient windows and air conditioners, and taking advantage of the utility programs,” Evans said.

The next step is for homeowners to look into alternative energy sources such as solar power to become energy independent, she said.

More information about energy efficiency programs is available at www.dsireusa.org. The Florida Energy Center web site at www. floridaenergycenter.org has information about how to create zeroenergy homes.

Page 4 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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OUR OPINION

Still Problems In How Florida Legislators Drew The District Lines Not long after the state legislature released its final lines for new legislative and congressional districts, the matter made its way to the Florida Supreme Court. The proposed maps are being challenged by Democrats and voting-rights groups who argue that the new district lines were drawn specifically to favor Republicans and incumbents in violation of the redistricting amendments passed in 2010. While it is unfortunate that this will be decided in court, it is not surprising. From the beginning of the redistricting process, outside observers have alleged that while improvements have been made to the system, the proposals still fall well short of following in the spirit of the new guidelines.

As a result of the Fair Districts amendments voters approved in 2010, the legislature was forced to follow tougher guidelines during the redistricting process. The amendment called for more compact and contiguous district lines that keep communities together. Further, they should not be drawn to favor a particular political party or incumbent. While definite improvements have been made, the proposed district lines are far from perfect. And though it would be convenient to dismiss Democratic charges as minority-party sour grapes, the claims are not without merit.

There are certainly shades of gerrymandering shown in the proposed state senate seats, with too many districts combining parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties for no apparent reason other than to protect party and person. These include a coastal district that runs from Fort Lauderdale up to Jupiter created clearly to make sure a Republican seat remains in otherwise Democratic-friendly counties, and a plan that attaches the western Broward community

of Weston onto a seat that also contains most of the western communities, attached only by the Everglades.

In the state house map, the proposed District 88 was criticized as being the “least compact” house seat, arguably designed to cram a large portion of minority voters into a single district, removing them from surrounding districts and leaving those districts more likely to support a Republican.

Democrats and voting-rights groups aren’t the only ones involved in the court battle. Lakeland in Polk County is fighting the plan to divide it between two senate seats that would have most of its residents sharing a district with Manatee County.

Besides the failure to do away with gerrymandering, this comes down to a matter of math.

Under the proposed districts, Republicans stand to pick up more seats than voter registration numbers or statewide election ballots would suggest. The Florida Democratic Party pointed out that Democrats outnumber Republicans by approximately 500,000 registered voters statewide, but because of the way the lines are drawn, Republicans are at an advantage in most of the districts.

This is more than just a matter of political party. Communities are still being divided, and that is not what the Fair Districts amendments called for. Though we would like to see this decided in a timely manner — candidate qualifying is scheduled for the first week of June — we hope it is given due consideration and not brushed aside. Otherwise, this will just be another example of lawmakers ignoring the will of the people.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Santamaria Responds To Bowen An Open Letter to Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen: Your letter to the editor in last week’s Town-Crier contains two major untrue statements: 1) “I, too, support the inspector general.”

2) “... It is not fair to Wellington’s taxpayers.” Note: “it” refers to the funding of the Office of Inspector General.

Once again, you are attempting to deceive Wellington residents, because: 1) I have information from very reputable Wellington sources that soon after the state attorney’s grand jury report (investigating corruption) was released in May 2009, you expressed very strong opposition to the inspector general. Your opposition has been consistent and obvious to me and others. Your actions speak much louder than your words in your letter to the editor!

2) In your attempt to “shut down” the Office of Inspector General, you joined 14 of the 38 municipalities in a wrongful lawsuit, in complete disregard of the grand jury’s recommendation to charge your vendors/contractors one quarter of 1 percent of all contracts, similar to what is being done successfully by Miami-Dade the past 13 years! You are shifting the funding of the IG from your vendors/contractors to your taxpayers, and then pretending to be protecting your taxpayers! There was a similar attempt in the county that I helped prevent with the support of the public’s outrage. The county is now reverting back to charging our vendors/contractors the one-quarter-percent fee. You must do the same, as is provided by the current IG ordinance. You must not charge your taxpayers!

In addition to your attempted deception, you are ignoring the over 72 percent overwhelming voter majority in the November 2010 referendum that demanded an end to the blatant corruption in the county and cities. Don’t you see that our constituents are completely fed up with “deals” being cut between government officials and “special interests” and are demanding that the Office of Inspector General be allowed to do its job effectively with proper funding and attain the people’s objective of giving us the efficient honest local government we deserve?

Of the 38 municipalities, the inspector general has received the second-most complaints from Wellington constituents regarding wrongdoings during the six months, ending Dec. 31, 2011. Is it possible that your lawsuit is prompted by some people in your administration not wanting any-

one watching over them? What are you afraid of?

The over 72 percent of the voters who demanded all 38 cities be under the oversight of the Office of Inspector General will surely remember all the candidates running for office on March 13, who have been attempting to obstruct the work of the inspector general.

Frankly, I join the many others who are very disappointed in finding out now that you are not the person we thought you were before you became mayor.

Jess Santamaria County Commissioner, District 6

Return Matty Mattioli As RPB Mayor Matty Mattioli has served as an outstanding mayor of Royal Palm Beach, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to re-elect him for another term.

Matty has devoted himself to the good of our village and its residents; he is competent, caring and has the best interests of the village’s residents at heart. During his two-decade service on the council as a council member and mayor, he has helped build the village and make it the beautiful and safe place that we all enjoy today.

He has been an advocate for all of us residents, increasing recreation opportunities and pushing for strong public safety while consistently keeping our taxes among the lowest in Palm Beach County. He continues to support the extension of State Road 7 to relieve traffic congestion in our village and has overseen a strong parks and recreation program.

Matty Mattioli is the only candidate for mayor who has the experience and understanding of our issues and has a proven track record of looking out for all of our residents. He is a caring and compassionate leader.

I urge the residents of Royal Palm Beach to go to the polls on Tuesday, March 13 and vote for the person who, as mayor, will assure that our village will continue to be what we want it to be. That person is Matty Mattioli!

Alan Olinsky Royal Palm Beach

Put Selena Smith On RPB Council Regarding the race for Seat 1 on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council, I find a great disparity among the candidates.

After some research, I find that one candidate has had no experience with the structure and/or committees or boards within the village. That is not the basis we should seek in our representatives.

Another candidate was somewhat less than stellar during the

discussions on the water treatment plant site last year.

Selena Smith has intensive involvement within the village, knows the infrastructure, the movers and shakers, and has a sincere desire to move the village along its continuing path of success among the cities of Florida. I believe she deserves our vote.

Albert Wahl Royal Palm Beach

Bowen Doesn’t Really Support IG In a recent letter to the TownCrier, Mayor Darell Bowen expounded to the unfairness of Wellington having to pay for the inspector general. He stated it was not fair to the Wellington taxpayers, and it was not in accordance with the way it was approved by the voters. He also said at the recent candidates forum that Riviera Beach was paying once and Wellington was paying twice to funding the inspector general.

Mr. Bowen is wrong on all these statements. First of all, the residents of Wellington voted 72 percent in favor of the municipalities of Palm Beach County to join in having an IG, and to have it funded by charging the vendors of Wellington a fee of .025 percent of contracts with the city. It is the same program that Palm Beach County is using, starting in their next fiscal year. Wellington has no reason not to adopt this funding mechanism. It will cost them and the residents nothing.

The argument that Wellington is paying twice is wrong on two counts. First, the residents will not be paying for the IG, the contractors will. Second, the residents of Wellington are part of Palm Beach County and of Wellington, and as such they enjoy the benefits of both facilities.

During the recent debate, Mr. Bowen claimed Riviera Beach was getting a deal. The facts are that Wellington’s estimated costs for the IG for the period from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2011 are $17,785. Riviera’s estimated costs are $16,864. This is from an internal memo from Village Manager Paul Schofield dated Oct. 11, 2011. Riviera has approximately 38,000 residents, Wellington has about 60,000.

Mr. Bowen can say he supports the inspector general all he wants, but his actions speak louder than his words. For this reason alone, he does not deserve another term!

Morley Alperstein Wellington

Liang Supports IG As a town councilman of Loxahatchee Groves, I support the inspector general’s review and advice with respect to our town’s procurement policies and proce-

dures, and the IG’s additional oversight of major contracts.

I believe the one quarter of 1 percent vendor/contractor fee to pay for the IG’s services is well worth the cost for its additional oversight and advice. Under Sheryl Steckler’s capable leadership, the IG will play a significant part of the overall ethics, transparency and accountability program initiated and supported by State Attorney Michael McAuliffe and the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners.

Also, I fully support the extension of State Road 7 to Northlake Blvd. Anyone who lives in the western communities knows how over-burdened our road infrastructure currently is. Any help to relieve traffic off Seminole Pratt and Okeechobee Blvd. is desperately needed, not to mention the need for better evacuation routes in the event of emergencies. How would it make us look if we did not move forward on this agreement? Any agreement, whether it was made today, tomorrow or 30-plus years ago, must be met.

Ryan Liang, Vice Mayor Loxahatchee Groves

Support For Matula In RPB Like a breath of fresh air comes a credible candidate for mayor of Royal Palm Beach: Felicia Matula.

The challenges facing our village require more than a ceremonial mayor, but an astute, educated and young person with a master’s degree and a vision unconfused in addressing and representing all the people in Royal Palm Beach, a person of integrity and not just connections who will not allow discriminatory taxes to be levied against only one section of Royal Palm Beach, Area 16, as was the case in 2001. I daresay the present mayor would have fought harder if Greenway South would have been included.

Let’s make a fresh start for our village and elect a full-time, competent mayor in 2012. I give my wholehearted endorsement to Felicia Matula for the next mayor of Royal Palm Beach.

Richard Nielsen Royal Palm Beach

Endorsement For Byrnes Guillaume I have met with Mr. Byrnes Guillaume, a candidate for the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council.

Though having only lived here for around four years, Mr. Guillaume has convinced me that he does indeed know the issues and shares the same values as myself — keep Loxahatchee Groves as the beautiful rural (OK, rural-esque) place we moved here to enjoy.

Development, often the bane of

municipalities, needs to be one slow step at a time, and any commercial must fit our lifestyles. I found Byrnes to have all of the capabilities to be a great problemsolver and facilitator when opposing factions need workable solutions.

Get out the vote and help save Loxahatchee Groves.

Dr. Bill Louda Loxahatchee Groves

Thanks For Help At Great Charity Challenge The Wellington PTOs/PTAs/ Project Graduations extend a gracious thank-you to Mark and Katherine Bellissimo, our amazing rider team (U.S. Olympian Margie Engle, Caroline Spogli and Gabby Stern… way to go!), along with our team sponsors (Spogli and Graffito) and corporate sponsor (ESI Footing).

We also would like to thank Shauna Hostetler for working on our behalf with the equestrian community to help give us an opportunity to be a part of the FTI Great Charity Challenge!

The Charity Challenge win will provide technology in our classrooms, reading materials for our students, extra funding for end-ofyear events, as well as teaching tools to be used by all students to achieve academic excellence in our Wellington schools. In addition, the event was great fun and brought the Wellington schools together to champion our greatest asset — the kids. Thank you, again.

Kim Proenza-Smith Polo Park PTSA President Wellington

Attacks On Mayor Bowen Unfair Our family has lived in Wellington for over 25 years and enjoyed the growth that has come with its popularity — the popularity created in part, because of the equestrian facilities that this village has welcomed.

Our children were raised here; we like many others, went through the trials and tribulations to see that enough public schools were

built in the area. Looking back many years, the schools in this district gave students time to see Prince Charles play polo. So polo is not a new event to Wellington but one that has sustained this area for many years. Why would we not continue to welcome these events and the building that comes with it to our area? Other counties have certainly tried to entice equestrians and polo to their region and would welcome the growth and success that befalls their locale.

To our dismay, we have started receiving eight-and-a-half-by-14inch political ads in the mail with ridiculing accusations against Mayor Darell Bowen. What’s really infuriating is there is no individual’s name on the advertisement. We see a number of people on one card who we are to presume are Wellington residents but no names. If you believe in something, back it up with your name and don’t hide behind “.com” signatures. Since Mayor Bowen only has one challenger, we must presuppose that this condemnation of his efforts to govern come from that challenger. It is difficult to consider that Tallahassee is overly concerned.

To the point, our mayor and the council have offered open sessions for anyone who wants to listen to the process being proposed for the old polo grounds and the restrictions. This afternoon, we received a recorded message from Mayor Bowen offering to make available any information we deemed necessary to quell uncertainties we may have regarding the facility. We have one son and family now living in Aiken, S.C. Wellington is well known in the Aiken area and clearly liked for all the polo and people that frame the village.

As we started this article by saying we are longtime residents, we need to add that so is Mayor Bowen and his family. He has supported the supervised growth of Wellington along with the support of residents. We have known Darell and his family for all the years we have lived here and support his efforts to continue the progress.

Never in the history of Wellington do we remember a campaign See LETTERS, page 22

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OPINION

It’s No Surprise That Earmarks Are Still Flourishing In Washington If you thought the public uproar about congressional earmarks has ended or possibly tamped down, this rather shoddy, secretive process giving members freedom to direct parcels of federal spending to pet projects, usually in their home districts, think again.

Unfortunately, a recent review by the Washington Post revealed that 33 members of congress chan-

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin neled millions in earmarks and other questionable spending provisions to dozens of public projects that

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are next to or within two miles of the earmarkers’ own property. Surprised?

Happily, the Post analyzed holdings of all 535 members and compared them with earlier earmarks members tried to nail down for pet projects since 2008. There were monies for work close to commercial and residential real estate owned by the lawmakers or their

family members. Also, our friendly congressional people sent our tax dollars to colleges, companies or local programs where their spouses, children or parents worked or served on boards.

For example, a U.S. Senator from Alabama funneled more than $10 million to renovate downtown Tuscaloosa (Ala.) close to his own commercial office building. Or a

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EDITORIAL STAFF/ Chris Felker • Denise Fleischman Jessica Gregoire • Lauren Miró

Georgia congressman secured $6.3 million from taxpayers to replenish the beach about 900 feet from his vacation home. And Rep. Bernie Thompson (D-Miss.) obtained $900,000 to refurbish one of the roads, L.C. Turner Circle, in the town of Bolton where Thompson and his daughter own two houses. Ouch!

While our lawmakers rumble

around crying “reform,” they seem rather loathe to reform their personal pork-barrel policies. Recently, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment by a count of 59-40 that would have permanently outlawed earmarks. As the situation now stands, the above questionable moves, and so many, many others by members, are both legal — and almost always undisclosed.

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Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 5

NEWS

DRESSAGE UNDER THE STARS UNDERWAY AT PALM BEACH POLO & HUNT CLUB Dressage Under the Stars kicked off its fourth season Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Palm Beach Polo & Hunt Club in Wellington. This is a weekly exhibition show with prizes. At the end of seven weeks, the weekly winners will return for the grand finale competition. Dressage Under the Stars will continue every Wednesday through March. For event info., call (917) 907-0053. For dinner info., call the Hunt Club at (561) 389-4951.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Karen Lucca, James Fairclough, Julie Tannehill, Carrie Wirth, Kendall Bierer and Rebecca Walton.

Butch and Denise Waller with Ariane Vasquez.

Event producer Steve Williams, polo player Sunny Hale, USEF judge Bill McMullin and show jumper James Fairclough.

Bobby Ewing, Mason Phelps and Ron Neal.

Sarah Jancik aboard Valentino.

Susanne Hamilton aboard Lord Loxley, Steve Williams, Bill McMullin, Sunny Hale, James Fairclough, Glenn Straub, Tara Lordi and Eduardo Salas.

LOCAL MUSICIANS SHOW THEIR TALENTS AT THE ACREAGE COMMUNITY JAM The Acreage Landowners’ Association and the Indian Trail Improvement District hosted the monthly Acreage Community Jam on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Acreage Community Park. The family -friendly event featured local entertainers from rock bands to rappers, food PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER and a classic car show. For more info., visit www.acreagelandowners.org.

Tas Sparks, 101-year-old Alma Millar, Lana Millar, Mary Gilbert and Arlene Pollock.

Luis Bonilla plays the saxophone.

Rapper Louis Akin, a.k.a. Kreezy.

Local boy band New Vinyl: Dillon Grimes, Cameron Keyser and Ryan Boyd. Not pictured: Georgio Terry.

Page 6 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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CRIME NEWS

Boat Burglarized At Storage Facility In Royal Palm Beach

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report FEB. 16 — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to a storage facility on Fox Trail Road last Thursday regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2 and 4:30 p.m. last Thursday, someone entered the victim’s boat and stole several pieces of equipment valued at approximately $7,300. Access to the site is available only over a 5-foot wall or a 4-foot fence. According to the report, video surveillance footage was available, but there were no suspects at the time of the report.

••• FEB. 16 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was dispatched to a property on Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves last Thursday morning regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, a witness observed two white men in a truck remove a rolling chain-link gate from the property. The witness followed the truck north on B Road to North Road, then to Global Trail.

According to the report, the witness told the suspects to take the gate back, and they did. When they returned to the property, the owner was there and told them to stay because he was going to call the PBSO. According to the report, the men put the gate back up, apologized and fled the property. The victim took down the suspects’ license plate number and contacted PBSO. According to the report, the deputy was able to run the license plate, but there was no further information available at the time of the report.

FEB. 16 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to the Mall at Wellington Green last Thursday evening regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim had purchased a Movado men’s watch from a jewelry store in the mall earlier. While in Macy’s department store, he sat down, putting the shopping bag with the watch on the seat beside him. According to the report, the victim got up and walked away from the

bag for several minutes, and when he returned, the shopping bag was missing. According to the report, surveillance video footage showed an unknown white female sit down beside the shopping bag for a short time before getting up, taking the bag and placing it in her shopping bag. The watch was valued at approximately $1,700. There was no further information available at the time of the report.

FEB. 16 — A resident of Sugar Pond Manor called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Thursday evening regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., someone pried open the rear sliding glass door of the home, causing the glass to break. According to the report, it did not appear that anything had been disturbed in the home, but the victim later discovered that her prescription medication was missing from her nightstand. The perpetrator(s) caused approximately $500 in damage but there were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

FEB. 17 — A juvenile was arrested last Friday afternoon on burglary charges after a witness saw him jump a neighbor’s fence and enter a home on Sparrow Drive. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 12:27 p.m., the witness observed the juvenile jump over a fence and enter the property. The witness said the juvenile then jumped back out and walked back to his home, which was next door. According to the report, a deputy made contact with the juvenile, who was on house arrest. The juvenile said his electronic monitoring device had gone off because he rode his bike too far from his home. According to the report, when the victim arrived home, he discovered that his rear sliding glass door had been smashed with a large block; however he did not believe anything had been taken. The juvenile was placed under arrest and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center, where he was charged with attempted burglary to a residence and criminal mischief.

FEB. 18 — A resident of Avocado Blvd. called the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation last See BLOTTER, page 22

Traffic Crash Claims High School Student FEB. 22 — Seventeen-year-old Daniel McCauley passed away following a Wednesday morning traffic accident on Forest Hill Blvd. near Okeeheelee Park.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Eric Davis, at approximately 8:31 a.m., PBSO personnel responded to a one-vehicle accident eastbound

on Forest Hill Blvd., just west of Pinehurst Blvd. The vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler, was traveling eastbound and left the roadway for an unknown reason before striking a pole. McCauley was transported to Delray Medical Center, where he died.

McCauley was a student at Palm Beach Central High School.

Pedestrian Dies Near Flying Cow Road FEB. 18 — A pedestrian who was walking in one of the traffic lanes on Southern Blvd. was killed last Saturday morning near Flying Cow Road in Wellington.

According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, 38year-old Carlos Mateo Pascual, whose address is unknown, was walking in the westbound traffic

lane of Southern Blvd. when he stepped into an occupied traffic lane and a motorist struck him.

Pascual died at the scene of the accident due to injuries sustained in the collision.

