Town-Crier Newspaper November 23, 2007

Settlement Agr Agreement Ends eementEnds

Y Yearear-Long Equestrian Suits -LongEquestrianSuits

Stadium Jumping, Bellissimo Form New Partnership

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

After a year of fighting, Mark Bellissimo’s Wellington Equestrian Partners and horse show promoter Stadium Jumping have reached an agreement both parties say will keep the National Horse Show and Winter Equestrian Festival in their current home for years to come.

Stadium Jumping has cancelled plans to build a new facility in southern Wellington on land called the Wellington Preserve. Principals with both entities said Wednesday they are ready to move ahead to improve the shows’ longtime venue

at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, purchased by Bellissimo last summer along with the dilapidated Palm Beach Polo Stadium. The developer announced plans in August to upgrade and eventually combine the two facilities as part of a massive equestrian development.

As part of the agreement, Stadium Jumping transferred its Wellington licenses for horse show dates issued by the U.S. Equestrian Federation to a new WEP subsidiary called Equestrian Show Holdings.

In a telephone conference call Wednesday with Stadium Jumping President Gene Mische, Lou Jacobs and USEF CEO John Long, Bellissimo forecast plain sailing ahead. “All lawsuits between both parties have been dismissed, and we are now in a position to begin to move forward for the National

See SETTLEMENT, page 7A

County

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Several hundred people attended the Farm City lunch in the Sundy Feed Store at the South Florida Fairgrounds last Friday to show support for an oftenoverlooked but vital component of the Palm Beach County economy.

Organized by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with Farm Credit of South Florida, business and political leaders gathered for the lunch as part of Farm City Week. Guests enjoyed barbecued chicken served with Palm Beach County produce including corn, beans, collards and salad, and washed down with citrus tea.

During her introductory comments, Palms West Chamber President Joanna Boynton said agriculture is an extremely important industry locally and the chamber wants to spread the word about its role in the economy.

“It’s important to the state’s economy and the nation’s economy, so why are we not screaming about that locally?”

she asked. “We actually lead the nation in the production of sugar and fresh sweet corn. Palm Beach County also leads the entire state in the production of rice, sweet bell peppers, lettuce, radishes, Chinese vegetables and celery.”

Included in the agricultural sphere, Boynton said, are related sugar and citrus refineries, vegetable packinghouses and horticulture nurseries, agricultural byproduct processing and electrical cogeneration plants and sugar shipping facilities. The county also has the largest landscaping industry in the state at $450 million annually and the largest retail gardening industry at just under $300 million.

“All of this is in our back yard and that is what is so amazing,” Boynton said. “A lot of it is within the district of the chamber of commerce and it is just west of us.”

Farm Credit’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications Lynn Cacella said part of her job is increasing awareness of the agricultural presence in Palm

Council Interviews Sear CouncilInterviewsSearch Firms chFirms

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington Village Council members heard presentations Wednesday from two firms offering to conduct a search for a new village manager.

The village is gearing up to replace its longtime manager Charlie Lynn, who will retire in January.

One of the people speaking to the council Wednesday was Colin Baenziger of

Baenziger & Associates, familiar to Wellington old timers as the village’s first manager and its only other manager besides Lynn. Starting as the Acme Improvement District administrator, Baenziger led the village through the incorporation process. He served as interim manager before Lynn took over. Baenziger has since built a national reputation for himself as an municipal headhunter. The other presentation came from

See SEARCH, page 42A

Farm Feast — Farm Credit of South Florida Vice President Lynn Cacella, Belle Glade Mayor Don Garrett and State Sen. Dave Aronberg sample locally grown fare.

PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

The Players Club in Wellington hosted the “Jungle Bash” Thursday, Nov. 15. The gift-gathering party benefited the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation’s Jungle Safari, which will take place March 1, 2008. Shown here, Cultural Trust season-tickets winner Andrea Eliwatt with event chairs Ashley and Joe Maguire. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 23A

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

A New Chapter — Gene Mische and Mark Bellissimo discuss their new partnership Wednesday afternoon. PHOTO BY LISA KEENEY/TOWN-CRIER

Binks Forest Golf Course Celebrates A Truly Grand Reopening

Well now, everything dies, baby that’s a fact

But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.

— Bruce Springsteen

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Although the “new” Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington is called a renovation of the original 1990 Gene Bates-Johnny Miller design, it’s truly a reclamation project. Resurrection might be a better word because the course, carved out of a forest preserve, was dead for more than five years before it officially reopened with a gala dinner and silent auction last Friday (more photos, page 17A).

Bates, members of the Wellington Village Council and other dignitaries attended the event, which included a media presentation from Aquila Property Co.

CEO Jordan Paul that showed the course’s history from its opening days in 1990 through its 2002 collapse to its renovation this year.

“It’s great to see this course in operation again,” Mayor Tom Wenham said. Few courses in the country dead and buried as long as Binks Forest have been brought back to life in such a careful and resourceful way.

Aquila Property Co., Binks’ new owner, and KemperSports, which manages the day-to-day operations of the property, opened the back nine for play in October. To open the front nine on Saturday, players teed off in a charity event to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington. A total of 138 players participated in the event, which raised approximately $40,000.

The opening of the front nine gives players full scope of the appeal of Binks Forest, the only high-end, daily-fee golf course in Palm Beach County. “There aren’t two holes out here that are alike.

It’s such a unique property,” said Greg Schroeder, Binks’ marketing director.

“Just look at the courses around this area that have gone dormant. This is truly special.”

Special for a second time. When Binks Forest opened in 1990, it was hailed as one of the nation’s top daily fee courses, one of the few in South Florida that could compete with Tom Fazio’s Emerald Dunes Golf Course (now private) just a few miles to the north. Binks Forest had a name designer (Miller), a name location (Palm Beach County) and even a PGA Tour event: the Sazale Classic, a team event than in 1990 featured the likes of Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Fuzzy Zoeller and Fred Couples.

Couples, who lived in the nearby Palm

Beach Polo and Country Club, teamed with Mike Donald to win the event. Couples remains one of only a handful of players ever to reach Binks Forest’s 563yard, par-five 17th hole in two shots.

Mary La Medica began developing the property in the late 1980s along with her late husband Mike, a PGA professional.

“It can hold any tournament in the country,” she said last Friday. “This golf course was designed to host golf tournaments.”

But Binks Forest held the Sazale Classic for only that one year because the tournament lost its presenting sponsor. The course lost the La Medicas in 1993 when the couple sold their shares to a partnership group. That’s when Binks

Forest’s operations and finances took a turn for the worse. A series of owners ran the once-proud course into the South Florida sand. Sarasota-based Peninsula Bank ended up with control of the land after the club’s owners shut the door in spring 2002.

Although the bank did some upkeep on the golf course in attempts to appease the village’s code enforcement officers, Binks Forest continued to decay.

Then along came Jordan Paul. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and serious fan of parttime Wellington resident Bruce Springs-

See BINKS, page 42A

The Aquila Property Company and KemperSports families celebrate the grand reopening last Friday night. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17A

Palm Beach County Commissioner Jess Santamaria invites you to his November 2007

COMMUNITY FORUM

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the “original” Wellington Mall

PROPERTY TAX CHANGES

PROS & CONS

To Be Voted on January 29th, 2008

Due to the December holidays this will be the last “Community Forum” for 2007. We will resume our regularly scheduled monthly forums on January 16, 2008. Watch for future announcements.

LOCATION:

The “original” Wellington Mall (Center Court) is located at the southeast corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and Wellington Trace

Our Opinion Wellington Should Accept Sunrise Senior Living Proposal

When the Wellington Village Council rejected a proposal by Sunrise Senior Living last summer to build an assisted-living facility in the Equestrian Preserve Area, the council was well-justified in its decision. It was the wrong location. It was an unpopular decision among senior advocates, who argued that the council hasn’t done enough regarding senior housing. But with last week’s news that Sunrise has offered $5 million for 5.3 acres of village-owned land on State Road 7 — an offer that expires Nov. 28 — council members should do everything they can to make sure the deal goes through.

The proposed site sits just south of Pierson Road, part of the village’s 63-acre “K-Park” parcel. Not only is it a far better location than the old Palm Beach Polo stadium (the site Sunrise last proposed redeveloping), but it’s land the village has considered selling anyway. According to Wellington’s Community Services Director Paul Schofield, the parcel has been considered “surplus” for many years. Because of this year’s budget shortfall, construction has been delayed on Wellington’s long-awaited “signature park.” If the council plans to sell the land, an assisted-living facility is exactly the type of project it should be looking for — one

New Clubhouse Cheapens The Neighborhood

In response to the article “RPB Council Approves Village Golf Club’s New Clubhouse,” I must respectfully disagree with the quote attributed to Ray Casto, on behalf of the owner of the Village Golf Club: “We’re not planting anything along the fencing that would disrupt anybody’s view.”

I invite Mr. Casto and/or the owners of the Village Golf Club to examine our view from our home abutting the golf course

that serves a vital community need while drawing minimal traffic. Any other commercial use would create far more congestion. In this economy, the village is highly unlikely to find anyone willing to shell out top dollar for the land. Given Wellington’s money woes, they sure can use the cash.

In addition (and just as important), there’s the issue of seniors in the village, a group that is often overlooked when it comes to budgetary matters. The council has long paid lip service to its senior citizens, but beyond throwing a few dollars to the Wellington Seniors Club, they’ve done very little, usually on the argument that it’s too expensive. Here’s a way to give the senior community something it very much needs while making money in the process.

The council has debated all facets of this issue for years. Now it’s time to make a decision. The Sunrise proposal is a good idea, and the timing couldn’t be better. But the council must act. Its next meeting is Nov. 27, the day before Sunrise’s offer ends. We can only hope the council does the right thing and votes to accept the offer. It’s not often a plan this overwhelmingly positive is presented, and it’s an opportunity that might not present itself again for a long time.

Letters To The Editor

on the fourth fairway, where we have lived for the past 25 years. I am sure that he would agree that our view is definitely disrupted from the vista that we formerly enjoyed for 25 years, before the fence, before the plantings, before the plans for redevelopment. Since the installation of the tasteless green chain link-fence, the view beginning 15 feet from our patio appears to be more like that seen by a guest at a corrections facility than a golf course home. The fence is appalling to anyone with a taste for aesthetics and natural beau-

TOWN-CRIER

Your Community Newspaper

Serving The Palms West Communities For 27 Years Published Weekly By Newspaper Publishers, Inc.

12794 West Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31

The Original Wellington Mall Wellington, Florida 33414

Phone: (561) 793-7606

Classified Ads: (561) 793-3576 • Fax: (561) 793-6090

World Wide Web: http://www.goTownCrier.com E-Mail Address: news@goTownCrier.com

JODY GORRAN Associate Publisher DAWN RIVERA General Manager

ty, to say nothing of a golfer desiring a professional, dignified course.

For those of us who have lived on the course, the owners of the Village Golf Club have succeeded in cheapening our neighborhood, diminishing our property values and obstructing our formerly beautiful scenery. In addition, as a consequence of the fence, we now have a constant flow of traffic through our property, parking bicycles, leaving fishing poles, etc., and climbing the fence to access the golf course, which now raises the question of injury liability. I realize that the owners of the Village Golf Club may have had concerns with “all-terrain vehicles” supposedly abusing the course, and that they have a right to protect their property. However, I suggest that there may have been some resolution other than the fencing. Personally, I have never seen any sort of vehicle entering my property to gain access to the golf course.

Ralph and Susan Eichhorn Royal Palm Beach

point I thought he had killed her. I was kicking him and screaming the whole time. My dogs never participated in the fight; my puppy remained in the stroller while my other dog remained in the dog’s mouth. If a good Samaritan had not intervened, I feel [neither] me nor my dogs would be alive.

dian Trail Improvement District is in disarray.

Yes, the board of supervisors may have had a difference of opinion on the handling of officers for this year’s board. But make no mistake: I firmly believe in each supervisor that currently serves on this board. I believe each supervisor will make the best decision based on their understanding of the issues, and each of them wants to serve The Acreage residents to the best of their ability.

JASON BUDJINSKI Community Editor MARK LIOI News Editor

BARRY S. MANNING Publisher JOSHUA I. MANNING Executive Editor RON BUKLEY Managing Editor

WRITERS/ Denise Fleischman • Paul Gaba • Lisa Keeney Steve Pike • Carol Porter • Leonard Wechsler

CONTRIBUTORS/ Don Brown • Jules Rabin • Deborah Welky • Ernie Zimmerman

ART & PRODUCTION MANAGER/ Stephanie Rodriguez

ADVERTISING/ Evie Edwards • Wanda Glockson STAFF/ Betty Buglio • Shanta Daibee • Geri O’Neil

Founded In 1980 By Bob Markey Sr. Copyright 2007, Newspaper Publishers Inc.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising.

Dangerous Dogs Should Be Neutered, Spayed

Should we have to protect ourselves when taking a walk around our own neighborhood? Aggressive dog attacks against us and our pets are an increasing scare in Wellington. I would like to explain why this issue is so personal to me. On Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 8:45 a.m., five minutes before Wellington Landings Middle School crossing guards arrived, I was walking my two dogs (one leashed, three years old, and one 11 months old, in a stroller due to severe hip disease, also leashed) by Palm Beach County FireRescue Station #20, when we were victims of an unprovoked attack by two huge, unleashed dogs. These dogs were unbelievably aggressive. I have never been so terrified! As the dogs approached us, even though I did all I could to prevent the attack, the dogs attacked us anyway.

One dog bit my hand while attacking my oldest dog, grabbing her by the neck, shaking her until she went limp, at which

As a responsible pet owner, I feel we need to punish the act, not necessarily the breed of the dog. We need to pass additional laws to prevent these attacks, not prosecuting them afterward. It is not a breed or size issue, it is a bite issue. All Wellington residents should support Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control’s proposal for the mandatory spaying or neutering any dog classified as a “dangerous” dog prior to the owner’s reclaiming their dog. This proposal does not mandate killing the dog, simply eliminating the ability of passing these obvious aggressive traits on to a new generation of victims. What kind of animal lover would want to own a dog possessing the aggressive traits anyway? My dogs are my pets. I have owned a minimum of two dogs at any time for almost 30 years. I have always taken the responsibility to seek training for them, provide ample exercise and have them spayed or neutered, as do most of us who cherish our four-legged friends. This proposal does not take an existing pet from any family. It simply prevents violent behavior from being passed on by an historically aggressive, “dangerous” dog. Aggressive behavior is not “pet” behavior.

Karyn Merriman Wellington

Damone: ITID Is Not In Disarray

I’m not one who believes in writing a lot of letters to the editor, but I believe the time has arrived now for me to do so.

Last week’s opinion column by Don Brown (“Especially In The Acreage, ‘No Good Deed Goes Unpunished’”) was a harsh opinion for those of us in The Acreage to swallow. Although the content may have been based on multiple conversations, I don’t want Acreage residents to believe that the In-

The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the

Wellington, FL 33414; fax

goTownCrier.com.

The Acreage has much to look forward to in 2008. We have a great new district administrator [Chris King] who has implemented new policy and procedures that best serve Indian Trail and its residents. We have received funding to support safe sidewalks for our children. Our Trails Committee, along with the board of supervisors, is seeking funds to promote pedestrian/equestrian pathways throughout the entire Acreage. We are working on a safe road network. We finally have a recreational provider’s agreement with the Acreage Athletic League that both the district and the league deserve. I have served in different terms on the board supervisors never with the ambition to serve as president — only to serve the residents of The Acreage. Michelle Damone Supervisor, Indian Trail Improvement District

Support Military Recruitment In Schools

Bryona DeMaio’s letter was very well written and certainly reflects the feelings of many (“Stop Military Recruitment In Schools,” Nov. 16). Unfortunately, it sounded a bit too reminiscent of the remarks of John Kerry, who was called to account for intimating that students who didn’t apply themselves could wind up in Iraq (I paraphrase).

As to recruiters painting a pretty picture, this must refer to the sign-up bonuses and college educations, the latter something that many could not otherwise afford.

As to Bryona’s question, “how do you go to college

Not That They Asked, But Here’s My Idea For Finding A New Manager

Ever since Wellington Village Manager Charlie Lynn announced his retirement several weeks ago, council members have been deluged with advice about how to choose his successor. In fact they’ve gotten so much advice — virtually all of it unsolicited — that even the selection process promises plenty of controversy.

Because of the timing, the presumably lengthy search for a new Wellington CEO could even find its way into the political campaigns that normally begin shortly after the first of the year.

The drama injected into the search is understandable for a couple of reasons. While Wellington residents are infamously slow in showing up to vote in council elections, they are notorious for weighing in on council decisions, no matter how seemingly minor they may be. Also, while Mr. Lynn is technically the village’s second manager since incorporation some 11 years ago (Colin Baenziger was the first, only for a few months), the search has already reached star magnitude because most Wellington residents weren’t around during the village’s infancy and haven’t seen anything like it.

Since just about everyone else has advice to offer, I think it’s time for me to

Letters

continued from page 4A when you’re fighting in a war?” Try asking the recruiter. My eldest grandson, a senior at the University of Florida, is enjoying a full ROTC scholarship and will graduate, along with a commission, next month. Two other grandsons chose the National Guard route. They are now in their first two years of college, courtesy of the military, during which they remain non-deployable. I hate to think of how these poor kids are “victims of the lies the Army is spreading.” In regard to combat risks, anyone with access to TV knows exactly what’s going on overseas.

Another questionable assertion is that prepaid college plans separate the smart and wealthy from the rest of us. More accurately, the elite get along quite well on their own. There was a slogan from another era of student unrest that said, “hell no, we won’t go.” Unfortunately, in a democracy, that is not supposed to be an option.

Christopher S. Walls, Loxahatchee

ITID’s Loyalty Is To Its Residents

Having read the latest trash-and-burn opinion column in this past week’s Town-Crier by Don Brown, I can only offer thoughts of extreme disappointment and disillusionment with what one would believe is the Town-Crier’s supposed ultimate goal of offering a free and unbiased press. The Town-Crier certainly did appear new and improved, at least for some months; yet here we are again, with one-sided opinion columns that favor a particular interest or party.

provide my own unsolicited counsel on selecting Wellington’s new manager. I believe you’ll agree that it offers plenty of citizen input and has great entertainment value. I call this winter media package “Reality TV, Wellington Style.”

The Mr. or Ms. Wellington Pageant. We’ll all select the next manager just like Miss America is chosen, with some adjustments. Each job candidate will be subjected to an extensive interview process broadcast on Wellington’s Channel 18. The interviews, with call-in questions such as “what kind of tree would you choose to be?” would be followed up with a swimsuit competition (my personal favorite part) and a talent presentation by each of the candidates. This particular show could be kicked off with the preliminary selection of judges from across the community.

Wellington Idol. Each week candidates must perform various real manager duties as selected by a panel from Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee Groves, The Acreage and an at-large panelist representing the rest of the county. We’ll require that Royal Palm Beach send over a mean curmudgeon to insult the candidates. The program will be telecast each week until only one candidate remains,

Let me first say that there was one portion of a sentence in Mr. Brown’s opinion commentary with which I found myself in absolute agreement, and it was “his” news flash directed toward the elected Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors, i.e., “you were not elected to a social club.” I believe this is absolutely true.

