MEET VALEDICTORIANS AND SALUTATORIANS FROM SEMINOLE RIDGE, WELLINGTON SEE STORIES, PAGE 3 THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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INSIDE
Volume 37, Number 20 May 13 - May 19, 2016
Serving Palms West Since 1980
BALLET COMPANY TRAVELS TO OZ
Sackett Invitational Softball Tourney Raises Money For Foster Kids
The Jim Sackett Invitational Softball Tournament to benefit the Friends of Foster Children was held Saturday, May 7 at Okeeheelee Park. More than 500 people came out to support the 22 teams playing. The event raised more than $15,000 to help children in need in Palm Beach County. Page 5
School Board, County Commission Approve Amended Surtax Plan
The Palm Beach County School Board and the Palm Beach County Commission approved amendments to the proposed one-cent sales-tax increase at a joint meeting Wednesday. Page 7
Royal Palm Beach Seniors Enjoy Mother’s Day Lunch With ‘Elvis’
The Royal Palm Beach Senior Activities Group held a Mother’s Day party on Thursday, May 5 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center featuring a potluck lunch. Scott Ringerson performed as Elvis and gave out scarves to a few lucky ladies. Page 15
OPINION Congratulations, Graduates: Our Advice To The Class Of 2016
Next week, the South Florida Fairgrounds will begin hosting commencement exercises for the four public high schools serving the western communities. With that in mind, it’s time for us here at the Town-Crier to pull out every possible cliché about graduation. After all, isn’t that what we do every year? OK, fair enough. But we would still be remiss if we didn’t offer some words of wisdom to the Class of 2016. Page 4
DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS................................. 3 - 9 OPINION.................................. 4 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 6 PEOPLE................................. 11 SCHOOLS...................... 12 - 13 COLUMNS.......................14, 21 BUSINESS..................... 22 - 23 SPORTS..........................29 - 31 CALENDAR............................ 34 CLASSIFIEDS................ 35 - 38 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
The Wellington Ballet Theatre presented The Wizard of Oz on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 at Wellington High School Theater with artistic direction by Rocky Duvall and ballet direction and choreography by Melissa Waters. Shown here are Munchkins Jordyn Miller, Coco Bovett, Lola Simpson-Gay, Alyssa Gould, Mia Cyril, Savannah Main, Arielle Montpeirous, Izzy Main and Brandi Lee. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Council Awards Contract For Hawthorne Park By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council awarded a contract Tuesday to JMW Construction for $84,000 to make initial improvements at Hawthorne Park. Assistant Village Manager Jim Barnes said that this is the first phase of improvements at the new park, located at the corner of Veronica Court and Hawthorne Place in the southwest quadrant of Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Blvd. Current plans call for a half basketball court. “This is an area for youth and adults to play basketball,” Barnes said. “Right now, the only two closest parks that residents would have to go to would be Primrose Park on one side, and the park in Chatsworth Village on the other, across Greenview Shores Blvd.” Future phases will include a playground and a gazebo similar
to the improvements at Goldenrod Park. “That location has the basketball at the rear of the property and a playground and gazebo at the front, and a pathway that encircles the entire playground area,” Barnes said. A walkway at Hawthorne Park will be sited once the playground equipment is in place, he said, explaining that the playground will include a fall area that the pathway must go around. Mayor Anne Gerwig noted that previous parks did not include pathways. “It really makes it easier for people in wheelchairs to have access to some of the park,” Gerwig said. “I’ve heard very good responses from the community about that. Even though it was kind of tough because they took out some trees, it makes it so children and parents in wheelchairs can participate in these parks.”
Barnes said that the pathways were instituted about 10 years ago when the village started a neighborhood park master plan program. Vice Mayor John McGovern said that the neighborhood parks offer a significant improvement in the quality of life for residents. “They give the youth in the neighborhood something to do,” McGovern said. “I think that this is going to be well-used, and I can’t wait to get the whole thing done here at this park.” Councilman Michael Napoleone agreed. “I love it that we do these neighborhood parks,” Napoleone said. “I think it’s a fantastic thing that we offer to the local sub-communities in each section to have a neighborhood park that they can all go to and congregate.” Barnes said that the goal is to have a park within a half-mile of See NEW PARK, page 16
Wellington Receives Clean Audit For Last Fiscal Year By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Wellington received a clean audit for fiscal year 2015, with no comments from its independent auditor. The results of the audit were presented at Tuesday’s meeting of the Wellington Village Council. The report was the first in several years with no auditor comments. “We believe that the village’s financial statements are materially stated, so we have a clean opinion this year for the village,” said Racquel McIntosh with Grau & Associates. McIntosh said the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) had implemented a new standard in the past year for including governmental entities’ pension liabilities that the village had implemented.
The village’s net position as of Sept. 30 was approximately $369 million, of which $173 million was in business-type activities and $196 million in governmental activities. The only change in the statement was the addition of the new GASB standard. “Under your liabilities, you will see there is a net pension liability of $11.4 million for the village as a whole, and that got split $9.5 million for the governmental activities and approximately $2 million in the business-type activities,” McIntosh said. The village had a balance of about $65 million in assets, of which $34 million is in the general fund, with a total fund balance of about $51.7 million. The general fund had a $28 million balance, with an unassigned fund balance of $16.9 million,
which the council can use at its discretion. “That’s a healthy number,” McIntosh said, adding that the rest of the fund balance is either restricted or committed for programs and projects approved by the council. Revenue for governmental funds was $48 million, with $37 million of that in the general fund, and expenditures of $54.9 million, which shows a shortfall of $11.4 million, but that was due to refinancing of debt and some transfers that actually brought the shortfall down to $4.6 million, she said. “The village in fiscal year 2015 spent $4.6 million more than it brought in,” she said. “Most of that was through your capital projects, so your capital projects had a shortfall of almost $6.2 million, so that’s where that shortfall came See AUDIT, page 4
RPB Residents Ask For Traffic Calming On Sandpiper Ave. By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Recent accidents along Sandpiper Avenue brought several residents of cut-through streets to last week’s Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting to complain about motorists who drive at breakneck speeds through residential neighborhoods. At the Thursday, May 5 meeting, Michael Gershberg said he represented residents along Sandpiper Avenue who are asking for speed bumps on the street in the aftermath of recent accidents. “I have been a victim in the past two weeks of an accident on my own road in front of my house,” Gershberg said. A driver careened through his yard, destroying his cars and causing about $23,000 in damage. The estimated speed was 50 mph. He added that a neighbor also had a car slam into his house. “I’ve been on discussion boards, on Facebook, as well as talking to other people in the community,
and saying Sandpiper Avenue is known as ‘Sandpiper Speedway,’” he said. Gershberg explained that Sandpiper Avenue is used as a shortcut for many local residents, including students, to get to Royal Palm Beach High School and other locations on Okeechobee Blvd. “Sandpiper is a main street,” he said. “There are other neighborhoods, such as La Mancha, that have put in roundabouts. Sandpiper is the main road through the neighborhood. Unfortunately, it’s not just being used by residents.” Village Manager Ray Liggins said that there have been discussions in the past to include traffic calming on Sandpiper and other cut-through roads, but it has been several years since the issue was last studied. “There are all kinds of techniques that can be used for traffic calming,” Liggins said. “I know you said speed bumps; that’s typically one that is not used. There are See SPEEDING, page 16
CULTURAL DIVERSITY DAY IN ROYAL PALM
The Village of Royal Palm Beach and Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) presented Cultural Diversity Day on Saturday, May 7 at Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach. It was a day of fun, food, dancing and entertainment, while learning about and celebrating different cultures. Shown here are Janet Singh, Anika Sharsa, Leena Ganesh, Lakshmi Nauth and Dora Nauth. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
County Engineer Visits ALA To Review Development Plans By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report The Acreage Landowners’ Association hosted a presentation by Palm Beach County Engineer George Webb on Tuesday, May 10. Webb’s discussion focused on several large communities about to be built in areas bordering The Acreage and the effects that those developments will have on residents and the existing road system. The projects include Minto West/Westlake on the former Callery-Judge Grove property, GL Homes’ Indian Trail Groves project, the adjacent Iota Carol project, and Avenir, the development on the Vavrus Ranch land recently approved by Palm Beach Gardens. Westlake, a planned 3,800-acre development along Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, went through negotiations regarding its approvals
in 2014. Those negotiations, however, could be set aside if Westlake is allowed to incorporate. “These conditions are very lengthy and very detailed. They will not necessarily carry forward if they incorporate,” Webb said. “If they incorporate, the developer can go to the new elected officials and say, ‘You know, I got this great plan, or great idea. First off, I want to trash everything I had and I want to start over with you guys.’” Webb used the term “if” because the incorporation process in Tallahassee is long, he explained. “Things change, so we’ll see,” he said. “Yes, they have initiated the incorporation process.” The current proposal for Westlake includes 3,446 single-family residential units, 600 multifamily townhomes, 300 detached single See WEBB, page 16
Plaster Time In Royal Palm Beach Offers Fun For All
By Jason Stromberg Town-Crier Staff Report It’s the reactions of the boys who walk into the kid-friendly craft studio Plaster Time for the first time that make owner Dena Comfort chuckle. She explained that those boys give Comfort that look of, “We’re too cool for this.” “And then they give it a shot, give it their best effort, and relish it because of how much fun they had and how much they love what their final project looks like,” Comfort said. The staff at Plaster Time, which is entering its fourth year in business, features Comfort’s niece, Emily Fearon, as a manager. Comfort co-owns the business with her husband, William.
“We just recently finished up one of our four canvas painting classes,” Comfort said. “It featured the ladybug and flower for Mother’s Day. We worked on it with 200 students from a local elementary school.” It was a big project, she said. “With the amount of students that we had, seeing them in one room, doing their best to get it done, is really rewarding,” Comfort said. “They just eat this stuff up. They like it because the project comes out better than they think.” Jose Fernando, a student at JFK Medical Center Charter School in Lake Worth, can make a strong case that he is Comfort’s best customer. “This is my favorite place in the world because I know people
here,” Fernando said. “They let me feel like I’m part of the team. Whenever you need any paint, they give it to you. Like new things I haven’t painted yet. I just find it, get it, and go to work on it.” What Fernando is looking forward to painting next is an eagle statue. “That’s the next one I want to get going on. I want to paint that brown and yellow,” Fernando said. “I painted an alligator, a dolphin and a starfish. I like painting the alligator because there’s a lot more there to paint, and I like to paint a lot. That takes a long time to finish, and I enjoy it.” On the day before Mother’s Day last weekend, Fernando got See PLASTER TIME, page 7
Olivia Still puts the finishing touches on her castle jewelry box.
PHOTO BY JASON STROMBERG/TOWN-CRIER
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NEWS
Shane Artiles, Madeline Harding To Lead SRHS Class Of 2016
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Seminole Ridge High School’s graduation ceremony will lead off local commencement exercises. The Class of 2016 will bid farewell to SRHS on Thursday, May 19 at 8 a.m. at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Leading the class and offering words of wisdom will be valedictorian Shane Artiles and salutatorian Madeline Harding. “It’s a good feeling to have put all this work into my academics and my school and to have this reward,” Artiles said. As he signed up for his final dual-enrollment class, Artiles had to get a copy of his transcript. On the document, he saw that he was ranked first out of the class of more than 600 students. He confirmed the information with his guidance counselor and told his parents, who, along with his brothers, were proud and excited for him. “I’m the first one in my family to get this accomplishment, so they were very proud of me,” Artiles said. With a 5.22 HPA and 3.92 GPA, Artiles is excited about graduation
and presenting his speech. “I think it’s going to go well. It’s going to be exciting, and a good experience for me, too,” he said. One of his biggest accomplishments is running the math honor society (Mu Alpha Theta) tutoring club, with approximately 50 students helping three classrooms full of students. Attending senior prom with his friends, seeing everyone dressed up and observing how much his classmates have grown since they were freshman, Artiles said, was one of his fondest high school memories. After graduation, he will be double-majoring at the University of Florida in chemistry and calculus, then attending the UF College of Pharmacy to become a pharmaceutical engineer. “I really love math, and last year I took chemistry, and I figured out that this is what I wanted to do,” he said. “I want to be a chemist. My love for the field drove me to want to become that.” In his free time, Artiles enjoys watching sports and spending quality time with his family, as well as working at Subway, where
he has worked for more than a year. In 10 years, he hopes to have a doctoral degree and be working in a residency program. For those looking to be in the top of their class, Artiles suggests taking as many AP and AICE classes, as well as dual-enrollment classes, as possible. “What I think got me to being ranked first was taking a lot of dual-enrollment classes,” he said. “I’ve taken 12 dual-enrollment classes over the last three years. You have to be able to portion your time.” Artiles was taking five dualenrollment and AP classes, as well as playing on the varsity wrestling team and the football team, his sophomore year. He chose higherlevel classes over sports, leaving the teams behind to take more advanced classes and join other clubs and organizations throughout his tenure in high school. “It takes a lot of dedication to your scholastic endeavors,” he said. Harding secured the salutatorian spot in the class rankings with a 5.06 HPA and a 3.98 GPA. “It’s amazing. I feel so ac-
complished. I worked so hard for this for four years, and it’s really fulfilling to finally get rewarded for it,” she said. Harding learned earlier this year that she was second in the class when Principal James Campbell called her into his office, called her mother and shared the information. “She was so excited, and I was so excited. It was so amazing to find out,” Harding said. Graduation can’t come soon enough for Harding, who is excited to graduate and present her speech at the ceremony. Harding is on the flag football, volleyball and soccer teams, already winning two state championship titles with flag football. She was captain of the 2016 Dance Marathon, helping to raise more than $30,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. “Last year we raised $18,000,” she said. “It was amazing to see how much our hard work and fundraising did, and how that’s going to go to kids who need it the most.” Harding will be attending Florida State University and will major in actuarial science, with the longterm goal of becoming an actuary.
Valedictorian Shane Artiles “I’m very good at math. I’m in one of the highest math classes at my school,” she said. Originally looking into accounting, Harding’s math teacher suggested actuarial science, and she discovered it would be a good fit. Sports and family are two of Harding’s passions. She’s the second-oldest of five children. “They’re one of the main reasons why I’ve done so well in school,” she said.
Salutatorian Madeline Harding In 10 years, Harding looks forward to having a family of her own and working in the actuarial science field. For other students looking to be in the top of their class, Harding suggested working as hard as possible and never giving up. “Never give up; keep pushing yourself, even until the end of senior year. It’ll definitely be rewarded, one day or another,” she said.
WHS Valedictorian, Salutatorian Ready For May 25 Graduation
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington High School seniors will cross the South Florida Fairgrounds stage at their graduation ceremony set for Wednesday, May 25 at 4 p.m. led by valedictorian Davy Yue and salutatorian Kelly Cuthbertson. “Having worked so hard for the last four years to reach this point, that is the highest honor at my school,” Yue said. “I feel sort of relieved that it’s almost the end of these last four years — this section of my education at high school — and it gives me motivation to look ahead to college at Vanderbilt University and do even better.” Yue, 17, will be majoring in computer science, because of his interest in the ability to simplify tasks through computer programming. He found out that he was first in the class when Principal Mario Crocetti came into Yue’s English class and announced that he would be the valedictorian. “I was kind of expecting it, because the week before or so, I submitted my final grades for AP Literature,” he said.