According to the report, PBSO officials believe alcohol or drugs were in Pascual’s system at the time of the accident.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Zayda Iglesias, a.k.a. Zayda Celis, is a white female, 5’0” tall and weighing 200 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 02/14/55. Iglesias is wanted for dispensing prescriptions without a license and unlicensed practice of a healthcare professional, and failure to appear on a charge of forged or altered driver’s license. Her occupation is unknown. Her last known address was Torchwood Court in Wellington. Iglesias is wanted as of 02/23/12.

• Belkis Vasquez is a white female, 5’4” tall and weighing 200 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 12/ 12/68. Vasquez is wanted for public assistance fraud. Her occupation is unknown. Her last known address was Tangerine Blvd. in The Acreage. Vasquez is wanted as of 02/23/12.

Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc.com.

Zayda Iglesias

Belkis Vasquez

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. CRIMESTOPPERS IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT SHOWN HERE.

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Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 7

ELECTION 2012: WELLINGTON VILLAGE COUNCIL, SEAT 1

Candidate John Greene Brings ‘A Passion For Public Service’

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington Village Council Seat 1 candidate John Greene has a passion for politics that he hopes will lead voters to choose him Tuesday, March 13.

“I’ve always had a passion for public service,” he told the Town-Crier. “I was one of those guys who always screamed at the TV when politicians couldn’t seem to get anything done. I think it’s about different viewpoints coming together and hopefully doing what’s best for the community.”

Greene was born in New York City and raised in St. Louis, where he graduated from Webster University with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing.

In 2001, he moved to Wellington with his wife, Dana, and currently works as the vice president of business development for a private security firm.

“There was something about Wellington that struck me as unique,” Greene said. “We wanted a real sense of community and a quality of life that would meet our needs. As a young family raising kids, this was the place where we would establish roots and be there for a long time.”

A resident of the Isles at Wellington, Greene has served on the Mariners Cove Neighborhood Association as president and vice president, and now serves on its fines and enforcement committee.

Greene and his wife have three children, two of whom attend Palm Beach Central High School; the other is a student at Polo Park Middle School. He has been a coach for several recreational sports teams and is active in his church, St. Therese de Lisieux Catholic Church.

Greene said his interest in politics led some good friends to urge him to run.

“They came to me and said, ‘A lot of people know you. You’re out there in the community, and we think it might be time for you to enter politics,’” Green recalled.

He said that his business background, dedication to remaining transparent and ability to work with others make him the best candidate for the seat.

“We have decreasing revenue,” he said. “We’re trying to balance that with maintaining a level of service that allows residents to continue the quality of life that we’ve all become accustomed to. I have experience and background in business. I understand what it takes to get things done.”

His business experience means he can negotiate

and help progress while keeping in mind a strong vision for the future, Green said.

“Wellington is at a crossroads in many ways,” he said. “We’ve developed so rapidly in the last 10 years, and there are a lot of people who have very different feelings about where we go from here. It’s important we continue to move forward, and in my experience, I’ve learned that we have to compromise. You have to find that middle ground, and you have to have open dialogue and be transparent.”

If elected, Greene said his goals would be to lower crime, work with the Office of the Inspector General to maintain transparency and address foreclosed properties.

Though Wellington has the lowest crime rate in the county, Greene said that would remain a priority for him. “I want to be sure that we continue to keep crime out of our community,” he said. “I think families want to give our kids freedom to be out in the community and play in our parks.”

Greene said he felt that the village’s Safe Neighborhoods Initiative has been successful. “I think it’s money well spent,” he said.

He also said he would want to restore residents’ trust in their government by working closely with the Office of the Inspector General, noting that the current council joined a lawsuit regarding how that office is funded. That is a decision he strongly opposes.

“We have to make sure that we have transparency in government,” he said. “Elected officials work for the people, and I feel it has gotten a little cloudy as to why people are on the council. I want to make sure people truly feel that the elected officials on the council represent the people and not special interests.”

Greene said he fully supports the Office of the Inspector General, noting how it has been successful in Miami-Dade County. “It’s not just about finding what’s wrong,” he said. “It’s about helping municipalities be more efficient.”

He said that the funding mechanism is fair. “I think it creates a fair burden,” he said. “It needs to be equitable.”

Foreclosures are another issue plaguing Wellington, Greene said.

“We need to do a better job of working with code enforcement and working with banks to expedite [the foreclosure] process,” he said. “We need to work with homeowners in trouble to keep the properties

maintained. We have to work together to make sure we’re protecting our home values.”

Greene said that Wellington is in the position to educate its residents as well as help smoothly transition homes through the foreclosure process so they don’t become nuisances.

“The community has a responsibility to work with the banks and the people and to educate them,” he said. “That’s setting up workshops, bringing banks together and finding solutions.”

If elected, Greene said he would aim to balance the budget without raising the tax rate.

“I’ve never been a proponent of raising taxes,” he said. “I think what we have to do is look at how we’re spending money. I think the most important thing is to have fiscal responsibility.”

He pointed to the beautification of Forest Hill Blvd., as well as the new monument signs around the community, as places where spending could have been looked at more carefully.

“We have to understand that we are spending money that represents the needs of the community,” he said.

To help raise revenues, Greene said he would support working with the private sector for responsible, managed development.

“I support outside investment,” he said. “I want people to continue to invest in Wellington, but I want it to be done responsibly. I want it to be in a way that fits in with the landscape of what this community is about. Wellington is unique for a reason. We don’t have high-rises. We don’t have six-story hotels.”

He stressed that Wellington needs to attract “the right kind” of businesses.

“Whether that’s through the medical arts district and bringing in the right kinds of technology and science,” he said, “we need to make sure we maintain sustainable jobs.”

The medical arts district concept could help attract high-wage employment to the area, Greene said. “I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “I think it’s a good use of that space, and it gets back to bringing in the right kinds of jobs. These are sustainable, professional, high-paying jobs that I think will invest in the community.”

Though Greene said he is in favor of private development, he said he feels that the commercial elements of the controversial Equestrian Village project do not fit in the Wellington Equestrian Preserve.

John Greene “The dressage facility fits perfectly,” he said. “It belongs there. As for the commercial, my biggest concern with the process is that we haven’t been given a lot of facts.”

Greene said he is concerned about the density and the lack of a concrete plan. “The applicant is a developer trying to make money, and I have no problem with that,” he said. “But I don’t think a hotel and commercial space is right for that space.”

Greene said he hopes voters will recognize his passion for Wellington and his willingness to listen to residents. “I’ve been in the community a long time,” he said. “I understand what makes Wellington unique.

I bring a wealth of experience from a business perspective, and I understand fiscal responsibility. I don’t have an agenda. I don’t have ties to development. I’m truly impartial. I’m my own person, and I believe in community. I hope to stay here and create a legacy that my kids can be proud of, and that future residents can be proud of.”

‘It’s important we continue to move forward. In my experience, I’ve learned that we have to compromise,’ Greene said. ‘You have to find that middle ground.’

Council Hopeful Shauna Hostetler Ready To ‘Roll Up Her Sleeves’

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report When Wellington residents go to the polls March 13, candidate Shauna Hostetler hopes they will see her deep roots in the community and choose her for Wellington Village Council Seat 1.

“I’ve seen this community from every vantage point,” she said. “I raised a whole generation here.

I’ve got what you call a global view of Wellington, and I just wanted to bring it all together and make choices for the community.”

Hostetler was born in Utah but grew up all over the United States, following her father’s job opening JCPenney stores. She moved to Palm Beach County 31 years ago after marrying her husband, Ron. “It was important for me that when I had a family, I had a hometown to raise them in,” she said.

A 23-year resident of the western communities and a 15-year Wellington resident, she and her husband have five children and two grandchildren.

Hostetler studied business development and marketing at LDS Business College in Salt Lake City. She and her husband co-owned two construction companies. She currently works as an events manager for Deseret Book.

She has been active in many community organizations, from her church to the scouts and more. Most recently, from 2009 to 2011, she served as PTA president at Binks Forest Elementary School.

“Wherever my sleeves needed to be rolled up, I’ve rolled them up,” she said.

Hostetler said she decided to run to continue her legacy of leadership and service in Wellington.

“I’ve been a leader here in the community,” she said. “I’m always the person people come and ask to lead. I’ve been involved in the schools; I’ve been involved in parks and recreation. I’ve been involved in political issues and in equestrian issues. I believe I have the finger on the pulse of the broad issues in this community.”

With a strong belief in digging in and getting her hands dirty, Hostetler said she would rather “be a part of the solution” and find ways to help.

“If there’s an issue,” she said, “I want to hear about it. I want to dissect what it’s all about, and then I want to go out and do something about it. I don’t just talk about it.”

Hostetler stressed that she is not a one-issue candidate, and if elected, she would focus on maintaining the quality of life, supporting local businesses and addressing housing issues.

“Quality of life support is my number-one goal,” she said. “Under that umbrella is economics.”

Hostetler said she’d like to help support small businesses. She noted that bringing in more high-wage employment could help to bolster business across Wellington.

“Small businesses are hurting,” she said. “I eat at these restaurants that come and go, or they’re quiet and you wish there were more people. I think you have to bring in the bigger businesses because they’ll bring people to support the small businesses.”

One project she believes will help small businesses is the controversial Equestrian Village project.

“We need that Equestrian Village,” she said. “I believe that would support small businesses. If people believe it’s a threat, then I don’t think they’re looking at the big picture. We need the hotel there so there aren’t a lot of little retail shops that take away from other businesses. If I were a [small business] owner, I would welcome that project.”

Though she said she generally supports the project, Hostetler said she thinks the proposed hotel is too large for the area.

“I do not support the hotel being as tall as it is,” she said. “I think five stories is excessive for that location and for Wellington in general.”

Hostetler noted, however, that having the hotel there would mean less retail space, noting that the property is already zoned for more than 200,000 square feet of commercial use. “I’m not in favor of a lot more retail,” she said. “I think the hotel will serve a need. I think it’s great for Wellington.”

Another project she said she supports is the proposed medical arts district, but noted that she’d like to see new technology and employment coming into the area. “I think the concept is excellent,” Hostetler said. “But I think we need to do more homework about what and whom to attract so that we don’t hurt the mom-and-pop doctors’ offices. I don’t think we need more of the same.”

Housing is another issue that Hostetler would like to address. “We need to get people here to buy houses,” she said.

She said she thinks Wellington has been proactive in addressing the foreclosure crisis, noting that Wellington has its own homeownership center to help residents.

“I think we need to promote that more,” she said.

“I don’t think people realize that there’s a place they can go and get help with a loan modification or help staying in their house.”

Hostetler pointed to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program as another proactive measure that has helped stem problems. “I think it still needs some work,” she said. “But I think it was worth the money.

I think it needs to continue.”

If elected, Hostetler said she would attempt to balance the budget without sacrificing services that directly affect residents.

“My first concern would be to not cut services that directly affect residents’ quality of life,” she said.

Instead, she said she’d look to cut from areas such as landscaping and signage. Hostetler said that she would consider a tax rate increase only if residents’ quality of life was threatened.

“The minute the quality of life is threatened, then we’d have to look at spending some more money,” she said. “But I wouldn’t say, ‘Oh we need more trees so let’s raise the tax rate.’”

Hostetler said that she is supportive of the Office of the Inspector General. “I support the principles and theory behind it,” she said. “I think it’s smart to have checks and balances.”

She said that she would not have voted to enter Wellington in the lawsuit against the office had she been on the council at the time, but would like to see fiscal responsibility once the new funding mechanism begins so that municipalities are not continually approached to pay for added costs.

“At first they estimated the cost would be $1.7 million, and came in under budget,” Hostetler said.

“But then all of a sudden, they estimated they would need [more than $3 million] and more people in the office. I support that. I understand growing pains.

What I don’t want to see is them continually coming back for more.”

While some have tagged Hostetler as aligned with a certain slate of candidates in this race, she refuted that idea.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” she said. “I didn’t draw that

Shauna Hostetler line in the sand. Outside forces in this town are forcing that. We all live in the same community. We all need to be working toward the betterment of Wellington. Who knows how it’s going to shake out? We might have to work together.”

Hostetler said she hopes residents will see her as a candidate who is not afraid to take action when needed and lead others, while advocating for the community.

“I don’t just lead,” she said. “I know how to walk the walk. If a job needs to get done, I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I’m not afraid to go into the neighborhoods that need me. I’m not afraid to go to people who can help and say, ‘There’s a need here.’ I know how to be an advocate and make good choices.”

‘If there’s an issue, I want to hear about it,’ Hostetler said. ‘I want to dissect what it’s all about, and then I want to go out and do something about it.’

Page 8 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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NEWS BRIEFS Binks To Host Bridal Expo March 11 To help make every bride’s wedding planning experience fun and unforgettable, the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington will host the inaugural Binks Bridal Expo next month.

Binks Forest invites all brides Sunday, March 11 from noon to 4 p.m. to meet various vendors seeking to help make each bride’s dream wedding a reality.

Vendors will showcase products and services that appeal to all tastes and budgets. From décor and DJs to bridal gowns and formal wear, from wedding favors to bridal gifts, brides will find everyone and everything they need to bring their wedding day together with ease. It will be every bride’s opportunity to meet and discuss their ideas face to face with vendors.

Brides, as well as their family and friends, are offered free admission to come and enjoy music, food and many giveaways. Whether looking to gain new ideas or make your dreams into a reality, the Binks Bridal Expo will be the perfect

place to plan a wedding. A grandprize weekend stay at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach will be given away during the event. It will be the perfect place to relax before the wedding day or to unwind after the busy weekend.

Binks Forest Golf Club is a great place to host beautiful weddings and receptions in Wellington.

From a beautiful courtyard ceremony to an elegant ballroom reception, brides will find everything they are looking for at Binks Forest. The staff of award-winning wedding professionals ensures that every detail is executed with ease and elegance amid a breathtakingly beautiful setting and memorable culinary experiences. They handle the details while the bride and groom enjoy the first day of the rest of their lives.

For more information, contact Director of Catering Whitney Buchanan at (561) 578-8206 or wbuchanan@binksforestgc.com.

Wellington Garden Club To Meet March 5 The Wellington Garden Club will meet Monday, March 5 at the

Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), with a business meeting at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a program at 12:15 p.m. presented by Mike Cartrett.

Cartrett’s program, “Bonsai-an Art, Hobby and Horticultural Practice,” will explore an art form originating many centuries ago in Asia. Bonsai, in Japanese, can be literally translated as “tray planting” and has developed into a whole new art form. It is the art of dwarfing trees or plants and developing them into an aesthetically appealing shape by growing, pruning and training them in containers according to prescribed techniques.

A successful bonsai is most definitely a horticultural masterpiece. Cartrett is an artist, teacher and nurseryman who has been owner of a wholesale bonsai nursery for more than 20 years. He has been a lecturer and teacher in bonsai conventions all over the United States. The meeting will be a great opportunity to learn about this growing, living art form.

Guests are welcome and there is no admission fee, but seating is limited. To reserve a seat, RSVP to Jayne at (561) 791-0273.

‘Reverse Shopping Day’ March 10

WWC Meeting March 1 At Madison Green

Free Flapjacks At Wellington IHOP On Feb. 28

Wellington Cares Clearinghouse has announced its eighth annual Reverse Shopping Day on Saturday, March 10.

Participation is free and the rewards are many: reduced clutter and increased donations for Glades Area Pantries in Pahokee and South Bay. Take a large shopping bag and go room to room filling it with things you’re tired of or never liked. Include household items, linens, clothing, baby items, toys and school/ office supplies. Make sure to include your pantry. It’s time to pull out last year ’s hurricane supplies (make sure dates are current) and those odd cans of food someone else would enjoy more than you.

The second part is to make sure it gets out of your house. To donate, call Ellie Caldwell at (561) 790-5499.

Wellington Cares Clearinghouse has been collecting gently used goods in the western communities for 10 years and channeling them to people in need.

The Women of the Western Communities will meet Thursday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Madison Green Golf Club (2001 Crestwood Blvd. North, Royal Palm Beach).

Members and guests will enjoy dinner followed by guest speaker Janet Lifshin, also known as the “Haha Lady,” a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, certified laughter leader and certified family life educator. The mission of the Humor Alliance for Healthy Attitudes (HAHA) is to bring healing humor to the community through various events. Lifshin has been sharing laughter programs since 1995.

The Women of the Western Communities supports the YWCA Harmony House and college scholarships for area high school seniors.

Admission for guests costs $30.

For more information about the March 1 meeting, or to make a reservation, contact Mair Armand at mair@wwc-fl.com or (561) 6350011.

For the seventh consecutive year, IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer each guest a free short stack of its famous buttermilk pancakes on National Pancake Day in an effort to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

National Pancake Day is Tuesday, Feb. 28, and free flapjacks will be offered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In the western communities, IHOP is located in the Courtyard Shops in Wellington.

For every short stack of buttermilk pancakes served on National Pancake Day, IHOP guests are invited to make a voluntary donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Donations will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ program atArnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida. IHOP hopes to raise $2.7 million this year, with a goal to bring the total amount of funds raised to more than $10 million. To donate online, visit www. ihoppancakeday.com.

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February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 9

ELECTION 2012: LOXAHATCHEE GROVES TOWN COUNCIL, SEAT 3

Challenger Byrnes Guillaume Aims To Listen And Solve Problems

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Byrnes Guillaume is seeking a seat on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council, challenging Seat 3 incumbent Ryan Liang in the March 13 election.

Guillaume, an attorney with a solo practice in West Palm Beach, was born in Haiti, moving at age 5 with his family to Miami, where he grew up.

After graduating from high school in 1993, he attended Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He received his MBA in 2001 from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and then moved to Connecticut, where he worked at Travelers Insurance, then United Technologies Corp.

While in Connecticut, he attended law school at night at the Western New England College School of Law. In May 2006, Guillaume graduated from law school.

He passed the Florida Bar exam in June and moved home. Once back in Florida, he worked briefly for ADT before serving as a prosecutor in Broward County.

During this time, he bought land in Loxahatchee Groves and built a house, which was finished in 2008.

Guillaume has lived in Loxahatchee Groves since then.

He is married and has a young son.

He left the Broward County State Attorney’s Office in 2009 and has been a solo practitioner in West Palm Beach ever since, focusing on criminal law, family law including divorce and child support, foreclosure defense, personal injury and deportation.

Guillaume believes that his legal skills will benefit the council. “I’ve been to all the different meetings, and we have different factions, different alliances in town,” he said. “I think with the skill sets that I have learned in resolving problems, I can add value.”

Guillaume feels that town government in Loxahatchee Groves needs more transparency and a higher degree of ethical standards.

“I’m not about disparaging anyone,” Guillaume said. “But there have been issues that people have said there hasn’t been transparency, and the incumbent hasn’t been ethical,” Guillaume said. “I’m trying to differentiate myself from him. I’m transparent, I’m ethical, certainly, as an attorney, you have to be those things. Most importantly, I believe I listen. I’m not so entrenched in my point of view that I’m not listening

to the other side. I have my foundation in terms of how I’d like Loxahatchee Groves to be, but that won’t stop me from listening to the other side and trying to solve problems.”

He sees commercial development as a top issue in the town. “It all goes along with maintaining the quality of life,” Guillaume said.

With his background of living in large cities, Guillaume believes that he can bring an insight to the council on balancing development with retention of the community’s rural character.

“We searched for places to live,” he said. “We looked in three counties, and we loved Loxahatchee Groves. It’s rural, and I like that, but we shouldn’t be so closed-minded that we are not listening to the other side. Developers and businesses can come, but we need to consider them on a case-by-case basis and make sure that [a proposed development] fits in with our overall scheme.”

Guillaume wants to make sure that the Loxahatchee Groves standard of living is protected and maintained.

“I have a 2-year-old son,” he said. “I want him to grow up with this rural area.”

He added that keeping taxes low and maintaining an equestrian-friendly environment are also important to him.

Regarding the future of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, he would like to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to see if there is an economic advantage to a possible merger with the town. “We have a faction that believes that it shouldn’t be independent and should be dependent,” he said.

