Town-Crier Newspaper May 7, 2010

CAFCI AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

Manager: Lox Groves Needs Added Code Enforcement Help

Town-Crier

By Ron Bukley

Staff Report

An increasing number of code complaints in the Town of Loxahatchee Groves might lead to the hiring of an additional code inspector who can be available on short notice.

Town Manager Frank Spence told council members Tuesday that the number of code complaints, especially in regard to manure dumping, has increased dramatically since the town enacted its dumping ordinance in March.

Spence said he has been careful to accumulate a number of complaints to take advantage of a minimum three-hour charge to call the code inspector. Code inspection service is currently contracted through consultant Calvin, Giordano & Associates.

“We hold the complaints until

we have at least three to make it worth their while to come out,” Spence said. “In the past two weeks, especially since the manure ordinance went into effect, we have been getting at least two calls a day.”

Spence noted that he has worked with code enforcement companies that can respond the next day. “I, for one, and the town need a certified code enforcer available on short notice,” he said.

Spence reported that three manure haulers have applied for permits to dump legally since the ordinance passed.

“I sent copies of the ordinance to every single hauler registered with the Village of Wellington,” he said. “Violators will be fined and reported to the Village of Wellington.”

The process also requires that property owners receiving the ma-

nure register with the town, certifying that the manure is for bona fide agricultural purposes.

Spence said a recent complaint came from a resident who saw some men dumping a liquid from a tanker truck.

“A tanker came in and started dumping some sort of liquid from septic tanks or a grease trap,” he said. “We got the name of the company, and we’re going to try and send them a citation or a violation.”

Spence stressed that someone is needed on staff to be available immediately.

“Loxahatchee Groves has become a dump,” Spence said. “Somebody says, ‘Leave me alone.’ Well, why? So you can go hire or pay some hauler to come and illegally dump on your property, especially when you don’t

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Several hundred people attended a workshop Wednesday at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center to talk to Florida Department of Transportation representatives about the proposed extension of State Road 7 to Northlake Blvd. Palm Beach County has extended SR 7 from Okeechobee Blvd. north to Persimmon Blvd. in The Acreage. Plans are in the works to take that roadway north to 60th Street.

The state project under consid-

The plan is generally favored by residents and elected officials in the western communities. However, the City of West Palm Beach and residents of the Ibis community are opposed to the extension, which would run east of Ibis and was part of that community’s original development agreement.

Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Martha Webster said her council strongly supports the road.

“The completion of that road is certainly going to help with the traffic here in Royal Palm Beach, but more than that, it’s going to help in the overall traffic flow of people needing to get north and south,” Webster said. “They need to have some other corridors in case of evacuation besides just the Turnpike and I-95. This will help disperse and get traffic in and out of this area.” Continuing development to the west is increasing the need for the road, she said.

Many residents of Ibis, West Palm Beach officials and environmentalists attended the meeting, largely to speak against the project.

Drew Martin, a member of the Sierra Club and a Palm Beach County Soil & Water Conservation District supervisor, said environmentalists are concerned that the road would run too close to the Pond Cypress Natural Area and the Grassy Waters Preserve. “The road will impact the wildlife,” Martin said. “Whenever you have a road, the wildlife moves away from it. Roads are very destructive to wildlife.”

Indian Trail Improvement District President Michelle Damone said Acreage residents have long supported SR 7’s connection to Northlake, which if not completed will result in The Acreage having to absorb traffic from the northern terminus of SR 7 from outlets at Persimmon and Orange Grove boulevards, and one planned for 60th Street North. Damone said the safety of the more than 40,000 residents in The Acreage has to come first.

“It’s simple,” Damone said. “It needs to connect to Northlake… It needs a safe evacuation route, and the Ibis developer in the developer’s agreement promised that road would connect on the east side of Ibis to Northlake, and they need to keep their promise. We need to work together and not in opposition and come up with a compromise with big berms and lush landscaping.” Damone said the development See EXTENSION, page 20

La Mancha Bike Path Will Connect Up With Several RPB Projects

See CODE HELP, page 4 By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

State Law Banning Pill Mills Heads To Gov. Crist’s Desk

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Mother’s Day has long been designated as a time for gifts and cards, which is fine. However, what’s more important is the thought and effort behind them. Nothing can beat the best gift of all — quality time together. Page 4

The Florida State Senate and the Florida House of Representatives last week passed Senate Bill 2272 known as the “Pill Mill Bill,” which is expected to significantly cut down on the abuse of prescription drugs statewide. “It has some sharp teeth,” State Rep. Joe Abruzzo (D-Wellington) told the Town-Crier on Wednesday. “There’s two key components to this legislation. This is going to require that these pill mills be owned and operated by a licensed physician. Right now you can actually be a convicted felon and own one. You just need a regular business license, so this does away with that. You have to be a legitimate, licensed physician.”

The other key component to the legislation is a 72-hour limit on the number of pills that can be dispensed, Abruzzo said. “This should put an end to all

of the patrons coming in and receiving hundreds of pills at a time,” Abruzzo said. “Florida has become a gateway for other states for the illegal trade of prescription drugs. People come down from other states, go into these pill mills, purchase them in bulk and drive back. This does away with that. You can only get 72 hours worth of dispensing at these pain clinics.”

The law will go into effect Oct. 1 if signed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Physicians wishing to practice in a pain clinic will be required to have completed a pain medicine fellowship or residency, or be recognized as a specialist in pain management by the appropriate licensing board.

Physicians will not be able to dispense more than a 72-hour supply of controlled substances to a patient. For additional medication, a prescription must be provided to be dispensed at a pharmacy.

Violators of the dispensing limit will face a third-degree felony charge with up to five years in prison or up to a $5,000 fine. The bill also prohibits physicians from advertising or promoting the use, sale or dispensing of a controlled substance.

The 72-hour dispensing limit gives law enforcement another tool to investigate pain clinics.

“This is really going to hit those that are operating in an illegal fashion,” said Abruzzo, a key supporter of the legislation.

Abruzzo said the unanimous passage of the bill in the House was a true bipartisan effort to fix a major problem plaguing Florida.

Sen. Dave Aronberg (D-Greenacres), one of the bill’s sponsors, said the law is one of the best tools against the illegal use of prescription drugs he has seen.

“This is the most powerful leg-

See PILL MILLS, page 20

A $500,000 enhancement grant from the Florida Department of Transportation will allow Royal Palm Beach to build bike paths along La Mancha Avenue from Royal Palm Beach Blvd. to Las Palmas Street.

The $1.28 million project will provide a 3,300-foot northern link to complete a bicycle loop that will connect to several parks and commercial areas. It will include fourfoot bike paths on each side of the road, drainage improvements and landscaping, project manager Chris Marsh said.

Drainage improvements will include inlets under driveways to help flush standing water after rainstorms.

“There are people who have water sitting in the bottom of their driveways,” Councilman David Swift told the Town-Crier on Monday. “We’ll run a drain under their driveway.”

Swift said the process will include tearing up the driveway, putting the drain in and then resurfacing the driveway. “I think the road will look better at the end of the process,” he said. Swift, who lives in La Mancha,

said the initial reaction from residents has been positive.

“We sent out letters and so far I have not heard anybody complaining about it,” he said. “Of course, when they start digging up people’s front yards, we’ll start hearing about it.”

The project is scheduled to begin in October, Marsh said, and will connect recently completed bicycle paths on the north-south segment of La Mancha Avenue and Royal Palm Beach Blvd.

“The project will include adding this additional pavement, and along with that we are going to install inline drains in each of the residents’ driveways,” Marsh said. “That will take the surface water from each of the driveways to keep those swales from filling up with water and becoming difficult to maintain for the residents.” Rainwater drains off La Mancha Avenue and from yards into the swales where it eventually seeps into the ground. The pipes will allow for better distribution of the runoff, Marsh said, adding that some of the swales do not align.

“This was developed piece by piece,” he said. “They didn’t build

See BIKE PATH, page 20

New Area Charity Donates A/C Unit To Family In Need

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

A 75-year-old Wellington resident caring for her 95-year-old mother won’t have to face the summer heat alone thanks to Hearts-N-Hands of Wellington, a new area charitable organization. The air-conditioning unit outside Mary Jane Colbert’s home in Wellington’s Edge stopped working in December, and she and her mother were facing a summer without cool air, Hearts-N-Hands President Toy Wash told the crowd outside Colbert’s home on Friday, April 30. The fledgling organization was alerted to the Colbert’s situation through Wellington’s Safe Neighborhoods Office.

Hearts-N-Hands of Wellington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in need. Accord-

ing to its mission, Hearts-N-Hands aims “to connect with those in a ‘time of need’ within our community, and extend our hearts and hands to improve their quality of life and assist in maintaining their independence.”

Colbert lost her daughter to cancer after an 18-month battle and saw her finances unravel as she tried to pay the hospital bills.

The village and a local church held landscaping and painting projects as part of an effort to clean up code enforcement violations and beautify homes for residents unable to do so themselves.

Colbert planned to survive the summer by wearing her bathing suit in and out of the house, Wash said. But luckily, Hearts-N-Hands stepped in.

“I told her, ‘Now you can wear your bathing suit because you

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Lillian Floyd and Karen Roberts with their straw hats.

Participants in the fashion show.Marge Hartig-Specht sells some goodies.

Stacy Somers, Melany Broehm and Mair Armand.

Panther Run Elementary School’s Calypso Cats steel drum band, under the direction of Dwane Earnhardt.

Club co-presidents Laurie Piel and Cheryl Rivelli.

Wellington Zoners Approve Changes To Village Comp Plan

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board approved an ordinance Wednesday that would amend the capital improvements element of Wellington’s comprehensive plan.

Project Manager Bill Nemser said Florida statutes require the village to review the capital improvements section of its comprehensive plan annually to be sure that the level of service items, such as roads, are funded and maintained. The amendments reflected the 2009-10 fiscal year, but Nemser said that in the future, the board could expect these annual amendments to be discussed soon after a budget is passed.

“This is the first time that our comprehensive plan has incorporated this change,” he said. “From now on, when the budget is presented, it will be followed up shortly with an amendment to the capital improvements element as well.”

PZA Board Alternate Alan Johnson asked whether Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction or other ecological factors had been considered in the amendments. “Is it appropriate for such to be in this document?” he asked.

Nemser said it wasn’t. “This is strictly to maintain our adopted levels of service,” he said.

“There’s other parts of the comprehensive plan where we can make provisions for that.”

Changes to level of service items would be reflected, Nemser said, noting the removal of the Lake Worth Road expansion as an example

“[The comprehensive plan] has to reflect that,” Nemser said.

“They determined that they were going to eliminate that project for the time being.”

The amendments also change all instances of “the village” to say “Wellington.”

“Wellington is trying to rebrand itself and have all references say Wellington in internal documents when it doesn’t make a difference,” Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz told the Town-Crier. “Wellington is more specific than ‘the village.’”

But Kurtz said that doesn’t mean Wellington will be officially changing its title, noting that an official change would be a lengthy process with many steps.

PZA Board Member Eugene DiFonte said he was concerned with the “E” classification being adopted on rural roads.

“My concern is F is gridlock, E is next to gridlock, and our goal is to adopt a level of service E for a lot of our rural roads,” he said.

“What’s the logic behind that?”

Nemser said that it referred to roads in the Equestrian Preserve Area that were not being improved to allow increased traffic in the area.

DiFonte said he agreed with limiting traffic in the preserve, but worried that the roads would be insufficient in an emergency.

“In times of emergency, if everyone decides ‘let’s get on the road,’ the trailers and vehicles may be a problem, and therefore the service is a problem,” he said.

Acting PZA Board Chairman Steve Delai suggested that village staff return to make a presentation about where the village is on its road plan adoption, since direct traffic issues weren’t part of the ordinance before them Wednesday.

DiFonte made a motion to approve the ordinance, which passed unanimously.

In other business, the board passed an ordinance to adopt a resolution for amending the village’s permit criteria and best management practices manual.

The manual places all of the village’s drainage and storm water retention standards in one easy to find place, Kurtz explained.

“For years in Wellington we have had standards that have been applied with respect to storm water management, but there has not been one easy codified place to find everything,” he said. “What this manual does is set criteria with respect to how you get permits, storm water management criteria and puts in place a document that someone can go to.”

By passing the ordinance, the village will create a resolution by which it can implement and amend the manual.

“The reason we wanted to adopt a resolution is so it can be amend-

See PZA BOARD, page 20

Town’s Bird-Breeding Report Raises More Issues Than It Solves

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council heard a report Tuesday by an advisory committee on the operation of aviaries that might have created more problems than solutions regarding the town’s stillunapproved land development code.

The council appointed an advisory committee on April 20 to address conflicts between bird breeders and residents over some of the more noisy bird varieties.

The five-member committee, made up of breeders, non-breeders and an avian scientist, met April 29 to develop recommendations.

“The central theme here is noise,” explained committee chairman Paul Reillo of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation. “The real thrust of the meeting was how to address noise with aviaries.”

Reillo said the committee agreed that noise tolerance limits should be universal and recommended that an independent study be conducted with the goal of adopting one standard.

“If it’s going to be universal, it has got to cover everybody,” Reillo said. Reillo said the committee also discussed whether the operation of aviaries meets the definition of “agriculture.”

“We decided this is an issue to be resolved by a higher authority,” Reillo said.

The committee determined that the state should determine whether aviculture should be considered agriculture, and that the town should yield to state requirements for aviaries. The committee also recommended that pre-existing uses in the town should carry forward, Reillo said.

The committee also came up with recommendations for the regulation of hobby breeders. Reillo said that eliminating pockets of birds will have greater impact on noise control than regulation of commercial breeders.

Councilman Jim Rockett questioned why commercial and hob-

by breeders should be regulated differently and why the committee had imposed more regulations on hobbyists than on commercial breeders. He added that the town should regulate commercial breeders rather than the state.

“We’re being told that someone else has to do it or that we’re precluded,” Rockett said. “I don’t buy that.”

Rockett added that he has concerns about avian-borne disease and could find no state regulations or best management practices for bird breeding.

Town Attorney Mike Cirullo said that if the state has no regulation of aviculture, then the town has the power to regulate it. Cirullo said he will study Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations for aviculture.

Vice Mayor Dennis Lipp agreed with Rockett that noise standards should be consistently applied to everyone.

Lipp asked why the committee recommendation has such a disparity between hobby and commercial breeders. Reillo said the bona fide breeder “is operating a business.”

“The IRS transcripts will reflect that,” Reillo said. “The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser will reflect that. It is fundamentally different from a hobby breeder, and there needs to be a clear declination. The hobby breeder is more likely to contribute to noise.”

Lipp said the entire issue will need additional study.

“This is something that we’re not going to settle tonight,” he said.

Cirullo said the Florida Right to Farm Act preempts municipalities from duplicating existing laws, but he pointed out that an agriculturist must have a bona fide agriculture designation, as well as the proper tax designation. He said the agricultural activity also has to adopt best management practices through state rule making.

“When that’s done, we cannot duplicate that,” Cirullo said. “As far as we know there are no rules, so in their absence, we cannot duplicate anything.”

OUR OPINION

Make Mother’s Day More Than Just Another Commercial Holiday

It was a little more than a century ago when West Virginia resident Anna Jarvis first memorialized her late mother, leading to the establishment of Mother’s Day as an official holiday in the United States.

But what started as one woman’s tribute to her mother became a big-bucks business, with greeting card companies doing all the creative work and people essentially paying to have someone else express their sentiments. This didn’t sit well with Jarvis, who was infuriated by what she saw as the commercialization of something personal. In fact, after about nine years, Jarvis had grown so displeased with what the holiday had turned into that she became a Mother’s Day opponent, going so far as to getting arrested for protesting and claiming that she regretted ever having invented the commemoration.

Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with greeting card companies, candy makers, flower shops, fine restaurants and other business ventures making a pretty penny on Mother’s Day. Gifts themselves are not good or bad; what’s important is the thought and effort behind them. It’s one thing to buy your mom roses from a florist and make a hand-written card to go with them. And it’s quite another to buy a bouquet of random flowers from a guy at the intersection on the drive over. Still, those are just

Thanks For Supporting Oasis Mission

Editor’s note: The following is in response to the April 23 article “Oasis Compassion Agency Seeks Donations, Help For Women’s Center.”

Thank you for attending our fifth annual Dream Makeover Luncheon on Saturday, April 1. We are truly grateful for your support of our mission and vision! Since the luncheon, we have begun the build out of our new women’s center and have already completed the demolition of the restaurant. We have accomplished much, but still have a way to go. We are in need of building materials such as sheet-rock, metal framing, doors, tiles, carpeting, cabinetry, etc. Please be aware in case you come into contact with individuals who can assist us with these items.

