Town-Crier Newspaper May 8, 2009

Mother’s Day...

More Than Just A ‘Hallmark Holiday’

This coming Sunday sees the recognition of Mother’s Day, a holiday some refer to as a “Hallmark holiday.” While

SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN

Larger Cell Phone Tower Will Replace Existing One In RPB

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved an application Thursday to build a new telecommunications tower to replace the existing 39-year-old structure at the Village Hall complex.

By Mark Lioi Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington launched an online survey this week as part of its effort to identify problem areas and individuals in need of assistance.

The survey, which can be reached via a link on the home page of the village web site at www.ci.wellington. fl.us, asks seven questions, beginning with a request for contact information. That is followed by a series of yes/ no (and sometimes maybe) questions: Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? Would you call the PBSO for help? Do you want to volunteer? Do you need information to prevent pre-foreclosure?

Rosenberg replied. “If you don’t even feel like doing that, the new web survey is very brief. You can give your information, or you can stay anonymous.”

Rosenberg said another new feature on the village web site is a way for residents to request assistance from the Citizens Volunteer Organization, a new citizens’ group partnering with the village to improve the community. A link titled “CVO Helps” leads visitors to a page where they can register and request assistance.

from the agenda to allow more time to resolve contractual issues.

The applicant received a special exception use approval to build the 130-foot tower. AT&T will remove the existing tower and replace it with the monopole structure, Laute said.

Central High School valedictorian Jake Saifman and salutatorian Christa Ochoa are looking forward to stepping up to the podium at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during the Class of 2009’s commencement ceremonies May 22. Page 7 Area Congregations

B’nai Avraham, B’nai Jacob Merge

Congregation B’nai Avraham of Wellington and Temple B’nai Jacob of Palm Springs marked the merger of their two congregations last Sunday with a service reminiscent of a Jewish wedding. Page 9

FEATURES

Joseph Der Plans

Web Site, Reality Show On Wellington

Reality TV is big business, and Joseph Der wants Wellington to be featured in its own show. Der conceived of a show dealing with the lifestyles of people in a variety of riding disciplines, as well as businesses that support riding: everything related to the Wellington equestrian lifestyle. Page 18

The new monopole tower will improve overall cellular communications in the village, AT&T representative Robert Laute told council members.

The new tower will be built at the same location as the old one, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation located in the village hall complex at the southeast corner of Royal Palm Beach and Okeechobee boulevards.

Village Manager David Farber said the agreement brings to a conclusion almost a year of negotiations.

“This had extensive hearings at least in terms of the general concepts involved almost a year ago,” Farber

said. “This tower will be somewhat higher than the one that exists. However, it will improve both villagewide communications as well as the opportunity for the lessee to sublease and provide a revenue stream to the village where we currently do not enjoy one.”

Farber said the tower will provide overall better service in the area for AT&T users as well as other cell phone users whose company subleases the tower. “Anybody who does enjoy AT&T service, along the Okeechobee corridor, it does get a bit rough there,” he said. “I look forward to the opportunity of having a little clearer signal.”

Laute, with SBA Network Services, said the new tower will have space for three other communications lessees, where the old tower did not.

The last time the application was before the council was on Oct. 16, 2008 when village staff pulled the item

There will be no interruption of communications services during construction, according to Senior Planner Bradford O’Brien, who added that the equipment shelter at the base of the tower will be screened from view with a continuous hedge. The applicant will also plant additional trees to enhance the screening.

The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the project last August.

Laute said the tower will improve indoor and outdoor coverage and provide a more

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

As Royal Palm Beach seeks to improve drainage by digging more water retention areas, village officials say their efforts have been thwarted by Florida Power & Light. Although the village owns the land eyed for new retention lakes, easements granted to FPL require the village to get written consent to excavate there. According to village officials, Royal Palm Beach has been trying to get permission to dig for several years, but they have been ignored by the utility. The issue came to a head

at a Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting April 16 when it came time to discuss Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery’s plan to donate 47 acres in the FPL easement to the village. The plan was postponed, but it led council members to wonder if they would face similar challenges with that land and question why the village would want the land if all they could do is maintain it without being able to use it as the village sees fit. “We have battled with FPL to put drainage lakes under the power lines,” Mayor David Lodwick said. “The reason we are doing that is to im-

prove water runoff, which will improve the quality of water for our canals and waterways. It will improve drainage in our town. Aesthetically, they are attractive. It’s a win-win all the way through. But for over two years, FPL has been stalling us at every turn.”

Village Manager David Farber said the land the village would like to excavate is about 400 acres in the easement north of the cemetery and south of Okeechobee Blvd., where small retention lakes already exist. The village has an agreement with FPL that prevents RPB from excavating there without

A sixth question asks respondents what sort of outreach programs they would be interested in seeing the village provide. The seventh is the most open-ended: “What could the village do to help you?”

Parks & Recreation Director Ivy Rosenberg told members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board at their Tuesday meeting that the survey had been launched just that day.

The last question is intentionally general and openended, Rosenberg said, and village staff will route survey responses to that question to the appropriate person.

“There are definitely people out there who need help,” she said, “whether it’s information about foreclosure, crime watch, prevention or even scholarships, and there are a couple avenues where people can ask for help — and it’s confidential.”

The survey can be used to draw attention to a wide range of problems. PRAB Chair Liz Stockton asked Rosenberg how a resident should seek help if the issue is torn screen enclosures or posted real estate advertisements on a particular street.

“You could, of course, call the code enforcement office,”

“You can register yourself, your family or your household under CVO Helps, and it is confidential,” Rosenberg said. “Whether it’s needing help prior to the hurricanes to go grocery shopping, whether you have a hardship case and you need help with a code enforcement violation, we have over 150 volunteers who want to give their time to help the citizens of Wellington.”

Rosenberg said the village’s survey is part of its community reinvestment effort, part of a new strategy called Safe Neighborhoods.

In March, the Wellington Village Council approved the half-million-dollar program to stem the spread of crime and blight in declining village neighborhoods, starting with White Pine Drive and the 12th Fairway, the scene of a home invasion in February that ended in a fatal shooting. With the Safe Neighborhoods initiative, the village aims to devote more effort to code enforcement and law enforcement in troubled neighborhoods, as well as infrastructure improvements such as better lighting and community partnership programs. Besides the assignment of two additional sheriff’s deputies and two code enforcement officers, the village is also in the process of bringing in two neighborhood advocates to work with resi-

See SURVEY, page 18

Little League Chief: Strong Start For New Wellington Program

By Mark Lioi

Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington’s new Little League baseball program has just completed a successful inaugural season and is looking forward to the start of playoff games this Saturday, the league’s president told Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board on Tuesday.

The local youth baseball scene was shaken up last summer when the Wellington Village Council voted to sunset the existing baseball provider board and roll its youth and travel programs into one.

Subsequently, the village’s

written permission. “We cannot get them to put anything in writing,” Farber told the Town-Crier Lodwick expressed similar frustration. “We want the retention area to store stormwater, but we’re being stonewalled,” he said. However, FPL spokeswoman Sarah Marmion said last week that she was not aware of any problem with Royal Palm Beach. “We’re always willing to talk with the village about any ideas they may have, such as the walking trails that we have accommodated, but we must maintain strict controls over the easements to insure

programs changed from the PONY (Protecting Our Nation’s Youth) affiliation to Little League affiliation. Wellington Little League President Jason Weiss, whose son played both youth and travel ball and who had opposed the change, told board members that while he had several years of coaching experience, he has spent the season learning the ropes of administering a youth baseball program.

Weiss said that last August he and a few others stepped up just before the start of the fall season to keep the vil-

See BASEBALL, page 18

the safety of the corridor and reliability of our service,” Marmion said, adding that she could not comment specifically on the village’s request for the excavation of retention lakes. Farber emphasized that although the walking trail is on an FPL easement, it is on land the village owns and maintains. “This entity pays no taxes and nothing in maintenance, and that is their perspective — that they have allowed us to do something that their easement does not prohibit to begin with,” he said.

Temple Beth Torah in Wellington held its first Showcase Showdown of party vendors last Sunday, the first of what organizers hope to make an annual event. Shown here, Wycliffe Golf & Country Club’s Zoltan Bedecs and Jesus Longo offer samples of their work.

Accident Near SRHS Spurs Demands For Action On Sem Pratt

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

An accident last week in which two Seminole Ridge High School students were injured while crossing Seminole Pratt Whitney Road has added fuel to residents’ pleas for long overdue improvements.

Acreage Landowners’ Association Vice President LeAnne Reid was one of three Acreage civic leaders who attended a Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizens’ Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday to make their case.

Chelsea Marina Barge of The Acreage, 16, and Kelsie Parisi of Loxahatchee Groves, 17, were struck by a car driven by another student on April 29 while crossing the road to reach a nearby shopping center, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report. Barge was still hospitalized as of Wednesday but had regained consciousness, according to her Girl Scout troop leader, Ann Peterson.

Reid told the Town-Crier she has been flooded with emails and phone calls from angry Acreage residents who feel their road improvement needs are being ignored.

Students cross the road from the school to the shopping center because their cars are parked there, Reid said, suggesting an overpass should be built if students continue to park there.

“It is a high-traffic road with trucks, and for Palm Beach Aggregates, it is the main road through, and we have teenagers crossing this road,” she said.

Reid also suggested adding an entrance on the west side of the school and changing the school’s parking rules.

“One of the reasons the kids can’t park at school is their grade point average,” she said. “I would rather have my kids safe.”

Reid said signage on the road indicating the presence of a school is limited, and there is no school-zone speed limit. “They need to put signs out there telling people to slow down and put the PBSO out there to enforce it, or at least a flashing light,” she said. “If they’re not going to provide crossing guards on a major busy street, then they need to provide overpasses.”

Indian Trail Improvement

District Supervisor Carol Jacobs also attended the MPO committee meeting and agreed that changes are needed on the road.

“It’s a major truck route,” Jacobs said of Seminole Pratt. “There’s a high school there and the students are coming out — the truck drivers have licenses to drive a truck, so they know how to handle a truck, but they cannot stop on a dime.”

FPL Easement Issues

continued from page 1 trail enhances the utility’s accessibility to the easement because the village made the trail sturdy enough to support FPL utility vehicles.

Farber said that to the best of his knowledge, FPL has never put in writing any activities the village has carried out, giving it permission to conduct activities on the easement. For the past five years, he said, the village has been trying to work out a written agreement to park boats and RVs on the easement without success, yet the utility parks vehicles and equipment under the power lines. The FPL easement that cuts through the village supports a system of high-tension lines that run all the way up from Miami. The village is not proposing anything that cannot be found on other parts of the easement, Farber said.

“If you look at a map, all the types of uses that the property is being used for are the types of things we are trying to reduce to writing in order to do it the right way, and we have gotten nowhere effectively with FPL,” he said. “We are merely looking to do what FPL has expressly or tacitly allowed others to do up

Trucks take Seminole Pratt to Northlake Blvd. and travel east to get on the Beeline Highway, Jacobs said.

“Northlake’s having a problem, too,” she noted. “There was a truck driver killed about two years ago. When you travel Seminole Pratt at night, you’ve got a smooth ride, but through the day, when there’s trucks and cars and teenagers, it’s very dangerous. They need to widen that road so trucks can stay over to the right.”

Late last year the county shelved plans to widen Seminole Pratt and extend it north to the Beeline Highway, and transferred the funding to mass transportation projects. Jacobs agreed with Reid that the Palm Beach County School District should open an alternate access on the west side of the school campus. She said the school originally planned for the western access but met with opposition.

“I think that somehow the school board needs to get involved and get that back road opened up in the neighborhood,” Jacobs said. “Originally that was the plan.” Jacobs said drivers must pay special attention when sharing the road with trucks. “You can’t compare that to a regular road out in the county,” she said. “There’s going to be a major accident.”

ITID Supervisor Mike Erickson, who also attended and spoke at the MPO committee meeting, said he had a positive feeling about its outcome and that the MPO is revising its traffic studies by incorporating more recent data.

“The good thing is they changed the socioeconomic data to reflect approved land uses rather than the old Sector Plan data,” Erickson said. The new data reflects changes in population and density projections as well as anticipated land use, Erickson said.

“We’ve managed to get them to come up with a new process,” said Erickson, who was told by MPO members it would take about two weeks to get the results. Erickson acknowledged that to an extent the study would eliminate some of the need indicated in the Sector Plan, which projected more intense uses in some cases.

“My position has always been that I want to deal with reality,” Erickson said. “Let’s make the most accurate traffic study for the area that we can and find the solutions necessary to give us the biggest bang for the cost-effective buck.” Erickson said one of his suggestions is a two-lane extension of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, rather than four lanes, “with a simple

See SEM PRATT, page 18

and down that easement.” Farber said the village has moved two capital improvement grants totaling more than $900,000 away from the project.