Guillaume believes more research is needed to determine the best relationship between the town and the district. “The water control district was set up by state statute, so it’s not really for the council to stop that,” he said. “They have to go to the legislature, so it’s not as easy as people think to dissolve it.”

Asked whether he thinks the town should be providing any additional services, Guillaume said that the more services offered, the more taxes will have to be collected. “When you offer service, someone has to pay for it,” he said. “If I could get more services and my taxes remain low, I would say yes.”

As for future capital projects, Guillaume said he would favor working in cooperation with the LGWCD

to get more roads paved. He said he would also favor development of an equestrian park and trails, as has been discussed. “That would maintain our standard of living,” he said.

The town recently hired a new management firm, and Guillaume said the firm appears to be doing well.

However, Guillaume pointed out that he is still getting himself up to speed on those issues.

“I have been learning the issues and talking to people, so I’ve been making up for the time that I haven’t been as present as I could be,” he said. “By all indication, the new manager seems to be doing well. I haven’t heard any negative comments regarding his job performance.”

As for the town’s budget, he thinks it is in good shape. “Anytime you have a surplus, it’s a good thing,” he said.

Guillaume looks forward to Palm Beach State College locating a campus in town. “It’s going to be great,” he said. “It’s going to be on Southern, and the town vision has always been to keep commercial on Southern.”

He said he wants to see what the college can do for the town. “They’re going to be our neighbor, and they will have the privilege of building in Loxahatchee Groves,” he said. “I haven’t formulated concrete things that they can do for us, but I foresee us as a town saying maybe they can help with roads.”

His top goal if elected is to listen to what the people want. “We have a faction of people who feel they are not being listened to,” Guillaume said. “I want to be able to get everybody together.”

Guillaume is a relative newcomer to the town, but he said that gives him a fresh set of eyes to look at issues. “I’ve heard the question whether or not I know the issues facing Loxahatchee Groves,” he said.

“I think that [with] fresh new eyes looking at this, I’m not one-track in terms of [thinking], ‘This is the way we’ve done it.’ I would not be beholden to any interest group.”

Guillaume said he chose to run for the council this year, but did not target Liang to run against for any specific reason. “I had to pick a seat, and it happened to be him or Ron [Jarriel],” he said. “I’m not about running a negative campaign. I want to focus on my strengths, but I’ve been at some meetings, and [Li-

Byrnes Guillaume ang] is not as engaged as others on the council are.”

Guillaume said his strengths include his ability to solve problems and his background of living in cities that were heavily developed, as contrasted to his choice to now live in Loxahatchee Groves. “I know both sides, the positives and negatives, so I can add that value,” he said.

He said voters should choose him because he feels that his vision is in line with that of the town’s majority.

“Residents will say they want Loxahatchee Groves to remain rural, and even the people who want some development, don’t want to lose the character. They just want some business here,” Guillaume concluded. “My feeling is businesses should come in, but it has got to fit in the rural area.”

‘I’m not so entrenched in my point of view that I’m not listening to the other side,’ candidate Byrnes Guillaume said. ‘I have my foundation in terms of how I’d like Loxahatchee Groves to be, but that won’t stop me from listening to the other side and trying to solve problems.’

Incumbent Ryan Liang Puts Focus On Experience And Progress

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Ryan Liang, completing his first term on the council, is seeking reelection March 13. He faces a challenge from attorney Byrnes Guillaume in his bid for a second threeyear term.

Liang’s family moved to Loxahatchee Groves 15 years ago to start a farm.

“We’ve been doing that ever since,” he said. “I got involved in town politics mainly due to the fact that I saw that nothing was really getting accomplished. I thought that we needed someone new to help move things along.”

Liang was born and raised in Miami, where he lived until age 18, when he went off to college. “My parents asked me to come back and help with the farm, so here I am,” he said.

Liang believes that he is best-qualified to sit on the council because of his experiences over the past three years. “I know what needs to be done to get things done,” he said. “I feel that I’m fair, and I’m open to anybody who has questions and concerns.”

Top issues in town include the potential for commercial development on Okeechobee Blvd. along with the future of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, he said.

Liang feels the town and the district must continue to build a good working relationship. He sees the possibility of a merger between the two entities in the future, but does not want to rush the process.

“The time frame, I’m not sure,” he said. “It will have to be when the timing is right and when it looks like the town will be able to take over more responsibility as far as the roads.”

While Liang is generally happy with the basic services being offered by the town, he would like to see more work done on developing a system of equestrian trails. He pointed out that the newly created Roadway, Equestrian Trails & Greenway Advisory Committee is undertaking that project.

“Once the trails are set in place, and we can see that there is a greater demand for the use of the trails, I can envision a need for an equestrian park — a destination for people to ride to and also a place for people who don’t live in the town to trailer to utilize the trails,” Liang said.

He also expects the eventual widening of Okeechobee Blvd., although he prefers keeping it two lanes.

“Ideally I would prefer it to stay two lanes with a median with trees, a nice canopy along the median, but I think with the future development outside of Loxahatchee Groves, a two-lane roadway might not be realistic. I would still want a median and trees along the corridor.”

As for future uses along Okeechobee, he said the council might have to give in to some commercialization, but not right now. “I think once we have filled the need on Southern Blvd., then we can seriously look at the potential of having commercial along Okeechobee,” Liang said.

A commercial application has already been made for property at the corner of Okeechobee Blvd. and Folsom Road, and Liang said they have the right to make the application. “Now, the decision will be up to the town council to deem whether there is a need for commercial at that intersection,” he said.

The town’s new management team has been on board only a few months, but Liang said they have managed to solve a number of vexing problems.

“I find that as very positive, and only time will tell,” he said. “Our last management team was better than the previous one, so it’s like we’re working in steps.

As of right now, I don’t have any complaints with the new management team.”

The town’s budget is in good shape, he said, thanks to the input from the Finance Advisory & Audit Committee. “I think our budget is excellent right now,” he said. “With help of the committee, we’ve managed to streamline the budget. We’ve lowered our millage, and we still have a healthy reserve.”

Liang said his immediate goal for capital improvement projects would be a traffic light on Okeechobee Blvd., which the council is pushing for now. Secondly, he would like to see help with roads that might be paved with open graded emulsified mix (OGEM).

Those are his top priorities, along with the completion of a horse trail network. “Those are the projects that I would like to see at least get started over the next three years,” he said.

Liang said he looks forward to Palm Beach State College’s plans to locate a campus in Loxahatchee Groves, but with caveats.

“Palm Beach State College would be a great asset

to the town, but we have to be very concerned about the traffic and how it impacts our residents, especially those in close proximity to that site,” he said.

The size of the college’s northern buffer zone has been a bone of contention, but Liang feels there is room for compromise. “The first phase is going to be very close to Southern Blvd.,” he said. “They won’t get to that rear half for at least 10 to 15 years. I’m open to discussing with the college what they plan to do, and also working with the buffer size. I’m open to negotiations.”

Liang admits that he tends to be the quietest member of the council, but he said that is not without reason.

“The main reason I’m not as vocal as some of the other council members is I tend to try to listen and hear what everyone is saying,” he said. “I prefer to weigh it out and see the pros and cons of each side and decide from there.”

Issues that have come before the council that he feels he has taken a lead on include work with the town’s Uniform Land Development Code.

“I took a very active role in helping develop the ULDCs, and also the issue with our comp plan and the challenge from Callery-Judge [Grove],” he said.

“I believe the decisions I made on that were the right ones. Forming the finance committee was a huge one for the town. It proved to be an invaluable tool.”

Liang comes from a nursery background, and some residents say nursery interests have too much control, but Liang said he does not feel that is the case.

“I believe the ag in Loxahatchee is what helps keep Loxahatchee rural,” he said. “That’s part of being rural, living in an agrarian society. If that was eliminated, I don’t think you could really call Loxahatchee Groves a rural destination.”

During the resolution of the Callery-Judge challenge to the comp plan, there were some allegations that Liang had a conflict of interest regarding his family’s relationship with Callery-Judge. Liang said he approached the Commission on Ethics, which found no conflict. “I asked them if there was a conflict, and they told me that there was not a conflict,” he said.

Liang said he does not really know his opponent.

Ryan Liang “He lives down the street from me, but he hasn’t been that involved in town, so I haven’t really been able to talk to him that much or get to know him,” Liang said.

Liang believes he is a better choice for voters because he is familiar with the issues. “From what I’ve read and seen, I get the impression he doesn’t know the issues. Listening is great, but that’s the job of every single council person. That’s a small portion of the job,” he said.

Liang said the town is in the best shape it has been since incorporation. “All the major issues have been addressed or are being addressed,” he said. “I think it’s great that my opponent wants to get involved, but I think he needs to first start attending meetings before he decides to sit in the seat.”

‘The main reason I’m not as vocal as some of the other council members is I tend to try to listen and hear what everyone is saying,’ incumbent Ryan Liang said. ‘I prefer to weigh it out and see the pros and cons of each side and decide from there.’

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NEWS

WELLINGTON PRESENTS BEATLEMANIAX’S BEATLES TRIBUTE AT AMPHITHEATER Beatlemaniax performed a Beatles tribute concert Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Wellington Amphitheater. The concert was well attended, PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER with fans of all ages singing and dancing to the popular, well-known music.

Beatlemaniax members Jack Maravell (Paul), Louie Diana (Ringo), Orlin Stoyanov (George) and Marc Sternberg (John).

Josh Simmons, Ellyse Russo and Daniele Bittle.

Lynn Mandigo, Felice Rubenstein, Morgan Mandigo and Irv Rubenstein.

Nick and Paulette Colavito with Steve and Marcia Bre wer.

Dick and Barbara Wade with Sandra and Danny Robinson.

Jeri Edgar and Frank Caccavale.

RPB MAYOR MATTY MATTIOLI HOSTS CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER EVENT AT HILARY’S Royal Palm Beach Mayor Matty Mattioli held a campaign kickoff and fundraiser Feb. 15 at Hilary’s Restaurant. More than 40 people attended, including County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, who endorsed Mattioli for re-election. Mattioli is challenged by Felicia Matula in the Tuesday, March 13 election.

Ron Tomchin, County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, Mayor Matty Mattioli and Rhonda Ferrin-Davis.

Councilwoman Martha Webster with Mayor Matty Mattioli.

Mayor Matty Mattioli addresses supporters.

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NEWS

INAUGURAL CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL HELD DURING WELLINGTON GREEN MARKET

The Wellington Green Market held its first Chocolate Festival on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Wellington Amphitheater to benefit the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation. Vendors donated strawberries and other dip-able treats, and Hospice raised money by charging $1 per dip. For more info., visit www.wellingtongreenmarket.com.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Sheila Diaz and Chloe buy fresh chard from Veronica Niebur.

Joan Balis buys produce from Cornelia Holland-Rios.

Sheron and Bob Flaster with son Duncan Pflaster.

Yvonne and Don Bembenek look over pastries from Christy’s NY Cheesecake Bakery.

Ron Levy and Roxydoodle get treats from Barbara Posada.

Talia Fitter gets chocolate-covered strawberries from Lauryn Barry.

ANNUAL FOUNTAINS GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITS HOSPICE OF PBC FOUNDATION The 30th annual Fountains Golf Tournament & Dinner to benefit the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation was held Monday, Feb. 20 at the Fountains Country Club off Lake Worth Road. Following the tournament, there was an awards ceremony, as well as dinner, a live auction and performance by comedian Dick Capri.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Sonny Bilkis gives Mall at Wellington Green General Manager Dorian Bordenave an award for 10 years of support to Hospice.

Tournament Chair Sonny Bilkis with co-chair Susan David.

Hospice Foundation President Greg Leach with Fountains President Sheldon Levine.

Walter Kantrowitz and his grandson Justin Hechler.

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Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 13

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©Sportfot

©Anne Gittins

Don’t miss the $100,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 3* Saturday, February 25th.

the Gallery (a south beach themed pavilion), the Tiki Hut (polynesian beach bar), Tito's Tacos (Mexican food/margaritas).

Many public hospitality pavilions,

Free General Admission. Parking $20 per carload.

For reserved or premiere seating, fine dining options, or group sales (10-500 people), call or text Annette Goyette at 561.779.1660 or email annette@equestriansport.com WWW.EQUESTRIANSPORT.COM

561.793.5867

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center • Wellington, Florida

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Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 15

NEWS

‘SENIORS VS. CRIME’ THE TOPIC AT SONS OF ITALY CHAPTER MEETING IN RPB

The Order Sons of Italy in America Royal Palm Beach chapter held a “Seniors vs. Crime” themed meeting Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The guest speaker, Wayne Picone of the Office of the Attorney General, discussed tips on how to protect yourself from fraud.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Pasquale DeVivo with guest speaker Wayne Picone.

Tony Morrongiello and Dennis Piasio.

Joseph Belluccio and Anthony Porpora.

Neil Prete and Barbara D’Amico.

Jan Schneider, Diane Platero, Sam Pittaro, Joseph D’Amico, Joan Guiseppone and Lee Spinosi.

Vincent and Anthony Porpora.

RPB CANDIDATE SELENA SMITH HOSTS CAMPAIGN EVENT AT MARBAR GRILLE

Royal Palm Beach Village Council candidate Selena Smith held a campaign event Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Madison Green Golf Club’s MarBar Grille. Joining her were members of the Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club, the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, local business owners, residents and members of Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI). Also seeking Seat 1 on the RPB council during the March 13 election are Ken DeLaTorre and Jeff Hmara. For more on Smith’s campaign, visit www.followselena.com.

Joan Scherer, Eric Gordon, Selena Smith and Marcia Berwick.

Carol O’Neil, Selena Smith and Jim O’Neil.

Selena Smith and Neil Hannon.

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February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 17

POLO & EQUESTRIAN

Valiente I Defeats Lechuza Caracas 9-6 In C.V. Whitney Cup Action From the magnificent weather to the extravagant hats, Piaget Field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington was bustling as last Sunday marked the beginning of the C.V. Whitney Cup and the 26-goal season, which saw

James Fairclough II, a competitor on the History Channel’s Full Metal Jousting, does the game’s coin toss.

Valiente I defeat Lechuza Caracas 9-6.

The match began with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem sung by Stuart resident Sydney Carbo. Officiating the coin toss for the featured 3 p.m. match, Valiente I vs. Lechuza Caracas, was James Fairclough II, a current competitor on the History Channel’s new show, Full Metal Jousting.

The battle began early in the first chukker with a goal by Miguel Astrada of Valiente I, but was soon combated by a goal from the defending C.V. Whitney Cup champions, Lechuza Caracas, tying it up 1-1. The score remained close through the end of the first half with Valiente I up 4-3.

Valiente I extended their lead to 6-3 in the second half with help from Polito Pieres and team captain Bob Jornayvaz, but it was Pieres who scored the final goal for Valiente I for the 9-6 victory over Lechuza Caracas. Pieres was named MVP, and Miguel Astrada’s horse, Wembley, was hon-

Susan and Joe Meyer, Tom and Amy Deering, Gwen and Peter Rizzo, and Chuck Weaver. ored as Best Playing Pony.

The Ylvisaker Cup Finals will take place Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at the International Polo Club.

With seven state-of-the-art polo fields, a stunning newly renovat-

ed pavilion and a variety of entertainment, IPC is the place to see and be seen every Sunday.

Whether it’s enjoying a glass of champagne, the spectacular fieldside brunch, or partaking in re-

The score remained close until the second half, when Valiente I extended their lead and remained on top for a 9-6 win.

IMAGES COURTESY LILA PHOTO

served lawn seating, the Wellington Kids Zone or general admission seating, the club has something to offer every level of spectator.

For season information and tick-

ets, visit www.internationalpolo club.com. Find IPC on Facebook, follow on Twitter @SundayPolo or visit www.ipcscoreboard.com for up-to-date scores, schedules, rosters and all other polo info.

Colvin Tops The $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular The $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular was held under the lights at the Winter Equestrian Festival last Saturday night with an exciting victory for 14-yearold Victoria Colvin riding Dr. Betsee Parker’s Way Cool. The pair edged out last year’s winners, Louise Serio and Bryan Baldwin’s Castle Rock, who finished second.

Colvin also took home third-

Victoria Colvin and Way Cool.

place honors riding Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart. Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello finished fourth after a win in the first round.

Thirty-two horse-and-rider combinations qualified to compete in last Saturday night’s class after showing throughout the week in the junior, amateur and professional hunter divisions. Skip Bailey set the course for the two rounds of competition. The judges included Scott Fitton, Scott Williamson, Bill Moroney, Jim Clapperton, Mary Lisa Leffler, Patrick Rhodes, Karen Healey and Dee Thomas.

Colvin and Way Cool finished the class with an impressive tworound total of 180.06 for the victory. The pair scored an 88.56 in round one with individual scores of 89, 91, 89 and 85.25 from the four judging panels. In round two, high scores of 93, 93, 90.5 and 89.5 averaged out to a 90.25 score to put the duo in first place.

Serio and Castle Rock finished with a two-round total of 178.37 for second place. The pair finished the first round with an 88.12 total with scores of 87, 90, 86.5 and 89, then moved up with a 90.25 average in the second round with scores of 92, 92, 89.5 and 87.5.

Colvin and her other mount, Inclusive, finished with a two-round

total of 177.25 for third place with a round one average of 88.25 and an 89 point total in the second round. Boyd and Brunello, owned

by Boyd and Janet Peterson, led the first round with an 89.37 total and finished the second round with an 87.75 for a 177.12 total to finish in fourth place overall.

Other special awards were presented following the first round of competition. Costar, owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, was presented with the Mark Gregory Memorial Award as the best conditioned horse in the first round.

Casallo, owned by Erin McGuire and ridden by Boyd, earned the Charlie Weaver Memorial Award as the highest scoring conformation horse in the first round with an 87.87.

Class winner Way Cool is a 10year-old Hanoverian gelding. Way Cool and Colvin qualified for last Saturday night’s class after earning the reserve championship in the Antares Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division earlier in the day. Colvin was champion in the division with Inclusive.

Colvin, of Loxahatchee, trains with four-time WCHR Professional Champion Scott Stewart. Although she went last in the second round and had to put in a

good round to come out on top, Colvin said she did not feel any nerves. “I don’t get nervous,” she said. “I didn’t feel any pressure.

My mom is the one who gets nervous, and I think Scott gets a bit nervous. I thought it was good. I knew I had to pick up his feet. I thought I was going to have a rail because he was very tired, but he was perfect.”

At 14, Colvin is one of the youngest riders to ever win this class. Colvin and Way Cool have been showing together all circuit, but this was their first time in the International Arena at night under the bright lights.

Colvin enjoyed the courses last Saturday. “They were open and nice, and they really made for a flowing ride,” she said.

Serio commented on the course as well. “When we walked it, it looked very simple, but it rode differently,” she said. “It really did have a flow to it, especially in the second round.”

Serio explained that Castle Rock felt great in both rounds. “He is so reliable and just knows his job,” she said. “I was confident going into my rounds that he was going to be sharp. He is unbelievable to ride, and he walks into the ring and wants to win. It is an amazing feel-

Elizabeth Boyd rides Brunello.

PHOTOS COURTESY SPORTFOT

ing to have a horse like that.”

Fourth-place finisher Boyd also won this class as a junior. She was happy with her rounds aboard Brunello.

“He felt amazing. He really shines under the lights,” she said.

“He was definitely a bit tired for the second round. He made such a hard effort and jumped every jump out in the first round.”

The Winter Equestrian Festival

features 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1. More than $6 million in prize money will be awarded through the circuit. For full results, visit www.show groundslive.com.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is located at 14440 Pierson Road in Wellington.

For more information, visit www. equestriansport.com or call (561) 793-5867.

Page 18 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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SCHOOL NEWS

Ideal School Hosts Latin Night Celebration

Frontier Principal Susan Groth, Crystal Lang and Molly Harding.

Frontier Teacher Wins Black History Month Award Crystal Lang, a fifth-grade math teacher at Frontier Elementary School, recently received the prestigious Black History Month Excellence in Education Award. This award is given each year by the governor to one elementary, one middle school and one high school teacher. Lang is the 2012 statewide elementary winner.

