Town-Crier Newspaper June 29, 2007

W Wellington Mulls ellingtonMulls Incr Increase In easeIn T Trash rash Collection Rates CollectionRates

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

While the Wellington Village Council is considering a slight rise in garbage collection costs for residents this year, consultants warned Tuesday that the village itself can expect a sharp increase in the amount it pays for its waste collection contract in the near future.

The village is currently reviewing its budget for the 2008 fiscal year and is scheduled to set its assessment rates, including waste collection rates, July 10. Once adopted the council can lower those rates but not raise them. Final adoption of the rates and the rest of the village budget must be accomplished by Sept. 30.

Consultant Rob Ori of the Public Resources Management Group told the council he recommended increasing the residential automated collection rate from $91 per customer to $93, and curbside containerized services from $125 to $129. He said the increase is prompted by the increasing cost of solid waste collection contracts, a continued rise in operating costs mostly attributable to fuel costs, and the need to maintain working capital reserves.

Ori noted that the village had borrowed money to finance the purchase of automated-collection waste containers, and $795,803 of that would still be outstanding at the end of 2007.

Ori also recommended increasing the village’s per-unit assessment for surface water management from $120, where it has remained for seven years, to $135. The assessment funds the maintenance of more than 100 miles of canals in Wellington as well as associated pumping stations, water control structures and other flood control and drainage infrastructure.

Meanwhile, solid waste consultant Tim Hunt told the council that the village’s current waste and recycling collection contract with Waste Management, Inc. will expire in September 2008, and because the contract has no provision for renewal a new contract must be secured by a bidding process.

Hunt warned the council that both bid and negotiated collection contract rates have recently risen both around the county and across the state by 25 to 50

percent. He presented a series of options on levels of service for waste collection intended to keep costs down, which would involve reducing the frequency of certain pickups or placing tighter limits on the materials that can be collected.

Among the concerns raised by council members was how residents would handle a monthly rather than weekly collection of bulk waste items. Hunt said residents would have to plan their garage and home clean-outs to coincide with collection times, while the village would save money on a onceper-month pickup of larger items by reducing collection time and demand for trucks.

Hunt cautioned the council to be careful about offering services that please all residents because it might be very expensive. “Maybe I will decide I wanted to clean out the garage this weekend, and my collection is not until next week or until the end of the month or the weekend after,” Hunt said. “If you want to design a system for the convenience of everyone, you will pay through the nose.”

Councilwoman Laurie Cohen said she saw neighborhoods with a high number of rental units already have a problem with accumulating bulk waste.

“There is constantly junk by the curbs waiting to be picked up,” Cohen said. “I am concerned as to how we will address these types of issues. If we were to go once a month, it will be a bigger problem.”

Hunt said residents with bulk waste could call for a pickup outside the cycle, but they would be responsible for paying for the collection. He also said the problem Cohen described wasn’t restricted to rental communities. “Frankly I expected to find a problem with some of the rental areas,” he said, “but it was spread fairly uniformly throughout the entire village.”

During public comments, resident Alan Medoff said the automated collection trucks in the village had gotten sloppy in their work recently.

GETS ANIMATED

HARMONY IN THE STREETS CAMP

Luis Ledbetter introduces campers to K-9 Officer Clue. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 22A

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

An office and research park might be in store for Acme Estates, a sparsely populated, unincorporated enclave of 200 acres behind the Lowe’s home improvement store at the corner of State Road 7 and Southern Blvd.

Retired planner Ellen Smith approached county officials last week about approving a commercial overlay for the area, and some of its residents say they are ready for the change.

The county can transmit comprehensive plan changes to the state for review twice a year. Officials told Smith her request came in too late for inclusion in the July 19 transmittal, and must wait six more months, but Smith said the delay will provide more time to research the plan.

single-family units on 40 acres in the western portion of Acme Estates, to the north and east of the Folke Peterson Wildlife Center, which occupies 30 acres of the enclave.

But encroaching commercial development and heavy traffic have made the area inappropriate for more residential development, Smith argued, and an economic development center would make a better fit.

The county’s comprehensive plan defines economic development centers as office and research parks that permit manufacturing, assembly of products, processing, office, research and development, and wholesale distribution and storage of products.

Member Dennis Koehler introduced Smith to his fellow board members when they met last Friday. “Mrs. Smith is eager to receive approval from the Land Use Advisory Board so it would carry additional weight,” Koehler told them. “It makes sense to have an economic center in this location.”

Smith made an impassioned plea to the board to get the land use amendment process started this round.

“This neighborhood has been saddled with [low residential] designations and have been told repeatedly that’s all they can build,” she said. “Now the county is opening their arms to a job center. Certain property owners are saying, ‘yes, it’s appropriate here, we’d like to have you consider it.’”

“When we started this automatic system, it worked well,” Medoff said. “What I noticed recently is that there is a decent amount left in the street, and See TRASH, page 46ASee

Smith, a former county zoning director, has approvals for a residential development of 88

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria introduced the idea to fellow commissioners June 19 after meeting with Smith, but the commissioners took no action.

Land Use Advisory Board

Koehler made a motion for staff to initiate an overlay study, but it failed for lack of second. Board Member Neil Merin and

ACME, page 46A

Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches provided a free day camp for kids ages six to 12 at Palm Beach Central High School this week. The Harmony in the Streets program promotes respect for others and a positive relationship with local law enforcement officers. Shown above, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Deputy

Sheriff’s Office Makes Gains On Wellington Truancy, Traffic

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Among its accomplishments of the past six months, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office takes pride in its success at keeping Wellington youth out of trouble.

Capt. Greg Richter commands the PBSO’s District 8, which encompasses the Wellington service area, and presented his semi-annual report on law enforcement activities in Wellington to the village council Tuesday covering the period from October 2006 through May 2007.

Richter said that while District 8 had set a goal of increasing truancy apprehensions by 10 percent in the 2006-07 school year, his deputies had taken in 279 truants, an increase of 101 percent from the previous school year.

Richter told the council the PBSO’s truancy interdiction program in Wellington has been expanded into a youth intervention program. A youth intervention specialist had been added, at no cost to the village, to refer at-risk youngsters to various programs that could help them.

“A deputy can refer the individuals in this program, and that might be children who are in need of interdiction, chronically truant or runaways,” Richter said. “This is a clearinghouse for these youngsters who need help in Palm Beach County.”

Richter said retail theft arrests had also increased a dramatic 147 percent, with 260 arrests

in the past six months contrasted with 177 for the same period a year earlier. The PBSO had also identified six youth gang members in Wellington, but Richter said one had to be careful because the State of Florida has a set of specific criteria that must be met when identifying gang members.

“This has been an issue that has been brought to the forefront, and it is something that everyone is talking about,” Richter said. “The word gang is a very strong word. You can have an infection in your finger, and you can have an infection like AIDS which is life threatening. We can have someone who pretends to be in a gang, or someone who wants to be in a gang, or someone who is a hardcore gang member.”

Richter compared the gang risk for young people to the drug risk. “If you have young people in your homes, there is always the risk of them getting involved in drugs,” he said. “If you have young people in your homes, there is always the risk of them getting involved in gangs. The experts tell us that 80 percent of gang involvement is the pretenders and the wannabes. That means that if you are pretending or you wanna be, there is that risk. From the law enforcement perspective, we need to take it seriously. We need to identify the problem and have strict law enforcement, identify that illegal activity and arrest those involved, and that is what we are doing.”

The District 8 performance

goal on traffic issues was to see no increase in the crash rate, and Richter said the number of crashes in the village has remained fairly level and below the county average although traffic stops and citations have risen.

Richter also said his personnel had issued 1,217 tickets per month, up from 1,076 per month in the same period of Fiscal Year 2006, and the Motor Unit based at PBSO headquarters had issued an additional 544 tickets in Wellington.

Richter said property crimes had edged up slightly, particularly cases of vandalism and vehicular burglary. Richter said vandalism in Wellington typically consists of someone damaging a lawn or the mailboxes, and auto burglaries usually occur when items are left in cars at the mall or in driveways at night.

Richter said the PBSO aggressively targeted shoplifting in the Mall at Wellington Green, negotiating with the mall security to deploy a permanent deputy at the mall on a consistent basis. The PBSO is also continuing problem-oriented policing efforts at targeted sites in the village, with plans for a Sheriff’s Academy this fall and neighborhood cleanup events.

Richter said his district had formed a Street Team in February that focuses particularly on drug and gang activity and property crimes, employing surveillance and undercover operations and cultivating informants.

The team made 46 drug-related arrests from February through May, 24 felony arrests

and 80 misdemeanor arrests, he said.

Violent crime still accounts for less than one percent of crimes committed in Wellington, Richter said. Domestic assault cases had dropped from 12 percent to nine percent, he said, crediting the training recently received by his deputies.

“With the direction of council and with your consent,” Richter said, “all the deputies were trained in domestic interdiction and response, and how to investigate domestic violence cases. Study after study has shown that the most significant factor is that someone will repeat it. We’re pro-arrest when it comes to domestic violence.”

Richter said Wellington compares very favorably to other cities of its size such as Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach and Royal Palm Beach, both in terms of the amount of law enforcement it gets for each dollar it spends and for overall crime statistics. Wellington enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the county and can boast the highest clearance rate for solved cases.

Richter said the PBSO is focusing on reducing property crimes by five percent, maintaining traffic safety and reducing juvenile trouble calls and vehicle burglaries at the Mall at Wellington Green by ten percent, while expanding the role of the Street Team.

He said his personnel are working hard to insure Wellington does not experience an incident like the gang-related

PBSO Capt. Greg Richter addresses the village council.

shooting at the Boynton Beach Mall.

“We all know what happened at the Boynton Beach Mall over Christmas,” Richter said. “We don’t want anything like that happening here. We want to be as highly visible and as proactive with mall security as we can. Juvenile trouble is not a crime. Juvenile trouble and mischief manifests itself into juvenile criminality. That’s the number one reason for someone to get involved in adult criminality. These are quality-of-life issues.”

After the presentation, Vice Mayor Bob Margolis asked Richter about PBSO plans for the July 4 holiday, particularly regarding private fireworks, a source of stress for both eques-

See PBSO, page 46A

Our Opinion

The Fourth Of July: A Time To Reflect On Our Freedoms

Next Wednesday, Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, honoring the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the freedoms it represents. And because it will be the fifth Independence Day celebrated since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the issue of “protecting our freedoms” is still very much a topic of debate.

It’s understood that regardless of whether one supports the United States’ mission in Iraq, supporting U.S. troops is of utmost importance. Right now, our men and women are dying in Iraq, ostensibly to protect the freedoms we enjoy at home. Whether the current mission there has anything to do with our security in the homeland, the fact remains that they are fighting as representatives of democracy.

But what about democracy and all the freedoms we so cherish? Since the socalled “War on Terror” began in September 2001, our defense of freedom has been compromised by the need to feel secure in our borders. The problem is that while some of the provisions of the Patriot Act make sense (such as the sharing of information among intelligence agencies), some are far too invasive (allowing access to our library records). Left unchecked, it’s a very slippery slope, one that leads to an erosion of democracy.

Now that the war in Iraq has thus far proved more costly than beneficial (and based on false premises), it is safe to express discontent. Four years ago, howev-

Keep Your Homestead Exemption

The new Florida real estate tax proposal will have a devastating effect on homestead exemptions if you opt out of your homestead plan. I want to warn you; under no circumstances should you give up your homestead exemption!

There is a major difference in how the state will compute your real estate tax in the fu-

er, anyone who questioned the president’s rush to war was considered unpatriotic. The first amendment was under attack. Our free speech was reduced to bumpersticker slogans about killing terrorists. The national press did little more than cheerlead while bombs fell on Baghdad. And those journalists who opposed the war were criticized (or worse — just ask Phil Donahue). And freedom of religion? Not when many Americans still believe Muslims deserve discrimination.

So on this Fourth of July, Americans would do well to look back to our country’s forefathers and their fight for freedom. Even better, grab a copy of U.S. Constitution. Refresh your memory of the Bill of Rights. Only through the continued belief and protection of that document can our experiment in democracy continue to be a success.

As always, there are plenty of community events for the Fourth of July. The Village of Wellington will host a Patriotic Pool Party from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Wellington Aquatics Complex at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). This will be followed by the traditional Family Fourth Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. at Village Park on Pierson Road, culminating with a 9:15 p.m. fireworks extravaganza. The Village of Royal Palm Beach will be joining Palm Beach County to celebrate the holiday at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Gates open at 4 p.m.

And please, celebrate responsibly… and be careful with those fireworks!

Letters To The Editor

ture if you do. Homestead residence taxes are based on assessed value; the new super exemption plan is calculated on market value. The difference is enormous. Your homestead can only increase three percent a year maximum. Market value increases have no limit. In fact, between 1987 and 2006, the average appreciation was over 10 percent.

If I had to pay taxes on market value, it would have cost

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me $18,442 (37 percent) more. Why, because my market value has doubled in six years. My assessed value rose only 15 percent.

It is true that the new super exemption plan will save new home buyers money in the short run, depending on the price of their new home; but in the long run they will be paying more, because the new plan has no stop cap of three percent.

A home costing $200,000 will save you money for eight years, and then you will be paying more, according to tables published in the Palm Beach Post

A home costing $500,000 will save you money for only four years. Over time, depending on the cost of the house, we all would be paying more because the early savings would be eaten up by increase in market value.

If this amendment passes, new home owners will not be able to join the existing homestead exemption, and if you sell your home, you will no longer be covered by the homestead plan. Not only does it make no sense to opt out of the homestead plan, it does not even make sense for new buyers to go into the super exemption plan, unless they plan to sell their house in 10 years and move out of state.

This is a bad plan that benefits no one over time. It gives you a false sense that you are getting major tax relief, when in fact, in the short and long run, depending on the cost of your home, we all will be worse off.

This constitutional amendment must be defeated, if you want to “save your homes.”

Morley Alperstein Wellington

Hold Officials

Accountable

A county commissioner remarked in a local paper that if citizens in Palm Beach County are dissatisfied with how things are turning out and are looking to blame someone, they should look in the mirror as the government you have is what you deserve. I believe this reasoning is flawed, and I’ll tell you why.

I believe people vote for who they perceive is the best candidate to represent them. I believe our republic elected to have a representative government at all levels and thought by electing what they thought would be individuals of a high

degree of honesty and integrity, they would not have to be an oversight committee to police all levels of government.

Our assumptions were wrong. While pursuing the American dream and raising our families, we found that those elected to office became comfortable, forgot who they represent and neglected their constituency.

Maybe we need an oversight committee made up of not business people or government connected professionals, but people who could act on our behalf, since that role has largely been vacated by county commission members. I would suggest this county commission oversight committee be selected from our universities and be appointed by the governor. I believe that in light of current disclosures that there be an ongoing investigation of commission members whose activities have reached newspaper levels.

Judging from the fact that at a national level where our president’s approval record is at 29 percent and our Congress at 23 percent, it is not a look in the mirror but an automatic term limit that is called for, and since we have elections, let’s throw the rascals out.

Richard Nielsen Royal Palm Beach

Unger: Village Needs New Leadership

We have a village run out of 10-year-old trailers and a strip mall. We squandered millions in impact fees, etc. during the building boom, and while the state is slated to punish us at nine percent of our budget, our neighbor Royal Palm Beach has a 12-year consecutive tax cut and no state penalty!

Now it seems that our village officials/management have had their pants partially pulled down, exposing possible state violations. Comments from one staff member that council members were involved in village operations “way more than they should be” says it all. Furthermore, our illustrious village manager Charles Lynn’s quote concerning council members being involved in hiring (“it occurs more frequently in some jurisdictions than others”) is a tacit admission of violations of our village charter, which he was hired to uphold. Hey Charles, murder and mayhem occurs in some jurisdictions more than others, but isn’t one too many?

Our mayor likes to state that “the fish stinks from the head on down.” Hey Tom [Wenham], does that include your “now hiring” banner at Wellington Regional Medical Center? You are on its board, and [Director of Community Services] Paul Schofield is quoted as having advised them of its prohibition. And if [Councilman Dr.] Carmine Priore hadn’t complained, you would have continued this illegal and unsightly program. I believe [Councilwoman] Laurie Cohen doesn’t micromanage. Heck, in her first year as councilperson, staff had to go into town to prep her on information because she couldn’t attend local meetings — this at the taxpayers’ expense. She also wanted to secede from the county but couldn’t get another western community to join her. Hmm… I wonder why?

I was a personal friend to a (since retired) police lieutenant/ captain who ran our [Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office] substation. He advised me that more than one councilperson called him at home while he was off duty and, on numerous occasions, in violation of Wellington’s charter. Just because employees are scared to talk doesn’t mean “it ain’t so,” and the history of employees who quit (especially code enforcement and especially the number of code managers over three to four years — that’s six managers and temps), that absolute failure and cost to the citizenship on the fence/hedge policy, the waste of putting up community concrete fences (some on private property), the cell tower fiasco (hundreds of thousands), the park on a dump, the “worst maintained canal system I’ve ever seen” statement by a newly hired contractor, the Binks debacle, all prove ineptitude and, if micromanagement, the worst kind. In March of 2008, we get to address ineptitude, micromanagement, favoritism and a host of other unprofessional behavior. We need to clean our house, and we need more ethics.

George Unger Wellington

Atwater: Reform Gives Floridians The Break They Deserve

From the beginning, the tax reform process has been driven by Floridians like you. The people of our state asked for relief, and they provided vital input that helped us shape the reforms we passed in the recently completed special session. The Florida Legislature promised to provide immediate relief and protection for the future, and we delivered on that promise with this historic legislation that is the largest tax cut in Florida’s history.

There are two parts to this reform, a statutory component and a constitutional component. The statutory change is effective immediately and accomplishes two milestones: tax cuts now and a revenue cap forever:

• The legislation requires that all cities and counties cut property taxes in the upcoming 2007-08 fiscal year back to the 2006-07 revenue levels, with additional 3 to 9 percent cuts.

• The bill caps local government spending so that government will not grow faster than a family’s ability to pay.

• This legislation respects local control. All local governments have the op-

tion to override the roll backs and caps on revenue (by extraordinary votes).