“We’ve worked tirelessly, exchanged maybe hundreds of documents to no avail,” he said. “We have effectively had to abandon that project because of their lack of cooperation.” Wellington also has FPL easements, but Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield said his community has not experienced difficulty working with FPL. “I don’t have the same issues,” Schofield said. “We don’t have any water retention areas in the right of way.”

Schofield said Wellington’s experience has been more positive. The village recently had a successful energy audit by FPL, which found that the village could save money by running certain things during off-peak hours. FPL also located street lights the village was paying utility bills for in error.

Schofield added that during a conflict several years ago over an FPL proposal to expand the number of power lines through Wellington, the power company acknowledged complaints of residents along the easement and reduced the number of lines it had originally planned.

The

and

COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY ON WELLINGTON’S WHITE PINE DRIVE

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Citizens Volunteer Organization joined Wellington Village Council members, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue

the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office last Sunday at a community block party at the south end of White Pine Drive. CVO members met with neighborhood residents to discuss community involvement. Also on hand were representatives from Publix and State Attorney Michael McAuliffe.

Lindsey Churchill and Lorraine Miele from Publix hand out gifts to neighborhood children.

Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto with neighborhood resident Margaret Thorne-Henderson.

Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto talks with State Attorney Michael McAuliffe.

Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto, Joe Piconcelli, Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen, PBSO Capt. Greg Richter and State Attorney Michael McAuliffe.

Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite (holding his son Luke) chats with a resident.

Fire-Rescue’s Fred Angelo with his wife Angela and their daughters Madeline and Lauren.

OUR OPINION

Mother’s Day... Far More Than Just A ‘Hallmark Holiday’

There was no shortage of chatter in recent weeks regarding President Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office. Not surprisingly, some wrote it off as a “Hallmark holiday” for news organizations looking to control their lead stories and boost ratings. This coming Sunday sees the recognition of another holiday some attribute to the Hallmark company — Mother’s Day. While many Americans take the holiday for granted, or ignore it altogether, we disagree.

When Mother’s Day was created roughly a century ago, the American landscape was much different. Families were mostly a patriarchal affair, with mothers staying home to cook, clean and take care of the kids. With the exception of an unenlightened minority, the role of women has moved from the kitchen to the workplace, and it is not uncommon for fathers to handle at-home jobs previously reserved for mom.

Unfortunately, there is now a third party that has increased its influence in the home — the computer. In an age in which children are raised in homes with laptops, video games and cable television, it’s increasingly important that parents set aside a certain amount of face time each week. Otherwise, they run the risk of having their children raised on the Internet. Of course, any kid who has surfed the web this past week undoubtedly has had numerous re-

Kudos To Rocky’s Ace Hardware

In the past, I have written letters to the editor that were about politics in Loxahatchee Groves, but my letter this time is about the Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School carnival. I want to thank all of the parents, teachers and local businesses, as well as the LGES PTO, for their support of this annual event. This year, a new business stepped up to support our kids — Rocky’s Ace Hardware located in Wellington. Rocky’s donated one pallet of bottled water. You may ask, how many bottles of water is that? Well, it’s over 1,000 bottles. This donation saved the school PTO hundreds of dollars. This meant that more money would be made by the PTO and the school.

One hundred percent of the profit from the carnival will go toward programs and events that benefit the students at the school. Also, I want to thank the plant nurseries from the groves who donated their stock for the plant sale.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who supported the school carnival; the list could take up an entire page of the Town-Crier. It’s your support of events like this that helps our students excel in the classroom and in the community.

Frank Schiola Loxahatchee Groves

Palms West

Nurses Do

Great Work

I would like to thank the nursing staff at Palms West Hospital’s fourth-floor OB/ GYN and delivery. Let me start by saying my fiancé

Shelby Jackowski has been there for three months with a pancreas issue and pregnancy combined (very high risk).

You do not ever really hear about this, but she was in and out for a year, and then three months straight, waiting for our baby girl to be born. Every nurse on the day and night shift should be commended for a job well done, going above and beyond the call of nursing. They accommodated Shelby by making her comfortable and bringing movies and puzzles and games. When she was two weeks before a possible C-section, her father collapsed non-responsive in her room — as if things were not already crazy enough. I was just getting off the elevator as they called a code blue in room 414. As I approached the room, the nursing staff quickly calmed me, telling me it was not my fiancé but her father. They quickly revived him, and after a stay in the ICU, he is now healthy. And after the three-month hospital stay, we have given birth to what they call the “Palms West baby girl,” Lauren Nicole Walcher. They are making a difference in the New Life Center, not just for newborns, but for all involved in giving life. These are the incredible nursing staff of the fourth floor of Palms West Hospital. Congratulations to these people for making a difference!

Daryl Walcher West Palm Beach

Not Happy With Hidden Co-Pays

It would appear that the various departments in Palm Beach County, such as our fire department and sheriff’s department, have taken action presumably to cover

minders about Mother’s Day. Consider this another. Thinking of something to do away from the computer this Sunday should be a goal for all children — and by “children,” we mean anyone who has the option of spending Mother’s Day with mom.

Another reason Mother’s Day shouldn’t be thought of as a Hallmark holiday is that mothers need a break, even if it’s only for a day. All year long, mothers have parenting duties to attend to. This Sunday, shouldn’t Mom enjoy a little rest and relaxation? So go ahead and buy a Mother’s Day card. But remember, there’s much more to the holiday than material gifts. If anything, Mother’s Day could be considered a “Rolex holiday” because what it’s really about is quality time.

If you’re looking for ways to spend time with mom this weekend, there are several in the western communities. The Village of Wellington will host the Mother-Son Sports Prom on Saturday, May 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Village Park gym (11700 Pierson Road). For more information, call (561) 791-4005. The Royal Palm Beach Community Band will present a Mother’s Day concert at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center on Sunday, May 10 at 4 p.m. For more information, call (561) 790-5149.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

shortfalls in their budgets by instituting “hidden co-pays” for services.

Normally, when one contracts with a service, either private or public, one is informed at the outset what services are covered fully and which are not. In Palm Beach County, it would appear, perusing my tax estimated bill, no such declaration exists, and citizens are led to believe that their taxes cover them. In addition to undeclared fees for services, which can be liberally termed “co-pays” or at least “add-on fees” that the public is unaware of until services are rendered, we have [fees] hard to explain because of their vague description “other fees.” How can some services delivered by the sheriff’s department or fire department be charged separately, not appear as a listed exclusion on the Palm Beach County tax estimation bill?

How can a citizen be told he now requires a permit for a service he’s paying privately for, and if he doesn’t purchase the permit, the police will not come but send him a bill for $260/incident plus additional fees for any false alarms/ incidents if he’s out of town for or fails to provide someone with a key within 15 minutes?

It would appear that emergency departments in Palm Beach County ignore the tax burden being paid by citizens of this county and operate without oversight or at least with the cooperation of the Palm Beach County Commission in cost-shifting measures designed to ease their burdens while increasing ours. If we know not what services are covered by our sheriff’s and fire-rescue departments, perhaps it should appear to give citizens of Palm Beach County an opportunity on the tax estimation bill and judge whether

those in the county commission and running our emergency services should remain, as they do not seem to be serving the best interests of Palm Beach County. Richard Nielsen Royal Palm Beach Education Can

Help Stop Stroke

On average, every 45 seconds someone in this country suffers a stroke. What’s even more shocking is that African-Americans have nearly twice the risk of firstever stroke than Caucasians. Four years ago, as an AfricanAmerican woman who had alarmingly high blood pressure levels and heart palpitations, I couldn’t deny I was at risk.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, AfricanAmericans have twice the risk of stroke than Caucasians and higher death rates from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than whites. I had to change my life to save my life.

After four years of strict dieting and exercise, free of any medication or operation, today I am 150 pounds lighter and much healthier. This “American Stroke Month,” take a moment to think about if you are at risk and if so, what you’ll do to take action. Stroke is not always treated like a medical emergency, even though it’s our country’s number-three killer and a leading cause of long-term disability. Many stroke patients don’t recognize the warning signs and don’t seek medical attention quickly enough to reverse the devastating effects.

The American Stroke Association’s Power to End Stroke movement educates

about recognizing the warning signs of stroke, reacting quickly if the warning signs occur and reducing risk factors. Education is vital to wiping out stroke.

Jeanette Windmon, Volunteer American Heart Assoc./ American Stroke Assoc.

Senate Protects Florida’s Health

The Florida legislature has reached the final weeks of session, and we are diligently working to bring Florida’s 2009-10 budget in for a landing. We have continued our commitment to improve government efficiency, reduce the cost of services and eliminate duplication, unneeded bureaucracy and waste. The results are smaller government and savings to Florida taxpayers. Our cuts in spending have been narrow and focused to minimize the impact on those families receiving state services.

As we continue to seek reforms that treat all Floridians fairly, our approach to funding Medicaid is a notable example. Florida currently spends $1.25 billion in Med-

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) 793-6090; or you can e-mail them to letters@goTown Crier.com icaid costs per year treating tobacco-related illness. To help relieve this enormous burden on the pocketbooks of Florida taxpayers, the Senate has passed a $1-a-pack cigarette surcharge that not only offsets the cost of healthcare for smokers, but also works to discourage individuals from smoking. Thus reducing smoking-induced healthcare costs over time. To further reduce Medicaid costs, we have passed new laws to stop Medicaid fraud. Our goals are to empower law enforcement agencies to prosecute false claims, phantom billing and deceptive billing practices that unfairly drive up the cost of Medicaid and, more importantly, robs vital dollars needed to treat legitimate healthcare needs among Florida’s most vulnerable citizens. By improving the delivery of Medicaid services and shifting some of the cost burden away from nonsmoking taxpayers, we can improve efficiency, restore fairness and work toward a healthier budget and citizenry. Passing long-term solutions today helps to create a better Florida for tomorrow.

State Sen. Jeff Atwater Senate President

Just Another ‘Government Was Asleep At The Wheel’ Story

Our government hasn’t adequately monitored banks, the brokers, the insurance companies and virtually all other people and entities it does business with. Thus I guess it is no surprise that a clever scientist from Florida seems to have made a killing while making fools of NASA, the Air Force and the Department of Energy. Meet Dr. Samim Anghaie,

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin

director of the University of Florida’s Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute. Might as well meet his wife Susan and sons Ali and Hamed; they all seem to be profiteers in the scheme.

How did this flim-flam scam, which recently filed court papers claim, cost the above mentioned government departments a cool $3.4 million work? Let’s follow the trail... It started when Dr. Angbaie set up a company called New Era Technology (Netech). Susan was named president.

Then Netech proceeded to submit fraudulent proposals to the National Aeronautics and Space Agency for research contracts. This fledgling company then began to receive contracts (13 of them). To sweeten the pot, Netech is also accused of submitting fraudulent invoices to NASA. Dr. A. and wife Susan then simply diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars

NEWS

ALA’s Huck Finn Day Returns To Corbett

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Acreage Landowners’ Association will host its annual Huck Finn Day festival on Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Everglades Youth Camp in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. Promising fun for the whole family, activities will include games, music from DJ Mark Thomas, the Chili Chicks line dancers, a wildlife exhibit, canoeing, fishing, a petting zoo, fence painting,

swamp buggy rides and food.

This year’s festival will add some local entertainment to its traditional list of activities.

“We’re going to have the Chili Chicks teaching kids line dancing,” organizer Maria Enriquez explained, adding that 11-year-old singer/ guitarist/songwriter Emily Webster will perform.

Enriquez said organizers discovered Webster at last month’s Acreage Music & Chili Cookoff.

“She was very good, so we offered her to come play and

get exposure,” Enriquez said of Webster. “She appeals to a variety of ages, from preteens to older teens. We wanted someone that appealed to the age group of kids that come out there.”

Huck Finn Day is a traditional Acreage community event, Enriquez said. “It’s a family event, not commercialized,” she said. “It’s open to anyone and designed to bring the community together. We have canoeing and the fishing hole. We have a cornshucking contest, pie-eating

contest, the petting farm and the wildlife show.”

The $5 entrance fee includes admission, activities and a meal of pulled pork or hot dog with chips and drink.

Other snacks and refreshment including popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones will be available for purchase, she said.

“We also have swamp buggy rides,” Enriquez said. “We did not have that last year because of gas prices. We like to have it because it draws attention and brings more

illegally obtained to personal accounts, including those of their sons. The estimate is $3.4 million since 2000. These easy-money funds were used to buy real estate, cars, etc.

The current governmentinitiated court action seeks to seize real estate in Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Tampa and Manchester, Conn., as well as six cars accumulated by Netech. Interestingly, Dr. A. has been a consultant in some key areas of space science, nuclear power and propulsion. He is well published with over 500 papers and reports. The university has chosen to put Dr. A. on leave with pay. Keep tuned, this one should be a high-profile humdinger for its lack of oversight.

On Sunday, May 17

people to the event.”

Food and other donations will also be collected by Girl Scout Troop 98 for the family of Chelsea Marina Barge, one of the two Seminole Ridge High School students struck by a car while crossing Seminole Pratt Whitney Road on April 29.