I fully and frankly believe each member of the ITID Board of Supervisors, as an elected official, owes loyalty and representation toward the electorate, not an individual who sought their candidacy, raised money for them, nor worked on their campaign. In this case, the loyalty of elected officials is owed toward the individual residents of The Acreage and Loxahatchee, and not toward one person (credited with a status described quite lovingly by Mr. Brown as one who “engineered and managed the coup”).

Bemoaning the loss of a puff type leadership position such as president of the ITID Board of Supervisors for Don Brown’s close and personal friend was not even a legitimate opinion piece for offering in the Town-Crier . Staging “coups” is for dictatorships like Pakistan, not a special taxing district such as Indian Trail Improvement District. Demanding loyalty toward one person suggests at worst such a dictatorship, or at best an aristocracy with a queen at the head, and not our American-styled democracy, i.e. representative government.

A “social club” might demand such loyalty, and having a good friend (who just so happens to write a column at a paper) writing a piece such as “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” distorts reality. There are many residents and even elect-

and he or she will automatically become Wellington’s next village manager. Special phone numbers will be set up so viewers can call in their favorite candidate.

Survivor Wellington. Council members will come up with several outrageous tasks such as doubling the size of recreation services while cutting the budget by 15 percent or getting an assistedliving facility built. Each week, candidates will be sent to the four corners of Wellington to solve a resident’s problem. The ones who make it back in one piece will assemble at a campfire where they will vote one of their own out of the community. Those who were previously voted off will select the winner among the remaining two survivors.

Wellington Apprentice. Members of the Wellington council will actually hire all of the candidates as managers with specific job functions. Each week the candidates will gather for a special meeting and the council will fire one of them until only one is left. Since candidates won’t be paid until the end of the show, we can keep airing this series for a long time, saving the village some money in the process.

The Amazing Wellington Race. Each candidate will be required to race to var-

ed officials performing good deeds... loyalty and obligations rest with the community, not an individual seeking power or pity.

Patricia Curry, The Acreage Writer Should Check

Facts About Military

In regard to Bryona DeMaio’s letter Nov. 16 about military recruiting in public schools: this young person stated that he/she tried to write an article for the school newspaper but the teacher wouldn’t let him/her. I can see why the school would feel that way. This was not an article, but DeMaio’s opinion. If it were an article, DeMaio would have researched the facts and stated them as such.

DeMaio stated that “I have nothing against the United States Army, Marines, Navy or any other military programs. I applaud what they are doing by defending our country, and I encourage anyone who freely wants to be in the military to join.” Then DeMaio goes on to trash the military and tries to discourage anyone who has an interest in serving their country with such scare tactics as, “if you join, you’ll give up your life, get blown up or shot to death.” Thank goodness the honorable veterans who served our country in previous years didn’t listen to the likes of you.

DeMaio also stated that “there aren’t that many students who want to join the Army.” Did you poll every student in the United States to come up with that fact or is that just your opinion again? I personally know three young men who are happy to serve their country after they

Point of View...

By Don Brown

ious trouble spots in the community and solve a series of problems. Sometimes a candidate might face a roadblock whereby the problem must be solved with county help. Those candidates face one of two fates: to never be heard from again or to receive bonus points for successfully completing the assignment. The overall winner of the series of races will win the ultimate prize of a job.

Cooking With Hizzoner. This weekly series will feature each of the candidates cooking a meal with Mayor Tom Wenham. After each demonstrates his or her culinary talents, residents will vote for their favorite recipe, and the winning chef will be the next manager.

If you have a reality show idea to select the next village manager, send it to the council. I know they would love to hear from you.

graduate in 2008. Any one of them could go to college if they chose, and I think their parents should be offended by your words. “They’re not going after the bright people who have money. They’re going after the poor and the lower-educated.” They chose to give to their country. I find that honorable. Despite your discouraging words, you can be something by going into the military.

I’ll answer your question about how you can go to college while fighting a war. Have you ever heard of the Internet? It is possible, and I will tell you how I know that for a fact, not my opinion. My son is a helicopter pilot in the Army. He served a year in Iraq. He didn’t get blown up or shot to death, but he did work on his college classes in his spare time. He will be graduating with a degree from Embry-Riddle University, thanks to the United States Army. I think your high school should also be offended that you are calling their graduates “poor and lower-educated.”

Lastly, DeMaio, how can you even write that it is wrong and un-American to have an Army recruiter encourage you to join the Army? I am so proud of my son. He is a true American hero, and you should be ashamed by the words you have written. I invite you to try thanking that military recruiter for giving you the freedom to write your opinion. The odds are that the recruiter at your school spent some time serving in Iraq or Afghanistan and lived to tell about it. They didn’t get blown up or shot to death. Why don’t you take the time to ask what led them to a life of service instead of trashing them for serving their country.

Phyllis Shumate, Okeechobee

Macy’s Employee Caught Stealing $1,685 Worth Of Merchandise

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

NOV. 15 — A deputy from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office substation in Royal Palm Beach arrested a man on drug charges last Thursday on King’s Way. According to the PBSO report, the deputy observed 22-year-old James Telisme of Royal Palm Beach riding a bicycle without a light in the roadway at approximately 11:08 p.m. Telisme acted nervous and made movements toward his right front pocket. The deputy noticed a

CRIME NEWS CRIME NEWS

bulge in Telisme’s pocket and thought it might be a weapon, according to the report. A search revealed the object was a cigar container that held marijuana and an ecstasy pill. A further search turned up marijuana in Telisme’s other pocket; there were 5.3 grams of marijuana in total. Telisme was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

NOV. 17 — A routine traffic stop on Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington led to the arrest of a West

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

• Teneshia Carr is a black female, 5’10” tall and weighing 200 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 09/24/82. Carr is wanted for fraudulent use of personal identification information. Her occupation is unknown. Her last known address was Stonehurst Circle in Greenacres. Carr is wanted as of 11/22/07.

• Idalmis Noval is a white female, 5’4” tall and weighing 145 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 12/30/74. Noval is wanted for failure to appear in court on charges of cultivation of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia (production). Her occupation is unknown. Her last known address was North 92nd Lane in The Acreage. Noval is wanted as of 11/22/07. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crime stopperspbc.com.

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHICH IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

Palm Beach man for driving without a license last Saturday. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation stopped 21-year-old Aaron Briseño at approximately 7:37 p.m. for driving without his headlights on. Briseño did not speak English and did not have any identification, according to the report. Briseño was transported to the county jail.

NOV. 17 — An employee of the Macy’s department store in the Mall at Wellington Green was arrested on felony theft charges last Saturday. According to a

PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation arrested 33-year-old George Malone of Wellington at approximately 7:25 p.m. after it was discovered he stole a total of $1,685 worth of merchandise. Malone was transported to the county jail.

NOV. 18 — A Wellington man pulled over for an expired vehicle tag was arrested last Sunday after it was discovered there was an active warrant for his

arrest. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation stopped a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Luis Ortiz at approximately 2 a.m. on Pine Valley Drive. A background check revealed there was an active felony warrant. Ortiz was transported to the county jail. NOV. 19 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington arrested a woman for drug

See BLOTTER, page 7A

Man Arrested For Strong-Arm Robberies At Wellington Green

NOV. 16 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested last Friday outside the Mall at Wellington Green after being caught robbing an elderly couple while armed with a firearm.

According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies met with the husband and wife, who said the suspect had taken their wallet and purse, respectively.

Further investigation led deputies to the home of 25-yearold Kenneth Stevenson II, who confessed to the robbery, as well as using one of the victim’s credit cards at a gas station, according to the report. Stevenson consented to a search of his vehicle, which uncovered two firearms and a stun gun.

In addition, Stevenson was charged with the Aug. 22 strong-arm robbery of an elderly woman outside the JC Penney store at the Mall at Wellington Green.

According to a PBSO report,

Stevenson approached the victim, a 78-year-old Greenacres woman, pushed her to the ground and forcefully removed her purse before leaving in a black truck. Images of the truck were captured by mall surveillance cameras. Stevenson later used the victim’s credit card and made a $751 purchase at an AT&T store, according to the report.

On Nov. 9, an employee of the AT&T store sent transaction information to the PBSO, revealing that the credit card purchase went toward paying Stevenson’s cell phone bill. Surveillance was conducted at Stevenson’s home on Nov. 13, according to the PBSO report. Photographs taken of his vehicle matched those taken by mall surveillance cameras. Stevenson was charged with robbery, battery on a person 65 or older, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

— Jason Budjinski

Idalmis Noval

Teneshia Carr

Church Stepping Forward To Aid Migrant Workers In Lox Groves

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatachee Groves Town Council voiced support Tuesday for a church-sponsored center for day laborers modeled on a successful program in Jupiter.

Rev. Calvin Lyerla, pastor of the Acts 2 Worship Center on Okeechobee Blvd., told the council his church expects to have their Buena Fe Day Labor Referral Center open on church property in January.

Okeechobee Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves is a gathering place for day laborers seeking work. Because of the potential for accidents there and a rash of crimes against these oftenundocumented workers, local residents have called for an organized effort to reduce the problems associated with the laborers.

Lyerla said his church is using Jupiter’s El Sol neighborhood center as a model for their program. He said the effort is

Settlement Shows Will Not Move After All

continued from page 1A Horse Show this year, the 2008 Winter Equestrian Festival and beyond,” he said.

Mische said the agreement adds a great amount of stability to equestrian sport in Wellington. “It’s good for the community and the sport in general,” he said. “I’m very anxious to see the sport grow. I’m happy for the opportunity to work with Mark and make this happen.”

Jacobs, an investor and Stadium Jumping board member who recently forged a partnership with Bellissimo, thanked village staff for their cooperation with the parties involved. “I’m impressed and enthusiastic about the scale and scope of the project,” he said. “It will make a great venue.”

Bellissimo said specific plans for the existing show grounds and the old polo stadium will be revealed in the next few weeks.

WEP has so far invested $135 million in land and $5 million on improvements, he said, adding that he anticipates spending from $5 million to $10 million more over the next several years. He declined to say whether or how much WEP paid for Stadium Jumping’s licenses.

Jacobs said he supported the construction of a new facility for Stadium Jumping at the Wellington Preserve until he reviewed recent plans by Bellissimo.

“It’s a bit like building a new

Blotter

continued from page 7A trafficking last Monday. According to a PBSO report, 19year-old Renae Riley of Wellington was arrested at approximately 3 a.m. after a search of her home on Old Cypress Trail revealed 25 ecstasy pills. According to the report, Riley had been the target of a narcotics investigation and consented to the search. She was transported to the county jail.

not about punishing people here illegally, but helping your fellow man. The center’s function would be twofold: to draw the workers off the “alphabet” roads that intersect Okeechobee and offer them a safe framework to find work. Some employers have taken advantage of the laborers, he said, particularly regarding pay, and employers accessing labor through the center would be required to register.

Lyerla said he has received offers of support from other spiritual leaders and local residents, and the church is looking forward to a partnership with the town on the effort. “Our congregation has embraced this wholeheartedly as a community outreach program,” he said.

“We’re excited to partner with you. We understand your resources as a brand new town are limited.”

Councilman Dennis Lipp made a motion to approve a resolution supporting the program, which was seconded by Coun-

house,” he said. “It’s sometimes easier to build from scratch when you know your needs.

Considering the varying interest the equestrian community, the people around the show grounds wanted it to stay there.

The current proposal on the table is a significant investment of many millions of dollars. It includes substantially more property than was contemplated a year ago. It’s a venture we can all get behind.”

Bellissimo said a lot has changed in the last year, including settlement of a lawsuit with former property owner Glenn Straub and the subsequent purchase of the grounds.

“Lou said he wanted to see a world-class stadium,” Bellissimo said. “In the end we’re all looking for the same thing. When we get all the facts in place, we realize it’s a great opportunity. We brought the people to the table and we changed our perspective on the future.”

Bellissimo said his facility will eventually expand the equestrian season in Wellington to feature fall, winter and spring events, with Mische offering a guiding hand.

“Even though we fought tooth and nail at one point, he’s a perfectionist when it comes to the shows,” Bellissimo said. “We will execute shows at a higher level. It will be the dream team of equestrian sport.”

Bellissimo said the improved Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club will feature better spectator areas and improved horse safety for this season’s events. “It will be improved at this festival and accelerate rapidly in future years,” he said.

NOV. 19 — A traffic stop on White Pine Drive in Wellington led to the drug arrest of the vehicle’s passenger early Monday morning. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation conducted a traffic on a vehicle at approximately 1 a.m. A passenger in the vehicle, 21-year-old Luis Rivera of Wellington, was found in possession of marijuana. He was arrested and taken to the county jail.

Rev. Calvin Lyerla speaks about Acts 2’s plans for a new migrant worker center.

cilman Dr. Bill Louda. It passed unanimously.

For more information about the Buena Fe Day Labor Referral Center, call Acts 2 at (561) 798-3981 or visit its web site at www.buenafe.org.

‘The notion that this facility could become the Aachen of the United States is not just rhetoric.’

— USEF CEO John Long

This year’s National Horse Show and Winter Equestrian Festival will remain primarily at the traditional club site, but will gradually expand to the old polo grounds, he said.

Jacobs said Stadium Jumping had parted amicably with Wellington Preserve, which has decided to market its property independently. “When you get into the specifics of the transaction, they were contributing so much land to the premises of the horse show, and the contribution of capital as well, in the end it was almost a wash for them,” he said.

“The most important thing is that the show is not leaving Wellington, which is the best thing for the community, local business and equestrians,” Wellington Preserve Corporation spokesperson Peggy Berkoff said in a prepared statement. “We were initially very disappointed that Stadium Jumping decided not to have its equestrian events move to the modern, state-of-the-art facility we planned to build at Wellington Preserve. However, as the show grounds will stay in Wellington, we can continue to develop Wellington Preserve as a premier equestrian community with large tracts of land and miles of bridle trails.”

USEF CEO Long said he is ecstatic about the outcome. He said the plans give credence to developers’ recent comparisons of the future facility to that of the German city of Aachen, where major equestrian events are held.

“Clearly, this is a huge win for everyone in Wellington and South Florida,” Long said. “I must say also that this is a huge win for the United States and international equestrian sport as well. The notion that this facility could become the Aachen of the United States is not just rhetoric.”

Joseph Abruzzo Enters State House Race In District 85

Democrat Joseph Abruzzo officially entered the race for state representative in District 85, having recently filed his campaign papers with the Florida Division of Elections.

“More than ever, we need leaders in Tallahassee who have the energy and enthusiasm to make a difference,” Abruzzo said. “The insurance crisis has been addressed but not resolved; the harsh effect of high property taxes has been recognized, but not corrected; and the social services needed by our seniors should not be used as tradeoffs for political expediency. I want to be part of a new generation of leaders and problem-solvers that resolves these issues facing our state.”

Abruzzo also announced that in addition to the encouraging response from the community, he received endorsements from State Sen. David Aronberg, State Rep. Shelley Vana and Wellington Vice Mayor Bob Margolis.

Vana, who currently holds the District 85 seat, offered her endorsement to Abruzzo and praised his commitment to public service. “Joseph Abruzzo has the integrity, desire and ability to represent the whole district and to get results on a wide range of important issues,” she said.

Abruzzo currently serves as a Port Security Specialist in the U.S. Coast Guard. He works as vice president of business development for Cataldo Interiors Group. He also served on the Boca Raton Educational Advisory Board, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and has been very active in the Democratic Party serving as a member of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee.

South Florida Fair Gift Cards

Beginning Friday, Nov. 23, the South Florida Fair gift card is available at your nearest Washington Mutual bank or online at www.southfloridafair.com. The cards are in increments of $25 and $50 and are redeemable for admission and rides at the annual South Florida Fair in January.

Buy a prepaid fair gift card and take the worry out of giftgiving. It’s the ideal holiday gift card for friends, family or business employee rewards. The perfect gift every time.

The annual South Florida Fair, Palm Beach County’s largest outdoor event, will take place Jan. 18 and Feb. 3. The South Florida Fairgrounds are located at 9067 Southern Blvd. For more information, call (561) 793-0333.

SHARE PROGRAM AT ST. PETER’S

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington once again participated in the SHARE food network program on Saturday, Nov. 17. Volunteers helped distribute the 282 turkey dinners the church donated to clients of the Palm Beach County Department of Human Services, as well as a Haitian Methodist church in Delray Beach. Shown here are volunteers Chris White and Ruth Tillman (above) and Howard Dargan and son Ryan (below).

BIKE SAFETY AT CYPRESS TRAILS

Cypress Trails Elementary School students took part in a bike safety class the weeks of Nov. 5-9 and Nov. 12-16. Students, wearing helmets, learned how to signal, safely cross a street, cross through a parking lot using crosswalks, adjust their helmets to fit properly and the proper rules of the road. The students were helped by teachers Linda Zaskey and Donna Hill. Shown here are students practicing hand signals.

DPC Meeting — The Democratic Professionals Council held its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 19 at Columbia Restaurant in West Palm Beach. The guest speaker for the meeting was Congressman Alcee Hastings, who spoke about the primary election, Congress’s work in Washington, as well as local issues. Shown above, Hastings addresses the DPC members.

PHOTO BY CAROL

PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

New ITID President: 2008 Will Be A Busy Year For District

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Mike Erickson, the new president of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors, believes the district needs a strong and active voice if The Acreage is to remain “a rural paradise.”

On Monday, Erickson told the TownCrier he expects ITID will contend with many complex issues in 2008. “Many of the undeveloped parcels of land within and around the district will be submit-

ting for some type of land-use change,” he said.

A few of the items that will make 2008 a busy year, Erickson said, include an application by Callery-Judge Grove for agricultural enclave status, submission of a development of regional impact or DRI plan by GL Homes, the county’s creation of a new Sector Plan for the western communities and numerous development applications for the commercialization of the Northlake Blvd. corridor.

Erickson said he wants district resi-

dents to weigh in during any discussions of these issues. “It is my intent to make sure that the process is educational, transparent and includes the wishes of the citizens of ITID,” he said.

But Erickson said the district’s internal affairs would also merit close attention in the coming year. “2008 will be remembered as the year that ITID began its long-range planning process,” he said. “We must take a long-range look at the roads, parks and drainage network. If ITID doesn’t plan the road network, it will be planned for us.”

He also emphasized the importance of an extension of State Road 7 to Northlake Blvd. “State Road 7 should connect to our community, but it should not run through our community,” Erickson said.

Erickson served as the ITID board’s liaison to the district’s Planning Committee, which has been examining the district’s road network.

“We must take a look at a long-term lifecycle analysis of the way we build and maintain our roads,” he said. “This

See ERICKSON, page 42A

Valeche: More Military Experience Is Needed In Congress

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Beach Gardens Coun-

cilman Hal Valeche, one of several Republicans gunning for the Congressional District 16 seat held by Democrat Tim Mahoney, was the featured speaker at the Palms West Republican Club meeting on Nov. 14.

Valeche touted his record as a Navy fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. “As a combat veteran and someone who understands the military, I know I can help us win the war on terror,” he said. “We need more people like that to make sure we win this.”

Valeche, an entrepreneur and former investment banker, was elected to the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District Board of Supervisors in 2000 and then to the Palm Beach Gardens City Council in 2004. He described his time on the council as a good political education.

