Town-Crier Newspaper November 28, 2025

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

SEMPER FI TURKEY TROT 5K IN RPB

Kids Cancer Foundation

Hosts Gobble Gobble Harvest Fest In RPB

The Kids Cancer Foundation held its Gobble Gobble Harvest Fest on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Kids Cancer Center in Royal Palm Beach. The event included arts and crafts for the children and refreshments. Families also took home Thanksgiving food items. Page 5

B&G Club Celebrates Thanksgiving Holiday

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for club children on Thursday, Nov. 20. The food was prepared by volunteers from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies mingled with the children, answering questions and playing games, joined by other volunteers. Page 7

On Sunday, Nov. 23, Semper Fi Service Dogs held its annual Turkey Trot 5K at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. About 120 people registered to help raise funds and awareness for the local nonprofit, which rescues dogs and trains them as service dogs for military veterans.

here are representatives of Semper Fi Service Dogs at the event.

Wellington’s Zoning Board Wary Of Isla Carroll Project

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

A second village advisory board has expressed deep concerns with plans to build homes on part of the Isla Carroll property in southern Wellington.

After failing to convince Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Committee in October, the developers of the project once again asked to change the Isla Carroll site’s zoning to planned unit development (PUD) and for approval of a new master plan at Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

The zoning change would pave the way for McCourt Partners to build 40 multi-million-dollar homes and a clubhouse with luxury amenities on the west side of the land, and preserve the eastern polo field on the site for equestrian use. McCourt Partners, founded by

billionaire Frank McCourt, bought the land in 2022. Previously, McCourt Partners created a plan to build a community with 40 homes and large barns with equestrian amenities. They later withdrew that application after presenting it to the PZA Board. Since then, the developers have been working to create a new master plan, collaborating with officials at the adjacent National Polo Center to find a way to preserve the polo legacy of the Isla Carroll land.

The 79-acre Isla Carroll property is off 120th Avenue South, just north of the National Polo Center.

When developers presented their revised plan to the Equestrian Preserve Committee, several committee members were unconvinced. They did not believe that the western half of the project itself is equestrian in nature. The board ultimately voted 4-3 against

recommending approval of the request.

With new feedback, McCourt Partners went back to the drawing board to find ways to address the concerns raised about the project.

While developers are now looking to preserve the Isla Carroll East field, they do not have to.

An “as-of-right” plan, which complies with all regulations and does not need village approval, could demolish both polo fields and still build 40 homes, although not likely with the same amenities.

“The as-of-right plan… doesn’t guarantee this equestrian focus that you’re asking from us and that we’re providing,” said Neil Schiller, a lawyer representing the applicant. “If we don’t get approved on this plan, we’re left to the as-of-right plan… That’s not something we want to do.”

One of the biggest problems that

ITID Will Host Cowboy-Style Christmas Celebration Dec. 6

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Indian Trail Improvement District is leaning into its rural, western heritage this holiday season. On Saturday, Dec. 6, the district will host a community parade and celebration described as blending “the magic of Christmas, the charm of the frontier and the mischievous spirit of the Grinch.”

Class 4A State Swimming & Diving Championships, held Friday, Nov. 14 in Ocala. Page 17

“It’s going to be fantastic,” ITID President Elizabeth Accomando said.

“There’s a lot of excitement about this,” Supervisor Richard Vassalotti said. “More and more people are reaching out to us about it all the time.”

The event — Cowboy Claus & A Grinchmas Holiday — will begin with parade staging starting at 3 p.m. at Citrus Grove Park (8501 Citrus Grove Blvd.). At 4:30 p.m., the parade will move west on Citrus Grove Blvd., and then south

on 140th Avenue North, ending at Acreage Community Park South (6353 140th Avenue North).

A mix of performance groups, school and sports teams, local businesses, decorated vehicles and community floats are expected to participate.

Festivities at Acreage Community Park South will start at 5 p.m. and feature “Western Land,” a cowboy-themed Santa, the Grinch, live performances, a pet costume contest, arts and crafts, vendors and food trucks. The event will continue until 10 p.m.

Horses and other livestock will not be included this year due to concerns about the EHV-1 equine virus. While not dangerous to humans, the virus is highly contagious among horses and can be spread through other livestock — or even on skin, clothing and boots.

ITID Executive Director Bur-

gess Hanson, a horse owner, said the district is erring on the side of caution, even though no EHV1 cases have been reported in Florida. Recent cases have been concentrated in Texas and Oklahoma, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center.

The Christmas celebration follows ITID’s well-attended “Sleepy Hollow Halloween” event on Oct. 25, which drew several thousand residents.

Some have criticized spending tax dollars on such events, but Accomando has argued they are essential for strengthening community ties — especially given the influx of new residents since the pandemic.

The Christmas event is expected to cost about $10,000, though most of that will be offset by vendor and food truck fees, she said. Even if ITID covered the full amount, it

See ITID HOLIDAY, page 12

Seven Candidates Seeking Two Seats On The Wellington Village Council

By Patrick Sherry

three candidates: local businessman Johnny Meier, equestrian Elizabeth Pandich and attorney Tatiana Yaques. Johnny Meier — Meier is a U.S. veteran and the owner of a local pharmacy. He unsuccessfully ran for the council four years ago against McGovern, and currently sits on Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board. He explained that he is running again for the same reason as he did before in 2022.

“I want to make sure that the future of Wellington is secure, and it stays at the most optimal level,” Meier said. “If you don’t have good people running for office, then things can slip really quickly, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen for Wellington.” One of his most unique policy priorities is putting a cap on denSee ELECTION, page 12

FARM CITY LUNCHEON

App Offers Greater Connection For Westlake Residents

By

Smartphone apps succeed only when they do something useful, experts tell us. Westlake officials believe that the city’s new mobile app clears that bar with room to spare.

Launched in October, “Westlake Connect” gives residents a direct line to municipal staff to report concerns, track service requests and receive quick responses. It also consolidates meeting and event information — from council sessions to workshops and advisory boards — while offering easy access to forms, documents and departmental contacts.

“By putting essential services and real-time information right in the hands of our residents, we’re strengthening the connection

Wellington Staff Members Embrace

By Denis Eirikis

and a toy just before winter holiday break. Village of Wellington staff members are proud to be part of this annual effort, donating hundreds of toys, shoes and other essential items to help bring smiles to children’s faces. This year’s Wellington collection will directly benefit students at C.O. Taylor/ Kirklane Elementary School in Palm Springs, where 70 percent

of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The epicenter for village staff involvement is the Planning, Zoning & Building Department.

“Years ago, one of our engineers, Mike O’Dell, became involved with the program, and it soon spread to village staff as a whole, who have embraced this wonderful program each and every year since,” Planning, Zoning & Building Director Tim Stillings said.

While O’Dell has since retired from his work with the village, he certainly did not retire from Back to Basics. Interviewed this month at the nonprofit’s 3,400-squarefeet warehouse, stacked floor to ceiling with gifts and supplies, O’Dell said that he loves the work

he does with the organization, founded in 1984 by Wellington resident Beverly Perham.

“I really love this organization, and it has become an even more important part of my life since retiring from the village,” O’Dell said.

O’Dell works with volunteer Kelle Enriquez to help manage year-round operations for the Back to Basics organization and its two primary programs, the Angel Program and the School Uniform Program.

When she is not managing Wellington’s annual operating budget or financial functions, Deputy Village Manager Tanya Quickel serves as one of the village’s volunteer coordinators for Back to

and the people we serve,” Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said. Most importantly, the app enables the city to push out real-time alerts, including event reminders, general notices and CodeRED emergency warnings, Interim City Manager Zoie Burgess said. The CodeRED platform offers “a

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, in collaboration with the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, hosted the annual Farm City Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. The luncheon was dedicated to addressing the critical issue of food insecurity. Shown above are Ben Boynton, Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara, Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone, Frank Gonzalez, Wellington Councilman John McGovern and Kevin Wedgworth. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 15 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Shown

MORE PHOTOS, PAGES 14

PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

Swimmers Da Silva And Granison Earn First Place At States

Wellington High School senior swimmer Andreas Da Silva had a standout performance at the recently completed Florida High School Athletic Association

See ISLA CARROLL , page 7

Louis Hillary Park

Town-Crier Staff Report

Kelle Enriquez, Mike O’Dell and Beverly Perham at the Back to Basics warehouse. PHOTO

RPB Council Celebrates Centenarian

By Hilary Moore Hebert Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council opened its Thursday, Nov. 20 meeting with a celebratory surprise, honoring longtime resident Angelina Dawkins on her 103rd birthday.

Mayor Jeff Hmara invited the centenarian and her family to the front of the council chambers, after he led a cheerful tribute recognizing her milestone and the joy she brings to the community.

“We have a rare opportunity this evening,” Hmara said. “Not too many times that you get a chance to celebrate somebody’s birthday that is very remarkable. Tonight, we celebrate Miss Angelina Dawkins, who has recently turned 103 years old. She is amazing. She’s a resident of Royal Palm Beach, and this milestone is certainly something that is a demonstration of resilience — a long life, accumulating a lot of wisdom, and contributing to her family and to the community.”

Hmara then presented Dawkins with a “centennial lifetime achievement award” on behalf of

the village. The framed proclamation detailed her remarkable life journey. She was born on Nov. 15, 1922, in Westmoreland, Jamaica, and emigrated to the United States in 1981, eventually making her home in Royal Palm Beach.

Affectionately known as “Miss G,” Dawkins has long been an anchor for her extended family and a familiar presence in her neighborhood. According to the mayor’s tribute, she spent more than 50 years as a “domestic professional,” caring for families and sharing her talent for cooking, “always ensuring that everyone felt welcome and well fed.”

“Her life stands as a shining example of compassion, resilience and unwavering love,” the proclamation read.

Dawkins, soft-spoken but smiling broadly, accepted the recognition and a bouquet of flowers to a warm round of applause and a round of “Happy Birthday” from council members and residents in the audience. The mayor ended the festivities by saying, “We will see you next year, at the same time!”

In other business:

• When the council transitioned into its regularly scheduled business, it heard two presentations, one from the Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue’s Chief Patrick Kennedy and District Chief Amanda Vomero, and a “tourism road show” from Sergio Piedra, senior director of intergovernmental affairs for Discover the Palm Beaches. Both provided updates on county-level operations, future expansion and tourism-related initiatives.

• The council approved a number of items on its consent agenda, including authorization for the village’s Winter Festival, set for Saturday, Dec. 6 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park; renewal of pressure cleaning and landscaping service contracts; approval of fireworks purchases for upcoming holiday events; and several budget amendments tied to police education funding, stormwater management and facility renovations. The consent agenda also included approvals related to early childhood educational programming at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation

Center, a lease assignment for a village-owned preschool property, and a change order for the La Mancha Underdrain Project to install more than 1,300 linear feet of underdrain on two neighborhood streets.

• The council’s regular agenda included a request from the Wyndham Village Homeowners’Association to modify a long-standing council-imposed condition governing the spacing of street trees in its neighborhood, which was approved.

• The council also granted a special exception application for Dynamite Dog Training to operate a pet-training facility in the Royal Plaza on Royal Palm Beach Blvd.

• The council denied a series of sign variances which would have allowed a substantially larger cabinet sign and an additional wall sign beyond what the village code normally permits at the recently renovated Nissan dealership located at 9405 Southern Blvd. Council members decided that the application did not meet the criteria established for such sign variances.

Boat Parade Brings Holiday Lights To Lake Wellington On Dec. 13

By Fiona Slusarev Town-Crier Staff Report

The holidays are set to shine brightly at the Wellington Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 13. Approximately 50 boats are expected to be dressed in their holiday best with colorful lights and festive themes for a loop around Lake Wellington.

More than 2,000 people are anticipated to come out in celebration of the ninth year of this beloved tradition, with many enjoying the display from Wellington’s Town Center Promenade behind the Wellington Community Center.

The event begins at the north end of the lake at 5:30 p.m., with the boats embarking on their journey at 6:15 p.m. and passing behind the community center at 6:30 p.m. The parade goes on the east and west sides of the lake, so “both sides of the lake get close-up views of all the boats,” explained Jack Brownson, the parade’s organizer. The celebration on the promenade will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

The event is sure to delight children and adults alike with great twinkling displays. Each year brings back some favorite decorations, while others try something new. “People try to keep what they’re going to do each year a secret,” Brownson noted. “Nobody knows what it is until they get out.”

