Town-Crier Newspaper January 2, 2009

BROWN: NEW YEAR, MORE POLITICS

CAFCI RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

Margolis Reflects On His Six Years Of Council Service

By Mark Lioi Town-Crier Staff Report

Councilman Bob Margolis, with just days left in his tenure on the Wellington Village Council, wants to make one thing perfectly plain: he is not seeking reappointment to his council seat.

Margolis agreed to resign his seat effective Jan. 5 in order to mount an ultimately unsuccessful campaign in 2008 to become Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections. With the council expected to appoint a replacement in the coming weeks, he said he takes exception to recently published reports suggesting he would like to regain his seat.

“You know, I’ve never asked anybody to come back on council,” he told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “I’ve never politicked anybody for that.”

Margolis also calls reports that he is eyeing a run either for mayor of Wellington or a Palm Beach County Commission seat a bit distorted. He said he is quite interested in resuming his public service career, and that either office would be worthy of a run given the right circumstances, but he insists he is not entertaining any political ambitions for the time being.

Community College to build a campus there instead. The proposal would require the village to offer up the land, said to be worth $20 million or more, for free, and Margolis is one of only two councilmen opposed to the deal.

Freshman State Lawmakers Hard At Work Preparing

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Freshman state representatives Joseph Abruzzo (D-District 85) and Mark Pafford (DDistrict 88) have been hard at work on bills they will support in the coming legislative session.

Pafford, who has experience serving as an executive for senior organizations, said the first bill he filed would change wording in the state constitution that refers to the state’s “Department of Elderly Affairs.” Its actual title is the Department of Elder Affairs.

As director of advocacy and public policy for the Area Agency on Aging the past year and CEO for the Alzheimer’s Association of Palm Beach County from 1997 to 2007, Pafford said in the years he has been working with seniors he has never referred to them as elderly.

“The retirement industry is the second largest revenue source in the State of Florida, which is incredible,” Pafford said. “Using the term ‘elderly’ infers some sort of lessening of skills or that they are less able to function, that they are frail, when in fact most seniors I know are much wiser over a lifetime of experience and provide tremendous guidance in either making decisions or running a business. I want to try to rebuild a culture in Florida that celebrates our elder citizens.”

Pafford has asked State Sen. Eleanor Sobel, a fellow Democrat, to sponsor the senate’s companion bill. If the bill is

passed, a constitutional amendment question will appear on a statewide ballot in 2010.

Pafford is also sponsoring a bill that would close a loophole that allows large real estate transactions to take place without taxation.

The loophole allows corporations to avoid paying an accurate documentary stamp fee by arranging transactions as “transfers of assets” in a corporation rather than as “sales of real property,” Pafford said.

As an example, Pafford offered transfers of Phillips Point in West Palm Beach, PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens and Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Centre, which are all officially recorded as selling for as little as $10. Each sale generated about 70 cents in taxes, when the properties actually sold for hundreds of millions of dollars, Pafford said.

A similar bill passed in the State Senate last year but not the State House, and Pafford said he hopes that closing the loophole will generate needed revenue for the state. “I’m hoping that this year we will have some luck bringing in some revenue that should be coming in, which will help in not having to cut important services,” he said.

Pafford is also sponsoring a bill with companion legislation sponsored by State Sen. Dave Aronberg urging Congress to provide more funding for inhome healthcare.

“It’s a really good bill,” Pafford said. “With all the trouble we’re having in Florida in terms

Bills

of dollars, it would help a great deal in terms of people on waiting lists. The bill would help keep people 60 and over out of nursing homes who can get the care they need at home.”

Pafford said he will also sponsor a bill that would provide proper emergency respite for dementia sufferers who wander away from home or an assistedliving facility.

“Right now, if you wander from wherever it is that you live, the police are permitted to take you to a Baker Act [receiving] facility for psychiatric observation,” Pafford said. “If you have dementia, that can potentially be deadly because it’s such a change in your environment. What I’m asking in this bill is that the state permit facilities that are specifically trained in dementia to be able to accept those types of folk into their facility.”

Having recently become director of leadership giving for the Lord’s Place homeless aid organization, Pafford said he has broadened his parameters beyond helping just the elderly.

“I’m working with people who don’t necessarily have a voice,” Pafford said. “The issue is far more complex than people who are drug abusers. These people do not want to live this way. For whatever reason, they were unable to get out of a hopeless situation. They have the ability to gain employment and economic self-sufficiency.”

With new faces in the State Legislature, Pafford said he wants to see it take a new direc-

See BILLS, page 18

“For 25 years I’ve given back to the community, and this is the first year since I’ve been in Wellington that I’m a private citizen,” he said. “I’m not uncomfortable with that, but if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll like to leave the door open.”

Meanwhile, at age 58, Margolis is not about to retire from his career with consumer products giant Proctor & Gamble. His role with the corporation is managing accounts in their little-known healthcare division, a job Margolis said was once described as a “details man.”

“What that means is I call on medical offices and present information to physicians, clinical data, and try to make them comfortable in the pharmaceuticals they prescribe to their patients,” he said. “I don’t sell things.”

Margolis said his service area includes 25 percent of Palm Beach County, and between corporate restructuring and his own freedom from council responsibilities, he said he expects his workload will increase.

“I suspect in the next few weeks I’ll pick up another 25 percent,” he said. “I’ve handled much larger territories before.”

Margolis was originally appointed to fill a council vacancy in 2003, elected to a seat in 2004 and re-elected in 2006. He has long held the purchase of the Kahlert property on State Road 7 — now known as “K-Park” — as one of the finest achievements of his council tenure, but he is stepping down at a time when the fate of the large parcel near the Mall at Wellington Green has yet to be sealed.

Although the council originally purchased the land to provide a “signature park” in the village, three out of five council members have been supportive of a proposal from Palm Beach

Margolis, a recreation activist and previously a member of the village’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, still maintains that the K-Park purchase was one of his finest hours, saying that the village is required in its charter to provide high levels of open space and athletic facilities for its residents.

“Our charter demands we fulfill our level of service to our residents,” he said. “At that time, we were going to be in violation of our charter if we didn’t purchase more park space.” Although it was becoming clear a year ago that the village would not be able to afford to develop the land the way it intended, Margolis maintains that banking the land either for a future park or possible sale in a cash crunch would be far wiser than giving it away and losing any potential revenue from it in the process.

“Most people think that I’m not in favor of the PBCC campus because I want to keep it in hopes of building a park, and when they hear the reasons why I say we shouldn’t gift it away, they’re astonished,” he said. “At the end of the day, if we’re looking for funds, with the reality of the situation, that is almost a revenue source for us if we don’t need any park space.” Margolis said he has much more to be proud of in his sixyear council career, such as the recent rehabilitation of the Binks Forest Golf Course after years of abandonment, uncertainty and residents’ frustrations.

“I think finding a solution for the Binks Forest fiasco was something that I’m very proud of,” he said. “You look at it now and it’s beautiful. All the residents are very happy with the outcome, and I’m very pleased to have been a part of that.” Margolis also takes pride in putting the brakes on a 2004 request by Palm Beach Aggregates to have 1,200 acres of the mining company’s land annexed into the village.

“I was very vocal against

See MARGOLIS, page 18

P.W. Chamber To Break Ground On Building Jan. 17

By Mark Lioi Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to breaking ground on a new, permanent chamber office building in Loxahatchee Groves this month, bringing it one step closer to what Executive Director Jaene Miranda calls “a six-year dream.”

The chamber has been operating for 14 years in a portable, modular building on the site in Loxahatchee Groves Park where the new building will be built. “It definitely has served its purposes, but with a brand-new building, we are definitely keeping up with the growth in the community,” Miranda said. Miranda described the future chamber headquarters as a onestory building that fits in well

with the rural flavor of architecture in Loxahatchee Groves, with “a nice little front porch and a lobby space to market our membership. It has a little Key West flavor,” she said. The new building will expand the chamber’s floor space from 2,600 to 4,000 square feet, Miranda said. “The amount of office space is not changing, but we’re laying out the building more efficiently,” she said.

But much of the increase in size is due to the incorporation of a 1,000-square-foot conference room and a smaller executive conference room, key features that Miranda said will be available for use by community groups.

Six years ago, the chamber envisioned only expanding its current building by adding on

conference room facilities to provide space for community activities, Miranda said. But changes in construction codes, particularly regarding hurricane resistance, made such a project an expensive proposition.

“The expenses associated with retrofitting and adding the new parking and other features would be more expensive than building a new building,” she said. “For instance, roofing — with any major modification, we would have to add columns to support a roof. All the changes you make end up costing you more, or at least as much as building something from scratch.”

As a site for community events, the new building will have ample parking, Miranda said. “In the front will be park-

ing and, of course, the monument sign for the building,” she said. “We’ll have more parking spaces and redesigned lighting for evening events and better security for employees.”

The chamber’s member businesses are contributing to the creation of the new building.

Local engineer Mike Sexton contributed civil engineering services. Local developer Wally Sanger, who retrofitted the current modular building, is contributing the services of his architectural and construction firms.

Meanwhile, Republic Services has agreed to provide waste and debris removal services for the construction project. Miranda also singled out Susan Giddings and Mike O’Dell of O’Dell Land Development Con-

sultants and John Southard from Balfour Beatty Construction for their contributions. “Both John and Sue sit on our board, and between the two of them, they really helped to spearhead this project,” Miranda said. Miranda credited Southard, Sanger and Greenacres Mayor Sam Ferreri, who is also an architect, with efforts to make the new chamber headquarters as environmentally friendly as possible both inside and out. “All these people we consider our inhouse experts on ‘green,’” she said. The landscaping for the new building will consist entirely of native plants, Miranda said, and its internal systems will be as efficient as possible. The plans to build the new

See CHAMBER, page 3

Bob Margolis

The Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) held their annual New Year’s

Eve Dinner Dance on Wednesday night at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Live music was provided by OG, and there was plenty of champagne and dancing all night long. Shown here, Gloria and Maxon Greene toast the arrival of 2009. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

ITID Supervisors: 2008 Productive Year For District

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Two supervisors rank the establishment of new administrative management among the Indian Trail Improvement District’s most significant accomplishments of 2008.

ITID President Michelle Damone said 2008 saw the second year of a rebuilding effort that was bolstered most significantly by a stable administration under the leadership of District Administrator Chris King.

“Having our administrator here for the past year has brought the most stability to that reconstruction,” Damone said.

Supervisor Mike Erickson, who spent most of the year as ITID president, said the district’s recovery from several years of disorganization and dysfunction was aided by King’s management work.

“Probably one of the biggest accomplishments was new management with the new administrator, who went through the process of reorganizing Indian Trail and making it more efficient,” he said.

Damone added that the district has also returned stability to its reserve fund, setting a policy to maintain a minimum of 25 percent of the annual budget.

“Fiscal responsibility is the most significant thing that we have accomplished so far,” she said.

Erickson and Damone also cited the district’s water utility agreement with Palm Beach County as a significant accomplishment. The agreement closed a costly legal battle in which a previous ITID board tried unsuccessfully to stop the county from laying water lines in The Acreage.

Erickson and Damone said residents who are voluntarily contracting for county water refute the claims of critics that most people in The Acreage are happy with well water and that connection costs would be inordinately expensive.

“We took something that was a mess and turned it into a positive,” Damone said. “We had a failing utility department and we had debt that was keeping the district down. We sold the water rights to Palm Beach County, which provides the best quality and has the best rates.”

Damone also rejected accusations from critics that ITID had “sold” easements to the county. “We did not sell the easements,” she said. “These are lease agreements, the same as with FPL, Comcast or the phone company. In return, we got some funding that we can turn around and make some improvements and provide some services such as the community center.”

Damone asserted that a majority of residents along 140th Avenue are in the process of connecting to the county’s water supply. She said that a year from now, the largely negative public perception about county water will have changed.

The water deal also justifies the existence of a $2 million, 12inch water line the district laid in a now-defunct agreement

with the City of West Palm Beach, Erickson said.

In recent months, the ITID board also resolved the final conditions of an agreement that will allow Acreage connections to an extension of State Road 7 the county is building north from Okeechobee Blvd.

The SR 7 extension was probably the most difficult decision the current board has made, Damone said.

“Twelve and a half years ago, when I arrived on the scene, I was a rookie on the topic of State Road 7 and people had been talking about it 20 years prior to me,” she said. “This board finally took the steps, with a bit of a risk, holding the county accountable that they would keep their word and move that road to Northlake Blvd. We took the steps necessary to get this road built all the way to 60th Street.” At ITID insistence, the county has agreed put in traffic-calming measures at the intersections of Orange Grove and Persimmon boulevards, Damone said, as well as signs informing drivers they are entering a residential neighborhood.

“There is going to be drivers’ thinking that road is still State Road 7, so we put some precautionary measures in there, plus we are protecting equestrians out there by making sure there is a clear equestrian path on those connections,” she said. “The hope is to have those connections completed within five years to 60th Street and then continue it all the way to Northlake Blvd. on the existing State Road 7 just east of Ibis.”

The district is also making progress on improvements to Acreage Community Park and Hamlin Equestrian Park, as well as land swap with the county to build a local library branch and put Acreage Community Park back in district hands, Erickson said.

The district will use some of the $6 million gained from the water deal with the county to improve the parks, Erickson said.

Work on the parks includes the addition of a skateboard park and plans for a community center at Acreage Community Park.

“With the existing budget that we have, it will not be a large community center, but it is most important to start with a center we can build on, including open space and an amphitheater for festivals and other community activities,” Damone said. “That’s what’s coming up that’s probably the most significant.” Damone and Erickson also mentioned the progress of plans to improve and install traffic calming devices in The Acreage.

Last month, the board approved the use of several different types of traffic calming devices, including speed tables, painted intersections and roundabouts. Now an overall scheme will be devised for their use, Erickson said.

“We’ve been trying to get through the process for a while,” Erickson said. “Next

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Despite a fractious year in Loxahatchee Groves, officials from both the town and the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District offered hopes that 2009 would be a year of cooperation and progress.

The town and district butted heads in 2008 on control of funding for road maintenance, with some town council members pushing by late summer for the dissolution of the district.

This week, officials from both entities were looking forward to the Jan. 2 inaugural meeting of a four-member intergovernmental cooperation committee devised late in the year to seek solutions to areas of conflict.

But meanwhile, looking back on 2008, Town Clerk Matt Lippman said Loxahatchee Groves showed what it could accomplish as an incorporated municipality, citing the dropping of thoroughfare status for E Road and 140th Avenue as a prime example. Palm Beach County agreed to remove the thoroughfare designation and connection plans for the two roads after vigorous lobbying this year by the

town and other groups. “As a town, we accomplished what we were unable to accomplish for many years under county rule,” he said.

Among other achievements of 2008, Lippman said, the town adopted its first strategic vision to spell out the future direction of Loxahatchee Groves, and following on that, submitted its comprehensive plan to the state in September. The town, hoping that the comprehensive plan will be adopted in early 2009, is busy working on a master road plan that also incorporates equestrian and greenway trails. Lippman also noted that the town, in control of a

and has demonstrated the

Willhite Family Welcomes New Son Born Christmas Eve At WRMC

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite and his wife Alexis got an early holiday gift when Alexis gave birth to a son on Christmas Eve at Wellington Regional Medical Center.

Mark Ryan Willhite came into this world at 4:44 p.m. on Dec. 24 weighing five pounds, 12 ounces. The newest addition to the Willhite family was delivered by Dr. Daxa Patel of Complete Health Care for Women, who also delivered the couple’s first son Luke 18 months ago.

On Tuesday, Willhite told the Town-Crier that he and his wife visited the hospital the morning of Christmas Eve because she was concerned that the baby did not feel as active as usual. He said that after an examination, Dr. Patel decided it would be best to induce labor that day.