The accident is the latest in a string of misfortunes the family has experienced, Enriquez said. “The brother has muscular dystrophy and the father lost his job four months ago,” she said.

The food collection effort is being coordinated by Troop Leader Ann Peterson. Peterson said Barge is a member of her troop. Peterson said she is seeking easy-to-fix foods the family can prepare at the hospital that do not require refrigeration. “We are looking either to stock their pantry with nonperishable items or stock their freezer,” she said. For more information on the ALA’s Huck Finn Day, call Enriquez at (561) 7148436.

Hundreds of locals filled the Wellington Community Center front lawn last Saturday for the first summer outdoor concert. The featured band was Whitestone, which performed classic rock favorites from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Community Projects Manager Nicole Evangelista said the event was designed to get the community out and together. “It’s fun for everyone — a family event, an inexpensive date, a hometown feeling like Mayberry,” she said. The next concert is slated for Saturday, June 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the same location and features the classic and new age rock of Rumour Hazit.

TEMPLE BETH TORAH HOSTS INAUGURAL SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN

It’s

You

With a projected 100 bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, weddings and other big affairs among congregants over the next two years, Temple Beth Torah in Wellington held its first Showcase Showdown of party vendors last Sunday. The brainchild of Devon Cohen, a temple trustee who is currently planning his own daughter’s bat mitzvah, the event featured entertainers, party venues, planners, videographers, photographers, florists, novelty providers and others. Vendors also donated a total of $3,000 in raffle prizes, including a slot machine. Along with co-chair Debbie Plaxen, Cohen plans to make this an annual event.

PHOTOS BY CANDACE MARCHSTEINER/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CANDACE MARCHSTEINER/TOWN-CRIER

Temple cantor Carrie Barry looks at a personalized tallit by Ann McKay of Customized Hebrew Embroidery.

Randi Tarter looks through photo albums with Tom Rollo of Grace Photography.

Adrienne Sasko selects invitations with her son Austin.

Engaged couple Scott Morris and Gloria Schaefer.

Anthony Canciglia serves customers Heather and Hilary Ritchen and Zach Wallace.

The Baldwin family enjoys a picnic supper.

Friends Kayla Richards and Kiara Goldberg blow bubbles on the sidelines.

Kristin Schwartz and her daughter Devon.

Nikki Fox plays with her daughter Savannah.

Students Robbed After Exiting Bus

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

MAY 6 — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Wellington responded to a call Wednesday regarding a strong-arm robbery. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 3:30 p.m. the victims had just exited their school bus at the corner of Wellington Trace and the 12th Fairway. They were walking southbound along Wellington Trace and were approached by two black males, each approximately 15 years old. According to the report, the suspects asked the victims what school they attend. The victims said they attend Palm Beach Central High School, and the suspects replied that they were in a “Wellington High School zone,” and told the victims to empty their pockets or they would be beaten. According to the report, when the suspects realized the victims had only $2, the suspects demanded their gold chains. After taking the victims’ gold chains, the suspects ran.

• • • APRIL 29 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched last Wednesday to a home in Grandview Estates in response to a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, the victim left her home at approximately 7:45 a.m. and returned at 4:30 p.m. to discover that someone had entered her home by breaking a rear window. Once inside, the suspect stole a Playstation 3 gaming system, four Playstation games and a TV/computer combo. The suspect also attempted to steal a computer from the master bedroom but was unsuccessful. The deputy obtained a partial latent print, which was placed into evidence.

APRIL 30 — A resident of

the Isles neighborhood called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Thursday regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 3:30 p.m. last Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. the following morning, someone stole the victim’s mailbox by prying it off of its aluminum post. There were no suspects at the time of the report.

MAY 1 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop last Friday. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 1:25 p.m. the deputy pulled over a white Pontiac driven by 18-year-old Justin Hernandez for a tint violation. Upon making contact with Hernandez, the deputy smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed a plastic cylinder containing cocaine. Hernandez was charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

MAY 1 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded last Friday to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road regarding a shoplifter. According to a PBSO report, a store employee observed 22year-old Kenni Brown of Belle Glade select miscellaneous hygiene products and conceal them inside a plastic tote bag. Brown then attempted to leave the store without paying for the items and was apprehended. A total of $268.31 in merchandise was recovered. Brown was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

MAY 2 — A Palm Springs woman was arrested for felony shoplifting last Saturday at the Macy’s department store in the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, 58-year-old Norma Jimenez-Sosa was observed stealing 13 articles

PBSO Seeks Help Locating Suspects In RPB Robbery

APRIL 29 — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with identifying suspects wanted in connection with a burglary last Wednesday in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 11:30 a.m. two white males burglarized a home in the Madison Green neighborhood. The suspects stole numerous electronics and jewelry, and fled the home in a gray four-door vehicle.

Anyone who can identify these suspects and/or the vehicle they were driving is urged to contact Detective McCranels at (561) 904-8273 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS.

Wilbert Norville

Brian West

Saifman, Ochoa To Lead PBCHS Graduating Class May 22

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Beach Central High School’s valedictorian Jake Saifman and salutatorian Christa Ochoa are looking forward to stepping up to the podium at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during the Class of 2009’s commencement ceremonies May 22.

Both take part in many school activities and plan to continue their friendship after graduation as they will both attend the University of Florida this fall.

Ochoa’s extracurricular activities include the BETA club and the National Honor

Society. She said she enjoys science and English. She enjoys math as well and takes calculus as a part of dual-enrollment at Palm Beach Community College.

“It’s too early to tell where I might wind up, but I feel it may be in the medical field,” she said. “My mom’s a nurse.”

Saifman has a busy schedule between academics, work and extracurricular activities.

“I dual-enrolled last year at PBCC,” Saifman said. “I did a computer class and a calculus class, but I did not do it this year. It’s a pretty busy schedule, but I obviously find

time to enjoy myself and have a social life. I am working a part-time job. I am also doing a lot of community service. We got to a lot of events through the National Honor Society, and there’s also the Jewish Student Union, a club that I created here.”

Saifman said he previously played soccer but dropped that for his senior year due to other commitments.

“I am involved in a lot of clubs, including the Future Business Leaders of America, the Jewish Student Union, the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society,” he said. “I tried to get involved in as many clubs as

I could, and I’m just trying to get involved in as many extracurricular activities as I can. I attend a lot of sporting events, and I like to show support for our athletes.”

Saifman wants to go to law school after attending the University of Florida.

A resident of Greenacres, Ochoa attended Okeeheelee Middle School. Saifman, a Wellington resident, attended Polo Park Middle School, having moved here with his family from New Jersey.

Ochoa and Saifman met as high school freshmen and quickly formed a close bond. “We’ve been friends ever since,” Saifman said.

CAFCI PRESENTS SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) held a general membership meeting last Saturday at the Royal Palm Beach Recreational Center. The meeting included a presentation of the 2009 CAFCI Student Assistance Awards to students Rochele Brown and Natecia Smith, and the inaugural Vivian Ferrin Memorial Scholarship Award to Troop 111 Eagle Scout Alex Pantone, who has been accepted to the University of Florida. Neither Brown nor Pantone was present, so their parents accepted on their behalf.

Student Assistance Selection Committee members Sandra Gordon, Dr. Elaine Ealy, Amanyea Abraham and Alpha McDonald.

WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY HOSTS DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY

The Wellington Art Society held its 2009 Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday at the Binks Forest Golf Club. President Adrianne Hetherington recognized the sponsors and committee chairs with certificates while Corinne Ingerman recognized the society’s officers with certificates. The event was concluded by the installation of the new board of officers. For more information about the Wellington Art Society, visit

Lox Groves Town Council Agrees To

By Ron Bukley

Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council voted Tuesday to provide $240,000 in gas tax revenues to the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District for projects on D Road and A Road.

Town Clerk Matthew Lippman said he had met with LGWCD Administrator Clete Saunier to discuss its funding needs for road improvements and recommended the council approve the measure.

The district is looking to the town to fund road and canal improvement projects because Palm Beach County funding for such work has dried up in recent years. Saunier told the LGWCD board last month that the district would have to raise assessments or limit work to basic maintenance without a share of gas tax revenue from the town.

The district has prioritized some $554,000 worth of projects, and topping the list are the D Road Canal improvements at a cost of

“The main thing I understand is the gas tax revenue needs to benefit as many of the residents as possible,” Lippman said. “The impact for the water control district to provide service to the community is that it would have to increase its assessment.”

Tower 130 Feet

continued from page 1 stable platform for commercial and residential communication, and improved 911 emergency service. The new tower will be 30 feet taller than the existing one.

“The new tower goes from 100 feet to 130 feet,” Laute said. “This will improve the communication for people who live, work and travel throughout the community, the commercial and residential areas surrounding us, and provide improved emergency service for the 911 system, which is mandated by the FCC.” The reason the current site was chosen was so the company would not be adding a new tower to the landscape, Laute said. “The additional height of the tower will meet the needs of AT&T and provide, we hope, better service for the village,” he said. Under the lease, AT&T is

$180,000 and a survey of the A Road Canal right of way at $60,000.

The D Road Canal improvements include clearing encroaching vegetation, dredging, restoring and reshaping the canal section to design specifications, and seeding and grassing disturbed areas from Okeechobee Blvd. to North Road.

Mayor David Browning recused himself from the council’s vote because he lives on D Road, passing the gavel to Vice Mayor Dennis Lipp.

“I am for this, but I will not vote,” Browning said.

During public comment, Saunier thanked the council for the funding and complimented town staff on their ability to work with district staff.

Marge Herzog, president of the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’Association and a former member of the council, asked if the town could also allocate funding to pave the district parking lot since it uses the district building for its meetings. “We’re tracking a lot of dust out of here,” she said.

Lippman said the estimated cost to pave the district parking lot is about $40,000. Saunier it would be less expensive if done in coordination with other projects.

Councilman Ron Jarriel made a motion to direct town staff to draw up an interlocal

to pay $29,200 a year in fiveyear increments in advance.

Councilman David Swift asked about hurricane strength, and Laute said the new tower would withstand stronger winds than the old tower.

“It’s quite a bit more secure,” Laute said. “Your tower was built in 1970, and the wind standards have increased tremendously since then. This is a monopole structure. It’s a single shaft to withstand winds of at least

agreement wihch provides $240,000 to the LGWCD. The motion was seconded by Councilman Ryan Liang and passed 3-0 with Councilman Dr. Bill Louda absent and Browning not voting.

Also Tuesday, the council tabled an ordinance that would give property owners amnesty on nonconforming land uses, suggesting they return to it after the town finishes its uniform land development code or ULDC.

The ordinance would allow people to continue nonconforming uses in place at the time of the town’s incorporation, provided that the use does not threaten health, safety or welfare.

Town Attorney David Tolces said code enforcement officers had cited several property owners under the existing county ULDC for nonconforming uses, when the property owners had not been cited by the county when it had jurisdiction before incorporation.

During public comment, Saunier asked if the town knew how many nonconforming uses there are in Loxahatchee Groves.

“How many businesses do you foresee taking the amnesty option?” he asked. “Before we go down that road, I was wondering what the need is.”

“I have no idea,” Browning said. “We heard it through the grapevine.”

140 miles an hour.” Swift said the approval was a welcome contrast to the “horrible fights” the council has had in the past in locating such structures. Councilwoman Martha Webster made a motion to approve the application, which was seconded by Swift. The motion passed 40 with Mayor David Lodwick absent. Webster also made a motion to approve the accompanying lease agreement, which also passed 4-0.

Tolces said the ordinance would provide that all property owners receive notice of the amnesty option, but he added that it seemed unfair to adopt the ordinance before the ULDC is adopted. “I have no idea who these entities are,” he said.

Resident Frank Schiola said he is personally in a gray area with his lawn service operator’s permit from the county, because the county has no permit category for trash removal. He said trash removal accounts for 80 percent of his business, while 20 percent is lawn service.

Resident Elise Ryan said the Palm Beach County code is inappropriate for Loxahatchee Groves and predicted that residents who would have to apply for a change could have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars altogether.

Ryan said landscaping and lawn services are permitted uses, but other uses such as commercial stables become gray areas, and property owners seeking permits could spend a lot of money. “It could cost tens of thousands of dollars to get that,” she said.

Ryan said the development review order process for a zoning change to operate a plant nursery cost her $20,000 and involved a lot of paperwork. “Everybody says love us and leave us alone,” she said. “We are making these problems, and it’s costing us lots of money.” Tolces said the process was started many months ago when the town’s code enforcement was put in place. “There were concerns for individuals who had operated for many years, and we were ordered to redraft this ordinance,” he said. “If you want to wait until after the ULDC, that’s fine, but it may not make sense to continue code enforcement if you don’t have this. We could revisit this once the ULDC is adopted.” Jarriel made a motion to table the amnesty ordinance, which was seconded by Liang and passed 4-0.