Members of the Wellington Village Council, Assistant Community Events Director Michelle Garvey and retired TV anchor Roxanne Stein will be deciding which boats stand above the rest. In previous years, the top three best decorated boats were awarded plaques. However, “there’s so many really nicely decorated boats that we decided we wanted to give out two more awards this year,” Brownson said. Plaques are given courtesy of sponsor South Florida Marine. In addition to the dazzling lights for spectators on the shore, the residents around Lake Wellington show their support for family and friends captaining the boats.

Wellington Holiday Boat Parade.

“There are parties all around the lake. They’re out there cheering us on as we go by. It’s a lot of fun,” Brownson said. This feeling of camaraderie and warmth sets the perfect tone for the holiday season and celebrates what makes Wellington unique. So, light up your Saturday night with some nautical festive cheer

• The council approved the second and final reading of a village-initiated comprehensive plan change creating a new landuse designation for mixed-use social centers under 40 acres. The changes are intended to allow a different type of mixed-use development that could apply to a handful of properties along the

Five Candidates Seeking Two Seats On Groves Council

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

Voters in the Town of Loxahatchee Groves will choose two council members and likely vote on three charter amendments at the municipal election set for Tuesday, March 10, 2026. When the qualifying period closed on Tuesday, Nov. 18, five candidates had filed to seek election to the council. Running for Seat 1 are Steven Hoffman, Joe Stephens and Robert Sullivan. The race for Seat 5 includes Councilman Todd McLendon and Manish Sood.

at the Town Center Promenade with neighbors, friends and family. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating. For additional information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/2199/ holiday-boat-parade.

Those interested in participating should contact Brownson at jbrownson@comcast.net.

Leaving the dais after her most recent two terms on the council will be Vice Mayor Marge Herzog, the Seat 5 incumbent. Herzog served on the inaugural Loxahatchee Groves Town Council from 2007 to 2009, returning to the dais in 2020. In her latest stint, she served two three-year terms.

In 2020, town voters approved a charter change implementing a two-term limit, which took effect at the same election six years ago in which Herzog returned to the council. Therefore, Herzog is the first person in town history to step down due to term limits. For Herzog, 82, while the decision to step down was made for her by the new term limits, it came at what she considers an appropriate time. “I think that you get to a point where other things become more critical and more important to worry about than all the meetings you have to go to, including all the trips to Orlando and Tallahassee. As you get older, it gets harder to do it,” she said. She hopes that whatever the council configuration is after the election, it works well together to keep moving the town forward.

“I hope that the town comes See LOX COUNCIL, page 7

A Minimally Invasive Option for Lung Biopsies Is Here

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

Benefits of the new technology can include:

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

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

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

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

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council presents 103-year-old Angelina Dawkins with a “centennial lifetime achievement award.”

Decorated boats glide through the water at last year’s

Wellington Council Supports Controversial PBCFR Local Bill

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington Village Council recently passed a resolution supporting a local bill for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue (PBCFR), which the county agency believes would maintain current levels of services and save millions of dollars of taxpayer money from being wasted on redundant fire station infrastructure across the county.

Officials from PBCFR asked for the village’s support for the bill at the council’s meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The bill would require municipalities to reimburse PBCFR for services they would normally provide to formerly unincorporated parts of the county. This is intended to decrease tax revenue losses and prevent taxpayers from funding duplicate fire stations.

PBCFR receives funding through a municipal services taxing unit (MSTU).

Municipalities like Wellington and unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County pay taxes to the MSTU for county

fire-rescue services and stations located in those areas.

However, some municipalities, with their own fire departments, are continuing to annex unincorporated areas that have hightax-paying properties. This can cause developers to build municipal-owned, multi-million-dollar fire stations, even if a PBCFR station is already located nearby. Duplicate fire stations can lead to reduced operations from county fire stations or the closure of them altogether. The decrease in the tax base may also cause an increase in millage rates or a decrease in the level of services from PBCFR.

PBCFR District Chief Amanda Vomero explained that the bill allows municipalities to annex, but PBCFR will still service those areas.

“We don’t really have a lot of protection in place, so that’s what this would do,” Vomero said. “[It will] preserve the assets, resources and the service delivery that we do offer.”

Wellington and much of the

western part of the county have agreements with PBCFR for essential services because they do not have their own fire-rescue departments. Any territories they annex would still be part of the PBCFR service area.

PBCFR Chief Patrick Kennedy said that the annexation of parts of his agency’s service area could have “adverse impacts” on Wellington in the future because of the loss of tax revenue. “We did not want to make any enemies with this,” Kennedy said. “We’re just trying to preserve the system.”

Council members showed their support for PBCFR and unanimously passed a resolution of support for the bill.

Councilman John McGovern said that PBCFR has always been a strong partner for the village.

“Our position has to be to stand with our partners and [PBCFR], as we always have,” he said.

The next day, on Thursday, Nov. 13, officials from PBCFR presented the bill to the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation at

ALA Actions Again Frustrate Indian Trail’s Supervisors

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The Indian Trail Improvement District and the Acreage Landowners’ Association may finally be on the verge of a permanent parting of the ways following the ITID Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Asked if he believes the ALA has outlived its usefulness to the community, Supervisor Richard Vassolotti told the Town-Crier “Yes.”

The ALA “certainly is not what it was 20 years ago,” Vassalotti said. “It’s a small handful of people… whose main function seems to be to divide our community with social media posts… I don’t think they are appropriate representatives for our community. Enough is enough.”

ALA representatives declined requests for comments for this story, or to answer questions shared via text with ALA President Bob Morgan — among them the current membership numbers for the organization. Morgan previously acknowledged the group’s struggles with dwindling membership. However, longtime ALA Board Member Lou Colantuoni told the ITID board during public comment that membership is up and emphasized that the organization has a long history of fighting for the community.

“We’ve taken on a lot of battles… to protect the citizens and keep growth in check,” he told the board. “We’re the watch dogs.” Colantuoni, who has been a firebrand in recent months in his defense of the ALA, struck a more conciliatory tone at the November meeting.

“We’re here to try to work with you guys,” he said. After months of debate and sharp exchanges, the ITID board agreed on Sept. 17 to approve a one-year nonprofit user agreement with the ALA. The agreement has a 30-day cancellation clause. What the agreement “boils down to is, the ALA has first

BTB Program Help From Wellington

continued from page 1 Basics. She is also a huge fan of the program.

“This is a great way to help the kids with essentials they need to succeed and not feel left out during the holidays as other children receive gifts,” Quickel said. Wellington Senior Planner Kelly Ferraiolo also serves as a point person for the village’s involvement with Back to Basics.

“It started out as just a few employees in our department, and now all village departments participate,” Ferraiolo said. “It has become almost like an employee tradition, as staff looks forward to seeing what the children need so they can go shop for the kids.” The Back to Basics organization provided free school uniforms to more than 22,000 needy children.

dibs on ITID space for any event they might want to put on,” ITID

President Elizabeth Accomando, a former ALA board member, said at the time.

As part of the rapprochement, ITID and the ALA agreed to put on the Oct. 25 Sleepy Hollow Halloween event as a joint project, with the ALA to provide volunteers. In turn, the ALA could use the event to recruit new members.

Indian Trail officials say the organization did neither, opting only to recruit some vendors and food trucks — the fees from which the ALA was allowed to keep.

However, when ITID inquired as to how much money was raised by the ALA, the ALA declined to divulge the number and instead requested an extensive accounting of the money that the district spent on the event and “even a list of the names of the volunteers who helped with the event,” Vassalotti said.

“We tried to get them back on track,” Accomando said of ITID’s effort to include the ALA in the Halloween event. “Unfortunately, that ended up not being the case.”

ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson said he feels strongly that the board was making an effort to create greater understanding between the district and the ALA by including the organization in the Halloween event.

At this point, however, when asked if the ALA still has a role to play, Hanson said, “I’m not sure. It’s a very strained relationship.”

The ALA will not be part of the planned Christmas parade and event at Acreage Community Park South on Saturday, Dec. 6.

After the Halloween event, “They immediately told us they did not wish to be part of it,” Accomando said.

In other business:

• The supervisors approved the sale to adjacent homeowners of most of the 29 acres located under Florida Power & Light transmission lines from Persimmon Blvd.

The Angel Program this year will supply new sneakers, socks, underwear and cool toys to 11,700 local children.

“We work directly with the schools to identify the neediest children, we then distribute cards that contains the children’s information, such as gender and sizes, to the local community via churches and partners like the Village of Wellington,” Perham explained.

This year, more than 7,000 members of the general public picked up cards, shopped for the kids, wrapped the gifts and dropped them off at collection points.

Volunteers at the warehouse packed the remaining 4,700 gifts, purchased with donations, so that all identified children in need get nice gifts this holiday season. No one gets paid; the organization is all volunteer.

For 40 years, Back to Basics has understood that the simple gesture of providing a child with

a public hearing. The hearing is where state lawmakers consider local bills and decide whether to sponsor them for the upcoming legislative session in Tallahassee.

Division Chief of Wellness & Engagement Charles Coyle explained to the delegation that the bill would prevent double taxation for residents by having taxpayers in formerly unincorporated areas still pay for fire department services to their municipality. However, those funds from those properties would be reimbursed to PBCFR.

“Residents should never experience delays or reduced emergency response times because of annexation or jurisdictional boundaries,” Coyle said. “This bill allows strategic planning and avoids unnecessary municipal spending to build redundant facilities or new apparatuses.”

According to Coyle, 16 of the 51 county fire stations are in planned annexation areas. Since building stations and purchasing fire station-related necessities is a

costly, years-long process, it can be disrupted entirely if PBCFR cannot service the areas they initially planned to. In addition, there are multiple bills in the Florida Legislature aimed at reducing or even eliminating property taxes, which may further strain tax revenue for the county.

Several representatives from various municipalities and organizations attended the meeting to oppose the bill.

Amelia Jadoo, executive director of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, asked the delegation to defer consideration of the bill until the 2027 legislative session because it did not consider the input of municipalities.

“There are far more questions than answers, and that is unacceptable for legislation impacting and affecting every city in this county,” Jadoo said. “Ramming this through now undermines trust, ignores local expertise and risks flawed policy.”

The lack of collaboration to create the bill was not the only

issue. Municipal officials pointed out how the bill will still technically cause double taxation. If passed, even though residents in formerly unincorporated areas will only pay one fire services tax, the municipality would have to pay for its fire department, and for PBCFR through reimbursements. Some municipal representatives even explained that their fire departments have been servicing unincorporated parts of the county more than PBCFR, at their own expense.

“This bill states it is for public safety, but, in fact, it creates the exact opposite — confusion among our fire departments by carving out some areas that must be served by the county,” Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Marcie Tinsley said. State lawmakers postponed consideration of the bill and agreed to discuss it further at a future delegation public hearing. The bill will be redrafted, and further discussion, including from municipalities, will take place at an upcoming meeting.

Westlake Planning Biggest Holiday Pop-Up Market Yet

to 60th Street North. The property has been valued at approximately $3,000 per acre, for a total of $87,000.

The board agreed to sell it for the assessed value.

“I think the sale helps the homeowners and the district,” Hanson said this week. “We don’t have to maintain the property… and we’ll no longer have the liability issue to deal with.”

The district does plan to retain several parcels for storage of aggregates and other items used in road construction, he said, adding that those areas will be hidden from the view of homeowners.

Attorneys have until the end of January to work out details of the deal with some 25 property owners.

• The board accepted revisions to its parks and recreation policy focused on child safety and protecting the district’s property.

Level 2 background checks for food truck operators and employees were added to the official policy. Such checks include verification through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI, and national and state sex offender databases.

“This brings our policy in line with state and county policies,” Accomando said. “Food truck operators come in contact with children. So, it’s all about protecting the children.”

Also, the policy changes made clear that it is unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle — including an electronic bicycle — other than on a paved vehicular road or path designated for such a purpose.

The addition is to help protect athletic fields and give park personnel greater authority when dealing with individuals who do so, Accomando explained.

The policy also spelled out the prohibition in district parks on people over age 16 “wearing any mask, hood or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer.”

new clothing aids in leveling out the social judgments that students often feel when their clothing does not fit properly, are badly worn or does not conform to the latest fashion trends.

Providing a new uniform at the beginning of the school year and new sneakers, socks and underwear in which to return to school with from the holiday break, instills confidence in a child to attend school. This confidence enables a willingness to learn. By providing a child with this sense of dignity and pride, the two Back to Basics programs aid teachers and schools in reducing peer bullying, classroom disruptions and truancy by up to 80 percent, as reported by school administration.