Chamber

Raising Money

“He came a little earlier than expected,” Willhite said. “He was due Jan. 6, and he ended up being a Christmas Eve baby.”

Ironically, Willhite said he had been to WRMC just days before to discuss another matter with the hospital’s CEO Kevin DiLallo, but toured the neonatal unit and talked to staff there in the process.

“I had a meeting with him, and he gave me a tour when we were there,” Willhite said. “We toured the new neonatal unit, and it was state of the art. We went to the labor and delivery, and we talked to everyone there.”

Willhite said that despite the early delivery, his wife and new son are both doing well. “Everything is fine, and that’s good,” he said. “He was so small. Luke was eight pounds, three ounces, so Mark is a bit smaller. My wife did a great job in having

another beautiful son. I am so proud of her.”

Willhite also said that he enjoys the distinction of being the first Wellington council member to welcome a new addition to the family while in office.

“Everyone else had children when they were elected,” Willhite said. “I am probably at this point the youngest person ever to be on council, let alone to be having children. We think it’s pretty neat. I think I represent probably half the residents of Wellington. We are a bedroom, family community. We offer good family values and schools, and having kids and raising them in the community is a good thing. Having youth on the council with kids around is neat.”

Willhite, who works for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, was elected to a four-year council term in March 2008.

“This is going to be an $800,000 project when it’s all said and done, and in order to make that kind of commitment on capital, from the standpoint of our trustees and donors, we needed to make sure we had a long-term lease with the county,” Miranda said. But the chamber’s fundraising effort to support the project is ongoing. Miranda said another major sponsorship effort has come from the Royal Palm Auto

continued from page 1 chamber headquarters got a major boost at the start of 2008 when Florida Power & Light presented the chamber with a $100,000 check toward their building fund, Miranda said. Another big step was accomplished later in the year when the chamber finalized a new 30-year lease with Palm Beach County for the acre and a half it occupies in the park.

Mall, which is contributing a car each year for three years as a raffle prize. Beginning this month, the chamber is selling $100 raffle tickets that will allow the winner to pick out any model or make — Toyota, Mazda or Nissan — with a value of up to $30,000. The chamber aims to sell a maximum of 1,000 tickets each year to raise a total of $300,000 for the building fund.

“We’re going to start selling tickets in January, and the drawing each year will be done at our

holiday parade,” Miranda said.

“The winner will get that gift and either keep it themselves or give it to someone.” Tickets will be available via the chamber’s web site at www. palmswest.com, at chamber events and at the chamber offices. Meanwhile, Miranda said she hopes the chamber will be able to move into its new quarters within a year. “I’m hoping by this time next year, we’re in a beautiful new building,” she said.

Chamber staff will be able to monitor progress closely as they will continue to work in the modular building while construction goes on behind them.

“We are not tearing down or getting rid of this building before we move in,” Miranda said.

But once the new building is completed, the old one will have to go, although Miranda said it is quite serviceable, and although weighing in at 40 tons, it’s portable.

“We’re trying to find somebody who wants it,” she said, “somebody who will take it away. We’re willing to donate it if somebody wants to pick it up and take it away — it is moveable.”

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Palms West Chamber of Commerce building are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Jan. 17 at the chamber’s headquarters at 13901 Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. For more information, call the chamber at (561) 790-6200.

Growing Family — Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite holds 18-month-old Luke as his wife Alexis holds newborn Mark.

OUR OPINION

Local Voices Should Be Heard On Future SWA Landfill Site

The Village of Wellington is against it. Royal Palm Beach is against it as well. Both village councils passed resolutions officially opposing it. Yet the Solid Waste Authority may choose to build a new regional landfill on a tract of land located directly along Southern Blvd., at the intersection of Route 98. Known as the Smith property, it is currently the SWA’s preferred location, despite protests from local officials. So far, western communities leaders and residents have been left out of the discussion. For a project that will doubtless have a significant impact on the future of the area, this is unacceptable.

Creating a new landfill is necessary and unavoidable. We understand that. With the existing landfill at Jog Road and 45th Street expected to reach capacity in less than 15 years, it would be unrealistic to think a new one is not needed. Unfortunately, environmental concerns have forced the SWA to abandon its original choice for the landfill site, on land directly to the west of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Still, it is important that the project is handled in a manner that is both sensitive to the economic interests of the area and environmentally friendly. For western communities residents, it is more than just a case of “not in my back

Seniors Club

Honors O’Grady

We were saddened and stunned by the news of Terry O’Grady’s brief illness and passing. Throughout the centuries, philosophers, writers, poets and historians have all tried to define “the measure of a man.” In describing Terry O’Grady, the measure of this man was defined not only by his words, but surely by his deeds. The success and longevity of the Wellington Seniors Club can clearly be attributed to his efforts, vision and foresight. He painstakingly crafted and built a solid foundation so that those who followed would be able to maintain and grow the organization to where it stands today, some 625 members strong. The indelible footprint he left for us is just a small portion of his rich legacy. I shall miss our 20-year friendship.

On behalf of the officers, directors and membership of the Wellington Seniors Club, we offer our deepest condolences to his wife Marge and the entire O’Grady family on their grievous loss.

Howard Trager, President Wellington Seniors Club

PBCC For The Public Good

In [letters to] the Town-Crier, opponents of the proposal to bring Palm Beach Community College here to Wellington have blasted the Wellington Village Council for considering using the K-Park land, which was purchased with taxpayer funds and which they claim is worth $30 million, for a PBCC campus. I strongly disagree.

First of all, this land cost the village $9 million, not $30 million. Maybe it was valued that high at the height of the real estate frenzy, but probably not now. But whatever the exact number with respect to the value of the K-Park land is, the real point here is that this land is now public land, and as such it should be used for a public purpose.

The only way to reap $30 million or anything like that figure from the K-Park land would be to sell it to commercial developers. Commercial development is not a public purpose. Moreover, Wellington voters made clear in the last election that they have had enough of

commercial development. Why? Because voters here in Wellington sensed that in addition to the “real estate bubble” and the “stock market bubble,” we in Wellington have been living through a “commercial development bubble.”

Another argument of opponents against using this taxpayer purchased land for PBCC is that it should be used instead for a signature park with more ball fields. This is a public purpose, but it is certainly not one that will bring in revenue to the village. In fact, it would cost money to build the park and maintain the fields. And besides, the proponents of more ball fields for Wellington are ignoring the fact that there is yet one more bubble here in Florida, especially here in Wellington, and that is the “recreation bubble.” The Village of Wellington can meet the stringent requirements now in our village charter for 10 acres of land for recreation and leisure for every 1,000 residents without the K-Park land. And I think this charter provision does not even take into account all the recreation land in our gated communities. The fact is recreational opportunities for our residents are simply bubbling over. Where are we not over-invested here in Wellington? The answer is clear. We have a vacuum of public higher education. In this tough economy, with many of our residents out of work or in fear of losing their jobs, there is no educational institution here in Wellington to help them get the training or retraining they need to transition to new work. At this time when many of our young people are seeking affordable, accessible higher education, the Village of Wellington offers nothing.

A PBCC campus here in Wellington will answer both these important public needs. In fact, PBCC was recently accredited to offer four-year college degrees, in addition to two-year degrees. The campus in Wellington will also offer lifelong learning courses for seniors and provide the opportunity for high school students to obtain a twoyear associate’s degree at the same time as their high school diploma at no cost to their parents. The campus will include a performing arts auditorium similar to the one on the Lake Worth campus and several ball fields for use by Wellington residents.

yard.” It’s a matter of mitigation. What local officials are concerned with is the SWA choosing a landfill site so close to Southern Blvd. Such a move could be detrimental to the economic needs of the region. As Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield pointed out, there’s no reason the landfill has to be put in plain view along the area’s main east-west thoroughfare. Placing it even a few miles back would be a vast improvement. Regardless of which location is decided, the site should be shielded from view as well as possible.

Above all, what’s important is that local voices are heard. While there has been a lack of public input thus far in the planning process, there is still an opportunity to change that. The Solid Waste Authority Governing Board will hold a public hearing on selecting a new landfill site Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. at its headquarters at 7501 N. Jog Road in West Palm Beach. It may not be the most convenient time, but it is crucially important for the concerns of the western communities to be heard loud and clear. This time around, the SWA can’t be blamed for those who choose to remain silent. For more information about the meeting, call the SWA at (561) 640-4000 or visit www.swa.org.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

On its editorial page recently, USA Today strongly urged more public support for community colleges, noting that half of all college students now attend community colleges. It said further that these students are being educated for some of the jobs in highest demand, including half of all nurses. In addition, 40 percent of teachers begin their education in community colleges. The article stated that over the next decade, 57 percent of new job openings “will require post-secondary education, but not necessarily a four-year degree.” Wellington needs to have the vision to respond to these realities. For all these reasons, I believe our taxpayer dollars could not be used for a more important public purpose than to bring PBCC here to Wellington. This is the right school (affordable) at the right time (in a tough economy) in the right place (our own back yard). If you agree, please take the time to write the members of the council on their web site, www.wellvillage.com. The right outcome cannot be assured without your action.

Ruth Kurtz Wellington

Movies Today Are Lacking

Editor’s note: The following is in response to Leonard Wechsler’s column published Dec. 19. I really enjoyed your article about the current version of The Day The Earth Stood Still. I have not, nor will I see this new version, for many of the same reasons your spoke of in your article. When I saw the original, I was too young to understand the message, but a flying saucer, alien and robot held my fascination.

Since then I have seen the original several times and always seem to get a little more from it. It’s too bad that many films today, sci-fi or not, are defined by their special effects and not the storyline or any allegory that might be there. Comparing these two versions as you did highlights this fact.

I would like to know if you ever saw the movie I, Robot starring Will Smith. It is very loosely based on the Isaac Asimov book by the same name. Actually “very loosely” is a big misnomer! The only resemblance between the movie and the book

are the “Three Laws of Robotics” and the character Dr. Susan Calvin. The book is actually a compendium of about ten short stories, but it builds on its foundations into other robot series books by Asimov. All very good reading. As an aside, my last college class was in English Lit for science fiction books. Asimov, now deceased, was and still is a giant in the sci-fi genre.

“Klaatu barada nikto.”

Tom Parker Royal Palm Beach

Rosen Replies To Euell Letter

I was going to let Mr. [Tom] Euell’s letter published Dec. 12 go unanswered as it was obviously various ramblings unconnected by a salient point and using no logic to back up his diatribe (“Euell Responds To Miller Letter”). That is until I got to the last paragraph, and I quote: “and last but not least, things in this country started going bad two years ago, just about the time the Dems won back the House and the Senate. What a coincidence. It hasn’t stopped regressing yet, although I understand they’re not going to do anything to help it under the Bush watch.”

This shows that Mr. Euell has reached the zenith of delusional, biased reasoning. He implies that the country was fine for the first six years of the Bush administration and that the problems started only two years ago. This could not be further from the truth. The reason the Democrats were voted in two years ago was because the Bush administration had made its share of drastic mistakes and the American people were fed up with the status quo of blunder following blunder.

Mr. Euell, I agree with you that this current Congress is not good, and I also believe they have been a disappointment. But please face facts that the Bush administration has been a disaster from the beginning.

As I have stated before, 9/11 was the fault of terrorists and extremists and certainly not Mr. Bush’s fault (so let’s all get off the 9/11 high horse). Although, the following events are his and his governments fault:

• A poorly executed plan in Afghanistan which continues to deteriorate.

• The Iraqi war which should

never have taken place and continues to be a problem.

• The failed “No Child Left Behind” program.

• The allowing of no-bid contracts to large companies.

• The attack on science shown by support of creationism, stifling government scientists for political reasons, a poor stance on stem cell research and a host of other attacks on science.

• The failed energy policy.

• The attack on civil rights.

• The tax breaks for the rich and no help for the poor or middle class.

• A purposeful lack of acceptance of a global climate problem.

• A less-than-stellar performance after Hurricane Katrina.

• The current economic crisis (although I do understand that you feel the Democrats caused this in the past two years, this problem goes back a lot further).

In summing up, Mr. Euell, and hoping to put this to rest, please stop being one of the remaining 20 percent or so who still approve of the way President Bush governed and accept that he, and his administration, made a lot of major mistakes which will haunt this country for a long time to come. Even if you don’t agree with all my comments, there are enough points being made to warrant this administration being called the worst in American history. Andrew Rosen Wellington

Miller-Euell Exchange Continues

Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to the letter “Obama Will Clean Up Mess” by Colette Miller published Dec. 19.

My dear Ms. Miller, you have no idea what Obama will do. Let us not forget that Carter was elected to clean up the NixonFord mess. We all know how that turned out. Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t agree with Bush with all these bailouts ei-

ther. It’s a move toward the government taking over the banks, the auto industry, the housing industry and soon, the medical industry. In other words, Ms. Miller, a move to socialism, something Obama has always been for. He’s never made a secret of it. And please, Ms. Miller, at least be honest with yourself. This all started with the mortgage debacle caused by the Democrats, and that’s no secret either. Yes, Ms. Miller, it is no accident we had 12 years of Republicans after Carter and then eight after Clinton. So let’s just see how Obama cleans up the mess. He’s already saying he needs more than four years. God help us. The Carter mess was cleaned up by the second year under Reagan. But please, write anytime. I’ll be glad to point out your errors in history and facts. Tom Euell

Wellington

Editor’s Note: The three-way discussion between Andrew Rosen, Colette Miller and Tom Euell has now gone on for six weeks, with each having several letters printed. Starting fresh for the New Year, it is time for the Town-Crier to end this particular exchange. We invite Mr. Rosen, Ms. Miller and Mr. Euell to write on other topics in the future.

Beware Snake In The Groves

The residents of Loxahatchee Groves are not getting what we voted for. We voted to incorporate in order to protect our lifestyle. With that came the promise to protect our town from developers and large landholding corporations and the large tax increases that would follow. It does not appear to be working. The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District is now ready to subject many residents on fixed incomes to the burden of road paving expenses and maintenance using the one-acre/onevote of the large landowning corporations.

The LGWCD is taking ad-

See LETTERS, page 18

OPINION While Lox Groves Prepares For A Hot Election, RPB Snoozes

Hold on to your wallets, folks. It’s time to start thinking about elections again — at least in Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves. And while Wellington doesn’t have a municipal election this year, its council is preparing to appoint a successor to the seat being vacated by Councilman Bob Margolis. The most entertaining election this year is expected to take place in Loxahatchee Groves, which will likely hold its second contested council election since becoming a municipality. The election two years ago was contentious, and this year’s event will likely be the same.

Two seats are up for grabs. Incumbent Dave Autrey has already announced that he will not seek re-election, citing health reasons. However, he guaranteed a lively election when he said he would actively support Ilene Rindom, an unsuccessful candidate two years ago. Incumbent Marge Herzog will be on the ballot, but fellow Councilman Dennis Lipp has made no secret that he is hard at work lining up a candidate to run against her. Loxahatchee Groves has become an increasingly hostile community as the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council and the Loxahatchee

Point of View...

By Don Brown

Groves Water Control District battle for supremacy. While some of the council want to assume control over the district, LGWCD supervisors have made it crystal clear that they want the district to remain independent from the town. A few town residents have even soured on the incorporation experiment, leading to an organized movement to revisit the incorporation decision. The filing period for the March 9 election begins at noon Jan. 27 and closes at noon Feb. 3. While no challengers have yet stepped forward, at least two names are being mentioned, both LGWCD supervisors: Ron Jarriel and John Ryan. Both are well known in the community. Other names are likely to emerge before the filing dead-

TOWN-CRIER

line. Internet blogs and forum threads in the community are already hot enough to roast a pig. A site connected to the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association recently banned what it considers “name calling and political infighting.”

