football game against Santaluces. The homecoming king and queen will be crowned at halftime after the homecoming parade. The week of activities will culminate Saturday with the homecoming dance.
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
By Lauren Miro Town-Crier Staff Report
Early Saturday morning, runners, walkers and their supporters will hit the streets as the Wellington Community Fitness Run & Walk returns on Nov. 7 after a year’s hiatus. The fitness run features a USA Track & Field-certified 5K run and a non-competitive walk that kicks off at 7:30 a.m. at the Wellington Plaza, located on the corner of Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Blvd.
The run/walk was brought back by co-chairs Joanna Boynton and Terri Priore. They revived the event as the initial project of the Palms West Community Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce. The event will promote health and fitness and offer residents an enjoyable morning while raising money to benefit local charities. This year, a portion of the event’s profits will go to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.
The event will begin with the blast of an air horn by a representative from the Bainbridge Companies, which owns the plaza and donated it for the run. Participants
will head west along Wellington Trace, turning south onto Big Blue Trace until they reach the halfway point, then loop back to the plaza where vendors and sponsors will be waiting with food and drinks. There will be music from a DJ, and staff from Ultima Fitness will help participants warm up before they begin the run/walk.
During its first 11 years, the event grew to have more than 800 participants, but event coordinator Maureen Gross expects this year to be bigger.
“We’re expecting our largest crowd ever,” she said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of support from the community, not only in sponsors, but also in the amount of people who registered. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful, sunny day for everyone to come out and join friends and neighbors.”
Registrations are pouring in from all over the community, including local schools competing in the “Got Athlete? Challenge” to see who can bring the most people to the event, Gross said. When participants register online, there is a space to designate what school they are with.
The challenge stems from this year’s slogan, which asks the com-
munity what it is that brings out the athlete in them.
Registration is $10 for youths under 17 and $25 for adults if registered before the event, but organizers welcome participants who haven’t registered. Anyone can attend the event and register before 7:30 a.m. when the race kicks off. Day-of-event registration is $20 for youths and $30 for adults. In addition to the run/walk itself, there will be a small fair in the Wellington Plaza featuring businesses and event sponsors.
To register, or for more information, visit the event’s web site at www.communityfitnessrun. com or call Gross at the Palms West Community Foundation at (561) 790-6200.
Binks Forest Elementary School in Wellington hosted Literacy Night on Thursday, Oct. 29 in the school cafeteria. The event included a dinner, book drawing, book swap and a number of speakers from the community. Speakers came from Lion Country Safari, the Village of Wellington, Palm Beach County FireRescue and other groups. Pictured here is School Police Officer Tony Morales and his son Colin. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9
PHOTO BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Roebuck Road remains on Palm Beach County’s Five Year Road Plan, but has been pushed back to 2014. And that’s all right with the road’s biggest proponents — officials from Royal Palm Beach.
Royal Palm Beach Engineer Ray Liggins thanked county commissioners for keeping the Roebuck Road extension on the plan, which was approved on first reading Tuesday.
The postponement comes partly because of the difficulty in getting permits to build the road across 32 acres of wetlands, Liggins said.
“We agree on the necessity to postpone it to 2014, and we appreciate the continued support from the county,” Liggins told the Town-Crier on Tuesday. “It’s not an easy road to permit. The fact that Roebuck Road impacts 32 acres of wetland is something that needs to be addressed, and [County Engineer] George [Webb] needs more time to do it, and we agree; we don’t have a problem with him taking the time.”
The plan, which would extend Roebuck Road from its dead end at Jog Road, three miles west to State Road 7, has been fiercely opposed by residents in the neigh-
borhoods that the road would abut — Riverwalk, Andros Isle and Baywinds. The residents contend that the wetlands shouldn’t be destroyed to build the road.
Royal Palm Beach maintains — and the county agrees — that the road is necessary for development that already has been granted approval, Liggins said. Further, the road’s extension was part of a 1990s agreement that led to the development of the Riverwalk, Andros Isle and Baywinds communities.
While the road extension is expected to cost about $40 million, Liggins said the alternative — elevated crossings like those on Southern Blvd. — would be much more expensive. Palm Beach County is obligated under its agreement with the state Department of Transportation to keep Okeechobee from becoming more congested.
“There’s still a lot of vacant land to the west of us,” Liggins said. “You’ve got Okeechobee Blvd., that the county is spending $26 million for widening to eight lanes, but as part of taking that state money, the county has agreed not to let Okeechobee fail. That means they have to continually look for ways to keep the level of service on Okeechobee at an ac-
See ROEBUCK, page 4
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Tanya Quickel, the Indian Trail Improvement District’s former finance director, will return as district administrator under an agreement signed by members of the ITID Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.
During the supervisors’ monthly meeting, ITID Attorney Charlie Schoech passed out copies of an agreement he had negotiated with Quickel, who currently serves as deputy director of the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District.
As administrator, Quickel’s salary will be $149,000, which is $44,000 higher than the salary of previous administrator Chris King. King was asked to resign last month after unfavorable findings by ITID’s risk-assessment firm, which checks the district’s records prior to the annual audit.
ITID President Michelle Damone, who worked with Schoech to get Quickel on board, said the additional money would pay back the district in the long run.
“You pay now or you pay later,” Damone told the Town-Crier after the Wednesday night vote, explaining that last year the district paid its auditor more than expected to collect necessary records, and this year had to pay a certified public accountant extra to organize financial records.
“With [Quickel’s] grant-writing skills, she’ll produce more than we pay her.”
At the meeting, Damone said part of the agreement calls for the establishment of goals and performance objectives within 90 days, and to update those goals and objectives on an annual basis.
“[Quickel] really wants to make sure that we set goals,” Damone said, adding that Quickel had re-
Cowboy
Councilman
“From what I understand, we have held special events here before, and I know that a few were not on paved roads,” Liang said.
Town Manager Frank Spence said county officials told him that special events must have access to a paved road, and there is no provision for a special exception or waiver.
Vice Mayor Dennis Lipp said the county’s jurisdiction over such
events has been inconsistent, because it told organizers of a Cinco de Mayo celebration to get permission from the town.
“I’m a bit set back with the county still having special event jurisdiction,” Lipp said. “Now, to have someone pop up and say, ‘No, we’re going to take care of special events permits in the town,’ that doesn’t sound right that the county has jurisdiction over special events in a municipality.”
Mayor David Browning said prohibiting special events on properties fronting dirt roads makes no sense for Loxahatchee Groves.
“Historically, our roads have all been dirt,” he said. “Basically,
quested copies of the minutes of the board’s most recent visioning workshop to serve as a guideline for establishing initial objectives.
“She wants to work with the district, and setting up objectives is something we’ve all asked about.” Damone said hiring Quickel will finally bring the district the administrative leadership it has lacked for years.
“We were truly blessed to acquire Ms. Quickel’s professionalism, expertise, her strong financial background, her management style and her special district knowledge,” she said. “Special districts are unique from any other type of government.”
Some of the supervisors said they had come to know Quickel through her work as treasurer with the Florida Association of Special Districts.
“I knew Ms. Quickel briefly when she was finance director here,” Damone said. “I really got to know her in the last six years in her role at the Northern Improvement District and through FASD.”
Damone said ITID was once the model improvement district across the state, and the Northern Improvement District has now attained that recognition, largely due to Quickel’s presence there.
“I am so enthusiastic about her employment here,” Damone said. “I really think this is it. I think she fits like a glove, and she’s everything we’ve wanted in a district administrator.”
Supervisor Mike Erickson said he had an opportunity to speak with Quickel and was extremely impressed. “We’ve seen what she does at FASD,” he said. “She’s the workhorse behind the conference almost every year. She’s extremely professional. I do like the idea that in an administrator, we’re
See QUICKEL, page 18
they’re saying we can’t hold any special events.”
Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association President Marge Herzog said the Cinco de Mayo event was approved because it was registered at an address that fronts on a paved road, although the actual event was held behind the location listed on the permit.
Spence said that county rules will no longer hold sway once the town has its own land development regulations in place. “Once we adopt our LDRs, you can decide whatever you want,” he said.
Brier said he thought he had done everything required of him to hold the rodeo and was caught by surprise when he could not get the permit. “We operate under all the guidelines,” he said. “We’ve been inspected.”
Brier said the rodeo would be something that has never been done in Loxahatchee Groves. “I built one of the largest arenas out here to have horse shows, rodeos and events that this town is based on,” he said. “I don’t think were asking to do anything wrong in order to have a rodeo.” Brier added that he has been in touch with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for a special detail to police the event, and four acres have been set aside for parkSee RODEO, page 13
By Lauren Miro Town-Crier Staff Report
Long-time Wellington resident Anne Gerwig announced this week that she will seek Wellington Village Council Seat 2, currently held by term-limited Lizbeth Benacquisto.
Gerwig is a 19-year Wellington resident. She works as director of client communications for her husband’s Wellington-based engineering firm, Alan Gerwig & Associates.
Benacquisto, a Republican currently running for Florida State Senate in District 27, will leave office in March at the end of her second four-year term.
Gerwig told the Town-Crier Wednesday that she has enjoyed helping the community through volunteer work and wants to take a more active role. “I love Wellington, and I think I can make good choices for the community,” she said. “I really like the way things are getting done here, like the progress with the Village Center.” Gerwig, 45, moved to what she considered the western communities 40 years ago. “I lived in a community off Military Trail when that was considered the western communities,” she recalled. With her husband, Gerwig moved to Wellington in 1990. Together they started his firm and raised their three children: Jessica (18), Dane (15) and Luke (12).
“I’ve seen things go well and not so well,” she said, citing foreclosures as a blight on the community.
“Lizbeth has done a great job getting volunteers organized to help the community, and that will be a big focus of my campaign. Volunteers are very important. Volunteers will do things you can’t pay people to do.”
Gerwig is a 2009 graduate of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Palms West, an annual program that provides an overview of community resources. The program is designed to develop individuals for leadership roles in their organizations or in the community.
Gerwig has also been active in local schools, serving as a business partner on the school advisory board for three years and on
the PTA executive board at Binks Forest Elementary School for four years. She helped organize the FCAT Encouragement Box Project, in which Binks Forest students sent juice, snacks and letters of encouragement to students at Gove Elementary School in Belle Glade to motivate them to do well on the test. Additionally, Gerwig served as the area coordinator for the southeastern Florida district of the MOMS Club.
“Although the village doesn’t control local schools, my heart will always be with children and families in Wellington,” she said.
“It’s such a wonderful place to raise a family, and I’m doing this for me, too. I want to age here.”
Gerwig said she wants to make sure Wellington remains a great place to raise a family, and then grow old.
“I have raised my family here, started our business here and plan to stay in Wellington for many years to come,” she said. “I am vested in our community and will bring that well-rounded experience to the village council.”
Two Wellington council seats and the mayor’s post are up for election in 2010. Other announced candidates include Mayor Darell Bowen, who is seeking re-election, and attorney Rob Ostrov, who is also seeking Benacquisto’s Seat 2. Qualifying begins at noon Jan. 26 and ends at noon Feb. 9. The election will be held Tuesday, March 9.
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
Several Royal Palm Beach of-
ficials have lost confidence in the village’s youth baseball provider since the organization’s former president came under investigation for embezzling $50,000 of the non-profit recreation league’s money. Village staff members have begun rewriting the rules for its sports providers in hopes of preventing a similar episode in the future, and Royal Palm Beach Parks & Recreation Director Lou Recchio wants to advertise for non-profit groups interested in taking over the village’s youth baseball program.
A proposal to rescind recognition of Royal Palm Beach Youth Baseball Inc. (RPBYB) as the provider of youth baseball in the village was to be debated at the Thursday night meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Village Council.
Former RPBYB President Michael Infante, a longtime village baseball activist, is under investigation after other board members alerted RPB officials that Infante had written at least two checks of $15,000 and $35,000 from the non-profit’s account to himself.
No charges have been filed, but Infante has admitted writing the checks, said Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 9 Capt. Eric Coleman.
The episode has left the village with little recourse but to cut ties with RPBYB, Mayor David Lodwick said.
“It’s incumbent on the council, I think, to have providers that the public has trust in,” Lodwick told the Town-Crier on Monday.
“They are partners, which means we hold everyone to the same standards as we would hold ourselves.” Yet Lodwick was quick to point out his support and admiration for many of the RPBYB volunteers.
“There’s still a lot of good people in the baseball program,” he said. “A lot of people have donated hundreds of hours of their time to better their kids and other kids. At the same time, we need to look
at two things: do we have the right baseball provider that the public can have trust in, and secondarily, do we have the right set of rules in place going forward with our providers?”
PBSO investigators are auditing the league’s financial activity dating back to when RPBYB incorporated and took over the program in 2000, said Recchio, who brought in the PBSO after he was contacted by the group’s board members regarding the Infante situation.
Lodwick said calling for new groups to submit proposals would give the village the opportunity to scrutinize its provider policy and create a better system.
“Any time you have an event such as this, I think it’s always good to evaluate your own rules and make sure that you’re doing all you can to hold everyone accountable,” he said.
Lodwick said the village would consider proposals from any providers, including a reorganized RPBYB group.
“We’ll see who’s interested in being a provider, and hopefully there will be a quality provider out there that we can have faith in,” he said.
“And if not, we could go back to the days where the village ran the program.”
Lodwick said he doesn’t believe that anyone else with RPBYB was involved with the missing money, which Recchio said was drawn from the non-profit’s building account.
“This is one person who got himself in trouble and, unfortunately, it looks like he tried to find the wrong way out of it,” Lodwick said. “There’s a separation of powers for a reason. Now it’s in the hands of the legal system, and we’ll let them deal with it. Our goal is to have the best possible baseball program for our kids and make sure that our providers are held to a fair standard.”
Lodwick said he expects the village to place advertisements for new or existing groups who might be interested in providing a youth baseball program to Royal Palm Beach residents.
“They’ll give us a letter of in-
BASEBALL, page 18
With November now underway, people are looking ahead to the Thanksgiving holiday, thinking about all the friends and family members they’ll see. In many cases, this occasion is a reminder of how the rest of the year’s routine can often make us take friends and family for granted. However, this coming week, there’s another segment of the population we should be thinking about, and it’s definitely a group we should be thankful for and never take for granted. Many of them are friends and family members, but they’re also the proud men and women of the United States military, past and present. Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, and honoring our fighting men and women with thoughts and prayers is the least we can do for those who have given of themselves to protect our freedoms.
Twenty years ago, the United States was living in a much different world. The Soviet Union hadn’t fully dissolved, and we had yet to take on Saddam Hussein following his invasion of Kuwait. Much has changed since then, both at home and throughout the world. And that includes the whole new generation of soldiers who have heard the call of duty and come forth to put their lives on the line for our nation.
Right now, while most Americans enjoy living in a safe environment, those in uniform know a different reality, one that often includes bombs, gunfire and a general sense of
After decades of “pay to play” politics in South Florida, the FBI is putting elected crooks behind bars in large numbers. They have jailed school board members, county commissioners, a mayor, a political fundraiser, lawyers and a sheriff.