The final Advanced Placement class, he said, was something that might have pushed him from second in the class to first. His grades, just before graduation, were a GPA of 3.9 and an HPA of 5.3. “My parents were ecstatic,” he said. Yue’s graduation speech was written weeks ago, with both popular culture references and special memories and topics that were discussed at school, along with inspirational future thoughts for the class. “It’s a deviation from the common, cliché-filled speech and is humorous and really relatable,” he said. “I’m really excited to give that speech.” During his sophomore year, Yue discovered a passion for origami, where he transforms a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional object such as a swan, box or flower. He founded, and was president of, the school’s origami club, where he taught students about the craft and was able to foster his own interest. “It was, and still is, a very thrilling experience that I think is one of
the biggest accomplishments that I’ve done,” he said. One of Yue’s fondest memories was Wellington High School’s chalk art festival, where he filled a 4-foot by 6-foot space with chalk artwork. He drew a sea turtle, finishing within the four-hour time frame. He was one of the three winners for the people’s choice award and the artists’ choice award. “It was very thrilling and a very interesting experience,” Yue said. For other students who would like to be in the top of their class, Yue suggests they never give up. “Be able to take a challenge, and being able to see that not just as an obstacle, but for an opportunity for you to develop what you know, and take any failures and any hardships and use that as knowledge to support you in going even further than you have before,” he said. In the future, Yue aspires to be a software engineer working at Google. A GPA of 3.9 and an HPA of 5.2 secured Cuthbertson the salutatorian title. “It’s exciting, but a little nerve-
wracking, because I have to write a speech and speak at graduation,” she said. Cuthbertson, 17, found out at the end of February when she went to her guidance counselor for a copy of her transcript for college applications. “I was really excited. I’ve worked hard the past four years, and I think it’s a cool accomplishment,” she said. Her parents were proud, but tend to focus more on personal betterment than grades and awards. With graduation less than two weeks away, Cuthbertson is excited for the future. “I’m excited to be with all of my friends and family at graduation and to move on to college,” she said. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will have a new biology student in Cuthbertson, who enjoys science and might wind up on a pre-med track. Cuthbertson served as band captain of the Mighty Wolverine Sound, was a cross-country runner and part of the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center’s fellowship program at Florida Atlantic
Valedictorian Davy Yue University. She has participated in many programs and had numerous memorable experiences throughout high school. One of those was “Save the Pulp,” an initiative to enrich the lives of farm animals and help the environment. “Playing in band these past four years with all my friends is probably one of my fondest memories,” she said.
Salutatorian Kelly Cuthbertson Cuthbertson suggested that other students who aspire to be at the top of their class work hard, but also have fun and enjoy their four years of high school. “At the end of the day, it’s not that important,” she said. “What’s important is having fun with your friends and enjoying the freedoms and things that come with being a high school student.”
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OUR OPINION
Congratulations, Graduates: Our Advice To The Class Of 2016
Next week, the South Florida Fairgrounds will begin hosting commencement exercises for the four public high schools serving the western communities. Seminole Ridge High School’s graduation ceremony will lead off the series. It will take place Thursday, May 19 at 8 a.m., followed by Royal Palm Beach High School’s ceremony on Monday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. Wellington High School’s ceremony is set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, while Palm Beach Central High School concludes the quartet at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 26. With these notable experiences etched in thousands of area residents’ planners and calendars, it’s time for us here at the Town-Crier to pull out every possible cliché about graduation. After all, isn’t that what we do every year? OK, fair enough. But we would still be remiss if we didn’t offer some words of wisdom to the Class of 2016. Here are some thoughts we would like to pass along to the soon-to-be graduated, whether they are entering the college world, the military, the job market, or (like Malia Obama) are taking a “gap year” to figure out the whole “post-high school” thing: Congratulations. You’ve graduated. Things are about to get more difficult for you. This is because now you’re saddled with these things called “adult expectations,” where you are supposed to make “mature decisions.” That’s what growing up and the high school experience are all about. And for those who were at the top of the class, or an all-star athlete, prepare to face the fact these titles, while still impressive, lose their luster in the post-graduation world. What’s important now is the work you put into your life, not what you accomplished over the past four years. Never be satisfied with your achievements; prepare to become an over-achiever.
It’s true, you are entering a time of transformation. And while change can be scary, and often difficult, you’re still at that age in life where you can make and change career-type decisions. Look back at that previous paragraph, and add “embrace independence” to the list of things you’re saddled with. Be ready to take on a major challenge: becoming the person you want to be in life. You’ve removed the shackles of the structured world of conformity. The world is your oyster! Now you need to figure out if you like oysters. Speaking of change, while you should be ready for it to take place, be realistic and have a set number of goals that you would like to accomplish. Often, the most rewarding paths are those with a prize at the end, even if (in the words of Robert Frost) that road splits or (in the words of Randy Pausch) becomes a brick wall. Know what you want and have some idea of how you will get there. Never stop moving forward. We also suggest, humbly, that if you receive gifts from family or friends with sound advice on how to survive life in college, you actually read and embrace the literature. It was given to you for a reason, and too often, college-bound students have no clue how to do seemingly ordinary tasks like laundry, take care of themselves when under the weather, cope with having a roommate, take good lecture notes in auditoriums with hundreds of freshmen, or talk one-on-one with a professor (because having mom or dad e-mail your college instructor with a gripe won’t work like it does in high school). Be proud. Be excited. Be relieved. But most of all, be smart, and help make the world a better place for everyone.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A Meaningful Volunteer Opportunity
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I should get out of this rut and volunteer somewhere.” Today is the day to get that started. Our organization is seeking new members. We are “Flags for the Cure.” What we are is a philanthropic organization raising money for cancer research. Our event is a huge flag football tournament that includes more than 600 participants of all ages… but wait! There’s more! Don’t move on to the next letter just yet. I promise you — absolutely promise you — you don’t need to know one single thing about football or even like football to have a great time while helping fight cancer! Our ninth annual event concluded in early January. The support our participants and sponsors gave the American Cancer Society was in the amount of $26,000. In our nine years, we have donated a total of $196,000 to cancer-fighting charities. You can be part of the excitement as we surpass the $200,000 level! We are very much a grassroots organization that values working together, making a difference in our local community and having a lot of fun. Most of our current board members have been putting on a great event for nine years running. Since we are dedicated to keeping our momentum going strong, we are seeking new board members to complement our talents. A new member would benefit
from our prior experience. However, every member of our board knows that there would be tremendous benefit realized by adding new members with new ideas and new energy. We are sincerely hoping you are interested in learning more about us. You have nothing to lose, right? Here’s a broad outline of our schedule... Monthly meetings are in the evenings from April through November. There are two or three meetings in December, and, of course, more meetings as things heat up just before the event. We hold the event at Acreage Community Park. The five-day event is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 4 through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. Hours of the event generally run from 5 to 11 p.m. on weekdays, all day Saturday, and a partial day Sunday. Any interested volunteers are encouraged to contact us. We welcome your questions if this sounds like this is just what you have been looking for. All you need to make a difference is a helping heart, a bit of time and the desire to make this event memorable to all who attend. Please don’t let this limited list prevent you from contacting us, but here are a few positions we hope to add or fill: web design, social media outreach, accounting, sponsorship development, raffles and ceremony planning. We can be found on the web at www.flagsforthecure.com. Our e-mail address is flagsforthecure@ gmail.com. We hope to hear from you! Mike Chase Flags for the Cure The Acreage
Thoughts On The Proposed Sales Tax Hike
Look, if the Palm Beach County School Board and the Palm Beach County Commission are so desperate for funds for their respective entities, please tell me why, and answer my questions on a lot of different topics (and these don’t represent all of my questions, but just offer an example of why I keep asking, “Why?”): 1. Why does the school board, which wants to add a 0.5 cent sales tax, consider it so important in their “needs” that they want to share with museums and business incentives? If they really need that 0.5 cent sales tax (one they already collected from us for the same stated purpose for more than 5 years previously), they wouldn’t want to share a half penny with anyone. 2. Why is Palm Beach County enacting its own 0.5 cent sales tax for supposed needs, while they keep granting unnecessary tax breaks to companies that really don’t bring economic opportunities and keep allowing development that stresses existing infrastructure; reducing impact fees for libraries, schools, parks, roads and other governmental services to the detriment of existing taxpayers and thereby transfers the cost of development to taxpayers rather than developers? Then the county itself, via County Administrator Verdenia Baker, wanted to share its 0.5 cents with museums and business incentives, and just recently backed-away from it. What the heck?
3. Why is the school board and the county commission desirous of passing an entirely regressive form of taxation on the masses in Palm Beach County, when we (the poorer public) already pay the largest taxes of anywhere in the state in real property taxes, in excise taxes, franchise fees and in numerous other taxes (called fees). A regressive form of taxation means that the poor and the middle class pay more, while the rich pay the least. The poor and the middle class, whether low, moderate or high, are steadily being wiped out. If we keep on at this pace, only the elite will be able to afford to live here in the epitome of what represents our entire country. Our real estate taxes are high, our sales taxes are high, our “fees” are high, our insurance costs are huge, our electricity bills are high, our water/sewer costs are high, our garbage costs are high — and all of these things are set to increase. Corruption is alive and well in Palm Beach County. Some are benefiting, but it isn’t the existing residents of our county, who are dependent upon elected officials and governmental employees who keep on pretending we don’t exist via their decisions on behalf of “us.” Please, just stop it! Remember who you work for, who you represent, and it isn’t those who predominately fund your campaigns or sell you on their “special needs” that don’t serve the public! Why does this county want to promote developer interests over and over again, to the detriment
of the residents of Palm Beach County? Patricia D. Curry The Acreage
Politics: The Sport Of Kings
There was a time when it was a common belief that the “Sport of Kings” had something to do with horses, but in our modern times, it could easily apply to politics. Millionaires have been replaced by billionaires, and there is some evidence that a few are poised to be the first trillionaires. Back in my early days in Chicago, while we had a strong county commission, the real power resided in the mayor’s office, select aldermen and very powerful financial special interests. While working my way through six years of college, I was an unpaid associate with a state senator, and I was, as they say, “privy” to many closed door meetings and learned that corruption begins with special interests, and by watching the vote and who benefited, one need not be in attendance at all to understand the outcome. I’ve known a few millionaires
in my time, and the ones I most admired were the ones who did not give into the intoxicating rapture of wealth but realized that one keeps his balance as long as one remembers that “all of us are smarter than one of us,” and that arrogance and the belief of one’s own omnipotence should be resisted, for it drives away allies and interferes with purpose. Using Chicago standards, I have found Florida cunning in politics to be rather clumsy, but with the influence of money, oddly effective. The effects of money on the national scene is rather obvious, with many bills languishing in committee and never brought to the floor for a vote on merit. Our Congress can find money for war but not our crumbling infrastructure. Special interests and defense contractors are the only ones who have the ear of Congress. It is my fervent hope that whoever receives the honor of becoming commander-in-chief of this great nation realizes that the constant threat of war and instilling fear into the masses, dividing our nation, is unsustainable and will lead to unintended consequences. Richard Nielsen Royal Palm Beach
The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words suggested). Submit letters, with contact name, address and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 33, Wellington, FL 33414; or you can e-mail letters@goTownCrier.com.
OPINION
Rev. Herbert Kern: This 99-Year-Old Preacher Is Still Going Strong! Let’s all tip our fedoras to the Rev. Herbert Kern. This remarkable preacher is still going strong in Amityville, N.Y. — and he is 99 years old! As assistant pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, a position he has handled since 1993, he
Footloose and... By Jules W. Rabin
preaches several times a year, makes innumerable hospital and home visits, and writes letters of condolence and congratulations to members of the congregation. By the way, Rev. Kern “retired” in 1983 after 32 years with the Calvary Lutheran Church, which
he started in a storefront. Among his multiple chores these days is making phone calls to church members every birthday and every anniversary, plus spending 20 minutes daily exercising and 90 minutes reading the Bible, two books each of
the Old Testament and the New Testament. Then he spends odd time writing down things he is thankful for that day. Rev. Kern stopped driving some three years ago. Now friends and family take care of his mobility. Also Meals on Wheels
provides his food. The long distance walks he used to take special pride in are now gone. Jessica Bernius, deputy mayor of Amityville and a church member, summed it up succinctly — Rev. Kern is what you call “a real minister.”
McIntosh said. “Going forward, I think strategically the decision would need to be made as to how to plan on making up those monies, or dissolving the fund. There are decisions that would need to get made from a policy standpoint as to how you attack the decrease each year.” Despite that long-term issue, McIntosh stressed that Wellington’s finances are in a strong position. “You are very healthy, with very healthy fund balances, very healthy cash and investment,” she said. “In the event that everybody didn’t pay their property tax next year, you could still fund for a full year or more.” Schofield agreed that the fund balance is good, but much of it is restricted.
“We also have a disaster recovery fund that’s $3 million and that’s in excess to reserves,” Schofield said. “We have done financial projections, and Ms. McIntosh is absolutely correct. At spending patterns and the service delivery model today, we will be out of reserves by 2021. We do know that, and we will give you an amended service delivery model.” He noted that the council had a similar discussion in 2008 that the reserve fund would be out of money by 2016 if it didn’t change its service delivery model. “The council then, as I expect this council will, looked at that service delivery model,” Schofield said. “We will make the necessary adjustments to stay within our financial limits.”
NEWS Audit
A Good Financial Report
continued from page 1 from, and those projects were funded with money you already had on hand.” Mayor Anne Gerwig explained that a shortfall is not a debt. Enterprise activities include the water and wastewater utilities system, solid waste and the Lake Wellington Professional Centre. “In total, all three, you have a total net position of $172.8 million, of which your utility system has $160 million,” she said. “You have approximately $26 million that has been restricted for various
projects and annual replacement, and you have $20.5 million that’s unrestricted, so again the council can spend those funds as it deems fit.” Total revenue brought in by utility operations was about $24 million, which was about $4 million more than it spent. “That $4 million got added to your fund balance for the year,” McIntosh said. The report had no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. “During our procedures, we believe that the internal controls are operating as intended and are effective,” she said. There were no problematic findings for the current year, and all the prior findings have been resolved, she said. McIntosh thanked Village Manager Paul Schofield, Chief Finan-
cial Officer Tanya Quickel and the village’s staff for making the audit process smooth. “We had no issues with getting the information we needed to perform the audit,” she said. “It got held up because of the [Florida Retirement System] information, and that’s why we’re here this late in the year… The FRS information was really onerous, and it took a lot of time to put together.” Councilman Michael Napoleone thanked McIntosh for meeting with each council member individually to explain the audit. Councilman Michael Drahos asked for an explanation of the $4.6 million shortfall. “The main reason for that was the increase in capital projects?” he asked. Quickel said that those capital
projects include the Wellington Community Center and the Wellington Tennis Center projects. “We also have a number of road and highway projects this year,” she said. “In the year coming, you will see 120th Avenue coming up as well.” Drahos asked whether there were potential issues coming up that the council should pay attention to, and McIntosh reiterated a concern that Quickel had pointed out at the agenda review meeting the previous day. “The way the building fund and the Acme Improvement District fund are structured, right now, whenever you budget, you’re budgeting to spend a part of your reserves, and if you continue to do that, eventually you will run out of money in those funds,”
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NEWS
SACKETT INVITATIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNEY RAISES MONEY FOR FOSTER KIDS The Jim Sackett Invitational Softball Tournament to benefit the Friends of Foster Children was held Saturday, May 7 at Okeeheelee Park. More than 500 people came out to support the 22 teams playing. The event raised more than $15,000 to help children in need in Palm Beach County. For more info., visit www.friendsoffosterchildren.com. PHOTOS BY JASON STROMBERG/TOWN-CRIER
Jim Sackett with tourney director Jeff Schrier and Jim Hanseder.
Jim and Paula Sackett with Coleen LaCosta.
Palm Beach Clippers team members Evelio Bacallao Jr., Gerald Holmes and Mike Contino.
