Town-Crier Newspaper October 19, 2012

THREE PBC STATE ATTORNEY HOPEFULS SEE PROFILES, PAGE 7

ITID CANDIDATES ON DRAINAGE PROJECTS SEE RESPONSES, PAGE 9

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Mark Pafford, Tami Donnally Seek State House District 86 Seat

Volume 33, Number 42 October 19 - October 25, 2012

SONS OF ITALY CELEBRATE IN RPB

Tami Donnally is banking on her financial responsibility, experience as an educator and roots in the community as she looks to unseat State Rep. Mark Pafford. Pafford, meanwhile, believes that his years of fighting for the powerless and protecting his constituents make him the best choice for voters in District 86. The newly drawn district takes in all of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves. Page 3

Two Independents Take Aim At Deutch

After two years of representing South Florida in Washington, Ted Deutch, a Democrat, is seeking re-election in the newly drawn 21st Congressional District. The Republican Party is not fielding a candidate, but two candidates without a party affiliation, Cesar Henao and Michael Trout, are on the ballot.

Page 8

Port Commissioner Richards Faces A Re-Election Challenge

Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Wayne Richards, a Democrat, faces a general election challenge from Republican George Black. Page 9

PBSO Hosts The Night Out Against Crime At Target In Royal Palm

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office held its annual Night Out Against Crime on Friday, Oct. 12 in the parking lot of the Super Target in Royal Palm Beach.

PBSO personnel showed off all their crime-fighting equipment.

There were also Segway rides, bounce houses, face painting and more. Page 11

OPINION Endorsements, Part 2: State House Races, Port Of Palm Beach

With the Nov. 6 election just weeks away, Florida voters have plenty of decisions before they enter their polling place. Over the next several weeks, the Town-Crier will offer opinions on some of the items on the ballot. This week, we discuss the two local State House races and the Port of Palm Beach Commission race. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 15 OPINION .................................4 CRIME NEWS .........................6 NEWS BRIEFS..................... 10 SCHOOLS ............................ 16 PEOPLE ........................ 18 - 19 COLUMNS .................... 27 - 28 BUSINESS .................... 29 - 31 ENTERTAINMENT ................ 33 SPORTS ........................ 37 - 39 CALENDAR ................... 40 - 41 CLASSIFIEDS ................ 42 - 46 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

The Sons of Italy Michelangelo Lodge #2864 held its Columbus Day Dinner & Dance on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Mama Mia’s Trattoria catered an Italian buffet dinner, and there was live music and dancing. Shown above are lodge presidents and state officers at the dinner dance. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 22 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

LGWCD To Focus On Drainage; Town Will Take Over Road Work

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report In a joint meeting Tuesday, the two governing bodies of Loxahatchee Groves took steps to refine their relationship, with the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District agreeing to turn over recently paved roads to the town.

Meeting at the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce building, both entities agreed that the LGWCD should remain independent, focusing its responsibilities on drainage issues and canal maintenance.

Bill Underwood, CEO of the Town of Loxahatchee Groves’ management firm, noted that he has seen municipal governments and special districts function together autonomously with each having well-defined roles.

The LGWCD will continue with grading and mowing roads, including town roads, under an interlocal agreement to be drawn up in the near future. The town will have the option to make agreements with other maintenance firms in the event that the LGWCD is not able

to perform the work when needed, or if specialized equipment is required.

Although no formal action was taken at the meeting, the two groups reached a consensus that the respective bodies would take steps independently to pursue the agreed-upon goals.

Among them is the future of the roads recently paved with open graded emulsified mix (OGEM), including portions of A, C and D roads.

Town Attorney Michael Cirullo said he will need direction to work on transferring title of the district roads to the town.

“Right now, you’ve got the district and non-district roads that interplay with gas tax dollars,” Cirullo said. “You’ve got a lot of things to coordinate between the two.”

Cirullo asked both boards to decide on a course of action.

“If it is the desire of the boards to continue with the system that you’ve got, that’s the policy focus to deal with,” he said. “If it’s the policy direction to work toward a unified town system using the

authority of the town as a municipality, that’s a different policy direction.”

“I would concur,” LGWCD Attorney Mary Viator said. “Once we get that [policy], we can expend the time and the money to go ahead in that direction.”

Town Manager Mark Kutney said roadway issues are being addressed more and more by town staff.

“We’re starting to evolve in that direction, accelerated due to Tropical Storm Isaac,” he said. “More and more requests are being made on town management staff to address roadway issues. It is very difficult for us to move forward without a policy and a procedure in place.”

Kutney added that addressing road issues is complicated by the privately owned easements that make up the system. “We want to move forward and work on these issues, but we also feel that legally, we have to make sure that we have all the tools we need,” he said.

Kutney said that working toSee LOX GROVES, page 20

Four ITID Candidates Speak At Acreage Landowners’ Forum

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Acreage Landowners’ Association hosted a candidates forum Monday at the Acreage library, offering voters a chance to hear from the four candidates seeking two available seats on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.

Incumbent Seat 2 Supervisor Carlos Enriquez faces a challenge from Gary Dunkley, while ITID President Michelle Damone faces Ken Hendrick in the race for Seat 4. The four candidates began by introducing themselves.

Hendrick noted that he has lived in the community since 1988. He was born in Rochester, N.Y. and after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, he started a windowcleaning business with 27 employees doing high-rise buildings in Rochester.

“After moving down here, I continued in the window-cleaning business in all the homes over at Breakers West,” he said. “I have a sign business now, Hendrick Services, and I also own Loxahatchee Radio.”

Hendrick said he decided to run for a seat on the ITID board to make a contribution to the community, not to tear anyone down.

“That’s not my style, and I’m not going to demean Michelle for any reason at all,” he said. “It’s my turn to step in there and try and do what I can for my community.”

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Damone moved to a small town in Vermont for five years. “I was a city girl, but that changed my characteristics,” she said.

“When I found The Acreage, I found my lot at the corner of two dirt roads, and I thought this was the best opportunity to raise two small kids,” she said.

A resident since 1996, she described The Acreage as a jewel.

“It was a growing community,” Damone recalled. “A lot of people like me were moving in, and it was a very exciting time. I got involved with the Moms Club and I got involved in parks. At that time we only had one park. I volunteered for the Indian Trail Improvement District’s Recreation Advisory Committee.”

Eager to help shape the com-

munity she loved, Damone continued to get more and more involved. “I thought it was an honor, and I still think it’s an honor today, to be able to be a part of those types of decisions,” she said, adding that she is very proud of the park system she helped develop and credits it for attracting people who decided they wanted to settle in The Acreage with their families.

Dunkley is originally from New York with a Caribbean heritage.

“Growing up in New York, in the concrete jungle, I always wanted to experience the country, so my mother used to send me to Jamaica,” he recalled. “Every summer I used to go to Jamaica. I used to hate it because my grandparents would wake me up at 6 o’clock in the morning to change the horses’ fields and clean the stables, but in going back to New York, I always thought about my grandfather and the way they lived in Jamaica.”

After attending Seneca College in Canada he moved to Miami. He went to work for John Hancock See ALA FORUM, page 20

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Senate Hopefuls Abruzzo, Peterson Visit With Chamber

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The candidates running for the newly drawn State Senate District 25 seat — State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo and equestrian businesswoman Melanie Peterson — got a chance to discuss the issues at a Wellington Chamber of Commerce candidates forum Wednesday night at the Wanderers Club.

Wellington Chamber President Alec Domb served as debate moderator.

Asked his opinion of publicsector unions influencing public policy in the state, Abruzzo said he didn’t believe they have enough influence. He pointed to a recent decision by the legislature to mandate that all public employees give back a portion of their salary to the state to go toward their pensions.

“The legislation was passed for public-sector employees to contribute a portion of their pension [cost] to the state,” he said. “I thought that was egregiously wrong. It didn’t go back into the pension system. It went into the general budget to fill revenue gaps.”

Abruzzo said that, until recently, Florida had one of the strongest public-sector pension plans.

“We balanced our budget on the backs of our public employees,” he said. “I am against that.”

Peterson said she thought that unions have too much influence.

“I think that we have to break the hold that the unions have on small businesses and this economy that we are trying to thrive here in Florida,” she said. “Otherwise we’re going to be constantly facing the same situation over and over again.”

Peterson said that she believes the state pension system is in need of reform. “There’s no question that teachers are underpaid in this state,” she said. “No one wants to take any more money out of the pockets of those who are educating our children. But the fact is that these pensions are draining our state. We have to have a conversation with our employees about their contributions.”

The next topic was immigration reform, and candidates were asked how they would tackle the issue and whether they supported a law similar to one recently passed in Arizona.

Peterson said she believes the nation as a whole has a problem with illegal immigration. “We need to lean on our federal government See STATE SENATE, page 20

WILDCAT ROYALTY

Royal Palm Beach High School celebrated homecoming during a football game Friday, Oct. 12. (Above) Taylor Sarni and Josh Miolan were crowned homecoming queen and king.

MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 21 PHOTO BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

Fall Festival Returns To Wellington Oct. 20

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington residents can experience a bit of fall fun this month at one of several events planned to celebrate the season.

This weekend, the annual Fall Festival returns to Village Park on Pierson Road, and next weekend, families and dog lovers alike can celebrate with Trunk or Treat and Howl at the Moon.

This Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m., families can enjoy some spooktacular fun as Village Park is transformed into a Halloween wonderland, complete with door-to-door trick-or-treating, a hayride and haunted hallways.

“The Haunted Hallways are geared toward older kids and adults,” Community Programs Director Michelle Garvey told the Town-Crier. “But there is something for everyone.”

Residents can purchase a wristband for $10 (or $7 in advance) to give them access to all the fun.

Wristbands are available at Village Park and the Wellington Community Center now, but will also be available for purchase the day of the event.

For kids young and old, there will be bounce houses and other inflatables, face painting, a not-sohaunted hayride and pumpkin decorating. Young kids can also go door to door and get Halloween candy from volunteers.

“This year we are also doing Trunk or Treat with classic cars at the festival,” Garvey said. “Kids can go from car to car to get candy, and the cars will be decorated.

They will be holding a contest amongst themselves for the bestdecorated.”

There will also be laser tag, also See HALLOWEEN, page 20

Council: Another Workshop On Community Center Plans

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report It will take even more discussion before members of the Wellington Village Council make a final decision regarding changes to the Wellington Community Center.

At the council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9, council members expressed the need for more discussion of important issues — namely, whether to move the Wellington Tennis Center — before finalizing a design.

“I feel like we’re putting the cart before the horse,” Councilman Matt Willhite said. “We’re deciding what to do with the community center before we decide what

we want the layout to be.”

The issue arose as the council was asked to decide whether it should serve as the final selection committee for the consulting firm that would help design the center.

For the past several months, council members and village staff have discussed the possibility of moving the Wellington Tennis Center to a new location and using the space for parking or a bigger building.

Willhite said he didn’t think council members should choose a consultant before making some definite decisions.

“They are not the ones deciding whether the tennis center

stays there,” he said. “I’m fine going forward with this, but I implore other council members that we come forward with any ideas or thoughts about the issue.”

Councilman John Greene said he thought selecting a consultant could help the process. “This could be the catalyst to start the process and make those decisions,” he said.

But Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said she was concerned that, due to her professional relationships with many architects and other industry professionals, she would be left out of the decision.

“It would depend on whom it got narrowed down to,” she said.

“I think this is a huge decision, and precluding me from any input on whether the tennis courts stay or move is improper.”

Vice Mayor Howard Coates said Gerwig wouldn’t necessarily be precluded from that decision, but Gerwig said she could be.

“If you are going to choose a design team based on how they handle these problems… I am precluded from making that decision,” she said. “That’s why we decided to go with this process, to see how they would handle these issues we have laid out.”

Mayor Bob Margolis said he thought council members might need to sit down with staff mem-

bers to discuss the issue again.

“It’s clear we have a lot of ideas about the community center and the tennis facility,” he said. “We need to come together outside of this. It seems like we need to have a workshop.”

Village Manager Paul Schofield said he would try to set up a workshop in the next few weeks.

Willhite made a motion to approve the resolution naming the council as the final selection committee for the design team. The motion passed 4-1 with Gerwig opposed.

“I’m not opposed in theory,” she said. “But I think staff has more expertise on the matter.”

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ELECTION 2012: STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 86

Tami Donnally Running On Pro-Business, Pro-Education Platform

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Republican Tami Donnally is banking on her financial responsibility, experience as an educator and roots in the community as she looks to unseat State Rep. Mark Pafford next month.

“I’ve spent my life serving people,” she said. “That is my goal — to serve people. It’s not to ever have a political career or make it about me. It’s about the community that I grew up in and that I love.”

Pafford, a Democrat who has represented District 88 since 2008, is running for the newly drawn District 86 seat. While his current district spans from West Palm Beach to Royal Palm Beach, the new district has much more of the western communities, taking in all of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves.

A second-time candidate, Donnally came fairly close to unseating State Rep. Joe Abruzzo (D-District 85) in 2010. She took 47.5 percent of the vote. However, the new District 86 is believed to tilt slightly more Democratic than the current District 85.

Donnally is a longtime Palm Beach County resident. Her family moved here from Pennsylvania when she was in the second grade.

She attended local public schools, graduating from John I. Leonard High School. She said she chose to run again because she wants to be a voice for residents.

“I have lived here my entire life,” she said. “I have a passion for the entire community. My roots are here. I want to work to make sure that my children, your children and your grandchildren have a Palm Beach County to grow up in like I had.”

While Donnally’s longtime home in suburban Lake Worth is not in District 86, she is renting a home in the area and plans to buy a home in Wellington.

Donnally holds a doctorate in religious education from Evangelical Bible College & Seminary in Greenacres. She has worked with the nonprofit EBC Ministries for more than 30 years, serving as both a teacher and principal at its Greenacres Christian Academy.

She now is the organization’s business administrator, a position

she said has given her experience in financial responsibility and budget management. “I take care of the budget,” Donnally said. “It has been a rough couple of years.

Things are getting a pinch better, but it has been rough.”

Part of her challenge, Donnally said, has been to find affordable healthcare options for her employees. “I’m happy to say that our nonprofit is doing well,” she said.

“We have managed to maintain healthcare for all our employees.

We haven’t gone anywhere. I think that is in large part due to good, conservative fiscal policies that I have brought to the organization.”

She said that among her top accomplishments is raising her daughter, Victoria, to be a financially responsible person. “I taught her from a very early age,” Donnally said. “She and her husband were able to buy their first home out of college.”

In addition to bringing her financial and business experience to Tallahassee, Donnally said that she would listen to all residents in the district. “I know people tend to want to put me in a box because

of who I am,” she said. “But I listen to people, and I will hear both sides of an issue.”

Donnally, who classifies her political stance as “right of center,” said she chose to challenge Pafford because she believes that his voting record is anti-business.

“His voting record, as far as jobs and business go, is the worst in the legislature,” she said. “In another day and time, that might be a badge of honor. But if this election is about jobs and the economy, we need to work together. It seems like he votes no just to vote no.”

Topping Donnally’s list of priorities is bringing jobs to the state, and hopefully to Palm Beach County specifically.

“It truly is about getting people back to work,” she said. “I don’t want to talk about what to cut. I want to talk about how we can get more revenue in this state, [how] we get jobs. When people have jobs, they spend money. When they have good jobs, they have more disposable income. Businesses do better and can hire more people, and business can grow. It’s

a snowball effect that will take place once we can get people back to work.”

Once businesses are interested in Florida, Donnally said she would work with the Business Development Board to attract them to Palm Beach County. “It’s about getting jobs and businesses in our community,” she said. “I would work to pull businesses to Palm Beach County directly.”

To help attract businesses to the state, Donnally said she would look to cut regulations and reduce taxes on small businesses.

“Last year, the legislature identified over 1,000 duplicative rules and regulations that would hinder jobs,” she said. “They were able to eliminate 200 of them. So there are 800 more to go — and that was just scratching the surface.”

Donnally said she has spent time speaking with different industries to discuss more specific regulations. “Every industry has their own set of rules and regulations that they would like to see addressed,” she said. “I’d like to continue what the legislature has done.”

Tami Donnally Donnally said she would also focus on education, using her background as a teacher and principal to help the state’s education system.

“Education is my second passion in life,” she said. “I think we need good schools in Florida. I think we need to have schools where parents and teachers work together. I think we need to work See DONNALLY, page 8

Mark Pafford Aims To Protect Constituents, ‘Tell Truth To Power’

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report State Rep. Mark Pafford believes that his years of fighting for the powerless and protecting his constituents make him the best choice for voters on Nov. 6.

Pafford, a Democrat who has represented District 88 since 2008, is running for the newly drawn District 86 seat. While his current district spans from West Palm Beach to Royal Palm Beach, the new district has more of the western communities, taking in all of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves.

Pafford faces a challenge from Republican Tami Donnally. While the district is believed to lean Democratic, this is the first time that Pafford has faced a general election challenge. He was elected in 2008 to a vacant seat without opposition. While he faced a Democratic primary opponent in 2010, he was unopposed during the general election.

Born in Miami-Dade County, Pafford is a lifelong Democrat. He grew up in a family of union pipefitters, attending public school and receiving a bachelor’s degree in

public administration with a minor in political science from Florida International University in 1988.

He eventually worked as an aide for Congressman Lawrence Smith from 1989-92 after his first 11 months out of college working at a Bennigan’s Restaurant. “I was an excellent waiter,” he quipped.

In his career, Pafford has worked for various nonprofit organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association, the Area Agency on Aging and the Lord’s Place. He has also done consulting work for businesses and other nonprofits.

In office, Pafford has put his focus on strong constituent service. “I tend to listen to constituents who call my office with various personal issues,” he said.

“That’s generally what’s most important to me.”

That also translates to what he believes is his top accomplishment — “conveying what’s important in Tallahassee, where [listening is] not always a priority,” he said.

Pafford pays attention to people with concerns about problems such as Medicaid and takes time to testify about preserving land.

“I’ve immersed myself in the job,”

he said. “I can’t say that I’ve solved Florida’s problems, but I think I’ve represented the people well.”

He believes that he is best qualified to represent the people in the new district because he understands its diversity. “You’ve got 90-year-olds in Century Village, you have Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Haverhill, unincorporated areas — the diversity in terms of demographics is wide,” Pafford said. “You have people who own horses; you have people who literally have water pouring into their homes every time it rains. It’s from one end to the other.”

He has also lived in all parts of the district — Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and the unincorporated areas. “I know the area well,” Pafford said. “I think my experience in Tallahassee helps, in terms of knowing the players and the way the system works, and I think that benefits people here.”

Pafford’s primary goal if re-elected is “speaking truth to power,” which he said he has always done.

“You don’t get that a lot up there,” he said. “Generally speaking, you have a super-majority that for 16

years has controlled the house, the senate and the governor’s mansion, and I’m not part of that majority. It doesn’t matter if Republicans don’t like the idea. There’s a handful of people in charge up there.”

For this reason, constituent service is the most important thing a legislator can do, he said. “We get thousands of calls from people wanting help, with Medicaid, getting a license, getting an ID,” Pafford said, adding that he wants to remain a strong voice for the working person.

The economy remains the top issue. “We’ve got a state that registers at the bottom of many rankings, yet is one of the least-burdened states,” he said. “What you’ll hear is taxes are too high and regulations are out of control, and I think we’ve tried to streamline some of that with small businesses.”

On the other hand, the prices of state certifications, such as driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations, have risen. “The things that can be very expensive to somebody who is working, those have gone up,” he said.

Pafford complained that legislative leaders are being cowardly.

“They refuse to talk about moving the state forward and reforming a very, very troubled tax system that cannot support 19 million people,” he said.

New sources of revenue are needed, he said, and Pafford suggested aggressive efforts to collect the Internet sales tax, which is not actually new, but a tax the state is simply not collecting. He wants to see a taxation system that is more fair and equitable.

“Twelve years ago, the governor at that time, Jeb Bush, got rid of intangibles taxes,” he said.

“That shift meant that we’ve lost arguably between one and a half to two billion dollars annually for the last 12 years. That has had a dramatic effect on Florida’s most vulnerable, and it also had an effect on the middle class, who are slipping into the category of poor, and these things aren’t talked about. That’s a major issue in Tallahassee.”

He said one of the best things the legislature could do for central Palm Beach County is to implement the healthcare reforms of the Af-

State Rep. Mark Pafford fordable Care Act. “There are states now that have promoted the fact that they have begun implementing the Affordable Care Act and the exchanges,” he said.

“They’re selling it like we sell tourism. They’re selling that relationship in trying to lure new businesses to the states. It’s something dramatically different than what this state has done.”