In Wellington, the council is expected to name a successor this month for the Margolis seat. My sources tell me that two names are most prominent — the re-appointment of Mr. Margolis and the appointment of attorney Howard Coates, who lost an election to Councilman Matt Willhite last year. Mr. Coates also lost a legislative election to Rep. Joseph Abruzzo in November. Others are also known to be interested in the job.

My sources say two Wellington council members are favoring Mr. Coates, and two favor returning Mr. Margolis. The appointment must receive at least three votes among the four remaining council members. It is possible that the appointment litmus test will be support of the Palm Beach Community College campus on the K-Park site. Mr. Margolis opposes the college proposal, favoring instead the original plan to develop the site as a park. Mr. Coates, a former youth coach, has not been specific about the

issue, although during a Town-Crier editorial board interview he said he supports a college campus in the village. After back-to-back spirited election campaigns in Royal Palm Beach — both featuring Councilwoman Martha Webster — the community appears to have slipped back into campaign hibernation. Both Ms. Webster and Vice Mayor Fred Pinto are up for re-election, and both have said they plan to run again. Last year, Ms. Webster won the right to serve out the remaining year of former Councilwoman Barbara Isenberg’s term. Now she wants a full two-year term. Mr. Pinto has served six years on the council. No potential challengers have surfaced and many local political observers don’t expect any.

While Ms. Webster was opposed by three council members in last January’s election, she now appears to have won them over. She has been an astute student of village affairs and has earned the confidence of her peers. Mr. Pinto has also been a respected councilman during his tenure. Filing for the March 9 election opens at noon on Jan. 27 and closes at noon Feb. 10. Go back to sleep, Royal Palm Beach.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

(Seated, L-R) Loretta Watson, Joyce Haye and Raynor Haye; (standing) Radcliffe and Lova Brown, Rhonda Ferrin-Davis and Winston Davis.

Ernest Garvey with Monica and Lloyd Grant.

Event Chair Lawrence Logan, Lascelles Harris and Percival Wood pour champagne for the midnight toast.

Carlyle Rose and his wife Rose Marie.

Winsome Martin and Ernest Garvey usher in the New Year.

CAFCI board members Lauriston Simms, Rhonda Ferrin-Davis, Kathleen Lannaman, Audrey Gordon, Genieve White, Henworth Ferguson, Junette Powell and Lawrence Logan.

Elaine Bowra, Julia Browne, Inez McCallum and Dawn Nosakhere.

CAFCI members cut it up on the dance floor.

Man Arrested For Counterfeit Bills At RPB Wal-Mart

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

DEC. 24 — A Delray Beach man was arrested for uttering forged bills last Wednesday at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Royal Palm Beach. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a store employee observed 41-year-old Willie Simms pay for an item with a forged $100 bill. The employee further observed Simms re-enter the store and attempt to purchase additional merchandise with a second forged $100 bill. Simms was apprehended and taken to the loss prevention office, where he admitted to knowing the bills were forged and saying they were given to him by an unknown suspect in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Simms was then arrested and searched for contraband. Deputies found a third forged $100 bill in one of Simms’ pockets. He was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

DEC. 24 — An employee of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Royal Palm Beach called the PBSO last Wednesday in reference to a shoplifter. According to a PBSO report, the employee observed 51-year-old James Chewning of Jupiter select various items including perfumes, colognes, DVDs, clothing and food, and place them in plastic bags inside a shopping cart. Chewning then attempted to exit the store without paying for the merchandise. The total amount of stolen merchandise was valued at $647.42.

in reference to a retail theft. According to a PBSO report, a store security officer was performing a routine check of the fitting rooms at approximately 4:15 p.m. when she observed 53year-old Luz Varon of West Palm Beach pull the tag off of a shirt and place the tag in a Macy’s shopping bag. The security officer followed Varon for approximately an hour and a half, observing Varon remove a few more tags from clothing items, then placing them in her purse. Varon then exited the store, passing all points of sale, at which time the security officer apprehended her. Varon was placed under arrest and a search was conducted that revealed her to be in possession of more stolen items. In total, there were nine pieces of jewelry and 11 pieces of clothing, valued at $668.98.

DEC. 24 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to Southern Blvd. last Wednesday night regarding an erratic driver. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 10:50 p.m. the deputy observed a white van driven by 21-year-old Edgar Lopez Mejia of Indiantown swerving between two lanes, affecting the normal flow of traffic. The deputy further observed several vehicles having to brake quickly to avoid collision with Lopez Mejia’s van. A traffic stop was conducted, and a records check revealed that Lopez Mejia’s driver’s license was suspended. He was arrested and transported to the county jail. DEC. 26 — An Acreage woman was arrested last Friday for shoplifting at the Bealls department store in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, a store employee observed 49-year-old Joann Flisek select miscellaneous items worth $128.99, concealing them in a plastic bag and attempt to exit the store without paying for the merchandise. Flisek was charged with retail theft and taken to the county jail.

DEC. 27 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched last Saturday to the Macy’s department store in the Mall at Wellington Green

DEC. 28 — A Wellington man was arrested on drug charges last Sunday in the parking lot of the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was on routine patrol in the west end of the parking lot at approximately 8:30 a.m. when he observed 25-year-old Giovani Philogene standing next to several vehicles. After noticing the deputy’s presence, Philogene moved away from the vehicles. The deputy then made contact with Philogene, who behaved nervously, according to the report. The deputy asked Philogene if he had any prior arrests, and Philogene admitted to a marijuana charge. This prompted the deputy to ask Philogene if he was in possession of marijuana. Philogene replied “kind of” while walking toward a sewer drain in the parking lot. According to the report, he reached into his pocket and removed a plastic baggy containing marijuana and a prescription pill bottle containing several pills. At this point, another deputy arrived and both deputies struggled with Philogene, who attempted to kick the items into the drain and physically resisted the deputies’ attempts to handcuff him. The drugs were recovered and included approximately 10 grams of marijuana, 20 hydrocodone pills and six oxycodone pills. Philogene was arrested and transported to the county jail. DEC. 28 — A Lake Worth woman was arrested last Sunday for shoplifting at the Dillard’s department store in the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, a store security officer observed 36year-old Stephanie Lazarus enter the contemporary department and select a shirt from a rack. Lazarus then proceeded to the juniors department, where she concealed the shirt in her stroller. Lazarus exited the store, passing all points of sale, before being apprehended by store security. The shirt was valued at

See BLOTTER, page 18

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Nelson Rodriguez is a white male, 5’10” tall and weighing 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 04/13/72. Rodriguez is wanted for felony failure to appear in court on the charge of trafficking in cocaine and driving while driver’s license revoked, and misdemeanor failure to appear in court on the charge of operating a vehicle with driver’s license suspended, canceled or revoked, and an expired driver’s license. His occupation is painter. His last known address was Hawthorne Place in Wellington. Rodriguez is wanted as of 01/01/09. • Elisio Vicente is a white male, 5’2” tall and weighing 130 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes, and a scar on his left arm. His date of birth is 08/16/85. Vicente is wanted for failure to appear in court on the charge of presenting false information of identity and fraudulent use of personal identification information. His occupation is laborer. His last known address was Bryan Road in Loxahatchee. Vicente is wanted as of 01/01/09. 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.crimestopperspbc. com.

Nelson Rodriguez

Elisio Vicente

Unique Shabbat Services At B’nai Avraham

Congregation B’nai Avraham in Wellington is happy to invite the community to celebrate Shabbat at two special observances.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, the shul will host its first family Shabbat service designed for school-age children and their families. Rabbi Dr. David Abrams will conduct the service along with school-age children. In this interactive service, congregants read and study the weekly Torah portion together for a fuller understanding of the text. The family Shabbat format will continue on the second Saturday of each month.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, the Sisterhood of B’nai Avraham will host Sisterhood Shabbat. Members of the sisterhood will conduct the traditional Saturday morning service.

Each service begins at 9 a.m. and is followed by a kiddush (a light Shabbat meal). For more information and directions, call the synagogue office at (561) 793-4347 or e-mail info@ congregationbnaiavraham.com. The synagogue is located at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 6, in the original Wellington Mall.

Congregation B’nai Avraham is a dynamic, diverse religious community committed to traditional Judaism as interpreted by the Conservative movement and is affiliated with the United Syn-

Folke Peterson To Host Family Fun Day Jan. 10

The Folke Peterson Wildlife Center (10948 Acme Road) will hold its inaugural “Call of the Wild” family fun day on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the center and will feature plenty of food and festivities for the whole family. The day will include vendors and information booths, children’s games and activities, speakers discussing wildlife and ecological topics (held hourly in the conference room), hourly guided tours of the Findlay Educational Trail, a garage sale, raffle, live music and wildlife release. Admission is free but some activities (bounce house, face painting, hay play) will require a small fee. There will also be inexpensive snacks and lunch available at the Back Porch Bistro.

The Folke Peterson Wildlife Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s wildlife by rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing injured, orphaned and displaced native species, and educating the community about coexisting with wildlife. The center operates a state-of-the-art wildlife veterinary hospital and sanctuary near Wellington. For more info., call (561) 793-2473 or visit www.fpwildlife.org.

Art Society To Host Silk Painting Demo

The January meeting of the Wellington Art Society will be as smooth as… well, silk! That’s because the meeting will spotlight artist Norma Winter, who will give a demonstration on the art of silk painting on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way).

Originally from Jamaica, Winter attended art schools in New York City, Vermont and Ohio. In Madison, Ohio, Winter owned and operated a studio/ gallery, where she taught a variety of artistic disciplines to children and adults. She has since worked in many diverse media, such as formal family-tree illustration, heraldic renderings, architectural renderings, botanical impressions on fabric, handwritten and computer-assisted calligraphy, and other graphic arts. Winter closed her Ohio studio to share a space with her son Peter in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, later relocating to Wellington in 2004.

The Jan. 13 meeting will begin with light refreshments at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief business meeting at 7 p.m.; the demonstration will start at 7:15 p.m. While the meeting is free and open to the public, there is a $5 fee for the silk painting demo for non-society members.

The Wellington Art Society is

open to artists working in all mediums and patrons of the arts, providing both local and regional artists a platform to share their work, learn more about their craft and serve the community through their art. A charitable organization, the society aims to educate and encourage originality and productivity among its members and area youth through programs designed to further the advancement of cultural endeavors in the western communities.

For more information, visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org or call President Adrianne Hetherington at (561) 784-7561.

Palm Beach County Turns 100 This Year

To commemorate the signing of the county charter on April 30, 1909 and the creation of the county on July 1, 1909, Palm Beach County is holding a centennial celebration all year long in 2009.

The county was created from Dade County, which at the time stretched from the St. Lucie River to the tip of the Florida peninsula. Even with the creation of Broward, Martin and Okeechobee counties from the county’s land area, it remains the largest county east of the Mississippi River.

Some objectives of the centennial celebration include highlighting the rich history of the county, showcasing the county’s cultural and ethnic diversity, and

educating the community about the county’s history. Events are being planned in most of the 38 municipalities of Palm Beach County, and other organizations are adopting the centennial theme to their already established events.

In addition to special events, there will be special centennial exhibits at the Palm Beach County History Museum in the 1916 Courthouse, education curriculum for elementary students and many Palm Beach County publications will be featuring centennial facts and information.

A centennial web site has also been created. The web site includes an official event calendar, web links and a listing of centennial partners. The site will also host photos from the many community events, contests and projects. For more information about the centennial, or to find out about centennial event, visit www.pbcgov.com/100.

Palm Beach County is partnering with many organizations to provide a wide range of activities all year long. Partners include the Palm Beach County School District, the Palm Beach County Historical Society, the City of West Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Post

Belly Dancing Classes Offered In Wellington

Just in time for those New Year’s resolutions, the Wellington Community Center intro-

duces “Belly Dancing for Fun & Fitness.” Instructor Sylvia Harmon will help students to discover physical and mental well-being through the ancient art of belly dancing. Classes will be held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. for beginners and 7:15 p.m. for intermediate belly dancers beginning Jan. 14. Other adult programs offered through the Wellington Community Center to reduce stress and waistlines include craft and hobby workshops at Picasso’s Playhouse, intermediate Italian lessons, yoga, Pilates, Yogilates and Jazzercise. For times, dates or details on these programs, or to register, visit www.ci.wellington.fl.us or call Julie Strow at (561) 7535262. When registering for the first time, you must do so in person at either the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) or the Village Park gymnasium (11700 Pierson Road). If you have registered for a program in the past, you can register by fax or take advantage of the village’s online registration by visiting http:// rec.ci.wellington.fl.us and using your household ID number. For more information about Picasso’s Playhouse, call John and Jackie Aufiero at (561) 2960488, visit them in person (11260 Fortune Way, Suite J-2, in the Wellington Commerce Park), or visit www.picasso playhouse.com. To register for Jazzercise, call Jackie Orloff at (305) 904-1474.

Temple Beth Torah in Wellington hosted the family Chanukah Shabbat “Dress Down” celebration the evening of Friday, Dec. 26. Congregants and guests were invited to come light the candles, join in the festivity of the holiday and hear the story of Chanukah. The special guest was State Sen. Dave Aronberg, who sang a special version of Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song.” In addition, children and adults brought their menorahs and lit them in the sanctuary.

CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

BY

PHOTOS

Monologue Audition Workshop In Wellington

Dreyfoos School of the Arts theater Dean Beverly Blanchette will offer a Monologue Audition Workshop at Lee Harris Music Lessons in Wellington (11360 Fortune Circle, Suite E-1) Jan. 10 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop fee is $95. It is suggested that those interested register early to secure a spot; space is limited. Workshop participants will learn how to choose the right monologue to best showcase individual talents. Direction will be given on each mono-

logue to get the most out of an audition. Participants will also learn how to market themselves for any type of audition — from community and professional theatre to film and television. They will be given the tools needed to audition for actor training programs, performing arts schools, university theater programs and conservatories. Focus will be given to the business of the business: everything one needs to know about agents, headshots, resumes,

cold readings and how to present a slate. All levels of actors are invited to participate, from beginners to experienced.

Course participants will work at their own pace and will exit the workshop with a monologue prepared for any performance. The suggested age is ten to 17.

Register for the class by calling Blanchette at (561) 3330931 or by completing a registration form received by e-mailing bblanchette@bellsouth.net. Beverly Blanchette

Jessica and Samantha Schneider light their menorahs.

Carrie Barry, educator Geoffrey Prass, Rabbi Alison Abrams and Rabbi Stephen Pinsky join together in song.

Rabbi Stephen Pinsky lights menorahs with Jordan Adler and Madison McDole.

State Sen. Dave Aronberg entertains the congregants.

Cantor Carrie Barry performs a song.

Cantor Carrie Barry and Rabbi Stephen Pinsky.

New Year Brings Start Of Loxahatchee Groves Election Season

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Vice Mayor Marge Herzog said this week she will definitely run for re-election to Seat 3 on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council in March, one of two council seats that will be up for election this year.

Filing does not open until late January, but Herzog said she is confident she will face a challenger. “I have heard that there will be, but I have not heard who it will be,” she told the TownCrier on Tuesday.

Herzog said she suspects residents who want to do away with the town will provide her opponent. “They have formed a subcommittee within the community, and they have amassed other people to join in their sentiments if anything isn’t done the way they think it should have been done,” Herzog said. “I don’t know what motivates the reaction we hear about. It seems anyone who was on the incorporation committee that brought it through to the end can do no right.”

Herzog said efforts by herself and Councilman Dave Autrey to make the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District a depen-

Lox Groves

Harmony In 2009?

continued from page 2 same property tax rate for the current fiscal year as the previous year, and that the town also completed its first emergency operations plan.

