13TH ANNUAL MY
Opinion
as executive officers, the board of directors and local government partners. Page 28
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KEEPER SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION
A POPPY ON MEMORIAL DAY
The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its annual Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 26 at Veterans Park. The observance was led by members of the American Legion Post 367 Honor Guard, ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary 367, Boy Scout Troop 111, Cub Scout Pack 120, Brownie Troop 515 and local dignitaries. Pictured here, Julie Peirce buys a poppy from Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor and American Legion Auxiliary #367 President Marge Herzog. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 23
More SR 7 Retail Irks Council
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
The Wellington Village Council approved a site plan and rezoning for a mixed-use commercial project on State Road 7 near the Mall at Wellington Green on Tuesday, but not before criticizing the project’s emphasis on retail rather than office space.
The 16-acre site on the west side of SR 7 at the corner of Pierson Road, between the mall and the village’s “K-Park” property, is set to become a development called the Village Green Center, containing both office and commercial uses including retail and a restaurant.
The village is requiring the developer to build no more than 182,952 square feet of commercial and office uses, at least 45,738 square feet of general office uses, a maximum of 137,214 square feet of commer-
cial/retail uses and at least three acres of open space.
The master plan outlines two phases of development, with a maximum 27,000 square feet of office and a maximum 75,000 square feet of commercial in the first phase. The second phase would involve 18,738 additional square feet of office space and 62,214 square feet of commercial space if a requested Constrained Roadway at a Lower Level of Service or CRALLS designation is approved for that portion of State Road 7.
Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto expressed frustration at what she felt was an insufficient proportion of office space in the project, in favor of retail space.
“When we saw this the last time, I voiced these concerns, and continue to have them,” she said. “We really don’t have a void in regard to retail development. Would it not be better to
have that development focused on office more so than commercial? We are talking about KPark and the parcel adjacent to it. All we keep saying is office space, office space, and we are being presented with something that could add another Wellington mall.”
Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore concurred with Benacquisto and noted that the Palms West Corridor Study had focused on creating employment along State Road 7. “The encouragement of more office and more employment centers is what we have been trying to drive the development of that corridor to be,” he said.
Developer’s agent Brian Cheguis of Cotleur & Hearing said that the developer had already lowered the amount of retail and increased the office component in accordance with
See SR7 PROJECT, page 7
Village Officials: Drop In Tax Value Was Expected
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Although new figures show municipal tax revenues declining with property values, officials in both Royal Palm Beach and Wellington said Thursday the situation is well within their expectations.
Palm Beach County Property
Appraiser Gary Nikolits released the 2008 Estimate of Taxable Value on Thursday, offering preliminary estimates of the aggregate appraised value of property in Palm Beach County and its 38 municipalities. Not surprisingly, the figures show a steep overall decline due to both a reduction in property value and the doubling of the homestead tax exemption approved by voters in January.
Wellington took an 8.6 percent hit in total taxable value and Royal Palm Beach was down 10.6 percent, but officials say they are prepared to deal with the shortfall.
Royal Palm Beach Mayor David Lodwick said there were no surprises in the village’s reduction in anticipated taxes.
“It’s very much in line with what staff thought it would be,” Lodwick told the Town-Crier Thursday. “Staff had actually run through about three different scenarios. It’s a significant number, and we will make the changes that we need to make. But we will get through this and be OK.” Lodwick said the reduction was greater for Royal Palm Beach than in Wellington due to the homestead exemption increase. Royal Palm Beach has a greater percentage of moderately priced homes, he explained.
“When you look at the effect of Amendment 1, the more affluent the community, the less impact it has on them,” he said. “If you look at Palm Beach or places like that, their percentage is probably even lower, but when you look at us or maybe Greenacres, the effect of that double homestead is really going to hit.”
According to the property appraiser’s figures, the total taxable value for Palm Beach actually increased 6.2 percent this year. Greenacres’ total taxable value was down almost 15 percent.
“We have more units to get to our value,” Lodwick said, taking solace that homeowners are benefiting in less taxes from the double homestead exemption.
“We’ll be fine,” he said. “Staff was working on two or three different numbers and, in all honesty, this is about mid-range with where they thought it would be.”
The total taxable value for Royal Palm Beach in 2008 is $2.55 billion, down about $300 million from $2.85 billion in 2007.
Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield said the new figures carried no surprises. “The number that came in was $7.1 billion,” he said. “The number last year was $7.7 [billion], so we’re down about $600 million. The number is a little bit lower than we had hoped for, but it is not as bad as our worst-case scenario.” Without Amendment 1, Wellington would have been valued at about $7.48 billion, he said. “At 7.1, we’re down about $300 million from what we thought it would be, and that equates to something like $600,000 [less in ad valorem tax revenue]. This figure is still preliminary. The final figure could go up or down. I’m not finalizing my budget based on this number, but it is within the range that we thought it would be. I do not think it will materially affect the budget that we are going to present to the council.”
Schofield said he is still waiting to see the final numbers on other revenue shortfalls, including revenue sharing, interest income, and gas and sales tax revenues. “We do not have our revenuesharing numbers as of this date,” he said. “Gas taxes are paid by the gallon, not by the price. The lowest price I saw today for gas was about $4.05. People buy less gas at $4 than they do at $3, so we’re going to get less gas tax. Interest rates are going down — we had made assumptions that all those revenue sources were going to produce less money than they did last year.”
Schofield said he doubted the $7.1 billion valuation would change his intention of presenting the council with a millage rate at or below last year’s rate. “Based on what I’m seeing, I will not be asking for an increase in the millage rate,” he said. Schofield said he was impressed that his financial staff hit the mark as accurately as they did. “We did several estimates, a worst and best case,” he said.
See TAX VALUES, page 7
Patriotic Themes As Wellington Marks Memorial Day
By Carol Porter
Town-Crier Staff Report
The Village of Wellington’s Memorial Day ceremony took place Monday morning at the Wellington Veterans’ Memorial at the intersection of South Shore Blvd. and Forest Hill Blvd. The ceremony was preceded by a parade of veterans, scout troops, residents, village officials and visiting dignitaries from the Wellington Community Center to the memorial.
State Sen. Dave Aronberg (DDistrict 27) told attendees it was an honor to commemorate a day in which Americans of all political stripes could put down their differences and come together. “All of us, regardless of political party, respect the institutions we have set up because we are a government by the people and for the people,” he said. “So even in a time of bitter partisanship, we all sit here together, Democrats and Republicans. The only label that matters today is that we are all Americans, united for the cause of freedom and liberty, and united for the respect for the most revered institutions in our country. We are united to express our profound gratitude for the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can be free. There is no partisanship on this day, only patriotism.” Noting that only a fraction of Americans have stood up to provide the protection that allows
the rest to enjoy their freedoms, Aronberg said their sacrifices deserve more recognition than they receive. “Twice a year is not enough to adequately pay tribute to them,” he said. “We need to take a few moments each day to reflect upon those currently serving in uniform. George Washington said our independence was and still is at the price of their blood. That’s why I stand here today to pay tribute to our brave men and women who cannot be thanked enough.”
State Sen. Jeff Atwater (RDistrict 25) noted that President Benjamin Harrison had said he didn’t feel it appropriate to see a flag at half-mast to honor the nation’s war dead, but felt that they would be honored to see it raised to the peak. “Let them be honored today in joy and thankfulness, those who exerted all the best they had for us,” Atwater said. “I see young families and young children. Take note of those around you, and their caps and shirts and the ribbons they wear. Those who are not with us gave all.”
County Commissioner Jess Santamaria said he knows firsthand how precious freedom is. “Liberty and freedom has a special meaning for me,” he said.
“I lost liberty and freedom for three years when I was a small young boy during the occupation of the Philippines by Japan.
I know what it means to have
lost the freedom of speech and the freedom of coming and going as you please, wherever and whenever you want to go. I know what it means to not be able to gather together when you want to gather with friends. I still remember even today the fear in my parents’ faces and the faces of the elders in my family because they feared their loss of freedom.”
Former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham, a Korean War veteran, asked everyone gathered that day to honor those who paid the ultimate.
“For over 230 years, from the Revolutionary War and to the global war on terror,” Wenham said, “our soldiers, our sailors and marines have fought and died on the battlefields here and abroad to defend our freedom and the way of life we enjoy. By honoring the nation’s dead, we preserve their memory, service and sacrifice.”
Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said his mother had reminded him that he was the fourth generation to serve his country. His great-grandfather served in World War I, his grandfather in World War II and his father in Vietnam. He urged his fellow veterans to share their experiences so they would not be forgotten.
“I know it’s hard for veterans to talk about what they have See MEMORIAL, page 20
PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Proud Young American — Brody Galloway waves his flag during Wellington’s Memorial Day observance Monday.
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Wenham Committee Assignment Has New Mayor Concerned
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham, no longer an elected official, told the TownCrier this week that he applied for a seat on one of Wellington’s advisory committees because he felt it was the right thing to do.
But Wenham’s recent appointment to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board has created friction with newly elected Mayor Darell Bowen, who said Wenham’s stature in the community might intimidate other committee members.
“For someone that has served the community as mayor and councilman as long as Tom has, there’s a more important role for him than to serve on one of our committees,” Bowen said. “I think Tom has a more important role to play in this community as a goodwill ambassador than to get involved in a committee that could end up tarnishing his image.”
Bowen, who unseated Wenham in the March election, noted that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will be involved in a number of controversial issues in the coming year, including the possibility of locating a Palm Beach Community College campus on the 63acre K-Park site, which is currently designated for athletic fields.
“Anytime when there are a lot of things on your plate, there are lots of areas for dissent,” Bowen said. “I just don’t think someone who has served the community for as long as he has in the positions he’s been in should be in the trenches battling these battles now. I’m trying to mend fences. I’m not trying to be critical of him.”
Wenham said he applied for an advisory committee position because he wanted to stay active in the community. “This is our home,” he said. “Regis and I have lived here 27 years, and I want to stay involved. I’m just a regular citizen now. I went and filled out the form. I want to continue giving back to the community. This is my way of being involved.”
Wenham was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board by newly elected Councilman Matt Willhite. Each member of the council gets to choose two members for the board. The former mayor said the fact that both he and Willhite work for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue did not influence Willhite’s decision to appoint him.
“I don’t think that counted,” Wenham said. “He appointed Steve Delai [another PBCFR employee] back to the Planning,
Zoning & Adjustment Board. I’ve supported Matt. I’ve known Matt for a number of years. I thought he could do a good job.” Wenham said he intends to find other ways of being involved in the community and noted that Bowen and Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Ivy Rosenberg asked for his participation in this week’s Memorial Day ceremony.
“I’m busy at Fire-Rescue, but I will stay involved in the community,” Wenham said. “I will continue to help.” Wenham added that he and Bowen had spoken about serving on the Charter Review Committee, which is scheduled to convene and submit recommendations to the council by July 8. Willhite also appointed Wenham to serve on that committee.
The former mayor said the current mayor’s concerns are not warranted.
“What’s wrong with being in the trenches?” Wenham asked.
“A lot of people don’t want to be involved. Serving on an advisory committee doesn’t diminish anything as far as I’m concerned. I understand the words, but I don’t go along with it. If you’re working to make a better community, that’s what you do. Yes, I’ve been mayor eight years and a councilman for 12. Should I still contribute to the community? I think so. I don’t think it’s diminishing at all to serve on an advisory committee.”
Wenham said he feels the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board is a good fit for him, having served on the Acme Improvement District Parks & Recreation Committee from 1986 to 1989 before Wellington incorporated and the recreation program was in its formative stages.
While Wenham’s posting may have been the most highprofile selection, council members approved a host of advisory committee appointments at their meeting May 23: Architectural Review Board — Kenneth Jacobsen, Richard Logan, Doug Henry, Robert Camerlinck and Karyl Silver. Construction Board — Whit Warlow, Daniel Dragone, Damon Robling, Jeff Taylor and Karen Brandon.
Education Committee — Ted Miloch, Mike Drahos, Theresa Ventriglio, Terri Priore, Melissa Fritsch, Peter Inniss, Ann Jacob, Matthew Kurit, Marcia Hayden and Dawn Ramos.
Equestrian Preserve Committee — Brad Scherer, Michael Whitlow, Scott Swerdlin, John Walsh, Myles Tashman, Robert Harvey, Victoria Mc-
See COMMITTEES, page 7
Ideal School
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
Royal Palm Beach’s Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved an application Tuesday for awnings and a sign by the Ideal School located in Royal Commerce Park.
The school plans to install black vinyl awnings over the entrances of its two buildings and place signage for its Dream Middle School on Seminole Palms Drive, formerly known as Camellia Park Drive.
The Ideal School, located at 400 Royal Commerce Road, moved its Dream Middle School into the 300 Royal Commerce Road building in January as part of a two-phase expansion project.
School co-owner Dr. Kris Soderman said he is enthusiastic about having the two schools side by side. “Having the two buildings like this creates a wonderful sense of community,” he said.
The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved a second phase of the expansion, designed to connect the two schools, but with a deadline for completion set at the end of this year.
One of the black vinyl awnings will go over the east entrance to the Dream Middle School and the other will go over the western entrance of the Ideal School facing it. Soderman agreed to change the green awning at the back of the Ideal School to match the others. Before voting to approve, commissioners asked questions
about placing the Dream Middle School sign facing Seminole Palms Drive, just north of the school. “I don’t have a problem with the awnings or a sign,” Commissioner Darrell Lange said, “but the school’s real entrance is on Royal Commerce Road, and putting a sign on the north side of the school, which is the side of its building, could be seen as a violation of code.” Lange questioned whether other businesses located in the Commerce Park or nearby might use approval as justification for a change in their own signage.
Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin replied that Seminole Palms Drive is the school’s nearest right of way and that the school is entitled to one sign that it can place at its front or at the nearest right of way. “The front of a building can be defined differently,” he said. “It can either be where you enter, or where you have right-of-way frontage.”
Dr. Kris Soderman
Sen. Dave Aronberg: State Will Be Hurt By This Year’s Budget
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Issues such as droopy pants, guns in the workplace and mandatory ultrasounds for pregnant women considering an abortion diverted the 2008 Florida legislative session from more important issues, said State Sen. Dave Aronberg in an update to the Wellington Village Council at its meeting Tuesday night.
Aronberg (D-District 27) said the session was disappointing because issues that generated much discussion had little to do with property tax and insurance reform, education and other issues that needed to be dealt with properly during a tough economic year.
Other issues that took up considerable legislative time included intelligent design versus evolution and whether drivers should be allowed to have certain ornamentation hanging off the back of their trucks, Aronberg said.
The only item among those that passed, Aronberg noted,
was the bill allowing citizens to leave guns in their automobiles outside their place of employment.
“We dealt with a lot of issues that should not have been at the top of the agenda,” Aronberg said. “Whether you are for or against these things, it’s important that we focus on the real priorities of our state such as property insurance, property taxes, the environment, education and healthcare. Part of the reason why the priorities were skewed was that there was no money but there was an election year. Next year, it won’t be an election year, but the state will still be hurt greatly by this year’s budget.”
Despite the cuts at the state level, Aronberg said there were some bright spots, such as Wellington receiving $135,000 for the K-Park site as a result of a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant.
Aronberg said the government also continued its commitment toward Everglades restor-
Xtreme Tae Kwon Do in Wellington is offering a self-defense class for men and women ages 13 and up Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m. The course will teach physical self-defense skills, knife-defense drills and gun-defense drills. The course will be taught by Master Pope, a sixth-degree black belt in tae kwon do and fourth degree in hapkido. He will discuss how to avoid dangerous situations and do some hand-to-hand combat drills. The cost is $30. Ultima Fitness/Xtreme Tae Kwon Do is located in the Wellington Plaza at 12799 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information, call (561) 795-2823 or visit www.ultimafitness.com. Self-Defense Class On May 31
ation with $50 million in funding, which was a hard-fought battle because no money was going to be set aside originally. If funding were not forthcoming from the state, Aronberg said, the federal government would not have funded its portion either. As the outgoing chair of the Joint Committee on Everglades Restoration, Aronberg said he considers the funding to be a top priority for a valuable resource. “They found $50 million in the budget,” Aronberg said, adding that it was less than the previous year, but the state continued its commitment to the Everglades.
Aronberg said Wellington has good representation in the upper house with three senators: himself, Ted Deutch (D-District 30) and Jeff Atwater (R-District 25). “Wellington has more clout in the senate than most counties,” he said. “You have senators on both sides of the aisle. We work well together, and we like each other. I am looking forward to serving you in the future as your state senator.”
Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto thanked Aronberg for championing Everglades restoration. “Without it, what we as a community and the western communities folks have fought to preserve would be lost,” Benacquisto said.
Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore said he was thankful some of the bills that were being considered in the State House did not make it through, among
them ones that would have forced local governments to make further budget cuts.
“The State Senate acted in a way that was more regional,” Priore said. “I cannot imagine what would have happened if we had a couple of bills that were being considered come forward on top of Amendment One and the mandated reductions. We would have put some cities out of business. I don’t think this is going away. It’s not just smoke and mirrors. It’s a reality in many, many ways. It’s important that the legislature become aware and stay aware of what is happening back south.”
Aronberg said some of the legislators come from local government but seem to forget their roots when they move to higher positions. “I always enjoy going to the League of Cities events,” Aronberg said. “There are a lot of legislators who won’t attend those events. They get elected to local government, and when they move on, all of a sudden local government is the enemy.”
Councilman Matt Willhite praised Aronberg for his passion for public service and said the senator was one of the reasons why he ran for the Wellington Village Council.
“We’re about the same age,” Willhite said. “You inspired me to run for office. I see what you have achieved. I have seen your passion for issues. It helped inspire me to run so I could better serve the residents.”
Tight Budget — State Sen. Dave Aronberg discusses the state budget with members of the Wellington Village Council.
National Garden Week — On Tuesday, the Wellington Village Council honored Wellington Garden Club representatives Margaret Kruger and Lilly Wiggan with a proclamation recognizing June 1-7 as National Garden Week in the village.
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
The 2008 Hurricane Season Starts Sunday: Are You Prepared?
The last of the remaining presidential primaries will be held this Tuesday, which means you can expect non-stop media coverage of the results, as well as numerous predictions about what will happen in the months to come. Were this not a presidential election year, however, the talking heads would be talking about something entirely different this week — and offering just as many predictions, wrong or right. Sunday officially marks the start of the 2008 hurricane season, and though the nightly news hasn’t been awash in hurricane imagery, the reality remains the same: now is the time to make sure you’re prepared. Fortunately for South Florida, the past two hurricane seasons came and went without much turmoil. It’s hard to imagine that just three years ago, hurricanes Wilma and Katrina wreaked havoc on the region, only a year after hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne did their damage in 2004. Of course, after having been spared such calamities, we fall down the slippery slope of complacency; the longer the storms stay away, the more likely we are to keep them out of sight and out of mind. When that happens, we let our guards down and are unprepared when the next hurricane hits. And though it may be impossible to prevent a bad storm from causing any damage, the consequences are far worse for those who don’t take any preventive measures.
