Town-Crier Newspaper October 31, 2008

HELP KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY STRONG: DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

RPBHS HOMECOMING

Wellington Capital Plan In Limbo

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Members of the Wellington Village Council could not muster enough votes Tuesday to approve the village’s capital improvement plan for the 2009 fiscal year because of doubts about provisions for a proposed new village hall.

The capital improvement plan or CIP is a long-range plan listing major projects and improvements in the village that is updated annually.

The draft CIP reviewed Tuesday carried forward some $51 million in governmental projects and more than $30 million in enterprise projects for the previous year’s budget, and specifies more than $15 million for the village hall complex, called the “Town Center Project” in the CIP. The project would include an amphitheater and playground and be built along Forest Hill Blvd. in front of the existing Wellington Community Center.

Councilmen Bob Margolis and Matt Willhite raised doubts about approving the CIP as presented, and among their concerns was the anticipated cancellation of a $5 million pur-

FALL FUN AT CHURCH

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Republican State Sen. Jeff Atwater faces an aggressive challenge in his run for re-election in District 25. Democrat Linda Bird, a Realtor from Broward County, has run a high-profile attack campaign that aims to discredit him.

Atwater’s campaign has raised more than $2.4 million, compared to Bird’s $102,375 raised as of Wednesday.

“I’ve been surprised,” Atwater told the Town-Crier on Oct. 20. “I’ve got calls from so many friends in the public service arena. Just today I got one from the mayor of one of the communities in our district saying, ‘my goodness, I was at an event, she came by the table and was going table to table not bringing up anything about why she’s running, just blistering you.’”

Atwater said his own first encounter with Bird was at a Broward County legislative delegation meeting.

“That was about a month ago — she caught me at the door and said, ‘I’m Linda Bird, I’m running against Jeff Atwater. I’d like to tell you about him.’ I said ‘by all means,’ and she just started ripping me from one end to the other. I told her ‘Linda, I am Jeff Atwater,’ and she didn’t skip a beat. She just shook the next

chase of village land by Sunrise Senior Living. Proceeds from that sale were expected to help fund the town center.

In presenting the CIP, Village Manager Paul Schofield noted that in adopting it, the council would not be giving final approval on any particular projects. He wanted to make it clear that council members still could choose not to follow through on some projects if they felt it was prudent to reconsider them. “One of the discussions that came up in our meetings with council was the municipal complex,” Schofield said. “You must approve several things with that. It does not mean you approved the expenditure, and you could change your mind.”

Willhite said he was concerned about a CIP with such a high carry-forward amount. “I think it would benefit us not to do it again next year,” he said.

“At the end of the year people will say, ‘you didn’t build them, and you promised me something. You didn’t build it; why do you still have the money?’

The perception is that someone wanted something, and it didn’t happen.”

Administrative & Financial

Services

Director Francine Ramaglia and Wellington Operations Director John Bonde noted that a large bulk of the money was destined for work on the Section 24 wetland in southwestern Wellington as well as utility projects underway, such as improvements to water and wastewater treatment facilities.

“That number will go down,” Ramaglia said. “I am with you. I would not like to see it that big next year.”

Schofield added that items get cut from the CIP when they are no longer perceived as needed.

“If we need them, we get them built,” he said. “If we don’t need them, we terminate them.” Willhite raised doubts about the wisdom of planning on building the municipal complex with several factors on both the national and local level undetermined, and suggested waiting for further discussion at a workshop tentatively set for Nov. 18 and suspending decisions on the complex for several months.

“My concerns have been with the economy,” Willhite said.

“Just this last week, we have

See COUNCIL, page 18

Early Voting Draws Big Crowds

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Usually a sleepy collection of offices populated by village workers, the Wellington Municipal Complex at 14000 Greenbriar Blvd. has been hopping with activity in recent weeks as the only early voting location in the western communities.

Early voting precincts statewide extended their operating hours Tuesday after Gov. Charlie Crist declared an election crisis. Experts project that perhaps 40 percent of registered voters will have voted by the time early voting ends on Sunday, Nov. 2.

“We expected heavy early voting because of the interest in the election,” Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Spokeswoman Kathy Adams told the Town-Crier Wednesday.

This weekend, Palm Beach County’s early voting precincts will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The wait time for voting at the Wellington location was between one and two hours on Wednesday and Thursday after Gov. Crist issued the mandate to increase operating hours. Before the extension, the waiting time reached as long as three hours.

“The lines keep moving, there’s just more people coming up,” Adams said. “It shows the excitement of voting and the interest in the election.”

One factor complicating early voting in the election is a restriction on where the county’s

new ballot-on-demand equipment can be used.

During the 2006 mid-term elections, 25 early polling places were set up featuring touchscreen voting machines, Adams said, while this year the county has only 11. “They are restricted by state law as to where they can hold early voting because of ballot-on-demand,” Adams said.

“The touch screen was more maneuverable.”

The advantage of the balloton-demand equipment is that it can print out any of the 182 different ballots a voter from any part of Palm Beach County would need, allowing the voter to visit any of the early voting locations, Adams said.

Wait lines notwithstanding, Adams said early voting has gone smoothly. “There have been no incidents and everywhere I go people are just excited about voting,” she said. “It takes a little longer because the

ballots have to be printed.” Adams encouraged voters to fill out their sample ballots and bring them along to the polling place. “That speeds it up a little bit,” she said. “People are under the impression they can’t bring anything in with them. They can bring in a piece of paper, but the sample ballot has everything on it.” Adams said Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman was predicting an 85 percent voter turnout by the end of Election Day. As of Wednesday, 95,298 of the county’s 809,650 voters had cast early ballots. In the 2004 presidential election, the turnout was 50,470 in 15 days of early voting.

As of Tuesday, the Supervisor of Elections Office had received more than 62,000 of the 131,000-plus absentee ballots sent out.

Voters at Wellington’s early

See EARLY VOTING, page 7

FLORIDA STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 25

person’s hand and said, ‘Hi, I’m Linda Bird. I’m running for the State Senate against Jeff Atwater.’ I tell you, I am stunned about it.”

Atwater, who is in line to become the next president of the Florida State Senate should he be re-elected, represents a district divided between Palm Beach and Broward counties. It includes much of Wellington and parts of Royal Palm Beach. A North Palm Beach resident who is regional president of Riverside National Bank, Atwater has been in the State Senate six years. He said extremely challenging financial times make his background in the banking industry especially relevant.

“My entire career has been about working with individuals and assisting them to facilitate the goals that they have for their families, for their business, for their community,” he said, “and that gives a valuable perspective when you’re now in the legislature, filtering through many different ideas that will impact public policy.”

Atwater said he has played a role in dealing with the current financial crisis and balancing the state budget in an economically challenging time, all while

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Broward County Democrat Linda Bird has a daunting task challenging incumbent State Sen. Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) to represent District 25.

The district is divided between Palm Beach and Broward counties and includes much of Wellington and parts of Royal Palm Beach.

Bird said her upbringing in a military family of meager means puts her more in touch with the voters. Born in Middleton, Tenn., Bird moved to Florida with her family when she was just three months old. She said she is the youngest of five children, all of whom went to college and paid their own way.

“I paid my way through college,” Bird said. “I had full-time jobs and would take $5 each week and fill up my gas tank — gas back then was 28 cents a gallon — and I would use the rest of the money to buy a Coke in the evening while I ate my dinner.”

Bird received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Florida State University and her master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University. She said her upbringing is partly responsible for her emphasis on the importance of education.

“My parents really pushed the idea of

getting a good education,” she said. “I’m a strong believer in the fact that if we have a strong education system in the State of Florida, then we will be able to attract new industry to Florida. Presently we’re rated 50th in most of the measurements for education in the State of Florida, which I think is shameful.” Bird charges that Atwater has supported cuts to state education funding. “My opponent actually voted for a $321 million cut in education, and to me a strong middle class is what we should be looking at in Florida,” she said.

A Realtor with her own company the past 22 years, Bird said she is involved in many relocations, and the first thing newcomers ask is how good local schools are.

Bird said she receives a lot of referral business, relocating senior executives who require excellence, follow-through and attention to detail. “That’s the kind of person that I am,” she said. She has been married to Dennis Bird 30 years and their two children, Kristin and Lauren, are both graduates of the University of Florida.

Bird noted that her husband is a Republican

The Royal Palm Beach High School football team dominated visiting Lake Worth High School last Friday night, winning the Wildcats’ homecoming game 55-13. During halftime, Stephanie Hernandez was crowned homecoming queen and quarterback Marvin Payne was named homecoming king. STORY & MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 28

PHOTO BY LISA KEENEY/TOWN-CRIER

Crowds wait to vote early in Wellington on Thursday.

Two Seek Post At Little-Known County Agency

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Beach County voters filling out their ballots this election season might wonder not only about the candidates running for the Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District, but also what the agency does.

Candidates for the five-seat, nonpartisan, non-salaried board of supervisors appear on every Palm Beach County voter’s ballot because the district’s jurisdiction covers the entire county. Two seats were up for grabs this year: Seat 2 is being sought by Libertarian Mike McIntosh of Boca Raton and Democrat Drew Martin of Lake Worth, while Libertarian Howard Horowitz ran unopposed for Seat 4.

The Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District is one of 67 such districts created by the state to “conserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors, preserve wildlife, protect lands, and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people,” according to the district mission statement posted on its web site at www.pbswcd.org. The district has no taxation powers, but works in conjunction with other agencies, primarily the South Florida Water Management District, to educate land users, residents and businesses to protect natural resources, promote best management practices and conserve, improve and sustain the environment.

McIntosh was born in West Palm Beach and has lived in Palm Beach County all his life.

A former employee of an electronic security firm, he is now retired at age 55 and looking for meaningful things to do.

“I have done quite well; now it’s time to give back,” McIntosh said. “This is an opportunity to do some good with my management experience.”

McIntosh said he has always been concerned about ecology.

“I want to help,” he said. “This is my first step at trying at achieving that.”

If elected, McIntosh said he wants to look into waste by the agency. One thing he wants to look into is the board’s mobile irrigation lab that conducts free tests of sprinkler water. He said he has heard that the cost to the agency is $300 for such a service, while a pool company will conduct the same test for $100.

“I would consider it a wasteful operation if it turns out to be true,” McIntosh said. “I am an opponent of government waste.”

McIntosh also wants to make sure Palm Beach County has plenty of clean water.

“I want to be part of that maintenance and see to it we don’t do anything as far as construction that interferes with that,” he said. “I have been successful in business; I can handle whatever challenges are put before me. I’m not predisposed to what should be done.”

McIntosh said the role of the state’s soil and water conservation districts vary depending on their area. “In some areas they have larger roles than others, based on the motivation of the members,” he said.

McIntosh said he chose to run

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee recognized the young artists taking part in the village’s student art program last week.

The program, which is administered in cooperation with the Wellington Art Society, allows local student artists a chance to put their works on display on the walls in the Wellington Community Center.

For the program’s current fall/ winter exhibit, works by 13 students at Palm Beach Central and Wellington high schools are on display in the lower level of the community center.

“Various mediums were used, including digital photography, pastels and markers,” Aquatics Supervisor Michelle Garvey told the board at its Oct. 23 meeting. “We were pleased with the submissions we received, and we invite you to visit the lower lobby that showcases all the artwork.” Wellington Art Society Pres-

because of his interest in the environment and the risks it faces. “Society has created a situation where it can damage its own living situation,” he said. McIntosh said he has not done any campaigning, nor has he sought any campaign funds, although he and some friends have devised some “e-mail blasts.”

McIntosh’s opponent Martin said he has been interested in environmental issues for two decades. As a member of the Loxahatchee group of the Sierra Club of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, he said he wants to work in areas that will help promote Sierra Club goals.

“It’s an opportunity to educate the public and promote the proper use of resources,” Martin said. “The board monitors water usage and has education programs.” Martin said the agency gains its effectiveness by working with agencies such as the state’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (IFAS) and the South Florida Water Management District, which has ultimate authority over water issues. Martin said he wants to see water moving south again, rather than pulse releases from drainage canals to the ocean. He said he would like to protect the few remaining open spaces, scrub areas and agricultural areas near the Atlantic coast.

“People in Palm Beach County would like to protect native areas and natural areas,” Martin said. “They enhance property values and the quality of living. I want to continue to protect the environment. That’s what makes Palm Beach County a nice place to live. I want to maintain as much porocity as possible to the aquifer, which cleans the water and reduce pollutants in the topsoil by using best management practices in the home and on the farm.”

Martin, who has a small campaign account of about $450, said he also has done little campaigning other than to post his picture and biography on the Supervisor of Elections web site at www.pbcelections.org.

ident Susan Rose presented certificates of appreciation to the artists, and thanked the village for its role in the program. “We appreciate all the young people coming tonight, and we invite everyone downstairs to see their artwork,” she said. “We appreciate working with the village on this program again.” Also last week, board members discussed recent sponsorship activity in support of village events. Due to revenue shortfalls, the village was forced to stop or reduce funding for many of its events and activities.

Board Chair Liz Stockton and Parks & Recreation Director Ivy Rosenberg said they were pleased that the Palms West Chamber of Commerce and other sponsors had stepped up to support the village’s Oct. 31 Fall Festival, a victim of municipal budget cuts. “It was not slated in our budget,” Rosenberg said. “We did need to recruit sponsors much like the other events.” Rosenberg said the village is

Drew Martin

Mike McIntosh

Incumbent, Challenger Disagree On Port Finances And Future

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

On Nov. 4, voters will decide whether to return incumbent commissioner and Democrat Wayne Richards to Seat 1 on the Port of Palm Beach Commission, or elect his Republican challenger Thomas McCracken.

The port district includes large areas of central and northern Palm Beach County. In the western communities, all areas north of Southern Blvd. are in the district. This includes all of Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage, Loxahatchee and Loxahatchee Groves. Voters in the district get to vote for all five port commissioners, but only Seat 1 is contested in next week’s election.

Challenger McCracken, a North Palm Beach resident who works as a financial manager for the South Florida Water Management District, cites more than 20 years’ experience in finances and government among his qualifications for the office.

McCracken said he is running chiefly because he wants to bring more financial accountability to the port.

“The main issue I feel is that their financial situation is very,

very bad,” McCracken said. “They have been financially mismanaged for many, many years. In 2007, their auditor said they had a serious deficiency in financial reporting. They called it a material weakness, and those are the kinds of terms that most finance people and accountants take as alarm signals.”

McCracken said the port’s income has shrunk from about $13.5 million to about $12.5 million in recent years. “Their income is deteriorating,” he said. “Their expenses are increasing. That leads to serious losses.”

McCracken also said that he would support raising rent for the port’s tenants. “They are not getting adequate rents from the tenants,” he said. “When ships unload and move products through there, they pay fees on them. Their fee structure is inadequate to break even with their operations, and that’s the essence of financial mismanagement.”

McCracken also notes that three of the five port commission members are lawyers. “They have an attorney on staff, and they have a law firm on retainer,” he added. “My comment

‘They have an attorney on staff, and they have a law firm on retainer. My comment is, how many attorneys does it take to sink a port? They need a financial manager.’

— Challenger Thomas McCracken

is, how many attorneys does it take to sink a port? They need a financial manager. They need someone like me with an MBA in government and accounting experience to read and understand their financial expenses.”

McCracken notes that he was the director of planning and budgeting for Rinker Materials and has managed finances for the SFWMD for 20 years. “I have the educational experience and qualifications to do the job,” he said.

He criticized the port for spending $15.5 million to build new warehouse space. “They built 48,000 square feet for $322 per square foot,” McCracken said. “To get an adequate return, they would have to get $30 per square foot of rent.”

McCracken said he is also involved in environmental work.

A fellow of the Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute, McCracken said he supports the creation of a proposed inland port in the central peninsula area to serve as a trans-shipment point for goods, but not if it would interfere with Everglades restoration.

“The inland port has to be located in an area that has to be guaranteed not to interfere with any environmental projects,” he said. “If you put it in the wrong place, it could interfere with Everglades restoration projects. Palm Beach County and the State of Florida can still do Ev-

erglades restoration and the inter-modal facility, but they have to do them intelligently.”

McCracken also charged that some port commissioners have been serving too long, and the commission needs new blood.

“Some of the commissioners have been there for a long time, and have done all the good they can ever do,” he said.

Incumbent Richards, an attorney who lives in Bayhill Estates near The Acreage, takes issue with McCracken’s charges and said the Port of Palm Beach must work in partnership with the firms that utilize its facilities.

“We are very different,” Richards said. “Other ports operate the cranes, and other ports are operators. We are a landlord port. We don’t own the cranes or containers. We own the land and lease land.”

Richards said he has worked to get the port engaged in trade missions since he was first elected in 2000.

“We were the only port in South Florida that had not engaged in trade missions,” Richards said. “I am self-employed. I understand the need for the port to be self-sustaining.”

Richards said he strongly supports the creation of an inland port because of the jobs it would generate and the economic benefit it would have if built in western Palm Beach County.

Although he said it is still too early to say where it might go,

Richards would like to see it built in Palm Beach County rather than Martin County, where large landowners have been actively offering space.

“It would be very viable,” he said. “There is a pent-up need and demand for distribution and warehouse facilities in South Florida. We propose to link the three South Florida water ports: Miami-Dade, the Port of Palm Beach and Port Everglades. We are not going to have ships out in the middle of Florida. We want to have a large corridor distribution center where the Wal-Marts, Costcos and Home Depots of the world can go. They would be able to ship cargo into the port and then be sent by rail to other South Florida seaports.”

