Town-Crier Newspaper June 1, 2007

Memorial Day observance in RPB.

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By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Royal Palm Beach joined American Legion Post 367 and the Sylvia & Hyman L. Solomon Jewish War Veterans Post 684 for a short but moving Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Veterans Park. As American Legion Post Chaplain Jim Hart expressed it, they were there “to remember those who fought and died for America, who paid the price for our freedom.”

After the American Legion color guard raised the flag and the Royal Palm Beach Community Band played the national anthem, the speakers movingly described the debt owed by every American to those who fought for freedom.

Hart asked the crowd to think not only of those who had fall-

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Members of the Wellington Village Council joined lawmakers from all levels of government to commemorate Memorial Day at the Wellington Veterans’ Memorial Monday.

Dignitaries speaking at the ceremony included Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham, Vice Mayor Bob Margolis, Congressman Tim Mahoney, County Commissioner Jess Santamaria and state senators Dave Aronberg and Jeff Atwater.

In his opening invocation, Rabbi Stephen Pinsky of Temple Beth Torah asked those

en but also of those listed as missing in action. “The sacrifices made by these people are part of our blessings of liberty,” he said.

American Legion Post 367 Commander Al Rosen asked people to think of soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. “They are our true citizen patriots,” he declared. “It is up to us to see that they did not die in vain.”

“Everyone here has been touched by someone who returned in spirit only,” Rosen continued. “We have to ask if we are worthy of the blessings of freedom given by the blood of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. We have to become a beacon of light, a mentor, a guide and helper to the next generation of veterans.”

Freedom is more than just a “slogan on a magnetic bumper sticker,” Rosen said. “There is

present to remember those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

“As we begin our observance of Memorial Day, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Pinsky said. “Bless our people with the love of righteousness. Teach us to work for the welfare of all, to diminish the evils that beset us and to enlarge our nation’s virtues. Bless our people with civic courage. Let us strive to make the dream of a world at peace, when we put an end to the suffering we inflict upon each other.”

Vice Mayor Bob Margolis asked the audience to consider Memorial Day as more than the

a path from Verdun to Anbar Province of young people who gave life and limb for all our freedoms. All of us need to think about the price of freedom,” he stressed.

Mel Kramer of the Jewish War Veterans asked the audience to think of individuals who fought and died for their country. “If everyone just remembers one, just one veteran,” he said, “then today’s holiday will be a success.”

Kramer recalled how Americans rallied to the aid of their country after it was thrust into the Second World War. “We who fought World War II are dying out, and soon there will be no one to tell about our war,” he said. “We were totally unprepared after Pearl Harbor. But Americans rolled up their sleeves and with American in-

beginning of summer or a threeday escape for work-weary employees.

“Many souls were sacrificed in duty to America,” Margolis said. “Tomorrows were forfeited and given up so our nation will continue to enjoy our freedoms. These are the souls we respect on Memorial Day. This means it is a sacred day. Old Glory does not wave by accident. The color red represents the blood of those who have given their lives for us. Sometimes we Americans take things for granted. These fighting men and women, killed in battle, actually made available these

See TRIBUTE, page 10A

W Water ater W Woes oes W Will Likely illLikely Delay Binks Reopening DelayBinksReopening

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Drought conditions and water restrictions have forced Aquila Property Co. to request a delay in reopening its recently acquired Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington.

Aquila CEO Jordan Paul told Binks Forest residents Wednesday that the course, which has been closed for nearly five years, might not be ready for its scheduled Sept. 30 opening. In two town-hall type meetings at the Wellington Community Center, Paul said the new timetable for the opening, based on current conditions, is mid-November.

Paul sent a letter to Wellington Village Manager Charlie Lynn earlier this month offering Aquila’s new timetable and requesting an extension.

Lynn told the Town-Crier Thursday that he could not personally grant the extension and that the village’s legal staff is reviewing the request to determine whether a Wellington Village Council vote would be required.

Aquila is bound by a develop-

er’s agreement struck between the village and the course’s previous owner, Peninsula Bank. The council approved a modification of the agreement last October, accepting a promise that the course would be ready for play by Sept. 30 of this year. The council also agreed to a renovation of the course’s existing clubhouse facilities, rather than a brand-new structure, to be ready a year later.

The grass on the redesigned course is not growing in well due to a lack of rain and watering restrictions imposed by the South Florida Water Management District in April. Paul said Binks Forest is allowed to use only 45 percent of the water allotted under its permit while the water restrictions are in effect.

Paul told the Town-Crier that the Jupiter-based Aquila plans to appeal to the SFWMD for a waiver. “There have been discussions with them, but those have been led by Peninsula Bank,” Paul said. “Our focus has really been on getting the deal closed and getting things together. We also had to evalu-

Stadium Jumping Moves Ahead With New Facility

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Horse show promoter Stadium Jumping has begun the application process with the Village of Wellington to construct new equestrian show grounds in southern Wellington.

Stadium Jumping filed a development order and master plan with the village May 17 for show grounds on a 179-acre parcel off 50th Street in extreme

southern Wellington, part of the planned Wellington Preserve development of 640 acres designated on survey maps as Section 34.

Wellington Equestrian Alliance Executive Director Dean Turney, who is acting as Stadium Jumping’s agent in the application process, said no hard dates have yet been set for reviews with Wellington officials. “We expect the Development

See HORSES, page 7A

We Remember — Air Force veteran Cliff O’Dea Sr. of The Acreage and Navy veteran Tom Boles of Royal Palm Beach at Monday’s

Marching On — Members of the Palm Beach Pipes and Drums at Monday’s Memorial Day observance in Wellington.

WHS Icon Dr. Robert Sharon Gets Ready To Pass The Baton

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Many were shocked at last week’s Wellington High School commencement ceremony to learn that beloved music teacher and choral director Dr. Robert Sharon would be leaving the school, but his students were not among them. They already knew.

Sharon had e-mailed them two weeks earlier to break the news of his retirement, and the following school day he said there were many tearful eyes all around. “It’s like a family, and with the amount of stuff we do, I’m closer to them than some of them are with their own parents,” Sharon said. “These are my kids, too. They belong to me as much as to their families. It’s not easy leaving.”

Sharon has been a fixture at WHS since the school opened in 1988. Only about a half dozen of the school’s original contingent of educators are still there.

Although Sharon has had a distinguished career as a musician and soloist with many orchestras and as an accompanist, he is best known locally as director of the WHS choral ensemble Impressions, which tours abroad every summer. Under his direction, Impressions has performed in Italy, Scotland, Prague, Austria, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, China and Greece.

Aside from getting an educational experience themselves, Sharon described the Impressions singers as goodwill ambassadors because they offer

people in foreign countries a firsthand impression of people from the United States.

“It changes their opinion of what America is all about,” Sharon said. “It’s a great feeling that way. They hear about the United States on the news and what they see on television. When the kids come over, and they do what they do, it sets up a whole different experience for them. They go out into the audiences. They participate with the audiences and bring them into the performance. It becomes a whole different experience all the way around, for the kids as well as the audiences.”

Sharon said he doubts anyone will take up the challenge of continuing Impressions’ overseas tours. “I don’t know if anyone is crazy enough to do what I do,” he said. “If for no other reason, for the responsibility it entails. You’re taking kids out of the country. You have to be so aware of everything that goes on. The places that you go may not be friendly to tourists no matter where you came from. Then there’s also the fundraising. It takes an awful lot of money to do these things. We started off in Italy. We were invited by the Italian government to come over, then we took a year off to go to Atlanta. Then we did England. From that point on, it became every year. The only time we took a break was 2002 and 2003, because of 9/11.”

But Sharon, who won the William T. Dwyer Award as Outstanding High School Educator in 1994, admits that almost

two decades working at WHS have left him little time for anything else. It’s a relentless schedule, getting to the school at 7:30 a.m. and leaving at 4 p.m., not counting all the extra hours traveling with Impressions and rehearsals before and after school.

But Sharon won’t be disappearing into retirement. He said he will likely work as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University and do more work with the Palm Beach Opera and Ballet Florida. He also foresees working with the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches.

Neither will Sharon leave WHS in the lurch. He said he will be available for consulting work and accompaniment at WHS if needed, and if students need him to help with some solo work, he is a phone call away. “If they need me to come out and play,” Sharon said, “I will come back and do these things.”

Sharon is philosophical about leaving WHS. Although it is hitting current students and colleagues hard, he said that in 10 years people will look at his photograph in past yearbooks and ask, “who’s that?”

“As new people come in, they don’t know who you are,” Sharon said. “As times goes on, you will become a distant memory. And for those kids who have been here, I hope it has meant something. I’ve given my all to them. I hope they’ve gotten something out of it and it lives with them. Nobody is irreplaceable. All the others who come in and take over, they will establish their own personalities and do their own things.”

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, June 5 to present the corridor study process and results for the extension of State Road 7 between Okeechobee and Northlake boulevards.

The meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel located at 150 Australian Ave. in West Palm Beach. An informal open house begins at 5:30 p.m. The formal presentation begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by public comments. The combination of previous public comments and permitting agency input has led FDOT to recommend “Corridor 3” and the “No-Build” option for further evaluation. Corridor 3 follows the county’s SR 7 extension north to the M Canal, then heads east back to the original range line, then north

along the east side of Ibis to Northlake. It is designed to avoid residential right-of-way takings and reduces the amount of impact to the environment when compared to other alternatives.

The Federal Highway Administration has conceptually agreed with FDOT’s recommendation. Following the June 5 public meeting, the Corridor Report will be finalized and a summary of the public meeting, including public comments, will be prepared. Corridor 3 and the NoBuild option will be further evaluated during the remainder of the study, during which specific alignment details will be developed. A final public hearing is tentatively scheduled for winter 2010. For further information about the project, visit www.sr7 extension.com.

Wellington High School’s Dr. Robert Sharon retires this month. SR 7 Extension Meeting June 5

Our Opinion

The 2007 Hurricane Season: Don’t Panic... Just Be Prepared

Now that June is here, hurricane season has officially started. But you already knew that. By now, you’re probably tired of predictions about how many named storms there will be or how much the storm season of 2007 will resemble 2005, in terms of frequency and intensity.

We were lucky last year, they tell us. But this year… eh, not so much. This could be the year a Category 5 blows straight across Palm Beach County, making hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Wilma pale in comparison. Of course, 2007 could be a possible repeat of last year — all talk and no storm. What are we to make of all this conflicting information? Moreover, why should we trust meteorologists who were so wrong only a year ago? Such skepticism is understandable but misses the point. There is a fine line between being scared and being prepared, and the two don’t necessarily go together. In fact, the more prepared you are, the less reason you have to be scared.

While the western communities are far enough eastward to feel the brunt of ocean-based storms, the majority of homes here were built to withstand hurricane-force winds. The likelihood of your house being blown apart by a storm is small. True, we haven’t experienced the worst-case scenario of a Category 5 storm, but the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons were no walk in

Thank You, WHS

As I sat in the audience last Tuesday at the Wellington High School graduation ceremony, I reflected upon the wonderful education my two sons were privileged to receive at this outstanding school.

My personal experience as an involved parent opened my eyes for the past five years to the monumental and phenomenal job that Cheryl Alligood, Barbara Forgash and other administrators do each and every day to make this school

the park — and we survived them remarkably well.

Hurricane preparedness isn’t about fear, it’s about common sense. It’s about having a plan and getting all members of your household on the same page. At this point, you probably know the drill: stock up on bottled water, non-perishable food items, batteries (for flashlights, radio, etc.); remove any potentially dangerous vegetation or other possible projectiles from your yard; have hurricane shutters or plywood (not duct tape) sized to fit your windows; and, in the event that staying home isn’t an option, a place to stay (that goes for Fido, too). Shelters in the western communities include Palm Beach Central and Seminole Ridge high schools.

These are not drastic actions. Most of your preparation can be made with a day of shopping. Speaking of which, the hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday lasts from June 1 through June 12. That means now is the time to stock up on batteries, candles, flashlights, coolers, radios and other items you’ll need if the power goes out. So the next time you hear a meteorologist making hurricane predictions, don’t panic… but don’t scoff either. Just take inventory of how prepared you are should those predictions come true. Then you can feel free to change the channel.

Letters To The Editor

not only a safe and outstanding place of learning, but a place to prepare our children to move on successfully through their personal life journey.

And, oh those dedicated and caring teacher and guidance counselors! The brilliant Mrs. [Margaret] Rice, the compassionate Mrs. Laughlin, the incredible Mr. [Patrick] Keenan, the inspiring Mr. [Scott] Zucker, the caring Mrs. [Karen] Clawson and the many other educators at Wellington High School that touched my chil-

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dren’s lives: I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Penny Markovitz Wellington

Eliminate The Val/Sal System

As [Palm Beach County School Superintendent] Dr. Art Johnson proposed, it would be a pleasure to have the valedictorian and salutatorian system eradicated. At the Dreyfoos School of the Arts graduation, he mentioned all of the valid reasons, which prove that certain students arrive at that position by dubious means. Students who truly deserve the honor are seldom chosen, if ever, sometimes for their pigmentation, or because they do not have family members in the educational realm.

My daughter attended the Dreyfoos School of the Arts at the age of 12. Academically, she maintained straight-A grades in her AP and honors classes up through the 12th grade. At 16, she graduated with the Class of 2007, among 18- and 19-yearolds. She maintained four points for conduct from the beginning up to the end.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, National Honor Roll, and Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Musically, she has studied classical piano for 11 years. She has been recognized by the Florida State Music Teachers’ Association with gold honors for two consecutive years.

She also received two Superior ratings from the District Solo and Ensemble Festival. She performed as a part of the International Guild for Piano Competitions at the Harriet Theatre in CityPlace. She has earned multiple hours of community service, performing therapeutic classical music for senior citizens throughout Palm Beach County.

For her graduation, the principal did not even acknowledge her. She gave her a Principal Award for maintaining straight As, but she did not even sign it, as if my daughter stole it. I would like to know why. Is it because of her complexion, or otherwise?

At an arts school, there are various valedictorians within each respective department: music, visual arts, communications, theater and dance. The students who excel in both academics and their chosen art area should be selected. On what criteria do the art schools

choose a valedictorian? I do not know, unless the principal assumes that all of the parents are stupid. She chose someone she likes.

It is a good thing that the superintendent and all of the respected members of the school board were present at the graduation. The principal announced the salutatorian in order for him to address the Class of 2007. It was a shame. The student was trembling like a leaf and was unable to utter a word eloquently to demonstrate that he deserved the title of salutatorian. It reflected poorly on the school.

Wilfrid Lazarre

Wellington Support For New Showgrounds At Wellington Preserve

Now that Wellington Preserve has been selected as the future site for horse shows, I’ve heard from many people, equestrian and non-equestrians alike, who are elated that a Wellington location was found for the new showgrounds. I remind them that there is a lot of work to be done to make it a reality — and that Stadium Jumping and many in the equestrian community are working to make it so.

There are also persons who oppose the Wellington Preserve location, which is unquestionably their right to do. Some from this group, however, are disseminating misinformation to generate support to somehow force the showgrounds to remain and expand at the existing leased site and surrounding parcels. Their false premise is that Wellington Preserve cannot receive government approvals, or that it will be much more difficult and time-consuming to receive approvals for Wellington Preserve than expanding at the existing location.

Below is a response to some of the false assertions being made:

• Wellington Preserve is environmentally sensitive while the existing site and surrounding parcels are not. False, and it’s actually the other way around. In order to expand the existing facility, either or both Parcel F and Peacock Pond would be needed. Both of these sites contain areas that are considered environmentally sensitive and have been designated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as jurisdictional lands. Conversely, Wellington Preserve is composed of previously cultivated uplands. Additionally, the Wellington Pre-

serve site has roads, utilities, drainage, lakes, canals and even streetlights in place.

• Wellington Preserve will not be approved because of manure and phosphorous. The approvals and standards pertaining to manure and stormwater runoff are the same for any site located in Basin B. It has been stated that Wellington Preserve abuts the conservation area; actually it’s about 1,900 feet away. In any case, the process for environmental approvals is rigorous for any location. Thus, if a new showgrounds at Wellington Preserve cannot receive environmental approvals, then a showgrounds cannot be approved anywhere in Wellington, including an expansion at the existing location, and a move outside the village will become a necessity. Installing effective BMP [best management practices] design into an expanded (existing) facility is more problematic than installing it in a new facility. It’s much the same as replumbing an existing house compared to installing plumbing in a new house. Installation in a new facility is less costly and more effective than retrofitting an existing facility.

• Wellington Preserve will require extensive zoning and related approvals whereas the existing facility and surrounding parcels have approvals necessary. This claim is nothing short of absurd, and once again the opposite is true. It would require a lengthy dissertation to explain the processes that would be required to expand the existing showgrounds using surrounding parcels. But in short, the existing showgrounds and surrounding parcels are located in the Country Place PUD, a development that had its master plan suspended by the village five years ago, and virtually nothing can be built on the subject parcels until a new master plan is submitted and approved that conforms to

See LETTERS, page 5A

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Letters

continued from page 4A current comprehensive plan policies and land development regulations (the original PUD was approved in the 1970s). Further, the subject parcels are in fragmented ownership, and there is extensive litigation clouding the situation. And as mentioned above, Parcel F and Peacock Pond have environmental issues. The Wellington Preserve is an approved PUD, with a platted subdivision where land can be developed and built upon. The only zoning approvals that are necessary are concurrent amendments to the existing PUD and master plan.