PBCC Campus Crucial For Wellington
This is in response to Palm Beach Community College trying to obtain property and establish a campus in the western communities. I have volunteered for six or seven years in high schools here in western communities working with senior class students introducing them to entrepreneurial skills. When I ask my class of about 30 students what their plans are after graduation, at least two thirds of them indicate they plan to attend the Palm Beach Community College. Unfortunately, in today’s economic climate, many are not financially equipped to attend a four-year college.
The need for this campus in the western communities is extremely important. Under the current situation, all of these students are forced to commute to the campus in the eastern part of our county. This obviously puts even more of a burden on their travel time due to the fact that most of them are working part-time jobs. In addition, it certainly adds to their expense to travel that distance.
The people of the western communities and the parents of these students should take the position to support this proposal for this western campus, it is extremely vital and necessary.
L. Ben Roberts Wellington
Modify Groves Strategic Plan
If adopted in its present form, the draft strategic plan for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves will take the town in the wrong direction. Several proposed action items — seductively referred to as “strategic focus ar-
eas” — are actually red flags that will increase conflicts among residents and waste taxpayer dollars. These items are not appropriate or necessary for a visioning statement or strategic plan. Any adopted document should provide a general and positive guide for the future of Loxahatchee Groves. In its present form, the strategic plan includes 13 categories of new codes and related land use, business and environmental definitions intended to regulate many aspects of life in Loxahatchee Groves. We should not use the strategic plan document as a vehicle to legitimize placing ill-considered expensive burdens on homeowners, homebased businesses, equestrians, agriculture, nurseries, trucks and equipment operators. The town should not present itself as a Big Brother that uses code enforcement to implement the prejudices and/or impractical expectations of a limited number of people.
The proposed strategic plan also contains action items intended to challenge the ability of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District to continue processing resident petitions that request the use of OGEM as a stabilizing road surface combined with speed tables (humps) on heavily traveled road segments. Given the history of public discussion of this issue and the existing public record of the water control board’s decision to proceed, this action item does not belong in the proposed strategic plan. A related action item to hire outside consultants to conduct a study of consolidating the LGWCD and the town is also unnecessary at this early stage of the town’s development. The town has not digested the workload and costs of running its current “government lite” operation with part-time contractors. Yet another re-
In addition to the steps you can take to reinforce the structure and safety of your home (purchasing hurricane shutters or plywood for the windows, removing projectiles from your yard), the majority of your preparation should focus on what happens after the storm passes — and the electricity could be out for days, if not weeks. Most of the items you’ll need can be purchased at the local supermarket: bottled water, non-perishable food items, batteries, flashlights, etc. And if you find yourself needing to make a post-storm purchase, it’s a good idea to have plenty of cash available; credit/debit card machines don’t work without electricity. Regardless of what you decide to do should a hurricane come our way, the important thing is that you develop a plan beforehand. For those whose homes might not be structurally secure enough to weather a strong storm, the best option is to seek refuge at a shelter. In the western communities, shelters include Palm Beach Central and Seminole Ridge high schools.
Despite the lack of hurricane coverage in the news right now (compared with last year’s inundation of dire forecasts, at least), the threat is the same as always. Whether we’ll be blessed with another hurricane-free season or we’re just experiencing the calm before the storm, there’s no way to know for sure. The only thing we can do is be prepared.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
hashed issue and expenditure of taxpayer dollars will only benefit consultants, lobbyists and attorneys instead of taxpayers.
Taxpayers should attend the June 3 meeting to encourage the town council members to adopt a significantly modified visioning statement or strategic plan for Loxahatchee Groves. Public record copies of the proposed plan are available from the town clerk.
John Ryan, Supervisor Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District
Preserve The Ag Reserve
At the March 24 Palm Beach County Zoning Commission meeting there was discussion on using ag reserve lands as a potential site for a private religious school. The Board of County Commissioners decided to look into amending the comprehensive plan to allow institutional uses, i.e. schools, libraries, fire stations, etc. in the preserve areas east of U.S. 441 (a.k.a. State Road 7). The comp plan designates the ag reserve be used primarily for agricultural purposes. The reserve is 20,000 acres in the western portion of Palm Beach County bordered by Wellington on the north, Boca Raton on the south, Florida’s Turnpike on the east and the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on the west. In 1999, the majority of the voters in the county approved a bond issue that would permanently preserve a portion of this land for agricultural uses. The county borrowed $100 million to acquire 2,561 acres west of SR 7 to be preserved as farmland. Another 7,000 acres have been added to the preserved farmland through development agreements. The developer of this private religious school wants the board of county com-
missioners to find a way to amend the comp plan so they can buy preserved farmland at a fraction of the cost of developable land.
On May 23, at the direction of the Board of County Commissioners, the planning department presented their findings on amending the ag reserve portion of the comp plan to the planning commission (formerly the Land Use Advisory Board). The planning commission was unanimous in rejecting any changes to the ag reserve/comp plan. If this is allowed to pass, the remaining “preserved” lands, including the 2,561 acres that the taxpayers are financing, could be sold off to development.
On June 3, the commissioners will hold a workshop on amending the comp plan to allow “instructional uses” in the ag reserve. If you want to keep the agriculture lands that we have designated as preserve, tell the county commission to preserve the reserve.
Dennis Lipp, Councilman Loxahatchee Groves
Expand The Search For Oil
I found Mr. [Jules] Rabin’s recent column entertaining (“Airline Company Executives Contribute to the Industry’s Woes,” April 18). However, he sounds like the problem with America is big business and stock market moguls, with the possible exception of George Soros, of course. Mr. Rabin is, of course, aware that the U.S. Congress for the past 20 years has consistently refused to allow Americans to avail themselves of our own domestic oil. And the environmentalists, with whom he no doubt agrees, have prevented oil companies from building additional refineries, and they oppose nuclear power plants.
I’m not defending oil speculating. Even Karl Marx referred to speculators as “parasites.” Nevertheless, the speculator guarantees the farmer his price before he even plants. He can guarantee the airlines fuel prices so that they can determine future costs more accurately. He assumes the risk and sometimes wins and sometimes looses. Oil speculation is based upon the likely future market, which as we know shows a very short supply of gasoline in comparison to the growing global demand for the same. It’s really very simple. The law of supply and demand is still in effect.
I know some like to deny that market forces can have a positive effect on the health of the economy, and are always of the opinion that more legislation is the answer. The government in effect controls the means of production through imposing regulations, prohibiting competition, and by standing in the way of the free market, and it has not done a very good job historically either in the U.S. or in the socialist countries. When was the last Senate hearing that solved anything? ... Oh, and I thought that we didn’t like how big business controls congressmen. I see we can change our tune when it comes to something that we want accomplished, like beating up on capitalists. So is Mr. Rabin suggesting that the airline execs move lawmakers to limit speculation on oil? Exactly what sort of governmental prohibitions did he have in mind? I think he forgot to say.
How about stealing the prof-
its from oil companies and giving them to the airlines? That should stimulate more oil production, right? That would be a fine long-term solution if our goal is to return to the horse and carriage. Oh, but I forgot, that might cause the water in Florida to become polluted with nitrogen or something. Horses do tend to leave a trail behind them so to speak, and there is already a move to prohibit the horse manure of sport horses.
Drilling for oil, digging for shale or coal, and building nuclear power plants have all been off limits to businesses according to Congress. So they are obviously not supply-sided. Instead, let’s blame the big oil companies for pricing oil at its market value. Perhaps Mr. Rabin assumes that we all know that the earth has enough gas and oil reserves to supply the world’s energy needs for hundreds of years, but it sounds to me as if his column bashing airlines for trying to survive is more like off the top of his head, being devoid of any real statistics. You want to know why we are paying more for gas and there is less a supply now than when Jimmy Carter was president? Congress has created an artificial shortage of oil. We have tar sands and oil shale. There are vast reserves on the continental shelf that foreign countries are using while congress has prohibited U.S. companies from exploring. Natural gas reserves under the sea have been estimated at 1.6 trillion cubic feet, but we can’t get to it because Congress will not allow it. There’s
See LETTERS, page 5
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 793-6090; or you can e-mail to letters@ goTownCrier.com.
Notes On Mastering The Media, Loxahatchee Groves Style
Makeup! Wardrobe! Get the hairstylist over here now! Good grief, don’t they know we have a press conference starting in five minutes? Is this scene taking place before the Hollywood press corps where Harrison Ford will announce his next Indiana Jones adventure? Nope. The White House pressroom where President Bush will announce troop withdrawals from Iraq? Negatory. Is Barack Obama getting ready to take the stage to give the press more information about how his family won World War II? Au contraire
We’re gathered at a Loxahatchee Groves council meeting where board members are getting ready to meet the press. Let’s see, there is Carol Porter from the Town-Crier, and that guy from the Observer. No one from the Post or Sun-Sentinel. They hardly ever bother to show up. The TV news crews must have gotten lost — again. We’re ready to see the new and user-friendlier members of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council. New? Improved, you ask? That’s a resounding Loxahatchee yes! The town council, after deciding recently that the right spin is just as important as the right road covering, has hired a media consultant to help guide it through the maze of pesky reporter’s questions. You know, questions such as “how was your weekend?” and “how is your family?” or “what time is the next meeting?”
The leaders of this small hamlet (oops, make that “town”) of about 4,000 residents, many of whom actually haven’t been seen for years, have hired media consultant Jim Brosemer to give them tips on how to respond to media inquiries. Mr. Brosemer used to be a local television reporter and now teaches journalism at Lynn University. He is also the husband of political consultant Donna Brosemer, who lobbied for the Committee to Incorporate Loxahatchee Groves and then
of View...
By Don Brown
helped out Councilman Dave Autrey in his campaign to win a seat on the town council. Not coincidentally, she now does lobbying for the town.
The council held a retreat two weeks ago where Mr. Brosemer briefed members about how to be brief at a news briefing.
He provided some of his insight about how the news profession works, especially in television news. “TV needs pictures. TV does not cover talking heads very well,” Mr. Brosemer said, in explaining why the boob tube likes interesting video. Heck, I knew that. “If it bleeds, it leads,” right? He explained that pitching a political story on television news would lose out to the three-legged dog or the pelican with the fishhook in its mouth.
(Note to Jim: Localize your examples. In Loxahatchee Groves say something like a six-legged pig or a pelican catching an alligator on a fish hook that was stuck in its mouth — “Pelican Snags Gator,” get it? Or the owner of a grow house whose bundles of cash were burned in a fire touched off by the lighting. Now that would be funny, with a little poetic justice thrown in.)
I wasn’t at the retreat, but I’ve been musing about some possible give-and-take...
Mr. Brosemer: “Provide brief and accurate responses to reporters’ questions. If you have time,
TOWN-CRIER
have Town Clerk Matthew Lippman write them out.”
Councilman Dr. Bill Louda: “I’m not going to let anyone tell me how to write something. I’ve been writing letters to the editor for years!”
Mr. Brosemer: “Yes, I know. But the term ‘road apples’ is not the proper way to describe, ahhh, manure issues. And calling someone an ignorant Neanderthal is not a very good way to get your point across.”
Mr. Brosemer: “Never tell a reporter, ‘no comment,’ and have someone available who can put a face on the community.”
Councilman Dennis Lipp: “That’s a great idea. I’ll volunteer to be the face of the community. I know just about everything, the county commissioner loves me and I enjoy telling jokes. People trust me no matter what I say.”
Councilman Dave Autrey: “No way. I’m the community’s face. Wasn’t I the face of the incorporation committee? I’ve earned the face title.”
Councilman Lipp: “In your face! I volunteered first.”
Mayor David Browning: “Stop the bickering. I’m the mayor. I’ll be the face. And I want to announce that, as the face of the community, I want the council and Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District to live in peace and harmony from now on.”
Mr. Brosemer: “Okay, council members, that’s a good start. We’re getting a good dialogue going. That’s what the media wants. Good dialogue being shouted. If we had a little blood thrown in, you might even beat out the threelegged dog.”
Vice Mayor Marge Herzog: “This information has been very interesting. I can use it for the Loxahatchee Groves Garden Club, the Loxa-
hatchee Groves Landowners’ Association, the American Legion Auxiliary and any other organization I’ll be running in the future.”
I have one or two questions I would have liked to ask Mr. Brosemer had I gone to the retreat. How do you put a good spin on a 75-year-old nudist at Sunsport Gardens or make people feel warm and fuzzy about one of Tarzan’s escaped tigers? Hold on, I think I get it:
Reporter: “There have been some complaints (Mr. Brosemer suggested third-party questions) about nudists from Sunsport Gardens getting together for five-mile jogs on roads nearby. Do you think that’s a good idea?”
Face (whoever that is): “We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone who respects our rustic rural lifestyle.”
Reporter: “A nudist colony is kind of rustic and rural, but there are motorists driving by with children in their cars. Shouldn’t you be protecting them?”
Face: “We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone who respects our rustic rural lifestyle. And we strive to protect everyone.”
Reporter: “Okay, never mind. What about the tiger that escaped from Steve ‘Tarzan’ Sipek’s compound several years ago and was finally shot by state Fish & Wildlife officials? Is the council concerned that another one of his big cats might escape and hurt someone?”
Face: “We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone who respects our rustic rural lifestyle. We strive to protect everyone. We also love animals.”
I’m told that Mr. Brosemer made $500 for his media advice to the council. I would have charged the price of a cup of coffee for this advice: never lie and never cover something up.
Point
‘Unity In The Community’ The Theme At Santamaria Forum
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Unity among the western communities was the focus of County Commissioner Jess Santamaria’s monthly forum last week, with Loxahatchee Groves Mayor David Browning and Indian Trail Improvement District President Mike Erickson the featured speakers. Santamaria opened the May 21 forum in the original Wellington Mall by reminding the audience the purpose of the meeting.
“We should all unite, and to find a way to do that for the entire western communities of The Acreage, Wellington and Royal Palm Beach and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves to work in an united effort to protect the quality of our life
Letters
continued from page 4 oil from the gulf to Alaska, but so what?
The facts always get in the way of hyperbole, but I have a suggestion, and it is not original. Perhaps we might consider reducing the number of fuel blends, allow offshore drilling and in ANWAR, expedite the approvals for new refineries, and give tax incentives for building new nuclear or clean coal power plants. But we don’t like tax breaks for the rich, right? And what if a nuclear power plant should fail? Oh, and don’t forget global warming. We can’t stand one more carbon atom mixing into our clean air.
Frank J. Morelli Wellington
Thanks For Making Event
A Success
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Inc., our Third Annual Memorial Day Service certainly lived up to the name “A Day to Remember.”
It was an incredible service with an overwhelming response from the public. Many lives were touched as they learned more about our organization.
A special heartfelt thank-you goes out to Kevin Karlo, Alisa Martin and the entire staff of
in the western communities,” he said. “There are two specific areas that we are most concerned about. The two areas are crime and traffic.”
Erickson, a self-described “computer geek” who accompanied his address with a PowerPoint presentation, said the various communities must plan together and seek compromise.
“Crime and traffic are two big issues, but I am not sure they are uniting issues,” he said. “If you slow traffic down in one place and get rid of a route there, it will hurt people somewhere else. We have to evaluate the whole process.”
Erickson said he got involved in politics because he got tired of reading about the ITID’s problems and wanted to do something to stop the infighting
Palm Beach Memorial Park for hosting such a memorable event for yet another year. Thank you to the Memorial Day committee chaired by FSO’s Rosemary Mouring and other members, Annelies Mouring, Suzanne Beard and Mary Ann Hedrick of FSO, and Alisa Martin and Kevin Karlo of Palm Beach Memorial Park. All of you pulled off of one of the finest ceremonies in Palm Beach County!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this day a true success. What an honor to have Bob Nichols, chairman of the FSO board and a 33-year veteran broadcaster, as master of ceremonies for this event. His charisma and dedication to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach and to all veterans was truly exhibited! Even WPTV News anchor and reporter (and FSO Vice Chairman) Jay Cashmere was brought to the podium to share a few words with our veterans and guests.
Congressman Ron Klein gave a beautiful speech and emphasized the importance of FSO, as well as Sgt. James Roberts, an FSO recipient who spotlighted the points of what it is like to be a recipient of FSO and how important our organization affects those who are serving overseas.
The keynote speaker, WWII Veteran (U.S. Navy) Lt. JG Harold Shugar, delivered such a powerful speech and provid-
and bickering on the board of supervisors.
“Four out of the five board members got elected a year ago and replaced all the previous board members except one,” he said. “It was a new start for The Acreage… Fiscal responsibility was an important aspect, and so was rebuilding our government relationships. This is about unity in the western communities. This is about developing the relationships with the communities around us. We need to be negotiating for the good and demanding open government.”
Erickson noted that each of the four western communities has its own goals and agenda, which is not surprising. “There are things we can agree on and things we don’t agree on,” he said. “West Palm Beach doesn’t
ed such detailed history and in-
sight. Shugar also served in Israel’s War of Independence. His speech and stories were insightful. He spoke words that we will never hear anywhere else, he spoke facts of what Americans have been through, what we are going through and what we must never forget!
We truly appreciate all the media for participating so strongly in this event. Thank you to Boy Scouts of America Troops 160 and 395, Cub Scout and Pack 241 Troop for helping throughout the ceremony and to Wings of Dove for the beautiful dove release. Thank you to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach FireRescue and Boynton Beach Fire-Rescue honor guards, and to all who participated in this event. Thank you to all the veterans who attended and to the public for coming out to pay tribute and memorialize those servicemen and women who have and are currently serving our country. We appreciate the donation presented to FSO from Jewish WWII Veterans Post 520. Thank you to all of you who truly helped make Memorial Day, May 26, 2008 a day to remember! May God Bless all our veterans and their families, past and present. May God Bless America.
Lynelle Chauncey Zelnar Executive Director/Founder Forgotten Soldiers Outreach
want Roebuck Road, and Royal Palm Beach wants it. Larger landowners who have farmed for a long time want density and profit. There are issues we won’t always agree on. Each commuSee UNITY, page 8
Unity Meeting — (Right) ITID
President Mike Erickson, Commissioner Jess Santamaria and Loxahatchee Groves Mayor David Browning. (Below) The meeting included a performance by the Binks Forest Elementary School chorus under the direction of Karen LaFrance.