Other ways to help central Palm See PAFFORD, page 20

Page 4 October 19 - October 25, 2012

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TOWN-CRIER ENDORSEMENTS

Re-Elect Rooney, Pafford To State House; Keep Richards At Port With the Nov. 6 general election just weeks away, Florida voters have plenty of decisions to make before they enter their polling place. Over the next several weeks, the Town-Crier will offer opinions on some of the items voters will find on the ballot. This week we offer our suggestions for two local State House races and the Port of Palm Beach Commission race.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 85 — In this race, State Rep. Pat Rooney, the Republican incumbent in District 83, is running against Democrat David Lutrin in a newly drawn district. Rooney has completed only one term, but he has worked diligently during that time, sponsoring a bill that allowed county governments to waive the requirement for competitive bids on smaller contracts. While he is a fairly conservative Republican, he tries to downplay ideology as much as possible. He has broken with his party on a number of issues, showing that he has an independent streak. And though Lutrin is a solid enough candidate and would likely be a good champion of public education, we find little reason to deny Rooney another term. We salute Lutrin’s service as an elementary educator, and his desire to serve is admirable. He has good ideas, but Rooney is the stronger candidate in this race. The Town-Crier endorses Pat Rooney for State House District 85.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 86 — This is another race in which an incumbent is running in a newly drawn district. Current District 88 State Rep. Mark Pafford, a Democrat, is running against Republican Tami Donnally, who ran for a seat in 2010, narrowly losing to incumbent Joseph Abruzzo. Since being elected in 2008, Pafford has worked hard to make sure those without a voice have a voice in Tallahassee — the poor, the

homeless, those without insurance. He works hard and does a fairly good job at it. He has done a great job at constituent service and really has a feel for the community. Donnally also has a feel for the community, and we believe she is very serious about her desire to serve. We’re impressed by how adamant she has been about running a positive campaign, choosing to promote herself rather than denigrate her opponent. Though we disagree with her on a number of key issues and feel she is more conservative than is representative of this district, we have a lot of respect for her as a candidate and a person who is true to her ideals. However, Pafford’s job in Tallahassee is not done, and he deserves another two years. The Town-Crier endorses Mark Pafford for State House District 86.

PORT OF PALM BEACH COMMISSION, SEAT 1 — Democrat Wayne Richards, the incumbent who has served as chair of the port commission for the past two years, faces a challenge from Republican George Black. In our endorsement of Richards in the primary election, we touted his service on this board, most notably the fact that the port is running smoothly and has seen an increase in revenue under his leadership — a rather impressive accomplishment given the difficult economic period we’re in. Black has some good ideas but doesn’t have a complete understanding of the port’s operations. And his recent problems with the law don’t bode well for someone seeking office. Given Richards’ record on the board, there’s no reason to change direction at this point. The Town-Crier strongly endorses incumbent Wayne Richards for Port of Palm Beach Commission Seat 1.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tennis Contract A Good Start The Wellington Village Council made a good start by renewing tennis vendor Tommy Cheatham’s contract for two years. Mr. Cheatham has done an outstanding job in a very tough industry, is an outstanding resident for over 20 years, and has always done exactly what the village has asked him to do. The tennis complex serves more than 400 residents year round, and serves many more during the winter season.

He has maintained competitive and enthusiastic women’s league teams programs, which is considered in the industry as a near impossible job. This has not been an easy task, and Mr. Cheatham has done despite the village, not with it.

The courts (with the exception of the four newer ones in the back) are over 25 years old and in deplorable shape. There is no drainage, the court watering system is archaic, the fences are rusted, the clubhouse is barely adequate and in poor condition, and parking is non-existent at times. There are not enough courts at prime time to meet the needs of the residents, and many are turned away, reducing income and resident service levels. Like the old community center, the tennis complex needs to be replaced.

When Wellington became incorporated, the village was spending a little less than $300,000 on its tennis complex and programs. Later, under Jim Barnes’ term as leisure services director, the amount was negotiated down to $170,000 with Mr. Cheatham picking up more of the cost of the complex and staff.

Later, with Bruce DeLaney taking the helm at leisure services, the cost to the village has been reduced even further to $90,000 — all with no complaints from Mr. Cheatham as he and his staff continued to provide an outstanding service level to the residents.

Where Vice Mayor Howard Coates thinks Mr. Cheatham is subsidized is beyond my professional opinion. Wellington spends over a quarter of a million dollars on field maintenance and lighting just for youth baseball, and it serves far less than 400 residents.

The cost is even higher for youth soccer and football, as the field maintenance and lighting is even greater than baseball. The fees charged residents for these programs are lucky if they cover direct costs of the programs, let alone the indirect costs of purchase and construction, field maintenance, and repairs, lighting and field prep.

There is no difference between the village paying indirect costs for football and baseball, or paying for the tennis courts (except it is far lower for tennis).

Councilman Matt Willhite was right on the money when he suggested that a new tennis facility be built at K-Park to better serve our residents. That centralized location, with newer clubhouse facilities and courts, would allow Mr. Cheatham to offer a tennis program to a larger audience, possibly increase fees and rentals, increase programs, allow for tournaments and even possibly bring the costs down to the village by increased memberships. The tennis complex construction could be timed to coincide with the tearing down of the old community center, thus allowing a smooth transition.

And if any of you were at the community center complex for Play Day earlier this month, you could not find a parking space.

Utilizing the site of the current tennis complex for parking would allow for multiple activities to be held at that site with ample parking for all the residents. Great start, council; now follow through with some thoughtful actions.

Steve Haughn Wellington Editor’s note: Steve Haughn is a founding member of Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, represented Wellington on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, and currently is facilities/program manager for the Lake Worth Leisure Services Department.

One Wellington Means One Set Of Rules I couldn’t help but see the hypocrisy in Mark Bellissimo saying Wellington is wasting money on litigation (‘One Wellington’ Program Aims To Bring The Community Together, Oct. 5) while at the same time the village remains entangled in lawsuits stemming from his actions.

If not for Mr. Bellissimo’s egregious disregard for permitting rules, the village wouldn’t be spending “hundreds of thousands of dollars” (his words) on litigation related to his Equestrian Village project.

Mr. Bellissimo “failed to comply” with the village comp plan as well as application and permitting rules or “failed to request” certain permits on at least five occasions since 2011. Instead, he went ahead with developing the site as he pleased, regulations be damned.

But when the council voted in

May to revoke approval of his commercial equestrian arena because of his continued refusals to meet village requirements, what did he do? Filed suit against it.

It’s ironic that Mr. Bellissimo wants us all to live as “one” in Wellington (hence, the name “One Wellington” he gave his charitable group), yet he does so much to divide it. In the “one Wellington” most of us live in, we live and play by the same rules, so we all can expect equal treatment under the law and by our government.

Not so in Mr. Bellissimo’s Wellington, where the rules don’t apply to him. And when people get to pick and choose what rules they’ll follow, if any at all in his case, then we have a community that’s divided.

Michael Whitlow Wellington

Beware IPAB Is IPAB another type of iPad? Unfortunately, it is not. IPAB, or Independent Payment Advisory Board, is an un-elected, 15-member federal government agency created by the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, under sections 3403 and 10320 of the law.

IPAB replaces Congress’ MedPAC agency. MedPAC was created in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act. MedPAC recommends changes to Medicare and Medicaid in order to control the cost of healthcare. Congress must then pass legislation to implement MedPAC’s recommendations.

Passing a new law requires: 1) public hearings where various committees hear comment; 2) bipartisan agreement; 3) passage by the Senate and the House; and 4) the president’s signature.

On the other hand, ObamaCare gives IPAB the power to implement “policies” that have the power of a “law” without the Congress, the President or you and I involved. If the Congress does not like the new IPAB “policy,” a.k.a. law, the Congress is required to have a supermajority vote to overturn it.

IPAB will also implement a form of the U.K.’s special health authority called NICE, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

NICE determines the value of using scarce medical resources to manage healthcare costs. Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s first chief of staff and current mayor of Chicago, enlisted his brother, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a medical ethicist, to help write sections of the Affordable Care Act. The value of human life is part of Dr. Emanuel’s contribution. In his book, The Ends of Human Life, Emanuel evaluates the cost of keeping terminally ill pa-

tients alive compared with the quality of such a life. The U.K.’s NICE board uses a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) to determine how much care someone is due as they age. Like the U.K.’s QALY, IPAB has the authority to enact “policies” for the level/amount of healthcare available to each person during their lives. Educated young adults are more valuable to society and are thereby eligible for more healthcare than retirees or the young. ObamaCare discourages doctors from unnecessary tests and procedures. IPAB will determine which tests and procedures are “necessary” on an age-appropriate basis.

If the Secretary of Health and Human Services fails to appoint anyone to IPAB, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius can implement “policies” on her own. Like the EPA, which implements air and water standards without the legislative process, in 2013 HHS will have the power to implement health standards. For example, let’s say Secretary Sebelius believes that 16 oz. sugar-laden beverages are “unhealthful.” In 2013, IPAB can implement a “policy” that limits the serving size of “unhealthful” beverages. What could be next? Limits on the amount of time spent watching TV? What about mandatory participation in daily workouts?

If ObamaCare is not repealed, IPAB will have power over nearly all aspects of everyone’s life. The progressives will be in control of a “nanny state” with absolute power. The questions are simple. Do you trust the healthcare “policies” of an un-elected board, or do you trust your personal physician? Do you trust a government that believes the U.S. Constitution is outdated and needs to be replaced, i.e. progressives, or do you believe that “we the people” want a government that believes in fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets?

Dennis Lipp Loxahatchee Groves

Romney’s Plan Doesn’t Work Bloomberg reporter Josh Barro recently explained why Mitt Romney’s tax plan couldn’t work. The tax rate cuts would provide $86 billion more in tax relief to people making over $200,000 than Romney could recoup by eliminating tax expenditures for that group.

That means his plan is necessarily a tax cut for the rich, so if Romney keeps his promise not to grow the deficit, he’ll have to raise taxes on the middle class.

Mark Trumbull, a staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor , cites Mitt Romney’s tax plan as mathematically impossible, and Jonathan Chait of New York magazine quipped Romney’s tax plan repeals the laws of arithmetic.

Mark Zandi, Moody’s chief economist agrees, which is surprising since he is a former McCain campaign manager. Zandi explained that Romney’s tax plan doesn’t add up because it’s not possible to lower taxes by 20 percent across the board while making up those losses in government revenue by closing loopholes on the wealthy.

Apparently, Romney believes those 47 percent of voters who are victims are also not smart enough to figure out his tax plan just doesn’t add up, or more colorfully stated, “It’s malarkey!”

Judi Gray Boca Raton

Stop Obama Now The upcoming presidential election is likely to be the most important election of our lives. Not because the economy can be fixed in four more years, but because the economy can be totally destroyed in four more years.

We simply cannot continue to print money to bolster the economy short term, because the longterm consequence is inflation.

When that bottomless cup of coffee cost 25 cents, gas was about 31 cents a gallon, because at that time coal was firing steel plants that no longer exist in Gary, Ind.; Chicago, Ill.; Pittsburgh and Bethlehem, Pa.; and Youngstown, Ohio. At that time we had a heavy industry production economy that was the largest in the world.

Since Obama took office, 111 coal-fired energy plants have stopped producing electricity. That is one-fifth of the nation’s coal plants, and if Obama is re-elected, in four more years the EPA mandates will cause more than 200 coal-fired energy plants to close across 25 states. Obama said that under his plan, the CO2 emissions limit would bankrupt anyone who attempts to build a coal-fired energy plant. In four more years, there will be even fewer energy-producing plants and higher energy prices.

Because affordable energy is produced with coal, fewer coal-

fired energy plants means energy prices “will necessarily skyrocket.” Not my words, those were the words of Mr. Obama. In four more years, Obama will be able to complete his energy policy.

Since Obama placed a moratorium on drilling for oil in the Gulf, drilling platforms have left or shutdown. They will not return as long as Obama is president. There is an Obama moratorium on exploration for oil in the Atlantic, but foreign nations are drilling there. The fact is that more oil seeps up into the ocean naturally than could ever result from an oil spill. Drilling for oil actually reduces the natural seepage of oil into ocean waters.

In four more years, a lot can happen to increase the price of gasoline. The Keystone Oil pipeline construction has been stopped this year over environmental concerns. For the past 16 years the globe has been cooling, but Obama has turned up the heat on energy producers to put them out of business. If the energy policies of this administration are continued for four more years, the price of energy and gasoline will necessarily skyrocket.

Vice President Biden wants us to calm down because according to him, Iran does not have the means to deliver the bomb to a target. The administration’s position must be that they do not know if Iran has an atomic bomb, but if Iran does have an atomic bomb, this administration knows that Iran cannot deliver the bomb to a target. On the other hand, Biden told us that the intelligence community did not even know the ambassador was in danger. In four more years, the Middle East could be a much more dangerous enemy...

In four more years, unless we have a competent administration, the economy can completely fail.

In four more years, Iran can have a delivery method to explode an atomic weapon over the United States. In for more years, our access to Arab oil can be cut off, and we could be exposed to an atomic explosion that creates an electromagnetic pulse that can shut down our entire economy. In less than a month, voters will decide our future. This is the most important election of our lives. Please vote because you may decide this election.

Frank Morelli Wellington

The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please k eep 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 letters@ goTownCrier.com.

NEWS

Wellington Regional Shows Off New Pavilion At Chamber Lunch

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington Regional Medical Center hosted the Central Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon Monday in its recently opened Alan B. Miller Pavilion.

CEO Jerel Humphrey said that

the new, 103,000-square-foot pavilion includes 80 private patient rooms, two intensive-care unit step-down areas, spa-like décor and finishes, upgraded dining amenities, a new and expanded pharmacy, and the latest technology.

“We’re very excited about our

Next LGLA Meeting Set For Oct. 25 The Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association will meet Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at Palms West Presbyterian Church (13689 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves).

The topic will be the amendments to the Florida Constitution that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. Those in attendance will listen

and comment on their individual understanding of the intent of the proposed changes.

The meeting is open to the public, but only LGLA members with 2012 paid dues can make motions and vote on them. For more information, contact LGLA President Marge Herzog at (561) 818-9114 or marge@herzog.ms.

THE

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new pavilion,” Humphrey said. “I assume you came in through our new lobby. With the new pavilion opening, it gives us 233 beds, and we’re very happy to have that.”

One of the issues WRMC has had for several years is overcrowding in the emergency department, especially during the winter season. “It has gotten to the point that we had to hold people in an inpatient bed in the emergency department because we simply didn’t have room,” Humphrey said.

The expansion provides muchneeded relief to that situation.

“It was not a very pleasant way as a patient to be introduced to the inpatient services of a hospital, being in a gurney waiting for a hospital bed,” he said. “The pavil-

ion will help alleviate that problem.”

The pavilion was designed and planned for more than five years before building actually commenced, he said.

The patient rooms are designed not to have the drab institutional motif that is commonly associated with hospital rooms.

“We wanted to give it more of a hotel look, so it has softer colors,” Humphrey said. “It is patient-centered in that the nurses can enter information in each patient room.

There is a computer terminal for them to interact with the patient, as well as enter the information at the same time.”

For more information about the pavilion, visit www.wellington regional.com/patientexperience.

BARRY S. MANNING Publisher

JOSHUA I. MANNING Executive Editor

JODY GORRAN Associate Publisher

DAWN RIVERA General Manager

JASON BUD JINSKI Community Editor

RON BUKLEY Managing Editor

EDITORIAL STAFF/ Chris Felker • Denise Fleischman Jessica Gregoire • Lauren Miró CONTRIBUTORS/ Jules Rabin • Ellen Rosenberg • Leonard Wechsler • Deborah W elky ART & PRODUCTION MANAGER/ Stephanie Rodriguez ADVERTISING/ Betty Buglio • Evie Edwards • Wanda Glockson STAFF/ Shanta Daibee • Carol Lieberman • Geri O’Neil

Wellington Regional Medical Center officials at the luncheon: (L-R) Emergency Department Nursing Director Sharonda Brown, Director of Business Development Beth Mourelatos, CEO Jerel Humphrey, Dr. Jeffery Bishop and Dr. David Soria.

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MEMBER OF

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce The Wellington Chamber of Commerce

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October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 5

NEWS

CONGRESSMAN TED DEUTCH TALKS TO BINKS FOREST ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Congressman Ted Deutch visited Binks Forest Elementary School in Wellington on Thursday, Oct. 11. He engaged students with a video on how Congress works as well as a friendly debate on issues and topics students decided were important. For more info., visit www.deutch.house.gov.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Congressman Ted Deutch with the student debaters.

Debaters Erin Williams and Lauren Hempfling.

Teacher Dominick Brandine with his students.

Olivier Tutak debates while Noah Rotchin looks on.

Debaters Tyler Mirsky and Tim Dutta.

Debaters Kelsey Means and Dakota Brisco.

WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY MEMBERS ENJOY MEETING AT COMMUNITY CENTER The Wellington Art Society held a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 10 at the Wellington Community Center. The meeting began with refreshments and ended with a presentation by guest speak er Elayna Toby Singer of Palm Beach County’s Art in Public Places. For more info., visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Artist Laura Willems with her painting on the wall of the Grand Cypress Room.

Charles Smith, First Vice President Leslie Pfeiffer, Arlene Brand and Recording Secretary Sandy Axelrod.

Wellington Art Society President Tony Baker, guest speaker Elayna Toby Singer and Director Ilene Adams.

Page 6 October 19 - October 25, 2012

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CRIME NEWS

Guns Stolen From Vehicle In Olympia

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report OCT. 13 — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Wellington was called to the Olympia community last Saturday in response to a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between noon last Tuesday and 11 p.m. last Saturday, someone removed two handguns from the victim’s unlocked vehicle. The victim noted that the perpetrator(s) did not remove his wallet or electronic equipment from the vehicle. The stolen handguns are described as a black 9mm Taurus pistol and a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson Glock. They were valued at approximately $500 each. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

••• OCT. 9 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to a home on the 12th Fairway last Tuesday morning regarding a vehicle burglary.

According to a PBSO report, sometime between 10 p.m. last Monday and 7 a.m. the following morning, someone entered the victim’s vehicle and removed a Garmin GPS from the glove box. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

OCT. 9 — A resident of the Versailles community contacted the PBSO substation in Wellington last Tuesday to report a burglary.

According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 and 8 a.m. last Tuesday, someone entered the victim’s garage and stole two children’s bicycles and a penny board. The victim said the garage may have been open at the time of the theft.

The stolen items were valued at approximately $280. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

OCT. 9 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to a home in Sugar Pond Manor last Tuesday after reports of a home burglary. According to a PBSO report, the victim left his home at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday and returned around 1:30 p.m. to discover that the sliding glass door to his master bedroom had been smashed out. According to the report, the perpetrator(s) entered the home and ransacked the master bedroom, stealing several pieces of jewelry. The perpetrator(s) also removed a Dell laptop computer from the victim’s office. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

OCT. 12 — A resident of Olympia called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Friday afternoon

to report a case of fraud. According to a PBSO report, the victim noticed his bank card was missing and went online to discover that someone had stolen the card and made several fraudulent charges. The victim said the perpetrator(s) removed $738.90 from his account at an ATM and also spent $1,057.88 at a Walmart store. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

OCT. 14 — A resident of the Archstone community called the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach last Sunday afternoon to report a stolen vehicle. According to a PBSO report, the victim said she parked her gold 2004 Oldsmobile on the northwest side of her apartment building at approximately 6 p.m. last Saturday. She discovered the vehicle missing at approximately 9:30 a.m. the following morning. According to the report, the victim said the apartment complex managers had not ordered the car towed, and she did not owe any money on it. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

OCT. 14 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to a home on Van Gogh Way last Sunday morning regarding a vehicle burglary.

According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 p.m. last Saturday and 8 a.m. the following morning, someone entered the victim’s vehicle and removed a checkbook that was sitting on the floor.

The victim said the perpetrator(s) may also have taken some loose change. There was no sign of forced entry to the vehicle, and no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

OCT. 14 — A resident of Hamlin Blvd. contacted the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation last Sunday morning regarding an act of vandalism. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 9 p.m. last Saturday and 8 a.m. the following morning, someone broke the victim’s driveway lights.

According to the report, it was the third such incident. The broken lights were valued at approximately $160. There were no suspects at the time of the report.

OCT. 15 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested on charges of theft early Monday morning after he was caught stealing from the Winn-Dixie supermarket in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation was on patrol at approximately 3:35 a.m. when he observed 42-year-old Omar Sosa back up a moving truck to a large pile of cardboard and See BLOTTER, page 20

NEWS BRIEF

Chamber’s Small Business RoundTable Event Oct. 25 The Wellington Chamber of Commerce Small Business RoundTable will host “The Quest for Contacts” on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Utopia at Polo West (2470 Greenview Cove Drive, Wellington).

The evening will begin with a mixer followed by a coordinated, fun networking exercise. Attendees will be given a set amount of time to introduce themselves and their companies one on one to each person in the room. The goal is for those attending to meet and

make new business contacts that will evolve into new business.

This is the last session of the 2012 Small Business RoundTable series. The public is invited to attend, and the cost is $10. For more information about the Small Business RoundTable, contact Executive Director Michela Perillo-Green at (561) 792-6525 or e-mail small businessroundtable@wellington chamber.com.

For information on the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, visit www.wellingtonchamber.com.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Brittany Nugent is a white female, 5’3” tall and weighing 125 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on her left hip. Her date of birth is 04/19/87. Nugent is want ed for possession of cocaine. Her occupation is unknown. Her last known addresses were Sandpiper Avenue in Royal Palm Beach and Fox Hollow Drive in Boca Raton. Nugent is wanted as of 10/11/ 12.