“I had a terrific experience,” Valeche said. “It is analogous to Wellington. There is a lot of development going on and a lot of contentious factions. It’s a great place to learn about politics. If you are not careful, people will eat you up. I have not only survived there, but I have thrived there. I think I have done a good job as a city councilman.”

Valeche said the values of Republicans currently in Congress motivated him to run for the District 16 seat. “Like a lot of you, I have been disappointed with the way Republican members of Congress have conducted themselves over the past six or seven years,” he said. “There is a core group that has stayed true to the Republican principles, but there are a bunch of them who have decided that staying true to the principles of limited government, lower taxes and less spending is not what they wanted to do. They really wanted to promote their careers. They liked Washington and

wanted to stay in the culture. They wanted to stay there. The way to stay there was trading earmarks for campaign contributions. They betrayed their principles for their careers.”

Valeche said his efforts to limit municipal spending in Palm Beach Gardens should be taken to Washington. “I would like to take the principles that I fought for on the Palm Beach Gardens council and take them with me to Washington,” he said. “We need to get our party in line with our principles. I think we have gone off course. We need to get a realignment. We need to elect more people who are fiscal conservatives.”

Valeche said the protracted nature of the nation’s current conflicts calls for congressmen with military background. “Regardless of what happens in Iraq, we are at the very beginning of a very long struggle against Islamist fascism and against people who want to destroy our society,” he said.

“That’s what they hope to do. They want to destroy our western civilization. They have a reasonable chance of succeeding.”

Valeche said the number of military men in elected office is lower than ever. “At the end of World War II, 85 percent of Congress had experience. Now it’s down to 15 or 20 percent, which is at an all-time low. A lot of the mistakes we have made are because a lot of people don’t have military experience.”

Valeche charged that Mahoney would favor the sort of withdrawal from Iraq that would create a dangerous vacuum. “It’s a recipe for chaos,” he said. “If we walk away, al Qaeda will get its hands on the oil revenues and use the revenues to fund terrorist operations, and a lot of other bad apples in the region will move in and expand their influence in the vacuum we have created. Iran has already announced that is what they will do when we leave. That will lead to a re-

newed regional conflict.”

Valeche described Mahoney as dangerously detached from reality. “He’s clearly way out of touch,” he said. “We have troops in the field, and he’s complaining about living in Washington. He doesn’t know what’s going over there. He has a complete disconnect with reality. He’s out of touch with the voters in District 16.”

Hal Valeche

Office Buildings Proposed For Sem Pratt Concern Neighbors

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

A group of property owners discovered Tuesday what many others who have wanted to build in The Acreage have learned: residents do not want commercial properties built next to them under any circumstances.

At Tuesday’s Acreage Landowners’ Association meeting, property owners Nasir Alam, Pete Patel, Amit Aghara and Jerry Hastings described plans to build five small office buildings on five parcels on the west side of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road opposite the Publix shopping center at Orange Blvd. The twostory buildings would each cover an area of about 8,000 square feet.

“We want to build for doctors who would serve the community,” Alam said. “That way there will be no extra traffic or lights after 5 p.m.”

Alam said the buildings would serve as a buffer between homes to the west of the complex and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. “We will build a landscaped wall in the back so the neighbors will not even see the buildings and people on the second floor of the buildings will not be able to look into their neighbors’ backyards,” he said. “We can keep the lights down so they don’t disturb our neighbors, and we will ask for a traffic study to make sure they are not put out. The buildings will look like residences, not like industrial or commercial buildings.”

A group of 70th Street North and 71st Lane North residents were vehemently opposed the idea of commercial development. Marita Butzbach of 71st Lane North said she had moved out to The Acreage to get away from commercial properties.

“I see the drawings for these two-story buildings and I remember why I did not want to stay in Boca Raton,” she

said. “These buildings will hurt property values. I’ve already lost $100,000 in value on my house this year because of the bad market, but no one will want to buy next to commercial properties.”

The property owners stressed that they are not traditional developers and said they would be willing to compromise. Aghara said they had come to the ALA so they could get more feedback. “We are not developers,” he said. “We are nothing like Lennar. We just want to put up five small buildings, and nothing we have on our plans now cannot be changed. We went around to all of you after the board of the ALA suggested we do it. We want to settle your concerns before we move forward.”

Aghara said that in response to a suggestion from Indian Trail Improvement District President Mike Erickson, they are willing to move the buildings further back from the street so the noise and lights of the parking lot would be further away from neighbors. He also said they are willing to make the building footprints somewhat larger in order to limit the buildings to one floor.

Hastings said commercial zoning is provided at all four corners of the intersection of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd. under the original Sector Plan, but resident Patricia Curry responded that the Sector Plan had been rejected and that the type of development proposed would no longer be allowed.

ITID Supervisor Michelle Damone asked about the size of the buffer between the properties and their neighbors, and Aghara said it would be 50 feet deep with ample vegetation.

Residents asked for details about the land use amendment’s review schedule.

Erickson said the ITID supervisors would hear a presentation at their next meeting on Dec. 5. The ALA would vote on whether to support the proposal be-

fore the county commission reviews the application in March.

Erickson warned that ITID residents are facing a whole series of land use amendments that could threaten their way of life. “They want to turn the land between Northlake Blvd. and Hamlin Blvd. into a two-and-a-half-mile strip mall,” he said. “The people here speculated when they bought their land, and that is all right. No one has a problem with making a profit but that does not give people the right to ruin a neighborhood.”

In other business, Damone said Palm Beach County and the Seminole Improvement District are close to an agreement on building a sidewalk along Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

“We think we will have an agreement in between 30 and 60 days,” she said. “We’ve been acting as a peacemaker because we want our children protected.”

Erickson said the ITID supervisors are unanimously in favor of building a library in The Acreage but not happy about being asked to donate land. “Everyone else gets paid,” he said. “What we want is a joint resolution that will be a win-win situation for everyone.”

Damone congratulated the ALA board, particularly Maria Enriquez, for pulling their Halloween Party together really well in less than two weeks. Enriquez announced the ALA Christmas party would take place on Dec. 18 in the Frontier Elementary School cafeteria.

“We will have refreshments as well as games, raffles, and a visit from Santa Claus,” she said. “We will also be conducting a toy drive for less fortunate children. Last year we gave to Foster Care Families and the Women’s Resource Center. We will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for these local children.”

BY

Doctor’s Offices — Jerry Hastings, Pete Patel, Amit Aghara and Nasir M. Alam show preliminary plans for their project at the Acreage Landowners’ Association meeting Tuesday.

PHOTO

FPL Rep Tries To Calm Power Plant Fears At LGLA Meeting

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

A Florida Power & Light representative tried to assure western communities residents last week that the utility’s power plant under construction near 20-Mile Bend would be environmentally sound.

FPL environmental specialist Jackie Lorne offered the presentation about the West County Energy Center to members of the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association on Nov. 15. “FPL works very hard to provide electricity to each and every one of us today and in the future in a reliable and safe way,” she said, “and all the while we are always protecting the environment.”

Western communities residents have expressed concern about the safety of the gas-fired West County Energy Center, because of plans to dispose of its wastewater through deepinjection wells and its proximity to gravel mining pits where blasting takes place.

Lorne said FPL is required by law to provide enough electricity to supply the needs of its coverage area. “We have to provide power to everyone in our service territory,” she said. “This includes 35 counties. We have four and a half million customer accounts in that region. It will grow to five and a half million by 2020. We not only provide power to those customers today, but we have to provide it in the future. We have to plan ten years in advance for those pow-

er needs in the future. To account for that increase, we have to add new power to the system every few years.”

Lorne added that alternative energy sources cannot be relied on to serve the needs of the public. “Wind and solar cannot provide reliable and cost-effective base-load power,” she said. “It’s not reliable enough because the sun must be shining to produce the energy. The wind must be blowing. We need a steady source of power 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It’s not cost-effective yet.”

While the new FPL facility was originally envisioned as a two-unit plant, Lorne said FPL submitted a development order amendment to Palm Beach County in August for a third unit.

“The site can produce 3,800 megawatts instead of 3,300,” she said. “We are working with the county on those approvals.

By producing more power and using more efficient technology, we will be using less fuel. We will also have less emissions.”

Loxahatchee Groves resident Morley Schloss said he found it hard to believe FPL could not draw more on renewable energy sources, and asserted that sugarcane is a more efficient use of biomass for energy than corn. Schloss said his home in Rochester, N.Y. is powered by alternative energy for a small surcharge. “I get power from a Buffalo, New York company, and they are supplying the power for $3 extra a month,” Schloss said. “It’s 100-percent alternative energy. They don’t have much solar up there. It’s mostly wind. Other power companies in other parts of the country, where there is less sun and wind, are able to do it.”

While other residents said

Palm Beach County’s population might be leveling off, Lorne said statistics still suggest a need to construct the power plant. “I understand the population projections are changing,” she said. “When we want to build a power plant, we have to put a petition of need before the Public Service Commission. If they do not believe there is a need for the plant, we do not build the plant. It has to go through them first to get approval.”

Acreage activist Alex Larson took issue with the size of the new plant and its fuel sources. “This plant is on 220 acres,” she said. “The average plant is on between 2,000 and 4,000 acres. This plant is going to have 12.6 million gallons of diesel fuel stored on site. It will have a 35mile, 900-psi pipeline coming to it. Sitting between these is the rock-blasting permits until 2032 and 2052. Six hundred mega-

watts is the average size of an FPL plant. This one is 3,800 megawatts.”

Larson also challenged Lorne’s assertions regarding renewable energy. “There are a lot of questions that everyone at this table should be asking,” she said. “I hope you all ask. FPL also had representatives that stood at tables and said that solar wasn’t viable in Florida, and Florida is a state that has 300 days of sunshine.”

FPL’s plans to use deep-well injection for wastewater disposal are foolhardy, Larson said. “The geology of Florida is very minute, and the study of geology is not foolproof,” she said. “Deep-well injection is a questionable thing. It is only done in seven states in the United States. You don’t have to believe me. I am challenging this puppy. I will take it to the max. I care about us.”

RPB Campaign To Begin In Earnest Next Week

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

The three candidates seeking the vacant seat on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council have kept a low profile since filing, but voters can expect to see a lot of them after the Thanksgiving holiday. The candidates — David Dangerfield, Tinuade “Tinu” Pena and Martha Webster — all say they will attend the Holiday Lightup at Veterans Park on the evening of Dec. 3.

The three will face off in the Jan. 29 election for Council Seat

2, which has been vacant since the July resignation of Barbara Isenberg. The winner will serve the remainder of Isenberg’s term, which expires in March 2009. No challengers stepped forward to vie for the seat of any of the three council members whose current terms expire next year — Mayor David Lodwick, Vice Mayor David Swift and Councilman Matty Mattioli.

Webster, who ran unsuccessfully against Swift for Seat 1 in 2006, told the Town-Crier she has been busy preparing to get

out her message to voters.

“We want to let them know we’re here to work for them. We want to be their voice,” Webster said. “We’re going to try and put together some meetand-greet events and other things like that.”

Pena has established a web site (www.votetinupena.com) and recently met with Alan Olinsky, vice president of the MidCounty Democratic Club that serves Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and The Acreage.

Dangerfield said he’s particularly looking forward to meeting Royal Palm Beach senior citizens and called on his opponents to refrain from negative campaigning.

“I don’t want to demean the community,” Dangerfield said. “I want us to address all the issues and run a clean campaign. I’m looking forward to working with the community and being a conduit for it on the village council.”

“I’m at the staging point in my campaign,” Pena said. “I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting the people.”

while you develop the knowledge and skills to compete with other college graduates. Learn how to lead effectively and apply sound business and management principles as you enhance your understanding of human behavior and its relationship to today’s global work

The ORM program is flexible in applying previously earned college credit to your degree. Professional Education Credit may also be awarded for professional licenses and certificates. If you have earned an Associate of Arts degree or the equivalent, you should be able to complete your degree in 1½ to 2 years.

Classes are accelerated and meet in the evening from 6 - 10 p.m. Attending two

How much will it cost?

Earning an evening college degree is an investment that will pay off. Your total cost and your cost per semester will depend on several factors: full-time or parttime student status, the number of credit hours you transfer to PBA, the type of financial aid you qualify for, Florida residency, and tuition assistance from your employer. Full-time students who are Florida residents receive a $1500 Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) each fall and spring semester.

HEALTHCARE AT THE HARVIN

The Kevin M. Harvin Center in Royal Palm Beach hosted two health-related events at the end of October. The Palm Beach County Health Department provided flu and pneumonia shots on Oct. 30. A wellness fair was held the following day, sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging. (Above) Volunteer Carrie Parod, dressed as a chef, brings out a cake. (Below) Elder wellness specialist Joyce Bailey conducts a depression screening of Rene Begeansma.

RPB Parks And Recreation Announces Winter Programs

Early Release Day Events For Teens & Pre-Teens — Students at middle and high schools in Royal Palm Beach and teens 12 and older residing in the village are invited to attend “early release day” special events at the RPB Recreation Center from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 and Feb. 28. Qualifying teens are asked to pre-register with a parental signature and pay $1 per event or $5 for all remaining early release day special events being held during the 2007-2008 school year. Events include exclusive use of the RPB Recreation Center game room, gym and activity room with an interactive DJ/ dance with adult supervision.

Affordable Early Childhood Activity Program — Registration is underway at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center for affordable winter classes for boys and girls from 20 months to five years of age. Activities begin the last week of November and the last week of January. At least two classes of 90 minutes each will run back to back daily. Classes begin at 9 and 10:30 a.m. The eight-week January session offerings include: Tuesdays reserved for “Super Sensational Science” and “ABC Fun with George & His Curious Friends.” Wednesdays, you’ll

meet for “Creative Kids Corner” and “Stories You Can Count On” (numbers theme). Thursdays, you’ll mix it up with “It’s a Jungle out There” (exploration of the animal kingdom), “Too Fun: Mom/ Dad & Me” and “Moving and Grooving.” The cost is $75 for RPB residents and $90 for non-residents. It’s The Best Time Of Year, StoryTime Is Near! Free! — Fridays are free for all young children and their parents, and Veterans Park is a beautiful setting to share special time with your child or children and the Early Childhood Instructional Staff as they sing, dance and share a story on the green. Meet at the amphitheater on the north end of the park at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays beginning Jan. 18.

Free Special Populations Adaptive Soccer Program — A free six-week adaptive soccer program for people of all ages with special needs will be held at Katz Fields at the RPB Recreation Center beginning Jan. 18 and continuing through March 2. Soccer play and skills development will be held on Friday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. A volunteering adult must accompany all children. For more information, call RPB Recreation at (561) 790-5124.

Two Injured During Collision On SR 7

NOV. 21 — Two Royal Palm Beach men were injured in a traffic collision Wednesday morning on State Road 7. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 21-year-old Jushua Mickle was traveling northbound on SR 7 north of Forest Hill Blvd. at approximately 9 a.m. A Dodge Caravan driven by 32-year-old Arlen

Pena was traveling southbound on SR 7. As the vehicles approached the 1000 block, Pena’s vehicle crossed over the raised center median and collided headon with Mickle’s vehicle, according to the report. Mickle suffered serious injuries, while Pena’s injuries were minor. Both were airlifted to Delray Medical Center.

— Jason Budjinski

TEMPLE BETH TORAH HOSTS THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE

Temple Beth Torah in Wellington hosted “The American Spirit: An Interreligious Thanksgiving Service” on Sunday, Nov. 18. Speakers included the temple’s Rabbi Stephen Pinksy, Rev. W. Steven Thomas of St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church, Rev. Marjorie Weiss of St. Michael Lutheran Church, Pastor Brian Benjamin of Christ Fellowship, Rev. Calvin Lyerla of Acts 2 Worship Center, Rev. Rainer Richter of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Deacon Dennis Demes of St. Rita Catholic Church and Rabbi Bertram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion. Non-clergy speakers included Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham and State Sen. Dave Aronberg. Congregants were welcomed by Temple Beth Torah President Eric Bakerman, and choral passages were sung by the temple choir led by Choral Director Carrie Barry. For more information about Temple Beth Torah, call (561) 793-2700 or visit www.templebethtorah.net.

Congregants follow along as the chorus sings a tune.

Temple Beth Torah President Eric Bakerman speaks.

Rabbi Stephen Pinsky and Rev. Marjorie Weiss conclude the service with a closing song. Choral Director Carrie Barry.

The many clergy members gather for a group photo.

Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham reads a proclamation issued by President George W. Bush about Thanksgiving while State Sen. Dave Aronberg looks on and listens.

Farm City Agriculture Crucial To The County

continued from page 1A Beach County. “A lot of people don’t know what is here in our county,” she said. “When people think about Florida, the first thing they think about is Disney and maybe they think about citrus.”

Before the recent hurricanes, Cacella said, the county’s agricultural industry occasionally surpassed tourism for revenue, and is now making a comeback.

Contrary to popular belief, she said, farmers are good stewards of the land and have established conservation practices that improve the quality of the water leaving agricultural areas.

According to the Cooperative Extension Service, agriculture has an overall economic impact of $1.2 billion in the county, Cacella said. Last year agriculture involved more than 467,000 acres, 37 percent of the land in Palm Beach County.

While attendees munched corn and other produce, Rick Roth of Roth Farms gave his views on agriculture in Palm Beach County.

Roth, a third-generation farmer and the Florida Farm Bureau’s vice president, said he conducts bus tours of the Everglades Agricultural Area.

“I always begin my tour with ‘welcome to paradise,’” he said. “It’s over 800 square miles of some of the richest farmland in the world. We call it muck, or peat, organic soil or lake bot-

tom land. It’s 80 percent nitrogen and it’s decomposed vegetable matter.”

The Everglades Agricultural Area produces 2 million tons of raw sugar annually from 60 million tons of cane grown on about 400,000 acres, Roth said. “One of the things that you need to know, over 80 percent of the land is in sugarcane production, and we have some of the cleanest water leaving the fields in the EAA. Someday you’re going to read in the history books that sugarcane saved the Everglades because of low uses of fertilizers and chemicals.”

Roth said farmers have reduced phosphorous discharge in their runoff to 50 to 70 parts per billion from an inflow of 150 to 600 parts per billion by using best management practices.

The area also produces 400 million ears of sweet corn a year through two seasons in the fall and spring, he said.

Roth listed land, water and labor as the three key ingredients for a sustainable agricultural economy. Regarding land, he said he opposes laws that would keep agricultural land zoned for agriculture, because the land would not appreciate in value. He said agricultural preserves have been tried numerous times in other areas and did not work.

“Farmers want to keep their land in production and pass it down to the next generation,” he said. “Farmers use their land as collateral during expansion and down markets to maintain cash flow.”

Roth said the ongoing 18month drought would have been eased if agricultural runoff had

been back-pumped into Lake Okeechobee. “This past spring, no water came down the Kissimmee River for 250 days into Lake Okeechobee,” he said. “The [South Florida] Water Management District has had the opportunity to back-pump water from the EAA into Lake Okeechobee, but at the insistence of our new governor, the governing board voted not to back-pump. Thanks to our governor, we missed an opportunity to put a six-week supply of water into Lake Okeechobee.”

Roth advocated implementation of a water augmentation plan that would not only help farmers, but also the well fields on Florida’s lower east coast.

