Town-Crier Newspaper March 21, 2008

ART IN THE AFTERNOON

Two Seat 4 Candidates Spar At Lively Town-Crier Forum

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington Village Council Seat 4 candidates Howard Coates and Matthew Willhite squared off on a variety of issues Wednesday night in a forum sponsored by the Town-Crier in advance of the March 25 runoff election.

In the March 11 municipal election, Coates and Willhite were the two biggest vote-getters in the four-way race for Seat 4, but neither managed to draw the 50-percent majority needed to claim the seat. Coates, a Wellington lawyer, received 1,819 votes (40 percent). Willhite, a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue lieutenant, received 1,549 votes (34 percent). Coates and Willhite are seeking the seat occupied by retiring Councilwoman Laurie Cohen.

In front of several dozen residents and the Wellington Channel 18 cameras at the Wellington Community Center, the candidates agreed that building better relationships with neighboring municipalities and creating a better bond between Wellington’s equestrian and non-equestrian residents are vital to the village’s future, but disagreed on issues such as negotiating a contract for fire-rescue services or refunding Wellington taxpayers the $115 the council assessed each property owner in 2005 to pay for residential storm cleanup expenses.

Coates said the village should keep the council’s promise to refund the surcharge, given that

Seat 4 Candidates — Attorney Howard Coates and firefighter Matthew Willhite shake hands before Wednesday night’s candidates’ forum sponsored by the Town-Crier

the Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursed the village most of the money it spent on hurricane cleanup.

“A promise is a promise, and we need to stick by it,” Coates said. “But you have to be very careful about the promises you make. If this council makes a commitment to its people, the council needs to find a way to make that happen. We can’t sit up here and not follow through on what we say we’re going to do. If that means finding some areas to cut back on, then we need to do it. What we can’t be doing up here is making prom-

BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

ises we have no intention of keeping in the first place. That’s not good government, and it’s certainly not good leadership.”

Willhite said he trusts the village’s latest calculations that not all of the federal reimbursement has been received. “I don’t believe that money is in the bank right now. They haven’t got all the money back yet,” Willhite said. “How can we make a promise to give back money that we don’t have?”

Willhite said the only practical way of benefiting taxpayers would be to offer a reduction in See SEAT 4, page 20

New Mayor Aims To Project New Image For Wellington

By Don Brown Town-Crier Staff Report

More informal council meetings, better customer service, more citizen involvement before decisions are made, and a warmer, fuzzier community.

Those are some of the shortterm goals of new Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen, who gaveled his first Wellington Village Council meeting to order Tuesday after taking the oath for his first public office.

“My leadership is going to be very laid-back,” Bowen told the

Town-Crier in an interview

Monday. “I want to empower the other council members to feel free to present their own ideas for a better community and keep egos at the door. Each council member should be able to come up with his or her own ideas and get credit for them. I’m convinced that good leaders can get things done.”

And don’t expect the new mayor to be at every ribbon-cutting or similar event. “I plan to share that honor with other council members,” he said. “Ev-

eryone should have the opportunity to represent the village.” That concept includes representing the community outside the village, too. “I want our meetings to be less formal. I want us to be able to talk more with people during meetings. Who knows, I might get up from the dais and [go] into the audience,” he laughed.

Bowen was careful not to criticize former mayor Tom Wenham, whom he ousted March 11. “I think people just wanted See BOWEN, page 20

Wellington Council Postpones Refund Decision Until Fall

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington Village Council stepped back from refunding the $115 hurricane recovery assessment Tuesday pending the outcome of both the coming hurricane season and the village’s summertime budgeting process.

The assessment was levied on Wellington property owners in 2005 to help fund the cost of cleaning up hurricane debris, and netted the village about $2.1 million. In recent months some residents have called for a refund of the assessment in light of an unexpected recent Federal Emergency Management Agency refund of about $3 million.

Village Manager Paul Schofield told the council the village had spent about $18 million on storm-related expenses over three years. Receipt of FEMA and insurance reimbursements totaling $14.3 million, including the unexpected $3 million, plus the revenue from the hurricane assessment means the village is still some $1.6 million out of pocket, he said.

Newly installed Mayor Darell Bowen said the $3 million was a big issue in the recent municipal election. “So what you are telling us is that we don’t have $3 million to give back to everyone,” he said. “Somehow we

have to make that clear to everyone. We still don’t have all the money back that we spent. We don’t have $3 million to give back to everyone is what I am hearing here.”

Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore noted that the $1.6 million shortfall must be taken from the village’s reserve fund, and while the village’s credit rating has not yet suffered, any consideration of refunding the surcharge would be premature.

“FEMA does not return money at 100 percent,” Priore said. “At one point it was 90 percent, and then it was reduced to 75 percent. There is a likelihood, if we have an additional storm, we will be out of pocket additional monies that we will not recoup. I think, Darell, you are right.” Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto said that like Bowen, she would be pleased to give the money back, but it might not be financially prudent, particularly as the village is still seeking reimbursement for outstanding expenses and another hurricane season is on the way.

“I think this is something that has to be conveyed to the residents,” Benacquisto said. “We are not withholding anything. We are preparing for another hurricane season. We will be hopeful that we do not have another storm event. We do remain See REFUND, page 2

RPB, West Palm Remain At Odds Over Roebuck

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Royal Palm Beach Mayor

David Lodwick told his fellow council members Thursday that West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel remains obstinately opposed to a pre-agreed extension of Roebuck Road to the western communities.

Lodwick, who met with Frankel the previous Friday to discuss their opposing views on the extension, said she flatly refused to honor a pre-existing agreement to allow the extension of the road.

Lodwick gave his presentation to a council that was at a full strength of five members for the first time since July.

Martha Webster, who in January won a three-way race for the vacant Seat 2, was sworn in Thursday evening by Village Clerk Diane DiSanto to serve the remaining year in the term of former councilwoman Bar-

Lodwick, Vice Mayor David Swift and Councilman Matty Mattioli, who were each reelected unopposed, also took the oath of office for two-year terms. As part of the council’s organizational meeting prior to its regular business meeting, the council unanimously elected Councilman Fred Pinto to succeed Swift as vice mayor. Pinto also was selected to continue to serve as the council’s liaison to the village’s Education Advisory Board and will replace Lodwick as the council’s voting delegate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Beginning his sixth two-year term as mayor, Lodwick will continue to serve as the council’s liaison to the village Recreation Advisory Board. Mattioli will continue to serve as the council’s liaison to the village’s Planning & Zoning Commis-

readers more to read on each page and give our advertisers far more choices and versatility to get their messages across. There are other, more subtle changes, which reflect shifts in the economy and technology. For example, we have made changes that make the newspaper easier to digitize and we are now noting our growing web site at the top of each page. Five

years ago, we reformatted our sections to emphasize the needs of a booming real estate market. Now that the market has shifted and our communities are approaching build-out, we have reformatted our sections again to put more of an emphasis on community events. The bottom line is simple: the Town-Crier may look different, but our commitment to bringing you the best possible community newspaper remains unchanged.

“Art in the Afternoon” on

at

Breakers West Country Club. The event featured lunch, music

auctions. Auction items included

paintings, sculpture, photography, pottery

by

artists. Shown above are Judy Eisinger and Wellington Art Society President Susan Rose with one of the

PHOTO

bara Isenberg.

Oath Of Office — Village Clerk Diane DiSanto (left) administers the oath of office to Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster, who took her seat Thursday.

PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

BY LEONARD WECHSLER/TOWN-CRIER

CVB

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

The county’s new tourism chief said this week that the Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau is working hard to revive the county’s weakened tourist trade.

CVB President and CEO

Jorge Pesquera told attendees at County Commissioner Jess Santamaria’s monthly forum in the original Wellington Mall on Wednesday that the county must push harder not only to attract visitors to the county, but to also publicize all the activities it offers.

“We need to stoke the tourism economic engine,” he said.

“It’s not just heads in beds, but finding ways to make meetings and vacations more pleasurable so tourists spend more money at different businesses and attractions in the county.”

Pesquera, who was appointed to lead the bureau last year after a financial scandal there made national headlines, said he is reshaping the organization and its approach. “We are reorganizing to do more planning, which is centered on making certain we meet people, that we teach them about this county and that we meet the highest standards,” he said.

The bureau is also creating more outreach groups. “We have created new groups like a strategic marketing council and a public relations council to make certain that we are able to attract groups to our county.”

Pesquera said his bureau is now working closely with the county’s Business Development Board and other groups to create new ways to pass the county’s message along.

“We’ve begun to use YouTube — having young people compete in sending out effective messages as part of a competition,” he said. “We’re getting more attention for our equestrian events, and we just began to work on an extreme sporting competition around Lake Okeechobee that is getting attention.”

Pesquera said that the county has been ignoring warning signs

Refund

Not This Year

continued from page 1

$1.6 million in out-of-pocket expenses. Any discussion that was suggested to refund the money is very premature until we get through the budget process over the summer and adopting it in October.”

Vice Mayor Bob Margolis agreed that the village might be able to revisit the issue in the fall.

“I am waiting to see if FEMA will reimburse even further so we don’t have to dip into our reserves,” he said.

Councilwoman Laurie Cohen said she was also in favor of maintaining village reserves and preserving the village’s credit rating, but stressed the validity of revisiting the possibility of a refund during the budgeting process.

“I am also in favor of having the reserves in the event of a hurricane, but if there is extra money over and above the 25 to 27 percent we need, I think during the budgeting process we need to take a hard look at refunding some of the money to the residents, or giving them a credit in some other way. I don’t think we should be sitting on money that is not necessary to running the government.”

Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto made a motion to accept the report and that the council would review the issue in the future, which was seconded by Cohen. It passed unanimously 5-0.

In other business:

• The council approved the first reading of a comprehensive plan amendment to change the land-use designation of 4.2 acres

of a decline in tourism in recent years. “We’re facing a lot more competition than we had before,” he said. “We need to avoid complacency. A lot of people have taken tourism for granted, but we need for decide how many hotel rooms we need and where they should be so they support the whole tourism effort. We have a new convention center without enough hotels or related services close by.” The bureau is focusing on building more niche markets, Pesquera said. “We’re working to attract more equestrians, ecology adventurists, destination weddings, as well as adventure competition,” he said. Pesquera also warned against settling into a routine approach to promoting the county. “Tourist areas have their own life cycle,” he said. “They go through boom and bust, and you have to spend your investment money in different ways at different points in the cycle. We had more hotel rooms on Palm Beach island in the 1890s than we have now on that island and West Palm Beach combined today.”

Bill Vervaeke, the CVB’s marketing vice president, told the audience about the effort to promote the specific identity of the county. “We are working to create a brand identity for Palm Beach County, looking for a way to get more people here in ways that promote economic development,” he said. The bureau did no market research to determine whether its advertising and promotional materials were effective until recently, Vervaeke said.

“When we began our study, we found out that our county had a far lower revenue per room amount than just about any destination in Florida,” he said. “We were one of only three districts that actually had the amount go down over the past few years.”

Vervaeke said the county’s shrinking tourism promotion budget has hurt the industry. “Compared to most other places, we are at the low end of the

along the north side of Pierson Road, about a half-mile west of South Shore Blvd. from Residential B (one unit per acre) to Residential C (two units per acre).

Planning and Zoning Director David Flinchum told the council the planned development, dubbed Mystic Equestrian, neighbors the Equestrian Walk development. He said the developer originally sought to build nine homes but accepted a request last month from the village’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board that the subdivision be limited to a total of eight.

“The request was to limit it to two dwelling units per acre for a maximum of eight single-family lots,” he said. Priore made a motion to approve the first reading for the ordinance, which was seconded by Margolis. It passed unanimously. The council is scheduled for a second review of the ordinance on April 22, after which it will undergo review by the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

• The council approved an annual contract for senior services with the Wellington Seniors Club in the amount of $51,500. Village Operations Director John Bonde said the expense has not increased from the contract of the previous year.

“Each year, the Seniors Club comes to the village and requests a certain amount of money which is budgeted for the programs,” he said. “This year, there is no increase over the previous year’s outlay. Staff is recommending approval.” Cohen made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Benacquisto. It passed unanimously.

Jess & Guests — Jorge Pesquera, Jess Santamaria and Steve Delai at Wednesday night’s community forum.

PHOTO

Wellington Village Council Says Bye To Cohen, Welcomes Bowen

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington Village Council hailed an incoming member and bade farewell to another departing Tuesday as Mayor Darell Bowen was sworn into office and Councilwoman Laurie Cohen sat for the last time on the dais. Cohen, who along with Vice Mayor Bob Margolis was appointed to fill a vacancy on the council in 2003, subsequently won a four-year term on the council in the 2004 election. A

lawyer and mother of two, she declined to seek re-election this year, citing professional and family responsibilities.

Village Manager Paul Schofield read a proclamation recognizing Cohen for her five years of service to the community.

Schofield said the council had benefited from Cohen’s legal expertise and her attention to detail, but also praised her ability to remain steadfast in her beliefs “by making tough and unpopular decisions during difficult deliberations,” and then

Drowning Prevention — The Wellington Village Council approved a proclamation Tuesday designating April 2008 as

Drowning Prevention Awareness Month, and recognizing village personnel Ivy Rosenberg, Michelle Garvey and Barbara Crawford. Rosenberg thanked the village staff and the council for the proclamation and for the village’s support in drowning prevention programs. “Beginning in 2005, we had 15 participants, and this past year, we’ve had over 150,” Rosenberg said. “That’s a lot of lives we are saving, and safety we are sharing. We hope to reach over 200 in the near future.”

‘I want to thank you all for the opportunity you gave me to give back to my community, and to continue to make Wellington a great place to live for this generation and for future generations.

— Councilwoman Laurie Cohen

standing by them despite public opposition. That steadfastness, he said, earned Cohen the respect of her fellow council members and the community.

“The village council wishes to express their genuine and heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Cohen for her service to the Village of Wellington,” Schofield said. “We extend our best wishes for all of her future endeavors.”

Cohen said it was a humbling experience to serve the village, and how she had become an “accidental public servant,” due mostly to the insistence of her husband Irwin to apply for the vacancy.

“I tried to resist my husband’s prodding to submit the application, but eventually he won out,” Cohen said. “I did submit it, and I was selected from among many of the well-qualified candidates to fill one of the seats, and Bob was selected to serve on the other. Over the past five years, I have tried not to give way to the political whims, and in truth, be true to my conscience, and fulfill the trust you have placed in me. I hope I have succeeded. I want to thank you all for the opportunity you gave me to give back to my commu-

nity, and to continue to make Wellington a great place to live for this generation and for future generations. It truly has been an honor to serve with the current and former members of this council.”

Tuesday also featured the swearing-in of Mayor Darell Bowen and Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore to begin their terms on the council. At the conclusion of the meeting, first-time politician Bowen thanked his colleagues on the council and village staff for bearing with him.

“I just want to say thank you for all for getting me through the first meeting,” Bowen said. “I do thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope I can live up to your expectations. I will be a little less formal. I am not a formal-type guy. I want to get things done. I appreciate you giving me feedback and comments. I can handle the criticism. Just jump on me when I make a mistake. I think these are all great ideas. I will be working a lot with fellow council members and letting them come forward with great ideas and we can make them work. I thank you.”

(Above) Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen is sworn into office. (Below) Outgoing Councilwoman Laurie Cohen is recognized by the council. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Elect Howard Coates To Wellington Village Council Seat 4

It came as no surprise on March 11 when, as the final votes were counted in the race for Seat 4 on the Wellington Village Council, a clear winner was not established. The original four candidates — Howard Coates, Timothy Shields, Fred Van Dusen and Matt Willhite — were all eminently qualified. Few expected a slam-dunk for any one candidate. And as Wellington voters go to the polls on Tuesday, March 25 for a runoff election, they must decide between Mr. Coates and Mr. Willhite. It is not an easy choice.

Mr. Coates, an attorney, and Mr. Willhite, a firefighter, each bring a unique perspective to the council, and the village would be well served by either of them. It is unfortunate only one can win. However, there may soon be another council vacancy if Vice Mayor Bob Margolis decides to run for higher office, which is a good possibility. Clearly, whoever does not win on March 25 would be a good candidate for council appointment at that time.

Best known across the county as legislative vice president of the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County Local 2928, Mr. Willhite has experience operating budgets and exerting leadership skills. And as a member of the village’s Public Safety Committee, Mr. Willhite has been serving Wellington in a volunteer capacity for several years. He is a military veteran who speaks from the perspective that many share — that of someone trying to raise a young family.

We Need A Qualified Elections Czar

Florida and Palm Beach County in particular became the brunt of many jokes during the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Be prepared for further jokes after the upcoming primary and presidential elections in August and November. In fact, the jokes may continue well after the 2008 elections as long as politicians continue to have their way! As residents of Palm Beach County, getting rid of the stigma of these jokes is vital. We in Florida do know how to run an election!

Theresa LePore, supervisor of elections in 2000, will always be known for the “hanging chads.”

She was succeeded by Dr. Arthur Anderson at the insistence of the Democratic Party and Congressman Robert Wexler, who made it his crusade to replace Ms. LePore. Congressman Wexler’s candidate Dr. Anderson has not done very well since he has been in office. For the past four years he has continued to make Palm Beach County the butt of many jokes because of the many problems he has either caused or has not solved.

During the 2000 presidential election, both the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court had to get involved in the election of our president. Politicians were at it again. It is now 2008 and things do not look any better. Palm Beach County is now getting rid of the touch-screen voting machines, but it has become a problem for Dr. Anderson to handle. It started with the contract cost of the tables/booths required for voters to fill in the paper ballots. Furthermore, exactly how early voting is going to be handled in August or October has not been worked out yet. And forget about the training required of the poll workers to make things run smoothly.

Even though the supervisor of elections position is a non-partisan elected position, the candidate requires the support of the party to raise the funds to mount a countywide candidacy. Here is how both major political parties are going to exacerbate the problem:

• The local Republican Party will not support any candidate because they feel that the Democratic Party is in control of Palm Beach County and any candidate that they support will not have a chance to win the election.

• The local Democratic Party knows and has stated that Dr. Anderson has not solved the problems and Congressman Wexler has stated that he will not support him.

• Florida State Rep. Susan Bucher, the only person who has filed for the position, is considered by many, including the Democratic Party, to be too “partisan” for the position.

• The Democratic Party appears to have settled on Wellington Councilman Bob Margolis as their favorite son, even though he has no experience with the voting process or the computers and software required to handle the election.

Let’s place politics aside and support a candidate who can solve Palm Beach County election problems. Maybe that is asking too much of our politicians.

Julio

Galvez Wellington

Protect Our Tax Money

A friend once told me that he did not understand the concept of the Trinity until he went to work for government and found three people doing one man’s job. Unfortunately, that is what parts of Wellington’s government have evolved into over the past few years. With passage of property-tax reform last January, that cannot last. Our local governments are going to be asked to do more with less. It will not be easy, and it will to require strong leadership. The changes in Wellington have already started with the election of Darell Bowen as mayor. But one seat remains to be filled.

We need someone in that seat who understands clearly that he is spending our money and will do so wisely; someone who will look at a proposed expense of $50,000 and say, “if I approve this expense, it will mean $1 in additional taxes for every single resident of Wellington”; someone who sees taxes as very personal to each of the residents and not as a small part of a huge budget; someone who will ask, “do we really need it?” and then say to staff, “show me why we need it!” I believe Howard Coates is the individual we can count on to protect our money. He has had to meet payroll and run a small business. He knows the value of a dollar, your dollar and my dollar. So I am voting for Howard Coates.