The governor and several Palm Beach leaders say “something is wrong with the system.” Seems to me that, after decades, something is right with it. It’s working great! The FBI should be praised for its effectiveness. Rather than create another expensive layer of bureaucracy, Palm Beach County should underwrite additional FBI investigators for a small fraction of the cost, and continue the effective independent cleanup of dishonest governing. Instead, we are hiring an inspector general, but only for four years. He is expected to investigate the county commissioners, who in four years decide by a simple majority vote whether to rehire him. If the commissioners simply do nothing, he is history, with no recourse from their decision. Palm Beach County commissioners should ensure both the perception and reality of inspector general independence , dictated by the grand jury, by excluding themselves entirely from any influence over his activities.
South Florida governments of all types should press the state to adopt an “honest public services” law, similar to the federal one. A law with real teeth, not only for the bribe taker, but for those offering the bribes. Armed with such a law, the state attorney’s office should be funded and staffed to investigate and prosecute public corruption.
Ken Adams Wellington Editor’s note: Mr. Adams is a former member of the Palm Beach County Commission.
I am a concerned Palm Beach County resident and in full agreement with County Commissioner Jess Santamaria concerning the
inspector general. The future integrity and honesty of our county government lies within the authority of this office, and it should be to the fullest “independent” and out of the hands of those with agendas and with a past reputation of lies and dishonesty.
[Having an] impartial and neutral group of overseers with a reputable honest background, excluding elected officials or those with business interests, seems to be the way to keep this position accountable and honest.
I hope all Palm Beach County residents take this seriously and speak their mind before Dec. 15. Ruth Cooper Loxahatchee
I’m sure you care about your community. I certainly do. I love my neighborhood. I want my community to be a safe, fun place for everybody, especially kids. The only problem is we have a park in our neighborhood. That’s not a bad thing, but cars come whizzing by way too fast. In a matter of time, somebody will get hurt. I have a neighbor. They have two kids. The oldest is four years old, their youngest is one and a half. If one of them runs into the street and a car comes by too fast, that won’t be a good situation. That’s why I want to put speed bumps by the park. I live right across from the park. Our park is on a curve, so when someone is going to cross to the park, the driver or pedestrian can’t see when a driver or pedestrian is coming. I have two brothers. We play at the park all the time. There have been times when we have looked and listened but didn’t hear or see anything, and we started crossing. Then at the last second, a car came speeding while we were in the road. We had to scramble back to the side of the road for safety. Speed bumps would slow the cars down.
I did present a neighborhood petition to a representative of the Village of Wellington about putting in speed bumps. No action, however, was taken on the problem. If you care about children everywhere, then why do schools have protective measures such as
uncertainty. Troops stationed in Afghanistan have been tasked with the nearly insurmountable burden of trying to help rebuild the battered country — something that hasn’t gotten any easier since we first arrived there eight years ago. Now there’s a possibility that more troops will be needed.
Not everyone will agree on the best course of action. But if there’s one belief we all share, it’s that the safety of the men and women serving overseas — our friends and family members — should be first and foremost. It is they who we should be thinking about this week, not the politics of the situation. That is why we urge everyone to spend time on Wednesday recognizing the service and sacrifices made by veterans of past and current wars.
The Village of Wellington will honor veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Veterans Day Parade will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center and end at the Wellington Veterans Memorial at the corner of Forest Hill and South Shore boulevards. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. The Village of Royal Palm Beach will hold its annual Veterans Day Observance on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at Veterans Park on Royal Palm Beach Blvd.
crossing guards, slower speeds, flashing signs and sometimes police presence when parks don’t?
A lot of people go to the park, so why don’t we protect them? We need speed bumps to slow the traffic and protect the people.
Nathan Eichner, Age 10 Wellington
Editor’s note: The following is in response to Richard Nielsen’s letter in last week’s Town-Crier
In your letter, you state that the $2 trillion in debt for the proposed health plan is a Republican number. I beg to differ. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, stated that number in a speech from the Senate floor. It was included in a comment that the tort reform would only reduce the debt by $54 billion. Oh well, what are zeros?
I would also point out that the debt is being measured with 10 years of revenue against six years of benefit payouts. What is wrong with that picture? We are being lied to as to the true cost. Following is a snippet from a Wall Street Journal editorial published on Nov. 1:
“Epic new spending and taxes, pricier insurance, rationed care, dishonest accounting: The Pelosi health bill has it all… Even so, the House disguises hundreds of billions of dollars in additional costs with budget gimmicks. It ‘pays for’ about six years of program with a decade of revenue, with the heaviest costs concentrated in the second five years. The House also pretends Medicare payments to doctors will be cut by 21.5 percent next year and deeper after that, ‘saving’ about $250 billion. ObamaCare will be lucky to cost under $2 trillion over 10 years; it will grow more after that.”
What is the cost when 10 years of costs are measured against 10 years of revenue? Hold on to your wallets. Taxes, here they come. Look for a value added tax (VAT). In some European countries, that VAT is in the range of 20 to 25 percent. I guess I shouldn’t indicate that everyone’s income tax will be going up. Someone made a promise — a chicken in every
pot and two cars in the garage — hurrah. Or was it about selling us something for nothing?
Bob Kruger Wellington
I suppose that I should be pleased to learn that a prediction I made about Medicare benefits was correct. I am not pleased. I am mad as hell.
When President Barack Obama announced that he was making changes in Medicare Advantage insurance, I predicted that seniors’ Medicare benefits would be reduced. I also stated that the president’s claim that, “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep your healthcare plan. This is not some government takeover. If you like your doctor, you can keep seeing your doctor,” was false. I received a letter a couple of days ago notifying me that my Medicare Advantage insurance carrier would no longer be offering my current plan. The reason (not specifically stated by the carrier) is because of cuts to Medicare Advantage funding. As a consequence, I will not be able to “keep my healthcare plan,” and it is quite likely that I will not be able to “keep seeing my doctor.” Not the same ones, in any case. The very least of the problems that the cuts will bring is that I’ll have to spend several hours researching the Medicare plans in hopes of finding one that fits my needs as well as the old one did.
Now I’ll make another prediction: I predict that it will cost me an additional couple thousand dollars a year to get comparable benefits from any plan that will be available. I’ll let you know when I find out if that prediction comes true.
About a fifth of seniors currently on Medicare have selected Medicare Advantage plans. I do not know how many are having to change plans because of the president’s cuts. Perhaps other seniors who have been affected will write letters to the editor. I hope they will also write letters to their congressional representatives and the president.
Sexton
Phil
Wellington
Do you remember all of the press and hoopla surrounding the release of last May’s grand jury report about county corruption?
To jog your memory, the title of the report was “Investigation of Palm Beach County Governance and Public Corruption Issues.” On July 21, the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to accept the grand jury’s findings and agreed to the establishment of an ethics commission and an independent Office of Inspector General. At the Oct. 28 general meeting and workshop of the league of cities, county commission, school board and legislative delegation, County Attorney Denise Neiman unveiled the three ordinances that will create the ethics commission and, as it turns out, the not-so-independent Office of Inspector General.
Is this the first step in cleaning up Palm Beach County’s national image of “Corruption County?”
Of the three ordinances needed to start the cleanup, the ordinance entitled “Inspector General Ordinance” is troubling. On the second page of this draft (revised Oct. 21), Line 15 states, “The organization and administration of the Office of Inspector General shall be sufficiently independent to assure that no interference or influence external to the Office of Inspector General adversely affects the independence and objectivity of the Inspector General.” I have read the 57-page grand jury report. The report calls for an independent Office of Inspector General, not a sufficiently independent Office of Inspector General. Where would this nation be today if the framers of the U.S. Constitution called for a sufficiently independent judiciary or a sufficiently independent congress? Independence is necessary.
Within the 12 pages of the Oct. 21 draft of the ordinance that will
create the Office of Inspector General, there are 15 conjugations of the word “confirm” or “reject.” How can an Office of Inspector General be independent if the county commission has final confirmation (Page 6, Line 18)? In addition, if any other government institution in the county (i.e.: school board, large municipalities, port district, special districts) want to pony up at least 25 percent of the operating budget of the Office of Inspector General, they will have an equal say over confirmations and rejections of the Inspector General. Does this sound like an independent officer to you? Who is responsible for the sad state of public trust in elected officials and the government employees that serve them? As a good friend of mine says, “We get the government that we deserve.” We all have no further to look than into the nearest mirror to see who is responsible for the corruption, waste, fraud and abuse we seem to tolerate. Bad decisions are made when good women and men do nothing. Now is the time to demand that the new Office of Inspector General be truly independent. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the first reading of the three ordinances will be heard by the Board of County Commissioners. We must fill the commission chambers and tell the commissioners that, “We are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it any longer.”
Dennis Lipp, Vice Mayor Loxahatchee Groves
In a letter last week, Richard Nielsen’s reference to the World Health Organization’s ranking of the United States healthcare system was published with the wrong number. The ranking is 37. The Town-Crier regrets any confusion this may have caused.
The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 793-6090 ; or you can e-mail them to letters@goTownCrier.com
By Jules W. Rabin
Moving swiftly and forcibly, the Federal Aviation Administration has fired two errant Northwest Airlines pilots from infamous Flight 188, which they let fly 150 miles past its Minneapolis, Minn. destination while they remained “distracted” in the cockpit. In its review of the situation, the FAA pointed out “failure to comply with air traffic control instructions and clearances and operating care-
Roebuck
continued from page 1
ceptable level to the state. The only cost-effective solution is the construction of Roebuck Road.”
Elevated crossings at the Okeechobee intersections of Jog Road and State Road 7 would cost four times as much, Liggins noted.
“And that’s just for the right of way,” he said. “To construct them and buy the right of way is estimated at over $160 million. So even though Roebuck Road is in the $40 million range, it’s still cheaper than that, and it’s still less impact to people.” Liggins said the county, like any other builder, is required to show that there are no alternatives on dryer land. “Before you go into wetlands, you have to prove to the agencies that there is no feasible alternative in the uplands,” he said.
lessly and recklessly.”
Capt. Timothy Cheney (with Northwest since 1985) and First Officer Richard Cole (with Northwest since 1997) said in separate interviews they had been discussing the new crew scheduling system being initiated by Northwest. Also revealed was Mr. Cole’s desire to use his personal laptop
Currently, development has slowed down, which has reduced the demand temporarily, Liggins said.
“But there’s still 30,000 acres in the western communities that hasn’t been developed that have entitlements to develop,” he said, referring to tracts owned by Callery-Judge Grove, EB Development and others. “If you just take the large vacant tracts, it adds up to about 30,000 acres. Royal Palm Beach is only about 7,000 acres, so there’s still a significant amount
BUDJINSKI
computer (a violation of airline policy) to teach Cheney how to use the system. The pilots also admitted they heard voices on their cockpit radio but ignored them.
The airplane, an Airbus A320, flew past the MinneapolisSt. Paul airport on autopilot, which finally showed it had run
of entitled development that hasn’t been developed.”
The county has a responsibility to create an efficient traffic system to serve those future communities, Liggins said. “Right now, Roebuck Road is still the answer,” he said, pointing out that one of the primary concerns of county residents is increased commuting times. “It’s something that we as government officials are doing because we know it concerns people.” At the county commission
out of instructions. Crewmembers said that when a flight attendant eventually contacted the pilots on the plane’s internal phone, the pair realized they were past their destination and turned the aircraft around.
The decisive dismissal order read, “You operated Northwest flight number 188 in a reckless
manner that endangered the lives and property of others. You engaged in conduct that put your passengers and your crew in serious jeopardy... a lack of regard to adhere to your responsibilities to exercise the highest standard of care, judgment, skill and responsibility.”
Right, right, right and right!
‘There’s still 30,000 acres in the western communities that hasn’t been developed that have entitlements to develop... Royal Palm Beach is only about 7,000 acres, so there’s still a significant amount of entitled development that hasn’t been developed.’ — RPB Engineer Ray Liggins
meeting, Commissioner Burt Aaronson made a motion to approve the five-year road plan’s preliminary reading and set a sec-
ond reading on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Karen Marcus and passed 7-0.
The Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club met Tuesday morning at Royal Palm Covenant Church along with members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue to kick off “Project Thanksgiving,” a community partnership that aims to
500 families in western Palm Beach County have a Thanksgiving
The dinners will be delivered on Tuesday, Nov. 24 by all agencies involved.
Pastor Michael Rose of Royal Palm Covenant Church is one of the individuals spearheading the program, and his church also has one of the much-needed food pantries in the area.
The project chair is Catherine Engel of the Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club; PBSO Capt. Eric Coleman is the co-chair.
Anyone who would like to donate food can do so at one of the following drop-off locations in Royal Palm Beach: Royal Palm Covenant Church, 660 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.; the PBSO District 9 substation, 11498 Okeechobee Blvd.; and PBCFR Station 28, 1040 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more information, contact Sister Sandra at the Royal Palm Covenant Church at (561) 7931077, Engel at catherine@palms west.com or visit www.rpbrotary. org.
LISTED ITEMS FOR SALE
FINE JEWELRY COLLECTION: that would surpass most jewelry stores from European and Asian Estates well over 200 certified and appraised pieces including GIA& EGL certified solitaires,15 cts Diamond necklace; 8.24 cts Diamond solitaire plus Ruby,Emerald,Tanzanite,Sapphire and diamond,rings,earrings and necklaces.An Emerald and 4.0 cts dia solitaire ring,2.01 cts VVS2 Princess cut ring, new Breitling watch,plus other fine jewelry pieces. FINE ART COLLECTION: Tarkay Watercolors; Marc Chagall Lithographs,Rare Salvador Dali Lithographs; Original Peter Max and Pino Giclee all signed; Also Serigraphs / Etchings / Oils from 20 different artists, Icart dry point etching,Disney cells,Original Miro lithograph / Picasso lithograph. A DESIGNER’S TREASURE: Bronze Statues including signed Dali and Erte pieces and object d’ art.Also Tiffany- style lamps,porcelain,Bohemian crystals,etc. HANDMADE RUGS: A handmade rug collection from Iran,India,Pakistan,Tibet silk and wool.
By Lauren Miro Town-Crier Staff Report
NOV. 2 — Two nail salons in Wellington were burglarized last weekend after the suspects smashed through the glass storefronts to gain access. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, sometime between 8:15 p.m. last Friday and 7:32 a.m. the following morning, someone threw a large concrete rock through the window of a salon on Forest Hill Blvd. and stole $200 cash from the register and a 57inch Sharp flat-screen television. The salon had security cameras, however they were not active at the time of the burglary. The stolen items were valued at $6,200. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. According to a second PBSO report, sometime between 5 p.m. last Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday, someone threw a large piece of concrete through the glass front door of a salon on Wellington Trace and stole a 32-inch Dynex flat-screen television, valued at $350. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects at the time of the report.
• • •
OCT. 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach met with the victim of a vehicle burglary on Sunday, Oct. 25. According to a PBSO report, on Oct. 17 at approximately 2 p.m. the victim parked her SUV at Seminole Palms Park and someone entered the vehicle and stole the victim’s purse, which contained $300 cash, her wallet, credit cards and an iPhone. The stolen items were valued at approximately $1,600. There were no suspects at the time of the report.