Looking forward, Vice Mayor Marge Herzog said she would like to see more unity among the residents of Loxahatchee Groves in the coming year.

“I think most of the residents want the same or similar things,” she said. “Everyone has to learn how to function within the limits of the laws of the town, county and state. It is a new experience and a big adjustment for our town, but I know that we can rise above the learning curve. That can be achieved by having people fact-find first. If the facts are not clear, go to the sources and get both versions, and then make a decision. Acting in haste

dent district have also provoked opposition. Autrey, whose term also ends in March, has announced he will not run for re-election due to health reasons. He has endorsed Ilene Rindom, who ran unsuccessfully for Seat 5 against Councilman Dennis Lipp in the town’s first-ever election in March 2007.

Although Town Clerk Matthew Lippman confirmed that Rindom has expressed the desire to seek Autrey’s Seat 1, she did not return calls for comment Monday or Tuesday. Both seats will carry three-year terms. Herzog said her first two years on the council were also formative ones for the town, and much was accomplished. “We made great strides with the comp plan being submitted,” she said. “The visioning process went smoothly. The introduction to the road and equestrian plan went smoothly and is progressing at this point. I feel that the reserves that we’ve been able to build up are significant in comparison to all the cutbacks that other municipalities have experienced.”

Herzog said the town kept its property tax rate unchanged at

can sometimes cause a person to become an instigator rather than a facilitator. Let’s work toward a productive and rewarding 2009.”

Councilman Dennis Lipp said the town’s main achievement in 2008 was its strategic visioning process and the plan that resulted. “We need to just all agree to implement it,” he said. “That’s going to be done in the comprehensive plan.”

But the biggest challenge remains the resolution of differences between the water control district and the town in order for the council and town staff to concentrate on town business, Lipp said.

“The sooner we get this infighting over with, the sooner we are able to get that resolved,” he said. “The town agreeing and the water control district agreeing to work together is important. As our consultant suggested, that would be the best thing to do.” Lipp said he has confidence

1.5 mills for the second year, even as it saw a decline in gas tax revenues due to a falloff in fuel consumption.

Herzog said she wants to keep the town’s taxes within the current range and not let them get out of hand. “We need to be mindful of how we spend the taxpayers’ money,” she said.

The town’s management contract with New Community Strategies is a good example of minimal government, Herzog said. “We pay them a set fee, but all other expenses a town might have to hire these individuals

in Councilman Dr. Bill Louda and LGWCD Supervisor John Ryan, who were slated to be on the intergovernmental committee for its first meeting Jan. 2, but that the council and board of supervisors must find common ground as a whole. “It all comes back to the respective boards anyway,” Lipp said. “It’s not like Bill and John are going to come up with a solution and that’s it. It’s something both boards have to agree to.”

Louda expressed disappointment that the council voted to fund a study analyzing the costs and benefits of dissolving the LGWCD and did not get what it paid for. “There were no dollar-to-dollar comparisons at all in that report,” he said.

Still, the council unanimously embraced the report’s recommendation that the town and district form a committee to resolve differences, and Louda said he understands that the town must

outright, we don’t have to worry about because New Community Strategies pays those: their insurance, their taxes, their unemployment, all of that.”

The town’s comprehensive plan consultant Calvin, Giordano & Associates was also hired through New Community Strategies, Herzog said. “It’s easier to keep within budget using a contract setup,” she said. Herzog said the town is meeting some resistance from longestablished residents who cannot accept change. “We’re hoping that it will smooth out,” she said. “Being able to adjust to the new government system and how things process is another adjustment that has to be made. Sometimes it’s difficult for change to take place. I think residents are getting tired of it. It’s hard to lead when you’re constantly fighting these battles.”

The council has also drawn criticism due to discord with the LGWCD, Herzog said. “The biggest issue is defining the ownership of roads,” she said. “That’s where the problem is coming from.”

Lipp said he feels the seeds of anti-town sentiment were planted in April when Herzog

follow through on its commitment. “Looking ahead, we need to heal past and present wounds, try to get all of the Groves on the same path to the future,” he said.

LGWCD Chairman David DeMarois said he is proud of the services the district has provided to property owners in 2008 and is looking forward to completion of D Road Canal work and start of work on equestrian trails. He also said he is optimistic about better cooperation with the town government.

“We will be able to work with them,” DeMarois said. “I think it’s going to get better for everyone in Loxahatchee Groves. I am hoping we can work everything out. I am hoping for the best. I think it has been a positive year. Hopefully it will follow through between the two groups. We will be able to continue to provide excellent service to the people of Loxahatchee Groves.”

LGWCD Vice Chair Don

and Autrey directed Lippman to ask the LGWCD to cease roadpaving plans until the town could complete its comprehensive plan.

“That’s what started the whole thing,” Lipp said, adding that permitting for paving by the district will take longer than the formulation of the comp plan.

Lipp said an anti-incorporation movement gained momentum in October when resident Eric Marple sent a survey to residents asking if they would favor unincorporation.

“Thirty-three percent of the surveys came back, and they were four to one in favor of getting rid of the town,” Marple told the Town-Crier Tuesday. But Marple said he has no intention of challenging Herzog in the election and is unaware of anyone else who would. He said he thinks the town is heading in the wrong direction and that many have strong feelings about the town government, but that there isn’t any organized leadership there.

“I wouldn’t say there is a person who is heading the opposition,” he said. “It’s still in the early stages of getting orga-

Widing said he also is looking forward to better relations with the town. “We want to continue focusing on the core mission of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District,” he said. “We were presented some interesting challenges in 2008. I remain confident our board of supervisors will continue to interact with our residents and town council in 2009 to ensure roads and canals are adequately maintained.”

Providing an acceptable level of service without increasing assessments in 2008 reflects favorably on the dedication of LGWCD employees, Widing said. “One thing I’ve learned during 30 years of government service is to ‘confront the brutal facts’ during economic uncertainty,” he said. “I plan to continue to work closely with LGWCD staff to promote fiscal responsibility and maintain our highly qualified workforce.” Supervisor John Ryan also offered optimism about the po-

nized. I’ll be interested to see if anybody runs. I don’t think somebody would want to. It takes a lot of time. I wouldn’t want to do it.”

Marple said his own disenchantment with the town stems from additional property taxes he said he did not have to pay prior to incorporation, but the number of town opponents, such as those who are protective of the LGWCD, is increasing.

“I’m not the only faction not happy with the town,” he said. “It’s not organized, but it’s getting organized. The town is creating its own worst enemy.”

Marple said the council should focus more on benefiting the town rather than attacking the water control district.

“The comprehensive plan came back with problems,” he said. “They are getting more and more people upset and they don’t see anything changing. That group is getting larger; it’s obvious from the survey and the town leaders don’t believe it.”

The Loxahatchee Groves election will be held March 10. The filing period for candidates opens at noon on Jan. 27 and closes at noon on Feb. 3.

litical prospects of the coming year.

“During 2009, Loxahatchee Groves public officials have an opportunity to put our 2008 growing pains behind us and to make beneficial changes for the future,” he said. Ryan said the joint committee should be able to concentrate on analyzing local needs and recommend solutions to both the town and the district, and said property owners and residents would benefit from a continued commitment on the part of the LGWCD board and the town council.

“During the New Year, I look forward to working constructively with the town for the benefit of landowners and residents,” Ryan said. “I am committed to do this in the context of ‘government lite’ and with the constructive participation of the entire community. The future is in our hands, and there are many opportunities on the road ahead.”

Marge Herzog

Aspiring Young Poets Star In Recital At The Wellington Library

By Candace Marchsteiner Town-Crier Staff Report

Area children recently discovered poets beyond the popular Shel Silverstein during a four-week session at the Wellington library. Librarian trainee Amanda Bosky explained that children don’t get exposed to a lot of poetry anymore, and the library aims to fix that.

While preparing for the library’s second annual children’s poetry recital, Bosky asked participants from last year if anyone still reads poetry. All hands shot up. “That was my feel-good moment,” she said.

During the first class in early December, children read numerous poems and selected their favorite ones to recite from memory. “I told them to drive their families crazy by memorizing their poems inside and out,” Bosky laughed.

Selections came from books such as Dilly Dilly Piccalilli: Poems for the Very Young by Myra Cohn Livingston, I Never Saw a Purple Cow and Other Nonsense Rhymes by Emma Chichester Clark, Barefoot: Poems for Naked Feet by Stefi Weisburd and The Entrance Place of Wonders: Poems of the

Harlem Renaissance by Daphne Muse. In her recitation “I Tried to Do My Homework,” nine-year-old Adriana Smith drew laughs when the homework ate her dog. The children created imaginative props without grownup help using a table full of craft supplies during the second and third classes. A fuzzy purple cow, a chimney, a clock, a paper plate moon and flashlight sun, and several drawings took the spotlight with their artistic performers. The final class on Dec. 29 meant dress rehearsal and delivery instructions for that evening’s recital. In all, 13 chil-

dren ages six to 12 bravely faced a full room of families and friends who rewarded them with cheers and applause. The library plans to continue the annual December event.

For more information on this and other library programs, visit the library’s web site at www.pbclibrary.org.

PHOTOS BY CANDACE MARCHSTEINER/TOWN-CRIER

Aihber Khan recites the poem “Being Lost.”

Abigail Maldonado delivers the poem “Song to Mothers.”

Adrianna Smith prepares to take a bow following her poem “I Tried to Do My Homework.”

Elliott and Hannah Trzasko display their poetry props.

One of the youngsters recites a poem for the audience.

Elliott Trzasko uses a homemade bird prop to animate his poetry recitation of “Yellow Weed.”

Russell Alves painted a picture for his poem “Um,” and Javier Baliarda made a chimney prop for his poem “Blum.”

Wildcat Dancers Bring Down The House

The Royal Palm Beach High School Dance Department, under the artistic direction of Michele Blecher, brought down the house when they performed their dance show “Single in the City” on Dec. 4. The show’s lineup included 19 routines choreographed by Blecher. The show was broken into five sections: meeting someone, falling in love, breaking up, true love and living happily ever after. Dance routines included hip-hop, jazz, lyrical and musical theater. The 900-seat auditorium was packed with enthusiastic parents, friends, loved ones, family and the district champion varsity football team for which Blecher is the stretch coach.

Intermixed with the large group numbers was a quartet including Dina Irizarry, Melissa Irizarry, Jolynn Bohannon and Alexa Blecher that performed “Little Lamb.”

There were also two duets, “Right Hand” and “Guardian Angel” performed by Joshua Gonzalez and Alexa Blecher, who later joined her fourth-period class in the jazz routine “Single Ladies.” Blecher performed the musical theater number “Honey Bun,” along with longtime stage manager, English teacher and varsity football academic coach Gwyn Eldridge as well as Blecher’s sixth-period class. The male dancers dressed as hula girls and the girls dressed as sailors.

LGES STUDENTS BENEFIT TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE

The kindergartners and first graders at Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School held a “Toys for Tots Toss-Up” on Friday, Dec. 12. The purpose was to collect toys for children in need. Between LGES and Pierce Hammock Elementary School, more than 300 toys were collected. The students were excited to see members of the U.S. Marine Corps show up in uniform. The students not only learned to be good citizens, but they also learned how it is better to give than to receive, especially during the holiday season. Next year, students and teachers hope to collect more than 500 toys. Shown here is LGES Principal Richard Myerson addressing the students while members of the Marine Corps look on.

Young Scientists Rule The Day At Poinciana

Poinciana Day School in West Palm Beach recently held its school-wide science fair. Representatives from the winners of the science fair were chosen to represent Poinciana Day School at the Palm Beach County Science & Engineering Fair held Dec. 8-10.

All middle school students at Poinciana Day School research and conduct an experiment for the science fair and present their results to a panel of judges. The students began work on their science fair projects just after the beginning of the school year and worked for many weeks researching ideas, forming hypotheses, experimenting and analyzing results.

The winners of the Middle School Science Fair are as follows:

• Sixth Grade — First place, Naomi Cortez of Royal Palm Beach, “Color Confusion”; second place, Trevor Duchene of Royal Palm Beach, “Why the Northern Lights Glow”; and third place, Garielle Brannen of West Palm Beach, “Pumpkin Talk.”

• Seventh Grade — First place, Josh Thaw of Palm Beach Gardens, “How Much Vitamin C is in Different Types of Orange Juice?”; second place, Alden Thompson of Singer Island, “UV Beads and Sunscreen”; third place, Shelley Martin of Royal Palm Beach and Atlantis, “Dueling Densities: What is the Proper Ratio to Create the Lava Lamp

Effect?”; and honorable mention, Alec Aubain of West Palm Beach, “Time Reaction.”

• Eighth Grade — First place, Sarah Templin of West Palm Beach, “Which Food Item When Burned Has the Most Calories”; second place, Alicia Hebron of Royal Palm Beach and Wellington, “Does the Size of the Hole in the Paper Affect How Far the Balloon Travels”; and third place, Xavier Parris-Turner of West Palm Beach, “Does Color Affect Taste?” Middle school science teacher Judi Hildebrandt of Wellington said she felt very proud of her students. “They worked very hard over the past several months and learned how to put the scientific method to work,” she said. “I was pleased that the judges were so impressed by their work.” Head of School Ms. Nixie Swift of Royal Palm Beach acknowledged the time and energy the students invested in their projects. “The process is a valuable learning experience for the students and provides them with a great sense of accomplishment,” she said. “We feel that these experiences will serve the students well as they head into the technological demands of our 21st-century global neighborhood.” For more information about the Poinciana Day School, call (561) 655-7323 or visit the school’s web site at www. poincianadayschool.org.

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

The dancers from “Meeting Someone.”

The dancers from their session “Falling in Love.”

The dancers from their session “Happily Ever After.”

Science Stars — Winners of the Poinciana Day Middle School Science Fair display their ribbons.

Watson To Serve As Missionary In Africa

Elder Michael J. Watson, son of Mark and Jolynn Watson of Wellington, has accepted a call to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons).

Watson will serve the people of the Uganda, Kemapla Africa Mission for two years. He will specifically work with the people of Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Watson departed Dec. 16 for the Johannesburg, Africa, Missionary Training Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he will receive language instruction and be prepared to effectively meet the needs of the people of Africa. Watson is a 2006 graduate of Wellington High School, where he participated in the football and wrestling teams. He is a member of the local congregation of the Church of Jesus

Michael Watson Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wellington Ward, which meets at 990 Big Blue Trace in Wellington. Family and friends of the Watson family wish Michael well and look forward to reports on his missionary service experiences in Africa.

Welky Featured In ‘Southern Living’

Town-Crier Columnist Deborah Welky has written a piece for Southern Living magazine on the murals of Palatka, Fla. The story appears on page 14 of the bonus section “Florida Living: People & Places” in the back of the January 2009 magazine, and includes a photo of the Third Street/St. Johns Avenue mural Battle at Horse Landing, depicting an episode of the Civil War.

“I first wrote about Palatka for Wellington The Magazine and Executive Editor Joshua Manning gave me permission to submit a similar story elsewhere,” Welky said. “When I asked the people of Palatka where they would like to see such an article appear, they all said Southern Living. This is only my second article for a national magazine,

so it is quite exciting. Even being contacted by Time Inc.’s payroll department was exciting. Now, of course, I contact them whenever I have the glimmer of an idea!”

Welky has been writing for the Town-Crier since 2002 and for Wellington The Magazine since its inception in 2004. She has been a freelancer in the area since 1981 when she was first hired by the (now defunct) Sun Press. “It’s wonderful to be able to do what I love for locally based publications that appreciate and encourage me,” Welky said. “If arthritis sets in someday and my fingers can no longer navigate the keyboard, I’ll type with voice recognition — or with a pencil held between my teeth. Writing is that much a part of me.”