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Little Smiles
Employees from Palms West Hospital have partnered with local businesses to raise money for Little Smiles by organizing a “poker run” which will take place on Sunday, June 8. The run will start at Iron Eagle Motorcycles (1890 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) at 10 a.m. with the last bike out by noon. From Iron Eagle the route will go to Palms West Hospital, J&S Fish Camp, Down Low Pub and will finish up at Nothin’ Fancy. At the end of the run there will be food, music and raffles, and prizes will be awarded for the best poker hands. The fee is $10 per poker hand, extra cards are $1 each.
Motorcycle Poker Run
The organization Little Smiles is very generous to the pediatric patients at Palms West Hospital. This fundraiser is a way to give back to this compassionate organization. Additionally, Palms West Hospital knows that the pediatric patients will enjoy watching the hundreds of motorcycles come through the hospital campus from the pediatric floor window. Palms West Hospital would like to offer a special thanks to the following businesses in the community who are sponsoring the event: Ink Link Tattoos, Leslie Kay Insurance, Island Jack’s, Iron Eagle Motorcycles, Palms West Hospital, J&S Fish
Camp, Down Low Pub, Nothin Fancy, Sal’s Italian Ristorante in Wellington, Epilution Med Spa, the Labbe Law Firm and Down Low Pub. For more information, or to get involved, contact Cary at (561) 662-8295.
and sporting event tickets,
and celebrity receptions, and more. For more information, visit www.littlesmiles.org.
RPB Man Attacks Palm Tran Driver
By Mark Lioi Town-Crier Staff Report
MAY 28 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested for assaulting a Palm Tran bus driver Wednesday evening. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, sheriff’s units were dispatched to the intersection of Cypress Trace and Kapok Way at about 5:11 p.m. regarding a disturbance on a Palm Tran bus. At the scene, the driver told deputies that two passengers had been creating a disturbance regarding the order in which other passengers were being dropped off, and verbally abusing him. He warned the passengers that he would remove them if they did not cease their behavior, at which time the suspect, 52-year-old Epifanio Laboy, reportedly struck the driver several times in the face, drawing blood. The suspect claimed that the driver had gotten out of his chair and that he struck him in order to avoid being struck first, according to the report. Laboy was placed under arrest for battery and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail. The incident was captured by a video camera at the front of the bus.
• • • MAY 23 — An SUV was burglarized last Friday night or Saturday morning in Wellington’s Pinewood Grove neighborhood. According to a PBSO report, a Santa Clara Trail resident told investigators he accidentally left his Hyundai Santa Fe unlocked when he parked it on his driveway at about 5 p.m. Friday night, and when he returned to it at 11 a.m. the following morning he found ashes from the vehicle’s ashtray dumped out on the front passenger seat. Approximately $25 in cash and change had been removed from the vehicle, mainly from the center console. PBSO investigators collected swabs of DNA evidence from the scene.
MAY 23 — A bay at the Wellington Business Center on Fairlane Farms Road was burglarized sometime between last Friday and Tuesday. According to a PBSO report, it is unclear whether the culprits had a key to the bay or if it was left unlocked. PBSO investigators determined entry was gained through the rear door, although no signs of forced entry were found. Once inside, the burglars removed the lock on a 40-foot walk-in container and took approximately $11,000 worth of copper wire on rolls. PBSO investigators were unable to gather fingerprint evidence at the scene.
MAY 26 — A home in the Wellington’s Edge neighborhood was reported burglarized late Monday morning. According to a PBSO report, a Carriage Brooke Drive resident reported that he left his garage door open while mowing his lawn between 11 a.m. and noon, and his briefcase, which was left on a table in the garage, went missing during that time. The black briefcase contained a $1,500 laptop computer, a $150 wireless card and a gift card worth $50, according to the report.
MAY 27 — A home in cen-
tral Wellington was burglarized sometime Tuesday or on Wednesday morning. According to a PBSO report, the owner of a Crassula Court home found the rear door of the residence open when checking on it at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The owner, who keeps the home as a rental property, had last visited at 10:30 a.m. the previous day. PBSO investigators determined that the door had been pried open. While a microwave oven was found on the floor at the rear of the home, two 25-inch television sets were missing. The home was unoccupied at the time. MAY 27 — Two cars were reported burglarized in the Southern (Kmart) Plaza shopping center in Royal Palm Beach on Tuesday evening. According to a PBSO report, a Wellington woman and a Royal Palm Beach man both told investigators they had been working out in the Planet Fitness gym between 5:30 and 6:55 p.m., and returned to the parking lot to find their vehicles’ passenger-side windows smashed and items missing from the interior, mostly clothing and cash. PBSO investigators were unable to gather fingerprint evidence due to heavy rain, but a witness described seeing a gray Toyota Maxima driven by a black male behind the burglarized vehicles for several minutes. The RPB victim reported that his bank had advised him that his credit card had been used at the Wal-Mart nearby for a charge of $300 at 6:52 p.m. and for a charge of $18 at a gas station later that evening. An investigating deputy asked for surveillance video at the Wal-Mart but was told by security employees there that the cameras above the registers were inoperative due to computer trouble. MAY 27 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested on drug and weapons charges after a traffic stop Tuesday night. According to a PBSO report, a sheriff’s unit alerted to stop a Nissan that had committed a flagrant traffic violation located the car going southbound on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. at approximately 9:58 p.m. As the deputy followed the car, which was reportedly going 45 mph in a 35 mph zone, he noticed the passenger moving about frantically and apparently trying to conceal something under the seat. After stopping the car driver Jessica Argentine told the deputy that her speedometer was broken, according to the report. The deputy also recovered a pill vial labeled for alprazolam (Xanax) 2mg but which contained four 80mg oxycodone tablets. Argentine said the pills belonged to her husband and that he must have dropped them. Argentine was arrested and handcuffed. Meanwhile deputies also removed the passenger, identified as 24-year-old Louis Espinosa, from the vehicle and under the passenger seat found a plastic straw with residue that tested positive for cocaine. Also found under the seat was a silver “butterfly” knife. According to the report, Espinosa was arrested and charged with possession of
See BLOTTER, page 7
Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Junior Gabriel is a black male, 6’ tall and weighing 170 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 10/ 01/89. He has tattoo on his back and scars on his right cheek, left shoulder, left arm, left leg and abdomen. Gabriel is wanted for failure to appear in court on the felony charges of burglary of a dwelling, grand theft from a dwelling and obstructing a police officer without violence. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Wharf Lane in Greenacres. Gabriel is wanted as of 05/ 29/08. • Tamario Sanders is a black male, 6’4” tall and weighing 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 12/10/86. He has scars on his right hand and right buttock. Sanders is wanted for failure to appear in court on the felony charges of attempted robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His occupation is painter. His last known address was South 38th Street in Greenacres. Sanders is wanted as of 05/29/08. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc. com.
Junior Gabriel
Tamario Sanders
SR 7 Project
Less Retail, More Office
continued from page 1 village suggestions. Responding to concerns about the traffic pressures the center will bring to SR 7, he also noted that the project has been designed to be very accessible to pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists.
“The retail came down significantly and the office went up,” he said. “The synergies of uses will work very well together. Any additional entitlements will come in as office. We have worked well with the corridor master plan folks. We do understand what is needed and desired along the corridor. This master plan lays it out very well. We will bring in traffic and people to the site by way of car, by way
Tax Values
Figures Are Preliminary
continued from page 1
“We thought the taxable value would come in somewhere between $6.7 [billion] and $7.4 [billion]. This number is about halfway between what we thought the best and worst cases were. We were prepared for this number. I have to tell you,
Committees Council
Selections
continued from page 2 Cullough, Carol Coleman, Don Dufresne and Nick Manifold.
Parks & Recreation
Advisory Board — Tim Shields, Glen Bennett, Lauren Sacks, Dr. Jeffrey Zipp, Frank Keiser, Liz Stockton, Sam Falzone, Anthony Forgione, Tom Wenham and Kevin Burch. Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board — Alan Medoff, Carmine Priore III, Gene DiFonte, Craig Bachove and Steve Delai.
of bike and by way of walking. There is more of a balance.”
Priore said he did not doubt the balance of uses, and the mall access, but like Benacquisto, he had worries about opening more retail space when commercial space in existing shopping plazas remains vacant.
“The question is how are you going to build additional 75,000 of commercial space, and how are you going to fill it,” he said.
Cheguis said the developer is looking into filling the site with specialty restaurants and highend businesses, and that by the time the plaza opens, the economy would be back on the upswing. The new facility would become a real destination, something lacking on the corridor right now.
“The intent is there won’t be any McDonald’s or any fast-
I’m very pleased with the work that my finance and accounting staff has done in being able to come in with numbers as close as they’ve come in.” Figures released by Nikolits’ office this week are only preliminary estimates provided in order to allow municipal governments to start planning their budgets for the next fiscal year. The actual budgets will be based on another set of official figures, to be released in three months.
The Public Safety Committee — Bobby Ewing, Keith Jackson, Robert Russell, Joie Talley, Alan Fuhrman, Tim Wallace, James Lewis, Valerie McKinley, Dwight Saxon and Kevin Shaw. Tree Board — Debbie Evans, Lisa Stattmiller-Ferano, John McCarthy, Charles Sandell, Stormi Biven, Ellen Garzione, Richard Meyer, Toni Siskind, Anne Cavaleri and Ken Roundtree.
Blotter
continued from page 6 narcotic equipment, possession of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon, and taken to the county jail.
MAY 28 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop in Royal Palm Beach Wednesday evening. According to a PBSO report, deputies on patrol stopped 25-year-old Chaz Freshour and a passenger on Ponce de Leon Street for a traffic violation at about 6:09 p.m. When a deputy asked Freshour if he had any illegal drugs in the car, the suspect replied that the deputy would find nine tablets of oxycodone between the driver’s seat and the console. The deputy recovered the drugs and handcuffed Freshour, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and taken to the county jail.
MAY 28 — A Wellington man was robbed at gunpoint while walking on Big Blue Trace late Wednesday night. According to a PBSO report, the victim was walking northbound on the west side of Big Blue Trace near Emerald Forest Drive at about 11:50 p.m. when he was approached by two black males wearing white T-shirts and denim shorts, with their faces concealed by black bandanas. One suspect was armed with a semiautomatic handgun. The suspects took from the victim two packs of cigarettes, a lighter, a wallet containing a Florida driver’s license and Social Security card, house keys, a cell phone and approximately 35 cents before heading east down Emerald Forest Drive. No witnesses were located.
food places,” he said. “It will be more of a specialty center.”
Mayor Darell Bowen said Cheguis had mentioned people biking and walking back and forth to the mall, but noted that he had not seen anyone riding their bikes or walking along State Road 7 in quite some time.
Cheguis pointed to other high-end mixed-use projects PGA Commons, Midtown and Donald Ross Village, which have residential components nearby. Residential developments would be located near this new project, he said, and it would draw those residents.
“Those centers are surrounded by the same type of planned developments,” Cheguis said. “Those centers are being accessed by people all around the area. People in close proximity will come to it. It’s convenient for them to do so. If we build it, they will come.”
Priore made a motion for approval, but once again echoed his concerns about the project. He said the developer had pro-
duced good projects in the past,
but the proliferation of retail is now a serious problem.
“We have an overwhelming problem that is not going away,” Priore said. “With the increase in the approvals of these commercial properties, we are creating vacancies. How will you fill them? What is their longevity? They are not doing very well. It’s a serious concern. It does not look good for this community to have vacancies. I hope you can get them filled.”
Benacquisto seconded the motion, again reluctantly. Bowen concurred with Priore, and said he also reluctantly supported the motion. “It’s interesting that you bring up the PGA corridor,” he told Cheguis. “I think that the reason the people come to the restaurants is they are working there. I have a great deal of concern about developing more retail. I don’t think you will get enough people coming out on bikes and crossing SR 7 to get here.”
The motion passed 4-0 with
Councilman Bob Margolis absent. In other business:
• The council approved the second reading of a comprehensive plan amendment for the Whitehorse Financial Center, amending the village’s Future Land Use Map designating as Community Commercial the 1.16-acre parcel on the west side of SR 7 about 1.5 miles south of Forest Hill Blvd. The property’s prior designation was Palm Beach County’s Low Residential (LR-2). The proposed use for the site is a 3,700-square-foot financial institution with three drive-through lanes. Priore made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Benacquisto. It passed 4-0.
• The council approved a development order amendment for the Wellington Parc development on SR 7, extending the Palm Beach County traffic concurrency build-out date from 2008 to the end of 2011. The 15.83-acre parcel is on the west side of SR 7 about 1.2 miles
south of Forest Hill Blvd. Before the vote, Benacquisto said she was concerned whether other applicants with projects along SR 7 will request similar delays. “You mentioned a couple of other people who were doing this,” she told Planning and Zoning Director David Flinchum. “I guess my question is, as things start to get delayed and delayed, there could be a different council seated at the time this item comes back. We can’t guarantee anything.” Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz said the council could discuss such items if it felt the need. “If the council wished to open up for discussion other items as a precursor, to determine whether or not the build-out date was appropriate to extend, you could do so,” he said. “I think you could do that. If you want to talk about issues and try to determine whether or not they should be looked at, you could do so.” Priore made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Benacquisto. It passed 4-0.
New Human Resources Director Settling In At Indian Trail
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
Indian Trail Improvement
District employees are now getting the services of a specialist from Human Resources Director Loren Slaydon.
With District Administrator
Chris King a qualified planner, the district hired Slaydon in April after the members of the ITID Board of Supervisors decided to spend money budgeted for a planning position on a human resources specialist instead.
Slaydon said many people have no idea what a human resources person actually does.
“That person takes the lead in dealing with all the employees, to see to their safety requirements as well as to salaries and pensions, and dealing with grievances,” she explained.
With 65 people now in its employ, ITID has a real need
for a staff member committed specifically to personnel issues, Slaydon said. “Benefit issues are very complicated,” she said.
“Everyone is scared when dealing with them. A wrong decision can have a major impact on a worker’s life and on his family.”
Slaydon said her responsibilities cover almost anything to do with the district’s employees.
“There’s a lot of human resources and labor law that the district has to know or it can easily violate the law,” she said. “Also, I handle all labor issues and employee relations. I check the payroll, and I am in charge of hiring.”
Slaydon also attends the district’s frequent safety meetings.
“Almost none of our residents know that we have a safety meeting at least once a week,” she said. “When you have peo-
ITID Will Discuss Budget On June 3
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
At their first public budget meeting for the coming year next week, the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss a draft budget that holds the line on spending.
ITID supervisors have recently indicated an aversion to raising assessments and placing further stress on the budgets of Acreage residents.
“With the price of gas going up the way it has, the least we can do is not add to people’s problems,” Supervisor Sandra Love Semande told the TownCrier Wednesday.
The ITID assesses property owners on a per-acre basis and at a rate according to the benefits received by their development unit, rather than property values. The ITID board is scheduled to review the draft budget on Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Some sharp increases in costs, particularly for gasoline as well as some building materials, put pressure on the budget, as the district’s leadership works to complete several major projects.
The biggest district-wide
projects proposed by staff include continued expansion of Acreage Community Park as well as paving projects on several heavily traveled roads. The district is also planning on expanding Hamlin Equestrian Park with additional land to the east by covering over a separating canal, and fencing the whole area.
The supervisors have all said they will examine the suggestions of staff and the advisory committees very carefully but that their first priority will be preventing assessment increases.
The June 3 meeting is the first public step toward the creation of the budget for the 2009 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. All residents are welcome. “We want to hear from the residents before we make decisions,” Semande said.
District staff will meet with residents to discuss requests for new projects on June 26. Last year, no requests were made. In early July, the board will continue to review the budget and set assessment rates for the coming year, with final budget approval in September.
ple using large, complex equipment, it is important to make certain that everyone knows every suggestion for safety. And Operations Director Terry Narrow makes sure that everyone is briefed on equipment they’ll use and upcoming jobs.”
One benefit of attending the meetings, Slaydon said, is that ITID employees get to know her better when they otherwise might not see her regularly.
“When you’re out on a large piece of grading equipment somewhere in the district,” she noted, “you can’t just drive it over to meet me.”
Slaydon started working in the human resources field right out of college. “I grew up and went to college in Connecticut,” she said. “When you finish at the University of Connecticut, even when you major in English the way I did, the question is not
Unity Similar Issues
continued from page 5 nity has its own individual scenario.”
The avenue to unity, Erickson suggested, would perhaps be a summit or forum format where all communities have a voice.
“We need to find a way, whether it’s a forum to bring all parties to the table or something else. We will not find the answers until we have the forum where all individuals will sit at a table to hash out resolutions. We want to play nice in the sandbox. We are not a bully. We are not the isolationist. We want to find compromises and solutions.”
Erickson said the Northern Everglades Natural Area currently under development presents a real opportunity to unify the western communities in a physical sense, through interconnecting trails and greenways.
“It’s a no-brainer to connect Loxahatchee Groves to Indian Trail and to connect to the Royal Pines Natural Area, and where it can connect to Royal Palm Beach’s bike trails,” Erickson said. “There are potential green corridors that can connect to
whether or not you work for an insurance company, but which company you work for. And I started in worker’s benefits right from the start.”
Slaydon moved to Florida in 1999 and worked for Philips Electronics North America in Palm Beach Gardens.
“We handled the benefits for 30,000 active workers and 20,000 retirees,” she said. “I headed up the benefits/payroll areas.”
Today Slaydon lives with her husband and rat terrier Buddy in the Flamingo Park neighborhood of West Palm Beach.
Slaydon said many residents are not aware the district pays for medical and dental insurance for all ITID workers.
“They can choose from two different plans,” she said. “And, of course, if they want their families covered as well they can
Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves, and connect into the equestrian trails in Wellington. We can create a much larger thing that can turn into a gem.”
Erickson noted that ITID’s stormwater is of good quality with a phosphorus content of less than 50 parts per billion, and that could prove helpful to other communities during a drought situation. The district is examining ways of storing more water in its 770-acre impoundment area, and he said the western communities as a whole should find their own means of storing and controlling water. “It’s time to get out of the box and take control of our own destiny,” he said.
Santamaria, noting that Erickson frequently charges that the county gives Acreage residents a poor return for their tax dollars, encouraged the community to incorporate.
“I encourage you or anyone else to pursue it,” he said. “It’s a long process, but you can incorporate and plan your own destiny. You should not be dependent on the county to ask for handouts. If Loxahatchee Groves can do it, you can do it with your 50,000-plus residents.”
