Town-Crier Newspaper January 23, 2009

ROYALTY

Saturday,

16 Hopefuls Want Vacant Wellington Council Seat

By Ron Bukley

Town-Crier Staff Report

A former Wellington department head, a full complement of lawyers and a long list of community activists make up the 16 applicants seeking a vacant seat on the Wellington Village Council.

Former councilman Bob Margolis resigned from the council this month as a requirement of his unsuccessful candidacy for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections last year.

Florida Fair took place last Saturday, Jan. 18. About 300 happily raucous fans showed up at the horse tent at the South Florida Fairgrounds on that cool and breezy day to support their favorites. Page 18

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When Will The National Economy Recover?

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Cast your vote by visiting www.goTownCrier.com and scrolling down to the poll question at the bottom left of the page.

Last week, the council set a Jan. 20 deadline for applicants wishing to replace Margolis. The remaining four council members are scheduled to discuss the one-year appointment at their meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Longtime Wellington resident Ken Roundtree, who is currently director of operations for the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, is among the applicants.

Roundtree was Wellington’s public works director from 1992 to 2004. After leaving village employment, Roundtree, who has a bachelor’s degree in forestry, volunteered to serve on the village’s Tree Board, where he is still a member. This is his first try for a council seat.

“I’ve been contemplating it for a while,” Roundtree said. “I flirted with running the last time they held a municipal election, but the timing wasn’t right in my personal life. This situation arose, I gave it some hard thought, and I went ahead and decided to put my hat in the ring. I have been working in public

service my whole professional life, and this is the next step in public service. I think I have a lot to offer the village, the council and the people.”

Roundtree began working for the Acme Improvement District, Wellington’s pre-incorporation government, in 1987 as its parks supervisor and was with Acme and Wellington for almost 18 years. “I went through the whole process of Wellington becoming a municipality,” he recalled.

Besides serving his community, Roundtree said he has no agenda. “I fully understand how the village operates,” he said. “I think I can offer that to the council and the public with my background.”

Roundtree said he considers his work with the village his most significant accomplishment, as he helped write ordinances that govern landscaping, created the Tree Board and helped Wellington earn its Tree City U.S.A. designation. “One of my greatest joys is working with people,” he said. “When I was the [public works] director, I did the training of all the people who worked under me in building a good department.”

Roundtree said the village’s three major issues in the year at hand are the resolution of the Palm Beach Community College/K-Park question, the construction of a municipal complex and maintaining a balanced budget in hard economic times.

Attorney Howard Coates, who narrowly lost an election to Councilman Matt Willhite last year, said the council will be familiar with his own po-

sitions and those of fellow applicants Dr. Fred Van Dusen and Timothy Shields, who also ran in last year’s council race against Willhite.

“At least the decision would be made with some understanding of what we stand for,” Coates said.

Coates added that his message is unchanged from last year’s campaign, that he would bring an independent voice to the council, free of special interests.

Because of his work as a mediator, Coates said he would be a consensus builder good at hearing all sides of an argument and finding solutions.

“I’ve been doing that for 25 years now, and I have had some contentious clients,” Coates said. “I’m someone who can lower the temperatures among council members.”

As for the PBCC question, Coates said he favors some sort of educational institution, but would like to see some provision for four-year programs, and that the college has not offered clear assurances on that point.

Allowing a campus would eliminate the village’s cost of upkeep on the property while providing the benefit of additional jobs and opportunities for village residents, Coates said. “I am a very big believer in education,” he said. “That’s the message to send to youth, that the path to success is education for a great majority of people.”

Coates said he also sees the proposal of an inland port in Belle Glade, which he said

See APPLICANTS, page 2

Wellington Activist To Lead Corruption Investigations For New State Attorney

By Mark Lioi Town-Crier Staff Report

A Wellington resident will be leading the state’s effort against government corruption in Palm Beach County.

Prosecutor Alan Johnson was named Wednesday by State Attorney Michael McAuliffe to be the principal public integrity prosecutor for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County.

Johnson is perhaps better known to Wellington residents as a longtime member of the village’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board, which advises the Wellington Village Council on development applications.

The new position of senior counsel for public integrity is part of a restructuring effort in the State Attorney’s Office by McAuliffe, who was elected to the post in November.

Johnson, who has served as a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office for 16 years, told the Town-Crier on Thursday that he is humbled to have been selected for the job. “I’ve been asked to spearhead this effort, and I’m incredibly proud and honored that I’ve been picked,” he said.

Prior to this appointment, Johnson served the office as its chief assistant state attorney. “This was a more supervisory role, but I’ve always been a trial attorney,” he said.

“Now I’m getting back to rolling up my sleeves and putting cases together.”

McAuliffe said he selected Johnson because placing such an experienced prosecutor in the role demonstrates his office’s commitment to the anti-corruption effort.

“I’ve known Al for several years,” he told the Town-Crier. “He has served this office at the highest levels, and he has experience in complex cases involving long-term investigations.”

McAuliffe said he would supplement Johnson with additional prosecutors and staff when his budget permits. “The first step is to have a senior experienced prosecutor committed full-time to this endeavor,” he said.

Palm Beach County has been rocked by a series of federal prosecutions of elected officials for corruption, most recently that of Mary McCarty, the third Palm Beach County Commission member to face prison time. McAuliffe explained that his office’s anti-corruption efforts would bolster the public’s faith in the integrity of their officials at a time when the image of local government has taken a beating. One of the features of the new effort will be a corruption hotline where people can give his office anonymous tips.

“I think to have a climate of accountability and of confidence in our government, that our community needs to know there’s a system in place that they can have confidence in,” he said. Johnson agreed. “It’s not fluff,” he said. “This is serious business. We are going to have a presence, and the result will be more confidence in our public servants.”

McAuliffe said that while federal prosecutors have conducted investigations of highprofile local officials, his own office would take a more multidimensional role in the community. “I want to demonstrate a commitment to this area of enforcement in taking a leadership role,” he said, “and also the educational role that the State Attorney’s Office can play in raising the awareness of public officials, elected and appointed, as to what the rules of the road are. We are in a unique position in this community.” Johnson noted that McAu-

See JOHNSON, page 3

Santamaria: Corruption Crackdown Long Overdue

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

County Commissioner

Jess Santamaria called this week for more action in reducing corruption among public and business officials.

Corruption became the focus of Santamaria’s monthly community forum Wednesday after his colleague Mary McCarty became the third member of the Palm Beach County Commission to face prosecution on corruption charges in recent years.

Santamaria’s forum at the original Wellington Mall gathered several public officials, who offered their own perspectives on corruption. Santamaria, who condemned the influence of special interests in politics during his own campaign for office two years ago, noted that corruption is not simply restricted to government officials, but that business interests often play a role.

Santamaria urged state leg-

See FORUM, page 18

Obama Gives New Meaning To MLK Day In RPB

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The imminent inauguration of President Barack Obama permeated festivities at the Seventh Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday in Royal Palm Beach. Each year, the CaribbeanAmericans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and the Village of Royal Palm Beach celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a public commemoration at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center featuring speakers and entertainment.

Obama’s presidency figured heavily in addresses from the event’s speakers, including opening invocations from Bishop Reginald

Brown of the New Genesis Christian Center and Rabbi Bertram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion.

“The Rev. Dr. King imagined a future of dignity and recognition for all people,” Kieffer said. “With a new president comes great hope.

We ask you to bless everyone from Montana to Montauk Point, from Rochester and even to Royal Palm Beach.”

Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Fred Pinto noted that the presidential inauguration was only the latest in a series of historical moments that include King’s legacy.

“We are all part of history that’s being made in this wonderful country of ours,” he said. “We should pass that on

from generation to generation to come. We also should feel a sense of pride.” Pinto said that King too would feel a strong sense of pride in the conduct and outcome of the presidential election if he were alive today.

“This election was all about the issues, and the challenges in front of this country, and the content and character of all the candidates of this election,” he said. “They were not concerned about the color of his skin. We are truly a great nation. It’s not about being a Republican; it’s not about being a Democrat; it’s about being an American, and getting this country on the right track, and the right direction, and solving the seri-

hosted its annual regal competition on

Jan. 17. The Miss South Florida Fair Scholarship Pageant was won by 19-year-old Palm Beach Community College sophomore Cassie Stafford. First runner-up was Courtney McKenzie of Florida International University and second runner-up was Nicole Vega of

Eddy Lagroue plays the guitar at Monday’s King Celebration in Royal Palm Beach.

Alan Johnson

Applicants 16 Want The Seat

continued from page 1

would profoundly affect Wellington, as another issue for the village to face.

“The inland port will create jobs, but not everyone will be in Belle Glade,” Coates said. “There will be an impact on the housing market with employees relocating and finding suitable housing in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves.”

Coates would like to see more job opportunities in Wellington. “We’ve already developed to the point where we’re more than a bedroom community,” he said. “Business and professional services are already out here, but I would like to see more jobs where people don’t have to go outside the village.”

Applicant Melissa Fritsch, who describes herself as a mother and a volunteer, said she would like to serve on the council because she wants to maintain the quality of life in the village.

“I have a lot of involvement in the community,” Fritsch said. “We moved here four and a half years ago. I have three small children. The youngest is seven, so we plan on being here a long time.”

Fritsch, who serves on the Wellington Education Committee, said she wants to make sure Wellington retains its family environment and remains a well-kept community with good access to quality programs for her family and others.

Fritsch said her qualifications for council service include a well-rounded background. After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from Florida State University, Fritsch worked at different levels of government before leaving public service to devote her time to parenting. Her most recent employment was in the budget department for Sarasota County from 1996 to 2001.

Fritsch said she now does volunteer work, where she usually finds herself in positions of leadership. “I have been an advocate before various levels of government on behalf of program funding, trying to save legislation to improve the safety of our children, programs that benefit women and children and families,” she said. “I think with that experience, I would be a good member of the council. That’s not to say I don’t have a lot to learn.”

She lists her greatest accomplishments as her three children, 14 years of marriage and her position as chair of the Junior League of Florida representing 15,000 league members across the state.

Fritsch said the most important issue in Wellington now is adhering to the vision laid out in the village’s Economic Development Initiative so it can remain economically viable. She also wants to maintain the equestrian community. “They are the backbone of our economic success,” she said.

been a Wellington resident since 1988.

“I’ve been a part of Wellington as it’s grown, and I want to try to see that it continues in a fashion that it was designed for,” he said, “so that it doesn’t grow out of proportion and it does not become very commercialized, and keeps the tone of the equestrian environment alive in Wellington.”

Marinelli served seven years on the board of directors of the Wellington Boys & Girls Club, until 2004, and was also a member of a temporary village advisory board called the Intergovernmental & Transportation Subcommittee, but said he considers his work as an attorney since 1982 his most significant accomplishment.

Marinelli has been married 30 years and has three children ages 26, 24 and 19, who all attended Wellington public schools. “I’m pretty stable to say the least,” he said. Applicant Peter Inniss, an information technology professional, is a member of the Wellington Education Committee. The father three children ages 12, 17 and 14, Inniss said he can share his experience and ideas on the council in order to make Wellington a better place, especially to improve the sense of community by opening lines of communication between the residents and the council.

Inniss said his two years on the Education Committee and work as a soccer coach have given him experience that will serve him well if he is appointed to the council. He said he has gained the trust of residents and possesses people skills that enable him to communicate at different levels. “I’m also one of those people who like to see that things get done,” Inniss said. “I’m more about action than talk. I find that all too often we talk too much rather than do.” Inniss considers the village’s top issue to be the KPark question, especially the matter of putting it to its highest and best use and seeing that it is beneficial to all.

Inniss said he wants to work more closely with schools to better prepare youth to be future leaders of the village. A regular attendee of horse shows and polo games, he said he is also interested in retaining the equestrian character of the village.

Applicant Linda Polish, who teaches autistic pre-K children, said she considers herself a strong but compassionate person. “What this village needs is strong people to actually help with what’s going on here,” she said. “We need to do our best to stop problems in the village with children who shouldn’t be walking the streets. I don’t know much about politics, but I feel I am a strong person because of my work with children.” Polish said her temperament would make her an effective council member. “Some of the people can be very angry,” said. “I can be patient to work with them on their problems.”

Real estate attorney Michael Posner gained an appointment to the village’s Code Enforcement Board as soon as he moved to Wellington in 2001 and served until the board disbanded several years ago. Afterward he continued deciding code violation cases as a special magistrate. “I did not realize it was a paid position, but I would do it whether it were paid or not,” he said.

Polish said she considers her most significant accomplishments to be attaining a master’s degree in teaching pre-K through primary age children and seeing the daily progress of the autistic children she teaches. “I love these type of children; most are children who can learn,” she said.

Posner said his experience as an attorney would make him a positive force on the council. As a real estate lawyer, he said he could offer valuable input on the sale or contribution of land for the PBCC campus as well as with foreclosure problems and absentee landlords. He said the campus issue is being rushed and a feasibility study is needed to see what the village is going to get.

Posner said one of his goals would be to create a forum in which homeowners’ associations would meet with council members.

Posner said he sees keeping the budget balanced in the face of declining tax revenue as a major challenge for the council. “The village has feasted too many years,” he said. “There will be tough times ahead.” John Marinelli, another attorney seeking the seat, has

Respiratory therapist Glenna Shortridge said she considers serving on the council an excellent opportunity to give back to the community. She said she bought a fixerupper home in Wellington in 1989 that she restored to prime condition, which has given her a thorough knowledge of renovation, village codes and permits. “I know the community well, and I would like to be an active member in the process,” said Shortridge, who does volunteer work with the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association. Shortridge considers the top issues for the community to be family, family values and maintaining a quality community for children and the elderly.

Other applicants seeking the council seat are Morley Alperstein, Laurene Capone, Donald Dufresne, Christine Giles-Lefkowitz, Lisa McDermott Perez, Timothy Shields, Wismick St. Jean and Dr. Fred Van Dusen.

Wellington May Allow Golf Carts On Equestrian Area Roads

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington is considering allowing golf carts on roads in its Equestrian Preserve Area and put the idea forward to members of its Equestrian Committee last week.

Golf carts are frequently used in Wellington’s equestrian areas, particularly by people getting to, from or around the show grounds during the winter show season.

According to Committee Chairman Don Dufresne, the village began exploring the possibility of allowing the carts after hearing from cart drivers who had received traffic tickets.

At the committee’s Jan. 14

Johnson Corruption Prosecutor

continued from page 1 liffe made public integrity a cornerstone of his election campaign, and that he is now following through.

“We have no agenda except to be a watchdog for the community, and by that I mean we have had a problem in Palm Beach County not only with actual corruption by individuals, but the public perception that it’s the way we do business in Palm

meeting, attorney Mike Rodriguez of Greenspoon Marder told committee members he had looked into state laws and the laws of various municipalities regarding golf cart use, as Florida laws allow local governments to approve golf carts on municipal public roads, but the communities must designate which roads.

Approaches to golf cart use vary in the areas that allow them. Rodriguez said that while the compact and insular City of Atlantis allows the carts on its streets on a general basis, other municipalities and private developments restrict them to a few particular streets, regulate the type of carts that may be used, restrict their operating hours to

Beach County,” Johnson said. “People need to know that they’re being protected, and this will be a very visible arm of the State Attorney’s Office.”