At the luncheon we announced our “Wall of Fame” and presented the opportunity to purchase a butterfly with your name on it for $1,000. Please seriously consider participating in this program. It will make such a difference in the lives of many women. If you are not able to do so at this time, then we ask that you would participate in our Mustard Seed Campaign, which invites you to donate as little as $20 per month for a six-month commitment. As the campaign slogan states, “Together we can move mountains.” I will close on this recent incident. My assistant received a call

this morning from a woman who is in desperate need of the women’s center. She saw the article that was written in the Town-Crier newspaper and was so happy to have found Oasis! She said no one wants to or is able to help her. She graduated from another area program but has not been able to find help to start a business in holistic care. She has been emotionally, physically and mentally abused by her ex, has a son and wants to be an advocate for other women. She also needs food and clothes but mostly emotional support. There is a big need for the center, and I ask that you would continue to be part of our journey. Sharon Gill, CEO Oasis Compassion Agency

Shelley Vana: Audit Committee Changes Will Help County

As we near the beginning of budget season, I have been looking at the budget in new ways. As chair of the Audit Committee, I have had the opportunity to work with staff and members of the business community to revamp the committee to make it more independent. This is an important part of our countywide reform process. It will help us to have fresh eyes looking at how we spend our money. We brought our recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and they were adopted at the March 9 meeting.

The recommendations included

gifts. Nothing can beat the best Mother’s Day gift of all — spending quality time together.

For those who are fortunate enough to be able to spend time with mom, we recommend you not take it for granted. It’s one of those things you don’t want to look back on in regret for having missed out on. Sometimes a card in the mail is all that’s possible. But if you have the opportunity, definitely spend the day with her. The more you put it off, the more it turns into an ongoing bad habit — a slippery slope of procrastination. Eventually, your opportunities will run out.

There are many ways to spend the day with mom, whether it be an outdoor affair such as a trip to the beach or a park, or a day of shopping at the mall. In the western communities, there’s a special Mother’s Day concert featuring the Royal Palm Beach Community Band scheduled for 4 p.m. this Sunday at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Light refreshments will be provided, as well as carnations for the mothers in the audience. Call (561) 790-5149 for more information.

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be just another “Hallmark holiday.” After a century of saluting moms everywhere, let’s try to get back to the original purpose — the way Anna Jarvis intended.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

changing the composition of the group to exclude staff and to require that those serving on the committee have an understanding of accounting or other relevant experience.

In addition, we have made changes that would allow the internal auditor to do more in-depth audits and make recommendations for efficiencies. This was a major goal as we made changes to the scope of the auditor’s work projects.

We are already benefiting from these improvements in our most recent Audit Committee report. It is more in depth and provides comparative information regarding alternative ways of doing business in the programs studied. I hope that in the future, we will routinely look to these reports to help us make good decisions regarding operations, government spending and thus make our county government even more lean and efficient.

In a time when dollars for government programs are in short supply, these tools will be very important to the commission. They will help us understand what changes we can implement to make government operations more efficient; it will help us make better funding decisions.

County Commissioner Shelley Vana

Klein To Obama: Protect Florida’s Coastlines

Editor’s note: The following letter by Congressman Ron Klein

(D-District 22) is addressed to President Barack Obama in regard to the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dear Mr. President:

My constituents in South Florida are rightly concerned about the possible environmental and economic threat posed by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As of this writing, thousands of barrels of oil are spilling each day into the Gulf of Mexico.

While I am hopeful that this spill will be brought under control and not impact the Atlantic coast, scientists tell us that a change in the weather or a failure to contain the spill may result in some contamination impacting our shores. The obvious risk is devastation to South Florida homes, condominiums, businesses and our fragile underwater ecosystem. Although that is not the most likely outcome at this time, we must be vigilant and prepared for all possibilities.

My congressional district contains 75 miles of beautiful coastline that is absolutely essential to our local economy. Our business owners, from hotels and restaurants to the boating and marine industry, depend on our beaches and oceans for their livelihood. Tourists come from all over the world to enjoy our beautiful beaches, pumping billions of dollars each year into our local economy. In addition, coastal homeowners are concerned about their investments and property values.

In South Florida, we pride ourselves on protecting our coastlines, and we refuse to see it contaminated by spilled oil. Yet the

OPINION

importance of our ecosystem goes beyond natural beauty — our unique coral reefs also serve as critical barriers against damage from hurricanes. With hurricane season beginning in less than four weeks, we cannot afford damage to these reefs caused by oil slicks or tar balls washing up on our shores.

My constituents in South Florida have an enormous stake in ensuring this oil spill is contained before it reaches the East Coast.

As such, they have asked for real time information and attention from the highest levels of your administration regarding efforts to contain this oil spill and any changes in weather patterns that could send the slick closer to our shores. I have been working around the clock to ensure my constituents have access to as much information as possible and

will be passing on to my community updates I have received from state and national leaders overseeing clean-up of this spill. All of us share one goal: shut down this spill as quickly as possible. I continue to call on BP to take all necessary action and do whatever is necessary to contain this spill and protect our shores. They must spare no effort or expense — our coastal economy, property values and ecosystem depend on it. Thank you for your attention to the concerns of the families and business owners of Florida’s 22nd District, and for directing administration officials to provide my constituents with the most up-to-date, accurate information possible regarding this oil spill.

Florida

SEND IN YOUR LETTERS

The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 7936090; or you can e-mail them to letters@ goTownCrier.com

Despite Theme Of A New Documentary, ‘Broad Street Bullies’ Had Talent

In winning hockey’s Holy Grail, the Stanley Cup, the Philadelphia Flyers were the kings of the hockey world in the 1974 and 1975 seasons.

And for the most part, according the new HBO documentary Broad Street Bullies, it was the fierce, pugnacious, physical behavior on ice that was the team’s winning catalyst. To some members of the squad, things like talent, focus, determination, etc.

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin

came secondary to bashing the brains of the opponent. For example, here are the words of forward Bob “the Hound” Kelly of the Broad Street Bullies. “There’s nothing like driving someone’s head through the boards to make you feel good,” he enthuses. And Kelly was not even the team’s chief enforcer. That title fell to Dave “the Hammer” Schultz. “Someone had to do it,” commented Schultz, “and I did it.” If the Broad Street Bullies will forgive me, I will point out that the Philadelphia Flyers had a bench full of talented skaters. For example, in the 1974-75 season, their top four performers alone racked up a scary 344 points. First line center Bobby Clarke, at the time the youngest team captain in the National Hockey League, scored 116 points! Wingers Reggie Leach (78) and Bill Barber (71) complemented Clarke. Poor Rick McLeach, generally playing on the second line, chipped in 79 points. Impressive! Oh, and let’s not forget goalie

Bernie Parent, who was at the top of his all-star game. All he did was win the Vezina Trophy, emblematic of the best goalie in hockey, for two straight seasons. Schultz, incidentally, set an NHL record for penalty minutes of 472 in the 1974-75 campaign. The documentary does not show clips of the night when I witnessed smallish Gary Howett (5’7”) of the New York Islanders, take on the monstrous Schultz and whale him.

P.S.: One obvious time the thuggery by the Broad Street Bullies seemed to pay off was in the 1976 encounter with the touring Soviet Union national team. The Russians actually skated off the ice at one point in protest against the physicality. They eventually returned to finish the contest, which the USA won 4-1. The Flyers were the only American team to defeat the Soviets during their tour.

Joint RPB-Chamber Business Workshop May 11 At Cultural Center

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

A joint workshop hosted by the Royal Palm Beach Village Council and the Palms West Chamber of Commerce will meet with local business leaders at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11 to discuss ways to deal with the tough economic times.

Chamber Economic Development Task Force coordinator Susan Giddings said the meeting will be the first of several to gather in-

formation to devise a plan to help all the communities in the Palms West Chamber’s coverage area.

“The council is not going to be answering everybody’s questions,”

Giddings said, explaining that the chamber will go through prepared questions that allow participants to raise their hands in response, such as how many have been in business longer than five years or how many are retail.

“First, we’re going to gauge who’s in the room, then we’re

going to get more pointed questions like, ‘How many of you have access issues?’” she said.

Participants will each get the opportunity to speak. To give everyone a chance, comments will be limited to three minutes.

“Try not to get too detailed, just tell us the main points,” Giddings said.

At the end, business leaders who have issues that weren’t covered will be able to speak as well.

“This will give us the opportu-

nity to pull together all that information and data and the council can look at it and say, ‘Clearly, of the businesses that attended, 75 percent of them have this issue. Is there anything we can do to help?”

Giddings explained.

Giddings said Royal Palm Beach officials have made it clear that they want to hear from the business owners firsthand. “They don’t want us coming back and saying, ‘Well, we did a poll and this is what we found out.’ They

want to actually hear the business owners.”

Giddings said getting input from businesses is one of many goals that have been set by the Economic Development Task Force.

“Business retention and expansion is key on our list,” she said.

“We’re looking not only to bring businesses in, but also promote the growth of our existing businesses and keep employment in the central western communities… This is about economic development at all levels.” The May 11 meeting will be at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach at 7 p.m. The next general task force meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26 at the Wellington Community Center. For more information, call Giddings at (561) 753-7296 or e-mail economicdevelopment@palms west.com.

continued from page 1 live here? If we catch some of these people, it will be a citation.

It won’t be an arrest, but through the fines, like $500 or $1,000 like Wellington does… Up to two or three and you lose your permit for a year.” Spence said he has enlisted the help of solid waste liaison Frank Schiola to investigate complaints. In one complaint, bulldozers were tearing down protected cypress

trees on Casey Road west of Folsom Road.

“I called the South Florida Water Management District yesterday, and today they sent out their biologist and confirmed that what they were cutting down was cypress,” Spence said, noting that the SFWMD will turn the case over to the Depart-

ment of Environmental Protection, which will likely lead to fines and mitigation for the destroyed trees. Without a code enforcement official on duty, violators are mocking the town, Spence said.

“We’ve got to get out there and get the citation right away and nail them,” he said.

Councilman Ron Jarriel asked how fast Spence can put out a request for proposals, and Spence replied that he can have it ready by the next meeting on May 18.

Spence added that as an independent contractor for the town, his firm might put in a bid for the service.

‘In the past two weeks, especially since the manure ordinance went into effect, we have been getting at least two calls a day.’ — Frank Spence

Congressman Ron Klein District 22,

CEREMONY MARKS FUTURE ANGEL OF HOPE CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

‘ANETA ROCKS’ LYMPHOMA FUNDRAISER HELD AT

THE

AMERICAN POLISH CLUB

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery Administrator Tom Jordan.

Vince Jones and Frank Manalo with Smoke.

Musician Shane Caldwell plays some tunes.

Aneta Nichols with supporters at the benefit.

Darlene Fernandez shares her experience.

PHOTOS BY CAROL

parents who have lost a child came out to support the planned memorial.

Organizers Marianne Stapleton, Lynne Marksz and Darlene Fernandez with OLQP Administrator Tom Jordan.

The group releases balloons.

Debra and Gary Stevens with Kim and Brandon Rinaldi.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Several Student Cars Burglarized At Palm Beach Central

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

MAY 3 — A student at Palm Beach Central High School called the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Wellington on Monday evening to report that several vehicles parked at the school had been burglarized. According to a PBSO report, one victim found that the driver-side window of his truck had been smashed and his wallet containing $40 was stolen. He noticed other cars had been broken into as well and returned to tell their owners. A second victim found his passenger-side window smashed and some clothing was missing. A third victim also found his driver-side window smashed. A fourth victim found that the suspect(s) were not able to get into his car because of the tinting, but there was a hole that appeared to be made by a spark plug. There were no witnesses or suspects at the time of the report. However, the suspect(s) left fingerprints on a window, which were taken for evidence.

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APRIL 28 — A Wellington man was arrested last Wednesday morning following a vehicle burglary in Sugar Pond Manor. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a witness noticed the victim’s car being broken into. The suspect fled on a bicycle but was seen at a nearby Shell gas station by employees, who were able to identify him as 27-year-old George Armas and confirm what he was wearing. Soon after, Armas was located by his mother and turned himself in. According to the report, Armas admitted that he did break into the vehicle, but claimed that his roommate had already broken into the vehicle the night before and pawned the victim’s $300 Sony Cybershot digital camera. Also stolen were a Tom-Tom GPS unit valued at $500 and a pink purse valued at $100. The witness was able to pick Armas out of a lineup, and he was arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he was charged with burglary. The camera was recovered at a pawnshop the next day.

APRIL 29 — A Wellington teen fell victim to a theft after he allowed a man to use his cell phone outside the McDonald’s restaurant on Greenview Shores Blvd. last Thursday evening. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation responded to the McDonald’s parking lot after the victim allowed the suspect to use his iPhone, valued at approximately $400, to make a call. The suspect fled north on Greenview Shores

Blvd. with the phone in hand. The suspect is described as a tall white male in his mid-20s, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. There was no surveillance video available.

APRIL 30 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to a home in Palm Beach Point East last Friday in response to a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 5 p.m. last Wednesday and 7:30 a.m. the following morning, someone gained access to several rooms and stole seven flat-screen televisions. The suspect(s) entered in the northeast corner through an unlocked window and stole two 27” televisions and a 34” television. The suspect(s) used a fire extinguisher to break into other areas and steal the remaining televisions before exiting through the door and fleeing west toward a canal. The stolen items were valued at approximately $6,000. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

MAY 1 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded last Saturday afternoon to the JC Penney department store in the Mall at Wellington Green regarding a shoplifter. According to a PBSO report, a loss prevention officer observed 44-year-old Maria Franco of Richmond Hill, N.Y. select several clothing and jewelry items and enter a fitting room. Franco exited and hid empty jewelry boxes, then passed all points of sale and exited the store without paying for the merchandise. Loss prevention officers stopped Franco and $547 in clothes and jewelry was recovered from her purse. Franco was arrested and taken to the county jail where she was charged with grand theft.

MAY 1 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to the Apple store inside the Mall at Wellington Green last Saturday evening in response to a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 and 7:36 p.m., two Hispanic males took a 17” Macbook Pro, valued at $2,349, and exited the store. Video surveillance didn’t provide a description of the suspects, and the computer did not have GPS or LoJack software installed.

MAY 3 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched Monday to a home in Madison Green in response to a delayed theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. last Thursday someone stole an air

See BLOTTER, page 20

Royal Palm Toddler Drowns In Home Pool

MAY 2 — A toddler died last Sunday as the result of a backyard pool drowning in Royal Palm Beach. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, one-and-a-half-year-old Jeremiah Cherisma had been napping with his mother when he woke up and wandered onto the screened porch behind the house on Ponce De Leon Street. Cherisma then exited the porch through a missing screen panel and ended up in the pool. According to the report, when Cherisma was discovered missing, his family members began searching for him. He was found at he bottom of the pool by his uncle. Lifesaving measures were initiated but were unsuccessful. Cherisma was pronounced dead at Palms West Hospital at 6:28 p.m.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives:

• Mark Bates is a white male, 6’0” tall and weighing 160 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. He has multiple tattoos. His date of birth is 03/15/90. Bates is wanted for violation of supervised own recognizance, burglary, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and false verification of ownership to a pawnbroker. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Miramontes Circle in Wellington. Bates is wanted as of 05/06/10. • Mario Munoz is a white male, 5’2” tall and weighing 150 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on both arms. His date of birth is 11/14/79. Davis is wanted for violation of probation on a charge of felony DUI. His occupation is laborer. His last known address was Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Davis is wanted as of 05/06/10. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc.com.

Mark Bates

Mario Munoz

Wellington Seeks Proposals For Amphitheater Programming Firm

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington is seeking a management firm to provide quality programming for its new amphitheater.

Wellington is accepting letters of intent and proposals from organizations or individuals who can provide programming or coordinate events and activities at the facility.

“What we’re advertising is for someone to manage the facility so the village will not have to,” Deputy Village Manager John Bonde said.

The 3,200-square-foot amphitheater is scheduled to be completed by mid-June, Bonde said. It will be open in time for the village’s Fourth of July celebration.

Bonde expects regular programming to begin around Sept. 1, possibly later, depending upon how quickly the village hires management for the facility.

Mayor Darell Bowen said that the village is seeking someone with the experience to bring diverse programming to the village.

“I’m not an artsy guy,” he said. “But we will hire someone who has experience in this sort of thing.

I’d like to see things booked on a regular basis.”

The village is accepting letters of intent until 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 24. Submissions must include a proposal, the types and frequencies of events, sponsorship programs and proposed costs or revenue to the village. Letters of intent can be e-mailed to Daryl Boyd at dboyd@ wellingtonfl.gov and packages can be mailed to 11700 Pierson Road, Wellington, FL 33414, Att: Daryl Boyd.

The amphitheater was paid for with an $822,296 county grant.

The village accepted the money two years ago after the collapse of the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches. Originally, the Cultural Trust was slated to build an amphitheater on village-owned property near the Mall at Wellington Green. Instead, the amphitheater is rising next door to the new Scott’s Place playground and will join the new village municipal complex and the planned Patriot Memorial as part of the village’s Town Center project adjacent to the Wellington Community Center.

