Town-Crier Newspaper May 29, 2009

The

Graduation 2009

Bronco Class Of 2009 Heads Into The Real World

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The 566 graduating members of the Palm Beach Central High School Class of 2009 received kudos for their achievements and were encouraged to set high goals for their future during commencement ceremonies last Friday at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

“I think we are more prepared for the future than the future is for us,” Student Body President Alexa Carlin said in her welcoming comments. “Individually and together we have all made a difference — a difference in our school, a difference in our community — and soon we will all make a difference in our world.”

Principal Dr. Matthew Shoemaker congratulated the class on its accomplishments over the past school year. Members of the class received millions in scholar-

Place” last Saturday at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The free indoor fine art and craft exhibit and sale celebrated all things spring, and included more than 30 area artists showcasing their paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, jewelry and other fine crafts. Page 3

Business, Pleasure

Meet At PROCER

Friendship Mixer

A musical mix of Spanish and English filled the Players Club on Wednesday night at a friendship meeting for the Puerto Rican Organization for Cultural Enhancement and Reaffirmation (PROCER). Page 7

Lots Of Pets Find

Homes At Pet Fest

Village Pet Fest was held Saturday, May 16 at the Village Royale Shopping Plaza in Royal Palm Beach. Sponsored by Luv-a-Pet Puppy & Kitten Rescue and A Second Chance Puppies & Kittens Rescue, the event featured a number of animals for adoption from several local rescue organizations. Page 10

ships for post-secondary education. The class raised $51,000 for cancer research and treatment through the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, hosted by the school, and a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser — more money than any other high school in the nation, Shoemaker noted. “Everyone contributed to the mission,” he said.

For the St. Baldrick’s event, 2,200 gathered to watch 150 students and faculty members get their heads shaved for the cause.

Shoemaker said the students’ efforts touched lives and made a difference. “In a world of selfishness and greed, your gift of service and leadership to others inspired and strengthened,” he said. “Your presence on this campus will be truly missed, but our world needs you. On behalf of the faculty and community at Palm Beach Cen-

See PBCHS, page 9

Wellington Honors War Dead With Parade And Ceremony

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington commemorated Memorial Day on Monday with its customary parade from the Wellington Community Center to the Veterans’ Memorial at South Shore and Forest Hill boulevards, and a remembrance ceremony featuring local dignitaries.

In his opening invocation, Rabbi Stephen Pinsky of Temple Beth Torah asked those in attendance to take a moment to remember “those who made the ultimate sacrifice” so that others could enjoy their lives and freedoms.

“Bless our people with the love of righteousness and teach us to work for the welfare of all and to diminish evil that besets us and enlarge our nation’s vision,” he said.

“Bless our people with civic courage, and let us strive to make real the dream of a world of peace, and we shall put an end to the suffering that we inflict upon each other.”

Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen noted that he saw beauty in the day not because of the sunny weather, but because everyone at the ceremony had gathered to pay tribute.

“It’s a beautiful day because we live in such a great country where freedom is so cherished,” Bowen said.

“That freedom did not come cheaply. It came with sacrifices made by our men and women. Today, we’re here not only to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but we are here to say thank you to those who are

still with us and who served our country so proudly and greatly.”

Margaret Thorne-Henderson, a retired U.S. Air Force major, encouraged those present to recognize surviving veterans, as well as honor those who gave their lives.

“We are especially humbled because so many bright futures, hopes and dreams were sacrificed,” she said.

“Those who live today bear the scars and the lasting memory of those sacrifices and commitment.”

Thorne-Henderson urged listeners to emulate the actions of those heroes.

“We should look at what they did, and how they did it, and their resoluteness and actions, and in doing so imitate their courage and their

sacrifice. The legacy left behind is one of freedom, and the value of sacrifice and of virtue and of work. From this, we can learn and teach our children and our children’s children of the love of country and what it means to be a citizen of this country.”

State Rep. Joe Abruzzo (DWellington) said it was his privilege to pay tribute to such brave men and women, not only as an American and a state representative, but as an enlisted member of the United States armed forces.

“So often we talk about what makes this country great,” Abruzzo said. “Is it the great entrepreneurs, the business leaders, or the community leaders? Let us be honest. None of this would exist

See MEMORIAL, page 7

RPB Awards Bid For Groundwork On Commons Park

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Royal Palm Beach has chosen a contractor to begin work on converting the old Tradition Golf Course into Royal Palm Beach Commons Park, which village officials say will be one of the foremost municipal parks in the county.

Last week, the Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved the award of a $1.8 million contract to Palm Beach Grading Inc., the lowest bidder for Phase I of the park.

“Phase I is the earthwork creating all the ponds, creating all the berms,” Village Engineer Ray Liggins explained at the council’s May 21 meeting. “It’s also cleaning up the site from its previous use as a golf course with all the herbicides and pesticides that were used on the site. When this part of the project is finished, the 30acre large lake and three little lakes will be in there, and the shape of the park will be completed.”

The work is expected to begin in July, and the estimated timeframe for completion of the first phase is 240 days, Liggins said.

All the old pathways, restrooms and maintenance buildings on the 160-acre site will also be demolished, he added.

“It will actually be the largest municipal park in Palm Beach County,” Village Manager David Farber said. “This

is the beginning of what should be the finest park that we have in our system and perhaps in the western communities.”

The second phase includes plans for a three-story multipurpose building near the lakes that the village will use for boat storage rentals and a sundry shop on the bottom, with party and banquet halls on the upper levels.

A nine-hole executive golf course is also planned for the northwest quadrant of the park. Land has also been set aside for community art and civic groups to build on eventually.

“You should be able to do just about anything — kayak, canoe, walk, picnic and have a great day,” Mayor David Lodwick said. Councilman David Swift commented on the cost of Phase I, which was lower than anticipated.

“It’s a sign of the times,” Swift said. “I believe we were looking at $3 million that we had estimated. This is $1.8 million. This is a good time to construct stuff.”

Liggins said village staff would work on bidding out the second phase while the first phase is underway.

“Hopefully, we’ll be rolling forward and out to bid with the next phase by the time this is done,” Lodwick said. “Hopefully, the municipal bond market will come back so we can bond the next phase. We think that will be about $15 million worth of

See PARK, page 18

Coming

By Mark Lioi

Town-Crier Staff Report

Hopefully the third time will be the charm for a Palm Tran park-and-ride lot near the Mall at Wellington Green. The Wellington Village Council approved a third interlocal agreement Tuesday for the county-built lot, which would provide local residents easier access to public transit. Plans for the 138-space parking lot project, on the village’s two-acre civic site, include site improvements such as lighting, landscaping, irrigation and a bus shelter. The two-acre site west of the mall, accessed from Forest Hill Blvd. via Wellington Green Drive, has been used in recent years as parking for public events staged by the now-defunct Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches and other groups.

The park-and-ride lot project has suffered stops and starts. Last October, the council approved an agreement with Palm Tran and Palm Beach County in which the village would design, build and maintain the lot, with reimbursement from the county. Then in January, the council approved a new agreement giving the county responsibility for development. This latest version incorporates changes required by a joint participation agreement between the county and the Florida Department of Transportation. Palm Tran Executive Director Chuck Cohen told the council that under the current agreement, the county would develop the lot with funding from two grants from the Florida Department of Trans-

See PARK-RIDE, page 4

Bronco Grads — Palm Beach Central High School valedictorian Jake Saifman, saluta-

torian Christa Ochoa and Senior Class President Brielle Mallano.

PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Village of Royal Palm Beach held

Veterans Norman Kaufman and Jason Harvey at Monday’s observance in Wellington.

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

County Plans Rate Hike And Staff Cuts

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The county’s proposed budget includes 286 staff cuts and will require an increase in the millage rate, Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman said during Palm Beach County Commissioner Jess Santamaria’s monthly public forum on Wednesday.

The proposed budget, posted on the county’s web page Thursday, reflects a reduction of $36.6 million or 12 percent in ad valorem funded projects. Due to an anticipated 12 percent reduction in property values, county staff propose a millage rate increase from last year’s 3.78 to 4.29 to keep the individual tax amount the same.

“The budget highlights as proposed to county commissioners has a lot of interesting information,” Merriman said.

Property values continually increased until the past couple of years, Merriman noted. “As those property values continued to increase, typically governments reduced their millage rate by a little bit,” he said. “Sometimes they don’t reduce it a lot. Sometimes they leave it

the same. This year is a different year. Property values are declining, so the rollback rate, the [millage] number that generates the same amount of taxes as last year, is actually higher than it was this year.” If the county commission approves the budget as proposed, a homeowner who has owned a home for five years or more will pay less than he did five years ago, Merriman said.

The budget reflects no salary increases for its almost 6,000 county employees next year, he added. Of the 286 positions proposed for elimination, 175 are currently filled, Merriman said. The others became open, and if they were not critical they were not filled, he said.

General fund departments experienced a decrease in staff of about five percent last year and anticipate a similar decrease the coming year, Merriman said. Adding to the county’s challenges, sales tax revenue will be down to about the 2003 level, he said.

County staff is recommending the use of $47 mil-

Abruzzo’s Energy Bill Becomes Law

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Consumer Energy Savings Act (HB 167) recently signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist will allow Florida consumers 10 to 20 percent savings on energy-efficient appliances, the bill’s sponsor said last week.

Crist signed the bill into law on May 19, and sponsoring legislator State Rep. Joe Abruzzo (D-Wellington) commented on it during a legislative report to the Royal Palm Beach Village Council on May 21. The act authorizes a consumer rebate program on purchases of certain energy-efficient appliances, subsidized through federal stimulus funds and administered by the Florida Energy & Climate Commission.

“This is a great bill,” Abruzzo told council members. “It’s going to bring down over $18 million from the federal government for an Energy Star rebate program. At some point within this year, when you go into a store and buy an Energy Star appliance, you will receive a rebate of anywhere between 10 and 20 percent on that appliance.”

Abruzzo said the bill accomplishes three things: it helps the environment from an energy consumption standpoint, returns money to consumers and will boost retail and business sales.

“What I like about this bill from an economic standpoint, some of this federal stimulus money we’re receiving is kind of hard to track,” he told council members.

“We don’t know exactly where it’s going. Here we know exactly where the money is going, that’s right back in the pockets of consumers.”

Abruzzo, who just finished his freshman session in the State House, promised to sponsor an Energy Star bill during his election campaign, long before federal stimulus money became available. He said the idea for the bill came to him while watching economic reports on the nation’s dependence on foreign energy.

“I formulated the idea while watching a CNBC report about getting America off foreign energy,” Abruzzo told the Town-Crier on Thursday. “I started to formulate in my mind how to bring the environment and business together. At the time we weren’t officially in recession, but I was keeping watch on the energy situation.”

Abruzzo said he originally wanted the rebate program to be in July when retail sales are slow, then the federal stimulus money became available, which was more than he had imagined would ever be available for the program. He said the procedure for administration of the bill has yet to be worked out, probably by the Florida Energy & Climate Commission.

Abruzzo told council members he was pleased with the results of his first session as a representative. “Personally, I did have a successful session passing bills,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to pass five bills, which is the most of any freshman in the legislature.”

Abruzzo also sponsored the Hospitality Education Program bill (HB 717), which awaits Crist’s signature. Abruzzo told the TownCrier that at the beginning of the legislative session, he was contacted by concerned representatives from the hotel and restaurant industry.

“Every hotel and restaurant in the state pays an extra $10 fee within their licensing fee that’s supposed to go toward hospitality education,” he said. “They came to my office because they were concerned it might be used for general revenue.”

Abruzzo said he tracked the money and 75 percent of it was going to the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation for a program it runs to educate hotel and restaurant personnel.

He told the RPB council the bill would move a majority of the money to public high schools. “We saved over 20,000 students’ classes, and we tripled their funding,” he said.

Other Abruzzo-sponsored bills include Nicole’s Law, which requires children 16 and under to wear helmets while riding horses on public lands or while taking riding lessons, and two local bills clarifying that the Pine Tree and Lake Worth drainage districts are single-purpose districts.

In his presentation to the council, Abruzzo said the budget was the big issue this year.

Abruzzo told the council he voted against the budget for a number of reasons, but primarily because it proposes more than a billion dollars in new taxes mainly on the middle class in driver renewal fees and license plates.

Abruzzo said he was also opposed to a measure that hikes court fees in order to raise another $227 million.

The legislature accepted more than $3 billion in federal economic stimulus money to plug holes in the budget, Abruzzo said, but rejected more than $444 million of it that would have benefited the state’s unemployed.

“I understand the argument that some of my colleagues had where they did not want to take the money, but it did not come out of our pockets,” he said. “It’s just going to go to another state.” The legislature also raised university tuition by 15 percent, which Abruzzo said he could not support in a time of economic downturn. “These are a few of the many reasons that I could not vote for the budget,” he told the council.

WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY PRESENTS INDOOR ART EXHIBIT

The Wellington Art Society presented “Hot Art… Cool Place” last Saturday at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center.

The free indoor fine art and craft exhibit and sale celebrated all things spring, and included more than 30 area artists showcasing their paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, jewelry and other fine crafts. For more info., visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.

BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS

Local authors Jim and Colleen Wiggins sign copies of their various books.

Art teacher Grace Siegel (far right) with her students Pearl Layne, Phyllis Wagner and Edith Lavelanet.

Wellington Garden Club President Barbara Hadsell with some of the plants she had for sale.

Event Committee members Linda Rovolis, Jean Talbott, Adrianne Hetherington, Suzanne Redmond and Susan Barnett-Wolin.Jean Hennekam with some of her paintings.

Artist Norma Winter shows Ami Young how to apply dye to silk.

OUR OPINION

Hurricane Season Is Here: Be Safe, Prepare Early

Following hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004 and Katrina and Wilma in 2005, South Florida has seen little in the way of major hurricanes. The worst and only storm to hit our area in 2008 was Tropical Storm Fay, which blew through with winds of about 60 miles per hour. That storm did spawn some destructive tornadoes and minor flooding, but seasoned Floridians knew it could have been much worse. Had Fay developed into a hurricane, they would have been prepared before anyone else.

