Town-Crier Newspaper May 30, 2025

WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE • WESTLAKE

Residents: Focus

Westlake’s Strategic Plan On ‘Town Center’

The need for a “town center” was top of mind for a solid majority of Westlake residents who attended a Strategic Planning Community Engagement Meeting held Saturday, May 24 at the Lodge at Westlake Adventure Park. Page 4

Horizon Pool And Patio Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Horizon Pool and Patio celebrated its 40th anniversary with a party on Saturday, May 24 at its location in the Wellington Plaza. Founder Chuck Grove also celebrated his 80th birthday. Attendees enjoyed free food and raffles. Page 7

Royal Palm Beach Marks Memorial Day At Veterans Park

The Village of Royal Palm Beach, in conjunction with American Legion Post 367, hosted a Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 26 at Royal Palm Beach Veterans Park with the theme “Remember and Honor.” Page 16

(Left) Approximately 700 seniors from Palm Beach Central High School bid

to the

on Friday, May 16 during a

at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. Shown here are new graduates Sarah Triana and Gianna Bates.

PHOTOS, PAGE 15

ITID Board OKs Plan To Unearth Millions In

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

A staff plan to quarry thousands of tons of road rock and other aggregates worth millions of dollars from beneath Indian Trail Improvement District soil was approved by the ITD Board of Supervisors at their meeting Wednesday, May 21.

“We’ll be using the resources we have right under our feet to save taxpayer dollars,” ITID President Elizabeth Accomando said.

The plan requires the acquisition of an excavator, crusher/ stacking conveyer and two rock trucks, mostly under a 36-month lease-to-buy agreement costing approximately $1.3 million, said Rob Robinson, ITID’s associate executive director and chief construction officer.

The board also agreed to un-

Road Rock Savings

freeze a crew chief position and two equipment operator positions to help with the project.

The plan became feasible when the cost of purchasing the materials from vendors increased dramatically, especially for the road rock needed to maintain ITID’s 260 miles of dirt roads. In fiscal year 2025, ITID purchased 28,000 tons of road rock at a cost of $336,000. That same tonnage in fiscal year 2026 was expected to cost $560,000, Robinson has said. Doing the excavating, crushing and sorting in house will save the district $1.69 million in road rock over the next four years, he estimated.

Robinson’s team also will be quarrying and separating coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, No. 1 fill, No. 2 fill and washout/ stabilizer — all of which are used

to maintain ITID canals, swales, rights-of-way and more. When those aggregates are included, the total savings will be $2.9 million over four years, he said.

The rock initially will come from the M-2 Impoundment Area off 180th Avenue North and have the added benefit of creating more water storage, Robinson explained. But once the M-1 Impoundment project — also known as “the 640 acres” — begins in several years, approximately 6 million tons of rock valued at some $130 million will be available for excavation, he said. Supervisor Betty Argue raised questions about the impact on residents near the M-2 Impoundment and how residents of the M-2 Basin would be compensated for use of the rock throughout the dis-

See ITID, page 14

Huge Turtle’s Healing Journey Included A Visit To Wellington

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

Being brought to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center earlier this month was pivotal for Pennywise, a huge, 302-pound adult loggerhead turtle with significant (and partially healed) blunt force trauma to her shell — likely from a boat strike about a month prior.

“She was found up in the St. Lucie area by Inwater Research Group. They brought her to us,” said veterinarian Dr. Heather Barron, chief science officer at the facility.

Turtles usually take about a week or so to adjust to being fed in captivity, Barron said, and Pennywise is slowly adjusting to her new diet. But for now, it has been about testing and wound care. Her wounds weren’t fresh — they were already starting to heal when she arrived.

“She is in pretty good shape, all things considered,” Barron said. “She had already done a lot herself to try and get that wound healed. We are just really cleaning up for her.”

However, when they tried to

see what was going on inside of her, the equipment at Loggerhead wasn’t big enough. So, they took her to Jupiter Medical Center, and she was still too big. That is when she made a trip to Wellington, to use the large-animal equipment available at the Palm Beach Equine Clinic.

“We haven’t done any exotic animals or marine life before this, but we have been open, offering our services to Lion Country Safari if they had any animals in need,” said Dr. Karen Beste of See PENNYWISE, page 7

Board Supports ‘Marketplace’ Project Near Showgrounds

By Charles Elmore

Michael Drahos, a former member of the

cil, noted that another coming development in Wellington mixes residences, a hotel, restaurants and retail — the Related Ross project at K-Park.

“Is your property able to compete with that? Is it able to survive against it, or are we talking about two totally different environments?” Drahos asked.

“I think we’re talking apples and oranges,” said Doug McMahon,

chief executive officer of Wellington Lifestyle Partners. McMahon said that he hopes the Ross project is “wildly successful,” but it’s along the State Road 7 corridor with 65,000 car trips a day and, counting a proposed private school, sits on a 71-acre total footprint, versus 18 acres in this instance.

“What does well on [SR 7] is not necessarily the same thing that we would be desirous to have at the Marketplace,” McMahon said. “I think ours is going to be, and it sounds trite to say ‘neighborhoody,’ but I think we really are in the middle of Wellington.” That means, he hopes, connection not just by car, but walking or biking or golf carts to get coffee, drinks or food, or visit boutiques. One argument for the project, including the hotel at its center, is that Wellington is not grabbing its share of a $400 million economic impact and more than 160,000

issue covers See PZA BOARD, page 14

MEMORIAL DAY IN WELLINGTON

By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report

Fewer homes and more retail space mark changes in a closely watched project on Wellington’s southeastern side, steered by developer Related Ross, Wellington Village Council members heard in a workshop Monday, May 19.

The latest plan for the property known as K-Park entails fewer than 300 residential units, predominantly two types of townhomes of two or three stories, down from about 500 units at one point, representatives for the developer said.

Some of those could be sold to buyers, in contrast to earlier discussions that emphasized rentals, said Kevin Ryan, executive vice president with Related Ross. “It could be a for-sale or rent product,” Ryan said. “We’re still evaluating the options.” Mostly gone in the latest plan are apartments, in buildings up to five stories. There were misgivings among some residents in community meetings about that density in the first place, though if there was an upside, it was that it

See K-PARK, page 14

Foundation Honors Three Exceptional Students With The 2025 Arle &

By Shannon Anastasio Town-Crier Staff Report

at a gathering held Tuesday, May 20 at Village Music Café in Wellington. These three remarkable students have not only excelled academically, but have also demonstrated a deep commitment to service and leadership — values that reflect the enduring legacy of Arle and Ken Adams.

The scholarship honors the memory of Arle and Ken Adams, visionary community leaders whose tireless work helped shape Wellington into the vibrant community it is today. Ken Adams, a Wellington pioneer and former Palm Beach County commissioner, was passionate about investing in future generations, and the scholarship named in his and his wife Arle’s honor continues to support that mission.

Though Arle passed away in 2017, and Ken in 2020, their legacy lives on through the young leaders who receive this scholarship. The Wellington Community Foundation is proud to continue

Ken Adams Scholarship

fostering excellence, integrity and a spirit of service in their name. Many impressive scholarship applications were received this year, but these three students really stood out. The WCF Scholarship Committee of James Seder, Don Gross and Joanna Boynton enjoy reviewing all the applications and seeking out the top candidates to recommend to the board of directors for consideration. The Wellington Community Foundation congratulates Jennifer Han of Palm Beach Central High School, Shay Pfendler of Cardinal Newman High School and Lucas Saenz of Wellington High School

See AKA SCHOLARS, page 4

The Village of Wellington held its annual Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony on Monday, May 26. The parade began at Village Hall and ended at the Wellington Veterans Memorial. Several hundred people were in attendance for the ceremony. Shown here, Tina Schaffer and David Roman lay the U.S. Navy wreath.

PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

(Above) More than 540 Seminole Ridge Hawks traded their talons for tassels as they marched across the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center stage Thursday, May 22. Shown here are new graduates Isabella Rose Tomeo, Addisyn Grace Tomeo, Garrett Rimes, Gabriela Mendoza and Ariana Bondonese after the ceremony.

MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5

PHOTO BY MEREDITH BUROW/TOWN-CRIER

farewell

Bronco Nation

ceremony

MORE

PHOTOS BY BAILEY HASTINGS/TOWN-CRIER

Kevin Shapiro, Jim Sackett, Don Gross, Roxanne Stein, Maggie Zeller, scholarship honoree Jennifer Han, JP Varvarigos, scholarship honoree Shay Pfendler, George Saenz representing scholarship honoree Lucas Saenz, Michael Gauger, James Seder, Hope Barron, Joanna Boynton and Pam Tahan. PHOTO BY BAILEY HASTINGS/TOWN-CRIER

RPB Council Awards Scholarships To 10 Outstanding Students

By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report

The theme at the Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting on Thursday, May 15 was that “hard work pays off,” as the village awarded scholarships to 10 outstanding students and a five percent annual performance bonus to Village Manager Ray Liggins.

One of the primary responsibilities of the village’s Education Advisory Board is to evaluate applications and award 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to new high school graduates from the Village of Royal Palm Beach. In past years, the village has received up to 70 applications, but this year, only 15 students applied.

The scholarship winners are a diverse mix of village students.

Brooke Schofield is a senior at Seminole Ridge High School, graduating in the top 10 of her class. She has lived in La Mancha her entire life and comes from a family with deep roots in Royal Palm Beach. She is a 4th degree black belt, has played rugby and loves teaching youth classes at her church. These experiences have taught her the value of discipline, leadership and giving back. Brooke plans to pursue a degree in pharmacy and hopes to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field.

Cameron Shelby is a senior at Wellington High School and

plans to attend Florida Atlantic University next year to pursue a degree in criminal justice while continuing her running career. Throughout her four years of high school, she has been a dedicated member of the varsity track and cross-country teams, earning the title of Palm Beach County Cross Country Runner of the Year in the most recent season. In addition to her athletic commitments, Shelby works at Publix in the bakery department. In her leisure time, she enjoys fishing and reading. She is also an active parishioner at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church.

Eloise Gaspard is a senior at Suncoast High School, where she has worked hard to balance academics with involvement in community service, like beach cleanups and tutoring, and her school’s weightlifting team. Known for her positive attitude and dedication to helping others, Gaspard plans to attend Florida State University to study biomedical engineering.

Gabriella Serna is a graduate of Palm Beach Central High School, where she was awarded Cambridge’s AICE diploma. She will start studying video game design at the University of Central Florida this summer.

Jada Esmeralda Castro is a graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School. This spring, she will receive both her AICE diploma

and associate in arts degree before heading to the University of Florida to study biology on a pre-dental track. Since the age of 14, Castro has worked to help support her family and became a certified expanded function dental assistant at 16. She currently works in a pediatric dental office, gaining experience for her dream career in pediatric dentistry.

Jayla Midget is a new graduate of Seminole Ridge High School with a deep passion for community involvement and healthcare. During her time in high school, she actively participated in both academics and athletics. She was a member of the Spanish Honor Society for three years and the National Honor Society for two. She also played varsity basketball all four years, serving as team captain during her junior and senior years — an experience that taught her crucial lessons about teamwork, leadership and perseverance. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing, with the goal of becoming a third-generation nurse, following her dream of caring for sick children and giving back to the community through compassionate healthcare.

Jami Ross, a Royal Palm Beach High School graduate, assumed an extraordinary course load and still graduated in the top five percent of her class. She was active in a number of academic and athletic

Baxter Optimistic Despite Appeal Of Judge’s SR 7 Order

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The City of West Palm Beach has filed a 72-page list of “exceptions” with the South Florida Water Management District that could again delay the State Road 7 extension from 60th Street North to Northlake Blvd.

After a May 1 ruling by an administrative judge agreeing with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) attorneys on all issues related to the plan for the extension, which connect to Northlake near the Ibis Golf & Country Club, West Palm Beach had 15 days to dispute the findings with the SFWMD.

FDOT then filed a 12-page response to the city’s document.

In the wake of the city’s filing,

Palm Beach County Commis-

sioner Sara Baxter said, “I think this was expected. I don’t see it as a blow. I’m actually optimistic.”

The SFWMD has 90 to 180 days in which to review both filings and decide whether to grant a permit, according to a source. The SFWMD did not respond to a request for information regarding the process in time for this story. If the SFWMD issues a construction permit, that decision can be challenged in the Florida Court of Appeal.

Baxter, whose District 6 would be one of the areas most impacted by the SR 7 extension, said therein lies her reason for optimism.

In the 132-page ruling by Administrative Judge Francine Ffolkes, “she covered her bases so

completely, I’m hoping the Court of Appeal won’t even take it up,” Baxter said.