While it may be too late to get directly involved in the Angel Program this year, donations are always needed and appreciated at the nonprofit, which operates yearround. For more information, visit www.backtobasicsinc.org.

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The City of Westlake Holiday Pop-Up Market returns Sunday, Dec. 7 at a new location to accommodate an expected record turnout.

“It’s going to be the biggest and best one yet,” Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said this week. “It’s an amazing opportunity for the community to come together.”

The fourth annual event will run from noon to 4 p.m. with a record number of vendors and food trucks expected on Ilex Way, off Persimmon Blvd.

“I believe the number is up to 84 or 85 now,” O’Connor said.

The Holiday Pop-Up Market has become a “go-to destination” for local holiday shopping, with handcrafted gifts and keepsakes, seasonal décor and ornaments,

New App Westlake Connect

continued from page 1 with municipal departments, all of which is designed to enhance communication and improve responsiveness.

“I was eager to bring this innovative technology to the City of Westlake,” Burgess said. “It will be a great addition to the city.”

Council opinions were supportive, if tempered.

“It’s nice. It gives more accessibility, but I’m not sure how much it will get used,” Councilman Gary Werner said. “Time will tell.”

Others were more bullish. Councilman Erik Gleason, a Miami Gardens Police Department commander with extensive technology experience, said the app is already performing well.

“I’m very happy with it,” he said. “I think it’s functioning great.”

Vice Mayor Greg Langowski said the long-term goal is for “Westlake Connect” to become a

jewelry, apparel and unique artisan-made finds, plus “delicious food truck bites and sweet holiday treats,” according to the City of Westlake’s web site.

Families can expect a full afternoon of activities for the kids, including Santa meet-and-greets and photo opportunities, a “Santa Station” where youngsters can send a letter to the jolly old elf, a game truck, a foam “snowfall experience,” and, new this year, a giant, inflatable snow globe.

A disc jockey will be spinning holiday favorites during the event for everyone to enjoy.

“Whether you are snapping the perfect family photo in the giant snow globe, mailing a wish list to Santa, or finding that one-of-akind gift from a local maker, the Westlake Holiday Pop-Up Market brings the magic of the season to life, right here in Westlake,” according to the city’s web site. Free onsite parking will be available at the northeast corner of Ilex Way and Persimmon Blvd. Visitors should expect delays along Persimmon. Directional signage will be posted along the route to assist with detours. Residents and attendees should be aware that temporary road closures will be in place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 7. Ilex Way, just south of Persimmon, will also be closed to through traffic, and Ilex Way, just north of Sand Bar Drive, will be closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of the event. For more information, contact Acting City Clerk Odet Izquierdo at (561) 530-5880 or e-mail events@westlakegov.com. Learn more at www.westlakegov.com.

true “one-stop shop” for routine interaction between residents and city hall.

The app — developed by GOGov, a Long Island-based government technology company — will cost Westlake about $2,500 per year to maintain. “Our mission is to enhance community engagement, streamline operations and foster transparent communication,” according to the company’s web site.

O’Connor noted that one future addition could allow residents to snap a photo of issues such as potholes or downed signs and send them directly to local officials, with GPS coordinates embedded automatically.

“Westlake Connect reflects our city’s commitment to innovation and collaboration,” O’Connor said. “This is a major step forward in building a smarter, more engaged Westlake.”

A look at the new Westlake Connect phone app.

“Westlake Connect reflects our city’s commitment to innovation and collaboration,” Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said.

Wellington resident Beverly Perham founded Back to Basics in 1984. PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER

The Kids Cancer Foundation held its Gobble Gobble Harvest Fest on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Kids Cancer Center in Royal Palm Beach. The event included arts and crafts for the children and refreshments. Families took home a large basket or bag of Thanksgiving food items. Learn more about the Kids Cancer Foundation at www.kidscancersf.org.

DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY

Debbie Breuninger, Melody Staten and Barbara Burak at the keychain activity and book table.

The Cruz family gets a food basket.

Carolina King with Ayan Radu, who is coloring a headband.

FAU medical students Luke Garlick, Victoria Reis, Isabella Garganese, Lucas Vieira, Spencer Powell and James Burns hand out food bags and baskets.

Mateo Granados rings the bell because he is cancer free.

Kids Cancer Foundation Executive Director Michelle O’Boyle with Hannah Burton.

Roselyn Diaz, Stephanie Santiago, Naomie Simon and Sophia Ferreira.

Vanessa Castaneda, Nancy Castaneda, Mateo Granados and Daniel Granados.

Mya Gutierrez makes a turkey craft.

Lorraine Brunner and Barrie Hughes handed out cake.

Carolina King of Art for Smiles with Evelyn McClendon and Adrien and Andre Sanders.

Kelly Wiener and Lois Spatz with volunteer Kelly Price taking photos.

Dylan Flores made a turkey that he named Steve.

BDRR CELEBRATES ELAINE & KEN LANGONE PATRIOT PET BOARDING LODGE

Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Elaine & Ken Langone Patriot Pet Boarding Lodge on Monday, Nov. 10. This brand-new facility features 80 individual bunkrooms and will provide expanded space for the nonprofit’s Veteran Service Dog Training Program and a dedicated boarding area for the dogs of deployed active-duty military personnel. Learn more about Big Dog Ranch Rescue at www.bdrr.org.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Village of Wellington for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024. The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The Award of Financial Reporting Achievement was awarded to the Office of Financial Management and Budget as primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning annual comprehensive financial report. This accolade reflects the commitment that village staff has for meeting the highest principles and best practices in governmental accounting and reporting. The annual comprehensive financial report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. The Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association serving nearly 19,000 appointed and elected local, state and other finance practitioners.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Jim DeFrancesco, Pam Malamphy, Diane Bekkedam, Lauree Simmons, Aimee Battista, Priscilla Bardonaro, and Elaine and David Nord.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw speaks as Lauree Simmons and Elaine Langone look on.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw (left) with veterans and their service dogs.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons and benefactor Elaine Langone cut the ribbon.

Bill Dillehay with Gibbs, C.L. Turner with Fula and Greg Richburg with Piper.

Diane Bekkedam, Danielle Corrie and Elaine Nord with puppies looking to be adopted.

Kyle Simmons, Bob Simmons, Dorothy Bradshaw, Byron Russell and Shane Simmons.

Greg Richburg and Piper with Director of Training Evan Fried.

Training Manager Jessy Manley and his dog Kaia salute.

On Friday, Nov. 14,

Lox Council Agrees To Work On Improving Operational Issues

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council agreed at a workshop session earlier this month that while town officials are dedicated to serving the community, communication breakdowns, reactive leadership and a lack of unified priorities hinder their effectiveness.

The council discussed analysis reports that detailed the town’s operational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) related to its governance at the workshop Tuesday, Nov. 18. The item was originally on the agenda for the council’s regular Nov. 4 meeting but was moved to the workshop due to time constraints.

Town Manager Francine Ramaglia, along with town staff,

conducted an internal analysis. The town also hired Actuate Consulting to create an external one.

The reports explained that one of the town officials’ greatest strengths is their commitment to Loxahatchee Groves. However, both reports found multiple strategic and organizational shortcomings that impact the town as a whole.

Councilwoman Lisa El-Ramey agreed with the findings. She gave examples of agenda items often being changed last minute, and how other items are not considered because of a lack of time and planning. “It’s not anything that wasn’t known to most people. I think the degree to some of it is probably the more clarifying aspect of this,” El-Ramey said. “It still behooves

the council to actually, effectively serve as the executive board.”

Actuate’s report explained how leadership is currently putting the town in a “continual mode of crisis management” because of conflicting short-term goals and weak cooperation that prevents them from creating a common long-term strategic plan. These issues are compounded by communication gaps among officials that further inefficiencies. Such problems have created a tense and difficult work environment that has slowed down and disrupted town operations.

“This report clearly says that leadership has issues with communication and with working in harmony, and we are the leadership,” Mayor Anita Kane said.

While the town is currently

experiencing these challenges, the report included ways it could improve. Developing clear strategic goals and improving communication could lead to mitigating prolonged meetings and high turnover. Actuate included a proposal that offered the council two different programs to help with some of these problems, which cost $5,000 and $7,500 per month. The programs would offer coaching and training to town officials. However, the council decided to come up with more cost-effective solutions.

The council brainstormed ways they could address some of the issues. They supported greater usage of various tools of communication and project management tools, such as the already-used platform Asana, to keep things on track.

Kane suggested implementing ways to measure customer satisfaction and whether they are solving the community complaints.

Other solutions were to improve training for town staff and to have council members participate in the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials program given by the Florida League of Cities.

In other business:

• The council unanimously passed an ordinance to call a referendum to amend the town charter, allowing council members to remove charter officers by a simple majority vote instead of a supermajority. The ordinance is intended to make hiring and firing consistent because charter officers, such as the town manager and town attorney, can be appointed with only a regular majority. The referendum will appear on the ballot at the town’s upcoming municipal election in March.

• Kane requested the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation’s support for a recently passed town bill at their Local Bill Public Hearing on Thursday, Nov. 13. The bill would give the Town of Loxahatchee Groves some authority over the use of fireworks. Restrictions on fireworks would only be placed in the town’s agricultural-residential zoning district during certain holidays to protect residents, animals and wooded landscapes. The delegation unanimously passed a motion to approve the bill for consideration during the upcoming 2026 state legislative session in Tallahassee.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IN WELLINGTON HOSTS A THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for club children on Thursday, Nov. 20. The food was prepared by volunteers from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies mingled with the children, answering questions and playing games, joined by other volunteers. The previous day, the club distributed frozen turkeys to participating families.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Lox

Council

Two Seats Available

continued from page 3 together more unified than some of the actions that have been going on,” Herzog said. “It has been a challenge. It is a good checking system to make sure that things aren’t getting out of hand, but it can work both ways. There’s a lot of things that need to get done to correct 100 years of things not getting done.” Herzog is most proud of her work in getting the town established. She was a key player in the years-long incorporation effort, particularly in her capacity as president of the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association.

“I was one of the founders,” she said. “There was all of the legwork from the LGLA meetings that we

Meeting

continued from page 1 the Equestrian Preserve Committee had with the project was the lack of a concrete agreement with polo organizations to use the east field for equestrian activities. McCourt Partners has since negotiated a long-term, binding license agreement with the United States Polo Association (USPA) to use the field. There is now a 25-year license agreement with two 10-year automatic renewals, with the possibility for continuation afterward. The USPA will pay to maintain the field and host polo games on it. The developers also have limited usage for special events. However, the license has not yet been executed and is under review by the USPA’s Board of Governors. If the developers cannot move forward with the current project, it will be off entirely. Considering the high cost of maintaining a polo field, the agreement with the USPA is critical.

Bob McMurtry, interim chief

had. There were also the strengths of the other people who stepped up and worked on the process of incorporating. It was very organized and very well run.”

Herzog is also proud of all the community celebrations she helped organize, such as one for the anniversary of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District that included a parade on Okeechobee Blvd.

As advice to the people following her on the council, she urged them to get involved in the training programs offered through the Florida League of Cities.

“They encourage you and direct you to learn the government process,” Herzog explained. “Many people who run have never served before. The rules and regulations of the accounting systems are very different than other corporations. The training is eye-opening, and they offer it several times over the course of the year.”

operating officer of the USPA, came to the meeting to support the project.

“Our mission is to grow polo,” McMurtry said. “The biggest risk to polo is the development of polo fields, and if we have the opportunity to preserve [one]… we think that’s critical to our mission to promote and preserve polo.”

Despite attempts to address concerns from village officials and the public, many on the PZA Board still did not support the project. One of the problems was the inclusion of a luxury club in the middle of the development. The club is expected to have 325 members, with 40 of them being residents. It will have various amenities, including a spa, pool areas and racquet courts — but nothing related to polo.

PZA Board Member Michael Drahos said that he respects the developer’s efforts and their willingness to change their plans based on feedback, but he does not think that the project is equestrian in nature.

“To me, this is a better application than the one we saw before,” Drahos said. “I just think you’re trying to cram something into a

SEAT 1

The Seat 1 election is for a oneyear unexpired term. The winner will need to seek re-election in 2027. The current Seat 1 incumbent is McLendon, but he chose to run for Seat 5. McLendon was appointed to the council in June, following the surprise resignation of former Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia.

The three Seat 1 candidates have either run for the council before or requested appointment to fill a vacancy.