On labor, Roth advocated the passage of the federal “AgJOBS” legislation that would allow farmers to legally employ undocumented workers. He said agriculture needs access to a legal workforce in order to harvest crops. “Yes, we must increase border security to prevent illegal immigration, but we must give employers like me the ability to use a legal workforce to harvest my crops. Domestic food production is the other national security issue.”

The economy would go into a depression if undocumented workers were removed from the workforce, he noted.

Roth said agriculturists are looking forward to working with other business interests in Palm Beach County to keep the industry strong. “All we ask is the opportunity to sit down and talk about our concerns, our needs and our plans for the future,” he said.

Spinal Injec tions

Spinal Cord Stimulators B otox Injec tions

Chronic Pain Management

Stroke Rehabilitation

Spinal Cord Injur y Rehabilitation

Traumatic Brain Injur y Rehabilitation

Outpatient D etox Program

S. Huang

Farm City Lunch — (Above) Carole Williams, Ann Holt and Karina Rothenburg with the West Palm Beach Farm Bureau organized and served the buffet. (Below) Roth Farms owner Rick Roth with Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto and SFRN engineer Keith Jackson.

PHOTOS

CELEBRATING DIWALI

A Diwali celebration was held at the home of Wellington resident Vanita Pandey on Saturday, Nov. 10. Many folks turned out in saris and other decorative clothing for the event. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the “Festival of Light,” where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. (Above) Pandey (right) with friends Dimple Gupta, Vibha Panday and Kumkum Akhavri. (Below) Even the gentlemen were decked out for the occasion. PHOTOS BY

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

Representatives from Coldwell Banker held their annual Thanksgiving food drive for parishioners of the Church of God in Pahokee last Friday morning. The teams, the Indians and the Pilgrims, were led by captains Ann Angotti and Claudia Garrell, who brought food which would be delivered by a truck later that day. According to Angotti, 15,777 food items and $240 in gift certificates were collected. (Above left) John Paglialugo transports some of the food. (Above right) Greg Hooks tabulates the amount of food brought in by one of the teams. (Below) The teams gather for a group shot.

CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

BINKS FOREST GOLF CLUB HOSTS GRAND OPENING RECEPTION

Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington, now owned by Aquila Property Company and managed by Kemper Sports, held a reception on Friday, Nov. 16 to celebrate the grand opening of its newly renovated 18-hole golf course, which was in use the following day for the Wellington Boys & Girls Club Golf Classic. The reception included cocktails and dinner, as well as a silent auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Club. For more info., call (561) 333-5731 or visit www.binksforestgc.com.

Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham and Glenn Ekey with Mary La Medica, the first owner of the Binks Forest Golf Club.

Pat Evans; Dana, Terry and Kathy Strongin; Ron and Jaene Miranda; and Bob Cavanagh.

Shawn and Vicki Whisenhant, Mary Leavenworth, Wellington Councilwoman Laurie Cohen and Irwin Cohen.

Boys & Girls Club supporters Dennis & Maureen Witkowski.

Rocky and Susan Goins.

Golf course architect Gene Bates waves from the podium.

Beverly Wingert with Wellington Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore and his wife Marie.

Joe and Mrs. Florida Ashley Maguire with Aquila’s Terry and Kathy Strongin.

Ed Portman of the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington (right) address guests after Tom Weber of Aquila Property Company presented him with the “key” to the Binks Forest Golf Club.

Enjoying Thanksgiving Means Shopping Suffers, Every Year

Thanksgiving is over and that means just one thing — the spirit of sharing is ancient history because those of us who love The Hunt are shoving and pushing our way into malls across the country, elbowing people out of our way and exhibiting all kinds of bad behavior that, if Santa really is watching, has us crossed off his list.

Black Friday, so named because it puts retailers back “in the black” after months of sluggish summer sales, has become a time-honored holiday tradition in these great United States. Hunter-gatherers by nature, we enjoy outpacing our competitors (the other shoppers) to get the very best deal on things we don’t even know we need yet.

Oh, some of you are very calm and organized. The minute yesterday’s turkey was downgraded to sandwiches and the kitchen converted to Serve Yourself, you sat down with a pair of scissors and the newspaper and neatly clipped cou-

pons, doing your research as you went. Along the way, you created a list and corresponding route map that would take you from deal to deal as you routinely checked off lucky gift recipients’ names.

I hate you.

I hate you because I will never be you. Instead, I will overindulge on Thanksgiving, stuffing myself with stuffing and extolling the virtues of red wine until my husband takes the bottle away.

As a result, I will wake up at 9 a.m. on the big day instead of 6 a.m. Some of you will have been in line for hours, making merry with others of your ilk and not even envying those of us nestled all snug in our beds. Instead you will march calmly into the store when it opens, make a beeline for the electronics department and buy that Guitar Hero III — at a reduced price — that I was meaning to get. And leaving none for me.

By the time I get to the mall, probably wearing one red sock and one green

sock, I will have my choice of either electronic chess in a damaged box or a new ring tone for my cell.

Dejected and despondent, I will wander into the concourse, to be swept along in the ebb and flow of those who know where they’re going and what they’re buying.

Sniffling, I will extract from my pocket a wine-stained Christmas list with no gift ideas written next to the names. I will then peer into store windows and shuffle aimlessly down aisles waiting for inspiration to strike. Instead, I will be struck with the bags and boxes of calm and organized shoppers like yourself.

At the end of the day, I will join your ranks in the coffee outlet, equally exhausted but with nothing to show for it.

My punishment will be to spend the ensuing weeks repeating this behavior until I finally come up with gifts of some sort for my family. So, in advance I say:

Mom, Dad, I’m sorry about the

wakeboard. I know it’s cold in Wisconsin right now.

Sis, I know you didn’t need any more towels, least of all in purple. Maybe you can redecorate.

Bro, the barbecue tools were all they had. Maybe someone else will get you the grill.

Kids, it may be hard to share a gift certificate when you live five states apart, but try.

And, Mark, light of my life, prince on a shining steed, I hope you like the ring… tone.

Public Utilities Are The Robber Barons Of Modern Times

Unfortunately, one of the most famous lies of modern America is, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” I have heard it used in comedy movies and it has even served Jay Leno as a punch line. When it hits in your own life, however, it doesn’t seem so funny. I was walking around my development in Wellington on Friday, on my normal morning constitutional, when I noticed a fire hydrant on my block open and gushing water. I was immediately concerned since I have been writing stories about our serious drought. Since I did not have my phone with me I decided I would wait until I got home to call our development’s manager to have him put things to right. But as I walked along a series of streets, I noticed there was a hydrant open on each one, more than 20

in all! As I returned to my own block, I saw our very efficient development manager Jeff Feiock standing by the hydrant and talking to a neighbor.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Jeff shrugged. “When I got in at 7:30 this morning, I had a lot of messages about this,” he answered. “I called Palm Beach County Water Utilities and they said they had done it to clean a lot of slime out of the pipes.”

I asked Jeff why we had the slime and his reply was quick. “They were supposed to build a pipe to run water back to the main lines, so we would have a loop here. But they never built the line so we have the slime.”

My neighbor nodded. “Don’t you remember the fun we had for over a year when our water was brown and really

stank? The utility promised us they would complete the loop so that our water would be clean. They lied.”

I just shook my head. To think that a public utility would lie seemed absurd. After all, the citizenry owns it. Right?

Then I remembered listening to three of my favorite Acreage citizens: Alexandra Larson, Sharon Waite and Patricia Curry. When Bevin Beaudet, the head of the county water utility, came to the Indian Trail Improvement District to work out a deal for water, the three stood up and proclaimed Beaudet a liar. They pointed to the work he had done on the Scripps site at Mecca Farms and the special deals he had built in to the water deal for Royal Palm Beach and other municipalities that would cost more money for Acreage residents.

On My Mind...

By Leonard Wechsler

The three, as well as several dozen other Acreage residents, heard Beaudet agree with ITID Supervisor Mike Erickson that ITID would get the cheapest rates possible in the county and any other agreements to provide money from the use of water by Acreage residents would not raise rates.

Within a couple of weeks Erickson

See WECHSLER,

LION COUNTRY SAFARI CELEBRATES 40

YEARS

IN LOXAHATCHEE

Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee held its 40 birthday party last Friday morning at the park’s event pavilion. A number of representatives from Lion Country spoke, including General Manager Harold Kramer and Vice President Marc Unterhalter. Students from H.L. Johnson Elementary School in Royal Palm Beach helped sing “Happy Birthday” around a huge cake. Lion Country Safari’s mascot Rory also was in attendance.

Lion Country Safari mascot Rory and Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog.

Lion Country Safari Vice President Marc Unterhalter, General Manager Harold Kramer and students from H.L. Johnson Elementary School eye the yummy birthday cake.

•

Kristyn Worrell with Cici, a 35-year-old cockatiel.

Dr. Susan Clubb of the Rainforest Clinic, Terry Wolf and Eric Stephens of Miami Metrozoo.

Lion Country Safari Vice President Marc Unterhalter.Lou and Phil Arvidson relax after their meal.

FALL FANTASY CRAFT FAIR AT IN VETERANS PARK ROYAL PALM

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its sixth annual Fall Fantasy Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Veterans Park on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Guests enjoyed holiday shopping provided by the many local crafters on hand. There was plenty of food available, and music was provided by Alfred Obediah Colebrook and his band. For more information about upcoming village events, call the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center at (561) 790-5149.

Members of the Castrillon family tend to their booth.Alfred Obediah Colebrook and his band keeps the crowd entertained.

Candacee Rakem of Real African Cultural Expressions chats with some potential customers at her table.

Kaitlyn Mouring at the Daughters of the American Revolution booth.

Donna Fernandez and Margie Bonner of the RPB Writing Group.

PHOTOS

PLAYERS CLUB HOSTS ‘JUNGLE BASH’ BENEFIT FOR DIABETES

The Players Club in Wellington hosted a “Jungle Bash” on Thursday, Nov. 15. Presented by U.S. Trust, Bank of America, the gift-gathering party benefited the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation’s Jungle Safari, which will take place March 1 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Gifts and donations were accepted for the March auction, and prizes were awarded that evening as well. All money raised at the Jungle Bash and Jungle Safari will benefit the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. For more information, visit www.diabetesresearch.org.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Laura Jaffe and Karen Hardin.

Ashley Maguire, Jeremy Fedorok of Three J’s C-Cigar Emporium II and Joe Maguire with Vince Gioeni, winner of a Monte Cristo cigar humidor.

Event chairs Joe and Ashley Maguire with Ami de la Mer, the high bidder on VIP tickets for the ADT Championships.

Raffle-ticket sellers Andrea Lago and Annmarie Kish.

Amy Rockwerk, Melinda Cohen, Debbie Plaxen and Debbie Preiser enjoy the evening.

U.S. Trust’s Susan and John Domenico.

G.A. PASO FINO FARM IN LOX GROVES HOSTS BIG GARAGE SALE

G.A. Paso Fino Farm on Collecting Canal Road in Loxahatchee Groves held a garage sale Saturday, Nov. 17. Though the sale’s main theme was equestrian, there was a variety of merchandise suitable for the rural lifestyle, from tractors to ATVs to rabbits. Music and refreshments added to the day’s fun as well.

Hilda Palenzuela with Tequila, a 14-year-old Lusitano stallion.

Ruth Phillips of Loxahatchee Groves with English saddles for sale.Alesio Herrera and brother Ciro check out two Honda ATVs for sale.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Linda Renna and her horse Sultana, a Paso Fino mare that was for sale.The Guzman family at home on their Paso Fino farm.

Lady Wildcats Basketball Team Bigger, Stronger This Season

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

The first thing one notices about this year’s Royal Palm Beach High School girls basketball team is size. In particular, the size of sophomore guard Amber Ford and sophomore forward/center Patrice Collie. Ford has grown a couple of inches and added muscle to her five-foot, 11-inch frame.

The quickness that made her a disrupting force against opponents’ defenses, and a dangerous transition player last season, carries over into this season — one in which the Lady Wildcats are once again expected to compete for the District 9 title and more.

BASKETBALL

At six feet tall, Collie has added muscle and mass over the past few months, making her an even more dangerous inside threat on both ends of the court.

“They’ve put a lot of effort into their weight training programs,” said second-year head coach Anthony Dangerfield. “They’ve put on some muscle. Patrice worked out a lot and worked on agility drills. She’s going to create a lot of mismatches. She’s quicker than a big girl you might put on her and bigger than a quick girl.”

The mismatches have already started. Collie scored 13 points and Ford added four, each in

LADY WILDCATS ROUT SEMINOLE RIDGE 76-41

Royal Palm Beach High School outscored the visiting Seminole Ridge girls varsity basketball team Tuesday night 76-41.

Following a game at Suncoast Nov. 27, Royal Palm Beach will host Wellington Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Hawks return from the holiday break to face visiting Forest Hill Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

limited playing, in Royal Palm Beach’s 70-19 victory over Glades Central on Monday night. The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a 21-4 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Leading 43-10 at halftime, Royal Palm Beach outscored Glades Central 12-0 in the third quarter and coasted to its first victory of the season.

But with only one senior, the Lady Wildcats showed they still have some growing to do in their 52-46 home-opening loss to Dwyer on Nov. 13.

With Collie, Ford and guard Dixie Greenland, another good transition player always in high gear, the Lady Wildcats are more athletic than last season’s team that finished a disappointing 10-10 season.

That team appeared to be on its way toward the district championship when a fight during a game at Palm Beach Lakes resulted in the suspension of several players. Ford missed a few games, as did forward Jazmin Billings, one of the Lady Wildcats’ top scorers.

Understand that Royal Palm Beach was already playing without scoring star Christi Nardozzi, who sat out the season after being hurt in a fight at a travel league game in the spring of 2006. The Lady Wildcats never really recovered, although they made it to the district semifinal game where they lost to Palm Beach Lakes.

“All the turmoil last year will make us stronger; that’s what I told the girls,” Dangerfied said. “They’re working hard now and playing with a lot of energy. I’ve got ten girls who want to be here and who want to represent Royal Palm Beach.”

Billings, who was seen by many as the villain in the December 2006 brawl, transferred to Palm Beach Lakes where she’s expected to be one of the main cogs in the Rams’ run at another district title.

Dangerfield smiled at the irony. “Either way,” he said, “you have to beat them.”

Royal Palm’s Amanda Moseley Signs On To Play For UNF

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Considered by many to be the area’s top middle infielder, Royal Palm Beach High School senior Amanda Moseley has signed a letter of intent to play softball at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Moseley, whose sister Amber plays for the nearby Jacksonville University, signed with the Lady Ospreys last Friday in a ceremony attended by her parents, Ed and Vicki Moseley, Lady Wildcats softball coach Staci Gould and RPBHS Principal Jose Garcia. Although several schools sought her athletic talents, including Louisiana State University and the University of Georgia, Moseley chose UNF. “It’s on a nature preserve with a lot of trees,” she said. “It’s a really

SOFTBALL SOFTBALL

beautiful campus.”

Moseley will begin her final season with the RPBHS Wildcats on Jan. 7. That is, if she makes the team. Coach Gould said she makes every girl on her team go through the tryout process, regardless of class or past performance.

“I think she’ll make it,” Gould said with a smile.

Moseley’s spring season was cut short last March after she tore two ligaments in her left thumb sliding into second base during a game against Jupiter. Although she also chipped a piece of bone in her thumb, Moseley taped up her thumb and stayed in the catcher’s position.

“She’s broken that thumb a

couple of times since she was ten years old,” Ed Moseley said. “She usually tries to hide the pain. This time, if the trainer hadn’t required her to have an X-ray, she wouldn’t have gone to the doctor. She didn’t want to lose the season.”

But Moseley did lose the season after she underwent an operation that inserted two pins in her thumb. A thin red scar on the thumb is proof of the operation and of Moseley’s toughmindedness.

Despite tenderness in the thumb, Moseley came back to play for the Seminole Gold travel team last summer.

“It hurt more when I batted than when I was in field because of the vibration of the ball off the bat,” said Moseley, a switchhitter. “I felt it more when I was hitting left-handed.”

Letter Of Intent — (L-R, front) Vicki, Amanda and Ed Moseley; (back) Royal Palm Beach softball coach Staci Gould and Principal Jose Garcia. PHOTO BY STEVE PIKE/TOWN-CRIER

The Royal Palm Beach girls basketball squad.

Both teams vie for a loose ball.

Whitney McKelton is double-teamed as she puts up the ball.

Hawk Nikki Sheriff fouls RPB’s Patrice Collie.

Royal Palm’s Latoya Harvin looks to shoot.

Brasovan Tops State Championships For Third Consecutive Year

By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report

Ashley Brasovan is an unabashed warm-weather girl. But the 40-degree temperatures at last Saturday’s state cross country championship in Dade City didn’t stop the Wellington High School junior from winning her third consecutive Class 4A individual title with a time of 17 minutes, four seconds over the 3.1-mile Little Everglades Ranch course.

“I’ve probably run only one

X-COUNTRY X-COUNTRY

or two races in the cold, and it hasn’t been a pleasant experience,” Brasovan said. “I was kind of scared at the start. I wanted to stay warm. I ended up staying pretty warm until the last half-mile when my hands and mouth started getting pretty numb.”

The state’s top female distance runner, Brasovan beat runner-up Emilie Amaro of Cypress Bay by eight seconds.

Warriors Finish Fall Season — The Wellington Warriors 10U travel baseball team recently finished first in the Florida Premier Baseball Fall League. The team recorded an 11-1 season record, including a 10-game winning streak. The Warriors came up just short in the championship round, finishing as runner-ups. Team members are (front row, L-R): Chandler Miles, Tanner Brown, A.J. Gallicchio, Neil Brown and Jorgie Ramos; (back row, L-R): Armando Rodriguez, Anthony Maldonado, Tristan McKenzie, Adam Bilkis and Jagger McCoy.

The victory gave Brasovan a sweep of the district, regional and state championships. Royal Palm Beach senior Kesia Derilus finished 12th in the field of 182 runners with a time of 19:08.

With Brasovan leading the way, the Lady Wolverines finished ninth in the team standings with 286 points. Bartram Trail won the team championship with 86 points. Cypress Bay, which lost to WHS by one point in the regional meet, was fourth with 160 points.

The Lady Wolverines’ ninthplace showing was four spots better than in 2006. Freshman

Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic

Celebrate the holidays in true Florida style with the Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic Dec. 16 in Wellington.

The villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach Parks, in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, are sponsoring the event.

Now in its 17th year, the tournament is open to all local area children up to the age of 15. It will be held at the Wellington Community Center dock and pavilion area on Lake Wellington. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the fishing tournament held from 9 to 11 a.m. Awards and “Fish Tales” will begin at 11 a.m. All registered participants will receive a free gift.

Parents are encouraged to attend and watch the excitement,

Sofie Ingram was 57th at 20:51, sophomore Nicole Murphy was 62nd at 20:59, sophomore Megan O’Boyle was 64th at 21:01, senior Star Bollinger was 102nd at 21:49, junior Nicole Hoskens was 123rd at 22:17 and freshman Emily Hoskens was 134th at 22:50.

WHS Coach Kara WeberFleming said she was more than satisfied with the team’s performance. “I wanted to be in the top ten, so I was pretty excited about that,” she said.