The constitutional component (part two of the reform package) will be placed before the voters on Jan. 29, 2008. Voters will decide whether or not to authorize a new “super exemption” to every homesteader in our state, regardless of how long they’ve owned their home. Going forward, those who choose the “super exemption” will benefit from the cap on local government spending. We believe the cap will allow an annual growth rate of three to five percent per year. This amendment is predicted to provide an average of $1,300 in relief per homestead property owner in 2008 and 2009 — a 44 percent reduction in property taxes. In real terms, for many Floridians, that would amount to one mortgage payment a year, or allow a Floridian to fully fund a pre-paid college scholarship.

The constitutional amendment provides for a substantial increase in the homestead exemption. Homeowners will receive between $50,000 and $195,000 with the super exemption (depending on

‘The Florida Legislature promised to provide immediate relief and protection for the future, and we delivered on that promise with this historic legislation.’ — State Sen. Jeff Atwater

the value of their home), as compared to the flat $25,000 exemption in Save Our Homes.

Florida businesses will benefit from the constitutional amendment with a $25,000 exemption from ad valorem taxes on tangible personal property. Of the 1.3 million businesses expected to file this year, one million will receive a total exemption. Furthermore, they will never have to file the burdensome paperwork associated with the tax again.

The plan offers a reduced tax assessment on properties used to provide affordable housing. In addition, the constitutional amendment authorizes the legislature to provide a tax reduction to working waterfront assessments. Finally, the plan allows each homestead property owner to choose between the new super exemption or the current “Save Our Homes” plan.

Though some have said the tax cut will translate into a cut in education, the claim is simply not true. Education funding is protected by the state constitution. Each year, rain or shine, the legislature has increased funding. We can have tax cuts and a quality education for our children.

Floridians told us they wanted tax relief that was immediate, fair, responsible and predictable. The legislation we passed during this special session meets

Point of View...

By State Senator Jeff Atwater (District 25)

each of those expectations:

• It is immediate: taxpayers will begin receiving relief with their very next property tax bill.

• It is fair: it does away with the gaping inequities that have arisen and provides relief to every property tax payer in the state.

• It is responsible: it respects local control but requires governments to live within their means.

• It is predictable: no longer will Floridians need to worry about erratic spikes in property taxes.

You delivered a message, and we heard that message loud and clear. Thanks to your participation in the process — and the hard work of Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature — taxpayers will finally receive the relief they deserve.

Tax Reform Q&A: How State Mandates Will Affect Wellington

The recent tax reform legislation passed by the Florida Legislature will have a significant impact on the Village of Wellington. Hopefully, this column will answer questions you may have.

Q: What is “tax reform”?

A: Three bills resulted from the recent special legislative session. Basically, there are two components of tax reform:

• Tax rate or millage limitations which take effect right now: House Bill 1B creates a mandatory rollback rate for the village based on last year’s tax revenue minus another 9 percent, and

• Potential changes in the homestead exemption, subject to a constitutional amendment on the ballot Jan. 29, 2008 (the Florida presidential primary): Senate Joint Resolution 4B proposes homeowners have the option of keeping their existing Save Our Homes exemption and growth cap or transition to a new “super-sized” homestead exemption ranging from $50,000 up to $195,000.

Q: What does “tax reform” mean for Wellington’s budget?

A: For the coming Fiscal Year 2008, the millage rate would be rolled back to the 2007 level with an additional reduction of nine percent. That brings the tax rate from last year’s 2.7 mills to 2.3 mills per $1,000 taxable value. The 0.4-mill reduction translates to a $3 million reduction in property tax revenues overall. Additionally, while there are too many uncertainties to realistically gauge the impact on revenues from changes in the

homestead exemptions until the January election results, tax revenues may be reduced by another $1 million. These reductions in revenues mean the village has had to revisit its service model and is focusing available resources on “core municipal business” and hence, it is likely a number of services and projects may be scaled back or no longer offered.

Q: How much will each individual homeowner save under these proposals?

A: Based on the county’s tax rolls, the taxable value of the majority of Wellington homes continues to range between $100,000 and $300,000. If we use the high end of the range at $300,000, a reduction of 0.4 mills represents an average annual savings of about $120 to the village taxpayer.

Q: How did the village approach the tax reform and decide how or what to cut?

A: We built this year’s budget upon a “service business hierarchy” with four funding priority levels:

• No-Choice Core Businesses (Funding Priority 1): mandated activities and operations, required by statute or other authority, and that are fixed in nature or require no discretion in determining when and how the village carries out its responsibilities.

• Choice Core Businesses (Funding Priority 2): basic municipal services, though not required by law, in which the village determines the method, timing and/or scope of service provided.

• Quality of Life Services (Funding Priority 3): services that enhance the quality of life and/or customer experience.

• Community Add-ons (Funding Priority 4): premium selected services often requested by residents and others. We are ready to meet the challenges of tax reform. In fact, the plan we have put together exceeds the actions by the legislature. Within our service business hierarchy, we are looking at a target funding level of two — that is for core business services, both choice and no-choice services — to meet a target millage of roughly 2.20 mills.

Q: What programs are being cut?

A: We have already taken some actions in the 2007 budget: we implemented a soft hiring freeze in March (saving $650,000) and put a number of projects on hold subject to the coming budget review (saving $5.4 million).

Some examples of items that may not be included in the 2008 budget are: various publications and advertisements; special events such as the Fall Festival, concert series, egg hunt and father/ daughter and mother/son dances; the recreation guide; lobbying services; citizen surveys; community grants; sponsorships (including horse shows); school donations; Boys & Girls Club donation; Resident’s Academy; University of Wellington program; intern program and temporary services for special projects and vacancies; supplemental positions; reductions of consultant services; community redevelopment or neighborhood preser-

Point of View...

By Wellington Village Manager Charlie Lynn

vation programs; and special interests or neighborhood requests.

Again, these items are generally not considered core business functions of the village, but the council may wish to have some of these items added back in — millage permitting. As we work through the summer, we will continue to evaluate all services and projects.

Q: Why didn’t the village save money before tax reform?

A: We did. One of the first priorities of the council was to achieve a reserve or savings target of 27 percent of annual operating expenditures. This means the village has roughly $10 million in general funds not designated for specific expenditures. These reserve levels, combined with a disaster reserve of $3 million, have enabled the village to gain a AAA insured bond rating and AA underlying bond rating. Bond rating is the primary indicator of fiscal soundness.

We also saved money by not borrowSee LYNN, page 46A

Drug Arrests In Royal Palm; Residential Burglaries In Wellington

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

JUNE 14 — A traffic stop on Southern Blvd. June 14 resulted in the drug-related arrest of a Palm Springs woman. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, at approximately 12:54 a.m. a deputy from the PBSO substation in RPB was heading westbound on Southern Blvd. near the entrance to the Cypress Head development when he observed a white Volkswagen traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed. After turning around and following the

CRIME NEWS CRIME NEWS

vehicle for a mile and a half (and clocking it at 70 mph in a 45 mph zone), the deputy initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Lowe’s home improvement store. Upon making contact with the driver, the deputy observed an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy was given consent to search the vehicle, at which time he approached the front seat passenger, 18-year-old Amber Naranjo, the vehicle’s owner. Inside the glove box was a cita-

tion for driving with a suspended license, as well as a clear plastic baggy containing marijuana and a glass pipe. Naranjo was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. She was released at the scene and given a notice to appear in court.

JUNE 16 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested June 16 after a traffic stop in Royal Palm Beach revealed he was in possession of drugs. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the RPB substation was on patrol of the 9000 block on Belvedere Road at approximately 10

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

• Dahlia Jones, a.k.a. Dahlia McFarlane, Dahlia Collin or Dahlia Dukes, is a black female, 5’2” tall and weighing 195 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 05/08/59. Jones is wanted for failure to appear on the charge of obtaining property in return for a worthless check. Her occupation is unknown. Her last known address was Miramar Avenue in Royal Palm Beach. Jones is wanted as of 06/28/07.

• Marcaus Leasure is a black male, 5’9” tall and weighing 145 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 09/18/80. Leasure is wanted for failure to appear on the charge of possession of cocaine with intent to sell. His occupation is unknown. His last known addresses were Wellington Drive in Wellington and Capendon Avenue in Palm Beach Gardens. Leasure is wanted as of 06/28/07.

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

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

p.m. when he observed a white Chevy Lumina driven by 19year-old Chris Garth fail to stop at a red light. After determining the vehicle had illegal tint on its windows, the deputy made a traffic stop. According to the report, the deputy smelled marijuana emitting from the vehicle and asked Garth to step outside. Upon doing so, the deputy noticed a round blue pill inside a cupholder, which Garth admitted was ecstasy. A subsequent search of Garth revealed $642 in cash in his pants pockets, divided into separate rolls consistent with the “doper’s roll,” according to the report. Garth was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

JUNE 18 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach arrested a man last Monday for habitual traffic violations. According to a PBSO report, the deputy was stationed along State Road 7 near Pioneer Road conducting selective enforcement with a handheld radar unit, when he observed a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Shuichi Higuchi of Lantana traveling at a high rate of speed. After clocking the vehicle at 25 mph over the speed limit, the deputy conducted a traffic stop. Upon making contact with Higuchi, the deputy learned that his license was suspended. According to the report, a computer check further revealed that Higuchi’s license has been suspended since 2003. Higuchi was arrested and transported to the county jail.

JUNE 24 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in

Wellington responded last Sunday to a home on Via Elegante regarding a burglary. According to the PBSO report, the victim went out to dinner at approximately 5:15 p.m. last Saturday and returned at approximately 9 p.m. The next day at approximately 3:36 p.m., the victim realized that her precious jewelry boxes were mostly empty and a rear sliding door had been pried open. The value of stolen jewelry was estimated at $291,400. DNA evidence was collected at the scene. There was no suspect information at the time of the report.

JUNE 25 — A resident of Riverside Circle called the PBSO substation in Wellington Monday regarding a burglary. According to the victim, she left her residence at approximately 8 a.m. and returned at 1 p.m. to discover the following items missing: a Sony PlayStation game system, several games, a PlayStation Portable console and a gray Bullhead man’s watch valued at approximately $800. The deputy found no signs of forced entry. A latent print was lifted from the rear sliding door.

JUNE 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded Monday to a home on Sunnydale Drive regarding a residential burglary and a vehicle theft. According to the PBSO report, the victim left his home at approximately 3 p.m. last Saturday, leaving the rear sliding glass door unlocked. When he returned at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, he discovered that unknown suspect(s) removed a

Marcaus Leasure

Dahlia Jones

Tax Reform Group CUTTER Calls For Smaller Government

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Fighting under the banner that all politics is local, tax reform advocate Lillian Weis brought her message to members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

Weis, a Boynton Beach resident, founded CUTTER (Citizens Urging Total Tax Education & Reform) in February as a non-profit, non-partisan group to provide a platform for concerned taxpayers to fight what she termed “escalating property taxes and excessive government spending.”

Speaking at the chamber’s luncheon at the Outback Steakhouse in Royal Palm Beach, Weis said increasing property taxes, high insurance rates and a sluggish real estate market have made it “increasingly difficult to live and do business in Palm Beach County. This trend needs to be reversed if Palm Beach County is going to continue to thrive. Otherwise, more people are going to move away, businesses are going to have a hard time attracting employees and the county’s ability to compete economically in the region will be in jeopardy.”

Weis said Palm Beach County and other tax-levying authorities need to substantially cut taxes and spending, streamlining budgets to promote efficiency and control the cost of providing essential services. But they must understand that is what a majority of citizens want them to do, she said.

“I really believe in my heart of hearts everybody in Palm Beach County feels like we do,” Weis said. “But the county com-

Blotter

continued from page 6A safe and stole a vehicle that was parked inside the garage. According to the victim, the safe contained approximately $15,000 worth of jewelry. There was no suspect information at the time of the report.

JUNE 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched on Monday to Tiger Cove Park in reference to a vehicle burglary. According to the PBSO report, at some time between 10 and 11 a.m.

mission thinks it’s just a small contingent of people who aren’t happy and that everything is fine and there is no problem.”

Weis said she founded CUTTER to empower local taxpayers. “The perception is that citizens tend to feel powerless in the face of government taxation issues,” she said. “There hasn’t been much in the way of clear and readily accessible information available for concerned taxpayers in our area.”

To that end, Weiss said she created the web site www.tootaxed.com, which will help citizens create their own voice through education and unification on the local level.

“We want to be a constructive force and work with government officials to find solu-

unknown suspect(s) cut the rear driver’s-side window out of her Saturn SUV, which was parked at the park’s entrance. Stolen from the vehicle were a navy blue purse, Palm Pilot, miscellaneous papers, wallet and driver’s license, valued at more than $1,565 in total. A nearby vehicle was burglarized at approximately the same time. There were no witnesses at the time of the report.

JUNE 26 — A Domino’s Pizza driver was robbed Tuesday night while delivering a pizza to

tions that will result in lower taxes and a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars,” Weis told the Town-Crier. “Local government is the closest thing we have to democracy. Nowhere else can we effect a change and be involved. Everybody has been focused on the state level. I think CUTTER was the only group that started to focus locally. It wasn’t very popular. A lot of people said, ‘you’re wasting your time.’ Now what I was afraid would happen, has happened. The state has delivered, in my opinion, a very dismal proposal. I don’t believe it’s going to truly reform the system. I believe we need an overhaul, not only in how properties are assessed, but also in terms of funding structure.”

a home on the 12th Fairway in Wellington. According to a PBSO report, the driver arrived at the residence at approximately 9:30 p.m. As he walked toward the front door, the driver was approached by approximately five black males who had been hiding behind a wall. One of the suspects punched the driver in the face, entered his vehicle, stole a pizza and soda, and fled the scene southbound on the 12th Fairway. Deputies conducted a search of the area but no suspects were found.

PEACE AND JUSTICE DEMONSTRATION

The Palm Beach County Peace and Justice Coalition held a demonstration Tuesday at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and State Road 7, near the Mall at Wellington Green. The demonstration was held to protest the United States government’s use of torture as a method of interrogation. For more information about the coalition, visit www.palmbeachpeace.org. (Above left) Demonstrators display their signs to passers-by. (Above right) Wellington resident Gwynne Chesher speaks her mind.

Palm Tran Hearing On July 10

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 10 to receive comments regarding proposed fare changes to both Palm Tran’s fixed-route bus system and Palm Tran Connection’s paratransit service. If adopted, the fare changes would become effective Oct. 1.

The public hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the sixth-floor Commission Chambers, 301 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Interested parties may submit comments in advance of the hearing by calling (561) 841-4360, sending an e-mail to ptph@pbcgov.com, or writing the office at 3201 Electronics Way, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. Advance comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, July 6. Those completing a comment card prior to the public hearing will be afforded the opportunity to be heard.

A detailed description of the proposed fare changes is available on Palm Tran’s web site at www.palmtran.org. Click on “Meetings” in the drop-down menu at the top, then select “Public Meetings.” The proposed changes are also available for public inspection at Palm Tran’s administrative office.

Summer Art Festival In RPB

The Village of Royal Palm Beach is accepting applications for its Second Annual Summer Art Festival. The event will take place Saturday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Veterans Park. Individuals can enjoy food and beverages from the Wild Orchid Café, musical entertainment in the courtyard, and spend the day strolling along the park’s pathways to view the works of talented local artists. Interested artists can contact the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center for an application at (561) 7905149. The deadline to sign up is Friday, Aug. 17. Pictures must accompany applications.

Copeland Davis At St. Peter’s

Popular pianist Copeland Davis will participate in all three worship services at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington on Sunday, July 1. Davis will help the congregation celebrate Independence Day a few days early through patriotic music.

Davis’ fascination with music began when he was seven years old. He played in church for 13 years and has roots in gospel music. This would eventually tie together with classical training to create his unique style as a jazz innovator. The keyboard is Copeland’s kingdom. He can appear as a jazz pianist, but can also perform in the pop, rock or classical areas of the musical spectrum. The Florida Atlantic University graduate has appeared on The Tonight Show and Good Morning America St. Peter’s is located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Call Rachel Lever at (561) 793-5712, ext. 21 for more information.

Folke Peterson Seeks Volunteers

Folke Peterson Wildlife Center is seeking volunteers at its West Palm Beach facility. Volunteers are needed for animal care, maintenance and landscaping, assistance at fairs and festivals, front desk help, guiding tours, speaking and fundraising. For more information, call Angelique O’Brien at (561) 793-2473.

CUTTER — Lillian Weis presents her grassroots tax reform message.

PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

WELLINGTON ROTARY CLUB INSTALLS OFFICERS FOR 2007-2008

The Wellington Rotary Club held its annual installation dinner last Friday night at the Players Club in Wellington. Dr.

Jiveh was installed as the club’s new president. Many Rotarians were honored for their service to the community, including Mark McLean, who was given the prestigious Frank Gladney Award.

Don Gross, Leslie Pfeiffer and Jhaleh Jiveh with Saundra and John Mercer.

Rotarian Dr. Carmine Priore recognizes Mark McLean with the Frank Gladney Award.

Ben and Joanna Boynton, Betty and Raul De La Rua, Jasmine Velez, Jhaleh and Dr. Farokh Jiveh and Janixx Parisi.

Farokh

Steven Deinema (left) and Shawn Whisenhant (right) honor Palm Beach Central High School’s Carl Rosenberg.

Rotarian Deby Dahlgren says a few words.

Don and Maureen Gross, Ben and Joanna Boynton, Bob Morris, Susan Odell, Shawn Whisenhant and Dr. Wes Boughner are recognized for their service to the club.

Mark McLean, Pat Curry and Helene McLean.

Outgoing president Shawn Whisenhant passes the gavel to Dr. Farokh Jiveh.

County Board Favors Slimmed-Down Plan At Southern & Sem Pratt

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palm Beach County Land Use Advisory Board last week approved a land-use change for the Sluggett property at Southern Blvd. and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road that would pave the way for commercial development, but of only about a tenth of the square footage the developer requested.

In a 7-3 vote on June 22 the board approved 36,000 square feet of commercial use on the 65-acre parcel, rather than the 250,000 square feet requested. However, LUAB officials said the developer could apply again for approval of the 250,000 square feet once the Central Western Communities Sector Plan is in place.

Implementation of the Sector Plan, intended to set development limits in the unincorporated western communities, has long been delayed while county officials try to resolve objections raised by the state.

County staff recommended denial of the amendment. Staff contended that the larger square footage would comply with the Sector Plan if in force, while the smaller area would be allowable under an existing long-range traffic analysis.

