Town-Crier Newspaper November 14, 2025

IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

WELLINGTON • ROYAL

A SALUTE TO OUR HEROES EVENT

The

The Wellington Community Foundation marked a milestone on Friday, Nov. 7, celebrating its 10th anniversary “Red, White & Blue Jeans: A Salute to Our Heroes” event at the Wellington National Golf Club. The evening was a heartfelt tribute to veterans, filled with gratitude, community spirit and joyous celebration. Shown above are members of American Legion Post 390 at the event.

MORE PHOTOS, PAGES 6 & 9

Royal Palm Beach Honors All Who Served At Vets Day Observance

The Village of Royal Palm Beach, in conjunction with American Legion Post 367, presented a Veterans Day observance “Honoring All Who Served” on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Speakers included veterans Jake Hampu, Thomas Halleck and Mayor Jeff Hmara. Page 15

Westlake Council Gets Preview Of Planned Elementary School

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Groundbreaking remains some four months away for the planned elementary school in Westlake, but Palm Beach County School District Vice Chair Marcia Andrews is pleased to see the amount of local involvement already taking place.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Andrews told Westlake City Council members on Tuesday, Nov. 4. “[But] we’re very excited.”

Andrews, whose District 6 includes Westlake and most of the county west of State Road 7, thanked members of Westlake’s Education Advisory Board (EAB) for “working with us over the last few months to make sure this presentation was just what you needed.”

The school, scheduled to open in August 2027, will be located at the intersection of Persimmon Blvd.

and Green Lane near the south end of the 6.5-square-mile community that straddles Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

The school will be 96,000 square feet in three stories, with room for 971 students in kindergarten through grade five. Kindergarten and grade one will be on the first floor, with grades two and three on the second, and four and five on the third, explained David Dolan, the district’s chief of facilities management.

There will be two fields of solar panels with the intention being “fully sustainable, which is a huge precept for the district,” Dolan explained. It also will feature a parking and a drop-off area for parents using golf carts.

“That’s music to my ears,” said Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor, a longtime advocate of golf-cart usage around Westlake.

“Any opportunity that we can

do to eliminate some traffic off of the actual roads is one of our big focuses,” Dolan said.

If parents want to get a good look at what the new school will be like, they don’t have to go far. The Westlake school will be built using the same floor plan that has been used successfully in several other projects in the county, including Saddle View Elementary School near Arden, which opened earlier this year. Tours of the school are being arranged for EAB members.

Saddle View opened Aug. 11 with 631 students and 44 teachers, staff and administrators. It was rushed to completion early at cost of $41.7 million to relieve overcrowding at Binks Forest Elementary School in Wellington. Eventually, Saddle View also is slated to host 971 students.

The new Westlake school is being designed to help relieve stress

See NEW SCHOOL, page 14

PBSC To Build New Training Center At Lox Groves Campus

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Beach State College has plans to add a new “Emergency Response Training Center” to its Loxahatchee Groves campus. The new facility will be dedicated to training aspiring first responders. Representatives from PBSC and project contractors presented their plans for the newest addition to the local campus at the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Andraes Alexander, associate dean for academic affairs at PBSC, explained that this facility is a great opportunity for the community, and will be the first of its kind in Florida. “The main focus of this project is to build seamless and effective interdisciplinary training for fire and law enforcement, ensuring optimal processes for live event activity, and handling difficult situations,” Alexander said.

Officials plan to build the training center near the north end of the Loxahatchee Groves campus parking lot. There will be a single building for educational activities and an outdoor area for training simulations.

PBSC will offer an array of new educational programs for training first responders. Many will prepare students for emergency and natural disaster situations. Unlike the firefighter training ground near Pike Road, the new facility will be geared toward more search-andrescue and machine-rescue initiatives. To support these programs, developers will be extending the campus’s utilities for the facility to use.

Developers intend to preserve and manage the nearby natural habitat. They will create a buffer between the native trees and the two wetlands around the site. Environmental consultants also

conducted surveys that found no habitats or endangered species would be impacted.

Jill Lanigan, principal at Song + Associates, the company designing and planning the new facility, showed the council how they plan to preserve the native surrounding vegetation to protect the site from view.

“The complex is intentionally set deep within the trees and back from the road,” Lanigan said.

“This is intended to shield the view of these training activities and maintain the serene character of the site, and the feel of the campus as you’re moving along the main drive.”

Vice Mayor Marge Herzog was concerned about how many more buildings would be put on the site and if that would clear more trees in the area.

“When I look at the construction

See PBSC CAMPUS, page 14

RPB’s Jeff Hmara Gets New Term; Two Council Races Headed To Voters

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

based on the progress that we have made.”

Hmara took over as acting mayor after the unexpected passing of former Mayor Fred Pinto in September 2024. He defeated Samios this past March in an election to fill the final year of Pinto’s term. He is proud of the initiatives underway in the village, including the successful launch of the Youth Civic Leadership Program at Royal Palm Beach High School, as well as a planned AI computing program at the school.

“We currently have five ‘A’ schools and one ‘B’ — and we’re on a trajectory to all ‘A’s,” Hmara said. He is also pleased with work on the Countywide Transportation Master Plan.

“Cooperation looks good between the county and the cities, See RPB VOTE, page 14

Developers Hope To Begin Construction

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

Developer Related Ross is pushing forward with a project to turn approximately 70 acres of land in Wellington, known as KPark, into a large-scale, multi-use development.

Team members from Related Ross laid out their updated plans for a portion of the project that includes an upscale retail village at a Wellington Village Council workshop on Monday, Nov. 10. The retail village will include a 600-foot-long pedestrian-only promenade located on the northeast side of the site. The promenade will have multiple shops, cafés, restaurants and a hotel. The developers will also include large areas of

By Hilary Moore Hebert Town-Crier Staff Report

organized by the Society of American Florists, the shop helped spread kindness by encouraging local organizations to give flowers to strangers.

About a dozen local organizations participated, including Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Junior

Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast.

Petal It Forward was created by the Society of American Florists to highlight the positive power of flowers and the connections they inspire. The concept is simple: participants give two flowers to a random person, one to keep and one to share. The gesture may be small, but research shows that giving flowers can lift a person’s mood just as much as receiving them.

This was the second year that Wellington Florist joined the program, once again turning generosity into a community event. The shop donated 7,000 roses to

local civic groups and nonprofits, spreading color and kindness throughout Palm Beach County.

Owner J.P. Varvarigos, a thirdgeneration florist, said the effort is both personal and professional.

“We are proud to do it,” he said. “It’s an honor, privilege and duty.”

While many florists in the national program distribute small bouquets, Varvarigos and his team wanted to reach as many people as possible.

“Other florists hand out about 20 arrangements at a time,” he said. “We would rather touch more people.” Of the 7,000 roses, Wellington

The Wellington Rotary Club held its annual Ruck March on Sunday, Nov. 9 at Village Park in Wellington. The event helped raise awareness and bring in food donations for the Village of Wellington’s Hometown Holiday Food Drive. Shown here, Wellington High School Interact Club members Cassidy Sherman and Elle West show off their medals. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 16 PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

Village Of Wellington Hosts Annual Veterans Day Parade, Ceremony

Village of Wellington held its annual Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The parade began at Wellington Village Hall, with the procession ending at the Wellington Veterans Memorial. Local veterans were invited to walk in the parade, as spectators lined the street honoring those who served. Page 5

Royal Palm Beach Man Reaches His 100th Blood Donation

By Lys Hayes Town-Crier Staff Report

After years of rolling up his sleeve, a Royal Palm Beach man with a fairly rare blood type has reached an incredible milestone, donating more than 100 pints of blood to help save lives.

For many people, donating blood is an occasional good deed. But for Jacques Rene La Grange Sr., it has become a way of life. With his B positive blood type, La Grange has made 100 donations through the years, turning a simple act of kindness into a lifelong mission he’s committed to.

“One day you may need blood, and what if the blood bank doesn’t have it to give to you?” La Grange explained.

La Grange is originally from Washington, D.C. and later moved to Oklahoma before relocating to the West Palm Beach area in 1991 for work. He attended Howard University, where he was a part of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. That’s where he initially learned of his blood type. He has now

worked in the healthcare industry for 46 years.

“When I was very young, I was accident prone. I would go to the hospital very often,” La Grange recalled. “I knew that was like a mission in my life to get into the healthcare profession, to work in radiology, to work directly with the emergency room.”

Now 66 years old, La Grange can still vividly remember the first time he donated blood. He was working at a hospital when a patient came in urgently needing a rare blood type. Working in the medical field, he knew the importance and decided to help.

According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood and/or platelets. Approximately 29,000 units of blood cells are needed every day across the nation — for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries.

“I was working at Saint Mary’s hospital as a CP tech, and an emergency surgery was happening.

They needed B positive blood, and it was kind of rare. I told them that I was B positive. They asked me if I could donate, and I said sure,” La Grange said. Since his first donation, La Grange has become a familiar face at the blood bank, someone they would reach out to first whenever someone needed his rare blood type.

In total, there are eight major blood types — A positive, A negative, B positive, B negative, AB positive, AB negative, O positive and O negative. The most common blood type in the United States is O positive, followed by A positive. Together, they make up more than 70 percent of all blood types.

With La Grange’s blood type, according to the Stanford Blood Center, B positive is one of the rarer types with only 8.5 percent of the U.S. population. This type can only give blood to other B positive and AB positive blood types, and can only receive blood that’s B positive, B negative, O positive or O negative.

La Grange has committed to donating blood every two months. The Red Cross reports that one donation can save more than one life, and he has donated 100 times. Every two months, he goes through the same routine, hoping to help a stranger, “I go on Saturdays when I’m not working. I go, and they check my blood pressure to make sure everything is fine. They ask if I’m ready and stick a needle in my arm. I donate a pint, and once that’s done, they schedule for the next few weeks,” La Grange explained. La Grange has been donating blood since 1988, driven by simple kindness of wanting to help anyone who may need it one day. Though medical confidentiality prevents him from ever meeting or speaking with any patient he has helped by donating blood, he continues to do it for the greater good, potentially giving someone another chance at life. “I get a text message [a week after] saying, ‘Your blood has just saved another life,” La Grange said. Jacques

Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Seeking Volunteers

By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report

The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center is looking for a few good volunteers. The highly regarded Loxahatchee Grovesbased nonprofit is a special kind of wellness center, with stables and riding trails, where people with disabilities are treated to generous doses of the sort of therapy that can

only be provided by horses.

Volunteer Jeanna Wyche enjoyed a career as a healthcare recruiter before retiring a few years ago.

Two years later, she is an experienced horsewoman.

“I have felt welcome here since my first day, and volunteering here is one of the best decisions I ever made,” Wyche noted. Dr. Anita Baxas is grateful for volunteers like Wyche.

“I set goals in retirement. Learning to ride a horse was a bucket list item for me, but I soon learned that horseback riding lessons can run $150 for 50 minutes. So instead, I volunteered at Vinceremos, and not only get to hang around horses, but get to enjoy the wonderful feeling of helping others,” Wyche said.

“My daughter Brigitte has Down syndrome. The equine programs at Vinceremos are excellent,” Baxas said. “Horseback riding has helped Brigitte physically and has given her the gift of confidence. She emotionally connects with the animal, and riding makes her feel proud, which is a great feeling and a big deal for her.”

Nicole Ramirez loves her job

as volunteer coordinator at Vinceremos.

“No horse experience is necessary to volunteer. There are many ways to help: horse care, rider support, office help, maintenance and fundraising events,” she said. “You just need to come willing to learn and experience the joy of helping those with disabilities and sharing your time.”

Ramirez is a lifelong horse lover who grew up on a farm.

“We always need volunteers, but we especially need them right now as the holidays approach and folks get busy with travel and all the rest,” she said. The volunteer program is well structured with an emphasis on safety, and where ID badges are color-coded according to levels of training and experience.

Lindsay Coules has been volunteering at Vinceremos for only about a month.

“My schedule is tight so right now, I’m only volunteering four hours a week. I love working with the horses and the disabled, and this is a really cool way to give back to the community while earning service hours,” she said.

Brendalee Seron is the mother

of 8-year-old Ryan, who has autism.

“I don’t have enough words to thank the good volunteers who take time out of their busy schedules to come and work with kids like Ryan,” she said. “Folks here are so kind, and they go above and beyond to help the kids.” Stacy Gutner agreed. Her daughter, Reed, suffers from a rare syndrome called hyperekplexia, causing an exaggerated startle reflex to unexpected stimuli, like noise or touch.

“It’s a tough thing having it,” Gutner said. “Reed can faint when overcome by sensory input. She loves it here. The volunteers so kind, and the horses so therapeutic.” Isabel Coleman of Wellington is a “red badge,” which means she has the highest level of volunteer training and experience. Even though she has a show jumping background and is working on her instructor certification, she explained, “My main qualification for this job is my speech impediment. It really helps me to identify with our disabled riders.” Coleman likes to tell kids, “Well

A Minimally Invasive Option for Lung Biopsies Is Here

Wellington Regional Medical Center has acquired the Ion® Endoluminal System , developed by Intuitive™, creators of the da Vinci® robotic surgical system, which helps detect and address lung nodules in their early stages.

Benefits of the new technology can include:

• Perform complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than with conventional techniques.

• Reduced or avoided complications of more invasive approaches to biopsy, such as collapsed lung or pneumothorax.

• Diagnose and treat lung cancer at earlier stages than previously possible.

For more information, contact our clinical navigator at 561-500-5864 (LUNG) or email: wrmclungprogram@uhsinc.com.

Rene La Grange Sr. donates blood at OneBlood.

Vinceremos founder Ruth Menor and volunteer Lindsay Coules work with client Brigitte Baxas riding Gus.

Sean O’Malley, Isabel Coleman and Claire Riley assist Ryan Seron.

PHOTOS BY DENIS

No Election: Three Council Incumbents Unopposed In Westlake

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Westlake Mayor JohnPaul

O’Connor and two other members of the Westlake City Council will be returning for four-year terms on the dais after no one filed in opposition prior to the Wednesday, Nov. 12 deadline for anyone seeking seats in the March municipal election.

Miami Gardens Police Commander Erik Gleason will return to Seat 2, and Vice Mayor Greg Langowski will be back in Seat 4 through 2030. They will be officially sworn in for their new terms April 7.

There will be no municipal election in March, Acting City Manager Zoie Burgess confirmed Wednesday.

“It feels good,” O’Connor said after the noon deadline had passed.

“It’s very humbling. I’m grateful. I take it as vote of confidence. But I don’t see it as being about just me. It’s about all of us on the council.”

O’Connor was one of the earliest homebuyers in Westlake in 2017 and joined the council unopposed in 2020 as the community began to shift from an appointed council to an elected body. He was chosen as vice mayor by fellow council members, and he ran unopposed for mayor in 2022.

Councilman Gary Werner said recently that he was considering a run against O’Connor. In the end, Werner decided against it because he would have to resign his current council seat to do so.

Langowski ran unopposed and became a member of Westlake’s first all-resident council in 2022. He was quickly chosen as vice mayor by his fellow council mem-

bers and has held that position since.