The 57-year-old Johnson attended Columbia College and graduated from the Georgetown Law Center in 1976.

But after graduation, rather than pursue a career in law, he ran his own record label and music publishing business in Washington, D.C. for 16 years, as well as writing and performing his own material, which he described as “mostly comedy and satirical

daytime or allow them only on streets with a particularly low speed limit.

Committee Member John Wash said his own experience gave him reservations about the idea of allowing the carts in Wellington.

“I am trying to think this thing through coming from a golf course community,” said Wash, general manager of the International Polo Club. “I come from a golf course community. It’s another toy for the kids to have… They cause a whole bunch of other issues and problems for the private property owner. I don’t know. I think it’s opening up a can of worms.”

Committee Member Dr. Scott Swerdlin said he thought it was a great idea,

material, kind of a cross be-

tween the Smothers Brothers, Tom Lehrer and the Capitol Steps.”

“I may have stayed in the business for a while, but sometimes when you finish your education, you want to make a stab at what you enjoy doing,” he said.

But Johnson said he moved to Florida with a desire to get his legal career going, and got a job as a county court prosecutor under longtime state attorney Barry Krischer in 1993. “When I came to Florida I interviewed around, and Barry Krischer offered me a

but care should be taken in implementing it.

“We have irresponsible 18year-olds and irresponsible adults,” he said. “I don’t think we can put an age limit on people who won’t do the right thing. I think we need to look at Pierson Road. I would love to see golf carts have access to the show grounds on Pierson Road and the Equestrian Preserve Area.”

Committee Member Mary Martin said that allowing golf carts should be done cautiously, considering the numbers of autos, scooters, horses and trailers also in the area during the show season.

“As much as I love my golf cart, and I love the concept, when you start getting

job, and I started on the ground floor,” he recalled.

Since then, Johnson said, he has gained experience in every field of activity in the State Attorney’s Office. “I’ve prosecuted everything from DUIs to first-degree deathpenalty cases,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate in my career to have tasted every different aspect of being a prosecutor. It has been very rewarding.”

In the meantime Johnson has served on Wellington’s PZA Board since 2000, as an alternate member, full member, vice chairman and chairman. Previously an appoin-

into those areas that are highly concentrated with show activity, it’s a problem,” she said. “You would have to dedicate certain places for golf carts only. I don’t want to mix golf carts and trailers.”

During public comment, Cynthia Gardner said that allowing golf carts on the roads might work as a traffic-calming measure.

The committee also debated whether golf carts should be allowed on the village’s equestrian trails, many of which run parallel to roads.

“I think it would be a very bad idea for them to be on the bridle paths,” Committee Vice Chair Mike Whitlow said. “I think it’s a very bad idea. I think it’s much better to keep the bridle paths open for horses and not for multiuse vehicles. You will then have scooters, ATVs and everything else. It will tear up the footing.”

After further discussion, committee members directed Rodriguez to do more research and come back with more particulars.

“The traffic is too fast in the Equestrian Preserve Area,” she said. A lot of people won’t ride on the bridle paths on the main roadways because the traffic is too fast. If we started to designate these areas for golf carts and horses and ATVs and various things, and really make it known, and have speed limits in accordance with all that, all of that could work together.”

tee of former mayor Tom Wenham, he is currently an alternate member again.

Johnson said his new role as senior counsel for public integrity wouldn’t interfere with continued service to the village, and he said he’ll be around “as long as they want me.”

“I’ve been through a lot of the issues,” Johnson said of the experience he brings to his village service. “It’s important to have that kind of institutional memory on an advisory board like that.”

Besides the PZA Board, Johnson also sits on the board of Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach, and as a member of the Florida Bar served two stints on the Bar Grievance Committee, from 2000 to 2003 and 2007 to the present. In the years between, he sat on the state’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee.

But Johnson said he finds great satisfaction in giving back to the community, and relishes the role of a watchdog. “I’m a public kind of person,” he said. “I enjoy what I do. I have a concern for the people I love and the people in my community.”

OUR OPINION

Contested Municipal Elections Best Serve The People

Filing for the Tuesday, March 10 municipal elections will be underway next week in Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves. Anyone wishing to win one of the two seats available on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council has from noon on Jan. 27 to noon on Feb. 10 to qualify. In Loxahatchee Groves, the filing period is a week shorter; those hoping to qualify have until noon on Feb. 3. Now is the time for challengers to emerge and exercise their right to participate in a contested democratic election. But if the past is any indicator, there won’t be much of a contest.

Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Fred Pinto and Councilwoman Martha Webster are each up for re-election this year. So far, neither faces a challenger. Last year, when Webster was first elected to the council, we argued in her favor largely because of her (then) perception as an outsider, someone who would bring an opposing point of view to the council. We hoped she would stick to her beliefs without being obstructionist. One year later, she has proven us correct. Unfortunately, now that there are two seats up for election, there is no one following in Webster’s footsteps. While this may bode well for the village council — they must be doing something right to have no opposition — it does not make for a healthy democracy.

In Loxahatchee Groves, where tension between the town and the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District are a cause of heated debate in the community, one would think the prospective candidates would be lining up at the town’s doorstep. That may well be the case come next week. But so far, the only potential candi-

Come Meet

The Council

Hopefuls

The Wellington Equestrian Alliance and the International Polo Club Palm Beach are sponsoring a reception for the candidates who have applied to fill the vacancy on the Wellington Village Council. The event is open to the public and will be held at the International Polo Club on Monday, Jan. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. The candidate who will fill this vacancy will be appointed by a vote of the mayor and the three remaining council members: Mayor Darell Bowen, Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto, Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore and Councilman Matt Willhite. We encourage you to attend the reception and learn about the candidates and, if you select a favorite, then contact the mayor and council members on behalf of that candidate. The council will be discussing the appointment at their meeting the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The appointee who is selected will serve for over a year — until March 2010. The reception provides you an opportunity to participate in the process of selecting the person who will be representing you on the many critical issues that are facing the village this coming year. These issues include budget cuts necessitated by declining revenues, the disposition of the K-Park property, protecting the Equestrian Preserve from urban encroachment, the proposed Economic Development Initiative and preventing deterioration of certain neighborhoods, dealing with

the county on the location of the proposed landfill (currently proposed for the western gateway to the village!), and lobbyist registration requirements, among many other issues.

Dean Turney, Executive Director, Wellington Equestrian Alliance

Solving Golf Course Noise Complaints

The Wellington Village Council last week voted to prolong their consideration of eliminating noise level standards for golf courses. That, in my view, is inconsiderate of ordinary citizens. There is little wrong with the current standards. They are clear, objective and enforceable. They could be strengthened, but they should not be loosened or, specifically for golf courses, effectively eliminated.

The present owners of the two courses that are asking to be relieved from noise restrictions were, or should have been, completely aware of the Wellington noise ordinance under which they would have to operate. The ordinance was no secret, anymore than tax rates were secret. Good business practice would have taken the ordinances into account.

The owners and even some council members are using weak excuses for exempting golf courses from this ordinance. The claim is made that residents who bought on a golf course should have known that there would be early morning noise. (Not if the residents were aware of the noise ordinance.) The mayor has implied that en-

Exclude the western communities from selecting the location of a county dump site in the area? Not by a damn sight, say virtually the entire elected leadership of the west — from Greenacres to Belle Glade.

That was the message the Western Communities Council sent Wednesday to Palm Beach County, which members complain has systematically kept them locked out of the selection process on the location of a landfill out west.

The council includes representatives from the communities of Greenacres, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee Groves, The Acreage, Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, the Seminole Improvement District, the Cypress Groves Community Development District and the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District. That encompasses the largest geographical area in Palm Beach County, with a population of some 200,000 residents who simply want a seat at the dump selection table.

The original site (bought and paid for) was supposed to border the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge west of Wellington and south of State Road 80. However, the county quickly withdrew that plan after environmentalists raised a ruckus because they claimed the landfill would be too close to the preserve. Now three other sites are under review. They include the Smith property near SR 80 and U.S. Highway 98, north of Southern Blvd.; the Hundley property at County Road 880 and Sugar Mill Road south of Southern Blvd., and on Okeelanta property somewhere near Guam.

But the problem, western leaders say, is not

date to publicly come forward is Ilene Rindom, who hopes to replace Councilman Dave Autrey, who is not running for re-election due to health problems. Incumbent Vice Mayor Marge Herzog plans to run for re-election. If she has any challengers, they have yet to materialize.

Meanwhile, over in Wellington, a total of 16 people are requesting appointment to replace former councilman Bob Margolis, who had to resign his seat effective this month when he ran for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections last November. Among those seeking appointment are some eminently qualified candidates — enough to make this a very difficult decision for the four remaining Wellington Village Council members. That is why we urge them to not act in haste when making this decision. Council members should take time to get to know the council hopefuls, learning the strengths and weaknesses each would bring to the council. While some hope for a quick-decision appointment on Tuesday, Jan. 27, a better course of action would be to come up with a short list of candidates for appointment two weeks later. That would give the four current council members a clearer picture of the frontrunners and enough time to do the necessary diligence.

But for the residents of Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves, they’re the ones who will be making the decisions come March 10 — but only if challengers come forward and file for candidacy. Those interested in running should contact the Royal Palm Beach Village Clerk’s Office at (561) 790-5100 or the Loxahatchee Groves Town Clerk’s Office at (561) 793-2418.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

forcing the ordinance will cause the courses to go out of business and properties will become nothing but weeds. The owners have even gone so far as to claim that the safety of maintenance personnel is paramount. Please!

The solution is far more simple than either the course owners or councilfolk seem to think. The courses can use a combination of quiet machines (which are available) and proper scheduling of maintenance to satisfy both their need to do sufficient maintenance while meeting the requirements of the current noise ordinance.

Phil Sexton Wellington

Disappointed

In The Mayor

Regarding the Town-Crier article “Council Members Raise Concerns About PBCC Plan” (Jan. 9), why is our Mayor Darell Bowen steamrolling the K-Park land giveaway to Palm Beach Community College without restrictions or solutions? He may be assuming the people’s willingness to go along with this boondoggle at any cost.

The person who may have to answer to the Village of Wellington’s populace may well be our short-time mayor. In my opinion, the public has had it with giveaway programs both nationally and locally. We want fiscal responsibility from our leaders, not someone playing Santa Claus.

A referendum might well be a big surprise to you and your future, Mr. Mayor. Or don’t you really want to hear what the people have to say?

By Don Brown

Quite frankly, from your short time in office, you have been a great disappointment to me.

Ruth Keen Wellington

Royal Palm Needs Alarm Ordinance

Last year, I attended a Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting because the council was entertaining the notion of adopting Palm Beach County’s alarm ordinance. After I voiced numerous objections to the alarm ordinance, the village council had the wisdom not to enact such an ordinance. The major problem with the Palm Beach County alarm ordinance is the fact that if a resident does not obtain a permit and pay an “alarm fee” every year, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will not respond to an alarm call at that address (except for 911 calls and robbery/panic, duress and holdup alarms, which require an intentional act by a person on the premises to activate the alarm). [Mayor David Lodwick] found this situation unacceptable and expressed that he would not risk the safety of our residents in such a manner. I heartily agree with the mayor’s sentiments. Several days ago, I was shocked to read PBSO Capt. [Tony] Araujo’s letter in the community news, which stated that the Palm Beach County alarm ordinance is now applicable in Royal Palm Beach (and has been since Oct. 1, 2008). Even though the council expressly refused to adopt Palm Beach County’s alarm ordinance, the alarm ordinance (and the fi-

OPINION

so much about where the landfill will be located, but the county’s apparent reluctance to bring them into the decision-making process. It sounds to me like just another example of the lack of respect the county has always shown the west.

Insiders at various county Solid Waste Authority meetings have told me that the three contestants on this latest county land sweepstakes each have convincing arguments for locating the landfill on their respective properties. How does the county select one over the other? The western communities want to be engaged in the process before a selection is made, rather than being placed in the position of potentially battling the county — or each other — over the one finally chosen. Such a scenario would certainly deflect attention from the county, where the buck actually stops.

Could this latest flap be the beginning of Dumpgate — the next example of our corrupt government at work? It certainly has all the earmarks: a valuable land purchase, landowners jockeying for “most favored” status, perhaps a well-placed campaign contribution here and there, maybe some free trips to the land sites in an expensive SUV or whatever

nancial consequences thereof) will now be forced upon the residents of Royal Palm Beach. Although I have no problem with the county or the village recouping the costs incurred in responding to false alarms, I do not believe the safety of our residents should be jeopardized in the process. My home was burglarized several years ago. Luckily, the perpetrators were apprehended due to the actions of my alarm company, the subsequent law enforcement response and the acts of a good Samaritan. Under the Palm Beach County alarm ordinance, if an unregistered alarm goes off when a criminal is breaking into a Royal Palm Beach residence to inflict harm on the persons inside, the PBSO will not respond to the alarm. That does not make sense. Why not err on the side of caution, common sense and public safety by requiring law enforcement personnel to respond to the alarm? If it turns out to be a false alarm, then the persons responsible for the unnecessary expenditure of law enforcement resources should be held accountable. In these difficult economic times, the last thing the residents of Royal Palm Beach need is to have an unnecessary $25 fee imposed upon them. If the Village of Royal Palm Beach adopts its own alarm ordinance, then the Palm Beach County alarm

other quid pro quo commissioners might wrangle out of the landowners. By now you’ve probably figured out that I’ve come up with an alternative solution. I actually didn’t dream it up all by myself. The county’s Tourist Development Council gave me the seed of the idea, and I merely tweaked it a bit. You may have heard that some TDC members actually believe they can spin Palm Beach County’s growing corruption reputation in a way that would attract more tourists. I think that’s a great idea. But we could also link tourism to our substantial garbage. Here’s how my plan would work: The folks at the PBC Convention & Visitors Bureau keep good track of where our tourists are coming from. These tourism officials spend a lot of time and money telling us about what a great place we have and how much people from up north like to come and visit. On the other hand, our accumulated garbage is filling up our landfills as quickly as tourists fill up our hotel rooms and highways. We’re running out of space to deposit our garbage as evidenced by the latest search for a western dumping ground. Let’s link tourists with garbage. We could require that every tourist visiting Palm Beach County go back home with a prescribed amount of trash. How much? That’s where we analyze where our tourists are coming from. The states whose residents consider Palm Beach County their top choice for a vacation destination have to take back the most trash — or make whatever arrangement they wish so that it leaves here. We could call it a sliding scale tourism trash incentive.

ordinance will not be forced upon its residents. I believe it would be in the best interest of all Royal Palm Beach residents if the village enacts an alarm ordinance patterned after the one that exists in Jupiter. Under such an ordinance, residents would not have to incur the unnecessary expense of a yearly alarm registration fee, and law enforcement would not turn a blind eye to an alarm call. The village could also generate revenue by imposing reasonable fees upon those who incur an unacceptable number of false alarms. The PBSO would still respond to all alarm calls, and the administration costs of imposing the false alarm fees would be negligible if the village simply utilized its existing code enforcement processes (or perhaps the process recently created for the unmanned camera monitoring system for red light viola-

See LETTERS, page 18

For The Record

In the article “Santamaria: Greed Behind Housing Bubble, Political Scandals” published last week, Gypsy’s Horse chef Guy Mulligan was misidentified as a co-owner. The co-owners are Colin Jackson, Don Bayler and Paul Rowan. The Town-Crier regrets any confusion this might have caused.