OCT. 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road on Sunday, Oct. 25 regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim left her purse, containing her ID, $50 cash and a credit card, in a shopping cart and walked away from it. When she returned, it was missing. There were no surveillance tapes or suspects at the time of the report.
OCT. 28 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to a home last Wednesday morning regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11 p.m. last Tuesday and 11 a.m. last Wednesday, someone entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle parked on Barnstaple Circle and stole a CD case with 50 CDs and an iPod Nano. The stolen items were valued at approximately $650. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects at the time of the report.
OCT. 30 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to a home on Hawthorne Place early last Saturday morning in response to a criminal mischief complaint. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 3:15 a.m., someone smashed the windshield of the victim’s Mitsubishi Eclipse, causing approximately $500 in damage. There were no suspects at the time of the report.
NOV. 2 — More than $2,000 worth of electronics were stolen from a Wellington home Monday evening. A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to the home on Northumberland Circle. According to a PBSO report, between 8 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. someone pried open the lock of the rear sliding glass door and stole several items including a digital camera and a Playstation 3 game system. The stolen items were valued at approximately $2,250. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects at the time of the report. NOV. 3 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation responded to a home in Loxahatchee Groves on Tuesday evening regarding a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 4:55 a.m. and 5 p.m., someone entered the victim’s home on A Road by removing a rear window and stole two flatscreen televisions and several pieces of jewelry, including a women’s Rolex watch and a diamond engagement ring. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects at the time of the report.
OCT. 30 — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying a female suspect wanted for a bank robbery in Wellington. According to a PBSO report, on Friday, Oct. 30, a black female (shown here) walked into the Bank of America located at 10960 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington to commit a bank robbery. The suspect passed a note to the teller demanding that she neither move nor alert anyone. The suspect then demanded all the money in the teller’s drawer and proceeded to flee, leaving the scene in a light-colored Toyota Corolla driven by a black female with a bandanna.
Anyone who can identify this suspect is urged to call Detective John Connor at (561) 644-7618 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 458TIPS.
eyes. His date of birth is 11/29/57. Adam is wanted for conspiracy to commit unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior, conspiracy to commit official misconduct and unlawful compensation for official behavior. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Waltham Way in Greenacres. Adam is wanted as of 11/05/ 09.
• Kimesha Hines is a black female, 5’ tall and weighing 115 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 09/23/80. Hines is wanted for violation of probation on a charge of grand theft over $20,000. Her occupation is accounting. Her last known address was 86th Lane in The Acreage. Hines is wanted as of 11/05/09. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc.com.
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Wellington is one of five distinct geographic areas being marketed by the Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the effort focuses largely on the community’s open spaces suitable for sports.
Creating and marketing the five areas was one of many strategies that the tourism agency has employed to combat the current economy’s effects on tourism, said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of the CVB. Pesquera was one of several speakers featured at an Oct. 28 Wellington Chamber of Commerce luncheon on “Attracting Tourism to Wellington.” Other speakers were from the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, the Palm Beach County Tourism Development Council and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission. The agencies get money from the state’s tax on hotel stays, which is down 20 percent from the 2008 figure of $22 million, said Roger Amidon, executive director of the Tourism Development Council.
All the tourist-related agencies have had to embrace new strategies for bringing tourists to the county as the economy reduced their budgets.
“For many, many years, Palm Beach County was promoted on the basis of two areas, beaches and
golf courses,” Pesquera said. “What we are beginning to do is use these other interesting and very attractive experiences, including polo and equestrian. All of these are things that are included in a destination, and we make it more competitive.” If tourism in Palm Beach County isn’t redefined and kept fresh and interesting, people will go elsewhere, taking their tourism dollars with them, Pesquera said. “There is exploding competition in South Florida, and the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic are becoming very popular,” he said. “We are doing this so we can start figuring out ways for our customers to enjoy different kinds of experiences.”
Michael Stone, executive director of Equestrian Sport Productions, said the upcoming Palm Beach Steeplechase to be held over Thanksgiving weekend will be just the kind of event unique to Wellington that should drive tourists to the village. “It’s going to be great fun,” Stone said, “and we hope that you would come and take part in it. The tickets are on sale now online at www.equestriansport.com. You can go there and get tickets, or come to the office and get them, or you can get them at the event itself.”
He reminded chamber members that the Wellington Chamber Business Expo will be held in conjunction with the Palm Beach Steeplechase, calling it one of the
highlights of the day.
Nan Martin, head of the chamber’s Equestrian Committee, said the event will be huge, attracting thousands of attendees. “To be able to be there for the expo and allow the chamber to be there, it’s just an honor,” she said. “We want to thank Mike [Stone] for extending this offer to us.” Expo space is still available for chamber members, she said.
The equestrian fields as well as Wellington’s parks are the focus of other tourism opportunities.
Gerry Baron, executive director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, said his agency has created partnerships with Wellington and the owners of various sports fields for non-equestrian events. “We don’t own the venue,” Barron said. “We have to reach out to you folks.”
Events that will be coming to Wellington in addition to the Winter Equestrian Festival are the National AYSO Soccer Tournament and the national collegiate field hockey tournament Spring Fling. “The tournament is booked two years in advance, and we are in discussions with the producer possibly for 2013 and 2014,” Barron said.
Those events were part of what attracted four million visitors to Palm Beach County last year, Amidon said.
“One thing I need to ask everyone is to invite 10 of your best friends to Palm Beach County, and don’t have them stay with you,”
he said. “Have them stay in one of our hotels. Have them go out and experience one of our wonderful attractions and one of our wonderful cultural events.”
Rena Blades, president and CEO of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, said she believes Palm Beach County’s cultural opportunities are more diverse than the bigger Miami-Dade area.
“We think of Miami as having these major organizations,” Blades said, “but we have many more.”
Despite the downshift in the economy, Blades said she has noticed more people taking advantage of the county’s cultural offerings. More people are visiting the museums, the zoos and other local attractions, she said.
“We are seeing cultural organizations shrink their annual operating budgets from five to ten percent,” she said. “But we’re seeing attendance grow by 15 to 20 percent. It’s amazing. Even our theaters are seeing that.” Blades said the Cultural Council works closely with the Palm Beach County School District and the CVB.
“We collaborate with the Convention & Visitors Bureau to make sure that the visitors know what they can do before they get here and after,” Blades said. “We offer a whole variety of services to cultural organizations and artists, as well as training and monthly luncheons. We have one next week with the school superintendent.
We are very involved with education.”
Another agency using bed tax money to promote Palm Beach County is the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission, which markets the county as a destination for filmmakers.
“We’re about one of 50 film commissions in the entire State of Florida,” said Michelle Hillery, the film commission’s director of operations and programs. “One of the ways we market Palm Beach County is through our locations database. What we try to do is fill the bill for any type of scripts that we get. If they like what they see, they come and shoot here.”
and we produce a live two-and-a-half-hour ceremony at the Duncan
By Ron Bukley
Fort Myers attorney Pete Burkert told the Town-Crier this week that he is ready to represent all the voters in State Senate District 27 equally, despite the district’s difficult cross-state split. The seat is currently held by Sen. Dave Aronberg, who has announced his intention to run for attorney general next year. Burkert, a Democrat, is one of four announced candidates hoping to replace Aronberg. Others are State Rep. Kevin Rader (D-District 78) and two Republicans, former state representative Sharon Merchant and Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto. Burkert, who was in Wellington on Monday to speak with local political organizers, said if elected, he would represent the district in the same manner that Aronberg has, only from the opposite side.
“I’ve learned a lot from watching Dave,” Burkert said. “He’s done a good job politically balanc-
ing the needs of both sides of this state… He made Lee County people feel he was their representative, and that’s the standard I want to meet for Palm Beach County people. I want them to feel as comfortable with me as Lee County felt about Dave.”
Burkert, 57, moved as an infant with his family from Michigan to Florida in 1952. He attended public schools in Tampa and Broward, where he graduated from high school. He is married with four children.
Burkert earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania before receiving his law degree from Florida State University. He practiced law for 31 years, focusing primarily on workers compensation, and spent most of his career representing injured workers. If elected to the State Senate, he said he would continue his effort to represent the working class.
“When you represent injured workers, you tend to represent their families as well,” Burkert
said. “I got to know a wide crosssection of people in my community. I have had a career of standing up for people and against insurance companies and corporations, and it’s something I have no difficulty doing.”
Burkert said he is not currently practicing law, but instead working as a court-certified mediator. “I get involved when asked in existing lawsuits to listen to both sides of the dispute and help the sides work out solutions to their problems, and hopefully bring it all together in a settlement,” Burkert said, adding that his skill in listening to different sides of an issue and seeing solutions will help him in the state legislature.
Burkert ran unsuccessfully in 2006 for House District 73 in Lee County, narrowly losing in a strongly Republican district.
“In doing so, I learned a lot about running and about politics,” Burkert said. “I also feel like I could do well with swing voters such as independents and even some Republicans, so I think I
have proven in Lee County I can do well across the board.”
Although District 27 leans Democratic overall, the Lee County portion of the district is more Republican, Burkert said. “It is not what you would call a strong Democratic seat, but it certainly leans Democratic,” he said. “It has always been extraordinarily gerrymandered, with essentially half of it in Palm Beach County and the other half in Lee County, and a little thin strip across the middle.”
While his likely primary challenger Rader is already a sitting member of the legislature, Burkert said he does not see that as a challenge. “We are both running for a very different district,” he said. “The challenge to each of us is, I need to get better-known in Palm Beach County, and he needs to do the same on the other coast, so we each have the same challenge in terms of winning this race.”
If he wins the primary, Burkert anticipates a vigorous general
election campaign against either Benacquisto or Merchant. Issues that are important to him include offshore oil drilling, which he opposes.
“From a state perspective, we are only in a position of talking about 10 miles out and on in to the shore, so we do not debate 75mile out kind of drilling, but from 10 miles in, I am adamantly opposed to oil drilling,” he said. “I just fully believe that it is a shortterm solution to what some people feel is an immediate financial problem, and does not take the long-term view of what is important about this state.”
What is important about the state is its natural assets, its weather, its beauty, a destination both for permanent residents and visitors, he said. “All we need is one mistake, one error by one oil drilling rig, and that may forever be lost,” Burkert said.
Pete Burkert See BURKERT, page 18
Another issue Burkert considers a high priority is reaching a gambling pact with the Seminole Tribe. “We are currently allowing gambling to take place without having any revenue from that gambling, and it’s important in this time of reduced revenue to have that compact in place,” he said As he, his wife and children are products of Florida public schools, Burkert said he believes in the system. “I will do all that I can to
Season Nov. 18
The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host its traditional “Kickoff to the Equestrian and Polo Season” luncheon later this month. The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the Wanderers Club at Wellington.
Sponsoring the event will be Hedrick Brothers Construction.
Guests will be treated to exhibition polo, an exquisite luncheon and an opportunity to meet the speakers, sponsor and the chamber’s Man and Woman of Distinction honorees.
Speaking on their respective venues and events will be John Goodman and John Wash of the International Polo Club Palm Beach as well as Mark Bellissimo and Michael Stone of Equestrian Sport Productions. It will be an
SalsaFest 2009 will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Greenacres Community Park. Among the family-friendly entertainment will be the popular Chihuahua races. The fun-filled event features local family pets as they race for the honor to be crowned champion. “This is the third year that the Chihuahua races will be featured at SalsaFest,” Palms West Chamber of Commerce CEO Jaene Miranda said. “I believe that it has
interactive, fun and educational event discussing the upcoming equestrian and polo seasons, as well as Palm Beach Steeplechase 2009.
Ken and Arle Adams will be honored with the “Man and Woman of Distinction” award. The chamber is honored to recognize them as true pioneers and pillars of the Wellington community. Event sponsor Hedrick Brothers Construction will be represented by Dale Hedrick and Cheri Pavlik. All are welcome to attend. The networking reception and polo begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. with the program beginning at noon. The cost is $20 for chamber members in advance, $25 for members at the door and $30 for non-members. VIP tables start at $250. Call (561) 792-6525 for reservations. For more info., visit the chamber’s web site at www.wellington chamber.com.
become the most popular activity at the festival.”
During the race, crowds gather around a converted shuffleboard court that provides natural racing lanes for the Chihuahuas. Family members stand at each end of the race lane — one releases the dog at the sound of the whistle, and the second beckons at the finish line. “This race is truly about the fun,” Miranda said. “Some dogs do really well, but most just end
The Village of Wellington is holding a holiday food drive through Nov. 20 to benefit area families in need. Local organizations will partner with the village to provide turkeys, along with holiday side items, for needy families. Everyone is encouraged to donate one or more of the following food items: instant mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables (green beans, peas, corn, sweet potatoes), packaged stuffing mix, turkey gravy and corn bread mix.
Donations can be dropped off at the Wellington Municipal Complex (14000 Greenbriar Blvd.), the Safe Neighborhoods office (1100 Wellington Trace), the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), Planning, Zon-
up just chasing each other. We always have a winner in every heat, and a champion is always crowned.”
Prizes will be given out for first, second and third places. Any owner wishing to enter his or her Chihuahua in the race will receive free entry to SalsaFest. Race time is at 3 p.m. For more information, or an application to enter the race, visit www.salsafest.net or call (561) 790-6200.
ing & Building (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 23) or Village Park (11700 Pierson Road).
Should you know someone in your neighborhood who may need a turkey meal this year, or if you would like to make a donation, call the Safe Neighborhoods Office at (561) 791-4196 or (561) 791HRWN (Helping Residents With Needs).
Palm Tran, Palm Beach County’s public transportation agency, will soon open a new park-andride lot for commuters in Wellington.
Starting Monday, Nov. 9, commuters from the western areas of Palm Beach County will be able to park their cars at the lot and ride a modified, limited-stop express
The Crestwood Performing Arts League (C-PAL) will hold the first concert of its 2009-10 season, featuring the Gold Coast Dance Band on Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way).
The concert will feature a 16piece band and vocalist playing swing era and popular music selections. The band features professional musicians who have performed with great big band performers such as Charlie Spivak, Guy Lombardo and Tito Puente. Upcoming shows include the Coastmen Chorus (Jan. 24), Hot Latin Rhythms (Feb. 21), and Al Carmen Guastafeste and Rene Casey (March 21). Tickets cost $15 for adults and are free for students. Tickets go on sale at 3 p.m. the day of the show; performances begin at 4 p.m. For more information, call (561) 7980627 or (561) 793-2984.
Route 40 bus into downtown West Palm Beach or out to the lake communities. The park and ride lot is located off Forest Hill Blvd. on Wellington Green Drive near the Mall at Wellington Green. This new park-and-ride lot is a demonstration of Palm Tran’s dedication to expanding public transportation options in Palm Beach County. The project was completed with cooperation and assistance from the Village of Wellington and funding
Family Practice. Pediatrics. Internal Medicine. Obstetrics and Gynecology. Surgery. Cardiology. Pulmonology. Infectious Disease. Nephrology. Otolaryngology. Urology. Podiatry. Hospitalists. The new Lakeside Medical Center is staffed with fine doctors who do all kinds of amazing things. Many of which used to require a trip out of the area. And that means that no matter what kind of care you’ll require throughout your life, chances are you’ll find it where you live—right here in our community, close by and convenient.