Helton Returns From Iraq

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Richard Helton has returned to the 438th Military Police Company in Murray, Ky. after being deployed to an overseas forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Helton is a supply sergeant with 10 years of military service. He is the son of Richard and Lajuana Helton of Loxahatchee, and a 1990 graduate of Clewiston High School.

Easter Seals Committee Prepares For Luncheon

On Friday, March 6, Easter Seals will host the fifth annual “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” cochaired by Jennifer Hardiman and Regina Thomson at Frenchman’s Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens.

This ultimate girls’ luncheon combines fun, fashion and philanthropy while celebrating the arrival of spring and the newest fashion trends. In celebration of the event’s five-year milestone, Easter Seals will proudly recognize the efforts of honorary chairwomen Sherri Daniels, Karen Holmes, Donna Lewis and Susan Miller for their efforts in sustaining the event’s successes as well as their commitment to improving the lives of children with special needs and disabilities.

Radio DJs Mo and Sally from the KOOL 105.5 Morning Show will serve as emcees and auctioneers. Guest will enjoy a fabulous fashion show co-hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach Illustrated. The fun does not stop there as guests will bid on the best in shoes, getaways, accessories and more.

“This annual spring event brings together ladies who love to be pampered, while supporting our community’s precious children with special needs and disabilities,” Easter Seals Florida Executive Director Rhonda Clinton said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to use these funds to provide life-changing therapies and special education for our children.”

Exciting silent and live auc-

tions will include designer shoes donated by Saks Fifth Avenue in Palm Beach Gardens, trendy Lilly Pulitzer shoes donated by C. Orrico Palm Beach, weekend stays at the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C., PGA National Resort & Spa and the Resort at Singer Island; a spa treatment at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club & Spa in Jupiter; fine jewelry from Provident Jewelry, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels; and the ultimate one-year dining package donated by Palm Beach Illustrated magazine.

“Tiptoe Through the Tulips is a fun event filled with energy, enthusiasm and guests with a strong commitment to the Easter Seals community,” Hardiman said. “Each year the event’s success grows and we are very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Joining Hardiman and Thomson in the event planning are committee members Lori Beale, Sandi Berkenfeld, Randie Dalia, Sherri Daniels, Rosey Vassilatos-Gekas, Karen Holmes, Mindy Curtis-Horvitz, Ann Kohlmeyer, Donna Lewis, Ildy Philbrook, Wendy Joiner Samuels and Alain Parent Sears.

Tickets cost $125 in advance or $135 after Feb. 20. Proceeds will benefit preschool-aged children at Easter Seals Igoe-Amar Child Development Center in West Palm Beach. This is the area’s only full-time center for children of all abilities. Easter Seals helps children with disabling conditions due to birth, disease, accident or injury through pediatric physical, occupational, speech and behav-

OBITUARY

Wellington Seniors Activist Terence O’Grady Dies At 77

Terence John O’Grady, 77, of Wellington passed away on Sunday, Dec. 21. Born in The Bronx, N.Y. on Oct. 5, 1931, he was the oldest of two children. A former resident of White Plains, N.Y. and Littleton, Colo., he died peacefully after a brief illness.

Terry earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Fordam University. He held several management positions with New York Telephone and AT&T in New York City and White Plains and then retired in 1989 from

AT&T in Denver. Terry was president of the Wellington Seniors Club from 1999 to 2003, a member of the Wellington Country Club for 18 years and an avid tennis player.

Terry is survived by his wife of 49 years Margaret O’Grady, brother Denis O’Grady of Bronx, N.Y., and three daughters: Maureen Delano and her husband Mark of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.; Ellen Maloney and her husband Thomas of Granite Springs, N.Y.; and Catherine Jahn and her husband Albert of

Lancaster, Penn. He is also survived by ten grandchildren. Visitation for the family and friends was held Friday, Dec. 26 at Palms West Funeral Home in Royal Palm Beach. Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday, Dec. 27 at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church, followed by internment at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Royal Palm Beach. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 6300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. Terence

O’Grady

(Front row, L-R) Tiptoe Through the Tulips committee members Sandi Berkenfeld, Jennifer Hardiman, Donna Lewis, Wendy Joiner Samuels and Mindy Curtis-Horvitz; (back row) Alain Parent Sears, Regina Thomson, Rosey Vassilatos-Gekas, Randie Dalia, Sherri Daniels and Ildy Philbrook.

Co-chairs Regina Thomson and Jennifer Hardiman.

Wellington Mormons Glean Corn Fields To Feed The Needy

About 100 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) from the local Wellington congregation learned the meaning of gleaning at a cornfield near Belle Glade last month.

Mechanical harvesters had picked the field as clean as a mechanical device can. There was plenty of corn left behind, however, attached to the lower stalks of the corn plants, waiting only for willing hands to pick it up.

So what do you do with the corn when you are done picking up what is left? You give it to a food bank to feed the needy. Under the direction of CROS (Christians Reaching Out to Society) Ministries, members of all ages from the church rolled up their sleeves and gleaned rows and rows of corn the Saturday before Christmas.

The Saturday before Christmas? Isn’t that when people are finishing their Christmas shopping and wrapping presents?

“Many people are,” Bishop Mark Watson said. “But buying and giving gifts to your family and friends is just a small part of Christmas. Christ taught us that to honor him, we should always be in service to our fellow man. That is the true spirit of Christmas — helping others. That’s why our members are here today. We are rendering service to some of God’s children who are in need.”

“I must admit that at this hectic time of year, I considered sleeping in or getting some lastminute Christmas shopping

done,” said Shauna Hostetler, who was there with her family.

“But I am glad I didn’t. This was a fabulous experience. I spent most of the morning collecting corn and working beside young children and teenagers. What a great way to help them understand Christ’s teachings and what Christmas is really all about. Working in the corn fields today was Christmas in action.”

A few hours later, church members had finished gleaning the rows of seemingly neverending corn. Members then loaded a truck with the freshly gleaned corn in preparation for delivery to a local food bank.

Church members returned to their homes in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach with a feeling of joy and satisfaction knowing that needy persons in Palm Beach County would benefit from their labor.

Were the members weary from a long morning working in the heat?

“No, those who worked in the cornfields leave feeling refreshed and happy — happy that we could serve others,” Bishopric First Counselor Alan Bollinger said.

“I told my wife that with all the Christmas celebrations, this was the first ‘real’ Christmas activity we have participated in all season,” added Matt Rhodes.

Gleaning opportunities are available in the Belle Glade area each Saturday during the harvest season, November through April. Contact CROS Ministries for details at (561) 762-9628 or (561) 506-9066.

Moorhead To Attend U.S. Air Force Academy

Blake Edward Moorhead of Loxahatchee has been nominated to attend the United States Air Force Academy as part of the Class of 2013.

The academy appointment entitles Moorhead to the equivalent of a full undergraduate scholarship including room and board, medical and dental care and a monthly pay allowance, currently valued at $403,000, according to Moorhead’s letter of acceptance from Admissions Director Col. Chevalier Cleaves. Upon graduation from the academy, Moorhead will be commissioned as a second lieutenant.

A senior at Seminole Ridge High School, Moorhead is currently fifth in his class. He was designated AP scholar with honor by the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program.

Blake is a member of the Spanish Honor Society, captain of the

Group members gather for a photo before leaving for Belle Glade.

Katie Gurney with a box of corn.Megan Hostetler and Taylor Bollinger carry corn to the truck.

Greg, Laura and Spencer Kandare.

Blake Moorhead

wrestling team two years and varsity wrestler four years, cocaptain of the football team one year and a two-year varsity volleyball player. He is the son of Sandi and Bruce Moorhead.

Ian Oudit and Lyndsay Mills gather corn.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE HONORS COP VOLUNTEERS AT WELLINGTON LUNCHEON

An appreciation luncheon was held for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Observer Patrol contingent on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the District 8 substation in the original Wellington Mall. In attendance were Capt. Greg Richter and other PBSO representatives as well as members of the Wellington Village Council and village staff. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

8 employees Amber Muczko-Zeiher

FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS HIKE THE SCENIC SWA TRAIL

Margolis

Not Seeking Appointment

continued from page 1 that,” Margolis said. “We had not seen a site plan, we had not seen a master plan. We tabled that item, and you know what happened afterward.”

Margolis said he refused to make a decision because Aggregates had provided indications that it would add a large subdivision to Wellington’s population, but little else. “What I saw was a number of homes, but very few parks and very few schools,” he said. Wellington’s notions five

Bills Freshmen State Reps

continued from page 1 tion that gets the state back into a healthy economic structure, which might require some changes to the tax structure.

“Florida is becoming close to the largest state in the union [In terms of population],” Pafford said. “We need to begin understanding that the budget defines what we are as a society. We need to make sure dollars are spent wisely but that we are progressive and don’t put the burden on the middle class.”

Letters

continued from page 4 vantage of an antiquated voting system that allows non-residents and corporations to control elections and referendums.

The LGWCD currently has an exemption to following Florida’s election code and can use an unconstitutional process to allow large commercial nurseries and land developers to keep them in office and force road paving that not only will not hold up but is in violation of Florida law and incompatible with Florida Department of Transportation regulations. Calling it “stabilization” is just a façade to hide their real intent. Their 2004 bill that allowed the district “to provide access to and development of areas within the district, or both” expand-

years back of expanding westward were unrealistic, Margolis said. “I was of the opinion, let’s maintain what we have first, before we look to other areas for expansion,” he said.

Margolis said he sticks by his vote to disband Wellington’s volunteer Code Enforcement Board in favor of adjudication of code violations by a special master, a controversial move by the council. He said he came to his decision after observing the board’s hearings and being dismayed by what he perceived as capricious rulings and a certain amount of arrogance expressed by board members toward residents in difficult straits.

“If I am called to court for a

Abruzzo said he does not doubt that the legislature will find 2009 a challenging year, but he too hopes new leadership and a strong freshman class will take the economic crisis by the horns and move the state in the right direction.

In keeping with his campaign promises, he has filed a bill designed to energize the economy called the Consumer Energy Savings Act, which will make Energy Star rated appliances exempt from sales tax the last two weekends in July.

“First, it helps boost retail sales in one of the lowest periods in the year,” Abruzzo said. “Secondly, it helps educate con-

ed their powers to include road construction and maintenance not necessary to drainage management. This act changed their status from a single-purpose district to a multi-purpose one. The district now has many of the same powers as an improvement district even though the name has not changed. This legal status change gives the residents the right to alter the antiquated voting system that has allowed non-resident corporate control of our community. Without the current exemption the district enjoys, resident registered voters would elect supervisors... Since the district now has more than 500 resident electors and is no longer singlepurpose, the residents have an option, and the right, to elect one or more of the five supervisors using the standard popular vote

The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association led a hike at the Solid Waste Authority hiking trail on Sunday, Dec. 28. The trail consists of four adjoining trails that go from the SWA administration building on Jog Road (near the Beeline Highway) to 45th Street. Twentyfive FTA members and non-members participated in the walk, which included three of the trails. For more information about the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association, including upcoming activities, visit www.lox.floridatrail.org. (Left) Alan Collins, Maxine Stone and Gordon Johnson lead the walk. (Right) Hikers gather on the dock for a view of the wetlands.

crime, I want someone who knows the law and is impartial to review the case and make a judgment,” he said of the special master system. “And if you look at other municipalities, they all think that is the way to go. I have no regrets, and I would do it again without question.”

Margolis said he learned in his council tenure just how difficult the work of a council member can be. “I learned that being a council person is a difficult job — I learned that to be an effective council person, you have to make decisions based on your conscience and what the majority of residents want from the council,” he said.

And open-mindedness is an

sumers on the benefits of having energy-efficient appliances in their homes, and thirdly and most importantly, it helps our environment.”

Abruzzo has also filed a bill called the Children’s Equestrian Safety Act in the memory of Nicole Hornstein, a 12-year-old Acreage girl who died in a 2006 riding accident. “This bill will require minors to wear helmets while riding horseback,” he said.

Abruzzo is also working with the Fraternal Order of Police and other organizations representing emergency responders on a bill that would allow police and firefighters with career-ending injuries to take other jobs and con-

method. The actual number popularly elected is at least one but can increase depending on residential density. Our elected town council also has not helped by taking control of the situation by establishing road improvement authority or passing ordinances to make certain whatever is done will not be a waste of money. There is a planned intergovernmental meeting scheduled for Jan. 2, the purpose of which is to establish cooperation between the council and the district. If history is a guide, that process will be ineffectual, and it will also be too late since the district plans to jam OGEM down our throats.

The one-acre/one-vote system, which is allowing nonresidents to force road paving on many who cannot afford it, should be stopped. According

invaluable asset in making oneself effective as a councilman, Margolis added. “I think the greatest compliment I ever got was, ‘Bob, we never knew how you were going to vote — you always did your homework, you always asked questions, but we didn’t know how you would vote,’ and I took that as a compliment,” he said.

Margolis said that his one main disappointment at the close of his time on the council is that he was not able to provide the village a more open and accountable government.

“I don’t know if my aspirations were too high — you know, you’ve got to walk before you run… We made some head-

tinue to draw their compensation, which they cannot currently do, Abruzzo said.

Other bills he is pursuing include a statewide standard for elevator safety, a local bill defining the Lake Worth Drainage District as a single-purpose district, primary co-sponsorship of a bill defining the assessment of working waterfront property and a bill designed to encourage teacher retention in Florida.

Before the regular legislative session gets underway this spring, state lawmakers convene for a 12-day special session starting Monday, Jan. 5 to deal with a $2.3 billion shortfall in the state budget.

to the 2000 census, the residential median income here is $55,509 per year... Over 30 percent make less than $45,000 per year. With the current economic downturn, the income levels are probably much lower and a lot of people are out of work... There are many residents who are barely able to afford living here and will be forced out of their homes by an additional road assessment. One of the “planks” of incorporation was to allow landowners to split their properties into fiveacre parcels. For some it’s necessary to sell part of their property just to remain living here. A new assessment to put down a half-assed road followed soon after by another to repair the damage is more than some can afford. Of course, these

way, but looking back on the last year, I don’t think I was as successful as I wanted to be with new leaders in place,” he said.

A prime example Margolis cites is the advance in the past year of the PBCC proposal and negotiations that followed. As a councilman, he said he has not always had the sense that he was getting a full share of information needed to make good decisions.

“I’m not saying Wellington government is dishonest, but I’ve always believed that perception is reality, and there needs to be better dissemination of information to all council people and to all who ask,” he said.

And Margolis vows that at least on the campus issue, he will remain vocal, although he is facing pressure at home to

Blotter

continued from page 6

$178. Lazarus was issued a notice to appear in court.

DEC. 29 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched early Monday morning to a home on Stonegate Drive regarding a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. someone entered the victim’s unlocked 2007 GMC Envoy and stole a GPS and a fanny pack containing prescription eyeglasses and miscellaneous items. There was no sus-

effects could be planned and hidden behind the façade — drive out the current residents so that their property can be developed into something less rural. This is not what we voted for! Sometimes it even gives me nightmares! Using a metaphor characteristic of the Book of Genesis, if you compare the district to the snake in the Garden of Eden and our council to tribal leaders, you can draw some interesting parallels. To start with, it is impossible to get rid of the snake since it is immortal and a necessary evil. The snake will present us with temptations that can drive us out of paradise, but without it we could be swallowed up by the waters. We elected our leaders to watch over the snake and keep

take it easy after several years of sacrificing vacation time to village business. “As a private citizen I cannot stop being involved and caring about the community,” he said. “I promised my wife that this is the only subject on which I would become active in the community.” But Margolis also stopped short of saying he would refuse a council re-appointment, should he be offered the position in the coming weeks.

