is Florida’s first office building of its kind — a 33,000-grosssquare-foot, four-story structure incorporating natural “living” systems and “green” technologies. Page 21
Spor ts
Tales From The Trails: Equestrian Column
Debuts This Week
Writer Ellen Rosenberg’s new equestrian-themed column “Tales from the Trails” debuts this week with the story of Acreage horse lover and artist Tia Lurie. Page 27
Business
O’Dell Focuses On
Equestrian Projects
At a time when many businesses in the industry are cutting back, the land development consulting firm of O’Dell Inc. in Wellington is expanding, having recently moved into a new, bigger office in the Wellington Business Center on Fairlane Farms Road. Page 33
SUGAR
TOURING THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
Dr. Vincent Apicella and his wife Mariaclara visited the Wellington Boys & Girls Club on Friday, June 20 for a tour led by several young “tour guides” who were taking part in programs offered at the South Shore Blvd. facility. The Apicellas are chairing the club’s 2008 Wellington fundraiser in December. Last year’s event raised more than $100,000. The club is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to build a new 21,000-square-foot clubhouse with a full-service gym and additional program space to serve growing demand in the area. For more information about the Wellington Boys & Girls Club, call (561) 7900343.
Changes Will Let Sunrise Build Taller, More Dense
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
The Wellington Village Council cleared the way Tuesday for its long-sought assisted-living facility, giving Sunrise Senior Living authority to builder taller and denser than the village would normally allow.
The council approved a comprehensive plan amendment that would allow congregate living facilities along State Road 7 to a maximum height of 72 feet instead of the village’s 35-foot height limit. The amendment would also allow a 25 percent “density bonus” for such facilities to encourage their development.
The change was requested by Sunrise, a nationwide senior housing development company that is purchasing 5.3 acres on the southwest corner of Pierson Road and State Road 7 from the village for an assisted-living facility.
Council members also welcomed plans by Sunrise to incorporate accommodations for adults with mental disabilities in its Wellington facility, which is primarily aimed at senior citizens.
Sunrise Real Estate Director Aimee Carlson said her company is proposing an 84-foot-tall, four-story “mansion” to house 110 senior residents either needing some help with their daily activities or with some signs of dementia.
“Secondly, as a part of our effort to expand our high quality of care, we are proposing a special-needs component on this site,” Carlson said. “There is a tremendous need for special needs in Wellington and in the surrounding area. We are proposing two special unit cottages. They will be two stories and house 16 units. The first cottage will be geared toward residents 21 years and older, and the second will be geared toward 40 years and older.”
Barbara Pope, Sunrise’s special-needs assisted living director said coaches would also live in the community to work with the special-needs young adults who cannot live entirely on their own.
“We now have one in 150 of young adults born with autism and autism-spectrum illness,” Pope said. “There are 11 million young adults over the age of 16 who need housing. This population is much like seniors 25 years ago. There are very few choices for these individuals.
Housing options for specialneeds are limited. There are long waiting lists and limited choices. We are taking the best of the group housing experience and staying at home, and creating the best of both worlds.”
Councilman Matt Willhite asked if Sunrise has specialneeds facilities elsewhere in the United States and if the people living in the group home would work and function well together.
“Absolutely,” Pope said. “We are proposing this as a part of a cooperative process. They will grow and support each other… We’re building one of these in Maryland where I live. I will be at every site as we staff it and open it. I will be on the road, and living here a part of the time.”
Both Willhite and Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore asked if the special-needs residents would be driving, and therefore have an impact on traffic. Pope said the facility would have a bus available, but few residents would be independent drivers.
“These are mostly individuals who can’t live totally by themselves, but with the support from their coaches, they can learn to be very independent,” she said.
Willhite also asked about the 72-foot height limitation in light of the four-story, 84-foot proposal. Village Manager Paul Schofield said approval would
not prevent Sunrise from asking for more height. “If you adopt this, they could come back and request something higher,” he said. “You are not limiting this by this transmittal.”
Mayor Darell Bowen said he liked the Sunrise plan. “I commend you for thinking outside the box,” he said. “I think there is a need for this type of facility. I think this is a great idea. I would like a motion.”
Priore made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Willhite. It passed 3-0. Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto did not vote due to her business links with Sunrise, and Councilman Bob Margolis was absent.
WETLAND PARK
Also Tuesday, Assistant Utilities Director Brian Gayoso invited council members to visit the Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, a new wetland park in the village on 28 acres near Village Park.
“I am here to remind everyone that the new Peaceful Waters Sanctuary is now ready and open,” Gayoso said. “It opened a month ago on the last day of the National Wetlands Month, on May 31.”
Gayoso said the park is ready to welcome visitors after several years of planning and months of construction.
“It started with 28 acres of utility property adjacent to Village Park,” he said. “With the council’s approval and vision, earthmovers were brought in, and the ground was shaped into what is today is a wetland habitat. A boardwalk was constructed, and thousands of native plants and both upland and aquatic plants were planted. Come out and visit the new sanctuary. Let the signs guide you over the boardwalks and walking trails. Bring your cameras and binoculars.”
Bowen suggested residents visit the park. “For all the folks
See COUNCIL, page 18
WRMC: We Want The K-Park Land
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
If the Village of Wellington is serious about giving away 60 acres of recreation land on State Road 7, Wellington Regional Medical Center wants a piece of the action.
WRMC CEO Kevin DiLallo floated a proposal this week to build a medical complex with offices and a medical school on the village’s K-Park property and asked the village to donate the site for that purpose.
The proposal, made in a letter dated Monday from DiLallo to Mayor Darell Bowen, was suggested as an alternative to a current offer by Palm Beach Community College to build a campus there.
“We’d like the entire 60 acres to develop a medical park,” DiLallo told the Town-Crier Thursday. “We would build medical office buildings and a medical school to incorporate in a medical park. We have affiliations with several medical schools that we would speak to.”
The medical school would need accreditation from the state, but the medical office buildings would not, he said.
The medical buildings would be constructed by the Rendina Companies, which has already built three 50,000-square-foot buildings on the existing WRMC campus at the northwest corner of State Road 7 and Forest Hill Blvd., DiLallo said.
The buildings house offices of a wide variety of specialties including internal medicine, cancer treatment, orthopedics and pediatrics.
DiLallo said the vision for the proposed campus would be to have medical buildings that complement a reputable medical school where physicians would also be part of the teaching staff.
“Given the proximity to the hospital, it would complement our services and our three existing residency programs,” DiLallo said.
WRMC currently has residency programs in family practice, internal medicine and dermatology.
“This is an alternative to what we’ve seen as proposed by the community college,” DiLallo said. “We would offer higherpaying jobs and a tax base that is not offered by the college. We believe this is a win-win proposition.”
The proposal drew mixed reactions from Wellington Village Council members Thursday. “I thought it was a joke to start with,” Bowen told the TownCrier
Bowen said building a medical school before a university might be putting the cart before the horse.
“We build our elementary schools first, then we build our middle schools, then our high schools,” he said. “The next step is we need a university. We can go on to graduate schools and graduate programs, but I’m not ready to jump over the college thing. I’m not looking at that site as just an economic benefit itself.”
Bowen said that while a college would bring economic benefits to the community, it would also bring a lot more. “It’s go-
ing to educate the 3,000 kids that are now traveling somewhere else to go to school,” he said. “It is going to provide all kinds of cultural opportunities for our community. It’s going to provide sports and other kinds of programming to our community. It’s going to have the opportunity of spawning other businesses here, some of which might be medically related.” Bowen suggested WRMC consider buying all or some of a vacant 130-acre site across SR 7 to the east of K-Park.
“I’m not willing to give any land to a for-profit organization,” Bowen said. “I am willing to help them with zoning. I’m willing to help them with maybe even some tax incentives if they can prove to me they’re going to bring enough jobs here to warrant it, but I’m not willing to donate a big chunk of land to a for-profit organization.” Councilman Matt Willhite told the Town-Crier he still favors saving the K-Park land for its original recreational purpose, but said the WRMC proposal should be given the same consideration as the PBCC proposal, especially if the village can’t develop a park there.
“If the village was willing to give property away, they [WRMC] would be interested also because it would reduce their cost of building such a facility,” he said. “They are already a large provider of jobs in the Village of Wellington, between them and that stuff that they’ve built through Rendina; I think it’s a viable option also.” Willhite noted that WRMC, as a for-profit entity, would pay impact fees and property tax while PBCC would be exempt. “That right there could be a huge benefit to the village,” he said. “They would also provide jobs, as many if not more than the college and have another industry in our area. Scripps is going to be built in Palm Beach Gardens. This could be a smaller version of Scripps, or it could work in collaboration with them. It’s another option. I don’t think it has any more or less merit than the community college.”
But Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore said he could not compare the medical center proposal to the community college proposal.
“I don’t know how it’s even reasonable for a for-profit organization to consider being rated equally to a non-profit,” he said. “The hospital is a forprofit hospital. Even though he’s saying it will provide education, that’s for interns and residents.”
Priore said the PBCC proposal would provide educational opportunities for all age groups from high school graduates to senior citizens.
“It’s not apples and apples; it’s apples and oranges,” he said. “If there was a paragraph that said they want to make an offer with a letter of intent that indicated they were willing to buy the land, then I’d say OK, we have a buyer and we have an organization that’s looking for us to donate the property. Let’s weigh them and see which one is going to bring the most to this community, but that’s not what we’ve got here.”
New Principal Looks Forward To Job At Landings
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Eric Paul, the incoming principal at Wellington Landings Middle School, is a familiar face to the Wellington community, The onetime assistant principal at Binks Forest Elementary School will replace longtime WLMS Principal Mario Crocetti, who is leaving the school after a decade to take the helm at Wellington High School. Paul, for the last four years the principal of Benoist Farms Elementary School, has spent the past few weeks packing up his old office to be ready for the start of his new assignment on July 1. “I am thrilled,” Paul said. “I
will miss the school here, and a lot of the kids here have done some really great things, but it’s time to go back.” Paul grew up in Davenport, Iowa and attended St. Ambrose University. After college he joined the U.S. Air Force and spent four years at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa as a computer systems operator. Afterward he went back to school at the nearby University of South Florida, where he got his degree in business education, followed by a master’s degree in special education and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Broward County. Paul’s first job with the Palm
Beach County School District was in 1992 at Spanish River High School as a teacher and a dean. “I worked in student services,” Paul recalled. “It was like being a teacher on assignment. I was basically working in the student services offices handling discipline and supervision. It’s a position you want if you want to get into administration. It’s a perfect place to learn the administrative aspects of the school.” Later, Paul served as an assistant principal at Royal Palm Beach High School before his three-year tour at Binks Forest. After many years of elementary school experience, Paul said he is looking forward both to working with older students and
to returning to Wellington, where many students and parents at Wellington Landings will recall him from his days at Binks Forest. One of them is his daughter Alexis, who will be entering seventh grade at WLMS.
“My daughter went to Binks, now she’s a student at Landings,” he said. “So, she’s going to get me back.” Paul, whose son Bryson currently attends Binks Forest, said his daughter was initially uneasy about her new principal. “She was a little hesitant at first, but she got some good feedback from her friends,” Paul said. “She’s fine with it. The nice
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Mark Pafford Takes State House Seat; Others Contested
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Seniors activist Mark Pafford, a Democrat, will enjoy a free ride to Tallahassee, automatically taking over the District 88 seat in the Florida House of Representatives from the term-limited Susan Bucher when no other candidates filed to run by the June 20 deadline.
However, Democratic candidate Joe Abruzzo received an eleventh-hour challenge from Republican Howard Coates in the race for the Wellingtonbased District 85, currently held by the retiring Shelley Vana.
In another local State House race, Democrats Rick Ford and Bryan Miller will face off in the Aug. 26 primary to decide who will challenge Republican incumbent Carl Domino in District 83, which includes the northern half of The Acreage.
DISTRICT 88
District 88 includes almost all of Royal Palm Beach along with large swaths of suburban West Palm Beach. A resident of West Palm Beach, Pafford has long sought a State House seat, losing the District 85 primary in 2002 to Vana. In 2006, he ran for the Palm Beach County Commission, losing to Jess Santamaria in the primary. Pafford said he has worked long and hard to gain a state representative position. “Since 2001, it has been something I’ve wanted to achieve,” he said. “I think I can be a good public servant.”
He said his lack of an opponent caught even him by surprise. “There was no way I could’ve have planned for this,” Pafford said. “I had planned to campaign through November, but now there’s more time to focus on the job at hand. In a way, it’s a blessing.”
District 88 is considered one of the most reliably Democratic districts in the state. Conservative radio talk show host Dick Farrel initially filed to run but later decided against it. An immediate issue in Tallahassee, Pafford said, is restructuring the tax system to make sure funding goes to appropriate entities. “Everybody is complaining about taxes not necessarily supporting desired services,” he said. “The cutbacks the state is feeling really have to do with an antiquated tax structure.”
As director of advocacy and public policy for the Area Agency on Aging, Pafford puts the welfare of the elderly first. “Many older and frail seniors are not able to eat or get a bath,” he said.
His other concerns include the environment, children’s welfare and people with disabilities.
DISTRICT 85
Republican Coates said he decided to run for District 85 to offer voters a choice rather than let Democrat Abruzzo win unopposed. He said he had not considered running for anything after losing a Wellington Village Council race to Matt Willhite in March, but many people suggested he consider District 85.
Coates said many things he campaigned for at the municipal level, such as clean and effective government, apply at the state level. Environmental issues would apply more than ever at the state level, he said.
Although a tough election year for Republicans is likely, Coates is asking voters to consider the individual candidates rather than party affiliation.
“From a nonpartisan standpoint, I’m a candidate that really is more center-of-the-aisle,” said Coates, who runs a Wellington-based law firm. “There are issues that resonate with Democrats and Republicans. I’m the type of person who is a consensus-builder. Where there has been a history of partisanship, I will work for this district.” Coates said his eleventh-hour declaration leaves him much organizing to do. “We are at the early stages,” he said. “Eventually things will get more crystallized.”
Although now facing an opponent, Abruzzo said he feels secure in his campaign, having garnered the endorsements recently of the Fraternal Order of Police, Police Benevolent Association and the Association of Builders and Contractors, adding to a long list including the retiring incumbent Vana and in-
cumbent District 27 State Sen. Dave Aronberg. “I feel that we are in a strong position to win the race between community support, organizational support and party support,” he said. Abruzzo said he is familiar with statewide issues including improving education, healthcare and the economy while providing relief to taxpayers. “I believe I am the candidate best fit to fight for our issues in Tallahassee,” he said. “I feel that I am the candidate in the position to win the race. We’ve been building a solid ground game.” DISTRICT 83 Ford, who lost to Domino in the last election by a small margin, said he wants to try again. “I’m tired of what’s going on in Tallahassee,” he said. “We in north county are not getting proactive representation.” Ford said he is also tired of a “one-party” legislature. “We need a balance,” he said. “Domino, with the exception of a couple of issues, has been a rubber stamp of the Republican majority,” favoring special interests such as insurance companies to the detriment of citizens.
A labor and employment lawyer for 30 years, Ford has not held public office. His civic activities include advocating single-payer healthcare for Floridians and work for Hope House of the Palm Beaches. Ford characterized Miller as an intelligent young man lacking the life experience to make the judgment calls necessary in the legislature.
Miller has not run for public office before, but has been active in Democratic politics. The 32-year-old said he has strong backing and support in the community and a desire for real change in Tallahassee. He said he has garnered support through many years’ involvement in politics, including work for the 1996 Bill Clinton campaign and Al Gore’s unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2000.
A business attorney at Gunster Yoakley, he is also founder of the Democratic Professionals Council, one of the largest Democratic groups in Florida.
A Jupiter resident, he has been married ten years and has two daughters, age five and two. Domino said either of his opponents could pose a serious challenge. “Ford’s got a lot of grassroots support, but Miller has a lot of money,” he said. As of May, Miller had raised $115,258 to Ford’s $8,786, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Domino had raised $88,494.
Domino has the incumbent’s advantage and said he feels he has done “beyond a good job” in Tallahassee, most notably on his signature issue of homestead portability, which was voted into law as part of last January’s tax reform amendment.
Domino also noted that he headed a task force that got the state’s faltering local government investment pool back on track after a large number of public agencies took out funds. He also sponsored an emergency dispatch bill and headed the Legislative Audit Committee. “I’ve worked on lowering taxes and made sure money was spent effectively,” he said.
Domino said he is concerned about the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan because the state has paid its share but the federal government has not. He is also concerned about predictions that state revenues could fall yet again next year. If the 64-year-old wins, it will be his fourth and final term. It is the only office he has ever held. Domino owns a Palm Beach investment management firm and lives in Jupiter with his wife and eight-year-old twins.
‘I’m the type of person who is a consensusbuilder. Where there has been a history of partisanship, I will work for this district.’ — Howard Coates
Mark Pafford
County Official: Roebuck Road Project Still Alive And Well
By Paul Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report
County officials told leaders of the western communities gathered Wednesday in Loxahatchee Groves that plans to extend Roebuck Road west to State Road 7 are alive and well.
In a 20-minute presentation to the Western Communities Council, a collective of elected and appointed local officials, Palm Beach County Roadway Productions Department Director Omelio Fernandez said the money and the will for the project are still both in place.
“The good news is, despite efforts by some to derail the process, the funds are still there, and the [Palm Beach County] Commission reaffirmed its position,” Fernandez said, referring to a commission vote last week to retain the project in county road plans.
Proponents of the extension say the region needs another east-west thoroughfare to the western communities to help reduce gridlock on Okeechobee Blvd. The current traffic flow is 68,000 vehicles a day, beyond the capacity it is designed to hold, Fernandez said.
“The capacity of a six-lane road is 49,200, and eight lanes is 63,800,” Fernandez said. “Okeechobee is not sufficient, and it would be overcapacity at eight lanes. This is obviously needed.”
The Roebuck Road proposal would connect the under-construction northward extension of
State Road 7 to Jog Road, and would follow the northern border of three communities along Okeechobee Blvd. — Baywinds, Andros Isle and Riverwalk.
Fernandez said the extension is planned as a four-lane roadway with a four-foot-wide bike path on the south side and an eight-foot-wide walkway on the north side. The southern side of the extension would also include a ten-foot-tall berm and hedge along Baywinds, while both Andros Isle and Riverwalk would be anywhere between 335 and 1,000 feet from the roadway, with the exception of one stretch of Andros Isle that would be 90 feet away.
West Palm Beach agreed to the extension in 1994 in order to win development approval for the three communities, but residents of those developments are, together with the city, the extension’s most vocal opponents.
“The communities were not there when this was originally planned, but they’re there now,” Fernandez said. “They may not want the road, but the road is needed. We have $9.5 million for three years for mitigation and design, and construction is [scheduled from] 2012 to 2014.”
Western Communities Council Chair Michelle Damone, representing the Indian Trail Improvement District, said her concern is that Roebuck Road alone will not relieve area transportation problems, and urged the
county to commit to the extension of State Road 7 to Northlake Blvd. to help ease congestion. The county is currently working to extend SR 7 only as far as 60th Street North.
“It only works if State Road 7 connects to Northlake Blvd. and another connector road is built,” Damone said. “I am aggravated looking at that right now. I take this personally because without another reliever road, this doesn’t help my community.”
While the Village of Royal Palm Beach supports the SR 7 extension, village officials have said they will not allow a planned connection to the roadway at Madrid Street in the La Mancha neighborhood.
Damone said Royal Palm Beach once joined ITID in calls for the SR 7 extension because it sought relief for the intersection of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards, but after several years of heavy development on SR 7, the village is now only focused on Roebuck Road.
Damone warned that ITID might not support the Roebuck extension without more cooperation on getting SR 7 to Northlake Blvd. “We still need that commitment and that push to get the reliever road to Northlake,” she said. “If I have that, I’d be more supportive of Roebuck. But without that push or funding, I doubt my board of supervisors will be supportive. I can almost guarantee that.”
Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster, a proponent of the Roebuck Road extension, agreed with Damone that only one extension would not solve traffic woes in the western communities and that “it will take multiple solutions” to provide the best traffic relief possible.
Still, the Roebuck Road extension already has funding available, Webster noted. “At this point, the impact fees were collected for this, it is on the [county’s] five-year [road] plan,” she said.
RPB: Senior Services Now At Cultural Center
Beginning July 1, all senior programs and activities offer by the Village of Royal Palm Beach will be available at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center.
Senior activities are open to any adult ages 50 and over looking to diversify their interests or meet others with similar interests. The village invites residents to check into the wide variety of activities and programs being
Future Roadway — Palm Beach County Roadway Productions Department Director Omelio Fernandez in front of a map of the planned Roebuck Road extension at Wednesday’s meeting of the Western Communities Council. PHOTO BY PAUL
Celebrate Our Nation With A Happy — And Safe — Fourth Of July
Like most holidays in the United States, the Fourth of July is a two-part celebration — a time of festivity and reflection. We enjoy the day with fireworks and barbecues while remembering the actions of our forefathers, who risked their lives to create the “land of liberty” in which we live. However, like most patriotic holidays, the Fourth of July has been seen through a different prism since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. No longer is personal freedom the main ideal that defines the American character. Ever since the term homeland security entered the national lexicon, citizens and politicians alike have struggled to find the right balance of liberty and safety. That said, personal safety is an issue that is especially important on a day marked by fireworks and backyard grills.
There are many potentially hazardous situations that can occur on the Fourth of July, and not all of them involve fireworks — unattended grills can be even more dangerous than a package of firecrackers. Still, most of these situations do involve children. And while personal injury is the worst-case scenario, it’s only one of the ways in which unsupervised children can create problems on the Fourth of July. Here in the western communities, there is a lot of greenery — trees, landscaping and other large foliage make up a
Keep Manure Plant Away From Rustic Ranches
Unfortunately, I was out of town and unable to attend the Swerdlin-hosted meeting regarding Wellington Energy LLC last week. Since I was not at the meeting, I will not comment one way or the other about the concept of converting manure into electricity and siting such a plant in the Village of Wellington. What I will comment on is the Town-Crier’s statement of opinion: “Placing the facility somewhere along the western edge of the village would be best. No one wants that in their back yard.” Say what? I live in Rustic Ranches, which is a community along Flying Cow Road, along what most might think of as “the western edge of the village.” Apparently, Wellington Energy LLC sees a location along Flying Cow Road as one of the three promising locations for this plant. Well I can assure you that the residents of Rustic Ranches don’t want that in our back yard either! Since 99.9 percent of the animal waste will be generated by properties east of the C-1 Canal, let the facility be located east of the canal as well.
Rustic Ranchers have suffered enough “for the greater public good:”
1. We were lied to for 25 years by Palm Beach County who told us that then-unpaved Flying Cow Road was not a county road and could only be maintained once a month since it was being done “as a courtesy.” When it finally came time for Rustic Ranches residents to pay to pave the road in 2003, the records revealed that it had been a county road all along! Imagine that... 25 years of driving on the worst washboard road in the county and the excuse given for the lack of maintenance was that it wasn’t their road.
2. And then there is the South Florida Water Management District’s Stormwater Treatment Area which borders Rustic Ranches’ to the north and the west. This engineering marvel “for the greater public good” treats all the stormwater from [State Road 7] west before it enters the Everglades. For years leading up to the construction of this project, many of the Rustic Ranches folks told the engineering experts that this project was going to cause a problem for the wells in our community. The
experts insisted that would not happen, and of course it did, and Rustic Ranches residents drank and cooked with governmentsupplied bottled water for over a year until the SFWMD facilitated the connection of this community to the village’s water system to resolve the dilemma.
3. Then there was the widening of the C-1 Canal. After 25 years of driving on the worst washboard road in the county, Flying Cow Road was finally paved. Each Rustic Ranches property owner contributed nearly $3,000 for this 21st-century move into the 20th century. The road was paved with a cold asphalt product designed for light rural traffic. It was nice for a little while. Then a year or so later came Wellington’s widening of the C-1 Canal “for the greater public good” of addressing the village’s surface water quality issues. Along with it came the destruction of our brand new cold asphalt-paved road. Heavy equipment and trucks have destroyed it. Come take a drive on our patchwork with a full cup of hot coffee in your hand. You would never know this road was paved only five years ago. But don’t worry, the next project “for the greater public good” is going to fix it, by 2010!
4. Finally, is the Village of Wellington’s Section 24 project. Another project “for the greater public good” that will affect our community significantly. The village will be digging and dredging and tearing up Flying Cow Road with trucks and equipment until 2010! And then, maybe, we will get the roundabouts and speed bumps we now need to keep our neighborhood safe since the road we paid to pave has become quite the popular shortcut for truckers and commuters and equestrians (who didn’t pay to pave it) coming and going to southern Wellington. So the Town-Crier thinks it would be a good idea to site the plant along Flying Cow Road? “For the greater public good,” I suppose? No, I don’t think so. Not in my back yard! We have already contributed plenty, thank you. We are part of Wellington, too. Why do you think it is OK to put it in my neighborhood and not yours?
I was a strong proponent of Rustic Ranches’ voluntary annexation into the Village of Wellington. I am an active citizen and sit as an alternate on the village’s equestrian committee.
large part of our environment. Unless the recent bout of rainy weather continues through next week, all that vegetation is at risk once the private firework use begins. Another potential problem is vandalism. Accidents are one thing; intentionally damaging property is another thing entirely. And in both cases, adult supervision can make a big difference. Even when children aren’t trying to be mischievous, their lack of knowledge can cause the same results. A hypothetical though likely example is a youngster who fails to consider his neighbor’s horse before launching a 20-minute fireworks display; not only would this be detrimental to the horse, but it could cause quite a bit of friction between the neighbors.
Of course, the easiest way to avoid backyard catastrophes is to stay out of the back yard… and head over to one of the two large-scale Independence Day celebrations in the western communities. The villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach have a whole day’s worth of activities planned at various locations, culminating in professional (and safe) fireworks displays. In Wellington, the “Family Fourth Celebration” starts at 6 p.m. at Village Park on Pierson Road with fireworks at 9 p.m. Royal Palm Beach will party into the night starting at 4 p.m. at the Cruzan Amphitheater, with fireworks also at 9 p.m.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I am all about improving my neighborhood and my community. I do not want my neighborhood, my road to become known as “that’s where they burn our manure and convert it into electricity.” Enough is enough. Flying Cow Road and Rustic Ranches are not the service entrance to the Village of Wellington!
Mary
E. Martin Wellington
Avoid Tougher Water Rules
A recent Palm Beach Post article seems to make the case that the Wellington Village Council’s proposed ordinance to provide stricter water restrictions than those defined by the South Florida Water Management District on April 16, 2008 has little to do with water conservation. In fact, as Jerry Ostry is quoted, I also frequently observe that the village’s Landscape Management (Public Works) not only completely disregards the irrigation restriction schedule, they often flood the roadway with over-watering and do not turn off the scheduled sprinkling on days after heavy rain. In addition, this spring and continuing into June, hundreds (if not thousands) of acre-feet of water have been pumped out of our canal after thunderstorms — keeping the water level artificially low in our communities of Binks Forest and Meadow Wood. What we don’t need is more restrictive irrigation ordinances to counteract the mismanagement of the Code Compliance Division, but instead a replacement in the management of that division. We in Meadow Wood have had poor support from that division in enforcing existing ordinances not related to irrigation (for which there is little revenue potential), even when reported by the leadership of our homeowners’ association. Instead, inspectors have cited the people who have complained. On the other hand, the division has apparently viewed the enforcement of water restrictions as a source of revenue and made that a much higher priority.
I recommend the following:
1. Replace the manager of the Code Compliance Division with someone who can manage that division’s resources.
2. Only schedule irrigation compliance inspections on nonwatering days (Monday, Tuesday and Friday) and non-watering hours of watering days (i.e.,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).
3. Create an anonymous irrigation scofflaw hotline and web form for citizens wishing to report those few neighbors (including the village) who consistently violate the irrigation restrictions and promote the hotline with signs and in the press.
4. Integrate scofflaw tips with random neighborhood checks to provide a dynamic schedule for inspections based upon available resources.
5. Do not pass an ordinance more strict than the SFWMD or else the council will create an ill will in the homeowners who are responsibly trying to make their properties’ landscaping attractive and endeavoring to meet the bylaws and deed restrictions of their homeowners’ associations. Ron Steward Wellington
Town Wasting
Our Tax Dollars
I left last week’s Loxahatchee Groves Town Council meeting feeling very disillusioned by the realization that our tax dollars are being spent on high-priced lawyers, consultants and lobbyists, rather than on projects that would benefit the Groves directly. When I drove up to the meeting place, I could not help but notice a large number of very expensive cars in the parking lot, and I was somewhat amused to see a number of laptop toting, rather formally dressed people slog their way through the mud in their dress shoes and designer heels. Inside the building, I counted no fewer that nine contractors (including attorneys and staff) who are presently on our town payroll... or hoping to be.
In one agenda action, the council approved West Palm Beach consulting firm Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CG&A) for “Emergency Services Monitoring of Debris Removal.” This consulting group (which our town already employs) presented a proposal which was selected over a competing bid submitted by Loxahatchee Groves resident Frank Schiola — despite the fact that CG&A’s proposal was three times higher than Schiola’s.
When making their pitch, CG&A stressed that they were more qualified because they could provide more manpower and stated that we may need three dump sites (which would require costly environmental
OPINION
studies before and after a hurricane.) They pointed out that they had placed 55 people in Weston during the cleanup after Wilma. Fifty-five people? Somebody should tell these urbanites that we have been through three hurricanes already and have managed quite well without three dedicated dump sites and 55 people checking on the people who were dumping. This is Loxahatchee Groves, not Weston. There is plenty of heavy equipment here owned by our residents, and we Grovers know how to do things on the cheap.
After the last three hurricanes, most of our roads were cleared very early by residents before our water control district even had a chance to get out there! Our own local bidder, Schiola, has had hands-on experience doing this work for the Solid Waste Authority during past hurricanes and pointed out that the SWA used only one staging area (the 20-Mile Bend dump site). Frank stated that only two or three people — not 55 — were needed to be on hand at any given time to log in and monitor the trucks entering and leaving the site. In addition to saving money, Frank’s proposal would have kept our tax money right here in the Groves, as he planned to perform the services utilizing six to eight of our local retired firefighters. Nevertheless, our council voted 4-1 (with Councilman Dennis Lipp dissenting) in favor of the threetimes-more-expensive West Palm Beach consulting company’s contract. In another action, our council members again voted 4-1 to renew lobbyist Donna Brosemer’s contract of $10,000 for the next five months. This is in addition to the $10,000 she has already received for the previous five months. The town did not seek any other competitive bids at this time for the lobbyist position. While Ms. Brosemer is a fine lobbyist, her new contract lacks specifics as to what she is going to be doing for her $500 a week, except that she will attend one meeting in August concerning the E Road/140th situation, and
will take all actions necessary and appropriate to represent the town.” In her presentation, she seemed hard pressed to come up with any immediate political issues that need attention, and so she offered to provide a “newsletter” or serve as a “liaison” with neighboring communities. (Personally, I should think our neighbors would prefer to meet with an actual Groves councilperson, rather than a paid lobbyist.)
Ms. Brosemer’s agreement with the town also states her activity reports may be submitted in either written or oral form.” Call me crazy, but for $20,000, I feel our town should at least require regular reports in writing.
I called 13 municipalities in Palm Beach County with populations similar to ours to see if other small communities have professional lobbyists on the payroll. Not a single municipality had a lobbyist on their staff. Even neighboring Wellington with its population of just over 55,000 does not have the luxury of a full time lobbyist “on retainer.”
Ms. Brosemer is also penciled in for another $24,000 on next year’s preliminary budget. It is no secret that Ms. Brosemer, who is also a political strategist, advised Councilman Dave Autrey and Vice Mayor Marge Herzog “pro bono” during their election campaigns. However, I don’t feel it is our taxpayers’ responsibility to pay back this favor. Also, I can think of lots of ways this money could be better used to benefit the community, rather than putting it in a lobbyist’s pocket. How about increased sheriff patrols? A traffic light at Folsom? Bus-stop shelters to keep the school kids out of the rain? Some new horse trails? Maybe improve a few roads? In retrospect, I see now that when some of our elected officials spoke of “government lite” during their campaigns, I misunderstood that part. I didn’t realize they meant light on benefits to our residents, while heavy on bureaucratic spending. Cindy Lou Corum Loxahatchee Groves
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Only United Leadership Will Get Our Communities What We Need
The county is dumping on the western communities yet again. Last week, the Palm Beach County Commission agreed to divert $8 million in gas tax money earmarked for roads in the west to mass transportation on the coast. That came on the heels of narrowly escaping — at least for now — a huge county tax increase to offset a state-mandated property tax decrease that residents voted overwhelmingly to approve. On top of that, our communities out west are slashing budgets with meat cleavers. For example, Royal Palm Beach has been carving up its Parks & Recreation Department and assigning many of its employees additional duties without compensation or time off. Wellington says it can’t afford to develop K-Park or even to maintain it if it could. Wellington has laid off employees and has frozen all other positions. What is going on here? Is your head spinning as fast as mine? With a swollen budget of $4 billion, the county can’t trim away enough fat to offset the state cuts? At the same time, county spending in our centrally located communities is going further west. Perhaps you were among the smat-
Point of View...
By Don Brown
tering of residents who weighed in before the county commission to ask why our communities of nearly 200,000 (that’s over twice more than West Palm Beach) are being short-changed. Or perhaps you might be a patron of the Wellington or Royal Palm Beach recreation programs, wondering how much longer it will be before those programs are also cut back.
The gas tax diversion means that Acreage residents won’t get their much-needed northern extension of Seminole Pratt Whitney from Northlake Blvd. to the Beeline Highway or to widen sections of Northlake and Seminole Pratt. These projects were already far out on the county’s five-
TOWN-CRIER
year plan, which made them easy targets for benign neglect, much like the entire area that has grown for more than three decades. Perhaps those roads might resurface on the county’s road plan in our grandchildren’s time. Meanwhile, that money is being diverted to Tri-Rail and Palm Tran, which does nothing to help western communities commuters.
Meanwhile, our own communities can’t even get together to present a single voice. While Royal Palm Beach is battling West Palm Beach over the widening of Roebuck Road (RPB wants it and WPB doesn’t), officials at the Indian Trail Improvement District in The Acreage are focused on building the State Road 7 extension. An earlier “handshake” agreement between RPB and ITID to support each other appears to have fallen apart. In another example of unilateral parochialism, Royal Palm Beach announced its terse objections to projected traffic in the so-called SR 7 corridor. I nearly choked when I saw this quote from RPB Village Manager David Farber: “[The county] presumed a worst-case scenario based on the possible zoning for every piece of land along the
corridor. When you do that, assuming the highest densities and greatest use, any plan will fail.” I was amused when I recalled an opposite argument he used in opposing Callery-Judge Grove’s development plan that had some two dozen traffic studies floating around. The dirty little secret is that traffic studies will show whatever politicians want them to show.
Our communities can’t always agree on everything. Sometimes arguments arise while we’re playing in the same sandbox. But our similarities should always take precedence over our differences. By working together for our common interests (generally against the coastal establishment that still considers us stepchildren) we have the strength both in politics and in population to get the things we want.
The point of all my rambling is about the need for stronger leadership to step up and speak on behalf of all the western communities. True, there is the Western Communities Council, but that organization doesn’t seem to be suited for the job. Will the real leaders of the west please step forward?
At a Sunoco gas station on Lake Worth Road just east of Florida’s Turnpike on Monday, Congressman Tim Mahoney (DDistrict 16) held a press conference to slam a presidential proposal to end the moratorium on offshore oil drilling near Florida’s coast and offer an alternative strategy to control gasoline prices.
“The president’s proposal is political opportunism at its worst,” Mahoney said. “At a time when American families need real solutions, the president wants to give his friends in the oil industry a farewell gift.”
Mahoney said President George W. Bush’s proposed energy strategy would hurt the economy and Florida’s families, and not fix the problem.
“These proposals are like an empty gas tank, nothing but fumes,” he said. “I don’t think drilling that imperils Florida’s $65 billion tourist industry produces sufficient fuel to meaningfully address demands. We know that the entire supply in the gulf will fulfill U.S. demands for only about ten months. In fact, in 2007 the Department of Energy found that drilling off the coast would not add to domestic crude oil and natural gas production before 2030, and the impact on prices would be insignificant.”
Mahoney asked why major oil companies have yet to drill on more than 69 million acres of federal land already under lease and have not drilled on
more than 39 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico already available to them.
“I want know why drilling is being proposed as the answer, when drilling has increased by 66 percent since 2000, yet gas prices have gone up 220 percent,” he said. “It’s time to get real.”
Mahoney said he has cosponsored a bill to stabilize gas prices called the Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008, which he called the “Use It or Lose It Act.”
The measure would compel oil and gas companies to either exploit or give up stockpiled leases by barring them from obtaining any more. “At a time when oil and gas prices are skyrocketing, oil and gas companies should not be allowed to stockpile leases, and they should be required to drill on the leases they own,” Mahoney said.
“They have 68 million acres of leased federal land that could produce an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil and 44.7 billion cubic feet of gas each day. That would nearly double the total U.S. oil production and increase natural gas production by 75 percent. It would also cut U.S. oil imports by more than a third.”
Mahoney also called on Congress to investigate the impact of speculation in the commodities market and its influence on the price of oil, which he said is escalating faster than ever before. Speculators have come to control 71 percent of the market, he said.
“It is time to investigate whether energy speculators are using the system to make money at the expense of hard-working Americans,” he said.
Mahoney said the U.S. also must reduce restrictions on imports of Canadian oil. The Energy Independence Act restricts the buying of unconventional fuels that contribute to greenhouse gases, he said, but language in the act is currently used to restrict the import of Canadian oil derived from oil sands, he said.
“Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil and refined products in the United States, supplying about 20 percent of our imports,” he said. “The oil sands is the second largest known reserve of oil in the world. We need to figure out how to take better advantage of our neighbors to the north. Not only is this an energy supply issue, this is an energy security issue.”
The U.S. must also continue to build on alternative energy and bring it to Florida, Mahoney said, advocating a continued investment in cellulosic ethanol to move toward energy independence. “The recently passed Farm and Energy Bill has set the stage for Florida to become the biofuel capital of the America,” he said.
Cellulosic ethanol utilizes byproducts from processing wood and crops such as oranges and sugar cane for ethanol production.
“The time has come for real solutions, not rhetoric,” Mahoney said. “This action plan
takes important steps to help us stop skyrocketing gas prices and to put us on the road to energy independence. The president’s proposal takes us on the road to nowhere. They are an attempt to exploit a crisis for the benefit of his friends in the petroleum industry. I think it’s time to move away from the smoke and fumes so that we can start working on a clear and honest solution.”
Wellington businessman
Howard Sohn, whose Cartridge World business remanufactures ink and toner cartridges with free pickup and delivery, followed Mahoney to say his business is threatened by rising gas prices.
“Like most of us at this point in time, we’re feeling the effects from the price of gas,” he said.
“We can pass only a certain portion of the exorbitant cost of gas to our customers. The rest we have to absorb ourselves. There’s only so much we can afford. From a personal standpoint of filling my own gas tank, my salespeople filling their gas tank and our delivery people delivering cartridges, we’re hoping for help. We appreciate Congressman Mahoney’s help, and we hope that Washington can do something for us. Like everyone else, we can’t afford to carry this much longer.”
Two-Building Business Complex On SR 7 Gets RPB Zoning OK
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan Tuesday for the Commons, a two-building business complex on State Road 7 approximately midway between Southern and Forest Hill boulevards, but delayed approving the developer’s architectural plans.