Wendy Tippett, Laurie Briggs, Pat Beasley and Scotti Klett.
Jessica Wall with her mother Nancy Wall.
Leslie Serena with her daughter Malisia Stone.
Members of the Steve Levin Ameriprise Financial team.
Members of the Silver Stars softball team.
CJR FINE ARTS & FRAME IN RPB HOSTS WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY EVENT
The Wellington Art Society and CJR Fine Arts & Frame presented “Above and Beyond,” an evening of art and conversation, on Thursday, May 5 at CJR Fine Arts & Frame in Royal Palm Beach. Wellington Art Society members displayed their original artwork for sale. There was a raffle to benefit the group’s scholarship fund, and authors Sandy Axelrod and Nancy Brown were on hand to sign their books. Wine and light bites were served. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
David Carroll (left) and Susan Mosely (right) won Simply China photo books from author Nancy Brown.
President Sandy Axelrod with event committee members Susan Mosely, Maria Lentine, Shirley Browne and Leslie Pfeiffer.
CJR Fine Arts & Frame owner Jack Rosen with Sam Park print winner Marion Roberts.
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
Bubbles & Bouquets May 15
Bubbles & Bouquets, a benefit for Petals With Purpose, will be held Sunday, May 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club. At the event, five couples will compete for the best floral arrangement. Admission is $75 a person and includes brunch, a dessert bar, bottomless mimosas, a wine garden and a silent auction. Petals with Purpose recycles flowers from weddings and other special events, bringing them to children, the elderly and those with disabilities. For more info., visit www.petalswithpurpose.org.
Wellington Honors Older Americans
Wellington is celebrating Older Americans Month in May. This year’s theme is “Blaze a Trail,” acknowledging the contributions of older adults and celebrating how older adults take charge of their health, get engaged in their communities and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Older adults are a growing and increasingly vital part of Wellington. While the village provides many services and programs to older adults year-round, it will use Older Americans Month to focus on how older adults are leading and inspiring others, how the village can support and learn from them, and how others can follow their examples. If you are a trailblazer or know of someone in the community who is making an impact on the lives of the older adult population, contact Wellington’s Senior Services Division at (561) 753-2476.
Film Shot Locally To Premiere
Rinky Dink Production will premiere its first feature film, B.F.F., on Friday, May 13 at 9:30 p.m. at the Movies of Lake Worth (7380 Lake Worth Road). Written and directed by David A. Haines, the film depicts the story of two male friends whose relationship is challenged when one begins to develop romantic feelings for the other. This film addresses issues of friendship, sexuality and how we define our-
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NEWS BRIEFS selves. Haines has been a resident of Palm Beach County for more than 30 years. With the rise in suicide among LGBT teens, Haines set out to produce B.F.F. with the goal of opening the lines of communication between these teens and their family/friends. The cast includes students from Palm Beach County’s G-Star School of the Arts, as well as Wynwood’s Miami Acting Studio. The film was locally shot in Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and Lake Worth. Its trailer can be viewed at www.vimeo.com/ rinkydinkproduction/bff-trailer.
Hadassah Event At Winey Wench
Shulamit Hadassah will hold a special event Wednesday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Winey Wench in the Mall at Wellington Green. The art theme will be “Tree of Life.” Reservations must be made in advance. Send a $30 check to Ilene Kaye at 12261 Old Country Road, Wellington, FL 33414. For more info., call Helene at (561) 6123172 or e-mail Susan at smow@ comcast.net.
Public Works Department Open House
To give residents an opportunity to get to know Wellington’s Public Works Department and in celebration of National Public Works Week, Wellington will host an open house for residents Thursday, May 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Public Works Building, located at 14001 Pierson Road. Ever wonder what it takes to keep local roads in good repair and free of debris? Want to know more about how the village’s canals are cleared and maintained? Want to meet the staff responsible for maintaining the village’s parks? The event will demonstrate the essential services that the Public Works Department provides to the community. The open house will include equipment displays and demonstrations throughout the facility, garage and parking lot, as well as snacks, giveaways and interactive displays. National Public Works Week is a celebration of the tens of thousands of men and women who provide and maintain the infra-
structure and services collectively known as public works. Wellington’s Public Works Department is accredited by the American Public Works Association. The APWA Accreditation Program verifies and recognizes public works agencies for compliance with recommended practices nationally accepted by experts in the field of public works. For more info., call (561) 791-4000 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.
Meet To Alter Schedule At Aquatic Complex
The Wellington Wahoos will host a long course swim meet at the Wellington Aquatic Complex on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14. The pool will be closed to the public during the meet, but will open when the competition is not in progress. The pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, but closed from 3 to 6 p.m. for the meet. It will be closed all day on Saturday. The complex is located at 12072 W. Forest Hill Blvd. and features an Olympic-sized swimming
pool, diving boards, water slides, an aquatic spray ground, a baby pool, a concession stand and locker rooms. The facility is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 25. Daily admission is free for children ages 2 and under, $3 for children ages 3 to 17, $5 for adults ages 18 to 54, and $2 for seniors ages 55 and older. Wellington also offers several discounted passes. For more info., call (561) 791-4770
Wheelchair Basketball Clinic June 11
Celebrate Olympic Day by joining an exciting paralympic sport experience. Meet with local disabled athletes and learn the skills and techniques of this fast-paced adaptive sport. All skill levels are welcome. Wheelchairs will be provided. The free event takes place Saturday, June 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the CMAA Therapeutic Recreation Complex (2728 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth). For more info., call Daniella Robbins at (561) 966-7083.
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NEWS
Dr. Carmine Priore Appointed To County’s Zoning Commission
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report District 6 County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay recently appointed former Wellington Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore to the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Priore’s long record of public service and his leadership,” McKinlay said. “His historical perspective on the western communities will be an asset to the zoning commission.” Priore submitted an application and paperwork upon discovering that McKinlay had an appointment to the commission available.
Each county commissioner appoints a zoning commissioner to the board, along with two commission-at-large appointments. “Last week she appointed me, and I attended my first meeting this past Thursday,” Priore said, noting that the meetings take place on the first Thursday of each month. Serving the county, and Wellington, isn’t new for Priore, who has served as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, was appointed to the Palm Beach County Land Development Regulatory Commission, and served as Wellington’s vice mayor from
1996 to 1998, before serving as mayor from 1998 to 2000. Except for a one-year hiatus, Priore served continuously on the Wellington Village Council from the community’s incorporation until his retirement due to term limits in 2012. He is excited about his new assignment. “It was very much an opportunity to revisit an area that has always interested me,” he said. “I felt that there was a lot going on in the community, in the county, still, and particularly out here in District 6. I like to be a part of what is happening and help in some small way.” The Palm Beach County Zon-
ing Commission covers a large area, providing a sense of what is going on throughout the county, Priore said. “It’s a very interesting group,” he said. “The issues that come up are in areas that are not part of incorporation and are part of the county in general as a whole.” There are many developments in these areas that will require zoning approvals, Priore said, emphasizing that the role of the zoning commission is advisory in nature. The Palm Beach County Zoning Division presents information to the zoning commission, which then offers advice to the Palm Beach County Commission after
reviewing the issues at hand. “There’s a great deal of checks and balances, which is always very favorable in any governmental agency,” Priore said. The meetings focus on issues where decisions need to be made, and aren’t regular agenda items, Priore explained. “I’m always excited to take part in any government agencies or organizations, because I feel like I can bring something to the table,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for more than 20 years now, and it is something that always excites me, makes me feel energetic being able to play a role and be part of something. That’s always a good feeling.”
Dr. Carmine Priore
School Board, County Commission OK Amended Sales Tax Plan
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach County School Board and the Palm Beach County Commission approved amendments to the proposed one-cent sales-tax increase at a joint meeting Wednesday. The changes removed the money earmarked for business development and cultural programs included in earlier versions of the referendum, set to go before Palm Beach County voters in November. Last week, the county commission approved the surtax referendum without the proposed economic and cultural benefits out of concerns that they would convolute an effort that originally had been only for infrastructure improvements. The revised interlocal agreement approved Wednesday leaves the school board with 50 percent of the revenue, the county with 30 percent and municipalities with 20 percent. The revised agreement will go
Plaster Time
Fun For All Ages
continued from page 1 to spend quality time with his mom, Felicia Fuentes. “This is not our first time here,” Fuentes said. “We’ve been coming here forever. It’s simple and inexpensive, and just a great place to learn.” Fuentes previously worked at Plaster Time. “It’s relaxing knowing that we can all be a part of this,” she said. “You just sit there and paint at your own pace. You don’t have to be a master to like it, or be good at it. You do whatever you want.” The Plaster Time staff is excellent and helpful, Fuentes said, because the work process for each customer is simple and easy. “You get to take the product home the same day,” Fuentes said. “There’s no wait. You just walk
back to the Palm Beach County League of Cities for approval by a majority of the municipalities. School Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa opened the meeting, saying that he and County Administrator Verdenia Baker had been working together for the past several months on the proposal. “We’ve done so in a way to collaborate and be collegial,” Avossa said. “After our last meeting, the school board provided some additional input to coordinate a joint meeting and to share with the county commission where we stand.” School District Chief Financial Officer Mike Burke said his staff began with an ordinance that had been amended by the county commission on May 3 to eliminate the cultural and economic benefits, and added its own amendments stipulating that the agreement would automatically terminate if the county commission does not enact the ordinance as presented on or before June 7, and a majority of the county’s municipalities do
not approve the revised agreement on or before June 10. Another amendment expands the sunset provision to stipulate that the surtax will cease once the goal of $2.7 billion is reached, even if that happens before the 10-year sunset provision. Avossa said school board members had expressed consternation about the time remaining to put the referendum on the ballot, and whether to continue collectively or go individually. “We want to make sure that we can put our thoughts and ideas out there, and make some decisions so that we could meet the deadlines,” he said. Baker said she thought the agreement was in the best overall interest of the community. “It addresses all of our backlog needs,” she said. The ordinance is set for final approval by the county commission on Tuesday, May 17. Commissioner Steven Abrams asked whether any consideration had been given to reducing the sunset amount of $2.7 billion by
the 6 percent, or about $161 million, that would have gone to economic and cultural development. Baker said that had been discussed among staff, but the list of infrastructure improvements for the county and the cities is already longer than the amount of money that will be available. Avossa said that the school district’s list of needed projects also far exceeds the amount to be raised. School board members Debra Robinson, Sharon Brill and Marcia Andrews said they wanted it clear that there would be no further amendments to the ordinance. The joint meeting adjourned, and the county commission convened to approve the amended interlocal agreement and the language added at the request of the school board. During public comment, Palm Beach County League of Cities Executive Director Richard Radcliffe said that his board had directed him not to oppose the revised agreement. “There are at least 14 cities that,
without this, just like the school board, are millage-challenged,” he said. “Without this, there is no way to raise ad valorem taxes or to ever get the funds necessary to take care of the schools and take care of the roads. I want to congratulate everybody for being here and doing what we do so well, working together.” Daniel Martell with the Economic Council of Palm Beach County said that he and his board agreed that infrastructure in the county is needed. “We understand that first-class communities are built on infrastructure and first-class schools, which we have today, but we cannot let that slip,” Martell said. “For that reason and more, our executive committee voted to support the ordinance that’s before you today. We are in full support of the schools and the county and cities coming together, and we also support and are happy to see the sunset provision.” He urged all of the entities to come together.
“This is a historic moment,” Martell said. “We have the opportunity to build and be a part of the largest infrastructure effort ever conducted in our community, and we would encourage both the school board and the county to come together and stay together with the cities to make this all happen.” Commissioner Melissa McKinlay made a motion to approve the interlocal agreement as amended, which carried 5-2 with Abrams and Vice Mayor Hal Valeche opposed. Once the county commission special meeting adjourned, the school board’s meeting convened, where Robinson made a motion to approve the same agreement, which carried 6-0. On Tuesday, the Wellington Village Council approved the amended agreement. Village Manager Paul Schofield estimated that the extra sales tax, if approved by voters on Nov. 8, would bring about $1.35 million per year to the village.
in and get it done. And they have something for every holiday.” Spending quality family time at Plaster Time has become a popular escape. Parents Matt and April Still helped paint plaques with their twins, Logan and Olivia, who are kindergarten students at Binks Forest Elementary School. Logan made an “I Love You” plaque for his grandmother with red and white paint. “It’s really cool,” Logan said. “I’m happy with it. It’s a masterpiece. She’s going to think it’s awesome.” Olivia made a castle jewelry box. “It’s purple and pink, and it looks really good,” Olivia said. “I want to do it again. Building the castle is so much fun.” The Mother’s Day plaques were like many others painted and completed at Plaster Time, a family-owned and operated business. “Everything we do here, we
make and take home on the very same day,” Comfort said. “Everything is prepared and ready to go. They come in, pick from the wall and get it done in a timely fashion. There are plaques and jewelry boxes and little statues to paint on. There’s no firing done here. After they are done painting, our staff sprays glaze on the plaster, and they take it home with them.” Having fun is the rule at Plaster Time. “We give kids the freedom to be creative, while having a blast all at the same time,” Comfort said. “I enjoy it with the kids. They aren’t demanding. From the minute I walk in through those doors, the day moves in a snap. There’s never a dull moment.” Fearon said that the experience is different for each child. “If they ask me for help, I try to create a setting where they are executing fun tricks and fun skills,” she said. “They say, ‘I didn’t know
you could do it that way.’ It’s basic painting. Sometimes kids can get frustrated with the brush. Instead of using the brush, we show them fun, little tricks, such as using your fingers to highlight it better. That gets your project done faster and easier.” The key words from Fearon to each Plaster Time customer: “Take your time.” “We are here to help,” she said. “I sit next to them and explain the techniques. It’s about painting the right way. I help them pick out the right pieces if they are new here, show them all the stuff that we have. It’s a great, positive atmosphere to be in. Even if we are not family, we make you feel like family.” Comfort enjoys interacting with the customers and has many cherished memories. “I had a boy from one of our local schools who was special-needs and needed our support,” Comfort
said. “I helped him, and at one point he looked at me and said, ‘I never knew I was such an artist.’ That made me feel like a million bucks.”
Plaster Time is located at 10363 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, visit www.plaster-time.com or call (561) 707-1819.
Jose Fernando works on his project at Plaster Time.
Matt and April Still paint with their twins, Logan and Olivia.
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Dena and William Comfort, owners of Plaster Time.
Felicia Fuentes works on a painting.
PHOTOS BY JASON STROMBERG/TOWN-CRIER
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Page 9
NEWS
CAFCI AND RPB HOST CULTURAL DIVERSITY DAY EVENT AT VETERANS PARK
The Village of Royal Palm Beach and Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) presented Cultural Diversity Day on Saturday, May 7 at Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach. It was a day of fun, food, dancing and entertainment, while learning about and celebrating different cultures. Craft vendors were set up around the amphitheater, and food vendors — representing American, Caribbean and Island cuisines — were on the other side, allowing for an international culinary tour. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Royal Palm Beach Councilman David Swift, Councilwoman Selena Smith with Marya, Mayor Fred Pinto, Councilwoman Jan Rodusky and Vice Mayor Jeff Hmara. Maya and Rianne Pearson, Lorna Pearson, Vinette Tracy, Karlene Green and Kitty Lannaman.
Irish fiddler Bob O’Donovan leads the parade to the stage.
Rhonda Ferrin Davis, Shirley Palmer, Fitz McLymont and Dr. Winston Davis.
Event committee members Ernie Garvey, Paul Baker, Winsom Martin, Hope Francis, Elet Cyris and Majorie Aiken.
The Balloon Dude hands Scarlett Kirk a balloon dog.