Richards also strongly denied McCracken’s allegations about financial troubles at the port, noting that its most recent audit raised only a few minor issues.

“The port is financially secure,” he said. “This is important to understand. The port generates cash revenues in excess of our expenditures. The port spends less than we bring in each year. We are cash-flow positive.”

McCrackenRichards

McCracken’s suggestions about raising rent at the port wouldn’t work, Richards said.

“He says he is against expansion, but we need to raise the rents,” Richards said. “We have a long-term agreement with all our tenants. We provide for various incremental increases, but we can’t throw their contracts or agreements out the window and raise the rents.”

Richards also charged that McCracken is against expansion of the port, but said growth is of critical importance. “How do you bring in more revenue otherwise?” Richards asked. “By supporting the expansion, it allows us to go deeper and allows us to go wider. It allows us to bring in slightly bigger ships to the Port of Palm Beach.”

‘The port is financially secure. The port generates cash revenues in excess of our expenditures. The port spends less than we bring in each year. We are cash-flow positive.’

— Commissioner Wayne Richards

TOWN-CRIER ENDORSEMENTS

Re-Elect Atwater To State Senate, Richards To Port Commission

On the Nov. 4 ballot there will be candidates for a number of crucial offices. This week, the TownCrier offers our opinions on the State Senate race in District 25 and the one contested seat on the Port of Palm Beach Commission.

FLORIDA SENATE DISTRICT 25 — The race for District 25 in the Florida Senate pits Republican incumbent Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach against challenger Linda Bird, a Democrat from Broward County. Although the political winds this election season are blowing in the Democrats’ direction, this is one instance where party affiliation is of little importance. Atwater’s legislative accomplishments include passing windstorm insurance reform and co-sponsoring anti-gang legislation, issues that are important for all Floridians. For the past six years, Atwater has done a stellar job representing his district, which includes large portions of Wellington and parts of Royal Palm Beach. He has a good working relationship with local officials and is never out of reach. If re-elected, Atwater is slated to serve as senate president. That would mean good things for the western communities. With Atwater in the top seat — a role in which he would control the state agenda — central Palm Beach County stands to benefit. Bird is a staunch supporter of education who has proven a serious candidate throughout her campaign. However, she spent far too much of her campaign time attacking Atwater rather than offering ideas for how she would legislate. And while Bird being a Broward County resident isn’t necessarily a strike against her, it does raise the question of how committed she would be to the western communities. The residents of District 25 have the chance to have the most powerful man in the senate representing them. They should take advantage of the opportunity. The TownCrier strongly endorses the re-election of Jeff Atwater to State Senate District 25.

PORT OF PALM BEACH COMMISSION, SEAT 1 — Democrat Wayne Richards is seeking a third four-year term on the Port of Palm Beach Commission. In his time at the port, Richards has gone from an outsider bent on breaking up an old boys club to a leader on a commission that is far more beholden to the community at large and is run more like the modern business it is. Richards has also been a friend of the western communities, very active in the push for a nearby inland port and working with the Indian Trail Improvement District to help keep port trucks off local roads. Challenger Thomas McCracken is a well-qualified candidate who would certainly shake up the status quo, but our current uncertain economy is not the time for unnecessary change. The Town-Crier endorses the reelection of Wayne Richards to the Port of Palm Beach Commission.

Media Should Be Honest

About Bias

I rarely pay any attention to the features page of the TownCrier. However, Leonard Wechsler’s “‘I’ On Culture” column caught my attention last week, and I actually read it in its entirety. To basically recap the article, Leonard points out there is a “left” or “liberal” leaning media (i.e. more Democraticfavored in their “reporting”) and a “right” or “conservative” leaning media (i.e. more Republican favored in their “reporting”). He states this is a phenomenon that has emerged in an ever-widening political and moral great divide that is characterizing our country. Leonard presents very good points, which have been a hot topic for quite some time among just about any American except, at least in its public discourse, the media itself.

Remember that old Billy Joel song which went something like this, “honesty is such a lonely word / everyone is so untrue. Honesty, is very rarely heard. It’s mostly what I need from you”? This is a great concept for the entire media platform across the country to rediscover or perhaps discover for the first time. I think honesty is that important because the “great divide” has gotten so wide in its basic and defining but very divergent principles that chances of unity, except for rather brief moments

stemming from isolated events like 9/11, are realistically unattainable. And anyone, be he the so-called “maverick” or the socalled “messiah,” who says they can unite this great divide is living an illusion. It is simply not going to happen. So as a candidate, if your record substantiates that you are the most “liberal” senator in the Senate, come clean and state who you really are and stop hiding behind claims to the contrary — that’s dishonest. And if your record substantiates that you are one of the least conservative senators in the Senate, come clean and state who you really are and stop hiding behind claims to the contrary — that’s dishonest. And for the media — probably the most dishonest of all — just come clean and give me the facts, ma’am or sir, just the facts and all of the facts… please! Let me qualify that statement. I have noticed that in the “conservative-leaning” media as defined in Leonard’s article, they at least state that they are “conservativeleaning.” That honesty is to be applauded. Whereas the “liberal-leaning” media as defined by Leonard’s article present themselves as the objective truthgrantors to the world and don’t state their liberal leaning. We should all boo them until they at least say who they really are.

While you may disagree with the Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannitys, Glenn Becks, Chris Wallaces of the world, at least you know where they are coming

TOWN-CRIER GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSEMENT SUMMARY

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for the general election. Over the past month, the Town-Crier has issued the following endorsements:

U.S. Congress, District 16: TOM ROONEY

U.S. Congress, District 22: RON KLEIN

State Senate, District 25: JEFF ATWATER

State Senate, District 27: DAVE ARONBERG

Florida House of Representatives, District 85: HOWARD COATES

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections: BOB MARGOLIS

State Attorney, 15th Circuit: MICHAEL McAULIFFE

Indian Trail Board of Supervisors, Seat 2: CARLOS ENRIQUEZ

Port of Palm Beach Commission, Seat 1: WAYNE RICHARDS

County Charter Amendment (Home Rule): YES

State Constitutional Amendment 1 (Declaration of Rights): YES

State Constitutional Amendment 2 (Marriage): NO

State Constitutional Amendment 3 (Hurricane Assessments): YES

State Constitutional Amendment 4 (Conservation Assessments): YES

State Constitutional Amendment 6 (Marina Assessments): YES

State Constitutional Amendment 8 (Local Option College Funding): YES

Whether or not you agree with our opinions, please make sure to vote in the Nov. 4 general election and help keep our democracy strong!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

from. I’d like to hear the Tom Brokaws, Lester Holts, Katie Courics, Charlie Gibsons and Chris Matthews of the world be just as honest and state their “liberal” leanings. Maybe the biggest lesson in this election for us all is to gauge our honesty level.

One other thing, spare me the hate mail. I am neither a “flag burning,” “anti-military,” government-is-the-great-savior-ofall liberal. Nor am I a “homophobic,” “warmonger,” “racist” conservative. I fly the flag perpetually on my front porch. I happily employ minorities in my company. And that’s just a couple of examples of what I really am — first and foremost a truth seeker. So please, send hate mail to yourself in all those areas of your thinking where you have the plank of dishonesty in your own eye. And then be a good American and turn to whatever political party you belong to and help yank the plank out of theirs.

Dan Fioramonti Loxahatchee

Dire Times Breed Change

Intellectuals desire change when the status quo results in war and economic crises. Not everyone will desire change. It will depend upon each person’s tolerance for dealing with adversity within the status quo. Those who desire change will be strongly motivated by crises

in the economy and war. The stage has been set for both, and it is not surprising that the candidate who is offering a new solution will be preferred to one who represents the status quo.

Those who have lost faith in the status quo believe the economic crisis and war can be resolved favorably only through a change in government, which in a democracy means a change from the party that represents the status quo to the party that represents change.

“Change voters” hope the new government will end the disastrous economic conditions and the ravages of war, and trust more in the unknown than they do in their lost hope in the status quo.

No matter what new theory those who represent the status quo propose, they are unlikely to satisfy those who fear more of the same thinking that they hold responsible for the crises of the economy and war. Those who desire change do not do so based upon an intellectual grasp of economics or military strategy. They are advocates of change from the status quo. They desire something new, whatever it is called, and whatever form it takes. Change for the sake of change can assuage fears of the unknown by injecting the possibility of a new cure for an ailment that has proven to be resistant to the medicine of the status quo.

Under the pressure of crises, the decision to vote for change

OPINION

is a choice between a government that is dying and one that is coming to birth. Change is expected to perform political surgery on the foredoomed government body, which nothing less drastic can save.

Choice becomes a blunt instrument by those who lack the force and clarity necessary to overcome crises. New governance presents itself as the only hope to survive the crises that are the children of a divided political household. The result is likely to be a shift in power to governance free of checks and balances, and one that is free to experiment with new economic and military cures on a body politic that is believed to be terminal.

Frank Morelli Wellington

Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and a Congress under Democratic control will raise tax rates on those people whose income is higher than others, in order to fund new programs for those whose income is lower. One of those programs involves nega-

tive tax for lower-income folks.

That is, instead of paying income taxes, those people will get more money directly from the treasury. The Democratic government will also refund much of Social Security taxes on those in the lower income brackets but not reduce their later benefits.

Democrats claim that these actions will not constitute “redistribution of wealth” by the federal government. No matter. They will be elected to office. They will be elected by a combined vote of the sort of folks who maximize their credit card debt and buy houses that they cannot afford, those who sincerely believe that they are always being treated unfairly and that is why they aren’t rich, those who feel sympathy for and kinship with a candidate who is not the historical white male, and those who believe that government should, indeed, function as a latter-day Robin Hood.

Only later will we learn whether it was a wise move to make these sweeping changes. I think it will prove disastrous in the long run.

Phil Sexton Wellington

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New Book By Local Party Boss Makes For An Interesting Read

I normally limit myself to writing about local politics in this column. I always know personally the candidates I’m writing about, and I rarely have any doubt about where they stand on the local issues. Since we’re on the eve of one the most important national elections of our lifetime, I started boning up on the major issues. Then, before you could say “Sid Dinerstein,” I happened onto the book Adults Only, subtitled “For Those Who Love Their Country More Than Their Party.”

Mr. Dinerstein is a native of Brooklyn, head of a financial services company, a former New Jersey elected school board member, a former youth coach and current boss of the Palm Beach County Republican Club. He can now add author to his impressive résumé. The Adults Only title was a bit disappointing because I expected a somewhat juicy read with perhaps a few photos of Sarah Palin wearing her Wonder Woman glasses scattered among the pages. Instead all I got was some Dinersteinesque humor and an admonishment that Americans need to start acting like adults while solving all our national woes. Here are a few of his points, which he would make constitutional amendments:

• People elected to Congress expect to spend the rest of their lives in the job we give them. Consequently, we become less important (children) and they become more beholden to each other while spending our money. In Mr. Dinerstein’s world, congressmen would serve a maximum of four two-year terms and senators would serve two six-year terms. “Lifers need not apply,” he writes.

• Create a real “Adults Only” balanced budget amendment that would prohibit the cumulative national debt from increasing from one year to the next. That means new spending must come from somewhere else in the government budget “the same way that you do over the kitchen table when all of a sudden you have an emergency in your family…”

Point of View...

By Don Brown

• His third amendment would be to make English the official language. “We all came from somewhere else,” Mr. Dinerstein writes. “Each new immigrant group added to our culture with unique words, fabulous foods and a great work ethic. The common goals were opportunity and assimilation. That meant speaking in English and dollars.” Noting the extraordinarily large Hispanic culture, English is even more essential. “If we have friends and amigos, our ‘e pluribus’ will stop becoming ‘unum,’” Mr. Dinerstein asserts. Mr. Dinerstein would use his constitutional amendments to solve today’s most pressing issues such as healthcare, Social Security, Medicare and the myriad entitlement programs. His healthcare reform measure would include a $5,000 deductible with everything above that amount covered. It would require free periodic physicals, shots and tests, national (not state) policies, caps on lawsuit awards, small-business insurance pools and other programs too complicated for me to explain. Calling entitlements “the fiscal elephants sitting right in the middle of our national living room,” Mr. Dinerstein would change Social Security benefits to start at age 75 because people are living longer than when the system was created. Keep the contributions in a lock box so Congress can’t get their hands on the money, end all employment taxes at age 65 and repeal taxes on Social Security earnings to give seniors an incentive to work longer.

TOWN-CRIER

Mr. Dinerstein also has a lot to say about social issues such as parenting and fatherless homes in a chapter called “Who’s Your Daddy?” He is critical of the education system, which he terms the “Achilles heel of America” and the criminal justice system, which he describes as being too soft on crime. About the war on terrorism, he declares, “Everybody in Washington puts America second.” His environmental solution is to help make poor countries rich because people in rich countries want to live better — and cleaner. “The fastest way to a pristine planet is by making the world wealthy,” he writes.

In a “Call to Action” chapter in his book, Mr. Dinerstein asks citizens to demand that congressional and presidential candidates take a pledge to support his proposed Constitutional amendments. Mr. Dinerstein’s short book is more like a pamphlet. It is a bit simplistic in some spots, but offers good common sense in others. You can get a copy by visiting www.siddinerstein.com. What does any of this have with my unsolicited observations about our national election next Tuesday? Nothing! I got distracted by Adults Only My recommendation: vote for the candidate of your choice... or flip a coin.

Useful Wisdom From Past Presidents

As we trundle into the final days of this endless presidential campaign and wish the winner all the luck in the world, which he certainly will need, I thought it rather interesting to relate some of the wit and wisdom uttered at one time or another by a few previous presidents.

For example, George Washington said, “few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder.”

The father of our country also said about political parties, “however they may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be able to subvert the power of the people and to usurp, for themselves, the reins of government, destroying afterwards the

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin

very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

He also opined, “we ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”

Then there were the sometimes sublime words of Woodrow Wilson. “The cure for bad politics is the same as the cure for tuberculosis,” he said. “It is living in the open.” He also authored, “the presidential office is not a rosewater affair. This is an office in which a man must

put on his war paint.” Add this to his collection: “if you want to make enemies, just try to change something,” and the immortal, “if you think too much about being re-elected, it is very difficult to be worth re-electing.” Of course, there are some well-tuned phrases from Herbert Hoover. They include, “blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt,” and, “the thing I enjoyed most were the visits from the children. They did not want public offices.” He also said, “being a politician is a poor profession. Being a public servant is a noble one.” We’ll end today’s history lesson with Hoover’s quote, “votes are the professional politicians’ idea of food for the gods... which is kept in pork barrels.”

Elbridge Gale Dedicates Media Center To Educator Keely Spinelli

By Candace Marchsteiner Town-Crier Staff Report

Elbridge Gale Elementary School honored children’s literacy enthusiast and visionary Keely Spinelli, former principal of Binks Forest Elementary School, with a special gift on Spinelli’s 46th birthday. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, before a room filled with Spinelli’s family, friends and Palm Beach County School District peers, Elbridge Gale Principal Gail Pasterczyk renamed the school’s library the Keely Spinelli Media Center.

Reading a poem inspired by a quote from late Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi about cheering for “the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it,” West Area Instructional Specialist Maureen Grosvenor said, “for Keely Spinelli — a mentor, a believer — we dedicate Elbridge Gale’s library to a true literacy leader.”

With that, Spinelli cut the purple ribbon on the center’s door, assisted by her husband Peter, a second grade teacher at the school. The world of education became smaller as some shared their experiences with and connections to Spinelli through the years. Pasterczyk recalled meeting the “vibrant, bouncy” woman while taking classes at Nova Southeastern University two decades ago, working with Peter at Manatee Elementary School, and opening Elbridge Gale four years ago when Peter came back into her life.

“When Keely opened her west area literary center office out of our school last year, it made our family complete,” Pasterczyk added. Spinelli was appointed director of the district’s first literary center, a place for teachers to learn, after serving as Binks Forest principal for five years.

K-12 Curriculum Director Liz Perlman said the literacy training center for teachers exists because Keely was there to get it done. “She has a deeper understanding of how children learn to read,” Perlman said.

Wellington Village Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto recalled her first contact with Spinelli. Challenged to fix the literacy problem that Spinelli

It’s

You

saw, Benacquisto responded, “teach me.” Now a resource room exists in every Wellington school, a gift from the Village of Wellington because of Spinelli’s work, Benacquisto said. “You’ll have a continuing impact on our children,” she added.

Resource rooms include materials and grade-level reading books for teachers to use when planning their instructions, along with creative ideas to help struggling readers.

Books for children claimed part of the spotlight. Each table held a Spinelli favorite, an additional gift from Elbridge Gale. The crowd watched a video message from Palm Beach County Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson and other top administrators who could not attend. A laughing, tearful audience then joined in singing “Happy Birthday” to Spinelli. Beyond a celebration of accomplishments and relationships, the event assured Spinelli of her profound legacy as she continues her battle with ovarian cancer.

Diagnosed nearly six years ago, she fought the disease as she worked. Treatment finally became unbearable, so she decided more than a year ago to let things take their natural course. Peter, her devoted husband of 21 years, and Drew, the couple’s 17-year-old son and a Wellington High School junior, are determined “to be thankful for every day that we have her.”