With the 2009 hurricane season officially starting Monday, it is vital to remember that the time to prepare is now, not the day before a storm is expected to hit. By getting to the supermarket before the crowd, you will be able to get a few flats of water, your choice of canned goods and other nonperishable items, as well as the batteries, candles and manual can openers you will need to survive without electricity.

Now is also the time to visit a home improvement store. When Frances was moving toward the east coast of Florida, lines of pickup trucks, SUVs and cargo vans were a sight to behold in front of every Lowe’s and Home Depot in

Responding To Binks Letter

Representatives of the Binks Forest Golf Club wrote a letter to the Wellington Village Council that was also published in last week’s Town-Crier . I have a few comments to make on some of their assertions.

First, a statement that I agree with: “we walked away from the council meeting a few months ago with the understanding that there would be a moratorium on enforcing any mowing restrictions until the council had an opportunity to reconsider the restrictions.” I also understood that there was a moratorium announced at that meeting. The mayor clearly said so, and no council member challenged the statement. In the past, village staff has been guided by the “consensus” of the council. I hope that the fact that staff was not guided in this case will set a precedent for future actions. I hope that staff will only act on real, verifiable votes in the future. As to the wisdom of issuing a moratorium, I strongly disagreed with the mayor’s opinion. Nevertheless, Binks was justified in their understanding that a moratorium had been issued.

The letter continued, “it was only two years ago that Aquila Binks Forest Development LLC purchased a dilapidated community eyesore...” It was far more than two years ago that the village passed its noise ordinance that controls noise generation in the village. Aquila should have been totally aware of those restrictions, as they should have been totally aware of all other village ordinances that might have an effect on their operations. Their statement that “some people are trying to use [the noise ordinance] to place unreasonable restrictions on ordinary and necessary golf course maintenance” is simply and purely self-serving. Those of us who oppose the proposed amendment to the noise ordinance are not trying to “place unreasonable restrictions” on anyone. We see the proposed amendment as special treatment for a special class of people who are look-

138 Spaces

continued from page 1 portation. The latest agreement was necessitated by a change from federal to state funding, Cohen said.

“Originally we expected this project would be about $500,000,” he said. “We were going to use federal funds; hopefully it won’t go above $700,000, and we’re planning to use two FDOT grants to fund that.”

The interlocal agreement covers a ten-year period with options for two additional five-year periods. Cohen said Palm Tran hopes the lot will be ready for service by late fall of this year.

Palm Tran had made some adjustments to the plans for the lot since the village’s previous review, Cohen said. “We now have room for two buses to stop at one time,

ing for an unnecessary, privileged exemption. And that exemption would legalize disruption and disturbance of citizens who have every right to expect peace and quiet during certain times of the night and morning. I used the term “unnecessary exemption” purposely and with research behind it. Turf maintenance equipment is available that produces far less noise than the equipment that is currently being used by the golf courses. Electric and battery powered equipment can even be less harmful to the turf. In particular, it lowers the probability that oil or gasoline will leak onto the turf. If the noise ordinance were amended to clarify the application of existing noise level standards to landscape maintenance, I believe that the courses could use lownoise equipment and quite properly maintain their turf without disturbing residents. They might have to arrange their maintenance schedule to avoid operations closer to residents at certain times, but that would not constitute an “unreasonable restriction.”

I live next to the Wanderers Club, not Binks Forest. Since the change to daylight savings time, Wanderers has delayed their early morning maintenance (except for Sundays). I have noticed no deterioration in their grounds. Again, with use of quieter equipment and with careful scheduling of maintenance, both courses could meet a clarified noise ordinance and maintain their grounds, and we could peacefully coexist. That is all that I ask, and I believe it is what the large majority of residents next to golf courses would ask. Phil Sexton Wellington

Don’t Put Golf Courses Over Residents

Editor’s note: The following letter is addressed to Mayor Darell Bowen and the Wellington Village Council. A copy was sent to the TownCrier for publication. Dear Mayor Bowen and Council Members: I live on the Wanderers

where the original design only allowed for one,” he said. “Otherwise there are still 138 parking spaces in this design, including five for people who are disabled.”

The lot’s users would be able to access Royal Palm Beach through Palm Tran’s Route 52 and West Palm Beach via Route 40, making only a handful of stops along Southern Blvd., Cohen said. Palm Tran has five routes making stops at the Mall at Wellington Green.

Cohen said the agreement would be reviewed by the Palm Beach County Commission at its June 2 meeting, after which Palm Tran would invite contract proposals. He thanked Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore and County Commissioner Jess Santamaria for coming up with the concept.

“Hopefully sometime this fall we’ll all be together for the grand opening at the parkand-ride lot that Commis-

the area. The day before Frances made landfall, it was a miracle if you could find a piece of plywood available for sale. Shopping for supplies now will allow you to choose the best selection of items available at reasonable pieces. In addition to food and supplies, it is equally important to stock up on any prescriptions you may need. And because the use of credit cards is limited following the storm, it is also an excellent idea to visit an ATM before the weather begins to get blustery. And let’s not forget our furry companions: pets need to be prepared as well. If your pet is on any medications, have enough to last two weeks, along with food, water and treats to last for the duration. If you have never taken a picture of yourself with your pet, now is the time; simply taking a picture of the pet by itself does not prove that you are the owner.

Shelters serving the western communities this year include Seminole Ridge High School (4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road) and Palm Beach Central High School (8499 Forest Hill Blvd.). For more information on hurricane preparedness, and how you can be certain that you’re as safe as possible before the storm, visit the National Hurricane Center’s web site at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Club golf course. I am against changing our noise ordinances. The Wanderers Club has a few hundred members in total, of which perhaps 40 members remain during the summer. I see two to three groups of golfers not everyday in the summer. In the winter, I see four to five groups, and that is an extremely busy day for the club. Perhaps five Lakefield residents belong to the Wanderers Club. Who are you representing? I find it unacceptable that the mayor and the council are still not listening to their constituents who have spoken very loudly against changing our noise ordinances. The Wanderers Club management has no regard for the law, ordinances or the residents of Wellington.

Mr. Mayor, your mantra that changing the noise ordinance will somehow be the financial key to the course’s success is absurd! The courses that closed in Wellington had nothing to do with tee times. Earlier tee times were not even a thought. These courses, including Binks Forest, closed due to the personal management of the owners and their agendas. Earlier tee times will never protect history from repeating itself. In fact, do you have any research to suggest that even one course closed because there were not tee times before 7 a.m.? Without those statistics, shouldn’t the existing ordinances be followed and enforced, not just changed because the request was made?

Owning a home on a golf course I know there will be noise associated with maintenance. However, it is unreasonable to have loud noise before 7 a.m. any day of the week. That’s any loud noise, anywhere in the village — much the same as not allowing garbage pickup before 7 a.m., which is the rule in Wellington.

Moreover Mr. Mayor, the affection and close relationship shown at public events between you, your wife and officers of the Wanderers Club suggests that there may be a personal agenda that you are following. Perhaps you should excuse yourself from any vote! Have you consid-

sioner Santamaria and Dr. Priore got together years ago to first talk about,” he said.

Noting that CityPlace had just announced new, tighter parking rules for employees, Priore asked Cohen whether riders would be able to reach the retail and entertainment center on buses from the lot.

“We would probably benefit from that because a lot of those employees come from out here, and it would be another added opportunity for the bus to utilize more passengers,” he said.

Cohen said the limitedstop Route 40 takes passengers to Palm Tran’s new inter-modal facility near the West Palm Beach Tri Rail station, and it and other routes make stops further downtown, but hopefully the city’s trolley service would also serve that facility.

“It is our desire and hope that the city’s trolley service will be frequenting our intermodal location so people can

ered how many people at every public meeting have been against this change? Why are you not going along with the requests of the residents who built this community? Why are you so adamant about changing the noise ordinance?

In closing, Mr. Mayor and council members: please vote to keep our ordinances that serve the needs of the majority of the residents of Wellington. The residents who live in Wellington, vote, follow the laws and ordinances, and raise families have the right to peaceful enjoyment of their homes! These are the people who voted for you to protect our rights. Please do your job!

Angela Weltzien Wellington

Higher Taxes Coming For Wellington

The news is out: millage rates can reach three mills or more. Our village will have $6 million or more debt. [The Wellington Village Council] will continue to juggle numbers and move columns to suit needs.

Is this over-spending, wasteful spending or just poor judgment? Let’s start with almost $1.5 million for a crime program in two areas of Wellington. In fact, the council discussed this and compared how the Isles is spending an additional $140,000 on an extra sheriff’s patrol and crime is the same or worse. Mind you, this is a man-guarded, gated community. The question is do we need to spend $1.5 million when we are $6 million-plus in debt? I don’t think so. In their own words, chances are there will be no change in crime, so why spend it to increase debt?

We are also facing a much higher budget for fire-rescue and sheriff’s services at $7.5 million in a village of 50,000. This seems high in today’s times for the amount of people living here. Plus, you are getting billed for the same service our taxes are paying for with fire-rescue. Is this double dipping? Now, for some wasteful

transfer and take the trolley downtown and to places like CityPlace,” he said. “We have designed the inter-modal center to have space for trolleys, school buses and Connection buses, and up to 14 Palm Tran buses. It opened up two weeks ago pretty much to rave reviews; it even handled all the water we got last week.”

Priore made a motion to approve the interlocal agreement, which was seconded by Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto and passed unanimously.

In other business, the council approved an amendment to the village’s code of ethics that loosens the rules just slightly.

The village’s ethics code, adopted when it incorporated in 1996, sets a $50 limit on gifts to council members and village employees from those who have had business with the village in the preceding 12 months. State law now

spending on Palm Beach Community College. This is around $300,000 to the taxpayers. PBCC never had $15 million or the money to continue to build; never had answers but just wanted our village to give them our pot of gold for them to profit by. Was this bad faith, bad intentions and poor judgment from our council? Due to these facts, can we recover our cost of $300,000 from PBCC? Bart Novack Wellington

Love Ernie Zimmerman

Each week I look for Ernie Zimmerman’s blurbs about life and Wellington. Curiously enough, I probably agree with him more than my wife (hopefully she won’t see this). When we feel unhappy about local politics, there is always Ernie to brighten up our day with his wit, common sense and stories from up north. In a time plagued with difficulties, Ernie’s “light reading” is an escape, and I thank the Town-Crier for perpetuating Ernie’s mindset! George Unger Wellington

Give Equal Support To Businesses

As many of you know, there is a Domino’s Pizza opening in the Publix plaza on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. There are many people who will welcome this as a different choice from the two existing pizza operations (Pascalli’s in the Publix plaza and the Pizza Barn in the Winn-Dixie plaza), and this is as it should be, considering the capitalistic foundations and pro-business mindset of our country. The intent of this letter is to hopefully be a reminder of some things moving forward:

• Both Pascalli’s and the Pizza Barn have supported

numerous groups here both monetarily and with food donations over the years.

• Don Pascalli has been instrumental in helping both the Acreage Chili Cookoff and the Acreage Fall Fest events to be the family-friendly events we needed them to be out here. (Disclaimer: I produce both events.)

• The community support that has been given generously and at times with much difficulty from both shops should be remembered and returned as often as possible through continued patronage and referrals.

• While I strongly believe in competition, I have to question the rather coldblooded business decision on the part of Publix to install a third pizza business in the community at this time. I have heard some suggest a boycott of Domino’s, which I think is a knee-jerk reaction, especially if you stop to consider that the owner of the new Domino’s is doing nothing other than pursuing his or her piece of the American dream. What I would like you to consider is the following: when you get the urge for a pizza in the future, try to purchase from at least two different shops on some kind of a rotating basis. As a fan of all three pizza shops, this poses a bit of a dilemma for me. But as a bigger fan of our community, I fear it creates a larger dilemma: by putting a third shop here, Publix has inadvertently created an opportunity for the already-diminished dollars to be spread too thin. Next school year, when kids and groups ask these three fine establishments for help and support, there may not be as much to give, for they may all be generating and receiving less revenue than they would if the pie was not cut into thirds. But with another tenant, maybe Publix will step up and add more dough. Robert Trepp The Acreage

The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). 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 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 793-6090 ; or you can e-mail them to letters@goTown Crier.com

sets that limit at $100, a maximum that the village’s amendment would adopt.

Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz told the council the change basically keeps the rule in step with the times.

“State law says that you can accept a gift of up to $100, and that just acknowledges that things cost money, and if you’re out to dinner or whatever it happens to be, it allows someone to buy you a dinner,” he said. “What we’re trying to do with this ordinance is make the gift limitation consistent with state law and bring it up to that $100 level.”

Kurtz added that the change also keeps pace with inflation. “The $50 level has been in place in the village for 13 years, and $50 13 years ago is probably worth more than $100 today,” he said. “What this will do is make it easier for you and other people who deal with you to comport to the requirement,

because everywhere around the state you’ve got the hundred-dollar limitation.” Kurtz said that the village’s ethics code in one respect is more stringent than that of the state. “In order to lobby, if you are a former official, you have to be out of office for three years in the village,” he said. “You’re able to lobby immediately after retiring from office under the state law. With the exception of those two areas, our ordinance and state law are virtually identical.”

In discussion with council members, Kurtz also noted that by charter, the village is required to update its ethics code to remain at least as stringent as state law. Priore made a motion to approve the amendment on first reading, which was seconded by Councilman Matt Willhite and passed unanimously. The amendment must undergo a second reading before final adoption.

ROYAL PALM BEACH OBSERVES MEMORIAL DAY AT VETERANS PARK

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday at Veterans Park. The morning ceremony featured the honor guard from American Legion Post 367, members of the Jewish War Veterans Post 684, a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Jessica Stiles, the Pledge of Allegiance by Tyler Retzler and the Royal Palm Beach Early Childhood Activity Program participants, Boy Scout Troop 111, Brownie Troop 515 and various local dignitaries. Refreshments prepared at the Wild Orchid Café were served by Young at Heart volunteers following a gun salute.

It’s

You

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Rabbi Bertram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach says a prayer during the ceremony.