Tops In Class — Palm Beach Central High School’s valedictorian Jake Saifman and salutatorian Christa Ochoa.

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Fred Pinto, Rochele Brown’s parents Nova and Radcliffe Brown and Sandra Gordon.

Scholarship recipient Natecia Smith (center) is flanked by her mother Brenda and her aunt Melody.

PHOTOS BY

Judi Bludworth is recognized by Adrianne Hetherington.

Society members and guests gather for a group shot.

Corinne Ingerman recognizes artist Karen Knight.

Fifth grader Martin Perez of Cypress Trails Elementary School was recently named the winner of the Village of Royal Palm Beach Arbor Day poster contest. Perez is shown here at Thursday’s Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting holding his poster “It Takes a Village to Save the Earth.” (L-R) Vice Mayor Matty Mattioli with Martin, Sante, Bia and Marita Perez. PHOTO

GPS Gift — Loxahatchee Groves Councilman

OLQA Church ‘Rock Ceremony’ Raises Funds For New Building

By Candace Marchsteiner Town-Crier Staff Report

Parishioners and friends of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Royal Palm Beach helped with a capital campaign raising money for the church’s new building by attended a special mass and “rock ceremony” last Saturday.

Hundreds of handcrafted boxes each held a rock, some from Rome and blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, on which they wrote their intentions. Many honored or memorialized family members. Others wrote their desires for world peace, love, joy and happiness.

After mass, the crowd filed into the skeleton of their new parish building with reverent awe. Business manager Jim Duemig pointed out the choir loft and other highlights in the 1,300-seat sanctuary, designed as one of the largest churches in the Diocese of Palm

Beach. But the focus this day was the altar and the rocks that would be forever imbedded in its concrete foundation.

Father Andy Rudnicki blessed the rocks with holy water before throwing the first rocks for those who could not attend, for those still in Purgatory and in honor of his 1990 classmate in Poland, Father Mariusz Jarzabek. Jarzabek recently visited the parish on his way to spread the message of divine mercy and to build a chapel in the Philippines. A quiet processional walked the ramp to the altar following suit.

Parishioner Diane Perez videotaped her twins Hannah and Ethan throughout the morning. “The rocks keep my family in perpetual prayer, especially my brother who just passed away in February,” Perez said, hoping the tape would be the first in a series. “My kids will have their first communion here. They’ll

For an appointment at the Health and Wellness Center in Palm Beach, please call toll-free 1.877.463.2010.

get married here. Their kids will be baptized here. My funeral will be here. And the cycle of life will go on in our church.”

When the capital campaign began, leaders projected that $1.8 million would come from the local community. “So far we’ve raised $4.2 million in this neighborhood, and we are not rich people, so I know this is God’s work,” Rudnicki said.

Celebrants enjoyed pastries following the event and embraced their much-loved former administrator, Father Yves Geffrard, who traveled from Fort Pierce to participate.

Rudnicki announced his hopes to consecrate the new building on Dec. 12. “It’s not a promise,” he said. “I’m just being honest.”

The church is located at 100 Crestwood Blvd. South. For more information, call (561) 798-5661 or visit www.olqaroyalpalm.com.

• Backed by the full resources of the Cleveland Clinic, an international research institution and medical pioneer The Cleveland Clinic Florida Health and Wellness Center is now open in CityPlace Tower. One of the World’s Most Respected Names in Medicine Has a New Home in Palm Beach.

If you live in Palm Beach, you now have access to Cleveland Clinic’s world-class care right in your own community. Cleveland Clinic Florida Health and Wellness Center brings our renowned brand of medicine right to you. Defined by expert collaboration and highly advanced treatments, our unique approach always puts patients first. Make an appointment today, and discover why we are consistently recognized as one of the nation’s leading academic medical institutions—and the first choice of patients worldwide.

• Highly-trained specialists collaborate for team approach to care

• Most advanced technology and treatments available

PHOTOS BY CANDACE MARCHSTEINER/TOWN-CRIER

Pat Rizzo and Father Rudnicki, holding a handmade palm cross.

Robert and Francis Duquet of Wellington stand in front of an artist’s rendering of the completed church.

Parishioners toss rocks on the altar’s foundation.

Carlos and Luisa Blanchard.

Congregations B’nai Avraham, B’nai Jacob Celebrate Merger

Congregation B’nai Avraham of Wellington and Temple B’nai Jacob of Palm Springs marked the merger of their two congregations last Sunday with a service reminiscent of a Jewish wedding.

With three rabbis and a cantor officiating, the service included a ceremony under a chuppa (wedding canopy) symbolizing the joining of the two congregational families. The capacity crowd conducted a ceremonial march passing five Torahs from family to family to honor their move from their former home on Congress Avenue to their new joint home in Wellington.

The celebration marked the completion of the much-anticipated merger, following the signing of legal documents March 31. B’nai Avraham President Dr. Mel Kohan and B’nai Jacob President Hebert Terry jointly signed the agreement on be-

Register For Sports Academies

The Wellington Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its summer sports academies.

Sign up now for the baseball, basketball, fishing, football, golf, horseback riding, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and wrestling academies. For more information, call Village Park at 791-4005.

If you are registering for the first time, be sure to register in person at the Village Park gymnasium (11700 Pierson Road) or the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). You can also register online at rec.ci.wellington. fl.us. Call to get your household number.

4-H District Competitions

Palm Beach County 4-H invites the public to the 2009 Annual District 13 Events Competition on Saturday, May 9 at the Royal Palm

half of their respective congregations to form the new entity, Temple B’nai Jacob of Wellington. The new entity will be led by Rabbi Dr. David Abrams and Cantor Jacob Ephron.

For almost two years, the two Jewish congregations have been discussing the possibility of joining forces. The former B’nai Avraham was formed in Wellington in 2006 to fill the need for a Conservative house of worship, while B’nai Jacob grew and prospered for over 30 years at its home on Congress Avenue. With the changes in demographics and the aging of the B’nai Jacob membership, their leadership decided that joining with a Conservative congregation serving young families with children and new retirees in Wellington would both preserve the temple’s traditions and allow both congregations to prosper.

Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). The event starts at 9 a.m. with judge orientation (demonstrations and illustrated talks). Opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. Demonstration and Illustrated Talk competitions will take place at 10 a.m. A box lunch will be served at noon, followed by a District 13 business meeting and election at 1 p.m., Demonstration and Illustrated Talk award announcements at 1:30 p.m., Share the Fun competitions at 2 p.m., a non-competitive fashion show at 2:30 p.m. and Share the Fun award announcements at 3 p.m. For more information, call the Palm Beach County 4-H Youth Development Program at (561) 233-1731 or visit www.pbcgov/coopext/4h.

Camp Shalom Jr. In Royal Palm Beach

Are you still searching for a convenient summer experience for your pre-schooler? The Jewish Community Cen-

With the approval of both boards of directors and the signature of their presidents, the two officially begin their newest chapter. The recent sale of the Congress Avenue building will allow the newly formed temple to continue their pursuit of land in the Wellington area for the future

ter of the Greater Palm Beaches is bringing its award-winning Camp Shalom Jr. to Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach (129 Sparrow Drive). Camp begins June 15 and runs through Aug. 7. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extendedday and part-time options to choose from.

At Camp Shalom Jr. West, children ages two to five will enjoy an active, fun-filled summer experience in a safe, loving and engaging environment. Children will be provided with age-appropriate activities, including art, science, nature, music, sports and creative movement as well as Judaic programs and Shabbat celebrations.

Temple Beth Zion is a bus stop for older campers attending Camp Shalom in West Palm Beach, so parents with older children also will have the convenience of a one-stop camp drop-off point. A free summer voluntary pre-kindergarten program is available for children who will be five years old by Sept. 1 and have not yet taken advantage of the fall VPK program.

construction of a new house of worship. In the meantime, weekly services and special holiday celebrations will be held at the former B’nai Avraham location in the original Wellington Mall. The temple will hold a membership open house on Sunday, May 17 from 11:30

Camp Shalom Jr. West registration forms are available at the Temple Beth Zion Preschool office, the JCC Wellington Branch and the JCC Kaplan Branch in West Palm Beach JCC. They are also available for download at www.campshalom.org. For more information, contact Sharon at (561) 2536030 or sharonl@jcconline. com.

Diamond Derby To Be Held May 29

Promised to be one of the western communities’ most exciting events, the American Cancer Society’s 2009 Diamond Derby will take place on Friday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Breakers West Country Club. The party will offer beautiful surroundings, scrumptious food and a night of fun. This event will include entertainment, blackjack, roulette, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, silent and live auction, and much more.

Event chairs are Dr. Daxa

a.m. to 2 p.m. At that time, families can enroll their children for next year’s religious school term. For more information and directions, call the temple office at (561) 793-4347 or email info@templebnaijacob. com. The temple is located in the original Wellington Mall at

Patel, Dr. Colette BrownGraham, Alvin Graham, Dr. Jennine Cabanellas, Juan Gonzalez and State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo. Event sponsors include Complete Healthcare for Women and Spectrum, with room for additional sponsors. The purpose of the Diamond Derby is to raise money to eliminate cancer. Sponsorship packages are still available at various levels. Tickets cost $125 per person. For more information about sponsorship packages or to donate tax-deductible auction items, call the American Cancer Society at (561) 366-0013, ext. 5136 or e-mail maureen.gross@cancer.org.

the southeast corner of Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Blvd. at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 6. B’nai Jacob of Wellington is a diverse religious community committed to traditional Judaism and is

Marching with the Torahs: Herb Gordon, Milton Eisner, Mel Kohan.

Rabbi Bernie Eisenman conducts the ceremonial wedding of the two congregations.

Diamond Derby — (Seated, L-R) Event chairs Dr. Daxa Patel and Dr. Colette Brown-Graham; (back row) Hope Barron, Jaime Castellanos, Juan Gonzalez, Dr. Jennine Cabanellas, Fran Friedman and Rocky Goins.

The Wellington Rotary Club held its monthly fellowship dinner last Thursday at the Binks Forest Golf Club. The featured speaker was William Dillon, who was wrongly accused of a 1981 murder in Brevard County and spent 27 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He was exonerated last year and released due to DNA testing. Also present at the dinner were attorneys Melissa Montle and Bobbi Madonna of the Innocence Project of Florida, which is dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustices.

Ellen Neilsen talks to a customer at her table.

Roberta Falk and Ellen Neilsen.Mary Mathews with some of her wares.

Rotary President Don Gross, Bobbi Madonna, William Dillon, Melissa Montle and Jay Broder.

Randy and Leslie Pfeiffer with Barbara Johnson and Dr. Wes Boughner.

Dr. Wes Boughner wishes peace to Grenada, which Susan O’Dell (right) picked out of a book.

Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen and his wife Sherry with Lefty Ripa, Pat Curry and Don Gross.Judy Tannehill and her daughter Julie.

Don Gross listens to guest speaker William Dillon.

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, May 9

• The Royal Palm Beach Ale House will hold its second annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Village Golf Club on Saturday, May 9 benefiting area youth sports programs. It will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start. The event features a $10,000 hole-in-one contest. Call John Baker at (561) 753-3779 for info.

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold a hiking trail clearing and cleanup on Saturday, May 9 at Corbett Wildlife Management Area. For more info., call Paul at (561) 963-9906.

• Acreage Pines Elementary School will hold its annual Fox Family Festival on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to the public and provides a safe and fun place to get together with friends and family. For more info., e-mail acreagepinespta@ gmail.com or call (561) 9049526.

• The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will hold “Celebrating Mom” on Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. for ages five and up and their mothers. Show mom how special she is by creating a nature craft. Call (561) 233-1400 to make reservations or for info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Saturday Morning Drop-in Story Times” on Saturdays, May 2, 9 and 16 at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. for ages two and up. Celebrate the renewal of spring with stories of things that bloom, flutter and weave. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• The Wellington Women’s Club will hold its annual spring fundraiser the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m. at Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington. In addition to a lavish lunch, the event will feature an auction with fabulous items. Prizes will be awarded for the best hat in several categories. Proceeds will support the YWCA of Palm Beach County Harmony House and college scholarships. Tickets cost $40. For more info., call Faye Ford at (561) 7907625 or Allyson Samiljan at (561) 798-6741.

• Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and the Village of Royal Palm Beach will host Cultural Diversity Day on Saturday, May 9 from noon to sundown at Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach. The free community event will feature international music and dance, cultural displays, ethnic foods and entertaining children’s activities and performances. For more info., call CAFCI’s Elet Cyris at (561) 7919087 or Carlos Morales at (561) 790-5196.

• The Episcopal Church Women of St. David’s-in-thePines in Wellington invite the public to their Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon on Saturday, May 9 at noon at the Mayacoo Lakes Club. Fashions will be provided by Coldwater Creek in the Mall at Wellington Green. Tickets cost $35 per person. Call Jean at (561) 784-2596 for more info.