The amphitheater features an

open-air lighted stage, sound hookups, “green rooms” for performers, a staging and loading area, and rest rooms.

The capacity is 1,500, and the lawn will seat between 400 and 500 spectators, Bonde said. A walkway will provide benches, lighting and waste bins.

Bonde said the facility is well suited for small concerts or theatrical events.

Although the village can’t be sure what type of programs will be scheduled, Bowen said he hopes to see a mix of programs offered.

“I think the amphitheater needs to accommodate certainly the musical series that we’ve done in the past,” he said of the village’s summer entertainment series. “But I think it will go far beyond that. We can expand our offerings and certainly have more programs. Maybe even some opera or plays.” Bowen said he will look for a proposal that keeps the amphitheater as busy as possible.

“We should have a regular series of programs going on,” Bowen said. “I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t, especially if we have the demand for it.”

Sheryl Steckler Chosen As The County’s First Inspector General

Following two days of interviews, members of the sevenmember Palm Beach County Inspector General Selection Committee tentatively chose the county’s first independent Inspector General on Wednesday.

Charity First Donation

continued from page 1 want to go in the pool,’” Wash said. “Not because you have to do it to stay cool.”

According to Hearts-N-Hands Board Member Diana Tashman, Colbert’s situation was the perfect first project for the new group.

“We really want to be local, we want to help the people in Wellington,” Tashman said. “We said to ourselves, ‘This has to be the family that we start out with.’ This woman gave all her life, and now she’s in a time of need.”

Precision Air Systems of Wellington provided the air conditioner to Hearts-N-Hands at cost and installed the unit last Friday as an in-kind donation.

“I just want you to know that I’m overwhelmed,” Colbert told the crowd. “I’m very thankful for all of this.”

It will be the first of many charitable donations, Tashman said.

“We were looking forward to doing something that would really have an impact on our community,” she said. “This is our first, and these are great people. We got together and decided that we wanted to do something to help them.” From here, the organization plans to help other Wellington residents and families facing hardship.

“We’re going to be looking in the future for people in similar situations,” Tashman said. “We want Wellington to continue to have the quality of life that we all moved here for, and now more than ever they need help.” Aside from Wash and Tashman, other Hearts-N-Hands of Wellington board members include Juan Sebastian Hoyos, Aaron Menitoff and Julie Pickens.

The Office of the Inspector General will operate out of the Vista Center complex on Jog Road in West Palm Beach, just north of Okeechobee Blvd. The office is funded through a .25 percent contract fee charged to vendors doing business with the county.

The Inspector General serves to

Sheryl G. Steckler was the top choice among eight finalists for the new position. She is currently the inspector general with the Florida Department of Children & Families. The County Attorney’s Office will now begin negotiating a four-year contract with Steckler.

prevent misconduct involving abuse and corruption at all levels of county government and is authorized to investigate, review and audit county-funded programs and contracts, prepare reports and make recommendations based on these investigations.

The other finalists for the position were:

• Melinda Miguel, chief inspector general in the Florida Governor’s Office of the Chief Inspector General.

• Greg Picur, resident special agent in charge with the U.S. Agency for the International Development Office of Inspector General.

• Erik C. Geizer, investigative audit supervisor for the Director of Internal Controls, New York State Office of the Inspector General.

• Christina Seymour, auditor for the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics & Public Trust.

• John W. Scott, assistant legal counsel to the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General.

• Thomas J. Talleur, adjunct professor of forensic studies at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD.

• Candice M. Will, assistant director of

Responsibility. The interviews were conducted at the Airport Professional Centre and were open to the general public and news media. In addition to oral interviews, each candidate completed a written exercise. The proceedings were videotaped and are available at PBC-

SCOUT TROOP HOSTS SPAGHETTI DINNER AT ST. RITA CHURCH IN WELLINGTON

Boy Scout Troop 208 hosted a spaghetti dinner and silent auction on Monday, May 1 at St. Rita Catholic Church in Wellington. The

Diana Tashman, Toy Wash and Aaron Menitoff of Hearts-NHands with Wellington Councilwoman Anne Gerwig.

Hearts-N-Hands board members visit with Mary Jane Colbert’s mother, 95-year-old Mary Elizabeth Morgan.

Mary Jane Colbert (second from right) with Julie Pickens, Juan Sebastian Hoyos, Toy Wash and Aaron Menitoff.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

the FBI Office of Professional

Heart-N-Hands President Toy Wash with Mary Jane Colbert.

Ashley and Dale Pickford with Kayla and Patrick Palmer.

The O’Malleys enjoy their dinner. Scouts and leaders take a break from preparing dinner.

New Amphitheater — (Above) Currently under construction, Wellington’s new amphitheater is scheduled to open this summer. (Right) An artist’s rendering of the completed amphitheater.

NAVY BAND ENCOURAGES MUSICIANS TO SIGN UP

The U.S. Navy band Pride, based at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, recently completed a tour of South Florida. The band performed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, the Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Palm Beach State College’s Duncan Theatre. The band was created to invite musicians to consider the Navy, whether it be for one tour or a career. Lead singer Brooke Knight attended the Palm Beach County School of the Arts (now Dreyfoos) and has been involved in music ever since. Knight plans a Navy career in music. (Above) Knight, center, with her bandmates. (Below) The band performing last Thursday at the Duncan Theatre.

Donations Of Electronics Needed

Wellington Cares Clearinghouse is currently collecting donated electronics for distribution at Glades Area Pantries in Pahokee, including VCRs, TVs, computers, stereos and radios.

Wellington Cares is also beginning to collect items to be delivered to Food for the Poor in Coconut Creek in June for its dutyfree shipping to Haiti. Items include children’s clothing, school supplies, hygiene items, food (pasta, vegetables, fruit) and medical supplies. All shelf dates must be at least six months ahead. Call Ellie Caldwell at (561) 790-5499 for more info.

Wellington Seeks Veterans For Ceremony

The Village of Wellington will be honoring all veterans at a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 31. The Memorial Day parade will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) and end at the Veterans Memorial located on the corner of Forest Hill and South Shore boulevards. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m.

If you would like to honor a veteran by having his or her name and service branch listed in the village’s Memorial Day program, added to the pre-recorded roll call and listed on Channel 18, call

(561) 791-4082 during business hours or e-mail mgarvey@ wellingtonfl.gov.

To ensure veterans’ names are included in the pre-recorded roll call, submit names by May 12. If you are an active or retired veteran attending the ceremony, you will have an opportunity to register the morning of the event at the Wellington tent and you will be recognized during the ceremony.

The village invites residents to visit the Wellington Community Center on May 20 at 7 p.m. for a veterans open house sponsored by the American Legion Wellington Post 390.

B’nai Jacob Picnic May 23 In Wellington

Members of the Temple B’nai Jacob of Wellington invite the community to its free, familyfriendly picnic in the park on Sunday, May 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the main pavilion at Wellington Village Park (11700 Pierson Road).

The lunchtime event will be loaded with fun and games for all ages. In addition to a picnic lunch, families will enjoy face painting for the kids, tug-of-war, threelegged race games, Simon Says, a water balloon toss and more. Adults will join in the fun with volleyball, softball and assorted table games and cards.

The picnic is an opportunity for the community and prospective members to meet and visit with members and leaders of Wellington’s Conservative Jewish temple.

The congregation, which currently uses rented space at the original Wellington Mall for its worship services and office, expanded last April when the Palm Springs-based B’nai Jacob merged with the Wellington congregation previously known as B’nai Avraham. The multi-generational congregation offers a full range of services and activities including a K-7 religious school, weekly Shabbat services including monthly tot Shabbat and family Shabbat services, a sisterhood, holiday celebrations, and even a softball team. The temple recently completed the purchase of land on Lake Worth Road for a permanent temple building.

For more information, call the temple office at (561) 793-4347 or e-mail info@templebnaijacob .com. The temple is located in the original Wellington Mall on the corner of Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Blvd. at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 6.

PE Teacher

Launches ‘Read & Ride’ Program

Panther Run Elementary School physical education teacher C.J. Cain is reaching out to get the new program “Read and Ride” off the ground at Pioneer Park Elementary School, Panther Run’s sister school in Belle Glade. The program helps fight childhood obesity and increases literacy at the same time. The Read and Ride program Cain wants to implement began in North Carolina and was the brain-

storm of school counselor Scott Ertl. The program utilizes donated exercise bikes inside the classroom. Cain is an advocate for fighting child obesity through exercise, and he wants to educate the kids in these areas.

Cain originally wanted to hold the program at Panther Run, but realized it didn’t have the classroom space to accommodate such a program. So instead of giving up on the idea, he decided he would help his sister school. Cain is starting to gain momentum with local support of his program. One youth sports group, the Tyler McLellan Foundation, has stepped in to support the program and Cain’s relentless efforts.

“C.J. is all about the kids and educating them as best he can, and we are honored to be part of such a great program for the kids,” Kevin McLellan said. “We will be making calls, sending e-mails and using every resource we have to help him get this program off the ground, and we encourage everyone else to also.”

Local NFL players who have joined with their support are Tampa Bay Buccaneers James Lee (Belle Glade) and Emanuel Cook (Riviera Beach), who will also be visiting both schools May 7 to show their support, and to speak to the kids as part of the National Physical Education Sport Week. Anyone wishing to make a donation of a new or used exercise bike to help support this program should call Cain at (407) 4273808. If you can’t deliver the bike, someone from will pick it up. For more information, visit www.tylermclellanfoundation.org.

THE WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUES FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE FAIRGROUNDS

FOREST STUDENTS LEARN

Deane Granoff buys a sachet pillow from Linen Bizz’s Liz Hanson.

Dr. Kathleen Gobin of Palm Beach Equine Clinic.

Marvin Reingold looks closely at an 1889 Morgan silver dollar at Jeff Ciociola’s booth.

Sandra Reynolds of the Air Force Security Forces.

Gayla Bailey with Cracker Jack retro trinket jewelry.

Judy Schwartz shows off a cowboy boot purse at the Reflections of Time booth.

A 1920s Gibson Girl Bride doll at the Antiques Forever booth.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Circuit Court Judge Frank Castor talks about the law.

H.L. JOHNSON STUDENTS TAKE PART IN ANNUAL PET WEEK DRAWING CONTEST

As

with

CAFCI’S SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT HARVIN CENTER IN RPB

RPB Mayor Matty Mattioli with Wilson Etheya.

Jabyes

Gilberto Bennette, Ethan Morrison and Bo Lint.

Program participants gather with the honored students for a group photo.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria presents Bo Lint with his plaque and the Vivian Ferrin Memorial Scholarship.

First-grade winners Kaitlyn Cook, Colby Hearn and Sara Greco.

(in order left to right)

Dugal

Farnam. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Kindergarteners Cole Hamilton (first place) and Satchel Smith (third); not pictured: Kaitlyn Miller (second).

Fourth-grade winners Danielle Parks, Alexandra Gabbert and Jessica Gabbert.

Second-grade winners Allison Allianic, Parker Barry and Amber Marcus.

Third-grade winners Aneri Vakil, Dalton Nutter and Jacob Griesmer.

Fifth-graders Sara Iravani, Breanna Faller and Natascha Kemple.

Polo Park Art Students Learn About M.C. Escher

Students from Polo Park Middle School recently had the chance to view and enjoy the M.C. Escher exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Escher was a master of printmaking and illustration, using his architectural and mathematical skills to create his well-known works of art.

After viewing the exhibit, students took part in “Education

Mornings,” in which they participated in a focused Escher tessellation studio workshop. The workshop is offered to middle school and high school students. It was conducted for 11 Wednesday mornings while the exhibition was open. Artist Catalina Aguirre Hoffman led the workshop for a maximum of 50 students per morning.

Wellington Christian School Celebrates Grandparents Day

The elementary students at Wellington Christian School assembled in the Family Worship Center on March 12 in celebration of Grandparents Day. The grandparents of students PK3 through fifth grade were invited to a continental breakfast at the school for a time of fellowship and entertainment provided by the students. They were given the opportunity to visit their grandchildren’s classroom and learn more about the WCS community.

Headmaster Dr. Tim Sansbury gave a brief devotional, Kay Bellino’s third-grade class performed a few songs, the fifth-grade band and choir performed, and select

students from kindergarten through fifth grade spoke at the event. Kindergarteners, first- and second-graders recited the pledges, and students in the third, fourth and fifth grades participated in an essay contest. The winners of the contest were given the honor of reciting their essays on stage. Wellington Christian School was excited to show appreciation and honor to grandparents through this event. It also served as an occasion for grandparents to enjoy their grandchildren’s thankfulness and learn more about their education at WCS. For more information about the school, visit www. wellingtonchristianschool.com.

RPBHS Chorus Earns Straight Superiors At States

Royal Palm Beach High

School’s chorus program ended the year with its first appearance at states in 10 years and straight Superior rankings on April 13 at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton.

After performing exceptionally well at their music performance assessment on March 6 at Forest Hill High School, RPBHS chorus members made their way to St. Andrew’s School where they achieved their year-long dream of earning straight Superiors at the state competition. The ranking system of these competitions includes five categories. From highest to lowest, the categories are Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor. The ratings are based on musicianship, tone quality, technical preparation, musical effect and sight, which involves reading music that has never been seen.

I turned students who couldn’t get their pitch right into exceptional singers.”

“I’m very proud of my students,” RPBHS Chorus Director David Sommer said. “This is my second year here at RPBHS, and

Sommer is not the only one pleased with the chorus’ progress this year. The members of the group are thrilled to have been part of such an amazing year. “I believe we have achieved so much this year,” chorus member Ashley Osuch said. “Making it to states was a huge honor and an unbelievable experience.”

The chorus and their director now have to look forward to next

year, when they will to rebuild and retool their group after losing seniors to graduation. Sommer said that he would like for the group to grow beyond the small group he has now and expand into multiple groups, all capable of competing at the highest level. Although the state competition was the Royal Palm Beach High School chorus members’ last competitive event, they will host a show called “Music of the Night” on Tuesday, May 11. Jake Noble

Education Mornings art assistant Lauren Shapiro works with students Brant August and Francis Gras.

New Horizons Elementary School recently received the Target School Library Makeover Book Award. Royal Palm Beach Super Target, a school business partner, donated $500 to the New Horizons media center to purchase new books for students to check out. Shown above are Assistant Principal Mickey Simmel, Target Manager Ben Sirof, Principal Betsy Cardozo, Reading Coach Cindy Pedroso and Target Human Relations Laura Winger.

Seminole Ridge Biotech Students Win In eCybermission Program

Seminole Ridge High School biotechnology students have once again earned big bucks as winners in the U.S. Army’s annual eCybermission science competition. Under the tutelage of biotech teacher Katie Wright, the teams worked on their projects from August through February, participating with more than 13,000 students worldwide.

The Regional Criteria Award winners for the application of science, math and technology were the HydroFresh team of Breanna Beardsley, Tabitha Bickman and Sarah Probst. Each member of the team received a $2,000 U.S. savings bond. The Collaboration and Communication Award went to the CDK Bugs team of David Beguirstain, Cody Fishman, Courtney Rubano and Kelsey Tietboehl. Each member of the team received a $2,000 U.S. savings bond. Ninth-grade first-place winners were the Chocolate Addiction team of Melanie Bean, Berenice Cortez, Megan Crumb and Rosemary Murray. Each member of the team received a $3,000 U.S. savings bond and paid expenses to the eCybermission national judging in Baltimore.

• Schedule Changes Due To

Graduation The SRHS Class of 2010 will graduate Friday, May 14 at 8 a.m. at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. Because of the graduation ceremony, the school-day schedule is significantly changed. Buses will pick up students five hours later than usual. For example, a normal 6:45 a.m. bus pickup will be moved to 11:45 a.m. There will be a single lunch session from noon to 12:25 p.m., followed by class periods of approximately 40 minutes each. Parents should be aware of these important changes to the school day schedule May 14.

• Hawks Honored for Service — Several SRHS students have earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in recognition of their volunteer service this school year. Honored with the presidential gold award were Carlos Monesar (with 275 volunteer service hours), Christina Persaud (255) and Jared Schorr (285). Honored with the presidential bronze award was Jonathan Moore (106).

• SECME Student, Teacher Honored — The South Florida Industry Partners for Education has recognized Hawk senior Shelby Weininger as the county’s

PANTHER RUN PLANTS TREES FOR EARTH DAY

Panther Run Elementary School students celebrated Earth Day Thursday, April 22. Second-grade teacher Susan Bryant, the school’s “going green” coordinator, taught environmental awareness to the students, families and staff. Students were given seedlings to take home and plant. They included red maple, oak and cypress trees. Pictured above is Bryant with third-grade students Olivia Kennell, Elaina Sanchez and Leanna Basile.