“If I’m honored to have three council members — or four — say they enjoyed serving with me, it would be very difficult to turn them down,” he said. “But I ran for supervisor of elections knowing the ramifications. I was very willing to resign, I never asked to return, and I never will.”

pect information at the time of the report.

DEC. 30 — A resident of Reston Circle called the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach on Tuesday morning in reference to a grand theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 9 p.m. on Monday and 7 a.m. the following morning, someone removed all four tires from the victim’s 2008 Ford Expedition parked on the driveway. The vehicle was left resting on bricks. The deputy noted that a similar incident occurred on Ridgewood Circle.

us informed of its plans. Our leaders also speak with those above them to get blessings for their people and to guide our lands into paradise. They also drive out those who would change our paradise into something evil just for a few shekels... Who will prevail? The snake is strong and is immortal. Our leaders are simply common people with the gift of vision. The answer lies with all of us and where we place our faith and efforts. The snake will always be with us but can be controlled if we believe in and support our leaders. Just a nightmarish metaphor that may be closer to reality than anyone would want… No religious offense intended. Don Williams Loxahatchee Groves

Col. Mike Gauger, Capt. Greg Richter and Wellington Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore.

Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen, Elaine Davis and John Bonde.

PBSO Capt. Greg Richter cuts the cake.

Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto and Councilman Matt Willhite with Capt. Greg Richter and PBSO volunteers.

PBSO Citizen Observer Patrol volunteers enjoy the luncheon.

District

and Janice Lyes.

New Entertainment And More Parking At 2009 South Florida Fair

When the South Florida Fair returns to the South Florida Fairgrounds on Friday, Jan. 16, it will be a whole new fair. In fact, no two South Florida Fairs are alike. While it is true many events and activities carry decades-long legacies, it is always exciting for fairgoers to experience new things. Whether it’s a unique fryed-fangled food, a crafty invention or a never experienced, twisting ride, you can bet you’ll come across something you’ve never seen before. Here’s the scoop on what’s new at the 2009 South Florida Fair:

• A World of Fun Expo — Presented by Americraft, this year’s fair expo is your passport to the world. Step across the seven great continents and sense the cultures and customs of the people who comprise our great planet. From great animal shows to dazzling acrobats, you’re in for a world of fun.

• Family Shows — From Chinese acrobats, world-class dancers and mountain bears to Australian animals, monkeys and a first-time-ever hypnotist, this year’s fair offers a bunch of never-before-seen shows that are free with your fair admission ticket. In addition, check out the new ShaeLaurel high-energy Irish stage show and the Sweeney Family band. These new family shows, together with the many other fair favorites, combine for a full day at the fair.

• Expanded Pepsi Entertainment Stage — Every year, the South Florida Fair showcases national recording acts representing a cross section of contemporary sounds. This year, bookings include Julianne Hough, Chuck Wicks, James Otto, Blue Öyster Cult, the Mar-

shall Tucker Band, .38 Special, MercyMe, Switchfoot and Lady Antebellum. Catch these exciting new shows at the fair’s expanded Pepsi entertainment stage with a capacity of 2,300 seats.

• VIP Area — Whether it’s to entertain clients, staff, important people or family, the fair’s new and exclusive off-stage VIP area is exciting and first class! Reserve your table for all of the fair’s national concerts (you can split up as you see fit). Or book the weekends for a company party, corporate reception or fun outing. Capacity is from 50 to 150 people in an indoor and outdoor setting. Catering menus and beverages are available.

• More Parking — The fairgrounds have expanded. Thanks to the purchase of an additional 5.3 acres on the north side of the fairgrounds, there is parking for an additional 400 vehicles during peak visitor periods. This is in addition to the several thousand parking spots on and adjacent to the fairgrounds. As always, there is free parking at the fair.

• New Rides — It’s the largest portable roller coaster in the U.S. The RC-48 is transported on seven trailers and takes several days to erect. This sensational ride gives a thrill unlike any other coaster available at a fair in the United States. Another new addition is the all-new Drag Strip Mega Slide. Unlike the regular slides you see at fairs that have only four lanes, this ride will have eight lanes. While these two rides promise to be the marquee attractions, there are sev-

eral other additions to the midway that are also sure to delight fair guests. The Swing Buggy is a new take on the Himalaya ride. Spinning round and round, the cars also swing out giving an extra thrill sensation. The Mind Blaster is another spectacular attraction making its first appearance at the fair. Like a U-shaped roller coaster, the cars spin and slide on the track, swinging back and forth throughout the ride cycle. The trains strap riders safely in place for this harrowing adventure. The Vortex is a thrill ride that is not for the feint of heart. Towering high above the midway, the Vortex is an imposing sight. Riders are strapped safely into the two tubs at either end of the ride’s long arm, and when one is near the ground, the other tub is high above the midway. The arm rotates round and round and the riders are whipped high in the air as the tubs themselves flip end over end. Not everyone is brave enough to experience the Vortex, but the ride is a lot of fun just to watch in action.

• New foods — After the traditional corn dog or elephant ear, save room for the crepe maker. Straight from the streets of Paris, enjoy a delicious, nutritious, mouthwatering crepe (entrée or dessert) created just for you in the World of Fun Expo. The Gelato Grotto is another must see, with flavors that range from Banana Bocelli to Fragola Strada.

The 2009 South Florida Fair runs from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1. For more information and tickets, call (561) 793-0333 or visit the fair’s web site at www.southflorida fair.com.

The Sweeney Family band is one of the many family shows this year.

Performers Julianne Hough (above) and Chuck Wicks (below).

The midway attractions are always a huge hit at the South Florida Fair.

National acts .38 Special (above) and Switchfoot (below) are some of the performers who will play on the Pepsi Entertainment Stage.

PHOTOS COURTESY SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s action-packed circus show “Boom a Ring” took place Dec. 25-30 at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The scaleddown one-ring circus format enabled patrons to experience an all-access pre-show in which performers and some animals provided close-up views of the acts. For more info., visit www.ringling.com.

creative.

Rabbi Betram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion does a puppet show. Madison Dassa gets

Mallory Dassa gets some help from her mom Lori. Lisa and Julie Siklossy with Julie’s children Eva and Logan.

David Bass dazzles onlookers with his hula hoop skills.

Twins Luke and Cole Schindler hang from the trapeze assisted by Andre Khoroshevev and Evegeney Shovic.

Oliver and Heidi Ketonen are ready for the circus.

Jasmine Castro atop elephant Susie.

Michael Jutte and wife Andrea, with daughters Elyse, Emma and Hannah are dressed in their circus apparel.

How To Visit Alaskan Eskimos For The Price Of A Taxicab Fare

Travel isn’t what it used to be. Remember back in the ’80s when you hopped in the car, told the gas station attendant to “fill ’er up” and got your oil checked, your windows washed and your tank filled, all for about $1.20 a gallon?

Remember when air travel was fun? You’d leave your car in the long-term lot (you could afford it!), stroll to the ticket window, tell a live person where you wanted to go and get a ticket. Then you’d just sashay over to your gate — accompanied by all your family and friends — and board. Then — here’s the amazing part — the plane would actually get you to your destination.

Now, because the airlines have scaled back to about 12 planes per company, bad weather or a mechanical glitch means an (often uncompensated) overnight stay in a place you never meant to visit. In the ’80s, they’d simply apologize and

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

escort you over to the next gate where a half-empty plane would easily accommodate all the new passengers. Not anymore.

Right after Thanksgiving, my daughter Jennifer called from the Kansas City airport to say she was off on her business trip to China. She said she’d call again when they touched down in New York where she would transfer to a bigger plane.

And she did. But the next call I got was more disturbing.

“Mom, guess where I am!” she said.

It hadn’t been six hours. I guessed Bermuda.

“Alaska!” she laughed. Everything is funny to this kid. Everything is an adventure. “We had a medical emergency and this guy had to be taken off the plane. We’re going to be here for hours!

I’m getting in a taxi right now to go sightseeing!”

“Isn’t it nighttime?”

“Not here! It’s daytime for six months!”

So for the price of a cab ride, Jen got to see Eskimos (Inuit, sorry), ice sculptures and the starting point of the Iditarod dogsled race (not a candy-striped pole like you’d expect, but a mere stoplight). Although her Alaskan adventure cost her $50, it cost the airline $30,000 in dumped fuel because the plane was too heavy for the nearest

airstrip. In rerouting costs, labor costs and loss of revenue due to the time spent on the ground in Alaska, it was much more. Plus, the pilots would’ve gone over their allowed flight time, so they had to fly to San Francisco to be replaced.

(Again: “Mom, guess where I am!”)

On the bright side, I received a mukluk ornament for Christmas — a little leather boot that looked quite cute on the tree. Jen wisely passed up items handcrafted from moose dung — things like earrings, “turd-em poles” and “holy crap” angels — and admitted that, even though she admired the Alaskans for “turning castoffs into treasure,” she thought this was might be taking recycling a bit too far. For Jen, who was on business, the travel detour was fun. For people who were using up valuable vacation time, not so much.

‘Benjamin Button’ A Treat For Lovers Past, Present And Future

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a lovely treat. Like the best movies, it addresses real issues, moral and aesthetic, in ways that both entertain and teach. As The Dark Knight addressed issues of justice and morality, Benjamin Button deals with the meaning of love in all its forms.

There are many different kinds of love in this fable of a man who lives his life backward, born as a very elderly man and growing younger as he moves toward death. The first kind of love is maternal as shown by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson, who may be recognized for a glowing performance at Academy Award time), a black woman who runs an old-age home. She takes care of the elderly-looking infant, who fits in well with the residents. As the young Benjamin (Brad Pitt, and the technical work that places his elderly-looking head on the body of a child is both seamless and brilliant) grows up, he falls in love with Daisy, a girl a few years younger than he is. Despite his elderly body, we see innocent love, that of children. As Benjamin grows older (well, of course, he

‘I’ On

CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

keeps getting younger physically) he learns about sex from a New Orleans hooker, introduced to him by the tugboat captain (Jared Harris) who gives him his first job. A bored Englishwoman (Tilda Swinton) teaches him about love, particularly of the unfulfilled variety.

But as Benjamin gets younger, he again meets Daisy (now played by a marvelous Cate Blanchett), who is now a dancer. After several years they finally get together and have a wonderful relationship that eventually leads to a child of their own.

The relationship turns bittersweet as Daisy ages

and Ben realizes that he will get younger as time goes on. He tells her she should not have to raise two children. Watching the reactions as each actor looks in the mirror, she seeing herself aging as he is getting younger, the impact of aging on love comes painfully clear.

In the moving final scenes, he is an elderly child with some dementia, and Daisy, whose daughter has grown, moves back to the old age home to care for him, a return to motherly love.

Screenwriter Eric Roth, who also wrote Forrest Gump, uses many of the techniques that were successful in that film. The passage through time, the old-age home that provides a residence for Benjamin at the beginning and end of his life, the influence of very strong characters all provide the same kind of emotional resonance.

The opening, which features a blind clockmaker who created a clock that moved backward in New Orleans, provided a lovely framework for the story. Roth had the clock coming down to be replaced by a digital clock, with the stored-away parts gradually swallowed up by the floodwaters of Hurri-

My Wife’s Facial Surgery Was A Trying

Last week, my wife Sharon underwent major surgery on her face. She has had a tumor on the right side of her face for more than 30 years. At first the tumor was very small, and most doctors told her to leave it alone. However, that changed in the last few years as the tumor started to grow. It appeared to be the size of a golf ball. Now all the doctors were telling her the tumor had to be removed. The tumor parked itself on the nerves that control her eyelids and lips. It would be a very difficult operation. Most doctors would not perform it. Nobody was sure how my wife’s face would fare after the tumor was removed. It could leave her looking like she’d had a stroke, and maybe she would not be able to close her eyelids. We were also told the tumor might be cancerous.

My wife’s fears were put at ease by the doctors who would do the operation. Dr. Agresti is an ear,

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

nose and throat doctor and Dr. Murphy is a plastic surgeon. The operation was taking place at Good Samaritan Medical Center.

The first thing Dr. Agresti did was take a biopsy of the tumor. She then sent my wife for an MRI. The biopsy and the MRI came back with good news. Both showed there was no cancer in the tumor. However, we learned that during the operation the doctors had the tumor tested to make sure the MRI was accurate.

cane Katrina. I predict this will be a very big movie. The audience was clearly moved, and I could hear discussions about it as we left the theater. Of late, I have seen a lot of movies that merely provided a way to spend time, but there were a few that were special, that made me think and feel. This one touched my heart. A lot of movies deal with love, too often mostly with its carnal aspects. But occasionally, like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the more spiritual side is the focus. Love is more than hormones, despite the best efforts of entertainment moguls to convince us that we should live only in the present. Pitt gives a wonderfully convincing performance as a man moving through time, even if the wrong way, who was able to experience all the types of love available. The rest of the cast, particularly Blanchett, is also marvelous. The movie proclaims that while bodies grow, change and weaken, love can be eternal. This is a movie for lovers and those who have been lovers and those who hope to be lovers. See it.

Time For The Both Of Us

The day of the operation, we arrived at Good Sam at 5:30 a.m. We had to wait half an hour because the hospital doors did not open until 6 a.m. At 6:02 a.m., we were in the operation prep room. At 7:30 a.m., I saw the doctor arrive at the hospital. The operation started at eight and lasted more than four hours.

It was the longest four hours of my life. When my kids and grandkids were born, none of them took four hours to come into the world. I missed the birth of my first son because I got hungry and went out for pizza. I only recall this incident because my wife reminded me of it right before she was taken into the operating room. She warned me not to do it again. I had an answer for her, but I decided to keep it to myself. At about 12:15 p.m., Dr. Agresti came out to greet me in the waiting room. She told me the operation went great and that there was no cancer in the tumor. The tumor was larger than we

thought. Dr. Murphy said the tumor was “the size of a large lime.”

My wife was in the recovery room for about an hour, and I went there to see her. At first glance it looked like I was looking at a cross between Dracula and Frankenstein. My wife looked like someone had tried to cut off her ear. She had stitches that ran the entire length of her ear. She also had a tube coming out of the back of her head that was draining blood into a plastic bottle. The tube had to stay in her head for four days. The blood never stopped dripping. The operation was a complete success. On our return visit, Dr. Murphy was very pleased with the results. He didn’t think my wife would look as good as she did. He told us that he thought he would be looking at the face of someone who just suffered a stroke. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes. They worked, and it helped us through a very difficult time.

TOWN-CRIER SPORTS & RECREATION

Wolverine Girls Place Third At Invitational Tourney In Davie

By Paul Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington High School girls varsity basketball team took third place at the 2008 University School Suns New Year’s Invitational Basketball Tournament, which took place Dec. 2730 in Davie.

Wellington defeated Coral Springs Charter 55-36 in the battle for third

place on Tuesday, Dec. 30, improving the Wolverines’ record to 4-8. Wellington went 2-1 during the tournament, defeating Trinity Prep 44-36 on Saturday, Dec. 27, before falling to Gulliver Prep 52-20 on Monday, Dec. 29. Junior guard/forward Katey Applegate was named to the all-tournament team.

Joy Abounds At Wellington Classic Dressage Holiday Challenge

The holidays came early to the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center when Wellington Classic Dressage kicked off its 2009 winter show season with its Holiday Challenge competition held Dec. 13-14. And once again, the holiday show served as a benefit for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Both the dressage show and the toy drive were hits. “It was a great show,” Wellington Classic Dressage Sponsorship Coordinator John Flanagan said. “We had 135 entries and we actually went into tent stabling for the show. If that’s an indication of how people enjoy our shows, then we’re off to a great start. We also collected a large number of toys and cash donations for the Toys for Tots program. And for that, we’d really like to thank the competitors for being so generous and Royal Professional Builders for partnering with us on the toy drive.”