Colin Baenziger Wellington

Support For Matt Willhite

The Village of Wellington was founded with a focus on family. I grew up in Palm Beach County, and I have seen firsthand the growth our area has endured. Now with a family of my own, my husband and I picked Wellington as a place to

JASON BUDJINSKI

That lends credibility to his concerns about over-development; it is an issue that affects him deeply.

While Mr. Willhite would make a good, competent member of the council, Mr. Coates’ legal background, especially since attorney Laurie Cohen will be leaving the council, could prove very valuable. Mr. Coates said he wants to re-examine the village’s spending on legal services — something where his experience as an attorney gives him the advantage. Fortunately, that is not his only position. The father of four children has served as president of the Okeeheelee Youth Baseball League and led Cub Scout Pack 208. That bodes well for his prospects of protecting sports and recreation programs. Also, Mr. Coates’ desire for a comprehensive college campus in Wellington is something long overdue.

Even if you disagree with our choice, the important thing is that you get out and vote on Tuesday, March 25. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Because this is a runoff election, turnout is expected to be low. The more people who participate, the better off the village will be.

Again, this is a very difficult decision to make. But given the choice between the two candidates, we narrowly favor Mr. Coates because of his broader vision of Wellington’s future. The Town-Crier endorses Howard Coates in the March 25 runoff election for Seat 4 on the Wellington Village Council.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

raise our two small children.

Matt Willhite is a man who also knows the importance of allowing growth in our community as well as maintaining a focus on family. He is a family man. He is a public servant. He wants nothing but the best for the two things that are most important to him — his family and his community. Mr. Willhite has served our community, our county and our country selflessly. He is a fresh face with the vision and the drive our village needs to continue to thrive. My only hope is that other Wellington voters with a concern about family also pick Mr. Willhite in the March 25 runoff election for Seat 4.

Terri Cloutier Wellington

Support For Howard Coates

Howard Coates, an individual who has always worked hard for his accomplishments, originally enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a means to gain a college education. He learned perseverance and patience while enlisted, and most especially while going through boot camp. Not only did he have to be physically tough, but most importantly, mentally tough. Howard continued to work his way through school while being married and having his first son during exam week at Yale Law School. Yale was not “given” to Howard. In fact, he continued to work, as did his wife Cheri, while obtaining his legal education there. I have coached local teenagers for years, and this is the avenue where I first met the Coates family. It was through Wellington Travel Soccer and then through the Wellington High School soccer and volleyball programs that I had the opportunity to spend more time with this family. Howard and Cheri’s dedication and devotion to the Wellington community will continue to flourish when Howard is elected to the Wellington Village Council. Howard is diligent about his career and listening to the residents of Wellington (all and not just a select few). Change is always good, and Howard’s leadership skills are needed to round up the village council. We want Howard Coates to represent Seat 4 in the Village of Wellington! Paul Foster Wellington

Don’t Drop

The ‘Easter’

I am embarrassed and angry every time I pass the sign that refers to the “egg hunt” without mentioning Easter. Why do our event organizers in Wellington feel they have the right to do away with the traditional name for this event? That’s like calling the Christmas tree a holiday tree. Even the White House refers to the event on their grounds as the “Easter egg hunt.”

This is another example of those with a little bit of power taking too much liberty with the rights of the majority who would like to see tradition and religious significance left alone. Who gave them the right? If we can’t

have an Easter egg hunt, then let’s not have a generic “let’s not offend anyone” hunt. If there’s anyone who is offended if Easter is mentioned, they have bigger problems than this will address.

Stop being such wimps and call it what it is, what it has always been called and what it’s called almost everywhere else. Francine Moldt Wellington

Upset By Truck

Editor’s Note: The following letter refers to Wellington Village Council Seat 4 candidate Matt Willhite, a firefighter who was endorsed by the Palm Beach County firefighters union. Not everything is black or white. Take a red fire truck with Palm Beach County insignia (like all county fire trucks have) parked on a Forest Hill Blvd. swale for the entire [March 11] election day with a candidate’s name festooned all over it. Right or wrong? I don’t know the distinction, but I found out it was a “union truck.” My perception, and that of a whole lot of other people at the voting site I was at, thought it was wrong.

Truth is, perception is the reality, and to U.S. citizens it appeared and was probably meant to appear as a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue endorsement. The union involved is seeking a one-percent sales-tax increase to pay for raises. I intend to vote for Howard Coates because he is better prepared to represent us, and the misuse of a fire truck is only icing on the cake.

Bart Novack Wellington

Thanks, Mr. Mayor, For Your Service

Editor’s Note: The following letter is addressed to former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham. A copy was sent to the TownCrier for publication.

Dear Mr. Wenham:

Please know that there are many of us long-term Wellington residents who will be forever in your debt. We sincerely thank you for your service to this community, for your vision, and for your countless and tireless efforts in making Wellington a community we could all be proud of.

When the history of Wellington is written, your name and your contributions will be annotated as being instrumental in making our community what it is. You helped provide the roadmap to make us a great community. I can only hope that those who will now manage this community and who have promised us “everything” come to realize the realities of municipal governance and provide us half of what you were able to provide. I know they will soon come to realize that promising us and delivering to us are two separate things. The “fairy dust” will soon settle, and we will all soon know what a loss it is not to have you on the dais.

My very best wishes to you and Regis, and I would hope that you would not discount running

again in the future. Maybe the citizens of Wellington will soon realize that getting out and voting for what they want in our community is important.

Joseph Manning Wellington

Willhite Not A ‘Politician’?

Imagine if Karl Rove rode into Wellington and decided to run for a seat on the village council. His campaign [slogan] would probably be “a public servant… not a politician.” After all, Rove never ran for public office; he was only the most devious political operative this nation has ever seen.

It seems we have a Rove clone in our community by the name of Matt Willhite. The audacity of Willhite to run a campaign theme based upon his not being a “politician” is mindboggling. By his own admission, he has worked on the campaigns of no less than seven individuals (that he has acknowledged). Funny that none of his literature mentions that he is a legislative vice president for the firefighters union (Sun-Sentinel Feb. 29, 2008). It therefore came as a complete surprise when “after careful consideration,” the unbiased firefighters union endorsed Willhite and [former mayor Tom] Wenham (who also works for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and was defeated in the election March 11). Remember, this is the same union blasted by the Palm Beach Post in an editorial March 4 when they tried to institute a one-percent sales-tax increase to protect their self-interests in the state legislature.

Why, you may wonder, is a candidate working as a firefighter a huge issue in Wellington? The reason is simple; for ten years Tom Wenham has successfully squashed any attempt by Wellington’s government staff and council to secure a fairly priced fire-rescue service. Wellington overpays by about $10 million annually its tax payments to the county for fire services because of our high tax base. Given today’s economic circumstances, we need to save every dime we can, and 100 million dimes is a lot. We can’t afford to place another blocking vote for fire-rescue on our council — especially one who has already worked on the campaigns of [Councilwoman Lizbeth] Benacquisto, [Councilman Dr. Carmine] Priore and [Councilman Bob] Margolis (who now has lofty goals of running for elections supervisor and will desperately need the support of the firefighters powerful union).

Let’s give Darell Bowen the help he is badly going to need

by electing Howard Coates in the runoff election Tuesday, March 25. Coates is bright, professionally accomplished, and a Florida Gator and Yale Law School alumnus. He is the man we need now.

Alan Medoff

Wellington

Lying Politician

I guess here we go again with another lying politician. New Wellington Mayor [Darell] Bowen’s hand wasn’t even off the Bible and his right hand down from taking the oath when he lied about giving the residents the $115 FEMA reimbursement for the hurricane recovery fee that he promised us in his bid to win our votes for him as mayor. I say recall him and let’s elect someone who will not lie to win our support. (Might be hard to get that though.)

Craig Jacobson Wellington Hawk Softballer Pleads For

Help

As a high school student and athlete here in The Acreage, I feel that at Seminole Ridge High School, “we” (as in the softball team) are getting short-handed. Our field is hard as rock, has holes in the outfield and sometimes after a torrential downpour, we are not able to practice for days. We ask for a little help from the school district, and all we get is “no” or “we’ll see what we can do.” Well this has to stop. As a school-sponsored sport, shouldn’t we get the same respect as the football team? Heck, some seasons we are better than the football team. All we ask from the county is some more clay to be added to our field. How is it fair to us girls to have to go to practice and wonder if we are going to come back in one piece or in ten from field conditions?

We love the game, but our field conditions are starting to drive girls away from our program. As an incoming junior and Seminole Ridge Hawk on the softball team, I ask, what do we girls have to do to get the same treatment as the boys’ football team? We are all the same, and we need to be treated the same. We cannot let the sex of the sport get in the way of the treatment that we get from the school, community and the School District of Palm Beach County. As I said before, we are all equal and need to be treated like it, so help if you can, or if you don’t believe me, come to a game and see the conditions we are playing on, and see if you can help.

Angela

McGoldrick The Acreage

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OPINION Bureaucracy Should Help, Not Hinder Local Businessman

Every now and then we run into an example of something so absurd that it casts doubt about whether any of our public officials have even an ounce of common sense. I found such an example in Wellington businessman Frank Suess, whose circumstances have landed him in the world of absurdity.

The same flawed reasoning that stopped Callery-Judge Grove from building a new town of 10,000 homes in The Acreage — complete with a retail center, public service buildings and an employment center — is stopping Mr. Suess from expanding his small, successful family business on property along Southern Blvd. near SeminolePratt Whitney Road.

But wait — I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start from the beginning.

Point of View...

By Don Brown

Frank Suess came to the United States from Germany in 1968. He had $700 in his pocket, an engineering degree and faith in the American dream. A year later he married his German sweetheart Herta, and six years later he became an American citizen. He settled in New York where he worked as an industrial engineer. In 1989 he moved his family, including two sons, to Wellington.

Mr. Suess started his business, Prescriptions Plus, a mail-order medical supply and prescription company, in Wellington’s Commerce Park area. He outgrew the single building there and built another one next door. His business became a multi-million-dollar operation in just a short time. He prided himself on hiring local people. His own employees will tell you that he is more a father figure than a boss to them. His sons joined him in the family business. One of them went to North Carolina to open another facility there, and it has also been very successful.

Wellington residents know Mr. Suess as one of the village’s major philanthropists. He never knew a good cause he wouldn’t support. If you conducted a national search for the ideal corporate citizen, you would wind up with Frank Suess, right here at home. In fact, his business is perfect for our western communities. Folks in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage and Loxahatchee Groves are clamoring for so-called employment centers that have clean, unobtrusive businesses like Prescriptions Plus. And businessmen like Mr. Suess are ideal community partners. Prescriptions Plus became so successful that Mr. Suess now finds expansion necessary. In fact, a decade ago he purchased five acres along Southern Blvd. in case the need to expand his business should arise. The property is located just east of Seminole-Pratt Whitney on the north side of Southern between the intersection and a church. His plan was to build a structure of about 50,000 square feet to house a call center and medical billing center, adding about 200 jobs for local residents only minutes from their homes. But since he decided to build his center on prop-

erty he bought ten years ago for that purpose, Mr. Suess has been whipsawed by bureaucrats who are treating him exactly like they would treat tracthome developers from Canada. The American dream has turned into a Palm Beach County nightmare for Mr. Suess. He isn’t giving up, however. Even as he is preparing a backup plan to move his operation to more business-friendly St. Lucie County, where property is much cheaper, he still clings to the hope that common sense will prevail. He doesn’t want to leave the western communities. His employees depend on him, and he doesn’t want to let them down.

Mr. Suess’ business is the type that can locate anywhere. He located it here because this is where he wanted to live. He ought to be able to expand his business on property he has owned longer than many folks have lived here. Instead of discouraging him, local and county bureaucrats should help him with his plans to add 200 jobs to our local economy. This is exactly the sort of cause that needs the support of a proactive chamber of commerce, unless the chambers (we have two of them here) no longer wish to help businesses grow.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE, FIRE-RESCUE PARTNER UP FOR ROYAL PALM BEACH SAFETY FAIR

A youngster participates in the bike rodeo.

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

MARCH 19 — A Wellington woman was arrested on Wednesday after a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed she had sex with a minor and provided drugs and alcohol to him and two other boys. According to a PBSO report, two minors reported last May that they had had sexual relations with 31-year-old Jill Goldsmith, and that she provided them with alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy and cigarettes. They named a third minor, who initially denied the sexual allegations but later admitted they were true. Goldsmith admitted having sex with him, but not the other two boys; she said she purchased alcohol for them and let them do drugs in her car, but there were no sexual relations, according to the PBSO report.

On Jan. 22, a deputy respond-

Woman Arrested For Sex With Minor PBSO

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

MARCH 14 — A Riviera Beach man was arrested for shoplifting and resisting arrest last Friday at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a store security officer observed 45-year-old Timothy Clark carrying a trash can while shopping at approximately 1 p.m. The officer observed Clark place items into the trash can and attempt to leave the store. Items Clark attempted to steal include a towel holder, bath mat and shower liner. A background check showed that Clark had been released on supervised own recognizance from the Palm Beach County Jail in regard to a cocaine charge. While handcuffed and in custody, Clark attempted to run out of the Wal-Mart security office but was stopped by the deputy.

• • •

MARCH 9 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested on drug charges in RPB’s La Mancha neighborhood on Sunday, March 9. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach stopped 19-year-old Pablo Lopez for driving his truck without headlights at approximately 1:30 a.m. Upon contact with Lopez, the deputy smelled marijuana coming from Lopez’s vehicle. According to the report, the deputy found a small black bag on the floor that contained a clear plastic baggie with marijuana. The deputy also located another container that held marijuana. Lopez was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was given a notice to appear in court and released.

MARCH 9 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested on drug charges Sunday, March 9 on South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. According to a PBSO report, 27-year-old Steven Solano

ed to Goldsmith’s home regarding a hit-and-run incident involving her vehicle. According to the report, Goldsmith said she lost her keys and that someone must have stolen the vehicle. Through further investigation, it was revealed that Goldsmith loaned it to the minor she was having sex with. Goldsmith said she didn’t name the boy in her report because he had something on her, referring to the May police report. Goldsmith said she stayed away from the boy for a few months, and that he told her he would turn 18 on Dec. 31. During an interview in February, the boy told the PBSO he had had sexual relations with Goldsmith but did not say anything at first because he had a girlfriend. Goldsmith was charged with lewd or lascivious battery, child abuse and giving false information to a law enforcement officer.

was found in possession of two grams of cocaine and less than 20 grams of marijuana at approximately 11:30 p.m. Solano was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail and his car was impounded for forfeiture.

MARCH 12 — A Palm Beach Gardens man was arrested on drug charges last Wednesday in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the substation in Royal Palm Beach observed a black vehicle occupied by 23-year-old Benjamin Hellman parked in the road at the intersection of Prado and Almeria streets in the La Mancha neighborhood at approximately 1:40 a.m. The deputy observed the car for approximately 30 minutes before making contact with Hellman. While questioning Hellman about why he was in the area, the deputy noticed a clear baggie on the floor near Hellman’s feet that contained cocaine; the deputy retrieved another baggie that contained cocaine. Hellman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the county jail.

MARCH 17 — A resident of Versailles called the PBSO substation in Wellington on Monday to report a vehicular burglary. According to the victim, at sometime between 5 p.m. last Sunday and 11 a.m. the following morning, a Garmin GPS unit worth $350 was stolen from her vehicle.

MARCH 18 — A Wellington man was arrested on drug charges Tuesday near the intersection of Forest Hill Blvd. and Montauk Drive. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington observed 37-year-old Eric Ware illegally cross Forest Hill Blvd. on his bicycle at approximately 3:30 p.m. The deputy issued Ware a citation for crossing a highway without using a marked crosswalk. According to the report, while talking to Ware, the See BLOTTER, page 20

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Thomas Flavin is a white male, 5’10” tall and weighing 240 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 05/10/58. Flavin is wanted for failure to appear in court on the felony charges of uttering a forgery and grand theft, violation of supervised own recognizance on the charge of grand theft and failure to appear in court on the traffic charges of careless driving and driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked. His occupation is caregiver. His last known addresses were Adams Street in Jupiter and 92nd Lane North in The Acreage. Flavin is wanted as of 03/20/ 08. • Rolando Molina is a white male, 5’8” tall and weighing 170 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 07/10/79. Molina is wanted on the felony charges of trafficking in cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear in court on the charge of trafficking in cocaine, as well as failure to appear in court on the traffic charge of driving under the influence. His occupation is busboy. Currently at large, his last known address was Sunrise Drive in West Palm Beach. Molina is wanted as of 03/20/08. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc. com.

Thomas Flavin

Rolando Molina

Party-Building Key Topic At Palms West Republican Club Meeting

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Members of the Palms West Republican Club outlined a plan Wednesday to reach out to more minorities.

Guest speakers at the club’s meeting at the Players Club in Wellington included Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee Political Director Mark Hoch and Congressional candidates Lt. Col. Allen West and Edward Lynch.

Hoch said the county and state parties intend to reach out to Hispanics, Jews, Haitians and other minority groups.

“Both the Republican Party of Florida and the Republican Party of Palm Beach County have a long-term commitment to minority outreach,” Hoch said, pointing out that the Republican Party of Palm Beach County Chair Sid Dinerstein said he wanted to have a powerful outreach program in place before he stepped down.

“The Republican Party is taking aggressive moves in terms of developing its structure statewide in the 67 counties [of Florida],” Hoch said. “The basic structure indicates that all counties will have a minority outreach coordinator, and underneath that we will have an assistant vice chairman of outreach, and we will have five assistants under him. Here in this county, those five assistants will head up targeting specified targeted groups, and they will in-

clude African-Americans, Hispanics, Jews, women and also Haitian-Americans. The party has always attempted to do outreach to the minority communities, but this is the first time the organized structures can be institutionalized within the party to continue on with the future years.”

Hoch said strategies would vary from election cycle to election cycle, depending on variables from outside forces, such as positions held by Democratic opponents and who the actual candidates were from the other side. He said the efforts would include sending material to minority groups that might be willing to switch parties or vote Republican.

“The strategy for outreach programs for any particular election cycle will focus on outreach target groups that may be receptive to the Republican message in that particular election,” Hoch said. “We will be working within those particular communities to see if we can get non-Republican minorities to switch registrations.”

The committees would also have more of a presence at ethnic events, Hoch said.

“These different groups will be charged with becoming more involved in planning and coordinating activities with these different groups and developing more of a Republican presence at things like Haitian, Jewish, black or Hispanic celebrations.

It’s extremely important in Palm Beach County and statewide to attract minority voters. The success of the party depends on it.”

West, who is running in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District against incumbent Democrat Ron Klein, pointed out that the Republican Party is the party of Lincoln and that it needs to return to its roots.

“How does the Republican Party recreate this minority outreach? The Republican Party was established by the abolitionists who wanted to do one thing, which was to make people like me free. That was their focus when they came into power. During the Civil War, the Democratic Party was split with the Northern Democrats and Southern Democrats, and that enabled Lincoln to become our president. After winning the Civil War, they established the legislation ending slavery, giving us citizenship and the right to vote.

The last time Florida had a Republican black Congressman was Josiah T. Walls in 1873. The Republican Party had a relationship with black Americans, and that relationship lasted until the early 1900s when the Democrats got control. They started to overturn things. They overturned the civil rights legislation, and the Jim Crow laws came in with them. You have a history with the black community that you must not allow to be hijacked.”

West said Democratic presi-

dential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, beyond the fact that he gives impassioned speeches on race and has a different skin color, does not bring anything new to the table. “It allows that party to say ‘we are the ones who will give you the first African-American president,’” West said. “It allows that party to say ‘we are the front-runners for this thing.’ They are the ones who never passed any anti-lynching laws, and they are the ones who passed the Jim Crow laws. It was George Wallace and Lester Maddox who caused my parents a whole lot of suffering in south Georgia. You can’t allow that relationship to be taken away from you. You can rectify the situation by doing what you are doing in South Florida by having a worthwhile Republican candidate run for office.”