Indian Trail Improvement District President Elizabeth Accomando agreed that the city’s filing with the SFWMD was unsurprising. “But it is disappointing,” she said. “All the residents in the western communities need that connection.”

ITID encompasses some 110 square miles and approximately 50,000 residents west of the current SR 7 and the planned extension. The extension would be a major help in easing traffic headaches in the semi-rural district, Accomando and many others have said.

ITID Supervisor Richard Vas-

See SR 7, page 4

Award-Winning Stroke Care …

endeavors, including serving on the varsity volleyball team. She has also served in leadership positions in community service organizations. She will be bringing her talents to the University of Miami.

Ogochukwu Ikem, a Royal Palm Beach High School graduate, successfully completed four years in the Medical Sciences Academy program. She earned five medical certifications and is an AICE diploma recipient. During her senior year, she was the president of HOSA, a group for future health professionals, and the National Honor Society. She is also the cofounder of Heartwarming Hands, which supports senior citizens. With her passion for helping others, Ikem has earned more than 670 community service hours in her high school career. She will

be attending Florida International University to study biochemistry on the pre-med track to pursue a career as a pediatric oncologist.

Rachel Hunter was born and raised in Royal Palm Beach. She is a graduate of Seminole Ridge High School, where she was part of the TV production program, president of the National Honor Society and captain of the girls tennis team. Hunter will be heading to the University of Florida to major in journalism.

Royal Palm Beach High School graduate Rohan Persaud is almost done completing his bachelor’s of business administration degree in management information systems with a concentration in cybersecurity and a minor in artificial intelligence at Florida Atlantic University. He is currently employed as a help desk technician at

FAU, where he assists thousands of people with technology issues on an as-needed basis. This summer, Persaud will join the School District of Palm Beach County’s cybersecurity department as an intern. At RPBHS, he was active in academic and leadership clubs, such as student council, Academic Games, National Honor Society and more. He graduated in the top 10 of his class and developed an award-winning utility management system that earned district and state-level recognition. In other council business, the employment contract for Village Manager Ray Liggins calls for an annual evaluation and up to a five percent annual bonus. The council had only positive remarks about Liggins’ performance and unanimously agreed to give him the maximum allowable bonus.

Piece together the clues and unmask a killer at Wellington’s exciting new Murder Mystery Dinner, hosted in partnership with the Mall at Wellington Green. Tickets are on sale now for “Murder at the Masquerade” for ages 16 and up, taking place on Saturday, July 19, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the mall.

Don a mask and your finest attire, and join in an interactive evening of glitz, glamour and outlandish entertainment you won’t want to miss. Interact with an eclectic cast of

characters while enjoying a social hour and dinner inspired by the iconic flavors of Louisiana cuisine.

As the evening unfolds, revelry turns to regret when a mysterious murder takes place. It’s up to attendees to be observant, watch for clues and interrogate the suspects. Will you be able to identify the culprit?

Guests are encouraged to dress in optional themed attire and will have the opportunity to participate in costume contests for prizes.

Tickets are $50 per person and available to purchase online at

www.wellingtonfl.gov/civicrec, or in-person at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) and the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.).

Tickets include dinner, dessert, unlimited soda and water, and two alcoholic drink tickets for ages 21 and up.

This event is for ages 16 and up and includes mature

Royal Palm Beach officials gather with the 10 scholarship honorees.

PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER

Residents: Focus Westlake’s Strategic Plan On ‘Town Center’

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The need for a “town center”

was top of mind for a solid majority of Westlake residents who attended a Strategic Planning Community Engagement Meeting held Saturday, May 24 at the Lodge at Westlake Adventure Park.

“We need a town center that encompasses shopping and dining,” said one woman who received instant support from many of the 50 or so residents in attendance.

“I still hope to be alive to take our golf cart to the town center,” added another woman, who has

lived in the 55-and-older Cresswind development for four years. “But I’m not assuming it will be done in our lifetimes.”

Session moderator Dale Sugerman of the International Institute for Leadership Development encouraged residents not to give their names so that they could feel comfortable speaking freely. No video or livestream of the meeting was allowed, though an audio recording was made. “I’m quite disappointed,” said another woman, adding that she is “tired of having to drive 30 minutes” for the sort of amenities she

desires. “We need more upscale dining opportunities with outdoor seating.”

One recently arrived resident of the Woodlands neighborhood said she feels “misled” by promises, and she was not the only one to voice that view.

“We were promised a whole downtown,” added a Cresswind resident.

And it’s not only about shops and restaurants. Other residents suggested the “town center” should include a hotel with a pool, an amphitheater and a city hall.

The city hall “needs to be built as soon as possible, so residents know where to go,” said one woman.

Minto Communities USA is the primary landowner and developer in Westlake, which was incorporated in 2016. Cresswind is a 55-and-older Kolter Homes development.

The session was the second leg of a four-stage process being conducted by Sugerman, a veteran municipal manager and longtime adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University. He holds a master’s degree in urban administration from the University of Missouri and a doctorate in conflict resolution from Lynn University.

“I was not surprised by a single

thing I heard,” said Sugerman, who already had engaged in oneon-one discussions with members of the Westlake City Council as the first stage of the process. He also watched recordings of council meetings.

The question for council members will be, “What can the city council do to effectuate the development of a town center?” said Sugerman, whose job it is to boil down the residents’ comments into specific requests.

The session was dominated by members of the Cresswind neighborhood. Attendees were overwhelming white and split about evenly between male and female.

Sugerman said he was happy with the turnout, while acknowledging that the makeup of the crowd could skew the results of the session toward the interests of an older, more settled and financially secure demographic. Westlake has marketed itself as a lower-cost haven for young families and public sector workers, such as teachers, firefighters and members of law enforcement and health services, plus active-duty members of the military and veterans.

However, it is not his role to “balance” views across demographic lines, Sugerman said, but to present the council with

the requests he is given by those residents who make the effort to involve themselves in the process.

Westlake residents will have another chance to air their views when the council meets for a two-day workshop June 20-21 beginning at 9 a.m. at a location yet to be determined.

The day-long sessions will mostly be for council members to brainstorm about the city’s future, Sugerman said.

However, there will be time set aside for public comment on both days.

Under Florida’s strict Sunshine Law, council members rarely have a chance to discuss issues outside of formal council meetings. Workshops, such as the one to be conducted by Sugerman, are an exception.

The final step in the process will be for Sugerman to produce a report. He’s being paid $9,775 for his work.

At the same time, the council has hired the engineering firm Chen Moore and Associates for $135,840 to develop a new comprehensive plan for the city.

Officials have said the projects go hand in hand.

Other requests and comments from the May 24 community meeting include the construction of a youth sports complex, increased

speed limits on roads, adding more law enforcement and emergency call boxes around the community, and creating a comprehensive safety plan.

Others would like to create a “food hall” like Grandview in West Palm Beach, develop a means of public transportation both within Westlake (such as trolleys) and for workers without vehicles to reach the community, improve street lighting and develop a medical complex in connection with the existing ER at Westlake, which is an extension of Wellington Regional Medical Center. Several of the comments had to deal with the relationship between the City of Westlake and the Seminole Improvement District (SID), which provides most of the city’s infrastructure and has its own taxing powers. Speakers suggested eliminating the perceived conflict of interest with Kenneth Cassel serving as both city manager and SID manager, perhaps even consolidating the city and SID. Speakers also wanted Westlake to communicate better with the public and to become “more proactive than reactive” in dealing with Minto, while gearing up for the time, at least several years away, when the developer is no longer a major factor in the community.

Lox Groves Zoning Board Votes To Deny Proposal For RV Park

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

An array of extra benefits promised by the developer were not enough for the Loxahatchee Groves Planning & Zoning Board to support the creation of a highend RV park north of Southern Blvd. on the east side of C Road.

The board considered five items related to the RV park at a meeting Monday, May 19. The items were discussed together but voted on separately.

On the agenda was a change to the town’s comprehensive plan creating a new “Rural Recreation” land use category, and then assigning that land use to the 47-acre site. Next was an amendment to the Unified Land Development Code creating a “Rural RV Resort” zoning category, and then assigning the new category to the site. Finally, the board looked at a detailed site plan to allow a resort with a maximum of 272 RV sites and associated facilities, including two clubhouses, a welcome center and recreational amenities.

The site currently has a land use of Rural Residential 5 (RR5) with a zoning of Agricultural Residential (AR).

Primarily speaking for the applicant was Gabriel Bove of the Bove Company, lead developer on the project. He has been working on the concept for approximately 18 months.

Last June, Bove appeared before the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council for a workshop session. That meeting, followed by an update in August, generated a negative response from residents. However, since that time, Bove

AKA Scholars

Three Students Honored

continued from page 1 for their well-deserved recognition.

Han will be attending Rice University to study neuroscience with a minor in medical humanities. At PBCHS, she achieved a weighted GPA of 5.43 and completed nearly 810 hours of community service. She was also the valedictorian of her graduating class and served as president of the National Honor Society. Pfendler is set to attend Auburn University to pursue a degree in biomedical Science. She aims to become a physician assistant, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to improve lives. During her time at Cardinal Newman, she achieved a weighted GPA of 4.78 and completed 246 hours of community service. She also played a pivotal role in the Pre-Med Club leadership, where she increased membership and organized CPR certification programs.

said he has held nearly 20 meetings to take input and has refined the project, attempting to mitigate the items that were most concerning to residents.

Also over the past year, Bove said that his company has done extensive due diligence on the project, including surveys, as well as environmental, drainage and traffic studies.

The proposal is for “The Paddock,” described as a “rural recreation RV resort.” Bove likened RVs to moving hotel rooms and said that the focus would be on “hospitality.”

He likes the area for its equestrian draw — and also because there is a significant shortage of RV park spaces on the eastern coast of Florida. Bove noted that RV use is on the rise, and his market study confirms demand for the project.

“We knew when we signed up for this endeavor that it would be challenging,” Bove said, adding that he believes that the town’s goals for rural development are met by this project.

Should the project be approved, Bove expects a 14-month construction phase. He noted several benefits that speak in its favor, including easy access off Southern Blvd. that will keep the traffic contained to the site, not spread throughout the town.

He added that the project is designed to follow the town’s “Rural Vista” guidelines and includes a trail system that rings the site, available for public use. Furthermore, they intend to protect as much of the tree canopy as possible. There will be no mitigation off site for either trees or

Saenz will be attending the University of Florida to major in mechanical engineering. He graduated with a weighted GPA of 5.40 and has dedicated 337 hours to community service. During his time at WHS, Saenz tutored in the math lab and was in leadership in the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. He was also president of Latinos in Action. These young scholars embody the spirit of excellence and compassion that defines the Arle and Ken Adams legacy. As the 2025 recipients set forth on their academic and professional journeys, the foundation remains committed to “building a stronger community” by empowering the next generation of leaders. To learn more about supporting the Arle & Ken Adams Scholarship program or becoming involved in the work of the Wellington Community Foundation, visit www. wellingtoncommunityfoundation. org. The Wellington Community Foundation is a charitable organization committed to benefiting Wellington seniors, children and veterans in need by supporting and improving their quality of life.

wetlands. In addition, all drainage will be taken care of within the property area.

The developers also noted that each RV space will have access to power, so they will not run generators on site, and there is water and sewer service at each RV space tied into the Palm Beach County system. Lighting is designed to protect nearby residents.

As far as traffic is concerned, the developers noted that the RV park will generate less trips than most other possible uses. It would represent less than 1 percent of the traffic on Southern Blvd. in that area, although a traffic signal at C Road is possible in the future if it meets Florida Department of Transportation requirements.

Bove noted that many conditions of approval were added to the project after discussions with the town and residents. Among them is dedicating 8.75 acres of the property into a land trust for the town to use as a nature trail.

The developer would also record a restriction prohibiting multifamily housing development on the property, despite that possibility under the new Live Local Act.

The developer also plans to guarantee a $500,000 impact fee to the town, as well as a recurring $25,000 a year extra impact fee, above normal taxes.

There will be no individual lot sales, and RV sites can only be rented up to six months with no permanent residents.

The resort will also be open to hosting town events, and resort amenities will be available through memberships to residents in the off season.

Bove said he and his company are trying to create a mutually beneficial working relationship with the town and its residents.

“We understand that change is difficult, but change happens all the time,” Bove said. “The key is to control the growth and do it correctly with something that is beneficial to the town.”

The meeting did not attract as many residents in opposition as those last year, but several did turn out to oppose the project.

Kristy Coleman thinks the current Agricultural Residential zoning should remain, and the project would best be located on Southern Blvd., not C Road.

“Let our town be our town. Let us keep our character. We don’t need this here,” she said.

Lawrence Gaines is a neighbor of the project. He projected worse backups on Southern Blvd. if it is approved.