There was no shortage of holiday spirit during the competition. Not only were the judges’ boxes and the rings decorated with a holiday theme, but Wellington Classic Dressage staff and volunteers got in the holiday mood with Christmas-colored clothing, Santa hats and reindeer antlers. Even a few judges could be seen sporting reindeer antlers or Santa hats. Christmas music played in the background, and the popular Saturday evening competitors’ party featured a holiday theme.

In competition, the clear leader in Grand Prix was Mikala Munter Gundersen, who earned two blue ribbons with Leonberg, a 14-year-old Zweibrucken stallion that is registered Hanoverian. The pair took first in the FEI Grand Prix de Dressage with a score of 71.458 and first in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with a 72.750. Winner of the FEI Grand Prix Special

was Mary Ann Grant riding Westernwind to a score of 67.80 percent.

Gundersen also competed at FEI level with Wild Dance and said she was thrilled with how well both horses did at the show. “It was a wonderful weekend, and both horses went really well,” she said. “I’m especially excited at how well everything came together for the Grand Prix.”

Gundersen said Leonberg was a bit nervous in the warm-up but once he came down centerline “he took a breath and relaxed.” The stallion had been out of training for three years due to injury and just came back this past year. Gundersen said his scores at the Holiday Challenge tell her that he’s back on track.

Gundersen admits that winning made the show especially enjoyable, but said Wellington Classic shows are always fun.

“Wellington Classic shows are always wonderful,” Gundersen said. “The footing is great. The stabling is great. It’s just the best possible conditions for horses. But we did have an especially good time at this one with the holiday feel of it. The Saturday night party had a great dinner and wonderful music. No doubt about it, I’m going to go to all their shows.”

Two other big winners at FEI level were Shelly Francis and Katherine Bateson Chandler. Francis took wins with both Wig Wam and Dominion. Wig Wam, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding, scored a 73.50 percent at FEI Prix St. Georges for a win and Dominion, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, scored a 68.049 for a win in the FEI Intermediaire II.

Bateson Chandler competed with three horses — Rutherford, a 10-yearold Dutch Warmblood; Goldwing, a

Horse Safety Is A Responsibility Every Motorist

Not many years ago, my friends and I thought nothing of meeting up on a Saturday morning with our horses and dogs, and rambling down the road for a relaxing hour or two. The dirt roads were easy on the horses’ feet, the dogs got to wander along, sniffing and investigating, and the cars were few and respectfully slow. It wasn’t unusual for us to start out with two or three riders and a couple of dogs, and end up a gang of six or seven riders and more than a dozen dogs by the time we’d finished. (We used to call it the “dog vortex” because of the way it seemed that every stray dog trotted along with us, even if just for a while.) Then came Progress. More houses were built. Roads were improved. Traffic increased, and the cars were going a lot faster. We started leaving the dogs home, for fear of them getting hit. We became selective as to which roads we would ride, and at which times of day. Trail riding is fun, but it can also be dangerous. Here in South Florida, even in areas with large horse populations, safe, separate trails aren’t always available. Horses and vehicles often share the same roadways, which can lead to tragic accidents. However, with a little thoughtful preparation and common courtesy, cars and horses can coexist safely. Did you know that horses ridden on the road are considered vehicles, not pedestrians? Riders should obey all traffic rules, road signs and lights. Intersections can be very dangerous and require extra vigilance. The safest way to ride on the road is far over on the right-hand side, and moving in the same direction as the traffic. On canal roads, the person on the canal side has the right of way when passing, but a horseman is a lot safer riding on the non-canal side if there’s traffic. This way, if a horse suddenly spooks, it can move away from the road. If it’s on the canal side and it spooks, its only

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

choice is going into the canal or moving into traffic.

Most drivers are careful when passing horses on the road, which is the law: they are supposed to slow for horses. But there are always people in a hurry, or preoccupied, or not paying attention. If the horse must walk on the roadway and a fast car approaches, move over as much as possible and attempt to slow the driver using hand signals. It’s also safer, if a fast or scary vehicle approaches, for the horse to stand still and face it, rather than have it “sneak” up behind the horse and startle it. Most horses will be braver when they can see a potentially dangerous thing approaching. If the horse becomes overly frightened, the rider should dismount and hold the horse, reassuring it until the danger has passed. Consider your horse’s level of training and chose the trail appropriately. It’s just plain stupid, not to mention dangerous, to take a young, green horse out alone near a busy road. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Get horses accustomed to roads a little at a time. Lead them for a stretch, or graze them along roads, so they get used to the sound and look of a variety of vehicles. And of course, walking slowly is always safer than deciding to go for a brisk canter, especially if the trail is new to both of you or the wind is blowing just a little too strongly. Lots of bad stuff can appear suddenly on a trail

and spook any horse. Windblown trash or odd debris, such as abandoned tires or appliances, can be fairly frightening for horses, along with such scary monsters as the unexpected pedestrian, wavering bicycle or loose, barking dog. Taking time to let your horse explore unusual sights such as these will reassure him that they’re not out to kill him and will increase his bravery and your mutual rapport.

I once had a mare that was terrified of bicycles. If she caught sight of one, even a quarter of a mile off, her head went up, her tail went up and her feet started dancing. I got her used to seeing bicycles by leaving one out in the yard when I brought her up to get groomed, and then every time we saw one on the road, I dismounted, held her and asked the bike rider to also dismount and just stand by the bike, then I’d bring my mare to the bike, giving her time to look and sniff. Eventually, she came to love bikes so much that when we’d meet up with a bike rider, it wasn’t unusual for her to reach over and give the bike a friendly nuzzle. It’s always safer to ride with others, especially if their horses are veterans and calm in traffic. Horses rely on their herds to detect danger. If the other horses remain calm and relaxed, it will help your young horse to see that there’s nothing to fear. Horses also remain calmer if they hear their riders talking in normal tones as they ride along, so a social trail ride is good for both horses and riders. If I’m riding alone with a green horse, I’ll often sing a song aloud, just so he can hear a calming voice. Before heading out for a trail, riders should check to make sure their tack is in good condition and that their horse’s shoes aren’t loose. Additionally, consider using safety equipment. Foremost is an approved helmet, to avoid head injuries in the event of a fall. A bottle of water and a cell phone are always good bets. Having a hoof

10-year-old Swedish Warmblood; and Dea II, an eight-year-old Hanoverian. All three earned blue ribbons, Rutherford in FEI Intermediare I with a score of 74.250 percent, Goldwing in FEI Test of Choice with a score of 65.750 and Dea in FEI Test of Choice with a score of 77.00 percent.

Among adult amateurs, Jane Springer and Talent continued their winning ways of the past season, taking first in the FEI Intermediaire I Adult Amateur competition with a score of 74.750 percent. Springer said she took a lesson with Robert Dover prior to the show and he told her that Talent ought to be scoring in the mid70s. “And then I came out and got a great score, one of our highest to date. It’s the power of positive thinking,” she said.

For Shelly Van Den Neste, winner of the high score of the show, coming to the Holiday Challenge was a bit of a homecoming. She had managed the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for three years before leaving to manage the new Oaks Equestrian Center in Lake City.

Van Den Neste earned the high score of the show with Esmeralde — an 80.800 in Training Level Test 4. Esmerelde had been a broodmare with Horses Unlimited and came to Van Den Neste after being purchased in a sale last year. She also took wins with Gladiator, a five-year-old, 18-hand Oldenburg also purchased from Horses Unlimited.

The Wellington Classic show season continues Jan. 9-11 with the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I. For more information about this year’s season, visit www.wellingtonclassic dressage.com.

pick on hand can save your horse from injury if a sharp rock gets embedded in his hoof, or you unexpectedly run into a patch of shattered glass. Also, know what the weather’s likely to do in the next few hours. There’s nothing quite as dangerous as getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bad storm bearing down on you. Hail and lightning can be deadly if you’re caught out without nearby shelter, so plan ahead. Riding at dusk or at night is really dangerous. It’s imperative that both rider and horse are visible to traffic. There are

BY PAUL GABA/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS COURTESY WELLINGTON DRESSAGE

Katey Applegate with an award for making the all-tournament team.

Stephanie Weiss begins her approach to the basket.Stephanie Weiss sets for a triple.WHS Coach Vic Navarro addresses the team during a timeout.

Wolverine Ashley Corradino inbounds the ball.

Mikala Munter Gundersen on Wild Dance.

Jane Springer with her manager Noreen O'Sullivan.

Top Riders To Compete At World Dressage Masters Jan. 28-31

Anky van Grunsven, the most successful musical freestyle competitor in the history of dressage, Holland’s Edward Gal, who captivated American audiences at the World Cup Finals, and U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters are among riders to confirm their participation in the inaugural $140,000 Exquis World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* in Wellington Jan. 28-31, 2009. Olympians Ashley Holzer of Canada and Hans Peter Minderhoud of The Netherlands have also commited to the event at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Dressage Star — (Left) Anky van Grunsven on Salinero at the 2008 Olympic Games, where she won her third-straight individual gold medal in dressage. PHOTO BY KEN BRADDICK/HORSESPORT USA

Wellington Roller Hockey Player Of The Week: Austin Robey

Wellington Roller Hockey League’s Player of the Week is seven-year-old Austin Robey, who plays left wing for the Prep Division’s Red Wings and Penguins.

Despite being the youngest player in the Junior Division, Robey can play with the older kids just as well as he plays in the Prep Division. Robey is a complete hockey player with good puck-handling, shooting and passing skills, constantly putting pressure on the opposition team’s defense.

Robey is also a team player who does not hesitate to pass the puck to a teammate in a better position to score. Outside the rink, Robey likes to play saxophone and his favorite subject is math. He also plays saxophone. Robey’s favorite professional hockey team is the Florida Panthers, and his favorite player is Wayne Gretzky. Robey’s favorite food are waffles and pizza, and his favorite video game system is the Nintendo Wii. The Village of Wellington is currently accepting roller hockey registration for the up-

Austin Robey

coming season, which will begin Jan. 21. Call Wally at (561) 252-5478 for more information.

Ticket prices have been set to enable as many dressage fans as possible to share a unique experience.

The WDM has been created so the world’s top dressage riders can compete in a Grand Prix to qualify for the Grand Prix Special or the Grand Prix Freestyle for €100,000 ($144,000) in total prize money at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Twenty riders and horses invited from around the world will compete in the Grand Prix during the day on Thursday, Jan. 29 for a purse of €10,000 ($14,400). The Grand Prix will be held in the International Arena with its newly constructed spectator areas. There is no charge for admission to the Grand Prix.

Friday and Saturday will present two days of unprecedented dressage festivities in the United States with the entire International Arena, including the International Club catered by

the Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green, VIP boxes and general admission seating available for reservations.

Aside from Van Grunsven, Gal and Peters, three-time Olympian Ashley Holzer and Pop Art of Canada and Hans Peter Mindehoud, who helped The Netherlands win silver at the 2008 Games, will be attending. More riders will be announced in coming weeks.

On Friday, van Grunsven will host a clinic with a group of selected riders in the International Arena under lights, an environment that is similar to the 2008 Olympic equestrian venue in which van Grunsven won her third-straight Olympic individual gold medal. The riders in the clinic include young riders, small tour competitors and Grand Prix combinations.

Saturday will be the WDM high-

MLB Base Coach To Host Clinic Benefiting Boys & Girls Club

Luis Alicea, a former first base coach for the Boston Red Sox and current first base coach for the New York Mets, will be hosting a Major League Baseball clinic to benefit the Wellington Boys & Girls Club, located at 3401 South Shore Blvd.

The three-day event will start on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. as Alicea joins guest Houston Astros Coach Ed Romero, along with other surprise guests, for a barbecue sponsored by the Law Offices of Marc R. Goldstein. The day will also include a sports auction and an autograph signing. The clinic will take place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost of the clinic is $150 for the first child and $100 for the second child. You can register and pay by visiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s web site at www.bgcpbc.org. Follow the prompts to the baseball clinic. Payment and registration can also be done at the Wellington Boys & Girls Club, located at 3401 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington.

Registration will also be accepted the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Space it limited. For more information, call (561) 683-3287 or (561) 790-0343.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is to inspire and assist all young people, especially those who need the club most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Wellington opened in 1987 with a 3,500square-foot building later expanded to 5,000 square feet. It is currently in the midst of a capital endowment campaign to build a 21,000-square-foot clubhouse with a full-service gym and additional program space to serve the area’s growing needs. Currently, the club has more than 700 members, but with the expansion, it will be able to double its average daily attendance. The club offers programs in six core areas: education and career development; character and leadership; cultural arts; sports, fitness and recreation; health and life skills; and technology.

light with the: € 30,000 ($40,000) Grand Prix Special and to €60,000 ($80,000) Grand Prix Freestyle.

Ticket options for the WDM are:

• International Club tables or individual seats. For reservations, call Kiki Umla at (561) 793-5867 or (904) 607-5541.

• VIP boxes for $50 individual seats on Friday night and Saturday night, or $90 for both nights. For reservations, call Annette Goyette at (561) 793-5867.

• General admission is $20 per night or $35 for two nights. Seating options are available through www. equestriansport.com.

The Wellington competition is the inaugural and only U.S. event in the first WDM series. The other competitions are Salzburg, Austria (May 13); Munich, Germany (May 21-24); and Hickstead, Great Britain (July 2326).

11-12 RED SOX FALL BASEBALL CHAMPS

11-12 Boston Red Sox recently concluded the fall 2008 season in the

cently been declared the year’s

The

Wellington Youth Baseball League, having re-

champions. Pictured here are Boston Red Sox players and coaches (front row, L-R): Adrian Simon, Andrew Mei, Alex Vargas, Robert James and Matthew Mazzatti; (second row) Coach Richard Ellis and Coach Bill Haines; (third row) Jonathan Haines, Tyler Kehlhofer, Ritchie Ellis, Sam Bernstein, Jimmy Marchand and Brett Pizzi; (back back) Coach Tony Pizzi. Not pictured: Christopher Boyer.

Saturday, Jan. 3

• Enjoy the company of walkers with the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association in John Prince Park on Saturday, Jan. 3. Walkers will meet at 7:30 a.m. and walk for about one hour before going to breakfast together. For more info., call Paul at (561) 963-9906.

• The Palm Beach Pops will present a tribute to the music of Dean Martin and Bobby Darin at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) on Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. in the Dreyfoos Concert Hall. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www. kravis.org for more info.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will continue “Blue: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell” in the Rinker Playhouse through Sunday, Jan. 4 Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

Sunday, Jan. 4

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold a hike at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Jupiter on Sunday, Jan. 4. Meet at the entrance gate at 8 a.m. for a nine-mile hike. Shorter hikes are available. Call Mary at (561) 391-7942 for more info.

Monday, Jan. 5

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Baby Story Time” on Mondays, Jan. 5, 12 and 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) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold an English Exchange on Mondays, Jan. 5, 12 and 26 at 1 p.m. for adults. Practice English conversation skills with Literacy AmeriCorps member Paula Alexander. Basic Englishspeaking skills are required. Call (561) 649-5495 to preregister.

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will host a presentation on hiking the Appalachian Trail on Monday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). For more info., call Paul at (561) 963-9906.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present “The Hugh Sung Trio: A Florida Debut,” with pianist Hugh Sung, accordionist Lidia Kaminska and saxophonist Doug O’Connor in the Rinker Playhouse on Monday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Call (561) 8327469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

• Art lovers will be able to see stunning and realistic paintings of orchids at the American Orchid Society’s exhibition “Elegance in Bloom: The Watercolors of Sally Robertson,” which runs Jan. 5 through Feb. 1 at the AOS Botanical Garden (16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach). The exhibit is free and open to the public. A reception featuring light refreshments is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 9. For more info., call (561) 404-2000 or visit www. aos.org.