Lynch, who is running against Congressman Robert Wexler in District 19, said it is important

for Republican candidates to run for seats currently held by Democrats to get more Republican representation locally and at the national level.

“I actually live in unincorporated West Palm Beach, which is right on the border of Wellington. This is very important. This year, we have some really great candidates running. This is a very key area. It’s very important for you to get involved. We, the people, need to take back our nation from the politicians currently in office,” Lynch said. “We desperately need financial support from you guys. This is your campaign and your district. This is your country and your state as much as it is ours.

It’s our nation, and we need to get involved. The Republicans are the minority here, both literally and figuratively. We’re running against incumbents who have quite a war chest. We need your support so we can take

back our nation. We’re called the party of Lincoln who gave the Gettysburg Address. We’re of the people, by the people and for the people and we’ve kind of lost sight of that.” Palms West Republican Club President Charles Fetscher urged members to mark their calendars for a special meeting on Wednesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. at the Players Club. That meeting will feature a debate among Republican candidates for Florida’s 16th Congressional Seat, currently held by Democrat Tim Mahoney. The candidates include Gayle Harrell, Tom Rooney and Hal Valeche. The debate will be moderated by Palm Beach County Republican Club Executive Committee Vice Chairwoman Beth Kigel with local media representatives asking questions. For information about the Palms West Republican Club or the June 18 debate, call Fetscher at (561) 753-0084.

Edward LynchLt. Col. Allen WestMark Hoch

Groves Town Council Supports County Disaster Strategy Program

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will likely join in the county’s disaster mitigation strategy plan, a measure that will allow the new municipality access to more grant money and disaster planning help.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Town Attorney David Tolces said he recently met with Sheridan Truesdale, senior mitigation planner for the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management, who explained the local mitigation strategy.

The amended mitigation strategy adopted in 2004 by a majority of the county’s 37 municipalities was intended to get all entities in the county to work together to minimize damage from disasters, said Tolces, who encouraged the town to get in on the plan in order to receive disaster money.

Entities can get funding before and after disasters to help mitigate the loss of life and damage, Tolces said. An amended plan will be adopted in 2009, he said, and by joining now, the town can apply for grant money. Tolces said Truesdale would be available to come out and

speak to council members about the mitigation plan.

Vice Mayor Marge Herzog asked if the town’s flood control manager, the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, participates in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs.

LGWCD Administrator Clete Saunier, who attended the meeting, said the district participates in a statewide mutual aid agreement and has qualified with FEMA and the United States Department of Agriculture for almost $500,000. Most of the riprap around district floodgates is provided through those funds, Saunier said.

Councilman Dr. Bill Louda encouraged council members to move forward as soon as possible so the town can get in on 2009 mitigation strategies session. He made a motion hear a presentation from Truesdale at the council’s next meeting, likely voting on a resolution at that time. The motion passed unanimously.

More information about the disaster mitigation strategy plan is available at www.pbcgov. com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement.

Council members also dis-

cussed emergency debris removal Tuesday. Tolces said he will be drafting a memo outlining the town’s need to go out for bid to retain services of an emergency debris removal company. The town also needs a request for proposals for a service to monitor the contractor’s work, he added. The monitor is vital to the process of receiving FEMA reimbursements.

“It is a good thing to have somebody who knows all the guidelines so that when it comes time to hand in the requests, they are in order,” Town Clerk Matthew Lippman said, adding that the LGWCD had done a good job in the past and asked if council members wanted to continue with the district or seek an independent contractor.

Saunier explained services the district has provided in the past, especially with hurricanes Wilma, Jeanne and Frances.

The LGWCD has two or three vendors on retainer to pick up large accumulations of debris, but in-house crews and equipment handle the initial road clearing, Saunier said. The first priority is on district roads, mainly cutting up material and moving it aside to clear the roads. The district’s primary

contractor, the Solid Waste Authority, hauls away most of the material, Saunier said.

“If we do not have [the SWA] in place, we would look to the town to provide that,” Saunier said. “It’s your call. We have the vendors and equipment. We could bring it up at the next district meeting April 14.”

Tolces suggested hiring an outside professional firm to advise what the best thing is to do.

Lippman said he will present a document of points to consider at the next meeting, with assistance from Tolces.

In other business, Tolces asked that a council member meet with town staff and planning consultant Kevin McGinley regarding the 97-acre Simon property, located at the intersection of A Road and Southern Blvd. The plan would require inclusion of a “substantial equestrian facility” in return for higher density on the developed portion. The information needs to be provided to the parties by March 29, Tolces said.

On Feb. 28, Tolces’ office participated in a telephone conference concerning the proposed compliance agreement between the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the county

regarding development of the Simon property. The plan proposes a comprehensive plan amendment to change the future land-use designation of the property from one unit per 10 acres to one unit per 2.5 acres, and an agreement to allow the developer to build one dwelling unit per 1.25 acres if the property is developed with “substantial equestrian amenities.”

Plans for the property include a 10-acre equestrian facility, grading of the site, shellrock parking and vehicular access to the site, two 200-by-300-foot

outdoor riding rings, construction of a cattle pen between the two rings to contain steer and other livestock for roping events, restrooms, concession and calling tower, horse stalls, a stable and a manure collection area, equestrian pathways throughout the site, horse containment fencing around the facility and landscape buffers around the perimeter, according to the staff report.

Councilman Dave Autrey agreed to be the council’s designee to meet with the other parties on Thursday, March 20.

New Term — Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Dennis Lipp, who was returned to office unopposed this month, is sworn into office by Town Clerk Matthew Lippman. PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

Erickson Blasts RPB, County For Not Helping The Acreage

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Indian Trail Improvement

President Mike Erick-

District

son accused the Village of Royal Palm Beach this week of leaving The Acreage in the lurch after agreeing to support its proposals on area roads.

While providing Acreage Landowners’Association members an update on ITID business at Tuesday’s ALA meeting, Erickson lashed out at Royal Palm Beach Mayor David Lodwick for not supporting ITID’s call for more funding for a northward extension of State Road 7.

“Last October, Royal Palm Beach’s Mayor David Lodwick came to a meeting and proposed that we work with them to make sure that we got funding for our Acreage Reliever Road, while they got funding for the Roebuck Road extension that will go behind the large developments on Okeechobee Blvd.,” Erick-

son said. “We agreed, and at the county commission’s October meeting, I went up and called for funding for both projects. Royal Palm Beach people just asked for funding for Roebuck. It got funded for $44 million, and we got nothing.”

Erickson also said the village had failed to back up ITID on an attempt by county staff two weeks ago to restore 140th Avenue North in The Acreage to the county’s thoroughfare map.

“At our meeting of the Planning Commission, we asked for support to take 140th Avenue North off the list of roads with a throughway designation,” he said. “That would help us prevent the county from turning a two-lane road that until very recently was mostly a dirt road into a four-lane road. County staff wanted it kept.”

While ITID lobbied staff against it, RPB did not, Erickson said. “Every other member

of the Planning Commission supported our move to remove 140th Avenue except Royal Palm Beach,” he said. “We go out of our way to help them, and they do nothing for us.”

The City of West Palm Beach opposes the extension of both Roebuck Road and SR 7, but it is focused on working up opposition among its residents to the Roebuck Road proposal, for which impact fees have already been reserved,” Erickson said.

“The county put that $44 million away for them,” he said. “We could talk to them about using that money instead for the Acreage reliever road as well as extending Seminole Pratt-Whitney Road to the Beeline Highway, which would really open up the whole western part of the county.”

Erickson charged that the county treats The Acreage like a cash cow. “Right now, the county says they spend more on

us than they take in from our impact fees. But if they threw in gas taxes, where we get no money back, or property taxes or sales taxes, it’s clear we are being cheated.”

Tuesday’s ALA meeting was attended by two Democratic candidates for public office: Rick Ford, who is seeking the State House seat for District 83, and Diane Heinz, seeking to become the next Palm Beach County Property Appraiser.

Ford asked why residents speak so cynically about the county.

“The sheriff’s department has 60 officers in Royal Palm Beach,” ALA President Carlos Enriquez noted. “We pay for a couple here to watch our own property, and they say they try to make sure they have at least two deputies going through our roads at any time. We don’t even have a library.” Heinz was incredulous. “You

don’t even have a library?” she asked.

Enriquez shook his head. “They expanded Wellington’s library before they even came to us, and they’re expanding Royal Palm Beach’s library. Then they might build a library here, but only if we donate the land for it. No one else has been asked that.”

Erickson spoke even more strongly. “We’re part of unincorporated Palm Beach County. We have almost no voice in anything being done here,” he said. “Our Commissioner Jess SanSee ALA, page 20

Shearouse Hosts Loxahatchee Groves Garden Club Meeting

The next meeting of the garden club will be held Saturday, April 19. The members will be helping with the Adopt-a-Road Cleanup on Okeechobee Blvd.

For more information, call Marge at (561) 791-9875.

The Loxahatchee Groves Garden Club held their March meeting at the home of Leeann Shearouse. Shearouse talked to the club about heirloom tomatoes she raises for local restaurants. Shearouse held a tasting party to introduce the members to the unique tastes of each variety. The club members also took a walk around Shearouse’s gardens and learned about the plant experiments she has conducted that have resulted in new flowering varieties of plants that she has introduced into the local and world market.

ALA Meeting — State legislature hopeful Rick Ford and Palm Beach County Property Appraiser candidate Diane Heinz with Indian Trail Improvement District President Mike Erickson.

Leeann Shearouse talks about the heirloom tomatoes she grows.

Leeann Shearouse holds a turtle she is caring for.

A pheasant that lives in the bird area in Shearouse’s garden.Peggy Houck and Connie Kilgore relax near a garden pond.

Marge Herzog in front of a woodland mural in Shearouse’s home.

Groves Visioning Workshops Kick Off On March 22

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The first of several visioning meetings for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves will be held Saturday, March 22 in the Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School cafeteria.

The meetings, which will feature public participation, are intended as groundwork for the drafting of the town’s comprehensive plan, which will guide the further growth and future character of the community.

Last month, the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council hired the planning firm Analytica Inc. to organize public participation in the visioning sessions and create a resulting strategic plan.

The “kickoff” meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. and run until 2:30 p.m. Town Clerk Matthew Lippman told council members Tuesday that Analytica’s Dr. Herb Marlowe would be on hand to present an overview and explain what participants should expect to accomplish.

“This will be an exciting meeting,” Lippman said. “This is really a great opportunity for us to come together and get off on the right foot.”

Focus group meetings will take place on three Saturdays in April — 5, 12 and 26 — in three sessions each day. The first session, meeting from 9 to 11 a.m., will involve 15 residents, three selected by each council member. The second session, to meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will involve 15 residents selected randomly from a list of about 100 names. A 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. session will be open to anyone who wants to participate.

Those unable to participate can e-mail comments to clerk@ loxahatcheegroves.org.

Members of the public are welcome to observe all sessions, Lippman said.

On May 16 and 17, council members will hold a retreat to discuss visioning results. The public is also welcome. A final document will be presented at

the council’s June 3 regular meeting.

The topics for the first Saturday of focus group meetings will be visual community design elements such as building heights and density, landscaping and building styles. The second Saturday’s meetings will focus on desired community features such as recreation programs, parks and trails. The final set of focus group meetings will concentrate on service priorities and willingness to pay for those services.

“These are very broad items. If there is anything specific that a member of the community or you feel need to be covered, it can be,” Lippman told council members. “The item can be brought up at any of the meetings for consideration.”

Councilman Dr. Bill Louda asked if the visioning sessions would address appropriate density levels. “This is more of a broad brush,” Lippman replied. “Specifics will be discussed in the comprehensive plan.”

On Wednesday, Councilman Dave Autrey told the Town-Crier the visioning sessions were organized on the same principles for which he and other residents led the effort to incorporate the town. “We incorporated to protect the community from interests that don’t necessarily have our best interests in mind,” Autrey said. “We now have the opportunity to define that community. This is the first step toward charting our destiny, and this is where residents get to take advantage of that.”

Autrey said the Loxahatchee Groves Neighborhood Plan, created before incorporation by a committee of residents and sent to the county in 1996, was the closest thing to local control they had before incorporation. “The county had it, but I don’t think they paid attention to it,” he said. For more information about the visioning sessions, go to www.loxahatcheegroves.org and find the Visions 2008 link.

PHOTOS BY DON BROWN/TOWN-CRIER

Mark Pipkin Pedals For A Great Cause

By Don Brown Town-Crier Staff Report

Acreage resident Mark Pipkin is on a personal mission. Although it is personal for him, he actually gets no benefit other than some good exercise and knowing he is helping lots of people who are also on a personal mission — staying alive. Pipkin and ten other Palm Beach County cyclists have formed a team to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by riding around Lake Tahoe — a distance of 100 miles at an altitude as high as 10,000 feet — on June 1. Pipkin and the other riders are looking for 100 people to each donate $100, or 200 people to donate $50, for a total of $10,000 either way. The personal trainer has another good reason for biking Lake Tahoe: he recently lost a good friend, Tom Noe, to leukemia, and he is dedicating the ride to his memory. Ironically, Pipkin and Noe trained together in preparation for an earlier Tahoe ride for leukemia research. Pipkin will be making his third ride since 2003. He has already raised about $3,600 toward his $10,000 goal. At the age of 54, Pipkin is still a competitive athlete and cyclist. His accomplishments include two marathons, three half-marathons and countless century (100mile) rides, including riding

Lake Tahoe for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training program. “I can’t remember my first workout. Sports, fitness and endurance training has always been a way of life for me,” Pipkin said.

Pipkin’s motto is “honesty and integrity in all that you do.” He attributes his fitness success to “constantly being honest with yourself, the will to win, overcoming negativity, self-discipline and perseverance,” a credo any leukemia sufferer can relate to.

When not making frequent trips to the grocery store (he and his wife have five children), Pipkin stays busy with his family’s activities including coaching soccer, track training and cycling. Always encouraging a healthy lifestyle and fitness for his family, he can frequently be found on weekends supporting 5k running events for a range of causes and taking 150-mile rides for multiple sclerosis.

“I am blessed with good health,” he said. “If spinning my pedals one million times would save a life, then I would cycle for a million years.”

Those wishing to support Pipkin’s Lake Tahoe ride can make a tax-deductible donation. Mail checks payable to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and send them to Mark Pipkin, 13376 71st Place North, West Palm Beach, FL 33412.

Charity Cyclists — Acreage resident Mark Pipkin (left) with fellow cyclists Lori Dyer and Joan Collette, both of Palm Beach Gardens, and Alan Hulsman of Jupiter.

Communication Issues Still Hampering ITID, County Relations

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Leaders of the Indian Trail Improvement District and representatives from Palm Beach County agree that more quiet discussions are better than the old rancorous disputes that used to split them, but there are still bumps ahead on the road to true comfort between the two parties.

This became clear during a community forum hosted by the district and County Commissioner Jess Santamaria on March 12. County Engineer George Webb and Planning, Zoning & Building Department

Executive Director Barbara Alterman told the supervisors as well as the audience present they felt more discussions on land use and traffic issues would be beneficial, and the ITID supervisors agreed, although ITID President Mike Erickson complained that the county had not kept the district up to date even within the previous week.

“I got back from Tallahassee on Thursday evening and found an e-mail from a friend telling

me that the agenda for the county’s Land Use Advisory Board had a couple of items on it that I would hate,” Erickson said. “I checked the agenda and discovered that the county tried to slip in a couple of changes that they knew were specifically opposed by The Acreage as ‘housekeeping’ minor text changes. I went to the meeting held on Friday at the Vista Center to complain.”

One important item was a “text change” that would allow commercial development at three specific intersections along Northlake Blvd. — an idea that had already been rejected by ITID and the county during previous sessions. The three intersections are at Coconut Blvd., 140th Avenue North and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

Developers have pressured the county to change land use designations to allow more commercial development on the western end of Northlake Blvd., Erickson noted. He credits his interest and participation in politics to his opposition to what he called the first step in “turning

Northlake Blvd. into a two-anda-half-mile strip mall.” Chief among his concerns are land-use changes for the three properties at the above intersections.

“The county’s planners never called anyone from ITID,” Erickson said. “And they listed changes as minor, as housekeeping, and just put it on the agenda even though the county commissioners had turned it down last year.”

Alterman said that long delays in dealing with proposals, as well as land-use changes in the area, led developers to go directly to the county.

She admitted that most of the delay had been caused by events beyond the control of anyone at the meeting, particularly the state’s refusal to accept the Sector Plan in 2005 and the legal problems brought about by the arrest and conviction of former County Commissioner Tony Masilotti and others who were involved with several westernarea development projects.

Erickson said he understood the frustration of developers, but

call President Allen Mergaman at (561) 255-0724 or visit www.midcountydems.com.

The Village of Wellington is gearing up for another session of the highly successful Wellington Residents Academy scheduled to begin on April 16. Applications are being taken each day and spots are filling up quickly. Don’t miss out on a place in the 2008 series.

The Residents Academy is a fiveweek course on the Village of Wellington. It covers “who we are” and “what we do” by department and function, and provides an in-depth introduction to all village departments and their functions.

This is the third year the popular program is being offered to village residents. In each of the previous sessions, approximately 30 Wellington residents participated, commending both the program and village staff on their presentations and the information provided.

The 2008 spring session will begin

Wednesday, April 16, and will be held each Wednesday evening through May 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center. A graduation ceremony will be held for participants at the Wellington Village Council meeting on Tuesday, May 27.

A maximum of 30 participants will be accepted, and the only cost for the program is your time. However, keep in mind that this is a five-week commitment and the village would like to have those attending participate in the entire program in order to obtain maximum benefit.

To receive an application, call Kathy Tatgenhorst at (561) 791-4097. All applications must be submitted by April 11, and participants will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. You must be over 18 and a Wellington resident to participate.

added that Acreage residents are frustrated by their lack of influence over decisions that directly affect them.

“I am willing to discuss some changes on Northlake Blvd.,” he said. “But we have to look on the Northlake corridor as a whole. We do not want commercial developments at a few intersections and then have other developers just fill in all the space in between.”

Erickson pointed out that one corner of the intersection at Coconut and Northlake boulevards had been designated as the site of a post office.

“It might make some sense to put in a store or two there,” he said. “But the other two intersections might be better set aside for civic uses.”

When Alterman proposed direct talks between county planners, the developers and at least one ITID representative, all the district supervisors nodded their heads in agreement. Representatives of such developers as Callery-Judge Grove, GL Homes and EB Properties vol-

‘The county’s planners never called anyone from ITID, and they listed changes as minor, as housekeeping, even though the county commissioners had turned it down last year.’ — ITID President Mike Erickson

unteered to meet with the district and county.

Supervisor Sandra Love Semande asked that ITID be informed of all planned changes that would have an effect on residents’ lives. “We were elected by our residents to make sure they are protected,” she said.

“We don’t want anything done that will either change the nature of The Acreage or will endanger our children.”

The tables were turned somewhat when several members of the board, while discussing land use and traffic, mentioned that 13 percent of the lots in The Acreage are still vacant.

“We will have more traffic here on our roads even without any new developments,” Erickson said.

Webb asked why ITID had not passed that information along to the county. “We need better communication,” he said, to good-natured laughter from both the supervisors and audience, used to complaining about poor county-to-district communication.

“We only got the information yesterday,” Erickson said with a laugh.