Weber-Fleming said the cold weather was a concern going into the race. When the Lady

but no one over the age of 15 will be allowed to fish or assist the children fishing other than to help bait hooks and remove catches. No boats are allowed. Trophies and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners in each age group: Minnows (age 6 and under), Shiners (ages 7 to 9), Bluegills (ages 10 to 12) and Lunkers (ages 13 to 15).

To receive a registration form, call (561) 753-2484 or (561) 790-5124. Registration forms can also be downloaded from www.ci.wellington.fl.us.

Senior Games

The Second Annual Village of Wellington Senior Games, featuring activities for boomers and seniors age 50 or older, will take place over four days from Thursday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 2, 2008

This year’s event will be a

Wolverines arrived at the track, she said, the temperature was only 35 degrees F.

“The girls were cold, even with all their clothes on,” Weber-Fleming said. “I just wanted to go out there and do the best they can. I told them it was their last race of the season and they should just go for it. We got somewhat lucky because there was a race that finished in front of us and that kind of wore a path in the track. But it was still very cold running on it.”

On the boys’ side, Wellington junior John Best finished 103rd with a time of 17:35.

state qualifier. The top five winners in each age group will be eligible to participate in the Florida Senior Games State Championships in December 2008. Events will include a wide range of activities such as archery, badminton, ballroom dance, basketball (shooting and free throw), basketball 3 on 3, billiards (eight ball), bingo, bocce, bridge (ACBL), cribbage, darts, dominoes, fishing, horseshoes, line dancing, mah jongg, pickleball, softball, swimming, stickball, poker, tennis, table tennis and volleyball. The registration fee is $5 per participant, per event or $10 per participant for three events. Registrations will be accepted until Thursday, Jan. 31. Register at either the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) or Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). For more info., call (561) 791-4770.

RPB Mitey-Mite Wildcats End Season Undefeated With Okeechobee Win

The 9-0-1 Royal Palm Beach Mitey-Mite Wildcats capped off an incredible season with a big

34-13 win at the Turkey Bowl in Okeechobee. It was a cool day for football

Wellington Christian Soccer Team Off To A Stellar Start

Local private schools started their fifth and sixth grade soccer season last week, and Wellington Christian School is off to a great start.

Their first game against Berean Christian School was a 21 victory, with goals scored by Giovanni Lugo unassisted and Tessa Wilson with an assist from Lugo, and great midfield play by Cher Nicholson, Jethro Pierre, Marcos Alberti, Chris Aubry and Danielle Anderson. The second game away was a 2-0 loss to Trinity Christian Academy, and the next day Trinity Christian played at Wellington Christian and WCS won 31. Lugo scored two goals and Wilson scored one. The next game was against Lake Park

Baptist School. WCS won 4-1, with two goals by Marcos Alberti, one by Lugo and one by Wilson. Wellington Christian went to Summit Christian Friday, Nov. 16 and won 6-1, with two goals from Lugo, one by Wilson, one by Alberti, one by Kelby Rothenbert and one by Chad Pierce.

The defense, led by goalie Beau Britt, managed 19 saves in the games. The rest of the team includes Robert Rodriguez, Amanda Vasquez, Adrianna Castro, Mackenzie Leeder, Rilely Gershowitz, Danielle Anderson, Janki Matalia, Sydney Wolfe, Brittney Wilson, David Baldeo, Eugene Baynon, Noah Stimely, Monty Dubois and Gabrielle Sanchez.

and the Wildcats warmed things up early with a touchdown pass from quarterback Will McCullough to tight end Spencer Longley for 25 yards. McCullough had four passing touchdowns for over 100 yards on the day. Dalton Trimble had several nice runs and caught a tough 12-yard touchdown from McCullough. Trimble also threw a touchdown pass to David Rodberg. McCullough threw a dart to Michael Shakes for a 15-yard touchdown, and McCullough hooked up with Longley again for another touchdown thanks to great blocking from Sean Houck, David Rodberg, Damon Schmidt, Austin Brown, Spencer Longley, Noah Walker, Logan Wakefield, Drew Matias and Kaden Knott.

The Wildcat defense was very stingy with great play from Lo-

gan Wakefield, Dalton Trimble, Daniel Joyner, Evan Garcia, Brandon Cordero, Ryder Roscgino, Spencer Longley, Harley Coffman, Shakes, McCullough and Matt Smith. Solid effort was made by Kobe Rodriguez, Brock Chase and C.J. Sothen. Ricky Durr was not at the game due to an illness and was greatly missed.

Head coach Steve Trimble offered thanks to his coaching staff — assistant coach and offensive coach Billy McCullough, assistant coaches Brad Smith and Leroy Houck and equipment manager Patrick Wakefield.

“None of this season could’ve taken place without a super team mom — Stacy Wakefield,” Trimble added. “We have had a great season and I look forward to the next season with this great bunch of kids.”

New Basketball League Forming At St. Peter’s

Would your child like equal playing time? A great basketball and cheerleading league is now forming in Wellington.

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington will be holding its first year of Upward Basketball and Cheerleading for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading is a Christianbased sports ministry designed to bring out the winner in every child. The league will promote salvation, character and self-esteem in all who participate.

Equal playing time, separate leagues for boys and girls and

weekly rewards are just some of the unique characteristics that make this an encouraging sports experience for children of all skill levels.

Children will learn fundamental basketball or cheerleading skills from coaches and referees trained to teach basic skills to children new to basketball or cheerleading and work to improve the skills of experienced children.

The program is also design to build character through sportsmanship and encouragement. Every player is introduced before the game, is given equal playing time during the game and receives an award after each game.

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church’s Upward Basketball and Cheerleading League will run for eight weeks. Practices will be once a week with games played on Saturdays. Games will start in January. Registration is now open. Registration forms can be picked up at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church at 12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington, or by visiting www.stpeters-umc.org. Registration closes Nov. 30. For more information, call League Director Chris Moore at (561) 793-5712, ext. 22.

Giovanni Lugo (center) leads Wellington Christian to victory.

Wildcat running back Dalton Trimble with the extra point.

Acreage Xtreme Cheer Team Places Second

The Acreage Xtreme girls have been working hard with two practices a week at Acreage Community Field and practicing every Friday night at Gym Like This. Last week they practiced every night to prepare for their first competition. The Florida Youth Athletic Association hosted a competition recently at the Broward County Convention Center. Competing against 70 teams, many with years of experience, the Acreage Xtreme team placed second.

Acreage Xtreme also won the FYAA

Spirit award, based on sportsmanship, both on and off the floor and showing spirit for all teams. Their next competition is the Cheer Like This! Classic at Seminole Ridge High School on Dec. 1.

Dip-Netting Daze

Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will hold “Dip-netting Daze” for ages seven and older on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 10 a.m.

Explore the shore of the pond with nets to capture small fish, shrimp and aquatic insects. Wear closed-toed shoes that can get wet. The cost is $3 per person. RSVP to (561) 233-1400.

LADY SEMINOLES WIN DIVISION

The Acreage Lady Seminoles Senior Division softball team defeated the Lady Hurricanes 8-7 on Nov. 9 at Acreage Community Park to take the season championship. The team manager is John Magierowski. Coaches are Todd Fisher and Eric Plotke. The sponsor is Great American Landscape. Shown here are (front row, L-R) Elizabeth “Lil’ Bit” McGoldrick, Lindsey Fisher and Elizabeth “Ducky” McGoldrick; (back row) Kim Plotke, assistant coach Eric Plotke, Devin Geck, Jessica Magierowski, Coach Todd Fisher, Katie Michaud, Megan Spielhaupter, Nichole Howell and Kelly Michaud.

Bassmasters Fish Lake O

The Royal Palm Bassmasters held their monthly tournament Nov. 11 out of J&S Fish Camp on Lake Okeechobee.

First place was awarded to boater Walt Zajkowski with two fish weighing 6 lbs., 9 oz. and partner (non-boater guest) Jeff Martin with two fish weighing 4 lbs. for a total team weight of 10 lbs., 9 oz.

In second was boater Mike Madden with four fish weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz. and partner (non-boater) Bill Davis with no fish.

In third was boater Stu Shoemaker with three fish weighing 3 lbs., 11 oz. and partner (non-boater) Maria Shoemaker with one fish weighing 2 lbs., 11 oz. for a total of 6 lbs., 8 oz.

The Big Fish winner was Mike Madden with a 3 lb., 12 oz. fish. Individual heaviest weight was Mike Madden, first with four fish weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz. In second place was Walt Zajkowski with two fish weighing 6 lbs., 9 oz. In third was Jeff Martin with two fish weighing 4 lbs.

The Royal Palm Bassmasters meetings take place the second Thursday of each

month at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center; tournaments are held the next Sunday. Dues are $25 a year and tournament entry fees are $25 per person. Anyone interested in joining the club as a boater or non-boater should call Irene at (561) 793-7081.

Jeff Martin

Mike Madden

Walt Zajkowski

Saturday, Nov. 24

• An Acreage Christmas Tree Sale will continue through Dec. 24. The tree lot is located at the southwest corner of the Grove (Winn-Dixie) Plaza on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. A portion of proceeds from the sale will go toward Seminole Ridge High School’s Project Graduation. For more info., email cardinal07@bellsouth.net.

• The Cuillo Centre for the Arts (201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach) will continue Viagra Falls, a comedy about two old friends, a call girl and a little blue pill, starring Harold Gould, Teresa Ganzel and Lou Sutell. The show continues on the main stage through Dec. 23. For more info., call (561) 836-9226.

Sunday, Nov. 25

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Feliz Navidad: Jose Feliciano’s Christmas on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. For tickets, visit www.kravis.org.

Monday, Nov. 26

• The Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches’ Annual Book Festival will take place Nov. 26 through Dec. 9 at the JCC branches in Wellington, West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach. The JCC’s Wellington branch is located in Wellington Plaza at 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A-15. For more info., call (561) 253-6030 or visit www.jcconline.com.

• The Town of Loxahatchee Groves invites residents to a joint workshop with the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District and the South Florida Water Management District regarding drought impacts and solutions. The meeting will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26 at the Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School cafeteria, 16020 Okeechobeee Blvd. Call (561) 793-2418 for more info., or e-mail clerk@loxahatcheegroves.org.

• Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops will present the “Best of Broad-

way” featuring selections from Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Les Miserables and more on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. both nights at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). For tickets, visit www. kravis.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Catskills on Broadway with Freddie Roman, Mal Z. Lawrence and Louise Duart on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. For tickets, visit www.kravis.org.

Thursday, Nov. 29

• A Holiday Business Expo will be held at the Abacoa Golf Club (105 Barbados Drive, Jupiter) on Thursday, Nov. 29. The event, which runs from 4 to 8 p.m., will raise money for the Palm Beach County Heart Gallery and Santa Sleigh Riders, a division of Family First of Palm Beach. There will be a silent auction, door prizes, food and fun for everyone. Admission is a $10 donation. For more info., contact Brenda Ammon at (561) 307-4978 or ultimatehealth4u@aol.com.

Friday, Nov. 30

• A Gift Gathering Party to support the Wellington Rotary Club’s February gala will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. at the Wanderer’s Club of Wellington (1900 Aero Club Dr.). For info., call Deby Dahlgren at (561) 310-8926.

• The Wellington Chapter of Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO), in conjunction with Photos for a Cure, will present “Coney Island Comes to Wellington” on Friday, Nov. 30 at Strathmore Bagels (4095 State Road 7, Suite N). The event will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and feature an exhibit by Wellington photographer Gary Kane. Admission is $15 and includes a hot dog and knish with a Dr. Brown’s soda. For more info., call (561) 333-2198 or (561) 385-1710,

or e-mail info@photosforacure.org or uptotheplate@aol.com.

Saturday, Dec. 1

• The Acreage Horseman’s Association will hold a Community Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Hamlin Equestrian Park in The Acreage (just south of Northlake Blvd. and east of Hall Blvd.) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The association will also be running a Toys for Tots event. The association is charging $25 for a 12- by-12-foot space and $40 for a 12-by-24-foot space. Call Brenda Riol at (954) 648-3803 to reserve a spot.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Family Bells Are Ringing Saturday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. The Clarion Bell Choir and library staff will team up to present this story time. This 45-minute program is for ages two and up. For more info., call (561) 790-6070.

• Enjoy a “Cruise Through the Caribbean” at the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington’s 20th Annual Wellington Dinner Dance & Auction on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Tickets are $200 per person and seating is limited. For more info., call Sara Mariani at (561) 683-3287 or visit www.bgcpbc.org.

• The Arthur R. Marshall Foundation and the Florida Environmental Institute will hold the River of Grass Gala on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Palm Beach. Tickets are $375 for the reception, dinner and live entertainment. To RSVP, call (561) 805-8733 or visit www.artmarshall.org.

Sunday, Dec. 2

• St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church (465 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington) will hold a picnic on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. For more info., call (561) 792-0149.

Monday, Dec. 3

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Baby Story Time on Mondays, Dec. 3, 10, 17 and 31 at 10:15 a.m. Babies will love the rhymes, finger plays, songs, books and toys. This 45-minute program is for newborns to pre-walking, first come, first served. For more info., call (561) 790-6070.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Paper Bag Dramatics on Monday, Dec. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Participants will perform short skits using props in paper bags. This 45-minute program is for ages seven and up. To pre-register, call (561) 7906070.

• The Village of Royal Palm Beach will conduct its Holiday Lightup on Monday, Dec. 3 at Veterans Park (1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a DJ and performances by local school groups. Cookies and refreshments will be available, as well as holiday crafts and vendors. Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m. For more info., call 790-5100

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will present a program on the night sky titled “Time

Travel and You” at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) on Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. For more info., call Paul at (561) 963-9906. Tuesday, Dec. 4

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Bear & Friends on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. Share in the ongoing adventures of Bear and his friends, written by Karma Wilson. This 45-minute program is for ages three to five. For more info., call (561) 790-6070.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will present Adult Nutrition for a Better Life Tuesdays, Dec. 4 and 11 at 6 p.m. The six-week class hosted by the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension Service covers the food pyramid, fresh/organic produce, reading labels, meal planning and saving money. For more info., call (561) 790-6030.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present How to Talk So Kids Will Listen on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who participated in the summer workshop is invited to share what has worked for them and what has not. Those who did not attend the workshops are also welcome. This 60-minute program is for adults only. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.

Wednesday, Dec. 5

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Poetry Recital Practice Wednesdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at 3:30 p.m. Library staff will help children practice their poem and make a simple costume for a recital on Wednesday, Dec. 19. These 60minute programs are for ages 6 through 12. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present Sense of Place: Book Discussion Series on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. Sara Harris will lead a discussion of Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. This 90minute program is for adults. Copies of the book are available to check out. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.

Thursday, Dec. 6

• The Wellington branch of the Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches (13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A-15) will hold its Family Third Night of Hanukkah Latke Party on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. Bake latkes together, sample some treats and take some home. Hanukkah arts and crafts will also be available. The cost is $15 per family. For more information or to register, call Sharon at (561) 253-6030.

• Clematis By Night will present the rock band Big Bang Radio on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Centennial Square in downtown West Palm Beach. Admission is free. For more info., call (561) 822-1515 or visit www.clematisbynight.net. Send calendar items to: Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotowncrier.com.

Author Sharpe Visits Crestwood

Rarely do teachers find that one speaker who can both engage and teach a room of 200-plus seventh graders. But young adult fantasy writer Gerald Sharpe did just that at two assemblies at Crestwood Middle School in Royal Palm Beach on Monday, Nov. 19.

The author of two books, Sharpe got the students’ immediate attention with the large, colorful posters of the covers from his novels. He introduced himself by sharing his problems in school because of his attention deficit disorder (ADD) and unsettled home life. Next, he encouraged Crestwood’s young readers to keep reading because it expands the mind, imagination and vocabulary. Sharpe said that reading is also important because it helps students develop the discipline and skills necessary for future employment.

After polling the students on whether or not they had dreams for their futures, he challenged them to go home and write down their goals. More importantly, he

asked them to list the steps that it would take to achieve their dreams. Sharpe also entertained the audience with readings and enactments of scenes from his novels. By the end of the assembly, the students were excited to attend the book fair at Barnes & Noble on Thursday, Nov. 29. They wanted to purchase his books, have the books autographed, and speak with him personally.

Sharpe also visited Crestwood to speak to sixth graders on Oct. 9 and attended Crestwood’s book fair on Oct. 10. His What Lies Beneath the Bed — Tommy’s Tales and What Lies Beneath the Bed — Parade of Lights are now extremely popular books among sixth and seventh graders at Crestwood.

Mr. Gerald Sharpe’s enthusiasm for his craft is unparalleled. He, too, has the ability to share his love of a good story with children and adults. Most importantly, he gave our students the messages of the joy of reading a good story and achieving their dreams.

RPB ELEMENTARY FOOD DRIVE

The Student Council and students at Royal Palm Beach Elementary School have been busy helping the community. During the week of Nov. 12 - 16 they participated in Channel 5’s Food For Families Drive. Thanks to their generosity and hard work, 700 cans were donated to help those in need this Thanksgiving. The Student Council faculty advisor is Mrs. Ann Gormley. Officers are President Julian Lopez, Vice President Justin LaLonde, Treasurer Will McCullough and Secretary Sarah Sadiqi. (L-R) LaLonde, Sadiqi and Lopez.

Seventh graders Justin Vernon and Lexi Lembo-Lane with author Gerald Sharpe.

Seminole Ridge Drama Club Prepares For ‘Annie’ Presentation

Advanced drama students at Seminole Ridge High School will compete Saturday, Dec. 1 in a one-act play competition at South Fork High School in hopes of qualifying for the state competition in May. Meanwhile, members of the Annie cast are putting their finishing touches on the production, showing in the auditorium Dec. 6-8 to general audiences and Dec. 12-20 to local elementary schools. The Drama I classes have helped with stage sets and cast members are currently looking for a ventriloquist’s dummy to use in the show.

Excellence in Debate — The Hawk forensics team is on a roll, having cleaned

up in their recent tournament at William T. Dwyer High School:

• Alma Sanchez placed first in declamation;

• October Reid placed third in extemporaneous speaking;

• Stephanie MacInnes placed sixth in Student Congress House and was voted Best Presiding Officer by her peers;

• The team of Devon Arnold and Edward O’Hara placed second in public forum with a perfect 4-0 record;

• The team of Kayla Molina and David Sleeth placed fourth in public forum with a 3-1 record;

• Paige DiPirro placed seventh; Marlee Arnold, eighth; and Shayla Tyler, 15th in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate. Twelve students went to the tournament and ten of them placed — an excellent effort. The team now prepares for the All-Novice tournament at Lake Worth High Saturday, Dec. 15.

Workin’ at the Car Wash — National Honor Society members will hold a car wash fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Super Target store. Pre-event wash tickets cost $5 and can be purchased from any NHS member.

Go Green at Seminole Ridge — The

SRHS Environmental Club meets Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. in sponsor Mr. Brad Weissman’s room, 5-116. The club is currently placing blue recycling bins around the campus for plastics — particularly beverage bottles. The club has filmed a PSA for morning announcements to inform students of the bins’ locations.

The club also plans be in this year’s Relay for Life and is looking into the “adoption” of a local pond. The club welcomes new members. Community service hours are available. See Mr. Weissman or club president Taylor Restivo for more information.