Browning thanked Santamaria for sponsoring his monthly forums, which provide a venue for mutual understanding and
purchase that coverage from us.”
The district also provides paid holidays, vacations and life insurance, as well as accident and disability coverage. Workers become part of the Florida Pension Retirement System. Slaydon oversees all of that, and notes that almost everything she does is confidential. “That is another reason for having someone like me here,” Slaydon said.
“I learn a lot about our employees, and I make sure that I keep everything quiet, even from other people at the district. That’s important to them. The more the workers trust me, the more I can help them.”
Slaydon said she enjoys the ITID working environment. “I like working here,” she said.
“The people are great. The administrators have given me support, and I’ve been able to start getting
interaction. “I want to thank Jess for these meetings,” he said.
“We need to get the word out. Unity involves understanding each other. We need to understand where everyone comes from.”
Where the people of Loxahatchee Groves are coming from, Browning said, is the desire for a non-urban setting.
“Most people moved here for the rural lifestyle,” he said.
“When I moved here in 1979, five acres cost me less than a lot in Sugar Pond Manor. It is a mix of agricultural and residential. We have a lot of nurseries. We have a lot of cottage industries.”
Part of the unique character of Loxahatchee Groves is that it is the oldest of the western communities, yet its youngest municipality, Browning said. “We have been a community for a long time in western Palm Beach County. We became a town in 2006. We elected our council in 2007. We are a fairly new municipality. We have growing pains. We want to keep our taxes low. It’s been a busy year. We are in the process right now of putting together our comprehensive plan. We are almost finished with our strategic visioning process.” Browning added that each community is different and unique, much like the members
‘I think of the communities as a family. Every child is different. It doesn’t mean one is better than the other.’
— Lox Groves Mayor David Browning
of a family. “I think of the communities as a family,” he said. “Every child is different. It doesn’t mean one is better than the other. We are like kids in a lot of ways. We have to work together even though we are all different. For a personal example, I have one son who graduated from Wellington High School, and another from Royal Palm Beach High School.” The key to unity is communication, Browning said. “We can’t share each other’s burdens if we can’t talk about it,” he said. “We have to cooperate and work together. We have to work out the problems and come up with a solution. We have to coexist. The commissioner said that crime and traffic are big issues. Another one is water. The more people who live out here, the more the demand for water. It will affect our lifestyles.”
Loren Slaydon
‘Inland Port’ Idea Might Bring A Shipment Of Jobs Out West
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
A Port of Palm Beach official
told members of the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association last week to look forward to an inland port expected to expand the current port’s capacity.
Carl Baker, director of communications for the Port of Palm Beach, told LGLA members May 22 that the port is considering several locations in western Palm Beach County for the inland port, with road and rail connections to the Port of Palm Beach and other South Florida seaports. Baker said the lack of growing room is the main reason the port is seeking an inland location.
“Why do we need an inland port? Congestion,” Baker said. “Anyone who has been on I-95 at 5 p.m., you know what congestion is like. And of course, you get congestion in the port. We’re not as busy as we would hope to be right now. Miami and [Fort Lauderdale’s] Port Everglades are really busy. As small as we are at only 156 acres, we are the 19th-busiest container port in the entire country. Miami is number 12. There is a lot of stuff that moves through South Florida between Port Everglades, Miami and the Port of Palm Beach. We are probably talking $65 billion a year with the stuff going in and out of these ports.” Baker said the inland port would consist of warehouse, distribution and light manufactur-
ing components, and rail interchange facilities on about 3,000 acres. Without the transportation components, he said, it would resemble a business or commerce center.
“We’re talking a big industrial park,” Baker said. “What makes it an inland port is it is tied into a port. If you took away the port, it would be just a big business center.”
Baker said the Port of Palm Beach is not “reinventing the wheel” with the inland port concept, noting that the Virginia Port Authority’s Virginia Inland Port is about 85 miles west of its seaport. Since opening in 1989, he said, it has become a very profitable operation and an economic engine, with 24 major companies locating near it. An inland port could do much the same for Palm Beach County, he said. Also, while the Port of Palm Beach is currently stymied by lack of expansion space and ground transportation issues, the inland port could help ready it for the 300 percent trade increase expected to affect U.S. ports in the next 15 years.
Baker said that Florida should experience a huge increase in transshipment activity in coming years, even if the state’s influx of new residents stops cold.
“You can be as anti-growth as you want to be,” he said. “Growth is going to continue to happen even if not a single extra person moves into the state. The population still will increase. This won’t go away. This is going to help the state.”
Baker also said the port would provide “real jobs for real people” in construction, trucking, maintenance, warehouse, dispatch, heavy equipment operation, security, freight forwarding and other fields.
“These are real jobs,” he said. “You don’t have to have 16 years of college to do this, and there’s a lot of people in this country who would kill for a job like that. Transportation jobs are higher-level-paying jobs.”
Baker noted that the inland port idea has gotten the nod from a wide range of local and statelevel agencies, such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Florida Department of Transportation, which has paid for three studies on the proposal.
“Everybody likes this, including agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the cities of Belle Glade, Clewiston and South Bay,” Baker said. “They are all like, ‘can you start tomorrow?’ They want this really, really bad for all the obvious reasons. Even the Palm Beach Post likes it.”
Port Everglades and the Port of Miami have also expressed enthusiasm for the proposal, Baker said.
“They don’t need an inland port,” he said. “They have enough land for five years from now, but in 10 to 15 years, they will run out of land, and they know it.”
Besides the Port of Palm Beach and FDOT, the inland port development project in-
volves the Palm Beach County Department of Economic Development and private landowners and developers including Ascot Development, Florida Crystals, Lykes Brothers, U.S. Sugar and the Vavrus Ranch, Baker said. The Florida Legislature has authorized the Port of Palm Beach to enter into a public-private partnership by Oct. 1, and the partnership may issue bonds to finance the proposed improvements.
While the inland port may not be located directly in the western communities, large regional landowners have put forward at least seven sites for consideration. Most are located to the west, although the Vavrus Ranch land is located to the north and east of The Acreage.
Although the final location of the inland port has not yet been determined, Baker said the port would emphasize the further development and use of railways, because it is one of the cheapest forms of transportation.
“The cost of rail is where it’s at,” Baker said. “Trucks can’t touch it. You’re going to stress rail no matter what you are doing and where you are going. You can swing the stuff right out of a ship and right into a railcar and then drive off.”
‘We’re talking a big industrial park. What makes it an inland port is it is tied into a port. If you took away the port, it would be just a big business center... These are real jobs, and transportation jobs are higher-paying jobs.’
Port Presentation — Carl Baker, director of communications for the Port of Palm Beach, at last Thursday’s LGLA meeting.
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
— Carl Baker, Port of Palm Beach
13TH ANNUAL MY BROTHER’S/SISTER’S
KEEPER SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION
The 13th annual My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Scholarship Awards were presented on Friday, May 23 at the original Wellington Mall. County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, founder of the awards program, served as master of ceremonies with his son Chris.
Jalani Lord of Seminole Ridge High School and Ana Maria Castillo of Wellington High School.
Sponsor presenters included Isabella Lundsford of Templeton & Company, Alisha Mellot of Riverside National Bank, Dawn Rivera of the TownCrier, Jaene Miranda of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, Lynda DiMatteo of the Observer, Rhonda Ferrin-Davis of Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI), Robert Jones of Fuchs & Jones, Peggy and Mark Candreva in memory of their son Joshua, and Jess, Chris, Victoria, Tony and Vince Santamaria.
Numerous business partners were on hand to present scholarships to 16 deserving youngsters from area schools. Student honorees were: Alana Grnja of Binks Forest Elementary School, Brandon Fabel of Cypress Trails Elementary School, Robert James of Equestrian Trails Elementary School, Johnny Forde of Golden Grove Elementary School, Matthew Schultz of Gove Elementary School, Jasmine Ellis of H.L. Johnson Elementary School, Mia Kaisen of Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School, Ashleigh Coffman of New Horizons Elementary School, Serena Rodriguez of Royal Palm Beach Elementary School, Lindsey Hanrahan of Crestwood Middle School, Jennifer Anne Cardozo of Wellington Landings Middle School, Emily Davis of Western Pines Middle School, Deanna Everett of Glades Central High School, Rubi Nunez of Lake Shore Annex, PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Scholarship Foundation was established to provide higher education or trade scholarship awards. Scholarships are awarded to elementary, middle and high school students who demonstrate good citizenship and exemplary service to their community, fellow students and neighbors. The scholarship awards range from $500 to $1,000. The scholarships will be deposited into an interest-earning account maintained by a bank for disbursement only to a college, university or trade school once the recipient enrolls in the school.
Johnny Forde of Golden Grove Elementary School and family members with sponsor Tony Santamaria of the Royal Inn.
Serena Rodriguez of Royal Palm Beach Elementary School with her family members and Vince Santamaria.
Brandon Fabel of Cypress Trails Elementary School and family members with Alisha Mellot of Riverside National Bank.
The scholarship winners gather for a group photo with Commissioner Jess Santamaria.
Ashleigh Coffman of New Horizons Elementary School and family members with Chris Santamaria of the Wellington Mall.
Lindsey Hanrahan of Crestwood Middle School and her family members with Rhonda Ferrin-Davis of CAFCI.
Jennifer Anne Cardozo of Wellington Landings Middle School and family members with Dawn Rivera of the Town-Crier
Alana Grnja of Binks Forest Elementary School and family with sponsor Isabella Lundsford of Templeton and Co.
Emily Davis of Western Pines Middle School and family members with Chris Santamaria.
Jess Santamaria addresses the honorees.
Robert James of Equestrian Trails Elementary School and family members with Jaene Miranda of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce.
Deanna Everett of Glades Central High School and family with Jess Santamaria.
Jasmine Ellis of H.L. Johnson Elementary School and family members with Lynda DiMatteo of the Observer
Ana Maria Castillo of Wellington High School and family members with Peggy and Mark Candreva.
Jalani Lord of Seminole Ridge High School and family members with Jess Santamaria.
Matthew Schultz of Gove Elementary School and family members with Chris Santamaria.
Rubi Nunez of Lake Shore Annex and family members and Victoria Santamaria.
Mia Kaisen of Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School and family members with Victoria Santamaria of Royal Commerce Park.
Eight of the top math students from Polo Park Middle School were invited to participate in the 46th Annual Palm Beach County Council of Teachers of Mathematics Middle School Math Tournament. Public and private middle schools from around the county participated, each bringing their very brightest math students. Top finishers from Polo Park were Colin Webster (top 15, eighth grade), Lucas Wollenman (top 15, seventh grade) and Michael Law (top 15, seventh grade). Other outstanding “mathletes” from Polo Park included sixth graders Mitchell Goldhaber, Jordan Beller and Andrew Melville; seventh grader Rose Halfon; and eighth grader Adam Feldman. Pictured here are (front row, L-R) Melville and Goldhaber; (back row) Wollenman, Law, Halfon, Webster, Feldman and Principal Marcia Andrews.
MARTHA WEBSTER VISITS KINDERCARE IN RPB
KinderCare Learning Center in Royal Palm Beach had a very special visitor on Wednesday, May 28. Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster was the “celebrity reader” for the day, delighting children with the book We’re Making Breakfast for Mother. With a huge focus on literacy in the voluntary pre-kindergarten classrooms and the year coming to an end, the center was lucky to have such a distinguished guest foster love for books and reading.
WCS Class Of 2008 Valedictorian And
Wellington Christian School’s valedictorian for the class of 2008 is Matthew Maise. Matthew has a GPA of 4.32. He attained it by taking all of the science and honors courses Wellington Christian offers and all of the Advanced Placement courses as well. Matthew was involved in the student government at WCS; he enjoys playing tennis and building saltwater fish tanks. Matthew was accepted at the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, University of Michigan, University of Georgia and Michigan State University. He has chosen
to attend the University of Florida and plans to major in business. The salutatorian is Taylor Smythe. Taylor has a GPA of 4.14, and he also attained it be taking all of the Advanced Placement courses offered at Wellington Christian. During his time at Wellington Christian, Taylor participated in the school drama productions and is most noted for being Scrooge in A Christmas Carol last fall. Taylor is very talented in music and was in the choral program as well. He plans to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University and major in graphic design.
Season Finale For Wellington Landings Handbell Choir
It’s been said that the measure of a good time can be gauged by the speed at which the clock moves. For a group of students at Wellington Landings Middle School, that idea hit home recently.
When they rang out their last note at the season finale concert on Thursday, May 15, the eighth-grade members of the advanced handbell choir at Wellington Landings Middle School had to face the sad reality that this was indeed the end of an era — one that had passed far too quickly.
The ringers had been together since the beginning of sixth grade, performing for the Palm Beach County School Board, entertaining crowds at Disney World and representing their
school in the annual Spotlight on Young Musicians at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. But suddenly, it was over. There is no handbell elective at the high school level, so the musical skills learned by this group of students over the past three years, the camaraderie and friendships built and strengthened over late night talks in their Disney hotel rooms and countless rehearsals, will fade into memory as the students begin life as freshmen next school year.
As the concert ended with the traditional playing of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” mixed emotions were evident in the musicians, teachers, parents and administrators who came to hear them ring one last time.
ELBRIDGE GALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Matthew MaiseTaylor Smythe
Members of the advanced handbell choir at Wellington Landings Middle School.
Elbridge Gale Elementary School held Career Day on Friday, May 9. Speakers came from a variety of professions, including the United States military, Florida Highway Patrol and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue as well as the fields of healthcare and martial arts. (Above) Student Nicholas Hinds with Staff Sgt. Traci Caicedo. (Right) Nurse practitioner Jill Banister.
Second graders at Binks Forest Elementary School have gotten to know one local orthodontist personally. Dr. Randall Shults is a regular volunteer at Binks Forest. He visits the school each Friday to teach second-grade students about Junior Achievement. Each year he also holds a class on tooth care. (Above) Dr. Shults talks to second graders. (Below) Students study a handout about how communities work.
Local Debaters
Win National Trophies
Three area high school debaters took home trophies from the 2008 National Catholic Forensic League’s Grand Nationals championship tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Wellington High School junior Amanda DeStefano and Seminole Ridge High School juniors Devon Arnold and Eddie O’Hara were among 11 Palm Beach County debaters who advanced beyond preliminary rounds at the 57th annual event.
DeStefano broke to the final round in Student Congress, making her one of the top 24 student legislators in the nation. The Public Forum Debate team of Arnold and O’Hara advanced to the event’s octofinal round, making them one of the top 16 teams at the Appleton, Wis., tournament.
WHS Band Excels At State Assessments
The Wellington High School band program has just completed an outstanding spring semester. For the first time in school history, the Wellington High School jazz band earned straight Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association State Jazz Performance Assessment held on April 1 at Taravella High School in Coral Springs. Following this achievement, the school’s Wind Ensemble earned a Superior rating at the FBA State Concert Music Performance Assessment on April 16 at Vero Beach High School. This is only the second time in school history the Wind Ensemble has earned this honor.
The Wellington High School band program is now the only high school band in Palm Beach County rated Superior in both
‘Three Piggy Opera’ At Panther Run Elementary
The kindergarten classes at Panther Run Elementary School presented the Three Piggy Opera recently for a Mother’s Day Tea and Kindergarten Roundup. There were solos, duets, trios and a chorus. The scenery consisted of straw, stick and brick houses. The show was complete with special effects when the Big Bad Wolf blew over the straw and stick houses. The brick house, however, survived a big blast by the wolf. Eventually the three pigs and the wolf became friends when the wolf became a vegetarian. At that point they all sang the grand finale together.
jazz and concert performance at the state level for the 2007-08 school year. Only 13 high schools in the State of Florida achieved the accomplishment this year.
To help support the WHS Band, the Wolverine Band Boosters Association has started a corporate sponsorship program. Rewards are available for donations as small as $50. For more information or to download a sponsorship form, visit the band’s web site at www. whsband.com.
Middle School Mathematics Competition
More than 240 mathematics students representing 22 public schools in Palm Beach County participated in the 46th Annual Middle School Mathematics Tournament on Thursday, April 17 at Royal Palm Beach High School. The first-, second- and
third-place students from each participating school received ribbons. In addition, the top 15 students in grades six, seven and eight, as well as the top 15 students overall, were recognized with special ribbons at the tournament.
The top three students for each grade level received a trophy and monetary awards. The top five students overall received a trophy and a graphing calculator, compliments of Mellisa Akey from Texas Instruments.
“All of the students who participated should be congratulated for their mathematics excellence and for representing their schools so well,” Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Constance Tuman-Rugg said.
Math Teachers Annual Dinner
The Palm Beach County Council of Teachers of Math-
ematics (PBCCTM) recently held their annual dinner at Benvenuto restaurant in Boynton Beach. Honored at the dinner were the teachers of the year, the high school scholarship winner and the T-shirt design winner.
The High School Teacher of the Year is Phyllis Pacilli of Boca Raton High School. Other finalists were Kelly Kinard of Jupiter High School, Marie Maloney of William T. Dwyer High School and Glen Marr of Park Vista High School.
The Middle School Teacher of the Year was Elizabeth Simek Brandt of Western Pines Middle School. Other finalists were Deborah Agresti of Lake Worth Middle School and Frank Argain of Okeeheelee Middle School.
The Elementary School Teacher of the Year was Nancy Bourne of Beacon Cove Intermediate School. Other finalists were Vicki Hutchinson of Beacon Cove and Lana Saxon of Elbridge Gale Elementary School. The PBCCTM Scholarship winner was Icon Mazzaccari of Atlantic High School. Mazzaccari is a senior graduating with a 4.0 GPA and will be attending the University of Florida majoring in mathematics and chemistry. Her future goals are to receive a master’s degree in mathematics and chemistry. The winner of the PBCCTM T-shirt Design Contest was Manuel Francisco Jr. from Forest Hill High School. His design will be used on the T-shirts that will be available at the Aug. 13 Pre-School Mathematics Conference. Manuel’s teacher at Forest Hill is Paula Tomlinson. Joanna Hataway of Independence Middle School is PBCCTM president; Lauren Cronkhite of Jupiter High School is vice president. For more information about the council, call Nancy Kinard at (561) 434-8250.
Piggies make a point.
The piggy chorus.
Piggies in front of straw, stick and brick houses.
Piggies in conversation.
A little piggy stays in character.
