Town-Crier newspaper January 16, 2015

AREA RESIDENT RECALLS MARIO CUOMO SEE STORY, PAGE 3

WELLINGTON HEDGES UNDER REVIEW SEE STORY, PAGE 7

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LGWCD Supervisors Approve Road And Canal Easement Survey

Volume 36, Number 3 January 16 - January 22, 2015

Serving Palms West Since 1980

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB DINNER DANCE

The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors on Monday hired the engineering firm Erdman Anthony to conduct surveys of the district’s roadways and canal easements in order to prepare maintenance maps.

Page 3

New CAFCI Board Takes Office At Swearing-In Ceremony In Royal Palm

Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) held a swearing-in ceremony and membership meeting on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Harvin Center in Royal Palm Beach.

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Wellington Council Approves Bridle Trail Update For Comp Plan

The Wellington Village Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to an amendment to the equestrian element of the village’s comprehensive plan dealing with bridle trails, even though many of the trails on the proposed map are still in private ownership. Page 7

Wellness Fair Urges Residents To Get Active

Wellington Plaza and the Palm Healthcare Foundation presented the Wellington Wellness Fair last Saturday in the parking lot in front of Ultima Fitness. It was the kickoff to the “Let’s Move: Commit to Change Physical Activity Challenge.” Page 9

OPINION Many Events Planned To Honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s Legacy

On Monday, Jan. 19, the nation will come together to celebrate the message and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A man who stood for non-violence, peace and equality, it is only fitting that events designed to make a better society are held in his honor as we observe what would have been his 86th birthday. A message of peace in the face of extreme inequality, King’s message has been carried across the globe and lives on in his memory. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 11 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 8 PEOPLE................................. 15 SCHOOLS.......................16 - 17 COLUMNS.......................18, 27 BUSINESS..................... 28 - 29 SPORTS......................... 33 - 35 CALENDAR............................ 36 CLASSIFIEDS.................37 - 40 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

The Wellington Boys & Girls Club held its 27th annual dinner dance on Friday, Jan. 9 at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club on Wellington Trace. The theme was a 1950s sock hop.

Doo Wop music from two bands kept the partygoers dancing as guests enjoyed an ice cream sundae, milkshake and malted bar. Shown here are Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County CEO Jaene Miranda, event co-chair Georgina Bloomberg, club benefactor Neil Hirsch and Sara Gehrke. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 22

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Western Communities Council Joins In Protest To SR 7 Delay

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Western Communities Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday supporting the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s objections to the Florida Department of Transportation’s four-year delay in funding for the extension of State Road 7 from 60th Street North to Northlake Blvd.

The resolution recognizes and supports the MPO’s approval of a motion in December objecting to the construction delay after it was informed of FDOT’s change in priorities.

Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Michelle Damone said that the FDOT had switched its priorities from the completion

of the extension to Northlake Blvd. on the northern end of the extension to four-laning the southern portion from Okeechobee Blvd. to Persimmon Blvd., which was completed by the county as a two-lane road in 2009. The county opened a second leg from Persimmon Blvd. to 60th Street North on Jan. 7.

“For those of you who weren’t here last month, the Western Communities Council decided to follow the actions of the Metropolitan Planning Organization to oppose the Florida Department of Transportation’s recommendation to move the funding, ultimately delaying construction from 2016 to 2020,” Damone said.

She explained that the council members decided at that time to

go back to their respective governmental bodies to seek approval of resolutions supporting attempts to get the funding restored. “I notice everyone’s resolutions are here,” Damone said, asking for a motion to approve a resolution by the Western Communities Council.

Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor David Swift made a motion to approve the resolution, which carried unanimously.

Damone said she would take the resolution, along with the respective governing bodies’ resolutions, to the Palm Beach County Commission at its Feb. 3 meeting.

Ken Roundtree, representing the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, which was not represented at the last meeting, See SR 7, page 4

Wellington Council Begins Process To Replace Coates

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council decided Tuesday to put out advertisements immediately for candidates to replace Councilman Howard Coates, who announced his resignation from the council this week in preparation to accept an appointment as a judge on the 15th Judicial Circuit Court.

Village Manager Paul Schofield said that Coates submitted his resignation earlier that day, effective immediately, and pointed out that the council has 30 days to appoint his replacement.

“What that means is that by Feb. 11, you have to have made the appointment,” Schofield said.

“You have two council meetings between now and then. The only thing that the charter says is that you must make the appointment.”

He said that previous councils have used a variety of different processes in the past.

“You can simply come to consensus, you can take applications, you can do a whole lot of things, but you are required to do it within 30 days,” Schofield said, adding that he had received a number of e-mails and correspondence from people who would be interested in serving.

Schofield asked the council to decide the process that will be used.

“It could be as simple as each council member putting forward a candidate and you scoring them, and taking the highest person, or you could take résumés and applications and do interviews,” he said. “There’s no set procedure.

Pick the process that works for you.”

Village Attorney Laurie Cohen said the timing is still tight.

“That would give you two weeks to ask for résumés and letters of interest,” Cohen said. “That gives you a short time frame.”

Village Clerk Awilda Rodriguez said the required time for

advertising is one week prior to the scheduled meeting where the decision would be made.

Councilman Matt Willhite said he thought that the council members need to set a level of understanding for residents to know what they are looking for.

“Doing that tonight gives us a great aspect to set that tone, with the staff moving forward quickly with some form of advertising, asking for applicants with résumés,” he said. “I don’t want to just hear a name.”

Willhite suggested that they hear the applications on Jan. 27 and possibly make a motion that evening to select one of the candidates. If a consensus is not reached at that meeting, they could postpone their decision to the first meeting in February.

Willhite pointed out that whoever they appoint would serve one year until the March 2016 election, then the final two years of Coates’ remaining term would be up for election. Anyone appointed to the post would have to seek election at that time. He also pointed out that Coates was initially appointed to fill a vacancy and was unopposed in the next election cycle.

“He was a beneficial member of the community, and now he’s moving on,” Willhite said.

Willhite said he did not want to go through an interview process, which he felt would require an inordinate amount of time and scheduling.

“We’re charged with a number of responsibilities, and this is another one that the charter sets forth the information and the language that we have to do,” he said.

Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said she would prefer as much public input as they can get.

“The process as described there, whenever we get to the point that we want to nominate someone, we nominate them and then you don’t hear everybody,” Gerwig See APPOINTMENT, page 21

Wellington Council Members CARIDAD ANNIVERSARY Rank Bidders For K-Park Land

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Members of the Wellington Village Council evaluated bidders for the K-Park property Tuesday afternoon, with the BainbridgeBrefrank proposal coming up the high scorer.

Only three council members — Mayor Bob Margolis, Vice Mayor John Greene and Councilman Matt Willhite — took part in the proceedings. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig had recused herself because of a possible conflict of interest, and Councilman Howard Coates had resigned earlier that day in anticipation of beginning his judgeship next month. Public input was not taken at the meeting.

Sitting as the selection committee, council members assigned a maximum of 25 points to the

bidders’ background and qualifications, a maximum of 20 points to their ability to manage and execute the project, 30 points to a preliminary site plan illustrating use and aesthetics, and 25 points to the price offered for the land, for a total 100 possible points.

Council members used only the score sheets to arrive at their evaluations and did not offer comment as to how they arrived at their scores, stating that they would save their comments for a public meeting set for Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The 66-acre site at the southwest corner of State Road 7 and Stribling Way has long been a point of contention, with past councils arguing about what, if anything, ultimately should be built on the site. It was originally purchased as future park land.

Last year, the council called for bid proposals, and the respondents were the Bainbridge-Brefrank KPark Joint Venture, Divosta/JKM Developers, Lennar, Reinvent America, Stiles and Wellington Gardens Partners.

The council heard proposals from the bidders and a staff evaluation at a closed-door meeting Dec. 17.

At Tuesday’s bid evaluation, Margolis gave Wellington Gardens 22 for background and qualifications, 15 for ability to execute, 30 for the preliminary site plan and 18 for the price offered, for a total of 85 points.

He gave Stiles 25 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 25 for the preliminary site plan and 20 for See K-PARK, page 7

The Caridad Center celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala event at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Saturday, Jan. 10 with music, performances and glamorous auction items. Shown here is Liz Quirantes (center) with Luis and Sonia Torres. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 11 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Hollywood Week A Fun Time For Area ‘Idol’ Hopefuls

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report American Idol hopefuls Emily Brooke and Hector Montenegro made it past yet another hurdle as they advanced past the auditions and geared themselves up for Hollywood Week.

As their friendships grow and their confidence increases, the two local artists find themselves one step closer to a spot on that final coveted list of 24.

For Brooke, who still attends Wellington High School, this is a major accomplishment, especially at such a young age. Montenegro, who attended Royal Palm Beach High School, has far surpassed his last American Idol attempt and is thrilled with the exposure the show has generated so far.

Hollywood Week, and American Idol in general, has been a dream come true for Brooke, who at only 16 is furthering her singing career. Brooke is no stranger to competition, but has found that American Idol is unique.

“My favorite thing has been

how nice everyone is,” Brooke said, comparing American Idol to other competitions she has experienced.

As the audition airings continue, Brooke is reflecting on her experience and getting ready for the Hollywood Week reveal.

To those who don’t know her, or haven’t met her yet, Brooke wanted to pass along the message that she loves to sing. “If they could watch the show, that would be absolutely amazing,” she said, asking friends and family to start a trend of #TeamEmilyBrooke on Twitter and Facebook.

Brooke’s career is well on its way, and reaching Hollywood Week is just an added bonus.

“I feel like already American Idol has helped me with my career.

I’ve learned so much from the judges and meeting people there who are in the competition, as well,” she said. “I’ve learned what I need to work on, and I’m going to work on that.”

With many lessons learned and friendships made, Brooke is ready

to see what Hollywood Week brings. “It has been an amazing experience,” Brooke said. “It’s the best experience I’ve ever had.”

Montenegro, 24, is also having a once-in-a-lifetime experience with American Idol.

Through the show, he met Brooke. “It was one of those times when you meet someone and just know you’re meant to be friends,” he said. “She’s such a sweetheart.”

He is humbled by the realization that they made it to Hollywood Week.

“They have a good chunk of people who have made it through the initial auditions for a reason.

It was kind of crazy thinking that so many hundreds of people have made it to Hollywood Week.

Among those people is the American Idol,” he said. “Thinking about that made it a lot more real for me.”

Hollywood Week wasn’t all fun and games, though. “The nerves for Hollywood Week were definitely more intense than the auditions just because the stakes and the bar had been raised by

Emily Brooke (left) and Hector Montenegro (right) during their American Idol auditions.

PHOTOS COURTESY AMERICAN IDOL

that point,” Montenegro said. “In that stressful moment, a lot of us kind of bonded with each other and helped each other through the stress.”

Aside from the bonding, he

enjoyed the feedback from the judges.

“The whole Hollywood experience was just out of this world,” he said. “Even though it was crazy See IDOL UPDATE, page 21

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 3

NEWS

LGWCD Supervisors Approve Road And Canal Easement Survey

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors on Monday hired the engineering firm Erdman Anthony to conduct surveys of the district’s roadways and canal easements in order to prepare maintenance maps.

Erdman Anthony Vice President James Noth, a professional surveyor, gave a presentation on how the surveys will be conducted, explaining that the maintenance maps are established by Florida Statutes.

“The key element here for a road that hasn’t been established by statute or passed over by regular maps is that there’s a period of seven years that you’ve maintained it as a public entity, then you can come in and do this maintenance map procedure,” he said.

“This is a very formalized process

and procedure that we have at the state level.”

Noth said special districts are in an awkward position, being neither a state agency nor a municipality or a county, pointing out that the LGWCD recently got legislation enabling it to proceed with the mapping to allow it to conduct maintenance on the roadways and canal easements for the future establishment of horse trails by the town.

Noth said he has prepared about a dozen maintenance maps for various entities, including the Florida Department of Transportation, which has very specific guidelines.

“For our field procedures, what we’re prepared to do is to use GPS equipment tied to the Florida State Coordinating System to collect the data needed to prepare the maps,” he said, explaining that they set up a GPS base station over a known

control point to coordinate the data. “We have lots of them scattered out over the area out here that we and other surveyors have used.

The county has established a lot of those, and the state has established a few of them.”

Noth said a worker will be assigned to the device primarily to assure that it is not stolen. “There has been a high incidence of theft of these things,” he said.

Surveyors will also be taking shots of the existing rights of way, which will be coordinated with GPS data to create the maps.

“Essentially, we will do the roads and canals simultaneously.

We’ll set up that base station, and it will be within a two-mile radius of where we’re working,” he said, explaining that they will take three shots at each survey location about 100 feet apart, each side of the road and canal together, and another on the canal maintenance easement

side where future equestrian trails will be located.

The survey of the currently maintained lines will be put in a GIS overlay for comparison and correction, working closely with LGWCD personnel who know the rights of way and easements well, he said.

The total cost for the survey of roads and canals will be $136,674, with the breakdown of cost at $127,174 for the 29.05-mile equestrian trail portion and $9,500 for the 18.2-mile roadside portion.

Recording fees with the county will be $1,965 for the equestrian portion and $1,245 for the roadside portion, bringing the total to $139,884.

Noth estimated that about threequarters of the work is associated with the canals, which breaks down to $103,872 for the equestrian/canal portion and $32,802 for the roadside portion.

Supervisor Frank Schiola asked how long the survey will take, and Noth estimated two or three months once they have authorization to begin the work, depending upon how smoothly the coordination with the county goes.

LGWCD Administrator Steve Yohe said there will be a costshare with the town on the survey.

“We’re working on an interlocal agreement and hoping to finalize that this week,” Yohe said.

Schiola asked how many times the survey will have to be done, and Noth said one time should be all that is necessary. “Once you record those maps, that becomes the right of way,” he said.

Noth added that the survey will only establish horizontal lines and will not establish vertical lines for elevations and drainage.

“This is to get you horizontal boundary lines,” he said. “It is not a design survey. If you come back

out to do a road design or drainage design, there is additional surveying that would have to be done, but the boundary lines would not change.”

Supervisor Don Widing said he was excited that the survey would finally be done.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Widing said. “There may very well be some of those conflicts, but we need to move forward with it and put this thing where it needs to be once and for all.”

Supervisor John Ryan pointed out that the survey will confirm easements, not titles, and will give a perpetual use permit to the town for the use of the canal maintenance roads as trails. “It doesn’t require ownership, so it doesn’t change anybody’s ownership,” he stressed.

Ryan made a motion to approve the survey, which carried 4-0 with Chairman Dave DeMarois absent.

Area Resident Leslie Mann Recalls Time Working With Mario Cuomo

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Long-time Loxahatchee resident Leslie Mann paused this month to remember one of her great political mentors, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, who passed away earlier this month.

Mann spent several years working for Cuomo, crossing over from the 1980s to the 1990s. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that she will never forget.

Cuomo, a Democrat who served as governor from 1983 to 1994, died Jan. 1 at age 82. He is survived by his wife, Matilda, and five children, including current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo also left behind many fond memories for Mann, who worked with him for about eight years.

Mann began her professional political career working for the late Dennis Koehler when he was a Palm Beach County commissioner. She was deputy campaign manager for Koehler’s campaign for Congress, before moving to Washington, D.C. Before the 1984 Democratic National Convention, Mann worked at the Democratic National Committee for Nancy Pelosi, who was in charge of the Compliance Review Commission and the chairman’s office. In that job, she had a prime vantage point for a key moment in history.

“At the convention, in San Francisco, on the podium, before Mario Cuomo gave the keynote address, which is one of the most famous keynote addresses of all, I was standing right behind him and his son,” Mann recalled.

She was taken by the stillness of the room before he started speaking.

“You could have heard a pin drop. I just remember being close to him, watching him. I can’t remember anything he said, but I fell in love with this person. I felt passion for what he was passionate about, and it was at that moment that I knew I had to work for him,” Mann said.

Mann would later work in Albany, New York’s state capital, as one of Cuomo’s regional representatives. “When the governor would go to events, there was a swarm,” she said. “There was always a swarm of people around.”

At one point, there was a great deal of speculation as to whether Cuomo would run for president.

One Sunday morning talk show had speculated that because Cuomo hired Mann, he was gearing up for fundraising to run for president, she recalled. “In essence, because I was hired to be his regional rep, what they picked up on was that I was going to be fundraising to get his presidential campaign in gear,” she said, stressing that any such speculation was not based in reality.

To this day, Mann remains impressed with Cuomo’s abilities.

“He was the most intelligent, moral, political, kind, gentle person that I’ve ever met,” she said. “He didn’t miss a beat on anything. It was my hope, it was my thought, that when he left the governor’s seat, he would become a Supreme Court justice, because he loved the law.”

Working for Cuomo, she said, was an

amazing experience. “I felt that I won the employment lottery,” she said.

When Mann received a text informing her of Cuomo’s passing, she was speechless and had to stop to collect herself.

“It was very heart-wrenching to me,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it. I still have connections with certain people. It just came out of the blue.”

Ultimately, rather than attend the funeral in New York, Mann decided to mourn the loss of Cuomo in her own way.

“The best way I can mourn him is to honor him,” she said, “as one of the most formidable, intelligent politicians that I think we’ve seen in a long time and that we’ll ever see.”

After leaving office, Cuomo did many speaking engagements, and now, his son is the governor and another son, Chris, is on TV. “His boys are out there, and for me, they give me the peace of mind that I need to feel that he’s still a part of my life,” Mann said. “This man was genuine. He raised a very good family. He was a good father in addition to being a great governor.”