Each year, Florida teachers can be nominated for this impressive award by a student, parent, colleague or administrator. This year, Frontier science teacher Molly Harding nominated Lang due to her incredible teaching skills.

“Students are actively engaged from the beginning to the end of every lesson, experiencing firsthand the importance of mathematics in the real world,” Harding said.

“What truly makes Lang such an amazing educator is that she has the unique ability to reach all learners, regardless of their background, mathematics skills, economic status or ethnicity.”

Lang will attend an awards ceremony and reception at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee on Feb. 22, where she will meet Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll.

Wellington’s Crocetti Honored At Kravis Event Wellington High School Principal Mario Crocetti was honored with the School Administrator of the Year Award on Friday, Feb. 10.

The award was presented at the Principal-Counselor Appreciation Breakfast held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Crocetti was greeted on his return to the school site by WHS faculty with much congratulation for this well-deserved, prestigious award. Cakes decorated in Wellington’s school colors, blue and white, were donated by the Publix supermarket in the Courtyard Shops.

Mario Crocetti

Send school news items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414.

Fax: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com.

It was a celebration to be remembered when the Ideal School hosted its first-ever Latin Fiesta to celebrate the community and school’s Latin families in South Florida.

Katy Cavalieri, fiesta chairwoman and preschool mom, came up with the idea as a way to celebrate the international diversification among the families that attend Ideal. After speaking with a number of parents, she discovered there were many people from South and Central America and, as a result, the idea of Latin Night was born.

Approximately 100 people attended the event. Don Ramon, a Cuban restaurant in Royal Palm Beach, donated fried plantains while attendees provided food that was native to their home countries. Local band Florida Latin Beat played live music, and the school’s

dining room was turned into a dance floor.

“Originally, we planned to make this a fundraiser but decided in the end that it would be more fun to do it as a parent mixer,” Cavalieri said. “We had people from 15 to 20 countries, including Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Cuba. I was delighted at how many people came to celebrate their heritage with us.”

Vendors were also set up for the gathering. There were purses for sale from Venezuela, jewelry from Peru and Argentina, and wood carvings from Mexico.

“It was such a hit that the parents are asking us to do this again next year,” Cavalieri said.

The Ideal School and Dream Middle School are pioneers in the use of multiple intelligence

Ideal School parents celebrate Latin Night. theory in the classroom. Their expertise in innovative education draws students from preschool through eighth grade

throughout Palm Beach County.

For more about the school, visit its web site at www.dream ideal.com or call (561) 791-2881.

SRHS National Honor Society Inducts Members The Seminole Ridge High School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted members in an evening ceremony and reception Feb. 16. The school congratulates this year’s honorary faculty members, Assistant Principal John Hay and social studies teacher Elizabeth Jenkins, as well as the student inductees.

The sophomore inductees are as follows: Austin Abbott, Seham Ahmed, Jennifer Almazan, Carl Bates, Stephanie Blount, Taylor Brasseur, Savannah Brovero, James Bukowski, Torrey Bulger, Kevin Byrne, Jaqueline Campos, Kimberly Cannizzaro, Kristen Castilla, Carmine Cioffoletti, Jessica Cody, Brooke Collier, Monique Costner, Devonee Creel, Phuong Dang, Madison Dickson, Sydnee Farnham, Madison Fillingham, Alexandra Gadzinski, Maria Garcia, Rachel Garcia, Yesenia Gonzalez, Hunter Grabbe, Emily Greenall, Casey Hankins, Meghan Holland, Hillary Hutchings, Erica Hylton, Jared John, Anthony Juncal, Blake Kanarek, Tyler Kingree, Danielle Lagos, Jonathan Little, Danielle Livingstone, Juliana Marrero, Desiree Marropodi, Megan McCarthy, Kianna McKenzie, Olivia Meingasner, Janae Moodie, Holly Moore, Courtney Murphy, Kaitlin O’Hara, Kendel Park, Hope Powell, Kimberly Ramroop, Jarrett Rimel, Leena Rosario, Jose Ruiz, Wayne Selogy, Dayssi Serrano, Sydney Shivers, Minita Singh, Samuel Smith, Elizabeth Sturman,

Benjamin Superman, Cassandra Van Walleghem, Paul Wassell and Rachel Wolfkill.

The junior inductees are as follows: Victoria Adams, Cassandra Barrett, Summer Bong, Rachel Coulanges, Kailey Dawe, Isabelle Dunne, Taylor Ellis,Annalina Felicella, Stephanie Gallarday, Melissa Garrity, Mitchell Gibson, Rachel Gillette, Ashley Gralin, Jamie Hernandez, Alexis Jordan, Jonah King, Jasmine Lang, Maegan Lord, Kyle Maglietta, Mary Monesar, Eric O’Brocki, Andrea Olave, Thomas Oliva, Jakob Raymond, Cristina Richards-Castillo, Tiffany Vargas, Gregory Wadzinski and Kyle Whirlow.

The senior inductees are as follows: Katiana Castilla, Thomas Cox, Nicole Hulen, Savannah Kowalski, Kathryn Milke, Alston Pickrell and Aileen Roblero.

• Hawk Battalion Competes in Arms, Inducts for Scabbard and Blade — On Feb. 11, the Seminole Ridge JROTC took part in an air rifle competition at Atlantic High School. The SRHS team included Cadet 1st Sgt. Zackary Davis, Cadet 2nd Lt. Jaime Marchand, Cadet Master Sgt. Joseph Rimi, Cadet Cpl. Charlie Green and Cadet Staff Sgt. Brogan Zelinka.

Going into the meet, the Seminole Ridge team was the underdog, having only one practice beforehand. But after all shooters had finished, Rimi took a firstplace finish in the kneeling position (finishing in 11th place over-

all), Marchand took second place prone (fifth place overall), and Zelinka took second place standing (14th overall). The SRHS team brought home the third-place trophy and will advance to regional competition Feb. 25.

In other news, the Hawk Battalion inducted the following members into the National Military Honor Society of Scabbard and Blade in an evening ceremony Feb. 13: James Bukowski, Devonee Creel, Desiree Galavan, Hunter Grabbe, Charles Green, RachelAnn Hembree, Justin Kaufman, Mirella Lebrun, Shannon Leduc, Jaime Marchand, Gary Poe, Heather Riley and Brogan Zelinka.

• Gotta Regatta! — Each year, the Seminole Ridge SECME program identifies science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities to improve student performance. Its annual Olympiad is the culmination of work completed in classroom and in club activities, typically featuring model rockets, robotics and racing mousetrap-powered rovers. But this year, SRHS added regatta.

SRHS challenged elementary schools to make the fastest ferry for a ping-pong passenger, and 55 teams participated Feb. 11 in planning and creating watercraft during the “Let’s Build Something Together” challenge. They were helped by “first mate” partners Lowe’s, the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County and Seminole Ridge students

Kristen Cousins, Raychell Harris, Ronit Liberman, Caitlin Miller and coach Erich Landstrom.

Once built, the model boats raced in a rain-gutter regatta along a ten-foot track, wind-powered by a fan. SRHS congratulates firstplace New Horizons Elementary School, second-place Pierce Hammock Elementary School and thirdplace U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School.

• Hawks to Bridge the Digital Divide — Members of the SRHS information technology academy will step up to bridge a digital divide, working after school to make old PCs new again. PC support students will take old computers from around campus and from the school district warehouse, repair them, re-image them for fresh users, and distribute them to needy students in the community.

Under the program, Hawk academy students will work both individually as part of a project team and collaboratively with students across the district. Their handson learning experiences not only develop technical skills and knowledge but also provide the opportunity for creating processes to improve efficiency and quality.

SRHS is now part of a successful countywide charitable effort whose members include the South Florida Water Management District, Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach State College, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Mentoring Center.

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NEW HORIZONS RINGS IN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR

New Horizons Elementary School recently celebrated the Chinese New Year. Kindergarten students honored the lunar year of the Dragon by reading books about China; learning about Chinese culture, creating dragons, noisy instruments and colorful masks; and eating Chinese food with chopsticks. Students paraded throughout the school with their dragons, masks and instruments wishing everyone kung si fat chai — a prosperous new year. Pictured here are kindergarten students with their teachers.

February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 19

SCHOOL NEWS

WCS Hosts Father Daughter Dance The Wellington Christian School Family Worship Center was transformed into a world “under the sea” for the annual Father Daughter Dance hosted by the school’s PTF on Friday, Feb. 10.

WCS fathers and daughters were welcomed and surrounded by a sea of bubbles and balloons.

Beautiful beta fish were featured as table center pieces, which were given out as door prizes to eight lucky young ladies. The event featured a candy bar, DJ, photographer, dancing, grade-level contests and a “dad dance-off.”

This year’s father daughter dance was the vision of Father Daughter Dance Event Chair Julie Canavan. She was pleased to see how the night went. “All the dads and daughters enjoyed a very special evening, dancing the night away, under the sea,” Canavan said.

Wellington Christian School is an accredited K-12 Christian

Julius and Julia Sanna entertain students with their instruments.

Panther Run Students Celebrate African Culture Daniel and Marina Mignone enjoy the evening. school, located at 1000 Wellington Trace. For more information, call (561) 793-1017 or visit www. wellingtonchristian.com.

To help celebrate Black History Month, Panther Run Elementary School students learned about Africa at a “Positively Africa” assembly.

Pre-k and kindergarten students at Panther Run had a great time learning about Africa from Julius and Julia Sanna, founders of Positively Africa. They presented an educational interaction presentation of Africa, which includ-

ed a brief talk about Africa and its countries, an African children’s game and an African music session with the students. They learned how to count in Swahili and were introduced to drums and other instruments used in Africa.

The students got to try the instruments as well.

For more information about Positively Africa, visit www. positivelyafrica.com.

The Mattisyn School Early Childhood Campus Opening This Fall Opening this fall, the Mattisyn School — “where education begins” — was founded to bring change, awareness and quality to early childhood education in Florida by focusing on empowering the child and how the child learns and thinks.

The Mattisyn School is the center of extraordinary, intellec-

tual energy and enthusiasm. It is a 10,000-square-foot state-ofthe-art facility, with indoor and outdoor playgrounds located at 8289 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach.

The mission of the school is to inspire the individual child to create limitless achievements.

School officials believe in chil-

dren first and foremost, and that the first five years of a child’s life create the foundation that will last a lifetime.

The Mattisyn School’s unique program creates positive, meaningful learning experiences during the early childhood years, empowering the children to gain self-confidence, self-esteem, self-aware-

ness and the development of a love for learning. By building these traits at an early age, the child can achieve endlessly. Each child is a unique learner with varied learning styles, which is why the Mattisyn School believes “traditional” teaching methods do not work for every child. Its program allows each child to thrive and excel.

The Mattisyn School optimizes the development of each child in a rich, safe, nurturing environment.

It is the early experiences of the young child that mold and shape the child’s entire life.

School officials are passionate about promoting loving, positive development and growth. Students are considered by applica-

tion only; applications will be accepted within the next few months.

The Mattisyn School was founded by Paula Francese, an attorney, entrepreneur and mother of two children: Matthew, 11, and Addisyn, 7.

For additional information, visit the school’s web site at www. mattisynschool.com.

Page 20 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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NEWS

Dr. Mammales Helps Patients Move Toward A Life Of Optimal Health

Dr. Dean Mammales and staff members at Cobblestone Chiropractic & Wellness.

Dr. Dean Mammales and the staff at Cobblestone Chiropractic & Wellness are located in the Cobblestone Village shopping center in Royal Palm Beach, just a few steps away from Super Target.

They have been helping local patients improve their lifestyles for more than seven years.

Prior to opening Cobblestone in Royal Palm Beach, Mammales graduated from Life University in Marietta, Ga., where he received his Doctorate of Chiropractic in 1996.

Mammales worked with top athletes who were participating in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta before making his way back to his hometown of New York City, where he practiced for over ten years and was voted one of New York’s top 10 chiropractors in 2006.

Like many South Floridians, the cold weather brought Mammales and his family to the area, where Cobblestone Chiropractic & Well-

ness became a reality. Cobblestone’s sole focus is to help its patients lead a healthful lifestyle.

The core of this unique practice encompasses traditional chiropractic care, massage therapy, exercise and good living choices.

Once patients arrive at Cobblestone Chiropractic & Wellness, they are greeted by friendly, courteous staff members who will help maximize their experience. Mammales customizes each patient’s treatment based on his or her individual needs. This group of professionals is committed to helping patients achieve their goals to better health.

Once part of the Cobblestone family, clients receive communication on ways to improve overall lifestyle and how to incorporate them into the daily routine for overall enhancement.

“We have an interest in our patients’ success,” Mammales said. “If they are successful, we

are successful, so we continue to work at keeping them on track to their short- and long-term goals.”

Mammales provides seminars and fitness awareness to his clients to help them lead the lifestyle they desire. He works with patient on their goals and helps keep them on a long-term success track.

“As long as an individual has the proper nutrition, rest, exercise, a positive mental attitude and a nervous system free of interference, there is no reason a patient should not move toward a life of optimal health and wellbeing,” Mammales said.

In addition to traditional chiropractic care, Mammales speaks at various corporations and organizations in the area to help promote healthful living and provides continuous education on how to be healthy.

Cobblestone Chiropractic &

Wellness serves patients in Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee, The Acreage and West Palm Beach.

“We are passionate about helping our patients develop a successful routine with healthy habits,” Mammales said. “At Cobblestone Chiropractic & Wellness, we call it Living the Dream, D-R-E-A-M: diet, rest exercise, adjustment, mental attitude.”

If you or someone you know is need of expert chiropractic care and looking to improve their overall health, Cobblestone Chiropractic is currently accepting new patients.

The practice accepts most insurances and offers packages for those without insurance. For additional information on Mammales and Cobblestone Chiropractic, visit www.cobblestone chiropractic.com or call (561) 753BACK.

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

AMERICAN LEGION POST Jones Wins Black History Month Essay Contest Nya Jones, an eighth-grader at proud of her many accomplish367 HOSTS PICNIC Polo Park Middle School, was se- ments. She is a gifted writer and

American Legion Post 367 held a picnic Saturday, Feb. 11 at Loxahatchee Groves Park. The social function was attended by American Legion District Commander Richard Smith, post and auxiliary members and their guests. Byrnes Guillaume, a candidate for Loxahatchee Groves Town Council, stopped by to introduce himself. He met with post members to listen to and discuss future plans for Post 367 establishing a home somewhere within the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. Shown above is Guillaume with Post 367 Chaplain Jim Hart and Smith.

lected as the middle school recipient of Gov. Rick Scott’s Black History Month Essay Contest, which is open to all fourth- through 12thgrade students in the state.

As one of the three winners in the state, Jones will receive a fouryear Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

Scott and Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll invited Jones and her family to attend the official College Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Tallahassee on Feb. 22.

“Nya is an exceptional example of everything that is right and good in our middle school students at Polo Park,” Principal Scott Blake said. “We are extremely

an excellent student.”

The topic of the high school and middle school essays was: “Describe an African-American who made a significant achievement in science and technology and how has that achievement advanced American quality of life.

How has this person inspired you to become interested in science and technology and how do you plan to use this inspiration to advance America?”

“The art and essay contests are a great chance for the children of Florida to express their creativity while learning about the AfricanAmerican leaders who have enriched our state,” First Lady Ann Scott said.

De Sousa Graduates Air Force Training

pline and studies, the Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate’s degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force.

De Sousa is the son of Monica Hoffman and brother of Andres De Sousa, both of Wellington. He is a 2005 graduate of Lake Worth High School.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Francisco J. De Sousa has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

De Sousa completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military disci-

Nya Jones and her family will attend the official College Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Tallahassee on Feb. 22.

Narvava Completes Marine Training Marine Corps Pfc. Cristian G. Narvava, son of Bettina Ayala and Roberto Narvava, both of Wellington, recently selected as the distinguished graduate from the Marine Corps Basic Combat Engineer Course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base Camp

Lejeune, N.C. During the five-week course, Narvava received instruction in the fundamentals of engineering support for combat units, including the procedures for building and repairing bridges, roads and field fortifications. He also learned the art of demolition, landmine warfare and camouflage techniques. Narvava is a 2011 graduate of Wellington High School and joined the Marine Corps in June 2011.

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February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 21

NEWS

‘Strut! Fashion For A JustWorld’ Show March 3 At Show Grounds The second annual “Strut! Fashion for a JustWorld” fashion show will be held Saturday, March 3 at the Wellington Club on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center following the $50,000 Vita Flex Match Race show jumping competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

The fashion show, which drew a crowd of more than 250 spectators last year, will feature the industry’s biggest names in both fashion and competition as they come together to benefit JustWorld International.

JustWorld’s longtime partner Horseware Ireland is returning as presenting sponsor for a second

Forum

Business Issues The Focus

continued from page 1 Equestrian Village project, the planned medical arts district and new development on Stribling Way and State Road 7. “I cannot possibly imagine the amount of tax revenue that we will enjoy due to increased property values.”

Asked how they would bring new business to Wellington and expand the commercial tax base, candidates had mixed views.

Willhite noted that the council has already done a lot to bring business to Wellington, including creating flex zoning and expedited permit processes. He cautioned, however, that Wellington should not overlook its already estab-

year. Proceeds from last year’s fashion show helped JustWorld to fund the building of a new school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Additional event sponsors include Dazzle Creative Events, Generations: A Hair Salon and Sportfot Photography.

Guests will be treated to some stylish equestrian fashions from Horseware’s popular Pessoa Collection along with chic ensembles from Ariat International, Asmar Equestrian, Der Dau, Eleganté Polo of Palm Beach, Goode Rider, GPA, Grand Prix, Konigs, Le Fash, Pikeur, Skiffington LLC, Sofie Belgium Boutique, the WEF Boutique and Zest. Guests will also have the

exciting opportunity to enter for a chance to win a Pessoa by Horseware look straight from the runway.

Models slated to walk the runway include Alex Skiffington, Alexa Adelson, Mike Azarro, Kevin Babington, Erynn Ballard, Andrew Bourns, Daniel Bluman, Angela Covert-Lawrence, Kamini Chinloy, Marlee Dichter, Nick Dello Joio, Amanda Derbyshire, Tatiana Dzavik, Nicola FitzGibbon, Christina Kelly, Blythe Marano, Aimee McClenahan, McKahla Onetto, Andres Rodriguez, Louise Serio, Nicole Simpson, Sophie Simpson, Daniel Zetterman and Caitlin Ziegler.

The doors at the Wellington Club open at 8 p.m., and the show will start at 9:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a premium open bar and a great view of the Vita Flex Match Race.

Tickets are available for $50 each and may be purchased by calling Sabrina Jurak at JustWorld International at (561) 333-9391 or by e-mailing info@justworld international.org.

Since its inception, JustWorld International and Executive Director Jessica Newman have inspired the equestrian community to support projects that benefit children in Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala and Honduras. Currently, JustWorld

lished businesses in pursuit of new companies.

“We need to not forget about the businesses that are already here,” he said. “Do we need to go outside and bring businesses in to Wellington? Absolutely. But let’s try to help the ones that are already here to grow.”

Paglia noted that Wellington can work with the Business Development Board and other entities that help to bring business to Palm Beach County and Florida.

“They travel around this hemisphere to bring businesses to Florida,” he said. “We need to have representatives from the village attend those meetings and work hand-in-hand with [the BDB] and ask… why these businesses did not come to Wellington.”

Greene said he was supportive of responsible growth.

“It’s important to attract busi-

nesses and create jobs,” he said.

“People are not just working here, they’re living here and raising their families here. We can work with local chambers of commerce, and work with Palm Beach County to identify companies looking to relocate. I think it’s important that we continue to grow and have a forward-thinking attitude in what we do, and make sure we do it in a responsible and cautious way. We have to be careful about what kind of development we attract.”

Hostetler said not only should Wellington look to local organizations but also to residents and to the companies themselves to find out what businesses to attract and how to seal the deal.

“We have great resources. We need to go to them and ask them: ‘What are your ideas? What are your connections?’” she said.