CHARACTER COUNTS FOR STUDENTS AT NEW HORIZONS
New Horizons Elementary School in Wellington recently announced Character Counts recipients. Erika Cheesebro received the Character Counts Caring Award for putting caring into action every day and by helping a student who was choking by doing the Heimlich maneuver. Devon Rodriguez received the Character Counts Responsibility Award because he always chooses to “Do the Right Thing.” Michelle Alvarez was honored at the New Horizons Elementary School “Celebrate Citizenship” rally. She received the Character Counts Trustworthiness Award because she can always be counted on to tell the truth and keep her word by doing what she commits to do.
Loxahatchee Students Win $23,000 In Competition
Three ninth-grade teams from Seminole Ridge High School have won $23,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds by taking regional awards in this year’s national eCybermission program, a U.S. Army-sponsored, web-based science, math and technology competition that allows students in grades six through nine to compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their communities.
Taking a second-place award, which includes $3,000 in bonds for each student, was the “Teen Taste Testers” team, which in-
cluded students Kasey Birch, Megan Cabot and Ashley Duhaime. The team was led by team advisor Margarette Marturano. The students performed experiments to find out what age group could best distinguish tastes such as sugar, vinegar and salt. They found a correlation between age and the ability to distinguish taste and hope to use the study to promote healthy eating. Taking criteria awards, which include $2,000 in bonds for each student, was the “GummyBears” team, which included students Vanessa Eriste, Saman-
tha Jordan and Megan Wright, led by Marturano. The students received Innovation, Originality and Creativity awards and were recognized by judges for their investigation into over-thecounter products that would be best for killing bacteria. The “CrankDatScience” team included students Angellique Phillips, Veda Sadhu, Tori Thomas and Ryan Livingstone, and was led by team advisor Karensa Wright. The students received an “Application of Science, Math and Technology” award and were recognized by judges for their
research and experimentation into the effect of music on human stress levels.
In the past six years, Seminole Ridge High School has won $31,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds by students competing in eCybermission.
Registration for next year’s competition opens Aug. 1. For a complete listing of the 200708 winners, or for more information, visit www.ecyber mission.com.
For more information about the Seminole Ridge program, call Marturano at (561) 4222623.
Western Pines Teacher Receives FCEC Grant
Karen Woods was the recipient of a Nancy Givens Grant from the Florida Council for Exceptional Children for the 200708 school year. Woods teaches children with special needs at Western Pines Middle School in The Acreage. She paired eight students from
her vocational skills class with peer buddies from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America for an activity. The 16 students traveled to Wannado City at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise where they received firsthand experience in several jobs of their choosing.
WPES Grant — (Front row, L-R) Donna Bell, Cecilia Cassitty, Celine Daly, Jessica Welsh, Sheilagh Stevens and Jessica Mohl; (back row) Adib Strick, John Taylor, Allyson Proctor, Sidney Clark-Lequerique, Jordan Pelaez, Samantha Garland, Karen Woods and Linda Mueller. Not pictured but included in the activity: Kiera Bradshaw, Mike Puleo, Gene Smith, Andrew Murphy, William Young and Jonathon Pacheco.
Lance Cpl. Kletus Stubblefield recently visited Binks Forest Elementary School and showed his patriotism by pledging allegiance to the flag on the morning news program with three of the school’s students. Stubblefield was home on leave until May 26 after serving a tour of duty in Iraq. Stubblefield report next to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Shown here pledging the flag with Lance Corporal Stubblefield is (L-R) Mackenzie Poyner, Daisy Coates (Stubblefield’s sister) and Maria-Camila Romero.
Michelle Alvarez with her mom Elba.
Erika Cheesebro with her mom Iris and stepdad Gary Chapman.
Devon Rodriguez with his mom Barbara and dad Juan.
RELAY WRAP-UP PARTY
A wrap-up party was held Tuesday, May 20 at Acreage Community Park for the American Cancer Society’s Acreage/ Loxahatchee Groves Relay for Life, which took place at the park May 2 and 3. The event raised $35,000 for cancer research, programs and youth camps. (Above) The Frontier Elementary School Mustangs raised the most money, at $3,337. (Below) Participants at the wrap-up party.
Metzner Awarded Scholarship
For more information on FAU’s Wilkes Honors College, call (561) 799-8646 or visit the school’s web site at www. honorscollege.edu.
ESOL Student Thrives At RPBHS
Michael J. Metzner, 17, son of Cheryl and Fred Metzner of Wellington, has been awarded a $10,000 four-year academic scholarship by Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. Metzner graduated from Wellington Christian School in May and will begin his honors college studies in the fall.
Located on FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, the Wilkes Honors College is the first public honors college in the country to be built from the ground up. The college offers talented students the experiences of a small, residential liberal arts college combined with the vast resources of a comprehensive public university.
FAU is one of 11 four-year public institutions in Florida. Established in 1961, the university serves more than 25,000 degree-seeking students on campuses in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Dania Beach, Jupiter and the Treasure Coast.
Andrea Cosma is a student from Romania who came to the United States two years ago. While attending Royal Palm Beach High School she has been able to take regular classes and one honors class during her second year at the school. Cosma’s dedication and the support given by her ESOL teachers have led her to maintain a 4.2 GPA. Cosma is a member of the National Honor Society and is in the top five percent of her graduating class.
Cosma said she is very proud of her success and appreciative of the help she has received from ESOL teachers and school administrators who believe in providing engaging learning opportunities for all students. For more information about ESOL programs, call Phara Lissade-Latour at (561) 753-4033.
WHO’S NEW!
Aadarsh Nair — son of Jayasree Vasudeven and Jayaraj Damodaran Nair of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on April 30.
Peyton Matthew Holton son of Paola Velasquez and Matthew Holton of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 1.
Tyler James Yzaguirre son of Maritsa Lee Yzaguirre of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 1.
Peyton Juliet Meredith daughter of Elizabeth Dykes and Derrick Meredith of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 1.
D’Angelo Fountain Calloway Jr. — son of Latorya Hardy and D’Angelo Calloway Sr. was born at Palms West Hospital on May 2. Trent Dennis Fronrath son of Jessica and Todd Fronrath of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 2. Annie Mackenzie Pennington — daughter of Brandy Mackenzie and Christopher Pennington of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 2.
Zada AnnMarie Wheeler daughter of Janna and Lance Wheeler of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 2. Jordan Webster Sommerville — son of Amy Maree Chouris of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 5. Rebecca Eileen Gauger — daughter of Tracy and Bryan Gauger of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 6. Cameron Obair — son of Jessica Holland and Matthew Obair of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 6. Preston Jett Applebaum son of Amanda and Jason Applebaum of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 6. Giada ReJune — daughter of Danielle and Jason ReJune of
Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 6.
Anderson Meyer Spellman — son of Allison Marie and Joseph Michael Spellman of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 7. Sebastian Lawrence Bedward — son of Karina and Garth Bedward was born at Palms West Hospital on May 9. Bain Funke — son of Rachelle and Stuart Funke of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 9.
Kayla Leigh Kicklighter daughter of Courtney and James Kicklighter of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on May 13.
Roshni Katragadda daughter of Ria and Subramaniam Katragadda of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 13.
Steven Michael Edward Youst — son of Kathleen and Richard Youst of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 16. Alexander Michael Arato — son of Jennifer and Michael Arato of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 19.
Kristen Pamela Briggs daughter of Veronica and Charles Briggs of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 19.
Kaylee Samantha Fruchter — daughter of Irene Katz and Michael Fruchter of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 20.
Emani Danielle Salmon daughter of Danielle Myers and Michael Salmon of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 20.
Jayden Carlos Figueroa son of Tammy Lynn and Carlos Javier Figueroa of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 23.
Cornelia Dang — daughter of Nina and Cory Dang of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 23.
Absolute Dance To Perform June 7 At RPBHS
Absolute Dance of Wellington finished their competition year as strongly as they started. The 55-member performing company, ranging from ages five to 18, performed an amazing 56 numbers at On Stage America, their last competition of the year.
“At least 80 percent of our numbers were awarded Platinum scores,” Absolute Dance co-owner Cheryl Alker said.
“Two of our senior dances, ‘Round Here’ — featuring Billy Bell, Elizabeth Hayda, Chelsea Hull, Nicole Lehto, Olivia Mallano, Samantha Otano, Samantha Raffel, Sammi Schlechter and Savanna Zeiher — and Bell’s solo ‘Falling Awake’ received the highest accolade of a Diamond Award. Only two were awarded over the weekend, and with both going to Absolute Dance, it was praise indeed.”
Two of the company’s graduating seniors — Bell and Tayler Fay — were awarded prestigious scholarships. Fay will be attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia (her first choice) with a grant of $48,000. Bell also had a dream come true with a scholarship to Julliard. Julliard accepts only 12 men and 12 women in the dance program each year worldwide. Bell was also a semifinalist as a presidential scholar.
“We are so proud of all of our dancers this year,” Absolute Dance co-owner J.J. Butler said.
“Their hard work has paid off. We are so excited to see them all perform in our recital. This year the theme is Music of the Knight , the best of Andrew Lloyd Webber. We are featuring Cats, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and of course Phantom of the Opera. With such tal-
Platinum Performance — The Absolute Dance Sophomore Company performs “Save a Life,” which received a Platinum Award in the On Stage America competition.
ented dancers, it truly will be an amazing show.” Music of the Knight will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8 at Royal Palm Beach High School. For more
information about tickets, being part of the Absolute Dance performing company or summer classes, call (561) 798-1388 or visit www.absolutedanceof wellington.com.
WHS Majorettes Finish A Successful Season
Gillespie, Kite Wed May 10
Jim and Beth Gillespie of Wellington recently announced the marriage of their daughter Jamie Gillespie to Vance Kite on May 10 at First Christian Church of West Palm Beach. The reception was held at the Harriet Himmel Theater in CityPlace. Vance is the son of Jeff and Tracy Kite of Pueblo, Colo. The bride is a December 2006 graduate of University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She graduated from Wellington High School in 2003 and is a software developer for IZEA Inc. in Orlando. The groom is a 2005 graduate of Colorado Christian University in Denver with a bachelors’ of science degree in biology and minor in chemistry. He is the director of group life for Student Ministries at Discovery Church in Orlando. The couple will reside in Winter Park, Fla.
The Wellington High School band’s Majorette Squad, coached by Adrienne Brady, had a busy and successful spring competition season, ending in two state championships and qualifying for two national tournaments.
In February, the squad competed in the annual Disney World Twirlmania Competition, an international twirling event featuring majorette squads from around the world. The WHS squad earned first place in the Friday Parade, first place in the High School Classic competition and third place in Dance Twirl, the halftime show, Show Corps, Twirling Corps and Flag Corps.
After qualifying through regional competition in March, the girls attended the Drum Majorettes of America State Competition May 16-17. The WHS squad won first place in five out of eight categories in the state, and qualified for the DMA National Competition for the second year in a row.
The WHS Majorettes attended the United States Twirling Association State Contest on May 3 after qualifying through regional competition on April 12. The girls won state championships in seven out of eight categories and have qualified for the USTA National Competition to be held in Daytona Beach on July 17.
Teens Keep It Modest At Annual Mormon Prom
More than 100 high school youths age 16 and older enjoyed the second annual “Mormon Prom” sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The dance, held Saturday, April 19 at the Stuart Stake building in Palm City, included church members of congregations from Jupiter to Cocoa Beach and their friends who danced and socialized during the fun-filled evening. The LDS congregation in Wellington has more than 700 members.
A festive atmosphere reflecting the theme “Anchor in Safe Harbor” was accomplished by transforming the building’s multi-purpose area (basketball court) into a sailing ship, complete with billowing sails, simulated waves and tropical fish.
Following a formal dinner prepared by adult volunteers, dancing, spirited conversations and youthful fun dominated the evening.
In order to attend the dance,
each teenager agreed to a modest dress code and appropriate behavior as a condition to receive a “dance card” for admittance. These agreed requirements reflect the LDS Church’s encouragement of high moral standards for the youth and all members. LDS dances provide a night free from the hip-grinding dancing, plunging necklines and racy song lyrics. Sadie Klein of Wellington said she had a great time. “I think that they did an excellent job thinking it through and planning it and carrying it all out,” she said. “The night was fantastic. I loved it!”
Although the LDS church sponsored the activity, it was open to non-members as well. One youth who was not a member noted “how much fun these Mormon kids really have.” It was generally agreed that all had a good time, and many were already looking forward to next year’s LDS prom.
Prieto Graduates
Daniel Alejandro Prieto was among the 216 men who graduated on Sunday, May 11 at commencement exercises marking the end of the 233rd academic year at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Prieto graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He is a graduate of Cardinal Newman High School and is the son of Olga and Fernando Prieto of Wellington. Hampden-Sydney College first enrolled students in 1775. A private men’s college, it is known for its structured liberal arts curriculum, the Honor Code, a unique focus on the educational needs of young men, and a small and nurturing environment.
Vance Kite and Jamie Gillespie
Sadie Klein and Ariel Reda of Wellington enjoy a dance.
The Wellington High School Majorettes
were
dignitaries
friends of
(Above) Joe Abruzzo, Tinu Pena and Aronberg. (Below) Aronberg, Abruzzo, Bryan Miller and Benjamin MacFarland.
PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
James Rivera Benefit Golf
Tourney
The annual James Ryan Rivera Muscular Dystrophy Golf Tournament will be held Friday, June 20 at the Links at Madison Green in Royal Palm Beach.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start 8:30 a.m. The tournament will include contests for putting, hole in one and closest to the pin, as well as team awards, a luncheon buffet, door prizes and a raffle.
Rivera was diagnosed in 2007 at the age of five with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease. Proceeds from the golf tournament will go to the Rivera family to help offset costs related to the illness. The Links at Madison Green is located at 2001 Crestwood Blvd. North. For more information, call Dawn Dallin at (561) 309-5864 or visit home.james riverabenefit.com.
Improv Comedy Comes To The Studio Theatre
The Studio Theatre of Wellington will present a performance of the improv group Long Story Short on Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m.
Formerly known as the Parking Lot All Stars, Long Story Short is Wellington’s own improv comedy troupe. The troupe will perform a night of improv comedy games based on audience suggestions and input. If you enjoy the show Whose Line
Is It Anyway? you will love this live interactive comedy experience. Long Story Short has entertained countless sold-out crowds, making up all their jokes on the spot. Audience members are often invited on stage to help out, so be prepared to join in the fun. Troupe members are Adam Lescht, Patrick Price, Nicholas Varajon and Amy Wanberg. Tickets to the performance cost $10. Seating is limited. RSVP by calling (561) 2044100. The Studio Theatre of Wellington is located in Wellington Commerce Park at 11320 Fortune Circle, G-7.
Vacation Bible School At St. Michael
Children ages four through grade six are invited to participate in Vacation Bible School at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The theme for the school is “Power Lab,” which uses a science and experiment focus to help children discover the miraculous power of Jesus. The cost is $10 per child and $5 per additional sibling. To register, or for more information, call (561) 793-4999.
Palm Beach Carnival At The Fairgrounds
The Palm Beach Carnival, a celebration of South Florida’s Caribbean-American culture, will be held at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) on Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Events will include a traditional carnival parade with more than 20 different masquerade bands, costume and marching band competition, live performances by top international artists, vendors and cultural entertainment. For more info., visit www.wpb carnival.com or call (561) 3090620.
FSO Event
June 14
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach will present a Flag Day/U.S.
Army Birthday Ceremony at South Florida VA National Cemetery (6501 S. State Road 7, Lake Worth, one mile south of Lantana Road) on Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The ceremony will include honorary guest speaker Col. Banna Ghiotto, a WWII Veteran. The program will also include the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard and PBSO Pipes & Drum Corps.
For overflow parking, a complimentary shuttle service from the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach will be provided at the Super Target Store at Lantana Road/ State Road 7.
For more information about Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, a non-profit charitable organization, visit www.forgotten soldiers.org or call Mary Ann Hedrick, events manager, at (561) 369-2933 or (561) 5863592. For more about South Florida VA National Cemetery, call (561) 649-6489.
Upcoming
Events At New Beginnings
New Beginnings Chapel has many activities planned this summer.
• Power Lab for Children
Power Lab provides fun, memorable Bible-learning activities for kids of all ages. Each day kids will sing catchy songs in Sonic Sing & Play, play teamwork-building hyperspeed games, nibble test-tube treats, take on daily challenges to share Jesus’ amazing power in their lives, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God’s Word and create cool crafts they can take home and play with all summer long.
Vacation Bible School: Power Lab runs June 23-27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each evening. Kids who have finished kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome to join this free weeklong program, which will celebrate Jesus’ miraculous power. Power Lab kids will join about one million other kids around the country in decorating Gospel Outreach (GO) soccer balls to be sent to South Africa and to the Czech Republic with New Beginnings’ own church mis-
sion team. Power Lab space is limited. Register online at www. nbchapel.com.
• Calling All Sports! — New Beginnings Chapel offers a free sports camp for kids from six to 11 years old. Meeting Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 2 through Aug. 27, children can learn sportsmanship and develop skills in football, soccer, basketball, tae kwon do, cheerleading and crafts. Each evening also offers cool snacks and a word from God. Online registration is available at www.nbchapel.com.
• Czech Republic Mission Trip — Czech United is the name of the nine-member mission team heading to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic this summer. Partnering with Association for Baptist World Evangelists, the team will help local missionaries teach English and about Jesus. New Beginnings Chapel’s youth are taking the lead by practicing skits, helping to write language lessons using Biblical truths, planning the soccer outreach, raising funds and learning the Czech language.
• AMPED Youth Group Heads to Mobile — This summer, the New Beginnings youth group takes Alabama by storm. Joining M-Fuge, a weeklong mission camp hosted in Mobile, Ala., a group of 30 youth will participate in local programs to support the residents. Some will paint, do light construction and yard work while other teams get dramatic and perform at local nursing homes, prisons and community centers. All youths join the daily Bible studies while leaving some rest and relaxation time for fellowship with hundreds of other teens from around the country. AMPED (A Ministry Preparing Eternal Disciples) leaves June 29 and returns on July 6. AMPED meets regularly during the summer for middle and high school students. For more information, contact Pastor Anthony DiMarzio at (561) 385-2269 or anthonyd@nb chapel.com.
New Beginnings Chapel is located at 8431 Lake Worth Road just west of Florida’s Turnpike. For more information, call the church at (561) 9673149 or (561) 722-0957, or email nbchapel@bellsouth.net. Service is held each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Visitors are welcome.