SR 7

WPB Files

‘Exceptions’

continued from page 3 salotti called the city’s decision “irresponsible.”

With attorneys’ fees for the years-long battle over SR 7 estimated in the millions, Vassalotti said, “It’s a waste of West Palm Beach taxpayer dollars. My goodness, the city has a homeless problem right downtown on Clematis Street. They could be using the money for that.”

Vassalotti also noted that the city’s refusal to let the issue go

“Right now, if I wanted to put 35 homes on that property, I couldn’t do it,” he said. “I don’t even understand why we are considering 200-something slots.”

The board asked a series of pointed questions on issues such as traffic and whether the extra impact fee from the developer is legally enforceable over the long term. Bove said that he would work with the town’s attorney to make sure it is enforceable.

Board Member Cassie Suchy said that it might be premature to approve an RV park, given the changes coming down from the state government regarding the Live Local Act.

Board Vice Chair Paulo Santana made a motion to approve the first of the applications, which was the comprehensive plan change, but it died for lack of a second. Suchy then made a motion to deny the comp plan change, seconded by

forces FDOT to pay attorneys’ fees as well.

“And those are state tax dollars. Our tax dollars,” he said.

West Palm Beach and FDOT hired outside legal counsel — meaning attorneys who are not government employees — to argue the case.

Attempting to further delay the extension “hurts all the surrounding communities,” Vassalotti said.

“It hurts everyone.”

Board Member Antonio Santiago. The motion to deny the comp plan change passed 4-1 with Santana dissenting. The other four items were also denied on 4-1 votes. Santana said that he thought the benefits of the park would outweigh the problems, but other board members felt they still had too many questions and concerns with the project. However, Board Member Todd McLendon thanked Bove and his team for working with residents to improve the project and urged him to continue doing so. The item will next be headed to the council for consideration. According to Town Manager Francine Ramaglia, the council will need to decide at their next meeting whether to schedule a special meeting to consider the RV park project, or plan to hear it at a regular council meeting in July.

FDOT had planned to start the project in 2023 but pushed the start date back to 2029 while awaiting the outcome of the seven-week trial that was spread over two years with 30 witnesses.

FDOT projected the construction cost in 2023 to be approximately $87 million. With the 2029 start date, the projected cost is more than $130 million.

The long-running battle over the roadway centers on possible pollution of and alleged ecological damage the road could cause to the Grassy Waters Preserve, from which West Palm Beach draws much of its drinking water. However, four lanes of Northlake have run through the preserve for years. Many SR 7 advocates say that West Palm Beach is appeasing a wealthy and well-connected enclave that does not want the traffic nearby.

Dale Sugerman of the International Institute for Leadership Development guides last Saturday’s Strategic Planning Community Engagement Meeting in Westlake.

Kevin Shapiro, James Seder, Pam Tahan, Michael Gauger, Donna Willey and Jim Sackett.

J.P. Varvarigos, Joanna Boynton, George Saenz, Don Gross and Ben Boynton. PHOTOS BY BAILEY HASTINGS/TOWN-CRIER

James Seder presents Jennifer Han with her scholarship.

George Saenz, father of recipient Lucas Saenz, accepts the scholarship. Lucas Saenz was attending his UF orientation.

Shay Pfendler accepts her scholarship from James Seder.

More than 540 Seminole Ridge Hawks traded their talons for tassels as they marched across the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center stage Thursday, May 22 during the Class of 2025’s graduation ceremony. In addition to heartfelt speeches from Valedictorian Annika Collado, Salutatorian Jake Wallace and Senior Class President Allison Santos, the gathered faculty, family and friends were also treated to a special video from NFL legend Tom Brady. The famous quarterback congratulated the girls varsity flag football team, along with coaches Scott O’Hara and Ron Taylor, on this year’s state championship win. PHOTOS BY MEREDITH BUROW/TOWN-CRIER

Palm Beach County School Board Vice Chair Marcia Andrews, SRHS Principal Robert Hatcher and Superintendent Michael Burke.

Teacher Kim Collado with her daughter, Valedictorian Annika Collado.

Teacher Daniel Jackson with graduate Bryce Marconi.

Teacher Triciana Gray with graduate Trevor Keane.

Madison Boaz, Jasmine Caraza, Alexander Binda, Kailey Bigwood and Nathalya Bett.

SRHS graduating students march to their seats.

Salutatorian Jake Wallace gives his address.

Senior Class President Allison Santos walks off stage.

SRHS faculty member Mikel Vento with her son, Luke Vento.

Andrick Knight in line for his diploma.

Kayley Miller, Taylor Johnson, Megan Gray and graduate Austin Gray.

Lovisena Jeremie ready to walk.

Ava Khanthavong is all smiles before receiving her diploma.

Brothers Austin and Landin Bufford with their parents, Vicky and Daniel Bufford.

Avery Fulton, Camryn Fulton, Lindsey Fulton and Kendall Doran.

Azariah Alvin and Bryce Arnett.

Graduate Kaleb Rowe with family members Simone, Gabriella, Isaiah and Karmichael Rowe.

Cousins Megan McGuire and Cheyenne McGuire-Shaw.

Graduates Abigail Venero and Rylee Moore.

Grandfather Fitzroy Higgins with graduate Jayla Midget.

Sisters Chelsey, Allison and Madison Santos with Oki.

Spine & Stroke Health Fair

The Marcus Neuroscience Institute Spine & Stroke Health Fair is a one-day event designed to educate the public about spine health, stroke awareness and stroke prevention. The fair will offer engaging, educational and interactive activities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with community organizations, companies and health professionals who support healthy spine care and stroke prevention.

Attendees can look forward to free stroke, cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure health screenings, yoga, tai chi, soccer clinics, Pilates and keynote presentations by Marcus Neuroscience Institute physicians.

When Saturday, June 7

Noon-4 p.m.

Where City Soccer Indoor Complex 1016 Clare Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

This event is free to the public. Visit BaptistHealth.net/SpineStrokeHealthFair for more information.

HORIZON POOL AND PATIO CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A PARTY

Horizon Pool and Patio celebrated its 40th anniversary with a party on Saturday, May 24 at its location in the Wellington Plaza. Founder Chuck Grove also celebrated his 80th birthday. Attendees enjoyed free food and raffles. HornerXpress “Every Child A Swimmer” donated ice cream truck services. Horizon is located at 12785 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A. For more information, visit www.horizonpool.com or call (561) 790-0665.

Hometown Heroes’ Appreciation Day Returns To Science Center

Pennywise Giant Turtle

On The Mend

continued from page 1 Palm Beach Equine Clinic. “We’re really lucky to have this CT [scanner]. It’s extremely versatile. It’s a very powerful machine, and it’s obviously big enough to get some animals that wouldn’t normally have imaging options. We’re really happy to be able to help this turtle. Anything we can do to help any animal in need, if that’s some service that we can provide, then that’s going to be something we really look forward to doing.”

The CT scan showed there was some damage involving Pennywise’s spinal column, and that there was an infection that was eating away at the bone.

“But the good news is that her spinal cord seems to be functioning normally,” Barron said. Loggerheads like Pennywise don’t typically start nesting until they’re 25 to 35 years old, and Pennywise was first documented nesting in 2018. She received flipper tags for identification and was seen nesting by the Loggerhead team. She is one of the many sea turtles that uses the beach behind Loggerhead as a nesting ground.

“We’re so lucky to have so

many healthy sea turtles nesting on our beaches here. Last year it was about 16,000. The year before that, it was 25,000,” Barron said.

“There’s roughly another sea turtle nest about every two feet on the beach behind our center.”

Nesting has been going on for the last month or so for loggerheads, she added, and if they can get Pennywise recovered quickly, she can go out and lay her 100-plus eggs, as shown in the CT scan.

Most loggerheads lay between 70 and 100 eggs, but only one in 100 is likely to make it through the juvenile age, and one in 1,000 is likely to make it to the age of nesting and breeding.

So, Pennywise theoretically would have to lay 1,000 eggs to have one offspring potentially survive to breeding age.

To help protect sea turtles and other marine life, Loggerhead has enacted a voluntary zone from the shore to one mile offshore that encompasses all of Palm Beach County from March 1 to Oct. 31 called the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, where endangered and threatened turtles are most likely to be engaging in reproductive activity and not noticing when a boat is coming. Boaters are asked to travel at a reduced speed within this zone, and to travel outside the zone when possible. They also suggest

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium (CSCA) is once again honoring its hometown heroes with a day of family-friendly festivities.

On Saturday, June 21, community members are invited to join in celebrating Hometown Heroes Appreciation Day. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with exclusive early access starting at 9 a.m. for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, Gold Star families and up to four of their guests, who will receive complimentary admission.

“Our hometown heroes are the backbone of our community, and this event is our way of saying thank you,” said Carla Duhaney, chief operating officer at CSCA. “We’re excited to welcome them and their families for a day filled with engaging activities, handson exhibits and well-deserved fun.”

Heroes, their families and the public can enjoy special activities, such as military vehicle demonstrations, a meet-and-greet with

wearing polarized sunglasses and designating a spotter to watch out for wildlife. Learn more at www. marinelife.org/conservation/seaturtle-protection-zone. Her advice to non-boaters? Be careful, respectful and be sure not to touch the turtles or their nests.

At Loggerhead, they’ve already seen about 130 juvenile to adult sea turtles this year; typically, they see 200 a year, as well as thousands of hatchlings or washbacks, which are post hatchlings that have made it out into the water but then

washed back for some reason.

For their more mature sea turtles, the first 24 hours are critical, and after that, their survival rate is 80 percent.

“We have some very long hours here, but I’m lucky to have an amazing, dedicated team,” Barron said. “We’re lucky to have some really excellent partners in these endeavors.”

Now, they get to include Wellington’s Palm Beach Equine Clinic on the list.

“A big thanks to Dr. Karen Beste, who allowed us to come in and use their machine and help us with getting good CT scan images, because those were really important for us to be able to get a good diagnosis and treatment plan for Pennywise,” Barron said.

If you see a sea turtle that is injured, deceased, harassed or see someone disturbing a turtle nest, contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-FWCC (3922) or dial *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone.

Loggerhead does have a container in front of the center for people to drop off hatchlings that are injured or disoriented from the beach. The Juno Beach facility is free to visit and hosted more than 300,000 visitors in 2024. It’s kidfriendly, and something that can be explored in about four hours. For more information, visit www. marinelife.org.

local armed forces, as well as live science demonstrations, military ceremonies and a tug-of-war with the troops. Lunch will also be available for heroes and their families.

To redeem tickets, register online at www.coxsciencecenter. org/heroes and bring a military or employee ID. The CSCA features more than 80 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000-gallon aquarium, a digital planetarium and an outdoor science trail. The Cox Amphitheater

hosts daily live science shows, seasonal laser shows and special events. The current traveling exhibit, Mission Aerospace, is at the center from May 9 through Sept. 28. General admission is $26 for adults, $22 for children ages 3-12, $24 for seniors ages 60 and up, and free for children under 3 and CSCA members. For more information about the CSCA’s expansion campaign, visit www.coxsciencecenter.org/ capital-campaign.

The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara with a 2025 Home Rule Hero Award for his hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2025 Legislative Session.

Hmara worked tirelessly throughout the session to promote local voices making local choices by sharing insights, local data and real-world examples that helped inform state lawmakers and elevate the voice of Florida’s municipalities.

“This session, local leaders stepped up once again, bringing persistence, perspective and a strong voice for local decisionmaking to every conversation,”

FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs

Casey Cook said. “The league and our legislative team deeply appreciate their leadership and are proud to recognize the meaningful difference they made for Florida’s cities.”

Home Rule is the ability for a municipality to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home

Mayor Jeff Hmara Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and non-elected, who consistently responded to the league’s request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue. Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. For more information, visit www.flcities.com.

CAFCI Announces Student Assistance Award Winners

Caribbean Americans for Community Involvement in Florida Inc. (CAFCI), a nonprofit organization based in Royal Palm Beach, recently announced the recipients of its annual Student Assistance Awards for this academic year. The award ceremony will be held Saturday, June 14 at 2 p.m. at the Portuguese American Cultural Club in Loxahatchee Groves. The awards are merit-based, recognizing and encouraging graduating high school students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, leadership abilities, a strong commitment to community service, and a keen interest in Caribbean culture and affairs, who have been accepted at an institution of higher learning and plan to pursue specific careers.