Steven Hoffman ran last year for the seat currently held by Councilman Paul Coleman. Hoffman owns a quail farm and has been sharply critical of several members of the current council and town staff.

Joe Stephens was among five people who applied for the council vacancy earlier this year.

Robert Sullivan ran for Seat 1

property that really doesn’t work.”

Residents who spoke at the meeting similarly did not approve of the plans. They pointed out that a tentative deal was not enough, and a project like this should not be in the Equestrian Preserve Area.

“This development is totally inappropriate in our iconic [Equestrian Overlay Zoning District], and it does nothing to benefit the Wellington horse community or any businesses,” said Dr. Kristy Lund, who is also vice chair of the Equestrian Preserve Committee. “Those people are going to come in, use the pool, use the country club, and spend all their money there, make Discovery Land Company richer, and do nothing for the equestrian community.”

PZA Board Member Tatiana Yaques was concerned about the application because she believes that there are other things developers can do if they truly want to preserve the polo field. She also took issue with the developers suggesting that they will proceed with the as-of-right plan if they do not get approval for the revised one.

“We don’t need to be threatened with alternatives if we don’t agree to that,” Yaques said. “We are just

against Maniglia two years ago.

He has been a resident of Loxahatchee Groves since 2003, but his family has owned property in the town since the early 1970s.

SEAT 5

McLendon has opted to run for Seat 5, which will be for a complete three-year term. He faces a challenge from Manish Sood, who chairs the town’s Finance Advisory & Audit Committee.

McLendon was elected to the council in 2016 and served one three-year term, leaving in 2019. He considered running again several times in the years since, and applied to fill the Maniglia vacancy this past spring.

Both in his original term on the council, and since rejoining in June, McLendon has been critical of the town’s contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

an advisory body, but we can send a message that something like this doesn’t meet our code requirements. It’s a really thinly veiled attempt that’s laughable, actually, to claim that we’re trying to preserve a polo field, and in order to do that, we have to give up 47 acres of equestrian uses.”

Sood, the owner of 24 Karat Ranch on E Road, has been sharply critical of the town’s financial policies, particularly during the most recent year’s budget process.

BALLOT QUESTIONS

The current council has added one charter amendment to the March ballot and is in the process of adding two more.

The first question, which is already confirmed for the ballot, would allow the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board to serve as the town’s canvassing board for municipal elections. The canvassing board audits election results.

At the request of the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office, most municipalities now use the countywide board for this purpose, since keeping a townonly board is expensive and less efficient.

The council approved the first

PZA Board Member Elizabeth Mariaca was the only one open to approving the project. She emphasized that she is confident in village staff’s recommendation for approval and that there needs to be more willingness to consider different types of proposals.

reading of two additional ballot questions at a meeting Nov. 18. Final approval of both is set for Tuesday, Dec. 2. The first would allow charter officers, such as the town manager and town attorney, to be removed by a simple majority vote, rather than a supermajority vote. This came up when the council decided to hire Jeff Kurtz as an in-house town attorney, and it was noted that he could be hired on a 3-2 vote, but it would take a 4-1 vote to dismiss him. During that process, the council reached a consensus to support the proposed change. Also related to the attorney’s job is the third potential ballot question, which would put limits on the town attorney’s required review of contracts. Council members have said that the current language is over burdening and leads to unnecessary increases in legal expenses.

“I find it so interesting that there’s… this innate anger and sense that landowners and developers don’t have the right to have ideas, to develop land and to present proposals,” Mariaca said. “I feel like this group listened… They realized this could be a very unique opportunity for Wellington, the National Polo Club, the developer and the community.” In the end, the board voted 6-1 not to recommend approval of the request to support the rezoning and new master plan. The proposal will now head to the Wellington Village Council, which will make the final decision if the developers can proceed with the project.

Isla Carroll PZA Board

Sonali Mendiratta, Mary Coleman, Elliot Bonner, and John and Julie Kime serve a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

The club kids loved to pet K9 therapy dog Charlie, handled by PBSO Deputy Roy Gonzalez.

Julie Kime, Ray Griffith, Martin Hopper, Dustin Fulton, Luis Diaz, Shaunn Burrell, Maureen Greco and John Kime.

Marcella Montesinos and Shelly Albright.

John and Julie Kime have been volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club for 38 years.

Camille and Maci with their meals.

Ben Lopez, Mariam Abraham, Julie Trieste and Jenn Diogo of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital.

Capt. Nichole Addazio with A.J. and K9 therapy dog Charlie.

Promyce, Camille, Macie, Leah and Gianna enjoy dinner.

Roy Gonzalez with K9 Charlie, Brad Shouse, Jen Baker, Brian Cullen, Capt. Nichole Addazio, Harold Harper and Casey Lussier from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Nichole Addazio, Sonali Mendiratta and Mary Coleman get ready to serve dinner.

Event volunteers gather for a group photo.

Lee S. Freidman, MD

Randy S. Katz, MD

Steven M. Naids, MD

Megan A. Rowlands, MD

James M. Walsh, OD

WELLINGTON FLORIST INVITES COMMUNITY TO SEASONAL OPEN HOUSE EVENT

Wellington Florist held its Seasonal Open House on Thursday, Nov. 13. The event included

free bouquet bar, attendees got to create their own bouquet. Wellington Florist is located at 13889

the Wellington Marketplace. Learn more at www.wellingtonflorist.com.

Program On Agricultural Classification

Dec. 4 In RPB

The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office invites the community to attend “From Downtown to the Fields: Agricultural Classification Made Simple” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4 at the Royal Palm Beach branch library, located at 500 Civic Center Way. This informative session, led by Agriculture Manager Keith Alexander, will offer a clear overview of agricultural classification, what qualifies as bona fide agricultural use and how the process can benefit local property owners in the western communities.

To learn more about the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office, visit www.pbcpao.gov.

Western Pines Middle School

Open House

Western Pines Middle School, located at 5949 140th Avenue North, will host an open house for its academy programs on Thursday, Dec. 11 starting at 5 p.m. The open house, which is for incoming students interested in becoming part of the school family for the 2026-27 school year, will feature the Graphic Arts, Pre-Information Technology and Pre-Medical Sciences academies available at Western Pines. The choice application process for next

and store

At

NEWS BRIEFS

school year is now open at www. mypbchoiceapp.com.

Celtic Winter Faire At John

Prince Park

The Celtic Winter Faire will return to John Prince Park on Dec. 13-14 and Dec. 20-21, inviting guests to step through the portal and into a Renaissance Faire-style celebration of Celtic folklore, food and holiday cheer. This year’s theme, the Year of the Gnome, brings a mischievous twist to a beloved local tradition filled with live music, artisans and entertainment. Visitors will cheer during the World Famous Gnome Race, laugh at the spirited Horseless Joust and be captivated by falconry

demonstrations that showcase these magnificent birds up close. Returning favorites include dazzling belly dancers, enchanting mermaids and the melodic chime of Bells2Go’s Carillon. Families can explore two lively taverns serving ale and hearty fare like turkey legs, join free sword classes, take aim at the free traditional archery range and enjoy free watercolor classes. Metalwork comes to life with both blacksmithing demonstrations and guest “havea-go” sessions where visitors can safely try their hand at the anvil. Don’t miss Nicholas of the Whispering Pines, the island’s own Santa Claus, for free visits and photos. Brave visitors may even encounter Krampus and Mari Lwyd representing Germanic and Welsh holiday traditions.

“The Year of the Gnome celebrates humor, craftsmanship and community,” organizer Ben Kerr of Fae Festivals said. “It’s a chance for everyone, from families to fantasy fans, to step into a world of music, laughter and magic.” Event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free, on-site parking. Tickets are available now at www. celticwinterfaire.com.

Peggy Adams Adoption Event Set For Nov. 28

The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is encouraging people to “Adopt, Don’t Shop” this holiday season by offering “Black Furiday” fee-waived adoptions for cats, dogs, puppies and kittens.

Come find a new addition to your family on Friday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 3200 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Peggy Adams has a variety of adorable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens looking for their forever homes. All adoptable pets are spayed/ neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. A $20 rabies fee tag does apply to all Palm Beach County residents adopting a pet. To view available adoptable animals and learn about the adoption process, visit www.peggyadams.org/adopt. If you are unable to adopt but still would like to help Peggy Adams care for animals in the community, consider donating items through the Wish List. For more information, visit www. peggyadams.org/wishlists.

Denyce Davis, Lenyce Boyd and Mair Armand.

Melinda Varvarigos and Felicia Wright. Carolina Perez and Venessa Aragones.

Susan Basham, Diana Martinez, Marilyn Lapsley and Ginny Williams.

Cailey Poirier and Stacey Poirier.

Nataliya Stepanets and Cressa Bronson. Dr. Gordon Johnson and Lizz Smith.

Wellington Florist team members Heather Arney, Linda Rodriguez, Connie Washburn, J.P. Varvarigos, Lastenia Licin, Britney McCarey, Leann Adubato, Marcus Akins and Jordan Wood. Terri Kane and David Wiggins.

Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone with Melissa Varvarigos.

Election Wellington Council

continued from page 1

sity in the village to prevent congestion and maintain the current quality of Wellington’s services.

Other key issues are to lower taxes, reduce regulations to make it easier to start businesses and increase investment in village amenities.

“I want to look at every single dollar coming into the village and every single dollar going out,” Meier said. “I want to streamline all of our practices, making sure that we don’t have an excessive amount of overlap in any of these different branches of our government.”

Meier is also a member of the Wellington Rotary Club and a former president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve been in the community since 2006. I’m not a politician — I’m a guy from Oklahoma,” Meier said. “If you’re voting for someone who knows how to manage people and improve any system, that’s me.”

Learn more about Meier at www.johnnyforwellington.com.

Elizabeth Pandich — Pandich is a fairly new full-time resident of Wellington, but has been active in the village’s equestrian community for many years. She is the owner of a horse training and riding business.

“Our residents want sensible growth with better communication from the village and decisions that are looking out for the long-term goals of our community,” Pandich said. “I’ve been listening and feel that I can hear their requests and represent them with a fresh set of eyes.”

One of her biggest focuses is to keep tabs on government agencies and legislation that can impact the village.

“I want to understand them and advocate for our village to the best of my abilities with having the title of council person,” Pandich said. “I would like to represent all of us fully and completely.”

Key issues for her are protecting open space, ensuring developments are appropriate for the context of the village and encouraging positive leadership.

“I would like things to feel positive and transparent so that [the council] can be at their highest level of productivity for the benefit of the community,” Pandich said.

She emphasized that her leadership style, along with her understanding of broad issues, will lead to proactive governance and creative ideas.

Before her council campaign, Pandich previously filed paperwork to run for a congressional seat during the 2026 cycle. Learn more about Pandich at www.pandich2026.com.

Tatiana Yaques — An attorney and small business owner, Yaques has lived in Wellington for more than 20 years. She said she has deep roots in the community and an understanding of the problems that the village is facing.

“I feel it’s really important for whoever steps up to lead the community to really, truly understand what the issues are,” Yaques said. “I want to be able to serve my community by being a thoughtful member of the council and the local government that leads it forward into the future as best as possible.”

Like Meier, she is also a current

member of the village’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board.

One of the most significant issues for Yaques is development in the village and how to handle demand while also maintaining the quality of life of residents. She wants to hold developers accountable and make sure they keep their promises.

Other priorities are to support small businesses, maintain the equestrian identity of the village, protect the Equestrian Preserve Area, continue investment into public schools and provide housing options for people in all stages of life.

“The issues that are important foremost are to try to keep a balanced and thoughtful discussion between all the different things that Wellington is involved in, and to make sure that we listen to the input of our residents, of our businesses, of all the stakeholders of Wellington to try to come up with reasoned solutions,” Yaques said. Most of all, she emphasizes that

she is committed to the village and wants to ensure its prosperity.

“My only allegiance is to Wellington, and the reason that I’m running is because I love Wellington,” Yaques said. “I want to be able to use my skills to fight for and protect Wellington.”

Learn more about Yaques at www.votetatianayaques.com.

SEAT 3

The candidates for Seat 3 include a diverse range of backgrounds, from real estate and finance to equestrian and entrepreneurship.

Lauren Brody — A Realtor and an equestrian, Brody has made a name for herself by speaking out against projects in Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Area. She wants to run for the council to take residents’ opinions into account in decisions and improve fairness.

“I decided to run because I felt that if I don’t do it, I don’t know who’s going to,” Brody said. “I feel that Wellington needs a big change.”