“We need to ask them, ‘What are your plans? What do we need to

do to show you how wonderful Wellington is?’”

Margolis stressed that Wellington should focus on its already established businesses.

“I believe Wellington is a bedroom community,” he said. “If we want jobs, that’s OK. The most important people in Wellington for me are the people who work and live in Wellington. I care about sustaining their jobs. I care about making sure their establishments… are surviving in this tough economy. Before I look outside, I want to make sure they’re OK.” Bowen said that the council has been pushing to make Wellington more attractive to businesses but stressed that more needs to be done.

“We’re building a base,” he said, “but you don’t bring an employer here overnight, especially when you’re picky like we are. We want to make sure it’s a

has more than 450 rider ambassadors from 37 countries helping to bring attention to their cause. For more information, visit www.just worldinternational.org.

Horseware Ireland was founded in 1985 by Tom and Carol MacGuinness whose shared goal was to create a horse blanket that stayed put and didn’t leak. This quest resulted in the development of the unique Rambo blanket, which revolutionized the industry.

In addition to horse clothing, the company has many product lines including tack and equestrian clothing for both competition and casual wear. For more information, visit www.horseware.com.

Will Simpson models Horseware Ireland’s Pessoa line at last year’s show.

PHOTO BY SPORTFOT

Incumbent Matt Willhite (left) and challenger Al Paglia (right) are vying in the race for Seat 4.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

good industry and pays enough so the employees can afford to live here.”

He noted that with escalating prices, it’s important to bring jobs closer to residents to help them save money.

“We have to bring jobs closer in order to fix the foreclosure problem, in order to broaden our tax base, and to create a sustainable community so future generations will come back here to make their lives,” Bowen said.

Page 22 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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NEWS

Honda Classic Pre-Qualifier At Binks Forest Golf Club The top players of the PGA Tour rarely have to be concerned about qualifying for an event like the Honda Classic that begins play on Thursday, March 1.

But for the golf professional on the cliff of making it or breaking it on tour, there still exists the qualifying event just for the chance to try and get a coveted spot in an event like the Honda Classic.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Binks

Charity

Schools Group Takes Top Prize

continued from page 1 facilities or the tools, it’s just great people and great students. This will help us make our facilities just as great.”

For Wellington Christian School PTA President Lainie Guthrie, every dollar counts. “We’re the only private school involved in this,” she said. “As a private school, all the money comes out of our parents’ pockets. This is huge for us.”

Bellissimo, who has begun a campaign to bring local schools opportunities in the equestrian world, said that the win was a great

Forest Golf Club in Wellington hosted one of only three pre-qualifiers conducted at golf clubs throughout the county, narrowing a field from 99 players. Results were not available at press time.

Participants traveling from as far away as England and Germany, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Chapel Hill and numerous clubs in Florida competed in the 18-hole event.

“The selection of Binks Forest

as one of the final sites for prequalifying is an achievement we are very proud of,” General Manager Greg Schroeder said. “This represents a step in the direction of returning our club to a premier site in Palm Beach County. The hard work by Richard Green, course superintendent, is being justified. The tour representatives were impressed with the greens in particular.”

coincidence. “What a great outcome,” he said. “It’s sort of fortuitous in many ways.”

Like the Wellington Community Foundation, Bellissimo said that the Wellington PTA/PTO Group would remain a permanent charity in the Great Charity Challenge.

“It was a great idea spawned by a chance meeting,” he said. “I happened to meet Shauna [Hostetler], and on my first meeting, she asked me why I didn’t include the schools in the event.”

Hostetler, who is the former president of the Binks Forest Elementary School PTA, knew how hard fundraising can be.

“I was speaking to Berta [Ebersole], and she said that she’d have to do seven fundraisers to raise the amount of money they did tonight,” she said. “They’re lucky if

they raise $10,000 or $15,000. Then, when you get to middle and high school, it’s painful to get money from anyone. You have sports and clubs that need funding; it’s no longer just about the school.”

Ebersole noted that no matter how much parents try to raise money, there is always a need for support for both students and teachers.

“The greater impact is that the children will be getting much-needed services,” Ebersole said. “We as parents — no matter how much energy and effort we put together — can’t bridge the gap. Any dollar amount is a boost for us. It makes our burden less with the expenses that are already there. It may mean that teachers can have more tools to help children in the classroom.”

Besides the Honda Classic event, Binks has recently hosted two minor league professional tour events and will be the host site of the inaugural Wellington Open Golf Championship on April 13.

The Wellington Open will allow both professionals and amateurs to compete in different divisions. The professionals will compete for prize money and the

amateurs for non-cash prizes.

In 1990, Binks once hosted the nationally televised PGA Tour Team Championship. That tournament was won by hometown favorite at the time, Fred Couples.

Binks Forest Golf Club is a semiprivate, 18-hole championship golf course designed by Johnny Miller and Gene Bates. For tee times, call (561) 333-5731.

Acreage Yard Sale Saturday The Acreage Arsenal U-10 boys soccer team will host a yard sale on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 14239 Orange Blvd. in The Acreage.

The sale will feature household items, clothes, toys and sports equipment. The event will help raise money for the team. For more information, call Kelli Shipe at (561) 670-9976.

Dennis Shaughnessy, chairman of sponsor FTI Consulting, with his wife Mary K.

The winning riding team of Caroline Spogli, Margie Engle and Gabby Stern.

First-place fan favorite was won by the American Humane Association.

Second-place fan favorite Be A Star.

Members of Wellington’s PTO/PTA group with their children moments after it was announced they had won the top prize.

Hedrick

Contractor To Assume The Risk

continued from page 1 riquez said he preferred to follow the recommendation of the selection committee, which was directed to choose a contractor based on its experience.

The board approved Hedrick 41 with Enriquez opposed.

During the Hedrick presentation, Cheri Pavlik, director of business development, said her company has been operating in the West Palm Beach market for more than 30 years, and that of its 100 employees, 18 percent of them live in the western communities.

“This project isn’t just a project to us, Pavlik said. “We care because we have people who are using it.”

Pavlik said the company has a proven track record of working with local contractors.

“We intend to apply those principles on this project,” she said. “A couple of the things we did to try and see how to do was to identify target companies that are in the western communities.

Furthermore, these are compa-

WEF Art

Three Galleries

continued from page 3 gallery. With 75 paintings on display, the art is more contemporary, colorful and less traditional in composition. “It’s a totally different crowd, taste and appreciation of art down here,” Ladd said.

Some of the biggest names in equestrian art are featured at the gallery, and they include Andre Pater, Larry Wheeler, Kristin Knight, Jo Taylor and Peter Howell. “Some of our artists have begun to adapt their work for Well-

Letters continued from page 4 reaching such a low point. What we can believe is that Mayor Bowen will not bend to this brand of politics. Remember this when you exercise your right to vote and Wellington will remain well preserved for our future.

Linda and Ray Hunt Wellington

Charter School A Great Idea In reference to the article about the Renaissance Charter School,

nies that we have worked with.”

Pavlik pointed out that Hedrick has built two facilities for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County similar in area and cost to the 25,000-square-foot facility desired

by ITID. She said Hedrick had also factored in construction principles that would reduce the ongoing cost of maintaining the building.

Specifically regarding a “construction manager at risk” bid, Pavlik said her company has undertaken more than $96 million in atrisk experience in Palm Beach County, including four projects with the School District of Palm Beach County, three with Palm Beach State College, seven with Palm Beach County, one with the Palm Beach County Health Care District and two with the Town of Palm Beach.

Hedrick Project Manager Don Jones said during preconstruction, the company would meet with ITID officials to decide the quality of materials for the project to determine the cost.

“We work with you and the design team to be sure you get the optimum project that can be delivered to you whether the delivery system is at-risk or design-build,” Jones said.

He also promised no surprises.

“I don’t know about you guys,

but we don’t like surprises,” Jones said. “We like to keep those surprises off the table. We will work with you and your design team to assess your needs. We will shepherd you through this process. We will help control the budget, and we’ll manage the schedule.”

Jones said cost estimating will be done in three phases in order to maintain budget control. “You are allowed to evaluate your needs and make decisions either to add to the project or subtract from the project,” he explained.

Jones said they will also offer value enhancements that will reduce the long-term maintenance costs of the building, such as polished concrete, which requires no maintenance other than cleaning.

Dale Hedrick, president of the company, said his firm has a reputation of delivering high-quality, award-winning projects. He noted that the West Palm Beach Boys & Girls Club was finished with a zero punch list.

“I don’t know how important that is to you, but we believe that when we’re done, we’re done,” he said.

Hedrick said that his company will specifically target the area to hire local contractors. “We understand that there are a lot of people needing employment,” he said.

ington, upon our request,” Ladd said.

Although the style is more contemporary in Wellington, Cross Gate Gallery also brings a few classic styles. “We try to bring some more traditional pieces because there are still some people who are interested in the 19th-century sporting paintings as opposed to the contemporary styles,” he said.

The art at the Cross Gate Gallery International Club location comes in a variety of prices. “We try and bring all price ranges.

Someone can buy a painting for $1,000 or thousands of dollars. It’s pretty much about what you’re looking for,” Ladd said. “We don’t

have anything that is over-themoon expensive.”

Ladd assists people in choosing perfect pieces for filling equestrian homes.

“People who bought big homes down here and want to fill them with something different and say, ‘I want something big, colorful and something different, and this is what I want to spend,’” he said, “I help them find what’s right for them, and it has been really fun.”

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is located at 14440 Pierson Road, Wellington.

For more information, visit www. equestriansport.com or call (561) 793-5867.

I’d like to offer my opinion (“School’s Traffic Flow Worries RPB Zoners,” Feb. 10).

I live just around the corner from this property. I think it’s fantastic that a school has applied and wants to occupy what is now a large empty space in the plaza. In this economy, it is in the best interest of the neighborhoods that surround commercial plazas to have empty vacant property filled with something viable that protects our real estate investments for the future.

I think having a school in place of the empty Albertsons

will do exactly that. What better opportunity for a promising future than have it filled with students.

If it is traffic that is of concern, I’m sure with the right traffic engineer and some creative minds, they can make it work. Otherwise, my suggestion is to seek a church or another religious-based facility to occupy the space. Either opportunity will be good for the neighborhood, and both would be greatly beneficial to the community.

Jackie Elliott Royal Palm Beach

Third-place fan favorite Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Campus

Workshop March 20

continued from page 1 buffer, which Councilman Tom Goltzené has insisted be a greenway of at least 300 feet. College officials have chafed at the suggestion, saying that size buffer would not allow them the area they need to complete the campus.

They have offered a 110-foot buffer.

Festival

Event Will Remain Free

continued from page 1 val, so having the in-kind contributions is something we really rely on,” she said.

Miranda added that the chamber is a nonprofit organization.

“We appreciate everybody’s support,” she said. “You guys have been incredible. I know it’s the third year, and it was a lot easier this year to get through all the issues that we have had in the past.

I appreciate all the time that has been spent.”

She noted that the festival also brings other financial benefits to the village.

“We want this to be a continued partnership for this event,”

Blotter continued from page 6 Saturday afternoon to report a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11 p.m. last Friday and noon the following day, someone entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and removed a Tom Tom GPS valued at approximately $300. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

FEB. 19 — A man was arrested last Sunday afternoon on drug charges following a traffic stop on Lilac Drive in Royal Palm Beach.

According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation stopped 22-year-old Rodny Jean Baptiste for obstructing the roadway. According to the report, Jean Baptiste was found to be in possession of 232.9 grams of marijuana, .3 grams of cocaine, four Xanax tablets, $320 cash as well as plastic bags, rolling papers and a digital scale. According to the report, Jean Baptiste was arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he was charged with several counts of drug pos-

The Bellissimo family enjoys the competition.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

The college has begun the necessary land-use and zoning changes with the town and has an architect and a construction company under contract, according to PBSC President Dr. Dennis Gallon, who has said that the campus will be built out slowly over several decades.

In a recent presentation, Gallon predicted that the initial campus building will be ready in as few as two years. The first phase will create about 700 construction jobs, and when the campus opens it will

have enough students for 50 fulltime and 35 part-time employees, including faculty, administrators and support staff.

The campus will be full-service, where a student will be able to go through the intake and registration process, orientation, financial aid advisory and counseling with no need to go to any other campus to enroll, according to Gallon.

The Loxahatchee Groves campus will offer a comprehensive curriculum with all that is required to obtain an associate’s degree.

Miranda said. “We actually take all the dollars that we collect and pump it right back into the community, so you’re looking at about $150,000 that’s going back into the community as economic development.”

In addition, she estimated that, assuming 15,000 people attending the event spend $10 each, another $150,000 goes back right into the community.

“The free admission is something that we want to maintain,” Miranda said. “It’s something the village has asked of us, and because of that, we need your continued support.”

Miranda said some services are still up in the air, such as the shuttle bus service. Other than that, everyone else who offered in-kind services last year is back on board, she said.

“That includes things like landscaping,” she said. “Armand Professional Services puts out really nice plants. When we did the cookoffs, all that food is donated by either Tree’s Wings or Whole Foods, so we keep things going through a lot of donations.”

Miranda added that the PBSO is one of the biggest contributors, with about $10,500 in donated time.

Pinto made a motion to approve the permit, which carried 3-0 with Mattioli abstaining.

Webster then made a motion to help finance the festival with $6,000 — the same as last year. That was above the staff recommendation of $2,000. Pinto did not support that idea because he said it had not been discussed beforehand.

Valuntas passed the gavel to Webster to second the motion, which carried 2-1.

session, possession with intent to sell and drug equipment possession.

FEB. 19 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to a home in Royal Estates last Sunday afternoon regarding a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 8 a.m. and 3:40 p.m., someone entered the victim’s home and took a Sony Playstation and two laptop computers. During a canvass of the neighborhood, the deputy spoke to a neighbor who said that at approximately noon, he observed two unknown black men park in the victim’s driveway. According to the report, the suspects went around to the rear of the home, and the neighbor observed them leave about 10 minutes later carrying a black backpack. There was no further information available at the time of the report.

FEB. 21 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to an automotive repair shop on Business Parkway on Tuesday morning regard-

ing a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim left his motorcycle at the shop for repair last Tuesday. When he returned to pick up his bike a week later, he discovered that several parts had been stolen, including the engine, which was valued at approximately $10,000. There was no further information available at the time of the report.

FEB. 21 — A resident of Hamlin Blvd. contacted the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation Tuesday afternoon to report a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim left his home at approximately 8:30 a.m., and when he returned at approximately 2:30 p.m., he discovered that someone had stolen his Xbox 360 game console, a video game, a controller and a part to the game system. The victim said he checked the rest of the house and nothing was missing, and that his front door had been left unlocked for his son. The stolen items were valued at approximately $460. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

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February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 23

CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR! THIRD ANNUAL

Great Charity Challenge Presented by

RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS Charity – Dollar Amount – Sponsor – Corporate Sponsor

#1. Wellington PTO/PTA Group – $150,000.00 The Spogli Family and Graffito Restaurant – Equestrian Services International 2. Place of Hope – $125,000.00 – The Mirabal Family – Intrepid Electric 3. Gulfstream Goodwill Transition to Life Academy – $100,000.00 – The Keith Family and The Boggio Family – Florida Community Bank 4. Lupus Foundation of America, Southeast Florida Chapter – $85,000.00 – Beth Johnson, Juliette Reid, and Ahmed Alali – Wellington Equestrian Realty 5. Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Inc. – $70,000.00 – The Crown Family – Sexton Engineering 6. The Center for Family Services – $60,000.00 – Susan Grange – Gracie Street Interior Design, Inc. 7. Child and Family Connections, Inc. – $50,000.00 – Spy Coast Farm and Mr. & Mrs. John Preston – Parsky Family 8. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties – $37,500.00 – Trelawny Farm – Spearhead Capital, llc 9. The Wellington Community Foundation – $25,000.00 – The Mershad Family – CZR Corporation 10. Susan G. Komen For the Cure, South Florida – $20,000.00 – The Mershad Family – Jamaica Tent 11. Hospice of Palm Beach County – $18,500.00 – The Johnson Family and Fidelity Investments® – Suncast® Corporation 12. Be a Star Foundation – $18,000.00 – The Hymowitz Family – Huggins Land Grading Co. 13. Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. – $17,500.00 – The Harrison Family – Dever Golf Cars 14. Palm Healthcare Foundation – $17,000.00 – The Goldstein Family – Horseware Ireland 15. American Red Cross – $16,500.00 – Alan Sadler – The Van Kampen Foundation 16. Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO) – $16,000.00 – Rick Moyer and Cathleen Rooney – Galle Law Group 17. Loggerhead Marinelife Center – $15,500.00 – The Bellissimo Family – Der Dau 18. Urban League of Palm Beach County – $15,000.00 – Brushwood Stables – Carol Sollak, Illustrated Properties 19. The Unicorn Children’s Foundation – $14,500.00 – Georgina Bloomberg – Sleepy P Ranch 20. South Florida Science Museum – $14,000.00 – Caroline Moran and Bruce Duchossois – Groundworks 21. Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, Inc. – $13,500.00 – Equinimity – Nespresso 22. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – $13,000.00 – Pony Lane Farm – Maschmeyer Concrete Company 23. Greyhound Pets of America – $12,500.00 – The Dammerman Family, The Little Family, The Horowitz Family, and the Kamine Family – Marcum Raichlin 24. Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center – $12,000.00 – The Radosovich Family – Rocky Mountain Warmbloods 25. Families First of Palm Beach County – $11,500.00 – The Shaughnessy Family and FTI Consulting – Artisan Farms 26. American Humane Association – $11,000.00 – Allie Lawaetz and Lee Kellogg-Sadrian – Equine Tack and Nutritionals 27. Hanley Center Foundation – $10,750.00 – The Boyer Family – FTI Consulting 28. The Caridad Center – $10,500.00 – Mr. & Mrs. Roger Smith – Hedrick Brothers Construction 29. Children’s Home Society of Florida – $10,250.00 – The Patton Family – Bank of America 30. Wheels for Kids – $10,000.00 – The Kane Family and the Zilo Family – Palm Beach Equine Clinic 31. Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County – $10,000.00 – Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Kalman and Pin Oak Farm – World Development Group 32. Danny and Ron’s Rescue – $10,000.00 – The Vanderveen Family – Gold Coast Feed

This year’s FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge Presented by Fidelity Investments raised $1.1 million for 32 local Palm Beach County charities!

This year’s event brings the grand total to $2.7 million raised for the community since the event’s commencement in 2010.

Page 24 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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NEWS

Bronco Percussion Team Scores First-Place Win At SFWGA Contest Palm Beach Central High School percussionists took home the first-place win Saturday, Feb. 11 at the South Florida Winter Guard Associations contest held at John I. Leonard High School.

This year’s percussion program, titled “Live Love Drum,” was under the direction of Tony Gamble and instructors Joni Niskanen, Nik Dee and band directors James Yaques and Luke Basso. The Palm Beach Central percussion team took first place in Open Class.

Officers Justin Martinez and Justin Rivera, both graduating this year, are proud of the group’s accomplishments and how much the percussion program has grown over the last four years.

“This is our first year in the Open Class, and to come away with a first-place win so early in

Bronco percussion team members and directors. the season makes us so proud of our percussion team,” Rivera said.

In addition to Martinez and

Rivera, Palm Beach Central percussion team members include George Formoso, Brian Algarin, Justin Lisenbey, Malcolm Robbs,

Cymbal line members N.J. Lee, Alyssa Parlato, Leslie Smith, Christina Kennedy, Kevin Molina and Miguel Cruz.

Austin Hamilton, Alex Peart, Adam Yorke, Stephen McMullen, Tyler Breffel, Andy Cepeda, Jiovanni Sierra, Chris

Carpenter, Kaden Levy, Caitlyn McNamee, Joshua Parlato, David Goreski, Harley Galeano, Brenden Hall, Robby Grillo, Jus-

Snare line: Justin Lisenbey, Malcolm Robbs, George Formoso and Brian Algarin. tin Truong, Christina Kennedy, Alan Hamilton, Brandon Salinas, Alexandra Ingebritson and Alyssa Parlato.