Congratulations to the 14 recipients: Elizabeth Robles, Nia Watson, Rayven Richards, David DuVal, Allan Johnson, Abrianna Evans, Lorendie Exavier, Christine Thompson, Deja Patterson, Nina-Simone Simmonds, Diedriana Plummer, Kenordia Reynolds, Nicholas Watson and Lauren Persaud Singh. They will be going on to the university or college of their

choice to pursue their future goals and aspirations. The award ceremony will feature keynote speaker Karen Hinds, a motivational speaker, author and executive coach, who consistently transforms lives. Her presentation is expected to inspire the award recipients to help launch them into their next level of excellence. Past recipients will also share inspirational congratulatory messages. Accomplished singers Rachel Ferguson, Samara Lewis and Wendy Kay Wilson will perform. For the past 31 years, CAFCI has provided awards to deserving, graduating, high school students whose applications met the requirements, followed by a successful interview with the committee. Funds for the awards are raised by generous donations from CAFCI members, businesses, community partners/stakeholders, fundraising efforts and proceeds generated from CAFCI’s annual Friendship Ball. CAFCI was formed to encourage volunteerism and diversity in the community. For more information, visit www.cafcipbc.org or call (561) 790-4002.

Horizon staff members gather for a 40th anniversary champagne toast.

Horizon staff members and guests gather for a 40th anniversary ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Tori family checks out pool supplies.

Horizon founders Linda and Chuck Grove with Chuck’s birthday cake.

Katherine and Chad Samiljan with Potato.

Sales Manager John Kenbeek and State Rep. Anne Gerwig.

Tara Weldon and Camille Zywczyk with ice cream truck volunteers David George and Gretchen Ross.

Chad Gardner, Jesse Ballard, Jordan Grove, Jennifer Kenbeek, John Kenbeek, Chuck Grove and Sydney Knowles with a 40th anniversary cake.

The Rotary Club of Wellington Foundation received a check from Star Wine and Spirits on Tuesday, May 27. The donation came from the Taste & Toast event in March, where the Rotary was one of the charitable beneficiaries. Shown above are Wellington Assistant Director of Community Events Michelle Garvey, Community Events Specialist Markus Lockhart, Rotary Secretary Don Gross, outgoing Rotary President Walter Imperatore, Star Wine and Spirits owner Akash Patel, incoming Rotary President Maria Fernanda Cruz and Kathleen Kushay of Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits.

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

The teams from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and the Palm Beach Equine Clinic with Pennywise during her visit to Wellington. PHOTOS BY MARISA MARULLI

Marika Weber, Katie Black and Patrick Lewin work with Pennywise.

Wellington Historical Society’s annual Spring Mixer was held Thursday, May 22 at the Village Music

music, drinks, light bites and stories about Wellington’s history. To get involved in gathering, preserving and

for the benefit of future generations, visit www.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Crowned Pearls Continue Hunger Relief Efforts Through Student-Led Initiative

Inc., a nonprofit organization, is continuing its fight against food insecurity through its impactful initiative “In Tune with Every Bite, Feeding Students Right.”

Supported through the Wellington International Equestrian Center’s Great Charity Challenge, this hunger relief program is making a difference in the lives of students who might otherwise go without nutritious snacks between lunch and dinner.

On May 10, participants in the Students Working to Achieve Greatness (SWAG) program — a partnership with the Village of Wellington — and the Regal Scholars program joined Crowned Pearls volunteers to pack hundreds of snack packs. Just days later, on May 14, counselors and principals at Osceola Creek Middle School and Golden Grove Elementary School received the packs and dis-

tributed them to 250 students identified as food insecure. In addition to supporting these two schools, the Crowned Pearls continue to provide more than 500 snack packs to Wellington High School, Palm Beach Central High School and Polo Park Middle School.

“These snack packs may seem small, but they meet a critical need in the lives of students,” said Geneva Pettis-Hassell, the president of Crowned Pearls of Wellington. “We’re proud to empower our youth through programs like SWAG and Regal Scholars, while addressing hunger in our community. We look forward to resuming this initiative in the 2025-26 school year.”

Crowned Pearls of Wellington has collaborated on initiatives with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Alpha Alpha Upsilon Omega Chapter. The mission of Crowned Pearls of Wellington is to serve the underserved and enhance quality of life through powerful programs and initiatives.

With a vision to be a premier philanthropic organization improving lives in the local community, Crowned Pearls of Wellington operates on core values of excellence, integrity and philanthropy. The organization has partnered with the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department on various service initiatives, including food drives, cultural

Fighting hunger locally is a

events, holiday toy collections and school supply distributions. During the pandemic, Crowned Pearls contributed to critical efforts such as Feeding South Florida, supported frontline healthcare workers through a hospital Grab-

Social Studies Resource Teacher Laureene Neubarth and Wellington Historical Society President Sue Bierer.

Laurie Cohen, Councilman John McGovern, Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri, Donna Willey of Village Music and Mayor Michael Napoleone.

District Aide Kathy Adler, State Rep. Anne Gerwig, Legislative Aide Reid Ragsdale, and Sandy and Ed Goldman.

Kendall Bierer, Camden Wendel and Chris Wendel.

Allyson Samiljan and Angie Francalancia.

Paula Sackett, Councilman John McGovern, Sue Bierer and Chris Wendel. Tom and Judy Van Horn with Liz Mariaca.

Jim Sackett, Don McCuaig and Norman Gitzen.

Crowned Pearls of Wellington

key Crowned Pearls initiative.

N-Go Pantry and donated to the Palm Beach State College

WELLINGTON SENIORS CLUB ENJOYS LUNCHEON WITH

The Wellington Seniors Club enjoyed a luncheon on Wednesday, May 21 at the Wellington Community Center. The theme was “Copacabana” and featured the Sugar Palm Copacabana Dancers. The group will resume monthly lunches in September. PHOTOS BY

DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Jurassic

Summer Camp At The Palm Beach Museum Of Natural History

Who wants to pet a real dino-

saur?

Starting June 23 through Aug. 8, curious kids over age five are invited to become junior paleontologists, geologists and ar-

chaeologists and step back in time at Jurassic Summer Camp, hosted by the Palm Beach Museum of Natural History.

Tucked inside the Mall at Wellington Green, kids enjoy hands-on, STEAM-based multidisciplinary learning, games and activities from identifying Ice Age fossils and Native American artifacts to taking selfies with “Cheryll,” the museum’s 68-million-year-old Triceratops — and the only actual dinosaur skeleton in South Florida.

Kids also take field trips around the mall, from technology workshops at Apple, cuddly bear customization at Build-A-Bear Workshop, cooking classes at California Pizza Kitchen and more. Three sessions are available on

June 23-27, July 21-25 and Aug. 4-8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Before and after-care is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Non-refundable camp registration is $50. Weekly fees are $250/week per camper or $50/ day per camper. Pre-registration is required.

For more information, call Program Coordinator Kirsten Smith at (218) 398-7191, e-mail ksmith@pbmnh.org or visit www. pbmnh.org.

Museum hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, noon to 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.

The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Anita Kane with a 2025 Home Rule Hero Award for her hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2025 Legislative Session.

Kane worked tirelessly throughout the session to promote local voices making local choices by sharing insights, local data and real-world examples that helped inform state lawmakers and elevate the voice of Florida’s cities.

“This session, local leaders stepped up once again, bringing persistence, perspective and a strong voice for local decision-making to every conversation,” FLC Chief of Legislative

Affairs Casey Cook said. “The league and our legislative team deeply appreciate their leadership and are proud to recognize the meaningful difference they made for Florida’s cities.”

Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and non-elected, who consistently responded to the league’s request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.

“I’m honored to receive the 2025 Home Rule Hero Award from the Florida League of Cities,” Kane said. “As mayor of the Town of Loxahatchee Groves, I remain committed to preserving the rural character and cultural identity that make our town so special.

At the same time, I will continue to advocate for the resources and appropriations we need — without compromising our local decision-making authority. Home Rule empowers us to protect our way of life while planning for a responsible and resilient future.” The Florida League of Cities promotes local self-government and serves the needs of Florida’s municipalities, which are formed and governed by their citizens. Learn more at www.flcities.com.

James and Jane Bastian.

Barbara and Dr. Wes Boughner.

Marie and Jim Glynn with Linda Vaillancourt. Judy Thompson and Susan Odell.

Ginny Williams, Marilyn Lapsley and Susan Basham.

PBSO volunteers Mike Anderson, Mary Monnet and Bob Kruger.

Grace Lyons, Alina Silvacoll and Sharon Zimmerman.

Selma Waters, Harriet Offerman and Nancy Koloff.

Dawn Rhys, Diana Casanova and Andrea Sooky of the Sugar Palm Copacabana Dancers on stage.

Anita Kane Honored With Home Rule Hero Award

Mayor Anita Kane

Become a junior paleontologist at Jurassic Summer Camp.

ITID Road Rock

Savings

continued from page 1 trict. Argue said she supported the concept but “this is a significant burden on the M-2 Basin.”

After assurances that a compensation plan was being worked out, truck traffic would be limited to 180th Avenue and Sycamore Drive West, and the hours of operation would be reasonable, Argue voted in favor.

The plan passed 4-0 with Supervisor Richard Vassalotti absent.

“I want to thank you and your staff for being innovative and trying to save money and be more efficient,” Argue told Robinson.

In other business:

• ITID Engineer Jay Foy told the board that in his opinion, the

To Council

continued from page 1 might provide affordable housing for teachers or others working in the area.

Builders grew concerned that rents might prove too high to make sense in that role. A handful of smaller residences could still be sprinkled into upper floors of the commercial area.

As it stands, rents for the proposed townhouses could run $5,000 to $6,000 per month. At the same time, retail space is increasing, bumped up to about 220,000 square feet.

“Residential is down a little bit,

PZA Board Marketplace Project

continued from page 1 nearly 18 acres at the southwest corner of Greenview Shores and South Shore boulevards. It lies outside the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District and is already currently zoned for commercial use. It is mostly vacant, except for a two-story commercial building of almost 21,000 square feet. The applicants sought to amend the village’s comprehensive plan and change the Future Land Use Map designation from commercial to mixed-use, gain a condition-

proposed “West End Crossing” project planned for the southeast corner of Northlake Blvd. and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road presently does not meet district or Palm Beach County standards.

The controversial project includes a convenience store with gas pumps, a retail building and a medical office building.

The issue is “legal positive outfall,” Foy noted in his report. “The proposed outfall is into the proposed Palm Beach County lake to the east of this project that isn’t constructed. The district engineer believes either the county would have to modify its ITID special permit to include this parcel, or the applicant would have to wait until the lake is built and turned over to ITID to meet the county requirement.”

The current plan also seems not to include any on-site compensating water storage, Foy said,

and retail is up,” Ryan said.

Planning for a proposed hotel is honing in on 180 rooms and has included talks with Homewood Suites, geared for travelers who might want an extended stay within the Hilton corporate family.

Fewer brand names are yet being bandied about on the retail side, though Ken Himmel, president of Related Ross, said he expects to be 60 percent to 65 percent pre-leased by year’s end. Apparel, lifestyle and sports are likely to figure prominently as store categories, he said. Some specific retailer names could be announced by September, with others, including an anchor on the project’s northeastern corner, perhaps coming to light by the end of 2025, Himmel said.

al-use approval for the hotel, and secure master-plan amendments to accommodate 89 multi-family residential units, described as condominiums for sale. The board complied, dispensing a few pieces of advice as the plan moves ahead in search of its required Wellington Village Council approval.

PZA Board Chair John Bowers said he wanted to hear more about ways to mitigate traffic, such as future shuttles between an expanded showgrounds and the hotel.

Drahos asked about parking. Builders are proposing 629 parking spaces, which is below the standard way of calculating that need, but they maintain that their particular

though there are ways around that requirement.

• The ITID board honored Temple Blvd. resident Edward Weiner for leading efforts to remove garbage and debris and keep clean the roadside of 180th Avenue North between Hamlin and Orange boulevards.

Weiner, who owns Pro-Tech Air Corporation and AC Repair of Royal Palm Beach, said several thousand pounds of garbage have been removed during each of the twice-a-year weekend cleanups.

While walking his dogs along 180th, Weiner said the idea for the cleanup came to him.

“This is my little piece of heaven… and I’d walk along and see all this trash,” he said. “I just saw a need… and I decided to do something because it was the right thing to do.”

Weiner said gloves, vests, grabber tools and cold drinks are

Five boutique grocers have been approached, with perhaps one of those eventually appearing next to a two-level parking area on the northern side.

Restaurants include a possible steakhouse with Chicago roots, whose founding family includes members living in Wellington, Himmel said. Italian and Asian eateries could be in the mix.

Three restaurants might face a kind of “town square” waterfront green space near the center of the project, featuring indoor as well as weather-protected outdoor seating, he said.

The whole property involves an updated figure of 71.3 acres southwest of State Road 7 and Stribling Way. After some adjustments, about 33 acres will to go

mix of uses justifies it. In a contingency plan, they are allowing for up to 746 spaces by building a second parking garage, if annual monitoring shows a need for it.