Her memories still remain strong of the man who held faith and family close to his heart. “When he talked to you, you were the only one he was talking to,” Mann said.

“When you talked to him, he was looking right at you.”

People would give Cuomo letters, notes and gifts everywhere he went, Mann said.

Though it might have been considered something small, Cuomo would make

Area resident Leslie Mann (right) during her time working with former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (left). Cuomo died Jan. 1 at age 82. sure that everything was acknowledged, often overseeing the responses to letters.

One of Mann’s many stories about her time working with Cuomo goes back to baseball, something Cuomo was extremely fond of and once considered a career in.

“He was watching television one night, and on the news it showed that the AA baseball team 80 miles north of us was

probably going to shut down because they didn’t have the money to operate it,” she said. “Within 10 minutes of the news, I got a phone call saying the governor wants to talk to me. He got me on the phone and said, ‘What’s going on up there? Baseball!

Baseball is American. We have to save this place. Find out for me what we need to do.’”

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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OUR OPINION

Many Events Planned To Honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s Legacy On Monday, Jan. 19, the nation will come together to celebrate the message and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A man who stood for non-violence, peace and equality, it is only fitting that events designed to make a better society are held in his honor as we observe what would have been his 86th birthday.

In many places, the holiday has become a “Day of Service” initiative encouraging people to come together to serve their communities, help their neighbors and promote feelings of good will. In 2014, across the nation, more than 360,000 people received emergency food; more than 100,000 received training in disaster preparedness, response and recovery; more than 58,000 children and teens tutored, mentored or educated others; more than 38,000 veterans, military families and active duty military service members received assistance; and more than 15,000 economically disadvantaged people received job placement, financial literacy and job skill development training.

King’s message still resonates in today’s world. A message of peace in the face of extreme inequality, King’s message has been carried across the globe and lives on in his memory. In a world that often feels like it is spinning out of control, it is a message that must be heard. The civil rights movement propelled the idea of peaceful resistance into the mainstream — of disagreement without violence. Unfortunately, this message seems too often forgotten as we see more and more people resort to violence here at home and in all corners of the globe. Peaceful resistance is not the easiest path to travel, but it is the one that leads to the best place in the long run.

There are a number of great events to take part in as we observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday: • Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and the Village of Royal Palm Beach will present the 13th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The

celebration begins with a continental breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., followed by the program, which starts promptly at 10 a.m. Featuring the theme “Love… The Most Durable Power In The World,” the presentation will spotlight a number of talented performers and include a keynote address by Eric Gordon of the Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club.

• Wellington is honoring King’s legacy with a service project to benefit youth in the community. The Community Services Department is seeking the assistance of 25 youth volunteers to help beautify Tiger Shark Cove Park. Starting at 10 a.m. on Jan. 19 and running until noon, volunteers will have an opportunity to make the community a nicer place while also earning community service hours. To sign up, contact Meridith Tuckwood at mtuckwood@wellingtonfl.gov or (561) 753-2476.

• The City of Lake Worth has a number of programs set up to honor the holiday, including the 21st annual Candlelight March through downtown Lake Worth. Participants will gather at 5 p.m. at City Hall and parade down Lake Avenue to the MLK “Ball” Memorial. A brief commemorative program will recognize the progress made in the fulfillment of King’s dream.

• The 34th annual Scholarship and Awards Breakfast presented by the Martin Luther King Jr. Coordinating Committee of West Palm Beach will take place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 a.m. For additional information, call (561)-832-4682 or visit www.mlkcc-1444.org.

• Palm Beach State College’s 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast will feature keynote speaker Dr. Lillie W. McCain. It will include a complimentary breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the MLK Plaza on the Lake Worth campus. The program begins at 8 a.m. in the Duncan Theatre. For more information about the event, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/mlk.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Louda Objects To Goltzené Statement

At the Jan. 6 meeting of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council, Councilman Tom Goltzené did not infer but directly stated that I left the roadways and trails committee because of the chair at that time, Mrs. Nina Corning. I found this out by watching the video, as I was not in attendance.

Mr. Goltzené hopefully knows that he is lying about his statement. I enjoyed my tenure on that committee and also working with Mrs. Corning. Mayor [Dave] Browning, who appointed me to that committee, can affirm that I informed him of my decision and reason for resigning.

My research, a National Science Foundation grant for work in the Bahamas and teaching responsibilities at Florida Atlantic University had me running in circles, and if I cannot devote 110 percent effort to a task, I would rather not try and end by doing a poor job. Thus, I resigned.

My decision to leave had absolutely nothing to do with Mrs. Corning, and I greatly resent the statement that it did. Talk about bending truth to support a con-

trived argument — I now see that Mr. Goltzené is a champion at this. The citizens of Loxahatchee Groves deserve and should demand truth from the dais.

Dr. Bill Louda Loxahatchee Groves

Courts Deciding On Workers’ Comp Benefits

The provision in the workers’ compensation law passed in 1994 that limits benefits during medical treatment to 104 weeks has been struck down in the matter of Westphal vs. City of St. Petersburg.

Currently, until perhaps the Florida Supreme Court decides otherwise, injured workers who are under active medical treatment will be entitled to collect 66 2/3 percent of their average weekly wages for a total of 260 weeks.

The court used strong language writing that limiting benefits to 104 weeks was a “draconian reduction of temporary total disability payments.” Furthermore, the limitation is “indicative of a systemic deprivation of justice” that violates the constitutional rights of employees who suffer serious injuries.

An injured worker who un-

derwent multiple back surgeries was unable to work, according to the employer’s treating doctor, yet, since he had received 104 weeks of compensation, his checks stopped, and for nine months he had no means of earning a living.

The court noted that ending benefits while the injured worker is unable to earn money can cause economic ruination. “The natural consequence of such a system of legal redress is potential economic ruination of the injured worker, with all the terrible consequences that this portends for the worker and his or her family.”

Prior to the creation of a no-fault workers’ compensation system, an injured worker had the right to sue for injuries and collect for necessary medical treatment, lost wages and pain and suffering. The new worker’s compensation law was supposed to be for “easily ascertained compensation.” The new system must meet the test of “natural justice,” which in part means that “courts shall be open to every person for redress of any injury, and justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay.”

The issues with the Florida compensation law is a bit technical, but generally, because of the limitation of 104 weeks, a worker had no op-

portunity to obtain compensation until the injured worker returned to work. This “gap” favored the insurance carrier, since the carrier has the right to choose the treating doctor, and the treating doctor determines when the injured may return to work.

It will be interesting to see if the Florida Supreme Court agrees with the strong language used in the appellate court’s decision. Ultimately the Florida Supreme Court is the final authority to determine whether a Florida law violates the Florida Constitution. The decision is likely to turn on whether the high court believes that workers are adequately compensated or whether insurance companies must do more to provide benefits.

Since the current law was enacted, employers have paid much less for coverage. How much increasing benefits from 104 weeks to 260 weeks might affect insurance rates is yet to be determined.

Frank J. Morelli Wellington

Florida Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Jan.19, Floridians will once again observe Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. Day, honoring the man who advanced and steered a civil rights movement that pushed America toward equality and justice for all persons. Dr. King and his followers stood in strong opposition to racial discrimination, as well as the wrongful and unequal treatment of people who differ in national origin and religious belief.

While no stranger to the racial inequities, Florida has made incredible strides toward ending racial discrimination since the civil rights movement began. Despite this, prejudice inequality still exist and can lead to discrimination in the workplace, housing and public accommodations. The Florida Commission on Human Relations was established to address these very examples, to help eliminate discrimination and to ensure the fair treatment of all persons, regardless of race or national origin.

Each year, the commission administers the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame program, which honors the actions of Floridians who helped advance civil rights in our state. In keeping with Dr. King’s legacy, these heroes are recognized and honored for making significant contributions as leaders for equality and justice for all persons.

So, as we reflect upon Dr. King and the day we celebrate his memory, let it be a time for all Floridians to echo the bravery shown by not only Dr. King, but all those who stood up for equality in the face of injustice. Their courage promoted the advance of tolerance evident in today’s society, and it is our job as Americans and Floridians to help maintain the civil rights of all people.

Gilbert “Gil” Singer, Chair Florida Commission on Human Relations

SEND IN YOUR LETTERS The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 793-6090; or you can e-mail letters@goTownCrier.com.

OPINION

High Cost Putting The Nation’s Law Schools In Serious Jeopardy Who would have thunk it?

The law school market is under severe distress, and the number of first-year students has shrunk to perimeters last noted in 1973 — when there were 53 fewer law schools in the United States.

Consider this, there were 37,924

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin

full-time and part-time students who began their education in 2014 — a 30 percent drop from 2010!

Why the striking consolidation?

The cost… plus the perception of the job market a few years ahead. Now, a year of tuition in a prestigious law school can easily

hit $60,000. And even the bar association’s employment numbers indicate that less than two-thirds of “new lawyers” had secured jobs that required passing the bar exam.

Also clouding the world of law is the knowledge that fewer people are taking the admissions tests —

8.1 percent fewer than in 2013 and some 50 percent less than in 2009, notes the Law School Council.

Overall there are 119,715 law students, full and part time, presently enrolled. That is 8,935 less than in the fall of 2013 and 17.5 percent fewer than in 2010.

NEWS

Presidents Project To Host Fisher House Fundraiser Jan. 27 In RPB

Musical Performance At St. Andrew’s

On Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m., the Core Ensemble with actor Jamyl Dobson will offer a free performance of the music theatre work Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lake Worth. The show is presented jointly by the Lake Worth Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, the Kiwanis Club, the Lake Worth Interfaith Network and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

Of Ebony Embers celebrates the music and poetry of African-Americans in New York City during the 1920s. The score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age and contemporary concert music.

St. Andrew’s is located at 100 N. Palmway. For more info., call (561) 582-0603.

Presidents Project will be spon- “impersonators,” but hope that formed by William and Sue Wills soring a fundraiser for the West their costumes, dialects and de- in 2013 to make presentations Palm Beach Fisher House on meanors will help recreate these that would benefit organizations Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Royal Palm historical characters, making them helping wounded soldiers and their Beach Cultural Center starting at more than just names read in histo- families, and has already raised 10 a.m. ry books. A great testament to the nearly $3,000. As organizers and Entitled “From Gettysburg to quality of the shows is that they performers, the founders receive Camelot,” the national touring have returned to many locations no compensation. All donations, company Presidents and Their for all 19 years they have been minus expenses for the rental and First Ladies, Dramatically Speak- touring. advertising, will go to the Friends ing, will present the life stories of The West Palm Beach Fisher of the West Palm Beach Fisher Abraham and Mary Lincoln and House is located on the ground of House.

Jack and Jackie Kennedy. the VA Medical Center providing Visit www.presidentsproject.

For the past 19 years, William military families housing close to org to make a $25 donation and to and Sue Wills have toured the a loved one during hospitalization receive a ticket for the performanccountry presenting their unique for an illness, disease or injury. The es. Those who cannot attend are theatrical presentations on 33 dif- West Palm Beach Fisher House is also welcome to visit the web site ferent Presidents and First Ladies. one of the busiest in the nation and and make a donation. Donations Many of those performances have has just undergone renovations to can also be sent to: Presidents been in the Palm Beach County provide even more comfort for Project Inc., 1853 Linden Road, area at local libraries and retire- visiting families.

Winter Park, FL 32792. For more William and Sue Wills as Jack and Jackie Kennedy. ment communities. They are not Presidents Project Inc. was information, call (443) 366-3429.

Send news items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com.

SR 7

Western Council Resolution

continued from page 1 said he would present the resolution to his board of supervisors for similar approval.

“We’re late to the party, so to speak, but we’re going to present this resolution to our board,” Roundtree said.

Swift said he would be asking his council for more money to support lobbyist Terry Lewis of Lewis, Longman & Walker, who has been working primarily at the federal level where the City of West Palm Beach has been focusing its opposition to the SR 7 extension. He also noted that Wellington committed another $10,000 to the Western Communities Council war chest on Tuesday.

Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield said that although his council had commit-

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ted $10,000, it was important to council members that the other communities offer their continued monetary support as well.

The Town of Loxahatchee Groves committed $5,000 at its meeting last week, while the Indian Trail Improvement District had pledged another $10,000 at its last board meeting.

Swift said at one point they had discussed having a consultant attend a Royal Palm Beach meeting to answer questions, and Damone said she would arrange that.

BARRY S. MANNING Publisher JODY GORRAN Associate Publisher

In other business, Western Communities Council Administrator Tanya Quickel said County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, who was at the meeting, was arranging meetings in her office with Palm Beach County Water Resources Director Ken Todd on Feb. 9 and 10 with western communities representatives to hear their concerns.

“We very much appreciate that, and we look forward to sitting down with you to go over our areas of concern,” Quickel said.

McKinlay said she is trying to

JOSHUA I. MANNING Executive Editor

DAWN RIVERA General Manager

The time seems ready, if not overdue, for the chief honchos of American law schools to step up to the plate and reduce the distressingly high costs. One place to look might be the growingly “out of whack” price tags being built up by many university presidents.

RON BUKLEY Managing Editor

EDITORIAL STAFF/ Chris Felker • Denise Fleischman • Julie Unger

set up meetings with the seven improvement districts in her district first, followed by the municipalities.

She also mentioned that a remaining $4 million is still needed from the state, in addition to the already-funded $4 million, to rebuild the last 2.7 miles of the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area levee, which was in danger of breaching after Tropical Storm Isaac.

“For those communities that are affected by that, it certainly would

be helpful if you would put in a call to the South Florida Water Management District asking for their support in their budget request to the governor,” McKinlay said.

The Western Communities Council is next slated to meet on Thursday, March 12 in Royal Palm Beach. A key topic of discussion is tentatively set to be the federal changes in standards for water bodies in the United States. “That’s probably the thing that’s going to hit us all the hardest in the next four or five years,” Schofield said.

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The Town-Crier

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 5

NEWS

NEW CAFCI BOARD TAKES OFFICE AT SWEARING-IN CEREMONY IN ROYAL PALM Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) held a swearing-in ceremony and membership meeting on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Harvin Center in Royal Palm Beach. Wellington Village Attorney Laurie Cohen officiated at the ceremony, while Royal Palm Beach Mayor Matty Mattioli brought greetings for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Jess Santamaria also addressed the gathering, urging CAFCI members to do good deeds to benefit the community. For more information about CAFCI, visit www.cafcipbc.org.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

2015 CAFCI board members Genieve White, Rhonda Ferrin Davis, Dennis Wright, Alvin Nembhard, Jeff Webb, Barbara Walker and Junette Powell. (Not pictured: Millie Hampton.)

Winsom Martin and Nadine White-Boyd.

Laurie Cohen swears in Rhonda Ferrin Davis as CAFCI President Dennis Wright looks on.

Royal Palm Beach Councilman Jeff Hmara with Jess Santamaria and Newley Wilson.

Laurie Cohen swears in CAFCI President Dennis Wright.

Attorney Laurie Cohen gets a certificate from CAFCI President Dennis Wright.

RPB Mayor Matty Mattioli.

WOMEN’S GROUP KICKS OFF 2015 WITH MEETING AT THE WANDERERS CLUB

Women of the Western Communities held its monthly dinner meeting Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington. Pop culture writer Leslie Gray Streeter, the guest speaker, shared details about her job and stories of meeting famous people. Club meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month. For more information, e-mail Mair Armand at mair@wwc-fl.com or call (561) 635-0011.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Guest speaker Leslie Gray Streeter with Mair Armand.

Keri Chicano, Carol Pettine, Megan Miele and Terri Wescott.

Denise O’Sullivan, Allyson Samiljan and Maureen Gross.

Page 6

towncrier - 2015bw.pdf 1 1/13/2015 12:53:11 PM

January 16 - January 22, 2015

The Town-Crier

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CRIME NEWS

Three Light Fixtures Vandalized At RPB Commons Park

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report JAN. 12 — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on Monday morning regarding a case of vandalism. According to a PBSO report sometime between Jan. 2 and Jan. 12, three large light fixtures, valued at $3,000, were vandalized on the golf range.

••• JAN. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to the Lowe’s Home Improvement store on State Road 7 last Tuesday afternoon regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3 and 3:15 p.m., a store vendor left a Toshiba laptop, valued at $1,200, unattended in the tools section of the store. Upon return, the computer was no longer where the vendor left it. There was no further information available at the time of the report.

JAN. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was called to a home on E Road in Loxahatchee Groves last Tuesday afternoon regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, someone removed two water treatment systems and was taking down the aluminum fence along the pool, in addition to other items from the long-vacant home. There was no further information available at the time of the report.

JAN. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to a home on Seminole Lakes Drive last Tuesday afternoon regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, the victim left her 2008 Ford Fusion unlocked on her driveway. Upon returning to the vehicle, the victim noticed that her red wallet, containing her driver’s license, several bank cards and other documents, as well as $55 in cash, was missing. DNA evidence was gathered from the vehicle.

JAN. 7 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was contacted last Wednesday by a resident of Royal Ascot Estates regarding a theft.

According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11 p.m. last Tuesday and noon last Wednesday, someone removed the victim’s 55-gallon wheeled garbage can, valued at $60, from the swale in front of his residence. According to the report, the victim heard noise around 2 a.m. that sounded like ATVs going up and down the street. According to the report, the following morning, many neighbors had stolen or vandalized mailboxes.

JAN. 7 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to the Target superstore on Okeechobee Blvd. last Wednesday regarding a shoplifting incident. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6:17 and 6:23 p.m., 33-year-old Amber Steele was caught shoplifting $1,578.27 worth of merchandise, which was recovered.