Retired Naval Commander Ted Van Istendal poses with black lab King Summersgill.

American Legion Post 367 performs the gun salute.

Jeaga Middle School reading teacher Celia Waterman delivers a thank-you letter from her students.

Sal Sgroi, Mike Carroll, Ken Soule and Ray Branch.

Naval Chief Warrant Officer Leo Stanley with Linda Herrunzie.

Sandra Beck shows her patriotic side.

Members of the Royal Palm Beach Early Childhood Activities program: (front row) Jacob Wells, Gracie Kercheville and Thomas Sperring; (back row) Paige and Jenna Kercheville and Tyler Retzler.

Boy Scouts from Pack 111 and Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Matty Mattioli with a ceremonial wreath.

Thieves Escape With Four Digital Cameras In RPB

By Kristina Webb Town-Crier Staff Report

MAY 23 — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Royal Palm Beach responded last Saturday to the Radio Shack store on Okeechobee Blvd. regarding a shoplifting incident. According to a PBSO report, a man and woman took four digital cameras valued at a total of $1,000 without paying. There is surveillance footage of the suspects, and it is believed that they have been involved in thefts from other area Radio Shack stores. The suspects are described as a black man and woman, both in their 40s or 50s. The man is about 6’ tall, of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a plaid shirt, dark shorts, and dark socks and shoes. The woman is about 5’4” tall, of heavy build, with black curly hair that may have been a wig, and brown eyes. She was wearing a black muumuu with a flower print and dark shoes.

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MAY 21 — A Wellington man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop last Thursday. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 6:20 p.m. a deputy from the Wellington substation pulled over a 1978 blue Chevrolet driven by 20-yearold Ryan Sochen at the intersection of South Shore Blvd. and Polo Club Drive for having an illegal window tint. During the course of the traffic stop, the deputy asked Sochen if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle, and Sochen gave the deputy a glass pipe containing marijuana residue. Sochen was issued a notice to appear in court and given a citation.

MAY 22 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded last Friday to a vehicle burglary in the parking lot at the Village Shoppes on Southern Blvd. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 1:45 and 2:37 p.m., someone entered the victim’s 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe and stole her gym bag that was on the front passenger floor. Inside the bag were the victim’s purse, credit cards, driver’s license, cash and a Blackberry cell phone. According to the report, the car doors were still locked, so the suspect most likely reached through the window to steal the bag. There was no available surveillance video of the area where the car was parked, and there were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

the deputy found one Xanax pill and 21.3 grams of marijuana on the front seat of the car. Irizarry and Sanchez were placed under arrest and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail. MAY 23 — A Wellington man was arrested early last Saturday morning for driving under the influence of alcohol in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 6:30 a.m. a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation found 18year-old James McNeill passed out in his vehicle at the intersection of Southern and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. McNeill was charged with obstructing an intersection, possession of an open container of alcohol and driving under the influence. He was taken to the county jail. MAY 24 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded last Sunday to a home in Counterpoint Estates regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 4 and 8:30 p.m. last Saturday, someone broke into a home on Donwoods Lane. The following morning, the victim noticed that a jewelry box was missing from her dresser, and a Visio television in her bedroom appeared to have been tampered with. Latent prints were lifted from the television and placed into evidence. There were no signs of forced entry, and the victim reported that she might have left a sliding glass door open. MAY 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded Monday to a residence in the Shoma Homes community. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3 p.m. on April 27 and 11 a.m. on Monday, someone had stolen the victim’s exterior air conditioning unit from behind his town home, which had been vacant for the past month. The unit was a Rheem 3.5ton model valued at $800. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

MAY 22 — Two people were arrested last Friday for narcotics possession at the intersection of Business Parkway and State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, 22-year-old Michel Irizarry of West Palm Beach was driving a 1999 red Ford Explorer with passenger 20-year-old Christie Sanchez of Greenacres when a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation pulled them over. According to the report,

MAY 25 — A resident on Northumberland Circle called the PBSO substation in Wellington on Monday to report a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3 p.m. last Sunday and 1 p.m. the following afternoon, someone entered the victim’s unlocked 2000 Chevrolet Silverado and stole a ten-inch subwoofer worth $350 and a black four-gigabyte iPod Nano valued at $400. The deputy recovered latent prints and DNA evidence from the scene. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

MAY 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded Monday to a vehicle burglary at the Wellington Dog Park on Greenbriar Blvd. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3:30 and 3:35 p.m., someone smashed a window of the victim’s white 2009 Volkswagen Jetta and stole a See BLOTTER, page 18

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Frank Boltri, a.k.a. Joseph Boltri, is a white male, 5’10” tall and weighing 170 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. His date of birth is 08/23/45. He has scars on his abdomen and right arm. Boltri is wanted for failure to register as a sex offender. His occupation is unknown. He is currently at large. Boltri is wanted as of 05/29/09. • Joham Joseph is a black male, 5’7” tall and weighing 150 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 01/15/59. Joseph is wanted for obtaining property in return for a worthless check, draft or debit card. His occupation is mason. His last known address was 71st Street North in The Acreage. Joseph is wanted as of 05/29/09. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppers pbc.com.

Frank Boltri

Joham Joseph

RPB Zoners Not Pleased When Business Skips Hearing

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Members of the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission granted a postponement regarding a retail store’s application Tuesday, but fumed over the applicant’s failure to appear at the meeting.

Deals $5 and Less, in the Royal Palm Commons shopping center on State Road 7, is seeking architectural approval of new storefront windows, but requested the commission postpone the hearing because no store representative would attend the meeting. The commission was originally scheduled to review the application at its April meeting, but that hearing was also

postponed due to the absence of a store representative.

Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin told commissioners that the store manager had called him that day and sought advice from planning staff as to whether they should postpone again because no one from the store was going to be there. “I did advise them that it would probably be best to postpone it to next month so someone from the store could be here,” he said.

“We had one application on the agenda for one item,” Chairwoman Jackie Larson said. “As of today, they chose to postpone.”

Larson said the store has been in operation for more than a month under a tempo-

rary certificate of occupancy (TCO) and that the windows for which they seek approval have already been installed.

“Why are we giving them another 45-day TCO?” Commissioner Darrell Lange asked.

Erwin said issuing the certificate was the prerogative of the building inspector.

“They installed the windows without permits,” Lange said. “Now they’re trying to come in after the fact?”

Gregg J. Gregoire of Dependable Construction Services in Willis, Texas, who is representing the store, told the Town-Crier by phone Thursday that his company had been issued a permit to redo the storefront, but the inspector had failed the

project because it did not have hurricane-strength windows, and his company had reinstalled them.

“We received permits, but the inspector said the windows have to be impact-resistant to 140 mph,” he said.

Lange voiced frustration that commission members and staff had come to a meeting whose sole agenda item, other than a signage workshop, was to review the store’s application.

“It’s pretty easy: you show up, you discuss the storefronts,” Lange said. “What are they going to do in another 30 days when this board decides not to approve the storefront?”

Erwin said he assumed they would appeal to the Roy-

al Palm Beach Village Council.

“And that’s fine, too, but here we are three months later and we’re allowing them to occupy?” Lange asked. “I just don’t get it. I know everybody likes to see stores open right now in this economy. You’d think that they would follow the proper procedures, and this is the second time that they have cancelled.”

Commission Alternate Genevieve Lambiase said she also felt frustrated. “We’re not here having a picnic,” she said. “I agree with what you’re saying.”

“A TCO, in my opinion, doesn’t mean you should be doing business,” Lange said. “I know that they’re allowed

to do that, but all these other people come and follow the procedure; I don’t know why it’s so hard for this store to follow the simple procedures.”

Lambiase said she was concerned that granting another postponement would be a poor example. “I’m concerned that this will set a precedent by allowing this to occur in the future,” she said. Erwin said there is no legal ramification for applicants who do not show up for zoning meetings, but Larson asked if village staff could take a harder position on TCOs.

“I think this board would like to recommend to staff that [applicants] be denied

See ZONERS, page 18

Business And Pleasure Meet At PROCER Friendship Mixer

By Laura Hampson Town-Crier Staff Report

A musical mix of Spanish and English filled the air Wednesday night at a friendship meeting for the Puerto Rican Organization for Cultural Enhancement and Reaffirmation (PROCER).

The mixer, held at the Players Club restaurant in Wellington, was a way for businesses, professionals and new members to meet the PROCER board of directors and current members, said Israel Pabón, the group’s president.

Handshakes, hearty laughs and business cards were also exchanged as friends reconnected. “We want the community to know about us,” Pabón said.

In Spanish, a “procer” is a leader and an outstanding person. The organization aims to be just that.

PROCER’s mission is to preserve and advance the Puerto Rican culture through civic, social and educational pro-

grams. The group designs programs to enhance the quality of life for both Puerto Ricans and the communities they live in.

The organization is not only for Puerto Ricans though, Pabón said. Everyone is welcome. He sees the programs and activities PROCER plans as a way of keeping the Puerto Rican culture alive and sharing it with others.

“This group has a unique ability to be warm and social, and mix business in a nonstuffy way,” said Sandy Doerr, a member of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and president of Corporate Marketing of America.

The mixer was Doerr’s first time at a PROCER event, and he planned to become a member after meeting several members and learning about their activities.

Also with the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber, Sam Roman thought the mix-

er had a good turnout. He was there to support PROCER, for the two groups often work together.

PROCER is the only nonprofit organization in Florida to teach the cuatro, the national instrument of Puerto Rico. The instrument is smaller than a guitar but larger than a violin and has a unique sound, member Edgar Torres explained. Its name derives from the earlier form of the instrument, which had four strings, though the mod-

ern version now has ten strings. PROCER members volunteer through the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington to teach children to play the cuatro.

Also partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Riviera Beach, PROCER member Reynaldo Durán teaches acrylic painting classes. The programs are designed to share the history, traditions and culture of Puerto Rico, as well as promote multicultural understanding.

Besides board meetings held on the last Tuesday of each month, PROCER hosts many social and cultural events throughout the year. At Kaleidoscope 2009 in January, PROCER won “Best First Time Participant.” It partnered with Forest Park Elementary School, the Charter School of Boynton Beach and Forest Park Beacon Center to create a model Puerto Rican village. On June 28, the group will celebrate “Fiesta en el Batey,”

a family picnic with traditional Puerto Rican foods and games at Okeeheelee Park. In September and October, PROCER will partner with Palm Beach Community College’s Lake Worth campus to showcase Hispanic artwork, poetry and dances as part of the Hispanic heritage month activities. To learn more about PROCER’s events, or to become a member, visit www. procercultural.org or call (561) 439-5631.

NATIONAL CEMETERY HOLDS SERVICE IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY

A Memorial Day ceremony was held Monday at the South Florida National Cemetery on State Road 7 south of Wellington. Speakers included Vietnam veteran and event organizer Dennis Koehler, actor Rev. Dr. Ben Vereen, Cemetery Director-Designee Mishelle Kochel, Congressman Ron Klein and more. The Wellington High School band and Majorettes provided entertainment. The ceremony concluded with the retirement of the colors and the playing of “Taps.” A special presentation also was made to Bill Baggett, who had overseen previous ceremonies at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens.

Members of the

Memorial Wellington Service

continued from page 1 today if it weren’t for our military and for those who sacrificed their lives for us.”

Abruzzo recalled during his election campaign when he visited the home of a veteran whose dining room wall showcased more medals than he had ever seen. The veteran said he was the sole survivor of a ship blown up at sea. “That moment made me realize what this day was all about,” Abruzzo said.

“Government must show by actions, and not just words, that in fact we do appreciate the sacrifices and hardships endued by our returning war heroes by providing adequate care to enable them and their families to live somewhat of a normal life,” he said. “At the minimum, our government must provide psychological counseling and physical rehabilitation, training for employment, proper housing as well as reasonable financial aid. All of this would cost a lot of money, but what is the price? We must be willing to pay the price to continue enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.”

Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite, a U.S. Navy

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria noted that returning veterans come home not just with physical scars, but also mental wounds, and that caring for them is part of the price of freedom.

veteran, praised attendees who chose to honor those who served rather than spend their day at a barbecue or picnic.

“We gather to say thank you,” Willhite said. “Thank you for what our departed, living and currently serving service men and women have given us. They have given of themselves and their families and their futures so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.”

Willhite encouraged veterans to join Wellington’s American Legion Post 390, established last year.

“Please take the time to honor a veteran today,” Willhite said. “Please honor them by not only saying thank you for your service, but honor them by teaching generations to come.”

PHOTOS BY LAURA HAMPSON/TOWN-CRIER

Sandy Doerr with Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce Vice President Sam Roman.

Artists Carlos Riviera and Alida Cordero.

PHOTOS BY

Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. and his wife Jane with Capt. Ben Lubin and Vietnam veteran Dave Knapp.

Actor Rev. Dr. Ben Vereen says a few words.

WHS Band Director Mary Oser conducts.

WHS Majorettes perform.

Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen says a few words.

Lou Galterio sings the national anthem.

State Rep. Joe Abruzzo and County Commissioner Jess Santamaria with one of the memorial wreaths.

Wellington Vice Mayor and Vietnam veteran Dr. Carmine Priore.

Jeannie and Daniel Gelfand with their daughter Jasmine.

Equine First Aid Clinic In

Lox Groves

Ron Seibly will hold a clinic on equine first aid and hurricane preparedness on Sunday, June 7 at Red Fences Farm on D Road in Loxahatchee Groves starting at noon. The cost is $15. To sign up, call Seibly at (561) 5477082 or Red Fences Farm at (561) 333-3018.

Car Show To Benefit Summer Camp

The Salvation Army will host its inaugural car show on Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its facility located at 4051 Kirk Road. Last year, the Lake Worth Corps provided the opportunity for summer camp to nearly 60 children ranging in age from six to 13 years.