In addition, we could impose new rules for people moving to Palm Beach County. For example, a New Yorker deciding to move here would be required to send back home all the garbage they generate each month plus a trash surcharge to include some of our own. If they don’t want to go through all that bother, they could obtain an exemption by paying someone else to take responsibility for their load. We could come up with a dump stamp attesting to their exemption status, after they pay a special dump-exempt tax. Are you seeing this trickle-down theory at work? While the wealthy don’t have to bother with the garbage “trickle-out law,” those down the feeding chain seeing profit in their rich neighbor’s garbage can charge whatever the market would bear by the trickling down of the trash. The county is already looking for ways to capitalize on the national economic stimulus plan. The tourism trash incentive is made to order. Not only do we eliminate the need for more landfills (and associated costs), we create jobs in the process for those paid to take other people’s garbage out of the county. I can see an outbound garbage growth industry, such as a convoy of owner-operated dump trucks hauling our trash up north — somewhere. Or a new fleet of airplanes operating for-profit dump flights. All of the costs of this waste initiative, such as any rules and regulations those at the receiving end of our trash may impose, would be paid by tourists and new residents.

“But, Don,” you might ask. “What if every tourist destination did this? Where would that leave us?” Well, then I guess we’ll be living next to a dump.

LUAU AT FOP LODGE KICKS OFF ROYAL PALM BEACH RELAY FOR LIFE

P.W. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKS GROUND ON NEW BUILDING

Groves.

2nd Annual

South Florida Camp Fairs

The groundbreaking commences.

The Miranda family takes to the shovels.

Greenacres Mayor Sam Ferreri, Palms West Chamber CEO Jaene Miranda, Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Dave Browning, Dennis Witkowski and Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen with the celebratory cake.

Roseanne Young and Lizette Lopez of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies Kevin Moss and Arturo Ramirez with Kelly Ramirez and Michaelina Olina.

Detective Joseph Piatchek, Deputy Rick Jackson and Detective Mike Bianchi.

Luau attendees enjoy some chicken wings.

Pam Araujo and Diane Smith light luminaria candles.Catherine Engel and Gregg Orenstein.

Several Vehicle Burglaries At Regal Cinema

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

JAN. 17 — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched last Saturday night to the Regal Cinema 18 on State Road 7 regarding several vehicle burglaries. According to a PBSO report, the deputy arrived on the scene at approximately 11:30 p.m. and met with another deputy, who said a total of three vehicles had been burglarized. All three were trucks that had been parked in close proximity of each other. In each case, a window was smashed and items were stolen from inside. There were no witnesses to any of the burglaries, and no latent prints were recovered. In addition, a similar incident occurred early Monday morning. According to a separate PBSO report, at approximately 12:30 a.m. the passenger window of a Jeep Cherokee was smashed and the stereo was stolen. There were no witnesses at the time of the report.

JAN. 15 — Two men were arrested last Thursday and charged with felony retail theft after being caught shoplifting at the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, an employee of the Sunglass Hut eyewear store witnessed 23-year-old Jermaine Adams of Riviera Beach and 28-year-old Joseph Hightower of Stuart exit the store after placing a pair of sunglasses in a Footlocker shopping bag, making no attempt to pay for the item. The employee further noted that Adams and Hightower continued to the mall exit and proceed to Hightower’s vehicle. At this point, mall security made contact with the pair, whom they recognized as having received a prior trespass warning. Adams and Hightower were detained until a deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington arrived. A pair of Gucci sunglasses, valued at approximately $345, was found in their possession, as well as various other items, which were discovered in Hightower’s vehicle. Both suspects were charged with felony retail theft and trespassing after warning. Hightower was also charged with driving with a revoked license.

JAN. 15 — An employee of the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road called the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach early last Thursday morning regarding a pair of shoplifters. According to a PBSO report, 22-year-old Ashley Arnold of Hudson, Fla., and 32-year-old Charles Valerie of Wellington were observed selecting items from several departments throughout the store, concealing them in different locations and proceeding to the register, where they paid for other items. The pair then passed all points of sale without pay-

ing for the concealed merchandise, which totaled $96.88. Arnold and Valerie were apprehended and taken to the loss prevention office, where the merchandise was recovered. They were arrested and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

JAN. 16 — A Wellington man was arrested last Friday night following a traffic stop near the intersection of Big Blue Trace and Wellington Trace. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 9:54 p.m. a deputy from the Wellington substation made a traffic stop on 59-year-old Dominick Visceglie. A records check revealed his driver’s license had been permanently revoked for a DUI manslaughter charge. Visceglie was arrested and taken to the county jail.

JAN. 17 — A resident of Fountain View Blvd. called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Saturday regarding a home burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3 and 5:30 p.m. someone entered the garage through the open door while no one was home, stealing a blue-green mountain bike. Nothing else was taken.

JAN. 17 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched last Saturday night to the parking lot at Wellington Village Park on Pierson Road in reference to a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 and 8:58 p.m. someone entered the passenger side of the unlocked vehicle and stole two iPod Nanos and a Pioneer stereo/ CD player.

JAN. 19 — A Palm Beach man was arrested early Monday morning for driving drunk in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 12:40 a.m. a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation observed a black Land Rover driven by 65year-old Herbert Pohlmann traveling eastbound on Southern Blvd. with two flat tires. The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, but Pohlmann continued driving another three or four miles before pulling over. The deputy made contact with Pohlmann, whom he described as appearing drunk, according to the report. Roadside sobriety tasks were performed, and Pohlmann was arrested. Pohlmann refused a blood alcohol test and was transported to the county jail.

JAN. 21 — A man was arrested Wednesday night on drug charges following a traffic stop in Wellington. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 9:56 p.m. a deputy from the Wellington substation conducted a traffic stop on 18-year-old Andrew Dolbow near the intersection of Stribling Way and State Road 7. A search revealed that Dolbow was in See BLOTTER, page 18

His last known address was Simonson Drive in Wellington. Rubin is wanted as of 01/22/09. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppers pbc.com.

Keith Briant

Joel Rubin

CAFCI CELEBRATES PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION IN ROYAL PALM

Members of the Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and their friends got together for a viewing party at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center on Tuesday to watch the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. The party was one of many held across the country for those who could not make it to the cold reaches of Washington, D.C. to watch the proceedings in person. Attendees posed beside a life-sized corrugated representation of the new president, and items of Obama merchandise were on sale as remembrances of the event. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

MLK Day

A New Era

continued from page 1 ous problems we have today. God bless America. I am proud to be an American, and I am very proud to be a citizen and a resident of the Village of Royal Palm Beach.”

Eight-year-old Riviera Beach resident Tamyla Fisher told the crowd that Obama clearly had realized the dreams and hopes of King and many others who were not given a fair chance to excel and move ahead. Fisher said it was once difficult for African-Americans to get an education, vote and other things that so many people take for granted. A lot of work had been done in righting those wrongs, but much work still needs to be

done, she said. “We have come a long way,” Fisher said, “but we still have many challenges.”

Keynote speaker Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher also touched on the historical significance of the inauguration the following day.

“Dr. King’s efforts and his ultimate sacrifice, his life, set the stage for the historical moment that we see and all be proud of as a country in just a few hours,” she said. “On the eve of this historic swearing-in of the 44th President of the United States, President Obama, I stand humbly before you, and say thank God.”

Bucher said there are many challenges remaining on the road ahead, and some of them might seem insurmountable,

yet they must be met, as future generations depend upon our actions.

“We all have a responsibility with moving forward the change that someone like me has never seen in the history of the political scene in the United States of America,” she said. “We are so very proud that a young man by the name of Barack Obama set forward in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, who gave his life so that we may see tomorrow a greater day for our country.”

The ceremony also included performances by the members of the Boca Raton Singers, Elite Dance Company, classical guitar from Eddy Lagroue, singing by Joan Cheesman, singing by Rabbi Bertram Kieffer, the string ensemble from Binks Forest

Diana Stanley of the Lord’s Place.

Pianist Copeland Davis performs for the crowd.

Tamyla Fisher speaks about Dr. King’s legacy.

CAFCI President Genieve White at the podium.

Elementary School, the tap dancing of Kamili Nalata, and music by pianist Copeland Davis. Pastor Gary Cecil of Palms West Presbyterian Church capped the event with closing remarks.

Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog with Pastor Gary Cecil of Palms West Presbyterian Church.

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher addresses the audience at the cultural center.

Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Fred Pinto.

Rabbi Bertram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion.

PHOTOS

Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog with Dolly Hughes.

Tinu Peña, CAFCI President Genieve White, Amanyea Abraham, Fred Pinto and Marge Herzog.

Doris Jerez, Jordan Davis, Rhonda Ferrin-Davis, Shirley Palmer and Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Fred Pinto. Rudy Willis poses alongside a mock-up of President Barack Obama.

Lucas DiSalvo hangs on to win first place in the mutton bustin’ contest.

Destiny Johnson aboard her horse Heaven.

Dwayne Earnhardt directs Panther Run Elementary School’s Calypso Cats steel drum band.

Wellington Landings Middle School Dance Project.

“Starz of the Future” Darlena Ozuna of Wellington (left) and Paulena Wermuth of Royal Palm (right).

Donna Rose Jones and Elizabeth Schmitt enjoy “tea time” in Yesteryear Village.

SleepOut 2009 — The Lord’s Place Executive Director Diana Stanley with Christina Matthews, Jennifer Dean, Board Chairman Kerry Gallagher and Tim Harris.

The Lord’s Place ‘SleepOut’ To Fight Homelessness

The Lord’s Place will host the overnight “SleepOut 2009” event Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7 at the Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach.

Experience what it is like to be homeless for a night and make a renewed commitment to help the Lord’s Place end homelessness in the community. Participate in the inspirational program and candlelight commitment ceremony from 7 to 9 p.m., watch a movie from 9 to 11 p.m. and then sleep overnight in the Meyer Amphitheatre. Restrooms and security will be provided.

The public is invited to take part in this unique, life-

changing event. Committee members include Kerry Gallagher, Pam McIver, Tim Harris, Joanne Stanley, Christina Matthews, Diane Buhler, Jeanette Horn, Jennifer Dean, Dean Lavalle, Larry Leamer, Malinda Ratliffe, Jennifer Congdon, Ted Deckert, James Charles, Chris Fox and Anthony Javarone.

Sponsors include Republic Services of Palm Beach; Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley Attorneys at Law; the Palm Beach Post; and Seacoast National Bank.

For more info., call (561) 494-0125, ext. 1131 or visit www.thelordsplace.org to register or make a pledge.

Nelson To Play

Jan. 24 In RPB

Popular local singer, songwriter and entertainer Rick Nelson of The Acreage will perform Saturday, Jan. 24 at Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach. The concert will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courtyard by the café and waterfall. The entertainment is part of the monthly Saturday morning series “Music in the Park.”

Nelson is well known in the area for his tropical sounds, magnetic personality and jovial banter with audiences. His repertoire encompasses popular folk and rock ballads.

Veterans Park is located one block south of the intersection of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. For more information, call (561) 790-5149.

Supplies Sought In Wellington

Wellington Cares Clearinghouse is currently collecting donations of computers for Assist to Grow, an agency in Belle Glade helping low-income people work on their computer and English skills so they can get better jobs and improve their lives. Hard drives, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, speakers and paper are all welcome. To donate, call Ellie Caldwell at (561) 790-5499.

Rummage Sale For Cub Scouts

Cub Scout Troop 125 will hold its annual rummage sale on Saturday, Jan. 31 at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church (12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington).

All proceeds will go to help fund scout activities. In addition, pack members are asking for community leaders to participate in their Pinewood Derby on the same date.

Anyone interested in donating to the rummage sale should call Lois Spatz at (561) 797-1056.

Comedy Show Comes To Silver Screen

Peter Wein’s radio show “Peter’s Livingroom” and My B Network will present the Baby Boomers of Comedy on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Silver Screen Cinema Café & Comedy Club in Wellington. The nationally acclaimed troupe of comics has performed all over the country and are now coming to Wellington. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will start at 8:30 p.m. The cost is $10.

The Silver Screen Cinema Café & Comedy Club is located at 12795 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington Plaza. For more information, call (561) 795-3001.

Na’Amat Sharon To Meet Feb. 10

The next meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Na’amat Sharon Club will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). A light lunch will be followed by a short business meeting. The guest speaker will be Royal Palm Beach Village Manager David Farber. There is a small fee for lunch. For more info., call Annette Haber at (561) 7931484.

Supercar Weekend To Help Big Brothers/ Big Sisters

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Palm Beach County and Supercar Weekend founders John Temerian and Scott Levinsohn recently announced their partnership for the world’s largest gathering of privately owned supercars. Big Brothers/Big Sisters is the 2009 beneficiary of Palm Beach Supercar Weekend, held on Saturday, Jan. 24 along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach.

Big Brothers will host a 44foot video arcade center that will consist of several car gaming stations and simulators for children attending

Supercar Weekend. There is no additional fee for children to play the games. Patrons of Supercar Weekend will be able to contribute to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. A portion of general admission ticket money will be donated to the charity. “We are honored and thrilled about the opportunity to be a part of this magnificent event. Many of our children and their big brothers and sisters will participate in this superb educational experience,” Big Brothers Big/Sisters CEO Terry Lee Kaly said. For more about Palm Beach Supercar Weekend, visit www.palmbeachsuper carweekend.com. For more information about Big Brothers/Big Sisters, contact John Joseph at (561) 779-8665 or johnbbbs1st@aol.com.

DeRosa To Host Town Hall Meeting

Dr. Marshall DeRosa, a Constitution Party candidate for the U.S. Senate, will speak on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at Hot Shots Paintball Arcade (16169 Southern Blvd., Loxahatchee). Currently a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University as well as a constitutional scholar and author, DeRosa will discuss current events that face Floridians in today’s economy. For more info., visit www.constitution party.com.

Local Affordable Housing Advocate Decries State Cuts

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Local housing advocates are sounding the alarm about a recent large cut to a state trust fund for affordable housing. Last week, in its special legislative session, state lawmakers cut $190 million from the trust fund to go into the state’s general fund.

Members of the Housing Leadership Council of the Palm Beaches gathered at the Wellington Community Center for a breakfast Jan. 16 sponsored by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce to discus the state cut and other issues.

The non-profit Housing Leadership Council of the Palm Beaches was formed two years ago by several area chambers of commerce, the Economic Council of the Palm Beaches, the Workforce Alliance and the Business Development Board in order to address the lack of local

affordable housing. Major employers are also members. Besides lobbying state legislators and working with local government agencies and business interests, the council also provides information to the public on housing issues such as avoiding foreclosure.