Steele was arrested for felony shoplifting.

JAN. 8 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was called to a home on 76th Road North in The Acreage last Thursday evening regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., someone entered the victim’s home, leaving the sliding glass door off of its track. According to the report, approximately $2,500 in coins were taken from the master bedroom.

Fingerprint evidence was gathered at the scene.

JAN. 9 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach sub-

station was called to a home on Shoma Drive last Friday evening regarding a case of vandalism.

According to a PBSO report, sometime around 7:20 p.m., neighborhood children broke the back windshield of the victim’s 2003 Honda Pilot. According to the report, a witness heard the smashing of the window and saw a group of middle school aged black and Hispanic girls running from the area.

JAN. 10 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was alerted to a stolen vehicle incident in The Acreage last Friday. According to a PBSO report, the deputy was flagged down, while driving, by a resident.

Last Friday, the victim’s stepson drove her 1999 E-Z-GO golf cart and left it next to a vacant lot, only to discover it stolen. According to the report, the golf cart was not loaned to anyone.

JAN. 11 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was called to a home on Avocado Blvd. in The Acreage last Sunday morning regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 4:20 and 5 a.m., the property owner received a text that his alarm system had gone off at the vacant property. According to the report, the deputy walked the perimeter of the yard and noticed the garage side door open and a smashed window. Additionally, the deputy found that the power box to the residence was cut off from the wall, presumably in an attempt to shut down the alarm system. The deputy did not believe that the perpetrator managed to enter the house, but according to the owner, it had been broken into several times before.

JAN. 12 — An Acreage resident called the PBSO’s Acreage/ Loxahatchee substation Monday afternoon to report a case of identity theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim received a letter in late December stating that she was not approved for a PayPal credit account. According to the report, the victim never applied for the credit, and checked with Experian and PayPal at the time. She later received a billing statement for three online eBay purchases totaling $463.20. The deputy took the information and recommended filing an Internet fraud report with www.ic3.gov.

JAN. 12 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to a home in the La Mancha neighborhood Monday afternoon regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., someone entered the residence, leaving the front door unlocked and the rear sliding door ajar. According to the report, the burglar removed a 46-inch Samsung TV, an Xbox 360, a Toshiba laptop, an Apple iPad mini and a small safe containing various papers, together valued at approximately $2,100, as well as $650 in cash from the master bedroom. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. DNA and fingerprint evidence were gathered at the scene.

JAN. 13 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Wellington substation was called to a home on Sunset Point Drive on Tuesday afternoon regarding a residential burglary.

According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6:35 a.m. and 4 p.m., someone broke the kitchen window of the residence. According to the report, when the victim returned home, she saw the broken glass, the front bedroom light on, and discovered that $1,000 was missing from the master bedroom dresser. Fingerprint evidence was taken at the scene.

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The Town-Crier

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 7

NEWS

Wellington Council Approves Bridle Trail Update For Comp Plan

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to an amendment to the equestrian element of the village’s comprehensive plan dealing with bridle trails, even though many of the trails on the proposed map are still in private ownership.

Wellington Projects Manager Mike O’Dell said the trail map would update the original map created in 2004.

O’Dell explained that the updated map will show both public and private trails that the village would like to adopt for public use and will serve as a basis for future bridle trail improvements.

“It proposes to delineate our overall bridle paths and connectivity,” O’Dell said. “It would provide greater detail and clarity to accessibility, and also provide for a system to show that clearly to all our residents.”

O’Dell said that village staff has been working with various landowners, such as Deeridge Farm, on a bridle path along Pier-

son Road from Southfields Road to 120th Avenue South, where much of the path is privately owned, although in widespread public use.

In the past year, the village has completed improvements along Pierson Road from South Shore Blvd. to Equestrian Club Road.

The council recently approved improvements from Flying Cow Road to Ousley Farms Road, and is continuing coordination with owners at Grand Prix Farms to secure a bridle path on Pierson Road from Ousley Farms Road to Gene Mische Way. A bridle trail has also recently been completed on 50th Street South that runs along Section 34 in southern Wellington.

“We will continue to work on improvements as we go through the overall system, but this is a map that we hope can get adopted so that we can continue to progress to the ultimate goal, which is to complete an overall system and provide continuity to all of our equestrians,” O’Dell said.

The Planning, Zoning & Adjust-

ment Board unanimously recommended approval of the comp plan amendments in October.

Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said she gets calls from equestrians with complaints about maintenance of the trails and asked whom they should contact. O’Dell said he can be contacted directly, or they can call the Public Works Department. Staff members out working on the trails will also take comments, and there is an equestrian hotline at (561) 791-4008.

Vice Mayor John Greene supported the amendments, hoping that it would help give the plan more initiative.

“I think it’s important to keep moving this initiative forward,” he said, adding that the bridle trail plan had been put before the Equestrian Preserve Committee almost five years ago. “I’m looking for a little more in terms of progress and tying these trails together and working with private landowners and public interests to make sure that we continue to support the equestrian industry.”

Councilman Matt Willhite was

unhappy with the amount of time it was taking to bring the map to fruition.

“It just doesn’t seem like it should be taking this time frame,” he said. “I’m happy that this is getting into the comprehensive plan.

There’s a couple other concerns that I have.”

Willhite pointed out that Wellington has been working on the map for three years and it is still not complete.

“One of your main responsibilities you are charged with is to work on this, and three years later, we are still working on it,” he said.

“Additionally, unbeknownst to us, you hired a consultant at a cost of $24,000 to start to help you with it as well, so this concerns me that we are starting to outsource and trying to hire additional help to try and get things done.”

Willhite added that he was concerned that the map did not show a completed trail, but was a “wish list” of trails that the village staff would like to see done.

“If we can’t get them done, we need to step back and get some dif-

ferent ideas and thoughts and start working differently,” he said, “or start involving different people in the community or the council who have the ability to talk to members of our community.”

Planning & Development Services Director Tim Stillings suggested that the map could be modified to show uses that are in place, as well as future proposed bridle trails.

Willhite said he thought that amending the map to show existing and proposed or future trails would not change the intent, but also would not give the public the impression that the map is complete and that trails shown on the map are actually passable.

Stillings said the goal is to get the new map into the comp plan as a base map for the master plan.

“As the system evolves, we’ll revisit this map and modify as necessary,” he said.

Village Manager Paul Schofield said the map in the comp plan would show a current circulation plan similar to the roadway thoroughfare and drainage plans.

“The thoroughfare and drainage plans, when they were originally implemented, included all of the roadways and drainage even though there were parts that weren’t built,” Schofield said.

“That is all the comprehensive plan document is. It’s an aspirational document that talks about the circulation system.”

Schofield said the map is needed so property owners will be able to see the overall objective of the plan.

Mayor Bob Margolis said that sometimes the council has good intentions, but it comes down to private owners to allow them to happen.

“We have meetings with private landowners, and we ask them if this would be amenable,” he said.

“They say, ‘Sure.’ But when the rubber meets the road, most of the time they don’t agree, and it’s giving up some of their own property.”

Willhite made a motion to approve the ordinance with minor language changes, which carried 4-0.

Wellington Zoning Board Supports New Rules For Hedge Height

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report In an effort to create a homogeneous and aesthetically pleasing look along village roadways, Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board agreed last week to amend some of the previously established hedge heights to accommodate the desire for higher height maximums.

Wellington planner Kelly Ferraiolo presented an ordinance

K-Park

Ranking The Bids

continued from page 1 the price offered, for a total of 90 points.

For Divosta, he gave 25 for background and qualifications, 18 for ability to execute, 25 for the preliminary site plan and 18 for the price offered, for a total of 86 points.

For Bainbridge-Brefrank, he gave 25 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 28 for the preliminary site plan and 25 for the price offered, for a total of 98 points.

He gave Reinvent America 20 for background and qualifications, 15 for ability to execute, 20 for the preliminary site plan and 20 for the price offered, for a total of 75 points.

For Lennar, he gave 25 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 15 for the preliminary site plan and 10 for the price offered, for a total of 70 points.

In order of rank, Margolis’ evaluation was Bainbridge-Brefrank, Stiles, Divosta, Wellington Gardens, Reinvent America and Lennar.

Greene gave Wellington Gardens 24 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 29 for the preliminary site plan and 25 for the price offered, for a total of 98 points.

He gave Stiles 24 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 20 for the preliminary site plan and 20 for the price offered, for a total of 84 points.

For Divosta, he gave 24 for background and qualifications, 19 for ability to execute, 20 for the preliminary site plan and 22 for the price offered, for a total of 85 points.

For Bainbridge-Brefrank, he gave 25 for background and quali-

at the Jan. 7 meeting that was created with the Architectural Review Board. “The ARB recommended height limitations based on the size of the property,” she explained. “Previous limitations were based on land use designation.”

The staff proposal was that for properties less than a quarter of an acre, the maximum hedge height was to remain at 6 feet.

For properties greater than an

acre, the recommendation was to increase the hedge height from 8 feet to 10 feet.

Along a major thoroughfare, hedge height was recommended to increase from 10 feet to 12 feet.

Ornamental features are allowed an additional 2 feet in height, but rather than being limited to 25 percent of the length of the hedge, ornamental features were decreased to 20 percent of the length of the hedge.

fications, 20 for ability to execute, 25 for the preliminary site plan and 25 for the price offered, for a total of 95 points.

For Reinvent America, he gave 22 for background and qualifications, 18 for ability to execute, 23 for the preliminary site plan and 20 for the price offered, for a total of 83 points.

For Lennar, he gave 25 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 20 for the preliminary site plan and 15 for the price offered, for a total of 80 points.

Greene’s ordinal ranking was Wellington Gardens, BainbridgeBrefrank, Divosta, Stiles, Reinvent America and Lennar.

Willhite gave Wellington Gardens 17 for background and qualifications, 14 for ability to execute, 24 for the preliminary site plan and 19 for the price offered, for a total of 74 points.

For Stiles, he gave 19 for background and qualifications, 12 for ability to execute, 26 for the preliminary site plan and 21 for the price offered, for a total of 78 points.

For Divosta, he gave 23 for background and qualifications, 18 for the ability to execute, 30 for the preliminary site plan and 23 for the price offered, for a total of 94 points.

For Bainbridge-Brefrank, he gave 25 for background and qualifications, 20 for ability to execute, 28 for the preliminary site plan and 25 for the price offered, for a total of 98 points.

For Reinvent America, he gave 15 for background and qualifications, 10 for ability to execute, 20 for the preliminary site plan and 18 for the price offered, for a total of 63 points.

He gave Lennar 21 for background and qualifications, 16 for ability to execute, 22 for the preliminary site plan and 16 for the price offered, for a total of 75 points.

Willhite’s ordinal ranking was

Bainbridge-Brefrank, Divosta, Stiles, Lennar, Wellington Gardens and Reinvent America.

When all three score sheets were taken into account, the overall ordinal scores were BainbridgeBrefrank, Divosta, Stiles and Wellington Gardens, with Reinvent America and Lennar tied for fifth.

Village officials said that the complete results would be posted on the village’s web site, along with past meetings and documentation.

The council members also discussed whether to make a short list of bidders to carry forward, but decided to keep all of them under consideration for now.

Greene said that people should not think that based on the scoring, coupled with the uncertainty of Coates’ replacement, the process is over.

“This is a recommendation, and we are sitting as a selection committee recommending back to the council the results of this process,” he said. “I think it is important that the public has an opportunity to hear all six proposals. I want public input, and that’s up to each proposer. If they feel that if based on where they came out today, they don’t want to stay moving forward, that’s their choice, but my position is that the public deserves to hear all six.”

Village Manager Paul Schofield said he planned to put the item on the Jan. 27 public meeting agenda unless the council directed him otherwise.

Council members decided tentatively to give each bidder 15 minutes to make presentations at that meeting.

Village Attorney Laurie Cohen said that if a new council member is appointed by that time, he or she would be entitled and obligated to vote on the decision.

Videos and information about the bidding can be found on the village’s web site at www.wellington fl.gov/departments/purchasing/ solicitations.

According to diagrams shown to the board, many Wellington communities vary in lot sizes, with some less and some more than a quarter of an acre, resulting in inconsistent maximum hedge heights.

Board members discussed the need for larger hedges, but also focused on the need for maintenance, trimming and healthy shrubbery. Though higher hedges allows for increased privacy and noise reduction, they only work if they are well maintained.

The board discussed the enforceability of hedge height, and whether increasing the maximum height would increase aesthetics in Wellington. If the hedges are not healthy or overgrown, larger hedges could defeat the intended purpose.

“This sounds like an enforcement issue,” Board Member George Unger said, explaining that taller hedges become thinner, with less leaves, adding that ficus whitefly has also been a problem.

Board Member Michael Drahos requested the addition of language stating that hedge height can be increased if it is maintained. “We’re looking at this now, and if we can add language to help the aesthetic feel of Wellington, we should take the opportunity,” he said.

Board Member Kenneth Kopp was unhappy with the creation of jagged hedges.

“Clearly, this is about Wellington aesthetics,” he said. “When we define the various allowable hedge heights in such definitive terms, a quarter of an acre or less, a quarter acre to an acre, there are a lot of areas that are mixed… You could have a neighbor that has 0.24 acres, they have to have 6-foot hedges, then their neighbor has 0.26 acres and could have a 9-foot hedge and so on and so forth. It’s not very homogenous. I would recommend we revisit the cutoff to make the picture more homogeneous within neighborhoods or regions within Wellington so you don’t have staggered, broken

sight lines.”

Ferraiolo pointed out that what Kopp mentioned is how things are now, with the lines drawn based on acreage. Planning & Development Services Director Tim Stillings agreed.

“There’s been some sentiment that the heights we have today are too low,” Stillings said.

His suggestion, based on a graph shown to the board, was that the difference be split. “You either pick eight or nine for both and just go with that,” Stillings said.

The final recommendations, which the board passed in a 5-0 decision, was that properties with zero lot lines would have a maximum hedge height of 6 feet.

Properties that range in size anywhere beyond a zero lot line up to one acre have a maximum height of 9 feet. Lots that are greater than an acre are able to have hedges that are up to 10 feet high, while lots that are along major thoroughfares have a maximum height of 12 feet.

‘Polo For A Purpose’ Jan. 19 Supports The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Polo season is off and running and will be highlighted by a special event, Polo for a Purpose, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Palm Beach on Monday, Jan. 19.

The exciting event will be held at the International Polo Club. A sellout crowd of 250 guests will enjoy a delectable luncheon and exclusive silent auction followed by a riveting professional polo match featuring world-class players Brandon Phillips, Jeff Blake, Sugar Erskine, Mariano Gracida, Jeff Hall, Kris Kampsen, Chris Nevins and Nic Roldan. All money raised will go toward lifesaving blood cancer research and patient services.

The event is being chaired by P.J. Rizvi and Visse Wedell with Brandon Phillips as honorary chairman. Phillips is a blood cancer survivor diagnosed at age 14 with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Others involved in the event have also been touched by blood cancers. “All the money in the world could not save my sister, Penny,” P.J. Rizvi said. “But maybe the money we are raising from this event, along with your participation, could prevent another family from the tragedy and heartache we suffered.”

Supporters of the event include Tesla of Boca Raton, which will be offering test drives the day of the event, Hadden Landscaping, the Rizvi-Blanchard family, Pegasus Builders, Equestrian Sports, Signature Tutoring, Peacock Farms, the Wedell Family Foundation, Heritage Farms, Visse Wedell for Douglas Elliman Realty, Insight Property Management, Meadowbrook Horse Transport, Heritage Farms, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Miller & Associates and Catamount Farms Farrier Service.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma

Brandon Phillips Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. For more information, call the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (561) 6168682 or visit www.lls.org/pb.

PBC Property Appraiser’s Office Offering Scholarships Property Appraiser Gary R. Nikolits is happy to announce that the Property Appraiser’s Office is now accepting applications for its 2015 College Scholarship program.

The office presents $1,000 scholarships each year to five

college-bound students. To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a resident of Palm Beach County and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. The college they plan to attend must be accredited. The applicant must be graduating from a public, private or home school

within Palm Beach County and entering college full-time.

Download the application from the Property Appraiser’s web site at www.pbcgov.com/papa. The deadline to submit the 2015 application is March 31. For more info., call (561) 355-3230.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

Wellington Seeking Youth Volunteers

Wellington’s Community Services Department is seeking 25 youth volunteers to participate in a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project on Monday, Jan. 19. Volunteers will come together from 10 a.m. to noon and can earn community service hours by helping to beautify Tiger Shark Cove Park. Activities will include spreading mulch and picking up trash. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot by contacting Meridith Tuckwood at (561) 753-2476 or mtuckwood@ wellingtonfl.gov.

Tickets On Sale For ‘Annie Jr.’

Wellington Children’s Theatre will present the family-friendly musical Annie Jr. on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Performances will take place at Trinity West Church at 16569 Southern Blvd.

The “Acting Out Junior Musical Theatre Workshop” has been

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NEWS BRIEFS busy rehearsing for this upcoming production. The cast of 22 children began preparing for the show in September, first learning musical numbers and then blocking and choreographing the songs.

The original production of Annie opened on Broadway in 1977, followed by several film versions and Broadway revivals. Each of the “orphans” will be costumed in 1930s style, and there will be two different girls playing the part of Annie during different performances.

Director Karen Braunstein is very enthusiastic about the production. “Our workshops begin with basic acting instruction. The goal is to teach these children the importance of ‘being in the moment’ when onstage, of focus, which is the basis of good acting, and of connecting with the other characters,” she said. “Those onstage relationships must be believable. Acting is not easy and takes dedication and work.”

Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for children and students, with a $1 fee for credit card and online purchases. Limited tickets will be available at the door. For more info., visit www.wellington-

childrenstheatre.com or call (561) 223-1928.

The Wellington Children’s Theatre is currently accepting registration for its winter session.

Register Now For Wellington Idol Competition

Registration is now underway for the fourth annual Wellington Idol Competition with a $500 grand prize and three $250 prizes for the runners-up.

Contestants must be individual singers at least eight years old as of March 1. They must reside in Wellington or attend a Wellington school and cannot be professional performers. Previous grand prize winners from Wellington Idol or Wellington Talent Search are ineligible to compete. Contestants will be divided into three age groups: ages 8 to 12, ages 13 to 17 and ages 18 and up.

To register, contestants must submit an application form, proof of age, one head shot and a short performer biography, along with a non-refundable fee of $25 payable to the Village of Wellington.

Contestants must also submit a YouTube link of a performance to Cultural Programs and Facilities Manager Joe Piconcelli at jpiconcelli@wellingtonfl.gov. Wellington will also accept non-returnable CDs or DVDs of a maximum of four minutes in length in lieu of a YouTube entry. Label your disc with your name, age group, title of the piece and phone number.

Registration can be completed at the Wellington Community Center between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The deadline to register is March 5.

For the official rules and the application form, visit the Wellington Community Center or download online at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

For questions, contact Piconcelli at (561) 791-4756 or jpiconcelli@ wellingtonfl.gov.

Beware Of Thieves Posing As Utility Employees

Recently, someone claiming to be a Palm Beach County Water Utilities employee gained access

to a home by pretending he was there to test the customer’s water.

Utility customers should be cautious of anyone claiming to be an employee and asking to enter their homes. PBCWUD employees will not ask to enter a home, offer to test your water or accept payments.

Always check for a PBCWUD photo ID badge, uniform with the county logo and a vehicle clearly marked with the department logo.

If you suspect someone is falsely identifying themselves, call 911 to report the incident.

Run/Walk For Education At Okeeheelee

A 5K run/walk event, organized by the Abi Kattel Memorial Foundation, is set for Saturday, Jan. 17 at Okeeheelee Park’s Micanopy Pavilion. The run starts at 8 a.m., and the registration desk opens at 6:30 am. Registration on the day of the event is permitted. For details, visit www.abikattelfoundation.org.

The annual event helps generate funds to help under-privileged students pay for their education

through the Abi Kattel Memorial Foundation scholarship program.

The foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in the memory of Abi Kattel, who passed away in 2005 at age 22.

Seniors Club Events Moving

Beginning Feb. 1, all Wellington Seniors Club activities will be held at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road, Wellington) and not the Wellington Community Center. For more info., call (561) 791-4000.

Chamber Lunch Set For Jan. 21

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wanderers Club featuring bestselling author and motivational speaker Michael Solomon.

As a business consultant and coach, Solomon has helped many entrepreneurs large and small take their businesses beyond the next level. Visit www.wellingtonchamber.com to RSVP.

JUST LISTED

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OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE • Nice-sized formal living and • Fully upgraded kitchen dining rooms. with high-quality granite, stainless steel appliances, • Newer washer/dryer. oversized wood cabinets, eat-in area and a built-in • Wired security system work space. protecting all doors and windows.

• Matching granite and wood cabinetry in both bathrooms. • Accordion hurricane shutters • Four LARGE bedrooms, three with walk-in closets.

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Come see your new home today!

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Home Run Real Estate

(561) 346-0496

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Page 9

NEWS

LET’S MOVE: WELLINGTON WELLNESS FAIR URGES RESIDENTS TO GET ACTIVE

Wellington Plaza and the Palm Healthcare Foundation presented the Wellington Wellness Fair on Saturday, Jan. 10 in the parking lot in front of Ultima Fitness. It was the kickoff to the “Let’s Move: Commit to Change Physical Activity Challenge.” There were health screenings, healthy food and drink samples, a bounce house, crafts, giveaways, raffles and more.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Visitors joined the pound fit demo.

A health panel of experts from Ultima Fitness.

Dean Piper and raffle winner Roshni Gopie with Mary O’Neill of Bainbridge Companies.

Hannah Gatlin, Kelly, Laura and Dr. Danny Bass, and Holly Johnson of Family Orthodontics.

Ashley Smith and Tom Monticello of Visions Salon.

Joanna Crilly and Joan Johnston enjoy a food sample from Backstreet’s Bar & Grill.

Michaela Paige performs.

DUELING PIANO TWINS BRINGS FUN SHOW TO WELLINGTON AMPHITHEATER

“Dueling Piano Twins” Mark and Clark performed Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Wellington Amphitheater. In addition to the performance, food trucks were in the parking lot for guests to enjoy. For more information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.

PHOTOS BY ANDREA UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Elizabeth, Sofia and Mia Bornia wait for the performance.

Mark and Clark interact with the audience during the song.

Christina Garcia and Dana Lopez by the food trucks.

Courtney and Tracy Dobkins (back) with Cara Hornick and Nancy McAtee.

Page 10

January 16 - January 22, 2015

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Page 11

NEWS

CARIDAD CENTER CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH GALA EVENT AT IPC

The Caridad Center celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala event at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Saturday, Jan. 10 with music, performances and glamorous auction items. To learn more about Caridad, visit www.caridad.org.

PHOTOS BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Robert and Diana Lopez with Carmen Medina.

Georgina Bloomberg and Adele Carr.

Liz Quirantes and Craig Williams.

Tres Abbott, Bobbi Rottman, Travis Laas and Paul Butterworth.

Kathleen Williams, Debbie Crompton, Bonnie Nobel, Mimi Pastor, Waverly Ernst and Sue Knoll.

Mason Phelps, Julie Tannehill and Ron Neal.

Julie and Aaron Menitoff.

Sanjiv Sharma and Nadine Allen.

WELLINGTON CHAMBER MEMBERS GATHER FOR MIXER AT THE ART CELLAR

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce held a “Kickoff To 2015” event Thursday, Jan. 8 at the Art Cellar, where chamber members met and mingled while exploring various art projects offered by the Art Cellar. For information on upcoming chamber events, visit PHOTOS BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER www.wellingtonchamber.com.

Sharon Lasko and Kathleen Williams make decorative name tags.

The Women of the Wellington Chamber get artsy.

Jen Hernandez, Suzette Whalen and Kim Hernandez.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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Page 13

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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The Perfect Match Polo and Brunch

Experience the energy of world-class polo and brunch at the International Polo Club. Delicious food, champagne, celebrity sightings, music, fashion and, of course, polo.

Every Sunday at 3 p.m. through April 19 The Pavilion opens at 2 p.m.

Join us at The Pavilion for the after-party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For ticket options, please visit InternationalPoloClub.com or call 561.204.5687.

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Page 15

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Cosmetology Grad Emily Serpico From Wellington Competing On TV Program

Emily Serpico, a new graduate of Palm Beach State College’s cosmetology program, will compete in Season 8 of Face Off, the Syfy cable network’s hit reality competition series that pits special effects makeup artists against each other in creative battle. The Wellington resident is the youngest contestant in the history of the show. Season 8 premiered Tuesday, Jan. 13 on Syfy.

On the plane ride to Los Angeles for her Face Off audition last June, Serpico couldn’t believe her good fortune, yet at age 18, her career path was already years in the making. Her mother, a cosmetologist whom Serpico credits with her success, taught her how to create and style wigs as a little girl. “My love for hair started there,” she said.

Then at 14, Serpico chose the G-Star School of the Arts in West Palm Beach for her high school and discovered the art of special effects makeup by volunteering for the school’s annual X-Scream Halloween, one of South Florida’s largest haunted house events. The immediate need was for someone to do scary makeup. “I really wanted to help out, and I said, ‘Yeah, sure I’ll try it,’” Serpico recalled.

She developed and ran the makeup department for X-Scream

Halloween for four years until her graduation in 2013.

After high school, Serpico knew that she wanted to get her cosmetology license and chose Palm Beach State College. “I heard really great reviews about it,” she said. “I took the cosmetology course, and I loved it. It was the core education that I needed.”

During the cosmetology program, Serpico turned 18, the youngest age eligible to audition for Face Off. A dedicated fan of the show, Serpico said, “I would always find my inspiration on Face Off because I would watch every season and be really involved.”

She didn’t make the cut on her first audition, but six months later, she tried again and was chosen.

Serpico took a leave of absence from Palm Beach State College, and everyone supported her, especially Terry Delp, cosmetology director for the Lake Worth campus. “He helped me through everything,” she said.

After the show wrapped, she returned and graduated in December.

Waiting for the show to air, Serpico feels in limbo, but has many plans for the future. She is exploring further education options so she can teach art and will continue her theatrical wig work.

Serpico is a card-carrying member

Kretzer Kids — (Front row) Lylybell Zhou, Emily Shecter, Catherine Zeng, Jacqueline Chen and Hely Lin; (back row) Ethan Nguyen, Alvin Xue, Alexandra Monte, Kathi Kretzer, Ali Zaidspiner, Tiffany Hart, Laura Bomeny and Felipe Bomeny at last year’s concert.

On the set of Syfy’s Face Off, contestant Emily Serpico, a Palm Beach State Cosmetology grad, applies special effects makeup. of IATSE Local 500, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts.

As part of the union’s wigs and makeup department, she is called to work on theatrical productions, including Broadway shows at local performing arts centers.

Ultimately, Serpico wants to start her own business making wigs for patients and children who have lost their hair. She also wants to create custom artwork for prosthetic limbs. “My goal is to make that limb personal to them, so it’s not just a limb that they got… it

shows their personality,” she said.

“If you have a skill or ability to do something, why not help others. I feel like it’s very humbling and keeps me grounded.”

But first Face Off. “I am so excited for everything to start,” Serpico said.

While she is sworn to secrecy about the results, she will say the experience was amazing. Plus, she said that having her work judged changed her. “I feel like I’ve grown so much because I’m not afraid of anything anymore,” Serpico said.

“The worst anyone can say is that they don’t like it.”

Palm Beach Central Students Speak At Wellington Garden Club Meeting Students from the Environmental Club at Palm Beach Central High School spoke at the January meeting of the Wellington Garden Club about their experiences at the SEEK (Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge) program last summer.

The students were introduced

by Lisa Ferrano, the Wellington Garden Club’s High School/ SEEK chairman. SEEK is an environmental camp for high school students developed by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.

The students traveled to Tallahassee and stayed at the historic lodge at Wakulla Springs for the three-day seminar. They were treated to many field trips and hands-on activities while learning

about the ecosystems, wildlife of Florida and topics ranging from recycling to sinkholes.

The Wellington Garden Club sponsored nine students to attend the camp: Jessica Young, Cachae Alford, Karen Brendel, Carolina Tessutto, Brandon Kianka and Yan Ortiz from the PBCHS Environmental Club, and Sarah Sattanno, Shannon Gaffney and Miranda Holt from the Wellington High School Environmental Club.

Students in ninth, 10th or 11th grade who have an interest in the environmental sciences can be sponsored for the next camp, which will take place in July 2015.

Contact Ferrano at paddock park@bellsouth.net for more information.

Palm Beach Central High School students Yan Ortiz, Brandon Kianka, Carolina Tessutto, Jessica Young and Cache Aelford at last week’s Wellington Garden Club meeting.

Foundation To Present Kretzer Kids In Concert

The Kretzer Music Foundation will present “Kretzer Kids In Concert” on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace.

The concert is part of the Music for the Mind concert series and will benefit music education and children’s charities.

The January concert will feature talented young musicians Alexa Burnston (voice), Karen Copeland (piano), Mary Rose Gallipeau

(harp), Tiffany Hart (piano), Nicole Kelly (voice), Hely Lin (piano), Jade Evori Master (voice), Emily Rynasko (piano), Emily Shecter (voice), Emily Thompson (voice), Alvin Xue (piano), Ali Zaidspiner (voice), Catherine Zeng (piano) and Lylybell Zhou (piano).

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling Kretzer Piano at (561) 748-0036.

Fundraiser For Acreage Resident Dave Spall

A community yard sale will be held for Dave Spall on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, from 6:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 4812 123rd Trail North.

Spall, 36, is a longtime Royal Palm Beach resident currently living in The Acreage. He attended local schools and he loved playing baseball for the Royal Palm Beach Youth Athletic Association.

On Nov. 30, Spall, his fiancé, and his aunt and uncle were on a cruise ship en route to the Caribbean. At dinner, Spall choked on a piece of meat and suffered cardiac arrest.

Spall was oxygen deprived and has suffered serious brain damage. He was air-lifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and is still there.

Spall’s family is hoping to bring him closer to home in the near future. Family members and friends have established the Dave

Dave Spall Spall Fund and will hold various events to help pay the costs of his care and rehabilitation.

All proceeds will be deposited into the Dave Spall Fund.

Additional fundraisers will be announced as details are finalized.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

BEREAN COMPETES IN THEATER COMPETITION

The Berean Christian School junior high and high school theater classes, under the leadership of Jenny Hudson, competed at the district competition level on Dec. 5-6 at the Bak Middle School of the Arts and West Boca High School, respectively. The junior high team qualified to compete at the state level in Melbourne on Feb. 6. The results of the district competition include two superior rankings and several in the excellent and good categories. This is the first year that Berean has competed in theater at this level.

The students agreed that it was an excellent opportunity to grow through presentation at the competitive level and are excited to see what the future holds for the theater department.

TKA To Present Black Box Dessert Theater The King’s Academy’s Theater Company will be opening two black box shows later this month.

The shows will take place in an intimate black box setting where dessert will be served as patrons watch the show.

Anne of Green Gables is a turnof-the-century story that takes place on Prince Edward Island, where Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla decide to take on an orphan boy as help for their farm.

They get an unexpected jolt when they’re mistakenly sent a girl instead. It is a sweet story that is

sure to charm all audiences.

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a masterpiece drama that tells the story of the Wingfield family. The show features a simple, bare-bones set: three platforms over a floating abyss representing the play’s central theme of “memory.” The play is a two-act drama with explosive scenes and bursts of laughter.

Tickets are $20 per person or $100 for a table of six and can be purchased at www.tkafinearts.net or at (888) 718-4253. For more information, visit www.tka.net.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Osceola Creek Honors Student Athletes

Osceola Creek Middle School recently announced the recipients of its Scholar-Athlete Award for December. The award is sponsored by the school police and honors varsity athletes who also excel in academics, effort, behavior and school spirit, and serve as a role model for others. This month’s honorees carry high grade point averages as well as play varsity sports.

Girls volleyball honored Samantha Vilarino, 14. “It is with pleasure that I nominate Samantha Vilarino as Scholar Athlete of the Month,” coach Shayne Sanderford said. “She is an amazing young lady who not only excels on the court, but in the classroom as well, carrying a 5.0 GPA. She gives 100 percent to school and sports. I have seen her stay after at practice after everyone else has left and work on her hitting and serving skills.”

Vilarino, an eighth-grade student, has perfect attendance for the year. She wants to attend the

University of Florida School of Medicine as a prelude to a career as a neurosurgeon.

Boys soccer honored Jake Pennypacker. “Jake is an outstanding scholar athlete,” coach Tony Bugeja said. “He has been a top player on the soccer team since the sixth grade. He is an impact player and is able to help his team from anywhere on the field. He is an excellent model for the younger players on the team and manages to keep his academics a major priority.”

Pennypacker, 12, a seventh-grade student, also has perfect attendance for the year. In addition to soccer, he also is a member of the school’s volleyball team, while carrying a 4.92 GPA. He wants to attend the University of Florida, then follow family footsteps into a public safety career, perhaps as a firefighter/paramedic.

Supporting the program are Subway, Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, the Loxahatchee Ice Cream

Principal Nicole Daly, Jake Pennypacker, Samantha Vilarino and officer Sandy Molenda.

Company and Burger King, located at Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd., and Dairy

Queen at Royal Palm Beach Blvd. and Okeechobee Blvd., which donated free food coupons.

Season Of Giving Runs All Year At Panther Run Panther Run Elementary School uses each school year to help those in need and make a difference in the community. Each year, through the PTA Sister School program, the school provides donations to sister school Pioneer Park Elementary School in Belle Glade, as well as local Panther Run families.

Starting as early as August each year, the school collects back-toschool supplies that are organized and then delivered to Pioneer Park in late September.

This past September, the school delivered several boxes of donated items, including new school supplies, gently used school uniform clothing, sweatshirts, sneakers and sporting equipment.

In November, the school hosts a Thanksgiving basket drive.

All classrooms at the school are tasked to bring in designated items to complete a full Thanksgiving meal, including table settings, in addition to raising enough money to provide a gift card in each

basket for the receiving family to use toward buying a turkey to complete the meal. The school completed more than 40 decorated baskets that were presented in individual storage containers (provided at a substantial discount from the Royal Palm Beach Target store) that the receiving family could reuse at home. The baskets were delivered to Pioneer Park families, as well as some local families in the community, before Thanksgiving.

On the tail of completing the Thanksgiving basket drive, the school starts right up with the an-

nual toy drive. This year, Panther Run was able to provide more than 350 wrapped gifts to Pioneer Park and local families before the holidays.

Later in the year, the PTA will provide Pioneer Park with snacks during the Palm Beach County spring testing period.

Throughout the remainder of the year, Panther Run’s PTA, students and staff will continue to collect gently used school uniforms, shoes and equipment to support this continued outreach program and make a difference in the local and surrounding communities.