COMMITTEE PLANS EVERGLADES BENEFIT

Committee members planning the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation’s upcoming benefit “Jazz It Up for the Everglades” met last Thursday at the Gypsy’s Horse Irish Pub & Restaurant in the original Wellington Mall. The event, held in support of the foundation’s Everglades educational programs, will take place on Nov. 8 in the mall’s center court. The group will meet monthly to continue planning for the event. Grand benefactors are Jess and Victoria Santamaria. Pictured above, committee members gather for a group photo. PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Some of the children had never before experienced a summer camp. Through donations, underprivileged kids got to attend camp in Lake Worth, where they played sports, swam, explored the outdoors and made crafts. And beyond the recreation, they learned how to work together with a diverse group of neighbors, dealing with troubling issues and concerns that challenge them in their daily lives.

The Salvation Army Lake Worth Corps will allow for vehicle registration the day of the event. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at a cost of $20 per vehicle. In addition to the cars on display, the corps will also have antique fire trucks, the Blood Mobile, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Lake Worth Fire-Rescue and many more supporters and vendors on hand.

For more info., call Eva Whitehouse at (561) 9688189 or visit www.salvation armypalmbeachcounty.org.

Family Fun Day At P.W. Surgicenter

Palms West Surgicenter will hold Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attractions will include a bounce house, face painting, barbecue and cotton candy. A raffle will be held for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and tours will be available of Palms West Surgi-

center, which is oriented to pediatric services. The center is located at 12961 Palms West Drive on the campus of Palms West Hospital. For more information, call Lauren Lazar at (561) 400-7373 or e-mail lauren.lazar@hca healthcare.com.

Annual Law Enforcement Awards June 7

The Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee recently announced that it will participate in the Second Annual Law Enforcement Awards program on Sunday, June 7 at Redemptive Life Fellowship Church in West Palm Beach.

“The DEC will be joining the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Dot’s Success Academy, and the DEC V.O.I.C.E. Committee in honoring 15 local law enforcement officers for their deep commitment to upholding the law and for having earned the respect of their fellow officers,” DEC Chair Mark Alan Siegel said. “We are proud to be joining this wonderful event.”

Redemptive Life Fellowship is located at 2101 Australian Avenue. The program will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. In addition to the 15 officers, State Sen. Ted Deutch and Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw will be honored.

Speakers for the event will

be Redemptive Life Fellowship Founder and Senior Pastor Bishop Harold Ray, Siegel and the PBSO’s Director of Law Enforcement Operations Col. Mike Gauger. The keynote speaker will be former Palm Beach County chief judge Edward Rodgers.

The event is free and open to all members of the public who would like to honor Palm Beach County’s finest. For additional information, or to RSVP, contact Nicole Galante at (561) 381-7772 or nicolegee7@aol.com.

WRMC Program Earns Accreditation

The Dermatology Residency Training Program at Wellington Regional Medical Center, under the direction of board-certified dermatologist

Dr. Brad Glick, has received a five-year accreditation by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the maximum level of approval that can be attained. Following an intensive review process by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, with a finding of no deficiencies, accreditation was issued by the AOA, which remains in effect until the next program review in 2014.

“We take great pride in the quality of our dermatology residency program and our exceptional physician graduates,” Medical Education

Dr. Jeffrey Bishop

Program Director Dr. Jeffrey Bishop said. “They leave our program well prepared for independent practice with strong foundations in osteopathic medicine as well as dermatology.”

The Medical Education Program at WRMC is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association and is affiliated with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. The program provides a comprehensive postgraduate medical education curriculum offering resident students maximum exposure to all areas of osteopathic medicine through a series of service rotations. In addition to a family practice residency, specialty residency programs are offered in internal medicine, dermatology and by fall 2009, emergency medicine.

PBCHS 566 Grads

continued from page 1 tral High School, I wish you continued success and blessings on your journey.”

Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson congratulated the Bronco graduates as well as other graduating classes in the county. “Our county has been the only A-rated county in Florida for the past four years consecutively because of students like you who have led us to that position,” he said. “I commend you for a job well done.” Johnson encouraged graduates to invest time in their future now and enjoy the rewards later. “We call this delayed gratification,” he said. “It’s an important concept for all of us to remember.”

Too many young people and adults seek their rewards too soon, Johnson said. “They seek the path of least resistance,” he said. “We call that immediate gratification. I am convinced that today’s economic mess and the continued incidents of corruption and the problems that we see in our society are rooted in the pursuit of immediate gratification. As you go through life, you will need to ask yourself the critical question: do I want to have a good time, or do I want to have a good life? You have an advantage because your parents and teachers have instilled in you the values to work and work hard to have a good life.”

Valedictorian Jake Saifman said his class had witnessed many firsts in the past year. “We have witnessed a

Bronco football team that successfully completed their first winning season,” he said. “We have witnessed a Bronco baseball team that is nationally ranked. We have witnessed a pep rally where our very own principal took a pie in the face to proclaim his Bronco pride.”

The class also saw an increase in student activities, academic success, community service and athletic participation, Saifman said. “If I could pass on one piece of advice to all of you, don’t let life pass you by,” he said. “Do not be that idle witness who stands aside to miss an opportunity. If you want to be an engineer, make it your responsibility to receive the best education possible and engage yourself in the necessary experience.”

PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

The Traditions and Senior Singers perform the senior song.

Valedictorian Jake Saifman speaks.

Senior Class President Brielle Mallano receives her diploma from Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson. Twin brothers Christopher and Blake Rogers.

Scott Kelly with his mother Marilyn.

Anthony Baez with his father Ralph.

Graduate Alejandra Reyna with stepmother Rachael Moreno and father Mauricio Flores.

Rhoda Cephus with her parents Jennifer and Greg.

Brielle Mallano speaks to her fellow graduates.

RPB COSTCO RAISES MONEY FOR CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK

Costco Wholesale Club in Royal Palm Beach hosted the Children’s Miracle Network Kid’s Safety Festival last weekend as part of Costco’s campaign to benefit the organization. All month long, Costco customers have made donations through their purchase of rainbows, snow cones, bake sale items and balloons, as well as karaoke night at Tree’s Wings & Ribs. Costco is located at 11001 Southern Blvd. For more info., call (561) 803-8830.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY

Costco employees Dana McGovern and Phyllis Zacharia donate money.

Andrea Aguilar of the Rotary Interact Club sells raffle tickets.

Kayla Goldstein paints Samantha Atkins’ face.

Marnie Coote hands out a free sample to Beverly Nadal.

Danielle Parks and Krystal Moss pose with the Michelin Man.

Volunteers Monica Anaya, Jennipher Castillo and Brigette Court decorate corn muffins.

at

Village Royale Shopping Plaza in Royal Palm Beach. Sponsored by Luv-a-Pet Puppy & Kitten Rescue and A Second Chance Puppies & Kittens Rescue, the event featured

Luv-a-Pet’s Denise Willoughby, Save-a-Pet’s

Gertrude Maxwell and A Second Chance Puppies & Kittens Rescue’s Peter Torres.Ashley Chaves with newly adopted bassett hound Nina.

W4CY Radio’s Dean K. Piper, Gertrude Maxwell and Peter Wein.

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, May 30

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold its VolunTeen Orientation on Saturday, May 30 at 9 a.m. This is a mandatory meeting for students ages 12 to 18 interested in volunteering during the summer. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach High School boys basketball team will hold an Offensive Skills Clinic on Saturday, May 30 at the RPBHS gymnasium. Athletes in kindergarten through the fourth grade will meet between 9 and 11:30 a.m., followed by grades five through eight from noon to 2:30 p.m. The clinic will feature drills to enhance individual skills, as well as instruction on playing in game situations. The cost is $20. Call Coach Drew Quinn at (561) 398-8341 for details.

Sunday, May 31

• The Florida Trail Association will hold a leisurely stroll on the Green Cay Wetlands Boardwalk on Sunday, May 31. This is as leisurely as you can get, with plenty of time to view the wetland environment. Meet at the entrance to Green Cay wetlands on Hagen Ranch Road at 7 a.m. For more info., call Sherry at (561) 963-9906.

• South East Rods & Customs and Cars of Dreams Museum will present a Car Show to benefit Hospice of Palm Beach County on Sunday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cars of Dreams Museum (133 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach). The car show will be free to the public. Car entry fee will be $15 pre-entry and $20 the day of the show. For more info., call (561) 7533279 or visit www.serodsn customs.com or www.carsof dreams.com.

• The Village of Wellington and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will kick off the summer with a Block Party at the Wellington Community Center on Sunday, May 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy free pool admission all day, come out and get to know your neighbors, and learn about local restaurants, businesses and services while enjoying familyfriendly entertainment. For vendor information, call Nicole Evangelista at (561) 791-4733 or e-mail at nicolee@ci.wellington.fl.us.

• Local hurricane preparedness expert John Klemas will host a Hurricane Seminar on Sunday, May 31 at 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building (990 Big Blue Trace, Wellington). The seminar is free and open to the public. For more info., call Colin Baenziger at (561) 707-3537.

Monday, June 1

• Norwalk Furniture (2515 State Road 7, Wellington) will present “An Evening of Fine Art” featuring artwork by Karen Knight on Monday, June 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. Food will be provided by deVine Bistro & Bar. Admission is a $10 donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more info., call (561) 422-9901.

• The Village of Royal Palm Beach will host its monthly Community Concert Series on Monday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Park (corner of Sparrow Drive and Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). Derrick Hadley and the Motowners will be the evening’s entertainment. For more info., call (561) 790-5196.

Tuesday, June 2

• The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will meet on Tuesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District office (101 West D Road, Loxahatchee Groves). Call (561) 793-2418 for more info.

Wednesday, June 3

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Famous Authors Live: James Grippando” on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. for adults. Meet this best-selling author, chat, ask questions and get the scoop on Grippando’s novel Born to Run. A book signing will follow. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• No Doubt and Paramore will perform at the Cruzan Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds on Wednesday, June 3 at 8 p.m. Lawn and reserved seating is available. Call (561) 795-8883 or visit www.livenation.com for more info.

Thursday, June 4

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will present the 13th Annual Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers’ Festival on Thursday, June 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The food tasting and business expo will feature more than 40 local restaurants and caterers offering samples of their fare with business exhibitors displaying their products and services. There will also be plenty of delectable chocolate samplings. Tickets cost $12 at the door. For more info., call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com.

• The Royal Palm Beach Village Council will meet on Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at the Village Meeting Hall (1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). Call (561) 790-5100 or visit www.royalpalm beach.com for more info.

Friday, June 5

• The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum (One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) will host “Founder’s Day” on Friday, June 5. Founder’s Day gives visitors free access to the National Historic Landmark. The museum’s extensive collection of art, furniture and historic objects related to life during the Gilded Age will be on display. Call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us for more info.

• The West Palm Beach Antiques Festival will return to the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7. The festival attracts dealers from all over the country who sell a vast array of antiques, collectibles and decorative accessories. Call (561) 6403433 or visit www.festival ofantiques.com for more info.

• The exhibit “Surfari” will be on display Friday, June 5 through Sept. 4 at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts (373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta). “Surfari” will explore surf culture from its early origins in South Florida. Call (561) 746-3101 or visit lighthousearts.org for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Summer Kickoff: Camp Rock” on Friday, June 5 at 2 p.m. for ages eight to 15. Celebrate the start of summer with an interactive version of the movie Camp Rock. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Saturday, June 6

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold its Summer Reading Program kickoff “Tale Twisters” on Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m. for grades pre-K and up. Children help to create “tales” and wear “twisted” balloon costumes. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Palm Beach Kennel Club (1111 North Congress Ave., West Palm Beach) will show the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6 at 11:30 a.m. Come out and wager on the third jewel of the Triple Crown, plus enjoy 15 live greyhound races with superfecta wagering, a trackside barbecue, drink specials, prize drawings and more. Admission is $1. Call (561) 683-2222 or visit www.pbkennelclub.com for more info.

Sunday, June 7

• Children ages four through the sixth grade are invited to participate in Vacation Bible School at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington Sunday, June 7 through Thursday, June 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. The theme “Crocodile Dock: Where Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light” will use a bayou focus to help children learn about Jesus. The cost for the week is $10 per child and $5 for each additional sibling. Call (562) 793-4999 or e-mail pastorweiss@bellsouth.net for more info.

Monday, June 8

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Baby Story Time” on Mondays, June 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 9:30 a.m. for under nine months and at 11:15 a.m. for 10 to18 months. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

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

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

PACK 120 SCOUTS HOLD SPACE DERBY, CROSS OVER TO NEW RANKS

Cub Scout Pack 120 of Royal Palm Beach held its last pack meeting of the school year on Sunday, May 17 at H.L. Johnson Elementary School. The meeting included a “space derby” in which the scouts raced spaceships they designed using balsa wood. The derby was held just for fun and was noncompetitive. The scouts received patches and belt loops for their accomplishments, and also “crossed over” to their new ranks for next year. Den 3 received a ribbon for having one of the best activity booths at the recent Meg-O-Ree campout in St. Lucie County. Several Pack 120 adult leaders received certificates for training programs they have completed.

RPB Author Publishes New Book

PublishAmerica recently published the book Life After Sugar and White Flour by Royal Palm Beach author Penelope DeStefano.

“Many years ago I realized that perhaps life is not all about food,” DeStefano said.

“I am not a nutritionist or a doctor; my credentials come from life experience. With that in mind, I have written this book to tell a little of my story and share the recipes I have created throughout the last 20 years in hopes that perhaps they will benefit

someone looking for an alternative to sugar and white flour. I discovered that when I consume sugar and white flour, my whole being is negatively affected. It actually deadens my feelings and sucks my energy and zest for life. Altering the way I eat not only improved my emotional well being, physically I lost weight. I must caution you that you will gain something — joy, freedom and peace!”

PublishAmerica, home of 35,000 talented authors, is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers. Like more mainstream

publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties, makes its books available in both the United States and Europe through all bookstores, and never charges any fees for its services. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.

PBIA Exhibit To Feature Acreage Artist

The acrylic-on-canvas painting Spring Blossoms by local modern realist painter Tony M. Baker has been se-

lected for inclusion in the upcoming exhibition “AbsoBLOOMIN-lutely!” at the Palm Beach International Airport.