• The Village of Wellington will host its Mother-Son Sports Prom on Saturday, May 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Village Park gym (11700 Pierson Road). The prom is open to boys between ages five and 14. Tickets cost $50 per resident couple and $62.50 per non-resident couple. Additional single tickets are available at a discount. Call (561) 7914005 for more info.

• The World Croquet Championship 2009 will be held at the National Croquet Center (700 Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach) from Saturday, May 9 to Sunday, May 17. Eighty of the world’s best players from 24 countries will compete for the Wimbledon Cup. Call (832) 725-8814 or visit www.worldcroquet for more info. Sunday, May 10

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold a Mother’s Day Stroll on Sunday, May 10 at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Jupiter. Meet at the park entrance at 8:30 a.m. and enjoy the wildflowers, etc., that the park has to offer. For more info., call Sherry at (561) 963-9906.

• Temple Beth Zion will conclude its Huge Rummage Sale on Sunday, May

10 at the H&R Block office, located in the Crossroads Plaza in Royal Palm Beach. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale features like-new merchandise, including books, toys, clothes, electronic devices and house furnishings. Call (561) 798-8888 for info.

• A Mother’s Day Celebration will be held at the Palm Beach Kennel Club (1111 North Congress Ave., West Palm Beach) on Sunday, May 10 at 11:30 a.m. The Kennel Club honors all ladies with free admission, carnations and the Mother’s Day Feature, plus delicious specials in the Paddock and Terrace restaurants. Call (561) 683-2222 or visit www.pbkennelclub.com for more info.

Monday, May 11

• The 2009 Chili’s Charity Golf Classic to benefit Little Smiles will take place on Monday, May 11 at Bear Lakes Country Club. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and foursomes can be registered on the Little Smiles web site at www.littlesmiles.org or by calling (561) 383-7274.

Tuesday, May 12

• Na’Amat of Royal Palm Beach will hold its last meeting of the 2008-09 season on Tuesday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). A light lunch will be served followed by a short business meeting. The meeting will feature French-Canadian performer Manon. There is a small charge for lunch for non-members. For more info., call Annette Haber at (561) 793-1484.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center. For more info., call (561) 791-4000.

Thursday, May 14

• Pastors Glenn and JoAnn Graves invite you to attend the Deborah Company 2009 Women’s Conference with special guest speakers Barbie Breathitt, Cyndie DiBucci and Ben Smith. The conference will take place at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way) on the following dates: Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m.; Friday, May 15 at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.; and Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more info., call (561) 7935232 or e-mail deborah companytph@yahoo.com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host the Teen Advisory Group (TAG) on Thursday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 12 to 17. Snacks provided by the Friends of the Library. Call (561) 7906070 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Pizza & Pages: Shades of Simon Gray” on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. for ages 12-17. Copies of Joyce McDonald’s book are available at the children’s desk. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register. Friday, May 15

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Science Club: Airplanes” on Friday, May 15 and 22 at 3 p.m. for ages eight and up. Participants will make paper airplanes and watch them fly. Call (561) 790-6070 for info.

Saturday, May 16

• A free seminar on Home Buying & Selling will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the Wellington Community Center. Topics will include credit repair, mortgages and financing, $8K tax credit, homeowner’s insurance, home inspections, short sales and foreclosures. For more info., call Laura Jaffe at (561) 252-4426.

Sunday, May 17 • The Acreage Landowners’ Association will hold Huck Finn Family Fun Day on Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Everglades Youth Camp in J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. Activities will include games, music by DJ Mark Thomas, the Chili Chicks, a wildlife exhibit, canoeing, fishing, a petting zoo, fence painting, a swamp buggy and food. Call Maria Enriquez at (561) 714-8436 for more info.

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

TEACHERS HONORED

Fifth grader Kaitlyn Marie Donahue won Cypress Trails Elementary School’s “Million Minute Reading Challenge” for the 2008-09 school year. For her efforts, Kaitlyn was given a bike by the school’s PTO. She had approximately 22,000 minutes for the year. Pictured above is Kaitlyn receiving her new bike.

St. Juliana Eighth Graders Score High

A “Hats Off for Ten” celebration will be a big part of graduation ceremonies on May 23 for eighth graders at St. Juliana Catholic School. The students scored in the top ten percent in the country on standardized reading and math tests given to eighth graders in religious and other private schools.

“Our eighth grade students scored in the top ten percent in the nation on this year’s standardized testing,” Principal Dr. Serena Brasco said.

The test taken by the eighth graders in October was the Iowa Test of Basic Skill (ITBS), a test used by many private and religious schools in the United States. After her appointment in January 2007 as St. Juliana’s principal, Brasco began sharing the ITBS test results with faculty, students and parents, and started an academic campaign to improve the scores.

“We analyzed the scores and looked for trends, strengths and weaknesses to figure out how we can con-

tinue to improve,” she said.

“It was data-driven instruction. That’s what did it, I believe.”

Brasco’s use of test drills during homeroom classes, development of academicbased elective courses and even bringing a zebra-striped limousine to school to reward the students and teachers helped contribute to the successful scores. Classes who met their test goals were treated to pizza and ice cream parties or trips to a movie theater.

“It makes them want to work harder,” said Brasco, who began teaching in Palm Beach Diocese schools ten years ago.

Brasco added elective classes, each with an academic purpose. For the upper grades, students take such courses as Architecture, Introduction to Shakespeare, Creative Writing and Public Speaking three times a week. She also divided the middle school classes into regular and advanced levels in lan-

HIGH FCAT SCORES AT CRESTWOOD MIDDLE

When Crestwood Middle School faculty members received the 2008 writing results with 52 students scoring a top score of 6 on FCAT Writes, they thought this record would never be broken. But this year’s class of eighth graders did just that, with 64 students scoring 6 and another 64 scoring 5.5. In fact, 59 percent of the 435 students scored 5 or above. The school’s faculty is extremely proud of the students’ achievement. Pictured above are some of the high scorers.

guage arts and math to speed the learning process.

St. Juliana draws students from as far as Boynton Beach and Wellington. It is one of 16 Catholic schools in Palm Beach County. Overall, all of the schools did better on the Iowa tests than Catholic schools statewide. Questions on the Iowa tests are developed by the College of Education at the University of Iowa. St. Juliana Catholic School is located at 4355 S.

Avenue in West Palm Beach. For information about enrollment, call the school at (561) 655-1922.

The 2009 Royal Palm Beach High School Project Graduation Committee will hold its last regular meeting on Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the high school. Parents and guardians of students in the Class of 2010 are invited to learn what will need to be done for the next class to take over. The meeting will also be a work in progress of last-minute decorations and going over plans for the weekend leading up to the party. For more information, call Cheryl at (561) 723-8298 or Karen at (561) 3718377. Pictured above are parents working the Project Graduation booth at SunFest.

Problem Solvers — Students Ray Donnelly, Michael Roca, Ryan Moore and Maddison Stevens, all of Wellington, work out a problem in math class at St. Juliana Catholic School in West Palm Beach.

Olive

Wellington Landings Choral Director Lynn Pernenzy and the WLMS advanced chorus performed at the inaugural Wellington Choral Festival held in the new Wellington High School Theater. Pictured above is Pernenzy with chorus members.

One of the highlights of Teacher Appreciation Week at Crestwood Middle School was the presentation of an appreciation proclamation to the faculty and staff from the PTO. Shown above are sixth graders Erin Ford, Benny Zambito, Michelle Muscat and Landen Fresch.

Ives Takes Third In ‘Do The Write Thing’

Osceola Creek Middle School sixth grader Brandon Ives was selected by the Palm Beach County Steering Committee of the National Campaign to Stop Violence as the third-place recipient for his efforts to stop youth violence in the “Do the Write Thing” challenge.

Ives was recognized at a luncheon banquet Monday at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Other finalists included Kaaza Lightbourne and Christian Correa, first place; Kira Ogburn and Roy Brown, second place; and Destiny Martinez, third place.

More than 165 students, selected as finalists from area schools, together with their teachers, principals and parents attended the May 4 luncheon event.

The cost of the luncheon was underwritten by Florida Crystals Corporation. Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida Crystals is North America’s largest sugar producer.

The program gives Palm Beach County middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives through written essays or poems reflecting on what they can do as individuals to reduce youth violence. More than 11,000 entries were received from students in Palm Beach County this year. “The goal of the pro-

gram is to reduce violence in homes, schools and neighborhoods by encouraging students to make a personal commitment to do something about the problem,” Do the Write Thing Palm Beach Chair Bill Bone said. “Many young teens have witnessed violence in their home, neighborhood or school. They may have been bullied or stigmatized by the way they look or talk. TV, videos and music often compound the problem, glamorizing violence as a way of life.”

Not all students who submitted writings are at risk or have had experience with violence in their lives. All of the entries were read by multiple panels of volunteer judges representing a cross section of Palm Beach County educators, law enforcement officers and judicial leaders. Submissions were not edited for grammar, spelling or structure, but were judged on the content of the work.

“I have heard many students say they did not know how they felt about violence until they took the time to collect their thoughts and write about it,” Palm Springs Middle School Principal Sandra Jinks said. “It is important for them to know that adults are listening and taking seriously how young people think about violence and listening to their ideas for solutions.”

This year’s Science and Mathematics Fair at Frontier Elementary School was a huge success. More than 400 science and mathematics projects were displayed at Frontier’s Science and Mathematics Fair Open House. Thanks to all parents, family, friends and students who came out to see the amazing experiments. A special thanks to all of this year’s judges, the Seminole Ridge High School National Honor Society.

are the math winners

and science winners

who represented Frontier at the Palm Beach County

and Mathematics

Fairgrounds.

Do The Write Thing — (Above) Brandon Ives and his par-

ents Paul and Beth at the May 4 luncheon at the Kravis Center. (Below) Ives with State Sen. Dave Aronberg. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Pictured

(above)

(below)

Science

Fair held May 5-7 at the South Florida

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Three Finish U.S. Air Force

Basic Training

Airmen Verock

Force

Air

Point-du-Jour, Andrew Weber and Whitney Holland recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Point-du-Jour, Weber and Holland completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate’s degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force.

Point-du-Jour, a 2007 graduate of Palm Beach Central High School, is the son of Rejeanne and Verague Point-du-Jour of Wellington.

Weber, a 2005 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High

School, is the son of Roger Weber of Royal Palm Beach.

Holland, a 2007 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School, is the daughter of Lisa Holland of Royal Palm Beach and Steve Holland of Palm Beach Gardens.

Echerri Completes

Navy Training

Navy Seaman Recruit Jessica Echerri, daughter of Diane Echerri of Lake Worth and Luis Echerri of Wellington, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Echerri completed a variety of training, which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations.”

This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet.

Battle Stations is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly Navy flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.

Echerri is a 2008 graduate of Wellington High School.

Taplin On FSU Dean’s List For Spring Term

Verock Point-du-Jour

Andrew Weber

Amanda Taplin, daughter of Roy and Pam Taplin of Royal Palm Beach, made the dean’s list at Florida State University for the spring semester. She will graduate in August with a degree in applied economics and a minor in business.

Taplin graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School in 2005.

Brendon Morgan Earns Eagle Rank BAMBI QUINN WINS CHILI FEST RAFFLE

Boy Scout Brendon Morgan passed his board of review on Monday, April 27 and is now an Eagle Scout.

Less than four percent of all Boy Scouts will become an Eagle Scout. The quest for Eagle is a journey that tests a young man’s ability to develop leadership skills, provide service, show organizational skills and commitment. Eagle Scout candidates must serve in a position of leadership, as well as show leadership, for at least 16 months. The candidate must also identify, plan, get approval and complete a project that will in some way help the community. In all, there are 325 requirements to be met to become an Eagle Scout.

Brendon’s scouting career started in 1999 when he became a Tiger Cub in Pack 124 located at Acreage Pines Elementary School. In 2001, he moved to Pack 147 at his new school, Frontier Elementary School.

In February 2004, he earned Cub Scouts’ highest

Area Artist Featured At ArtServe

Acreage artist Tony M. Baker’s work is on display as part of the Tri-County Exhibition at the J.M. Family Enterprises Gallery at ArtServe (1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale).

Baker, a modern realist painter, has featured his acrylic on canvas work SaxMan in the exhibition, which runs now through May 22. An opening reception will take place Saturday, May 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. Baker is a member of the Wellington Art Society and the Art Alliance of Jupiter. His work can be seen at www.tonybakerstudio.com.

Send Palms West People news items to: The TownCrier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. Fax: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@go TownCrier.com.

award, the Arrow Light and crossed over to Boy Scouts. Brendon has the distinction of being the first to become an Eagle Scout from Pack 147 and Frontier. On his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout, Brendon has served as senior patrol leader of his troop twice, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, librarian, den chief, Order of the Arrow representative, troop guide and currently serves as junior assistant scoutmaster. Brendon also serves as the brotherhood chairman for the Aal-Pa-Tah Order of the Arrow Lodge. In May 2008, Brendon completed his Eagle project at the Everglades Youth Camp. Over 30 friends, family and members of Troop 105 installed over 300 feet of splitrail fencing. The fencing provides a new parking area that separates and restricts cars from entering the camping area. Two eight-foot cattle gates were installed on each side to allow emergency and maintenance vehicles access to the rest of the camp. Pass-through areas for the handicapped as well as golf carts were included in the plan. Finally, the knee-high rope fence in front of the dining hall was replaced with the same split-rail fencing.