“Obviously, I’m happy not to have opposition,” he said Wednesday. “And I’m excited because I think there are bright days ahead for the city.”

Langowski said he believes a lot of his support is driven by the fact that, “I’m very engaged with the city and our residents, and I work very hard not only with the Florida League of Cities but also the National League of Cities to make sure the voices of small cities like ours are heard.”

The FLC is a statewide association that represents and advocates for Florida’s 400-plus municipalities, providing training, policy development and lobbying on issues affecting local government. The NLC is the same at the national level.

“I’m always waving the Westlake flag wherever I am,” Langowski said.

Gleason is the council’s most recent member, appointed by council members in February to fill the seat vacated when former Councilman Julian Martinez resigned.

“Considering the big population growth in Westlake, I’m a little surprised,” Gleason said Wednesday about there being no opposition for any of the seats. “But, obviously, I’m pretty happy.”

Gleason said he’s looking forward to having four years to focus on the issues he believes will be important to the community — including creating a stronger, separate identity for Westlake apart from its creator, major developer and primary landowner Minto Communities USA.

“Establishing a city hall will be

an important part of that,” Gleason said.

A husband and father of three, Gleason said he also will be seeking funds to move forward with the regional park project planned by the city and the Seminole Improvement District for 50 acres alongside Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

Langowski, a longtime aide to then-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (RFL) before his boss became secretary of state, said he’ll continue to focus on keeping city property taxes low and pushing to bring “smart growth” to the community, noting that within the next four years, most of Westlake’s commercial construction will be done.

Now an aide to Rubio’s replacement, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), Langowski said he’ll be looking for ways to fund the re-

gional park, a city hall and pushing the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to put a substation in the community. Westlake contracts with the PBSO for law enforcement services.

O’Connor said Wednesday that he also hopes to find the money for the park and a city hall, and he will be doing all he can to push for an east-west connection for the community via 60th Street North and/or Persimmon Blvd. through The Acreage. He said he also will lobby the state for the completion of State Road 7 from 60th Street North to Northlake Blvd. Westlake presently has only one major access route, north and south via Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. “I’m happy [O’Connor and Langowski] are unopposed,” Gleason concluded. “I think we work together well.”

Lox Groves Council Remains At Odds With PBSO On Contract

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

Residents in the Town of Loxahatchee Groves could soon lose services from local deputies as the council struggles to agree on whether they should terminate their contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO).

Council members discussed their ongoing contract dispute at a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Town officials have been working to reduce the cost of the $680,000 it has to pay out to the countywide agency each year — money they say they do not have.

“[I’m] very pleased with the service that we’re getting, and the men and women of the sheriff’s department,” Councilman Paul Coleman said. “It’s about the exorbitant amount of money for 12 square miles and 3,500 people

with minimal commercial stuff.”

While the council has already disbursed $120,000 to provide service from October until the end of November, negotiations with the PBSO have remained mostly at a deadlock. The only concessions that PBSO officials have made are to lower the cost of service each year by one percent and to withdraw a request to receive overtime for helping with the town’s new School Zone Speed Enforcement Program.

Town officials, meanwhile, have proposed ways to lower the price tag, by trying to get different levels of service, and only paying for full service in the town’s commercial zones, where crime rates appear to be the highest. However, Town Attorney Jeff Kurtz said that the PBSO is not interested in that type of agreement. “Their position is

that the amount they are charging is very reasonable and fair,” Kurtz said. “I do not think there is any substantial reduction forthcoming through further negotiation.”

The council could explore other options to find law enforcement services or a similar type of police-like force, but they do not have many choices. Contracting opportunities are limited to the PBSO and any adjacent municipalities that have their own police force. The problem is that there are no nearby communities with an independent municipal police department.

Councilman Todd McLendon explained that while he believes that deputies do a great job, the level of service they currently pay for should be the same if they terminate the contract. This is because, according to McLendon,

there is no requirement for them to protect the community.

“When the PBSO says they don’t have to do this, and they don’t have to do that — they don’t have to do anything anywhere throughout the county,” McLendon said. “There is no duty to protect.”

McLendon also brought up looking into potentially entering into a contract with the Florida Highway Patrol or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide some form of law enforcement. What services those organizations would be able to offer to the town, or even if they would be interested, is unknown.

Other members of the council noted how funding problems with county sheriff’s departments are happening in other parts of the state. Mayor Anita Kane explained

how several bills in the Florida Legislature are being considered to cut or eliminate non-school ad valorem taxes for homesteaded properties, which will further strain municipalities’ ability to pay for law enforcement services.

“I was just in the taxation and finance legislative sessions last month and this month, and every single municipality… said that’s the first thing that’s going to have to go — that they will no longer be able to afford law enforcement,” Kane said.

Nevertheless, if the council decides not to pay the PBSO in December, the town will likely only receive very minimal deputy services. Deputies will only respond to life-threatening situations. However, PBSO officials might consider non-payment a breach of their contract. The contract does have

a termination clause, but the town is past the period where they can end it, which may ultimately lead to a lawsuit. The council agreed to try one more time to cut a better deal. Town staff said they are committed to going back to the negotiation table. “Both sides have very reasonable arguments, and we will definitely go back and do it again,” Town Manager Francine Ramaglia said. “Everything that was said here today, we will definitely incorporate into that conversation.” The next deadline to pay the PBSO for its service is Dec. 1, but the town will not receive a late payment penalty if it decides to continue with its current contract. The council is expected to make a decision on whether to maintain its contract at a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Westlake Giving HAPPY Applicants Help With $4.7 Million To Share

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The Westlake City Council wants to make more people “HAPPY,” and they’re willing to spend $140,000 to do it.

That’s the amount that the council voted 5-0 to spend to hire a full-time administrator for the city’s stalled Housing Assistance Purchase Program Yearly (HAPPY) plan during a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4.

However, Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor was quick to emphasize that under the resolution he shepherded, none of that salary will be coming out of taxpayer pockets.

“When the program was set up, there was an allowance for seven percent of the funds raised to go

Petal

Thousands Of Flowers

continued from page 1

Florist donated 6,000 directly.

For Junior Achievement, the experience was both meaningful and memorable.

“We didn’t know what to expect, but I almost feel like we filled up our cups more than anyone else,” said Maria Pumarejo, Junior Achievement’s vice president of development. “Based on the outcome, we plan to sign up for more next year.”

Pumarejo said their teams fanned out across the county to hand out 100 roses, one by one.

“There was just so much joy,” she said.

to administration,” he said. “The hire is coming from that money.”

With $4.7 million sitting in the fund undistributed, there’s plenty to cover an administrator, he noted. Previously, the fund was overseen by the city manager in conjunction with an Inframark employee, who also was juggling several other duties.

Inframark is a government services staffing agency used by the city as per its charter to run the day-to-day activities. The administrator will continue to be an Inframark employee but solely focused on HAPPY, O’Connor said. Under HAPPY, first-time homebuyers, or those who have not owned a residence during the last

Some of the most memorable moments in Palm Beach County came at the VA, where volunteers handed out 1,200 roses in just one hour. At the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, two locations took part, including the county courthouse, where deputies distributed 500 to 600 roses to visitors whose days were often difficult.

“Most of those people were having a bad day,” Varvarigos said.

“The roses lifted their spirits.”

For the PBSO, the project was as rewarding for deputies as it was for those who received the flowers.

“It was truly a heartwarming experience,” said Deputy Kenneth “Coach T” Torrence, community outreach coordinator for the PBSO’s countywide services.

“Several of our deputies joined in on the Petal It Forward action

three years, can qualify for up to $60,000 toward the purchase of a home valued at up to $586,577.

The program is tethered to Federal Housing Administration income eligibility and is funded by a $1,500 fee paid by the builder for each completed home.

While supporting the program and creation of the position, Councilman Gary Werner said that he would like to see a detailed report on the administrator’s activities each month, “to see what we’re getting for what we’re paying them.”

Werner has been critical of what he has described as a lack of transparency on the part of the company.

“I think we’ve gotten very little

at the main courthouse, and the kindness did not stop there. The spirit continued later that evening at our PBSO National Night Out event.”

Torrence said deputies and volunteers handed out 900 roses.

“It was a simple, yet meaningful, gesture that brightened countless days and reminded everyone of the power of small acts of kindness,” he said. “At the PBSO, we believe small acts of kindness create big impacts, strengthen community connections and deepen trust with the people we proudly serve.”

Last year, Wellington Florist handed out 5,000 flowers. This year’s total of 7,000 represents a meaningful increase and sets the stage for an even larger effort next year. Varvarigos has already set a goal of 10,000 roses for 2026.

“We had people crying,” he said. “It might seem silly, but more than one person cried. I got hugs all day long. What makes this special is the face-to-face interaction.”

That human connection, he added, is what keeps his team motivated. Wellington Florist, a longstanding community business, contributes more than $150,000 in charitable donations each year. For Varvarigos, Petal It Forward offers a chance to give in a way that feels deeply personal: one rose, one smile, one shared moment at a time.

“Petal It Forward is all about sharing joy and kindness through flowers, and Wellington Florist’s incredible effort shows just how impactful that can be,” said Amanda Jedlinsky, senior director of content and communications for

information from Inframark on how they do business,” Werner said. “I’d like to see some actual results in the monthly invoice.”

O’Connor agreed. “If we are in essence hiring a housing director… I’d like to know how well they’re doing,” he said.

Acting City Manager Zoie Burgess, also an Inframark employee, said she would attempt to provide a detailed monthly report on the administrator’s activities.

Kenneth Cassel, who was Westlake’s manager since its incorporation in 2016, recently left the city and Inframark. An independent manager answerable directly to the council is being sought.

In other business, Councilman Erik Gleason suggested that the

city consider putting up decorative bike racks at school bus stops throughout the community.

“A lot of kids like to ride their bikes to the bus stops and leave them there,” Gleason said.

However, recently several bikes have gone missing, he said, including his son’s.

Gleason suggested that high school juniors and seniors might be enlisted to create the artistic design, and perhaps even build the racks in shop classes. The city might encourage the collaboration through prizes for the best designs funded through Westlake’s Art in Public Places fund, which currently holds some $238,000, he said.

Beyond aesthetics and practical-

ity, Gleason said there is a financial motive as well.

“This would also go along with our whole concept of being public safety first and making sure that our crime rate stays as good as it,” said Gleason, a commander with the Miami Gardens Police Department. “Once those [bike thefts] start getting reported… then the insurance companies do take notice.”

Resident Alicia Torres supported the idea.

“I love your idea,” she said.

“Statues are nice, but so is stuff we really use… I love a little utilitarian art… Our city’s growing, and as we build the infrastructure, [it would be great] if we can make it to look pretty.”

the Society of American Florists.

“Their giveaway of 7,000 roses truly captures the spirit of the program and the power of flowers to connect and uplift people.”

Across Palm Beach County, those connections took many forms. A veteran receiving roses outside the VA. A courthouse visitor clutching two flowers on a stressful morning. A volunteer ending her day feeling lighter than she began. Each exchange was brief, but it mattered.

In today’s fast-paced world, handing someone a rose might seem like a small gesture, but in Palm Beach County, it made a real difference. With 7,000 roses shared, the smiles, hugs and tears that followed proved that kindness can bloom anywhere, even in the middle of an ordinary day.

For more information about Wellington Florist, visit www. wellingtonflorist.com. Learn more about Petal It Forward at https:// safnow.org/petalitforward.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office helps distribute roses in front of the county courthouse.

Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Wellington deliver flowers at Wellington Regional Medical Center.

VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON HOSTS ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE, CEREMONY

Veterans in attendance gather for a group photo.

The Palm Beach County Firefighters Pipes and Drums march in the parade.

Seminole Ridge High School JROTC cadets march.

The Wellington Garden Club participates in the parade.

Deputy Casey Lussier, Barry Rivera and Paul Rodriguez.

Donald Brooks and Mary Stricklin.

Joseph Mayfield and Abram Brown watch the ceremony. Veteran Tony Watts watches the ceremony.

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

Post 390 Chaplain Laurence Williams Sr. offers the invocation.

Julia Falcao sings the national anthem.

Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri at the podium.

Councilwoman Maria Antuña addresses the gathering.

Councilman John McGovern at the podium.

Mayor Michael Napoleone welcomes attendees.

Chief Petty Officer Jason Catano with Leonardo Catano.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office leads the parade.

William Bartels and Anthony Tahan salute after laying one of the wreaths.

Laz Sed and Tate Whisten lay one of the wreaths.

The Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Honor Guard presents the colors.

Board OKs Changes At Contentious Southern Wellington Parcel

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

A controversial property in southern Wellington received support from Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Committee for land use and rezoning changes earlier this month, but not before neighbors and others aired an array of concerns about how the property has been used in recent years.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the committee was presented with plans to change the land use rules for the property at 14833 50th Street South, as well as a request to rezone a large portion of the 58-acre parcel from equestrian residential to equestrian commercial recreation.

The site was previously known as the Littlewood Equestrian Center. Now it is associated with well-known equestrian developer Mark Bellissimo and used by his son Matthew. A business called Agricultural Blending Company operates out of the property, pro-

viding shavings, bedding and manure removal services — much to the ire of its neighbors.

Nearby residents have been opposing Agricultural Blending Company because of its alleged manure blending operations and talks of adding a hay and feed store on the site. A number of residents spoke out against the application, saying that approving the rezoning request opens the door to other types of commercial developments that should not be in the Equestrian Preserve Area, such as a potential industrial biochar operation.

“My problem here is with this particular applicant; we don’t know if this is going to be commercial or industrial,” resident Carol Coleman said. “Industrial is mentioned many times in the letters that were sent to all of you.

I think if this particular thing is not passed, then the applicant is going to come back with something else to do, such as building more houses.”

However, representatives of the applicant, as well as village staff, explained that the hay and feed store, and the manure blending operation, were not within the scope of the applications under consideration.

Moreover, they reiterated that the applications were purely to update outdated practices of development conditions and make zoning consistent with the village’s comprehensive plan, as required by state statutes.

“It is an exercise to make sure that our land use and our [comprehensive] plan are compatible with each other,” Wellington Planning & Zoning Manager Cory Lyn Cramer said.

Back in 2023, a neighbor and her company sued Agricultural Blending Company over the manure operation. Earlier this year, a separate lawsuit was filed against the Village of Wellington.

Attorney Katie Edwards-Walpole, who was part of those law-

suits, was present at the meeting representing them as an interested party. She explained to the committee that she appreciates their efforts to review discrepancies, but she believed there was a conflict of interest with a village consultant who is also an agent for the applicant.

“We wanted to come tonight to hear the application itself, give them a fair chance, and give them their due process,” EdwardsWalpole said. “We do believe that there are adverse impacts, and they should be addressed in the right manner.”

Despite the reassurance that the feed store and manure blending operation were not related to the applications before the committee, concerns over them and what else could be put on the property remained.

“Is there some covert purpose to this that we are not seeing as obvious… that by doing this, they’re going to be able to come back…

with some different surprise that isn’t inherent to what we’re being asked to vote on?” Committee Chair Glen Fleischer asked.