Lauren Cheek performs Turkish belly dancing.
Rajsee Pandya, Bear Vee and Divya Pandya of Dance Rhythms.
Genbu-Kai Florida students performed on stage.
Sam Tiwari, Ed Clark, Henworth Ferguson, Lauriston Simms and Percvial Wood play dominoes.
Esther Bassoon, Elaine Burton, Elaine Gayle and Lena Humes.
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The Ni Ma Kung Fu Lion Dance Team.
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BROVERO EARNS MASTER’S DEGREE
Diana and Robert Brovero of Royal Palm Beach recently announced the graduation of their daughter, Charlotte, with a master’s degree in exceptional student education from Florida State University. Brovero will start her new career with the Palm Beach County School District in August.
Talia Fradkin Named PBVS Valedictorian
Talia Fradkin
Wellington resident Talia Fradkin has been as named valedictorian of the Palm Beach Virtual School Class of 2016. A leader in her school, Fradkin has served as president of the National Honor Society, president of the Science National Honor Society, president of the Science Club, president of the Future Business Leaders of America District 28, president of the Peer Tutoring Club, as well as co-chair of the School Advisory Council. She has received two presidential awards for volunteer service. Additionally, she has been named the Florida Virtual School Student of the Year three times.
Festival by earning an 82.8 percent from the judges in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, the highest score ever earned at the Wellington facility in international competition. USDF gold medalist Lauren Knopp, who manages her own business Lauren Knopp Dressage out of her family-owned IDA Farm, rode two of her horses in the clinic with Graves and was grateful for the terrific experience. “We are all so thankful that Laura took the time out of her very busy schedule for this clinic,” Knopp said. “There were some great rides today, and we all thoroughly
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PALMS WEST PEOPLE
Skylar Schoemig Earns Pilot’s License On April 30, Skylar Schoemig became the youngest pilot in her family by taking the FAA check ride to become a private pilot at her home airport, the Wellington Aero Club. Schoemig started taking lessons with a family friend in his 1948 Stinson S-108 tail dragger when she was only 12 years old. Her flight instructor, Kevin Proodian, is an American Airlines captain who makes a complete 180 when it comes to general aviation. Leaving the high-tech avionics of his professional life behind, Proodian enjoys aviation of the olden days. Under Proodian’s guidance, Schoemig accumulated more than
120 hours of tail dragger flying without a GPS, just relying on the almost forgotten art of pilotage: following roads and railroad tracks 1,000 feet above the ground with just a chart, a watch and a compass. Schoemig soloed in the Stinson on her 16th birthday and became an AOPA lifetime member the same day. She completed her FAA check ride shortly after she turned 17. Giving a check ride to a 17-yearold in a tail dragger was a first even for seasoned pilot examiner Roger Wozniak, and he complimented Schoemig on her theoretical knowledge as well as her “command authority” in the aircraft.
Skylar Schoemig with FAA examiner Roger Wozniak as she receives her private pilot license.
Lord’s Place SleepOut Raises $272,000
More than 600 supporters of the Lord’s Place braved stormy weather to attend the agency’s ninth annual SleepOut event on April 15. They were rewarded for their commitment as the storm broke and a rainbow spanned the
sky as the overnight event got underway at the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach. The evening included a silent auction and an inspirational program. As CEO Diana Stanley an-
(Above) Jack and Anita Scarola (back) with Ellie Bischoff, Tully Martin, Grace Bischoff, Charlotte Bischoff, Katie Quattlebaum and Caroline Sousa. (Right) Joanne, Diana and Roberta Stanley.
Laura Graves Hosts Dressage Clinic At IDA Farm
2015 Pan American Games individual silver and team gold medalist Laura Graves recently spent her day educating fellow dressage riders at Wellington’s IDA Farm. The premier equestrian facility hosted the day-long clinic with Graves as she shared her expertise with each horse and rider pair. Participants ranged from adult amateurs to professionals. Graves is widely known in the dressage world for her seamlessly executed Grand Prix tests with her KWPN gelding Verdades. The pair recently made history at the Adequan Global Dressage
May 13 - May 19, 2016
enjoyed soaking up as much knowledge as we could. It was a day full of great horses, great riders, and a lot of fun.” The 15-acre IDA Farm was an ideal location for the event. With two covered dressage arenas, spacious grass riding areas, and plenty of space for grazing, everyone from assistants and handlers to observing riders had a chance to watch and learn from Graves during the clinic. The farm retains a calm atmosphere even with the 81 horses that it houses. IDA Farm also is home base to a number of inter-
national dressage and jumping trainers, such as Patrick Burssens of Belgium and Jaime Amian of Spain, who were keen to get a glimpse of the clinic as well. Also turning out for the special clinic was Wellington-based Dutch rider and trainer Kerensa Muller, who rode two horses and brought two students to participate in the clinic. For more information, visit www.idafarm.com. (Right) Laura Graves with Lauren Knopp (left) aboard Don Gregorio and her mother Teresa Knopp (right).
nounced that the initial SleepOut fundraising goal of $200,000 had been met, and $240,000 of the $250,000 dream goal had been raised, Lord’s Place Board Chair Pamela McIver announced that she and her husband Brian would make an additional $10,000 dona-
tion. With the dream goal met, the generosity continued through the evening and afterward, with a total of $272,000 donated to the Lord’s Place through dozens of SleepOut teams representing families, businesses and organizations. For more info., visit www.thelordsplace.org.
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
CYPRESS TRAILS KIDS BIKE TO SCHOOL
Students at Cypress Trails Elementary School participated in Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 4. Bike to School Day is a day set aside to focus on bicycle safety while riding to school. On an average day, Cypress Trails has approximately 22 bike riders. For Bike to School Day, Cypress Trails was able to double that number. The intent was to encourage more students to walk and bike every day to improve health and reduce traffic congestion. Shown above are students with their bicycles. Shown below is a student crossing the street with the help of a crossing guard.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Equestrian Trails Recognized With The Five Star And Golden School Awards Equestrian Trails Elementary School was recognized during the School District of Palm Beach County’s Volunteer and Business Partners Awards Breakfast at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on April 29, receiving the Five Star Award and the Golden School Award. The Five Star Award recognizes schools that have involvement from the community in business partnerships, family involvement, volunteers, student community service and school advisory councils. The Golden School Award recognizes schools that have at least 80 percent of the school staff participating in volunteer training, a trained school volunteer coordinator, and the total number of hours of volunteer service equals twice the number of students enrolled in the school.
PTA Vice President of Programming Sarah Hansen was nominated for the Outstanding School Volunteer award. Hansen has served as a volunteer for eight years, totaling more than 600 hours. She coordinates various family nights, such as the father-daughter dance, the mother-son game night, boo bingo and a school-wide sleepover. She also volunteers to assist after school clubs such as the Positivity Club, Drama Club and the Trotter’s Club. “As principal, I’m so fortunate and appreciative to have such an extraordinary volunteer,” Principal Michele Johnson said. “Mrs. Hansen takes initiative, goes the extra mile and every day makes a difference in the lives of students and staff. She is an amazing human being and is an irreplaceable team member.”
Palm Beach County School Board Chair Chuck Shaw, Equestrian Trails Business Partner Coordinator Kate Lester, Equestrian Trails Vice President of Programming Sarah Hansen, Equestrian Trails Vice President of School Support/Volunteer Coordinator Lisa Mears and Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa.
Western Pines Students To ROAR On May 27
RIDING TO SCHOOL AT NEW HORIZONS
New Horizons Elementary School recently celebrated National Bike to School Day. Shown above, students, family and staff were invited to participate by riding to school on their bikes, scooters, skateboards and in-line skates. They were greeted by guidance counselor and event planner Lynne Bray, as well as several Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Participants received a biker on a chain provided by the guidance department.
Students at Western Pines Middle School are looking forward to enjoying a day of activities to close out the school year as they will take part in the school’s ROAR Extravaganza for the fourth year in a row on May 27. A culmination to the year’s Positive Behavior Initiative, the celebration will honor students who have exemplified Western Pines
Middle School’s commitment to excellence by promoting the ROAR guidelines — respecting themselves and others, owning their behavior and actions, always being safe on campus and reaching their personal and academic goals. Throughout the school year, teacher and administrators have handed out “ROAR Cards” to
students who showed these characteristics. Students then turned the cards in and were eligible for drawings for prizes such as gift cards, school supplies, books, sweet treats, posters and more. At the end of this year, any student who has turned in five or more cards will be invited to participate in the ROAR Extravaganza. Approximately 300 students
will be excused from class to enjoy such activities as face painting, dodgeball, silent speedball, graffiti art, a game show and more. Teachers and administrators are pleased with how well the students have taken to the ROAR program and look forward to many more exciting ways to promote positive behavior and school spirit.
Sem Ridge French Honor Society Members Serve As Quantum House ‘Chefs For A Day’ On April 2, members of the Seminole Ridge High School French National Honor Society were “Chefs for a Day” at the Quantum House in West Palm Beach for the second time this year. Before dinner, the students interacted with Quantum House families, some of whom come from as far away as Poland. Students then prepared dinner for a group of 30 — chicken (poulet avec sauce béchamel), potatoes (pommes de terre au gratin), salade verte, avec des baguettes, and lots of delicious éclairs and other French pastries. Quantum House is a caring and supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment in Palm Beach County for a
serious medical condition. Spanish National Honor Society Chooses 2016–17 Officers — The Seminole Ridge chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica has chosen officers for the coming school year. Congratulations to President Sofia Gonzalez, Vice President Olivia Astwood, Secretary Alexandra Guevarez, Treasurer Sadiki Brown and Historian Destinie Noe. Hawks Receive Women of Tomorrow Scholarships — Seminole Ridge seniors Rebekah Martinez and Ellese Ashford-James received college scholarships of $5,000 and $28,000 from Women of Tomorrow at its annual senior scholarship luncheon April 28 in Miami. Ashford-James and
Madame Charmaine Carey-Lewis, Georgia Williams, Daniela Espinosa, Kelly Sivongsay, Heather Smith, Esperanza Baltazar, Chabella Diaz, Hannah Pardo, Sytara Thomas, Emily Bennett, Rebecca Sutherland, Jessica Terkovich, Claire Tian, Amanda Alvarez, Dustin Drake, Kerven Cassion, Julia Stremel, Anthony Martinez, Ethon Ives, Gena Rai and Daniela Sanchez. Martinez represent young women by their participation in the nonwhose lives have been transformed profit mentoring organization.
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Page 13
SCHOOL NEWS
Elbridge Gale Breaks LLS Fundraising Goal Walk And Roll Challenge Students at Elbridge Gale Elementary School set a goal to raise more than $25,000 to help fund blood cancer research and provide hope to thousands of patients and their families through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Pasta for Pennies program, presented by Olive Garden. The school set the goal so that it would be linked with an LLS-funded research portfolio. The honor of becoming linked with a research portfolio is awarded to top LLS fundraising supporters and includes recognition from LLS President & CEO Dr. Louis DeGenarro. Elbridge Gale became involved with LLS after student Sebastian Sarmiento was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007. Sarmiento passed away in 2009. Again this year, Elbridge Gale has yet another student diagnosed with leukemia. Andrew Dawson is a first grader who is now in remission. He shared his experience
with the entire school at a kickoff assembly held at the beginning of March. Over the last month, students met and surpassed their goal by collecting more than $27,000 in support of LLS. Notable students Jaidyn Brody, Drake Brody and McKenna Wickers have led the fundraising efforts. Jaidyn managed to raise more than $8,000 this school year, while her brother Drake, a kindergartener, has collected more than $1,000 by asking for donations every week at Wellington Food’s Truck Invasion. McKenna’s annual “Lemons for Leukemia” event raised more than $800. Once the school met its $25,000 goal, it set its sights on becoming the top school in the southeast. Out of the 9,000 schools across a nine-state region, Roswell High School in Georgia was the top school, raising $26,000. Last month, with this in view, Elbridge Gale students continued their
efforts to take the regional title. Nationally, more than 28,000 schools participate in the LLS Student Series Programs. On May 2, Elbridge Gale learned they ranked in eighth place out of all the schools and earned the title of top school in Florida and the southeast. In order to win that title, Elbridge Gale students rallied to raise an additional $1,200 over their initial goal. In addition to a highly successful Pi Day, where 500 students threw pies at 70 teachers and administrators, students and staff hosted chess tournaments, bakes sales, car washes, give-back events, a parent date night and dress down days. On May 23, Olive Garden at Wellington Green will host the top fundraising students for a special celebratory luncheon and award presentation. LLS will present the school with a special Top Fundraiser Award. In attendance will be Sarmiento’s mother, LLS board
members and representatives from the national offices of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “I am so proud of the hard work our students and staff have put into this cause,” said guidance counselor Nicole Martinez, who has coordinated the program over the last five years and has seen the school raise a cumulative $70,000 for cancer research. “Thanks to research, nearly 90 percent of children with acute leukemia are now cured,” said Stacy Hewitt, Palm Beach senior campaign manager. “But there still is a long way to go. Leukemia affects more children than any other cancer, so LLS’s Student Series Programs provide a meaningful way for kids to help kids. Every penny really does make a difference.” The programs are designed to teach children how to set and reach goals and the value of community involvement. Learn more at www.studentseries.org.
At Lox Groves Elementary
In March, Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School participated in the Walk and Roll Challenge. Students tracked the number of miles they walked or rode their bicycles to and from school and anytime at home and on the weekend. Congratulations to Samantha Palmer who was the top student at Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School. She walked and rolled more than 250 miles. (Right) Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School Student Samantha Palmer with physical education coach Eva Wright.
Wellington Collegiate Academy Students Recognized At County Poetry Competition
Students from Wellington Collegiate Academy attended the awards ceremony for the annual Palm Beach County Middle School Poetry Competition organized by Laura Costello and hosted at Palm Springs Middle School on Saturday, April 30. This year’s judges were Anastasia Clark, Virgil Suaréz and David Axelrod, Poet Laureate of Volusia County. Of the 350 poems submitted by writing classes around the county, 150 poems were selected for publication and nine poets received $100 grand prizes.
The hard work of Julie McCord’s language arts class at Wellington Collegiate Academy paid off at the ceremony. In addition to all 11 of her students’ poems being published, five grand prizes went to WCA students. Students thank McCord and writing coach José Stelle for pushing them to submit their best work. Last year Stelle’s class won four grand prizes. (Right) Julie McCord, Kurt McCord, David Axelrod, Stanley Oaks, Laura Costello and Nathan Coley.
Panther Run Students Supports Caps Of Love Meeting once a week, Panther Run Elementary School Caps Club students gather in Nancy Conley’s speech therapy room, not for speech, but to sort and prepare the plastic caps collected at their school. Each classroom, as well as the office and lunch rooms, have containers for the kids to bring the caps from home and their neighborhoods. Thousands of caps have then
been transported to the Caps of Love warehouse from the Panther Run efforts. Founded by Valerie Mathieu, the nonprofit raises money from recycling to provide wheelchairs for children. Caps Club members beside the bags to be sorted, along with Nancy Conley and her mother Marcia Kendall, who helped get the project started at Panther Run.
Academic Games winners Asher Smith, Nick Kapsos, Tristan Funicelli and Gavin Grave de Peralta.