Brendon is CPR-certified by the American Red Cross, earned his Totin’ Chip, Firem’n Chit, the National Camping Award for nights camping, Good Turn for America for service to the community, the Historic Trails Award, the National Honor Patrol Award, served as an instructor for National Youth Leadership Training, served on youth staff for Wood Badge, earned the Den Chief Award, 36 merit badges, provided 358 service hours to the community and is an honor student at Seminole Ridge High School.

Brendon, who turned 16 in January, plans on remaining with the troop as well as becoming more active in the local Venturing Crew 2005. He hopes to attend the University of Florida and is considering a career as a landscape architect.

HOUBRICK DISPLAYS HIS WORK AT WHOLE FOODS

above is Houbrick (back) with his new friends from Boynton Beach.

Antonio R. “Tony” Santamaria, general manager of the Royal Inn in Royal Palm Beach for the past 23 years, died of cancer last Sunday at Wellington Regional Medical Center. He was 88. Santamaria was born in Manila, Philippines, on May 20, 1920. He retired as senior vice president of the largest corporation in the Philippines, San Miguel Corporation, and headed its Coca-Cola franchise subsidiary. With his wife Susie, Tony moved to Royal Palm Beach where he joined his brother Jess and became general manager of the Royal Inn in 1986 and worked there until his death. Tony is survived by Susie, his wife of almost 65 years, and their five children: Margie, Connie, Antonio Jr., Frankie and Juan Miguel; grandchildren Chriselle, Beatrice and Juan Carlos; sisters Consuelo Campos and Dolly Filley;

brother Jess; and numerous nephews and nieces. The funeral mass was held Tuesday at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Royal Palm Beach.

Bambi Quinn was the winner of a raffle contest held by Re/Max Prestige Realty of Royal Palm Beach during last month’s WIRK Acreage Music & Chili Cookoff. The prize was a cooler full of various food and beverage items. Pictured above are Quinn (center) and her son Tyler with their new cooler and Re/Max staff at the company’s office.

Tony Santamaria

A group of women from the Hunters Run community in Boynton Beach known as “Art Adventures” paid a visit to Whole Foods Market in Wellington on April 31 to meet Loxahatchee artist J.R. Houbrick, whose work is on display in the market’s café. Houbrick took the women on a tour of the café, answering questions about his life and work. Pictured

Eagle Scout Brendon Morgan

Petrone Takes Property Manager Position RIBBON CUTTING FOR CHINNY’S IN RPB

Chinny’s Jamaican restaurant recently opened in Royal Palm Beach. The family-owned restaurant is located at 155 South State Road 7 near Rooms to Go. Chinny’s menu includes fresh salads with jerk chicken, tofu or vegan, hot subs, seafood cooked to order, daily vegetarian specials, fruit smoothies and slushies. A selection of Jamaican beers such as Red Stripe and other beverages are offered, including delicious health shakes. To place an order for delivery, or for more information, call (561) 793-1511. Pictured above are Chinny’s staff with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Changes Coming To RPB Wal-Mart

The Wal-Mart Supercenter in Royal Palm Beach, located at 9990 Belvedere Road, recently began an extensive renovation. The store will receive a full remodel from the inside out and will represent the latest in Wal-Mart’s store design and customer experience.

The new design is based on feedback from customers and will feature a clean, open and bright new look in the store with wider aisles, low-profile shelving, a bright interior paint scheme, better lighting and easy-to-read signage to help customers find the products they need.

“We are excited to bring an improved shopping experience to our customers,” Store Manager Judi Saint John said. “We listened to our customers and are redesigning the store to make shopping at Wal-Mart even easier.”

Every department of the store will be updated to include all new shelving, signing, flooring and product assortment. The store will also feature a new layout designed to make shopping for everyday items easier and faster by aligning the products customers purchase the most.

The store will remain open during the renovations, including all departments and services. Maps of the store layout will be available at the entrance and directional signage will be located throughout the store. The majority of construction and moving will be completed during the overnight hours to make shopping easier for customers. The Wal-Mart Supercenter has hired approximately 60 temporary associates to help with the remodel. The expected completion date is July 29.

Steve Petrone of Royal Palm Beach has been named property manager of the United Storage location in Royal Palm Beach.

Petrone, a longtime village resident, has a history of service to the community. In his capacity as property manager, Petrone will be in charge of marketing for the facility as well as day-to-day operations.

United Storage offers a wide range of storage solutions for personal or business needs at affordable prices. The facility is clean, well-lit, secure and accessible 365

days a year. Most of the storage units are climate-controlled and are available in a variety of sizes.

Whether you are storing for the first time or have stored in the past, United Storage makes customer service its top priority.

Petrone and the rest of the United Storage staff invite everyone to stop on by and ask about seasonal rate specials.

United Storage of Royal Palm Beach is located at 8970 Belvedere Road. For more information, call (561) 7530666.

Annual Taste Of The West Returns June 4

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce and Royal Palm Toyota will present the 13th Annual Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers’ Festival on Thursday, June 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

This highly popular food tasting and business expo will feature more than 40 local restaurants and caterers offering samples of their fare, with business exhibitors displaying their products and servic-

es. There will be plenty of delectable chocolate samplings with a trophy going to the “Best Chocolate Dessert” chosen by the attending public.

And speaking of chocolate, girls and boys ages five to 12 will stir up delicious chocolate treats with Dianne Morin of Marroc Cooking for Kids, and enjoy desserts prepared with their own hands. Sponsored by Whole Foods Market, the cooking session is free to participating children who have pre-registered

by calling the chamber.

Audiences will be wowed as student pastry chefs from the Florida Culinary Institute express their creativity by decorating delicious chocolate cakes provided by Whole Foods Market. The winning contestant will receive a trophy, and each contestant will be rewarded with a beautiful piece of Americraft bakeware.

Success will be sweet for the winning celebrity in Whole Foods’ chocolate-pieeating contest beginning at 6

p.m. on the main stage. Local celebrities will be judged on how much chocolate pie they can consume in 60 seconds. Gluttony will win the day... and the prize! The Taste of the West is presented by Royal Palm Toyota and produced by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce. Tickets cost $12 at

Area Businesses Join Online Gifting Service

Several Wellington businesses are now a part of Give Real (www.givereal.com/ places), the leading online gifting service with a network of 500,000-plus local businesses in the U.S. The service gives friends and family the ability to share gift credits to their favorite restaurants, stores, spas and movie theaters in Wellington online.

Because participation in Give Real’s gift card program requires no merchant signup, it may come as a pleasant surprise to many business owners in Wellington that gift credits are now available to their restaurants, stores, spas and movie theaters.

“The expansion of Give Real’s network gives small businesses a free and powerful online tool to connect with

customers and offer gift credits with a just a few clicks,”

Give Real co-founder Adam Ludwig said. “We’re totally committed to championing the thousands of local businesses both down the street and across the country.”

Give Real lets friends and family give the perfect gift, whenever and wherever they are, without the hassle of traditional gift cards from bigbox stores.

In less than five minutes, users can exchange gift credits to popular local businesses in Wellington, including: Aesthetics at Spa Zen, Gabriel’s Cafe & Grill, Backstreet’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Nicole’s Village Tavern, Buca di Beppo, Sam Jon’s Salon & Day Spa, House of Cappuccino, Well-

ington Sports Bar & Grill and many more. For a complete list, visit www.givereal.com/ places/wellington-fl.

To send a gift credit through the service, simply select a local business and any amount. Recipients instantly get the gift credits via e-mail, and link them to their own credit or debit

card. There are no coupon codes and no gift cards to lose.

While Give Real started out as a service for friends to send drink credits online, its goal is to benefit more business owners and people looking for gift ideas by opening up its network to a greater variety of local businesses.

Networking Event May 21

The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Palm Beach County will hold its monthly business and educational networking event on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. at Bacalao Tapas & seafood Grille in Wellington.

The special guest speaker will be First American Mort-

gage Company President David Lopez (www.famcusa. com).

Bacalao Tapas & Seafood Grille is located in the Pointe at Wellington Green (10140 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 170). For more information, call (561) 889-6527 or visit www. prhchamberonline.com.

Steve Petrone

RPBHS Athletes Sign Letters Of Intent

Nine student-athletes from Royal Palm Beach High School signed national letters of intent to their chosen colleges on Wednesday.

With parents, team coaches and administration members looking on, RPBHS Athletic Director Steve Kaufman gave the introductions and made a few comments about the students.

“These student-athletes are so focused and so ready to move on to the college level, and we were so fortunate to have them here at our school,” Kaufman said.

The students come from a wide variety of successful teams at the school: All-County volleyball players Cassady Cook (Webber International University) and Morgan Hill (Pasco-Hernando Community College); All-County football players Marvin Payne (Johnson C. Smith University) and Eric Peterson (Web-

RPBHS athletes celebrate after signing their letters of intent.

ber); girls basketball player Amber Ford (Florida Community College); boys basketball player Justin Lord (Iowa Central Community College); girls softball player Lauren Garceau

(Palm Beach Community College); and boys baseball players Rob Marcello (Indian River State College) and Joey Sharkey (Bethune-Cookman University).

Sharks Roller Hockey Team Gets Retribution

The Wellington Roller Hockey Association Sharks won their second game of a three-game series, defeating the Stuart Training Division 4-1. After winning the first game against Stuart 4-3, the Stuart Training Division responded with a 12-1 victory the following weekend. This past weekend, the Sharks

countered by dominating Stuart, not allowing a single shot in the first or third periods. Zach Hanchuk tallied two goals while singles were added by Juan Salinas-Bentley and Tauben Brenner. The Sharks were relentless and were able to out-skate and out-position their opponents. The Sharks

dominated early with two goals in the first period, one goal in the second and one goal in the third. Goaltending duties were shared by Hanchuk, Luc Croteau and Teddy Miloch. Stuart will visit Wellington on Saturday, May 9 for the final game of the season at 10 a.m. at Village Park on Pierson Road.

BINKS FOREST SOFTBALL TEAM GOES UNDEFEATED

The Binks Forest Golf Club 14-and-under girls fast-pitch softball team went undefeated during the recent Wellington Recreation 12-game season. The girls continued their success in the post-season to capture two more wins for the championship title. Pictured above, Binks Forest Golf Club 14-and-under softball players and their coaches. The players include Payton Campbell, Brianna Gonzalez, Victoria Harrison, Christine Kirkman, Katherine Martinez, Ashlea Santa Maria, Britney Schmidt, Stephanie Schmidt, Danielle Sebrell, Cristina Teems and Amanda Tunno. The team was managed by Bob Schmidt, along with coaches Jeff Teems, Jose Gonzalez, Jenny Schmidt and Jim Harrison.

Gymnasts From Cats Compete In Boynton Beach Invitational

The girls competitive team from Cats Gymnastics of Wellington competed in the recent Arabian Nights Invitational in Boynton Beach, bringing home many medals and trophies.

On the Level 2 team, Sidney Glaubrecht had a great day, winning medals for first place on bars with a 9.5, second on vault with a 9.5, second on floor with a 9.2, second on beam with a 9.05 and a first-place trophy for all around. Faith Campagnuolo had an amazing day as well, winning first place on floor with an amazing 9.650, first place on vault with a 9.550, first place on beam with a 9.1 and a second-place trophy for all around. In her debut competition, Renaya Lindsay won medals for an incredible bar routine, earning a score of 9.250, third place on floor with an 8.9, fourth place on vault with a 9.4, fourth place on beam and third place all around. Jordyn Maybrown shined as well, earning second place for her incredible

vault with a 9.5. She also won third place on bars, fourth place on floor and fourth place all around. Carlene Powers won a fourth place medal on vault with an awesome 9.4; she took third place on beam and fifth place all around. Chelsea Keough won medals for a fabulous vault, taking third place with a 9.450, fourth place on floor and sixth place all around. Angela Lares also debuted in the competition, medalling for a fantastic 9.3 on vault and winning fifth place on beam. Stephanie Katz medalled with an incredible 9.2 and won fifth place with her awesome floor routine. Alexandra Lares also debuted, winning a medal for her fabulous 9.1 on vault.

On the Level 3 team, Belen Bengolea had an amazing day winning medals for first place on beam with a 9.450, second place on vault with an incredible 9.5 and winning a third-place trophy with her all-around scores. Isabella Padilla had a consistent day,

Wellington Roller Hockey Player Of The Week: Luc Croteau

The Wellington Roller Hockey League’s Player of the Week is seven-year-old Luc Croteau, who plays center for the Training Division’s Sharks. His jersey number is 6, and he shoots left.