Palm Beach County is presenting the exhibit as part of its Art in Public Places program.

“Abso-BLOOMIN-lutely!” opens Wednesday, June 3 and continues until Thursday, Sept. 17. The exhibit will be located in the Main Terminal Level 2. Baker’s painting is available for sale during the exhibition.

Baker is a member of the Wellington Art Society and the Art Alliance of Jupiter, and has been a portfolio member at www.absolute

arts.com since 2007. Some of Baker’s work can be seen on his web site at www.tony bakerstudio.com.

Area Schools To Host Blood Drive June 8

In honor of Sebastian Sarmiento, who passed away earlier this year from leukemia, a blood drive will be held at Polo Park Middle School and Elbridge Gale Elementary School on Monday, June 8 from 2 to 8 p.m. The event is also a celebration of Sebastian’s birthday. He would have been ten years old on June

(561) 472-3939.

Sebastian Sarmiento 8. To donate platelets, call Florida’s Blood Centers’ Royal Palm Beach location at

Den 1 members cross over to their new ranks.

Den 3 members cross over to their new ranks.

Den 3 members receive ribbons for their activity booth at Meg-O-Ree campout.

Katherine Lange helps scouts with their space derby.

Den 9 members cross over to their new ranks.

Adult leaders receive certificates for completing their training.

Crestwood Readers Recognized At Luau-Themed Assembly

A total of 913 Crestwood Middle School students (74 percent of the student body) were recognized for their outstanding Accelerated Reader efforts for the 2008-09 school year during three grade level assemblies May 19-21. The students enjoyed food, prizes, Hawaiian music and videos, and left with gifts of leis and beach balls. Faculty members dressed in grass skirts and leis entertained the students with hula dancing contests.

Awards were given to the top three AR point earners in each grade. Sixth graders Haley Boodheshwar, Jason

Guo and Sean Malynn placed first, second and third respectively. In the seventh grade, students Kayla Cunha, Willene Nazaire and Monte Jason took first, second and third respectively. In the eighth grade, Knunput Bangkuarak captured first place, while Kevin Thies took second and Bryan Thiemann placed third. Bangkuarak was the highest AR point-getter among all Crestwood students for this year. He also received an award for earning the most points for three consecutive years — nearly 2,000 AR points.

BAEZ, MUNKER WILDCAT ROYALTY

Panther Run Presents Eco-Friendly Play

Panther Run Elementary School reading and writing teacher Christine Salehi worked with her students recently in their performance of a play she wrote titled Back to the Future . Unlike the movie of the same name, Salehi’s play is about saving the planet. Because Panther Run has gone “green” this year and has had several activities promoting “saving the earth,” Salehi thought it would be a good idea to create a play on that topic using a few of the books she had read to her class this year. The books included The

In Salehi’s play, two environmentally conscious students must try to save the world from the evil Dr. No with the help of the audience. They enter Dr. No’s time machine three times, and after observing each scene, must try to figure out the three key words that will unlock the earth’s future! When the students, along with the audience, uncover the key words (reuse, reduce, recycle), Dr. No disappears.

WES COOL CATS HOLD FINAL PERFORMANCE

The Wellington Elementary School Cool Cats recently hammed it up for the camera after their last performance of the year. Under the direction of music teacher Beth Smalling, the Cool Cats showed off their talents to students and parents. Fifth-grade students who have achieved black belt status in karate recorder are invited to join this very special group of young musicians. Hours of after-school practice have made this a well-tuned group of musical performers. Pictured right are the Wellington Elementary Cool Cats with Smalling.

Eighth-grade winners Bryan Thiemann, Kevin Thies and Knunput Bangkuarak.

Anthony Allen, Assistant Principal Terri Livingston, Principal Stephanie Nance and Robb Cincotta.

Royal Palm Beach High School held its senior prom on

Saturday, May 9. Angel Baez and Melissa Munker were crowned prom king and queen. Pictured above are Baez and Munker as the royal Wildcats.

First graders Alana Myers and Rodrigo Ortega. Night of the Paper Bag Monster by Helen Craig, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden.

Goff, Stearns Head Of The 2009 Graduating Class At WCS

Kevin Goff and Amanda Stearns are Wellington Christian School’s 2009 valedictorian and salutatorian.

Goff has a cumulative GPA of 4.33. He has taken every honors and Advanced Placement course available to him at WCS and has studied French for four years. Goff received a National Merit Scholars’ Commendation from the College Board in 2008. He is a member of the National Honor Society where he serves as the historian, and he participated in the 2008 Palm Beach County Youth Leadership program.

Goff is also a member of

the WCS varsity baseball team. He received the Eagle Award in ninth grade and was named MVP in tenth grade. He was also awarded the WCS Honorary Award for pitching two no-hitters at district level in 2007. This year, Goff was the captain of the baseball team. He has studied piano for ten years and is currently focusing on music composition; he has composed several pieces for the piano. Goff has volunteered for more than of 400 hours tutoring work, and at Habitat for Humanity and the Lord’s Place, among others. Goff will be attending Haverford

College (ranked tenth among liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report ) in Haverford, Penn., where he plans to major in biology and minor in music. He will play varsity baseball for Haverford as well. Goff’s postgraduate plan is to attend medical school and become a physician.

Stearns has a GPA of 4.19. She has challenged herself by taking honors and AP courses throughout her high school career. Stearns is president of the National Honor Society and has been nominated for the NHS scholarship. She has volunteered for the backstage

crew of WCS drama productions, Habitat for Humanity, West Gate Tabernacle, the Lord’s Place, the Equine Rescue Program and for Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.

Stearns was the Prom Committee president in 2008 and participated in the 2008 Palm Beach County Youth Leadership program. She is also a skilled dressage rider and has won numerous awards and medals. Most recently, she was awarded the Silver Medal Rider Award by the U.S. Dressage Federation and is currently the fourthranked young dressage rider

PBCHS Culinary Arts Students Cater Wedding

Palm Beach Central High School’s Culinary Arts Academy students designed, prepared and served the refreshments for the Powell-Papandraneus wedding on Saturday, May 16 at the Intracoastal Park in Boynton Beach.

Under the direction of Elissa Berman and Fleeta Jackson, the students prepared a selection of trays including spinach stuffed tortellini with kalamata olives and Roma tomatoes, Moroccan lamb kabobs, spanikopita, puff pastry wrapped andouille sausage, baked brie, freshly smoked ham and pesto wraps, bruschetta on garlic toast, as well as freshly

dipped chocolate-covered strawberries prepared on location. Using an assortment of mirrors and pedestals, a cheese and fruit platter garnished with fresh tropical flowers rounded out the assortment.

Dressed in red and black culinary polo shirts, black pants and coordinating aprons, the students served 1,525 hors d’oeuvres to 100 guests from around the globe.

The bride, a Palm Beach County School District kindergarten teacher, was thrilled with the array of student-made delicacies and the professionalism of the service.

Kevin GoffAmanda

tend Elon University in Elon, N.C., where she plans to pursue a major in psychology with plans to become a forensic psychologist. She has

dressage team. She will continue her riding career in college with hopes of one day competing in the U.S. Olympics.

SERIOUS READERS

Stearns in the nation. Stearns will at-

been selected to participate in Elon’s intercollegiate

New Horizons Elementary School would like to congratulate the students who read more than one million words this school year. The students are fifth graders Erik Ridd, Catherine Zeng and Alexander Morgan, and (shown above, L-R) third graders Pablo Estrada, Diana Saenz, Zachary Eckstein and Derik DeLeon-Barbieri.

PBCHS students prepare the wedding food.

P.W. Hospital Treats First Cardiac Intervention Patient

Interventional cardiologist

Dr. Mark Rothenberg recently performed Palms West Hospital’s first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure under the licensed program of Level 1 Adult Cardiovascular Services.

Palms West Hospital received approval March 9 from the State of Florida to add the cardiology service. The hospital can now receive and treat patients, 24 hours a day, with narrowed coronary arteries using angioplasty, stenting and other catheterbased procedures.

“This is a great accomplishment for our facility and dramatically improves access for all patients requiring immediate cardiac intervention in the western communities. Patients no longer need to leave the local area,” Palms West Hospital CEO Bland Eng said.

Charles Bauman of Royal Palm Beach was the first interventional cardiology patient. Bauman came in to the emergency room with chest

pain and pain in his left arm. He subsequently was seen by a cardiologist, who scheduled a cardiac catheterization to explore the heart arteries. Discovering that there was an 80percent blockage, a PCI procedure was performed.

Following his successful PCI procedure, Bauman is feeling good and is looking forward to getting back to his active lifestyle, which includes golfing and involvement in his homeowners’ association.

PCI involves the insertion of a balloon-type device into a patient’s artery to open a blockage. Primary PCI is performed in emergency situations, such as when a patient arrives at a hospital suffering from a heart attack. Elective PCI, also known as elective angioplasty, is used to improve quality of life and lessen symptoms for patients with angina and other conditions related to coronary artery disease. To avoid the traditional learning curve associated

Patient Charles Bauman and his wife

The interventional cardiologist team of Palm Beach Heart Associates includes Dr.

with new programs, Palms West Hospital partnered with sister facility JFK Medical Center, a recognized leader in cardiovascular services as demonstrated by their high volumes and superior outcomes in cardiac surgery and interventional and diagnostic cardiac medicine. JFK boasts the highest volumes in cardiac surgery, pacemaker insertion and cardiac catheterization in Palm Beach County. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, higher volumes equate with better outcomes for the patient.

Jay Midwall, Dr. Joshua Kieval, Dr. Mark Rothenberg, Dr. Gustavo Cardenas and Dr. Lawrence Lovitz. Lovitz is the medical director of PCI at Palms West Hospital. The team has more than 24 years of experience and performs thousands of interventional cardiology procedures each year.

“The biggest benefit of this partnership is that from day one, our patients were treated by physicians and staff who have done thousands of PCI procedures,” Eng said. For more information about Palms West Hospital’s cardiac services, call (561) 784-3203.

Foster To Lead Wellington Chamber’s Education Committee

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently named Kathy Foster chairwoman of its Education Committee.

The Education Committee strives to enhance the educational experience by linking academics, business and community to promote real world learning, support partnerships, and encourage and celebrate educational excellence in Wellington schools.

“The Education Commit-

tee provides a great opportunity for the business community in Wellington to partner with our local schools to enhance the quality of education for our students,” Foster said. “We, the committee, look forward to working closely with our school partners whenever possible to assist them in their critical tasks.” Foster, born in Brooklyn, is married to Michael Nelson and has four children and

three grandchildren. She graduated in 1969 from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in textiles and design. She has owned her own interior design and consulting company, K. Foster Designs Inc., in Wellington for 25 years. After moving to Florida from New York in 1979, Foster became actively involved in the Wellington community and children’s issues in 1980. She

became the first directly elected member of the Acme Improvement District Board of Supervisor — Wellington’s pre-incorporation government — in 1990, serving two terms before Wellington was incorporated in 1996. Foster served as president of the board from 1993-95. Upon incorporation, she was elected to the inaugural Wellington Village Council and was appointed the village’s

first mayor in 1996. Foster was also a founding member of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce. Foster worked as a volunteer for the Adam Walsh Children’s Fund from 1985-99 when she became the executive director of the charity. She then went on to serve as president and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches from September 2002 until August 2007.

The committee will also include chamber

Clerk Offers User-Friendly Report Online For County Taxpayers

The third edition of the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller’s Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances is now available at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com.

The user-friendly report for Palm Beach County citizens highlights current challenges to taxpayers and Palm Beach County government. This year’s edition includes the impact of tax reform and the

sluggish economy on the county’s financial health, the safety of taxpayer investments, the cost per taxpayer for governmental expenses and much more. Do you want to know what Palm Beach County government does with your hardearned tax dollars? Get answers right now using Checks & Balances. Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock released the report during a “Fiscal Year 2008 Year-End Financial Review” presentation to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners this week. The easyto-read citizen guide is produced annually by Bock’s office. “With less money to go around, it is more important than ever that our elected leaders make fiscally re-

sponsible decisions while using our tax dollars,” Bock said. “It is just as important for citizens to understand how your tax dollars are managed and spent.”

As the independent chief financial officer for the county, Bock is committed to examining how tax dollars are spent, educating the public about county financial matters, and promoting transpar-

ency and accountability in county government. The office is the accountant, treasurer and auditor for the county, handling finances, investments and financial reporting. The Checks & Balances guide contains condensed and simplified information, mostly from the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), a more detailed report the office produces at the

end of each fiscal year. At 20 pages, Checks & Balances is a shorter, easier read intended for the general public. In the interest of educating and informing residents about county finances, the clerk has also made other publications available online. Visit www. mypalmbeachclerk.com to find a variety of useful documents. For more information, call (561) 355-2912.

The interventional cardiology team: Tracy Justive, RN; Ada Valentine, RN; Dr. Mark Rothenberg; Dana Blocker, RT; Gary Glee, CVT; and Christine Rodriguez, RN.

Marguerite with Dr. Eliezer Hernandez.

Wellington Polo Star Named Best Sportsman

Daum, the world-renowned creator of fine art pieces in crystal and glass for more than 125 years, recently announced that Wellington resident John Gobin was awarded “Best Sportsman” at this year’s America’s Polo Cup in Poolesville, Md. Gobin, who played the number-four position on the U.S. team, was awarded Daum’s inaugural crystal trophy after the U.S. team defeated Australia 4-2 on Saturday, May 9 at the Capitol

Polo Club outside Washington, D.C. The Daum Polo Sportsmanship Award will now travel with the tour, becoming a perpetual trophy awarded yearly to the best sportsman.

Daum offered a sneak peek at the Best Sportsman trophy throughout the day, as well as a magnificent display of its equestrian crystal collection called “Hippic,” which features exceptional crystal horses inspired by artists who are passionate about the equestrian world.

Girls Soccer Tryouts To Be Held In Royal Palm

The Royal Palm Beach Strikers will be holding competitive soccer team tryouts for the U-13 girls 2009-10 season on the following dates: Monday, June 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday, June 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Thursday, June 4 from 6:30 8:30 p.m. All tryouts will be held at

the Katz soccer fields in RPB.