And finally, Wellington Equestrian Partners claim they would build a showgrounds at no cost to the public and thus the Wellington Preserve location should not be approved. WEP’s proposed Palm Beach International Equestrian Center had commercial and other non-equestrian uses that would generate traffic and other negative impacts that would damage the Wellington Equestrian Preserve Area as set forth in the village’s comprehensive plan. I suggest that many people consider urban development and its attendant impacts in the equestrian preserve a “cost to the public.” There are many of us who have been working this past decade to protect the Wellington Equestrian Preserve and will continue to do so. And I look forward to help making a new world-class equestrian arena in Wellington Preserve a reality.

Dean Turney, Executive Director Wellington Equestrian Alliance

Keeping Up The Fight Against Callery-Judge

I was disappointed to see that Robert Trepp continues to utilize scare tactics and misinformation with regard to Callery-Judge Grove, as evidenced via his letter in your May 25 edition. First, I refer Mr. Trepp to page 2 of the same edition, [a paid advertisement from] “Concerned Citizens for Reasonable Growth,” which pretty much says it all. Second, I refer him to the letter from Dr. Bill Louda in the same edition. It notes that as per the enclave bill, Callery-Judge may apply for an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to develop their farmland to match the surrounding land. The calculations show that Callery-Judge might be able to apply for 2,300 homes maximum, not Mr. Trepp’s assumed 3,200 homes. Also, GL [Homes] and EB [Developers], based upon the surrounding zoning of their properties, GL could maybe get 1,057 homes and EB maybe 343 homes. Thus, the totals are 3,700 homes and 11,840 people for all three.

County Engineer George Webb recently testified that “if The Acreage were to be built out as currently zoned, with current road widenings as planned and in progress, the roads would work fine.” Furthermore, we all know and see that Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Northlake Blvd. are currently being widened. This will increase throughput 100 percent plus, and allows for a passing lane. Funds have already been allocated. [Callery-Judge Grove General Manager] Nat Roberts stated, at a meeting with Mr.

It’s Time For Sports Potpourri

Trepp present, that Callery-Judge would be required to pay $17 million for road improvements if he developed as per the enclave bill. GL and EB would also be required to contribute. And yes, the three cities, as well as all the cities of the county, will be required to contribute for our road improvements and other services, as our tax dollars have paid for their roads, infrastructure and services in the past. Also note that since only 3,700 homes will be allowed for all three total, the costs of infrastructure and services in The Acreage will now be minimal.

Mr. Trepp claims that he supported Callery-Judge because he “didn’t want to see Olympia in the middle of The Acreage.” What he wanted was worse. He wanted 2.5 homes per acre, with retail/ commercial four times that of the Mall at Wellington Green, which is across from Olympia — just try to imagine that. Callery-Judge’s town center would have had five dwelling units per acre net. Please note, the enclave bill does not allow walled/gated communities. The bill also allows for minimal retail/commercial for Callery-Judge, GL and EB, each. If The Acreage is currently so bad, and will only get real bad in the future, as Mr. Trepp professes, than why don’t he and the rest of his Treppies leave? What he and the Treppies want exists everywhere in Palm Beach County. As Dr. Louda’s letter states, “we cannot and must not drop our guard.” And we will not! The “people power” on page 2 basically states the same. We know that the battle to protect The Acreage, with minimal residential development and minimal retail/commercial only as needed, is not complete. We are and will continue our efforts until the mission is truly accomplished.

water levels had made the turtles almost extinct in the Groves. By that time I was making my usual right-hand turn onto E Road from Okeechobee. As I drove down the road I did confirm Mr. Autrey’s statement; there was almost no water in the canal on the east side of the road.

But one thing that really caught my eye was how dirty the canal was. Beer bottles, plastic bags, trash, you name it — it was in the canal. My next question is, where are the environmentalists? Why have they not taken up this cause and cleaned up this canal and others like it?

It’s the perfect time, there’s no water in the canal. Where is the coalition of green shirts? Where is [Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Dennis] Lipp, [Alex] Larson, [County Commissioner Jess] Santamaria and [environmental activist Rosa] Durando? Here we have a real environmental issue that can be taken care of right now. I have not heard anyone of them calling for, or cleaning this canal and others like it.

They spoke of our quality of life and our environment in the western communities at the Callery-Judge meeting. They said that they led the fight for the environment. Well, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.

If you want, we have some garbage bags left over from when the [Acreage Landowners’ Association] joined by [the Indian Trail Improvement District] and citizens of The Acreage cleaned up a twomile stretch of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Remember, talk is cheap. Carlos Enriquez The Acreage Editor’s Note: Mr. Enriquez is a board member of the Acreage Landowners’ Association.

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin

In case you ever wonder about the “big bucks” they talk about in professional sports, here’s a quick insight. The current Gatorade “deal” of sponsorship with the National Football League is worth some $44 million per year according to one team owner. This leaked out recently when Chicago Bears all-star linebacker Brian Uhrlacher was fined for wearing a hat from a non-league sponsor in an official “Super Bowl setting” last February. Uhrlacher’s seemingly minor miscue cost him $100,000! Unfazed, Uhrlacher waived off his sponsor’s (Vitaminwater) offer to pay the fine. That company then decided to also donate $100,000 to the United Way. “Big Bucks” indeed.

Ready for baseball’s next phenom? One strong possibility is Dustin Ackley… a first baseman with North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference. At one point, the freshman was batting .581 after 93 at-bats. He also had a 28-game hitting streak and was leading the ACC in runs batted in. When last I peeked, his batting average was .489… Sticking with baseball, when Atlanta Braves Manager Bobby Cox was ejected by umpires twice

in one recent week it brought his total ejections to 127. Venerated John McGraw of the early New York Giants holds the record at 131.

Basketball’s best percentage “dunker” is LeBron James of Cleveland at 30 percent. Razor-thin close behind James is Vince Carter of the Jersey Nets at 29 percent. Speaking of LeBron, the 22year-old is planning to build a new 35,440-square-foot home. It will include a bowling alley, six bathrooms and a 40-foot-by-56-foot walk-in closet. It also calls for an aquarium, a casino, a barbershop and a custom-built recording studio. When queried, LeBron tells the world: “LeBron stays humble by just being LeBron.”

By the way, the ten regular-season, 50point scoring performances by the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant still doesn’t come close to legendary Wilt Chamberlain. “The Stilt” notched 50 points in a game 30 times in the 1962-63 season. As for today’s quirky statistic, check out the fact that Tom Glavine of the Mets has one stolen base over his long career, which includes over 1,260 at-bats. The red-letter day was May 13, 1991.

Edward Zakrzewski The Acreage

The Acreage Doesn’t Need A Gas Station

I live in The Acreage, and the closest gas station to me is the one at the Ibis shopping center. The problem with this gas station is the price per gallon is usually 20 cents higher than at the stations near Okeechobee Blvd. and State Road 7. I don’t buy gas at Ibis. I would guess the situation will be the same at the proposed Seminole Pratt location. I realize that competition, in theory, could lower prices at both stations, but I highly doubt that would happen. Why allow another gas station to take advantage of Acreage residents?

Vince Kuncl The Acreage

Keep It Rural... And Clean

On Tuesday, I was driving home from work and was listening to our local public radio station. A report came over the radio about the decreasing turtle population in Loxahatchee Groves. Dave Autrey from the [Loxahatchee Groves] Town Council stated that the decreasing

More Selective Enforcement

Tom Wenham, our mayor, sits on the board of Wellington Regional Medical Center. Could that be why the hospital has continually violated village code with all manner of banners?

The most common one is their selfadulation “Top Hospital,” their “Welcome Equestrians” and finally the “Now Hiring.”

“The mayor’s hospital” was told banners were prohibited by [Community Services Director] Paul Schofield, only there was “no enforcement.” Why? Sounds like the Players Club and Binks Forest Golf Course — selective and no enforcement! The volunteer citizen code board was fired because they became vocal on selective enforcement and yet here we are, huge ugly banners affixed to our tallest building right at our entranceway. Some greeting, huh?

But all is well. The mayor says “the situation is taken care of,” of course, caught pants down, and the horse out of the barn! It goes to prove the political adage, “we are all equal, except some are more equal,” right Tom?

George Unger Wellington

Strong-Arm Robbery At RPB Business; More Vehicle Thefts

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

MAY 21 — An employee of Papa John’s Pizza in the Village Royale shopping center called the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Royal Palm Beach last Monday regarding a business robbery. According to a PBSO report, the employee was in his office at approximately 11:30 p.m. when he was approached by a black man who held him in a bear hug position to keep him from moving. The employee then observed two other men enter the store and proceed toward the safe, which

CRIME NEWS CRIME NEWS

was not locked and slightly open, according to the PBSO report. Having taken $450, the three suspects exited out the south entrance, heading westbound toward the rear of the plaza. The employee described the suspects as dressed in black clothing and ski masks. A K-9 unit searched the wooded area and located a ski mask. There was no further suspect information at the time of the report. The employee was not physically harmed during the incident.

MAY 22 — A deputy from

the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded last Tuesday to the SuperTarget store on Okeechobee Blvd. in reference to a vehicle burglary. According to the PBSO report, the victim parked her vehicle outside the store at approximately 8:30 p.m. When she returned 30 minutes later, the victim discovered that the driver’s side door lock had been damaged and her 80 GB iPod had been stolen, along with a satellite radio receiver. A latent print was taken from the outside of the driver’s side door. There were no suspects at the time of the report.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives:

• Matthew Gregg is a black male, 6’ tall and weighing 200 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 04/05/68. Gregg is wanted for failure to appear in court on the charge of child abuse. His occupation is counselor. His last known address was White Pine Drive in Wellington. Gregg is wanted as of 05/31/07.

• Octavious Kinsey is a black male, 6’ tall and weighing 220 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 02/13/71. He has as tattoo on his chest of a black panther. Kinsey is wanted for violation of supervised own recognizance on a conviction for possession of a Schedule IV substance. His occupation is newspaper delivery. His last known address was Goldenrod Road in Wellington. Kinsey is wanted as of 05/31/07.

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

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHICH IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

MAY 22 — A Hollywood, Fla., woman was arrested last Tuesday after trying to cash a forged check at a bank in Wellington. According to a PBSO report, 35-year-old Mary Flannigan was apprehended after fleeing the bank, where she attempted to cash a fraudulent check for $1,000. In addition to being charged with fraud, Flannigan was also charged with cocaine possession and grand theft auto, having stolen an SUV from Hertz Car Rental, according to the report.

MAY 22 — A PBSO deputy from the Wellington substation responded last Tuesday to a home in Polo Acres regarding a grand theft. According to the PBSO report, at some time between 12 a.m. last Monday and 2 p.m. last Tuesday, unknown suspect(s) stole a 150cc motorcycle from outside the residence.

MAY 22 — A resident of Pierside Circle called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Tuesday regarding a burglary. According to the victim, at some time between 9:30 p.m. last Monday and 6:30 a.m. the following morning, unknown suspect(s) entered his vehicle, which was left unlocked outside his residence. Stolen from inside were a satellite radio, jumpstarter (and kit) and compressor. There was no suspect information provided.

MAY 23 — A Canterbury Place resident called the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach last Wednesday regarding a vehicle burglary. According to the victim, at approximately 8:10 p.m. he went outside to his front yard to see what his dog was barking at. After the victim noticed that the passenger side door of his van was open, he

7A

Woman Dies After Traffic Accident On Southern Blvd.

MAY 25 — A woman was killed last Friday following an accident on Southern Blvd. near Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a Hyundai sedan driven by 70year-old Purdhoomun Jhuboolall of Loxahatchee was traveling eastbound on Southern Blvd. at approximately 8:15 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle crossed the grass median and proceeded eastbound into oncoming traffic.

The vehicle collided head-on with a Mack truck driven by 41year-old Robert Walters of Lauderdale Lakes. Both Purdhoomun and his wife Marie, a passenger in the vehicle, were transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center. Marie was pronounced dead at approximately 10:14 a.m. Purdhoomun was last listed in critical condition, and Walters was not injured, according to the PBSO report. — Jason Budjinski

Octavious Kinsey

Matthew Gregg

See BLOTTER, page

Horses Some Opposed

continued from page 1A Review Committee to occur sometime in June,” he said. “That’s the first step.”

Stadium Jumping produces both the century-old National Horse Show and the Winter Equestrian Festival, which each attract thousands of participants and spectators to the village each year for high-profile equestrian competition.

Stadium Jumping currently produces the shows at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club on Pierson Road, leased from Palm Beach Polo Holdings. Wellington Equestrian Partners now controls most of the land there, much of which was purchased from or is under a purchase contract from Palm Beach Polo CEO Glenn Straub.

Stadium Jumping’s lease expires in 2008, and the producer has said the growth of the shows and diminishing space from the sale of some of the land make continued use of the existing complex unfeasible.

Mark Bellissimo, a principal with Wellington Equestrian Partners, is the driving force behind a waylaid plan to develop a massive equestrian-oriented development called the International Equestrian Center Palm Beach in cooperation with Stadium Jumping. His proposal called for development of more than 500 acres centered around new show grounds, and also including 1,500 residential units, hotels, restaurants and retail establishments. Those plans became clouded in doubt after Bellissimo and Stadium Jumping’s CEO Gene Mische had a public falling-out last fall, and Stadium Jumping said it would seek a new home.

Binks May Appeal

To SFWMD

continued from page 1A ate exactly where we were and what we need. Now that we’re

Aquila Chief Executive Officer

Jordan Paul addresses Binks Forest residents Wednesday on progress at the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington.

Blotter

continued from page 6A contacted his neighbor across the street, who reportedly observed two individuals wearing black hooded sweatshirts. One of the suspects was inside the van; the other was standing outside before both fled the scene, according to the neighbor. The van was left unsecured, though no items were stolen from inside. No latent prints were taken and there is no further suspect information.

MAY 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched last Friday to the parking lot of Regal Cinemas on State Road 7 regarding a vehicle burglary. According to the victim, he parked

Bellissimo contends that Mische promised in writing to bring his shows to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, but in January a judge denied Bellissimo’s request for an injunction to prevent Stadium Jumping from seeking to locate elsewhere. After Stadium Jumping announced its plans to build a new facility in the Wellington Preserve in early May, Bellissimo filed a $500 million lawsuit against the company, claiming breach of contract.

Bellissimo said he still expects the courts will deem Mische’s promise binding and the PBIEC will be developed. He called Stadium Jumping’s submission of a site plan “a bit premature.”

“They are bound to the existing site until we get resolution,” he said. “They can apply for the site, but we will aggressively pursue our legal rights.”

An equestrian advocacy group formed in March, the Equestrians’ Preservation Society, had pledged to help resolve the dispute between Bellissimo and Mische and is opposing Stadium Jumping’s move.

“We are particularly disappointed and frustrated since the society had expended considerable time and effort to develop an interim solution that could have kept the festival and the Wellington equestrian community intact at its current location, even if the current disputes and litigation remain unresolved in the near term or longer,” EPS founding member Jean Goutal said in May.

Goutal said his group has received pledges from landowners representing about 200 acres adjacent to the current show grounds, who would make the properties available immediately to Stadium Jumping for the additional space it said it needs.

there, it’s a matter of seeing what kind of case we can make.”

Paul would not get into details about what he thinks Aquila’s case might be. SFWMD spokesman Randy Smith told the Town-Crier Thursday that Aquila could apply for a variance, but “it would have to be a real serious issue in order to be granted — basically an issue with human health and safety.’’

Paul said he and his Aquila partners Terry Strongin and Tom Weber have received considerable support from Binks Forest residents and the Village of Wellington, and also have received the support of area golfers anxiously awaiting a highend daily fee facility in the area.

“We’re anxious to get open,” Paul said. “It doesn’t do me any good to have things under construction.”

his truck at approximately 2:15 p.m. and went inside to watch a movie. When he returned at approximately 3:50 p.m., the victim discovered the vehicle had been burglarized. Stolen from the vehicle were a Pioneer navigation system, cash and a Razer cell phone, all totaling approximately $2,850, according to the PBSO report. The lock on the driver’s side door had been punched in; the estimated damage was $350. No latent prints were obtained from the scene and no witnesses were located.

MAY 28 — A resident of Jackpine Street called the PBSO substation in Wellington on Monday regarding a burglary. According to the victim, he was

Goutal also said he had been in talks since mid-March with the United States Equestrian Federation, which sanctions the Winter Equestrian Festival, regarding possible solutions and was “surprised and disappointed” by the USEF’s prompt support of Stadium Jumping’s decision to move.

Stadium Jumping spokesman Mason Phelps Jr. cited the advantages of the Section 34 site, including no need for land-use amendments, which would be required for the mixed-use PBIEC. “We’re all very happily moving forward very aggressively,” Phelps said. “We’re looking forward to a new facility better than anything else in North America.”

Stadium Jumping’s plans for the new show grounds include ten competition rings, a grand prix field and a derby field of at least four acres each. The plans also call for ample areas to allow riders to train and prepare their horses as well as “sufficient” stall space, a major concern at its present facility.

While the design of the site plan continues, Turney said the developers will gather far more neighborhood input than the village requires. “We will meet with surrounding neighborhoods as well as the equestrian community,” he said. “We’re going beyond the review process the village has.”

Because the Wellington Preserve is located close to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, many observers predict Stadium Jumping will have a difficult time satisfying the requirements of environmental regulations. But Turney said the new facility can be up and running in time for the 2009 season. “It won’t be easy, but we can do it,” he said.

Paul told Binks residents that Aquila is still 18 to 24 months away from construction of the 90 townhouses on the property, part of the original developer’s agreement the village approved in 2004, and that the Binks clubhouse is still a year away from opening. When the course opens, Paul said, its pro shop and food and beverage service will operate from an auxiliary building on the property. Paul told the residents that Aquila and KemperSports, the golf course management company contracted to operate the facility, are still working out membership plans and hope to have those finalized in August. Part of that membership plan, Paul said, will include a founding membership package, limited to 25 people, that would allow unlimited golf.

out of town from 10 a.m. last Saturday until 8:20 p.m. on Monday. During that time, unknown suspect(s) entered his home, stealing $150 from the bedroom and a wet saw from the back porch, according to the PBSO report. No latent prints were obtained.