CELIAC DISEASE FOUNDATION HOSTS GLUTEN-FREE FOODS EXPO AT FAIRGROUNDS Gluten-free foods were on display at the Celiac Disease Foundation South Florida Chapter’s fifth annual South Florida Gluten-Free Expo held Saturday, Feb. 18 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. More than 100 vendors showcased a variety of foods from pastas to desser ts.

For more info., visit www.cdfsouthflorida.org.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Lauren Belinsky and Kristin Bagonis of Whole Foods Market.

Sarah Bowling, Michele Dallas, Brian Hiltebeitel, Dina Lauro and Sabrina Fiorentino of Chunkie Dunkies.

Sydney Simon tries Celiac Specialties croissant-style rolls.

Event facilitator Ira Gulker of the Celiac Disease Foundation with South Florida Chapter President Phyllis Kessler.

Jacob Ephron samples Gultino bread from Benis Glasser.

Jones Dairy Farm’s Julie Ankomeus with gluten-free turkey sausages.

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Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 25

Two legendary courses.

Two distinctive clubs.

One unprecedented membership offer.

Join the Breakers West Rees Jones速 Membership

by March 31, 2012 and receive:

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The Breakers Ocean Club Summer Membership

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your Breakers West Annual Membership Initiation Fee.* Featuring the award-winning Breakers Rees Jones速 Course, Breakers West offers legendary golf, the finest club amenities, no assessment fees or food and beverage minimums, and now, for a limited time, an unprecedented promotional offer.

For more information or to apply for membership, please call 561-282-9447.

Owned and operated by The Breakers Palm Beach *Offer valid through March 31, 2012 for NEW Breakers West Rees Jones Annual Members who pay their dues and initiation fee upon being accepted to membership. A refundable deposit of $1,000 is required to activate The Breakers Ocean Club Summer Membership.

Summer Membership must be used during the 2012 summer membership term and is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

Page 26 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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PALM BEACH POLO SEASON AT INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB

JANUARY 8TH-APRIL 22ND

Discover Sunday Polo Sunday, February 26th Ylvisaker Cup • 3:00 Featured Match • Field Side Champagne Brunch • General Admission Seating & Food Trucks in Wellington Zone • Kids Zone • Half Time Divot Stomp • Polo Player Autographs Following Match View Schedule | Purchase Tickets | General Information Internationalpoloclub.com | Box Office: 561.282.5334 Club Line: 561.204.5687

3667 120TH AVENUE SOUTH | WELLINGTON, FLORIDA 33414

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Great Horse Art As Part Of RSCF Wild Things Art Show

Equestrians were well represented at the sixth annual Wild Things Art Show. Held at the Loxahatchee Groves studio of artist Gisela Pferdekamper, the event is a fundraiser to benefit the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Loxahatchee.

Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 29

February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 27

Palm Beach Makos Fall To Orlando Rage 27-17

The Palm Beach Makos minor league football team fell to rivals the Orlando Rage 27-17 on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Palm Beach Central High School. The Makos scored early in the game, but ultimately, the Rage pushed back and were able to outscore the home team. Page 43

Shopping Spree A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE

Business Joey’s Outback Offers A Fun Play Environment For Children Of All Ages

With youngsters hopping from jump to jump, Joey’s Outback Adventures in Wellington is a new kid favorite. Opening earlier this month, it has quickly become a popular interactive indoor kids play and learning center. Joey’s Outback is open to children six months to 12 years old. Upon entering Joey’s, all children are required to get signed in by a parent or guardian in or der to play. Children are then let loose to play in the large inflatable bounce houses or “jumps.” Page 33

Sports Wellington Softball Team Suffers 13-0 Loss To P.B. Gardens

The Wellington High School varsity girls softball team fell 13-0 to host Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday, Feb. 16. The matchup between two of the county’s best had much anticipation, with both Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington coming into the contest unbeaten in four games.

Page 43

THIS WEEK’S INDEX COLUMNS & FEATURES ........................ 29-31 BUSINESS NEWS..................................33-35 DINING & ENTERTAINMENT ...................... 38 SPORTS & RECREATION........................43-46 COMMUNITY CALENDAR ......................48-49 CLASSIFIEDS ........................................50-54

Page 28 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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FEATURES

Great Horse Art As Part Of RSCF Wild Things Art Show A few Sundays ago, while most of the country settled down in front of big-screen TVs ready to devour pizza and snacks and cheer their favorite team on to victory in the Super Bowl, a group of people gathered at a private home and artist’s studio in Loxahatchee Groves to look at, and perhaps purchase, art and, coincidentally, help the environment. The Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Loxahatchee, was having its sixth annual Wild Things Art Show fundraiser.

This group has a 30-acre wildlife preserve where members help wildlife from all over the world. Their work stretches from Africa to Brazil and the eastern Caribbean, and their programs help black rhinos, wildebeest, giant sables, Dominica parrots, red-browed Amazon parrots and Bahama parrots.

Well, that’s all very nice, I can hear you saying, but what has this got to do with horses? Quite a few of the artists who displayed their works at the fundraiser brought along equestrian-themed pieces! This year’s participants included jewelers, sculptors, photographers and painters in a variety of media.

The event took place at Gisela Pferdekamper’s studio on Collecting Canal Road, and some of her “round-bottomed” horse canvases were included in the show.

Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/ HorseTalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg “We’re very thrilled with this year’s event,” said Karen McGovern, coordinator and curator with the RSCF. “Everyone has a great time, and the artists donate 25 percent of the proceeds of any sales to the conservatory. We’re especially pleased that best-selling author Tami Hoag [is] our special guest.”

On Sunday, Feb. 5, well-heeled patrons mingled during an evening reception and showing. Additional showings were held the following Monday and Tuesday. The excitement level was high. Platters of snacks and glasses of beverages circulated. Volunteers from the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary walked around with small animals. A body-painted woman displayed her, um, canvas. There was a good buzz.

Patricia Powers was one of the artists. She lives in New York City and visits Wellington for two months each year. She paints all sorts of equestrian art, everything from polo to dressage.

“I’ve ridden forever,” she said. “I’ve been involved in dressage and jumping. I like helping out animal welfare organizations. This is a

Artist Patricia Powers with some of her paintings. good match for me. I really believe in what the conservatory’s doing. It touches your heart.

I’m delighted with tonight’s turnout. Everyone here could be home eating chicken wings

and watching the game. Instead, they’re here, supporting a great cause.”

Her paintings were impressive, large-scale See ROSENBERG, page 31

Page 30 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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©Sportfot ©ManciniPhotos

©Randi Muster

©ManciniPhotos

©Sportfot

Don’t miss the $100,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 3* Saturday, February 25th.

the Gallery (a South Beach-themed spectator pavilion), the Tiki Hut (Polynesian beach bar), Tito'sTacos (Mexican food/margaritas),

Many public hospitality pavilions,

Free General Admission. Parking $20 per carload.

For reserved or premiere seating, fine dining options, or group sales (10-500 people), call or text Annette Goyette at 561.779.1660 or email annette@equestriansport.com WWW.EQUESTRIANSPORT.COM

561.793.5867

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center • Wellington, Florida

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FEATURES

Time To Revisit My Dream Of A Retirement Home Commune Due to ever-increasing demand, I am revisiting my idea for the Strawberry Fields Rest Home & Commune.

Don’t you think this is a good idea? Take everyone who attended college during the years of the Vietnam War and put us together in one place — preferably the “back 40” of a university somewhere. In between taking classes (less political science... more nude figure drawing!), we could raise goats, grow organic vegetables and run our own little produce stand out on the roadside.

There’d be an artists compound, wildly popular because no one could live there unless they actually had some talent. For instance, anyone using a paint color directly from the tube with no regard to the light and shadow on his subject would be banned.

Get your Sonic Boomer humor every day!

Follow Deborah Welky on Twitter at twitter.com/TheSonicBoomer. On Facebook, stop by “The Sonic Boomer” page and click the “Like” button.

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER Retirees who preferred crafts could tie macramé belts, dip candles or make loaves of soap.

I expect oversized tissue-paper flowers would make a big comeback. Those who enjoyed tinkering with engines would be in charge of keeping our communal chicken-fat biodiesel Flower Power Bus running.

We’d be completely self-sufficient, living on fruit and cheese like the French, with a wind farm just off-site providing our power (that, and the candles, of course). We’d demurely continue to accept our Social Security checks, however, (we earned ’em!), pooling some of the funds to buy more

seeds and chickens and using the rest as we pleased.

And we’d have other sources of income, too. We’d charge big bucks to visiting artists for the use of our plein air fields; we’d offer “Revisit the ’60s” tours using the Flower Power Bus; and we’d sell our artisanal foodstuffs and handcrafted goods at New York boutique prices.

We’d also put together some of those electrified, hardwood-floored and tastefully furnished deluxe tents like the hoity-toity magazines are showing. We’d rent them out by the day or week, charging enormous fees in exchange for a good night’s sleep. The cost of a homegrown breakfast brought directly to your door via tricked-out goat cart would be included, but Wi-Fi access would cost extra — lots extra.

It could work! It’d be fun!

No, it couldn’t. No, it wouldn’t.

Sooner or later, some talentless hack would be buying his way into the artists compound, one particular soapmaker would be selling her

goods at cut-rate prices, and somebody else would discover there’s more profit to be made off tissue paper flowers shipped in from China.

Goodbye, Strawberry Fields. Hello, mainstream America.

It could even go downhill from there, with in-towners bringing their own tour groups out to see “Hippieville” or medical experimentation companies getting government grants to use us as guinea pigs. (“Boss, I’ve never seen so many geezers in one place! It’s a Geezer gold mine!”)

To regain “home rule,” some would see a need to incorporate as our own municipality, and others would want things to remain as they are. This could cause infighting between butchers, bakers and candlestick-makers.

And if the guy who fills the goat cart went on strike (“I’m sick of getting up early to make eggs! I did that all my life!”), it would be the beginning of the end.

Because as the goat cart goes, so goes the produce stand. And you just can’t have Strawberry Fields without the strawberries.

New Movie ‘This Means War’ Has Few Redeeming Qualities Every once in a while, a movie comes along that is such a stinker, those who go to it wonder if any adult ever read the script before it was made. So it is with This Means War. The trailers shown on television seem clever; it is clearly a romantic comedy. The movie itself is neither particularly romantic nor funny, though. Avoid it. You’ll thank me.

The geniuses behind the film obviously thought it would be great to have a love triangle, since that often works so well in these films. So they decided they would have the two greatest CIA agents around, really good buddies, fall for the same woman and then try to destroy each other in order to win her.

I am not an enormous fan of the CIA, but one would imagine they actually test people to check whether they are psychotic before hiring them (minor sociopaths probably are welcome, but that has nothing to do with these characters). They are supposed to be great friends, guys who have had each other’s back while chasing the world’s greatest terrorist, but as soon as the possibility of dating a woman who is not all that spectacular comes up, they destroy everything in sight. No wonder our foreign policy is a mess.

To make this more realistic, the woman in

Rosenberg

Artists Give Back continued from page 29 oils of horses, along with a few smaller paintings. Patricia loves working big; most of her canvases depict life-size, or larger, horses.

Jackie Harris was another participating artist with local equestrian ties.

“I’m originally from North Carolina,” she said. “I come to Wellington to train, ride and show my two Warmbloods. For me, art came before riding, then the riding took over. I’m not that prolific, and like to keep my pottery more as a hobby than as a business, but I love doing hand-built horses. I come to this event every year. I love helping species in trouble.

question, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), decides that she won’t have sex with either man until she decides which she prefers. Right.

Did I mention that there are large elements that have little to do with reality in all of this?

First, we have to accept that a gorgeous woman cannot find a date. Second, that once an idiot friend of hers (Chelsea Handler) puts an ad in the personals for her, she attracts first the homebody CIA guy Tuck (Tom Hardy), who would love to somehow settle down even though his job sends him all over the world, and afterward Tuck’s best buddy, FDR Foster (Chris Pine), a ladies’ man, who also finds Lauren irresistible. Of course, she had no idea they are best buds and dates both of them. At that point, I decided that going to the refreshment stand was the best bet.

I returned to watch them use the “best of” CIA gear to spy on each other as well as Lauren. Slapstick is all well and good, but blowing up restaurants seems a bit much when neither has even gotten to second base with the gal.

Even worse, there really is no chemistry at all between any of them. Hardy and Pine are boring together. They are touted as a top team but have virtually nothing in common. Even worse, Hardy’s Brit accent made him rather hard to understand at times. Pine came across as the kind of guy who is usually the villain in one of those school movies where the nerds win — far too pushy.

I have always liked Witherspoon and wish she could find herself a good movie. In this one, she vacillates between being great at testing products but unable to behave as a functional female in the battle of the sexes. While I appreciate her good looks, most of her acting seemed to fall within the “I’m a dumb blonde” category.

The action is essentially of the cartoon variety, with the same sort of damage. Of course, watching innocents being tossed around by explosions caused by love-struck agents is not as amusing as watching Wile E. Coyote

getting tossed around, but director McG did not think about that. The highlight for Witherspoon is firing a paintball gun at Tuck and hitting him in the groin. Wow! And somehow, in an age where once a week or so, we hear that some terrorist or other has been stopped before planting a bomb or carrying out some diabolical plot, having our own guys doing it for no good reason has little charm.

Again, this is a movie that might have sounded amusing in its original concept. I could not say why. It might be nice in Hollywood and elsewhere if grown-ups, sane grown-ups, looked at projects and asked simply, “Why?” Seeing this film, I can’t imagine anyone thinking there was anything there. It seems cartoonish: two buffoons ready to destroy everything in sight chasing a woman with whom neither really has any relationship.

Critics, it has been written, go to bad movies to warn the general public off. I seldom do it since I generally go to movies that seem interesting. Frankly, the trailers for the movie are far better than the film itself. Save your money. With luck, there will be one or two decent films before the start of the summer.

So far, the show is going well. The studio is filling up nicely.”

Bettina Ayala was another equestrian artist. She and her husband play polo and own 30 Thoroughbreds.

“I love depicting horses,” she said. “They’re so beautiful. I love shading their muscles.

They’re like moving sculptures. I try to capture their spirit. This fundraiser is a great event, and I’m happy to be a part of it again.”

The walls and tables were covered with the artists’ wares, many sporting an equestrian or animal theme. There were paintings in a variety of media and sizes, sculptures, jewelry and photography. The prices varied, and it was all great fun.

“This is great,” said Eva Sjodin, who works at the conservatory taking care of the ani-

mals. “We have a wonderful turnout tonight.

The whole event is fabulous. I’m grateful to the artists and to our patrons. Every year, this event gets better and better.”

“I’m the celebrity du jour,” joked author Hoag, some of whose best-selling mysteries have an equestrian theme and are set in Wellington. “I’m glad to be here. It’s such a good cause. I never miss this event.”

“Everything’s going quite well,” McGovern added. “I did worry that some people might ditch us for the Super Bowl, but we’ve had wonderful sales. It’s exceeded my expectations.”

For more information about this event and the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, call Karen McGovern at (561) 790-5864 or visit www.rarespecies.org.

Horse sculptures by Jackie Harris.

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

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BUSINESS NEWS

Joe y’s Outback owners Michael and Francesca Friedman with their son Joey.

PHOTO BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Joey’s Outback Offers A Fun Play Environment For Children Of All Ages

By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report With youngsters hopping from jump to jump, Joey’s Outback Adventures in Wellington is a new kid favorite. Opening earlier this month, it has quickly become a popular interactive indoor kids play and learning center.

For the past several years, it had been owners Michael and Francesca Friedman’s dream to open up a facility like Joey’s Outback. After adopting their first child, their now 4-year-old son Joey, from Kids in Distress in West Palm Beach, the couple realized the challenges of modern-day parenting.

“We used to take him around everywhere, and he would have a great time, and we would have a good time watching him have fun,” Michael said. “But at the same time we felt that we could be doing things while watching him, like be on our computer or whatever else we wanted to do.”

After a couple of years of taking Joey around to different developmental classes and play areas, the Friedmans decided to make an entrepreneurial decision that would not only benefit their family, but many others in the community. “My wife and I thought it would be great to open our own place,” Michael said.

“We did the research and came up with the whole idea.”

The Friedmans decided to open a place that would encompass all areas of childhood development, from playing to learning. “We would take Joey to one place for a class and another to play with toys, and another to exercise and run around. So we thought we would create a place where a kid can do it all under one roof,” Francesca explained.

Joey’s Outback has also become popular among parents. It provides a comfortable atmosphere for adults with lounge seating, exercise machines, and a food and beverage café.

Joey’s Outback is open to children six

months to 12 years old. Upon entering Joey’s, all children are required to get signed in by a parent or guardian in order to play. Children are then let loose to play in the large inflatable bounce houses, which at Joey’s are called “jumps.” These are not your typical bounce houses, Francesca noted. “There are mazes, obstacle courses and a basketball court within the actual jump,” she said.

There are six jumps total, which includes a smaller jump for toddlers not ready to use the bigger ones with older children. “The smaller jump is located in the toddler area, and that area also has different learning toys,” Francesca said.

Joey’s offers a variety of activities for children of all age groups. The activities include mommy and me classes, arts and crafts workshops, nursery rhymes, singing, and exerciserelated dance classes. Francesca saw a need for an area where parents who have children of different age groups can bring all their children.

Joey’s Outback will also be offering an arcade area with games for children of all ages and a mini-carousel. “Eventually, we will be offering a teen night, which will be after our normal hours,” Francesca added.

Joey’s Outback is open for private parties with food catered by Dean Anthony’s Express.

“They have their own party room, where they can bring their cake, or we can have one custom made for them,” Francesca said. “We provide the food through our custom-made menu.

We also arrange everything for them, from a photographer to a face painter.”

Joey’s Outback Adventures is located in front of the Mall at Wellington Green at 10670 W. Forest Hill Blvd. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.joeysoutback. com or call (561) 204-4554.

SEE VIDEO FROM JOEY’S OUTBACK AT WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

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BUSINESS NEWS ABWA To Meet March 14 In P.B. Gardens The Northern Palm Beach Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet Wednesday, March 14 at the PGA Doubletree Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens.

The March speaker will be Marianne Kollmer, Northern Palm Beach chapter member and vice president/ senior manager of Seacoast National Bank in Tequesta. The program title will be “Identity Theft: How Much Do You Know?”

The mission of the American Business Women’s Association is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking, support and national recognition.

Networking will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m., with the dinner and program beginning at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $30, and guests are welcome.

The Doubletree Hotel is located at 4431 PGA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens. To make reservations, or for more information, call Dottie Smith at (772) 341-2823 or Sharon Maupin at (561) 329-4485.

For additional about the Northern Palm Beach Chapter of the

ABWA, call Chapter President Kandyce Key at (561) 908-4798 or visit www.abwanpbflorida.org.

Giraffe Awards Set For March 28 The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County will host its 17th annual GiraffeAwards on Wednesday, March 28 at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach. There will be an auction and expo from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with a dinner and ceremony to begin at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to nominate deserving women for the prestigious Giraffe Award. Nomination forms are available online at www.womenschamber.biz or by calling the chamber office at (561) 6844523.

LPBC Award Night April 19 Leadership Palm Beach County (LPBC) is planning its eighth annual Leadership Excellence Award event for Thursday, April 19 at the Marriott West Palm Beach.

For sponsorship packages or to register, visit www.leadershippbc. org. Sponsorship information is also available by calling the LPBC office at (561) 833-4321.

Jeremy Slusher Honored By CFF As One Of ‘Wellington’s Finest’

Patricia Lebow, managing partner of the West Palm Beach office of the Florida-based law firm Broad and Cassel, has announced that partner Jeremy Slusher was recently honored as one of “Wellington’s Finest” by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for his active involvement in the community and ongoing contributions to the foundation.

Held Feb. 11 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Wellington’s Finest Ball recognized 20 honorees who have exemplified leadership qualities, are active in volunteer roles, and/or excel in the business community.