Peter Spinelli spoke of his wife’s love of people and her desire to not let the disease consume her. Together, they found something joyful around every corner, he said. “She’s touched so many lives, and we really look at the blessings all around us,” he said. A decline in Spinelli’s condition gave Peter the unwanted but necessary job of telling their son that his mother might not see him graduate. Drew smiled with understanding acceptance and told his father that his mother had already talked with him about the possibility six months earlier. “She’s definitely still Keely,” Peter said. “She always plans ahead.”

Addressing the dedication

audience, Peter praised Keely’s abilities as a mother and wife.

“She taught me to be a better teacher,” he said. “She truly is deserving of this honor, and it makes me so happy.”

Don Estridge High Tech Middle School Principal Karen Whetsell offered her own thoughts on Spinelli.

“Keely and her knight continue to slay that dragon,” Whetsell said. “On behalf of your peers from neighboring kingdoms, I couldn’t think of a better gift than a library that bears your name.”

Monetary gifts in Spinelli’s honor may be made to Elbridge Gale Elementary School for media center books with a nameplate that includes both Keely’s and the donor’s names. Donations can also be made to the Spinelli Trust Fund at Wellington’s SunTrust Bank for uncovered medical expenses.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

PHOTOS BY CANDACE

The Spinelli F The Spinelli F The Spinelli F The Spinelli F Family amily amily amily — (Front row, L-R) Nephew Alexy Salopek, Keely’s brother Al Salopek, niece Natasha Salopek, Keely and Peter; (back row) Keely’s father Dr. Tom Salopek, sister-inlaw Keely Salopek, sister Cindy Guinn, mother Mary Salopek, niece Jaci Farina, Peter’s mother Jackie Spinelli and his sister Ann Farina, aunt Dr. Carol Razza, Peter’s father Ben Spinelli and son Drew Spinelli.

Keely and Peter Spinelli with Elbridge Gale Assistant

Principal Kevin Krieger and Principal Gail Pasterczyk.

Keely Spinelli’s co-workers, family and friends fill the media center to capacity.

Maureen Grosvenor and Liz Perlman.

Suspect Arrested For Royal Palm Vehicle Burglaries

By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report

OCT. 23 — A man was arrested last Thursday in connection with the Aug. 30 burglary of two vehicles outside a home in Royal Palm Beach. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, the vehicles were burglarized overnight while parked in the driveway of a home on Yeoman Lane. Stolen from one of the vehicles were $3 in change, a 20-volt stun gun and a can of pepper spray. Stolen from the other vehicle were a JVC car stereo, a two-gigabyte iPod and a ring of keys. PBSO detectives later discovered the iPod and stereo at two different pawn shops on Military Trail in West Palm Beach. According to the report, an in-custody arrest was made of 20-year-old Alexander Carballoso, who was in the Palm Beach County Jail on unrelated charges. He was charged with burglary, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and false verification of ownership.

• •

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OCT. 22 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road last Wednesday morning regarding a shoplifter. According to a PBSO report, 22year-old Jason Woods purchased a car speaker and exited the store. He returned several hours later with the speaker and the receipt of purchase. Woods proceeded to the audio department, where he selected two other car speakers, placed all three in a shopping cart and attempted to exit the store. He was arrested and charged with retail theft.

OCT. 23 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested last Thursday following a traffic stop in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 12:30 p.m. a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation observed a white SUV driven by 18-year-old Ricky Houser make an illegal Uturn on State Road 7. The deputy made a traffic stop and learned via dispatch there was a warrant for Houser’s arrest on a grand theft charge. Houser was arrested and taken to the county jail.

OCT. 23 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched last Thursday to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road regarding a shoplifter. According to a PBSO report, a store

employee observed 42-year-old David Durben of Boynton Beach in the baby department, where he selected eight cans of Enfamil infant formula. The employee further observed Durben exit the store without paying for the merchandise. Durben was apprehended and arrested for retail theft. He was taken to the county jail.

OCT. 24 — A resident of South Club Drive called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Friday regarding a criminal mischief complaint. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 10 p.m. last Thursday and 9 a.m. last Friday, someone smashed the mailbox in front of the victim’s house, possibly using a baseball bat. The victim did not hear or see anything suspicious throughout the night. However, several other mailboxes in the neighborhood were also damaged. The victim estimated the cost to repair the mailbox between $20 and $30. There was no suspect information at the time of the report.

OCT. 25 — Two Pahokee women were arrested for shoplifting last Saturday at the JCPenney department store in the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, a store employee observed 18year-old Samantha King and 21year-old Crystal Sterling select numerous costume jewelry items from the accessory department and enter a fitting room. When they left the room, the items were no longer visible. King and Sterling then exited the store, passing all points of sale without paying for the merchandise. They were apprehended, and the merchandise was located inside the shopping bags King had been carrying. One bag contained $122 worth of merchandise; the other contained items totaling $288. Both were arrested and charged with petit theft.

OCT. 26 — A Lake Worth man was arrested early last Sunday morning for drunk driving in Royal Palm Beach. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 3 a.m. deputies from the Royal Palm Beach substation were parked at the intersection of State Road 7 and Belvedere Road when they received a call regarding a drunk driver. The deputies traveled southbound on SR 7, where they observed a Chevy pickup truck driven by 35-year-old Juan Mendieta driving erratically. After a traffic stop was conducted, Mendieta

BLOTTER, page 7

Man Dies In Four-Car Collision In Wellington

OCT. 29 — A West Palm Beach man was killed in a traffic collision early Wednesday morning on State Road 7 in Wellington.

According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, 30-year-old Geral Ramirez, a PBSO deputy, was traveling northbound on SR 7 when his vehicle crossed over the center median and into the southbound lanes.

Ramirez’s vehicle struck the left front side of a Dodge van driven by 60-year-old Manuel Matute. The van rotated coun-

terclockwise into the path of two other vehicles, driven by 56year-old Robert Morgan of The Acreage and 34-year-old Orlando Cordova of West Palm Beach, according to the report. Matute’s vehicle collided with the right front of Cordova’s vehicle and struck the left side of Morgan’s. Matute was pronounced dead at the scene. Ramirez was transported to Wellington Regional Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries. Morgan and Cordova sustained no injuries.

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

• Dina Hagenmiller is a white female, 5’3” tall and weighing 120 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. Her date of birth is 07/23/61. She has tattoos on her abdomen and right hip, and a scar on her right knee. Hagenmiller is wanted for violation of probation on a conviction for cocaine possession. Her occupation is unknown. Her last known address was 54th Street North in The Acreage. Hagenmiller is wanted as of 10/30/08.

• Thomas Nelson is a white male, 5’10” tall and weighing 160 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 05/07/67. Nelson is wanted for unemployment compensation fraud. His occupation is teller. His last known address was 32nd Lane North in The Acreage. Nelson is wanted as of 10/30/08. 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.

Dina Hagenmiller

Thomas Nelson

Rooney Debates Alone At Forum Club

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

A much-anticipated debate last Friday at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches between the candidates for U.S. Congress in District 16 turned into a get-toknow-you event for Republican Tom Rooney after the incumbent, embattled Democratic Congressman Tim Mahoney, declined to participate. Mahoney, embroiled in a scandal involving extramarital affairs, one involving a former campaign worker, declined to take part in the debate, reportedly because the Forum Club allowed television coverage of the event.

With no one to present the Democratic point of view, the structure of the debate was expanded to include questions from the audience, after Rooney was given ten minutes for an opening statement and then answered six questions suggested by Forum Club members and posed by moderator and WPTV news anchor Jim Sackett. Although none of the six official debate questions touched on Mahoney’s troubles, the topic came up quickly when questions from the audience were invited. When asked about the impact of the Mahoney scandal on his campaign, Rooney avoided offering any estimates but

said he and his supporters had been busy keeping their heads down in the fight, and knocking on doors.

“As far as to how it will help or hurt me, we will let the voters decide,” he said. “Voters are very sophisticated. My life has gotten infinitely busier over the last ten days, but that’s a good thing. It has given me the chance to be in front of you all today. You might not agree with what I do or vote or say all the time, but I think that I am someone you can be proud of in Washington.”

Rooney is the grandson of legendary Pittsburgh Steelers founding owner Art Rooney, who supposedly founded the team with winnings from a lucky bet on a horse and was well known as a racetrack aficionado, and the son of Patrick Rooney, who owns the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Rooney was asked for his position on legalized gambling in light of his background.

Rooney said he felt gambling legislation should be decided on a state level, and the federal government should stay out of it. He said his grandfather’s first love was horseracing, and some of his earliest memories involve visiting the racetrack with his grandfather.

“Up until the day he died, he was a racetrack kind of guy,” Rooney said. “Some of my best memories were walking back into the stable area, holding my granddad’s hand and talking to jockeys like they were Michael

Jordan. I love my dad and my grandfather. I will put up Art Rooney against anyone’s legacy any day of the week.”

Asked whether a Republican would best serve District 16 in the event of a Democratic majority in Congress, Rooney said he believes his set of values reflects that of the majority of residents in the district, but that he would be able to work with people of all political philosophies.

“Many people in my family are Democrats, and my friends are Democrats,” he said. “A friend of mine from Pennsylvania is a Democrat. We went to West Point together. I look forward to working with members of Congress who might not be on the same team. That doesn’t mean sacrificing my values.”

Rooney was also asked whether he had confidence that Sen. John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was up to the task of assuming the presidency. “Governor Palin met me and sat with me and talked to me about ten minutes,” Rooney replied. “I believe that she is intelligent and articulate and she represents the best this country can produce. I also believe that people have to stop assuming that John McCain is going to kick the bucket.”

Congressional District 16 includes Charlotte County on the west coast of the peninsula, all of Glades, Highlands and Okeechobee counties inland, as well as parts of Hendry, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties.

Early

Voting continued from page 1 polling place who endured an hour and a half wait in the early afternoon on Thursday generally said the wait was worth it to avoid the possibility of being shut out on Election Day. “You do what you have to do,” Wellington’s Marge Behringer said. “I don’t know what the polls are going to be like on Election Day. To be a part of it, an hour and a half is not all that bad.”

Frances Hack of Royal Palm Beach said she didn’t mind the wait. “The wait is nothing compared to what is going to happen,” she said. “On Nov. 4, history is going to be made. That’s going to be a big turnaround for all of us. I’m not going to say anything bad about the wealthy, but the workers are in big trouble; they need help. I know who I’m going to vote for, but I hope whoever gets voted in will make a change. We need help.”

Sheila Kramer of western Lake Worth, recently relocated from Virginia, said the process

Blotter

continued from page 6 agreed to a field-sobriety test and was transported to the blood-alcohol testing unit, where he registered a .161. He was arrested for DUI and taken to the county jail.

OCT. 28 — A resident of Riverside Circle called the PBSO substation in Wellington on Tuesday night regarding a stolen vehicle. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11:05 and 11:15 p.m. someone stole the victim’s black Mazda from her driveway.

had gone smoothly, the wait notwithstanding. “It’s our first time voting in Florida,” she said. “Everything was fine. It went smoothly. It seemed a little crowded in the room there with all the little places.” Kramer said the presence of a paper trail was reassuring. “In Virginia when we voted we just pushed a lever or you pushed the screen,” she said. “I don’t think there was any backup on those. I’m happy to have a backup, and I’d rather stand in line and make it a little longer and have a backup so when you do a recount they know what they’re doing.”

People wishing to take advantage of early voting in Palm Beach County can check in advance on the estimated waiting times at each of the 11 polling places by visiting www.pbc elections.org and clicking on Early Voting Wait Times on the right side of the screen. Approximate wait times are updated at least every two hours. Eligible voters should bring a photo ID and signature ID with them.

OCT. 29 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched on Wednesday to a home on Wood Dale Terrace regarding a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. the following morning, someone entered the victim’s patio enclosure, took a beer from the small refrigerator by the pool and opened the unlocked kitchen window, taking $65 in cash from a purse. No suspect information was available.

Candidate Tom Rooney with moderator Jim Sackett.

Democrat Ron Klein Seeking Second Term In Washington, D.C.

By Ron Bukley

Town-Crier Staff Report

First-term Congressman Ron Klein (D-Boca Raton) is defending his 22nd U.S. Congression-

al District seat from a challenge by Broward County Republican Allen West. The district includes large portions of Palm Beach and

Broward counties, including parts of the western communities.

Klein, who served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1992 to 1997 and the State Senate from 1997 to 2006 before being elected to Congress two years ago, told the TownCrier he is the best candidate to represent the district because of the breadth of his legislative experience.

“My reputation is not as a partisan person, but as someone who tries to bring together the best and the brightest approaches and find consensus,” he said.

Among his accomplishments in Washington, D.C., Klein is most proud of garnering legislative support for the Homeowners’ Defense Act, which would form a national catastrophic insurance pool.

“We had 49 states saying, ‘hurricanes, that’s your problem, Florida,’” he recalled. “We were able to come up with an idea of voluntarily pooling risks for all major disasters: hurricanes, earthquakes, firestorms, tornadoes, floods — and that was something that has become more appealing around the country as we wake up each day and see there’s a new natural disaster.”

Getting the legislation passed is among Klein’s top goals for his next term. “It passed the House already,” he said. “It’s in the Senate, and we have lot of

good support. President Bush did not like it; he felt like the market will ‘hit its equilibrium.’

I have my Republican friends talking to his advisors on that, but with a new president, I’m hoping there’s an opportunity to get that done.”

Another accomplishment he cites is sponsorship of a resolution that asks that any U.S. funding for Iraqi reconstruction and security forces training is delivered in loan form, to be repaid through Iraq’s oil profits.

“One of the things President Bush sold us on was that the Iraqis were going to pay the cost of reconstruction, and it never happened,” he said. “We spent over $700 billion so far in Iraq; $339 million per day. I introduced a bill saying that the cost of training their military should be paid for through Iraqi oil money. President Bush rejected it in the beginning, but we were able to get bipartisan support, and part of that is now in our appropriations. That’s an example of how you can bring together Democrats and Republicans and get things done.”

If returned to Washington, Klein also wants to continue working on energy alternatives, including wind, solar and wave power, and finding a way of dealing with high-sulfur coal. More domestic oil drilling is not a long-term solution, he said, and the nation must move ahead full speed on developing alter-

native energy sources and the technology that goes with them.

Cellulosic ethanol derived from biomass such as sugarcane waste and native American switchgrass offers a reasonable alternative, he said.

“For national security, for jobs and the economy, this could be an economic boon for the United States if we focus on energy as an economic issue,” Klein said. “It’s also an environmental issue, and Florida is in the middle of that.”

Klein said Congress must act to get the federal budget under control, as the national debt has a negative pressure on the economy. “We need to get the budget in line,” he said. “There is a lot of pressure on the dollar, having this massive debt.”

Klein said he voted in favor of the recent financial bailout legislation. “We needed to do something, but it was not the silver bullet,” he said. “The bottom line is we have a massive number of homes in foreclosure or near it. What we cannot afford is another million or two million homes to go into foreclosure.”

Klein said he also wants to expand the amount of money available to the Small Business Administration for loans.

Besides the economy and energy policy, Klein said healthcare is another top concern, although it has lately been overshadowed. “We have one of the

best healthcare systems in the world, but we have some of the biggest gaps,” he said. “Some people choose not to be insured and lots of people show up at emergency rooms, the least efficient form of health care you can get.”

Klein said all Americans deserve access to some form of baseline health coverage. “Beyond that, people can pick and choose what they can afford,” he said. On Everglades restoration, Klein is happy Congress has recently taken the first step toward paying its fair share, but more must be done. “The federal government totally dropped the ball on this,” he said, noting that Congress finally provided authorization for the money, but has yet to appropriate the funding.

Klein’s work in Congress is not restricted to domestic issues. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Klein is vice chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia and also sits on the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He said that through his work on these subcommittees, he has come to see that the nation’s current containment policy on nuclear weapons is flawed. The Russian Federation has the greatest number of nuclear devices that could fall into the

Rep. Ron Klein faces challenger Allen West on Nov. 4.

See KLEIN, page 18

Challenger Allen West Focuses On His Military Experience

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Republican Allen West, challenging incumbent Congressman Ron Klein (D-Boca Raton) for the 22nd U.S. Congressional District, considers his military and public service experience key factors in his candidacy.

West has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, and two master’s degrees, one from Kansas State University and a second from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. In a 22-year Army career, West attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning many decorations including the Bronze Star. He moved his family to Broward County in December 2003. Following a year teaching high school in Deerfield Beach, West served as a civilian advisor to the Afghan national army from June 2005 to November 2007.

Starting from the Martin County line, Congressional District 22 includes parts of the western communities, suburban West Palm Beach and central Palm Beach County, continuing down through the south county area and into Broward County. West said residents of the district are looking for three things in their congressman: service, sacrifice and commitment.

“That’s what the American people and the people in District 22 are truly looking for right now,” he said. If elected, West said the first

thing he wants to do is work to rein in the federal government, which he said has overstepped its bounds through intervention in the financial markets.

“It just spiraled out of control,” West said. “We have to get the government back into the basic mandates that the constitution laid out. We have to get the government back under control. We have to do the right things within the free-market system to heal our economy.”

While West counts the economy at his top issue, national energy policy and immigration are close behind. All are linked in some way to national security, he said.

West said the government must devise a tiered or phased program to deal with the status of illegal immigrants. “We have to get this thing under control. I don’t think American taxpayers want tax dollars to go toward individuals being here illegally,” he said. “We can look at guest worker programs. We need to get rid of the sanctuary cities in our country. We need to look at our prisons. It’s another place where we have illegal aliens. They should be deported. We also need to look at how we are doing our visa process in other countries.”