• Michael Shepard is a black male, 6’0” tall and weighing 210 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos. His date of birth is 12/22/90.

Shepard is wanted for violation of probation on charges of home invasion robbery with a firearm while wearing a mask and grand theft from a dwelling. His occupation is unknown. His last known address w as South 37th Street in Greenacres. Shepard is wanted as of 10/ 11/12.

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.

Brittany Nugent

Michael Shepard

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. CRIMESTOPPERS IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT SHOWN HERE.

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October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 7

ELECTION 2012: PALM BEACH COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY

Former Senator Dave Aronberg Would Bring Varied Experience

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Former State Sen. Dave Aronberg hopes voters will recognize his varied experience and proven leadership skills, choosing him Nov. 6 to be Palm Beach County’s next state attorney.

Aronberg, the Democratic nominee, faces Republican Dina Keever and independent candidate Robert Gershman in a three-way race. The winner will replace interim State Attorney Peter Antonacci, who took over earlier this year when former State Attorney Michael McAuliffe resigned to take a job in the private sector.

Aronberg, 41, is a South Florida native. He has a bachelor’s degree in government and a law degree, both from Harvard University.

After graduation, he spent three years in corporate litigation, but felt he wanted work in public service. So he took a leave of absence to work for Bill Nelson, who was then serving as Florida’s insurance commissioner.

“Together, we investigated European insurance companies that had stolen insurance policies from victims of the Holocaust,” he said.

“It was the largest consumer fraud case in the world.”

In 1999, Aronberg was hired as an assistant attorney general, working in economic crimes. Most famously, he headed the state’s fraud case against “Miss Cleo.”

The next year, Aronberg was selected as a White House Fellow,

serving as special assistant to the secretary of the Treasury Department. He served under presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, focusing on international money laundering.

Aronberg was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 as its youngest member. He served until 2010.

While in office, he pointed to his work fighting so-called “pill mills.”

He sat on the Medicaid task force and the Joint Legislative Committee on Everglades Oversight, and also focused on consumer protection laws.

In 2010, he ran for Florida attorney general, losing in the Democratic primary. After that election, the eventual winner, Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi, hired him as a special prosecutor to fight pill mills and other drug cases.

Aronberg said that his experience makes him the best candidate.

He emphasized that, despite criticism, he has the necessary experience in the courtroom for the job.

“I have prosecutorial experience,” he said. “I was on the trial team that put away [gang leader] Futo Charles. I was a prosecutor on a heroin case in Fort Myers.”

Furthermore, Aronberg said his experience out of the courtroom will be beneficial to the office.

“I think I have the best experience in and out of the courtroom,” he said. “I am the only one in this race who has written our state laws and enforced them. I know how

budgets are built. I have the full experience needed to be the CEO of the largest law firm in the county.”

Aronberg said that his top accomplishments include creating a consumer protection division during his time as state senator. “We returned $4 million to people who had been ripped off,” he said.

If elected, he said he would welcome oversight by the Palm Beach County Inspector General. “I have no problem as long as it’s not a conflict of interest,” Aronberg said. “If I am working closely with Sheryl Steckler, perhaps the oversight should come from someone else in the office that I don’t talk to on a daily basis. I would want to be sure it has a real independent perspective.”

Though Aronberg admitted that his opponents have more hours logged in court than he does, he said the position wouldn’t require him to be in court.

“This is not a trial lawyer position,” he said. “I know how a budget works. I know how to go to Tallahassee and fight for Palm Beach County. I can lobby for the changes in laws that are tying our hands.”

Aronberg added that he has a better understanding of the community. “I know the priorities of this community,” he said. “If you haven’t been a part of the community, if you’ve never been to a civic meeting, then you don’t understand the community.”

Although Aronberg was glad that McAuliffe created the Public Integrity Unit, he said that McAuliffe did not handle the office well, pointing to the county’s poor conviction rate. “We have to make sure we are charging cases correctly,” he said.

If elected, Aronberg said he would make changes to the office, including how cases are brought in and charged.

“Peter Antonacci helped change that, but I would put it in stone,” he said. “We have the lowest conviction rate in the state because of the system [put in place

by McAuliffe]. We need to have independent experts deciding how the cases are charged.”

He also said he would be less concerned with press releases, something he said McAuliffe pressured his attorneys to do. “Individual attorneys should not be pressured to fill out press releases about everything they are doing,” Aronberg said. “This is not a machine to get me elected to higher office.”

He said that several veteran prosecutors left the office under McAuliffe because they did not have the freedom to settle their own cases. “If I have no faith in them to settle their own cases, then they shouldn’t be there,” he said.

“There needs to be a change in morale.”

Aronberg said he would like the office to focus on domestic violence and economic crimes,

two units that he said have been decimated by prior administrations.

Regarding the negative portrayal of his campaign in certain media outlets, Aronberg said that he knew there would be a backlash before he got into the race. “I was warned when I decided I was going to take on Michael McAuliffe,” he said.

Aronberg asserted that Palm Beach Post Editorial Page Editor Randy Schultz had an overly close relationship with McAuliffe.

“They crossed the line in their relationship,” he said. “Information was disclosed to the Post in exchange for favorable coverage.

When I got into the race, [the Post] assigned an investigative team to dig up anything they could to destroy me.”

Additionally, Aronberg said that he worked to get out information about “gross mismanagement” in the office that was being ignored by the regional media. “I’m proud I was able to get truthful information out,” he said.

The Post recently published an article featuring allegations against Aronberg, including his relationship with millionaire Martin O’Boyle. Critics say that O’Boyle financed anti-McAuliffe propaganda to support Aronberg. “The stuff that has been reported is patently false,” he said. “He had been doing this long before I got in the race.”

Dave Aronberg Aronberg said that the media storm has taken the campaign away from the issues. “The voters deserve an election about the issues, and that’s what I’ve focused on — not distractions,” he said.

Aronberg said the voters should choose him because he will fight for the community.

“I’ve been a part of this community helping people with problems,” he said. “I’ve fought for people. I’ve been doing it my whole career. If you don’t have a burning desire to protect the families in these communities, you don’t have a good enough reason to run for state attorney.”

For more information, visit www. davearonberg.com.

‘I’ve fought for people. I’ve been doing it my whole career,’ Aronberg said. ‘If you don’t have a burning desire to protect the families in these communities, you don’t have a good enough reason to run for state attorney.’

Defense Attorney Robert Gershman Bucks Party Lines In Bid

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Robert Gershman hopes that voters will see beyond party lines this election and choose him to be the next Palm Beach County state attorney due to his experience, dedication and management abilities.

Gershman, 46, faces Democratic candidate former State Sen. David Aronberg and Republican candidate former federal prosecutor Dina Keever in the Nov. 6 election.

He is running with no party affiliation.

A Los Angeles native, Gershman received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from George Washington University and his law degree from Nova Southeastern University. He lives in Boca Raton with his wife, Cindy, and his two children.

During his time in law school, Gershman interned at the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. “I was hired at the end of my internship,” he said.

He worked for the office from 1991 to 1996 as a prosecutor before opening his own practice as a criminal defense attorney. Gershman said he has both federal and state experience but specializes in death penalty cases.

“I’m one of the few attorneys certified to try death penalty work,” he said. “I’ve prosecuted them as well as defended them. To defend death penalty cases, you

can’t be an ordinary attorney. I have increased credentials.”

Gershman’s most high-profile cases have included the Dunbar Village rape case and the case where a family was gunned down on Florida’s Turnpike. He said that his experience makes him the bestqualified candidate for the position of state attorney.

“I’m the only practicing attorney,” he said. “I’m the only one with state criminal experience, both in prosecution and defense. I’m also the only candidate equipped to handle grand jury depositions.”

He said he wouldn’t criticize the performance of former State Attorney Michael McAuliffe, but noted he would do some things differently.

“It’s hard to criticize what I don’t know. I will say that I believe in finishing what I start,” Gershman said in a reference to the fact that McAuliffe left a year before his term ended to take a job in the private sector.

If elected, Gershman said he would shift more responsibility to assistant state attorneys, giving them the freedom to settle their own cases.

“The assistant state attorneys must have discretion,” he said. “I think there is a fear in there that the person whose case it is can’t make their own decisions. They fear that if the case is resolved for something different than what a higher-up wants, then bad things

will happen to that person. I never had those issues when I was an assistant state attorney.”

He said, however, that he thought current interim State Attorney Peter Antonacci’s relationship with Aronberg was keeping him from investigating several issues Gershman had brought forward.

“I think there’s a relationship between him and my Democratic opponent,” Gershman said. “I think it’s to the detriment of the other candidates. For example, I made a request that he investigate campaign issues going on, and he said that he couldn’t because there would be the appearance of impropriety. He didn’t offer to pass it along to anyone.”

He pointed to Antonacci’s donations to the Democratic Party.

“It makes me, as a candidate, feel as if I’m not being treated equally,” he said. “Whether I win or lose, it doesn’t matter as long as the process is fair.”

Gershman said that once elected, he would tackle county corruption issues, noting that he has had experience both prosecuting and defending public corruption cases.

Most notably, he served as defense counsel for former West Palm Beach City Commissioner Jim Exline, who faced tax charges. “I have that perspective,” Gershman said.

He has been disappointed that

the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office has largely avoided corruption cases.

“There is no enforcement business-wise or government-wise,” Gershman said. “There should be grand juries. There used to be inquisitions. People should know.

Those things should be made public.”

Gershman said he supports the Palm Beach County Office of the Inspector General and said he would gladly invite Inspector General Sheryl Steckler in to oversee the office. “It’s a public office, and it should be open and transparent,” he said.

He also said he would work to keep good relationships with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “You have to have a good relationship,” Gershman said.

“They are it for law enforcement.”

Though candidates without party backing have not traditionally had luck in partisan county elections, Gershman said he chose to run in the general election rather than a Democratic primary. “I did not think I would have had the same chance to have my voice heard in an August primary,” he said.

Though some have characterized Gershman’s campaign as “sour grapes” for not receiving the support of the Democratic Party, he said that was not the case.

“It’s misplaced criticism,” he

said. “I’ve been in private practice now for 16 years. I have one kid in college, and I’m a first-time political candidate seeking a job making far less than I make now. I think I am truly the most qualified person for this job, and I think it’s the right thing to do.”

While he has also heard criticism for his time spent as a criminal defender, that he helped put criminals back on the streets, Gershman said that was invalid criticism.

“I think representing death penalty defendants is the best thing any lawyer can do,” he said. “I’m proud of it, and I stand by it. I have heard that criticism, and I think it’s shortsighted. It’s not the reality, and to some extent, it is arrogant.”

Although it is not always easy to defend criminals, everyone deserves a fair defense.

“I’m proud to represent people like that,” he said. “It’s the best work there is. I would never say a person doesn’t deserve to be defended.”

Gershman added that he supports the death penalty. “I think it’s appropriate for certain offenders,” he said. “It is reserved for really evil people in society, and I do think those people exist.”

Although Aronberg has financial backing and name recognition, Gershman does not believe that he has the experience necessary for the job.

“His largest weakness is lack of

Robert Gershman experience,” Gershman said. “He has never tried a jury trial or dealt with issues before the state attorney’s office at all.”

He also pointed out that Keever has experience only in federal court. “She has no state court experience,” Gershman said.

Gershman said he hopes voters will recognize his extensive experience and choose him for this important post.

“I am the only candidate with the experience and knowledge to do the job,” he said. “I am bringing in the necessary perspective to make this office run fairly and justly.”

For more information, visit www. robertgershman.org.

Gershman said he hopes voters will recognize his extensive experience. ‘I am the only candidate with the experience and knowledge to do the job,’ he said. ‘I am bringing in the necessary perspective to make this office run fairly and justly.’

Dina Keever Puts Focus On Years Of Experience As A Prosecutor

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Former federal prosecutor Dina Keever believes her courtroom experience makes her the best choice to be Palm Beach County’s next state attorney.

Keever, the Republican nominee, faces Democratic candidate former State Sen. Dave Aronberg and defense attorney Robert Gershman, who is running without a party affiliation, in a three-way general election contest.

Keever grew up in Illinois and attended the University of Illinois, where she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism. “I love newspapers, and I think it is a great training ground for law school because of the investigating and writing,” she said. “My parents relocated to Clearwater, so I moved to Florida and went to law school at Florida State University.”

Upon graduation in 1994, she did an internship at the Leon County State Attorney’s Office. “I knew when I stepped in the courtroom that I’d found my calling,” she said.

“That was exactly where I needed to be.”

It’s not about putting people in jail, Keever said, it’s about upholding the law. “I have a strong sense of justice, and I would like to think of myself as a victim’s advocate.

Individuals should be held accountable for their actions.”

From Tallahassee, Keever was selected for the federal appellate

court in the 11th Circuit, which is based in Atlanta and covers Florida, Georgia and Alabama. She worked with Judge Peter Fay in Miami. “He’s one of my great mentors,” she said. “I had a great year there… I learned so much from the judge about the law. I learned that oftentimes mistakes made at the trial level are not legal mistakes but mistakes of ethics or judgment, so it really drove the point home how important ethics is.”

From there she went to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, where she served from 1995 to 1998. She spent time in the appellate section, where she wrote more than 40 briefs and argued cases in the 11th Circuit. She then went to the narcotics unit, where she prosecuted drug cases.

“I quickly earned a reputation as being hard-charging and dedicated to being very fair and ethical,” she said.

In 1996, Keever met her future husband, Dr. Mark Agrama, who was attending medical school in Miami. When he graduated, they moved to Philadelphia, where she took a job as a federal prosecutor.

Along the way, she had two children, who are now 10 and 12.

Keever and her family returned to Florida in 2008. They live in Palm Beach Gardens. Agrama practices as an ear, nose and throat doctor.

After working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fort Pierce, Keever disliked the commute and

chose to join Lewis Tein PL, a private law firm, doing commercial financial litigation. She took a leave in April to focus on her campaign.

Keever said her top accomplishment is her years in prosecution.

“I think I have made a lot of contributions as a prosecutor,” she said.

“I always felt that I was on the side of justice, and I find that to be very satisfying and rewarding.”

The top issues in the campaign are ethics and experience, she said.

“To be state attorney you have to have two things — you have to have experience prosecuting crime and you have to have ethics,” Keever said, adding that her experience is better in both than her two opponents.

The state attorney must also have courtroom experience, prosecuting, investigating and strategizing cases, and working with law enforcement, she said. “I think it’s very difficult to come in and be the top prosecutor running an office of 125 people if you haven’t been a prosecutor yourself,” Keever said.

Keever added that because many of her cases have been very large, they involved managing teams of attorneys — an important experience for the state attorney.

Changes she would like to bring to the office include raising the level of professionalism.

“There has been a lot of turnover,” she said. “The state attor-

ney’s office tends to attract younger attorneys out of law school because they want to come out and get their years of experience in the courtroom.”

Keever said she would improve legal training, as well as advocacy and ethics and a sense of discretion. She would also try to improve morale. “If a prosecutor has great morale and feels well-equipped, like they know what they’re doing, they’re much more efficient,” she said.

Keever said she recently received the endorsement of retired 26-year prosecutor Ellen Roberts, who prosecuted International Polo Club Palm Beach owner John Goodman.

“She knows what it takes to be state attorney. She served under the previous four state attorneys.

She believes, as I do, that the office is basically in chaos right now,” Keever said.

She thinks former State Attorney Michael McAuliffe did some good things, including putting emphasis on ethics, before he left to work for a private firm. Keever noted that she has received McAuliffe’s endorsement, even though he is a Democrat and she had not really known him prior to the campaign.

Keever believes that interim State Attorney Peter Antonacci has done a good job, including reestablishing a central intake system, rather than a vertical system

instituted by McAuliffe. While the federal system is vertical, central intake is more effective for the state office because the volume is much greater and the cases have usually not had prior review, she said.

“Right now, they have four veteran prosecutors doing all the intake,” she said.

Changes she would make include adding a human trafficking unit, which has become a $32 billion industry in the nation.

Keever said she would continue a good relationship with Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

“I’ve met him two or three times now,” she said. “We believe we would work really well together. I would maintain a good working relationship with Ric Bradshaw, but you have to keep a little bit of distance because you have to be able to police each other.”

Keever said she supports the work of Palm Beach County Inspector General Sheryl Steckler, but does not think the state attorney’s office should be under its purview.

“That wasn’t the purpose of it,” she said. “The state attorney was elected and answers to the people… The purpose is to ferret out government abuse and waste. If it turns into a criminal fraud or something that is potentially criminal, it is turned over to the state attorney’s office.”

Keever said she has been sur-

Dina Keever prised at the vitriol that has arisen in the campaign. “Recently, Mr. Aronberg has said he wants to rise above the negativity, but I did not create the negativity,” she said, explaining that she came into the race because she saw allegations that a sitting circuit judge had been intimidated out of the race. “I thought it was wrong, and at that point Mr. Aronberg was going to be unopposed.”

She promised to serve with the integrity and high ethical standards that the county deserves.

“I am someone who is dedicated to this office,” Keever said. “This is not a steppingstone.”

For more information, visit www. dinakeever.com.

Keever said her top accomplishment is her years in prosecution. ‘I think I have made a lot of contributions as a prosecutor,’ she said. ‘I always felt that I was on the side of justice, and I find that to be very satisfying and rewarding.’

Page 8 October 19 - October 25, 2012

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ELECTION 2012: U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 21

Two Independent Candidates Take Aim At Congressman Deutch

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report After two years of representing South Florida in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, a Democrat, is seeking re-election in the newly drawn 21st Congressional District.

Like the 19th Congressional District that Deutch currently represents, the new district trends Democratic. So much so, the Republican Party is not even fielding a candidate to challenge Deutch.

However, two candidates without a party affiliation, Cesar Henao and Michael Trout, are on the ballot. Henao argues that the American people are suffering because members of Congress are not working together, while Trout advocates strict term limits on federal officials to return control of the federal government to the people.

The new district covers all of Wellington, in addition to large parts of the South County area.

Previously, Deutch only represented a tiny sliver of Wellington.

Ted Deutch — Deutch, 46, a former state senator, was elected in a spring 2010 special election, winning his first full term in office later that year. “I think what people want in this congressional election is someone who is able to get things done even in this difficult partisan environment,� Deutch said. “I’m proud that since going to Congress, and in the past two years as a member of the minority in the House, I have passed significant legislation.�

As accomplishments, he listed bills to crack down on the Iranian nuclear weapons program, help homeless veterans and address the situation of contaminated Chinese drywall. “Every one of those is bipartisan, and if it’s possible to work together to get things done, I work hard to find a way to do it,�

Deutch said.

Protecting Social Security is one of Deutch’s top causes. “Social Security is not going broke,� he said. “If we do nothing, Social Security would pay full benefits until 2037, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t shore up Social Security for the next 75 years.�

In fact, he has introduced a bill that would do just that. Deutch also supports the Affordable Care Act and keeping Medicare largely unchanged. “With respect to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act saves $716 billion by cracking

down on fraud, reducing machine, part of the esoverpayments to insurtablishment, doesn’t ance companies and enmean that he can’t be couraging the coordinabeaten, and the American tion of healthcare,� he people are tired of that said, adding that it would kind of politician,� he also encourage coordinasaid. tion of care to cut costs Henao feels for the peoby eliminating duplicative ple who have been hurt efforts. by the housing collapse.

Deutch also supports “The government bailed cutting the cost of preout Wall Street, they scription drugs to extend bailed out the banks, they the life of Medicare. also bailed out the auto Deutch also led efforts industry,� he said. “The Ted Deutch Cesar Henao to expose errors and fraud people they forgot to bail in the recent voter purge out were the American in Florida. “The most important sional and has never run for office people.� thing that we can do, I believe, to before.

To inspire parents to be more restore confidence in the Ameri“People are tired of the two-par- supportive of their high school can people is to ensure the integ- ty system and the do-nothing students’ schoolwork, Henao also rity of our elections,� he said. Congress,� Henao said. “I think would establish a $500 tax credit “That’s why I called out the gov- it’s my duty as a citizen to actually for parents of students who mainernor when he tried to purge tens give back to the community as a tain a 3.5 grade point average or of thousands of eligible voters representative of the people.� higher with good behavior. from our voting rolls. That’s why I Henao’s study of political sci“Being an independent candihave called for a bipartisan panel ence allowed him to work as an date, I don’t have to ask permisto investigate the charges of vot- intern in the House of Represen- sion from my political party to er registration fraud, and that’s tatives in 2007, which he said gave bring ideas that people in the diswhy I have introduced a constitu- him insight into the way the sys- trict are actually fighting for,� he tional amendment to overturn the tem works. “I’m not a Washing- said. “A lot of the Republicans and Citizens United [decision] and get ton insider, but I’ve been there,� independents and even Democorporate money out of our polit- he said. “When you work in a con- crats are supporting our campaign ical system.� gressman’s office, you learn the because they feel disenfranAs a member of the Foreign Af- dynamics of how Congress works, chised.� fairs Committee, he has focused the staff, the requirements of how For more information, visit www. on national security, particularly a law gets introduced.� cesarforcongress.com. on the threat of a nuclear-armed Married with two children, Mike Trout — Trout, a resident Iran. “I have sponsored key piec- Henao has lived in Greenacres of western Boca Raton who has es of sanctions legislation. I have since 1990. “I went to middle never held public office, describes tried to stop the Iranian nuclear school and high school in the dis- himself as a “progressive indepenweapons program,� Deutch said, trict,� he said. “I have lived here dent candidate.� calling it “the most significant na- most of my life.�

His main concern is the home tional security issue we face toHenao said the people he has foreclosure crisis, but he thinks day.� talked to are tired of partisan poli- there are many issues that need to Deutch has also taken an active tics. “They’re tired of congress- be fixed. “[The foreclosure crisis] role on animal-related issues, in- men not doing anything to solve cluding the prevention of horse the problems that we have,� he slaughter. He’s been working with said.