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ing. He noted that having the event sanctioned by the PCA is a big deal.
“We actually got them to extend their time to allow this to be a full point and sanctioned event,” Brier said, adding that the arena has
been inspected by the PCA to qualify for the rodeo. “I’ve done a lot of building in this town, and I’ve helped a lot of people in this town. Just because there’s 277 feet of dirt road from my property line to Southern Blvd., I don’t think that should be a reason that we should lose all the money we’ve put into this as an equestrian type event.”
Brier said that other events, such as barrel racing and roping competitions, have been staged without permits. “I knew this would
be a bigger event, so I did go to the county, trying to do it the right way, but 97 percent of Loxahatchee Groves is dirt roads,” he said. “Loxahatchee Groves residents are starving for an event like this. I’ve built a $5 million facility there in order to have events like this, and I want to make sure we’re allowed to do that.”
Council members were sympathetic to Brier’s dilemma.
“You’re not getting an argument from us,” Browning said, “but the problem right now is how the
county handles it. We’ve got to follow what our legal counsel tells us as far as what we can do.”
Town Attorney D.J. Doody said that there is no legal way around the county ordinance because it has the final say, but Browning said it disturbs him that the law does not seem to be appropriate for Loxahatchee Groves, and the county is unwilling or unable to bend.
“That’s the part that bothers me — that they would not override this even though we’re on dirt
roads,” Browning said. “You’ve got a county rule that is made to fit somewhere else. It sure doesn’t fit in Loxahatchee Groves.”
Council members discussed options, including the possibility of Brier paving the portion of B Road from the Wellington’s Edge entrance to Southern Blvd. before the event, or renting the land between his property and Southern so the event location would legally front a paved road.
Doody suggested that the council direct Spence to go back to the
county representatives and let them know that the council supports the event. “That’s not to say Frank will get them to change anything, but at least you’ll lend support to this event and let the county know,” Doody said. Browning said that in addition, they might ask County Commissioner Jess Santamaria if he can exert some influence.
“We can’t tell you to do it illegally, these are just suggestions,” Browning said. “That’s the best we can do for you tonight.”
Panther Run Elementary School participated in International Walk and Bike to School Day on Oct. 7.
Panther Run students and their families joined nearly 40 million people from 40 countries throughout the world. Participants found alternative modes of transportation that were healthy for themselves as well as the environment. Second grade teacher Susan Bryant coordinated the event as part of her effort to help Panther Run “go green.” Bryant has implemented Walk and Bike to School days at least once a month for the past three years.
Although many people in the community consider private schools in Palm Beach to be rather “cliquish,” the King’s Academy separates itself from the stereotype. Already this year TKA has volunteered many students’ time and effort to help the community through services and fundraising.
More recently was the King’s Academy’s Homecoming 2009, themed “A Magical Adventure.” This homecoming was not just another week of student festivities and school spirit.
Of course, there was plenty of Powder Puff football, wacky theme days, and a good ol’ game of high school Friday night football. But the King’s Academy’s homecoming incorporated an interesting element of fundraising into the festivities.
At lunchtime everyday during the week of homecoming, the cafeteria administered a “change drive” where all the students donated their pocket change. The proceeds from this “change drive” were to be donated to Livada Orphan Care in Romania.
In addition, the Powder Puff game was turned into an all-outevent held in the evening this year to watch the junior and senior girls
play powder puff, the young men cheer and to do a golf cart float parade. There was a bonfire where students could roast marshmallows, and the Marching Lions performed at half time.
A $1 entrance fee to come and watch all the festivities was charged in order to add to the students’ gift to Livada.
All money from these events totaled $1,907.68 and was immediately sent to Livada Orphan Care.
The King’s Academy is a nationally recognized private Christian school serving approximately 1,200 students from preschool through 12th grade and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International and the Florida Association of Christian Schools.
The King’s Academy serves students and their families across Palm Beach County at its main campus at Belvedere Road and Sansbury’s Way in West Palm Beach and its satellite preschool campuses in Greenacres, Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach.
For more information about the King’s Academy, visit www.tka. net.
Friends and family gathered recently to celebrate the life of Wellington Elementary School teacher Fran Shane, who lost a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. A reading nook was dedicated in the school’s media center in recognition of her many years of service to the school. Shane’s most recent position was remedial reading teacher. She was an avid Harry Potter fan and used the Harry Potter theme in her classroom to motivate her students. The furniture, bearing a Harry Potter design, was purchased with donations from the PTO, teachers and Shane’s family.
joined current
Former principals Buz Spooner and P.J.
Starting Saturday, Dec. 5, and for all 2010 test dates, Seminole Ridge High School will be an official College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) administration site. Students who have already registered for the Dec. 5 SAT but would rather take the test at SRHS should see their guidance counselors immediately. • PBAU to Visit — Representatives of Palm Beach Atlantic University will give a presentation to Seminole Ridge students on Monday, Nov. 9 at 1:15 p.m. in the media center’s Ridge Room. Sign up in advance at the guid-
ance office to attend the presentation, covering admissions and registration, academic and vocational programs, and financial aid/ scholarship options.
• ASVAB Is Here — Juniors and seniors: sign up to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), a multiaptitude test providing a snapshot of your current knowledge and skills. ASVAB is both a career exploration activity and a tool for learning about yourself. Not only can it help you confirm your college plans, but it can also help you identify career options you may not have considered. The test will
be offered on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:50 a.m. in the SRHS auditorium. Students can sign up in the guidance office before or after school or during lunch.
• Freshman Parent Night — The SRHS guidance department will host “Freshman Parent Night” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium Tuesday, Nov. 17. All ninth graders and their parents are cordially invited to attend and learn more about graduation requirements, Bright Futures and other scholarships, FCAT and Edline. Contact the guidance office at (561) 422-2610 for more information.
• Yearbook Ad Deadline Extended — Hawks can remember their senior year as well as their friends by having their very own 2010 yearbook page. Students can get the ad form from yearbook adviser Mrs. Sue Menke in Room 7-110. Write your personalized message and choose your photographs (on CD or on photo paper) and return the form and photos to Room 7-110 or to Mrs. Menke’s mailbox by Friday, Nov. 20. Be sure to include cash or a check payable to SRHS. For more information, e-mail menke@palm beach.k12.fl.us or call (561) 4222762 to leave a voice mail.
Oasis Compassion Agency’s fourth dinner and auction raised approximately $30,000 for the non-profit on Saturday, Oct. 24.
A total of 150 people attended the event at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. The master of ceremonies was A. Wayne Gill, legal advisor to Oasis. Gill is a partner at Adorno & Yoss LLP; he also is an interim pastor at Palm Beach Baptist Church and author of the book
Tales My Grandma Told Me. The honorary co-chairs were State Sen. Jeff Atwater (R-District 25) and State Sen. Dave Aronberg (DDistrict 27). Music was provided by the Memory Lane seven-piece band. The Presenting Sponsor was Gunster Law Firm, the oldest law firm in Palm Beach County. Joe Curly, one of the partners, spoke briefly about the reasons his company supports Oasis and encouraged all corporations and individuals at the event to consider how they might also support the work that Oasis is doing. Additional corporate support was provided by Morning Star Financial Services, this year’s gold sponsor, and Adams Coogler law firm.
Oasis’ annual Compassionate Spirit Awards added a new category this year — Advocate of the Year, which was awarded to Dr. Farokh Jiveh, a Wellington cosmetic dentist who gave a “new” mouth to an Oasis client this year. The other awards were as follows:
• Major Gifts — Jarden Consumer Solutions, a Boca Raton-
based corporation and maker of popular brands, Mr. Coffee and Sunbeam products, snagged this award for its financial support of the Oasis Career Center for the past three years.
• Outstanding Volunteer — Linda Roland of Lake Worth has been a volunteer since 2005 and volunteers more than 600 hours a year, picking up food from Publix each week and working in the thrift store.
• In-Kind Giving — Community Christian Church was recognized for its substantial contribution to the Oasis Food Pantry with their “Mission Impossible” project, which donates more than 6,000 pounds of food each year, in addition to their “Angels for Oasis” program which helps graduating clients with additional pantry items and also teaches them how to shop on a budget.
Atwater stressed the point that Oasis is doing more than the government does in the community. Aronberg could not be present but sent a video expressing his support for the mission and its importance to the community.
Oasis Compassion Agency is committed to showing God’s love in practical ways by addressing the physical and spiritual needs of the less fortunate in Palm Beach County. The agency works with clients to identify roadblocks to success, devise a plan to overcome them, and act on that plan. For more information, visit www.oasiscompassion.org or call (561) 967-4066.
HAYNES, NAMIKI TO WED IN MAY
The Knights of Columbus Council #8419 from St. Rita Catholic Church held its 20th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington.
The Peter A. Benvenuti Golf Classic to benefit the Frank T. Gladney Memorial Scholarship raised $10,000. The proceeds are used to award a Catholic school scholarship to a deserving young adult from the Knights/St. Rita community. This is the Knights’ largest fundraiser each year, and their remaining funds are used for charitable works in the local community including young adult activities, parish needs and help for other worthy causes. A total of 104 golfers partici-
pated in the tournament, with 16 volunteers working throughout the day to help with set-up, awards, etc. The low gross winning team included Dr. Jim Louwers, John Kingston, Lou Mrachek and Louie Bartoletti. The low net winning team included Peter Petrone, Pete Petrone Jr., Anthony Petrone and Mike Illsley. The Knights of Columbus is a non-profit organization. All of its members are volunteers who devote hundreds and hundreds of hours each year to doing works of charity. St. Rita Catholic Church is located at 13645 Paddock Drive in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 793-8544.
On Oct. 27, Palms West Hospital held a recognition ceremony for members of the Wellington Art Society to thank them for their generous donation of time and talent. The members of the Wellington Art Society created and painted a large “underwater paradise” mural in the Pediatric Oncology Department. The purpose of the artwork is to cheer up kids and comfort them while in a sometimes uncomfortable hospital environment. Many of the oncology patients spend a prolonged period of time in the hospital, and this mural gives them something to enjoy and get lost in.
The artists involved in the mural project were Ursula Fernandez, Adrianne Hetherington, Cheryl McNamee, Corrine Ingerman, Dolores Rosen, Maria Lentine, Leslie Pfeifer, Linda Rovolis, Ilene Adams, Marianne Davidson, Judy Bludworth, Nancy Fontana Greenfield, Norma Winter and Susan Barnett. The staff and physicians from the Children’s Hospital at Palms West wish to thank the Wellington Art Society for their generosity and for making a difference in the lives of ill children. For more information about the Wellington Art Society, visit the organization’s web site at www. wellingtonartsociety.org.
Air Force Airman Cynthia K. Renna recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Renna completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate’s degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Renna is the daughter of Todd Renna of Royal Palm Beach and Cynthia Renna
a 2009 graduate of American Heritage School in Plantation.
Air Force Airman 1st Class
Joshua S. Pastore recently graduated from the Utilities Systems Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. The course is designed to train students in water processing, analysis, operating principles of water treatment plants, maintenance of water and waste water, fire suppression and backflow prevention systems and components; and maintenance and repair of water
supply, waste and natural gas systems. The training included monitoring systems operation to ensure efficiency and compliance with safety and environmental regulations for hazardous materials; performing inspection, recurring maintenance, and seasonal overhaul on systems and components; troubleshooting malfunctions and removing, repairing and replacing defective components; and modifying equipment for specific missions or to increase efficiency.
Pastore is assigned to Hurlburt Field Air Base Squadron in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. He is the son of Randy and Stacey Pastore of The Acreage and is a 2008 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School.
Wellington author Linda Hatcher has written the book No Forbidden Fruit: A Diabetic Success Story, which chronicles her struggle with weight loss and diabetes.
At 64 years old, Hatcher was obese and suffering from type II diabetes. She shed 111 pounds without surgery or diet aids and no longer requires diabetic medication.
“This dietician and doctor-endorsed book is a chronicle of my lifelong struggle with weight and weight perception, and the challenges faced as I fought the weight demons and won!” Hatcher said. The book is filled with practi-
cal advice, tips on sensible eating and how to avoid senseless calories, real-life exercise tips, easyto-use food charts and healthy recipes. “This book is simply written and easy to put into practice because it has been written by someone just like you who struggles with health and weight,” she said. “I have achieved unbelievable success,” she said. “I am healthier and have more energy than I have
of Regina and Paul Young of
al Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on Oct. 20.
Chase Taylor Greenberg — son of Betty and Barry Greenberg of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on Oct. 21. Bianca Allyn Gonzalez — daughter of Tara and Francisco Gonzalez of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on Oct. 21.
By Martha Morales Special to the Town-Crier
Time matters. It matters in sports. Olympic records are broken in fractions of seconds. It matters in music. Orchestras depend on synchronized timing. It matters in dancing. The wrongly timed step can cause hurt toes. It matters when it comes to your heart health. Timely medical assistance can mean the difference between life and death.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, seek medi-
cal attention immediately. At the first sign of symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, back pain, jaw pain, lightheadedness or upper body discomfort, the clock begins to tick. Even if you are not sure it is a heart attack, don’t wait. Seek emergency medical assistance. Dial 911. The earlier you access medical care, the earlier intervention to save cardiac muscle can be initiated.
Cardiac muscle is everything.
Muscle power is what allows your heart to maintain effective pumping. During a heart attack, blood flow to the heart is impaired and muscle cells die. This results in loss of muscle power, which can have long-term medical effects, such as heart failure. Early intervention during a heart attack restores blood flow to your muscle cells, saving cardiac cells and muscle power. Interventions to restore blood flow to the heart can be medical or invasive.
Medications can be adminis-
tered to restore blood flow to the coronary arteries that perfuse the heart. An invasive procedure, a cardiac catheterization can be done to visualize the coronary arteries and restore flow if there is an obstruction. Timeliness is everything. If it turns out not to be a heart attack, consider it a warning sign for continued medical care. So take time to enjoy life. Make time for sports, music and dancing. Remember, timeliness is the key to good heart health.
For more information about
heart attacks, visit www.american heart.org.
Martha Morales has been a resident of Wellington and a Palms West Hospital employee for the past 15 years and is currently the clinical educator for ICU and telemetry. Morales has been a nurse since she graduated from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 1981. She has been critical care certified since 1987 and a nurse educator since 1988. She is currently enrolled in a master’s of nursing program.
Nearly 5,000
On Oct. 14, the Wellington Parks & Recreation Department received national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), becoming one of only nine cities in the State of Florida currently holding na-
tional accreditation. The accomplishment was announced in Salt Lake City, Utah at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) 2009 Congress & Exposition. The process of accreditation is extensive and took several years to accomplish, with agencies required to respond to 155 standards representing various elements of park and recreation efficiency and effectiveness. Applying agencies are required to meet 138 of the 155 standards in order to become accredited. After the initial application, the agency completed a detailed self-assessment report followed by a visit to the village by a team of experienced park and recreation professionals. Finally, a review was conducted by CAPRA and accreditation was formally conferred by the 13-member commission on Oct. 14. Community Programs Director
Ivy Fivey accepted the National Accreditation Recognition Award for the Wellington Parks & Recreation Department at the accreditation hearing.