MAY 28 — A vehicle was stolen and later recovered on Monday outside the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, a 1996 Honda Civic was stolen outside the mall some time between 2 and 9:20 p.m. However, the vehicle was moved approximately 100 yards and left running. While there was no surveillance video footage recorded, three latent prints and DNA were entered into evidence.

Stadium Jumping Appoints Canavan As Firm’s President

Stadium Jumping Inc., producer of the Wellington Equestrian Festival and the National Horse Show, announced this week that John Canavan will join the company as its president. Canavan’s appointment was approved by Stadium Jumping’s board of directors, which also reelected Gene Mische as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer.

As president, Canavan will be responsible for all administrative and business aspects of Stadium Jumping’s growing business needs affected by the anticipated move to the company’s new location in the Wellington Preserve. Canavan will oversee the annual business planning process and provide management expertise to the company’s business operations. He will focus a great deal of his time on assisting Mische with the company’s construction and relocation of the showgrounds in its new location, scheduled for 2008.

“I am confident John will bring a tremendous amount of business expertise to Stadium Jumping, especially as we embark on this exciting journey to our new location,” Mische said. “I am confident that John will continue to help us build this support as he becomes intricately involved in the continued development of Stadium Jumping’s future in Wellington.”

Canavan has more than 30 years of senior management and strategic planning experience in a variety of industries including consumer products, consumer and business services, and healthcare. He began his career as a senior auditor at Deloitte & Touche in Newark, New Jersey, before moving to Montvale, New Jersey, where he served in a variety of management roles for nearly a decade at Grandmet USA. He then moved to Phoenix, where he joined the Dial Corporation as manager of acquisitions and later vice president of planning and acquisitions for Travelers Express Company, a Dial Corporation subsidiary. Canavan will reside in Wellington.

Gigantic Garage Sale July 28

Space is filling up quickly for the annual Gigantic Garage Sale presented by the South Florida Fair and United Way of Palm Beach County. A great fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations, the always popular Gigantic Garage Sale is set for Saturday, July 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the airconditioned South Florida Expo Center. A portion of the admission fee will be donated to the South Florida Fair Scholarship Fund.

Booth space is available on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date of payment received. The cost is $35 for a 10-foot-by-20-foot booth or $65 for a 20-foot-by-20-foot booth. Organizations keep 100 percent of sales. The deadline for registration is July 13.

For more info., call the South Florida Fair at (561) 793-0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com and look for the Gigantic Garage Sale.

John Canavan

RPBHS Adult Ed Honors 95-Year-Old Calligraphy Instructor

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

A birthday party for calligraphy instructor Harold Bernstein was held at the adult education office at Royal Palm Beach High School Wednesday. Bernstein turned 95 on Monday.

and his wife Goldie moved to Florida.

Upon arrival, he wrote letters to the Palm Beach County School Board offering his services in teaching calligraphy. He obtained a job at Palm Beach Community College where he taught adult education classes in calligraphy for 20 years.

from the left) are Assistant Principal John Swearingen, and teachers Joe Skinner, Paula Brownson, Anita LaValley and Jan Keller, and friend Bill Siegel.

Bernstein was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1912. After graduating high school, he attended Cooper Union Institute of Art in New York on a scholarship. He lived in Malverne, Long Island for 25 years and worked there as an interior decorator until 1979 when he

CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

The Wellington Rotary Club presented its final student of the month awards for this school year to Wellington High School seniors Amy Levine and Jaclyn Watts, and Palm Beach Central High School seniors Taylor Smith and Ashley Star Miller.

Presentations were made at the regular weekly meeting of the club on Tuesday, May 15. All four of the recipients’ acceptance speeches demonstrated their ability and desire to help others within the school environment and their community as a whole.

The recipients were selected from numerous candidates at their schools as students who “proved himself/herself to be beneficial to the school, religious organization or the community as a whole” by performing some type of service or act dem-

onstrating the Rotary International motto “Service Above Self.”

Amy Levine was nominated by WHS debate coach Paul Gaba. “Amy is an honor student who has been recognized nationally and as a debater and was a member of the Palm Beach County Youth Court program,” he noted. “She has shown outstanding leadership qualities and has the admiration of her fellow students.”

Lawrence Oliver of WHS nominated Jaclyn Watts, whom he described as “a dependable, conscientious, hardworking and self-motivated student.”

“As a senior, Jaclyn was elected president of her local chapter of CECF, secretary of the WHS Key Club and inducted into the Chemistry Honor Society,” he noted. “Her services in the Key Club have included

playing bingo with the Veteran Administration Nursing Home and cleaning up the Singer Island beach regularly.”

Marissa DeTar nominated Taylor Smith. “Every moment that she spends at school working on a project for student government will in some way benefit the entire student body, not just her organization,” DeTar noted. “She works very hard to help promote the spirit and energy of being a Bronco. Taylor does a lot for the school while maintaining her position in FBLA, being a member of the swim team and holding a job.”

Ashley Star Miller was nominated by Lawrence Dailey. “Ashley stands out in several categories, not only for two years in our Career Education DCT Program, but also in her dedication to school work and assisting others to be more suc-

To date, Bernstein has taught over 3,000 students in his 28 years with adult education. Two years ago he received a letter from Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson commending him on his years of service and naming him the “oldest adult education teacher” in Palm Beach County. Bernstein, a Lake Worth resident, is a familiar face in adult education, having taught at several high schools, including Lake Worth, John I. Leonard, Santaluces, Palm Beach Lakes and Royal Palm Beach, as well as Lantana Middle School.

Bernstein has also volunteered his services at Hospice and also teaches at Lake Worth High School and in Century Village. Among his credits, he is a member of the Society of Scribes in London and is the author of Calligraphy for You, You and You

Wellington Rotary Club Presents Year’s Final Student Of The Month Awards

cessful in school,” Dailey noted. “She has risen to a managerial level at her after-school job and handles all of those responsibilities with aplomb and attention to detail. She is an excellent student, has high aspirations for post-high school academic work and partakes in school activities as time permits.”

The Wellington Rotary Student of the Month Award is presented monthly to “deserving students who are not necessarily the school valedictorians, nor are grade point averages a deciding factor in the selection process,” Rotary Student of the Month Chair Jay Broder explained.

95 Years Young — Pictured with Harold Bernstein (third

PHOTO BY

Ashley Miller, Taylor Smith, Amy Levine and Jaclyn Watts.

New Wellington-Area Middle School Named Emerald Cove

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Although the nearest stretch of coastline is several miles away, Wellington’s newest middle school will bear the name Emerald Cove Middle School when it welcomes its first students in the upcoming school year.

The school, near Equestrian Trails Elementary School on Pierson Road east of State Road 7, held the temporary designation of Middle School 02-JJ until May 16, when the Palm Beach County School Board approved the new name. The other options on the short list of suggested names were Legacy Middle School and Cypress Edge Middle School.

In January, the school board finalized

the boundaries for the new school, which will draw students from the former attendance areas of Polo Park, Okeeheelee and Woodlands middle schools.

Emerald Cove Principal Dr. Nancy Lucas said the school will be known as the “Home of the Mighty Pirates.”

“Our school colors are purple, teal and silver,” she said.

Lucas said Emerald Cove was chosen as the name of the new middle school because green is reflected in the landscaping that surrounds the school, and the color symbolizes the personal and academic growth of its students. “The precious emerald stone reflected in our school name also stands for the priceless value of the children in our community,” she said. “The adults in our new

school commit to treating our students as valuable gems worth protecting and treating well.”

Lucas, a Florida native, is a veteran educator with 30 years experience. She has served as principal, assistant principal and teacher at a variety of schools in Indian River, Orange and Broward counties. She joined the Palm Beach County School District in 1994 and opened Freedom Shores Elementary School as its principal five years ago. Before that, she was principal at Canal Point Elementary School in Belle Glade.

Lucas, who occupies an office at Equestrian Trails while construction work at the school is completed, said she and her staff expect to move in soon to prepare for the school’s opening later

this summer. “We have hired all teachers except one,” she said. “Our new faculty members now have classroom assignments and will be moving in all their boxes during the week of June 4. We are anxiously waiting for our name to be placed on our building and marquee. It will feel like we are really developing and growing as a new school and will encourage us to see how we are becoming a real organization.”

While teachers will get inside the school in June, it will not be open to the general public until July. “Our hopeful summer plans include our staff members and furniture moving in by the middle of June and officially opening our administrative front office to the school community and general public by July 10,” Lucas said.

Wellington Elementary’s D’Aoust Headed To Panther Run

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

When Wellington Elementary School opens its doors at the start of the coming school year, it will be without its current principal, P.J. D’Aoust.

D’Aoust has accepted a position as the principal of nearby Panther Run Elementary School, replacing the retiring Marilyn Brady. D’Aoust will be replaced at Wellington Elementary by current Liberty Park Elementary School Principal Mike Borowski.

“After eight years of serving the kids, it’s time for a new professional experience,” D’Aoust said. “Panther Run is a wonderful place, and I will take what I’ve learned from Wellington Elementary to serve more kids in the western communities.”

D’Aoust said Panther Run, like Wellington Elementary, is a neighborhood school. “Being a principal at a neighborhood school is challenging and rewarding,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know some of my neighbors. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve this community. I look forward to moving over to Lake Worth Road and serving the kids over there. I am happy that I will end up in a really good school as well. This was something that I needed to do so I could grow professionally.”

D’Aoust said that he made a similar move from Cypress Trails Elementary School to Wellington Elementary. He was a teacher at Cypress Trails for six years and needed a change, so he transferred to Wellington Elementary where he became the school’s assistant principal.

“Little did I know that years later I would be leaving as the principal,” D’Aoust said. “It has been a wonderful journey. As far as going to Panther Run, there are very similar demographics to Wellington Elementary. It will be a smooth transition. It will be a good opportunity for me to do some more good work in the western communities. I feel very lucky to have stayed here eight years.”

D’Aoust said he and Borowski are longtime friends, and his old school will be in good hands. Borowski is already involved in plans for an extensive renovation of the school, and the two are in touch frequently.

“His experience as a principal and with construction will benefit the school and the community,” D’Aoust said. “He has already been involved in several

of the construction meetings and lent his expertise to the process. He’s very capable of handling the project. Mike and I know each other fairly well, and we share many of the same val-

ues. He’s excited, and he’s walking into a really good situation. The school will continue to have Wildcat pride and will continue to be one of the leaders in Wellington.”

Old & New — When P.J. D’Aoust (left) heads to Panther Run Elementary School, Mike Borowski (right) will replace him as principal of Wellington Elementary School.

PHOTO COURTESY LOIS SPATZ

Tribute Memorial Day

In Wellington

continued from page 1A choices that we have every day of our lives. Let us stop for a moment and reach out to these souls, and let us let them know how much we cherish their sacrifices.”

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria asked everyone gathered to remember and consider the sacrifices made by veterans who served their country proudly, but also make sure their families and loved ones do not suffer alone.

“Too often we forget those who are left behind, and really have to endure the pain each and every day of their lives,” Santamaria said. “I feel we have not done enough to help those who are left behind, and I would hope that each and every one of us not only will remember them, but also do something about improving their lives while they are still here and enduring their pain. At the very least, I hope

each and every one of us will include them in our prayers each and every day.”

Mayor Tom Wenham said the tradition of service of the American soldier started on the battlefields of Lexington and Concord at the nation’s birth, and has continued ever since.

“The American soldier has always fought and died on battlefields here and abroad to defend our rights and freedoms,” said Wenham, a Korean War veteran. “On this Memorial Day 2007, our American soldiers are once again involved in hostilities in foreign lands, defending the ideals that our nation holds so dear. History has taught us that the global war on terrorism will not be the last time that our brave men and women in uniform will fight and die for this brave country. It is important that the American people support our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines by honoring their service and their sacrifices. As President Lincoln said, any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”

State Senator Jeff Atwater, Wellington veteran Tony Fransetta, Wellington Vice Mayor Bob Margolis and Mayor Tom Wenham.

Mayor Tom Wenham, a Korean War veteran.

Parks and Recreation Board Member Tom Dongilla, a veteran, with one of the wreaths.

Linda and Wellington Vice Mayor Bob Margolis.

Rachel Berman and dad Brian follow along in the program.

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria addresses the crowd.

Temple Beth Torah’s Rabbi Stephen Pinsky at the memorial.

Soloist Lou Galterio sings the national anthem.

The parade kicks off in front of the Wellington Community Center.

Leora and Eliana Zimmerman.

Cameron Taynor with members of Cub Scout Pack 123: Andrew Taynor, Michael Flynn and Steven Taynor.

The Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue honor guard.

INTERACT CLUB DEDICATES PEACE POLE AT PALM BEACH CENTRAL

Members of Palm Beach Central High School’s Interact Club, a student division of the Wellington Rotary Club, joined Rotary members last Saturday morning to dedicate a peace pole in the school’s courtyard. The peace pole stands eight feet tall with the inscription “May Peace Prevail on Earth” written in languages including English, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, Latin, German and Vietnamese. Speakers included Principal Butch Mondy, PBCHS teacher and Interact advisor Carl Rosenberg, Rotarian Dr. Wes Boughner, Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham and Rotary Club President Shawn Whisenhant. Student speakers included graduating senior Ken Ferguson, the outgoing Interact Club president, and his successor Danielle Kimelstein.

Interact Club members welcome visitors to the dedication.

PBCHS Principal Butch Mondy says a few words.

Danielle Kimelstein and Ken Ferguson unveil the pole.

Master of ceremonies Carl Rosenberg gives Danielle Kimelstein a small version of the peace pole.

Rotarians and Interact Club members with the peace pole.

Rotarian Shawn Whisenhant.

PHOTOS

Mearns: Indian Trail Prepared As 2007 Storm Season Begins

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Hurricane season is here, and in anticipation of an active season, the Indian Trail Improvement District has reviewed and re-reviewed its readiness plans, District Administrator Bob Mearns told the Town-Crier Wednesday.

ITID staff has been reviewing equipment to make sure it is all in good working order, and inspecting shutters with test installations to make sure they fit well and that their moving parts still work.

ITID plans to wire its office next month for hookup to emergency generators Generated power was not available after previous storms, requiring the district office to remain dark until Florida Power & Light restored electricity, Mearns said.

Staff has also inspected telemetry that controls the opening and closing of floodgates to ensure they will continue to function in the event of high winds.

There are about 14 floodgates in the district. Several of the crucial gates are remotecontrolled so their operators do not have to go out in the storm to adjust flow rates. The most crucial are those that release to the M-1 and M-O canals, as well as smaller gates that control some of the east-west canals, Mearns said.

“We have a plan that we go over with employees on a biweekly basis and will review parts of it to get everybody on the same track,” Mearns said.

“We don’t operate an emergency operating center or supervise emergency evacuation. Our core concern is managing the water. After the storm passes, then it’s clearing the roads — the numberone priority is the emergency removal of debris. We will do the main thoroughfares first.”

As an agency charged with maintaining roads and canals, ITID is well equipped with road-clearing machinery, including special front-end loaders and even one with jowls designed to lift large tree trunks, Mearns said. Palm Beach County’s Solid Waste Authority is charged with the actual removal of debris, he said.

Mearns said all canals have been inspected for soundness of banks and possible blockage, work that was facilitated by the drought’s lowering of water levels. The canals appear to be relatively clear of debris that might hamper drainage, he said.

“From what I’ve seen, they look pretty good. Now that they’re low, it’s easy to see where they need clearing,” Mearns said.

The amount of water the district is allowed to discharge is determined by the South Florida Water Management District, which set the rate at a quarter inch per day. This became problematic during the back-to-back hurricanes of 2004 when some Acreage canals were breached, Mearns explained.

“If it gets bad, it will take a while for the water to go

down,” he said. “We can only pump so much a day.”

In light of the recent drought, Mearns said a lowbreeze, high-rain event might actually be welcome to mitigate fire threats and restore groundwater, “but you can’t get them to order,” he said.

Mearns advised residents to be prepared and have emergency supplies and equipment ready. “It’s no mystery what these storms can do,” he said. “If we’ve learned anything, it’s to be prepared and be prepared for the worst.”

The county’s Emergency Management Division stresses that residents keep a three-day supply of food and other provisions available, as it will take that long to get emergency supply centers operational. Electricity, as most residents have learned, might not be restored for considerably longer, so people need to anticipate that.

Details on hurricane readiness are available on the county’s web site at www. pbcgov.com/pubsafety.

Indian Trail has hurricane information links on its web site at www.indiantrail.com under its emergency information section.

Other web sites include the Atlantic Tropical Weather Center at www.atwc.org, which includes advisories, models and satellite images, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency site at www. fema.gov also has hurricane information, as well as a site especially for children, www. fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm.

Vacation Bible School At St. Michael Church

Community children ages four through grade six are invited to participate in Vacation Bible School to be held at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington. The program will run from Sunday, June 10 to Thursday, June 14 from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m.

“This year, our church is a stampede of excitement as we

visit Avalanche Ranch, a wild ride through God’s word,” Pastor Marjorie Weiss said. “Each day kids will sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, nibble Chuck Wagon Chow, take on a daily challenge to let God’s love grow in their homes, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of the days’ themes, and create Bible Point Crafts they’ll take home and play with all summer long.”

This western-themed week is free, but an offering will be received each night for orphaned children in Africa who will also be receiving toy bears that the children will make for them. To register your child, call (561) 793-4999.

West Palm Beach Memorial Day Service A Solemn Event

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Veterans, area dignitaries and residents turned out for the 44th annual Memorial Day service held last Sunday at the Royal Palm Memorial Gardens in West Palm Beach.