Croteau’s favorite professional hockey team is the Florida Panthers, and his favorite player is David Booth. Croteau’s favorite video game is Wii Play, and his favorite food is mahi-mahi. In addition to playing roller hockey, Croteau loves to fish.

Croteau is a tenacious hockey player who is not afraid to mix it up with the opposing team. He loves to battle in the corners and in front of the net for the puck. He is an extremely hard worker and never stops until his job is done. Croteau is one of the most skilled centermen in the league. He wins 90 percent of his draws, thereby gaining puck control at most

The Acreage Xtreme Cheerleaders competed in nationals at the American Open Championship at the Orange County Convention Center March 7 and 8 in Orlando. The Junior Xtreme Cheerleaders took home a first-place national trophy, metals and jackets. The Senior Xtreme Cheerleaders took home a third-place trophy. The cheerleaders and coaches would like to thank the following sponsors: Southern Self Storage, Omega Paving & Trucking, Omega Transportation, WinnDixie Store #212, Palm Beach Lakes Surgery Center, Hammerhead Roofing of South Florida, Lunsford Orthodontics, Dr. Jeffrey Kugler, W. Wells Trucking Inc., Fire Trucks for Fun, Dr. Jane E. Bistline, DeFabrique Orthodontics, Cobblestone

winning fifth place on beam with a 9.150, placing fifth on bars with a 9.1, scoring a 9.350 on vault and a 9.30 on floor, giving her fifth place all around. Alexia Moraes scored a 9.0 on beam, a 9.3 for her bar routine, a 9.0 on vault and a 9.2 on floor. Sophia Ringvald had an amazing day as well, winning fourth place on vault with a 9.4, fifth place on floor with a 9.4, scoring a 9.050 and placing sixth on beam and seventh all around. Mia Frozini had an awesome day with floor routine that earned her a 9.350; she also scored high with a 9.050 on beam. Amber Birt had an amazing vault score of 9.3 winning sixth place, and an 8.950 on floor, an 8.9 on bars and an 8.7 on beam. Renae Roynyak won medals with a 9.250 on floor, a 9.1 on vault and an 8.850 on beam. Allison Rosenbaum scored a beautiful 9.0 on vault and an 8.7 on floor. Angelina Frankel won a medal for her great performance on the vault with a 9.1.

On the Level 4 team, Rayven Gkuubrecht had an award-winning day with her floor routine, earning her a score of 9.475 and taking first place. She placed second on beam with a 9.0, second on bars with an 8.925 and third on vault with a 9.250, winning her the first-place allaround trophy. Michela Arboco won for third place on vault with an amazing 9.325, she also scored a 9.125 on her floor routine and a 9.050 on beam. Taylor Michie won third place on beam with her incredible score of 9.3; she also placed with a 9.1 on vault. Caitlin Flaherty won a medal for her awesome score of 9.025 on vault and an 8.7 on floor. Angela Chandler won a medal with an awesome 9.150 on vault and an 8.7250 on bars. Gabby Tencher scored an awesome 8.7 on the vault and an 8.7 on her beam routine.

On the Level 5 team, Nicole Rosenthal won an amazing fourth place on bars, with an 8.65, placing

Wellington Swimmers

Top The Competition

The Wellington Swim Team recently conquered the SAS Spring Long Course Invitational.

Lacy Phillips placed first in the women 400 free for ten and under with 5:52.85 and in the women 200 free with a time of 6:12.20. Grace Cozad came in third with 6:12.20 in the 400 free and 2:55.59 in the 200 free.

fifth on vault with an 8.8. Sara Tencher won an awesome third for her balancebeam routine and an awesome fifth place on floor. Alina Perez won in vault with an 8.450 and an amazing 8.325 on floor.

On the Level 7 team, Kerri Gomes had a great vault with an 8.9 and an 8.650 on floor.

Jamie Zeldman won with an amazing 9.050 and an awesome 8.675 on bars. Vanessa Vergara won with her amazing score 9.0 for her great vault. The girls are dedicated and work hard with training from coaches Margarita Martinez, Felipe Restrepo and Mario Restrepo.

Wellington Swim Team Swimmer Of The Week: Emily Deem

Two-time MVP Emily Deem of Crestwood Middle School used to be terrified of the water.

face-offs. Croteau is also extremely well-liked by his peers.

The Wellington Roller Hockey League’s upcoming season will begin in November and end the following April. For more information, call Wally at (561) 252-5478. Luc Croteau

& Wellness, Bruce Friedlander, Family Chiropractic Center of West Lake Worth, Center for Bone & Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Rick’s Rods & Custom Fabrications, Dr. Jeffrey and Charlene Bishop, Champion Porsche, JKS Remodeling & Construction Services, Flowbee Studios and K&E International Travel.

Acreage Xtreme Cheerleading will hold registration for any child in kindergarten through the 12th grade on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday, May 15 at 6 p.m. at Acreage Community Park (corner of 140th Avenue and Orange Blvd.). The cost is $100. Checks should be made payable to Acreage Xtreme Cheerleading. For more information, call Melody Sayles at (954) 410-1709 or e-mail melodydraws3@aol.com.

Emily Deem, Monica Cozad, Fabiana Ingram and Shannon Kennedy swept the women 400 free for the 11-12 bracket. Deem took first with a time of 5:11.04. Cozad scored 5:17.73, Ingram scored 5:19.25 and Kennedy placed fourth with 5:19.54. The men 400 free for ten and under was taken over by Tanner Fuller and Jared Ingram. Fuller took first with 5:13.67, while Ingram took second with 5:29.49. Fuller and Ingram stole the show in the men 200 free. Fuller placed first with 2:30.55,

and Ingram took second with 2:39.29.

Another first place was given to Cody Cline, who raced in the men 400 free 11-12 bracket. His time was 5:44.54.

Deem took another first in the women 200 free for 1112 with a time of 2:29.42, while Cozad came in third with 2:31.19. For the men, Timothy Maris and Hollister Cash placed first and fourth; Maris with a time of 2:34.17 and Cash with a time of 2:40.31.

“Once my parents got me to swim, I fell in love with it,” the seventh grader said. Now after six years of swimming, Deem has made the top three in the Junior Olympics and competed in the All-Stars. She explained her motivation to swim as “the feeling I get when I accomplished something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and knowing how hard I worked for it, and how much I had to give up to achieve it.”

Deem is a two-time triathlon group winner with plans to run a marathon within the next few years and complete the Iron Man. She is a dedicated and hard-working athlete with hopes of winning the Junior Olympics and making it to sectionals, nationals and the U.S. Open. Deem is also an honor student who sees college in her future, and possibly the Olympics. For more information about the Wellington Swim Team, visit its web site at www.wellingtonswimming. com.

Grace Cozad

Emily Deem

Cats gymnasts with their trophies and medals.

Acreage Xtreme Junior Cheerleaders — (Front row, LR) Stephanie Fisher, Amanda DeCosta and Haley Beckowitz; (middle row) Ashlyn Conerly, Soleil Aneiro, Morgan Moody and Taylor Lamoureux; and (back row) Brooke Duran, Kristina Costanza, Rebecca Birch, Amber Amarescu, Daisia Grafton, Lindsey Sutherland, Shannon Nezbed, and Coach Julie Sutherland. Not pictured: Brittany Holstein, Alexis Howell, Raylynn Melendez, Bernadette Nunez, Hope Powell and Allison Walker.

Acreage Xtreme Senior Cheerleaders — (Front row, LR) Rachale Park, Angela Turpin, Nicole Hopkins, Christy Bowen and Lisa Pesaturo; (middle row) Savannah Dunne, Brooke Sayles, Olivia Baggs, Brandy Milano, Katie Gregory, Samantha Morales and Belle Dunne; (back row) Megan Cabot, Mallory Johnson, Kasey Birch, Brittany Freeman, Marissa Goff, Amanda Beckowitz and Jessica Jarrell. Not pictured: Jenna Monroe.

Chiropractic

Joseph Der Plans Wellington Web Site, Reality Show

Reality TV is big business, and Joseph Der wants Wellington to be featured in its own reality show. Der conceived of a show dealing with the lifestyles of people in a variety of riding disciplines, including polo, dressage and hunters/jumpers, as well as businesses that support riding, the hottest bars, nightclubs and restaurants: everything related to the Wellington equestrian lifestyle.

Der said he started filming video footage in January. “We already have highlights including such top riders and trainers as George Morris, Debby Stephens, Betsy Steiner and Frank Madden,” he said. “We’ll be covering everything, from first-time competitors to veterans, professionals to amateurs. We’re already in talks with three different networks about a TV pilot.”

In addition to featuring Wellington during the Winter Equestrian Festival, Der plans to expand the show to feature other top equestrian events such as the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Lake Placid Horse Show and the Rolex World Cup in Las Vegas. The shows will feature how people involved in the in-

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

dustry work and play. Der said it would be a rare and interesting look at everyday life inside different aspects of the horse industry. Joseph Der has always been involved with horses and riding. He started riding at eight or ten years of age and used to compete in hunter classes at local horse shows near where he grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, N.Y. The horse industry is in his blood. His father, Joseph Der Sr., owned a custom boot shop where everything was made by hand.

That original shop is still open and going strong, and it’s where Der learned his trade. He owns Der-Dau Custom-Made Boots and

Shoes, and comes down to Wellington every year for the Winter Equestrian Festival. His shop is popular with customers who can order any sort of shoe or boot they might imagine. If they don’t see what they want, Der can even help them design it.

Being in Wellington gave Der the inspiration for the show. He has launched a web site at www.welli-world.com that describes itself as “concierge-like” and interactive, catering to all aspects of the equestrian lifestyle in Wellington. Der plans to highlight new products, trendy boutiques, vendors, local stables and barns, popular restaurants and more, with featured businesses spotlighted in short video segments showing their products and services and tours of their establishments. Der also plans “lifestyle” videos from those in the equestrian world as well as behind-the-scenes looks at Wellington during the winter show season.

“This is a unique, one-of-a-kind web site,” Der said. “It gives people access to the behind-the-scenes life they’d never get to see otherwise. I know that a lot of people have

Der

always wanted to see what went on in the lives of equestrians, and this is a great way to do just that. This is more than just a hobby for me. It’s a love; a passion.” For more information, visit www.welliworld.com, or call Der at (212) 699-0930.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 367 Honors Local Marine

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 367 of Royal Palm Beach held its monthly meeting at on Monday at the Palms West Presbyterian Church, but it wasn’t business as usual. The three guests were there to talk about military service from different perspectives.

The meeting started with the presentation of a Blue Star Banner to Bill Hall in honor of his son’s Marine Corps service to the country. Hall talked about how proud he and his wife are for the polish of their son’s character as a result of his experience in the Marine Corps. The Blue Star Banner was presented to Hall by Doug Moreau, a member of the Air Force who just returned from serving in Iraq.

Moreau shared some of his

experiences with the members and told them that he thought that U.S. soldiers would probably be in the Middle East for many years.

The countries are so subject to control by militant groups, and without an oversight group being there, things would return to how they were before the U.S. and others stepped in to help.

Moreau thanked Unit 367 for giving his wife the Blue Star Banner on April 6. He told everyone how proud he was to come home on Easter Sunday and see the Blue Star Banner in the window to greet him.

Moreau’s youngest son Zeke probably thinks that the Blue Star Banner has magical powers because he was at the meeting with his mother Pia when the Auxiliary Unit

gave her a banner in honor of Moreau’s service, and then a week later his father arrived home!

The meeting continued with Roy Foster, a veteran who helped establish the Stand Down House in Lake Worth, a facility for homeless

veterans. Foster told everyone about the drug, alcohol and depression difficulties that some veterans face when they return from their tours of duty. These veterans need special treatment that is structured by other veterans who know what they have been

through and why they may have the issues they are trying to deal with.

The Stand Down House has been a service project for the American Legion Auxiliary for many years, and Unit 367 is proud the progress that has been made in the efforts to help veterans who are in need by programs such as Stand Down House.

The meeting ended with a potluck meal provided by the members of Unit 367, but the discussion about military life and experiences continued.

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO HOSTS CARNIVAL

The Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School PTO hosted its Annual Carnival and Silent Auction on Friday, April 24. The event included games, rides and lots of food and fun for children and their parents.

Survey How Can Wellington Help You?

continued from page 1 dents to improve their communities. The village has designated its customer service building near the water treatment plant on Wellington Trace as the Community Reinvestment Office, slated to open June 1. Rosenberg told board members that the village is undertaking a “heavy marketing push” to inform residents of the program and of CVO

Baseball New Little League Program

continued from page 1 lage’s youth baseball program running, and made do with whatever existing infrastructure, coaches and others remained from the old program.

“When we took over, the league itself was in some substantial financial difficulty, probably eight to ten thousand dollars in the hole,” he said. “By the end of the fall season, we had a surplus, simply by being fiscally responsible and keeping track of money that wasn’t kept track of before.”