West also said the United States must become energy independent and stop relying on terrorist-supporting and hostile nations for oil. “This is one of the battlefields of the 21st century,” he said. “You have to develop a full spectrum of diver-

sifying programs with everything from fossil fuels to renewables. We have to stop looking at oil companies as oil companies. They have to be energy companies.”

West said he would not have supported the federal bailout of financial institutions, and that congressmen who voted for it — like Klein — will have a hard time justifying it to their constituents. “Government intervention into the mortgage market got us into this in the first place,” he said.

West said he supports an increase of capital in the economy and providing tax credit incentives to encourage investment. “I would look at eliminating capital gains and dividend taxes,” he said.

West also urges the creation of an FDIC-style agency to insure mortgage-backed securities. “If you come in with a very risky security, your insurance rates will go a bit higher,” he said. “We have to re-categorize those mortgages.”

West said he wants to provide economic relief to western communities residents as far as he is able, but he disagrees with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama on how to go about it.

“There’s not a whole lot I can do about state property tax,” he said. “I can relieve the federal government tax issue for all citizens. That’s where I disagree with Sen. Obama. He says he will target a group of people. That’s not the government’s

business. We have to be careful about using the progressive tax system as a means of creating a class warfare, which is a very socialist premise.”

While West agrees with the concept of a nationwide catastrophic insurance fund, he takes issue with the pending legislation that Klein helped craft.

“The whole thing about the cat fund is based on the state’s ability to sell bonds,” he charged. “The bonds are in trouble. They can’t sell the bond, and you can’t have a cat fund. The concept is good, but you have to have a concept that takes care of the American people.”

West said that while it was bad to be a Republican in 2006, which helped Klein win the district from longtime GOP powerbroker Clay Shaw, this year it’s bad to be an incumbent.

“There are going to be some people who say, ‘You have an R behind your name, and I won’t look at you.’ I can’t do anything about that,” he said. “If you are concerned about where this country is going and what’s best for the people in the future, the choice is clear.”

West said the Republican Party itself is having an identity crisis, and is being defined by those outside the party, but he said he stands well outside the image of the party hack. “Nobody can pin me down and say I’m an inside party guy,” he said. “I’m an independent thinker. I am a Republican only because my principles and values are conservative.”

“There

West considers his top strengths to be his dedication and his tenacity, as well as his learning curve, saying he picks up on issues very quickly. He charged that Klein’s strength is actually a weakness: ties to special interests and lobbying groups. “It’s a lot like the guy in The Wizard of Oz ,” he said.

795-1404

Congressional hopeful Allen West discusses his priorities with the Town-Crier editorial board.

is this big grand thing, and if you pull the curtain back, you will see someone turning wheels and pushing dials. Ron Klein’s positions and strengths are not that strong. I come from the military. I believe my character is stronger than his. He can’t hide. He has to stand up on the record he has produced.”

HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW

Buckler’s Holiday Craft Show was held at the South Florida Fairgrounds Oct. 24-26. The event featured a wide variety of crafts and accessories from the unusual to the unique, many themed for the fall and winter holidays. Buckler’s Christmas show will take place Dec 12-14 at the fairgrounds. Call (561) 793-0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com for more information. Pictured above is Dody McAndrew with her handmade fall items.

BY

MAMMOGRAM TALK IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

Palms West Hospital Breast Center Manager Colleen Campbell gave a presentation on the importance of mammograms on Friday, Oct. 16 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Campbell stressed the importance of women 40 and older having mammograms and clinical breast exams conducted annually. She said that in view of health history, your doctor should decide whether you need earlier or more frequent tests or screenings. A question-and-answer session followed. These health lectures are given once a month and are advertised on the Village of Royal Palm Beach’s web site at www.royalpalmbeach.com. If there is a particular subject on health and or fitness that you are interested in hearing more about, call Dolly Hughes at (561) 792-5503 or (561) 790-5149 and she will try to schedule it. Pictured above, Campbell discusses mammograms with the audience.

FUNDRAISER FOR ROONEY AT THE PLAYERS CLUB

A fundraiser for U.S. Congressional candidate Tom Rooney was held Wednesday night at the Players Club restaurant in Wellington. Guests gathered to show their support for Rooney, the Republican challenger running against incumbent Demo-

Helping Hands Fundraiser At Duffy’s In RPB

Duffy’s Sports Bar in Royal Palm Beach will host a family night fundraiser on Monday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. for Helping Hands Charities. The benefit will help a local fiveyear-old boy who needs eye surgery to prevent monocular blindness. Duffy’s is located in the Crestwood shopping center. For more information, call Rose-Anne Raies at (561) 7952672.

Family Fun Fair Saturday At St. Michael Church

St. Michael Lutheran Church (1915 Birkdale Drive, Wellington) invites the public to attend its Car Show & Family Fun Fair

NEWS BRIEFS

on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Car hobbyists can enter their classic cars for a fee of $10 each and compete for one of three trophies. There will also be a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter and a one-eighth-scale steam locomotive on display, as well as a small fair midway with games for children, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, tacos and smoothies. Inside there will be homebaked goods, Christmas crafts and ornaments, handmade Swarovski crystal jewelry, raffle baskets and a silent auction worth more than $5,000. Auction items include a round of golf for four at the Breakers, tickets to Disney World, Lion Country Safari and museums, as well as a quilts.

The event will benefit St. Michael and the Glades Area Pantry. For more information, call (561) 793-4999 or visit www.stmichaelelc.com.

Live Music At The Silver Screen Cinema

The Silver Screen Cinema Café & Comedy Club in Wellington will feature a live performance by the J.D. Danner Band on Saturday, Nov. 1. The band plays a mix of old-style rock ’n’ roll and country. It will be a night of food, drink and entertainment. The event will also serve as the band’s CD release party. The doors will open at 8 p.m. for food, drink and mingling. The show will start at 8:30 p.m. Admission costs $10 per person, which includes a CD.

The Silver Screen Cinema Café & Comedy Club is located at 12795 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza. For more information, call (561) 795-3001 or visit www.silver screencinemaandcomedyclub. com.

BNI Opening New Chapter In Wellington Business Network International (BNI), the world’s largest business referral organization, will hold a kickoff for its new Wellington chapter, BNI Business Builders, on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Nicole’s Village Tavern in Wellington. BNI specializes in helping its members generate qualified business referrals between one another. Founded in 1985 by Dr. Ivan Misner, BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals. BNI allows only one person per profession to join a chapter. Thus, once you have joined, none of your competitors can. RSVP to Hallie Agostinelli at (561) 333-7555, ext. 0.

crat Tim Mahoney in District 16.

Don Rice and Lyn Cacella-Dubois with Tom Rooney.

Dean and Priscilla Turney with Sharon and Ted Weise.

Lawrence Davenport, Jeff Deaver and Wellington Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore.

Dean Turney and Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen with Ashley and Joe Maguire.

‘SPOOKTACKULAR’ CONCERT IN RPB

The Royal Palm Beach Community

veterans. Some of the band members wore Halloween costumes, and the audience judged and selected the top three.

DIWALI CELEBRATION IN ROYAL PALM

Members of the Florida Hindu Cultural & Religious Association Inc. (FHCRA) held their annual Diwali celebration on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The celebration of Diwali symbolizes the aspiration of all to vanquish ignorance and drive away the darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge. Members of the organization took part in the event by performing dances and singing songs. The evening concluded with the crowning of Ms. Diwali. For more information about the FHCRA, visit the association’s web site at www.fhcra.org.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

human heart begins pumping before we are born. It beats 100,000 times each day. It sends out about 2,000 gallons of blood. In an average lifetime, your heart will beat 3,500,000,000

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Seema Ramnrain and Camille Ketwaroo. Vikash Sharma sings a tune.

Sumeena Dayanand performs for the crowd.

Kavita Lacknauth, Allison Sarabjeet, Alicia Ramdhari and Janet Singh.

Some of the dancers perform onstage.

Shanta Daibee and Roshan Oodal.

Band hosted its “Spooktackular Concert” Tuesday night at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The band played songs of the Halloween season as well as old standards, including a medley of patriotic tunes from the World War II era called “The Homefront,” a salute to

Sandra Beck and Keenan Krieger clap to the beat.Larry and Iris Kamerman enjoy the performance.

Guest conductor George Roskovich with Fred Dart.

Conductor Fred Dart gets into the Halloween spirit.

Rita Kellar (Cleopatra ) and Rick Floyd (Julius Caesar) won second and third place in the costume contest.

Louise Lord (jester), Renee Schrab (Dutch girl) and Rick Floyd (Julius Caesar).

Dr. Marc Pinkwasser awards first-place winner Jan Levy and her dog Cheyenne. Andrew and Hillary Boles paint the tunnel.

Amanda and Kelsey Foster with

winner Alexa McAvoy and her dog Roxy.

Henry Heller and his dad Henry Sr. play some basketball.Emma Greetham behind the wheel of the fire truck.Youngsters from Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do.

Chase Roussel, Isabella Suarez and Gilbert Suarez. Megan and Dylan Fenton enjoy cotton candy.

Olivia, Stephen and Emily Benson.

The Braswell family.

Festival-goers enjoy a hayride.

Contestants compete in the sack race.

Shawn O’Sullivan shows off his costume.

Grace and Morgan Brintnall.

Ward family members wear a variety of costume styles.

Mason Materdomini as Indiana Jones and his dad Chris try their luck with the squirt gun.

Caroline Joyce as a cheetah.

Lisa Rockford and her nephew Isaac Bolten.

Natalie and Adrienne Walsh.

RPBHS Project

Graduation Meeting

Nov. 3

The Royal Palm Beach High School Class of 2009 Project Graduation Committee will hold its November meeting on Monday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at the school. The committees is looking for more parents and guardians to help with the non-profit, all volunteer group. Parents of the Class of 2010 are also welcome to come and see what the committee is doing.

Project Graduation is an alcohol-free/drug-free, all-night party for graduates, but the committee needs your help. You can register your e-mail for updates and reminders at projgrad09@ bellsouth.net or call Cheryl at (561) 723-8298 or Karen at (561) 371-8377.

Seminole Ridge To Present ‘High School Musical’

Disney Channel’s smash hit High School Musical will come to life on stage this December at Seminole Ridge High School.

The contemporary musical comedy is about a high school basketball star and a shy academically gifted newcomer who

discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they sign up together to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, it threatens East High’s rigid social order and sends their peers into an uproar. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the jocks, the brainiacs and even the drama club regulars are soon hatching convoluted plots to separate the pair and keep them offstage. By defying expectations and taking a chance on their dreams, however, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own. Show times are as follows: Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3 and 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and students, and $7 for senior citizens and children seven and under. For more information, call the school box office at (561) 422-2655.

Golden Grove Students Visit Pumpkin Patch

The kindergarten classes at Golden Grove Elementary

Matchmakers — The Wildcat Dance Team from Royal Palm Beach High School, under the direction of Michele Blecher, participated in the school’s recent homecoming events. The dancers ran the “Suckers Marriage Booth” during the homecoming carnival on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Couples were “married” in an “undead service” by dancers in vampire capes. The couples exchanged vows, gold keepsake wedding bands and marriage certificates. Many “unhappy marriages” were performed at the carnival. Shown above are: (front row, L-R) Melissa Irizarry, Alexa Blecher, Kristen Rivas, Nicole Elkins, Katie Sanchez and Sharmane Manely; (back) Tracey Turcious, Dina Irizarry, Melissa Felix, Patreace Schmidt and Lisa Bec.

School in The Acreage have recently been enjoying some fall activities. They spent part of their school day Oct. 6 and 7 at the pumpkin patch at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington. The students were expected to visit the pumpkin patch early because of a job they were given. They had to wake up Mr. Scarecrow, played Mr. John Sullivan, who was a wonderful scarecrow for the children.

Not only did the students have to wake up Mr. Scarecrow, but they also had to find the square pumpkin. It was somewhat difficult for the students because they were surrounded by so many pumpkins. However, they took up the challenge and went searching. You guessed it; on both days one student found the special pumpkin.

After the search, the students went inside for a story about the special pumpkin. They also sang songs and watched a puppet show. After a fun time at the pumpkin patch, students went back to school, but not emptyhanded; each student received a small pumpkin from the church.

After-School Survey Results

Despite a widespread assumption that homework assistance is the key benefit of afterschool programs, Palm Beach County parents cite social skill development and extracurricular activities as the leading benefits of after-school participation, according to a new study just released to mark the Ninth Annual Lights on After-school, an awareness initiative celebrated nationwide each October. Conducted in September by the non-profit organization Prime Time Palm Beach County, 7,214 parents and guardians of Palm Beach County School District students ages five to 13 were polled to determine how parents view and value afterschool programs. For more information about the school district’s after-school opportunities, contact JoAnne Beckner at (561) 434-8821 or beckner@palmbeach. k12.fl.us. For details about the Prime Time survey, contact Marty Rogol of Marketing Concepts Inc. at (561) 655-1333 or e-mail mrogol@marketingconceptsinc.com.

Poinciana Students Enjoy ‘Mythbusters’ Experiment

Fifth-grade students at Poinciana Day School were learning about chemical reactions in science class recently. The class discussion came around to the famous experiment involving Mentos tablets, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, and which combination would create the larger geyser. Science teacher Judi Hildebrandt asked the class how they could determine an answer to this question.

Following the lead of the creative Discovery Channel TV show Mythbusters, fifth-grade students set out on a mission to determine which chemical reaction would be greater, thereby creating the larger geyser. After considering several possible alternatives as to what would happen when the Mentos tablets were dropped into the Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, students decided that the best way to find their

answer was to conduct an experiment. The students collected all the necessary materials, donned their safety goggles and headed out to the field to conduct their experiment.

The results of the experiment showed that 12 Mentos tablets combined with Diet Coke created a greater chemical reaction than when combined with Diet Pepsi. The Diet Pepsi geyser was approximately three feet in height, whereas the Diet Coke geyser reached approximately six feet in height!

At Poinciana Day School, the emphasis is for students to learn by doing and through discovery.

“We feel that it is important for students to not only learn academic information, but also to learn the process of investigation and research,” Head of School Nixie Swift said. “Our teachers include hands-on expe-

riences in classes so that students have opportunities to use their creative processes in discovering the answers, thereby preparing them for the challenges that they will face as adults in our 21st-century global neighborhood.”

Located at 1340 Kenwood Road in West Palm Beach, Poinciana Day School is a small, independent private school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade where “every student is an honored student.” All students pursue a strong academic curriculum as well as a well-rounded specialty program consisting of visual arts, performing arts, technology, sports and Spanish. For more information about Poinciana Day School, call (561) 655-7323 or visit the school’s web site at www. poincianadayschool.org.

Barnes & Noble Event Nov. 1 Will Benefit WHS Band

The Wolverine Band Boosters Association, a support organization for the Wellington High School Band, will host its Second Annual Book Fair at the Barnes & Noble store in Wellington on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m.

The day will feature music performances by WHS band members, as well as story time readings by members of the band. Twenty percent of all designated purchases will be donated to the band program. In addition, customers can pre-order Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes from the store to have in time for the holidays, with a percentage of those purchases donated to the band. Money raised through the event will help band members raise money for their invitational performance at the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor in March 2009, and will also help the band in purchasing equipment for the new WHS Performing Arts Center, opening in January 2009. For more information, call Band Director Mary Oser at (561) 795-4900.

Poinciana Day School fifth graders watch their Diet Coke geyser experiment.

Martial Arts Event Benefits Children’s Hospitals

Approximately 75 students from Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do and thousands of martial-arts students around the U.S. broke boards and put on martial-arts exhibitions on Sept. 27 to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Similar to a walk-athon or a dance-athon, the Health Kick event was a board break-athon. The local event was held at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington and raised more than $5,600 for Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Students of all ages and belt ranks gathered sponsors and pledges prior to the event. The more donations the students collected, the more boards they were awarded to break. At the event, students broke their boards using a variety of tae kwon do kicks, punches and strikes.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies provided a K-9 demonstration and distributed badges for students and spectators. The Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do Demo Team performed aerialkicking techniques and power-breaking demonstrations.

Grandmaster Ki Sop Yoon concluded the demonstrations and showcased his self-defense skills by breaking sev-

Sponsors

More Are Needed

continued from page 2 still looking for sponsors for a variety of special events, but that she has been encouraged that people had come forward to assist with several programs.

“Our bingo program, for example, is something that was not budgeted for this year,” she said.

“We started that a couple of months ago. We have sponsors lined up all the way through February from various community groups and other organizations that have come forward to pay for them. Everyone has been stepping up. I would like to thank our sponsors while I have the opportunity to do so tonight.”

Board Member Sharon

eral concrete blocks. “It has been a great pleasure and a privilege for me to be a part of this event. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone involved,” Yoon said. “It is because of everyone involved that we were able to perform for such a worthy cause.”

American Tae Kwon Do United, a professional organization for tae kwon do schools around the country, organized the national effort. Group President Sun Chong, a tae kwon do grandmaster, initiated the idea as a result of his experience conducting Health Kick events for 10 years at his schools in Buffalo, N.Y.

Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals.

Children’s Miracle Network helps children locally by raising funds for Shands Children’s Hospital at UF. The money is used to purchase lifesaving medical equipment and diversionary items, fund pediatric research and produce patient-education materials. For more information about Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do in Wellington, visit www. supertaekwondo.net or call Master Yoon (561) 795-1199.