Speakers included retired Lt. Col. Allen B. West, who served in Iraq as battalion commander in the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division. Greetings from the military were delivered by USMC Reserve Col. Roger R. Machut, also an Iraq veteran, while State Sen. Jeff Atwater delivered greetings on behalf of the legislative delegation and Congressman Tim Mahoney delivered greetings on behalf of the congressional delegation. A total of 47 veterans and patriotic organizations from Palm Beach and Martin counties

participated in the wreath-laying ceremony and parade of colors.

Machut reminded the audience that America is the greatest nation in the world not because of its military, economic strength, standard of living or sports teams, but because of its freedoms, which are too often taken for granted.

“The United States of America is the greatest nation in the world because of its freedom, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of religion,” Machut said. “These freedoms, as written by our forefathers, are granted to us by our creator and guaranteed to us by our constitution. Freedom is not free, and the price for freedom is often high. Those of us in uniform vow each day to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and

See MEM DAY, page 26A

In Memoriam — Several honor guards hold their flags at attention during last Sunday’s service at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens in West Palm Beach.

Indian Trail Supervisors Review A ‘Continuation Budget’

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors reaffirmed the desire not to raise assessment rates at a budget workshop Wednesday evening.

The draft budget for the 2008 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 includes assessment increases only for residents in some of the more specialized development units like Stonewall, Cypress Head and Madison Green, in payment for specific benefits.

“This is a continuation budget,” ITID Administrator Bob Mearns told the supervisors.

“The level of service will remain the same for all our residents. Most people will not experience any change at all. We will still pave roads, do drainage and upgrade our parks.”

The district will spend $9,381,997 on operational costs

and $2,856,648 on debt service.

The assessment on the average parcel will be lower by 2.28 percent even though Finance Director Margie Perez said she had calculated a five-percent increase in personnel costs for the coming year.

All supervisors present — Supervisor Sandra Love Semande was absent — agreed to contain spending to avoid any increase in taxes. They said approximately $300,000 would be available for possible projects.

The supervisors voted 3-1 with Supervisor Carol Jacobs dissenting that the district would hire extra security people for parks and ITID facilities on weekends.

The supervisors agreed unanimously that the district should hire a full-time planner who would focus primarily on transportation issues but would also be able to deal with a wide vari-

ety of issues related to the well being of the district. ITID Vice President Mike Erickson asked that the person be an expert at grants and finding alternative funding sources.

Erickson noted that ITID’s Planning Committee had made a great deal of progress in deciding on appropriate methods of traffic calming but needed advice on how to use them as part of a master plan.

Other supervisors agreed that a full-time planner would be needed, not only for the road system but also for horse trails and for dealing with the many special projects that are being planned around the district.

ITID Attorney Charlie Schoech said it is vital that the district decides which of its roads should be allowed to connect to roads outside ITID boundaries, and to distinguish between arterial and thoroughfare roads.

‘The level of service will remain the same for all our residents. Most people will not experience any change at all. We will still pave roads, do drainage and upgrade our parks.’

— ITID Administrator Bob Mearns

ITID Engineer Jay Foy supported this view.

“We need to lay out our plans,” he said, “or the plans will be selected for us by other levels of government.”

The supervisors agreed to create a new line item for improvements to equestrian trails and to fund the improvements as much as possible in the coming year, even if not much money is available.

The supervisors also voted to move more work on district projects from contractors to ITID staff. Perez pointed out that by buying two dump trucks

this year and hiring drivers, the district would save more than $150,000 over the next five years. The supervisors said this would be a good pilot program for moving more work inhouse.

The supervisors further decided that building a skateboard/ inline skating facility at Acreage Community Park is a high priority and asked Mearns to see if he could find $30,000 in funds within the current budget to have it built as early as the summer. Mearns promised to have a report by the board’s June 6 regular business meeting.

ITID Park, Paving And Drainage Projects Moving Forward

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

The Indian Trail Improvement District’s Operations and Maintenance Director Terry Narrow took District Engineer Jay Foy to survey the state of recent and ongoing projects in the district last week, as well as take a firsthand look at some areas suggested as locations for equestrian trails.

Narrow and Foy began their May 23 tour by looking at the progress of the Phase I expansion of Acreage Community

Park at 140th Street and Tangerine Blvd. The park’s new 500- by 300-foot parking lot is already providing more parking for people attending ball games. It connects to the rest of the park by a paved road already laid down by the ITID workers.

“We’re looking into building a raised sidewalk here for better safety,” Narrow said, “although we might start out with simply marking off an area for people to walk.”

The playground equipment included in the expansion is also installed, and district workers

have surrounded it with deep mulch surfacing to help soften accidental falls. “And the mulch is wheelchair-accessible,” Narrow said. “We have eight inches of it but children, or adults with them, in wheelchairs can move through it.”

The district has also laid down sod for an open field to provide more green space. Narrow said he expects a small shade structure will soon be built next to the playground, as well as lighting around the parking lot for safety.

“I think the district will open

the new expansion area in August because that’s the tenth anniversary of the opening of the park itself,” Narrow predicted.

Leaving the park, Narrow and Foy drove to 140th Avenue North at Persimmon Blvd. to examine paving work on 140th, and then on to a new spillway for the Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area along 40th Street North.

“This area flooded during the recent hurricanes,” Narrow said, “so we created the spillway that dumps the extra wa-

ter into an adjacent canal. As a result, we cut back a lot of flooding in our southeast, which is the lowest area in the district and the last to be drained in the entire M-1 Basin.”

At the pumping structure at 40th Street North and the M-1 Canal, Foy and Narrow noted the automatic trash rakes installed there. “In the past, we would have to stop the pumps every hour or so to rake away all the trash that was floating along,” Foy said. “That slowed our drainage. Now we don’t

See ITID, page 16A

PBSO FAMILY GATHERS TO HONOR ITS FALLEN

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office held a memorial service last Friday at the PBSO Headquarters Fallen Officer Memorial to commemorate members of the PBSO family who gave their lives in the line of duty. As part of the ceremony, the PBSO Honor Guard posted the colors, Maria Bennett of Grace Fellowship Church sang the national anthem and “Beneath the Badge,” while the PBSO Pipers performed “Amazing Grace” and Chaplain A.E. Thompson gave a scripture reading and prayer. Col. Mike Gauger spoke of the fallen officers’ dedication and service. The ceremony was concluded by a dove release, flyover, rifle salute and the playing of “Taps.”

A bugler waits to play “Taps.”

PBSO deputies stand next to doves before release.

PBSO Pipers perform “Amazing Grace.”

Officers lower the flag to half mast to honor the fallen.

RPB resident Dana SchavoltPrice, daughter Morgan and husband Chris; Dana’s husband Donald Schavolt died in the line of duty in 2002.

Soloist Maria Bennett of Grace Fellowship Church sings the “Star Spangled Banner.”

PHOTOS BY CAROL

ITID Projects

continued from page 14A have to slow the pumps, and all of this can be handled remotely.”

The only remaining drainage concerns in the area are regulations from the South Florida Water Management District. “Our only problem here now is that we are only allowed by the South Florida Water Management District to use 60-inch diameter pipe, which restricts drainage from the area. We are asking the SFWMD to allow us to drain a small area right over here, about three square miles,

to flow south. That would give us more ability to pump more water north and west, which is something they really want.”

Foy and Narrow drove along 41st Court, paved through an interlocal agreement with Palm Beach County. The residents paid half the cost of paving, the county paid the rest. “They got a good deal,” Narrow said. “The residents paid somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000 and have a beautiful paved road.”

(Left) Terry Narrow points out changes at Acreage Community Park. (Right) 140th Avenue and Persimmon Blvd. looking south at road paved using sealed millings. (Below) The Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area spillover at 130th Avenue and 40th Street North. (Below left) The 40th Street water control structure.

After taking a look at county work on the Acreage Reliever Road from 110th Street and examining a mile of paving work done to Hamlin Blvd. between Coconut and Avocado boulevards, Foy and Narrow spent some time driving along the main route suggested by the district’s Trailways Committee for a trail pilot project. “We will have a few problems along Grapeview because of drainage pipes and driveways,” Narrow said, “but most are relatively simple engineering problems.”

Rotary Supports SRHS

The Acreage Rotary Club is a dedicated Seminole Ridge High School business partner.

During the high school’s first year, the club provided a wheelchair to the clinic, sponsored the Interact Club with a $500 donation, sponsored a student to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly (RYLA) conference for $400 and hosted the new officers induction dinner. This year, the club provided $250 for pins, two students attending RYLA totaling $800 and a $1,000 scholarship.

Club President Fred Gordon knows the importance of mentoring youth and supporting school programs. “I’m proud to have served as founder and president of the only international service organization in The Acreage,” Gordon said. “I’m also proud of what we have accomplished to serve the community, the nation and the world.”

POPPY SALE FOR VETS

Veteran Al Weissman, joined by his wife Edna, sold poppies last weekend outside Publix at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. The sale, traditionally held in conjunction with Memorial Day, benefits hospitalized veterans.

The club continues to seek dedicated individuals to assist in their efforts. If you are interested in becoming involved in the Acreage Rotary Club, call Richard Helton at (561) 329-7752. The Acreage Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at 7:16 a.m. at Sneaky Pete’s.

Temple Rummage Sale

Temple Beth Zion is holding a huge rummage sale on Sunday, June 10 starting at 9:30 a.m. The sale will be held on the premises of H&R Block, located in the Crossroads (Publix) Plaza in Royal Palm Beach. There will definitely be something for everyone at the sale. It will feature a huge selection of books, toys, clothes, electronic devices and home furnishings. Temple Beth Zion is a Conservative synagogue located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach. Call (561) 798-8888 for more information on this or any temple event, or visit www. templebethzion.net.

PAFFORD LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN

On Saturday, May 26, Barbara and Jeff Houghtaling of suburban Lake Worth hosted a house party to officially kick off Mark Pafford’s campaign for Florida State House in District 88. Pafford, a Democrat, is running to replace term-limited incumbent Susan Bucher in 2008. Bucher’s district includes most of Royal Palm Beach and parts of Loxahatchee and The Acreage. (Above left) Hostess Barbara Houghtaling welcomes people to her home. (Above right) Pafford says a few words. (Below) A group shot of Pafford with his supporters.

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/ TOWN-CRIER

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Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute Now Open In Wellington

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

There are plenty of spas in the western communities and elsewhere in Palm Beach County, but nothing quite like what optometrist Dr. Salvatore M. DeCanio has created in Wellington. While most spas have features such as inhalation rooms, saunas, whirlpools and makeup rooms, DeCanio has created a spa for eye care at the Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute in Plaza II at Wellington Green.

Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute deals exclusively with laser vision correction, DeCanio said.

“Everybody else in Palm Beach County has their own practice as well,” he said. “They do cataracts one day and glaucoma the next. They just do laser vision correctness as part of their practice. Here, laser vision correction is all we do.”

LASIK is a form of eye surgery in which a laser is used to reshape the surface of the cornea, permanently correcting problems such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism to free the patient from the need for corrective lenses.

DeCanio received his doctorate in optometry from the University of Houston after attending undergraduate school at Wake Forest University. As a freshman, DeCanio played on the Wake Forest golf team with two-time U.S. Open Champion Curtis Strange.

DeCanio has served as an adjunct clinical professor at Nova Southwestern College of Optometry and is also a member of the American and Florida optometric associations.

DeCanio’s two surgeons, Dr. Stephen Pascucci and Dr. Paul Maurer, each perform LASIK in an atmosphere that is designed to look more like a European spa than a traditional, sterile medical office. With its Brazilian cherry floors, flat-panel televisions, waterfalls (now turned off to help with drought relief) and modern black-and-white

furnishings, Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute is anything but clinical. DeCanio aims to help alleviate a patient’s fear, not necessarily of the LASIK procedure, but of the office visit itself.

Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute has no reception desk. A concierge greets each patient as he or she comes through the door. There’s no clipboard with an attached pen. “We treat our patients as guests,’’ DeCanio said. “You don’t give guests a clipboard.”

The facility also features eight wood lockers, three examination rooms and a conference room. Relatives can watch TV in one of four small waiting rooms, work on their laptop via wireless Internet, or even watch their loved one’s LASIK procedure. “Most offices ignore significant others or relatives during the procedure,’’ DeCanio said. “But it’s important that everyone knows what’s going on. Also, watching might help that significant other or relative decide to have the procedure done or recommend it to someone else.’’

The centerpiece equipment at the Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute consists of two lasers, which perform a two-step procedure that DeCanio said quickly and safely duplicates manual techniques — only better. DeCanio, who himself underwent a LASIK procedure a decade ago, said the second laser has been introduced since then to make the procedure completely bladeless.

“Ten years ago, when I had my LASIK procedure, the creation of the flap was done with a blade,” DeCanio said.

The LASIK procedure takes place in a glassed-in room that is constantly kept at a computer-controlled temperature of 67 degrees and 35 percent humidity.

“Temperature, humidity and air quality have a definite effect on how the lasers perform,” DeCanio said. “Everything in that room is tweaked to the last

detail to ensure we get the best possible results.” Those results, DeCanio said, most often provide better vision than a patient ever had with glasses or contact lenses, and in less than 24 hours. DeCanio offers free, no-obligation consultation for people interested in LASIK. The procedure costs $3,200 per eye, he said. LASIK is not covered by insurance, but Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute

offers financing for qualified patients.

DeCanio said anyone who wears corrective lenses or contact lenses is a prospective patient.

“But not everyone should have it done,” DeCanio said, citing health reasons and age as factors to consider. Age, however, is only a major factor if the patient doesn’t have healthy eyes.

an “eye spa.”

“We can do it as young as 18,” DeCanio said. “We’ve had patients as old 70. But the lion’s share of patients are between 25 and 45.’’

The Palm Beach Laser Eye Institute is located at 2515 State Road 7, Suite 210 in Wellington. Its hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (561) 795-4772 or visit www.lasereyespa.com for more information.

Arthritis Foundation Sponsors Aquatic Class

The Arthritis Foundation will host an aquatic class in the western communities for people suffering from pain and stiffness due to fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or any rheumatic disease. The 45-minute, twiceweekly sessions offer a chance to socialize as well as increase muscle strength and flexibility.

“Water supports joints and lessens stress on the joints, which encourages free movement and provides mild resistance to help build their muscle strength,” said Bruce Fassett, certified aquatic trainer.

The soothing warmth and buoyancy of the water makes this program an ideal environment for relieving arthritis pain, although the class will not re-

place a regimented therapeutic program.

The classes will be held in association with Palms West OP, Rehab & Aquatic Center at 12977 Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. The fee of $40 is for eight classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:15 a.m. starting soon. To apply, call (800) 741-4008.

Dr. Salvatore DeCanio calls his laser eye vision center in Wellington

PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

Palm Beach Dental Group Opens Wellington Office On SR 7

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Dr. Andrew Rudnick of the Palm Beach Dental Group, which has an office in the Wellington Reserve along State Road 7 just north of Forest Hill Blvd., said that he and his associates use state-of-theart technology to provide the best in patient care and comfort.

“I put myself in my patient’s place,” Rudnick explained. “My father was a dentist, and I remember getting my teeth cleaned as a child. With the older equipment, it hurt me and I begged him to stop. Now, I always check to make certain that my patients are not hurting.”

The Palm Beach Dental Group uses the most modern technology and techniques because they decrease pain and improve dental care. “I use a Waterlase MD laser for most drilling,” Rudnick said. “We can’t use it on existing silver fillings because it would act like a microwave, setting off sparks. But for all other work, it does a wonderful job.”

Pain control is an important part of modern dentistry. Rudnick’s practice uses massaging chairs, laser drilling and appropriate local anesthesia or even sedation to prevent discomfort. “I can even do root canals with a laser,” Rudnick said. “It’s far less painful. If you come in with an infection, that problem will prevent anesthesia from penetrating to the root. The laser can do the work and we can create a crown over it.”

Palm Beach Dental Group uses the Cerec process to create crowns, fillings and veneers in one visit. A small camera creates a 3D image, which will create a model of the work needed using computer design technology and then build it precisely out of porcelain in an eight-

minute procedure. The restoration is polished, placed in the right spot and bonded.

“Many people hate the idea of coming in, getting their tooth drilled, getting a cast made of the tooth, then putting in a temporary filling,” Rudnick said. “Then they have to come back two or three weeks later to get the permanent crown. Now we can do it all at one time. We can now do a root canal and then a crown in two visits. In the old days, it would have taken at least four, and maybe more, visits.”

Rudnick also does the most modern cosmetic dentistry, putting veneers on patients’ teeth. “I’ve had patients who were on the cover of Woman’s Day and Redbook magazines, and they were smiling,” he said.

Rudnick attended George Washington University as an undergraduate and did his dental work at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School. “I continually take new courses because we’ve been having so many improvements in the fields over the past few years,” he said.

Rudnick points with pride to the modernity of his office. “We use digital Xrays,” he said. “That’s 90 percent less radiation than with the old ones. And we get them immediately.”

The digitization allows Rudnick and his associates to photograph their work as a way of showing patients what they do. Rudnick uses an interactive patient education system to show patients what will be done when they undergo a procedure.

“We can show a short DVD here, maybe two minutes,” he explained, “or I can burn a new DVD and they can take it home with them.”

Rudnick stressed the flexibility of his practice. “Some people want to get work

Smile For The Doctor — Palm Beach Dental Group’s Dr. Andrew Rudnick invites you to visit his new state-of-the-art office located in the Wellington Reserve office park on State Road 7. PHOTO BY LEONARD

done in as few visits as possible,” he said. “But there are some people who might not want all that much work done at once. We are willing to work with our patients to make them happy.”