Senior Planner Lorenzo Aghemo said the project does not comply with the existing comprehensive plan.

Property owner Geoffrey Sluggett told the board he was not a developer but that he had grown up on the property, rais-

ing and training horses and cattle, and that his parents still live on the property.

“The character of the area has changed dramatically,” Sluggett said, noting that he had been thrown from spooked horses several times while riding on the land since traffic in the area became heavier.

While staff had argued that the application was premature to implementation of the Sector Plan, agent Bob Bentz of Land Design South said the Sluggett family had waited long enough.

“When we filed this application,” Bentz said, “Geoff Sluggett and his father and I all talked and thought this was going to be an easy one. We are here with a recommendation of denial from staff. To say it is premature, we have difficulty with that. The request is 100 percent consistent with the Sector Plan. This is the largest intersection within the entire Sector Plan area. This is the big one. It was always identified as being commercial. There is a need today for commercial. Actually, there was eight, nine or ten years ago.”

Bentz said the Sector Plan had been in the works nearly a decade. “Will it ever be approved?” he asked. “What does that mean? We as property owners will have to sit and wait forever? From when it began in 1999, it has been eight years. The million-dollar question is, will it ever be approved? This is an important issue. We have been very patient for a long time. It’s time to move along and give these services.”

Bentz said the area was home to 28,536 people in 1999 but the local population reached 46,888 in 2007, accompanied by what he called “insufficient commercial growth.”

“It’s the fastest-growing area of Palm Beach County,” he said. “We are trying to make this an easy decision for the board.”

Aghemo said a settlement agreement between the county and the state’s Department of Community Affairs on the Sector Plan is imminent. An administrative judge will rule in July on whether issues raised by the DCA have been resolved, he said.

Katherine Murray was one of three board members voting against the application.

“I think it’s premature,” Murray said. “It has been identified as a commercial node, however those roadways, especially Seminole Pratt, are about impassible. To draw more traffic to that intersection is not appropriate.”

Nancy Gribble of Fox Trail was among several residents who spoke against the application, saying that the parcel is very narrow, and seven to nine homes are adjacent to it. “They are going to see it, feel it, taste it and smell it,” she said.

Board Member Dennis Koehler said that after looking at the staff report, which said the proposed amendment would comply with the Sector Plan, he intended to vote for it.

Board Member Harvey Arnold agreed, saying the owners have development rights. “They own the property,” he said.

“They have the right to utilize the property as they see fit.”

Board Member Neal Merin said that despite politically motivated changes to the Sector Plan, the Sluggett property had always been viewed as a future commercial area. “We’ve been looking at this as one of the solutions as where to put commercial needs,” he said.

Three other applications for land-use amendments in the western communities did not fare so well. The board recommended denial of applications for properties on Northlake Blvd., one at Avocado Blvd. and two at Coconut Blvd., following staff’s recommendations for denial. County staff concluded that the applications were generally too intense, inappropriate, premature and inconsistent with the proposed Sector Plan.

A project named Avocado/ Northlake Commercial II is a 35.31-acre tract at the southeast corner of Northlake Blvd., and 140th Avenue North. The application asked for a change from Agricultural/Residential with a density of one unit per 10 acres to Commercial Low with a proposed use of 153,810 square feet of commercial.

Another project called Coconut/Northlake Commercial II is similar to the previous application, 30.71 acres at the southwest corner of Northlake Blvd. and Coconut Blvd. It is Rural Residential, one unit per 20 acres asking for a future land use of Commercial Low. The proposed use is for 133,722 square feet of commercial.

Bentz presented the two projects at the same time, arguing a lack of commercial use in the area.

The board went along with staff’s recommendation for denial on both properties citing the grounds that the proposals were inconsistent with recommendations from the Northlake Corridor Land Use Study and the Sector Plan. Staff also deemed the projects inconsistent with the comprehensive plan by contributing to urban sprawl, piecemeal development and traffic increase beyond an acceptable level of service.

The board also went along with staff’s recommendation for denial of a project called Northlake Offices planned for 17.89 acres at the southwest corner of Northlake Blvd. and 112th Terrace North. The land use designation is currently Rural Residential, one unit per five acres with a zoning of Agricultural/Residential. The applicant’s proposed future land use was Commercial Low-Office with underlying Rural Residential for 155,884 square feet of commercial office. Staff recommended denial because the proposed amendment was inconsistent with the comprehensive plan and failed to meet longrange traffic standards.

Land Use Advisory Board members are appointed by county commissioners to make recommendations about land use amendments. Their decisions are advisory. The county commission has final say.

Former Emerald Dunes Manager To Run Binks Forest Club

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

KemperSports didn’t have to look far to land a general manager for the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington. The Chicago-based company, which manages the course for owner Aquila Property Co., has named Paul Makris to the post. Makris spent 15 years as general manager and director of food and beverage services at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach when that course made its reputation as one of the top high-end, daily fee golf facilities.

Binks Forest, which is scheduled to reopen in mid-November, is also being marketed as a high-end, daily fee facility — the only one in the area now that Emerald Dunes is private.

“Paul brings a wealth of knowledge

and tremendous experience from a highend, daily course, which is exactly what we’re looking for,” Aquila Property Managing Director Terry Strongin told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “We’re really excited that Paul has decided to join us.”

Originally designed by PGA tour professional Johnny Miller and award-winning golf course architect Gene Bates, the Binks Forest Golf Club opened in 1990 and quickly gained prominence in the golf industry, including a Golf Digest ranking among the “Top 75 Public Golf Courses in the United States.” The venue proved itself tournament-ready by hosting a major professional event — the 1990 PGA Tour Team Championship — in its first season.

Shuttered in 2002, the course suffered from several years of disuse and neglect, but restoration efforts aimed at reopen-

ing the course began last year, spearheaded by original architect Bates.

As he sat inside the Binks Forest clubhouse Wednesday, Makris said he couldn’t ask for a better situation than a team consisting of KemperSports and Aquila.

“I remember when this course was first open,” he said. “It was a great facility. Right now we want to bring that image back. My background with Emerald Dunes, as well as with my background in food and beverage, I think brings a lot to what the vision is here.”

Makris, who attended the University of Denver, lives in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife Judy and their two children, Jessica and Peter.

Prior to his career in the golf industry, Makris honed his management skills while gaining expertise in hospitality and food and beverage operations as general manager for a collection of upscale dining establishments around Palm Beach

County and the midwestern United States. Makris’ hiring demonstrates the emphasis Aquila and KemperSports are putting on the food and beverage aspect of the Binks Forest Golf Club. The clubhouse is still at least one year away from operation, but once open, Aquila and KemperSports expect it to attract considerable hospitality business within Wellington and beyond.

“The clubhouse facility is going to be kind of an event jewel,” Makris said. “There is going to be nothing else like it in this area. You can go a long way and not find a facility that can cater, not only to the numbers of people, but the quality of service we intend to provide. That’s the key for me with this group. KemperSports and Aquila are looking for a real quality product. Service and quality — that’s really the bottom line. All the things that have been done since the beginning have been geared to making that come to fruition.”

P.W. Hospital Begins Emergency Medicine Residency

Palms West Hospital recently added an emergency medicine residency to its list of residency programs in conjunction with the Palm Beach Centre for Graduate Medical Education. The first class will start in the beginning of July. This will add to the existing pediatrics residency and general surgery residency programs.

The emergency medicine residency program will be headed by Program Director Dr. Thomas Matese and Associate Program Director Dr. Mark Remz. The program also has the enthusiastic support of Emergency Medicine Chair Dr. Michael Zappa.

There are a total of 40 osteopathic emergency medicine programs in the country. In Florida, the only program currently is at Mount Sinai in Miami.

Dr. Bradley Feuer, regional director of the Palm Beach Centre for Graduate Medical Education, an alliance of HCA Healthcare facilities in Palm Beach County, is enthusiastic about the future of medical education at Palms West Hospital. “The success of our programs is directly attributable to the quality, interest and commitment of our outstanding faculty,” Feuer said. “The pride in volunteerism characteristic of our 100-percent voluntary faculty assures that they are doing this for the right reasons, and further generates an excitement in their daily practice that goes beyond that of ordinary patient care.”

Palms West Hospital is located on Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. For more info., call (561) 798-3300 or visit www.palmswesthospital.com.

New General Manager — Binks Forest Golf Club’s new general manager Paul Makris (left) with Aquila Property Company managing director Terry Strongin.

PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

LGLA Presentations Focus On Protecting The Area’s Wildlife

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association meeting June 14 centered on nature and conservation issues, featuring speakers from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Folke Peterson Wildlife Center.

John Cimbaro, a FWC fisheries biologist, gave LGLA members tips on creating or maintaining personal fishing ponds.

Cimbaro said the place to start is by establishing a mini-ecosystem with a good balance of vegetation. Plants are essential to maintaining the health of the pond, he said, and prevent the incursion of algae.

“If you want a healthy pond,” Cimbaro said, “plants are the key. What’s good for fish is good for wildlife. If you plant for wildlife, it will be good for the fish,

and a healthy pond will be good for both. A healthy pond will also be easier for you to take care of.”

Cimbaro said it is best to design a pond with lots of curves and contours to maximize the amount of edges because they attract fish and wildlife. Adding cinder blocks and various pieces of construction material can provide bottom and edge structure and shelter for the creatures in the pond, he said.

Cimbaro recommended using native plants, as exotic species tend to add too many nutrients to the pond water. Cattails sometimes work, but too many can wreak havoc on the pond’s delicate ecosystem.

“Cattails are a mixed bag,” Cimbaro said. “I don’t recommend stocking them, but in one of my fish management areas, it’s the only thing we can grow. If you see wall-to-wall cattails, that’s a sign of too many nutrients in the pond. When

they get like that, fish can’t get in there, and other wildlife can’t get in there. Carefully controlled cattails can be beneficial in a pond.”

Cimbaro recommended waiting six to eight months for the pond’s ecosystem to establish itself before introducing fish, starting with smaller creatures like minnows, shiners and grass shrimp. To add the upper levels of the ecosystem, he recommended stocking a pond with bream (bluegill and redear sunfish) fingerlings, followed by bass fingerlings. The growing bass will act as predators in the pond and the bream as their prey.

Cimbaro suggested keeping an eye on the condition of the bream. It takes a long time for fish to lose weight, he said, and stunted prey fish suggest an unbalanced population, with too many prey and too few predators.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conser-

vation Commission has information on creating fishponds on its web site at www.myfwc.com/Fishing/docum/ pond-bro.html. To reach Cimbaro, e-mail john.cimbaro@myfwc.com or call (561) 625-5122.

Vered Nograd of the Folke Peterson Wildlife Center discussed the reasons for the reported decline of turtle populations in Loxahatchee Groves.

Nograd said Folke Peterson is a treatment and rehabilitation facility for many animals including birds, possums, squirrels and reptiles including turtles. She said the main reason turtles are brought to the center, located on Acme Road near the intersection of State Road 7 and Southern Blvd., is because they are hit by cars.

“The turtle’s worst enemy is the road,” Nograd said. “That’s how they come to us. They come to us with punctured See LGLA, page 13A

Little Public Comment As LGWCD Wraps Up Year At Annual Meeting

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Ron Jarriel and John Ryan faced no opposition Monday in claiming new terms on the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors. As Jarriel and Ryan were the only two candidates for the two available board seats at the district’s annual landowners’ meeting Monday, no election took place.

The two seats carry terms of one and three years, and Jarriel was sworn in to take the one-year term. Ryan, who will serve the longer term, was absent and will be sworn in next month.

The board also named its officers for the year, with David DeMarois serving a second year as chair, Don Widing a second year as vice chair, Ryan resuming

his position as secretary/treasurer and Supervisor Robert Snowball a second year as deputy secretary/treasurer.

Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association President Marge Herzog was the only member of the public in attendance. She chaired the meeting while administrator Clete Saunier and attorney Charles Schoech delivered the district’s annual reports.

Presenting the audit report reviewing the district’s financial status for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2006, Saunier said the district’s total revenues were $1,312,664, a decrease of $183,151 or 12 percent compared with 2005.

Total revenues in 2006 exceeded the final adopted budget by approximately $16,123, and Saunier said the majority of the variance was attributable to amounts received for hurricane recov-

ery work pursuant to the grant agreement with the National Resources Conservation Service. Special assessments comprised 76 percent of total revenues in 2006.

Saunier said 2006 expenditures amounted to $1,450,178, a decrease of $91,732 compared with 2005. The decrease was partially attributable to reductions in operating expenditures and personal services, he explained, but offset by an increase in capital outlay expenditures on projects including the E Road Maintenance Project, the E Road Canal Maintenance Project, the F Road Equestrian Trail and completion of 2004 and 2005 hurricane recovery work.

The fund balance on Sept. 30, 2006 of approximately $56,000 included $1,162 in reserved funds and $54,835 in unreserved/undesignated funds, all told

‘We have had a good year. It has been an exciting year. I do want to compliment the district for the cooperation we are experiencing. We had hills to climb, and we climbed them together.’

— Marge Herzog

about four percent of the district’s budgeted expenditures for the 2007 fiscal year.

Delivering the attorney’s report, Schoech said his firm of Caldwell & Pacetti had addressed road stabilization and easement issues concerning Marcella Blvd., North Road and F Road during the fiscal

See LGWCD, page 14A

LGLA Protecting Turtles

continued from page 12A chests and other injuries. We will take the turtles and put special marine glue on both sides of the fracture, and we use a wire to put them together. Because they are cold-blooded, it takes a long time to heal, but it eventually does. They stay with us for a while. The problem is when the car goes over them, there are internal injuries as well, and they usually do not make it.”

Nograd said that she had been asked specifically to speak to the landowners about turtles, given recent news about the declining turtle populations in Loxahatchee Groves. Nograd said turtle and tortoise species observable in Palm Beach County and in Loxahatchee Groves include Florida snapping turtles, Florida mud turtles, red-eared turtles, stinkpots, soft-shell turtles, red-bellied and yellowbellied sliders and gopher tortoises.

Nograd said turtle populations, like other kinds of wildlife, are on the decline across South Florida because of increasing development that destroys their habitat. And the absence of a key species like the gopher tortoise can lead to the demise of others, she said.

“Specifically with our gopher tortoises,” Nograd said, “so many other species that are using their burrows are also endangered, such as the indigo snake, the gopher toad, the burrowing owl and many other species.”

‘It’s loss of habitat and encroachment of people into their habitat. Roads come and turtles suffer.’

— Vered Nograd

Some turtles are not yet species of special concern, she said, but by the time people realize a species is on the path to extinction, it is often too late. She takes 20 calls a day complaining about development and its impact on wildlife. “It’s everything all put together,” she said. “It’s loss of habitat and encroachment of people into their habitat. Roads come and the turtles suffer.”

Nograd said she previously worked in Fort Lauderdale’s Wildlife Care Center, and there are now too few areas of wildlife habitat remaining in Broward County. She doesn’t want to see the same fate befall Palm Beach County, but Folke Peterson staff face problems finding places to release rehabilitated wildlife. Sometimes someone finds a tortoise walking down the street and brings it to Folke Peterson because they fear a car would hit it.

“We get a lot of gophers walking in the streets, and people will find them and bring them to us. A lot of times, there is nothing wrong with them. I think, ‘where can I put you? Where is a habitat I can find for you?’

Florida has a beautiful habitat for species, but on the other hand Florida is a place where everyone wants to go to.”

For more information about Folke Peterson, call (561) 7932473 or visit www.fpwildlife. org.

(Above) Terry Timberlake of the Folke Peterson Wildlife Center shows Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Dr. Bill Louda a gopher tortoise that is missing its front flipper. (Below left) John Cimbaro of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. (Below right) Folke Peterson’s Vered Nograd.

LGWCD Annual Meeting

continued from page 12A year. The firm had also researched the effects of the incorporation of the Town of Loxahatchee Groves on district roads.

“Upon completion of the legal research regarding this issue,” Schoech said, “we are of the opinion that the public roads under the control, ownership and jurisdiction of the district may only be transferred to the city by mutual agreement of the two governmental agencies. Those roads, which are owned either in fee simple or by easement by the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, are district roads and remain district roads regardless of incorporation unless transferred to the city by the district.”

Schoech said his firm’s work also included cooperating with the new town on matters such as a joint use agreement for the facility in which they were sitting and also the funneling of gas tax revenues from the town to the district.

“We addressed some issues related to the newly incorporated Town of Loxahatchee Groves dealing with the gas tax revenues and various issues as it relates to the working together of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District and the newly incorporated town,” Schoech said. “Those issues all appear to be resolved. The town and the district appear to be functioning very well together for the benefit of residents and landowners in Loxahatchee Groves.”

Delivering the engineer’s report, Saunier said the agreement would allow an even greater share of gas tax revenues beginning in Fiscal Year 2009 due to a change in the calculation formula.

“If district-owned and maintained roads are allowed to be included in the gas tax distribution calculation for Fiscal Year 2009,” he said, “the projected revenue estimate could be as much as $220,000, or about 18 percent of the district’s budgeted expenditures for Fiscal Year 2008.”

The engineer’s report also detailed restoration work on North Road Canal and E Road Canal, a relatively quiet 2006 hurricane season, the effects of the worsening drought conditions and road maintenance/improvement activities including a district-wide paving analysis.

Saunier said a lifecycle analysis comparing the long-term costs of maintaining unpaved roads versus standard paving or stabilization with open graded emulsified mix (OGEM) showed that stabilization with OGEM would be more cost-effective than either other option. “OGEM stabilization is 22 percent less expensive to construct and maintain than maintaining the existing, unpaved roadways over a 20-year period,” he said.

“The district is currently evaluating the effectiveness of OGEM stabilization on F Road north of Okeechobee Blvd.”

Saunier also noted that the county provided $350,000 to stabilize Marcella Blvd., Compton Road and F Road north of Okeechobee Blvd. with OGEM.

During supervisor comments, Jarriel said he hoped residents would speak out to urge Palm Beach County Administrator Robert Weisman not to cut county commissioners’ discretionary funds from the county budget. “I have heard that Mr. Weisman is wanting to take the $1 million that each district commissioner is allotted and which would help the residents in this area,” Jarriel said. “I would like to see some members of the public get out and make some county commission meetings.”