2009-10 SECME Outstanding High School Student of the Year. Weininger, who will attend Florida Atlantic University, received a $3,000 per-year scholarship, one of 25 FAU awarded to SECME members from Palm Beach and Broward counties.

“Shelby has taken a leadership position in SECME,” SECME coordinator and physics teacher Erich Landstrom said. “During February’s Engineering Week at FAU, she led the opening ceremonies parade with her poster on environmental friendliness, and she stayed behind at the end to talk with astronaut Steve Swanson. And when we volunteered to mentor the first-year SECME program at Pierce Hammock, Shelby was the first to arrive and help the girls gold team build their mousetrap cars.”

Landstrom, honored as both the county SECME coordinator of the year and as one of two national SECME teachers of the year, received in recognition a $5,000 cash award and a scholarship to attend the national SECME seminar institute in North Carolina.

• Piroli Wins for ‘Pipe World’ — The South Florida Science Museum and the Florida Engi-

neering Society recently held their annual engineering competition

“Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It,” which challenges students to build an unbreakable bridge, create a container protecting an egg in a three-story drop, design an aerodynamic paper airplane, launch a water bottle rocket, and construct an operational model roller coaster. SRHS physics students showcased their skills, and Andrew Piroli received a bronze medal and a cash prize for “Pipe World,” a roller-coaster homage to the Mario Brothers with a ride time of 15.2 seconds.

• ‘Heavy Hardware’ for Blood Drive Efforts — Seminole Ridge blood drive coordinator Shawna Ahmad said the school brought home some heavy hardware from the annual Florida Association of Blood Banks awards banquet.

“We are so proud that in just a short amount of time we’ve created a culture and an awareness of saving a life by donating blood,” she said. “Our students are excited to become lifelong donors.”

The association honored SRHS with the following: the Gift of Life Award, for an estimated 2,439 lives saved through blood donations; the Largest Single Blood

CRESTWOOD STUDENTS HAVE FUN AT CRESTIVAL

Crestwood Middle School celebrated its annual school carnival “Crestival” on Friday, April 23. Each team and department had either games or food for the students. Students enjoy trying to dunk their favorite staff members in the dunk tank, getting splashed in the water balloon sling shot, climbing the rock wall, eating a walking taco or just mingling with friends. Shown above, students enjoy the coin toss game with teacher Laraine Castaldi.

Drive Award, with 183 units collected; the Largest Number of Units Collected for the School Year Award, with 813 units collected; the Superintendent’s Award, for the highest percentage of student and staff participation; and the Florida Association of Blood Banks Statewide Coordinator of the Year Award to Ahmad.

• Students Analyze, Excel in AP Psych Bowl — Seminole Ridge hosted the third annual Palm Beach County Advanced Placement Psychology Bowl recently, with 20 students from Olympic Heights, Spanish River, Suncoast and SRHS participating in the four-hour competition. Suncoast, which won the first round, maintained its lead throughout. Olympic Heights took second place, Seminole Ridge third and Spanish River fourth.

Biotech Winners — (Front row, L-R) Berenice Cortez, Melanie Bean, Sarah Probst and Courtney Rubano; (back row) Cody Fishman, David Beguiristain, Rosemary Murray, Katie Wright, Kelsey Tietboehl, Tabitha Bickman and Breanna Beardsley. Not pictured: Megan Crumb.

Earth Day, students in Cindy Paull’s and Debbie Harmon’s

at Planet Kids

SCOUTS

Bowers Ensures Deployed Troops Are Medically Ready For Combat

By Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

Special to the Town-Crier

At his home unit of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Master Sgt. Colby Bowers has taught thousands of airmen the importance of being medically prepared for anything on a deployment. Now the combat first aid instructor and independent duty medical technician (IDMT) is deployed himself, keeping Airmen and others well in continuing their mission.

Bowers, an Acreage resident, is an Air Force IDMT assigned with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in Southwest Asia. He is deployed from the Expeditionary Center’s 421st Combat Training Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB-MDL) in New Jersey.

As an IDMT, Bowers said he has many responsibilities while

deployed. In addition to working in the 908th EARS medical element, he also supports caring for service members throughout the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing with the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group.

“I am considered a provider and see patients during sick call,” Bowers said. “I also work with public health and conduct food and facility inspections to the local eateries on base. Additionally, I work with bioenvironmental and conduct water inspections along with occupational inspections of workplaces.”

Primarily, Bowers is assigned to the 908th EARS to support the medical needs of all flight crew for the KC-10 Extender unit. He said he keeps busy with all the work the medical staff has to do every day.

“With all the medical Airmen here, they are all highly skilled

TEENS SPEND A WEEK WORKING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE

medical technicians supporting the care of thousands of personnel,” Bowers said. “I’m blessed to have so many great people to work with in a deployed location. They all are dedicated to their profession of keeping our war fighters fit to fight.”

In deployed areas, IDMTs like Bowers offer a degree of flexibility wherever they’re deployed in the U.S. Central Command area.

“My career field is important in a deployed environment as it enables a smaller medical footprint in forward areas, but still maintain the capabilities needed to get the mission done,” Bowers said. “An example would be a forward operating base in Afghanistan. There, a small number of personnel may be assigned and a full-up clinic is not needed, but a medical presence is. An IDMT is trained to fill this need.”

In joining the military, Bowers

said he believes he’s made the right decision to make it career. “Serving in the Air Force has been the best decision I’ve made in my life,” Bowers said. “I joined right out of high school and wanted to experience new adventures. I continue to serve because I believe in being a part of something bigger than one’s self, and I am lucky to serve alongside some of the best and brightest people our nation has to offer.”

And this current deployment is not the first time he’s been sent to support contingency operations. “I will have almost 1,100 days deployed at the end of this deployment — my eighth,” Bowers said. “Some of my best memories in the Air Force come from my deployments.”

When he redeploys back to JBMDL in New Jersey, Bowers said he’ll have more first-hand deployment experience he can use to pass

on to his students who go to the Expeditionary Center for pre-deployment training.

“At the Expeditionary Center, we strive for excellence with every class and with every student,” Bowers said. “We want them to be able to deploy with the basic knowledge they need to carry on with their deployed mission in case something happens. My experience here always helps give the students the latest knowledge of what they might expect while deployed.”

The 380th EMDG is a sub-unit of the 380th AEW. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons, and the wing’s deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in South-

west Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Troop 125’s Andersen Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Jett Corey Andersen, a Boy Scout in Troop 125 earned the rank of Eagle Scout, scouting’s highest rank, on April 26.

Andersen began as a Cub Scout with Pack 165 in 2000, advancing through the ranks of Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos I and II. He earned the Arrow of Light before bridging into Boy Scout Troop 125 in 2005.

On the road to Eagle, Andersen provided 85 hours of community service, earned 26 merit badges, spent 61 nights camping and hiked 113 miles including the 50-plus mile, 12-day backpacking trek at

Xavier Moody Completes

Marine Training

Marine Corps Pvt. Xavier A.

Moody, son of Maria and Karl Moody of Royal Palm Beach, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C. designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Moody and fellow recruits began their training at 5 a.m. by running three miles and performing calisthenics. In addition to the physical conditioning program,

the Philmont Scout Ranch in the southern Rocky Mountains at age 13.

Andersen held the leadership positions of assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, troop guide, historian and den chief. He was elected to the Order of the Arrow in 2007.

For his Eagle project, Andersen organized and led a crew of 20plus volunteers in the construction and installation of eight bat houses along with two duck boxes for Florida Atlantic University’s Pine Jog Environmental Center. The

Moody spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments, which included learning first aid, uniform regulations, combat water survival, marksmanship, handto-hand combat and assorted weapons training. They performed close order drills and operated as a small infantry unit during field training.

Moody and other recruits also received instruction on the Marine Corps’ core values of honor, courage and commitment, and what those values mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.

Moody and fellow recruits ended the training phase with the Crucible, a 54-hour team evolution

project took the Boy Scouts 174 hours to complete.

Andersen attended Wellington Christian School for grades one through nine and is now a sophomore at Suncoast High School where he is dual enrolled in the math/science/engineering and computer science programs.

Andersen has set his college goals on attending Stanford or MIT. Boy Scout Troop 125 is chartered by St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington, which supports and nourishes the program as one of its community outreach missions.

culminating in an emotional ceremony in which recruits are presented the Marine Corps Emblem and addressed as “Marines” for the first time in their careers.

Moseley Graduates

Jacksonville U.

Jacksonville University President Kerry Romesburg conferred degrees on nearly 700 students at annual commencement ceremonies at Jacksonville University on Saturday, May 1. Amber Moseley of Royal Palm Beach received a bachelor’s de-

gree in the field of political science.

Moseley is the daughter of Edward and Victoria Moseley of Royal Palm Beach. Her JU activities and honors include being a four-year letter winner in softball, being fifth all time in school history with a .982 fielding percentage, past secretary of the SAAC Committee, and numerous community service projects such as Special Olympics, J Fund, Susan G. Komen, Daniel Kids Inc., and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more information about Jacksonville University, visit www.ju.edu.

Master Sgt. Colby Bowers

Jessica and Demi Wolfe served in the Florida House of Representatives the week of March 15-19. Jessica, 15, served as a messenger and Demi, 14, served as a page. This valuable experience has left an indelible mark on their lives as they witnessed government in action. Jessica and Demi attend Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth as a sophomore and eighth grader, respectively. Pictured above are Demi and Jessica with State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo (D-District 85).

Jett Corey Andersen

Forum For RPB

Business Owners

Set For May 11

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Task Force and the Village of Royal Palm Beach invite RPB business owners to a business forum on Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Village council and task force members want to hear from business owners and know the issues they face and any obstacles that may be holding them back. Discussion topics will include employment issues, access issues, location issues and visibility issues. For more information about the May 11 forum, call Susan Giddings at (561) 753-7296 or e-mail economicdevelopment@palmswest. com.

Giant Garage Sale May 16 At Temple Beth Zion

Temple Beth Zion invites the public to join in its Giant Garage Sale on Sunday, May 16 held at the temple in Royal Palm Beach. The sale will offer new and used items for very low prices. Delicious kosher hot dogs and knishes will be available for purchase. Tables can be reserved for $20 each by Saturday, May 15. The sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Temple Beth Zion is located at 129 Sparrow Drive. For more information, call the

temple office at (561) 798-8888 or visit www.templebethzion.net.

SR 80 Meeting May 18 At Binks Forest Golf Club

The Florida Department of Transportation District 4 office will conduct a public kickoff meeting for project development and environment study for State Road 80 (Southern Blvd.) from CR 880 to Forest Hill Blvd. on Tuesday, May 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington.

There will be a short presentation at 6 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer session. Aerial maps will be on display for review. The meeting is being held to discuss the proposed improvements for the SR 80 project and to give interested parties an opportunity to provide input on the future transportation improvements along the project corridor.

The purpose of the study is to investigate options to enhance safety and provide additional capacity to meet existing and future traffic needs for that segment of SR 80. Project representatives will be available during the meeting to discuss the project, answer questions and receive comments.

The Binks Forest Golf Club is located at 400 Binks Forest Drive. For additional information about the meeting, call Project Manager Daphne Spanos at (954) 7774324, toll free at (866) 336-8435, ext. 4324 or e-mail daphne.spanos @dot.state.fl.us.

Wellington CrossFit To Host Charity Workout

During May, CrossFit affiliates and individuals across the country will compete in a “Beat the Streets” fundraiser workout to support at-risk youth fitness and the Steve’s Club National Program, a non-profit organization.

Steve’s Club and its participating members provide a national network of programs through which at-risk or underserved youth of any socioeconomic background can join the CrossFit community at reduced, low or no cost.

“CrossFit empowers individuals and creates a sense of community both locally in gyms and nationally online,” Wellington CrossFit head trainer Matt Fran-

co said. “Steve’s Club shares that experience with teens by providing a place to go where they receive encouragement and mentoring.”

Wellington CrossFit’s “Beat the Streets” event will be held on May 23 at 9 a.m. Teams of four will compete against other teams across the country in a 15-minute workout. Every $1,000 raised will sponsor an at-risk athlete for an entire year. All donations go directly to the gyms that will train specific kids and teens in tough neighborhoods to get them off the streets and into CrossFit.

Wellington CrossFit is located at 11596 Pierson Road in Wellington. To learn more about the local “Beat the Streets” fundraiser, or for additional information on Wellington CrossFit, visit www. wellingtoncrossfit.com.

To learn more about how

The

Steve’s Club is partnering with local affiliates to offer fitness, nutrition and personal development to underserved youth populations, visit the Steve’s Club National Program web site at www.steves club.org.

Mahayana Meditation Class In Wellington

Wellington’s Moksha Yoga Studio will offer a class on Mahayana Buddhist meditation with Melissa “Harumi” McCulloch on Saturday, May 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.

McCulloch has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in counseling, is nationally certified and is a licensed professional counselor. She trained for more than 10 years in Mahay-

ana Buddhism with Seijaku Roshi in Shamong, N.J., where she served as treasurer (fusuryo) and caretaker (jisha) at Pind Wind Monastery and the Heart Within Institute and Retreat Center. The class will be an informative primer on meditation and mindful practice. There will be three 30-minute sitting sessions followed by a short walking meditation and sutra reading to come home to yourself, practice patience, tolerance and the miracle of stillness.

The cost for the May 15 class is $35. Moksha Yoga Studio is located at 3340 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 5 in Wellington. For more information about this class, as well as other upcoming classes or events, call Moksha Yoga Studio at (561) 427-1767 or visit www.mokshayogastudio. com.

Ultima Fitness/Xtreme Tae Kwon Do in Wellington invites the public to a May 8 round table discussion on health and fitness.

Actor, Author Henry Winkler Speaks At Area Hospice Fundraiser

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Henry Winkler can thank his third career on a condition that went undetected until he was 31 years old.

Winkler achieved stardom as the ever-hip Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli in the 1970s hit comedy Happy Days. In addition to his acting, he went on to produce and direct movies and TV shows.

What is not common knowledge is that Winkler also is a noted children’s author. Winkler, 64, and Lin Oliver have co-authored a series of children’s novels called Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever.

Winkler was the guest speaker on Friday, April 16 at the Dove Luncheon, a fundraiser for Hospice of Palm Beach County. In his talk, Winkler recalled the

troubles he had learning while a boy growing up in New York, even though he would later get accepted into the Yale School of Drama.

He eventually landed his role in Happy Days, and it was during this time that Winkler discovered something that had bothered him all his life.

When his stepson Jed was in the third grade, it was determined that he had dyslexia. So did Winkler.

“We had him tested,” Winkler recalled. “We found out together that he had dyslexia, and so did I. I’m not stupid, and I’m not lazy. I have something with a name.”

And so the idea behind his children’s novels was born. Winkler said he was asked twice to do it, and the second time was the charm. Winkler and Oliv-

er write about a child’s difficulties growing up with dyslexia. Hank is short for Henry, he said, and Zipzer was the last name of a woman who lived in the same building he did growing up. The 17th book in the series came out April 20. At the end of the luncheon, Winkler had some advice of his own about being different.

“The first thing I would like to tell you is that we have to make the most out of ourselves,” Winkler said, “because each and every one of you are different. You also have to make the most out of yourselves. If we do not, we cannot give it to anyone else.”

Winkler stressed that more needs to be done to give children with learning issues the tools they need to succeed.

“We can speak for children before they even take their first step,”

he said. “It is extraordinary to me that in the greatest country in the world, we talk about children being our future, and we do so little. I think it’s because they don’t vote. There is a beautiful Chinese proverb. The flowers of our tomorrows are in the seeds of today.”

Winkler, whose mother-in-law and father-in-law received care at a hospice in California, praised the work of Hospice of Palm Beach County.

“What is amazing is the tenderness, the caring and the understanding, and the ability to allow the person to let go,” he said. “Sometimes the families cannot do that. The human beings at Hospice have the ability to do that and make the transition.”

For more information about Hospice of Palm Beach County, call (561) 227-5140 or visit www.hpbc.com.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. DUKAKIS SPEAKS AT LUNCHEON IN LAKE WORTH

The May meeting of the Democratic Professionals Council was held Friday, April 30 at the Compass Center in Lake Worth. Special guest speakers at the event were former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and Florida CFO candidate Loranne Ausley. For more about the DPC, visit www.democraticprofessionalscouncil.org.

Extension FDOT Hosts Workshop

continued from page 1 of the existing extension demonstrates that the completion of the road will pose minimal environmental hazards or threat to wildlife.

“Ibis was developed on pristine jurisdictional wetland acres, and if they can protect the environment, then we can protect the environment, too,” Damone said. “I don’t see it as an environmental issue, and apparently the Ibis developer didn’t see it as an environmental issue when he developed the pristine wetland acres that Ibis is currently sitting on.”

Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Ron Jarriel said the road is long overdue. The traffic flow through Loxahatchee Groves on Okeechobee Blvd. as well as Royal Palm Beach Blvd. has gotten much worse.

“Each month we have more and more accidents and they’re getting more and more dangerous,” Jarriel said. “If we had that reliever road connecting State Road 7 all

continued from page 1 these homes in one shot, and when they came in and built, they didn’t get it perfectly to grade. You have a very low slope in those swales.” This has led to frequent problems with standing water.

“To alleviate that, we are extending the drains under each of those driveways to keep the swales from becoming very muddy,” he said, adding, “Those people also use the swales for onstreet parking.”

Marsh said the project is similar to what the village did on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. south of Okeechobee Blvd.

“It’s a four-foot, striped desig-

Blotter

the way to Northlake, I guarantee you it would decrease the traffic flow through Royal Palm Beach. It would reduce the accidents we’re having.”

The workshop was part of the project management and developmental process FDOT must comply with in order to receive federal approval and funding, accord-

ing to Project Manager Beatriz Caicedo-Maddison.

FDOT will do an assessment of the environmental and socioeconomic impacts and natural habitats, and report to the federal government on how it will mitigate them. A public meeting is planned for February 2011, Caicedo-Maddison said.

nated lane,” Marsh said. “The vehicular traffic and the bicycle traffic will be next to each other. There won’t be any kind of physical barrier between them. It will just be a striped lane for the bicycles on the roadway.”

The project ties together several projects that have been completed. The Royal Palm Beach and La Mancha boulevard projects both have on-street and off-street bike lanes, and the La Mancha eastwest connection will tie the onstreet bike lanes together, Marsh said.

The village has another project planned to widen the bike path from the traffic circle at La Mancha Avenue and Madrid Street to connect with Ponce de Leon St., which crosses Okeechobee Blvd. The village plans to increase the width of a concrete sidewalk

crossing Okeechobee Blvd. at Ponce de Leon Street. That sidewalk will improve safety crossing along the FPL bike path, which runs across a bridge and down to Seminole Palms Park, which has a network of bike paths, and then to Southern Blvd., which features a fully landscaped bike path installed when Southern Blvd. was improved.

The loop is part of a transportation enhancement network approved by the Royal Palm Beach Village Council several years ago.

“The whole idea is that you have an alternative mode of transportation throughout the entire community,” Marsh said. “To connect all these links for adults and children to be able to safely ride a bicycle to parks and commercial areas is a good thing.”

Pill Mills

Bill Passes Legislature

continued from page 1 islative weapon against the scourge of pill mills since I have been in office,” Aronberg said.

“It’s something I have been working on for nearly a decade to save lives from prescription drug abuse. This is by far the most powerful bill we have passed in my eight years in the Florida State Senate.”

Aronberg said he first began working on the issue as an assistant attorney general before he was elected to office.

“I think this gives the state new powers to fight back against the growing threat of unscrupulous pain clinics that are nothing more than licensed drug dealers. The state has turned a blind eye to it for long enough.”

Beach County to avoid the same fate as Broward County,” he said. “It is already here, and it was only going to get worse. This legislation should reverse the march in Palm Beach County.”

Aronberg said his favorite analogy for the issue was that there were more pill mills than McDonald’s restaurants in Broward County. “That was last year,” Aronberg said. “As of this year there are more pain clinics in Broward County than there are McDonald’s and Wal-Marts in Broward County combined.”

According to a news release from State Rep. Adam Hasner’s office, pain clinics in South Florida attract patients from all over the country. More oxycodone is distributed in Florida than in any other state. The top 25 pain management clinics for dispensing prescription pain relievers are in Florida, and the 50 doctors who dispense the most oxycodone in the country are in Florida, including 33 in Broward County. A major factor contributing to the statistics are Florida’s “dispensing practitioners” who have special approval to dispense drugs directly from their offices. In 2006, they handed out 85 percent of all oxycodone distributed by doctors nationally. “Narcotics should be available for medical purposes and unavailable for recreational abuse,” Abruzzo said. “Our good bill addresses both of these issues.” Bike Path

continued from page 6 conditioning relay from the victim’s home. The victim reported that the air conditioning unit was working when she left in the morning, but was broken when she came home. Her husband checked the outside unit and found that the relay, valued at approximately $180, had been switched with one that didn’t work. A neighbor said that a white truck with an air conditioning repair logo had been seen in the area near her driveway, but the neighbor didn’t see anyone in the vehicle or anyone take the relay. There were no suspects at the time of the report.

MAY 3 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded Monday to a money wiring business inside the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road in response to a case of counterfeit forgery. According to a PBSO report, last Friday the vic-

tims received $300 sent by their daughter from the money wiring business. They received two $100 bills and 5 $20 bills. They spent one of the $100 bills in Wal-Mart that night without incident, but when they tried to deposit the money at their bank, a clerk told them the second $100 bill was counterfeit. The victims returned to the business, but an employee told them that there was no way to prove it was the same bill they had been given. The bill was placed into evidence, and the PBSO deputy contacted federal authorities.

MAY 3 — A resident of The Acreage called the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation Monday morning to report a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 8 p.m. last Sunday and 10:30 a.m. the following morning, someone stole the victim’s Goodman air conditioning unit valued at $7,000 from outside

his home on Hamlin Blvd. A fivefoot-tall chain link fence surrounds the victim’s home, but he noticed the gate was open and pushed off its track. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

MAY 4 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation responded Tuesday afternoon to a home on 90th Street North in response to a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim was inside his house at approximately 12:26 p.m. when he heard a noise outside. The victim reported seeing two white males stealing his air conditioning unit. The victim chased them on foot, but the suspects fled in a blue car east to another home on the street. When deputies arrived, the air conditioner and the vehicle were gone and the home was abandoned. The suspects are described as white males, approximately 5’8” with tattoos on their arms.

Aronberg said the pill mills have taken over Broward County and become a menace in Palm Beach County.

“This legislation allows Palm

Aronberg said he was not surprised that the bill received unanimous approval in both the House and Senate. “It was a good piece of legislation, and the pain clinics don’t have any lobbyists up here in Tallahassee to fight the bill,” he said. Under the law, pain clinics will be required to register with the Department of Health and will be inspected annually by the department to ensure compliance. The department is prohibited from issuing a license to a pain clinic unless it is owned by a physician or is licensed as a “health care clinic.” A physician who has received disciplinary action for improper behavior involving controlled substances will not be permitted to own or be employed by a pain clinic.

‘It’s something I have been working on for nearly a decade to save lives from prescription drug abuse. This is by far the most powerful bill we have passed in my eight years in the Florida State Senate.’ — State Sen. Dave Aronberg

PZA Board Manual For BMP Rules

continued from page 3 ed without going through the entire ordinance procedure,” Kurtz said.

Jordan Nichols, representing consultant Higgins Engineering Inc., said the village had several

best management practices implemented through the years and this is a way to adopt them in code.

Johnson said that the appearance of Higgins’ name on the manual is cause for concern.

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Henry Winkler speaks at Hospice’s Dove Luncheon.

Compass CEO Tony Plakas addresses the audience.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis at the podium.Lake Worth Mayor Rene Varela speaks to DPC members.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

West Palm Beach planner Alex Hansen with County Engineer George Webb.

Indian Trail Improvement District officials and supporters (L-R) Carlos Enriquez, Patricia Curry, Keith Jordano, Michelle Damone, Sandra Love Semande and Ralph Bair with signs showing their support for the Northlake connection. PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

Horses Help Injured Area Veteran Jim Nappier

A member of the military, Jim Nappier was serving in Iraq in 2004 when he was injured by a mortar. The Loxahatchee resident since became involved with the Horses for Heroes program at the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 25

‘Burn The Floor’ At The Kravis Center In WPB

Burn the Floor, the electrifying Latin and ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries, is at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach through Sunday, May 9 as part of the Kravis Center’s Broadway series. Page 28

A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

BUSINESS

Elegante’ Polo Of Palm Beach Now Open

For Business In Wellington Green Square

Elegante’ Polo of Palm Beach opened its doors on Monday, April 19 near the Mall at Wellington Green. The 2,400-square-foot shopping experience offers a wide range of outstanding attire for men and women as well as unique and distinctive home furnishings. Drawing from his retail experience in Denver, Colo., owner Robert Kiger has created an incredible collection of polo-themed attire from around the world. Page 33

Spor ts

SRHS Volleyball Boys

Heading To District Finals

The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity volleyball team advanced to the district finals after a semifinal win over William T. Dwyer High School on Tuesday, May 4 at Palm Beach Gardens High School. The Hawks (20-2) defeated the Panthers in three games (25-18, 25-12, 25-13). Page 37

Therapeutic Horses A Big Help For Injured Vet Jim Nappier

Jim Nappier relishes a challenge. He grew up a Navy brat, living in Texas, Kansas and Missouri. At 17, he quit high school and joined the Marines.

“Vietnam had cost me a lot of friends,” Nappier recalled. “I felt it was an honor and my duty to go.”

But the Marines had other plans. Nappier was sent to communications school in Kansas City for six months, then to El Toro, Calif., where he was a member of the Marines Air Wing Communications Squadron for 18 months. He was never deployed overseas.

By 1979, Nappier was out of the Marines and remained a civilian for the next 21 years. He lived in Oregon, and then moved to South Florida in 1991. He joined the West Palm Beach Navy Seabee Reserve Unit, and in February 2004, he was called up to go to Iraq. His unit was assigned convoy security on tactical movements. On April 30, 2004, his unit came under attack. Nappier was wounded but remained on duty. On May 2, they were hit by mortars and suffered terrible casualties.

“Everyone was either killed or wounded in action,” Nappier said. “Seven died and 40 were wounded. We were medivaced out.”

Nappier sustained nerve damage to his right side. He lost part of that calf and had shrapnel and bone fragments from a fellow soldier embedded in his right side and arm.

“My neck got messed up, and I had posttraumatic brain injury,” he said. “I had double vision, balance problems, and ended up having three of my neck vertebrae fused. I still have spinal problems, and I developed diabetes as a result of all my surgeries.”

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

Back in Loxahatchee, Nappier took stock of his prospects. He got involved with the Horses for Heroes program at the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, which provides therapy for injured service personnel at no cost. It’s part of a national program, along with Project Healing Horse, which uses horses to provide physical, psychological and social benefits for injured veterans. Riding can help improve strength, balance, coordination and self-confidence.

“I heard about the program from a friend. I’d been around horses a lot when I was growing up, so I decided to get involved,” Nappier said. “It was great. I got to know the horses, and I loved doing all the ground work — brushing them, leading them around. And of course, riding again was wonderful. The riding made a big difference in my stability, balance and confidence, and strengthened my core muscles.”

Last July, neighbors approached Nappier with a problem. They had lost their home and needed a place for one of their horses. Nappier agreed to adopt Akeem, a nine-year-old bay Arabian gelding.

“This poor horse had been a play toy for

the other horses,” he said. “He’d gotten kind of picked on. No one had spent a lot of time with him. But I did, and we became friends.”

Three weeks later, the people came knocking on his door again: Would he be willing to take another one of their horses? This one was a bit more of a challenge. Napoleon was a gray 13-year-old Andalusian gelding who was described as “a man hater.”

But Nappier was game. Far from being a man hater, Napoleon turned out to be a big

old puppy dog. Nappier said the horse will even lay down with him and let him clean out his hooves.

“Akeem and Napoleon are best friends,” he said. “I can’t just ride out on one and leave the other home, so I always bring both of them along. I either have my wife or a friend ride with me, or if no one’s available, I ride one and lead the other.”

Nappier’s favorite is riding Western, but he

See NAPPIER, page 26

Injured veteran Jim Nappier rides Akeem.

Call Me Crazy, But I’m About To Decorate A Haunted House

I think the line is sometimes finely drawn between Genius and Idiot.

I also think that sometimes, when Opportunity knocks, it’s holding a sledgehammer behind its back.

I bring this up because I am either a genius who knows a good deal when she sees one or an idiot about to get smashed with a sledgehammer.

On Monday, someone called my antiques store and made me the following offer: come to my bed-and-breakfast, decorate it right down to the doorstops, and you can put the name of your shop and price tags on everything you’ve brought in.

“How’s that going to look?” I asked.

“Like you’re sleeping in a store,” the owner answered. “Won’t that be fun?”

I had to admit it sounded like fun. And if it sounded like fun to me, maybe it would sound like fun to newlyweds, vacationers and the legions of purple-wearing women in red hats who like to go to bed-and-breakfasts. I made an appointment to visit the inn.

I have to admit it was nice.

“Miss Caroline’s Vacation Retreat” is a two-

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

story Victorian right in the heart of St. Augustine, a stone’s throw from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum and on the main drag. An open-air trolley scooted by while I stood on the porch and people were waving.

Inside, the place had couches and beds and a dining-room set but there were a lot of empty corners and walls.

“People keep asking if they can buy the stuff, so I sell it to them,” the owner said. “I’ve been restocking, but it’s not really the business I’m in.”

“Sounds like you get a lot of reservations,” I commented.

“Mostly paranormal groups,” she shrugged. “The place is haunted.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, they check in about 4 p.m., hang out until dark, then start setting up their equipment. Every single group has seen the little girl; then there’s the guy who whispers at them to ‘get out.’ But nothing bad has ever happened.”

“A guy tells them to get out?”

“Whispers. A ghost. But nothing bad has ever happened,” she repeated.

We took a brief tour of the house, my instore designer at my side — right at my side — and I made some sketches. I wrote down the color scheme of each room and measured a few walls. With three bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, formal dining room, three porches and a back hallway, this would be a project. A big project.

“And when would you like this completed?” I asked.

“Well, I’d like to have everything done by Saturday.”

“This Saturday?”

“Yes, because we’re being filmed for a paranormal television show that night. But don’t worry. I’ll give you a key. You can

come in to work at midnight if you want to.”

My designer whimpered, but I ignored her. I was so intrigued with it all.

“We could really work all night?” I asked.

“Sure,” the owner shrugged.

My designer started to shake, but I took the job anyway.

When we got in the car, she started crying and punched me. “I don’t want to work in a haunted house at midnight!” she said.

“I’ll be there with you!” I replied.

“What if that ghost comes around and tells us to get out?”

“We’ll say, ‘No.’ If he insists, we’ll leave and come back the next night.”

“Maybe you will!”

“It’ll be fine. It’s a great business opportunity! It’s like having another location without the rent!”

“I’m scared.”

“Let’s get an ice cream.”

Even with ice cream, she remained unconvinced. As for me, I can’t wait to see what happens.

And whether I’m a genius or an idiot.

‘Comedy’ These Days Makes Me Long For The ‘Golden Age’

I doubt that I am the only person who has noted that the best situation comedies are on Nick at Night, TVLand, Hallmark Channel and other forms of syndication. When people talk about the “Golden Age of TV Comedy” they are certainly not discussing what’s being presented these days.

I was reminded of that when watching a new “comedy” called Romantically Challenged. The name is a misnomer. The four characters, two of whom seem to be living to a large degree off the other two, are basically interested in partnering with whoever will have them. The main point of the opening episode was one of the guy’s problems in dealing with a girlfriend who wanted to be spanked. He was queasy. After all, girls like that are hardly the norm. All the other characters assured him that “anything goes.” The “big” laugh line came when he discussed his discomfort of seeing the woman with a tennis ball in her mouth… and well, let’s just say, euphemistically, he had to walk her. In a later episode, one of the women rejected a man because he was too nice. When she later found out he had a darker side, she got more interested.

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Many of our current sitcoms, and I freely admit there are major exceptions, now fill their time with some of the sleaziest characters possible. I don’t mind when How I Met Your Mother at least presents a group of reasonably pleasant people, even if they do think more than a bit about coupling. But, with the exception of one character, they would like to find love. Modern Family handles it best, which probably is the reason it is the most successful of the new shows. Yes, it has a gay couple, who seem to be more upset by their own situation than anybody else is.

But my own feelings, particularly after watching “an exciting modern new program” as ABC bills Romantically Challenged, is that the male characters should be gelded and the

Nappier also is involved in skiing competitions for disabled skiers and regularly travels to Colorado to compete. He has won gold, silver and bronze medals and has been invited to the NASTAR Nationals, though he can’t afford to go. Yet.

female ones spayed. Of course, Two and a Half Men’s Charlie could use the same treatment, as based on the celebrity press on the actor who plays him (Charlie Sheen). But at least some of the sitcoms actually focus on more than simply sex.

Go back to the old days and watch The Cosby Show and Everybody Loves Raymond to see examples of shows where the characters all seem to care about each other while being very funny. The trend has certainly changed. The creation of caring environments, places where those who are a wee bit daffy are safe and funny, was not easy but it was done.