Rudnick is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic

Dentistry and the Academy of Laser Dentistry.

The Palm Beach Dental Group is located at 1037 State Road 7, Suite 115 in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 753-8400 or visit www.palmbeach dentalgroup.com. The practice also has offices in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens.

Local Woman Working Toward Awareness Of Blood Disorders

For most of her life, 44-yearold Jeanette Cesta of Wellington never knew she had a bleeding disorder.

She experienced frequent bruising and heavy, prolonged periods, and as Cesta’s condition worsened, it began to seriously affect her quality of life. Through a routine blood test that showed abnormal results, Cesta finally received her diagnosis: she is among the 2.8 million people in the United States with von Willebrand disease (VWD).

While VWD may be fairly common, many people do not realize they have it. While VWD occurs in both males and females, women tend to face more serious health consequences if their condition is not correctly diagnosed.

The most common hereditary bleeding disorder, VWD often goes undiagnosed and untreated. For women, this can lead to a greater risk of miscarriage, life-threatening bleeding after surgery or childbirth, or unnecessary hysterectomies.

Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that every year 30,000 women undergo a hysterectomy for the diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding. Many of these women have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder, and their condition could be managed medically. According to the CDC, it takes a woman an average of 16 years to get a VWD diagnosis.

Cesta, who has been successfully treated for her VWD, is hoping she can focus attention on this often under-diagnosed disorder by sharing her story. As part of her work with the Florida Hemophilia Association, she is participating in the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Project Red Flag campaign, “Real Talk About Women’s Bleeding Disorders,” which educates women about the signs and symptoms of VWD.

“My story is very typical of the millions of women who have VWD and don’t realize it,” Cesta said. “I hope that by sharing my own experience, I can raise awareness of the symptoms of VWD, or ‘red flags’ that should prompt women to see their physicians for diagnosis and treatment.”

Cesta was diagnosed with VWD in her early 20s, despite the fact that she had displayed many of the symptoms of the disorder since childhood, including easy bruising and a severe bleeding episode after having a tonsillectomy at age six.

As a mother of three children who also have VWD, she takes comfort that since they have been diagnosed early, they will not have to face the struggle she endured not knowing the cause of their symptoms.

According to currently available statistics from the CDC, von Willebrand disease affects

one to two percent of Americans. As in Cesta’s case, VWD frequently manifests in women as a gynecological problem, such as heavy or prolonged menstruation.

“Von Willebrand disease can be diagnosed from the patient’s history and the results of blood tests,” said Dr. Joanna Davis, medical director of the Comprehensive Pediatric Hemophilia Treatment Center at the University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Hospital.

“While there is no cure for VWD, treatment is available and can help prevent complications. But the disorder must be properly diagnosed.”

Project Red Flag is the National Hemophilia Foundation’s public awareness campaign created to educate women and their doctors about diagnosing and treating bleeding disorders.

“Von Willebrand disease is a serious health issue for women,” said Alan Kinniburgh, chief executive officer of the National Hemophilia Foundation. “We encourage all women to increase their knowledge of bleeding disorders and to see their doctor immediately if they suspect they have symptoms.”

The Florida Hemophilia Association is a non-profit organization that exists to promote opportunities for improving the quality of life for all persons with bleeding disorders through sup-

port and education. For more information, visit www.florida hemophilia.org or call (888) 880-8330.

For more information on VWD, visit the Project Red Flag web site at www.projectred

flag.org or call the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Information Resource Center at 1 (800) 42-HANDI. Trained staff members are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST to answer callers’ requests.

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

The Cesta Family — Jeanette Cesta with her husband John and children Johnna, 11, Michael Ryan, 9, and Julie, 7.

The Lazy Summer Days Of My Childhood Are Calling To Me

Summertime! In addition to heat and bugs, I’ve come to associate summertime with three colors — red, white and blue. It sort of kicks off with Memorial Day, it’s got the Fourth of July right in the middle of it, and to my mind, fall doesn’t actually set in until Veterans Day. Of course, as a Baby Boomer, all the memories of my youth include fathers and uncles who had served in various branches of the military in World War II and were still comparing notes whenever they got together — usually in the summer and usually at the VFW club.

See, every June my parents would pack us four kids into the car for the pleasant eight-hour drive from Milwaukee to upper Michigan to visit Mom’s parents. Except for the car ride, which consisted mostly of protecting my valuable window seat against my siblings and

not letting my brother’s leg touch mine, we had a ball up there in Alpha. What? Never heard of Alpha? I’m shocked. Why, its population is nearing 100 these days.

Back then, we ourselves didn’t stay “in town” but on my grandparents’ farm. Having left Poland as teenagers, Grandpa and Grandma had met on the boat coming over and decided (as did many Poles) to take advantage of the government’s generous offer of free land to anyone willing to settle in the rocky and frigid state of Michigan. Grandpa got 160 acres, cut down some trees, built himself a house out of the wood and farmed the rest of the acreage. My mother says her earliest memory was of picking rocks out of the field. And, if you’ve ever “picked rocks,” you know that the minute it rains, brand new rocks seem

to make their way to the surface.

Not that any of this history mattered to us kids. For us “city slickers” the farm meant one thing — freedom. We were allowed to roam far and wide across the fields and apple orchards and even into town. The one-mile walk from the farmhouse into Alpha was liberating in itself, as we got to pick all the wild strawberries we could spot along the country road, but the destination was where the real action was… That is, if you consider “action” to be a playground, a post office and a gas station. Oh, and the VFW meeting hall/bar.

The school served all the children for miles around in grades 1 through 8 and its unique feature was a metal tube, extending from the second floor to the ground, that served as the fire escape. I could only imagine the terror of step-

ping into that pitch-black tube if there were smoke and flames. It was scary enough when we outside the non-burning school dared each other to climb up inside it and slide down.

The playground was across the road and featured the kind of metal equipment that has long been deemed dangerous for children. The swing set was as tall as the trees and had big metal chains and See WELKY, page 35A

A Television Rarity: ‘Heroes’ Has Me Waiting For Next Season!

This year, the cool new television show was Heroes. Every once in a while, TV comes through with a new series that makes watching worthwhile. Three years ago it was Lost. That show provided a whole new set of realities for television, including back-stories of characters’ lives, and kept the audience guessing throughout.

Heroes has very little going for it. It is on NBC, a network with so few popular shows that it might take a couple of weeks off unnoticed. Heroes has no stars in its cast. There are some very dark elements in the show. Some of the main characters died along the way. Since I am a science fiction freak, I of course love the whole thing. My wife is not, however. But she quickly became a fan. And that is because the show really works! First of all, it is cosmopolitan. The first major character you meet is an Indian geneticist (Sendhil Ramamurthy) who often serves as a narrator. But the

heroes (and villains) are generally ordinary people who suddenly discover they have a talent. Sometimes it is a talent they enjoy, more often one they do not. There is a cheerleader, Claire (Hayden Panettiere), who is indestructible. She can be shot, burned, fall from a height, and just walk away. Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) is a Japanese office worker with the soul of a samurai who can move through space and time. He speaks only in Japanese for the first third of the season, particularly with his friend Ando (James Kyson Lee) who has no apparent talent except for loyalty. One character is a Las Vegas (Ali Larter) exotic dancer with multiple personalities. The villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto) kills people and takes their brains, which somehow allows him to take all of their talents. Plus a hero (Milo Ventimiglia) who also takes on the properties of other heroes but, although he seems like a good guy, might blow up New York City. His

older brother (Adrian Pasdar) is an untrustworthy politician with unsavory ties who has the ability to fly. There are other characters, like Claire’s stepfather (Jack Coleman) who sometimes seems good and sometimes seems bad — and most viewers had no idea which side he was actually on for most of the season.

It is a lot like real life in that way. And, just to confuse people further, Hiro at one point moved five years into the future and discovered that the good guys are now all bad and vice versa… or maybe it is just a possible future. I love sci-fi!

The important thing is that you really want to watch the series. It becomes a “universe” that matters.

Some people might have been attracted to it by the show’s incredibly good slogan, “Save the cheerleader, save the world.” Others might like the way it stresses virtues like love and family in the long run over other motivations.

By Leonard Wechsler

As the last show of the season reached its final two minutes, I still had no idea of exactly what would happen, how (or if) New York City would be saved. Finally, two characters sacrificed themselves so the world would go on. Wow!

Then Hiro was suddenly transported back in time to Japan in 1671 and landed between a couple of samurai armies, one of which had the same symbol on it as the special sword he had been chasing down all season. Is it the same sword? What does it mean? See you next year!

SKOLLER HOSTS PIANO RECITAL AT HER HOME IN WELLINGTON

Last Sunday afternoon, piano teacher Sylvia Skoller hosted a recital at her home in Wellington. Twelve talented youngsters performed all afternoon to the delight of their parents, friends and siblings. The pianists included Brendan Boudreau, Klendy Muller, Wendy Huang, Allyssa Uzzi, Nina Mangiola, Kelsie Boudreau, Kimberly Ramento, Tommy

Family members watch the young musicians at work.

Artist Tito Mangiola presents Sylvia Skoller with a gift.Sylvia Skoller joins her students for a group photo.

Tang, Julie Levin, Stephen Katz, Danielle Boudreau and Nikki Shaffer.

Sylvia Skoller’s students give her a bouquet of flowers.Julie Levin performs.

Sylvia Skoller looks on as Stephen Katz plays. PHOTOS

Mem Day

WPB Service

continued from page 13A domestic. Many of us who enter the service with this high ideal, but I daresay none of us enter with the intent of paying the ultimate sacrifice. However, each of us who enters or prepares to enter combat knowingly faces this possibility. The citizens of the United States enjoy these freedoms. Remember and honor our fallen.”

Mahoney said it is appropriate that armed forces veterans take the lead in Memorial Day observances. He also said the day is a time to reflect on America’s responsibility to those who serve.

“It is fitting that veterans lead us on this solemn day of remembrance and reflection,” Mahoney said. “It is the men and women who fought alongside our fallen heroes who are best able to share the valor of their comrades and remind us of horrors of war and the meaning of duty. We should use Memorial

Day as a time to reflect on the many challenges facing our great nation. We need to make the sacrifices necessary to ensure that our men and women in uniform get the training, equipment and rest that they need in order to do their mission so they can come home safely.”

Atwater noted that American lives have most recently been sacrificed while fighting a new kind of enemy. “Those who fear freedom have chosen to use terror as a weapon, and once again, as their great tradition, America’s sons and daughters have met this challenge with bravery,” he said.

“This day, we are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. As we remember America’s brave on this Memorial Day, we must look to the future as well as to the past, because some say that freedom today is cloaked in uncertainty. The cost remains high. We do not pay it lightly. Let us never forget those better men and women who have paid the last full measure of devotion for our country. Let us strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.”

(Clockwise from above) The Palm Beach Pipes and Drums; Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog, a member of the American Legion Post 367 Auxiliary, with her friend Ruth Hamlyn; the Navy Seabee cadets; Ed Manak lays a red wreath at the end of the ceremony; Vietnam veterans Dennis Kahlert and Jerold Klein with one of the wreaths; and State Senator Dave Aronberg, Congressman Tim Mahoney and State Senator Jeff Atwater.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER AND STU ULRICH/TOWN-CRIER

WHS HOSTS FRED LIPPNER MEMORIAL DAY BASEBALL TOURNEY

American Legion Post 258’s 17-and-under baseball team hosted the Fred Lippner Memorial Day Baseball Tournament at Wellington High School from Thursday, May 24 through Sunday, May 27. American Legion posts participating included Seminole Ridge Post 367, Lake Worth Post 47, Santaluces/Boynton Beach Post 164, West Boca Post 245 and East Boca Post 245. The six American Legion teams participated in a four-game, guaranteed double elimination, with first and second place team trophies awarded at the conclusion of the tournament. On Saturday afternoon, ceremonies with color guard presentations were held at WHS, with James Johnson of American Legion Post 258 and Canute Ferrin of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4445 presenting the colors. Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham was on hand to offer some patriotic words to the ballplayers.

Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham says a few words. The ballplayers take their caps off for the Pledge of Allegiance.

PLENTY OF OUTDOOR FUN AT GOOD EARTH FARM FUNDRAISER

The Good Earth Farm in Loxahatchee Groves held its Monster Yard Sale last Saturday to benefit the farm’s rescued animals. Because caring for the dozens of horses, exotic birds and other sanctuary animals is expensive, owner Nancy Fried-Tobin aimed to draw attention to their needs through the fundraiser. Kids enjoyed pony rides and the animal petting area, while the J.C.B. Blues Band provided music and donated their time for the animals. Refreshments were available for purchase and vendors offered a wide assortment of items for sale such as music boxes, books, saddles and jewelry. Good Earth Farm is located at 2141 B Road. For more information, call (561) 792-2666 or visit www.thegoodearthfarm.org.

Vendor Geena McLaughlin with boxes she crafted herself.

Nancy Fried-Tobin gets a mini massage from Rachel Rose.

Julie Ingram and mom Laura offers a saddle for sale.

Karmel Kid and Johnny Robb.

Tricia Levi, guided by Good Earth Farm volunteer Gabby Busig, rides Bugsy while her mom Donna looks on.The

J.C.B. Blues Band lays down some tunes.

Marty Farber and wife Patty look over some books for sale.

PHOTOS BY DENISE

James Johnson of American Legion Post 258 and Canute Ferrin of VFW Post 4445 prepare to present the colors.

Royal Palm Beach Bassmasters Tournament Winners

The Royal Palm Beach Bassmasters held their monthly tournament on Sunday, May 20 off Route 27 of the Sawgrass Expressway.

First place went to the team of Mike Gershberg (boater) with five fish weighing

9 lbs. and partner Tommy Carter (guest) with five fish weighing 5 lbs., 3 oz. for a total 14 lbs., 3 oz. Second place went to Ron Demers (boater) with five fish weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz. and partner Tom Race (non-boater) with five fish weigh-

ing 6 lbs., 4 oz. for a total of 13 lbs., 13 oz. Mike O’Connor caught the big fish weighing 4 lbs., 7 oz.

In Individual Heaviest Weight, first place was Dennis Andersen, with five fish weighing 10 lbs., 10 oz.; in second place was Mike Gershberg, with five fish weighing 9 lbs.; and in third place was Randy Houck, with five fish weighing 7 lb., 11 oz.

Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center. Tournaments take place the following Sunday. Dues are $25 a year and tournament entry fees are $25 per person. Anyone interested in joining the club should call Irene at (561) 7937081.

CRUSHERS

Basketball Camp At Seminole Ridge

Seminole Ridge High School will host a summer basketball camp from Monday, June 11 through Thursday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The gym will open at 8:30 a.m. The camp is open to students in grades three through eight. The cost is $75; checks should be made payable to Seminole Ridge High School. Campers may register the day of the camp.

For more information, call John Walker at (561) 422-2600. Seminole Ridge High School is located at 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

WIN RPB TOURNEY

The South Florida Crushers 16-and-under baseball team won the Royal Palm Beach Memorial Day Tournament. The Crushers went 4-0 over the weekend and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 35-2. Front row: Christian Cancio, Michael Stemle, Jarred Hobbs, Tyler Wampler, Andrew Acevedo and Gus Wessell; back row: Coach Chernoff, Joe Cartegena, Joe Barbera, Brandon Perry, Coach Barbera, J.J. Russell, Danny Villegas, Jonathan Cedeno, Kevin Chernoff, Omar Delarosa and Coach Acevedo.

(Clockwise from above) Mike Gershberg, Tom Race, Ron Demers and Mike O’Connor.

Spring Football Games Give Coaches A Sneak Peek At The Fall

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Seminole Ridge High School football coach Matt Dickmann saw pretty much what he expected to see in the Hawks’ spring game against Park Vista on May 25. Seminole Ridge’s young defense gave up two big scoring plays in the first half and two more in the third quarter to trail 27-6, before the Hawks rallied with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter only to fall short of the Cobras 27-20.

The game capped the spring football season for the four high schools in the western communities. On May 24, Palm Beach Central defeated Archbishop McCarthy 12-6 in what was

essentially a controlled scrimmage. Wellington High School, under new coach Chris Romano, held its Blue-White Scrimmage on May 18 and on the same day, Royal Palm Beach came from behind to defeat Martin County 17-10.

Seminole Ridge got touchdown runs from running backs William Jones and Curtis Griswold, and another from quarterback Tyler Wilhelm.

“The second half, I think, Park Vista wore out, and we just started clocking offensively,” Dickmann said. “We gave up the big touchdowns early... But besides that, I think our young kids can build on what they did and hopefully we can get better with each game.”

Wellington Warriors Win Triple Crown — The Wellington Warriors 12-and-under team went undefeated to win the Memorial Day baseball tournament held at Village Park on Pierson Road. The Warriors defeated the Okeeheelee All Star team 8-1 in the final game to qualify for the St. Augustine Fall Nationals. Team members are Johnny Carpenter, Michael Cusenza, Ben Dillian, Richard Glazer, Gabriel Martinez, Shawn Murray, Kyle Perkins, Joe Shue, Scotty Smith and Nolen Sotillo. Coaches are Rob Cusenza, William Martinez, Tim Shue and Chad Upson.

Royal Palm Beach, coming off a 10-2 season, trailed 10-7 in the fourth quarter but tied the score at 10 on Corey Inman’s 26-yard field goal. The Wildcats got the game-winning touchdown on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Marvin Payne to wide receiver Marvin Miller.

“We played far from a perfect game,” Wildcats coach Eric Patterson said. “We’re young and have a lot of things to learn. But the fact the kids did come back from being down twice was good. We really didn’t have any turnover issues. We just need to focus and execute a little better.”