Temple Beth Zion, in conjunction with the American Red
Wellington Honors Employees — On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Wellington Village Council honored Employee of the Month Elizabeth Arocho and Supervisor of the Quarter Jose Sanchez. Residents have praised Arocho for her work with the Wellington Dog Park. She has also been part of a team working to be sure correct information is being given out over the village’s phone system and has helped to create a manual to be used by reception staff. Sanchez has also been recognized by residents for his work with the Wellington Dog Park and is respected by his own work group, which nominated him for “Supervisor of the Quarter.”
New American Legion Post — The Wellington Village Council last week recognized the formation of American Legion Post 390, a patriotic veteran and non-profit community service organization. In July 2008, the National Executive Committee of the American Legion granted a charter to Wellington Post 390. The post is currently working with the Stand Down House in Lake Worth to support homeless veterans.
continued from page 1 bringing back some continuity.
We’re bringing back some history.” Erickson pointed out that the spreadsheets currently being used by the district to do costbenefit analyses were created by Quickel when she was employed at ITID. “The district got organized from a financial point of view during those four years she was here,” Erickson said. “She seems to be extremely professional, and I’m absolutely going to support this document in employing Ms. Quickel, because I think that
it’s the opportunity to leave the transition we’ve been going through the last three years. Now we can step forward in a professional direction with a comprehensive staff approach to Indian Trail.”
Supervisor Ralph Bair asked if there is a clause in the contract that allows her to work without interference from individual supervisors, and Schoech said there is. “She acts on the direction of the board,” Schoech said, explaining that Quickel cannot accept direction from an individual member of the board.
The agreement states that the board agrees to observe a policy of non-interference in the day-today operation of the district.
Bair made a motion to approve the agreement, which was second-
A Six-Year-Old Fighter — Shown here is six-year-old Max Clark (center) and his family. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Wellington Village Council recognized Clark for his battle with leukemia. He was first diagnosed with t-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia in December 2007, and it resurfaced in January. In February, Clark had a bone marrow transplant, and in June received a cord blood stem cell transplant. Throughout the process, Clark has remained happy and hopeful.
Council Recognizes Park Donation — On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Wellington Village Council recognized Del and Barbara Williamson for their donation to Scott’s Place. The couple donated $250,000 in memory of their son toward a playground where children with special needs could play as independently as possible with ablebodied children. This month, the council will dedicate the playground, located at the new Town Center site on Forest Hill Blvd.
ed by Erickson and passed 4-0 with Supervisor Carol Jacobs absent.
In other business, the supervisors approved a consent agreement with Palm Beach County to proceed with library construction, with the stipulation that the district pay a $5,000 fine to the South Florida Water Management District over the district’s improper infilling of wetland several years ago at the future county library site near the intersection of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd. At the district’s October meeting, County Director of Property & Real Estate Management Ross Hering said the county had agreed to terms of a land swap for the library site, giving the district a lease to 28 acres of expansion
property at Acreage Community Park in exchange for the county’s lease of the seven-acre library property.
Hering said the county would pay the mitigation costs, but the district had to pay its own fines, which Hering had estimated in October to be about $11,000. ITID
Attorney Mary Viator said the infraction had opened the district to as much as $250,000 in fines.
“Hopefully this is culmination of the issue,” Viator said. “The fiscal impact is $5,000. We need to let the board know in 10 days if we are agreeable to this proposed settlement. It specifically does not require that we acknowledge liability.”
Erickson made a motion to approve the agreement, which passed 4-0.
Cross Greater Palm Beach Area chapter, will host a discussion on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 9 to 10 a.m. featuring Linda Klein, director of the Holocaust & War Victims Tracing and Information Center of the American Red Cross. This is a critical issue in a race against the clock in international Holocaust tracing for the more than 200,000 survivors. Guests will also learn how the American Red Cross has reunited more than 1,500 families, with more than 100 cases currently pending in Palm Beach County. The Red Cross offers a free service to help family members learn the fate of loved ones. If you attempted a search in the past and were unsuccessful, you are encouraged to attend because many advances in techniques have made these searches much more fruitful.
There is no charge for this program. Temple Beth Zion is located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach, just north of Veterans Park. For more information, call Liz at (561) 7988888.
The deadline is Friday, Nov. 13 for crafters to submit applications for the eighth annual Fall Fantasy Craft Show in Royal Palm Beach, to be held at Veterans Park on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The show will include live musical entertainment and a wide variety of hand-made goods. Interested crafters should call (561) 790-5149 or submit an application at the cultural center (151 Civic Center Way).
All items for sale must be handmade and approved for sale by the cultural center coordinator.
continued from page 3
tent, and there’ll be certain criteria that they’ll have to meet, being a non-profit organization and having bylaws and a board of directors in place, or showing that it’s going to be in place,” he said. “We’ll take it to the Recreation Advisory Board and review all the applicants.” Recchio said he is open to reviewing an application from the
continued from page 7 support it and not see funds taken away from it for reason of privatization,” he said. “We should continue to be cognizant of our need to appropriately fund public schools.”
Burkert said he would be very careful to represent both sides of the district even-handedly. “Statistically, you can’t say this seat belongs to either county,” Burkert
“World Quilt Show XIII: Florida” will be held Friday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center (650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). The show will feature a merchant’s mall with exhibitors offering everything needed to jumpstart creative projects. Visit www. quiltfest.com or call (561) 3663000 for more information.
Palm
Event Nov. 11
Taste of the Palm Beaches will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the PGA Commons in Palm Beach Gardens. Experience one of Palm Beach County’s finest food and wine celebrations featuring nearly 50 fine restaurants, wine, spirits and more. Enjoy live entertainment, music, ice carving contests and much more. For more information about Taste of the Palm Beaches, visit www.tasteofthepalmbeaches.com or call (561) 630-8630.
The Cahill Foundation will hold a black-tie dinner to benefit families of The Acreage on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Wanderers Club at Wellington. A cocktail reception will be held at 6 p.m. For more info., e-mail vanessa @thecahillfoundation.com, call (561) 601-0581 or visit www. thecahillfoundation.com.
current provider. “They’re already in the process of reorganizing their group,” he said. “We’ll look at them just like anybody else.” Recchio said new rules for sports providers will reduce the chances of wrongdoing.
“We’re tightening up on some of the policies and procedures that they have to follow,” he said. “The guidelines will be much more stringent than they have been. We’re reviewing those guidelines until we come up with a document that we feel is good enough and tight enough that everything will be relatively controlled to the point that something like this can’t happen again.”
said, adding that he would maintain an office on both sides of the state as Aronberg does. “I fully intend to do whatever is necessary to learn about what the concerns are of people on both sides, to speak to their concerns and represent them equally in Tallahassee,” he said. “Palm Beach County Democrats are looking for the best Democrat to represent them in Tallahassee. I expect to speak aggressively and forcefully on their behalf. I believe that they will ultimately see me as the best candidate to do all of those things.”
Nov. 17 for the 3rd Annual Luncheon
Farm-City L Luncheon
$20 p per p person
Nov. 17 at 11:30 a.m.
RSVP by Nov. 13 to Scott@PalmsWestChamber.com
Register/pay online: www.Palmswest.com
Make checks payable to PWCC-Farm City Week
Sundy Feed Store
9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach in the Agriplex at theSouth Florida Fairgrounds
Directions: Turnpike / I-95, exit Southern Boulevard, west to Fairgrounds Road, parking & entrance- Gate # 8
Twenty-year-old Taylor McGuire of The Acreage has always been into horses. Last year, she and a friend formed their own drill team. Little did she know it would lead to a nightmare for Spirit, her six-year-old American Paint gelding. SEE ELLEN ROSENBERG’S COLUMN, PAGE 23
Some people spend time at the gym or visit museums. Not humorist Deborah Welky — she cleans. But recently, our Sonic Boomer woke up, bored with her life and set out to change something. Usually, it’s something harmless, but this time she decided to quit cleaning. SEE COLUMN, PAGE 24
Dr. Randy Laurich And Dr. Blake Kendall
To Lead Medical & Wellness Committee
The Medical & Wellness Committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce kicked off its first meeting of the year Oct. 20, chaired by Dr. Randy Laurich and Dr. Blake Kendall. The committee’s goal is to act as a resource for chamber members regarding health, wellness, spiritual and safety issues as it pertains to the quality of life in Wellington. Page 32
Playoff Dreams Fade
For Hawks, But WHS Earns Post-Season Bid
The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team fell 27-18 to Park Vista on Friday, Oct. 30, knocking the Hawks out of contention for the district playoffs. But last Friday brought good news for football fans at Wellington High School. After a sevenyear drought, the Wolverines traveled to Spanish River and clinched a playoff spot with a 37-0 blowout. Page 37
Twenty-year-old Taylor McGuire of The Acreage has always been into horses. She was all of six months old when her parents bought a pony for her and her older brother. She has owned horses ever since and currently has four.
After riding in a variety of disciplines, including barrel racing at the Posse shows, Taylor joined a drill team and rode with it for a few years. Last year, she and friend Brianna Spetla decided to branch out and form their own drill team. They recruited two other members and formed a Quad Team, which they named Dusty Roses Drill Team. Taylor is the coach and a rider, while Brianna is the assistant coach and also rides.
“I really like being on a drill team,” Taylor said. “Performing with my friends is fun — a lot different than just being out in a show ring by yourself or competing against everyone else in the ring, if it’s a flat class. Here, you’re working with everyone else. It’s also a great way to socialize your horse. He has to get used to being right up with other horses and interacting with them, in front, behind and beside him.”
The Dusty Roses formed in the fall of 2008. They practiced once a week on Monday evenings, and took turns hosting the practice rides. They entered the drill team competition at the South Florida Fair in January and came in second out of six quad teams. Their costumes were amazingly original: they came dressed as fairies, with each rider wearing gossamer wings and each horse wearing velvet drapes encrusted with “jewels.” The reins
By Ellen Rosenberg
were made to look like braided vines.
“We worked hard on those costumes,” Taylor said. “We made them ourselves. We wanted to look different and really pretty for a change, not some variation of a cowboy theme, which many teams do.”
Taylor said the whole team contributed to the ideas for the costumes and the ride itself, selecting which maneuvers to include and how each should look. They’ll be using the same costumes again this year, although they’ve changed the ride a little. And Taylor said they’re trying to think of some way to make the horses into unicorns, but they haven’t thought of a safe way to attach horns to the horses’ heads yet.
“It was hard enough just getting them used to the fairy costumes,” she laughed. “First, the horses had to understand that the wings on our backs wouldn’t hurt them, and then they had to get used to seeing the wings on the backs of the other riders. We couldn’t get any horses to go near any of the other horses when we first started riding with the wings. It was… interesting. The horses would shy or take off bucking. It took about four weeks of
practice until the horses felt really comfortable with it all.”
When the team began, Taylor was riding Spirit, her six-year-old American Paint gelding. She’d had him since he was two years old when she bought him from a neighbor. After the competition, she noticed that he was having some neck and back problems. She consulted a veterinarian and was advised that he should be turned out in a pasture for six months to a year to give him time to heal. She sent him out of state in February, and that’s when her nightmare began. When she called to check on him, she found out he’d been stolen.
Taylor went to visit and spent some time traveling around and investigating. In midJuly, she finally found Spirit on a ranch, and he’d been badly used. He was starved, dehydrated and infested with ticks. He was wormy and had rubbed all the hair off the base of his tail. He was covered with scrapes and bites, his face was sunburned and blistered, his legs were bloody from cuts and fly bites, and his eyes were swollen shut.
“I wasn’t even sure it was my horse,” Taylor said. “I could barely recognize him. And to make it even worse, I could tell the people had been riding him. He had saddle sweat marks on his back, which they naturally hadn’t bothered to brush or bathe off.”
The police were briefly involved, and Taylor brought poor Spirit back home to The Acreage. But afterward, his medical problems were much, much worse than they’d been originally. His back had been slightly sensi-
tive, but now Taylor can’t even lay a hand on his back without him groaning and flinching. He has had multiple abscesses in his hooves, which are gradually working their way out, but he now needs extensive veterinary and chiropractic care. Taylor is selling one of her horses, a cute Paint weanling, in hopes of raising enough money to help Spirit.
“He’s what’s important right now,” she said. “Somehow I’ll find a way to get him past all of this and make him whole again.”
I’m a neatnik. I don’t know if I’m like this because of my Marine Corps father or my June Cleaver mother, but over the years, I can’t tell you the number of hours I’ve logged doing laundry, washing dishes and putting everything in its place. A lot of people spend time at the gym or visit museums or hang out with friends. Not me; I clean. Having everything in order makes me happy.
But I woke up yesterday in one of my moods.
Every three months or so, I get bored with my life and set out to change something. Usually, it’s something harmless like wearing a white blouse instead of a t-shirt or buying a trashy novel.
But yesterday I decided to quit cleaning. Enough was enough.
I also decided to paint the living room. It seemed to make sense — one ambitious project, one non-ambitious project. They’d
balance each other out, right? Wrong.
In the first place, painting the living room means moving everything out of the living room — furniture, throw rugs, knick-knacks, everything. Because, as a painter, I’m not exactly known for neatness. So that stuff gets relocated to the dining room, where it most definitely does not belong.
In the second place, additional items need to be brought in from the garage — ladder, paintbrush, roller, tarp, screwdriver, paint —
that kind of thing. All add to the confusion.
In the third place, while the painting is going on, nothing else is. So dishes pile up, toilet paper rolls remain empty and nobody eats. That’s OK. It’s all part of My Brand New Day.
As painting progresses, wastebaskets fill up with wet, painty things; towels are suddenly repurposed as rags and someone (I’m not naming names) gets her hair into the paint can and has to rinse it quickly in the kitchen sink.
By suppertime, it is quite obvious to everyone that mom is on strike. At least that’s how it seems to them.
“Where’s the bread?”
“Are we out of paper towels?”
“Can’t some of this stuff get put into the dishwasher?”
La-la-la-la-la. Can’t hear anyone. Happily painting the final wall.
No one starves. They fend for themselves.
So you’d think that today would be a particularly good day — a day when I wake up, go into the living room, pat myself on the back for a job well done and head off to the mall to get myself a little treat.
Instead, I am horrified. Oh, sure, the walls look good, but what about the rest of the place? There are empty paint cans on the floor, sticky brushes sitting in cups of water, and there’s a big beige footprint in the hallway. An open loaf of bread rests on a chair. There’s shampoo on the kitchen counter, and it’s impossible to reach the faucet with all those dishes piled in the sink.
I quickly get to work tidying up everything, and in a mere two hours, I have my house back. And my sanity.
So much for my little experiment. I guess I never should have tried to change my core being of Leave It to Beaver meets Gomer Pyle, USMC. It’s who I am.
The lack of civility in political debate these days is alarming, but so is the obsequiousness as well. Rocco Landesman, well-known Broadway producer (and think Mel Brooks’ The Producers here) recently gave a speech in which he called President Obama “the most powerful writer since Julius Caesar.”