Osceola Creek Middle School Recognizes Students Of The Month

Osceola Creek Middle School recently announced its recipients of the Scholar-Athlete Award for October.

The award is sponsored by the school police and honors varsity athletes who also excel in academics, effort, behavior and school spirit, and serve as a role model for others.

This month’s honorees, both eighthgraders, carry high grade point averages and play varsity sports.

Softball honored Sara Goldman. Sara has been contributing to the team’s success for the past three years, according to Head Coach Debbie Galavan.

Sara is extremely versatile; not just in her ability to play many different positions, but her willingness to do so. She is a true team player and does what she is needed to do, no questions asked. Sara never misses practice or complains.

She is always very supportive of her teammates. She plays hard and always gives 100 percent. Sara had an awesome year at the plate and came through for the team many times this season. She has a great sense of hu-

mor, is a wonderful athlete, lovely young lady and a pleasure to have on the team, her coach said.

Sara carries a 3.50 grade point average and has perfect attendance. She is hoping to attend college on a softball scholarship and major in veterinary medicine, followed by a career as a veterinarian.

Baseball honored Alston Pickrell. Alston’s eighth-grade experience and leadership helped the his team have their best season in Osceola Creek history, said Head Coach Derek Kervi.

Academically, Alston exceeded all expectations. This past nine weeks he earned all As and only one B in algebra I honors to carry a 4.00 grade point average. Alston also has perfect attendance.

Supporting the program are Moroso Motorsports, which donated free passes to the honorees, Subway and Burger King, located at Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd., and Dairy Queen at Royal Palm Beach and Okeechobee boulevards, which donated free food coupons.

Students Of The Month — Osceola Creek Principal Dave Alfonso, Sara Goldman, Alston Pickrell and Officer Sandy Molenda.

NON-STOP FUN AT THE BINKS FOREST ELEMENTARY CARNIVAL

Binks Forest Elementary School held its carnival Friday, Nov. 16. Sponsored by the school’s PTA, the event featured plenty of games, rides and food and beverages for students and parents alike. In addition, a raffle was held featuring gift baskets full of all types of goodies. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Teacher James Crickenberger waits to be dunked.

Oliver Tutak and his mom Virginia play with miniature cars.

Cindy Nastasi in clown garb.

Manuela Gutierrez, Diana Odom, Elisa Whitehall and Janet Gallagher take a break from all the excitement.

Alexia Barletta and Sara Basore enjoy some pizza.

Jaiden Gallagher gets ready to catch some air.

Gabriela Rubio and Samantha Parkes sell some “Smencils.”

Native American Pow Wow — H.L. Johnson Elementary School students celebrated a Native American Pow Wow on Monday, Nov. 19. Kindergarten students dressed in handmade vests gathered in the school’s courtyard for a morning of songs, poems and Thanksgiving enthusiasm.

Panther Run Food Drive — The student council at Panther Run Elementary School recently completed its annual food drive. With cooperation of the entire school community, they were able to put together 80 complete Thanksgiving dinner baskets and purchase $800 worth of Publix gift cards for the families of Forest Park Elementary School. Shown here, students unload one of the trucks when they delivered the food baskets to Forest Park on Friday, Nov. 16.

Author Jerry Jenkins Visits King’s Academy

Author Visit — Dr. Jerry Jenkins (center) with King’s Academy President Jeff Loveland and librarian Wendy Nordine

Student Council Members — Panther Run Elementary School is pleased to announce the Student Council officers for the the 2007-08 school year: President Morgaan Jessell, Vice President Melanie Greene, Treasurer Brooke Johnson and Secretary Frankie Guelli. The officers are shown here with Panther Run Principal Mr. P.J. D’Aoust and Student Council sponsor Ms. Kim McPherson.

Dr. Jerry B. Jenkins, best-selling author of the Left Behind books and The Jesus Chronicles, addressed sixth through 12th grade students at the King’s Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 13. He shared his personal journey, challenged students to use their gifts and answered their questions.

Jenkins also owns the Christian Writers Guild, which aims to train tomorrow’s professional Christian writers and has nearly 2,000 members worldwide. He generously gave students an age-appropriate copy of his latest fiction release.

Former vice president for publishing and currently writerat-large for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Jenkins is the author of more than 170 books, including the 65,000,000-selling Left Behind series. He also assisted Dr. Billy Graham with his memoirs, Just As I Am, also a New York Times bestseller.

Author Jenkins addressing King’s Academy students.

Urioste Completes

Army Basic Training

Army Reserve

Pvt. Erica Urioste has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.

Urioste is the daughter of Sarah Martin of West Palm Beach and niece of Wendy Martin of Loxahatchee. She is a

Lauren Paige Fritz — daughter of Melanie and Michael Fritz of Lake Clarke Shores was born Oct. 31, the only baby born on Halloween at Palms West Hospital. The grandparents are Carol Guyer and Bruce Duncan of Wellington.

Sophia Ann Stechschulte — daughter of Jessica and Theodore Stechschulte of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Oct. 31.

Chase Anthony Lombardo — son of Sarah and Anthony Lombardo Jr. of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 1.

Meera Morgan — daughter of Yarmattie and Rajnarayan Morgan of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 2.

Tavarieo Joseph Altidor — son of Christina and Joseph Altidor of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 2.

Sarah Miriam Ramjitsingh

2007 graduate of Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee.

Pardo Completes

Navy Basic Training

Navy Seaman Mitchell Pardo, son of Lisa and Barry Pardo of Wellington, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

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

The capstone event of boot camp is

daughter of Patricia and Shadrach Ramjitsingh of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 2.

Kyra Jasmine Ariana Stokes daughter of Bernadette Jasmine and Tyrone Shinall Stokes of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 3.

Zoe Lee Mazer — daughter of Melissa Lee and Justin Mazer of Loxahatchee was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 4.

Julia Jensen Echols — daughter of Paula Julia and Philip Echols of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 5.

Reily Hunter Hearn — son of Leanne Dilks and Joseph Scott Hearn of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 5.

Arianna Marie Rodriguez — daughter of Jeanette and Aloraham Rodriguez of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 5.

Julian Antonio Riaboukha — son

“Battle Stations,” an exercise that gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. Battle Stations is designed to galvanize warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance through the practical application of basic Navy skills.

Pardo is a 2003 graduate of Wellington High School.

Doubleday, Owens

Announce Engagement

Lizandro and Jessica Diaz of Loxahatchee recently announced the engagement of their daughter Eliana Mariquez Doubleday to Matthew Allan Owens, son of Allan and Debbie Owens of Royal Palm Beach. A March wedding is being planned.

of Tiffany and Alberto Riaboukha of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 5.

Elizabeth Stacey Callaway — daughter of Ximena and Matthew Callaway of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 6.

Emma Hayes Edmondson — daughter of Lisa and Keith Edmondson Sr. was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 6.

Ashton Prince Concite — son of Amalia and Frantz Concite of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 6.

McKenzie Elizabeth Roy — daughter of Deborah Campos and Kenneth Roy Jr. of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 7.

Lilyana Elisabeth Pizano — daughter of Amy Lynn Ross and Alvaro Pizano Murillo of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 8.

West Hospital on Nov. 9.

Kelcey Jeannie Hubbard — daughter of Lisa and Kenneth Hubbard of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 9.

Jose Andres de Jesus — son of Maria and Jose Juan de Jesus of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 10.

Sean Nicholas Geny — son of Claudia and Olivier Geny of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on Nov. 11.

Haylee Mae Petticord — daughter of Holly Thomas-Studley and Graham Ellis Petticord of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 11.

Brayden Alexander Rubiera — son of Kimberly Ann Valinski and Kenneth Hurtis Rubiera of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Nov. 12.

Kahmoni Devon Rodney — son of Sernerity and Kirkland Wayne Rodney of West Palm Beach was born at Palms

Eliana Doubleday and Matthew Owens

Proceeds From Local Artist’s Exhibition Help Hospice Of PBC

Art lovers and supporters of Hospice of Palm Beach County attended a reception for artist Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi at the Hospice Resale Shop in Wellington on Nov. 8 to open a week long exhibition of Parssi’s work. The artist agreed to donate 50 percent of the proceeds from all sales to Hospice of Palm Beach County.

“We can’t thank Jeannette enough for her generosity,” Store Manager Judith

Dieker said. “She truly is an angel.”

“Judith and her staff did an outstanding job of arranging the store in a way that complemented the artwork very well,” Parssi said as she welcomed guests to the event.

Parssi said she was honored to be in a position to help Hospice of Palm Beach County. “They do such good work,” she said, “and I was happy to do what I could to help.”

Hospice volunteer Laura Tate, Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi, store manager Judith Dieker and volunteer Anita Green.

Boynton Beach resident Patricia Ernst (right) with a painting she purchased from artist Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi (left).

Delia Pinto-Houbrick, Jim Houbrick, Anne Boodheshwar, Haley Boodheshwar, Farshad Afsharimehr and Gail Erickson at the exhibit.

EXTREME MONSTER TRUCK NATIONALS ROCK THE FAIRGROUNDS

The Extreme Monster Truck Nationals took place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17 and 18 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. VIP ticket-holders were invited to a pre-show pit party, where they met the drivers and checked out their trucks; they also received “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Monster Truck shirts. Merchandise was on sale and a few of the drivers came out after the show and signed autographs. For more information about the event, visit www.extreme monstertrucknational.com.

Mike Hawkins, with the Equalizer, greets the crowd.

Larry Quick (Ghost Ryder) and Shane Phree (Hot Tamale) tied for Best Freestyle.

Porkchop the Clown does a wheelie on his “Hardly Davidson.”

Chris Gould with his jet funny car Fire Power.A few lucky patrons go for a ride with Kendall Johnson.

Larry Quick with young fan Ryan Segev.

Search Firms Make Presentations

continued from page 1A

Robert E. Slavin, CEO of Atlanta-based Slavin Management Consultants, which has placed several long-serving managers in the area and nationwide.

Baenziger said his search would give preference to candidates from the local area but would also reach beyond those confines. Once the field of candidates has been narrowed to eight or ten, they would be invited for formal and informal interviews, he said.

“Over the years I’ve developed quite a talent for picking people who know what they’re doing and those who don’t,” he said. “I’ll do the first screening and have one of my staff do an interview that’s written up, and do background checks for criminal records and civil records. We’re looking for harassment, discrimination and so forth. We do credit checks, because quite frankly we feel that if a candidate can’t handle his own money, he probably can’t handle the village’s.”

Baenziger said his firm also checks with the Department of Motor Vehicles and verifies education and employment. “The last thing we do is an Internet search,” he said. “We’ll do a standard Google search and we also try and find the local newspapers that cover that jurisdiction where the candidate is a manager, and we’ll put together 20 to 50 pages of material. We collect articles that say particularly nice things about candidates, particularly bad things about the candidates and articles about what issues they have dealt with. I’ll go through the material and eliminate one or two because I don’t like what I see. It could be simple stuff.”

Baenziger said he once eliminated a candidate who told a reporter he could not get direction from his council. “A good manager can get direction from his council,” he said. “The important thing is you know who these candidates are and that they have been screened. If there’s anything in their background, you’ll know about it, even if we decide it’s not serious or that it’s bogus.”

After he gets the list down to eight, Baenziger said he would present the list to the council and ask them to pare that down to five.

The next step would be an interview weekend, which would consist of three settings first as a social meeting, then one-on one interviews and as a group, he said.

The social setting could be in cooper-

Erickson

Busy ITID In 2008

continued from page 9A is the only way to be fiscally responsible for our taxpayers’ money. We must find better ways to make our neighborhood road network safer.”

Traffic circles at intersections could help solve speeding issues while beautifying the community, he suggested. “We are currently in the design process for our first one, our pilot project at 140th Street and Temple Blvd.,” Erickson noted.

Erickson praised the focus of his fellow board members in working for safer sidewalks and equestrian trails. “We must continue the process of building safe pathways for our children to get to and from our schools and parks,” he said. “We have to encourage the county to connect Friedland Park to our sidewalk network. We will be looking for better ways to create the connectivity of our trail network, not only within the district but to our neighbors.”

Members of the district’s three advisory committees deserve praise, he noted.

“They have done a remarkable job,” Erickson said. “The Recreation Committee created a new provider’s agreement, helped plan and set up our skate park and is getting ready to work on

ation with a chamber of commerce or the county, he said.

“You want to see how that person interacts with strangers, so we like to do a reception in a nice informal way,” he said. “It breaks the ice, you meet the candidates on Friday night and then Saturday morning we go to one-on-one interviews. At that point you get to test the chemistry — is that a person that really works with you? The third item is the council interview.”

After the interviews comes a “cooling off” period.

“We think you should take a couple of days, sleep on it. You might realize it was all sizzle and no substance. I have seen turnarounds by waiting a couple of days,” he said.

After the selection comes negotiation. “If you want, we’ll be the lead negotiator or we’ll step back and advise,” he said. “We prefer to advise, but we’ll do it in whatever way is comfortable to the governing body. After that, we stay in touch. We want to make sure this placement is successful.”

He said the process normally takes about 75 days, but a few weeks could be trimmed off if necessary.

Slavin offered a similar plan. His firm specializes in executive searches for local governments across the United States. He said he has been recruiting for government since 1979 and started his own business in 1991.

Slavin said his company is based in Atlanta primarily because of the convenience of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

“In the type of work we do, it makes that location convenient for us,” he said. “At Hartsfield or O’Hare you can get to more places in the U.S. without having to stop someplace else to get there,” he said. “The warmer climate is more attractive to me than the cold weather of Chicago.”

Although he maintains a staff in Atlanta, Slavin said he participates in every search and placement. “I run the search business,” he said. “I’m involved in every search we’re ever done. If you hire me, you’ll see me. There will be other people working on the project, but it will be primarily me.”

Slavin said he relies on a network of acquaintances to learn more about candidates, and while some candidates are drawn through advertisements, other names come through word of mouth and are invited.

The 10 or 12 applicants whose résumés appear to best meet the criteria will be recommended to the council, who will decide who they would like to interview, he said.

the expansion of Hamlin Equestrian Park and further changes at Acreage Community Park. The Planning Committee has been examining a whole variety of traffic calming methods... and the Trailways Committee has taken a lot of disconnected trails and put together a district-long trail... for almost no cost to the district at all.”

Erickson said he wants to continue previous president Michelle Damone’s efforts to improve customer service for residents.

“It is the goal of this board and our new district manager to ensure excellent customer service and to be responsive in addressing our taxpayers’ issues,” he said. “We will remain proactive in providing better information on a timelier basis on the issues facing the community. This improvement will extend from public records requests all the way to a new, more open budgetplanning process.”

Cooperation with other governmental entities will continue to be a major focus, Erickson said.

“We must work with all other local and regional entities in order to make sure our input is considered when decisions affecting the future of the western communities are made,” he said. “We must also be strong in our convictions to make sure that the will of the people is heard.”

While the council would normally determine the criteria for the interview process, Slavin said he also personally meets the candidates on an individual basis and those meetings give him a sense of their potential suitability.

Once a candidate is selected for the job, Slavin said, his firm will help in the negotiation process and remain available for a year in case the person hired does not work out. He said he is also careful to keep early interviews confidential to minimize the risk of jeopardizing a candidate’s current job.

He said the entire selection process takes about 90 days.

Councilman Bob Margolis told Slavin he was impressed with the extensive list of positions Slavin had filled, many of whom held their positions for more than a decade.

Slavin noted that Lee County had experienced a “revolving door” of managers until he helped the county find one who has held the position for 13 years. He has placed several other long-serving managers for Florida municipalities, in-

Binks Grand Reopening

continued from page 2A teen, Paul first played the course with a business client in 1995.

“I had never seen a course like it in Florida,” Paul said. “Being from New England, I played on tree-lined fairways all the time, but I was blown away with Binks Forest.”

In May 2007, Aquila closed with Peninsula Bank on the sale of Binks Forest. Paul won’t disclose the sale price, but it’s believed to be between $8 million and $10 million.

The price included the golf course, 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and the course’s former driving range, which has been rezoned to allow construction of 90 townhouses. Aquila and KemperSports are renovating the clubhouse, which they expect to have fully operational by fall 2008. Because of a preexisting developer’s agreement, Aquila cannot begin construction of the townhouses until the clubhouse is complete.

Four major hurricanes and a serious beetle infestation have robbed Binks Forest of many of its tall pine trees, but there are plenty to frame the fairways, which have essentially kept their original layouts. Bates rebuilt the greens and tee boxes, reshaped and added some bunkers.

“I think one of the reasons we were able to do what we’ve done is because we didn’t come from the golf industry. We’re real estate turnaround guys,” Paul said. “If you ask me how many golf courses have laid dormant and come

Wechsler Water Barons

continued from page 18A discovered Acreage residents would pay a ten-percent surcharge not only on water but on the cost of hooking up, and payments would go in perpetuity to Royal Palm Beach. Also, they would follow the Royal Palm Beach rate schedule for water, which is higher than that of other county residents because of that village’s recent agreement, and then add ten percent for the surcharge for ITID residents.

Erickson, at a recent Acreage Landowners’ Association meeting, charged that the county had deliberately made it virtually impossible for The Acreage to get extra water from any neighboring district. The county had also begun hooking up at least a dozen Acreage residents despite agreeing not to do so and had continued to use the courts to push their views even though they had agreed to desist during negotiations.

Beaudet, through his actions in the aborted Mecca scheme and his water wars attitude, may go down in Acreage history as a villain. If he forces the district to use county water, how long will it be before orders come down to force every resident to hook up? Based on past

cluding Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach and Jacksonville Beach, he said.

“If we do our job right and you folks, they stay around a while because you have done your job and I have done my job,” he said.

Council members said they were concerned about finishing the process well before the municipal election in March, when the mayor’s seat and two additional council seats will be decided. Council members said they did not want manager selection to become an election issue.

“I don’t want to wind up right at election time, although I have no desire to stampede this thing through,” Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore said.

Priore added that he would not want to rely solely on those who submit applications, but also actively seek out certain individuals.

Although council members had positive comments about both firms, they postponed making a decision until hearing from two other firms, the Mercer Group Inc. and the PAR Group.

Aquila Property Company Managing Director Terry Strongin with golf course architect Gene Bates.

back, my answer would be none. But if you ask how many times an office building or a shopping center that have been dormant have been turned around, I can tell you hundreds. To me, it comes back to analyzing fundamental reasons it went bad. I’ve been turning around properties for nearly 20 years and I always go back to the three Cs — capital, confidence and credibility. If you can find those common elements, you have a roadmap.”

A roadmap to success — the second time around.

For more information about the Binks Forest Golf Course, call (561) 333-5731 or visit www.binksforestgc.com.

history, any agreement to not do that will be violated.

But that is simply The Acreage, and as most county residents who know its history fully understand, no one outside the area really cares. Residents routinely pay out many millions in taxes every year to the county that are returned for cents on the dollar. They were one of the last areas in the county to have their own high school. With no library, expansion of existing libraries in other communities took precedence in the new building program, and ITID is the only area asked to donate land.

Of course, if the county utility demonstrates the same uncaring attitude in places like Wellington, how long will it be before some real action is taken to allow the citizenry to again have a voice? Perhaps a judge should decide whether the county should allow water to flow into the ground during a major drought rather than installing appropriate and promised piping. Perhaps the judiciary should examine all water policies, including special deals to raise and lower rates favoring one area in the county over another. The robber barons of the 19th Century pulled routines like that on railroad rates and were shot down about it, but publicly owned utilities play those games today.