Herzog, who is also vice mayor of Loxahatchee Groves, complimented the supervisors for working with the new town and said both sides look forward to working together in the years to come.

“We have had a good year,” Herzog said. “It has been an exciting year for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. I do want to compliment the water control district for the cooperation we are experiencing. We had hills to climb, and we climbed them together.”

Celebrate July 4 At The Fairgrounds

Florida Power & Light, the Village of Royal Palm Beach and 103.1 FM (the Buzz) have teamed up to host a spectacular Fourth of July extravaganza on Wednesday, July 4 at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre. The event will feature lots of patriotic family fun, delicious food, great live entertainment and one of South Florida’s largest fireworks displays.

The All-American Hometown Holiday Fireworks Celebration will feature local bands on two stages, face painting, games and activities for the kids, fabulous all-American food, dollar dogs, ice cold beer, baking and eating contests with cash prizes and a watermelon seedspitting contest. The highlight of this year’s celebration will once again be the world-famous Zambelli fireworks dis-

play. More than 4,000 shells will fill the night sky over Sound Advice Amphitheatre with brilliant multicolored starbursts and booming explosions that will amaze and delight both young and old.

The fun begins at 4 p.m. when the gates swing open. Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue will be on site displaying ladder trucks and rescue vehicles. Island Heat will kick off the music celebration at 4 p.m. on the Palm Beach Post side stage. Local bands performing on the main stage include the Hell Hounds and Hot Brass Monkey. Admission and parking are free, courtesy of Comcast. The Sound Advice Amphitheatre is located at 601-7 Sansbury’s Way at the South Florida Fairgrounds. For more information, call (561) 795-8883.

Taking The Oath — LGWCD Administrative Secretary Lynette Ballard swears in Supervisor Ron Jarriel for his new term in office as Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog sits on the dais chairing the annual meeting.

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

HCA Hospitals Honored By American Jewish Congress

On June 8, HCA-affiliated Palm Beach hospitals JFK Medical Center, Palms West Hospital and Columbia Hospital received the American Jewish Congress Civic Achievement Award for Corporation of the Year.

In combination with their annual Civic Achievement Awards, AJC this year bestowed a corporate award to HCAaffiliated hospitals in Palm Beach County. The last time the corporate award was given was 2001. The recognition is in honor of a company that demonstrates extraordinary leadership, vision and commitment to the principles and ideals upon which the AJC was founded.

The three area hospitals work constantly to improve the care they provide their patients, implementing measures that support their caregivers, help ensure patient safety and provide the highest pos-

sible quality. “It is a great honor to be recognized from the well respected American Jewish Congress for our community involvement and charitable giving,” Palms West Hospital Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lavater said. “Palms West Hospital and our employees are proud to give back to our community.”

In 2006, the three facilities collectively provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable contributions, scholarship tuition assistance reimbursement and uncompensated care. Through community outreach programs, hospital employees logged thousands of community service hours. Beneficiaries of the three hospitals generosity include 80 local charities. Hospital leaders are involved with many organizations in the community, serving as members of boards through hands-on volunteer work.

Project Grad Fundraiser — The 2008 Royal Palm Beach High School Project Graduation Parent Committee held a fundraiser last Saturday at Sport Clips Haircuts on Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Sport Clips donated the proceeds from the entire day’s sales to RPBHS Project Graduation. In addition, other retailers in the Southern Palm Crossing plaza generously donated to the effort. ESPN Radio 760 was on hand, as was Sporty, the Sport Clips mascot. (Above) ESPN radio personalities Russ Evans and David Lang with Sporty. (Right) Parent Guy Germain with Sporty. Special thanks to Project Graduation 2008 parent Tammy Germain, who volunteered to spend the day in the Sporty costume.

Columbia Hospital CEO Val Jackson, Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon, Palms West Hospital CEO Ronald Lavater and JKF Medical Center CEO Gina Melby with the awards from the American Jewish Congress.

Stadium Jumping: Improvements To Show Grounds Top $750,000

Stadium Jumping CEO Gene Mische and President John Canavan recently checked in on the renovation and resurfacing project that began June 19 in the Internationale Arena at the company’s facility in Wellington.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest possible standards on this show grounds until the day we leave,” Mische said. “We have worked out the details surrounding our continued use of the current location through the 2007-08 season.”

Mische added that, “replacing the worn-out footing in this arena is our absolute top priority. That project, of course, is in addition to our yearly summer renovations necessary to bring the show grounds back to our top standards after thousands of horses compete here over the winter months.”

David Steffee of Steffee Surfaces, the company spearheading the project, pointed out the challenges brought on by the drought.

“The toughest part so far has been with the rigid water restrictions we’ve faced during this drought,” he said. “There certainly isn’t any way we could have started any sooner. The past few months have been really difficult.”

Regarding the new surface project for the Internationale Arena, Steffee explained, “we’re removing all the built-up organic material from over 20 years of growth. We’ll end up removing about 1,500 yards. [International Equestrian Design CEO] Robert Jolicoeur has a textile fiber that we’re going to mix in as an ingredient into the new base to help it withstand over 500 horses a day. Then finally we’ll spring it with the ‘celebration’ grass, which is a new Bermuda designed more for turf fields and equestrian events. The grass has more leaves on it, which should help it recover faster and hold up better to the circuit.”

The new Internationale Arena surface is one of several projects underway at the show grounds. All of the show rings’ footing will be tested following

the torrential rains that occur every summer in South Florida. Landscaping needs to be repaired, replanted and maintained. The floors in all of the stalls in the permanent barns are resurfaced once every two years. Tent pads are rebuilt, and the miles of fencing are repaired and painted each year.

“With competitions every weekend throughout the winter, with the thousands of people we have here, the show grounds take a pretty good beating,” Mische said. “The summertime is when we have to revive the grounds. Of course we try to back that work up as close as we can to the start of the circuit so everything looks good right before our visitors arrive. But we’ll have it all ready for the National Horse Show. This year it will probably cost a halfmillion dollars just to tidy up the place and bring it up to the standards that we have always maintained. This is in addition to the money we’re spending to resurface the big field.”

Canavan, who joined Stadium

Jumping recently, bringing more than 30 years of senior management and strategic planning experience in a variety of industries, said the company’s goal is to continue producing high quality shows even as plans are underway to build a new show grounds off 50th Street in southern Wellington.

“The fact that we’re spending this amount of money on a show grounds that we hope to soon be out of shows our level of commitment to the equestrian community,” he said. “It’s not about squeezing things down to make money, it’s about doing what’s right for the equestrians that compete here on a yearly basis. I’m here to help Gene do that. It’s not about making a margin, it’s about maintaining Stadium Jumping’s proven track record of excellence.”

Stadium Jumping’s current Wellington facility, the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, is located at 14440 Pierson Road. For more info., call (561) 793JUMP or visit www.stadium jumping.com.

Stadium Jumping President John Canavan and CEO Gene Mische check up on renovation to the current show grounds.

NICOLE’S HOSTS KICKOFF

FOR ANNUAL FITNESS RUN/WALK

Nicole’s Village Tavern hosted a kickoff mixer for the 11th Annual Community Fitness Run/Walk last Friday. Proceeds from the mixer and the fitness event will benefit Hospice of Palm Beach County’s patient care programs. The 11th Annual Community 5K Fitness Run/Walk is scheduled for Nov. 3 at the Wellington Plaza. For more info., call Lauryn Barry at (561) 227-5157.

Run/Walk board members Regis Wenham, Cathy Crupi, Emilia Roca, Marlene De Luca Painter, Tensy Caine, Ben and Joanna Boynton, Michelle Garvey, Jill Merrell and Lauryn Barry.

Bob & Karen Cavanagh with Victoria Santamaria and County Commissioner Jess Santamaria.

Patty Lahman, Susan Goins and Michelle Garvey are part of the Luna Chix triathlon team.

Several Keyes Realtors came out to support the event.Jill Merrell and Matt Mounts with Chris and Kaitlyn Anders.

Hospice Special Events Coordinator Lauryn Barry and Michelle Garvey with the Village of Wellington.

The American Lung Association’s Veronica Cantillo with Justin Merrell of Ultima Fitness.

Anita and Ken Foster.

Joanna and Ben Boynton.

Tensy Caine with Mayor Tom Wenham and his wife Regis.

Anita McSharry, Diane Weaver, Jill Merrell, Linda Herring, Anita Foster, Karen Cavanagh, Sue Painter and Veronica Cantillo.

PHOTOS

My New Store Clerk Goes Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty

Today I must sing the praises of Rachel. Rachel is the new clerk at my antique shop; a girl so shy and hesitant that I repeatedly had second thoughts as to whether she was going to be able to do the job. Yet trust is very important to me because I basically hand a set of keys over to each clerk and then hope to heaven they don’t rob the store blind in the middle of the night. And I had a feeling I could trust Rachel.

From the get-go, I got a kick out of her. Because a different clerk is in the store each day, we rely heavily on notes to keep each other informed about what’s going on. Clerks need to know who’s picking something up and when, and if it’s been paid for, and what they should fill the empty space with. Well, I thought I was the Queen of Notes until

Rachel came along. Rachel produces her weight in notes each day. We got our first clue when we took a look at the spiral notebook. While it’s not very hightech, our spiral notebook is the way we keep track of each day’s deposit in case the owner (that’s me) calls in to see how things are going.

Usually, this notation takes four lines — one for the date, one each for the total cash, checks and charges. On Rachel’s first day, she used a full page. She had written down the amount of each sale, each check, each charge and what the customer bought.

“Rachel,” I said, “the sales receipt book is what tells us which items have been sold. You don’t need to do this.”

“Oh,” she said while she looked like she was going to cry. “It helps me think.”

Her reaction had me flustered. “It’s OK to do it,” I added, “it’s just time-consuming.”

“I don’t mind.”

The next time she worked, it was from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She called the next day’s clerk at 8:45 p.m. to fill her in on some details.

“Are you still at the store?” the second clerk asked, incredulous.

“I don’t mind,” Rachel answered.

On Sundays we open at noon. I got there early to take care of some business and Rachel was already there. She’d been there since 10:30 and there were customers roaming around.

“I was here anyway, so I let them in,” she explained.

“Rachel, have you ever sat down to figure this out? You’re spending so much

unauthorized time here that you’re making about 50 cents an hour.”

“I don’t mind.”

On Father’s Day, Rachel blew away the store’s previous sales record, singlehandedly bringing in $3,400 — triple what we usually make — in just five hours. I may have to consider giving shy little Rachel a bonus. She probably wouldn’t mind.

In Today’s Fast-Paced Movies, Something Gets Lost In Translation

Movies are paced too fast these days. Everything seems to go by so fast there is no real time to stop and smell the flowers. Or, in the case of many of our films, to stop and appreciate good acting through character development. I had a chance to watch a few old films this past weekend, due primarily to the fact that the TV networks have given up on providing anything at all worth watching.

I was watching some old Tyrone Power movies because there was a bit of a film festival in his honor on one of the networks. The films were well-paced, and many of the characters were part of the plot development. Here and there, the viewer found little morsels of exceptional performances in small roles. The supporting cast was as important to the story as the star.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night with a bit of insomnia and saw an old Deanna Durbin musical from 1940,

It’s a Date. The plot was certainly silly, if well meaning, but there was time enough for the star to sing Puccini’s “Musetta’s Waltz” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” Audiences used to be willing to listen to classical music, although there was also some contemporary popular music. Most of today’s movies feature songs from a variety of singers, seemingly chosen because they are popular. Unfortunately, many of the songs barely relate to what is happening in the plot.

The first movie I remember that used popular music effectively as background commentary was, of course, The Graduate. While most of the songs were not written especially for the movie, who can forget the opening of Dustin Hoffman moving through the airport with “The Sound of Silence” as the musical overlay?

There were a lot of songs written since for movies, many not memorable at all, almost none as erudite and

pointed as Paul Simon’s. Exceptions exist, of course. Springsteen was brilliant in his song for Philadelphia. But today’s music seems like today’s plots. Get it down, get it fast, and hope the audience is not paying enough attention to notice that no thought is demanded or even desired.

Why do we expect so little? Probably because films now have to meet the needs of the music video generation. When a number tells the entire story some people need in two to three minutes, that is what they will listen to. After a while, they may not be able to sit through a long film. A long film that places real demands on them will be in trouble.

That probably is another reason for the popularity of sequels. The audience knows the characters, so no time has to be spent developing them. All that has to be created is a series of action sequences that move the plot along so fast that no

By Leonard Wechsler

one has time to realize that there is no story.

And there certainly is no time for really good cameo sequences that show acting talent, push the plot and develop characters. And no time at all for anything much about classical music. Can you imagine any film where someone takes time to sing music that’s over a century old and actually spends more than three or four minutes focused on that instead of using it as background for something else? If you can, you certainly have a greater imagination than I.

ROBOFEST COMES TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE MUSEUM

Robofest took place last weekend at the South Florida Science Museum. A number of youngsters from local clubs showed off their robotic creations while the museum itself showed off a number of characters and creatures from TV shows and movies, including R2-D2 and C-3PO as well as Lost in Space’s robot. Making a special appearance that weekend were Lost in Space stars June Lockhart, who played Dr. Maureen Robinson, and Bob May, who played the robot B-9. Lockhart and May were on hand for question-and-answer sessions both days, posing with visitors for photographs and signing autographs. The museum’s “Robotics” exhibit continues until September. For more information about the South Florida Science Museum, call (561) 832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.

Bender, the robot from the

series

Star Wars favorites C-3PO and R2-D2.

Kids have some fun outside the museum.

animated

Futurama

PHOTOS BY

Shawn and Nicholas Franklin of Wellington, shown with mom Joann pose for a picture with Lost in Space star June Lockhart.

Gabriel Breindel of Wellington plays with a robotic arm.Visitors check out some of the robots on hand for the exhibit.

FLORIDA SHERIFFS YOUTH RANCHES DAY CAMP AT P.B. CENTRAL

Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches provided a free day camp for kids ages six to 12 at Palm Beach Central High School June 25-29. The Harmony in the Streets program promotes respect for others and a positive relationship with local law enforcement officers. Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were on hand, as well as Clue, a K-9 officer. Kids participated in various outdoor activities such as relay races and water-themed games that stressed team spirit. The motto is “Communication, Concentration, Cooperation and Commitment.” For more info., visit www.youthranches.org.

A blindfolded Shelbi Floyd is guided by her teammates through the obstacle course.

The children have fun with parachutes and water.

PBSO Deputy Rodney Hudson with Ethan Fayad.

PBSO Deputy Rodney Hudson throws a bucket of water on the unsuspecting girls.

Carah Leskovitz and Zahra Fayad with PBSO Deputy Luis Ledbetter and K-9 officer Clue.

PHOTOS

AMATEUR RADIO CLUB HOLDS EMERGENCY PREPARATION EVENT

The Palms West Amateur Radio Club hosted the American Radio Relay League’s Field Day June 23-24 behind the Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue station in Loxahatchee Groves. The purpose of the event was for ham radio operators to experience emergency situations. Radio and Morse code contacts were logged in from throughout North America, including more than 700 contacts in 46 states and five Canadian provinces. Call PWARC President Rob Pease at (561) 358-9999 for more information about the club.

An outside view of the temporary radio base camp.

Hugh Connolly makes contact with another ham operator.

(L-R) Tom Thompson, John Samuels, Robert Pease and Hugh Connolly.

Bob Gosk adjusts the antenna for better reception.

Palms West Amateur Radio Club President Robert Pease makes contacts and logs them in.

CARTOON NETWORK TOUR VISITS LION COUNTRY SAFARI

Lion Country Safari hosted the Cartoon Network’s Get Animated Tour last Wednesday. Activities included soccer, stationary biking, hula-hooping, a limbo contest and prize giveaways. A special park admission price included all the regular Lion Country Safari attractions as well. All the kids received a goody bag with a water bottle, temporary tattoos and a wristband watch. The tour promotes healthy living by motivating kids to exercise to keep in shape. Lion Country Safari is located on Lion Country Safari Road in Loxahatchee. For more information, call (561) 793-1084 or visit www.lioncountrysafari.com.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Lion Country Safari marketing coordinator Heidi Roth.

Dakota Demaria makes his way through the obstacle course.

Katie Clements tries her hand at limbo.

Hula-hoopers Dante Ficarelli and Sabrina Goldson.Rhiannon Boffa jumps rope.Day camp counselor Sean Long leads some hula-hoopers

Freedom Shores Elementary School campers listen as Nicole Hall and Ben Kabaci discuss the American alligator and Florida king snake.

Paige Hollander feeds Bobby the giraffe.

Jean Paul and Corey McPherson try the Safari Falls waterslide.

Sony PlayStation 4 prize winner Hunter Johnson with friend James Hamilton.

Lories perch on Sarah Larson’s head and shoulder.

Haley Bethume rides a stationary bike.

Flyers

Save Their Best For Last In Wellington Roller Hockey Championship

The Wellington roller hockey season ended on Saturday, May 12 with an unexpected finish. After a sub-par season the Junior Division Flyers entered the playoffs at Pierson Park in Wellington with high hopes and modest expectations.

In a close semifinal game against the Lightning, the 4-6-2 Flyers quickly jumped out to an early lead on a goal by Nikko Akel. Superb goaltending by Kevin Pajor of the Lightning kept the score close entering the third period. The Flyers continued to press for the go-ahead goal, and solid defense from Shannon Makus and Gary Schoen kept the Lightning off the scoreboard. Jared Tosner finally netted the go-ahead goal, his second of the game, with just 1:23 remaining in regulation. But the Lightning scored the equalizer just 15 seconds later on a goal by Sean

Acreage Teacher

Bodybuilding Champ

Acreage Pines Elementary School guidance counselor and Acreage resident Keith Grieser swept the West Palm Beach Bodybuilding Championships on Saturday, June 24 at William T. Dwyer High School.

Grieser won the Master’s Overall title, the Open Middleweight title and the Open Overall title for a sweep of the entire contest.

Grieser next plans on competing in the Southern States Bodybuilding Championships on July 14 in Fort Lauderdale, as well as the NABBA Nationals Oct. 6 in Harrisburg, Penn., with

Tejani, his third of the game. Then, with the clock winding down, Tejani stole the puck and broke in alone on the Flyer goalie.