State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo. “It’s The main issue is jobs or better an issue that he has worked on in jobs. “How do we get people back Tallahassee and I have worked on to their normal levels and the work at the federal level,� Deutch said. that they either studied for or en“It’s a black mark on the country joy doing?� he said. continued from page 3 the way we still permit horse Henao would like to create a with parents to get them to take slaughter, and we’re going to try skills gap program to provide high ownership of our local schools.� to end that.� school certification for students in From a position in Tallahassee, For more information, visit www. technical programs who do not Donnally said she would aim to tedforcongress.com. want to or cannot afford to go to open a dialogue about education Cesar Henao — Henao, 35, is a college. “Many high school stu- and work with the local school native of Columbia who came to dents are not graduating with a board and educators. She noted the United States at age 12. real skill that would allow them to that last year the legislature put $1 He received his associate’s de- do some of the jobs, especially billion back into education. “I think gree in computer science from technical jobs,� he said. that was a great first step,� she Palm Beach State College and his Henao said he feels like David said. “Let’s increase revenue so bachelor’s degree in political sci- challenging Goliath in running we can give them more.� ence from Palm Beach Atlantic against Deutch, who is backed by Regarding proposed amendUniversity in 2007. He works as a the Democratic Party. ments to the state constitution, finance and technology profes“Just because he’s part of the Donnally said she was concerned

Donnally

Second Bid For Office

is the real bleeding-in-the-street on the job only for two years and issue,� Trout said. “We just really then campaign for two years. have to put a stop to that. In 2005, The change would create more there were 50,000 foreclosures in time for officeholders to actually the whole country. By 2008, it was work for the people, rather than up to a million... and it looks like fundraising for reelection, he said. we still have more waves coming. “You pay a congressman $174,000 It’s not getting better despite the a year to work for you full-time, pseudo-remedies that have been not to be campaigning,� Trout put out there.� said. “That time is fatiguing and Trout favors a constitutional taking away from his best mental amendment imposing term limits abilities and physical abilities to on all national elected offices with do the job.� the goals of returning control of Trout said he believes there is a government to the people. “You disconnect between members of should go and serve your term, Congress and the communities serve your people well and then they serve. move on,� he said. “You’re going “The average household into get to that office with your best come is $49,000 a year, and a conideas on the first term anyway.� gressman is making $174,000 a He pointed out that former Con- year, so there is a socioeconomic gressman Robert Wexler held his disconnect there,� he said. “My seat for seven terms, which Trout suggestion is that you pay a conthinks is too long. “Robert Wexler gressman based on what the peoabandoned his congressional seat ple make, so if in your district the to go take another job, and when average income is $49,000, it’s he did that, Ted [Deutch] aban- $49,000 times two because they doned his Florida legislative seat have to have two households, one to run for Wexler’s seat, which in Washington and one at home.� caused two special elections,� he If the constituency’s income said. goes down, the repIn his plan, Trout resentative’s salary would take represenwould go down protatives’ terms from portionally, he said, two years to four, the adding that merit raispresidency from four es could be available years to a single sixfor those who do the year term, and senajob well. “I want evtors from six years to erybody to hear the a single eight-year idea,� he said. “It’s term. “Really, the preswell-received when I idency is not a fourtalk to people about year term now,� he it.� said, explaining that For more informahe thinks the presition, visit www.vote dent can concentrate Mike Trout 4trout.com. about Amendment 5, which would allow the legislature to overturn Florida Supreme Court rulings by a simple majority. “I would not feel comfortable with that much responsibility,� she said. “It would give the legislature too much power.�

But she supports Amendment 8, which would allow taxpayers’ money to go to religious organizations, such as religious schools.

She said that in her experience with private religious schools, she learned that some students benefit from a different learning environment, and increased financing could allow students who need extra attention to attend private school.

“Not every student learns the same. If a parent has a child in school, they should have the right and ability to choose to go somewhere else,� Donnally said. “Some of these students have small disabilities, and we are taking a burden off the public school system.�

Ultimately, Donnally said that voters should choose her because she will work hard to help get residents back to work. “I think people are concerned about the economy,� she said. “This is not a blue or red election.

It’s a green election. It’s about dollars. I will see that, by cutting regulations and reducing taxes, we will get business back in Florida.�

For more information, visit www.tamidonnally.com.

You Deserve Quality CARE

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October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 9

NEWS

Port Commissioner Richards Faces George Black In Re-Election Bid

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Wayne Richards, a Democrat, faces a general election challenge from Republican George Black.

The Port of Palm Beach is governed by a five-member commission elected by residents in the Port of Palm Beach District, which includes most of the northern half of Palm Beach County, including most of the western communities.

Created as a special taxing district, the port has authority to levy taxes but has not done so since the 1970s.

Richards, a mechanical engineer and attorney, has held the port commission’s Group 1 seat since 2000. He has chaired the commission for the past two years.

Richards, who easily defeated builder Joseph Anderson in an August primary, is quick to point out how well the port has been doing despite a weak overall economy.

“We have gone through the worst five years of probably the last 20 or 30 years as it relates to traffic in the Caribbean,” Richards said, explaining that the Port of Palm Beach is a niche port. “We

supply foodstuff and construction materials to the Caribbean.

That is our base, and, unfortunately with our challenging economy, the economy in the Caribbean is far worse.”

Over the past few years, he has taken his family to the Bahamas and other locations, and resorts have been empty. “All of the construction projects have ceased,” he said. “That means we are no longer shipping cement, we are no longer shipping block, we are no longer shipping wood and other construction products to the Caribbean.”

However, under his leadership, Richards said the port has worked hard to diversify itself. “I believe if we’re not growing, we’re dying,” he said.

To counteract that situation, the board four years ago aggressively sought out a new port director.

“I was very keen on finding someone with marketing experience,” Richards said.

They ultimately hired Port Everglades deputy marketing director Manuel Almira for the job.

“We made it very clear that we need to diversify our revenue base See PORT RACE, page 20

Wayne Richards

George Black

ITID Candidate Question 5: How Would You Improve Drainage Services?

From now until the election, the Town-Crier will ask questions each week to the four Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors Seat 2 and Seat 4 candidates. This week’s question: How would you characterize the drainage services currently offered by the Indian Trail Improvement District? What improvements should be made?

How should such projects be funded?

doing more to stop the flooding into our homes. It’s time to stop the finger pointing and start figuring out a way to improve our system and make sure it doesn’t happen again. We definitely have to put our foot down and say “enough is enough.”

ITID dictates to us on how much we have to pay in taxes to maintain our system, parks, roads and swales, so the funding should come from them. Why do we have to pay more?

SEAT 4 CANDIDATES Ken Hendrick Our drainage system in place right now, believe it or not, is a good system. The problem lies on where the water goes and when.

We pay big bucks to the people who are supposed to know how to run a water drainage system, and maybe there was a breakdown somewhere along the line. We, the people, really do not know what happened and when. We get conflicting reports on what transpired during the storm, so it leaves us not knowing who to blame. Someone along the line let the people down. I feel the water was sent to the wrong area when we first started getting the rain, which left us with no place to put the water when the worst part of the storm hit us.

The South Florida Water Management District definitely has to take some of this blame. They have to increase the outflow from onequarter inch, either by reasonable means or by legal means. We have to follow through with this; we cannot stop pushing for more outflow. I am sure whoever was at fault is really kicking themselves for not

Michelle Damone I believe Indian Trail’s current drainage system is adequate for any one rain storm that does not accumulate more than 10 inches in one day. The district needs additional discharge, more than the quarter-inch per day, and needs additional storage.

Currently, the district is working with other government agencies on partnerships that will allow us the ability to discharge in areas that need water. The governor wrote a letter requesting ITID work with the county, the SFWMD and Corbett to solve drainage issues, and the district is complying. It is my hope that we’ll see some relief when Mecca is sold to the SFWMD, even if it is only for emergency discharge. If Mecca only relieves the Corbett, then it’s still a win for The Acreage, as it was proven how dangerous their water levels are to The Acreage during peak hurricane season.

The SFWMD-led C-51 Project is also an opportunity worth exploring. The second phase of the L-8 pits could offer The Acreage the additional discharge we des-

Ken Hendrick

Michelle Damone

Carlos Enriquez

Gary Dunkley

perately need. There are many other opportunities as well, including with the City of West Palm Beach and possibly the Vavrus property.

Finally, any system after enduring a natural disaster is worth reviewing and analyzing for improvements. The district will review all possibilities and accomplish this task in a fiscally responsible manner.

ter. Our system is not the ideal system for drainage, but it does the job within its means.

The district can use additional storage, but the cost involved in obtaining it would be astronomical to the taxpayer, so the district must look at the additional outfall component of the equation. I feel that this component would give the taxpayers a better return on their money. Currently, we have a quarter-inch outfall permitted by the SFWMD. The district needs to work with a neighboring municipality like the City of West Palm Beach and discharge into the M Canal. A project like this would give the district additional outfall and would supplement the quarter-inch outfall we currently have.

Another option would be to work with the SFWMD for additional outfall into the C-51 pits project currently being evaluated. This could add additional outfall also.

Like I have said before, we need

to find long-term solutions to our outflow problem. Working with neighboring municipalities and government agencies will help us find mutual solutions to our regional water issues.

thousand dollars in 2010 for repairs, and now we are being told tremendous sums will be needed for the exact same problem supposedly fixed in 2010. Luckily, the SFWMD recently did some repairs that corrected the previous work.

In this economy, we should pay as we go, using reserve funds when needed for real emergencies.

Right now there is no set plan.

ITID is dipping into reserves and revenue received from the county utility sale. ITID should step back, find any issues in the existing system if they exist, and then do the upgrades if needed. We are seeing the roads being covered with shell rock that have no rhyme or reason. Once again, ITID is failing to look at mistakes and acknowledge them. Until ITID admits to some human failures mixed with nature’s unpredictability that caused the road collapses and flooding, nothing will get done in a fiscally responsible manner.

SEAT 2 CANDIDATES Carlos Enriquez I would characterize ITID’s drainage services as adequate for the system we have. Our current system is a system of conveyance (canals), storage (M1 and M2 impoundment) and discharge. If we look at systems built in new housing developments we see storage (lakes), conveyance (canals) and discharge. The difference is that there is more storage in the newer systems, so it can hold more wa-

Gary Dunkley Drainage and maintenance operations at the Indian Trail Improvement District need improvement. The system in place works if it is maintained correctly. The board and engineers are not working in unison, and as a result, the residents are suffering.

The recent flooding brought this point home, and now we must find the failures, fix them so the residents are protected, and our roads, canals, culverts and impoundment areas work as they were designed to do. Any improvements need to be clearly vetted and verified that they are needed. The fiasco with Corbett is a perfect example. We paid several hundred

Page 10 October 19 - October 25, 2012

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NEWS BRIEFS Iberia Bank To Host Benefit For MBSK Oct. 20 As part of its ongoing “I Give Back” campaign, Iberia Bank will host a shred party Saturday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at its branch located at 119 S. State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach.

All proceeds collected from the shred party will be donated to My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust (www.mbskct.org), a local charitable trust set up to protect and assist the less fortunate until they are able to help themselves.

Local residents are invited to bring old bank statements, checks, mortgage contracts, auto leases, etc. to have them shredded for security purposes. Routine purging of confidential documents decreases the risk of identity theft. A $3 donation per box or bag of shred, or five non-perishable food/canned items, is requested.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue personnel will be on hand to discuss crime prevention and fire safety. Live broadcast and music will be provided by local

Internet radio station the WEI Network. For more information, call Iberia Bank at (561) 204-2400.

Residents Academy Is Underway From speaking with council members to getting an up-close look at water management, adult Wellington residents can learn how their village government works by attending Wellington’s Residents Academy.

This interactive five-session program take place at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) and begins during Florida City Government Week, sponsored by the Florida League of Cities.

The first session, “Get to Know the Departments,” took place Wednesday, Oct. 17. At this session, residents broke into small groups for engaging discussions with various departments ranging from strategic planning to the clerk’s office.

The second session, “Why We Serve Our Community,” will take place Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Council members will

share their experiences as municipal leaders and explain why they decided to become public servants.

Residents will be able to ask questions and will have the option of attending a council meeting following this session at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Wellington Municipal Complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.).

The third session, “Who Keeps Us Safe,” will take place Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants will be treated to live demonstrations by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County FireRescue.

The fourth session, “Recreation and Activities in Our Great Hometown,” is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and includes tours of Wellington’s parks facilities with an emphasis on the Wellington Amphitheater.

The fifth session, “Public Works,” will take place Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and features demonstrations, an overview of public works operations, utilities, engineering and water management.

Whether you’re considering entering the government arena or you’re simply interested in learn-

ing how decisions are made, Wellington’s Residents Academy will give you a better understanding of the inner workings of local government.

Sign up for as many sessions as you like by contacting Project Manager Kristina Ciuperger at (561) 753-2585 or kristinac@ wellingtonfl.gov. Preregistration is required, and space is limited.

Acreage Community Park Jam Oct. 20 The Acreage Landowners’ Association and the Indian Trail Improvement District will host the free monthly Acreage Community Park Jam on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 4 to 10 p.m. at Acreage Community Park (6701 140th Ave. North).

The Acreage Community Park Jam features musicians, comedians and any other artists of all ages, styles and skill levels. The Holy Cow food truck will be onsite, so bring your appetite. For classic car lovers, there will be a Classic Cruisers Car Show. Attendees are invited to bring and display their classic vehicles or motorcycles.

For anyone feeling lucky, there will be a 50/50 raffle. Join your friends and neighbors while enjoying an evening of diverse entertainment. Event organizers recommend bringing a chair or something to sit on, as well as mosquito repellent. No glass containers are allowed.

This event is open to all ages.

Acreage Community Park also has a playground and skateboard park adjacent to the jam area. Adult supervision is required for playground use. A consent waiver is required for minors wishing to use the skate park and available by visiting www.indiantrail.com and clicking “Our Parks.”

For more information, or for a signup application, visit www. acreagelandowners.org. Go to “Events,” and then select the “Community Jam” link. To sign up as entertainment or make general inquires, contact Bob Renna at (561) 602-0676 or bobrenna@ bellsouth.net.

Sign in and walk up entertainment the day of the jam is also welcome. The stage includes some instruments and public address system and will be set up for all to use. Volunteers to set up and break down are needed.

Wellington To Observe Veterans Day Nov. 11 Wellington and the American Legion Chris Reyka Memorial Wellington Post 390 will be honoring all current and former members of the armed forces at Wellington’s annual Veterans Day ceremony to be held on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Veterans Day activities will begin with a parade at 8:15 a.m. beginning at the Wellington Municipal Complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) followed by a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, located on the corner of Forest Hill and South Shore boulevards.

If you are an active or retired veteran attending the ceremony, you will have an opportunity to register the morning of the event at the Wellington tent and your name will be recognized during the ceremony.

For more information about Veterans Day activities in Wellington, contact the American Legion Chris Reyka Memorial Wellington Post 390 at wellington legion390@gmail.com.

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NEWS

PBSO HOSTS THE NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME AT TARGET IN ROYAL PALM BEACH The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office held its annual Night Out Against Crime on Friday, Oct. 12 in the parking lot of the Super Target in Royal Palm Beach. PBSO personnel showed off all their crime-fighting equipment. There were also Segway rides, bounce houses, face painting and more.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PBSO Deputy Sherry Johnson with K-9 officer Justice and Codey Loper.

Damaris Jimenez signs the pink PBSO car.

Kerry Friedman (with Song), Alan Friedman (with Gus), Liz Bloeser and Phyllis Gaugher (with Dodgie) promote free greyhound adoptions in October.

Emily Kaplan takes a ride on a Segway with help from Anthony Valdesuso.

Cobblestone Chiropractic & Wellness Practice Administrator Maria Mammales and massage therapist Steve Hinton.

Nyesha Pacheko gets her portrait done by Capt. Dick Kulpa.

FRIGHT NIGHTS RETURNS TO SOUTH FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS THROUGH OCT. 27 Fright Nights opened Thursday, Oct. 11 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. This year’s haunts include Kill Shot, Carnival of Creeps, Santa’s Workshop, the Creature and the Manor. Fright Nights continues this weekend and concludes Oct. 25-27. For more info., visit PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER www.myfrightnights.com.

Fright Nights Creative Director Craig McInnis with Pickles the Clown (B.M. Faddeny).

Samantha, Douglas and Shannon Friedman with Frederick (Rupert Volker).

Buddy Moore, Kathy Prestano, Ruthann Krida and Rob Klitsch.

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NEWS

Generations Salon Supports Family Members Serving Overseas

By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report Having your children head off to serve their country can be emotionally challenging for parents.

However, for Generations: A Hair Salon owners Anthony Gutilla and Monica Hoffman, seeing the determination in each of their sons’ eyes overpowered any personal feelings they have.

Gutilla and Hoffman have been business partners for three and a half years. They have watched one another’s sons grow from adolescent boys to men heading off to serve their country.

Gutilla’s son Michael Meister

Airman First Class Francisco De Sousa on the base.

Gutilla worked as a stylist at the salon before joining the U.S. Air Force. “We were more of acquaintances than friends because our parents were co-owners,” recalled Hoffman’s son Francisco De Sousa.

Now the relationship has changed due to a chance meeting at the local Air Force recruitment office. “We ran into each other there, and that’s how we found out we were both going into the Air Force,” De Sousa said.

That was a year ago, and now Francisco is serving at Dover Air Force base in Delaware, while Michael recently completed training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Gutilla remembers when his son first told him he wanted to enlist.

“He came to me one day and said, ‘Dad, I want to serve,’” he said.

In the beginning, it was a little hard for Gutilla. “I always thought I would be working with him because I opened this salon for my children,” he said. “That’s why it’s named Generations. We come from a family of either hairdressers or servicemen. In our family history, people either did one or the other.”

Gutilla knew that either path made sense for his son. “He was in the salon business with me for a couple of years and felt that he wasn’t being challenged enough,” he said. “He knew family members who had served and heard the sto-

ries, and realized that was what he really wanted to do.”

One of the influences for Michael was Gutilla’s cousin James Symonds, who was the captain of the USS Ronald Reagan. “He is a retired admiral and is actually a part of American history,” Gutilla said.

“That picture of him presenting Nancy Reagan the flag during [President Ronald Reagan’s] funeral is protocol for the captain of the ship.”

Gutilla has tried to be as supportive as possible. “As a parent, I needed to put myself on the back burner and support his decision,” he said. “Just let him fly and do his thing, which is not an easy thing for a parent.”

Michael inspired his older brother Anthony to join the Air Force as well. “He sees the pride that Michael feels and the praise he is getting, and wants the same feeling,” Gutilla said.

The emotion and pride were strong on the day of Michael’s recent basic training graduation.

“He went in as a boy and to see him on graduation day as a man was unbelievable,” Gutilla said.

“His behavior was so respectful to his commander and to see him after eight and a half weeks was very moving, and any parent would be overwhelmed by that.”

Hoffman recalls when she found out both her son and Gutilla’s son were going into the Air Force.

“Anthony and I were just talking

one day at the salon, and he said, ‘My son is with a recruiter because he’s going into the Air Force,’ and I said, ‘Oh my god, my son is doing the same thing,” she said.

Before that, they had no idea that both their children were going to follow the same path. “It was just a coincidence and a big surprise for both of us,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman knew her son would eventually end up serving his country. “In high school, he was in the ROTC, and he always said he wanted to go into the Air Force,” she said.

After high school, Francisco attended Palm Beach State College and studied criminal justice.

“When he completed his associate’s degree, he said, ‘Mom, I’m ready, I’m going into the Air Force,’” Hoffman said.

Hoffman believes that her son, now 24, is ready for the experience.

“He has matured a lot since being in there,” she said. “And it makes me very proud knowing what he is doing for our country.”

If Francisco ever gets deployed, Hoffman will be praying for the best. “It’s something we have thought about, and if he has to go, he has to go, and I just hope that he will be fine,” she said. “But I can’t let that upset me because this is something that he wants to do. As a parent, we have to encourage them and let them do it.”