“I think you guys need to drill down a little bit more on that,” Drahos said.

Builders believe that they’re on track with applications for traffic approvals from Palm Beach County and village authorities, according to Bryan Kelley, vice president of Simmons & White, which is providing traffic and engineering services for the project. He said studies show a slight reduction in traffic compared to what could have been built under the current commercial zoning.

provided during what is usually a two-hour effort on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

“A lot of neighbors come out,” said Weiner, who has lived in the area for 25 years. “Parents bring their kids and dogs. People make friends. It’s a nice event.”

Weiner said if enough interest can be garnered, he’d like to do the cleanup four times a year.

• The board tabled until June requests by ITID Parks & Recreation staff to host a “Sleepy Hollow Halloween Event and Parade” on Oct. 25 at Acreage Community Park South; a “Frontier Holiday Parade and Round-Up” on multiple days (Dec. 6, 12 and 13) at Hamlin House and Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park; and a “Movies in the Park” series at Acreage Community Park South during the late fall, winter and early spring seasons.

Argue quickly opposed all three

to Related Ross and 38 acres to its educational partner for a private K-12 school.

A timeline showed the school opening in August 2028, with key portions of the Related Ross project opening shortly thereafter in the fall of 2028. School officials revealed some revisions as well, as explained by Marianne Rehn, representing organizers of the school operating under the name ElevateED US LLC.

The latest plan opens a pre-K through eighth-grade portion of the school by the fall of 2028 in phase one, then adding additional grades through grade 12 by 2031.

A previous version featured a different mix of younger and older students in the initial phase.

Among other things, the plan allows for dual southbound right turns on Greenview Shores at the intersection of South Shore, essentially doubling from one turn lane.

Traffic is one of the main reasons triggering opposition from resident Patricia Bachi, who lives about a mile from the project.

“I’m against it,” she said during time for public comments. “I think most residents are against it.”

People are getting worn down by a series of approvals for development on Wellington’s few remaining pockets of available land, Bachi said.

“They’re tired,” she said. “They don’t think you listen to them.”

Another nearby resident, Larry

permit requests. “The district should not be hosting events… and wasting taxpayer dollars to do it,” she said. “We’ve got so many other needs. This is not a good use of money or staff right now.”

Accomando disagreed.

“I think these events are great for bringing the community together,” she said. The Acreage Landowners’ Association traditionally has hosted such events but recently has struggled with insurance requirements.

Supervisor Patricia Farrell offered to be the “go-between” for the ALA and the district to “make sure we have successful events.”

• The board did approve a request by Loxahatchee Lost and Found Pets Inc. to host a bazaar and green market each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept.14, 2025, through May 3, 2026, at Downers Park. The park is located at the corner of Seminole

The total footprint of the school is coming down from 350,000 square feet to 307,000, she said.

“What did we have to take out of the design?” Councilman John McGovern asked.

“It was a bit on the sports side in terms of the number of courts,” Rehn said. “We’re trying to find ways to bring it back again.”

A big factor is to stay within budget on a $350 million investment, she said. The name of the school itself has not been announced.

“I think if you look at this whole thing logistically, and all three pieces of this puzzle, you made a lot of really good changes from the earlier discussions,” Mayor Michael Napoleone said, referring to commercial, residential and school components. “You’ve brought down the height. You’ve brought down the density.” He is hoping for a high-end feel.

Unger, said he did not necessarily oppose the project but expressed concerns about operating hours, possibly entailing the noise of cars leaving at night, and lighting that might shine into neighboring communities.

“I think those things need to be clarified,” he said.

Equestrian activist Maureen Brennan said she lives a few hun-

dred yards from the project and opposes it. She took issue with the notion that the hotel is needed for Wellington to get “our” share of lodging dollars.

“We do get our share,” said Brennan, who is the current president of the Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce. “We get

“I’m hearing you that the retail is going to look like more of a Worth Avenue feel and less of a Palm Beach Outlets feel,” Napoleone said. In other action, Village Attorney Laurie Cohen asked for direction on whether to consider dropping or changing a requirement for a runoff election in cases where a municipal candidate attracts less than 35 percent in an initial vote. Costs borne by the village for runoffs, more than $100,000 in 2024,

ITID President Elizabeth Accomando presents resident Edward Weiner with a resolution of appreciation for his efforts to keep his neighborhood trash free. Pratt Whitney Road and Downers Drive West.

tax back from Palm Beach County.”

“our” in this case, she said, is simply the developer’s share of hotel profits, not a special benefit to the community around it.

An artistic rendering of the hotel project at the “Marketplace.”

PALM BEACH CENTRAL SALUTES BRONCO GRADUATES

BAILEY HASTINGS/TOWN-CRIER

Principal Reginald Myers congratulates Ashlee Erard. Naomi Schwartz receives her diploma.

Principal Reginald Myers with graduate Gabriella Serna.

Salutatorian Sarita Atehortua is headed to the University of Florida.

Valedictorian Jennifer Han, who will attend Rice University, at the podium.

Superintendent Michael Burke addresses the gathering.

Seniors gather before their procession into the ceremony.

Principal Reginald Myers welcomes everyone to the graduation ceremony.

Principal Reginald Myers leads the students into the expo center.

Graduates march into the expo center hall.

Senior Class President Sneha Solomon leads the tassel ceremony.

Dylan Hsu with his mother Lilia Kung.

Charles Trujillo smiles as he walks with his classmates.

The Palm Beach Central Chorus sings the national anthem.

Graduates file out of the expo hall.

Graduate Casper Sumner with his mother after the ceremony.

Graduate Javenson Ulysse surrounded by his family.

Graduates Matthew Carr and

Albury with friends and family.

Jamie Green with her mother Dr. Edwiygh Franck and father Dr. James Green.

New graduate Allison Condarco celebrates with her family.

Graduate Adriana Diaz with her brother Eduardo, mother Dianna and father Luiz.

ROYAL PALM BEACH MARKS MEMORIAL DAY WITH EVENT AT VETERANS PARK

The Village of Royal Palm Beach, in conjunction with American Legion Post 367, hosted a Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 26 at Royal Palm Beach Veterans Park with the theme “Remember and Honor.” Guest speakers included U.S. Navy Master Chief Thomas Halleck, U.S. Air Force Capt. Jalen Auer and U.S. Navy Capt. Ronald Williams. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Mayor Jeff Hmara, Councilwoman Jan Rodusky, Vice Mayor Richard Valuntas, Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps and Councilman Adam Miller.

American Legion Post 367 and the Royal Palm Beach High School JROTC take part in the ceremony.

Members of Scout Troop 111 take part in the ceremony.

PBCFR’s Ben Leahy, Frank Vomero, Ritchie Retaleato, Daniel Jusino and Matthew Pignato.

Capt. Ronald Williams at the podium.

Mayor Jeff Hmara (U.S. Army retired) addresses the gathering.

Pastor Cory Britt offers the invocation.

Capt. Ronald Williams, Mayor Jeff Hmara, Capt. Jalen Auer and Master Chief Thomas Halleck with the wreath.

Sharon and Dennis Poyner.

Estrella McIntosh, Marge Herzog and Myra Katz from American Legion Post 367 Auxiliary with poppies.

Pam Robinson with Gunnar, ITID President Elizabeth Accomando and Steve Accomando.

VIPs gather for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Millie Espinoza, Pastor Cory Britt, Capt. Jalen Auer, Capt. Ronald Williams and Master Chief Thomas Halleck.

Cadet Lt. Commander Makenzie Kohl and Cadet Lt. Isabel Gamarra salute during the Battle Cross presentation.

Ralph Hyppolite plays “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY PRESENTS SCHOLARSHIPS & INSTALLS OFFICERS

Two scholarships were presented at the Wellington Art Society’s meeting Tuesday, May 13 at the Wellington Community Center. This year’s scholarship honorees are Sophie Li and Mariana Padilla. Also at the meeting, the group held its installation of officers for 2025-26. Learn more at www.wellingtonartsociety.org.

BY

Scholarship recipients Sophie Li and Mariana Padilla with Scholarship Committee Chair Jan Gmitter.

George Kinoshita, Jacob Guzik (representing Hailey Guzik), Kirsten Benitez, Erin Benitez, Andrea Bustillo, Student of the Quarter Jaden Ma, Alina Estevez, Emperatriz Frias, Sandra Kinoshita and Club President Walter Imperatore.

The Wellington Rotary Club held its annual scholarship presentations on Thursday, May 15 at the Wanderers Club. Scholarship awards were presented to Emperatriz Frias and Alina Esteves. The Student of the Quarter Award went to Jaden Ma, while Emperatriz Frias

Alexa Lee of the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition with Drug Prevention Media Contest winner Dulce Nieves.

Scholarship recipient Sophie Li with “The Lake’s Trap.”

Returning scholarship recipients Andrea Bustillo, Erin Benitez and Kirsten Benitez with Scholarship Committee Chair George Kinoshita.

Scholarship recipient Mariana Padilla with “The Passage of Years.”

Scholarship recipient Emperatriz Frias, Scholarship Committee Chair George Kinoshita and Scholarship recipient Alina Esteves.

New member Bilyana Pesic with her mixed media “Meditation.”

Wellington Art Society board members (front row) Hermi Zumbado, Susan Mosely, Astrid Mora and Dinah Mirson; and (back row) Vasantha Siva, Elaine Weber, Marcia Greene, Susan Oakes and Leslie Pfeiffer.

Cynthia George with her LED animal acrylics.

Scholarship recipient Sophie Li, Elaine Weber, Marcia Greene, Scholarship Committee Chair Jan Gmitter, Susan Oakes and scholarship recipient Mariana Padilla.

Ina Perez with her AI generated picture interpretation.

The

Girl Scout Troop 24547 takes part in the parade.

Krissy Robbs of American Legion Post 390 was the guest speaker.

Bill Bartels and Janet Scalzitti lay the U.S. Air Force wreath.

Brielle Bergel watches the ceremony.

Cindy Addison (center in red) and Cynthia Craig (center in blue) of the Daughters of the American Revolution unveil a new memorial plaque.

Heather Durand sings the national anthem.

Ernie Zimmerman and Robert Nappi lay the POW/MIA wreath.

Air Force veteran Tony Watts at the ceremony.

Keith Jordano and Fred Quan lay the Merchant Marines wreath.

Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind, Mayor Michael Napoleone, Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri and Councilman John McGovern lay the first Memorial Day wreath.

Laurence Williams speaks during the ceremony.

John Schwiner and Roberto Carballoso lay the U.S. Marine Corps wreath.

Laurence Williams and James Sparrow lay the wreath in honor of the U.S. Army.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard marches in the parade.

Pastor Mario Castaneda of St. Rita Catholic Church gives the invocation.

The Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Pipes and Drums take part in the parade. Members of the Wellington Garden Club show their patriotic support. Abraham and Noah White at the parade.

Wellington High School Girls Softball Team Claims State Title

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington High School girls varsity softball team has finally reached the mountain top.

This year’s team earned the title of Florida high school state champion, but it took parts of two days to make it official. It was the first state championship in girls softball history for WHS.

Because of a five-hour rain delay on Saturday, May 24, the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 7A state championship girls softball game between the WHS Wolverines and the Huskies from Hagerty High School didn’t start until 10:07 p.m. at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood.

After nearly three hours of play, the game-winning run was scored by Wellington’s Jessilyn Vera, who crossed home plate just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, May 25. In the end, Wellington outscored Hagerty, 6-5, but it took a Kansas City Tiebreaker to determine the winner in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wellington started the eighth inning with Vera at second base, as per the Kansas City Tiebreaker. The score was 5-5. With no balls and two strikes on Wellington’s Samantha Ellis, Wellington third base coach Bob Schmidt gave Vera the sign to steal third, which caught Hagerty — and the entire Wellington team — by surprise. Vera was safe at third.

One pitch later, with a 1-2 count on Ellis, she pulled the ball to deep

right field. After it was caught by Hagerty’s Addison Bell, it allowed Vera to tag from third base and score on the sacrifice fly. It was the biggest run of the year for the Wolverines.

“The girls erupted in the dugout. It was pure joy and mayhem,” said Wellington head coach Mark Boretti, who just finished his 16th year leading the squad. According to Boretti, he knew the game would be close and competitive.

“Hagerty is a good team,” Boretti said. “We watched Hagerty’s win the night before against Western in the state semifinal.”

Wellington earned its spot in the state championship game by overwhelming Sarasota High School, 15-0, in the other state semifinal.

Boretti noted that the championship game against Hagerty featured many game-changing contributions by many of his players with their bodies and their bats. In a sport that is so focused on pitching prowess, it was the standout performances by Wellington’s position players that made the difference throughout the game.