Mullen said some Palms West Chamber of Commerce members told her they were happy to sponsor the Fall Festival this year.

“I had the opportunity to talk to some members of the chamber of commerce last week,” Mullen said. “They are pleased and proud as could be to sponsor the Fall Festival. This sounds to me like the start of a number of good things.”

Stockton asked Rosenberg if the village’s youth recreation teams have had difficulty attracting sponsorship. Rosenberg said she would have to look into it, but more assistance would always be welcome, especially with further budget cuts a distinct possibility.

RPB Author Releases Youth Adventure Novel

Royal Palm Beach author Deborah Guignet recently released a juvenile fiction adventure book titled Adventures in Camden

Published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, the book tells the story of two adventurous creatures, Caiden and his best friend. Together they get themselves in and out of trouble, learning morals and life’s values along the way. The youngsters make new friends and greet the old ones. They learn to deal with danger and deception, and all the while try to remember what they’ve

been taught and how they can apply those lessons to their adventures.

The book is available at any bookstore nationwide or can be ordered through the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting www.barnes andnoble.com, www.amazon. com or www.target.com. An audio version of the book is also available from the publisher.

Guignet was born to a family who cherished the involvement of family and grandparents. She has four children and four grandchildren.

The Village of Wellington and the Wellington Art Society recently honored student artists taking part in a current exhibit at the Wellington Community Center. Featured artists include Megan Byrne, Aly Goldstein, Melissa Landolfa, Timothy McSweeney, Emily Nichols, Sarah Noeske, Ashley O’Brien, Andrew Phillips, Yajaira Sattui, Jessica Terrell, Marissa Ullman, Erica Zahornacky and Yangxue “Shirley” Zhou.

“You might not feel that there are large amounts of money you can give, but any amount of money is a help to a team,” she said. “I would encourage everyone to give, even if it’s $25. It’s important you can donate some-

thing to our teams to help these kids play. It’s important to keep the teams going.”

Bush A Grad Student At Harvard

Jonathan Robert Bush, a 2003 graduate of Wellington High School, is currently studying mathematics as a graduate student in a master of secondary education program at Harvard University in Boston, Mass.

Bush graduated this past year from the University of Florida with honors, cum laude, earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in education.

In addition to his studies, Bush was elected into Phi Beta Kappa.

Harvard University is a private university and a member of the Ivy League. For more information, visit the school’s web site at www.harvard.edu.

Woerner

Finishes Coast Guard Training

Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Christopher Woerner, son of Amy and Matthew Woerner of Wellington, recently graduated from the United States Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J.

During the eight-week training program, Woerner completed a vigorous training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, fire-fighting and marksmanship. A major emphasis is also placed on physical fitness, health and wellness.

Woerner also received instruction on the Coast Guard’s core values — honor, respect and devotion to duty — and how to apply them in their military performance and personal conduct. He will join 36,000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard’s force.

Men and women train together from the first day in the Coast Guard just as they do aboard ships and shore units throughout the world. To reinforce the team concept, Woerner and other recruits were trained in preventing sexual harassment, drug and alcohol awareness, civil rights training and the basics of the work-life balance.

Woerner is a 2007 graduate of Wellington High School.

Aust Takes New Role At Valparaiso

Senior Amanda Aust of Wellington is serving as an assistant in Valparaiso University’s Department of Biology this fall. Aust is majoring in nursing and is the daughter of William and Wiletta Aust. Valparaiso University is a comprehensive university with a Lutheran heritage that enrolls nearly 4,000 students on its campus 55 miles southeast of Chicago. It has been identified as one of the top master’s-level institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report magazine for the past 20 years, and most recently was ranked among the top three in academic quality for the ninth consecutive year. In 2008, Valparaiso won the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, recognizing it as a model for other institutions of higher education in preparing graduates with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness. More than 80 academic programs, as well as 14 international study options, are offered through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering and Nursing. Valparaiso also has a distinguished honors college (Christ College), graduate program and law school.

Jonathan Robert Bush

Helping Hands — Students from Palm Beach Super Tae Kwon Do display their check to Children’s Miracle Network.

A BLACK-TIE AFFAIR

Members of Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) recently attended the Palm Beach County Caucus of Black Elected Officials’ annual black-tie gala at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Pictured above are (seated, L-R) Victoria Santamaria, Adrienne Ferrin and Marjorie Schleifer; (standing) Amanayea Abraham, County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, Joey and Lorna Johnson, Lloyd “Chef G.” Grant, Elet Cyris, Monica Grant, Rhonda FerrinDavis, Tinu Pena and Winston Davis.

TRIMBLE COMPLETES EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

Boy Scout Troop 111 of Royal Palm Beach completed an Eagle Scout project on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Grassy Waters Elementary School in West Palm Beach. The project was for Jimmy Trimble of Troop 111. He planted more than 100 plants to enhance the weeded area just outside of the main building in the portable area courtyard. He also planted materials for an educational butterfly garden. All of the plants were xeriscape plantings. (Above) Ben Mille, Emily Mille, Jordan Davis, Jimmy Trimble, Brandon Monbleau, Douglas Gallagher and Terry Wolfe. (Below) Davis and Trimble work on the project.

RPB’s Cathy Andrews Among Scholarship Recipients

The Executive Women of the Palm Beaches (EWPB) presented $20,000 in college scholarships recently to outstanding women pursuing their advanced education. Five recipients were present and recognized, including Cathy Andrews of Royal Palm Beach, a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Also at the awards banquet, EWPB awarded a $20,000 grant to Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County at an awards presentation breakfast held at the Marriott Hotel CityPlace in West Palm Beach. The grant, called the Lois Kwasman Program for Community Impact, was created by Executive Women Outreach, the charitable foundation arm of EWPB.

The $20,000 grant, payable over two years, was established to provide funding to non-profit organizations that assist girls and young women ages 11 to 21 in Palm Beach County. The

Kwasman Program is named in memory of Lois Kwasman, who was an EWPB board member and community leader.

Boys & Girls Clubs Development Director Lottie Gatewood accepted the first $10,000 check on behalf of the organization. “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award,” Gatewood said. “This grant will enable us to provide 200 young women with the guidance, tools and instruction to make healthy life choices, specifically designed to overcome the challenges they face.”

Last year’s Kwasman recipient, Florida Resource Center for Women and Children, received their second $10,000 check for their Female Enrichment Program.

Pam Payne is chairman of Executive Women Outreach, Rosanne Duane is Vice Chair. Committee co-chairs for the Lois Kwasman Program for

College.

Community Impact are Harreen Bertisch and Virginia Spencer.

The Executive Women’s mission is the professional and personal advancement of women through networking,

PACK 120 CUB SCOUTS EARN THEIR BELT LOOPS

Ghosts, goblins and Indiana Jones attended the October pack meeting of Cub Scout Pack 120 on Oct. 27 in Royal Palm Beach. Several scouts received the belt loops they earned at the recent Big Event campout, and scouts who arrived in their Halloween costumes earned extra raffle tickets. The theme of this month’s meeting was “Jurassic Pack.” The boys had a great time putting on a dinosaur skit and making dinosaur crafts. Pack Leader Steve Whalen was pleased to announce that the scouts were successful with a recent popcorn fundraiser, which raised money for the scouts’ campouts, meeting space and other activities. (Clockwise from left) Dave Elder gives belt loops to Gavin MacLean, Connor Elder, Kaleb Mapes and Sean Roberts; Ron Rice, Whalen and Elder conduct the meeting; Whalen gives Bennett Aikey belt loops he earned.

Scholarship recipients Cathy Andrews and Madison Martin with Nicole Pardue of Palm Beach Atlantic University and Lenore McHugh and Betsy Unger of Palm Beach Community

Council Sunrise In Question

continued from page 1 seen a multitude of companies cut their employees. I would suggest we postpone this discussion until May. In a week, we will vote in a presidential election. Through the last 21 months of a campaign, our economy has suffered. In January, things might settle down a bit.”

Margolis, who resigns his council seat with the new year as a condition for running for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, concurred with Willhite but also noted that he would likely not be around when the main discussion takes place.

“I would like to put it off longer than four months,” he said. “I will not be here. I would like to do what the residents want me to do. I have some concerns with moving forward with the town hall until we see the ramifications of what will happen next year. I don’t think it’s the right time in the economy to move forward with this. I understand the issues of the leases we have right now, and the possible consolidation of services, but I am not comfortable with this moving forward until May.”

Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore said that he would like to go ahead and discuss the issue and others at the upcoming work-

Bird Democrat

For Senate

continued from page 1 stands that we need change and we need quality change,” she said. “It’s very important that we look at how the Florida Legislature is running, and it’s absolutely, totally run by the special interests. My opponent is a prime example. He has received so much money from the special interests, and he’s voted their way. If you look at his record, it’s almost as if he voted and received a check — and that’s just not what Florida is about.”

Bird lists among her top accomplishments the creation of the OUR House center in Broward County as a member of the Junior League. “I did the needs assessments, presented it to the membership and from there we passed it and funded it for five years,” Bird said. “From there we turned it over to the community, at which time I became the president of the board of directors.”

The program serves all of Broward County and all children who are going through the court system because of family neglect or divorce, she said.

“That fulfilled a major need,” Bird said. “All of my accomplishments have been done as a

Atwater Proud Of Successes

continued from page 1 continuing to provide needed services and seeking to diversify the state economy.

“I’m not one who has filed license plate bills,” Atwater said.

“I’m not one who has filed resolutions for the state pie. I’ve taken on constitutional amendment reform, Medicaid reform, health insurance reform, windstorm insurance reform and

shop, when more definitive information on the Sunrise contract would likely be available, but he was against calling a full halt.

“We have to think in terms of the long-term decision-making process,” he said. “I want to have a sit-down workshop and talk about this. I would like us to be innovative. If we are in a downturn, we need to modify what we are doing. It doesn’t mean we put the brakes on and stop.”

Priore said that he could not support not approving it, and made a motion to approve the item as is.

Mayor Darell Bowen concurred with Priore and said the workshop needed to be confirmed and that questions could be considered and answered then.

“I think we need to get the workshop set and air the questions,” Bowen said. “When the economy is tough, it’s time for the government to help spur it on. I think we need to get this workshop scheduled and talk about these things and find out more details before we make decisions. We can’t make a decision before we have all the facts.” Bowen declined to second Priore’s motion to approve the CIP, because there would not be enough votes to carry it due to the absence of Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto. The motion died for a lack of

volunteer. I’ve never been paid a penny for all of my work, and I’ve done it while I was working full-time as a Realtor while I was raising my daughters and being very involved in their lives as Girl Scout leader.”

Bird said she started out as a worker in every organization she has joined and moved her way up to leadership positions.

“Everyone has to start somewhere, but I have always been a worker, and they recognized my leadership and promoted me,” said Bird, who is also president of her 158-unit homeowners’ association at Lake Estates in Fort Lauderdale, which she said gives her an understanding of homeowners’ quality-of-life issues.

Bird said her life experience puts her more in touch with the voters. “I have been a mother, I have been a business owner, I have been a caregiver for my own mother,” she said. “My opponent is a banker, and I think he’s part of the problem. I think his oversight should have been on what was happening in the State of Florida. He was receiving major contributions from the insurance industry, and it’s documented. He is lying about it. It is absolutely documented that he has received $284,000 from the insurance lobbyists’ PAC. The difference between us is honesty.”

Bird said her foremost goal if

those have all invited tremendous forces against me in a campaign like this one.”

Atwater said he feels his list of accomplishments is topped by his co-sponsorship of tough anti-gang legislation passed in May that makes it easier for law enforcement to get gangs off the street by going after the kingpins who are trying to recruit young children and making penalties much stiffer for the leaders.

“That’s going to be significant for us,” Atwater said. “With the challenges South Florida is hav-

a second, and Schofield said village staff would bring back another iteration of the CIP at the council’s next meeting.

In other business, the council approved a two-year extension of the build-out date for a 132acre residential development on State Road 7. Centex has permission to develop 264 homes on the Lanier property about a mile south of Forest Hill Blvd. on the west side of SR 7, but requested an extension beyond the Dec. 31, 2008 deadline due to the economic climate.

Priore said he did not want to see the construction of more housing in a market where houses are not selling. “In light of the fact that the village is moving away from the continued construction,” he asked, “is the developer amenable to selling off the property and reapplying for additional use or any other additional prospects out there?”

Developer’s agent Ellie Halperin said Centex officials have a responsibility to continue with their plans if no other possibilities arise. “They are willing to work with the village to seek opportunities with you as to what the vision might be,” she said.

Priore said he would like to see the property become available for more innovative uses than housing if possible, such as business or industrial uses. “If we have a two-year window, we would like to start immediately with looking at the possibilities,”

elected would be to improve the education system. To do that, she said she would help establish a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

“The moderate Republicans are out of step with conservative Atwater, and they want to reach across the aisle and solve the problems in the State Senate, and right now the solutions to these problems are locked into the committees,” she said. “It’s his way or the highway with Jeff Atwater. He does not want to have ideas coming across the aisle… The Democrats and moderate Republicans have said they want to work with me.”

Bird’s other goals include removing wasteful spending from the budget. “I looked at the budget, and there is more than $100 million in turkeys there,” she said. “This should not have happened… We are spending more on prisons than education.”

Bird perceives the top issue in the campaign as getting the budget under control. “A majority of Floridians want to see that we are spending money very carefully,” she said. “You can look through and find ways to cut back. There’s a ton of turkeys in the budget.”

The second campaign issue she sees is homeowners’ insurance. “My opponent is absolutely for the insurance companies,” Bird asserted.

The Democrats initially

ing, Palm Beach County in particular, with gang violence, this is a big, big deal.”

He said his second major accomplishment has been threepronged windstorm insurance reform, starting with the creation of the My Safe Florida Home inspection program, where 56 percent of participants have received discounts on their premiums.

“That allowed over 375,000 people to get their home inspected for free,” Atwater said. “With that package, if the inspector identified storm shutters, reinforced garage doors, a tie-down for the roof that was proper, you would receive discounts from your insurance company.”

The legislature also created a capital buildup program to attract new insurers to Florida, Atwater said. “In the endgame, we want insurance being written by the private marketplace and not by government,” he said.

The program made a maximum of $250 million available for any insurance company that would match it dollar for dollar and then invest more on a loan basis.

“It was not a giveaway, this was an absolute loan grant program,” Atwater said. “We now have 13 new companies writing insurance in Florida. We have now written in Florida, in the last 18 months, 1.7 million policies. Had they not been writing all these policies that had been dropped, it would be on the back of government and a risk for all of us.”

Atwater said the legislature also used sales tax revenue to ease a shortfall of about $1 billion in claims payments by the state’s insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

“All three of those were the key elements: not billing the res-

he said. “I would hope there is a consensus.”

Willhite made a motion to approve the extension, which was seconded by Margolis. It passed 4-0 with Benacquisto absent.

The council also approved two items crafted on behalf of the now-doubtful Sunrise assisted-living facility proposal, a land-use designation change and the creation of a fourth congregate living facility category in the village’s land development regulations.

Margolis noted that many people are confused about the status of the Sunrise deal. “We have not received an official documentation for withdrawal,” he said.

Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz noted that the village had received a request from the planning firm representing Sunrise to withdraw its applications, but as the actual sales contract has not yet been officially cancelled, the village is contractually obligated to proceed with the items.

“We have not received an actual termination request or notice from Sunrise,” he said. “We have had conversations with representatives and legal counsel. We anticipate that this will be received very shortly. Right now, we are still under contract with Sunrise.”

Motions to approve the comprehensive plan amendment and zoning text amendment passed 4-0 with Benacquisto absent.

tapped former State Sen. Skip Campbell to go up against Atwater, but he dropped out of the race citing health reasons. Bird said she is humbled to run in Campbell’s place. “The Florida Democratic Party continues to consider it the marquee race in the state,” she said. “They know Atwater is vulnerable because of his votes. We’re going to educate people as to his record.” Bird said she feels her top strengths include an appreciation of the importance of compromise. “We need to work together, and I don’t think Jeff Atwater feels that way,” she said. “I think he feels that it’s his way or the highway. I’m a businesswoman. I’m very careful with money, with the taxpayers’ money if I have the opportunity. I’m an honest person. I never received a penny for anything I’ve done during my 30 years of activism in Broward County, and I want to have the opportunity to serve in the Senate.”

Bird said people should vote for her because she has been representing children and families for more than 20 years. “My views reflect the needs of people in Florida,” Bird said. “I have an understanding of how to eliminate waste. I would be a strong negotiator and able to work across the aisle. This is a crucial election, and voters want change in the legislature. We need fresh new ideas.”

idents when they were still on their knees, allowing them to get a discount on their insurance and having their home inspected for free, and then bringing more private capital dollars to Florida that would otherwise have fallen on the state,” he said.

Atwater said the legislature’s actions fly in the face of charges that it raised insurance rates.

“We did not vote for a 71-percent increase, and I appreciate that that has been made clear in the press,” Atwater said, responding to a charge leveled by his challenger. “Elements of that bill could be interpreted as elements in law that could have led to rate increases, but we took those out during the special session. None of that ever came to pass.”

Atwater said he also forced insurers to pay undisputed claims within 90 days or be subject to the state’s unfair trade practices laws. “If you don’t think the insurance companies were absolutely crazy about stopping that — they did everything in their power to not let me pass that,” he said. “That was one element in the homeowners bill of rights that I passed.”