This is not a criticism of some shows where more formal families did not exist. Shows like The Golden Girls, Cheers, Friends and Seinfeld demonstrated that blood relationships were not the only ways to create families. As most of us past a certain age know, long-term friendships cannot only create ties as strong as those of blood, but you have the advantage of being able to select who you choose to love and be loved by.

As people move from place to place and genetic families live at ever-greater distanc-

“It’ll be like going back in time 200 years,” he said. “I’m mapping everything out. We’ll ride the whole way, live off the land, hunting and fishing, camp out or stay in old line shacks, visit abandoned mining towns. It will give us time to get to know ourselves again.”

es, our friends become our families. Situation comedies, until recently, reflected that, not just through having strong friendships shown but by examining all forms of behavior. Unfortunately, more of the shows have decided to primarily focus on sex, often to their detriment.

I have a modest proposal. Take the sex-oriented comedies: and put them in pay cable. That way they can have all the raunch they want and can accept the generally poor ratings they get. Even more to the point: if the performers are naked, people might not notice the poor writing. And maybe the networks can go back to shows that actually attract a lot of viewers. Nah, they probably would prefer to have another group of medical shows with pretty doctors of all sexes, spinoffs of other series (I hear there will be another Law and Order series), reality shows that focus on the lowest common denominator, and avoid much creativity.

At least I have the baseball package so I have something to watch this summer. Anyone care to take the long odds on a bet that the networks will present something, anything worthwhile once the regular season is over?

still debating that. I have mixed feelings. I really want it to be just us, but I would love other vets to see what they can do and be inspired.”

continued from page 25 also rides English, dressage and even bareback. The horses love when he rides them into a pond so they can swim, and Akeem loves being decked out in equipment. “I’ll dress him up in a fancy saddle, tie my drover coat behind the saddle, then add on saddle bags and a rifle scabbard,” he said. “The more I put on him, the better he likes it.”

“One of these days I’ll be able to afford it,” he said. “The riding has helped me tremendously with my balance and endurance in skiing.”

Nappier’s most ambitious project has nothing to do with competition. He’s hoping to take the horses, and maybe his wife and four to six veteran friends, and travel through the back country from Montana to Oregon during the next year or two.

Nappier has it all planned. They’ll leave in early spring and travel for about six months.

He’s working out the emergency logistics, like what they’ll do if they run into a snowstorm, but in his mind, this is a trip that will happen.

He’s lived off the land before, and doing this would be a great learning experience and a dream come true.

“The VA wants to send a crew along with us to document the trip,” Nappier said. “I’m

And if his story helps other injured vets, all the better. “It’s like the skiing. I never thought I’d be able to do that, but then I tried and found that even if one part of my body wasn’t working right, I could use another part instead,” Nappier said. “I’m no spring chicken. I think other vets looking at me will see that they can find a way to do anything they put their minds to. If you have a dream, you gotta follow it and never give up, no matter what injury or disability you might have. There’s always a way.”

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Burn The Floor’

This Weekend

At

The

Bamboozle Roadshow Comes To

The Cruzan Amphitheatre May 25

The New Jersey-based festival the Bamboozle Roadshow, featuring headliners Boys Like Girls and All Time Low, will come to the Cruzan Amphitheatre on Tuesday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m.

The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 will be an all-day event with two stages of talent, a main stage with rotating artists and a second stage showcasing the talents of many upand-comers.

Scheduled to perform are All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, Cartel, Forever the Sickest Kids, Good Charlotte, Hanson, Cady Groves, Great Big Planes, Mercy Mercedes, the Downtown Fiction, the Ready Set and Vita Chambers.

The Bamboozle Festival started in New Jersey in 2005 and has since stretched its wings launching festivals in California and Chicago. Average attendance for the N.J. festival tops 35,000 per day, with this year’s lineup featuring Paramore, Ke$Ha, MGMT, Weezer and Drake.

This year will mark the third year of the traveling Bamboozle Road-

show. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, parking and service/handling charges.

Tickets cost $32.50 general admission and are available through the PNC Bank box office at the amphitheater, www.livenation.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information about this year’s Bamboozle Roadshow, visit the festival’s web site at www.the bamboozleroadshow.com.

Kravis Center ‘Works In Progress’ At The Norton

Years before Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance turned ballroom dancing into must-see TV, one sizzling show was setting stages ablaze around the globe. Burn the Floor, the electrifying Latin and ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries, is at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach after its seven-month season on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre. The show is running through Sunday, May 9 as part of the Kravis Center’s Broadway series.

Burn the Floor is a dazzling display of ballroom dance that forever blurs the line between the frenetic energy of an electrifying rock ’n’ roll arena show and the seductive glisten of Broadway-style theater. Featuring a high-voltage, superbly executed blend of rumba, cha-cha, samba, salsa, waltz, tango, quickstep, swing and jive, Burn the Floor ushers in a new era of ballroom dance. Stripped of pretense, the performances have an unbridled energy that makes this sensuous mix of dance and music a stunning rhythmic spectacle of dramatic sophistication never before seen on stage. Burn the Floor opened Tuesday, May 4 and will continue through Sunday, May 9. Show times for Saturday are 2 and 8 p.m. There will

be a Sunday matinee show at 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $20. To purchase tickets, call the Kravis Center box office at (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. For additional information, visit www. kravis.org.

On the second Thursday of each month, the Norton Museum of Art opens its doors for Art After Dark, an evening of music, refreshments and activities. Each month a different fun event takes place that transforms the Norton into a chic nightspot. Mark your calendar for May 13 from 5 to 9 p.m. when “Works in Progress” will feature the Artists of Palm Beach County (APBC), a diverse group of talented artists, writers and musicians. Talya Lerman, Norton’s volunteer and tour coordinator and an APBC board member, will be coordinating the event.

That evening, the Jacob Jeffries band will perform while APBC members lead art experiences throughout the museum. Among them, author/poet, artist and astrologer Cora Lee Palma-Hayden will demonstrate the ancient art of china painting. Porcelain painting was popular during the Victorian era when women gathered to create decorative pieces, which turned into heirlooms. Palma-Hayden will share more of the history of this feminine art while she demonstrates how to do it.

Jean Hutchison will have her French easel and acrylics set up in the garden where she will be painting one of the sculptures, and Lynda Kidd will be demonstrating

painting in reverse on a large glass “terrarium.” Steven Nussdorf will share his drawings and accompanying written commentary. A spoken word performer in the tradition of William Burroughs, Nussdorf always delights the audience with his drawings, poetry and prose. Dynamic mural artist and designer Sharon Koskoff, the founding president of the historic preservation organization Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches, and a past vice president of the Artists’ Guild of the Norton Museum, will give a pastel demonstration.

Using charcoal and plywood, Terry Rybovich will give a demonstration of her drawing process while she introduces her method of accessing the subconscious to create images. Utilizing frequencies and techniques such as binaural beats, Reb Han will present Sound Paintings for Out of Body Experiences

The performance of live instrumental synthesizer compositions stimulates feelings of peace and happiness in the listeners.

Light Thru a Lens: Photographers Take the Stage is a slide presentation by three artists, each with a body of work that uses light in a unique way to create his or her visions. Elle Schorr will present her series “Reflections,” Barry Seidman will show his series “Smoke” and

selections from other series, and Dan McGavin will show a series he calls “Ephemeral Landscape: Nature, Movement and Time.” All three have been in numerous juried exhibitions as well as recognized art galleries. The artists will explain their thematic intent and the elements that make their work unique. Also join Charles Stainback, William and Sarah Ross Soter Curator of Photography, for a discussion of the video installation Acting Out/ Three Videos by Three Artists, Evil Knievel, Christian Marclay and Erin Wurm. Each focuses on a single human subject. They run the gamut from poetic, to odd, to humorous. In addition, students from G-Star High School of the Arts will screen and discuss their films.

Guests will enjoy gallery tours, treasure hunts for families and the treats offered on the Café 1451 menu. General admission rates apply. The event is free for museum members and children under 12. All ages are encouraged to take part in this gala event.

The Norton Museum of Art is located at 1451 S. Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach. For more info., call the museum at (561) 832-5196 or visit www.norton.org. For more about the Artists of Palm Beach County, visit www.artistsofpalm beachcounty.org.

Boys Like Girls are headlining the Bamboozle Roadshow.

Vocalist Rebecca Tapia sings in Burn the Floor

A scene from Burn the Floor

Elegante’ Polo Opens At Wellington Green

Elegante’ Polo of Palm Beach opened its doors on Monday, April 19 near the Mall at Wellington Green.

The 2,400-square-foot shopping experience offers a wide range of outstanding attire for men and women as well as unique and distinctive home furnishings.

Drawing from his retail experience in Denver, Colo., owner Robert Kiger has created an incredible collection of polo-themed attire from around the world.

Kiger’s collection is uniquely enhanced by colorful clothing from exciting new brands such as Etiqueta Negra from Buenos Aires, Vicomte A. of Paris, the world-renowned La Martina fashions, plus distinctive leather bags from Tipa Y Cana in Mexico. Incredible hats and luxurious small home furnishings round out this new one-of-a-kind Wellington shopping destination — four incredible collections in one great location. Elegante’ Polo is truly the “essential elegance of polo” for all fashion-conscious shoppers.

Elegante’ Polo is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. at 10620 W. Forest Hill

Blvd., Suite 40 in Wellington Green Square near Fresh Market. For more information, call (561) 798-7816. Facebook friends can keep up with the latest styles and trends at Elegante’ Polo’s Facebook page.

Elegante’ Polo of Palm Beach staff with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors at a ribbon cutting for the new store.

of the clothing items available at Elegante’ Polo of Palm Beach.

McAuliffe To Speak At May 19 Wellington Chamber Luncheon

On Wednesday, May 19, State Attorney Michael McAuliffe will speak to Wellington Chamber of Commerce members and guests during a luncheon at the Binks Forest Golf Club (400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington).

In addition, the Wellington Chamber will be rolling out its new Young Professionals Organization, Technology Committee and Pyrogrill Business of the Month Program at this event.

In November 2008, McAuliffe was elected as the state attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County. McAuliffe took office on Jan. 6, 2009. Prior to

becoming state attorney, McAuliffe was in private practice as a partner in Rosenberg & McAuliffe PL and a partner in Holland & Knight LLP focusing his practice on litigation matters.

From 1994 to 1999, McAuliffe served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

From 1997 to 1999, he was a section chief and supervisory assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

From 1989 to 1993, McAuliffe was a prosecutor with the Criminal Section, U.S. Department of Justice, in Washington, D.C. As a federal prosecutor, McAuliffe investigated

and prosecuted cases involving domestic terrorism, official misconduct, hate crimes and involuntary servitude. While at the Justice Department, McAuliffe successfully prosecuted the leader of the Ku Klux Klan and other 13 Klan members in Louisiana on federal hate crimes charges.

In the local community, McAuliffe served as the 2007 vice chair of the board for the Children’s Home Society, South Coastal Division, and was the 2007-08 cochair of the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews. McAuliffe also served as the president of the Palm Beach Cancer

Institute Foundation for 2007-08.

In 2007, McAuliffe was given a special recognition award from the Urban League of Palm Beach County for his service. In 2009, the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gave its Shining Star Award to McAuliffe.

Registration and networking will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and the luncheon begins promptly at noon. Admission costs $20 for chamber members with an RSVP, $25 for members at the door and $30 for non-members.

To RSVP, or for more information about the May 19 luncheon, call (561) 792-6525.

Edward Jones Financial Advisor: It’s Time For ‘Spring Cleaning’

This year, local residents should go beyond their home and yard when they do their spring cleaning, and look for ways to rejuvenate their investment portfolio, according to local Edward Jones financial advisor Timothy Fry.

“Spring time is a great time to take a fresh look at your investment situation,” Fry said. “Instead of taking the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ approach, simply make a consistent effort to make progress to-

ward your financial goals. You may need to make adjustments in response to changes in the financial markets, the economy and your personal situation.”

Fry asks local residents to consider the following suggestions:

• Dispose of things that aren’t working — If one of your investments hasn’t performed the way you had hoped, and you’ve given it adequate time, you may be better off by replacing it and using the pro-

ceeds to purchase another investment.

• Get rid of duplicates — If you look at your investment portfolio, you might be surprised to find some redundancies. For example, do you own several stocks issued by similar companies that make similar products? This might not be a problem when the stock market is booming, but it could be a definite concern if a downturn affects the industry to which these companies be-

long. Always look for ways to diversify your holdings. While diversification by itself can’t guarantee profits or protect against loss, it can help you reduce the effects of volatility.

• Put things back in order — Your portfolio might need some rearrangement, having become unbalanced with too much of one investment and too little of another. This situation could undermine your financial strategy, especially if the

imbalance means you are taking on too much risk or, conversely, if your holdings have become too conservative to provide the growth you need. Look for ways to restore your portfolio to its proper balance — one that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon and long-term goals.

Fry’s Edward Jones office is located at 10377 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call Fry at (561) 795-7753 or visit www.edwardjones.com.

Michael McAuliffe

South Florida Fair Elects New Officers

New leadership has emerged at one of Palm Beach County’s oldest charities and the community’s largest outdoor annual event.

Robert Broadway was elected South Florida Fair chairman, succeeding C. David Goodlett at the organization’s recent annual meeting. The 2010-11 slate of officers also includes Craig K. Elmore, vice chair; Jonathan “Jack” Frost, treasurer; Michael W. Bubis, secretary; C. David Goodlett, immediate past chair; Richard J. Vymlatil, president/ CEO; and John Fenn Foster, general counsel/assistant secretary.

Trustees elected include: William E. Bowman Jr., Robert Broadway, Michael W. Bubis, H. Michael Burkhardt, Sam L. Ellington, Craig K. Elmore, Jonathan “Jack” Frost, C. David Goodlett, Dennis Grady, Daniel P. Hrabko, Roberta Jurney, Herbert F. Kahlert, Annis H. Manning, Dare “Pete” Peterson, William E. Pruitt, Palm Beach County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, Charles “Chuck” Syfrett and Robert Weisman. Also elected were more than 70 distinguished, life and honorary trustees and directors.

The South Florida Fair and Palm Beach County Expositions Inc. is a private, non-profit organization. It produces the South Florida Fair each January, the community’s largest and oldest outdoor event dating back to 1912. The South Florida Fairgrounds is centrally located on more than 136 acres and is host to more than 100 events annually at-

tracting more than 1.2 million visitors.

For additional information about the South Florida Fair or upcoming events at the fairgrounds, visit www.southfloridafair.com or call (561) 793-0333.

Green, Energy & Climate Conference May 25-26

2010 South Florida Green, Energy & Climate Conference/Expo will take place May 25-26 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.

The one-of-a-kind program was designed to focus on education and networking that will advance you and your business in the green economy. Speakers, intensive sessions, panel discussions and workshops focused on building socially responsible and sustainable enterprises will be combined with opportunities to engage in personal dialogue with

leading industry, government, consumer and academic experts.

The 2010 conference features a new addition to the conference program — the “100 Cities Summit.” This grant program will bring together leading policy makers from 100 Florida cities to create a coalition of support for long-term “green” strategic objectives. For more information, visit www.floridagreenconference.com or call Anitra Harmon at the Palms West Chamber of Commerce at (561) 790-6200.

Networking Event May 19 At

Trevini Ristorante

Biz to Biz Networking will host an after-work business card exchange and networking event on Wednesday, May 19 at Trevini Ristorante in Palm Beach.

The event will be a great opportunity for local business professionals to network with other area professionals. Guests are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards. There is no membership required to

attend; everyone is welcome.

The networking event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Trevini Ristorante is located on the second floor at the Esplanade (150 Worth Avenue). Admission is $10 and includes appetizers and discounted drinks. Pay online or at the door. To purchase tickets, visit www.biztobiznetworking.com. For more info., call (954) 838-9644.

Jonathan “Jack” Frost (treasurer); Angel “Manny” Zapata, Zoila Hernandez, Dudley Kirton and Daniel P. Lewis (new directors); Robert Broadway (board chair) and Craig K. Elmore (vice chair).

Seminole Ridge Volleyball Boys Heading To District Finals

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity volleyball team advanced to the district finals after a semifinal win over William T. Dwyer High School on Tuesday, May 4 at Palm Beach Gardens High School.

The Hawks (20-2) defeated the Panthers in three games (25-18, 2512, 25-13).

Coach Austin Clubb attributed the win to the team’s constant preparation over the course of the season.

“We didn’t change a thing,” Clubb said. “It doesn’t matter who comes up against us; we’re going to play with the same preparation and the same training.”

Although the Hawks won in the end, they got off to a slow start. The Panthers matched them point-forpoint at the beginning of each game.

“They were just feeling it out and getting warmed up,” Clubb said. “Sometimes it’s just hard to be su-

per fired-up when you know coming into it that you’re at an advantage. But toward the end of it, when they realized that districts were on the line, they started picking it back up.”

Clubb also had the opportunity to get most of his players in the game,

something he thinks keeps the team motivated.