Hoffman and her son originally See GENERATIONS, page 20

Michael Meister Gutilla (center) with his father, Generations co-owner Anthony Gutilla, and mother Robin Dadamo.

Michael Meister Gutilla with his fiancée Becca Vandergrift and mother Robin Dadamo.

ANNUAL ROYAL PALM AUTO MALL GOLF CLASSIC HELD AT WANDERERS CLUB The 2012 R oyal Palm Auto Mall Golf Classic was held Friday, Oct. 12 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington. The event benefited the Palms West Community Foundation and included an awards reception and dinner. For more info., visit www.cpbchamber.com.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Golfers Thomas Pollard, John Mumford, Brent Caldwell and Mann y Tavares of Royal Palm Nissan.

Andrew Burr and Herb D’Argenio get ready to go out on the course.

Golfers Mike Anderson, Bert Moorings, Gerard George and George Abouzeid of Anderson Moore.

Page 16 October 19 - October 25, 2012

SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT GETS FREE POPCORN FOR BINKS STUDENT

Binks Forest Elementary School fifth-grade student Michael Baraschick received an astonishing response from a business letter he wrote as a class assignment. The fifth-graders in Susie Barnes’ class wrote and mailed business letters to companies that make their favorite food products. About a week after doing the assignment, Baraschick was pleasantly surprised when a case of Pirate’s Booty popcorn was shipped to his classroom in reply to his business letter.

Shown above is Baraschick with his “booty.”

NEW HORIZONS AIMS TO BE BULLY-FREE ZONE

New Horizons Elementary School strives to be a bully-free zone.

Students view a daily video message from Buddy the bully-free dog focusing on caring, integrity and respect. They practice treating each other with respect and learn how to assertively stand up for themselves and others. Buddy and his trainer Keith Courtney of Bud Wins LLC presented a live show with the students focusing on being bully-free. Pictured here are Buddy with second-grade teacher Debbie Brown, her class and parent volunteer Shelley Singer.

Send school news items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. Fax: (561) 793-6090.

E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com.

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SCHOOL NEWS

WES Wins Summer Reading Pledge Contest Throughout the summer, Florida First Lady Ann Scott visited Florida state parks and challenged students to read as many books as possible during the summer break. Now that summer is over, the results of the First Lady’s 2012 Summer Literacy Adventure have been tallied and show that students at Wellington Elementary School pledged to read 6,248 books — more than any other school in the state.

Statewide, nearly 29,000 students pledged to read a total of 102,733 books.

“I am delighted to congratulate the students of Wellington Elementary for their incredible participation in this year’s Summer Literacy Adventure,” Scott said. “Literacy and reading are the foundation for all learning and these students are well on their way to success.”

Scott made the announcement Wednesday, Oct. 10, during a visit to the school to congratulate the students on their victory. In honor of their accomplishment, Wellington Elementary School stu-

dents and staff will get a free oneday pass good at any state park in Florida from the Department of Environmental Protection.

“I want to thank Mrs. Scott for her commitment to reading and helping students boost their literacy skills,” Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart said. “The Summer Reading Adventure is an exciting way for students to discover nature and have fun reading at the same time. I also want to thank our partners who made this year’s adventure a great success.”

The 2012 Summer Literacy Adventure is a partnership between First Lady Ann Scott; the Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! Office; the Department of Environmental Protection; Scholastic; and MetaMetrics. It is geared toward helping children stay engaged in reading and literacy during the summer break.

Children participating in the Summer Literacy Adventure were also encouraged to use a free online tool to search for books based on their reading ability and interests. A unique resource from Meta-

Florida First Lady Ann Scott talks to students at Wellington Elementary School on Oct. 10.

Metrics called “Find a Book, Florida” uses Lexile measures to guide readers to the most appropriate level books for them.

To learn about literacy resources available through the Department of Education, visit www.just

readflorida.com. Local public libraries are also an excellent literacy resource throughout the school year and Florida State Parks enhance learning experiences through exploration and discovery all year long.

Sem Ridge ASL Honor Society Inducts 13 Seminole Ridge High School students and staff celebrated a historic event Sept. 27, when the 2012 American Sign Language Honor Society induction ceremony took place after school.

This first ASLHS induction at Seminole Ridge honored 13 officers and members: Victoria Adams, Caitlyn Dombrowski, Brooke Grassgreen, Keirra Lamm, Powers Perrotta, Hope Powell, Garfield Robinson, Emily Savino and Nicholas Sylvester, as well as Perry Monteiro (president), Jessica Dodd (vice president), Jessica Johnson (secretary) and Kyle Maglietta (treasurer).

Monteiro has high hopes for the future of the society. He wants more students to pursue American Sign Language. “There’s a need for sign language interpreters in

the world,” he said, adding that he hopes to become one after graduating this year.

Monteiro believes that “if students pursue ASL now, they’ll develop an interest in and move on with sign language, going beyond the average two years’ study in high school.”

“The ASL Honor Society will continue to meet throughout the school year and looks forward to inducting more members in the future,” said Rose Adams, American Sign Language teacher and society sponsor.

American Sign Language has been offered at Seminole Ridge, taught by Adams, since the school’s opening in 2005.

— By Kyle Reilly • Band Braves Lightning to Make Its Own Thunder — The

Seminole Ridge competitive marching band, the “Winged Regiment,” had a thrilling weekend, overcoming the adversity of three lightning delays to pull off a firstplace win at the Falcon Sound Invitational held at Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines.

Lightning caused an hour-and45-minute delay for all bands in Class 2A (classification based on the total number of woodwinds in the band).

With two-thirds of the musicians in the Winged Regiment new to competition, SRHS students dealt with keeping their composure and focus because of the delay.

The results: the Winged Regiment earned the gold in both “General Effect” (music and coordination) and “Visual” (marching). The

color guard took the silver in class 2A, and percussion took the bronze.

“We also received first place overall in both Class 1A and Class 2A and were given the option to perform at the end of the competition after the 5A bands,” Band Director Tim Skinner said. “We received a score of 68.13, edging out a fine performance of Class 1A Hialeah [High School], which scored 67.40.”

• ‘Dark Art’ Hawks on Exhibit — Three Seminole Ridge students have had their work accepted for “Dark Art,” a professional, juried exhibition to be held at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach Thursday, Oct. 18 from 7 to 10 p.m.

The school congratulates Nhi Huynh, Cydney Rallo and Peter Sumell.

Elbridge Gale Teacher Gets Funding For Idea Elbridge Gale Elementary School fourth-grade writing teacher Toni Koy recently was notified that her grant proposal titled “Razzle, Dazzle, Sparkle, Pizzazz,” was chosen by Creative Communication to be funded

due to its creativity and innovation. The foundation of the grant is to motivate student writers through increasing their self-esteem and confidence. Students will be given the opportunity to receive gems and embellishments

through meeting their individual writing goals in the areas of planning, drafting, editing and publishing. Students will use these earned gems to creatively embellish their individual writing pieces. Koy earned the right to apply

for one of these prestigious grants last year, when she had 65 of her students’ individual poems published in the book A Celebration of Young Poets Poetry Anthology, sponsored by Creative Communication.

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

SHTULMAN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC FALL FESTIVAL Shtulman Family Chiropractic in western Lake Worth held its Fall Family Festival on Saturday, Oct. 6. The event included pumpkin decorating, fall-themed games and prizes, face painting, mini-massages, fall treats, raffles and more. Everything was free and open for the community to enjoy. For more information about Shtulman Family Chiropractic, call (561) 275-2525 or visit www.welladjusted family.com.

Layers by Felicia Yan.

Samantha Baena-Roth, Alexa Ramsland, Peyton Thiel and Zachary Fish decorate pumpkins.

Jessie, Jynsen and Richard Grinnan enjoy the event.

Felicia Yan’s Work Bronson Aiming To Win Miss Pre-Teen Pageant Featured In D.C. Art Exhibition Dwyer High School student Daniel Gallo and recent Wellington High School graduate Felicia Yan will have their works included in “ART.WRITE.NOW.DC,” a special exhibition of national awardwinning work from the 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Both students won national medals in the 2012 Scholastic Awards, Gallo for his work, titled Cityscape, and Yan for her work, titled Layers.

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and the Department of Education are hosting the yearlong exhibition

and are organizing a special day of celebratory events, including a morning workshop and a ribboncutting ceremony.

Gallo, his mother and his teacher Gail Marshall, and Yan and her teacher Barbara Brubaker, attended the event Friday, Oct. 12 in Washington, D.C. Yan is currently attending the University of Pennsylvania. She was co-valedictorian with her twin sister, Crystal. The Advanced Placement Studio Art 2D class for which she took her award-winning photo was her first studio art class.

Rispoli Graduates Air Force Training Air Force Airman 1st Class Michelle Rispoli recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Rispoli completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare

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

Rispoli is the daughter of Flora Rispoli of Sebastian and a 2007 graduate of Palm Beach Central High School.

Melanarose Bronson of Royal Palm Beach was recently selected to participate in the 2012 Miss PreTeen West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale pageant competition that will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Bronson learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition when the pageant announced its selections after interviewing in the West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale area. Bronson submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by this year’s West Palm Beach/ Fort Lauderdale pageant coordinator.

Bronson will be vying for her share of thousands of dollars in

Scott Completes Air Force Training Air Force Airman Ashley Scott recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

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

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

prizes and specialty gifts that will be distributed to contestants. She will compete in the Miss Pre-Teen division, one of four divisions that will feature young ladies from 7 to 19 competing in modeling routines, including casual wear and formal wear. Most important, Bronson will display her personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year’s West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale judging panel. Personality is the No. 1 aspect that each contestant is judged by during all phases of competition.

If Bronson were to win the title of Miss Pre-Teen West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale, she would represent the region at the nation-

al competition that will take place in Orlando. More than $30,000 in prizes and awards will be presented at the national competition, while each winner enjoys this expense-paid trip of five nights and six days in Orlando.

Community businesses, organizations and private individuals will assist Bronson in participating in this year’s competition by becoming an official sponsor to her.

Through sponsorship, each contestant receives all the necessary training, rehearsals and financial support which will allow Bronson to become a very confident and well-prepared contestant in this year’s pageant.

Any business, organization, or

College of the Air Force.

Scott is the daughter of Keisha Henry of The Acreage. She is a 2011 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School.

dents, McGowan was one of only 12 students chosen by VRS Interpreting Institute to attend its school-to-work immersion program in Salt Lake City, Utah, for 13 weeks of intensive study and hands-on interpreting experience in the local Salt Lake City community.

McGowan’s education began with four years at WHS in its ASL program, taught by Holly Unser, Sarah Docekal and Jacquelyn Vassallo. McGowan was taught by Unser, whose disciplined study of ASL not only includes a constant practice of the mechanics of ASL but also an

Bailey McGowan Graduates USF Bailey McGowan, a 2008 graduate of Wellington High School, graduated in May from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a degree in sign language interpreting.

In a nationwide search for graduating American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting stu-

Melanarose Bronson private individual who may be interested in becoming a sponsor to Bronson may call the Miss PreTeen West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale pageant coordinator at (877) 403-6678.

Bailey McGowan introduction to deaf culture and a deep understanding of the history of ASL.

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Chief Tiger Tail Society Inducts New Officers Villanueva Vying For Miss Pre-Teen Title

The Chief Tiger Tail Society Children of the American Revolution inducted new officers Sunday, Oct. 7.

President Talia Fradkin received a society pin for her service from incoming President Samantha Mouring. Chief Tiger Tail members are actively involved in volunteering and service projects throughout the community. The members

have logged numerous hours supporting both local and national charities and causes.

The group discussed this year’s projects, including supporting the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Lauderdale and raising money for the wheelchair games for disabled veterans. The group also plans to participate in the Wreaths Across America project.

Ariana Mouring, Chloe Skorupa, Talia Fradkin, Erin Berish, Chase Skorupa, Samantha Mouring and Kaitlyn Mouring.

Pollard Graduates Air Force Training

Samantha Mouring presents a gift to Talia Fradkin for her service with the Chief Tiger Tail Society.

Air Force Airman Chad Dave Pollard recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Pollard completed an intensive, eight-week program that included Air Force core values, physical fitness, military discipline, and basic warfare principles and skills.

This is Pollard’s second graduation this year. He also graduated from Seminole Ridge High School in the Class of 2012. Pollard is the son of Dave and Savi Pollard, and the brother of Shelby, of The Acreage.

Chad Pollard

Ariana Villanueva of Wellington was recently selected to participate in the 2012 Miss PreTeen West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale pageant competition that will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Villanueva learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition when the pageant announced its selections after interviewing in the West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale area. Villanueva submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by this year’s West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale pageant coordinator.

Villanueva will be vying for her share of thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts that will be distributed to contestants.

She will compete in the Miss PreTeen division, one of four divisions that will feature young ladies from 7 to 19 competing in modeling routines, including casual wear and formal wear. Most important, Villanueva will display her personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year ’s West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale judging panel. Personality is the No. 1 aspect that each contestant is judged by during all phases of competition.

If Villanueva were to win the title of Miss Pre-Teen West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale, she would represent the region at the national competition that will

Ariana Villanueva take place in Orlando. More than $30,000 in prizes and awards will be presented at the national competition, while each winner enjoys this expense-paid trip of five nights and six days in Orlando.

Community businesses, organizations and private individuals will assist Villanueva in participating in this year’s competition by becoming an official sponsor to her. Through sponsorship, each contestant receives all the necessary training, rehearsals and financial support which will allow Villanueva to become a very confident and well-prepared contestant in this year’s pageant.

Any business, organization or private individual who may be interested in becoming a sponsor to Villanueva may call the Miss Pre-Teen West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale pageant coordinator at (877) 403-6678.

Page 20 October 19 - October 25, 2012

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NEWS State Senate

Abruzzo Vs. Peterson

continued from page 1 to put through comprehensive immigration reform,” she said.

“We’re getting beat by countries like Canada and New Zealand. We have to do better.”

She noted, however, that some of Florida’s industry relies on immigrant workers. “We can construct a very intricate guest worker program that is specific to our economic roots,” Peterson said.

“We can take the initiative in writing legislation and guest worker programs that make our state more advantageous for legal workers to come here. Rather than put a BandAid on the issue, I’m going to take the initiative, write legislation and make Florida the most advantageous place to come if you want to come here, pay taxes and service our industries.”

Abruzzo said he has firsthand experience in addressing the immigration problem through his time in the Coast Guard.

“This is a national issue,” he

said. “But yet, in Florida, we are greatly affected. I cannot support an Arizona-type bill as long as people can be racially profiled.

That’s not what Florida is about.

It’s not what America is about.”

He said that a similar bill came before the legislature and did not include training for law enforcement. “They wanted to have our deputies go out and be immigration officials,” Abruzzo said. “But yet, they didn’t budget for training. That is inappropriate, and I would not support a measure like that in the state.”

The two differed in their opinions on the use of public money for school voucher programs.

“I’m against taking money out of our public education system,” Abruzzo said. “I think it’s wrong.”

He said that Florida has a poor teacher retention rate, which leads to the problems in schools that would drive students to other programs. “They aren’t just leaving to go to other schools,” he said.

“They’re going into another profession. We won’t be able to stabilize our education system until we get great and qualified teachers to stay right here in Florida.”

Abruzzo noted that he did support a measure for corporations to give scholarships to low-income students. “It was for corporations who gave scholarships to students who were more than 200 percent below the poverty line to get them out of a failing school,” he said, stressing that the program used private funds.

Peterson, on the other hand, said she thought parents should have more choice in the education their children receive.

“I’m looking for bold reforms when it comes to education,” she said. “I want to empower the local school districts to really reform our administration. The reason charter schools are so successful is the administration. If the success of the charter schools is because the administration is more focused toward business, we need to look at that model and see if we can’t bring that to our public school administration.”

Peterson said that the state should work to cultivate great principals to lead schools. “Teachers will tell you that a school is only as good as its principal,” she said.

In closing, Abruzzo said that he

hopes voters will look at his experience. “My time in the legislature has truly been about getting things done,” he said. “There’s a saying here in Wellington, ‘You’re either a show horse or a work horse.’ I went to Tallahassee to be a work horse. I think we delivered in a big way, passing 20 bills in four years. Many have been about public safety, helping our economy and helping education. I am proud to be the Democratic nominee, and I hope that I have your support this election season.”

Peterson said she is invested in the community and will work for residents.

“This election isn’t about party,” she said. “It’s about our future. Every day I speak to people… and they are concerned about the state of our state. I feel that now, more than ever, we have to have a strong state. The support I need on Election Day is yours.”

Also speaking at Wednesday’s chamber forum were State House District 86 candidates Mark Pafford and Tami Donnally, as well as Palm Beach County state attorney hopefuls Dave Aronberg, Dina Keever and Robert Gershman.

(Above) Melanie Peterson with Victor Connor and Tami Donnally.

(Left) Joseph Abruzzo with Laura Jaffe. PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

ALA Forum

Indian Trail Candidates

continued from page 1 Insurance, then became chief inspector for kennel clubs at Flagler, Biscayne and Hollywood. “Combined it was over 1,500 people that I was responsible for,” he said.

He later started his own business. “Being from Jamaica, we like working for ourselves,” he said. “I opened up a bail bonds agency.

One thing led me to another and my first experience coming to Loxahatchee was to pick up someone, to arrest them. I was here for three days. It was not like Miami. People would walk by and say, ‘hello,’” Enriquez is finishing up his first four-year term as an ITID supervisor. He has lived in The Acreage since 2002. “I’m originally from Miami, and I’ve been in aviation all my life,” he said, working as a pilot, inspector or mechanic for firms including Pan Am, U.S. Customs, Palm Beach County, the Bro-

Lox Groves

District, Town Meet

continued from page 1 gether, the town and the district can solve the problem.

“We have the brainpower and the ability to make these things happen,” he said. “There may be some issues to be overcome, but I believe if we’re all together, same goals, same page, we have the collective ability to do it.”

LGWCD Administrator Clete Saunier agreed, explaining that the agenda items under discussion had been developed by the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee, made up of himself, Kutney, Supervisor John Ryan and Vice Mayor Jim Rockett.

“Mr. Ryan actually prepared this agenda, at least in its initial form, as a suggestion for us to consider,” Saunier said. “I think I would

Port Race

Richards Vs. Black

continued from page 9 and increase our throughput,” Richards said. “That has been his focus, and what a blessing, because we have just experienced our fourth year of increased profit margins. Our margins are now at 51 percent.”

For three of the past four years, the port has cut expenses while still diversifying its revenue base.

“The port has never been this financially strong, and it’s in a down economy,” Richards said, adding that even better days are on the horizon. “Tropical Shipping and other shippers of the port have reported significantly larger cargo movements recently.”

He is also proud that the port is now home to a popular cruise ship.

“We are now in a position where we have diversified our revenue base with the Bahamas Celebra-

World Of Beer Wellington Anniversary Event Oct. 20 World of Beer Wellington will host its one-year anniversary and WOBtoberfest celebration Saturday, Oct. 20 from noon to 2 a.m.

WOBtoberfest Wellington will feature Radeberger, Schofferhofer Heferweizen, Schofferhofer Grapefruit and Berliner Kindl drafts. At 1 p.m. there will be a special release of Cigar City kegs and bottles. There will be a beer stein– holding contest and a Radeberger snowboard. Plus, don’t miss out on the anniversary cupcakes.

“WOBtoberfest at World of Beer Wellington is a celebration of German Beer,” Director of Marketing Lisa Weatherston said.

“With live entertainment and raf-

Halloween

Fall Festival Saturday

continued from page 1 called paintless paintball, for $5 a game. “It’s basically a big course of inflatables,” Garvey said. “Kids are given laser guns and can run around and try to catch each other.”

For adults and kids alike, there will be booths, vendors and food.

“We’re going to have great fair food this year,” Garvey said. “We have a new food vendor.”

And throughout the night, some of Wellington’s finest talent will take the stage.

“There will be plenty of entertainment on the stage,” Garvey said. “We have a couple of dance studios who will be performing, and Ultima Fitness will be doing tae kwon do and Zumba demonstrations.”

The pinnacle of the event, though, is the costume contest.

Popular with toddlers to teens and even adults, the contest brings out the spooky, scary, adorable and creative. Costumes will be judged and winners selected in each age category for the most original, the scariest and best look-alike costumes.

Garvey encouraged residents to come out and enjoy the event. “It’s

ward County Sheriff’s Office and currently for NextEra Energy.

“I love The Acreage,” he said.

“I remember my uncle down in South Bay. They had a farm there, and they used to come down and pick me up. They had horses and goats and pigs, you name it. I should have been born in the 1920s back in Cuba and lived on a farm. That’s what attracted me and my family to The Acreage.”

ALA governmental liaison Mike Erickson served as moderator, asking questions randomly selected from a list of 44 questions submitted via e-mail or prepared

by ALA members. One candidate would answer the question and the opponents subsequently offered their view.

Enriquez got the first question on whether he favored additional commercial development. “I support some additional development,” he said. “I think that commercial development should be in specific areas, for example, Seminole Pratt Whitney and Orange. I think it’s a good place, but we have to think logically as far as how that

is going to impact our community.”