Atwater also lists reforms of the health insurance industry as a major accomplishment.

“A couple of years ago it became clear that out-of-state health plans were not being regulated by Florida law,” Atwater said. “What they were doing, particularly with our senior citizens, was offer so-called ‘group policies.’ The individual would begin purchasing and get inside a particular group that was offered for the year, and then the insurance companies would begin to look at who got sick over the next couple of years and who didn’t, and the ones who didn’t, they were offered a new group policy, and they would spin off the ones that actually had some

MID-COUNTY

DEMS RALLY IN WELLINGTON

The Mid-County Democratic Club held a meeting and rally at the original Wellington Mall last Sunday in preparation for the Nov. 4 general election. The club meets monthly at Tree’s Wings & Ribs in Royal Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 255-0724.

illnesses or were seeing doctors on a more regular basis. They were putting these people in a death spiral; a policy they could not afford. That completely disrupts the purpose of group policies. I went after that and beat it.”

Atwater said he also championed making education grants more accessible to part-time students such as working mothers who were unable to qualify as full-time students.

He lists his top three future goals as focusing on growthmanagement policies, alternative energy sources, and land and water conservation. He said he also wants to promote early learning for children under five.

Atwater said the main issue in the campaign is the challenges facing homeowners and small

Klein Seeking Re-Election

continued from page 8 wrong hands, Klein noted, and that Pakistan also poses a huge problem. “They have nuclear weapons, and the government is not that strong,” he said.

The best chance for the U.S. to successfully address potential nuclear problem countries, particularly Iran, is to work in conjunction with other leading powers. “At the end of the day, the only way of containing Iran is to get the European Union, the Russian Federation, China and India to go along with us,” he said.

Likewise, Klein said the Bush administration’s move to ban Cuban-Americans from making family visits to the island or sending remittances to relatives there was too drastic a measure.

He said some movement toward better relations with Cuba will

businesses that are suffering due to the existing tax structure. He said voters should re-elect him because he can lead constituents through what he calls an extraordinary time in the development of the state.

“We are challenged in fiscal matters as we have never been challenged before,” Atwater said, adding that the life experiences that he brings to the table make him the best choice. “I believe that [due to] those experiences and a work ethic and a commitment to a nonpartisan, solutions-driven life in public service — that hopefully will come to a close in my last four years in the Florida Senate — that I will be a good choice for my neighbors out here in Wellington, to be their voice in the Florida Senate.”

be necessary. “The rest of the world has made its deals with the Cuban government,” Klein said. “The United States has not.”

Klein’s opponent West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is running a campaign focused on his military experience. Klein gives West credit for his service and his commitment to his country, but noted that the two diverge widely in terms of political policy. “We have a strong difference in philosophy, the war on terrorism, stem-cell research, the right to choose,” Klein said. Klein said people should reelect him because now it is crucial to put people in Congress who can face the serious challenges of these times. “My approach is one that will be very contributory toward finding the right answers, bringing the right people to the table from all walks of life and all backgrounds, and reaching across party lines to get it done,” he said.

Linda Bird, a Broward Realtor, hopes to unseat State Sen. Jeff Atwater.

PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

Should he be re-elected, State Sen. Jeff Atwater is in line to become the next Senate President. PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

State Attorney hopeful Michael McAuliffe chats with Rhonda Ferrin-Davis and Adrienne Ferrin.

State House District 85 candidate Joe Abruzzo. Keith Jordano, Ed Oppel and Tony Fransetta.

WELLINGTON ROTARY CLUB’S ‘BOO AT THE ZOO’ GALA BENEFITS CHARITIES

Almost 100 people attended the Wellington Rotary Club’s Halloween costume party “Boo at the Zoo” last Saturday evening at the Palm Beach Zoo. Proceeds benefited Hospice of Palm Beach County and My Brother’s/ Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust. For more information about the Wellington Rotary Club, visit www.wellingtonrotary.org.

PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper founder County Commissioner Jess

Stan Kilbas and Debbie Sanacore.

Dr. Juan Ortega, Dr. Farokh Jiveh dressed as Town-Crier Publisher Barry Manning, Event Chair Karin Hardin and Dr. Wes Boughner.

Scott and Mair Armand.

Event Chair Karin Hardin with Ray and Susan Giddings.

Laura Jaffe surrounded by jailbirds Dr. Juan Ortega and Bob Morris.

Kim Armor with DJ Tony “the Tiger” Armor.

Santamaria with wife Victoria.Terry Hickey and Yoric Knapp.

Suzette Burger, Elaine and Ron Tomchin and Erica Blatte.

Carlos Bonilla with Irma Toregroza.

Charmaine Simms with Lou and Erica Blatte.

SPOOKYVILLE RETURNS TO YESTERYEAR VILLAGE AT THE

Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds held its children’s Halloween event “Spookyville” Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25 and 26. The event featured family-friendly games and contests, scary storytelling, a scavenger hunt, magic show and DJ. PHOTOS BY

Pie walk winners Grace Rydell and Mia Gonzalez.

Julia Vasquez and Rachel Sosnicki compete in the apple spoon race (Sosnicki was the winner).

Haley Keller and Victoria Plante with “good witch” Deanna Braunstein.

The Okeeheelee Nature Center held its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Friday, Oct. 24. The event featured a pumpkin toss and ring toss, a fortune teller, face painting, marshmallow roasting, spooky stories, creepy crafts and costume contests. In addition, animal handlers carried snakes and owls to show the guests.

Costume winners Tara Muthuswamy, Anthony Figeuroa, Gillian Kruisland, Alyssa Cabrerra and Kiana Rethjens.

A barrel of monkeys from Wellington: Vincent and Christian Valdarrama with grandma Juana Cintron and mom Victoria.

Volunteer “fortune teller” Megan Bennett, Owen Willis with his grandmother Dolores Willis and mom Nikki.

Volunteers Denise Garcia and Lesley Huynh as cats.

“Jasmine” Tara Muthuswamy paints her pet rock.

Twins Sophie and Sydney Stroud of Royal Palm Beach.

Although Halloween’s For Kids, Grownups Can Find Rewards

Tonight is Halloween night, and here’s the scariest thing of all: the election is still almost a week away. No, just kidding. The scariest thing is that the new president doesn’t actually take over until January. (Another joke. Ha ha.)

No, Halloween is for kids. No matter how much we grownups try to take the holiday back with our parties, our Dress Like a Loon at Work Day or our pre-election scare tactics, Halloween is still at its best when tiny tots are struggling up to the door trailing a large fluffy tail and trying to holler “trick or treat” with a mouthful of candy.

I just love answering the door on Halloween. I love seeing the expectant little faces (smeared with green makeup), the doting parents (many of whom were kids themselves not so long ago) and the creative costumes (especially the homemade ones). I love how the old-

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

er ones try to stop the younger ones from taking a whole handful of candy from the bowl (although I’m not sure whether this is due to good manners or fair management practices). I love how the parents shepherd the toddlers from house to house and then (usually by the third house) end up carrying them. I always offer some candy to those weary parents because I

remember how it was when my kids were little. Oh, Halloween starts early in the morning for parents. There’s usually a party at school, which means baking something, buying something or bringing something. Besides those preparations, the kid might be wearing his costume to school. No matter what that costume is, some part of it will be missing, causing “you’re going to be late!” panic. By the time the child returns from school, he’s sugar-coated and on the verge of a hyperactivity breakdown. There will be a few hours of calm while the mother cleans him up, gets some decent food into him and maybe sits him down with a book for a while.

Then, once Dad gets home, it’s “off to the races” again as the child realizes dusk is falling, there are other kids “already out there!” and Trick-or-

Treat Night has officially begun. Now it’s a mad dash to climb back into the costume, find whichever piece is missing this time, and grab a plastic pumpkin, basket or pillowcase to hold the candy — the larger the better. For my brother and I, perhaps early on the road to obsessive-compulsive behavior, returning home meant dumping out all our candy, sorting it by type, arranging it in rows and beginning trade negotiations. (Oddly, no matter what I got in return, my candy always looked better once it was over on his side.)

The day after Halloween is a big one for Mom, what with washing costumes, trying to get makeup out of the upholstery and stashing some of the kids’ candy away for later — say, Sunday. Her reward for all this is maybe a melted peanut butter cup. But if she’s like I was, it’s all worth it. After all, Halloween comes but once a year.

Low-Budget World Series A Pleasure For Real Baseball Fans

This year’s World Series is a triumph for the “working guy.” After years of seeing competitions between teams with huge payrolls, we finally had a series where the players were good but hardly household names.

After all, the Philadelphia Phillies last won the championship in 1980 and have not even been to the series in 15 years. The Tampa Bay Rays have never even made it to the playoffs before.

Most non-die-hard baseball fans would have trouble naming any of the players in this year’s series, and except for those who follow the two teams, most fans would have trouble differentiating more than a few. Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels has pitched really well. But who ever heard of him before the series? I personally had trouble remembering that B.J. Upton is a Ray and Chase Utley a Phillie. Hearing the name Evan Longoria makes me think of the really gorgeous actress with a similar name.

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

This is not nearly as sexy as the series we would have had if the L.A. Dodgers and Boston Red Sox had won their respective leagues. Many fans dreamed of watching Dodgers superstar Manny Ramirez return to his former home field in Boston, where just months ago he offended just about everyone while waiting to get traded.

But the series was a victory for the “average guy” according to many commentators. Tampa Bay’s payroll is second lowest in baseball. Two Yankees, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, together make more money than the whole Tampa Bay team combined. The Phillies are not among the biggest spenders either, with a payroll that’s less than half of that of the Yanks but twice as large as the Rays’. This provides a lovely chance to criticize teams no longer in contention that spent a lot of money on players.

With that conflict in the background, television ratings would have been great. But it was not to be. Also, millions (well, certainly hundreds of thousands) of Chicago Cubs fans would have loved to see the end of their team’s century-old jinx on championship hopes. And, of course, as a Yankee fan, I wanted to see one last championship at the old Yankee Stadium. But it was not to be.

Spending a lot of money does not guarantee victory. First of all, unlike many other sports, baseball teams lose a lot of their games. Only a handful of teams ever win 60 percent of their games (97 games out of 162). Few teams win less than 65, meaning a 40-percent victory rate. The difference between the best record and the worst is relatively small. In comparison, the New England Patriots won all 16 regular-season games last year. Baseball teams lose almost as much as they win. Also, actual differences in performance are far less obvious than salary. If A-Rod gets $27 mil-

Early Voting Is Smoother Without Pint-Sized Peanut Gallery

In the previous presidential election four years ago, I waited in line to cast my vote at my local polling place for more than an hour. So this year I decided I would try my hand at early voting. On the first day of early voting, I headed to Wellington’s municipal complex on Greenbriar Blvd. with my wife Sharon and my five-year-old granddaughter Eliana in tow. I thought the process would be a perfect civics lesson for my granddaughter. Because of all the political ads that have been splashed across the TV screen and some lively political conversations she has witnessed in our family, Eliana is very aware of who is running for president.

I don’t think she understands the issues at her tender age, but I know who she would vote for if she could. I am very happy she is not old enough to vote, because she would not be voting for my candidate of choice.

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

On the ride to the polls, Eliana was giving me an earful why I should vote for her candidate. It was getting to the point that I was sorry I took her along… However my wife loved the conversation because she and Eliana agree on who our next president should be.

As we approached the municipal complex, I didn’t like what I was seeing. Cars were parked on both sides of the street from the complex to Greenbriar Blvd. I knew this meant there would

be a long line to vote. About two minutes later I found out I was correct. There were at least 200 folks waiting in line.

The first thought that came to my mind was “doesn’t anyone work?” Then I remembered the state of the economy. The second thought I had was that I was very happy to see all of these folks turning out.

I asked one of the poll workers how long the wait would be. He told me it would be at least an hour before we got to vote. Now a third thought came to my mind, whether my granddaughter would be able to wait in the hot sun for an hour — after all, this isn’t Disney. I didn’t think she would, but she insisted she wanted to watch me vote. So out of the car and to the end of the line we went. As soon as we got there I knew I’d made a big mistake. The first thing my granddaughter did was walk up and down the line telling everyone

who she was going to vote for. I guess the folks who agreed with her thought it was cute. However the ones who didn’t started to give her dirty looks.

After about ten minutes of this, I told my wife we should leave and come back another day without my granddaughter. To my surprise, my wife agreed. So we gathered her up and left. Some folks were very happy to see us leave. I told my granddaughter we would try to vote on another day when it wasn’t so crowded. I forgot to mention that bringing her along was not part of my plans. I did go back to vote the next morning ten minutes before the polls opened, and waited another half hour to cast my vote. Much to my surprise, everything went very smoothly. In the next presidential election, we certainly need more locations and extended voting hours for early voting. If you haven’t voted yet, it’s not too late. So get off your duff and get out there and vote!

TOWN-CRIER SPORTS & RECREATION

Seminole Ridge Shuts Out P.B. Central To Claim Homecoming Win

By Paul Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report

Every sports team faces adversity at some point in a season. For Seminole Ridge High School’s football team, that adversity came during the most ironic of situations, and was overcome with the most unexpected of results.

The end result was a dominating 440 Hawk victory over the visiting Broncos of Palm Beach Central High School. But Seminole Ridge coach Matt Dickmann was more concerned with the health of starting running back Will Jones, who was lost for the remainder of the season early in the second quarter after suffering a freak injury. Jones, who was one of Seminole Ridge’s six senior homecoming king candidates, was taken off the field in a stretcher after separating his hip and femur after being tackled by the Broncos defense.

“Will is one of our captains and is the type of kid anyone would want to be their son,” Dickmann said. “He does what he’s supposed to do in school, and he never complains, whether he gets 18 carries or no carries, he’s there for the team. It’s going to be tough losing him, but I know he’ll recover and move on. We lost a big cornerstone of out offense tonight.”

The team said a collective prayer for Jones after the game.

At the time of Jones’ injury three minutes into the second quarter, the Hawks and Broncos were in a score-

less defensive battle. The contest was delayed for about 30 minutes while Jones was tended to on the field. Seminole Ridge (5-2) was able to strike quickly and decisively after play resumed, culminating with a 33-yard touchdown run by Jordan Schumacher with 6:32 left in the half.

The Hawks bumped the lead to 14-0 with 42 seconds left in the half, when Javian Wrisper punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out. The score was set up by Woodley Cadet’s block of a 30-yard Patrick O’Donnell field goal attempt. The blocked pigskin was picked up by Seminole Ridge’s Le’Antwon Roker, who advanced the ball to midfield.

Wrisper struck two more times in the second half, on runs of 80 and six yards.

The 80-yard strike opened the second half. The Hawks’ other scores were a one-yard run by Schumacher, a threeyard run by Matt Collado and a safety.

In the game, Seminole Ridge rushed 35 times for 319 yards, or more than nine yards an attempt. Wrisper (111 yards) and Schumacher (106) were the primary ball handlers.

Quarterback Tyler Wilhelm threw for 110 yards as well.

“That’s what happens when you’re firing on all cylinders,” Dickmann said.

“When we decide we want to play together as a team, we’re pretty much unstoppable. Sometimes we’re really hard to stop, and that was tonight. It wasn’t like Palm Beach Central really

did anything wrong, we were just hitting on all cylinders.”

As solid as the Hawks were on offense, Seminole Ridge was just as stifling when the Broncos had the ball. The Hawks held Bronco senior running back Jon Bostic to 25 yards on six rushes.

The Broncos (4-3) took Bostic out of the game early in the third quarter.

“We knew he was someone we’d have to stop when he was in the game, and we had 11 guys keying on him,” Dickmann said. “We were fired up for the challenge, and did a great job tonight.”

Palm Beach Central coach Rod Harris accepted responsibility for the thrashing. “We cut down on mistakes and the coaching staff did a good job of that [from the previous week’s game against John I. Leonard], but we have to be more prepared, and it’s my job to do that,” Harris said. “It’s my fault we lost the game like this. I’m disappointed in myself. We lost to a better football team.”

The game was fairly clean, with only four penalties called (three on the host Hawks) and one turnover (by the Broncos).

Harris said his biggest goal is to refocus the team for this Friday’s road trip to crosstown rival Wellington, which suffered a 14-7 defeat at undefeated Park Vista last week. Also on Friday, Seminole Ridge travels to Vero Beach.

How I Found A Lost Appaloosa... And Helped Locate

One afternoon I was relaxing in the house when I heard my dogs barking. I looked out to see two teenage girls at my gate: my neighbor’s daughter Taylor and a friend. I moseyed over to find out what they wanted when she asked the dreaded question, the one that instantly freezes the heart of every horse owner.

“Is one of your horses out on the road?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, immediately scanning around to find out just where my horses might be. “Why?”

“Because me and my friend just saw one — it’s over there.” Taylor pointed toward her back yard, which isn’t fenced, and sure enough, a brown horse was standing there, just outside my fence, visiting with my horses, which, I was relieved to see, were all on the proper side of the fence.

“No, thank goodness,” I said. “Mine are present and accounted for.”

But it seemed they might not be for long. I could see that the new horse, a pretty dun, was a mare very much in season. And my two geldings were oh-so-interested. At least one of the geldings was quite capable of jumping the four-foot wire fence, and I had a feeling the other one would either try to go over with him or just plow straight through. This was not a safe situation.