All girls between the ages of 11 and 13 who are interested in playing with a dynamic travel soccer team are welcome to practice until tryouts begin. For more information, call Tamara Casanova at (954) 449-7823 or visit the Strikers’ web site at www. eteamz.com/rpbstrikers.

Wellington Sharks Win Final Game Of Season

The Wellington Sharks from the Wellington Roller Hockey Association won their final game of a fourgame series, defeating the Stuart Training Division by a score of 6-1. The Sharks out-muscled their opponents in all three periods and came away with a solid victory. Hats were enthusiastically thrown onto the rink after a stellar three-goal “hat trick” performance by Zach Hanchuk. Singles were

• • •

contributed by Tauben Brenner, Juan Salinas-Bentley and Matthew Dosch. The Sharks were relentless and were able to out-skate and out-position their opponents. The Sharks’ outstanding goaltending duties were shared by Hanchuk and Teddy Miloch.

The post-game series was celebrated afterward by both teams with an end-ofthe-year barbecue at Village Park.

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

COBRAS PLACE THIRD AT USSSA TOURNEY

The Pro Ball Cobras 11-U baseball team placed third in the USSSA Super NIT Qualifier in Fort Pierce and won a berth to the USSSA Elite Major World Series. Only 32 berths will be given out throughout the country. The Cobras are: (front row, L-R) Manny Bejerano, Austin Dempsey and Mathew Careccia; and (back row) Jordan Dobson, Dylan Santalo, Christian Shinn, Joey Polak, Bryan Hernandez, Bruce Martin, Rylan Snow and Jagger McCoy. Not pictured: Blake Devers, Manager Oscar Santalo and coaches Jeff Church, Rich Polak and Yosvani Hernandez.

WILD WINS SPRING RUSH TOURNAMENT

The Wellington Wild 8-U Red Team recently won first place in the Palm Beach Gardens Spring Rush Tournament. In the seeding round, the Wild girls went undefeated (3-0) to take the number-one seed. During the singleelimination bracket, the Wild won the title of 8-U champions. Players include Jessie Curley, Bailey Cain, Kerstin Castro, Amia Davis, Skyler Hagan, Katie Schmidt, Nicole Rohr-Sussman, Sydney Brooks, Tia Drew, Megan Froehlich and Ally Deleon. Coaches include Jenny and Bob Schmidt, Ric Hagan, Jeff Drew, Dave Froehlich, Chad Cain and Marc Deleon.

Deadlines Loom For Sunshine State Games

As the days count down to the 30th Anniversary Sunshine State Games, registration deadlines are becoming a reality. Florida amateur athletes wishing to be a part of the 30th anniversary of Florida’s only Olympic-style sports festival need to register now to be a part of the festivities in Polk County June 12-14.

The quickest and easiest way to register is online at www.flasports.com. The first looming deadline is for Ultimate on Friday, May 29. The deadline for fencing, rugby, fast-pitch softball and synchronized swimming follows on Sunday, May 31. Currently, there are 158 synchronized swimmers registered, 70 fencers, 22 fast-pitch teams and 11 Ultimate teams.

Besides the Summer Games action in Polk County, two other Sunshine State Games festivals will be going on the weekend of June 12-14. The Sunshine State Games Inline Hockey Championships will be held in Fort Myers at the Skatium, while the Sunshine State Games Water Polo Championships will be held in Seminole County. Registration and competition information for both festivals can be found at

www.flasports.com. The reg-

istration deadline for water polo is Thursday, June 4; the deadline is Friday, June 5 for inline hockey. Among the athletes currently registered are all four members of the fencing Frey family from Monticello. Last year was the fourth Sunshine State Games competition for the quartet. Wayne Frey, the family patriarch, won a pair of silver medals in the veterans mixed sabre and veterans mixed epee events, while 17year-old Rachel won a gold medal in the Women’s Epee and a bronze in Women’s Foil. Also brandishing weapons in competition were 18year-old Nicole Frey and 14year-old Claire Frey. Polk County judoka Brian Germain and his daughters Kelly and Katie will hit the mats in the Jenkins Arena on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 of the Judo competition. Brian is the founder of Summerlin Judo in Bartow, and his daughters Kelly and Katie have been competing in the Sunshine State Games since 2000. At the 2008 Games, Brian won a gold medal in the Master’s Heavy Division while Katie won a silver medal in Senior Women’s Light competition

and Kelly took a silver medal in the Female Intermediate 11-12-year-old division.

Seeing action in the Sunshine State Games Table Tennis competition is Jan Cline of Sun City Center, a mainstay of Florida Senior Games Table Tennis, with partner Dodie Hann. The pair claimed their 11th consecutive gold medal, winning the 70-74 age group at the 2008 Florida Senior Games State Championships. Cline has been part of the duo that won five gold medals in 60-64 age group between 1996 and 2000, three golds from 2001 and 2003 in the 65-69 age group, and has won the last three years in the 70-74 age group.

Joquez Smith of Tampa is a veteran of Sunshine State Games competition at four years old. He won a gold medal in 2008 in the Taekwondo breaking event at three years old, and then competed in the Southeast Sports Festival in August in Tallahassee, where he won a pair of gold medals in the breaking and forms events and a silver medal in sparring competition.

WSVN-Miami sports anchor Mike Dipasquale will compete in the Masters

Weightlifting competition at the Lakeland Center on Saturday, June 13. Dipasquale can be seen on all editions of Channel 7 News Monday through Sunday and on WSVN’s Sunday night show Sports Xtra. He has reported both local and national stories including the World Series, Super Bowl, the 1996 Olympic Park bombing and Major League Baseball’s allstar game for CNN and Fox. Dipasquale not only enjoys reporting sports, he is also an accomplished athlete. He is a member of both the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Federation and of the U.S. Weightlifting Federation. He is a member of the 1995 four-man national bobsledding champions, and he won second place in the 1994 Ohio Olympic Weightlifting competition. In Ultimate competition, the top two teams from the 2008 Emerging Powerhouse bracket return. Smokin’ Hot of Miami defeated Team Zissou of Tallahassee 13-11 to take the Emerging Powerhouse Division gold medal last year. Rob Vidal of Smokin Hot was the winner of the 2008 Ultimate Layout competition following completion of the tournament.

Polo player John Gobin with his award.

Shetlands Offer The Qualities Of A Horse In A Small Package

Maybe they used to be small, fat and shaggy, but today’s Shetland is a horse of a different sort. They are refined, elegant and versatile. The original Shetland ponies were bred on the Shetland Islands off Scotland more than a thousand years ago. They ran wild on the moors and were tough, hardy, easy keepers and easily trained. Because of their strength and small size, they were often used in coal mines. They were first imported to the U.S. in the 19th century, and the American Shetland Pony Club was established in 1888. By club standards, a Shetland has a maximum height of 46 inches, and there are two distinct types.

The classic Shetland pony conforms to the original breed. They’re great for driving, have quiet and reliable temperaments, and are easy keepers. Because of their size and quiet natures, classics have been successfully used in therapeutic programs for physically and mentally challenged children and adults. They are perfect first mounts for children.

The modern Shetland pony retains the classic’s hardiness, but through crossbreeding with Arabians, Thoroughbreds and other breeds, is more refined. It typically has a longer neck and finer bone structure, has high action and a lot of animation. In addition to driving, these ponies also do well in hunter and jumper classes. They’re elegant, spirited and fast-thinking.

The ASPC also recognizes American show ponies, which measure up to 48 inches and can be Shetland, Hackney or a combination, and national show ponies, which can mea-

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

sure up to a full 14.2 hands and are required to have one purebred Shetland parent. “American Shetland ponies possess a unique combination of qualities,” said Johnnie Robb, the club’s marketing director. Robb lives in Wellington and has been involved with horses and ponies for many years. “They are especially hardy and sound, eyecandy beautiful, and really great movers,” she said. “They are generally smart and fun to train. Their small size makes them un-intimidating. To me, they are like little sport horses that stay sound and are easy to keep.”

Shetland ponies love to show off, Robb said. “Maybe because of their small stature, they love their moment in the spotlight,” she said. “Their movement is really exciting to watch, and they seem to be happiest when they have a crowd’s full attention. Shetland ponies are curious. They seem to look forward to showing as a big adventure.”

Robb said that well-trained Shetland ponies are ideal for children in almost any discipline. “The ASPC youth program is affordable, really a superb program,” she said. “But these little guys are not just for children. I highly recommend them to adults who have

always wanted to get involved with horses, horse lovers returning to the sport, or anyone who really wants to enjoy big fun in a small package. They offer all the enjoyment and opportunities that larger ponies and horses offer, but are much more affordable and easy to keep. In today’s economy, the Shetland pony is ideal for horse lovers on a budget.”

Marcia and Gary Yeager of Sweetbrier Farm in Orange Springs, Fla., breed and show Shetland ponies in driving classes.

“We had been raising and showing Arabians and Saddlebreds for more than 40 years,” Gary said. “Then our age and health caught up with us. It was too hard to think about stopping with the horses or changing careers, so we decided to scale back and started showing Shetland ponies instead.

“These ponies have really satisfied our need to be with horses. They’re incredibly intelligent, smarter than any horse, and make terrific fine harness and pleasure driving ponies. They have a beautiful, clean look and love training and showing. When you drive them, they’re so animated, it’s like flying. We just absolutely fell in love with them.”

Mary Wahl of Ken-Mar Farms in Greenback, Tenn. has been involved with Shetland ponies for 45 years.

“I’ve always had them,” Wahl laughed. “I’m stuck with Shetlands. I love everything about them. They’re extremely versatile and can do a great job at anything you ask. I also like how they’re not at all intimidating to anyone. We always think of children working with ponies, but they’re great for senior citizens as well. Their small size makes them

easier to train and handle. Size is a big factor when you’re older.”

Wahl said she always tells people to consider a pony when they’re thinking of getting some kind of horse. “They eat less than big horses, need less pasture, are easier to clean up after, you cram more of them into a horse trailer, and you can use a smaller truck to haul them around,” she said. “Shetland ponies come in all sizes and colors, they’re familyoriented, and can do absolutely anything a bigger horse can do, and probably better.” For more information, call the American Shetland Pony Club at (309) 263-4044, or visit www.shetlandminiature.com.

DILLON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL CEREMONY HONORS NEW GRADUATES

Dillon Country Day School held its annual commencement exercises and awards ceremony last Friday at its campus on Birkdale Drive in Wellington. Diplomas were presented to high school graduates Facundo Obregon and Juan Martin Obregon, as well as middle school graduates Constantine Awad and Robert Costa. For more information about Dillon County Day School, contact Judith Dillon at (561) 798-4748 or dilloncountryday@att.net.

Park Bid Is Approved

continued from page 1 improvements at that point.”

Councilwoman Martha Webster made a motion to approve the bid, which was seconded by Swift. It passed unanimously.

In other business, sculptor Mark Fuller showed council members renderings and samples of the materials he plans to use in his sculpture in front of the CVS Pharmacy on the northwest corner of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards.

Another Fuller sculpture, commissioned by the village, is scheduled to be unveiled June 12 on southeast corner in commemoration of the village’s 50th anniversary. The village paid $80,000 for Fuller to create its artwork, which will consist of five aluminum and translucent resin palm leaves emerging from a concrete base representing the village’s five decades of existence.

CVS paid $50,000 for its artwork. Fuller said the main components are three powdered aluminum arcs with aluminum leaves resembling vines emerging from real hedges to a height of about ten feet. The work will be intersected with smaller vinelike arcs to give it structural stability, he said.

Zoners Last Chance For Store

continued from page 7 whatever request they are asking for, whether it’s a temporary or whatever,” Larson said. “The store is open as far as I’m concerned, with structures that are not approved. They should have been cited the minute we knew they had not been permitted. That didn’t happen, and that sets a precedent that we’re talking about.” Larson said granting applicants multiple postponements undermines the effectiveness of the commission.

“This is twice that they can’t be bothered to show,” Larson said. “I’m somewhat inconvenienced. I’ll say this on the record; they’ve got what they want. They’ve got

Lodwick said the work would dress up the corner but also allow visibility for the store. “They want it attractive without blocking visibility of their store because they paid a lot of money for the visibility,” Lodwick said.

Fuller’s CVS artwork will complement the anniversary sculpture on the opposite corner, he said.

“It will be a nice companion piece,” Fuller said. “It will tie in nicely with the growth concept that we did for the 50th anniversary.”

Lodwick said the sculpture reminded him of artwork that also served as bike racks that he saw at a National League of Cities meeting. The bike

Budget Job Cuts

continued from page 2 lion in non-recurring funds to balance the budget this year, a tactic that is typically avoided, Merriman said.

“That includes taking $11 million out of reserves and about $36 million that would have been allocated for capital projects such as buildings that won’t be done so we can balance the budget,” he said.

The budget also has to offset a $480 million budget request from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which includes a $19.4 million increase.

“If the board adopts the

their windows. Why should they bother coming in front of us? That’s the attitude I’m getting. If the board agrees with me, I think we should take some steps to catch their attention. After all, we’re up here wasting everybody’s time.”

Erwin said he would recommend to the owners that if someone from the store is unable to attend, that their agent be present. Larson asked what the consequences would be if they rescinded the applicant’s temporary certificate of occupancy, and Lange said they could not rescind it except for a safety violation. Erwin said the commission has the option of reviewing the application without the applicant present, to which Larson said, “Does the board want to hear this without the applicant present, or do we want to give the applicant yet a third opportunity?”

racks had a design element he said he would like to see incorporated at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park.

“You would normally see a bland little piece out there for probably about the same amount of money actually become an artistic piece,” Lodwick said. “I was very impressed by that.”

Fuller said the village’s anniversary sculpture is nearing completion. “The structure is all done,” he said. “We’re just in final assembly now.”

Vice Mayor Matty Mattioli made a motion to approve the artwork, which was seconded by Swift and passed unanimously.

current rate of 3.78 and does not take the county administrator’s recommendation to raise it to 4.29, then we will have to cut out another $70 million from this budget in addition to what we have already cut out,” Merriman said.