Dunkley said he supports development on Northlake Blvd. as long as it remains within the designated boundaries. “If they build the shopping center at Northlake it will have a bus route from Northlake to the hospital that would connect us to the rest of Palm Beach,” he said, explaining that Acreage residents are now paying taxes for PalmTran but currently receive no benefits from it.

Hendrick was asked whether he would support the extension of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road to the Beeline Highway. “I support it,” he said. “If anybody has gone out to Okeechobee or anyplace up in that area, what a mess. You have to go down Northlake to the Beeline.”

Damone agreed. “I 100 percent support Seminole Pratt Whitney being connected to Beeline,” she said, explaining that it is important to reduce truck traffic on Northlake Blvd. and provide an additional emergency evacuation route.

Enriquez was asked what he would do to include greenway corridors to help connect parks.

He said he had some ideas, such as some roads that had dirt areas running alongside them that could be converted to linear parks and equestrian trails.

“That works twofold because you don’t have to maintain it as a road, you just maintain it as a park, and you add enhancements to the community,” he said, adding that he also favored enhancing the 130th Street Canal going all the way north.

Dunkley said he would leave corridors and greenways up to the opinion of residents. “I think we’re a community and that all of us have individual thoughts,” he said. “It should be up to the people, not the board.”

Other candidates speaking at the forum were incumbent Pat Rooney and his challenger David Lutrin from State House District 85, State Senate District 25 candidate Melanie Peterson and State House District 86 candidate Tami Donnally.

agree with Mr. Cirullo that policy direction is needed.”

Ryan said issues with individual deeds of easement make transfer of the roads more difficult and that a title action to give the district or town full claim to the easements might be necessary. He agreed that it would be appropriate to turn over management of district roads to the town as they are fitted with OGEM and speed humps.

Cirullo said that a deed held by Southern States Land & Timber is one of numerous documents that dictate the makeup of the district’s rights-of-way.

“That may address some of the roads, but not all of them,” he said. “You also have special acts that have been adopted recently, and the dedication statutes, which the town could take advantage of while the district could not.”

Cirullo warned that it would be

a long process to perfect the title to the road system.

Saunier said the issue is further complicated by uncertainty over where the canal and road easements should be.

“The reason it’s an issue is because the canals, as we all know, were done back in the 1930s, where a guy held his thumb up and said, ‘Yeah that’s about right,’ so the roads in some cases are entirely in the right-of-way [and] sometimes they’re off the right-of-way.”

Supervisor Don Widing asked whether the issues might be simplified if the district were to become dependent to the town, and Underwood said he thought the district could function independently as long as respective responsibilities were clearly defined.

“In the cities I’ve been in, water control districts are commonly independent agencies,” Underwood said. “They don’t seem to have an issue dealing with the lo-

cal governments and the right of access to the roads… In fact, they usually work very well together.

The issue is trying to come together and determine what we want to do.”

Supervisor Frank Schiola said that if the group could come to consensus on the roads, he would feel the meeting had accomplished something.

Councilman Tom Goltzené said he favored the town assuming responsibility for the paved roads.

“If the plan is to turn the roads over, the sooner the better,” he said.

Mayor Dave Browning asked for a show of hands to begin the process of turning over the OGEM-paved roads to the town, and it was unanimous.

Both bodies also directed their respective staffs to research the feasibility of turning the bond issue for the OGEM projects over to the town as well.

continued from page 3 Beach County would be to invest more in research such as at Scripps. “Investing in that type of market structure, where there is a tremendous labor force underneath, helps create a lot more jobs that have salaries good enough to feed a family and put the roof over their head,” he said.

Education is another major issue. “Palm Beach County has had a pretty good educational system in place, but that is going to be an issue with the state cutting funds,” he said.

Another concern he has is the growing number of seniors on waiting lists to get into assistedliving facilities. “For the first time in Florida’s history, there will be more seniors on wait lists than the total number of people getting service from the Department of Elder Affairs,” Pafford said.

He charged that the legislature is lying about the statistics because it keeps changing the requirements for people who can become eligible for the programs and reducing the availability of the programs themselves.

If more cuts need to be made at the state level, he said, reforms would need to be made, such as reinstating the intangibles tax or collecting an Internet sales tax.

“You shouldn’t be afraid of making decisions that are going to make people angry,” he said.

“You’re elected to make difficult decisions.”

Other than their philosophical differences, Pafford differentiates

tion,” he said. “We are at full capacity eight of the 12 months of the year. We are bringing 2,400 people to the port every second day. These are two-day cruises — and 80 percent of the cruise traffic is from out of state.”

Recently, the port landed a metal exporter that will be shipping to the Far East. “That’s significant revenue,” he said. “We have a new fuel blending operation.”

The port also has a new Brazilian company set to start soon.

America’s Natural Caffeine will manufacture natural caffeine from guarana seed. “That was in cooperation with Gov. Rick Scott and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County,” Richards said. “They are taking 30,000 square feet of warehouse. They’re going to hire 75 people with an average salary of $60,000.”

The Black Diamond casino ship is also a new port addition. “They are hiring people as we speak,” he said. “They envision 125 people working for them. They are look-

ing for people with gaming and food and beverage experience…

The port is doing extremely, extremely well.”

That is not the way challenger Black sees it.

“I’m interested in our port, and there are a lot of things over there that I want to do,” he said. “I wasn’t really sure until I read the 10-year master plan what they had and what they didn’t have. There are some changes I would suggest if I get elected.”

Among them are improvements necessary to broaden the port’s base. “One of the things I wanted to do was deepen the channel, but it looks like they are already working on that at this point,” Black said. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is doing a study on trying to deepen the channel.”

The master plan also has an interchange at State Road 710 and Interstate 95. “It seems like they’ve been blocked on that so far,” he said. “I would like to work on getting that done.”

Black also seeks to promote getting some type of major office building on the port property.

“I would like a massive office building with an exposition center, and to keep the taxpayers from having to pay for it,” he said. “I think that would stimulate business around the port.”

While accomplishing all of those things, he would want to make sure that nothing is done to contaminate the water or harm the living coral reef nearby.

Black is also concerned about commissioners’ attendance at meetings. “When I first started going to meetings, two of the five commissioners left early and they approved the 10-year master plan with just three commissioners there,” he said. “They re-approved it at the next meeting with five of them there.”

He pointed out that one of the master plan maps is flawed, describing the slips as “Slip Two, Slip Two and Slip Three.”

“I would think they should be a

little sharper than that, but everybody makes mistakes, I guess,” Black said.

Black also has questions about some high-voltage lines that still run through the property, even though the nearby FPL power plant has been demolished. He believes they should be buried or removed. He was also critical of mistakes he said were made when the port built new switching tracks — the train engine shelter was too short, he said.

“Personally, I don’t think they should be making that many mistakes like that, but it is what it is,” Black said. “That’s some of the reasons why I’m running for commissioner, because I think they could do a little better job. I’m not really complaining. I like Wayne, but maybe it’s time. You’re in there 12 years; you don’t pay as much attention as when you first got in.”

Black, 57, has lived in Palm Beach Shores since 2003. He works in the construction industry and has not held public office before.

Pafford

Running In District 86

fles benefiting Fight for Sylvia’s Angels all day and night, you don’t want to miss it!”

Thirsty guests need not worry: They can purchase one-liter Radeberger mugs for $15. Radeberger refills will be sold for $10. Loyalty club members should wear their loyalty shirts and get $3 select pints. Additionally, there will be $5 select German pints to be filled up in the 100 club loyalty mugs.

Attendees will enjoy live music from 6 to 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. There is no cost for admission. World of Beer Wellington is located at 2465 State Road 7, Suite 100, Wellington. For more info., call (561) 383-6115. a safe, family-friendly event,” she said. “There’s a lot to offer everyone in every age group.”

Dog lovers and their canine companions can enjoy some holiday spirit Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at the 10th annual Howl at the Moon at the Wellington Dog Park.

Sponsored by Courtyard Animal Hospital, the event will feature dog-friendly activities.

“They do a great job organizing it,” Garvey said. “All proceeds go to the National Canine Cancer Foundation. You can come get pictures with your pet, get your dog microchipped or have your dog dip its paw in paint and sign our concrete block.”

Additionally, there will be an adoption event, vendors and, of course, a costume contest. “It’s a really great event,” Garvey said.

Then on Sunday, Oct. 28, Wellington will host the fourth annual Trunk or Treat, a safe and familyfriendly alternative to trick-ortreating.

Volunteers will gather at Wellington High School from 3 to 5 p.m. to hand out candy to children from the trunks of their Halloweenthemed cars.

There will also be live music, refreshments and more. Volunteers are still needed for the event. To volunteer, call Kim Henghold at (561) 791-4137. himself from his opponent by pointing out his outspokenness when it comes to women being able to choose the type of healthcare they need.

“I’m someone who has always supported gay marriage,” he said.

“I’m someone who believes that the large corporations in the state have gotten probably 90 percent of the attention, and the vast majority of working people in Florida have been left to deal with life on their own.”

Pafford said he takes the job very seriously. “We’re only going to be here eight years if we’re lucky, and I don’t want to look back in 20 years and think I should have been more outspoken,” he said.

For more information, visit www. votemarkpafford.com.

Blotter continued from page 6 wooden pallets at the rear of the store. According to the report, Sosa began to place large quantities of the items in his truck. The deputy stopped him and asked Sosa whether he was given permission to remove the items. Sosa said he was not. He was arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he was charged with petty theft.

OCT. 16 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded Tuesday afternoon to a home on Hibiscus Drive regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 8 p.m. Monday and noon the following afternoon, someone broke the padlock to the victim’s box trailer. The victim said that nothing was removed from her trailer but wanted to document the incident. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

Generations

Military Families

continued from page 15 are from Venezuela. “We have been here for 10 years now, and Francisco’s biological father is still there,” she said. “But his stepdad and brothers who are here support him and are very proud.”

He has become a role model to his younger brothers. “My other son wants to go for criminal justice in college, and now he is actually in the process of enrolling in the National Guard,” Hoffman said.

With continued determination, Francisco has plans to become an officer. “He has already enrolled in the university and is working on achieving that goal,” Hoffman said.

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NEWS

October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 21

THREE J’S C CIGAR EMPORIUM HOSTS CHARITY GOLF TOURNEY AT BINKS FOREST Three J’s C Cigar Emporium hosted a charity golf tournament Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington. The event benefited Brigance Brigade, which supports ALS research, and the Little Smiles Foundation. The winning team donated $1,500 from the scramble format event to the Brigance Brigade. For more info., visit www.3jccigar.com.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Kevin Casey of AB Cigars with Three J’s C Cigar Emporium owner Jeremy Fedoruk.

Brittany Rinaldi, Adam Yazinka and Amanda Antonacci of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza serve food.

Three J’s C Cigar Emporium Manager Steve Espinosa with owner’s mother Carla Fedoruk and aunt Joan Orlando.

Peter Serena and Ed Tinari get ready to go out on the course.

Three J’s C Cigar Emporium Manager Rob Helsper sells raffle tickets to Dave Basher.

George and Joel Gomez with Patrick Trindade and Lou Morgenier.

ROYAL PALM BEACH HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES HOMECOMING COURT ACTIVITIES Royal P alm Beach High School celebrated its homecoming during a football game Friday, Oct. 12. Josh Miolan and Taylor Sarni were crowned homecoming king and queen. On the field, the Wildcats defeated the West Boca Bulls 57-27. (See page 37 for game PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER coverage.)

Homecoming court seniors Zayna Williams and Justin Vernon.

Homecoming Court sophomores Paloma Feleziano and Benny Zambito.

Seniors Mariah Soria and Tyler Kane.

Seniors Yevenelle Altidore and Will Neder.

Juniors Kamille Edgecomb and Garret Johnson.

Freshmen Jordyn Sleek and Marco Velez.

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NEWS

The Town-Crier

SONS OF ITALY LODGE HOSTS COLUMBUS DAY DINNER DANCE IN ROYAL PALM The Sons of Italy Michelangelo Lodge #2864 held a Columbus Day Dinner & Dance on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Mama Mia’s Trattoria catered an Italian buffet dinner, and there was live music and dancing. Sons of Italy meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Cultural Center. For more info., call Pasquale Devivo at (561) 249-1298.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Michelango Lodge #2864 President Pasquale Devivo and State Trustee Sam Pittaro welcome guests.

Anna Patricio, Marie Lauricella and Angela Nobile enjoy the show.

Betty Dente sells raffle tickets to State President Edward Mottola Jr.

Raffle prize winners Eva Mottola and Kathy Jako.

Couples dance the night away.

Annie Quirk, Dorothy Mervine, Tony Porpora and Judy Hayes.

SENIORS MODEL IN ANNUAL BEALLS FASHION SHOW AT RPB CULTURAL CENTER The fourth annual Bealls Fall Into Fashion Show was held Friday, Oct. 12 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center held. Pianist Copeland Davis performed a mini concert. Lunch was provided by Hilary’s Restaurant and served by senior volunteers, and there were raffles and door prizes as well as a 50/50 raffle.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Dolly Hughes, Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster, raffle winner Lila Fait and Cindy Beckles.

Clover Ulrich in a blackand-white ensemble.

John Rifenberg is ready to golf.

(Seated) Virginia Coppola and daughter Anne Marie Matozzo; (standing) Ann Pinto and Marie Decicco.

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October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 23

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Acreage Equestrian Keeps Focus On Brandon Policy

Though she was fortunate to have a safe place for her horses in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac, Linda Sax of The Acreage is fighting to change the county policy that prevents the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center from opening its doors during such emergencies.

Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 27

October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 25

Wildcats Football Tops West Boca At Homecoming

The Royal Palm Beach High School varsity football team won its homecoming game in front of a capacity crowd Friday, Oct. 12, defeating the West Boca Bulls 57-27 in a District 13-7A match-up.

Toward the end, the Wildcat offense continued to produce points nearly every possession. Page 37

Shopping Spree A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE

Business Tiny Tikes Academy Aims To Provide Benefits For Children And Parents

Tiny Tikes Academy is the newest preschool, kindergarten and daycare center for children ages 2 to 12 serving the western communities. With three locations in Palm Beach County — including one in Loxahatchee Groves — the academy’s goal is to give back to the communities it serves in a positive way. For example, it is providing the Florida Child Care Food Program, which offers breakfast, lunch and snacks to children who attend the academy. Page 29

Sports Seminole Ridge Football Squad Takes Down Lancers 21-6

The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team defeated John I. Leonard High School 21-6 on Frida y, Oct. 12 in Greenacres. Both teams fought hard, keeping the game scoreless for nearly the entire first half. But a breakthrough run by the Hawks’ Elie Turene turned the momentum. Page 37

THIS WEEK’S INDEX COLUMNS & FEATURES ........................ 27-28 BUSINESS NEWS.................................. 29-31 DINING & ENTERTAINMENT ...................... 33 SPORTS & RECREATION........................ 37-39 COMMUNITY CALENDAR ...................... 40-41 CLASSIFIEDS ........................................42-46

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The Town-Crier

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October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 27

FEATURES

Acreage Equestrian Keeps Spotlight On Jim Brandon Policy Like many of us, Linda Sax was somewhat caught by surprise when Tropical Storm Isaac’s annoying persistent rain bands visited a while back... and stayed.

Sax lives in The Acreage and boards her two horses with a friend. Although her land and pastures were underwater, the horses, at the friend’s house, were high and dry. But she saw many neighbors whose horses weren’t as lucky.

“My position is, I’m protecting, upholding and defending the rights of our equine partners in Palm Beach County,” she said. “When Isaac hit, a lot of horse people were in dire need of help. Not for themselves — for their horses. When the county made the two commercial properties with stabling available to us at Palm Meadows and Sunshine Meadows, my feeling was, great! These stables stepped up to the plate and opened their doors.”

However, Sax is worried about what could have happened if they hadn’t. “What if no one had had room? What will happen the next times there’s an emergency like this?” she asked. “I feel very strongly that the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center is a county facility which was paid for by all the taxpayers. It should have been made available, and it must be included in future emergency planning.”

Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/ HorseTalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg Of course, that was not the case in the storm’s aftermath. “I know that, during Isaac, both the Palm Beach County Mounted Posse and the Acreage Horseman’s Association offered to help staff Jim Brandon, to supervise and police the grounds,” she said. “They were told, by officials, that Jim Brandon was ‘not a boarding facility.’People didn’t want to board their horses there. They were trying to find someplace temporary, for a few days or a week, that wasn’t chest-deep in water.”

So, Sax decided to get involved.

“It takes a neighborhood to band together and help each other in times of crises. That’s what we did, but next time, I want things to be better. And that’s why I made phone calls and wrote e-mails,” Sax said.

She contacted every member of the Palm Beach County Commission, as well as County Administrator Robert Weisman. What she wanted was to get added to the Oct. 30 agenda of a planned county workshop. Her letters read, in part: I would like to officially schedule on the agenda, a discussion regarding the Jim Bran-

Linda Sax with Terrific Impression (a.k.a. Rusty). don Equestrian Center… The facility was built for the equestrian community, since the land at the old Palm Beach Posse Grounds brought the county much money, and after a 50-year lease, it was no longer available to use as a horse show grounds… The stalls at Jim Brandon were dry and empty. Many people are outraged at this slight by the county to the equestrian community.

I need more than the 3 minutes at the end of a meeting to fully discuss the implications and disregard of the county and make a proposal. I would like to do this at your October meeting. Please provide the date, address and time of said meeting. Please pencil in at least 30 to 45 minutes for this discussion.

As county commissioners, you must be fulSee ROSENBERG, page 28

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FEATURES

Christmas Items Are Out In Stores Earlier And Earlier Have you noticed? Major retailers have already put out their Christmas merchandise.

This is absolutely ridiculous! It’s not even Halloween yet! It’s a blatant effort to get inside our pocketbooks!

I love it.

In the first place, the Halloween merchandise has been out since August, so it has already had a good run.

In the second place, I have a store, so I’m one of the ones trying to get into people’s pocketbooks.

In the third place, if anything’s going to save the economy, it’s Christmas. A lot of people who don’t even believe in Christmas benefit by it and, for those of us who celebrate Get your Sonic Boomer humor every day!

Follow Deborah Welky on Twitter at twitter.com/TheSonicBoomer. On Facebook, stop by “The Sonic Boomer” page and click the “Like” button.

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER the holiday beyond all reason, fa-la-la-la-la!

Over the years, I’ve often heard it said, “If only we could keep Christmas in our hearts all year long.” Well, Macy’s decided to help us do just that — as did JCPenney, Sears, Nordstrom, Dillard’s and Walmart. They’ve backed up Dec. 25 to Oct. 10 and, next year, it’ll be Sept. 10.

Realistically, you wouldn’t think there’d be enough red and green schlock in the world to keep up with the demand but, oh, there is.

At their wit’s end as to what to do about

décor, manufacturers have now produced Christmas tree ornaments in colors like purple, turquoise, pink, alien green and (new this year) black! Nothing says, “Welcome to the world, Little Guy,” like a bunch of black draped around.

And clothing? Already this month, I’ve seen everything — T-shirts, slippers, mufflers, mittens and a huge fuzzy hat with antlers that dances around and sings, “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” when you press a button.

A lot of this stuff would be more apropos for April Fool’s Day — the only holiday as yet unexploited by retailers. (Let my store be the first. “I know it’s marked $1.99 but it rings up at $10.99 so that’s what you have to pay. April Fool’s!”)

But back to Christmas.

When my father was 9, he saw a fabulous Lionel train set in the Gimbels department store window downtown. Oh, man, did he

want that train set. He knew it wasn’t in the family budget, but Santa would surely come through. He sat down and, in his best penmanship, wrote the old gent a letter imploring, pleading, begging for that train set. He talked incessantly about the train, was as good as a 9-year-old boy could be, and watched the calendar like a hawk.

His mother was watching the calendar, too.

She had four other boys and a husband who drank most of his paycheck. But she didn’t want to disappoint her favorite son.

So, on Christmas morning, little Emmett received a train — an immovable carved block of wood in the shape of a train — and he was sorely disappointed. But when he complained, his mother replied, “Do you know what I got?

An orange.”

An orange.

I keep that orange in mind when I’m deciding whether to purchase a singing antler hat — in October.

Affleck’s ‘Argo’ An Amazing Film Everyone Should See Ben Affleck’s Argo is quite simply the best movie I have seen in years. Based on historical fact, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat within minutes of its start and keeps you there until the end. Along the way it manages some incredible humor. It is smart, interesting and terrifying all at once. If the Oscars were given only for all the movies made so far this year, Argo and Affleck would be getting the big awards for Best Film and Best Director.

The movie begins with a mini (and I mean really mini; it lasts less than a minute) documentary of the history of Iran up until the fall of the Shah in 1979. Then it focuses on the attack on our embassy in Teheran (which certainly keeps the movie right up to the minute; I wonder how different the attack on our people in Benghazi was) and the way it was taken.

But six staff members who worked in the visa section managed to escape and were given refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber). The true hero, Taylor was given the Congressional Gold Medal by President Jimmy Carter. They hid there for months, wondering how they might escape as groups of militants went door to door looking for anyone who might get away.