The state’s trust fund provides loans to encourage development of affordable workforce housing.

Housing Leadership Council President and CEO Suzanne Cabrera said the fund is supported by a tax on real estate transactions, but beyond the most recent cut, the legislature has raided more than $400 million from it in the past three years. “I don’t know how much we can call it a trust fund anymore,” Cabrera said. “The money that goes in there is going into the general revenues, and the $190 million sweep is pretty significant. A lot of the funds are involving

new construction. Those were the funds that had to be given back first.”

Cabrera said another program under attack is the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program, which provides low-interest loans to developers of affordable rental units. She said cutting the program harms the economy in more ways than one.

“One thing that people understand is the importance of housing to the economy and the jobs it brings,” she said. “Talk about an economic stimulus package. We are robbing ourselves of the federal funds we get. For every $16 of SAIL appropriations, we get $84 in federal funds and tax credits. That is something that the state did, which had some unintended consequences and cut a lot more money than they did.”

Cabrera said that many people have the mistaken assumption that because hous-

ing prices have fallen, there is no more affordable housing shortage. While many homes are available for purchase, she said, affordable homes at middle-class prices are not.

“The supply is out there, but there are some other factors that are contributing to problems we are having with workforce housing,” Cabrera said. “One thing that has been pointed out time and time again is a mismatch of housing. We are building a lot more houses at the upper end. The prices are coming down, but there is still a mismatch of homes. One other thing that is critically important today is the lack of rental housing. Rental housing is a viable alternative [to buying] for many people. Rentals are very important.”

For more information on the Housing Leadership Council of the Palm Beaches, visit www.hlcpbc.org.

Vocalist Cecilia Lauren To Perform At S.F. Fair

Hometown girl Cecilia Lauren is the only entertainer making two appearances this year with national acts on the South Florida Fair’s Pepsi Stage. Catch Cecilia’s performances at the South Florida Fair on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. and the following Friday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m.

The 24-year-old Acreage resident is well known to fairgoers. The young country singer made it to the semifinals at the 2008 Stars of the Future contest. The sultry, slender brunette with the huge voice has been singing and winning contests for years. Three years ago, she took second place in the gospel category in the Florida Country Music contest, and then took another second in the Colgate Country Showdown a year later. In 2007, she placed in the top-ten at the National Talent Quest competition in Las Vegas. Last year, she topped that record,

taking first place at the regional Talent Quest competition in Tampa in the country category. She went on to take sixth place nationally.

These days, Lauren is making a name for herself closer to home. Recently she performed with her band, the Ocoee River Band, at the WIRK Acreage Fall Fest with Billy Currington. In addition, Lauren has appeared at Kocomo’s Island Grill in The Acreage and Uncle Mick’s Bar & Grill in Jupiter.

For more information about Lauren and her music, visit her web site at www. cecilialauren.com or her MySpace page at www. myspace.com/cecilialauren music.

The 2009 South Florida Fair will continue at the South Florida Fairgrounds until Sunday, Feb. 1. For more information about events, or to purchase tickets, visit www. southflorida fair.com.

Send news items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. Fax: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com

Palm Beach Opera To Present ‘Norma’

Following the seasonopening production of Rigoletto, Palm Beach Opera is proud to present Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma Jan. 23-26. This season of Palm Beach Opera performances is dedicated to the memory of longtime Palm Beach Opera Board Chairman Robert M. Montgomery Jr. Featuring the height of the bel canto tradition, Bellini’s haunting tale tells of a priestess driven to murderous jealousy by her lover’s inconstancy.

The classic love triangle is set among the Druid temples. Norma casts its spell of primitive rites and supreme atonement as a full Roman moon rises over ancient Gaul. Elizabeth Blanke Biggs and Palm Beach Opera vocal competition winner Jennifer Check, who made a spectacular debut mid-show as Norma in Philadelphia, sing the challenging role of Norma. Pollione is interpreted by Renzo Zulian, last seen at

Opera as

, with

in

and yet another Palm Beach Opera

competition winner Wendy Bryn Harmer as Adalgisa. Bel canto specialist Linda Brovsky directs, with Maestro Bruno Aprea at the musical helm. All performances will be staged at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Operas will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. For up-to-date information and complete cast lists, visit the Palm Beach Opera web site at www.pb opera.org. Tickets are available by calling (561) 833-7888 or visiting www.pbopera.org and may also be purchased through the Kravis Center box office at (561) 832-7469 or www.kravis.org. Ticket prices range from $23 to $175 for single tickets with group rates also available.

& Cough Fever &

Housing Leadership Council President and CEO Suzanne Cabrera at last Friday’s breakfast meeting in Wellington.

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Cecilia Lauren

Palm Beach

Calaf

Turandot

Ruth Ann Swenson

vocal

SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR HOSTS GALA, NAMES MISS SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR

The 2009 South Florida Fair VIP Gala Silent Auction was held last Thursday night at the fairgrounds. Numerous local officials were on hand for the event. On Saturday, Jan. 17, the fairgrounds hosted the Miss South Florida Fair Scholarship Pageant. Nineteen-year-old Palm Beach Community College sophomore Cassie Stafford won the title 2009 Miss South Florida Fair. First runner-up was Courtney McKenzie of Florida International University, and second runner-up was Nicole Vega of Berean Christian School. The fair runs through Feb. 1. For more info., call (561) 793-0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Cassie Stafford is crowned 2009 Miss South Florida Fair by 2008 winner Jessica Wittenbrink.

Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog, Mayor Dave Browning and Councilman Dennis Lipp.

Fair Agricultural Manager Bettye Thompson with Tommy and Ann Holt of Twin H Farms.

County Commissioner Shelley Vana, Americraft Chairman Dave Hurley and S.F. Fair COO Vicki Chouris.

Theresa Agricola, International Polo Club President John Wash, Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen and Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite.

Fair COO Vicki Chouris, County Commissioner Jess Santamaria and Marketing Director Rita DeMier.

First runner-up Courtney McKenzie, Miss South Florida Fair Cassie Stafford, second runner-up Nicole Vega and third runner-up Meghan Orsley.

S.F. Fair Board Chair David Goodlett, CEO Richard Vymlatil and Director Lee Glaze.

Hooker, Debbs To Co-Chair Hanley Center’s Family Luncheon

On Sunday, Feb. 15, the emphasis will be on family fun when the Hanley Center Foundation holds its 14th Annual Family Luncheon at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington. Festivities begin at noon.

Nancy Hooker of Wellington and Robert J. Debbs of West Palm Beach are serving as event chairs, with Norberto Azqueta and Dinah Fulton as vice chairs. The 2009 Family Luncheon will raise money for Hanley Center’s campus expansion and its Lifesaver Patient Aid Fund, which provides vital financial assistance to those seeking treatment for alcoholism or chemical dependency who are unable to afford treatment due to limited financial resources or restrictions on insurance coverage.

More than 300 people are expected to attend this annu-

al, family-oriented event that is one of the only social functions of the season that offers a day of fun for the whole family. Neil Hirsch is the title sponsor of the luncheon, which will feature an abundance of activities for all ages including a delicious luncheon buffet and exclusive ringside seating along with a special silent auction just for kids, animals from the Palm Beach Zoo, magician David Berardi, a young artist’s workshop and a not-to-bemissed silent auction exclusively for the “big kids.” Tickets are $195 per adult. Children’s tickets are $50 each for ages seven through 17, which includes all activities. There is no charge for children under six. Special family tables may be purchased for $500, which includes two adults and four children under 18.

This year’s luncheon also will honor Henry (Hank) and Kitty Price, who have supported the Hanley Center for many, many years. Platinum Medal Sponsors for the 14th Annual Family Luncheon are the late Leo Albert, the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Proforma Sunshine State, and Wells Family Foundation. Gold Medal sponsors include the Marvin H. Davidson Foundation, Florida Crystals Corporation, Henry and Kitty Price, Mr. Thomas C. Quick, and the Sunny & Abe Rosenberg Foundation. Silver Medal sponsors are the Hanley Center, Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee Currey, and Nancy and Timothy Hooker. Bronze Medal sponsors include Caron Treatment Centers, Judith Morrell, John and Monika Preston, and 1st United Bank. Committee members are:

McCartney Ewing Joins All-State Chorus

Robin Azqueta, Lyanne Azqueta, Dr. and Mrs. Joel Berman, Lori and Michael Bernstein, Vanessa Beyer, Andrea Botur, Tim Boulton, Jay Brown, Eric and Whitney Bylin, John Campbell, Kim Coleman, Amy and Jay Crompton, Merrill Debbs, Kay and Russ Finsness, Robin Grubman, Paul Hamblin, Lou and Susanna Hagar, Heather Harris, Guy and Michelle Henderson, Margaret and Patrick Horgan, Pete Kelly, Eric and Millie Levine, Jessica Linehan, Helene and Mathew Lorentzen, Michael McCarty, Dede and George Merck, Kelly and Danielle Moore, Ally and Judge Moss, David and Laurie Perry, Kourtney Pulitzer, Stuart Putnam and Susan Leas, Tom Quick, Richard and Suebelle Robbins, Todd and Missy Savage, Brewer and Chris Schoeller, Laura and Marc

JustWorld

Sherman, Percy Steinhart, Pam and William Surtees, Amanda Taylor, and Kerry and Roger Warwick. Junior committee members are: Liza Finsness, Olivia Gotwald,

Binks Forest Elementary School student McCartney Ewing recently represented her school at the 2009 Florida Elementary Allstate Chorus in Tampa. McCartney was one of 210 students chosen from among the 700 who auditioned. McCartney has many musical interests including singing, piano, drums and guitar. In her spare time, McCartney enjoys figure skating, scrap booking, pottery, swimming, biking, in-line skating and sewing.

Carson Donald Du Chateau — son of Jeanine and Don Du Chateau of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 4. Zachary Michael Enfinger — son of Mary-Margaret and Patrick Enfinger of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 5.

Emmanuel Jonathan Atice Jr. — son of Naseline Camile and Emmanuel Atice of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 6.

Music teacher Mrs. Karen LaFrance, the Binks Forest family and McCartney’s parents Billie Jean and Bobby Ewing said they are extremely proud of her accomplishments.

WHO’S NEW

International Holds Fundraising Dinner In Wellington

The popular JustWorld International Annual Fundraising Dinner will be held Friday, Jan. 23 at Belle Herbe Farm in Grand Prix Village in Wellington. JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping underprivileged children.

Joseph Michael McDonald — son of Carla Marie and Dwight McDonald of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 7.

Brendan John Altieri son of Kimberly and Shawn Altieri of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 9.

Jackalyn Rose Gowin daughter of April Mae and Harvey Glen Gowin of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 10. Elliott Owen Miller

Taylor Christian Knight — daughter of Dana and Ken Knight of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 7.

son of Elizabeth and Bradley Miller of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 12.

Nicholas Anthony Marx — son of Lisa Ameer and Robert Nicholas Marx of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 12.

Londyn Taylor Byrne daughter of Crystal and John Byrne of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 13.

Kody Ashton Campbell — son of Kirby Amanda Farrell of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 13.

This year’s event, underwritten by the Lourie Family Foundation, includes a Polynesian-themed seated dinner and exotic island entertainment including fire dancers, a DJ and a silent auction. Patrons Lisa and Robert Lourie underwrote the fundraising event so that all money raised can go directly to aiding underprivileged children.

Money raised at the JustWorld International Annual Fundraising Dinner will go directly to helping educate impoverished children at JustWorld project sites in Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras and Senegal.

Founded in 2002, Just-

World International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education,

health and vocational projects. There are currently more than 170 rider ambassadors, ranging from nineyear-old pony riders to Olympic medalists, who help bring attention to JustWorld International’s cause. For more information about JustWorld, visit www. justworldinternational.org.

Hanley Center Foundation 14th Annual Family Luncheon committee members and junior committee members.

Heather Hooker, Emma McCarthy and Lilly Schoeller. For more information about the 14th Annual Family Luncheon, call Mary Lewis at (561) 841-1212.

Equestrian Ambassador — American grand prix rider Francie Steinwedell-Carvin meets children at a JustWorld project site in Honduras during a recent rider ambassador visit.

McCartney Ewing

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, Jan. 24

• The Winter Equestrian Festival continues through March 29 with a series of weekly show jumping and dressage competitions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (14440 Pierson Road, Wellington). Shows run Wednesday through Sunday culminating with a Sunday grand prix. For tickets, call (561) 793-5867 or visit www. equestriansport.com.

• The 2009 South Florida Fair continues at the South Florida Fairgrounds until Feb. 1, offering fascinating exhibits, great entertainment, games, rides and tasty fair food. For more info., visit www.southflorida fair.com.

• Come out to help the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association clear the hiking trails in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area on Saturday, Jan. 24. Meet at 8 a.m. at the entrance to the Everglades youth camp at the north end of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. For more information, call Bea at (561) 968-4864.

• On Saturday, Jan. 24, the Sisterhood of B’nai Avraham will host Sisterhood Shabbat at the congregation’s location in the original Wellington Mall (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 6). Members of the sisterhood will conduct the traditional Saturday morning service. The service begins at 9 a.m. and is followed by a kiddush (a light Shabbat meal). For more information, call the synagogue office at (561) 793-4347 or e-mail info@ congregationbnaiavraham. com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Relationships: The Feng Shui Way” on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. for adults. Pat Heydlauff, an energy design consultant, will show how to attract romance and respect with feng shui. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host its Chess Club on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2:30 p.m. for ages eight and up. Chess fans unite to practice strategy skills with other players. Basic chess knowledge is required. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Grace Fellowship Acreage campus will host a clothes closet event on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. on church grounds (corner of 75th Lane North and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, across from Kidscape Park). Donations will be accepted of new and gently used clothes, shoes and other accessories for men, women and children. For more info., e-mail cuzimthe mama4@aol.com or call (561) 753-0315.

• The Wellington High School Band Boosters Association will present “A Night in Polynesia” on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Aero Club Pilot House. The cost is $60 per couple, $35 for an individual ticket in advance and $40 per ticket at the door. For more info., call Maria Becker at (561) 793-0465 or email maribe824@aol.com. Sunday, Jan. 25

• Come out and explore the Hungryland Slough Trail with the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association on Sunday, Jan. 25. Participants will meet at the Beeline Highway at 7:30 a.m. For more info., call Alan at (561) 5860486.

• Kaleidoscope 2009 will take place on Sunday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown West Palm Beach. The free day-long multicultural festival will feature villages from around the world, an international bazaar, ethnic foods and refreshments, an interactive kid’s area and two stages of multicultural entertainment. For info., call (561) 8221515 or visit www.wpb.org.

• The Wellington High School Project Graduation Booster Club will host a fundraiser on Sunday, Jan. 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at Rita’s Water Ice on Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Rita’s will donate 20 percent of sales to the committee. The next Booster Club meeting will take place on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Riverside Bank on South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. E-mail Donna Baxter at donnacbaxter@ yahoo.com for more info.