Her biggest priority is protecting land in the Equestrian Preserve Area and stopping overdevelopment. Other key issues are to improve oversight on development in Wellington to ensure that infrastructure is in place before changing zoning and approving projects.

Brody also wants to increase accessibility by making council materials easier to find, revamping the village’s web site to make it more user-friendly, and providing improved communication between the village and residents.

“Wellington is a very unique and special place, and when people come here, it’s for a reason,” Brody said. “I think that the council in the last several years has lost sight of that, and they are attempting to turn Wellington into something that it wasn’t when all of the residents that live here came. I don’t think that is right, and I don’t think that’s fair.”

Outside of her campaign, Brody is a Realtor specializing in equestrian properties. She is also an amateur show jumper.

Learn more about Brody at www.laurenforwellington.com.

Stephen Levin — Levin comes to the council race after years as a

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volunteer on Wellington advisory boards. He spent eight years on Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board, and he now serves as vice chair of Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, and on the School District of Palm Beach County’s Advisory Boundary Committee. He is also known for organizing the Western Ride, a charitable bicycle event that raises funds for Women in Distress.

“I wanted to make sure I had a reasonable amount of diverse experience, credibility, and the timing was right now,” Levin said. “When the opportunity came, I made sure I was the first one to file.”

Levin believes that his enthusiasm to run for the council shows his drive to continue to build a safer and more connected community.

“Every day I’m meeting new people and visiting new organizations in the community to make sure that I know what they’re about,” Levin said. “We have a number of amazing service organizations within the Village of Wellington, and anything I can do to lend them my support, I’m happy to do.”

The key issues for Levin are to maintain the neighborhood lifestyle of Wellington, keep taxes and utility costs low, preserve the Equestrian Preserve Area, promote education programs in the village and invest in smart infrastructure.

Learn more about Levin at www.votelevin.com.

Paulo Santana — After moving from Wellington to Loxahatchee Groves to run for a council seat there earlier this year before dropping out of the race, Santana is back in Wellington seeking a council seat.

The 20-year resident of Wellington is an equestrian show jumper and owns a horse stall cleaning business that provides horse waste management services. The key issues for him are working on traffic control for commercial vehicles and increasing benefits for teachers, firefighters and law enforcement.

“My focus is to keep Wellington strong to attract and benefit year-round residents, which is

the majority of what Wellington is right now,” Santana said. “Especially everything that’s directed toward education, children and sports.”

He also wants to ensure that big developers are paying fair tax contributions and addressing agricultural exemptions to redistribute those funds back to the community.

“I would like to use this opportunity to reward these people with some programs by switching taxes that are misplaced… and bring it back to village workers,” Santana said.

Josh Zillmer — With a background in finance and investment services, Zillmer is heavily prioritizing fiscal responsibility.

“I want to make sure that every dollar spent is where most of our constituents can use it for the services that we offer,” Zillmer said. “I believe that having my finance background is something that’s going to be important for the next four years.”

Besides being a wealth management business owner, Zillmer sits on Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and is the president of the Western Communities Football League. Zillmer wants to ensure that essential services that the village relies on are maintained, especially because the Florida Legislature is considering reducing or even eliminating property taxes. He wants to conduct assessments and community discussions to make sure that no taxpayer dollars are wasted.

The father of four also wants to give back to a community that has given so much to his family and, most importantly, stay local.

“I’ve been approached and recruited to run as a state house representative and all these other positions — my answer is simple: my heart is local,” Zillmer said. “I want to stay here in Wellington, and I want to do something great for our community.”

Other key issues are keeping Wellington safe, family-centered and improving the quality of life through responsible growth instead of overdevelopment. Learn more about Zillmer at www.votejoshzillmer.com.

Wellington Holiday Parade Returns

The 41st annual Wellington Holiday Parade will return on Sunday, Dec. 14 with the theme “Celebrating the Season Throughout the Years.”

The parade

ITID Holiday Parade And Event Dec. 6

continued from page 1 would equal roughly 22 cents per resident.

“We have a wonderful, diverse community,” Vassalotti said. “When you break it down, it’s

totally worth it to bring everyone together. It’s a no-brainer.”

“Everything is moving forward,” Hanson added. “Most of the setup will happen two days before. We already have a lot of volunteers, but we can always use more.” For vendor or food truck information, or to volunteer, call the ITID Parks & Recreation Department at (561) 793-0874.

14

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The Robert Sharon Chorale will present “A Program of Holiday

Johnny Meier Elizabeth Pandich Tatiana Yaques

Lauren Brody Stephen Levin Paulo Santana Josh Zillmer

SENIORS FRIENDSGIVING LUNCH AT THE WELLINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER

The Village of Wellington hosted a Seniors Friendsgiving Lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Wellington Community Center. Local seniors celebrated the season with lunch and fun activities. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Boys & Girls Clubs Announce 2026 Youth Of The Year Finalists

Other finalists include:

The seven Youth of the Year finalists have been named by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. This marks the beginning of a life-changing journey for these talented club members. From personal and professional development to networking and community service, these teens will explore and learn new skills and strengths over the coming months.

Once again, the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation will provide each finalist a four-year college scholarship, and the ultimate winner will receive a four-year scholarship that includes room and board.

Another finalist with a local connection is Samuel Satine, representing the Marjorie S. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of West Palm Beach, who attends Royal Palm Beach High School. His goal is to attend Florida Atlantic University to study entrepreneurship. His achievements include significant personal growth, leadership and mentoring.

The Youth of the Year process will culminate in an inspiring event where each finalist will get to share their stories with an audience of board members, community partners, families and peers. The 2026 finalists include Fredley Cornet, representing the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington. He is a student at John I. Leonard High School, and his goal is to attend Florida A&M University to study civil engineering. His achievements include creating a podcast, and participating in basketball, football, swimming and soccer.

• Amari Benjamin, representing the Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club in Riviera Beach, who attends Riviera Beach Prep.

• Makalah Browning, representing the Smith & Moore Family Teen Center of Belle Glade, who attends Glades Central High School.

• Brendon Isaac, representing the Boca Raton Boys & Girls Club, who attends Boca Raton High School.

• Brooklyn Jones, representing the Florence De George Boys & Girls Club of West Palm Beach, who attends Palm Beach Lakes High School.

• Jeff Raymond, representing the Boys & Girls Club of Delray Beach, who attends Atlantic High School.

The finalists were selected to represent their club by a preliminary competition that included a comprehensive application, three essays, three letters of recommendation and an interview in front of a panel of community leaders.

“Congratulations to these seven incredible individuals who have worked tirelessly to become leaders within the clubs and their communities. These finalists best represent the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County,” said Jaene Miranda, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

“Special thanks to our sponsors who make it possible for these scholarships to help these finalists achieve their academic dreams.”

The 20 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Palm Beach County

Amy Yuzenas, Susan Basham, Marilyn Lapsley and Ginny Williams.

Patty McFarland, Monique Lananna, Margie Cruzado and Jenny Lopez.

Colleen Mountain with Sandra and Wayne Papciak.

Rosa Norton, Sue Weinstein, Tony Alfalla, John Norton and Jeff Weinstein.

Brenda and Glenn Ikalina.

Linda Vaillancourt and Gladys Brigham.

Deputies Roy Gonzalez and Casey Lussier, with therapy K9 Charlie, visit with seniors.

Kitty Cross, Joanne DeBole, Mary Ann Boomhower, Sandra Anderson, Mary Lala, Norma Heelan, Bella Wissing, Cookie Mancini and Dee Venezia.

(Seated) Myriam Olshina, Leonor Gomez, Clarita Urrea, German Urrea and Marco Gomez; and (standing) Felicita Rodriguez, Elissa Harduby and Linda Catron.

Youth Of The Year Finalists — Fredley Cornet, Jeff Raymond, Brooklyn Jones, Samuel Satine, Makalah Browning, Amari Benjamin and Brendon Isaac. PHOTO BY TRACEY BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY

SEMPER FI SERVICE DOGS HOLDS TURKEY TROT 5K

On Sunday, Nov. 23, Semper Fi Service Dogs held its annual Turkey Trot 5K at

registered to help raise funds and awareness for the local nonprofit, which rescues dogs and

veterans. Other organizations, such as Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue, partner with Semper Fi

about Semper Fi Service Dogs, visit www.semperfiservicedogs.org.

PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

The 5K runners leave the starting line.

The Royal Palm Beach High School color guard during the opening ceremony.

Kevin and Isabella Bradlow, Marion and Tim Sachse, and Vincent Kucmierowski.

Representatives of Semper Fi Service Dogs at the event.

Members of Project 425 brought out some military vehicles to the event.

Emma Sandoval, the first female finisher and secondplace finisher overall, crosses the finish line.

Lara Boner dressed for the Thanksgiving-themed 5K.

Sam Dyckman and Ike Jebb.

Hayley Fuller and Derek McLean with their medals.

Ryan and Amanda Onda of Semper Fi Service Dogs.

Ryan Onda and Johnathon Musgrave of Semper Fi Service Dogs.

Mission BBQ’s Lisa Whisnand and Ashley Ortega.

Ike Jebb was the first-place finisher in the 5K.

Olivia Macomber meets some of the puppies up for adoption.

Dustin Richardson with service dog Bandit.

Joanna Maud with two-year-old Levi.

CHAMBERS’ FARM CITY LUNCHEON ADDRESSES ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, in collaboration with the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau and presenting sponsor Baptist Health, hosted the annual Farm City Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. The luncheon was dedicated to addressing the critical issue of food insecurity in Palm Beach County. A panel of community leaders provided key insights and discussed solutions to ensure that everyone has access to consistent, healthy meals. The conversation was moderated by Caroline Villanueva of Florida Crystals and featured panelists School Board Member Erica Whitfield, Fabiola Brumley of Bank of America, Jamie Kendall of the Palm Beach County Food Bank and Martha Lynn of the Light House Café of the Glades.

In Loving Memory of Mary Lou Pilous

August 19, 1947 – November 11, 2025

Mary Lou Pilous was born on August 19, 1947, to the late Rudy Pilous, the legendary Canadian hockey coach, and Margaret Steele. Though born in the United States, she spent her early years in Canada, where her creativity and love of art began to flourish.

An accomplished artist and designer, Mary Lou developed a passion for interior design, painting, and stained-glass work. One of her proudest artistic achievements was contributing a stained-glass installation displayed at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, a lasting symbol of her talent and vision.

In the early 1990s, Mary Lou moved to Florida with her son, Jeremy, where she spent more than thirty years building a life filled with art, design, and community. Her eye for beauty and bold sense of style led her to design many homes throughout South Florida, each one uniquely reflecting her creative spirit.

Mary Lou was well known for her love of animals. Her dogs were her constant companions, Bijoux, Maggie, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Buster, and Brandon, names she lovingly reused through the years for the many pets who shared her life. Over time she cared for, fostered, and babysat more than twenty dogs, each one treated like family. She was a familiar face at the dog park, always surrounded by wagging tails and laughter.

She had a flair for independence, often seen behind the wheel of her Jaguar or Jeep, always with a story to tell or a creative idea to share. Mary Lou found joy in giving, through her handmade creations, thoughtful gestures, and the many ideas she dreamed up during her long, creative visits to Michaels and Home Depot. She is survived by her beloved son Jeremy and his wife Nikki, who ensured her final year was spent with care, dignity, and love. She also leaves behind her dear friends Ellen and Paulette, her loving neighbors, and many more friends throughout Wellington and Palm Beach, all of whom brought color and comfort to her life.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Yasmeen and the entire team at Helping Hands Assisted Living, whose kindness and dedication provided Mary Lou with comfort, companionship, and peace in her final months.

Mary Lou lived boldly, created beautifully, and loved deeply. Her creativity filled homes, her compassion touched lives, and her spirit continues to shine through every design, painting, and memory she left behind.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 a.m., followed by a service at 12:00 p.m. on December 6, 2025, at Palms West Funeral Home and Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Danny & Ron’s Rescue or the Palm Beach Parrot & Bird Rescue, causes close to Mary Lou’s heart. www.dannyronsrescue.org/donate or www.palmbeachparrotrescue.com/donate

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Mo Staples, Jessica Clasby and Annabell Manners at the Florida Sugar Cane League table.

Ben Boynton, Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara, Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone, Frank Gonzalez, Wellington Councilman John McGovern and Kevin Wedgworth.

Olivia Pope, Ann Holt, Buddy McKinstry, Eva Webb, Keith Wedgworth, Sam Phares and Hannah Love.

Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone, Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind, Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri, Councilwoman Maria Antuña and Councilman John McGovern.

Palm Beach County Vice Mayor Marcy Woodward, Mayor Sara Baxter, Keith Wedgworth, Commissioner Maria Sachs and Commissioner Maria Marino with the proclamation declaring Nov. 19-26 as Farm City Week.

Pam Rada, Jessica Clasby, Julia Dattolo and Julia Murphy.

Mark Pereira, Taylor Musumeci, Owen Arbour, Amanda Cairo and Austin Floeck.

PBCFR Capt. Janice Vassalotti and ITID Supervisor Richard Vassalotti.

Don and Maureen Gross with Ben Boynton and Walter Imperatore.

Habitat for Humanity’s Tyler McAfee, Brittany Parish, Zenia Mackey and Anthony Nastase.

Michael Gauger, Tim Pachis, Adriane Hill and Paige Poole promote the South Florida Fair.

ITID President Elizabeth and Steve Accommando.

Wellington Regional Medical Center’s Samantha Rubin, Pam Tahan and Elizabeth Rochaine.

LaJoyce Perry-Trotter, Cosha Jackson-Rease, Timothy Jaszczak, Dr. Charlene Ford, Kevin Brown, Sotoya Stanley, Elizabeth Thompson, School Board Member Marcia Andrews and Preston Ford at the West Tech table.

(L-R) Panel Martha Lynn, Erica Whitfield, Fabiola Brumley and Jamie Kendall with moderator Caroline Villanueva.

Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps with Dana Meve at the Palm Beach State College booth.

Kevin Wedgworth and Keith Wedgworth congratulate Ben Boynton (center) on being part of the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau’s Pioneer Family of the Year.

Bank of America presented a check for $50,000 to the Palm Beach County Food Bank. Shown are Fabiola Brumley, Jamie Kendell and Ilan Kaufer.

WHS Boys Basketball Team Has High Hopes For The Season

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington High School boys varsity basketball coach Matthew Colin has high hopes for his team, which started the current season with a pair of decisive back-toback wins.

In their season and home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 19, the Wolverines dominated Park Vista High School 70-31. Then, on Friday, Nov. 21, the Wolverines traveled to Boca Raton to play Olympic Heights High School.

Wellington won that game by 10 points, 50-40.

On Friday, Nov. 28, Wellington will host the Scots from St. Andrew’s School at 7 p.m.

Three of the key players for Wellington this season will be a trio of returners from last year — Rashard Reinhardt, Chase Lombardo and Julius Smith.

“Those three gave us important minutes last season and understand our expectations,” said Colin, now in his 19th year as the boys varsity basketball coach at WHS.

Besides scoring points, grabbing rebounds, dishing out assists and making steals to help Wellington win, Reinhardt and Lombardo have the added responsibility of being team captains.

“They’re both new to the role, but they’re learning every day what it means to lead a team, the responsibilities, the communication and the sacrifices that come with it,” Colin said. “I’m expecting them to set the tone with their work ethic, keep our group connected and grow into voices we can rely on throughout the season.”

Two of the more talented additions to this year’s team are Canaan Gedeon and Colton Snelgrove.

“They’ve stepped in right away with size, toughness and versatility,” Colin said. Colin likes the idea of Reinhardt, Lombardo, Smith, Gedeon and Snelgrove playing on the court at the same time.

“Together, this group gives us a strong foundation to build on,” he said.

As with all winning basketball teams, one of the big keys to Wellington’s success will be the team’s ability to play a strong defense.

“We’re primarily a man-to-man team,” Colin said. “We’ll mix in other looks when the situation calls for it, but our identity starts with solid man defense and trusting our guys to guard.”

If Wellington is going to have another 20-plus-win season, then the Wolverines will have to bring their “A” game to the gym for every practice and every game.

“Palm Beach Central will be our toughest competition in the district,” Colin said. “Outside of that, we’ve got a strong lineup with teams like St. Andrew’s, Jupiter, Suncoast, Miami Northwestern and William T. Dwyer. Every year we play one of the toughest schedules in Palm Beach County, and this season is no different. Our guys will have to be ready every night.”

And Colin expects his team to be ready every night.

WHS Swimmers Da Silva And Granison Earn First Place At States

By Mike May

Wellington High School senior

swimmer Andreas Da Silva had a standout performance at the recently completed Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 4A State Swimming & Diving Championships, held Friday, Nov. 14 in Ocala. Da Silva finished with four first-place gold medals in four events.

According to WHS head swimming coach Richard Whalen, Da Silva’s winning performances were historic for the WHS swimming program.

“Andreas was the first swimmer in the history of Wellington High School to win four gold medals at the state meet,” Whalen said.

Da Silva, one of six male WHS swimmers competing in Ocala, captured first place in two individual events and two relay teams. His winning events were the boys 100-yard freestyle (43.72), the boys 100-yard backstroke (48.42), the boys 200-yard freestyle relay (1:22.80) and the boys 400-yard freestyle relay (3:01.50).

Da Silva was joined in the 200yard freestyle relay by junior Julian Granison, senior Dillon Metz and sophomore Oliver Fergus. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Da Silva’s teammates were Granison, Metz and senior Everhart Fergus. Da Silva was not the only WHS swimmer who had memorable performances in Ocala. Granison won three gold medals and one

silver medal. Granison’s first-place performances were in the 50-yard freestyle (20.11) and as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Granison’s silver medal was in the boys 100-yard freestyle (43.96), which was won by Da Silva. In that race, Da Silva and Granison had the two fastest times from the morning preliminary races, which put them side-by-side in lanes five and six for the evening championship final. Da Silva won by less than three-tenths of a second. Other standout individual performances were by the brothersister tandem of Veronica Metz and Dillon Metz. Veronica is a sophomore, while Dillon is a senior. In the girls 200-yard freestyle

Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League Preparing For A New Season

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The 2025-26 stickball season is about to get underway. The opening day of the 24th season of the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2. It would have been the league’s 25th season had the 2020-21 season not been canceled due to the pandemic. As in years past, the games will be held at Village Park in Wellington. On opening day, Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone will throw out the first pitch in game one, while Wycliffe Golf & Country Club General Manager Rob Martin will throw out the first pitch in game two. Game one, between the Atlantic Whalers and the Brooklyn Bums, will start at 1 p.m., while the sec-

ond game, featuring the Hoboken Zephyrs and the Bronx Clippers, will begin at 2:30 p.m. The fifth team in the league, which has a bye on opening day, is the New York Egg Creams.

The general public is welcome to come and watch the games. There is no charge to attend. All the regular season games will be held on Tuesday afternoons.

According to Wycliffe Stiffs spokesman Arthur Spector, each of the five teams in the league will play 13 regular season games. To date, 76 players are registered to play in the upcoming season.

Two individuals have played in every stickball season since the league’s inception back in 2002. They are Harry Klaff and Marty Ross. Ross — nicknamed “The

Commish” — has strong feelings about the importance of the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League in the daily lives of its participants.

“We are dedicated to keeping stickball a tradition, not just a game,” Ross said.

This year, the oldest player is 95-year-old Gil Seidman, and the youngest player is 41-year-old Sean Siegrist.

Of the 76 participants in the 2025-26 league, 24 of them are current members of the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball Hall of Fame. The 2026 Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The last regular season game is scheduled for March 10, 2026, with the league championship game played on Tuesday, March 24.

and 500-yard freestyle, Veronica had two second-place finishes. She lost the championship race in the 200-yard freestyle by the slimmest of margins — two one-hundredths of a second. Veronica’s time was 1:49.99. The winner was Taylor Schwenk of Sarasota’s Riverview High School, with a winning time was 1:49.97. In the girls 500-yard freestyle, Veronica was the runnerup behind Clare Custer of Sarasota Riverview. Veronica’s time was 4:50.83, while Custer’s winning time was 4:44.59. In the boys 200-yard freestyle, Dillon was 10th with a time of 1:42.09.

As for the other Wellington female swimmers, senior Lainsley Stegall, freshman Gabrielle Rivarola, senior Natalie Honzik and Veronica Metz finished in 15th place in the girls 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:40.9. Whalen couldn’t have been prouder of every WHS swimmer competing in Ocala. “They all swam well. I’m extremely proud of our swimmers. It was fantastic,” Whalen said. “It was the perfect time to swim fast. That was also the most amount of gold medals [five] won at a state meet for Wellington High School. Our last state champion in swimming was back in 2016 with Cody Cline, who won the 50-yard freestyle in 20.1 seconds.”

The individual performances by Da Silva (100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke), Granison (50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle), and Veronica Metz (200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle) were fast enough to be classified as Automatic AllAmerican times. As a team, the Wolverines finished in fourth place in the boys team standings with 169 points. Sarasota High School, with 231 points, won the boys division. Wellington’s girls

finished in a 15th place tie with 38 points. Riverview captured the girls competition with 395 points. In addition to the strong performances by the swimmers from WHS at this year’s Class 4A state meet, there were three state records set in Ocala, in the girls 200-yard medley relay (Windermere High School, 1:38.96), girls 100-yard freestyle (Rylee Erisman, Windermere, 46.73), and the girls 200yard freestyle relay (Windermere, 3:19.16).

Coach Matthew Colin provides guidance during a game last season against Royal Palm Beach High School.

Town-Crier Staff Report

Harry Klaff and Marty Ross of the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League at Wellington’s Village Park.

WHS swimmers (L-R) Dillon Metz, Julian Granison, Andreas Da Silva and Oliver Fergus, who won the gold medal in the 200-yard freestyle relay. PHOTOS BY JENNIFER METZ

Andreas Da Silva with his four gold medals.

Veronica Metz (center) took second in the 200-yard freestyle.

Museum Of Polo Announces Upcoming Hall Of Fame Inductees

The board of directors of the Museum of Polo has announced the 2026 inductees into the museum’s Polo Hall of Fame. The honorees are White Birch patron Peter Brant; arena polo star Billy Stevens; entrepreneur, philanthropist, club owner and high-goal polo patron Melissa Ganzi; early pioneer Elisabeth “Pansy” Ireland Poe; equine advocate Clint Nangle; and legendary horses Citroen and Longpocket.

In addition, Joe Casey Sr. will receive his 2025 Iglehart Award. He was unable to attend last year because of illness.

For the first time, the annual scholastic and collegiate awards presented by the Polo Training Foundation will also be held during the Hall of Fame ceremony. The PTF is dedicated to teaching youth confidence, discipline and leadership through the sport of polo.

The 37th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner is one of the premier social events of the winter polo season. It is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of Polo, located at 9011 Lake Worth Road.

Peter Brant — Brant developed the powerhouse White Birch team and organization that dominated high-goal polo in the United States for about 25 years, beginning in 1979. This spurred other teams to build and maintain a professional organization.

Brant’s teams won 31 tourna-

ments rated at 26 goals or more, including a record 12 USPA Gold Cup titles and five World Cup crowns. White Birch also won the International Open seven times, the C.V. Whitney five times and the Monty Waterbury five times. Their dominance included winning the U.S. Open in 2005.

Individually, Brant achieved a 7-goal handicap, becoming one of the highest-rated amateur players in modern history and is second with 11 career USPA Gold Cup tournament titles. Off the field, he co-founded the Greenwich Polo Club and revived the sport at both the Saratoga and Bridgehampton clubs.

Billy Stevens — Midwesterner Billy Stevens held an 8-goal arena handicap for 13 years and played competitively for 60 years until retiring in 2004. His numerous titles ranged from 6-goal to 20-goal and included the U.S. Open Arena Championship in 1980 and 1981, the 14-goal Continental Cup in 1975 and 1976, the 20-goal North American Cup in 1976, and the National 12-goal Arena in 1959.

Elisabeth “Pansy” Ireland Poe — Poe, a trailblazing pioneer who unofficially became the first woman player to obtain a handicap rating with the USPA in 1925, will be the posthumous Hall of Fame inductee.

Early in her career, the fivefoot-tall Poe played both on the grass and in the arena regularly and proved to be a formidable opponent to her male counterparts.

She dared to register with the USPA under the initials P.E. Ireland and received a handicap. However, after it was discovered that she was a woman, she was booted out of the association. That didn’t deter Pansy, as she continued to play polo and helped pioneer the United States Women’s Polo Association.

She was also an accomplished hunter/jumper rider, fox hunter and expert thoroughbred racehorse breeder.

Poe inherited her family’s home, Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia, and it became a museum after her death in 1978. On the second floor is the Elisabeth Ireland Poe Gallery, where her collection of American and British sporting art is exhibited.