If that reduction were split evenly between the PBSO and the county, the PBSO would lose about 500 jobs and the county would lose about 500, Merriman said.

The county commission’s first budget workshop is set for June 8. “That’s the first date that public discussion and debate amongst the board will occur,” Merriman said.

All the public discussions

“I’d give them the third opportunity at least to present it,” Lange said. “Otherwise it’s going to go right to the village council, and it will look like we didn’t even want to hear it. But I think it’s pretty much on record that this will be the last extension. Otherwise, we’ll hear it on its own merit.”

Commissioner Leonard Urban asked if there were concerns about the application itself, and Lange said he has questions about how the design fits in with the rest of the plaza. “Unless the presentation is different than the package, I have concerns that I would like to hear addressed,” Lange said. “The last package I received, I don’t see where that fits into the vocabulary of the mall.” Larson said she also had a number of concerns. “Based on things the agent told us originally, if you go down there and look, they have

will be carried live on the county’s Channel 20 public information cable channel. Replays will be available on the county web page at www. pbcgov.com.

“That’s a very nice way to view it from the comfort of your own home and, of course, everybody’s welcome to come to the county commission meeting and make comments and provide input,” Merriman said.

The budget information is accessible through the county’s web site at www.pbcgov. com by clicking on the “Proposed Budget FY 2010” link.

The proposed budget includes scenarios of the county not increasing millage and

nothing to do with what the agent told us,” she said. Lange made a motion to postpone the application to June 23 and for staff to notify the applicant that it would be their last postponement. The motion passed unanimously.

Gregoire told the TownCrier there had been some confusion as to whether the commission would meet the day after Memorial Day. The manager of Deals $5 and Less had not been able to attend the meeting, he said. Gregoire added that he plans to attend the commission’s June meeting. “I will work it in with my visits to some of the other stores,” he said. Gregoire, whose company does storefronts for Deals $5 and Less and Dollar Tree stores nationwide, said he had not been aware that someone from his company was expected to attend the store’s initial hearing in April.

going to the next level of cuts, which Merriman said would be significant. “That’s a decision the board will have to make,” he said.

Reduced work hours have also been considered, but that scenario is hampered because more than half the workforce is covered by union contracts, he said.

“We have to honor the provisions of the union contracts, which provide for the workweek and work hours,” Merriman said, adding that some departments such as the Building Department already have chosen reductions in workweek schedules as a way to stave off layoffs.

“In many departments, the reductions are not feasible because they are 24/7 operations like fire-rescue and utilities, but those strategies are

Blotter

continued from page 6 purse and pink Sony Cybershot digital camera. A gray Mini Cooper was seen in the parking lot for about five minutes during the time when the burglary is believed to have occurred. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report, but a possible palm print was lifted from the doorframe and placed into evidence.

MAY 25 — Two Wellington residents were arrested Monday on retail theft charges at the Dillard’s department store in the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, 40-year-old Joanne Rathmann was seen handing a $198 Ed Hardy sweatshirt to 40-year-old Ronald Price, who hid the item in a Macy’s shopping

continuing to be looked at,” he said.

Santamaria said he has read articles about firms reducing their employees’ work hours temporarily instead of laying them off.

“I do not believe the efficiency or productivity of the employees will be seriously affected, so I feel that that should be considered,” Santamaria said. “I know that can’t be applied throughout 100 percent of the county employees, but I would expect that a significant amount of the departments could absorb a reduction in the weekly hours work and a proportionate reduction in pay.” Merriman said if the county has to make more cuts than the proposed budget suggests, work schedule reductions might be pursued.

bag. Price left the store without attempting to pay for the merchandise and was stopped by store security officers, who took Price into custody. Rathmann was also taken into custody, and both were arrested and taken to the county jail.

MAY 27 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Wednesday morning in reference to a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 5:15 p.m. on April 24 and 10 a.m. on Wednesday someone cut the lock of a food trailer and stole approximately $500 worth of food and drinks. Latent prints and DNA swabs were placed into evidence. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Founder Judith Dillon recognizes high school grads Fernando Obregon (left) and Juan Martin Obregon.

Juan Martin and Facundo Obregon with middle school graduates Constantine Awad and Robert Costa.

Art teacher Leonarda Mangiola says a few words.

A Shetland foal.

“Aluminum Arcs” — A rendering of how the sculpture will look in front of the CVS Pharmacy at the northwest corner of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards.

I Now Blame Caffeine, But I’ve Been Like This All My Life

It’s 2 a.m. and I can’t sleep because I accidentally drank a cola containing caffeine with my dinner and the cola has decided it wants to stay up.

So of course we do what the cola wants.

It’s OK. I’ve been a night owl most of my life anyway. I blame my brother Jim for this. Until our ages were in the double digits, we shared the upstairs bedroom where we could come up with things to do when we weren’t sleepy! We made nests of the blankets in our beds. We discussed where the Easter Bunny might hide our baskets seven months hence. We played catch across the “aisle.”

In fact, one particular game of catch stands out in my memory. It involved my doll Susie Q. It was bedtime and Jimmy and I were bored and cranky because it was summer and barely dark, and we could hear some of the other

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

kids still playing outside. (Our parents were so mean to want some time to themselves.)

So I was holding Susie Q and Jimmy whispered, “toss her over here.” I did, and he lobbed her back, and I returned her. Then Jimmy commented that Susie Q was really rubbery. Well, yes she was. She was an old rubber doll. So, at ages seven and nine, we quite naturally wondered how far a rubber doll would

stretch if one person held onto a leg and another person, maybe a brother across the room, pulled on her arm.

So I held onto her leg, and you know what? Jimmy pulled that arm really far. Susie Q suddenly looked skinny! So we were laughing and snorting a little bit and trying to be quiet so we didn’t get yelled at, which just made things worse until we were gurgling at how hard we were trying not to laugh, and while all this was going on, Jimmy was stretching Susie Q’s arm almost to where it touched the wall and then — snnnap!

Susie Q’s body ripped right in half! Arms and legs and tiny bits of rubber stuffing were flying everywhere! Jim and I were horrified, then amazed, then so hysterical with laughter that we had to push our faces into our pillows to try and smother ourselves.

“Quiet down up there!” my dad bellowed,

and we clamped our hands over our mouths and tried to compose ourselves in between fits, but we just couldn’t. I’d come close but then Jimmy would whisper, “Hey!” and wave a deflated floppy arm at me, and I’d be off again.

Eventually, the seriousness of the situation set in, and we began searching for Susie Q’s innards and burying them deep in the wastebasket. Mom need never know.

Yet somehow we missed a couple of the 10,000 pieces of rubber shrapnel that had bounced around the room because the very next day, Mom asked us what had happened to Susie Q. Jim said, “she didn’t stretch as far as she should have,” and I ran into the next room to look for a pillow.

Surprisingly, we hadn’t even had colas with dinner.

‘Terminator Salvation’ Delivers Action And Not Much Else

The new Terminator Salvation is in many ways the opposite of the far-better Star Trek. It presents a dystopic view of the future, the opposite of the utopian world of Capt. Kirk in which humanity has solved most of its problems and even its great starships are really used for exploration, not warfare.

In the Terminator films, mankind is on the edge of extinction because the machines have wiped out most of the human race that created them. In the first film from 1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger played a robot assassin sent from this dismal future to the 20th century in order to eliminate a woman whose offspring would lead humanity’s fight to preserve itself. Terminator Salvation takes place in that future, centering on the story of that leader, named John Connor.

Terminator Salvation is loud. There is lots and lots of action. Despite a slow beginning, the action moves quickly, and after a while

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

seems to have a real point to it. The fight is man versus machine, and the machines seem on the verge of victory. They seem to actually think and plan while a variety of stereotypical leaders plot as much against each other as the enemy.

And above all this is the messianic character John Connor, played here for the first time in the series by Christian Bale. As the salvation of mankind, Connor is appropriately brave, fierce, trusting and everything else

needed. His problem is whether or not to trust a fellow resistance fighter, Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington).

The acting is so bad that some may look fondly back to the nuanced, sensitive work of Schwarzenegger. Of course, he was playing a robot, but somehow his artistry had more emotion than the performers in this movie who play the humans. Arnold fans take note: through a bit of movie magic, the young Schwarzenegger does make a brief appearance.

Surprisingly, for a movie like this, there are some philosophical questions raised. Actually, the long, loud fighting and action sequences provided plenty of time for thinking about matters such as machines that behave like humans, and humans that behave like machines. Which is more human?

Connor has to decide whether to trust Marcus, and Marcus himself, who has a fuzzy

memory and might be either from the past or the future, is not even certain of the answer. But during a nonstop battle sequence that fills out the last 20 minutes of the movie, the answer reveals itself.

I did not have very high hopes for the film before I saw it. But after a while I was able to relax into its pure action and even accept the issues raised. That machines will kill us seems improbable, but I do admit there are times when I am certain my desktop wants to kill me. Particularly when I need to send out something and it refuses to respond. Somehow I don’t expect either Microsoft or Apple to improve all that much very soon.

Terminator Salvation is good as an action film. You quickly figure out who the good guys are and why they fight. And the action keeps moving. After a while, who bothers to notice the many holes in the plot and the really bad acting? If you like action, go see it.

Donna Summer Concert Offered An Evening Of Surprises

A couple of weeks ago, my wife Sharon and my friends Ellen and Larry and I went to the Hard Rock to see Donna Summer do her thing. Before the show, we had a late afternoon early bird dinner at a seaside hotel. (I guess I am an official member of the senior community.)

As we arrived at the hotel, the rain was coming down in buckets and of course we had to have our dinner inside. I should have realized that this wasn’t going to be an evening without surprises. As we were finishing up, Ellen noticed a girl at the next table choking on her dinner. Ellen, who is a nurse, didn’t hesitate. She flew like Supergirl and started doing the Heimlich maneuver, and on about the fifth try, the biggest piece of steak I ever saw came flying out of the young lady’s mouth. Ellen made a friend for life. There were hugs and kisses all around. Ellen also

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

received a standing ovation from the folks in the restaurant. It was now off to the Hard Rock. Because of a computer mistake, my wife and I were sitting in the fourth row center, but my friends were about 15 rows back. It was hard to give up my seat, but as the perfect gentleman, I traded seats with Supergirl — I mean Ellen.

As the crowd started to pour in, I realized that at least 80 percent were gay. I knew Cher

has a large gay following, but I was not aware that Ms. Summer does as well.

As luck would have it, sitting next to Larry and myself were two friendly, very pretty young ladies. I had to keep reminding myself that my wife was 15 rows in front of me.

The girls wanted to know if we would dance with them when the show started. I said I would not go on the stage. She answered by telling me “we don’t dance on the stage, we do all of our dancing by our seats.”

Of course, when the show started everyone stood up. No one sat down for the rest of the show. And just about everyone was dancing, including me and my newfound friend. After a couple of dances, my new friend started to whisper in my ear. At first I didn’t understand what she was saying, but finally I heard her loud and clear. She told me she felt very safe and secure dancing with an older

gay man. She then asked me how long Larry and I had been together. I tried to explain why we were sitting together, but of course she didn’t believe me. After about two hours of dancing, we started to say our goodbyes. Before my two friends left, my wife showed up. I told her the girls thought Larry and I were gay. I wanted my wife to tell them she really was my wife. Without missing a beat, she told them she was my sister, and that yes, indeed, I was gay. She also added that Larry and I had been together for more than 20 years. At this point, my friend Larry put his arm around me, and he couldn’t stop laughing. The girls said goodbye with a large kiss and hug.

Now I can hardly wait to go to a Cher concert with Larry and my sister — I mean my wife, Sharon. I must admit it was one of the better nights I have had in a long time.

Armory Art Center — The Armory Art Center is excited to bring a series of theme-based sessions to elementary through high school students, for this year’s summer camp. Experienced instructors have developed projects relating to the themes of each week. Activities are age-appropriate and focus on your child’s artistic and creative development. Oneweek sessions run from June 8 through Aug. 7. Extended care is available. For more information, call (561) 832-1776 or visit us at www.ArmoryArt.org.

Camp Giddy-Up — Ravenwood Riding Academy has been located in Wellington for 20 years. Learn to ride at Ravenwood’s Camp Giddy-Up! Meet new friends and have fun all summer long learning about horses. The summer program consists of weekly sessions from June through August for children six years and up, with a focus on riding, and an emphasis on safety. Riding lessons are daily, learn to groom and bathe horses and ponies, as well as hands on horse care. All riding equipment and safety stirrups are provided. The program features demonstrations with veterinarians, blacksmiths and equine dentists. Save $25 per session with May registratin. Ravenwood is licensed and insured. Register today by calling (561)793-4109 or visit www.ravenwood ridingacademy.com. Hurry, sessions fill up quickly.

Future Stars Basketball Camp — Held in Summit Christian School, Future Stars is a fun and instructional camp for boys and girls ages five to 15 of all ability levels featuring basketball drills, competitions and games. Campers are grouped by age and ability. All campers will receive a camp t-shirt. Awards will be presented the last afternoon of camp for team winners, competition winners and special recognition. The instructional staff is comprised of high school coaches who are teachers. Lunch may be bought or brought. There will be three weekly sessions available running from June 22 through July 6. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call (561) 400-3397 for more information.

Hands On Day Camp — What to do this summer? Come on down, boys and girls, to Hands On Day Camp June 8 through July 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for ages five to ten years of age. Throughout the four weeks, the summer camp program offers arts and crafts and weekly field trips. All-day hands-on activities include basketball, baseball, kickball and movies. Enroll your child today for all four weeks and receive a 10 percent discount, or choose your themed week: Kick-Off Week June 8-12, Circus Week June 15-19, Water Week June 22-26 or All-American Week (come in your red, white and blue) from June 29 through July 2. Either way your child is going to love their creative play. Hands On Day Camp is conveniently located at Temple Beth Tikvah, 4550 Jog Road, Greenacres, south of Lake Worth Road. There are NO registration fees! Don’t miss out... book today by calling (561) 967-3600.