• The Citizens Volunteer Organization will be introduced to Wellington residents on Sunday, Jan. 25. The group will meet at Foresteria Park (900 Foresteria Ave.) from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be different projects throughout the year for volunteers. Interested residents can visit www.ci. wellington.fl.us and click on the “CVO” icon, which will open a page where volunteers can sign up.

Monday, Jan. 26

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Baby Story Time” on Monday, Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for infants under nine months and 11:15 a.m. for ages 10 to 18 months. Your baby will love the rhymes, finger plays, songs, books and toys. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold an English Exchange on Monday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. for adults. Practice English conversation skills with Literacy AmeriCorps member Paula Alexander. Basic English-speaking skills are required. Call (561) 6495495 to pre-register.

Tuesday, Jan. 27

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host its first Young Professionals Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Nicole’s Village Tavern (12300 South Shore Blvd., Wellington). For info., call Jessica Clasby at (561) 790-6200.

Wednesday, Jan. 28

• The inaugural Exquis World Dressage Masters will be held Wednesday through Saturday, Jan. 2831 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington. General admission is $20 per night or $35 for two nights. Visit www.equestriansport.com for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host its Poetry Discussion Group on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Engage in a provocative discussion of published poems written by various poets. Pick up copies at the information desk. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Thursday, Jan. 29

• The 2009 polo season will continue Thursday, Jan. 29 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach with the start of the 20-goal Philip Iglehart Cup. For more info., call (561) 204-5687 or visit www.internationalpolo club.com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Presidents & Their First Ladies: Richard & Pat Nixon” on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. for adults. William and Sue Wills will present the compelling story of this first couple’s years in the White House. Call (561) 790-6070 for info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will celebrate Groundhog Day on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 3:30 p.m. for ages four through seven. Get a jump on Punxsutawney Phil. Can you predict an early spring? Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will present Power Networking on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 4:30 p.m. at the original Wellington Mall (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). For more info., call Debi Leed at (561) 790-6200.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Game Night on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 12 through 17. Enjoy Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero with snacks provided by the Friends of the Library. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register. Friday, Jan. 30

• Peter Wein’s radio show Peter’s Livingroom and My B Network will present a performance by Amy Steinberg on Friday, Jan. 30 at the Silver Screen Cinema Café & Comedy Club in Wellington. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will start at 8:30 p.m. The cost is $32.95 and includes dinner. The club is located at 12795 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington Plaza. RSVP to (561) 795-3001.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Science Club: CSI” on Friday, Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m. for ages eight and up. Learn some of the techniques forensic scientists use to solve crimes. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Osceola Creek Honors Scholar-Athletes For December

Osceola Creek Middle School recently announced its recipients of its ScholarAthlete 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. Both honorees are eighth graders. They are straight-A students and carry a 4.16 grade point average. Both students are National

Honor Society members. Boys soccer honored Corey Huff. “Corey has been an outstanding student athlete at Osceola Creek,” Coach Tony Bugeja said. “During the past three years he has climbed his way up to team captain and has been a major impact to our team. He is a versatile player being able to control the game from many different positions. I really look forward to watching Corey play at the high school level. He will be truly missed at Osceola Creek.” Corey also plays on Osceo-

la Creek’s boys volleyball team, and plays tackle football and travel soccer in the area. Corey, who also is on Osceola Creek’s yearbook staff, is undecided on a college or a major, but is focused on a career as a film producer. Jessica Vasco was honored by girls volleyball. “It has been my pleasure to coach Jessica for the past two years,” Coach Shayne Sanderford said. “She is a good athlete and has a great attitude on and off the court. She has been a good role model on the

team, and I expect her to go far in sports as well as academics.”

Jessica, who also has perfect attendance, plays flag football and barrel races.

Supporting the ScholarAthlete Award program are Moroso Motorsports, which donated free passes to the honorees, Subway and Burger King (located at Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd.) and Dairy Queen (Royal Palm Beach and Okeechobee boulevards), which donated free food coupons.

King’s Academy Joins International Red Hand Campaign

Middle and high school students at the King’s Academy are participating in the Red Hand Campaign, an international effort to stop the use of child soldiers. Using gallons of red paint, red markers and red pencils, TKA students eagerly traced or stamped their handprints on white sheets of paper. The students then added personal messages of protest to the use of children in conflicts across the globe. TKA students took part in this worthy effort as a peacemaking project in their weekly advisory groups. As a result, they have more than 800 red handprints to send to the United Nations.

Jan. 30 Event

To Benefit

WHS Project Graduation

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers initiated the Red Hand Campaign to urge officials at the United Nations to enforce a UN treaty passed on Feb. 12, 2002, banning the use of children under the age of 18 in war.

Unfortunately, recent UN estimates show that up to 250,000 children are still being used as soldiers in 20 armed conflicts worldwide. As part of the campaign, children from around the world are sending red handprints to the UN. The campaign’s goal is to present UN officials in New York one million red hands on

A good thing just got better. When Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Kevin DiLallo is feted by the Gulf Stream Council of the Boy Scouts of America as its 2009 “Distinguished Citizen of the Year” on Jan. 30, it won’t be just the Boy Scouts of America that will benefit. Event Chairman Rocky Goins recently announced that in addition to the Boy Scouts, Wellington High School’s Project Graduation Committee will benefit as well. As part of DiLallo’s recognition dinner, volunteers with the Project Graduation Committee will hold a silent auction with various items and services they have gathered. At the end of the evening, silent auction proceeds will go to benefit both groups; 20 percent will go toward the Boy Scouts of America, and 80 percent will go toward the alcohol-free graduation party. This fabulous dinner and auction will be held at Binks Forest Golf Club, with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Universal Health Services President and CEO Alan Miller and Miami Children’s Hospital Pediatric Surgery Chief Dr. Steven Stylianos will be the guest speakers. Individual tickets cost

Red Hand Day 2009 (Feb. 12), the anniversary of the day the treaty to ban child soldiers took effect.

The King’s Academy is a nationally known interdenominational, independent Christian school serving approximately 1,300 students from preschool through 12th grades and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.

The school’s main campus is located at the corner of Belvedere Road and Sansbury’s Way.

$100 with a limited number of sponsorship tables for eight available for $1,000. For more information about the Jan. 30 event, or to reserve seating, call the Gulf Stream Council of the Boy Scouts of America at (561) 694-8585, ext. 221. For more information about the Gulf Stream Council, visit www.gulfstream council.org.

School Seeks Carnival Vendors

Pierce Hammock Elementary School in The Acreage will host its third annual Western Communities Fair Friday through Sunday,

March 6-8 and is in need of vendors. The cost for vendors for one day is $35. For two days, the cost is $50. Call (561) 651-0400 for more info.

Area Student Attends Inauguration

Thirty-one students who attend Palm Beach County elementary, middle or high schools traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to participate in the inauguration festivities for President Barack Obama.

From the western communities, Emerald Cove Middle School student Nicholas Shuber and his father Michael

Shuber attended the inaugural festivities. A seventh grader, Shuber was invited to attend as an alumnus of the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference.

Junior Inaugural Scholars were scheduled to interact with numerous VIPs such as former secretary of state General Colin Powell and former vice president Al Gore.

‘Wolverine Cuisine’ Cookbook

The Wellington High School Wolverine Band Boosters Association is now collecting recipes and orders for its Second Annual “Wolverine Cuisine” cookbook.

Last year’s cookbook was a sell-out, and another great product is expected this year. The entire Wellington community is invited to submit recipes before Jan. 30. Recipes can be e-mailed to wolverinecuisine@gmail.com. This year’s cookbook will be $10 and will be filled with all new recipes. Cookbooks can be ordered by e-mailing wolverinecuisine@gmail.com. Deadline for orders is Jan. 30. All proceeds will benefit the Wellington High School “Mighty Wolverine Sound” band program. For more information about the cookbook, including book sponsorships, advertising and shout-outs, visit www.whsband.com/html/ cookbook.html.

Scholar-Athletes — Principal Dave Alfonso, Jessica Vasco, Corey Huff and Officer Sandy Molenda.

Junior Kate Lockamy makes her handprint.TKA prefects with Dean of Student Life Michelle Kolar.

Seminole Ridge Construction Students Learn Roofing

On Jan. 12, Seminole Ridge High School Construction Academy students achieved a milestone: for the first time since they broke ground on the athletics ticket booth/storage facility, they sat down to watch someone else do the work! Therma Seal Roof Systems not only donated the materials but installed the concrete tile roof on the building. The ticket booth/ storage facility is a 1,200square-foot, two-story building that SRHS students have taken from idea to reality. Without any funding from the school district, Seminole Ridge obtained materials for the building from the local business community.

“It simply amazes me that a company like Therma Seal, even in this economy, is willing to donate a concrete tile roof to us,” Construction Academy teacher Mr. Rick Terkovich said.

Therma Seal Roof Systems representative Linda Herndon said the company is committed to helping youngsters improve their skills. “Therma Seal Roof Systems has always been committed to young people, and to their development in becoming worthwhile adults,” she said. “We hope that our donation to the school was helpful.”

Why did Therma Seal employees, not academy students, install the roof, especially since the students have

done everything else? “It’s just too hazardous,” Terkovich said. “We couldn’t allow 20 students up on the roof to install concrete tile. I’m afraid the kids would be falling off left and right. So for safety reasons, we kept the kids on the ground. Thankfully, Therma Seal generously sent their crew out to do it for us!”

SECME Screens Movie Robots — The SRHS Science, Engineering, Communications and Math (SECME) Club invites the community to its full-length film fundraiser — a matinee showing of Robots. The animated movie tells the story of Rodney, a young idealistic inventor who travels to the big city to chase his dream of helping robots everywhere. Robots will be shown Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the SRHS auditorium. All ages are welcome, but children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. There is a suggested donation of $3 for the event, and all proceeds will benefit the Seminole Ridge SECME Club’s purchase of VEX Robotics kits. For further information, call SECME sponsor Mr. Erich Landstrom at (561) 422-2600.

• History Students Earn Spot at States — Eleventh grade American history students represented Seminole Ridge for the first time in the National History Day Com-

petition held Jan. 12. Teachers Ms. Holly Clark and Ms. Meghan Heitman recently announced that the Hawks placed in more than one category and will advance to state competition this May in Tallahassee. SRHS honorees are Taryn Kerber, who placed second in the Individual Exhibit category, and Michael Schwartzberg, who placed second for Individual Documentary. Honorable mentions go to April Andrus for Individual Paper and to Mark Dimpflmaier, Chris Phan, Michael Quint and Stephan Michener for Group Web Site.

• SRHS Competing at South Florida Fair — Sem-

inole Ridge National Art Honor Society students are calling all Hawks to vote for their entry at the South Florida Fair’s student artist competition.

The fair’s theme this year is “Fun Around the World.” Students from area high schools were given a fourfoot circle and told to make a 3-D hot-air balloon from it. “We decided to make one for the Lost City of Atlantis, believed by many to have been an ancient Greek island that was sunken by a tsunami,” art teacher Ms. Gwenn Seuling said. Be sure to check the SRHS entry at the fair — and cast your vote.

(Above and below) Some of the Hawk artwork entered in the South Florida Fair’s student art competition.

Therma Seal Roof Systems workers install the roof on the SRHS athletics ticket booth/storage facility.

P.W. CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS

London Salon & Boutique — The Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors recently participated in the ribbon cutting for London Salon & Boutique located at 1241 N. State Road 7, Suite 12 in Royal Palm Beach (at the corner of SR 7 and Okeechobee Blvd., next to Ruby Tuesdays). London Salon is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. London Salon offers full services from a professionally trained team of stylists. To meet with a consultant for a free consultation, call (561) 792-3644. Pictured above are owners Michelle and Lenny Joyner with staff and chamber ambassadors.

Nature’s Table Café — Located at 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A-7, in the Wellington Marketplace, Nature’s Table Café is a great new dining choice in the area. Lunch, dinner and catering are available. Its menu includes sensible, healthful food made from only the freshest ingredients, such as gourmet wraps, tasty smoothies, panini, signature sandwiches, hearty soups, specialty salads and more. Nature’s Table Café is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, or to place an order for pick up, call (561) 3838343 or visit www.ntcwellington.com. Shown above are owners Polly and Bedonna Flesher with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza Open In Wellington

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, the South Florida-based chain that uses authentic coalburning ovens, recently opened its 13th restaurant, located at 1000-3 State Road 7 in Wellington, just north of Forest Hill Blvd. It is the company’s fifth location in Palm Beach County.

Founder Anthony Bruno introduced his coal-fired concept in 2002, opening the first location in Fort Lauderdale. The company has since expanded throughout South Florida, most recently in Palm Beach County.

“We continue growing despite the current economic conditions,” Bruno said. “South Florida consumers crave pizza ‘well done,’ and

we are very happy to meet their demands.”

Known for its high-energy atmosphere and signature menu items, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza uses 800-degree coal-burning ovens and the highest quality ingredients to create “well done” pizzas.

While coal-fired pizza is not the only fare offered, the chain is known for its simple menu, including its popular coal-oven-roasted chicken wings topped with grilled onions and signature Italianstyle salad.

Hours of operation are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. In addition to dining in, patrons will have the option of take-out service by calling (561) 615-1255.

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza’s food and service have continually been ranked “very good to excellent” by Zagat Survey, the distinguished dining and entertainment ratings guide and is the only South Florida pizza restaurant to be included in Zagat’s 2008 Top Restaurant Guide. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza has 13 locations, including Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Weston, Aventura, Plantation, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Palm Beach Gardens, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Stuart and Wellington.

For more information, visit www.anthonyscoalfired pizza.com.

Palm Beach Prime Brings Great Food To Your Home

South Florida residents in the mood for quality dining without having to cook have more options than a frozen dinner. Palm Beach Prime, owned by Wellington entrepreneur Dave Smith, offers to gourmet cuisines cooked right in the customers’ homes by one of the company’s chefs.

Palm Beach Prime offers

more than 120 enticing items, including USDA prime meats; Bell & Evans chicken; Kobe beef from Greg Norman Premium; all-natural beef from Harris Ranch; lobster tails from Maine, South Africa and western Australia; Alaskan king crab legs; stone crab claws (available October through May); and jumbo shrimp. There are also plenty

RIBBON CUTTING AT PILATES ROCKS!

of hors d’oeuvres, kid-friendly items, heat-and-serve dishes, hand-dipped chocolate truffles and a host of yummy desserts, including a scrumptious key lime pie. Customers can order individual items and/or gift packages online at www.palm beachprime.com or by calling (877) 783-2571. Catalogues are also available by request.

Fine Lions Recognized For Being Eco-Friendly

Fine Lions Inc. has been recognized by At Home in Palm Beach County magazine for being eco-friendly and saving trees. Diane Rock, considered At Home in Palm Beach County’s “green lady,” recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout Palm Beach County that are contributing to the well-being of the environment. These are local businesses that enhance the environment by implementing and offering earthfriendly alternatives to their customers and community.

Fine Lions specializes in woodgrain faux finishing, which provides the look of natural wood without sacrificing trees. This application may be done on exterior and interior doors, garage doors,

kitchen and bath cabinets, to name just a few. “A trend that we are noticing is that many consumers think that it costs more to be green,” Fine Lions President Christine Smith said. “However, this is a perfect example of how consumers can save money, and at the same time, do their part in helping the environment.”