Although the game was played at Royal Palm Beach, the Wildcats were in unfamiliar ter-

ritory as they took the field without the senior class that helped make them a district power. Those seniors included a pair of 2,000-yard rushers from this past season, Zach Brown and Brandon Pendergras. Brown will play next season at the University of Wisconsin, and Pendergrass will play for Wake Forest. All told, the Wildcats of ’06 will send 12 players on to college football. The others are linebacker Mike Addie, offensive lineman Jeff Durivou and defensive lineman Ric Torres (Campbell University); strong safety Boaz Moise (Minnesota-Crookston); quarterback Vince LaLonde, defensive end Julian Sinclair and cornerback Norman McKenzie (Kentucky

Big Win For Red Raiders — The Royal Palm Beach Memorial Day Tournament concluded on Monday, May 28 with the Royal Palm Beach 10A All Star team winning first place in the 9-10 Division with a 4-0 record. The Red Raiders allowed only seven runs the entire tournament. (Front row) Gregory Hill, Tyler Murley, Petey Ackerman, Sean Ljongquist, Adam Anzalone, Kyle Leaver and Nick Johnson; (middle row) Tyler Frank, Sean Malynn, Devon Worthington, Brandon Houk, Kevin Cherestal and Jason Aponte; and (back row) Coach Kirk Ljongquist, Coach Scott Houk, Manager Darrin Malynn, Coach Rob Hill and Coach Donnie Frank.

Wesleyan); defensive back Gifford Gunning (MacMurray College); defensive back David Dangerfield (Averett University); and defensive back Josh Hodges (Northeast Oklahoma Junior College).

“Those seniors had been around for so long they were grizzled veterans, so you don’t know how the newbies are going to do without them,” Patterson said. “This team probably was looking for its identity a little bit.”

Against Archbishop McCarthy, Palm Beach Central’s Andrew Johnson scored a 25-yard fumble return and Zach Bayonne ran 65 yards for another touchdown as Bronco coach John Timmons got a look at 98 players on his squad.

“We didn’t play as well as we need to. We definitely need to get better,” Timmons said. “Our offensive line was a little disappointing from where it had been all spring. We have a lot of work to do this summer if we’re going to compete with teams next year.”

Dreyfoos Students Win Cappie Awards

Jeremy Michaels of Wellington was among several theater students from the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts who won in the 2007 Cappies Awards.

In the Cappies, high school theater students throughout South Florida are judged by their peers in a number of categories. Michaels won a Creativity Cappie for writing and performing original music.

Other winners included Jennifer Sisoian of Boynton Beach for best lead actress, whose award includes a three-week trip to Washington, D.C. this summer where she will perform

in three repertory productions at the Kennedy Center. Sisoian was the lead actress in the school’s updated adaptation of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, which won the Cappie for best play.

The other Dreyfoos students winning Cappies were: Ally Parisi of Lake Worth for best featured actress, Torrey Linder of Lake Park for best cameo actor and Doug Widick of Boca Raton for writing and performing original music. Widick, Michaels and Scott Berko of Jupiter won for best music ensemble. Also winning special commendations for stage management were

At Disney — The Tapazz Dance Troupe from MJ’s Place Dance Studio based at the Community Education Center at Royal Palm Beach High School performed in the Galaxy Theater in the Magic Kingdom in Orlando on Saturday, May 19, and attracted many park visitors to watch their 30minute show. The dancers are under the direction of Michele Blecher. (Front) Elizaberth Bates, Alexa Blecher and Jessica Ngo; (sitting) Alyssa Durivou, Samantha Scalpi and Deserri Howard; and (back) Richelle Vandervort, Halley Richardson, Tamra Jackowitz and Cassie Tingley.

Tom Fuchs of North Palm Beach and Emily Koester of West Palm Beach.

All of the Dreyfoos students were part of the cast of this year’s production of an updated adaptation of Shakespeare’s As You Like It , which takes place during the 1960s hippy movement and includes an original music score by Dreyfoos students.

The winners were announced at the May 15 Cappie Gala at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale. Beverly Blanchette is the theater dean at Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a public arts magnet high school located in West Palm Beach. Students attend from throughout Palm Beach County. For more information, visit the school’s web site at www.awdsoa.org.

Hession Named To President’s List

Nicole Hession of Wellington has been named to the President’s List at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. for her freshman year. Students named to the President’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Hession achieved a grade point average of 4.0. In addition, she was chosen for the Dean’s Leadership Program, where she will be mentoring incoming students. Hession is the daughter of Patrick and Debbie Hession.

Rollins College was founded in 1885 and was the first col-

lege in Florida. It is a private liberal arts college located in Winter Park.

Vinyard Graduates

Del Mar College

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Frank of Loxahatchee are pleased to announce their daughter Michelle Vinyard graduated from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas, with an associate’s degree in art. The cum laude student plans to continue her education in San Antonio, Texas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in interior design. Michelle Vinyard is a 2000 graduate of Wellington High School.

Dancing

Dreyfoos Cappie Winners — (Front row, L-R) Doug Widick, Scott Berko, Jennifer Sisoian and Jeremy Michaels; (back row) Tom Fuchs, Torrey Linder, Eric Fagan, Alex Chapman, Theatre Dean Beverly Blanchette, Jason Cornwell and Ryan Pastor.

Nicole Hession

David Dicenso

Dicenso Completes Air Force Training

Air Force Airman David Dicenso has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches; and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations. Airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate’s degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Dicenso is the son of Jacqueline Hogan of Lake Worth. He is a 2004 graduate of Wellington High School.

Cooper Named Local Teacher Of Year

James Cooper, a teacher at

Royal Palm Beach High School, was presented recently with the Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Local Teacher of the Year Award. Cooper was selected from a total of 176 nominations, according to Wal-Mart representatives.

During the presentation, a Wal-Mart representative read one of the letters of recommendation from one of Cooper’s students, which he said brought him a great sense of satisfaction.

By winning the award, Cooper is eligible to apply for WalMart State Teacher of the Year.

Wal-Mart presented a $1,000 check to Royal Palm Beach High School, and Cooper received a $100 gift card, a poster of the $1,000 check, a Teacher of the Year certificate and a Teacher of the Year polo shirt.

Caplano Graduates From Law School

On Saturday, May 12, Loxahatchee native Klarika Caplano graduated from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla.

Caplano received a certificate for outstanding leadership development and the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award for 2007, as well as a Student Organization Officer of the Year Award, Community Program of the Year Award and Educational Programs of the Year Award for 2006 and 2007. Caplano was also a lieutenant governor of the ABA Law School Division, Fifth Circuit in May 2006.

Caplano graduated from Suncoast High School in 2001 and from the University of Florida in 2004.

Daniel Andy Abalon Dimaranan — son of Jacinta and Andy Dimaranan of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on April 23.

Ryleigh Olvia Shackford daughter of Jamie and Robert Owen Shackford of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on May 2.

Justin Dale Wesley — son of Melissa and James Dale Wesley of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 8.

Ni’terria Liniy Peoples daughter of Belinda and Onterion Peoples of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 9.

Jacob William Gonzalez son of Megan and Erasmo Gonzalez of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 10.

Xavier Suliveres Jr. — son of Lidia and Xavier Suliveres of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 10.

Mia Gabriela Gonzalez daughter of Connie and Jose Gonzalez of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 10.

Alberto Diego Dominguez — son of Alba and Rodolfo Dominguez of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 10.

Gianni Michael Gorga son of Denise Gorga of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 10.

Randford Morgan — son of Betty and Andre Ricardo Morgan Sr. of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 11.

Robert Austin White — son

of Amanda and Timothy White of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 11.

Hannah Isis Bohn daughter of Claudia and Jim Bohn of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 11.

Grace Marie Powers daughter of Jean Marie Giarratana-Powers and Sean Douglas Powers of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 11.

Derek Pascal Saint-Fleur — son of Tamara and Pascal Saint-Fleur of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 12.

Alyssa Mia Navarro daughter of Yamile and Ruben Navarro of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 14.

Zachary Jacquet Duval son of Marie and Gardy Duval of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 14.

Aubrey Marie Humphries — daughter of Katie Perry and Jay Humphries of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 14.

Matilda May Nash daughter of Luanna and Martin Nash of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 14.

Ethan Russell Wilson son of Sherri and Randy Wilson of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 14.

Luke Edward Beck — son of Hudsandra and Bryan Edward Beck of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 15. Narline Ronia Foreste

daughter of Kerline Liline Noel and Ronald Foreste of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 15.

William Andrew Wiegel son of Carol Aryo-Wiegel and Cameron Peter Wiegel of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 15.

Kerry Sue Wooddell daughter of Marty and Kenneth Wooddell of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 16.

Tristan Antonio Pendas son of Elizabeth and Antonio Pendas of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 17.

Benjamin Jean Deligent son of Bivelene and Berthony Deligent of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 18.

Zander Eliezer Cadet — son of Nazareth and Francoeur Cadet of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 18.

Lakas Juju Tamrakar son of Kalpana and Raju Tamrakar of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 20.

Carson Leroy Burkholder — son of Christa and Darian Burkholder of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 21.

Hunter Douglas Rowe son of Jennifer and Nathan Rowe of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 21.

Mia Serrina Rubio daughter of Adriana Martinez and Carlos Rubio of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 21.

CAR HONORS VETS

Keilly Pike and Zachary Pike of Wellington (foreground, center) and Courtney Carhart of Royal Palm Beach (background), lay flags at tombstones at the South Florida VA National Cemetery in suburban Lake Worth. The three are members of the Fifer George Weissenfels Society of the Children of the American Revolution.

Welky

Lazy Summer

continued from page 22A wooden seats. My mother remembers trying to swing all the way around… and swears she did it. The seesaws were made of fat wooden planks so heavy that they could easily kill any tot who innocently wandered underneath the side that was coming down... particularly if your brother had jumped off the other end. The slide, traditionally placed to face the sun to get as hot as physics will allow, was so tall that if you tripped on the top step, you’d bounce down no less than 20 grating metal stairs… or you could just fall headfirst off the side into the dirt. And there was the spinning top-like merry-go-round that employed centrifugal force to hurl off the younger and weaker children. Ah, those were the days! After virtually risking life and limb at the playground, we kids worked up a thirst. Luckily for us, Grandpa had

given us each a silver dollar the night before, presumably for our piggy banks. But a dollar went pretty far at the corner gas station, where Popsicles and candy bars sold for a nickel, comic books and bottles of “pop” were ten cents each. Best of all, no one knew much about diabetes or even “sugar highs” back then. So, juiced up on sugar and soda, we’d drop by the post office to see what was happening, then try to get in to the VFW where the laughter was always loud and friendly-sounding. After being kicked out of there, we had pretty much “done the town” and headed back to the farm. We were greeted with fresh-baked ham, vegetables from the garden and fresh-picked corn on the cob, yet for some reason we were never that hungry on the days we’d gone to town. Still, this is one of those scenes I wouldn’t mind seeing again should it ever flash before me. In fact, I wonder if there’s a pause button.

PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/ TOWN-CRIER

Contents Prepared by the Town-Crier Marketing Dept

• DANCE ARTS CONSERVATORY DANCE CAMP We are in a great location for your summer fun! This summer dance camp is conveniently located in the heart of Wellington at the Wellington Marketplace, right next to the movie theater, just behind the fountain. Our camp program promises to be fun filled with huge hits such as hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, acro, drama, arts & crafts, fun and games and musical theater. To compliment your family’s busy summer schedule, we are offering affordable and flexible half-day, full day and weekly sessions. The Dance Arts Conservatory is a family owned and operated studio with the mission to be a positive presence in each of our student’s lives. Please join us this summer as we come together for a great vacation celebration! Sessions from June 4 through Aug. 17. For more information about our program, check us out on the web at www.danceartsconservatory.com or contact Rocky Duvall, our artistic director at (561) 296-1880

• THE FIRST AND ONLY JEWISH DAY CAMP ON A REAL FARM, “CAMP GAN NOACH” — is located at the Good Earth Farm and Animal Sanctuary in Loxahatchee. We are on 15 acres in Loxahatchee Groves, 15 convenient minutes from the turnpike. Here’s what we do: we pray in the morning to start the day off right. We ride horseback and learn horse care, we have our own petting zoo with llamas, goats, sheep, mini horses, pigs, geese, peacocks, parrots, cats, puppies and chickens. We cool down with swimming and kayaking, cooking on Fridays for our Shabbat party, a little arts & crafts, painting, karate, music, dance and Jewish studies. The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with aftercare 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Session One starts June 4 and runs to June 15. Session Two starts June 18 and runs to June 29. For more information, call Nancy Fried-Tobin at (561) 792-2666.

• RAVENWOOD RIDING ACADEMY — has been located in Wellington for 19 years. Proprietor and instructor Judie Jenner has been professionally involved with horses for over 30 years. Summer Camp Provides a wonderful opportunity for 12 campers per week to have fun while learning to ride, improve skills, hands on horse care and horsemanship. All campers have their own horse or pony for the week. Counselor-to-camper ratio allows for one-on-one riding lessons every day in a shaded riding area. Grooming and assistance and safety grazing a horse are taught by one counselor for every two campers. Campers attend special demonstrations by veterinarians, blacksmiths, and equine dentists. Ravenwood offers riding lessons year-round and students can complete in various horse shows. Lic. & Insured. For more information about camp and year-round lessons call (561) 793-4109 or visit us at 13442 Indian Mound Road.

• WESTCHESTER GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB SUMMER CAMP — For the past 2 years Westchester Golf & Country Club has offered a Summer Junior Golf Program for children Ages 7-17. This program is great for any golfer beginners to intermediates. Its a great way to have fun this summer, so enroll now. Call John Harbison or Jason Hogan for details (561) 369-1000.

• CASPEREY STABLES HORSE CAMP — is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages 7 to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts & crafts and outdoor games, our campers find little time to be bored. Our low counselor/child ratio ensures your child will receive individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks, and during the summer, each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days, and Medieval Days. We have a weekly swim party and end each session with a horse show and family BBQ! Call soon — this small, quality program fills quickly! To learn more about our camp, located at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee, call us at (561) 792-4990 or visit our website at www.caspereystables.com.

• ROYAL GYMNASTICS CENTER — Summer Camp for Boys & Girls, runs from June 4 - Aug. 15 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. with extended hours of 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. A variety of camp activities are offered; Gymnastics, Swimming, Skating, Bowling, Movies, Crafts, Field Trips, Karate Classes, Preschool,Trampoline, Tumbling, Recreational Team, Level 2 -Level 9. National and Junior Olympic Champions. The 6,500 sq. ft. Air Conditioned facility is located in Wellington at 3141 Fortune Way, Bay 20 in the Wellington Commerce Park. For more information on the variety of programs Royal Gymnastics has to offer call them at 561-793-5028 or visit their website at www.royalgym.com

• LAZY ACRES FARM — Our successful camp is better than ever this year! Besides teaching our riding and grooming skills, we also have live demonstrations, horse shows, field trips, arts and crafts and more! Register now, space is limited to 10 campers a week. A Free personalized camp tee-shirt is included in price. Please call Shannon Reilly at 561-289-00096 for more information.

• FOXTAIL FARMS — has been doing business for 20 years in Palm Beach County. Disciplines are in Huntseat Equitation. Camps focus on horse health, barn care safety and also correct seat and balance. Ages 6-14 years old. Lessons are taught all year long with horse showing available as students advance. Foxtail Farms is licensed and insured. For more information please call Patti Morini at 561-255-4037

• PICASSO PLAYHOUSE — Picasso’s Playhouse is delighted to introduce our first Summer ART camp! The ART camp is designed to be FUN and educational to help encourage children to try new art media with self creativity and imagination. Each day we will create a new adventure guided by a weekly theme. Picasso’s Playhouse campers will enjoy learning as they explore, discover, imagine, and create.

All weekly summer art camp session, will include all crafts supplies and a healthy snack & refreshment. Last day of weekly session – Picasso’s Playhouse will have a fun and groovy “Karaoke Pizza Party” for all campers. Complimentary on US!

For more detailed information on our art camp program, classes, special events, birthday parties - call Jackie, our art director (561) 296-0488 or visit our web-site www.PicassoPlayhouse.com. Picasso’s Playhouse “Art Counselors” are ready for our first summer of “ARTrageous fun!

Contents Prepared by the Town-Crier Marketing Dept

Suncoast High Team Takes TEAMS Title

Kevin Hueng and Alena Horwitz of Royal Palm Beach, Chelsea Andreozzi of Loxahatchee and Bradley Pliskow of Wellington were among Suncoast High School students on a first-place team in a recent science contest.

TEAMS (Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) is a learning process based on logic-oriented problems requiring a team of students to think in an analytical manner. It is designed to “stretch the academic envelope.”

Each year TEAMS culminates in a national high school competition. Students take part in a one-day, two-part academic exam coordinated by the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS). The first test was graded on site, and the Suncoast varsity team took first place and the junior varsity team came in third.

The second test is graded on a national level and Suncoast High School will be ranked statewide and nationally with the scores being released later this month. The Suncoast varsity and junior varsity teams took first place at both the local and state competitions.

The ARC Recognizes Polo Park Student

Ryan Zimmerman, a seventh-grader at Polo Park Middle School, has been recognized by the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) for single-handedly forming a creative program for the association’s school. Ryan created the “friendraiser” program, in which he organized and collected art supplies from his fellow peers to help supply the ARC with needed supplies for the new area school.

Ryan’s generosity and creativity is responsible for the ARC’s ability to give much-needed assistance to over 80 children ages one to five who have developmental disabilities such as autism, cere-

bral palsy or Down syndrome.

Polo Park congratulates Ryan for being a caring and giving citizen who thinks about others and goes out of his way to help. The school is proud of him and the goodness he has shown toward his fellow citizens.