Santamaria suggested that the county’s planners and ITID both work through his office. “I will make sure that you are well-represented,” he promised the supervisors and residents in the audience. “But if we can work out these issues so that the great majority of the people are satisfied, we will have made a lot of progress.”

Area Students To Appear On Education Network

Students from elementary and middle schools across Palm Beach County braved strong winds and chilly temperatures recently to join environmental artist Betsy Damon on a temporary set at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge.

The students were on hand for the taping of a segment to be aired on Sunday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. on the Education Network (Comcast channel 19). The show will be repeated periodically beginning March 30 at 8 p.m.

The student panel included: Melina Andersen, a sixth-grade student at Berean Christian School in West Palm Beach; Jenna Engelsen, a fifth-grade student from Palm Beach Public School; Taylor Folsom, a fifth-grade student from Lantana Elementary

School; Allison Parssi, an eighth-grade student at Wellington Landings Middle School; and Emma Parssi, a fifthgrade student from Binks Forest Elementary School in Wellington.

Damon is the founder of Keepers of the Waters, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the world’s water resources. Her Olympic Forest Park Project in Beijing, considered a world model of sustainable water management, will be featured during the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics.

Damon was the featured speaker at the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation’s annual luncheon, and was more than happy to discuss her views with the students. “The more we can educate and involve our young people the better,” Damon said.

Dem Club Meeting — The Mid-County Democratic Club held its monthly meeting Monday at Tree’s Wings in Royal Palm Beach. Guest speakers included County Commissioner Jess Santamaria (left) and Wellington Village Council Seat 4 candidate Matthew Willhite (right). For more information about the Mid-County Democratic Club,

Iraq War Protest — The Palm Beach County Peace and Justice Coalition and MoveOn Palm Beach County held the peace vigil “Five Years Too Many” on Wednesday at the southwest corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and State Road 7. The purpose of the vigil was to raise awareness of the thousands of Americans and Iraqis who have died since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and to demand an end to the U.S. presence in Iraq. Pictured here are Alan Taylor (above left), and Gwynne Chesher and Shari DeBlois (above right).

Bill Underwood, president of Wellington-based Liberty Media Group, served as moderator as each of the students posed questions to Ms. Damon about her work as an environmental artist and her lifelong quest to help save the world’s clean water supply.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Bill Underwood (back) with students who will appear on the Education Network this Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Binks Forest Teacher Earns Technology Grant

Binks Forest Elementary School received a $2,000 Best Buy Teach Award thanks to third-grade teacher Ann Jacob.

Best Buy Company Inc. has given $3 million to schools nationwide for integrating interactive technology into their curricula. The Best Buy Teach Award is given to sustain or enhance existing educational programs.

“Teachers are finding creative ways to engage students by using technology hands-on; we

SRHS Career Fair April 4

Seminole Ridge High School will hold its inaugural Career Fair Day on Friday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The school is seeking business organizations to hold mock interviews with students interested in a particular field. Students gain valuable experience by participating in an interview, with the potential opportunity to gain a job-shadowing/internship experience or future employment.

Seminole Ridge High School has four career academies on its campus. The Biotechnology Academy and the Construction Academy are open to students throughout the county. The Automotive and Information Technology academies are in-house programs. For more information, or for an application, call John Walker at (561) 422-2600.

want to support their efforts by helping them enhance or expand these programs,” Best Buy Vice President of Public Affairs Paula Prahl said. “We know that schools are the cornerstones of these communities where our employees, customers and their families live and work.”

Binks Forest teacher Ann Jacob and Principal Dr. Julie Hopkins are very appreciative to Best Buy for this very generous award.

LGES Seeks Sponsors

The Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School PTO will host its annual carnival and silent auction on Friday, April 25. The carnival is a family activity that brings everyone from the school and community together for a day of fun.

The PTO is looking for community businesses to help sponsor the event. New events planned for this year include obstacle courses, a laser-tag maze, bumper cars, a bounce house, rock-climbing wall, a rascal rocket and a gyro space ball. The cost to sponsor one of these events ranges from $150 to $600.

In return for a sponsorship, the PTO will acknowledge each company the day of the carnival. Sponsors will also be allowed to provide flyers and business cards for participants. The PTO estimates 1,500 to

Wellington Rotary Honors Students Of The Month

The Wellington Rotary Club hosted a Student of the Month Awards Dinner recently at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The awards were for students who received the honor for the months of September through December.

All exemplary students were selected from numerous candidates at their school by faculty, as students who “proved themselves to be beneficial to the school, religious organization or the community as a whole” by performing some type of service or act demonstrating the Rotary International motto “Service Above Self.”

For more information about the Wellington Rotary Club, visit www.wellingtonrotary.org.

The students of the month from Wellington High School were: Brooke Kelly (September), Jenna Fugate (October), John Callovi (November) and Brandon Marlow (December). Students of the month from Palm Beach Central High School were: Justin Harris (September), James Thomas (October) and Demar Morgan (November).

2,000 people attend every year.

The PTO can arrange to pick up items a business donates, or they can be mailed directly to: Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School, 16020 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee, FL 33470. Vendors are wanted as well. The cost is $25 per space. For more information, call PTO President Stacy Dietrich at (561) 333-4364.

Wellington Women’s Club Scholarships

The Wellington Women’s Club is proud to announce that applications are now available for the 2008 WWC College Scholarship Program for area high school seniors. Each year the club awards four to six college scholarships valued at $500 to $1,500 each. Applicants must live in the western communities and must

Law Firm Provides Binks Teachers with Books — The law firm of Seaman & Coven, P.A. provided the teachers at Binks Forest Elementary School with enough copies of the book 7 Keys to Comprehension to allow the faculty to do a book study that would involve the entire group of teachers. Binks Forest faculty and staff would like to thank Allen Seaman and Aaron Coven for their much-appreciated donation. Shown here is Binks Forest Principal Dr. Julie Hopkins with Coven, Seaman and fifth grader Jared Coven.

be graduating high school in June 2008. Along with transcripts and community service hours, an essay titled “What My Education Means to Me, and How I Will Use It to Benefit Society” must be submitted. Applications are available in high school guidance offices. You may also request one by writing to Wellington Women’s Club Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 823, Loxahatchee, FL 33470. Direct any questions to Scholarship Chair Debbie Hession at (561) 798-3900. All applications must be postmarked by April 11 to be eligible.

The Wellington Women’s Club is celebrating 31 years in Wellington. It is a charitable organization meeting the first Thursday of each month for a dinner meeting and guest speaker. Members also enjoy many other fun activities.

To attend a Wellington Women’s Club meeting, call Mary Armand at (561) 635-0011.

Binks Helps Animal Rescue Mrs. Suzie Barnes’ third grade class at Binks Forest Elementary School studied local charities as part of their unit on communities.

The students researched various charities in Palm Beach County and presented their reports to the class. A vote was taken to see which charity the class would help, and Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League was the winner. The students donated dog treats, dog toys, towels, sheets and plastic bags to the charity.

WCS Students Win At Spelling Bee — The Wellington Christian School spelling bee team competed in the Christian Schools of Palm Beach County Spelling Bee on Tuesday, March 4. WCS students competed against nine other schools and did extremely well, bringing home trophies in six of the ten categories. The school received four first-place trophies and two second-place trophies. The WCS team worked very hard, learning 300 to 800 words to get ready for the big competition day. Two students from each grade (first through fifth) represented WCS. Awards went to: first grader Zachary Curran, first place; second grader Randi Anchors, first place; third grader Christina Carroll, first place; third grader Alexis Graves, second place; fourth grader Cameron Richter, second place; and fifth grader Victoria Dukharan, first place.

Rotarians with Student of the Month winners.

Binks Forest Elementary School teacher Ann Jacob with Principal Dr. Julie Hopkins.

Seminole Ridge Students Raise Money At Alzheimer’s Walk

On March 8, members of the Spanish National Honor Society chapter at Seminole Ridge High School participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk, a research and support fundraiser for Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Walking five kilometers along Flagler Drive and raising $425 for the event were Catherine Alvarado, Devon Arnold, Stacy Bastien, Frank DeSanti, Sharilee Everett, Alix Garic, Michelle Guerra, Mitchell Kuss, Alexandra Lao, Carolyn Lord and Kursten Riggott. The SRHS chapter is sponsored by teacher Patricia McKillican.

Key Wins For Volleyball Boys — The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity vol-

leyball team picked up where it left off from last year’s district title, defeating their first two district opponents to start the season with a 2-0 record.

The Hawks, under new coach Ali Mitchell, defeated Palm Beach Central in three straight games (28-26, 25-10, 28-26) last Tuesday and bested Palm Beach Gardens in three straight last Thursday (25-20, 25-13, 2520). This season was expected to be a rebuilding year for the Hawks, with a new coach and with eight graduating seniors gone from the champion squad of 2007.

Interact Drive Brings in the Books — Interact service club students collected 612 children’s books for donation to the Paho-

kee Elementary School library. The drive, which lasted throughout February, got a big boost from members of the National Honor Society, said Interact cosponsor Katie Wright.

Debate Perfection at Latest Tournament — Debaters performed exceptionally well at the Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League grand finals earlier this month. Seven of eight students placed, and six will go to the national Catholic Forensic League grand finals in May.

The public forum team of Haaris Rosario and October Reid went 6-0, earning distinction as the only team to qualify for grand nationals with a perfect record. The team of Devon Arnold and Edward O’Hara

ing excellent

all rounds.

PIERCE HAMMOCK, LOX COUNTRY PRESCHOOL CELEBRATE DR. SEUSS’S BIRTHDAY

Green Eggs And Ham — Kindergarten students celebrated Dr. Seuss’ 104th birthday at Pierce Hammock Elementary School in The Acreage last week. They got together in the cafeteria for a party and ate green eggs and ham as they watched the movie. Mason Long in Ms. Melanie DeSetto’s class said, “I liked the green eggs and ham; I ate it all. I also liked making and wearing our Dr. Seuss hats.” (Above) Mason Long in his Dr. Seuss hat. (Right) Isabella Martinez from Mrs. Kim Harris’ class and mom Kellie Martinez enjoy the birthday party together.

qualified with fifth place, earn-

speaker points in

Ashley Richey qual-

ified in Lincoln-Douglas debate with a 5-1 record to place third, and David Sleeth qualified in sixth place. Laura Belcher is second alternate in original oratory.

Book Drive — The SRHS Interact Club at a book drive at Pahokee Elementary School.

Honoring Dr. Seuss — To celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, retired teachers Roz Hirschberg and Joann Goldberg read Green Eggs and Ham to children on April 10 at Loxahatchee Country Preschool. The children had made Dr. Seuss hats, and Ms. Roz and Ms. Joann made green eggs and ham for the children to try. It was a learning experience to see that the addition of blue food coloring to the eggs made them green. (Above) Preschoolers made Dr. Seuss hats for his birthday. (Below) Hirschberg points to the serving dishes as Goldberg reads to the children.

‘Reach For The Stars’ Winner — Melissa Posner, a fifth grader at Panther Run Elementary School, recently won first place honors in the “Reach for the Stars” 2008 Commemorative Art Contest. The contest was sponsored by the Young Friends of the Kravis Center. Melissa’s artwork was chosen from the hundreds of county submissions. Pictured above is Melissa with her work, which depicts two stars ballroom dancing in front of three judges and an enthusiastic audience similar to the television show Dancing with the Stars

April Autism Fundraiser Aboard The ‘Envision’

The Autism Project of Palm Beach County (APPBC) recently announced that Cypress Capital Group and Gail and Ron Fink, owners of the Envision will host a private “meet the author” cocktail party on Thursday, April 24. The exclusive reception will feature Dr. Teena Cahill, nationally acclaimed speaker and author of The Cahill Factor, who will speak the following day in a seminar at Florida Atlantic University’s Jupiter campus. Cahill will present “Nurturing the Nurturer: Wisdom for Resilient Caregiving” at 10 a.m. in the AD119 administration auditorium.

The Envision, a 110-foot aluminum motor vessel, is the brainchild of Ron Fink and RGF Environmental Group in West Palm Beach. The RGF team renovated an older yacht and recycled her into a world-class, enviro-friendly mega yacht. All proceeds raised at both the Envision and FAU event will

benefit Project Lifesaver for Palm Beach County, a collaboration between the APPBC, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the School District of Palm Beach County, FAU’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Community Care and Autism Speaks. Project Lifesaver uses radio-tracking and locating technology to save the lives of people who have wandered and become lost due to autism disorders, Alzheimer’s and related disorders.

For information on Project Lifesaver, the April 24 Envision event or Dr. Cahill’s April 25 speech at FAU, contact Michelle Damone at (561) 748-3299, or (561) 315-2973 or via e-mail at appbc@comcast.net. Contributions to the APPBC for Palm Beach County’s Project Lifesaver program may be sent to 5800 Corporate Way, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.

Tommy Lee Jones Pays Tribute To Polo Family

The polo gala “A Polo Family Affair” recently took place at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. It was a galloping success, honoring one of the United States’ most revered polo families, Skey and Gil Johnston, and raising more than $100,000 to benefit the Polo Training Foundation.

Honorary Chairman Tommy Lee Jones and his wife Dawn opened the program with a tribute to the Johnstons for their support of polo. The Oscar-winning actor, with the help of Harvard polo team member Nick Snow, presented Skey Johnston, former chairman of the United States Polo Association, with an autographed photo of all the leading polo players and patrons.

“The Johnsons have done more to help further the sport of polo, ensuring the next generation will have the opportunities to safely play and compete,”

Founding Chairwoman Patricia Yunghanns said. “We are all grateful for their continued support.”

The evening featured a private youth polo exhibition, cocktails, dinner and dancing to live music under the Grand Marquee at the polo club. In addition to paying tribute to the Johnston family — which currently has two polo teams, Bendabout and Skeeterville, competing at the International Polo Club — the evening raised awareness and funds for the Polo Training Foundation, a notfor-profit organization that provides training for players and umpires International Polo is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. Its 2008 season continues through April. The premier game of the week is played at 3 p.m. every Sunday on Stanford Field. For more info., call (561) 204-5687 or visit www. internationalpoloclub.com.

Tommy Lee Jones, Skey Johnston and Nick Snow.

Patricia Yunghanns with Tommy Lee and Dawn Jones.

Chrys and Kelly Beal with Anna Hancock-Ralstin. Elisabeth and Peter Grace

Teri and Scott Devon John and Toy Wash

Kristen Fugerer and Will JohnstonLeslie and Gillian Johnston

Melissa Ganzi and John Goodman Ignacio and Sophia Astrada

PHOTOS COURTESY LUCIEN CAPEHART

Women’s Club Presents Spring Fundraiser May 4

The Wellington Women’s Club will hold its annual spring fundraiser “Champagne and Couture” on Sunday, May 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Mayacoo Lakes Country Club.

The event will include a brunch buffet with a complimentary mimosa, a fashion show and silent auction. Two area women will showcase their fashions — Judy Jacobs of JuJu Designs and Lenyce Boyd of Bacio Bacio Bridal Salon. Tickets are $40 per person. Contact any club member or call Faye Ford at (561) 790-7625 for tickets and additional information.

During the event, the club will hold a drawing for a four-day, three-night stay for two at any Sandals or Beaches resort located in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, or the Turks

and Caicos Islands. The package, valued at $2,000, includes all meals and gourmet dining, unlimited drinks, daily and nightly entertainment, all land and water sports (including scuba diving), all gratuities, and transfers to and from the airport. Airfare is not included; there is a processing fee of $75, and certain rules and restrictions apply. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20, and may be purchased from any club member or by calling Allyson Samiljan at (561) 7986741. Proceeds benefit the charitable interests of the Wellington Women’s Club, which include the YWCA Harmony House, a shelter for abused women and their children, and college scholarships for area high school seniors.

Zaki Moustafa Takes First At Academy Of Sciences

Zaki Moustafa, a senior at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts from suburban Lake Worth, won first place in the Environmental Science category for a presentation of his Red Sea Coral Reef Research Project at the 85th Annual Florida Academy of Sciences meeting. The competition was held the weekend of March 15 at Jacksonville University, where Junior Academy members from across the state competed against each other.

“I have been teaching science for 40 years, and Zaki is the best researcher I have ever had,” Dreyfoos department chair and science fair coordinator Catherine Miller said.

Moustafa also won one of the two senior scholarships and a plaque from the Florida Junior Academy of Science Talent Search for the research paper describing his project. The Florida Junior Academy of Sciences provides opportunities that encourage middle and high school students in science by allowing them to compete, share and network with other students and adults having common interests.

Moustafa also presented his coral reef research at the 2008 Ocean Sciences meeting in Orlando during a four-day event that ran March 2 through 7. This was his first professional meeting, and there were over 3,400 presentations. The bi-annual meeting sponsored by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, the Oceanography Society and the American Geophysical Union Society brings together ocean and water scientists from all over the world.

Moustafa’s coral reef research was also accepted for presentation at the 11th Annual International Coral Reef Symposium to be held in Fort Lauderdale in July. Moustafa said he feels fortunate because this prestigious conference consisting of the top reef scientists worldwide is only held every four years, the last time being in Okinawa, Japan.

“The conference will allow me to actually meet the scientists who have been instrumental in guiding me through my research project for the past four years,” he said.

Wellington Residents Nominated For Women In Leadership Awards

Executive Women of the Palm Beaches has announced the nominees for the 25th Annual Women in Leadership Awards, which recognize Palm Beach County women leaders who inspire to others and influence positive change. The 35 nominees include the following Wellington residents:

• Jane Bloom, Ink & Toner USA

• Bonnie Cohen, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County

• Kelly Smallridge, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County

• Donnia Smith, Area Agency on Aging, Palm Beach/Treasure Coast

• Krista Springer Basore, Leadership Palm Beach County

The 2008 Executive Women of the Palm Beaches awards luncheon will take place on May 9 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, where the three

Kacey Marie Aussner graduated magna cum laude Dec. 13 with a bachelor’s of science degree, in graphic design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Aussner previously graduated from Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville with an associate’s of arts degree in April 2005. She is currently employed with the Alliance Entertainment Corp. in Coral Springs. Aussner is a 2003 graduate of Wellington High School.

recipients for the Woman in Leadership Award will be recognized. With more than 600 attendees expected, proceeds from the luncheon will support the Executive Women Outreach scholarship program, the endowment fund and the Lois Kwasman Community Impact grant program, which is awarded each year.

The Women in Leadership Awards are presented annually to outstanding women in the volunteer, private and public sectors of Palm Beach County. The awards recognize women who have sustained outstanding accomplishments and have displayed generosity of spirit, commitment to integrity and diversity, and genuine connectedness with others. Tickets are $100 for members and $125 for nonmembers. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call (561) 8334241 or visit www.ewpb.org.

Taintor Randolph of Wellington recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a bachelor of arts degree in painting. The Savannah College of Art and Design has been named one of Kaplan’s “25 cutting-edge schools with an eye toward the future.” It is a private, nonprof-

Kacey Marie Aussner

Aussner Graduates Art Institute Randolph Graduates From SCAD it, accredited institution with locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., and in Lacoste, France. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs also are offered online through SCADelearning. The college offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees. For more info., visit www.scad. edu.

Army Pvt. Mark E. Cronan has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, Cronan studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, Cronan Completes Army Training chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. Cronan is the son of Michael Cronan of Royal Palm Beach.

ST. PETER’S HANDS OUT AWARDS FOR THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF ‘UPWARD BASKETBALL’

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington held an awards ceremony on Friday, March 14 for its inaugural season of Upward Basketball. Cheerleader Syndey Morris of the Gems and basketball players Angelina Fernandez of the Lady Thunder and Justin Beach of the Jazz were recognized as exceptional participants in the program; coach April Braun was recognized as an exceptional coach. Chalk artist and inspirational speaker Jason Anthony spoke to the youngsters and created a special chalk drawing for the church. The church is located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information about St. Peter’s, call (561) 793-7512 or visit the church’s web site at www.stpeters-umc.org.