WLMS Academic Games Students Win Big At The National Tourney In late April, four members of the Wellington Landings Middle School Academic Games team competed as members of the Palm Beach County All-Star Team at the 51st AGLOA National Tournament in Atlanta. Tristan Funicelli, Gavin Grave de Peralta, Nicholas Kapsos and Asher Smith brought back numerous team and individual awards. Funicelli was a member of both the first place Middle World Events team and the first place Middle Presidents team. Kapsos was a member of the third place Middle LinguiSHTIK team. Smith returned with several finisher medals for his contributions on the
elementary teams. Grave de Peralta earned recognition as a member of the first place Elementary World Events team, where he placed eighth individually. He played on the third place Elementary Presidents Team, where he was fifth individually. He also earned a perfect score in Elementary LinguiSHTIK. Grave de Peralta also earned one of the most prized awards presented at the tournament. The Sweepstakes Award is given each year to the best overall players in the division. Out of more than 300 elementary school players eligible for the award, he placed third nationally for sweepstakes.
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
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FEATURES
My Disney Fantasy Was Attacked By The Realities Of Nature
The cottage that Mark and I are renovating is starting to be more fun. The house was inhabited by smokers for all of its 66 years, and I don’t know what colors the interiors started out, as but everything was tinged yellow when we bought it. After months of weekend work, scrubbing and painting, we’re finally on the home stretch here. Mark has almost all the crown molding up in the kitchen, the major appliances have been delivered, every room has been painted and the carpeting for the bedrooms is being delivered next week. The window panes have been scrubbed ’til they twinkle, and I feel like Snow White when I stand at the window
Deborah Welky is
The Sonic BOOMER looking out. In fact, we had the front door open last week, and the tweeting of the birds outside was distinctly Disneyesque. “Listen to that!” I hollered to Mark between surges of the air compressor. “It’s like being in an animated movie!”
Then I skipped gaily (I felt it was required) out onto the front porch where, movie-like, tragedy struck. I could almost hear the booming of that huge sheet of tin Disney used to mimic thunder. It was as if the sky turned dark and lightning flashed in the distance. For, on my tiny front porch, where the white picket railing sports a flowerbox full of happy little flowers, were two little robin’s eggs, both broken. A third lay in the grass nearby. The horror! When I had found a nest in one of the Boston ferns I had hung up on the porch, I was elated. I felt it was nature’s way of welcoming me. I never expected actual
eggs, and now, to see them decimated like that, I was outraged. As imaginary violins screeched a long, high note in the background, I whirled my head around, looking for the culprit. And, with movie-like timing, here he came — a cat. A black cat no less, crossing my path to revisit the scene of the crime. He hopped nimbly onto the wicker table, then the flowerbox, where he pawed at the fern containing the now-empty nest. Nonchalant as ever, he hopped to the floor to sniff at his damage, and eventually sauntered off to see what havoc he could wreak next door. Saddened, I went to the grass and picked up the remaining intact egg
and placed it gently back in the nest, knowing in my heart that the mother would never come back for it. I tried to cheer myself up by imagining myself in one of Disney’s nature shorts (“It’s ‘survival of the fittest’ in this wild world, where birds must lay eggs and cats must hunt”), but it didn’t help. “Survival of the fittest” would have me loading a big cartoon-like blunderbuss and blowing the cat to smithereens — probably not such a good idea as the newest neighbor on the block. But reality has begun to settle in at my fairytale cottage. I suppose there are probably taxes on the place, too. Ah, Walt Disney, we miss you so.
New ‘Captain America’ Movie Great Kickoff To Summer Season
The new film Captain America: Civil War is the first blockbuster of the summer season, and it fills that role well. It has spectacular effects, it has more than a bit of humor and it even has some interesting philosophical discussions on responsibility. It is not as good a film as the previous Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but it still provides a great couple of hours at the theater. It actually is more of a sequel to the last Avengers movie where at the end, an entire city is destroyed. Yes, it was the bad guys doing it, but our heroes had their share of responsibility. Now, as they wait in West Africa for an attack on a building holding a dangerous bacteria, they are proceeding as if the earlier attack never happened. Under the leadership of Captain America Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a group of the heroes, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), the Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and the
‘I’ On CULTURE By Leonard Wechsler Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), have a wild chase and prevent a major disaster, but along the way, there is again collateral damage and innocents die. The United Nations steps in and demands that the heroes come under its control. Iron Man Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), feeling guilty about the damage, leads the group who accepts the control. Captain America refuses to agree, saying that he trusts his own feelings of responsibility more than that
of a group of governments. In the middle of all of this, a bomb explodes, killing many of the delegates in Vienna where the heroes are expected to give up control. Cameras show that it is the work of Bucky Barnes, also known as “The Winter Soldier” (Sebastian Stan). Rogers refuses to accept that his friend would have done it despite knowing he had previously been brainwashed. Rogers tries to capture Bucky alive and winds up becoming a criminal as a result. His group includes Winter Soldier, along with Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd). Stark has War Machine (Don Cheadle), Vision (Paul Bettany), Black Widow and a new recruit, Spider-Man (Tom Holland). Added to the mix is another superhero, Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), the son of an African king killed in the bomb that went off who wants revenge.
The “Cap Team” learns that Bucky was framed and goes after the culprit with “Team Iron” out to stop them. Of course, there is a spectacular battle, which is a lot of fun. Spider-Man is a new force who does really well until he learns that fighting other superheroes is not easy. Rudd gets a few minutes of fun as well. A lot more happens, but you will have to see the film. The acting is good considering the limited amount of real emoting required, and (as usual) Downey is the quirkiest. He has a lovely scene with Alfre Woodard doing a superb cameo dealing with the tragedy of loss, and then must deal with the impact of his own choices. Stan is also good as the occasionally bewildered Bucky. I also liked Holland, a nice choice for the upcoming Spider-Man series. Emily VanCamp does nicely as a love interest who can really kick butt. The argument over responsibility was
handled well. Instead of making one side clearly correct, points were made for both. It reflects some of our choices for government now: power to the people or power to each person. The action moves along fast. It opens with a set action chase and keeps moving. There are times when some discussion takes place, but never for very long, something really valuable in this very long film (2 hours, 26 minutes). The effects, for a change, are fairly small-scale but done really well. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo mix in nice bits of comedy and character change in with all the action. At times, the characters behave differently from expectations, which creates interesting shadings, something not often seen in this kind of movie. This is the first summer blockbuster, and it is one you should definitely think about seeing. We all had a great time.
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Page 15
NEWS
ROYAL PALM BEACH SENIORS ENJOY A MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH WITH ‘ELVIS’
The Royal Palm Beach Senior Activities Group held a Mother’s Day party on Thursday, May 5 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center featuring a potluck lunch. Scott Ringerson performed as Elvis and gave out scarves to a few lucky ladies. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Vilma Ortega, Norma Vivanco, Mary Peluso, Lola Ullfig and Carmen Moller.
Dolly Hughes with Elvis impersonator Scott Ringersen.
Alice and C.S. Stern dance to “Blue Hawaii.”
Fredricka Nelson and Ruth Biscaino.
Elaine Goodman and Max Heimer.
Elvis impersonator Scott Ringersen sings to Ann Gidosh.
Gretchen Lugo got a scarf from “Elvis.”
Billy Pefanis and Elaine Mathis.
WPB ANTIQUES FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS
The West Palm Beach Antiques Festival took place Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. There was a wide variety of items, from vintage, antiques and collectibles to estate jewelry, clothing, artwork, furniture and more. The event takes place monthly at the fairgrounds. For more info., visit www.wpbaf.com. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Sophia Stern assists Cynthia Katz with a horn necklace.
Richard Zielinski and Eric Glickman of Your Fondest Memories with 1950s pay telephones.
Susan Sheldrake found this wood and fabric bear.
Libby Jacobs of Mixed Media Gallery.
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
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NEWS
Wellington Chamber To Kick Off Summer At Grand Champions May 22 The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host its Kickoff to Summer event at the Polo Gear Challenge Tournament on Sunday, May 22 at the Grand Champions Polo Club. Wellington Chamber of Commerce trustees, members and guests, along with friends and families, will be treated to great polo and a five-star menu from award-winning chef Shannon Atkins. Grand Champions Polo Club and ChukkerTV are co-hosting the event with the Wellington Chamber. Tickets are on sale starting at
$15 for tailgaters and $25 for VIP tickets. Sponsorship packages of $500 and $1,000 are also available. For tickets, tailgates and sponsorships, call (561) 792-6525. The Polo Gear Challenge is the fifth of six medium-goal tournaments scheduled at the nine-yearold club. It features some of the nation’s top players, including Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen and Julio Arellano. Polo Gear, one of the top sponsors and supporters of polo, manufactures, distributes and sells polo products to players, teams and polo events worldwide.
During the Grand Champions’ spring season, amateur polo players have the opportunity to play with and against some of the world’s top professional polo players. ChukkerTV is live streaming Grand Champions Polo Club games, along with other games around the U.S. during the 2016 season with polo broadcasters Toby Wayman and Dale Schwetz calling the action. The Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Blvd. and Lake Worth Road in Wellington.
5K Race At Palm Beach Zoo To Honor The Life Of Stacey Konwiser May 14 On Saturday, May 14, the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society will hold its fourth annual Save the Tiger 5K race. This year, and going forward, the race will honor the memory of Stacey Konwiser, a beloved employee who died tragically several weeks ago at the zoo. Runners and walkers, among them zoo employees and zoo supporters, will gather at the Palm Beach Zoo entrance for the Stacey Konwiser Memorial Save the Tiger 5K Run. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. “I had the honor of working with Stacey over the past three years. She was bright, energetic and articulate. She had devoted her life to studying large and small
New Park
Serving Hawthorne Area
continued from page 1 every resident within what he called the “suburbanized area” of the village north of Pierson Road. “That’s something that adds to the ability for all residents to be able to partake in some type of ac-
Speeding
Traffic Calming
continued from page 1 many other applications of traffic calming. If the village wanted to look at traffic-calming, that would definitely be a road that would qualify.” Mayor Fred Pinto asked whether they could look into the options. He pointed out that the last time traffic calming had been discussed, then-Village Attorney Trela White had advised against speed bumps. Current Village Attorney Jennifer Ashton said that there is liability associated with speed bumps. “There are other measures that Ray [Liggins] was talking about that could be used instead,” Ashton said. “Speed bumps cause damage to cars. There’s a lot of things that go with them.” Liggins said traffic consultant Kimley-Horn & Associates did the last study on the issue for the village. “This is something that would require a bit of in-depth study,” Liggins said. “We would have to budget money for it.” A study would include a public workshop to get input from residents, he said. “Most traffic calming will affect the roadway and will affect people’s property,” he said. “You’ll never get 100 percent buy-in. It’s not something you can do on the quick. We would have to put it in
cats. She shared the zoo’s mission to inspire people to act — in small but meaningful ways — on behalf of wildlife everywhere. She was passionate about her family and the world around her,” Palm Beach Zoo President & CEO Andrew Aiken said. In years past, the zoo has sponsored its Save the Tiger Race — along with two similar runs for jaguars and Florida panthers, collectively called the Big Cat Race Series. These races traditionally raise approximately $30,000 annually for conservation projects. Proceeds from the jaguar race help a project in Bolivia, while funds from the panther race help the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Proceeds from the upcoming Stacey Konwiser Memorial Save the Tiger 5K race will go toward the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Tiger Conservation Project in the Endau-Rompin landscape of Malaysia, where the last remaining 250 wild Malayan tigers are struggling to evade poachers and habitat destruction. Attendance for this year’s road race is up 35 percent so far — a tribute to Konwiser’s life and her mission. In honoring her memory, and in support of tigers everywhere, join the zoo for this event. For more information, or to register, visit www.palmbeachzoo. org.
tivity at our park facilities, even if you can’t get to some of the larger managed parks,” he said. Phase 1 is scheduled to start in a few weeks and be finished in three to four months. The next phase is to be included in the upcoming Community Development Block Grant funding, and may be in more than one phase depending on the amount of money available. All of the work will be done with CDBG money.
“When we see that allocation for the coming year, we’ll get a better estimate from our engineering staff as to what the total cost will be,” Barnes said. “If necessary, we would look to Phase 2 and Phase 3, where we will maybe just do the playground first, and save the gazebo for a future phase, depending on the cost of the playground equipment.” Councilwoman Tanya Siskind made a motion to award the contract, which carried 5-0.
our budget and hire a consultant to provide us a traffic-calming plan for whatever roads we identify.” Councilman David Swift said La Mancha Avenue and Ponce de Leon Street had similar issues 15 years ago when the residents wanted speed bumps. White had consulted with other municipalities and found that there is liability with drivers who have accidents attributed to going over speed bumps too fast. “Since that time, West Palm Beach and many cities have added speed bumps, and we may know more about the legal issues we’re up against,” he said. “From a legal standpoint, I think we have a lot longer track record.” On Ponce de Leon Street, traffic circles were looked at, which received negative feedback from residents, he said. “Many people don’t like traffic circles, either, but I understand your problem,” he told Gershberg. “I hear you and agree with the mayor that it’s something we need to take a look at.” Vice Mayor Jeff Hmara also agreed that they should take a comprehensive look at the situation, and said that other methods of traffic control, such as rumble strips and stop signs, can also create problems. “We at least need to have a workshop with everybody,” Hmara suggested. Liggins said that one way to avoid liability is to have engineering studies done to identify
the problems and recommend solutions. “It can’t be done overnight,” he said. “It will take a significant study identifying roads that would meet the criteria, and apply these strategies.” Pinto asked whether a study could be included in this year’s budget, and Liggins said it would involve putting off other projects that have already been budgeted. “It would be a significant shift to work that into what we’re doing right now,” he said. Pinto asked Liggins to report back on what would be affected. Councilwoman Selena Smith said that Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been in La Mancha issuing tickets. “That’s a good indicator of how many stops they have made,” Smith said. “It’s not permanent, but they have come out there and stopped multiple cars in a short amount of time.” Richard Becher, who sits on the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission, added to the comments about traffic calming, explaining that the problem has expanded to trucks and utility vehicles. “We’ve got pickup trucks, delivery trucks,” Becher said. “It’s like everybody’s rushing. We do have about a half-mile straightaway, not just on the side of La Mancha I live on, but the street on the side that Councilwoman Smith lives on. Every day you’ve got trucks just zipping by.”
Grand Champions Chef Shannon Atkins.
Polo player Kris Kampsen.
PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO
Wellington Elementary School’s Fine Arts To Perform ‘Annie Kids’ May 25-26 The Wellington Elementary School chorus and drama club will be “fully dressed... with a smile” when they present Annie Kids on Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. each evening in the school cafeteria, located at 13000 Paddock Drive in Wellington. The musical is part of the MTI
Webb
County Engineer Visits ALA
continued from page 1 family 55-and-older dwellings and 200 55-and-older attached dwellings, a 150-room hotel, a community college for 3,000 students, 450,000 square feet of general office space, 600,000 square feet of research and development space, 450,000 square feet of light industrial space, 500,000 square feet of retail space, 192 acres of parks and 150,000 square feet of private civic space. Avenir, Webb said, has 3,000 single-family homes, 250 multifamily dwelling units, a hotel, 2.1 million square feet of nonresidential general office space, 400,000 square feet of commercial space, a school for up to 600 students, 55 acres of parks, 60 acres of civic space, a horse farm with 80 stalls and an additional nine golf course holes tied into Palm Beach Gardens’ existing golf course. GL Homes’ proposal is for about 3,600 single-family dwelling units, 265 multifamily dwelling units, 50,000 square feet of general office space, 300,000 square feet
Broadway Junior Collection. Based on the popular comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” Annie Kids tells the story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who left her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage. In her adventures, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machina-
tions, befriends President Roosevelt and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his personal secretary Grace Farrell, along with a lovable mutt named Sandy. Tickets, ranging from $5 to $8, are available online and at the door. For more info., call (561) 651-0600.
of general commercial space, schools to accommodate up to 1,800 students, church sites, 60 acres of parks and a fire station site proposed for a location that is close to Hamlin Blvd. and 180th Avenue. Several of these developments circumvented Palm Beach County and went to Tallahassee to get more favorable density requests. Decisions made in Tallahassee dictate how local governments need to work. “We’re faced with that hanging over our heads on a regular basis,” Webb said. The GL Homes project is currently in the approval process. The developer, Webb said, put forth an effort to help The Acreage, committing to provide a square mile of land for the Indian Trail Improvement District to use for drainage, and is also adding $5 million to the amount of money that is required for traffic impacts. While Westlake and Avenir have their approvals, and GL Homes is in the process, Iota is not that far along. It does not have a final traffic study or application in yet, Webb said. “I can talk in good detail about the other three, but Iota is still hanging out there as far as where that is,” he said of the twosquare-mile parcel. All four of the developments
will affect the traffic in the area. Westlake, Webb said, is projected to have almost 80,000 trips generated on any given day. Avenir will bring 52,000 trips a day. GL Homes will bring 47,000 additional trips, and Iota approximately 15,000 additional trips. “That is practically doubling what you guys are seeing today,” Webb said. In addition to dealing with proportionate-share compensation for road repairs, traffic calming, emergency services, additional roads and road alignment are also issues that will be coming up in the future, Webb explained. Next month, the ALA will host an important meeting. On Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m., Lynn Tipton with the Florida League of Cities will be speaking on the incorporation process and its possible advantage and disadvantages. The meeting will be held at the ITID office, located at 13476 61st Street North. The ALA is also planning its Spooktacular Rocktoberfest, set for Acreage Community Park on Saturday, Oct. 22. There will be a costume contest with cash prizes for adults and children, a car show, food trucks and more. Bands will begin at 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.acreagelandowners.com.
County Engineer George Webb explains how the new developments will impact area roads.
PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
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Page 17
NEWS
WELLINGTON BALLET THEATRE BRINGS ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ TO LIFE AT WHS
The Wellington Ballet Theatre presented The Wizard of Oz on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 at Wellington High School Theater with artistic direction by Rocky Duvall and ballet direction and choreography by Melissa Waters. For information about future programs, call (561) 296-1880 or visit www.wellingtonballettheatre.org. PHOTOS BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Sarah Manuel (Dorothy) and Sarah Marsengill (Wicked Witch). Munchkins Alyssa Gould, Arielle Montpeirous, Savannah Main, Jordyn Miller, Mia Cyril, Lola Simpson-Gay, Coco Bovet, Brandi Lee and Izzy Main.
Sarah Marsengill as the Wicked Witch.
Devan Solomon is introduced as the Scarecrow.
Dorothy and company meet the Wizard.
Gabriella Cristina as the Good Witch.
Oliver Chase and Alexandra Perez.
Oliver Chase, Addison Shopland, Robin Schoenberg and Alexandra Perez as the Lollipop Guild with Allee Miller (Toto) and Sarah Manuel (Dorothy).
Dorothy (Sarah Manuel) kills the Wicked Witch (Sarah Marsengill).
Allee Miller as Toto and Sarah Manuel as Dorothy.
Allee Miller (Toto), Devan Solomon (Scarecrow) and Sarah Manuel (Dorothy) discover Halle Schwartz (Tinman).
Cast members take a final bow.
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Farrier Dale Carmean A Part Of Horse History
In the cracker cow barn at Yesteryear Village, the remains of some western saddles and shoer’s chaps rest on stalls, weathered and faded. They are a reminder of farrier Dale Carmean, a fascinating part of Palm Beach County horse community history. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 21
Business
Tractor Supply Store Opening Soon On Southern Blvd. In Loxahatchee Groves
Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retail store chain in the United States, recently announced that construction is underway on a new location in Loxahatchee Groves. The new store will be the company’s 57th location in Florida. The store will be located at 15731 Southern Blvd. and will employ an estimated 15 full-time and part-time team members. Page 23
Sports
Broncos Football Shows Progress In Spring Training
The Palm Beach Central High School football team recently began its spring training. Florida high schools get 20 days of spring practice, including a spring game. The brief spring season gives teams an opportunity to evaluate players in preparation for the fall season. Page 29
THIS WEEK’S INDEX TAILS FROM THE TRAILS............................. 21 BUSINESS NEWS................................... 22-23 SPORTS & RECREATION.........................29-31 COMMUNITY CALENDAR............................. 34 CLASSIFIEDS......................................... 35-38
Page 19
Wildcats Enter Spring Camp With High Hopes
Spring football is here, and the Royal Palm Beach High School squad has kicked off its spring camp with high hopes garnered from motivation carried over from last season. The Wildcats finished last season as District 7A runner-up and fell short in postseason play. Page 29
A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION
INSIDE
May 13 - May 19, 2016
Shopping Spree
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
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FEATURES
May 13 - May 19, 2016
Page 21
Farrier Dale Carmean A Part Of Local Horse History
It began back in January during a visit to the South Florida Fair, strolling through my favorite part, Yesteryear Village. I wandered into the cracker cow barn, then paused. Assorted clutter on the right, a partial hayloft overhead, rough stalls to the left. The remains of some western saddles and shoer’s chaps rested on the stalls, weathered and faded. Sewn down one side were leather letters spelling out “Dale.” And I knew. Sure enough, the fender of one of the saddles was embossed: Dale Carmean, hot or cold custom horse shoeing, along with an anvil, a hammer, a pair of nippers and four horseshoes arranged like the leaves of a lucky clover. People walked past, and I stood, remembering. They didn’t know what they were seeing. I’d known Dale Carmean. Many times I watched him shoe horses at Pinegrove Stables. He was a large, muscular man with a shiny pate. He never shoed my horse, but he did many others. I had another connection to him as well; a memory tinged in tragedy and sadness. I wondered who else might remember Dale, which is how I ended up at a house off of F Road in Loxahatchee Groves one Sunday afternoon, visiting with two of Dale’s grown children, Cody Carmean and Kathy Chavis, Cody’s wife, Ann, and their daughter, Haley. Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/Horse TalkFL.
Tales From The Trails By Ellen Rosenberg “Dad grew up in Indiana and moved to Palm Beach County in the late 1950s,” Cody recalled. “He was always into horses. He rode some rodeo, steer wrestling and bulldogging. He apprenticed himself to Albert Jurney, a farrier at Tropical Park, and shoed a lot of trotters, racehorses and polo ponies out at Gulfstream Polo. I remember going there with him, and also to barns around West Palm, Belle Glade and Indiantown. After my parents divorced, I spent every Sunday with him and a week or two each summer. One time we were having breakfast at the Copper Kettle and the owner remarked that he liked dad’s voice. He talked him into doing a radio commercial for them. Dad helped anyone.” Cody learned a lot from his father, a U.S. Army veteran who earned a Purple Heart serving in Korea. “I cleaned the horseshoes and his tools. He even showed me how to trim hooves. It’s a hard way to make a living. He hurt his back when a young Thoroughbred spooked and landed on him. He hurt all the time, but he kept working. He’d lay on the ground sometimes,
The late Dale Carmean at work shoeing horses (left) and in his younger years riding rodeo (right). twisting back and forth. Finally, he had back hooves become so painful that many horses surgery,” Cody recalled. can no longer stand and are put down. Dad “I don’t know how he shod horses all his brought her home and got her sound again. She life,” chimed in Kathy, Dale’s oldest child. was a great little pony we all grew up riding. “Sometimes, when his back hurt too bad, She dumped me hard more than once, but he he’d take a half a bute tablet. Mom was hor- stuck me back on, and I learned to ride.” rified. That’s for a 700-pound horse, but he The family lived in what is now Jupiter said it helped. We had a lot of horses, all of Farms. them bartered. The first was Pammy, a Welsh “It was hundreds of wild acres, no one else pony who’d foundered, a condition where the See ROSENBERG, page 31
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BUSINESS NEWS
Two Local Teen Entrepreneurs To Compete At Nationals
Ethan Shapiro of American Heritage School and Ryan Shnider of Palm Beach Central High School will compete at nationals.
Two young entrepreneurs from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy hosted by the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce competed this month at the program’s national semifinals in Rochester, N.Y., earning a spot in the national finals. A total of 90 businesses representing 33 states competed for six spots in the national finals, to be held this June during America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Snap’d In, a customizable cellphone case company represented by Ethan Shapiro of the American Heritage School and Ryan Shnider of Palm
Beach Central High School, took first place in the Southeast Region. The students were selected to compete in the sixth annual Saunders Scholars Competition. Hundreds of business and education leaders, students and parents will gather to hear America’s top six young entrepreneurs, ages 1118, pitch their business plans. The students will compete to win college scholarships ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 during an all-expenses-paid trip, and for the opportunity to be on ABC’s hit TV show Shark Tank. The Central Palm Beach County
Chamber of Commerce runs the Young Entrepreneurs Academy program locally though its nonprofit arm, the Central Palm Beach County Community Foundation. As part of the program, students are introduced to all facets of the business world. During the nine-month program, more than 20 local businesses become involved at various levels. Students work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators, who use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to transform their ideas into tangible enterprises that
create economic and social value for a better world. By the time the students graduate, they are CEOs of their own real business or social movement. The local program would not be possible without the support of the co-presenting sponsors, Florida Power & Light and the School District of Palm Beach County, as well as many other program sponsors and volunteers. Applications are now available for 2016-17. For information on how to get involved, call (561) 7906200 or visit www.cpbchamberyea. org.
Expert Discusses Online Research With Jewish Genealogy Society
Daniel Horowitz, chief genealogy officer and translation manager for the popular web site MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com), recently spoke at a special session of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County. Horowitz’s presentation on “Planting a Family Tree on Line” focused on his company’s free software program, Family Tree Builder. He described the company’s
partnership with Billion Graves, the world’s largest resource for searchable cemetery data, which he called an invaluable source of information found on burial sites around the world. The Palm Beach County chapter is one of the largest and most active sources of Jewish genealogical research in the country. The chapter’s meetings take place once a month at the South County Civic Center
on Jog Road. For additional information, contact Sylvia Nusinov at sylvia@jgspalmbeachcounty.org or Marilyn Newman at mnewman@ jgspalmbeachcounty.org, or visit www.jgspalmbeachcounty.org. (Right) Cindy Potter Taylor, president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County, with Daniel Horowitz, chief genealogy officer at MyHeritage.
Calling all sports-minded, adventure-seeking, nature-loving kids for a summer of fun at Breakers West Country Club. Daily Golf, Tennis, Basketball & Swimming Arts & Crafts | Magic Shows | Science Projects Wildlife Demonstrations | Family Cookouts Theme Weeks | Family Activity Center & More
AGES 4-14 June 6 – August 19 Monday – Friday 8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. After-care is available.
To register, call 561-422-4915.
1550 Flagler Parkway, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 breakerswestclub.com
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BUSINESS NEWS
Page 23
Tractor Supply Store Opening Soon In Loxahatchee Groves Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retail store chain in the United States, recently announced that construction is underway on a new location in Loxahatchee Groves. The new store will be the company’s 57th location in Florida. The store will be located at 15731 Southern Blvd. and will employ an estimated 15 full-time and part-time team members. The store will be approximately
19,097 square feet, including the sales floor and support service space. A fenced exterior space will be used for storage and displaying items such as fencing, sprayers and livestock equipment. “Tractor Supply looks forward to being a member of the Loxahatchee community,” District Manager John Millard said. “Loxahatchee is a great fit for Tractor Supply due to the horse owners and part-time and hobby farmers in the area.
Wellington Company To Produce New Palm Beach Contemporary Art Show After 13 years at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show has closed. But art lovers in South Florida need not worry — a new show, the Palm Beach Contemporary, will be taking its place next year as the last big local art show of the season. It will be produced by the Wellington-based A&E Show Group. Under the direction of the former show’s longtime publicist, Bill Underwood, and his partner Jeannette Parssi, the Palm Beach Contempo-
rary will feature many of the same quality artists, along with a host of new artists. The show is moving to the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center and will run from Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12, 2017. The new art show will feature 135 contemporary artists, assembled by invitation only, offering work in ceramics, glass, mixed media, wearable art, jewelry and more. For more info., visit www. pbartshow.com.
Many of our new customers are pleasantly surprised by our unique mix of product offerings, which in addition to farm products and hardware, also includes pet food and supplies and clothing items for the entire family.” The contractor for the project,
Hawkins Construction Inc., began construction on Jan. 2. A completion date has been tentatively set for late July. Tractor Supply Company operates more than 1,500 stores in 49 states. Located in the outlying towns in major metropolitan mar-
kets and in rural communities, Tractor Supply Company stores are focused on supplying the lifestyle needs of recreational farmers and ranchers and others who enjoy the rural lifestyle, as well as tradesmen and small businesses. For more info., visit www.tractorsupply.com
ABWA Honors Gloria T. Van Brocklin The Northern Palm Beach Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association honored Gloria T. Van Brocklin as its 2016 Woman of Excellence at the group’s 20th annual fashion show Saturday, April 23. The award recognizes individuals in the community who have made outstanding achievements. This year, the award was given in recognition of community service. Van Brocklin received her professional education as a pediatric practitioner from Syracuse Upstate Medical University in 1982 and her master’s degree in nursing from Florida Atlantic University in 2003. Van Brocklin moved to West Palm Beach in 1996 after serving as a volunteer for seven years in Haiti and Southeast Florida. She was then employed by the Palm Beach Health Care Department.
Before retiring in 2007, she was employed by Florida Atlantic University in Belle Glade as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Van Brocklin now volunteers many hours in the Glades Community Organization with a program that she helped introduce for migrants and refugees. She performs health screening services, home visits, medical assistance, nutrition programs and transportation to medical appointments. She looks at volunteering as a labor of love, helping migrants and refugees with their everyday lives and acclimating to American culture. The mission of the American Business Women’s Association is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally. To learn more,
Gloria T. Van Brocklin contact Chapter President Rebecca Ott at (772) 828-0915 or visit www. abwanpbflorida.org.
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The Bootz Cultural Arts Center is the place to go for an amazing, culture-themed art camp for your child. More than just painting, Bootz offers clay sculpting, paper mache, printmaking, weaving and more. Campers are excited to enjoy games, music, foods, celebrations and activities from various cultures. Every week, campers create “souvenirs� that reflect their own expressive connection to the culture presented. The Bootz Cultural Arts Center is located at 420 S. State Road 7, Suite 118. Learn more at www. bootzculturalartscenter.com or call (561) 290-2753. Breakers West Summer Camp 2016 is calling all campers for a summer of fun. Sports-minded, adventure-seeking, nature-loving kids, ages 4-14, will find something for everyone at Breakers West Country Club this summer. Enjoy golf, tennis, basketball, swimming, wildlife demonstrations, magic shows, arts & crafts, science projects, themed weeks, Family Activity Center fun and much more. Camp runs Monday through Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 6 to Aug. 19. Lunch is included, and all campers receive a special camp backpack, T-shirt and water bottle. After-care is also available. For more information, or to register for camp, call (561) 422-4915. Casperey Stables Horse Camp is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages 7 to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts and crafts, and outdoor games, campers find little time to be bored. The low counselor-child ratio ensures that each child receives individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks and during the summer. Each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days and Medieval Days. Casperey Stables has a weekly swim party and ends each session with a horse show and family barbecue. To learn more about the camp, located at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, call (561) 792-4990 or visit www.caspereystables.com. Dance Unlimited in Lake Worth will be offering three different summer camps this season: a ballet/contemporary intensive the weeks of June 13, 20 and 27; a princess camp for ages 4 to 7 the weeks of July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1; and a musical theater/ dance camp for ages 7 and up the weeks of July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1. The summer intensive is for dancers ages 7 and up with a strong desire to improve. Ballet, pointe and contemporary classes will be joined by classes in jazz, hip-hop, acrobatics, pilates, and strength and conditioning. Princess camp will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a performance each Thursday at noon. Musical theater camp will run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a performance each Friday at 3 p.m. The summer intensive camp will run 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more info., call (561) 641-2063 or visit www.dance-unlimited.com.