‘Trailer
Park’ Musical Comes To Kravis Center
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will present The Great American Trailer Park Musical June 3-22. The double-wide divas of Florida’s most exclusive trailer park have survived everything from no-good men to bad perms. But when a “stripper on the run” comes between agoraphobic housewife Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband,
PBC Fleet Management Switches To New Fuel
The Palm Beach County Fleet Management Division, part of the Facilities Development and Operations Department, has changed to ethanol E10 fuel for county vehicles. All county fuel sites are now dispensing the new fuel. Using E10 will save the county 300,000 gallons of gasoline a year. This new fuel blend, composed of gasoline and ten percent ethanol, will be used for the entire county fleet including constitutional officers, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, airports, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department and all departments. Palm Tran, the county’s public transportation service, uses biodiesel that is a mixture of regular diesel and naturally grown resources. Palm Beach County Fleet Management has several other
green initiatives already in place. Palm Beach County is 13th in the nation of all commercial and governmental fleets for the number of hybrid vehicles, according to the October 2007 issue of Automotive Fleet magazine. The county’s fleet is composed of 157 hybrid vehicles and will have 200 by the end of 2008. Palm Beach County Fleet Management will be the first government in southeast United States to purchase medium-duty hybrid bucket trucks this year. Other green practices include using propane for various pieces of equipment, downsizing the fleet (not buying large vehicles unless necessary for a particular mission), encouraging less idling of vehicles and establishing a stringent preventative maintenance program. Fleet Management also started a program for using nitrogen-filled tires three years ago.
James Rivera
Memorial Wellington Observance
continued from page 1 done. But if you don’t talk about these things, future generations won’t know what you sacrificed for all of us,” he said. “So please take a few moments. I know it’s hard for veterans. We don’t talk much about these things. Please let the younger generation know what you gave them and what you allowed them to have today. If you see a veteran on the street, say thank you.”
Al Weissman, post commander of the Sylvia and Hyman L. Solomon Jewish War Veterans Post 684, quoted from the
song “The House I Live In” sung by a “skinny Italian kid from Hoboken, New Jersey,” Frank Sinatra: “The place I work in / The worker by my side / The little town or city / Where my people lived and died / The howdy and the handshake / The air of feeling free / And the right to speak my mind out / That’s America to me.”
“This has been my song for over 60 years,” Weissman said. “It is still relevant today as it was 60 years ago. God bless those who have kept us free. Freedom is not cheap. It has cost many lives. I am proud to be here today to honor our veterans.”
The ceremony was concluded with a laying of the wreaths, a rife salute and the playing of “Taps.”
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Cara Young sings the national anthem.
The PBSO Honor Guard marches down Forest Hill Blvd.
The Palm Beach Pipes & Drums provide music for the patriotic parade.
PBSO Lt. Jay Hart, Catherine Engel and Capt. Greg Richter during the playing of “Taps.”
Shane McDaniel of the PBSO Honor Guard.
Korean War veteran and former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham.
Wellington Councilman and military veteran Matt Willhite.
Councilman Bob Margolis and State Sen. Dave Aronberg lay one of the wreaths.
Al Weissman of Jewish War Veterans Post 684.
Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen during the Pledge of Allegiance.
The parade makes its way onto Forest Hill Blvd. in front of the Wellington Community Center. Kasdidy, Konnor and Kelly McGhee.
Wellington Art Society Installs Officers, Awards Scholarships
The evening of Tuesday, May 13 was one of reflection and new direction for the Wellington Art Society, which held its annual meeting and dinner that night at the Links at Madison Green clubhouse in Royal Palm Beach.
The meeting featured a full program, including the installation of new officers for the group’s board and the presentation of its annual scholarships for local art students.
Chairing the meeting and serving as master of ceremonies was outgoing president Susan Rose, who has served on the society’s board for eight years, including five as president. Rose was honored by the organization for her distinguished service and dedication. She thanked the membership and all those who either served on the board or
volunteered on various committees, attributing the organization’s growth in recent years to their collective effort. Rose also noted with pride the expansion of both the sponsorship program and exhibition opportunities for Wellington Art Society members, including the Fall Fling event, which Rose will be chairing in November. Also singled out was Leonarda Mangiola, who had been the group’s treasurer for 15 years. Proceeds from society events throughout the year support the scholarship fund. This year, the program was able to provide three talented high school seniors with a $1,000 scholarship each to help realize their dreams of attending college to pursue a degree and a career in the field of art. The 2008 scholarship recipients include Wellington res-
idents Jayne Branstrom and Kyle Krakow, and Akeem Pierre Glaze of Royal Palm Beach, all graduates of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Each recipient was given a framed certificate and an invitation to exhibit their work at this year’s Fall Fling.
The main event of the evening was the installation of the new board officers, including President Adrianne Hetherington, First Vice President Karen Knight, Second Vice President Jean Talbott, Treasurer Geoff Wilson, Recording Secretary Linda Rovolis and Corresponding Secretary Jo-Ann Wolf.
Hetherington outlined her plans for the group in the year ahead, including efforts to increase general membership, the establishment of a youth membership program and the ulti-
mate goal of obtaining a permanent facility for workshops and exhibits.
Knight announced another new initiative — the society’s community “Artreach” program, which she is chairing. Artreach will feature Wellington Art Society artists conducting a variety of art-related activities at facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, bringing a smile to those in need.
To realize these goals, Knight said the organization will be looking for support from the private sector in the form of corporate partnerships and other sponsorship opportunities. Anyone wanting to participate or make a contribution can call Karen Knight at (561) 798-3240 or e-mail her at artforum9@ aol.com.
PHOTOS
The Wellington Art Society 2008-09 officers include: Geoff Wilson, Linda Rovolis, Karen Knight, Adrianne Hetherington, Jean Talbott and Jo-Ann Wolf.
Maryanne and Ron Davidson, Dolores and Murray Rosen, and Penny and Keinhart Thorsen.
Adrianne and Vern Hetherington with Karen and Steve Knight.
Adrianne Hetherington and Susan Rose with scholarship recipients Akeem Pierre Glaze, Jayne Branstrom and Kyle Krakow.
Norma Winter and Margarate Berry.
Geoff Wilson and Jean Talbott. Mag and David Frye.
Sheila Spelce-Kime and Raymonde Talleyrand.
Leonarda and Tito Mangiola. Randy and Leslie Pfeiffer.
Jayne Branstom with her parents J.B. and Nancy, and Kyle Krakow with his parents Morgan and Elliot.
Akeem Glaze (second from left) with his parents Lee and Maryse, and sister Nathalie.
FDOT’s ‘Click It Or Ticket’ Enforcement Campaign Now Underway
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
State and local officials gathered at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach last week to remind people to buckle up while traveling Florida’s roads. The May 15 press conference was one of ten the Florida Department of Transportation hosted across the state during in advance of Memorial Day weekend, one of the deadliest weekends of the year on American roads.
FDOT’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign for 2008 started Monday and runs through June 1. During those two weeks, law enforcement are increasing normal patrols and practicing a zero-tolerance policy on seatbelt usage, ticketing any drivers or passengers not wearing safety belts.
Almost 62 percent of motorists and passengers killed in traffic accidents were not wearing safety belts in 2006, the most recent year for which crash data is available.
But FDOT’s District 4 Secretary Jim Wolfe said the Click It or Ticket campaign has been successful in getting the message out that someone who is unbelted is six times more likely to die in a collision.
“That should be enough for anybody to put a safety belt on,” Wolfe said. “We’re up to 80 percent of people buckling up in Florida. In passenger vehicles, that’s 21 percent better than 2001, when we began the Click It or Ticket campaign. Many lives have been saved through this.”
Wolfe said the campaign is as much about education as it is about enforcement. “People need to understand why they should wear safety belts,” he said. “They need to understand the importance of this. When we get down to the last 20 percent, we are having difficulty with the education message. They believe they are immortal.”
Capt. William Patrick Kenny, commander of the Palm Beach
County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division, said 42,600 people died last year as a result of not wearing seat belts, about 1,300 of them in Florida. “You hear the airline analogy,” he said. “If that many people were dying in airplane crashes, people would do something about it. These are the people going to the airport. These are the people going to grandma’s house. These are the people going to work and to school. A simple task of clicking a seatbelt will increase your chances in an accident dramatically.”
Kenny said seatbelt scofflaws will face stiff fines if caught.
“Our commitment from the PBSO and the rest of law enforcement in Palm Beach County is to have a zero-tolerance policy during this Click It or Ticket campaign, and to have a zero-tolerance policy when people don’t wear seatbelts,” he said. “Enough warnings. There are too many people being buried. The cost of a citation is $76.50. If you see us and you don’t have the seatbelt on, expect that $76.50.”
Former state representative Irv Slosberg fought for years for stiffer penalties and tougher laws on safety belt use. As someone who lost a daughter to a traffic accident, he offered himself as an example of a person who must cope with the loss of a loved one due to a crash.
“I’m the home office of what can happen if you don’t wear your seat belts,” Slosberg said.
“The guys in the front seat were fine. My daughter, and her friends, devastation. If this had been the law 12 years ago, my daughter might be living today because the guy driving might have said, ‘there are seven kids in the back seat, and it would cost me $700 or $1,000 for all those tickets.’ We need tougher laws and tougher legislation.” For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit www.clickitfla.com.
‘We’re up to 80 percent of people buckling up in Florida. In passenger vehicles, that’s 21 percent better than 2001, when we began the Click It or Ticket campaign.’ — FDOT’s District 4 Secretary Jim Wolfe
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
PBSO Capt. William Kenny.
Irv Slosberg talks about losing his daughter in a traffic accident.
Law enforcement officers stand by their vehicles.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Frith.
FDOT District 4 Secretary Jim Wolfe, State Rep. Mary Brandenburg and former representative Irv Slosberg.
FDOT District 4 Secretary Jim Wolfe addresses the audience.
My Breakfast Treat: The Epic Battle Of Good Vs. Chocolate
Hey! Through years of careful testing (not), I’ve finally discovered the secret weapon of healthful cooking — a recipe that unclogs your cholesterol and boosts your antioxidants and (if you can even believe it) tastes so good you’ll exactly want to eat it! Yes!
It all started when I got a box of dark chocolates for Mother’s Day. There are two especially good things about dark chocolate: 1) I love it and 2) my husband Mark, not so much. This means there is actually a chance that the majority of the chocolate will be devoured by me, the happy recipient. (The tables are turned with milk chocolate.) So anyway, the other morning I had this box of chocolates sitting around which I couldn’t really eat yet because it was barely breakfast time. Like fine wine, fabulous chocolate
Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER
shouldn’t be consumed before noon. If you start any earlier, you’re drunk with joy by the time the kids get home from school and they get suspicious. So it has to be portioned out through the day. Sometimes you have to take a full-time job and leave the box at home just to put some distance between you and it.
To take my mind off the chocolate, I made
myself a bowl of hot, steamy oatmeal (a certified acceptable breakfast dish also touted as a cholesterol-lowering agent) and was in the middle of plopping some chunks of brown sugar into it (for texture, you understand), when my eye fell upon the box of chocolates.
You can see where I’m heading with this. By merely substituting a beautiful dark chocolate for the sugar, I would be satisfying my craving for a sweet addition to the oats while adding healthful antioxidants to the mix. It seemed like a win-win!
“But then you’ll be ingesting chocolate before noon,” the Good Debbie side of my conscience reminded me. (She is really annoying at times.)
“But I’d only be doing it for health reasons,” Bad Debbie cajoled.
“I think you may be fibbing about that,” Good Debbie chastised mildly.
“Well, screw you!” Bad Debbie screamed. (Bad Debbie has a temper, but I like her.)
Suddenly, the chocolates themselves interceded with, “I think I may be drying out in this box, unloved and uncared-for.”
“The chocolate is dying!” Bad Debbie screeched, shoving Good Debbie out of the way and, in fact, down the stairs. The rest is history. So I’m telling you, faithful reader, that if you want a soulful, fabulous, putting-the-good-in-Good-Morning treat, take a dark chocolate and stir it slowly into your oatmeal. Then eat. Never mind those voices in your head. And if you want to go straight to hell, dump in a couple of chocolates. See you there.
Remembering ‘Old Blue Eyes’ A Decade After His Passing
The greatest of popular singers, Frank Sinatra, died ten years ago this past week. Of course, his rank among singers is simply my opinion, but it is one shared by many of those who listen to and love music.
Sinatra had hits as a young man in the 1930s when young girls crowded his concerts, screaming for him, helping to create a new kind of American idol. And at the time he sang well, but not very differently from a lot of young performers.
But Sinatra changed. In his early years he used that incredible voice to simply present a song, not very different from his contemporaries. Watch old movies and all you hear are the singers presenting what was written on the song sheet by composers and lyricists, completely interchangeable. No extra meaning or shadings at all.
As he grew older, Sinatra grew out of all that. He added shadings and extra meanings. He be-
‘I’
On CULTURE
By Leonard Wechsler
came the ultimate jazz singer, so smooth and so big that he simply transcended the genre.
Compare his version of many songs to those of the original singers. In my car, I listened to his version of “The Way You Look Tonight” and marveled at how he took the simple version Fred Astaire sang in Swing Time and turned it into his own. Jerome Kern would recognize the melody, but I wonder if he could have imagined Sinatra’s version, one that works so well. I imagine he would have loved it.
We can hear all the heartache, perhaps we could even say the wisdom gained over an event-filled life, in his songs as he aged. The 1950s were a great time for him as he recorded a long succession of hits including “Love and Marriage,” “Come Fly With Me” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin
My own favorite is “Strangers in the Night.”
Not only is the music great but that last “doobie doobie do” just demonstrates the old joke about how someone like Sinatra could sing the phonebook and make it fun.
He was also lucky in his choices. He had sung one tune called “New York, New York” (The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down) in the 1947 movie On The Town. Doing a concert in New York, he wanted other New York songs and used the other “New York, New York” as an opener. The audience went crazy, he recorded it in 1979, and just about every party ever since has an extra line dance.
Many of us remember a few of his more reflective songs. “It Was a Very Good Year” was a recollection of past good times. That it was not written for him (originally it was a Kingston Trio song that fizzled) does not matter. He brings it to life.
And, of course, there is “My Way.” Again, it was not really written for him. Does it really matter? Listening to him sing it, even ten years after his death, it seems to sum him up; it seems to be written for him.
Other music greats rushed to work with him. He used the best arrangers, worked with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. His album of duets, done when he was in his 70s, gave younger artists a chance to work with him, and he made all of them better.
Sinatra understood living. He was a star with hits in the 1930s and had hits 60 years later at the time of his death. He knew how to live. And ring-a-ding-ding.
Sometimes I Don’t Give My Better Half The Credit
I was hoping Mother’s Day would slip through my house without anyone noticing. I wanted this to happen because this would be the first Mother’s Day my wife Sharon would not be spending with her mother. My wife and her mother Bea were as close as a mother and daughter could be. Since my mother-in-law died last October, my wife has been doing a very good job with the situation. To her credit she has done much better than I thought she would (I know she is doing a better job than I could in her situation). But I thought the house of cards would come tumbling down on Mother’s Day.
In the weeks before Mother’s Day, I told my kids and grandkids to try their best not to discuss Mother’s Day in front of my wife. Much to my surprise, they were able to do this.
Wondering & Wandering
By Ernie Zimmerman
On the morning of Mother’s Day, I went for my usual 6 a.m. bike ride. I felt secure in doing this because my wife doesn’t open her eyes till at least 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. When I got back to my house at about 8:30 a.m., my wife was still sound asleep. That lasted only for another five minutes.
doorbell rang. It was my son Brian with his daughters Eliana and Leora. They were both wearing very large white chef’s hats. In their tiny hands were eggs, bagels, juice and a few more breakfast goodies.
When my wife greeted them at the door, they appeared to be disappointed. When I asked them if there was a problem, they both said yes, they went on to say, “Grandma is supposed to be in bed. We came here to make her breakfast in bed”
As Mother’s Day approached, I was getting very tense. My wife, on the other hand, was very calm and acting normal. It was starting to appear that I was more upset over my motherin-law’s death than my wife was. I was starting to wonder how this could be. I then recalled how calm she was when her father died. He died about four years ago on Father’s Day.
I tried my best to keep Mother’s Day low key. I told my mother I would not be taking her out this Mother’s Day. I told her I would give her a rain check she could cash in anytime she wants. After I explained why I was doing this, she told me it was a great idea. Much to my relief, she wasn’t at all offended.
The phone rang and my son Ronnie was on the other end. He was in Atlanta for the weekend and was calling to wish my wife a happy Mother’s Day. At this point I was very surprised to learn I had a son in Atlanta. When my wife got on the phone, I figured this is where she would lose it. But to my surprise she was all smiles and very happy.
This call was followed by calls from my daughter-in-law Ashley and her five kids. My wife was all smiles… that is, until she hung up the phone.
She demanded to know why her other son had not called her with Mother’s Day wishes. Before I could give her a logical answer, the
Upon hearing this my wife retreated to her bed, pulled the covers over her head and tried to go back to sleep. The girls headed off to the kitchen, where they proceeded to make their grandmother the best breakfast she ever had. They also left the biggest mess in the kitchen grandma ever had. I guess with all of the phone calls and the girls making breakfast, I really didn’t have to worry about my wife on Mother’s Day. My wife came through like the real champ she is.
The Silver Screen Cinema Café and Comedy Club in Wellington presented the “Elvis Experience” on Saturday, May 17. Elvis (a.k.a. Scott Ringersen of Delray Beach) performed two shows, including a patriotic tribute in honor of Armed Forces Day. He was joined by Neil Zirconia, “the ultimate faux Diamond” (a.k.a. Chuck Lapaglia). Ringersen will return Saturday, May 31. The Silver Screen Cinema Café and Comedy Club is located at 12795 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza. For more info., call (561) 795-3001 or visit www.silverscreen cinemaandcomedyclub.com.
PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Royal Palm Beach resident and owner of A-1 Qualified Appliance Repairs Dion Ambrogio organized a benefit for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach (FSO) on Saturday, May 18 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Ambrogio, a.k.a. Dion II, performed along with the Fabulons, Midnight Rodeo, Joey George and the Boathouse Blues Band. Through donations to FSO, care packages are sent to U.S. troops serving overseas. The items include toothpaste and other personal items, baby wipes, food, socks, cookies and letters of encouragement. For more info., call (561) 369-2933 or email info@forgottensoldiers.org.
PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Celebrating their seventh anniversary, Iris and Howie Zimmerman dance while “Elvis” croons.
June Coenen enjoys an ice cream sundae.
Rachel Smith with Scott Ringersen as “Elvis.”“Elvis” with Silver Screen owners Steve Bell and Liz Vanino.
Carol Ann Ward, June Michael and Elizabeth Gesacion receive teddy bears from the King.
Diane Kokinda, Pat Smith and Rachel Smith with “Elvis”
Army Sgt. James Roberts recalls receiving his FSO care package while emcee Tim Byrd of 105.5 FM looks on.