“Feeding time!” I sang out, and rushed to get the buckets of feed, which I shook enticingly. It was almost feeding time, and this was the best diversion I could think of. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and I guess that goes for horses as well. They happily came to the barn and proceed-

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

ed to chow down. Lost Horse ran around to that side of my property so she could keep them in sight.

“Do you know how to put a halter on a horse?”

I asked the girls, and Taylor’s friend said she did. I tossed her a halter. “See if you can get that on her.”

I threw my hay. Taylor’s friend still hadn’t managed to get close to Lost Horse, which was now skittishly trotting along my front fence. I grabbed a bucket and put in a handful of feed, and walked toward her. She looked. I rattled. She came. She ate. I haltered.

“Let’s get her away from here,” I told the girls, and we headed to the nearby corner of a busy, paved road. “Did you see where she came from?”

“That way,” Taylor said, pointing up the busy road.

I could hear my geldings calling to Lost Horse, so we kept walking until we were right on the corner, in a grassy spot where Lost Horse had room to graze but was hidden from sight by some tall bushes.

“Let’s stand here a while and see if someone

doesn’t come looking for her,” I suggested.

It was rush hour, and lots of vehicles were zooming past. Lost Horse didn’t seem to mind. I was hoping some driver would see the horse and recognize her and stop. No one did.

Taylor’s friend had her cell phone out, so we called Animal Care & Control to see if anyone had reported a lost horse. No one had, but they had a truck in the area. Sure enough, the truck pulled up about ten minutes later, and two very nice women came over. One of them was horsesavvy, so I handed her the lead rope, went home, and brought back some hay to keep Lost Horse busy and happy. A little while later, two Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled up to see if we needed help. Taylor’s mom got home from work and joined us. It was a regular party, and Lost Horse was the birthday girl!

I spotted a blacksmith’s truck driving toward

Owner

us, and stepped out to flag him down. He turned onto the nearby street, and we walked over and explained the situation. I was hoping that he might have seen this horse before and know the owner, but he didn’t. No one knew where Lost Horse belonged, so one officer went back to the compound and drive back with a horse trailer. The PBSO guys left, Taylor, her mom and her friend went home, and then it was just Lost Horse, the other Animal Care & Control officer and me. This officer didn’t know anything about horses, so I stayed to make sure everyone would be safe. Finally, about an hour into the saga, a man walked up to us and said, “That’s my horse!”

“Is it really?” the officer asked. Yes it was. Bill introduced himself and explained what had happened. Lost Horse’s name was Dusty, a 17-year-old Appaloosa he’d had since she was six months old. She’d managed to find the one gate in the yard that wasn’t locked, apparently rolled it back and strolled out, then found her new friends. Bill saw us standing with her as he drove past on his way home from work. He went home, parked, and then walked back. The officer took down all the info, then called her partner to announce the change in plans. Bill and Dusty walked back home, and I brought the poor abandoned officer a glass of cold water. She had to wait for her partner to return with the truck, then they’d check out Dusty and make sure her home was now

PHOTOS BY PAUL GABA/TOWN-CRIER

The Seminole Ridge players enter the field.

Aritma Medrano is crowned SRHS Homecoming Queen by 2007 Queen Brianna Lauer as senior representative Jerry Jolly, Principal Dr. Lynne McGee and Homecoming King Michael Fioramonti look on.

Coaches tend to injured Seminole Ridge running back Will Jones.

Dusty, a.k.a. Lost Horse.

Seminole Ridge cheerleaders do pushups after a Hawk touchdown.

Hawk receiver Jeacky Charles looks at an open field.

The Palm Beach Central offense gets ready for the snap.

Bronco quarterback Travis Simmons is tackled by Hawk Tommy Rodriguez.

Hawk Homecoming Court seniors Jerry Jolly and Erin McCoy.

Hawk Homecoming Court seniors Tyler Wilhelm and Kori McMahon.

Hawk Homecoming Court seniors Justin Bullard and Cody DeCarlo.

Wildcats Push Past Lake Worth For A Homecoming Victory

By Lisa Keeney Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach High School football team dominated the visiting Lake Worth High School Trojans last Friday night, winning the Wildcats’ homecoming game 55-13.

In the first quarter, a Wildcat interception by senior Jordan Dangerfield set up a touchdown by senior Marvin Payne. RPBHS junior Jared Dangerfield added a touchdown in the first quarter to give the Wildcats a 146 lead. Sophomore Trey Pendergrass scored twice in the second quarter to give Royal Palm Beach a solid 27-6 lead at halftime. The opening minutes of the second half were explosive for both teams. Wildcat junior Chris Dunkley returned a kick of 90 yards for a touchdown. Lake Worth answered with a touchdown kickoff return of their own. RPBHS fired back as Jordan Dangerfield ran 70 yards with a kickoff return before diving across the goal line. The Wildcats were penalized for the

antics, pushing the field-goal attempt back. The extra point came up short, putting the score at 41-13 in favor of Royal Palm Beach. The Trojans’ hope of keeping the trend alive ended when Wildcat senior Eric Peterson tackled the Trojan ball carrier at the one yard line after the kickoff. Also in the third quarter, junior Cris Bythewood scrambled 41 yards for a touchdown. Finally, in the fourth quarter, senior Marvin Miller dove across the goal line, earning the Wildcats a touchdown and another penalty. This time, the extra yardage wasn’t a problem for senior kicker Richard Bukowski. The Wildcats closed the game 55-13. During the halftime homecoming festivities, RPBHS quarterback Marvin Payne was crowned homecoming king and Stephanie Hernandez was crowned homecoming queen. Royal Palm Beach travels to Park Vista on Friday, Oct. 31 before heading to Palm Beach Central on Nov. 7.

Junior Jared Dangerfield scores a touchdown in the first quarter as he is tackled by a pack of Trojans.Junior Cris Bythewood scrambles 41 yards for a touchdown.

Wildcat Chris Dunkley powers forward for a first down.

RPBHS senior Jordan Dangerfield is protected by his teammates as he makes this touchdown run.

Senior Marvin Miller dives across the goal line for a Wildcat touchdown.

Freshmen ride their float during homecoming parade.

RPBHS seniors Derek Snead and Perry McIntyre tackle a Lake Worth ball carrier.

Bassmasters Fish Lake Istokpoga

The Royal Palm Bassmasters held their monthly tournament on Lake Istokpoga in Lake Placid. This was a two-day tournament Oct.11 and 12.

First place was awarded to the team of Walt Zajkowski (boater) with six fish weighing 12 lbs., 8 oz. and partner Tone Young (non-boater) with six fish weighing 17 lbs., 14 oz. for a total team weight of 30 lbs., 6 oz.

Second place went to Ed Singleton (boater) with six fish weighing 11 lbs., 5 oz. and partner Larry Payne (non-boater) with six fish weighing 12 lbs. for a total team weight of 23 lbs., 5 oz.

Third place went to Tom Brown (boater) with six fish

weighing 12 lbs., 15 oz. and partner Jeff Helms (non-boater) with six fish weighing 7 lbs., 5 oz. for a total team weight of 20 lbs., 4 oz.

The Big Fish winner for Saturday was Tone Young with a fish weighing 6 lbs. The Big Fish winner for Sunday was Dorinda Patterson with a fish weighing 5 lbs., 4 oz.

Bassmasters meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center.

Tournaments are held the following Sunday. Dues are $25 a year; tournament entry fees are $30 per person. For more information, call Irene at (561) 793-7081.

In addition to the normal crowd of more than 1,000 families at Wellington Village Park for Football Saturday, dignitaries from the Orange Bowl came with vanloads of goodies for the youth of the Western Communities Football League. The WCFL cheer squad did an amazing job showcasing their skills at halftime. The WCFL remains the showcase program for youth football in South Florida within the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance. For more info., visit www.wcflfootball cheer.com. Pictured here is Orange Bowl mascot Obie and Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto with WCFL board members and Orange Bowl officials.

Wellington Warriors — (Front row, L-R) Michael Pontillo, Joshua Hernandez, Andrew Garbarini, Michel John Dalton and Myles Cohen; (second row) Krishna Raj, Brandon Weiss, Jonathan Fortunato, Jordan Bustabad, Christopher Seymour and Coach Everett Seymour; (back) coaches Barry Cohen, Andrew Garbarini and Joe Dalton. Not pictured: Coach Juan Bustabad and Grant Brewster.

Wellington Warriors Win Colombus Day Tourney

The Wellington Warriors 9-U gold travel baseball team won the Palm Beach Gardens Columbus Day Tournament with an exciting, come-from-behind 7-6 walkoff victory over the host Thunder. Andrew Garbarini started off the rally with a walk and worked his way around to score the tying run. Moments later, Michael Pontillo came racing home to score the winning run on a close play at the plate after he had earned a walk by fouling off some tough pitches. During the tourney, the topseeded Warriors went undefeated, allowing only nine runs against some stiff competition. Everyone contributed, with clutch hitting coming from Krishna Raj, Joshua Hernandez and Myles Cohen. Christopher Seymour, Jordan Bustabad and Jonathan Fortunato provided stellar pitching. Brandon Weiss had a sliding outfield grab, and Michel John Dalton provided the fielding support. The Warriors are coached by Barry Cohen, Everett Seymour, Andrew Garbarini, Joe Dalton and professional minor league coach Juan Bustabad. The Warriors are currently in first place in the Florida Premier Baseball League. Their overall record now stands at an impressive 171. “We have no prima donnas on this team,” Coach Cohen said after the trophy presentation. “The results they are producing together is much greater than the sum of our individual parts. Everyone is working very hard to improve in practice, and it is paying off on game day.”

WHS Volleyball Defeats Glades Central, Suncoast

With lights shining down and cameras vigorously going off around the Wellington High School gymnasium, the Wolverines’ girls varsity volleyball team took to the court. It was Oct. 21 — Senior Night.

Wolverine Watch

By Josh Hyber

The Wolverines, going into the game with a record of 7-6, had little expectation that the game itself would influence their playoff hopes. It did, however, hold a special significance in the hearts of five Wolverine seniors.

Nikki Naccarato, the Wolverines’ sophomore setter and team captain, commented on the emotions of her senior teammates by saying, “they were really sad to know that this was the end of their high school career but excited to play together for the last time.”

The Wolverines not only played, they dominated. Playing Glades Central, who would go to finish their season with a 015 record, loosened the mood of the Wellington faithful even more.

“We wanted to play a tougher opponent, like Palm Beach Central,” senior Viviana Victoria admitted.

The Wolverines easily took three straight sets, sweeping their opposition from Belle Glade 25-9, 25-3 and 25-9.

It was only fitting that it would be three seniors leading the way to victory. Victoria, Angela Clark and middle hitter Diana Baxter took matters into their own hands, making sure Glades Central made no attempt to make a scoring push.

Victoria finished the night with 20 service points, while Clark had an additional 16 and eight kills. Senior Bethany Neal also had a strong match.

“After we won, [the seniors] were really excited,” Naccarato

said.

The final game on the Wolverine schedule was one they were looking forward to. On Thursday, Oct. 23, they were playing a team that had had a similar season to its own: the Suncoast Chargers. In this situation, though, it was Suncoast’s Senior Night, and the Wolverines were ready to spoil it.

“We came together as a team and left all of our off-court situations off the court,” Victoria said.

The match opened with immediate intensity. The Wolverines fought hard and pulled out a 25-23 opening set victory.

In the second set, the Wolverines did not let down. In another hard-hitting battle between the two adversaries, Coach Steve Swan and company edged out another conquest. This time, the Wolverines defense let up two fewer points, winning 2521.

“I wanted to sweep them in three,” Victoria said.

But her wishes were not granted. The Wolverines fell 2025 to the dominant play of Chargers’ Olivia Oberg and Ashley Iaccarino in another closely matched heat.

In a surprise move, Swan went into his bag of tricks and pulled out a move that would change the course of the match.

Bringing in Victoria to play the setter position and moving Naccarato to the right side gave the team a spark.

In the fourth set, the Wolverines played the finest they had

played all night. With their new alignment in position, they sealed the match with a 25-18 victory. “Our season has been crazy… but in the long run, it was great. We really came together and surprised each other with how well we did,” Naccarato said. “I think everyone on the team really pulled through.”

CROSS-COUNTRY

Another sport on the Wellington High School scene is crosscountry. To begin with, the females are led by national champion and 2007 Gatorade Girls Cross-Country Runner of the Year Ashley Brasovan.

Juniors Megan O’Boyle and Nicole Murphy, as well as sophomores Alyssa Terry and Emily Hoskens, have made names for themselves as well. All of the runners have run well-respected seasons and have eclipsed their pre-season goals.

Long runs as a team after school and individual training paid off on Oct. 23, when they won their conference meet at Freedom Park.

“The season has gone pretty well. Everyone is improving and hopefully all our hard work will pay off,” Terry said.

The team will find out at the district meet on Nov. 6 whether this will happen or not.

For Brasovan, she’s looking to cap off her high school career with yet another state title. If she does accomplish the goal, she will be the first female in the State of Florida to “four-peat.”

On the boys’ side, senior John Best and sophomore Alex Breslin led the way.

“John’s the foundation and the leader of the team… John Best has been more or less the best,” Breslin said jokingly. When asked what one word described him, Breslin replied “humble.” And that’s a perfect description. Breslin downplayed the fact he finished just one place behind Best at the conference meet on Oct. 23. Best finished in second place for the second year in a row, but who was it trailing closely behind? Breslin.

This great team approach is exactly what rookie coach John Rejc has been preaching since day one. They are a team.

“He’s an excellent motivator who clearly is passionate about the sport he coaches,” Breslin said.

And if those are the type of comments you’re getting from a sophomore, it says a lot about the type of manner the program has.

Sophomore Max Underhalter has also run remarkably well.

SWIMMING

The Wolverine swim teams have also had successful seasons, with the boys team and girls team going 9-0 and 8-1 respectively.

Seniors Matt O’Boyle and Alex White led the boys to an undefeated season, while seniors Jennifer Campbell and Lindsay Smith almost did the same for the girls group. Other swimmers playing vital roles include Carl Rosen, Brett Barin, Carol Perdomo and Monica Szynaka.

Brasovan not only excels in running, but in the classroom as well, maintaining a 3.93 GPA and a 4.57 HPA. The combination of her studies and running has drawn attention from Duke University, Stanford and Arizona State. “Sports keep you in line,” Brasovan said. On top of this she is strongly considering an attempt to qualify for 2012 Olympics in London.

ATTENTION BRONCOS, HAWKS & WILDCATS

The Town-Crier is looking for student columnists to cover sports news at Palm Beach Central, Royal Palm Beach and Seminole Ridge high schools. Interested? Call (561) 793-7606 or e-mail news@gotowncrier.com to arrange an interview.

First Place — Walt Zajkowski and Tone Young placed first in the Royal Palm Bassmasters tournament in Lake Placid.

Saturday, Nov. 1

• On Saturday, Nov. 1, St. Michael Lutheran Church will host its Family Fun Fair for the community from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with carnival games, a car show, a Vietnam helicopter display, a silent auction, raffle booths and a Christmas crafts sale. Proceeds will be shared between St. Michael and the Glades Area Pantry. For more info., call (561) 793-4999 or visit www.stmichaelelc.com.

• Wellington resident George Unger will hold a book signing for his recently published book Optional Wars on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the original Wellington Mall. Having spent three years in the United States Marine Corps, one of them in Vietnam, Unger said he wrote his book to try to awaken an apathetic public that citizens have a voice, in hopes that the country would not again get involved in “optional wars.”

• The Briana Marie Cox Foundation will host the Briana Marie Cox Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Palm Beach National Golf & Country Club in Lake Worth. Registration is at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The tournament is open to golfers of all ages. The entry fee is $100 per golfer or $400 per foursome, and includes dinner, raffle and auction. The family of Briana Marie Cox established the foundation to honor her memory after she was killed in a July 2006 automobile accident. Visit www. brianamariecoxfoundation.org for more info.

• On Saturday, Nov. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m., join the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation for its Green Gift Gathering at the Palm Beach Zoo, co-hosted by the Young Friends of the Marshall Foundation. “Green” gifts are organic, natural, recyclable and other environmentally friendly items. Activities will include a carousel ride and twilight stroll with the animals through the Mayan ruins, with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dessert at the Tropics Café. A $50 minimum gift value or cash donation per person is requested. RSVP to (561) 805TREE (8733) or plantcypress@ aol.com.

• The Dreyfoos School of the Arts will continue Fame: The Musical through Nov. 9 in the school’s Meyer Hall theater, located one block north of the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling the box office at (561) 8026052 or at the box office one hour before curtain (if available). Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Y CALENDAR

omatherapy and meditation with Lisa Pumper and Joy Kochmer. For more information, call Cora Rosen at (561) 427-1767.

Monday, Nov. 3

• The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 367 of Royal Palm Beach meets on the first Monday of each month at 11 a.m. at Palms West Presbyterian Church (13689 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves). For more info., call Unit President Marge Herzog at (561) 791-9875.

Tuesday, Nov. 4

• The Audubon Society of the Everglades will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pine Jog Environmental Educational Center (6301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach). John O’Malley, director of Palm Beach County’s Division of Environmental Health & Engineering, will speak on air, water and environmental health in Palm Beach County. There is no charge to attend the meeting. For more info., call Linda Humphries at (561) 7427791.

Thursday, Nov. 6

• The Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach Community College’s Lake Worth campus will hold a Veterans Day Service on Thursday, Nov. 6 to honor all veterans and first responders. Titled “In Service of America, Lest We Forget,” the event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a video presentation. The program will take place at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. An afternoon question-and-answer session with speakers will take place as well, and a display of artwork honoring those who served will be available for viewing. For more info., call (561) 967-7222.