PBCHS Announces Its Pathfinder Nominees Palm Beach Central High School recently announced its Pathfinder Award nominees. They are: Julia Gorday, art; Liana Zafran, community involvement; Nicholas Dockweiler, sports; Alexander Naum, science; Judy Yang, foreign language; Brooke McFarland, academic excellence; Quinten Scruggs, forensics; Bari

Miller, history and political science; Dana Vernot, business; Kenny Wong, math; Jordan Levi, reach for excellence; Julia Carlin, communications; Daniela Aguilar, literature; Anthony Olive, computer science; Meghan Ritmiller, music-vocal; David Disisto, music-instrumental; and Princess Victome, drama.

Panther Run’s delivery of more than 50 Thanksgiving baskets to Pioneer Park included complete meals, table settings and a gift card for a turkey in each basket.

Panther Run Student Council members help complete baskets.

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Page 17

SCHOOL NEWS

State-Of-The-Art Broadcasting Studio At TKA The King’s Academy recently announced the launch of Studio 70, a state-of-the-art broadcasting studio.

The addition of media studies and broadcast journalism to the school’s curriculum will give students in grades 9 through 12 the opportunity to engage in every

aspect of television and sound production.

“Media is the number-one influence on our society. The question is not if media will influence you but how media will influence you,” said Michael Schwartz, the studio’s technical director. “Through the new digital arts department,

TKA will be training the next generation of content creators to influence their world, shining a bright light in a very dark world.”

Studio 70 contains equipment that utilizes the latest, most advanced technology in media production. The multi-purpose studio has three studio cameras with tele-

prompters, studio lights, as well as Chroma key green on three walls.

The control room is fitted with a video switcher, character generator, and audio board, all recording to solid state disks. There are four workstations fully equipped with Adobe software and two HD field camera packages.

Haley Larson with Edgar Mitchell.

TKA students in the new studio.

TKA digital arts students at the TV desk.

U.S. News Survey Ranks Palm Beach Atlantic Among The Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

Palm Beach Atlantic University makes it a four-peat, ranking among the top 25 colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best Online Education Programs since the survey began four years ago.

In ratings recently announced, Palm Beach Atlantic is tied with Siena Heights University (Michigan) at 25. U.S. News rated 214 online bachelor’s degree programs in the survey.

Palm Beach Atlantic offers three bachelor’s degree programs completely online: ministry, organizational management and psychology.

In addition, the university presently offers one online master’s degree in leadership. Palm Beach Atlantic’s new doctor of nursing practice degree, which begins this month, is a hybrid program offering courses online and on ground.

“Palm Beach Atlantic continu-

ally pushes the envelope in using emerging technology to improve online learning outcomes,” University President William M.B. Fleming Jr. said. “For example, the conferencing software tool included in every online course supports virtual, real-time class meetings between students and their faculty.”

About 25 percent of the university’s traditional student body is enrolled in at least one online

course per academic year.

“While the flexibility and access afforded by online education are top of mind, the tools that promote learning are lesser known,” said Dr. Patricia Bassett, director of online learning. “Being able to access via the learning management system, audio, video, student comments and a white board make an online classroom an engaging learning environment.”

Learn more at www.pba.edu.

SRHS Graduate Meets With NASA Astronaut Seminole Ridge High School graduate Haley Larson recently had the opportunity to visit the Lantana home of Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who, through his home and recollection, took her on a tour of NASA history.

Mitchell was the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 14 mission, commanded by fellow astronaut Alan Shepard. Both were slated to be part of the Apollo 13 mission, but Shepard, said Mitchell, “had issues with his ears, and [had to] wait for the next mission, even though NASA had cleared him to go.” As it turned out, Mitchell and Shepard were instrumental in bringing back the Apollo 13 astronauts.

Harding Honored as Carson Scholar — Madeline Harding has been chosen to represent Seminole Ridge High School as the nominee for the Carson Scholars Fund. The purpose of the Carson Scholars Fund is to recognize outstanding students in the United States in grades 4-11 who exemplify academic excellence and humanitarian qualities. Only one student per school is nominated. If chosen, Madeline will receive a $1,000 scholarship, a medal, a certificate of achievement, a school trophy and an invitation to the regional banquet. The school congratulates Madeline Harding as the nominee for Seminole Ridge High School.

Wellington Elementary Chorus Club Premieres ‘Santa’s Holiday Hoedown’ The Wellington Elementary School chorus club, under the direction of music teacher and chorus director Dave Morrison, performed the premiere of the holiday show “Santa’s Holiday Hoedown,” a Christmas Jamboree by Roger Emerson and John Jacobson, on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The cafeteria stage was filled with a standing-room-only crowd.

There was amazing acting and singing, along with vibrant stage settings. The club worked very hard, meeting two to four times a week, rehearsing this holiday production. It took hard work,

dedication and commitment by the third, fourth and fifth graders to make this stage production a great success.

The 90-member chorus repeated the show the following day so the entire school could see it. The club will begin meeting again at the end of January to work on different songs for various events and concerts, as well as a spring show.

(Center right) The reindeer singing with fifth grader Sydney Haughton leading the group.

(Far right) The elves shake it up on stage.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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FEATURES

The Two Little Tykes I Look After Keep Grandma On Her Toes I have a cold. I have this cold because last week I left the perfect winter weather of Florida for Kansas City, where it is 30-something degrees and a light dusting of snow covers everything.

It’s a nice place to visit. No, really.

Where my hometown of Milwaukee has a bar on every corner and Palm Beach County has a bank on every corner, Kansas City has a restaurant on every corner.

The steaks and barbeque are to die for. I could spend the next two years munching my way through town and never eat at the same place twice.... and I may do just that.

When my daughter was about 8 years

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER old, she told me that she wanted kids but had no patience with babies. I blithely promised to watch them until they were old enough for daycare. I never thought she’d take me up on it.

But now there are two children — a 3-month-old and a 2-year-old — and Jen goes happily off to work each day while the kids and I battle it out in the trenches.

It was a little easier when there was just one. Skippy would wake up, eat breakfast, play with his toys, take his nap, we’d go on some little outing and then Jen would be home. He was happy.

Then this baby showed up, and sometimes I give her some attention. That is not OK in Skippy’s book. I’ll be cuddling little Tess and Skippy will throw himself on her, giving her a hug that gets tighter, tighter, tighter…

“Stop!” I yell. “Too much!”

So then Skippy will back off, gently taking her hand, kissing it, holding it tighter, tighter, tighter…

“Stop!” and I have to take Tess away.

I have no doubt that, deep down, he loves his little sister... just as I have no doubt that, deep down, he likes to make her squeal and cry. After all, it’s what big brothers do.

But Skippy had better watch out. Where he is an energetic little matchstick of a kid, Tess is going to be a bruiser. Her days consist of 1) eating and 2) smiling at you for feeding her. She is packing on the pounds

to the point that the two kids are already wearing the same size diapers.

Someday soon, Skippy is going to give her hand a squeeze, and Tess is going to haul off and wallop him.

But, as I said, I’m only the referee. I’m the one who just happened to volunteer to keep an eye on my DNA. I enjoyed raising my own kids so much that I figured I’d just do more of the same.

But Jen has rules, whereas I was more of a “if they’re not playing in the street, they’re probably OK” kind of mom.

Jen’s rules are heavy on “no.” The kids See WELKY, page 21

Watching ‘Selma’ Is Like Stepping Back In History 50 Years

Watching the new movie Selma is like taking a trip 50 years into the past to watch one of the pivotal events of our history.

Fresh from winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. focused the civil rights movement on the need to force southern states to allow blacks to vote. Those of us past a certain age even remember a time when there were separate bathrooms for people of different races, even separate water fountains. Segregation was the law of the land.

But things changed. And spearheading the change was a generation of young people, ready to accept punishment for demanding equal rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was not well-known until he led a major boycott in the late 1950s in Birmingham, Ala. He was arrested, but his letter from his cell is now considered and taught as literature.

Although many other people played important roles, he gradually became the moral center of the fight for equality. And

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler in 1964, Congress passed a Civil Right Act that officially made most forms of racial discrimination illegal. It was an immense win, but without the political power brought on by voting, entrenched forces would not allow the law to be carried out.

King (David Oyelowo) came to Selma, Ala., one of the most ferocious centers of segregation, to lead the battle, and the film centers on the events there. A black woman, Annie Lee Cooper (Oprah Winfrey), asks to register but is forced to take a ridiculous test (it required her to know the names of more than 60 county

judges) that whites were not required to take. In the film, King asks President Lyndon Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) for support and does not get it, but goes on to lead the march anyway. Marchers join from all over the region and march from Selma to the Montgomery County courthouse across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Gov. George Wallace (Tim Roth) sets police dogs on them and has thugs beat them; some are even murdered. However, things have changed. Television shows the violence, and the forces behind King rally and eventually, despite the hatred of white southerners and lack of support from the federal government, King triumphs.

It has been noted, however, that there are many historical flaws in the narrative.

A bombing shown as happening right after King’s Nobel Prize ceremony had happened a year previously. Even more to the point, director Ava DuVernay has turned the movie into a straight black vs. white morality drama, ignoring a lot of his-

tory. Johnson is shown as anti-civil rights when he was probably the greatest civil rights president in our history. He supported King on this, although the movie shows opposition, and it was his political expertise that got the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed. While it was true that J. Edgar Hoover wiretapped King, that had begun under President John F. Kennedy.

Many surviving leaders of that time have condemned the portrayal of Johnson.

The acting was excellent. Oyelowo is a superb King, and Carmen Ejogo is effective as Coretta Scott King. Casting Wilkinson and Roth was an error; the two Englishmen never quite get the southern accents right. Oyelowo and Ejogo, also Brits, were close to perfect. There are a lot of strong supporting players. I particularly liked Stephan James as leader (and now Congressman) John Lewis, a gentleman I met many years ago.

This is a powerful, if somewhat inaccurate, semi-documentary. It feels won-

derfully right. Those of us who delight in the freedoms we have in America can suffer along with the children and others brutalized on that bridge 50 years ago — and, even better, know that the suffering helped catalyze change. Once blacks were able to vote, political leaders either had to work with them or face far tougher electoral challenges.

And above all of this was Martin Luther King. He was a man of the people. Unlike many of today’s organizers, he not only marched with his protesters, he was in front. He knew he might well die early, but as one of the recent terrorist victims in Paris put it, “Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.” King’s greatness changed America. It did not end racism. It did not solve all problems. But the majority of people want to get along, want to live in peace. And that is his legacy.

This is a very strong movie, even if it’s historically flawed. See it, but it might be a good idea to read the history as well.

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Page 19

POLO & EQUESTRIAN

Villa Del Lago Defeats Coca-Cola In Joe Barry Memorial Cup Action

By Alex Webbe Joe Barry Memorial Cup action is in full swing at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The featured match last Sunday saw Villa Del Lago (Jim Zenni, Agustin Obregon, Polito Pieres and Julian de Lusarreta) record a 13-11 win over Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Sugar Erskine, Julio Arellano and Mason Wroe) to remain undefeated at 2-0. The loss was the second for Coca-Cola, which fell to 0-2.

Argentine 9-goaler Pieres scored the first goal of the game to give Villa Del Lago an early 1-0 lead, but the celebration was short-lived. Less than a minute later, Arellano tied it with a 30yard penalty conversion. Pieres responded with a 60-yard angled shot from the field for his second goal of the game. Arellano tied it at 2-2 with 1:35 left in the chukker, and team captain Gillian Johnston gave Coca-Cola the lead with the final goal of the period, making it 3-2.

Arellano stretched the Coca-Cola lead to two goals, 4-2, with a scoring shot in the second chukker.

Pieres responded with a goal from the field just a minute later, and teammate de Lusarreta tied it at 4-4 with his first goal of the day.

Arellano scored the go-ahead goal with 2:23 on the clock to give the lead to Coca-Cola, 5-4. A penalty and ensuing technical foul called on Pieres allowed Arellano to convert the penalty shot for a goal and watch Pieres get ejected for the remaining 1:23 of the chukker.

Playing four on three, Arellano notched another goal to put Coca-Cola on top, 7-4.

Pieres wasted little time redeeming himself as he scored the opening goal of the third chukker in the first 25 seconds of play, making it 7-5. Erskine scored his first goal of the game to keep Coca-Cola on top by three goals, 8-5. Pieres converted a 40-yard penalty shot to end the scoring in the first half with Villa Del Lago trailing, 8-6. Goals were hard to come by in the fourth period as Arellano converted a penalty shot with just 3:34 left to play. Pieres scored a goal from the field, but it was Coca-Cola with the 9-7 lead entering the fifth chukker.

Pieres opened the fifth with a penalty goal to cut the Coca-Cola lead to a single goal, 9-8. Arellano converted a penalty shot of his own to push the Coca-Cola lead back to two goals, 10-8. Obregon scored a goal from the field followed by two more goals from Pieres (one on a penalty shot) that gave the lead to Villa Del Lago, 11-10.

Obregon’s second goal of the game opened the scoring in the sixth period, giving Villa Del Lago a two goal lead, 12-10.

Erskine scored to cut the Villa Del Lago lead back to a single goal, 12-11. With time running out, Pieres scored the final goal of the game for the hard-fought 13-11 victory.

Pieres led all scoring with 10 goals. Obregon scored twice and de Lusarreta added a goal for the win. Arellano scored seven of his team-high nine goals on penalty conversions. Erskine was credited with two goals, while Johnston scored once in a losing effort.

Orchard Hill Defeats Merchant Hub — Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Lucas Criado, Facundo

Pieres and Remy Muller) registered its second consecutive win Sunday morning with a 12-11 victory over Merchant Hub (Scott Swerdlin, Marianito Obregon, Facundo Obregon and Luis Escobar). Pieres scored eight times for the Orchard Hill win. Criado and Van Andel added two goals each.

Merchant Hub got seven goals from Obregon (four on penalty shots). Escobar added three goals, and the team received one goal by handicap.

Flight Options Over Lechuza — With 16-year-old Justin Daniels filling in for Melissa Ganzi, Flight Options (Justin Daniels, Guille Aguero, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Juan Bollini) scored an 8-7 win over Lechuza (Victor Vargas, Marcos Alberdi, Juan Martin Nero and Martin Espain) Sunday afternoon in their first Joe Barry Memorial Cup match. Astrada led all scoring with four goals. Aguero scored three times, and Daniels added a goal for the victory. Nero scored two of his team-high three goals on penalty shots. Espain added two goals (a penalty goal

Villa Del Lago won a hard-fought victory last Sunday at IPC. and a goal from the field), with Alberdi and Vargas scoring single goals in the loss.

Joe Barry Memorial Cup action

PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO

continues this weekend at IPC with the final slated to be played on Sunday, Jan. 25. Learn more at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

Men And Women Tie After Fierce Competition In Battle Of The Sexes Nearly 4,000 spectators packed the house at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center last Saturday night to watch the men and women duel for bragging rights as the winners of this year’s edition of the $75,000 Battle of the Sexes at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival.

The women had won the competition for six consecutive years up to this point, but settled for a tie in the end after several demanding rounds of competition and a lot of exciting action.

Eric Hasbrouck was the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition and set the tracks for Saturday’s classes. In the highlight $75,000 Battle of the Sexes, the three-phase contest included speed rounds, match races and a six-bar competition.

The women’s team was captained by Candice King and also included riders Erynn Ballard, Nicole Bellissimo, Amanda Derbyshire, Margie Engle, Abigail McArdle, Catherine Pasmore, Alison Robitaille, Debbie Stephens and Kelsey Thatcher.

Charlie Jayne led the men’s

team, which included riders David Beisel, David Blake, Daniel Bluman, Mark Bluman, Alex Granato, Angel Karolyi, Darragh Kenny, Samuel Parot and Andrew Ramsay.

The first round of competition was the speed round, with a six to four win for the men. The match races followed, with the men and women competing side by side over identical courses and the faster rider winning a point for their team. The men were victorious again with a win, 6 points to 4, bringing the total to 12 to 8.

The final six-bar competition was the deciding factor of the evening. Four men and four women returned from each team with the opportunity to earn two points per clear round. The competition started at 1.60m (5’3”) in height with two clear rounds for the women and three clear rounds for the men, taking the tally up to 12 and 18. A second round was held with the final jump at 1.70m, where the women’s Alison Robitaille was the only rider to jump a clear round, taking her team’s score up to 14 versus the men’s 18.

Robitaille and her mount

Cassinja then went on to jump two more clear rounds to help their team earn additional points.

The pair easily cleared a four bar set up to 1.75m (5’7”) and then jumped one more clear round with the final fence at 1.80m (5’9”) to tie it up, 18-18.

A final tie-breaking round was held with one man and one woman from each team returning to jump the four bar one more time, with the final jump set at a staggering 1.85m (6’). Alex Granato went first for the men riding Mullaghdrin Rado, and Candice King returned for her team aboard Bugatti VDL, but both pairs had the top rail down at the final jump.

The team captains conferred and decided to remain tied and save their horses for another day.

Although both teams wanted to win, the riders were happy with their horses in the evening and agreed that the competition was a lot of fun. Robitaille was competing in the class for the first time with her horse Cassinja and never thought she would end up jumping so many rounds for her team.

“I am really happy with my horse,” Robitaille said. “She is

my grand prix horse, but I don’t think that she has ever jumped that high. She has jumped one or two 1.60m rounds. She is just turning ten and she did a couple of bigger classes down here last year and then I broke my shoulder, so she had an easy rest of the year. I got her back in a couple of grand prix classes at the end of the year, but nothing of this caliber. I was definitely not expecting to jump that many rounds.”