PALMS WEST

A TOWN-CRIER Publication

Oxi Fresh: Use The Power Of Oxygen T OxiFresh:UseThePowerOfOxygenT OxiFresh:UseThePowerOfOxygenTo Clean oClean Y Your Carpet ourCarpet ourCarpets s

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Frank Barragato, who owns the Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning franchise in Palm Beach County, said his company’s system works best because it is natural. “Oxygen has been nature’s cleaner for thousands of years,” he said. “Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning’s system also harnesses that power to clean carpets for our customers.”

The company’s process is unique. “We use a combination of a few of our special products, a special sponge, an encapsulator and our powder to clean right to the bottom of the carpet pile,” Barragato explained. “Our system lifts off dirt, dust, pet hair and anything else that might wind up in the carpet — and it dries very quickly. In some cases, it is dry in 20 minutes down here in Florida. Sometimes the first rooms we clean in a house are dry before we leave.”

Barragato said he is proud of his company’s efficiency. “We provide very quick, good service,” he said. “We have professional operators working our switchboards. They can usually get our trucks to you by the next day. In an emergency, we

can be there the same day.”

To illustrate what constitutes an emergency, Barragato described a problem one of his customers faced. “Their dog had an accident on the carpet the same morning they had a major party planned at their home. They called us, and we not only were there that day, their carpets were cleaned and dry before the guests showed up.”

Barragato said the Oxi Fresh system does not use soaps. “Soap leaves behind a sticky residue that attracts dirt back to the surface,” he said. “Our company has reports from independent researchers saying that our customers have found their carpets stayed cleaner longer, and according to these independent researchers, cleaner carpets have a longer life span.”

Another advantage of the Oxi Fresh system, Barragato said, is that it cleans from the bottom up. “Everything in the carpet is pushed to the top,” he said. “That means we can get rid of it instead of just having it pushed further down into the carpet, where it can cause more trouble after we leave.”

Barragato said cleaning by Oxi Fresh, which also works on furniture, contributes to a healthier household overall. “Our system naturally helps create a healthier living environment and does so without exposing people and pets to unnecessary chemicals,” he said. “We have found that our system is completely safe for children and pets. We’re faster, cleaner and greener than our competition.”

Barragato said carpets should be cleaned frequently. “When you think about what people and pets can track and spill onto carpets, it doesn’t make good sense not to have your carpets cleaned regularly,” he said. “How often depends on how dirty the carpets get, whether or not you have pets, and if you have accidents that mess up your carpeting.”

For more information about Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, or to make an appointment, call (561) 852-4321. Oxi Fresh also has a corporate web site at www.oxifresh.com.

Keep It Clean — Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning franchise owner Frank Barragato said cleaning by Oxi Fresh contributes to a healthier household overall.

Sibia Eye Institute Treats A Wide Variety Of Vision Problems

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Patients appreciate a well-trained ophthalmic surgeon taking care of their vision, and Dr. Sirtaz Sibia has a reputation for careful care.

“Some doctors are perfectionists,” said Jackie Johnson, office manager at the Sibia Eye Institute on Lake Worth Road. “But what patient visiting an eye doctor wants to deal with a doctor who is not?”

Sibia points out that he is not an optometrist. “Optometrists are trained to handle making sure certain people get the right kind of glasses or contact lenses,” he explained. “Ophthalmologists are trained in handling diseases of the eyes as well, and they often turn to people like me, ophthalmic surgeons, to fix the problems. I am trained to handle just about any eye disease, so when I check your eyes, I have all the equipment necessary to check out any possible problem.”

Besides handling basic vision tests, Sibia also looks closely at a variety of

Wellington Chamber Luncheon Nov. 28

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Players Club restaurant and bar. Featured speakers will be International Polo Club Palm Beach Polo Manager Jimmy Newman and John Wash, president of club operations at IPC and the Wanderers Club at Wellington. The luncheon will start at noon. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. To RSVP, call (561) 792-6525 by noon on Monday, Nov. 26.

eye diseases that can damage his patients’ vision. He works as a trauma eye surgeon at Delray Medical Center, handling emergency cases. He is also a plastic surgeon who specializes in eyelids and brows, all areas surrounding the eye. Many patients come to him to correct wrinkles and other signs of aging around their eyes.

To treat cataracts, Sibia uses the latest forms of microsurgery.

“There is a 98 percent success rate in this kind of surgery nationwide, and there are more of this type of surgery done than any other procedure,” he said. “We get better all the time. It is done as soon as visual impairment interferes with your way of life. I do it in the office here and am usually done in 20 to 45 minutes. I remove the cataract and insert an intraocular lens that will clear up vision.”

Sibia also performs laser surgery for vision correction. “People come in and get one eye done at a time,” he said. “Once that eye is fixed and we know everything is fine, we do the other.”

Sibia noted that his offices are equipped with the latest vision technology.

“All our equipment is digitized, which means we can compare changes from one visit to the next very easily,” he said. “I can pull up a color picture of what the inside of your eyes looked like last year and compare it to the current situation. That is particularly helpful when a doctor looks at eye diseases that can be progressive.”

Sibia, who was born in Toronto and studied at Nova Southeastern University and Michigan State, is a Sikh. He said some people who walk into his office are surprised to meet a strapping man with a full beard and turban.

But Sibia is always willing to talk about his religion. “Sikh beliefs are quite

different in many ways from what many Americans believe, but its followers believe in salvation,” Sibia said of the religion. “And it is a very peaceful religion, although its followers have always been fierce in protecting their rights.”

Sibia’s work has won his share of admirers.

“The man has hands of gold,” patient Harry Kremer of West Palm Beach said. “He fixed my narrow-range glaucoma so easily. The actual surgery took no time at all because he didn’t make

any mistakes. It took longer for my eyes to dilate than to actually have the surgery. I recommend him to everyone.”

The Sibia Eye Institute has two locations, at 6894 Lake Worth Road in suburban Lake Worth and at 10075 Jog Road in Boynton Beach. Both are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call the Lake Worth location at (561) 439-2600 or the Boynton Beach location at (561) 752-0075.

Opthalmic Surgeon — Dr. Sirtaz Sibia of Sibia Eye Institute has a reputation for quality care.

PHOTO BY LEONARD WECHSLER/TOWN-CRIER

TENNIS GREATS FEATURED

AT WOMEN’S

CHAMBER BREAKFAST

Sports stars Chris Evert and Dottie Pepper were the featured speakers at the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County Seventh Annual Champagne Breakfast, which took place Nov. 13 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. The topic was “Achieving Success as a Pioneering Woman in Sports,” featuring an interview-style presentation with golf’s Pepper and Evert of tennis fame. Other speakers included Women’s Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Turner, secretary and breakfast chair Lexye Aversa, Robin Bernstein and Ann Lindstrom. For more information about the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, call (561) 253-0236 or visit www.womenschamber.biz.

Kimberly Deveney holds the jar of raffle cards while Donald Trump takes his pick.

Donald Trump with the Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council.

Event Chair Lexye Aversa addresses the members.

Women’s Chamber President Suzanne Turner. Dottie Pepper chats with Chris Evert on stage.

Robi Jurney, Judy Dickinson and Maureen Gross.

PHOTOS

It’s resort-style living every day.

Discover a retirement lifestyle that’s just right for you.At Newport Place, you’ll enjoy resort-style amenities while experiencing a renewed social life in a comfortable atmosphere.You can rely on our friendly housekeeping services to keep your apartment home looking beautiful, leaving you plenty of time to take aerobics,play mah-jongg with friends or learn how to paint.

Located in warm and breezy Palm Beach County, Newport Place is close to world-renowned beaches and museums.You’ll be amazed at the wide range of cultural and recreation activities available daily. Whatever it is you’re looking for,you’ll find it at Newport Place

Lovely apartment homes are available,and no large buy-in fees are required.Call Newport Place today at (561) 586-6455.

www.horizonbay.com 4735 N.W.Seventh Court Boynton Beach,FL 33426

‘WORK AND PLAY WEDNESDAY’

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce held its monthly event “Work and Play Wednesday” at the Players Club on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The event was free for all chamber members, who spent the evening networking and socializing while enjoying lots of free munchies. For more information about the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, call (561) 792-6525. (Above) John Mercer, Darell Bowen and Duane Christensen. (Below) Chamber members enjoy the relaxing evening.

WineStyles — Wine should be a simple pleasure. Now shopping for it is simple, too. WineStyles is an easy way to shop for wine. WineStyles has taken the guesswork out of choosing your wine, categorizing their wines by style. Visit Tanya and Gary Meade at WineStyles located at 10120 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 160. Their location offers wine tastings, fundraisers, VIP parties and much more. For more information, stop by and visit, give them a call (561) 804-1190 or visit www.winestyles.net. Pictured here are the Meades with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mall At Wellington Green Offers Gift Certificates For SpaFinder

Looking to make holiday shopping a little more jolly this year, the Mall at Wellington Green will reward shoppers with some much-deserved pampering of their own this holiday season.

Beginning the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 23), the first 100 customers to purchase $500 worth of mall gift cards in a single transaction at the customer service center will receive a $100 gift certificate from SpaFinder that is redeemable at any of nearly 4,000 spas worldwide.

“The holidays can be a very busy time of year,” said Rachelle Crain, the Mall at Wellington Green’s marketing and spon-

sorship director. “Gift cards are a great and convenient gift idea for anyone on your shopping list, and receiving a spa reward for yourself or for someone else on your gift list will certainly make the shopping experience more enjoyable.”

The world’s largest spa marketing and media company, SpaFinder reaches millions of wellness-focused consumers via its global media network, including the award-winning SpaFinder.com, Luxury SpaFinder magazine and the annual Worldwide Guide to Spas. For a list of participating spas that accept gift certificates, visit www.spafinder.com or call (888) ALL-SPAS.

The Counter: Gourmet Burger Franchise Is Now Open In RPB

The vegetarian. The picky eater. The constant dieter. Anyone who has dined out with a group of friends knows that people have very different tastes and restaurants that cater to all palates are few and far between. Thankfully, the Counter has a burger for all tastes — from the tried and true to the adventurous and everything in between.

“Sure, there are other burger restaurants in the area, but no one does it like we’re about to,” said Lexi Viens, who opened the Counter’s newest restaurant Oct. 29 in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza in Royal Palm Beach. “Everything from the vibe to the food is on a completely different level. Just like the neighborhood soda fountain was the place to be in my youth, the Counter is the place to be in the area now and well into the future. Plus, who doesn’t love a burger?”

Viens, a restaurant industry veteran and interior designer, is joined in this venture by Marc Rosenberg, a trained chef, and real estate developers Mark and Julie Kaufman.

Together, the foursome makes up Counter Offer LLC, the corporation responsible for the Counter’s first restaurant in Florida, which is also the chain’s first location on the East Coast.

“When you get four people together who believe in something as much as we do, you’re going to get one of the best dining experiences of your life,” Viens said. “Let’s face it, you can have the most delicious food and the most fabulous concept, but if you don’t have the right team in place to deliver it, there’s no way to succeed. We have it all: the food, the concept and the service — and that trifecta is definitely what sets us apart from the competition. Each guest can literally design their burger from scratch depending on

their personal preferences and know that when they take their first bite, it will be exactly what they ordered.”

Long-range projections call for as many as 400 to 600 U.S. locations. Counter Offer LLC will aid the Counter’s expansion with plans to open at least two additional restaurants in Florida — specifically Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties — over the next three to five years. The Counter is located at 11071 Southern Blvd. For more information, call (561) 792-7577.

Moda Hair Design — The Palms West Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting at Moda Hair Design salon and spa at 11021 Southern Blvd., Suite 170, in the Southern Palm Crossing plaza in Royal Palm Beach. Moda Hair Design is a full-service hair salon and spa for both men and women. Spa services include designer facials, waxing, microdermabrasian, lash and brow tinting, and other personalized treatments. For more information, call (561) 7537888. Pictured here are (front row, L-R) Eric Gordon, Leonardo De Simone, Dawn Herron, Natalia Gil, Jacqui Streetzel, Krystle Killgren, Suzan Bunting and Claudia Camacho; (back row) Susan Odell, Lurena Cobb, Donna Flynn, Erica Blatte, Maggie Zeller and Terri Wescott; not pictured: owners Stefano and Stefanie Falsetto, and Carol De Simone.

Ribbon Cutting — Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and staff welcome the new Counter restaurant in Royal Palm Beach.

Wellington Mom Helping Put Glam! Vintage On The Map

When Wellington resident Julie Pinello is not doing her full-time “mom job” chasing her twin one-year-old boys around, or dropping her other son Mathew off at soccer practice, she works as director of marketing for Glam! Vintage boutique in West Palm Beach. More than the average thrift store, Glam! Vintage is a destination to some of New York’s and Los Angeles’ finest actors, stylists and designers, including Lucy Liu, Micha Barton, Zac Posen, Trina Turk, Jill Stewart and Laura Munder, to name a few.

“When I heard they had started filming the movie Sex in the City this summer in New York, I saw that window of opportunity, and I jumped,” Pinello said. “Glam! Vintage is all about the wardrobe in that movie. And I know for a fact that Sarah Jessica [Parker] kept some of those clutches we sent up there for herself!”

While honing her marketing skills in New York, another big feather was added to Pinello’s hat. The crew from the

soon-to-be-released series Cashmere Mafia, which is also being filmed in New York, were donning Glam! Vintage boutique garments.

“It has been very exciting for us,” Glam! Vintage owner Kathryn Jacobson said. “We have some things that have gone to Ugly Betty as well. Julie has done some incredible marketing for me and continues to surprise us every day.”

Glam! Vintage boutique is located at 6108 S. Dixie Highway, four blocks north of Forest Hill Blvd. inside the Colonial shopping plaza. The store features an assortment of men’s and women’s fashions, dating from the 1920s to the ’80s. The collection of vintage costume jewelry is extraordinary as well, and is reasonably priced. Stylist Kandy Smith, along with Pinello and Jacobson, can help you find the right fashion for you — and give you good tips for holiday shopping ideas, too.

Glam! Vintage is open six days a week. For more information, call (561) 5337557.

CFO Alex Sink: Sub-Prime Risk To State Treasury Is Minimal

Two weeks after calling for an in-depth analysis on how the collapse of the subprime mortgage market might affect Florida’s treasury investments, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink recently reported that the treasury maintains a diversified bond portfolio with minimal subprime exposure.

Sink called for the treasury’s investment analysis after meeting with senior executives from Wall Street investment firms and witnessing rating agencies downgrading several mortgage-backed securities previously rated as high as AAA.

“As the manager of the state treasury with $24 billion in investments, I want to ensure we are safeguarding the taxpayers’ money,” said Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “During the past two weeks, we’ve examined every sub-prime-related investment and concluded the risk to the state’s treasury investments is minimal.”

Sub-prime holdings represent approximately 0.7 percent of the treasury’s total $24 billion investment portfolio. The securities held are not expected to default, as most of the sub-prime holdings maintained by the state treasury are seasoned holdings that have been performing for years. Additionally, these holdings are senior in priority and are believed to contain sufficient credit support to cover the state’s investment.

Investment managers who manage state funds are required to abide by strict financial guidelines, such as investing in funds with specific credit ratings and

other risk criteria. In some cases, highrisk mortgage-backed securities have been repackaged, given a high investment grade rating, and sold to investors. Subsequently, Moody’s Investors Service and other rating firms have downgraded the ratings of several mortgagebacked securities, leading Sink to call for higher scrutiny of the treasury’s investments. “It’s clear that we can no longer solely rely on an investment’s credit rating when making management decisions,” Sink said. “In light of the current market conditions, we are tightening our risk tolerances to better safeguard the people’s money.”

State treasury managers also reviewed several investments that could potentially be affected by the sub-prime mortgage market collapse, including collateralized debt obligations, Alt-A mortgages and structured investment vehicle obligations. Total exposure in these investments is minimal.

Sink asked the State Board of Administration to review its $187 billion in investments and to present the findings to the Florida Cabinet’s meeting on Nov. 14. The State Board of Administration manages the state’s $138 billion pension fund and other investment pools, and reports to the Governor and Cabinet. SBA Director Coleman Stipanovich recently indicated the state’s pension fund was properly diversified and not at risk.

Sink has also encouraged other state entities to review their asset allocations, investment decisions and risk levels.

For more information, visit www. fldfs.com.

SBA Offers New Patriot Express Loan Initiative

In the four months since its launch, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBA Patriot Express Loan Initiative has produced more than 500 SBA guaranteed loans amounting to $51 million, with an average loan amount of nearly $102,000, the SBA recently announced.

“Each day sees the number of Patriot Express loans rise, and the number of participating lenders, currently more than 700 nationwide, rise as well,” SBA Administrator Steve Preston said. “We thank these lenders, and those coming aboard, for their special efforts on behalf of entrepreneurial veterans and others in our military community.”

The Patriot Express initiative builds on the more than $1 billion in loans SBA guarantees annually for veteran-owned businesses, and the counseling assistance and procurement support it provides each year to more than 100,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reserve members.

“We have received a remarkable amount of support for Patriot Express from the lending and military communities since we launched the program,” Preston said. “It is important for us, particularly around Veterans Day, to support our servicemen and women, so I am particularly pleased by the quick turnaround time to process and approve Patriot Express loans. This success shows government can work faster and better.”

Patriot Express is a streamlined loan product based on the agency’s highly successful SBA Express Program, but with enhanced guaranty and interest rate characteristics. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA’s maximum guaranty of up to 85 percent for loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75 percent for loans over $150,000 up to $500,000. For loans above $350,000, lenders are required to secure all avail-

able collateral to back the loan and may obtain collateral for smaller loans depending upon individual bank requirements. Interest rate maximums for Patriot Express loans are the same as those for regular 7(a) loans: a maximum of prime + 2.25 percent for maturities under seven years; prime + 2.75 percent for seven years or more. Interest rates can be higher by two percent for loans of $25,000 or less; and one percent for loans between $25,000 and $50,000. Patriot Express is available to military community members including veterans, service-disabled veterans, service members leaving active duty, reservists and National Guard members, current spouses of any of the above, spouses of active duty members, and the widowed spouse of a service member who died during service, or of a service-connected disability. The Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative can be used for most business purposes. Details on the initiative can be found at www. sba.gov/patriotexpress.

Heritage Collection

At Wellington View

Toll Brothers, the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, has introduced four new single-family home designs at Wellington View, a gated community located just east of Wellington. The new Heritage Collection features one and twostory floor plans ranging in size from 2,190 to just over 3,100 square feet of air-conditioned living space.

The Heritage homes join the Monogram Collection and expand the floorplan selections that home buyers are able to make at this popular Toll Brothers community.

According to Toll Brothers project manager Ryan Lovelady, each home includes with a choice of exterior designs so that homebuyers are able to match one with their personal tastes. Additionally, homes include entry foyers, formal

dining rooms, a living room or great room, and a gourmet kitchen with a raised snack bar opening onto a sunlit breakfast area and expansive family room providing views of the rear landscape. Sumptuous master suites have walk-in closets and baths with a Jacuzzi tub and a separate shower.