St. Peter’s Spring Fair Set For April 19

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church and Child Enrichment Center in Wellington will host its annual Spring Fair Fundraiser on Saturday, April 19. This year’s theme is “Under the Sea Adventure.” The event features a silent auction with goods donated from Wellington area businesses, food, sea-themed games, bounce houses, entertainment and more. Admission is free. Game, event and food tickets will be for sale on the day of the event to support the Child Enrich-

ment Center. The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The silent auction will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; auction items won may be paid for and picked up at 2 p.m. Local businesses are encouraged to donate items and certificates for the school fair in return for great exposure to a large Wellington family audience. Donations are tax deductible. To make a donation, call Marla Portell at (561) 422-2991. All items must be received by Friday, April 4. The Child Enrichment Cen-

ter is a state-approved preschool under the guidance of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church. It is a non-profit organization made up of parents and friends of the Child Enrichment Center. The goal is to raise funds to purchase items that will further enrich the curriculum and teachings of the school. The church is located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information about the event, call the Child Enrichment Center at (561) 7983286.

Chalk artist and motivational speaker Jason Anthony creates a piece and gives a speech.

St Peter’s Director of Children’s Ministries John Sullivan with League Director Chris Moore. Jazz coaches Brett and Daniel Beckwith recognize Justin Beach.

Coach Jennifer Klinkowitz recognizes cheerleader Sydney Morris. Coaches Tom Leinwol and Ron Manuel recognize Lady Thunder player Angelina Fernandez.

Chris Moore and John Sullivan recognize Cougars Coach April Braun.

Pastor Rainer Richter says a few words.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Egg Hunt March 22

The Village of Wellington will host its annual egg hunt for children ages one to ten on Saturday, March 22 at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). The event begins promptly at 10 a.m. Children are divided into four age groups for participation: ages two and under, three and four, five to seven, and eight to ten. Be sure to arrive early. This very popular event might pro-

duce heavy traffic. The egg hunt will take place at the Village Park softball and baseball fields located at the southeast quadrant of the park. For more information, call Dwayne Hetherington at (561) 791-4773.

Toastmasters Meeting

In honor of April Fool’s Day, the Wellington Toastmasters will hold their first-ever backward meeting on Monday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the

NEWS BRIEFS

Bamboo Club restaurant in the Mall At Wellington Green. Unlike other Toastmaster meetings in which the speaker is followed by an evaluator who critiques his or her presentation, evaluations will actually be given before the speech, leading to many a humorous moment. One of several specialty meetings the Wellington Toastmasters Club will host this year, it will be a great opportunity for people to experience Toastmasters for the first time. Food and re-

freshments will be served at the conclusion of the meeting; potential members will have the opportunity to receive information about joining this vibrant and fun group. For more information on the Wellington Toastmasters and the backward meeting, call Chapter President Myrna Brooks at (561) 628-4635.

Wellington Summer Camp

Wellington’s Parks & Rec-

reation Department wants you! The village-run summer camp will fill up quickly, so don’t miss your chance to register now.

Summer camp is offered for ten sessions beginning Monday, June 9 throughout the summer, finishing Friday, Aug. 15.

The fee for one week of camp is $200 for residents and $250 for non-residents. There is no camp July 4; the fees for that week are $160 for residents and $210 for non-resi-

dents. Campers are grouped by age and range from five to 15 years old. Camp hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. For more information, call Earl Hebert at Village Park at (561) 791-4005. Registration is required to be done in person at two convenient locations: the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) or the Village Park gymnasium (11700 Pierson Road). No mail, fax or online registrations are accepted for summer camp.

Bowen Business Mindset

continued from page 1 change,” he said. “They wanted to try new leadership. I have a lot of respect for Tom, and I tried to campaign without being critical.”

One speedy change Bowen plans to implement is a friendlier customer-service atmosphere. “I want our employees to treat all our residents with respect and a good, positive attitude,” he said. “I want them to understand that our customers are the residents of our village and sometimes they are looking for help.”

That’s a natural goal for Bowen, who hopes to bring business acumen to the village. The mayor, who spent many years as a Realtor and now owns Creative Marketing Products in the Wellington Commerce Park, said he knows a thing or two about customer service.

Bowen said his most immediate priority as mayor is the village’s budget, always a hot topic in Wellington. “We need to get our hands around the budget,” he said. “We need to understand the details and see areas where we can work smarter. We need to think more outside the box.”

One way to do that, he said, is to talk to members of the business community and get their expertise and advice. They know a lot about budgets, he said.

Bowen vows to bring business practices to the village. “In business, you are always interested in the bottom line,” he said. “I’ll bring that perspective. Are we getting the value for that dollar?”

Bowen said he plans to revisit several issues that have been discussed in the past but never resolved — and bring up a few that haven’t yet been discussed. “I want to see how we can create more job centers so more people can work at home,” he said. “I also want us to take a harder look at our transportation needs. And we need to address the needs of our senior citizens.

Seat 4 Candidates Debate

continued from page 1 an assessment such as the solid waste fee. “Let’s not make false promises and write checks from our bank account that are going to bounce because we don’t have the money in there right now,” he said. Willhite also defended the village’s participation in the county’s municipal services taxation unit (MSTU), through which Wellington residents pay for county fire-rescue service through a separate assessment, saying the village is getting “Cadillac service.”

“We have a great fire-rescue service,” Willhite said. “You know how I know that? I’m on the public safety board, and a study has been done with village residents. A 96-percent approval rating was given for our firerescue services.”

Willhite noted that the village charter limits ad-valorem taxes to 5 mills annually. If the village were to negotiate a contract with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and tax residents to pay for the service, he said, it probably couldn’t keep the ad-valorem rate under 5 mills. If elected, Willhite pledged to stay “open minded” about the best way to get fire-rescue services, but stressed that the village is cur-

ALA Meeting Softball

Troubles

continued from page 9

tamaria is a good guy and tries to help us. But there are six other commissioners who are not

We are getting more and more seniors, and they need programs.” Bowen said he is also considering impaneling a charter review committee to see if some changes might help create a better community. One specific topic he wants to look at is greater heights for commercial buildings in light of limited developable land. “With the cost of local land continuing to be high, we can’t continue constructing small buildings on very expensive lots,” he said. “It doesn’t make economic sense.”

Bowen said he wants to bolster commercial opportunities for both residents and businesses. “I’m concerned about our retail stores going out of business. There are not enough people here during the day to do their shopping.”

Instead, he said, commuters often do much of their shopping out of the village, nearer where they work. “We need to change that,” he said.

He also wants to take a good look at the possibility of building a municipal complex where village services can be consolidated. The idea has been kicked around for several years but has never gained traction. “I want to study it more carefully,” Bowen said. “I want to look at the cost involved and see what we are paying for rent space scattered around the village. I want to see if it might make economic sense and look at different ways we can pay for it if it does. Again, we need to think outside the box. I’m not convinced that we always have to raise taxes for everything we do.”

Bowen added that he wants to encourage resident experts to step forward with a spirit of volunteerism. “We have a lot of expertise in our community, and we need their advice,” he said. “We don’t have to keep hiring consultants from outside. We have experts in many fields right here in our community. We need to go ask them.”

Also off the sacred cow list is the cost of the municipal services taxing unit (MSTU) that funds the village’s Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue service. “I

rently getting “good service at good rates.”

Coates agreed that the village is getting good fire-rescue service, but countered that “we’re not getting a good rate.” He questioned whether Willhite, who is not only a firefighter but politically active on behalf of the local firefighters’ union, could be impartial in regard to fire-rescue service.

“He’s the vice president for the very union that is negotiating a one-cent sales tax increase in Palm Beach County to offset the reduction in taxes we expect because of the passage of Amendment 1,” Coates said.

“I’m not suggesting we cut fire serves at all, but that’s not to say we can’t explore getting the best service for the price. Jupiter negotiated a contract that was only one half of what we’re paying for fire-rescue, so I think there is a huge opportunity for the village council to look at this issue very carefully.”

Willhite charged that Coates would not defend the village’s generous levels of parks and green space if elected, particularly in regard to the 62-acre KPark parcel on State Road 7. He questioned an earlier statement by Coates in which Coates favored sort of development, perhaps a college campus, on part of the K-Park land and perhaps some development of Palm Beach Polo’s defunct north golf course.

interested in our well-being.”

On Wednesday, Royal Palm Beach Mayor David Lodwick told the Town-Crier that the village maintains support for the State Road 7 extension.

“We did and still do support the Acreage reliever road,” he said. “We opposed the change

want to look at actual cost of services and what we’re getting for the money,” he said.

Bowen said he would consider opting out of the county MSTU if a study committee recommends doing so, and instead negotiating a contract for services, much like the village does for law enforcement with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Two other areas Bowen said he will focus on include recreation costs and a senior citizens’ center. Bowen contends that the on-again, off-again recreation “passport” created considerable confusion and controversy in the community.

“The first thing we need to do is take a serious look at the [real] cost of recreation services and determine exactly what we are getting for the cost,” he said. “How can we work smarter without lowering the level of services? We need to do the same analysis for a seniors’ center. We do need a place for seniors to come and socialize. What do seniors really need and want? How can we pay for it without raising taxes? Maybe a partnership with private busi-

“I’m concerned you want to get rid of the village’s green space,” Willhite told Coates. “You talk about building and you talk about development. That’s not what I moved here for. Everything you talk about is going to bring traffic and people on our roads.”

Coates denied being over the top in regard to development in Wellington. “I have four kids who grew up using the parks and recreation, so I’m a big fan of the parks and recreation,” he said. “When I talked about the golf course, what was my first choice? It was putting a park there. In regard to K-Park, that is located on State Road 7, which is six lanes. I don’t want a park where families and kids are pulling out into oncoming traffic. It’s a perfect opportunity for tragedy to occur. What I think is much more acceptable moving forward is to use that property for all the residents of Wellington, not just the residents who use the parks and recreation.”

In turn, Coates challenged Willhite on billing himself as “a public servant, not a politician” in his campaign materials. “Given your extensive experience working on numerous political campaigns,” Coates asked, “given your extensive role as a lobbyist for the union in Tallahassee and in Washington, D.C., how do you say to yourself you’re not a politician when it

to 140th Avenue North because in the county’s traffic study, not using that road would mean the county is planning 16,000 trips a day on the Madrid [Street] connection in La Mancha to the SR 7 extension, a connection that does not and will not exist,” he said. “But I would be glad to talk to the people at ITID to encourage more cooperation.”

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, members got an earful from a member of the Seminole Ridge High School softball team who said her team is being neglected in favor of other sports at the school.

SRHS student and softball player Angela McGoldrick told members that playing field conditions and funding for the team are both in a pitiful state. “The softball field is in such bad condition that all the girls on the team had to go and work on it trying to get it ready,” she said. “We’re supposed to have a fourinch clay surface on the infield, but it’s only about a quarter of an inch deep. It’s like playing on one of our shellrock roads. It’s dangerous.”

Her mother Sherry McGold-

RPB Council Roebuck Road Rage

continued from page 1 sion and the Palms West Chamber of Commerce.

During the council’s regular business meeting, Lodwick told fellow council members he explained to Frankel and members of her planning staff that her city was obliged by a signed agreement to cooperate in the extension of Roebuck Road west from Jog Road to link up with the extension of State Road 7 currently underway.

Lodwick said he noted to Frankel and her staff that West Palm Beach needed to agree to another east-west thoroughfare in order to win development approval for homes along Okeechobee Blvd. in what are now the Baywinds, Andros Isle and Riverwalk communities.

ness can work. Who knows?”

Bowen said he is pleased with the selection of newly appointed Village Manager Paul Schofield and that he’ll set politics aside and “support him one hundred percent.”

“All I’m going to do is judge him on his ability to get the job done,” Bowen said. “He has the full authority.”

Bowen also wants to land a university in the area, preferably with an equestrian focus that has been neglected across the state. “We have a large equestrian presence here,” he said. “I’d like to convince a university to locate a campus here that offers an equestrian program. The University of Kentucky has one.”

And he goes a step further.

“We may not have room for a university in Wellington, but there is plenty of room near us,” he said. “We can’t always just focus on Wellington with programs that benefit our residents. We have to work closely with other communities. I’d love to have it in Wellington, but if it goes somewhere else nearby, that’s okay, too.”

appears you are the quintessential politician?”

Willhite responded by charging that Coates was attacking “people who put their lives on the line for other people.”

“If you are, I think you owe the residents of Wellington an apology because those are the people who need those services every day,” Willhite said. “I’ve been a public servant — a lobbyist if you want to call it that — for benefits for people I work for. I think you can work in politics and not be a politician.”

Willhite added that the contacts he’s made through the years with the firefighters’ union and the work he did for the campaigns of State Sen. Dave Aronberg and State Rep. Shelley Vana will help him serve Wellington residents.

Coates said he wasn’t criticizing firefighters, but taking Willhite to task for “representing himself as something he is not.”

“If you are a lobbyist and if you are a politician, be proud of it and say that,” Coates said.

For those who missed it, the Town-Crier’s Wellington Candidates’ Forum will be rebroadcast on Wellington Channel 18 several times between now and the election. The tentative schedule includes: March 21 at 6 p.m.; March 22 at noon; March 23 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and March 24 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25.

rick echoed her concerns. “I have friends whose children came here as part of the Boynton Beach softball team,” she said. “One of them said she could not believe we have to play in these conditions.”

Angela McGoldrick said her team had so little money, they could only afford to play four home games this year.

“We have to pay for umpires and for security for each game, which has meant we play a lot of games at other schools that are supposed to be home games,” she said.

Heinz asked whether the baseball team has similar problems. McGoldrick answered that the baseball field is in excellent shape and the team has enough money to afford a trip to California for tournament play. Heinz noted that the federal Title IX law requires equal assistance for sports of both sexes.

Erickson said he would support an investigation into field conditions and promised he would discuss the issue with ITID Administrator Chris King and make his fellow supervisors aware of the situation.

can’t pay the bills,” he said. “You had your dinner, you had a bottle of wine with dinner and you had your dessert. Now you’ve got to step up and pay the bill.”

Part of a $50 million bond issue, the Roebuck Road extension is slated to begin construction in 2011. Lodwick said the extension would not connect to any of the developments and would not be a detriment to the lifestyles of the residents.

“It will be bermed, and it will landscaped,” Lodwick said. “It will run behind the property and will provide residents of the western communities another way to get east in the morning and another way to get west in the evening.”

Lodwick said Frankel replied to his position by admitting the city signed the agreement, but that it would object anyway.

Residents of those developments are now among the most vocal opponents of the extension, on environmental grounds.

“The agreement was signed in December of 1994,” Lodwick said. “The City of West Palm Beach clearly needed tax revenue. It needed expansion west. That’s why it built the homes in the alligator farm now known as Ibis. That’s why it approved Riverwalk and Baywinds and Andros Isle. On those three properties it condemned 1,000 acres of wetlands to allow over 6,000 units to be built.”

Frankel and residents in the developments along Okeechobee Blvd. oppose the extension because they claim it will be built too close to the city’s water catchment area, something proponents of the extension vehemently deny. Lodwick and other backers of the extension say it is needed to relieve traffic from Okeechobee Blvd. as it runs through Royal Palm Beach.

Lodwick said the agreement between the city and county provides for a 120-foot right of way running behind the developments.

“The city staff and county staff, 1,000 Friends of Florida and other environmental groups, everybody agreed it would have an environmental impact,” Lodwick said. “The City of West Palm Beach agreed not to object to it. Now that they’ve built their 6,000 homes and got their billiondollar taxable value on the roll, they’re saying, ‘golly, we can’t build the road.’”

Lodwick said the message he took to Frankel and her city’s staff was a simple one. “Don’t make the dinner if you

CVB Attracting Conventions

continued from page 2 totem pole,” he said. “The county began to take funds spent on promoting the county to spend on other things, usually good things, but that has limited what can be done.”

The bureau is currently doing research on finding an effective message, Vervaeke said. “We are creating ads aimed primarily at women in the 35-to-54year-old range because they decide on many vacations,” he said. “And we are creating attractive ways to get our message across.”

Vervaeke said the bureau is also working hard to attract more conventions.

“We would rather sell rooms in blocks of 500 than individually,” he said.

Pesquera said another major goal is to ensure that the bureau meets the highest possible standards for transparency and effectiveness. “We want the industry’s highest ratings for planning concepts, our cutting-edge technology and our ways of investing our promotion monies wisely,” he said.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Palm Beach County FireRescue Deputy Chief Steve Delai assured attendees that

Blotter

continued from page 6 deputy noticed he made a deferred movement toward his rear right pants pocket. Ware admitted he had pills in his pocket for which he did not have a prescription. A search of Ware’s pocket found 101 peach-colored pills in a candy container. The pills were identified as Xanax. Ware was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription with intent to sell. He was transported to the county jail. MARCH 19 — A resident of Amesbury Circle called the

Village Manager David Farber said he was baffled at “how people can come to the conclusions they do,” noting that West Palm Beach had cooperated with the village on opposition to the Callery-Judge Grove “new town” development proposal.

“We’ve actually been allies with West Palm Beach as it relates to the development west of us to see that it is built at a level that can accommodate our road system,” Farber said. “But the most critical link to this village is Roebuck Road. It will create another opportunity, along with the State Road 7 extension, for people to move south and east without having to go through Royal Palm Beach Blvd. or Okeechobee Blvd.”

Webster asked Village Attorney Trela White about the village’s legal position in regard to getting the matter resolved. “If this has already been approved,” Webster asked, “how is it they are standing in the way?”

White said that every year the Palm Beach County Commission reviews its five-year road program to determine what should be prioritized, and commissioners representing the West Palm Beach constituency have repeatedly pushed Roebuck Road to the bottom of the pile.

White said the village has done everything it can to get the City of West Palm Beach to abide by the agreement, “short of filing a lawsuit.” Lodwick said the village isn’t asking for extras, just that the City of West Palm Beach live up to its agreement.

“I asked Mayor Frankel, ‘what should I tell my residents who are paying $4 per gallon for gas sitting in traffic because you’re trying to block a road that has to be built? Who is going to reimburse them?’ So we’re going to continue to stay vigilant.”

the county would not skimp on fire-rescue services in coming years.

“When we created our current system back in 1984, we had two fire stations in the whole western communities,” he said. “The firehouse in Loxahatchee was responsible for a larger area than all of the City of Miami. Now we have 14 firehouses.” Delai, who also serves on Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board, said PBCFR’s equipment has improved vastly in the last two decades. “When a rescue truck pulls up, it’s now worth about $200,000 and the specialized equipment is worth another $100,000,” he said.

Delai said the high cost of some pieces of equipment is justified by PBCFR’s wide coverage area. “We’re a regional system, so that everyone gets the use of really specialized equipment if they really need it,” he said.

Delai said his biggest current frustration is the search for a new Acreage-area firehouse. “We’re using a temporary facility in the Winn-Dixie shopping center,” he said, “but we haven’t been able to get a permanent site established.”

He said Santamaria has set the construction of a new station as his highest priority, and Delai hoped that a new site would be determined quickly.

PBSO substation in Wellington on Wednesday to report a vehicle burglary. According to PBSO report, the victim said he parked the vehicle in his driveway at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday. When he returned at 7:35 a.m. the following morning, the victim discovered the truck’s front console was open and a digital camera with a blue strap worth $650 was missing, along with a Garmin GPS unit worth $400 and a cell phone charger.

locked.