Of course, it is said that Caesar also had a slave who rode with him through the streets of Rome whispering in his ear, “Remember, thou art mortal!” as the crowds roared their approval. And as all who studied Shakespeare in grade school know, that was certainly true. Too many politicians want the applause of the crowd. A Roman emperor, actually more powerful than Caesar, was the stoic Marcus Aurelius. As a stoic, he was someone who believed that intrinsic worth was more important than the adulation of others. One of his best quotes was, “Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.” That could certainly stand as a rebuke to most modern politicians.
Most of our recent presidents have written
‘I’ On CULTURE
By Leonard Wechsler
books before they were in office. Our earliest leaders, like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, are justly famous for their writing. Most of the lesser-known presidents of the late 19th Century wrote memoirs of their time in the Union Army during the Civil War. Grant’s memoirs are particularly impressive; he wrote them himself as he lay on his deathbed. Theodore Roosevelt was a well-known naturalist who wrote extensively on his life and travels. Woodrow Wilson was a noted scholar and historian before he became a politician.
In recent years, John F. Kennedy became the archetype of the candidate using writing skills to advance his career. At this point, some
of you will object that Theodore Sorenson actually wrote Profiles in Courage, the book that won JFK the Pulitzer Prize. Well, duh. It is a reasonably good guess that just about all the books by our presidential wannabees were at least partially ghost-written. And some of them were excellent, if not particularly accurate with the facts, or particularly autobiographical. Carter’s Why Not the Best? and Reagan’s Where’s the Rest of Me? might have trouble being listed in the non-fiction section of the library.
Of course, these days a lot of the history written by non-presidents for political campaigns might face the same problem. Historian Douglas Brinkley’s Tour of Duty about candidate John Kerry left out enough pieces of information in its first printing that changes were inserted into later editions.
And, of course, Britain’s Sir Winston Churchill was a journalist as well as the author of The History of the English-Speaking Peoples. Frederick the Great of Prussia was another great, powerful leader with a taste for writing. Caesar’s work, however, was not very different from that of our modern leaders, es-
sentially propaganda to win over the crowds. Whether or not he actually wrote them without assistance is something we will almost surely never know.
The basic reason these books are useful, of course, is that they presumably provide insight on leadership. Personally, I would guess that none of them is particularly accurate. A politician discussing his life and ideas will leave out elements that would cost votes and emphasize those that would gain them. The closer to an election the book, the less likely it is to contain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
The basic point, of course, is that inane flattery is often more injurious than sincere criticism. The president winning the Nobel Peace Prize before doing anything quickly made the prize itself a joke. It would have been far better if he were awarded it a few years down the road for actually doing something.
Writing a book about one’s life is a nice achievement for a politician, but not worthy of the praise Mr. Landesman tosses around. We can only hope that this is one political trend that runs a quick course before ending.
A few weeks ago, there was a news story going around about how “driving a convertible can make you go deaf.” This article caught my eyes and my “going deaf” ears. As a kid, I drove a ragtop for well over five years. I had a powder blue 1963 Chevy Impala Super Sport. I even had a name for this beautiful car. My mother, of course, had another name for my car. She called it “My Motel On Wheels.” I tried to explain to her that the name she called my car was not true at all. But to this day, she sticks with it. Yes, at 92 she is still talking about that car. In fact, some days that is all she talks about. She has a knack for remembering every little detail about my car.
Today, I am driving a 2004 Mustang ragtop. I am happy to report that mom has not given this pony a name. (I guess she didn’t want to upset my wife Sharon.)
The news report on the ragtops went on to
By Ernie Zimmerman
say that the reason for folks losing their hearing while driving a ragtop is that while you are doing 50 mph or more, the wind is howling loudly, thus causing a hearing loss. I guess the clowns who wrote this story never heard the wind howling during a hurricane. The report goes on to say if you drive with the windows rolled up while the top is down, it may spare you the hearing loss. And to that, I ask, “What fun is it to drive a ragtop with the windows rolled up?”
The report did not mention anything about the smells that one encounters while riding in a ragtop, especially when stopped at a traffic light behind a bus or a dump truck. The report also failed to mention why you see so many of the so-called “older males” with baseball caps on their bald heads while driving their ragtops. The reason is because of the danger of the hot Florida sun beating down on those heads while driving in a ragtop. If people really suffer a hearing loss while riding around in their ragtops, I have my own theory why. It’s the music. What fun is it to ride around in a beautiful ragtop if you can’t blast your favorite sounds out of what passes for a radio these days?
I am guilty as charged for playing my ’60s rock ‘n’ roll loud (well, at least loud for me). I do this not to bother other drivers, but because of my very own hearing loss. It’s an unwritten law that the faster
one goes, the louder the music must be. At my age, riding in the ragtop, with the wind blowing all around me and the music coming out of the sound machine, is one of the better feelings in life.
The report also failed to mention that one of the biggest hazards of driving around in the Florida sun with the top down is all of the nasty rain showers one encounters.
I am happy to say this report will never stop me from driving my pony ragtop. Sharon, however, may put the brakes on my driving my pony, but that is a story for another time. (She doesn’t ride in my car; she is mad at me because I won’t let her drive it.)
P.S. — On a sad note, the western communities lost a very good friend last week when Al Weissman passed away. The hundreds of folks who attended the graveside service at the VA cemetery showed how much Al was loved and will be missed. R.I.P., Al.
ArtStart founder and president Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi will paint with kids on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Royal Palm Beach Farmer’s Market and demonstrate her technique at Oceanside Farmers Market in Lake Worth in November and December.
While searching her brain for a new art activity to share with her students, the Wellington artist took some vegetables from her refrigerator to prepare dinner for her family. As fate would have it, she accidentally knocked over a small jar of acrylic paint, which had been left on the counter from a previous art activity. The paint spilled onto a head of cabbage and — much like the famous peanut butter/chocolate accident seen in television commercials for a certain confection — a new painting style was born.
In her attempt to remove the paint from the leafy vegetable by dabbing
it with a paper towel, she noticed that the resulting marks on the towel were quite interesting; so she took a piece of canvas board and repeated the step, this time with a more deliberate motion.
“I just loved the way the ‘brushstrokes’ looked on the canvas board,” Parssi said, so the artist “sat down and created a landscape painting,” using not only the kale, but also sliced carrots, potatoes and bell peppers as her paint brushes.
When she introduced it to her class, Parssi’s students so enjoyed this new art activity that she decided to share it with other young artists, beginning Nov. 8 at Royal Palm Beach Farmer’s Market at 11001 Southern Blvd. in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping center.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., children can create their very own cards using vegetables and kid-safe paint.
“This is one way to get kids to enjoy their vegetables,” Parssi said. Parssi’s vegetable paintings will be available for purchase, with a portion of each sale benefiting ArtStart, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide educational opportunities in the arts.
In addition to her class for kids, Parssi will demonstrate her technique for visitors at the Oceanside Farmers Market in Lake Worth on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 21 and 28, and Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Lakeside Farmers Market is located at 1 S. Ocean Blvd. For more information, call (561) 547-3100. Parssi’s vegetable paintings will be available for purchase, with a portion of each sale benefiting ArtStart.
For more information, call Parssi at (561) 635-2037 or e-mail jeannette@jpparssi.com.
Former Celtic Woman star vocalist and harpist Orla Fallon has announced her first-ever series of solo concert dates in support of her recent release Distant Shore and justrecorded Christmas single “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” The Irish singer will also accompany platinum instrumentalist Jim Brickman as part of his “Beautiful World” Christmas tour, which comes to town on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach).
Fallon continues to appear nationwide as a guest vocalist on Brickman’s PBS special Beautiful World
Fallon has received much praise for Distant Shore Billboard magazine noted that in releasing Distant
Shore, Fallon is “combining her Irish roots with her appreciation for America’s heartland.” Inside World Music commented, “The Irish maiden soothes the soul with a pristine voice backed by some contemporary choral arrangements and mostly modern instrumentation… the rather pop-focused ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ is a sweet song about love that is sure to make feet happy with dancing maneuvers.”
Additionally, Fallon will be releasing her recently recorded version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to radio later this month. The track was recorded in Nashville and was arranged and produced by veteran producer Dan Shea.
Distant Shore was produced by Shea and Eoghan O’Neill. O’Neill
is a founding member of the seminal Irish folk-rock band Moving Hearts and was a musical director of Riverdance: The Show. For the past five years, O’Neill has shared the world stage with Orla as Celtic Woman’s musical director and bassist.
Shea, a multi-platinum American producer whose long resume of hit pop productions includes tracks by Mariah Carey, Carlos Santana, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion and Martina McBride, produced and/or coproduced six tracks on Distant Shore. Nashville’s Green Hill Music and EMI released the album in the U.S. on Sept. 22, with international release dates to follow.
Fallon toured the world as a soloist in the phenomenally popular performing troupe Celtic Woman
for four years, and recorded with them the three albums which held a record-setting 95 consecutive weeks at the No. 1 position on the Billboard World Music Albums chart. During Fallon’s four years in the group, Celtic Woman sold more than four million CDs and DVDs, played seven U.S. tours, and performed for more than 800,000 people. Meanwhile, the three Celtic Woman PBS specials have aired more than 13,658 times on 685 PBS stations across the country. Fallon’s first solo album, The Water Is Wide, debuted on that chart in the Top 10 upon its U.S. release in 2006.
The Dec. 9 show at the Kravis Center starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $85. Visit www.kravis.org or call (561) 832-7469 for more information.
Two years ago, on the 18th anniversary of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, Festival Director Karen Davis was finally confident enough to say, “the festival is now rooted and part of the community.”
Davis added that the Jewish Community Center-sponsored PBJFF “is the oldest film festival in Palm Beach County, and the oldest and largest Jewish film festival in the south. We laid the foundation for other film festivals and film series.”
This year’s festival celebrates its milestone 20th year. Running Dec. 2-13, it features more than 30 films and documentaries from 10 countries — including the first Jewish
film from Kazakhstan — dealing with all manner of subjects relevant to the Jewish world.
In keeping with last year’s trend, the lion’s share of the films are from Israel, while France contributes five. Screenings will be held at the Cobb Downtown at the Gardens 16 in Palm Beach Gardens, the Regal Delray in Delray Beach and at the Reel World Wellington 8.
The festival has come a long way from its humble beginnings. “The festival started 20 years ago, showing three films over two days in one theater,” Davis recalled. “Today, it screens nearly three dozen films over 10 days in three theaters — and it’s followed by the Encore Film Series in the spring, which features
audience favorites from the December festival.”
Davis noted that the festival’s success and longevity is due to the quality of its film programming. “[It] stimulates, enlightens and entertains audiences with the kind of international and independent films seldom seen in Palm Beach County,” Davis said. “Over the years, we’ve built up a community of filmlovers, many of whom plan their return to Palm Beach around the dates of the festival, and who come together to celebrate Jewish culture.”
For tickets, festival passes or more information, visit the festival’s web site at www.pbjff.org or call (561) 712-5204.
The Z5000 is a non-powered tilting traction table and back exerciser for the home or workplace.
Zoltan Mayer, president of the Royal Palm Beach-based medical device manufacturer
ULE Corporation, has developed a new advanced device to help alleviate lower back pain. The Z5000 is a non-powered tilting traction table and back exerciser for the home or workplace.
The device targets and stretches the lumbar area of the back to relieve disc pressure and back pain. The user controls the traction force with little effort: as the user tilts the table, his or her body weight works with gravity to apply traction force. Pushing on the handles applies more force, and pulling up lessens the force. A pelvic harness that attaches to a rolling carriage restrains the user and provides lower body support; upper body restraint is not needed due to a unique patentpending design.
Using a gradual progression process and breathing technique allows the back muscles to relax and stretch, creating more space between vertebrae, relieving disc pressure. According to Mayer, the mind and body have to come together to make the device work — relaxing the back muscles is key.
“Put some music on, get on, put all else out of your mind, take some deep breaths and then start slowing down breathing and relaxing,” he said. “Then you can put on the belt, get it tight and start stretching.”
To emphasize how important the breathing is, Mayer recommends users try this test: “Stand up straight, extend arms straight ahead, keep your feet planted and turn to the right as far as you can and stop,” he said. “Then take a breath, breathe out and turn more.”
Mayer said he has had back problems since the 1970s after hitting a car head-on while riding a motorcycle. In 2000, he had a microdisectomy, and a second injury in 2006 led to the invention of the Z5000.
“There are many reasons for back pain and causes,” Mayer said. “I don’t claim this a cure for anything. This is an opportunity for you to do therapy on your lower back like never before. This is not magic; it takes effort and time on your part. It may take minutes, hours, days, months depending on what your problem is. This is why you should get an MRI so you are not guessing.”
Mayer knows first-hand how important an MRI is to diagnose back pain; it isolated the problem for him in 2000.
“I had an old piece of hardened disc jelly that broke off and lodged next to a nerve,” he said. “I could not walk or rest in any position without constant pain. It took six months of pills — try this and that — and referrals with no help. I couldn’t take the pain anymore; my leg looked like a toothpick. I drove myself to the emergency room and was able to get an MRI, then surgery.”
Mayer said he uses the Z5000 on a regular basis to stretch before and after golf, lifting and bending, or driving and sitting for long periods of time to avoid injury and make his back feel better. He is offering free in-home demonstrations of the device for anyone who is interested.
For more information about the Z5000 or ULE Corporation, call Mayer at (561) 281-2339.
The Medical & Wellness Committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce kicked off its first meeting of the year on Oct. 20, chaired by Dr. Randy Laurich and Dr. Blake Kendall.
The committee includes a diverse group of dynamic individuals whose goal is to inform and educate the community while promoting the health and wellness professionals who are members of the Wellington Chamber.
The committee’s goal is to act as a resource for chamber members regarding health, wellness, spiritual and safety issues as it pertains to quality of life matters in Wellington. It also will support the medical community’s efforts to integrate chamber businesses.
Laurich loves and lives his work, having practiced chiropractic wellness care since 1998 when he graduated from the Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. Laurich’s special focus and passion is helping people change the patterns and habits that
are preventing their body from healing itself. His broad knowledge in diverse fields including nutrition and exercise therapy, as well as his experience in personal growth and motivational leadership, allows Laurich to partner with each patient to help them achieve their desired health goals. Laurich has been interviewed by WPTV NewsChannel 5 anchor Roxanne Stein as well as many local publications.
He is a member of the Florida Chiropractic Society and lives in Wellington with his wife Lorraine and two children.
Kendall, of Emergency Specialists of Wellington, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician. He is also an attending physician and director of marketing and business development at Wellington Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department for the past four and a half years. Kendall received his education at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and
Yale University, and has completed post-graduate medical education at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, Philadelphia Orthopedic Group and Mercy Catholic Medical Center. Kendall is a Palm Beach County native and has lived in Wellington for five years with his wife Jill, sons Blake Jr. and Cade, and has a daughter on the way. In addition, Kendall has been the medical advisor and league phy-
sician for the National Basketball Association, is a former NASCAR track physician, quarterback at Yale University (1993-1996) and past co-chair for Western Communities Relay for Life. For more information on the Medical & Wellness Committee and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, call Michela Perillo-Green at (561) 792-6525 or visit the chamber’s web site at www. wellingtonchamber.com.
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Consign and Design of Wellington. The store is now under the ownership of Nanci Smith, who founded Elegant Estates in 2001 (which was later sold). Consign and Design is located in the Wellington Marketplace next to Walgreens. With more than 4,000 square feet, the furniture consignment store has something for everyone. It is open seven days a week. For more info., call Smith at (561) 798-5222.