“Erryn Lowe made a diving catch at second base late in the game with two of their runners on base. Kaylee Riles had at least three long stretches to catch balls thrown to her at first base. Maddie Touchet had an incredible throw to first from shortstop to get a big out during the game. Right fielder Samantha Ellis had two or three amazing catches in the outfield.

TKA Boys

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The boys varsity volleyball team from the King’s Academy began its spring season with two consecutive losses, but concluded the year with eight straight wins, one of which was a victory against previously undefeated Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM) from Tampa in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 1A state championship game.

The championship-clinching match was a straight set win (2514, 25-14, 27-25) on Saturday, May 17 at the Winter Haven Sports Center. The final record for TKA was 22-5, while SLAM concluded its season at 25-1. It was the first state championship title for the boys volleyball program at TKA.

As head boys volleyball coach Danielle McCoy analyses the season, she noted that her team was not at full strength at the beginning of the season, but it was at the end, when it counted the most.

“We started the season missing three starters. Once they came back, we lost another very important player to a major injury,” McCoy said. “We also battled some wear-and-tear injuries and endof-year distractions as the season went on. So, at times, it was a challenge to build any consistency as a

Catcher Angelina Baronci made a number of great stops behind the plate. And in the top of the eighth, with the bases loaded, two outs and the game tied at five, third baseman Catalina Baronci fielded an extremely hard-hit ground ball to her left, which she calmly fielded and threw to first base for the third out,” Boretti said.

As for Wellington’s starting pitcher, Tori Payne, she was a workhorse on the mound. Statistically, it wasn’t Payne’s best game inside the circle, but it wasn’t her worst game, either. In the eightinning affair, Payne threw 140 pitches, scattered 10 hits, issued five walks and recorded two strikeouts. Of Hagerty’s five runs, four of them were earned.

On offense, many players contributed to Wellington’s success. Payne was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, Angelina Baronci was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Gabby D’Arcangelo was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Wellington’s six runs were scored by five players — Payne, D’Arcangelo, Touchet, Riles and Vera.

Wellington never trailed against Hagerty. The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Hagerty tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the third, but Wellington regained the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the third. The Wolverines extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth, then Hagerty cut Wellington’s lead to 4-3 in the top of the sixth. Wellington expanded its lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, before Hagerty tied the game, 5-5, in the top of the seventh. Wellington was unable to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, which sent the game to extra innings, where the Kansas City Tiebreaker was used. In that scenario, each team begins its inning with a runner at second base and no outs.

For Hagerty, the Huskies loaded the bases with two outs in the top half of the eighth. With center fielder Alexis Felker in the batter’s box, she drilled a ground ball between Catalina Baronci at third base and Touchet at shortstop,

which Baronci snagged and threw to Riles at first to end that threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, Vera scored on the previously mentioned sacrifice fly to right field to win the game and secure the Class 7A state title in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 25.

Boretti said this year’s team was motivated by the loss in last year’s regional final against rival Jupiter High School, but the foundation of their success as a team started in early April.

“Just before the game against the Doral Academy, we had a team meeting, and from that meeting, we emerged as a united team,” Boretti said. “Little-by-little, dayby-day, and game-by-game, we became more united as a team. The girls understood the importance of the term WE and not ME. Prior to that meeting, we were a divided team.”

Wellington finished its season by stringing together 10 straight wins. In addition to the victory against Hagerty, the other big wins along the way were a pair of victories against Jupiter — a 5-3 win in the district championship game on April 30 and a 4-0 shutout in the regional final on May 15.

Payne, D’Arcangelo, Vera, Touchet, Riles, Lowe, Vera, Ellis and the Baronci sisters, other members of Wellington’s softball team were Molly Smith, Fiona

Volleyball Squad Captures The State Championship

team. In the end, that strengthened us and gave us confidence that we could overcome any obstacles. We have a very talented team, and no single player needed to carry the load. We focused on team success over individual stats and achievements. The team played its most complete games in the state tournament, getting big-time play from every player on the court.”

McCoy gives all the credit for the team’s march to the state championship to her group of talented players who executed on the court at all the key times throughout the regular season and during the postseason.

“We had one of the best middle attacks in the state with three players contributing,” McCoy said. “Our middle attacks included 6-foot-5 senior middle blocker Dylan Wahl, who did an excellent job all season with blocking and timely attacks. Freshman Jack Swartzbaugh, a 6-foot-4 middle blocker, is a very talented young player who brought great energy with his quick attacks and solid defense in the back row. Junior Isaiah McCoy, a middle blocker who stands 6-foot-8, is the centerpiece of the offense and defense. Isaiah is a dynamic player who opposing teams have to gameplan for, and he often changes the game with his power and presence at the net.”

While having a tall and talented group of middle blockers is a key part of any volleyball team, having a crew of strong outside hitters is equally important.

“Ryan Huff and John Casey, a pair of 6-foot-5 outside hitters, were very steady at the pins and gave us great serve-reception and defense, allowing us to play with good tempo and balance,” McCoy said. “Senior Graysen Amestoy, a 6-foot-9 Master’s University commit, was a solid attacker and blocker on the right side. He also carried the team in the early matches as an offensive-minded setter. Senior setter Jake Manning, who stands 6-foot-2, rounded out the starting group. Jake masterfully ran one of the most balanced offenses in the state. He is a steady leader who plays with a very high volleyball IQ and has an innate ability to get the most out of his teammates.”

While it’s vital to have a starting lineup that is tall, quick, fast and athletic, it’s equally important to have a deep and talented group of reserves on the bench.

“Our bench was led by senior defensive specialist/libero David Brainard, whose steady improvement throughout the season paid dividends with timely play in the regional tournament,” said McCoy, who just completed her second season as the TKA head boys volleyball coach. “Other

key reserves were Konstantin Zwirner, an international student who was new to volleyball, and provided size, blocking and attacking when needed. Maddon Tumas is a junior outside hitter with a laser of a serve; Rett Wedding is a sophomore defensive specialist with lots of upside; and Micah

Amestoy, a 6-foot-8 sophomore opposite, would surely have been a first-team all-Palm Beach County selection if it wasn’t for a major injury in the first month of the season. He was able to come back at the end and was an impactful serving specialist.” This is only the fourth year

community seniors

The Wellington High School girls softball team after their state championship win. PHOTOS BY J.C. DE LOS REYES

The King’s Academy boys varsity volleyball team celebrates after winning the state championship. Head coach Danielle McCoy is shown standing at the far right.

Besides

Gannon, Brianna Casey, Hailey Hirsch, Yanaira Andrade, Gabi de

los Reyes, Jasmine Jones, Grace VanDyke, Cameron Vickers and Sam Gregory. Boretti’s two assistant coaches were Schmidt and Jackie Humphrey. The team concluded its season with a 23-4 record.

Softball players Yanaira Andrade, Gabi de los Reyes and Jessilyn Vera with the trophy.

that TKA has had a boys varsity volleyball team. Two years ago, in 2023, the team advanced to the state finals, but didn’t win the championship. There were three seniors on this year’s team who were sophomores on the 2023 squad — Jake Manning, John Casey and Dylan Wahl.

The team celebrates after winning the state title.

Seminole Ridge Flag Football Squad Honors Top Performers

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

On Wednesday, May 21, the Seminole Ridge High School varsity and junior varsity girls flag football teams gathered at the Wellington National Golf Club for their end-of-season awards banquet. Both squads had a great deal to celebrate. The varsity squad, under

the leadership of head coach Scott O’Hara, recently won the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 3A state championship. On Saturday, May 10, Seminole Ridge defeated Tallahassee’s Chiles High School in the Class 3A state final, 26-2. The game was played in the indoor, state-of-the-art AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, which is the indoor practice facility of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was the sixth state flag football championship in school history.

The junior varsity squad had an undefeated 10-0 record. The highlight of the JV squad’s season was winning the Spanish River Tournament.

By Mike May

Town-Crier Staff Report

In mid-May, 15 athletes from Seminole Ridge High School signed collegiate letters of intent, where they pledged their allegiance to their newly chosen colleges or universities.

Of those 15 seniors, four played baseball at Seminole Ridge High School, and four were competition cheer athletes for the Hawks.

At this year’s awards banquet, seven members of the junior varsity team — Addison Kratman, Ava Aiken, Kylin Chieffalo, Samantha Musgrave, Abigail Nosworthy, Grace Berman and Maeson Frost — were each given the Best Newcomer Award.

“We brought up seven junior varsity girls for the FHSAA playoffs, who helped us immensely in practice preparation and scrimmaging,” O’Hara said.

As for the awards for the varsity team, Dakota Parks, Sydney Pena and Carrie Didio each won the Leadership Award. Jazlyn Ruiz won the Offensive Most Valuable Player Award. Lola Agosto won the Most Valuable Player Award. Lily Von-Purkyne won the Defensive Impact Award. Olivia Agosto won the Clutch Player Award. Chachi Saunders won the Defensive Most Valuable Player Award. Aubrey Fogel received the Offensive Most Valuable Player Award. Ja’Niah Tejeda won the Lockdown Corner Award, while Avaree Brant and Peyton Teman each won the Rookie-of-the-Year Award.

15 Seminole Ridge Athletes Ink Collegiate Letters Of Intent

The four baseball players are Luke Vento and Nik Halleran (both headed to Palm Beach State College), Justin Precanico (headed to Keiser University) and Jaiden Walton (headed to Minnesota North College).

The other seniors who signed collegiate letters of intent include Roxy Brewer, who will play soccer at Florida International University. Former Seminole Ridge football quarterback Garrett Rimes is

The four competition cheer athletes are Zoey Hayden (headed to the University of Central Florida), Derek Perry and Austin Fulton (both headed to Shelton State), and Chris Augustin (headed to the University of South Florida).

volleyball

Seminole Ridge High School flag football team members gather for a group photo at the banquet.

Seminole Ridge seniors Dakota Parks, Sydney Pena, Lily Von-Purkyne and Lola Agosto. PHOTOS BY RICHARD AREYZAGA JR.

Seminole Ridge finished the season with an impressive 17-2 record, winning their last 10 straight games. The Hawks ended the year as the top-ranked high school girls varsity flag football team in

Seminole Ridge competition cheer team members Zoey Hayden, Derek Perry, Austin Fulton and Chris Augustin sign their letters of intent.

Seminole Ridge baseball team members Jaiden Walton, Nik Halleran, Luke Vento and Justin Precanico sign their letters of intent.

at Randolph College and Central Christian College, respectively. Logan Hart’s competitive lacrosse career will continue at Webber International University. Finally, Naor Suarez will be playing collegiate soccer at Richard Bland College at William & Mary.

Seminole Ridge Boys Volleyball Falls Short At State Tourney

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

For the second straight year, the boys varsity volleyball team from Seminole Ridge High School had a winning season, earned a high ranking, won its district tournament and captured the regional title. That regional title earned the Hawks a berth in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A state finals at the Winter Haven Health Center. In the Hawks’ state semifinal match on Friday, May 16, they played Southwest Miami High School. While the Hawks lost that match, their comeback from two sets down was impressive and exciting. After losing the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-16, Seminole Ridge head coach Scott Barnwell reminded his team of their true talent and ability. After Barnwell’s

encouraging message, the Hawks bounced back by winning the next two sets, 25-22 and 25-16. With the match tied at two sets each, the match hinged on the fifth and final set to 15. The winner would advance to the following day’s Class 3A state championship final against Winter Park High School. Southwest rallied to win the final set, 15-10. In Winter Haven, the Hawks were led by senior Stephen Barnes with 15 kills, sophomore Pierce Giebenrath with 12 digs and freshman Evan Holowecky with three serving aces.

To reach the state finals, the Hawks won three straight regional games — a 25-15, 25-20, 25-20 regional quarterfinal victory against Jupiter High School on May 6; a 25-16, 25-15, 25-8 regional semifinal victory over Palm Beach Central High School on May 9;

and a 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-8 regional final victory against Boca Raton High School on May 13. Seminole Ridge’s statistical leaders this past season included Barnes, who led with kills per set (3.9), serving aces (74) and kills (388). Carson Kramer was the team’s leader in total blocks (61) and hitting percentage (.465). Giebenrath was the leader in digs (369), digs per set (4.1) and receptions (469), while Holowecky had a team-high total in assists (983).

Going into the game against Southwest, Seminole Ridge had won 10 out of its previous 11 matches. Seminole Ridge completed its season with a 23-7 record.

The Seminole Ridge boys varsity volleyball program has won one FHSAA state championship. That was back in 2011.