Melissa Ganzi — The Iglehart Award recipient for contributions to the sport is Melissa Ganzi, an innovative pioneer whose generosity and enthusiasm for philanthropy is legendary. She is the owner of the Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm, both in Wellington, and the Aspen Valley Polo Club, and she co-founded the 26-goal World Polo League.

Ganzi has passionately elevated the profile of women athletes, making it a priority to give them numerous opportunities to play and learn through the Polo School Women’s Weekly Polo League.

She established the SunnyShip scholarship to honor the legacy of Hall of Famer Sunny Hale, generally acknowledged as the greatest

women’s polo player of all time.

Ganzi has also been instrumental in raising money for the Work to Ride program and annually hosts several charity events at Grand Champions and Aspen Valley.

Ganzi has generously given of her time and expertise as the longtime chair of the Polo Training Foundation and is currently the president of the Museum of Polo.

As a player, Ganzi achieved many historical firsts since getting a polo pony from her father-in-law for her birthday in 2000. A year later, she became the first woman to win the prestigious Monty Waterbury Cup.

Another significant first include Ganzi and her daughter, Riley, as the first mother and daughter to play in the same U.S. Open in 2022. Ganzi is also very involved in bringing teams to snow polo tournaments around the world.

Joe Casey — 2025 Iglehart Award inductee Joe Casey set the pace as one of the first large-scale professional managers of the sport. While working in Tulsa for John T. Oxley in the 1960s, he managed horses for a high-goal team as well as the breeding operation and played on Oxley’s teams. He also was one of the first to go to Argentina to find additional horses for American high-goal polo. Many young players benefited from his knowledge and instruction.

On the field, Casey won the British Gold Cup with Oxley’s

Boca Raton in 1970. Other top highlights include winning the 1966 12-goal with Tulsa and capturing the Bronze Trophy and Inter-Circuit in 1981, also with Tulsa.

Clint Nangle — Nangle is being honored as the posthumous Iglehart Award recipient. He will be remembered as a caring, kind, dignified champion of the sport. Clint, a natural-born lefty who started in polo at Myopia in 1962, was always positive and passionate about doing what was good for the betterment of polo, complemented by prioritizing good sportsmanship.

Nangle spent more than 20 years as a USPA governor, 10 of those as the first elected circuit governor of the Florida/Caribbean Circuit, which led to explosive growth and leadership of the circuit. He also spent 10 years as a governor-at-large and was the Club Polo Committee chair and a member of nine other USPA committees and three special committees.

Nangle was also the founder and chair of the USPA Equine Welfare Committee, which spotlighted awareness on the horses and implemented important policies on behalf of polo’s fourlegged athletes for more than 20 years. Other accolades include winning the Hugo Dalmar Trophy for Sportsmanship in 2013 and National Equine Welfare Award in 2014. Nangle was also dedicated

to the Museum of Polo and served on the board from 1997 until 2015. Horses to Remember — The Horses to Remember honoree of the early pre-Hartman era is Citroen, the Argentine-bred chestnut gelding purchased by Robert Lehman. Citroen won numerous major awards, including the 1928 Susan Townley Cup in Argentina. Citroen was also judged best polo pony in the 1930 and 1931 National Polo Pony Society Show, a rare feat for a gelding. Citroen was played by Hall of Famer Eric Pedley en route to victory in the 1930 Westchester Cup. Billy Mulcahy’s raw-boned and wiry Australian thoroughbred Longpocket will be recognized as Horses to Remember for the post-Hartman Award era. Numerous high-goalers, including Memo Gracida, Esteban Panelo, Piki Alberdi, Juni Crotto and Mike Azzaro, played Longpocket. In the 80-goal match in California in 1990, Longpocket played three out of seven chukkers. Longpocket was sturdy and rock-steady, with a big chest carrying a huge heart. The black-tie Hall of Fame Awards Dinner is the most important annual fundraising event for the museum, an independently run, not-for-profit organization. Tickets are $350 per person and $3,500 for a table of 10. Call (561) 969-3210 or (561) 969-7015, or email info@ polomuseum.org, to make your reservations.

Peter Brant (left) and Melissa Ganzi (right) are among this year’s Polo Hall of Fame inductees.

Posthumous awards will be presented to Elisabeth “Pansy” Ireland Poe (left) and Clint Nangle (right).

Berean, TKA Golfers Compete At The State Championships

By Mike May

Town-Crier Staff Report

At this year’s Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A state golf championship, held Nov. 14-15 at the Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, two schools from the western communities were represented by players in the field.

Berean Christian School was represented by senior Staci Pla in the girls division, while the King’s Academy had both its boys and girls teams competing.

The five boys in the field for TKA were Cameron Cantine, Owen Hicks, Beau Allen, Jacob Melhorn and Hudson Ingram.

The five girls in the field for TKA were sophomore Sophia Christy, junior Callie Nelson, junior Lilly-Kaye Vance, freshman Reese Pender and freshman Selah Nabhan.

In the girls 36-hole competi-

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

tion, which was held on the Las Colinas course, Pla opened with a disappointing six-over-par round of 77. She responded in the second round with a score of one-under-par 70.

“Before the final round, my golf coach reminded me that golf and life are all about the comeback and not the setback,” said Pla, 18, who was one of the strong favorites to be the low medalist at the FHSAA’s Class 1A state golf championship.

Pla’s two-round total of five over par left her in a tie for 24th place in the individual standings. Pla was just one of a handful of players in the field to break par in the second round. In both rounds, Pla finished with a birdie on the 18th hole.

As for the TKA boys, they finished in 15th place in the team competition with a two-round total of 649 (36 over par). The

winning team was the Benjamin School, which won with a tworound total of 572 (four under par). For TKA, Allen shot 87-74 (161; 68th place tie); Melhorn had 85-76 (161; 68th place tie); Hicks recorded 82-80 (162; 73rd place tie); Cantine’s two-round scores were 78-88 (166; 84th place tie); and Ingram’s scores were 86-90 (176; 91st place). The TKA girls finished in 16th place in the team competition. The winning team was Circle Christian from Orlando, which won with a two-round total of 559 (four-under-par). Christy was the low medalist for TKA with a two-round total of 71-80 (151; 35th place tie); Nelson shot 85-87 (172; 72nd place tie); Vance’s two 18-hole scores were 89-94 (183; 86th place); Pender had 96-90 (186; 88th place); and Nabhan’s two scores were 100-93 (193; 91st place).

Boyntons Recognized As 2025 Pioneer Farm Family Of The Year

The Boynton family was recently recognized by the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau as the 2025 Pioneer Farm Family of the Year, awarded for their outstanding commitment to agriculture and the community.

The Boynton family has played a pivotal role in Florida agriculture for more than a century. Their story reflects resilience, innovation and leadership across five generations.

The pioneer families who ventured into the Glades area so many years ago brought their families to the area with the hope and dream that they could provide a better life and prosper. The Boynton story begins with Henry “Grady” Boynton and his wife Catherine Prine, who married in Polk County around 1910. Grady operated a citrus picking and hauling business and became known for his entrepreneurial spirit. To stand out, he painted his car with bold orange and green stripes, earning recognition as “the man with the striped car.”

During the Florida land boom of the 1920s, Grady invested heavily in real estate, becoming a paper millionaire before losing nearly everything in the 1926 collapse. The family retained one property

— a spring-fed swimming pool on the Peace River, where they built a modest business renting swimsuits, selling food and maintaining the pool.

In 1928, after assisting in hurricane recovery near Lake Okeechobee, Grady was captivated by the region’s agricultural potential. By 1929, the family relocated to Canal Point, where Grady farmed vegetables and offered land-preparation services using modified Model T trucks.

A pivotal moment came during the Great Depression when Grady earned $40,000 from a cabbage crop, funding construction of the family’s innovative stilted home — nicknamed “The House That Cabbage Built.” Ever the inventor, Grady designed the house up on stilts and put vents in the floor and fans in the ceiling so the cool air would flow upward off the cool sand under the house. It was probably one of the first air-conditioning-like designs in the Glades. Over time, Grady expanded operations, acquiring and developing hundreds of acres of farmland that remain in the family today. Following World War II, Grady and his son Joe Tom introduced advanced irrigation systems and

later shifted from vegetables to cattle ranching. In 1954, Joe Tom diversified into insurance, founding Seminole Life Insurance Company, which was later sold successfully. The family returned to farming during the sugar boom of the 1960s, helping establish the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative.

Wayne Boynton managed sugarcane operations for more than 40 years before merging with Wedgworth Farms. Today, Ben and Joanna Boynton, along with their children, maintain cattle herds and serve in leadership roles within the agricultural community.

For more than a century, and five generations, the Boynton family has been a cornerstone of Florida agriculture, particularly in western Palm Beach County.

In honor of their impact and contributions to the success of Glades farmers, the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau proudly presented the inaugural Pioneer Farm Family of the Year Award to the Boynton family.

For more information about the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, contact Eva Webb at wpbcfarmbureau@gmail.com.

The Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau is affiliated with

Berean golfer Staci Pla at the FHSAA Class 1A state championships. PHOTO BY MIKE MAY/TOWN-CRIER

Members of the Boynton family gather to be honored as the 2025 Pioneer Farm Family of the Year by the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau

RUN FOR READING 5K HELD IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Royal Palm Beach Commons Park was the site of the annual Imagination Library Run for Reading 5K. Music

star Dolly Parton first founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to help children read. The organization has since spread worldwide and has given away more than 300 million books. The Palm Beach County Imagination Library has given away 27,000 books to families in the community, thanks to fundraisers like the one in Royal Palm Beach. “We hope to help children start reading before school starts,” explained Christen Thompson, founder of the local organization. “It also helps families who struggle with new languages.” More than 160 runners took part in the event. As runners crossing the finish line, they received a special medal for participation. Raffle prizes were also handed out at the end of the race. Learn more about the Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.

The Solid Gold Twirlers Give Back With Team-Wide Food Drive For Ruth’s Pantry

Twirl

The Solid

ers recently wrapped up a team-wide food drive, collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for Ruth’s Pantry in Loxahatchee Groves. Over the last few weeks, athletes and their families teamed up to gather food to help local families. It was a simple way for the team to show kindness, pitch in and support the community they love.

BREAKS

Ruth’s Pantry will use the donated items to support local households during the holiday season.

The Solid Gold Twirlers look forward to taking part in more community projects throughout the year as they continue to encourage leadership, confidence and giving back.

The Solid Gold Twirlers are based in the western communities and are made up of girls ages 5 to 18. To learn more, contact coach Debbey Cramer at (561) 719-9023.

“I’m so proud of our team!” coach Debbey Cramer said. “We love being part of the western communities, and this is just one way we could show our appreciation and give back.”

The Palm

er with Palm

held a ceremonial

for the new Lake Lytal Aquatic Center at 3645 Lake Lytal Park Drive in West Palm Beach. The event marked the beginning of construction on a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a destination for recreation, swim instruction and community wellness.

DAVISSON/TOWN-CRIER

Event organizers Christen and Nicholas Thompson with a Dolly Parton standee.

Len Koehler and Jill Mahler.

Literacy AmeriCorps volunteers Megan, Noah, Emma, Mike, Marcia and Kawtar.

Andrew Bierer was the first to cross the finish line.

Dimitri DeBarnes with his medal.

Amelia, Meg and Chris Palumbo.

Maura Short was the second person (and first woman) to finish the race.

Leo Radosta was the first to finish in his age group.

Jen O‘Brien with Lisa and Jennifer LaFrance.

Runners take off from the starting line.

Sponsor Cypress Bank & Trust fielded a large running team.

Gold

-

The Solid Gold Twirlers recently completed a holiday food drive.

Beach County Parks & Recreation Department, togeth

Beach County officials, recently

groundbreaking

Veterans Day Breakfast At Panther Run

The staff and students at Pan-

ther Run Elementary School in Wellington recently hosted their annual Veterans Day Breakfast. The students’ family members, including parents, grandparents,

aunts and uncles from all branches of the military, were celebrated on Wednesday, Nov. 12 with music and delicious food. The fifth graders performed a few patriotic songs, including

“God Bless the USA.” After the performances, students enjoyed breakfast with their families. Panther Run is proud of the students for displaying kindness, respect and patriotism on this special day.

The student government at Emerald Cove Middle

Therapy Dog Program Boosts Student Well-Being And Professional Training

Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth campus has introduced a therapy dog program that is brightening Tuesdays for students while offering new handson training opportunities in mental health.