“Also contributing to the beauty of the interiors are volume, coffered ceilings, ceramic tile flooring in all living and bath areas, and wood kitchen cabinets with granite countertops, to name a few of the built-in features,” Lovelady said. “A private lanai, two- or three-car garage, and a standard swimming pool are included as well. Furthermore, for a limited time, these new homes include impact-resistant glass windows and sliding glass doors. Priced from the low $600,000s, these homes provide excellent value in a beautiful residential setting enhanced by 80 acres of lakes.”

There is also a community clubhouse

complete with fireplace, meeting room and fitness center, as well as a tot lot, tennis court and basketball net.

Upon completion, Wellington View will have 178 homes spanning in size from 2,190 to 4,700 square feet of air-conditioned living space.

Situated just north of Forest Hill Blvd. on the Lyons Road extension, the community is minutes from the conveniences of the Mall at Wellington Green, Wellington Regional Medical Center and other facilities.

The Wellington View sales center and models are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Southern Blvd. (exit 97). Travel west on Southern Blvd. for one mile to Sansbury’s Way/Lyons Road, turn left and head south one mile to the Wellington View entrance on the right.

For more information about Wellington View, visit www.tollbrothers.com or call (561) 304-3131.

From The Heritage Collection — Shown here is a model of the country manor-styled Borella, part of Wellington View’s Heritage Collection.

ANNUAL GEM AND MINERAL SHOW RETURNS TO THE FAIRGROUNDS

The 41st Annual Gem, Mineral, Bead, Jewelry & Fossil Show took place at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17 and 18. Dealers from all over the country offered a wide range of fine jewelry, southwestern Indian jewelry, bead jewelry, loose beads, rocks, minerals and more. In addition, several speakers gave educational presentations. Visit www.gemandmineral.cc for more info.

Paul Perryman does some chain mail silver work .

Ellen Unger of Wellington looks over some beads.

Janey Jones with her rare collection of fossil cycads.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

H&P Gemstones’ Pat Jellison with a tsavorite garnet ring and bracelet priced at $75,000.

The Love & Peace Project’s Ingrid Webster of Wellington sells Sharon Buono beads in memory of Gracie Buono.

Griffin and Maggie Bradshaw mine for gems.

Veterans Day Stirred Memories Of My One Visit To ‘The Wall’

It’s hard to believe the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (known as “the Wall”) was 25 years old last week. It seems like only yesterday I paid my one and only visit there.

Actually my visit was 23 years ago. I didn’t know how I would react when I got there. On that trip my kids thought I was taking them to Washington, D.C. to see the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln and Washington memorials and things like that. They knew I wanted to go to the Wall, but didn’t know how badly I wanted to go. They found out when we hit the streets of Washington — it was the first stop. The Wall bears the names of more than 58,000 folks who went off to Vietnam, just like myself and more than two million other Americans, but did not return to “the world” alive.

When the memorial opened in 1982, it became a must-see for anyone going to Washington. Every Vietnam veteran I know has been there at least once. Every Viet vet also has a couple of friends named on that wall. I know I do.

A lot of the names belong to folks who were in

Wondering And Wandering

With Ernie Zimmerman

their late teens and early twenties. I often wonder what these brave soldiers would be doing today if they were still alive. Most of them would be parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Some would now be entering their golden years and getting ready for retirement.

A lot of the people on the Wall had parents who served this country proudly during the Second World War. On my visit I saw some of these parents looking for their kid’s names. To a person, when the name of their loved one was found they would drop to their knees and cry. Some brought flowers, oth-

ers left behind hats and other objects. They all put paper to the Wall to rub an impression of the name of their loved one.

The visit stirred up memories of many emotional moments. I haven’t been back since. Yes, I do plan on making a return trip. Some of my old buddies are counting on it, and I can’t let them down. They had the courage to give it all for this country; the least I could do is have the courage to return to the Wall and pay my respects.

I am starting to wonder what kind of memorial they will build for the Iraq vets. It will have to be large enough to have room for at least 3,150 names of brave Americans who gave all.

Last week was Veterans Day, and almost every government agency in Palm Beach County was closed to honor the vets. Only Delray Beach and the Palm Beach County School District were conducting business as usual on this federal holiday. I wonder how the schools can teach respect for the veterans when Veterans Day turns out to be just another school day for the kids.

Butterfly Gardening: Not Only Pretty, But Nature-Friendly

Butterflies in the landscape always make people feel nice as these colorful insects go from flower to flower collecting nectar. Unfortunately some neighborhoods don’t see many butterflies, and the chief reason is they don’t have the kinds of plants that attract them. Just because a flower is a flower doesn’t mean it’s going to draw butterflies. It has to be a type that offers nectar to provide the butterfly with some needed energy.

There are many types of plants specifically for attracting butterflies available at local garden centers and nurseries, so if you’d like to increase the butterfly population in your landscape, it’s not too hard. Even if you have a condo or apartment you can raise butterfly-attracting plants in containers.

Besides nectar sources, butterflies need plants where they can lay their eggs. Too often people plant nectar

sources but don’t have enough of the plants that provide food for their larva and complete the cycle. Adult butterflies have a very short life span, in some cases only a few weeks, so unless the cycle is continued, those adults die off. If no more fly in from surrounding areas, you don’t see very many butterflies.

Good choices of nectar plants for a butterfly garden include native plants such as firebush with tubular orange flowers. Lantana is another popular butterfly garden plant, and its small clusters of flowers come in yellows, reds, oranges, pinks or lavender.

Another food plant to have is pentas. The plant’s small individual flowers, in various shades of pink, red, lavender or white, are grouped in large clusters over the plant so they create a very attractive appearance.

Porter weed, which comes in both

native and exotic forms, is another that attracts butterflies easily. The individual blooms, usually shades of blue or pink, are very small on tall spikes that stand above the plant.

Milkweed is another colorful plant that has gold and orange or yellow flowers and attracts a wide variety of butterflies seeking a meal. The milkweed also is an important host plant for monarch butterflies since they lay their eggs there wherever they find it.

Various types of cassia, which typically have colorful large yellow flowers, attract a lot of butterflies, particularly the yellow sulphur butterflies, which not only drink the nectar from the flowers, but also lay eggs there, and their larva eat the leaves.

A few other plants to include in your butterfly area should be parsley and dill. These herbs provide larva food. Even though the plant may get chewed up

Gardening With Gene By Gene

occasionally, you still benefit by raising more butterflies for yourself and your neighborhood.

If you’d like to see a nice butterfly garden, visit the Mounts Botanical Garden at 531 N. Military Trail. They have a beautiful butterfly garden open seven days a week.

If you’d like to talk to someone about plant selection for butterfly gardens, call the Palm Beach County Extension office during normal business hours at (561) 233-1750.

$18-$25/HR — Teachers/Tutors P/T. All subjects PreK to Adult. Certification/Experience required. Palm Beach County Areas Fax 561-828-8128 or E-mail Tutorking@WPB3331980.COM

HELP WANTED/BOOKKEEPER EXPE-

RIENCED; Familiar with QUICKBOOKS - Full-Time position. Pay commensurate with experience. Fax resume to A. Silver - 561-432-2825

CLEANERS RESIDENTIAL FT — Car required, Pd. Training. North and West Palm Beach Cty. Up to $10/hr Start. 561-756-2282

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE COM-

PANY - Hiring drivers, foreman and laborers. Possible paid vacation/health insurance. 561-309-9652

THE EQUESTRIAN CLUB, 3401

EQUESTRIAN CLUB ROAD, WELLINGTON FLORIDA 33414 The Equestrian Club is now accepting application for all Front of the House positions, inclusive of Host/Hostess, Servers, Bartenders and Bussers. Positions in the Back of the House are also available for Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, Sous Chef, Dishwashers and Cleaners. Applicants should apply Mon-Fri at the Equestrian Club or Applicants may fax their resume to 1-212-875-8140 or email resume to Billprante@comcast.net.

EOE HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED FOR WELLINGTON - Resident must be experienced, honest & dependable. Flexible hours; Non-smoker, must speak English. 561-790-4941

PALM BEACH NANNIES ETC. is looking for nannies, housekeepers, elderly care, dula & newborn care specialist. Visit our website: www.palmbeachnanniesetc.com 954-436-1411

TUTORING NEEDED - for 13 yr. old participating at WEF. Must be willing to sit one-on-one and HELP study for exams and go over homework assignments in all subjects including Spanish. References please. Call 716-479-9949

F/T BABYSITTER WANTED - In my Wellington home for 2 and 3 year old. Must speak English. References and background check. (954) 734-0670 after 6:00 p.m.

SEASONAL HELP NEEDED NOV.-

APRIL - 30/35 hrs. per week P.T. Upscale Deli/Experience only. Located on Little Wood Grounds. Responsible for all cold food deli orders. 561-779-7020 561-685-3437

RECEPTIONIST NEEDED - 20 hr+/wk. Must be outgoing and professional and able to handle very busy phones. Wellington. 561-227-1500

NEW DOLLAR STORE MERCHANDISE

- For Sale Individual pieces sold or all for $15,000. Also, Wall Gondola Shelving, for sale approx. 55', Security Camera w/color monitor. $500 OBO. Cash register/WASP includes software, PC not included. $1,500 OBO. Security folding shutter with lock. 8'x 15' $1,500 OBO. 561-333-5841

A-FRAME STEEL SHED - still in box. Valued at $16,000. Now $8,000 OBO 20x30 16'High. 561-333-5841

2 HAND FED COCKATIELS - male & female. Gray and White. Deluxe Free standing cage & all accessories. $500 OBO. 561-651-0826

WAREHOUSE LOCATED BEHIND PALMS WEST HOSPITAL — 40’x 40’ with (3) 14’ Garage doors zoned agriculture. Consists of office and large 1 bedroom apt. $2,800/mo 1 st , last, security. 561-793-1746

LaMancha/Single Family, 3/2 1/2/2 CG — Spacious, fenced large yard. $1550/Mo. 1 st /Last + $200 Security. 772-370-5037

ROOM FOR RENT: Fully furnished room available in 2BD 2BA condo in Wellington. Rent $600/Month plus ½ utilities. Includes pool access and basic cable. Available immediately 6 or 12 month lease available. Contact Paul at 352-0635.

HOUSE FOR SALE IN SPINDALE, NC. - Only a short ride from Asheville, Charlottte, Greenville/Spartanburg and Ski Resort near Boone. For you EQUESTRIAN LOVERS, only a 30 minute drive to F.E.N.C.E. in Tryon, NC http:// www.geocities.com/farm9710/ SPINDALEHOUSE.html?1194652735500

POST OFFICE NOW HIRING — Avg. Pay $20/hour or $57K annually including Federal Benefits and OT. Paid Training, Vacations. PT/FT. 1-866-497-1015 USWA

IQUOTE BIZ — Develop/Marketing/ Consulting.Bringing your business to life. Mark Hannifin. 561-629-2429

IQUOTEBIZ.COM

TIRED OF BUSINESSES THAT DON'T WORK — If you are financially motivated, driven and want to excel in life, Call 800-615-8179 or visit website Dreamscometrueinternational.com

RUN YOUR OWN ONLINE NEWSPAPER - Huge income potential for entrepreneurs aspiring to be at the forefront of a media revolution Turnkey Business Only $499 561-371-6919 or email: medialicense@gmail.com

TIME SHARE FOR SALE - The Westgate Palace in Orlando - Brand new, opening in Jan. 08' view of Islands of Adventure and Wet n' Wild. 2/2 with all amenities. Including room service & security. Beautifully furnished. $30,000. 561-713-0182 Owner will pay closing costs. BEHIND ON YOUR MORTGAGE AND OR FACING FORECLOSURE, PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE –CALL GERRY MCKNIGHT 561-577-9234 FL PREMIER FOR FREE INFO TODAY!

LOWEST PRICES! — Nobody beats our Price! Free Est. Complete A/C units from $1,150. Repair Specialists. Lic./ins. 561-795-1130 toll free 888-981-9815

RANDY POULETTE AIR CONDITIONING, LLC — Quality workmanship, Reliable Service, Honest Results, A personal touch, all for exceptional prices. I service all makes and models. Lic. #CAC1815549 and Insured. 561-7903275.

JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITION-

ING & REFRIGERATION, INC. - Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996.

The only non-profit petting zoo in the area. - featuring parrots, mini horses, ponies, pony rides, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and Llamas and more and farm club. 561-792-2666

HOUSE CLEANING AVAILABLE — Over 13 yrs. experience. Great references. Very Dependable. Karen. 561-632-2271

RESIDENTIAL CLEANING SERVICES - Call for FREE ESTIMATE. 561-779-5701 References available.

HOUSECLEANING & COMPANION

SERVICES - Honest & Reliable. Excellent references available. 561-792-4365 Call after 3:00 p.m. 561-214-3955

HOT WYRE ELECTRIC — For all your electrical needs. Panel upgrades, installations, repairs, lightening protection, troubleshooting. Licensed, Insured, Free Estimates. 561-313-0134

HIGH QUALITY LAMINATE FLOORING — at affordable prices. Hardwood floors. No deposit until delivery. Contractors welcome. Western Communities resident. Family owned and Operated. Licensed and Insured. Se Habla Español 561-568-6099

GUARDSMAN FURNITURE PRO — For all your furniture repair needs including finish repairs, structural repairs, upholstery services, chair regluing, antique repairs, kitchen cabinet refurbishing. 753-8689

HOME STANDBY GENERATORS — Complete packages including fueled system - Best Prices & reliable new Generator systems installed from 15 to 200KW “More Practical and much quieter” Maintenance & Service for all types of generators. Factory Authorized Dealer. 561-707-0575 Palm Beach. Tropical Power Systems, Inc.

LOW COST REPAIR OF GENERATOR SYSTEMS - 561-795-0916

NEED CROWNMOLDING? — Repairs? Remodeling? New construction? or Just about anything. SHORE COUNTRY CONSTRUCTION. Doug 254-6503 #CGC032864

CAN FIX IT — build it, move it, plant it, and more. Call Bruce, 793-2494. TFN

BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS, INC. — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall, kitchens/cabinets/countertops, remodeling, wood flooring. Bonded/Insured U#19699. 561-791-9900 Cell: 561-3705293

ANMAR CO. –James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561248-8528

*TOP RATED* by www.AngieList.com Atlantic Shore Home Improvement. Call Anthony Palermo 561-756-0428

MCA CUSTOM WOODWORKING, INC.

— “Make your home standout from the rest” Call us for all your home improvement needs. Kitchen & bathroom remodeling, custom wall units, design your home office, cabinetry, tile & drywall repair. Lic. #U-19564. Bonded & Ins. 561723-5836

COMPLETE IRRIGATION — PVC/PIPE supplies.Citrus ,Vegetables, Power units. Water Wheels, design services, Fairways Polo fields, Pumps/Engines mowing of all types. 1-863-675-6333.

TNT LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

561-644-8683 — Lic. & Ins. Landscape design, low maintenance gardens, professional plant installation, mulching, monthly property maintenance, sprinklers maintenance & repair, expert hedge & tree trimming. Yard cleanup too!

AFFORDABLE LANDSCAPING — Brick pavers/patio/driveway. Basic landscaping services. Offered 3D Landscape Design. Including water features, and outdoorkitchens. for more information : www.affordablelandscapingflorida.com Lic. & Ins. 561-459-6166

ARMENTO PAINTING & SONS, INC. ––

Painting, Interior, Exterior. Pressure cleaning. Custom painting, faux art. Lic. No. U14736. 798-8978. BD JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. ––– Interior/Exterior, artistic faux finishing, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair, & roof painting/cleaning. Free est. Call 798-4964. Lic.#U18473

LARRY’S PAINTING & WALLPAPER — Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Interior/ Exterior painting. 561-309-2845. Wallpaper - Luanne 561-801-2018

AT YOUR SERVICE PET CONCIERGE - pet sitting, play dates, sleep overs, arrange pet grooming, vet visits, flea & tick products, Holistic/Natural pet foods. Come home to a well stocked fridge & your plants alive. Upscale services for all your beloved four legged friends. Bonded & insured. 561-791-2086

ROLL DOWN SHUTTERS — Accordion shutters, storm panels and rolling shutters...prices that can’t be beat. All shutters Systems, Inc. 863-0955

AFFORDABLE HURRICANE

D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-333-9433 or Cell 561252-1186 Lic’d- Well. & Palm Beach COMPUTER REPAIR - We come to you! After hours and weekends services available. Spyware/Adware/Virus Removal, Networking, Wireless, Backup Data, Upgrades. Call Anytime. 561-713-5276

CONCRETE RESURFACING — Pools, decks, patios, & interior floors, spray deck, kook deck, stone design, Paver Repair & Resealing. 561-790-4588

ROCKANDRECORD.COM - A professional DJ and Videography Service. Disc Jockey • Music • Entertainment • Professional MC's • Weddings • Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Sweet 16/Birthday Parties • Anniversaries • Private & Corporate Events • Holiday Parties 561-422-4336

THE HANDYMAN CAN! - Craftsman with years of experience. Repairs, water damage, painting, wall/ceiling, texturing, moldings, flooring, organizers, plumbing, tile. Remodeling bath/kitchens. Big Savings on outdoor kitchen & bar using your grill or just hang a fan. Make your repair HONEY DO LIST. I show up & want your return business. References. Hourly/job. Call Greg 561531-3141

Painting • Residential • Commercial • Historical Restoration • Faux Finishing • Stucco Repair • Roof Painting • and Pressure Cleaning • Sand Blasting • Mold Removal. FLEISCHER’S PAINTING • 561833-6661.

LET US AD A LITTLE COLOR TO YOUR LIFE — Residential/Commercial. Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Owner/Operator. Ask for Paul 561-309-8290. COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/ Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free estimates - Insured. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident.

RJA PAINTING & DECORATING — interior, exterior, custom colors, faux artwork, all work guaranteed. Lic. Bonded & Insured. 561-616-2255

BOB NICHOLS PAINTING — Serving the Palm Beaches for 19 years. Quality interior & exterior finishes. 561-248-6070. Lic. #16555

PAINTING — HOME PAINTING Interior – Exterior. $1290 +tax up to 2500 sq. ft. (walls area) 561-674-HOME(4663) J&C’s Faux Painting Service, Inc. Lic./Ins. U14092

TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CALL TODAY 793-3576

“You dealt with the rest now deal with the best” maintenance and repairs. Inquire about 1 months FREE service. 561-7915073 ELITE POOL CLEANING

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING — Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.Call Butch 561-309-6975 BD

PRIMROSE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC — Full Service. Residential Home Care for full or part time residents. Weekly inspections, repairs, Monthly reports. Reasonable rates. 561-602-6857 or email: primrosepm123@aol.com

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS – Roof painting. Carpentry. License #U9 865. 9675580. BD SHAKE ROOF SPECIALISTS –– New roofs, repairs, preservation. License #CC025465. Shake Masters, Shake Chem. Members of Shake Bureau. 4396668 BD

ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING ––Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded, insured. Lic. #CCC-058317 790-0763. BD

ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC023773 RC-0067207 BD

GARABAR, INC. ROOFING & GENERAL CONSTRUCTION — 561-337-6798 www.garabar.com Lic. #CGC 1510976 CCC1327252. “Deal” Direct with owner. * Please see our display ad* Major credit cards accepted. Fast Free Estimates. Insurance claim specialists.

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! Lic.#9001390. 798-3132.