Tim Byrd, Dion Ambrogio, FSO Executive Director Lynelle Chauncey-Zelnar and Sgt. James Roberts.
The Boathouse Blues Band: Gary Carman, Wally Rogers, Bernie Rose, Willy Guardiola and Eddie Beard.
The Fabulons rock the oldies. Joey George performs an acoustic number.Midnight Rodeo sings one of their country tunes.
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Junior camp for ages 2 to 5 years and Super camp for ages 5 to 12 years. Planet Kids is open daily from 6:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Monday through Friday at five convenient locations. See our ad for locations and phone numbers.
• CASPEREY STABLES HORSE CAMP — Casperey Stables is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages seven to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts & crafts and outdoor games, our campers find little time to be bored. Our low counselor/child ratio ensures your child will receive individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks, and during the summer, each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days and Medieval Days. We have a weekly swim party and end each session with a horse show and family barbecue. Call soon — this small, quality program fills quickly! To learn more about our camp, located at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, call us at (561) 792-4990 or visit www.caspereystables.com.
• RAVENWOOD RIDING ACADEMY — Ravenwood Riding Academy has been located in Wellington for 20 years. Proprietor and instructor Judie Jenner has been professionally involved with horses for over 30 years. Learn to ride at 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 fun, and an emphasis on safety. Lessons daily, groups are limited to 10 to 12 campers per week and grouped by skill level. All riding equipment and safety stirrups are provided. The program features demonstrations with veterinarians, blacksmiths and equine dentists. Call (561) 793-4109 to register today. Hurry, sessions fill up quickly.
• VILLARI’S SUMMER CAMP — For the first time in 25 years, Villari’s of Wellington is pleased to announce a full-day, nine-week summer camp. After years of research and preparation, we have decided it is time to offer a camp tailored to developing the mental as well as physical skills of your child. Through stretching, strengthening and balancing the bodies and minds of our children, we open a world less intimidating, more interesting and less confusing to them. Let your child experience a summer full of fun, fitness and friends. Call (561) 792-1100 for more info.
• XTREME TAE KWON DO SUMMER CAMP — Join us again for a funfilled summer camp for children ages four to 14. We offer physical and mental fitness and ways to improve your child’s balance and coordination while learning self defense. We also enjoy arts and crafts, and field trips to movies and gymnastics. Come and experience the best summer camp in the west. Two sessions will be offered: Session I from June 9 to June 20 and Session II from July 7 to July 18. Register before the end of April and receive an Xtreme T-shirt. Space is limited; register today. In-
structor is child CPR and heartsaver AED certified. Located at 12799 W.Forest Hill Blvd. inside Ultima Fitness. Call (561) 795-2823 for more information.
• FUTURE STARS BASKETBALL CAMP Held in the Palm Beach Central High School gymnasium, Future Stars is a fun and instructional basketball camp for boys and girls ages six to 17 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 session available running from June 16 through July 3. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Call (561) 4003397 for camp information and registration.
• ARMORY ART CENTER GET CREATIVE SUMMER ART CAMP — Jump Start for ages five to seven; Adventures in Art for ages eight to 11; and Studio Art Shops for teens (middle and high school students). An adventure in the visual arts for your young artist! Six sessions starting June 9. The center is located at 1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 832-1776 or visit www.armoryart.org.
• TUTORING CLUB OF WELLINGTON Tutoring Club of Wellington can make a difference! Tutoring Club helps students become more knowledgeable and successful in school. Our educational programs help students raise test scores, grades and attitudes toward education. We offer a well-rounded process that is proven to work well not only with students, but also with parents, teachers and the community. Helping students take a triumphant step in their educational future is our numberone goal. Summer camp registration is June 2 and June 12. For more information, call directors Gale Nelson and Jeff Santoloci at Tutoring Club of Wellington at (561) 784-4434.
• IBIS FARM — Now located in Little Ranches, Wellington Summer Camp at Ibis Farm starts July 7 for ages six and up. Instructors and owners Lauren Briggs, Monique Loehrer and Melody Shapiro have over 30 years in the industry and are on the “A” Circuit. It’s a great way for kids to get involved with animals and meet new friends! Daily riding, horsemanship, arts & crafts, games and a horse show every Friday afternoon. Camps run from Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring lunch and plenty of drinks. Call (561) 616-7246 for more information.
• LA HACIENDA SHOW STABLES — Make this summer one to remember and join LaHacienda Show Stables for lots of fun riding, playing with horses, swimming and other activities that are part in its riding camp. The program is open to children ages six to 15 and runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Extended care is available. For more information, call (561) 422-8863 or visit www.lahacienda showstables.com.
• C SHARP’S SCHOOL OF ROCK — C Sharp will be jamin’ Monday through Thursday during the summer. Our two-week camp includes introduction to guitar, drums, piano and singing. Students will be exposed to the fundamentals and will collaborate, write and perform with other students. Camp runs June 9 through Aug. 15 for ages seven to 15, from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come and visit us for all your music needs at 13860 Wellington Trace, Suite 20 in the Courtyard Shops. For more info., call (561) 795-2585.
• KEVIN PERKINS GOLF ACADEMY — Kevin Perkins, PGA Master Professional, was the director of golf at the world-renowned Champions Gate Golf Resort in Orlando, international headquarters for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Perkins was the 92nd PGA Professional to achieve the elite “Master” PGA professional ranking among 22,000 PGA members. For more information, call Kevin at (561) 301-3783.
TOWN-CRIER SPORTS & RECREATION
Scrimmage Match Prepares Hawks For Game Against Park Vista
By Lisa Keeney Town-Crier Staff Report
The Seminole Ridge High School varsity and junior varsity football teams scrimmaged last Friday night in preparation for the Hawks’ spring football game at Park Vista. Instead of matching varsity against junior varsity, the coaches intermingled
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both squads into two relatively balanced teams and pitted Red against Silver, the school’s colors. Silver won 3413. The game gave players more time on the field and coaches an opportunity to watch from the backfield to better critique the players in action. The Hawks travel to Park Vista on Friday, May 23 at 7 p.m.
Panther Run Kickball Fifth Graders Defeat Discovery Key 4-0
By Lisa Keeney
Town-Crier Staff Report
Panther Run Elementary School intramural kickball team shut out visiting Discovery Key 4-0 last Wednesday afternoon. Panther Run and Discovery Key are the only two teams in the newly formed intramural kickball league, according to program founder Amie Souder, the kickball coach at Panther Run.
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Last Wednesday’s match-up was the third in the series of four games for the fifth-grade students. Panther Run hosted the first game, winning 5-1. Discovery Key hosted the second game, winning 1-0. If Discovery Key wins the fourth game, there will be a tie-breaking fifth game, hosted by the team scoring the most runs in the season. The fourth game will take place Wednesday, May 28 at 3 p.m. at Discovery Key.
Souder said she hopes to expand the program next year to include more elementary schools in the western communities.
Freshman Tyler Butler tackles freshman ball carrier Rickey Brown.
Sophomore Hayden Collier waits for the snap from Michael Schwartsberg.
Linemen listen to feedback from the coaches. SRHS Head Coach Matt Dickmann talks to junior William Jones.Freshman Thomas Fragle is tackled by a trio of defensive men.
Sophomore running back Aaron Arndt carries the ball.
Junior quarterback Taylor Wilhelm looks to pass.
Freshman kicker Max Nielson tries to score the extra point as freshman Ryan Bialczak holds.
Panther Run Kickball Coach Amie Souder pitches the ball. Panther Run’s Leah Heysler was forced to the fence to handle this long kick by Farrah Zamor.
Panther Run’s Jonathan Rosado makes the catch at second base for the out.
Rebecca Greenspan scores for Panther Run.Discovery Key’s Corey Hernandez kicks the ball.
Panther Run’s Jack Lohr falls backward over Discovery Key’s Ryan Creech, who was safe at third.
The Acreage Athletic League 7-8 Coach Pitch Astros defeated the Pirates XXXX XXXX to win the 2008 Acreage Bash Championship last Saturday at Acreage Community Park. (Above) The Pirates and the Astros display their trophies. (Left) Max Zimmerman makes a catch for the Astros.
Wellington Cougars Finish Season On Top
The Wellington Cougars All Star Cheer teams have ended their 2008 competition schedule as champions — national champions that is.
“We are so proud of all three teams,” said Christina Reickel, who coaches the Wellington Cougars along with Patti Greear. “Competition has been so close this year and a national championship is a huge accomplishment.”
The senior co-ed Level 3
team won the NCA competition held April 12 in Daytona Beach, while the Junior and Youth teams each took first place at the recent competition at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
“We couldn’t have imagined a better ending to a fabulous season,” Reickel said. “We are very excited to see the teams do even better in the upcoming season.”
All the teams practice two
times per week, all year round. Tryouts are held each year in the late spring. Teams are offered for boys and girls ages four to 18.
For additional information about the Wellington Cougar All Stars, or to learn about tryouts, visit the web site www. wellingtoncheeranddance. com.
If you missed your tryout, call Reickel at (561) 202-4856 for a private evaluation.
The Wellington Cougars All Star Cheer teams perform.
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.
Plenty Planned At Binks Forest Golf Club
Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington has announced that it will hold the following activities:
• Memorial Day Flag Tournament — Binks Forest Golf Club will hold its Memorial Day Flag Tournament on Monday, May 26. Each player will be given a flag to plant on his/her final shot. The final shot will be determined by the player’s score plus full handicap. For instance, a 10-handicap golfer will plant his flag on the 82nd shot. The flag that travels the farthest determines the winner. The entree fee is $10. Set tee times in the pro shop.
• Par 3 Kids Golf Jamboree — Celebrate the end of the school year with your children Sunday, June 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Binks Forest Golf Club. A special four-hole, par-3 golf course has been constructed for golfers of any ability. Clubs will be provided to participants who do not have their own. After the tournament, enjoy a barbecue dinner with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, salads, dessert and soft drinks. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Binks Forest Elementary School PTA. Sign up in the pro shop or call for reservations. The cost is $19.95 per adult and $10.95 per
child, including sales tax. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Free Wedge on Mondays in June — Beginning on Monday, June 2 and running through the end of the month, golfers who book a round of golf on Mondays at the regular rate of $45 will receive a free sand wedge. Brands and lofts will vary. This program is not available for afternoon or twilight rounds, discounted or league play. Coupons must be presented in the pro shop in order to receive a wedge.
• Summer Golf Camp
Sign up your children for summer golf camp at Binks Forest Golf Club. The camp is staffed by Class A PGA golf professionals. Clubs are provided for campers who do not have their own. There are five separate camps this summer. Each session is independent of the other sessions and takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday each day. The cost for each session is $150 per child. Register with the Wellington Parks & Recreation Department at (561) 791-4005. Session 1 is June 16-20, Session 2 is June 23-27, Session 3 is July 7-11, Session 4 is July 14-18 and Session 5 is July 21-25.
• Binks Forest Summer Player’s Card — This summer, Binks Forest Golf Club will be selling a limited number of Summer Player’s
Fred Lippner Memorial Tournament May 22-25
The American Legion Baseball 17 & Under Post 258 team will host the Second Annual Fred Lippner Memorial Tournament May 22-25. All games will be played at one of two locations in the Village of Wellington: Wellington High School (2101 Greenview Shores Blvd.) or Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). This is a six-team tournament; each team is guaranteed four games, three seed games and a single-elimination tournament to follow. Trophies will be
awarded to the first-place team, the second-place team and the MVP of the championship game. The following teams are entered: Wellington Post 258, Boynton Beach Post 164, Davie Post 308, Delray Post 188, Seminole Ridge Post 367 and Fort Pierce Post 358. Opening ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 24 at 3 p.m. at Wellington High School. All baseball players and coaches will be included during the ceremonies. Four distinguished war veterans will
be honored: former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham, Jack Eassa, Robert Clemonts and James Johnson. The ceremony will include the American Legion Motorcycle Riders Post 162, Adjutant Jim Johnson playing “Taps” on the bugle and Kaitlyn Riebe singing the National Anthem. American Legion is the oldest organized youth baseball program in the United States. For more information, call Tournament Director Lorrie Miller at (561) 795-6744.
Wellington U-16 Boys Win Soccer Championship
The Wellington Wave U-16 boys soccer team won the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup Championship last weekend in Pensacola. Last year the team entered the competition as underdogs and were pleased with every new success. This year, as defending champions, every team was gunning for the Wave, and they had to fight for every win. The Wave won a hard-fought double overtime game against Florida Soccer Alliance last Saturday, winning 1-0. In the championship game the following day, the U-16 boys defeated the Jacksonville Soccer
5-2 to take home the championship. Coached by Patrick Zoete, the team accomplished their primary goal of repeating as state champs and look forward to proudly representing Florida in the Southern Regionals scheduled for June 19-25 in Raleigh, N.C.
COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR
Saturday, May 24
• Palms West Alliance Church will present a Rock Fest featuring the Christian rock group Fireflight on Saturday, May 24. Free food and fun begins at 5 p.m. with the concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5. The church is located at 16401 Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. For info., call (561) 333-5352 or visit www. palmswest.org.
• A Gun Show will be held at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25 featuring a wide collection of guns, ammo, knives, hunting supplies and accessories. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more info., call (561) 793-0333.
Monday, May 26
• The Village of Wellington will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26. The day will begin with a parade at 8:45 a.m. starting at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) and ending at the Wellington Veterans’ Memorial located at the corner of Forest Hill and South Shore boulevards. The Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. If you would like to have a veteran’s name and service branch listed in the program and announced directly following the ceremony and listed on Channel 18, call (561) 791-4773 during normal business hours or e-mail dhetherington@ ci.wellington.fl.us.
• The Village of Royal Palm Beach invites the public to join its Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 26. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. at Veterans Park, located at the corner of Sparrow Drive and Royal Palm Beach Blvd. The observance will be led by members of the American Legion Post #367 Honor Guard, ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary #367, Boy Scout Troop 111, Brownie Troop 515, and local dignitaries. Refreshments will be prepared by Wild Orchids Café and served by Young at Heart Club volunteers following the rifle salute. For more info., call (561) 790-5149.
• Forgotten Soldiers Outreach and Palm Beach Memorial Park invite the public to attend the third annual Memorial Day service “A Day to Remember,” honoring veterans past and present on Monday, May 26. The service will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Palm Beach Memorial Park is located at 3691 Seacrest Blvd. in Lantana. For more info., visit www.forgotten soldiers.org or call (561) 3692933.
Tuesday, May 27
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Bookmaking Program on Tuesday, May 27 at 3:30 p.m. Children ages nine to 12 will learn how to make a few simple books for themselves or to give to friends and family. To pre-register, call (561) 7906070.
Wednesday, May 28
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Poetry Discussion Group on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. Engage in a provocative discussion of several published poems written by various poets. Pick up copies at the information desk. To preregister, call (561) 790-6070. Thursday, May 29
• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will present “Everything You Should Know About Hospice But Were Afraid to Ask” on Thursday, May 29 at 3 p.m. Discover how Hospice can help with patient care for loved ones. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6030.
Friday, May 30
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring” on Friday, May 30 at 2:45 p.m. Children ages five through eight can learn more about rain and hear about a spectacular Rainy Day by Patricia Laskin. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.
• The “Distinguished Citizens of the Year” dinner will take place on Friday, May 30 at the Players Club restaurant in Wellington. The honorary dinner will be held in recognition of the community service of former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham and his wife Regis. The two were named 2008 Distinguished Citizens of the Year by the Gulf Stream Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The evening will begin with cocktails at 7 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. Individual tickets cost $100 with a limited number of sponsorship tables for 10 available for $1,300 and tables of 12 available for
$1,500. For more info., call the BSA office at (561) 694-8585, ext. 221.
Saturday, May 31
• The Village of Wellington invites the community to join in the dedication of its newest Wetlands Park on Saturday, May 31 at 9 a.m. at the wetlands park entrance located at the southwest corner of Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, there are plans for a bird release and a boardwalk tour highlighting the park’s design and habitat. For more info., call Dwayne Hetherington at (561) 791-4773.
Sunday, June 1
• The Royal Palm Beach High School Wildcat football team is holding its Inaugural Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 1 at the Links at Madison Green (2001 Crestwood Blvd. North in Royal Palm Beach). The tournament will have a 1 p.m. shotgun start with registration and auction bids beginning at noon. The mission of the Wildcat football program is to educate, graduate and develop a lifelong commitment to an atmosphere of cordiality and purpose on and off the field. For more info., contact Cheryl Seitler (561) 723-8298 or cseitler15@bellsouth.net.
Monday, June 2
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold VolunTeen Orientation on Monday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. This is the last chance for interested teens ages 12 through 18 to attend in preparation for summer volunteer hours. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.
Wednesday, June 4
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Health Information on the Internet” on Wednesday, June 4 at 2 p.m. Rachel Mick from the Community Health Information Service will guide adult attendees through online resources so they can find quality medical information that can be trusted. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.
• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host the 12th Annual Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers Festival at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) in expo buildings 6 and 10 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4. Enjoy food from great restaurants, musical entertainment, refreshments and a business expo. Call (561) 790-6200 for info.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold its Book Discussion Series for adults on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. Sara Harris will lead a discussion of Family Pictures by Sue Miller. Sign up and check out a copy of the book. Call (561) 7906070 for more info.
Thursday, June 5
• Do you enjoy writing poems, short stories or memoirs? The Royal Palm Beach Writing Club meets at 10 a.m. on first and third Thursdays at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). For more info., call Margie Bonner at (561) 712-4905.
• The Women’s Chamber Foundation will hold its annual scholarship award luncheon on Thursday, June 5 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Kay Carnes, head of St. Mark’s Episcopal School. Register online at www.womenschamber foundation.org or call (561) 684-4523.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Teen Advisory Group meeting for ages 12 through 17 on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy snacks, conversation and good ideas. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info. Friday, June 6
• The West Palm Beach Antique & Collectibles Show will return to the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) Friday through Sunday, June 68. Admission is $11 for a multiday ticket; single-day tickets cost $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for seniors. Children under 12 will be admitted free. For info., call (561) 793-0333.
• The “Down the Street” Bead Show will be held Friday through Sunday, June 6-8 at the South Florida Fairgrounds in Building 1. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 and free for children 12 and under. For more info., call (561) 793-0333. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotown crier.com.
Authentic Italian Cuisine At Buon Appetito In Royal Palm Beach
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
Buon Appetito New York Style Pizza has been serving Italian food in Royal Palm Beach’s Crossroads Shopping Center for four months.