Village staff members reiterated that they did thorough research to confirm what could be allowed on the site, but a feed store could still be an acceptable usage on the property.

Moreover, staff explained, the village does not have jurisdiction over the manure blending operation. Officials can request inspections and information relating to it, but permitting for the operation ultimately falls under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Speakers also continued to worry about what approving the applications could mean for that area.

“We don’t even really know what they intend to put here,” resident Laurene Capone said. “I’m very disappointed in the way the village conducts itself in bringing

these applications forward, and almost setting the stage for the people to come through. I think that the taxpayers of Wellington are being disenfranchised by the process.”

Others mentioned how the committee should deny the applications, even if that would lead to a lawsuit that could change the village’s stance on the matter.

“I want to know why the staff is so afraid of lawsuits,” Phoebe Weseley said. “That is not leadership to me — that is surrender. It is not the right thing to allow this to go through, and it’s not the right thing to be afraid to stand up and do the right thing.”

The committee unanimously approved amending the land use conditions and the rezoning requests. The items next head to Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board and will subsequently require approval from the Wellington Village Council.

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CEREMONY HONORS VETERANS

On Friday, Nov. 7, Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School held its annual Veterans Day ceremony. The ceremony honored veterans for their service to the country. This year, the attending veterans were introduced by their family members who attend the school. The ceremony included poems, songs and Taps, played on the hand bells. PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

RPBES Brings Updates, Patriotic Program To

By Hilary Moore Hebert Town-Crier Staff Report

The Monday, Nov. 10 meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Education Advisory Board opened with a burst of patriotism, as Royal Palm Beach Elementary School students filled the council chambers with music, color and heartfelt performances honoring Veterans Day.

Principal Tracy Ghettie’s presentation began with “fun facts” about the school. She noted that Royal Palm Beach Elementary has been an A-rated school since opening in 2002, is recognized as a Green School of Excellence, and is a Florida Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) Model School at the silver level. More than 90 percent of the school’s faculty members are actively enrolled in continuing education programs.

“We could not be the happiest place on earth without the amazing support from our families,” Ghettie said, adding that with only two weeks’ notice, the evening’s event and performances had drawn a full house.

Students explained the school’s guiding motto: “Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be a Learner.” To stay safe, every staff member has a “trusted adult” poster to help students identify who they can turn to for support. Being respectful is encouraged through the Bobcat Golden Tickets and Woo Hoo Referrals, which recognize posi-

tive behavior, along with monthly Bobcat Students of the Month chosen from each class.

Academic learning is supported through initiatives like the Ben Carson Reading Room, First Chapter Fridays, and Morphology Mondays, where students study word parts and identify them in their reading throughout the week. Math engagement is reinforced through the Math Fluency Flight review program, and science vocabulary is highlighted in the Science Vocabulary Challenge, where words such as “herbivore” are displayed alongside definitions and photos.

The school also maintains strong community traditions, including the annual Back-to-School BBQ, Trunk or Treat, Community Food Drive and Winter Holiday Gift Drive. This year’s Bobcat Winter Fest is set for Dec. 5.

Students from several school clubs then took the stage to showcase campus life. The handbell ensemble opened with “America the Beautiful,” followed by a chorus performance of “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Drama club members performed a two-part Veterans Day tribute, combining spoken word with song. Many students wore sparkling patriotic hats and military-inspired accessories, delighting the audience and creating a festive atmosphere.

EAB Vice Chair Paula Wilson thanked the school for its presentation, while Board Member Jen-

nifer Sullivan asked how residents could help.

Ghettie requested donations of canned food, turkeys and Publix gift cards to support the school’s food drive. So far, 883 items have been collected, with hopes to grow that number before the holidays.

Mayor Jeff Hmara commended the students for their performances and their spirit of service. “Never miss an opportunity to thank a veteran,” he told the children. “Also tell them to thank their family, because they couldn’t do what they did without their families.”

Following the Royal Palm Beach Elementary School presentation, the board discussed district-wide updates and accomplishments. Dr. Stephanie Nance, principal of Crestwood Middle School, was announced as a principal of the year finalist for the central region. Crestwood recently regained its “A” school rating after previously holding a “B,” making it one of only two schools in Palm Beach County eligible for the Exceeding Expectations Award for 2026. Cypress Trails Elementary School Assistant Principal Lauren Hall was also named a regional finalist for assistant principal of the year.

Representatives shared updates from other campuses. Cypress Trails hosted a Trunk or Treat on Oct. 24 and a Book Character Parade on Oct. 31, with its next School Advisory Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 3. H.L.

completed within a few years. Along with the retail space, a private school will be built that would take up the majority of the west side of the site. The school, to be known as Wingrove Academy, will serve students in pre-K through grade 12. A residential area will also be built, but with fewer homes than originally planned. Currently, Related Ross expects there will be about 200 residential units.

“Our goal is to make a downtown that is absolutely walkable with a mix of uses, so people have a number of reasons to be here at different times of the day,” said David Manfredi of Elkus Manfredi Architects.

Johnson Elementary School held a community-wide Trunk or Treat and organized a staff event supporting cancer awareness, with its next SAC meeting on Jan. 28. Royal Palm Beach Elementary School followed its Oct. 24 Trunk or Treat with the Veterans Day performance on Nov. 5, and its next SAC meeting is set for Nov. 19. Crestwood Middle School recently took students to the Norton Museum of Art for an interactive lesson. Eighth graders also visited the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. The school continues its “Blessings Basket” initiative, and the next SAC meeting is Dec. 4. At Royal Palm Beach High

of culture and DNA that you’ve created in this very special community,” said Kenneth Himmel, president of Related Ross.

Team members from Related Ross explained that investing in Wellington has been a great decision. They are already in the process of finding tenants for retail spaces and intend to finish the entire project before opening.

“[Wellington] is one of the most attractive places for people to think about a residence, to grow a family, and to look at the kind

Council members were also excited about what this could mean for the village, especially how it could give the community more restaurants and educational options.

“It gets more exciting as we hear and see more of what is going to be coming attractions, because this is something our residents have been asking for,” Mayor Michael Napoleone said.

“This would be nice to add to the few options we have and enhance what we’ve got.” Councilwoman Amanda Silves-

School, a number of students earned perfect scores on endof-course exams in biology and U.S. history. The varsity football team has advanced to the Florida Invitational, currently ranked fifth in the region. Also, the campus is preparing to launch an AI Nexus Academy, which will be the only one of its kind in the area. Hmara expressed excitement about the program. “This is really, really the future. When you combine finance with AI technology, the future is limitless,” he said. The board also highlighted the village’s annual scholarship program, which offers 11 scholarships of $1,000 each to graduating seniors living in Royal Palm Beach. Applications are due Feb. 20, 2026, either by e-mail or hand delivery. Details are available at www.royalpalmbeachfl.gov. During public comments, the Royal Palm Beach High School JROTC program was recognized for marching alongside Hmara in a Veterans Day parade with 140 cadets. The unit recently won first place in competition, qualifying for both state and national marksmanship events. The meeting concluded with the announcement that the next Education Advisory Board meeting will feature Western Academy Charter School.

tri agreed and was happy with the presentation.

“Everything is absolutely beautiful, so I look forward to moving forward with this,” she said. “It’s very exciting.” Developers will be seeking final approval of plans early next year and expect to start construction in March. The private school is scheduled to open in August 2028, and the full project will tentatively have its grand opening later that year in October. Also at Monday’s workshop, village staff introduced potential admission prices for the new Wellington Aquatics Center at Village Park, opening in January. They proposed a daily base rate of $7 or $8 for adults. Children and seniors will receive a $2 or $3 discount. Non-residents will have to pay an additional entry fee. Council members requested more discussion on membership pass costs and revising the non-resident fee for the facility’s first year. Council members also discussed amending its contract for the on-demand rideshare transportation service Freebee provided to seniors. The amendment would authorize the payment of a third vehicle. Freebee provides seniors with eight free one-way trips per month. Since the program started in May 2024, Freebee drivers have completed more than 14,000 rides for seniors in the community.

Aurora Doyle, Cassianna Civil, Aubrey Aguirre and Ella Geribon lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Piper Rackley, Nicolas Laws, Thea Kamfonik and Gianna Lesanti with military posters created by fourth graders.

Principal Richard Myerson opens the ceremony.

Veteran Duane Sowers with his daughter, Adeline.

Eloise Scherette and Timothy Leonard.

Matthew Duque introduces his veteran family member with help from music teacher Amy Joy.

Marc Muentes with his parents, Tabitha and Randolph Muentes.

Camila Wedderburn introduces her veteran family member with help from music teacher Amy Joy.

Seminole Ridge High School’s color guard enters the ceremony.

Isaiah Sandeen, Emma Shaggal and Leah Peters sing and perform sign language for the national anthem.

Royal Palm Beach Elementary School students perform at the Education Advisory Board meeting.

Wellington Bay Holiday Boutique Supports Nonprofit Our Community Cares

Wellington Bay welcomed more than 130 attendees on Sunday, Nov. 2 for a festive afternoon of shopping, community connection and philanthropy.

The Holiday Boutique event featured more than 20 local vendors, a fabulous silent auction and a grand raffle prize of a $250 gift card to Sicilian Oven in Welling-

ton, with all proceeds benefiting Our Community Cares.

Guests enjoyed complimentary refreshments and light bites provided by Wellington Bay, along with guided tours of the luxury senior living facility. The event created a joyful atmosphere while supporting Our Community Cares’ mission to help local seniors

age safely at home through free, non-medical support services.

“We are so grateful to everyone who came out to support Our Community Cares at the Holiday Boutique,” said Marjorie Sullivan, the event chair and a board member at the local nonprofit. “Events like this make it possible for us to continue our mission and support

companionship to seniors who wish to remain independent and connected within our community.”

Our Community Cares helps seniors age in place by providing compassionate, non-medical services such as transportation, grocery assistance, friendly phone calls and social visits. Learn more at www.ourcommunitycaresfl.org.

Julieann Smolansky, Marjorie Sullivan, Bill Maher, Cheryl Anders, Julie Tannehill and Barbara Kelley.

Vanessa Moss shows her support.

Julie Tannehill and Dana Ray at the Wellington Bay table.

Melody Domb supports Our Community Cares.

Kathy Foster with her granddaughter Sophie.

Gay Lynn Fowler models a blouse from Dawn Bacchus.

Rose Hinrichs buys a pool coverup from Blu Nomad.

Patty Cooke, Jennifer Stirbl and Rachel Pollack.

Event Committee members Alicia Sharpe, Diane Gutman, Laura Maher, Marjorie Sullivan, Cathy Biczak, Linda Mackin and Bonnie Sansone.

Nicolas Ortiz, Leonela Villalobos and Juan Ortiz at the Galtsand table.

Paul and Sharyn Vowles.

Artist Dena Lyons painted this picture, which inspired the design of her leggings.

Our Community Cares founder Kathy Foster with Frank and Herta Suess.

Eileen Kuhnel looks at cashmere sweaters from Jennifer Tyler Knitwear.

Jade Sprenger, Maryjo Sprenger and Bonnie Sansone visit Lola Couture.

Judy Labanz Higgins assists Barbara Nussbaum at the Voyage Boutique table.

Tal Bavli-Weissman of Tal Cosmetics applies makeup to Cathy Biczak.

WELLINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 10TH

ANNUAL RED, WHITE & BLUE JEANS ‘A SALUTE TO OUR HEROES’ WAS A RECORD-BREAKING EVENT

By Shannon Anastasio Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington Community Foundation marked a milestone on Friday, Nov. 7, celebrating its 10th anniversary “Red, White & Blue Jeans: A Salute to Our Heroes” event at the Wellington National Golf Club. The evening was a heartfelt tribute to veterans, filled with gratitude, community spirit and joyous celebration.

Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner and dancing. The highlight of the night was a captivating performance by the legendary Les Elgart Orchestra.

Since 2009, the foundation has remained devoted to “building a stronger community” by supporting Wellington veterans, children and seniors in need. This special anniversary event not only celebrated a decade of impact but also reaffirmed Wellington’s enduring spirit of generosity.

The foundation extended heartfelt thanks to its sponsors: Wellington Regional Medical Center, McCourt Partners, Diamante Farms Dressage, the Boynton Financial Group, Pike & Lustig, Jim & Paula Sackett, Barron & Associates, Wellington Florist, Mickey & Lizz Smith, Mike & Phyllis Gauger, Roxanne Stein & Stephen Moss, the Village of Wellington, Seacoast Bank, the Shapiro Pertnoy Companies, Don & Maureen Gross, JDM of the Palm Beaches, Shoreline Construction Management, Wellington Bay, Medicare Maggie Group, the Wellington National Golf Club, Wellington The Magazine, the Town-Crier newspaper, Above & Beyond Party Decor and Star Wine & Spirits. Their continued partnership makes the foundation’s mission possible. The record-breaking attendees and money raised is a true testament to the foundation’s mission. Learn more at www. wellingtoncommunityfoundation.org.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

The famous Les Elgart Orchestra performed at the event.

Wellington Community Foundation board members, past and present, are thanked for their support.

(L-R) Kevin Shapiro, J.P. Varvarigos, Herta Suess, Michael Gauger, James Seder, Maggie Zeller, Jim Sackett, Mickey Smith, Barry Manning, Maria Becker, Joanna Boynton, Don Gross, Hope Baron and Roxanne Stein.

Wellington Regional Medical Center was the event’s Ruby Sponsor.

James and Michelle Seder, Steven Shapiro, Taryn and Dan Silverstein, and Ellen Shapiro.

Sharon Sareen, Dr. Gurpreet Singh Sareen, Maggie Zeller, and Maria Fernanda Cruz and Dr. Mauricio Cruz.

Rob Buda, Robin Oakley and Tom Carreras.

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes, Joshua Manning, Carolyn Hmara and Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara.

Keri and Jason Katz, Anthony Tahan and Sandi Clarke. Mair Armand, Melinda Varvarigos and Melissa Varvarigos.

Regis Wenham, the widow of Wellington Community Foundation founder Tom Wenham, is honored for her continued support.

Christopher and Rhea Caswell.

Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Jan Rodusky, Wellington Councilman John McGovern, Wellington Councilwoman Amanda Sylvestri, former Wellington Mayor Kathy Foster, Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone, Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Wellington Councilwoman Maria Antuña, and Carolyn and Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara.

Carolyn and Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara with Charlene and Dr. Jeffrey Bishop.

Andrea Plevin, Mary Lou Bedford, Betty Buglio and Lazaro Sed are thanked for their continued support of the Salute to Our Heroes event over the past decade. Sed accepted on behalf of Wellington’s American Legion Post 390.

William Bartels and Lazaro Sed of American Legion Post 390 present the POW/MIA chair.

Mary Lou Bedford sings the national anthem.

Kathy Foster and Joanna Boynton.

James and Tatiana Yaques.

Ben and Joanna Boynton.

Wellington Councilman John McGovern with Regis Wenham. Dr. Mauricio and Maria Fernanda Cruz with Maureen and Don Gross. Kevin Shapiro, Roxanne Stein and Steve Moss.

Hope Baron and Charlene Bishop. Mary Lou Bedford with Mickey and Lizz Smith.

Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind and Roxanne Stein. Michael, Phyllis and Amanda Gauger.

Meroe Rabieifar, Doug Marty and Johnny Meier.

Walter and Joan Imperatore.

Andrew Burr and Maria Fernanda Cruz. Jim Sackett and Barry Manning hold up an afghan up for auction.

Veterans in attendance gather for a group photo.

A Heart of Hope, One Transplant and Endless Possibilities

In February 2024, Migdalia Rodriguez had just moved to Tampa, was busy building her remote private mental health counseling practice and was preparing to take a long-awaited trip to Greece with her beloved service dog Milo in the upcoming summer. She was 39 years old and looking forward to this next phase of her life.

So when she started getting heart palpitations, she dismissed them as a symptom of stress or anxiety. But soon she developed a cough that got worse at night and body aches that felt like flu, which caused her concern.

“I thought maybe I had asthma because it was hard to breathe at night,” Migdalia says.

Her symptoms continued and by the next week she couldn’t walk easily without getting winded. She took the advice of a friend and went to a local hospital to get checked out. There, she was tested for viruses and was going to be sent home with antibiotics. But when she told a doctor her breathing at night was accompanied by a strange sound, he recommended further testing. The results showed her heart was enlarged, she was in heart failure, and her situation was dire. She was admitted to the hospital.

“I was terrified. Everything was happening so fast. They said I might not make it through the night, but they would treat it the best they could,” Migdalia says.

Additional testing revealed the completely unexpected – Migdalia was going to need a heart transplant.

The journey to better health and beyond Migdalia described this as the “scariest time of my life.” She needed to find a transplant team. She was released home with medical supervision and began sharing her story on social media. Soon she reconnected with the mother of a girl for whom she had nannied many years ago in her home state of Connecticut. The mother, who happened to be a heart failure specialist, recommended Migdalia go to Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

After exploring several transplant programs, Migdalia decided that the program at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital was indeed the right one for her. She moved back to South Florida, a place she had lived before, to receive her care there.

Her team of specialists at Weston Hospital included Nina Rivera, DO; Nicolas Brozzi, MD; Jerry Estep, MD; David Snipelisky, MD; David Baran, MD; and Cedric Sheffield, MD.

“I met every person on my transplant team, and they explained

the process thoroughly to me,” Migdalia says. “They brought such expertise and made me feel at ease. I felt so cared for.”

While waiting for her new heart, Migdalia chronicled her transplant journey on TikTok. She amassed a large following of people for whom she still gives regular updates today. As a mental health therapist, it is important for her to reach out to other transplant patients and their caregivers to spread the word about the importance of mental health care before, during and post-transplant.

Migdalia’s health began to decline rapidly in the fall of 2024. But on January 13 of this year, she got the call that a donor heart was available for her. As a close friend drove her to the hospital, she said she had a mix of feelings including being terrified, hopeful and grateful to the transplant team and the donor.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about the donor,” Migdalia says. “It was so bittersweet because I knew there was a family grieving.”

Within two days of her transplant, Migdalia was able to get up and walk with some assistance. She was well enough to be discharged from the hospital nine days later. Though her recovery was remarkable (the average length of stay in the hospital for heart transplant patients is 15 days), she cautions other patients not to compare themselves and to be realistic about their own recovery time as everyone’s journey is unique.

At nine months post-transplant, Migdalia is getting stronger every day. She recently ran her first 5k race ever. She takes salsa dance classes, walks with Milo and focuses on strength training. She has had to pause her career but is still finding ways to help people, especially transplant patients and their caregivers, take care of their mental health. She is grateful to her online community for giving her support during her transplant process and is working hard at giving that support back through her social media platform. She also is looking forward to finally taking that trip to Greece next year, with Italy on the itinerary now, as well.

She says that she lives life with more intention now, after the major health issues she has had to face over the past two years. She credits the transplant team at Weston Hospital with giving her renewed life.

“The level of expertise of the transplant team is amazing,” Migdalia says. “I have immense love and gratitude for them. I just knew that was where I needed to be.”

The Transplant Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital builds upon the longstanding success of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Transplant to learn more.

Redefining World Class Heart Care

When it comes to hearts at Cleveland Clinic, you can’t miss a beat. You seek the best care possible, work with the brightest minds, and leave no stone unturned to get to the heart of the matter.

See how we’re advancing the future of heart care at Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

ROYAL PALM BEACH SENIORS ENJOY FUN HALLOWEEN PARTY AT REC CENTER

Royal Palm Beach senior citizens enjoyed a fun Halloween party on Friday, Oct. 31 at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center. The event included a costume contest with many creative seniors participating. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Parton’s Imagination Library of Palm Beach County is proud to announce that the fourth annual Imagination Library Run for Reading 5K will be held Saturday, Nov. 15 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. All proceeds will go toward purchasing Imagination Library books for children in Palm Beach County.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an award-winning early childhood literacy book gifting program for children, is now available to families in several Palm Beach County zip codes. The Imagination Library mails one free, age-appropriate book per month to all children enrolled from birth through their fifth birthday, at

no cost to the family, regardless of income. A child enrolled at birth can build an at-home library of up to 60 books by the time he or she starts kindergarten. The program is a partnership between the Dollywood Foundation and local program partners, like the Palm Beach County Imagination Library, which has gifted more than 27,000 books to children in Palm Beach County over the past five years.

Parton created the Imagination Library in 1995 as a tribute to her father, who never learned to read. “Before he passed away, my daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done,” Parton said. “I can’t tell you how

much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my daddy.”

Set to begin at 8 a.m., the Imagination Library Run for Reading 5k offers a professionally timed and managed course, and the first 400 registered participants will receive a uniquely designed finisher’s medal, race shirt and swag bag filled with items from sponsors, including a Puma Golf tote bag. The event includes postrace refreshments and age group awards.

The official event volunteers will be members of Literacy Americorps of the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition. Registration is open now through Nov. 15 at www.runforreading5k.com.

The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office is making it easier for farmers, ranchers, equestrians and growers to get the help they need.

During the first week of December, the office’s Agriculture Department will move from downtown West Palm Beach to its new location in the Mayor Fred Pinto Midwestern Community Building, located at 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 100, in Royal Palm Beach. With free parking and a convenient location, this new office means no long drives downtown. The local agriculture community can now access services much closer to home.

“Our agricultural property owners are the backbone of Palm Beach County,” Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks said. “By moving closer to the land, we are making sure that these hardworking families have direct access to the resources and expertise they need.”

The Agriculture Department administers Florida’s Agricultural Classification (“Greenbelt Law”), which allows qualifying lands used for bona fide commercial agriculture — such as livestock, crops, aquaculture and beekeeping — to be assessed based on agricultural use rates rather than market value. While this often

results in tax savings, it does not always reduce taxes depending on parcel characteristics. Losing the classification, however, typically means a return to full market value and a significant tax increase. Farmers and property owners can apply for an agricultural classification each year between Jan. 1 and March 1. Land must be in bona fide agricultural use as of Jan. 1, and applicants must provide documentation supporting commercial use. For more information or assistance, visit in person at 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 100,

Frances Kranski is honored for “Best Costume” by Mayor Jeff Hmara.

Paula Reed is honored for “Scariest Costume.”

Mehrdad Ghezelayagh, Kathy Hommasi, Senior Programs Supervisor Shakeera Thomas, Giti Loghmani, Firouzeh Ghezelayagh and Ali Loghmani.

Senior Programs Supervisor Shakeera Thomas, Councilman Adam Miller, Vice Mayor Richard Valuntas, and Mayor Jeff and Carolyn Hmara.

Susan Bobyak, Virginia Guido, Rhonda Beitmen, Mary Ann Popper and Frances Kranski.

Mayor Jeff Hmara honors Audrey Sabin and Helene Codelle for “Most Creative Costume.”

Patricia Lemos and Ricardo Lemos are honored for “Best Couple Costume.”

Walburga Hickey gets an award from Mayor Jeff Hmara for “Funniest Costume.”

Alicia Faria gets an award for “Cutest Costume.”

Les Johnson and Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps.

Dolly

Two Seats Contested

continued from page 1 and that is how we can solve the traffic congestion problems,” Hmara said. “We are going to expand our recreation center, and that groundbreaking is expected to take place in the first quarter of next year. That will double the space, so we have more room for sports programs and senior programs.”

He’s also bullish on the village’s economy.

“Every week, it seems that we are doing a ribbon cutting for a new small business in Royal Palm Beach,” Hmara said.

He thanked his fellow council members for their support.

“One of the reasons we have made this much progress in such a short period of time is because of the council that we have,” Hmara said.

GROUP 1

Miller joined the council last year, after he was unopposed for a one-year partial term. In March, he will face a familiar face in Samios, who served on the council starting in 2016, until she stepped down after losing to Hmara in a bid for mayor.

“I’m running for re-election because I genuinely enjoy serving our community and making a positive difference in people’s lives, just as I’ve done throughout my career in education,” said Miller, who was a school principal before his current role as chief of performance accountability for the School District of Palm Beach

Vinceremos Volunteers Needed

continued from page 3 maybe you can’t walk well, but I can’t talk well, so we have something in common.”

Her favorite part of volunteering is “watching people with difficult situations have so much fun.”

While about 150 people are registered volunteers on the 15acre farm, Ramirez said that only about 50 are regulars, and that there are always openings for new volunteers due to attrition.

One former volunteer is retired school counselor Larry Leroux.

“I was looking for something to do when I retired and heard good things about Vinceremos,” he said.

County. “I want to help keep Royal Palm Beach the safe, welcoming and family-friendly village where my family has lived and grown for more than 20 years.”

Miller is pleased with the work that he has been able to accomplish for residents.

“I’m proud to have supported residents directly when they needed help,” he said. “I also helped establish the mayor’s Youth Civic Leadership Program and voted to maintain strong funding for our emergency services partners at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, ensuring continued top-tier public safety.”

Looking forward, Miller will put his focus on education and business initiatives.

“I plan to launch a teacher recognition program and a local business incentive program, address traffic challenges, and continue keeping property taxes among the lowest in Palm Beach County,” he said. “I’ll also focus on finding smart savings to preserve our strong financial standing and help residents learn how to use artificial intelligence to make everyday life easier.”

During her time on the council, Samios said that she is proud that she “always listened to the residents and voted for their behalf.”

“I did not support variances when developers wanted to increase density,” Samios said, adding that she favors “responsible growth” and helped streamline the process to expedite opening a business in Royal Palm Beach.

“I also focused on our senior community,” she said. “I spear-

“While I had never been around horses before, I learned a lot in my seven months there and had a blast.

It’s good people and wonderful programs. I only left because I got a job offer that I could not refuse. I highly recommend the volunteer experience at Vinceremos.”

Founded by Ruth Menor, Vinceremos has been serving people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities of all ages in Palm Beach County since 1982. The public is invited to join Vinceremos for a magical, safari-themed Holiday Horse Show on Saturday, Nov. 22 starting at noon.

The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center is located at 13300 6th Court North in Loxahatchee Groves. For more information, or to volunteer, call (561) 792-9900 or visit www.vinceremos.org.

headed the creation of the senior citizens ad hoc group, which led to an in-depth study of needs and led to village initiatives.”

She will continue to focus on local businesses and seek an updated needs analysis for senior residents should she return to the council.

“I have always worked to be completely transparent about everything going on in the village by seeking out and receiving resident input, in addition to creating an information specialist position within the village to continue to inform residents of projects and activities,” Samios said.

She believes that she is a better choice for residents than the incumbent.

“I chose to run for Seat 1 because my opponent proposed to raise property taxes and voted to rezone several properties in Royal Palm Beach for high-density commercial and residential,” Samios said, adding that she stands with residents who are upset about taxes and congestion.

Miller disagreed with Samios’ suggestion that he favors raising taxes.

“I am not in favor of raising the millage rate,” he stressed.

Royal Palm Beach has one of the lowest property tax rates in the county, and Miller noted that he voted to keep the property tax rate unchanged.

Hmara suggested that Samios is likely referring to a recent strategic planning conversation about how and when the village might consider raising the tax rate, which he does not believe will be necessary at any time in the foreseeable future.

GROUP 3

Sharps narrowly defeated Avila in a three-way race last March to win a one-year partial term on the council. She is now seeking a full two-year term.

“I am so excited. I love what I do. I love being a servant for the people and being their representative,” she said.

Since joining the council, she has been able to focus on her top priorities.

“I was able to do two of the things that I ran on,” Sharps said. “The leadership council with the youth from Royal Palm Beach High School. We have 37 kids in that program. We have also opened up the opportunity for senior citizens to be mentors and tutors for kids, to be more involved with the youth in our village.”

She added that the current council works together well as a team to get things done.

“We deal with things intelligently, intellectually and maturely,” Sharps said. “There is nobody on the council who thinks they know more than anybody else. We can agree to disagree and still get things done.”

She aims to continue Royal Palm Beach’s reputation as a lowtax, debt-free village.

“We still have that hometown feel within the village,” Sharps said. “There are things for young people and senior citizens, and we maintain those things. We will be able to maintain that as long as the council listens to the residents, making decisions that are best for them.”

Avila said that he is looking forward to the upcoming campaign,

PBSC Campus Training Center

continued from page 1 that you’ve already done, most of the area is without tall vegetation,” Herzog said. “I would hate to see five more projects going in and no trees left on that whole complex.”

However, the developers explained how they want to respect the surrounding area and maintain its rural nature.

which will be his third in less than three years. Two years ago, he ran against Pinto for mayor.

“This matchup is a rematch of the special election this past March, which I only lost by 19 votes,” he said. He is not impressed by the composition of the current council.

“I’ve been largely disappointed in the last year by the lack of diversity of opinion on the council,” Avila said. “It seems as though everybody is following in line with Mayor Hmara’s agenda. I feel I am a breath of fresh air for people who feel that their voices

New School Opening In 2027

continued from page 1 on Golden Grove Elementary School, and on parents who often must drive miles out of their way to drop off their children. Located on 140th Avenue North across a small canal without crossing access, Golden Grove has absorbed most of the elementary school students from fast-growing Westlake.

The new school is projected to cost $43 million. While it will be built on the same framework as Saddle View, it won’t be the same school, Dolan and Andrews stressed. It will have its own unique touches that will reflect the community around it, they said.

“We’ll work with the aesthetics of the school to make sure it is more in line with [Westlake],” Dolan said.

A group of parents and students will be selected for an advisory board helping guide the school’s creation, Vice Mayor Greg Langowski said. “They’ll help pick the school colors, the mascot and give input as to choice of principal,” he said.

are not being heard.” His goals are unchanged from his previous campaigns.

“It’s the same issue that I have argued for in the past. We still do not have term limits. We still are having conversations about turning Royal Palm Beach into West Palm Beach,” Avila said. “And we are now having a discussion about the millage rate and what role that plays in the village. I continue to advocate keeping, if not lowering, our millage rate. Unfortunately, there have been discussions contrary to that fact at the council level.”