Fine Lions provides ecofriendly decorative painting processes that increase aesthetic appeal and home value as well as creating a uniqueness through earthfriendly solutions that help save the environment. For more information about Fine Lions, call (561) 253-4814 or visit www.fine lions.com.

Dinner items available at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.

Located at 3460 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 12, in Wellington, Pilates Rocks! offers private and group sessions. For more info., call (561) 204-3185. Pictured here owners Elissa Salzman and Laura Minucci with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

WHS Soccer Teams Crush The Competition

Tuesday night was more than just a ball for the Wellington High School soccer program.

On a day with new beginnings and historical achievements for the country, local traditions and triumphs were carried out on the soccer field.

Wolverine Watch

By Josh Hyber

Wellington’s girls team easily defeated Palm Beach Lakes High School 10-0 in its playoff opener. The Wolverines, the number-one seed in the district playoffs, dominated play against a shorthand-

ed Palm Beach Lakes team. Sophomores Brittany Wallrath, Melissa Welch and Natalie Puñal, as well as freshmen Alexis Jurado, Katie Casey and Brittany Middlebrook, all scored in the win. The WHS girls team

played Seminole Ridge High School on Wednesday, defeating the Hawks 2-1. With this victory, Wellington will move on to a game Friday against Palm Beach Central.

The WHS boys soccer team also had no problem on the night of Jan. 20. The team cruised to an easy 8-0. Senior Night victory over Olympic Heights High School. Sophomore forward Carlos Salguero scored three goals to lead the Wolverines. Also, senior forward Andrew

DiLallo and junior Brandon Servellon scored two goals each. Sophomore Nick Brewer chipped in with three assists.

The team concluded its season with a game Thursday night against West Boca Raton High School. That score was not available by presstime.

The boys will continue on to the state playoffs starting Monday, Jan. 26. All boys soccer playoff games are scheduled to be played at Palm Beach Central High School.

Bassmasters Fish On Lake Okeechobee

The Royal Palm Bassmasters hosted their Jan. 11 bass tournament on Lake Okeechobee out of Clewiston.

The Cure, coached by Tom Harding and John Meredith, won first place in the Acreage Girls Flag Football League’s Junior Varsity division of the Susan G. Komen Flag Football Tournament, held Jan. 10-11 at Okeeheelee Park. During the team’s five-game winning streak, the Cure scored 70 points, and with superb defense, gave up only six points. Along with winning first place, quarterback Morgan Lauer was also awarded Offense Most Valuable Player for the JV division. The tournament, sponsored by the Acreage Athletic League and the Acreage Girls Flag Football League, raised more than $11,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Pictured above are: (front row, L-R) Taylor Smiley, Yasmin Salguero, Meaghan Cushnie and Audrey Forbes; (middle row) Morgan Lauer, Madeline Harding and Nicole Almaguer; and (back row) Coach John Meredith, Kayla Bonincontri, Casey Turek, Torie Fernandez, Kristy Rhemer and Tom Harding.

Wellington Roller Hockey Player Of The Week: Josh Miloch

Second place went to Tom Brown (boater) with one fish weighing 5 lbs., 5 oz. and partner Fred Cohen (nonboater) with no fish, for a total team weight of 5 lbs., 5 oz. In third place was Larry

First place was awarded to the team of Walt Zajkowski (boater) with one fish weighing 1 lbs., 10 oz. and partner Dan Washington (non-boater) with five fish weighing 14 lbs., for a total team weight of 15 lbs., 10 oz.

Payne (boater) with two fish weighing 2 lbs., 5 oz. and partner Guy Germain (nonboater) with no fish, for a total team weight of 2 lbs., 5 oz. The Big Fish winner was Tom Brown with a bass weighing 5 lbs., 5 oz. Bassmasters meetings are held on the second Thursday

of each month at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center (151 Civic Center Way). Royal Palm Bassmasters tournaments are held the following Sunday. Dues are $25 a year; tournament entry fees are $30 per person. For more information, call Irene at (561) 793-7081.

BTA Wins Polo’s Joe Barry Memorial Cup

Playing to a crowd of more than 3,000, two Texas teams went head to head in the finals of the Joe Barry Memorial Tournament at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington last Sunday. But at the end of the day, it was Midland, Texas’ BTA that captured the tournament 13-10 over actor Tommy Lee Jones’ San Saba team.

Jones’ San Saba, named after his hometown in Texas, dominated the first two chukkers, but seemed to lose steam during the second half when BTA’s Hector Galindo scored two from the field in

the fourth, and his teammate Jeff Blake scored a crucial penalty shot, taking the lead 7-6.

“The second half we started to play our game, that led to our win. We played like we like to play — wide open,” said seven-goaler Galindo, who was named the game’s most valuable player and played with a mouth full of stitches. “I took a mallet to the mouth and fractured my teeth in the first game.” But it was not just Galindo and his tough, no-holdsbarred attitude that carried his team to victory. Team captain and owner Kelly Beal scored

two crucial field goals during the first and third chukkers, while Blake scored four penalty shots, and Pablo Spinacci scored an additional three from the field.

“When we put this team together, we knew it was a team that would give 100 percent, and it really worked out that way,” Galindo said. “Today everybody gave 110 percent. It felt good.”

Getting underway next is the Ylvisaker Cup, which began Thursday, Jan. 22 with nine teams competing in a single-elimination tournament.

The Joe Barry Memorial

had seven teams competing for the cup dedicated to Hall of Fame polo player Joe Barry. Earlier in the day, Mt. Brilliant captured its first title as they defeated EFG Bank 1312 in the Bobby Barry Subsidiary Cup.

The International Polo Club Palm Beach hosts professional polo play from January through April. Every Sunday at 3 p.m. games are played on Stanford Field and everyone is welcome. For more information, call (561) 204-5687 or visit www.inter nationalpoloclub.com. The polo game hotline is (561) 282-5290.

The Wellington Roller Hockey League’s Player of the Week is five-year-old Josh Miloch, who plays forward for the Mighty Tykes Division’s Panthers. His jersey number is 10, and he shoots right.

Miloch’s favorite hockey team is the Detroit Red Wings. His favorite hockey player is his dad. Miloch’s favorite video game is Wii Super Smash Brothers, his favorite food is pizza, and his favorite TV show is SpongeBob SquarePants Miloch started playing roller hockey with the WRHA at the age of four. He has developed a passion for hockey and playing video games. What Miloch loves most about playing hockey is hanging around with his teammates, scoring goals and doing the practice drill called “the Joshy,” in which the players race through a course and are required to jump over obstacles. Something most people don’t know about Miloch is that he loves play-

ing practical jokes on his family. The Village of Wellington is currently accepting roller hockey registration for the upcoming season. Call Wally at (561) 252-5478 for more information.

NFL Stars, PBSO SWAT Team To Play In Charity Softball Game

National Football League stars led by Randy Moss, Matt Cassel, Wes Welker, Vince Wilfork, Tedy Bruschi and Sammy Morris have committed to join New England Patriots teammate Heath Evans to play members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team in a charity softball game on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. The game is open to the public. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages seven and under. Tickets are available on TicketMaster and at the PBSO Headquarters on Gun Club Road. Proceeds from the game

will benefit the not-for-profit Heath Evans Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.

“I’m proud that my teammates and friends will participate in the softball game,” said Evans, the Patriots’ starting fullback who grew up in Palm Beach Gardens and graduated from the King’s Academy. “It will be a fun game for the players and the fans, and we’re raising money for a good cause, one that my wife Beth Ann and I strongly believe in. I’m hoping that we can hit the ball and run the bases without embarrassing ourselves!”

While Evans laughs about his teammates’ softball abilities, he is very serious about the foundation that bears his name. Started in 2006 to help children who have been sexually abused, it’s something Evans learned about firsthand because his wife was a victim of sexual abuse as a child.

“Being in the NFL gives me a platform to bring attention to a cause that doesn’t receive a lot of attention,” Evans said. “When people hear about it and learn more about it, hopefully they become motivated to help sexually abused children and their families.”

Evans said the foundation provides access to a variety

of programs, treatments and services in communities with great need and scarce resources. “The softball game is another way to bring attention to this problem, and it’s a big fundraiser for us,” Evans said. “We’re excited about joining with the PBSO SWAT team to host a wonderful family event for the entire community.”

A limited number of sponsorships are available for the game, including serving as the bat boy or girl as well as dugout manager for Evans’ team. For information on these and other opportunities, contact Glenn Martin at (561) 282-6345 or glenn.martin@ heathevans.org.

Second place winner Tom Brown.First place winner (non-boater) Dan Washington.

Heath Evans

Josh Miloch

Getting Ready For Drill Team Competition At The S.F. Fair

The annual drill team competition at the South Florida Fair took place last Saturday, Jan. 18. About 300 happily raucous fans showed up at the horse tent at the South Florida Fairgrounds on that cool and breezy day to support their favorites. Participants said the footing in the ring was perfect and not so deep as in previous years.

The new person in charge at the tent this year is Ruth Phillips. “I’ve been a helper on the committee for 27 years,” she said. “This year I was asked to take over for Norma Von Fossen, who has run it forever. This year, the buck stops here with me.”

Ruth started organizing the show and displays last summer, meeting with the clubs and talking to a lot of people. “It’s very tiring,” she said. “But we have very good results. Every day I tell everyone we’re going to have a happy, happy horse tent.”

Certainly, everyone attending last Saturday seemed happy. There were riders, helpers, coaches, families, spectators, friends, judges and lots and lots of horses.

“It’s very organized this year, flowing well,” said Kim Hall, the coach of the Spur of the Moment Drill Team from Loxahatchee and The Acreage. She was busy getting her riders ready for the three classes they’d be competing in.

A drill team involves groups of riders ages four to 12 or older, riding to music in intricate patterns in a coordinated fashion. When done correctly, it looks almost like an equestrian kaleidoscope or a mounted Broadway musical number. When done in-

Forum Stop The Corruption

continued from page 1 islators to tighten Florida’s Sunshine Law, which is intended to restrict officials from discussing business outside of public meetings. Although not required to do so by the Sunshine Law, Santamaria said he records any conversation he has with special interests in order to remain above board. “All meetings with special interests are recorded and made public,” he said. “I know of

Letters continued from page 4 tors). Since this issue impacts the safety and security of our community as a whole, I encourage everyone to express their thoughts on this important issue to their duly elected representatives.

Richard Valuntas

Royal Palm Beach

Margolis Leaves Big Shoes To Fill

For the past six years, Bob Margolis has worked tirelessly as a member of the Wellington Village Council to make Wellington a better place to live. He approached the issues by doing his homework, giving each issue its due and thorough consideration, and then voting his conscience on the merits.

Wellington residents owe Bob Margolis their thanks for serving the community by stepping forward and volunteering to do what could be at times a difficult, time consuming and thankless job, and for doing so with honesty, integrity and determination — traits which, sadly all too often these days, seem lacking in some elected officials.

I can only hope that the remaining members of Wellington’s council will use the standard set by Mr. Margolis as a measure to guide them in selecting who will serve as his replacement, because that person will have some big shoes to fill.

Thanks Bob, for all of your hard work and a job well done.

Richard Tolbert Wellington

Don’t Change Noise Rules

On Jan. 13, a Wellington Village Council meeting was held. On the agenda was Ordinance 2009-01 (noise standards), which our village has in place. This was a request to start landscaping equip-

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

correctly, it looks like a dangerous mess.

Ten teams showed up to compete in three different classes: Juniors (riders 17 and under), Quad (groups of four riders) and Open. Some groups rode in two or more classes.

Riding with a drill team requires a lot of time, dedication and commitment. Jackie McLain, coach of the Williston Junior Horsemen Drill Team and rider on the Great Adventure Drill Team, said these two groups traveled five and a half hours, with their horses and all their costumes and equipment, to compete at the fair.

“Williston is south of Gainesville,” Jackie explained. “We drove down on Friday to be ready to ride today. Except, one of our riders got hurt last night, and we ended up in the emergency room. It had nothing to do with horses. She was horsing around with her sister at the hotel and twisted her knee. She’s OK, but she won’t be riding today.”

Typically, Jackie said, drill teams practice once a week and then ramp it up to twice a week the month before a competition. Just then, one of her riders came over with a complaint.

“No griping, or we won’t come back again,” Jackie advised her. “Smile and ride. Smile and ride.”

Like most of the competitors, the members of the Williston Juniors own their own horses. Jackie explained both the Williston Juniors and Great Adventure are Christian drill teams, reflected in the colors of their costumes and their music choices. The black was for sin, white for being washed, red for the blood of Christ and gold for God’s glory. Their music is upbeat contemporary Christian.

“This is the second time we’ve shown here at the South Florida Fair,” Jackie said. “Some of our members have been riding with the group for a year and a half, and some for only six months. We have about a dozen members ages seven to 15, and who gets to come depends on school grades and availability.”

no other public official who engages in tapings.”

He said that although an elected individual commented that his practice would make business interests nervous, he asked why an honest businessman would have cause to fear. “Why would they get nervous if everything is on the up-and-up?” Santamaria asked.

The Sunshine Law is a good instrument to protect the citizens from corruption, Santamaria said, but it doesn’t go far enough and few officials make a conscious effort to live up to it. “The Sunshine Law is repeat-

ment on a golf course earlier than 7 a.m. and Sundays earlier than 9 a.m. After hearing what was said, the Binks Forest Golf Club management is just wrong.

Yes, when you buy on a golf course, there will be landscaping equipment starting early. I can’t say if headlights in the bedroom at 5:30 a.m. was part of the deal. On the other hand, when you buy a golf course, you are also aware of the laws and ordinances that are in place. If tee time is at 7:30 a.m. and management stated it takes ten minutes a hole, do the math; by 7:30 a.m., they should be on the fourth hole when the first tee time starts.

Management also said there was a letter from the Cypress Forest Homeowners’ Association (Binks Preserve) President Kathy Mirra stating our community supports the earlier hour when never asked. This letter should have been her own personal letter, not from our HOA, which is against policy. The council clearly stated they are not enforcing current code on the golf course. Does this ring a bell… selective enforcement? Also, changing the rule to fit the players — what happens when Binks’ owner asks for 140 homes and not 90, a three-year extension for development? When does it stop? Why make laws when the council keeps changing them and seeing nothing wrong with doing so?

Bart Novak Wellington

Unger: People Before Politics

Never have I seen such a perfect description of events as Don Brown presented to us in last week’s Town-Crier (“Scathing Bowen Letter To Council Lands Like A Grenade,” Don Brown’s Point of View, Jan. 16). Recently, there has been much debate by people opposed to Palm Beach Community College. And for the most part, it ap-

Dawn Warsing is the coach and a member of the Great Adventure Drill Team, which consists of eight adults.

“We’ve been riding together for five years, but we have some new members who joined six months ago,” she said. “Getting a bunch of adults to commit to a drill team, weekly practices and going to competitions is hard. I appreciate their dedication. Being a Christian group, we ride for the glory of God. It’s fun to share the message in a place where people don’t expect it. That’s our main goal.”