“We’re becoming Royal Palm Beach’s hometown pizza joint,” manager Glenn Serrano said. “We’re getting a lot of business from recommendations. People come in, try our pizza and our other meals, and come back. Even better, they tell their friends.”
Serrano said Buon Appetito is operated by the same owners as New York Style Pizza, in business for 28 years at Lake Worth and Jog roads.
“People who used to go there but lived in Royal Palm Beach come up to us now and tell us they are so glad they can get the same kind of food close by,” he said. “Now they have that kind of quality in their neighborhood.”
Buon Appetito has pizza and other Italian specialties for dining in, delivery and takeout, offering a special of two slices and a soda for $4.95. Serrano said the restaurant’s New York roots contribute to the quality of its food.
“This is authentic New York,” he said. “Our pizza maker is from New York and learned the trade there.”
Serrano said his premium ingredients also deserve much credit. “Everything is made fresh here,” he said. “We make our own dough, our garlic rolls. We only use the best. For example, we only use Grande mozzarella cheese. That’s the highest quality. It’s more expensive,
but the quality shows us in the taste.”
Anything a customer is likely to put on a pizza is available, Serrano said. “We have all the regular toppings, but we also have gourmet toppings like artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, eggplant, gorgonzola, ricotta, feta and prosciutto,” he said.
But Serrano urged restraint in the topping selection, so that the flavor of each comes out. “We recommend using no more than four or five of them,” he said. “At a certain point, too many different tastes blend together and what you taste is definitely muted.”
Buon Appetito also serves fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, curly fries, chicken fingers and a homemade soup. “We usually also have pasta fagiole around as well,” Serrano said.
The restaurant has a variety of regular dishes such as pasta favorites including linguini, penne or spaghetti with a choice of sauces such as marinara or garlic and oil. The restaurant also serves ravioli, manicotti, lasagna, baked ziti and stuffed shells as well as major entrées like chicken, veal or eggplant parmigiana.
“We’re adding more items from the Lake Worth restaurant menu all the time,” Serrano said. “But we’ve been using our time here to really find out what the people in Royal Palm Beach want.”
Serrano said he has created a database by surveying customers on their Buon Appetito experience. “We want to learn
more about our customers,” he said. “That way we can serve them better.”
Serrano said the owners are pleased with their new location’s progress and are planning a Jupiter location. “We get great compliments from our customers,” he said. “A lot of them come back, and even more also ask us to deliver right to their homes. We’re growing quickly. Even though there are other places that make pizza around, they know this is where you go if you want really good pizza.”
Buon Appetito New York Style Pizza is located at 1156 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Crossroads Shopping Center and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more info., or to place an order, call (561) 7934904 or (561) 793-4905.
Women’s Chamber Foundation Annual Scholarship Luncheon
The annual scholarship award luncheon hosted by the Women’s Chamber Foundation will take place June 5 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Registration for the luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The guest speaker for the event is Kay Carnes, who is currently the head of St. Mark’s Episcopal School. Carnes, a recipient of the Florida Department of Education’s Outstanding High School Principal Award in 1998, has a remarkable background in leading the development of college preparatory academic programs.
Terri Parker, an award-winning investigative reporter from WPBF Channel 25, will serve as master of ceremonies.
The foundation is grateful those who, through their generous contributions, have supported its mission to promote opportunities for professional growth and development to deserving women who want to optimize their lives through higher education.
A total of 11 scholarships will be awarded this year. Two $1,500 scholarship awards will be given through matching donations from the Palm Beach Community College Foundation, one $1,000 award through
matching donations from Florida Atlantic University and one award will be given through a $1,000 designated back-toschool donation from the Women’s Chamber Foundation. The additional seven awards will be given in the amount of $1,000 from the WCF Scholarship Fund.
A drawing will also take place during the luncheon from names entered by those who made a special donation to the scholarship fund in exchange for an opportunity to win a pastel portrait created by local artist Barbara Udelson. Valued at $2,100, the portrait is entitled A Study of Olga
Sponsorships and registration for this event can be made online at www.womenschamber foundation.org or by calling (561) 684-4523.
depicting the artist’s interpretation of the 19th-century grand duchess and daughter of Czar Nicholas I and Princess Charlotte of Prussia. The planning committee for the event include chair Helena Edie-Dobbs, Margaret Bagley, Barbara Fretwell, Judy Jacobs, Sandra Kaplan, Julie Kelly, Margo Kohlhoff, Linda Long, Huntley Miller, Victoria Reese, Jennifer Rodriguez, Wendy Vaniglia and Barbara Benson Wymer.
New York Style Pizza — Buon Appetito’s Jennifer Sangprasert and Candido Herrera at the Royal Palm Beach location.
Costco Wholesale Club in Royal Palm Beach has been raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network as part of the company’s campaign to benefit the organization. All month long, Costco customers can donate through their purchase of bottled water, yogurt toppings and name tags (all for $1), as well as by depositing cash into a donation container. An event will be held Saturday, May 24 featuring face painting, a bounce house and other children’s activities. Discounted coupon books for neighboring businesses will be on sale. Costco is located at 11001 Southern Blvd. For more info., call (561) 803-8830.
WRMC Auxiliary/Medical Staff Awards Scholarships To High School Graduates
The Friends of Wellington Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, along with the medical staff of the hospital, recently presented $24,000 in college scholarships to 12 local high school seniors pursuing careers in the healthcare field.
Each of the students received a $2,000 Camilla Combs Memorial Scholarship Award to be used toward their college education.
This year, the Auxiliary Scholarship Committee interviewed dozens of deserving high school students, with understanding of the special talents and qualifications required of
individuals entering the medical field. Criteria for scholarship selection included academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service, financial need, character, maturity, motivation and goals.
“It has been a meaningful experience for the scholarship committee, auxiliary and medical staff to recognize these outstanding young scholars who will go on to make significant contributions to the healthcare field in the future,” Scholarship Chairwoman Bea Fries said.
The 2008 winners are as follows: Shelly Atine, Lake Worth
High School; Jose Garcia, Wellington High School; Gizem Kahveci, Forest Hill High School; Ariel Le, Palm Beach Central High School; Liceth Munoz, Lake Worth High School; Thomas Pack, Wellington High School; Brianna Pancione, Park Vista High School; Mariah Prince, Lake Worth High School; Sarah Rowlinson, Wellington High School; Deanna Shade, Trinity Christian Academy; James Thomas, Palm Beach Central High School; and Vanessa Valdivia, Lake Worth High School. The scholarships were presented at an ice cream social on
May 15 at the Wellington Regional Medical Center café. Family members of the students, auxiliary members and hospital administrators were on hand to congratulate the students.
“I am proud of the work of the hospital’s auxiliary for their fundraising efforts throughout the year that made these scholarships possible,” CEO Kevin DiLallo said. “I also want to express my appreciation to Dr. Jeffrey Bishop, chief medical director, and our medical staff for their support and generosity which allowed several additional students to receive scholarships.”
The Michelin Man with Costco Tire Department workers Maranciano Suriel, Luis Perez and Robert Staff.
Sisters Karie and Katie Abel of Loxahatchee enjoy some frozen yogurt with Oreo sprinkles.
Sharon Looke of Royal Palm Beach donates a dollar.
Rick Burton of Wellington buys water at $1 per bottle from Edgar Gomez at Costco’s gas station.
The Michelin Man gives Connor Simmons of Royal Palm Beach a high-five while mom Kathy looks on.
Awarding Scholars — (L-R) Scholarship Committee Chairwoman Bea Fries, WRMC CEO Kevin DiLallo, Vanessa Valdivia, Deanna Shade, Mariah Prince, Sarah Rowlinson, James Thomas, Shelly Atine, Thomas Pack, Brianna Pancione, Dr. Jeffrey Bishop, and scholarship committee members Dolly Friedman, Marlene Berk and Chris Fries.
Fresh Air Salon & Spa Keeps The Chemicals At A Minimum
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
There’s no way around the chemicals used in beauty salons, but the Fresh Air Salon & Spa in Greenacres minimizes customers’ exposure to them.
“This industry is centered around chemicals,” said Paul Hill, who owns Fresh Air Salon along with his wife Jie. “There’s no getting away from it. I just don’t see why a customer should come to be pampered and be accosted by all the toxins in the air.”
The salon, which opened seven months ago, utilizes nine industrial-size air cleaners that use zeolite and activated charcoal filters, HEPA filters and ultraviolet light to cleanse the air of pollutants such as dust, pollen and microbes, Hill said.
“My wife used to work in nail salons. Her face and hands would be swollen and she’d say, ‘what’s going on?’” Hill recalled. “She used to tell me about women having miscarriages. I used to go and visit her in her previous salon, and within a hundred feet I could smell the acetone... The customers come in and they smell that for an hour. And we read on the Internet that it’s harmful. If you are trying to conceive or you’re with child or have allergies, you’re elderly, it’s not a good environment.”
Hill said he researched ways to filter the toxins and bacteria associated with salons, and decided the clean air approach would set his establishment apart from the rest. “That was the idea for the name and how to set ourselves apart from other salons,” he said.
Hill pledges the air will be clean even during the use of noxious acrylic polymers used for bonding nails and the Brazilian keratin hair-straightening treatment formula, which contains formaldehyde. “The Brazilian straightening uses formaldehyde; there’s no way around it,” he said. Although the solution used by the spa contains formaldehyde at a level approved by the FDA, filters at the Fresh Air Salon remove any airborne formaldehyde, he said. The spa goes farther than the air to minimize the chances of contamination. It has two pedi-
cure chairs, one with the conventional motor to keep warm water swirling, which is sanitized in accordance with state regulations. The other chair is equipped with a tub with no recirculating motor, in which liners are placed to assure clients concerned about bacteria or fungus a footbath guaranteed not to have been shared with anyone else.
“This is an ultra-safe way to get a pedicure,” Hill said, noting that all manicure and pedicure tools come in sterile packages.
The salon’s line of services includes wrinkle correction, deepcleansing facials, age-smart facials, microdermabrasion, hair coloring, corrective color, hair design, ethnic hair treatments, perms, men’s cuts, hair extensions, braiding, hair straightening and eyelash extensions.
The full-service salon is equipped with an aesthetician room where clients can get facials and other skin treatment that includes galvanic high-frequency skin cleansing, Hill said.
Qualified physicians and technicians are also on hand for services including spider vein and age spot removal. For services requiring a physician, Dr. Ira Fine of Boynton Beach is available to provide treatment including Botox and other der-
mal fillers. Fine’s nurse, Diane Shephard, is licensed to offer a variety of services including laser hair removal, Hill noted.
Massages are also available by a licensed massage therapist, and complimentary water, coffee, iced coffee, wine and beer are available. The salon uses and sells products by Paul Mitchell, Dermalogica, Atache, Nairobi, Design Essential, Rejuvenol, OPI and Essie.
“We are full service,” Hill said. “We offer a huge array of services.”
Located at 6340 Forest Hill Blvd. in the Trafalgar Square shopping center in Greenacres, Hill said the salon is a convenient drive from Wellington, West Palm Beach or Lake Worth and well worth the trip.
“We’re trying to offer a onestop shop for all beauty services,” he said. “We give Palm Beach services at Greenacres prices. That way, we’re recession-proof. Clients are just a short drive from cost-efficient services.”
The salon is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (561) 721-0333 or visit www.freshair salonandspa.com.
Paul Hill with customer Alli LaRose.
A Healthy Enviroment — Fresh Air Salon & Spa co-owner Paul Hill shows off the aesthetician room (above) and the pedicure tub (below), which utilizes a sanitary liner. PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER
KELLER WILLIAMS EVENT BENEFITS THE HUTTONS
Calder Joins Alan Gerwig & Associates
Dawn Calder recently joined Alan Gerwig & Associates in Wellington as the company’s business manager/controller. Calder handles the engineering firm’s financial management and daily operations, including human resources.
and supervised staff of more than 50. After leaving the bank in 2006, she has consulted for business clients in matters of financial forecasting, budget formulation and human resource management.
time and expertise to a Latin American ministry that provides food, education and medical care to more than 500 needy children.
SRHS Students Awarded National City Scholarships
National City recently an-
nounced the winners of the 2008 Banking on Your Future scholarship, which was designed to recognize the well-rounded students who achieve good grades, participate in competitive sports and volunteer in the community. The program was offered to more than 100 deserving high school seniors in more than 52 schools throughout Florida, with a total of $52,000 in scholarships available. Two seniors from each of the participating schools who exemplified the criteria received the $500 scholarship.
The 2008 Banking on Your Future scholarship recipients in Palm Beach County are Christopher Viau and Brianna Lauer of Seminole Ridge High School, Jordon Johnson and Courtney Williams of Atlantic High School, and Jamar Riley and Connie Mantano of Santaluces High School.
“With almost 100 retail branches throughout Florida, we’re invested in the area and believe our efforts can make a difference,” said Kevin Sloan, retail market executive of National City’s Southeast Florida region. “This program provided National City an opportunity
to connect with our community and, more importantly, a chance to invest in our collective future.”
For the 2007-08 academic year, eligible students must have completed 100 hours of nonpaid community volunteer work during the past two years, maintained a 3.0 GPA and participated in a competitive team sport for two consecutive years. The applications were reviewed and determined by the assistant principal, athletic director and guidance counselor from each school.
As part of the scholarship program, National City donated the Classroom Edition of the Wall Street Journal to each participating school. The edition is accompanied by a quiz and teaching plan, and is intended to advance financial literacy within the school curriculum.
National City Corporation, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance and asset management. For more information about National City, visit the company’s web site at www.nationalcity.com.
Calder is a veteran of the banking industry having worked in various banking positions in Virginia and Florida for more than 20 years. In 1998, she assisted with the organization of a new bank, known today as Grand Bank & Trust of Florida, as part of the executive management team. She performed much of the bank’s start-up work, including raising capital, assisted with construction supervision, wrote bank policies and procedures, hired and trained staff, and prepared strategies and budgets for loan department and branch operations.
Calder served as the bank’s human resources director for its first five years of operation, while performing duties as the senior lending officer and supervisor of branch operations. As the bank grew from $8 million to $250 million in assets over that time, Calder settled into the role of senior lending advisor
Chaga International, a Las Vegas-based direct sales company, recently announced its launch to the global anti-aging and wellness marketplace after seeing the powerful receptivity to its remarkable flagship product — Wildcrafted Siberian Chaga extract. Chaga’s local independent representative is Christy Davis of Royal Palm Beach.
For the past year, the company has been in test operations as founders Steve Gould and Michael Tidd worked to set up the company’s infrastructure including fulfillment, software support and management team to facilitate its global marketing campaign.
“I’m honored to be in a position to take this special product that is changing lives to the global community,” said Tidd, who also is Chaga’s chief operating officer and chairman. “The market has awakened to
Calder attended Virginia Tech on a softball scholarship and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business finance and a minor in accounting. She is an honors graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and is pursuing an MBA from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Calder has been a state certified general appraiser since 1993. She served on the board of directors of the Florida Bankers Association. Currently, Calder serves as a volunteer with several non-profit agencies researching and preparing grant proposals. A resident of Tequesta, she has coached volleyball, softball and soccer teams for the Jupiter-Tequesta Athletic Association for many years.
Priolo, the company’s senior project manager, serves as the South Florida representative for Engineering Ministries International (EMI), a not-for-profit Christian organization in Colorado Springs, Colo., which provides volunteer design services that benefit needy people in developing countries.
“My passion over the past several years has been to rally business professionals to use their expertise in developing nations through short-term missions,” said Priolo, who has been on EMI trips to Haiti, Honduras, Ghana, Indonesia and Costa Rica.
Calder Keller Williams Realty Wellington hosted a garage sale on Saturday, May 17 to benefit the Hutton family in The Acreage. The sale included furniture, shoes, belts, purses, costume jewelry and more, and raised almost $1,100. Also helping with the benefit were Culligan, Two Men and a Truck, and Security Self Storage. Keller Williams Realty Wellington is located at 12008 South Shore Blvd. For more info., call (561) 753-2348. Pictured above are Keller Williams employees with Amy Hutton.
In other company news, civil engineer Bob Priolo recently embarked on a trip to Guatemala… but not on vacation. He and five other engineering design professionals left West Palm Beach May 10 to volunteer their
The group traveled to San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, which is next to scenic Lake Atitlan, west of Guatemala City.
They will work with Promised Land Ministries on developing a master design plan for the ministries’ newly acquired six-acre site in addition to completing a school design. Promised Land Ministries sponsors more than 500 children who are fed, go to school and receive medical care at the complex. The expansion will double the school’s capacity to serve local children. Additional information on Engineering Ministries International is available at www.emiusa.org. Alan Gerwig & Associates is an engineering firm with an established reputation working with industrial, municipal, higher education and commercial clients. Located in Wellington, the firm is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2008. For more information, call (561) 792-9000 or visit www. aga-engineering.com.
Launches World Business Operations
understand the need and demand for disease prevention through superior anti-aging and wellness products, and we have the best there is. I know that our mission will touch hundreds of thousands of people in the years to come.”
The company has been receiving many stories from its growing customer base about their truly remarkable results. The company does not make any direct health claims, but rather relies on a well-documented history of use of the raw ingredient of its new proprietary extract, going back well over 5,000 years.
Chaga has a unique ability to balance the body’s life energy, and in the company’s special formulation there are 215 lifegiving phytonutrients.
There are also many scientific studies and support from the world scientific community that uphold many of the amazing
stories that the company is receiving, as well as validate the use of Chaga as a folk medicine dating back to the end of the Stone Age.
“Our mission is one of true passion, inspiration and conviction,” said Gould, the company’s president and CEO. “We have the premier supplement that enhances lives and restores optimal health — how can any compassionate human being not get excited about that? The potential of what we have here is truly amazing. Everyone wants a better quality of life — and that is our mission.”
The founders of Chaga International have both been very successful and are considered authorities in their respective areas of expertise. They also embrace the concept of giving back to the world around us and leading a life of compassion, balance and respect toward other people. In
that vein, the company is establishing a foundation called the Giving Tree to support social consciousness and charitable contribution.
“The Giving Tree is an idea I’ve had for many years,” Gould said. “So many people feel like they can’t change the world — so apathy sets in. Through the Giving Tree, all of our members — each and every one of them — can be part of something special, something bigger than ourselves, where together we can make a difference through compassion and contribution.”
Chaga International is a company put together with painstaking preparation, precision planning and patience, on a foundation of integrity and hope for a better quality of life. For more information about Chaga International, call Davis at (561) 685-4183 or visit her page on the company’s web site at www.mychaga.com/christy.
Dawn
Chaga International
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