Along with jumping the final round for the men’s team with Mullagdhrin Rado, Granato had a great evening aboard Zenith Dance, with the fastest round in the speed phase and an equally blazing time in the match races.

“Zenith Dance is a super horse.

He is a fun speed horse,” Granato said. “I ride for the owners, and they have been good supporters.

I did that horse about a year and a half ago in some grand prixs as an up-and-coming horse and then he spent last year doing the junior jumpers with Maddy Darst on lease. Now we have him for sale and we just got him back, so this is my first week showing him again. He had only done regular

speed classes, and I don’t think he has ever been under the lights in a venue like this, but he was game.”

Granato jumped in this class two years ago, but only did the first two phases, and he enjoyed taking part in the whole competition this year.

“I think it is a lot of fun,” he said. “It is great to get the teams

together. It maybe got a little heated coming down to a tie this year, but it is a fun venue and it is fun to have the crowd that involved. I think it is a good way to start the circuit with the crowd coming out.”

For more information, and a full schedule of events, visit www. equestriansport.com

Alison Robitaille and Cassinja cleared 1.80m in their final round.

PHOTO BY SPORTFOT

Page 20

January 16 - January 22, 2015

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 21

NEWS

WELLINGTON SOCCER CLUB HOSTS ANNUAL SOCCER SHOOTOUT TOURNEY

Wellington Soccer Club held its eighth annual Wellington Wave Soccer Shootout Tournament last weekend at Village Park on Pierson Road. More than 250 teams attended the event, including the FC Metz soccer team from France. For more information, visit www. wellingtonsoccer.com.

PHOTOS BY ANDREA UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Galaxy players Matias Rodriguez Tobon and Edwin Moreno try to steal the ball from West Pines United player Felipe Caldera.

Members of the Wellington Soccer Club board Jason Crawford (treasurer), Sam Falzone (president), Lisa Weger (vice president of community affairs), Jacqueline Sullivan (secretary) and Eric Garey (vice president of boys).

The Wellington Galaxy Team, an under 10 boys team, with coach Gaston Rouille.

2015 South Florida Fair Turns To The Excitement Of Las Vegas The 103rd annual South Florida Fair will turn to the lights, entertainment and action of Las Vegas from Jan. 16 through Feb. 1.

The South Florida Fair 2015 features “Las Vegas Exposition: A Jackpot of Memories.” Guests will step into the fair’s 80,000-squarefoot exposition hall with a feeling that they’ve just entered the entertainment capital of the world.

Through a process known as video mapping, which results in the dynamic projection of images, spectators will see some of the iconic views of Las Vegas.

In addition, fair goers can count on seeing another complex sand sculpture that will include playing cards, poker chips, Caesars Palace and the Circus Hotel.

The fair will create its own version of the Fountains of Bellagio.

Liquid Fireworks is creating a display that will include chasing lights and dancing fountains synchronized to music and set before a large backdrop of the Bellagio Las Vegas hotel. An aerial cirque show will be presented daily in the center of the Expo East building, and a Las Vegas-themed ice skating show produced by Rosstyn Ice Show also will entertain audiences three times daily in the Expo West building.

Another highlight expected to draw considerable interest is the Private Collection of the King on Tour, featuring one of the largest private collections of Elvis Presley memorabilia outside of Graceland.

This marks the first time that the collection has been available as a mobile museum. Its new home is a 53-foot, customized $500,000

New this year is the Bengal Tiger Encounter.

Appointment

Replacing Coates

continued from page 1 said, explaining that she would like to see a process where they advertise for résumés and the candidates would be offered the opportunity to come speak to the council at a public meeting. “If we have 20 people and they all speak for three minutes, that’s 60 minutes.

That’s not a huge amount of time for us and the public to be able to evaluate the process.”

Mayor Bob Margolis said he would like to have a public forum, possibly outside a scheduled council meeting, where the candidates could speak and the council and the public would be able to hear them.

“Each applicant would be given five minutes, or 10 minutes, whatever we decide, to give a presentation to this council on why they should be sitting up here,” Margolis said.

He stressed that he did not want to wind up in a position where a four-member council gets hung

on a 2-2 vote, and would prefer a process where the candidates are ranked based on a score, similar to the process where Coates was appointed.

Vice Mayor John Greene said he thought the integrity of the process was most important, but the council is charged by the charter with making the decision. “We are in a position where we have to have a person to hold that seat for the next year,” Greene said. “I don’t have a problem with creating a forum where people come in and we give them the opportunity to speak.”

He suggested candidates be given the opportunity to speak at an agenda review meeting, and possibly start accepting nominations the following night at the regular council meeting.

The council agreed to invite candidates to speak following their agenda review meeting on Monday, Jan. 26, beginning at 6 p.m., and to consider nominations at the regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Wellington is planning a special ceremony at the Jan. 27 meeting to honor Coates for his six years of service on the council.

unit with hydraulic side pullouts, which contains high-quality Elvis artifacts. To keep with the Elvis theme, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, anyone who is dressed as Elvis will get in free to the fair, and Thursday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m., the next to the final round of the Elvis Extravaganza National Competition takes place. The contest will feature a variety of Elvis impersonators competing for cash, prizes and a spot in the national finals Feb.1315 at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Visit www.elviscontest. com for details.

Guests can expect to see Wayne Newton, Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Joan Rivers & Friends, the Rat Pack, Barbara Streisand and Rodney Dangerfield in the house — as impersonators — putting on a show they promise will entertain.

To see their performance schedule, visit www.southfloridafair.com and look under Stardust Theatre.

Another new addition is Dale K, the “almost evil comedy hypnotist,” who will perform on the Expo East stage daily.

The Bengal Tiger Encounter, an exotic animal program that is both inspirational and educational, also is new to this year’s fair.

These bengal tigers are helping to educate the public on the loss of habitat and the killing of tigers for profit in India and Asia. Their trainers feed them 12 to 14 pounds of beef or chicken daily, and they undergo regular medical checkups by a certified veterinarian.

The more than 80 rides on the Wade Shows midway continue

Idol Update

Hollywood Week Fun

continued from page 1 and hectic and there were tears, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Montenegro, who previously auditioned for the show but did not make it past the initial audition rounds, was thrilled when he was told he made it to Hollywood Week.

“Making it to Hollywood Week was a dream come true,” he said.

“It gave me a chance to go to L.A. and really show the judges what I had, which I’ve never really had a shot at before. Just being able to go out there and experience the same variety and excitement with all these other contestants was just so cool.”

His friends and family have been pillars of support.

“My friends and family mean so much to me. To have gotten the support and the love that I’ve gotten from them has been unreal.

As far as my mother goes, she’s been out of the roof about this

to be a major draw to the fair, and four new rides will make their debut at the 2015 fair, including a new Monster Truck kiddie ride, a Gravitron themed “Centrifuge,” a Quasar themed “Music Express” from ARM and a Zamperla Barnyard themed “Beach Shack.” Ride fans can beat the lines with Gold Access. Gold Access allows guests to skip the ride lines and move to the front at the special gold and black checkerboard lines. All Gold Access guests receive a VIP lanyard and distinctive wristband to access Gold Access privileges.

Main stage national entertainment appearing on the Coca-Cola Stage at the Party Pavilion include Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Josh Thompson, Hinder, Foghat, the Country Gold Tour, Puddle of Mudd and Dan + Shay.

Additional fun-filled attractions also are part of fair festivities. On Sundays at 1 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., twirling groups, folkloric dancers, Amara Shriners, marching bands, cars, mascots, the South Florida Fair Marching Band and the fair mascot will stroll their way through the grounds. The parades are sponsored by the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Fair goers can count on their favorites as well, which include the Hambone Express racing pigs, a petting zoo, South Florida Fair Hall of Famer and entertainer Dennis Lee, the Starz of the Future competition and the Miss South Florida Fair Scholarship Pageant, which distributes more whole experience,” Montenegro said. “She doesn’t know whether she should hug me and laugh or jump up and down.”

He is taking the opportunities the show is providing and embracing them.

“American Idol means everything to me,” Montenegro said.

“It’s a life-changing experience.

It’s something that cuts out a lot of the work that we have to do as street artists by ourselves to get someone to listen to us. It’s a very easy way in the door. You rise to fame pretty quickly because of the viewers and the people who have watched the show for so long. It’s a huge step for me to have made it even this far.”

To find out how Brooke and Montenegro did at Hollywood Week, be sure to tune in to American Idol in February. Their auditions and other videos can be found on the American Idol web site.

To learn more about Brooke, visit www.emilybrookemusic. com. To learn more about Montenegro, visit www.youtube.com/ user/hairprep2012.

Comedy hypnotist Dake K will perform daily. than $9,000 in scholarships to the selected finalists. Miss America certified judges select the winner, who advances to Miss Florida, where she will compete to represent Florida at the Miss America Pageant.

Thousands of farm animals and feathered friends will gather again in the Agriplex. The Moo-ternity Tent is always a big hit as guests watch cows delivering their calves. Additional activities include equestrian events that include dressage, show jumping, pleasure shows, barrel racing and clinics.

Historic Yesteryear Village will be open throughout the 17-day fair, which allows visitors to see how folks lived in inland South Florida during the late 19th century. In the village, Jimmy Riffle of the Gator Boys will present

the Scales, Tales and Teeth Road Show. This road crew will show how they handle alligators and other native and exotic reptiles by performing dangerous stunts and capture techniques.

The 2015 South Florida Fair takes place from Jan. 16 through Feb. 1 at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.).

Adult admission, 12 and older, is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. A child’s admission, under 12, is $5 in advance and $8 at the gate. Ages 5 and younger are admitted free, and seniors 60 and older pay $7 in advance and $9 at the gate.

The South Florida Fair is produced by the South Florida Fair/ Palm Beach County Expositions, a nonprofit organization. For more information, call (561) 793-0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com.

Welky

Modern-Day Parenting

continued from page 18 get no screen time (TV, computer or cell phone videos). They get no fast food (just organically farmed, free range, non-engineered stuff).

And everything they destroy has to be recycled, or at least put on the compost heap.

While she was home on maternity leave, Jen arranged the spice cabinet and tacked up a chart where everything goes. I inadvertently threw out an empty bottle and had to go dig it out of recycling to take its rightful place on the shelf. Empty.

So a lot of my time is spent sneaking the remote away from Skippy, grinding up vegetables in

a processor (with 12 moving parts that need to be cleaned afterward) and washing the same dishes over and over because the detergent she buys is really great for saving the planet but really crummy at cleaning the dishes.

I try to tell myself I’m just like a hip, young mother, but what I really am is exhausted... and perplexed. Why is it more important to save the planet than your own mother?

Fortunately, Skippy and Tess make it all worth it. The refereeing, the housework, the germs — all the negatives fade away with one smile from Tess or one innocent “fun day” pronouncement from Skippy. Because that’s why I’m here — to make sure they have “fun days” every day. After all, they’ll be in preschool soon.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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NEWS

SOCK HOP-THEMED DINNER DANCE RAISES MONEY FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

The Wellington Boys & Girls Club held its 27th annual dinner dance on Friday, Jan. 9 at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club on Wellington Trace. The theme was a 1950s sock hop. Doo Wop music from two bands kept the partygoers dancing as guests enjoyed an ice cream sundae, milkshake and malted bar. There was also a live and silent auction.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Tom and Regis Wenham and Royal Palm Beach Councilman Jeff and Carolyn Hmara with Marilyn Monroe (Camille Terry).

Kae Jonsons, Victor Rivera and Wellington B&G Club Director Kenda Peterson.

Polo players Brandon Phillips, Kris Kampsen and Grant Ganzi.

Wellington Vice Mayor John Greene, ITID Supervisor Michelle Damone and Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite.

John and Julie Kime with Dorothy and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

Mark and Peggy Candreva, Liz and Mickey Smith and Sarah and Alan Shullman.

Julie Kime presents event chairs Dr. Dana Desser, Carol Sollak and Georgina Bloomberg with plaques.

Larry and Linda Smith with Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County CEO Jaene Miranda and Dr. Juan Ortega.

Neil Hirsch and Sara Gehrke on his motorcycle.

Charlene and Dr. Jeff Bishop with Dr. Edward Becker.

Bobby Ewing, Don Dufresne, Alex Barker and Ian Robinson.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 23

“We love being part of The Wanderers Club family.”

Shelby Eaton Photos

– Scott and Teri Harris, with their children.

Dues-Only Membership – No Initiation Fee Required Full Golf or Social Memberships Available Traditional golf with no tee times, tennis, and fitness • Casual dining at The Duke’s Bar, Veranda, and poolside Fine dining at Stables Restaurant • A junior Olympic-size pool, kiddie pool, and play area • Year-round social calendar and child-friendly programs The Wanderers Club is Wellington’s family-friendly, private country club.

For membership information, call Anna Grzebien at 561.795.3501, ext. 225. membership@wanderersclubwellington.com • wanderersclubwellington.com 1900 Aero Club Drive • Wellington, FL 33414 Dues-Only Membership may be recalled once the Club Membership reaches its full complement, beginning with the last in, unless the then established membership deposit is paid. All memberships are prorated as of initiation date.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

at the Winter Equestrian Festival January 10 March 28, 2015

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$50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* Saturday, January 17 Gates Open at 6:00 PM

Free General Admission. $20/car Parking.

Main Grounds at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, Wellington, FL 33414 | 561.793.5867 | www.equestriansport.com

EquestrianSportProdTCRD1_16.indd 1

1/9/15 2:40 PM

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The Trump Invitational Truly A Sight To Be Seen On Sunday, Jan. 4, the choppy swell of the ocean was the only sign of the distant arctic storms blasting the rest of the country. There was snow in Las Vegas, but South Florida basked in sunshine, and the Mar-a-Lago Club was ready to host the Trump Invitational. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 27

Business

Danish Pastry Co. Opens Eatery In The Mall At Wellington Green

The Danish Pastry Co. is offering a double delight to American customers by opening its new pastry shop in the Mall at Wellington Green, along with its online shopping facility, catering and delivery. The company uses original Danish dough, which makes it stand out from American-made Danish pastries. The eatery offers approximately 25 different types of light-as-afeather pastries with many different fillings. Page 29

Sports Many Local Players Take Part In County’s Annual All-Star Game

The 20th annual Palm Beach County All-Star Game was held the evening of Saturday, Jan. 10 at John I. Leonard High School, with the teams divided into North and South, and North routed South 44-7.

Sixteen senior players from high schools in the western communities were selected to play in the game.

Page 33

THIS WEEK’S INDEX TAILS FROM THE TRAILS............................. 27 BUSINESS NEWS................................... 28-29 SPORTS & RECREATION........................ 33-35 COMMUNITY CALENDAR............................. 36 CLASSIFIEDS..........................................37-40

Page 25

Wellington Hosts Duals Wrestling Tournament

Last Saturday, Wellington High School hosted a championship meet that brought together some of the best grapplers in the state. Six schools participated: Wellington, Riverdale High School, Bayside High School, Santaluces High School, John I. Leonard High School and Centennial High School. Page 33

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INSIDE

January 16 - January 22, 2015

Shopping Spree

Page 26

January 16 - January 22, 2015

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welcome to tHe winter equestrian festival held at the Main Grounds at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center January 7 - March 29, 2015 Join Us Every Wednesday through Sunday to Experience Equestrian Sport at Its Best!

Watch The Equestrian Action Visit WEF during the day from Wednesday through Sunday, take in the exciting scene of several thousand horses and riders competing in 12 arenas.

Stroll the grounds at your leisure, grab a bite to eat and shop till you drop at our unique boutiques, art galleries, jewelers, high-end fashion and so much more.

Shopping Around the Show Grounds You are invited to shop in a variety of locations throughout the PBIEC, including the Vendor Village, Hunter Hill, and The Bridge Deck, the outdoor courtyard oasis filled with exquisite shops and boutiques offering fashion, jewelry, home design, fine art, photography, horseware and more.

Visit a new Vendor area each week!

Hunter Hill & Bridge deck

Grab a Bite to Eat A variety of Food Vendors are located throughout the property, including: Coliano’s Pizza Tito’s Tacos: Margaritas, Tacos, Burritos, Chips, Salsa Tiki Hut: Grilled Chicken, Variety Burgers, Grilled Fish, Salads Oli’s Fashion Cuisine: in the Vendor Village

Take a Lunch & Tour See the world-renowned equestrian competition, vendors, stables and various venues that Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has to offer, followed by a catered lunch with your group. Your tour will allow you to explore twelve of the competition rings, the stabling area where horses prepare for competition, and a stroll through Vendor Village. The tour will be both exciting and informative, and there is a good chance you will see some Olympic riders gearing up for competition!

Equestrian Lunch & Tours are available by appointment Wednesday through Sunday during the WEF season.

Main Grounds at PBIEC 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, Wellington, FL 33414 561.793.JUMP (5867)

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FEATURES

January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 27

Trump Invitational At Mar-A-Lago A Sight To Be Seen

Some days I really love my job. One such day was Sunday, Jan. 4.

As I sat in the shuttle bus, heading south on South Ocean Blvd., the choppy swell of the ocean was the only sign of the distant arctic storms blasting the rest of the country. There was snow in Las Vegas, but South Florida basked in wall-to-wall sunshine. I arrived at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club ready to watch the Trump Invitational and rub elbows with the rich and famous. The setting was as much a star as the event.

The festivities kicked off with a poolside welcome reception. Decorations included a pair of life-sized horse topiaries and a large, thick punchbowl carved of ice, roses embedded within.