Showing in a drill team isn’t cheap. Some teams, like the Diamond Divas, four young girls from Okeechobee, have sponsors. The Williston Juniors and Great Adventure held speed shows as fundraisers at their local arena over the summer, which helped offset the costs of the entry fees and hotel bills. Each person was still responsible for finding their own way to the fair. All the other teams were from the West Palm Beach area.

As the first groups entered the arena to warm up, the backstage area was abuzz with people preparing for their turn. Visitors wandered in and out, squeezing through narrow aisles filled with tack trunks, saddle racks, hay bales, folding camp chairs, racks of costumes hanging in garment bags, equipment of every type and stripe, abandoned soda cans, halters, lead ropes, blankets, boots, buckets and brushes.

On the ground, a large flat rectangle of cardboard bore numerous black and glittery silhouettes of hooves. “Do you want your blue reins?” someone called out.

Visitors, friends, riders and coaches — everyone was busy. Horses were being led here and there, groomed, tacked up, or just waiting patiently in stalls for their time to shine. To be continued…

The South Florida Fair is open through Sunday, Feb. 1. There are ongoing demonstrations and exhibits in the horse tent every day and evening. On Saturday, Jan. 24 watch Arabians at 4 p.m. and Paso Finos at 6 p.m., and on Sunday, Jan. 25, cutting horses at 10 a.m., three drill teams at 11 a.m., the Peewee Posse at 2 p.m. and the Old Timers Fun Show (for riders over 50) at 3 p.m. An in-house fun show starts at noon on Sunday, Feb. 1.

Groups with exhibits include Palm Beach Farrier Supply, Outsiders Drill Team, the Palm Beach County 4-H Horse Program, the South Florida Mustang Club, Animal Health spon-

sored by Palm Beach Equine, the Gold Coast Arabian Horse Club of Florida, the Arrowhead Appaloosa Club, Sunshine Paso Finos, the Florida Wild Horse & Burro Association, the Florida Quarter Horse Association and Dusty Roses Drill Team. The club booths will be judged on Jan. 24. Stop by to see the fun and support local horse clubs.

edly violated,” he said. “I would say a small minority follows the letter of the Sunshine Law, and some regularly violate it without thinking about it.”

The Sunshine Law is also deficient because it doesn’t cover a single official acting in secret with special interests. He noted that all the recent local corruption cases revolved around things that transpired in private meetings involving a single official. “It’s easier to cut a deal with one than with two,” he said. Campaign finance rules also present loopholes that need to be closed, Santamar-

pears to be disgruntled [former Wellington mayor] Tom Wenham fans who cannot accept the trouncing he received in our last election, and supporters of exiting councilman Bob Margolis.

There also appears to be posturing for future elections, by the supporters of their candidates. They even exposed their hand, when Leonard Schaffel stated in the TownCrier, “if the majority of the members of council do vote favorably in that regard, sign me up for the first signature on the recall petition.” (Letters, Jan. 9) Is this what our democracy and elections are about… sour grapes? Imagine if we had to recall elections every time a few disgruntled ex-mayor and excouncilman supporters and committee people don’t get their way?

Our mayor said it perfectly: “they were elected to make hard decisions,” but instead “are running for cover.” “Why do we need more input and studies, we have spent $800,000 in studies already?” This is about weakkneed councils of the past who couldn’t make decisions, and now plain old political posturing for the mayor’s seat and county commissioner’s office, nothing more, nothing less.

Some important history: our village parks were initiated before Bob Margolis came into the picture by one Debbie Brisson. She even left elected office to build our sports facility. This was her brainchild, her dream. More than anyone else, she made it happen. And then, due to politics and some of the same “sour grapes” people, she was forced out as recreation director. We also lost the best public works director (Ken Roundtree) and our village engineer under Wenham and Margolis and Charlie Lynn, our previous village manager. The letter writers and retired politicians who don’t want the college tell us we have to pay the mortgage and

ia said. One practice called “bundling” circumvents the law that prevents an entity from contributing more than $500 to a candidate’s campaign.

“If someone has six or seven or 25 different enterprises, they can make six or seven or 25 $500 contributions,” Santamaria said. “This is a good rule that is easily circumvented. We’ve got to speak out and change that.”

Santamaria also called for a clampdown on “527 groups,” named after a section of the federal tax code, which can circumvent campaign contribution regula-

lose taxes as the reason for their dissent, but very conveniently leave out that, “as is” or putting in more recreation commits us to paying the mortgage and no new taxes also... To date, recreation costs about 65 percent or more of our village budget, for less than 15 percent of our population. Isn’t it about time we have a city hall, not trailers and a strip mall, and how about a college for our youth, because high school is no longer sufficient in today’s job market, and how about a seniors facility if the land and money become available, down the road? Certainly the old council, while the coffers were overflowing, ignored much, including Bob Margolis...

Bob Margolis made a decision to run for office outside of Wellington, and lost, and to quote a recent letter (by a friend of his) to the TownCrier, “Bob had examined running for many political spots, before and during his tenure on the council.” So I was correct in my musical chairs assertion... We need new blood, new ideas and someone who will stay for a while and not just consider this a stepping stone!

There is talk of splitting up the parcel [K-Park] to recoup some of our investment, and that sounds good, and if the college cannot afford to build now, our council can sit back and plan, but if the right deal comes along, I trust our elected leaders to stop the politics and represent us...

Darell Bowen was elected to bring change and responsibility, just as Barack Obama, but we must help them and not allow a vocal few to ruin it for all of us. Cabals of dissidents threatening recalls and sour grapes doesn’t help. We need to band together in these hard times to protect our village and our nation. It’s time to end political posturing and work together. The people are tired of the “old politics as usual.” George Unger Wellington

tions in order to spend unlimited amounts of money, often to smear opposing political candidates.

Santamaria said he did not know what a 527 organization was until he ran for county commission. He had political strategist Richard Giorgio, whose firm advised Santamaria during his campaign, explain more about 527 groups. “A 527 is where an individual or individuals looking to support or oppose a candidate and supporters can make unlimited contributions,” Giorgio said. “It’s a way to get around the $500 limit. The only restriction on 527s is they cannot do what is called ‘direct advocacy.’ Instead of ‘vote for or vote against someone,’ [their message] is something innocuous, such as ‘so-and-so has been arrested for illegal activity. Call him and tell him you’re unhappy with his activity.’”

Giorgio said Santamaria was singled out by 527 groups that did not want him elected, as was Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, who offered his own views on politics and corruption.

“People who know me know I’m not a good politician,” Bradshaw said. “I like meeting the people, but the first time ran, I wanted to quit halfway through. To have to raise $850,000 is ridiculous to get elected. The news media charges $3,000 for 30 seconds. You’re going to find people who can bundle. All people in the election process bundle. A wife and husband, that’s a bundle.”

Bradshaw said he teaches an ethics course in law enforcement at Lynn University and explained that ethics, or a lack of them, is present at all levels. “It starts with accepting the first free cup of coffee,” he said, which is also unethical on the part of the offerer.

Bradshaw, who was in uniform, said that before he ar-

Blotter continued from page 6 possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was issued a notice to appear in court and released from the scene.

JAN. 21 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched Wednesday night to an optical shop on State Road 7 regarding a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 8:40 and 9:10 p.m. someone broke the front door lock and entered the business. Approximately $13,460 worth of designer eyeglasses were stolen. Latent prints were obtained from the front door. There

rived at the meeting, he had been to a Starbucks location, where he insisted that a worker accept money for his cup of coffee. “He said, ‘no — we don’t charge law enforcement.’ I had to force them to take the money.”

Palm Beach County Republican Party Chairman Sid Dinerstein noted that McCarty got in trouble because she paid $99 to stay at a hotel that usually charges $1,000 and did not disclose that when she was voting on an issue that affected the owner.

“The owner of the hotel was in front of the county commission wanting money,” Dinerstein said. “When she voted on his side and didn’t tell anybody, it’s not a whole lot different than the sheriff taking coffee for free.” Alan Johnson, the State Attorney’s Office’s newly minted senior counsel for public integrity, said that the attitude of “just going along with the program” regarding official graft had gone on far too long.

“This will be the first time that a senior state attorney is dedicated solely, totally, completely to fight against public corruption and to fight for integrity,” Johnson said. “It’s not what we’re against as much as what we are for. There’s nothing more central to a free society than honest government. There’s nothing more harmful to effective and efficient government than the cynicism that comes from the perception of corruption.” Johnson said most of the cases he is working on now are against paid municipal staff because the office lacks strong enough laws to prosecute elected officials, but with the support of his boss, newly elected State Attorney Michael McAuliffe, Johnson intends to work to enact state laws that will enable them to do so. He said the scale of a misconduct violation makes no difference, and encouraged anyone who observes infractions to report them.

was no suspect information at the time of the report. A countywide be-on-the-lookout notice was issued in reference to the crime.

JAN. 21 — Two women were arrested for shoplifting Wednesday night at the WalMart Supercenter in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, a store security officer observed 20-yearold Jennifer Pinzas of Wellington and 18-year-old Barbara Dodson of Royal Palm Beach place unpaid items into shopping bags and attempt to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. They were both placed under arrest and transported to the county jail.

Sarah Payne and Monica Chavez of the Diamond Divas.

Members of the South Florida Mustang Junior team before warmup.

Williston Juniors team coach Jackie Mclain with one of the team members.

Members of the Williston Jr. drill team.

Once I’m Done With My Funeral, I’ve Still Got Lots More To Do

I’m not dead yet, but when I am, I’ll have so much to do.

I have this mental list of things I want to accomplish when the clocks finally stop and eternity is on my side. Rather than sit around on my cloud all day strumming a harp, I’ve got things to do, places to go, people to see. I’ve also got a list of questions I need answered before I can rest in peace.

A lot of these questions start with “what if?” and relate to “roads not taken.” And I’m not interested in seeing variations in the course of history or science. (“What if the dinosaurs hadn’t been wiped out? If the U.S. had separated into two countries following the Civil War? If the automobile had never been invented?”) I’m not interested in that kind of thing. I’m leaving that for deceased profes-

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

sors to follow up on. I’m only interested in the what-ifs of my history.

What if I’d taken that job as an au pair and traveled the world with that rich family when I was 20? What if I had moved in with my college sweetheart? What if I’d never moved to Florida ? Those were decisions that were important at the time and undoubtedly influ-

enced the course of my life.

If I could be assured that eternity is as long as they say, I’d like to virtually backtrack, following each path to what would have been its natural conclusion… Find out if I would’ve been better off. Or worse. I mean, if I’d accepted the au pair job, I could’ve fallen in love with some guy in Paris and ended up living there. If I’d moved in with my college sweetheart, I might have had children — different children than I have now.

And if I’d never moved to Florida, I’m pretty sure I would’ve frozen to death at some Wisconsin bus stop — or perhaps I would have moved south anyway, but instead to New Mexico.

Here’s something else I’d like to do. Assuming that the “next” world runs parallel to

ours (and this is a rather big assumption, one I made up myself), I’d like to travel around next to various people and see if I can influence how they do things.

Say I look down from my cloud and see that my niece is out shopping. Say I also know which pair of jeans is going to look the best on her out of all the jeans in the store. Could I wave a ghostly hand and knock them off the display table so they land in her path?

Would I be allowed to do that?

I mean, lots of people believe that a penny on the ground is a message of love from someone who’s “gone before.” If that’s true, I’m going to send winning lottery numbers to my loved ones. I’ll ask Houdini how to do it. I hope I can find him.

Oh, I’ve got so much to do!

TV And Radio Once Brought Us Together, But Now Isolate Us

The rise of radio and television networks has been credited with pulling America together as a nation. After all, a country the size of the United States that contains hundreds of different ethnicities and probably thousands of smaller cultural subgroups, comes together relatively well. That may change as modern technology creates an individualization of culture so extreme it might be called micro-cultures. Some may be as small as one individual.

Second-generation kids from just about everywhere quickly blend in with the American over-society. That is a rarity in the world. While minority groups in many parts of the world riot because they are kept out of power and never wind up as part of the mainstream, this is generally not true in this country. In India, those in the caste of untouchables, their children, and their children’s children will have that status theoretically until the end of time. In Africa, there are ethnic wars between tribal groups, including several that have led to genocide. In Europe, minorities often stay

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

separate for generations in atmospheres that are hostile.

In schools in this country, it is often hard to pick out how long a child’s family has been in the country, or even which country they come from. And our national media deserves credit for what is has done.

Unfortunately, that will not last. Radio splintered long ago. There are thousands of different stations with hundreds of formats. People do not simply listen to “music radio” any more. They listen to oldies, classic rock, alternative, heavy metal and many other flavors. And, of course, there are at least as many

varieties of Latin music and rap. The rise of iPods has led to each person’s being able to create their own musical environment, unique to the individual.

Television is now going the same way. I remember reading that the final episode of the series M*A*S*H drew 62 million viewers. Keep in mind that there were about 250 million Americans back then, so about a quarter of the country was watching.

Last week, American Idol had 30 million viewers. In an America of 300 million, it was watched by only ten percent of the population. And that was far better than the nexthighest-rated shows, which only were watched by about 18 million.

In the old days, when the networks ruled the land (which almost sounds now like when the dinosaurs ruled), there were generally only three channels available. In some places, there was also a public television station. There was not all that much to see and there were no DVDs or pay-on-demand service.

Turn to the show guide on Comcast or Dish

Network these days and there are hundreds of choices. We have a whole group of stations, mostly centered on ESPN and Fox that only show sports. They had to invent some sports to fill up time! But a sports fan can stay happy all day without watching anything from the major networks. We can have Law & Order all day long with video on demand. There are at least a dozen movies playing on premium stations. We also have DVRs (may the inventor have a long and happy life!), which allow us to watch shows on our own schedules without the commercials. People used to know all the ad slogans from commercials. Now they see a commercial for only a couple of seconds. But we are creating micro-subcultures through this individualization. That has a lot of good points, but on the other hand, we might just be losing the glue that holds us together as Americans. As this move advances, we will share less with our fellow citizens. Freedom might come to be defined as just another word for nothing else to watch.

Too Cheap To Pay The Tolls On The Information Superhighway

Living in the Dark Ages with my Internet service is starting to haunt me. I still use a dial-up service. When my e-mail friends send me videos or oversized e-mails, I very rarely receive them.

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

Sometimes it takes me more than an hour to download some of my e-mails. When I finally get to view them, I have sound but no video. I am at the point where I have sent all my e-mail buddies a letter begging them not to send me any more videos. Most of them have been cooperating, but some haven’t. Some have called me to ask why I sent out my no-videos request. I didn’t want to but I had to admit to my friends about my lousy choice in selecting an Internet service provider. To a person, they all told me to change it. “Why should I?” I answered. “I only receive and send e-mails, I very rarely if ever get on the Internet at my home, and I only pay $9.95 a year.”