Pierce Hammock Holds Hop-a-Thon — On Friday, May 18, Pierce Hammock Elementary School in The Acreage supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association by hosting a hop-athon for the kindergarteners and firstgraders. Pictured here, kindergartener Alexia Foote hops on one foot in support of the MDA’s Disability Awareness Program.

PBSO Deputies Fit H.L. Johnson Students With Bicycle Helmets

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 9 deputies fitted 109 H.L. Johnson Elementary School students with bicycle helmets Tuesday, compliments of a $1,000 donation from WalMart.

The helmet fitting came about after Deputy Greg Downey, who patrols the H.L. Johnson area, noticed that many kids did not have helmets, which are required by law.

A survey of more than 800 students

sent out by the school showed that 109 did not have helmets. Downey talked to Deputy Gigi Scantland, who patrols WalMart, and she was able to get the donation for the helmets.

Lt. Eric Coleman stressed to students the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. “You can get a ticket; we don’t want to do that,” said Coleman, who also stressed that the head is the most vulnerable part of the body when bicycling.

WES Singers At Kravis Center — On May 10, Wellington Elementary School music teacher Beth Smalling and members of her All County Chorus performed in the Spotlight on Young Musicians Concert at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Shown above are Smalling and the nine students from Wellington who performed.

(Left) Deputy Gigi Scantland fits Elisabeth Christie, 9. (Right) District 9 Community Outreach Officer Diane Carhart fits Nori Benjamin, 11.

H.L. Johnson students wait in line to be fitted for helmets.

Lt. Eric Coleman stresses the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.

Polo Park National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members

On Thursday, May 24, 60 outstanding seventh graders were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Polo Park Middle School.

A candle-lighting ceremony conducted by the current eighth-grade members of the society was held in the cafeteria. Parents, teachers and friends were invited to see the students recognized.

To become a member of the NJHS, students have to achieve a 3.75 overall grade point average in grade six and the first semester of grade seven, maintain

all three and fours in behavior, have no Ds or Fs on their grade reports, and demonstrate evidence of school and community participation.

Several of the new inductees will be moving on to the new Emerald Cove Middle School; the new adviser was presented with a $100 gift voucher to help set up the new chapter at the school in the fall. This was presented to Mrs. Andrea Burke by NJHS chapter president Alexandra Chiappa and adviser Mrs. Lynn Lazarus.

PJ DAY AT ELBRIDGE GALE

Music Honor Society Donates To VH1 Foundation

The Wellington High School chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society recently made a donation of $694 to the VH1 Save the Music National Foundation. The money was raised during a St. Patrick’s Day Benefit Concert on March 17, hosted by the society in the WHS cafeteria. The benefit concert featured performances by Tri-M members, food from TooJays Restaurant of Wellington and a silent auction. T-shirts for the event were donated by ProAdsInk of Wellington.

VH1 Save the Music development coordinator Ariel Usatin said the foundation will restore full instrumental music programs in more than 200 schools in 35 communities throughout the United States in 2007. The 2006-07 officers for

the WHS chapter who coordinated the event were seniors Allison Greenspan, Max Grossman, C.J. Kwan and Michala Fabrizi. The sponsor is WHS band director Mary Oser.

PJ Day — Elbridge Gale Elementary School recently held PJ Day, in which students and teachers wore their pajamas to school. Shown here, Principal Gail Pasterczyk and reading teacher Ms. Jennifer Jones don their PJs while reading a big book made by the students.

Polo Park NJHS Officers 2006-07 — (L-R) Vice President Andrea CedenoTobon, Secretary Ana Montalvo, President Alexandra Chiappa, and historians Holly Kobus and Nikki Naccarato.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Binks Forest Students Show Great Physical Fitness

Binks Forest Elementary School students recently took part in the President’s Council on Fitness and Sports program. The students shown above won first place in their particular category. (Front row) Taylor Wilhelmy, V-Sit flexibility test; Slade Kersey, pull-up test; and Fabiana Ingram, highest overall fitness score; back row: Cody Sparling, curlup test; Morgan Hull, fastest time in the one-mile run; and Logan Masta, shuttle run.

Frontier Science Fair — This year’s science fair at Frontier Elementary School was a huge success. More than 500 science projects were displayed at Frontier’s Science Fair Open House. The school would like to thank parents, family, friends and students who came out to see the experiments, as well as this year’s judges, the Seminole Ridge High School National Honor Society. Pictured above are Frontier’s science fair winners.

RPBES Narrative Essay Winners

Royal Palm Beach Elementary School is proud to announce the winners of its recent Narrative Essay Writing Contest.

For kindergarten: first place, Mya Gardner; second place, Joseph Diasio; and third place, Alexis Arias.

For first grade: first place, Michele Amar; second place, Jillian Mark; and third place, Elias Strahl.

For second grade: first place, Olivia Leisure; second place, Cassidy Lyon; and third place, Gina Boon and Christian Knapp.

For third grade: first place, Elizabeth Daley; second place, Jennifer Theodore and Trevor King; third place, Dalton Trimble.

For fourth grade: first place,

RPBES Narrative Essay Writing Contest winners.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY BOWL

Third graders at Frontier Elementary School recently participated in the school’s first African-American History Brain Bowl. After students completed a unit that studied African-American achievements in science, history and education, they tested their knowledge in a Jeopardy-style game. The winners of the contest were third graders Gabriella Estok and C.J. Goodall in Mrs. Janine Brockelbank’s class. The third grade teachers would like to congratulate all of their students for working hard on the unit of study. Pictured here are the finalists from each third grade class and their teachers.

A Summer To Remember At Breakers West

•

• Interactive Culinary Exhibitions Wine Tastings

• Nine and Dines – 9 Holes of Golf and Dinner in the Cypress Room at an Exclusive Member Rate

• Summer Holiday Festivities for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day

Melissa Lopez and Matthew Basil; second place, Ryan Rodriguez; and third place, Shannon Junco.

For fifth grade: first place, Jimmy Smith; second place, Bayley Cook; and third place, Andrew Shapiro.

Bova is at the intersection of Milan, New York, London & South Beach... Nuovo Classico Dining with a Modern Twist...

Bova is hot, and we mean hot: beautiful people, outstanding cuisine, vibrant venue, gorgeous decor and amazing atmosphere. It’s the “in” place to go for award-winning food and decadent ambiance… Definitely a new dining sanctuary that will impress.

Tony and Laurie Bova are the brains behind Bova Ristorante, a 250-seat, 7,500-square-foot, $5.5 million restaurant/bar/lounge located on Federal Highway just north of Glades Road in Boca Raton. Serving contemporary upscale Italian cuisine described as “Nuovo Classico,” the venue is a frequent hotspot for networking professionals with chance celebrity encounters. The interior design and décor are straight out of a magazine — ultramodern and chic!

The menu is exquisite thanks to Executive Chef Peter Masiello, who brings years of experience to Bova. He has trained with Italy’s most well regarded restaurants including La Capannina, Dal Pescatore and Enoteca Pinchiorri. He has also served as chef at New York’s highest rated Italian restaurant, San Domenico, and now he is here for your enjoyment!

Chef Masiello’s philosophy is to provide discriminating diners with the freshest ingredients. He handpicks tomatoes and herbs fresh from his private all-organic Bova garden on site, which accounts for the purity of taste for which the venue has become quite famous. This boils down to quality fresh ingredients with simplicity of design. Masiello also chooses only the finest of cuts of meats for his dishes, with organic Angus beef dry-aged, and seafood handselected. Dover sole is purchased fresh, a rarity for the area, and specialty seafood is also flown in internationally, and only first quality is utilized. This attention to detail is evident every time their food crosses your lips, and your mouth explodes with a delicious combi-

The Phantoms visit BOVA RISTORANTE

nation of flavors, from your first to your last bite!

We were so impressed on our first visit and could not believe it was so good… So we returned a week later, and it’s now our new favorite eatery. The food, the service, the patrons and the buzz is like nothing else in South Florida. Actually, we need to go back every week and write one article after another to describe the amazing offerings on their menu like gourmet pizza, fresh elegantly composed salads, handmade/homemade pasta and risotto, seafood, steaks and chops, and also signature specialties of the evening. There are lots of interesting appetizers like grilled octopus, crab cakes, clams and mussels in white wine sauce, eggplant parmigiana gratin, carpaccio of beef tenderloin, baby artichokes, bruschetta four ways and sea scallops with braised short ribs.

Joe is in heaven when he can order his three favorite items: Caesar salad, gnocchi and Dover sole. The Caesar Classico Nuovo ($10) had delicious crispy hearts of romaine, roasted pepper bruschetta took this starter up a notch or two, and shaved reggiano cheese tossed in the most perfect dressing. The gnocchi di ricotta ($21) infused with buffalo mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes (the Cadillac of tomatoes) was incredible, so regardless of how many times we visit Bova, we will always order this dish. Tender Dover sole lobster meuniere ($38) was excellent, served tableside, each bite tantalizing fresh with unending flavors, a true masterpiece of the culinary arts.

Kathryn opted to start with the Napa Valley watercress salad ($14) with organic arugula, fresh berries, goat cheese, roasted hazelnuts tossed with infused vanilla olive oil, a very flavorful combination. We just had to try the baked clams appetizer ($16), an impressive version for sure... and highly recommended. Lobster Francese ($45) is where lobster meets its master: an incredible asparagus risotto, topped with jumbo lump crab and sautéed in a light lemon sauce to connect the flavors to maximum satisfaction. Wow, this was outstanding. On our second visit we ordered chicken cutlets ($25), which are offered four ways: insalata mista, hot and sweet peppers, parmigiana with penne alla vodka, or with pan-braised broccoli rapini. If you like

Other unique selections were the Chilean sea bass, lemon sole oreganata, Kobe New York strip steak, veal chop, lamb chops, rotisserie duck served with butternut squash, braised short ribs, crab-crusted Alaskan halibut, jumbo shrimp tempura with lobster risotto, sea scallops with creamy asparagus arborio risotto, spaghetti and clams… and the list goes on.

There are 12 mouthwatering desserts from which to choose, and the leader of the pack an irresistible chocolate soufflé ($12) served warm with vanilla, chocolate and raspberry crème. The rest of these homemade treats tie for a very close second, including apple crostata, classic Napoleon, crème brulee, chocolate mousse “Italiano” with whipped mascarpone cream, profiteroles gelato, and the lushest, creamiest gelato ($10) with Italian abruzzi style crispy wafers… and of course all of the above go down smoothly with a great cappuccino.

Bova hosts happy hour every weekday from 4 to 7 p.m. and is known as the place to “dine

and be seen” — especially on Thursday High Society Nights when all the beautiful single people gather! Bova is also a hotspot for celebrity sightings like Adam Sandler, Andy Roddick, Natalie Cole and CNBC’s Donny Deutsch — all whom have been spotted dining over the past year.

So if you’re looking for one of the best restaurants on this planet, head to Bova for a power lunch, express or leisurely with a $21.95 prix-fixe three-courser five days a week, or for dinner seven nights. For further information, call (561) 362-7407… and please tell them that Joe & Kathryn, the Phantoms, highly recommended you call. Check their web site at www.bovaristorante.com for their fantastic menu.

Joe & Kathryn, the Phantoms, are featured writers for the Town-Crier newspapers and Seabreeze Publications. Comments and recommendations are welcome. Please e-mail thephantomdiners@aol.com or call (561) 3094406.

chicken, these moist treats were impressive.

Memorial Royal Palm Ceremony

continued from page 1A genuity produced the Garand, the best rifle up to that time. We worked on a 24/7 basis to prepare. Over a million men volunteered within a week of Pearl Harbor.”

Kramer described how the Americans in 1944 rebuilt the bridge at Carentan in France four times as the Germans kept knocking it down. He spoke of riding the “Red Ball Express” that delivered gasoline to Gen. George Patton to beat back the enemy at the Battle of the Bulge.

“If we had lost, I’d be speaking German here. Out in California, they’d be speaking Japanese,” he said. “Imagine Arnold Schwartzenegger speaking Japanese.”

Mayor David Lodwick warned of a current tendency to blow things out of proportion. “We see events of the war live, and we become desensitized,” he said. “We now don’t have weathermen on television; we have ‘severe weather experts.’ When we get a bit of rain,

it’s no longer rain but ‘severe weather.’ We have to learn to keep things in perspective.”

Lodwick described his recent meeting with three British helicopter pilots. “They spoke about how much they like America because we treat our soldiers so well,” he said. “We’ve learned that in the last 30 years.”

Lodwick said he had met the previous day with Sergeant First Class Steven Holloway, who came back from Iraq in a wheelchair. “He finished his tour in Iraq but went back because he had left men in his command behind and felt responsible,”

Lodwick said. “He is the kind of leader we need in the country. He made and makes a difference.”

Lodwick ended his speech by thanking the audience for spending some time on a Monday holiday to make it more than a day off, to remember those who sacrificed.

Boy Scouts from troops 120 and 111 laid a wreath at the monument in Veterans Park, members of the American Legion fired a rifle salute, and the ceremony ended with the playing of “Taps.”

American Legion Post 367 offers a gun salute.

American Legion Post 367 Commander Allen Rosen. Flo Nelson and Korean War veteran George Peltzmacher.

Vietnam War veteran Rafael Mendez takes time to reflect. Sandra Beck and Lauren Kett show their patriotic colors.

PHOTOS BY DENISE

Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor David Swift, Councilwoman Barbara Isenberg, Councilman Matty Mattioli, Mayor David Lodwick and Councilman Fred Pinto.

Members of the American Legion Post 367 Honor Guard.

Boy Scouts Terry Wolf and Andy Zapeta position a wreath.The crowd takes a moment of silence to remember those who died serving their country.

PALMS WEST

L LT’T’s Sport sSports Shop: Serving The Growing sShop:ServingTheGrowing Acreage Community

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Roy and Lori Morgan pride themselves on their community involvement. Roy Morgan is a firefighter/paramedic for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue at Station 25 in Wellington. He’s also a former board member of the Acreage Landowners’ Association. Lori Morgan over the years has been involved in coaching cheerleaders and has designed and silkscreened uniforms for teams in The Acreage.

Now the dynamic duo, who cofounded the ALA’s annual Huck Finn Family Day, are embarking on a new endeavor — owning and operating LT’s Sports Shop in the Grove (Winn-Dixie) Marketplace on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. The 1,200-square-foot store, within shouting distance of Seminole Ridge High School, features a plethora of sporting goods supplies. It has been open a month.

“Lori has been making T-shirts for travel leagues and cheerleading uniforms the past ten years. This is just kind of an expansion of that,” Roy explained. “Having a sporting goods store in this area is something we’ve seen as a necessity.”

The Morgans, who live in Royal Ascot Estates, worked for the better part of the past six months to get the store ready for the onslaught of athletes of all ages.

“We’re trying to serve every sport, from football, volleyball, baseball, soc-

cer, softball, lacrosse and basketball,” Lori said.

The Morgans also offer athletic apparel from such well-known companies as Under Armour and Badger, and the equipment they offer includes batting cages and pitching machines.

“We do a full line of equipment,” Roy said. “We’re working now with some of the local schools to get football pads and things like that. We’ve got a lot of inventory and many items that are still on order.”

The store’s customer base, according to Roy, stretches to Glades Day School and Glades Central High School in Belle Glade.

“Slowly the word is getting out that we’re here,” Lori said. “And we’re trying to be competitive. We’re trying to provide a service for our community.”

And it’s a community the Morgans know is still growing, meaning their customer base will grow along with it.

“Although the county commission knocked down the 10,000 proposed homes [at Callery-Judge Grove], we know [General Manager] Nat Roberts is going to go ahead with what the state approved, which is something like 4,000 homes,” Roy said. “And we know the growth potential out here. As stagnant as the market is now, it isn’t going to last forever.”

The Morgans speak from experience. They’ve lived in the Acreage/ Loxahatchee area more than 20 years.

Lori pointed out the store’s front door

toward Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

“That road used to be a dirt road,” she said. “The whole area has grown tremendously. So we know it’s going to continue.”

The Morgans are also well aware of the role sports play in the community.

“There are a lot of young families in this community whose kids are going to play sports,” Roy said. “They might not be able to fly to Paris or take a trip to Hawaii, but they’re going to play sports.

There’s a lot of good athletic talent in the area.”

And now those athletes have a store they can call their own.

LT’s Sports Shop is located at 5042 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Store hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday from 1 to 6 p.m. On Saturday, the store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (561) 4220041.

LT’s Sports Shop — Owners Lori and Roy Morgan inside their new store.

Internet Marketing The Focus At Wellington Chamber Luncheon

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

The Internet is an advertising and marketing tool with a reach and depth far beyond that of a telephone directory or other “old media” products, representatives of Sales Automation Group (SAG) told members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday.

Representatives from the Wellington-based SAG, the featured speakers at the chamber’s monthly member luncheon held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, assists firms in developing short-term selling and long-term marketing strategies

through local business web sites. SAG’s message, presented by sales vice president Clayton Pitts and sales consultant Frank Pennea, was based on the recently published book Web Success by Design, authored by SAG President David Field.

Pitts and Pennea urged chamber members to use a business web site to target specific customer demographics and create a site that is easy to navigate in a relatively short amount of time.

Pitts said a business web site must focus on its customers’ needs and convey a precise message. “You have to keep your message clean and keep going with it,” he said.

Search engines such as Google, AOL, MSN and Yahoo now list local and regional business sites that Pitts said are attracting customers. “People are going instinctively to the Internet now for local and regional information,” he said.

Pitts told chamber members that a primary function of a business web site is to “qualify” customers for their specific service. A potential customer can learn more about a business from the web site than from an ad in the yellow pages, he said. “It’s quality of content that will win them over,” Pitts said.

For more information on the Sales Automation Group, call (877) 984-9111 or visit www. salesautomationgroup.com.