Langowski, who serves as council liaison to the EAB, has volunteered to sit in as the council’s representative on the school’s advisory board. Whoever is selected as the school’s first principal will be “hands on” in terms of shaping the school and “listening to the voices of parents and the community,” Andrews said this week. “It takes a special talent [as principal] to open a new school. We’ll be looking for the best talent available.” Andrews said that a principal is expected to be named by late summer or early fall of 2026. There are challenges that still must be dealt with, said O’Connor, including the redrawing of school boundaries in the area — expected to begin in the spring of 2026 — and traffic flow on already busy streets in that part of the community.

“I’m super-excited… to see this project completed in my second term as mayor,” O’Connor said. Parents and the public can share their thoughts and ideas for the new school at public.comment@ palmbeachschools.org and keep up with the Attendance Boundary Committee (ABC) process at www.pbcschoolzones.info.

The new school will be located at the intersection of Persimmon Blvd. and Green Lane in Westlake.

set to begin, Joan Rumsey, assistant facilities director at PBSC, emphasized how the project will provide vital training and increase the state’s preparedness for natural disasters.

“We’re very excited about the Emergency Response Training Center,” Rumsey said. “We think it’ll be a great opportunity to train our first responders and emergency managers within the community.”

Meets Thursdays - 12:15 p.m.

The Wanderer’s Club For additional information call Chris Warren, 561-350-7247 Royal Palm Beach Rotary Meets Tuesdays - 7:30 a.m.

Hilary’s For additional information call Andre Blackwood 772-631-1716

“The master plan really does respect the perimeter of this site,” Lanigan said. “The goal is to screen things from view and maintain that rural feel.”

While the officials did not give details on when construction is

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, in collaboration with the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau and Baptist Health, will host the 18th annual Farm City Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The event is officially sold out.

Palm Beach State College has started a fundraising campaign for the new Emergency Response Training Center for Giving Tuesday. Donations will be taken to provide resources and fund education initiatives at the center. The campaign will be accepting donations until Dec. 8. To learn more, visit www.givecampus.com/

Farm City celebrates Palm Beach County’s robust agricultural community and recognizes the crucial role this sector plays in economic sustainability. The event will tackle a critical issue: food insecurity. The luncheon is dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges many people in Palm Beach County face in accessing healthy, consistent meals.

schools/palmbeachstatecollege. In other business: • Town staff gave an update report on the School Zone Speed Enforcement Program. The warning phase of the program began on Sept. 8. Officials sent out 2,217 warnings during that period. After the warning period ended in October, there have been more than 2,300 violations issued so far. The total revenue collected has exceeded $30,000, of which the town received a proportionate share of about $12,000. • The Loxahatchee Groves qualifying period for the 2026 municipal elections in March ends at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Two seats are up for election. To learn more, contact the Town Clerk’s Office.

To address it, the event will feature a panel of leaders who will provide key insights. The panel will be moderated by Caroline Villanueva of Florida Crystals and includes School Board Member Erica Whitfield, Fabiola Brumley of Bank of America, Jamie Kendall of the Palm Beach County Food Bank and Martha Lynn of Light House Café of the Glades.

Volunteer Jeanna Wyche with Milo.

ROYAL PALM BEACH HONORS ALL WHO SERVED AT VETS DAY

The Village of Royal Palm Beach, in conjunction with American Legion Post 367, presented a Veterans Day observance “Honoring All Who Served” on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Speakers included veterans Jake Hampu, Thomas Halleck and Mayor Jeff Hmara. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Lights 4 Hope Holiday Light Show Opens Nov. 21 At Okeeheelee Park

The eighth annual Lights 4 Hope Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show is set to kick off on Friday, Nov. 21st at Okeeheelee Park, spreading happiness and hope to those in need through spectacular holiday light displays. The event will continue through the holiday season. Lights 4 Hope is a drive-thru light show containing more than two miles of animated and musical holiday light displays at Okeeheelee Park. Proceeds from this event benefit the nonprofit’s mission, which is to help local children and families suffering with life-altering diseases and diagnoses year-round. The event location is Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., near the Micanopy Pavilion, after the soccer fields, before Pooch Pines Dog Park. Enter the park at the intersection of Forest Hill Blvd. and Eshleman Trail. Prices start at $25 for standard cars and trucks up to eight passengers. The price goes up to $35 for large vans and small buses, and $45 for large bus vehicles with more than 13 passengers. Tickets can be purchased at www.lights4hope.org.

p.m.

Pastor Cory Britt gives the invocation.

The Royal Palm Beach High School JROTC color guard took part in the ceremony.

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

American Legion Post 367 Commander Millie Espinoza, ITID President Elizabeth Accomando, Jake Hampu, Thomas Halleck and Pastor Corey Britt on stage.

The Royal Palm Beach Community Band performs.

The Western Academy Charter School choir performs.

Margie Cruzado, Mayor Jeff Hmara and Monique Lananna.

Guest speaker Jake Hampu (U.S. Marine Corps).

Guest speaker Thomas Halleck (U.S. Navy).

Master of Ceremonies Jeffrey T. Harrison.

The Wellington Rotary Club held its annual Ruck March on Sunday, Nov. 9 at Village Park in Wellington. The event helped raise awareness and bring in food donations for the Village of Wellington’s Hometown Holiday Food Drive. Participants wore backpacks full of nonperishable food and “marched” or ran a 5K route. A motorcycle parade kicked off the event, along with a birthday cake for the U.S. Marine Corps, cut with a ceremonial Mameluke sword.

In Loving Memory of Charles Andrew Elmore

Charles Andrew Elmore, age 62, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at his home in Wellington, less than three months after a diagnosis with metastatic colon cancer. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, journalist and sports fan.

Charles was born on Sept. 13, 1963, in Titusville, Florida, where his parents — Mary Wallace Hollingsworth of Sylvania, Georgia, and Albert Earl Elmore of Forest, Mississippi — had been recruited to teach school during the Space Boom. His only sibling, John “Jay” Edward Elmore, was born in 1967.

As his father pursued advanced degrees and a career in higher education and law, Charles spent his childhood in several southern locales, including Nashville, Tennessee; Cleveland, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; and his most cherished place of all, the beloved family cabin on Brier Creek near Sylvania, Georgia.

Charles and Jay spent their most formative years as “faculty kids” on the campus of Hampden Sydney College in Virginia, where their father was an English professor. One of his teachers began calling him “Chas,” and it became the only name that many of his loved ones ever called him. Charles graduated from Prince Edward County High School, where he was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and tennis) in 1981.

Charles attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, on a full academic scholarship. He majored in English, joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, embraced intramural sports, and wrote for the student newspaper, The Sewanee Purple. During his college summers, he completed reporting internships with The Washington Times and The Atlanta Constitution. He served as editor-in-chief of The Purple during his senior year. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with special honors in English in 1985.

If there are natural-born journalists, Charles surely was one. He was a true believer in freedom of the press, journalistic integrity and the centrality of both for a democratic society. His parents told stories of how he had relished non-fiction writing assignments in elementary school. At age 10, he convinced his teacher to let him start a newsletter, “The Fifth-Grade Times,” which prominently featured

his editorial columns expressing disappointment and dismay over President Nixon and the Watergate scandal. True to form, Charles accepted a position as a business reporter for The Palm Beach Post in 1986, then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to accept a position with The Atlanta Constitution in 1987. He had met his future wife, Jenifer Lynn Bobo, at Sewanee in 1985. They married on May 6, 1988, after Jenifer had been awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, which allowed them to travel the world together for the first year of their marriage. During that magical year, Charles continued to work as a foreign freelance reporter for American publications, while Jenifer researched the teaching profession in Sweden, England and Japan.

Upon returning to the U.S. in 1989, Charles returned to The Palm Beach Post, where he spent the remainder of his full-time career until his retirement in 2019. He wrote news, features and columns for multiple beats and sections: business, sports (especially football and tennis), the business of sports, investigations, and local and state government. From 1996 to 1999, his family relocated to Tallahassee so that he could report on state government from the Post’s state capital bureau, where he became bureau chief in 1998.

Charles returned to Palm Beach County in 1999 to return to the sports section. His sports writing highlights included Superbowl XLI in Miami and multiple Grand Slam tennis tournaments — the U.S Open, the French Open and Wimbledon. He took special pride in his “Postcards from Paris” feature, which was a hit with South Florida tennis fans and prompted some of his most flattering feedback from readers.

Charles retired in 2019 after working 32 years for Cox Enterprises, the parent company of the Post and the Constitution. During that time, he won numerous awards for business, sports and investigative writing, including a National Headliner Award in 2003, a Best of Cox Award in 2001, and multiple first-place awards in annual competitions held by the Florida Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists. After retiring from full-time journalism, Charles continued to report on a freelance basis for local newspapers, particularly the Town-Crier and the Coastal Star Awards notwithstanding, his proudest achievements were his loving, 37-year marriage to Jenifer and the raising of their three wonderful children. Charles and Jenifer bought their house in Wellington in 1999 when daughters Holly and Shelby were 7 and 5, respectively. The family joined St. David’s Episcopal Church and became active with the Outreach and Sunday School ministries. Charles was gratified to see both Holly and Shelby excel in writing,

and he took great pride in coaching Shelby’s soccer teams for many seasons in the Wellington Recreation youth soccer program. Completing his joy was the birth of son Andrew in 2004. All three children are graduates of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.

Charles loved history, true crime narratives, detective fiction, Stoic philosophy, rock and blues music, stand-up comedy, the many Jack Russell terriers that he and Jenifer adopted, and, of course, sports. He was a passionate, lifelong fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and the University of Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball team. He was still sending weekly college football analysis and predictions to his uncle Ed in Tuscaloosa and sports-loving friends less than a week before he died.

He is survived by his wife, Jenifer B. Elmore, a professor of English at Palm Beach Atlantic University; daughter Martha Hollingsworth (Holly) Elmore, 34, of San Francisco, who holds a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University and is the founder and executive director of the organization PauseAI US; daughter Shelby Elizabeth Elmore, 31, of Stuart, a graduate of Florida State University and a registered nurse practicing in Palm Beach Gardens; and Andrew John Elmore, 21, a senior at his parents’ alma mater, the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his mother Mary Wallace Wacker in 1997 and his father Albert Elmore in 2016.

Other survivors include his brother John Edward Elmore, sister-in-law Abby Moore Elmore, nieces Elzie and Emma Elmore, and nephew Jed Elmore, all of Atlanta; his uncles Edward Hollingsworth of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and John Hollingsworth of Hendersonville, Tennessee; aunts Lillie Gresham of Athens, Georgia, and Panzey Maxwell of Franklin, Tennessee, and their children and grandchildren; his father-in-law Charles E. Bobo of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and the rest of his wife Jenifer’s large extended family, all of whom live in middle Tennessee; and his best friend, Ronnie Green of Falls Church, Virginia, a journalist with ProPublica and the eulogist for Charles’s funeral service.

The funeral service was held Tuesday, Nov. 4, at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wellington. A visitation was held Saturday, Nov. 8, at Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home in Sylvania, Georgia, followed by a burial service at Screven County Memorial Cemetery.

Donations in honor of Charles Elmore may be made to Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism, at www.jfp-local.org.

PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Rotary Club members gather with village officials.

Runners with backpacks start the Ruck March.

Master of ceremonies Richie Boyle during the opening ceremony.

Mary Lou Bedford sings the national anthem.

Team Balance Fitness, shown here at the starting line, hosted a warm-up before the march.

Councilman John McGovern and Councilwoman Maria Antuña during the opening ceremony.

PBSO Deputy Dwayne Brown, a retired Marine, leads the birthday celebration by cutting a cake with a sword.

Marine Jeff Garten takes his turn honoring the Marine Corps.

Wellington Rotary Club President Maria Fernanda Cruz welcomes attendees. Mayor Michael Napoleone delivers his opening remarks.

The American flag flies over the event.

Garth Garrett and Crystal MacConnell donate to the food drive.

Angelo, Alessia, Isabel and Lorenzo Patterson at the starting line.

Wellington High School Interact Club members Cassidy Sherman and Elle West show off their medals.

Jonathan Sparks donates to the village’s food drive.

Linda Benson and Riley Hidalgo-Gato with their food donations.

donation to the Meals on Wheels. Learn more at www.facebook.com/womenofthewesterncommunities.

Lenyce Boyd (center) donated a wooden flag to Heather Suarez and Traci Caicedo of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach.

Rose Gong Monier and Astrid Mora.

Heather Suarez and Florida

National Guard Readiness Specialist Traci Caicedo with

Astrid Mora, Elaine Weber and Michael Bergstrom.

Jill Bernard won an orchid from Wellington Florist.

Featured artist Kris Dru Hilles with some of his artwork.

Lenyce Boyd and Maria Fernanda Cruz tie blankets.

Lynda Chicano, Donna Kuebler, Sherrie Rhoads and Michelle Haines.

Herta Suess, Joan Imperatore, Maria Fernanda Cruz and Maggie Zeller.

Magdalena Maxwell, Sue Welch, Kerrilynn Collins, Mary De Santis and Christine Vocaturo.

Melinda Varvarigos, Paula Castro and Peg Andrules.

Kristi Knight-Sandner and Linda Rosbrough tie blankets.

The Village of Wellington, in cooperation with Standing Room Only Productions, hosted a medieval-themed Murder Mystery Dinner Theater event called “A Royal Betrayal” on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Wellington Community Center. A team of actors kept the crowd in suspense with an interactive murder mystery that gave guests the chance to be a part of the performance and figure out who killed Lord Kellogg. The sold-out event included drinks, dancing, dinner, a costume contest, fun and, of course, murder. PHOTOS BY

This MonTh’s WellingTon hisTory spoTlighT

Kathy Foster

From A Local Businesswoman To A Key Early Leader In Wellington’s Government

As noted in a previous article, Kathy Foster was the first mayor of Wellington, but her involvement with the community runs much deeper.

Some background: In the early 1950s, Arthur William “Bink” Glisson was a Realtor as well as a charter fishing boat captain. One of the people he worked with as a Realtor and took out on fishing charters in the winter was Charles Oliver Wellington, the wealthy head of a northeastern accounting firm. Wellington mentioned that if Bink found some property that was a good investment, he would be interested in purchasing it. The following winter, while on the boat, Bink told Wellington that he had, indeed, found a suitable parcel.

Wanting to see the land, Wellington agreed to meet Bink the next morning at the Lantana Airport, where Bink kept his small plane. When Wellington asked Bink why they were flying to the land — was it that far away? Bink responded that it was not far, but it was underwater! He added that if Wellington bought the land, Bink would have it drained and make it usable property. Wellington ended up purchasing 20,000 acres at 50 cents an acre. An aviator, he named the property the Flying COW Ranch, after his initials: C.O.W. Today’s Flying Cow Ranch Road was once his landing strip.

In 1953, the State of Florida created the Acme Improvement District to provide drainage for flood control and to make the land suitable for agriculture. There were citrus groves and more than 2,000 acres of strawberry fields in the area, laying claim to the “world’s largest patch of strawberries.” Prior to incorporation, Acme served as the area’s government, providing many services to the community, including roads, streetlights, parks and recreational facilities. Law enforcement, fire-rescue, planning and zoning functions were supplied by Palm Beach County.