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The Eagle Arts Academy is a fun place for your child to be this summer. Want them to explore their arts and creative side? Camp Eagle Arts offers art projects, field trips, weekly planned themes and much more. The program has several specialty arts-focused camps, led by talented instructors, including Film Camp, Acting/Drama Camp, TV Production Camp, Science Camp, Art Camp, Music Camp and Dance Camp. Camps runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an extended day available. The cost is $195 for Camp Eagle Arts and $245 for the specialty camps. Visit www.eagleartsacademy.com or call Brittany Axelrod at (561) 412-4087, ext. 120 for more info. The Goddard School is a trusted name among parents and families for more than 27 years, with its safe classroom, nurturing environment and age-appropriate exploration and discovery opportunities. The school’s summer camp incorporates its F.L.EX (fun, learning experience) Learning Program and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) learning into exciting, one-of-a-kind and fun experience every day for children. Children ages 1 to 7 will enjoy the five different themes presented during camp, which runs from June 6 to Aug. 12 at 2665 State Road 7 in Wellington. To register, or for more information, call (561) 333-2020 or visit www.goddardschool.com/wellingtonfl. Golden Grove’s Gator Camp is back and ready for fun! Gator Camp will run for eight oneweek sessions June 6 through July 29 (no camp July 4). Campers entering kindergarten through sixth grade are invited. Campers do not have to be enrolled at Golden Grove Elementary School to attend. Four themes will run during two sessions each this summer. Game design, photography/moviemaking, robotics and medieval technology will keep campers busy and learning new things. Campers enjoy field trips, on-campus programming, group activities, cooking and arts & crafts. Call Pat Packard at (561) 904-9730 for more info. High Touch High Tech and #1 Education Place in the original Wellington Mall have partnered to bring campers “the Coolest Camp in Town.” High Touch High Tech, a leader in science education for the last 20 years, brings science to life with hands-on experiments for children ages 4 to 14. Each day will be a new adventure, from interacting with real animals to launching rockets and panning for real gems. High Touch High Tech offers affordable pricing, experiments with lots of cool take-homes, arts and crafts, and physical activities at its new location in the original Wellington Mall. The program taps into children’s natural curiosity and provides them with safe and fun activities that help them learn about the world around them. Campers should expect awesome fun making slime, erupting volcanoes, launching rockets, making ice cream and more. To register, call (561) 792-3785 or visit www.sciencemadefunsfl.net.
May 13 - May 19, 2016
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The Junior Golf Camp at the Okeeheelee Golf Course, the Park Ridge Golf Course and the John Prince Golf Learning Center through the Junior Golf Foundation of America is now accepting summer camp registrations. New or seasoned golfers will develop skills while having a blast doing so. The JGFA provides junior golfers with the tools to enjoy the game for a lifetime. Professional PGA/LPGA golf instructors, trained coaches and staff are carefully picked for their love of junior golf, teaching abilities and inspirational approach. The program emphasizes safety, fun, sportsmanship and personal attention. Camps run June 6 through Aug. 12, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (option available at Okeeheelee). Written evaluation reports, prizes/ trophies, official JGFA items, a certificate of completion and a pizza party on the last day are included. Also available are camps for 3 to 5 year olds, camps for advanced/ tournament golfers, junior golf tournaments, weekly programs, leagues, walk-up clinics and more. For more info., visit www.jgfa.org or call (561) 964-GOLF. The Little Place and The Little Place Too, Wellington’s premier nationally accredited childcare centers for more than 37 years, offer childcare for children up to 8 years old. The Little Place offers a quality, caring environment for children age 6 months to 5 years old. Staff works hand-in-hand with local elementary schools to help each child develop, to promote vital academic skills and to reinforce positive social interaction. For children ages 3 to 5, activities include utilizing tablets in the classroom with interactive programs that introduce basic math, reading and other skills. With exciting activities and outings, elementary-age children are kept busy with educational activities and playtime. For more information, or to register, call either the 1040 Wellington Trace location at (561) 793-5860 or the 2995 Greenbriar Blvd. location at (561) 790-0808. Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do is offering a summer special for its classes, which are taught by a World Tae Kwon Do Federation 8th degree grandmaster. The summer special is running for nine weeks at $149, plus a free uniform. Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do’s summer martial arts program teaches men, women, teens, children and families to have fun, build confidence, learn self-defense, and also achieve a positive mind, strong body and healthy spirit. The program also teaches weapons trainings. For more info., stop by 13860 Wellington Trace, Suite 24/25, in the Wellington Courtyard Shops next to Publix, visit www.supertaekwondo.net or call (561) 795-1199. Primary Code is an elite coding boot camp. Students will learn everything they need to know to develop web sites for clients at a professional level. Camp runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students will learn to produce world-class web sites optimized for mobile, tablet and desktop devices using Ruby on Rails, CSS, HTML and JavaScript, and have fun along the way through group collaboration projects and organized field trips to the beach and river kayaking. This is an intensive program. A laptop and basic HTML and CSS knowledge are required. An interview can be scheduled via an e-mail to inquiries@primarycode.com. St. Peter’s Summer Camp in Wellington will offer campers arts and crafts, academic enrichment, water play, outdoor play and lots of hands-on fun. The themes for this year’s camps include: the Mighty Jungle; Cave Quest; Let’s Go Camping; Arctic Adventure; the Desert; Down on the Farm; Oceans, Lakes & Rivers; and Space, the Last Frontier. St. Peter’s Enrichment Center offers a fun, educational camp for children ages 3 through first grade. Camp start dates are June 13, June 20, June 27, July 5, July 11, July 18, July 25 and Aug. 1. Visit www.stpeterscec.com for enrollment. Call (561) 798-3286 for more info.
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A Guide to Some of The Best Fine and Casual Dining Spots in the Western Communities!
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561.422.1641
11924 Forest Hill Boulevard Wellington (Town Square Shopping Center) MEXICAN
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For 11 years, La Fogata Mexican Cuisine has been a Wellington favorite. Now, it is a three-time winner of “Best of the West,” thanks to its family friendly, Mexican-style atmosphere and delicious food. The appetizingly distinct menu and welcoming service sets La Fogata apart from the rest. Try the authentic Mexican food like Sopa de Mariscos, Churrasco, Shrimp Tacos and Menudo paired with the best margaritas in town – including two-for-one happy hour, weekdays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon to 7 p.m. For a Break from ho-hum lunch, try their $6.95 specials. “We are grateful to all of our friends and customers for the support through these last 11 years,” said Nicole Guarino, one of the owners. La Fogata is located at 11924 Forest Hill Blvd. in the Town Square Shopping Center. They are open weekdays 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and weekends noon to 10 p.m.
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SPORTS & RECREATION
Page 29
Broncos Football Shows Progress In Spring Training
By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach Central High School football team recently began its spring training. The Florida High School Athletic Association allows Florida high schools 20 days of spring practice, including a spring game. The brief spring season gives teams an opportunity to evaluate players in preparation for the fall season, when students return from summer break. Last season, the Palm Beach
Central High School football team finished the regular season with a 2-8 record that left many wondering how the Broncos would recover from not making the postseason for the first time since 2011. Head coach Santino Ierulli enters his third year leading the Broncos program. In his first year as coach, the Broncos won the District 10-8A championship, making it the team’s third in a row. The following year, Palm Beach Central was hit by 36 departing seniors, leaving many
Palm Beach Central offensive tackle Michael Garofalo lines to block during a scrimmage.
spaces to be filled. “We had a lot of sophomores starting last year,” Ierulli said. “We were young and didn’t have that experience, but we gained it through the season.” The Broncos upset Royal Palm Beach in the final game of last season. “Beating Royal Palm in the last game really did good by us,” Ierulli said. “It really showed in the off-season the way these kids worked. We have a lot of returning players with confidence.” Among the talent that the Bron-
Broncos quarterback Matt Smith looks to throw down field during a scrimmage.
cos will rely on will be Matt Smith in the quarterback position. “Matt started at safety last year for us,” Ierulli told the Town-Crier. “He is a smart kid; he’s strong and is looking really good.” The running back who has been turning the most heads is John I. Leonard High School transfer Anthony Wynds. “He’s big and runs like a horse,” Ierulli said of Wynds. Most of the line returns for the Broncos. Matt Miller will snap for Smith at center, and Michael Garo-
falo, 6-foot-4 and 277 pounds, will anchor the line at tackle. Newcomer defensive end Nick Johnson and team captain/outside linebacker Ben Panitz will lead the defense with their experience. Johnson is a transfer from Georgia who has grabbed the attention of Marshall, Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky universities. “Panitz is our big play guy on the outside for our defense,” Ierulli said. Cam Sheedy returns and will lock See BRONCOS, page 31
Head coach Tino Ierulli gives direction for the defense during practice. PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER
Wildcats Football Enters Spring Camp With High Hopes
By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report Spring football is here, and the Royal Palm Beach High School squad has kicked off its spring camp with high hopes garnered from motivation carried over from last season. The Wildcats finished last season as District 7A runner-up and fell
The Wildcats’ Adarius Dent works on a quarterback keeper play.
short in postseason play, facing perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas High School in the first round of the regional playoffs and finishing at 6-6. The postseason is not something that is foreign to Royal Palm Beach, and the team looks to build on an intensity that was evident when
the Town-Crier visited the football camp. “We carried the momentum into the winter; our workouts were good,” said head coach Will Bueno, now in his sixth year at the helm. “We had really good participation, and our kids got stronger. We have a good group coming back who were
Royal Palm Beach head coach Willie Bueno closes out the practice with the team.
key contributors last year.” The Wildcats look to fill a few voids on both sides of the ball left from this year’s graduation. Cornerback Da’Von Brown will be playing at Florida Atlantic University in the fall, and cornerback MiQuez Cox will be suiting up at Pikeville College. Linebacker/receiver Marlon
Eugene will be playing for Southeast Missouri State. For the offense, the Wildcats will have to replace quarterback Josh Carr, who signed with Harding University. There are three players competing for the job this spring. Adarius Dent, Michael Moreland. See WILDCATS, page 30
The Wildcats’ secondary works on covering receivers during drills. PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
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SPORTS & RECREATION
WELLINGTON 10U A’S WIN LITTLE LEAGUE DIVISION
Wellington Royals Win Playoffs And Division Championship
The Wellington Royals recently became the Wellington Spring 2016 Intermediate playoff and division champions. It was a great game between the Wellington Royals and Wellington Orioles for the championship. The Royals came out on top 3-1. The Royals also won their Intermediate division (11-13). Coach Greg Bogdanchik said that good pitching kept the opponent teams scores low throughout the season. Hitting from the whole team was crucial, and errors were minimal. The Royals will go on to play for the Palm Beach County Championship.
Wildcats The 10U A’s won the Wellington Minors Little League Championship, defeating the White Sox 8-7. The team started the tournament as the ninth seed and won four straight games. This is the second championship in a row for coach Kelly McGhee and assistant coach Jason Uhley. Shown above are: (front row) Aiden Trento, Matt Judah, Angel Ortiz, Jacob Sasson, Foster Solomon and Kiefer McGhee; (middle row) Michael Varga, Jacob Guest, Julian LaJara, Grant Straub, Isaac Wachsman and head coach Kelly McGhee; (back row) assistant coach Jason Guest, assistant coach Jason Uhley, Parker Uhley and assistant coach Aaron Solomon.
Football Camp
continued from page 29 and Sean Hoff are all seeing time under center. Royal Palm Beach will lean on 6-foot-1, 200-pound Jerry Griffin to take the reins in the backfield. “He’ll
(Front row) Bradley Hart, JoJo Fedoruk, Kyle Hendricks, Andrew Weadrow, and Galvin Bogdanchik; (middle row) coach Jeremy Fedoruk, Robert Campbell, Ryan Jacobson, Brayton Lofstead, Sam Cohen, Jorge Sanchez, Tristan Gasset and Coach Greg Bogdanchik; and (back row) coach Geoff Lofstead, coach Brian Hendricks and Gabe Lerer. fill our loss of Telvis Lawler, who graduates,” Bueno said. “Jerry is big and has good ball skills.” The Wildcats also have Brandon Adams and Da’Qwan Hamilton returning in the backfield on offense. For the line, Bueno said that there are approximately 10 players competing for starting positions on both the offensive and defensive lines. “They’re getting better every day,”
he said. “In high school, the line is what makes the difference.” Royal Palm Beach is gearing up for its spring game, and will host Park Vista High School on Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m. “It will be a good ballgame,” Bueno said. As far as the outlook for the fall, Bueno is confident that if the Wildcats remain healthy, they will be competitive.
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Rosenberg
Farrier Dale Carmean
continued from page 21 around. Mom was petrified when dad was gone at night. One time a big diamondback rattler killed her collie. We moved to Lake Worth and then to Loxahatchee,” Kathy recalled. “Dad shoed a lot of show horses. One time a client didn’t pay for a reshoe, where he removed the shoes, trimmed the hooves, then reset the shoes. He waited until an hour before the show, then he went back and pulled all the shoes. ‘You can’t do that, I paid for those shoes,’ she said. ‘You did,’ he agreed. ‘I’m
Broncos
Spring Football
continued from page 29 down the middle of the defense at inside linebacker. The Broncos were young last season but return most of the starting squad, and that experience is certain to show through as they continue to develop. The Broncos will wrap up their spring campaign hosting Boynton Beach High School on Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m.
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
SPORTS & RECREATION not taking the shoes, just getting my nails back.’ He was best friends with another local farrier, Ralph Underwood. They worked together a lot, and they built a lot of the fencing and cattle chutes at the original Posse show grounds.” More memories flooded back of the old Palm Beach County Mounted Posse grounds at the northeast corner of Belvedere Road and State Road 7. I attended a lot of shows out there. I’d known Ralph as well. He’d shod a lot of my horses. He and his wife Jan lived on a small ranch at the corner of F Road and Collecting Canal. “Dad knew a lot of old-time remedies,” Kathy said. “He hated all the high-tech stuff, vet bills you couldn’t “I’m really excited about this group of kids,” Ierulli said. “They are really motivated.” They also compete in camps and seven-on-seven tournaments through the summer in efforts to make an easier transition into the fall season. The Broncos will be tested early in the fall with a kickoff classic pre-season game against juggernaut Fort Pierce Central High School. (Right) Matt Miller gets ready to snap the ball to the quarterback. PHOTO BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER
read. He’d treat horses with cobwebs and such, and they always healed up fine. He passed in 1989 at age 60 of a heart attack. He didn’t have a will, but we went through his stuff and split it up, no arguing or fighting. In 2000, they decided to donate some of his things to Yesteryear Village. “It was just sitting out in the garage, and that was a shame,” Kathy said. “We wanted people to see his things — for him to be a part of the county history, like he had been.” Which was where I’d seen them, and remembered. Which brought back the other, sadder memory: Jeannie, another of Dale’s daughters. She was 11 when I knew her in 1991. I was the librarian at Crestwood
Page 31
Cody Carmean, Kathy Chavis and Haley Carmean. Middle School, and she was in the sixth grade. She was a quiet girl with just a few friends, and she was horse crazy. She checked out one horse book over and over. By the end of the year, it was so tattered that I marked it “discarded” and gave it to her. That’s what I thought of the following fall, in 1992, when the accident happened. Jeannie was riding her buckskin horse, Crocket, when someone’s pet pig suddenly ran along a fence beside the road, spooking him. Jeannie tumbled off, and Crocket jumped sideways, trying to avoid her, but broke his leg and fell, crushing her. I never realized that Dale was her father until I read her obituary.