“It’s about keeping them excited and fired-up to be on the team,” he said. “We don’t just have six players on a team, we have everybody. We’re a team. We’re a family.”

The Hawks were set to go into

the finals against either Palm Beach Gardens High School or Jupiter High School, whichever team advanced in the semifinals. Clubb said his team had a good shot in the finals. “We’ve beaten them both [Gardens and Jupiter] in the regular season this year,” he said. “We have a very good chance. We’ve got to get to regionals next, but we’re taking it one game at a time. We’re not going to take anything for granted or come lightly.”

The Hawks played Thursday at Palm Beach Gardens, but the results were not available at press time.

An Interview With WHS Boys Volleyball Coach Brian Bausch

The Wellington High School boys varsity volleyball team has an 18-7 record as it gears up for a state championship run. As the team prepared, coach Brian Bausch took a few moments to answer questions about the past, present and future of Wolverines volleyball.

Josh Hyber: How has your season gone compared to where you thought it would be at this point?

Brian Bausch: We have a few more losses than I expected, but otherwise on par with my expectations.

JH: What is the best thing about being the coach of the WHS boys varsity volleyball team?

BB: I enjoy letting the students see me in a different light. I try to teach them sportsmanship (this has been the toughest) and to have pride in yourself and your school, and how to be winners, even if you lose.

JH: A few of your players play other sports at Wellington High School. What is it like watching them play the other sports, especially with the possibility of an injury?

BB: I enjoy watching them play. The possibility of an injury never crosses my mind because it is a rarity.

JH: You have a lot of characters on your team. Where do you draw the line between having fun and being serious?

BB: I’ve been harping on this all year. You play how you practice. This is the reason for those losses. They tend to want to have fun instead of closing a match. Then they get into a hole they can’t climb out of. This also leads into sportsmanship. I try to teach them they can’t behave goofy when you are up, either. It is disrespectful to the other team.

JH: What was the funniest thing that has happened this year at a practice?

BB: I got six-packed, square in the face, by Jose [Cabrera] while he was spiking.

JH: During a game?

Wolverine Watch

By Josh Hyber

BB: Against Bishop Moore High School, one of their players had an awesome kill. I thought Rex [Kirby] was going to block it because it was a busted play and the ball was so tight on the net. Bishop Moore had no shot. Their player went up and destroyed the ball right around Rex’s block. Jose was playing back row and he just looked at me like, “what am I supposed to do?” Jose and I started laughing at the same time. I shrugged my shoulders. There’s nothing you can do.

JH: What is your favorite Wellington High School volleyball memory?

BB: As a player: winning the county championship my sophomore year. As a coach: I have two. The first was in my second year coaching. We were playing John I. Leonard in the district final, and we had game planned around this one player that they had. We completely shut him down, and my setter, Chris Kushay, had 44 assists in a three-game sweep — which is crazy.

The second was in my third year coaching. We had lost to both Palm Beach Central and Park Vista during the regular season. We ended up playing Palm Beach Central in the district semifinal at Park Vista and went up 2 games to 0. Then we proceeded to drop the next two and then pulled out the fifth and deciding game.

We played Park Vista for the district championship two nights later and went down 2 games to 0. Then our offense clicked. We

came back and swept the next three games, winning the match 3-2. I remember their scorekeeper leaning over and asking, “No. 5, what grade is he in?” My response, “Jose, he’s just a freshman.” Then we played Seminole Ridge for regional. We went up 2-0. Pete Silverman got hurt during the second game and I had another freshman (Lazaro Elortondo) come in and light it up. We lost the next two games and then pulled out the fifth-game victory to win the match 3-2. That was a roller coaster of a week.

JH: You’ve coached Ben Silverman, now a sophomore, and his older brother Pete. What are some similarities and differences between the two?

BB: They both listen and want to learn, and they both are winners. Pete was a vocal leader, but Ben leads more by example.

JH: You’ve coached junior Scott Witkowski for three years now. How has his game progressed?

BB: Tremendously. He was a setter his freshman year. His sophomore year he led the team in kills as an outside hitter. He played club this past summer with Johnny Harvill, Rex Kirby and Ben Silverman, and finished third in the club division. Now he is leading the team in kills his junior year and is playing a lot more at the middle blocker position. Talk about versatility.

JH: What makes Jose Cabrera such a dominant player?

BB: He wants to win. No quit. Experience. He is a four-year varsity letter winner and also played club volleyball.

JH: You don’t have clear-cut starters. How do you manage to give players a fair amount of playing time?

BB: I do have clear-cut starters, but I still try to give everyone playing time. The best I can do is play them when we are up on some of our opponents.

JH: First thing that comes to mind when you hear: Johnny Harvill.

BB: High energy.

JH: Michael Tore.

BB: Athlete, wants to learn.

JH: Matt Remz.

BB: Involved.

JH: Lazaro Elortondo.

BB: Athlete, funny.

JH: What was the toughest thing the team has had to overcome this season?

BB: The ups and downs. Losing matches we shouldn’t have and learning to finish matches. We still, as a team, haven’t learned to do that.

JH: You played well against the No. 1 team in Florida, Bishop Moore High School. Were you surprised by the team’s play?

BB: Tough question. I knew we could. We had heard all this talk about how amazing they were but never saw them play. I think we were a little timid playing the first game, but then something clicked toward the end of it. We won the second game pretty handily, even if the score didn’t reflect it. The third game I felt we gave away, if you can even say that against the No. 1 team. We were up 12-8 in a game to 15. They had just used both of their timeouts and their backs were against the wall. We lost 16-18. This goes back to finishing matches. Love the way they played. Hate that we didn’t finish.

JH: How far will this team go in the state playoffs?

BB: They have to decide. Can we win it all? I’ve said in the past we can, but now I truly believe that this is the team that could. We should’ve and could’ve given the No. 1 team in the state the only blemish on their 19-0 record, but we didn’t. We’ve lost to Park Vista. Will we make it out of our own district? To answer your question, depends on which of my teams shows up.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN

David Specian sets the ball.

David Frazee put the ball over the net.

FIRST-PLACE FINISH FOR WELLINGTON WAVE

U-12 BOYS

Playing up in the U-12 division, the Wellington Wave U11 boys white soccer team won the Palm Beach Soccer League end-of-season tournament held April 9-11. Pictured above are: (front row, L-R) Remy Suarez, Nicolas Martinez, Jared Tolbert and Christian Urreiztieta; (second row) Alec-Michael Petrizzi, Francois Dulysse, Jonathan Gordon, Anthony Grnja and Enzo Lerer; and (back row) Alec Sunshine and coach Doug Sunshine.

WAVE U-9 BOYS

SECOND IN END-OFSEASON TOURNEY

The Wellington Wave U-9 boys travel soccer team placed second in the Palm Beach Soccer League end-of-season tournament. The competition was held April 9-11 in Delray Beach. The Wave lost to the Palm Beach Gardens Predators in the championship game. Team members are: Blake Weger, Dustin Nicholson, Morgan Suarez, Logan Fenimore, Luke Mattessich, Casper Gundersen, Alex Lawson, Zelden St. Surin, Nicholas Nermesan and Jack Schmell. The team is coached by Alfonso Undiano and Jorge Suarez. Pictured above, team members pose with their tournament trophies.

Acreage Pop Warner League Adds Signup On May 8 At Church

The Acreage Pop Warner Football League would like to thank Cornerstone Fellowship Church and the Acreage community for helping to make its football registration program successful.

During signups, the league was successful in placing four divisions in the Treasure Coast Pop Warner Association and is continuing to work on a fifth division. The response was overwhelming, and as one parent said, “it’s about time we have a league out here where we can feel safe about letting our kids play football and a program that encourages scholastics.”

Because of the overwhelming response, league organizers have decided to hold another registration on Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cornerstone Fel-

lowship Church (13969 Orange Blvd.).

League board members, as well as all the volunteers who helped make this first year a success, would like to thank everyone who came out and signed up.

In the inaugural season, the board decided to let the participants pick a team name: the Acreage Pop Warner Steelers.

The new Acreage Pop Warner Steelers teams hopes to be a feeder program for the Seminole Ridge High School Hawks. League organizers thank Seminole Ridge head football coach Matt Dickmann for his assistance in this regard.

For more information about Acreage Pop Warner football, visit www.acreage popwarnerfootball.com.

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

RPBHS Dancers Tops In Competition

Michele Blecher’s two dance teams, Tapazz dance troupe and the Wildcat Dancers, competed at the ADA national dance competition held April 16-19 at the Omni Theater in Coconut Creek. Both teams are based at Royal Palm Beach High School.

The Tapazz dance troupe competed in several routines. The scoring is as follows: “Colors of the Wind,” Alexa Blecher and Lucas Gonzalez, lyrical duet, Gold; “Love Game,” Gold and first place, grand champions and overall top score; “Love Remains the Same,” Gold and second place, grand champions and overall top score; and “Whatever Lola Wants,” Alexa Blecher, Gold.

The routines and scoring for the Wildcat Dancers dance team are as follows (ranking was Bronze to Gold): “Bosom Buddies,” Kristen Rivas and Alexa Blecher, Gold; “Cell Block Tango,” Gold, third place, grand champion and overall top score and specialty award: Best Musical Theater Routine; “Right Round,” Gold, second place, grand champion and overall top score; and “You Belong to Me,” Gold, second place, grand champion and overall top score.

The Tapazz dance troupe holds

TKA Track & Field Stars Battle To Win State Titles

The King’s Academy sent their athletes into battle Friday, April 30 at the Florida Class 1A State Track & Field Championship. The TKA boys track team placed fifth overall at the finals, and two of the athletes won state titles for specific events.

For the second year in a row, Ian Williams won the 200-meter dash to put the finishing touch on his high school athletic career Friday night at Showalter Field in Winter Park. In addition, Williams finished second in the 100-meter dash, and it was his first time competing in that event. Next year, Williams will play defensive back and run track at Fordham University in New York.

The King’s Academy had anoth-

er state champion as Jamaal Wallace won the discus with his final throw. His winning toss was 156 feet and four inches — nine feet farther than he had ever thrown before last Friday, and it broke the school record by six feet. The throw got Wallace the state title by almost a foot. Wallace also scored in the shot put, placing third with a toss of 48 feet and 4.75 inches. He has accepted a scholarship to play football and compete in track at Webber International in Babson Park, Fla.

The King’s Academy had a chance to finish higher overall, but the 4x100 relay was disqualified for jumping the gun in the finals.

classes and practices through adult education at RPBHS. Tapazz members are from all over the western communities ranging in age from 12 to 23, middle school through post college.

The Wildcat Dancers dance team is the only official dance team at Royal Palm Beach High School. Under Michele Blecher’s direction, both teams continue the tradition and philosophy of blending aca-

demics and performing fine arts, allowing the dancers to succeed in both realms while becoming positive role models for their peers.

The two teams will join together for their final show of the year, “Remembering Patrick Swayze,” on Monday, May 10 at 6:45 p.m. in the RPBHS auditorium. Tickets cost $5 each and will not be sold at the door. To purchase advance tickets, call Michele Blecher at (561) 792-8694.

Registration Underway For Acreage Cheerleading

Registration for the Acreage Athletic League’s recreation cheerleading will be held every Saturday in May from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Acreage Community Park. The league is for girls and boys ages 5 to 17, and birth certificates are required at registration. A regis-

tration fee of $100 is due at the time of signup. Checks should be made payable to Acreage Cheerleading. For more information about recreation cheerleading, call Marisa at (561) 248-3319 or visit the AAL’s cheerleading web site at www. acreagecheer.9f.com.

Wildcat Dancers — (Front row, L-R) Esther Veloz and Nicole Rivas; (back row) Loren Estabanez, Katelyn Sanchez, Diana Salgado, K. Wilson, Deborah Charles-Pierre, Alexa Blecher, Lucas Gonzalez, John Whitmore and Briana Coomer.

Academy for Child Enrichment — In the heart of Royal Palm Beach, the Academy for Child Enrichment offers free all-day VPK. Infants through after-school day and night care, 6:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, meals included. Qualified staff. Se habla Espanol. Special rates for all registration. The Academy for Child Enrichment is located at 700 Camellia Drive in Royal Palm Beach. Call (561) 798-3452 or visit www.smallworldpbc.com for more info.

Camp Giddy-Up — Ravenwood Riding Academy has been located in Wellington for 20 years. Licensed and insured, with all safety equipment provided, they are located on a beautiful, safe and clean farm with plenty of shade. Ravenwood is now accepting 12 students per session, ages 6-13. Camp hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Campers learn safety, horse care and grooming, with riding lessons daily, as well as scheduled visits with a blacksmith, horse vet and equine dentist. Weekly sessions are $200. Sibling discounts or multi-session discounts are available. Camp Giddy-Up has a full staff and a hands-on director. Register today by calling (561) 793-4109 or visit www.ravenwood ridingacademy.com. Hurry, sessions fill up quickly!

Dianne M. Morin Home Cooking Summer Camp — The Home Cooking Summer Camp program is a hands-on experience where all campers will work in groups based on their level of cooking experience. Everyone will participate in making various aspects of their meal. In addition to general cooking techniques, campers will be instructed on safe food handling, equipment safety and table etiquette. Campers will learn how to read a recipe, prepare and cook delicious and healthy dishes with an emphasis on nutrition. All campers will take home a copy of the recipes which they create. For more information or to register, call (561) 722-4429 or visit www.diannemmorininc.com

CampHours: 8:30am-3:00pm

ExtendedHours: 7:00am-6:00pm

Experienced&MatureStaff WeeklySessions FlexibleSchedules

Age-AppropriateGroups

ThemeBasedFun Before&AfterCare

ContinuedLearningEnvironment

EducationalEnrichmentEvents NutritionalHotLunches

SPANISHBILINGUALClasses

VPK SummerClasses

2’s,3’s,4’sACTIVITIES:

•ComputerLab•AnimalShows •AlphabetGames•Water/SensoryPlay

•CreativeWriting•PuppetShows •Science&Cooking•Music&Movement •Swimming(3’s&up)•TrainRides

ENTERINGKINDERGARTENACTIVITIES:

•On-SiteSwimming•Reading/MathGames •WritingCenter•CreativeWriting •ScienceThemes•GeographySkills

•Sports&PlayBall® •VideoGameRoom •ComputerLabs•In-houseFieldTrips

FIRST&SECONDGRADEACTIVITIES:

•On-SiteSwimming•Sports&PlayBall® •ComputerLabs•ScienceLabs •MusicClasses•CreativeWriting •ArtClasses•EnrichmentEvents •VideoGameRoom•In-HouseFieldTrips

Private&GroupSwimLessons byAmericanRedCrossCertifiedInstructors

561-791-0013

CambridgePreschools.com 1920RoyalFernDrive•Wellington license#50510415323

Good Earth Farm Summer Camp — At the Good Earth Farm, home of Chocolate Chip Animal Rescue Inc., a not-for-profit large animal sanctuary, children ages seven to 11 learn to care for and respect animals on a real farm at the Horseback Riding & Animal Lovers Camp. The farm features horses, miniature horses, ponies, a donkey, pigs, ducks, geese, sheep, parrots, llamas and alpacas. Summer camp runs from June 6 through July 30, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each special half day for kids includes working with horses, miniature horses, alpacas, llamas and exotic birds, riding lessons, fine arts and crafts, candy, soap making and felting, grooming horses and llama/alpaca care. Sign up now. The camp needs 10 children minimum and 25 maximum. Call Nancy Fried-Tobin at (561) 792-2666 for details. Also, every Wednesday, Good Earth Farm offers group riding for $35 a class, ages four and up at 4 p.m. with an adult walking the child while on the pony; register separately. Fifteen years and up needed as counselor assistants includes one free riding lesson per week plus community service hours. High Touch High Tech — High Touch High Tech has been providing hands-on science experiments to children in South Florida for over 15 years. They bring science to life for children in preschool through middle school. Up until now, Ann and Mike Ezratty, the owners of the South Florida region, and their team of professional scientists, have gone into your child’s school. Now, for the first time ever, they have a facility in Wellington offering summer camp programs and birthday parties beginning June 2010 at a new location off of Pierson Road. The camp offers affordable pricing, hands-on science experiments with lots of cool science take-homes, nature experiences as well as art projects that relate to the scientific investigations. High Touch High Tech knows that children are naturally curious and taps into their natural curiosity to provide them with safe, exciting and fun experiments to help them understand the world around them with the ultimate goal of giving children the tools to be able to think scientifically in order to solve problems. Expect really awesome fun as kids erupt volcanoes, pan for gems, launch rockets, make ice cream, grow plants, make fossils, dissect owl pellets and much, much more! Come visit as High Touch High Tech creates their all new hands-on science laboratory! Space is limited to 20 young scientists. High Touch High Tech is located at 3080 Fairlane Farms Rd., Suite 2. Call (561) 7923785 today.