The steps leading up from the pool to the ballroom were faced by imported Spanish tiles bearing the words “Plus Ultra,” Latin for “further, beyond” and the motto of, among others, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The tiles were old and worn but, like the mansion, spoke of an earlier, grander time. I stood awhile in the Gold and White Ballroom, the only room of the mansion open to the likes of me, and imagined it filled with guests during the Roaring Twenties.

Mar-a-Lago, Spanish for “Sea to Lake,” covers 20 acres and is bordered by both the Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/Horse TalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg Intracostal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

It was built in 1927 by Marjorie Merriweather Post, then Mrs. E.F. Hutton. The white walls and ceiling were festooned with golden decorations. Even the large mirrors at the back were gilded. A small stage dominated the front, and I imagined the many events that once held sway, such as the annual International Red Cross Ball. Attire: white tie, tails and tiaras. Think an American version of Downton Abbey.

I strolled across the northern-looking grass (thin springy blades, no fire ant mounds) to the huge L-shaped tent shielding hundreds of tables from the sun. The stables and warm-up ring were located along the short side, and the jumping arena within the L, right along the Intracoastal. By 11 a.m., the riders and trainers were walking the course, striding off distances, gently rocking poles to see how deeply they set in the cups. The course, 13 imposing fences in a very tight space, was designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio.

Gabriela Mershad had shown in the class two years ago. “The course looks good, really solid,” she said. “I’m excited; a little nervous.

The Trump Invitational course with the Intracoastal Waterway as its backdrop.

I’m riding a different horse this time. Ledge- after platter to the buffet lines: whole turkeys point is more experienced. I’ve only had him and roasts, vegetable pad thai, sea bass with eight months, but we recently started clicking. coconut rice and spiced papaya, Balinese fried This will be a good test.” rice, roasted beef couscous, a 6-foot spread of It was rider Callan Solem’s first time doing seafood, Mary Trump’s meatloaf. The desserts the event. “It’s a nice course, good footing,” took up further real estate, including a Trump she said. “This is a beautiful venue, a top group chocolate cake, looking every bit as rich as of horses and riders. I’m grateful to Mr. Trump the name. and Mr. [Mark] Bellissimo. I’ve had my horse, Guests meandered over from the pool and VDL Torlando, since he was 6. He’s 15 now. found their seats. All the linen was white with I’m happy to share this day with him.” deep brown accents. Table runners of banana Back in the tent, servers brought platter See ROSENBERG, page 35

Page 28

January 16 - January 22, 2015

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BUSINESS NEWS

Donation Will Give County New Bookmobile In 2016 The Friends of the Palm Beach County Library System recently received a donation of $225,000 to be used toward the purchase of a new bookmobile.

The private donor, who wished to remain anonymous, was inspired to donate to the library by the example of businessman-turned-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who built public library buildings throughout the United States in the early 20th century.

Each bookmobile is custom-built, so it’s expected to take at least a

year before the county gets its new vehicle.

“The current bookmobile recently received a facelift via a wrap that makes it look brand new, but in actuality, it is nearing the end of its lifespan,” Library Director Douglas Crane explained. “So the donation couldn’t have come at a better time.”

The bookmobile visits 42 stops, all of which are more than three miles away from a county library branch location. The bookmobile also participates in special events such as the recent Families Reading

Together kickoff in November at the Palm Beach Zoo. Last year, more than 50,000 items were checked out via the bookmobile.

“The donation is one of the largest that we have ever received,” said Ken Ida, president of the Friends of the Palm Beach County Library System.

The Friends of the Palm Beach County Library System is a nonprofit organization whose mission is the promotion of enhanced library services.

The Palm Beach County Library System’s bookmobile recently received a facelift but is due for replacement soon.

Dr. Bernstein Offering MonaLisa Touch Laser Treatment In Wellington The Women’s Health Institute, Rejuvia MedSpa and Dr. Sara J. Bernstein recently announced that they will be the first practice in the southeastern United States to offer patients a revolutionary new procedure called MonaLisa Touch.

The procedure is a fractional carbon dioxide laser made by Cynosure expressly designed to address gynecologic health. MonaLisa Touch is the first laser being used for the treatment of vaginal atrophy, a condition affecting primarily menopausal women, breast cancer survivors and women who have had hysterectomies. Women who

suffer from the condition typically complain of dryness, irritation, lack of moisture, painful urination and intercourse, and loss of muscle tone.

The revolutionary MonaLisa Touch treatment takes just 45 seconds, requires no medications and is painless. It offers many improvements over drug therapies. Patients undergo a laser treatment with carbon dioxide laser energy to the vaginal wall to promote vaginal mucosal revitalization and a return to pre-menopausal vaginal health.

This minimally invasive, painless treatment is performed in the office and requires no anesthesia. It is

performed in three treatments, each spaced four to six weeks apart.

According to a recent study, all patients experienced positive and immediate results, along with improvement in symptoms.

The MonaLisa Touch treatment is particularly well-suited for patients who cannot, or elect not to, receive estrogen hormone therapy.

“Physicians currently have a limited number of treatment options, and many patients cannot use standard therapies,” Bernstein said.

“That is why I am so excited to be the first to offer this to my patients.”

The treatment is designed to stim-

ulate and promote the regeneration of collagen fibers and the restoration of hydration and elasticity within the vaginal mucosa. The laser energy heat penetrates to a depth that stimulates the synthesis of new collagen, which results in a thickening of the vaginal lining, increasing moisture, elasticity and improving lubrication.

Rejuvia MedSpa is Palm Beach’s premier destination for laser and medical aesthetics. Rejuvia has become a well-recognized name in the field of medical spa treatments in Florida. It has a certified medical staff with a passion for service, quality and innovation. Rejuvia

technicians carefully listen to patients’ concerns and help them create a customized treatment program that will help them achieve the results they desire.

The Women’s Health Institute provides compassionate care for women of all ages. Dr. Bernstein offers a variety of in-office medical procedures for the convenience of her patients.

Learn more by calling the Women’s Health Institute at (561) 7841933 or Rejuvia MedSpa at (561) 798-8818. Both offices are at 10131 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suites 130 and 135, in Wellington.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Rasso Joins Give An Hour Network Licensed mental health counselor Deborah Rasso recently announced that she has joined Give an Hour, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit national network of mental health professionals providing free counseling services to returning troops and their families.

Give an Hour offers services to veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, their family members and anyone connected to the veteran who is suffering a psychological effect related to the veteran’s service.

Rasso has an office in Wellington and is trained to provide counseling to individuals, couples and families.

She also has training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which research has proven to be very successful with veterans.

People interested in receiving services through Give an Hour are encouraged to call (561) 308-4774 or visit www.giveanhour.org to determine availability.

“Currently, we have more than 6,700 licensed mental health professionals on our Give an Hour network,” noted Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president of Give an Hour. “What our veterans and their families and loved ones are

Connor Achieves Membership In Raymond James Executive Council

experiencing as a result of deployments, traumatic brain injuries and other devastating physical injuries, post-traumatic stress and more, can be incomprehensible to the general population.”

The sheer number of people being affected makes it difficult for the overtaxed military healthcare system to provide help to everyone who needs it, Van Dahlen said. “We are so proud that Deborah Rasso has joined our efforts,” she added.

Founded in 2005 by Van Dahlen, Give an Hour is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of military personnel and their loved ones.

Deborah Rasso

Danish Pastry Co. Opens In Mall At Wellington Green

The Danish Pastry Co. is offering a double delight to American customers by opening its new pastry shop in the Mall at Wellington Green, along with its online shopping facility, catering and delivery.

The company uses original Danish dough, which makes it stand out from American-made Danish pastries.

With the implementation of baking and production techniques to prepare authentic Danish pastries, the company is confident of capturing the hearts of Americans. Together with globally popular coffee

brand Illy, Danish Pastry Co. aims to give customers high quality for less money.

“We import the original high-quality Danish pastry dough directly from our expert bakers in Denmark to produce unprecedented real Danish pastries in the USA,” said Philipa Friedrich, owner of Danish Pastry Co. The eatery offers approximately 25 different types of light-as-a-feather pastries with many different fillings, such as custard cream, almond paste, chocolate and cinnamon.

“We bake fresh throughout the

day in the bakery in Hollywood, and now also in our newest location in the Mall at Wellington Green.

Everything is prepared and formed in Denmark by the original pastry recipe, and we keep the daily stock low to guarantee that the pastries you will buy are very fresh — just from the oven,” Friedrich said.

The authentic Danish pastries are made with 27 layers of dough in each one, which make them flaky, light, tender, sweet and buttery.

“We take immense pleasure in satisfying the customers’ needs with a 100 percent guarantee,” she added.

Page 29

Danish Pastry Co.’s staff believe the taste of their assortment of pastries will bring smiles on a daily basis, as they undertake orders for birthday, corporate and individually catered parties. All of the staff members are trained well, both for the baking and as baristas, to guarantee customers the best customized coffee and pastries — just like in Europe.

For more information, stop by Danish Pastry Co.’s shop in the Mall at Wellington Green near City Furniture or visit www.danishpastry co.com.

Wealth Management Specialist Victor T. Connor, branch manager of the Raymond James Financial Services office at 8461 Lake Worth Road, was recently named a member of the 2015 Executive Council.

Executive Council honors are presented only to those financial advisors who have demonstrated an extremely high level of commitment to clients through personal service and professional integrity.

Membership is based on prior fiscal year production. Re-qualification is required annually. This marks the eighth year that Connor has qualified for the recognition. Connor, who joined Raymond James in 2003, has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Raymond James was founded by Robert A. James in 1962 to serve individual investors by examining all aspects of their financial needs while providing sound investment guidance. In an era of industry turmoil, economic turbulence and extreme market volatility, Raymond James has stayed true to its original mission.

For more information, contact Victor T. Connor at (561) 713-1333 or www.connorfinancial.com.

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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SPORTS & RECREATION

January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 33

Annual All-Star Game Shows Off Local Athletes’ Talent

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The 20th annual Palm Beach County All-Star Game was held the evening of Saturday, Jan. 10 at John I. Leonard High School, with the teams divided into North and South, and North routed South 44-7.

The North jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, scoring on the team’s first two possessions, and held the South scoreless in the first half.

The South closed the gap in the second half to 21-7 when Jean Rene (Wellington) caught a 22-yard pass

Receiver/defensive back Jean Rene (Wellington) displays his MVP award after the game.

for the score. Rene made an acrobatic grab, out-jumping two North defenders for the ball to gain the touchdown.

Turnovers plagued the South, as they drove into the North red zone four times, only to come up empty.

The North’s offense could not be stopped, as the team scored another 16 points. The North’s defense is credited with a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a safety.

The game historically had drawn the attention of college coaches from across the nation, giving them an opportunity to evaluate players

while watching them play live, and not via film. NCAA rules now prohibit coaches during the noted “dead-period” from having contact with high school players.

If there is any consolation, the players know that they can use the footage from the game to boost their highlight videos one last time before national signing day.

The coaches and players also use it as an opportunity to train with players from other teams across the county, some having even played against each other during the regular season. Players can showcase their

North linebacker Demarcus Holloway (Royal Palm Beach) succeeds in tackling the South ball carrier.

talent to the fans, record their efforts and have fun while doing it.

To prepare for the game, the players had only one week to practice together, so the play-calling was limited for both sides.

Sixteen senior players from the local area were selected to play. On the South’s roster, from Wellington High School, were receiver/defensive back Jean Rene, quarterback Shannon Patrick, receiver Kyle Branch, center Brandon McNall and kicker Alex Ng; from Palm Beach Central High School was defensive end Luis Peguero, receiver

Larry Dunnan, offensive lineman Jamie Saah and defensive back Carrington Henderson. Representing the North, from Royal Palm Beach High School, were receiver Derrick Python, defensive backs Shamar Jackson and Cody Taylor, linebacker Demarcus Holloway, offensive linemen Frederick Johnson and Kyle Bieber, and kicker Devon Wallace.

Rene earned Most Valuable Player recognition for the South and was honored with an award concluding the contest. Rene had five receptions and is credited with a touchdown.

Luis Peguero (Palm Beach Central), playing defensive end for the South, tries to cut off the North ball carrier.

PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Hosts Annual Duals Wrestling Tournament

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report Last Saturday, Wellington High School hosted a dual championship meet that brought together some of the best grapplers in the state.

Six schools participated in the one-day event: Wellington, Riverdale High School, Bayside High

School, Santaluces High School, John I. Leonard High School and Centennial High School. Seminole Ridge High School participated in the junior varsity tournament.

Wellington faced rival Riverdale in the final meet, and fell to the Raiders 39-30. The Wolverines entered the tournament unbeaten in 10 meets

Wellington 113-pounder Andrew Mitchell pins his Centennial rival.

but suffered their first loss, taking the second-place award.

Wellington is ranked 24th in the state in Class 3A and is the defending District 10-3A champion, plus Palm Beach County and conference champions.

The Wolverines were last year’s region runner-up, achieving the best

finish in the school’s 26-year history.

“Our goal is to defend our conference, district and county championships, but we’ll be tested by Olympic Heights and American Heritage Delray in the county meet,” coach Travis Gray said.

Gray is in his ninth year as the Wolverines’ head coach, and he has

Wellington 195-pound wrestler A.J. Lopez gets his Santaluces opponent in trouble, and earns the fall.

molded a very successful program in Wellington.

Results in final meet vs. Riverdale High School in the championship round: 106 – Jared Abramson (WELL) over Austin Holland (RIVE) (For) 113 – James Monos (RIVE) over See WRESTLING, page 35

Wellington 182-pounder Josue Arce earns the fall against a Santaluces wrestler.

PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

Page 34

January 16 - January 22, 2015

SPORTS & RECREATION

Registration Open For Little League Baseball In Wellington The registration deadline for Wellington’s Spring Little League Baseball is Saturday, Jan. 17. The following age group divisions are offered: ages four and five (beginner t-ball), ages five and six (advanced t-ball), ages seven and eight (coach pitch), ages nine and 10 (minors), ages 11 to 13 (intermediate) and ages 14 to 16 (seniors).

The baseball program will be played under Little League guidelines. Coaches, sponsors and volunteers are needed. The season runs

February 2015 through May 2015, with practices beginning mid-February, and games beginning Feb. 28.

Registration can be completed at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road).

A copy of the child’s birth certificate is required along with two forms of residential identification. Divisions close as they reach capacity. Late registrations will go on a waiting list.

For a complete list of registration dates, visit the Parks & Recreation page at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Wellington Kids Triathlon March 1 Calling all young athletes: get ready to swim, bike and run in the fourth annual Wellington Kids Triathlon. This exciting and challenging endurance event takes place on Sunday, March 1 and begins at the Wellington Aquatics Complex.

The Wellington Kids Triathlon is limited to children born between 2001 and 2011 and is designed as an introduction to a multi-sport endurance event within a safe and positive environment. The top male and female finishers in each age group will receive a trophy, and all participants will receive a medal.

Registration is $35 and includes a T-shirt for each competitor.

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Each age division will complete an age-appropriate running, swimming and biking course.

Participants must register online at www.active.com no later than Monday, Feb. 23. No race day registrations will be accepted. All competitors must be current USA Triathlon members. Registration is limited to the first 250 entries.

The title sponsor for this year’s race is the Wellington Preservation Coalition, and Palm Beach Skate Zone is a silver sponsor. For additional details, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/community/parks-and-recreation/special-events/wellington-kids-triathlon.html.

Author Tami Hoag To Speak At ShowChic’s Shop Talk Jan. 20

Dressage competitors and supporters who have flooded Wellington for the winter show season are invited to take a break from training and competing to celebrate with ShowChic on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The fashionable dressage boutique will be holding its monthly Shop Talk event, and this month will feature grand prix rider and bestselling author Tami Hoag.

The Shop Talk, held on Hoag’s birthday, will serve as a birthday party, as well as an educational event and sneak-peek into Hoag’s newest book.

Hoag is as dedicated to riding as she is to writing. The dressage competitor has had a love for both activities since she was a child, and wrote her first self-published book — Black Pony — at the age of 9. Since then, Hoag has enjoyed numerous rides in the grand prix ring, as well as incredible success for her novels.

Hoag has written more than 35 books, including fifteen New York Times bestsellers. Her newest book, the much-anticipated Cold, Cold Heart, will be placed on the market this month.

At the January Shop Talk at ShowChic’s boutique in Wellington, Hoag will give attendees an insider’s look at this new book, with an entertaining twist. Shop Talk attendees are invited to bring gag-gifts for the birthday girl. The person who brings the most humorous gift will receive a free signed copy of Cold, Cold Heart.

After the Shop Talk discussion with Hoag, the dressage rider/ author will host a book signing. As usual, there will be plenty of time to socialize with fellow dressage riders and browse through ShowChic’s unique merchandise and popular riding apparel at the close of the event.

ShowChic’s Shop Talks have already been a big hit in Wellington this winter. The December Shop Talk, featuring the dressage judging duo Bill Warren and Bill McMullin, was standing room only. Future Shop Talks will include notable guest speakers such as Canadian Olympian Ashley Holzer and Parelli Natural Horsemanship’s founders Pat and Linda Parelli.

Anyone who can’t make the Jan. 20 event can find ShowChic’s mobile boutique — full of top products

Tami Hoag

PHOTO BY JAN COBB

from brands like Pikeur, Cavallo, Arista, Kentucky, Equiline and Eurostar — at the show grounds at the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival.

For more information about ShowChic and Shop Talks, visit www.showchicdressage.com or call (561) 319-2121.