In 1971, the Investment Corporation of Florida, a developer from Fort Lauderdale, purchased 7,200 acres from the Wellington family and partnered with Alcoa Florida to help build a new community, including some of the first residential neighborhoods, Lake Wellington, a golf course and the initial Wellington Club. Thereafter, Gould Florida acquired a significant portion of Wellington. Gould’s chairman, Bill Ylvisaker, an avid polo player, developed Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, which helped shape the community’s identity as a premier equestrian

destination. They also added the Aero Club, an aviation-themed community. Gould sold its remaining 1,650 acres of land in Wellington in 1985 to Corepoint Inc.

In 1990, the Florida legislature required Acme’s Board of Supervisors to give additional control to residents and allow them to elect supervisors by popular vote. Believing that she would represent the community well, Foster hired her friend, Jan Ellis, as her campaign manager. Foster was one of 23 candidates for two positions and the only woman. Her statement at the time was, “I live here, own a business here, worship here and my children go to school here. I think I know what the community wants.” She won with 48 percent of the vote, defeating candidates who represented large corporations that wanted a foothold in Wellington. She has been a prominent voice in the community since then, serving as an Acme supervisor for six years, including time as chair. She helped write Wellington’s charter and was an early proponent of incorporation, a goal that was realized, despite some very strong opposition, in 1995. She was elected to the inaugural Wellington Village Council and appointed the first mayor in 1996, a position she held through 1998. She remained on the council until 2000. During that time, Foster focused on expanding community services, including parks and recreational programs. She was an avid supporter of the equestrian community and advocated for the establishment of a local campus of Palm Beach State College.

Foster has continued her involvement in the community by founding Wellington Cares in 2010, a nonprofit organization to help elderly Wellington residents stay in their homes by assisting with daily chores, shopping and transportation services. It was expanded and renamed Our Community Cares in 2024.

In the lobby of the Wellington Municipal Complex is the Wellington Founder’s Plaque, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the village. In 2020, the Wellington Village Council unanimously agreed to include Foster’s name. She was the first woman to be added to the plaque. We are so grateful that Kathy Foster decided to make Wellington her permanent home!

To learn more about Kathy and her contributions to Wellington, visit www.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org, and view her oral history.

The cast included owner Cathy Rollins, Master of Ceremonies Josh Pearl, Sir Sheriff of Richard Head (C. Todd Villum), Lady Day (Patricia Shelton), Lord Chandler (Robert Kan) and Monk Trinder (Andrew Brown).

The Order of the Moaning Chalices was named winning team at the murder mystery dinner.

C. Todd Villum presents Michelle Garvey and Amanda Warren with awards.

Monk Trinder (Andrew Brown), Lady Day (Patricia Shelton), the sheriff (C. Todd Villum) and Lord Chandler (Robert Kan).

Lord Chandler (Robert Kan) is a suspect and questioned by the sheriff (C. Todd Villum).

A monk prays over the body of Lord Kellogg.

Attendees arrived dressed to match the medieval theme.

Andrew Brown and Scarlett Duplantis.

Robbie and Evie Simmons.

(Seated) Maria Arechavaleta and Ana O’Reilly; and (standing) Jason and Emily Clemens. Tiffanie Hoffman dressed in her best medieval attire.

Master of ceremonies Josh Pearl performs during dinner.

Guests look over the body of Lord Kellogg.

Monk Trinder (Andrew Brown) and Lady Day (Patricia Shelton) are found guilty by the sheriff (C. Todd Villum).

Cathy Rollins, owner of Standing Room Only Productions, addresses the gathering.

Jennifer and Michael Brugger won best couple in the costume contest.

C. Todd Villum presents an award to Ana Neuhauser.

Kathy Foster was a member of the inaugural Wellington Village Council, which was seated in March 1996. Prior to that, she served on the board of the Acme Improvement District, Wellington’s pre-incorporation government. (Above, L-R) Paul Adams, Tom Wenham, Kathy Foster, Michael McDonough and Dr. Carmine Priore.

S. Freidman,

Randy S. Katz, MD

Steven M. Naids, MD

Megan A. Rowlands, MD

James M. Walsh, OD

Broncos, Wildcats And Lions Ready For Postseason Football

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Beach Central High School, Royal Palm Beach High School and the King’s Academy are getting ready for postseason play as the high school football season leaves the regular season behind.

Palm Beach Central competes in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 7A division, while TKA is in Class 2A. However, Royal Palm Beach is competing in a new postseason competition, the FHSAA’s Football Invitational Tournament, which attracts schools from Class 4A to Class 7A. Royal Palm Beach is a Class 6A school.

“The Football Invitational Tournament was created to allow high school football teams to keep playing, especially for teams that had solid seasons that just missed getting a bid to the playoffs,” RPBHS Athletic Director Eric Patterson explained.

Palm Beach Central — Despite a tough beginning to the season, when the Broncos got off to a dismal 1-4 start, Palm Beach Central rallied and concluded its regular season with a five-game winning streak, which left the team with a 6-4 regular-season record. One of the victories during that stretch was a 29-28 road win on Oct. 17

against Ocala’s Vanguard High School. It also included a 37-21 win against Wellington High School, which let the Broncos retain the Wellington Cup in the cross-town gridiron rivalry.

As a result of that strong finish, Palm Beach Central earned an at-large bid as the No. 6 seed in the third quadrant of the Class 7A playoffs. The Broncos play on Friday, Nov. 14, when they travel to play the Cobras from Fort Pierce Central High School (9-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

While Fort Pierce Central is the favorite, the game should be closely contested. In Class 7A polling, the Broncos are ranked 17th, while the Cobras are listed at 14th. If the Broncos prevail, they will play the winner of the Jupiter High School-Dr. Phillips High School game on Friday, Nov. 21. If both Palm Beach Central and Jupiter advance, the Nov. 21 game will be a rematch of the regular-season game on Sept. 26, which Jupiter won, 27-20. Palm Beach Central has not lost a game since losing to Jupiter. To reach the Class 7A state championship game in midDecember, the Broncos must win four postseason games in a row. Palm Beach Central head coach Kevin Thompson said it took a few games for his team to learn how to truly play complementary

football as a team. “Even though we have a tradition of playing in the postseason, we only had three returning starters on offense and four on defense,” he said. “At the beginning of the season, we were young and inexperienced. Our players learned that winning football games is not easy.”

Thompson said his team’s late season win against Vanguard was an important victory.

“Our road win against Vanguard was huge,” Thompson said. “Vanguard is a traditional high school football powerhouse in Florida. We proved to ourselves that we can go anywhere to beat anybody.”

The King’s Academy — The Lions had an up-and-down season, which is reflected in the team’s 5-5 regular-season record. The high point of the season was a stretch of four consecutive wins from mid-September to early October.

In the Class 2A playoffs, the Lions — No. 6 seed in Region 3 — will travel to Belle Glade to play the Raiders from Glades Central High School (9-1) on Friday, Nov. 14. Glades Central is the No. 3 seed. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. The TKA-Glades Central game will be a rematch of their regular-season meeting on Oct. 24. On that night, Glades Central prevailed, 22-19.

TKA head coach Dan Burack is

delighted that his team is playing postseason football, and he knows his players are ready for the challenge of playing on the road in Belle Glade.

“We’ve had a good week of practice, our body language is great, and we are really looking forward to playing the game,” Burack said. “Our players have shown lots of grit and resiliency this season. They don’t back down to any opponent. It should be a really great atmosphere out there on Friday night in Belle Glade.”

To reach the Class 2A championship game, TKA must win four consecutive playoff games.

Royal Palm Beach — Royal Palm Beach’s regular season was truly a tale of two halves. The Wildcats opened the first half of the season by winning five out of their first six games. They closed out the second half of the regular season by only winning one out of their last four games.

Moving forward, RPBHS was awarded the No. 5 seed in the newly formed Football Invitational Tournament (FIT). Royal Palm Beach’s opening playoff game was on the road on Thursday, Nov. 13 against the Rams from Palm Beach Lakes High School (6-4), the No. 4 seed. The final score was not available at press time.

Going into that game, both

teams had two common regularseason opponents — William T. Dwyer High School and Suncoast High School. In both cases, Royal Palm Beach had more dominant wins against both Dwyer and Suncoast than did Palm Beach Lakes.

If the Wildcats defeat the Rams, they will play the winner of the Dr. Joaquín García High SchoolSarasota High School game on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Should RPBHS play Garcia on Nov. 20, it would be a rematch of their regular-season matchup on Oct. 30, when Garcia won by a single point, 27-26. To reach the FIT championship

three playoff games. As for other varsity high

football programs in the

Wellington Hosts USTA National Family Clay Court Championships

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

From Nov. 7 through Nov. 9, more than 140 tennis players from 20 different states competed at the Wellington Tennis Center in the 2025 Welch National Family Clay Court Championships. The Clay Court Championships are part of four national family events on multiple surfaces — grass, hard court, indoor and clay — held across the nation. It is a USTA Level One Gold Ball Championship event where the players compete for national ranking points, as well as the prestigious gold, silver and bronze ball awards that go to the winning teams. There were nine different competition categories this year: Father/Daughter Open, Father/ Daughter Senior, Father/Daughter Super Senior, Father/Daughter Ultra Senior, Mother/Son Open, Mother/Son Senior 70-Over, Mother/Daughter Open, Mother/ Daughter Senior and Mother/ Daughter Super Senior.

According to Wellington’s Director of Tennis Chuck Gill, the competition was at an extremely high level, as many of the players are past and current NCAA Division I college players, national champions, ATP tour players and current ITF Competitors.

“This is the fifth year that we have hosted the USTA Family Clay Court Championships, and the level of tennis continues to be better each year. Many matches were decided by the super tiebreaker, and upsets were seen each day,” Gill said. “The tournament continues to showcase everything that is good about the sport of tennis — players of all ages competing with family members at a great venue. We are looking forward to bigger and better tennis in 2026. This year was, again, a true national championship with gold, silver and bronze ball awards going to players who came from 20 different states.”

and Addyson

Berean, TKA Have Golfers Competing At State Championships

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The King’s Academy and Berean Christian School will have golfers competing at this year’s Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A state golf championships, which are being held at the Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, on Nov. 14-15.

Berean will be represented by senior Staci Pla, who earned a spot in the girls field as an individual by shooting a three-over par round of 75 (41-34) at the regional golf tournament, held at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne in Miami. She finished in 10th place in the individual standings.

This will be Pla’s fourth year playing at the state championship. Her best finish was in 2023, when she finished in fourth place as a sophomore.

The championship will be held

on the 18-hole Las Colinas Course. On Friday, Nov. 14, Pla will start at 8:15 a.m. from the first tee. Her playing partners for the first round will be Peyton Johnson from Tallahassee and Sahana Chokshi from Jacksonville.

Pla is cautiously optimistic about her chances at the state tournament.

“I like the golf course, and it’s a great track,” said Pla, who was the low medalist at the district tournament held at the Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens on Oct. 27. “I’m working on my driving, wedges and putting. I’m excited about this opportunity.”

For TKA, both its boys and girls golf teams played well enough at the regional tournament at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne on Tuesday, Nov. 4 to earn spots in the state championship. The five members of the TKA’s

See GOLF, page 24

TKA golfers Beau Allen (left) and Sophia Christy (right).

PHOTO BY DEREK CHIRCH

Staci Pla (left) and Mia Gambino of the Oxbridge Academy (right) relaxing between shots at regional tournament held at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne. PHOTO BY MIKE MAY/TOWN-CRIER

game in early December, the Wildcats must win

school

western communities, both

Bjorn

Munroe of West Palm Beach (left) won the Father/Daughter Open Division over Doug and Danielle Schoenly from Powell, Ohio.

The only winning team from Palm Beach Country was from West Palm Beach. It was Bjorn and Addyson Munroe, who won the Father/Daughter Open Division. In their final, they defeated the winners of the 2025 Grass and Hard Court Champions, Doug and Danielle Schoenly from Powell, Ohio,

in a third-set match tiebreaker. Other category winners were: Andrew and Hannah Johnston in Father/Daughter Senior, Rob Knox and Kasey Knox Wilberding in Father/Daughter Super Senior, Bill White and Stephanie Tolosa in Father/Daughter Ultra Senior, Matt Hane and Diane Barker in Mother/Son Open, Kyle and Anni Collette in Mother/Son Senior 70-Over, Audrey and Leslie Butterworth in Mother/Daughter Open, Erin Boynton and Hannah Atkinson in Mother/Daughter Senior, and Becky Timmis and Nicole Hossler in Mother/Daughter Super Senior.

Melissa Toma with Livia and Larissa Sakamoto from Loxahatchee, who competed at the event.

Polo Park Middle School Baseball Team Ends Amazing Season

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The Polo Park Middle School baseball team may not have won the Palm Beach County middle school baseball championship this fall, but the memories of the season will last forever.

During the recently completed fall season, the Stallions, under the leadership of head coach Craig Kaliser, completed the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record. It was the team’s first undefeated regular season in Kaliser’s 18 years as the school’s coach.

After completing the regular season with an unblemished record, the young Stallions focused on running the table in the postseason and capturing the team’s fourth county championship in school history, all under the leadership of Kaliser. They needed to win three postseason games to become the champions.

The playoffs began on Thursday, Oct. 16, but Polo Park received a bye, courtesy of having the leaguebest regular-season record.

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Polo Park

hosted Conniston Middle School. Polo Park won that game, 11-3. The Stallions were led by Braden Buser and Parker Humphrey. Both players had two hits and scored two runs. Buser had one RBI, and Humphrey had two RBIs. Polo Park’s pitchers that day were Buser and Jaiden Hernandez. In the five-inning game, Buser and Hernandez combined for six strikeouts and six walks, while limiting Conniston to only five hits.

After defeating Conniston, Polo Park hosted Western Pines Middle School in the regional final on Friday, Oct. 24. In that game, Polo Park jumped out to an early 8-0 lead after three innings, and then held on to win 8-5. For Polo Park, eight different players each had a hit during the game, and eight different players scored for the Stallions. Polo Park’s cause was helped by three errors by Western Pines.

“We gave up four runs in the top of the fifth inning, but we held on to win,” Kaliser said. “Kellan Rivera pitched four and two-thirds

innings. He gave up five runs, but only one was earned. Mason Gloden got us out of the jam in the fifth inning and pitched the sixth inning to secure the win.”

That win propelled Polo Park into the championship game on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Polo Park’s opponent was Don Estridge High Tech Middle School from Boca Raton. In the game, momentum swung back and forth. In the top of the third inning, Don Estridge took a 2-0 lead. Polo Park tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. In the top of the fifth, Don Estridge scored two more runs to take a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Polo Park tied the score again at 4-4, courtesy of a two-run homer by Gloden. After six innings of play, the game remained in a 4-4 tie, which sent it to extra innings. In the top of the seventh, Don Estridge scored two unearned runs to lead, 6-4. The Stallions were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, which gave Don Estridge the championship.

Kaliser was proud of the effort

by his team in the championship finale.

“It was really just a great middle school baseball game,” Kaliser said. “Their pitcher, Ari Kolton, was a beast. He pitched all seven innings and threw 107 pitches. His last 10 pitches were as hard as the first 10 pitches.”