Architect Eric Anderson, representing RPB Venture Technology Ltd. of Boca Raton, presented plans for a two-story office
building of 33,000 square feet and a one-story wholesale trade building of 15,875 square feet on the 4.5-acre property on the east side of SR 7. The application includes a request for a landscape waiver from village-required 25-foot buffers on the west and east sides of the property. Instead, a 15-foot right-of-way buffer along SR 7 would accommodate a 40-foot-wide Lake Worth Drainage District canal easement, and a 22-foot residential buffer on the east side of the
property would be complemented by a dry retention area that would also serve as a buffer.
But commissioners were concerned about the developer’s plans to remove about one acre of wetlands on the property and a challenge to the village’s mitigation fee charged on account of the removal. The village calculates a fee of $49,279 while the developer, using a different methodology, asserted the fee the fee should only be $38,413. The commissioners were also concerned about the impact re-
moving the wetlands would have on the wetlands of neighboring properties. Although Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin told them that both the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had rated the wetlands as being of a very low grade, commissioners Jackie Larson and Darrell Lange noted that a similar wetland on the adjacent property to the north is being conserved and there was no information available about
properties to the south and east, both of which are outside the village.
Commissioners also complained that Anderson’s drawings did not indicate the placement of colors on the buildings.
The commissioners approved the site plan with several conditions attached, particularly an independent assessment on the effect removing the wetland would have on neighboring wetlands. Other conditions include extending sidewalks to connect
to adjacent properties, installing bike racks at each building, improving signage in the parking areas, prohibiting manufacturing in the wholesale trade building and any outside storage of materials and equipment. Lange made the motion to recommend approval, which was seconded by Commissioner Leonard Urban.
After an initial vote to deny architectural approval, the commissioners voted 5-0 to postpone that hearing until their July 8 meeting.
Pain At The Pump — Congressman Tim Mahoney talks about his four-step plan to stabilize gas prices during a press conference Monday at a gasoline station on Lake Worth Road.
PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Questions Higher PBSO Costs
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Wellington Village Council members Tuesday questioned Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Greg Richter about that department’s budget for fiscal year 2009, which is almost 8 percent higher than the current year. Richter commands the PBSO’s Wellington substation, and the questions came during Richter’s semi-annual law enforcement report.
Councilman Matt Willhite asked about the impact of recent budgetary shortfalls on the ability to fund public safety agencies, including the PBSO and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue.
Village Manager Paul Schofield said the budget being presented this year proposes to fully fund the PBSO contract, including the increase, but that might not be possible in the future if the State Legislature mandates more cutbacks.
“We are in tough economic times. As many of our residents know, we are living in a time of uncertain tax reform,” Schofield
said. “There was a bill in front of the legislature last year that limited the ad valorem taxes to 1.35 percent of the property value. That is 13-and-a-half mills. The average taxes on Wellington residents is about 24 mills, of which Wellington gets 2.34 mills.”
If that pattern of tax reform continues, Schofield said that all services, even those previously considered untouchable, might be cut back.
“That is a function of how much money is available,” he said. “If the available tax dollars drop by half, all the services will be cut... At some point, the state decides who gets what. We would have limited amounts of money to spend. However, we anticipate we will fully fund law enforcement and other public safety services.”
Willhite asked if Richter he had any historical data indicating increases in crime during tough economic times and whether there might be an increase in the PBSO’s workload in Wellington. Richter said that a bad economy doesn’t necessary correlate with an increase in the crime rate, but some of the other issues associated with a bad economy might dovetail into increases.
“When you have empty houses, you have vandalism and burglaries,” he explained. “When you have individuals living in impoverished areas, the area is not kept up. It’s that broken window syndrome. When someone lives in an area that looks like a ghetto, it will be treated like a ghetto. That’s why our community policing program partnering with code enforcement is so important.”
Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto asked Richter to explain why the PBSO budget will
See PBSO, page 18
Two Men Arrested After Royal Palm Traffic Stop
By Mark Lioi
Town-Crier Staff Report
JUNE 21 — A traffic stop in Royal Palm Beach neighborhood of Huntington Woods last Saturday evening led to the arrest of two Royal Palm Beach men on multiple charges. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a deputy on patrol at about 7:16 p.m. observed a silver sedan travel backward at high speed on Roy Court Circle, almost causing a collision with another vehicle, and then run a stop sign at the intersection of Parkwood Drive. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy discovered that the license of driver Michael Ford, 26, had been suspended. While removing Ford from the vehicle, the deputy noticed passenger Nickolas Michael Hart, 30, conceal something in the vehicle’s center console. A search of the console turned up six 30mg oxycodone pills folded in U.S. currency, and a search of Hart’s pockets turned up a glass pipe crusted with marijuana residue. Both suspects were arrested and taken to the PBSO’s RPB substation for processing and then to the Palm Beach County Jail.
Ford’s vehicle and the currency were seized for forfeiture. Hart’s pet snake, which was in a pillowcase in the back seat, was turned over to Animal Care & Control.
JUNE 23 — A car parked at the Wellington Community Center on Forest Hill Blvd. was reported vandalized Monday morning. According to a PBSO report, the victim told investigators she parked her 2008 Honda Civic in the community center parking lot at 8:20 a.m. and returned to it at about 11:50 a.m., when she discovered that the driver’s side window had been smashed in, although it appeared that the culprit made no entry into the vehicle and took nothing.
JUNE 23 — Burglars in central Royal Palm Beach made off with two loaded handguns Tuesday morning. According to a PBSO report, the burglars broke the rear window of a home on Palm Beach Trace around 10 a.m. in order to gain entry and stole two loaded handguns worth $350 each, a gold wedding band worth $2,000, a Sony PlayStation 2 and an iPod. Sev-
See BLOTTER, page 18
Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: Sanjeev Mohammed, a.k.a. Shaughn Mohammed, is a white male, 5’7" tall and weighing 170 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 11/ 13/71. Mohammed is wanted for theft of sales tax over $20,000. His occupation is contractor. His last known address was Laurel Valley Circle in Wellington. Mohammed is wanted as of 06/26/08. Brian Rooney is a white male, 6’2" tall and weighing 160 lbs., with blond hair and green eyes. His date of birth is 12/ 17/86. Rooney is wanted for violation of supervised own recognizance on the charges of burglary of a structure or conveyance, grand theft and criminal mischief. His occupation is auto body. His last known address was 130th Trail North in The Acreage. Rooney is wanted as of 06/26/08. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppers pbc.com.
Sanjeev Mohammed
Brian Rooney
PBSO Capt. Greg Richter at Tuesday’s Wellington Village Council meeting.
Gov. Crist: Pact With U.S. Sugar ‘A Gift To The Everglades’
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Gov. Charlie Crist gathered with officials from the State of Florida, the United States Sugar Corp. and environmental activists Tuesday at the edge of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge for the official announcement that the state will purchase a vast expanse of land south of Lake Okeechobee from the sugar producer.
The state will pay U.S. Sugar about $1.75 billion for 187,000 acres of agricultural land that will play a key role in restoring the natural flow of water from the lake to the Everglades.
“I can envision no better gift to the Everglades, to the people of Florida and to the people of America as well as our planet than to place in public ownership this missing link that represents the key to true restoration,” Crist said. “Thanks to U.S. Sugar, we have a strategy to acquire almost 187,000 acres of land. That’s almost 300 square miles. I’ve asked them to work with state and federal agencies, and of course, the public at large so we can all take part in this monumental undertaking.”
The South Florida Water Management District will negotiate the final sale of the land with U.S. Sugar over the next few months and take possession of the area and the company’s facilities in six years.
U.S. Sugar President and CEO Robert Buker Jr. admitted to mixed feelings about the deal, which would eventually spell the demise of U.S. Sugar operations. Still, he expressed pride in taking part in a “watershed event in national conservation history” and “a paradigm shift for the Everglades.” “I am sobered and a little more saddened by the prospect and transition that lies before us,” Buker said. “The transition sees new beginnings and the end of a company I took over six years ago. On the other hand, I am excited by what we are doing today and what it means for the future of Florida’s environment. For three decades, four good governors have struggled with complex environmental problems. The results of the struggles were a series of partial fixes. Sometimes they were effective, but invariably, they were expensive. Governor Crist had the vision to look a little more
deeply than the prior four governors and to see this problem needing a more fundamental and systemic solution and more importantly than that vision, he had the courage to act on it.”
SFWMD Governing Board
Vice Chair Shannon Estenoz called the occasion a landmark moment. “The restoration value we are buying is priceless,” she said. “Today, we are offering Everglades restoration opportunities we never thought possible. We offer the Everglades progress once thought unachievable and protection once thought unattainable. History will mark today as a watershed event in restoring our beloved national treasure, the Everglades. Generations will thank you, Gov. Crist, for making this happen. Thank you, Governor Crist and U.S. Sugar, for partnering together to make Everglades history.”
State Sen. Jeff Atwater (RNorth Palm Beach) expressed excitement at the prospect of the true restoration of a natural system on an almost incomprehensible scale.
“This flow of water south will nourish the Everglades rather than have it artificially pumped
to places where it was never meant to be,” he said. “We will allow it to be treated and moved to where it has been for hundreds of thousands of years. That is significant. It is very exciting that we would allow this and to allow nature to return to its place.”
County commissioners Jess
Santamaria and Karen Marcus were optimistic about the day’s events, although both said they were taken by surprise, having found about what was going to happen only the day before. “I think it’s great,” Marcus said. “It can be worked out to everyone’s benefit.”
Everglades Foundation CEO
Kirk Fordham noted that after more than 15 years of public advocacy and frequent policy battles with the sugar industry, longtime adversaries are united behind a common purpose.
“This is truly a historic moment in the life of the Everglades, when bitter adversaries
Historic Moment — Robert Buker Jr. of U.S. Sugar signs the statement of principles while Gov. Crist and Shannon Estenoz of the South Florida Water Management District look on.
PHOTO
Two Returned To LGWCD Board Unopposed At Annual Meeting
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District supervisors Ron Jarriel and Don Widing, who faced no challengers for their seats this year, were sworn in for new terms during the district’s annual landowners’ meeting Monday. “There were two seats and two qualifying candidates,” LGWCD attorney Charles Schoech said. “That alleviates the need for an election. It actually saves the landowners several thousand dollars.”
The meeting was chaired by Marcella Blvd. resident Frank Schiola, who took a seat on the dais to receive annual audit, legal and engineering reports from LGWCD staff.
Delivering the annual audit report, LGWCD Administrator Clete Saunier said the district’s auditors found no reporting errors or problems with the district’s financial standing for the 2007 fiscal year.
The district reported a revenue shortfall versus expenditures of $6,224 for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2007, due to approved sick leave for two employees, Saunier said. Revenues amounted to $1,763,234, an increase of $450,570 or 34 percent from the previous year. Total revenues in 2007 were approximately $71,000 short of the final adopted budget.
Expenditures for 2007 came to $1,769,458, an increase of
$319,280 when compared with 2006, partially attributable to greater capital outlay and personal services increases. The fund balance as of Sept. 30, 2007 stood at $89,714, reserved funds making up $2,281 of the total and unreserved/undesignated funds accounting for the remaining $87,433. The fund balance represented approximately seven percent of the district’s budget for the 2008 fiscal year, Saunier said.
In delivering the attorney’s annual report, Schoech said his firm of Caldwell & Pacetti addressed issues such as questions between the district and the town regarding gas tax revenues, F Road paving as it related to Grove Medical Plaza and the preparation of a Compton Road easement so the district could utilize Palm Beach County funding for improvements there.
“We have addressed a number of issues,” Schoech said. “Some of them are ministerial, and some more detailed and a little more important. They are itemized throughout the report.”
Schoech said one of the more complicated issues concerned the applicability of the lien law to the district. “The mechanisms of the lien law do not apply to the district,” he said. “There is actually another statute that applies to the district where a lien is not possible. Those are the types of issues we addressed throughout the year.”
In his capacity as district en-
gineer, Saunier delivered the annual engineer’s report and noted that the district and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves have coordinated well together on a number of issues.
“We still remain separate governmental entities,” Saunier said. “The services reaching the landowners in the overlapping boundaries are not duplicated. The district continues to provide storm drainage, road maintenance and road improvement services. The town is responsible for services that the county did prior to incorporation, such as land use, planning and zoning and building regulation, portions of traffic control and the PBSO. The district and the town complement each other, and I anticipate us continuing to work well together.”
Saunier also said the district’s close working relationship with various federal, state and local agencies, such as Palm Beach County, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, resulted in several million dollars in revenue, offsetting potential assessment increases last year and also enabling the district to fund special projects that otherwise would have been impossible to achieve. The projects added value to the district’s service delivery and benefited many landowners through increased property values, Saunier said.
Various projects worth a val-
ue-added total of $3.88 million included shellrock placed on 38 miles of district and non-district roads, stabilization of 4.5 miles of roads with open graded emulsified mix or OGEM, dust abatement on 29 miles of unpaved roads, new road maintenance equipment, equestrian trails along four miles of district right of way, hurricane mitigation and improvement projects, and improvements to the North Road Canal.
Saunier said the North Road Canal improvements were funded and administered by the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department in conjunction with their North Region Utility Improvement Project. “Total value-added services to the district’s landowners will exceed $1.5 million,” he said. “To understand and appreciate the significance of this large revenue source, the amount exceeds the district’s entire road and canal systems maintenance budgets for next fiscal year.”
Saunier also noted that interlocal agreements between the county and the district provided $539,000 for four road stabilizations using OGEM, with more use of the material perhaps to come.
“Product performance, related maintenance requirement and costs are currently being evaluated,” Saunier said. “Four other district road sections may be scheduled for OGEM stabilization in response to road im-
Ten Years Of Service — Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Administrative Assistant Lynette Ballard was honored for ten years on Monday. LGWCD Administrator Clete Saunier said Ballard has been an invaluable district employee since the day she started, April 1, 1998. She has proven to be very considerate and adept at diffusing potentially confrontational situations, Saunier added. “We have some pretty tense people calling sometimes, and I have heard her deal with them on a very professional basis,” he said.
provement petitions submitted by affected landowners.”
Saunier concluded his report with a note on the superior performance of the district’s employees.
“For the fourth year in a row the district received two awards of excellence for vehicle safety and worker safety from the Palm Beach County Safety Council,” Saunier said. “The dedication and teamwork of the district’s
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
employees and their commitment to adhering to the district’s safety policies and procedures is directly attributable to having incurred zero accidents and zero injuries for the last four years.”
The LGWCD has scheduled a special meeting on Monday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the district office on D Road to discuss the particulars of a new road maintenance agreement with the Town of Loxahatchee Groves.
Five Candidates Seeking Two Seats On Indian Trail Board
By Mark Lioi and Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Acreage voters will get to choose from among five candidates to fill two seats on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors this year.
With Supervisor Sandra Love Semande stepping down after two years in office, two previously unsuccessful candidates are seeking to replace her in Seat 2. Carlos Enriquez and Dr. Ted Van Istendal will face off in the November general election.
Meanwhile, ITID Supervisor Michelle Damone will defend her seat in the August primary election against Barbara Brecker and Patricia Curry. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to the November ballot.
SEAT 2
Enriquez ran for Seat 1 in 2006, losing to Mike Erickson, but he has remained active in the community ever since, serving until recently as president of the Acreage Landowners’ Association. An aircraft technician by profession, he currently works for Florida Power & Light.
Formerly a resident of Miami and Pembroke Pines, Enriquez moved to The Acreage five years ago. Married 20 years, he has three daughters ages 15, 10 and eight.
Enriquez cites as major issues in the campaign the continuation of the State Road 7 extension to
Northlake Blvd. as well as maintaining fiscal responsibility, which he said the sitting board has done well. He added that he does not want to see a return to the previous era of bickering among supervisors.
“The board sitting now has been fiscally responsible compared to the board before them,” he said. “That’s important to a lot of families, where two people, the dad and mom, are both working.”
Enriquez said he is concerned about changes in The Acreage that are moving it away from its rural character. His vision is to keep it an equestrian community, keep it family-friendly and expand on programs for children.
Van Istendal ran for Seat 5 in 2006 against Carol Jacobs and Fred Gordon. He was eliminated in the primary, and Jacobs went on to win the seat.
The 71-year-old said he chose to run again because he feels the board needs better leadership. “I think I have something to contribute there,” Van Istendal said.
The Louisville, Ky. native moved to The Acreage in 2001 from West Palm Beach. He is a retired college professor of business management and marketing.
Van Istendal remains active in the Reserve Officers Association, chartered by the federal government to advise on security issues for national defense. He has served as an officer in
various positions at the chapter, state and national level.
Van Istendal sees top issues as a matter of experience, courage and integrity. He said residents need to realize they are a district unto themselves and a number of the sitting supervisors are playing up to county commissioners, which he said does not represent the district well.
His vision for the community is to maintain its rural character. “I feel that it’s more short-sighted developers who have got us on the wrong path,” Van Istendal said. “There are entrance signs welcoming people to a rural community. I would like to see it remain with a rural flair.”
SEAT 4
Florida native Barbara Brecker, born in Margate, has lived in Palm Beach County since age 13. Now 46, she is married and has a 23-year-old daughter. She has lived in The Acreage for five years.
Although now concentrating on her first bid for public office, Brecker said she has run four companies of a publicly traded corporation, founded a coalition to protect consumer healthcare rights, and lobbied the state and national legislatures on healthcare issues.
Brecker said she wants to bring common sense back to the political arena. “I’m strictly here to do the bidding of the people in the Indian Trail Improvement District, period,” she said. “Public office should be held for the
people and not for ruining people’s lives with irresponsible development,” she said, adding “I’m not opposed to development with common sense.”
Brecker said she chose to run for Seat 4 with the intent of removing Damone from office, claiming the incumbent has ignored the needs of the residents.
Among Damone’s missteps, Brecker said, was the approval of a utilities agreement with the county that deserved to go to public referendum.
“I believe the amount paid for the easements was too low and I want to get additional money back into the pockets of the residents and/or stop the contract,” she said.
Improving the lifestyle of Acreage residents means better park facilities and roads, Brecker said, but also promotion of environmentally friendly industry. “I want to be able to give the jobs to residents of Indian Trail and encourage businesses to come here and give jobs to the residents. That does not mean irresponsible development,” she stressed.
Longtime Acreage activist
Patricia Curry is a certified legal assistant in her professional life. An Acreage resident since 1980, she is 47 with two daughters, age 19 and 24.
Curry said she decided to make her first bid for public office because she has not seen enough positive change through her years of community activ-
ism. She said her name recognition might serve her well in an effort to unseat Damone.
“I have a real problem with her action with the prior board, and even with the current board,” Curry said, citing votes in support of development at Callery-Judge Grove, the county utility agreement and the recent choice of a new engineering firm that has ties to former district engineer Dan Shalloway, who was embroiled in a county corruption scandal.
Curry said she is more interested in changing the actions of the board than of the district’s operations. “I’m very much in favor of keeping our community as rural as possible and fighting the growth around us,” she said. “I like dirt roads.”
Ensuring that Acreage well fields are naturally replenished is a top concern for Curry. Encroaching development threatens both the groundwater Acreage residents rely on, and the roads they pay to maintain, she said.
“I don’t want to see four-lane roads or six-lane roads in The Acreage,” Curry said. “All of that would be to accommodate future growth.”
Damone was first elected to the ITID board in 1999 under the old proxy voting system. Voted off the board in 2002 when an anti-incorporation slate took office in the district’s first popular vote, she began her current term in 2004 on a board no-
torious for its infighting and lawsuits against Palm Beach County.
Damone has lived in The Acreage since 1996. The 37year-old is married and the mother of two, a 16-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. A licensed mortgage broker, she currently manages a nonprofit organization, the Autism Project of Palm Beach County.
Damone said she is seeking reelection because she and her fellow supervisors elected in 2006 have spent the last two years “fixing what was broken, and it takes more time to fix things than to break them.”
“As hard as we all have worked in the last two years,” she continued, “I feel we need another four years to continue See ITID RACES, page 18
Carlos Enriquez
Dr. Ted Van Istendal
Barbara Brecker Michelle Damone
ITID Budget: Get More, Spend Less
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
During a Wednesday budget workshop, Indian Trail Improvement District supervisors and staff focused on how the district can provide more services for residents without major assessment increases.