For more information about the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, call (561) 792-6525 or visit www.wellington chamber.com.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce President Darrel Bowen (center) flanked by Membership Director Susan Turturici and Executive Director Michela Perillo-Green.

Members Susan Odell of Shaklee by Odell and Cynthia Frisby of the Little Clinic.

Chamber members Laura Jaffe of the Jaffe Reality Group, Above and Beyond Party Décor Co. creative director Andrea Plevin and Bruster’s Ice Cream owner Joan Smith.

Sales Automation Group sales consultant Frank Pennea (left) and vice president Clayton Pitts (right) give their presentation.

PHOTOS BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

PREVIEW PARTY WELCOMES BONEFISH GRILL TO WOODS WALK

On Saturday, May 26, Bonefish Grill hosted a preview party at its new location at 9897 Lake Worth Road, in the Woods Walk shopping center at the corner of State Road 7 and Lake Worth Road. Present at the event were representatives from the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches, which received part of the evening’s proceeds. Bonefish Grill plans to open soon. To make reservations, call (561) 965-2663. For more information about the restaurant, visit www. bonefishgrill.com.

Tamara Gerber, Manuel Bornia and Kathy Maieux of the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches.

Jill and John Merrell. Bonefish Grill Manager Joe Rotell with his family.

Volunteer coordinator Bonnie Gabowitz at the front door.Bonefish Grill employees ready to greet customers.

Scott Armand says hi to Keith and Lois Jordano.

P.W. CHAMBER HOSTS MEMBERSHIP MIXER AT GYPSY’S HORSE

On Wednesday, May 23, the Palms West Chamber of Commerce hosted a business afterhours mixer at the Gypsy’s Horse restaurant in the original Wellington Mall. In celebration of chamber ambassador Scott Armand’s birthday, chamber members took to the stage to sing “Happy Birthday,” and Armand was served a birthday cake. For more information about the chamber, call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com.

Chamber members sing “Happy Birthday” to Scott Armand.

Steve and Sandy Axelrod with Donna Flynn.

Julie Tannehill and Fred GordonJessica Delgado, Jennifer Patten and Adriane Anderson.

Eric Gordon and Terri Wescott.

Mary and Scott Armand.

PHOTOS BY LISA KEENEY/TOWN-CRIER

Bloom Named Small Business Person Of The Year

Jane Bloom, Wellington resident and president and CEO of Ink & Toner USA, an ink and toner discount retail store based in West Palm Beach, is the winner of the Small Business Person of the Year award presented by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Jane has been extremely active in both community service

and business groups through the years. She dedicates time to volunteer her services to a variety of organizations including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Cancer Society and the Dreyfoos School of the Arts.

Since launching Ink & Toner USA in April 2004 with her husband Bob, the company

has grown to be among the most successful stores of its kind in the United States. The company also offers a training program to teach other independent ink and cartridge store owners how to run profitable stores.

To learn more about this program or Ink & Toner USA, visit www.inkandtonerusa.com.

Money For Charity — On Sunday, May 6, Pizzazz Hair Design locations in Wellington, West Palm Beach and Jupiter joined the non-profit organization b-cause to take part in Make a Change Day, a national fundraising effort by salons to raise money for charitable organizations. Together, the three salons raised more than $4,000. To schedule an appointment at Pizzazz Hair Design’s Kobosko’s Crossing location, call (561) 793-7373. For more information, visit www.pizzazzhair.com. Pictured here are (L-R) Peter Fuster, Beck Kruithoff, Dawn Zoellner and Dennis Marquez.

Next PROCER Event June 14

The Puerto Rican Organization for Cultural Enhancement and Reaffirmation (PROCER) will host its monthly business and social networking event on Thursday, June 14 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Palm Beach Place (1780 Windorah Way, off Okeechobee Blvd. between Jog Road and State Road 7). The special guest for the evening will be News Channel 25 meteorologist Felicia Rodriguez, who will talk about the upcoming hurricane season. There will be free drinks and hors d’oeuvres, as well as plenty of dancing. Music will be provided by the Fiesta de Pueblo Radio Show on 1190 AM and DJ Alex Wepa. Admission is $5. Part of the proceeds will be donated to PROCER for the implementation and development of artistic programs for youth. Table exhibitions are available by

calling PROCER at (561) 8896527 or (954) 806-1550. Visit www.proceres.org for info.

National City Points Program

The Florida branches of National City recently launched a bank rewards program called Points from National City.

The program rewards consumers and small business customers with points for everyday transactions — making purchases with debit and credit cards, paying bills online, writing checks and even improving your home or small business through purchases with a home equity or small business line of credit access card.

Points are redeemable for a wide range of rewards that cater to the diverse needs and interests of consumers and small businesses, including gift cards from leading retailers and res-

taurants, office supplies, travel packages and consumer electronics. For more information, visit www.nationalcity.com/points or call (866) NCB-points.

Kids’ Cooking Lessons In RPB

Starting June 5, Chef Chris Paul of Wild Orchids Café in Royal Palm Beach will offer cooking lessons for children ages six through ten on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon for a total of eight classes. Kids will get to eat the lunch they prepare. The cost is $130 plus a $30 supply fee for the parents’ dinner. Kids will carry home a chef’s hat, apron, recipe book and other souvenirs. Wild Orchids Café is located in RPB Veterans Park at the corner of Sparrow Drive and Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more info., call (561) 204-5640.

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

Pizzazz Raises

‘Mr. Food’ At

Taste Of The West June 7

Art Ginsburg — the jovial, all-American kitchen sweetheart known as “Mr. Food” — will make a personal appearance at the Palms West Chamber of Commerce’s Tenth Annual Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers’ Festival at the South Florida Fairgrounds on Thursday, June 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Hugely popular and beloved by millions, Mr. Food is an original. He was the first TV chef to promote practical, anybody-can-do-it cooking and food preparation solutions, and, after more than 25 years of sharing his unique brand of quick and easy food tips and recipes with viewers across the country, Mr. Food continues to find fresh ideas for cooking up fun in the kitchen. He will be on hand to do book signings.

More than 30 member restaurants and

caterers will offer samples of their fare, with more than 25 business exhibitors displaying their products and services. The Chocolate Lovers’ Festival will feature delectable chocolate samplings, with the People’s Choice trophy being awarded to the best chocolate dessert determined by the attending public.

Presented by National City and produced by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, this popular food tasting and business expo is open to the public from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is $10 per person, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Palm Beach Habilitation Center.

For more information about the Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers’ Festival, visit www.palmswest.com or call (561) 790-6200.

PALMS WEST CHAMBER HOSTS RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONIES

ASK Helping Hands — The Palms West Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting at ASK Helping Hands. Located at 130-A Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach, ASK is a non-medical homecare services provider offering a broad spectrum of homemaker and companion services. For more info., call (561) 792-9779. Pictured here are ASK staff members with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Picasso’s Playhouse — Located at 9120 Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington, Picasso’s Playhouse is a pottery art studio where “you are the artist.” For more info., call Jackie Aufiero at (561) 296-0488 or visit www. picassoplayhouse.com. Shown here is Aufiero with chamber ambassadors.

MR. FOOD NO-FUSS MEALS IN WELLINGTON HOSTS OPEN HOUSE

Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals held an open house on Wednesday, May 23 at their location at the Pointe in Wellington Green. Owner Amy Steinhauser’s goal was to acquaint guests with her store’s unique service. Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals allows patrons to create their own meals in one of its no-fuss sessions from a menu that changes monthly. Guests were treated to samples of May menu items such as Ravioli alla Vodka, as well as Five Star Chicken Divan and wine. A few lucky people won a chance to assemble their meals right away. For more info., call (561) 333-4044 or visit www.nofussmeals.com.

Barry and Barbara Caprioni share a bite of yellow rice.

Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals employee David Goy helps Maria Hall sign up for the chance to win a free meal.Brenda Browning (right) gives Elisa Whitehall instructions.

Toni May and daughter Emily assemble a meal together.

Ashley Heckler won a free meal; here she is preparing Chunky Chicken and Dumplings.

Jaime Jones makes some Touchdown Meatball Subs.

Little Clinic Grand Opening This Friday

Publix supermarket in the Courtyard Shops in Wellington will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 1 to celebrate the grand opening of the Little Clinic, which is opening inside the store.

The Little Clinic, a healthcare services company that manages walk-in clinics placed inside retail locations, brings a new level of convenience to family healthcare needs right inside Wellington’s Publix supermarket. With a focus on treating minor illnesses that do not require complicated intervention (such as fevers, earaches, sore throat and rashes), the Little Clinic complements your family doctor when you’re pressed for time or need attention after hours, particularly when a visit to the emergency room is not warranted.

The Little Clinic healthcare centers will be staffed by advanced registered nurse practitioners who can write prescriptions, provide diagnosis and treatment of common ailments and minor injuries, and offer wellness care such as physicals, screenings and vaccinations. In keeping with Publix’s customer service standards, the Little Clinic will add a personal touch by providing computerized patient history and facilitate referrals to primary care doctors, urgent care centers or hospitals when needed.

Open seven days a week, the Little Clinic will provide healthcare services to customers 12 months or older at an affordable fee, with most services under $60.

In addition, the Little Clinic accepts some major health insurance plans including Medicare. Appointments are not necessary.

The ribbon cutting and open house will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Courtyard Shops shopping center is located at the intersection of Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Blvd. For more information about the Little Clinic, visit www.littleclinic.com.

Advice For Saving Money On Weddings

More than 700,000 couples are expected to tie the knot this summer, spending an average of $27,000 for each wedding. Some will incur overwhelming debt to cover the costs of engagement and wedding rings, bridal gown, flowers, catering and more — and will spend years trying to pay down that debt. In fact, if you charge just $10,000 on a credit card with an 18 percent interest rate and make only minimum monthly payments, you will spend 31 years paying for your wedding and will pay more than $14,000 in interest.

“Having a dream wedding can result in a financial nightmare for couples who spend more than they can realistically afford,” said Jessica Cecere, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast (CCCS). “The financial strain can take a toll on the best of relationships, and can significantly reduce the chances of a successful marriage.”

CCCS offers tips to help couples plan a wedding without going broke:

• Create a wedding budget — Decide up front how much you

can afford to spend on your wedding without using credit cards to finance the big day. Discuss how much each family will contribute, and how much you and your fiancée can contribute. When creating your budget for things like flowers, photography, music and the reception, make sure your total does not exceed what you have to spend.

• Use a budget worksheet to outline all your anticipated expenses — A great worksheet can be found at www.eventageous. com on the resources page. They also have a great checklist for weddings that can be useful in your wedding planning. Be sure to factor the cost of engagement and wedding rings and your honeymoon into your budget, as these can add substantially to your expenses.

• Prioritize — A great way to reduce wedding costs is to prioritize those things that are most important to you. Perhaps it is a certain dress or reception site,

or maybe you have your heart set on a particular band. These are the items you should plan for first when developing your budget. Next, consider items that are less important to you and might be a place to reduce expenses.

• Limit the guest list — Invite the people you truly want to share in your special day. Immediate family and your closest friends will share your joy and help you stay on budget.

• Shop smart for your wedding gown — Check out Internet sites for deals on wedding gowns. Also contact local bridal shops to see when they have sample sales — you might find exactly the dress you are looking for at just a fraction of the regular price. Buying off the rack can also save money. A dress that is a little too big can easily be altered to fit.

• Avoid peak wedding times — June, August and September tend to be the most popular wedding months, making wed-

ding and reception venues more costly than off-peak times. You might be able to negotiate better rates in January, when fewer weddings are performed. Also consider weeknights and Sundays, as there is less demand for these days. Off-peak weddings can also mean travel and lodging discounts for your honeymoon.

• To buffet or not to buffet — Explore your options with the caterer to provide a delicious meal within your budget. Consider a buffet instead of a sitdown dinner; you may be able to offer more options to your guests at less of a cost. If you are serving wedding cake, you can also forego other costly dessert options.

• Get creative — You can trim lots of money from your wedding budget by making things yourself. Invitations, centerpieces and wedding favors can all add up. Minimize these costs by making your own. There are some great ideas at www.

superweddings.com and www. allweddingideas.com. You can also reduce the cost of decorations at your wedding venue by selecting a date close to a holiday where the site might already be decorated.

• Plan the perfect honeymoon — Shopping around and making plans early are key to saving money on your honeymoon. Whether you want a relaxing visit at a spa or an adventure-filled trip overseas, there are lots of ways to save. A few tips include working with a travel agent, staying close to home, using membership rewards or frequent flier points and booking hotels online. For more cost-saving honeymoon tips and ideas for the perfect honeymoon destination, visit www.theknot.com.

CCCS has offices in the Community Foundation Building at 700 South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. For more info., visit www.cccsinc.org or call (800) 330-CCCS. • Free giveaways and prizes

Refreshments and old-time treats

Fun for everyone Plus, enter the sweepstakes* for your chance to win one of these great prizes: – Sony Bravia Home Theater System with 40" Flat Panel LCD HDTV – Canon Powershot 7.1 Megapixel Digital Camera – Plus,

It’s The Time Of The Year When Weathermen Try To Scare Us

It’s the time of the year for my annual rant about the local TV weathermen, TV news, radio and other local media.

The “season” starts this week, but if you’ve been listening to the local TV stations and reading the regional print media for the last couple of months, you already know what season I’m talking about. It’s hurricane season.

As they do every year, the media have been scaring us well before April about the terrible hurricane season that we’ll have this year. They do it every year. They make everyone’s blood pressure go sky-high (me included). I had my blood pressure checked yesterday and it hasn’t been this high since the last hurricane season. I should send them the bill for my medication. I wonder if they cause any deaths through their reporting. They have been telling us what the so-called hurricane experts are telling us to expect this season. They keep telling us how bad it will be. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t all of these so-called hurricane experts say the very same thing about last year’s hurricane season?

When last season turned out to be a mild one as far as hurricanes go, they covered their tracks by saying an unexpected El Niño appeared out of nowhere and kept the U.S. hurricane-free.

Wondering And Wandering

With Ernie Zimmerman

The so-called experts are telling us the difference between this year and last year is La Niña (not to be confused with El Niño). What is La Niña, you ask? According to the “experts,” La Niña is a weather pattern caused by colder-than-normal water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean (so much for global warming). When its conditions are combined with the long-term pattern of active hurricane conditions, it can result in the number of hurricanes that the “experts” are predicting.

Even the ads for hurricane shutters that I have been hearing on some radio stations are trying their best to scare the heck out of us. All the ads start the same way: “don’t be fooled by last year.”

Well, you know what? I wasn’t fooled by last year. We more than paid our dues in prior years. So I con-

sider last year a blessing. Of course we did have my namesake, Tropical Storm Ernesto. But Ernesto turned out to be just the kind of storm I like. I hope, if we do get storms this year, that they all turn out to be just like Ernesto was last year.

I know the local TV stations and their overcrowded weather departments would love to report on a major storm in our area. Every day with big smiles on their faces these folks keep reminding us what a terrible hurricane season we are in for (and they wonder why their ratings keep going down). Don’t they understand that everyone over age ten living in Florida knows when the hurricane season begins and how to prepare for it?

I for one am tired of being talked down to by these folks. I am not in the first grade; haven’t been there for a long time. Will some one please tell this to the weather folks? Enough is enough, just report the weather. We have enough reality shows on TV. Stop making the weather forecast one more reality show.

I know what NOAA and the other so-called experts are telling us to expect this hurricane season: 13 to 17 named storms. Ten hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes. I just don’t need a daily reminder of their predictions from the local media. Whatever happened to just the facts? Where is Joe Friday when you need him?

Despite The Drought, Flowering Trees Are Putting On A Show

Dry conditions have certainly affected many landscapes, and not in a positive way. But one group of trees seemingly unaffected by our current weather conditions are flowering trees. Depending on the type, you can have different tropical flowering trees in bloom throughout most of the year, but the summertime is when many of our more spectacular varieties put on their show.

A favorite among local gardeners is the royal poinciana. A big tree, the royal poinciana is impractical for small spaces, but in large open areas it makes quite a statement. At maturity it can reach up to 70 feet tall and 100 feet wide, and if unpruned, it will have a weeping habit of growth with branches extending to the ground like a giant skirt. The flowers

are two and a half or three inches wide and various shades of red, orange or even yellow. Most royal poincianas begin blooming in April or early May and will reach their peak in the first week of June, with flowering continuing through the summer. These fast-growing trees can gain eight or ten feet in a single season. Another tree in bloom this time of year is the cassia, which has bright clusters of yellow flowers and attracts large numbers of butterflies. Cassias exist in many different types ranging from bushes to large trees, and have a blooming season that varies from spring through late fall or early winter depending on the type. Most cassias used in landscaping reach no more than 35 feet at maturity, and some can be kept as large shrubs with

regular pruning. There may be 20 or more individual blooms clustered together, giving the tree a very beautiful effect when in full bloom.

Native flowering trees are putting on a show too, and the Geiger tree from the Keys produces clusters of tangerine-colored, inch-long, tunnel-shaped blooms through most of the year, but especially in the spring and summer months. Trees are small at maturity, often 25 feet or less. Our native southern magnolia is also blooming this time of year with showy white flowers six to ten inches across. They will continue blooming through the rest of the summer months. Some of the orchid trees are summer bloomers, and the red orchid tree in particular blooms from late spring all the way to

Gardening With Gene

By Gene Joyner

Extension Agent

late fall. The tree produces two-inch reddish flowers in showy clusters and the plant will stay below 20 feet with ease.

To see examples of flowering trees, visit the Mounts Botanical Garden at 531 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach. Get free information on flowering trees from the Palm Beach County Extension office at (561) 233-1750.

Palm Beach County

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2.72 AC PORT MAYACA — 3/2 home

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