An important Wellington fundraiser, this year’s event was expected to raise more than $50,000 for the foundation’s efforts.

Slusher is a partner in the West Palm Beach office of Broad and Cassel and is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation, real estate litigation, construction law and litigation, tort law and appellate practice groups.

In 2011, Slusher was designated among the state’s “Legal Elite” by Florida Trend magazine. An ambas-

sador with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, he is a former member of the American Inns of Court and is currently involved with the University of Florida Law Alumni Council and the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and received his juris doctor from the University of Florida College of Law. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is nonprofit donor-supported organization that is dedicated to the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease that affects the lungs and digestive system and affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A leader among nonprofits, the foundation spends 90 cents of every dollar raised on vital research to cure the disease.

Broad and Cassel established its West Palm Beach office in 1983. The firm’s West Palm Beach attorneys focus their practices primarily in the following areas of law: real estate, land use, environmental, corporate and securities, business law, heathcare, labor and employment, estates

Jeremy Slusher and trusts planning, personal injury, commercial litigation, intellectual property and construction law and litigation. Broad and Cassel, founded Jan. 1, 1946, has more than 170 attorneys and 200 support personnel in eight offices across Florida.

The firm has extensive experience in a wide variety of corporate practice areas and industries. For more information, visit www.broadand cassel.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Wellington’s Driftwood Stables Showcases Top Mounts At WEF Each winter, the nation’s top equestrians flock to the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington.

For more than 10 years, Jack and Josee Stedding of Driftwood Stables have traveled from their home in Seven Valleys, Pa., to showcase their talented string of horses against the best in the world. As two of the country’s most sought after hunter trainers, the Steddings focus on helping their horses and riders achieve top results in the show ring through careful horsemanship and dedicated training.

At Driftwood Stables, the Steddings offer impeccable care of their clients’ horses, leading to success in and out of the ring. They pay careful attention to details like each horse’s heath, fitness and rideability. The Steddings also work with the riders to make sure they are having fun, while also focusing on their goals and progressing in their program.

“A lot of times when someone goes to a new trainer, they have to get rid of all of their horses and buy new ones,” Josee said. “I don’t do

that. I try to work with whatever they have and make whatever they have work out for them as best I can. We are also a family here, so we make sure everyone gets along and enjoys each other company.”

The program at Driftwood Stables has proven successful year after year, as they garner top results at the most prestigious equestrian events. In 2012, the Steddings have a talented group of up-and-coming young horses, which are already achieving high accolades in the hunter ring. Cocktail, a mount owned

by Lynn Berg, has been stepping on the scene in the Pre-Green Hunter 3- and 4-year-old Hunters with Josee Stedding in the irons. Competing in the Adult Hunter divisions, Driftwood Stables has found success with the talented duos of Jan Nichol riding Aczbury Park, Emily Coleman and Carpe Diem, Leslie Ducharme aboard Palladin, Courtney Glotzer riding Cowboy Casanova, and Bettina Scherer with Zucchero.

Driftwood Stables is based at Everclear Stables on Palm Beach Point Blvd. in Wellington throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival

Driftwood Stables’ Cowboy Casanova at the Washington International Horse Show. and the spring circuit. Their accommodations include oversized stalls, individualized turnout, and an irrigated ring with a full hunter course.

The Steddings also have a wonderful selection of talented mounts available for sale and lease.

For more information about Driftwood Stables, visit www.driftwoodstables.com or call (561) 685-8435.

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Engenuity Group Names Kevin Beck Director Of Survey C. Andre Rayman, president of Engenuity Group Inc., has announced that Kevin Beck has joined the firm as director of the Survey Department.

Based in West Palm Beach, Engenuity Group provides top-quality professional civil engineering, surveying and GIS services to both private and governmental clients.

Beck has been providing surveying mapping services for over 28 years to both the public and private sectors in New York and Florida. His extensive experience includes boundary, topographic, as-built, quantity, ALTA/ASCM, and horizontal and vertical control surveys.

He also has been responsible for reviewing plat documents and sketch and descriptions on behalf of various municipalities.

Beck is currently the District 6 director and Palm Beach chapter president of the Florida Survey and Mapping Society.

Engenuity Group Inc. has been in the consulting, engineering and surveying business for over 34 years

Kevin Beck Its use of state-of-the-art electronics in surveying and computer-aided design and drafting assures clients of accurate surveying work and rapid turnaround times. The judicious use of computers throughout the firm has resulted in significant savings in time and money for its clientele. For more information, visit www.engenuitygroup.com.

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Casperey Stables Horse Camp — Casperey Stables is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages 7 to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts & crafts and outdoor games, campers find little time to be bored. The low counselor-child ratio ensures your child will receive individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks, and during the summer, each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days and Medieval Days. Casperey Stables has a weekly swim party and ends each session with a horse show and family BBQ. Call soon: this small, quality program fills quickly!

To learn more about the camp, located at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, call (561) 792-4990 or visit www.caspereystables.com.

Camp Gan Israel Day Camp — Camp Gan Israel has a program geared for your child! Understanding that all kids are unique and are drawn toward different activities, Camp Gan Israel offers something for everyone. There are professional sports instructors, baking experts, dance instruction, jewelry making, karate instruction, trips to exciting local venues, swimming, boating, scrapbooking, edible art and so much more. Camp Gan Israel runs from June 18 through July 20, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The camp will take place at Palm Beach Central High School and accepts children from 3 to 13 years. For more information, or to register, visit www.wellingtonjewishcenter.org or call (561) 3334663.

Foxtail Farm — Foxtail Farm has been doing business for approximately 25 years in Palm Beach County. Disciplines are in huntseat equitation. Camps focus on horse health, barn care, safety, and also correct seat and balance. Ages are from 5 to 14 years old. Lessons are taught every day at camp, as well as all year long. Horse showing is available as students advance. There is also a focus on training students to become trainers in the future themselves. It is a breakthrough into the world of horses for pleasure, pet or showing, if desired. Foxtail Farm is licensed and insured. For more information, call Patti Morin (561) 2554037 or visit www.foxtailfarmstables.com.

High Touch High Tech/The Lab — The Lab is happy to announce that it is expanding into a larger facility conveniently located off State Road 7 and Lantana Road. Science is presented by High Touch High Tech, the leader in hands-on science education for the last 17 years. Each day will be a new adventure from

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interacting with “lab critters” to launching rockets and panning for gems. The program offers affordable pricing, experiments with lots of cool science takehomes, art, physical activities and more. The Lab taps into children’s natural curiosity and provides them with safe and fun activities that help them learn about the world around them. Expect awesome fun as kids make slime, erupt volcanoes, make ice cream, tie dye t-shirts and more! The registration fee is waived if you sign up by April 1. Call (561) 792-3785 today.

Home Away From Home Summer Camp — If your kids want a great summer camp experience, come to any of Home Away From Home’s four Palm Beach locations now enrolling summer camp programs for children ages 4-10 (limited space is available). The program offers daily indoor and outdoor field trips. Free meals and webcam services are included. It has been rated the “Best Summer Camp Ever!” For more information, visit www.homeawayfromhomechildcare.com or call Wellington at (561) 791-8558, Palm Beach Gardens at (561) 627-6170, Jupiter at (561) 747-6916 or West Palm Beach at (561) 802-9090.

Spotlight of Wellington — Truly enhance your child’s performing arts level with Spotlight of Wellington’s Summer Intensive Workshops. Spotlight welcomes students currently studying the performing arts and those with an undeveloped drive and passion. Sessions are offered according to level and age. Programs stimulate students through challenging, yet fun, experiences in a warm, positive environment. Students train in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, theatre, vocal and hip hop in an intimate and exclusive environment. Student performance levels greatly increase through Spotlight’s intensive experience. Several students have promoted to area schools of the arts. Call (561) 790-7758 today for proper placement, or visit www.spotlightofwellington.com.

Tiny Tikes — Tiny Tikes camp is geared toward the elementary-age camper. Daily activities are sure to keep the campers happy, busy and engaged. Trips include bowling, skating and movies weekly, as well as special trips including the zoo, science museum and much more! They have three conveniently located centers which open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Activities occur throughout the day, both at the center and out on the bus. Meals are included. Call (561) 790-1780 now to reserve your space or visit Tiny Tikes at 16245 Okeechobee Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach.

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

P.B. Fine Craft Show March 2-4 At The Convention Center

A hand-blown glass piece by Kit Karbler.

The prestigious Palm Beach Fine Craft Show will return for its ninth year March 2-4. It will take place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of studio art glass in America, and the show will include nearly two dozen glass artists, some whose work is in the permanent collection of the Corning Museum of Glass.

Not to be confused with the many craft fairs that dot the South Florida landscape in the springtime, the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show is a unique, upscale shopping experience with 120 jury-selected artists and designers from across the country offering work in a dozen different media.

The show returns to the Palm Beach County Convention Center for three full days, offering visitors the opportunity to meet and purchase work from 123 acclaimed artists, listen to informative and entertaining lectures, enjoy fashion shows and take home a wonderful piece of art or two.

From hand-crafted lighting to decorative objects for the home — some functional, others not — to jewelry, art couture and more, the Palm Beach

Fine Craft Show truly offers something for everyone.

The Palm Beach Fine Craft Show will feature new and compelling works in ceramics; silver, bronze and copper; mixed media; decorative and wearable fiber; jewelry; paper; wood; and glass.

“Each piece represents an inspiring facet of the American spirit, transmitted from the artist’s hands to yours,” said show organizer Elizabeth Kubie.

One of the most compelling aspects of this show, she noted, “is the opportunity visitors have to actually meet the artist who created the work. No gallery owners, no agents; just the artists and their art.”

Models will show off the latest creations in wearable art, jewelry and fashion accessories by more than three dozen fashion designers and jewelry makers from 32 states, whose work will be available during the show.

Glass artist Michael Schunke of West Grove, Pa., will present “Perfectly Imperfect” as part of the speaker series Friday, March 2 at 1 p.m. He will focus on the collaborative process and the endless search for perfection as it relates to form, design process and inspiration.

Professor Leonard Urso of the Rochester Institute of Technology will speak on “Jewelry: A Sculptural Form” Saturday, March 3 at 3 p.m.

In addition to being an accomplished artist, Urso holds an endowed chair as the Ann Mowris Mulligan Distinguished Professor at RIT. The lecture will address Urso’s relationship with sculptural forms both large scale and small. In addition, the sculptural forms of prominent contemporary jewelers will be presented as visual evidence in support of this innovative art form.

The final speaker will be Annette Sheppard of the Corning Museum of Glass, who will present “Studio Art Glass: A 50 Year Retrospective” on Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m. In honor of the golden anniversary of studio art glass in America, Sheppard will offer a look at how it all started, and offer highlights of the first halfcentury of this intriguing medium.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 4. Admission costs $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and is free for children under 12 accompanied by a paid adult. For more information and a complete list of artists, visit www. palmbeachfinecraftshow.com.

The Phantom Visits La Scaletta Ristorante & Pizzeria In NPB A very new and very northern en, at the cocktail bar or outdoors on the cov- a delicate sauce of cherry tomatoes, white Italian eatery awaits you! ered patio. wine, brandy and olive oil. Every dish has a Ever been to Italy? The good news is a One focal point is a baby grand piano situ- special twist, thanks to Chef Giordy, that endefinitive taste of Italy has just relocated to ated in the back of the restaurant that will be hances each bite!

North Palm Beach. Welcome La Scaletta Ris- home to a variety of performers who will enChef Giordy’s signature dishes are the tantorante & Pizzeria, a charming and enticing tertain diners on Friday and Saturday eve- talizing Trancio di Salmone al Birra con Pomonew eatery located in the Crystal Tree Plaza nings. A former patron of the Tonellis’ restau- dori e Timo, featuring freshly sliced salmon on U.S. 1, just south of PGA Blvd. rants in Milan, Andrea Bocelli, once gave an prepared with cherry tomatoes, thyme and La Scaletta is open daily for lunch and din- impromptu performance to the delight of the sautéed vegetables, which is enhanced with ner, with a fantastic three-course sunset menu diners at Mr. Marlin.

Italian beer; the enticing Robespierre di Man(4 to 6 p.m.). The prices at La Scaletta are genEating and music go hand and hand in al- zo con Rucola e Grana, featuring sliced grilled tle on the wallet, with pizzas starting at $7.95, most every restaurant in Italy, and often the beef with rosemary, ground pepper, arugula pasta dishes starting at $9.95 and most en- owner is the featured entertainer. With that salad and freshly shaved Parmesan cheese; trees under $20. said, not only does Chef Giordy bring his cu- and the Trenette alla Ligure, a house-made Owned by gifted chef Giordano “Giordy” linary talent to the restaurant, but he also linguini dish with potatoes, green beans, baTonelli and his lovely wife, Simona, this eat- brings his vocal talent for your listening plea- sil, garlic, pine nuts and Pecorino cheese. The ery features house-made pastas, crispy piz- sure as you enjoy some of the best Italian Tagliolini Mr. Marlin, another house-made zas, refreshing salads and a host of scrump- cuisine this side of the Atlantic. pasta dish, composed of smoked marlin, lump tious entrees for lunch and dinner. The TonelDon’t look for the usual Italian-American fish roe, blue vodka and a touch of cream, is a lis previously owned three popular restaurants menu items; this is Italian-Italian, with items perennial favorite.

Chef Giordano “Giordy” Tonelli in Milan, Italy — Mr. Marlin, Senor Marlin you only dreamed about eating. Chef Giordy’s For pizza lovers, there are a wide variety of and Mr. Marlin Lounge and Bar — as well as menu features a host of delicious dishes and premium pies available, such as the Pizza La entertainment. Happy hour is from 3 to 7 p.m., a restaurant on the island of Formentera, specials, including the delectable Carpaccio Scaletta, made with San Marzano tomato with half-price appetizers, along with half-price Spain, for more than 20 years. di Polipo (octopus appetizer) with lemon vi- sauce, house-made mozzarella, gorgonzola well drinks, wine and beer. The sunset menu La Scaletta is a warm and welcoming eatery naigrette; heavenly Venice-inspired Black cheese and sweet peppers. I would be remiss is offered daily from 4 to 6 p.m. and includes a that corners the market on casual elegance. Squid Ink Gnocchi with Smoked Salmon, in a if I did not mention their homemade Eggplant terrific three-course menu, featuring a choice The interior of La Scaletta is dressed in sooth- light pink cream vodka sauce; and Branzino al Gnocchi with tomato basil sauce and parme- of soup or salad and a choice of one of eight ing earth tones, with pale wooden and choco- Forno, featuring baked salt-encrusted sea bass san cheese — the perfect blend of my two entrees, along with dessert and coffee for $16.95 per person. late brown walls, bamboo flooring, inventive served with potatoes, asparagus and cherry favorite Italian treats!

La Scaletta Ristorante & Pizzeria is located lighting fixtures, comfy banquettes, oversized tomatoes.

There is always the perfect time to dine at mirrors and vintage black-and-white photoOf course, there are the traditional favor- La Scaletta’s. Lunch is from 11 a.m. to 2:30 in the Crystal Tree Plaza at 1201 U.S. Highway graphs of images from Italy. The nicely spaced ites, including Veal and Chicken Marsala and p.m. daily and includes a 10-inch pizza and a 1 (south of PGA Blvd.) in North Palm Beach. tables are covered with double cloths and sur- Milanese; Lasagna Bolognese (house-made soda for $8.95 per person, with a choice of Call (561) 630-8500 for reservations or visit the restaurant’s web site at www.lascaletta rounded by silver wrought-iron chairs with lasagna with savory meat sauce) or Lasagna four pizza varieties. cream-colored seats. Diners can choose to Pesto (house-made lasagna with fresh basil, Dinner takes place from 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday gardens.com for more information. Please tell enjoy a meal at one of the tables in the dining Pecorino cheese and pignoli nuts); Seafood through Thursday, and from 5 p.m. to mid- them that the Phantom Diner highly recomroom, at the chef’s bar facing the open kitch- Paella; and linguini with lobster, topped with night on Friday and Saturday, along with live mended this truly authentic Italian restaurant!

Joe Nasuti, the Phantom, is a featured writer for the Town-Crier, Forever Young and www.yournews.com. Comments & recommendations are welcome at thephantomdiners@aol.com.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Wellington Softball Team Suffers 13-0 Loss To P.B. Gardens

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington High School girls varsity softball team fell 13-0 to host Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday, Feb. 16.

The match-up between two of the county’s best had much anticipation, with both Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington coming into the contest unbeaten in four games. The fifth-ranked Wolverines suffered their first defeat of the season to the defending Class 6A state champions.

The game was tight for nearly the first five innings, as both teams could not to put any runs on the

board. The Gators drew first blood in the bottom of the fifth, when Ta’Coia Williams launched a triple into center field, and two runs later followed to close out the inning.

Wellington was able to keep it close when Amanda Peck got on base, but Palm Beach Gardens stepped it up another notch, shutting down the Wolverines’ attempt.

Palm Beach Gardens’ Williams then hit another triple into right field, and Virginia Spring followed with a double into left field. The Gators began to connect continuously, increasing their lead.

Wellington struggled through the sixth, walking batters, giving up hits

and earning only one out. With the bases loaded, Gator Tiffany Lower hit a grand-slam home run, closing out the contest 13-0 over the visiting Wolverines.

The Wellington girls could not find that momentum they had early in the game to stay toe-to-toe with the defending state champions.

Wellington had four hits to Palm Beach Gardens’ 11, and had one error. Wellington’s Amanda Peck was 2-3 on the night.

Wellington hosted district rival Jupiter on Tuesday night, falling 81 to the Lady Warriors. The Lady Wolverines will host Palm Beach Central on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Wellington’s Stephanie Schmidt makes the catch at first, denying Gardens’ Tiffany Lower a base hit.

Wellington’s Miaha Gonzales tries to tag out Palm Beach Gardens’ Liz Spring at second base.

Outfielder Alyssa Cheatham throws the ball back to the infield after a Gardens hit.

Wellington’s Amanda Peck is safe as she slides into second base against Palm Beach Gardens.

PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

Palm Beach Makos Football Team Falls To Orlando Rage 27-17

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach Makos minor league football team fell to rivals the Orlando Rage 27-17 on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Palm Beach Central High School.

The Makos, who are ranked second in their division, came out to a strong lead. They scored early in the game and put pressure on the Rage.

But ultimately, the Rage pushed back and were able to outscore the home team.

Both teams battled in the first quarter, but it was the Makos who put points on the board first. Several key plays advanced them down the field near the end zone. After several attempts to score, kicker Will Nicoloso put in a field goal and the Makos took the lead 3-0.

Will Nicoloso kicks a field goal.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

The Makos held off the Rage for the remainder of the quarter but were unable to score again. But early in the second quarter, they made their move.

After several successful passes by quarterback Jarris Smith moved the team closer to the end zone, Smith ran in a touchdown. An extrapoint kick by Nicoloso made the score 10-0.

But the Rage weren’t going down so easily. Midway through the quarter, the Orlando team put in a touchdown to make the score 10-7. Then, minutes before halftime, the Rage’s Michael Whitfield kicked a field goal to tie the score 10-10.

The Rage came out of halftime determined to score and were able to hold the Makos to only one touchdown. Meanwhile, the Rage ran in the ball twice and added another field goal to win the game 2717.

The Makos travel next to Jacksonville to face the Jax XMen on Saturday, March 3. They return home Saturday, March 10 when they host the Orlando Phantoms at Palm Beach Central High School.

(Above) Makos quarterback Jarris Smith prepares to pass.

(Below) Jarris Smith hangs on to the ball for a quarterback keeper.

Page 44 February 24 - March 1, 2012

SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACREAGE STEELERS’ MICHAEL PAGE

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Acreage Steelers Pop Warner football player Michael Page was one of four eighth-grade athletes throughout the Treasure Coast, including Palm Beach County, who won a $500 college scholar ship for academics and community service. Page obtained a 4.0 GPA for the 201011 school year, continues to hold a 4.0 GPA and is in the top 5 percent of his class at Western Pines Middle School. Page was also chosen as first team for the regional banquet. The Acreage Steelers Pop Warner Football program is proud to have one of its own represent them at this level and hopes it can continue what Page has begun. Shown above are Page with Beth Rivers, Nichole Bahannon and Gary Byerly.