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host the Farm City Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at the Sundy Feed Store at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
To RSVP call Anitra Harmon at the Palms West Chamber of Commerce at (561) 790-6200. For more information about upcoming chamber events, visit www. palmswest.com.
KPA Promotions — The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for KPA Promotions (8080 Belvedere Road, Unit 7, WPB). KPA provides inhouse graphic design, laser etching on site, web design/ hosting, custom trophy and awards, direct jet t-shirt printing, silk screening and embroidery, promotional products, vinyl posters and banners, and more. For info., call (561) 209-9822 or visit www.kpapromotions.com.
Sleek Med Spa — The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Sleek Med Spa in the Mall at Wellington Green, which offers cosmetic procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons as well as cosmetic fillers to laser hair removal and skin tightening. Sleek Med Spa provides the latest non-surgical procedures. For more info., call Sylvia Bolivar at (561) 988-4098 or visit www.sleekmedspa.com.
Your Computer Guy — The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Your Computer Guy Inc. in the Lake Wellington Professional Centre, which provides an outsourced IT department for businesses. YCG can create the solution that bridges the gap between your business requirements and the systems needed to fulfill them. For more info., call Dave O’Keefe at (561) 337-6972 or visit www.ycginc.com.
Whatever-U-Need — The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Whatever-UNeed, a lifestyle management company designed to help people overcome challenges at home or at work. Its services are customizable, and there is no request too big or too small. For more info., call Sherry Meltzer at (561) 753-0878 or visit the company’s web site at www.whatever-u-need.com.
It could be as simple as an unexplained charge on your credit card statement or a debit from your checking account that you don’t recall making.
Many victims of identity theft don’t recognize small transactions as symptoms of a larger problem. In fact, many victims do not realize their identity has been stolen until months, or even years after the theft.
The average victim of identity theft will spend close to 200 hours and $1,200 repairing damage done by an identity thief.
The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast offers the following tips for victims of identity theft:
• Notify the credit bureaus — Contact the fraud departments of any of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file: TransUnion, (800) 6807289, www.transunion.com; Equifax, (888) 766-0008, www.equifax.com; and Ex-
perian, (888) 397-3742, www.experian.com.
• Close the account — If you suspect that your accounts have been tampered with or see new accounts that may have been opened fraudulently, close them immediately. Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company.
• File a complaint with the FTC — By sharing your identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. Use the online form at www.ftccomplaintassistant. gov or call (877) ID-THEFT (438-4338).
• File a police report — File a report with your local police department and get a copy. You may need to submit this report to creditors and others to prove the theft. For more information, visit the CCCS web site at www. cccsinc.org.
By Lauren Miro Town-Crier Staff Report
The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team fell 27-18 to Park Vista on Friday, Oct. 30, knocking the Hawks out of contention for the district playoffs.
The tone of the game was set early on when it was announced that Boca Raton High School had won, meaning the winner would advance to the playoffs. Both teams battled for their shot.
On the kickoff, it seemed like the Hawks were off to an early lead when Gary Holmes ran the ball up to the Cobra’s 40 yard line, but an offsides penalty resulted in a replay of the down. Two minutes into the game, the Hawks advanced into Cobra territory, and carries by Holmes and Javian Wrisper put them on the 39 yard line.
With 8:13 left in the quarter, the Hawks sat at the 20 yard line when Wrisper ran 16 yards to the Cobra’s four yard line. Aaron Trandt carried the ball in for a touchdown, giving the Hawks a 6-0 advantage.
The Cobras responded with a 16-yard carry by Tre Mason and three successive first-down runs that brought them to the Hawks’ 18 yard line. But there they fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Hawks.
Wrisper returned the ball to the Park Vista 42 yard line, and minutes later Holmes ran through the Cobra defense to their 19 yard line. With 2:19 left, the Hawks fumbled the ball, and it was picked up by the Cobras, who were unable to capitalize on the turnover and ended the
first quarter without a score on the board.
The Cobras made it onto the board four minutes into the second quarter when a successful pass from Justin Davis resulted in a touchdown, tying the game 6-6 for the remainder of the half.
The third quarter saw the Cobras dominating the ball for a 9:45-long touchdown attempt, as they moved the ball slowly down the field. With 3:25 left, they sat on the Hawks’ six yard line, and the entire Seminole Ridge defensive line rallied to push the Cobras back just one yard. But only a minute later, Mason pushed through the defense to score a second touchdown for the Cobras. A successful an extra-point kick brought the score to 13-6 in favor of the Cobras.
The Hawks fought hard to come back in the fourth quarter, but made too many mistakes. Early in the quarter they fumbled the ball, resulting in a turnover. Once they got possession back, Hayden Collier threw an interception into the hands of Demaris Freeman. But most damaging was the kick return, which was touched and fumbled by Wrisper, resulting in a turnover to the Cobras on their own goal line.
With 2:50 left in the game, the Cobras ran another touchdown to take a 20-6 lead.
The tail end of the fourth quarter was a battle between the teams, with three touchdowns scored in under two minutes. Holmes carried the ball to the Cobras’ six yard line, and a hand-off up the middle brought
Before you read this column, take a moment to search YouTube for the famous “Jim Mora playoffs rant.”
The situation was this: a 40-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in week 10 of the NFL season brought the Indianapolis Colts’ record to 4-6. After a reporter asked Colts Coach Jim Mora if he thought his team had a chance to make the playoffs, Mora responded in a highpitched, shrieking voice, “What’s that? Ah, playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game — another game.”
the Hawks back in the game, 2012.
But a minute later, an illegal touch penalty against Seminole Ridge gave the Cobras a first down. With under a minute left in the game, they capitalized on the penalty and ran in another touchdown, bringing the score to 27-12.
Ten seconds later, Holmes ran the kick return straight through the Cobra defense for another Seminole Ridge touchdown, putting them at 27-18. A failed two-point conversion ended the game with Park Vista defeating the Hawks and securing a place for themselves in the district playoffs.
Seminole Ridge hosts Wellington High School on Friday, Nov. 6. The Hawks will travel to Royal Palm Beach on Friday, Nov. 13.
By Josh Hyber
Cue the Mora clip and hope not to wake up from this season-long dream, because after a seven-year drought, the Wellington High School varsity football team has made the playoffs. With wins against Olympic Heights, Santaluces, Forest Hill and Spanish River high schools, the Wolverines’ four wins have earned them a playoff bid. On Friday, Oct. 30, the team traveled to Spanish River to attain its playoff-clinching fourth victory, a 370 blowout.
The running game was key for the blue and white with season-best performances from senior tailbacks Brian Pupo (three touch-
downs) and Mike Garafine (two touchdowns). Garafine also had a season-high 133 yards rushing, pulling him back in front of sophomore Tyler Vanacore to lead the team.
“He’s an extremely hard runner,” Head Coach Chris Romano said. “He wore down the Spanish River defense; sometimes I think he likes the contact.”
As for Pupo, all Romano had to say was “Brian is Brian.”
“He’s gotten out of his style of running and has tried too hard to make the big play,” Romano said. “He went back to his north, south, hit-the-hole style [against Spanish River].”
Although the offense scored a seasonhigh 37 points, the defense had an exceptional game as well, holding Spanish River
to no points and a mere 77 offensive yards. It was a “confidence in the defensive scheme,” Romano said. The team earlier in the week watched game film of its weekone shutout and thought it could match that performance.
The Wolverines are back in action Friday, Nov. 6 at Seminole Ridge High School. The final game of the Wolverines’ regular season will take place at home against the Suncoast High School Chargers on Senior Night, Friday, Nov. 13.
In the opening round of the playoffs (even my mom says the word playoffs with emphasis), Wellington will take on area powerhouse Pompano Blanche Ely High School, as of press time undefeated and one of the best teams in the state. This brings to mind another well-known NFL press conference. When New York Jets Head Coach Herm Edwards was asked whether his team would purposely lose a game toward the end of the season to gain a better draft position, he boldly stated, “You play to win the game.”
And against Blanche Ely, the Wolverines will be playing to win the game.
The week of Oct. 20 was an excellent one for the Wolverines girls volleyball team. Over a three-day span, the girls won two of the three matches they played. The loss came in the final game of the stint, in the district championship game against local powerhouse Spanish River High School.
To get there, the Lady Wolverines defeated Lake Worth and West Boca Raton. At the time, West Boca was the number-two team in the district, and the win gave Wellington an automatic bid in the regional playoffs.
On Nov. 3, the team traveled to St. Thomas Aquinas High School for the first round of the regional playoffs. Results were not available at press time.
The Wellington High School girls volleyball team is led by junior setter Nikki Naccarato, who led all of Palm Beach County in average assists per match, and senior captain Sam Oellrich. Other key members include senior Ana Potes, juniors Briana Burch, Alex Lynn, Ashley Oldham and Lindsay Rosenthal, and sophomores Katelyn Rawls, Gabby Sehres, Kelly Sullivan and Abby Winsor.
The Piranaz 9-U team played some amazing baseball last weekend and was able to put up 13 runs in the semifinals against a tough and experienced Team Miami.
Team Miami had just defeated the Piranaz the day before in a seeding game, and the Piranaz knew that they had to show up on Sunday ready for a ball game. The Piranaz led the game the whole day and had Team Miami pinned down 13-4 heading into the last inning.
Team Miami mounted a strong comeback in the final inning of the semifinals, which had everyone on the edge of their seats up until the final out of the game. However, the Piranaz managed to win the game 13-8 and advance to the championship match.
After eliminating Team Miami from the tournament, the Piranaz had to come back and face the West Pines Cobras in the final game. Despite coming off a physically and emotionally charged game against Team Miami, the Piranaz managed to defeat the Cobras to win the championship.
Having just won the championship in their age division, the Piranaz 10-U team came out and showed their support and encouragement, which gave the younger team the kick-start they needed to win the
tournament. It was a very tight game heading into the last inning, with the score tied 9-9 until the Piranaz let loose with a seven-run assault in the top of the sixth. The Cobras battled back in the bottom of the sixth, but the Piranaz held on to win the game 16-12.
The 9-U Piranaz team includes:
Equestrian Sport Productions recently announced that Suncast Corporation has signed on as the twoyear title sponsor of the Palm Beach Steeplechase, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 28 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Stadium located at the corner of South Shore Blvd. and Pierson Road. Entertainment starts at 11 a.m. with the first race at 1 p.m.
The Chicago-based Suncast is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of wood and resin products for home and garden, and will also be a major sponsor at the 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival. “We are honored to support these unique equestrian events,” Suncast CEO Tom Tisbo said. “The steeplechase will provide a great kickoff to the Wellington winter season.”
In addition to the sponsorship, Suncast will provide high-end shade structures throughout the facility. This year’s event boasts a variety of entertainment and activities for all ages. Viewing options range from general admission, car tailgating, tent tailgating to VIP gourmet dining. This year’s steeplechase will introduce a limited number of premium seating options on three twostory decks, which will enhance the
race viewing experience; ask for the Players Club tables, the Tiki Hut or the Palm Club with its 360-degree view of the course. There will be a tailgate contest as well as a hat contest.
The popular terrier races will return, as well as the Children’s Fair, which includes pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo and more. An expanded wine and beer garden will return with food and beverages provided by White Horse Tavern. There will be the traditional running of the Palm Beach Hounds, and a new event, the Police vs. Firefighter Tug o’ War. Finally, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will hold a business exposition.
Also featured over the holiday weekend is the Holiday & Horses AA Competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The “AA” horse show will take place Nov. 26-29 and include an FEI World Cup Grand Prix Qualifier Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in the International Arena. A welcome party will also take place that evening in the International Club, including cocktails and a dinner buffet for $75.
For more information, visit www. palmbeachsteeplechase.com or call (561) 793-5867.
On Sept. 19, Frontier Elementary School hosted the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Competition.
Each participant punted, passed and then place-kicked a football. The total number of feet of each attempt was added together, and the highest score determined the winner of each age group. Placing first in their respective divisions were: Channing O’Brian, Zach Farmer, Amy Chung, Brady Pennypacker and Giovanni Lugo. These young athletes competed in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Sectional Competition on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Jock Leighton Park in Palm City. All Frontier athletes placed in the sectional competition with the following scores:
• O’Brien took first place in girls 8-9 with a 26’7” punt, 29’8” pass and 8’7” kick for a 64’10” total.
• Farmer took third place in boys 8-9 with a 48’3” punt, 40’ pass and 53’9” kick for a 142’ total.
• Chung took first place in girls 10-11 with a 52’6” punt, 61’0” pass and 23’3” kick for a 136’9” total.
• Pennypacker took first place in boys 10-11 with 36’1” punt, 71’ pass and 73’7” kick for a 183’8” total.
• Lugo took first place in boys 1213 with 74’3” punt, 89’5” pass and 79’11” kick for a 243’7” total.
O’Brien, Chung, Pennypacker and Lugo competed at Landshark Stadium on Oct. 25 as part of the regional championship. Chung and Lugo placed first in their age groups. Their scores will be compared with scores across the country to determine if they will compete in the Punt, Pass and Kick National Championship in January.
The team from Cats Gymnastics of Wellington recently competed in the “Celebrate America Invite 2009” competition.
On the Level 2 team, Carlene Powers scored a 9.3 on vault, Michela Frozini scored a 9.350 on vault, Alexandra Lares scored a 9.050 on vault, Angela Lares scored a 9.2 on beam, Kinsey Cribbs scored a 9.1 on beam, Juliana Acosta scored an 8.8 on beam, Stephanie Katz scored an 8.8 on beam, Jianna Dimuro scored an 8.6 on floor and Alexa Alvarez scored an 8.2 on beam. Many of these girls had their debut as competitive gymnasts.
For the AAU Level 3 team, Sidney Glaubrecht scored a 9.150 on floor, Renaya Lindsay scored an 8.9 on floor, Faithy Campagnuola scored a 9.1 on floor, Samantha Baez scored a 8.7 on bars and Bianca Sileo scored an 8.6 on floor.
On the USAG Level 4 team, Isabella Padilla scored a 9.150 on beam, Dominique Fullwood scored a 9.4 on floor, Sophia Ringvald scored an 8.750 on vault, Angela Chandler scored 9.0 on vault and Mia Frozini scored a 8.850 on vault. The girls on this Level 4 team went USAG.
On the USAG Level 5 team,
The Cats gymnasts proudly display their trophies.
Michela Arbocco scored an 8.275 on bars and Rayven Glaubrecht scored an 8.750 on beam. This is the first Level 5 competition for both girls.
On the USAG Level 6 team, Nicole Rosenthal scored a 9.2 on vault and also scored out to move up to the next level.
The Cats Gymnastics team is coached by Margarita Martinez,
Felipe Restrepo and Mario Restrepo. Cats Gymnastics offers a valuable program allowing each child to learn and develop through movement and exploration in a loving atmosphere.
For additional information, call (561) 795-3393 or visit the Cats Gymnastics web site at www.cats gymnastics.com.