In the 2009 draft budget, the district’s assessment per acre has declined overall by 1.18 percent for active development units, even though the cost of materials, particularly fuel, has risen sharply. Still, some units will face a small increase. The largest, however, is only $2.43 per acre.
During the workshop, the supervisors discussed picking up the pace of some projects, a new table of organization for district staff and improving worker productivity.
Supervisor Michelle Damone questioned the lack of progress on improvements at Hamlin Equestrian Park, which is due for expansion with the inclusion of a parcel to the east of the park.
“We allocated $120,000 for this year and another $70,000 for next year,” Damone said. “When are we going to move forward? We’re moving at a snail’s pace. I will not tolerate sitting here next year and going through the same discussion.”
Supervisor Sandra Love Semande asked whether Parks Director Tim Wojnar could bring a plan forward. District Engineer Lisa Tropepe suggested Wojnar spend a quarter of the $120,000 and have a landscape architect bring in a series of alternatives. All the supervisors said they were frustrated by a lack of progress on the project.
“You tell me what you want done and it will be started tomorrow,” Wojnar said. “We have some people who’ve asked us to change the footing in the ring as the highest priority. I want to pipe the canal there and put in fill so we actually can use the extra acres. And we’ll need a site plan and permit approval for some of the work from the county.”
The board agreed by consensus that they wanted Wojnar to work with Operations & Maintenance Director Terry Narrow on piping the canal and covering it with fill to join the two sections of the park. The added area will temporarily serve as a parking lot. Also, the footing will be fixed as soon as possible.
The supervisors also discussed tradeoffs made on spending for retrofits of dead-end streets to help pave neighborhood network roads. ITID President Mike Erickson said that while retrofits are necessary, at times it means ripping up perfectly good roads. “Doing retrofits for all the roads would cost us $50 million over 35 years,” he said, “and that’s a lot longer than the life cycle of those roads.”
But Supervisor Ralph Bair said the roads will only get worse if the board does not act. Erickson suggested that crews simply fix problems as they arise. “If there is a drainage issue, fix it,” he said. “We don’t have to create second driveways for people. Go out and fix a swale, make sure of drainage. Put down more shellrock. There are places where the roads are mostly sand.”
District Administrator Chris King informed the supervisors that many parts of the district’s government are being reorganized. “We are adding employees at certain spots to improve service,” he said. “One of our customer service representatives will work directly for Terry Narrow and Tim Wojnar, making certain that requests and complaints are handled as quickly as possible. We are also adding some workers to our crews to directly improve service.”
Another goal, King said, is to provide district staff with more responsibility along with more
Everglades A Game
Changer
continued from page 7
united to support an unprecedented and unexpected good,” Fordham said. “Unthinkable progress is now possible, and in our lifetimes. This is a moment for the record books, a priceless gift to the generations to follow us.” John Marshall of the Marshall Foundation said the deal would mark the realization of a goal long sought by pioneering environmentalists, making possible a truly comprehensive Everglades restoration project.
accountability. “They said they wanted more accountability to allow for promotions, for better job employees,” he said. “And when we have a good employee, we want to keep them.”
The Operations & Maintenance Department, which employs most of the district’s workers, will be split under Narrow’s direction into two separate divisions, each under its own superintendent. Maintenance, now split into four zones, will create a fifth zone. Each zone will get the same manpower and equipment, and the zone superintendents will be held accountable for work there.
“Eventually we’ll have satellite yards for equipment,” King said. “Our workers will have to travel less to get to each work site, and it will create a sense of identity for the area.”
King said the district’s policy will be to challenge workers to rise to higher levels, particularly in operations. “We want them to be more than people who can do roads or sidewalks,” he said. The district has allocated $230,500 for legal fees in 2009, a decrease of $190,000 from the current year. However, there is $275,500 allocated for engineering fees. “We expect it will cost a bit more this year to get our new engineers up to speed,” King explained.
Tropepe, of the district’s newly hired engineering firm Engenuity Inc., noted that the district had not allocated funds for a geographic information system or GIS to map and manage in detail the infrastructure of the district. She noted that the district could likely make use of GIS data collected on county systems, but that the district should buy a license and get training immediately. Tropepe and King agreed to get together to discuss the issue. The district will also begin using a computerized records system during the upcoming fiscal year, allowing for faster and more efficient records requests from the public as well as for internal use. Administrative Assistant Samantha Curry will supervise that work as her primary function. The software involved will cost an estimated $30,000. The supervisors expressed frustration at the level of service from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “We need more deputies here,” Supervisor Carol Jacobs said. “We have to be concerned about crimes involving abandoned houses. We need more coverage by deputies.” Erickson said the district is getting “no bang for the buck” from the PBSO. “We’re spending $250,000 for deputies to watch our properties,” he said. “I’d rather spend the money on a lawyer and a lobbyist to get the sheriff to provide the proper level of service. There are at least seven officers on duty at all times in Royal Palm Beach for four square miles. We have four for 110 square miles here.” Damone said while she agreed that the level of service was not appropriate, she expected things would improve after deputies trained the district’s workers to be more alert in looking for crimes under the new “Workers on Watch” program. Semande noted that it sometimes takes as long as 20 minutes for a response to a 911 call. Damone suggested it would be better to work with PBSO officials to get better service. “If they can train our employees better, we will have more eyes open,” she said. “And we should try, at least for this year, to work more closely with them and convince them to give us more services.” The budget workshop was recessed until July 8 at 1 p.m., when the supervisors will continue their discussion so that a budget containing the final assessment rates can be approved the following day at the board’s regular business meeting.
“There are a lot more details to be worked out, but this deal jumpstarts the possibility of restoring the river of grass in its true form, albeit down to a more narrow river,” he said. Glades resident and family farmer Ardis Hammock, however, admitted she was devastated when she heard the news, as U.S. Sugar has always been the exclusive buyer of her farm’s crop. “Our family farm has never sold to anyone else,” Hammock said. “Hopefully friends will continue to take care of friends. U.S. Sugar has always been a friend to us. We are all in this together. It’s about continuing to be in this together.”
Royal Palm Beach Has Plenty Planned For The Fourth Of July
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
The Village of Royal Palm Beach is holding a July Fourth Spectacular and the whole community is invited. RPB Parks & Recreation Director
Lou Recchio said he and his staff have scheduled events all day long to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
“Our first event, registration for our fishing contest, begins at 7 a.m.,” he said. “And our fireworks spectacular begins at 9 p.m. and goes on from there. We have events all day long.” Recchio said sponsors are helping offset the cost of the events. “Most of the events have free admission except for the cost of food,” he said. “And we should thank Royal Palm Toyota, Royal Palm Mazda, Gertz Development, Republic Services of Palm Beach and the Cru-
zan Amphitheater for their support.
Events include the Red, White & Blue Fishing Tournament at Lake Challenger, the Firecracker Golf Tournament at Madison Green, the Firecracker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center, the Party in the Park for families at Veterans Park, and music and fireworks at the Cruzan Amphitheater at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Registration for the popular Red, White & Blue Fishing Tournament for children age 19 and younger begins at 7 a.m., and adults are allowed to partner with contestants under the age of 12. Weigh-ins for bass will be at 11 a.m. and other fish at noon. The golf tournament, which costs $60 per player ($240 per foursome), begins at 8 a.m. with
a shotgun start at the Links at Madison Green “We will use scramble format, so players can continue from the best ball placed by any member of the foursome,” Recchio said. “We will also have a longest-drive contest and a closest-to-the-pin contest. We will serve a barbecue lunch to all participants when we’re done.”
The 3-on-3 basketball tournament begins at 9 a.m. and costs $50 per team, with a maximum five players per team in two divisions, ages 16 to 24 and age 25 and older. Only 14 teams will be allowed in the double-elimination tournament, and players under 18 must have a signed registration form to participate. Teams must be registered by 5 p.m. on July 2.
The Party in the Park will begin at 10 a.m. in Veterans Park and will run until 2 p.m. Rec-
chio promised music, crafts and games for children. “We will have a bounce house, waterslides and a climbing wall,” he said.
The Cruzan Amphitheater at the South Florida Fairgrounds will open its gates at 4 p.m. Live musical entertainment will be provided by local bands Hot Brass Monkey on Stage 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Rumour Hazit on Stage 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Asphalt Angels Car Club will also hold a classic car show.
The Fireworks Spectacular is scheduled for 9 p.m. although there might be a slight delay to ensure sufficient darkness. Food and beverages will be available at concessions during the activities at Cruzan. For more information on Fourth of July events in Royal Palm Beach, call (561) 790-5149 or visit www.royal palmbeach.com.
Rita, Megan and Lori Hildoer
Mark Sands with his sons Jared and Jonathan
Rontavius Pettigrew, Ron’shard Pettigrew, Eddie Daniels and Rodney ButlerTyler Kilgore, Scott Shafer and Jacob Morakis
Kim and Nancy Proctor
Legal Administrators Award Scholarships
Trinity Playne of Wellington and Dennis Tierney Jr. of Jupiter each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Palm Beach County chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. For the past 22 years, the association has awarded one or more $1,000 higher-education scholarships each year. In 1997, the scholarship was renamed the Patricia J. McNamara Higher Education Scholarship in honor of a past president and member who lost her battle with lung cancer. All employees of member law firms and their dependents are eligible to apply. Playne is affiliated with Sellars, Marion & Bachi. Tierney is affiliated with Manoff & Associates.
Each applicant is rated on academic achievement, communi-
ty and school involvement, financial need, a written application and supporting documents. Finalists are then interviewed by a committee and recipients are chosen.
The association thanks Auslin Legal Staffing Inc. and Saxon Business Systems for sponsoring the 2008 scholarships.
The Association of Legal Administrators is a global organization of more than 10,000 members concerned with management of government, corporate and private agencies and departments devoted to the delivery of legal services. The Palm Beach County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators was chartered on Feb. 2, 1986 and now has more than 80 members throughout Florida’s Treasure Coast.
SYLVIA SKOLLER
HOLDS
(Front row, L-R): Dennis Tierney Jr. and Trinity Playne, scholarship recipients; (back) Lynne Duckett, PBCALA scholarship committee member; Terri Cavanaugh and Beth Thomas representing sponsor Saxon Business Systems; Debbie Giordano and Sandy Gronek, PBCALA scholarship committee members; Sherry Zabriskie and Tanya McConnell representing sponsor Auslin Legal Staffing Inc.; Lisa Tierney, PBCALA scholarship committee member; and Jamie Stanton, PBCALA president.
ANNUAL PIANO RECITAL
Steven Rizzo Receives Writing Scholarship
Steven Rizzo, son of Peter and Gwen Rizzo of Wellington, was recently awarded the Sarah Ashley McCarthy Memorial Writing Scholarship.
While at Wellington High School, Rizzo was involved in the school’s literary world, performing original poetry at several performance productions and served as editor of the school’s literary magazine.
Rizzo also produced “Poetry Live,” performances featuring his poetic talents as well as the talents of other young songwriters, musicians, poets, humorists and dancers. His published work explores social and political themes that range from consumerism to the atrocities committed in Darfur. Rizzo is also an auditor of foreign and independent cinema. Extracurricular activities include the German Club, Amnesty International, the Photography Club and Food Not Bombs, which distributes food to the homeless.
Rizzo will attend New Col-
Anthony Gallo Of Loxahatchee Places First In Dragsters
for
Anthony Gallo of Loxahatchee, driver of the Superman half-scale junior dragster in the 8-12 division at Moroso Motorsports Park, ended the year as the points leader with 247 on May 17. Finishing second was Jordan Sachs, also of Loxahatchee, with 215. Gallo said his team started the year fast with four final appearances in the first five races and three wins, including the All Chevy Show at Moroso. Moroso Motorsports Park hosts a wide variety of auto racing events, which total more than 850 annually. Moroso has been family-owned since 1981 and is open year round, drawing an estimated attendance of more than one million people per year.
lege of Florida in Sarasota in order to access a career in translation and critical interpretation of foreign works of literature. The scholarship was established in memory of 1996 WHS graduate Sarah McCarthy, who died on June 24, 1997.
Steven Rizzo
Anthony Gallo, suited up
a race.
The Superman half-scale junior dragster driven by Anthony Gallo.
Longtime Wellington resident and piano teacher Sylvia Skoller held her annual recital on Sunday, June 8. Skoller’s talented students entertained their parents, family and friends.
(First row, L-R) Klendy Muller, Brendan Boudreau, Mrs. Sylvia Skoller, Alyssa Uzzi and Nina Mangiola; (back row) Kelsie Boudreau, Kathleen Rentelman, Danielle Boudreau, Nicki Shaffer, Julie Levin and Stephen Katz.
Sylvia Skoller with student Nickie Shaffer.
Piano student Nina Mangiola with Sylvia Skoller.
Wellington Businessman Elected Scripps Institute Trustee
International business leader and entrepreneur Amin J. Khoury has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Scripps Research Institute, a world leader in biomedical science with laboratories in La Jolla, Calif. and Palm Beach County.
Khoury is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of B/ E Aerospace Inc. of Wellington.
“Amin brings to our Board of Trustees his superb talents as a business executive and his experience as founder of companies in the scientific instrument, medical services and medical devices industries, and of course, the aerospace field,” Scripps Research President Dr.
Area Students Receive Gold Key Art Awards
Bianca Morra of Royal Palm Beach High School and Jeffrey Rose of Wellington High School were among six students representing Palm Beach County who received Gold Key awards at the National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition in New York City recently.
After receiving Gold Key awards at the regional level, the students’ work was entered along with 10,000 pieces from around the country to receive the Gold Award at the national level. The six Palm Beach County high schoolers entered were among the top one percent in the country. Morra’s and Rose’s entries were in the photography category. Other students representing Palm Beach County high schools were Arianna Harrington of Atlantic High School, drawing; Oscar Carl of Bak Middle School, animation; Bri Chesler of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, printmaking; and Tiffany Trapasso of Dwyer High School, photography. The work of these students was exhibited at the Reeves Contemporary Art Gallery in New York City. The reception for the student Gold Award recipients was held June 5 at Carnegie Hall where they joined a prestigious group of alumni that includes Richard Avedon, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Otterness, Zac Posen, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford and Andy Warhol.
Richard Lerner said. “The board members and I look forward to his good guidance and wise counsel in the coming years.”
Khoury is the 30th member of the board that oversees the governance of the Scripps Research Institute, headquartered in California, and its Florida division, which will open its permanent campus in Jupiter later this year.
“I consider it an honor to have been elected to the Scripps Research Institute Board of Trustees,” Khoury said. “Scripps Research is recognized the world over for discoveries that broadly span the life sciences and that are furthering the goals of man-
kind to understand the processes of life. I look forward to serving with the many esteemed trustees of the institute.”
Khoury founded B/E Aerospace in 1987. The company now has an equity capitalization of $3 billion and is the world’s leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and the leading aftermarket distributor of aerospace fasteners.
B/E was the top performer in terms of both earnings growth and share-price appreciation among all aerospace companies for the past one-, three-, and five-year periods ended Dec. 31, 2007 and among the top five percent of
ArtStart Benefits From Whole Foods Event
ArtStart Inc., a Wellingtonbased nonprofit whose mission is to provide educational opportunities in the arts, was the beneficiary recently of a wine-tasting and food-sampling event at Whole Foods Market in Boca Raton. Proceeds from the event, which included a silent auction and live entertainment, were donated to ArtStart in support of its arts education and outreach programs in Palm Beach County. A check in the amount of $2,578 was presented to ArtStart on June 21 by store manager Karen Doyle and marketing and community relations specialist Kristin Bagonis. “We are honored to have been select-
ed as the charity of record for this event,” said ArtStart founder and president Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi. “Whole Foods’ dedication to the community and their generous support of organizations such as ours is to be commended.”
ArtStart’s mission is to provide educational opportunities in the arts, including visual arts, music, dance, theater and creative writing. The organization’s goal is to cultivate the resources, leadership and partnerships that nurture and support arts and cultural programs, thereby enriching the quality of life for all. To learn more about ArtStart, or to become a volunteer, visit www.artstartinc.org.
all U.S. public companies over the same periods.
Khoury was a founding investor in Spine Products Inc., which was acquired in 1999 by Synthes Inc. of Switzerland, a $2.8 billion annual revenue public company that is a leading manufacturer and marketer of orthopedic trauma implants and cranial-maxillofacial and spine implants. Since 1986, Khoury has served as a director of Synthes Inc.
Khoury received a master’s degree in business administration with honors from Northeastern University and was awarded the university’s prestigious Medallion Achievement
Award. He also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry.
Khoury is vice chairman of the board of directors of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, where he serves as chair of the center’s investment committee. He is also a board member of the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation. He is actively involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin County, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, both of Boston, and the Institute for Mobility and Longevity in Palm Beach.
Wellington Artist To Teach A Portfolio Prep Class For Youth
Wellington artist Ryan Toth is teaching a two-week art class that develops and encourages children’s passions and talents, guiding them to find their own voice in a constantly growing body of artwork. The class runs July 21 through Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach).
Unlike other programs offered, this class gives youth oneon-one experience and individual development with their skill levels, offering an understanding of how to add, modify and edit a body of work that they will create within the class. This gives them an opportunity to develop their own talent and feel comfortable and individual in their creation process. Students will learn to prepare and utilize future art programs by constructing their own individual working portfolios. This is especially beneficial for students who are interested in applying for the middle and high school of the arts, as well as art colleges.
Toth, 28, grew up in Wellington and returned recently after living 10 years in New York City as a working artist. He has developed teaching programs that enable young artists to feel comfortable in developing their future careers.
He said he understands the
importance of learning to adjust the artistic working situation and survive in unpredictable circumstances. He was in his last year at Cooper Union School of Art in New York when the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurred.
Toth did not have access to his apartment for four months due to its proximity to the event. During his time in New York he worked various jobs in economic hard times in the aftermath of the attack as a graphic artist,
The cost for the course is $395 for members and $410 for non members. For more information, visit www.armoryart.org or call (561) 832-1776.
Amin J. Khoury
Art Benefit — Whole Foods Boca Raton store manager Karen Doyle, marketing and community relations specialist Kristin Bagonis and ArtStart President Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi.
medical illustrator, game board designer, teacher and osteologist for museums in natural history, working with such artists as Damien Hirst, Matthew Barney, Leon Golub, Alex Katz and Janet Fish. He returned to Wellington to teach and paint full time.
Wellington artist Ryan Toth with some of his creations.
RPB’s Steven Petrone Joins Carlisle Staff
Joining the team at the Carlisle Palm Beach is longtime Royal Palm Beach resident Steven Petrone.
In his role as activity coordinator, Petrone will assist activity director Joyce Beauvais in planning a full array of engaging activities for the Carlisle’s seniors. Always on the lookout, the activities team searches for exciting new outings to local venues such as theaters, malls and museums, as well as creating entertaining events on-site such as car shows, special guest lecturers and movie premieres in the in-house movie theater.
“Each month we strive to offer our residents an assortment of activities to choose from,” said Frank White, executive director of the Carlisle Palm Beach. “Knowing they come from backgrounds filled with art and culture, we work to offer the activities they enjoy. Steve is going to be a great asset to our team, and I can already tell our residents will be thrilled with what he has to offer.” Prior to his current position at the Carlisle Palm Beach, Petrone was supervisor at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. In
that role, he planned senior citizens’ activities and communitywide events. Petrone, who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, is a longtime member of the Florida Recreation Professionals Association. Before working for the Village of Royal Palm Beach, Petrone was an editor at the Town-Crier newspaper. The Carlisle Palm Beach is located at 450 East Ocean Avenue in Lantana. For more information, call (561) 533-9440 or visit www.srgseniorliving.com.
The Stars Shine At Hadassah Event
Stars were certainly shining on the Shulamit chapter of Hadassah recently when they held their second annual silent auction gala “Shulamit Shining Stars” on May 17 at the Players Club in Wellington. Over 60 members, friends and families attended the fundraiser, which helps support Hadassah Hospital’s cutting-edge medical research in Jerusalem.