SRHS Wrestlers Thome, Watson Heading To State Competition

Seminole Ridge High School sent nine district wrestlers to Park Vista High School for the Class 3A, Region 3 Wrestling Tournament held Feb. 10-11.

The Hawks wrestled hard and ended the night with two SRHS wrestlers heading to state competition, a first for Seminole Ridge.

Senior Scott Watson made history when he became the first wrestler to become a regional champion.

Watson captured the 170-pound first-place title in a nail-biting, threeovertime win against senior Luttere Eglaus from Fort Pierce Central High School. The win culminated Watson’s senior career with a record of 44-3. His awards include Most Valuable Hawk Wrestler in 2011 as well as county and district finalist. Watson plans to continue his education at either Florida State University or the University of Central Florida this fall.

Junior Trace Thome took second place in the 138-pound weight class at the regional tournament and is part of the first wrestling duo from SRHS

Trace Thome, coach Frank Lasagna and Sco tt Watson. to head to the state tournament.

Thome completes his junior year with an impressive record of 43-2.

Outstanding achievements for Thome include Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Cobra Duals, county finalist and district champion at 138 pounds.

Watson and Thome have been with hall-of-fame coach Frank Lasagna since they were freshmen.

“Both wrestlers had a great regional tournament, and I truly believe they both have a chance at bringing home a medal from the state tournament,” Lasagna said.

Send sports news items to: The Town-Crier Newspaper, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. Fax: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com.

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Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 45

Amelie Michel

FINE TABLECLOTHS FROM PROVENCE

French Tablecloth Warehouse Sale March 9th, 10th & 11th 10am - 5pm daily

A Large Selection of Unique, Easy Care Tablecloths, Rounds, Runners, Napkins, Placemats, 100% Cotton, Jacquards & Acrylic-coated.

Imported directly from the South of France. On Sale at Great Prices.

NEW: A large selection of Curtains! Also Bedspreads, Throw Pillows, Kitchen Towels, Ambient Perfumes from Grasse & More!

Fabric by the Yard & Custom Sewing

Wellington Community Center 12150 Forest Hill Blvd ‹ ^^^ HTLSPLTPJOLS JVT

Page 46 February 24 - March 1, 2012

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Feldman Wins Two Sidelines Tetrathlon Benefits Designated Tennis The Equestrian Aid Foundation Tourneys After Injury Wellington resident Jeff Feldman has won the first two Florida Tennis Association designated 60s tennis tournaments, starting off the New Year hot. A Florida Tennis Association designated tournament draws plays from all over the country. It carries double the point value of a conventional FTA tournament.

Two and a half years ago, Feldman was in intensive care on a morphine drip. He had fallen through a roof 27 feet and landed on the concrete floor. “I looked like one of those guys on a sitcom who has been in an accident,” Feldman said.

“I had casts on all my legs and arms and 50 stitches on my head. I never thought I would walk again, let alone play tennis.”

Feldman credits support at home and from his tennis friends for helping him make such a miraculous recovery.

“Before I could even walk, I would wheelchair to the swimming pool and bounce around in there,” he said. “After I started walking, I

Jeff Feldman would go to the gym twice a day to try to regain the conditioning that I had before. Now, two and a half years later, I’m playing better than I was before the accident.”

Feldman is a local real estate investor/developer and trains at Ultima Fitness in Wellington. He also credits coach Roscoe Tanner, an Australian Open winner, with much of his success.

The FarmVet team of Christian Currey, Ashley Holzer, Candice King and Whistle Uys proved to be the team to beat again this year as they won the second annual Sidelines Tetrathlon held Sunday, Feb. 5 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

Presented by MeadowView and the Riggio family, the annual event benefits the Equestrian Aid Foundation. The FarmVet team took the early lead to beat teams MeadowView, Palm Beach Equine Clinic and newcomer Flintfields Horse Park.

The Jim Brandon Equestrian Center was transformed into the Wild West, complete with a saloon and jail, where some guests spent part of the evening after being secured by the sheriff’s posse. The saloon,

by PortAParty, created a great environment for football fans with four large-screen TVs. Guests were welcomed with signature cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and appetizers from Oli’s Fashion Grill. Event co-chairmen R. Bruce Duchossois and R. Scot Evans presented an evening of equestrian competition, great food, games and silent auction experiences.

Tetrathlon A Success — Tom McCutcheon, special honoree Sarah B. Willeman, EAF President R. Scot Evans, Mandy McCutcheon and EAF Managing Director Sher yl Kursar.

PHOTO BY SARAH DODGE The event raised more than $200,000, and legendary horsewoman and Wellington resident Jane Forbes Clark was honored. For more information about the Equestrian Aid Foundation, www. equestrianaidfoundation.org.

The competition was managed

by Premier Sport Services. The tetrathlon event is managed and produced by Sean O’Keefe Events, which specializes in creating signature fundraising events for nonprofits. For more information, visit www.seanokeefeevents. com.

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February 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 47

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Saturday, Feb. 25 • The 18th annual Lake Worth Street Painting Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26. The public is invited to join in the fun downtown on Friday, Feb. 24 for a pre-festival taste of Lake Worth as the merchants and restaurants kick off the weekend festivities. For more info., contact Nadine Burns of the Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce at (561) 582-4401 or nadine@lwchamber.com, or visit www.street paintingfestivalinc.org.

• Visit the Wellington Green Market on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 753-2484 for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Writing Series: Character & Voice” for adults Saturday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. Learn how to craft compelling and believable characters in fiction, and how to explore and develop your individual voice as a writer. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• Seminole Ridge High School will host the seventh annual Hawks Benefit Car Show & Crafts Bazaar on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the school grounds. More than 300 vehicles are expected, as well as arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, food and beverages, bounce houses and a green market. Admission is free for attendees. There is a $20 registration fee for show cars. For more info., call Bart Savino at (561) 358-6456 or visit www.hawkcarshow.org.

• The National Sheriffs Association will present a free Disaster Preparedness Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for check-in and a complimentary continental breakfast. Pre-register by contacting Community Projects Manager Kim Henghold at (561) 791-4137 or khenghold@wellingtonfl.gov.

• Savon’s Academy and the Village of Royal Palm Beach will host a Family Fun Day Basketball Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the RPB Recreation Center. For more info., call (561) 790-5124.

• The Nature’s Center (5301 State Road 7, Lake Worth) will host “Living in the Everglades” Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Learn how to restore wetland habitat on your proper ty. Visit an onsite water reclamation wetland and learn the basics of water conservation through landscaping. Take home your

own wetland cutting. The event is free. Walkins welcome. For info., call (419) 304-3209.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Black His tory Trivia” for adults Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Learn about black history in film, television, music and African-American studies, followed by a fun interactive game. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Good Earth Farm (2141 B Road, Loxahatchee Groves) will host a vegetarian dinner with a bonfire, animal tour, s’mores and karaoke Saturday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is for adults only with tickets purchased in advance. The cost is $50 per person or $180 for four. For more info., call (561) 792-2666.

Sunday, Feb. 26 • The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will stroll the natural area in Royal Palm Beach on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 a.m. Take a leisurely pace as you walk through the pine flatwoods, with breakfast afterward. Call Alan Collins at (561) 5860486 for more info.

• The International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Avenue South, Wellington) will feature the Ylvisaker Cup Finals on Sunday, Feb. 26. For additional info., visit www. internationalpoloclub.com.

Monday, Feb. 27 • “Orisirisi: Drum Stories” will be offered for all ages Monday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. at the Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) and at 3:30 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way). “Drum Stories” includes stories from the far corners of the African continent, incorporating the tradition of audience participation with fun-filled call and response songs. To pre-register, call the Wellington library at (561) 790-6070 or the RPB library at (561) 790-6030.

• The Palms West and Lake Worth chambers of commerce will host a Merger Unveiling Luncheon on Monday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m. at the Poinciana Country Club (3536 Via Poinciana, Lake Worth). RSVP to (561) 790-6200 or e-mail marylou@palmswest. com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Legos” for age 8 and up on Monday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. Builders create their own vehicles or buildings out of Lego pieces. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Writers Live: Kim Harrison” for adults Monday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

See CALENDAR, page 49

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR CALENDAR, continued from page 48 This best-selling author will talk about her new book, A Perfect Blood. A book signing will follow. Pre-register at www.pbclibrar y.org/ writerslive. Call (561) 790-6070 for info.

Tuesday, Feb. 28 • The Palm Beach County Commission will hold a workshop Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the government center’s Jane M. Thompson Memorial Chambers (301 N. Olive Ave., Sixth Floor, West Palm Beach). For more info., visit www.pbcgov.com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Teen Game Night” for ages 12 to 17 on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.

Play Nintendo, Wii and board games. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will host “Block Party: Teams’ Choice!” on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Experience a new way to shop for dinner. Enjoy free samples. There is no charge and no registration is necessary. Call (561) 904-4000 for more info.

• Temple Beth Tikvah (4550 Jog Road, Greenacres) hosts Bingo every Tuesday night.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and games begin 6:45 p.m. Nine cards are $15, ten games will be played. Prizes are awarded and there is an early bird 50/50 and a final jackpot prize of $1,000. Refreshments are available. Call (561) 967-3600 for more info.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet Tuesday Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the municipal complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). For more info., call (561) 791-4000 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Wednesday, Feb. 29 • Audubon Society of the Everglades will present “Bird Photography 101” on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 8 a.m. at Peaceful Waters Park (11700 Pierson Road, Wellington).

Meet at the beginning of the boardwalk. Call Linda Humphries at (561) 742-7791 or email hlindaase@aol.com for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Leapin’ Lizards! It’s Leap Year!” for age 3 and up Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 10:15 a.m. Celebrate all things that leap during this extra day of the year. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will feature “Natural Methods to Boost Your Immune System” on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. with Dr. Ian Shtulman from Shtulman Family Chiropractic. There is no charge. Call (561) 904-4000 to pre-register.

• Special guest artists Lillias White, Ken Peplowski and world-class clarinetist and legendary jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli will join the Palm Beach Pops as they celebrate “The Genius of George & Ira Gershwin” in concerts scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29 and Thursday, March 1 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach; March 2, 5 and 6 at the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton; and March 3 at the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens.

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7677 or visit www.palmbeach pops.org.

Thursday, March 1 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!” for ages 3 to 5 on Thursday, March 1 at 10:15 a.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature a Writers Critique Workshop for adults Thursday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. Share, offer and accept constructive criticism to improve your fiction, nonfiction and poetr y. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Norton Museum of Art (1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach) will host Grammy-nominated saxophone player John Michalak and an acoustic performance by Jason Cardinal as part of its “Art After Dark” series Thursday, March 1 from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more info., call (561) 832-5196 or visit www.norton.org.

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a Wellington Village Council Candidates Forum on Thursday, March 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wellington municipal complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call Scott Brown at (561) 790-6200 or e-mail scott@ palmswest.com for more info.

Friday, March 2 • West Palm Beach Antiques Festival will be held Friday through Sunday, March 2-4 at the South Florida Expo Center (9067 Southern Blvd.). Visit www.festivalofantiques.com for more info.

• The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will present a free screening of the movie Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Bring your own seating. Call (561) 753-2484 for more info.

Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. Email: news@gotowncrier.com.

Februar y 24 - March 1, 2012 Page 49

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STOP SMOKING HYPNOSIS Sherri Austin, Certified Hypnotist 561-247-1116 HypnosisWithSherrie.com

WE BUY YOUR OLD & BROKEN GOLD — diamond, & silver jewelry, coins, silverware, flat-ware, etc. Wellington Green Mall. CR Jewelers (outside Aeropost ale) 561-753-1313

HIDDEN CREEK AT BINKS FOREST COMMUNITY YARD SALE FEBRUARY 25th - 8 a.m.- Noon Southern Blvd. W est left into HiddenCreek at Binks Forest 1st right.

THIS SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26th 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. — clothes, toys, furniture, kitchen items, Jewelry, and Much More! 13840 Greentree YARD SALE MARCH 3rd & MARCH 4th, 7:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.

— Furniture, Books, Puzzles, and Games. 659 Spinnaker Court.

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER — in Wellington needs EXAM PREP COORDINATOR Bachelors Degree- Demonstrate Solid Performance on SAT and ACT (either verbal or math sections) Available to work evenings and Saturdays. Also needed: EXAM PREP TUTORS Now Hiring SAT/ACT Preparation T utors.

Must have a 4 year degree preferably in Mathmetics or English.

Be available to tutor on Saturdays.

Please e-mail your resume to marlenegiraud@hlcwellington.com VOLUNTEERS NEEDED — 14 years and over for community service. Have fun with animals & kids 792-2666 DRIVERS! DRIVERS! DRIVERS! Drivers wanted for Wellington Cab. Retirees welcome. Cleaning Driving Record. Call 561-333-0181 ENTRY LEVEL RECEPTIONIST — Computer literate. Heavy phones & filing. Fax resume 561-333-2680 WINDOW INSTALLERS WANTED Subcontractors only. Top Pay. No Brokers. Call Matt 561-714-8490 NAIL TECHS — Experienced clients waiting - full-time & part-time. Apply at Permanent Elegance7070 Seminole Pratt,Loxahatchee 561-7905777

PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE! CALL 561-793-7606

WWW. GOTOWNCRIER. COM

HOUSE FOR SALE — 3 bedroom/ 2 bath home, 10.5 plus acres, also approved to be sub-divided into 4 parcels. Horse Lover ’s Dream.

Wellington Little Ranches. 12033 Acme Road Just Reduced Please call Julie Poof, 561-222-0601or rent $3500/monthly

EMPLOYMENT WANTED — Semi retired accountant/bookkeeper seeking part-time (2 to 3 days per week) Experienced in Quickboook, Pro and more. 561-429-8970

MAKE $100 - $300 PER DAY— Daily pay! START FREE! For info call Richard at 1-800-729-9268

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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. Credit Cards Accepted

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY AD HERE CALL 561-793-7606 HOMESTAY COMPANIONS — Part-time/Full-Time/LIVE-IN/CNA/ HHA/Companions Experienced/ CPR/Transport ation/Background check. Call Ed 772-781-9499

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/ Software setup, support & troubleshooting w w w.mobiletec.ne t.

561-248-2611 D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3331923 Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach. We accept major credit cards.

DRIVEWAYS — Free estimates.

A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. Lic.& Ins. 100045062 561-667-7716

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THE MASTER HANDYMAN — All Types of Home Repairs & Improvements. No job too big or small done right the first time every time 40 yrs of satisfied customers. See me on Angies List. Tom (561) 801-2010 or (954) 444-3178 Serving Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS INC. REMODEL & REPAIRS — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door inst allation, minor drywall,kitchens/cabinets / countertops, wood flooring. Bonded and Insured U#19699. Call 7919900 or 628-9215

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

HOME INSPECTIONS — Windstorm Mitigation Inspections, Mold Inspections, Air Quality Testing.

State of Florida Lic. & Ins. #HI2147 US Building Inspectors 561-7848811 CLASSIFIEDS 793-3576

HOUSECLEANING — 20 yrs experience. Excellent local references.

Shopping available. 561-572-1782 CLEAN LIKE IT MY OWN CLEANING SERVICE — thirty years experience local reference Acreage, Loxahatchee, Royal Palm and Wellington area. 561-234-7905

February 24 - Mar ch 1, 2012 Page 51

HURRICANE SHUTTERS P&M CONTRACTORS — ACCORDION SHUTTERS Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffit s, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.

Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit our website at

BOB CAVANAGH ALLSTATE INSURANCE — Auto •Home • Life• Renters •Motorcycle •R V • Golfcart • Boat Serving the Western Communities for 24 years Call for a quote 798-3056, or visit our website. www.allstateagencies.com/ rCavanagh

www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

TNT LAWN CARE — Hedges & yard clean-up, Quality & Dependable Service. 561-644-8683

MOLD & MILDEW INSPECTIONS Air Quality Testing, leak detection.

US building inspectors, mention this ad for discount. 561-784-8811.

State of Fl. Lic. & Ins. #MRSA1796

RJA PAINTING & DECORATING, INC. — Interior Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial.Lic. #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561793-5455 561-662-7102

TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CALL 793-3576 TODAY T O PLACE YOUR AD.

JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473 COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Int./ Ext. residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est.

Ins. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident \ JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured.

CFC1426242. 561-601-6458

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Est ablished 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.

Interior & Exterior painting.

Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch at 309-6975 or

visit us at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS DON HARTMANN ROOFING — Roof painting, Carpentry. Lic. #U13677 967-5580 ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763.

ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable.

Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-3090134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC023773 RC-0067207 ROBERT CHERRY ROOFING INC Reroofing - Repair - Waterproofing 561-791-2612 or 954-741-4580 State Lic.& Ins. #CCC-1326048 PLACE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AD HERE CALL 561793-7606 JOHN C. BEALE BUILDING & ROOFING — Additions, remodeling, roof repairs & replacements, screened porches. Licensed & Insured. Call for Free Estimates. 561798-6448 ccc1326383 ccc1250306

SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years. Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening.

Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed!

CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com

ACCORDION SHUTTERS — Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985.

U-17189 561-791-9777

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004Lic.#U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990 TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS

GET RESULTS CALL 793-3576 TO PLACE YOUR AD

SPECIALIZING IN BATHROOM REMODELING — Free estimates serving South Florida since 1980.

Quality you expect, service you deserve. Lic. bonded & Ins. U21006 561-662-9258

TREES TRIMMED AND REMOVED — 561-798-0412 D.M. YOUNG TREE SERVICE. Family Owned & Operated Licensed & Insured 1992-12121 Visit our website at dmyoungtreeservice.com

PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Installation,Removal.

Repair of Paper. Neat, Clean & Reliable. Quality work with a woman's touch. 30 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263

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This Week at The Four Arts On Display Through Sunday, April 15 Recapturing the Real West:The Collections of William I. Koch $5 • (561) 655-7226 On Display All Season Florida’s Wetlands • No charge • (561) 655-2776 Ongoing Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m.

Campus on the Lake Class:Yogalates with Rassika Sabine Bourgi $15 per session • (561) 805-8562 Sunday, February 26 at 3 p.m.

Concert: David Finckel, cello, Wu Han, piano, and Philip Setzer, violin $15 • (561) 655-7226 Monday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m. (Preschool); 2:30 p.m. (Family) Story Time: Fly A Kite Day • No Charge • (561) 655-2776 Wednesday, February 29 at 2:30 p.m.

Lecture and Book Signing: Pillow Talk by Design: Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer Present Collaborations in Decoration and Architecture $20 • (561) 805-8562 Thursday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m. (Preschool); 2:30 p.m. (Family) Story Time: Dr. Seuss Day • No Charge • (561) 655-2776

Thursday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Lecture:The Splendor of Painting in Renaissance Venice with Frederick Ilchman • Part of the Splendors of Italy series $20 • (561) 805-8562 Friday, March 2 at 2:30, 5:15 and 8 p.m.

Film: Queen to Play • Not Rated • $5 • (561) 655-7226 Friday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m.

School Age Program: Fun Chefs • $13 • (561) 655-2776 Saturday, March 3 at 11 a.m.

Lecture: Style Icons: Timeless Lessons in Good Taste with Cynthia Postula No charge • Reservations required • (561) 805-8562 Saturday, March 3 at 11 a.m.

Gallery Talk for Recapturing the Real West: The Collections of William I. Koch Free with $5 gallery admission • (561) 655-7226 Sunday, March 4 Garden Club of Palm Beach: House and Garden Day $125 • (561) 837-6635

FOUR ARTS. FOR EVERYONE.

2 F o u r A r t s P l a z a • P a l m B e a c h , F L 3 3 4 8 0 • ( 5 6 1 ) 6 5 5 - 7 2 2 7 • www.fo u ra r t s .o rg

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