Junior Golf Foundation — Attention, kids! Join us this summer for golfing fun featuring camps, tournaments and leagues. The Junior Golf Foundation is proud of the quality and attention that each individual receives during camps.. The foundation has hired a strong team of professionals to enhance the on and off course skills of junior players. Becoming a better player is a process through experience, good mental preparation and self discipline. The camp environment will be fun and challenging. Each student will walk away from the camp with improved skills and golf knowledge. Jun-

ior tournaments are held monthly, May through October, for kids ages four to 18 years old. For more information, call (561) 964-4653, ext. 107.

Kevin Perkins Golf Academy — The Kevin Perkins Golf Academy is now enrolling for their world-class Junior Summer Golf Camp at Palm Beach National Golf & Country Club. Palm Beach National is conveniently located on western Lake Worth Road, a short drive from Wellington/ Royal Palm Beach. Kevin Perkins, a PGA Master Professional, personally conducts each camp. The KPGA Junior Summer Golf Camp is unique from all of the area camps for many reasons: small size, each camp limits enrollment to 16 juniors; located in a country club setting, lunches served in the clubhouse dining room; an air-conditioned academy classroom; private short game area for academy only; academy complete with large teaching awning protecting campers from sun; numerous cool zones keep junior golfers cool and comfortable; state-of-the-art detailed video/computer analysis accelerates the learning process. Visit www.kevinperkinsgolfacademy. com for more information.

Loxahatchee Country Preschool — The Loxahatchee Country Preschool has been here for 19 years and provides a safe environment with small ratios for our summer campers, which means our children are well supervised. Throughout the summer, our camp program offers arts and crafts, field trips (which our management team attends), swimming lessons in our swimming pool, Spanish lessons, movies, a bounce house, golf, bowling and more in-house activities. A free pizza lunch will be provided on Fridays. Our school provides a safe environment for our children, while providing an excellent educational program! In a letter sent to our school, the Kings Academy said, “What preschools are better prepared for Kings? Loxahatchee Country Preschool was mentioned with enthusiasm!” Call (561) 790-1780 for additional information.

Movement Arts Dance Academy — Movement Arts will be holding affordable, fun-filled summer dance camps for kids age three and up throughout June, July and August. We have three great dance camps to choose from, including: special half-day “Mini Camps” for kids ages 3-6, full-day dance camps for ages 6-11 that follow a new theme each session, and dance intensives for the more serious dancer age 11 and up. Half-day and single-day rates are available during some of the camps. For more information, call (561) 7929757 or visit www.movementartsdanceacademy.com.

Palm Beach County 4-H 2009 Summer Day Camps — Palm Beach County’s 4-H Youth Development Program is again offering educational, fun day camps for youth this summer. The camps are a five-day experience in specialty areas, challenging campers through hands-on experiences. Camper to staff ratio is 4:1. You can learn more about the camps and obtain registration forms at www.pbcgov.com/coopext/4h. Palm Beach Riding Academy — Palm Beach Riding Academy will be offering spring and summer camps for 2009. We are proud to offer a unique equestrian experience including riding lessons and instruction in horse care, as well as games for children. There will be trips to the horse show and polo grounds. We will also be able to offer adult sessions. The academy is located at the corner of Pierson Road and South Shore Blvd. Recently featured events have included the Palm Beach Steeplechase and the Palm Beach Jump-

er Derby. Times and dates to be announced to accommodate school schedules. For more information, Call Kate Turner at (561) 644-7179.

Pine Jog Environmental Education Center/Florida Atlantic University — Pine Jog offers parents several summer options. The Everglades Youth Conservation Camp provides week long, sleep-away sessions focusing on environmental education and outdoor adventures including archery, fishing, canoeing, swimming and hiking. The Pine Jog Summer Camp provides full-day/all-summer or full-day/weekly options. Each week has a different environmental theme with outdoor exploration, nature crafts, recreation and more. All programs provide low child-to-instructor ratios, qualified staff and a safe environment for your child to engage in new experiences and learn more about our natural environment. For more information, call (561) 686-6600 or visit www. pinejog.fau.edu.

St. Peter’s Child Enrichment Center (CEC) Summer Camp & VPK — Enroll your child, age three through entering first grade, child in our fun summer camp with all on-site activities — no buses and no additional activity fees! We offer multiple daytime schedules and sessions to meet your time and budget needs. You can enroll in camp for as little as $40 per week. The camp is conveniently located at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. Campers remain on-site for all activities, which include themed week events with arts and crafts, indoor/outdoor games, videos, creative play and more. Four two-week sessions are available. Two, three and five-day options are available, with a choice of 9 a.m. to noon or 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The first two-week camp session starts June 8, so register today! For a registration form, pricing and more information, visit www.stpeterscec.com or call (561) 798-3286. Mention this listing to get half off the registration fee per camp session if you enroll before June 3 — you’ll save up to $10 per camp session! NEW... we are now offering VPK this summer. Space is limited, and the program starts June 8 and ends Aug. 14. For VPK information, call school director Pat Banks at (561) 798-3286.

Villari’s of Wellington — The Villari’s of Wellington team is pleased to invite families in the western communities to join in an exciting camp that combines the benefits of stretching, cardio and self defense. The camp will run in two-week sessions, five days a week. Drop-off will start at 8:30 a.m. with camp gettting underway at 9 a.m. There will be snack breaks, craft time and lunch breaks. Pick up is between 3:30 and 4 p.m. The cost is an affordable $179 per week. Villari’s looks forward to introducing your child to the wonders of the martial way. Camp will be limited to 20 participants. Call (561) 792-1100 or e-mail senseidave@villarisofwellington. com today to reserve your spot.

Zolet Arts Academy — Come and have fun this summer at Zolet Arts Academy, located in the original Wellington Mall for 18 years. Register now for four separate weekly sessions offered Monday through Thursday, June 8-11, June 15-18, June 22-25 or June 29-July 2. Classes are held from 1 to 4 p.m. and all supplies are free. Professional, individualized instruction in all media with rotating subject matter is offered. The total fee is $150 per week, per child. Registration for the Zolet summer program is Tuesdays at 6 p.m. or Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call (561) 793-6489 for more information.

Electical Contractor Helps In Getting Residents Prepared As Hurricane Season Begins

Each year, when meteorologists begin warning of the probability of a hurricane off the coast making landfall, residents across South Florida scramble to make lastminute preparations to their home. Are you prepared for power outages? Do you have a portable generator? Is it ready for use if the power goes out? Having a generator installed properly and knowing how to operate it can be the difference between life and death.

Generators are useful when the power fails, but hazards exist. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when the generator is used indoors or even outdoors if not located far enough away from openings such as doors, windows or any type of vent that will allow the odorless, colorless fumes into the home.

Another potential fatal hazard of a portable generator is the possibility of it “backfeeding” into the utility electrical system. When a working generator is illegally wired into a household circuit for the use of generating electricity through the electrical panel without the use of a proper transfer switch, it also feeds an electrical current out and back through power lines, causing backfeed. This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers.

Working with an experienced electrician like Wellington Electric and preparing before a hurricane approaches will prevent situations like these happening to your family or others.

Wellington Electric is prepared to meet this year’s hurricane season with a stock of portable generators and crew ready to properly install and train their customers on the proper use and care of a portable or permanent mounted generator.

Located centrally in Palm Beach County, Wellington Electric has been serving the area since 1985. They offer complete electrical services for both residential and commercial jobs. Their highly qualified electricians are specialized in new construction, remodeling, additions, interior and exterior lighting, security lighting, sprinkler/ pool/pump wiring and generator installation. Wellington Electric is a reliable source for the purchase of portable and permanent generators.

Start your preparation now by purchas-

Some of the portable generators available through Wellington Electric.

ing a portable generator. Portable generator packages include the generator (delivered and assembled), transfer switch with installation, power cord, start-up and walk through with the customer on operating the generator, along with laminated instructions for future reference.

Residents can also buy packages with larger permanent generators that can power an entire house. Wellington Electric also provides installation services for customers who want to supply their own generator.

The company offers free estimates within the local area and is eager to provide information to Palm Beach County residents who have questions about purchasing a generator, sizing a generator, installing a generator and most other general information on generator usage.

Wellington Electric is a state-licensed contractor (EC 13002561), bonded and insured, and located in Wellington. Call (561) 798-8811 or visit www. wellingtonelectric.com for more information on generators, hurricane preparation tips and all electrical services.

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

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Yankee Tavern’ Now Through June 21 At Florida Stage

Florida Stage recently opened its production of Steven Dietz’s Yankee Tavern. It will continue through Sunday, June 21.

Dietz’s play is one of conspiracies, namely the numerous theories concerning the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In a decaying bar on the ground floor of the abandoned Yankee Hotel, a young couple and a devoted conspiracy theorist debate the truth behind 9/11. But what starts as just talk becomes dangerously real when a mysterious

stranger arrives with information that will drag them down a rabbit hole of terrifying possibilities. Dietz invites you to explore the fascinating world of Yankee Tavern and decide for yourself: is 9/11 an openand-shut case, or are there still more questions than answers?

To further pique the public’s interest with conspiracy theories, Dietz wrote the article On Taverns and Tall Tales, which is available on Florida Stage’s web site. In it, Dietz explains how people can read different meanings into the number 33 printed on a Rolling Rock label.

“This man might say the ‘33’ signifies the year that Prohibition ended — a worthy date for a brewer to immortalize,” Dietz wrote. “Still another man will say, with absolute certainty: ‘the number on that beer bottle represents the 33 degrees of the Scottish Rite — the holy order of Free Masons. It’s a sacred and mysterious number — part of their plan to control government and control the world. And then the guy at the very end of the bar will say: ‘those are the same guys who were behind 9/ 11.’”

A conspiracy theory, according

Audition For 2009 ‘Palm

Beach Idols’ Competition

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre invites everyone to the sixth annual “Palm Beach Idols” talent competition. In conjunction with the theater, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Guild is producing the popular Palm Beach County talent show of local performers of all ages on Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Auditions for the 2009 Palm Beach Idols will be held on Saturday, June 20 from noon to 8 p.m. by appointment only. Performers of all ages including singers, dancers, musicians and more are encouraged to audition for a chance to win cash prizes. There will be three categories: youth, teen and adult. Each category will have three winners decided by a panel of local celebrity judges. The final winners will then be determined by an audience vote.

To schedule an appointment for

to Dietz, “is simply a tall tale without end. It contains all the marvelous speculative reach of a great myth — with just enough factual ballast to get the attention of the doubting guy across the room. And the bigger the event — the Kennedy assassination, the 9/11 attacks — the bigger the potential landscape, the more malleable the coincidences.”

Dietz goes on to note that in the right setting, a conspiracy theory significantly raises the status of the teller. “Whereas the teller of a tall tale is a person sharing a story, the teller of a conspiracy is sharing a secret,” he wrote. “He is ‘letting you in on something only a few people know about’ and thus your status as a listener too is ennobled. You are special. And you are now complicit. Stories bind us to one another in insidious ways.”

Dietz’s plays have been widely produced at American regional theaters as well as off-Broadway and internationally. Awards include the PEN USA West Award for Lonely Planet ; the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award for both Fiction and Still Life with Iris; and the Edgar

Award for Best Mystery Play for Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. His recent work includes Last of the Boys, Becky’s New Car and Shooting Star Tickets to Yankee Tavern cost $42 to $45. Florida Stage is locat-

ed in Plaza del Mar at 262 South Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the Florida Stage box office at (561) 585-3433 or visit www.floridastage.org. For group sales, call (800) 519-1917.

New Exhibits At The Norton Museum

the 2009 Palm Beach Idols auditions, call (561) 972-6120. The competition is part of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s Limited Engagement series, which also includes productions of Annie Get Your Gun and Love Is Love

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is an award-winning professional notfor-profit regional theater dedicated to the performing arts, whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire the local community. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and is located east of U.S. Highway 1 at 1001 East Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter.

For more information, and tickets to performances, call the box office at (561) 575-2223 or visit the theater’s web site at www.jupiter theatre.org.

The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach has three new exhibits currently on display.

“Off the Wall: the Human Form in Sculpture” runs now through Sept. 6. “Off the Wall” features American and European sculpture based on the theme of the figure and dating from the 1800s to the present. More than 20 figures are on parade for viewing and judging on the specific qualities of sculpture, which set it apart from other visual arts such as painting, drawing and printmaking.

“Roman Vishniac: Selections from ‘The Vanished World’” is on display now through July 26 in the Lee Gallery. Vishniac was an accomplished Russian-American photographer, biologist, art collector and historian whose work is currently on view in the exhibition. The Norton Museum recently acquired Vishniac’s portfolio “The Vanished World,” which is

one of the only pictorial documentations of Jewish culture in Central and Eastern Europe during the period just prior to the Holocaust: the mid to late 1930s. The exhibition is comprised of 12 images that show daily life in the urban ghettos and small farming communities (shtetls ), and document the economic and social restrictions being placed upon Jewish people while the photographer was living in Germany in the 1930s. Vishniac took over 16,000 photographs, hoping to salvage a memory of the people and culture that he knew Hitler was on a mission to eradicate. A trained scientist unable to save the lives of his people, Vishniac set out to save their memory. Only 2,000 images are known to have survived. Vishniac hoped that these images would enable others “to envision a time and place that are worthy of remembrance.”

Also on display is “Rubens to Corot: The Delacorte Gift,” a gift from Valerie Delacorte consisting of more than 65 objects including Old Master and 19th- and 20thcentury paintings, sculpture and works on paper including artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Ferdinand Bol, Adriaen Hanneman, Giambattista Tiepolo, J.B.C. Corot, Joaquin Sorolla, and Modigliani. This is a transformational gift, making the Norton Museum’s collection of Old Master paintings one of the largest and most important in Florida. To celebrate this unprecedented gift, the Norton is displaying a selection of its works in an ongoing installation.

The Norton Museum of Art is located at 1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 832-5196 or visit the museum’s web site at www.norton. org.

The cast of Yankee Tavern during rehearsal.

Playwright Steven Dietz

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