Saturday, Nov. 7
• The Palms West Community Foundation will present the Wellington Community Fitness 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov. 7. Participants will gather at the Wellington Plaza with race kickoff at 7:30 a.m. To register, or for sponsorship information, visit www.communityfitnessrun.com or call Maureen Gross at the Palms West Community Foundation at (561) 790-6200.
• The 28th Annual Wellington Boys & Girls Club Golf Classic will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Binks Forest Golf Club. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Immediately following the tournament will be an awards ceremony, buffet luncheon and a silent auction. Entry is $175 per golfer. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more info., call (561) 683-3287 or visit www.bgcpbc.org.
• The Florida Trail Association will host a one-hour walk in John Prince Park in Lake Worth on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast in Lake Worth. Participants should enter the park off Congress Avenue, turn right at the stop sign and enter the small parking lot on the left. Call Sherry at (561) 963-9906 for more info.
• The Seminole Ridge High School band and chorus will hold a Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school (4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road). Admission is free. Come test drive a new Ford vehicle, and Ford will donate up to $6,000 to the band and chorus. The sale will feature new and used clothing, toys, computer games, electronics, plants, tools, furniture, hand-made crafts and knick-knacks. Food will be for sale. Vendor space is available. For more info., call Marcia at (561) 385-5439 or Dee Dee at (561) 790-0792.
• The Second Annual Acreage Thanksgiving Parade will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7. The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. in the south parking lot at Acreage Community Park and will feature floats and appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus, the Chili Chicks and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Mounted COP. To register a float, visit www. indiantrail.com. For more info., e-mail Allison Fay at afay@indiantrail.com.
• Whole Foods Market café in Wellington will come alive Saturday, Nov. 7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with vibrant music, delightful aromas and the colorful crafts of Africa as part of “Giving Thanks... for a Dream.” The event will benefit Dream Spon-
sors, a non-profit that provides food, basic needs and school fees to needy orphans in Kenya. RSVP by e-mailing lexy@dream sponsorsinc.org or by calling Carla Neumann at (561) 795-2223. A $10 admission donation will be collected.
• Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will host “More Than a Fall Plant Sale” Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8. This annual plant sale features over 80 vendors from all over the state showcasing an amazing assortment of quality plants and goods. Members will be admitted free; there is a $5 admission for non-members. For more info., call (561) 233-1757 or visit www.mounts.org.
• The West Palm Beach Antiques Festival will continue through Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Americraft Expo Center (9067 Southern Blvd.) at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Known as one of Florida’s biggest and best antique shows, the festival attracts dealers from all over the country. Visit www. festivalofantiques.com or call (941) 6977475 for more info.
• The Feast of Little Italy will continue through Sunday, Nov. 8 at Abacoa Town Center in Jupiter. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. For info., visit www.feastoflittleitaly.com.
Sunday, Nov. 8
• The Jewish Community Center of the Greater Palm Beaches will hold a Family Author Event on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Temple Beth Torah (900 Big Blue Trace, Wellington). This fun-filled, upbeat event for the entire family will feature dancing and singing with Amalia Hoffman, author of The Klezmer Bunch. Books will be on hand to purchase, and the author will be available for book signing following the event. Admission is $20 per family. For more info., call Sharon at (561) 676-4104 or email sharonl@jcconline.com.
Monday, Nov. 9
• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon on Monday, Nov. 9 at 11:45 a.m. at the White Horse Tavern (2401 Equestrian Club Rd., Wellington). RSVP to Anitra Harmon at (561) 790-6200.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Board Games Spectacular” for ages six and up on Monday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.
• Royal Palm Beach High School will host a concert called “Voices Together” on
CALENDAR, continued from page 42 Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. The event will feature students from RPBHS and Dr. Michael M. Krop High School in Miami. For more info., call (561) 753-4000.
• Authors James Patterson, Jerry Spinelli and Patrick Carman will sign autographs and speak on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive). Books provided by Classic Bookshop in Palm Beach will be for sale. Call Doug Crane at (561) 790-6070 for more info. Tuesday, Nov. 10
• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with ProActive Training & Consulting, will host “Chamber University Money Maker” on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Beef O’Brady’s Family Sports Pub (1179 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). The cost is $5 for chamber members and $10 for non-members, and includes a light breakfast. To RSVP, call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com.
• The MOMS Club of The Acreage/Loxahatchee invites local moms to participate in its monthly Plan & Play meeting at Acreage Community Park on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. These meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. Members meet at the fenced-in play area south of the fields. For more info., e-mail kidno6 @yahoo.com or visit www.momsclub.org.
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Families Reading Together” for ages three to six on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 11:15 a.m. featuring From Head to Toe by Eric Carle and other favorite stories about animals and movement. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.
• The November meeting of the Wellington Art Society will take place Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Award-winning portrait artist Nancy Tilles will demonstrate her techniques. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief business meeting at 7 p.m., with the demo starting about 7:15 p.m. There is a $5 fee for the demo for non-society members. For info., visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.
• The Wellington Village Council will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 for more info.
Wednesday, Nov. 11
• The Village of Wellington will honor vet-
erans on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Veterans Day Parade will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) and end at the Veterans Memorial located on the corner of Forest Hill and South Shore boulevards. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. For more info., call (561) 791-4733 or e-mail nicolee@ci. wellington.fl.us.
• The Village of Royal Palm Beach will hold its annual Veterans Day Observance on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at Veterans Park. Refreshments prepared by Wild Orchids Café and served by Young At Heart volunteers will be available following the gun salute. For more info., call the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center at (561) 790-5149.
• Taste of the Palm Beaches will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the PGA Commons in Palm Beach Gardens. Experience one of Palm Beach County’s finest food and wine celebrations featuring nearly 50 fine restaurants, wine, spirits and more. Visit www.tasteofthepalm beaches.com or call (561) 630-8630 for more info.
• The Northern Palm Beach chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will host its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the PGA Doubletree Hotel (4431 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens). Networking will start at 6 p.m. with dinner and the program starting at 6:30 p.m. The speaker will be author and photographer Jan Hice, owner of Heart’s Joy. The cost is $35 per person. For more info., call Dee Weber at (561) 626-2027. Thursday, Nov. 12
• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Families Reading Together” with the Florida Classical Ballet Theatre for ages three and up on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 3:30 p.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.
Friday, Nov. 13
• “World Quilt Show XIII: Florida” will be held Friday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center (650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). The show will feature a merchant’s mall with exhibitors offering everything needed to jump-start creative projects. Visit www.quiltfest.com or call (561) 366-3000 for more info.
Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. Email: news@gotowncrier.com.
VOLUNTEER AT AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY HORSE FARM - 14 and up, community Service. (561) 792-2666
MEDICAL ASSISTANT - part time evenings 4 p.m .- 8 p.m. Good pay and good benefits. Fax resume to 561-798-4351 Wellington
BOOKKEEPER WANTED PARTTIME - to maintain Quicken GL, perform monthly/annual reconciliation for 15 bank accounts for AAL. Proposals requested 561-795-5908
Palm Beach, Florida and intends to register said name with the Division of Corporations State of Florida,forthwith
1995 TOYOTA COROLLA DX - 92K, cold A/C, power windows, power door locks, great on gas, cruise, $2,500 OBO. (561) 201-8805
MOBILE HOME FOR SALE -3 bedroom, 2 baths, single wide 3 car parking. $8,500 OBO. (561) 2018805
HONDA CIVIC 95’ — Hatchback, 5 speed, A/C, clean, good condition, up kit rims, $3,100 or best offer. Call 315-8642
1997 GREY SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE — new a/c, clean & well maintained. Engine & transmission in excellent condition and new top. Feel free to take it to a mechanic & check it out. Mint condition. $3800 (561) 793-5569 (917) 494-3422
1995 OLDS CUTLASS CIERRAHighest offer over $500 or first $1000.00 561-792-3397
LAWN MOWER - SNAPPER 38" LAWN TRACTOR - Excellent condition. Delivered $799 firm. 7932039
SCHWINN 231 RECUMBENT BIKE — Hardly used already assembled $250 call (561) 432-8797
COMPUTER REPAIR — We come to you! After hours and weekends services available. Spyware/ Adware/Virus Removal, Networking, Wireless, Backup Data, Upgrades. Call Anytime. 561-7135276
MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/Software setup, support & troubleshooting www.mobiletec.net. 561-248-2611
D.J. COMPUTER - Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3339433 or Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach
ADDITIONS, ROOFING, PATIOS & REMODELING - Cell 561-202-7036 561-798-6448 Licensed & Insured. CBC 1250306 CCC1326386
STAFF PLUS — Looking to fill full and part-time positions in customer service. For more info. Call 1-888333-9903
TEACUP CHIHUAHUAS FOR SALE — Call for info 561-506-2247. Ask for Priscilla. Shots included. 5 BLACK 5 MONTH OLD PUPS — Shots, personable & smart. Cross between Golden Retriever & Australian Shepard. Will charm you. Call 561-434-4719
MOBILE ACCOUNTANT — I come to you. Payroll, Financial Accounting, Corporate and Personal Taxes. Weekend and evening appointments. 561-714-7093, ask for Tony.
JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC. —Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996. Credit Cards Accepted
ARE YOUR TREES READY FOR A HURRICANE? — Florida Arborists has highly trained professionals to provide superior and quality services. 561-568-7500
MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BUILDING CLEANINGS SPECIALISTS — • Pressure Cleaning • Office Cleaning • Residential Cleaning • Parking Lot Maintenance • Concrete Coatings. Call for Free Evaluation. 561-714-3608
HOUSECLEANING - Reliable with long term clients. Over 12 years experience. References available. Karen 561-632-2271
WIFE FOR HIRE - Housecleaning, honest, dependable, references, experience. 561-598-0311
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFED AD HERE CALL 793-3576 TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION
D. FRITZ ELECTRIC SINCE 1978 - Install, Repair. We do it all. Free Estimates. Call Ray today. 561-3125070.
GUARDSMAN FURNITURE PRO
— For all your furniture repair needs including finish repairs, structural repairs, Leather repairs, chair regluing, antique repairs, kitchen cabinet refurbishing. 753-8689
GUITAR LESSONS GIVEN — by a professional jazz, classical & blues guitarist. Classically trained. 561753-7328
BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS, INC. — REMODEL & REPAIRS Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall, kitchens/cabinets/countertops, wood flooring. Bonded/Insured U#19699. 791-9900 Cell: 370-5293
CAN FIX IT - build it, move it, plant it, and more. Call Bruce, 793-2494
MASTER HANDYMAN - Over 40 years quality service. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, drywall. All types. Repairs & improvements. Call Tom 954-444-3178. Satisfaction Guaranteed!
HEALTH MARKETS - Health Insurance personalized to fit your needs and budget! Call Elizabeth Feraco 561-358-3528
ANMAR CO. —James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-2488528
MCA CUSTOM WOODWORKING, INC. — “Make your home standout from the rest” Call us for all your home improvement needs. Kitchen & bathroom remodeling, custom wall units, design your home office, cabinetry, tile & drywall repair. Lic. #U-19564. Bonded & Ins. 561-7235836
KGS LLC — Water damaged, drywall, remodels, Kitchens & baths, woodwork, flooring, paint & textures, stucco, windows & doors, all concrete work, design, additions, enclosures,solar installation & sales, excavating and more prompt, honest & reliable. cbc056820 CVC56757
HOME INSPECTIONS — Mold inpections, air quality testing, US Building Inspectors mention this ad $20.00 Off. 561-784-8811
LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE - Your local Geico office has been saving people money for over 70 years. Contact (561) 616-5944 for a free rate quote.
LICENSED PLUMBER - Beat any legitimate estimate. A/C service lowest price. Complete service, new construction, replacement. CFC1426242 CAC058610 Bonded & Insured. 561-601-6458
J&B PRESSURE CLEANING — Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.Call Butch 561-3096975 BD
GRIME STOPPERS - Pressure cleaning, commercial & residential, houses, driveways, patios, screen enclosures, sidewalks. References available.561-779-1081
RESUMÉ’S R US — Resumé writing, cover letters, advice/counseling. Mention this ad for special rates. www.Ineedaresumenow.com 561-228-1378
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS — Roof painting. Carpentry. License #U13677.967-5580.
Mold & Mildew Inspections — Air Quality Testing, leak detection. US building inspectors, mention this ad for discount. 561-784-8811
RJA PAINTING AND DECORATING, INC. - Interior , Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial. License #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561-793-5455 561-6627102
JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING
INC. - Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964. Lic. #U18473
COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. - Insured. 561-3838666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident. CREATIVE PAINTING SYSTEMS, INC. — Interior • Exterior • Residential Specialists. WE DELIVER WHAT WE PROMISE. All work guaranteed. FREE EST.Family owned & Operated. Over 23 years exp. Lic. #U-18337 • Bonded • Ins. Owner/Operator George Born. 561-686-6701
PALM BEACH PET SERVICES
LLC - Pet Sitting, dogwalking, www.PalmbeachServices.com 1866-648-1150 Lic. Bonded, Insured
PIANO LESSONS - Special rates 2009 - 2010. My piano or yours. Experience in music (Piano-Vocal) Over 38 years. References available. 561-313-7662.
PIANO & VOCAL LESSONS - By experienced & caring, credentialed teacher. Studio or home lessons available. 561-714-7707
POOL PLASTERING AND RESURFACING — Lic. U19996. 561722-7690.
HORIZON ROOFING QUALITY WORK & SERVICE — Free estimates, No Deposits. Pay upon completion, residential, commercial, reroofing, repairs, credit cards accepted.561-842-6120 or 561784-8072 Lic.#CCC1328598
ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763.
ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC0067207
AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004 Lic. #U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990 INSTALLING TILE IN SOUTH FLORIDA FOR 25 YEARS — Free estimates, residential/commercial, bathroom remodeling, floors, walls, backsplashes, custom design GOLDEN TILE INSTALLATION 561-662-9258
TRIMMING & REMOVALWE DO IT ALL. Free Estimates. Licensed & Insured #200403394 Call Jimmy 329-0213 BIG BLUE TREE FARM, INC. GO GREEN! Growers of Quality Landscape Trees www.BigBlueTree Farm.com. Any Tree up to 12 feet $199 +tax Delivery & InstallationAvailable 561-793-4370 Bus. 561-202-7679 Cell PAPERHANGING & PAINTING BY DEBI — Professional Installation & Removal of Paper. Interior Painting, decorative finishes, clean & reliable. Quality work with a woman’s touch. 26 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263 WATER CONDITIONERS FROM $499.00 —- Reverse osmosis units for the whole house. Mention this ad for equipment checkup and water analysis $19.99 561-6896151
JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! CRC1329708 798-3132.
Gutters, downspouts, vinyl/aluminum siding, windows & doors, aluminum railing. Screen enclosures (Repaired & Replaced), carports, porches, and patios. Lic. U17189. P&M Siding Contractors. 561-7919777
ROLL DOWN SHUTTERS — Accordion shutters, storm panels and rolling shutters...prices that can’t be beat. All shutters Systems, Inc. 8630955
AFFORDABLE HURRICANE PROTECTION — 2 - 4 wks. Installed Guaranteed! 10% deposit . Will get you started. All products, Dade County approved. We manufacture our own product. 772-342-8705 Lic. & Ins. CGC 1511213