With the seconds counting down and the game and season on the line, Flyers goalie Michael McLean made a terrific save, sending the fans into a frenzy and the game into overtime. Energized by McLean’s key save, the Flyers quickly went on the offensive, with Zack Shephard scoring the game winner on assist from Jack Seltzer and Shannon Makus just 1:42 into overtime. The 5-4 win put the underdog Flyers into the championship game against the top-seeded Bruins.

In the championship game, the Flyers relied on teamwork and a solid defensive effort from Jake Seltzer, Gary Schoen and Justin Modist for an 8-4 victory

the opportunity to represent the United States at the Mr. Universe contest in London.

Also competing in the June 24 contest was Kevius Hodges, another Acreage resident and Acreage Pines teacher. He finished fourth in the light heavyweight class.

Players Sought For Touch Football

Players age 18 and over are needed for touch/flag football games every Sunday at 9 a.m. The pickup games will be played in the Wellington/Royal Palm Beach area. Call Patrick Hession at (561) 798-3900 for the location and details.

over the Bruins. Another solid goaltending performance by McLean combined with impressive play from brothers Chris and Nikko Akel helped the Flyers secure the championship trophy. Flyers captain Jared Tosner was the star of the game scoring five of the Flyers’ eight goals. The Flyers also received key goals from Xavier Johnson, Zack Shephard and Gary Schoen, his first of the season.

The Flyers attributed their success in the playoffs to hard work in practice and a commitment to teamwork. Coach John Tosner, who has coached in the Wellington Roller Hockey Association for over 10 years, will be running a hockey camp in July and August. For information about roller hockey registration, tryout dates and hockey camp dates, call Jill at Wellington Recreation at (561) 791-4786.

8-U ALL-STARS ADVANCE TO STATE

The Wellington 8-U All-Star baseball team won the district tournament recently held in Royal Palm Beach and will now advance to the state tournament in Tamiami. The team members include (front row) Alec Mendez, Logan Fiore, Hunter Prescott, Alex Rodney, Kyle Black; (middle row) coach Paul Prescott, Ben Schmickle, Xavier Edwards, Greg Balicki, Morgan Mendez, Brandon Clark, Mark Tenore, Nick Shumilla and coach Sam Fiore; and (back) coach David Black, coach Miguel Mendez, coach Steve Tenore and coach Greg Balicki.

Hockey Champs — The Junior Division Flyers include (front row) goalie Michael McLean; (second row) Nikko Akel, Justin Modist and Xavier Johnson; (third row) Chris Akel, Jared Tosner, Zack Shephard, Jake Seltzer and Gary Schoen; and (back row) coaches John Tosner and Jeff Shephard.

Katherine Newman Goes Back-to-Back with Nairobi — Katherine Newman and Nairobi earned the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division championship last weekend at the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II. This is the second tricolor for the pair at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. The previous week, they championed at the Showplace Spring Spectacular I Horse Show after winning top ribbons. Sixteen-year-old Newman rides at her family’s farm Allwyn Court and trains with her parents Kathy and Gerry Newman. Based in Wellington, the young rider travels to shows to compete on horses from her farm, and she often picks up catch-rides on horses owned by other riders. Nairobi is owned by Kimberly Wang and trained by Nora and Morgan Thomas.

Kids Fitness Festival Set For July 19-20

The Palm Beach County Sports Institute has teamed up with Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida to present the 2007 Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. One of South Florida’s favorite children’s events, the Kids Fitness Festival will take place at the South Florida Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 19 and Friday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Kids Fitness Festival is such a success because there is something for everyone. Elementary and middle school children can learn the basics of more than 40 sports from the area’s leading instructors, or they can hang out in the midway, play games, make arts and crafts, and interact with professional athletes and mascots.

Parents can enjoy the educational expo, food and interactive games. Last year more than 3,000 children attended. Clinics are offered this year for the following sports: archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, boxing, cheerleading, chess, dance, fishing, football, golf, hockey, judo, jump rope, karate, lacrosse, malletball, movement, netball, powerlifting, soccer, table tennis, tae kwon do, tai chi, tennis and weightlifting. Sport clinics are subject to change. Admission is $15 and includes a Kids Fitness Festival T-shirt, a gift bag, and a full day of fun and activities. Parents are admitted free of charge. For more information about the Kids Fitness Festival, contact Dusty Ann Williams at dwilliams@palmbeachsports.com.

SOCCER CAMP IN THE ACREAGE

American Youth Soccer Organization Region 1521, serving The Acreage and Loxahatchee, hosted its first-ever Challenger British Soccer Camp last week. The camp was for players ages four to 16, shown here going through drills. The league still has some openings for the fall soccer season in The Acreage. Call (561) 798-5467 or visit www.ayso1521.net for more information.

PHOTO BY JENNY ROSS

MARSHALL FOUNDATION THANKS JUNIOR GIRL SCOUT TROOP 960

Junior Girl Scout Troop 960 in The Acreage held a Bronze Award Ceremony on Tuesday night at the Indian Trail Improvement District office. The evening included a visit from John Marshall, president of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, who personally thanked the scouts for their help planting pond apple trees on Torry Island at Lake Okeechobee. The Bronze Award is the Junior Girl Scouts’ highest award. Scouts also presented certificates of appreciation to their parents.

row, L-R) Rachel Ferriera, Kaitlyn Blatchford, Gabby Marionakis, Samantha Abbey, Amanda Martinez and Cathy Martinez; (back row) troop leader Susan Rizzolo, Michelle Howell, Stephanie Wolff, John Marshall, Alexis Rizzolo, Melissa Ferriera and Palm Glades Council Girl Scouts Membership Services Director Sue Holmes.

Magalis Martinez with a certificate of appreciation from her daughter Cathy.

John Marshall with Indian Trail Improvement District President Michelle Damone.

(Front

Alexis Rizzolo presents a certificate of appreciation to her parents Ron and Susan.

(Above) Michelle Howell with parents Jim and Tammy Howell. (Left) Gabby Marionakis with parents Steve and Mary Lou Marionakis.

PHOTOS BY RON

What is Organizational Management?

Organizational Management (ORM) is a broad based program that emphasizes management theory and

What will the degree do for me?

“Palm Beach Atlantic’s

Wellington

location suits my busy schedule and the evening classes allow me to complete class assignments throughout the week. My education will help me move up the ranks.”

You will enhance your career opportunities while you develop the knowledge and skills to compete with other college graduates. Learn how to lead effectively and apply sound business and management principles as you enhance your understanding of human behavior and its relationship to today’s global work environment.

How long will it take?

certificates. If have earned an Associate of Arts

Ask about the Master of Science degree program starting this fall.

The ORM program is flexible in applying previously earned college credit to your degree. Professional Education Credit may also be awarded for professional licenses and certificates. If you have earned an Associate of Arts Degree or the equivalent you should be able to complete your

degree in 1½ to 2 years.

How ar e classes of fer ed?

credit to Professional Education

Classes are accelerated and meet in the evening from 6 - 10 p.m.. Attending two nights per week gives you full-

time status.

Brenda Smith of Belle Glade, lieutenant for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department, Palm Beach County Jail that and practice

Earning an evening college degree is an investment that will pay off. Your total cost and your cost per semester will depend on several factors: Full-time or part-time student status, the number of credit hours you transfer to PBA, the type of financial aid you qualify for Florida residency and tuition assistance from your employer. Full-time students who are Florida residents receive the Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) fall and spring

student status, the number of credit hours transfer

Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) fall and spring semesters, $1500 each semester.

• GLADES DAY SCHOOL founded in 1965, offers a balance of academic, athletic and extracurricular programs. Serving students from K-3 through grade 12, Glades Day School provides the opportunity 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) 9966769 or visit www.gladesdayschool.com.

• WELLINGTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL is a Christ-centered, Bible-based school that is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Christian Schools of Florida. Students from early childhood education through high school will experience a rich academic environment taught by certified teachers whose goals are to achieve superior scholastic results. Students will also be enriched with foreign language, music, art, choral band, drama and varsity sports programs. The school is located at 1000 Wellington Trace. For more information and to schedule an appointment to visit our campus please call us at 793-1017.

• SUMMIT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL is an independent non-denominational Christian school that has been educating youth in our community for over 30 years. Serving children from six weeks of age to grade 12, we train students to think critically and biblically and act morally and responsibly — in a learning environment that gives them security and significance. Summit Christian offers a cohesive and systematic collegeprep curriculum, the most unique fine arts programs available and an extensive athletic program that includes varsity football. “Summit Saints” athletic offerings begin in K-5 and continue through high school. Summit Christian School is also home to Summit Productions, our school’s film and television program. Busing, extended care, fine arts after-school programs and summer camps are also available. For more information, call (561) 686-8081 ext. 319 or visit www.summitchristian.com.

• TEMPLE BETH ZION PRESCHOOL — “My First Jewish Experience” is a fun, Montessori-style experience for children ages 5 and 6 including vocabulary games, art, musical activities, Jewish holidays, prayers and customs. “More Jewish Experiences” (ages 6 and 7) is a continuation of MFJE, learning to read and write in Hebrew. At our preschool, children of all faiths learn and play together. For more information call (561) 798-8888 or go to our web site at www.templebethzion.net. We are located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach.

Contents Prepared by the Marketing Department

The Town-Crier

• PLANET KIDS a family owned and operated child care center for 25 years, offers a safe, fun and educational environment for children from six weeks thru eleven years. Their state-of-the-art facility includes a theatre, computer/library, science/ art, music/gymnastics, multiple intelligence discovery class, Spanish/French, and specialty rooms. Your child will learn foreign languages as well as sign language. The three safe, age-specific playgrounds are the coolest in town. They offer a creative, hands-on curriculum to prepare your child for Kindergarten. The staff is warm, loving, and specifically trained for each age level. Planet Kids has five convenient locations in Palm Beach County.

• DILLON COUNTRY DAY is an accredited non-denominational private independent college preparatory school serving the western communities since 1995, Grades 6 thru 12, providing the “bridge” to high school & college. Individual attention is given with a low student/teacher ratio of 5 to 1. Music, fine arts, marine sciences – scuba & surf, are just a few of the unique and interesting programs we offer. We participate in the McKay Scholarship program. Our motto is “Leadership Through Service and Commitment.” To find out more, call us today at (561) 798-4748.

• UNITY FOR KIDS EARLY INTERVENTION CENTER is a non-profit denominational preschool and therapeutic center for children with and without special needs. Our inclusive setting allows children to learn, play and socialize together. Children can realize their full potential and achieve high levels of self-esteem. We are a center where school readiness skills such as phonics, reading, numbers and language skills are stressed. Some of our important activities include Spanish, sign language, computer, music, drama, arts and crafts. We will be a voluntary pre-K program beginning in August, as well as a family central provider. Many specialneeds children can receive speech, physical and occupational therapy right at our center. We are accepting sponsors for some children who otherwise would not be able to attend our program. For further information please call Sharon Green at (561) 478-7477 or visit us at the center located at 1063 N. Haverhill in West Palm Beach.

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Cultural Trust Hosts ‘One Night Stand Up’ July 14 At Fairgrounds

On Saturday, July 14, the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches will present another installment of its popular comedy series. One Night Stand Up will feature comedians Richard Lewis, Kevin Pollak and Chelsea Handler. The event will take place starting at 7:30 p.m. at the South Florida Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.).

Lewis has taken his lifelong therapy fodder and carved it into a commanding and compelling art form. He has been performing standup comedy for the past three decades. He is best known for his HBO specials, appearances on Late Night with David Letterman in the 1980s and, more recently, his role on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm starring Larry David.

Pollak has appeared in dozens of movies throughout his career, including The Usual Suspects, End of Days and The Whole Nine Yards. In 2005, he starred alongside Bruce Willis in the Miramax thriller Hostage. Pollak also released his first CD, A Little Off the Top, in which he goes back home to San Francisco to talk about his journey through show busi-

ness. Most recently, Pollak received critical praise for his role in the independent film Seven Times Lucky, which successfully screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, as well as the Los Angeles-based Method Film Festival where it won “Best Feature Film” and “Best Screenplay.”

Handler has appeared on numerous television shows, such as the Oxygen Network’s Girls Behaving Badly, Comedy Central’s Reno 911 and her own program, The Chelsea Handler Show on the E! cable channel. Handler’s first book, My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands, was recently released in the U.S. and more than 20 other countries and has become a bestseller. This summer Handler will release a new book, Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea, published by Judith Regan.

Tickets cost $125 for premium seating and $95 general seating (as well as tax and a convenience fee). To purchase tickets, call the Cultural Trust box office at (877) 77-CLICK or visit www. culturaltrustpb.org.

For more information, call (561) 3334948.

Chelsea Handler Kevin Pollak Richard Lewis

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

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

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

• THE FIRST AND ONLY JEWISH DAY CAMP ON A REAL FARM, “CAMP GAN NOACH”

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

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‘Shout!’ Opens At Kravis On July 10

Shout! The Mod Musical will return July 10 through Aug. 5 to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, where the show enjoyed a sold-out run in 2006.

Shout! flips through the years like a musical magazine, tracking five young women as they come of age during the liberating days of the 1960s that made England swing.

It is a non-stop journey through the infectious and soulful pop anthems and ballads that made household names of stars like Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Lulu. Shout! uses letters to an advice columnist, true confessions, quizzes and advertisements as a frame for hits like “To Sir With Love,” “Downtown,” “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Goldfinger.”

The first edition of Shout! appeared on stage at the Duplex in New York in 2000 and then transferred to London’s Jermyn Street Theatre where it was nominated

as Best Musical by WhatsOnStage. The musical had London critics raving during its sold-out run there in 2001. Shout! ran off-Broadway at the Julia Miles Theatre in New York City for 176 performances in 2006.

Shout! was co-created by Phillip George and David Lowenstein with mod musings and groovy gab by Peter Charles Morris and Phillip George. The show is directed and choreographed by Jay Falzone. The design team is David Gallo (scenic design), Philip Heckman (costume design), Jay Moscowitz (lighting design) and Tony Meola (sound design). Orchestrations and additional arrangements are by Bradley Vieth.

Performances will take place Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30. The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. For more information, call the box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.

‘Rocky Horror Show’ On Stage In Lake Worth

On Friday, July 13, the Lake Worth Playhouse will invite theater-goers to “do the time warp again” as The Rocky Horror Show begins a three-week run. There will be midnight performances on Saturday nights.

The Rocky Horror Show — an outrageous assemblage of the most stereotypical science fiction movies, Marvel comics, Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello outings and rock ’n’ roll of every vintage — has rarely been produced in South Florida. The play (upon which the classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show was based) has grown from an experimental production originally produced in a small London theater to a cult phenomenon with fans worldwide.

Director Marc Carmen has assembled

a talented and enthusiastic cast. “I love this show, and I’ve wanted to do it for a very long time,” he said. “It seems that everyone in the cast feels the same way. So the energy on stage is marvelous!”

Unique to The Rocky Horror Show is the audience participation. The playhouse will have “Rocky survival kits” available for a nominal price.

Performances for The Rocky Horror Show are 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 p.m. and midnight on Saturdays. Tickets cost $28 for front orchestra and $23 for rear orchestra. Tickets for all performances, including one dinner and theater evening package ($50), are available from the playhouse box office at (561) 586-6410 or online at www.lakeworthplayhouse.org. Group rates are also available.

Peter Pagliaro To Publish Book July 7

Peter Pagliaro, a longtime resident of the western communities and known to many as the man in charge of the Royal Playhouse, has a new book out for release on July 7.

Published by Publish America, the book is titled An Amazing Journey. Although also his memoirs, the book was actually written to tell the story of his bout with cancer.

Pagliaro was born and raised in upstate New York, where he met his wife Deborah. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Florida to begin a new life and raise a family. His life has been a roller coaster of adventures. His memoirs are robust tales of his own life and how he overcame the many obstacles that were

Danielle Marie Hasson & David Adam Barnes To Wed In December

Carlene & Philip Hasson of Eastwood in Wellington and David & Linda Barnes of St. Augustine announce the engagement of Danielle Marie Hasson and David Adam Barnes. The nuptials are planned for Dec. 15 in St. Augustine at the Marsh Creek County Club. The bride-to-be and groom-to-be are both graduates of Wellington High School. Danielle is a University of Florida alumna and current medical student at the Florida State University College of Medicine and fellow at the National Institutes of Health. David is currently attending the University of Florida.

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

handed to him. His message of learning how to scale a “brick wall” is told through his own sometimes funny, sometimes sad life experiences.

Vividly written, this touching story is a must-read for those who have or are now going through a life-threatening illness. While reading about his journey, you will laugh, cry and just say, “wow.” But when you finish, you will truly believe that you too can scale the brick walls in life.

An Amazing Journey will be available at Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Borders and Amazon.com on July 7. For more info., visit www.publishamerica. com. The author plans to hold several area book signings.

Danielle Marie Hasson and David Adam Barnes

Wellington Residents Among Nearly 100 Attending Torry Island Tree Planting

Residents of Wellington were among nearly 100 families, individuals and groups who played a hands-on role in restoring the Everglades on Saturday, June 16 when they participated in a treeplanting event organized by the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation.

The three-hour event took place on Torry Island, a 700-acre tract of abandoned farmland at the southern end of Lake Okeechobee. Volunteers planted 300 native cypress trees to help restore the Everglades ecosystem that once dominated the island, and also spent time weeding and maintaining saplings planted earlier.

“This area was once a forested wetland that provided critical habitat to Everglades wildlife and played a role in clean-

ing the water that ran south from Lake Okeechobee,” said Josette Kaufman, executive director of the non-profit Marshall Foundation. “Our intention is to restore some portion of that native ecosystem while giving local residents the chance to play a hands-on role in saving the Everglades.”

The foundation, which is dedicated to the restoration of the Florida Everglades, is partnering with the City of Belle Glade in a multi-year effort to turn Torry Island into an eco-tourism destination. More than 36,000 native wetland trees have been restored to the island so far.

Founded in 1998, the Marshall Foundation has three goals: restoring original plant life and water flow patterns to the

greater Everglades ecosystem, educating young people and the public about Everglades ecology, and delivering the message of restoration to as many people as possible through comprehensive public outreach programs. In recent years, the Marshall Foundation has planted over 83,000 native Florida trees in wetland areas, awarded over $250,000 in scholarships and internships, and involved more than 5,000 volunteers in hands-on restoration projects.

(Right) Wellington resident Eric Wells and daughter Samantha, 7, were among approximately 100 people who helped plant trees recently near Lake Okeechobee as part of an effort to restore the Florida Everglades.