“We buried her with a buckskin Breyer horse,” Kathy said quietly. “And we had to put Crocket down too, because of the broken leg. That was a hard time. Mom was hanging clothes out when it happened. Crocket came home alone, so she ran down the road to see what had happened. She found Jeannie.” We were all quiet a minute, remembering the good times and the bad. Dale’s chaps and saddles still sit in the cracker cow barn. But now, perhaps, if you walk through and see them, you’ll know a bit more about what you’re seeing. You’ll know a little of Dale’s story, and how he was a part of the horse history of Palm Beach County.
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May 13 - May 19, 2016
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Page 34
May 13 - May 19, 2016
Saturday, May 14 • The Loxahatchee chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold “Clip and Walk” Trail Maintenance at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area on Saturday, May 14 starting at 6:30 a.m. Meet at the southern entrance of Corbett (north on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road) to clear the trails heading west out of the youth camp area. Call Paul Cummings at (561) 963-9906 for info. • The National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 14. To participate, place nonperishable items in a bag by your mailbox. • A Gun & Knife Show will be at the South Florida Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 16. For info., visit www.flgunshows.com. • The Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International will hold its annual plant sale of rare tropical fruit trees at the South Florida Fairgrounds Agriplex on Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.pbrarefruitcouncil.org for more info. • The Palm Beach Outlets (1751 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach) will host Safe Kids Day on Saturday, May 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more info., call (561) 515-4400 or visit www.palmbeachoutlets.com. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Compost: From Garbage to Garden Gold for adults Saturday, May 14 at 2 p.m. Learn about backyard composting methods to use, such as compost heaps, compost bins, compost tumblers and worm composting. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Drawing Open Studio for Tweens & Teens for ages 10 to 17 on Saturday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. Come in, sit down and draw using graphite and other art materials. All materials will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host its Lego Builders Club for ages 6 and up on Saturday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. Use Lego bricks to work on creative projects alone or with a friend. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual gala and awards ceremony Saturday, May 14 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Ave. South, Wellington). Visit www.cpbchamber.com for info. • Dance Arts Conservatory’s Broadway Stars will present the musical Hairspray on Saturday, May 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m. at the Crest Theater in Delray Beach. Purchase tickets by calling the box office at (561) 243-7922, ext. 1, or visiting https://delraycenterforthearts. secure.force.com/ticket. • Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) will hold its annual Student Assistance Award Ceremony on Saturday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at the original Wellington Mall. For more info., visit www.cafcipbc.org. Sunday, May 15 • Loxahatchee Lost & Found Pets will sponsor
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
a Community Bazaar on Sunday, May 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Publix plaza on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road at Orange Blvd. For more info., contact Shaun Santoro at (954) 592-4832 or shaunsantoro@aol.com. • The Robert Sharon Chorale will present ’S Wonderful Music: Gershwin to Les Mis on Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. in the DeSantis Family Chapel (300 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students with ID and $5 for ages 12 and under. For more info., call (561) 319-0005 or visit www. rschorale.com. Monday, May 16 • The Florida Housing Coalition and Palm Beach County will host “The ABCs of Funding Sources” on Monday, May 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vista Center (2300 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach). Call Suzanne Cabrera at (561) 653-4107 or e-mail scabrera@hlcpbc.org for more info. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Adult Book Discussion: Brooklyn on Monday, May 16 at 2 p.m. Join in a lively discussion of award-winning author Colm Tóibín’s sixth novel, Brooklyn. Follow Eilis Lacey on her reluctant journey as she leaves her family and comfortable life in Ireland for new opportunities in America. Pick up a copy of the book at the information desk when you pre-register. Call (561) 790-6030 for more info. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Résumé Workshop on Monday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. Learn how Career Transitions and Microsoft Word work together to create effective résumés. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Lego Bricks for ages 6 to 12 on Monday, May 16 at 3 p.m. Create vehicles or buildings out of Lego bricks. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info. Tuesday, May 17 • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Mental Health Month: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences of Mental Health on Tuesday, May 17 at 2 p.m. Child maltreatment and trauma, especially toxic stress, affects every aspect of a child’s development and functioning. Learn about one of the largest studies conducted to assess the association between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Art for Adults: Beginner’s Series Contour & Dimension for ages 16 and up Tuesday, May 17 at 2 p.m. Learn to draw from scratch by attaining and practicing the fundamentals of line, mass and volume. Using graphite, learn to use contour lines to emphasize the mass and volume of subjects and to create dimension. Graphite, paper and other media will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • Wellington will host a Walk and Talk in the Periwinkle/Lily Communities on Tuesday, May 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for more info.
• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Pajamarama Story Time: Uno, Dos, Tres!” for ages 3 to 6 on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. Listen to stories and songs in both English and Spanish. Dance the “Pajama Samba,” “Parajitos a Volar” and “Jarabe Tapatio” with family and friends and make a special craft to bring home. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. Wednesday, May 18 • Palm Beach County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) will participate in the 2016 Florida Hurricane Exercise on Wednesday, May 18. The purpose of the exercise is to test radios, antennas and operator skills in passing messages to the Florida Emergency Operation Center. For more info., e-mail WB2SNN@gmail.com. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Craftapalooza for ages 2 to 8 on Wednesday, May 18 at 3 p.m. Create multiple crafts from fun selections. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info. • Shulamit Hadassah will host Wine and Unwind, a tasting of wines and snacks while creating artwork, on Wednesday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Winey Wench in the Mall at Wellington Green. E-mail Susan at smow@comcast.net or call Helene at (561) 512-3172 for more info. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Anime Nation for ages 12 to 17 on Wednesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. View new anime titles. Snacks will be provided. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info. • Wellington’s Community Services Department will hold a Combined Neighborhood Watch Meeting to include all of the village’s Neighborhood Watch groups on Wednesday, May 18 beginning at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). For more info., call (561) 791-4764. • The Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business, Educational and Social Networking Meeting hosted by National Lumber & Hardware (7645 Lake Worth Road) on Wednesday, May 18 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. For more info., call (561) 889-6527. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host The Coloring Club for ages 16 and up on Wednesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. Color for fun and relaxation with other coloring enthusiasts. Coloring pages and materials will be provided, or bring your own coloring book to work on. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. Thursday, May 19 • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Baby Play Thursday for ages 6 to 23 months on Thursday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. Get ready to zoom to the moon. Join in on favorite rhymes, stories, songs and playtime. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Thrilling Quilling: Darling Buds of May for ages 16 and up on Thursday, May 19 at 2 p.m. Dating from the Renaissance, quilling involves rolling, looping and curling strips of colored paper to make decorative designs.
The Town-Crier Learn basic techniques and create fancy scrolled flowers to adorn gift bags or greeting cards. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will host Creative Vertical Gardening on Thursday, May 19 at 5 p.m. Want to add space for plants? Create privacy? Beautify a boring wall? Decorate trees with hanging orchids, bromeliads or ferns? This hands-on workshop will offer creative ideas for “growing vertical.” For more info., call (561) 233-1757 or visit www.mounts.org. • The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host food trucks on Thursday, May 19 at 5 p.m. with a free concert featuring the Sunshine Band at 6:30 p.m. Call (561) 7532484 for more info. • The Western Business Alliance will hold a social event Thursday, May 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Asador Patagonia restaurant (675 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Royal Palm Beach). For more info., visit www.thewesternbusinessalliance.com. • The Loxahatchee chapter of the Florida Trail Association will meet for Dollar Nights Baseball on Thursday, May 19 at Roger Dean Stadium. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Arrive at 6 p.m. to buy a ticket and meet for entry to the stadium. Call John Fenner at (586) 350-3235 for more info. Friday, May 20 • The Polo Gear Challenge Cup will take place Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22 at the Grand Champions Polo Club. Visit www.gcpolo. com for more info. • The musical Hair will be at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts from Friday, May 20 through Sunday, June 5. Visit www.kravis.org for showtimes and tickets. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Things That Go for ages 2 to 6 on Friday, May 20 at 11 a.m. Zoom on over for some fun stories, songs and a craft. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Mental Health Month Movie: Dark Side of the Full Moon on Friday, May 20 at 2 p.m. Dark Side of the Full Moon delves into the unseen world of maternal mental health in the U.S. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Kids Wii U Gaming & More for ages 7 to 12 on Friday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m. Play some of your favorite Wii U and board games with friends. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • YMUnite will host a Mother and Son Dance on Friday, May 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Call Tyresha Cooper at (954) 829-9242 or e-mail info@ymuniteinc. org for more info. • The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host a free screening of the movie Creed on Friday, May 20 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 753-2484 for more info. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 33, Wellington, FL 33414 or e-mail news@gotowncrier.com.
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
A/C AND REFRIGERATION
PET SITTING SERVICES
JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC.—Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. “We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks” 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996. Credit Cards Accepted
EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL PET SITTER — Available for daily walks - potty breaks - companionship - scheduled visits for general/specialized care when you are away. In business since 2001. Excellent references available. Serving the Wellington area. Please call Karen at Faithful Companion Pet Sitters. 401-539-5010.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WELLINGTON RENTALS FOR SALE
CLEANING - HOME/OFFICE WE CLEAN OFFICES & PRIVATE HOMES — Licensed & Insured. Call for an estimate and to schedule your apartment. Discount for Central Palm Beach County Chamber members and to all new clients for first cleaning. 561-385-8243 Lic. #2012-25277 HOUSECLEANING TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS — pet sitting available. Experienced - local references. Call Charlene 561-572-1782
DRIVEWAY REPAIR D R I V E W AY S — F r e e e s t i m a t e s A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. L i c.& In s. 1 0 0 0 4 5 0 6 2 5 61-667- 7716
FLOORING
PLUMBING JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured. CFC1426242. 561-601-6458
PRESSURE CLEANING/HANDYMAN ALL PRESSURE CLEANING & SERVICES — Residential/Commercial/ Equestrian. Handyman, Fencing, Painting. We do it ALL! Dustin 561-951-8769
ROOFING ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763. ROOFING REPAIRS RE-ROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC-0067207
FLOORING SALES, INSTALLATIONS AND SERVICES — With over 30 years of experience, I can promise prompt professional and courteous service. Some of my expertise are in Carpet, Tile and Linoleum. Each of my customers are very important no matter the size of the project. For information call Rob: 585-747-0023 or see my webpage on Facebook VannCottFlooring.
NEIL O’NEAL JR. ROOFING — Roofing & Reroofing. Family owned and operated. Residential/Commercial. Wood Replacement, Roof Coatings, Solar Vents, Skylights & Roof Ventilation. 561-656-4945 Lic. & Insured CCC1330208.Free Estimates
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
SCREENING
ANMAR CO.— James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftsman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC1327426 561-248-8528
JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio re-screening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com
LAND CLEARING/LAND DEVELOPMENT RKC LAND DEVELOPMENT—Land clearing, tree/vegetation removal, grinding, house pads, grading, fill, ponds. Mention ad for free estimate 561-791-7866
Town-Crier Classifieds Get Results Call 793-7606 To place your ad here! MOVING SERVICES ICON MOVING SERVICES — Provides full service moving, packing & storage. Rated “A” plus by BBB. Lic. & Ins. FREE ESTIMATES. Call 561-338-3157.
PAINTING J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit our website at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473 COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Int./Ext. Residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. Ins. 561-578-2873. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident
SECURITY SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years. Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004Lic.#U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990
8 Units, one location, pool. Walk to Publix & McDonalds. One story; 4 units 4/2, 1400 sq. ft. 3 units 3/2/1, 1200 sq. ft. 1 unit 1/1/1 670 sq. ft. Fenced patios. Owner/builder. 561.329.0240 $1,435,00 (Proof of funds)
OFFICE SPACE OFFICE SPACE TO SHARE - WELLINGTON
Affordable Wellington Office Space To Share • Large office with window • Centrally located in Wellington off Forest Hill Blvd. • Large conference room with Apple TV and White Board • Kitchen and Storage • Private side entrance • Plenty of safe parking • $800 per month includes high speed Comcast Internet • Sublet, no lease signing
May 13 - May 19, 2016 Page 35
BOOKKEEPER WANTED WELLINGTON AREA
Part Time, experienced in Quickbooks, flexible hours. Please fax resume to 561-793-1470 or email to:
wellingtoncompany.bookkeeper@gmail.com
Part-Time Graphic Designer Busy local publishing company is looking for a part-time graphic designer. The qualified candidate must be proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. PC platform. Web design and social media experience a plus, pay will commensurate with experience and ability.
Call or text Gregg at (561) 309-4346
REAL ESTATE
Email resume and sample to: dawnrivera@wellingtonthemagazine.com
FOR RENT - ROYAL PALM ROYAL PALM BEACH RENTAL — First floor condo in Green Way Village South. 55+. 1 bed, 1 1/2 bath. F/S. $800/month. Call 561-313-5582.
FOR RENT - WELLINGTON WELLINGTON RENTAL — Year round 1 bedroom apartment with reduced rate for horse care, plus a dry stall. Call 561-3850263 or e-mail TBUMP1841@aol.com
EMPLOYMENT
TREE SERVICE TREES TRIMMED AND REMOVED — 561-798-0412 D.M. YOUNG TREE SERVICE. Family Owned & Operated Lic. & Insured 1992-12121 Visit our website at dmyoungtreeservice.com AFFORDABLE TREE SERVICES — Tree removal, trimming, palm trees, edging and limb removal and yard cleaning etc. Irrigation/sprinkler systems - installation & repairs. Call 561-856-2909 or 754-215-7013
\
WALLPAPERING
PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Installation,Removal. Repair of Paper. Neat, Clean & Reliable. Quality work with a woman’s touch. 30 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263
PLACE YOUR PROFESSIONAL
PET DOCTOR - MOBILE/HOME CARE
SERVICES AD HERE
TIRED OF HOLDING YOUR CAT IN THE WAITING ROOM? — Call Critter Home Care and Stay Home Dr. Don Denoff. 561-517-8705
CALL 793-7606
PART-TIME ACCOUNTANT ASSISTANT — Part time, flexible, assistant to accountant. Must be organized self-starter, computer literate (Excel, MS Word), to answer phones, do filing, do scheduling. Must be willing to learn new tasks. Royal Palm Beach.REFERENCES WILL BE CHECKED.Respond to arnoldsachs1@att.net No phone calls. PART TIME, FLEXIBLE LEGAL SECRETARY/ASSISTANT. — Computer Literate (WordPerfect). Answer phones, schedule hearings, filing, assist with document preparation, etc. ONLY APPLICANTS WITH SOME EXPERIENCE WILL BE CONSIDERED. REFERENCES WILL BE CHECKED. Respond to j.a.abrams@att.net No phone calls. SUPERIOR WATERWAY SERVICES —is now hiring lake management applicators. The position requires an individual who enjoys working outside around lakes and wetlands. Job duties include application of aquatic herbicides for existing customers and the ability to professionally interact with customers. Excellent pay, benefits and company vehicle. Training is available for motivated individuals. Please email resumes to Lrallo@ superiorwaterway.com or call 561-844-0248.
PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND PRESCHOOL AIDE — Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Experience required. Call 561-790-0808
BOOKKEEP WANTED WELLINGTON AREA
Page 36 May 13 - May 19, 2016
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WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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HERE’S MY CARD
Manure Removal • Environmentally Friendly
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PALMS WESTTHIS WEEK’S
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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