Looking back, one of the big keys to the season-long success for Polo Park was the team’s defensive play.

“We have been excellent as a team defensively,” Kaliser said. “Our two standouts are Dylan Vasquez and Austin Strompf. Dylan has been superb behind the plate as the catcher, calling games and throwing out three base stealers this [regular] season. At first base, Austin had 26 putouts and no errors for the entire [regular] season. Overall, we are outstanding, defensively, up the middle. Vasquez is great behind the plate. Parker Humphrey at short and Tyson Santiago at second are as surehanded as they come. And, Braden Buser and Kellan Rivera in the outfield cover a ton of ground.”

While Polo Park didn’t win the school’s fourth county championship, this team will always be one of Kaliser’s favorite squads.

“This really was an outstanding team,” he said. “I couldn’t be prouder of how hard they played all year.” Other members of the Polo

King’s Academy Swim Teams Excel At State Championships

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The King’s Academy had another strong showing this year at the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A State Swimming and Diving Championships.

This year’s state meet was held on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Ocala at the state-of-the-art facility known as FAST (Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training). The girls and boys teams from TKA finished in seventh and sixth place, respectively, in the team competitions.

The girls accumulated 84 points, and the boys earned 114 points. The winning program in both girls and boys team competitions was the same school — perennial swimming powerhouse the Bolles School from Jacksonville. For the girls from Bolles, it was their 35th consecutive state team title, and for the boys from Bolles, it was their 38th straight state title. Sara Reese, the head coach of TKA’s girls swim team, was thrilled with the performances by her swimmers in Ocala.

“We are so proud of how our girls performed at states,” Reese said. “For such a small, mostly inexperienced team — five of the six were at their first state meet — they gave it everything they had. Every girl contributed, and it was truly a team effort. They went above and beyond anything we could have hoped for. God has been so good to us!”

Jonathan Zuchowski, the head coach of TKA’s boys swim team, was proud of his swimmers and their commitment to athletic excellence in the pool.

“Most of the male swimmers at this meet achieved bests in individual swims and relay splits,” Zuchowski said. “They swam very well. It’s a very cohesive unit. States is a hard meet to go best times when most kids are all in to just be there.”

According to Zuchowski, the majority of his team’s points came from strong relay performances.

“We don’t have a superstar, so our relays are the primary focus to score points,” he said. “We have finished higher in the past with not as good results, so I am very proud of our coaches and the kids. We

can’t control how fast other teams

swim. It was a very fast meet. Everyone went home happy knowing we left it all in Ocala, and we look forward to next season.”

There were six TKA girls who qualified for the state meet. They were: Selah Austin (50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 200yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay); Tessa Broedell (200-yard individual medley, 100-yard breaststroke and 200yard medley relay), Alani Girado (200-yard freestyle relay and 400yard freestyle relay), Grace Gluski (200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay), Isabella Petrie (50-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay); and Leala Reese (200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay).

There were nine TKA boys who qualified for the state meet. They were: Aiden Bloomfield (500-yard freestyle); Chase Faw (200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay); Othniel Foster (200yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay); Yasser Franceschi Raad (100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard medley relay

and 200-yard freestyle relay); Enzo Gaeta (alternate in 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay); Aaron McQueeney (100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 200yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay); Drew McQueeney (50-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay);

Asher Smith (100-yard backstroke and 200-yard medley relay); and Sam Strohecker (100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard freestyle relay).

Point-producing performances for TKA’s girls were: the 200-yard medley relay team of Leala Reese, Tessa Broedell, Selah Austin and Isabella Petrie (third place,

The King’s Academy swimmers at the 2025 Class 1A state meet with their coaches.

Park Middle School baseball team were Jocum Torres, Asher Herrera, Blake Gelfand, Jacob Espinoza, Juan Suarez, Logan De La Rosa, Nicholas Rolon and Ethan Henn. Humphrey and Buser were co-captains of the team this year. Polo Park concluded its season with a 12-1 record.

The 2025 Polo Park Middle School baseball team.

See TKA SWIM, page 24

TKA’s Selah Austin swims the butterfly.

Tourneys Conclude Fall Season At Breakthru Athletic League

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Breakthru Athletic League conducted its Super Bowl Tournament championship games to close out its fall season. The games were held at Palm Beach County’s Samuel Friedland Park in Loxahatchee.

According to the league’s Director of Communications Matt Green, participation was strong this fall for both boys and girls.

“This season, we had a total of 55 teams — 33 boys and 32 girls

— with 478 players registered — 248 boys and 230 girls,” Green said. “We have ages ranging from 4 to 17, with our biggest age group in both boys and girls being our JV division, which is ages 8 to 10.”

On Nov. 8, it took detailed logistical planning to get all 55 games played. “We utilized six fields with two refs each, except for the championship field, which was staffed with three refs for every championship game,” Green said. “The first game kicked off at 8 a.m., and the

TKA Swim State Meet In Ocala

continued from page 23 1:46.54); Tessa Broedell in the 200-yard individual medley (11th place, 2:06.42); Selah Austin in the 100-yard butterfly (14th place, 59.29); the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Selah Austin, Isabella Petrie, Grace Gluski and Alani Girado (10th place, 1:40.02;); and Tessa Broedell in 100-yard breaststroke (fifth place, 1:03.64).

Points-producing performances for TKA’s boys were: the 200-yard medley relay team of Asher Smith, Timothy McQueeney, Yasser Franceschi Raad and Othniel Foster (fourth place, 1:33.49); Yasser Franceschi Raad in the 100-yard butterfly (12th place, 51.30); the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Yasser Franceschi Raad, Othniel Foster, Chase Faw and Aaron McQueeney (sixth place, 1:26.47);

Asher Smith in the 100-yard backstroke (sixth place, 51.61); Yasser Franceschi Raad in the 100-yard backstroke (10th place, 52.37); Timothy McQueeney in the 100yard breaststroke (eighth place, 57.37); and the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Aaron McQueeney, Chase Faw, Samuel Strohecker and Timothy McQueeney (eighth place, 3:11.11).

The other Class 1A school in the western communities represented at the championships was Berean Christian School. Berean’s lone swimmer was freshman Sage Shach, who finished in 22nd place in the girls 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:00.51. The other Class 1A schools in Palm Beach County with swimmers competing in Ocala were the Oxbridge Academy, the Benjamin School, Saint Andrew’s School and Florida Atlantic University High School. The high point of the overall event was the performance by the boys 200-yard medley relay squad

final game started at 4:45 p.m.”

The Breakthru Athletic League has five age divisions: Peewee (ages 4 and 5), Freshman (ages 6 and 7), Junior Varsity (ages 8 to 10), Varsity (ages 11 to 13) and High School (ages 14 to 17).

The league runs its Super Bowl Tournament in a unique fashion.

“All brackets for our end-of-season tournament are seeded by random blind draw to encourage and allow coaches to focus on teaching and playing time throughout the season,” Green said.

Winning teams for the boys were the Peewee Steelers, the Freshman Chiefs, the Junior Varsity Jaguars, the Varsity Raiders and the High School Bears.

Winning teams for the girls were the Peewee Jaguars, the Freshman Seahawks, the Junior Varsity 49ers, the Varsity Cowboys and the High School Seahawks.

Registration for both boys and girls divisions is now underway for the spring 2026 season at www.breakthruathletics.com/ registration.

Golf State Tourney

continued from page 21 girls golf team who will compete are Sophia Christy, Callie Nelson, Lilly-Kaye Vance, Reese Pender and Selah Nabhan. In the first round on Friday, Nov. 14, TKA’s squad will start on the 10th tee. Christy has the first tee time for TKA’s girls at 9:09 a.m.

The boys state championship will be held on the El Campeón Course. The five members of TKA’s boys golf team who will compete are Cameron Cantine, Owen Hicks, Beau Allen, Jacob Melhorn and Hudson Ingram. In the first round on Friday, Nov. 14, every member of TKA’s boys golf team will hit their opening tee shots from the 10th tee. Cantine has the first tee time at 9:09 a.m.

The pairings and tee times for all golfers on Saturday, Nov. 15

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of (L-R) Othniel Foster, Aaron McQueeney, Yasser Franceschi Raad and Chase Faw took sixth place for TKA. from the Bolles School, which broke both the Florida and national high school records. The team of Krish Jain (backstroke), Lucas

Young (breaststroke), George Dovellos (butterfly) and Liam Carrington (freestyle) produced a record-breaking time of 1:26.67.

The Freshman Boys Commanders versus the Jaguars. PHOTOS BY ALLYSON GOOLSBY/412 MEDIA

(Left) The Peewee girls Vikings versus the Seahawks. (Right) The Freshman girls Seahawks versus the Steelers.

The High School boys Falcons score against the Dolphins.

will be announced following play on Friday, Nov. 14. Other schools from Palm Beach County that will have golfers at the Class 1A championships are the Oxbridge Academy (boys and girls teams), the Benjamin School (boys and girls teams), Florida Atlantic University High School (girls team) and Cardinal Newman High School (boys team).

TKA golfer Owen Hicks. PHOTO BY DEREK CHIRCH

UF Nursing Student Raquel Steiert Marches To Her Own Beat

By Carlos E. Medina

Raquel Steiert is used to shouldering a heavy load. As a member of the University of Florida’s Gator Marching Band, she hefts a 30-pound tuba across the field in blazing Florida heat. As a student in the College of Nursing, she carries a full load of classes at one of the nation’s most demanding undergraduate programs.

Steiert, 20, a graduate of Seminole Ridge High School, began her musical journey reluctantly at age 11. Her parents signed her up for band in sixth grade, insisting it would help her academically. She remembered resisting at first.

“I really didn’t want to do it,” she said, “but they said it would be good for me.”

She initially gravitated toward the clarinet but ended up volunteering for the tuba because her class had only one other student willing to play.

“I wanted to help him out,” she

said. “And now here I am.”

Over the years, Steiert’s tuba became more than just an instrument. She started on a smaller beginner’s tuba, progressed to a larger model in middle school, and by high school was marching in parades and football games. “The first few days were scary,” she recalled. “Reading music was like learning a new language. But once I got the hang of it, it was really fun.”

At UF, Steiert divides her time between rigorous nursing courses and attending marching band rehearsals, which she participates in multiple days a week for several hours each day — not to mention the stress of performing and sometimes traveling during game weekends. Practices under the hot sun leave her exhausted, yet she thrives on the camaraderie of her tuba section, about 30 in total, and the thrill of performing in front of packed stadiums.

“I adore my section mates. They

really make this experience what it is,” she said.

Steiert credits band with teaching her lessons she now applies in nursing school: teamwork, time management and perseverance.

“Band taught me responsibility outside of class and how to work in a team,” she said. “Those skills carry over directly to working with my cohort and completing lab assignments.”

Her path to nursing was less direct. Originally dreaming of veterinary medicine, she considered becoming a doctor in high school. But it was an oft-told story by her mother and the care, or lack thereof, she received during childbirth, that inspired Steiert to pursue nursing. “I realized I could be the kind of nurse who makes a difference, especially for mothers like mine,” she said.

While she has fallen during rehearsals, struggled with long exam weeks and endured Florida’s

FUN HALLOWEEN EVENTS AT HCA FLORIDA PALMS WEST HOSPITAL

Halloween is always special at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. Each year, the team puts on a Halloween parade for young patients who are spending the day in the pediatric unit. Hospital colleagues dressed in costume, and superheroes got in on the action as they repelled from the roof to the windows of the second floor. Not to be left out, some of the NICU babies got all dressed up to enjoy their very first Halloween. Even four legged friends joined in on the fun with a visit from two miniature ponies, thanks to Little Smiles, and therapy dogs from Therapy Dog Inc.

summer heat, her commitment never wavers.

“Balancing nursing school and band can be challenging,” she said, “but it is doable. I wouldn’t change it for anything.” Looking ahead, Steiert hopes to

Wellington resident Ava L. Parker, president of Palm Beach State College, has been recognized as one of Florida’s most influential leaders by Florida Trend magazine. The prestigious honor highlights Parker’s visionary leadership and her impact on higher education, workforce development, and economic growth in Palm Beach County and across the state.

Florida Trend’s annual Florida 500 list is the culmination of a year-long research initiative that identifies the state’s most impactful business leaders across major industries. The publication’s editorial team selects honorees based on extensive interviews, research, and the recommendations of executives and community leaders statewide. The result is a personal and engaging look at the people shaping Florida’s future.

“Each year, the Florida 500 recognizes exceptional individuals whose leadership, innovation and influence drive progress in our state,” said David Denor, president and publisher of Florida Trend “President Ava Parker exemplifies what it means to lead with vision and purpose, empowering students and strengthening Florida’s workforce through her dedication to higher education.”

Since becoming the fifth president of Palm Beach State College in 2015, Parker has led transformational initiatives that strengthen academic excellence, expand

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continue music after graduation through community bands, transitioning from the high-intensity, marching-style performances to concert ensembles. “Marching in the stadium is unlike anything else,” she said.

“There’s no other feeling that comes close.” For Steiert, the lessons of marching band — discipline, resilience and teamwork — resonate far beyond the field, shaping her both as a musician and a future nurse.

workforce pathways and advance economic mobility for students.

Under her leadership, PBSC has deepened partnerships with industry and community leaders, ensuring that students are prepared to succeed in high-demand fields that drive the region’s economy.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among so many outstanding leaders who are making a difference across Florida,” Parker said. “This recognition reflects the collective commitment of the Palm Beach State College community in advancing our mission.”

Palm Beach State College President Ava L. Parker

Raquel Steiert at UF’s College of Nursing and marching with her tuba.

Education Foundation Awards $200,000 In ‘GoTeach!’ Grants

The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County celebrated its 2025 “GoTeach!” Classroom Grant Awards on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation in Lake Worth Beach. More than 200 educators, students and community leaders gathered to recognize the achievements of 143 grant recipients from 54 schools, marking a record-breaking year for the program. The Education Foundation awarded 89 “GoTeach!” Classroom Grants, providing $200,000 in funding to support innovative classroom projects across Palm Beach County. These grants focus on priority areas of literacy, career and technical education, increasing graduation rates, student resiliency, STEM education including artificial intelligence and financial literacy, teacher quality and support for underperforming students.

“The GoTeach! Classroom Grants are a testament to the extraordinary talent, innovation and commitment of our educators,” said James Gavrilos, president and CEO of the Education Foundation.

“Each grant directly impacts students’ futures, whether through literacy, STEM or career readiness, bringing the foundation’s mission to life in classrooms every day.”

In partnership with local businesses, philanthropic organizations and the State of Florida’s Education Foundation Matching Grant Program through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 per project. Each grant is carefully designed to empower teachers to create dynamic learning experiences that create measurable change and equip students with the skills they need to thrive.