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Rosenberg

Trump Invitational Horse Show

continued from page 27 leaves were weighted down by small, smooth gray river stones sprinkled with purple and gold orchid blooms. The centerpieces were rough-carved dark wooden bowls filled with more stones and orchids.

Every white-draped chair offered a white Rolex-embroidered ball cap.

The field of 35 professional riders featured some of the best in the world: Meredith Michaels-Beer-

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SPORTS & RECREATION baum, Todd Minikus, Margie Engle, Candice King, Lauren Hough, Ian Millar, McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut and Kent Farrington, who’d won both of the previous Trump Invitationals. Thirteen hopeful riders filled the second offering, the $5,000 Low Junior/ Amateur-Owner Speed Class.

The first rider was on course at 1 p.m., ignoring such novel Intracoastal distractions as wave runners, kayaks and flocks of pelicans.

One problematic fence was jump No. 3, an oxer over a liverpool framed by giant champagne bottles.

Many riders had that one down.

Some went for speed right out of the gate. Kent galloped around, finding

impossibly long spots and making them. Two riders went clear but had one time fault.

Some of the big names dropped rails: Todd Minikus had 8 faults; McLain Ward 16; Ian Millar; Candice King and Lauren Hough 4 each — but 13 went clear for the jumpoff, including Gabriela and Callan.

Callan went clear again and finished seventh in 43.10 seconds.

Gabriela had 6 faults and finished eighth. Kent rode second to last and was blazing around when he took the last turn a little too fast, and his horse slipped, almost going down.

They regrouped and continued, but had a rail down over the last fence.

They finished ninth, with four faults but the fastest time of 36.81 seconds.

The last rider was Laura Kraut

Wrestling

Wolverines Take Second

A poolside horse topiary decorates Mar-a-Lago.

continued from page 33 Cameryn Townsend (WELL) (Fall 0:11) 120 – Andrew Mitchell (WELL) over Trey Floyd (RIVE) (Fall 5:56) 126 – Daniel Williamson (RIVE) over Colton Macfarlane (WELL) (Fall 4:57) 132 – Jarrett Chandler (RIVE)

January 16 - January 22, 2015

Page 35

on Cedric, a 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, and they managed a clear round in 39.96 seconds to win the class. The pair have had many success together, including the team gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and numerous grand prix victories.

Other top winners included Darragh Kenny of Ireland on Fantasy, second; Brianne Goutal on Ballade Van Het Indihof, third; Margie Engle on Indigo, fourth; Beezie Madden on Vanilla, fifth; Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman on Flecu, sixth; and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Atlanta 541, 10th.

Three riders went clear in the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Speed Class and returned for the jump-off. All three went clear again, and Sophie Simpson on Woopy 14

won with the fastest time of 57.004 seconds. Addison Geirkink rode Tiffany to a second-place 58.369 seconds finish, and Joyce Green on Cassidy came in third at 63.919 seconds. This was the 17-year-old Simpson’s first time at the Trump Invitational. She had also participated in the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session presented by the USHJA in Wellington the previous week.

The temperature had climbed to the high 80s as I headed back to the shuttle bus, wearing my white Rolex hat, sated, satisfied and looking forward to coming back again next year. Truly, the Trump Invitational is a show like no other.

For more about the show, visit www.equestriansport.com.

over Bailey Laster (WELL) (Dec 8-3) 138 – Hunter Weeks (RIVE) over Quentin McCauley (WELL) (Fall 1:50) 145 – Rolando Torres (RIVE) over Michael James (WELL) (Dec 4-2) 152 – Christian Goss (WELL) over Tredon Dunn (RIVE) (Dec 11-8) 160 – Gage Shield (RIVE) over Eric Saber (WELL) (MD 11-0) 170 – Elroy Taylor (WELL) over

Gilmark Vasquez (RIVE) (SV-13-1) 182 – Josue Arce (WELL) over (RIVE) (For) 195 – A.J. Lopez (WELL) over Damion Garcia (RIVE) (Fall 1:29) 220 – Jessy Pryor (RIVE) over Ian Posada (WELL) (Fall 1:16) 285 – Cole Schneider (RIVE) over Anthony Pata (WELL) (Fall 1:13) (Riverdale misconduct- 1.00).

The Wolverines will travel to Gateway High School on Jan. 1617 for a meet, then host Cardinal Newman on Jan. 20 in a dual meet.

Page 36

January 16 - January 22, 2015

Saturday, Jan. 17 • The 103rd annual South Florida Fair continues through Sunday, Feb. 1. The fair’s theme is “Las Vegas Exposition: A Jackpot of Memories.”

For more info., call (561) 793-0333 or visit www. southfloridafair.com.

• The Audubon Society of the Everglades will host Behind the Scenes at Grassy Waters (8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach) on Saturday, Jan 17 at 8 a.m. Visit www.auduboneverglades. org for more info.

• The Wellington Green Market will take place Saturday, Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wellington Municipal Complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 283-5856 for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Presidents and Their First Ladies Dramatically Speaking: Jerry and Betty Ford for adults Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m. featuring William and Sue Wills. Call (561) 7906030 to pre-register or visit www.pbclibrary.org/ presidents-2015.

• The Palm Beach Zoo (1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Story Time at the Zoo: Mañana, Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Story Time at the Zoo encourages children to connect with wildlife through reading and is included in the cost of zoo admission. For more info., visit www. palmbeachzoo.org.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Treasure Tales for ages 2 to 6 on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. Is the pirate life for you? If so, join in for fun stories, songs and a craft featuring pirate pals. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present The OkeeDokee Brothers: Adventure Songs for families Saturday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m.

Adventure Songs makes room for kids to dance, for parents to share stories, and for everyone to gain respect for nature, each other and the world we live in. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www. kravis.org for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host RPB Teen Xpressions for ages 12 to 17 on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m.

Here is your chance to share your original poems, writings, art work, etc. with a group of your peers.

Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Lego Master Builders Club for ages 6 to 12 on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Work on your own Lego projects or join in a game that will test Lego building speed and skills. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host 1-2-3 Salsa for adults Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. Learn Salsa’s basic steps. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Teen Wii U Gaming for ages 12 to 17 on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m.

Meet your friends at the library for an afternoon

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of Wii gaming fun on the new Wii U. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor Sisterhood Jewish Film Night Series will host a screening of Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, a 2009 documentary film by Aviva Kempner on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Square at Golf Center (3475 Woolbright Road, Suite 19, Boynton Beach). The cost is $10 per member and $12 per guest, which includes refreshments following the film.

Call (561) 968-0688 for more info.

Sunday, Jan. 18 • The Audubon Society of the Everglades will host a “Photographers’ Special” at Stormwater Treatment Area 1E on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 7 a.m.

Contact Linda (561) 742-7791 or asetripinfo@ gmail.com to register.

• The International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Avenue South, Wellington) will continue the 2015 polo season on Sunday, Jan. 18 with the 20-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup. For more info., visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call (561) 204-5687.

• The Royal Palm Beach Green Market & Bazaar will take place Sunday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. For more info., visit www.rpbgreenmarket. com or call (561) 792-9260.

• The Acreage Green Market will take place Sunday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Acreage Community Park (6701 140th Ave. North). For more info., visit www.acreagegreenmarket.com or call (561) 723-3898.

Monday, Jan. 19 • Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and the Village of Royal Palm Beach will present the 13th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). The program will feature a wide variety of performances from local talent.

The keynote speaker will be Eric Gordon of the Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club. A continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

The program will start at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more info., call Elet Cyris at (561) 791-9087.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present the Budapest Festival Orchestra with Conductor Iván Fischer on Monday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis. org for more info.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 • Wellington’s Community Services Department will host a free 3-on-3 Basketball League from Tuesday, Jan. 20 through Thursday, Jan. 29.

All games will be played Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club (1080 Wellington Trace) from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Participation is free. Call (561) 791-4764 for more info.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present the StepCrew Celtic performing group

Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host and Adult Book Discussion on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 2:15 p.m. Barbara Harnick will discuss the novel Enemies, A Love Story by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Snow Day for ages 3 to 5 on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. Snow days in Florida are rare, so enjoy stories, songs and a craft that encompass a winter wonderland. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• Kretzer Piano Music Foundation will present the Kretzer Kids in Concert on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace (700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach). For more info., call (561) 748-0036 or e-mail kkretzer@kretzerpiano.com.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present the Budapest Festival Orchestra with conductor Iván Fischer, violinist Pinchas Zukerman, soprano Anna Lucia Richter, mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj and the Pro Musica Girls Choir on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

Wednesday, Jan. 21 • Women Of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment will open at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre (415 Clematis St., West Palm Beach) on Wednesday, Jan. 21 highlighting 11 award-winning female photojournalists. Call (561) 253-2600 or e-mail fatima@ fotofusion.org for more info.

• The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wanderers Club featuring bestselling author and motivational speaker Michael Solomon. Visit www.wellingtonchamber.com to RSVP. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Acreage Explorers’ Club: Egypt for ages 6 to 12 on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. Interactive activities will explore the people, places, art, history and more of Egypt. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Hooked on Crochet for adults Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. Learn beginning techniques or bring current projects to share and work on. Beginners should pick up a materials list. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will present the State of the Garden Address on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Director Allen Sistrunk will give a presentation of the garden’s master plan and exciting future developments. There is no charge.

For more info., call (561) 233-1757 or visit www. mounts.org.

• Shulamit Hadassah will present God, Israel & the Heart: A Tu B’Shevat Seder on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the community room at Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Station #30

The Town-Crier (9910 Stribling Way, Wellington). RSVP to Helene at (561) 512-3172 or e-mail coolmama18@ hotmail.com.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present ABBA: The Concert on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www. kravis.org for more info.

Thursday, Jan. 22 • The Johns Hopkins Medicine annual Women’s Health Conference will take place on Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center (650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The one-day conference offers eight informative seminars.

Call (410) 955-8660 or visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org/awomansjourney for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Snowflakes in Florida?” for ages 7 to 10 on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 3:30 p.m. Come on in and make your very own stained glass snowflakes and bring a little “winter” to your home. Materials will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host food trucks and a free concert on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Food trucks will be on hand starting at 5 p.m., and the Spitfire Band will play at 6:30 p.m. Call (561) 753-2484 for more info.

• The Wellington Chamber will host its Small Business Roundtable Series on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Wanderers Club (1900 Aero Club Drive, Wellington). Visit www.wellingtonchamber.com to register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Acting Up for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Come hungry for drama, laughs, pizza and theater games. Call (561) 6814100 to pre-register.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Broadway’s Next H!T Musical on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 22-23 at 7:30 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

Friday, Jan. 23 • The Flamingo Clay Studio will host an open house Friday through Monday, Jan. 23-26 at the its new studio, located at 216 South F Street, in Lake Worth. For info., call Joyce Brown at (215) 205-9441 or joyce@flamingoclaystudio.org.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Zap Mama & Antibalas on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. Congo-born artist Zap Mama and Brooklyn-based Antibalas come together to celebrate the evolution of Afro music. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

• The Wellington Amphitheater will host a free screening of The Book of Life on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Call (561) 753-2484 or visit www. wellingtonfl.gov for more info.

Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414 or e-mail news@gotowncrier.com.

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT

A/C AND REFRIGERATION

PLUMBING

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

JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured. CFC1426242. 561-601-6458

CLEANING - HOME/OFFICE

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 & painti n g c o n t r a c t o r. L i c . # U 2 1 5 5 2 C a l l Butch at 309-6975 or visit us at www. jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

DRIVERS: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus!

— Great pay! Consistent Freight, Great Miles on this Regional Account.

Werner Enterprises: 1-855-517-2488

ROOFING

P.T. TEACHING ASSISTANT for Preschool in Wellington — 1:30-6:00 Monday - Friday. F.T. TEACHING ASSISTANT needed 9-5 Monday-Friday Call 561-790-0808

WE CLEAN OFFICES & PRIVATE HOMES — Licensed & Insured. Call for an estimate and to schedule your apartment. Discount for Central Palm Beach County Chamber members and to all new clients for first cleaning. 561-385-8243 Lic. #2012-252779

COMPUTER REPAIR D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-333-1923 Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach. We accept major credit cards.

DRIVEWAY REPAIR D R I V E W AY S — F r e e e s t i m a t e s A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed.

L i c.& Ins. 1 0 0 0 4 5 0 6 2 5 61-667-7716

ERRANDS PICKUP GROCERIES HOME AND PET SUPPLIES — Kitchen organizing wait for appointments in your home, etc.

References available. 561-707-2834

FLOORING C O M P L E T E F L O O R I N G R E M O VA L ! B E S T R AT E S ! A L L T Y P E S O F FLOORS! — Your local flooring store and more. www.buyithereflooring.com 561-333-2306 buyithere7@gmail.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS 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 CRC1327426 561-248-8528

LAWN SERVICE YELLOWHAMMER LAWN SERVICE — High Quality, affordable yard maintenance serving the Loxahatchee area. NO CONTRACTS!.

Locally Owned & Operated. 561-320-1118

NEW FLOORING BUY IT HERE FLOORING — Kitchen and Bath. Now available. Complete one stop shopping. Stop on By! Pike Road - Between Southern and Belvedere. West Palm Beach - Open 7 Days!!! 561-333-2300

PAINTING 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 ourwebsite at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com 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

PET SITTING BEST IN THE WEST PET SITTING — your house or mine in 1 1/2 acres. Fenced in yard. Day, Week, Monthly. Former Animal C r u e l t y O ff i c e r. 5 6 1 - 2 1 5 - 4 7 2 4

PRESSURE CLEANING

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 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC-0067207

SECURITY SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years.

Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600

SCREENING JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com

BOOKKEEPER NEEDED — part-time, experienced in QuickBooks, flexible hours.

Please fax resume to 561-791-0952 HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER IN WELLINGTON — Now hiring certified teachers.$10-$15/hour. Call 561-594-1920 E-mail: MarleneGiraud@hlcwellington.com

HELP WANTED PART-TIME KENNEL HELP — Saturday thru Monday mornings. Experienced preferred. Call 561-791-1234 and leave a message.

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT CAREGIVER/COMPANION — run errands, shopping, prepare light meals, transportation, responsible and reliable 25 years experience, have references. Call Judy 561-374-4230

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT - GREENACRES ROOMMATE TO SHARE — 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment - Purdy & Jog Road. $550 per month.

Looking for under 35 years old. 954-296-3748

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

TENNESSEE LAND FOR SALE

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

TENNESSEE LAND — 12 Acres for sale in Equestrian neighborhood with 3 miles of riding trails. Call Dixon Te a m K e l l e r W i l l i a m s 4 2 3 - 8 8 3 - 0 6 5 6

TIRES/AUTO REPAIRS TIRES/AUTO REPAIRS— Located behind Al Packer West off Southern Blvd. Tires for autos, trucks and commercial vehicles. 561-790-7228.

587 105 Ave. N. Unit 28, Royal Palm Beach.

TREE SERVICE TREES TRIMMED AND REMOVED — 561-798-0412 D.M. YOUNG TREE SERVICE. Family Owned & Operated Lic. & Insured 1992-12121 Visit our website at dmyoungtreeservice.com

WALLPAPERING 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

WATER TREATMENT NEED A NEW WATER SYSTEM! — Let us come out and give you an estimate. Call Mike 561-792-5400

TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CALL 561-793-7606

OFFICE/WAREHOUSE SPACE IDEAL FOR SUBCONTRACTOR FRONTAGE ON BELVEDERE — LOCATED IN THE WELL-KEPT BELVEDERE WEST INDUSTRIAL PARK UNIT 102 IS IN MINT CONDITION. — This unit consists of 1300 sf on the first floor with a glass store front entry and restroom, plus 400 sf mezzanine,. One10 X 12 ft roll-up door and 22 ft ceiling height. The unit has 420 sf of office space that is fully-air Conditioned. Three parking spaces included.

Electric,120/208 V, 3 phase, 225A. The business park is fenced, gated, lighted, with fire and access alarm security for al-l tenants and each unit. Belvedere Road is heavily traveled by 45,000 cars per day. Zoned Industrial Light.

Located just 1/2 mile from Florida’s Turnpike on Stinson Way, between Benoist Farms Road and Sandsbury Way. For More information please call Pat at 561-714-1023

January 16 - January 22, 2015

PALMS WESTTHIS WEEK’S

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WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

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HERE’S MY CARD

561-308-4774 www.deborahrassocounseling.com

Lic & Insured CFC057392, CAC1817688

SEPTIC & DRAINFIELD SPECIALISTS

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

H E R E ’ S M Y CA R D

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Page 40 January 16 - January 22, 2015

PALMS WESTTHIS WEEK’S

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WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

New Location!

New Showroom!

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE!

561-333-2306 TOLL FREE: 855-808-8555

WE DO NOT SELL CHEAP FLOORING CHEAPER

WE SELL THE BEST FOR LESS! 766 Pike Road • West Palm Beach, FL 33411 (Between Southern Blvd. & Belvedere)

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

SIX great schools educating students in Palm Beach!

Why Choose Charter Schools USA? • Tuition-free public charter schools • Personal Learning Plans • Before and after care • Character education and leadership • Meaningful parental involvement • Certified, dedicated teachers

APPLY ONLINE TODAY!

Renaissance Charter School at Wellington Renaissance Charter School at Cypress Renaissance Charter School at Central Palm Renaissance Charter School at West Palm Renaissance Charter School at Palms West Renaissance Charter School at Summit

K-7 K-7 K-7 K-8 K-8 K-8

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WellingtonCharter.org CypressCharter.org CentralPalmCharter.org WestPalmCharter.org PalmsWestCharter.org RECSSummit.org

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January 16 - January 22, 2015

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