Rosenberg

Equestrian Linda Sax

continued from page 27 ly aware of the impact that the total equestrian community has on the economics and tax base of Palm Beach County. Think of the jobs, property taxes, boost to businesses including restaurants and feed/tack stores. Just about every business and hotel and restaurant is affected in one way or another by the total equestrian community. It sure would hurt Palm Beach County and its equestrians to acquire the reputation of our county commissioners to be known as the “I don’t care about horses” group. I would never want that to happen, and I’m sure none of the commissioners want that. I’m sure it is an over-

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler The American government, of course, knew all about the six and frantically looked for ways to get them out, knowing that if they were caught, they might be tortured or simply executed. Hamilton Jordan (Kyle Chandler), the president’s chief of staff, listened unbelievably as solutions like having the six ride bicycles 300 miles to the border were presented.

The CIA finally had its top specialist at exfiltration Tony Mendez (Affleck) shoot down those ideas only to come up with one even wilder. He, and the six, would pretend to be Canadian filmmakers looking at Iran as a place to shoot a science fiction movie, Argo. Mendez’s boss, Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston) admits it’s a bad idea but insists “it’s the best bad idea we have.”

To set up the whole thing, Mendez goes to sight on your part on the Jim Brandon center that needs to be discussed and rectified.

Let’s work on it at the October meeting!

She received replies from county staff member Kathy Peck, which said, in part: “The workshop is going to include different factors concerning storm/hurricane related issues, with the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center being included... Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention and they will be addressed at the joint workshop... The workshop is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2012 and will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Government Center, 301 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach on the sixth floor in the chambers.”

Sax plans to attend and raise her concerns.

“My agenda is to make sure that Jim Brandon, a county equestrian facility, will be made available to the people who live in this county and need it in times of disaster: hurricanes,

an old friend, makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman), who actually was a real part of the action 30 years ago. Chambers sets him up with producer Lester Seigel (Alan Arkin), a composite of several people, and they create a mythical movie (for science fiction fans, it really was a version of Roger Zelazny’s Lord of Light) through a few ads and effective publicity. The section involving them is incredibly funny and relieves at least a bit of the tension.

Finally, Mendez goes into Iran and meets the six Americans. They are very torn about taking a chance on leaving even though they know they’ll be caught if they stay.

Mendez convinces them to try and, once things get started on the escape, there is no relief from the tension until just about the end of the film.

Affleck’s direction is marvelous. He manages to keep the audience on the edge of its seat while providing an escape hatch for the tensions through some humor. The cast is excellent. Affleck and Cranston do their usual good acting, but the supporting cast carries the dramatic impact. Garber is remarkably good as the Canadian who gives them protection even while wondering if his own household

staff will betray him. Tate Donovan is really good as Bob Anders, the oldest of the escapees, Clea DuVall provides an emotional center for the escapees; every bit of fear, even terror, is reflected in her face. And Christopher Denham, as her husband, the most recalcitrant of the escapees, gives a brilliant three dimensional portrayal, terrified but smart enough to step forward and take the lead when necessary.

This is a tour de force of a film. I was not surprised that the audience applauded when it was over. I wanted to cheer, and I am more than a bit of a cynic. But Affleck did not make a single misstep. There is no condescension, no extraneous explaining to the audience things he might think we would not know.

Instead, everything is set out on the table and he lets the story tell itself. The tension alone, the very real connection to what is going on in parts of the world today, would help make the story.

Putting in the very real story of six terrified people who are forced, even if for only a brief time, to be very strong, creates a strong, very moving story.

This is a great movie, one that should not be missed. See it.

tropical storms, floods or wildfires,” she said.

“There’s no reason we can’t work out a system or a plan. It can be done on a first-come, first-served basis. I’m sure other counties have plans in place which we can copy or modify and use here.”

She is hoping other horse owners will also attend the meeting and let their voices be heard. “But even if they don’t, I want them to know that I will be there for them. I’ve got their backs on this,” Sax said. “We need to band together as a community and let the commissioners know that we care about our ani-

mals, whether they’re horses or goats or pigs or chickens. They rely on us, and we have to do the best we can for them.”

If you would like to share any of your thoughts with Sax before the meeting on Oct. 30, e-mail her at kojola@gate.net.

“We taxpayers paid for that park. We use it in times of pleasure, for shows, and it should be made available in times of need,” Sax concluded. “We can handle the bedding, the feeding, the security and all the rest. We just need the county to step up to the plate and do the right thing: open those stalls.”

‘My agenda is to make sure that Jim Brandon, a county equestrian facility, will be made available to the people who live in this county and need it in times of disaster,’ Linda Sax said. ‘There’s no reason we can’t work out a system or a plan.’

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BUSINESS NEWS

Tiny Tikes Academy Director Nora Huspek inside the Loxahatchee Groves location.

PHOTO BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Tiny Tikes Academy Aims To Provide Benefits For Children And Parents

By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report Tiny Tikes Academy is the newest preschool, kindergarten and daycare center for children ages 2 to 12 serving the western communities. With three locations in Palm Beach County — including one in Loxahatchee Groves — the academy’s goal is to give back to the communities it serves in a positive way.

The Loxahatchee Groves location is the newest Tiny Tikes addition. There are also locations in Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach. The new academy opened at the beginning of the school year.

Academy Director Nora Huspek has been working for owner Mark Dorminey for more than 20 years and has seen the academy expand. “I have worked for him for much of my adult working life, and I really enjoy it,” she said. “He understands that childcare is not just a business, it’s about the children first.”

Tiny Tikes Academy is active in the community and has relationships with schools and sports teams. “Whether it be the school right here in the community, by helping them with their AYSO [American Youth Soccer Organization] program, to sponsoring Royal Palm Beach High School football or other sports, no matter what community we are in, we try to help and make an impact,” Huspek said.

The academy tries to address the needs of the communities it serves by bringing programs and services that benefit the community as a whole. For example, it is providing the Florida Child Care Food Program, which offers breakfast, lunch and snacks to children who attend the academy.

“The western communities is very unique, and most people transport far out of here for working purposes,” Huspek said. “We

thought this could make their day easier, so every meal is provided to children without an additional cost.”

Programs such as the food program are important to the parents of the children who attend the academy.

“That is 20 more minutes at home,” Huspek said. “These are all the types of factors we consider when we think about how we help the entire family unit.”

Tiny Tikes Academy also partners with Family Central and the Children’s Services Council, and is still looking to partner with other organizations to provide the community muchneeded services to make people’s lives easier.

“We are just beginning to step into the Quality Initiative Scale, where schools get rated,” Huspek said. “At the other center, I’ve also had a top-rated four-star school, and I have always strived to keep it that way.”

Huspek and the rest of the teachers at the academy hold the same philosophy of always doing their best to make the children feel comfortable.

“We see it as your best day should be your best day, and your worst day should also be your best day,” she said. “No matter what day you catch us on, we should be doing the best we can for your child, and that is what QIS looks at as well.”

Tiny Tikes Academy offers aftercare programs and summer camp programs for older children. “They go out daily on trips, and we go to places like the zoo and Cold Stone Creamery,” Huspek said. “We also partner with the Acreage branch library to bring books and services to the children.”

Tiny Tikes Academy is located at 16245 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves. For more information, call (561) 790-1780.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Inaugural Princess & Pirate Ball Benefits Kids Helping Kids

Phoebe and Sharon Apple enjoy the ball.

PHOTO BY LUCIEN CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY

Kids Helping Kids, a program of the Center for Family Services, recently hosted its inaugural fundraising event the Princess and Pirate Ball at the downtown West Palm Beach pavilion. Amie Swan and Abbie Beebe chaired the event.

The Princess and Pirate Ball featured cocktails and “mocktails,” dinner by the bite, a treasure hunt, face painting, crafts, dancing and more.

Children of all ages dressed up as princesses and pirates, and enjoyed this fun-filled event, and arrived in their best pirate and princess attire.

Princesses and pirates received and painted their very own Kids Helping Kids piggy banks. They were encouraged to earn some treasure for the kids at the Pat Reeves

Village. Christine’s Hope for Kids will match their gift so they can double the impact of their gift.

Proceeds from this event will support the Pat Reeves Village Shelter.

The shelter provides life-changing services to families with children who are either homeless or at risk for homelessness.

The mission of the Kids Helping Kids program is to increase awareness of philanthropy among youth while making a difference in the life of another child.

Some of those in attendance included the families of Amie and Jack Swan, Ann-Britt and Christian Angle, Sharon and Roy Apple, Erin and Sean McGould, Whitney and Scott Perkins, Lily and Kelly Perkins, Kit-

ty and Larry Silverstein, Michele and Don Cody, Nicole Munder and Danielle Moore.

Nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation, the Center for Family Services’ mission is strengthening families through counseling, education and homeless intervention. The agency provides a full spectrum of services for homeless families with children and families at risk for homelessness, substance abuse treatment programs, as well as specialized therapy for children who are victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

For more information, call Stanton Collemer at (561) 616-1257, e-mail scollemer@ctrfam.org or visit www. ctrfam.org.

Palm Beach County Expands Business Development Web Site PBC Interactive, Palm Beach County’s first and only business development research web site offering real-time, parcel-based data, now features zoning and future land-use designations for 11 municipalities in addition to unincorporated Palm Beach County.

Working in cooperation with Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boynton Beach, Riviera Beach,

Juno Beach, Lake Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Gulf Stream, Royal Palm Beach and Wellington, the county has added property information from these municipalities to provide an even more comprehensive research tool.

Efforts will continue to include zoning and land-use designations from each of the 38 municipalities in the county to further assist busi-

nesses in their search for potential sites for location and expansion, as well as help members of the public and private sectors interested in land development issues.

PBC Interactive was launched last year through an effective collaboration between the Department of Economic Sustainability (DES); Planning, Zoning & Building; Informa-

tion Systems Services; and the Palm Beach County Office of the Property Appraiser. Built within the design of myGeoNav, the application integrates several layers including industry codes (NAICS), land uses, enterprise zones, economic development organizations, property ownership information and more.

To access the site, visit http:// maps.co.palm-beach.fl.us/edo or go

to the DES web site at www.pbcgov. com/des and click on the PBC Interactive icon.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Dr. Harold Bach Joins Medical Center Of The Palm Beaches MedicalCenter of the Palm Beaches has announced that board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Harold Gregory Bach recently joined its Total Care Organization (TCO).

Bach has been a practicing spine surgeon in South Florida since 2007.

“Dr. Bach brings the absolute highest level of competency, training and experience in complex orthopedic spine surgeries to the MedicalCenter,” said founding physician Dr. Russ M. Seger. “This high level of specialized care goes to the very heart of our Total Care Organization. The TCO premise is to provide excellent, full-spectrum general and specialized medical care from a single location. Our local patients and the community as a whole are the direct benefactors of Dr. Bach joining us.”

Bach completed a spine surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago and his medicine degree from the Medical University of Ohio. Additionally, Bach has an extensive body of research and publications to his credit.

With locations at 8200 Okeecho-

bee Blvd. and 4623 Forest Hill Blvd., both in West Palm Beach, the MedicalCenter of the Palm Beaches is a Total Care Organization. The TCO offers patients a family medicine, urgent care and specialty medicine practice model all under one roof.

Serving as a medical home for its patients, its continuum of care are valuable assets in patients’ longterm care and in perpetuating positive outcomes.

The TCO also provides orthopedic medicine, occupational medicine, chiropractic medicine and physical therapy, laboratory testing, women’s health, nutrition and high field MRI and digital imaging, specialties usually reserved for standalone, destination medical practices.

The TCO model comprehensive urgent care center comprises skilled specialty physicians and medical providers in combination with expanded facility capabilities. This enables the MedicalCenter to treat non-life-threatening emergency and other medical needs far outside the scope of traditional urgent-care clinics.

Open seven days each week, the

Dr. Harold Gregory Bach MedicalCenter of the Palm Beaches provides patients immediate on-site access to a variety of general and specialty medicine services. For more information about the MedicalCenter of the Palm Beaches, call Gregory T. DuBose at (561) 746-6077 or visit www.medicalcenterofthe palmbeaches.com.

October 19 - October 25, 2012 Page 31

Leadership PBC Announces Civic Engagement Projects Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2013 recently selected its Civic Engagement program class projects, and class members are preparing to work closely with five Palm Beach County nonprofits to help them achieve strategic goals over the next nine months.

The five nonprofits whose proposals were selected out of a competitive pool are Alpert Jewish & Family Services, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Habitat for Humanity, Take Stock in Children and Village Baptist Church in partnership with the Palm Beach County Food Bank.

The Civic Engagement program pairs each organization with a dedicated, small team of class members.

Nonprofit staff and professional leaders work in partnership to tackle common issues faced by nonprofits, such as how best to recruit and mobilize volunteers, manage periods of low donations and scale successful programs. Class members will also benefit from this close collaboration as they learn the nonprofit landscape in Palm Beach County and apply their leadership skills to relevant challenges within organizations.

The Civic Engagement program

reflects LPBC’s belief that groups of diverse, community-minded professionals generate creative, effective solutions to the county’s challenges as well as identify untapped opportunities. Organizations are excited to utilize different perspectives and areas of expertise that class members bring to the table.

Lauree Simmons, the president of Big Dog Ranch Rescue is looking forward to the experience. “The 2013 leadership class has such varied professional backgrounds,” she said. “We are looking forward to learning from their experience to help move our young nonprofit to the next level. And if they adopt a few of our dogs in the process, that’s even better.”

Class members on all the Civic Engagement projects look forward to the “potential to create real impact” through partnership with nonprofits that are working on behalf of vulnerable members of Palm Beach County. LPBC’s mission is to educate and unite leaders to build a better community. LPBC has prepared more than 1,000 graduates for enhanced community leadership roles.

For more information, visit www. leadershippbc.org.

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Showtime Theatre To Present ‘[Title Of Show]’ Dec. 1-16 Showtime Performing Arts Theatre will present the South Florida premiere of [Title of Show], an original Broadway musical by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, Dec. 1-16. The theater is located at 503 SE Mizner Blvd., Suite 73, Boca Raton.

[Title of Show] follows four friends on their journey of creative self-expression as they write and perform their show, [Title of Show] at the New York Theatre Festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists. [Title of Show] is, above all, a love letter to the musical theater — a uniquely American art form — and to the joy of collaboration. The musical received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical in 2009.

Recreating the roles originated by [Title of Show]’s writers and friends (Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove) are Clay Cartland (Hunter), Evan Ferrar (Larry), Krissi Johnson (Susan), Noah Levine (Jeff) and Sara Perry Greenberg (Heidi).

Beverly Blanchette directs with Evan Ferrar as music director.

Clay Cartland recently received a Carbonell Award nomination and the Silver Palm Award for his role in Promethean Theatre’s Song of the

Living Dead. He has been seen in numerous South Florida theaters including Island City Stage, Empire Stage, Miami Stage Door, Broward Stage Door and Actors’ Playhouse.

He is a member of the Mainstage Improv Team at the Just the Funny Theatre in Coral Gables.

Krissi Johnson is the drama director at Coral Glades High School.

A graduate of Penn State University, she has been performing locally for over a year in Slow Burn’s productions of Urinetown, Into the Woods and Xanadu. She will be performing there again in Side Show.

Noah Levine has become a fixture in the South Florida theater community with credits from Thinking Cap, Kutumba, Actors’ Playhouse, Promethean Theatre, Miami Shakespeare Festival, Mosaic Theatre, Slow Burn and StoryMakers at the Kravis Center. Carbonell members and nominees were treated to his performance from Promethean’s Song of the Living Dead at last year’s awards ceremony at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Sara Greenberg received a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre from University of Miami and a master’s degree in education from Nova Southeastern University. She

worked as lead vocalist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and toured Europe and the U.S. in various productions, including Grease, Crazy for You, 42nd Street and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In addition to an extensive resume as a performer, voice coach, dance and acting teacher, Greenberg works professionally as a choreographer, director, musical director and actor.

Evan Ferrar spent several years studying and teaching voice and piano in Dublin and London before returning to the United States to lend his musical directing/conducting/vocal talents to Palm Beach Opera, Entr’acte Theatrix, Lake Worth Playhouse, Palm Beach Atlantic University and the Dreyfoos School of Arts.

Beverly Blanchette recently completed a directing fellowship at the Juilliard School (New York) and a summer intensive directing program at Shakespeare’s Globe (London) after retiring as the dean of theatre at the Dreyfoos School of Arts. As a theater arts educator, she received such accolades as the Frank Prize for Performing Arts Educator Award, the Florida State Thespians’ Outstanding Director Award, and an induction into the Educational The-

A scene from the upcoming production [Title of Show]. atre Association’s Hall of Fame. She holds a master’s degree in directing/ acting from Florida Atlantic University and a bachelor’s degree from FSU’s School of Theatre.

Performance times are Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tick-

ets cost $22 for adults and $18 for seniors and students, and may be purchased by calling (561) 394-2626 or online at www.showtime boca.com. [Title of Show] will be presented as part of Showtime’s regular adult-professional series.

Tickets On Sale For ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Nov. 13-18 At Kravis

A promotional photo from Catch Me if You Can.

Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical Catch Me if You Can will land in West Palm Beach at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts for a limited engagement Nov. 13-18. Tickets are on sale to the public now.

Catch Me if You Can captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyers and a jet pilot — all before the age of 21. With straightarrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank’s trail, we’re off on a jet-setting cat-and-mouse chase, as a jazzy, swinging ’60s score keeps this adventure in constant motion. In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren’t so very different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run.

This engagement follows hot on the heels of the recent Broadway run, where the show received considerable acclaim.

The New York Times exclaimed, “Hot diggity! This portrait of the con artist as a young man comes to ecstatic life.” WOR Radio called it “absolutely marvelous” and proclaimed Catch Me if You Can “a real Broadway musical with showstoppers to enthrall just about everyone.” And

Vanity Fair added, “Catch Me will move you to live life to the fullest and dance past anything standing in your way.”

Catch Me if You Can is based on the book and hit 2002 film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale Jr. Nominated for four Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, Catch Me if You Can features a Tony Award–winning creative team, with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), an irresistible score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography

by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O’Brien (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

Scenic design for Catch Me if You Can is by David Rockwell (Hairspray), costume design is by fivetime Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Peter McBoyle.

Kravis on Broadway is sponsored by BMO Private Bank. Catch Me if You Can performances will be Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov.

18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Kravis Center box office (701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach), online at www.kravis.org/ catchmeifyoucan or by calling (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets start at $25. Group orders of 10 or more receive a discount and may be placed by calling (561) 651-4438 or (561) 6514304.

There will be a free “Beyond the Stage” pre-performance discussion

by Jason Gillman and Jacqueline Bayne on Nov. 13 at 6:45 p.m. and a free musical presentation in the Dreyfoos Hall lobby at 7:15 p.m.

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.

For more information on Catch Me if You Can, visit the show’s web site at www.catchmeontour. com.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Wildcats Football Tops West Boca 57-27 At Homecoming

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach High School varsity football team won its homecoming game in front of a capacity crowd Friday, Oct. 12, defeating the West Boca Bulls 57-27 in a District 13-7A match-up.

The Bulls held Royal Palm Beach (3-0, 4-1) to four-and-out on their first possession. West Boca then capped off a 70-yard drive with a short touchdown run to take an early 7-0 lead. It was to be the

only Bulls lead in the game.

The Wildcats responded immediately when running back Alon Sims cleared the right sideline and ran 65 yards for the score. Running back Charles Perry added the 2-point conversion to take a 8-7 lead. Throughout the rest of the first half, both teams managed to put together offensive drives that would put points on the board. Royal Palm Beach quarterback Ant McGrew threw three touchdown passes, with two going to Jimmy Moreland, totaling 61

Wildcat wide receiver De’Andre Simmons runs by a West Boca defender for a score.

PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

yards. Sims caught an 18-yard touchdown pass. West Boca managed two of their own to close the gap by 8 points, as the Wildcats closed out the first half with a 28-20 lead.

The Bulls struggled to get anything going to start the second half.

Royal Palm Beach put up 22 unanswered points in the third period.

Wildcat defenders tackled the Bulls ball carrier in the end zone for a safety, making the score 30-20. Wildcat wide receiver De’Andre Simmons then ran back the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for the score, extending the Wildcat lead to 36-20. West Boca would manage one more score before the final whistle. The Wildcat offense continued to produce points nearly every possession, finishing out their homecoming victory 57-27.

“We had to make plays tonight,” coach Willie Bueno said. “It has been pretty consistent, even though we struggled defensively. McGrew carried us and showed big leadership out there.”

McGrew was 18 of 24 for 236 yards and had a rushing touchdown, with 60 yards on the ground.

The Wildcats also managed to grind out 262 yards rushing. Moreland finished with five catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Sims had two scores, Simmons and Telvis Lawler each had a score.

Royal Palm Beach will host Lake Worth on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.

RPB wide receiver Jimmy Moreland breaks tackles running the ball.

RPB’s Ant McGrew throws a pass down field.

Wildcat running back Charles Perry breaks a tackle.