Bentz A Finalist In American Miss Florida Pageant

Amy Bentz of Wellington, 17, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Florida Pageant to be held this weekend at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando.

The American Miss Teen Pageant is held for girls ages 16 through 18. The winner of the pageant will receive a $1,000 cash award, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses, and air transportation to compete in the national pageant at Disneyland in California. Separate pageants are held for girls ages four to eighteen in five age groups.

The National American Miss pageants are dedicated to celebrating America’s greatness and encouraging its future leaders. Each year, the pageant awards thousands in scholarships and prizes to recognize and assist in the development of young women nationwide. All activities are age-appropriate and family-oriented.

The National American Miss pageants are for “today’s girl” and “tomorrow’s leaders.” The pageant program is based on inner beauty, as well as poise and presentation, and offers an “all-American spirit of fun for family and friends.” Emphasis is placed on the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, learning good attitudes about competition, and setting and achieving personal goals. The pageant seeks to recognize the accomplishments of each girl while encouraging her to set goals for the future.

Bentz’s activities include swimming, snorkeling, surfing, tumbling, shopping and hanging out with friends and family. One of her favorite places she has visited is the Grand Canyon.

Bentz’s favorite class is chemistry, her favorite food is macaroni and cheese and her favorite book is Timeline . She will be a senior at Wellington High School this fall.

Wellington’s Amanda Aust Named To Dean’s List

Amanda Aust of Wellington was named to the Valparaiso University Dean’s List in recognition of her academic accomplishments during the spring.

To be eligible for semester honors, students must achieve at least a 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be enrolled full time.

Aust is a sophomore nursing major. She is the daughter of William and Wiletta Aust of Wellington.

Valparaiso University is a comprehensive university with a Lutheran heritage that enrolls nearly 4,000 students on its campus 55 miles southeast of Chicago. It has been identified as one of the top master’s-level institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past 18 years. More than 80 academic programs, as well as 14 international study options, are offered. Valparaiso also has a distinguished honors college (Christ College), graduate program and law school.

Amy Bentz

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Wellington Resident On Samford Dean’s List

Wellington resident Peter Benjamin Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl B. Smith was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Samford University.

To qualify for the honor, a student must have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 while attempting at least 12 credit hours of coursework. The Dean’s List is the highest academic recognition given by the school at the end of each semester.

Samford, Alabama’s largest privately supported college or university, enrolls 4,478 students from 49 states and 27 foreign nations.

PBCHS Student Receives

Burger King Scholarship

Nicole Hwa, a student at Palm Beach Central High School, is among 16 South Florida students who will receive $1,000 scholarships from the Burger King/ McLamore Foundation.

The foundation awarded 610 scholar-

Levine A Scholarship Semifinalist

Wellington High School graduate Amy Levine has been selected as a Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Semifinalist by the National Society of High School Scholars, an honors organization founded by Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prize.

Levine was selected as a semifinalist for this award from among 11,000 applicants, based on excellence in academics, leadership and service activities. “I am deeply honored to recognize Amy as one of our most outstanding students,” Nobel said.

The Nobel family established the Nobel Prize in 1901 in order to note outstanding contributions in the fields of

ships recently as part of the seventh annual Burger King Scholars Program. This brings the total of scholarships awarded to more than $11 million since the foundation’s inception. The students were awarded scholarships in recognition of academic achievement, along with other criteria to help offset the cost of attending college or a post-secondary vocational/technical school.

“Today, post-secondary school education has become an essential element to career success,” said Steven M. Lewis, co-chairman of the Burger King/ McLamore Foundation. “Burger King Scholarship recipients are dedicated students with excellent academic credentials, striving to reach their ultimate career goals. A $1,000 scholarship is a stepping stone into tomorrow and can go a long way to ease the financial burden of a college education.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, six of the nation’s 10 fastest-growing occupations between 2004 and 2014 will be filled by workers with at least a two-year degree, yet the cost of education is outpacing families’ in-

peace, literature, medicine, chemistry and physics. More than a century later, these internationally renowned awards continue to distinguish scientists, authors and leaders in a world forum. Nobel said he wishes to continue his family legacy by encouraging young people to reach their full potential and make a real difference for mankind.

The mission of the National Society of High School Scholars is to recognize and encourage academic excellence among the most exceptional high school upperclassmen. The society selects students nationally and awards this distinction on a very limited basis. Membership is by invitation only, extended by Chair Claes Nobel.

comes. Today, it costs the average family about one-fifth of their annual income to pay the costs of a year at a four-year public college or university.

The Burger King/McLamore Foundation works with high school principals and counselors to identify students who meet the criteria by displaying exemplary academic achievement. Students are selected based on their grade point average, work experience, financial need, cocurricular activities and community service. A majority of Burger King Scholars participated in community service projects at their local hospitals, elementary schools, churches and in parks and recreation programs, among other places.

Scholarship funds come directly from company-owned and franchise Burger King restaurants throughout the country that host a variety of fundraising activities in order to generate scholarship money each year. For more information on the program, including instructions for obtaining scholarship applications for 2008, visit www.bkmfoundation.com or call (305) 378-3186.

count is Frances Novella, Washington Mutual, 1480 Greenview Shores Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414.

High School Grad — Brooke Sarria of Wellington, daughter of Manny and Joyce Sarria of Planet Kids, graduated from Palm Beach Central High School this spring. She will attend Northwood University where she will major in business administration.

Twirler Seeks Supporters — Tenyear-old Wellington resident Frances Novella will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to compete in the Junior Olympics for baton twirling. The event will take place July 30 through Aug. 3. Novella qualified at the regionals in Winter Haven on May 12. She is the daughter of Nick and Terry Novella. Her donation ac-

Amy Levine

Trash Collection Concerns

continued from page 1A things that have fallen off. I actually observed it two weeks ago when the garbage truck was going by my house.”

In response to council comments about bulk waste, Medoff suggested the village provide community-wide dumpsters where residents could take their garbage.

The council will further consider its waste collection options in July.

In other business:

• The council approved a zoning text amendment of Wellington’s land development regulations to create the Medical Center Planned Development Zoning District classification or MCPD. The Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board approved the amendment last month with the requirement that an MCPD

Acme Commercial Overlay

continued from page 1A others said they had not had time to look at the project.

After the meeting, Smith told the Town-Crier the delay would give her more time to gather supporting opinions. “It gives us time to make sure this is appropriate,” she said. “An economist is looking at it to confirm that it’s a good idea.”

Smith said development in the area has long concentrated on residential and retail, and an employment center would help balance the mix.

She also said the commercial overlay’s effect on traffic might be the proposal’s biggest challenge, although she feels traffic projections for the area are

PBSO Update

continued from page 3A trian and non-equestrian residents.

Richter said that retail sales of fireworks make work difficult for his force, but the PBSO would mount a serious education and enforcement effort.

“We try to encourage people to go to the Village of Wellington celebrations that the village pays so much for,” Richter said. “We will work with engineering, community services and other departments to put signs around the Equestrian Preserve Area and there will be a strict warning and

be located at two major arterial thoroughfares. Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Vice Mayor Bob Margolis. It passed unanimously.

• Wellington Rotary Club members urged the council to continue the construction of the Wellington Rotary Peace Park on a wooded parcel near Elbridge Gale Elementary School, which could be adversely affected by state-mandated revenue reductions. Key park proponent Dr. Wes Boughner told the council the item should remain a high priority as they make budgeting choices.

“We realize you are in the process of determining the Village of Wellington’s priorities,” Boughner said. “One of the highest priorities should be the Rotary Peace Park. We feel strongly that the peace park carries an important message in this community. It also would

skewed and the project will meet approval once the counts are brought into balance. “I understand the Land Use Advisory Board’s caution and appreciate it,” she said. “There’s no other 200-acre site like this in the area.”

Santamaria agreed that Smith’s land use amendment application was too late for this round. “She’ll have to wait six months,” said Santamaria, who deferred comment on the merits of the plan until he hears from staff, adding that he would listen most carefully to the area’s residents, so the developers should cater to their desires.

“They should start their PR work with the residents, because I listen to them,” he said.

Smith said neighborhood residents are ready to go, and some say they have been wait-

strict enforcement in the areas where the fireworks are prohibited.”

Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto asked Richter for his opinion on the biggest law enforcement issue facing Wellington for the coming year, and Richter replied that the property crime rate deserves special attention. He said he and his deputies would be doing all they can to keep the property crime rate down, but it was important to remember that Wellington is no longer a little community of 26,000 residents but a bustling community of 58,000, the fourth largest city in Palm Beach County.

be the only passive park in the village. The Wellington Rotary Peace Park will be a place that residents would be able to relax, meditate and contemplate, or quietly listen to nature. It will be the least expensive park to construct. The Rotary Club feels that you should place the construction of the peace park as one of the highest priorities.”

Rotarian Randy Pfeiffer said all residents in the village would like a place for quiet contemplation.

“We know about the different boardwalk areas that have been put up around Jupiter and the Everglades,” Pfeiffer said. “Hundreds of thousands of people go out and observe the birds and fish and turtles. We have the opportunity to use a piece of property that was almost considered a mistake for the village to purchase. We have a beautiful piece of property. We need to follow through and make it available to all residents of the village.”

ing for the change. “She has the support of all the people out here,” said Acme Estates resident William Warren, although he added that some residents are asking a lot more for their land than they will get. “People are all over the board with prices,” he said.

Warren said several potential buyers have come through Acme Estates in recent years, including the school board, which lost interest out of concern for traffic at the Lowe’s center to the east, which holds the only existing access to the property.

Residential developers including Lennar and Toll Brothers approached residents, Warren said. “You name them, we’ve had them,” he said. “Since the real estate market cooled, the inquiries have fallen off. I said, ‘relax, once the [Southern Blvd.] overpass is in and there is less traf-

Richter also said the equestrians in the community are a huge concern for him and his officers, as many of them are parttime residents or visitors only here for the winter season.

“Over the course of the horse season we have many people coming in and out,” Richter said, “and they come here and they become victims of crime and sometimes they become perpetrators. We need to be proactive and stay ahead of the curve. You never want to get behind the curve of violent crime. We have to continue to work hard on it.”

On the issue of gang activity, Councilwoman Laurie Cohen asked whether Wellington should

Lynn Tax Reform

continued from page 5A ing money. During the growth years, the village has invested nearly $100 million in infrastructure and improvements without incurring significant debt. Some of the projects include: an additional gymnasium, a dog park, 21 acres of neighborhood parks, four tennis courts, two soccer fields, four softball/baseball fields, five restroom/concession buildings, one basketball court, four sand volleyball courts, three playgrounds, three pavilions and picnic areas, and various recreation and recreational trails. And none of this even includes the

variety of municipal infrastructure improvements such as adding pump stations, widening and redesigning roads, traffic calming and signalization, landscape improvements and so on. We paid for this in cash, and we reduced previously outstanding debt. This means we are entering the lean times in a strong financial position, with maximum debt capacity should it be necessary. And finally, the popular belief is that all that growth we have had these last few years resulted in bountiful revenues for basic services, and then some! But with increased growth comes the requirement to provide services to those

the council.

fic, that will determine a lot with zoning.’”

In spite of the development that encroaches on it, Acme Estates remains an oasis of rural greenery and friendly neighbors, most of whom know one another, largely from community meetings regarding the future of their homes. “It was beautiful at one time,” Warren said, “but the city grew up around us.”

Phyllis Giles, whose ranchette covers 15 acres, said she has lived in the area all her life but cannot afford the property taxes any more. She said the commercial designation would be an ideal situation for residents to sell and gain enough to move on. Commercial uses would suit the area, she said.

“I think it is needed here. There’s too many housing de-

consider enacting a curfew. “I have heard that some of the municipalities have enacted or are contemplating enacting curfews,” she said. “What would happen if that were to occur around us?”

Richter said if communities around Wellington impose curfews, Wellington would likely become the place to go for latenight troublemakers. “If everyone around us is enacting a curfew I would have to support us enacting one as well,” he said. Richter said he didn’t necessarily support a curfew, because while it would result in more arrests, it wouldn’t put a stop to any problems.

new residents and businesses. The village’s vision has always been all about quality of life, primarily education, family, leisure services and safety. Accordingly, much of our investment from growing taxes has been in these areas.

For example: an increased PBSO contract and number of officers (this contract has grown by over 300 percent in the last ten years, from $2.2 million to $6.35 million as proposed); programming in leisure services (general funds subsidize programs and facilities by a millage equivalent of nearly 0.75 mills or $6 million annually); school funding programs ($300,000 annually); community grants includ-

ing the Boys & Girls Club, youth programs and art in public places; top-notch patriotic events; community beautification programs and neighborhood grants; very intensive construction and building code enforcement; and aggressive hurricane recovery and preparedness.

Q: What happens to the budget if a hurricane strikes? Don’t we have insurance?

A: The village maintains a $3 million disaster fund to offset costs of future natural disasters. While the village does have insurance and received quite a bit of assistance from FEMA in 2003 and 2004, the village depleted its reserves by

velopments. [The county’s] Planning and Zoning is for the change in designation. We can’t afford the taxes. They killed me last year. I’m not sure I can afford it this year.”

Resident George Carothers said the change is long overdue. He said that when the flood control structure on the C-51 Canal was rebuilt several years ago, signs posted by the South Florida Water Management District stated a future land use designation of Light Industrial for the area.

“Someday, I figured, we’d all be out of here,” said Carothers, who lives in a converted bunkhouse for cowboys who once worked on C. Oliver Wellington’s Flying C.O.W. Ranch.

“We’re surrounded by business,” Warren said. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Warren and Carothers said residents had previously met with agents who would represent their interests, but they were hamstrung by former county commissioner Tony Masilotti, who they said would not contemplate any use other than residential.

The two estimated they could get $400,000 to $600,000 an acre under the commercial designation, but some property owners are asking for more.

“Some were going much higher than that. That’s when our meetings were discombobulated,” Carothers said. “That’s when we were meeting at Phyllis’s house and thought it would be light industrial.”

several million dollars to offset non-reimbursed costs resulting from the hurricanes as well as to invest in more hurricane-resistant structures and facilities.

Q: What about cuts in state spending?

A: The state’s quest for tax reform does not acknowledge how local officials have spent the additional dollars on services arising from the demands of each individual community. It also does not take into account the growth in all forms of state revenue. Much of the burden of reduced funding falls on local municipalities while the state budget experiences continued growth.

Recognition — At a meeting Tuesday night, the Wellington Village Council recognized Dr. Jeffrey Bishop, who recently retired from Western Communities Family Practice, for his many years of service to the community. Shown above, Bishop addresses

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

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Sakura’ Sakura’s S sS sSteak House: Exquisite Cuisine teakHouse:ExquisiteCuisine And

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

The first thing that hits customers walking through the doors of the new Sakura’s Steak House in the Wellington Reserve is the richness of colors combined with wide open spaces. Each is an unexpected pleasure for a restaurant in a business park. The deep browns and reds of the doors and columns give Sakura’s a classic look, while the open space is an inviting change from many traditional Japanese steakhouses.

“Many Japanese steakhouses are small, and the customers are kind of crunched together,” Sakura’s manager Charles Chu said. “The owners here wanted this one to be larger — more friendly and wide open.”

They’ve succeeded. The dining chairs at regular tables, for example, are wider than normal chairs. So wide, in fact, that four of them can’t fit directly underneath a table. Even the floor tiles are oversized at 22 inches wide.

The restaurant’s 12 hibachi tables can each seat up to 14 customers. “The hibachi tables are a big hit,” said Chu, who began his restaurant career at the Breakers resort in Palm

Beach and has worked in management at Japanese restaurants on Palm Beach and in Delray Beach. “Parents are bringing their kids, and grandparents are bring their grandkids. The regular tables are more popular with couples. But Wellington has lot of families, and hibachis are great entertainment.”

On the hibachi tables, Sakura’s five chefs serve up fare including lobster, filet mignon, chicken, steak and scallops.

“We do a lot of stir-fried dishes, just like other Japanese restaurants,” Chu said. “We’re trying to build up lunch now. Dinners are basically done on the hibachis, but for lunches, the hibachis aren’t open. The hibachi chefs work only at night.”

There’s also a large assortment of sushi and sashimi. For those who want to try various samples of Sakura’s sushi, the restaurant offers a chef’s selection served on a wooden boat.

“Some people know what they want when it comes to sushi and others will just tell the sushi chef to pick out different things for them,” Chu said. “That’s the fun of serving them in the boats.”

Also on the fun side, Sakura’s serves an assortment martini drinks that feature unexpected

Great Decor AndGreatDecor

ingredients such as mangos, raspberries and blueberries.

“Martinis are hot these days,” Chu said. “We probably serve 15 or 20 different kinds. One week we served a chocolate mocha martini. And we also

have a key lime martini that is very popular.” Sakura’s Steak House is located in the Wellington Reserve plaza at 1035 S. State Road 7, Suite 118, and is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 10 p.m. For more information, call (561) 790-6779.

Sakura’s Steak House — Customers patronize the new restaurant’s sushi bar.

PHOTO

Peace Of Mind: Elder

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

An advocate is generally defined as someone who speaks on behalf of another, often when that person cannot act in his or her own interest. Jan Underwood is such an advocate for elderly people in the western communities, particularly those living in nursing homes. Through Peace of Mind Inc., Underwood strives to provide peace of mind to relatives or friends who cannot check in on their loved ones as much as they’d like.

Underwood visits people in nursing homes on behalf of her clients, reporting that a situation is well or if she finds something suspicious. She encourages

Advocacy For Those Who Need It Most

the client to follow up, and if the client also has suspicions, she will recommend contacting an attorney.

“When you think about it, in today’s times, we’re real busy,” said Underwood, who lives in Loxahatchee. “It takes two working people to even make a living. You’ve got your kids and your parents who are in a nursing home, or perhaps living on their own, it doesn’t leave a lot of time. If you want to go on vacation, you don’t want to have to worry about your parents getting hurt or if they’re doing OK.”

That’s where Underwood steps in. “If you’re going on vacation and you want me to stop in, maybe twice a week, to see if everything is going OK, I can do that for you,” she explained.

Underwood, who founded Peace of Mind two years ago, stressed that she is not a medical professional, “but when you see a child, for example, with a lot of bruises, it doesn’t take a medical professional to know that something is wrong.”