WES STUDENT TAKES SECOND IN ART CONTEST

Wellington Elementary School fifth grader Isabella Cepin, shown here with her art teacher Erica Bordonaro, was chosen as the second-place winner of the Furry Friends Holiday Card Art Contest, hosted by the Jupiter-based nonprofit Furry Friends. She won a cool swag bag of stuff, waived adoption fees on the dog or cat of her choice, and her artwork will be on holiday cards that will be sold to help raise money for the shelter and to promote pet adoption for the holidays. In fact, the dog in her artwork is one she previously saw at the shelter and hopes to be able to adopt soon.

More than a dozen teachers from the western communities received awards. Individual teacher classroom grants of ($1,000) were awarded to: Jennifer Tobin and Nicole Galavage of Elbridge Gale Elementary School for Discovering the Magic in Math; Julie Highsmith of H.L. Johnson Elementary School for Riding for Regulation; Janette Camacho of

Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School for Future-Ready Lab AI-Powered Problem Solving for Young Innovators; Lizzette Leborgne of Royal Palm Beach High School for Lights, Camera, Literacy!; David Croll of Seminole Ridge High School for Investigating Water Quality: Monitoring pH, Nitrate Levels and Bioindicators in Aquatic Ecosystems; and Bradford Chase of Wellington High School for Antonio Vivaldi Masterwork Performance.

Amy Ramsdell of Pierce Hammock Elementary School received a high impact classroom grant

award of $3,000 for The Next Chapter: Creating Inspiring Spaces and Shelves Full of Stories. STEM innovation awards of $5,000 were presented to Jennifer Tobin, Yola Pinette and Amy Desiderio of Elbridge Gale Elementary School for STEMMates: Powered by PEERS/Connecting Minds and Building Friendships Through Science, as well as Alyssa Croll and Jennifer Dodson of Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School for Access First: Equitable STEM Access for Students with Disabilities Through Assistive Technology.

This year’s celebration, presented by Florida Blue, featured food and entertainment provided by students from the School District of Palm Beach County, along with thousands of dollars in raffle prizes. A full list of grant recipients can be found at www.educationfoundationpbc.org/events/2025goteach-classroom-grant-awards. Founded in 1984, the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County serves as a vital link between the county’s public schools and the community. For more information, or to make a donation, visit www. educationfoundationpbc.org.

American Heritage Schools Honored By

American Heritage Schools, a nationally ranked private, nonsectarian and co-educational college preparatory day school, recently announced that its Palm Beach campus was ranked as the Top Private School in Palm Beach County, according to Niche.com. Its Broward campus was once again named No. 1 Private K-12 School in Florida.

Niche is the market leader in connecting colleges and schools with students and families. Niche’s 2026 Best Private School K-12 ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents. Some ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges students consider, student-to-teacher ratio, private school ratings and other vital factors.

“We are proud to share that American Heritage Schools has once again been named the No. 1 Best Private K-12 School in

Florida by Niche,” President Dr. Douglas Laurie said. “This recognition means so much to us because it reflects the dedication of our phenomenal teachers, the hard work of our students and the support of our incredible families. We are grateful for everyone who makes our school community so special. While we take a moment to celebrate, we are also looking ahead, continuing to grow, innovate and provide the very best college preparatory education in Florida and beyond.”

The Palm Beach campus received a No. 1 ranking in four categories, including: No. 1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Palm Beach County, No. 1 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Palm Beach County, No. 1 Best High Schools for STEM in Palm Beach County and No. 1 Best Boarding High Schools in Palm Beach County. Additionally, for the 16th consecutive year, American Heritage

Niche

held the No. 1 spot for the most National Merit Scholars in Florida. This year, a combined total of 87 seniors from both campuses became National Merit Scholar Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The students from both campuses represent 9 percent of all semifinalists

American Heritage serves students from pre-school to grade 12.

(L-R) Amity Schuyler, Superintendent Michael Burke and Stephanie Susskind; Luis Rodriguez and Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind; James Gavrilos and Lisa King; School Board Member Virginia Savietto and Jim Moore; and School board members Gloria Branch and Karen Brill. PHOTOS COURTESY TRACY BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Chambers Host Dual Ribbon Cuttings For Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County recently hosted two ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute (PBOI), celebrating the opening of two state-of-the-art

orthopedic urgent care facilities in Palm Beach County. Both facilities, located at 7701 Southern Blvd, Suite 100, in West Palm Beach, and 4215 Burns Road, Suite 100, in Palm Beach Gardens, will offer immediate, specialized treatment for muscu-

loskeletal injuries outside regular office hours, ensuring that patients have access to timely and expert care. County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, along with other community leaders, was present to support PBOI. These celebrations

highlight the practice’s significant expansion and its deep commitment to providing specialized orthopedic care across Palm Beach County.

Learn more about the Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute at www.pboi.com.

Wellington Councilwoman Maria Antuña

Chamber of Commerce), Lauren Cerullo (Palm Beach

Institute), Dr. Jonathan Shaw (Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute), County

Commissioner Gregg Weiss, Amanda Cairo (Wellington Regional Medical Center), Austin Floeck (Wellington Regional Medical Center) and Mary Lou Bedford (Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce) at the West Palm Beach location.

Three New Members Join Board At P.W. Hospital

HCA Florida Palms West Hospital recently announced the addition of three new members to its board of trustees. Joining the hospital board are State Rep. Meg Weinberger, Elliot Bonner Jr. and Dr. James J. Goad. Their diverse expertise will provide valuable guidance as the hospital continues to expand its services and enhance patient care in the western communities. The addition of these three members underscores the hospital’s commitment to integrating top-tier medical knowledge with deep civic engagement.

Weinberger represents District 94 in Tallahassee, which includes the hospital. She brings a deep commitment to philanthropy and animal welfare, having spent more than a decade running Rescue Life, an animal sanctuary for abused animals. Her community service extends to supporting Place of Hope and the Special Olympic Hometown Foundation, and she is a former vice president and board member of Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves. She also serves on the board of Stetson University.

Bonner serves as the executive director of Power Marketing at NextEra Energy Marketing and

as mayor pro tem for the Town of Manalapan. He brings significant business and municipal leadership experience. His dedication to youth and community is further demonstrated by his board service on the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington and as the founder and president of Raise Up Youth Athletics, a nonprofit dedicated to donating sports equipment to Title 1 schools and underserved youth programs in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

A distinguished, board-certified general surgeon with HCA Florida Palm Beach Surgical Specialists, Goad is a recognized industry leader in minimally invasive

surgery. He specializes in advanced robotic and laparoscopic techniques for a broad spectrum of care, including breast, hernia, colorectal, biliary and oncology surgery. Goad’s exceptional expertise is highlighted by his designation as a Master Robotic Surgeon by the Surgical Review Corporation, a distinction earned after performing more than 3,700 robotic cases. He is also the immediate past chief of surgery at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital and a devoted industry contributor to the future of robotic surgery.

Dr. Jason Kimbrell, the hos pital’s chief executive officer, expressed enthusiasm for the ap pointments. “Each of these board

members brings a unique skillset and a high level of professionalism to the HCA Florida Palms West Hospital Board of Trustees,” he said. “Their collective experience will provide keen insight into the strategies we are implementing as we expand our facility to be the next-generation hospital of choice for our community.”

HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is a 206-bed full-service, acute care hospital specializing in emergency, pediatric, intensive care, orthopedic and spine care, maternity and level III neonatal care services, and minimally invasive

No tricks, just treats! The Royal Palm Beach Post Office, located at 1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Suite 123, is thrilled to introduce its cutest team helper, Buddy, dressed for Halloween, and his partner Shakira, who will ensure that the upcoming holiday packages are delivered with quality, reliable and neighborly service. The post office reminds residents to plan early for the holiday rush. Learn more at www.usps.com.

Palm Beach State College has been selected for the prestigious Innovation of the Year Award by the League for Innovation in the Community College, honored for its Panther Advanced Technology Hub — a pioneering initiative that is redefining workforce development through direct industry collaboration and cutting-edge learning experiences.

At the heart of this achievement is PBSC’s venture with TMRW Sports and the PGA Tour, making the college home to premier sports technology and live competition through the TGL golf league — the world’s first tech-infused indoor professional golf league. Combining advanced technology and live action in primetime, TGL matches broadcast live from the SoFi Center at PBSC’s Palm Beach Gardens campus, engaging students in hightech operations behind the scenes of nationally televised events.

The first partnership in PBSC’s PATH initiative innovative, the collaboration with TGL gives PBSC students hands-on exposure to the latest technology in sports, cybersecurity and data engineering. It bridges the gap between classroom learning and the demands of a rapidly evolving job market, offering paid internships and immediate career opportunities right on campus.

“The Panther Advanced Technology Hub gives our students

data analytics to sports event operations,” PBSC President Ava L. Parker said. The program’s real-world focus is already producing results. PBSC interns working with TMRW Sports have quickly transitioned into permanent, high-demand roles. The streamlined approach — bringing industry partners into the college’s daily educational environment — reduces barriers for students and hastens their entry into competitive careers. Beyond its immediate impact at PBSC, the Panther Advanced Technology Hub exemplifies a replicable model for other community colleges nationwide. By identifying local industry partners and creating collaborative hubs, colleges can adapt this approach to their own workforce needs while maximizing resources and student outcomes.

Dr. Stephen Joyner, provost of PBSC’s Palm Beach Gardens campus, and John Hadley, dean of business and computer science, will present the PATH initiative at the League for Innovation in the Community College’s 29th annual Innovations Conference in March in Indianapolis, Indiana. This award highlights PBSC’s role at the forefront of workforce and technology innovation, celebrating a tradition of forward-thinking initiatives benefiting students, employers and

(L-R)

(Hispanic

Orthopaedic

(L-R) Wellington Councilwoman Maria Antuña (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Spencer Hermus, Dr. Gary Wexler, Alexis Garzon, Priya Chandradat and Jennifer Tallman at the Palm Beach Gardens location.

Dr. James Goad Elliot Bonner Jr. Meg Weinberger

Traveling By Train Hasn’t Changed Much Since I Was A Child

Last weekend, I went to the Chicago Toy Fair... by train. It was an experience!

First of all, it should be mentioned that I haven’t been on a train since I was seven. Second of all, this next sentence should say how much things have changed but, delightfully, they have not.

In fact, things have remained pretty much the same since I was a child. The seats are cushier, the ability to plug in a laptop is there but, otherwise, we are rolling through the countryside without having to pay any attention whatsoever to seatbelts, intersections or the gas gauge. Five stars! Highly recommend!

To make my experience even more enjoyable, this particular train was filled with

Amish people in straw hats and beards, long skirts and bonnets, bowl haircuts and — get this — books. If Teddy Roosevelt himself had ambled up the aisle and handed me a campaign flyer, I don’t think I would’ve been surprised. It was surreal. This is not to say the trip was not effi-

cient. It was. Amtrak employees were in the station, at the gate and on the train, all with one goal in mind — to help you be where you want to be at any given minute of the day or night. They helped you find your train, your seat, the café, the observation car, the bathroom. Did you leave your cell phone charger in your suitcase? No problem. Just sashay yourself into the baggage car and retrieve it. On the one hand, what about security? I had inadvertently brought along a pair of scissors. Did I set off a scanner in the station that caused the TSA to pull me out of line, pat me down and confiscate them? No. And, what TSA? So 1960s. For a person like me — an introvert with

a laptop and headphones — this is the way to travel. For a person like I became on the trip — aren’t other people interesting? By the time I reached Chicago, I knew everyone around me, if not by name. There was Guy-with-Multicolored-Socks, Woman-with-Knitting and Boy-with-aCrooked-Smile. We were all friends now. Nor was the trip boring. An announcement from the conductor said we would be on time “barring any unforeseen circumstances, like derailment.” What?! Is honesty really the best policy here? I have yet to hear a flight attendant announce that we would be on time “barring a plane crash.” Sheesh. There was also some excitement in the

dining car when the train hit a bump and our waiter lost his footing, went careening into a window and catapulted five desserts skyward. Dinner and a show. But the service was efficient, the food was delicious and the fresh roses on each table were a nice touch. On the way back, we enjoyed a leisurely three-course meal while we looked out the oversized windows at the

‘Predator: Badlands’ Is Different From Others In The Series

One of the few science fiction/adventure

franchises that Disney has not ruined is the Predator one. The new film Predator: Badlands is a lean, tough adventure movie, one of the best in the series. I have never cared all that much for the series, but this movie is making me reconsider.

The film begins on the planet of Yautja Prime, home world of the species where a youngster, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is fighting his older and larger brother Kwei (Mike Homik) as a step in proving himself as a full Yautja warrior. His brother tells Dek that his final challenge is to go to a foreign planet and bring back that world’s toughest fighter as a trophy.

As the smallest in the family, Dek has a major complex, and he decides to go to Genna, generally called the death planet, and return with the head of a Kalisk, a huge monster. But his father Njohrr orders Kwei to kill Dek because he is “a runt.”

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Kwei protects his brother and sends him off on a ship to the death planet before being killed by his father. Dek finds out why Genna is called the death planet right away, as everything there tries to kill him. Trees wind around him like snakes, worms blow up like hand grenades, and the monster is far worse than he imagined. Then he meets a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic (essentially a mass-produced android) named Thia (Elle Fanning), who is missing her legs. She offers to help Dek survive and lead him

to the monster in exchange for his help in being reunited with her legs. Along the way, they wind up battling against another synthetic (also Elle Fanning) who wants the monster for herself.

There are several key elements in this film that are new to the franchise. Dek begins to understand that there are better ways to hunt than doing it alone. Anthropologically speaking, that was a key element in the gradual domination of this planet by humans. Cooperation works well. Also, it allows the understanding of the Yautja/Predator culture. We get to see traditions of honor and mourning mixed in with the clear differences in families. This is part of an increased focus on world-building in the franchise by director/writer Dan Trachtenberg.

Even more to the point is the incredible detail in its depiction of the planet, one totally foreign to any of our experiences. Each species is different from what we

have, and even the most deadly can play a key role in the environment, sometimes even in beneficent ways. Dek actually learns to use some of the nastiest elements to his benefit. This is a brilliant kind of complex world building.

It is difficult to deal with the performances, since Elle Fanning is just about the only “human” we see. And she handles two roles, doing both really well. Hers is an exceptional performance. Her two roles are essentially in conflict with each other, not just for goals, but even personality. The other actors, playing aliens, wear too much makeup and prosthetics to say anything beyond they really do their job. The fight scene between the brothers at the start of the film is a clear example of how to use action and gestures to build characters.

But the artwork, the computer images, are brilliant. The world doesn’t have the quick, easy look of alien worlds we get in some films. Everything is detailed and

present for a purpose. The planet becomes a necessary character. The film is very violent, although it carries a PG-13 rating, which is softer than the usual R ones for this series. I guess the reason behind it is that almost none of the fighting involves humans. Actually, there are no actual “normal” humans in the film, an interesting variation. Normally, we would fasten on the humans as our focus. Here things are different. We can step back a bit and identify with a being previously being looked on as a monster. And that sets the film apart from somewhat similar ones. There are no cute quips to distract from the action. From relatively early on, this is a straight struggle to not only survive but to grow. If you like the franchise, this is a must-see. If you like this general type of movie, I think you will appreciate it. For the general audience, it is essentially a good action movie. One of the better movies I’ve seen in a long time.

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