Highlights from the evening included a delicious buffet dinner and dancing to tunes provided by Wayne Paul of Broadway Entertainment, which was followed by an informative video, silent action and raffle.
Shulamit Shining Stars was dedicated in memory of Sharon Casper’s mother Mitzi Kay. Sharon is a committee member as well as a Shulamit board member. Her mother passed away a year ago shortly after the chapter’s first silent auction event after a short battle with lung cancer. Bittersweet because Hadassah’s medical research includes discovering a low-dose
CT scan that can detect lung cancers as early as 10 years before symptoms actually appear, making it a more curable disease. Kudos to the real “Shining Stars” of Shulamit who planned the event: Chapter President Sandi Gladding, Committee Chair Sue Friedman, Donation Chair Renee Seal, Musical Lyricist Helene Schilian, Sharon Casper, Sue Daniels, Ronna Lower, Linda Miller, Carol Newman, Joy Pitterman and Carol Roberts. The evening raised more than $7,000. The committee thanks supporters for purchasing stars: AutoNation, Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, Clinipix Inc., Lehman Brothers, Slossberg Family Chiropractor Center and several private individuals. Shulamit members are vibrant women of the western communities of Palm Beach County striving to create an atmosphere of sisterhood, friendship and fun while committing to the work of Hadassah. For more info., call Sue Friedman (561) 312-8310.
and
and
Percy Graduates Air Force Training
Air Force Airman Samuel L. Percy has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, 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. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate’s degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Percy is the son of Daniel and Sherrie Percy of Royal Palm Beach. He is a 2002 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School.
Steven Petrone
Hazzan David Feuer
Marci Goldberg with Joyce
Harris Gropper.
Sharon Casper surrounded by her family.
Joyce Gropper, Helen Siegel and Sharon Casper.
Sylvan Learning Center Honors Its Students Of The Month
The Sylvan Learning Center in Royal Palm Beach recently announced its students of the month for June.
Nine-year-old Amber Alicea is a third-grade student at Frontier Elementary School in The Acreage. She has been attending Sylvan for the past five months for help with reading comprehension. Her mother Ada said she has seen Amber make great progress.
“Not only in reading, but in writing and math, too,” Ada said. “Amber wasn’t doing well at school, but she has progressed tremendously since coming to Sylvan.”
Amber agreed that she is progressing very well. “It makes me feel better because if I don’t understand my teacher, I just come to Sylvan, and then I understand,” she said. Amber’s favorite subjects are math and reading. Her hobbies include traveling and riding horses. When she grows up she wants to be a veterinarian, “because I get to save animals’ lives.”
Ten-year-old Brooke Hughes is in the fourth grade at Berean Christian School in West Palm Beach. For the past three months, she has been attending Sylvan for academic
coaching. Her grandmother Karen Nicoletta had two older children who attended Sylvan, so she decided to enroll Brooke because of her children’s positive experience ten years ago.
“My aunt came to Sylvan and encouraged me,” Brooke said. “The first time she came here, she was so excited. So was I. Coming here makes me feel better about my grades.”
Brooke’s favorite subjects are reading, health and history. When she’s not in school, Brooke enjoys cheerleading and baseball. When Brooke gets older, she wants to be a doctor or a
nurse because her grandmother is a nurse and she loves taking care of people.
Sylvan Learning Center has been coaching students toward academic success for more than 25 years. Services include the Sylvan Skills Assessment, a unique, diagnostic test that identifies a child’s unique needs and strengths and pinpoints the exact areas requiring strengthening or enrichment.
Sylvan Learning Center in Royal Palm Beach is located at 1169-B Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more information, call (561) 422-6176 or visit www. sylvanpbc.com.
Poinciana Day School Student Council Raises Money For Leukemia Patients
The Poinciana Day School Student Council recently sponsored a fundraising project to collect money to help leukemia patients.
Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20. Two years ago, Poinciana Day School lost a student to cancer, so this was a project that was close to the students’ hearts.
The Poinciana Day School Student Council is led by President Michelle Matin of Atlantis and Royal Palm Beach and Vice President Shelbie Heisler of West Palm Beach. Ms. Tricia Couch and Ms. Cheryl Scott, both of West Palm Beach, are the council’s advisors. The entire student body of kindergarten through eighth graders participated in this project.
The fundraiser “Pennies for Patients” is a fun and educational community service project in which students collect and donate their spare change. Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters add up to dollars that can help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Nationwide, over $200,000 was raised — more than 20 million pennies! This program lets children know that everyone can help make a differ-
For
with the change raised
ence, no matter how small their contribution.
In two weeks, Poinciana Day School students raised just short of $500 — about $7.50 per student. The best part of the project was that this was money that students themselves had at home, or could find as loose change around the house or in the car,
so it was their personal contributions. It showed that even young students can make a true difference in their community. “I am always so pleased to see the generosity and willingness of our students to help others,” Head of School Nixie Swift said.
Poinciana Day School is a
Students Earn Degrees, Named To Dean’s List At Boca’s Lynn University
following Wellington students received their master of education degrees from Lynn University during commencement ceremonies on May 9: Niki-Ann Giliberti, Faith Morrison, Douglas Raines, Deidre Reid-Thomas and Jason Wheeler.
The following Wellington students received bachelor’s degrees during commencement on May 10: Marnie Herskowitz, bachelor of science; Cathy Michaels, bachelor of science in business administration; Christian Ortiz Matallana, bachelor of arts; Randy Simmons, bachelor of science in business administration; Sara Sloane Becker, bachelor of science. Herskowitz was also named
to the dean’s list, along with James Marcellino of Loxahatchee, and Julia Welles and Michael Gannotti of Wellington. Almost 600 students received their diplomas at two ceremonies at the Boca Raton-based liberal arts institution. The commencement speaker was Dee Dee Myers, former staffer and spokesperson of President Bill Clinton.
Lynn University is an independent, nonprofit university. Founded in 1962 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Lynn stresses individualized learning, innovative approaches and an international focus among its students and faculty. For more info., visit www.lynn.edu.
July 29 Seminar Discusses College Entrance Exams
A free seminar for parents of high school students will be held Tuesday, July 29 in the Wellington Community Center’s Lakeview South Room.
small independent private school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade where “every student is an honored student.”
For more information about Poinciana Day School, or to schedule a personal tour, call (561) 655-7323 or visit www. poincianadayschool.org.
The seminar, which takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will cover the merits of the ACT and SAT exams. Participants can get answers to questions about these two important college entrance exam choices.
The seminar is being presented by Barry Mallis, executive
director of Score at the Top Learning Center in Wellington. Mallis, under the guidance of certified education planner Judi Robinovitz, has years of experience preparing students for both these exams, and in guiding students through the collegeapplication process.
The community center is located at 12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Seating is limited. For more info., call (561) 333-8882 or visit www.scoreatthetop.com.
Pennies
Patients — Poinciana Day School Student Council President Michelle Martin
through the Pennies for Patients project.
Brooke HughesAmber Alicea
The
Author Kimberly Wilson Visits Moksha Yoga Studio In Wellington
By Candace Marchsteiner Town-Crier Staff Report
As thunder rumbled to the south on Sunday, balmy breezes swept peacefully over the stretching patrons at Wellington’s Moksha Yoga Studio. They were gathered for a daylong workshop featuring guest instructor and author Kimberly Wilson of Washington, D.C. Studio owner Cora Rosen invited Wilson for the workshop so regular members and newcomers could experience “a different style of teaching,” and described Wilson as “inspiring.” Rosen and 11 other instructors teach a variety of yoga classes ranging from meditative to strength training to cardio workouts at the Moksha Yoga Studio in the Wellington Business Center. “A lot of people come for the physical aspect and then continue coming for the mental refreshment,” Rosen said.
Member Bonnie Finley of Wellington is one such person. “I actually came to this because I was going through a stressful situation a few months ago, and
it has totally changed my life,” she said. “Now my reactions to stress are different. I’m a little more open, a little more patient, and I’m a little better to myself.”
The special event concluded with a book signing, tea and trunk show. The trunk show included specially discounted items from Wilson’s TranquiliT clothing collection made of ecofriendly fabrics such as bamboo, soy and organic cotton.
Wilson said that through her book Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life on and off the Yoga Mat she hopes to help everyone “in this crazy Blackberry society to have a little peace within and also to realize you can have fun with it.”
Wilson told the Town-Crier she strives for a fulfilling balance of the worldly and the spiritual.
“You can be of the world but more mindful with how you spend your money, time, energy, etc.,” she said. “Live a mindfully extravagant life — playful but in touch with reality and the bigger picture, the
bigger things in life.”
Moksha Yoga Studio offers two to three classes daily, seven days a week. The first visit for local residents is free. A two-month trial membership with unlimited sessions costs $100. The studio’s next special event is slated for Sunday, July 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. and features aromatherapy and Thai massage. The second part of an
ongoing Restore and Renew series, the session is limited to 16 people and costs $50. Each session in the Restore and Renew series is different.
The Moksha Yoga Studio is located in the Wellington Business Center at 3340 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 5. For more information call (561) 4271767 or visit www.moksha yogastudio.com.
A kickoff fundraiser was held Thursday, June 19 at the Players Club for Wellington Councilman
PHOTOS BY CANDACE
Bob Margolis, who is running for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections. Former councilwoman Laurie Cohen gave a brief introduction supporting Margolis, who followed with a speech of his own, discussing his campaign and thanking his supporters. Margolis will face State Rep. Susan Bucher and incumbent Dr. Arthur Anderson in the Aug. 26 primary election.
Laurie Cohen (left) and Jay Goldfarb (right) say a few words in support of Margolis.
Ashley Maguire with Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite, his wife Alexis and their son Luke.
Bob Margolis with businessman Frank Suess.
Margolis (center) gathers for a photo with some supporters.
Kimberly Wilson signs an autograph for Bonnie Finley.
Moksha instructor Danielle Cooper and owner Cora Rosen try on clothes from Kimberly Wilson’s TranquiliT collection.
Chamber Will Host Candidates
The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host a reception with candidates for upcoming state, county and congressional offices on Thursday, July 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green, 3401 Equestrian Club Dr., Wellington. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be available. Networking is complimentary to chamber members and their guests. RSVPs required. Call (561) 792-6525 for more info.
RPB Football Bus Trips
The Royal Palm Beach Parks & Recreation Department will begin accepting registrations Monday, July 14 for bus trips to see Miami Dolphins games. Dates are Sept. 7 (New York Jets), Oct. 26 (Buffalo) and Nov. 23 (New England). The cost is $90 per person and includes a ticket, transportation, giveaways, food and beverage. For more information, call (561) 790-5124.
RPB Education Board Vacancy
The Village of Royal Palm Beach currently has one vacancy on its Education Advisory Board, which meets the second Monday of the month. Meetings are held in the Village Meeting Hall. Applications are available at the Village Clerk’s office or can be downloaded by visiting www.royalpalmbeach.com/ Pages/RoyalPalmBeachFL_ Clerk/forms/index and clicking “Committee Board Application Form.” Return the completed application to the Village Clerk’s office by July 9 for council consideration on July 17. For more info., call the Village Clerk at (561) 790-5102.
Chamber Seeks
SalsaFest Help
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help organize its SalsaFest event. The first planning meeting will be held Monday, June 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the chamber office on Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. SalsaFest is a one-day festival to be held Saturday, Nov. 22 at Greenacres Community Park. For more info., call Jaene Miranda at (561) 790-6200.
Dance Clinic
In Royal Palm
Do you want to dance like the stars, glide across the floor and dazzle the crowds? Then come to the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center for a free dance instruction clinic Monday, June 30 from 7 to 8 p.m. Call (561) 790-5149 to preregister.
Landings Principal
Eric Paul
continued from page 1 thing about the move to Landings is that because I was at Binks for three years, half of the kids there and their parents there already have an established relationship with me. The sixth, seventh and eighth graders would have been first, second and third graders when I left Binks three years ago… I have a nice positive relationship with
Seniors Programs
In RPB
continued from page 3
A & B, seniors come together for board games, speakers, refreshments and more.
Bridge/Card Games: Twice a week, seniors have the opportunity to play pickup games of cards or contract bridge.
Young at Heart Club Travel to fun places and enjoy quality food and entertainment. The Young at Heart Club is for seniors who enjoy a variety of small and large group activities. Seniors are sure to meet singles and couples with similar interests, as the club maintains a membership base of more than 450 individuals. Catered luncheons with live onstage entertainment and speakers is a major draw on the first Friday of every month, October through May. Other activities include off-site trips, where members board charter buses for daytrips and overnighters made highly affordable due to senior and group discounts offered through their membership. Annual membership in the Young at Heart
JCC Day At Water Park
The Wellington branch of the Jewish Community Center is sponsoring a family water park day at the Wellington Aquatics Center, 12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd., on Sunday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. The $15 per family cost includes entrance fee and a bagel brunch. For info., call (561) 253-6030 or register online at www.jcconline.com.
St. Peter’s CEC Camp
The Child Enrichment Center at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church is accepting applications for its remaining summer camp sessions, offering all on-site activities for children three through entering first grade. Activities include arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor games, videos, creative play and water play. Available two-week session dates are July 14- 25 and July 28-Aug. 8. Campers can attend two, three or five days a week from 9 a.m. to noon or 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The St. Peter’s Child Enrichment Center is located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. For more info., call Pat Banks at (561) 798-3286 or download a registration form online at www. stpeterscec.com.
Seeking Play Submissions
The Studio Theatre of Wellington is now accepting submissions for its annual Festival of Short Plays. Plays should be 10 minutes or less in length, four characters or less, limited or no set requirements, and be both original and never produced. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 1. Plays can be e-mailed to studiowellington@bellsouth. net or mailed to: The Studio Theatre of Wellington, 11320 Fortune Circle, G-7, Wellington, FL 33414. Up to 10 of the submissions will be chosen for a staged reading presentation format at the Third Annual Festival of Short Plays to be held Oct. 2425. For more info., call (561) 204-4100.
Summer Series At RPB Temple
During July, members of Temple Beth Zion will participate in its second annual summer “Lay Rabbi” Series. From July 11-26, Harriet Mushel, David Bernstein, Kerry Baron, Alan Johnson, Lottie Robins and Ruth Baraoidan will deliver brief sermonettes to the congregation during Sabbath services Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Temple Beth Zion invites the entire community to attend Sabbath services. For more info., call the temple at (561) 798-8888. Temple Beth Zion is located at 129 Sparrow Dr., Royal Palm Beach.
the community, so I’m looking forward to re-establishing that.”
Paul said he understands the challenge of taking over for a well-established principal, but the fact that he’s a familiar face will work in his favor.
“It’s always a challenge following a principal who has been in one place for ten years,” Paul said. “The school has been in good hands and is operating at such a good level. It’s going to be a joy to come in here and put my spin on things and bring my energy to the campus, and bring it to even higher levels.”
Club is affordable and runs approximately $10 per year plus nominal fees for each activity of choice.
Mid-Day Reduced-Price Meals: Hot meals are served by one Palm Beach County representative with the help of community volunteers Monday through Thursday, and sandwich-style fare is served on Fridays. Full meals cost less than $3 per meal for those seniors who qualify. More information on the program is available by calling Trisha at (561) 3554737. If any of these programs are of interest, don’t hesitate to visit the RPB Cultural Center. Guests are welcome to stop by and meet with or call recreation leaders and instructors based out of the Cultural Center to help determine which program might be of interest to them. Office staff is also available specifically to answer questions about senior and cultural programming Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at (561) 790-5149. The RPB Cultural Center is located one block south of the intersection of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards, at 151 Civic Center Way.
Children’s Classes At JCC
The Wellington branch of the Jewish Community Center is hosting a series of music and movement/arts and crafts sessions for children ages 3 to 5. Dates are July 21, Aug. 1, Aug. 4, Aug. 8 and Aug. 11 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $100 for the five sessions. Classes will begin with high-energy movement and music, and finish with hands-on experiences. For more info., call (561) 253-6030.
CAFCI Business Expo Aug. 16
The Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement Inc. (CAFCI) will host their annual business expo on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center
PBSO Richter’s Report
continued from page 6 increase although the agency does not plan to hire additional personnel in Wellington.
Richter said most increases have to do with personnel issues and cost-of-living increases, as well as inflationary increases and fuel costs.
Richter’s semi-annual report included positive data about the past year and good predictions for the future. He noted that the traffic accident rate has decreased despite a population increase.
“Even with an increase in population, the traffic crash rate per person has not gone up,” Richter said. “We added two motorcycle deputies this year, and our traffic crashes have declined three percent this year compared to last year. You can see the correlation between our traffic crashes and our traffic stops.”
Richter said the program’s success is also attributable to computer tracking of accident locations. “We correlate our traffic enforcement to where the traffic crashes occur,” he explained. “Secondly, we focus on areas where we receive citizen complaints, and thirdly, it would be personal observations on the deputies’ part.”
Richter said the department had increased its presence at the Mall at Wellington Green, re-
(151 Civic Center Way, RPB).
This year’s theme will be: “Small Business Survival Guide for Tough Economic Times.” The event will host a mix of small businesses, government and non-profit organizations all gearing up to participate, network and share. The expo promises to be a potential great revenue source for buyer-seller partnerships and as well provide valuable information. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to network, meet potential customers, increase sales and have fun. Companies and individuals can display their business in a designated area for a donation of $50. The public will be admitted to the event free of charge. For more information, contact J. Amanayea Abraham at (561) 791-1618 or amanayea @aol.com, or Tinu Peña at (888) 609-8791 or tpena@motreco. com.
sulting in fewer stolen vehicles and vehicle burglaries. An extra deputy has also been deployed at the mall at the request of mall management with no extra outlay of cash from the village, he said.
Among the PBSO’s top goals in Wellington has been to lower the crime rate and eliminate gang activity. This has resulted in three gang arrests, 68 felony arrests and 166 drug-related charges, Richter said.
Wellington continues to have the lowest crime rate in Palm Beach County among cities of 50,000 or more, as well as a high rate of crimes solved, he said.
“This has a lot to do with the demographics of the city,” Richter noted. “It also has a lot to do with the relationships our deputies have with this community as well as the effectiveness of our Street Team and the detective bureau.”
In comparison to other cities, Richter noted that the village spends a lot less on law enforcement than Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, which have their own police departments.
“We’re spending a fraction of the money they spend on law enforcement services,” he said. “The bottom line is we’re doing a better job with less people. We want to continue that. We are not asking for any additional people in the coming year. I want to continue maintaining the same quality of service with the same amount of personnel and resources.”
Safer Roads — PBSO Capt. Greg Richter’s report included a slide showing how traffic accidents have declined as traffic deputies have written more tickets.
‘We added two motorcycle deputies this year, and our traffic crashes have declined three percent this year compared to last year. You can see the correlation between our traffic crashes and our traffic stops.’
— Capt. Greg Richter
Vana: State Is Not Solving Problems
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
In her “farewell speech” to the Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week, State Rep. Shelley Vana (D-District 85) said the state legislature misplaced its priorities by not making certain that education and agencies dealing with children’s issues had proper support and warned that a proposed “tax swap” plan headed to a November public referendum vote could devastate the Florida budget. The swap proposal would eliminate more than $8 billion in property taxes destined for school funding, to be replaced by a sales tax increase and the scrapping of some sales tax exemptions.
At the council’s June 19 meeting, Vana expressed her concerns about the state’s taxing system. “We have to close a lot of loopholes in the sales tax,” she said. “It’s quite all right to exempt food and medicines because people need them. But in the last hours of a session, a lot of special exemptions go in, and those are one cause of our budget shortfalls.”
Vana said she was concerned that a wide variety of specialinterest lobbyists would get their exemptions extended. “This could be very bad for our schools,” Vana said. “Right now, even a district like Palm Beach County is not offering any raises to teachers. Other systems are struggling to keep afloat. Our higher education system is even in more trouble. We’ve had an exodus of some of our highestprofile professors. Letting our universities die would be disastrous.”