Breakthru Athletic League Concludes Spring Flag Football Season

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

On Saturday, May 3, the Breakthru Athletic League conducted its spring end-of-season Super Bowl tournament at Palm Beach County’s Samuel Friedland Park. There were eight age-group division winners crowned — boys and girls, in four age brackets.

The winning teams were: Boys Peewee (ages 4-5), Vikings; Girls Peewee (ages 4-5), Jaguars; Boys Freshman (ages 6-7), Saints; Girls Freshman (ages 6-7), 49ers; Boys Junior Varsity (ages 8-10), Dolphins; Girls Junior Varsity (ages 8-10), Chargers; Boys Varsity (ages 11-13), 49ers; and Girls Varsity (ages 11-13), Raiders.

According to Breakthru Athletic League spokesman Matt Green, there were nearly 400 players in the league this past spring.

“Our end-of-season Super Bowl Tournament was an all-day, singleelimination event where every team was seeded into brackets by a random draw,” Green said. “There were 52 total games played. The random bracket seeding was purposeful, and we didn’t use the season records to seed this, as our goal was primarily player learning, development and fun. We feel that by not using season records, it means coaches can play all players and focus on our goals, rather than just winning every game. Our hope is that this allows all players to be on the field as much as possible to get as much out of a season with the Breakthru Athletic League as they can.”

This spring’s Super Bowl Tournament ranked high on the “fun factor” for the players.

“The tournament was very exciting, and we had five different games that required overtime to determine a winner,” Green said. “It was a day full of fun, excitement and competition. All players received a season medal and shirt, which was designed by one of our players as part of a design competition held early in the season. Super Bowl Tournament winners also received a custom championship ring.”

Registration for the upcoming fall season is open now. This will be the Breakthru Athletic League’s seventh season and its fourth year of operation. The age group divisions will range from age four through age 17.

“We expect our high school division (ages 14-17) to be one of our bigger ones this coming season,” Green added.

To register, or for more information, visit them online at www. breakthruathleticleague.com.

Summer Art Camp at the Armory runs from June 2 through Aug. 8. The camp offers classes for kids and teens, starting as young as preschool age. Kids ages 5-and-a-half to 12 will create their own masterpieces based on cultural themes from around the world, including South America, Europe, Asia and more. New this year are half-day preschool summer camps for ages 3 to 5 where little artists will explore and develop new art skills. Teens ages 13 to 17 can participate in studio intensives to develop portfolio-ready artwork while developing their creative skills and techniques. Students will work in a variety of media, such as painting, drawing, three-dimensional sculpting, pottery and more. Dress for the mess and join the Armory for some fun hands-on art. There will also be bi-weekly exhibitions featuring art made by camp artists. The Armory is located at 811 Park Place, West Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 832-1776 or visit www.armoryart.org/summercamp.

The Florida Rowing Center’s Summer Rowing Camp is now in its seventh year. The program is designed for both boys and girls who want to learn to row, as well as experienced rowers looking to improve their sculling technique and fitness. Come have fun on the water. The program rows on Lake Wellington, a fresh water, protected, 2,000-meter-long lake. Registration is limited to allow individual, personalized coaching and instruction. The summer program is open to students age 12 and up led by head coach Doug Cody. For 35 years, the Florida Rowing Center has attracted and trained elite-level competitors from North America and Europe. Register and learn more at www.floridarowingcenter.com.

Seminole Ridge’s Stephen Barnes goes for the kill shot. PHOTO BY RICHARD AREYZAGA JR.

At the Breakthru Athletic League, players are taught how to catch passes and properly hold the ball while running with it. PHOTOS BY ALLYSON GOOLSBY/412 MEDIA

Flag pulling is a necessary skill in flag football.

Lake Worth Drainage District Honors

John I. Whitworth III

You’ve likely driven past it on State Road 7 countless times.

Officially called the E-1 Equalizer Canal, the drainage conveyance is vital to providing flood control and water supply in western Palm Beach County.

This month, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) named the waterway to honor the 35 years of public service by LWDD Supervisor John I. Whitworth III.

“John has always been a guardian of this agency, its work to provide flood control and water supply, and its dedicated staff,” LWDD Executive Director Tommy Strowd said. “He remains committed to ensuring that flood control and water supply remain a top priority. His leadership has reinforced the vital importance of these canals, which must continue to serve future generations.”

The Whitworth Canal runs the entire span of the LWDD, which covers 200 square miles from Okeechobee Blvd. to the north to the Broward County line in the south, and serves more than 800,000 residents. The canal, which once bordered the Whitworth family farm, is 26 miles long and was designed to convey 2,768 gallons of water a second. Equally as critical to the region is Whitworth himself. Part of a longtime Palm Beach County farming family, Whitworth never missed a board meeting in 35 years.

John I. Whitworth III

Respected for his knowledge of agriculture and water management, Whitworth has helped direct operations for the LWDD to meet ever-changing community needs.

During 35 years of public service, Whitworth has been a steadfast guardian of the LWDD’s canals and rights-of-way, along with the agency’s water control structures and staff. His leadership continues to ensure that the agency operates to serve the region’s ongoing growth and transition from an agricultural landscape to residential communities.

Whitworth attended school at Gordon Military College in Georgia and the University of Florida. He was elected to the LWDD Board of Supervisors in October 1990.

Wellington Man Inducted Into Aviation Hall Of Fame

New Play By Rashida Costa Coming To The Lake Worth Playhouse June 28-29

Wellington actress Rashida Costa’s new stage play At All Cost will debut at the Lake Worth Playhouse’s Stonzek Theatre on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on both days

Costa is the playwright for this groundbreaking play. The play aims to attract veterans, current service members and a wider audience, bringing awareness to the devastating consequences of racism.

At All Cost examines the complexities of a Black soldier’s journey following the denial of his GI Bill benefits. He did not allow this to deter him from seeking a better path for himself and his family. The piece is set in 1945 after World War II and is centered around the life of the protagonist, Wray Edmond. Edmond purchases a casino after being denied the benefit of gaining access to homeownership, one he fully expected as a promised benefit of the GI Bill.

The story showcases the harsh reality of being ostracized because of the color of your skin. This nightmare is all too real for many

Black people across the nation. Redlining was a common practice utilized to keep Blacks from homeownership, which is experienced by Edmond in the play’s storyline. The story of the struggles faced by one Black soldier and his family is told in this groundbreaking play.

The production stars Costa, along with Shirley Bryant and Randy Coleman. Costa is an actress, playwright and author with multiple publications available. She has published a captivating children’s storybook, Who Lives in the Little Wooden House. Her writings can also be found and purchased online, with many story options read by Costa herself. This includes a book entitled 365 Days Smarter, a motivational guide also available for purchase to get you through challenging times in your own life. She is now focused on writing a written play and script concept, which will be released shortly.

The Lake Worth Playhouse is located at 713 Lake Avenue in Lake Worth Beach. Visit www. lakeworthplayhouse.org/limited-engagements to get tickets.

Zachary Dess Supporting U.S. Navy In Italy

Zachary Dess, a native of Wellington, supports the U.S. Navy at U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Sigonella and the U.S. Naval Hospital in Sigonella, Italy.

Dess is a 2012 Palm Beach Central High School graduate. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pace University in 2020. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy and as a government civilian are similar to those found in Wellington.

born and raised in Catania, Sicily.

Today, Dess continues to serve his country as a federal civilian registered nurse at Naval Air Station Sigonella.

beyond to ensure the well-being of our patients.”

Hennen added that Dess is always willing to take on new challenges and is a quick learner.

“My favorite part about being a registered nurse at Naval Air Station Sigonella is the tight-knit family feeling that Sigonella has,” Dess said. “Naval Air Station Sigonella was my first duty station when I was 18 years old and the first time I lived on my own. Being able to serve and care for the military community is what I love most about my job.”

More than 300 people attended the black-tie affair and witnessed the induction of the four nominees, who join 140 other members of the Aviation Hall of Fame.

The Georgia Museum of Aviation is located in Warner Robins, Georgia, on a 51-acre campus, founded in 1989. It is the second largest Air Force museum in the United States and displays more than 85 aircraft. There is an average of more than 500 events each year, and annual visitors exceed 500,000. It is the fourth most visited Department of Defense museum in the United States.

The Georgia Museum of Aviation held its annual induction ceremony at the museum’s Century of Flight annex on Saturday, May 17. This year’s four inductees included Doug Matthews, a 40-year Wellington resident. Matthews is a 28,000-hour pilot and businessman, as well as a highly decorated Vietnam combat veteran with more than 100 U.S. and world aviation records to his credit. Also inducted were former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, former Delta chairman the late Charles Dolson, and entrepreneur/businessman Michael D. Williams, holder of three patents and an air safety expert trailblazer.

“Playing high school football at Palm Beach Central helped me establish a strong work ethic,” Dess said. “My coaches drilled into me the importance of having a strong work ethic toward everything I wanted to accomplish. Growing up with three brothers also meant there was always competition, and this kept my work ethic strong as well. My parents’ support and push when times were tough contributed significantly to my success in the Navy.”

Dess joined the Navy in 2012 after graduating from high school.

“I joined the Navy to serve my country and travel the world,” Dess said. “I served four years at Naval Air Station Sigonella as a master-at-arms and was honorably discharged in 2016.”

While stationed in Italy, Dess met his spouse, Gloria, who was

Know an aspiring scientist? The Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Junior Marine Biologist Summer Camp gives children ages 6 to 13 the amazing opportunity to explore Florida’s coastal ecosystems, enjoy hands-on science activities and much more. Campers will also learn about fun ways to protect the oceans. Sessions include Sea Turtle Savers, Ocean Adventures and Conservation Heroes. Camps run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Late pickup at 5 p.m. is available for an additional fee. For more information, and to register, visit www. marinelife.org/camp.

With the school year ending soon, parents are scrambling for ways to fill long hot summer days. While there are many options for kids that love sports, now there’s a great alternative for young artists at the Summer Art Camp at Potters Cove. Potters Cove, located in western Lake Worth, is offering an exciting program that exposes campers to real art and real crafts taught by real artists. Campers will learn to use the potter’s wheel and do hand building, painting, mosaic and more. Classes run from 9 a.m. to noon daily with a different theme each week. Daily, weekly and monthly registration is available. Learn more at www.potterscovestudio.com.

The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Summer Horsemanship Camp is an inclusionary camp for riders of all abilities ages 8 to 16. No horse experience is necessary. Learn equestrian skills and horse care, build confidence and independence while caring for horses and enjoying time at the farm. Group sizes are limited, with riders divided into groups based on their experience and ability. Instructors are PATH certified. Weekly sessions run June 2 through Aug. 1. Register your child today at www.vinceremos.org. Visit www.facebook.com/vinceremostrc or call (561) 792-9900 for more information. Vinceremos is located at 13300 6th Court North in Loxahatchee Groves.

For those exotic animal lovers interested in an exciting summer program, the Wellington Conservation Center is now taking reservations for children ages 8 to 14 for the summer months. This camp is an all-access pass to animal fun for the summer. Become a junior zookeeper, learn about conservation or even just focus on some of the animals at the farm. There are three unique programs, with each week full of hands-on learning experiences sure to excite the interest of kids of all ages. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with before and after care available. The cost is $300 per week, per child. To register, call Cole at (203) 206-9932. Learn more at www.wellingtonconservationcenter.org.

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Navy Hospital Sigonella is a community hospital located in the heart of the Mediterranean in Sicily, Italy. Comprised of a local satellite clinic and two branch health clinics located in Bahrain and Souda Bay, USNMRTC Sigonella’s staff of 387 serves approximately 8,500 active duty, family members, NATO members, retirees and other beneficiaries.

“Since joining our team in December 2024, Zachary Dess has consistently demonstrated exceptional nursing skills and a strong commitment to patient care,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kayla Hennen, department head of the Multi-Service Ward. “Zach is a highly valued member of our team. He is a dedicated and hardworking nurse who consistently goes above and

“Beyond his clinical abilities, Zach is also a highly social and positive influence on the team. He fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, and his positive attitude is contagious,” Hennen said. “He interacts well with patients, families and colleagues, building strong relationships based on trust and respect. Dess’ prior experience as an enlisted member of the United States Navy has been an invaluable asset to our team, particularly in the training and mentorship of our corpsmen. He readily shares his knowledge and experience, providing practical guidance and support that has significantly enhanced their skills and confidence.”

The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Dess has many opportunities to

achieve accomplishments during civilian service.

“My proudest accomplishment while serving at Naval Air Station Sigonella was being able to return to my first duty station, where I now serve as a federal civilian registered nurse,” he said. Dess takes pride in serving America through military and government service.

“Serving in the Navy as an active-duty member and a federal civilian member means everything to me,” he added. “I’m extremely proud to care for the military families that fight the good fight for our freedom each day. Serving the military community is an honor, and I look forward to the years ahead.”