Wednesday, Jan. 7

• The 2009 Winter Equestrian Festival opens in Wellington on Jan. 7 and 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 Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present the book discussion series Discover the World on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Sara Harris will lead a discussion of Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Sign up and check out the book. Call (561) 790-6070 for more information.

Thursday, Jan. 8

• The 2009 polo season will open Thursday, Jan. 8 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach with the kickoff of the 20-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup. The Joe Barry tournament continues until Sunday, Jan. 18. The International Polo Club is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. For tickets, brunch reservations or more information, call (561) 204-5687 or visit the IPC’s web site at www.international poloclub.com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Young Artists Series:

Dot It!” on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 3:30 p.m. for ages five through eight. Paint a picture with dots using Q-tips. Dress appropriately. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Pizza & Pages: The Book Thief” on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. For ages 12 to 17. Participants will discuss The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Copies will be available at the children’s desk. Pizza will be provided by the Friends of the Library. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington Women’s Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8 for a dinner meeting at the Binks Forest Golf Club. The speaker will be local media personality and entrepreneur Taylor Morgan, daughter of Radio Hall of Fame member Jerry Williams. Morgan founded, owned and operated Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe in Palm Beach in 1985 before she left to pursue a career in radio broadcasting. The guest fee for the evening is $30 and includes a full dinner and the program. RSVP to Mair Armand at (561) 6350011 or mair@armandpest. com.

Friday, Jan. 9

• The Wellington Garden Club will meet on Friday, Jan. 9 at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a light buffet lunch provided by the members. The business meeting will start at 12:15 p.m., followed at 1 p.m. by speaker Botanical Visions President William H. Reeve IV. Reeve’s topic will be “Using Native Plants in Your Landscape.” Guests are welcome and there is no admission fee. RSVP to Mary Anne at (561) 968-1062.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Science Club: Snowflakes” on Friday, Jan. 9 or 16 at 3:30 p.m. for ages eight and up. No two snowflakes are alike. Participants will see if this is true by looking at snow crystal morphology. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register. Saturday, Jan. 10

• The Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service (559 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will sponsor a Florida Master Naturalist Training Course on Florida’s freshwater wetlands on Saturdays, Jan. 10 to Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The training will include classroom instruction, field trips and practical experience. The cost for the course is $225. For more info., contact Melissa Allman at (561) 233-1792 or mallman@ pbcgov.org.

• The Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach Community College (4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth) will present the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats as part of its Saturday Family Fun Series on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. These actors, athletes and artists combine acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes and theatrics to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty. All seats are $12. For more info., call (561) 868-3309.

• Larry Vick of the Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County will explain how a major DNA project helped solve a Revolutionary War mystery at their meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10 at the Palm Beach County Public Library on Summit Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The Genographic Project, sponsored by the National Geographic Society, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation, is tracing the migration of man from Africa to the far corners of the world. The meeting is open to the public. For more info., call (561) 616-3455 or e-mail ancestry@bellsouth.net

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present the movie Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Gosman Amphitheatre. Tickets are $5. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info. Sunday, Jan. 11 • Temple Beth Tikvah (4550 Jog Road, Greenacres) will present “Jewels of Jewish Music” with Nat Titanoff and Dr. Maxine Schackman on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. They will present a musical slide show highlighting the golden age of Jewish entertainment. The evening is free and open to the public. Call (561) 9673600 for more info. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotown crier.com.

Three J’s Celebrates Two Years Serving Area Cigar Lovers

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Three J’s C-Cigar Emporium II in the Marketplace at Wycliffe recently celebrated its second year of business in the western communities. However, owner Jeremy Fedoruk and his family bring more than 14 years experience in the cigar business.

“My father has owned all kinds of businesses, but he has been involved in the cigar industry the past 14 or 15 years,” Fedoruk said.

Fedoruk is a biomechanist — an athletic trainer — who spends the first half of each day working with athletes on strength conditioning. In the afternoon, he comes to the cigar shop.

The name Three J’s C-Cigar Emporium II comes from the first names of Jeremy Fedoruk, his father John, his five-year-old son Joseph and his younger sister Christen, who runs the original location in Davie, which has been open about six years. Fedoruk drops by that location several times a week to visit and to pick up stock.

“We have a huge humidor there that holds all the stuff that we can’t hold and we can’t age,” Fedoruk said. “We age it all down there. Certain items, such as our Fuente products, which is more of the higher-end stuff, we let it stay in the humidifier for two months, and then we put it out. Many places don’t have that luxury, so as soon as it comes in, they have to put it out.” Both of the stores are humidors themselves, maintaining the perfect humidity and temperature to keep cigars at their best and allowing customer to shop a large variety of stock immediately.

“Our Davie location is the same way,” Fedoruk said. “It is a giant humidor. You try to maintain the humidity between 68 and 72 percent and the temperature between 72 and 74 degrees. That keeps the cigars at pretty much optimum tempera-

ture and humidity so you can enjoy them and get the most pleasure.”

Fedoruk credits his father with the background that enables the stores to offer the best lines of cigars. “My father worked in the industry for years in products and brokering different products,” he explained.

Fedoruk was interning as a strength and conditioning specialist with the Miami Dolphins when the family considered opening a cigar store. “All my clients, the athletes I had then, were into cigars, and that kind of kept everything going on the retail side,” he said. “That’s how we opened the retail shop.”

Fedoruk moved to Wellington three years ago, not long before he opened the cigar store. “I live just a couple of miles from here,” he said. “I lived in Deerfield for a while, and then west Boynton. I kept looking north and looked at this area and thought it would be a good location for a second store. We debated about it for a while, this spot became available — it’s a little unique, off the beaten path — and that’s how we wound up here.”

Although it is set back from the busier part of the shopping center, Fedoruk said the store enjoys high visibility from Lake Worth Road. “We get a lot of drive-by traffic,” he said. “A lot of people see it.”

Word of mouth and promotional social gatherings have also built up awareness of the store, Fedoruk said, as well as a friendly, warm atmosphere people want to come visit.

“We want you to feel like you’re in our living room, not in a store,” he said. “If you want to sit down and relax, have a coffee, use your laptop — we have wireless Internet — whatever you want to do, we don’t mind.”

Saturdays are especially busy, Fedoruk said. “Guys come in to play dominos, watch the games and watch polo,” he said. “We

bring lunch in for everybody. It’s always a party.”

The store also has larger events including promotions attended by the cigar manufacturers themselves, such as Arturo Fuente and the Padrone family.

“Padrone and Fuente are the two major players,” Fedoruk said. “They are right out there, catching up to everybody. The Padrones, Fuente, Pardomo, they make a great cigar, a great product, consistent, and all the owners have been here. All the Padrone family [members] have been here. Right now the main one for Padrone is Jorge Padrone, Jorge and Orlando. The father [Jose] is around as well. For Pardomo, it’s Nick and his brother, Billy. They will actually be here January 22 for an event. There’ll be food, music, a raffle, all kinds of stuff, all kinds of cigar specials.”

Fedoruk is intrigued that many of the outstanding cigar brands carry a family name.

“There’s great tradition in it,” he said. “Each brand has its own story, and each blend has its own story of how it came to be from the exodus when Castro wanted everybody out and wanted to take control.”

Cuban cigar-making families went to Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic to continue their traditions.

“They tried to find the most plentiful soil to grow the same product that they were growing in Cuba,” Fedoruk explained. “They’re putting out some of the greatest tobaccos there are. They’re leading the industry now.”

Fedoruk said the social aspects of cigar smoking are complex and difficult to explain, but relaxation is central. “Whatever’s bothering you, even if you’re not a smoker — I’m not a cigarette smoker, but you come in and relax for a half hour. Plenty of women come in, too. It’s not a for-guys-only type thing. We have a pretty universal, across-the-board 50-50 split.”

‘We want you to feel like you’re in our living room, not in a store. If you want to sit down and relax, have a coffee, use your laptop — whatever you want to do, we don’t mind.’ — Jeremy Fedoruk of Three J’s C-Cigar Emporium II

Fedoruk said there is a large representation of women cigar smokers who, like the men, generally start with the milder blends and work their way to a more robust tobacco.

The store often holds cigar pairings with foods, refreshment or stimulants such as coffee, espresso, cheese, wine or liquors, Fedoruk said. Recent events have been sponsored by Imperial Vodka and WineStyles of Wellington, drawing as many as 400 people who congregate

in the courtyard outside the 1,500-square-foot store.

“They meet out front and come in to meet the featured companies,” Fedoruk said. “I’m always trying to look for a different edge than the normal scotch, smoky room, Sinatra playing and everybody’s talking about cars and there’s Pacino pictures. We try to make it fun for everybody. I think that has helped us, make it different, fun and keep it simple. We want more than just cigar smokers.

We want you to be able to bring your wife or girlfriend. We’ve had golf instructors working on your swing in the middle of the store. There’s always something for everybody.”

Three J’s C-Cigar Emporium II is located in the Marketplace at Wycliffe at 4115 S. State Road 7 and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. For

Cigar Authorities — Three J’s C-Cigar Emporium II manager Anthony Ducote and owner Jeremy Fedoruk inside

Tavern On The Green Party Introduces New Wellington Training Club Project

O’Dell Land Development

Consultants held a party Friday, Dec. 19 at the Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green in Wellington to introduce the owner of the Wellington Training Club to the team in charge of creating the project in Well-

ington’s Equestrian Preserve. Karen-Ann Gardier, chief operating officer of the project’s parent corporation, was the guest of honor at the party, where the project team and their guests viewed artist’s renderings of the Wellington Training

Club’s large covered arena, clubhouse, schooling rings and bridle fairways. The team is led by O’Dell Inc., the owner’s representative and project manager, along with Wellington’s Alan Gerwig & Associates, the structural and

Diane Jenkins of Jenkins Realty and Ron Neal of Palm Beach Polo Realty

Don Farese of Lucido & Associates with a rendering of the project’s entry.

Tavern on the Green owner Jenny Oz LeRoy with Mike O’Dell and Susan Giddings of O’Dell Inc.

Susan Giddings, Rachel Ricci and Karen-Ann Gardier

Steve and Janet Yohe

Architects Jonathan Moore and Carlos Bonilla

Mason Phelps Jr. and Angie Francalancia of Phelps Media Group

Evolution Wellness Center Sponsors Weight-Loss Competition

Almost two out of three Americans over the age of 20 are overweight, and many of these men and women are overweight to the point of being obese. To help turn the tide of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle around, local personal training studio Evolution Wellness in Wellington is offering a $5,000 prize to the person who loses the greatest amount of body fat in 12 weeks.

Evolution Wellness owner Bryan Nichols isn’t a newcomer to delivering exercise and nutrition programs; he has been a positive influence in the fitness industry since 1992. “I find those individuals who have an incredible amount of leverage on themselves lose the most weight and are more apt to achieve their fitness goals,” Nichols said. “As most of us

know, it’s no easy task to change the way you have eaten for years. Compound that with the fact that weight loss is a gradual process and you get a lot of people who lose interest and give up. That’s why people need guidance and a little challenge.”

A personal trainer can help set realistic goals for weight loss to occur.

“Ninety percent of my job is to recommend the correct nutrition program and the proper type, intensity and duration of exercise to achieve the client’s goal,” Nichols said. “Once the client notices results, the finish line moves closer and they become very driven.”

Another method used to motivate clients to stay committed to their diet and exercise regimens is the Spare Tire Reduction Incentive Program (STRIP)

contest. A competition is dynamic, quantifiable and rewarding. Nichols organized the STRIP contest to encourage not just weight loss, but body fat loss. Body fat loss requires exercise and proper nutrition, unlike weight loss, which can occur from a low-calorie diet or water loss.

The STRIP program is open to anyone and everyone. Membership at Evolution Wellness is not required to participate. Individuals choose 12 consecutive weeks to lose as much body fat as they can. Competition begins Jan. 1 and ends May 16. The last day to start competition is March 1. There is a one-time sign-up fee of $49.

A final celebration party will be held Saturday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at Evolution Wellness for all STRIP participants. All en-

rollee personal information is kept strictly confidential.

Evolution Wellness has made a commitment to provide motivational personal training sessions, a knowledgeable staff and a clean and convenient workout facility in Wellington. A seasoned fitness industry professional, Nichols has a passion for sharing techniques for a healthier and fit lifestyle. Many people come to Evolution for different reasons. The types of goals Evolution Wellness works with are: weight loss, increase muscle tone, improved athletic performance, weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, back injuries and chronic pain. For more information, call Evolution Wellness at (561) 204-5033 or visit www. evolutionpersonalfitness.com.

Binks Forest Golf Club Opens New Clubhouse And Banquet Facility

Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington recently announced the completion and grand opening of its 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and banquet facility. The debut of the new Binks Forest Golf Club is the result of a multi-million-dollar joint venture by Aquila Property Company and Allied Capital, who renovated and reopened the golf course to rave local and national reviews and awards last fall. These awards included Binks Forest Golf Club’s selection as a finalist in Golf Inc. magazine’s

National Renovation of the Year contest and the Sun-Sentinel’s “Best of the West” golf course award. The opening of the clubhouse and banquet facility certifies the rebirth of this highly acclaimed course that has been ranked among the top 75 daily-fee courses in the United States. The renovation of the clubhouse and banquet facility positions Binks Forest Golf Club as a premier venue for banquets, catering and golf in Palm Beach County. The banquet facility boasts four

FPL Plant Employees, Contractors Help Needy

Employees and contractors who work at the West County Energy Center recently gathered food and toys for various charities this holiday season. Approximately $17,000 in toys, including 50 bicycles, went to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots collection program. Over 40,000 pounds of all types of food were distributed among four organizations: House of Hope, Palm Beach Food Bank, St. Ann’s Shelter and St. Mary’s Food Pantry.

“The generosity of all of the people involved with the West

County Energy Center is truly heartwarming,” Plant Manager Carmine Priore III said. “What makes this even more special is that this team has given during tough economic times and when it is needed the most.” In addition to the above donations, Pahokee Nursing Home residents were provided toiletries and blankets, children from St. Mary’s Church in Pahokee received toys and clothing and the 20 children received toys and clothing through the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

brand new venues with a stateof-the-art sound system including the Grand Forest Ballroom, the clubroom, the boardroom and the Eagles’ Nest dining room. These venues accommodate parties from 20 to more than 500 people. The clubhouse offers guests and members a state-of-the-art fitness center, swimming pool and dining facilities.

“We are very excited about completing construction and opening Binks Forest to the community for banquets and

social events,” Aquila Property Company Chairman Jordan Paul said. “The grand opening of our clubhouse, grand ballroom and banquet facility represents the culmination of our efforts to restore Binks Forest Golf Club as a jewel of the Wellington community, and the results are stunning. There is nothing else like this facility in the area, and we are confident that Binks Forest Golf Club will soon emerge as Palm Beach County’s premier choice for galas, weddings, bar mitzvahs and

social events. The demand for a facility of this caliber is demonstrated by virtue of the 50-plus events booked that we already had booked prior to opening.” Aquila Property Company and Allied Capital selected Crescent Hotels & Resorts to manage Binks Forest Golf Club. Crescent was selected because of their experience and ability to execute quality food and

and

(Above left) Corporal Jesse Gonzalez, WCPP Project Manager Bruce Beall, FPL Plant General Manager Carmine Priore III, Corporal Nelson Garcia and Lance Corporal Luciano Sericolo with some of the donated bicycles. (Above right) Just some of the donated food and toiletry items.

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