The tax issue was not the only item left undone in Tallahassee, Vana said. “We did not solve the issues of property taxes or insurance,” she said. “We let the insurance companies find ways
Council Visit The New Park
continued from page 1 who think a park has to be a ballfield, you need to go out and see this one,” he said. “It’s beautiful and educational, and it’s informative. Everyone should go and take a look at it.”
Priore thanked Gayoso for taking the lead on developing the park. “We want to acknowledge the fact that this was your brainchild,” he said. “I truly appreciate what you brought to the community, along with many other people in Parks & Recreation. I give you all the credit in the world for envisioning this and making it happen.”
Benacquisto also applauded the hard work that had been undertaken to make the new park come to life.
“An effort of this magnitude takes a lot of people to make it happen,” she said. “For you to have the determination to bring this to your team and to see it through, we all admire you very much for this.”
HELMET LAW
around our regulations and only succeeded in lowering revenues. We need to either dip into our reserves now or cut into spending far more sharply.”
Vana said she was most frightened by a lack of projections of revenues and expenditures two or three years into the future. “We need to have more background information before we vote on it,” she said. In response to a comment from Councilman Matty Mattioli that the tax cuts benefit a minority, Vana said she was among the many who dislike the changes. “People are very frustrated,” she said. “They’re concerned about insurance and taxes, and we didn’t really fix anything. I see restaurants closing everywhere and businesses struggling. For people on both sides, there has to be a change away from blind allegiance to an idea whether it works or not.” Vana, who is leaving the State Legislature in favor of a run for Palm Beach County Commission, said she saw no quick end to local economic problems. “Teachers are leaving the area, and we’re seeing more empty houses,” she said. “Something should be done. After 9/11, we put in programs to keep people working. No one is doing that now.”
state lawmakers to make helmets compulsory for young riders across Florida. Called the “Nicole Hornstein Act,” the bill is named after a 12-year-old Acreage girl who died two years ago as the result of a horseriding accident. Damone introduced Nicole’s parents Gary and Monique Hornstein, noting that the adoption of the ordinance was taking place on the on the second anniversary of their daughter’s death. “It’s still amazing to me that we have come this far,” Gary Hornstein told the council. “We are taking steps to make sure this doesn’t happen to other families. Everyone we know rides. This is a good thing. It makes us sleep better at night.” Benacquisto, who initiated the ordinance, noted that the Palm Beach County League of Cities passed a resolution supporting the passage of state legislation two weeks earlier.
continued from page 6 eral area residents reported seeing two black youths about the age of 14 moving to and from the crime scene at the time of the crime. Although the suspects were spotted by a PBSO deputy, he lost sight of them before they could be approached.
JUNE 23 — A van parked in the Pointe at Wellington Green shopping plaza on Forest Hill Blvd. was reported vandalized Monday evening. According to a PBSO report, the victim told investigators she left the 2000 Mazda MPV minivan in the parking lot at 6:45 p.m. and returned at 8:38 p.m. to find the front passenger-side window had been broken and a briefcase containing miscellaneous paperwork had been taken from the front seat. There were no traces of blood or other evidence found at the scene.
JUNE 23 — A car parked outside a home on Wellington’s Paddock Drive was reported burglarized Monday night. According to a PBSO report, the driver told investigators she parked the unlocked car at her friend’s home for 25 minutes beginning at 11 p.m. and found items missing when she re-
turned, including a purse containing her wallet, ID and credit cars as well as $100 cash. Her friend reported her keys and purse, containing her ID, credit cards and other items, were also missing. PBSO investigators were able to lift three latent fingerprints at the scene.
JUNE 23 — A Wellington resident reported that the tailgate of his pickup truck was stolen sometime either Monday night or early Tuesday. According to a PBSO report, the Island Reef Drive resident said he parked his 2007 Dodge Ram in his driveway at 10 p.m. Monday and discovered the tailgate, worth $700, missing the next morning at 8:55 a.m. PBSO investigators were unable to gather latent fingerprint evidence at the scene.
JUNE 24 — Two women were arrested for shoplifting at the Macy’s department store in the Mall at Wellington Green Tuesday afternoon. According to a PBSO report, 19-year-old Precious Clark of Fort Lauderdale and 23-year-old Bernique Wilson of Pompano Beach were caught trying to steal $557 worth of merchandise from the store. Both were transported to the county jail.
In other business, the council approved the final reading and adoption of a village ordinance requiring equestrians under 16 to wear helmets and heard thanks from Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Michelle Damone, who noted that her board could only support a resolution in support of a proposal for a similar statewide law.
“Wellington is the international equestrian leader in the equestrian community,” Damone said. “I know; I spend my weekends here. I have a daughter who is an equestrian rider. I want to applaud you by being this bold by not supporting it by resolution but by supporting it by ordinance. I think it’s fabulous you could take the lead. If we were a municipality, we would be pushing this.”
The council requested the ordinance in order to express support for an ongoing effort to get
ITID Races 5 Hopefuls
continued from page 9 with our projects such as the expansion of Acreage Community Park, expansion of Hamlin Equestrian Park, implementing a public safety awareness program, and my number-one goal is to get a grant writer to work for Indian Trail so we can get more grants for sidewalks, roads, trails and beautification.” With fiscal responsibility returned to the district, Damone said public safety is now her top
“We are going to the general membership meeting tomorrow to ask every city in Palm Beach County to support it,” she said. Priore, incoming president of the Florida League of Cities, said he also would take the item to the league’s conference in Tampa in August. “I am hoping that the Florida league will take this and support it, and we would be able to send it throughout the state,” he said. “That will allow each individual city to see how important it is, and how important it is to pass.” Willhite said he knew that it was a tough day for the Hornstein family, but he was glad to see them.
“It usually takes a couple of years for legislation to pass,” Willhite said. “This is year three. Let’s make sure this is the one. We want to make sure that everyone’s child is safe in this community.”
Benacquisto made a motion for approval, seconded by Priore. It passed 4-0 with Margolis absent. Priore also made a motion to appoint Benacquisto as a voting delegate for the Florida League of Cities conference Aug. 14-16. It also passed 4-0.
concern, such as improving safety at Acreage intersections and empowering district employees in the field to report criminal activity directly to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s continuing the sidewalk program and ensuring that children have a safe route to school,” she said. “And it’s providing a safe place for equestrians to ride their horses throughout our 110-square-mile district. It is also very important to me not to raise taxes, but to increase the level of service.”
State Rep. Shelley Vana
Blotter
‘VINE-CUTTING’ MARKS OPENING OF ECOCENTRE ‘LIVING BUILDING’ IN L.W.
The Romano Law Group hosted a “vine-cutting” ceremony Friday, June 20 for EcoCentre — “the Living Building” — in Lake Worth. On hand were State Sen. Dave Aronberg, State Rep. Mary Brandenburg, Lake Worth Mayor Jeff Clemens, Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon and other local officials. The EcoCentre is Florida’s first office building of its kind — a 33,000-gross-square-foot, four-story structure incorporating natural “living” systems and “green” technologies designed to save energy, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption, and create an overall healthier environment. The building contains, among other things, “a living machine” — a technological innovation which allows for the on-site purification and recycling of water. The building is located at 1005 Lake Avenue. For more information, visit www.romanolitigation.com.
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Tom Ramiccio of the Lake Worth Chamber, architect Roger Stjernvall and Lake Worth Mayor Jeff Clemens with Shannon Materio and Mary Lindsey of Lake Worth’s Community Redevelopment Agency.A
bird’s-eye view from inside the EcoCentre.
Tim Hulett, State Sen. Dave Aronberg and Greg Rice.
John Romano (left) and his wife Nancy (holding the scissors) with other dignitaries and guests at the vine-cutting ceremony.
John and Nancy Romano, Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon, State Rep. Mary Brandenburg, Lake Worth Vice Mayor Retha Lowe, State Sen. Dave Aronberg and State Rep. Maria Sachs.
Romano Law Group Senior Partner John Romano addresses the audience at the EcoCentre.
John and Nancy Romano are presented a plaque by Scott and Jody Haugland in dedication of the new building.
Plenty Of Family Fun At Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals In Wellington
By Candace Marchsteiner Town-Crier Staff Report
Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals in Wellington cooked up a summer celebration with an evening of children’s entertainment and family food sampling during their Family Fun Day on June 18. While balloon artist John Watkins of the Extreme Balloon Team twisted up creations of tigers, monkeys, flowers and swords for excited kids outside, parents discovered homecooked menu possibilities inside.
Visitors enjoyed the aroma and tastes of Sensational Swedish Meatballs with buttered noodles, Ravioli alla Vodka and Producer’s Pasta — a chicken, broccoli and mushroom dish tossed in a light sauce with orecchiette pasta.
Young Sydney Cohen of Wellington, switching between bites of her “dirt cup” chocolate pudding dessert and kids’ favorite macaroni and cheese, declared them both to be delicious and added, “it’s probably the best macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had!”
The Mr. Food premise is sim-
ple. Customers order a meal or meals from a selection of 13 main courses on a menu that changes monthly. For extra guidance, each dish is classified as a Family Favorite, Freezer to Oven, Kid-Friendly, Guest Favorite, Weeknight Quickie, Party Perfect, Company Fancy and Lighter Option, to name a few. “Great Go-Along” options include kids’ meals, side dishes and desserts. Each meal serves four to six people and costs between $3.49 and $4.33 per serving, depending upon the number of meals ordered at one time.
Dishes can be tailored to suit special needs such as low-salt diets. Wendy Fish, director of marketing for the Wellington and Boca Raton franchises, suggests customers picture the store as their own kitchen, but without the labor.
“We do all the hard work — the stuff that’s not so fun like dicing and chopping,” she said.
“We also do the cleanup. In essence, you are cooking by assembling a meal and taking it home to your freezer, oven or stovetop with really easy-to-fol-
low directions,” she said. Sydney Cohen’s mother Melinda, a regular customer and busy mom, said she likes the convenience of Mr. Food NoFuss Meals. “It’s basically a onestop shop for me,” she said. “I’m always on the go, so time is an issue and I try to stay creative for my family.” Fish said Mr. Food is a real advocate of bringing the family together. “When you assemble a meal and bring it home, not only is it less expensive than a restaurant, but you’re bringing everyone together at your own table,” she said.
During the month of July, the Wellington location will offer delivery service as well. Fish said the concept is catching on as a practical gift-giving idea for baby showers or as an easy meal for club meetings. Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals is located at 10160 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 110 in the Pointe at Wellington Green. For more information, including menu selections, nutrition, specials and family fun activities, visit www.nofussmeals.com or call (561) 333-4044.
PHOTOS BY CANDACE
Kyla Campbell, Aiden Whitehall and Zachary Steinhauser model balloon hats made by artist John Watkins.
Matthew Cohen receives his sample from Kitchen
Manager Colin Johnson.
Sydney Cohen enjoys her sample plate of food.
Marketing Director Wendy Fish with Amelia Gehring.
Terry McManus and Elisa Whitehall explore menu options with owner Amy Steinhauser.
The Stars Must Have Been Right For The Fire Marshal’s Visit
Everybody knows I have a little antique shop up in North Florida. I call it a “little” but it’s really a 3,000-square-foot antiques mall where only one thing scares me — the thought of fire. This is because I have had a wonderful time over the last six years buying inventory to fill up the mall. People tell me my store has the weirdest stuff they’ve ever seen, and I take that as a compliment. Because how many teacups does a person really need? And an ashtray made from a dead alligator — now that’s something you don’t see every day. Because most of my weird stuff sells, I never worry my pretty little head about unsold inventory. However, it does tend to pile up. In fact, my store is currently stocked from top to bottom. I have chairs stacked on tables just to get them out of the way. Every cupboard is full. The design term “layering” has taken on a whole new dimen-
‘The
Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER
sion with me. So you can see where I am absolutely manic about having my fire extinguishers up to date, keeping my aisles clear and not putting anything in front of the fire exits. I have a big ashtray right outside the front door which I punctually empty into the dumpster. If I ever see a wisp of smoke outside, I trace it to its source and stand there until it’s extinguished.
That’s the preamble to my story. The amble is this: last Friday, I was having my typical fun time in the store — moving everything around and putting out new items. I dragged the “sold” furniture into the back for pickup and put all the old bottles into a shopping cart because I was moving them. Then I shoved the cart into the back hallway temporarily so I could greet a customer.
But it wasn’t a customer — it was the fire marshal. In six years, I have never seen the fire marshal, nor have I had furniture in my aisles or a shopping cart in the back room or two “sold” bookcases in the hallway. I should’ve known he would show up.
“Time for my walkthrough,” he announced. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Um, uh, well, I guess you could make sure my fire extinguishers are up to date,” I mumbled.
I showed him where they were and he checked the tags — they were good. I took him into the back room and cringed as he walked between the bottle cart and the two bookcases. He was fine. He asked me to remove an empty cardboard box that was blocking the electrical panel and I immediately did so.
“Sign here, please,” he said. “This is the neatest, cleanest antique shop I have ever been in. It’s nice to run into someone who appreciates that the fire department is trying to help them,” he said.
Then he invited my family over to his house on the river to go tubing and have a barbecue. The moment he left, I emptied that cart, finished moving the bookcases and made all my aisles even wider. I’ll tell him between the corn on the cob and the watermelon. And just before I put out the charcoal.
Love Guru’ Shows That Dumb Can Be Better Than ‘Smart’
The combination of lousy weather and comedies that actually interested me led to a doublecomedy weekend at the movies. I am old enough to remember the glory days of Get Smart on television, and since Mike Myers has a new movie out, I was actually torn between two films — something that seldom happens. However, when the weather makes swimming and walking unpleasant, the movies can be great.
Get Smart is actually not very much like the old show. As the original Maxwell Smart, Don Adams (who attended my old Bronx high school, Dewitt Clinton) was a total klutz. He was the antiJames Bond and his whole group, Control, was a joke. His partner Agent 99, played by Barbara Feldon, looked on him with fondness, and yes, probably a bit of romance, although she also seemed as much babysitter as romantic lead. To a large degree, Smart’s incompetence was adorable because she thought so.
‘I’
On CULTURE
By
Leonard Wechsler
The Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) of the new movie is an analyst turned agent. The problem with the film is that he actually is not a bad agent. He does a lot of the things James Bond does, including great stunts. As a result, the movie is generally amusing but is actually is too good to fit the old mold. The danger in the TV series was always overblown; nothing could ever really work. In this movie, the danger is real and Smart only occasionally manages to screw things up and is actually quite heroic. Carell plays the role in the Adams mode, as earnestly and seriously as possible, but the situation is not silly enough for huge laughs. Anne Hathaway is simply wrong for the part of Agent 99. The weird chemistry between Ad-
ams and Feldon is missing. The new 99 starts off despising Smart, then falls in love with him once he is a hero. Feldon was part of the joking; Hathaway is a beautiful straight woman. Unfortunately, the film suffers from a strange malady: it is too good, too intent on a good plot line, to be really funny. It is an action movie with some good jokes, but there have been a lot of them around.
The Love Guru does not have that problem at all. Actually, plot-wise it is about as stupid and juvenile as most Mike Myers productions. The jokes are often perfect for the average fourth-grade boy, like the name of the hero’s guru, Guru Tugginmypudha (Ben Kingsley). Many of the puns are on that level. The plot is simple: Guru Pitka (Myers) has to save the marriage of a Tiger Woodslike star of a hockey team. Beyond that, there is very little plot. Yes, Pitka lusts after the owner of the team, but since she is played by Jessica Alba, who could blame him?
Some of the situations are obvious. For example, Pitka uses the words “Mariska Hargitay” as his mantra of greeting for everyone, and the ac-
tress of that name shows up for a cameo. When you see elephants around and Pitka needs to create a distraction, it takes about two seconds to figure out in advance what the elephants will be doing.
As usual, Myers featured a lot of his friends in the film, including Justin Timberlake, Deepak Chopra, and, of course, Verne Troyer, the immortal Mini-Me of the Austin Powers films. Troyer is very funny, but since his role is mostly to be abused, you walk away feeling guilty about some of the laughs.
Most of Myers’ movies feature this type of juvenile writing. In the long run, although silly, it saves the picture. I laughed more, and the audience laughed more, than at the Get Smart film. The interesting point about these movies is that Get Smart was not as funny as it might have been because it was actually a pretty decent action film, while The Love Guru was funny because it sacrificed any sense of drama or real story to a steady stream of jokes. Comedy is funny that way. Or maybe it’s just me.
A Speedy Convertible Is My Antidote To A Faulty Alarm Clock
Last week my son Brian and his wife Ali had to be at the airport very early in the morning. They were taking a little vacation to Washington, D.C., a sort of second honeymoon. My wife Sharon and I were going to watch their kids for a week. I was looking forward to having my grandkids sleeping at my house for a week. But there was at least one drawback to the kids coming over — joining them in their stay would be my 20-percent dog EZ. The kids I was happy to have. The dog? Let’s just say I wasn’t so happy. Knowing my son and his wife are never on time for anything, we agreed they would be at my house 5:15 a.m. sharp for their trip to the airport. I told them we had to leave at that time because I had to be at work early and I couldn’t be late. In my heart I knew they would never be in my driveway at 5:15 a.m., but I was counting on a miracle. Well, a miracle didn’t happen, and I wasn’t surprised. At 5:30 a.m. I decided it was
Wondering & Wandering
By
Ernie Zimmerman
time to call them and speed them up. I expected to hear them say, “OK, we will be there in five minutes” (that’s what they always say). I was not ready for the surprise that awaited my phone call. After the phone rang four times, I heard my sleepy-sounding daughter-in-law say hello. At least that is the way it sounded to me. When I asked her how come she wasn’t at my house, the first words out of her mouth were “what time is it?” I can’t repeat what she said when I gave her
the time. She informed me that I just woke them up. For whatever reason, their alarm didn’t go off.
At this point, as I was looking into the mirror, I could see the steam rising from the top of my head. I advised my daughter-in-law to call a cab because by the time they would get to my house it would be too late for me to take them to the airport.
My son grabbed the phone from his wife and said they would be at my house in five minutes. The only thing I could say was “yeah, OK.” But guess what — they were at my house in ten minutes. When they arrived, I said I would take them to the airport in my car. This way I could go from the airport directly to work. One slight problem: their overstuffed bags could not fit in the trunk of my ragtop Mustang. I told them I would put the top down and put my son and the baggage in the rear seat.
Only one bag fit on the rear seat — my son had to sit on the bag and hold the other in his lap. As we were driving down Southern Blvd. I wondered why everyone was looking at us. And then it struck me when I looked into my rearview mirror and saw my son sitting on his luggage. We looked like the second coming of the Beverly Hillbillies (Wellington Hillbillies, rather). At this point the Hillbillies theme song started to play in my head. I knew my son was freezing in the back seat (but he didn’t say a word — he knew better). But at the airport he had plenty to say when he saw a sign noting a $2 charge for each bag checked at curbside. He was still yapping away as I left. With my great driving abilities, my son and his wife made their flight with at least 20 minutes to spare. I think I heard a faint “thank you” echoing behind my ragtop as I sped away.
• BOOMER’S MUSIC — The recording studio at Boomer’s Music is nearly complete. Summer workshops are available for beginners to intermediate students. Coowner Jeanie O’Neill has taken over as drum instructor and revised the lesson program. Boomer’s instructors give their all to students and are able to bring out the best in them. For more information, call (561) 656-1259.
• GLADES DAY SCHOOL — Founded in 1965, Glades Day School offers a balance of academic, athletic and extracurricular programs. Serving students from kindergarten through grade 12, Glades Day provides the op-
portunity for students to develop to their fullest potential. Accelerated math and science programs are offered to advanced students, and all students are offered a full range of programs from computer technology and foreign language to the performing arts. Registration for the new school year is on-going and financial aid is available to those who qualify. Glades Day School is located at 400 Gator Blvd., Belle Glade. For more information, call (561) 996-6769 or visit www.gladesdayschool.com.