“It takes a lot of caring,” Underwood said. “I’ve always been an advocate for the unfortunate and the ones who can’t look out for themselves. If you have someone in a nursing home, and you’re also elderly and maybe can’t drive anymore, it puts your mind at ease if somebody can go and check on your spouse.”

The driving force behind Underwood’s passion is simple: many people, especially in South Florida, have no one looking out for them in their twilight years.

“It’s really a sad thing,” Underwood said. “Many people see the sign on my truck and you can just see the interest. But you also see them think, ‘it can’t

happen to me. Not in family.’ But it does. It happens every single day.”

For example, Underwood said, a woman in a local nursing home recently lost her leg because a sore wasn’t cleaned daily. “It’s not that somebody wasn’t there to see it,” she said. “But there wasn’t enough knowledge.”

That lack of knowledge among caregivers, Underwood said, is one reason she seldom recommends to a client that they put their friend or relative in a nursing home.

“Today, that nursing home might be a great thing, but if it changes staff too much, it could be a different matter,” Underwood said. “In the end it falls to us. We’ve got to take that extra step and watch them. If you don’t have the time to go and visit, which is certainly understandable, even once a month, you can have me go.”

For more information, call Underwood at (561) 386-2771.

Deadline To Report Drought Business Losses Friday, July 9

The State of Florida and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have requested that the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management survey the extent of small business economic injury losses directly attributable to the current drought. If losses are substantial enough to meet federal thresholds, the state and county may be declared eligible for certain federal disaster assistance programs.

Small businesses able to substantiate drought-related revenue drops of greater than 40 percent between Jan. 1 and June 20 (compared with the same period in 2006) are invited to complete, sign and submit an “Esti-

mated Disaster Economic Injury” worksheet.

Small, non-farm agriculture-dependent businesses (landscaping services, nurseries), fishing camps, bait and tackle shops, and other water-dependent businesses are examples of those that might benefit should a Small Business Administration declaration be approved.

Contact Ella Barton at (561) 7126400 no later than July 6 for a copy of the worksheet and instructions. Completed, signed worksheets must be received by the division no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, July 9 to be considered.

Looking Out — Peace of Mind’s Jan Underwood serves as an advocate for elderly citizens in the western communities.

PHOTO BY STEVE

Looking For A Cleaner Pool? The Solution Is Crystal Clear

By Jenna Fugate Town-Crier Staff Report

There is something different about Cecil Brumfield’s pool. The pool boasts a glassy sheen and incredible clarity, but without the powerful, repulsive scent of chlorine. How does he do it? Brumfield’s secret is now his business: the Crystalline Pool System.

Crystalline is the result of an effort by a Canadian entrepreneur to lower the level of chlorine in swimming pools. The Crystalline formula not only sharply reduces the amount of chlorine needed to keep pool water clean, it also eradicates algae, regulates pH level and makes the water crystal-clear.

Brumfield explained how chlorine damages both hair and skin by drying them, and said too much exposure to the caustic chemical can lead to other health issues. He said professional swimmers often develop asthma as a result of hours of exposure to chlorine, and that is why Florida Atlantic University uses Crystalline in their swimming facilities.

“Swim teams say it [makes for] the best pools they’ve ever swam in because it is clean and safe without all the chlorine,” Brumfield said.

Brumfield, a former real estate investor who has lived in Wellington since 1987, first discovered Crystalline in a local swimming pool supply store and was sold on the product. But Crystalline disappeared from the shelves when the manufacturer

encountered distribution problems, and Brumfield was reluctant to use anything else.

“I first wanted to get away from chlorine exposure,” Brumfield said. “Other brands were too expensive, so I had to get back to chlorine, but I didn’t like the idea of the smell or the dangers.”

Brumfield decided to request local distribution rights for the product and approached his friend Kevin Furman with the idea.

Furman, a professional playground designer and western communities resident since 1992, said he was at first skeptical, “but I started using the product, and in two weeks my pool began to take on a whole different look,” he said. “I am a true believer now that it does what it says it does and that it will for other people.”

The pair secured distribution rights in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, and formed the company Crystal Clear Pool Solutions earlier this year to distribute Crystalline via the Internet. Besides reaching out to individual pool owners, they also aim to attract pool maintenance companies, hotels and condo associations as customers.

“Our job as the Crystalline guys is to educate people how this product can keep their pools clean and safe,” Brumfield said.

While $50 for a 10.6-ounce container of Crystalline may seem pricey compared to larger containers of cheaper products, Brumfield said Crystalline is a

better deal when considering how effective it is in small amounts. Crystalline also reduces a pool owner’s need to use other chemicals, saving them money. “In effect, the product is free because it pays for itself,” Brumfield said.

“It’s pretty small, but it’s powerful,” Furman added. “As great as the cost saving is, the safety, I believe, outweighs the cost saving.”

Brumfield said Crystalline also helps keep pools clean in ways that chlorine cannot. While chlorine kills the tiny organisms that take up residence in swimming pools, the pool filter cannot remove them because they’re too small. Crystalline clumps them together so they can be filtered from the pool and not just exterminated.

“If you think about it,” Brumfield said, “who would want to be in a pool with all these dead organisms? It’s kind of like the best mousetrap that no one’s ever heard of.”

Furman noted that Crystalline has also been approved by the federal government. “We are not able to tell you the secret ingredients,” he said, “but we have a gold-seal approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.”

One ingredient that is not secret is Crystalline’s concentration of copper sulfate to control algae, eliminating the need for expensive algaecides or superchlorination to control the green growth.

Crystalline is easy to use (just pour the recommended amount into the filter) and keeps pools

clean, clear and most of all safe. Crystal Clear Pool Solutions even offers a money-back guarantee if customers are not satisfied.

“We are so confident because we are both users of the product that if you use it properly, you’re done with all that other stuff,” Furman said. “Everyone we’ve talked to that has used it really likes it. Who doesn’t want to have a safer, cleaner pool while using less chemicals?”

For more information on the Crystalline Pool System, visit www.crystalclearpoolsolutions. com or call the company at (561) 602-8000.

For The Record

A story in last week’s Town-Crier about Hospice of Palm Beach County Resale Shop West had incorrect information regarding its Christmas-in-July sale which takes place July 928. The 20-percent discount is for customers who bring the news story into the store. For more information, call the shop at (561) 798-5227.

Crystal Clear Pool Solutions — Owners Kevin Furman (left) and Cecil Brumfield (right) with some of their products.

PHOTO BY JENNA

Keiser University Offers Comprehensive Massage Therapy Program

Keiser University’s West Palm Beach campus offers a massage therapy studies program leading to an associate’s degree. The program requires 1,000 hours of core massage courses (10 months day/18 months night) and eight months of general education courses. Students are eligible to take the state licensing exam as soon as they finish their core massage courses, allowing them to work in the field while completing their degrees.

The 1,000 hours of massage is twice the amount required by Florida for licensure, enabling Keiser University students to be fully prepared to work in the field. Keiser University students receive advanced training in areas such as sports massage and clinical applications. As a result of this extensive hands-on experience and comprehensive education, Kaiser students find work with the area’s top spas, physicians and private clients.

Keiser University massage students perform chair massage at many local events as a way of getting involved with the community and showing their appreciation. Most are charity events or public awareness causes such as the Heart Walk, Project HOPE and the hurricane preparedness expo. They regularly visit the Easter Seals School, Head Start schools and administrative offices, and Animal Care & Control offices, as well as hosting the Staying Alive wellness fair on campus each fall. Keiser University massage students offered chair massages May 11 at the Relay for Life at Royal Palm Beach High School to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Each fall, massage therapy students perform pre- and post-event massage at sporting events such as the ten-mile run sponsored by the Wellington Runner’s Club and the 5K run sponsored by Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse in Delray Beach. Pre- and post-event massage is a

specific massage done to either warm up an athlete before competition or cool down an athlete after competition.

Students in Keiser University’s massage therapy program take an intensive month-long course in sports massage to prepare for this type of work. Many plan on specializing in sports massage after graduation and licensure. The possibilities for employment are numerous and include working for individual athletes, professional teams and organizations such as the Olympic Sports Massage Team.

Massage Therapy Program Coordinator Jan Saeger specializes in advanced tissue therapy (neuromuscular and sports massage) and Thai massage, which she brings to the classroom and on-field events. She recently published her first textbook with the McGraw-Hill Higher Education Group titled New Foundations in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and is working on a second textbook. Wellington residents may recognize Saeger as one of the area’s first equine sports massage therapists. She has worked on both hunter/jumper and dressage horses during the Winter Equestrian Festival shows for over a decade. Saeger lives in Loxahatchee with her Newfoundland dogs and horses.

Keiser University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the same accreditation held by state universities and community colleges. Keiser University holds a massage clinic that is open to the public by appointment.

The school is located at 2085 Vista Parkway in West Palm Beach, near the intersection of Jog Road and Okeechobee Blvd. and next to the new county office building. Call (561) 471-6000 to make an appointment for a massage or to speak to an admissions specialist about any of the programs offered. For more information, visit www.keiseruniversity.edu.

Fresh Market Gala To Benefit JDRF

On Wednesday, Aug. 15, the Fresh Market in Wellington will host a Fine Wine Gala featuring more than 50 wines available for sampling. The event is part of the Fresh Market’s partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). All money from ticket sales will benefit diabetes research and education.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the evening and there will even be a small auction and raffle. One hundred percent of the proceeds collected will directly benefit JDRF’s Greater Palm Beach County Chapter. Nationally, the Fresh Market has planned other events in honor of JDRF such as its annual sidewalk sale Sept. 7-9 and annual sneaker sale campaign, which will begin on Aug. 26 and run

through to the sidewalk sale.

Juvenile (Type 1) diabetes is a chronic disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of complications. More than 21 million Americans have diabetes and it kills one person every three minutes. Since 1970, JDRF has given more than $1 billion to diabetes research and education, earning an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy for seven consecutive years.

Tickets to the wine gala are $30 and can be purchased by calling the JDRF chapter office at (561) 686-7701. The Fresh Market is located at 10640 W. Forest Hill Blvd. near the Mall at Wellington Green. For more information, call (561) 753-9861.

Keiser University massage students volunteer at the Heart Walk.

ZOUNDS HOSTS GRAND OPENING

On Wednesday, June 13, hearing aid manufacturer Zounds celebrated the grand opening of its new retail location in the Mall at Wellington Green. Zounds was founded by Arizona electrical engineer Sam Thomasson as the fulfillment of a father’s promise to his young hearingimpaired daughter. The store is located on the second floor, between Dillard’s and JC Penney. For more information, visit www.zoundshearing.com. Pictured here is Thomasson with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and local dignitaries.

Decor 2 Ur Door… And Your Dorm

Wellington mom and interior designer Robin McDonald was horrified when viewing her oldest daughter Amanda’s college dorm room for the first time.

“It literally reminded me of a cinderblock tomb,” she recalled.

Not content to let her daughter spend the next year in dreary digs, McDonald set about transforming Amanda’s dorm using colorful bedding and fun and practical wall decor combined with creative storage solutions, turning her once-bland room into a cheerful environment in which her daughter could thrive.

McDonald was quickly inundated with requests from Amanda’s friends and class-

mates to make their rooms over as well — something McDonald was all too happy to do. The result? A creative new business venture capitalizing on McDonald’s 20-plus years of interior design and volunteer non-profit budget consciousness to create Decor 2 Ur Door — pre-packaged room decor for dorms, kids rooms, guest rooms and more that makes over any dorm or bedroom instantly.

A web-based business, Decor 2 Ur Door offers many options to fit your individual personality and aesthetic. Take your room from drab to fab with the click of a button. Comfy, colorful fabrics create a personal room and help your college student feel

right at home — dorm sweet dorm.

With the spirit of a true entrepreneur, McDonald has plunged right in, stocking her home and garage with the hundreds of pieces found on her web site. Decor 2 Ur Door not only helps with the transition from home to school, it provides a convenience to families as well. With a variety of rooms available, stressed-out moms preparing to move their kids to college are now able to spend those last moments at home, relaxing with their child.

For more information about Decor 2 Ur Door, call McDonald at (561) 371-8522 or visit www.decor-2-ur-door. com.

Tax Collector’s Office To Install ATMs

Customers will have convenient access to cash this fall while doing business in five branch locations of the Palm Beach County Tax Collector. The branches located in West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, North Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Lake Worth will have ATMs installed by the Palm Beach County Credit Union.

“This is a win-win situation for both our customers and the

agency,” said Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon. “Too often our customers have to make a second trip to our branch offices because they are short on cash. Now they can use a convenient ATM without leaving the building and are able to complete their transaction the first time.”

To use an ATM, customers will pay a minimal fee of $1 per transaction. Part of that fee will

go directly to the Palm Beach County Tax Collector to offset the cost of the machines.

The budget of the Palm Beach County Tax Collector is not drawn from taxpayer dollars through the county but from the fees charged to do business with the office.

For more information about the Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s office, visit www. pbcgov.com/tax.

Businesses Join SFWMD To Promote Water Conservation

Reaching seven million South Floridians with critically important information about conservation during the water shortage is a challenge that several corporate partners are helping the South Florida Water Management District meet.

Wal-Mart, Publix and Albertsons stores have stepped forward to support the district’s water conservation efforts at no cost to taxpayers, with in-store announcements and circulars reminding each shopper to “use only what you need.”

“The district applauds these organizations. Their efforts to help educate the public shows their dedication to preserving South Florida’s natural resources,” SFWMD Assistant Deputy Executive Director Terrie Bates said.

Public service announcements about water restrictions are being broadcast for a second month in 61 Wal-Mart stores throughout South Florida. The announcements run hourly in English and Spanish, and began running in May.

“Our ability to air these critical messages is a demonstration of our everyday commitment to strive for excellence, serve our customers, and make a difference in our communities,” said

Wal-Mart Senior Public Affairs Manager Michelle Azel.

Publix ran an ad in their June 21 circular, which has a circulation of nearly four million.

“As a good neighbor and community partner, it is a responsible act to share vital information with our customers, especially about water conservation during this time of water shortage,” said Publix director of media and community relations Maria Brous. “We not only work here, we live here too. It is up to each of us to make our communities a stronger, better place. Use water responsibly.”

Albertsons began running public service announcements in their South Florida stores on June 11. They will continue to run for six weeks to help remind people that even though rainy season has begun, South Florida is still experiencing a severe water shortage.

Although water levels may be rising in canals, ponds and lakes, water restrictions are still in effect. District meteorologists are estimating that 36 inches of rain is still needed districtwide for South Florida to recover from the severe water shortage. For more information, visit www.sfwmd.gov.

Curves Teams Up With Cancer Society

Curves International, the world’s largest franchiser of fitness clubs, announced recently that it is the first corporation to become a National Corporate Team Program member of the American Cancer Society’s two signature events, Relay for Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Companies must have at least 50 teams entered in Relay for Life events and 1,000 registered walkers in Making Strides to qualify as a National Corporate Team Program member. Independent Curves locations across the U.S. fielded 555 Relay for Life teams and 411 Making Strides teams in 2006, and raised more than $780,000.

“We’re excited to collaborate with the American Cancer Society as the first corporation ever to become a Corporate Team Program member for both the Relay for Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events,” said Curves founder Diane Heavin. “We’re so proud of all of our Curves owners, their families, employees and members. We look forward to another great year as we work together to improve the health of women and their families in every community.”

“The American Cancer Society is pleased to welcome Curves as the first corporation to participate as a member of the National Corporate Team Program for both Relay for Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” said Joanne Pike,

American Cancer Society’s vice president of corporate initiatives. “Curves’ nationwide involvement in the fight against cancer will help us further our mission of saving lives, supporting cancer patients, and funding cancer research. We value Curves’ support and commitment to the American Cancer Society.”

Curves and the American Cancer Society are located in all 50 states and internationally. Curves has more than four million members worldwide.

Curves offers a 30-minute workout that combines strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance.

Curves also offers a weight management program based on a groundbreaking, scientifically proven method to raise metabolic rate and end the need for perpetual dieting. Founders Gary and Diane Heavin are considered the innovators of the express fitness phenomenon that has made exercise available to more than four million women, many of whom are in the gym for the first time. Gary Heavin is the author of numerous books including the New York Times bestseller Curves, which is revolutionizing America’s approach to dieting. With more than 10,000 locations in 60 countries, Curves is the world’s largest fitness franchise and the ninth largest of all franchise companies in the world. For more information, visit www.curves.com.

Wellington Director Aaron Wells Honored At Telly Awards

Aaron Wells of the Wellington-based Silver Beach Productions was recently honored at the 28th Annual International Telly Awards for GrowSmart!, a series of five 30-second television commercials that encourage water-smart landscaping. Wells directed and edited the spots. Tim Whelan and Bill Schall of the Palm Beach chapter of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association conceived the campaign.

This is Wells’ 13th Telly since first entering the awards in 1997. “Receiving a Telly Award is wonderful,” Wells said. “It confirms that we’re producing innovative content. It also keeps us pushing the envelope, continuously finetuning and improving our skills. And of course clients love them. It makes everyone involved feel great.”

GrowSmart! was launched by the Palm Beach Chapter of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association; the South Florida Water Management District; and Palm Beach County Extension. It’s an informational print and television campaign that encourages water-smart landscaping through sensible practices like mulching, planting the right plant in the right place, and proper sprinkler timing and care.

The TV campaign features Marcia Wolf as Mother Nature, who offers advice to homeowners, gardeners and landscape maintenance companies on a variety of ways to

save water. The commercials were shot in Jupiter. In addition to being broadcast on TV, the spots can be viewed online at FNGLA.org.

“We presented fundamentals that make landscapes beautiful, cheaper and easier to maintain,” Whelan said. “They’ll also thrive with less water and fertilizer. And, just as Aaron expected, using Mother Nature as our spokesperson was perfect for getting our message across.”

With over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and around the world, this year’s competition has been the most competitive and successful in the long history of the Telly Awards. Founded in 1979, the

Telly Awards are the top awards honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.

Wells is currently working on several commercial and feature projects, including Opportunity Knocks, a film based on the recently completed short of the same name starring Tristan Rogers; Another Night at the Agora, a documentary on South Florida’s forgotten music scene featuring a number of influential bands and musicians, including Johnny Depp; and Flat , a featurelength psychological thriller slated to shoot in Palm Beach County later this year.