Seminole Ridge softball player Angela McGoldrick.

New Mayor — Darell Bowen, shown here at the office of his Wellington business Creative Marketing Solutions, hopes to bring more of a business mindset to village government.

WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY RAISES MONEY THROUGH

‘ART IN THE AFTERNOON’

The Wellington Art Society hosted its annual fundraising event “Art in the Afternoon” on Sunday, March 16 at the Breakers West Country Club. The event featured music and a live art auction. Auction items included awardwinning paintings, sculpture, photography, pottery and more by area artists. Other highlights included a buffet lunch and a silent auction featuring merchandise and services from area businesses. For more information about the Wellington Art Society, visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.

Artists Joanne Baker MacLeod, Marcella Mirande-Ketcham and Huguette Berzon enjoy some brunch before the auction.

Leslie Pfeiffer, Susan Rose, Alicia Foster and Zoe and Jerry Roach.

Robert Mandel and Lois Alexander check out some of the artwork.

Pianist Roxana Mathie entertains guests.Auctioneer Richard Frank.

Artist Lupe Lawrence.

Artists Adrienne Hetherington and Corinne Ingerman.

Susan Odell with Randy and Leslie Pfeiffer.

Donna Donelan and Wellington Art Society President Susan Rose.

Linda Addington and Heather Greenhill with Judy Eisinger.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

The Phantoms Visit

Bizaare Avenue Café And Bistro

921 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth • (561) 588-4488

Intimate, Relaxing, Fun, Warm, Inviting, Hip, Hot, and Unique…it’s just Bizaare!

When we first entered the Bizaare Avenue Café on a Monday night, our first impression was like stepping back in time to the ’60s coffeehouse craze. Guests were sitting on comfortable couches and overstuffed chairs arranged around coffee tables enjoying their dinner while listening to live entertainment. Whatever your impression, be it a “Soho” type café, or a cross between an English country house and a trendy Nantucket Island eatery… it’s a great atmosphere to enjoy lunch, dinner or cocktails.

The walls are adorned with paintings, mirrors and artwork; in fact everything in Bizarre is for sale including dining tables, lamps, paintings and those comfy chairs and sofas. Styles range from antiques to early American and traditional to modern — everything priced to sell!

The upstairs bistro is more formal dining with an equally warm, inviting atmosphere, minus the sofas and coffee tables but comfortable seating all the same. The Bistro maintains the charm of downstairs, but flowing lace curtains and elegant table settings add to the flavor of an English country restaurant. This is a great venue to host a

special event from a birthday or anniversary to a wedding reception or a romantic dinner.

The service is top notch and the food is excellent upstairs and down; we know, we’ve tried both. On our first visit we enjoyed a lighter fare of tapas: toasted bruschetta ($10), which consists of a crunchy French baquette smothered with Balsamic tomato salsa; then moved on to a signature offering of perfectly baked brie ($15) and served with apples, strawberries and grapes and drizzled with raspberry sauce; next came Caramelized Onion Fun-Do ($14) a combination three cheeses: havarti, gouda and gorganzola served with fruit and crispy flat bread.

Bizaare’s salads, crepes, pasta, gourmet pizza, bakery fresh sandwiches and wraps are all worth the trip for lunch or dinner. We can vouch for their SheCrab and Shrimp Crepe and most certainly their Cajun-seasoned jambalaya pasta. These mouthwatering treats would satisfy everyone’s appetite. We had such a good time we decided to return on a Friday evening to experience Bizaare’s Bistro Upstairs... and were we in for a treat. We arrived at 7 p.m. just about the time the Lake Worth Playhouse pre-theater dinner crowd were beginning to leave. No sooner than one table

was cleared it was soon filled with other hungry customers. The popularity of this landmark eatery under its new ownership and management is growing with all the essentials: Good Food, Good Service and Good Atmosphere.

The menu is far more extensive with its own variety of tapas, soups (try the delicious lobster bisque which we ordered), salads, pastas and landand-sea entrees, all reasonably priced. Our delicious starters were seared succulent sea scallops cooked in a white truffle oil ($14), Vietnamese spring rolls ($10), crab-stuffed portabella mushroom ($15) and Greek salad ($16).

When the chef tells you to try his weekly specials… we listened, we ate and we enjoyed.

First we tried the Maine lobster shitake sea bass ($38), an incredible herb-crusted sea bass served over white rice, served with asparagus and highlighted with a shitake lobster beurre blanc sauce. Next we tried the Grecian lamb loin chops special ($27) served over roasted peppers and artichoke hearts, a fantastic hearty dish. From the regular menu we selected braised short ribs ($25) very tender and very tasty, with a side of rosemary garlic mashed potatoes. Worthy of a mention is one of the house signature dishes, a

slow-braised lamb shank ($25), a fall-off-the-bone treat, was served with saffron risotto and broccoli rabe. Other main courses were New York strip steak ($23) served with au gratin potatoes and grilled asparagus, crispy duck ($23) with ginger sausage and wasabi potatoes, seared tuna ($27) with soba noodles and stir fry-veggies, and seared salmon ($19) served with bliss potatoes and a dill crème fraiche.

One thing that makes each entrée taste better is to serve interesting side dishes with them, and Chef John has this down to a science. He has found his niche in perfectly complementing each entrée with the correct herb or spice, resulting in a gastronomical explosion of flavors to wake up all your taste buds simultaneously.

Fun is the keyword at the Bizaare Avenue Café and Bistro, and we highly recommend you stop by for a cocktail at Bizaare’s friendly bar, relax on one of their plush sofas even for just a cup of coffee, lunch or dinner. We guarantee you will love it as much as we do.

If you are looking for the best steak around, infused with excellent Italian flair, we would like to recommend their sister restaurant Prime 707, just up the street next to the Lake Worth Playhouse, where once again you will find good food, service, atmosphere and great live entertainment, with a fantastic gathering bar, so enjoy!

Bizaare is open daily for lunch and dinner starting at 11:30 a.m. until midnight Monday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or dinner 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. For further information, visit www. bizaareavecafe.com or call Debbie at (561) 588-4488 and tell her that Joe and Kathryn, the Phantoms, highly recommended you have a “fun-good time” at the Bizaare Avenue Café and Bistro!

Joe and Kathryn, the Phantoms, are featured writers for the Town-Crier newspaper. Comments and recommendations are welcome at the phantomdiners@aol.com.

NEW ‘UNICO’ CHAPTER SWEARS IN MEMBERS

Members of the new Palm Beach chapter of the ItalianAmerican dervice organization UNICO were sworn in Saturday, March 15 at the Tavern on the Green Equestrian Club in Wellington. Several Wellington residents were in attendance, as well as representatives from UNICO National, based in Hillsdale, New Jersey. For more information about UNICO, visit www.unico.org.

Gabe and Darlene Finocchietti of Gabriel’s Café in Wellington.

National President Joseph Agresti swears in District President Giulio Panzano.John and Roseann Jada.

Bill and Elaine Cittadino with Tom and Linda Monticello.

Marcella and William Brideau.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Couches, and everything else, are for sale at the Bizaare Avenue Café and Bistro.

Just When I Was Finally Getting The Hang Of This Golf Thing...

I went out to play golf last week... and I’m better at it than ever — just goes to show what ignoring the clubs for two years can do for your game.

My parents were in town and Mom is an avid golfer, so after 10 or 12 days of doing everything I wanted to do, I finally agreed to hit the links with her. Mark and Dad were also going to play.

At first I tried to get out of it. “I think I left my clubs up north!” I announced.

“You have two sets of clubs,” Mark informed me. “You have a set here, too.”

“I have two sets of golf clubs? I don’t even play the game!”

“You inherited one set from my mother and one from Mr. Giese, remember?” he said.

“Oh, yeah.”

So Mom was all happy and we got into the car. By the first tee, she was humming a little song. I

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

shrugged and plopped my bright yellow ball onto the peg. Then (by following Dad’s quick-n-easy 14-step instructions), I lined up my feet with the pin. Finally, I whacked the ball with the club. Surprisingly, it made a nice sound and went flying right down the middle of the fairway.

“Ooooh!” Mom said.

“It’s because you lined up your feet,” Dad said.

“Nice drive,” Mark said.

There followed a fairly pleasant 17 holes of golf in which I finally seemed to get my bearings, get the hang of the game and get a score of less than 100 on the first “nine.”

“You’re playing really well,” Mark said as we approached the last hole.

“What’s your secret?” Mom asked. “What club are you using?”

Proudly, I showed them the stick I had chosen — a rather fat bronze club.

“That’s a driver!” my Mom exclaimed. “Emmett, she’s been using a driver all this time!”

“Let me see that,” Dad said as he walked over.

“I thought it was a 5 iron,” I mumbled.

“Hey! That’s my old driver!” Mark hollered.

“That’s the one I won the Teen Championship with! That’s probably an antique!”

“It is an antique,” Mom agreed. “You shouldn’t be using that.”

“...for a number of reasons,” Dad chimed in.

Needless to say, my game went right downhill from there. Once I placed my favorite club back in the bag — and everyone supervised and voted upon my future choice of club — it took me no less than 25 strokes to get my ball down into the hole. Plus, I was feeling a little cranky.

“You really did well out there today, Deb.” Silence.

“With a lesson or two, you’d be a force to be reckoned with.” Silence.

“Would you like to play again tomorrow?”

“No, thank you. I’d rather stay home and polish my antique.”

I really don’t know what people see in the game of golf.

New Drama ‘Canterbury’s Law’ Leaves Me Less Than Impressed

Some shows “get it” and some do not. Having enjoyed Fox’s new series New Amsterdam last week, I had high hopes for Canterbury’s Law, a new legal drama on the same network. After all, what could go wrong? Julianna Margulies, who is a fine actress, plays the lead role, a crusading lawyer ready to fight for oppressed clients who generally seem guilty at first glance. Battling for the weak versus the strong is a staple of TV. Quirky leads are popular.

Unfortunately, the idea is so old and overused that the show seems like a rehash of every legal show out of the 1960s and 1970s, where you knew the rich or powerful guy was bad and the attorneys would bring justice by the end of the show. In some ways, it goes back even further to the archetypical defense attorney Perry Mason, who never had a case he did not win.

‘I’

On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

hitting the victim. The father takes the stand, and after she badgers him enough, loses his temper and hits her, thus somehow proving his guilt. I was not really clear on how losing his temper with someone meant he was guilty, but that is, after all, show biz.

easily. And in a show like Canterbury’s Law, if you do not like the lead, and the plots are almost clichés, there is not much left. In House the main character uses drugs and has a whole raft of defense mechanisms and quirks. But the writers are quick to show the audience the drugs are due to a serious leg problem causing intense pain and that his quirks are essentially defense mechanisms. As a result, people like the lead and accept the mannerisms. The show is a hit.

He seemed outraged that anyone might even consider that Foster might not be guilty.

When anyone with an IQ higher than that of a ferret can spot the bad guy, a legal drama has problems. When Canterbury finds out she had no evidence to work with, she convinces her client to lie on the stand and claim he saw the boy’s father

The first problem of the show is that the real culprit in the murder of a very talented young boy was clear about 30 seconds after first appearing. The confused kid Ethan Foster (Charlie Hofheimer) is a total mess. Instead of rejecting a push for a confession, he says some mumbo-jumbo about shipping body parts out to “selected destinations.” But he is Canterbury’s client, so he had to be innocent. The rich father of the victim, who is running around demanding justice, could have simply put a sign around his neck saying “Guilty.”

So with no real drama involved, the show had to focus on character. Elizabeth Canterbury is flawed. Unfortunately, not in a really charming way. She is married to Matt (Aidan Quinn), in a marriage torn apart because of the disappearance of their young son. She has a lover, a sure way to win over members of the audience. When James Woods plays Shark, another flawed attorney willing to go all out, his flaws are visible but they seem focused either on his past actions or his problems with his daughter. That’s just cute. Sleeping around does not win friends; just ask Eliot Spitzer. And, double standard or not, most people have more trouble when a woman is doing it.

Combined with the main character’s willingness to bend the law when she feels it is necessary, the lead is not someone you can embrace

An audience likes to be surprised. The next episode is about someone who somehow knows a real lot about where dead bodies are buried. Is he a psychic or psycho? As a client of Canterbury, I can guess.

This is not the worst show in the history of television. It is not even the worst show on a major network right now... and probably not even the worst on Monday evenings at eight. But some changes need to be made if Elizabeth Canterbury joins the list of regular guests in my home. Based on preliminary ratings, which were not great, she may not have a long road ahead.

Cashing In A Holiday Gift Led To A Kravis Night To Remember

A couple of weeks ago I cashed in one of the holiday gifts I received from number-one son Brian. At holiday time he only gave me a card with a piece of paper tucked inside. At first glance I started mumbling to myself about all the gifts I have given him and his family and all I get is a card. Then I caught myself and I remembered I love to give my family gifts and I have a very hard time accepting presents from anyone. But a big sunrise awaited me as I opened the piece of paper that was in my card. It was a computer printout telling me I had two tickets to see Smokey Robinson minus the Miracles at the Kravis Center. It went on to say dinner at CityPlace was included and that Brian would be my chauffeur for the night. The thing I liked best was at the very bottom of the page, in very bold lettering, were the words WE LOVE YOU GRANDPA ERNIE, and it was signed by all of my grandchildren.

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

The night of the show arrived, but my son didn’t. He was supposed to pick us up at 5 p.m. sharp. Of course this was the Sunday we pushed the clocks ahead an hour. Last year my son and his wife (both highly educated) forgot to “spring ahead.” I figured that couldn’t happen two years in a row. I was wrong. After standing in my driveway for over half an hour I told my wife Sharon to call her son. My son told my wife he still had 30 minutes before he should pick us up. My wife

then informed him of the time change. My son was at my doorstep ten minutes later.

My son joined us for dinner at CityPlace. We had a great dinner at a great restaurant. And true to his word, my son grabbed the check. And showing that he is a true Zimmerman, my son handed a coupon to our waiter good for a free dinner! At least he learned something from me.

As we were on our way to the Kravis Center I reminded my son that I didn’t have the tickets for the show. He told me not to worry, he had all of three of them. It was at this point he informed me he was joining us for the show.

As we entered the Kravis Center, we went to our favorite seats in the nose bleed section. The show started right on time. To my surprise and delight, Smokey put on a two-and-a-half-hour show (without a break). It was a great show. The man has not lost anything in his voice. He sang “I Second That Emotion,” “The Tears of a Clown,”

“Cruisin,” “Being With You,” “Shop Around” and others. He brought the house down when he sang “My Girl” (he wrote that song for the Temptations). It happens to be my favorite song. That night it was very special to me, as my own girl was sitting right next to me. I think Smokey Robinson, since the death of James Brown, is now the hardest-working man in show business. His show included dancers, a string section, backup singers and of course his own band.

Besides having many hits on his own, Smokey wrote songs for everyone who sang on the Motown record label (the Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder and many more). Even after a twoand-a-half-hour show, I wanted more. I did give my wife more (get your mind out of the gutter) — I sang “My Girl” all the way home. I sure hope my future has many more nights like this one.

FEATURES

ACREAGE HORSEMAN’S ASSOCIATION HOSTS PLAY DAY

The Acreage Horseman’s Association held its “Play Day” last Saturday at Hamlin Equestrian Park in The Acreage. The event featured classes and games for different age groups, as well as plenty of food and vendors offering equestrian-related products. The South Florida Mustang Club had horses available for adoption as well. For more information about the AHA, visit www.acreagehorseman.com.

LEONARD WECHSLER/TOWN-CRIER

‘MAGIC OF GIVING’ BENEFITS THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION

The Arthritis Foundation held its annual “Magic of Caring” luncheon and fashion show on Saturday, March 15 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to the fashion show, there was a silent auction of “bunnies.” Bunnies included “Denim & Diamonds,” featuring a bunny dressed as a cowgirl and sporting diamond jewelry; “Bacchus Bunny,” complete with a toga and a basket of premium wine; “Chez Chef,” a bunny in a chef outfit offering a gift certificate to Café Baloud; and many more. For more information about the Arthritis Foundation, visit www.arthritis.org.

Elaine Fredrickson aboard Rocky. Donna Amarescu rides Super.

Nikki Ungleich on Perseus.

Christine Thibeault on Buster Brown.

Larry Fredrickson and Bo.

Stacy Saltzman and Vested Tiger Bandit.

Lori Saltzman and Lucky.

PHOTOS BY

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Committee members Jan Ellis, Susanna Palomares and Brenda D’Agostino.

Tammy Jacobson with Rachel and Stephanie Tamposi.

Denise Valz with Theresa LePore.

Nanci Willson and Nancy Cole. Darian Ozment, Nicole May and Morgan Sanders.

Denise and Jacqueline Joyce bid on auction items. Mary Church and Dave Dontem.

Peter Torres of Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Rescue holds Milo while Raven Isadore spruces him up.Cookie

Shiloh, Elyeon, Jubilee, Yshua and Kari Zevenbergen take the newly adopted Princess on a shopping spree.

rottweiler. Katie Black, Sonia Stratemann and Jamie Goodale with Tricia and Simon from Elite Greyhound Adoptions.

Wellington Twirl members march in the parade.

Brent Bludworth gets his head shaved.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit joins the parade.

Clydesdales make their way along Lake Avenue.

Bill Knapp gets into the spirit of the day.The Shamrock Club of Palm Beach County shows Irish pride.

• VILLARI’S SUMMER CAMP VILLARI’S SUMMER — The staff members at Villari’s of Wellington are pleased to offer a full nineweek summer camp. Villari’s summer camp will improve your child’s focus, fitness and confidence and communication skills through interacting with their peers. We will focus on flexibility, coordination, listening skills, personal fitness and improved social awareness. Martial arts is not just kicking and punching, it’s about having fun! Call (561) 792-1100 to reserve your space.

• PLANET KIDS PLANET KIDS PLANET KIDS PLANET KIDS PLANET KIDS — Planet Kids is family-owned and operated with trained, experienced counselors all with First Aid/CPR training. The camp has the coolest playground in town, continual learning programs in house, exciting field trips three days per week, hands-on science, educational outings, scrapbooking, cooking, swimming, roller skating, bowling, wildlife sanctuary visit, Jungle Queen cruise and more. Two separate camps are offered: Junior camp for ages 2 to 5 years and Super camp for ages 5 to 12 years. Planet Kids is open daily from 6:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Monday through Friday at five convenient locations. See our ad for locations and phone numbers.

• SUMMIT CHRIS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL TIAN SCHOOL TIAN — An independent non-denominational Christian school serving children from six weeks to 12th grade, Summit Christian School features exciting summer camps. Junior Camp (K through first grade) and Senior Camp (second grade through fifth grade) from June 9 through Aug. 1, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Experienced SCS summer staff supervise children in daily devotions, field trips, arts and crafts, swimming, tennis, karate, lunch and much more. Early bird special: register your family before May 2 for $30 ($50 after May 2) and receive a free Tshirt. For more information, call (561) 686-8081, ext. 326 or visit www.summitchristian.com.

•

AR AR ART CAMP T CAMP T CAMP T CAMP — Jump Start for ages five to seven; Adventures in Art for ages eight to 11; and Studio Art Shops for teens (middle and high school students). An adventure in the visual arts for your young artist! Six sessions starting June 9. The center is located at 1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 832-1776 or visit www.armoryart.org.

• TEMPLE BETH T • BETH T TORAH LEONIE AR ORAH LEONIE AR ORAH ARGUETT GUETT GUETT Y PRE- Y

in ART - Ages 8-11

Send your young artist on an adventure in the visual arts! While studying past and present works of the world's arts and cultures, students will rotate between studio areas daily, completing creative projects in painting, drawing, mixed media, ceramics,sculpture and more!

SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CAMP CAMP SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CAMP CAMP SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CAMP — Runs June 16 through Aug. 8. Designed to meet the needs of children ages two to five, our program features arts and crafts, cooking, science, nature, water play, computers, music and movement, sports, gymnastics and weekly shabbat celebrations; weekly entertainment such as puppet shows, carnival day, magic, library time and more! We are also offering summer and fall VPK. We are a licensed and NAEYC-accredited school. For more information or a tour of the facility, call Director Ann Parades at (561) 793-2649.

• WELLING • WELLING • WELLING • WELLING WELLINGT T T T TON SHO ON SHO ON SHO ON SHO SHOW ST W ST W ST W ST STABLES “RIDING CAMP” ABLES “RIDING CAMP” ABLES “RIDING CAMP” ABLES “RIDING CAMP” — An introduction to the world of horses and ponies. Our summer program runs eight weeks in one-week sessions for all ages, five to seven and eight to 16. The camp provides safe school horses and ponies carefully matched to each rider. Your child will spend his or her day learning about horsemanship, including learning about feeding, grooming, proper care, riding and general veterinary care. We also include a classroom for arts and crafts, lectures and reading. We train the English style of riding, which includes learning how to jump based out of a large showing facility. We have been here for 20 years and have been training and teaching to a high quality, and we have trained many champions! To obtain a pre-class packet with registration forms, call Wellington Parks & Recreation at (561) 791-4005.

• TEMPLE BETH ZION PRESCHOOL & CAMP • BETH ZION PRESCHOOL & CAMP — A camp where children of all faiths learn and play together, offering a fun-filled summer program in a safe, loving environment. We have a strong academic program with small classes during the school year. Registration is now ongoing for fall sessions of religious school and preschool. We are located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 798-3737.

TOWN-CRIER SPORTS & RECREATION

Wolverines Top Palm Beach Central, Riddle Seeks More Respect

Town-Crier

By Steve Pike

Staff Report

Wellington High School baseball coach Scott Riddle is playing the Rodney Dangerfield card these days. Even after consecutive victories over district rivals Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach Central, Riddle insists his team isn’t getting much respect.

“I get the feeling that people don’t lose any sleep over us,” Riddle said after the Wolverines’ 7-0 home victory over Palm Beach Central on Tuesday.

“That’s OK. We have to earn that. I can tell you that people worry about Palm Beach Central at 6-6 before they worry about us at 8-3. I’ve got some guys who can play, but we’ve had a couple of years of being not as successful as this program is used to, so people kind of forget about us. That’s understandable.”

If Wellington’s opponents don’t understand the Wolverines are for real after their three most recent games — including a 54 victory last Friday over Palm Beach Gardens that put them in a first place tie for the district lead, and a 12-2 victory Monday over Glades Central — they’re probably wearing blinders.

WHS had won three consecutive games. The Wolverines banged out 24 hits during that streak and committed only one error.

The lone blemish on Wellington’s district record was a 6-3 loss to Jupiter on March 13 in a game in which the Warriors scored three runs in the first inning. In its three-game streak, however, WHS jumped on top in each game. The Wolverines stunned Palm Beach Gardens with three runs in the first inning last Friday and scored ten runs in the first four innings against Glades Central.

Against Palm Beach Central on Tuesday, Wellington got three runs on the second inning against Broncos starter Kyle Finch and blew the game open with three more in the third inning. Evan Stermer and David Cheatham opened the third inning with consecutive singles, and the Wolverines loaded the bases when Finch couldn’t make a play on Nick Ferraresi’s bunt.

Wellington starter John Brebbia then bounced a ball in front of the home plate. Finch fielded the ball cleanly, but with his momentum going hard toward

the plate, Finch was unable to get the ball out of his glove. Stermer scored to give WHS a 4-0 lead. The Wolverines added two more runs on Bronco errors. WHS made it 7-0 in the fifth inning on Brandon King’s sacrifice fly off PBCHS reliever Jake Meiers. All told, the Wolverines pounded out ten hits against the Broncos. WHS starter John Brebbia allowed only two hits in as complete a game as they’ve played all season.

A senior right-hander, Brebbia walked the first batter of the game but didn’t give up another walk. He threw only four pitches in the fourth inning after the Wolverines got up 6-0 in the bottom of the third.

Brebbia (5-1) struck out five batters, and during one stretch retired ten consecutive PBCHS hitters. He put down the Broncos in order in four innings and completed the game by retiring 14 of the final 15 Broncos he faced. PBCHS hit the ball hard several times, but the only hits the Broncos managed were a single in the third by Zach Todd and a single in the sixth by Devin Travis.

“I felt good the whole game,” Brebbia said. “It was a big game for us because it keeps us up

there in the district. And it’s a pretty intense rivalry.”

That rivalry was expected to continue through the week as the two teams geared up for a non-district rematch Thursday on the Broncos’ home field. Riddle said former WHS coach Scott Benedict’s current role coaching the Broncos only adds to his team’s desire to win.

“Anytime you can get a game with no errors and ten hits and walk only one batter, you have a chance to be pretty successful,” Riddle said. “It’s a big win for us. The fact that Benedict is coaching the other team matters, but we need to win because we need to establish ourselves in the district.”

That’s a theme Riddle has preached all season, but is just now beginning to yield results. As late as two weeks ago, Riddle was still uncertain as to his team’s personality. Now the Wolverines are starting to show their true colors. “Our pitching has been consistent,” Riddle said. “What’s happening now that wasn’t happening before is that we’re putting the ball in play with two outs and with two strikes.”

Indeed. The Wolverines got four consecutive two-out hits

and scored all three of their runs with two outs in the second inning. “The guys are getting more confident at the plate,” Riddle said. “At the beginning of the year, good pitching will dominate, but as the season wears on, we know what the pitchers’ tendencies are. They know what our tendencies are at the plate, too, but our guys are getting more comfortable at the plate.”

Tuesday’s game marked Palm Beach Central’s second consecutive defeat. The Broncos lost 4-2 at Seminole Ridge the previous Friday. In that game, the Hawks broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the third. After PBCHS made it 3-2 in the fourth, Seminole Ridge put the game away with a run in the sixth. Corey Wax picked up the victory in relief of Hawks starter Ryan Gibbard. Todd, the Broncos’

starter, took the loss. But the Hawks couldn’t sustain their momentum and lost 11-6 to Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday and 4-0 to Jupiter on Tuesday. Seminole Ridge (4-9) managed only three hits off two Jupiter pitchers. Meanwhile, Royal Palm Beach High School picked up its second consecutive victory Tuesday with a 4-2 win over Cardinal Newman. The Wildcats (7-7) trailed Newman 1-0 after the first inning but came back with three runs in the third and one run in the fourth. Wildcats catcher Joey Sharkey drove in two runs, and RPB starter Julian Landron picked up the victory. The Wildcats defeated Centennial 3-1 last Friday as Austin Perez struck out four batters to pick up his fourth victory of the season.

PBCHS Lacrosse Girls Fall To Spanish River

Palm Beach Central Volleyball Boys Best Royal Palm Beach 3-2

By Lisa Keeney

By Lisa Keeney

Town-Crier Staff Report

The Seminole Ridge High School boys and girls tennis teams defeated Royal Palm Beach High School 4-3 and 61 respectively Tuesday in Royal Palm Beach. Seminole Ridge will host Wellington on Tuesday, March 25, before traveling to the Dreyfoos School of the Arts the following day. Royal Palm Beach is looking forward to traveling to Wellington on Wednesday, April 2. All

their home court. The Wildcats fell to Palm Beach Central 3-2. Palm Beach Central took the first two games 25-11 and 3028. The Wildcats answered by taking the next two games 2522 and 25-21 and forcing a fifth

travel to Seminole Ridge on Tuesday, March 25. The team will then head to Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday, March 27. All games are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Palm Beach Central’s Brandon May serves.

Bronco Bevin Robbs strikes the ball over Jackson Wolek and Nick Merisiotis.A host of players try to push the ball over the net.

Tyler Huntington hits the ball for Palm Beach Central.

Wildcats James Adler and Jackson Wolek jump to try and block the ball from Bronco Jordan Ebbs.

Bronco Diego Valdes digs deep to return a serve.

Wildcats Nick Merisiotis and Ryan Moody try to stop Bronco Joey Palmer.

Seminole Ridge’s Ryan Byrnes chases down the ball.

Wildcat Jasmine Paulemom rushes toward the ball.

Seminole Ridge’s Megan Spielhaupter, who won her match 8-1.

Wildcat Tatiana Lombana makes contact with the ball. Hawk Wendy Aylesworth won her match 8-2.

Wildcat Luis Quesada keeps his eye on the ball.Royal Palm Beach’s David Croll won his match 8-4.

Hawk Alex Cohen jumps to keep the volley alive.

The Palm Beach Central High School girls lacrosse team lost a close 10-9 game against host Spanish River on Wednesday night. The leading scorer for the Broncos was Morgan Nicola, with three goals; goalie Megan Anido had 25 saves. The Lady Broncos have two games left in the regular season. They will travel to Seminole Ridge on Tuesday, March 25 and Dwyer on Thursday, March 27. Both games start at 5 p.m.

Three-On-Three Tourney Benefits Charity

A three-on-three basketball tournament benefiting the Home Safe Foundation will be held at Seminole Ridge High School on Saturday, April 5. The rain date will be April 6.

First games will take place at 8:30 a.m. with championships at 1:45 p.m. A donation of $95 per team is requested. A free-skills clinic will be run by former NBA star Roy Hinson, and a free custom event T-shirt will be given to every player.

Players eight years old and up are welcome. Teams will be placed in brackets against players of similar age and skills. No matter what skill lev-

el, the tournament will have a place for every team, including Corporate Guys for Charity and Firefighter-Police divisions.

The tourney will also feature shooting contests, prizes and DJ music.

Home Safe serves the Palm Beach County area. It provides a haven for care and treatment of abused, abandoned, neglected and drug-exposed infants and children. Its goal is to protect children and strengthen families in crisis. For more information about the tournament, call Mike Chase at (561) 333-4200 or email 3on3@bellsouth.net.

The Lakers — Jake Rose, Vic Bannister, Rick White and Mike Powers at last year’s three-on-three tournament.

Divers Mulka, McCleary Bring Home Gold

Local divers competed at the Wendy Wyland Memorial Invitational in Fort Lauderdale and came home with two first-place gold medals. The three-day meet was held March 7-9 and brought diving teams from across Florida, the midwest and east coast to compete at the Junior Olympic diving event.

Wellington Landings Middle School sixth grader Blaire Mulka took first place in the 12 to 13 age group on three-meter springboard. She topped 15 divers to earn her first-place gold. Mulka also placed sixth in one-meter springboard and sixth in platform. Another first-place finish was earned by Palm Beach Central

High School sophomore Paige McCleary. She competes in the 16 to 18 age group and won her gold on three-meter springboard competing against 20 other divers. McCleary placed fifth in the one-meter against a field of 27 divers.

Mulka and McCleary both train and dive for the Fort Lauderdale Diving Team under head coach and 1980 Olympian Dave Burgering. Both girls and their team will be competing at the U.S. Diving Regional Competition March 29-30 in Miami. The top six finishers in each age group will earn a spot at the East National Junior Olympic Diving Competition to be held in Rockville, Maryland in April.

RPB Football Registration Exceeds Expectations

With the upcoming 2008 football season fast approaching, the Royal Palm Beach Pop Warner Wildcats exceeded expectations with the program’s early registration.

“With the sagging economy and movement of families out of the western communities, we really were not sure what our numbers would be,” RPB Pop Warner Wildcats President John Ruffa said. “However, the demand for our program has been very strong. We wish we could serve more of the children in the community, but we are limited by the amount of facilities we have. Unfortu-

nately, we have many kids on a waiting list.”

The Wildcats will field at least 10 football teams, up from six in 2007, in six age divisions. The cheer program, led by Trina King, has increased to 100 girls.

The Wildcats play and cheer in the highly acclaimed Treasure Coast Pop Warner Football Conference. The conference consists of 14 cities from Fort Pierce south to Royal Palm Beach.

Last year saw each of the Wildcat teams qualify for the Pop Warner playoffs and the Wildcat Jr. PeeWee Cheer Squad advance to the regional

competition in Orlando.

“Although we had an exceptional first year on the football field and our cheer program won many awards, I am equally proud of the fact that we had 29 kids nominated for Academic All-American honors,” Ruffa said. “Plus, for a firstyear program to give away scholarships for college is unheard of. We really are blessed to have the collective arms of the western communities around us.”

The Wildcats play their home games at the Royal Palm Beach High School stadium. The season begins this year

with the Royal Palm Beach/ Palm City Goodwill Games, a pre-season match-up against the Palm City Dolphins on Aug. 16, followed by the Treasure Coast Jamboree. The regular season begins Aug. 30.

The expectations for 2008 are high, “but so is our work ethic and intensity,” RPB Pop Warner Wildcats Vice President Leonard Watson said. “It is an amazing thing to see Wildcat Nation in action on Saturdays.”

For more information about the program, call (561) 8274176 or visit the Wildcats’ web site at www.rpbwildcats.com.

Celebrity Tennis Match March 25

Acreage Baseball League

As the current Acreage Baseball League season reached its halfway

Blaire Mulka and Paige McCleary

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, March 22

• The 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival continues through April at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (14440 Pierson Road, Wellington). For more info., visit www.equestrian sport.com or call (561) 7935867.

• Israeli Art Month at the Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach) continues through April 5 featuring unique works created by leading Israeli fiber artists, artistled workshops, lectures and more. For more info., call (561) 832-1776 or visit www.armory art. org.

• On Saturday, March 22, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club in Wellington will host the second annual luncheon to benefit specialneeds riders from Haiti’s Chateaublond Equestrian Center. The event begins at 8 a.m. in the Blue Ribbon Tent by the International Arena and will include a grand prix, lunch, raffle and speakers. Tickets cost $50 per person or $300 to sponsor a table of six. For more info., call (954) 643-8678.

• New Beginnings Chapel invites you to join in the Easter fun on Saturday, March 22 with egg hunts every half hour, inflatables, great music, prizes and more. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the chapel grounds, located at 8431 Lake Worth Road, just west of Florida’s Turnpike. For more info., call Pastor Mike Arnone at (561) 967-3149 or visit www.nbchapel.com.

• The Village of Wellington is hosting its Annual Egg Hunt for children ages 1 to 10 on Saturday, March 22 at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). The event begins promptly at 10 a.m. For more info., call Dwayne Hetherington at (561) 791-4773.

• Dealers from across America will offer an outstanding variety of gems, jewelry, crystal, minerals and beads for show and sale at the Gem & Jewelry Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23 at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.). Rare minerals, giant shark’s teeth and fossils will be on display. School groups are welcome. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is $7 for adults, seniors and students; children under 12 admitted free. For more info., call (561) 793-0333.

• The Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) will host their Annual Easter Picnic on Saturday, March 22 at the Micanopy Pavilion at Okeeheelee Park. The picnic will take place from 11 a.m. to sundown. The cost is a $15 donation for adults and a $5 donation for children under 12; this includes meal and a beverage. For ticket information, call Marjorie at (561) 3338841, or Lena or Fergie at (561) 784-8804.

• The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will hold “Dipnetting Daze” for ages seven and up on Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. Explore the pond at the center with nets to capture small fish, shrimp and aquatic insects. Examine catches with hand lenses and microscopes while learning about aquatic adaptations. The fee is $3 per person. Call (561) 233-1400 to RSVP.

Tuesday, March 25

The Village of Wellington will hold a Runoff Election to determine the winner of Wellington Village Council Seat 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 26

• The Sixth Annual BarrettJackson Collector Car Event will take place March 26-30 at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The event will feature eight vehicles from the award-winning HBO series The Sopranos. Proceeds will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. For more info., visit www.barrett-jackson. com or call (480) 421-6694.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Poetry Discussion Group for adults on Wednesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. For info., call (561) 790-6070.

Thursday, March 27

• The 2008 Palm Beach International Sculpture Biennale, hosted by the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches, will be held March 27-30 featuring larger-than-life sculptures by artists from across the globe. The show will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cultural Trust site with guided tours and self-touring maps of the grounds. For more info., call (561) 333-4948.

• Palm Beach Community College will present “In Cele-

bration of Women” on Thursday, March 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Humanities Building at the Lake Worth campus. Local female artists will participate in storytelling, poetry, music and dance. The event is free and open to the public. For more info., call (561) 868-3586.

• Marijah & the Reggae Allstars will perform at Clematis by Night on Thursday, March 27 in downtown West Palm Beach from 6 to 9:30 p.m. For info., call (561) 822-1515 or visit www.clematisbynight.net.

Friday, March 28

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “The Art of the Storybook: Saxton Freymann” on Friday, March 28 at 2:45 p.m. for ages five to eight. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

Saturday, March 29

• The American Association of Kidney Patients will host its second annual Walk in the Park on Saturday, March 29 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Smythe Pavilion; the walk begins at 9 a.m. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under; Tshirt included. For more info., contact Stacy Nussbaum at godfry@palmbeach.k12.fl.us. For more about the association, visit www.aakp.org.

• The Funniest Night in Royal Palm Beach, an evening of standup comedy from some of South Florida’s top entertainers, will take place Saturday, March 29, 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Tickets are available in advance for $10 or $15 the night of the performance. For more info., call (561) 790-5149.

• The Your Bosom Buddies II Second Annual Pink Ribbon Gala will be held at the Wanderers Club of Wellington (1900 Aero Club Dr.) on Saturday, March 29 starting at 7 p.m. The evening will include a seated dinner with a silent auction and dancing. Money raised will help cancer buddies in need. For info., call Abbe Felton at (561) 422-6034.

• The St. Therese de Lisieux Catholic Church Building Fund’s Spring Fling will be held Saturday, March 29 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Money raised will go toward purchasing the church’s pews. For more info., call Loodie Alonso at (561) 795-9358.

Sunday, March 30

• The 2008 polo season will continue Sunday, March 30 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Avenue South, Wellington) with the start of the 26-goal Stanford Financial U.S. Open Polo Championships , polo’s top tournament in the United States. U.S. Open play will continue until Sunday, April 20. For info., call (561) 204-5687 or visit www.internationalpolo club.com.

Tuesday, April 1

• The Wellington Parks & Recreation Department will host the Super Stars Program for special-needs children Tuesdays from April 1 through May 27. Coach Yale David will introduce children in kindergarten through the fifth grade to a wide variety of sports. Classes are held from 3 to 3:45 p.m. at Village Park and cost $111 for residents and $138.75 for non-residents. For more info., call Julie Strow at (561) 753-5262.

Thursday, April 3

• The Wellington Parks & Recreation Department will host Basketball Clinics for special-needs children Thursdays from April 3 through May 29. Coach Yale David will lead the program, which is for children in kindergarten through the fifth grade. Classes are held from 3 to 3:45 p.m. at Village Park and cost $111 for residents and $138.75 for non-residents. For more info., call Julie Strow at (561) 7535262.

Monday, April 7

• Registration is now available for the Spring Break Camp for children between the ages of eight and 13 at the Wellington Aquatics Complex. The camp will run Monday through Friday, April 7-11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campers will enjoy lessons in kayaking, snorkeling and swimming, as well as excursions to the Everglades, Okeeheelee Nature Center and Lion Country Safari. The cost is $200 per child. Space is limited. Basic swimming skills required. For more info., call (561) 753-2484, ext. 2836. Send calendar items to: Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotown crier.com.