• SACRED HEART SCHOOL — (NCEA-FL Catholic Conference-accredited, Sacred Heart School has an established history of excellence in education. We offer a low student-to-teacher ratio, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, before and aftercare, and bus transportation. Preparing your child for life... with love! Call (561) 582-2242, ext. 150 for a personal tour, or visit www.sacredheart schoollakeworthfl.com.
• TEMPLE BETH TORAH LEONIE ARGUETTY PRESCHOOL — Temple Beth Torah’s pre-school is committed to providing a nurturing and positive educational experience for children ages two to five, while developing an appreciation and respect for Judaism. Our curriculum is designed to foster children’s natural curiosity while encouraging their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. Call (561) 793-2649 for more information.
• TEMPLE BETH ZION RELIGIOUS SCHOOL AND PRE-SCHOOL — A Temple Beth Zion’s preschool, children of all faiths learn and play together. “My First Jewish Experience” is a fun Montessori-style experience for children ages 5 & 6, including vocabulary games, art, musical activities, Jewish holidays, prayers and customs. “More Jewish Experiences” (ages 6 & 7) is a continuation of the program, learning to read and write in Hebrew. For more information, call (561) 798-8888 or visit www.templebethzion.net. The temple is located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach.
• WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE JCC OF THE GREATER PALM BEACHES — Prevent summer boredom by checking out the Wellington Branch of the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Palm Beaches. It’s bursting with programs, including Camp Sunshine at the Good Earth Farm for kids who love horseback riding and working with animals, and Camp Rising Stars for budding performers ages 7-12. Call (561) 253-6030 for more info.
• WELLINGTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — Wellington Christian School has been serving the western communities since 1981, offering a Christ-centered education for pre-K through 12th grades. Accredited by SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and CSF (Christian Schools of Florida), WCS offers a competitive athletic schedule, diverse fine arts program, and extracurricular activities. For more info., call (561) 793-1017 or visit www.wellingtonchristian.org.
CONTENTS PREPARED BY THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT
TOWN-CRIER SPORTS & RECREATION
Wycliffe Hosts Top Young Golfers At Junior Girls Qualifier
By Paul Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report
Two Palm Beach County teens are among the seven who advanced to the country’s most prestigious junior girls golf championship at a qualifying tournament at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club held Monday and Tuesday.
Boca Raton’s Madison Pressel and Delray Beach’s Christina Ocampo will both be in Hartford, Conn., July 21 through 26 for the United States Golf Association Girls’ Junior Championship.
USGA Girls’ Junior Championship committee member Susan Roberts, the USGA official in charge of the qualifier at Wycliffe, said the July tournament in Hartford represents the highest plateau of competition for teen golfers. “This is the U.S. Open for girls 17 and under,” she said. “It’s their national championship. This is a really big deal.”
The tournament at Wycliffe opened with 39 golfers, six of them from Palm Beach County, vying for the seven available slots. Originally, 44 girls were slated to tee off at Wycliffe, but Roberts said several withdrew prior to the tournament, having been exempted from the qualifier stage — thus, receiving an automatic bid to nationals — due to their performance in other tournaments.
Roberts said the field for the tournament was slightly smaller than past years, when 50 to 60 golfers have competed for the opportunity to go to the
national championship. Despite this, the “strength of field” — a mathematical calculation that factors in handicaps, past tournament results and other competition factors — was strong enough to allow seven golfers to advance, she said.
Wycliffe offered one complete practice round on its greens to each competitor in the two weeks prior to the tournament. Roberts said competitors could schedule additional practice rounds on the course at their own expense.
On Monday, play moved along quickly after the 8 a.m. opening tee time, with pairs or trios of golfers squaring off in ten-minute intervals. Several players noted the greens were fast, especially on the back nine. Unfortunately for the golfers it was not quite fast enough, and play was halted at 12:40 p.m. Monday due to rain and lightning.
Following a nearly three-hour delay, tournament officials decided to suspend play and resume the next morning. Because the tournament was originally scheduled to take place in one day, numerous golfers were unable to compete on Tuesday, resulting in 16 duffers withdrawing before play resumed.
Ashley Alzate of Royal Palm Beach was the only local teen playing in the qualifier tournament. The 13-year-old was also among the golfers who did not finish the 18-hole course, as she had a competition in West Boca on Tuesday. “It was fun. I love playing golf and
getting to be with my friends,” Alzate said. “I knew mostly everybody there. Alzate said she has been playing golf for five years. “I like to be outdoors, and it’s not like you have to run or anything,” she said. “It’s really peaceful.”
Alzate, who will be a freshman at Royal Palm Beach High School this fall, intends to try out for the Wildcats’ girls golf team, where she would compete alongside her 15-year-old sister Genesis.
To be eligible for the qualifier tournament, girls must be 17 or under by the first day of the championship and have a handicap of 18 or under from competition in high school or American Junior Golf Association tournaments. They must have completed at least five 18-hole rounds in order to establish their handicap.
While most of the golfers were from Florida, the qualifier saw teens from as far away as Japan, Ecuador, Germany and Colombia in the mix.
Joining Pressel and Ocampo in advancing to the national championship are fellow Floridians Alexandria Buelow of Palm City, Erica Popson of Davenport, Olivia Lugar of Rockledge and Nicole Agnello of Longwood, as well as Colombian national Luz Alejandra Cangrejo. Cangrejo won the qualifier’s “medalist” designation with a 1-underpar 69, three strokes better than Popson.
Christina Miller of Atlanta, Ga. and Doris Chen of Bradenton are alternates.
An Equestrian And An Artist, Tia Lurie Follows Her Dreams
By day, she works for the company that delivers packages in a big brown van. But in her free time, Tia Lurie combines her two lifelong loves: art and horses. She owns two horses and also creates equine portraits and sculptures. The portraits are done in a variety of media, including oils, acrylics and through the computer, and the sculptures, which start out as resin and epoxy model horses, can be anywhere from one-inch-tall miniminis to life-sized fiberglass replicas.
“I also like to work in pastels, because I can achieve a range and balance of shadings, and get colors and textures just right,” Lurie said.
Lurie lives in West Palm Beach and keeps her horses in The Acreage. She has owned a variety of horses over the years and has done a model of each one. They sit on her shelves, all around the house. Sometimes she has done more than one, as the horse grows and changes over the years.
Lurie has been doing artwork professionally for eight years. She has done work for Horse Deals magazine in Australia, the AKC Chronicle and the AKC Gazette (she also paints and models dogs), and recently sold a full-sized model to a tack shop in Tucson, Arizona. She also does fantasy animals such as unicorns, Pegasus and hippocanths, which are half horse and half fish.
“I love doing this,” Lurie said. “Having a portrait of your horse hanging on your wall is really special. And doing the sculptures is also cool. When I agree to do work for someone, I really need to see the horse in person. I can work from photos, but I need a lot of up-close, detailed shots. It’s actually best if I see the horse and then take the pictures myself.”
The most difficult part is capturing the look in a horse’s eyes, Lurie said. “A lot of times, that’s where you really see the horse’s personality shine through,” she said. “That’s what I need to see up close. That intensity is hard to get from just a photo.”
Tales From The Trails
By Ellen Rosenberg
Lurie said one of her most challenging commissions was an oil painting of a Shire stallion. The owner wanted the horse pictured as he reared up, and Lurie had a lot of flying hair to deal with — the long hair about the hooves (called “feathers”) and the whipping mane. She was afraid he’d come out looking like a “giant poofball.” The portrait was fine, and the owner proudly hung it over the mantle. Lurie loves having her work appreciated. She calls it ego-stroking.
Lurie’s favorite work is a sculpture of her mare Jezebel. She started with a model horse, then stripped it down, removed the mane and tail and resculpted them, even adding little mare udders. After repainting it, she had a perfect replica.
“I think it’s really important that someone who draws or sculpts horses also knows horses and spends a lot of intimate time with them,” Lurie said. “You can’t just look at a horse and duplicate it correctly; you have to feel horses, know how they move, read their body language, which is very detailed and nuanced.”
Alice Mullins of The Acreage met Lurie at the barn where both keep their horses and found they also had a shared love of art. “I just adore Tia’s work,” Mullins said. “It’s amazing.”
Mullins, who does animal and Native American artwork, asked Lurie to do a sculpture of her mare Mandala.
“Tia’s work is outstanding,” Mullins said.
“There’s such a different quality to it, a depth of color, layer upon layer upon layer, to get the ex-
act look of a horse’s coat. She works on each tiny detail — the eyes, the nostrils — it’s all very intricately done. It’s 100-percent anatomically correct, and museum quality. Tia’s work really captures a horse’s essence.”
Brittany Wells of Las Vegas said she was compelled to commission a piece after seeing Lurie’s work. “When I was young, my uncle owned a ranch in Colorado, and I spent a lot of time there riding a big, insanely colored Paint-Clydesdale cross,” she said. “He had a huge draft body, feathers on his feet, and a wild Paint pattern. I didn’t have any pictures to give Tia, but I spoke with her and described him to her. I told her, ‘just make
the sculpture loud, bold and beautiful,’ and she sure did. She recreated something unique, and I couldn’t be happier with it. She did a fabulous job.”
Lurie’s projects can take anywhere from a few weeks or months to a year to complete. The price depends on the size, the medium and how much work is involved. Sometimes the inspiration comes quickly to her, and sometimes she has to wait for it to hit.
“In order for me to truly capture a horse in art, the horse first has to capture me,” she said. To find out more about Lurie’s work, visit her web site at www.freewebs.com/oceanfirearts.
Tia Lurie’s sculptures Godspeed and Decaprio
Hally Leadbetter is deep in thought before putting.
Marissa Kay and Jessica Schall confer with tournament officials after finishing 18 holes.
Nikki Yatsenick on the course.
Paulina Mustafa gets ready to drive the ball.Kristine Odaiyar swings.
Alessandra Kutz takes her swing.Elisa Aoki makes a successful putt.
Madison Pressel putts the third hole at Wycliffe Golf & Country Club while Jessica Negron and her caddy watch.
PHOTOS BY PAUL GABA/TOWN-CRIER
Kristin Swindell watches her ball.
Jessica Negron hits a long drive.
DREAM KILLERS WIN 2008
The Dream Killers 16-U baseball team recently won the 2008 Pony District tournament hosted in Boca Raton. The Dream Killers had to fight their way out of the loser’s bracket by defeating Boca 4-3 and beating the Lake Worth Falcons twice with scores of 3-0 and winning the championship game 4-0 to bring home the trophy. They will advance to the Zone Tournament to be held in Royal Palm Beach July 31 through Aug. 2. The team includes (front row, L-R): Jerry O’Connell, Matt Gudmondson, Matt Dorris, D.J. Lemus, Cory O’Neal, Brian Bussell and Danny Boivin; (back row) Coach Jerry O’Connell, Brett Koskan, Mike Campisi, J.P. Passeggiata, Shane Tingler, Kevin Hanlon and Manager Jeff Church. Not pictured: Tony Majdowski, Justin Beck, Juan Barrera, Rafael Pena and Coach Greg Beck.
PALM BEACH PRIDE WINS THE SUMMER SLAM JAM
The Palm Beach Pride 12-B travel softball team won its third consecutive championship at the “Summer Slam Jam” held June 21 and 22 at Seminole Palms Park. The Pride went undefeated on Sunday with a 4-0 record through outstanding pitching, catching and defense. They defeated the Plantation Pressure 2-1, the Contenders 3-2, the Gators White 4-2 and the Gators Black 1-0 to win it all. This victory gives the Palm Beach Pride the number-two ranking in the state and 36th in the nation. Pictured here are (front row, L-R): Tara Nelson, Abby Earley, Sabrina Fields and Sydney Sokolsky; (back row) Madison Kiper, Rebecca Gomez, Emily Rose, Katelyn Lindsay, Amanda Blanchard and Sara Dickerman with coaches Kory Kiper, Al Blanchard and Neal Dickerman. Not pictured: Veronica Terrero, Courtney Erwin, Katrina Polcari and Coach Andy Erwin.
USA Baseball 16-U Championships East Returns To Palm Beach County Venues
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission and USA Baseball are proud to announce the return of America’s premier amateur baseball tournament for athletes 15 and 16 years of age.
The USA Baseball 16-U Championships East returned to Palm Beach County for its eighth consecutive year on Saturday, June 21 and will conclude with its championship game on Saturday, June 28. The games are being held at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter and the Santaluces Athletic Complex in Lantana. Games begin at 8 a.m. each day.
The East and West Champi-
onships are conducted simultaneously in Palm Beach County and Tucson, Ariz. Both events field 72 teams and approximately 1,400 athletes from more than 26 states.
“The event fills rooms at more than 15 hotels in the north Palm Beach County area and generates over 3,000 room nights in total each year,” Sports Commission Executive Director Gerry Baron said. “Roger Dean Stadium is noted in the baseball industry as one of the premier facilities in the U.S. to host this kind of event. It is the only complex outside of Arizona with so many world-class fields in one location. Groups including the
Town of Jupiter and the JupiterTequesta Athletic Association, plus the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department at the Santaluces Athletic Complex in Lantana, all commit valuable assistance to make this event happen. This tournament is a great example of the community working together to showcase Palm Beach County as a sports tourist destination. Even better, it’s held when our tourism industry needs the business, during the summer season.”
The USA Baseball 16-U Championships is a grassroots development program. This tournament is used as an exclu-
sive selection vehicle for the Youth National Team Trials. At least 36 individuals are selected from the tournament’s collection of players. Those 36 individual athletes move through a ten-day training camp where they then compete for selection spots on an 18-man roster. The 2008 Youth National Team will compete in the Confederation of Pan American Baseball AA Pan Am Youth American Championships scheduled for Aug. 22-31 in David, Panama. For more information about the event, e-mail Jeff Singer at jeffsinger@usabaseball.com or visit www.palmbeachsports. com.
The Florida Sports Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $123,500 to sporting events throughout the State of Florida at its June 2008 board of directors meeting. The sale of professional sports teams’ license plates throughout the state provides the source of funding for the FSF board to award money to statewide sports commissions hosting the events. Locally, a grant was awarded to the 2008 Goode National Water Ski Championships, which will be held Aug. 12-16 at Okeeheelee Park. The 17 events granted funds are expected to bring over $24 million into Florida’s economy
and over 40,000 tourists to the Sunshine State between July and November 2008. Among the sporting events receiving grants are a variety of 13 sports and an Olympic-style sports event. Sporting events bring additional tourism to Florida causing a significant out-of-state economic impact on an annual basis. Since 1996, the FSF has been assisting communities around the state in their efforts to attract sport events and opportunities. This was the final disbursement of regional grants in the 2007-08 fiscal year. For more information about the Florida Sports Foundation, visit www.flasports.com.
Summer Hours At Wellington Aquatics Complex
The Wellington Aquatic Complex recently announced its new summer schedule. The pool will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. This schedule will be effective through Labor Day. Admission to the complex is $5 for adults 18 years and older, $3 for children ages three to 17, and $2 for seniors 55 and older.
“Sunday Morning Sunshine”
rentals are still available throughout the summer. Rentals begin at 9 a.m. and last until noon. Renters can decorate and provide their choice of food. The rental fee includes admission for the guests as well as lifeguards for the facility. The rentals start at $319 (plus tax) and must be booked at least two weeks in advance. For more information on renting the facility, contact the pool office at (561) 7532484, ext. 2836.
The Wellington Aquatic
Complex offers swimming lessons every two weeks with the next session beginning July 7. Interested participants must register prior to July 4. Swimming lessons are $55 for eight 30minute lessons for all levels from parent and child to adult lessons.
The Wellington Aquatic Complex also offers swim and diving lessons throughout the summer. These programs begin the first Wednesday of each month and run through the last
Friday of the month. The cost is $100. For more information, call the Wellington Aquatic Complex at (561) 753-2484, ext. 2836. When registering for the first time, register in person at one of these convenient locations: Wellington Aquatic Complex, Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) or Village Park gymnasium (11700 Pierson Road). Register online at www.rec.ci.wellington.fl.us with your household ID number.
• KEVIN PERKINS GOLF ACADEMY — Kevin Perkins, PGA Master Professional, was the director of golf at the world-renowned Champions
PGA professional ranking among 22,000 PGA members. For more information, call Kevin at (561)
Eleven-year-olds Brendan Gifford and Brendan Hessler of Sugar Pond Manor in Wellington caught this largemouth bass on
COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR
Saturday, June 28
• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will lead a Bird Walk on Saturday, June 28 at the Green Cay Wetlands (12800 Hagen Ranch Road). Hikers will meet at the entrance to the nature center at 7 a.m. Admission is free. For more info., call Sherry at (561) 963-9906.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Drop-in Story Time for ages two and up on Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.
• Palm Beach County amateur radio operators will work around the clock June 28 and 29 to set up field radio communications stations, get on the air and contact thousands of other operators in the U.S. and Canada as part of participation in the American Radio Relay League’s Field Day. Palms West ARC’s Field Day operations will be at the Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Station at the corner of Okeechobee Blvd. and D Road in Loxahatchee Groves. Setup time begins at 2 p.m. June 28. The public is invited. For info., call Rob Pease at (561) 358-9999.
• The Palm Beach Zoo’s Strike for Conservation BowlAthon will take place Saturday, June 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greenacres Bowl on Lake Worth Road. Enjoy a fun-filled evening while raising money and awareness for endangered animals worldwide. Sponsor forms are available by contacting fundraising chairman Ivan Heit at (561) 6298300 or ivanaazk@bellsouth. net.
• The Maltz Jupiter Theatre Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) Summer Conservatory students will continue their rendition of the Broadway hit 42nd Street on Saturday, June 28. Show time is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students under 18, and are available at the box office, at www.jupiter theatre.org, or by calling (561) 575-2223 or (800) 445-1666. The theater is located at 1001 E. Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter.
Sunday, June 29
• Pizzazz Hair Design will hold its annual Pizzazz Gives Back Day on Sunday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., donating 100 percent of the proceeds from all haircuts, color and spa services to Hospice of Palm Beach County. In the western communities, Pizzazz is located in the original Wellington Mall (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., 561-798-1100) and the Kobosko’s Crossing shopping plaza (9112 Forest Hill Blvd., 561-793-7373).
• The largest Open House Celebration in Palm Beach County will take place on Sunday, June 29. The Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches has teamed up with Comcast Cable and real estate industry leaders to present this open house celebration, a county-wide community open house designed to highlight thousands of homes available to today’s consumer. For more info., visit www.home2florida. com.
Monday, June 30
• The Democratic Professionals Council will host Congressman Robert Wexler at a luncheon Monday, June 30 at the Marriott CityPlace (1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). A networking reception will begin at noon, followed by a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $35 per person in advance or $40 at the door. For additional info., e-mail Michelle McGovern at michelle @democraticprofessionals council.org.
• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will continue Summer Story Times for ages nine months to five years Mondays through Aug. 1. Call (561) 790-6030 for more info.
Tuesday, July 1
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Craft Club: Storigami for ages nine to 12 on Tuesday, July 1 at 3 p.m. Combine storytelling with origami and you get “storigami.” To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.
Friday, July 4
• Start your Fourth of July celebrations with the Village of Royal Palm Beach at the annual Firecracker Golf Tournament held at the Links at Madison Green. A shotgun start at 8 a.m. will be followed by a barbecue luncheon at the Madison Green clubhouse, with longest drive, closest to the pin and other contests held throughout the morning. Register now with a foursome for $240 or as an individual for $60. Applications are available at the RPB Cultural Center
(151 Civic Center Way), the RPB Recreation Center (100 Sweet Bay Lane) or the Links at Madison Green clubhouse (2001 Crestwood Blvd. North). For info., call (561) 790-5149.
• The Village of Wellington will present an exciting patriotic lineup for the entire family on Friday, July 4. From noon to 5 p.m., the Wellington Aquatic Complex (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host a patriotic pool party. The Family Fourth Celebration will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). The day’s events will conclude with a fireworks extravaganza at 9 p.m. at Village Park. For more info., call (561) 791-4005.