If I find I must get on the Internet, I go to the home of one of my sons and use his computer. Their services are all top-shelf. I even have an e-mail address on one of my son’s computers (not by my choice). I now admit to myself and to the rest of the world that I don’t have the proper Internet service (this hurts) because I am cheap. That is the answer, short and to the point. I am the

cheapest person I know. In fact, I’m thinking of writing a book about how to be cheap in today’s world. I know it would be a best-seller, because when it comes to being cheap, I am positive no one is better at it than me. The only thing I am not cheap with is my grandkids. I can’t resist giving them things that just a few short years ago would never have entered my mind. Maybe its because a few short years ago I didn’t have any grandkids to pull at my heartstrings. Two of my grandkids have better Internet providers than I do. My excuse for that is they go on the Internet more than I do, and I am convinced my Internet-provider problem is a generational thing. But if I may be even more honest, I wouldn’t even have a computer in my house if it weren’t for filing this column. Once upon a time I would walk my column (handwritten) to the Town-Crier office, until

they finally said, “no more.” I still know some folks of my own generation who don’t have and don’t even know how to use a computer. And they all seem to be pretty happy and sane. And most of them have no intention of buying or learning how to use a computer. On the other side of the coin, I don’t know anyone younger than me who doesn’t have or use a computer. I do understand that computers are in our lives to stay. I also realize that in today’s world, computers do almost everything. I just want to live the rest of my life in the ’60s. I am starting to think I am the only one in the world who feels this way. I am not ready to enter today’s world. But I do promise you this: if I do change my mind and decide to enter today’s world, you guys will be the first to know.

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CASE MANAGER — Case manage middle/high school students, recruit/retain volunteers in Glades area. Public speaking. Computer lit. 80% in-county travel. AA/BS. Office in Pahokee. Non profit organization. Low 30's. Send resume to takestockinchild@att.net

Earn $1,000 - $3,200 a month to drive new cars with ads. www.YouDriveCars.com

ATTENTION SALES PEOPLElarge Incomes Attainable Using Your Skills! Medical Giant Expanding! Learn more! 646-222-0291

MEDICAL GIANT EXPANDING!New Immune Technology Revolutionizes Medicine! Large Income Potential for Qualified Independent Sales Professionals! 1 min. message. 646-222-0292

1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK - Green 124,000 +miles, 8 cylinder, big tires, hitch. $3,795 firm. 561-315-1508

1997 GREY SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE — new a/c, clean and well maintained. Engine and transmission in excellent condition and new top. Feel free to take it to a mechanic and check it out. Mint condition $4400 (561) 793-5569 or (917) 494-3422

1990 RED MAZDA MIATA CONVERTIBLE — mint condition includes hard top. New clutch, tuneup in excellent condition. Great on gas. (561) 793-5569 OR (917) 4943422

1999 GOLD V-6 MERCURY COUGAR - Manual Transmission great shape 1 owner. Garage kept. Rims, tires, exhaust & intake upgraded. $4,300. Call 798-1951 or 351-6305

1996 CHEVY BLAZER S-10 - New A/C. No Rust. No. Dents. Chrome rims. $3,000 561-729-0784

1999 DODGE RAM 1500 VanWhite 1 owner, 104,000 miles, A/C, new tires, 6 cylinder. $1,400. (561) 309-0481

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JAN. 24th & Jan. 25th 8 a.m. — Odds & Ends. Solid Wood Full Size Bunk Bed. 15212 73st. N. (North of Orange Blvd. Hall Blvd. & 73rd st)EVERYTHING MUST GO!

NEXT SATURDAY JAN. 31ST, 7

a.m. - 668 Lake Wellington Drive in Monterey on the Lake. Furniture, new household items, artwork, etc.

CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CALL 793-7606

GOLF CART 05 EZGO - Flawless. Totally refurbished, frame to roof. $2,450. Delivered 954-461-9999

ROYAL PALM BEACH — ROOM FOR RENT IN CONDO — Private room & private bath. All utilities included & high speed internet. $675/ mo. (1 cat on premises) 561-4222910

WELLINGTON — ROOM FOR RENT on yearly basis fully furnished bedroom w/bathroom in house in central Wellington. $750 Utilities included. Non-Smoker. 561313-4967

LOXAHATCHEE — furnished. Use of amenities and heated pool. All on 2 ½ acres. 561-329-1802

CONDO FOR RENT — Sheffield Woods Condo 2/2 immaculate condition. Updated appliances new A/ C, new roof. Move in today $950 per month. 1st, last & Security. 561793-9619

HOUSE FOR RENT - 14593 Horseshoe Trace, Wellington $3,800 monthly furnished. $1,650 unfurnished includes pool and yard service 3 bedrooms/2 baths on a canal. 305-226-7321 or 305-323-4493

LAND FOR RENT INDUSTRIAL ZONED up to 2 acres. Also 1200 SF warehouse, Call Steve 754224-1416

YORKIE PUPPIES - 2 Adorable female puppies for sale. Great pet for any child or adult. 561-790-3815

1 BR/1 BA CONDO - Over 55 community $750/mo. furnished. Completely redone, all new appliances. Call Madelyn. 561-422-2910

NEW APARTMENT FOR RENT - 1

EQUESTRIAN COUNSELING

SERVICES — Counseling for "Horse People" by a licensed professional therapist and "Horse person."Offering Traditional and Equine Assisted Therapy to help horse people overcome Anxiety, Depression, Relational Conflict, Addictions, Substance Abuse, Adjustment Disorders, Transitional Issues and more. www.sagrising.com/ ECS 561-791-8939

BD/1 BA, full kitchen, 880 sq. ft. All tile $1,000/Mo. 561-329-1802

1182 Periwinkle Place in Wellington just blocks from schools and shopping -- cottage style 2 bedroom/2 bath home Recently remodeled with faux painted walls, beadboard, glass-paned cupboards, top-of-theline appliances (fridge with water purifier, stacking washer/dryer, air/ heat, etc.), satellite TV hookup, lots of closet space, full size pantry. For info or to arrange a home tour, call Markat (561) 722-6444. CALL PWTW

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

SeaBreeze Air Systems, Inc. — for Air Conditioning and Heating Indoors and Outdoors. Let us heat your pool for year round enjoyment. Call 561-964-3817

ACCOUNTING, TAXES , AND BOOKKEEPING SERVICE - for small business. Reasonable Rates! Payroll Service for $75 a month. http://www.yourCFOservices.com info@yourCFOservices.com 561282-6515

ARE YOUR TREES READY FOR A HURRICANE? — Florida Arborists has highly trained professionals to provide superior and quality services. 561-568-7500

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/ Software setup, support & troubleshooting www.mobiletec.net. 561-248-2611

HOME INSPECTIONS — Mold inspections, air quality testing, US Building Inspectors mention this ad $20.00 Off. 561-784-8811

PET SITTING/HOUSE SITTING— 25 year Wellington resident retired public servant. Will care for your pets or home while you are on vacation. Reasonable rates - references available 561-603-7877 or 561-798-0950. Ask for Bob.

HORIZON ROOFING QUALITY WORK & SERVICE — Free estimates, No Deposits. Pay upon completion, residential, commercial, reroofing, repairs, credit cards accepted.561-842-6120. Lic.#CCC1328598

ARABIC TUTORING FOR KIDS (Reading & Writing) K-6. Fl. Certified teacher w/teaching experience. 561-386-9342

The only non-profit petting zoo in the area. — featuring parrots, mini horses, ponies, pony rides, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and Llamas and more and farm club. 561-7922666

MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BUILDING CLEANINGS SPECIALISTS — • Pressure Cleaning • Office Cleaning • Residential Cleaning • Parking Lot Maintenance • Concrete Coatings. Call for Free Evaluation. 561-714-3608

RESIDENTIAL HOUSECLEANING

- Monthly, Weekly, Biweekly. Excellent references. Honest. We Do Windows. Call. 561-598-0311

D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3339433 or Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’dWell. & Palm Beach

COMPUTER REPAIR — We come to you! After hours and weekends services available. Spyware/ Adware/Virus Removal, Networking, Wireless, Backup Data, Upgrades. Call Anytime. 561-713-5276

STAFF PLUS — Looking to fill full and part-time positions in customer service. For more info. Call 1-888333-9903

HIGH QUALITY LAMINATE

FLOORING — at affordable prices. Hardwood floors. No deposit until delivery. Contractors welcome. Western Communities resident. Family owned and Operated. Licensed and Insured. Se Habla Español 561-568-6099

GUARDSMAN FURNITURE PRO

— For all your furniture repair needs including finish repairs, structural repairs, upholstery services, chair regluing, antique repairs, kitchen cabinet refurbishing. 753-8689

CAN FIX IT — build it, move it, plant it, and more. Call Bruce, 793-2494.

TFN

BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS, INC. — REMODEL & REPAIRS Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall, kitchens/cabinets/countertops, wood flooring. Bonded/Insured U#19699. 791-9900 Cell: 370-5293

THOMAS YACULLO, INC. — All types of Home Repairs, Handyman Services, 20 Years Experience, professional workmanship, reliable, dependable & inexpensive. Wellington resident. Free Estimates. 561-3838893. SPECIALIZING IN KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

HOME HEALTH AIDE/CNA - Licensed, insured. Experienced: 4 years. Excellent references. Parttime. Call 561-876-6094. CLASSIFIEDS 793-3576

ANMAR CO. —James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-2488528

MCA CUSTOM WOODWORKING, INC. — “Make your home standout from the rest” Call us for all your home improvement needs. Kitchen & bathroom remodeling, custom wall units, design your home office, cabinetry, tile & drywall repair. Lic. #U-19564. Bonded & Ins. 561-7235836

WWW.GARABAR.COM

Discount pricing. Remodeling & Repairs •Kitchens • Baths •Additions • Painting • Doors • Windows. No Deposit Until Permit • Credit Cards Accepted. 561-337-6798

Lic. #CCC1327252 & CGC1510976

DAVID A. CLAUD, MS, LMHC, CAP - Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addictions Professional. Caring for Individuals with Substance Use Problems, Anxiety & Depression, Life Adjustment Issues, and Stress Related Concerns. (561) 398-5132

THE CHIP ERASER - Dents, bumper repair, custom color matching, chips, scratches, mobile auto body repair. I come to you at your convenience. 561-704-3164

Mold & Mildew Inspections — Air Quality Testing, leak detection. US building inspectors, mention this ad for discount. 561-784-8811

OUTDOOR KITCHENS FROM $1200 Increase home value while you save gas and electricity. Entertain you friends with your new custom bar & grill. Custom built quality materials. Low priced add on bar. Use your grill or economical cart grill. www.outdoorbbqisland.com Greg. 561-531-3141

ARMENTO PAINTING & SONS,

INC. –– Painting, Interior, Exterior. Pressure cleaning. Custom painting, faux art. Lic. No. U14736. 7988978. BD

JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING

INC. ––– Interior/Exterior, artistic faux finishing, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair, & roof painting/cleaning. Free est. Call 798-4964. Lic.#U18473

LET US AD A LITTLE COLOR TO YOUR LIFE — Residential/Commercial. Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Owner/Operator. Ask for Paul 561-309-8290.

COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free estimates - Insured. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident.

PAINTING — HOME PAINTING Interior - Exterior. $1290 +tax up to 2500 sq. ft. (walls area) 561-674HOME(4663) Masterpiece Painting Contractors Inc. CC U#21111 Lic./ Ins.

CREATIVE PAINTING SYSTEMS, INC. — Interior • Exterior • Residential Specialists. WE DELIVER WHAT WE PROMISE. All work guaranteed. FREE ESTIMATES. Family owned & Operated. Over 23 years experience. Lic. #U-18337 • Bonded • Insured Owner/Operator George Born. 561-686-6701 CALL PWTW SHOPPER SPREE TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFED AD HERE! CALL 793-3576

BRITT PHOTOGRAPHY — Wedding invitation photos, Valentine photos, Special events. Steve 561317-5813

Waterheaters, garbage disposals, faucet repair & replacement service. New construction. Licensed. Bonded. Insured. Wellington Resident 25 years. 561-601-6458. Jeremy James Plumbing, Inc.

ELITE POOL CLEANING —"You dealt with the rest now deal with the best" All maintenance & repairs, salt chlorinator, heaters, leak detection. 561-791-5073. Inquire about 1 months free service.

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING —

Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.Call Butch 561-3096975 BD

PROPERTY CLEANOUT & MAINTENANCE SERVICE - Lawn Care/ Pressure Cleaning. Ins/Lic/Bonded Commercial/Residential. 561-3338388 Foreclosure Cleanout Solution Corp.

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS — Roof painting. Carpentry. License #U13677.967-5580.

ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763.

ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC0067207

WWW.GARABAR.COM — Now is the time for the Best Prices. Re-roof & Repairs. No Deposit Until Permit Credit cards accepted. Free Estimate. 561-337-6798. Lic.#CCC1327252 & CGC1510976

IDEAL ROOFING SYSTEMS — Residential • Commercial • Licensed Bonded • Insured. New Construction Reroofs • Repairs • Roof Tile • Shingles Metal Roofs • Flat Decks • MaintenanceContracts info@idealroofingsystems.com. Palm Beach/Broward Office: 561753-7663 Fax: 561-753-7696. St. Lucie/Indian River. Office: 772288-6440. Fax: 772-287-9008. 11101 S. Crown Way #6, Wellington, FL 33414. Lic. #CCC1326453

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! CRC1329708 798-3132.

ALUMINUM ONE STOP SHOP —

Gutters, downspouts, vinyl/aluminum siding, windows & doors, aluminum railing. Screen enclosures (Repaired & Replaced), carports, porches, and patios. Lic. U17189. P&M Siding Contractors. 561-7919777

ROLL DOWN SHUTTERS — Accordion shutters, storm panels and rolling shutters...prices that can’t be beat. All shutters Systems, Inc. 8630955

AFFORDABLE HURRICANE PROTECTION — 2 - 4 wks. Installed Guaranteed! 10% deposit . Will get you started. All products, Dade County approved. We manufacture our own product. 561-568-6099, 772-342-8705 Lic. & Ins. CGC 1511213

SMALL ENGINE REPAIR AND WELDING - Golf carts - TractorsLawn Mowers - Farm EquipmentATV's - Trailers. Reasonable Rates. Quality work. Pickup and Delivery available. 561-282-7729

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC —

Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004 Lic. #U17871

Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990

INSTALLING IN SOUTH FLORIDA FOR 25 YEARS —Free estimates, residential/commercial, bathroom remodeling, floors, walls, backsplashes, custom designGOLDEN TILE INSTALLATION 561-662-9258

WE DO IT ALL! — Stump Grinding

MATH TUTOR — Algebra I, II and Geometry. Call Chris (561) 346-3608 FCAT SPECIAL ONE FREE WEEK ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING All subjects • Pre-K Adult SAT/ACT • Study Skills • Reading 333-1980 ClubZtutoring.com. America's Largest In-Home Tutoring Co.

PAPERHANGING & PAINTING BY DEBI — Professional Installation & Removal of Paper. Interior Painting, decorative finishes, clean & reliable. Quality work with a woman’s touch. 26 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263

WATER CONDITIONERS FROM

$499.00 —- Reverse osmosis units for the whole house. Mention this ad for equipment checkup and water analysis $19.99561-6896151