Seminole Ridge Football Squad Takes Down Lancers 21-6

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team defeated John I. Leonard High School 21-6 on Friday, Oct. 12 at the Lancers’ home in Greenacres.

Both teams fought hard, keeping the game scoreless for nearly the entire first half. But a breakthrough run by the Hawks’ Elie Turene turned the momentum, setting up a Hawk win.

The Lancers held onto the ball for much of the opening quarter, driving it near the Seminole Ridge end zone. On a third-down play with a few minutes left, John I. Leonard attempted a 39-yard field-goal kick, but it drifted outside the goal post.

The Hawks took over and attempted to move the ball but were thwarted. The first quarter finished without either team putting points on the board.

John I. Leonard stepped up early

SRHS quarterback Zach DeCosta looks for an open man.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

in the second quarter, throwing a pass to put the Lancers near the Hawks’ end zone. They then completed a 17-yard pass to score, putting them on the board 6-0. It would be the only touchdown Seminole Ridge allowed them.

The Hawks turned the tides in their favor on their next possession.

Turene grabbed the ball and ran 76 yards to put in a touchdown. An extra-point kick gave Seminole Ridge the lead, 7-6.

Both teams continued to battle on the field, with both sides suffering penalties that squandered attempts to score. The score at halftime remained 7-6.

The Hawks continued their momentum in the second half, pushing past the John I. Leonard defense.

Silas Spearman scored late in the third quarter, and an extra-point kick extended the Hawks’ lead, bringing the score to 14-6. Turene cinched the win in the fourth quarter with a third touchdown. With the extrapoint kick, Seminole Ridge finished the game 21-6 to claim the victory.

The Hawks travel to Palm Beach Gardens High School on Friday, Oct. 19 for a 7 p.m. game.

Hawk Elie Turene is stopped by a Lancer defender.

Hawk Rayfield Dixon takes down a Lancer ball carrier.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SOCCER CHALLENGE HELD IN WELLINGTON

The Knights of Columbus M.J. Benvenuti #8419 sponsored a Youth Soccer Challenge on Sunday, Oct. 7 at Wellington Village P ark. The winners were Duc Tran in the 11-year-old category and his cousin, Nicolas Tran, in the 13-year-old category. Pictured above are (L-R) Rich Campione, Nicolas Tran, Mike Sullivan, Duc Tran, Grand Knight Sean McDaniel and Dr. Russ Anderson.

Krayeski Wins On SFPGA Junior Tour Thirteen-year-old Kaely Krayeski of Wellington won the South Florida PGA Junior Golf event held at the Hobe Sound Country Club in Hobe Sound. The 36-hole tournament was held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6 and 7.

Competing in the girls age 14-15 division, Krayeski won the event by a four-stroke margin. She recorded rounds of 78 and 78, for a 156 total.

This is Krayeski’s second win in the last three events in the 14-15 age division, since she decided to move up to the more difficult age division in August.

“This is a great win for Kaely, who is coming off a difficult bout with an asthma condition earlier in the summer. Kaely continues to improve and gains momentum when she is healthy,” said her coach, PGA Master Professional Kevin Perkins. “It is her second win in the older division and fourth overall win on this tour this year. Again, I am very pleased with her continued improvement.”

Mary Janiga, also of Wellington, finished second with rounds of 81 and 79.

For more information about the Kevin Perkins Golf Academy, visit www.kevinperkinsgolfacademy.com or call (561) 301-3783.

Adam Pendleton and Angel Lopez with their awards.

Wellington Wrestlers Compete In Broward The Wellington Wrestling Club recently competed in the annual USA Wrestling Tournament at South Broward High School.

First-year wrestler Adam Pendleton (11th grade) finished with a perfect 3-0 record, with three pins in his first tournament action in the 138pound division. Angel Lopez (10th grade) finished with a 1-2 record and in third place in the 195-pound division.

The Wellington Wrestling Club will be starting up again for for the

winter season for wrestlers in kindergarten through the eighth grade Monday, Oct. 29.

“It was great to get some preseason action in for these guys,” Wellington Wrestling Club coach Travis Gray said. “Adam Pendleton has only been practicing for a few weeks, and he came out really aggressive and obviously had a lot of success, so we are hoping that fuels him and the other first-year wrestlers to see that their hard work is paying off.”

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Chris Doering To Speak At Lou Groza Awards Banquet Dec. 4 Chris Doering has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 21st Lou Groza Awards Banquet to be held Dec. 4 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. The night will be highlighted by honoring the three finalists for the prestigious Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.

Born and raised in Gainesville, Doering always dreamed that one day he would be able to run out of the tunnel as a member of the University of Florida Gators football team. In 1991 that dream became reality as Doering walked on to the Florida football team. Over the next

four years he went from little-known walk-on to being remembered as a Gator legend.

After redshirting in 1991, Doering received a scholarship and would play wide receiver for Florida from 1992 to 1995. During his time at Florida, Doering rewrote the school record books. He finished 6th in receptions with 149, 10th in receiving yards with 2,107, and his 31 touchdown receptions were the most alltime in Gator history. This also set the all-time record in the Southeastern Conference, a mark which Doering still owns today.

In addition to his record setting

individual performances, Doering played a vital role in the Gators capturing three consecutive SEC championships from 1993 to 1995. In 1995, Doering’s senior season, he was named a team captain by head coach Steve Spurrier. In his final season, Doering received first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American honors.

Despite all these accolades, Doering is most remembered in Gator football lore for what has become known as “the catch” or “Doering’s got a touchdown,” which Gator radio play-by-play man Mick Hubert repeatedly yelled after the catch. The

A Win For SRHS Freshman Football The Seminole Ridge High School freshman football team traveled to Jupiter High School on Oct. 4, returning with a hard-fought 16-13 victory.

The Baby Hawks took their first possession of the game after a Jupiter punt. Wingbacks Joey Schergen and Derrius Austin tore off chunks of Warrior territory, with Austin scoring his sixth touchdown of the season on a sweep to the left. The 2point conversion, also scored by Austin, put the Hawks up 8-0.

In the second quarter, while the Jupiter quarterback dropped back to pass, outside linebacker Michael Beets broke through the Jupiter line and sacked the Warrior signal caller, causing a fumble.

Defensive lineman Jefferson Cassion scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 35 yards for his touchdown.

Fullback Morgan Roland carried the 2-point conversion in to up the SRHS lead to 16-0.

The second half of the contest saw no further scoring from Semi-

nole Ridge. Late into the last quarter, the Jupiter team mounted their own comeback attempt. Switching quarterbacks, the Warriors moved slowly down the field, shaving time off the clock.

Jupiter was finally able to crack the Hawk goal line, but their attempt to keep pace failed, leaving the Hawks with a 10-point lead. Another late Jupiter touchdown and extra point brought the game to an end, with Seminole Ridge improving its record to 4-1.

play occurred during his 1993 sophomore season against Kentucky.

With only 3 seconds remaining in the game, Doering caught the gamewinning touchdown on a pass from quarterback Danny Wuerffel to give the Gators the 24-20 victory.

Doering graduated from UF in with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. He was selected in the sixth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to the season, Doering was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. After playing for the Colts and the Denver Broncos, Doering signed with the Washington Redskins and his former Gator coach, Steve Spurrier, in 2002. Doering played in 15 games that season, including three starts for the Redskins, finishing with 18 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns. The following season, Doering signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played in 19 games over the next two seasons from 2003 to 2004. Doering finished with 18 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown as a member of the Steelers.

Doering officially retired from the NFL in 2006, after amassing career totals of 42 receptions, 476 yards and three touchdowns. Once retired, Doering moved back to Gainesville, where he became the president of

Chris Doering his own home loan mortgage brokerage, Chris Doering Mortgage.

In 2006, Doering was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. He is currently co-host of The Sports Fix on ESPN Radio AM 900 and AM 1230 in Gainesville and Ocala. Doering also works as a color analyst for ESPN’s SEC football coverage.

For more information on the Lou GrozaAward, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, or to purchase tickets for the Lou Groza Awards Banquet, visit www.lou grozaaward.com.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Saturday, Oct. 20 • Ultima Fitness/Xtreme Tae Kwon Do (12799 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington) will unveil its new look with an open house Saturday, Oct. 20 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. For more info., visit www.ultimafitness.com or call (561) 795-2823.

• St. Michael Evangelical Lutheran Church (1925 Birkdale Drive, Wellington) will host a Craft Fair on Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Crafts will include Halloween, fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas, as well as baked goods. Income will be donated to Helping Hands, a discretionary fund of the pastor, to be used to assist those in need.

Call Sue at (561) 644-9901 for more info.

• The Town of Lantana will present GreenFest 2012 on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lantana Town Hall (500 Greynolds Circle). This free, family-oriented event will feature demonstrations and talks on affordable eco-friendly practices that save money. Visit www.lantana.org for more info.

• Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will host “Coffee & Tea Club” Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon.

There is no charge. Club members who attend will be offered a taste of the featured coffee and tea, and may choose one sample of either the featured coffee or tea to bring home or share. A reusable mug is recommended. Call (561) 904-4000 for info.

• The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce will present its inaugural Blues, Brews & BBQ on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21 from noon to 10 p.m.

Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at Bryant Park in Lake Worth. For info., visit www. lwbluesfest.com or call (561) 790-6200.

• Wellington’s Fall Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). Call (561) 7914005 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for info.

• The Wellington Rotary Club will honor Dr. Carmine Priore for his service to the community at its annual Night to Remember dinner and charity auction Saturday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club.

RSVP to Maggie Zeller at (561) 715-9262.

• Twelve chefs from area restaurants and caterers will compete for the title of Finest Crab Cake in Palm Beach County on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Lake Pavilion & Terrace on Flagler Blvd. in downtown West Palm Beach. To purchase tickets, visit www.gocpg.org and click on the link for the event.

Sunday, Oct. 21 • The Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization will host its 18th annual Buddy Walk on Sunday, Oct. 21 at John Prince P ark in Lake Worth. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., the opening ceremony/walk starts at 9:15 a.m., and activities continue until 1 p.m. To register or for more info., visit http://buddywalk. kintera.org/gcdso or call (561) 752-3383.

Monday, Oct. 22 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Introduction to Irish Dancing” for ages 7 to 12 on Monday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m., and for adults at 6:30 p.m., led by Marie Marzi from the Aranmore Academy of Irish Dance. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Tuesday, Oct. 23 • USTA Flex League Palm Beach County registration is open for the season running Tuesday, Oct 23 through Dec. 18. The cost is $25 for USTA members and $35 for nonmembers. Visit www.ustaflex.com to register. For more info., e-mail ustapbc@me.com or visit www.facebook.com/USTAPBC. • The Royal Palm Beach Parks & Recreation Department will present an Early Childhood Passport to Adventure Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 23 to Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Early Childhood Classroom at the RPB Recreation Center to help prepare pre-schoolers. The fee is $135 for Royal Palm Beach residents and $150 for nonresidents. Call (561) 790-5124 for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Potato Stamping” for ages 5 to 8 on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 3:30 p.m. Learn how to turn potatoes and other household items into stamps. Bring a plain T-shirt or canvas bag to decorate. Paper items will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to preregister.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Tween Game Night” for ages 8 to 12 on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host “Wii Sports” for adults Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Challenge others to a fierce game of tennis, baseball, golf, bowling or boxing. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will host a Block Party on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There is no charge. Each team around the store will create a unique recipe. Vote for your faSee CALENDAR, page 41

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

CALENDAR, continued from page 40 vorite sample. No registration is necessary.

Call (561) 904-4000 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host Chess Club for adults Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. Practice your strategy skills with other players. Basic game knowledge is required. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• Community of Hope Church (14055 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves) offers a free Women’s Zumba Class on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more info., or to register, call (561) 753-8883 or e-mail info@ gocoh.com.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host “Club Pokémon” for ages 6 to 12 on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. Bring your DS or Pokémon cards. Call (561) 681-4100 to preregister.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will present “Test Resources for CollegeBound Students” on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

Wednesday, Oct. 24 • Wellington Art Society members will host a show of their artwork Wednesday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Nov. 3 at Fine Art at West Best Studio Gallery (2602 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach). A reception will be held Friday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. The public is welcome. Visit www.wellingtonartsociety. blogspot.com for more info.

• Keiser University will host a Scare Fair Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the West Palm Beach campus (2085 Vista Parkway). For more info., call (561) 471-7849 or visit www.ku openhouse.com.

• Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will feature “Is Stress Getting on Your Nerves?” on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. There is no charge. Dr. Ian Shtulman will share secrets to naturally reduce and cope with stress. Call (561) 9044000 for more info.

Thursday, Oct. 25 • The Palm Beach County Commission will hold a zoning meeting Thursday, Oct. 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the government center’s Jane M. Thompson Memorial Chambers (301 N. Olive Ave., Sixth Floor, West Palm Beach).

For more info., visit www.pbcgov.com.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Let’s Play Story Time” for ages 4 to 6 on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host “Teen Game Night” for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Snacks will be provided. Call (561) 681-4100 to preregister.

Friday, Oct. 26 • Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will host “Mom’s Morning Escape” Friday, Oct. 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. There is no charge. Moms will receive a free mini-massage, coffee or tea, and muffin from the coffee bar. Call (561) 904-4000 for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Stuffed Animal Sleepover” for all ages Friday, Oct. 26. Your stuffed animal is invited to a party. Drop off your stuffed animal any time between 10 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Tell librarians if you want it to participate in Halloween party activities.

Pick up your fluffy friend and a few party snapshots from noon to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Call (561) 790-6030 for more info.

• Royal Palm Beach will host a Seniors Halloween Party on Friday, Oct. 26 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Call (561) 790-5149 for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host a Go Club meeting for ages 8 to 17 on Friday, Oct. 26 at 4:30 p.m.

Learn this ancient Asian strategy game. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The South Florida Science Museum (4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach) will hold Halloween Nights at the Museum on Friday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 10 p.m. Dress your best for a costume contest, have fun exploring the exhibits, see exciting demos and trick-or-treat your way around as you collect “scienterrific” goodies. For more info., call (561) 832-1988.

• The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host a Battle of the Bands on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27, with live auditions Friday and finals Saturday at 7:30 p.m. both days. Call (561) 7532484 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for info.

• Royal Palm Beach will host a free screening of the movie Monster House on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Veterans Park amphitheater (1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). Food vendors will be available. Call (561) 790-5149 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.

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Legal Notice No. 563 Notice Under Fictitious Name Florida Statute 865.09 Public notice is hereby given that the undersigned desires to engage in business under the fictitious name of:

JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC.—Service & new inst allation 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

WISHING WELLS THERAPY Located at: 12777 West Forest Hill Blvd. Ste. 1504 Wellington, Florida 33414 County of Palm Beach, Fl orida and intends to register said name with the Division of Corporations State of Florida,forthwith

WE CLEAN OFFICES & PRIVATE HOMES — Licensed & Insured. Call for an estimate and to schedule your ap artment. Discount for Central Palm Beach County Chamber members and to all new client s for first cleaning. 561-385-8243 Lic. #2012252779

Julie Wells Publish :Town-Crier Newspapers Date: 10-19-12

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/Software setup, support & troubleshooting w w w . m o b i l e t e c . n e t .

561-248-2611

ROOM FOR RENT — with private bath, $600/month Private. 561-9854910

FURNISHED HOUSE FOR RENT/ SHORT OR LONG TERM — situated in a cul-de-sac and 5 minutes away from Spruce Meadows, this 2000 sf. 2 story newer house in Shawnessy has hardwood floor throughout and 2.5 bathrooms.

Leather furniture, 48” TV and a Piano in main floor. Master bedroom has Jacuzzi. 2 large size bedrooms and bonus room. Wireless Internet, double attached garage, fenced backyard with BBQ. Weekly housekeeping, linen service and lawn cutting plus all utilities included. For more details call (403) 808-7254 OR (403) 700-2065 106.33 ACRE EQUESTRIAN FARM NEAR AIKEN, SC — Please call Debbie Harrison, Realtor with Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co., at 803-480-5245 for details.

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 561-248-8528

HOUSECLEANING — 20 yrs experience. Excellent local references. Shopping available. 561572-1782 HOUSECLEANING — affordable cleaning services, Royal Palm Maids. 561-666-7738 “For all your cleaning needs”

HURRICANE SHUTTERS P&M CONTRACTORS — ACCORDION SHUTTERS Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffit s, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777

D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3331923 Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach. We accept major credit cards.

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER — in Wellington needs EXAM PREP COORDINATOR Bachelors Degree- Demonstrate Solid Performance on SAT and ACT (either verbal or math sections) Available to work evenings and Saturdays. Also needed: EXAM PREP TUTORS Now Hiring SAT/ACT Prep aration Tutors. Must have a 4 year degree preferably in Mathmetics or English. Be available to tutor on Saturdays. Please e-mail resume tomarlenegiraud@hlcwellington.com FRONT DESK — Loxahatchee/ Boynton Beach. Busy Dermatology practices, full-time, experience preferred, must be available for flexible hours, evenings and weekends.

Fax resume to 561-790-7568 MEDICAL ASSISTANT NEEDED IN LOXAHATCHEE/BOYNTON BEACH — Busy Dermatology practice, full-time, experience preferred, must be available for flexible hours, evenings and weekends. Fax resume to 561-790-7568 DRIVERS — DEDICATED ACCOUNT! T OP PAY! $2,000 sign on bonus. Benefits, miles, great hometime and more. 1-888-5674854 Werner Enterprises.

AVON START YOUR OWN BUSINESS - $10! Sell everyday product s that people love! Little risk lot of rewards. FREE ongoing training.

Avon store. 798-9011 SPRAY OPERAT OR/TRACTOR DRIVERS — Experience a must with fertilizer application. Knowledgeable with PPE, WPS, 45 plus hours. Apply @4003 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd. Loxahatchee, Florida 33470 HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED - for Loxahatchee Area. Bilingual preferred. $9.25/hr 2 days per week/5 hrs. per day/Mornings. 561-6448683

Stop scratching & gnawing. Promote healing & hair growth. Stamp out ITCHAMCALLITS! Shampoo with HAPPY JACK® Itch No More, apply Skin Balm® add Tonekote to diet. Goldcoast Feed 793-4607 www.happyjackinc.com DRIVEWAYS — Free estimates A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. Lic.& Ins. 100045062 561-667-7716

BOB CAVANAGH ALLSTATE INSURANCE — Auto •Home • Life• Renters •Motorcycle •R V • Golfcart • Boat Serving the Western Communities for 24 years Call for a quote 798-3056, or visit our website. www.allstateagencies.com/ rCavanagh

RJA PAINTING & DECORATING, INC. — Interior Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial.Lic. #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561793-5455 561-662-7102 J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.

Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit our website at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

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. — Int./ Ext. residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. Ins. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident \

THE MASTER HANDYMAN — All Types of Home Repairs & Improvements. No job too big or small done right the first time every time 40 yrs of satisfied customers. See me on Angies List. Tom (561) 801-2010 or (954) 444-3178 Serving Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS INC. REMODEL & REPAIRS — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood rep air, door installation, minor drywall,kitchens/cabinets / countertops, wood flooring. Bonded and Insured U#19699. Call 7919900 or 628-9215 HANDYMAN AND CLEANING SERVICES — Caza Services for all your handyman and cleaning needs. 18 years experience. No job is too small. Call us today. Insured 561-802-8300 or 754-242-3459

JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured. CFC1426242. 561-6016458 CLASSIFIEDS 793-3576

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.

Interior & Exterior painting.

Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch at 309-6975 or visit us at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS DON HARTMANN ROOFING — Roof painting, Carpentry. Lic. #U13677 967-5580 ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in rep airs. 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 561-3090134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC023773 RC-0067207 JOHN C. BEALE BUILDING & ROOFING — Additions, remodeling, roof repairs & replacements, screened porches. Licensed & Insured. Call for Free Estimates. 561798-6448 ccc1326383 ccc1250306

SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years. Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening.

Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed!

CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com 561-577-9176 We answer our phones!

Build all type ENCLOSURES, rep air, reinforcement s & RESCREENING, slabs/footers/fascias.

If u don’t like sloppy jobs Call us!

Recession rates AAA Pro Screeninglic # U-21289/ins

ACCORDION SHUTTERS — Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985.

U-17189 561-791-9777

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004Lic.#U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990

SPECIALIZING IN BATHROOM REMODELING — Free estimates serving South Florida since 1980.

Quality you expect, service you deserve. Lic. bonded & Ins. U21006 561-662-9258

TREES TRIMMED AND REMOVED — 561-798-0412 D.M. YOUNG TREE SERVICE. Family Owned & Operated Lic. & Insured 1992-12121 Visit our website at dmyoungtreeservice.com

PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Inst allation,Removal.

Repair of Paper. Neat, Clean & Reliable. Quality work with a woman's touch. 30 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263

TOWN-CRIER NEWSPAPER STANS SCREENS – Re-Screening Pool & patios. Since 1973 Screening Pool & Patios. FOR A FREE ESTIMATE PLEASE CALL 561319-2838

CLASSIFIEDS CALL PLACE YOUR AD HERE 561-793-7606

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