• The Village of Royal Palm Beach will hold its annual Star Spangled Spectacular on Friday, July 4. The day begins with the Red, White & Blue Fishing Tournament at Lakeside Challenger Park; registration starts at 7 a.m. A Party in the Park at Veterans Park will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring music, crafts, games, waterslides and more. The day concludes at the Cruzan Amphitheatre with fireworks, music by Rumour Hazit and a classic car show by the Asphalt Angels Car Club; the gates will open at 4 p.m. and the fireworks will start at 9 p.m. For more info., call (561) 7905149.
Saturday, July 5
• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will lead a Walk for Health on Saturday, July 5. Participants will take a one-hour stroll in John Prince Park in Lake Worth. For more info, call Paul at (561) 963-9906
• A Gun Show featuring a wide collection of guns, ammo, knives, hunting supplies and accessories will be held Saturday and Sunday July, 5 and 6 at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.). Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults and free for ages 12 and under. Call (561) 7930333 for more info.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Hurray for the Fourth of July!” for ages two and up on Saturday, July 5 at 11 a.m. Enjoy patriotic songs played by the Clarion Handbell Choir and hear the stories that inspired the songs. Call (561) 7906070 for more info.
Sunday, July 6
• Pianist Copeland Davis returns to St. Peter’s United Methodist Church (12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington) on Sunday, July 6 to participate in worship services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Following the third service, everyone is invited to stay for lunch in Fellowship Hall. There is no cost, but a love offering will be received with proceeds going to the Carson Ruffa Fund and the St. Peter’s operating budget. Call Rachel Lever at (561) 793-5712, ext. 21 for more info.
Monday, July 7
• The Wellington Aquatic Complex (12165 West Forest Hill Blvd.) will offer Swimming Lessons every two weeks this summer with the next session beginning July 7. Swimming lessons are $55 for eight 30minute sessions for all levels from parent & child to adult lessons. The Aquatics Complex also offers swim & dive and diving sessions throughout the summer. The cost is $100 for expert instruction offered by Jennifer Floyd. For more info., call the Aquatic Complex at (561) 753-2484, ext. 2836.
• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will present “Around the World in Eight Weeks” for ages six and up on Mondays at 2 p.m. Library staffers use stories, music and crafts to travel to a different area of the world each week. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6030.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Creative Writing: Poetry” for ages eight and up on Mondays at 3 p.m. These classes will focus on turning all the great ideas in your head into poems. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.
• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will offer “A Southeast Asian Adventure” of recent travels in Thailand, Cambodia and Burma on Monday, July 7 at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). The program will start at 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more info., call Paul at (561) 9639906. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotown crier.com.
Royal Palm Beach Ale House: So Much More Than A Sports Bar
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
The Royal Palm Beach Ale House & Sports Bar is a lot more than a bar.
“People drive by and they think we only have typical sports bar food,” co-owner Cheryl Baker said. “And they don’t know about our top-ofthe-line pool tables, the special room for private parties or the 53 televisions we have in our place.”
Located in the Crossroads Shopping Center at Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards, the RPB Ale House is a roomy establishment. “We have one section of the restaurant that has a lot of arcade games right next to it that families love,” Cheryl’s husband John said. “The kids can play while the adults relax as they wait for their food. And most of the people without children sit on the other side of the restaurant where it’s quiet.”
Cheryl said excellent food sets the RPB Ale House apart from other sports bars. “We have some meals here you don’t get much elsewhere,” she said. “Every once in a while I make shepherd’s pie. And we have regulars who are on a list to be called whenever I do our chicken pot pie. Of course, like most sports bars and restaurants, we have wings. The wings are great. But we have so much more.
Many of our customers come in because they really like the food.”
John said the food is not only top quality, but that the RPB Ale House serves plenty of it. “You have a meatloaf dinner and you get 20 ounces of meat,” he said. “We even have a one-slice version for lunch, where you pay $5 for ten ounces. For the same price, you could also get a good chef’s salad, a nice order of wings, a chicken fingers club or platter. And we give 12 wings instead of the usual 10 and feature nine different sauces.”
New customers are sometimes surprised by the portions. “The first time people order our nacho platter and they get a huge plate piled high with nachos and chili, they just say ‘holy cow,’” John said. “That’s why our regulars keep coming back.”
Other dishes that keep customers coming back include dolphin, fried clams, grouper sticks, shrimp, steaks and fajitas (both steak and chicken).
They also have 16 beers on tap and 16 in bottles.
The bar features live music by local bands on Friday and Saturday nights. Specialty evenings include “Flipping Monday” in the pool hall section, where patrons can flip a coin with the bartender for a chance to get a free beer.
Cheryl credits their new party room as a reason more peo-
ple are discovering the RPB Ale House. “Where else in the western communities can you find a room that holds up to 50 people for a party?” she asked. “We’ve had some great parties here.”
John said the room and the rest of the restaurant are equipped to broadcast virtually any game. “We have the commercial licenses for almost all of the sports packages,” he said. “We get just about every football, baseball and basketball game around. Not only the pros, but a lot of the colleges. People like to get together in a crowd and support their favorite teams.”
The Bakers also believe in giving back to the community. “We live here in The Acreage,” John said. “We live only a few minutes from the restaurant. We know where our customers come from and we give back. We have four kids and know how important recreation is for them.”
The Bakers ran a golf tournament to raise money for the Acreage Athletic League on May 31 and were able to donate $8,000 to the cause. “We had 60 local golfers,” John said. “All our pledged golfers showed up and all of them wanted to help.”
“The event began as simply a fundraiser for the kids,” John said. “Then it became the first fundraiser. Then it became the first annual fundraiser. When
some people started talking about semi-annual, we had to say whoa!
The RPB Ale House offers plenty for the whole family.
“We have lots of televisions but we have eight-foot pool
tables near the kid’s area along with the arcade games,” John said. “And we have a new room with nine-foot tables where no one under 18 is allowed so more serious players can really have fun.”
In The Ale House — Royal Palm Beach Ale House & Sports Bar co-owners Cheryl and John Baker behind the bar in their restaurant.
PHOTO BY LEONARD WECHSLER/TOWN-CRIER The Royal Palm Beach Ale House & Sports Bar
Wellington resident, entrepreneur and dedicated Rotarian Mark McLean was recently awarded Riverside Bank’s Hometown Hero Award as recognition for his unselfish commitment to the community. He recently spearheaded a fundraiser that paid for 15 wheelchairs for an orphanage in a poor region of Jamaica.
Riverside Bank Branch Manager Alicia Foster presented McLean with a certificate and a Fossil watch during a celebration at the Wellington Rotary Club luncheon.
“We are delighted to publicly honor Mark for all he’s doing for the Wellington community and beyond,” Foster said. “Mark is the heart of what it means to be a Hometown Hero. And as a past Rotary president, we thought it would be fitting to honor him in front of his fellow Rotarians.”
Riverside’s Hometown Hero Program recognizes people with
• • •
positive community spirit, involvement in charitable and civic activities, and enthusiasm in promoting and supporting their home town.
Riverside Bank’s Wellington office is located at 12280 South Shore Blvd. For more information, call (561) 966-2888.
Since 1982, Riverside Bank has been helping people across Florida manage their money and achieve financial goals through a hometown style of banking. The bank is known in the home towns it serves for friendly service, helpful solutions and local decision-making, as well as local community involvement. Its hometown style of banking has made Riverside one of Florida’s fastest-growing independent and locally owned community banks, serving customers in 41 communities throughout Florida. For more information, visit www.riversidenb.com.
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.
Sho Clothes Talk By Hosts Dr. Scott Swerdlin
The Sho Clothes’ Sho Room hosted its second Shop Talk recently. Shop Talk is a series of monthly educational questionand-answer sessions hosted by Sho Clothes and the Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA). Shop Talk gives equestrians in the Wellington area the opportunity to converse with top professionals in the equine industry. The recent Shop Talk featured Palm Beach Equine Clinic President Dr. Scott Swerdlin. This month’s discussion focused on a hot topic: “Keeping Dressage Horses Sound.” Swerdlin acknowledged that upperlevel dressage puts a great deal of stress on the horse’s legs.
He recommended that once a horse has perfected difficult movements such as passage and trot extensions, those movements should be practiced on a limited basis. He also stressed the importance of proper shoeing for horses.
Swerdlin suggested that radiographs may help farriers and veterinarians find the proper angles for each horse. “If you are not working your horses on good footing, everything I’ve said can be thrown out the window,” Swerdlin said. Sho Clothes co-owners Michelle Hundt and Betsy Rebar Sell were both at the Sho
Room to greet guests and take part in the discussion. Hundt and Rebar Sell have always envisioned Sho Clothes as a dressage boutique that gives back to the equestrian community. The boutique has provided a great deal of support in the dressage community, from sponsoring classes in many competitions to sponsoring the Region 3 North American Young Rider Championship dressage team.
When asked about the discussion series, Hundt said, “many of our friends and patrons are staying here year round now. We wanted to present a forum at Sho Clothes for everyone in the community to network and learn from top professionals.”
GCDA President Noreen O’Sullivan was among the 30 attendees at this month’s Shop Talk. As president of the GCDA, an organization that aims to educate members about the sport of dressage, O’Sullivan has been very supportive of the Shop Talk sessions.
Last month’s featured professional, dressage trainer Oded Shimoni, was an attendee this month. The next Shop Talk, scheduled for July 8, will feature dressage judge Betsey Berry. The evening’s topic will be “How to Get a 10 from Your 6.5 Horse.”
Palms West Hospital Receives ACR Accreditation
Palms West Hospital was recently awarded a three-year term of accreditation in ultrasound imaging services as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology, making Palms West Hospital the only hospital in the western communities to hold this status.
This ultrasound accreditation is for OB, gynecological, general and vascular ultrasound including peripheral vascular, cerebrovascular, abdominal vascular and deep abdominal vascular.
“Our ACR accreditation reflects Palms West Hospital’s commitment to our patients and to providing the highest quality care,” Director of Imaging Services Joan Sinnett said. “We are very proud of this accomplishment and wish to thank all employees in-
volved in making this accreditation possible.”
The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment.
The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.
Palms West Hospital is located at 13001 Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. For more information, visit www. palmswesthospital.com.
Dr. Scott Swerdlin at the Sho Clothes talk.
Accredited — Palms West Hospital staff with an accreditation plaque awarded by the American College of Radiology (front row, L-R): Doris Silva, Roxy Caballero and Hannah Knight; (back row) Nora Romero, Nicole Dix, Raimi Rus, Aneta Nichols and Angela Mills.
Land Consulting Firm O’Dell Inc. Focuses On Equestrian Projects
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
At a time when many businesses in the industry are cutting back, the land development consulting firm of O’Dell Inc. in Wellington is expanding, having recently moved into a new, bigger office in the Wellington Business Center on Fairlane Farms Road.
“We’re growing,” Vice President Sue Giddings said. “With this economy right now, we’re very fortunate to be able to continue expanding. We’re fighting it for everything we can. We’re not going to let the economy get us down. We’ve been working very hard on marketing and developing our relationships in the community, as well as with our equestrian clients.”
And equestrians are not pulling the reins on development these days. “Equestrian clients right now are the ones who are actually out there doing things and spending money, so we’re very fortunate to have that niche market while the rest of the commercial and residential sector has fallen off,” Giddings said. “We do equestrian facilities, both commercial and residential.
We work with not only the small 10- and 20-acre landowners out in Palm Beach Point and other places, but we also work on large commercial equestrian facilities.”
Principal Mike O’Dell, a civil engineer by education, is a longtime Wellington resident. “The business has been here for nine years,” he said. “I’ve been a resident of Wellington since 1980, and I’ve worked in Wellington since 1978, so I’ve been out here quite a while.”
O’Dell Inc. has been in business since 1999, originally working out of O’Dell’s garage.
Giddings, who has a business and accounting background, worked 17 years in the land development industry before she partnered with O’Dell.
O’Dell said the company works with property owners to coordinate the work of land planners, architects, landscape architects and other parties involved in development, acting as the property owners’ representative, guiding them through the governmental approval process and helping them with the
land development process overall.
“In the maze of developing a parcel of land, there’s a process you establish, beginning with conceptualizing what you’re going to put on that parcel of land,” O’Dell said. “Once you’ve conceived that process, then the permitting process itself takes a number of steps that go in parallel with one another.”
O’Dell can work with the owner, and a land planner if necessary, to conceive a project. An engineer will coordinate the water supply and wastewater collection, stormwater management systems and other utilities on the site. The next step is laying out exactly what will go on the site, or part of it, if it is a large project.
Once the project is designed, O’Dell can take the project through the approval process involving various governmental agencies — a process that can be very confusing for the uninitiated. “Each governmental agency has their own processes that they go through,” O’Dell explained. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has their forms and regulations. The South Florida Water Management District has theirs. Any municipality that we are working in will have theirs. The federal government has theirs.”
Certain county standards must be met, including traffic standards, even though the project might be in a municipality, O’Dell added.
“Multiple things must go on once the project has been conceived and we have agreed with our owner that this is what we want to move forward with,” he said. “Once the permitting process begins to come to a closure and those permits begin to come in, then the construction activities begin, and we go out and submit the proposals from the various contractors. There are a number of disciplines there, as well. You’ll have not only your building contractor, but you’ll have your land development contractor who puts in water, sewer, paving and drainage. You’ll have the irrigation, landscaping, lighting, electrical. There are a myriad of things that go in the ground that all have to be coordinated so that the building itself can function.”
Giddings said one of the firm’s strengths is to give developers a vision of what to do with a project. Although the company has evolved over the years, project management has always been the core of the business.
“When I started as an individual, project management was where I picked up and ran with the ball,” O’Dell recalled.
“That’s how I really got started with this: managing the construction of water, sewer and paving. It has evolved into planning activities and permitting activities simply from the necessity of keeping a project moving forward. We fell into permitting because the permits were holding us up from going into construction, so we decided that we would handle permits as well.”
O’Dell said his company can now provide an overview of all aspects of a project from start to finish. “We’ve gotten into conceptualizing projects for developers just so they can get an idea of what they want to do with a
project, a schedule of activities so they will know how long it’s going to take them, and also give them a conceptual development budget so they know whether or not this is financially feasible,” he said.
Both Giddings and O’Dell have strong equestrian backgrounds that enable them to work well with the horse community. “We have worked more and more with local equestrians,” Giddings said. “I ride horses and have shown horses for many years. Mike’s two daughters ride and show. So we have that personal understanding of equestrians, so we’re able to sit down and help design and lay out an equestrian facility because we understand their needs.”
The firm also performs due diligence on specific properties and projects for prospective property buyers and developers. “We go out and look at the zoning, the legal aspects of what easements lie on the land, as well as utilities available, water, sew-
er, electric, cable TV, whatever,” Giddings said.
Giddings said they also advise whether rezoning or a land use change might be attainable for a specific property.
Equestrian property owners have specific areas of concern when contemplating a project, such as how much fill they need to bring the land to standard, whether they have proper drainage and whether the land has soil issues to address such as muck.
“They want to make sure they can put all the things on the property that they want,” Giddings said. “The barn, the size barn they want, the rings. Can I fit it all in there? Are there going to be any issues?”
The company can also advise as to the restrictions involved, where things have to be placed and how things have to go on the site, O’Dell said. “We also understand how an equestrian facility needs to function internally, so that equestrians can utilize their facility efficiently,” he said.
O’Dell Inc. is involved in community service, including the Palms West Chamber of Commerce where Giddings is a board member, and both work with several committees including the government liaison and economic development committees. They are also members of the Wellington Rotary Club and do a lot of charitable work.
One of their community projects is donating their services to the construction of the new Palms West Chamber building on Southern Blvd. at F Road, which recently started the permitting process. “It looks like we’re finally going to be able to break ground in a few more months,” Giddings said.
O’Dell Inc. is located in the Wellington Business Center at 3500 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 4 and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (561) 753-7296 or visit www.odellinc.com.
PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER
O’Dell Inc. Vice President Susan Giddings and Principal Michael O’Dell inside their expanded Wellington office.
The Law Office Of Alexander Domb — Since 1986, Alexander “Alec” Domb has been helping people plan for their families’ future, coping with the loss of loved ones and purchasing homes. The office’s highly trained and skilled staff of paralegals add to the uniquely professional and stress-free experience. Located at 8461 Lake Worth Road, Suite 418, the Law Office of Alexander L. Domb specializes in estate planning, probate and guardianship law and real property law. For more information, call Domb at (561) 347-6000 or visit www. aldlaw.org. Pictured here is attorney Alexander Domb with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members.
Edward Jones’ Kleiman To Host Retirement Seminar In Royal Palm
Edward Jones Financial Advisor Marc Kleiman is hosting a free educational seminar titled “Smart Choices in Your Retirement” on Tuesday, July
8 at 6 p.m. at his office located at 1168 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Suite 200-B.
During the upcoming seminar, participants will learn ten principles to help them make their money last in retirement, with the goal of providing a stable, steady retirement income. Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliates, in Canada and the United Kingdom. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in
the communities in which they live and work. The firm’s 10,000-plus financial advisors work directly with more than seven million clients to understand their personal goals — from college savings to retirement — and create long-term investment strategies that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. Edward Jones embraces the importance of building longterm, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today. Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis. For more info., visit www.edwardjones. com.
To RSVP for the July 8 seminar, call Kleiman, call (561) 790-3702.
Branch Banking & Trust — Located at 5614 State Road 7 in Wellington, the BB&T Corporation is one of America’s largest banks, offering full-service commercial and retail banking services along with other financial services like insurance, investments, retail brokerage, mortgage, corporate finance, consumer finance, payment services, international banking, leasing and trust. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C. with $121.7 billion in assets (as of March 2007), BB&T operates more than 1,500 financial centers in the southeastern United States. For more information on services and products, call Karen Stephenson, Maria Gordon or Elizabeth Mariaca at (561) 432-2731. Shown here are the folks at BB&T with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members.
Adcahb Medical Coverages — Adcahb Medical Coverages is composed of financial professionals who offer high-quality insurance and financial products and services to the individual and business marketplace. Adcahb
Public Service Commission Highlights Programs To Curb Rising Utility Bills
Summer has arrived, and along with rising temperatures come rising utility bills. The Florida Public Service Commission wants Floridians who are struggling to pay summer’s higher utility bills to know that help may be available.
“Higher fuel costs are impacting the bottom line for Floridians on everything from utility bills to groceries,” Public Service Commission Chairman Matthew M. Carter II said. “Everyone is feeling the economic crunch, and many utility companies, as well as local charities, have programs available to assist residents.”
Utility customers experiencing financial hardship may contact their respective electric company and local charities to inquire about financial assistance for utility bills. Customers can also call the PSC’s con-
sumer assistance line at (800) 342-3552 for more information about programs in their area. The following are some of the assistance programs available from the federal government and from the five investor-owned utilities regulated by the PSC:
• The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP is a federal, statewide program to provide home energy assistance. LIHEAP assists households that have incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level and need assistance to pay their power bills.
• Florida Power & Light’s Care to Share Program — The program provides emergency assistance funds to customers who are in a crisis situation and unable to pay their electric bill.
The funds are disbursed through local non-profit organizations.
• Progress Energy Florida provides assistance through the Energy Neighbor Fund The monies collected are distributed to needy customers through local aid agencies.
• Tampa Electric Company’s 62 and Up Plan — TECO’s program helps customers who are 62 or older work out payment options.
• Help from Gulf Power — Gulf Power provides emergency assistance to customers who need help with energy bills, repairs to heating and air-conditioning equipment, and other energy-related needs. The programs assist the elderly, the disabled, the sick and others who are experiencing financial hardship.
• Extended Payment for
Florida Public Utilities Company Customers — The company will, on a case-by-case basis, offer extended payment options. The company also refers customers to agencies that provide assistance. At least 18 municipal and cooperative systems throughout the state also have emergency assistance programs. The Florida Public Service Commission is committed to making sure that Florida’s consumers receive their electric, natural gas, telephone, water and wastewater services in a safe, affordable and reliable manner. The PSC exercises regulatory authority over utilities in the areas of rate base/ economic regulation; competitive market oversight; and monitoring of safety, reliability and service. For more info., visit www.floridapsc.com.
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