Zachary Dess

Wellington actress and playwright Rashida Costa on stage.

Wellington El Principal Reads To VPK Classes

WRMC Recognized For Patient Safety Award By Healthgrades

Wellington Regional Medical Center recently announced that it has been recognized as a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient by Healthgrades, the No. 1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital.

This achievement reflects the hospital’s commitment to safe, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient safety.

WRMC CEO Pam Tahan expressed her pride in the achievement.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work

Marcus & Millichap, a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, recently announced the sale of Timbercreek Townhomes and Villas, a 20-unit multifamily community in Royal Palm Beach, for $6.2 million.

of our team,” Tahan said. “We are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality care, and this award reinforces our efforts and the positive impact we are making in our community.”

Wellington Regional’s achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine the top-performing hospitals for patient safety, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates for approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide.

Healthgrades’ analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest-

and lowest-achieving facilities, making it increasingly important for consumers to seek care at a hospital with top safety ratings. From 2021 to 2023, 173,280 preventable safety events occurred among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals, with four patient safety indicators accounting for nearly 76 percent of these incidents.

The annual study found that patients treated in hospitals that received the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award have a significantly lower chance of experiencing one of the four leading safety indicators than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals, which

“This rare opportunity involved the only rental building in Royal Palm Beach between 20 and 199 units,” said Evan P. Kristol, executive managing director of investments. “It is located directly across the street from Veterans Park and is walking distance to two A-rated schools, as well as having all three-bedroom apartments averaging 1,575 rentable square feet, makes it a coveted rental choice for families.” Kristol and Brandon Rex, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Lauderdale office, exclusively marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a private syndicator, and procured the buyer, a California investment group. The property, located at 100 Sparrow Drive, consists of four one- and two-story buildings Timbercreek Townhomes and Villas is located on Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach.

constructed in 1980 on a 2.5-acre site. Community amenities include a gated swimming pool, gazebo and landscaped grounds. Interior features include in-unit washers and dryers, granite countertops, large walk-in closets, and private patios or balconies. Marcus & Millichap is a leading brokerage firm with offices throughout the United States and Canada. Marcus & Millichap closed 7,836 transactions in 2024, with a sales volume of approximately $49.6 billion in 2024. The company has 1,712 investment sales and financing professionals in more than 80 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. For additional information, visit www.marcusmillichap.com.

Mall At Wellington Green Welcomes International Retailer JD Sports

The Mall at Wellington Green will welcome international retail powerhouse JD Sports to the shopping destination this summer. The sports fashion, multichannel retailer of branded sports and casual wear will occupy a 10,000-squarefoot space on the first floor near City Furniture.

“We are proud to welcome JD Sports and know they will infuse our retail lineup with a fresh and exciting energy,” said Asad Sadiq, general manager of the Mall at Wellington Green. “With its unique blend of global brands and

Palm Beach State College has received $700,000 in funding from the Florida Department of Education through its Open Door Grant Program to support the unemployed and underemployed by covering 100 percent tuition and fees for eligible Florida residents interested in pursuing short-term, high-demand credit and non-credit career and technical education programs.

“Thanks to the Florida Department of Education awarding the Open Door Grant to Palm Beach State College, individuals in our community can begin preparing for careers in high-demand, technical and trade fields,” PBSC President Ava L. Parker said. “Whether students are seeking to

streetwear style, JD Sports offers an elevated shopping experience that perfectly complements the active, fashion-forward lifestyle of our community.”

Founded in Manchester, England, in 1981 by John Wardle and David Makin, JD Sports has grown into one of the world’s leading sports fashion destinations with more than 4,500 stores in 36 countries.

JD Sports offers the latest footwear and apparel from beloved brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, New Balance, Asics, Vans and

start a career, enter a new profession, or advance in their current field, this grant makes it possible for students to receive the training they need with no out-of-pocket tuition costs.”

Those interested are required to enroll at PBSC and must apply for the grant by June 30. Applicants must also sign up for at least one class this summer in one of PBSC’s 17 associate in science degree programs in fields such as cybersecurity, hospitality & tourism and radiography, or 23 certificate programs in fields including dental assisting, practical nursing and welding.

The grant also covers exams, books and materials after federal and state grants or third-party

more, with curated selections for men, women and children. JD Sports also carries its own private labels, including Pink Soda and Supply and Demand. For more information, find JD Sports on Instagram @jdsportsus or visit www.jdsports.com.

The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Mall hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit www. shopwellingtongreen.com.

includes in-hospital falls resulting in fracture (54 percent less likely); collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest (approximately 55 percent less likely); pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (approximately 69 percent less likely); and catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (72 percent less likely).

“As a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient, Wellington Regional Medical Center consistently puts the well-being of patients and staff at the forefront, setting a high standard for patient safety nationwide,” said Dr.

Debra Gradick, senior physician consultant at Healthgrades. “We commend Wellington Regional Medical Center for providing consistently exceptional care while preventing serious injuries, giving patients their best chance of a seamless recovery.”

Where you’re treated matters, which is why Healthgrades is committed to providing the most scientifically accurate information about doctors and hospitals — with data insights not available anywhere else. Consumers can visit www.healthgrades.com for guidance on how to find safe, high-quality care in 2025.

Wellington Regional Medical Center is a 235-bed acute care hospital accredited by the Joint Commission. Celebrating more than 30 years of treating residents, the hospital offers a wide range of services, including comprehensive stroke care, a comprehensive lung program, minimally invasive services, cardiac services, a birthing center and level III NICU, a comprehensive women’s center, hepatobiliary surgical procedures, intraoperative radiation therapy, interventional procedures, and a wellness and weight loss center. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.wellingtonregional.com.

MJ’s Jewelry And Watch Now Open At The Mall At Wellington Green

The Mall at Wellington Green recently announced the grand opening of MJ’s Jewelry and Watch, a new 1,000-square-foot fine jewelry boutique now open on the second floor next to Macy’s. With more than five decades of craftsmanship experience, master goldsmith Mario Jara, along with his wife Martha, brings a trusted, family-owned legacy to this thriving lifestyle destination in Palm Beach County.

Originally from Ecuador and now residents of Royal Palm Beach, the Jara family has built a loyal following through their commitment to quality and value. MJ’s Jewelry and Watch features a stunning selection of high-quality gold and silver jewelry, including bestselling timepieces from Glock, Bering and Classic of New York, as well as premium Hadley-Roma watch bands.

Shoppers can also take advantage of same-day watch and

payments have been applied. Program costs range from $3,000 to $5,000.

A full list of programs, eligibility requirements and the steps to apply for the grant can be found at www.pbsc.edu/financial-aid/ open-door-grant.php.

Grant funds are also available to current PBSC students who sign up for at least one class this summer in one of the eligible career and technical education programs.

The Open Door Grant Program is a $35 million statewide investment toward creating an industry-driven supply of credentialed workers for in-demand occupations through career, technical and adult education programs.

Mario and Martha Jara in front of MJ’s Jewelry and Watch.

Spending Time With Mom Nowadays Is An Unusual Experience

I spent Memorial Day weekend in Wisconsin, visiting my 96-year-old mother at her memory care facility. Day two was fine. We had a nice conversation, went out for ice cream and did a final search for her missing hearing aids. (No luck.) She was lucid and friendly, remembered my name and was happy that I was there. Day one, however, was the killer.

I hadn’t seen mom since March, and I admit I spent most of my first day there just observing her in shock and awe. It was OK. I could’ve been a loaf of bread for all my presence mattered. But, because I didn’t know that a more normal day two was coming, I sort of freaked out. The day began with her wandering

between the two rooms of her apartment six times in the first half hour. She would set out on some mission, evidently forget what that mission was, and return. I’d ask if I could help, and she’d answer with half a sentence, then forget what she was telling me.

She picked at lint that wasn’t there, talked about an imaginary coin on the floor, and “saw” water on the seat of her walker. When I tried to show her it was dry by brushing my hand across the top of it, she gasped, expecting a puddle of water to cascade down and soak the carpet. It’s true that I saw none of these things, but I became convinced that she did.

Dementia is a weird animal.

We were sitting there talking, and she suddenly sat up straight in her chair and told me I’d better go out in the hall and get my baby. I told her I hadn’t had babies in awhile, and she said, frustrated, “The boy. The one who eats raisins.” So, I went out into the hallway, hoping she’d forget by

the time I returned, and she did. After all, I was gone 15 seconds. The disabled woman who lives across the hall did ask me to shut her door while I was out there because, “She comes into my bathroom, looking for her son, and I don’t know how to get her out.” Mom’s a runner. A nurse told me she had chased her down the hall one time but barely caught her. “She’s fast!” That she is. We sat down at the communal puzzle table for a bit and, while I put pieces together, mom opened up a brand new puzzle and began adding the pieces to the first one. We went back to her room, and she took a picture off the wall in her bathroom, and came wandering into the living

room with it. “Where are you going with that?” I asked, and she replied, “I took the silver out of it to give to your sister.” I said, “It still has a silver (chrome) frame.” We were able to agree on that while I hung it back up. Small victories. At bedtime, I got her into her pajamas (way more difficult and frustrating than it sounds) and tucked her into bed, grateful for my imminent escape. But she popped up out of bed, wanting chocolate. All I could find was a small bag of pretzel mix, and it took her 45 minutes to eat it because she had to fold, crease, crinkle and tap the bag between after each bite. It’s an experience, all right — for both of us.

New ‘Mission Impossible’ Film Is Great Fun With Great Action

Like many people, I was looking forward to Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. The MI series, starring Tom Cruise, has been going on for a couple of decades and always provides lots of spectacular action. This one is no different. There are plenty of wild and crazy things and a major threat to everyone in the world. This time, the threat seems particularly real, and there are more players than usual.

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his ally Grace (Hayley Atwell) have been tasked with finding and destroying the Entity, an evil artificial intelligence that plans to take over all the nuclear arsenals in the world and sending off the missiles to destroy all of mankind. The Entity’s human sort-of ally Gabriel (Esai Morales) kidnaps Ethan and Grace and tasks them with finding the source code for the intelligence, tucked away on a missing submarine in the Arctic. Ethan brings his team: Grace, Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg), and recruits Gabriel’s former partner, assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff), as well as intelligence agent Theo (Greg Tarzan Davis) to assist. Confusing the issue, head of the CIA Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) is playing his own game, wanting to take over the Entity and use it control the world for America. American President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) puts her trust and hopes with Ethan, who only wants to destroy the evil AI. And the Entity controls a lot of people in a lot of places.

And the chase goes on, all around the world. There is a nuke in London, a trip to an aircraft carrier, an isolated island in the Bering Sea, a sunken sub and a very secure vault. There are spectacular stunts and plenty of twists and turns. Some exceptional characters are allowed to develop. Yes, there are some who come in and out and disappear. But most of the supporting players get a chance to really shine. All in all, it’s a great time.

Having an artificial intelligence as a villain is a great move. Human villains take on human qualities. The “bad guy” here has none. Gabriel does, of course, some of which help make him both more interesting and more vulnerable. As more of us begin to wonder what changes, particularly negative ones, will come from AI, this point really rings a bell.

The cast is exceptional. Cruise remains a great movie star, exemplifying an idealized version of a tough, caring

man. His character, who has survived an incredible pounding through eight movies, still comes across as a human hero, not some augmented being. And, as producer, Cruise has been very sharp. The rest of the cast is exceptional, and most have played more complex roles. Here, they create indelible impressions, even if onscreen for a short time. Atwell is a very strong partner. Her skills as a thief and pickpocket are put to good use, and she plays as a strong counterweight to the usual testosterone dominance in these kinds of films.

The same can be said for Klementieff, no longer a crazed assassin. Bassett is very strong as the president. Rhames and Pegg have their moments and get a chance to really create great scenes. Morales has been an exceptional bad guy: charming, tough and really nasty. Czerny should also get a shout-out. He has been great in several of these films as the seemingly straight but

really slimy bureaucrat. Rolf Saxon and Lucy Tulugarjuk are wonderful in small but vital parts. The major problem in the film is its length. Some of the set scenes go on far too long. Underwater scenes with very little light seemed interminable. The ads on TV have shown a scene with Cruise dangling from an old-fashioned biplane. It’s great. But it went on and on. Yes, it was spectacular, but several scenes would have been helped by being shortened. However, this is still a great “popcorn” movie. Lots of action and fun. And it should also be seen on a big screen. There are lots of details that add to the plot. Also, this may be the last of these movies. Cruise is now in his 60s, although you would never know it from the way he moves through incredible stunts. This is one of those summer movies that you should see. And it is one you can take the kids and grandkids to see.