The changeover to Little League happened in the lead up to the spring season, Weiss said. “We opened up registration at the end of the fall sea-

activities. “We’re just trying to get as much information out to the public as we can, so you’re going to be seeing a lot more of it in the next few weeks,” she said.

PRAB Board Member Al Bennett noted that some residents, especially seniors, have no Internet access, and he asked Rosenberg what alternative methods the village is using to keep them connected.

Rosenberg said the village is also utilizing its cable TV channel and local media outlets.

“We’ve been partnering with the [Wellington] Seniors Club to try and get the infor-

son in December, and continued that out to January,” he said.

“By the time we were done with registration, we had about 600 kids and 53 teams.”

Weiss said the program was stronger with the younger ages than anticipated, and he said he felt more effort should be made to target older players.

“With the change from PONY to Little League, the rules changed for the elevens and twelves, and 13 and 14 more than any other ages,” he said. “And I think we lost a lot of coaches, and we lost a lot of players in those ages, because of their fear of change. It wasn’t the kids, it’s always the parents.”

The six teams of 11- and 12-year-olds played interleague with teams from Royal Palm Beach, which also has a new Little League program, Weiss said. “They had only about 120 total kids

mation into their monthly brochure and get it mailed out, and we’re also trying to do word of mouth,” she said.

“Once we have the neighborhood advocates in place, we’re hoping to get involved with the churches and the synagogues.”

PRAB Board Member

Tom Wenham asked Rosenberg whether the village intends to broaden its reinvestment focus beyond White Pine Drive and the 12th Fairway.

“This is something the village is reinvesting in, and it’s going to be a permanent program,” she said. “There have been quite a bit of re-

there,” he said, “but they put up two teams, and we’ve been playing inter-league with them as well as two teams from Greenacres.”

The 13- and 14-year-olds, formed into five teams, also played in an inter-league arrangement with other teams from across the district, Weiss said. “They also had the opportunity to have almost a super-travel program, were they were able to go up to North Palm Beach to play a game or play games in Lantana, and go to other parks and have other experiences,” he said.

The league organizers have not yet begun to think about the fall season, but are still working on administrative tasks for the program, Weiss said.

“We’re starting to put together the beginnings of a corporation, to be able to put the bylaws together and formalize the things we’ve done

sources and staff working on it, and we want to get it up and running as quickly as possible. There’s a couple other neighborhoods that we’re trying to get crime watch programs up and going in.”

The Wellington village web site is located at www.ci.wellington.fl.us, and the link to the village’s survey is located on the righthand side of the page.

To apply for Citizens Volunteer Organization assistance, click on the CVO link on the right-hand side of the page, and on the following page scroll down to find the “CVO Helps” link.

over the last 10 or 11 months into written form,” he said, “and hopefully have other people who are willing to take that infrastructure and move forward with it.”

PRAB Board Member

Sam Falzone urged Weiss to look to other sports providers for help in formulating the league’s bylaws. “To reinvent the wheel yourselves, it just isn’t worth it,” he said. “I can tell you the other sports providers are more than happy to help.”

Falzone also advised Weiss not to be disconcerted by lower numbers of older players. “Don’t get nervous about that,” he said. “You build these programs on the younger ones and teach them the new environment, and if you do things correctly, and you do your all-star selection correctly, your program will build. When you build from the lower ages up, it makes for a stronger organization.”

Sem Pratt Erickson: Road Is A Killer

continued from page 2

ground-level connection rather than a $50 million interchange. That way, instead of a 15-mile commute to Pratt & Whitney, an Acreage resident will have a four-and-ahalf-mile commute, and it will relieve the Northlake corridor from some of that traffic that has to go that way now, and it may very well relieve the failing portion of the Beeline from Pratt & Whitney all the way down to Northlake.”

The recent accident is the latest in a series, Erickson said, pointing out that there were 100 accidents on Seminole Pratt in 2007 and 80 in 2008, 20 of which were with injuries.

“You can go up and down Seminole Pratt and look at the memorials,” Erickson said. “It’s a killer road.” Erickson said he and other leaders want to unify the community to demand real solutions.

“We need to stop being ignored and manipulated politically,” he said. “They need to come up with commonsense solutions for the transportation issue. This has been going on for 20 years. We’re trying to address them.”

Blotter continued from page 6 of clothing, a hat and a watch, totaling $660.41. MAY 4 — An employee of the Papa John’s restaurant on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. called the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach on Monday night in reference to a robbery. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 9:40 p.m. a black male wearing a white shirt and blue jogging pants entered the store. The suspect removed a black .45-caliber handgun from his waistband and demanded money from the employee. The employee opened the register, and the suspect grabbed a large amount of cash and ran out the front door. He was last seen heading northbound on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. The total amount of cash stolen was $300. DNA was collected from the scene. There was no further information at the time of the report.

MAY 6 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to Polo Park Middle School on Wednesday regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim said someone entered her son’s backpack between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. and stole an iPod and cell phone. An unknown person used the phone at approximately 4 p.m. There was no further information at the time of the report.

Boot maker and Information Age entrepreneur Joseph

Blue Star Banner — (Left) Ruth Keen, Bill Hall and Doug Moreau. (Right) Moreau, Marge Herzog, Hall and Roy Foster of the Stand Down House.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Karsen Berryhill digs for buried treasure.

Damian and Sage Smith with a marionette.

Cassidy Grochmal, Aleah Ovdiyenko and Maddie Winch.

Meghan, Bryan and Sarah Kilby with tickets.

Carmen Salazar shows off her face painting.

Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue staffers at the carnival.

Wondering What To Give Mom? Misery Loves Company

Fair warning — Sunday is Mother’s Day. You still have time to rush out and buy those flowers or that box of candy.

If your mom is like mine, she’s already said, “please don’t get me any presents... All I want for Mother’s Day is good children.”

Well, too late for that. Besides, flowers and candy take less effort.

Also, a note to new dads — I don’t care if your baby is two hours old on Mother’s Day, it’s up to you to remember Mom in that child’s name. There is something magical about being a mom for the first time. Mother’s Day rolls around and you’re busy sending out cards to your mother, your stepmother, your mother-in-law and several grandmothers when it dawns on you that now you have joined the ranks of “Mother.” It’s a pretty special feeling.

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

Of course, grade-school kids are the most fun — them and their little plaster handprints and shakily scribbled I-love-yous. And is there a mother among us who doesn’t have a Noodle Roni creation tucked away in a box somewhere, attracting bugs?

Speaking of noodles, Mother’s Day is also a big day for eating out at restaurants. It’s the family’s way of saying, “you don’t have to

cook today, Mom,” and it’s the mother’s way of showing off her brood. In fact, non-mothers craving a quiet, peaceful meal should maybe wait until next weekend. Youthful exuberance tends to get loud, especially when confined indoors. I haven’t decided what to get my own mother yet. A lot of people give teacups, but my mom isn’t into those “dust-collectors.” She has a rack of fancy silver spoons, but it’s full. (“If there’s one thing I don’t need it’s another spoon.”) Maybe a plant? (“Do you know it’s still 37 degrees up here?”)

Whatever it is, it has to top the gifts given by my brothers and sister — and that’s tough. Pam is a flight attendant who can easily send Mom to China if she wants. Jim and Dave have machinist skills that have resulted in some pretty unique handcrafted objects over

the years — a real, full-size motorcycle made into a lamp comes to mind. (While this was not really Mom’s “thing,” someone did offer to pay $30,000 for it.) And I’m too old to get away with a hand-woven potholder, so now what? OK, I’ve got it. I’ll invite her to Florida. After all, it’s 37 degrees in Wisconsin. She can use one of Pam’s flight passes. Or maybe she can ride down on her lamp.

When she arrives, I’ll take her to the beach so she can frolic in the surf, then out for a seafood dinner at one of those seaside eateries where you can sit on the deck and watch the stars come out. I’ll top it off at home with a glass of wine and our traditional game of Scrabble.

Maybe I’ll even let her win.

Nahhh…

‘Wolverine’ Is Right Up My Alley As Superhero Movies Go

Wolverine, or to be more precise, X-Men

Origins: Wolverine, is the first entry in the big movie sweepstakes of the summer season. And for those who like action movies, it is a winner. My wife is not a big X-Men fan and avoided previous films, but as we left the theater, she asked about renting DVDs of the earlier movies. That is high praise indeed. I was thrilled myself at the fact that as part of the entertainment industry’s fealty to Ecclesiastes, to everything there is a season, we are now coming to the time of the year when they actually produce movies I and most other fans want to see. Wolverine is a prequel to the previously produced films in the series. Prequels seem to be big this year. This week’s Star Trek is another. When done right, they help to reinvent a tired franchise. And it works well for Wolverine

For those of you who have managed to avoid the whole series, the X-Men are a group of mutants, most of whom have interesting talents. To some degree, they are a modern

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

version of the gods of old mythology. We have mutants who can shoot lasers with their eyes, cause things to catch fire, go from place to place in an instant. Since science has today become a form of worship, they fit in well. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is probably the most interesting of the mutants. He and his brother Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) are selfhealing, allowing them to live without much change in looks for long periods of time. The opening credits are a great historical montage of the two brothers, named James Logan and Victor Creed, fighting in the Civil War, World

War I, World War II and Vietnam. They are alike as well in that both have claw-like weapons that come out of their hands. Wolverine’s are like knives coming from his knuckles, Sabretooth’s like claws.

The movie’s real plot begins as Logan refuses to continue working with his brother Creed and other mutants in a special military unit led by the evil Col. Stryker (Danny Huston) that is involved in killing innocents, a chore his brother seems to enjoy. The other mutants, who include an exceptional shot, an incredible swordsman, a super-strong man, a teleporter and one mutant who has exceptional mind control over electricity, all watch him as he walks away from a potential massacre.

Eventually, Logan agrees to work with Stryker to make him more powerful so he can go up against the stronger Sabretooth. The action continues almost nonstop from then on, and Logan eventually discovers that Stryker has duped him and is kidnapping other mutants for a weapons project. With the help of

some young mutants who are being held hostage, he stages an escape. The most interesting by far is Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), who is both an incredible gambler and fighter. Almost as charismatic as Jackson, Kitsch could easily carry the next movie in the series.

The action is quick, and not totally mindless for a change. The relationships between the characters often move through several stages. Friends become enemies and enemies become allies. The actors are all excellent, each bringing something extra to the characters. The special effects are very special, ranging from the natural (the fabulous Canadian Rockies) to the computer-generated (fights in New Orleans and at Three Mile Island) to the well, I don’t know (Jackman’s physique… my wife is absolutely convinced it’s real).

Anyway, considering how crowded the theater was, many of you have already seen the movie. For the rest of you, it is a fun movie with a thoughtful undertone that will keep your interest throughout.

I Deserve A Day Of Relaxation On My New Patio Furniture

Several months ago I told you about the new patio and patio furniture that my wife Sharon decided we badly needed. The adventure finally ended this week.

Before my wife bought our new patio furniture, I had no idea she was visiting almost every store in the county that sells this stuff. She invested many months in her quest to acquire new furniture. Every week she read the ads that arrived in our mailbox. She also had spies in the field helping her. My sons and their wives would call Sharon if they saw something they thought she would like.

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

Finally, when my wife decided it was time to buy the patio furniture, she came to me and said, “let’s go.” And of course my first mistake was when I asked, “let’s go where?” I knew she wasn’t having a baby and none of my daughters-in-law were ready to deliver. With the look that only my wife can give me, she told where we were going. When I asked her why I had to tag along, she informed me that I was going to pay for her purchase. At this point I knew there was no sense in asking any more questions. The bottom line was that I would be the owner of new patio furniture. When we arrived at my wife’s store of choice, she headed directly to the patio department. To my surprise, my wife knew ex-

actly where she was going in this very large

store. The surprise didn’t end there. Once we were in the patio department, my wife pulled an ad out of her pocketbook. She then matched the ad with the furniture she wanted. She informed me she was going to save me money because the furniture was on sale. The general, I mean my wife, then told me to find a salesman. When I found one, I told him he was about to make the easiest sale he had ever made. And of course I was correct. When the salesman rang up our order, I had no idea he had charged me twice. I only found this out when my credit card bill arrived. It took two months to finally get that part of the mess corrected. Another part of the horror story happened on delivery day. The truck was supposed to arrive after my wife got home from work, but when I arrived home for lunch, there was a message on my answering ma-

chine in sort-of English, telling me the delivery truck would be there in 45 minutes. When I looked out of my window, the truck was in front of my house.

After they delivered seven very large boxes on my patio, the delivery guys wanted me to sign for them. I told them I would sign after they put the furniture together. At this point I learned drivers don’t put furniture together. After making at least ten phone calls all over the country, I finally got connected to the store manager from where I bought the furniture. He told me the salesman should have charged me another $200 to have the furniture assembled. To the manager’s credit, he sent his inhouse handyman to my house to put the furniture together the next day (for free). So thanks to the store manager, I am finally sipping my favorite beverage on my new patio furniture.