July 30 Deadline To Appeal Disqualified Homestead Exemptions

Palm Beach County Property

Appraiser Gary Nikolits has issued nearly 6,300 letters to property owners to notify them that their current homestead exemptions may be removed because they no longer qualify for the exemption.

These notices are in addition to more than 1,400 homestead denial letters being mailed next week to property owners who applied this year for a homestead exemption but were found not to be qualified. “Each year my staff carefully verifies the qualifications of property owners at the time the application is filed,” Nikolits said.

Automatic renewal cards returned by the U.S. Postal Service are also investigated to de-

termine whether the owner is still entitled to the exemption. “It is much more cost-efficient to take the time up front to ensure that only qualified owners receive an exemption and those who may no longer qualify have their exemptions removed,” Nikolits said.

Property owners who falsely claim a homestead exemption are subject to back taxes and penalties as well as possible prosecution for fraud.

The letters were mailed June 29; property owners have until July 30 to appeal the denial. Individuals who received a letter of denial should call (561) 3552866 to discuss the matter. For more info., visit www.pbcgov. com/papa.

Marcia Wolf as Mother Nature in Aaron Wells’ GrowSmart!

Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits and Exemption Services staff member Chris Stephens pore over letters to property owners.

FAIRGROUNDS HOSTS SIXTH ANNUAL PALM BEACH BOAT SHOW

The South Florida Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds was packed last weekend for the Sixth Annual Palm Beach County Boat Show. Aside from family bow riders, family cruisers, sport fishing boats and flat fishing boats, the show offered accessories ranging from insurance, electronics and dock builders to clothing, nautical jewelry and shoes. According to show promoter David Wansac, president of the Wellington-based National Events Management Group, more than 250 vendors were in attendance. For more information, visit www.palmbeachcountyboatshow.com.

Gustavo Roman-Reyes of Reyes del Mar jewelers.

Officer Scott Prasse of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Melvis Perez from Tuppen’s Marine and Dana Sylvester of Loxahatchee look over a deep sea rod and reel.

Cole Crossey gets a prize from Collin Michele of Florida Fishing Weekly

Dave Knudson of Lowrance Electronics shows Chas Snyder one his sonar fish finders.

An overhead shot of some of the boats.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Coming Back From My Stay In Vietnam Was Not Much Fun

I was discharged from the Army 39 years ago last month. I left the Army the same day Robert F. Kennedy was killed. When I reached Fort Lewis in Washington, the news was all about the shooting of RFK. I found it very strange that there wasn’t even a mention by the local newspaper, TV or radio about the hundreds of guys being killed in Vietnam every week. I guess the death of Kennedy was far more important than American soldiers being killed on a daily basis.

I was finding out very quickly I had a whole new world to adjust to. So far I wasn’t liking what I was seeing. When my country sent me my “greetings” letter in 1966, I was all of 19. The letter had a date and a time I was to report to 39 Whitehall Street in New York City. The letter included a token for me (no, not a token of love) to take the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan. I thought that was very thoughtful of my draft board. On the day I raised my right hand, I showed up on time. I never thought of fleeing to Canada or going to a doctor to find something wrong with me or staying in college. I completed one and a half years of college when I decided to drop out. Of course I had to tell the draft board I was no longer a student. I guess they were short of people they could draft, because in less than six months they sent me that beautiful letter.

I spent the next year of my life in Fort Bragg, North

Wondering And Wandering

With Ernie Zimmerman

Carolina, and the year after that in the beautiful country of Vietnam. While in Vietnam we received very little fresh news. We had the Stars and Stripes, but let’s face it — that’s basically a military newspaper. And of course we didn’t have Robin Williams and his “Good morning, Vietnam!” (We couldn’t listen to a radio and let the bad guys know where we were, as if they didn’t know.) Every now and then someone would sent me a copy of the New York Daily News or the New York Post. It was usually about three weeks old when it got into my hands.

I knew the Vietnam War was unpopular with some folks on the home front, but I didn’t realize how unpopular it was ’til I left Fort Lewis to go home. The only clothing I had was the new uniform the Army gave me to go home in. I was very proud of that uniform. I still have it, and it has only been worn once. It

is still fairly new looking. The only bad part about it is, it just doesn’t fit me. (I can’t close the buttons on the jacket, and the pants won’t go above my knees)

When I got to the airport in Seattle, me and a couple of my buddies had to wait about eight hours for our plane to leave. I was so happy to be back in “the world” that I didn’t mind the wait. But some of the folks in the airport did. We had quite a few nasty comments thrown our way. And if dirty looks could kill, I would have been killed more than a hundred times that day. It didn’t end there. When we boarded the plane (which was almost empty) it sure wasn’t the friendly skies I expected. The stewardesses treated us like old, smelly garbage. It took them forever to respond to our needs and requests. One of them actually started yelling at me when I asked her for a barf bag. She made some very rude comments.

Yes, I felt like I was coming back to a different country than the one I left. The major difference I see between the Vietnam War and the situation in Iraq is that during Vietnam a lot of folks on the home front hated the war and the “troops.” Today the folks on the home front may not like the war, but at least they respect the troops. And I for one am very glad to see the support our troops are getting from the home front. And hopefully all of the troops will be back in “the world” real soon.

Use Mulches And Native Plants To Get Through The Drought

Many communities are still not getting the regular rainfall they need to keep their landscapes in good condition, and if you have fruit trees, you need to make sure they are watered regularly so they don’t abort many of the developing fruit. Flowering trees will not put on quite as nice a display either if they become water stressed, so water most landscape trees at least every five to seven days to insure they maintain normal looks and flowering or fruiting.

Water efficiently to make use of the days on which restrictions allow you to water, and cover any areas of bare soil with some type of mulching material so you don’t lose water from the ground as rapidly. Mulches can be used anywhere

in the landscape, and putting down a layer of two to three inches is generally recommended. Thin layers don’t provide a good weed barrier or retard evaporation as much as a thicker layer.

If you’re doing new installation of landscape material, you might also wish to incorporate some organic material into the planting site to help hold water and nutrients. Sandy conditions don’t retain water nearly as well as sand mixed with composted manure, peat moss or other products. Also, such mixes hold more nutrients for root systems, allowing plants to grow better.

If plants in your landscape constantly need water, you may wish to reconsider whether you chose the right plant for

that location, and replace them with types more tolerant of the soil conditions.

For information about the water requirements for specific landscape plants, you can always call the Palm Beach County Extension office for free advice and talk to one of the master gardeners.

Another thing many are doing with new landscaping is using more native plants, which tend to require less water. If we continue into the fall and winter with water restrictions, you would certainly appreciate plants that don’t need as much care. Native plants certainly are far better than many exotics in regard to the amount of water they require for continued good growth.

If you have questions about types of

Gardening With Gene

By Gene Joyner

Extension Agent

Palm Beach County

plants for certain situations, or need watering information on specific plants, you can get that advice quickly and easily from the Palm Beach County Extension Service at (561) 233-1750. It’s a good source for publications on native plants and other plants that can be used to advantage in your landscape.

LOWEST PRICES! — Nobody beats our Price! Free Est. Complete A/C units from $1,150. Repair Specialists. Lic./ ins. 561-795-1130 toll free 888-981-9815

Air Conditioning Special — REDUCE

ELECTRIC BILL!! ALL POINT TUNE-UP

Including: Freon, Relay, Air Flow, Voltage & Ampage Draws, Cooling Loss, Condenser Coil, Drain Lines, Calibrate Thermostat. FREE Reusable Filter. BEAT THE HEAT CALL NOW! 561-333-7274. AIR CONDITIONING Repairs • Installation • Immediate Services. Mazella Mechanical Inc. Lic. #CMC1249709

AIR CONTROL SERVICES - Air Conditioning. Commercial/Residential. TUNEUP SPECIAL $59.95. Call Chaz Aprile 561-427-8844

JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITION-

ING & REFRIGERATION, INC. - Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996.

COMPLETE AUTO SHOP LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF LOXAHATCHEE!!Services provided; Brakes, Steering and Suspension, Belts and Hoses, Complete Engine Repair, Oil and Filters, Motor Tune Ups, Custom Exhaust Systems, A/C Repair, And Much More!!! Pick-up/Deliver Mark Hamilton Auto Repair "ASE Certified" Office: 561-793-1010 o Cell: 954-605-8416 MV#62390 Visa/MC/Amex accepted.

HOUSE CLEANING AVAILABLE — Over 13 yrs. experience. Great references. Very Dependable. Karen. 561-632-2271

HOUSE CLEANING — Available flexible hours/No Job too Big or Too Small. References upon Request. Please call Dina 561-951-2770

HOUSE CLEANING/PET SITTING

(YOUR HOME) - Reliable, owner operated excellent references. Charlene 561572-1782

HOUSECLEANING - Reliable & Dependable. Ask for Julie 561-603-3697

MAURILIA - CLEANING SERVICE - 561985-4137 Houses, new & used. Also stalls cleaned. Dependable & Honest. References Available.

CLUTTER FREE CLOSETS — For all your organizing needs. Custom closets. NOW OFFERING THE AMAZING BOOKSHELF BI-FOLD CLOSET DOOR. Robert Powell/Owner. FREE ESTIMATES. 561-422-7999 Lic. & Ins.

D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-333-9433 or Cell 561252-1186 Lic’d- Well. & Palm Beach

MOBILE -TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/Software setup, support & troubleshooting www.mobiletec.net 561-248-2611 $25 Off Labor Home & Office e-Masque InteractiveHas your computer gotten slow? Do you get unwanted Pop-Ups? Does your computer seem to have a mind of its own? Would you like to connect multiple computers to the internet? Spyware & Virus Removal•Repairs •Websites•Networking Upgrades•Programming•Security call: 561-795-0559 we do make house calls www.e-masque.com

CONCRETE RESURFACING — Pools, decks, patios, & interior floors, spray deck, kook deck, stone design, Paver Repair & Resealing. 561-790-4588 ROCKANDRECORD.COM - A professional DJ and Videography Service. Disc Jockey • Music • Entertainment • Professional MC's • Weddings • Bar/Bat

— Complete packages including fueled system - Best Prices & reliable new Generator systems installed from 15 to 200KW “More Practical and much quieter” Maintenance & Service for all types of generators. Factory Authorized Dealer. 561-707-0575 Palm Beach. Tropical Power Systems, Inc.

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

BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS, INC. — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall, kitchens/cabinets/countertops, remodeling, wood flooring. Bonded/Insured U#19699. 561-791-9900

I’M A HANDYMAN — Rent me hourly/ job. Slightly used craftsman practicing all trades while designing & constructing own home. Any job from hanging a fan to remodeling.Textured walls, painting, flooring, cabinets/vanities etc. Make your repair honey-do-list, free estimates, Greg. 561-531-3141

"I'LL DO IT HANDYMAN SERVICES — All interior/exterior. Repairs and renovations. Painting & Plumbing. Affordable & professional. 561-452-5033.

ANMAR CO. –James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528

ATLANTIC SHORE HOME IMPROVE-

MENT — Kitchen & Bathrooms/Remodel, Ceramic & Wood Floors, Carpentry & Handyman Services, Doors & Windows. References upon request. 561-756-0428 Anthony Palermo Lic. #CGC057252 Ins.

MCA CUSTOM WOODWORKING, INC.

— “Make your home standout from the rest” Call us for all your home improvement needs. Kitchen & bathroom remodeling, custom wall units, design your home office, cabinetry, tile & drywall repair. Lic. #U-19564. Bonded & Ins. 561-723-5836

QUALITY HOME IMPROVEMENTS Affordable Prices — Painting Interior & Exterior, Drywall, Knockdown Texture, Fire & Water Rest., Crown Moldings, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Tile & Marble. AND MUCH MORE... 10% OFF with this ad! One Stop Shop. Creative Concepts Construction 561-471-7874 Lic. & Bonded Home repair. Quality Work. Free estimates. Fast on time service. "For all your home improvement needs" Lic. & Ins. 561-685-5360 561-308-6677.

LITL AUDIO/VIDEO SERVICE — specializing in Home Theatre Installation Satellite Services and communications.

“I will Beat Retailer’s cost & Installation fees”! Call George for immediate service at 954-263-4189 561-784-4858 Office. Res./Comm. Lic. & Ins.

COMPLETE IRRIGATION — PVC/PIPE supplies.Citrus ,Vegetables, Power units. Water Wheels, design services, Fairways Polo fields, Pumps/Engines mowing of all types. 1-863-675-6333.

UNIVERSAL IRRIGATION SERVICE & INSTALLATION — New Installations sprinkler repair pumps/Time Clocks. We Service all brands. Monthly Maintenance. Fast Response. Lic. #U-10740 Bonded Insured. 561-795-9735

FRANK’S BUSHHOG SERVICE — Lot mowing, Lawn Maintenance, Landscaping, Lot cleaning and TREE TRIMMING, reasonable rates. 722-4403 Lic.& Ins. TNT LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE 561-644-8683 — Lic. & Ins. Landscape design, low maintenance gardens, professional plant installation, mulching, monthly property maintenance, sprinklers maintenance & repair, expert hedge & tree trimming.

EVERGREEN LANDSCAPING INC. Let us take care. Residential & Commercial, Lic. & Ins. Professional landscape design & installation. Reasonable & reliable. Waterfall & Ponds, exotics, landscape & flatstone. Butterfly gardens, tropical and Mediterranean. www.evergreensgardens.net 561-7236166

LAWN MAINTENANCE CARL SAMUELS LAWN CARE — Complete lawn maintenance, mowing, edging, trimming & much more. Free estimates. Quality work at affordable prices! Lic. & Ins. 561-633-3687

ARMENTO PAINTING & SONS, INC. ––Painting, Interior, Exterior. Pressure cleaning. Custom painting, faux art. Lic. No. U14736. 798-8978. BD

JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. ––

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

LARRY’S PAINTING & WALLPAPER — Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Interior/ Exterior painting. 561-309-2845. Wallpaper - Luanne 561-801-2018

Painting • Residential • Commercial • Historical Restoration • Faux Finishing • Stucco Repair • Roof Painting • and Pressure Cleaning • Sand Blasting • Mold Removal. FLEISCHER’S PAINTING • 561833-6661.

LET US AD A LITTLE COLOR TO YOUR LIFE — Residential/Commercial. Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Owner/Operator. Ask for Paul 561-309-8290. COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/ Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free estimates - Insured. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident.

RJA PAINTING & DECORATING — interior, exterior, custom colors, faux artwork, all work guaranteed. Lic. Bonded & Insured. 561-616-2255 MMP PAINTING - Pressure Cleaning, Interior/Exterior Painting, Paver Sealers, Driveways, Ins.&Bonded. Lic. #U-18263. Office 561-790-4026 Cell 561-719-0516 Exterior Savings Call For More Details.

561-601-4707 THE DOG NANNY — Wellington and individualized pampering for Wellington & Western Communities. Dogs at their Home & Office surrounding. Dog walks, Doggie Moi Play Sessions & sleepovers. American Red Cross Pet CPR/FIRST Aid Certified.

ROLL DOWN SHUTTERS — Accordion shutters, storm panels and rolling shutters...prices that can’t be beat. All shutters Systems, Inc. 863-0955 AFFORDABLE HURRICANE PROTECTION — 2 - 4 wks. Installed Guaranteed! 10% deposit . Will get you started. All products, Dade County approved. We manufacture our own product. 561-5686099, 772-342-8705 Lic. & Ins. CGC 1511213

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC - Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004 Lic. #U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990

NEED HELP DEALING WITH THE IRS? — IRS Tax Mediation Services, specializing in all collection matters. Including liens, levy, installment agreements and offers-in-compromise. Business or Personal 561-313-3955 Free Initial Consultation. Authorized to practice before the IRS.

PROFESSIONAL TILE AND GROUT SERVICE — Cleaning, Sealing, Grout coloring. Old fashion customer service. Western Community resident. HOME BEAUTIFUL INC. Lic. CBC087928 INS. 561-543-1582

TGK TILE & GROUT — Get rid of dirty grout lines forever! Tile and Grout experts. Tile Cleaning & Sealing, Grout Cleaning, restoration, color sealing & repairs. Res. & Comm. Free Estimate & Demo. TGK The Grout King. 561-2677524 ANTHONY’S CAR SERVICE — Doctor’s appointments and Grocery Shopping, Airport Service - Great Rates. Discounted Rates for Senior Citizens. 561-358-0497 ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING — YOUR HOME • OUR CENTER.

$18-$25/HR — Teachers/Tutors P/T. All subjects PreK to Adult. Certification/Experience required. Palm Beach County Areas Fax 561-828-8128 or E-mail Tutorking@adelphia.net HELP WANTED/BOOKKEEPER EXPERIENCED; Familiar with QUICKBOOKS - Full-Time position.

“You dealt with the rest now deal with the best” maintenance and repairs. Inquire about 1 months FREE service. 561-7915073 ELITE POOL CLEANING

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING — Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.Call Butch 561-309-6975 BD

SIGMA III CORPORATION PRIVATE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE — Domestic investigation, surveillance, missing persons. Background investigation into that new boyfriend or fiance, hidden assets located and more. Lic. & Ins. 561-3124386 Member of Better Business Bureau Lic. #A2300091

PRIMROSE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC — Full Service. Residential Home Care for full or part time residents. Weekly inspections, repairs, Monthly reports. Reasonable rates. 561-602-6857 or email: primrosepm123@aol.com

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS – Roof painting. Carpentry. License #U9 865. 9675580. BD SHAKE ROOF SPECIALISTS –– New roofs, repairs, preservation. License #CC025465. Shake Masters, Shake Chem. Members of Shake Bureau. 4396668 BD ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING ––Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded, insured. Lic. #U-11006.790-0763 or 641-4592. BD ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC-0067207

A ROOFING REPAIR SPECIALISTS INC. — All work guaranteed. 40 years exp. Family owned & operated. Radio dispatched 791-8855 BD HORIZON ROOFING INCORPORATED — Quality Work & Service. Free estimates. NO DEPOSITS/Pay upon completion reliable & on time. Written warranty/credit cards accepted, residential/commercial. Reroofing, State cert. Roofing contractor. 15 yrs. Serv. So. Florida. 561-842-6120. Lic. #ccc1325633

JOHN’S SCREEN SERVICE –– Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight, wrinklefree, guaranteed!Lic.#9001390.798-3132.