The program, created by professor and licensed mental health counselor Dr. Suzie Duff, in partnership with the Center for Student Well-Being and local nonprofit Canine Assisted Therapy Inc. (CAT), features two golden retrievers, Rudder and Marlin. Both dogs were certified with CAT and earned their Canine Good Citizen certification before beginning weekly sessions with students, faculty and staff. Rudder and Marlin can be found every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Center for Student Well-Being.

“I wanted to find new ways to support students and their mental health, and this idea just clicked,” Duff said.

Since launching in the spring of 2024, the program has brought

comfort and connection to more than 200 students at the center and at campus events. It is also expanding to train counseling center staff, interns and PBSC students as certified therapy dog handlers through a partnership with CAT.

The long-term goal, according to Duff and Center for Student Well-Being Director Robin Russo, is to create a model that other colleges can adopt to promote emotional well-being across campuses.

“This program is about more than the joy of being around animals,” Duff said. “It’s about empowering students to be part of a caring, mindful community.”

Elise Samet, director of programs and development at CAT, is proud of the program’s success.

“Working with Dr. Duff and Ms. Russo to build a program that supports student well-being and empowers future mental health professionals has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. “We’re proud to provide training and certification that not only

Dr. Suzie Duff with Rudder and Marlin.

PHOTO BY CAROL MCDONALD

Students enjoy breakfast with their veteran family members.

Veteran guests gather on stage to be honored.

USPA Names ISS North America As New Facility Partner At NPC

ISS and the United States Polo Association recently entered into a multi-year partnership for integrated facility management and hospitality services at the National Polo Center in Wellington.

ISS North America will provide facility management, cleaning, and food and beverage services, and also manage club operations at the National Polo Center, the epicenter for polo in the United States. A multi-dimensional property featuring six championship fields, two restaurants and the Pavilion event space, the National Polo Center is also home to the Polo Club, a membership organization for polo enthusiasts. The USPA will continue to internally manage security, grounds, stables and polo operations.

“The National Polo Center is an iconic destination that offers unrivaled experiences for players, teams, guests, club members and the entire polo community. In partnering with ISS, we ensure that

Wellington International recently announced that its new web site has officially launched.

After months of thoughtful design and development with SP Rhodes and collaboration with users, the new site is now live, bringing a more accessible, intuitive and unified experience to the entire equestrian community.

The new web site includes several major improvements designed with users in mind:

Enhanced Accessibility — The site now meets modern accessibility standards, offering improved

AlignLife of Wellington Chiropractic & Natural Health Center and Young Orthodontics are teaming up to host a children’s book drive in support of the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County from Dec. 1 through Dec. 12. The two businesses aim to collect as many new books as possible for preschool and elementary-aged children served through the coalition’s programs. Many children and students served by these literacy programs do not have appropriate books at home. The coalition provides

the property continues to operate as a world-class facility and sets a next-level standard for hospitality in sports venues throughout the U.S.,” said Stewart Armstrong, chair of the United States Polo Association.

Guckenheimer, ISS North America’s culinary service brand and a premier provider of dining and catering experiences in commercial facilities, will assume responsibility for dining and related services at the National Polo Center.

Known for its commitment to nutritious, chef-crafted food, sustainability and welcoming, inclusive environments, Guckenheimer will enhance and update both the menus and guest experience in the 7th Chukker and Mallet Grille restaurants, at catered and special events, and in match spaces.

Leading the ISS team is Xavier Roca, the new general manager and a 25-year veteran of the hos-

readability, better contrast, clear navigation and optimized layouts for screen readers, ensuring that all visitors can access the information they need with ease. To access this feature, click the blue icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Multi-Language Support —

To better serve Wellington International’s global audiences, the web site can now be read in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, making it easier than ever for international athletes, fans and partners to stay informed.

acy skills and develop a love of reading, books and learning.

“Thank you to AlignLife of Wellington and to Young Orthodontics for organizing this thoughtful book drive,” Literacy Coalition CEO Kristin Calder said. “By collecting books for us to share, they’re supporting our literacy efforts to help children gain literacy skills and to build a love of reading. We appreciate the partnership and the positive impact these two businesses will be making this holiday season.” By collecting children’s books,

pitality and food and beverage industries, including management positions at Delta Airlines and the Ritz-Carlton. Rene van Camp, chief hospitality officer, will also play an ongoing role as ISS and Guckenheimer inject a new level of hospitality into operations at the National Polo Center.

“World-class event spaces require world-class facilities partners to support them. We are excited to be the exclusive integrated facilities management partner of the renowned United States Polo Association at the National Polo Center,” ISS CEO & President/ Americas Steven Quick said. “Our focus on hospitality as the driver behind everything we do ensures that guests, members, teams, players and employees have memorable experiences from the moment they step onto the property to the time they leave.”

ISS North America provides facility management and hospitality-focused programs to orga-

To change the language, use the button at the top-left of the screen, next to the Wellington International logo.

All Events, One Destination — The Winter Equestrian Festival, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, the Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments, annual series and special events are now housed in a single, streamlined location. Navigating between separate sites is no longer necessary.

Improved Navigation & User Experience — A modernized

a lifelong love of reading in local youth, explained Dr. Brittany Perez, owner of AlignLife of Wellington.

“Reading is the foundation for all academic success and for enriching a child’s curiosity about the world,” Perez said. “We’re excited to join forces with Young Orthodontics and the Literacy Coalition to bring more books into the hands of children right here in our community.”

Access to age-appropriate books at home is a key factor in early reading development. For pre

menu, simplified content structure, intelligent search and mobile-friendly layouts make browsing faster and more intuitive. Whether you are looking for competition schedules, tickets, shopping, hospitality or venue information, users can find it in fewer clicks.

This launch is an important step forward as Wellington International continues to enhance and elevate its digital experience. See for yourself and learn more at www.wellingtoninternational. com.

leveled readers that help build vocabulary and fluency.

“It’s not just about smiling faces — helping children smile with a book in hand and confidence in their reading is equally important. Together, we’re turning the page toward greater opportunity,” said Dr. Kim Young of Young Orthodontics.

Patients and the public can drop off books at AlignLife of Wellington at 8499 Lake Worth Road, Suite 200, and neighboring Young Orthodontics between Dec. 1 and Dec. 12 during office hours.

For more information, visit www.alignlifewellington.com and www.kimyoungorthodontics.com.

Palm Beach County recently announced that its first-ever career fair will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel’s Majestic Ballroom at 130 Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach.

The county will be showcasing its many career opportunities, offered in more than 30 departments. Learn about the variety of positions that the county offers — from entry-level to senior professional, engineering to skilled trades, finance to information technology, emergency services

to social services, and many more. Representatives will discuss the opportunities each department offers and the services that the county provides. Staff will also be on-site to share the wide range of benefits offered to county employees and their eligible dependents, including generous vacation, sick and holiday leave, health insurance, retirement options in the Florida Retirement System and more. Visit www.pbcgov.jobs to learn more about employment opportunities with Palm Beach County.

It Has Been An Exciting Few Months For My Granddaughter

My 11-year-old granddaughter, Tess, is about to be issued a punch card from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, where she lives. (“After 9 visits, get the 10th one free.”) They don’t have such a thing but, if they did, she would surely be the first recipient.

It’s not that’s Tess is accident-prone — she’s just curious. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves. The last two months have been particularly stressful. Let’s review: October 1: Following weeks of complaining, Tess is taken to the doctor where she is given a medical “boot” to wear because she is growing so fast the growth plate on her foot can’t keep up. (This is nobody’s fault.)

October 8: Tess accidentally sprays herself in the face with pepper spray. (She was merely investigating the can, but did so in front of her room’s air conditioner.)

October 15: Tess is rushed from the school lunchroom to the hospital emergency room for swallowing a tiny,

powerful magnet. Her friend, who swallowed two, is also admitted. (They were pretending they had tongue studs.)

October 22: Yay! Things are looking good! Tess’s boot is removed and she is given a shoe insert instead. (She is also given firm instructions to take it easy on the foot.)

October 29: Tess is rushed back to the emergency room because her neck is all red and she “can’t breathe.” (Turns out to be makeup. “Maybe I just need attention,” she explained. Or maybe Children’s Mercy caters to these kids a little too much.)

November 5: Tess burns a large hole in the bathroom floor while experimenting

with a candle near a roll of paper towels. (The towels tipped over, shattering the candle holder and causing glass to fly everywhere. Then the entire ensemble burst into flames, but her father got the fire out in time — almost.)

November 12: Tess’s shoe insert is removed and her foot is encased in a cast.

(Cartwheels: not good. Other students crowding around to sign a big ol’ cast: very, very good.)

November 19: Tess borrows a oneknee scooter from a kid at school because the cast “slows me down.” At any rate, “Hot Wheels” (as her teachers are now calling her) has evidently satisfied her inner craving for

attention, at least medical attention. She has now pivoted (literally) to decorating her cast for the holidays. When she arrived at school today, it was green with battery-operated twinkle lights strung around the rim. Signers’ names were bathed alternately in blue, green and red light. Still, you’d think that with all the school she’s missed due to recurring doctor’s appointments and frequent hospital visits, she’d be lagging behind in her studies. Not so. The kid has straight A grades with a huge dollop of “Look At Me.” I like to think she takes after her grandma... her other grandma.

‘Wicked: For Good’ Is Very Different Than The First Movie

After a year-long intermission, Wicked:

For Good has reached the theaters, finishing the story. For those who loved the first part, you should understand that this in many ways is a different kind of movie. The first one was almost a pageant, showing off a school and a budding friendship. This second one is, to put it mildly, political. Not in the current sense, particularly since the book this is based on is almost 30 years old, but it is very different and rather darker. The crowds, already moving in to see it, are in for a bit of surprise.

It starts out five years after the first part ends, as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is in rebellion against the wizard (Jeff Goldblum) over his restrictions on the intelligent animals. In the meantime, Glinda (Ariana Grande), who has very little magical powers, has been pushed as the wizard’s mouthpiece and is engaged to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), now captain of the wizard’s guards.

‘I’

On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Elphaba tries to get the animals to fight back, but the Cowardly Lion (Colman Domingo) betrays them. Then she visits her crippled sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode), who has become a dictator over the Munchkins. She abuses her love interest Boq (Ethan Slater) until he turns on her. Eventually, Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) decides to take evil action and creates a tornado to bring a house down on Nessarose with a young girl and a dog in it (well, you know that story). There are all kinds of betrayals and

heroism, and things go on from there.

Although this is a retelling of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy never really makes a full appearance. The other Oz characters are shown, and in several cases we see their origins. But this is a real drama. Things happen, changes are made. And not everyone has a happy ending.

It is a better film than the first part. There is far less time spent on long-winded introductions to characters. Yes, some of the relationships are particularly important when the second part of the story gets moving, but the year’s wait dulls a lot of the meaning. However, at least there is a story here that is more than a film about mean girls taking on the green outsider.

The cast is really good. Erivo as Elphaba not only has the vocal chops to carry the sometimes difficult numbers but is very effective portraying the revolutionary idealist who is often betrayed but wants

deep down to be good, willing to accept being called “wicked” if it will help make the change. Grande is even better than in the first movie. Here she is called upon to make decisions that could compromise her own life and force her to accept that, at least at first, the things she stands for are a sham. Of course, she sings beautifully, but she also delivers a dynamite acting performance. Just as Erivo was the star of the first, she dominates in this one. And the number “For Good,” a duet between the two stars, is stunning, perhaps the highlight of the film. The rest of the cast is also excellent. Bailey is a standout, even better than he was in the first film. He not only sings well but provides grounding in many ways for both the women. Yeoh is a superb villain. She seems to embody that particular niche of ambitious woman who will do anything to reach

her goals. Goldblum does an exceptional job as the wizard, particularly near the end when things fall apart for him. But everyone in the cast brings us inexorably to the end.

Is the film, especially when tied to the first, really that good? Well, I can honestly write that it is no Wizard of Oz. The new films are stylish and, yes, the story is more complex and the outcomes more shattering, but the music is not nearly as good as the old film’s, and no one will ever match that cast.

But the movie is beautiful and stylish, provides interesting views into the creation of some of our beloved characters and, in a year of particularly weak films, stands out. You could easily do worse in movie selection and, this year at least, not find much better. I liked it. In fact, I liked

Fictitious Name Notice

St. Jude’s Novena

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St.Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day by the 8th day, your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you, St Jude for granting my petition.

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