Getaway Café In RPB: A Big Menu And Drive-Through Option

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Joel Robins, proprietor of the Getaway Café on Okeechobee Blvd. just east of Royal Palm Beach, said his establishment is something of a community center for subdivisions in the area.

“We have a lot of local people who come in regularly,” Rubin said. “We’ve actually become a clubhouse for the developments along Okeechobee Blvd., and we have groups meeting in here all the time. They come back because they know they get really good food, great comfort food at a bargain price.”

Drive-through customers can order anything on the café’s breakfast or lunch menu. “We not only have your typical bagel, muffin or danish,” Robins said, “but we can make up a whole group of different breakfast sandwiches, do egg dishes along with bacon or sausage or both, a variety of three-egg omelets, as well as Texas french toast, corned beef hash or pancakes.”

Customers who want cooked meals from the drive-through can call or fax ahead with their order, Robins said. “That way they won’t have to wait at all,” he said.

The drive-through window is located at the rear of the café, which is located in the Bimini Plaza on the south side of Okeechobee, just east of Sansbury’s Way. “Even a lot of our regular customers don’t know it exists,” Robins said. “But it’s ideal for commuters

Although many of the locals are regular customers, Robins wants people to know about the drive-through window of the café. “This is great for people on their way to work,” he said. “They can order food, a lot better food than at almost any drive-through window around. Then they pull over, and we run someone out as soon as their food is cooked.”

and for anyone else who prefers to take their meals with them.”

The lunch menu offers a variety of specialty salads along with homemade soup, cold sandwiches, hot panini sandwiches and specialties like Philly cheese steaks, burgers, reubens and grilled chicken breast sandwiches.

Robins said he serves a wide variety of coffee drinks as well. “We’ve got our own coffee blends, plus espresso, cappuccinos and lattes,” he said. “We want our customers really happy. We even let people get creative with their coffee drinks. They can add special flavors like banana caramel, chocolate raspberry, vanilla or hazelnut. And some people like to mix those.”

Robins spent more than 20 years as a business manager for filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. “I used to live in California but moved here to Florida five years ago to market his wines,” he

See CAFE, page 37

Wellington Chamber Of Commerce To Honor Equestrian Leaders

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce this week announced that the recipients of its annual “Man of the Year” awards are Mark Bellissimo, David Burton Sr., Gene Mische and Glenn Straub. The four are renowned for their joint efforts in making Wellington the top equestrian destination of the world.

The luncheon will be held Wednesday, March 26 at noon at the Players Club restaurant on South Shore Blvd. The luncheon will be hosted by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Moyle, Flanigan, Katz, Breton, White & Krasker, P.A. The firm was founded in 1963 and is a

full-service business law firm with offices in West Palm Beach and Wellington.

Areas of practice include banking and financial transactions, condominium and homeowners’ association, corporate, creditor rights and asset protection, environmental, equestrian/ equine law, estate planning, governmental, labor and employment law, probate, trust and guardianship administration, probate, guardianship and fiduciary litigation, public finance, real estate, taxation, and zoning and land use. Clients include national, regional and community banking concerns, high-networth clients and families, major real estate developers and

other statewide, national and international businesses. The firm has a strong commitment to the community, evidenced by the numerous leadership positions in local governments, professional organizations, charities and educational endeavors held by its attorneys. Speaking on behalf of the firm will be Daniel Doorakian.

Doorakian graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame, summa cum laude, in 1996 and earned his juris doctor degree from Vanderbilt University. He also received a master’s of business administration, with highest honors, from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and

was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies for academic excellence. Admitted to the Florida Bar and the District of Columbia Bar, Doorakian has a general business and real estate practice, and also practices in the areas of corporate, trust, probate and guardianship law and litigation, and class-action litigation. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida, the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida and the U.S. Northern District Court of Florida. Doorakian is also an agent for Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund Inc. and other national title companies.

Daniel Doorakian

PHOTO BY LEONARD WECHSLER/TOWN-CRIER

Food On The Go — Joel Robins of Getaway Café wants customers to know about his the drive-through service.

PBC Clerk & Comptroller Investment Professionals Awarded Certification

Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock and her team of investment professionals have each been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation from Fiduciary360 (fi360) — a recognized industry expert promoting best practices for investment fiduciaries, those entrusted to manage the money of others.

The Clerk & Comptroller’s Office is the first government office in the country to have its entire investment staff earn the AIF designation, which signifies knowledge of the responsibility to safeguard money and the commitment to making sound investment decisions.

“As clerk and comptroller, it is my duty to prudently invest taxpayer dollars to reduce the tax burden, while ensuring that the public’s money is protected,” Bock said. “This AIF certification further demonstrates my office’s commitment to our responsibility of being the stewards of the public’s hard-earned money.”

As the elected, independent

treasurer and chief financial officer of the county, Bock actively manages the taxpayers’ $2 billion cash and investment portfolio. In fiscal year 2007, investment income totaled $102 million, the equivalent of a property tax savings of about $193 per household throughout the county.

Bock announced the AIF designation during a March 11 presentation to the Board of County Commissioners. That presentation also addressed how the clerk’s office protected the public’s money prior to a liquidity crisis involving the State Board of Administration’s Local Government Investment Pool. Recognizing trouble before many others in Florida, Bock’s investment professionals began a systematic withdrawal of tax dollars from the fund, bringing the balance to zero before the state was forced to freeze the pool on Nov. 29. The pool has since reopened; however, other governments with money still in the fund have limited access to the tax dollars they have invested. “I have to give you and your

staff a tremendous amount of credit,” said County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, chair of the Investment Policy Committee. “When other cities, municipalities and counties lost millions of dollars, you protected the people of Palm Beach County.”

Bock touted her office’s history of due diligence and proactive money management strategies. “Now with the AIF designation, our investment professionals have a certification supporting their fiduciary excellence,” Bock said.

In addition to Bock, other AIF designees were Chief Financial Officer Carter Hammer, Treasury Director Jim Beard, Investment Manager Felicia Landerman, Debt Analyst Gray Cooper and Investment Clerk Gail Whited. The designation is the culmination of a monthlong course, followed by an examination.

Fi360, based near Pittsburgh, Penn., is a full-time training and research facility providing investment education and training programs. It awards the Accred-

ited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA) professional designations through the Center

Rider Beezie Madden Partners With Ariat

Ariat International, a global equestrian footwear and apparel company, recently announced its partnership with Olympic gold medallist and number-one U.S. ranked female equestrian, Beezie Madden.

Most recently, Madden earned a bye from competing in the United States Equestrian Team Show Jumping Selection Trials with Authentic, a 13-yearold Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Wexner, and black stallion Judgement. This is the first time a rider has received a bye with more than one horse as an option. Two fundamental accomplishments say it all about Madden’s international success. She was the first woman and the first American rider to ever reach the top three in the Show Jumping World Ranking List (achieved in 2004), and she was the first woman to pass the million-dollar mark in show jumping earnings.

In the past few years, Madden has been a critical member of the U.S. jumping squad. Riding in six out of the eight competitions, she anchored the team for the 2005 Samsung Super League, which the U.S. decisively won. Also in 2005 she won the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows on Judgement and won the $200,000 American Invitational in Tampa on Authentic. With her contribution of double clear rounds in the 2004 Athens Olympics, she helped the U.S. win the team gold medal. Madden and Authentic led the show jumpers at the 2006 World Equestrian Games until the last rail in the Final Four jumpoff, resulting in an individual silver medal, following up on a team silver medal for the squad.

ternational competition while also serving as an ambassador for equestrian sports.

said. “Beezie is an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competitions, high standards of sportsmanlike conduct, while also serving as an ambassador for the U.S. and equestrian sport. She is a tremendous addition to the Ariat Pro Team.” Ariat will be unveiling an English brand campaign featuring Madden. Likewise, Madden will act as a product development consultant for the company. Featuring a patented technology designed to deliver stability, durability and comfort, Ariat pioneered the application of advanced athletic shoe technology into English riding boots and authentic Western boots. Ariat products are sold in a network of retail outlets throughout the U.S. and abroad. Ariat has quickly become America’s number-one Western and English footwear brand, and the largest privately owned equestrian boot company in the country. Off

In addition, Madden is the first two-time winner of the prestigious USET Foundation Whitney Stone Cup, awarded for a distinguished record in in-

“I am looking forward to my new partnership,” Madden said of her new role as Ariat spokesperson. “As an admirer of Ariat’s innovative product, I’m excited to endorse their footwear and apparel. Ariat is a unique partner in the industry that is passionate and aligns itself with top business industry professionals. I am proud to be part of the team.” Madden also said that she would like to use her new position with Ariat to mentor up and coming riders. Her advice to young riders is to “always think about what is best for the horse. Work hard to get with the best people you can to learn from no matter what job you have to do to start with them.”

“We are thrilled to be working with such an accomplished rider as Beezie Madden,” Ariat CEO and founder Beth Cross

State Road 7, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse offers thousands of highquality, top-name men’s and women’s shoes. For more info., call (561) 422-2133. Pictured here are Store Manager Gracian Bucu, District Manager Jimmy Burbee, Director of

Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock

Looking For A Unique Gift Idea? Send Them A Candy Bouquet!

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Ruth Amore has started a onewoman business creating gifts that look like floral arrangements, but are really brimming with candy and other sweet treats.

Amore opened a Candy Bouquet International franchise last month to provide customers in the western communities with the arrangements, which are perfect for celebrating any holiday or special event, or even just to say, “I love you.”

Amore’s franchise territory includes Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage, Loxahatchee and points east to Military Trail. Her web site at www. 5810.candysurprise.com shows customers the wide range of arrangements she can create to celebrate a newborn, a birthday or a graduation, or practically any holiday — picture a cornucopia candy bouquet for Thanksgiving. Amore’s line also includes candy bouquets styled to please recipients who are aficionados of particular activities such as sports. For the equestrian, Amore can make a candy arrangement in a cowboy boot vase. For a Tiger Woods wannabe, Amore has a golf bag vase.

“I do them for baby showers and bridal showers,” Amore

said. “But you really don’t need an occasion.”

The various styles on offer can be tailored to suit the customer, Amore said, noting that she had just completed a “Box Full of Smiles” arrangement for a customer who preferred it to flow from a vase rather than spring from a box. The ingredients can be customized too, she said, and even sugar-free versions are available.

“I find out who the bouquet is for and work with the customer to pick colors,” Amore said. “You can have hard candy in there, some chocolates, maybe a cookie or lollipop. I have chocolate roses and tea bags and coffee. I just mailed a bouquet to California for a customer who wanted a couple of toys in there for her grandson.”

The Arkansas-based Candy Bouquet International, established in 1989, bills itself as “a delicious alternative to flowers” and claims more than 800 franchisees so far, some home-based operations and others retail locations. Amore said the company trained her for a week at its Little Rock headquarters before she opened her franchise.

Creating candy bouquets is a long way from Amore’s previous life as the owner of a plumbing and heating business near Philadelphia, but she said her

new business is a natural fit for her creative knack.

“I’ve always been crafty,” she said. “I’ve done needlepoint and I did gift baskets for family and friends and really enjoyed it.”

The mother of three adult daughters, Amore settled in West Palm Beach six years ago to be closer to her grandchildren. She said spent considerable time looking at franchise opportunities before settling on Candy Bouquet International, and aims to take it beyond a home-based operation before long.

“I fell in love with the arrangements. The product is beautiful,” Amore said. “What I like the most is I could do this as a home-based company. But I’m looking to start a store in the next four to six months in Wellington or Royal Palm Beach.”

Amore said each of her arrangements takes approximately one hour to complete, and prices range from $25 to $100. “The average range is between $40 and $50,” she said.

Customers can have their orders shipped anywhere in the country or hand-delivered in the local area for a small fee.

For more information on candy bouquets, call Amore at (561) 683-7048 or visit www.5810. candysurprise.com.

Palms West Chamber Installation Gala April 25

Save the date! The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host its 25th Annual Installation Gala “The Silver Celebration” on Friday, April 25 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, located at

3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington.

At the gala, John Spillane of J.P. Spillane, CPA will be installed as the chamber’s new president and current president Joanna Boynton of Boynton Fi-

nancial Group will be honored for her service.

The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information, call the chamber office at (561) 7906200 or visit www.palmswest. com.

Café

Coffee, Catering

continued from page 34 said. “I decided when I retired I wanted to stay here.” He and his wife and business partner Jackie live in the Ibis Golf & Country Club and took over the Getaway Café in January. “I love the western commu-

nities,” he said. “The people are great here. It’s fun to meet so many of them.” For a really good experience, the Getaway Café has an openair eating area and has free WiFi. “Some people like to come in and relax, play with their computer,” Robins said. “We encourage them. We want to be a good neighbor, and our guests really seem to like it that way.”

The Getaway Café also does

Amore of Candy Bouquet International shows off some of her sweet creations.

PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

For more information, call Kimberly Armstrong at (561) 753-6606. Shown here are chamber guests on the outside patio.

Campitelli Named Clubhouse Manager At Wanderers Club

President of Operations John Wash recently appointed veteran country club executive Jim Campitelli as clubhouse manager for the Wanderers Club at Wellington.

The Wanderers Club at Wellington — a private, membership-only club — recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation of the golf course by Jacobsen Hardy Design Group.

Campitelli joins the Wanderers Club from Frenchman’s Creek in Palm Beach Gardens, where he was general manager of the Beach Club.

Campitelli’s club management experience includes 14 years for the Ritz Carlton in Boston, where he rose to banquet director, as well as the food and beverage director of the Jupiter Island Club in Hobe Sound. Campitelli, who was

International Trade Seminar

Small businesses are invited to attend the international trade seminar “How to Do Business with the United Kingdom” in the Palm Beach County Governmental Center’s sixth-floor chambers on Friday, March 28 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“This is an excellent opportunity for small businesses in our area to expand their market into the UK,” said Kevin Johns, Palm Beach County Director of Economic Development.

Consul General Keith Allan of the British Consulate General in Miami will offer opening remarks, followed by Vice Consul Christiane Plante, who will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the UK economy, and the UK Trade Investment and Services Agency Manager Nancy Wallace will lead a discussion titled “Ins and Outs of Setting up a Business in the UK” and Moneycorp Inc. Regional Manager Laura McLoughlin will discuss the topic “Current Issues, Currency Conversion and Transaction Issues Relating to the British Economy.”

The Palm Beach County Governmental Center is located at 301 N. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. The event is freee and open to the public.

born in Poughkeepsie, New York and grew up in Burlington, Vermont, graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in psychology.

“I believe in being easy to do business with, where any request, need or wish should be accommodated and even anticipated,” Campitelli said. “It is my job to provide members and their guests with a lifestyle featuring unexpected levels of service and constant surprises. Members are not just looking for a meal, a golf game or a tennis match, but rather for memories, friendship and engagement.”

Campitelli added that his philosophy of management ensures that both employees and members are respected and the true spirit of hospitality. “A good club provides the arena for this to happen; a great club changes

To pre-register, call Maggie Smith or Claudia Lopez at the Palm Beach County Economic Development Office at (561) 355-3624.

CCCS: How To Stay Afloat

While many experts debate whether or not our country is in a recession, most of us can agree that these are challenging financial times. Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast wants to help consumers avoid their own personal recession.

“Costs are rising faster than most incomes,” said Mechel Glass, director of education for CCCS. “Consumers need to be proactive and take steps now to avoid financial disaster.”

Glass offered the following tips for consumers:

• Stay employed — If you have concerns that your employer may start downsizing, update your resume now so that you are prepared. Network with other professionals and organizations in your field, and stay current on the trends in your industry. Work on increasing your credit score, as many employers use this as a variable when selecting candidates.

• Save — Start or add to an

“The Wanderers Club is on its way to becoming a great club.”

emergency fund. Having six months of living expenses in a savings account will ease the financial burden if you have a sudden job loss or an unexpected expense.

• Pay down your debts — Start with unsecured debts, such as credit cards, medical debt and student loans. Pay off balances with the highest interest rates first. Once your unsecured debts are paid, tackle secured debts such as car loans, mortgages and equity lines of credit.

• Consider refinancing — If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage and you are worried that your payments could skyrocket, refinance to a fixedrate while rates are low. Start by contacting the bank that holds your current mortgage. If you can’t qualify for a fixed rate loan, work on paying down the mortgage and try to refinance at a later time.

• Control spending despite rising costs — Food and gas costs are on the rise, so save money on groceries by using coupons, looking for sales and shopping wisely. For more information about the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, call (800) 330CCCS (2227). To begin an online counseling session, visit www.cccsinc.org.

Jim Campitelli

the quality of everyone’s life through the proper chemistry of fun, laughter and camaraderie,” Campitelli said.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently held a member mixer at the Bamboo Club in the Mall at Wellington Green. The restaurant provided live music, a fabulous outdoor venue and cocktails for the members. This upscale casual Asian bistro features lush décor, artful lighting and tantalizing cuisine, culminating in an exotic, inviting dining experience. The Bamboo Club has a full bar and offers great wines.

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Good Earth Farm Programs

The Good Earth Farm in Lox-

ahatchee Groves recently announced its latest programs of interest for area children.

The farm will have pony rides and a petting zoo for smaller children on Sundays. My Little Pony classes are held for kids ages three to six on Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The farm also provides private riding lessons ranging from beginners to show jumping and dressage at a rate of $55 per hour. It offers settings for camps, birthday parties, weddings and school events.

The Good Earth Farm’s sum-

mer camp will run June 9 to July 3 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with an aftercare program from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The camp will focus on riding and animal care for children ages five to 11.

Animals include horses, miniature horses, ponies, goats, donkey, pigs, chickens and roosters, ducks, geese, sheep, parrots and llamas. Besides animal care, events include kayak lessons, swimming, candy making, cooking, karate, horticulture and movie making. In addition, teens ages 15 and older are needed as counselor assistants. The Good Earth Farm is a non-profit organization located at 2141 B Road. For more information, call Nancy Fried-Tobin at (561) 792-2666.

NEWS BRIEFS

Easter Event At Loxahatchee

Baptist Mission

Loxahatchee Baptist Mission Church will hold a Community Easter Day on Saturday, March 22 starting at 10 a.m. Activities will include crafts, giveaways, stories, puppets and an Easter egg hunt.

The church is located at 13969 Orange Blvd., at the corner of Orange Blvd. and 140th Avenue. For more information, call (561) 790-2968.

Walk For The Animals

The Peggy Adams Animal

Rescue League will hold the Seventh Annual Barry Crown Walk for the Animals on Saturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Micanopy Pavilion at Okeeheelee Park (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). Proceeds will support the low-cost spay and neuter program. Registration fees are $25 for adults and $10 for children ages six to 16. People can register to walk online at www.hspb.org, in the league’s lobby from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the petmobiles that travel throughout Palm Beach County, or on the day of the event. Call (561) 686-3663 for more information.

Pizza Kitchen Sales Benefit

JAFCO April 9

On Wednesday, April 9, patrons of the California Pizza Kitchen in the Mall at Wellington Green will have an opportunity to support Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO).

Twenty percent of purchases from 11 a.m. to closing will be donated to JAFCO, a nonprofit child-welfare agency currently serving 350 abused and neglected children in South Florida.

To contact the Wellington Chapter of JAFCO, call President Stacy Chertock at (561) 385-1710.

Asphalt Angels Annual Spring Fling April 12

The Asphalt Angels Car Club will hold its 14th Annual Spring Fling on Saturday, April 12, 6 p.m. at the American Polish Club in Lake Worth. The event will include a car show, dinner and dance. The party will have a ’50s theme, featuring the band Back in Time and Elvis impersonator Joel Harris. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. The American Polish Club is located at 4725 Lake Worth Road. For more information, call Debi Weld at (561) 795-6281 during evening hours.