Loxahatchee Country Preschool — The Loxahatchee Country Preschool has been here for 20 years and provides a safe environment with small ratios for summer campers, which means children are well supervised. Throughout the summer, the camp program offers arts and crafts, field trips (which the management team attends), swimming lessons in the school’s swimming pool, Spanish lessons, movies, a bounce house, golf, bowling and more in-house activities. A free pizza lunch will be provided on Fridays. It’s a safe environment while providing an excellent educational program! In a letter sent to the school, the Kings Academy wrote, “What preschools are better prepared for Kings? Loxahatchee Country Preschool was mentioned with enthusiasm!” Call (561) 790-1780 for more information.

Noah’s Ark — Noah’s Ark is located on Okeechobee Blvd in Loxahatchee Groves. They offer free allday VPK. Lower rates and special registration for fall. Meals are included. Noah’s Ark offers care for infants and preschool children as well as after-school care. Se habla Espanol. Conveniently located at 14563 Okeechobee Blvd. between Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves elementary schools. Call (561) 753-6624 for more info.

Royal Palm Beach Youth Players Summer Camp 2010 — The Village of Royal Palm Beach is hosting three camps this summer:

• Summer Dive-In Acting Camp — In this perfect-sized group, campers of all levels will easily explore and have fun while building performance experience. Instructors skilled in small and large group activities “set the stage” for delivering lines, creating costume flair and a little hip-hop toward a Super Skit! Friends and family are welcome to the finale on the last day. Camp runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 14 - June 18 for ages 7 to 14 with a minimum of eight campers to a maximum of 24. The cost is $175 for RPB residents; $195 for non-residents. For more information, call (561) 790-5149 or register online at www. royalpalmbeach.com for a five-percent discount.

• Summer Movie Spoof Camp — You go see ’em, we’ll spoof ’em! Last year we transformed Transformers… this year we’ll re-do scenes, change-up some artwork and improvise our way ’til showtime! Family and friends are welcome to see our summer blockbuster… with a twist! Camp runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 12 - July 16 for ages 7 to 14 with a minimum of eight campers to a maximum of 24. The cost is $175 for RPB residents; $195 for non-residents. Art materials and camp t-shirt included. For more information, call (561) 790-5149 or register online at www.royalpalmbeach.com for a five-percent discount.

• Lucky Starz Productions — Lucky Starz presents “A Beautiful Me” Empowerment Camp for girls ages 8 to 16 hosted by the Village of Royal Palm Beach. Campers will learn to build self-esteem, etiquette, make new friends, introduction to public speaking, introduction to modeling, skin care and makeup for teens. Each camper will receive “A Beautiful Me” camp t-shirt. Camp includes a tea party and fashion show featuring all camp participants. There are two sessions: June 7 - 11 and June 21 - 25 running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $175 for RPB residents; $195 for non-residents. For more information, call (561) 790-5149 or register online at www.royalpalmbeach.com for a five-percent discount or visit www.luckystarzproductions.com.

Temple Beth Torah’s Leonie Arguetty Preschool — If your child is between 2 and 6 years old, “Summer of Fun” Enrichment Camp at Temple Beth Torah’s Leonie Arguetty Preschool is the place to be! Here, your child will enjoy a variety of fun activities that will make them smile, while promoting learning and social development. Activities include: arts & crafts, gymnastics, computers, sports, nature, cooking, water play and our new, state-of-the-art playground. They’re sure to love our weekly entertainment, including magic shows, storytellers and animal shows. All of this in a loving and nurturing environment. Eight Weeks, Full & Part-Time. Free summer VPK. Now enrolling for Preschool 2010-2011. Call Sandy for more info (561) 793-2649 or psdirector@templebethtorah.net.

TNT Gymnastics Center — TNT is offering a great summer program with flexible hours and fun-filled days. They provide a safe, positive environment for your child to enhance self-esteem and physical fitness through gymnastics, trampolines, rock climbing, group games, arts & crafts, water play, martial arts and much more! TNT owner Tina Tyska is a former Class 1 gymnast coached by two-time Olympian Kim Chase. She has 25 years of coaching experience, including toddlers thru Level 9 gymnasts as well as special-needs children. TNT Gymnastics is located at 3120 Fairlane Farms Road in Wellington. For more info., call (561) 383-TNT1 (8681).

Zolet Arts Academy — Zolet Arts Academy is in its 20th year offering professional fine arts classes in the original Wellington Mall. The summer camp program runs Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with four separate weekly schedules starting June 7 for ages 6-8 and 9-14 in drawing, painting, sculpture and crafts. No two days are alike and feature rotating subjects and media: acrylics, watercolors, tempera, fingerpaints, chalk and oil pastels, charcoal, pen and inks, block and mono printing, 3D collage, wood, clay, tile, papier mache, textiles and observational drawing/shading for audition prep. Zolet offers individualized instruction for all skill levels and a perfect time-limited curriculum for rainy afternoons. Take-home completed work daily. The total cost of $165/week includes all free supplies. For more info., call (561) 793-6489.

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, May 8

• The Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County will hold auditions for its 2010-11 season on Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Auditions are open to all area musicians between ages 8 and 22. Visit www.yopbc.org or call (561) 281-8600 for specific requirements and registration info.

• Mounts Botanical Garden (531 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will host a “Connoisseurs Garden Tour” on Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (561) 233-1757 or visit www.mounts.org for info.

• The Palm Beach Zoo (1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach) will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (561) 547-WILD or visit www.palmbeachzoo.org for more info.

• Unity Church of the Gardens will host a Fashion Show and Brunch on Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Abacoa Country Club (105 Barbados Drive, Jupiter). Proceeds go to the church building fund. For tickets, call (561) 972-4435.

• The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will feature “Celebrating Mom” on Saturday, May 8 at 11 a.m. for ages five and up. Show mom how special she is to you by creating a nature craft and having a lot of fun, too. The fee is $3 per child. Call (561) 233-1400 to RSVP.

• The Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) will feature Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday, May 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 9 from noon to 3 p.m. Guests will enjoy Gilded Age-style tea sandwiches, scones, sweets and the museum’s own Whitehall special blend tea. Call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us for info.

• St. David’s Episcopal Church Women will host its annual Fashion Show and Luncheon on Saturday, May 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. There will be lunch, a live piano player and valet parking. Tickets cost $35 per person. For more info., call Samantha Conroy at (561) 319-6111.

• Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) invites the public to celebrate Cultural Diversity Day on Saturday, May 8 from noon to sundown at Royal Palm Beach Veterans Park on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. south of Okeechobee Blvd. For more info., call the Royal Palm Beach Cultural

Center at (561) 790-5149. Interested vendors or participants should call Elet at (561) 791-9087.

• The Wellington Rotary Club will host a Hawaiian Luau benefit at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 8 at the Loxahatchee home of Ben & Joanna Boynton. Tickets cost $50. For more info., call Susan Giddings at (561) 389-2609.

Sunday, May 9

• The One Love Reggae Festival will take place Sunday, May 9 at the Cruzan Amphitheater at the South Florida Fairgrounds featuring reggae music and island food and drinks. Call (561) 574-6888 or visit www.caribflex.com for more info.

• Miss Princesita Palm Beach 2010, a Hispanic beauty pageant for girls ages 4 to 12, will be held on Sunday, May 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Palm Beach State College Eissey Campus Theatre (11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens). Call (561) 667-7719 for more info.

Monday, May 10

• Little Smiles and Chili’s of South Florida have teamed up to host the 10th annual Chili’s Charity Challenge to benefit Little Smiles on Monday, May 10 at Bear Lakes Country Club (1901 Village Blvd., West Palm Beach). The cost is $200 per golfer. Registration will take place at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. For more info., call Raina Ruelle at (561) 262-8590.

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon on Monday, May 10 at 11:30 a.m. at Lock, Stock & Barrel Restaurant (3208 Forest Hill Blvd., Palm Springs). RSVP to (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com for more info.

• Free Cholesterol and Diabetes Screenings will be offered on Monday, May 10 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie pharmacy at 5042 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in Loxahatchee. For more info., call Cholestcheck at (800) 713-3301. No appointments are necessary.

Tuesday, May 11

• The second annual Wellington Middle School Track & Field Championship will be held on Tuesday, May 11 at 4:30 p.m. at Emerald Cove Middle School. For more info., call coach Stephen Hanson at (561) 9518249 or e-mail shanson@palmbeach. k12.fl.us.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Knit, Purl & Crochet, Too!” on Tuesday, May 11 at 6 p.m.

See CALENDAR, page 44

“SUMMER OF FUN” ENRICHMENT CAMP

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

CALENDAR, continued from page 43 for adults. Discover the joys of knitting and crocheting with knitter Maria Gallaro and crotchetier Joyce Bolek. All skill levels are welcome. Pick up a list of required materials. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Meet the Author: Dr. Mitchell Josephs” on Tuesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Josephs is a columnist for The Palm Beach Post, radio host and Palm Beach County Oral Health Coalition member. Chat and ask questions about his book Tooth Talk. A book signing will follow. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Palm Beach County will present “Breaking the Silence: Mental Illness and the Family” on Tuesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the main branch of the county library (3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach). For more info., visit www.mindsontheedge.org.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). For more info., call (561) 791-4000.

Wednesday, May 12

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Wanna Dance like a Chicken?” on Wednesday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 7. Have a blast with stories about crazy, feathered chickens and learn fun chicken dances. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a Networking Mixer on Wednesday, May 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at HSBC Bank (900 State Road 7, Wellington). RSVP to (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest. com for more info.

• The Northern Palm Beach Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet Wednesday, May 12 at the PGA Doubletree Hotel. Networking will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m. with the dinner and program beginning at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $35, and guests are welcome. For more info., call Sharon Maupin at (561) 624-3816.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Gardening for the Soul” on Wednesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. In the book Gardening for the Soul, Colleen and Jim Wiggins relate how gardening provided them with comfort when they lost two adult children to cancer. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present a Writers’ Critique Workshop on Wednesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Share, offer and accept constructive criticism and comments to improve your fiction, nonfiction and poetry in a supportive atmosphere. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• Florida Stage (262 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan) will present When the Sun Shone Brighter by Christopher DemosBrown from Wednesday, May 12 through Sunday, June 20. For tickets, call (561) 5853433 or visit www.floridastage.org.

Friday, May 14

• The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum and Learning Center (129 East Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach) will host “Fun with Food: National Chocolate Chip Day” on Friday, May 14 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and 11:15 to noon. The cost is $2.50 for nonmembers and $2.25 for members in addition to museum admission. Call (561) 7426782 or visit www.schoolhousemuseum. org for more info.

• The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach) will hold a Sushi & Stroll Summer Walk on Friday, May 14 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call (561) 495-0233 or visit www.morikami.org for more info.

Saturday, May 15

• Royal Palm Beach High School’s Medical Science Academy will hold a Fundraising Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 15 at Binks Forest Golf Club. The entry fee is $160 per person or $640 per foursome, which includes green fee, cart, driving range, awards and a barbecue dinner. For more info., call (561) 792-8699.

• The Palm Beach Zoo (1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach) will feature “Bear Awareness Days” May 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (561) 547-WILD or visit www.palmbeachzoo.org or more info.

• West Palm Beach Elks Lodge 1352 (6188 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach) will host an Army of Hope Picnic on Saturday, May 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Admission costs $20 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. There will be food, refreshments, draft beer and entertainment. For more info., call the lodge at (561) 686-1352 or Patti Phillips at (561) 644-5543.

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

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LEAD PRESCHOOL TEACHERSMust have 45 hr. certificate & current CDA a plus. 3 year old & VPK Teacher needed F/T 561-793-5641

P.T. MEDICAL ASSISTANT — NEEDED for busy medical office. Pediatric Experience a must. Fax resume. 561-793-0490

Dental Assistant: Wellington upscale dental office, 2 Saturdays per month a requirement, must have experience and expanded duties certificate, excellent pay and benefits. Please call 561 204 4494 and fax resume to 561 204 2840.

Dental Office Assistant Manager: Minimum two years dental experience, two Saturdays per month required, must have knowledge of PPO dental insurance, breakdowns and verification. Excellent pay and benefits. Please call 561 204 4494 and fax resume to 561 204 2840.

ROOMMATE WANTED - Female seeking female roommate to share furnished single family waterfront home in nice Wellington neighborhood. All utilities included plus, directTV & Internet. $750 per month. References & stable employment required. For more information call 561-385-5199

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CHAIR RENTAL — Stylists, Barber, Nail Technician. For immediate Hire. Shampoo Assistants. Call 3332838 or 784-3948

PAINTERS NEEDED — must have 5 years experience and transportation. Drug Free Workplace. 561793-5455

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JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC. —Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996. Credit Cards Accepted

A/C SALES & SERVICE — New, used, scratch & dent. If you used anyone but Glover’s A/C, you probably paid too much! U10163. 7937388

WELLINGTON BARN BUILDER— Repairs/remodeler.Get an expert that can do it right! EUROPEAN QUALITY AT AN affordable price. 30 years experience, licensed and insured. Homes, condos, bath, kitchens, additions, small stuff. Call 561-723-5837 561-792-2666. ALAN TOBIN CONSTRUCTION, INC. CGC1513577

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MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BUILDING CLEANINGS SPECIALISTS — • Pressure Cleaning • Office Cleaning • Residential Cleaning • Parking Lot Maintenance • Concrete Coatings. Call for Free Evaluation. 561-714-3608

HOUSECLEANING - 20 years experience. Excellent local references. Shopping available. 561572-1782

20 YEARS IN THE CLEANING BUSINESS — in Western Communities and surrounding areas. Great references. Call for free estimates.Brenda 561-460-8380

Highly Desired & Experienced Companion/Caregiver for Elderly. Assist with shopping, Dr. Appt., light housekeeping. References available. Flexible with vehicle. 561-7290277

I WILL COOK, CLEAN & SHOP — Lets havea fresh dinner every night. Theatre, golf, parties, tennis, riding & museums. $550 per week. 12-10 p.m. 5 days per week. Call Madelyn 561-422-2910

COMPUTER REPAIR — We come to you! After hours and weekends services available. Spyware/ Adware/Virus Removal, Networking, Wireless, Backup Data, Upgrades. Call Anytime. 561-7135276

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/ Software setup, support &troubleshooting www .mobiletec.net. 561-248-2611

D.J. COMPUTER - Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3339433 or Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach

ADDITIONS, ROOFING, PATIOS & REMODELING - Cell 561-202-7036 561-798-6448 Licensed & Insured. CBC 1250306 CCC1326386

DRIVEWAYS — - Free estimates. A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. Licensed & Insured. 100045062 561-667-7716

DADS DOORS & WINDOWS, INC. IMPACT WINDOWS & HURRICANE SHUTTERS — Sliding Glass Doors, Mirrors & Shower Doors. 561-355-8331 U 19958 U20177

STAFF PLUS — Looking to fill

OUTDOOR KITCHENS FROM $1290 - increase home value while you save gas and electricity. Entertain your friends with your custom bar & grill. Custom built quality, material. Low priced add on bar. Use your grill or economical cart grill. www.outdoorbbqisland.com Greg. 561-531-3141

RJA PAINTING AND DECORATING, INC. - Interior , Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial. License #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561-793-5455 561-662-7102

CO.— James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528

HOME INSPECTIONS — Mold

JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. - Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964. Lic. #U18473

COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. - Insured. 561-3838666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Well. Resident.

PIANO LESSONS FOR CHILDREN — Ages 4 – 17 Lessons are effective, stress free, and FUN. Serving all of Palm Beach County. 561-358-3932

616-5944 for a free rate quote. GET REAL AUTO INSURANCE — that comes with a Real Agent. Farm Bureau Insurance. Auto • Home • Life, Marc Piven, Agent 561-792-1991Wellington BOB CAVANAGH ALLSTATE INSURANCE Auto • Home • Life • Renters • Motorcycle •RV • Golfcart • Boat Serving the Western Communities for 24 years. Call for a quote 798-3056, or visit our website. www.allstateagencies.com/ rCavanagh.

Mold & Mildew Inspections

LICENSED PLUMBER - Beat any legitimate estimate. A/C service lowest price. Complete service, new construction, replacement. CFC1426242 CAC058610 Bonded & Insured. 561-601-6458

POOL PLASTERING AND RESURFACING — Lic. U19996. 561722-7690.

ELITE POOL SERVICE — You dealt with the rest now deal with the best.” All maintenance & repairs, salt chlorinators, heaters, leak detection. 561-791-5073

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING — Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.Call Butch 309-6975

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS — Roof painting.Carpentry.Lic. #U13677.967-5580.

HORIZON ROOFING QUALITY WORK & SERVICE — Free estimates, No Deposits. Pay upon completion, res/comm.reroofing, repairs, credit cards accepted. 561-842-6120 or 561-784-8072 Lic.#CCC1328598

ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763. ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134