• On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Wellington Women’s Club will hold its Shop ’Til You Drop Holiday Bazaar at the Binks Forest Golf Club (400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington). Come sell your old gold, silver jewelry and coins with On the Spot Gold. Then find unique and wonderful gifts for your friends, family and yourself at a number of great vendors. The hours are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. If you would like to join the Wellington Women’s Club for a buffet dinner, the cost is $30. For more info., call Stacy Kaufman at (561) 632-5165.

• The Studio Theatre of Wellington (11320 Fortune Circle) will continue its Third Annual Festival of Short Plays on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. The festival includes original tenminute plays presented in a staged reading format. Tickets are $15. To RSVP, call (561) 204-4100.

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will continue its weekend gathering of Florida hikers Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1 and 2 at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Jupiter. The weekend will be full of outdoor programs and events. For more info., call Paul Cummings at (561) 9639906.

Sunday, Nov. 2

• Pediatric dentist Dr. Tomer Haik will host a Healthy Smiles Family Day on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Wellington Village Park on Pierson Road. Children are invited to trade in their Halloween candy for tickets to a variety of fun activities such as games, arts and crafts, a bounce house, face painting and raffles. There will be giveaways, music and a question-and-answer session with Dr. Haik. For more info., call Dr. Haik’s office at (561) 333-8507.

• Gertrude Maxwell, founder of Save a Pet and supporter of A Second Chance Puppies & Kittens Rescue, has accepted an invitation to the unveiling of the recently purchased Adoption Shuttle, a 34-foot RV customized to transport homeless animals to different adoption sites. The event will take place during the Harley-Davidson Palm Beach Customer Appreciation Party on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. at the dealer’s location at 2955 45th Street in West Palm Beach. For more info., visit www.harleyofpalm beach.com.

• Moksha Yoga Studio (3340 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 5, Wellington) will host the third installment of its Restore & Renew series on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. Experience a healing fusion of restorative yoga, Thai yoga, ar-

• The Boynton Beach Support Group of the National Fibromyalgia Association will host a free educational seminar/support group meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Pointe at Newport Place (4773 N.W. Seventh Court, Boynton Beach). Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic widespread pain conditions, affecting more than six million Americans, mostly women. For more info., call Donna Boyer at (561) 7022837.

• In a special one-night only event, the recently recorded and never-before-seen Ukraine concert “Queen and Paul Rodgers: Let the Cosmos Rock” will light up the big screen on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Palm Stadium 18 (1003 N. State Road 7, Royal Palm Beach.). Queen and Paul Rodgers kicked off their 2008-09 sold-out world tour with this powerful concert captured live at the historic Freedom Square in Kharkov, Ukraine on Sept. 12 in front of more than 350,000 fans. Tickets are available at the box office and at www.fathomevents. com.

Friday, Nov. 7

• The Wycliffe chapter of the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research invites you to join them for luncheon and a fashion show at the Colony Hotel Palm Beach on Friday, Nov. 7 at 11:30 a.m. The fashion show to be hosted by Evelyn & Arthur of Palm Beach will feature their new fall/winter fashions. Tickets are $65 per person. For more info., call Barbara Kaye at (561) 6765996.

• Evening on the Avenues in downtown Lake Worth will feature the blues and rock band TC Blue on Friday, Nov. 7 and Marijah reggae on Friday, Nov. 21. Evening on the Avenues is held every first and third Friday of the month from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is free. The event features arts and crafts, live music and fun for the entire family at the Cultural Plaza located on M Street between Lake and Lucerne avenues. For more info., call (561) 582-4401 or visit www. lwchamber.com. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotown crier.com.

Pet Supplies Plus Now Open The Wellington Marketplace Plaza

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Previously prominent farmers in the area, members of the Dubois family are nowadays cultivating quite a different field in Wellington: pet supplies. Three weeks ago the family opened Pet Supplies Plus in the Wellington Marketplace shopping center to offer high-quality pet foods and supplies, as well as small pets in a convenient location.

Overseeing the store is the 38year-old Monte Dubois, who is a partner with his brother Mark and his father Wayne. The family got out of the farming business when the cost of land and supplies made it impractical in South Florida, Wayne explained. “The farming days are just about gone,” he said. “There’s no place left to farm any more.”

“We stopped farming about eight years ago,” Monte added. “We’ve since taken up two different ventures, and this is one of them. We opened a Nestle’s Toll House Café in Royal Palm Beach about two months ago.”

“My son Mark is handling that location, and Monte is running this one,” Wayne said. “I just come out about once a day and see what’s going on. They really take care of it all.”

Monte said the family considered various entrepreneurial ventures, and the need for a fullservice pet store in Wellington presented itself.

“My father and brother were talking about different things to do and different locations, trying to find a niche market in an area and find out what it’s lacking, and we found that it was lacking pet supplies,” he said. “There are a few pet stores in Wellington that sell puppies and do grooming, but the closest pet supply store is five miles from here. You figure that’s ten miles both ways to get the dog food you need, and that’s not very convenient.”

The brothers received a month’s training at Pet Supplies Plus headquarters in Detroit. “I wouldn’t know where to begin to put something like this together without the help of Pet Supplies Plus,” Monte said. Pet Supplies Plus offers more than 9,000 items in its 7,000square-foot Wellington location.

The store’s prices are comparable to or below other chains, Monte said. “One of the remarks I hear from people is ‘wow, you are nice and clean, you’re laid out good.’ They’re surprised that our prices are right in line with everybody else,” he said. “I think some people think they are supposed to pay a premium for convenience, but I don’t think it is right to punish people because they live five miles from the other nearest pet supply company.”

The store stocks some brands not available at other pet supply stores and several varieties of all-natural foods such as Holistic Select, Wellness, Canidae, Merrick, Nature’s Variety, Eagle Pack and Natural Balance that provide a full healthy diet for dogs and cats.

“It seems to be really popular now,” Monte said as he walked down the store’s holistic dog food aisle. “As you can see, we’re getting down in quantity. Orders are being delivered today. This is what most people in the area seem to be buying, which is great because it’s a much better food for their pets. These foods are all natural. There’s no preservatives. There’s no byproducts. A lot of them are grain-free — some animals are allergic to grains such as oatmeal. They make some of the foods with no grain at all. They are all protein. Some of these dogs are eating better than their owners.”

The store also carries an extensive line of dog and cat treats, toys and other supplies, as well as freshwater fish, reptiles, birds and small animals such as hamsters, gerbils and rabbits. They also sell the necessities for those animals, including cages, bedding, tanks pumps filters and food. The store has an entire aisle devoted just to bird supplies. If customers don’t see what they want they are encouraged to ask, Monte said. “We get deliveries twice a week, so we’re able to keep most of our stock up to par level,” he said. “If we don’t stock an item that they request, we’ll do our best to get it in. We made several people happy already by getting a certain item that they needed or wanted. If we get enough calls for a certain item, we’ll stock it. For the most part we can buy ones

and twos of an item.”

The store sells many animal supplies such as food, treats and cat litter by the pound as well as in large and small bags. They also have a limited line of equine supplies.

“We thought it would be nice as a convenience, but we don’t do horse feed,” Monte said. “There’s plenty of horse feed companies here in Wellington.”

Françoise Rambach of Wild Whinny Farms in Palm Beach Point was purchasing dog treats and birdseed. “I’m so happy that you’re here,” she said. “I had to go so far before. This is beautifully organized.”

It’s the type of comment Monte Dubois likes to hear.

“We’re very excited about this,” he said. “I think it’s a great location. It might take a while to catch on. The area is definitely big enough to support something like this. Actually we’ve been pretty darn busy for a company that just opened. Most of the business we’ve done so far has been word of mouth. It’s pretty amazing. It seems to me that there are a lot of pet owners in Wellington, a lot of families and a lot of pets.”

The Dubois family tried a few different enterprises including property management until they hit on their franchises, Monte said.

“This is what we’ve come up with, and we’re excited,” he said. “Hopefully, this will be the first of several that we do, depending on the success of this one.”

The Wellington store is strategically placed between the two other Pet Supplies Plus stores in Palm Beach County, which are located in Delray Beach and Lake Park.

“We found the location and brought it to them, and they helped us do the demographics on it, but living in Wellington for ten years, I’m pretty familiar with the demographics, the number of rooftops and the amount of pets,” Monte said. “We found the location before we found the franchise, actually.”

Pet Supplies Plus has 225 stores nationwide. “They’re the third-largest pet supply company in the country,” Monte said. “There doesn’t seem to be many franchised pet supply compa-

nies. This one seemed the best organized. They did a fantastic job helping us get set up. They come in and pretty much have it all laid out for you.”

The store plans to hold weekend dog and cat adoption services in cooperation with local agencies. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Nov. 15-16.

Monte Dubois lives in Wellington with his wife Kelly, who

owns Mail & More across Wellington Trace in the Courtyard Shops. Their three children attend the King’s Academy.

Pet Supplies Plus is located in the Wellington Marketplace at 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A12, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (561) 333-8669.

‘This is what we’ve come up with, and we’re excited. Hopefully, this will be the first of several that we do, depending on the success of this one.’

— Monte Dubois of Pet Supplies Plus

Everything Your Pet Needs — (Above and below) Pet Supplies Plus co-owners Wayne and Monte Dubois inside their Wellington store. PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

PALMS WEST CHAMBER SALSAFEST KICKOFF PARTY AT ROYAL PALM TOYOTA

Ira Greenbaum of Royal Palm Toyota, Palms West Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jaene Miranda, Mia 92.1 FM’s Jack Gonzalez (a.k.a. “DJ Flash”), Mya Cigars

owner George Rodriguez, and Martha Reyes and Rafael Perez of Havana Restaurant.

2004 Latin Idol winner Truly Paula performs a song.

Carlos Menendez of Mya Cigars cuts a tobacco leaf while George Rodriguez, Ovidio Diaz and Scott Armand look on. Palms West Chamber of Commerce President John Spillane with Membership Vice Chair Eric Gordon.

Photographer Gary Kane with Tensy Caine and Gregg Orenstein.

Jaene Miranda (center) with SalsaFest supporters Dr. Harvey Montijo of Palms Wellington Surgical Center and Ira Greenbaum of Royal Palm Toyota.

Eric Gordon of Suntrust Mortgage (center) with Denise Smith and Anita Osterhage of Cardinal Appraisal.

Eddie Rodriguez of Salsa Caliente Dance Company dances with Jaene Miranda.

Alicia Summers of Global Financial Network congratulates winner Angela Tripido of the Quantum Group after a game of dominoes.

Equine Legal Resources Joins Roster At Phelps Media Group

Phelps Media Group Inc. recently announced that Equine Legal Resources has joined the firm’s roster of new clients.

Equine Legal Resources is a national law firm based in Palm Beach County that specializes in equine law, equine litigation and equine taxation.

Wellington resident Henry Portner, partner in charge of the law firm, has served in the role of general counsel to private industry as well as in law firm practice for more than 25 years. Portner graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he majored in political science with a minor in business/ accounting. He went on to Temple University School of Law, where he earned his law degree.

During his many years of practice, Portner has represented a diverse group of equestrian owners, businesses, real estate entrepreneurs, builders and developers. His transactional practice areas have included equine law, tax law, mergers and acquisitions, tax free exchanges, family succession planning, estate planning, asset protection planning, commercial and contract law, construction law, land development, subdivision and zoning, landlord-tenant law, eminent domain, and environmental law.

Through Equine Legal Resources, Portner can provide advice and counsel in the growing and increasingly complex areas of equine transactional law, equine litigation, equine insurance law and equine taxation. The breadth of his experience and practice allows him to represent a broad spectrum of the equestrian community, including breeders, stables, equine syndications, equestrian farm and estate buyers and sellers, equine professionals, and equestrian associations. Portner also has a great depth of experience in real estate law, with representative clients collectively having portfolios in billions of dollars.

Chick-fil-A Benefits

Teen Newspaper

The Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Mall at Wellington Green hosted a Spirit Night to benefit Today’s Teen newspaper on Thursday, Oct. 16. Twenty percent of the evening’s sales at each location will be donated to support the publication, which is written by and for local teens.

“This is our first community fundraiser for Today’s Teen,” Publisher Gwen Cohan said. “We are so grateful to our local community for supporting us and to our local Chick-fil-A restaurants for their generosity.” Customers had the opportunity to donate $1 to play a Chick-fil-A game for the chance

to win free Chick-fil-A food, fun prizes and more. All proceeds will be donated to Today’s Teen “Today’s Teen offers our local teenagers a fantastic vehicle for positive self-expression, and without adequate funding, its future is jeopardized,” Mall at Wellington Green Chick-fil-A franchise operator Rob Rabenecker said. “Our Chick-fil-A family invites the community to join us in support of this important publication.”

Today’s Teen is a free, awardwinning monthly newspaper written by and for teens. For more information, visit www. todaysteenonline.com.

“Henry Portner’s background is far broader than most attorneys ever experience,” Phelps Media Group founder Mason Phelps said. “Uniquely, he has a sophisticated transactional background as well as a highly

complex litigation background. His experience in real estate law is equally strong. We are thrilled to welcome this caliber of attorney as a PMG client. I’m sure he will be an asset to the equine community.”

Notably, Portner is admitted to practice before the courts in six states — Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Colorado.

“My background and depth of experience is ideally suited to equine law, which focuses on transactional matters, litigation matters and taxation,” Portner said. “From highly specialized syndication agreements, key jockey contracts, critical stable contracts and breeding agreements, and the buying and sell-

ing of pedigree studs and seasons — these are all undertakings of my clients. Moreover, I have specifically focused in on the areas of equine insurance and equine taxation — both having a significant economic impact to the equine industry.”

Portner has always favored having his residences in horsefriendly communities where he could take part in surrounding equestrian activities. Prior to moving to Florida, Portner lived in Gwynedd Valley, Montgomery County, Penn. and Malvern, Chester County, Penn.

For more information, call Equine Legal Resources at (561) 400-0027 or visit www.equine legalresources.com. Henry Portner

Don Gross: Employment Challenges Provide Opportunities For Seasoned Business People

For many people, searching for the next career move in today’s rocky economy can be likened to pulling teeth. As more and more companies are being forced to tighten their budgets and cut staff — as in the recent loss of positions in the financial services area — there are career choices for the seasoned executive that capitalize on their experienced mindset, which can be most rewarding: business ownership.

However, despite the serious challenges in the current economy, business coach Don Gross of the Entrepreneur’s Source in Wellington said there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for many seasoned executives looking to make promising career changes.

“The unemployment rate has soared within the past several months. Yet there are opportunities that can be pursued in business ownership, particularly in the franchise sector,” Gross said. “Rewarding careers are available for business professionals with valuable experience; paths that can help them become successful in a new business venture.”

With economic indicators projecting a downturn in the labor force and a trend toward leaner companies, the new ca-

reer economy is now a reality — where gone are the days when individuals work for one or two employers, receive lifetime benefits and retire boasting double-digit service time from one employer. The future, long-term security will be gained through individuals managing their own careers through self-employment and other alternative career options.

A recent CNN Money special report highlighted the fact that unemployment reached a four-year high as “employers trimmed payrolls for the seventh month straight in July” and how the overall jobless rate in the country rose over five percent. But, this doesn’t have to be a career stopper for Wellington-area business executives and professionals, according to Gross, who said small business ownership in franchising has especially proven to be a thriving outlet for downsized professionals or career-changers to pursue.

The Entrepreneur’s Source is a leading business coaching firm specializing in helping people discover the right business for their goals, needs and expectations and assist business owners to reach a new level of performance, Gross said. The Wellington office

also provides executive coaching in areas including: opening a new business, communications and leadership, market and business planning, exiting a business, increasing profitability, expanding operations and exploring a new business. And with strategic partner EMyth Worldwide, the Entrepreneur’s Source can help small business owners develop the strategic knowledge to start a business or take an existing business to the next level of success.

The Wellington location uses a “discovery process” to help people explore business options and uncover possibilities that match their personal

objectives and income goals. According to Gross, 95 percent of the people who are helped by the Entrepreneur’s Source become owners of businesses they would have never considered — or had discounted.

“For over 20 years now, I’m proud to say that the Entrepreneur’s Source has been a reliable source for ‘all things entrepreneurial’ especially for business executives seeking a career change,” Gross said. “The company has been the premier source for self-employment options, franchising information, education and training.” For more information, call Gross at (561) 723-8461.

Wellington Chamber’s Business Showcase

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s Business Showcase 2008 will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Pierson Road in Wellington.

The event is hosted by the Equestrian Committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Equestrian Sport Productions. This showcase will allow local businesses to promote themselves to the equestrian community, families who patronize local businesses, as well as other businesses through business-to-business networking.

For more information, call the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at (561) 792-6525 or visit www.wellingtonchamber. com.

Today’s Teen — Emerald Cove Middle School students (not in order) Alexa Collins, Brooke Lieberman, Steven Maiovino, Joseph Molfetto, Luci Orofino, Thomas Quiles, Blake Swigonski and Ashia Zimmerman at the Chick-fil-A restaurant.

struction, remodels, additions and upgrades. Owner/Operated 20 years in business. 561-386-6711 Lic. #EC13002248 STAFF PLUS - Looking to fill full and part-time positions in customer service. For more info. Call 1-888-333-9903